Gotham City
Bat Cave
10:15 P.M.
Oracle was typing away on the keyboard. Rachel was pacing back and forth a few feet away from her. Alfred was being typical Alfred, offering words of encouragement assuring both girls that Batman and Nightwing would be fine. Oracle tapped on the keyboard loudly then slammed her hands on the console and voiced her frustration.
"Let me into the network you fu-"
Alfred cut her off.
"Miss Gordon!"
"Sorry Alfred, but I've tried to access Arkham's network seven times and I can't get in. it's been completely severed from the main hub."
"I understand your frustration Miss Gordon, but I assure you that both Batman and Nightwing will be fine."
She sighed.
"How long has it been since we've heard from Dick?"
Rachel answered almost too quickly.
"Hour and a half."
"He hasn't contacted you since he went for the jammers?"
"No. But that shouldn't worry you. When he's focused on a mission he can tone it out. If that makes sense."
"Not really. But I'm not a telepath and I still don't completely understand the psy-link."
Rachel walked over to the computer and stood next to Barbara, she looked at one of the monitors.
"You said Arkham was severed from the main hub?"
"Right. Arkham is connected to Gotham's main hub in case of power outages so the inmates don't get out. In case of a city wide outage, Arkham has its own network along with backup generators. Has enough juice to run for a week without needing to tap into Gotham's hub."
Rachel looked closer at one of the monitors.
"Did you try following Gotham's network straight to Arkham instead of directly accessing the island?"
Oracle just stared at Rachel. She wasn't expecting her to know how to bypass security systems. Oracle had an impressed look on her face, Rachel noticed and looked at her.
"I may have helped Grayson hack into Jump City's network one or twice…"
Rachel looked back at a monitor.
"Or maybe seven times…"
Oracle looked back at the screen.
"Anyway, yes I have tried. Nothing. Problem is that the entire network Arkham is on has been severed. No possible way to access it."
"That doesn't seem like protocol."
"It isn't. The only way for Arkham to be severed is if someone got their hands on…"
Oracle got quiet, then came to a realization.
"Quincy you old bastard…"
Rachel looked at her.
"Who's Quincy?"
"Quincy Sharp. He's the warden of Arkham. If you can call him that."
Barbara sounded disgusted when she said that, and she had her reasons. Rachel caught her tone.
"Your tone betrayed you. Don't care for him I take it?"
"No. He's a pompous, supercilious, self-serving egomaniac who cares for nothing but power."
Rachel could feel Barbara's anger rise.
"You have a lot of anger when you say that."
"He's half the reason I'm in this chair. The night Joker got free, it was because Sharp got an anonymous donation to his campaign trail, as long as he cleared one wing of guards. That donation, was from Joker himself using an alias."
"How the hell is he still the warden of Arkham?"
"Has friends in high places. Every crime Batman pins on him disappears. Both Batman and Nightwing have tried multiple times to investigate his corruption and other crimes, but each time the evidence either disappears or they throw the case out."
"Sounds like a scumbag."
"He's a coward. And Bruce thinks he is undiagnosed with split personality disorder and schizophrenia. But in his own way he's dangerous."
"You think Sharp is behind whatever is happening on the island?"
"No. Quincy only cares about three things; himself, his image, and power. He won't do anything to jeopardize any of those things."
"So if he wouldn't let anything jeopardize his image or power, then why would he give his access code away?"
"Because he didn't have a choice. Or he was threatened. Like I said he's a coward, and would do anything to save himself."
Before either of them could comment they heard a voice come from the console. It was still full of static.
"Oracle. Can you hear me?"
"I can but barely. There is still some interference."
His voice came in again. He was talking slowly, making sure they could make him out through the static.
"I am working on that problem. Two jammers are down. Final one was moved underground. Tracking it now."
"Exactly where is the last jammer?"
"Arkham sewers. Moved there recently after someone discovered I was taking the jammers down."
"The sewers?"
Oracle looked at Rachel. She smirked.
"I am not cleaning his suit…"
"Oracle? You there?"
"Yes. Rachel said she's not cleaning your suit."
"Tell her I can care for my own gear."
Rachel just shook her head. She was trying to take his mind off the mission, even if it was for a second.
"Oracle. Send me what you have on the sewers. It's like a maze down here."
Barbara went to another monitor and typed away. She sighed and then contacted Nightwing again.
"There's nothing. All I have are construction blueprints for the old cistern."
Gotham City
Arkham Island: Arkham Sewers
10:30 P.M.
Nightwing was standing at the entrance of the sewers, he was standing in water and whatever else was flowing into them. He pulled out a small device from his gauntlet and placed it on the wall. He heard Oracle in his earpiece.
"Nightwing what did you just do? I just detected a… Oh wait I get it. Makeshift sonar beacon. Clever!"
"Needed some way to navigate down here. I'm going after the beacon, I'll contact you later."
He took a step forward and felt Rachel in his head. He knew she was tracking him.
"And Oracle? Tell Rachel to stop trying to track me. I'm fine, nothing is going to happen."
