In the warehouse, the room is dark. No windows, with only door out. Dinah struggles to break free from her chains, failing miserably. Carolyn and Oliver are dragged in. Oliver is now just wearing a black tanktop and black shorts. His costume and arrows had been taken from him. They are both chained up to the wall, on the other side of the room.
"Who's there?" asked Dinah.
"Dinah? Is that you?" asked Carolyn.
"Mom? What are you doing here?" asked Dinah.
"Mad Hatter captured your father and me." said Carolyn.
"Are you guys alright?" asked Dinah.
""I'm fine." said Oliver.
"So am I. Dinah, are you alright?" asked Carolyn.
"Yes. I'm okay." said Dinah.
"Dinah, listen. Oracle thinks Mad Hatter kidnapped Quicksilver." said Carolyn.
"That's how he was able to kidnap me so easily." said Dinah.
The light is turned on. Oliver and Carolyn are horrified to see how Dinah looks. A pool of dried blood was on the floor, beneath her. Blood had come out of her nose and mouth, it is now dried.
"I'll kill those bastards." said Oliver.
"Not if I get them first." said Carolyn.
"No. It's alright. I'm okay." said Dinah.
"Nightwing, Robin, Oracle, Huntress, Firestarter, Lady Shiva, and Tsunami are working together out there. They'll find us." said Oliver.
"So don't worry." said Carolyn.
"I won't. Mom, can't you use the Canary Cry to get us out of here?" asked Dinah.
"I can't." said Carolyn.
"Why not?" asked Dinah.
"You know the device Al Hawke used on me." said Carolyn.
"How could I forget? I almost lost you that day." said Dinah.
"Well, Mad Hatter has a modified collar that is more stronger." said Carolyn, showing the collar around her neck.
"So how are we going to get out of here?" asked Dinah.
"With faith and some very powerful friends." said Oliver.
At the clock tower, the elevator rose up. Commissioner Gordon and Detective Jesse Reese walked out. They henchmen grab them. Their guns are removed, and they are bound and gagged. The henchmen threw them into a back room, and locked the door. Reese, Barbara, and Selena moved closer to each other.
"Reese and Dad are in here now. We have to get out of here. If only we could warn Huntress and the others." thought Barbara
Back in the main room, Mad Hatter is sitting at the controls.
"Now it's time to see what the 'all-seeing Oracle' has here." said Mad Hatter.
Mad Hatter begins typing away, and discovers police files. He pulls them up, and sees that Poison Ivy, and the other recent prisoners.
"Excellent. Although I'd prefer them imprisoned in jail. At least for the moment." said Mad Hatter.
Mad Hatter continues typing searching for machine parts.
"The Delphi is incredible. I think I'll make this clock tower my new base." said Mad Hatter.
Mad Hatter's cell phone rings.
"Mad Hatter. It's Polly. Green Arrow, Black Canary, and their kid are now all locked up. Tell me where you are?" asked Polly.
"At the clock tower. The base of Huntress, Oracle, and Black Canary's child." said Mad Hatter.
"Can I come over?" asked Polly.
"Just a second." said Mad Hatter.
Mad Hatter snaps his fingers. One of the men walks up to him. He's Quicksilver.
"Now. Bring Oracle and the others to the warehouse. Can't have them here, to mess up my plans." said Mad Hatter.
Quicksilver nods, and walks into the back room.
In the back room, and Barbara remain on the floor, when Quicksilver walks in. He closes the door, before letting out a sigh.
"Hello, Quicksilver." said Selena, kicking him.
Quicksilver is hurled into the bed.
"Listen. I'm not possessed. They're blackmailing me." said Quicksilver.
"Well, I was right." said Selena.
"Quicksilver, what are they blackmailing you about?" asked Barbara.
"We did some crimes while under the Joker's control. With the Joker missing, and the machine destroyed, we have no proof except our word and Sandra's word." said Quicksilver.
"Well, then you give up being who you are. Give yourselves up. You'll just go to jail for a few years." said Reese.
"Not Sandra. She was Lady Shiva, remember?" said Quicksilver.
"He's right. The four of you should just go into hiding, stealing food, and drinks for the rest of your lives. Is that what you want to do?" asked Barbara.
"No." said Quicksilver.
Selena had broken herself free, and frees and Reese, while Barbara is talking to Quicksilver. Selena frees Barbara, while the other two grab Quicksilver. He grabs Barbara in his arms.
