Edward and I eventually left the safety of a cardboard box, and ventured back into the world. Jonathan, Harley, and Catwoman were waiting a block away for us.
"Do you have any news on the three that are missing?" Edward said as soon as they came into view. Harley shook her head and shrugged.
"Still no signs. They're just… gone. Did they get the message early, ya think?"
"Perhaps…" Jonathan sighed, shaking his head. "Everyone, take one of these." He handed each person a gas mask that folded up nicely. "They aren't great quality, but they should help you get out when we use the fear toxin."
"I take it that I'm supposed to just keep Rick busy until you guys are able to take care of the henchman?" I asked. Catwoman nodded.
"It shouldn't be too hard. I mean, there are more of them, but we have more experience."
"Why didn't you bring more people?" I asked, thinking.
"Too obvious. We'd rather not have the Police show up," Edward explained. "This should be enough to get it done, but not enough to alert the police right away."
"So… are we just going to barge in?" I asked.
"I'm thinking that Harley and Edward will. I want you and catwoman to find some way in onto the catwalks and to not be seen. I will go in through the window near the poison and try to sneak it out amid the chaos." Jonathan explained, pointing to each of us.
"I'll get Sable up there and then leap into the attack from above. I should be able to take someone out that way," Catwoman said, flexing her claws. "So this shouldn't take too long. Five henchman and a another guy? Easy."
"But you guys aren't going to… kill anyone, will you?" I asked.
"He wants to kill us," Harley pointed out, shrugging. "I think we should-"
"No. Don't," I said, shaking my head. "Please, don't. I don't want any death, if that's possible."
Everyone just stared at me and shook their heads.
"We'll try, but if worse comes to worse, we may have to," Edward said. "Plus, I think Harley is the only one here that kills regularly."
"We need to get moving if we're going to attack at nine," Jonathan said, examining his watch. "It's ten minutes til."
"I guess I'm missing work today," I sighed. "Oh well. I doubt they'll fire me for one absence."
Catwoman led me up an old fire escape on the side of the warehouse.
"This'll get the the roof, where there should be a way inside," She said, nimbly climbing up the side of the building. "I'll meet you there."
"This looks pretty rickety," I said, wary to step on it. I just shook my head and stepped forward, carefully walking over the rusting metal so that it wouldn't creak. It was only two floors of this, but walking at a snail's pace made it seem to stretch on forever.
When I finally did reach the top, Catwoman was kneeling down next to an open trapdoor, peeking inside. When she heard me walk near, she raised her head and put a finger to her lips.
"I need to distract him. Get him off the catwalks for a bit," she hissed. She reached out, grabbing a fist sized rock.
I heard a crash and Rick cursing inside. Catwoman smiled and started to lower herself into the trap door.
"I should go first. He'll kill you. Let me distract him first," I said. Catwoman nodded and stood aside. I climbed down the metal ladder rungs, inhaling sharply whenever they shifted or creaked.
Please don't fall, please don't fall… I thought, my hands shaking as I jumped onto the sturdy catwalk.
I could hear Rick looking around beneath before sighing and starting to climb back up. I froze up for a second before running and hiding behind his desk. An ambush would be the most effective.
I peeked over the desk, surprised to see the canister sitting right there, just out of reach. Getting it now would mean giving up my hiding space, and by extension, losing. I ducked back into the shadow instead.
Rick walked up close and started to leaf through several papers on his desk.
"Everything is going wrong today," he mumbled, finding the paper he was looking for, starting to pace as he read it.
I stood up carefully once he turned his back before running at him and tackling him from behind.
"Wha-" he started to say before kicking me off of him. I stumbled back, rubbing my ribs.
Catwoman ran over him ,scratching him as he passed. Rick exclaimed in pain, clutching his bleeding arm as Catwoman jumped down, tackling the guard at the door.
I jumped up, racing for the cannister. Rick saw me doing so and stumbled up himself, trying to push me out of the way.
Push back. Don't be a sissy. The voice said. i just nodded, jolting in his direction. Rick shifted over quite a bit, almost falling down.
I, however, did fall down onto the ground when he righted himself, pushing me in the opposite direction. I gasped as I hit the floor, the old wood's splinters cutting into my cheek harshly.
My ribs were stinging like the dickens, and now the entire left side of my body was full of splinters and was likely bruised. I got up, sighing as I ran toward him as he grabbed the canister, hooking it on his wrist.
"Stop right there," he said, pointing it at me. I froze, not sure if was going to fire it or not. He looked like he might.