Nightwing walked deeper into the sewers. He came to a junction, he looked right, then left. He thought to himself for a few secnds then turned left. He walked left following the path to the old cistern that was built over a century ago. He reached the old cistern, and knew his hunch was correct, the inmates had moved it here. Nightwing took an elevated position looking down at the inmates, he was in the shadows hidden from view. Just like he was trained. He could see the inmates below him. There were ten of them, all patrolling the area with rifles. He could see the jammer in the center of the room with four guards in a group next to it.
"Where the hell does Cobblepot get this stuff anyway?"
Nightwing smiled. Too easy, he didn't even have to interrogate the inmates to find out where the jammers came from.
"Cobblepot has black market connections all over the world. You want something, he can get it for you. As long as you can pay his price."
"Yeah but these look like military grade."
"They ARE military grade. My squad used jammers like this back in the Middle East years ago."
"Are we even sure that these things work underground? I read the manual and it didn't say anything about working underground."
"Since when do you read?"
"Hey! I read!"
"Porn don't count."
One of the guards patrolling the perimeter had grown annoyed.
"Shut up! All of you! Two of these things have been taken out by Batman already. The last thing we need is Batman hearing you talking and show up here."
"Batman is taking out the jammers? I thought he was rescuing doctors in medical?"
"That's what the last update said."
"Well SOMEONE has to be taking down the jammers. And the Arkham guards don't have the balls for it."
Another inmate who was patrolling the perimeter spoke.
"What about the brat? Robin?"
"Robin is dead."
"What? When? How?"
"Deathstroke. He took the kid out."
"Good. Kid broke my arm six months ago."
"So if Robin is dead and The Bat is busy, then who's taking out the jammers?"
"Nightwing?"
"That pretty boy? He's in Bludhaven. Plus I heard he went crazy and killed someone."
"Maybe it's the girl."
"Batgirl? You know nobody has seen her in years."
"No, not her. The other girl."
All the inmates stopped what they were doing and looked to the inmate who just spoke.
"Wait a minute, WHAT girl?"
"You know Rojas? That gun runner? My buddy was in his crew before the big bust at the docks. He told me there was some hot chick who wore a hood. She used this crazy ass magic and made Rojas curl into a ball and mumble something about a demon."
"Aw come on man. Magic? Magic ain't real."
"How do you know?"
Nightwing saw his moment and moved. One of the inmates on the perimeter moved into the shadows behind a brick column. He was out of view from all the others. Nightwing moved with the shadows, he got to the inmate, placed a hand over his mouth and choked him out. He moved to the next, this time he brought a knee to the inmate's skull, knocking him out. Then another fell, and then the fourth. Soon there were six left, they were bunched together. Nightwing needed to isolate them, so he waited until one of them went to investigate that none of his friends had said anything for a while. He approached one of the bodies Nightwing left in the open. He kneeled down.
"Hey! I've got a body over he- Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"
Nightwing used a grapple line and wrapped it around the inmate's ankle, and strung him upside down over the body he kneeled over. He dropped his rifle and continued to scream. The others came running over to him.
"What the hell man?"
"I told you Batman was here! This is how he works! He divides us uses our fear to-"
Another grapple line wrapped around the inmate's ankle and he was dragged into the shadows and was quickly knocked out. The inmate who was strung up pointed,
"Over there! He's over there!"
The inmates turned and fired blindly into the dark, muzzle flashes lighting up the shadow, but nobody was there.
"Don't waste ammo you idiots spread out! Find him!"
"No don't spread out. That's what he wants!"
"Stay together! Stay-"
"Flashbang!"
A flash erupted and the remaining inmates stumbled around, dazed. They didn't know where they were, made them easier targets. Before the smoke cleared all the inmates were down. Nightwing stood holding the rifle of one of the inmates. He pulled the magazine out and ejected the last round from the chamber then threw the gun and magazine into the water.
"Let me down from here!"
The strung up inmate was still yelling.
"I think I like you better up there."
"When I get down from here I'm gonna-"
"You're not getting down from there."
"Just you wait, I'll get a knife and cut myself free. And when I do-"
"You won't even make a dent. Look I'll spare your I.Q. because I doubt you could handle technical jargon, but that rope is a prototype steel alloy wrapped with nylon. Nothing short of an obsidian or diamond blade will cut through it. Believe me, many have tried."
"I'll get down eventually and-"
"Oh save your screaming will you? It'll be better for both of us."
"You think you're so-"
"Look, you want to keep screaming fine. But let me give you an anatomy lesson. Your lungs, are designed to be at the top of your chest. And hanging upside down like that doesn't give your lungs the room they need to expand and absorb oxygen. Meaning you will soon lose consciousness, and guessing by the way you were screaming you have about two minutes left. Two and a half if you're quiet."
The inmate spit on Nightwing's cheek. Nightwing wiped it off.
"Charming."
Nightwing walked over to the jammer, he made a fist and punched through the screen. He felt around for some wires and then pulled them out. He put a finger to his ear.
"Oracle?"
"I read you loud and clear Nightwing. Signal is at full strength."
"Good. I'm done with the sewers, what's next? Should I track Batman?"
Rachel answered.
"Nightwing, Oracle said that Arkham was severed from the main hub. We can't access any systems from here, we need you to go find Quincy Sharp and get his access code so we can re-connect to the network."
Nightwing smiled.
"Old Sharpie huh? Good. I've been meaning to visit him for a while now."
"Don't lose control, okay?"
