Chapter 10: An old friend.

Authors Note: Thanks to the people who reviewed and to anyone who reads my story. I am almost done and I can't wait to start my Arkham City story. Until that day comes enjoy this chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own Arkham Asylum.

After we completely destroyed the TITAN lab and Batman got his zip line, where he got it from and from whom I'll never know but was not the issue. We found out that the TITAN formula was made from some chemicals in plants which Dr. Young had mutated. So if some of her plants could make the formula maybe they could make an antidote as well. After fighting those two big bastards we would most definitely need it.

After a few minutes of walking through the gardens we made it to the doors of the garden house. Inside Ivy had already made a few arrangements of her own. There were more plants than I remembered and last time I checked some of them didn't have teeth. We both walked in and confronted Ivy who was sitting in the center petting her plants.

"It's alright my darlings," She said in a soothing voice. "I'm here now, my poor darlings." As if the plants were talking to her she answered back. "Yes, I know they found us, but I won't let them hurt you. I'll kill them first."

"You know a blade is a traveler's best friend in the jungle right?" I provoked her as her green eyes burned a whole through my soul.

"Ivy," Batman said in a calm tone. "I know Dr. Young mutated these plants to produce Venom."

"Yes, and I heard it through the grape vine the evil woman paid the price." She chuckled.

"Hey, you should be thankful," I snarled. "Sharp was going to have this building torn down to make room for another penitentiary when Young protested against it."

"I would rather have them destroyed than used for her evil experiments!" She yelled.

"Hippies suck ass everywhere." I joked until Batman grabbed my shoulder violently.

"Never mind him," He snarled. "I need you to help me create an antidote." At this Ivy raised an eyebrow.

"Why should I," She asked. "Let Joker have his fun, I'll enjoy watching you two squirm," Her grin widened when she looked at me. "Especially you."

Just then a vine coming from nowhere slowly approached me from behind and then made an attempted to strike my head. I easily avoided the situation by pulling out my sword and slicing it in half. I then heard a crunch as I looked over to see Batman crush a similar pod with his hand. Ivy let out a shriek as she gripped her head and fell to her knees.

"You've been in the dark too long," Batman said as he walked over to her. "Unless you don't want my friend shredding all your plants you better cooperate."

"There's a plant, growing deep in Arkham Island," She explained. "Only it can counter the effect of this TITAN strain."

"Where do I find it?" Batman said sternly.

"Oh…In Killer Crocs lair," She said with a small chuckle. "You didn't think it would be easy did you?" We both turned to leave as Batman turned his head towards her direction.

"Go back to your cell, or I'll be after you next." He warned.

"And he won't be alone." I chipped in as I cleaned my blade.

"And I'll be waiting." She said as we left the room.

"We need to find Crocs lair." Batman said. "I found a door but its shut tight."

"Maybe Cash will know something." I suggested.

As we walked down the hall we saw that some of Jokers men were on the other side of an open floor.

"Hey morons," One of the thugs said. "The boss still has plans for you so why don't you go play with that bitch for a while."

Batman casually pulled out his zipline or line launcher as he called it and shot out two long cords connecting to each side. I grabbed hold of his waist as we flew over to the other side.

"What the hell?" One of the thugs yelled as I dove in and clotheslined two of the thugs. I looked up to see Batman kick one guy and then take down two more.

"They don't get any stronger do they?" I asked.

"No, but they will if we don't stop Joker." Batman grunted.

We left the Botanical Gardens to see multiple trees and vines growing all over the place. Multiple vines wrapped around building as random trees sprouted out of nowhere. But the things we had to watch out for were the pods and shoot some kind of spores at us.

"I think we need to worry more about these things than we do about Joker." I said.

"We need to stop them before they grow out of control." He turned to me. "Stay clear of those pods."

"Don't need to tell me twice."

We made our way into the Mansion through the vents due to Ivy's vines blocking the door. Once we made it to the lobby we were overlooking the area from up top to see the room was filled with pink gas.

"This gas is highly toxic," Batman stated as he pulled out his line launcher. "Okay, I can only hold myself so your-"

He was cut off as I leaped back and jumped over the gas and over to a balcony. I looked back and gave him a smirk. "Oh, my formula strengthens my muscles allowing me to jump higher and farther," I gloated. "You can't do that...hmm" I insulted as I leaped over to the next balcony.

Eventually we both made our way back to the main room where Cash and his men secured. He looked over at me and Batman as we approached him.

