Chapter 4 Arkham Asylum 4: Batcave
"Oracle go through the city's computers. Pull up all you can find on Dr. Young. I'll go through anything you find once I get to the cave," Red Robin informed as he calls Barbara and walks away from the docks.
"A Batcave? On Arkham Island?" Barbara questioned.
"Batman build it years ago, planning ahead for situations like this. I pitch in after two years of me wearing the hood and cape," Red Robin answered.
"How did he manage to keep that a secret?" Barbara asked.
"It's him remember," Red Robin said with a smirk.
The bird-themed hero had also put a few of things from his company, prototypes he gained from a good friend of the Bat family, into the cave and needs information to help make sense on the matter at hand.
"So, do you think Dr. Young been experimenting with Venom, the same chemical that turns into that animal?" Barbara asked as she starts to look up the good doctor.
"Yes, I'm worried. Bane seemed even more powerful than usual but change when I took away his main powerful Venom. It seems Joker wants the Venom, and that can only be trouble," Red Robin replied, thinking back on how he fought Bane to the deformed monster and what Joker said about strong test subjects.
That was the first clue of the big game at hand and the bird-themed hero was going to find out what.
"I'm heading to Dead Man's Point in Arkham North. I'll contact you once I'm in the Batcave."
With that said, Red Robin ended the call and started to make his towards Arkham North that has cave ready for the young hero. On his way, he did find some riddles, knocking a few thugs down with broken bones or teeth missing, and kept going to where he needed to go.
"What's the deal with Dead Man's Point? It's been a favorite suicide location on Arkham Island for over a hundred years," Barbara said as the bird-themed hero walked pass the doors.
"Yeah, I know. Batman once saved an unfortunate inmate from leaping off into the rocks below. He later found a cave entrance and over the years have moved a number of supplies here. Once I start wearing the hood and cape, he introduces me to the cave and I started seeding my own supplies as well. It's a regular home away from home," Red Robin answered as he kept moving into an old cave that reaches towards a cliff for the hero to be.
Once the bird-themed hero was at the cliff, he jumps for only to spread his cape and glide down towards the Batcave's entrees. He landed on his feet and allowed the computer to scan him.
"Identity confirmed. Disabling countermeasures," The computer spoked as the wall moves down and allowed the hero to walk into the cave with no trouble.
Red Robin walks through the cave walkways towards a waterfall and soon found himself on the catwalks.
"On," The bird hero ordered, having the Batcave turn on, having everything up and running for him to use.
He then makes his way towards the main computer and took a set before typing a few things down, getting the computers to do some scans and run a few tests.
"Dr. Young was heading up a project. It was big, lots of external funding. Here are the last notes she field. I can't make sense of it; what does it mean?" Barbara asked as a few files make its way towards the bird to check on.
Red Robin hums a little, seeing the notes and files for himself, understanding what was going and said, "Looks like she was experimenting on Arkham patients. This new chemical only barely resembles of the original Venom compound."
The computer then shows the Venom chemical compound that was evolved to a new level, being the new 2.0 Titan formula, but it shows some drawbacks such as the chemical needs a strong host and someone can withstand the compound for a long period of time. Someone like Bane, who needs Venom to live and could be a problem if Joker gets his hands on them.
"There is a number of changes that appear to amplify the strength of the drug. Multiple references to a Titan formula that Bruce came across during his first years as Batman. Even a small amount could trigger a Venom-like transformation in the host, eliminating the need for the storage tank that Bane once used," Red Robin informed, reading the changes from the computer and rest his right hand on his chin.
This was troubling news, but something off as the computer kept saying that formula was missing something, being the key compound.
"Hang on. These notes aren't' complete. The formula is missing. That must be the secret Dr. Young is hiding. If Joker gets his hands on this, he will create an army of a thousand Banes," Red Robin said, know to understand why Dr. Young wants to get to the mansion in such a hurry and what trouble could come if Joker gets these notes.
The bird themed hero gets up on his feet and walks towards something he might need.
"My god! Is Joker crazy enough to do that? What am I saying? You've got to stop him!" Barbara exclaimed.
Red Robin starts to put together a new gadget that was need of building and soon built the Batclaw that can be a great help to him. He soon puts the gadget in his belt and starts to head out until something came up.
"Hmm, Naruto, we got a problem," Barbara said, sounding a little worried.
"What is it, Barbara?" Red Robin asked.
"Your company's COO wants to talk to you about your meetings. I kept telling her you're buying but she really wants to talk to you," Barbara informed.
Red Robin sighed and said, "I'll answer her calls back soon enough but first thing first. I'm going after Dr. Young. She was heading to the mansion with Cash. I'm going up top via the catacombs for my way out and answer my calls."