"Give it up now Rick," I said, sneaking a peek over at the edge. I could only see a bit of the floor beneath, and it was more like flashes of colors than anything. I could hear almost everything that was going on, though. It sounded like Harley was facing against two of the remaining henchman and catwoman was chasing the last one down with Edward's help.
"You're losing," I said, trying to sound firm. My voice was shaking all over the place and my jaw was not really wanting to move.
Rick shook his head. "I'm not sure if I'm losing, parsay," he said. "I still have the poison," he said. "I'm afraid that your feline friend took out the only other cannister in use by my henchman though," he said. He shook his head and laughed a little, sounding almost good-natured. "But you only really need one," he said, starting to back up slowly.
"Wait-" I said, starting to run as he smiled and jumped down the ladder, barely even using the rungs. "He's down there!"I shouted. "Watch out!" I started to yell as I climbed down myself. I had to get that cannister! He probably wouldn't fire at me, would he?
I hit the ground and ran among the clutter in the room, looking for Rick. i'd see flashes of him between the scattered boxes, but I never really knew if it was him, or a figment of my imagination.
I ran to the corner near the bathroom, looking around frantically before I noticed something odd.
There was a foot sticking out from the door. I opened it carefully, holding my breath, hoping that it wasn't a dead body.
It was Zsaz, his eyes wide and a blank expression on his face. I stepped back, holding a hand to my mouth…
"oh no… the three…" I started breathing heavily as I looked at the dead man.
There aren't any burn marks. Are you sure he's dead? There isn't a single injury, and there would be some evidence.
I don't need a headache. Go away, I thought back, trying to dispel the voice.
No. seriously. Stop panicking and just pay attention. He's not dead.
I just inhaled, trying to ignore the headache starting as I reached out, touching his wrist, feeling for a pulse.
See, he's fine. The voice said smugly.
I don't think he is… he's here. I thought back. I shook him, trying to wake him up. Zsasz blinked and looked up at me, his eyes still as blank-looking as ever. He said no words, but instead got up and started walking out of the room. I stepped back, watching him go.
Look, there's something on his head. Look by the ear.
There was something there. A blinking, green light.
"What is that…?" I wondered, watching as he walked. He was headed towards the entrance, where everyone was fighting.
I started running after him, not sure of what was going on.
"Hey! It's Zsasz!" I heard Harley say as she ran up to me. "What are you doing down here Sable?"
"I was looking for Rick when I found him," I explained. "He's acting… strange…"
Harley nodded and laughed as Zsasz hit the wall, finally stopping and standing still.
"Where is everyone else?" I asked. It looks like you've taken care of all the henchmen."
"Johnny and Eddie are taking the last two vats over to the dock. Kitty is checking the perimeter for Rick. I'm guarding the door and watching the trapdoor," she said, pointing up at the trapdoor I'd come in through, which was still wide open.
"oh.. I see. So, once we find him and take care of him, we're fine, right?" I asked, looking behind me for any sign of my former friend. "He's a good hider…"
"I guess so. If Zsasz is here, do you think that Red and Croc are too?" Harley said, looking about her.
"I'd guess so," I said, shrugging. "He's the only one I've seen thus far."
"Keep your eyes peeled! Keep looking for Rick first, though," she said. I nodded and ran out into the empty warehouse yet again.
I turned a corner, climbing up onto a stack of boxes to get a good view of the warehouse.
As I scrambled up to the top and looked around, I saw the door to the second office was slightly ajar.
"Harley!" I'm going to go check the rom over there!" I yelled, starting to climb down again.
Instead of an answer, a scream rang out through the warehouse.
"Harley?" I called, falling flat on my back before scrambling up and running towards her. Zsasz had come out from his wall and was attacking her.
"What happened?" I yelled, standing there in shock.
"I don't know! He just ran at me!" harley yelled back, pushing Zsasz back and cartwheeling away, readying herself again.
Zsasz was moving strangely. His movements were choppy and strange. He seemed... possessed.
The thing by his ear?
I don't know, but I'm betting that's it.
So, how do we get that off?
I just kept watching for an opening. Anything would do. Zsasz had harley cornered now. She was up against the doorframe with nowhere to go. She seemed hesitant to hurt Zsasz, and that was holding her back.
I think he's got a cannister. See, on his wrist there.
"What…" I murmured, squinting at his wrist. It looked like a watch… but the head was different.
"Harley!" I yelled, dashing forward as Zsasz lifted his arm, pointing it at her. I slid in between the two, squeezing my eyes shut and cringing away from the device.
I heard a smack and Zsasz fell to the floor, the little contraption on his head falling off.
