12:40 A.M.
Arkham Island: Arkham East
Arkham Mansion
Raven was outside Arkham Mansion. She had to fight through inmates in the tunnel that were waiting to ambush the next squad that moved through. Raven took position in a guard tower to scout the entrance. The entrance looked clear, nobody was stationed outside. Raven levitated to the ground and began walking up the stairs to the entrance of the Mansion. The electronic doors opened for her and she walked in, suddenly even though Oracle was in control of the network, the door slammed shut and sealed behind her. She turned around and tried to pry the doors open, they didn't even budge.
"Oracle?"
"Here."
"You still in control of the network? The doors to the mansion sealed shut behind me"
"That's odd… They seem to be working fine on my end. Somebody must ha-"
She heard static in her ear. Her communications were jammed. She started flipping through different channels, same thing. Just static. She stepped away from the door. The only thing that came to her mind was a quote from a book she had read so many times before.
"In another moment down went Alice after it, never once considering how in the world she was to get out again."
She voiced it under her breath as she climbed the stairs to the next hall. She shook her head.
"Not the time Rachel. Need to focus and find Cash's team."
She opened the next set of doors that led into the entry hall. A group of inmates were occupying the hall, they turned to her as she walked towards them completely unfazed.
"Well what do we have here…?"
One of the inmates got off a desk and began to approach her. She stopped in her tracks and began observing the room, how many inmates there were, what weapons they were using, and observing her environment looking for ways to turn it against them. All the inmates were now walking towards her, she could feel their eyes on her. The inmate who was on the desk and called out to her began circling her, looking at her from head to toe.
"Now what's a pretty thing like you doing in a dirty place like this?"
Raven was still scanning the room.
"What's a matter? Cat got your tongue?"
She spoke to them for the first time.
"The team of Arkham guards that are supposed to be in the next room, where are they?"
"Now why would you be interested in a thing like that? Oh wait, I know! The bat must have sent you."
Another inmate spoke up.
"You the Bat's new bird? Didn't think he took girls anymore after Batgirl up and vanished."
A third inmate spoke.
"I bet… She's Batman's new plaything. Look at those legs..."
Their insults and insinuations didn't even faze her. She just kept her eyes on all of them. The inmate who was circling her spoke again.
"Yeah, that's probably it. Think about it: A man like that, all that muscle and all that buried rage… That tight suit… He has to take it out somehow. That's what you're for isn't it?"
Raven was losing her patience.
"Last time I'm asking... Aaron Cash's team. Where. Are. They?"
The circling inmate spoke a third time.
"Tell ya what. Since I'm feeling generous, and haven't seen my girl in four years, how's about you let us have some fun with you? Y'know, a little fun for all. And if you're good, I'll tell you everything you want to know."
Raven swore she saw the inmates start drooling. The one on the left called out.
"I got dibs!"
Then the one to her two' o clock.
"No! I got dibs!"
Finally, she found something to use to her advantage; her appearance. The circling inmate was behind her, he pulled her hood down revealing her whole face. NOBODY pulled her hood down. She then felt the circling inmates' hot breath on her neck, his hand running up and down her leg.
"Must be hard being a woman in here… Surrounded by all of us rough, strapping inmates."
Okay, NOW he offended even her vulgar heart. She jokingly pushed him away and spoke.
"With as much as I could use a good lay, none of you could handle me."
The inmate who had previously been circling her got a grin on his face.
"What's a matter baby? Ya like it rough? I can be rough."
Raven had a flirtatious tone to her voice.
"Oh? Let's test that shall we?"
Raven began walking towards the inmate with a seductive walk, crossing her legs in front of one another, throwing her hips to the side. Her combat boots echoing through the hall as she walked. She brought a hand to his cheek, moved it to the backside of his neck and began to bring her lips to his. Then, just before their lips touched, she brought up her left knee. Hard. There was a sound that made all of the other inmates stomach's turn. The man curled up into a ball and hit the ground, he was crying in pain. Raven stepped back.
"NOBODY calls me 'baby'!"
She turned on her heels to face the other inmates. All the other inmates in the room were staring at their friend on the ground. His face was contorted into an expression of pure pain. He was rolling from one side to the other.
"What the hell did she do to him?"
"Oh… I think I'm gonna be sick…"
"I don't think those grow back."
Raven flicked her hands, magic encased them.
"Anyone else want to try my definition of rough?"
The inmates looked at each other.
"Get her!"
They charged her all at once.
"Make her regret what she did to-"
He was down with a left hook.
"Damn she's fast! I didn't even see-"
Down with a back elbow.
