Modus Operandi

Gotham: November 14th, 2008, 02:43am:

P.O.V: Batman

Gordon had set up shop in the abandoned apartment block. I waited on the roof listening in to the conversations that the cops are having downstairs. Three bodies...same M.O as previous victims, just more brutal this time. One body had his neck twisted 180 with his mouth burnt down to the bone. One body was thrown from the window onto the pickup, the victim died on impact but not before the corpse and the truck were burnt. The last victim is the one I'm most curious about. The body has little to no physical damage but what's strange is that the victim has a pulse, signs of brain activity but is unresponsive, similar to a coma patient. The thing that gets to me though is hearing that his eyes are smoldering like molten rock. Same as the others.

"How's it going?" I hear a voice call out as my protégé, Robin, lands on the rooftop and stands beside me. "You're late." I say to him as he rolls his eyes. "Good evening to you too. You know that just because you leave very early doesn't mean that I do to. I need sleep man." He complains and I just ignore him. "So, what's going on?" He asks. "Three vic's, same M.O as the others." I reply as he nods. "Do you think it's the new vigilante?" He asks as I stare at him with a glare. "Right...sorry. Dumb question." I hear the cops starting to leave and I disable the bug before making my way down. Robin follows close behind.

I enter the flat and see the damage done. "Damn... someone really went to town on these guys." Robin quips but before I can say anything, something catches my attention. With my detective vision, I focus on the footprints on the floor. I focus and see that one of the prints was burnt into the floor. It has faded with time but the burn mark is still visible, at least to me. "You know you could've called." A familiar voice calls out. I turn and see Gordon in the doorway. Robin cheekily waves to him and Gordon just smiles at his antics. "Been busy." I reply as Gordon chuckles. "League shit...got it." He says as I grumble. The League had taken most of my time so my time in Gotham has become limited lately. "Who are they?" I ask Gordon who just sighs. "Low lifes...no one that's really important. A few petty robberies. The ringleader had a track record of sexual assaults and armed robbery but the other two, just some petty crime." He answers as I look at the wall where the ringleader was found. With my vision, I can the faint outline of a man, similar to a nuclear shadow. Intense heat was condensed in this single area. "This guy has been tearing up the streets for the past few months. With you gone, the scum are running rampart. Penguin, Pgy, even Zazz are running around, doing what they usually do. But lately, this new guy has been doing things that criminals are running scared of, terrified even." Gordon says as Robin perks up. "A new Batman huh?" He says while chuckling but I notice Gordon serious expression. "Nah kid. The criminals we catch or even see turn themselves in willingly say that this new guy is more terrifying than Batman...and more brutal." That piece of news catches me. Being with the League, I'm not up to date with what the criminals of Gotham get up too but now, someone or better yet, something is making them quiver in fear, terror even. Something that puts the fear of me to shame. "Any ideas?" I ask Gordon.

"Some of them claim to have seen a demon tear through their buddies like paper." He says as I narrow my eyes. "A metahuman?" I ask him which he perks up. "That's what I thought. But the description of what the scum tell us is making me doubt it. They say that it's a demon with a flaming skull." Gordon explains which gives a little context. The victims, all them, had some level of heat induced trauma to them. Some were burned to cinders while others had smoldering eyes. Fire is a recurring theme with this new vigilante. "Anything else?" I ask as I make my way to the door. "Yeah...a name. Criminals are calling this vigilante, 'The Rider'." Gordon finishes as I grumble under my breath. "Robin." I call out to him as I leave. A new vigilante, with a habit of killing his targets, most often with some kind of fire. Description deals as a man with a flaming skull. Not a lot to go on but with enough time, I'll figure it out.

P.O.V Change: Matthew

Next Morning

The Rider. That's what criminals are coming my 'alter ego'. I thought that it didn't matter what criminals called me but the Rider deemed that a name gives a myth a following, either by fear or worship. We were just a nameless face but now that we have a name. Criminals will spread the word of the Rider that deals punishment to those that spill innocent blood. The Rider lately has been aggravated because of criminals walking up to police and turning themselves in to protect themselves from the Rider. I thought that they were doing the right thing, the Rider disagreed. He told me that they are thinking that we are human that follows laws, we are not. They think that prison will protect them, they are wrong. That conversation made me really worried. The Rider deems himself above humans, above mortals, laws, rules and prisons won't stop him from exacting vengeance on those that deserve it.