"I figured you be here right about now." Cash stated. "What's the deal with the plants?"

"It's complicated." I said as he raised an eyebrow.

"Let me guess Poison Ivy, she teamed up with Joker."

"All that matters is that I can stop the plants from taking over, but…" Batman trailed off.

"There's always a 'but' isn't there?" Cash Joked.

"Where's Killer Croc," I asked getting irritated with this stupid chatter. "We found a door leading to him but it's locked."

"That monster's got his own special cell. Its right below the transfer room back in intensive treatment. Elevator goes right down to an old sewer we just drop meat down there and try to forget him."

"Wouldn't it be better just to take him out," I suggested. "I mean he is a cannibal."

"Warden Sharp is so greedy that he wants to see if he can cure him to boost his shot at being mayor. He's got the codes."

"Thanks Cash, Stay away from the plants they'll kill you." Batman said as he walked out, I stayed for a little bit to see Dr. Young's body lying on a desk. Cash put a hand on my shoulder.

"Don't worry kid I'm not leaving her this time." He reassured.

"Better not I want to be there for her funeral." I said as I walked out.

"Kid, she died hoping to make a difference don't let this ruin her, I know what she did was wrong but she never meant to hurt anyone."

"I know, this information stays with us, no one will ever link her to TITAN." I said as we made our way out of the Mansion.

"Let head back to intensive treatment, we need that cure soon." Batman said.

"Yeah, if we don't stop this madness soon," I was cut off as the ground below me started to shake then it crumbled as I fell to the ground below. Quick thinking I activated the landing system in my belt, before I hit the ground a yellow energy field hovered me over the ground and then let me gently land on the ground below. I looked around to see that I was in an underground cave with a few waterfalls and some stairways.

"Shadow!" Batman yelled I looked up to see him leaning over the edge. "Are you okay?" He asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I reassured. "I'm in some cavern I think I see way out. We'll meet up at the intensive treatment."

"Alright, becareful." He said sternly.

"Look who you're asking." I snickered.

He left as I walked over to the stair case but was cut off from a kick to the chest. I flew back and landed hard on my back as a thin woman with dark hair which she kept tied in a ponytail and dressed in a black face mask like mine only cut off at the head. She wore black baggy pants and a tank top with tattoos covering her back and arms.

"Who the hell are you?" I asked as she drew Katana similar to the one I had. Actually they were exactly the same.

"Who I am is of no importance," She said as she glared daggers at me. "You have been dogging us for five years your mistress has need of you."

"Mistress? listen what me and my girlfriend do in our bed is none of your business." I said.

"You were always a disgrace to our order." She said as she raised her blade. "Prepare to die."

She then dashed at me with incredible speed as I pulled out my sword and made a swipe at her head. She dodged it as she leaped up in the air and delivered a kick to my head. I fell back but quickly got to my feet as I ran towards her. She held her blade at her back and her left hand out as I ran towards her. I cut down as she brought her sword up and blocked. She delivered a punch to my stomach but I just shrugged it off as I delivered a boot at her stomach. She flew back and dragged her feet against the ground, she looked up and me and charged at me with her sword held high. I brought my sword down as we locked blades, I swung around hoping to hit her back, and she lifted her sword back and blocked my attack. That's when I delivered a leg sweep under her feet and knocked her on the ground. I climbed on top of her and held a blade to her throat.

"What the hell do you want from me?" I asked. "Who are you?"

"I'll never tell," She snarled. "After all it was your own fault you forgot."

"What the hell are you talking about!" I yelled.

She raised an eyebrow and I could tell she was grinning behind her mask. She looked up and I followed her gaze as two more women jumped down on me. One had pale white skin short blonde hair and the other had dark skin and a shaved hair. I lifted them off of me as they all lined up and readied their swords.

"You will answer for your crimes." The ponytail girl I was fighting said as they all charged at me.

They all attacked me at great speed as I quickly deflected their attacks. They kept stabbing at me as I kept waving my sword around smacking there attack away from me. The three of them brought their blades down at me as I brought my blade up and block the three of them. We all locked blades as I used my strength to push the three of them back. They all flew back as I regained my posture.

They charged at me again only this time I ran at them again as I held my sword high. I threw my sword at them and they dodged it as they flew in the air. I jumped up and grabbed the ponytail girl by her leg and neck as I held her over my shoulders and slammed down on the ground. I delivered a back breaker and stunned her as I threw her at one of the girls. The blonde girl attacked me bout I dodged her blade and grabbed her wrist and twisted it. She let out a yelp as I grabbed her by her throat and picked her up lifting her off her feet.

