Okay. So, this is the revised version of chapter three and it maybe a bit more in depth than what the original chapter was but, may give a bit more information into what I intended for it to be. So, I hope you enjoy it. Thank you Shamhlú for betaing this story and helping me out along the way.
Sam watched Crane switch from the monitors closes to the Cloud Burst to ordering the guards. She allowed her energy to flow a bit, feeling for any of the guards that were standing in front of her, guarding her she guessed. The familiar rush of power running through her body, like fire, burning through her veins and giving her strength. Though they were not that attentive to her. She could feel that they were tired. Tired of this, waiting and watching when they knew the plan would work.
Before she could get anything else out of them, she felt the machine pull the energy she had just attained, and surging it into the machine. She felt so stupid in the moment. She should have known that the machine would have taken what little she could scavenge off of these soldiers. All she needed was a well opened window of time to gather enough energy to break free. Since her own power derived from the River Styx, her abilities were great, but also flawed. Her own ability to feed off energy of others was the only thing keeping her powers in supply. If she somehow couldn't draw on anyone or any living creature around her, her abilities would become less and less. This Knight somehow knew that she needed people around her to give her strength, posting only two guards before her and the rest out of sight and keeping himself near her as well. The normal form of isolation, at least then she didn't have to deal with Tantalus analogy, gods was he whiny.
It was like being in a desert, you keep getting tricked by the hallucinations and even when you find a spring, you still need more to survive. Sam needed to get away from this person. She needed energy and she needed it fast.
She noticed that the Knight had not moved from where she first saw him when she shook off the toxin. Just standing in front of her, watching her, she guessed since she couldn't see if he was looking at her at the wall next to her. Frankly, she was getting rather annoyed by it, but she could use it to her advantage. She shook her chains somewhat, hearing them rock against gravity as the tubes jammed inside her skin twitch at the movement. She noticed that the Knight tilted his head slightly, keeping his gaze on her. She was more annoyed that he would just watch her than having these chains tie her up. Reminded her of the story of Prometheus, how he was constantly attacked and his body destroyed everyday until morning came, and over night change seeing that his body was completely healed, but still chained to the rock. Rather than wait for the eagle to come for her in this scenario, she decided to be the eagle.
"What do you plan to do with me after your machine is finished? Are you going to kill me?" Sam asked. She watched how Crane paused in his scurrying action, looked up at her slowly. She could see death in his eyes, his intent for her was clear. But, the Knight, he looked away from her. Why? She thought someone working with the likes of Crane wouldn't be so squeamish, getting his hands dirty, killing the likes of her should be easy. Or did he simply not want to share what he wanted to do to her in front of the others? If only she had the power to read minds she could know.
"After the Cloud Burst has been charged with enough energy, we will have you so filled with toxin, you will suffocate on your own fear." Crane said. Sam scoffed at him. Now that she knew that the beast within her was immune to the toxin, though it took her being infected for her to realize that, but baby steps. She could maybe turn his toxin into energy somehow. Though, she had never done it before, so it would be the first time, but never try, never fail, right? Then, she felt a small pinch in the back of her neck, not enough to pain her, but enough to know that it was there.
Sam started to laugh, she allowed her laughter to grow louder and louder, letting it echo throughout the room she was in, hoping maybe Batman would hear her, but more than what she hoped for was for Crane to be thrown off, to get angry. So much so, that she could possibly make her window, get out of here, and find Jason quickly.
She noticed that Crane had started to move closer to her, seeing his anger started to come to the surface, not all of it, but enough to give her what was looking for. She tried to contain her laughter, seeing how she had gotten what she wanted, but she needed a bit more.
She was surprised that the Knight didn't try and stop him. If the Knight knew her like he said he did, he would be stopping him right now. But, he didn't. Just stood there, watching her.
"Perhaps I did not give you enough. I will be sure to give you more when I am done with you." Crane said. He let his needles extend, letting the toxin flow through to their points, eagerly waiting for the injection.
Before Sam could reply, she watched the Knight, quick as lightening grab him by the throat, giving him a nice squeeze before lifting him in the air. She was beyond impressed by his power, but something about the way he moved seemed familiar to her. Like she had seen it before. He was no Flash, but still. To have that kind of speed and skill, it takes time to hone.
"I warned you, Crane. She is mine. I warned you that the toxin will not work on her and it still won't. I won't let you do it again." The Arkham Knight said. Sam took this chance to get a feel for the Knight. She filtered whatever energy she had left that hadn't been drained from her, focused it on the Knight, wanting to get a read on him.
She felt something she didn't think she would feel from a crazy, psycho-path. She felt anger, not that she didn't expect that, but his anger was off. Not in the way she expected it to be, out of control anger was what she expected, but it seemed more controlled. She felt a strong sense of loyalty. Loyalty? For her? Loyalty fuelling the anger in itself? No. It was more than loyalty. She it become stronger, feeling it fuel more into devotion. But, there was an underling of two other feelings she felt. Loathing. Not for her. She felt no negative energy towards her come from him. Self-loathing? But the craziest one was what she felt next.
A strong feeling of affection and adoration. Toward her…. Why? This was too much for her to understand. He truly felt love for her and his need to protect her. If he wasn't out wanting to destroy Gotham or Batman, she have tried to convince the man he could change for the better. She was almost happy that she could finally sense something genuine from him. It was almost a relief to her.
But, just as soon as he threw Crane near the monitors, those feelings were gone. Instantly, she felt nothing from him again. She noticed how he positioned himself in front of her, how he watched Crane slowly rise to his feet, the way he flexed his shoulders and stiffened his legs gave a sense of safety. She didn't understand why.
"And I warned you, Knight. Our partnership is only as strong as long as we keep on the same page. This woman is and will be the death of you. Whether you acknowledge this or not will bring you nothing but pain. I am willing to make it easier on you, my friend. Killing her will lift that burden off of you." Crane said. Sam tried with every fibre in her being to not let the machine take what little energy she got from the Knight.
She pushed it down far, allowing it to be absorbed to the beast inside her. She could feel it chuckle with delight, feeling the energy fuel it more as it laid in wait.
"She is not to be killed here. She will be made an example. She is the closest to Batman. Watching her die will be a better show, don't you think?" The Arkham Knight said. Sam watched Crane's twisted sneer morph to a sickening grin. She could see the delight in his eyes and hear the small chuckle that escaped him.
"My, Knight! You are right. It is too soon to kill her. We shall wait until the time is right." Crane said. Sam could tell that things were not going to get easier on her from here. She needed another way.
"You guys really think that Batman will be hurt by my death? Please!" Sam said. She smiled when the Knight turned around to face her again. She noticed that Crane was still smiling though, and she was unsure if he was curious of what she would say next or if she was telling the truth.
"Batman and I haven't talked in years! He cares more about this city than he does me! If I had to die to save the city, then so be it. I will thank Hades I can rest from this gods forsaken life!" Sam screamed, noticing as she finished her sentence, she sensed a small energy mass closing in on them. She had to drag this out more. She was nearly there.
She could hear the monitor close to the Cloud Burst ring, giving the sign that it had charged completely and was ready to use. Crane smiled as he made his way to the monitor, punching in different codes, looking over it like his favorite child. Sam struggled against the chains and tubes, feeling the tubes give way slightly.
"If you really think Batman would sacrifice you before saving the city, then you should join me. He deserves to suffer." The Arkham Knight said. Sam looked down at him, she felt nothing from him. All her thoughts were brought to one conclusion that she needed to stop them, but for some reason, she wanted to help him.
"Whether he does save me or not, I cannot allow you to continue like this. You may be hurt for whatever he did to you, but what you are doing is much worse. I refuse to join you." Sam said. She noticed he did not look away from her. She waited what seemed like a century, before she heard his response. He shook his head and walked away from her. He whispered, but she could hear him so clearly. Her body froze at his words.
"I expect nothing less, hot head."
She did not know what to say. Her heart stopped beating for so long that she felt it jump start into her throat. Her hands were beginning to sweat, feeling the nervousness she felt before, a long time ago. She couldn't believe it.
How did he know?
Before she had the chance to ask him, she felt electricity flow through her, her body jolting slightly from the pain and giving way to her bodies weak state, fell into darkness once again.
She welcomed the darkness. She needed answers. What she knew couldn't be true, all of the memories of her training came flooding back. The feeling of accomplishment on a mission, but the feeling of guilt when she could have done better.
Scope out the area better, analyze her opponents before throwing the first punch, watching how they moved to see which part they favored before giving a powerful swing or move towards her.
She wanted to be better than what she was before. She was not a killer. She was not a monster. She was human.
"Don't push yourself too much, hot head!"
Her mind froze. Her memories didn't lie. She was right all along. The one person she couldn't sense, the one person who knew her, everything. To her abilities to her own secret identity. How they would protect her from danger, but tease her with threats all the same. How they would hurt her friends, but showed compassion when it came to her.
"Sam, stop it. I know this isn't you!"
How they could know she would not harm others if she could help it. How to use it against her, keeping her pinned no matter what. Knowing where she was, even if she couldn't sense him.
"You have to know what you are looking for. Your energy may be hard to sense, but I've spent my life being able to sense your type of energy."
He had been around her. He lied. He was always around her, fighting back to back. Ready to take on anyone else who came at them. Giving them each other all the support they needed. He would always protect her, even though she could easily protect him.
"I'll watch over you until you wake up. I won't let anyone hurt you."