But right now, I'm just sitting at home, watching the news. The reporter said that the police had found the remains of the three thugs that I killed a week ago. Huh, new record. The longest any of our victims gone undiscovered was about three days. "Terrible. Just terrible." My mother says as I glance at her. Watching the news was always a pastime of ours. "Hope they find who did it." She says as I nod. "It might be a metahuman. Read somewhere that is what it could be." I say. "Metahumans...and I thought Mexicans were bad, those things are way worse." Yep, racist remark. First of the day. "The police will surely find him." I say as I get up and head to the kitchen to get a drink. "The cops are working with Batman...this is just another vigilante that they'll let slide." She says as the doorbell rings. "I'll get it." Mom says as I hear the door open. "Who is it?" I ask as I glance at Luna in her crib, a smile is etched on her face. "It must have been prank but there is a package here for us." She says as I walk out and see her place the box on the table, next to the crib. "Whose it from?" I ask as she inspects the box. "Doesn't say anything. But there is a note." She says as she hands me the note. I open it and see a card with a question mark on the front. "The fuck?" I question as I open the card. It reads, 'What is the sound of a firecracker that has done its job?'. I ponder the question. "Boom?" I answer hesitatingly. I see Mom open the package and...

BBBBBBOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!

I see fire heading straight for me as I'm blown off of my feet, I come to a stop as I thud against the wall. All I feel is dizziness and the burning singe of my skin. "Get up, boy!" I hear the Rider demand as I come too. I see ash and smoke all around me. "Mom? Luna?" I ask out as I get up and see the what has happened. The window wall is completely blown out. The couch is on fire, the walls are breaking down. I can't see the crib anywhere. "Mom?! Luna?! I scream out as I make my way through the rubble. I can feel my skin healing from the damage of the blast. I hear sirens coming in the distance. I feel tears well in my eyes. I than notice that I still have the card in my hand. I turn over the burnt cardboard and see a small note, 'Love from Daddy'. I feel rage build up as I trip over a plank of char wood. I lift it up and see two skeletons of burnt bones. One of a woman and one of a baby. I let the tears fall as I gently rub my hand over the baby's skull. "We have to go." The Rider says as I brush the tears away. I get up and run out of the destroyed apartment. Entering the garage, I get in my Charger and drive away, tears are cascading my face. This feeling...it's worse than the night the Rider first came to me. My mother...my sister...gone in a flash of fire. One minute there, the next...gone. I pull into an abandoned warehouse and get out. I start pacing and screaming in agony. I pick up a heavy barrel and throw across the room. I scream as I feel the Rider coming. "You want vengeance...we can get it." I hear him say. I wanted vengeance when he first came to me. I couldn't fulfill it but now...with who I think did the deed...I can. "If I help you...what then?" I ask him. "Your vengeance will be fulfilled. After...that's up to you." He says to me. I have a feeling of what will happen. Anger courses through my body as I walk back to the car. "Where are we headed?" The Rider asks as I simply answer. "Arkham."

P.O.V Change: Robin

Batman and I were making our way to an apartment that exploded. The daytime wasn't our friend today, but this is some serious stuff. When we arrived, the place was crawling with firefighters, police and ambulances. People that were in the building were being treated for smoke inhalation and/or burns. "What happened?" Batman asks Gordon who is also here. "Bomb squad is finding whatever pieces they can find but so far they say that its handmade and that it's similar to an anti-tank ordnance." Whoa, that's some high-level building. "Any deceased?" I ask, putting my two cents in. "Yes, mother and daughter. Claire Hall and her six-month-old baby, Luna Hall. They were closest to where we think the bomb went off." A pit falls in my stomach. What kind of monster kills a woman and her child? "We have a video surveillance of the block inside. You're going to wanna see this." Gordon says as he gestures us to follow. We enter the surveillance room of the building as the video is played back. We see a camera at the end of the hallway of the floor that the unit was on. We see a person, roughly 15 or 16 years old walk out of the unit after it blew. He doesn't appear injured, but he is clearly distressed and upset. He is wearing a black leather jacket with an upside 'U'. Navy jeans and black gloves. "Who is that?" Batman asks Gordon as his eyes narrow at the video, which is now showing the teen entering the garage. "That's the third occupant of the unit. Claire Hall's oldest child, Matthew Nygma. And yes, his father is the Riddler." That bit of news hits me like a ton of bricks and I see that Batman is also shocked by the news. "Where is he now?" I ask but Gordon shakes his head. "We don't know." I turn back to the video and see Nygma get in an old Charger before driving out of the garage. Where did you go?