"Now who sent you?" I snarled as she gasped for air and grabbed my fingers trying to break my grip.

"I did," A new voice said. I looked over and dropped the girl I was holding as I gazed at this new woman in awe. "Nice to see you again Jayden."

She wore an all leather outfit boots, pants, a small jacket which showed off some of her luscious breast which was cover by a small brown shirt. Her tanned skin her long brown hair and her green eyes.

She was Aphrodite herself.

"W-Who are you?" I stuttered as she walked over to me, her heals echoed through the cavern with each step.

"So you really don't remember me," She said in a sad tone. "We met five years ago, I found you fighting some of Carmine Falcone's men in the slums."

"I don't remember you…"

"Yes, that's my father's fault." She wrapped an arm around my shoulder and led me out of the cavern. "You see we trained you with everything we know, combat, stealth, swords everything you know is because of me. You and I are part of a group of assassins who seek peace for all of humanity."

"So, you're my teacher?" I asked. "But why don't I remember you."

"Well you see, you really impressed me and my father well enough to be a leader," She explained. "You had so much vengeance and potential that my father wanted you to be his successor, you were eager of course and would have done anything for me until my father wanted you to kill someone."

"You?" I asked in disbelief. "He wanted me to kill you?"

"No," She said in a sad tone. "Another person who was like you in every way, you reminded me and my father so much of him but he lacked that fire you possess."

"Who?"

"The Batman." She said with emphasis on his name. "My father has been trying to recruit him or kill him for years but had no success. You always told us how you blamed him for your father's death and that fueled his ambition to get you to kill Batman."

"But…"

"But, you hesitated when he made the offer, you told us that you did hate Batman but that he was a hero and you would never kill him in cold blood. That didn't please my father one bit and you provoked him to fight you. You lost and were almost killed before Batman came in and saved you. You suffered a nasty head injury and wound up in a coma for six months. When you woke up you forgot everything, Ra's Al Ghul, the league of assassins, me. You only remembered your training and your drive for vengeance after that you just disappeared. That's when we got word of a few vigilantes killing The Jokers men and your outfit made the paper."

"Your referring to the incident over a month ago I didn't kill anyone. The Joker framed me."

"Yes, I know that's not why I'm here,"

"Then why are you here, to check up on me?" I asked.

"Yes, but also for you to reconsider that offer my father made you. This Island is the perfect trial for you, all we ask is for you now is to kill the Joker and take your place as head of the demon." She explained. "You will be a leader of the world's most well trained assassins given the gift of immortality and as my father promised…you can have me."

I took in every word she said as I thought it all over. If I took down the Joker I could have the world at my finger tips and with the power of Adonis and all those assassins no one not even Batman could stop me. But then I would be letting my parents down, my father my mother I would never see them again. I was conflicted dammit if she had come to me a month ago I would have wasted the Joker without even thinking about it.

"What should I do?" I asked as I fell to my knees.

"Do what your heart asks of you," She said.

Before I knew it we in front of a large metal door with multiple locks and a small terminal. She held a small note in front of me and I took it, on it were six digits.

"What is this?"

"The combination to that door," She explained. "One of my girls got it from that pathetic warden. Go and help Batman and figure out your destiny." She said as she walked down to a tunnel leading to the docks. Least that's what the sign on the wall said.

"Wait, who are you?" I asked as she turned to me and gave me a small smile that set my heart on fire. She swiped a small strand of hair out of her eyes showing me her face.

"Talia, Talia Al Ghul." She said as she walked away. "I'm glad you stuck with that outfit I did make it for you after all." I looked down at my clothes as I looked back to see that Talia was gone.

I wanted to go after her but I didn't want to waste any more time letting Ivy's plant progress any further. I entered the code on the terminal as the locks on the door started to come undone. The door opened and I walked through it to see that I was in an old sewer system. I walked through the murky tunnels and heard growling and snarling echo through the tunnels. "Croc," I whispered as I continued through the tunnels.