His presence was always there. She would feel him, his energy, his love, but as soon as she tried to locate it, it would vanish. Like it was never even there. His energy earlier made her feel as if she did not need to worry anymore. His words were strong in her mind, whispering all around her like ghosts in the night.
It was him. It was him all along.
Jason!
Her mind had been numbed to all of it. She never put two and two together. Her Jason was not like this! He was kind, caring, understanding. He was hers. She would have known! She could have felt him.
The clearness of her mind began to fog over, leaving a green puff of smoke to give way to her clarity. The presence of someone who wanted nothing, but chaos surrounded her. She tried to block him out, but his laughter echoed through her thoughts, giving way to her control. Her energy was changing, it was becoming darker, like the feel of others around her was enough, but it was focusing on something else. Something more harmful, something that she never thought she could have access to, it felt cold, but she didn't want it to stop.
The smoke swirled around her, giving her nothing but a twisted knot in her stomach until it swirled above her, twisting and turning every which way. She watched as it twisted more before giving way to land across from her, the smoke evaporating to a solid form it came from.
There, before her, stood Joker. He was a bit battered from what happened before, but he was intact all the same.
"Are we having trouble, my dear? Of course you are! You can't believe that good, 'pure' Jason is not the Arkham Knight! But, shall we take a look at how he came to be, perhaps a bit of light on the subject will give you closure." Joker said. He stepped around her, placing his greasy glove on her shoulder.
She pushed it away, letting her mind push him out, but his presence would not leave her. She could still feel him creeping around in the dark crevices of her mind.
"Shall we start from the beginning? I'm sure you can only imagine how I felt when I had to tell him he was replaced. It broke my heart, but I felt he needed to know." Joker said, whispering softly to her.
She did not want to see. She would not. She felt the heat of a dimly lit lamp engulf her figure, the ground below her was no longer of her making, but of broken, dirty tiles that were placed not so gracefully on the floor, the smell of dried urine and filth filled her lungs. She nearly gagged at the smell, she wanted it gone, but it would not leave her.
She could only see a shallow figure, stuck in a wooden chair. She moved slowly to this figure, noticing a familiar hair and the voice that came from it.
"Batman? Is that you?"
Jason!
She could feel his fear, his desperation in being free. And his disappointment when he was greeted by the crazy clown instead. She watched helplessly as Joker just moved through her, as if she was the ghost haunting his mind and not hers.
She could see the enjoyment he was getting out of him. It was like he could feel it without her powers.
"Batman's not coming to save you, Jason"
The very fact that she was seeing this, it made her beast growl in anger. She wanted to kill him. Make him suffer in her own mind.
"He'll come."
Her heart soared at his hope, but it was short lived as the Joker smiled over at her. He was torturing her.
"It's been six months now, Jason. I think it's time to face facts!"
It was like she was watching a terrible movie, the parts she would cover her eyes at would play before her and she couldn't hide from it. She could see defiance and fight in Jason's eyes. She was still proud of him, but something told her it would not last long.
"Screw you!"
She could feel determination off of him, he was going to get out of this. Batman was going to save him.
"That's the spirit! You're a chip off the old bat block! Not that'll do you any good."
She didn't want to know. She didn't want to see! She didn't want to see what he did to him! She could hear the footsteps move around him, stalking him like a helpless animal. She wanted to stop this! She wanted her beast to stop this! She would let it take over if it meant this would stop!
"Why won't you just kill me?"
Sam looked at him. He would have preferred death than this? She did not blame him. When she was with the Joker, 'teaching her' she saw so much. She did not want Jason to be subjected to it. She never wanted him near him! But, he separated them, blocked off his escape and let her go to keep Jason.
"What? I'm not going to kill you! Oh! No no no no. Not yet anyway. You're my side kick now. Imagine it! You and me hitting the streets! Picking fights, preying on the weak! A regular dynamic duo! Just like Bats and that new kid of his."
She knew the way he said it. He was breaking him down, getting him to his knees before crushing him with all he had and then turning it to dust before his eyes. Sam knew what Joker did. He did the same thing to her, only he made her spill more blood than she wanted. But, this? This was just brutal.
The look in Jason's eyes had changed. They were full of betrayal, despair, and collectively defeated. Sam did not the spark in his eyes anymore. Heart- broken and all and Joker was still not done.
"No. He wouldn't."
His very voice already sounded broken. Sam moved to him, overcome with her desire to stop his pain, needing for not to feel this way. Before she could even reach him, two Jokers grabbed either of her arms and held her down. Smiling and laughing as her tears came rushing down her cheeks.
She felt one of them tighten their grip on her wrist, making her back arch somewhat and the other lifting her head to keep Jason and 'Joker' in full view.
"It's best you pay attention to this, sweet heart. There will be a pop quiz later!" One of the Jokers said. Sam tried shaking them off, giving them each a tug, but it only caused their grip to tighten. She wanted to scream, but the sound wouldn't come out. Her tearful eyes had to watch as Joker pulled the photo into view and gently placed it in front of Jason.
"Oh, so this isn't Batman then? Strange? The pointy ears are usually a dead giveaway."
She didn't want this. She wanted him gone! She needed him to go away! All of this! She didn't want to see it anymore! She felt the Jokers tighten more on her, while three more joined around her. Their smile and laughter was making her stomach churn and twist again.
They were all staring at her, watching her as he showed her something he knew she hated.
"No."
Her heart was breaking. The sound of his anguish, feeling his despair become worse and worse brought her more pain than she ever thought, she wanted to kill Joker. Her rage and her bloodlust rose with every breathe she took.
"I didn't want to show you that photo. Really, I didn't. But, well, it was the only way for you to get some closure."
Closure? What was closure about that? There was nothing about that that was in any way to give closure! She pulled against them more, the tears still streaming down her face, as she noticed more surrounding her, his eyes never escaping hers. She wanted death upon him! Over and over again!
"Now, I know it hurts. But, sometimes, you gotta be cruel to be kind."
She could see him reach out behind him, stopping for a few seconds to grab something. It was long and curved, and when he grasped it hard, she heard the tinged of the metal ring in his hand. She positioned himself in front of him again, crouching slightly. She could see it happen before she could stop it, but their grip became worse on her wrist and head. She could hear the thud and the resounding echo of his body taking the hit as he disappeared within the darkness.
He was gone! With Joker following behind him.
She felt nothing when they left. Empty as her soul, she noticed the dim light had blown out above her, the broken pieces falling onto her, not bothering blocking the pieces as they fell.
She felt each cut her face and arms as they fell, letting her mind feel the pain to keep in what she hated the most.
Herself.
This entire time, Jason was in front of her. All his feelings, all his emotions kept in check, under control just so she couldn't find him. His pain and suffering was always going to be her fault. She should have been able to find him. She should have known something was wrong when he left. She thought he wanted to be away from Batman, wanting to be like Dick when he left Gotham, but she should have known better. She closed her eyes, believing this was all a nightmare.
She let her sadness take over, feeling the need to close off more from what she had wondered would be the end, till she felt cold feel of a latex glove tightly grab her cheeks. Her eyes shot open, staring into all too familiar green eyes, her ears hearing his soft crazy laughter echo around her once again.
"Now, now, my dear. We have only begun. Why end the fun now? We have so much to see! So much to do! Not to mention, with every passing minute, I get stronger and stronger! So, shall we continue with the lesson, my dear?" Joker asked. Sam could not take it! What more could he do?
What twisted memory did he want to show her that would make her any better? He was never a generous person, not even close to a saint. She watched as his form moved away from her and faded into the darkness next to her. She wondered what he was doing, until a light blinded her, revealing a now hanging Jason, his arms tied above him, hooked to a small metal chain. His face more bruised and battered than what it was before.
She felt nothing from him. There was no feeling of pain, sadness, or even anger. He was an empty shell now; his soul was weak and beaten. Her heart ached seeing him like this. She felt her body move toward him, wanting nothing more than to cut him down and hold him in her arms. She wanted him to not suffer anymore. Just as she reached her hand out to grab him, Joker grabbed her by the waist, acting as an anchor, pulling her back into the darkness.
"I thought I told you, my dear. Best not to mess with anything. There's going to be a test later." Joker said. Sam could still feel his hate and joy in seeing her suffer, but she would not let him consume her. She watched, but hated every minute of it. She saw only Jason hanging in place for some time, his arms and legs shaking erratically, heaving heavily under the pain and anguish he was going through.
She could not feel his emotions, nor could she sense his energy. Did he learn to do it here? Was he in so much pain that he contain everything that was inside of him and just didn't let it out? Sam was mortified by all of this, but she waited all the same, hearing the familiar footsteps of her corrupting mentor.
Joker had stepped around Jason as he entered the fray, circling him like he was an injured animal and wanted to play with it before it died. She noticed he was carrying something long and thin, but had heated the tip of it, leaving an orange like glow at the end. She let her eyes focus more on the object, noticing the heated end was in a shape of some kind.
"Wakey, Wakey!" Joker said, almost singing the words softly as if he was to wake a young child from his bed. Jason did not respond to him well, shaking around violently, wringing his wrist more fervently against the rope that held them together.
Sam tried everything she could to get something from him. She wanted anything! Pain, sadness, abandon, hope, desire, deception!
Anything!