P.O.V Change: Matthew

I had sped way past the speed limit. Every fibre of my being was just burning with rage. I knew that my father was the Riddler, Mom had been vocal of how she used to be the right hand woman of the great and powerful Riddler. To me, she was just a supervillains bed warmer. Even years later, when her mind began to wander and she resorted to drugs, she would tell me stories about how she loved Riddler. Delusions of a woman who had gone off the edge. The package and the note was the final straw for my patience. He had never interacted with me, or my mother in my life. Why now would he show up...and plant a bomb on my doorstep. For what reason. Well...tonight, I'm going to find out why.

I see Arkham in the distance. The Rider had always wanted to pay a visit but I talked to him about giving them a chance. Not everyone in Arkham deserves punishment. The Rider called me a fool, a brave one...but a fool nonetheless. I don't care anything but the Riddler tonight, but The Rider feels bad things are coming from Arkham. Blood is being split, innocent and guilty. Something is going on but I don't care.

I came up to the asylum and see that the gates are broken down and three different vans are packed out front. One for Penguin, one for Two-Face and one for Riddler. I'll be damned if I let him get away.

I slam my brakes and get out of the car. There are about a dozen thugs, about four from each gang. They all turned their attention towards me. "You got a death wish or something?" One of the thugs for Penguin shouts out to me. "Do you?" I reply with gritted teeth as I just walk forward. They all point their guns at me. "You do have a death wish. Do yourself a favor kid and fuck right off. You don't want to be here when shit hits the fan." He says as the guns all cock. My eyes glow with fire as I feel the Rider come forth. "So be it." I say as the Rider takes control.

P.O.V Change: The Rider

I see all them panic and feel their fear build up as the boy's skin burns away. I growl and swing one of my chains at the low life in front of me. Who the hell do these people think they are to deny vengeance...my vengeance. The man in front burns to cinder as his soul cascades down to Hell. The other thugs fire their weapons, having no effect on me as I swing my other chain out and burn three others in one swing. I throw both together and lock one low life in a bind. I growl and send more hellfire down the chains. The man screams in agony as he burns. I twirl around and swing both chains around, cutting through the rest of them in one swoop. I pull the chains back as they wrap around my arms. I growl and blow out fire from my cheeks before walking forward.

With all my strength, I boot the heavy oak door down, sending it across the hallway. I see bodies of criminals and security guards lying on the ground, blood is coating the hallway. I feel the souls of this place and it makes me sick the amount of stained souls inhabit this place. I will take great pleasure in punishing them. I reach out and try to find the man that the boy deems the Riddler. I find him and I see that the familiar connection to be true. Here's me thinking the woman was talking shit. Appears after millennia of existence I can still be surprised.

I find the elevator that these humans use and I press the 5th floor button. While stupid and prone to violence, these mortals are inventive. I wait as the elevator raises till it stops. The doors open and a I see a green woman standing there in a leafy attire. Her eyes widen at the sight of me. I take the time to read her soul. Pamela Isley, one of these metahumans, ability to control plant life and her own pheromones. She has the blood of innocents on her hands, cause she is trying to fight for nature...for the Green. I walk past her as my eyes focus on her own. Fear and dread wells up within in her but I leave her be. There is chaos in her. She wants to help nature but at the cost of killing. She doesn't want to hurt anyone but will do whatever it takes to keep nature from dying. I want to punish her but her cause is what keeping me from burning her to ash.

Doesn't matter now, I can feel the Riddler nearby. I hear fighting and I turn to see a large crossroads or sort. A quadrangle. I see guards, criminals all fighting each other. Even criminals beating on other criminals. I walk forward and the fighting ceases around as they gaze at me. I savour their fear. I make my way through the mob but one dumb mortal decided to have a go. I turn and grab his face before breathing hellfire onto him. He screams for a split second before his skin is melted away m, off his face. The body drops as I turn back to the mob. All the criminals scatter and head back off the stairs to their cells, dozens of doors close. I nod at their smartness before continuing on my way.

I find a hallway that says 'criminally insane wing'. I scoff at that. No such thing, the guilty are guilty. Plain and simple. I walk down the long corridor and see names on doors and small windows in which people look out of. I come to one particular door, that says Harley Quinn. I look in the window and see the occupant on the floor. She looks up and waves at me. I narrow my eyes and move on. I didn't even have to see her soul to know that she's crazy. Fractured minds are always a bitch. I come at the door that says 'Riddler'. I growl and grip the massive door by the hinges and pull with all my strength. The door comes off like it's nothing and I fling it down the corridor. The occupant of the room is standing against the wall in a nonchalant manner. "Well... you're certainly a different one. I like the...fire skull thing you have going on, although I did expect someone with a bit more finesse, but I suppose you're going have to do." He says as he starts to stroll past me, but I shove him back into the cell and against the wall.