"You don't know what he's done, what he's responsible for."
"You mean Barbara? She told me what happened last time."
"Then you know why I can't promise anything."
"Just-"
Nightwing heard a radio, he turned to see the glow from its screen.
"Hold that thought."
He walked over to the radio and picked it up. He checked the frequency, it wasn't a guard channel. He heard a voice come through, a voice that chilled his spine and made his anger grow.
"Hey! What the hell is going on down there? I'm not showing a jamming signal anymore!"
No answer.
"Well since there's no answer and I don't have a damn JAMMING signal I assume The Bat is down there. Well, as you are lying there, bleeding, gasping through broken ribs and punctured lungs know that YOU COULDN'T DO YOUR DAMNED JOBS! YOU HEAR ME BATS! I KNOW YOU CAN! AND I KNOW WHERE YOU ARE!"
Nightwing cracked the front plate off the radio, he pulled the sim card out and put it in the sequencer Barbara gave him. Now he could listen to the inmate's channel. He put a finger to his earpiece.
"Oracle, tune your channel to 22.9. The inmates are using that frequency."
"Got it Nightwing. Frequency found. Inmate communications are loud and clear."
Nightwing was walking back through the sewers, following the makeshift sonar he planted earlier. He heard Oracle in his ear.
"So tracking Quincy? That the plan?"
"Yeah, I'll head to the mansion. See if he's in his office. If not, I'll find clues to track him."
He came to the entrance of the sewer, he retrieved his beacon and walked to the elevators that rose back to the Asylum. He pressed the button to call the elevator and stepped back. He heard the Asylum wide P.A. system chime in, only Joker's voice came in over it.
"Sorry Bats, but this elevator is out of order. HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
The elevator came crashing down, Nightwing dove to the side. A piece of shrapnel sliced through the outer layer of his armor exposing the titanium Kevlar weave underneath. He stood up and looked at the exposed layer of his suit on his chest.
"Well damn…"
He heard Rachel's voice in his head through the psy-link.
"Your heart rate just jumped, you okay?"
"Yeah… Joker tried to slow me down. Dropped an elevator on me."
"Did it work?"
He smiled. She was trying to lighten the mood.
"Heh. Hardly. Guess I'm going to climb the shaft the old fashioned way."
"Good. You could use the cardio. Those abs have gone a little soft."
"Ouch. Low blow."
Nightwing walked to the shaft and climbed over the twisted pile of metal from the elevator, he looked up the shaft. He grabbed one of the steel cables the elevator had been attached to, he tugged on one.
"This should hold my weight."
He started climbing up the cable. He got closer to the floor the elevator fell from, he could hear a voice.
"I'm tellin' ya boss he's done for. Nobody could have dodged that elevator fast enough."
Nightwing kept climbing.
"You sure it was The Bat down there? I mean it could have been one of our guys."
Nightwing was close enough to make out the conversation. The inmate was alone, and speaking into a radio. Joker was on the other side.
"Oh of course it was him! Or was it?"
"But didn't you just cut off our guys down there?"
"Oh, I'm sorry I guess I'll have to try to be more SPECIFIC WHILE I'M PLANNING A HOSTILE ISLAND TAKEOVER! I mean, I'm not perfect…"
Nightwing reached the opening of the shaft. He stopped short, still out of view. He jumped and began clinging to the opening. Waiting for his moment to strike.
"Well come to think of it, I am pretty close to perfect. So how about I send a car out to your house and pay a visit to your wife."
"No you don't have to do- Uh, I'm sorry."
"Oh, don't worry about it. No harm done… Hey did I ever tell you the one about the guy who went home to find his wife a paraplegic? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"But Joker-"
Nightwing climbed through the opening and swept the legs of the inmate, he fell to the ground dropping the radio. Nightwing brought a knee to his temple knocking him out.
"Hellllooooo? Anybody there? Anyone? No? Hmmmm. I guess The Bat is back…"
Nightwing got back to the surface and walked back into the moonlight. He started walking towards Arkham East, to Arkham Mansion; where Sharp's office was located. He walked through the front door and into Arkham Mansion. The patient pacification system was active, an electrical security gate was preventing him from entering the main hall. Two inmates were standing behind the security gate.
"Hey! Hey look!"
The other inmate turned around.
"No way! It's Nightwing!"
One of the inmates gave Nightwing both fingers.
"Come and get us Nightwing!"
"Yeah! What's stopping you?"
Nightwing stood in front of the electrical security field. He glared at the inmates, narrowed his eyes like Batman and looked around the entryway. He was looking for a point of entry, some way to get through the gate. He saw a security panel to his left, he smirked.
"Come on Nightwing! We're right here!"
"Ohhhh the big bad Nightwing afraid of a little electricity!"
"Yeah, what's the problem, afraid of a little shock?!"
Nightwing walked over to the security panel, he kneeled down and pulled out the sequencer he got from Oracle. He synced it to the panel and began bypassing the security.
"Hey, what's he doin'?"
"Hell if I know! He's got some kinda computer thing!"
Nightwing heard the satisfying beep of the security panel, the electrical field deactivated.
"What?! How did he-?"
"That's not good… Run!"
