Part I: Rebecca Robinson is left to face Gotham's worst Halloween ever. One ex-Robin and one dead-Robin are running loose in Gotham with their own goals and agendas. Rebecca's mind isn't the ideal one to begin with and with a history like she has... Will she be able to survive without loosing her sanity or her life? What will happen when Clown Prince of Crime wants his toys back and even Scarecrow can't stop him? Will Rebecca end up just being a toy to dead man's legacy?
Chapter 4 - Joke is rated M
Romance will be slow burn. (And I do mean slow.)
Contains detailed description of graphic violence, strong language and descriptions of mental illnesses and self-harming.
Broken Toys
Chapter 2 - Knight
Knight: (noun) (in the Middle Ages) a man who served his sovereign or lord as a mounted soldier in armor.
The Knight carries me into a small room in ACE chemicals. He isn't the gentlest guy so by carrying me it feels more similar to dragging me around like I am a doll. He leaves me by myself leaning next to a wall. After he leaves the room I get up and try to find a way out. The door is locked from outside and there is no hiding place to be seen. No floor grades, no place to crawl under, no window to climb out.
'Is he going to get Scarecrow? Why didn't he carry us straight to him? Is there some secret that will help you? Questions, questions. Too bad that we will never find an answer because some failure over here doesn't let me take the leash.'
"Will you just shut up?" I snap to her. One might think that I am crazy for talking to myself. One is right to assume so.
The door opens once more and I turn to look. My green haired friend stays in my ray of vision making stupid faces.
"It seems to appear that there is no need for my toxin to neutralize you." Scarecrow walks into the room Knight following just one step behind him. The two men couldn't be more different. Scarecrow is dressed, well like scarecrow but his orange glowing toxin is packed into containers around his torso. He is practically covered by it. Knight looks more similar to a militaristic version of Batman. Most likely on purpose, I guess.
"What do you mean?" Knight asks. He seems to be confused but it is hard to tell when mask covers his face and voice synthesizer changes his voice.
"This is Rebecca Robinson. She is diagnosed with a dissociative identity disorder, aren't you Rebecca?" Scarecrow looks even more terrifying that I remember. Then again, I never got to see him up close. His run in with Killer Croc has left him horribly scarred and this time the scarecrow mask isn't only a mask anymore. I can see the rotten, scarred flesh underneath the mask. I turn my face away.
"How did you…?" I'm in a shock. To my knowledge my medical records aren't public information. On the other hand… this is Gotham and if my memory serves me correctly Scarecrow used to be a psychiatrist.
"Once I was a doctor in Arkham. And I have kept a very close eye on your… progress. It is my specialty to know these things, miss Robinson. Now, tell me dear, what do you fear the most? Or is it that obvious?" Scarecrow faces me his needle hand ready. He gently turns my chin forcing me to look at him. Orange fear toxin blazes bright and it glows against my face. His eyes are milky, empty and cold. There is no mercy to be found in those eyes.
'Remember the time when you did want to color your hair orange? What were you thinking? For your luck I was there to talk you out of it.'
I am too terrified to even move a muscle. But for once in my life there seems to be some force in the universe who pities me because just as the needles on Scarecrow's hand touch my skin, Knight decides to open his mouth again.
"GCPD officers are outside. They are probably waiting for Batman to show up. Even they aren't foolish enough to try force their way into the factory." Knight cuts Scarecrows move before his toxin gets under my skin.
Scarecrow turns away from me and I release a breath that I wasn't even aware I was holding. Slowly, careful not to attract any attention to myself I inch away from Scarecrow's reach.
"Get your tanks ready for action. I need everything to be ready when Batman shows up." Scarecrow walks away from me and exits the room leaving me alone with Knight. He looks at me for a second but turns to face the wall instead of my probably terrified face and begins to talk to his militia.
'You did surprisingly well. Of course I would get rid of that terrified expression but hey! Nobody is perfect. Everybody have room for improvement.'
Hopefully I don't have to see Scarecrow ever again. However I think that's not likely when you look at the situation that I am in. Or my special skills to get into trouble where ever I go or don't go.
"You are coming with me." Knight seems to be addressing me instead of his forces. He roughly drags me up. He catches me off-guard so I immediately fall to opposite direction from where I was. He catches me once more but this time he is gentler when he places me to my feet.