"Dammit! All of you shut up and focus! Don't talk until she's dea-"
She flipped him over her shoulder. Then came down on his temple with a knee. She swept the legs of the next inmate, she rose to her feet and hit the next inmate with a front dropkick. She landed on the flat of her back, she brought her hands behind her head and landed a kip up. The inmate that she swept the legs of charged from behind, Raven sidestepped, kicked the back of his knee sending him to his knees, she delivered a roundhouse to the back of his skull driving him forward into the cold ground. She made a mistake of turning her back to the last inmate. He came from behind and hit her in the back with a chair. Raven fell to the ground, she rolled to her back and looked up at the inmate. He was advancing on her position with a chair leg in his hand. The leg had broken off when he hit her with the chair. As he got close Raven braced herself, he swung at her with the chair leg. Before he could connect Rachel drove the heel of her boot into the man's knee, she felt his weight give out as the knee bent in the opposite direction. The inmate hit the ground in pain, he had a terrified expression on his face when he saw the direction his lag was in. He started crawling away from Raven, she stood up and began to approach him.
"You crazy bitch! You broke my… When I got out of here I swear I'll kill you."
Raven just stood over him, glaring. The man kept crawling away from her. Raven walked towards him, she put her boot on his neck. Just enough pressure to make him squirm. She started to pull a trick from Nightwing's playbook. She narrowed her eyes, set her jaw, and squared her shoulders. Looking as intimidating as she possibly can.
"Stop trying to threaten me. And stop acting like the tough guy, last time I checked it was your ass on the ground."
Raven put more pressure on his neck.
"Where are they? Tell me, or I'll dig it out of your skull myself."
"I CAN'T! He'll kill me… We're trapped in here with him… You have no idea what he'll do to me…"
Raven threw her head back and screamed at the ceiling.
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH! I don't have time for this! I'll take what I need!"
She removed her boot from his throat. Raven reached down and grabbed the man by his prison jumpsuit, she dragged him to a far wall. She pinned him, his back flash against it. Raven put two fingers to his skull, she started searching his mind.
"What are you-?"
As Raven was trying to extract the information she felt a darkness over take her. She was losing her temper, and her 'other side' began coming out again. Arkham was affecting her in a way she didn't expect. The demon blood began flowing through her. Her eyes changed, then her tattoos began glowing. The Arkham inmate was terrified.
"Let me go! I'll tell you everything! Just… Just let me go!"
Raven grabbed the inmate by his throat, she lifted him clear off the ground. Her strength increased by her demon blood. The inmate began screaming in pain. Raven was telepathically attacking his mind.
"AAAHHHHH! Riddler! It's Riddler! He has the team captive… Some type of game based around riddles! Please, that's all I know! AAAAAAAHHHHHH!"
Her nails dug deeper into his throat. Her voice was back to being demonic.
"I want to hear you SCREAM!"
The pain was excruciating. The inmate was beginning to lose consciousness, he couldn't handle the pain. Raven brought her face close to the inmate. He could feel her hot breath. The rage was streaming off of her, you could almost see it.
"SCREAM FOR ME!"
The inmate screamed so loud that people outside Arkham Mansion could hear him.
"AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"
The inmate passed out from the pain. His whole body went limp. Something in the way he screamed made Raven come back to herself. She dropped the inmate, he slumped against the wall. Raven put her head in her hands, she was fighting for control. Her eyes changed, tattoos faded, and she began to come back to herself. She exhaled deeply.
"Azar- Azarath. Metrion. Zinthose."
She looked around, saw what she had done. A knot appeared in her stomach. Raven kneeled down and began checking the inmate she had interrogated.
"Azar forgive me…"
She stood up.
"The longer I'm here, the harder it is to stay in control… I can't let her come out. I need to stay calm."
Raven saw the rest of the scattered inmates around the room.
"Guess you boys just can"t handle my kind of rough…"
Raven climbed up the staircase that was next to the statue of Warden Sharp. She looked up at it and smirked.
"Someone is certainly over compensating for something."
As she got to the top of the staircase she stopped and stared at the door that led to archives. Raven put a finger to her ear.
"Oracle?"
Just static.
"Oracle you there?"
More static.
"Riddler must be blocking communications…"
Raven put a hand on the door to archives.
"Okay Riddler, I've heard a lot about you. Time for an introduction…"
Before she could open the door, she felt a familiar presence. One that inspired confidence. It was Nightwing's.
"Nightwing's been here. I can feel him. Just over an hour ago…"
Raven pulled her hand away from the door. She put weight on her back foot and kicked the door in. The heavy door swung open. She stepped into the room and all the lights were off. All she could see was pure darkness. The door swung shut behind her, and her eyes began to adjust to the dark. Just before, her eyes fully adjusted the room lit up. Bright lights came on throughout the archives. Raven was momentarily blinded, she put her arm up to shield her eyes. Then she heard a voice that came on over the P.A., and a projector showed The Riddler with his back turned. He had on a green suit with black question marks all over. He also had his trademark glasses and his cane. The archives were trashed, and there were bright neon green question marks spray painted throughout the room.
"Oh no, where have they gone? Could it be that while you were out doing what you do, I, snuck in and stole all of those poor stupid fools?"
Riddler spun around in the projection.
"It is I, Gotham's most feared and infamous super criminal. But most importantly, YOUR intellectual superior…"
He faced the projection.
"The Riddler-! Wait, who are you?"
Riddler could see Rachel through the projection. Raven just glared in Riddler's direction.
