I tell you, the people on this site are hardcore supportive...it's ridiculous and I love it. I'm really sorry it's been taking me so long to get this whole thing out there...I have attention span problems, but I WILL get it all up soon, I SWEAR. If you want to see more and you suspect me of being lazy and taking too long please review and heckle me until I post again...I need the motivation. Oh, I should probably also take this opportunity to remind you (in case you were burning with curiosity) I don't own the Gargoyles at all (gasp!) and if YOU do please don't sue me, I'm not worth it.

Sergeant Mercer surveyed the damage to the rooftop with a low whistle.

"Man, I haven't seen this much firepower since Vietnam."

"Sir?"

"Well Jameson?" Grumbled Mercer, "What the hell happened here? Report."

"Uh, we're…we're still not entirely sure, Sir. Some kind of fight between this lot and a helicopter. We've got thirty men in custody now, Sir, but uh, they're not talking. The presence of heavy artillery alone is enough for an arrest. We're just rounding up some of the vans now to bring them back to the station. But God…what a mess. Lucky we got that tip when we did, huh Sarge?"

"Yes…" Sergeant Mercer frowned, thinking of the hurried tip off that had led them here. Oddly enough the tip off came to the wrong department. Apparently a detective, someone named Bluestone, had received the anonymous call and bounced it over to Mercer. The funny thing was that this detective wasn't even on phone duty so whoever called him must have had his number or asked for him personally. Sergeant Mercer scratched his head. What he wouldn't have given to know who had called something like this in… "What about this helicopter then?"

"Gone I'm afraid, Sir. We've got two trucks and an aircraft below that these men seem to have arrived in, they all bear the same insignia as their uniforms…"

Mercer growled, "Let's get right to it, is there any sign at all of who these men were fighting?"

"No Sir, none...but…"

"But?"

"Well Sir, the first unit on the scene did say they…uhm…they saw some activity just as they reached the roof. Men, only…on wings…like giant bats."

"Men on wings. Giant bats." Sergeant Mercer rolled his eyes, "Giant bats did this." He pointed to the battle-scarred rooftop, in the corner of which sat thirty or so mercenaries, all neatly bound in what looked like extra strength fishing netting. All tied up and ready to go. "Well that's just great. Jameson, I want these men at the station and booked within the hour. And have the first unit report to medical to be treated for shock."

"Yes Sir."

Several rooftops away a pair of inquisitive eyes ducked back out of sight.

"The police are leaving now, Goliath." Lexington said.

"Good. We shall wait until they have moved out completely before returning to the castle." He frowned, vaguely concerned that they might decide to send a helicopter out to survey the surrounding area. But the police seemed satisfied enough for the time being...they appeared to be pulling out entirely. Helicopters brought another thought swimming to the foreground of his mind. "Do we know if Macbeth was followed when he escaped?"

"He wasn't." Brooklyn answered grimly, "At least not as far as I can tell."

"Well that's something, at least." Goliath sighed, surveying the damage to the building.

"He took Bianca." Brooklyn continued, waiting for some kind of response from his leader.

Stirring from his thoughts Goliath turned to regard his brethren, "It's been a busy night…and I think we could all use some rest."

"Did you hear me?" Brooklyn asked a little more urgently, "He took Bianca!"

"We do not know where." Goliath answered evenly, "So there is no use debating the point now. We have had a long battle, we need to regroup, and you need that arm attended to…"

"But Goliath, suppose the Illuminati-"

Goliath put a comforting hand on his shoulder, "I understand, Brooklyn. But you must see that there is nothing we can do for her at present." After staring at him for a moment Brooklyn sighed in defeat, weakly nodding his head. "The police have gone now…let us return to the castle. We can decide best how to proceed from there." Goliath made his way over to the ledge and took flight, the rest of his clan following suit.

Matt Bluestone waited until he was down the front steps of the police station and safely moving in his car before reaching for his phone and head set. After one ring the receiver clicked. Matt heard a familiar voice in his ear.

"Well?"

Matt ran a hand through his hair with a sigh, "Well, I took care of it. Lucky you called when you did, Xanatos. Judging by the look of those goons the police hauled in I'm surprised the gargoyles made it out in one piece."

There was a note of weariness in Xanatos' voice as he responded, "From what little Goliath told me about the fight they nearly didn't. What happens now?"

"I pulled a few strings, had a quick chat with the mercenaries' lawyer. Seems the good ol' Illuminati sprung for a top notch attorney…fancy that. The whole bunch of them are being released first thing tomorrow morning." Bluestone explained, his eyes focused on the road ahead of him.

"So soon?" Matt smiled inwardly at his alarm. Maybe Xanatos really had reformed his evil ways if he was this concerned for the safety of the gargoyles.

"Does it really matter?" Matt countered, "The gargoyles got away safely, and so did Macbeth from what I gather…so what's to be gained by holding them in prison? Even if I did arrange to hold them longer I'm sure the Illuminati could just snap their fingers and another thirty men would pop up in their place."

"I gather, Detective Bluestone, that there is something to be gained by releasing them early then…rather then abiding by due process?" Xanatos surmised.

Biting back a laugh Bluestone answered, mimicking David's dry tone, "Right, like you've ever gone by due process."

"You didn't answer the question, Detective."

"Alright, fine. Getting the mercenaries released early gives them no real advantage over us while still making me out to be a loyal brother. In a nutshell, I look like a hero without actually helping." To Matt's everlasting annoyance Xanatos began to laugh.

He could just picture the smirk on David Xanatos' face as he said, "You know, for one of the good guys you really do have a touch of the evil mastermind about you, Bluestone."

"Are you going to offer me a job in your company now? Because if so I may need to go home and take a bath…or several." Matt muttered, faintly perturbed at the idea of Xanatos offering him a personal compliment.

"I generally hire people with better manners. Now you're sure the tip off won't be traced back to me?"

"Positive."

"Alright then. It's been a pleasure working with you as always, Detective Bluestone. I hope we can do this again some time."

Matt shook his head, "Please…I already feel morally corrupt as it is."

"Good day, Detective."