28thNovember 2011
There are the private notes of Doctor Jeremiah Arkham. It has been two months since #12942 'Two-Face' and #15249 had an altercation in the rec room. Since the two were released from isolation and returned to general population, I saw it fit to move Two-Face off the same recreation line as Edward, but when I suggested it in a session, Harvey, actually Harvey apologised for his behaviour and that it was nothing more than a misunderstanding, and was now water under the proverbial bridge.
With the rare chance to talk to the 'real' personality, I decided not to continue with that subject and moved onto a more personal one in nature. I managed to get some signs out of Harvey before Two-Face began to emerge. I saw this as a chance to end the session and had Harvey escorted back to his cell.
Leaving me to wonder, why did Two-Face let Harvey out to defend something he had no control over?
15th December 2011
I have no time for the usual recording. I have noticed that since #15249 and #12942 were released nearly a month ago there have been no problems among certain patients, which in the last six months have had associations with Edward Nigma.
21st December 2011
I knew something was amiss, I said this more than six months ago, but I never pursued that path to the end, I thought I had been led to a dead end, but really it was just the start of something more. That so called 'book-mark' was Edward Nigma's calling card and all the people Edward has been associating with for the last six months are in league with him. He had me fooled, had wool pulled over my eyes, but I can tell you this, my faithful diary, that I now know that Edward has been planning and playing a game with me since he was brought back six months ago.
22nd December 2011
I have arranged for Edward to be brought up to my office. He has been here for six months today, and I'm well aware he is planning something. I have taken extra precaution to have him restrained when he finally arrives. I'll have a drink to soothe me before he arrives.
End Notes.
"Well, well, well Doctor, that was very thoughtful of you." Riddler pushed open the door and dropped the restraints in front of Doctor Arkham. "You're going to have to do better than that if you intend on stopping the Riddler."
"How did you get in here? How did you get past security and get back your costume?"
"All in good time Doctor, all in good time."
Before Doctor Arkham could think, the room began spinning, and everything to turn black.
When Doctor Arkham came too, his neck was hurting and his face was covered by a black cloth.
"I wouldn't try moving if I were you. The plank of wood you stand on can barely hold your weight; I'm sure any sudden movements will cause the wood to fall from under your feet, hopefully, breaking your neck." It was Scarecrow's voice.
Arkham managed to choke out a few words; the noose around his neck was tight.
"Why are you doing this Crane?"
Scarecrow merely laughed and got on with whatever he was doing. It sounded as if he was grinding something.
Dangling over a large vat of acid, Mayor Hill just looked down at the green bubbling goo as he listened to Two-Face flip his coin.
"If it wasn't for this stupid agreement, I'd have dropped you into that acid, just to show you, what pain I went through to become," showing his scarred side of his face to Hill "this."
The only response he got from the mayor was humming, nothing more.
Batman was racing through the city, with reports that four prominent people had been kidnapped and it looked like it was up to him to get them back and save them from the fates that had been dealt to them.
With the police scanner and the bat-computer working overtime to figure out, how Two-Face, Scarecrow, Poison Ivy and Joker had escaped from Arkham and kidnapped these particular people. There was a reason for it, and there was an ulterior motive.
What did Commissioner Gordon, Vicky Vale, Mayor Hamilton Hill and Dr Jeremiah Arkham have to do with anything? There had to be a connection somewhere. Before Batman could even consider heading in any particular direction, Batman picked up a riddle that had been left outside the GCPD building.
"She has always been a thorn in your side; will this make for breaking news?"
Ivy was written all over it. Riddler had intentionally left this. But was the Riddler involved? This riddle proved it. He instantly knew that he should go to the Botanical Gardens. The only safe place in Gotham that Ivy could hide someone with her plants and no one would catch on, no one except Batman.
"You better let me go Ivy, you have no right to do this, I'm a reporter, and I need to tell the people of Gotham everything they need to know. I am..." she was cut off as a branch covered her mouth.
"Oh, my baby, thank you, herself righteous speech was getting to me." Ivy stroked her plants as she leaned back into her thrown like chair. Vicky Vale was being held up by a Boston vine. Her hands were being held by her sides. Her blonde hair stood-out against all the green.
"I only have to keep you here until Batman shows up, that was all part of the plan. Riddler leaves Batman a riddle; he comes here to save you. Get's the second riddle to take him to the next hostage, and in that time I go off in my get that is waiting for me." One of Ivy's plants came to life and started to make noises. "That's my cue to leave sweetheart. Give a kiss to Batman when you see him." She kissed her hand and made for the exit.
She didn't make it to the door. Several Batarangs then came smashing through the glass and then some canisters that let out a type of gas. Coughing and gasping for air, Batman snuck in through a skylight, freeing Vale from her predicament and escaping through the skylight before Ivy had a chance to react.
"I'll get you Batman." She said in between coughs. "I still have some information you need about your next" she was coughing uncontrollably "you, need this Batman." She collapsed on the ground.
"Wait here."
"I don't intent on going anyway." Batman had already gone into the green house, to get his only chance of finding the next hostage. "Hmm, well thank you for saving my life." She pulled out her tape recorder and began to dictate "This is Vicky Vale; this will be the detailed back story to the kidnapping of several others and..."
"Bang, bang order in the court, will this judge, jury and executioner flip before you can save this man?"
"That was the riddle that Ivy had been given to leave me when I saved Vale, but enough time for her to get away. So being captured was not part of the plan."
Batman said to himself as he sped off across the city to Solomon Wayne Courthouse. The abandoned building was the main courthouse before they moved the new court closer to the GCPD in the east end.
"This has Harvey written all over it. These aren't even hard riddles Nigma; you're doing this to toy with me. Don't you have anything better to do?" Batman said out loud, knowing that letting out some of his thoughts might help him think more clearly.
Meanwhile, at the courthouse, Mayor Hill was dangling over a vat of acid. Two-Face was pacing around in front of Hill. He was repeatedly flipping his coin. He had an agreement not to kill the Mayor until Batman showed up and had given the Dark Knight his riddle. After that he was free to do whatever he wanted.
"Come now Harvey, I mean, Two-Face, is this really necessary? I'm sure we can come to an arrangement. Say, you let me go and I call the police and I don't press any charges, after you get taken back to the asylum, I'll be sure to get Arkham to sign the papers. Agreed?" He was bluffing; he just hoped Two-Face didn't see through it.
"I wasn't born yesterday Mayor. I know you are trying to end this peacefully, but we're not interested." Two-Face continued to flip his coin. He had to remember the riddle that Riddler had given his to tell to Batman. When Batman would be distracted trying to solve the riddle and get Two-Face could make his getaway.
Glass shattered around them and Batman landed gracefully in front of Two-Face.
"It's over; give it up Two Face..."
To Be Continued...