"The hell? Who do you think you are to touch me?" He complains as I cross the room to stare him down. I sense his fear starting to raise. "You're not one of the metahumans that my guys hired, are you?" He asks, coming to the realization that I'm not here to help him and I laugh on the inside at sensing said realization. What a fool. I shake my head slowly side to side as his fear reaches a new level. "So...uh. What do you want?" He thinks that this is a simple conversation that he can talk his way out of. Dead wrong. "Let me speak to him." I hear the boy say. I can feel his anger. I'll allow this...could be interesting.

P.O.V Change: Matthew

The Rider agrees and he turns back into me. I feel my skin start to regrow over my face as I stare at the man that is my father. I see only the tiniest bit of resemblance between him and me. I must have gotten everything from my mother's side of the family. "So, who are you?" He asks as I stare a hole through him. "I'm Matthew. I'm Claire Hall's son." I tell him and his eyes widen. "So... you're her kid. Can't say that I'm impressed." He says and I punch him across the face, sending him to the ground. "Have a care how you speak to me." I growl in anger as I pick him up by his shirt. "Tell me. Right here and right now. Did you order for the bomb to be sent to my apartment?" I ask and he just chuckles. "You tell me junior." He says cockily. Hearing that, I grunt with fury and slam him against the wall, cracking the stone in the process.

"Your answer will determine your fate." I tell him as he just smirks. "When I found out that a past bed warmer of mine had a kid...I couldn't let it slide. So, to prevent my enemies from exploiting you...I just made sure that you weren't in the way." He says as I stare horrified at his logic. "You tried to kill me...because of some twisted logic that you were going to be exploited by your enemies?" I ask in disbelief. "Even criminals have reputations to uphold." Anger courses through me at a rapid rate. "You killed my mother...my sister. All to protect your inflated sense of ego and self-importance. You have decided your fate, and now...it's time to pay for your sins." I say to him, but he chuckles. "What are you going to do? Kill me? Join the queue, junior." He says. "Not kill...and it won't be me." I reply as my eyes glow.

P.O.V Change: The Rider

He gave back control willingly. Not out of asking, or necessity. But because he wanted me to. For the first time since our partnership, he has granted me control without fighting me for it, either willingly or unwillingly. I come forth and feel the complete dread of the scum in front of me. He laughed at the death that he caused. At the death of an innocent child, the most innocent. I hate him with every fiber of my being. "Your soul will burn in Hell!" I yell at him with absolute rage fire coats the cell. I unleash hellfire on his body, turning his body into ash and damning his soul to the fieriest pit of Hell. When I feel his body crumble to nothingness, I reel the fire back in. The cell is completely covered in soot and the walls starting to melt. A single white outline of the Riddler's body is etched into the wall.

I turn away and walk out of the destroyed cell. I stand out the front as I notice all the windows of the other cells are lined with their occupants. I growl and breath fire out my cheeks. They all retreat back into their cells. I allow the boy to take control once again. Time for his decision.

P.O.V Change: Matthew

The Rider had fulfilled my vengeance. Now for the ultimate decision. To rest or to continue the Rider's crusade as his host. I had set out what I agreed to. I exacted my vengeance from that night and my family's death has been avenged. "Your choice is now. Your soul can rest but your body will belong to me. However, if you choose to stay than your life will never be the same. You can never have family. Vengeance for the innocent will always come first." The Rider gives me an ultimatum. To rest and be with my family or to continue on as a host. "Do you believe in Fate?" I ask him. "Fate has a plan for everyone...even me. Why do you ask?" I ponder for a minute. "I don't know if it was fate that led you to me that night. I don't know. But I do know that no one should suffer what I suffered. The innocent need protecting. Our laws don't do shit for them. The guilty need punishing...I'll stay and help you." I give my answer and I feel the Rider is pleased. "Good choice, Matthew. Now...our mission has begun for now we..."

P.O.V Change: The Rider

Matthew gives me control as I burn with new vigor. "...Are the Ghost Rider."

A.N: From now on, when Matthew is in Rider form, he will be known as Ghost Rider.