BATMAN: GOTHAM TALES

CHAPTER 9 - WHO TURNED OUT ALL THE LIGHTS?

The cold air blew softly. The darkness covered the city. Screams could be heard in the distance. About an hour ago, all of the power in Gotham City had been shut off. The cititzens didn't know why. The police didn't know why. The Batman didn't even know why.

But, the Riddler knew why.

Only moments after the sun had set, the Riddler, Harley Quinn, and Scarecrow had snuck into the Gotham Power Plant, took out the guards, and shut all the power in town off. Gotham City was pitch black.

Earlier that day, Gordon spoke to Batman about the Great White Shark's body being found in his old club, hanging in the freezer. Batman took the riddle that was attached. It read: The more you have of it, the less you see.

Batman now realized that the answer to the riddle was darkness.

The Riddler obviously had done this, no doubt with the help of Harley Quinn and Scarecrow. He just didn't know why.


Arkham Asylum was going mad. The patients were running around everywhere, the guards trying to contain them. The Riddler, Scarecrow, and Harley Quinn proudly walked down the halls, ignoring guards and inmates.

The Riddler felt ominous as he walked. It felt like time had slowed down for him. He had done this. He freed Arkham Asylum.

Harley stopped, looking down a different hall as Riddler and Scarecrow kept walking. Harley peered down the hall, darkness consuming it. She took a few steps forward, slightly nervous. All around her, inmates were going crazy, finding exits to escape.

Harley made her way to the end of the hallway where there was a giant, lead door. She reached out for the handle, but someone's hand on her shoulder startled her, causing her to swing around and face Poison Ivy.

"Ivy!" Harley let out a sigh of relief. "You scared me!"

"Sorry, Harl," Ivy replied, "What's going on? Did you do all this? I thought you weren't doing the whole crime thing anymore."

"I'm helping someone," Harley answered. "It's gonna be worth it, I promise. You wanna help?"

"No thanks," Ivy smiled, running her hand through her hair. "Just thought I'd say hello. I'm gonna split before the cops show up."

"They won't be here for a long time, Ivy!" Harley happily said. "The power's out in Gotham. City-wide blackout! They still can't even figure out what's going on! It's great!" She smiled big.

"Who exactly are you helping?" Ivy asked.

"Yes, Harley, who exactly are you helping?"


The Riddler and Scarecrow entered a lounge area of Arkham. Naturally, it was dark in here, but it was also quiet. Scarecrow whispered to the Riddler, "Are you sure she's here?"

"She's here, alright," the Riddler whispered back.

Suddenly, Catwoman jumped down from a stair banister, landing in front of them. She latched her whip around Scarecrow's foot and brought him to the ground, as she kicked Riddler in the stomach, sending him back against a wall.

"Ms. Kyle, please!" the Riddler coughed, regaining his balance.

"What's going on, Nigma?" Catwoman demanded to know.

Scarecrow got up and said, "Mind if I gas her?"

"Not just yet," Riddler smirked, then noticed Catwoman glaring at him. He waved his hands in defense. "I was just kidding, Selina!"

"Not trying to get out of the Asylum while you can, Riddler?" Catwoman asked, putting her hand on her hip.

"Ha!" the Riddler burst out. "I'm not even a patient here. I'm the one who just broke you and everyone else out. It's you who should be trying to run and get out of the asylum, Selina." Catwoman just stared him down. Riddler continued, "Would you like to help us, Selina?"

"Help you do what?" Catwoman replied, rolling her eyes.

"Why, he wants to unmask the bat, of course!" a voice yelled out, laughing as he spoke.

The doors opened and the Joker and Harley Quinn stepped in, slamming the door shut behind them. The Riddler's eyes widened as he saw the Joker's horrible grin fixed on him. Scarecrow prepared himself for anything, and Catwoman grew bored.

The Joker laughed, "Hey, who turned out all the lights?"

"Look, I found Mr. J, Eddie!" Harley grabbed onto Joker's arm.

"Yes, Eddie," the Joker got out of her grip and walked towards the Riddler, "She found me. And what did you find, hmm?" He smiled in the Riddler's face, showing his yellow teeth.

"You know, Joker," Riddler cleared his throat, "I think you would be a fine addition to our little team here."

"Oh?" the Joker smiled, like he was honored, though it was obviously sarcasm. "I'm so happy you think so, Eddie!"

"What the hell is goin' on?" Catwoman asked.

The Joker put his arm around Catwoman and said, "It seems that our dear friend Mr. Nigma has devised a most inglorious plan that involves us trapping the Batman and yanking his mask off once and for all!"

Catwoman lifted Joker's arm off of her and stepped away from him. Harley said, "Yeah, and Mr. J, he said we could kill him afterwards!" She nodded happily, wanting to please him.

"Afterwards?" the Joker shrugged as he pulled a pistol from inside his purple suit and stuck it to Riddler's head. "Why not just kill him now?"

"Wait, Mr. J!" Harley put the gun down, trying to save the Riddler. "I meant Batman! He said we could kill Batman."

"Funny," the Joker lifted his eyebrows, "I meant Riddler."

The Riddler grinned, "I, of course, know that you'd pleasure in nothing more but killing me as a sadistical joke that only you would get, Joker, but for the time being, I am asking you for assistance."

"Assistance, eh?" the Joker crossed his arms. "Well, when I ran into Harley girl," he patted Harley on the head, causing her to giggle, "She told me the jist of the plan, but I don't see where I come in."

"Well that's one of the greatest riddles of all time, Joker," the Riddler smiled. "Where do any of us come in?"

Scarecrow, Catwoman, and Harley stared blankly at the Riddler, not understanding what he meant. But, somewhere in Joker's twisted mind, he understood the Riddler and smiled, "Riddler, ol' boy, I'm in."

The Riddler grinned with satisfaction, then turned to Catwoman, "Now, Catwoman, we'll be needing you as well. Come with us."

"What?" she took a step back. "No way, I'm not going with you. I don't want in on your plan, Nigma."

"Scarecrow, if you would," the Riddler looked over to Dr. Crane.

"I will not cooperate," Catwoman prepared to fight.

The Riddler laughed and said, "Oh, I'm counting on it."