Batman: Gotham Fall
Chapter 2
First Strike.
NOTE: Just wanted to answer the review question about "The Boss." While I obviously don't want to reveal who it is, it is not Blockbuster. Now on with the story.
In a darkened warehouse, on Gotham's harbor district.
"So my question is do we understand one another" said the darkened figure.
"Yes," Deadshot said, "Mr. Evil is it?"
"That will do for the moment, what is your price." Evil responded.
"He is a high target, someone who has never honestly been beat."
"Bane did it once" Evil pointed out.
"He put him out of commission for a bit, from the reports you just gave, the substitute Batman put Bane down shortly afterward."
"Whatever, I still call it a defeat, one I study very closely, it was the closest thing he had to being put down."
"As long as everyone else is in agreement then, that is a lot of toes running around, and some of those guys can stomp pretty easily."
"True, but your part is separate from the others, you should have no problem."
"Very well, one million up front, one million after completion, and if I am caught, all lawyer fees are taken care of."
"Sounds like a deal, Deadshot."
Meanwhile in Gotham
He hunts the night, The Batman, the defender of Gotham. He searches the night over the city, for those who prey on the weak. He hunts the predators of the city, muggers, thieves, murders, whoever breaks the law are his prey. He is the top of the food chain of the concrete jungle. He is the Dark Knight.
It doesn't take long to find his prey, a scream of a young woman is the sign he needs to find the creature he is searching out. Something is different, he knows he is being watched, the how and why eludes him for the moment, but someone is viewing his hunt in every aspect. But at the moment, he needs to deal with the threat at hand.
In an alleyway, he sees a woman, being held at gunpoint by a thug. He has seen this one thousand times, and it still sickens his stern resolve. With a leap, he springs into action.
WHAM! Batman lands on the thug, pushing him to the ground, and knocking the thugs gun away. He can't help but smile in his mind at the fact that this old move still works after all this time he has used it. But then something changes.
"Was wondering when you would show up." The thug said, "We have been at this all night, thought maybe you were on vacation."
At that point Batman notices that the woman runs out of the alley. But she isn't running like a scared victim, but as if she wasn't expecting things to turn out this way.
"Where you going?" the Thug said with his face in the concrete "we aren't done here."
"You ain't paying enough for me to face him." She screamed back.
"So hard to find good help these days." The thug said.
Batman knows something is defiantly wrong, he scans around seeing if he can spot an ambush. However, before he can fully react he feels what seems like stone slam into his back, knocking him off the thug.
"UGGH!" is all Batman can say. He hits the ground hard, feeling the sting of pain all over his body he slowly turns over to try to see who or what hit him.
"You lied to me, Bat" a raspy voice said, "now you pay."
At the moment Batman turns over, lightning crashes in the sky behind the figure, reveling the identity of the assailant.
"Killer Croc?" Batman moans, "What are you doing?"
Croc grabs Batman under his cowl. "Getting my revenge for letting those F.B.I. agents capture me, do you know what they did to me!"
"Croc, I was trying to-"
Batman was interrupted by Croc's fist in his abdomen. "He is too far gone into rage and animal." Batman thought "reasoning with him is not part of the solution anymore."
"ARRRGH!" Croc shouted as he lunged at Batman. Batman moved quickly wrapping his rope around Croc's neck. He positioned himself behind Croc, with his knee in Croc's back, intending to choke him out.
"Sorry, Croc, you aren't giving me much choice here." Batman said.
However Batman had forgotten something, or rather he was too busy to deal with it. The mugger had risen and a familiar voice rang in Batman's ear behind him.
"Batman, why did you abandon me." The voice said.
Batman looked over his shoulder to reveal the face of Jason Todd. "Fool me once, Clayface, you really think that would work twice?"
The distraction was enough for Croc to get some leverage, and before the imposter could answer, Batman was flipped over Croc's head and on the ground again.
"I will finish you!" Croc growled as he charged forward. He catches Batman just recovering from the fall and pinning the Dark Knight to the wall.
At that moment Clayface pins Batman's head even further. Using his clay to wrap around Batman's face attempting to suffocate him.
"HA, looks like you won't be around to see anymore, whatever that is." Clayface remarked.
"He said to not say anything, Clayface." Croc growled.
"As if we had anything to tell, Croc, but your right, every little thing is a clue to the Batman."
As they argued, Batman worked his arm free, and little did they notice, he has his rope launcher in his hand. He fires blind, hoping he gets lucky, and he does, the hook embeds itself into a brick wall, and Batman hits the retract button.