'That's really pathetic you know. Saved by kidnapper and possibly your future killer. You are upgrading your level.'
I choose not to listen to her useless voice. Instead I try to think why Scarecrow said that I don't need toxin to neutralize me. I can control my disorder quite well actually. In fact I am quite proud of it considering everything that it has caused. Did he mean that his toxin will snap me forcing me to lose control reverting me back to square one?
Again, Knight lifts me over his shoulder without saying anything and carries me towards the unknown. I hear how some of the militia is whispering about Batman and Scarecrow and I even hear few questions about me as well. None of them are answered leaving me clueless.
'If you try to think positively this isn't half as bad as last time when you were kidnapped and abused. So this is not too bad. Think of this as a holiday. Your destination can be a crying mess caused by fear toxin or death. If only we knew what the fuck is going on.'
"Sit there and be quiet." Knights rudely throws me into some dark space. I can sit up straight so this is improvement from the trunk but feels awfully similar to it. I don't know where I am but I can feel cold metal underneath my fingers.
'If only we could get light...'
I take my lighter out of my pocket and a small flame appears. It doesn't brighten the space much but it is a start. I'm in some kind of vehicle, I deduce from my surroundings. Only thing that comes to my mind is what I would imagine airplane's or large ship's cargo hold looking like. It's very militaristic, full of boxes that I assume carry weapons. Suddenly I realize I might be locked up next to packed bombs making me even more anxious if possible. I climb to the front part of the vehicle and notice that the radio has been left on. I am too far away to touch it but I can hear voices talking from it.
Before I can listen what the radio is saying, the door opens and Knight enters the vehicle. Quickly I close my lighter, hide it and curl into smallest space possible. I feel how the vehicle starts moving, how its engine vibrates against my side. The moving is too steady to be driving. I figure it's a plane because I have never seen a car or a ship that could fly. Then again that was what people used to say before folks like Superman stepped to the picture so what do I know.
Finally I am able to peak outside of the window and I get a confirmation to my assumption of flying. I see GCPD officers on the bridge and I even get a glimpse of Batman himself. They see us and all take cover when Knight starts shooting. Only Batman is left to face him.
Knight lowers the plane little so he can see Batman better. "Time to die, old man." I hear Knight say.
"In death he has nothing left to fear. Keep him away from ACE chemicals. Your vengeance will come." Scarecrow says stopping Knight's plans.
Knight lifts the plane over the chemical factory. "This end tonight." He says to Batman.
'Wow he is so over dramatic.'
Now I am more interested with this Knight fellow. He has army with planes and tanks and he obviously holds a vendetta against Batman. Not many people have those qualities.
"Listen up! Scarecrow tells me that the reaction is nearly complete. Final evacuation of this facility will begin T-minus 30 minutes." Knight informs to his militia. Couldn't he just speak English for god's sake so us regular, no-soldier-very-civilian people could understand? What the fuck T-minus 30 minutes means? Is T similar to X in algebra meaning that it can be literally anything in this situation or is it there just to sound fancy.
"I had him in my sights! I could have ended him right there." Even Knight's robotic voice sounds angry when he is yelling at Scarecrow through the radio.
"We had not broken him yet. It will come." As if to contrast Knight's anger Scarecrow sounds perfectly calm.
"No I've waited long enough. Batman dies. Tonight." He seems to also have a long history with Batman. And I'm the one who is stuck with him during his murderous rage.
"Why do you hate him so much?" Scarecrow voices the million dollar question.
"You could never understand." Knight says darkly.
"Your revenge is at hand. This is his last night."
"I'll make sure of it." Normally I would laugh that kind of threats against Batman but something in Knight's appearance makes me believe that he means business. It also might be the fact that I am his prisoner with no way out.
'Why every villain has to have personal reason to hate Batman?'
"Main gate is open. Get ready. You got a billion-dollar tank headed straight for you."
'That was the best motivational speak that I have ever heard.'
"He is searching for hostages. Keep non-essential radio chatter to a minimum. He'll be listening. You are listening, aren't you Batman? Then listen to this. To all embedded units in Gotham. Operation savior has begun. Each one of you has a role. Each of you KNOWS your role. So move out into this damn city and lock it down. I want your hands wrapped tight around Gotham's throat within the hour."