"I'm Raven."
"I don't know who you are…"
"Good. That means I have an advantage over you. Because I know who you are."
"Oh? Does my reputation of being Gotham's most dangerous criminal precede me?"
Raven smirked.
"Hardly. Nightwing told me about you."
The Riddler frowned.
"Yes… HIM. I was told to expect him coming by. I was hoping to FINALLY prove my superior intellect to him once and for all after he cheated last time…"
"Ooooohhh you poor sweet thing… Did the Prodigal Son of Gotham make you feel inadequate? Did he get the better of you? Yeah, he has that effect on people."
Riddler's lips twitched.
"Let us be clear on one thing; Gotham bows to my intellectual superiority! This city is full of drooling thugs and pathetic pugilistic barbarians! Nobody can out-smart me, nobody gets the drop on me, and absolutely nobody can get the better of ME! Nightwing simply cheated. He changed the rules… HE-"
Raven rolled her eyes.
"Are you quite finished? I'd like to get to the part where you tell me where your hostages are."
"So Nightwing sent you in his stead did he? Well… I was looking forward to humiliating him. But what better way to do that, then by killing the one he sent in his place? Maybe that will teach him to take me seriously and not ignore me…"
"Y'know, if you want Nightwing so bad you could always just tell me where the hostages are. Then, after I rescue them, I'll be sure to make an appointment for Nightwing to put his boot to your ass."
"My you DO have some fire don't you? Tsk. Of course he WOULD send a brutish thug after me… No matter, it will make the game THAT much more interesting…"
"Game? What Game?"
"Well, I'm glad you asked. If you take a look at the table to your right…"
Raven looked to the table, there was a single choker on the center of the table. She walked over to it.
"Yes, that's it. Now… Put it on…"
"Give me a reason why I should."
"Because if you don't do as I say, I'll kill the hostages."
Raven swore under her breath and picked up the choker. She put it around her neck. Then she heard an electronic beep come from it.
"There. Now doesn't that feel better?"
"No. I prefer the style of my own choker, thanks."
"We all have to make sacrifices. Now, shall we get started? But first, the rules."
"Just let them go Riddler! They're innocent."
"Now, now my dear dark temptress. They wouldn't find themselves in their current predicament if they had only thought a few steps ahead now would they?"
Raven started walking back and forth. She was anxious, ready to strike at Riddler.
"A game of Riddles! As I'm sure you already guessed. Each riddle you answer gets you one step closer to rescuing my hostages. You have one minute to answer each riddle correctly. Fail to guess a riddle correctly and a hostage dies. Failure to answer a riddle, and a hostage dies. And we shall see if society crumbles in their passing. Each failure and you will receive a shock of varying voltage. Three failures also results in that device around your neck to explode. Correctly answering a riddle allows one hostage to go free. Answer them all, and you save them. But we both know you won't get that far."
Raven looked at the projector.
"You're insane…"
"No! That would imply either mental illness or derangement! I suffer from neither."
Riddler began counting on his fingers.
"Rule one; trying to remove or tamper with the collar around your neck results in premature remote detonation and all hostages being killed. Rule two; trying to leave while the game is in progress results in premature remote detonation and all hostages being killed. Rule three; cheating in anyway will result in premature remote detonation and all hostages being killed. Shall we begin?"
"You could have just said that breaking any of the rules will result in the same punishment."
"I find it better to be accurate and precise. Otherwise understanding may not be established along with loopholes being created."
"And what happens if I refuse to play your game and come after you myself?"
"Easy. All hostages will be killed and-"
"Yeah yeah, premature remote detonation. I got it."
"Oh, and don't even try to contact Nightwing or whoever else for outside help. I have blocked communications in this building."
"You realize I'm a telepath. I can just read your mind for the answer."
"Please, do I look as gullible as the witless thugs that occupy this prison?"
"Fine. Go ahead and start this game of yours."
"Of course. Of course. But first just so you know that I'm serious about the precariousness of your situation… How about we…"
Raven watched Riddler on the projector as he pulled out a black wireless device. He pressed a button. Raven screamed as an electrical shock travelled through her body. She fell to her knees in pain.
"AAAAGGGGGHHHHH!"
The shock ended and her body felt numb. Raven got back to her feet, anger rising. She could feel the change coming.
"No… Not now…"
Raven shook the change off and stared at Riddler with rage.
"One shock down. Two to go."
"You… Cheated. We haven't even started and you SHOCK ME!?"
"I had to prove I was serious. And I didn't break any rules…"
"Do that again, and we'll have a real problem…"
"Ah ah, I'm in charge remember?"
"Just… Ask your damn riddle."
"That's more like it… Only one color, but not one size, Stuck at the bottom, yet easily flies.
Present in sun, but not in rain, Doing no harm, and feeling no pain. What am I? Hurry now. Clock is ticking."
Raven didn't even need to think.
"A shadow."
Riddler didn't even look fazed.
"Well done! I hope you don't expect applause. A mentally challenged 1st grader could have guessed that one. That means one hostage goes free."
