So this chapter is redone. Thank you shamhlu for betaing this chapter and for all your hard work in helping me. Hope you guys like this chapter more than the original!
Sam marched down the manor stairs, a hastily packed bag slung over her shoulder. Her red radiant hair bouncing around on her shoulders, her bare arms revealing bruises littered on her pale skin, several peeking out of her sleeves, her shorts and shirt hiding those that were no doubt beneath the thin material. Skipping shoes, feeling that she would not want to wait any longer. Not baring to look at the manor anymore.
Bruce following behind her in his true form, decked out in gadgets and armour, she knew that it was truly Mr. Wayne who was the mask, yet he contradicted even that, his head bare, revealing a chin in dire need of a shave. She wanted nothing but to forget how she needed up like this, how her overwhelming sadness and her own sense of self. She had been distracted, training didn't help her, the bruises being the evidence of it. She was sure if her father had removed his gloves, they would show evidence of recent bruises from her too.
"Sam, you are in denial." Bruce said, his voice howling. Sam could feel it echo into her soul. She would not accept it. She will never accept it.
"No. I'm not. He's not dead. He's alive." Sam replies. Turning her head away from him, a poor attempt to hide her tears from him, though she was sure he could see, given the fact he was getting closer to her with every hesitation she made before she could truly walk away from him.
Sam rushes to the front door before Bruce could stop her.
"Sam, we both saw the video." Sam's knuckles whitened around the door handle, the metal groaning slightly under the pressure. "You have to accept that Jason is gone."
"You don't know that" She shivered, but not from the cold, "you yourself have survived worse than that. He never reached the banks of the Styx. I would know."
Sam grabbed her coat. Took one step outside and was grabbed by Bruce.
"You said you couldn't feel his soul on this earth anymore when you saw the film." Bruce said.
"I can't tell over video. I was distraught and filled with terror. If you won't claim him, dad, I will. I will find him." Sam said.
Bruce released her arm. Watched her reach the end of the drive before seeing her transform into her other persona. Her red becoming wilder and her simple dark blue leggings and black tank top replaced by a skin-tight red top and red short skirt to match. A blood red mask covering her now red eyes. Her running shoes replaced by red inner laced boots. She allowed her energy to flow all around, cementing her change as she began her search for Jason. She was no longer Sam McGommery. She was now a monster to the world. The Scarlet Monster.
He watched as her red glowing hue disappeared into the cloudy night sky. Bruce closed his eyes, his face unreadable about what had just happened. A firm hand landed on his shoulder. His eyes shifted to who it was, somewhat wishing it was Sam, that had appeared behind him like she used to do.
But seeing Alfred behind him made him rather relaxed all the same.
"Give her time. Master Todd's death has hit her hard." Alfred said, looking up into the same sky Sam had disappeared into.
Bruce's shoulders slumped, and he nodded. With a bit of regret, he closed the door behind him, feeling that he had just lost Jason, but now he had lost Sam too.
Several years later...
Sam looks over Gotham. Waiting for Batman to arrive at GCPD.
She heard the many sirens outside. Chasing low life thugs that were trying to take over the city. Ever since Scare Crow sent out the warning for everyone to leave, every greedy, murdering, conniving fucker was looting stores, stealing car, and joining either Penguin or Two Face in the chaos. Just like in Arkham City.
Sam spent the years in Gotham searching for Jason. She knew he had to be alive still. Every time she had a lead that would bring her to him, it would be gone. Every warehouse, dark alley, even every sleazy bar would be empty. She stayed in small run-down apartments close to the outskirts of Gotham, avoiding her own adoptive father, still keeping tabs on him to make sure he was not getting into any trouble from his previous encounters with the previous Arkham Asylum inmates. She was sure that his final fight with Joker was costly all the same. But for him to lose Talia, the one woman who really had a hold on him, to be gone must have rattled him bad. Maybe after a while, he will understand how she feels and continue to search for Jason. She approached him once after what happened, but it did not end well. Both of them were still not agreeing on what the other wanted. So, up until now, did she really expect him to reach out to her for help.
She hoped that he wasn't seeing the destruction taking place in Gotham. The last thing she wanted was for Jason to see a town he lived in for so long be in chaos.
The rain seemed like it was endless, pouring on a night like this made her think that something was coming. Through the battering of the rain, she heard familiar footsteps approach her, the warm energy that came from him made her smile inside. Outside, she remained stern and cold. Knowing that their tension was only going to get worse.
"Scarlet." Batman called to her.
"Batman. Is it true? Is Scare Crow loose in the city?" Sam asked.
"Yes unfortunately. We are trying to find him. Oracle can't seem to get a read on him just yet. I could use your help. Right now, there's more than just Scarecrow to worry about. Until Oracle finds his position, we need to deal with them, Cache mentioned that a crew of firefighters have gone missing. Due to the state of the city, they are in a lot of danger. I need you to help me find some missing firemen." Batman said.
"Of course. I'll need a communicator." Scarlet said.
Batman handed her an ear piece and tuned it to his frequency. She knew he wouldn't say it out loud, but how he handed her the communicator seemed like he was hiding something. She could feel his energy fluctuate slightly, as if keeping something under control. She decided not to say anything and moved past him.
"I'll start searching as fast as I can." Scarlet said. Seeing him nod quickly before turning away from her, going back over to the entrance of the GCPD. She was unsure if she was going to be able to figure out what he was hiding but she would eventually, she shook her head as she cycled her energy around her feet, making them glow slightly. Slowly, she lifted herself off the ground and flew through the tunnels, focusing her thoughts on the firemen energy, trying to feel for anything that could give her an edge on finding them. She did feel something south to her as she lifted herself higher into the skies as she left the tunnel.
She felt fear, of course, but something else. Worry for his crew, fear not for himself but for his team. She focused on those energies, flying quickly towards them, keeping herself fixated on them, hoping she would not be late. As she got closer, she felt five other energies around the other. Feeling of cockiness and dominance that it made her smile inwardly. She was sure now. She spotted where the energies were coming from, a communication tower near one of the bridges that were closed. She could see small movements, one was hitting something hard while the others stood off in a corner, watching the man hit away.
Sam growled, focusing her energy inner fists as she willed her body over the tower, before releasing her energy so she could drop through the roof. She focused her energy through hands more as she smashed through the roof, distracting the men in the corner before blasting them with an energy beam, exploding them through the wall, knocking them unconscious on the ground.
Sam then turned toward the man near the fire fighter, yelling out of fear, threatening to kill the man if she didn't leave right away. Sam didn't care, she simply smiled at him as she formed a small orb from her right hand and raised it over her, letting it float above her for a minute, keeping the man off guard as she was quickly behind him, taking his head in her hand and shoved his face on the floor, watching it bounce, hearing him groan in pain filled her with slight joy. Seeing them in pain, feeling the same as they made the innocent feel. She almost bathed in their pain, until she realized her fangs began to show, her nails began to grow sharp and black. The monster was coming out.
