Obviously, the Joker was coming out to play. He would be the only one capable of creating the sort of serum found in Anderson's bloodstream. Without Lebowitz seeing me, I got a DNA sample. This was just the beginning and I would need to study it to make a cure for the future. Around that time, I had other matters to attend to, though.

I followed the clue Riddler left on his billboard, leading me to Sin City Harbor at midnight. It was dark with only the light of a few warehouses and the reflection of the water illuminating it. There was a maze of crates surrounding me with muddy water on either side. Riddler had made good on his promise and hadn't done anything since escaping as far as I knew. I was still careful, despite this. Riddler stood at the end of a pier with a black suit, his green domino mask, and a green tie with a single black question mark on it.

"Hello, Bats," he greeted me.

"I took care of your competition, Nigma," I moved cautiously forward, "Croc, Two-Face, and Ivy have all been put away. It's time for you to join them."

"I promised not to commit any crimes this entire time, right?"

"That's what you told me, yes."

"And I plan on keeping that promise!"

I felt someone grab the end of my cape, jerking me off the ground with ease. I hit some crates and when I looked up, I saw a massive, lumbering man in a cheuffer outfit with a fake eye. "This is Manute," Riddler explained, "He works for Herr Walenquist. As you know, I've been discussing certain plans with Walenquist. He, along with many other fine citizens of Sin City would love nothing more than to see you killed in the worst way possible. I decided to give them that opportunity. Like I said, I won't commit a crime, but I made no promises about allowing others to do so."

"If you're through prattling, Mr. Nigma," Manute began in a monotone voice, "I would like to finish my task."

"Be my guest."

He charged forward so I judo-tossed him over the crates. I noticed two more figures coming at either side from the shadows. "Looks like it's up to us, darl'n," one of them said in a thick Irish accent. "Job of a lifetime," the female answered. They wore military fatigues. Mercenaries, more than likely. Possibly IRA? I rolled back as one of them threw a grenade that tore a hole through the pier. Before the smoke fully settled, the woman opened fire with twin uzis. I ducked around some crates, coming up behind her before bringing her down with a leg sweep. Once she hit the ground, I took her out.

Manute launched himself over the crates, threatening to tackle me. I stepped back, allowing him to smash through the wood and packaging. "Impressive, but your acrobatics only delay the inevitable," he said as he took a swing at me. I ducked, hitting him in the solar plexus; then I followed it up with a blow across the bridge of his nose. He threw another punch and I ducked that one just as easily, bringing my heel against the nerve cluster of his neck. He was strong but it was enough to drop him to his knees.

The one with the grenades came at me from behind with a large skinning knife. I spun around, slipping the knife out of his hands before elbowing him in the temple. "Your annoyance has come to an end," Manute's movements were clumsy from the strikes I gave him but the second my attention was turned toward the second mercenary, he took advantage of the situation. I was hurled into the side of a loading crane by a hard punch. He pressed the attack, trying his best to remain on his feet, but I was in much better shape at that point. My blows were precise. I made sure to bring him down bit by bit, eventually finishing him off with a roundhouse kick to the back of his skull.

I wasn't so wrapped up in the moment that I forgot about the Riddler, though. I noticed him flipping over the crates, leap frogging from one stack to another. I quickly followed him and as I moved, I noticed that I was sprinting across an open area so I instinctively ducked and rolled as a sniper bullet put a hole through a nearby crate. There was another mercenary on the rooftops somewhere. I ignored my new assailant briefly as I made my way over the crates, witnessing Riddler racing toward an old, green, `58 Studebaker. I tossed a batarang, hitting him in the back of his knees. "Dammit!," he yelled as he hit the wood floor. I turned around to see my sniper perched on his rooftop, prepping for another shot. I somersaulted through the air in time to avoid another bullet. The explosive batarang stuck to the side of the small warehouse, just underneath my new friend. There was a brief flicker from the batarang just before it blew. The explosion tore a chunk off the corner, forcing the sniper to drop his weapon and flee the scene.

The wind kicked up with the roar of an approaching helicopter. For a second, I thought it was a police copter but it seemed far too big. I covered my eyes as the spotlight was cast, catching a glimpse of an Apache helicopter. A military helicopter shouldn't be in Sin City but then again, I shouldn't have been surprised. It rose up over the harbor with gattling guns trained in my general direction. I darted back as the chain guns rattled, ripping the crates to shreds. "Wait!," Riddler said as he raised his hands, pleadingly. Debris whipped around him as he continued, "I'm still down here!" His face then turned to the expression of a man who realized that he was much more expendable than he originally thought. The underworld of Sin City didn't value him as much as he anticipated. Or more appropriately, they wanted me dead more than they cared for his life. I flipped and somersaulted across the pier as a swathe was ripped across it. Riddler curled up in a fetal position as bullets passed overhead. The Apache shifted to the side, following me and ended up turning Riddler's car into scrap. I grabbed Nigma and pushed him toward the edge of the pier. A second later, we both splahsed into the water while debris and bullets rained down around us. I swam with Nigma kicking and jerking around while we were underwater; one hand pulling him to the surface just under the Harbor. The Apache fired another burst into the water out of frustration before flying away. I pulled Riddler onto another part of the Harbor just in case any more playmates were waiting for me back at the pier.

"I don't suppose you'll be willing to accept my peaceful surrender?," Riddler asked with a slight smile.

I think he got his answer.