She wanted anything that could give her anything to know that he was not the crazed, vengeful seeking man that was the Arkham Knight. She did not want it to be him. She wished for all the world that he was not this man! He wasn't! The small feeling of cold became stronger as the memories passed before her, feeling a small pit in her stomach grow to a pang of aches and overwhelming sense of pain. Not from her, but from around her. She could feel pain around her, and it intoxicated her, but in a way, she liked it.
"What's wrong? You think I'm going to hurt you?" Joker asked. She hated him. She hated him for ever doing this to him and to others. She wanted, for once in her life to not be bound by Batman's rules, be free for just five seconds, if he was still alive, she would end his life gladly. She would not regret it, after what he had done to both her and Jason. She wanted him to suffer for everything he put his victims through.
She noticed that a few Joker's had started gathering around them, giving off a terrible, stomach churning feeling again. She kept her eyes trained on Jason, while searching for his energy and keeping track of all the Jokers that had appeared out of nowhere. When she saw that the one that grabbed her waist had now backed off, she could feel something was off.
She noticed the ground around her had slowly changed from a grim ridden floor to a sticky, black tar pit, keeping her feet in place. She tried to lift one, but only made it worse. She should have known that Joker was up to something. How he came up with these things was beyond her sometimes, but then again, he was too smart for his own good.
The Joker behind her had moved her right as the others started circling around her, the scene from Joker's memory had become brighter.
"I'm not the bad one here." Joker said, lightly touching the heated part of the rod she had now realized he had in his hand. Tap. Tap. Tap. The singe from the glove burning slightly as he passed in front of frightened Jason.
She noticed Joker stopped now, deliberately in front of her. He had the heated end of the rod pointed at her, noticing the curve shape she noticed earlier becoming clear. A bright, burning 'J' as the shape at the end of the rod. Her eyes widened when the memory of Joker looked back at her, before only seeing the darkness, but now seeing her stuck in place by tar he had somehow created in her mind.
She watched his already evil smile curved even more. He was taking joy in this and she knew it. He was taking pleasure in torturing Jason and in some twisted way, knew Sam would be watching.
"It's Batman! He's abandoned you! Thrown you away like an unwanted puppy!" Joker said. Sam watched as Joker jumped back and forth from pretending to be a begging little girl to a responsible father, it made her stomach churn more. The ache moving all over her body as she could feel something terrible about to happen.
"Can I keep him daddy? Oh, please, please, please! I'll take real good care of him!" Sam watches as he had been bringing the rod from behind him to the front of him, keeping her eyes on him for just a few seconds.
"Anything to make you happy, princess. Just make sure people know he's yours!" Joker said. Sam noticed that the other Jokers were slowly turning to smoke, creating a barrier like wall between her and Jason and the Joker interacting with him.
Joker had snapped his fingers, giving the signal to release its hold on Jason, seeing him drop down to the floor cradling his arms into his stomach before attempting to crawl away from Joker. Sam kept trying to sense him, but she still felt nothing!
She watched as Joker crouched down at him and still toying with Jason, keeping the rod secured and in place. Sam could see now! This is where Jason received the burned 'J' that she saw when she watched the tape Joker sent Batman. She didn't want to see it, but she knew she had to.
"No, Daddy! I wanna keep him forever!" Joker said. Sam saw Jason push away from Joker, hearing him plead and beg for him not to do it and Joker ignoring it all, leaping to him, bringing the rod down on his face. She could not see it, but she could hear it singe his skin and his cry as it burned him deeply.
"Nooooooooo!" Jason screamed. Sam, on instinct, tried to move her body towards him, she had sensed nothing before that moment. But, at that single moment she felt something.
Misery. Pure, utter misery.
Sam collapsed before the smoke cloud wall, feeling her heart break more and more. Blaming herself even more for what happened to him. She let her sadness and pain overwhelming her, not noticing that the gas wall had fallen and began to rush to her body, seeping through her skin and gripping at her very mind as she was losing control all together.
Sam growled at him, gathering any strength she had left, any will power she had to force him out. She begged the beast to force him out, but it was silent. It refused to answer her. She was being consumed by him and she could feel her own power of freedom being dwindle down to nothing as she could hear his laugh continue to echo into her soul. This pain, the cold feeling becoming stronger and the energy of others in pain around her gave her something she never thought she had. Absolute. She could feel Joker revelling in this, feeding off what she was discovering and using it to his fullest as she began to slumber in silence to his tortuous memories.
Her body shook intermediately, giving off a strange sight of fighting, her usual energy that shined through her body cooled to a menacing harsh blue. Hearing her murmur something softly under her breath, a few guards moving closer to her, inspecting her for anything that may be causing it. Seeing nothing but her very presence gave them the chills. One guard dared to reach out and touch her foot, extending their hand to touch her foot, stopping at the sound of their commander grunting in his throat. Before retracting his hand, he felt a cold fog float over him, freezing his body to the core. Leaving him weak and frail, he eyed her again, seeing the blue that had taken over slowly shade from the cold, to something worse. He felt he could not breathe around her now, noticing the fog that had frozen him had began to sting him harshly. He could see the it boiling his skin, feeling each inch of his arm rive in agony. He backed away quickly, scurrying away from a blue fog that had slowly changed to a deadly green fog.
The cold air hitting her skin brought her eyes to open, the hues no longer a dark, blood red. But, a bright unrelenting green. Her mind was no longer her own and her eyes were now stolen as they scanned the room viciously, searching for a certain someone that had been the interest of their night so far, split between two. Energy that had once illuminated red around her had dimmed and instead reflected a dark blue hue around her hands before, seeing a few guards begin to become unsteady and weak to the knees.
When they spotted the tattered man in question, a small laugh escaped their chest.
"Scare Crow!" They shouted, gaining the attention of said man that stood at one of the monitors in question. His face was contorted, wrapped as it was, but still was easy to tell when they knew him for so long.
"I gotta say, Doc! This new batch is quite intoxicating! It really brings out the 'me' in her!" They said. Noticing that the Arkham Knight who had nearly left the room, froze. He looked back at the hanging body that he knew was someone he loved, but how she was speaking was not her exactly.
"Knight, you never told me she was insane." Crane said, stepping closer to her. The Arkham Knight stayed where he was, giving the sense that he knew who was talking. He raised his right hand and formed a fist quickly, signalling whatever guards that were in the room, to surround her and keep her in their sights.
"Oh, Doc! How can you not recognize an old friend!" They said. They looked to either side of themselves, seeing that the tubes were still connected, along with the chains as well. They smiled evilly, allowing their energy to flow from the tubes and taking energy deliberately away from the several guards that were in front of them. As they fell to their knees, their energy being replenished and giving them more energy than before.
"Now, Sammy! Watch how Papa J does it!" They said, allowing their new stolen energy flow from their body and directly to the tubes and chains, the form of the energy inching it's way from her now suddenly too pale skin, he area surrounding her suddenly dulled like the colour was being sucked away. The figure them, it felt wrong to think of it as the same girl that had sat there minutes before, suddenly spasmed, her right arm flew forward, pulling on the chains, which now looked much too thin for anyone's liking. The chains keeping her in place, jangling them louder than they had been before, and then started groaning.
A closer inspection revealed them to be frosted over, the creature shrugged their shoulder and the chains shattered, all of them, and the tubes. Then they hunched over, like they had forgotten how to walk, there were no sounds in the room now, until a soft breath came from them, followed by a chuckle as blank nothingness stared into the hearts of everyone in the room. Guns were forgotten as a sense of inevitability fell over them like a mist, why fight it?
"Well this is no fun!" They said before grinning under the bag, much too wide appeared on its face.
"I am so used to the screams of my adoring crowd when they see me! But, I suppose it's been a while, a whole year now. Ha!" They said, raising their arms in victory. The gesture alone made the Knight take a few steps back, halting in place when he noticed the person before him stared him down behind the bag.
"I'm back now, so you'd best get to screaming!" They said. The guards trembled as something much worse than anything Scarecrow could ever dream of flowed through their veins and they screamed, a cacophony of pain.
Finally, they dropped their arms. And with them, the soldiers fell.
With a drop, they landed on the cold metal floor, sensing more guards coming, allowed for them to take more energy away. With no hesitation, they allowed more energy to flow on to the floor, the creeping energy inching across the floor, going to each soldier, spreading over them, causing each to start feeling weak and soulless as each new guard fell to their knees. Crane did nothing but watch as this now powerful girl had dismantled the few troops they had with them and was killing them. Showing none of her usual restraint, giving a small chuckle as she walked by the dead men lay before him. He was stunned that she had no restraint on her powers and was allowing her abilities to the absolute limit. Her energy had echoed throughout the room, making it colder and colder as she made her way to a certain wanna be Bat that had not moved still.
All doing this with a black bag on their head. They stopped just in front of Crane, sensing his fear, but fascination with how she was acting. The Knight had not moved. He was on his way to oversee the next step of detaching the Cloud Burst from the airship, but what she was doing, how she was draining his men dry, made his skin crawl. The energy coming from her was deadly and he had a sick feeling she was wanting it to continue.
"Now, boys! If you want a piece of me, I'll be happy to take all comers!" They said. Slowly removing the bag over their head, the Knight nearly shouted at her not to, but it was too late.
Their eyes were tinged green, their face was not contorted much, but enough to see a cruel smile form slightly into her skin. They were a walking monster show. The small tinge of green appeared at the tips of her hair and the cracking of white make up began to form on the small corners of her face.