Sam pushed the monster back in its cell, trying to keep her rage and hate under control more. This was the first time in two years she had lost control. It must have been caused by all the violence happening around her. Feeling their hate and anger made it difficult to keep her own emotions intact. She decided to tie up the felon, bracing his back to the floor so he would have no choice but to look into her eyes.
"Tell me where the others are right now!" Sam growled out, the monster still peeking out of the cage. When he gave her a stern look, she came up with a little idea.
"Tell me where they are, or I will send you to hell myself!" Sam said, making her eyes turn blood red, keeping the iris black as night, hoping the fear of hell would bring the man to confess.
"OKAY! We scattered the fire crew! The guy owed us for covering, so we went for the crew instead!" The thug screamed. Sam smiled as she formed another orb in her right hand and aimed it at his head.
"Thanks for the info." Sam said, slamming the orb against his temple, knocking him out completely. When she knew he was unconscious, she made her way over to the tied-up fireman, seeing gratefulness in his eyes as she cut the ropes from his wrists.
"Thank you. Those men kept talking about my men. Saying that they would pay for what we did. All we did was put out the fires. Especially lately. There have been so many that we haven't had much time to take a break. Don't think I will get a break tonight either." The fireman said. Sam merely sighed, agreeing with him slightly.
"I'll radio GCPD to come pick you up. But, I need something from you though." Sam said, seeing a confused look on his face.
"Anything. Name it." He said, offering out his hands as if to offer his life to her. She smiled slightly and pointed to his badge on his right shoulder.
"I will be able to locate the rest of your men if I have something that will help me identify them then just their fear in the air. May I borrow your badge?" Sam asked him. Without hesitation, he pulled the badge off his shoulder and handed it to her.
Sam nodded her head, silently thanking him. She gestured him close to the window, which he followed, hesitantly.
"Stay here until and squad car arrives. I will give you something that protect you until they arrive, but you have to stay inside until they come." Sam said, seeing him nod quickly.
Sam forced energy to her feet fast as to leave in a hurry, floating above the building, she formed a hollow orb and flicked her wrist until there was a red dome over the tower. She smiled seeing that her practice had paid off and that it would keep him safe until the cops arrived to come get him.
Sam pressed her communicator to a different channel, connecting to Cache before she put her next step into effect.
"Cash, I got one of the firemen for you. I'll be contacting you soon for the others." Sam said, hearing him chuckle on the other line.
"If it ain't Batman then it's you. Thanks for the help. Hope you find those men soon. Batman might need your help with another case going on." Cache said. Sam chuckled as well but kept her thoughts in check.
"Thanks, Cash. I bet I can clear these cases up faster than him." Sam said before clicking out and looking down at the badge in her hand. She looked over the entire city, seeing the lights flash from blue and red over the bridges and every street she could see.
"Okay. Time to find the rest." Sam said.
She focused her energy through the badge, getting the feel of every crack and groove on the small piece of metal, feeling the pride of racing into danger and saving so many, then a slight turn of shame came into play. This confused her. Where was the shame coming from? Why would they feel ashamed of their job? She focused on the energy connected through their badge, sensing all of the men and sure enough had all of their locations at once.
Her eyes glowed as she could finally see their energy signatures, seeing how some were tied up or being beaten by a large group of men surrounding them.
Sam smiled, forming another orb in her hand, this one black and as she focused on the firefighters, she formed fourteen small demon dogs, all ready to do her bidding and go home after they were done.
Sam let the dogs go, each hovering up and flying freely into the air, watching them float with her. Each one was waiting for her orders.
"Go and rescue the men that are marked. Knock out the enemy. Do not kill them. When you take them down, send up a signal and I will take it from there." Sam said, seeing each one of them nod their head quickly before zipping away to each of the men they were assigned to.
Sam waited patiently, seeing that each man was being rescued, several near the train tracks, two underneath different bridges, the others in obscure areas that made Sam think to herself.
Why would thugs need to cover up how the fire started? Sam thought, seeing five of her dogs had sent up flares. She thought back to the feeling of shame she felt from the badge. Whose shame was she feeling? One of the men were hiding something, otherwise the thug would have been more resistant to her if he was just beating the guy up.
Could the Chief know something about this? Did the chief of the fire squad knowingly ignore something his men were doing or was he doing something that his men didn't know about?
Sam decided to scan for the Chief more, seeing that one her dogs had found him tied up with thugs and turrets around him. Her hound had token out all of the men, eating one the deactivated turrets and had already sent up a flare.
Turrets? A bit brash isn't it? Sam thought. She decided to ask the man herself, flying over to him as quickly as possible. Maybe the chief may have had something to do with the recent fires the first fire fighter mentioned.
When Sam looked over the area before she landed, her demon dog sat next to the Chief, wagging his tail in accomplishment, hoping to get praise from his master.
Sam smiled at the dog, ushering him to come to her, which he did, receiving the praise he wanted and acknowledgement that he did a good job. When she had finished petting him, she snapped her fingers and he disappeared in a puff of black smoke.
Sam walked over to the Chief, untying from the chair so he could at least stretch out his legs for a minute.
"Hello, Chief..." Sam waited, wanting to know his name.
"Underhill. Chief Underhill. Of the Fire Station 17." He answered and she could see something in his eyes.
"Chief Underhill, did you know about these fires that your team so happened to be putting out constantly?" Sam asked, seeing a guilty look on his face appear.
"You were the one who started the fires, weren't you?" Sam asked. He slowly nodded his head, giving in to his guilt.
"Yes. I did it for a good reason. My team and I were going to be laid off due to the budget being cut and having that there weren't as many fires now than in the last few years. I couldn't let my team lose their job, so I found abandon or buildings that were scheduled for demolition and set them on fire so that the city could see it still needed us. But my men had nothing to do with this. They didn't know what I was doing, and I tried to make sure none of them would be blamed if I got caught." He confessed, seeing the guilt now gone but instead being replaced by tiredness and shame once again.
"Chief Underhill, what you did may have been out of good intentions, but you still committed a felony. I'm sorry but I'm going to have to take you in." Sam said, feeling him accepting what she was saying.
"I know. I deserve to be punished. But, please spare my men. Don't tell them what I have done." Underhill said.
"No. That's a job for their Chief. He should be the one to tell them the truth. They deserve that much." Sam said as she formed a hollow orb around the two of them, keeping her eyes on the Chief before she focused her energy to make the orb fly.
As the orb brought them to GCPD, Sam radioed Cash, hearing him sighing in the background as she explained everything to him and giving all of the locations of the firefighters and that she would be bringing the Chief in soon.