The screen on the projector changed, Raven saw all of the hostages. They were being held in the library on the opposite side of the Mansion. She watched as Riddler freed one hostage. He was one of the guards Nightwing rescued earlier. The screen changed again, back to The Riddler.
"Just so we're clear, it only gets harder from here on out."
"Good. I was beginning to get bored."
Riddler asked another one.
"Until I am measured I am not known, yet how you miss me when I have flown. What Am I?"
Raven closed her eyes, she ran the riddle through her head again and smirked.
"Time."
"I am beginning to think that you are more clever than I had suspected. That still doesn't mean you are anywhere near my intellect make no mistake.
"I guess we'll see won't we?"
Raven watched as a second hostage was released. Again, they were in the library. Riddler came back on screen.
"I'm like a doll, but I'm not for playing; I stand up straight, but if windy I may be laying; I'm well-known and famous for having no brain; I work outside both day and night in sunshine or in rain. What am I?"
Again Raven closed her eyes and began working the riddle through her brain. Riddler was keeping track of time.
"Forty seconds left."
Raven smirked and opened her eyes.
"A Scarecrow."
Time: Unknown
Place: Unknown
Grayson was standing on the platform under the big top. He could feel the heat from the lights, hear the roar of the crowd. He took a bow, they cheered louder. He looked to the ground and saw C.C Haly three stories below him.
"Ladies and Gentleman, the Boy Wonder! The Son of the greatest acrobats in the world! Richard Grayson!"
Another turn. Another bow. The spotlights focused on the platform on the opposite side. Dick saw his dad look him in the eyes and nodded, that was the signal. Dick jumped for the bar. At the same time, his dad jumped for his own bar. As both their bars swung upward, each released their hands. In unison, both Dick and his father tucked. They passed each other in the air, both doing perfect triple backflips. Each grabbed the opposite bars and swung to opposite platforms. Dick, where his father had been, his father where Dick had been. They both turned and bowed, the adrenaline was pumping through his veins. After the bow Dick's mother kneeled down to his level. Mary wrapped her arms around him and pulled him close.
"Your father and I are so proud of you."
She released him and put one hand on each of his shoulders. There was a tear in her eye.
"My little robin is growing up so fast."
She stood up and walked to the edge of the platform, she took the bar and waved to the crowd. Mary looked to Dick.
"I love you."
She and John both jumped from opposite platforms. They had both practiced this hundreds of times. Then Dick saw as his father's line snap, he began to fall. He saw his mom reach out to catch him. Just as she caught him, her line snapped. They both began to fall to the ground. The crowd gasped in horror, Dick screamed.
"MOOOOOOOOOOOOM!"
12:53 A.M.
Arkham Island: Arkham West
Medical Facility
"MOOOOOOOOOOOOM!"
Nightwing was kneeling on the ground with one fist on the floor. His eyes snapped open. The shock of seeing his parents' deaths again brought him back to the world around him.
"Mom… Dad… I failed you…"
He exhaled sharply and closed his eyes again.
"Need to resist the gas… Just breathe…"
He stood up and shook off the effects of the gas. He put a finger to his ear.
"Oracle?"
"Nightwing? What's wrong? Your suit vitals are spiking."
"I've been exposed to fear gas but I'm tracking your dad. Heading back to intensive treatment."
"Dick, maybe you should take it easy for a few minutes. Get your heart rate under control and wait for doctor Young and Cash."
"Oracle… We don't have time. I need to rescue Gordon."
"Fine. Just… Be careful…"
"I can't promise that. Could you?"
"No…"
Nightwing started walking through medical and back the way he had come. He passed another monitor and Joker came on screen.
"So Nightwing... Are you ready to face your fears? Hehehehehehehe. I hope you are. What is it that really scares the prodigal son? Not being able to save this cesspool of a city? Not finding the Commissioner in time? Me… IN A THONG?! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
The monitor turned off. Nightwing shook his head.
"Now there's an image I'll never get out of my head… I doubt Raven could even help with that…"
Nightwing stepped out into the night.
12:57 A.M.
Arkham Asylum: Arkham East
Arkham Mansion
Riddler was frustrated.
"NO! NO! You cannot be smarter than me! You CAN'T! First it was the Dark Knight who beat me! Then it was that smug little brat Nightwing! After that it was Batgirl! Nobody new has been able to match me! Nobody! Now you! Some unknown GIRL?! A NOBODY?! I will not be defeated! I can't!"
Raven was lying on her back on a table. She put one hand on top of the other and clasped it. She stretched out. Then went back to lying relaxed on the table.
"If I didn't know any better Riddler, I'd think you were more than a little frustrated…"
"Course not… I'm… I'm just surprised is all. I never thought you'd make it this far!"
"Whatever. Just give me the next one."
"Fine. But I warn you, this is the hardest one yet."
"You said that about the last three."
Riddler glared at her.
"I can fill a room or just one heart. Others can have me, but I can't be shared. What am I?"