"I would advise you to try now, because soon I'm bringing the beast out to play and that is going to be more fun than ever before!" They said. They looked over at both Crane and the Knight and just started to laugh. Their laughter had gotten louder and louder, giving everyone a headache from their cackling noise.
The Knight did not hesitate. He accessed his comm and communicated a quick, but urgent message.
"Units five and six to my location now!" The Arkham Knight said. Their eyes shooting from Crane to the Knight. Their rage burning through his mask, the need to make him bleed was apparent in those eyes. They watched him slowly move his hand to his back, the sound of clanking and the knocking of metal hitting each other made their eyes grow more in fury.
Before the Knight could even bring his hand out to his front, in a blink of an eye, those same green eyes were now inches from his mask. A shockwave passed through the room, cracking the glass windows that surround them. A gush of wind enveloped around the Knight's body, but his body stood firm in their presence. The feeling of the one he knew was gone, replaced by the evil that was held within her
"What did you do to her?" The Arkham Knight demanded. The smile never left their face, allowing their energy to rage around them. Green eyes focused all on him.
"I believe you lost that right when you tricked her, boy. But, for old times' sake," Their hand reached his neck and squeezed down hard, causing the mask plate to short circuit slightly, making his face and his fake slanted eyes turn to blurred code. "let's go for a ride!" They said. Noticing he wanted to place another pair of handcuffs on them, they simply laughed softly.
Showing him what they could really do, they let the energy flow through their arms and around the Knight. Watching in enjoyment as they could see their energy was doing what they wanted, pushing past his suit and reaching his flesh, piercing the healed scars that were all too painful.
"Try putting another pair on and it will only get worse." They said. Seeing that he lowered his hand, they did not hesitate to grab him harder around his throat. Hearing him choke slightly brought another bit of laughter from their chest.
Looking above them, noticing the metal covering was not as pliable as the others, giving a sense of reinforced wall. Smiling more, their energy flowed, raging all around, circling them faster and faster, deflecting bullets that were being fired at them from his men he called for. Each one firing at the head or at the hands that were holding him.
Not letting them get a chance, focused the energy upward in a violent manner, taking with them a small bit of energy as they burst through the barrier easier than expected. Floating over the airship, they looked around, seeing many of his drones circling the airship and other areas of the city. Hearing the man they were holding grunting and grasping for air, they turned their head to him.
"Oh-ho! Sorry! Slipped my mind! Here! Let me help!" They said. Releasing their hold on his throat, created a small bubble around him, though letting him fall a bit before saving him. Looking for a quaint place to land, they noticed that there was a roof near the airship that had not been over taken yet. But, still accompanied by many thugs, looters, and murders the like. Their energy would be more than enough.
Allowing the bubble to lower to the roof first, aiming mainly for the trash that somehow been placed there, let the bubble dissipate and watching him fall brought another smile to their face. Steady and powerfully, lowered themselves to the roof, a few feet away from the Knight. Sensing that he had gathered himself enough to attack, they let him get close enough before surging energy into his body once again. Stabbing his healed wounds, going deeper and deeper. His scream of pain made them stop for a short period, seeing that now he may have gotten the message.
"Now, boy! I believe a few things need to be cleared up. For instance, I don't need to look under the mask to know who you are. Seems to come natural for me since we did spend a lot of time together. But, it seems poor sweet Sammy doesn't want to admit that it's you, but I'm sure with a few words from you, it will bring everything to come the light!" They said. Watching as the Knight remained still, not moving or flinching when the red energy released vigorously. He took a few steps back, looking at the person before him.
"If she is not there anymore, there is nothing left to say." The Arkham Knight said. He pulled out his guns, aiming them at their head.
"If she is no longer here, then I will kill what took her away. That is what I promised her." The Arkham Knight said. A surge of heat and pain struck them, their body bending to its will, bring it to their knees.
The darkness was becoming cleared, a sliver of light filtered through the pain and hearing his words, stung her mind. Her will was not as strong as his, but she could something in her break through the smoke.
I'm so scared, Jason! I don't want to be a monster!
Fear and worry pulling her soul as she could feel something else pull her in a completely different direction. A sense of hope and peace, knowing it would be brought to fruition.
I won't let you turn into a monster, Sam.
She doubted those words, she wanted them to be true, but look at her now. She was lock away. Joker had taken control, pushing her sadness and depression further and until she couldn't take it anymore. Her walls fell to his cruel torture, throwing her in a cage of her own making. She could see everything he was doing. He pushed her power to the absolute limit, nearly killing those men and nearly killing the Arkham Knight.
He nearly killed Jason. What a sick joke.
You can't guarantee that, Jason! Nobody can!
All of her emotions and power became a play thing to Joker, abusing it quickly as she had always made sure to never take more than what she needed. She wanted to be normal. She wanted to be something more.
A hero.
I can! If you turn into a monster, whatever takes you, I'll kill him!
His words being harsh but comforting at the same time. How she would dream of the sweet release of death. To embrace her destiny, surrounded by heroes and the like. She could see her mother again. But, was still needed here. He still needed her.
I need you, Sam. Don't go.
It was not a memory, but something she could hear so clearly. His voice so calming yet invigorating. She could see his smile, his sweet eyes looking at her lovingly, his hand reaching out to her. She could feel her strength dwindling fast. Her eyes becoming dull by the darkness as it closed in, hearing a cracked voice in the distance.
"My name is Jason Todd."
She felt it. Joker was tightening his grip on her, shoving his memories in to her own. Wanting nothing but misery for her. She covered her ears, not wanting to hear him.
"Who do you hate?"
Sam wanted this to stop. She was going to make it stop. No more. She wanted it gone and it was going to be gone whether he would leave or not.
Their body began to surge with energy, it was visually separate in two colors, a blood red raging against a bright lime green energy though fading fast from the lack of energy.
The Arkham Knight stood in amazement, still training his gun on her head, waiting patiently for what would happen, noticing that his men had already swarmed around them, drones and large armoured men the like he had recruited before. He needed them to keep back from her.
"Sir, what are your orders?" One of his lieutenants asked. He remained silent, seeing that the raging red energy was becoming weaker, its size dwindling down more and more.
"Stay away from her!" The Arkham Knight said. He needed her to win. He took a cautious step forward, lowering his gun down. When he knew he was close enough, so that his men would not hear him, shutting his comm off quickly, he shouted to her.
"Sam! Don't leave me! I still need you!" The Arkham Knight yelled. He knew this would give him away to her, if he hadn't already, he let her sense him. Giving her the sense of grounding she needed right now.
"That's right. Of course you do! Did you get that, Bats? Kids not your anymore. He's mine! Mine! Mine! Mine!"
His voice didn't stop, her own will had been reduced to nothing, the only thing she had left to fend him off and she was nothing now.
"Say! I never asked! Who is the big bad bat? His name, tell me!"
The clanging of the hammer of the gun was quick but to her it lasted forever, hearing it hit him over and over again. Hearing the impact of the bullet and the thud of his body hitting the ground, then nothing. The sense of him not being here was aching her to the bone.
Until a small whisper slither into her minds ear. Calling to her softly, like a warm breeze that felt so familiar and yet one she could not ignore even if she tried.
Sam! Don't leave me! I still need you!
She froze. She knew that voice. All too well and she never in a million years though she would hear it again. Her heart gave a bit of healing and her will restored only so much. She needed more for her to come back. For all she knew, it was her own mind tricking her into coming back to nothing.
She felt it. An energy she needed more than life itself, so close and so near she almost cried.
Jason. He was really here. He was giving her his energy, it was full of love, but at the same time there was anger. Why? Was he angry with her? Did he not like that Joker took over for a bit?
She didn't care. He was alive and he was here with her, now she needed to figure out what he was doing and how she could help him out of this quest for vengeance. She was just glad she could feel him again. Her soul becoming warm and whole once again. She felt her power return, pushing back the green smoke that once engulfed and surrounded her. She welcomed the beast chasing the psychotic clown from her mind and felt herself regain control slowly, realizing now that Joker had taken over. She wasn't as protected as she thought.
Perhaps her beast form had more of a defence than her human self. She will need to remember that if she ever was exposed to Cranes new toxin. But, in the end, she could overcome it and give herself time in recovering. The surge of her red energy burst through her trapped psych and give way to the new found energy and found herself grounded once again. The cold feeling of darkness had released its hold on her, giving back what she had felt to be normal all this time.
Her senses returning to her control as she could smell the sweet scent of the rain and hearing it pound around her. Her vision still blurred as she could make out a figure standing before her, both confusing and comforting her at the same time. Their stance was confusing, but something she knew very well. A cautious stance, like approaching a scared, deadly animal in a corner. She noticed her energy, the little that she had, created a small dome around her, the energy flailing about and surging as it became difficult to even keep the energy flowing as it needed. She watched it spark and twitch every which way before noticing her ears could hear the clicking of guns syphoning a bullet into the chamber, smelling their fear as what had occurred was probably something out of a horror film, well maybe not a horror film, but close enough. She could only imagine what she did while Joker had a hold on her. She did not want to give her identity away, let her energy to change her human form to her alter ego, Scarlet.
As the dome of energy disappear around her, she could the cold harshness of the rain and seeing all of the soldiers standing violently at her, their guns still aimed at her but now seeing their anger in full view. The sense of justice oozing from them as they inched closer to her. She noticed the man standing close to her reaching for his gun holstered to his side and seeing a pair of handcuffs in the other. Her body would not move, but her thoughts were moving a mile a minute. What she felt just now, the sense of belonging and love was from the man in front of her and there was no doubt in her mind.