'Damn. Shit just went down.' As annoying as it is, I am forced to agree with the extra voice in my head.
Knight chances direction and he is heading towards smaller building next to the main building. He leaves his seat and disappears from my sights. I can still hear him through the radio. There is silence at first but soon I hear a familiar chuckling filtered through a voice synthesizer.
"Keep your guns trained on him. If he even looks like he is planning to leave that room open the fire. Oh and avoid the Bat-symbol. That's a… little trick. That's where the armor is strongest. Aim for the weak spots at the shoulders at first, then open coordinate fire at the points where the plates meet." He speaks casually as if this is something that happens often in his everyday life. Something tells me I don't want to know the answer.
'Looks like B-man is in trouble.'
"Did you say something?" Knight asks from someone that I can't hear.
"Always defending the weak and the helpless. That's what I like about you. Predictable. That's why we are going to win. We know your move before you do. We know how you think." Knight says after a minor pause. Either he too has multiple personas or he is referring to Scarecrow or he is just so full of himself that he enjoys to refer to himself using plural in place of singular like us common people, who aren't Two-Face, prefer to do.
"Of course. You are thinking 'Who the hell is this guy?'" He answers to someone. The way he is speaking makes me to suspect that he is having a conversation with Batman. It reminds me of a proud, disobedient boy defying their elders.
"Just so we are both at the same page here. I fully… Fully intend to kill you. But first we are going to make you suffer." How about you tell Batman about me so he can come and save me from this mess like a true dark knight he is?
"We have the target." He says. "Just say the word and I'll end this now. Gotham will be ours." He is quickly cut off by gun sounds. Before I can count to one, Knight returns to the plane.
'I wish that we could see that. I bet it was badass.'
"Can I talk now?" I say bravely. Or perhaps stupidly is a better expression.
"Quiet. This isn't over." He commands me. "Operation savior is fully set into action." He says to the radio.
I try to follow what he is doing but I can barely see any of it.
"Aerial unit C: I want the payload primed and ready to drop. Their army won't get anywhere near to this city" He says after a moment. "All remaining units. Final evacuation in T-minus 20 minutes."
It's only been 10 minutes? To me it has felt like a lifetime.
"Rattler force has engaged in the loading bay. Two Diamond hacks in support." A new voice says on the radio. He must be part of the militia.
"I'm watching." Arkham Knight says simply.
Guns shots are heard and after some time the militia guy speaks again. "Sir, the tanks can barely touch alpha target's vehicle. Offensive capability way beyond expectation."
"He's been busy."
So Knight haven't been contact with a Batman for some time. I remember hearing in the media how Batman has updated his car to something that has more common with a tank than a simple car.
"He is in the car! Take cover!" Militia guy shouts.
'This should be so good! Imagine all those poor little soldier boys trying to hold their own against Batman! I kinda feel sorry for then. Or not.' She giggles loudly. 'Oh c'mon B. It is pretty funny you know. Just let go for a minute and relax. I can help you.'
Sometimes I wish that she could take a physical form so I could strangle her to death.
'Aww, B. I love it when you get all murderous. Makes me remember how alike we truly are under that pathetic shell of yours.'
"Ground forces: Founders Island is under our control. Watchtowers and checkpoints are fully operational. I want attack units on Miagani now. Get me a drone patrolling every damn back alley." Knight speaks to the radio. This operation seems to be truly big. He wasn't kidding about taking Gotham under his control. He already has one island and it sounded that Miagani would be soon his too. Situation seems to have gone from bad to worse.
I notice how the plane starts to rotate to different direction than before. I can see Batman once again. He has some poor ACE worker with him and of course the Batmobile. I remembered correctly, it looks more like a tank rather than a car.
Another plane flies above the loading area ready to shoot but Batman and the ACE worker make safely to the Batmobile. I can see multiple tanks focusing on trying to destroy Batman and his not-car-like-car.
"Come on hero! Let's see if you can keep up with me." Knight threatens Batman.
Meanwhile Batman has took all of Knight's tanks down and before he can begin to concentrate to the enemy plane properly.
Knight shoots Batman but he dodges and shoots back making the plane startle.