The force throws croc and Clayface. Batman sails on the rope for about 10 meters, but then the hook pops out of the wall, but it was long enough to get Batman free.
Batman stands as Clayface and Killer croc do. "You got lucky Bats, but we'll take you down."
Batman looks at the two of them "Take your best shot."
As he speaks he raises his launcher up and fires. Clayface lets out a laugh but before he can say anything it hits a transformer on a power pole, letting out a huge noise. And quicker than either croc or Clayface's eyes can register the other end of the rope is headed right to them.
The rope hits Croc and he is shocked to unconsciousness. Clayface gets hit by an arch of electricity, but is still awake, but slightly stunned. More than enough time for Batman to be on top of him.
"I don't care who you think you are-we have unfinished business and nothing is getting in the way of that." Batman sneered.
"Y-You killed Croc." Clayface said fearfully.
"Probably." Batman said, but he thought "Doubtful, Croc is tough and has taken much more punishment than that, but no reason to let Clayface think anything else."
"Now tell me what you were talking about earlier" Batman said "or I will get mean."
Arkam Asylum Much later in the night.
"I am Dr. Steven Gregory, as I have explained several times, and I am here to speak with Edward Nigma AKA the Riddler. The reason is that he could possible help in a study I am doing relating to mental illness. I arranged this several days ago."
"I understand, sir." The guard explained "However, you did not explain you would be here at such a late hour. I am just waiting for confirmation from the administrator-"
BRIINNNNNG, the phone interrupts the exchange.
"Look I am sorry," the Doctor explained, " but my plane was delayed and I must be in on a plane to London in the morning, this will be the only opportunity I have for at least 6 months."
"Please sir." The guard interrupted, "The administrator is on the phone now, give me just a moment."
After a few minutes, the guard hangs up the phone. "OK he said that you may talk to Nigma, but you can only have 30 minutes."
"More than what I need, thank you." The Doctor responded.
After a bit of time, the Doctor is escorted into a room, soon the other door opens with Edward Nigma in a straight jacket. "Who am I to warrant such attention? My nice riddle indeed, Ha-ha-ha." Nigma quipped.
"I just have a few questions for you Edward." The doctor said. "gentlemen could you leave us."
"He is dangerous, Doctor, are you sure?" the guard responded.
"Yes, I don't think he will talk while you are here, no offence." The Doctor responded.
"Non taken, sir, but we will be right outside the door, just shout."
"He is restrained, I am sure nothing will happen."
After the guards leave, the Doctor began. "Edward, why are you so fascinated with Riddles."
The Riddler stands up and looks at the wall, as if looking out a window to a fabulous view. "I don't know," he responds, "why is the sky blue, why is my arch nemesis a six-foot-tall bat, and why are you boring me to tears?" he then turns and smiles "Seriously, Doctor, I have been asked these questions thousands of times. I have no idea of the answers. Perhaps that is it, I gave the ultimate riddle to myself, the riddle that is my soul."
"Very well," the Doctor retorted, "let me ask you a more interesting question then."
"Go ahead."
"Why did you tell someone that taking down Batman was the secret to his goals?"
"Someone, you mean-"
"Yes I do, please he doesn't want his name mentioned."
"Who are you?" said the Riddler who was uncharacteristically caught off guard.
"We have never met before, Edward, but I know very much about you." The Doctor responded. "For now understand our mutual friend has hired me to deal with this Batman situation. I am trying to find out what I can to deal with this. I thought you might be able to provide the information."
"What time is it when an elephant sits on a fence?" Riddler interrupted.
"Pardon?" the Doctor responded.
"Time to get a new fence. That is what Batman said to me when last we spoke."
"I don't understand, I-"
"Let me explain, as Batman pointed out, what is the point of a riddle if everyone knows the answer? Nothing."
"I see." The Doctor responded "but what does that have to do with what we are talking about."
"Basically" Riddler explained "I know the answer to a riddle, a riddle that helps our mutual friend. However just telling the answer is no fun, it ruins the riddle."
"So you can't tell me either, cause it ruins the joke."
"Riddle."
"Sorry, ruins the riddle."
"Exactly."
"Well then I guess our conversation is over." The Doctor said as he gathered his notes.
"So you never answered my question, who are you?"
"Please," the Doctor smiled "it would ruin the riddle, but for now, just call me Evil."
"I see, I have a feeling I should keep my ears open about you."
"Yes, you probably should."