Raven closed her eyes. She started running the riddle through her mind. After fifteen seconds she realized the answer wasn't going to be an easy one. She popped up off the table and started pacing. Another fifteen seconds passed. She still had nothing.
"Thirty seconds."
She kept pacing. The riddle was still fresh in her mind, but still had no answer.
"Twenty seconds."
Raven was pacing faster, her footsteps became heavier. Her heart was beating faster, sweat began beading from her forehead. She glanced up at the Riddler. There was a smug look on his face. He was trying to hide it behind a poker face but he was failing. The smug grin turned into a wide smile.
"Ten seconds."
Raven ran the riddle through her head one more time. She knew it was now or never.
"I can fill a room or just one heart. Others can have me, but I can't be shared. What am I?"
She exhaled deeply, her mind wandered for half a second. She found herself thinking about HIM, about Nightwing. Then, deep down she had her answer. It wasn't in her mind though, it was deeper down. Deep inside the black depths of her heart…
"Five seco-"
Raven finally answered. The emotion she had in her voice surprised even her.
"Loneliness…"
"NO! NO! You're cheating! You have to be! There's no other explanation. How do you know all the answers? Tell ME!"
"How could I possibly be cheating? You didn't even know who I was when I showed up here. You even told me you were expecting Nightwing. So I'm guessing you created these riddles specifically for him. And I didn't even know you were here. So please tell me how exactly I am cheating?"
"You must be! I can't prove it but I know you are. How else could you possibly know all the answers?"
"Because I read. And I always learn everything I can."
"Reading a few books couldn't possibly prepare you for my riddles."
"My entire life, I've done nothing but read. Every bit of free time I have, I'm nose deep in a book. Even if it's only ten minutes at a time. Tell me Riddler, does that sound like a FEW books to you?"
The vein on Riddler's forehead was twitching.
"Fine. Final riddle. But this time it's a little different. Sudden death. You only get thirty seconds to answer this riddle. And if you get it wrong, I'll kill every hostage, even the rescued ones. AND I'll blow your collar!"
"What?! Now who's cheating?"
"I'm not cheating. I'm changing the rules."
"Of course you are… And where exactly in your rules does it say that you're allowed to change the rules?"
"It's my game. If I want to play by different rules than you I can."
Raven rolled her eyes.
"So the one who created the game, and wrote the rules, suddenly gets to change the rules, even though nowhere in the created rules does it say that the creator is allowed to change the rules? And now you claim it's because you are playing by different rules than the ACTUAL person playing the game? Yeah… Totally doesn't sound like cheating."
"Quiet! Don't try to argue with me by using your logic. I invented the word!"
"Actually it was the ancient Greeks. Around 5th century B.C.E."
"Enough! Time for the final round."
Riddler cleared his throat."
"Pronounced as one letter, and written with three, two letters there are, and two only in me. I'm double, I'm single, I'm black, blue, and gray, I'm read from both ends, and the same either way. What am I?"
Raven started running it through her head in pieces.
"Pronounced as one letter, and written in three, two letters there are… I'm double, I'm single, I'm black, blue, and gray… Read from both ends and the same either way…"
She was pacing again.
"Three letter word that only uses two letters…
"Twenty seconds,"
Her brain was in overload.
"Can be read the same forward and backwards…"
Riddler cut in again.
"Fifteen seconds."
Raven glared at him.
"It's a palindrome… Three letters… Different colors? So what palindrome has a color?"
"Ten seconds left."
Raven began running through the palindromes.
"Bib. Bob. Dad. Eye. Gag. Nun. Pop. Tit."
Riddler cut in again.
"FIVE SECONDS!"
"Am I missing one..? Which of those has a color involved..?"
Riddler was grinning again.
"FOUR!"
"C'mon Rae… THINK!"
"Three!"
Raven's heart was racing.
"Colors… Eye…"
"TWO!"
Raven snapped her eyes open and looked at the Riddler.
"EYE! The answer, is EYE!"
"HA! WRONG! I knew you couldn't beat me. I'm just too sma-"
Raven cut him off.
"WAIT!"
Riddler glared at her.
"Not the vowel. The Noun. The organ. E-Y-E. It's a palindrome. Same forward as it is backward. Three letter word that only uses two letters. Comes in different colors. Black, blue, gray, green, violet. Whatever."
Riddler was not happy…
"NO! NO! NO! HOW?! HOW?! Did you answer them all? You had to be cheating! You had to. I can't prove it but I know you were. TELL ME! TELL ME HOW!"
Raven shrugged.
"Maybe I have the superior intellect. Or at the very least we're equal."
"Impossible! I have no equal!"
"If that's what you have to tell yourself to sleep at night. Now would you mind deactivating this thing around my neck? I won your stupid game."
"Of course, of course… Or, how about I detonate the collar because you were clearly CHRATING!"
Raven discreetly pulled out the cryptographic sequencer from the holster on her leg and put it behind her back. She needed to buy herself time.
"What? Are you that bad at losing that you have to make up excuses?"
She started trying to overload the choker around her neck.
"I. Don't. Lose. I have the superior intellect. Nobody in Gotham is a match for me, Edward Nigma, The Riddler!"
