Disclaimer: Sadly, I own nothing.
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Scarecrow stood in an alleyway studying the former Precinct #16 building which was half-a-block away. It was an unassuming two-story structure with only the barred windows to show what it had once been. The street lights on the block were randomly burned or shot out leaving large areas in shadow which made his approach easier. Darkness was his friend but dawn was only an hour away and he would have to hurry.
Clutching one of his scythes which he'd retrieved from a nearby hide-out, he flitted carefully across the deserted street and into another alleyway. Crane emerged in the space that ran behind two rows of old buildings next to a rusty dumpster. Four spaces down was the back of Lock-Up's hideout and to Scarecrow's surprise there were two men guarding the back entrance. They were pretending to just hang out, one smoking a cigarette and the other idly kicking at the trash but he knew muscle when he saw it.
This posed a problem but only a small one. The larger problem was caused by what was hidden behind the dumpster. Partly covered with boxes and unseen by the two men was a colorful motorcycle. Robin's motorcycle to be exact. The Boy Wonder was probably already in the building taking out Lock-Up. This was intolerable. He would not be cheated out of his vengeance. Crane glanced up and around to make sure that Robin wasn't in sight and made his move.
The two men both started and drew their guns as the small, silver ball came flying out of the darkness to land at their feet. They looked at it with confusion as it went off with a hiss, enveloping them in green gas. Scarecrow came forward to watch the show as the men breathed in the fear gas and began coughing. The smoker bolted in Crane's direction and ran past him screaming about the snakes which he imagined were pursuing him through the dark alley.
As the gas dissipated, it revealed the other man curled into the fetal position and rocking back and forth. His face was pale and sweating and he was staring off into space. Crane could think of any number of phobias that could cause that reaction but he didn't take the time to figure it out. Instead, he stepped past the man and opened the back door.
It led into a hallway that was dimly lit with another one leading to his right. If he remembered correctly, the right hand one led to the offices and bathrooms. Bolton wouldn't be there. He would want to be in the main room where he could see what was going on. Crane hugged the wall and made his way forward towards the main room. He didn't meet any more guards which meant Bolton was either careless or overconfident. Or perhaps, Robin had already been through here and the men were trussed up in one of the offices.
The hall ended in a steel door with a grate on it which led to the main processing room where the cells had once housed criminals awaiting transfer to a more secure facility. Crane put his face up to the grate and peered through. There was Bolton in his ridiculous Lock-Up outfit looking at a computer terminal. There were six men arranged around the room, all with guns at the ready. In one of the cells, Summer Gleason sat huddled on the bunk. There was no sign of Robin or the other two men that Bolton supposedly had helping him. They could be stationed just inside the front entrance which he couldn't see from his vantage point or they could be upstairs to ward off any roof-top entrances. Such as those by a certain colorful sidekick or his caped mentor.
He considered his options. The men outnumbered him so he needed to get rid of them. For that he needed a diversion but what? He could lob another fear-gas cannister into the room but that would take out Lock-Up as well and Scarecrow was determined to use his secret weapon on Bolton. As he pondered the situation, there came a sudden shout from the stairs to Bolton's left and the sounds of a scuffle. So the other two had been upstairs.
"You three, go help Ramirez and Bennet." Three of the men rushed upstairs at Bolton's direction. He got out a walkie-talkie and yelled into it as the other three men looked tense and swiveled their heads in all directions, anticipating an attack. "Wells! Sutter! I need you in here now!"
There was no reply as this was directed at the two unfortunates that had been guarding the back door. Frustrated, Bolton ordered the three other men to take up positions at each entrance. One came to stand by Scarecrow's door and he was forced to duck down as the man peered briefly towards the grate before standing in front of the door.
Therefore, Scarecrow only heard rather than saw what happened next. There was a lot of shouting and a few bursts of gunfire punctuated by Robin's familiar quips. A particularly loud "bang" signaled the body of the one guard hitting the door and sliding down it. Careful not to be seen, Scarecrow stood back up and looked out again. All the guards were unconscious and Robin was in a fighting stance. Facing him was Lock-Up with a tight arm around Summer's throat and a gun to her head.
"Back off, boy if you don't want her to lose what little brain matter she possesses . My quarrel is with the empty-headed, liberal media not with you or Batman."
"Let her go Bolton. Killing her isn't going to solve anything. I'm sure we can come to a peaceful solution." Robin was obviously stalling for time but did that mean that Batman was on his way? Scarecrow tested the doorknob to ensure the door was unlocked as he prepared to act.
Just then, Lock-Up took the initiative and threw Gleason straight at Robin. The Boy Blunder tried to catch her as she careened into him but instead her flying body landed directly on his. He tried to push her aside but then Lock-Up was on him delivering a vicious kick to the chin. Robin lay there dazed as Bolton stood gloating with his back to the door and then Crane made his move.
Lock-Up turned as Scarecrow lunged at him with the vial in his hand. With a snarl, Crane flung it into Bolton's face. The glass shattered and the big man began coughing as he breathed in the dust-like powder. He doubled over, coughing and shaking his head to clear his throat. Scarecrow saw that Summer Gleason had recovered enough to crawl towards the front door but she was unimportant and he kept all his attention on Lock-Up.
Abruptly, the man staggered back to his feet and Crane stepped back, pretending fright as Bolton came at him. Gloved hands grabbed his costume and swung him against the wall so hard that he saw stars. The scythe tumbled from his hand.
"Crane, you little weasel! What are you doing here!"
"Getting my revenge, you overgrown, bullying, monster. You'll pay for the way you treated me."
"I got news for you. Your little attack didn't work. I'm not afraid of you, you...you..." The evil grin Bolton's face vanished to be replaced by a look of confusion. He released Crane and stumbled back. Scarecrow scooped up the scythe and advanced on Lock-Up.
"Actually, it's working perfectly. The concoction you breathed in is an extremely concentrated version of my fear gas in powder form. It's activated by adrenaline such as you produced when you attacked me. I've never used it on a human being before as it is too dangerous and the subject would likely die and invalidate the experiment but for you I made an exception."
Bolton was now lying on the floor, howling and clawing at his own face as his mind subjected him to unknown terrors. Really, Scarecrow's next action could almost be considered merciful. Raising his scythe over the man's writhing form, Scarecrow smiled.
"Good riddance to bad rubbish." The blade descended ...