'He is shooting us! He is shooting us! Didn't he have no killing rule? Where it is when you need it!'
I think about telling her but decide against it just to be petty.
Knight shoots some missiles but Batman shoots them down. He gets another hit on the plane.
"So, you've still not lost your touch? Good. That's going to make this so much more interesting."
'Is he fucking crazy!? So third hit is a good thing! We are so going to die!'
"Do you realize that plane is different than this one?" I whisper trying to make her shut up. Indeed. The plane that we are on is hidden so we can see the fight without actually being a part of it.
Knight is still shooting Batman but he makes his eight hit when Knight starts to talk once more. "Nice shooting. I wish I could be in there. But then, you know, you'd just hold back."
Batman needs to shoot the plane only couple more times but finally he is able to bring that plane to the ground.
"You haven't won. Tonight you'll pay. For everything." Knight sounds angry again.
'This guy has some serious anger issues.'
Even though Batman won his battle it brings little joy to me. I am still in great danger.
'You have really gotten yourself into a proper mess. Remember last time? You know when you almost died? Or the one before that? Where you also almost died? Hmmm, I am beginning to sense a pattern, B.'
The plane that I am on seems to be moving. We are over the city judging by the glimpses that I get from the window. I can see red lights on the towers and tanks on the streets. Gotham seems now to be ruled by Knight and his forces. He and Scarecrow managed to take over Gotham only in couple of hours.
"You want to see this." Knight says suddenly. It takes a moment from me to realize that he is in fact talking to me and not to his militia.
"Am I allowed to talk yet?" I mumble grateful for my voice not breaking. He doesn't hear me even when I'm kneeling right behind his seat. Or he could be just ignoring me.
"How does it feel? See your home city like this?" He asks a hint of pleasure in his voice.
"You tell me." I only say. Truth to be told I'm terrified. It's only a matter of time when my turn comes to be wrecked either by Knight or by Scarecrow. Or by them both.
The plane turns around so suddenly that I fell painfully to my back and my head hits against something sharp. I don't feel blood but I my eyes see only stars and my ears hear high pitched ringing.
'Could you not do that again? It's really distracting.'
I hear Knight saying something but my brains are too slow to take notice what or who he is talking about. Something about evacuation and being on the lover ground or high above, is all that my foggy brain manages to figure out.
"You are lucky." Knight says but this time only to me.
'Is he serious?'
"How so?" I ask trying to get my head together. I can see the cargo hold of plane again and the ringing sound has faded so I feel it's safe for me to try to sit.
"You are above of the radiation. And you have the front row seat to see what is coming next."
Radiation? What the hell is he talking about? Why did I need to hit my head just as crucial information is being told?
"Of course I can't guarantee how long your luck will last. Scarecrow loves to test his toxin on civilians."
The plane lands and soon we are back on the ground.
"Why did we land?" I ask. My brain is still little disoriented.
He doesn't answer. Instead he gets out of the plane and lifts me up to his shoulder again. He proceeds to throw me into a car, this time to backseat and tells the driver something. Then he disappears and the car starts moving with only me and my driver.
"Who are you?" The driver asks.
I stay quiet. Instead I try to loosen my ties.
"If you don't wanna talk I understand but it won't make your situation worse if you do." He hints.
"I'm kidnapped. I don't know why I'm here or what you are gonna do with or to me." I say trying to distract him. My ties are almost open. Only a little more time and I'm free. To do what, I don't know.
"Knight says you may try to cause some trouble. We don't want that."
He almost seems to know that my hands are almost free.
"Sorry girlie, but you have gotten into a bigger mess than you can handle." The driver continues.
'You don't say.'
I stay silent again.
"We are almost there." The car stops before I can loosen the final inch. The driver gets up and helps me step out of the car too. Before I can do anything that even remotely resembles escaping he hits me to head and I pass out.
A/N: Can I just say that I really enjoy Rebecca's other persona. She is so fun to write, kind of like adding my own sarcastic comments to the story itself. Also, I want to thank Abrielle Walker. She too has couple of stories on this site. Go check them out.
Morro: Me too! Thanks for liking this.
Knockout: Thanks!
Grievousorvenom: Thank you! I'm trying to fix them. Hope you'll like it.