The inmates turned and ran into the entry hall, Nightwing crossed through the deactivated barrier and opened the door to the entry hall. When he entered he became surrounded by inmates, they circled around him. The two who he saw behind the electrical gate were standing next to each other in the circle, one of them had a steel pipe, the other a security baton. The inmates were circling like sharks, trying to distract him so one inmate could rush him. Nightwing didn't fall for it.
"How's it goin' bird boy?"
"Yeah, you ready to die pretty boy?"
Nightwing didn't say a word, he just scanned the group, looking for the weak link. The one who was the most afraid of him.
"We got you surrounded Bat-wannabe. There's too many of us, it's an unfair advantage. Best slink back to your boss before we clip your wings!"
Found him. The weak link had presented himself. Accelerated heart rate, twitching hands, sweat dripping from his forehead. Nightwing spoke, his voice low, trying to cause as much panic as he could.
"You're right. It is an unfair advantage. For you…"
"In case you haven't noticed you're outnumbered."
"You think numbers gives you the advantage?"
"Strength in numbers bitch."
"Let me tell you how this is going to work. One of you will lose your nerve and rush me, he'll go down. Then in the blink of an eye three more will go down. All of you will panic, rush me at once causing mass confusion then all but two of you will fall. The last two will try to double team me, they won't last three seconds. So, WHO'S FIRST?!"
One of the inmates who was directly behind Nightwing charged, raised a security baton above his head ready to strike. Nightwing ducked, grabbed the arm of the inmate and flipped over his shoulder, he grabbed the security baton and struck the inmate in the elbow breaking it. Nightwing spun around and threw the baton at the forehead of another inmate who collapsed backwards, Nightwing landed a back handspring driving his heels into the chin of another inmate who was knocked cold. He swept the legs of the inmate next to him who fell to the ground. In one motion Nightwing pulled out his escrima and delivered a strike to his temple.
"What the hell? Nobody is that fast!"
"Rush him!"
All the inmates charged at him, all at once. The inmates were confused swinging at everyone and everything. Before the inmate's knew what happened there were two of them left, they were the two behind the security field. They kept glaring at each other, waiting for one of them to make a move. Nightwing didn't want to wait anymore, he lashed out. He landed a superman punch to one of them, then turned and landed a roundhouse kick that even the unconscious inmates could feel. Nightwing looked around at all the unconscious inmates. He turned and began walking up the stairs of the main hall, he saw another statue of Quincy Sharp to his right as he climbed the stairs. The plaque under the statue read "Warden Quincy Sharp. Savior of Gotham City and Future Mayor of this Great City." Nightwing punched the statue on his way up.
"The ego of this man…"
He got to the top of the stairs and turned right, he opened the door marked archives and and began walking down the hall through archives that led to the warden's office. As he walked down the hall he glanced around and saw all offices for the staff along with all the files and documents lying around.
"Ever heard of electronic files Quincy? Time to join the twenty first century old man."
He continued down the hall when he heard voices from farther down the hall.
"Yeah! Hit him again!"
He could hear someone getting hit.
"Just like that! Again!"
Nightwing grappled onto one of the walkways that wrapped around the archives hall. He climbed onto the railing and kneeled down onto it, looking for a vantage point. He could see the head guard of Arkham; Aaron Cash tied to a chair with the rest of his team tied up throughout the room along with a doctor. Nightwing looked around, there were six guards around the perimeter each of them armed. Plus two in front of Cash, both had rifles. Cash was antagonizing the guards.
"How the hell did you inmates take over the island with the way you punch?"
Cash got punched again, it barely even fazed him.
"How'd you like that one? Huh?"
"How 'bout you let me out of these ropes and I'll show you how to throw a punch."
The inmates looked at each other.
"What do you think man should we do it?"
"What are you crazy?"
"Why? He's just one guy. There's eight of us. There is no way he can take all of us."
"Are you stupid or something? Do you have any idea who this is?"
"Just some weak Arkham guard."
"No you idiot… This is Aaron Cash, head guard of Arkham?"
"So?"
"He's former military. This guy was Ranger battalion. He could basically take all of us down."
Cash started grinning.
"He can't take out all eight of us, that's impossible!"
"Yeah, he can. I was part of the team that captured him. He fought off five of us and nearly broke my shoulder."
"I ain't afraid of some former Ranger. Besides..."
The inmate raised his rifle to Cash.
"We have guns. He has what? Fists?"
"Uh, Ranger? He doesn't need guns."
"Whatever. Hey former Ranger man, how do ya like this?"
Cash just smiled.
"You're wrong. I wasn't a Ranger…"
The inmate looked to his friend.
"Ya hear that, he's not a Ranger. Nothing to worry about."
Cash squirmed, revealing a tattoo under his sleeve. It was a Ranger tattoo with his unit and a battlefield cross.
"I AM a Ranger. Rangers are for life."
The inmate hit Cash with the butt of his rifle, cash groaned and blood began to trickle down his forehead.
"Yeah and I have a rifle, so what does that make me?"
"A dumb-ass. Now put that thing down before you hurt yourself."
The inmate was losing his temper.
"I could kill you with this thing y'know. One shot and BAM! No more Cash."
"Look, all you're going to accomplish holding that rifle that way is a broken shoulder and one of your buddies hit by a stray round."
The other inmate started laughing.
