The Banana Slug: I seriously do NOT know how many chapters this is going to be…

10 chapters. 12. The maximum I want is 15.

So many fuckin' ideas. It's hard to write seriously again, been so damn long…

Young Justice: Halls of Arkham

By The Banana Slug

CHAPTER 4: Did I Kill Anyone?

ARKHAM ISLAND

October 26, 2:07 PM

On the foreboding shores of Arkham, a multitude of police boats surrounded the whole perimeter, with many news helicopters surrounding the island skies like vultures. The GCPD swat teams surrounding the asylum walls with the heaviest artillery.

At the locked-up front gates were Commissioner Jim Gordon and Detective Renee Montoya, staring at it, trying to figure out a way inside, as the helicopters flew above them.

"Goddamn pigs!" growled Gordon, "Don't they have any moral decency at all?"

"They're just covering the area," replied Renee.

"Yeah, gettin' a brand new story to sell and get the only things rats like them care about: Ratings," ranted Gordon. He then looked behind himself, hearing the sound of jet engines.

From behind Gordon landed the Batwing. As soon as it did land, Batman instantly jumped out and walked to Gordon quickly.

"Just you?" joked Gordon.

"No," replied Batman frankly. Gordon and Renee looked to see Martian Manhunter and Superman descend from the sky, and saw Black Canary, Aquaman, and Green Arrow walking from the shore to the three.

"Didn't expect you to bring so many," sighed Gordon in disbelief.

"No offense, Gordon, but our kids are in there," replied Green Arrow, "We need to get them out before those psychos rip them apart."

"What's the situation?" demanded Superman calmly.

"Scarecrow's taken the whole asylum as his, the patients are runnin' around, and we don't know who is dead and alive," replied Gordon with a gruff tone, grabbing a cigar and quickly lighting it when he pressed the cigar in his lips.

"Is there anyway you can contact them?" asked Renee.

"I am able to reach out to them telepathically," explained Martian Manhunter, "And I believe Batman is able to…"

Before he could say anymore, a Channel 5 helicopter began descending near the group. Gordon growled in fury and threw his cigar on the ground.

"I swear to God! I am going to wring that son of a bitch's neck!" he roared as he stomped over to the helicopter. Batman and Superman calmly and quickly walked to the helicopter with Gordon.

Reporter Jack Ryder got out quickly in a torrent of sweat, looking at the three in a worried state.

"I am sorry, you need to vacate the area," calmly ordered Superman, "For your safety."

"That's for damn sure," growled Gordon threateningly.

"No, listen," explained Jack quickly, "I have a transmission from Arkham! It's going on every channel! You need to see this!" They all looked at each other, then did as Ryder revealed and entered the helicopter, looking at the small TV screen inside.

"What's going on in the transmission?" questioned Batman.

"Nothing, it's just static but it's coming from Arkham Asylum," replied Jack, "I know it!"

Suddenly, from the static was heard someone singing a dark and hushed tune as the person tried to contain laughter.

"Heheheh…I had a little monkey. Sent him to the country, fed him on gingerbread, heheh…Along came choo-choo…knocked my monkey koo-koo… and now, my monkey's dead…"

The video received focus and revealed the Joker standing in the asylum cafeteria, holding a gun and a male nurse by the collar, the man was kneeling on the floor, sobbing uncontrollably as Joker stood with a large grin on his face.

"Good evening, ladies and gentleman!" giggled the Joker, "We bring you an announcement from Hell! And not to worry, no giant plants will be killing you this fine evening. We have taken control of the inferno, and are holding the demons hostage. Our demands? Leave. Us. Alone."

Batman and Superman looked at each other with confusion, with the Joker looking at the camera happily and twirling his gun around. "Yes…I did say that right. Just leave us alone. This is our house now. And we really don't want people coming in our home and tracking blood and shit, don't you agree? Besides, the whole place is poison to the good! Any attempt will only make you part of our happy family."

He sighed and looked at his gun lovingly, "Y'know, this reminds me of a joke…for some reason…I think I'll tell you!"