Sam felt her heart tug somewhat for the captain. She understood why he did it, but he still broke the law. It made her wonder, if you break the law for a good reason, are you still innocent in the eyes of the gods? Or is there no redemption in their eyes at all? As Sam landed on the roof of the GCPD, she saw how he regretted what he did, but he was still happy that he did it. She knew that if a man wished to be devoted to the sun, they give their praise and gifts to Hellos. If a man wished to have the power to meddle with a couple or break them up, they would pray to the god Eros. So, if the Chief wanted to save his men's job by setting abandon buildings on fire so that they wouldn't be able to take care of their families. Then would he pray to Ares? Or would he pray to the god Plutus for wealth of ideas and chances?
Sam remained silent as the officers took him away to elevator. Sam had many questions, but knew she would have to ask them later. When Cash went down with the others, she linked her communicator back with Batman, see how far he was with his case.
"You took long enough." Batman said. Sam remained silent for a minute before answering him.
"How far are you with your case?" Sam asked.
She heard him sigh slightly, hearing him groan a little.
"The trail has gone cold. Meet up at the clock tower later. Oracle may have found a way to locate Scare Crow." Batman said.
"Got it. Be there in no time." Sam said, launching herself off the roof and flying over to the clock tower.
At the Ace Chemical Plant.
"I want guards at every check point. Once Crane is in position to spread the gas, you have an hour to leave or you'll be caught in your fears. Keep the prisoners in their areas and start the lockdown." Arkham Knight ordered.
It would all begin soon. He would have Batman dead at his feet. The sight of flares rising up in the sky made his stomach drop. He knew those flares. Knew them all too well.
Sam was out tonight. He kept his thoughts in check. He would deal with her when the time came.
Near the clock tower
Sam landed on a nearby building across from the clock tower, feeling something she had not felt for so long. She felt a familiar love that was dear to her. She had forgotten about Gotham for a split second, giving into the sky once again, wanting to find where this feeling was coming from. But, before she could even spot it, it disappeared and left her feeling empty once again.
Sam felt her soul cry all over again. She felt Jason. She felt him. He was in the city and he was hiding from her. Why? Why would he hide from her? She felt tears form in her eyes and she wanted nothing more but to scream at the sky, but she couldn't. She still had hope that she would find him. She decided to bring herself to the clock tower, searching for the secret hatch, only to be stopped by a sudden thud near her.
She looked over her shoulder to see Batman walk up next to her.
"Do you think Scare Crow is crazy enough to gas the whole city?" Scarlet asked.
"Maybe. Regardless, we have to stop him." Batman said.
Scarlet nodded and jumped off from the roof and flew a few meters away from Batman.
"I've gotten better at this." Scarlet said. Not seeing his expression change made her feel like she just wasted her time telling him what she can do now.
"I see. Let's head inside and see what Oracle has for us so far." Batman said. Sam merely shrugged and followed after him as he jumped through the secret hatch.
Inside the Clocktower
Sam was happy to see that the inside had not changed. Seeing Barbara's decorations and her whole life had not changed since she had been gone. But, Sam watched as Batman lifted the head of the gold bust and let it scan him, transforming what looked like a nice cheap apartment into a state-of-the-art computer lab she would never understand. Her smiled widened more when she felt a happy feeling behind her. She had felt it before when they had first jumped through, but she wanted to give her the satisfaction of surprising Batman and her.
"I don't touch your things without permission, do I?" Barbara said, before visibly brightening up at the sight of Sam, giving the other redhead a small grin.
"It's good to see you, Sam. It's been too long." Barbara said. Sam gave the former vaguely a melancholy grin. She would get tired of seeing Barbara. She knew that no matter what happens that she would be supportive of what she did. Even if it meant not coming around a lot.
"I know. But I had things I needed to do." Sam said as she watched Barbara type into the computer.
"Well I hope you have found what you were looking for." Barbara asked.
"Not yet. But, I will. So, a little buddy told me there's a new pair of love birds in the cave." Sam smirked at Barbara, seeing her blush slightly. Sam nudged her softly, giving her an even bigger grin.
"You two look cute together. I'm happy for you. Though, it seems he's been told to stay in the theatre." Sam said.
Barbara looked over at Batman, feeling that if she had Sam on her side, that maybe he would listen. Sam shook her head.
"He needs to focus on that cure. We'll have another problem on our hands if he doesn't stay focused." Batman said.
"I got it. Oracle, you got anything?" Scarlet asked.
"Well, I was thinking maybe Crane needs a place large enough and with enough supplies to make enough fear toxin to infect the town, but my scans can't pick up much from here. I need a way to scan farther than what I have." Barbara said.
Sam could see that she was trying to think of something, but Sam had an idea of her own. As Barbara and Batman looked over the giant monitor, Sam flew back up through the shaft and landed up on the roof. She looked over the city, searching for anything that might help widen the search, spotting the radar tower of in the distance at the theatre. Sam lifted herself in the air and flew for the theatre, hearing a buzz in her ear from the communicator.
"Sam, where are you going?" Batman asked.
"Heading for the theatre. I think the radar on the roof could help out. I'll give it a nice shock and see how it goes." Sam said. Her confidence grew when she heard Barbara giving her encouragement on her idea.
"Fine. Signal me when you have finished." Batman said before the comma went silent. She decided to keep her emotions controlled and not let her anger for attention cloud her judgement. Seeing the radar come into view, her thoughts for some reason went to Jason. Thinking of how he would prove to Batman that he could be better than what he was.
Sam smiled brightly, feeling her energy become bright and radiate all around her as she halted upfront of the radar's junction box. She focused her new-found energy through her arms, allowing the shape to change from a flowing current to an erratic shock, shooting through her fingers, aiming for the box to give it an extra jump.
Feeling her energy was giving the radar what it needed to give Barbara a better advantage in finding Crane, then maybe this night could end faster and she can look for Jason again.
Before she could fly back, she could a voice pierce through her thoughts.
"Hey, Scarlet. Tell Barbara that I still think that I should be out there to help." Tim said. Sam smiled at his voice.
"You know what that answer is, Robin. Try batting your eyes him and be sweet when you ask him." Sam said, hearing Tim groan through his comm.
"I was hoping you could convince him if you and Barbara tell him." Tim said. Sam still knew it wouldn't work, but she could understand how he felt. Doing nothing but analysing data and results all day long to try and find a cure.
"I'll give it a try. For you Tim." Sam said. She could feel his joy through the call. She was happy when he was full of hope. Made her feel like she could help at least one Robin in her life.
"Thanks, Scarlet. Talk to you soon." Tim said. She said her goodbyes before the call ended. She felt her energy return slowly, enough to fly back to see if her idea worked. As she flew closer to the Clock tower. She could see Batman at the top of the tower, aiming one of his bat-a-rangs up into the sky, throwing it with little effort.
Sam watched as it rose more and more into the sky, then slowly circle the city. It was safe to say that her idea did work. She could see Batman watching the signatures of different plants being scanned, seeing which one was the most likely Crane would use. As Sam landed next to Batman, she could see that one particular factory was giving off heat like crazy. Sam decided to focus her energy in that area, feeling for anyone that could be linked to Crane or his goons.