"He's right man."
The inmate with the rifle raised began to get flustered.
"Wh-What?! I- I'm a total badass! I knocked over a liquor store and when someone tried to stop me I shot them, dead center in the chest. One round. I'm the best shot here. And a badass!"
Cash began laughing.
"You think that's what happened? I read your file."
Nightwing made his move since Cash had brought the attention away from the room.
"You robbed a liquor store out of desperation, and you were nervous and panicking the whole time. Then when you get out of the door and an old guy startled you, you randomly started firing at him with a sidearm. And only after you had emptied the entire magazine the last round hit him in the chest due to blind luck. And the guy was only three feet away!"
Nightwing took down the final perimeter guard and moved into position to the inmates that were in front of Cash.
"Shu-Shut-up! What do you know? You're just some weak ass Arkham guard. And I'm a badass with a rifle pointed at your damn head!"
Nightwing dropped from the ceiling and landed on the more experienced inmate. He drove his knees into the inmates back who collapsed to the ground with a loud thud. The inmate with the rifle turned and watched as Nightwing stood up and glared him down. The inmate pulled the trigger and screamed. Cash was right, the stock drove into the man's collarbone breaking it. Nightwing grabbed the barrel and pointed it up while the automatic rifle continued to fire at the ceiling. When the rifle emptied Nightwing looked at the inmate as he began to stumble backwards while holding his shoulder in pain.
"Ple-Please don't hurt me! I- I didn't mean to do it! I only did what I had to. Please, ya gotta believe me! Don't hurt me!"
Nightwing continued to glare. Then in the blink of an eye he lashed out with a punch from his right dropping the inmate to the ground cold.
"Some badass."
Nightwing dropped the rifle on the ground and began to untie Cash.
"Nightwing, you have some damn good timing."
Nightwing smirked.
"Raven tells me the same thing."
Cash stood up and his wrists where the ropes had been.
"Raven?"
"An old friend. Not important. Come on, I'll help you untie your team."
Nightwing and Cash began moving around the room from person to person. Nightwing got to the doctor in Cash's team. She was a brunette with fair skin. Her eye liner was beginning to run down her face. Nightwing recognized her as Dr. Penelope Young. She had been working in Arkham for two years. He began untying her.
"Did you have to be so brutal with the inmates? You broke bones. And I'm pretty sure I saw a tooth go flying from the last one."
He finished untying her and stood up. She rubbed her wrists.
"Awfully caring for the men who threatened your life doctor."
"I'm a doctor. Compassion is in the job description."
"Even when those violent patients are a trigger pull from ending your life with shotguns or rifles?"
"You can't tell me you vigilantes are as black hearted as that. Surely you must have compassion?"
"The mission takes priority. Emotions can and will compromise the mission."
"God… You vigilante types really are hardcore…"
Nightwing walked over to Cash who had finished untying all of his men.
"Everyone good Cash?"
"Far as I can tell. No major injuries. Scrapes and bruises. I took most of the hits myself. Trying to protect my team."
Nightwing smirked.
"Anything for your team huh? That sounds familiar."
"Come again?"
"Nothing. Just old memories. What are you doing in the Mansion? Last I heard you were in Medical."
"I was. I was doing my rounds when Joker broke out. Then Batman came crashing in, raised all kinds of hell, rescued a few docs chased the inmates out and told me to grab a team and hole up in here."
"Batman? You've seen him? How was he?"
"Pissed. Wouldn't want to be on his bad side tonight."
Nightwing looked down and saw the rifle he threw on the ground earlier. He picked it up.
"Or any night for that matter. You know where he was heading from medical?"
"Tracking Joker. Or one of the other class ten inmates."
"One of them? How many are free?"
Cash started counting on his fingers.
"Nigma, Jervis Tetch, Victor Zsasz, Dr. Crane and of course Joker. And those are the ones we know about. Could be more."
"Damn it! So nearly every class ten that was in lock up is now out there somewhere on Arkham Island?"
"Yeah. That's why Batman came to medical."
"Great, guess I need to track them."
Cash looked around the room and saw his men had recovered.
"So Nightwing, what brings you this way?"
"Arkham has been disconnected from the main grid. I need Sharp's access card to reconnect Arkham. Figured I'd check his office."
"Here to see the old man huh? You sure that's a good idea? Remember what happened last time?"
"Only here for his access card."
"Well, you know where his office is. Just keep a level head. He does sign my paychecks."
Nightwing handed the rifle to Cash. Cash ejected the magazine and saw that it was empty. He whistled loudly. One of his men tossed him a full magazine which Cash loaded, then chambered the round.
"Stay safe Cash."
Nightwing turned and headed to the warden's office. Cash yelled to his men.
"Alright listen up! Nightwing just saved our ass so the way I see it we owe him one! Everyone grab a firearm! Williams start a patrol! I want two on the perimeter at all times. Rotations every half hour until the situation is resolved!"
Williams nodded.
"Yes sir!"
Nightwing came to the door of Quincy's office. He lowered his voice.
"Sharp it's me. Open up."
"Batman? Is that you?"
"Open up."
Quincy opened the door and Nightwing walked into the office. He saw the Warden standing in front of him. He was wearing a pinstripe suit and a red tie. He had thick black glasses. Once he saw it was Nightwing instead of Batman he had fear in his eyes.
