"Who in the hell could that be?" Dick asked as the Bat-Computer announced someone had made it past the gate out front and was headed toward the entrance of Wayne manor. Dick, Jason, Tim, and Barbara looked to the monitor to stare in shock as Poison Ivy rang the bell and waited patiently at the main entrance of Wayne Manor.
"What is that monster doing here?" Barbara asked bitterly.
"I suppose we'll find out." Dick sighed and walked to the entrance of the cave. "You two, keep Jason here." Dick added just before the door closed behind him. When he opened the main door, Ivy grinned at him.
"I wish to speak with Batman." Ivy said. Dick stared at her in surprise.
"Do you really think the Batman can remove his mask around a plant and I wouldn't know about it?" Ivy laughed as she walked past Dick and into the house. Seeing Ivy enter the house Barbara and Tim quickly got into costume after making Jason reluctantly turn around. Jason turned his head slightly to see Barbara.
"Nice bra." Jason chuckled. Barbara glared at him and signaled for him to turn back around. When Batgirl and Robin were ready Jason pulled his hood over his head and headed out with them.
"What are you doing?" Tim asked as he put his hand on Jason's chest to stop him. "You were told to remain here."
"You were also told to stay and watch me so, I guess we're both going to disappoint the original." Jason said as he pushed Tim out of the way and walked out of the entrance and into the main room. "What do you want with Batman, Red?" Red Hood asked as he drew his guns.
"I've come to speak with him. I assure you that you will not need those, besides they are useless against me." Ivy said referring to the guns.
"Batman is busy at the moment." Dick pointed out.
"I'm aware. The cat lost a life and he's trying to save the other eight." Ivy replied angrily. "I will see him now." Before anyone could react they heard a car slam into the gate. They all turned in surprise to see a limo crumpled up on the gate with no damage to the gate itself.
"Keep them from the house. I need to get changed." Dick said as he headed for the entrance. "I imagine Batman will join us shortly." He added as he turned to face Ivy. "If you want to speak with him then you will need to assist us now." Ivy nodded and walked out of the main door with Robin, Batgirl, and Red Hood.
"Oh look, it's the Bat brats. I thought you said Bruce Wayne couldn't be Batman." Joker chuckled as he effortlessly hopped over the gate with Harley and Riddler following close behind him.
"Bruce?" Ivy laughed. "You are even more ignorant than I gave you credit for clown." Ivy added with a grin. "Your little crusade to kill Gotham's wealthy in the belief that they are Batman had to take you here. We are here to put an end to this."
"Jason, is that you." Joker said in astonishment as he stepped closer. "I've been looking everywhere for you, child."
"I am not your child." Red Hood shouted as he drew his guns and aimed them toward Joker. Harley and Joker aimed theirs at him in return.
…
Warning klaxons sounded throughout the trauma center as Selina began to convulse on the table. Bruce held her shoulders down as Alfred quickly injected her with a sedative and her body began to relax. Bruce looked up at Alfred in concern when he saw that his friend's hands were shaking again.
"I'll be fine." Alfred answered the silent question. "We've done all we can for Ms. Kyle. All we can do now is wait and pray." Alfred said as he began to sterilize the medical equipment. When he was nearly finished he looked up at the monitor. "Master Bruce, you may want to see this." Bruce walked over and stared in surprise as he saw Nightwing racing out the front door where Red Hood kept Joker and Harley back at gunpoint. Bruce looked down at Selina and then back to the monitor. Alfred could see the decision was not an easy one.
"I will stay with Ms. Kyle. You need to go help them." Bruce took one last look at Selina and nodded slowly before he walked to the corner of the room and hit a button next to one of the shelves that caused a door way to open up behind the shelves and for them to swivel forty-five degrees away from the wall. Bruce stopped and turned toward Alfred.
"Take care of her." Bruce said before he stepped behind the shelves and onto the stairs leading into the cave before the timer caused the shelves to close behind him. Alfred turned his attention back to Selina. "Now you listen to me you lazy cat. Get up do you hear me." Alfred said sounding desperate as his hands began to shake again.
…
"There they are, Boss." Clayface's goon said as they saw the smashed car blocking the gate to Wayne Manor. Suddenly they felt the car being flung backwards as the windshield and windows turned white.