Harley smiled, picking up the headpiece and unclipping the cannister from his wrist. "Tsk tsk tsk. Jervy is gonna be mad. He obviously didn't even program these right!" She said. She looked up at me and shook her head. "You didn't need to do that. I was fine. Walls are easier to flip off of than the floor, so I was trying to get closer to it," she explained. "But thanks anyways!"
"Oh man… anyways. I think I found Rick. Was he… controlling him?" I said, pointing down at Zsasz.
"I'd bet so. he's such a thief."
"He's in that room over there… I think," I said pointing. Harley ran over and kicked the door open.
"Charge!" She yelled before stopping "wha…"
I ran up, peeking over her shoulder. "He's not here."
Harley went to another door, kicking it open.
"Hey! Red!" She said, rushing in.
"Poison Ivy?" I asked, coming in with her. "Killer Croc too, it seems."
Harley took the machines off of their heads, tucking them into her boots.
"Harley?" I heard Catwoman say from outside.
"We're in here. We found the missing rouges," I called back. Harley and I stepped out to regroup with the others.
"We're done disposing of the poison," Jonathan said.
"We can't find Rick," I said, sighing. "he disappeared."
"I didn't see him either," Catwoman said.
Remember the vents? The voice said all of a sudden.
"I have an idea… I'll be right back," I said, making my way to the Bathroom. I'd found Zsasz in there, but it was pretty easy the access the vents from there.
"He's gone, I yelled out. He's in the vents… he's probably long gone."
"I never saw him on the perimeter," Catwoman said, pouting. "he has to still be here."
"Then he's still in there," Harley said. "Get the fear gas, Johnny."
Jonathan nodded. I reached in my pocket for the gas mask, but felt nothing.
"I don't have my gas mask," I said, my heart falling. "It must have fallen out."
"We should wait," I heard edward say.
"No. If we don't hurry, he'll get away. he's probably almost out now. I'll be fine. i'll just try and get away," I ran out, trying to reach the exit.
Behind me there was a soft hiss and a few seconds later, it was getting hard to breathe. I heard a scream echoed throughout the building as all around me I saw shadows closing in, knives in their hands.
I breathed in and out, trying to calm my nerves and slow my heart.
"Just a hallucination…" I mumbled, as the first knife struck my skin. I screamed and blacked out.
I opened my eyes slowly, grateful to not see any shadows or knives. Instead, edward was kneeling next to me, holding a syringe in his hand.
"Are you okay?" he asked, offering his hand to me.
"Yeah… I guess," I sighed. "A little shaken…"
"That's normal. Luckily, Jonathan brought the antidote. Otherwise, I wouldn't say you'd be this well," he said, smiling.
"Did you get Rick?"
"Catwoman crawled up into the vents and dragged him out, quivering in fear."
"We all ought to leave now, I'd suppose it's getting close to midnight now."
"It's only eleven now, actually," Edward said. "But yes, everyone is waiting outside. We're planning on calling the police on him. Jonathan says that owning a poison that deadly is illegal, so they should lock him up for a while."
"Won't they link the fear gas back to Jonathan and find hints of all of us?" I asked, looking around. "I'd rather stay out of this one."
"Knowing the police here, they won't look too closely. They'll just take the suspect and leave. Case closed," he said. "I've already wiped any places that would be logical to look for fingerprints, just in case." He said. "And the fear gas… Jonathan can deal with it." He smiled and started to walk to the door.
"Thanks, Edward," i said, smiling a little. Hy nerves were shot and I was still shaking a little, not to mention my entire bruised left side and likely cracked ribs. I was injured, but nobody was dead, and I felt surprisingly good.
"What we just did was probably illegal, right?" I asked, laughing nervously.
"Yeah, it was."
Author's Note: So sorry about the day-late-update. School just barely started and I kinda lost track of time. Anyways, here it is, one day late.
This was the last real chapter. All that's left is an epilogue to wrap things up a bit. That should be up on Saturday, hopefully.
Anyways, I just really want to thank everyone who's been reading this. It really means a lot to me.
Special thanks:
To granger-slytherinboys: I miss you so much! Thank you so much for reading!
To Lord Grise: Thank you so much for being such a big help in the development of this story.
To Sladejwilson: I hope that the Zsasz cameo was satisfactory! I'm so sorry it wasn't earlier, but I was having trouble finding good places to fit him in otherwise. Thank you so much for following this story for so long!
To 510Angel and Flowerchild23: thank you so much for your comments! they've always lifted me up so much!
I'll see you guys on Saturday!