Chapter 7 Arkham Asylum 7: Will against Fear and Sewer Hunt
"Oracle, I've destroyed the Titan production facility, but Joker escaped with enough to cause us real problems," Red Robin informed as he walks around the facility room.
"Just when you think it can't get any worse," Barbara agreed, knowing very well what the clown can do.
"They've been using a Venom plant hybrid to create the Titan strain. The plant's the key and there only one person on Arkham Island who can help," Red Robin said, having the idea of who might help him.
"And what makes you think Poison Ivy will help you?" Barbara asked, hoping it will be just helping and have no seducing.
"She will, because I know her. She will help if her plants are at risk and will listen to reason. I've a sample of her pheromone signature on record. She'll be somewhere in the Gardens. I'll track her down," Red Robin replied, getting Barbara to sigh on the other end and the hero knows why.
"Problem?" The bird-themed hero asked.
"No, okay maybe. Its just how can you be friendly towards the Sirens evening after all they have done to Gotham? I don't understand," Barbara answered honestly.
Red Robin could guess two reasons why Barbara would say that. One due to his relation with Gotham's Sirens and share a good bound with them. Two, will be that the red-haired girl has feelings towards the hero for what he's done and even helped her heal in order to walk again. He knows both of those reasons and understands to answer them.
"Barbara, I reason why I want to help Catwoman, Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn is because I feel pity for them and what impact the four us bring out to each other," Red Robin said, is the truth and also had strong mix feelings for the three villainesses in Gotham.
"Big impact?" Barbara questioned which the hero could tell she was raising an eyebrow.
"Nothing like that, feelings yes and bounding on a good level that could be something else, very true. I have mix feelings towards them and will figure out that later. I also know your feelings towards me Barbara," Red Robin replied before looking at some trouble ahead of him and thought on something as he keeps talking with his friend.
"Alright, I understand. We'll talk later, but first you have a job and I need to do mine. So, anything I can help with?" Barbara asked, going back to her work mode.
Red Robin smiled and said, "I need the Bat here and drop a certain tool for the jobs that I might run into."
"Will do," Barbara said, getting the Bat coming towards the bird and ending the call.
Red Robin then had his DV run through a scan he needs while he waits for the Bat to show up, being right now.
The Bat was one of Batwings, Batman's plane or Batplanes, that was handed down to the bird when he started a good number of years of being a hero and member of the Bat Family. The black jet flews in, breaking the glass and soon dropped a gift for the hero to use, being a Line Launcher. (The Bat from Dark Knight Rise)
Red Robin grabs the Line Launcher, being his new toy, he will used and fired the first line to other side, having himself be moved to the other side on the cable line. Works great and soon the Bat took flight into sky.
The bird-themed hero moves on to find Poison Ivy and found a few things on the way. He runs scans for the pheromones and soon follows the trail to the green-skinned woman herself which won't take too long as she was close by and in a good room filled with plants to add in.
Red Robin opens the door to the room he found, having the bushes moving as he walks forward and sees the user of Mother Nature herself waiting for him. He also noticed her looks have changed since the last time he saw her and blushed a little but shook it.
Gone was the Arkham jacket and wore something new. Poison Ivy now wore a dark forest green high heels, light lime green pantyhose, and a sleeveless leotard made of leaves that stopped at her chest. Her fingernails were painted black, her hair was flowing freely in soft curls and the passionate blood red waves had several leaves placed in them in a way that didn't make them look like a mess but more like accents.
The bird-themed hero was very captured of the looks and could smell very strong pheromones in the air but with his healing factor it matters little and had a little event of him as he deals with this before.
A green vine came up to Poison Ivy, getting her attention to both the plant and the hero that just came in.
"Yes, I know we have a visitor, but don't worry. He won't hurt us. He's a kind man to not harm nature or me," Poison Ivy said, causing the vine to calm down and looked the hero with her smile not leaving her face.
Red Robin saw that vines around him started to relax and could speak freely.
"Ivy, I know that Dr. Young mutated these plants to produce Venom," Red Robin said.
"Yes. And I heard it through the grapevine that the doctor is still alive, thanks to you. Such a gentleman," Poison Ivy said, giggling and knowing her favorite bird very well.