She could sense fear, which she was getting tired of, but there was such hate and rage within someone she was scared to even read. Their hate grew the more she read them, but suddenly it was gone. Their emotions, energy, feeling of despair was gone. It was like they dropped off the face of the earth.
But, was soon replaced with intense fear and cruelty. The desire to destroy all around him. To bring the world to his knees. Sam could feel her own energy rage against this one. The monster wanted to come out to play again.
Sam released her hold around the area and looked over to Batman.
"That's got to be the place. I'm getting a lot of energy there." Sam said as Barbara popped up on Batman's wrist comm.
"Sam's right. My scans indicate that a massive amount of heat is coming from Ace Chemicals factory." Barbara said.
Sam agreed with her. It all makes sense once she thought about. The Ace Chemical plant was the only place in the city that had enough chemicals to even make his toxins.
"That's gotta be where Scare Crow is. He would need the supplies in high demand to want to infect the whole city. " Scarlet said.
"Let's get to the chemical plant." Batman said. Sam nodded and lifted herself into the sky once again. They now had a lead and maybe she can put an end to Crane once and for all.
Ace Chemical Plant.
As Sam landed, she could see Gordon ushering his men around, seeing as the giant gates to the plant had been closed. Sam could see Gordon seemed more worried than when she had saw him talking to Batman from before.
"They've got several hostages. Workers that volunteered to stay behind." Commissioner Gordon said.
Sam looked out over at the gates, letting her energy once again flow through the plant, feeling each of the men inside, focusing on their thoughts plant workings and how they felt something bad was going to happen. She look over at Batman as she released her hold again, letting her own become calm and collected.
"He thinks that will stop us. He has another thing coming." Scarlet said. She nodded at Gordon as she began to focus a orb in her hand. Only stopped by Batman, grabbing her arm softly.
"Gordon get your men back to the station. If Crane releases the toxin-" Batman said.
"I'm not leaving without those workers. Once their safe, I'll head back to GCPD." Gordon said, interrupting Batman before he could finish. Sam exhaled harshly. Gordon was always trying to be the hero.
"Please go the minute we have all the workers." Scarlet said.
As Sam watched Gordon take cover behind his car, she could hear a harsh churn of blades moving very fast behind her. She tried around, seeing that there was a man piloting a well-armed helicopter. She tried to sense who he was, but something was wrong. It was like she was cut off from him.
If she could not sense him, then she could take him down. Once again formed an orb in her hand, but was once again stopped by Batman, who moved upfront of her to stand directly in front of the helicopter.
Watching them both just 'stare down' at each other, Sam could see that the man was trying to fire something, but it seemed that he couldn't, pulling away behind the plant walls. Sam did not wait for Batman's approval and flew after the helicopter.
"Scarlet!" Batman yelled after her. She ignored him as she landed on one of the gate towers and looked over the area. Seeing the helicopter land somewhere behind the main part of the chemical plant, she sneered at the could feel her anger rise. Before she could go after him, she felt a hand tug back on her shoulder. Her rage turned to see the dark Knight glare at her.
"Scarlet, do not fly in without looking over the area." Batman said. Sam felt guilt rise in her chest, she did not know why she just flew off like that. As if nothing in the world was going to stop her from getting to him.
"Sorry. I don't know why I flew off like that." Sam said. Seeing his stare soften seeing how she was regretful on what she did.
"It's fine. Let's find the workers and stop Scare Crow." Batman said. He looked over at a junction box and noticed a few guards.
Sam smiled as she lifted herself up in the air slightly. She allowed her energy to flow through her hands and with a single thought, she slammed her body above where the guard were, knocking them all out. When she looked up at Batman, giving him a thumbs up, she felt a flick of a familiar energy. It was warm and inviting, something she needed so desperately and just like last time, it disappeared. Leaving her empty once again.
Sam looked all around, while Batman patched Oracle into the system. She wanted to know where he was. He was here.
Jason was here!
Sam nearly flew away from Batman before she could hear him say that he needed help rescuing the workers. Sam clenched her fists and nearly told Batman to hell with it, she wanted to be away from here and just find him. But, she needed to help her father. He needed her.
"Scarlet, there is a worker over in the hanger there" Batman said. Sam nodded as she let a small energy orb in her hands and allowed her vision, letting the monster out of its cage for a few minutes, letting its power of vision push through to her eyes.
Her vision became blood red, seeing different souls all over the island, many carrying supplies or weapons and others driving vehicles. She could see the flames of the sinned burn deep red as the volunteers glow a bright green flame, seeing that the innocence of their actions from the past had shined through.
"Oracle, did you get anything else from their files?" Batman asked through his comm. Sam ignored most of the conversation, hearing something about gathering troops and heavy equipment into the city a little at a time.
"Their leader is rumoured among them to be ruthless. Goes by the name of Arkham Knight. But, according to their files, there is no records of an Arkham Knight in the asylum." Oracle said. The name gave Sam a blast of cold chills. Someone from the asylum was running this show with Crane? Were they as crazy as him or was he just a cold-blooded leader? She would have to judge for herself when she can meet him face to face.
"Oracle, look up any of the Arkham inmates that had any military or background training in militia covert work. Anyone that gives you any hint at who this guy is." Batman said. Sam listened in on their conversation, keeping her attention fixed on one of the volunteers.
"I'll take this guy. You go and get the other." Batman said. Sam nodded and leaped into the air, keeping her calm and cool as she softly landed on the small lofts roof. Her eyes twitched again as she could see six of the previous guards and the volunteer tied up in the corner.
Sam slowed her breathing, allowing her energy to build in her right hand, forming the orb that burned brighter and brighter. Before she unleashed a single drop, she absorbed all of the energy and melted a hole big enough for her to fit and just as fast slammed the remaining energy through the room, knocking out all the guards and keeping the volunteer safe from harm. As she slowly levitated down into the room, she noticed a small switch that looked very important to be used. She made her way over to the switch and flipped it to the other side, watching it flash a solid green before she heard the doors to the plant open. Sam smiled to herself, seeing that now they had an opportunity to take on the tanks that were crawling around the plant.
Sam then quickly made her way to the volunteer, untying him from the post, allowing him a moment to rest and catch his breath.
"You have to stop him." The volunteer said.
"I know. Crane won't get away with this." Sam said. She could see that the man was worried about something. That wasn't anything new but she could see something else in his eyes. Something he knew. She could feel his anxiety rise.
He did know something.
"Sir, if you know anything, please tell me." Sam said. He could see him waver a bit, feeling his fear become worse.
"He made us give him the codes. He said he would make us live our worst fears if we didn't. Tony stood up to him and it didn't end well. There was blood coming out of his eyes and ears and his nose. It was awful. I will never forget his screams." The volunteer said. Sam instantly felt her blood boil. Crane was gassing people to the point of killing them. She wanted nothing but to kill him, but she had to focus. There were still innocents that she need to save.