I arrived at a large door way with the words 'Croc's Lair' scribbled on the wall next to it. I walked in to see a small blinking device in the shape of a bat stuck on the wall as I heard growling echoing through the halls. I saw Batman run down the wooden floats that made a floor. Suddenly something big burst out of the water and sure enough there he was, chasing Batman at full speed the human crocodile himself Killer Croc. Batman was running towards me as Croc was catching up to him, thinking on my feet I pulled out a throwing star and threw it at Crocs collar. He let out a growl as sparks flew out of his neck and he fell into the water below. Batman ran up to me and was trying to catch his breath.

"You okay?" I asked, he gave me his trade mark glare as he stood up.

"What did you do that for?" He snarled.

"You're welcome you selfish jerk," I said sarcastically.

"I was planning on him chasing after me. I had a trap planned out for him." He said as he pointed down at the pale ground below. There was a white substance on the floor in the shape of the bat symbol. "I planted some explosive gel there and was about to trap Croc in the caverns below."

"Okay, I'll do it I'll lure that cannibalistic bastard towards this spot and you can send his ass to kingdom come." I said as I stood in front of the door way. I threw a small tracking star on the side of the wall so I could find my way back.

"Shadow, you don't have to…" Before he could say anything I was already down the chamber.

It was scary as hell being here, I couldn't tell if I was hunting him or he was hunting me either way one of us wasn't leaving this chamber. I walked across the wooden platform slowly and drew my sword. I took off my glove on my right hand and cut my hand letting my blood cover my blade. Thanks to Adonis my wound healed right up and I put my glove back on. I slowly dipped the tip of my sword into the dirty water letting it wash the blood off my sword. When it was all washed off I sheathed my sword and continued walking down the planks.

"Come on," I whispered. "Come on, where are you ugly bastard."

Just then a splash erupted out of the water a few feet away from me as Croc glared at me with his yellow eyes.

"You," He snarled. "I told you I would eat your bones!" He shouted at he attacked me.

"Yeah, well just remember when you're in the zoo that Shadows the one who put you there." I joked as I took off running. He let out a roar as he took off after me. I looked at my GPS to see that I was almost at the entrance. I only hope Batman held up his end of the deal. I didn't look back but I could feel Crocs breath on the back of my neck as I gunned it towards the entrance. I saw Batman with switch in hand as I crossed the doorway and over the weak floor. "Flip the switch, flip the switch!" I shouted.

Before Crocs mouth could reach me an explosion was heard from behind me as Croc fell through the ground below. I looked behind me to see a gaping hole and heard Croc screaming at me.

"This will not stop me Shadow," He shouted. "I will skin you and eat your bones!"

I stood there for a few minutes trying to catch my breath as I looked over at Batman. He held up a small vial filled with a red liquid which I could only assume was the cure.

"You got it?" I asked.

"Yes, I need to get this back to the Bat cave and synthesize an antidote." He explained.

"What about me?" I asked.

"You can come, as long as you don't touch anything and don't tell anyone," He said as he walked out of Crocs chambers. "Let's go."

"Wait," I said as he looked at me. "I need to know why you trust me so easily I mean I tried to kill you last month for all you know I could be planning on killing you at any second. Why are you so trusting of me?"

He stood there silent as if compelling on telling me the truth. He turned to me and stared me in the eyes.

"Jayden, I know who you are," He explained. "Not from the newspapers but from when you were a child. I never forgot about you and I know you blame me for your father. That's why you do what you do."

"You don't understand," I said. "You think I'm like your boy Robin or your friend Nightwing, well you're wrong. I'm my own person I work solo like Catwoman I only care about my goals."

"I know that, but like Catwoman I will stop you if you go too far," He explained. "I trust you because you're like me I know deep down you're not a killer."

"How could you understand, your father wasn't murdered by a monster especially right in front of you."

"Yes, he was," He snarled. I looked away from him feeling a small bit of guilt in my heart. Who was I to judge him, when he was a boy I don't think he ever planned on being a man dressed like a bat. Something made him like this and I would find out what.

"Whatever, let's just go I want to go home and see my girlfriend." I said.

"Let's go." He said as we ran down the tunnel.

I looked back down the tunnel and remembered what Talia had told me. If I kill Joker I'll become the leader of assassins I could make sure no child ever has to become Batman or Shadow. If i could make sure a family could sleep well in they're homes at night then I would sacrafice my own humanity to do so. I think thats what Talia and her father taught me.I don't even remember what they had taught me or what we even disagreed on, but all I know is that Arkham is in trouble and if I don't stop Joker Gotham is next. So if it comes down between me and Joker I will make my choice.

I will kill him.