The Clay Conspiracy

Dick went to the scene of the attack on Simon Stagg and found a curious substance he collected a sample and went back to the Watchtower to test the substance. As the computer analyzed it, a news alert for Gotham popped up. Dick was leaning back on his chair and nearly fell over when he saw the face of Bruce. He tried contacting the Batcave, but no one was answering.

Barbara gave the Harem, as Harley liked to call it, and Dick a joint update on everything they knew about the Bruce situation. "Tested DNA left at the scene that is Bruce's DNA, either it's him or a clone. Orime believes that Bruce was resurrected by the Lazarus Pit multiple times and is no longer the Bruce we knew. She is hell bent on killing him. Her family also had information about the League of Assassins that even Bruce didn't know about. There is a Lazarus Pit somewhere in Gotham. She mentioned three places, but she believes the most likely place is Arkham Asylum."

After the update Dick had some thoughts on the identity of the Arkham Knight. Another alert popped up on the computer Dick was working on. He contacted Barbara. "Looks like a team of Japanese superheroes is making a move on the League of Assassins. The team lead is Katana. The Justice League tried to recruit her and several others a few years ago, but she was already affiliated with someone else." Barbara had an idea. "That group they are affiliated with might be the Yakuza. Orime's father is the leader. He restructured it quite extensively after the previous leader died during Aquaman's invasion of Japan. Orime claims to never have joined but has helped out." Dick closed out the alert. "The Justice League will monitor the situation and, if necessary, intervene."

About two minutes after finishing his conversation with Barbara, the computer finished analyzing the sample. "The clay is a mixture of human DNA, not surprising, and a substance called Renuyu. Never heard of it." Dick looked up Renuyu while the computer analyzed the DNA. "Renuyu is made by Dagget Industries. Per their corporate propaganda, Renuyu can accomplish in hours what plastic surgery would take years to do. Why would this person attack Stagg in such an intimate way while using Dagget products? Corporate espionage gone wrong? Lover's quarrel?" The DNA belongs to the famous model and actress Ava May, who disappeared around the beginning of the occupation of Gotham and was presumed dead. "She must have been significantly disfigured, and Dagget promised to fix her in return for doing work for him."

Dick decided to stake out Dagget if his hunch was right Ava May will be going after him. Dagget had a team of bodyguards he hired from Bowhunter Security on him at all times. Dick contacted Will Harper the founder of Bowhunter Security and got himself inserted into the team.