"What's your name?" Sam asked him. He seemed to feel a sense of familiarity hearing someone ask about himself than about the whole situation.
"My friends call me Chuck." Chuck said. Sam smiled at him, seeing some relief wash over him.
"Chuck, I'm going to get you to safety. You have to trust me, okay?" Sam asked, seeing him immediately nod at her.
His permission was all she needed, before letting her energy flow through her feet, concentrating on the shape she wanted to make. Allowing it to take form and come to life, she formed a bubble around herself and Chuck, seeing his surprised look gave her a small sense of excitement. She wanted him to know that he could be safe with her, so she willed the bubble to go slowly as they flew through the ceiling and was in view of the tanks, now pointing straight at them.
Sam braced herself as one opened fire on them, making Chuck uneasy. Before Sam could do anything see could hear the hum of a familiar engine as it somehow was in the air next her for a few seconds before landing in front of the tanks, watching a few be blown away. Sam smiled as she heard a voice through her comm.
"Get the volunteer to safety. I can handle these few." Batman said. Sam nodded, lifting the bubble up faster, hearing Chuck exclaim to her that he was afraid of heights. Sam tried to make it better as she placed closer to her as they went through the door way and landed safely near Jim.
The look on his face was more than enough as she released the bubble and allowed Chuck to hurry over to the squad car, stopping for a short moment to mouth a 'thank you' to her, Sam smiled again, looking over to Jim, seeing he had ushered the worker to safety and was giving her a look she had not seen in a while.
Appreciation.
Sam merely allowed her energy to flow through her feet, allowing her to fly quickly into the air and re-entering the plant once again, this time seeing destroyed tanks and knocked out militia everywhere.
She would never get over how much damage control Batman could do in just a few minutes. Sam began to walk among the aftermath of battling Batman, seeing many of pieces spread everywhere, feeling nothing from the wreckage, coming to the conclusion that they were remotely controlled, seeing there was no bodies or blood anywhere. She should have known that Batman would not fire on anyone, whether they were wanting to kill him or not. She looked up to see one of the chimneys began bellow and growl with smoke emanating from it.
Crane was inside. She could stop this right now. She could end him and stop all of the pain and fear he had caused, and it would be a better world without him. She didn't give it a second thought, allowing her body fly towards the structure, until she felt that same energy again.
The warmth, inviting feeling of belonging overtook her. She was herself again, feeling happy and almost free once again. She could feel her heart sing until the energy disappeared again, leaving her empty once again. Her body slammed to the ground, creating a small crater of the rough old road, but her body felt worse from the energy being gone than falling to the earth.
Jason is still here. She could feel him. He was moving around. Was the military after him? Was he being forced to be here like the volunteers? She needed to know. Her need to know was so great, she almost didn't recognize that there were a lot of men circling in on Batman, feeling them ready themselves for something important.
Sam decided to take care of them first, she needed her father to be safe before she could run after Jason. She hoped she would not regret going after him.
Saving the last worker
Batman could feel that something was off when he entered the small building. How the worker was secluded in another room from him. Nothing of importance was with him and the way the worker was tied up, he could feel something was up. As he approached the battered worker, he readied himself, knowing that it was nothing but an ambush.
"Help me out of here." Volunteer screams. Batman used his one of his bat-a-rangs to cut the man loose before hearing several thuds land above him. He knew it.
The ceiling exploded above him, revealing several foot soldiers landing down from metallic rope, training their weapons on him the second their feet hit the ground. Batman watched as each one spread out from each other, giving no room for him to manoeuvre around them if he could. Batman admired them about that. They were not mindless minions he was so used to fighting. They had brains after all. Though, their commander had yet to enter the room.
Just before he could try and nap out a plan to knock out any of them, one single man landed in the middle of them. His armour different from the others, his plates covered in the Arkham symbol and his mask lighting up with a wired patchy blue paired with bold white lines to define his hidden eyes. Batman assumed that the mask was not just to hide his face and his assumption was correct when he heard him speak.
"We have you, Batman. You are not going anywhere." Arkham Knight said. Batman could see someone creeping up behind them, keeping themselves low and quiet to keep the element of surprise on their side. He knew instantly that Sam was going to show off again.
Sam was right after all to come to save her father, seeing that at least six men aimed their guns at him while he was out in the open. She tried to keep herself calm until she heard one of them speak.
"Don't shoot at the chest, that's where the armour is the strongest, sort of a trick with the symbol. Aim for the shoulders and hips areas. That's where the weakest points of the armour is at." The seventh man said.
Sam was frozen. How did he know about his weak points of his armour? Did he somehow get Intel on Batman? Was it leaked somehow? He was in trouble. Sam did not resist when her cage door opened, letting the monster come out to play. She felt a small part of herself vanish behind the monstrous energy she had held back for a while. Before she would let it out little at a time, fearing what would happen if she let it take full control. But, her strength was not going to be enough to stop this man. She needed more. She needed the beast to run wild for a bit. Allowing the claws to come forth, they scratch at the ground slightly, her teeth being replaced by sharp white fangs, short fur began to cover her body as her feet grew mirroring paws of her demon dog slaves, her eyes were no longer her own, the bloodshot eyes of the monster came through and they were thirsty for blood.
"Yeah... He's not going anywhere for a while." Arkham tells Crane on the other line. That was her cue. She allowed her energy to build until it emanated from body, giving off heat and melting anything around her.
Scarlet cracks her knuckles and snickers.
"Time to show Batman what I've improved on." Scarlet said.
Scarlet pulls back her arm and a red energy ball begins to form in her hand. She jumps over the half-blown wall and slams the ball into the centre of the group. She ignored the look of horror on the workers face and let the beast take charge. She let her blood lust she had kept lock up for so long be unleashed and it felt so good.
She could hear one of the soldiers shout in fear as she slammed them across the room, focusing more on the man talking to Batman, watching him narrowly escape her rage, somehow locking gazes before he flew off in a helicopter. She would deal with him later.
Another soldier yelled incoherently at her as she rush toward him, giving off a death like appearance to the men before grabbing his weapon and smashing it in half like it was a rotten stick. She could feel their confidence fade and be replaced with complete terror and she loved every minute of it. Grabbing the man's face, she applied pressure to his mouth and nose as she slowly allowed him to suffocate, only to be stopped by another, firing at her.
"What the hell is she? She looks like a monster!" Solider exclaims. Sam smiled evilly at him as she formed a small orb in her right and gave it a small flick, sending it spinning out of control towards him, blasting him to the wall. She could feel his very breath smacked out of him. She relished it. Feeling that they were being punished for their sins.
She felt amazing. The energy that flowed through her gave her such strength and power. She would never have to hold back. She could let it all burn. Let the ones who had done wrong burn and suffer.