Joker then pressed the gun against the side of the hostage's head and rested his chin on his bald head. "This guy goes to the hospital. Got it? Well, his wife just had a baby and he can't wait to see 'em both! He's ecstatic! He's elated! Most of all, he's nervous! He goes to the doctor and says, "Doc! I'm worried sick! How are they?" The doc looks at him calmly and says, "They're fine! Just fine! Your wife just delivered a healthy baby boy and they are waiting for you in the next room! They're dying to meet you!" And so, the guy rushes to the room without a moment to waste! When he enters, he finds it empty with his wife nowhere in site! "Doc?" he says with a dumbfounded look, turning around. Oh, here comes the clincher! The doctor is behind him with all the nurses and they all yell, "SURPRISE! Your wife's dead and the baby's a spastic!"

He then shoots the man in the head, blood spraying the camera as screams of shock and terror are heard in the background, and the sound of someone yelling at them followed by a hard smack.

"I should be on TV! NYAH HA HAAAA HA HAAA!" laughed the Joker, he then orders with the camera at his face, "No one enters the asylum! No Batmen! No Supermen! No Aquamen! No nobody! Or the hostages all die with a smile on their faces! And don't think we won't know! We will! Who'd miss some thug wearing brightly colored undies. I know I wouldn't! AAAAH HA HAAAAA!"

After that, the transmission ended, returning to the regularly scheduled program. Jack turned off the TV as Superman stood back, shocked by the image of the Joker carelessly killing a man all for some sick joke.

"He's…a monster," growled Superman with hate.

"He'd take that as a compliment," growled Batman, getting out the helicopter and walking to the other members of the Justice League with Gordon at his side.

"What's the situation?" questioned Black Canary.

"Not good," replied Batman, "Joker has hostages, we make any attempt to enter the asylum, we risk their lives. His, or Scarecrow's, only demand is that they are left alone."

"We can't allow that," said Martian Manhunter with a dark tone, "Those hostages are in danger every minute. My niece is in there with those madmen, along with your ward, we need to do something!"

"J'onn, I know the stakes," sighed Batman, resting his head on his forehead, "I should have done this by myself…what was I thinking..."

"Look, we knew the risks," consoled Green Arrow, "They did too, and knowing them, they are kicking serious ass."

Superman walked over to the group, looking at the asylum as windows broke inside. "Are you sure you can't phase into there and rescue the hostages one by one?"

"No, too risky," explained Martian Manhunter, "Besides, if this is Scarecrow we are dealing with, then it means he flooded…" He soon realized his own implications, as did the rest of the League in horror.

"Martian Manhunter, is there anyway we can contact Miss Martian and the rest of the Team?" questioned Aquaman quickly.

"I'll try," replied J'onn with concern. He then called out telepathically, "M'gann! Are you alright?"

"Uncle J'onn! We're in trouble!" she yelled out.

Inside the now tattered main hall, Miss Martian stood near the main gate, using her telekinesis to throw heavy furniture at a beastly assailant, with little to no effect. Superboy was thrown against the wall with a claw mark ruining his shirt, landing next to Miss Martian. He was followed by Robin, he only landed on his feet next to M'gann.

"Keep firing!" yelled Aaron Cash, who was shooting at the inmate with his semi-automatic, his guards following suite.

Suddenly, one guard was grabbed by the beast, growling as he screamed in terror. He wildly shot at the monster, his gun quickly ran out of ammo.

"Help me!" was the last words he said before his head was bitten off. Blood sprayed from his neck, his body limp like a rag doll.

"Oh my…" let out Miss Martian in horror, "It's evil!" The dead body was thrown at Miss Martian who blocked it with her telekinetic powers and dropped it on the floor. She suddenly began to have a coughing fit, falling on her knees as Superboy rushed over and helped her up.