It was Jason.
She noticed him trying to slowly step closer to her, his men in turn doing the same thing. She needed more time. She could not go back with him, not like this. She allowed herself to focus on what little energy she had from him and forced her body into the sky, feeling a few bullets hit her skin, bouncing off of her as she rose higher and higher in the air, hearing the drones lock on her and open fire, only to be destroyed as a surge of red energy erupted from inside and destroy both of the drones. Sam was feeling like herself again, feeling an energy she recognized flow through her and made her feel like she was more alive than before. She kept her distance from them, her sight not leaving the masked man before her.
Jason. She had found him, but she needed time to process. She needed time to understand why. Before she could even think of what to do, her body on instinct created a small smoke around her, the dark red cloud covering her as she felt her energy whisk her away from them, not caring where she landed or who would be near her.
The feel of rain became less on her skin as she somehow appeared under an over hanger near one of Gotham's National Banks. The sound of thugs nearby, hitting up stores or hitting each other was apparent, but she expected more of them to be smart and not rob in front of her, even if she just popped out of nowhere. She pushed herself closer to the building and slumped to the ground, feeling her power slowly release her form, letting her human side push through. She felt the aches and pain press through right to the bone. Whatever Joker did when he took over left her sore and disgusted. She didn't remember much from it, she remembered hearing a few groans of pain and then nothing. The cracking of glass and the pull of metal pushing away from her, the weight of someone in her hand was evident, but she did not know who.
Though with recent events, she was sure it was Jason she was holding on to, more really she was choking him while holding him in the air. It was no wonder she didn't kill him. Joker controlling her was so surreal and almost terrifying. Just before he took over, she felt something cold grow within her, something that she hadn't felt before. A new way of accessing her energy. She wasn't just focusing on everyone's energy, but on specific ones. She wasn't looking for their happiness or their anger, she was looking for their pain alone. She remembered those men.
All of their pain and anguish, what they felt being kicked out from their friends and families, being let go and wander until the Arkham Knight found them. All of their physical and emotional pain flooded to her, even when Joker took over, she could feel it all. All of it poured into her like flood gates bursting at the seams and then it was gone. They were sucked dry, down to the last small drop, till there was nothing.
She killed them!
Her stomach sank, her hands trembled as she stared down at them. She could see flashes of their blood appear on her fingers, coating the thin tips of her nails and the cracks of her knuckles. She sucked them dry, she took their lives.
"Oh god! No!" Sam said as she tried to wipe the imaginary blood from her hands. No matter how hard she tried, the blood stayed. She could still hear them! Their last breath drained from their lungs, the heavy thud as they dropped to the floor, their cold eyes seeing to nothingness, and all of it fuelled her, gave rise to new power and she couldn't take it. She had done this, and she couldn't repay it! She would have gone wild, Joker would have taken over completely, had she not heard Jason call for her.
She shut her eyes and let her thoughts process what had happened. Joker had taken over her body, at the same time had access to a new form of energy and used it in full force, Joker, while using her body, killed people with ease and then proceeded to take Jason out of the airship, then after secluding him, telling him blatantly that she knew it was him but wanted an explanation and then proceeded to not only rally men behind him, but was able to kick Joker out of her head and feed her energy she needed to be normal.
So, Jason is the Arkham Knight and he has gathered this entire armada, joined forces with Crane, holding the city hostage, and somehow blaming Batman for all of this.
She needed answers. But, if she wanted them, she needed a way to get him alone again and that wasn't going to be easy. She needed to think of some way to get to him without going through his armada, knowing that he may have equipped them with special bullets, designed to take her down.
As she slowly pushed away from the building, she allowed her energy to engulf her as her alter ego bloomed forth and she was once again Scarlet, her hair and eyes changing from her cold teal eyes to a burning red, her hair burning brighter and brighter as she pushed her terrible thoughts back. She would deal with those deaths later and perhaps have a talk with Cerberus when this was all over.
The deaths of those men may have been insignificant, but she knew that no matter who you were, innocent or not, lives were not yours to take. She was not a killer.
She was not a killer.
As she allowed energy to flow through her body, she could still feel the many thugs and crooks, her energy rose more and more. She felt like herself again as she lifted her body into the air, she let her mind sift through the thugs, seeking more to regain any more that she could get. Feeling more come, she halted when she a sudden crash and a blare of a loud alarm blast behind her. She spun in the air to see that a heavy-duty garbage truck had slammed into the bank she was at. Men began pilling out, their faces covered with burnt circus masks. One side holding a solid white color and the other side holding a solid black color.
Two-Face.
He was robbing banks now? Well, on a night like this, anyone would try it, but she had to stop them. With all of those men, she was going to need help no doubt. She focused her mind, forcing her energy through her body to the tips of her fingers, the color shining brightly as she moved her hand every which way, forming a bright symbol floating before her. A puff of smoke replaced the symbol and a small four red eyed dog appeared, panting and looking every way. Its two tails wagging with delight as she lightly brushed her hand against its head.
Sam let the dog move next to her, as she focused her eyes on how many men were in the bank. Counting them all, including the ones sitting in the truck, ready to go, there were twenty-five men inside. No doubt Two-Face would be in there as well, but she would know more when she got inside. She looked back at the hound she summoned, eagerly waiting for her orders.
"Follow my lead and do not kill them." Sam said, seeing the dog nod its head quickly. She smiled as it waited for her.
She focused once again, moving her energy around her, giving life to her invisibility and slowly lowering herself to the ground. She quickly made her way to the entrance and hopped through the broken glass door. She could see the men running from three separate floors. One was above and the other was pointed to the other side of the third floor and the last one was to her left as she could feel the glee and joy burst from them. She chuckled to herself as watched a few men run past her and dump arms full of money into the back of the garbage truck.
Sam rolled her eyes and silently slipped near one of the walls of the enclosed area of the bank, pushing herself faster as she took one by surprise and quickly knocked him out, watching his body go limp and still. For a moment, she thought she had put too much pressure on him and killed him. Her thoughts of killing the men before flashed before her until she could hear his slow breathing calm her. Still staying invisible, he looked to her hell hound and showed him what she did. Giving the best interpretation of an understanding smile, he had disappeared through a small portal he had created under him and in an instant, was gone.
As Sam moved from the small room, she noticed three more men had been knocked out quickly, her hound popping up behind them from his hole, and simply knocking them out with one of his ears. She giggled a little, finding the hilarity in his way of doing things. Just like Jason did on missions.
She wondered if the old Jason was still inside of him somewhere. Maybe if he was, there was a chance to hopefully help him. Whatever it was that plagued him, she needed to get to the bottom of it. She knew Joker was a big part of it, but this whole endeavour, raising an army, teaming up with Crane! This wasn't the Jason she knew, but after what happened with Joker, she would not be surprised if what he did to him was what the driving force of this night.
Her thoughts becoming distant as her and her hell hound knocked out every man in the bank, noticing that the alarm had been turned off. She was relieved at first, but soon became evident that something was not right.
"It seems my boys were done in by some ghost. Or just by a well-known little bitch that has a few tricks up her sleeve." Dent said. Two-Face knew it was her. She should of known that going in, whether he would be here or not, that any kind of activity other than his men would give herself away.
Sam stayed silent for a moment, thinking perhaps Dent would think himself going crazy, seeing her hell hound raise the hair on the back of its neck, starting to growl lowly in their chest as she waited for any sound to indicate that he was here. Then again, Two-Face was known for his grand entrances.
When nothing happened, she let her energy flow from around her, slowly allowing her body to become visible once again. Her hell hound following suit, sniffing around the unconscious bodies around them. Sam investigated the bank, looking for any other indications of the thugs' handy work, hearing Two-Face call out to her angrily.
"The Bat may not be able to stop us tonight, young lady." Dent said. Sam waited until she could hear his other alter ego yell over the speakers.
"Tonight is the night we get what is rightfully ours." Two-Face screamed. Sam stopped for a minute, allowing the man to get out what he needed to say before syphon a small red orb in her right hand.
"I'm going to give you one chance to back away from this. The Gotham Banks are in the hands of the people now." Dent said. Sam looked around at the ceiling, noticing a camera pointing right at her, a red light blinking brightly at her.
"Stay away from the banks!" Two-Face screamed. Sam smiled softly at first, whistling for her dog to come to her, as he happily did. She looked down at his smiling face and scratched behind one of his many ears. She needed to send Dent a message. If he tried again, she was going to stop it. He needed to know what he was getting into.
"Two-Face, you're smart enough to know who I am. Obviously, you just witnessed what I can do. So, let me take this time to give you a warning." Sam said. Knowing exactly what she wanted, her dog moved in front of her and waited.
"Hit another and I will not let you take any money from it." Sam said, letting the energy that had been accumulating in her right grow brighter and brighter. The glow almost blinding, raising it over the dogs' head, letting the energy empower him, making him grow bigger and bigger, his teeth and claws beginning to take shape as his head hit the ceiling of the bank. He looked into the camera and let whatever energy he had left form into a ball in his mouth, aiming it right for the recording equipment.