Raven was almost there. She smirked.
"Except for Batman. And Nightwing. And Batgirl. And now me… You said it yourself that they have beaten you before."
"YOU ARE INFURIATING!"
Riddler composed himself.
"But no matter. You will no longer be a problem for anyone…"
Riddler held up the device.
"Say goodbye… Raven…"
She heard the electronics in the choker fry. She could smell burning circuits. Riddler pressed the button. Nothing happened.
"What? No! It was working when I… How did you..?"
Raven smirked.
"During your boasting you failed to notice my sleight of hand."
She pulled the device out from behind her and held it up.
"I MAY have deactivated the collar from my end. Was I not supposed to do that?"
Riddler was infuriated.
"You may have saved the hostages, but you'll never find me in time. Check mate Raven!"
Raven was unimpressed.
"The hostages are in the library. Which is where you are."
"…No…"
"You said you were blocking all communication inside this building. Which means you would need a short range transmitter to release the hostages. I'll see you soon."
Riddler looked in a panic for the first time. He shut off the projector. Raven unhooked the choker from her neck and held it in front of her at eye level.
"So not my style…"
She dropped it and turned on her heels. Raven opened the door and stepped back into the main hall. She walked down the staircase again passing all the inmates she took out on the way in. She opened the door to the library and began walking down the hall. At the end of the hall she turned left and stopped. Two inmates were blocking her path, one on the left and one on the right. The one on the left had a stun baton.
"Been waitin' for ya."
"Yeah. Riddler warned us about you. Said you were on your way."
Raven smirked.
"He should have done more than warn you."
"Supposed to take you down. Then take you to him."
"And how are you meatheads planning to do that?"
The inmate on the left held out the stun baton.
"With this!"
He sounded triumphant. Like he had already taken her down. Raven smirked again.
"Cute. You think a weapon will give you an advantage."
The inmates looked at each other, then charged her at the same time. The one with the stun baton tried to deliver an overhead strike, the one on the left threw a punch. Raven raised a forearm and blocked the overhead strike, from the left. She took the punch from the man on the right then stomped hard on his foot. The man on the right recoiled in pain, then took an elbow to the throat from Raven. While the inmate on the right was disoriented, Raven used both arms and locked the arms of the inmate in place. Then she did a monkey flip and landed on her back, flipping the inmate over her. She beat the inmate to his feet and she had taken possession of the stun baton. She brought the stun baton down on the man's chest. His body twitched as the current ran through his nervous system causing him to lose consciousness. The second inmate came from behind, Raven ducked under his swing and kicked the back of his knee causing him to crumble onto his knees. She spun the baton in her hand into a reverse grip and jammed the baton into his neck. The man fell forward unconscious. Raven twirled the stun baton through her fingers and then slid it into the holster that was still strapped to her leg. She looked down at the stun baton and after she realized what she had done with it she smiled.
"Nightwing would be proud."
Raven opened the door to the library, she was immediately greeted by Riddler in a frenzied rage. Every single inmate she had freed by answering riddles was now in danger again. Riddler held a revolver to the head of Doctor Young. Aaron Cash was still tied and bound to a chair. Once Riddler saw her, he tightened his grip on the doctor and pointed the gun in Raven's direction.
"You CHEATER! You fraud! You chancing bumbling amateur! Look at what you have REDUCED me to, Raven! If you cannot simply bow down when confronted with your obvious superior then I will stoop to your pathetic, pugilistic level and MAKE you!"
Raven stood her ground and glared.
"You really think a gun will stop me?"
Riddler pulled the hammer back and kept the revolver pointed at her.
"I'm in control! And if you don't do as I say, I'll-"
Riddler's gun suddenly had a black aura around it. On its own the gun began pointing to the ceiling. Riddler was struggling with the gun, using all of his strength to get it back under control.
"What- What is- What did you DO?!"
Raven held out her hand, it was surrounded by the same black aura as the gun.
"With all your intelligence; the math, science and engineering, you will never understand what's right in front of you. Magic."
"Magic?! Don't be absurd! This is nothing more than magnetism! Or electromagnetics!"
Raven jerked her arm to the left, the revolver went flying from Riddler's hand. He watched the gun fly through the room and land on the floor.
"Hey! How did-"
Raven took advantage of Riddler being distracted and charged him, she threw a jab that caused Riddler to separate from his hostage, blood trickled from his eyebrow. As Riddler recoiled from the punch, Raven dropped a shoulder and crashed into Riddler. She grabbed for his heels and pulled up, Riddler landed flat on his back with Raven on top of him. She began trying to subdue him.
"You BITCH! Do you have any idea who I AM?!"
Riddler delivered a head-butt straight to Raven, he connected squarely with her nose. She recoiled in pain, blood ran from her nose.
"HA! And once again I have shown my supe-"
Raven put a hand to her nose, she felt the blood run into her fingers and palm. She had the metallic taste of blood in her mouth. Then, Riddler heard almost a lupine growl come from Raven. She snapped her head back and glared at him. Suddenly she had four eyes, tattoos appeared throughout her body and Raven bared her teeth. For the first time, Riddler showed fear.
