The Crane and the Falcon

Chapter III

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"This way, Miss Falcone."

The cold of Jonathan's voice always shocked Sakura like a bucket of ice water. He was such a different man when he was with others. He had, in fact, three sides to his personality. She knew of his evil side, the Scarecrow, but had never witnessed it. His inner strength always managed to fend off his alter ego long enough to get her out of harm's way. Then there was the way he acted in public; cold, unfeeling, numb. It was his defense against a world that had tortured him from birth. And when he was with her, Sakura saw him as a god, a true image of her perfect man. Intelligent, charming, with a lust for power, and blood. Like her.

She followed him without question. Despite his ruthlessness, she knew he would bring no harm to her, and what he did to Carmine must have been for good reason. Right?

Sakura glanced around as they walked, the click of her smart heels the only sound echoing off the grimy walls. The woman realized she had no idea where they were, but she put her faith in Jonathan and followed him to the end of the hall. She could see water pooling in the corners and could hear the drip of the pipes far off in the distance. This corridor was obviously unused. She wanted to ask Jonathan where they were going but dared not in the presence of the bodyguards. She knew her uncle had them wear wires, for her own protection, and didn't want to think about what would happen if he found out about herself and Dr. Crane.

"Here we are," Crane mused to himself, but truly for Sakura's benefit. He wrenched open the heavy iron door and allowed her to pass. The doctor couldn't help but catch the scent of her intoxicating perfume and his eyelids flickered.

She met his eyes as she passed, allowing him a fleeting glance. Her eyes swept back to take in the scene before her. Inmates lay below her, refining what appeared to be a white powder, cocaine perhaps, shipped via her uncle. Someone was pouring the refined substance into an open water pipe and she raised a hand to her mouth. She was torn between glee and fear. What could he possibly be doing? Who was he working for? But how deliciously wicked…

"I gather I'm not supposed to see this," she whispered over her shoulder. Crane stood behind her, his hands in his pockets and a triumphant smirk on his face.

"I think the secret's safe with you."

She breathed out slowly and watched the people milling around lethargically. "What is it?"

"A toxin." His smirk deepened. "My toxin. It exploits a person's greatest fears, stripping the mind of all defenses."

Sakura's breath caught in her throat. "Amazing," she whispered. "But is it in the water supply? How much of Gotham has been exposed?"

Crane's eyes twinkled. "Yes, it is in the water supply. But the toxin must be absorbed through the lungs to be effective."

At his words, she turned with a puzzled look on her face. "And yet, you've polluted the water…?" Her dark eyes narrowed and she crossed her arms.

"You'll know soon enough-," he began, but at that moment his pager went off, resounding around the expansive room. "Excuse me," he said. His eyes were darkened in anger as he stalked away to the rest of Arkham.

Her eyes followed his form until it was out of sight behind the iron door. She could feel the stares of some of the inmates below her and wrapped her arms around her muscular frame. She knew her men could take them, and the armor-piercing slugs in her Smith & Wesson pistol would certainly do the job.

It was twenty minutes before Dr. Crane returned, with a guest in tow. A young woman with dark hair and scrutinizing eyes followed Crane into the high room. Sakura stood leaning against the railing a few feet away and her mouth spread into an evil grin. The woman was the assistant D.A. of Gotham, and quite a thorn in every Falcones' side.

"This is where we make the medicine. Perhaps you should have some. Clear your head." Crane voice reverberated and mixed with Rachel Dawes open gasp at the sight in the room. A small laugh escaped Sakura's lips and Rachel met her eyes.

She recognized the other woman immediately, but had not time to process this as she took off at a run down the hall to the elevator. Crane laughed with Sakura who gave him a wink. "I expect I'll be seeing a testing of this toxin very soon."

Crane turned and set off at a brisk walk down the corridor and Sakura saw him pull what appeared to be a burlap bag out of his briefcase. She heard the screams of the girl and her Jonathan's maniacal laugh. Two thugs entered the corridor after Crane and dragged her back onto the landing. Her eyes rolled into her head as she lolled about on the ground, seeing her greatest fears around her.

Out of the door, Crane advanced with the mask donned and Rachel screamed. He stooped and turned her head to face him. Her eyes rolled in fear and she gulps in air in panic. Sakura's smile spread until she recognized the symptoms; they were shared by her uncle. She had seen the tapes of him screaming at nothing and realized what Crane had done. This toxin, whatever it was, would become the bane of Gotham, the keystone in its downfall.

"Who knows you're here?" Crane said. His voice was now unfamiliar and rough.

Rachel shook her head and tried to hide her eyes but Crane shook her forcefully.

"Who knows?" he repeated, rising to a yell. But the girl pulled away and cried to herself. Suddenly the lights went out and Crane turned his attentions elsewhere. He pulled off his mask, ruffling his hair ever so slightly, and grinned maniacally.

"He's here," he muttered. Sakura pulled out her gun and her thugs did the same. A flicker of concern passed through Crane's eyes when he saw Sakura up and ready to fight.

One of the thugs looked around wildly before daring a question. "Who?" he breathed.

Crane looked around, still calm and collected, before facing Sakura. "The batman."

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