Once the call has ended, Red Robin makes his way towards other catwalks that lead towards where he needs to go and used his Batclaw to clear a path for him to jump on. Most of the Batcave's catwalks were not ready yet and that something the hero will need to fix one day.
The bird themed hero soon grapples into an air vent that leads to an old sewer and soon found one thug talking to Joker about something important. It seems that the clown's men were looking for someone down here and caused the hero to wonder was down here in the sewers. One answer came into mind, but he wanted to be sure first before pointing fingers.
Red Robin silent takedown the thug by grabbing his head and bring him down to his knees, making lose his air and past out without any trouble. He soon walks around the sewer after the thug was down to find some riddles and a door nearby with thugs surrounding it.
The bird themed hero pulled out his Batclaw and shot, grabbing one of the thugs towards him and started a beat down. Two punches forced the thug away from the bird and soon turn his attention towards another thug trying to punch him but was back fisted away. He grabbed a leg that was coming out him and soon broke the leg into two, causing the thug to scream and being knocked by a hit in the face.
One of the thugs grabbed a metal pile to smack the red bird, but Red Robin grabbed the pile to hit the thug and caused him to lose focus. The bird-themed hero grabbed the hand, spinning the thug to landed into the ground for his arm to break and punched his face.
Another thug rushes at the hero, but was uppercut and launched back into the ground. The next thug was downwards punched into the ground by the head by the hero. The thug's friend tried to punch the hero but missed and soon was pick up off from the ground.
Red Robin picked the thug up and throw him into another thug, knocking them both out as they hit the wall behind them. He then grabbed the leg that was coming behind to back elbowed the thug in the face and soon turns around right kneed him in the face, knocking his lights out.
The bird themed hero rushes at another thug to punch him twice in the gut and head-butted him, getting the thug to groaned and knock out. The last tried to escape but failed as the hero pulled him back towards him with his Batclaw to capture his head and smashed it against the floor, knocking him out.
Once that was done, Red Robin kept walking forward towards the door the henchman was talking and tried to open it to only find out it was a lock, but the suddenly.
BANG!
Someone on the other side punched the door, causing a fist to formed and the hero saw from the small glass window of who was on the other side, being the Killer Croc himself.
"I will find you! Rip your flesh like paper!" Killer Croc yelled, promising the hero he will find him and soon moves away.
"I'm not doing that again," Red Robin mumbled to himself as he moves on.
It seems that doors are lockdown very good to keep that animal in and keeps Joker's men out, being a very good thing. The last thing the hero needs is a massive killer on the loss on Arkham Island. So it was a good thing to have the doors locked and let's move on from that.
"I've been digging deeper into Dr. Young. According to her bank records, there have been multiple payments, starting last April until months ago, then nothing. The payments came from a company owned by a Mister Jack White," Barbara informed as the hero listen and keeps moving within the hallway.
"One of Joker's oldest aliases. So, Joker pays Dr. Young to create his army and then all of a sudden, he stops. Doesn't make any sense," Red Robin said, not understanding it and knows that something was up as the call ends and he keeps moving.
The bird themed moves out of the old sewer towards the Main Sewer Junction and catacombs, being another way out and towards where the hero needed to go.
As the hero moves, a call came in all the sudden and listen in.
"Hey! This is weird. The payments to Dr. Young didn't stop exactly, they were declined. Dr. Young put a black on her account," Barbara said, informing the hero new information that brings some good news.
"Sounds like she had change of heart. She tried to block the payments but Joker doesn't' like it when his partners try to back out," Red Robin said as he walks within the catwalks.
"So, he decided to get himself back to Arkham, find his formula and create the army himself," Barbara said.
"Exactly," Red Robin agreed as he ends the call and starts on climbing his way out of the catacombs.
The bird themed hero now has some information he can work with and that the good doctor was indeed a good doctor. She was just someone wanting to do her work and improve it but they are been using it for the wrong cause and the hero wasn't going to allow the clown to get his hands on them.
Red Robin keeps on climbing and soon heard a call coming in.
"I've hacked into her email accounts, having two emails standing out. The first is resignation letting dated last week. Sounds like she was trying to get away," Barbara said, getting the two emails up.
"And the second?" Red Robin asked as he jumps to another side of an old catwalk that leads to the other side and gets a riddle or two.
"A message from Joker, well Jack White. It's a long threat. She's begging to stop the experiment. Says it's too dangerous. He's not listening. Let's see, random threats to her parents and cousins, a couple of bad jokes…a picture of a dead baby and a threat," Barbara answered, reading the email while the hero keeps on moving to get out of the sewers.