With a blast, the camera or what was left of it, laid at her feet. Sam picked up the few broken pieces and studied them carefully. Her thoughts beginning to run faster as to what Two-Face would do now. He would still hit the banks, regardless of her threat or warning. Her dog may have scared him, but not enough to keep him at bay. But, maybe she could use this. If she could draw out Two-Face, she could put him away before the night was over.
She would need to regroup with Batman and give him any news on her investigations and let him know she found Jason. As she contemplated whether or not to tell Batman, her hell hound began to shrink down slowly, letting what little energy was left, to give back to her. She was happy for this, but she needed him to do something for her. Rather than take back the energy she gave him, she refused and gave it back, confusing him slightly.
She kneeled down to him, seeing his confused look amuse her slightly. She needed him for something important. She held out her hand, and let him sniff it, giving him the scent he needed to find.
"Find them and keep an eye on them. Don't make a move until I tell you to. Okay?" Sam asked, watching the hound nod its head quickly before disappearing in to one of its holes once again. She knew he would find them sooner than her, but she needed something up her sleeve just in case anything else happens.
Looking around, making sure there was nothing else out of place, Sam radioed to Cash, letting him know that the Gotham Bank was secure Two-Face's goons ready for pick up. As she made her out of the bank, the loud clanging of the bank metal shades closing gave her a bit of relief that Cash and his team would be here soon.
She needed to find Batman and get this night over with, if not for herself, but for Jason as well. She watched as the thugs all around ignored her as they continued to run through the street. She would need to put them away later, but she needed to focus.
Letting her energy flow once more, she pushed herself off the ground and flew into the air, flying high in the sky to get a good view of the city below. First, her sight fell to the airship, wondering if Batman was there still, but then realized there was a giant hole ripped in the front of it. Crane must have pulled his Cloud Burst out when he had finished sucking whatever energy she had left out of her. Which means, Jason was missing again.
He wouldn't let any of his energy out now, giving her any way to track him would be stupid. But, she knew he would come out soon. He was not one to hide for long, even with tonight being as it is, one thing remained the same.
Jason doesn't hide.
Sam focused her thoughts, letting beasts eyes out for a moment, searching vigorously for Batman, needing any sign of his energy to give her something. Feeling the beast grow more impatient by her use of their power, she felt the cool sting in her eyes as her sight receded back to normal. Her sight blurred a bit, but restored to her usual sight. Sam was puzzled by this. Why was the beast refusing to let her use its ability? Was it still low on energy? She clearly had enough to fly and keep her hound in this plane. What more did it need?
Sam rolled her eyes and decided to try her communicator instead, opening her frequency to a different channel that only he knew.
"Batman? Batman, do you read me?" Sam asked, waiting for a response. She hoped that he would respond with something.
"Scarlet, where have you been?" Batman asked. Sam breathed a sigh of relief, knowing her father still alive. He sounded rough, like he was having trouble keeping his composure.
"Sorry. Long story. I'm above the Gotham National Bank. Where are you? What's going on?" Sam asked. She didn't need her powers to tell her that something was off, but there was no time for that.
"Ivy is at the Botanical Gardens. Alfred can't search for the Cloud Burst with the AA guns stationed in Gotham. Come to my location." Batman said. Before Sam could even respond or say yes, the channel was cut off. Nothing but static.
Something happened. Sam knew it. She needed to get to him fast, but she needed the beasts help to do it. Without giving too much control, she allowed some of the beasts energy out, letting her hands grow dark red fur and her fingernails to slowly grow to dark black claws. Her eyes changed, revealing the same gruesome shades as before, giving it a bit of relief of being let out.
It took her no time with the beasts power to find Batman. He was perched on a half-done tower, under construction was more like it, beams and tarps thrown about everywhere. The men on this tower probably didn't have the time to sort out all work when Crane issued his threat to the city. She didn't worry about it much, really it gave her the perfect idea. Spotting the AA gun was not hard, a giant gun pointed up to the sky was not hard to miss.
Sam thought of something else for the beams left around. The lower levels were a bit more finished than the levels above her, seeing walls put up all around, separate rooms and small hallways making up what looked like an office floor. The opened window she came through was probably the only thing not done on this floor, noticing the very window in question laying near the open area, next to some hand tools and a few roughed up yellow and black gloves.
The lights in the ceiling were off, of course with it being abandoned, but seeing the plastic coverings were in place and she could clearly see the glass cylinder bulbs in place, it was going to be a bit difficult to find any strewn about beams on this level.
Sam slowly made her way down the hall, seeing a lot of the work done in each office area, one in a modern taste, curving the glass window into a wave and etching at the bottom causing an almost ripple effect to happen to the glass. Whatever anyone would do here, they would have a nice work place at least. Sam let the beasts eyes to search over the floor, seeing left over energy from whoever was here before, workers or someone who was not supposed to be here.
Seeing as some were a bit weaker than the usual ones she would see, she took it as someone who had been gone for a while. She noticed one of the doors were left open showed a slim image of a staircase and she made her way towards it. Luckily, it was a staircase leading the way up. As she climbed the grey, bleak stairs she heard a soft voice call to her.
It was so familiar, yet it made her skin crawl. It called for her blood to boil and burn as she couldn't pin point the voice, but for some reason she hated it.
She ignored it and pushed herself in the air as she flew up the stair case. Leaving behind whoever it was that was calling to her. She needed to help Batman. As she found of the exits, she quickly landed in front of the door and ripped it open, finding that there was a small hallway, holding the many beams she had spotted before. She made her way to one of them, stopping quickly seeing one of the armed men walking towards one of the tarped covered beams.
Sam pushed the beast back, her claws and fur receding with her blood covered eyes. She needed to careful and precise, not brutal and powerful. She spotted six other armed men making their way around the construction, noticing separate points of entry that she could use, noticing that Batman was actual by one of them. She remained still, remembering that she needed to stay calm and keep herself hidden at times like these.
She waited until the guard moved away, turning his back from her, giving her the chance to hasten towards him and grab him from behind, knocking him out quickly before moving to the next hiding spot she planned ahead before seeing another guard coming by.
"I got a man down over here!" One guard shouted above her hiding spot. She noticed a ladder placed to one of the unfinished levels, gibing herself an evil thought.
She waited until the man was just about to reach it, she sent a small orb to the bars and made one of them explode, causing him to fall to the close to the guard calling him. She quickly made her way to both of them, surging energy in both hands and pushing it into them, knocking them unconscious.
She looked to where Batman was, seeing he was gone and working on the other guards on the others unfinished levels. She could there some sort command center placed on the third level and she figured that's where he would be heading to. Focusing her energy to her feet, she floated to the third level where her guess was right.
He had already made his way to the console and was working on disabling the AA gun. Sam watches him for a moment. If didn't know any better, he was more closed off than usual. He was silent, more so than before.
"Where's Oracle?" Sam asked. Seeing him tense for a second told her everything, the same way he tensed when she tried to tell him that Jason was alive, and he didn't believe her. His silence towards her was all she needed.
"Sam…. I'm sorry, I know it is hard to hear, but Barbara is dead. Scarecrow gassed her, played on her fears and drove her to the edge." Batman said. Sam couldn't move, she couldn't breathe. Barbara was gone? She couldn't be! If it really was Jason leading this nightmare, he wouldn't let anything happen to Barbara. He would keep any kind of danger away from her.
But, that's what the old Jason would do. This Jason, the Arkham Knight was different. The Arkham Knight let Crane subject her to his toxin and be captured and almost be killed. Maybe he wasn't with loyalty to them anymore? Could what Joker did to him be too much? She needed answers.
"I'm sorry, Sam. Right now, we need to make sure we don't lose anyone else…Barbara wouldn't…she wouldn't want us to lose anyone now. We will have time to grieve later. Right now, Scarecrow has the Cloud Burst. It's a dispersal unit. He's planning on using it to spread his toxin. Alfred can't locate it without the Bat-wing. Once the AA gun is disabled, we can search for it. " Batman said.
For a moment she thought about how Bruce was, she knew him well enough to see the signs again, every word. Cold. Calculating. Mission first. Just like when Jason disappeared. He was secluding himself again. Although, he was right in a way, but he needed to know she was here to help. No matter what his opinion was of her at the moment. She still hadn't told him what happened when she was taken.
She looked out the window, noticing the AA guns defenses had retracted and a clear shot was now available for the Batmobile. She figured that is what he would use, given that his only other exploding tool was not used yet. And given the fact that she didn't smell burning explosives anywhere. She just nodded her head and moved towards the door, keeping an eye out for anyone who was near.
She had a small idea. Her beast had incredible hearing abilities, one that she could use at this moment. But, the last time she tried to use a small portion of its power, it refused. Like, it was unpleased with only being use for something so small. She sighed and needed to keep herself focused. Luckily, didn't need to make a deal or beg, hearing Alfred on the other side of the comm.
"Sir, reinforcements are approaching. The Arkham Knight is with them." Alfred said.
Jason!
Sam looked back at Batman, who wasn't stopping in directing the Batmobile into position. Her thoughts began to race. Jason was coming and she needed to think of something quickly. If Jason was coming, then she needed to have a way to get him alone before Batman could take him down. If they faced off, he would either retreat like he had been for the night or he would square off with men around him, looking to have support from them would be something she needed to take care of for Batman.
She had another idea. What if they ambushed them? If they already knew they were here, give the appearance that they had left and then grab him before Batman had a chance to do anything. That may work, only she needed to pull it off. Her line of thinking cut off again by Alfred radioing in again.