"N-Nightwing? Wh-What are you doing here?"
"You expecting some else?"
"Well I WAS expecting Batman."
Nightwing shoulder checked Quincy as he passed him.
"That fear in your voice I hear? Scared of something?"
"O-Of course not."
Nightwing took another step into the office.
"I need your master access card."
"What? What for?"
"Arkham has been disconnected from the main hub. Only way to re-establish that connection is to use that access card."
"Oh uh- O course."
Sharp started checking all of his pockets until he found it. He held it up in his fingers.
"Is this really the only way?"
"If there was another way I wouldn't be wasting my time here with a slime ball like you."
Nightwing turned and snatched the card from Sharp. Then turned and walked towards Sharp's desk. It was a heavy oak table, the expensive kind. Nightwing figured he took money out of the budget in order to pay for it.
"Why so hesitant to give up the card Quincy? Hiding something?"
"Absolutely not. I am-"
"Spare me the lecture."
Nightwing walked over in front of the desk and kicked away Quincy's office chair. It rolled and hit the far wall.
"Careful! That chair was expensive! It's an exec-"
Nightwing just glared at Sharp who quickly stopped talking. He began typing away at the computer.
"Oh yes, the password is Sharp4May-"
Nightwing glanced up.
"Don't need a password. I'm already in."
"What? How-?"
Nightwing kept typing, then there were three consecutive beeps. He put a finger to his ear.
"Ladies and gentleman we now have access to all of Arkham Island systems and security. You should see the main hub pop up any time now. Please hack responsibly."
Oracle came back in his ear.
"Thank you kindly former boy wonder. I see the network and have access to all systems. And for the record, I only hack for good. Well, mostly."
Nightwing kept tying on the computer. Quincy looked visibly nervous.
"Well if you're done you can step away from my com-"
Nightwing looked up and glared. Quincy quieted due to Nigtwing's glare.
"Alright. You know what you are doing."
Nightwing found what he was looking for in Quincey's files. His eyes scanned the screen quickly, reading multiple pages of notes in a few seconds. Nightwing's anger rose at Sharp yet again.
"I'll give you once chance Sharp. One. Is there anything I should know about that you have been hiding from your staff? From me? From Batman?"
"I-I have no idea what you mean."
Nightwing stood up from the desk and began walking around it to where Sharp was standing.
"Sending inmates here from Black Gate that have been convicted of violent crimes to treat their violent habits."
"You must be mistaken I never-"
Nightwing raised his voice.
"Quiet!"
Oracle came through his ear piece.
"Nightwing I have an update."
He put a finger to his ear.
"Not now."
He looked back to Sharp.
"You brought those inmates here to cure their violent habits so you would look good for your Mayoral Campaign. You submitted patients with no psychological issues to treatment only reserved for those like the Zsasz, Scarecrow and Joker."
This time Sharp stood his ground. Trying to defend himself.
"I haven't done anything you and Batman haven't done. I am saving this city! These inmates are violent psychopaths! They're a blight on this great city!"
Nightwing took another step.
"Truly your ego knows no limit. Causing harm to petty criminals. Muggers and guys who knocked over convenient stores, being subjected to treatments. If that's the best you can do maybe you don't deserve to be Mayor. You don't even deserve to be a Warden."
The Warden shifted. He straightened his tie.
"Then you tried to cover up the paper trail so Batman wouldn't know."
"I-I'm-"
Again Oracle was in his ear.
"Dick. You really need to hear this."
He put a finger to his ear.
"Fine. Go ahead."
"Tune the radio to GCN and the Jack Ryder show."
"Now?"
"Yes. Now."
Nightwing turned around and walked back to Quincey's desk. He turned on the Warden's radio then turned it to the channel that Oracle had told him to. As he got to the station he heard a voice come through the radio.
"We apologize for the disruption of this regularly scheduled programming. Jack Ryder is live from the Bay Area to deliver some breaking news."
The voice changed to Jack Ryder, an investigative journalist from Gotham who was nothing but a headache for Batman.
"This is Jack Ryder with breaking news from Gotham City Bay. We're getting reports of an armed siege on Arkham Island. Two minutes ago Joker broadcast to all news channels this chilling message."
There was a short pause. And both Nightwing and Quincy leaned closer to the radio. Then Joker's voice came through the radio.
"Greetings Gotham, this is the voice of your new master. Oh hang on- HAHA. I've skipped a bit. Ahem! Joker here! I'm in control of Arkham Island, and you can all consider it out of bounds. And if I see any lawmen, vigilantes or do gooders in tights coming this way, I'll start detonating random bombs around the city. What will it be? A kindergarten? A Hospital? A billionaire's mansion? Ooohhh what'll it be? Choices choices choices."
Joker's voice ended, and Jack Ryder took over again.
"All access to the island has been restricted. Air space is closed off and early reports suggest that Batman himself has been trapped on the island. We'll be right here live reporting on any developments. Back to the studio."
The original voice came back through the radio.
"Thanks Jack. More as it happens."
Then the radio continued to play the music it had been playing before the interruption. Nightwing put a finger to his ear.
"Oracle?"
"Did you pick that up?"
"Yeah I got it."
