Chapter 9: Retributive of Justice - Gotham City Harbor

November 20th, 3:30 p.m

**pwopwopwopwopwopwopwopwopwopwo** gradually, the helicopter roared as it approached.

"It would appear Ivy and Crow has joined the fight. Things have escalated quickly for Batman. For the sake of Gotham - I hope he can endure!" Vicki Vale reported.

Batman ascended upward breaking away from his allusive maneuvers. The helicopter made way over to the monster, landing. Ivy and Crow exited the helicopter, boarding the creature's gaseous pod flower. Descending to eye-level, with Ivy and Crow, Batman stood out from his cockpit.

"So you've decided to stop warming the bench and made a play, huh?" Batman challenged.

"Oh... Batman... I wouldn't quite call it warming the bench. But more of carefully executing strategy. It just so happens that we've made some more toys. And yes, by this time, I'm sure you're quite tired of our arsenal. However, these are sure to leave an impression," Scarecrow said, removing a small, palm-sized ball with several cylinder nodes - protruding from its surface.

"Petty bombs won't stop you from going away, Scarecrow."

"But on the contrary, Batman, these are no ordinary bombs. These actually hold quite the potential. Hahaha. By the way, let me ask you something," Scarecrow mentioned.

"Was is it?" Batman replied.

5:30 p.m

"What makes you think this is for you?"

As Poison Ivy and Scarecrow began manically laughing, a vine rose from the sea.

"You know, Batman, this time, we won't allow you to save Gotham's innocents," Scarecrow stated as he squeezed the bomb, pressing the nodes inward toward its circular body. As the bomb began flashing red, the monster's vine timidly removed the bomb from Scarecrow's hand. With a quick-hard swing, simultaneously, knocking down several helicopters, the monster released the bomb, sending it soaring trajectory towards the center of Gotham.

6:15 p.m

"What have you done?!" Batman gazed in disbelief.

**Pooooooooossssssssssshhhhhhhhhh!** the bomb detonated, emitting a green gas swallowing Gotham.

"Don't look so surprised, Batman." Scarecrow taunted, as Batman gave an undivided stare towards the aftermath. I brought one for you anyway."

Returning focus towards the enemy, Batman's attention was taken from them, as he realized a similar bomb had been tossed toward him. Batman subconsciously caught the bomb. Immediately, Batman sat in the cockpit, pressing on the dash to seal the hatch. A muffled gas explosion clouded Batman in a thick green smoke.

"Nice throw, Daddy Crow," Poison Ivy praised.

"With all that gas in there he died instantly." Scarecrow answered.

8:00 p.m

In shock to the Batwing moving, the Batwing burst away from their location. Darting over the water, towards the moon horizon, the hatch opened: sending a blast over thick green smoke through the night sky, a small figure climbed over the smoke.

"Well, what do you know?" Scarecrow said in displeasure.

"Hmph. What happened to dying instantly?" Ivy teased.

Releasing his cape and gliding, Batman cut across the moon to better illuminate his approach.

"He might even be more flashy than you," Scarecrow teased.

"Oh, you want to talk about flashy? I didn't just use the monster to nuke the city," Ivy taunted.

"Hmph," Scarecrow scoffed.

After Batman arrived from gliding, he released his out-stretched arms dropping his cape back to his ankles, and settled upon the pod in a fluent manner. "That's enough... I won't allow you to harm the people of Gotham," Batman expressed.

"You, Batman, have an inordinate amount of conservation for Gotham's innocence. Why obligate yourself to something inferior? Protecting Gotham is no merit. But to destroy... Well, that is a feat of its own distinction. A tribute for true acknowledgement," Scarecrow preached.

"That's why there's people like me. People who amend the corrupt. People or rectify the evil of this city. I'm not a protector, I'm the hand of retribution."

**Pooft - Pooft - Pooft - Pooft!** Batman began his fury of punches on Scarecrow, simultaneously evading Ivy's strikes and kicks. After timing a
knockdown strike on Scarecrow, Batman grabbed Ivy by the back of her head, tightening a hand full of her long, fiery orange hair.

"Hey, now... is that anyway to grab a lady?" Ivy pleaded in mischief.

Scarecrow leaned in with a wide hook aimed for Batman. Batman countered with Ivy's face.

"Oww!" Ivy yelled. "Watch where you're aiming!"

"It's not my fault!" Scarecrow retorted.

Throwing Ivy into Crow's arms, Batman smacked his wrist communicator. "Sorry to leave y'all hung up, but I have a city to save and a mouth to feed," Batman taunted in a serious manner, leaning backwards and falling toward the water.

**Whoooooooooooooooosh!**

"What is that?" Ivy questioned, as she and Scarecrow looked up into the clouds, witnessing the Batwing in a rapid speed vertically descending at them.

**Peeeeeeeeewsssh! - Peeeeeeeeewsssh! The Batwing rained rockets toward the creature.

"We have to do something..." Ivy expressed.

"Well, it's a good thing we taught them to think like their parents..."