Sam froze for a second. Her thought were no longer her own, Cerberus was taking over. She couldn't allow his influence to be so strong that she would be lost again. She only wanted the monster to come out for a few minutes at the most. She needed control. She felt her body scream out as she forced the monster, feeling it roar and bite for control again. She would not let it run wild again.
When she knew it was locked away, her eyes, teeth, hands, feet and body was her own, she formed another orb in her left hand and aimed it at the rest of the men around her, allowing a small wave to implode toward them, knocking them out quickly.
"Like what I've done with the place? Makes it more homie!" Scarlet exclaimed, trying to forget that she had just gone savage in front of Batman and an innocent.
"All units fall back. Do not engage Scarlet. I repeat, do not engage Scarlet." The Arkham Knight commanded.
"Oh, no. You don't get to get away that easy!" Scarlet asked. She saw that all of them pulled away from her and ran like defeated dogs with their tails between their legs. Before she could even think about going after them, she hurried over to where Batman was closed off, noticing that he did not look at her. She knew he would be either disappointed or afraid of what she had done, but she was thinking more about him than herself and she was not regretful of her decision.
"Follow him. I'll deal with Crane. Be careful." Batman said. Sam noticed a hint of anger in his voice that made her wonder. Was he mad at what this guy said or angier at her for letting the beast out? Perhaps now she can try and show him that she is still herself.
"Hey. It's me remember?" Scarlet said as she ran for the edge of the roof and jumped into the sky. Not looking back at the one man she knew and respected so much had been disappointed at what she had done for something so small.
Scarlet keened her eyes for any unusual heat signatures. For some reason, the Arkham Knight had a familiar energy. She closed her eyes and shifted her pupils to her second stage. Her fear of losing control became lost to her when she had his energy fleeting away at a fast pace, racing across the city.
"Aha! I've got you." Scarlet said as she dived for a moving Hummer. She landed in front of the moving tank, scaring the driver to death, making him veer off at hit a nearby street light.
The crash caused the driver to be flung out of the windshield. She watched him fly a few feet before he crashed into a convenient pill of discarded cardboard boxes on the side of the street. She still waited a moment. The man that crashed was not the one she wanted.
The Arkham Knight was jerked forward and he was beginning to groan from the restraining seat belt around him. Seeing that the crash did not hinder his ability to move, she watched him angrily struggle to not lose consciousness.
"Hey, wanna be! How about we have a little chat?" Scarlet said. She waited to feel his anger rise, to see his rage boil and fester so that she could see why he was so angry, but his emotions were controlled. This surprised her a bit but, she would give it time.
The Arkham Knight stepped out of car and pulled out his two pistols, aiming them at her at first, but then slowly lowered them down. Sam was puzzled by this, but still waited. She knew he would pop sooner or later.
"Thought you'd never ask." The Arkham Knight said. He made his way slowly over to her, she watched his pace closely, waiting he was only a few feet away.
Scarlet form a small energy field around them and turn the inside black so no one could see them from the outside. She needed to get some info out of him without having any of his back up coming up and distracting him. She looked a small amount of energy into her feet and altered the frequency of her own energy to see if he would tell the truth or lie.
"I don't want an audience." Scarlet said. She saw him lift his face up, giving a gesture of laughter. It frustrated her to no end when bad guys did this.
"Fine by me, sweet heart." The Arkham Knight said. She nearly hissed at the very way his voice hitched slightly through his mask. She sneered at him.
"Don't call me sweet heart. What do you think you will achieve gassing the city with fear toxin? Scare Crow will double cross you and you'll be choking on the gas yourself." Scarlet said. Looking for some sort of insight into the mad man.
The Arkham Knight laughed as they began to circle around the dome. Sam never once letting her energy out of the ground, difficult it was but, she needed real answers from him.
"I already know this, sweet heart. We just have a common goal. To see Batman suffer, for him to lose everything he loves and then end him." The Arkham Knight said. She could feel the hatred rise for a moment before it was closed off again. This was weird. It was like he was intentionally blocking her out. She didn't know anyone in the world that could do that. Well, except for one.
"What did he ever do to you? Did he leave you to rot in a cell?" Scarlet asked. She wanted to rule him up, make angry on purpose.
"You could say that. I just want him dead. Thought it pretty clear when my men were about to open fire on him until you crashed the party. Now that you are here, it changes everything." The Arkham Knight said. This small accusation made Sam even more angry. There was still one thing she needed to know before she could go any further.
"Changes what? And why haven't you tried to kill me? I mean we are in a dome where no one can see us, and you have a gun." Scarlet said. Giving him a chance to speak the truth. So far, his responses had been half-truths. She couldn't read him.
"Because I know it won't do any good on you. You have impenetrable skin. Nothing can get through it. So there's no point in wasting my bullets." The Arkham Knight said. Sam froze. He knew about her too? That was impossible. Her words slipped out before she could control her eagerness.
"How do you even know that bullets don't hurt me? Have you been following me? Are you a creepy stalker with crazy psychological trauma?" Scarlet asked. She was beginning to feel a bit vulnerable and she didn't like it.
"I've been watching you for a while. Everything has led to this. Everything ends tonight." The Arkham Knight said. He sounded arrogant and she didn't like it.
"What's stopping me from taking you in right now?" Scarlet asked. She felt a small hint of pride from him when she noticed he holstered his guns and pulled out something else.
The Knight pulled out a small screen from his belt and showed her a video feed of batman removing the canisters. There was red and green lights flashing all around him. The sound of an alarm ringing in the background. The plant was going to explode.
"Because, if you take me in, who will save him?" The Knight said. She could feel a laugh coming on, but he never did. But, from what she could read of him and by what he was showing her, he was telling the truth and she did not like it.
"Dad..." Scarlet whispered to herself.
"You have a choice, Scarlet. Either you save him, or you take me in, and he dies. Know that this will not be the last time we meet." The Knight said. That she could feel was true. If anything, they both knew that, and she would not let him go again.
Scarlet reluctantly removed the dome and flew into the sky but stopped before going any further. He needed to know that he would not be without her for long.
"Just so you know, I can find you no matter where you are. So, I'll be coming for you, Arkham Knight." Scarlet said.
Scarlet flew off back to the chemical factory.
"I'll be waiting, Sam. I'll be waiting." The Knight said. Seeing that his men finally came for him. The next stop on his list was the clock tower.
Batman awoke to the Joker calling his name and in the distance, the sound Donetsk and glass breaking against something. He could hear a familiar voice, but he couldn't respond yet. Something was gripping at his tongue for a moment.
"Dad! Get up! We have to get out of here!" Scarlet yelled as she checked his body for injuries. She could only find one in his mind. She melded her mind with his and she was shocked to see green over most of his mind. Before she could remove herself from his mind, she felt the same energy try to implant itself in hers. She felt a rush of want and murder to the next person, the mere thought of killing someone in a cruel and sadistic way just to make a bad joke, brought her monster something she thought it didn't need. Joy. She secluded this immense amount of energy and pushed it back, allowing herself and her father to be free for some time.