The bird hero knows that somehow Pamela will find out what's been going on within Arkham. As long there are plants, she will find out, but first thing first as to why the hero was here.
"I need you to help me create an antidote," Red Robin said, getting the red-haired woman to raise an eyebrow at him.
"Why should I? Let Joker have his fun. I'll enjoy watching you squirm before coming over to me," Poison Ivy said in a flirty tone of voice.
"You must know that your plants are suffering from the Venom side effects. If this keeps up, your plants will keep on suffering and you will suffer that you can't help them, Ivy. Surely you must understand the problem at hand?" Red Robin questioned, hoping that the green-skinned woman will help him and wasn't looking for a fight with her.
Poison Ivy stood quiet, understanding and know that Red Robin was right as she can feel her babies were in pain. She could watch the hero fight the clown and maybe leave the island but helping her favorite bird comes into mind and really like helping him due to her feelings.
"There is a plant, growing deep within Arkham's Island. Only it can counter act the Titan strain," Poison Ivy answered, giving the hero good news, but felt something was up.
"Where is it?" Red Robin asked.
"Oh, in Killer Croc's lair. You didn't think it will be that easy. Did you, my favorite bird?" Poison Ivy replied.
It was never easy, and the bird-themed hero knows as he starts to leave but stops for a second and said, "I will leave you here for now and figure something out when I return."
"And I'll be waiting," Poison Ivy said, having her plant covering the door as the hero leaves the room.
Outside the room, Red Robin starts to call in his friend and said, "Oracle, I need to find a way into Killer Croc's lair. It's below Arkham Island."
"There's nothing on the system on where he's kept," Barbara informed, seeing nothing, but knows that human-crocodile was somewhere on Arkham.
"I found a door near the Batcave, but it's shut tight. There's got be another way in. I left Guard Cash in the Mansion. I'll see if he shad some light on where Croc is kept," Red Robin said, seeing a way on where he finds some answers.
As the bird-themed hero walks around the corner, he saw thugs standing guard and waiting for him.
"Wrong turn. We here to make sure you stay where you are!"
"Yeah, go back and play with that bitch for a few more hours. The boss isn't ready for you yet!"
Now they were asking for it as Red Robin pulled out his Batclaw and pulled the two into the ground below, causing everyone to be on guard. The bird soon pulled out his Line Launcher and made it the other side, crashing into the group of thugs and started to give them a hard earn beatdown.
Red Robin counted a punched coming at him with his right hand and threw to left punches into the thug's gut before punched him in the jaw, knocking him down onto the floor. The bird moved to the other thug, throwing a downwards strike onto the guy's head and moved towards the other one.
By countering the kick and picking the thug up, the bird-themed hero throws the thug down into the water below and move onto another thug that was rushing at him. The bird counted the two punches that were coming at him and grabbed one arm to spin the thug into the ground before breaking his arm into three places and knocked him out.
The last thug rushed at the hero but had his lights knock out with a right kick to the face and launched into the wall, being the last one and allowed the bird to move on.
Red Robin leaves the Green House to the way he came from and back to the room to see two thugs waiting for him. He also saw the power was back on and wasn't going to fall for the trap as he brought out his Line Launcher to get onto another side and give the thugs a good smack down.
The two thugs were no problem as the bird took them down easily and moves into the next room to see armed men waiting for him, causing him to move into the shadows.
The bird themed hero saw one armed thug alone and silent takedown him by covering his mouth to lower him down into the ground quietly. He knows that he has a collar, which was bad and good as the hero as a plan.
The bird hero pulls out his Explosive Gel from his belt, spaying an R symbol onto the floor to set up a trap and grapple to a stone rafter, waiting careful and soon the thugs had walked into a trap. Three thugs were blown away by the R symbol, knocking them out. One thug was soon pulled upwards and hang upside down by the bird-themed hero.
Red Robin grappled to another rafter to pull out his sonic birdarang and launch it to a thug that was calling out for help. The sonic birdarang goes off, having a sonic blast launching the thug backward into the wall with ringing ears and knock out. Now the only one-armed man was left all alone and was right under a stone rafter that gives the hero a good opening.