The inmate was the beast known as Waylon Jones…AKA Killer Croc. He was eighteen feet tall with incredibly monstrous muscles and arms as big as tree trunks. He was covered in murky green scales, dark green spikes covering his back, arms and face, red reptilian eyes full of burning hate, and a maw of sharp yellow teeth as jagged as a real crocodile's.

"I…am starving!" he growled, his voice like a gutter in a hurricane, "I…will eat you! Rip your skin! Chew your innards!" With that, he let out a terrifying roar as he ran to the three, grabbing one guard and ripping him in half, the blood spraying on the floor like a splash of water from a large bucket.

Superboy roared back and ran at Croc, slamming his fist into the beast's face with a powerful jump forward. This sent Killer Croc stumbling back, but replied with a swipe to Superboy's side. This blow sent him to the wall again as Croc ran at him. Robin jumped on Croc's back and began slamming his bo stick at the side of his face, causing Croc to stumble around in pain, roaring like a beast. Superboy climbed back up, running at Croc and ramming his fists wildly into Croc's stomach without stop and with super speed.

"Get! Off! ME!" growled Killer Croc, roaring as he grabbed Robin and threw him at Superboy. He caught Robin but, in the distraction, Croc slashed at Superboy, sending him head-first against another wall.

Miss Martian, was terrified during the whole ideal, unable to move. She contemplated throwing more objects at him, using her ability to increase her size and strength, or even try to unlock something in his mind.

However, his beast-like nature frightened her, that she began to question if attacking head-on would be suicide. His strength could easily over-power her in any case, and one mistake she would end up as that guard without a head…or worse. And entering his mind risked hers becoming as fragmented as his.

Before she could actually do something, Croc spun his head directly at her. This act made her want to scream, but all she could do was back away at the door.

"Martian…" growled Killer Croc with a sick and twisted grin, "Gonna eat you up!"

"No! Leave me alone!" pleaded Miss Martian.

"M'gann!" yelled out Superboy, who quickly got up and ran at Croc, "Touch her and I'll…"

Croc quickly grabbed Superboy and slammed him against the floor repeatedly. "Tenderize the meat!" growled Killer Croc with a laugh, "Then…supper time!"

"Leave him alone!" screamed Miss Martian, getting all the courage she could muster up and stomping one step to him.

She stepped back when he glared and snarled at her, she was again backed against the wall as he stomped towards her with Superboy at hand. Robin attempted to get up from the floor, but was too beaten for the moment. Hails of bullets didn't even stop Croc as they bounced off his back, Aaron and his men attacking bravely.

"M'gann!" called out Martian Manhunter in panic, "Talk to me! M'gann! M'GANN!"

Miss Martian stared at Killer Croc's eyes, his eyes like a dragon's. She knew, in her heart, he meant to kill her…and like it. So, her eyes glowed green as she glared at him angrily.

Suddenly, Killer Croc dropped Superboy and grabbed his head, roaring in pain. "AAAAGH! MY HEAD! MY HEAD IS ON FIRE!" he roared in agony, he continued to thrash about and hold his head in pain. He quickly turned around and bolted out the door, running past the guards as he ran out of the main hall through the examination room.

"I'll find you, bitch!" he roared in the distance, "I'll find you and eat you! Gnaw on your bones! Devour your flesh! Kill you, kill you, kill you…"

Miss Martian watched Croc run away, feeling empty for a moment. Superboy grunted as he got up, walking over and helping Robin up.

"What did you do to him?" asked a bewildered Superboy.

"…I…made him think his head was on fire," replied an ashamed Miss Martian, looking down at the Robin and Superboy looked at each other in surprise. "Miss Martian…that's kinda…" let out Robin, "Creepy."

"He was going to eat me!" argued Miss Martian, offended greatly, "Was I suppose to let him?"

"No," answered Superboy, "But…that seems a bit extreme."

"It's…it's temporary," sighed Miss Martian, looking away with shame, then letting out, "Are my…psychic powers…that dangerous?" Neither Superboy nor Robin could answer, they just stared at her.