"So, you're still alive." Joker said. Sam nearly made an orb in her hand strong enough to take down a whole building, but then realized something. She did not feel his energy here. He was a figment. Something their brains were infected with from something in the plant. But, the main cause was something she knew all too well.
"Jokers blood. It's finally taking hold." Scarlet said. This one moment she wished would never come to fruition. Batman would slowly turn into a different version of the Joker.
"You have to-" Scarlet began to say until she was cut off by Batman. His voice holding no hesitation.
"I'm taking Scare Crow down first. I'll lock myself away after." Batman said. Sam knew he could not be persuaded. One of the many things she both hated and respected about him.
"If that is your wish, father. But he cannot infect me. If he tried, Cerberus wouldn't be too happy about it." Scarlet said. She kept pushing the thoughts of what the Joker wanted away and allowed the will of Cerberus to keep him at bay.
"Is there a way for you to block his hold on me?" Batman asked. As if knowing what she was doing, she nodded her head quickly.
"I can keep him off for a few hours. But, it will be risky. I'll have to keep the connection between our minds open." Scarlet said. She could feel Joker had a more attached hold on her father and she did not like it.
"Do it. If it becomes too much, cut the connection. Did you find the Arkham Knight?" Batman asked. Before she could answer him, another explosion erupted from above, causing shrapnel and pieces of the plant to fall all over them. She quickly formed a dome around them, making the many pieces bounce off the dome.
"How about we talk about it after we leave? I don't want to be looking for your dismembered body all over Gotham." Scarlet said. She did not want to lose anyone else.
Scarlet flew a few inches above Batman pointing to his car. Batman quickly got into his car and drove out of the chemical plant's area and continued to until he reached the other side of the bridge.
When the car came to a stop, Batman jumped out and walked over to Scarlet who landed a few feet away from him.
"The Arkham Knight. What did he say?" Batman asked. Hearing the command boom from voice. She was still being somewhat punished for what she had done earlier.
"You know, the usual I hate Batman deal. Wants to kill you. I sensed a lot of hate and sorrow when he spoke, what I could feel from. But some of it changed when he started to talk about me. Like he was hurting just talking about my powers." Scarlet said. She noticed only a small amount of pain when he did speak about her, but she brushed it off as something abnormal.
"He knows about you?" Batman asked. Sam was a bit shocked by his curiosity with her own identity she may need to take care of.
"Yeah somehow he does. He knew that shooting me would be pointless. I don't understand why he didn't fight me." Scarlet said. Her own curiosity was peaked more, needed to see him again.
"We may have to figure that out later. Oracle has been kidnapped. We better go to GCPD and let Gordon know." Batman said. Oracle was kidnapped? He was counting on her to go back to Batman. He knew she would choose him and not send the 'Arkham Knight' to jail! She really needed to see him now! He would pay for predicting her movements.
"Oh-ho! This should be fun! I need my popcorn. The fear, the anger, he'll pop like zit when he hears you got her kidnapped. And it's all your fault!" Joker said, laughing the whole time.
"That's a bomb that will blow up in your face, Batman. I don't know if he'll understand that his daughter was working for you the whole time." Scarlet said ignoring the Jokers remark. Telling Jim about Barbara what does for them was not going to go over well.
"He deserves to know. In the meantime. Track down the Arkham Knight. See if you can get any more info from him. If he has taken liking to you, use that to your advantage. Draw him out. Get him to slip up anything where Barbara is. Radio me if you need any help." Batman said.
"Sure. Any ideas on how to get his attention?" Scarlet asked.
"Oh, a great movie plot! How to draw a psychotic stalker into a run-down sorry excuse for of an alley as the damsel is saved by said psychotic stalker. Its genius!" Joker said.
"I may regret linking our minds, but it'll give me a hint at where you are at and if Joker tries to break through again." Scarlet said.
"Try to be your human self for a while. Maybe he won't recognize you or he will and rescue you as well." Batman said.
"Ok. I'll give it a shot." Scarlet said. Sam had a better idea. Something more evident to get his attention.
Batman hopped back into his car and drove off.
Sam flew high in the sky, scanning over the city. She needed him to know that she was the one who needed to see him and not the Batman. She let her eyes shift to her beast eyes and focused on certain activity that was benefiting this 'Arkham Knight' and noticed that besides the rioting and other low life that was running through the streets, she noticed that there was some interestingly painted cars with rockets welded to the sides.
Sam smiled to herself. The high and mighty never learn. She focused her energy through her hands and drew up a few symbols in the sky, each one radiating in a red hue, slowly vibrating in the sky, before a puff of smoke appeared and travelled several more hell hounds of her design. Each one waiting for her command. She petted one at a time, slipping a certain amount of her energy into their eyes, giving her instructions directly into their brain.
After she was done, she ushered them away, giving them permission to carry out her orders. When they disappeared, she smiled wildly and watched her art come to life.
For every one of the specific cars that were marked for the Arkham Knight, her hell hounds would pop in front of them until they went in to the direction she desired, scaring them into certain corners and roads that would look to form a certain shape of some kind and allowing her to see it come to fruition.
It was an arrow, pointing to one spot. On one of his towers that she had so happen to take out with ease. Now, all she had to do was wait until he noticed that his men were not driving in a coordinating way. And she did not have to wait long hearing a certain grappling sound that she knew very well. She almost expected it to be Batman with the sound, but she was pleased to see it was the man she was looking for.
She was distracted slightly, seeing Joker waltz behind her, laughing at something meaningless and sitting down on a torn wooden box.
"You'll have to tell him it's your fault, Bats. And when you do, I'll be right there every step of the way." Joker said.
Scarlet sighed. They needed to find a cure for Batman and soon. She watched as he landed across from her, holding something that looked like a human.
"You didn't have to destroy one of my posts just to get my attention. And redirecting my men to drive in an arrow around the city. Very clever." The Knight said.
"Well you don't exactly have a phone to call. I figured having a little fun would bring you out." Scarlet said.
It was then that she noticed someone in his arms. The wild colour of her hair gave her away and Sam allowed her energy to flow through her hands. She wanted to kill him where he stood but she knew she couldn't.
"Drop Oracle. Now." Scarlet said, her voice dripping with hate. She was holding back her anger with everything she had, even hearing the beast howl more and more with anger rising again.
"Oh well I can't do that. She's a part this just like you are. Which reminds me." The Knight said. He dropped Oracle down so fast, she almost thought he did it intentionally, she sprinted to grab her and fly her to safety.
In a flash he was behind her. Pulled her arms behind her back and hand cuffed her. She initially brushed it off, letting her strength break them off, only she was not free. Her hands were still behind her back. She looked back at her hands and tried again to break it, but she couldn't.
"What the?" She exclaimed.
"Ancient Greek metal. I read up on you. Since you are powered by the great Cerberus, the only thing that can contain you is mythological weapons." The Knight said. Sam sneered at the man. How did he find ancient Greek metal?