"Now, you take us to their secret base, then we'll come back with an army." said Black Canary.
The group vanished into the ground.
At the warehouse. Robin, Nightwing, Lady Shiva, Huntress, Firestarter, Tsunami, and Robin arrived.
"We're here. Should we contact Oracle?" asked Robin.
Quicksilver, Barbara, Selena, and Reese appear. Selena and Quicksilver vanish into the ground. A few moments later, they return with a wheelchair, and Selena is back in her Catwoman costume.
"I thought you said you were going to give it up." said Barbara.
"One last time. After all, you're going to need all the help you can get." said Selena.
"Guys, Mad Hatter took over the clock tower." said Barbara.
"Oh, no. Not again." said Helena.
"Look. We have to rescue Dinah." said Barbara, getting into her wheelchair.
"It's not just her. Green Arrow and Black Canary are prisoners here too." said Quicksilver.
"Then we have to save them. Let's go." said Barbara.
The group ran into the warehouse. They see a bunch of guards standing around protecting Dinah.
"Quicksilver, get Reese, Barbara, and to the other side. Then you can free them, while we handle the guards." said Selena.
Quicksilver nods. Reese, Barbara, and grab hands with Quicksilver, and vanish. Selena, Helena, Tim, Dick, Jake, and Sandra run in.
"Hey, are we late for the party?" asked Helena.
Polly and the henchmen saw the group arrive. Polly ran towards the phone. Dick threw a Batarang, and destroyed the phone.
"Sorry, Hatter isn't coming to help you." said Nightwing.
"Wait a minute. Catwoman, you're back." said Polly.
"Yes. I'm a former thief. Do you really think I could stay captured?" said Catwoman.
"Yes. It is kind of dark in here. Allow me to show you the light!" said Polly.
Polly threw a smoke bomb, and smoke flew everywhere.
"Not this time." said Helena.
Helena leapt to the wall, and turned on the fan. The fan blew all the smoke away, as Polly and the men ran out the door.
"Let's go." said Helena.
The group ran after them.
In the dungeon, Quicksilver, Barbara, and Reese appeared. Quicksilver ran over to Carolyn and Oliver, and Reese ran over to Dinah. Soon the three heroes were freed. All three had been badly beaten by Mad Hatter's henchmen.
"Quicksilver, take everyone to Wayne manor. I'm going to help Helena and the others." said Reese.
Quicksilver nodded and Reese broke down the door.
"Good luck, Reese." said Barbara.
"Just get them to Wayne manor. It's closer. Besides, the hospital will be too public, and Hatter will come to attack you." said Reese.
"You're right. Just make sure Helena and the others stay safe." said Barbara.
Quicksilver, Barbara, Dinah, Carolyn, and Oliver vanish. Reese runs out to find the others.
At Wayne manor, Alfred finishes cleaning up the kitchen, and walks over to the clock face. He turns it to 10:47, and it opens. He walks into the clock. The clock door closes behind him. He walks down into the Batcave. Quicksilver, Barbara, Dinah, Carolyn, and Oliver appear.
"Alfred, do you have any medical supplies?" asked Barbara.
"Yes, Miss Barbara." said Alfred, running over to a cabinet, and pulling out a first aid kit.
Alfred and Barbara bandage up Oliver, Carolyn, and Dinah's wounds.
"Are you alright, Miss Dinah?" asked Alfred.
"Yes. But I wish we could help Helena and the others." said Dinah.
"But we can help another way." said Barbara.
"How?" asked Dinah.
"Since that incident with Harley, Alfred and I installed a shut down mechanism just in case someone else broke into the clock tower, and took control." said Barbara.
"Where did you install it?" asked Carolyn.
"Where else? Right here in the Batcave." said Barbara.
Barbara wheeled her chair over to the console.
"Delphi won't lose any of its information. Once it shuts down, a force field appears around its systems, preventing anyone from tampering with it." said Barbara.
"Impressive." said Carolyn.
Barbara presses a button, and activates the shutdown.
At the clock tower, Mad Hatter is seated at Delphi, typing away.
"It's only a matter of time." said Mad Hatter.
Suddenly the computer turns off completely, and a force field turns on, hurling Mad Hatter away from the Delphi.
"Sir. All the systems are shut down. Even the elevator." said henchman.
