I would just like to make a slight change to something back in Chapter 2. Black Mask's real name is Roman Sionis, but in Chapter 2, it is typed as Roger Sionis.

Hope you enjoy, and please review! :)

Hostile Takeover

On the other side of the city, a black Jaguar raced through the streets. At the wheel was a very anxious Cobblepot, who muttered to himself as the car droved through the many twists and turns of the streets.

"No … can't let him do it … must stop him …"

A few minutes later, the car screeched to a halt before the Iceberg. Cobblepot leapt out of the car, even neglecting to close the door behind him as he ran for the back door. He fumbled for the keys in his pocket as he did.

However, as he reached the door, he stared in horror. The door had been ripped off its hinges, and it lay before him on the carpet of his office. Slowly, he entered the darkened room.

"I've been expecting you, Cobblepot …"

Cobblepot turned towards his desk as the room filled with light. Black Mask was sitting behind it, his hands locked together, a sly grin upon his face.

"Sionis … I knew you would be the one behind this …"

"I did warn you, old bird, that I would recruit some old friends."

"You must have made many of those during your stay in Arkham," said Cobblepot.

"Why do you think I made sure I was … qualified enough to attend?"

"You … faked insanity?" said a shocked Cobblepot.

"It wasn't too difficult … considering that there were some who already questioned my sanity."

Cobblepot smirked at Black Mask, his eyes narrowing.

"The Joker would be proud of a plan like this …"

"Oh, I assure you, Cobblepot … that clown has nothing to do with this …"

"And I assure you, Sionis, that regardless of the indubitable effort you have put into this plan, you will not use my club!"

"You no longer have a say in the matter, Cobblepot," said Black Mask, "I asked you once before, and you refused, so now I'm afraid I have to take the Iceberg by force!"

Cobblepot stepped backwards, staring straight into the crimson eyes of Black Mask.

"And I am afraid … that I won't give it up without a fight!"

Cobblepot reached behind him, and pulled out the only umbrella from the stand. He then pointed it directly at Black Mask, who scoffed at him.

"Oh please, you don't scare me … all your umbrellas were confiscated by the police when you were arrested."

"Oh really?" sneered Cobblepot, "Are you willing to risk your chances?"

"Are you?"

Both Black Mask and Cobblepot turned towards the entrance to the main club. A man wearing a half-black, half-white suit stood in the doorway, two pistols aimed directly at Cobblepot. The left of his face and respective hand were horribly scarred.

"Harvey Dent …?"

"Sorry, old friend," said Two-Face, "It's business …"

A shocked Cobblepot turned from him back to Black Mask, who sneered in triumph.

"Very well then … if that's the way you want to play this game …"

Cobblepot stepped back towards the open exit, pointing his umbrella from Two-Face to Black Mask and back repeatedly as he did.

"Don't be a fool, Penguin …"

"That's not my name … Two-Face!"

As Cobblepot reached the exit, he felt himself bump into something behind him. He turned around and backtracked in fear as he saw who had arrived.

"You ..?"

"That's right, tubby," said Deadshot, approaching him, "Me."

"Ah, Deadshot …" said Black Mask, "How did things go with Wesker?"

"It was as you feared, Mr. Sionis. As Batman confronted him, he began to fight the puppet's influence. I had to resort to the last-case scenario."

"Such a pity …"

Cobblepot turned from Deadshot to Black Mask, and his eyes opened wide in realisation.

"Wesker's … dead?"

"I knew that he was beginning to respond to treatment," explained Black Mask, "I couldn't risk Batman finding out about my plan before it's time."

"Then why involve him in the first place?" asked Cobblepot.

"We needed a convincing distraction - someone who could intimidate a civilian, but not necessarily kill them. Once Batman took the bait, my team of Blackgate assassins would move in and keep him busy until all the villains were in hiding."

"Anyway, enough talk … restrain him!"

Two-Face and Deadshot quickly approached Cobblepot, and each grabbed an arm. Cobblepot struggled as they gripped tightly.

"You know," said Black Mask, as he rose to his feet and walked towards Cobblepot, "if you had only agreed to give me this club in the first place, I wouldn't have to resort to this …"

"What?" demanded Cobblepot, "Are you going to have me killed just like Wesker?"

"Oh, no, no … you see, despite your unwillingness to co-operate, you still have an important part to play in my plan."

"What are you talking about?"

"Well … you want to be a respectful businessman once again, don't you?" sneered Black Mask, "Well, of course, I wouldn't dream of getting in the way of that, so we'll have to … keep up appearances. Wouldn't want Gotham's Finest getting suspicious, would we …?"

"Keep up … appearances?"

"Tetch! Get in here!"

The four men turned towards the entrance to the club. They could see the faint shadow of a short figure approaching them through the darkness.

"Cobblepot, I'm sure you remember Jervis Tetch," said Black Mask, "Of course, you may remember him better by his alias …"

The figure entered the room, revealing himself to a be a short man, dressed in a top hat and an old-fashioned Englishman's suit. Cobblepot gasped as he recognised him.

" … the Mad Hatter."

Cobblepot struggled even harder against the restraints of Two-Face and Deadshot. He knew all too well about the Mad Hatter, and so, he knew what was about to happen.

"OK, Tetch, you know what to do …" said Black Mask.

"Hoo, hoo, hoo … what FUN!"

Mad Hatter began to slowly approach Cobblepot, who still tried to release himself.

"Let me GO!"

Mad Hatter reached into his suit jacket, laughing maniacally as he did.

"Hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo HAH HAH HAA!"