"What the hell was that?" Clayface asked as the car settled on its roof. He turned his hands into large hammers and smashed out the windshield. He went to pull his goon out but realized the man's neck had snapped from the wreck. Another death the clown is going to pay for. Clayface let his body liquify enough to slip out of the windshield as he heard footfalls walking towards him.
"Turn the car upright for me, Bane." Bane nodded and Clayface barely made it out of the windshield as Bane picked up the car and set it back down on its tires. Clayface made his way to the house as Bane and his associate searched the car.
"Who are we searching for, Freeze?" Bane asked in a deep South American accent.
"There is one of the men I saw, but where is the other?" Freeze asked as he looked around the car. Bane shook his head.
"Perhaps, you didn't see what you thought you did." Bane said as he turned back to the house. "Come, our job is to back up the clown.
"I suppose you're right." Freeze said as he took one last look at the car before he used his ice beam to freeze it. Satisfied that whatever had been in the car was dead, Freeze turned and followed Bane back to the house. "Wait, do you hear that?" Bane stopped and listened.
"Sirens, we're going to have company." Bane replied.
…
"Put the guns down, boy. We're not here for you." Riddler advised. Red Hood responded by pulling the trigger on both guns striking Joker and Harley's guns causing them to drop them. As soon as Red Hood pulled the trigger Robin tackled him to the ground and Red Hood brought his feet up and kicked Robin off of him as he quickly stood back up. Nightwing ran outside and saw Riddler swing his hook staff towards Red Hood and threw his own staff which jarred Riddler's staff from his hands before delivering a quick leaping kick to the side of Riddler's head knocking him unconscious.
"I wasn't going to kill them." Red Hood said irritably. "Well, maybe the green one, but do you think I want Joker off the hook that easy." Red Hood pointed out as he helped Robin back up to his feet. Suddenly, the gate leading up to the Manor exploded as Freeze froze it and Bane ran through it. The sirens from the police cars were getting closer and Joker began to laugh maniacally.
"What are you laughing about? We have to get out of here." Harley pointed out.
"We've got backup." Joker pointed out. Joker lunged forward to punch Red Hood. Red Hood side stepped the attack and delivered a quick kick to the clown's mid-section causing Joker to double over in pain just as Harley drew two bowie knives from her belt and attacked. Her first swing caught Red Hood's arm. The thick leather coat stopped the blade from going too far but Red Hood felt the blade slice into his arm and he backed away as Robin stopped the second swing by sweeping her legs out from under her with his staff.
"Keep them busy." Ivy said as she closed her eyes. The trees leading up to Wayne Manor suddenly began to move and shift as the branches began to strike out against Freeze and Bane.
"What is this? Even the plants attack us here." Bane said irritably.
"Poison Ivy is here. They are defending her." Freeze said as he used his ice ray to freeze several branches that reached out to strike him. Bane used an injection gun to inject the venom and after a moment his veins began to glow bright green and he stepped forward batting the branches to the side as if they were flies.
"Let's put an end to this." Bane said as he punched the tree with so much force that it caused the roots underground to snap as the tree fell over and out of the ground with a large crater in its massive trunk.
"Murderer!" Ivy screamed. Vines from all the other trees surrounding Freeze and Bane began to wrap them up as quickly as Ivy could make them move. Taking advantage of the distraction Joker leapt forward and drove his knife into Red Hood's right leg just above his knee causing them both to fall to the ground. Before Red Hood could react Nightwing kicked the clown in the jaw knocking Joker backwards. Suddenly, a green mist appeared between where Freeze and Bane were standing and the front porch to the house. Freeze and Bane backed away quickly as the Phantasm appeared to float towards them from the mist.
"Going somewhere?" Freeze turned and a thick fist slammed into his mid-section as Clayface hardened his arms and attacked. Bane rushed forward and went through the large clay man. Freeze shook his head to clear it and noticed that time was running out as the Phantasm drew closer. He pulled a capsule from his belt and threw it. The capsule struck Clayface and exploded in a white mist as Clayface found it difficult to move before his body suddenly turned white and he was frozen in place. Bane delivered a kick that smashed through the now frozen Clayface and they began to run toward the gate to Wayne Manor.