"Get Quicksilver." said Mad Hatter.
At Wayne manor, Quicksilver's cell phone rings.
"Hello?" asked Quicksilver.
"It's Hatter. Delphi's shutdown, and a force field is around it. We can't get out of here. I'll settle with Green Arrow, Black Canary, and their daughter. Plus the former commissioner, Miss Gordon, the former Catwoman, and Detective Reese. Get us out of here." said Mad Hatter's voice.
"Of course. I'm on my way." said Quicksilver.
"Good. Be quick about it." said Mad Hatter's voce.
Quicksilver turns his cell phone off.
"That was Mad Hatter. He wants me to come and pick them up." said Quicksilver.
Barbara took a vial and handed it to Quicksilver.
"It's sleeping gas. Teleport into the room we were imprisoned in. Then you release it. But wear this mask. That way, they'll all be out, and ready for the police to arrest." said Barbara.
"I'll teleport them outside the clock tower so the police won't know about the Delphi." said Quicksilver.
"Good luck, and be careful." said Barbara.
Quicksilver vanished.
At the warehouse, Selena chases after Polly, while the rest fight the henchmen.
"Hold it right there, Polly." said Selena.
Selena leaped over, and blocked the exit.
"Scared? You should be." said Selena.
Polly ran down the hall, with Selena right behind her. Polly ran to the end of the hall to see the heroes fighting the men. Selena stood right behind her. Helena kicked two men into wall, knocking them unconscious. Dick threw a batropes, which tied up five men.
"Let's finish the job." said Tim.
He fires a stream of water at the remaining henchmen, throwing them into the wall.
"Sorry, but we don't really have time for a major battle, considering how bad Dinah and the others were hurt." said Quicksilver.
"And I bet you did most of the damage." said Helena.
"So, Polly, why don't you explain everything." said Selena.
Polly walked forward, and pressed a button on the floor. A trapdoor opened, and Polly fell through. The door closed behind her.
"She escaped." said Helena.
"We got the rest of them. Let's go right now. Dinah and the others need us. I'll stay here while the cops arrive to take them away." said Reese.
Reese calls cops, which soon arrive. Dick, Tim, Jake, Selena, and Sandra used Batropes, and climbed a building, and headed back to Wayne manor. Helena stayed behind.
"See you later, Reese." said Helena.
"I'm just glad you weren't hurt like Dinah. If anything every happened to you..." said Reese.
"Well, don't worry. I'm fine. And if anything does happen I know you, Alfred, Oracle, and Canary will always be there for me." said Helena.
"I'll see you later, Reese. I've got to go." said Reese.
Helena leapt onto a building, and leapt to the next building, and soon she was out of sight. The cops dragged all the henchmen into police cars, and drove them away to the police station. Reese got a lift from McNally, and they headed to the police station. Polly walked out from a back room.
"Looks like plans have changed." said Polly.
A figure leapt down from the roof, surprising her. She removed her hood to be Harley Quinn.
"You have no idea." said Harley.
"You're back in town." said Polly.
"Yes. I had a little side effect problem to get rid of. There was a specialist in town, which helped me get rid of that dumb personality. Now I'm smart, but still very agile." said Harley.
"It's good to see you back, Harley." said Polly.
"Yes. And things are about to get interesting. In less you want to join your henchmen, you'll come with me." said Harley.
Polly followed Harley out the door, and the two women ran down the darkened street and out of sight.
At the clock tower, Quicksilver appeared in a back room. He put the mask on, and let the gas go. Soon he heard several thuds. He walked outside to see the henchmen all over the ground. Mad Hatter was gone.
"Where is he?" asked Quicksilver.
The sound of a helicopter was heard. Quicksilver looked out to see Mad Hatter in a helicopter riding away.
"I'll be in touch, Quicksilver." said Mad Hatter.
Quicksilver grabbed all the henchmen, and vanished.
On the ground, outside the clock tower, Quicksilver appeared, and set the men down. Suddenly a metal star hit the helicopter, stopping the blade. The helicopter hurtled to the ground, and smashed to bits. Paramedics arrived, but discovered blood and pieces of clothing everywhere. Quicksilver quickly vanished. He reappeared near another part of the wreckage and listened as two doctors talked.
"Mad Hatter's dead. So is the driver." said one doctor.
"That's too bad. But he was one of Gotham's deranged villains. He did deserve it." said the second.