The bird themed hero used his grappling gun to reach towards the rafter and performed an inverted takedown onto the last thug, having him hang upside down like friend across from him and the room was clear out.
Red Robin leaves the room to the Glasshouse Entrance to hear Poison Ivy talking with Joker over the speakers, sounding like something bad was up and the clown was upset with users of mother nature very much.
"I can't believe you left poor little Ivy crying in her garden. She looked so sad," Joker said over the speakers.
Red Robin keeps moving, having the feeling that something bad was going to happen as he ca feel and knows the clown was up to something. He was right as the ground shakes like small earthquake and caused vines to grow into massive side, blocking the ways out of the Gardens and leave the hero with little way to get out.
"I gave her a little Titan. Got to say, the results are a little different. Shall I give her another? I think she wants it. They don't call you Ivy for nothing do they dear? I was hoping for a 40-foot killer plant, but you don't always get what you want, do you?" Joker said, having Ivy screaming in pain of the sudden Titan before laughing over the speakers and caused the hero clenched his hands into a fist.
If Titan-2 was anything like Venom or super version of TN-1, then that wasn't good news as there was no telling what will happen to Poison Ivy.
Red Robin calms down with some deep breaths as he moves into the air vent below his feet and hopes that making a cure to Titan might help Poison Ivy to recover from the super Venom. It looks like the only way and needs to find Croc's lair in order to find the plant.
The bird-themed hero leaves the guards to see the vines were super strong and big, must be because of Titan has a different effect on Poison Ivy. He knows that he must move to the Arkham Mansion to find Cash and fast if he wants to make a cure to help the user of mother nature.
By making his way towards the mansion, Red Robin watches out for any plants and dealt with some crazies before going into the manor to find Cash. He used the top door due the front doors and most of room being flood with gas from the plants. The Line Launcher comes in handy as the hero makes his way to the other side and walks towards where he left the guard out.
Once in the Main Hall, the bird-themed hero finds the guard and two spoke.
"I figured you'd be here about now. What's the deal with plants?" Cash asked, seeing the plants out of control and guess the hero will show any time now.
"It's complicated," Red Robin replied, having the idea that office guard will figure out.
"Let me guess, Poison Ivy. She teamed up with Joker," Cash guessed.
Red Robin shook his head and said, "Nothing like that. I'll deal with Ivy and Joker later, but first I have a question to ask you. Where do you keep Killer Croc? I found a door in the sewers, but it's sealed shut."
"That monster got his own special cell. It's right below the transfer room back in Intensive Treatment. The elevator goes right down to an old sewer. We just drop meat down there every day or so and try to forget about him. It's locked off. More security than the Joker. You won't get in without the Warden's permission. He has the codes," Cash answered, knowing the crocodile very well and the two had history.
"Thanks, Cash. Stay here and do not near the plants. They'll kill you," Red Robin said.
The two-part ways and the bird take his leave out of the Manor towards where he needs to go.
Once leaving the manor, Red Robin glides down with his cape towards Arkham East before landing in front of doors towards where he needed to go and walks right in the Intensive Treatment building. but found that something was up as it was locked down.
"Red Robin, every route into Intensive Treatment is locked and there's nothing I can do to bypass the security," Barbara informed as the hero saw someone up top and being his way in.
"There was a sniper up on the roof. He got there somehow. I'll find a way," Red Robin said, ending the call and starts to find away in.
By being careful and standing out of the lights, Red Robin wonders around the place to find a way towards the sniper and gain a few riddles answered that made the Riddle mad.
Once he was far away, the bird-themed hero throws a remote control birdarang at the sniper and knock down for a moment. He then used his grappling gun to get onto the guard down that was across the roof top he needed to go and brings his Line Launcher to make it the other side.
Red Robin makes his way towards the roof top and punched the sniper's back head into the ground, knocking his lights out. He moves towards a door, opening and was now in the building he needed to get in.
The bird finds out he was in the Maintenance Access that leads towards a good path where the hero needs to go. He feels strong earthquakes happening outside, knowing that Poison Ivy and her plants are growing.
"I'm seeing seismic activity all over Arkham Island. You okay?" Barbara asked.