"Sir, they are nearly there. You must hurry." Alfred said. Sam didn't wait for his order, allowing her energy to flood around her, rendering her invisible to Batman. She moved herself to the other side of the doorway, crouching down in the dark corner to time her attack just right. She watched Batman close the connection to the Batmobile, climbing into a hiding spot as well. She would never get tired of the sneaking and hiding for the bad guys, she just never thought she would use these tricks on Jason.
Though, also never thought he would drug her, kidnap her, give her over to Crane to torture, drain her energy away, and plan to kill her. She couldn't believe that he let Crane kill Oracle! She was so confused and angry, her blood boiling from the very thought. Did he not care for them anymore? Was Jokers torture too much to bear that he was filled with nothing but hate and anger? She was going to find out.
She could hear the many heavy footsteps climbing the metal stairs to them, feeling their confidence once again fill her mind. They were cocky again, full of pride to have their leader come along with them. She sneered as she could feel a familiar energy approach.
She was ready. She was more than ready, eager to take him. She let her energy rile around her, letting a certain voice slither to her conscious.
"Shall we give them a show, Sammy?" Joker asked. She knew it was only a matter of time before he popped back up again. Honestly, she was sure that wouldn't leave her. He was too invested in her, precious time and blood spent on her. But, she needed to focus on the matter at hand.
She could hear them getting closer and closer, her heart racing at the thought of seeing him again, her palms beginning to sweat, becoming clammy and uncomfortable. Her thoughts swimming from the memories and moments they shared. Their growth and love for each other etched in her own blood, but he was poisoning her at this point.
She heard one of the men talking outside, giving way to her thoughts and reading her body for a fight.
"He's in here, sir. He's nowhere else in the building. We have him trapped." One solider said. Sam kept her breathing low and steady, she remained still and calm as she waited for opportune moment to strike. Her heart stopped only for a moment when she heard his mixed voice finally.
"Hold off, lieutenant. He's mine." The Arkham Knight said. Sam was not going to let him get away, no matter what she had to do.
The doors busted open as she felt him kick the them with such power, all the while noticing Joker had popped up in front of him, waving hands up in a laughable sign of defeat.
"You got me! Okay! Okay! I give up!" Joker said, laughing the rest of sentence into madness. Sam just watched him walk in, his men close behind him. His head looking every which, looking for any sign of Batman.
"Where did he go?" An armed guard asked, training his gun over the room before lowering it to the ground. She noticed Jason's shoulders begin to tense up, looking over at the control panel for the AA gun. She still needed to wait, at least until Batman made his move.
"Raise the defense shields. Keep all access points covered." Arkham Knight said. She could feel some of the men become anxious and nervous, feeling the urge to shoot off at any moment. Sam still didn't move. She wanted to see how this played out.
"Oh, seriously! He heard you boys coming from a mile away. The pointy ears aren't just for show you know." Joker said, waltzing passed the armed men and disappearing into nothing as Sam noticed that the men were actually circling around Jason.
Sam saw Jason place his two fingers up to the side of his face, clearly giving away where his communicator was in his special helmet.
"Sir, the launcher is secured. As long as we control the skies, he'll never find it." The Arkham Knight said. She knew he was talking to Crane. She was sickened by the fact he called him sir. He had sunk so low.
"Good. Are we still on schedule?" Sam heard Crane asked through the comm. Schedule? All of their steps have been a part of a schedule? So they expected to fail at the Ace Chemical Plant? They knew that they would have her come into the tunnel instead of Batman? How much did Jason tell Crane about them?
She could see him pace back and forth as she noticed some of the men had relaxed a bit. She was still needing to wait, though she would not waste time in waiting, gathering as much energy from these men as she could.
"We're entering the final phase." The Arkham Knight said. Sam sneered again. She was going to beat him to death. Maybe a good beating would straighten him out, after she got answers from him.
"Good. Your patience will be rewarded. Soon." Crane said. Sam watched as the few men moved around a bit, trying so very hard to find them. She didn't care about them. Her eyes stayed fixed on Jason, watching him scan the room as well. She wondered if he knew she was here, seeing how he could sense her before, but this time she made sure not to give anything away. She heard one of the men radio in.
"Checked around, sir. He's not here." One of the men said. She could tell Jason wasn't buying it.
"Is he?" The Arkham Knight asked. He wasn't buying it. He knew they were here he just didn't know where. He had been gone for too long to remember any of their hiding technics. He Batman was here, just didn't know where he was.
"He couldn't have made it out. We had all the exits covered." Another man said. Sam felt them start to get even more nervous. She still felt nothing from Jason, even though she didn't know how he was doing it still. She just remained still and conserved what energy she had gotten from them away and kept her body ready.
"There are ways." The Arkham Knight said. Sam was more than ready now, hearing a slight bend in the metal vent that gave her the signal that he was about to strike. Sam allowed some energy to flow to her hand behind her back, her beast growling in delight by the anger she felt in the moment.
In that second, Batman busted through the vent, taking down three men all at once before rushing The Arkham Knight, ready to take him down as well. Only to stop him in his tracks, matching each powerful strike as he went before getting his hand around his throat, Jason matching his choke as well, applying the same pressure Batman was doing to him. Sam took this moment to break from her cover, staying invisible as she slammed her energy orb into one of the armed men, sending him flying into the window, causing the men to turn and look. Seeing nothing had even been there, taking their eyes off of Jason, just like she wanted.
"Who….. are…you?" Batman asked, hearing his voice strain through the pressure being applied on his neck. Sam needed to hurry. She had maybe another second before she lost her chance.
"Not yet, Dark Knight." The Arkham Knight said, releasing him quickly and stepping away from him. Sam could see a small trigger popping out of his wrist and into his hand, telling her he was about to escape. Sam was not going to let him. Not this time.
Sam pushed her invisibility away, revealing an enraged woman with glowing red energy surrounding her as she simultaneously knocked the trigger from his hand and use the other arm to wrap around his neck, pulling him into a tight choke hold. She let the beasts strength out, giving him a small taste of what she got from his men.
"What the?" The Arkham Knight asked. He was shocked to see her; she could tell and she could use that to her advantage.
"Let's talk, Jason." Sam whispered. Hearing his breathe hitch in his throat, giving her a wicked smile across her face. The next second was a blur as she looked to Batman, seeing him not surprised nor proud. She didn't flinch in her grip on him.
"I got him. Take care of these guys." Sam said. She didn't give him a chance to argue as she blast a hole in the roof and shot into the sky, jerking the masked man along with her. Feeing him squirm and grunt in her hold gave her a bit sense of achievement. She was hoping something nice would come out of this.
Flying quickly away from the tower, Sam dropped him on a neighbouring building a few thirty blocks away from Batman. With the amount of men that were left and the distance she put between them, had maybe a good fifteen minutes before Batman could get to them.
Sam stayed in the air as she listened to the man gasping for air, wheezing and coughing on his knees in the cold rain. Sam's anger was boiling to the point that her energy was causing the rain that came in contact with her to evaporate, giving off the impression that she was steaming to death. When she could hear that he had stopped coughing and was breathing normally, she waited to hear him.
She was just waiting, him staring up at her as she just floated above him. Her anger rising with every second he didn't speak. She decided to lower herself down to him, standing a few feet away from him. He simply did nothing, didn't reach for his gun, his handcuffs, or his communicator to radio in for help. She knew he would do one of those things sooner or later.
Nothing the sound of the rain hitting the roof of the building they were on and the sound of it evaporating around her was heard. Her blood rage rising more and more. She could feel something in the back of her throat, like fire burning in the woods. She wanted him to say something, but he remained silent.
Silence. Nothing. Not a word spoken. Sam growled slightly at it. She was done. If he wouldn't start, she would.
"Why?" Sam asked. She waited a minute for him to speak, when he said nothing she continued.
"Why are you doing this? Terrorizing the city? Teaming up with Crane? Kidnapping Barbara? Tricking me? Drugging me? Handing me over to Crane like some doll? Planning to kill me? Why? Are you getting off on the violence now, Jason?" Sam asked.
She wouldn't understand. Even after all these years of planning and building for this night, she would never understand. No matter how much he wished she would. Seeing her at the beginning of the night brought back feelings he thought were locked away tight.
The mere sight of her brought his joy and happiness to the surface for a moment. His plan, the very idea of carrying out his revenge was forgotten, seeing that she had grown up somewhat and powerful as well. Though, the moment short lived when he remembered what the night was about and what he wanted.
Batman, defeated and destroyed at his feet before finally ending him.
She wouldn't understand what he went through, all the pain and suffering Joker had put him through and the very thought that Bruce had replaced him. Did not even bother to look for him.
"You wouldn't understand." Jason said. He didn't bother looking at her. Her disbelief and shock in her voice was all he was ever going to hear. She may have lived with the Joker, but he didn't torture her. If anything, Joker mentored her to be just as ruthless as he was.
"I don't understand? I don't understand what Joker did to you?" Sam asked. He flinched at her, her words bringing back those painful memories. Being trapped in that place, wondering if he would die in that place. But, he survived. All on his own. Without Batman. Without her.
"NO ONE DOES!" Jason shouted. He noticed Sam didn't even flinch at his voice. Rock hard as always, doesn't let anything phase her, just like Bruce. He both admired and hated her a bit more for it. She was aspiring to be Bruce, something he didn't want.