"I know. The police are just writing it up as helicopter accident. It looks that way anyways." said the first doctor.
"I guess there's nothing else we can do here." said the second doctor.
The two doctors got into the ambulance and drove away.
"Mad Hatter's dead. It looks like an accident. And I only hope it was." said Quicksilver, who vanished.
A female figure used a cable and leapt to another building, heading towards a hotel.
At the police station, Reese and McNally were told of the capture of the rest of Mad Hatter's henchmen.
"Unfortunately Mad Hatter was in a helicopter. But something happened and the blade cut out, and they crashed. Mad Hatter was killed." said cop.
"That's horrible." said another cop.
"The creep deserved it." said a third cop.
"Maybe, but he should have gone to jail to pay for his crimes." said Reese.
McNally and other cops nodded.
"Look. I'm going to take the night off." said Reese.
McNally nodded, as Reese left.
Outside the police station, Reese ran into Gibson.
"Gibson? What's wrong?" asked Reese.
"I couldn't get Helena, Dinah, or Barbara by cell phone, and no one answered at the clock tower. I thought you might know where they are." said Gibson.
"They're at Wayne manor." said Reese.
"That's all I needed to know." said Gibson, sounding like Reese.
Reese turned around to a fist. Reese fell to the ground, and Gibson struck him with a pole, and knocked him unconscious. He removed the handcuffs from Reese's pocket, and dragged Reese into an alley. Gibson handcuffed Reese's hands, and pulled a gag and ropes from his pocket. He bound Reese's feet, and then gagged his mouth.
"I can't have you ruining my plans, Detective." said Gibson.
Gibson opened a dumpster where another Gibson was unconscious. His feet and hands were bound, and his mouth was gagged. The Gibson imposter tossed Reese into a dumpster. The imposter then closed the dumpster.
"Bye the time you wake up, you'll be on your way to the junkyard." said Gibson.
Gibson walked down the alley, and transformed into Detective Reese.
"Too easy. Now to see Miss Helena Kyle for revenge." said "Reese".
.He walked to his police car, and drove to Wayne manor.
At Wayne manor, Sandra, and Quicksilver arrived. The rest of the heroes were already there.
"How are they?" asked Sandra.
"They'll be fine." said Barbara.
"Guys, Mad Hatter was killed in a helicopter accident. He tried to escape me in a helicopter, but the blade stopped spinning, and it crashed to Earth. Paramedics founds bits of clothing and blood everywhere." said Quicksilver.
"So Mad Hatter's dead." said Dinah.
"You can never know. He could have escaped with a parachute." said Barbara.
"I kind of wish he didn't. I hope that doesn't sound bad. But then he wouldn't be able to confess about my brothers and me." said Quicksilver.
"I know. Helena wanted to kill Clayface for killing her mother." said Barbara.
"And I helped make her believe that." said Quicksilver.
"Joker had you under his control. Don't worry about it." said Helena.
"Hey, Helena. When is Reese getting here?" asked Dinah.
"It should be any moment." said Helena.
Outside Wayne manor, the police car pulled in front of the house. "Reese" stood up and walked towards the manor.
"Now Miss Kyle, I shall have my revenge." said "Reese".
Reese knocked on the door, and heard no answer. He found the door unlocked, and walked inside.
"Helena!" said Reese, walking inside, and closing the door.
A nosy reporter had followed Reese, and walks inside after him, with a camera man right behind her.
"This is Lilly Johnson, reporting to you live from Wayne Manor. A cop has arrived at Wayne manor. Why? Is Wayne Enterprises in financial trouble? But if it is, why not ask Derrick Powers? Unless Bruce Wayne is back in town. This reporter is going to get the inside scoop." whispered Lilly.
In the Batcave, Helena heard Reese.
"I'll go get him." said Helena.
Helena ran up the stairs towards the exit to the hallway.
At a building, Mad Hatter stood on a rooftop. A helicopter lands. Polly walks out.
"Polly?" asked Mad Hatter.
"I had some help." said Polly.
Mad Hatter looks in the helicopter. Harley Quinn and another figure are sitting in the helicopter. The light turns on, revealing he is the Joker.
"Well, Mad Hatter. Are you going to join us?" asked Joker.
His laughter echoes through the streets as Mad Hatter and Polly climb aboard the helicopter, which flies away out of sight.
TO BE CONTINUED...