"Ivy's plants are taking hold. I've got to stop them before the entire island is under her control," Red Robin replied, ending the call and moves on.
The bird-themed hero moves in the air vents that lead to the lobby to find a thug on a stone rafter wiring something up and waited.
"Are they ready? Have you planted the explosives yet?" Joker asked over the speakers.
"Done!"
Razor's just finishing his off now."
Thugs answered to their boss as the last was done.
"Good! Let's test them out," Joker said before activating one of them that his goon was on.
"NO! No, I'm still up here!" The thug called out but was too late as he exploded, and rafter was gone.
"Oops," Joker commented before laughing out of control.
Red Robin knows he can't use the stone rafters as they have explosives and well need to do this the old ninja way. He sneaks up behind one thug, covering his mouth and face to lower into the ground to knock him out before anyone saw him.
By using his Batclaw onto two thugs, the bird pulls them down onto the ground and started the armed men panic. He then throws a sonic birdarang at some thugs, having it blow up and knocking two thugs out at the same time. The last thug was slammed into the wall, knocking his lights out and allowed the hero to go into the control room with no trouble.
Red Robin pulls out his CS, turning into a three-way frequency and caused the power box to unlock the gates for him walk into the Cell Block Transfer hallway. He did some updates on his gargets and found some riddles before walking down the hallway.
"Did anyone catch the game last night?" The female voice spoke over the speakers as the hero starts to cough all the sudden and heard hissing sounds.
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AN: WTF! Sorry about that. Something is wrong with the story. Is the story broken or something? I made sure everything was right. Hmm let's see (Checking a few things but as I do that, the story was back on all the sudden) Oh never mind, the story back in action boys and girls. And now let's move on. (Getting some popcorn)
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Red Robin soon found himself being transported, being cuffed and moved within the Cell Block hallway. He fought the cuffs and tried to get out but was pointless as he was moved by Joker's men and the clown himself. He screams of guards and offices in pain, being torture to death within their cells and it got worse as the hero saw who was in the cells.
Barbara being shot in the spine, causing her to be paralyzed and was later violated.
Jim naked and caged up like an animal, being helpless and watched his little girl in pain.
Cash being eaten by Killer Croc.
Penny Young was torture to death with three villainesses that shared the same fate.
The transport stops and had the bird-themed hero come face to face with Joker's gun pointed at his face. At that moment, Red Robin found out that this wasn't real and knows that his fear had made his nightmare to come true.
With the flash of the gun going off, Red Robin blinks a couple of times and found himself in a grave which he claws out easily. He was back in Scarecrow's nightmare world of fear and will need fight the fear with his will. The healing factor will push the Fear Toxin out but only if the young hero fights it and moves forwards of his nightmare world.
"What are you doing, little bird?" Scarecrow asked, looking around for his prey.
Red Robin waited for a second before moving on time as the lights shine somewhere else. He stays in the shadows and avoids the Master of Fear's lights. The bird-themed hero fights off a few things as he moves forward within the shadows to the Bat Single.
"Can you believe what you see, Red Robin?" Scarecrow asked as he looks around for the little bird that was hiding.
Red Robin shook his head, fighting the fear with his will up and healing factor pushing the toxins out of his body. He soon found himself at the front of the Bat Single but changes as the hero found himself back in the real world.
The bird-themed hero had his right hand on Scarecrow's throat, holding and pushed him into a wall. He was winning the fight with a will against fear and his healing factor was working overtime.
"I think you need a little more! Tell me what, demons do you have left to beat? Shall we see?!" Scarecrow exclaimed as he stabs the hero with his needles, getting more Fear Toxins into the hero.
Red Robin groans as he fights the Fear Toxins but soon got worse as the Master of Fear launches a powerful fear pounder into his face, incasing and strengthen the Fear Toxins at its highest.
The bird-themed hero was back in the nightmare world with the big Scarecrow looking down him.
"Are you enjoying the extra dose, little bird?" Scarecrow asked, having skeleton men fighting the hero and spoked again, "Oh, I won't rush things this time. I'm going to savor every moment of your terror as I slowly destroy you."
