Chapter 14: Crushonator
Batman and the rest were on their way to Nygma's next challenge in the Batmobile. Batman got a beeping in the car and he answered it. It was Alfred and he started by asking, "I just wanted to see how your mission to save both Princess Anna and Ms. Kyle is going, sir?". "We're working on it. Riddler's next challenge is in Bristol. He's losing, Alfred and that makes him dangerous.", Batman answered. "Perhaps the real challenge is tolerating his relentless self-aggrandizing commentary?", Alfred asked. "Tell me about, Alfred. It makes me just want to beat the shit out of him even more!", Jacob said. "That's very well to know, Master Jacob. I hope all goes well, sir. I know you'll save them both as well as apprehend Mr. Nygma.", Alfred said. "Thanks, Alfred. I'll talk to you later.", Batman said. Alfred then went off just as they were approaching their next destination. The car then approached another door with a question mark and this one was labeled "Crushonator". The door then opened and the Batmobile drove inside to the elevator. The door closed behind and the elevator then started to go down. Riddler then appeared on the wall and said, "The preliminaries are done with, my friends. I hope you all understand that. Had I so wished, you'd have failed before you had even began to comprehend the very first hurdle. But no, no, no... I wanted you to know the full extent of my brilliance, you understand? To fully appreciate my superiority. But now? Well, I'm not going easy on you anymore.", and then went off. The elevator then came to a stop and the door opened. The Batmobile drove towards the next challenge. Riddler then came on again and said, "Another race track, Detective, but please, do not let its unique peculiarities CRUSH your spirit.". "Oh, I love the sound of that!", Kristoff said sarcastically. "Well, shall we begin? I'm going to need to ask your friends to step out of the vehicle again. But do not fret, your time to play will come.", Riddler said. The Arendelle Crew then got out and moved over to the side. "I wonder when though.", Elsa said to Kristoff. Kristoff just shrugged his shoulders in response to her remark. "Alright, Nygma. I'm ready!", Batman said sternly. "What did I tell you? It's not just Nygma! It's either Riddler, The Riddler, or Mr. Nygma, sir! Just do the damn race and get crushed!", Riddler said angrily and impatiently. The lights then went green and the timer began with 1 minute and 40 seconds as Batman began the course. He used the code to lift the blockade and made sure not to hit again until he was clear so he would not get crushed to death. He kept going side to side and kept using the code once he was clear of not getting crushed. He then went to the next spot where there were some other blockades that were out of his control that kept going up and down. He dodged them easily and kept going. He then got to ones where he could control again. After using the code once more to lift a big ceiling, he kept driving and didn't use it again until he came to a safe space where the entire car could fit and then used it again for another one. After he dodged that, Riddler said, "That ceiling applies 300 deadbats of pressure, Detective. I invented the measurement myself.". "Clever.", Batman said as he kept going. He then got to ones where he couldn't control again and kept successfully dodging them until he was safe. He used the code to lift up a couple more big ceilings and the turned a corner. And then did the same thing with yet a couple more big ceilings. He dodged some more that he wasn't able to control after that. "I built this course in a sewer, Detective! You'll need the home team advantage!", Riddler said. After he dodged a number of thin ceilings, he had completed the first lap. He then started the second lap with 1 minute and 30 seconds this time. "Onward, Batman! Or does the Dark Knight require a pit stop?", he said. Batman just kept doing what he did before in the last lap, but it was a little trickier this time as stuff was more rigged and faster. "Is it a car? Is it a tank? Who cares! Soon, it'll be scrap!", Riddler said as Batman kept going. Batman just kept dodging the ceilings and using the code and this just pissed Riddler off even more. "That's it! I'm cranking it up! 500 deadbats of pressure!", he said angrily. The pressure then increased on the mechanisms after he said that. But Batman was able to make it through the second lap and finally begin the third and final one. "Feeling claustrophobic, old friend? Get ready for the final lap!", he said. The last one started off with 1 minute and 20 seconds and the traps were faster and more rigged than ever. Batman just kept using the code on time and dodging the ceilings as best as he could. "Oh, what a fitting end for you, Detective! A stain on my floor!", Riddler said and the chuckled at that sick thought. Batman just kept swerving and trying his best to not get crushed. "I can see it, Detective! You're miscalculating corners! Swerving through straights!", Riddler said in joy at the thought of Batman getting crushed at any moment now. Batman was nearing the end, but was still doing all he could to not mess up as he was getting slightly confused due to all the turns and dodging he's made. "It's time! 1,000 deadbats of pressure!", Riddler said excitedly. The pressure then increased much more on the mechanisms after he said that. Batman then got to the end and had completed the race. "Enough! Another lap would be the end of you, Dark Knight, and I can't quite bring myself to stop the fun so soon. Your next key awaits.", Riddler said sounding disappointed. Batman got out and then walked over to both the pressure pad and his allies. "Yay! Nice job, Bruuuu...I mean Batman!", Olaf stuttered as he almost gave away Batman's identity to Riddler. The Frozen Cast was really starting to get nervous once Olaf started to say Batman's real name, but relaxed once he corrected himself. Batman stood on the pressure pad and the lights indicating which cabinet the key was in appeared. Batman then sent the message to the girls back at the orphanage as the glass cabinets showed up in front of them again. "Oh good! The fun part!", Catwoman said. Both girls then walked to the cabinet that Batman was telling them to go to. "And here we go.", Selina said as she used her claws to get at the key behind the glass. She then used it on herself and then gave it to Anna. Anna then used it on herself and she threw it away. "Congratulations, ladies, you've proven yourselves able to follow simple directions!", Riddler said. Anna had just about had with him treating her and everyone else like they were stupid. "Oh, I swear, Riddler, when I get my hands on you, I'm gonna...", Anna began to say, but was then cut off when he began to talk. "Hey, Princess. Don't forget, I can just press this button and not another word will ever come out of your mouth again, only remnants of your skull!", Riddler threatened as he was holding the detonator to their collars in his hand. Meanwhile, back at the course, Batman had just gotten off of the pressure pad. "Alright, let's go.", he told the others. They all got back in the car and then started making their way back to the elevator. The car got in the elevator and it then began to go up. Riddler appeared on the wall and said, "I must say, Dark Knight, that your desperate fumblings have exceeded my admittedly rather meager expectations. I am impressed. This must be how naturalists felt upon observing chimpanzees using tools for the first time. Did you guys know that the cleverest chimps can even obey simple instructions? It's true! Let's try it, shall we? Go to Gotham Casino for your next test, and I'll give each of you a banana!", and then went off. "Oh, great! Now he's treating us like we're monkeys!", Kristoff said. "Actually, chimps!", Elsa said. "Whatever. I just want to rescue Anna and then find him and kick his ass!", Kristoff said angrily. "And we will, Kristoff!", Jacob assured his friend. "Well, I'm a reindeer, so I prefer carrots over bananas.", Sven said. "Yeah, me too.", Kristoff agreed with Sven. The elevator then came to a stop and the door opened. The Batmobile then started to make its way towards yet another Riddler test.