Chapter 22: 22

Words : 1253 Updated : Sep 25th, 2025

Opening Chapter 22 of "Beyond the Limit (DC)": Joseph got the call from Selina just as winter break began. It had been an... Read on for more!

Joseph got the call from Selina just as winter break began. It had been an eventful semester, but now he had a chance to step away from the mundane and back into the world of Flux. This wasn't just a casual outing—this was business, and Joseph wasn't the kind of guy to leave debts unsettled. He agreed to meet her. Selina gave him an address and a time, and just like that, he was back in the game. Dressed in Black Spider's suit with a black balaclava over his mask, Joseph stood on the rooftop of an abandoned warehouse in a remote location, watching as a sleek jet descended in the moonlit sky. It landed with silent precision, its matte black surface absorbing the dim city lights. The hatch opened, and Batwoman stepped out. She assessed him with a look that was equal parts scrutiny and disdain. "Get in," she said flatly. Joseph didn't argue. He stepped inside, feeling the hum of the high-tech aircraft beneath his boots. The interior was sleek and minimalistic, all sharp angles and cold efficiency. There were two people in the cockpit, he saw through the transparent barrier separating them. There was another person he recognized who was asleep with a familiar cat perched on her lap. Selina. He quickly went to sit beside her. As the jet ascended, Batwoman took a seat opposite him, arms crossed. There was no small talk, no attempt to break the ice. She clearly didn't like him, which wasn't surprising. He was a thief, after all. Joseph sighed and leaned back. This was going to be a long ride. ** They arrived in Shanghai. The city stretched out before them, a neon-lit labyrinth of towering skyscrapers and winding alleyways. The Interpol jet touched down smoothly at a private airstrip, and Joseph took in his surroundings with careful eyes. This wasn't his first time in a big city, but something about Shanghai made him feel like a small piece on a massive chessboard. As they disembarked, he took stock of the team. Batwoman remained distant, treating him like an unnecessary liability. Julia Pennyworth, in contrast, was professional and composed. A British woman in her mid-thirties, she carried herself with the confidence of someone who had seen the worst the world had to offer and hadn't flinched. Then there was King Faraday, a blond man who appeared to be in his forties with a no-nonsense demeanor. He had the air of a veteran, someone who had spent years navigating the shadows of international espionage. Then, of course, there was Selina. She stepped out with the same effortless grace she always carried, her black cat perched lazily on her shoulder. She glanced at Joseph and smirked. "Kid, I appreciate you coming." He shrugged. "It's no big deal. I do owe you a lot. Plus, with my help, this'll be a breeze." She chuckled, shaking her head. "Confidence is cute. Let's see if you can back it up." The Interpol jet's ramp lowered, and Pennyworth and Faraday wasted no time heading out to track down the precise location of the meeting. Meanwhile, Joseph and Selina were left in the care of Batwoman, who wasted no time in shuttling them to their temporary accommodations. The building was a nondescript safe house, a blend of modern security and old-world charm. Joseph took it all in, still grappling with how surreal this entire experience felt. Half a year ago, he was just another wage slave, another nobody struggling to make ends meet. Now, he was here, entangled in a high-stakes operation alongside Interpol agents and heroes, targeting international criminal organizations. Selina stretched her arms dramatically. "Well, I don't know about you, but I could use a hot bath." Batwoman shot her an unimpressed look. "We don't have time for—" Selina interrupted with a playful smile. "Oh, come on. A little self-care never hurt anyone." She turned to Joseph with a teasing glint in her eye. "Care to join?" Joseph coughed, looking away. "Pass." Selina pouted but didn't push. Instead, she made her way to the bathroom, shutting the door behind her. Joseph could hear the water running soon after. He leaned against the wall, exhaling slowly. He knew Selina well enough to know she was just joking and the bath thing was clearly an excuse for something else. She was always working an angle. And sure enough, a few minutes later, he noticed Batwoman stiffen. She reached for her utility belt, her expression darkening. Joseph smirked. Selina had lifted her phone. Inside the bathroom, Selina sat on the edge of the tub, her fingers moving deftly across the screen. She dialed a familiar number, pressing the phone close to her ear. A few rings later, a voice answered. "Holly?" "Selina?" Holly's voice was tense, worried. "Where the hell have you been?" "Handling things." Selina kept her voice low. "How are Anya and the girls?" "They're okay—for now." Holly hesitated. "But things are getting worse. We're running low on funds, and I'm worried. Some of them have been asking questions. I don't think they believe your 'vacation' story." Selina's grip tightened around the phone. "I'm coming back soon. And when I do, we'll have enough to keep everyone safe." "You better," Holly muttered. "Just... be careful." Selina ended the call and slid the phone under the door and taking a bath before emerging from the bathroom, a towel draped over her shoulders. She shot Joseph a look that told him everything he needed to know. They needed to move fast. ** Elsewhere, Barbara Minerva convened the meeting of Leviathan, where she introduced Black Mask to the other cartel leaders. Around the table sat Mr. Yakuza, the calculating crime boss; Dr. Tzin-Tzin, an enigmatic figure known for his ruthless occult exploits; La Dama, the feared matriarch of South American crime syndicates; and Moxie Mannheim, the founder of Intergang. There was tension in the room, particularly between Mask and Mannheim, but ultimately, his membership was unanimously confirmed. The discussion turned to their recent setback in Sochi, but Minerva sought to pacify their concerns. ** Aboard the Interpol jet, Batwoman, Catwoman, and Flux prepared for action. "Catwoman, we need a distraction." Julia issued a call for Selina to create a distraction. Before deployment, Batwoman handed Selina a sleek pair of upgraded goggles, their lenses gleaming with advanced tech. Selina smirked as she adjusted them. "You're spoiling me." Batwoman's expression remained unreadable. "Don't make me regret it." Then, without hesitation, Selina stepped off the jet with her parachute, diving into the night. Julia and Batwoman exchanged glances. It had been too easy to convince her. Selina had her own agenda—she always did. Joseph watched as she landed smoothly on the target rooftop, her feline grace making the descent appear effortless. But before she could take in her surroundings, a voice purred from the shadows. "I was wondering when you'd show up," the voice said in Mandarin. Cheshire stepped into the dim light, her signature mask concealing her expression, but her body language spoke volumes—predatory, poised, lethal. Selina sighed. "Of course, it had to be you," she responded back fluently. The two women circled each other. Their previous encounters had been deadly but laced with mutual respect. In flawless Mandarin, they reminisced, their words edged with nostalgia and veiled threats. Then, with a blur of motion, the fight began.

Chapter 22: 22

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