However, this fight was pointless as Red Robin dealt with armies coming at him and caused his will to shine brighter. The first Bat Single turns on, burning the Master of Fear's hand and caused him to summon more to fight the bird.
"You're fighting back. Good. It can only weaken your resolve," Scarecrow said as the massive skeletons changed at the hero.
Red Robin dept the big skeletons as they were stupid and caused them to crash into each other, again being stupid and will was wining this fight as another Bat Single shins onto the Master of Fear. Scarecrow shouted in pain and was shock on how the bird-themed hero was fighting through the Fear Toxins like Batman. This can't be happening.
"How much more do you think you can take? Does it scare you to know that I have almost defeated you?" Scarecrow asked as more of armies attacked the hero but were easily dealt with.
Red Robin punched, kicked, and counted all the skeleton men that were coming at him. He soon saw one last thing left to do and beat the Master of Fear for good as the last Bat Single burst out to the shin. The bird-themed hero walks over to the single pushing downwards and allowed the light to shin onto the villain, breaking the world and allowed the hero back into the real world.
Red Robin was on the other side of cell bars, grabbing Scarecrow by the shirt and this was scaring the Master of Fear as the hero was fighting back his toxins.
"How are you doing this?" Scarecrow asked as he tries to fight back and soon stabbed the hero again with his needles.
This caused the hero to let go, but the toxins were having no effect as his healing factor was stronger now and will be strong over fear.
"You've ingested enough toxins to drive 15 men insane. What are you!?" Scarecrow asked as he ran and leaves the area.
Red Robin sighed and moves on to stop Scarecrow from unleashing his Fear Toxin onto Gotham and find Killer Croc's lair. He thinks if he follows the Master of Fear, he will find the croc himself as well.
Time Skip
Red Robin follows the trail, beating a few thugs down, getting some riddles that was now 75% done, and soon found himself in the sewers. He took a knee at a plant, checking if it was right one and was almost the one, he was looking for. He was on the right trail, good, but he had feeling that someone was coming and watching him.
"Too late, Red Robin!" A voice called, getting the hero to turn around and see Scarecrow with a bag in his hands.
The bird knows what is in that bag, being Fear Toxins and that could be a problem.
"One step closer…and this goes into the water," Scarecrow warned, getting the hero to be on guard.
Unknow to the two, a pair of eyes was in the water and started to move to his prey.
"The cave will fill with your deepest, darkest nightmares and you will never reach your precious Venom roots," Scarecrow said as he walks back towards the water, not knowing what dangers were in the water behind him.
Red Robin walks forward, being very careful and think of a plan to stop the pile of sticks.
"Don't do it, Cane!" Red Robin warned, but Scarecrow laughed, and something happens.
All the sudden, Killer Croc jumped onto land, grabbing the Master of Fear by the legs and was hungry. The bag of fear was dropped onto the ground in a safe area and Scarecrow was shouting in panic.
Acting on his feet, Red Robin pulled out a birdarang, hitting the shock collar on Killer Croc to have him in pain and caused the crocodile to return into the water with his prey in his arms. The bird-themed hero looks at the water, feeling a little bad that he couldn't get Scarecrow to safety and a new danger was ahead of him now.
Red Robin puts the bag of fear into a nearby trash can and started to make his way within Croc's lair, taking careful steps and standing away from the water. He sounds found a big door way with cell bar as its gate and a sign that said 'Danger Keep Out' as a warning.
The bird-themed hero sighed as he walks in and called his friend for some information before going into the lion's den or the crocodile pit.
"Oracle, I'm heading into Croc's lair to collect the plant spores Ivy spoke about. He's in an old sewer network. Send me the schematics, it's like a maze down here," Red Robin said as he thinks of a plan in case things go south with Croc.
"There's nothing on record. Naruto, are you sure about this? It sounds like a suicide mission," Barbara said, is worried about her friend/crush.
Red Robin know that Barbara was right, but what choice does he have. The plant was done here, and the hero needs to help Poison Ivy. He brings out a winged bat bot, placing it a pile for an idea he can use.
"I've got no choice, Barbs. Don't worry I'll be fine. I've tuned the scanner to detect the spores required to make the Anti-Venom. It'll lead me straight to them," Red Robin said before bring out his Explosive Gel and write a double R symbol onto a weak floor at his feet.