"No one will ever understand what he did to me. How I was locked away in that abandoned part of Arkham for over a year, with that…monster." Jason said. He watched how she looked at the ground, refusing to look him in the eye or what ever passed for his eyes with his mask down. Was she now ashamed of him? Did the very mention of what he went through too much for her.
When he heard her say she was looking for someone, he hoped it was him and he was right when she told him, but he was right about one thing. What if she found him and she didn't like what she found?
He moved away from her slightly, looking back behind him as he noticed two of his men setting up a sniper on the other building near them. Seeing both waiting for any kind of signal for them to fire. He needed time to know whether she was going to join him, now that she knew who he was.
"How he hollowed me out and filled me back up with hate and pain. Leaving me with nothing but a mark to remember him by." Jason said. He moved towards her again, seeing her lookup at him now, noticing the horror in her eyes.
"And you think this will fix it? All the pain and hate he gave you?" Sam asked. He noticed her pointing to the city, moving closer to him. His anger was becoming to the point of decision. She would be the only one to know why he would do this.
"I CAN FIX IT!" Jason yelled. He took a few large steps towards her, within arms reach of her, wanting to see her resolve in what he thought was betrayal. He wanted to see her betray him. Being away for so long must have it so easy for her to move on.
"I take all this pain, take all this anger, and I put it in a bullet and I put it right between Bruce's eyes." Jason said. Raising his pistol from his right side, chambering off one of the rounds. Hearing the clink of the next bullet being placed in the firing position gave him a bit of satisfaction. Knowing he would make good on his promise. But, even with him getting closer to her, she didn't flinch away. His irritation was becoming unmanageable.
"You still blame him? Jason, he lost you." Sam said. Not a hint of her eyes showed she was not lying, but she could not know what happened to him, how Bruce left him to the Joker.
"He left me!" Jason exclaimed. He watched her shake her head vigorously, defying his statement. She believed in Bruce too much to believe that he would do something like that.
"He mourned for you! Joker sent him a tape of your death. He was devastated. He didn't speak to me or Dick or the others for months!" Sam said. He could see she was hurt by something, most likely the fact that she was refusing to see what Bruce had done. She wouldn't see why, what he put him through.
He aimed his gun at her, something he thought he wouldn't do, but he needed her to understand. He needed to see the hatred leave her eyes.
"Don't you dare lie to me!" Jason yelled. He could see it now, her hatred was gone, but replaced with pain and sadness. She was finally seeing it. But, her anger was still there and he could feel the rain around him become hot, seeing steam continue to form around her. Her powers had grown, he knew that, but he had no idea they grew to such a scale. He had never seen the monster in person, let alone in action. The fact he was able to see it and be attacked by it was rather a terrifying and well earned learning experience.
"Why would I lie to you, Jason?" Sam asked. He noticed that her body backed away from his more, as if she was trying to hold something back. He needed to give his mem more time to set up.
"How long did he wait before replacing me? A month?...A week?" Jason asked. His aim still didn't waver when she refused to look at him when he questioned her. She couldn't answer him, because it was true. But, he needed to know something else. He let his mask up, needing to see for him self what her answer was.
"When did you replace me, Sam?" Jason asked. He saw that the light in her eyes change. Her anger was coming back. She did replace him. Her anger was proof of it.
"Who replaced me, Sam? Who took my place as your little fuck toy?" Jason asked. He saw that her fists clenched at her side. He knew she wouldn't wait for him. She was weak and he knew it all along.
"Three years." Sam forced from her mouth. Jason could barely hear her as He could see steam around her became vibrant, making it hard to see how she was or what she was doing.
"What?" Jason asked. That was all he could ask before a arm with claws burning orange smacked him across the face, knocking him to his side, cracking his mask slightly, regaining his composure before he was met with the woman he loved for years, being taken over by the beast within her.
"Three years I looked for you. Three years I toiled in pain and suffering from being separated from you. Three years of searching for you in the sewers, dark alleys, and abandoned buildings that would perfect places to hide. Three years of wondering why I couldn't find you." Sam said. He noticed that one side of her was slowly being taken over by the beast, but this was different. An orange aura was being engulfed on the beasts side. This was something new. Did she learn something while he was away? Her new found strength and powers. He wouldn't believe what she said. They all replaced him.
"So you looked for me? Everyone thought I was dead-" Sam didn't let him finish his sentence, bashing the side of his face with her right hand, sending him falling to the other side of the roof. He could feel his body rock against the roof, he armour had taken most of the damage, but he couldn't say for certain that his head was okay.
"I KNEW YOU WERE ALIVE!" Sam screamed. Jason remain still for a moment. He knew she had ties to the underworld, but he did not know she could actually go there. But, she knew? She was that certain? Then why did she replace him? This made no sense.
"I am the Scarlet Monster, Jason. I have ties to the Underworld. I know every soul that enters the field of wandering. I know each souls name that Charon carried across the river as he faryed them to the other side. I am the Monster that commands the energy of the very souls that are tortured and divulged of any mercy. I watched for months to see your soul, even going as far as asking a favor of Hades to spare your soul. Let me see him be in the fields of Joy and not in the river of fire. All my pleas fell on deaf ears as he told me your soul had entered his kingdom or he would grant my request." Sam said.
Jason was speechless. She really went through that much for him? Would she have really made a deal with Hades for him? No. They were just pretty words, covering up what she did to him.
"Must have been sad when you couldn't have me." Jason said. Sam took a menacing step towards him, her feet slowly morphing from human to that of a dog like monster. She was terrifying now. Jason had never been scared of Sam before, but seeing how she was tonight, brought a whole new form of fear from him.
"I looked for you because I wanted to save you. But, you want to know the one thing I could never understand?" Sam asked. Jason pushed himself up to stand, meeting her haunting gaze as her body was looking more and more like a monster. He didn't say anything. He would have his chance and then his boys would finish the job.
"Why can't I find him? I know him by touch, by his voice, by the way he walks, by the way he feels, how he thinks, and how he would move on. But, come to my surprise, you didn't want to be found. You wanted to stay hidden. That's why you took such great lengths to hide from me. You just didn't want to be found." Sam said. Jason just sneered underneath his mask, knowing full well that she could see it, he wouldn't let her words sway him now.
"If you found me, then you would have stopped me. I needed to keep you away." Jason said. She froze. Why did she freeze? Did she notice his men taking aim? Was she thinking of a way to get away? He needed to distract her somehow. He decided to move closer to her, thinking of a way to get her to talk again, but stopping all he was doing, by the very sight before him.
She was crying. Tears pooling in her eyes and seeing them run down her face. Her transformation stopped, the beast was frozen as well. The last he had seen her cry was when he learned her mother had passed. She didn't stop crying for hours, holding her and rocking her all night to try and ebb the pain away. Her crying was the last thing he wanted for her ever again. He remembered he promised he would never let her cry ever again. But, he did. He was the causing her pain. Maybe she didn't replace him. Maybe she was looking for him all those years and she was all alone.
Jason remained still, seeing the beast shed away with the wash of rain drops flooding to her soul. The monster was gone, leaving behind a broken, battered girl who played the wrong game. He lowered his gun, slowly putting it back into his holster, wanting to just end what he had done to her.
"But, you knew what it was doing to me, didn't you?" Sam asked. He didn't know that hiding from her would cause her so much pain. He thought what did with her could be done with someone else and he could be replaced, but what if she didn't? If that was the case, then could it be that this was his fault? No. Batman was to blame for this, but her pain was his fault.
"You knew the pain you were causing me. Cutting yourself off from me, keeping yourself in the dark because you knew." Sam said. He had nothing to say because she was right. He did this to her. Left her alone, kept her away from him so that he could take his vengeance.
"Sam…" Jason said. He watched as she fell to her knees, her powers and all that she was, gone. All that was before him was a young woman that was crying her heart out. He could see nothing but pain and misery from her body. The many bruises and puncture wounds covered her pale skin made his skin crawl and his stomach churn. He moved towards her, hoping maybe he could do something. Forgetting all about his men and what they were doing.
"You could have done anything to me, Jason. But, you wanting to be away from me, knowing it would hurt me so much. That is the worst you could have done to me." Sam said. Jason didn't know what to say. He wanted to take everything back. Everything he said badly about her. He should of known better. He hesitated to kneel down to her, wondering if she would even accept him right now.
"Sam, I never meant to-" He never finished his sentence. The sound of a gun firing was all he heard when he remembered that his men were aiming for her still. Instant regret came over him as he saw a small hole in her side. She was in her human form. She was in her human form! They had fired on her and he didn't give them a signal!
She placed her hand on her side that had hurt so much. Maybe Hades heard her plea, taking pity on such a destroyed soul, but she couldn't not hear the toll of Charon's bell that hung from his staff. She did not feel the cool fog kiss her skin. She felt nothing but the rain and a pool of red blood flood in her hands.
She looked down at her side, seeing a small hole pulse in her body as she looked up at Jason. The look of pure horror striking his beautiful face. If it was the last thing she was to see, she would be satisfied, only if he was smiling out of love then it would have been fine.
Shock was still etched on her face before she felt her body plummet to the earth below, hearing her name shout to the heavens.
SAM!
And that is this chapter. I will be working on the next one, hopefully it will come out faster than this one, but I can not predict the change in life can i? But, I shall give it my best. Thank again to Shamhlú for betaing and sticking with me! Go check out his stories! They are awesome and worth a read! Thank you and see you on the next one!