"What- What are-?"
Raven licked the blood that was trickling down Riddler's forehead.
"I can taste your fear."
Raven stood up and grabbed Riddler by his collar. In a show of force she threw him through the air. He hit the ground with a roll. Riddler began crawling away from her, Raven walked towards him. The sound of her footsteps echoed through the library as her combat boots hit the ground. She approached Riddler, who was trying to crawl as far away from her as he could. Raven stepped on his hand. Riddler was panicking.
"What are you..?"
Her voice was demonic.
"Riddle me this… I can't be seen, can't be felt, can't be heard, and can't be smelt. I lie behind stars and under hills, and empty holes I fill. I come first and follow after, I end life, and kill laughter. What am I?"
Riddler was terrified, trying to get free. He was like a trapped animal, the only way he could get free would be to gnaw his own arm off. Still, Riddler didn't answer.
"I. AM. DARKNESS!"
Black magic tendrils grabbed Riddler but the legs, a portal opened on the floor and he began to be dragged into it. Riddler clawed at the ground, trying to dig his nails into the floor. He kept being pulled toward the portal, screaming the entire time.
"What's the matter?! AFRAID OF THE DARK?!"
Riddler was mumbling incoherently, he was in pure terror.
"Makes no sense… No such thing… Magic… Demons… No such… She can't be… Impossible!"
Raven suddenly had control of herself again. Her tattoos faded and her eyes went back to normal, she looked around and saw Riddler inches from the portal. She snapped her fingers. The portal closed and the black tendrils vanished. Riddler curled into a ball on the floor.
"Not again…"
Raven shook her head. She exhaled and walked to the hostages.
"Everyone okay? Anyone injured?"
There was an awkward silence that followed her question. The security team just stared at her, afraid to say anything. Cash spoke first.
"Can ya get me outta here?"
"Uh yeah. Sure."
Raven walked over and untied Aaron Cash. The ropes came loose, and Cash rubbed his wrists and stood up.
"Thanks. Appreciate it."
"Anytime."
Cash looked over at Riddler, he was still curled up in a corner.
"You really did a number on him."
"Yeah. I didn't mean to… He just…"
"Save it. Bastard deserved it."
"How'd you guys end up here?"
"After Nightwing left we secured the room, hour later, Nigma comes in with a team of inmates. He sticks a knife in Kasinsky's leg and takes us hostage again."
"He alright?"
"Yeah. Dr. Young staunched the bleeding."
Raven looked around the room, all the hostages were helping each other and making sure everyone was okay. Cash spoke again.
"Riddler called you Raven. Nightwing mentioned you. He a friend of yours?"
"Yeah. You could say that."
"Is everyone accounted for?"
"Not quite. Riddler got into the Warden's office and took Sharp. He was in here with us up until you beat him at his own game. He told Zsasz to take him off somewhere."
"You know where he went?"
"No. I was tied up and had my back to them."
Raven looked to the other hostages.
"Any of you know where they went?"
They didn't answer, they were still terrified. Cash broke the silence.
"Enough with the whispers and sideways looks. Raven here just saved our ass, the way I see it she's on our side. And if Nightwing can vouch for her, it means we can trust her, clear? Now, if any of you knows something speak up."
Raven looked at Aaron.
"Thanks Cash."
One of the security team came up to Raven.
"I saw Zsasz take Sharp to the lower part of the library. There's a security gate down there. Riddler thought Zsasz could take him there and nobody could get in."
"Then that's where I'm heading."
Raven reached down and grabbed the rope that was used to tie Cash to the chair. She walked over to Riddler. He was still mumbling.
"Defies science… Physics… Magic can't…"
Raven tied Riddler up, then she reached into his pocket and pulled out the black device he was using earlier. She dropped it on the floor and brought her boot down smashing it. She began walking to the stairs that took her to the lower level of the library. As she walked passed all the rows of books she stuck a hand out, brushing a handful of books with her fingers as she walked. She looked up, there were two more levels above her, and the whole circular room had books wrapped all the way around from ceiling to floor.
"What I wouldn't give to read all these books…"
Raven put a finger to her ear.
"Oracle?"
Barbara was in her ear.
"Raven! I've been trying to reach you for a half hour!"
"Yeah. Ran into Riddler. He was blocking communications in the mansion. He's dealt with."
"You took down Nigma?"
"Yeah, made me play a game of riddles. He was expecting Nightwing, not me."
"Impressive."
"Listen, Zsasz has the warden. Give me the rundown on him."
"Zsasz has Sharp? Okay listen; His full name is Victor Zsasz. Serial killer who kills his victims that he calls zombie's and "frees" them from their daily lives because he believes that life is meaningless and nothing nor anyone matters. After he kills a victim he scars his flesh with a tally mark. Last tally was a hundred and fifty seven."
"A hundred fifty seven? Shit. Strengths? Weaknesses?"
"Oh right."