"That son of a bitch deserved it!" added Aaron Cash furiously, walking to the two, "Beast took my hand once! He deserves to be in hell for a while in his worthless life."

"Aaron, will you and your men be alright by yourselves?" asked Robin, walking over to him.

"Yeah, we'll keep up the fort," Aaron answered with a smile, "Just lock the door on your way out."

Robin nodded and turned to M'gann and Connor, saying telepathically, "Okay, I'll go find Artemis and find Dr. Arkham. Superboy and Miss Martian, you find Scarecrow. Aqualad could use your help."

"M'gann? Are you alright?" called out Martian Manhunter.

"I'm…I'm fine…" replied Miss Martian, "We were just attacked by Killer Croc, but we drove him off. We're fine now…Uncle J'onn?"

She was given no response again, she shook her head and said, "Strange, I keep on loosing mental links like a phone in a subway tunnel."

"You've got to be kidding!" groaned Robin.

"I don't know the problem either," added Superboy, "We tried to warn you that Croc was behind you, then…"

"What in Poseidon's name were you three!" yelled out Aqualad angrily, "I have been calling you for minutes! What is a matter with you all! One failure and I'm out of the loop? One damn simulation failure? Is that it? Is it?"

"Kaldur! Calm down!" consoled Miss Martian, surprised by Aqualad's tantrum, "I've been experiencing problems with everyone! You're not the only one…I'm sorry…"

"…No…I don't know why I lost my cool there," let out Aqualad, "I…don't know what came over me…I'm just…so tense…"

Aqualad was walking down the hallways, looking around every corner in case of any surprises to come.

"What happened during the silence?" asked Aqualad, "Any luck with Artemis?"

"I'm here," she called out, "What's this about silence? I just suppose you all had everything under control."

"I've been losing people left and right, as if your brains are keeping me out for some reason…" explained Miss Martian, "I can't explain it right now…I'm not quite sure what's going on."

"Any luck on finding Dr. Arkham?" questioned Aqualad.

"I haven't seen him for a while," replied Artemis, "He has to be around here somewhere…this place is like some sort of maze!"

"That's Arkham Asylum for you," joked Robin.

As Aqualad was walking, he noticed a commotion coming from one room, laughter and sobbing. He pressed his back against the wall and listened from near the doorway, hearing voices on the other side. He poked his head slightly out and saw the Joker, waving around a gun and a tuna-fish sandwich. Many of the hostages were there, including Dr. Harleen Quinzel, who was sitting on a chair and looking directly at the floor. Since her sweater was taken by the Joker, her coat was buttoned up with her cleavage seen along with part of her red bra.

"Boys! I do believe this plan is one HELL of a success!" sighed the Joker happily, "Agree?"

"Hell yeah!" laughed a second voice, revealing to be a large man in a inmate uniform, holding a shotgun and resting it on his shoulder. A defining feature was his black mask, it looked like a skull with glaring red eyes coming from the eyeholes.

"A whole asylum to ourselves! Running amok and killing people left and right!" listed down Joker, "Blood and sex throughout the hospice! And all the Sloppy Joes we can eat!"

"But what about the hostages?" asked Black Mask, pointing his shotgun at the terrified masses, "When do we ice 'em?"

"All in good time, sweetie. Trust the Scarecrow," cooed the Joker, "Once we are done with the brats, we'll splatter their brains and make our daring escape from Arkham! Capiche, cupcake?"

"Capiche, and call me cupcake again, I'll slit your fuckin' throat," growled Black Mask, pointing the shotgun at the unscathed Joker.

"Okey-dokey, cupcake!" he said, then giggling as Black Mask growled in annoyance. Joker then grabbed Harleen's arm, causing her to yelp in fright as she was dragged by him. He exited the room as Aqualad quickly hid behind another corner. With Harleen still in hand, he turned to Black Mask and called out, "I'm takin' the doc for a spin, y'see any brats try and enter the place, ice as many hostages as needed! Don't bother with the jailbait, they won't attack if you got the upper hand, 'kay?"

