Chapter 12: Balancing Act
The Batmobile was making its way towards Chinatown to get to Riddler's next test. Once it go there, there was another elevator door with a question mark on it, but this time, the top said "Balancing Act". The door then opened up and the Batmobile drove inside. The door closed behind it and the elevator then started to go down. Riddler then came on the wall of the elevator and started to give another one of his speeches. "Well, well, Dark Knight and company. Eager for more? It's humiliating isn't it? The opportunity to even glimpse my greatness, the dawning realization of just how insignificant, how unworthy of note, you really are? These trials are my masterpieces, Detective! When I have defeated you, they will become monuments to my genius and testaments to your stupidity! Crowds of schoolchildren will pack themselves in this elevator, eager to see for themselves the place where the Dark Knight was defeated. They won't understand a thing, of course, but they'll come.", he said before he went off. Sven then said, "So now he's pretty much calling all kids stupid, huh?". "Pretty much.", said Batman. The elevator then stopped and the door opened and the Batmobile then drove into the next challenge room. The Batmobile then drove a little further until he was in a subteranean like challenge room with ramps and platforms. After the car was parked, the heroes then got out and waited to hear the instructions for this challenge. Riddler then came on and started to talk. "A trial so elegantly simple that even you simple minded fools should manage a feeble grasp of the premise! You guys must provide power to this board.", he said before he went off. The heroes then took a look at what they were supposed to do and were slightly confused. "So, what exactly are we supposed to do here?", asked Kristoff. "Well, he said provide power to that board, but how do we do that?", Elsa asked Batman. "Just stay here for a second and let me take the car up that ramp. Then Batman got back in the car and started to drive up the ramp and noticed that there was another pressure pad on the platform. He figured he could just stand on it while he used the car's remote controls to do the rest. But Nygma then came on again and said, "I think this would be a useful time for you to get assistance from your allies, Detective.". Riddler then turned his attention to Jacob and said, "Jacob, would you be so kind as to help your mentor solve this puzzle?". "Of course.", Jacob said as he walked up the ramp and onto the platform where both Batman and his car were on. "How can I help exactly?", Jacob asked his mentor. Batman thought for a second and then told him, "Just stand on this pressure pad that will allow me and the Batmobile to do the rest.". "Okay.", he agreed. He did as he was told and stood on the pad. This allowed the next part of the challenge to be done. Batman took the Batmobile on the see-saw like ramp that was now as it should be because of Jacob being on the pad. "You see now why I called upon him, Dark Knight. Because I believe on balance I didn't think you would be able to figure this riddle out on your own.", Riddler said. Batman used the blockade code to keep the ramp in place as he drove up. Once he got up to the next platform, he used the code to keep turning on and off blockades that he could drive on one at a time. He then got to the other end and had another balancing ramp to deal with. He drove on it so it would be pressured all the way down. Riddler then came on again and said, "This isn't just a test of intelligence. It's a test of skill.". Batman then used the code to keep the ramp in place as he backed off of it and then drove straight with full power so that he could reach the other end where the generator that he needed to power was. Once the car got in front of the generator, he used the Batmobile's power winch to power it up. After it was powered, the elevator with the car on it then started to go down. "Well done, Batman! You figured it out! Or blundered your way to victory. Time to help the girls with their key.", Riddler said. The Batmobile then drove in front of the pressure pad with the lights on it and Batman got out of it. Jacob then walked down the ramp and back to the rest of them. "Since Jacob helped you out with this one, Dark Knight, I think he should be the one to help them out this time.", said Nygma. Batman then looked at Jacob and nodded. Jacob then stepped on the pressure pad where all the lights were red except one that was green in a specific spot on the board came on. Back at the orphanage, yet another series of glass cabinets appeared in front of Anna and Selina. "Oh, boy! Can't wait to play the will our heads explode game again!", Catwoman said. They were both given the message from Jacob on what cabinet to get a key from. They both walked over to the one that was mentioned to them. "Okay. Let's hope your sister's boyfriend isn't wrong.", Catwoman said as he cut out another circle of glass out of the cabinet with her claws. "Trust me, he's not. He knows what he's doing.", Anna assured her fellow hostage buddy. Catwoman then tried the key on herself and it worked. She then gave it to Anna and it worked on her too. Anna then threw the key aside once it was used on both of them. "Okay, so that's two down.", Catwoman said. "Another key correctly chosen! Well done! But there's still much more to come!", said Nygma. "Can't wait!", Anna said sarcastically. All of a sudden, one of the doors in the room lit up with a bright green light and the door was labeled "Numeracy 101". "Now, ladies, celebrate your survival by telling your friends all about the exciting orphanage developments.", Riddler instructed them. "No. You do it.", Catwoman bluntly told him. "Now, kitty!", Riddler said menacingly and annoyed as he held the trigger for their collars in his hand. Anna then looked scared and told Catwoman, "Just tell them for Christ's sake or our heads will explode like volcanoes!". Catwoman then did as she was told and said, "Hey, guys, there's a big, mysterious, green door!", Catwoman said. "Yes! Yes there is! Come back to the orphanage, heroes and I'll let all of you through it!", Riddler said before he went off. Back at the current test, Jacob had gotten off the pad and walked back towards his friends and allies. "Okay, so we're heading back to the orphanage now?", asked Sven. "That's what he said, buddy.", Kristoff said. "Does that mean it's over if we can head back there now?", asked Olaf. "No, because he said there's a door we all have to walk through to do the next challenge. I have a feeling this won't be over for quite a while yet.", Jacob said. They all got back in the car and then drove back towards the elevator. The car entered as soon as the elevator door opened and then closed behind them. It then started to go up and the Riddler appeared on the wall again. "Well done, heroes! You should, I hope, be beginning to comprehend the breadth of the tasks ahead of you, the sheer scale of the gauntlet I have thrown down. Or perhaps not. Perhaps you're feeling cocky. Perhaps these early victories have filled all of you with false hope? Well then, ride that wave of smug satisfaction all the way back to the orphanage? I'm waiting!", he said before he went off. The elevator then stopped and the door opened again. "I really wish he would at least stop talking to us like we're idiots.", Elsa said. "Trust me, Elsa. You'll get used to it. Just try not to let it bother you too much.", Batman told her. "The cold doesn't bother me, but being called names usually does.", Elsa said. Jacob then put his hand on Elsa's and said, "It's all gonna be fine. When we get our hands on him, he'll be the one who feel stupid.". Elsa then slightly chuckled and nodded. The Batmobile then drove out of the elevator and started making its way back to the orphanage.