"Advanced hand to hand combatant. He dislocated Batman's shoulder a few months ago. He has a fetish for knives and bladed weapons so expect a blade. He has a high level intelligence and a particular taste in philosophy. He also has above average conditioning. Oh and a high pain tolerance."
"Sounds like a fun guy."
Raven reached the lower level of the library, she put her back flush to the wall and began moving. She made it to a corner and moved to the next wall. She was trying to stay out of sight. Raven came to the end of the wall where an arch began. The arch led into another circular room that housed all the books on the lower floor. Raven peered into the room, she saw Victor Zsasz holding Warden Sharp hostage. There was a knife to his throat. Raven turned and stood in the doorway. She heard his nasally high pitched voice.
"Stay where you are girl! Listen to me carefully."
She watched as Zsasz dragged the Warden farther into the room. The Warden was crying for help. He was in pure terror.
"Please, help me! For the love of god help me!"
Raven took a step closer.
"Come no closer, or I'll paint the room crimson with his blood!"
Raven didn't move. She was thinking, figuring out her options. Zsasz put the knife closer to Sharp's neck. Sharp began panicking more.
"Do something! I am the future mayor of Gotham! You have to-"
Raven glared at the Warden.
"Quiet!"
Quincy was terrified. Sweat began to bead down his forehead. Zsasz was becoming even more unstable.
"I can smell the sweat… The vein is throbbing… Pumping… Pumping… Pumping… I need to make the cut…"
Raven got ready.
"The mark… I NEED THE MARK!"
In a flash Raven was gone. All Zsasz and the warden saw was shadow, then a flash and Raven was gone. Then there was another flash. Then an arm was wrapped around Victor's wrist, the knife was twisted from his grip. Victor was flipped over a shoulder, and he stared at the ceiling. Before he could react, the heel of a boot came crashing down and he no longer saw anything. The warden turned around and saw Victor flat on his back, he collapsed to his knees. He started hitting the unconscious serial killer with his fists and screaming at him.
"You monster! You evil, evil monster! How dare you attack me! ME! Warden of Arkham! And future Mayor of Gotham!"
Raven snapped at him.
"Stop! There's nothing to be gained by attacking an unconscious man."
"HE threatened me! ME! His superior! And his-"
Raven knocked Sharp off balance with a well-placed nudge from her boot. He fell to one side.
"I said ENOUGH! He's beaten!"
Quincy awkwardly stood to his feet and began fixing his suit.
"He deserves it! He attacked me!"
Raven was disgusted, this man only cared about himself.
"Don't you care about his other victims? Men, women and children? The families he's torn apart? The people he's traumatized and all you care about is yourself!"
"His victims are dead and gone, I'm still here! Why should I care about them?"
Raven grabbed the short man by the front of his suit, she towered over him. He was only five foot six and she was nearly six foot.
"Because YOU are supposed to be better than them! You're the goddamn warden! Act like it!"
She let go of him. Quincy began fixing his suit and readjusting his glasses and his tie. Raven looked back at him.
"Nightwing. Have you seen him?"
"Yeah, I've seen that thug. He came in and began making demands of me. Then once was finished with his violent tendencies, he decided to lock me in my own office and left me to be captured by this animal!"
Raven rolled her eyes and began walking out of the room.
"Wh- Where are you going?"
"Back up top. See what I can do to help."
"Of course. Good idea."
Quincy began following her, Raven walked out of the arch and turned to the security console. She activated the electrical security gate and locked the warden in the circular room.
"What are you-"
Raven turned to Quincy.
"Nightwing locked you up. He obviously had a reason for it. My guess is, it was a good one. When Arkham is restored and I find Nightwing, I'll find out what it is. And when I do, GCPD will be here."
"You can't do this to me! I am the future mayor of this city! And I will not-"
Raven glared at him. Sharp backed down into submission.
"May the hell you find, be of your own making."
Raven turned and began climbing the stairs back to the library.
1:17 A.M.
Arkham Asylum: Arkham North
Intensive Treatment
Nightwing walked into the security office that Commissioner Gordon was using as an operations center. He looked around and put a finger to his ear.
"Oracle, I've made it to the security office. I'm setting up a crime scene."
"So what's the plan?"
"Gordon was taken hostage by Frank Boles."
"Boles? Figures. He always rubbed me the wrong way."
"Yeah."
"So, the plan? Isolate something unique to Boles?"
Nightwing smirked.
"Exactly."
He cycled through filters in his mask until he got to his evidence scanner. He looked around and found a flask lying on the ground.
"Boles dropped his flask. Sloppy."
He began scanning the flask, his mask picked up traces of alcohol.
"Whiskey? Strong stuff."
He cycled through his mask filters again, he stopped at vapor tracking. He put a finger to his ear.
"Oracle, I've got a trail. Boles dropped his flask. I can follow trace amounts of alcohol vapors from Boles' whiskey through the air."
"At least that will leave a strong trail. I'll leave you to it."
Nightwing walked out of the office and looked around. His mask picked up traces of the whiskey, he walked down the hall, following it.