"Go on," Red Robin said.
"He says, I'm coming for you. I want what I paid for. And then another joke about wheelchairs, lovely…and a drawing of some donkey," Barbara said, reading off the second part, but stopped for a second when the joke about wheelchairs came in.
This caused the bird-themed hero to worry about his partner, knowing what happens to her and where wheelchair comes from.
"Barbara?" Red Robin asked in concern.
"I'm fine Naruto. Let's umm get back to the matter at hand. We'll talk about that later," Barbara replied.
"Alright. No mystery why Dr. young was scared. I'm coming up to the surface and find her," Red Robin said, understanding what dangers the doctor was in and will help her.
"Understood, and your COO has called in, again," Barbara said, getting a little worn out of tenth phone call she has gained this night.
"Put her through," Red Robin said with a sigh escaping his mouth, knowing who was calling as he started to make his up towards where he needs to go.
"Thank god! Do you know how many times I have tried to call you?" A female voice asked, being the hero's COO of his company.
"Ten times," Red Robin answered, stopping his way and listen to his COO.
"Yes, ten times! I know you have Gotham to watch over but you also have a company in Metropolis that needs it spoke person also!" The COO exclaimed her point, getting the hero to sigh in understanding and won't fight her.
"Have you seen the news?" Red Robin asked.
"Yes, I have. It has been all over the media since Arkham had vanished off the map," The COO answered.
"Then I am needed here in Arkham and stop Joker for whatever he's has a plan. I won't let him," Red Robin said.
The COO sighed, understanding her fellow coworker/friend/crush very well for a good number of years.
"Very well, but please be careful out there Naruto," The COO said, sounding worried for her friend, but knows he will come back alive.
Red Robin chuckles and said, "Do worry Mercy, it's me remember."
"That's what I'm worried about," The COO or Mercy replied with a small laugh and ended the call, allowing her friend to go back to his work.
The bird themed hero smiles as he gets back to his work and starts on making his way out of the sewers for good. While moving on, he found a few riddles as he reaches towards a rocky hallway that leads to the Surface Access and opens the door that leads upstairs.
Red Robin used his Explosive Gel to spay on a weak wall to blow it down and open the last door that opens to Arkham North, being on the surface and have clean air to breathe in.
"Ding doing, Joker again. Don't worry about the Bird. I've put a few surprises along the way if he decides to turn up and spoil the fun. Oh, and if you hear shot in the dark, don't worry. There's very little chance of you getting hurt. It's the Bird I'm after! Still, you want to check your health insurance. Who am I kidding? You don't have any" Joker said over the speakers and laughed.
Red Robin saw snipers on the towers and takes them down by silent takedowns, keeping it quiet for now and kept moving towards the mansion which was in Arkham East. As he walks in, the bird hero noticed that someone was wrong and turn on his DV to find four thugs waiting for him.
"He's here!" The thug called out, getting everyone to charge at the hero.
"Stop the Bird!" Another thug called out throwing the first punch, but the hero counters it easily by grabbing it and threw the thug across his way.
Red Robin kicks one thug in the face, sending him in the ground with a broken nose and downwards swing his left fist into one thug's head to crash into the ground. He duked a swing of fist to only grabbed the attack, twist the arm and soon broke it before knocking the guy lights out.
One fist swung at the hero but was grabbed and gained two elbow jabs into the chest before getting a hard-right fist into the face, knocking him out with blood and teeth falling out of his mouth. Red Robin soon jumps into the air to use his right leg and kick one thug in the face, sending him flying backwards.
The bird-themed hero then grabbed a arm coming at him to break it and soon kneed the thug in the face, knocking him out and left one more to deal with. He walks to the last henchmen before breaking his left arm, getting him to scream in pain and was kicked in the face to have his lights knock out.
With the thugs down, Red Robin cracked his neck and kept moving towards where the mansion. He saw a sniper guarding the doors within the guard tower and took him down before anyone noticed.
"I seem to be losing men like there's a plague in town. I guess birdy is back. I've got a couple of men in the guard towers covering your moments but be careful. They're both loose cannons with itchy trigger fingers and well, you know, accidents do happen," Joker said over the speaks as the hero moves towards the second guard tower to take down the sniper.
The bird-themed hero took the sniper down and glides down towards the ground to have a look around before moving into the mansion. He started with a few armed thugs take down, making sure he gains no surprise for him or anyone that leaves the mansion. That soon leads the hero finding a few riddles that were easy to find and answered.
Now with that taken care of, Red Robin could move into the Arkham Mansion to find Dr. Young and stopped Joker from getting the formula. Hopefully things will be easy, but heroes don't have things easy for them and that's part of the job.