"The police feeds are all reporting about the bombs. The chatter is all the same, they're worried about a panic. But it's being suppressed at the moment."
Nightwing looked at Quincy, then went back to speaking with Oracle.
"He's lying. It's just a diversion to keep people away."
"How do you know?"
"I know him."
Nightwing looked to Sharp who looked terrified. Not only because of the situation but because of how this would affect his mayoral campaign.
Oracle was again in his ear.
"Listen, I heard from the police chatter that my dad is doing what he can. He's on the island, I just opened the main door of Intensive Treatment for him and his team. Said he was going to the security office to use as a make shift base. I heard him say he was waiting for Batman to make contact."
"Right. Then I guess Gordon is my next stop. Thanks Oracle. I'll contact you later."
Nightwing looked to the Warden again.
"Quincy I need you to stay in your office. Cash and his team are right out there, securing this wing."
"Right. Of course."
Nightwing walked passed the warden, back the way he came in. Just before he got to the door he stopped.
"Lock this door again when I leave."
The Warden answered.
"Of course. Can't let a man of my stature fall into their hands now can we?"
Nightwing rolled his eyes as he left the office. The warden locked his door. Nightwing walked into the room he had come from. There were two guards patrolling the room, one clockwise, and the other counter clockwise. Cash came jogging over when he saw Nightwing.
"Please tell me you heard the news report."
"Yeah. Commissioner Gordon is on the island. Going to see him now. I need you to keep this wing locked down. I have a feeling the inmates aren't just going to give up until Batman takes down Joker. Or until I take him down."
"You got it. They ain't taking this room back without a fight."
"Just stay safe, don't take any unnecessary risks. Don't be a hero."
12:09 A.M.
Gotham City
Arkham Island: Intensive Treatment
Nightwing walked through the doors of intensive treatment. He heard them close behind him with a slide. He saw Commissioner Gordon signing his name on the sign in roster. He was wearing all black with tactical pants and a Kevlar vest. He had his revolver in its holster on his hip. He looked tired and worn out. He saw Nightwing walking towards him and stood up.
"Nightwing. I was told you were the one who restored Arkham to the grid."
He held out his hand and opened it. Nightwing took his hand and shook it.
"Just doing what I can Commissioner."
"I understand that Batman is MIA."
"Not entirely. Arkham staff has spotted him in multiple locations. But his comms are dead and we can't reach him."
"Well, I'm sure he has his hands full with Joker. Now if only we could track down the rest of the inmates that got out."
"The rest? So you have a lead?"
Gordan walked to a security monitor, he motioned Nightwing over and turned to the monitor in the security office. He nodded to it.
"One of my men recently found a body of a Blackgate inmate. Once we got a doctor on the scene he told us that he had died from a heart attack. Not unusual I know. But then the doctor did some more investigating, apparently his heart gave out due to fear. He was so scared of something his heart stopped. And the doctor said he had a powerful drug in his system at the time of death."
"Sounds like Crane."
"Yeah that's my guess."
Gordon slammed his fists on the table.
"Dammit! How did things get this out of hand? One minute we had reports that Joker had returned after a year and that Batman had things under control. Next thing I know this place becomes a clusterfu-"
Nightwing stopped him.
"Sharp transferred the Blackgate prisoners here. Then erased history of the transfer to cover it up and hide it from everyone."
"Damn that man! After all these years and he's still the Warden of this place. When we get out of here, Mayor Hady and I are going to have a long talk."
Nightwing continued.
"From what I gather this was all a front for his campaign. Trying to treat violent inmates to cut down on crime. Compared himself to Batman. He's not even worth being Batman's suit polisher, let alone a mayo-"
Suddenly Gordon's radio started going off.
"This is team three requesting backup! We've found Crane we need-! Oh god he's got Tyler! He's got-! They're everywhere! Get them off! Get them off!"
Gordon reached for the radio.
"Torres? Torres can you hear me?"
Nightwing checked his equipment.
"Team three?"
"Bottom floor. Medical."
Gordon got back on the radio.
"Torres you there? Hold on I'm sending Nightwing."
Gordon clipped the radio back onto his belt.
"Nightwing do you think you can-"
He turned to where Nightwing had been standing. Only when he turned to face him he was no longer there. In less than a second and a half Nightwing had pulled the same disappearing trick Batman always did. Gordon shook his head.
"Even the kid does it. I swear I'll never get used to that. God speed Nightwing."
12:15 A.M.
Gotham City
Bat Cave
Oracle was still at the computer, Rachel was pacing back and forth just behind Oracle's wheelchair. That's when they heard Nightwing through the comms.
"Oracle?"
"We're here."
"Met with Gordon, he's safe in the security office. He's coordinating with the teams he brought along. I'm headed to medical, he had a team there that came into contact with Scarecrow. That's where I'm headed."
"Scarecrow? He got out?"
"More likely Joker let him out. Along with the other incarcerated inmates. Well, formerly incarcerated. Apparently Riddler, Mad Hatter, and Victor Zsasz are also free. Could be more."
"Could be? You don't know?"
"No. Any word from Batman?"
"No, and that worries me. Comms are restored, the island is under my control, and Batman is still nowhere in sight. I can't even see him on any security cameras."