Bruce has far too many enemies. The Phantasm thought as she continued her scare tactic to make them run. Where the hell is Bruce? Oh, there he is. She thought just as she saw Batman land flip forward and put his grapple gun back on his belt before he landed in front of Freeze and Bane.
"You're trespassing." Batman said as he stepped towards them. Looking back Bane saw the Phantasm was getting closer. Bane quickly injected himself with more venom and raced for Batman as Freeze turned to face the Phantasm.
"Victor Freeze, your Angel of Death awaits." The Phantasm said as Freeze threw a capsule at her and watched in awe as it disappeared in a thick green mist. The police cars pulled up outside of the Manor's gate and the cops led by James Gordon rushed forward to help Batman.
"Shit, Dad's here." Batgirl said softly to herself as she stopped Harley from stabbing Robin and delivered a punch to the side of Harley's head knocking her backwards. Realizing the situation was quickly getting out of hand. Joker winked at Red Hood.
"See you soon, boy." Joker laughed as he dropped smoke bombs and a thick pink mist appeared suddenly. When the smoke cleared Joker and Harley were gone.
"What are you?" Freeze asked as he pulled out his ice ray gun. The Phantasm lifted her hand and a thick green cloud suddenly surrounded Freeze.
"I am the end of all." The Phantasm replied. Deciding to use the cloud of smoke as a distraction Freeze estimated where the gate was and began running in that direction.
Batman leapt forward to stop Bane and pulled out the electrified puck as he slammed his fist into the side of the big man's head. The electric charge disoriented Bane for a moment and Batman took advantage by delivering a swift vicious kick to Bane's left knee cap and as Bane felt the blow Batman reached up and grabbed the back of Bane's head with both hands before bringing it down hard on his knee. Bane was thankful then for the venom which allowed him to stay conscious as he quickly batted Batman away with his right hand.
"Stay where you are. You are under arrest." Commissioner Gordon said as he aimed his revolver at Bane.
"Now, Freeze." Bane called out. Freeze leapt forward and threw three blue grenades that exploded into clouds of white mist.
Batman and the Phantasm stared in horror as the cops stood still frozen in place. Batgirl raced ahead of the group that was running forward to help.
"Dad!" Batgirl shouted as she threw three batarangs. Two struck Bane's back as he continued to run smashing through many of the frozen police officers, and one bounced harmlessly off of Freeze's armor. Freeze helped Bane limp away as the venom began to wear off. Batman and the rest of the group helped Batgirl lift the frozen Commissioner Gordon and bring him into the house. Riddler opened his eyes and noticed that his team had disappeared. Riddler looked around and made his way for the back gate of the Manor to escape.
"Batman, I must speak with you." Ivy said as she approached the group. Batman's eyes narrowed angrily.
"I appreciate your assistance, but whatever this is will have to wait until I help the Commissioner." Batman pointed out.
"The man is already dead." Ivy replied.
"You don't know that!" Batgirl screamed as she leapt forward to attack. Robin barely kept the frozen body from striking the ground as he struggled to lift the additional weight from their side. Before Batgirl could reach Ivy vines wrapped around her wrists and waist keeping her from moving forward.
"Ivy, that's enough. Go into the house and wait for me. When I have time I will talk with you." Batman ordered menacingly. Ivy nodded.
"Very well, but I still say you're wasting your time. Ivy said as she walked back towards the house. The vines released Batgirl and she quickly resumed helping to carry her father. They brought him into the batcave and sat him inside the chamber that Batman pointed towards.
"Do you think we can thaw him out?" Nightwing asked curiously.
"Is it possible that Ivy is right and the Commissioner is dead?" Robin asked before Batman could respond.
"I honestly don't know." The Batman said answering both questions at once.
"He has to be alive." Batgirl said with a note of finality in her voice.
"What do we do now?" Red Hood asked suddenly. "These villains came all the way to your doorstep."
"Your point…?" Nightwing asked curiously.
"My point is, that it is time to take the offensive and go after them for a change." Red Hood replied. Nightwing and Robin were about to argue when Batman signaled for them to be silent.
"I agree. It's time to hunt them down and end this." Batman said authoritatively.
"About damn time." The group turned in surprise to see Catwoman back in her costume and standing at the entrance of the cave with Alfred and Ivy. "So, when do we start?" Catwoman grinned down at the stunned group.