"Good thinkin', why didn't I think'a that?" snarked Black Mask, loading his shotgun as a cadre of gun-wielding maniacs were behind Black Mask.

"Harvey should be down to help ya with the crowd," told Joker, "Just to keep ya company. Remember, dinner at eight, bed by nine. Mommy and Daddy will be back by eleven in a state. Nyeheheheh!" With that, he dragged a shocked Harleen down the hall, him tugging her all the way out of sight.

"Joker and Black Mask have hostages," informed Aqualad, "They are planning on executing all of them if we try and save them."_

"What do we do?" asked Superboy as he, Robin, and Miss Martian were in the middle of the examination room, ready to exit into the halls. He gave a quick cough, which passed fairly quickly. "Damn."

"Scarecrow is our prime objective, take out Scarecrow, and then we will take the hostages," replied Aqualad calmly.

"What if they execute them if we attack Scarecrow?" pointed out Miss Martian.

"Scarecrow wanted us to stay inside, he wanted any help to stay outside, don't you see?" revealed Robin, "He wants us! Not the hostages! Not the Justice League! And definitely not Batman! Us!"

"That doesn't make sense! Why would he want us?" questioned Artemis.

"I…think I might now why…" admitted Aqualad, "I tried to tell you earlier…but…The Joker said something to me…about what happened to us back in October 16..."

As he was about to explain, Miss Martian looked over to the glass window not broken by Superboy, and saw a white monster in her reflection, staring right back at her and in her posture.

She screamed and held her hands out at it, using her powers to shatter the window and ran to the corner, hiding herself in her own cape.

"M'gann!" called out Superboy, rushing over and resting his hands on her shoulder.

"Please! Don't look at me!" she let out in fear.

"M'gann, look at me," demanded Superboy sternly. She did so slowly, she panted and looked into his eyes with a bead of sweat from her brow.

"I…I thought I saw something…" she let out.

Robin looked at the two without saying a word, a dark frown was present as he was beginning to realize what exactly is going on. "Superboy, I need you to back away."Superboy looked at him, only budging an inch as Robin knelt in front of her. He gently grabbed her cheeks and looked into her eyes, which were dilated and pacing around slightly.

"What's wrong?" asked Superboy.

"Let me see your eyes," replied Robin, grabbing his cheek much to his displeasure and looking directly into his eyes, also dilated and twitching around.

"Robin!" called out Superboy as he raced to Aaron, checking his pupils much to his confusion. They were not dilated and perfectly normal.

"What? This doesn't…" let out Robin, he grunted as he ran to the examination room and picked up a piece of glass, and lifted his mask slightly. He looked to see his own pupils dilated like Superboy's and Miss Martian's."Robin! What's going on?" questioned Miss Martian in frustration.

"We've been infected!" yelled back Robin, "This whole place is filled with Fear Toxin!"

"What?" growled Superboy in shock.

"No…" let out Miss Martian in fear.

"…Fear Toxin!" called out Martian Manhunter telepathically, "The whole asylum is filled with Fear Toxin! Can you hear me!"

"…We hear you, Uncle J'onn…and we know," she let out sadly, "We've been infected…"

"Are you kidding me?" Artemis nearly screamed out, "Fear toxin? That's impossible!"

"No, it is…" added Aqualad, "Why else would we have complications speaking to each other? The fear toxin is messing with our minds, shutting each other out and in back and forth!"

"How could this happen…" let out Miss Martian, Superboy walked over and held her arms, resting her head against his chest for comfort.

Suddenly, the PA system turned on, releasing a small jingle, and an all-too-familiar voice was heard. "Perhaps…I could explain how this happened…"

Robin glared his eyes and replied with a hateful and angry, "Scarecrow…"

The Banana Slug: Sorry kid, in the event of a infecting agent, you will have to stay in the quarantined area indefinitely and hope we find a cure. :P

Also, if I get Robin's lingo wrong, I am truly sorry. I just can't get the lingo them new kids are speakin' with now-a-days!