"But handcuffs are not an ancient weapon so how the hell can't I break it?" Scarlet asked. She noticed him walk back over to Oracle, not picking her up but merely stood next to her.
"Simple. It's hard to find these weapons, even believing they exist is almost impossible, but if you can find the right minerals in a certain hidden area, the certain material from a certain three headed beast, and not let him know you stole it. Refined it and made certain hand cuffs to hold you down.
"You got into the underworld and stole rocks from Styx river? Are you insane?" Scarlet asked. She couldn't believe what he had done? She couldn't believe it. Her anger becoming harder to control.
Scarlet began growl as her second began to take hold. Until Jokers memories flashed before her.
"Collen? Is that you?" Barbara said.
"No no no no. Not this." Scarlet said. She could feel the memory. The feeling of friendship and comfort was evident. Joker was using her anger to force his thoughts and memories through.
She watched as Barbara opened the door.
"No! Barbara don't!" Scarlet screamed. She felt her energy work against her. She was being reduced to nothing.
"Scarlet! What's wrong? Talk to me!" Barbara yelled. Sam was too immersed in the memory. She could feel Joker trying harder and harder.
"What the hell is wrong with her?" The Knight asked.
"Candy gram!" Joker said.
Scarlet cried as she heard the fire of the gun and seeing Barbara fall.
"Come on. Show a little spine!" Joker said.
Tears fell from Scarlet's eyes. She remembered Barbara describing the pain for only a second and then nothing. She couldn't move. Having to watch Joker take pictures and then leave. She then felt something else. She felt rage from her beast, it's own rage scared the Joker influence away and began to take control.
"I wish I had killed you! I wish I could have choked the life out of you!" Scarlet yelled. She allowed it to come out just a little. She needed to let out this energy before it ate at her.
"Who is she talking to?" The Knight asked.
Scarlet began to breathe heavily as her second form to her place. The monster she tries to control began to break away the hand cuffs.
"These might have been able to hold my weak, pathetic host. But, they are weak compared to me and I will not be sympathetic to you." Scarlet said.
Scarlet broke free and tackled the Arkham Knight to the ground. The beast growled at him and began seeping its energy on to him, trying to cook him alive inside to suit. Sam was wanting to break him out, see who he was and bring him to justice. Death was the justice.
"Units 3 and 4 I need you to get the hostage out of here. I'll deal with Scarlet." The Knight said. She noticed three men grab Oracle and rush off the roof, hearing more men yell that they had to leave right away. He pushed her off slightly, but the monster would not allow it, she kept her energy around him, suffocating him.
Scarlet growled as she slammed her foot on to the Knights chest only for him to dodge it at the last second.
"Are you crazy? You'll destroy this whole building. You'll kill Barbara!" The Knight said. The monster smiled evilly at him. Evident that Sam was not in control.
"Why would you care? Why would you even be concerned about her safety?" Scarlet asked.
When he didn't answer, she reached her hand out and released her claws, jabbing them into his leg, hearing the skin tear and feeling the blood flow off her hand.
"Ahh!" The Knight cried out.
"Come on, psycho!" The monster yelled, it was begging him to plead for his life. Give it the satisfaction.
The Arkham Knight grasped his wound, seeing that the woman in front of him was gone, the monster was in control and it wanted his blood. At the same time, had planted a small tracker in his leg. Just in case.
"Stop! This isn't you!" The Knight said.
"You don't know me!" Scarlet screamed.
She pushed him toward the edge of the roof and started to charge an energy ball in her hand.
"Sam, stop it. I know this isn't you!" The Knight said.
Scarlet stopped. His statement froze her in her tracks. She released him and backed away from him. He said her name. The monster was frozen long enough to give her control. The beast stayed out though, her appearance not changing for anything until she had some answers.
"You know my name?" Scarlet asked.
The Arkham Knight didn't say anything. He shouldn't have said her real name. For all he knew, she may have just figured out who he was. No avoiding it now.
"I know your name from your father. Had a nice chat with him." The Knight said.
"You spoke to my father? He isn't here is he?" Scarlet asked. Her birth father was not one to be trifled with. His mind was powerful, and he could outsmart anybody.
She knew she shouldn't ask but she had to know. If he was here, she would have a real problem on her hands.
"No. He's not here. I made sure he didn't come with me when he wanted in. It was for benefit that I got to you first. If you were even going to be here." The Arkham Knight said.
"What would it benefit if you found me first?" Scarlet asked.
"Sorry. Times up, sweet heart. I've enjoyed the chat, but I have schedule to keep. Goodbye. Until we meet again." The Knight said.
Scarlet tries to stop him but he disappeared in a puff of smoke. His energy signature disappeared, and her monster howled again, but she reigned it in and allowed her human form to take control.
"What was that?" Scarlet asked herself. She was not aware that this Knight had any magical powers to speak of.
Before she could fly off and follow, her com line turned on.
"Scarlet, I need you to come to my location. Gordon has gone on off on his own." Batman said.
"I'm guessing telling Gordon that his daughter has been working for you all this time was a bad idea?" Scarlet asked. She knew it was a bad idea.
"He deserved to know the truth. We need to locate Barbara and the Arkham Knight. I'm having Alfred run through the files of all the inmates that were in Arkham." Batman said.
"Locating the Arkham Knight might be easier than you think. I had another run in with him." Scarlet said. She waited for a second before she could hear his anger through the comm.
"Were you able to place a tracker on him?" Batman asked.
"Actually, yes I was. Though I found out other stuff from him. Bruce, he talked to my father." Scarlet said.
Batman was silent. The Arkham talked to her dad, so he knows who she is.
"Is he in the city?" Batman asked.
"I asked he said no, seemed to be telling the truth. Though he is a psycho so I'm not sure if he's being completely sane. I mean he calls himself the Arkham Knight." Scarlet said.
"We'll figure it out later. Right now, we need to find Barbara." Batman said.
"Ok. I'll start scanning the city." Scarlet said.
The Arkham Knight
"With Barbara with us now, we can move forward with the cloud burst." Crane said.
"And Batman will pay for what he has done. But, Scarlet will not be harmed. She is not part of this." The Knight said.
"I've been meaning to ask. You almost allowed her to know about her father. If she is to know that he is here, then our plan will come crashing down." Crane said.
"He wasn't part of the plan in the first place. I didn't agree to him being here. I wanted to shoot him." The Knight said.
"Control your temper, Knight. As long as she does not interfere with any of our plans. How did the handcuffs do?" Crane asked.
"They worked until she changed. She became a monster." The Arkham Knight said.
"We'll need more supplies then. I'll give Penguin a call. In the meantime, keep our pesky bat friend busy. And deal with Scarlet or I will." Crane said.
"She won't be a problem soon." The Knight said.
So that's the rewrite of chapter One. Thank you Shamhlu for betaing the chapter and the next chapters will be out soon! Thank you!