He was glad that Batman taught him to think things ahead and be ready to face ant of his Rouges alone one day. And tonight, he has faced some rouges and will face danger rouge soon enough.
"What about Croc?" Barbara asked, still being worried.
"Croc just an animal and the animals just need traps and the right bait to catch them. I'll be fine, Barbara, it's me remember," Red Robin said with a smirk on his face.
Barbara sighed with a little laugh that smiles and said, "That's what I'm worried. Stay safe down there."
"Will do," Red Robin replied before ending the call and started to walk in, deeper into the lair.
The bird saw floating platforms and started to walk on them, knowing that they will support him and moves very slow to be quiet. If he was quiet, then Killer Croc won't find easily, and the game of hunter and prey as its start.
Red Robin moves very slowly within the sewers, following the spores with his scanners and stay quiet. This would have scared the hero but he was trained very well to control his emotions and soon Killer Croc jumps onto the platforms, rushing at his prey, but was stopped with one quick aimed birdarang at his collar and shocking back into the water.
The bird-themed hero keeps moving quietly and has his guard ready for croc if he shows up again. Soon enough, he was at the plant and cut it down to take some simples. He took some simples and ran into a problem.
"Great, just my luck. These spores don't contain enough of the Anti-Venom mold I need. I'm going to need to find more," Red Robin thought, having his scanners pick up more spores nearby and moves forward.
The bird-themed hero soon was at the next plant. He cuts it down and gathers up the spores, still wasn't enough, but a good start so far.
"You are mine, Red Robin!" Killer Croc shouted, having his voice echoing through the walls.
Once Red Robin was done, Killer Croc jumps and rushes at the hero but was shocked by his collar when a birdarang hits it and left the hero to move forward. He kept moving forwards while being careful on back and forward attacks from Croc until reaching towards the next plant. The bird now was at half way of being full up and found out that the next simple was nearby.
The bird-themed hero moves towards the next spores, cutting the plant down and gain a good amount to be almost done. He still needs more but was getting close and soon heard ticks, being Killer Croc nearby and moved carefully forward.
Killer Croc's soft groans, roars, and hissing could be heard through the sewers, getting chills to the hero as he moves slowly forward and minds his surroundings. This can anyone the creeps if they won't train and ready to do crime fighting as a second job.
"I have your scent!" Killer Croc voiced echo before jumping onto the platforms, but the hero was ready and launched a well-aimed birdarang at the croc.
This shocked human croc back into the waters and allowed the hero to move forward to get the next plant. He cuts the plant down and gathers up the spores he needs for the Anti-Venom, being full and now can get out of here to go back to Batcave to cook the antidote.
Red Robin pushed a few buttons on his gauntlet, powering up what he left at the start of sewers and away to leave this place without being lost.
"Oh, get it. You've activated a sonar beacon down there. Clever!" Barbara commented, seeing the bat sonar beacon was on and gives the hero a trail to follow.
"Oracle, I'm getting out of here," Red Robin informed, keeping his voice lowered.
"What about Croc?" Barbara asked, being worried.
"He won't be a problem," Red Robin answered, not afraid of facing the croc himself and has a plan in motion at the end.
By using his Line Launcher and dealing with Killer Croc, Red Robin had little trouble on getting out of the sewers but soon found himself at a dead end and big trouble. The gates have slammed shut onto the hero and Croc was right behind him at another end, blocking a way to escape.
"My caves will be your tomb!" Killer Croc shouted as he dashed at the hero, not knowing he was walking right into a trap.
Red Robin pulls out his Explosive Gel, getting ready to push the button as the croc was running at him. The bird-themed hero waits, making it look like he was done for and soon saw a foot on the trap that starts the trap at motion.
By pushing the button, the floor breaks down and Killer Croc falls down into the hole, being very angry.
"I will find you!" Killer Croc yelled in anger as the hero pulls the gate up and leaves the lair of the beast behind.
Red Robin sighed as the hard part was over and now it was time to head back to the Batcave to cook the Anti-Venom for Poison Ivy and Titan.