"Maybe he's not in a position where he can answer. Or…"
"Or?"
"Let's not think about that."
Oracle was quiet as the possibility ran through her head. She contacted Nightwing.
"So, Scarecrow?"
"Scarecrow."
"Do you have the antidote for his toxin?"
"No."
Rachel stopped when she heard he didn't have an antidote. She walked to the monitors beside Barbara and leaned over, the concern was visible on her face.
"Dick, what if he injects you? Or you breathe the gas in?"
"Then I resist as long as I can and hope I can take him down before my mind breaks."
"Dick…"
"We don't have a lot of options here Oracle. I'm doing it."
Rachel put her finger on the transmit button.
"Good luck."
Nightwing came back through. She could almost hear the smirk on his face.
"You and I both know there's no such thing."
Before either of them could answer Oracle's phone started to ring. She pulled it from her pocket and looked at the I.D. It was Gordon. She picked it up and put it on speaker.
"Dad? Are you safe?"
"For now. I'm alright sweetheart. How are things in the city?"
"Fine I think. I wouldn't really know, I'm at my place watching the news."
"Good. Listen, I need you to keep me in the loop. Let me know if anything-"
Gordon paused. She could hear him talking into his radio but couldn't make out everything.
"Listen Barbara I gotta go, looks like a team on the mainland just found one of Joker's bombs. Stay safe and don't go outside. Love you."
Gordon hung up. Oracle dropped her phone onto the computer and tuned into the GCPD radio.
"This is Bullock. We've found one of the bombs outside Mercy General Hospital. We're trying to cordon off the area but there's no way we can evacuate the hospital. I need bomb squad here yesterday! And get me Gordon dammit!"
Rachel turned around and walked over to her bag, she began digging around inside it. Oracle turned and watched her.
"What are you doing?"
"Going out there. Batman is MIA, Nightwing is alone on an island full of murderers and psychopaths, and now they found a bomb in the city! I'm not sitting helpless on the sideline anymore. I'm putting myself on the field. I'm going after that bomb."
She began to strip off her clothes. Alfred turned his back while Barbara turned her wheel chair towards Rachel.
"You're trained in demolitions?"
"No. I'm not. But I can contain the blast with magic. And if I can't, then at least I can buy everyone else time."
Oracle began digging in the backpack that was strapped to the back of her wheel chair.
"Rachel-"
Rachel finished putting her suit on.
"Save it Babs."
Rachel snapped at her. She didn't care what the others thought. She was going to help HIM. All she had been thinking about since HE rode off, was HIM.
"I'm going out there to help. And if you try to stop me, I swear by Azarath I will tear this place apart."
"I wasn't trying to stop you! I was trying to say was-"
She pulled out a device from her bag.
"Rachel, if you are going out there you will need these."
Oracle held out her hand. In it was an earpiece, a symbol of Batman, and the same device she had given Nightwing earlier. Rachel just dropped her head.
"Oh, sorry. I just thought-"
"I know. I… care for him too."
Rachel took the items from Oracle. She put the earpiece in and tapped it, turning it on. The other items she stared at. She didn't exactly have pockets in her suit and she couldn't exactly carry them in her belt. Oracle caught her staring.
"Something wrong?"
"What exactly am I supposed to do with these?"
"The symbol is for the OIC, so he knows Batman sent you. The second is used for overloading electronic locks, security systems or even electronic bomb triggers."
"No, I mean I don't exactly have as many pockets in this thing as the Boy-Wonder. Didn't have too, he carried all the gear."
"Really? No pockets?"
"A few in my belt. Mainly first aid items, and a lock picking set. That's about it."
Barbara looked her up and down.
"You need an upgrade."
Barbara dug around in her pack again.
"Uh, I think I have… Got it!"
She pulled out the same type of holster that Nightwing keeps around his legs and tossed it to her. Rachel caught it and looked at it briefly. She got a suspicious look on her face.
"Do I even want to know…?"
"It's not what you think. He left it at my place about a week before you showed up. And I hang onto it because… Not important. Just take it."
Rachel strapped the holster to her right leg and slid the items into two separate pockets. She raised her knee quickly a few times to make sure it wasn't going to hinder her movement.
"Okay, where am I headed?"
Oracle turned and brought up a map on the screen.
"Mercy General. A hospital in Burnley."
Rachel studied the map, trying to memorize the way.
"I'll need a ride. Is there a bike or a car around?"
Barbara was confused.
"Can't you fly?"
Rachel rolled her eyes.
"I can LEVITATE. Not FLY. Common misbelief. And I can only travel at a certain speed while levitating. A bike or a car is faster."
"Right, sorry. Didn't know."
"Grayson has an extra bike here you can use. Or you can take the Bat-cycle."
"I'll take Grayson's."
She threw her head back and ran her hands through her jet black hair a few times to make sure it fit under the hood. She reached for her hood and pulled it over her head, she knew exactly where to put it so it covered the top half of her face and left it in shadow. She turned and walked down the stairs to where the extra bike was.
"Alright, I'm gone. I'll keep you updated."
Alfred cried from behind her.
"Good luck Miss Roth."
Raven gave a half wave as she crawled onto the bike and fired up the engine. She tested the throttle then flicked her wrist. In a matter of seconds she was gone.