"No … NO … NOOOO!"

Commissioner Gordon sighed as he sat behind his desk, head in hands. Batman stood in silence before him.

"Unbelievable …" sighed Gordon, "We had the entire Police Force and you on duty, and we couldn't find even one of the Arkham inmates or Blackgate prisoners."

"That's because this wasn't just a simple breakout," said Batman, "This has been carefully planned. That's why the inmates were in teams, and they're probably in hiding places over the city."

"But the question is, who planned it? Not the Joker - he's been out of Arkham for a couple of weeks now, deep in hiding along with Harley Quinn."

"Most likely, it's the most recent incarcerated inmate … Roman Sionis."

"Oh yeah …" said Gordon, "The police found him at the Iceberg Lounge, apparently having a heated argument with Oswald Cobblepot."

Gordon looked up at Batman, and saw his eyes narrow.

"Oh, I know that look … you think that Cobblepot is in on it?"

"Wouldn't be the first time …" said Batman, turning towards the open window.

"But he's well aware that if he risks losing the Lounge if he's found to be a part of any illegal act," said Gordon.

"I'd still like to speak with him. Even if he isn't involved, he may have information on Sionis …"

Batman leaned against the window sill, and sighed deeply.

"You know … there's nothing you could have done …" said Gordon, "It's like you said - this was all planned out."

"Everyone had such high hopes for him, Jim," said Batman softly, "He could have achieved so much …"

Gordon frowned, as he looked at the hunched figure of his old friend.

"I can't let another poor soul suffer the same fate that Wesker did …" he continued, "I have to stop this …"

"Well, you can't by yourself …"

"I won't have anyone else put their lives on the line!" yelled Batman, as he turned to Gordon.

"Jim … so many times have I seen friend and foe alike die or suffer needlessly because of the scum of this town … but no more. This time, I do it myself."

"There must be something I can do to help …"

Batman turned back to Gordon.

"The Scarface dummy … once you're finished with it, destroy it."

"But why …?"

"Deadshot may have killed Wesker, but that puppet destroyed him first."

With that, Batman walked over to the window, and leapt through it. In mid-air, he pulled out his grapple, and began to swing through the city. Back in his office, Gordon watched him fly away, and sighed deeply.

"Be careful, old friend …"

Some time later, via Cobblepot's empty apartment, Batman had arrived at the Lounge. He walked around the back of the building, and quickly caught sight of the broken door.

"Cobblepot?"

He walked into the office, and found it empty. He slowly walked towards the closed door that led to the main lounge, and placed it on the handle. He quickly yanked the door open, and there he saw …

"Cobblepot …"

Cobblepot turned around quickly, the light beam from his torch momentarily blinding Batman.

"Batman …"

As Cobblepot lowered his torch, even through the limited light, Batman could see the slight frown upon his face.

"How did you know I would be here?"

"You weren't home," explained Batman, "and it's well known how attached you are to this place … but why risk your life to come here, in the midst of the breakout?"

"To protect my investments," said Cobblepot, "Those Arkham inmates are infamous for their 'sticky fingers'."

"And that's your only reason?"

"What other reason would I have?" enquired Cobblepot.

Batman stared at Cobblepot. There was no notable change in his tone of voice, but then again, Cobblepot was a natural at deception.

"What happened to your office door?" he asked.

"I wish I knew," said Cobblepot, "That's how I found it when I arrived here, and as I said before, those inmates love to take things without permission, so I've been checking around to make sure nothing's missing."

"Now, I wish to ask you a question, Dark Knight - as we are, indeed, in the midst of a breakout, why on earth would you waste time looking for me?"

"This breakout has been planned, Cobblepot," said Batman, "and most likely by Roman Sionis, the last person to be checked in at Arkham. He was arrested after having an argument with you here …"

" … and you now believe that I have played a part in this?" scoffed Cobblepot, "Well, I cannot blame you for your suspicions, but I assure you, good sir, that I have washed my hands off any of those ruffians."

"Really? Despite the partnerships you had built with them in the past? Joker? Two-Face? Even Black Mask himself?"

"What can I say? People grow apart."

Batman was not entirely convinced.

"If you really are innocent … then surely, you wont mind if I have a look around?"

"Be my guest," said Cobblepot, bowing his head, a slight smirk upon his face. He then watched as Batman began to examine the rooms of each and every floor of the Lounge.

Half an hour later, Cobblepot and Batman left the building, Batman having been unsuccessful in finding any incriminating evidence.

"Well, Batman, I do believe that I have proved my innocence," said Cobblepot.

"For now," said Batman, "but rest assured, I will be keeping an eye on you."

"I would expect no less from you," smirked Cobblepot, "but soon, you will come to realise that I no longer have any interest in the interests of scum like Sionis."

Batman leered at him for a moment, before shotting his grapple at a nearby rooftop and flying out into the night.

Cobblepot watched him leave, perfectly still, unmoving.

"Good …" said a voice emanating from the small radio attached to Cobblepot's lapel, "Now, return to the Lounge."

Obeying, Cobblepot walked back inside.

Meanwhile, in a car parked about 20 feet away from the Lounge, Black Mask turned to Mad Hatter.

"Scum?" he growled.

"I had to make it seem convincing, didn't I?" said Mad Hatter.

"So … now what happens?" asked Two-Face, as he sat in the back seat with Deadshot.

"Now … we gather all the other inmates at the Lounge. Slowly, of course, so as not to arouse suspicion."

"And then?" said Deadshot.

"Then … the next phase of my plan begins …"