12:37 A.M.
Gotham City
Uptown: Burnley (Near Otisburg)
Raven passed over Trigate Bridge, Stagg Industries were on her right.
"Oracle."
She heard Oracle from the earpiece.
"Here Raven."
"I'm near Otisburg. Where am I headed?"
"Keep going until you see the Gotham Royal Hotel on your right. Then hang a left. Mercy General will be a half mile down on the left."
"Got it."
Raven revved the engine a started going faster. She was weaving in and out of traffic, trying to get to Mercy General as fast as she could. Raven turned into the oncoming lane to pass a mini-van. As she got next to the van, a semi-truck was coming towards her. She smirked and accelerated again. She got ahead of the mini-van nearly clipping its front bumper with her rear tire. Both vehicles honked at her. She could do nothing but smile, her adrenaline was pumping. She saw Gotham Royal Hotel on the left. Raven saw traffic stopped at the intersection. Raven positioned the bike and drove between the lanes and missing all the cars. She got ready to turn left through the light. Again, there was oncoming traffic. She shifted her weight, pulled a turn and drifted the bike narrowly missing the oncoming traffic. Raven lost top-speed from the intersection so she pulled the front wheel of the bike up to max out her acceleration. After she got up to speed she dropped the wheel. As Raven drove down the street she saw the sign for Mercy General. There was a voice in her ear.
"On your left."
Raven turned and pulled into the hospital. She could see police cruisers with their lights on. There was a crowd of people swarming the area. Raven parked the bike and brought her leg over the side. She approached the crowd and heard the mumblings of panic. She started pushing people out of the way and came to the front of the crowd. There was police tape preventing people from coming any closer. She ducked under the tape and started to approach the officers on the other side. One of them turned and saw her.
"Hey, you! You can't be here!"
The officer ran over to her.
"I'm sorry Miss. This area is off limits to civilians. I need you to get behind the tape."
Raven glared at the officer.
"Do I look like a civilian to you?"
"Look lady we can't-"
"Take me to the officer in charge."
The officer stared blankly.
"What?"
She rolled her eyes.
"The OIC. Officer in Charge. Who is it?"
"It's-"
As they were arguing Raven heard heavy footprints approach from her right. She looked over to see a heavy set man with a cigar and a fedora approach her with a team of three other officers. They approached her and the man with the cigar yelled out.
"Hey! Reid! Get her the hell out of here! If you haven't noticed there's a situation here."
The officer stuttered.
"Y-Yes sir."
Raven faced the heavy set man. She glanced at his badge, he was a Lieutenant.
"I take it you're in charge here."
"Figure that all out by yourself?"
He looked back at the officer by Raven.
"Reid! I said get her out of-"
Rachel stepped closer to the Lieutenant. She reached into one of the pockets on her leg that Oracle had given to her. She pulled out Batman's seal, the one that said that Raven had his authority.
"Batman sent me!"
The man took it and examined it. He looked annoyed.
"So Bats sent you did he? I'm detective Bullock. This is my operation. Now who exactly are you?"
"I'm Raven."
"Yeah, I was briefed about you. I was told to give you the same courtesy as Batman or those other tight wearing freaks."
"And I've heard plenty about you from Nightwing."
"That pretty-boy hotshot? You a friend of his too?"
"More than a friend."
Bullock looked to his men, pulled out the cigar in his mouth and dropped it on the ground. He looked back to Raven.
"Good for you. Now be a good girl and go back to your boss. I have the situation under control."
Rachel glared at Bullock.
"Excuse me?"
Bullock pulled out another cigar, he lit it and put it between his lips.
"I've got bomb squad on the way, I've updated the commissioner and I have a plan to evacuate all the non-critical patients. Thank you for your help, but I don't need another one of Batman's green recruits telling me how to do my job or trying to be a god-damn hero!"
Raven took a step closer to Bullock. Bullock pulled out the cigar and motioned toward the officer that stopped Raven earlier.
"Reid! Get her out of here! Cuff her if you have to."
Raven looked to the officer with a look that made him think twice.
"Don't even think about it."
Bullock put the cigar back in his mouth.
"Look lady…"
He pulled out the cigar and puffed smoke in her face. She could smell the cigar smoke.
"I have the situation well under control. Reid, for the last time get her the hell out of here!"
Reid put a hand on Raven's shoulder.
"Come on miss, let's-"
Raven grabbed the officer's wrist. She bent it backwards and spun the officer around while still clutching his wrist. She put her boot to his tailbone and kicked him away from her. Officer Reid spun around and looked back at her, confused at what happened. She turned towards Bullock and whispered under her breath.
"Alright, you want the bitch? You got it."
Raven walked towards bullock, she was less than a step away. She slammed her forearm to his throat causing him to drop his cigar onto the ground and backed him to a wall. She dug the nails on her other hand into the pain threshold between Bullock's legs. His face began to turn red. He tried to call his men but Raven had her forearm tight against his throat.
"Listen Bullock. Batman, Nightwing, and Commissioner Gordon are on Arkham Island cut off from reinforcements trying to prevent a breakout of violent inmates and psychopaths from coming onto the mainland. If these bombs start going off, things WILL get worse."
She dug her nails in tighter. Bullock's face was red and his eyes began to water. There was a fire in Raven's eyes.
"So shout as much as you'd like. I'm all that's coming."
She looked around at the officers around her. They were afraid. Of either her or of Bullock. She didn't know which.
"Much as I'd enjoy to have a phallus measuring contest with you, I have work to do. So this is how this is going to work…"
She dug her nails deeper in for a third and final time.
"You scream and shout all you want and continue showing off your dick size to your officers, which I assure you is below average. So while we stand here arguing that bomb goes off, you and your team become a stain of red goo on the walls and this block turns to ash."
Raven put her face as close to Bullock as she could without touching him. She could smell the tobacco and cheap whisky on him.
"Or you can let me look at that bomb so I can at the very least TRY to contain the blast. You get the credit and maybe a medal while I take zero credit. Your choice Bullock."
Bullock tried to free himself. When he couldn't he relented.
"Al-Alright!"
Raven released her grip. Bullock crumbled to the ground in front of her. He was holding himself with one arm. He tried to get words out.
"D-Damn you tight wearing freaks! You're just as bad as the other crazies in this city."
Raven smirked and stuck her left leg out.
"Take a long look Bullock. Do you see tights?"
Bullock looked at her legs, grinning as he did. Raven quickly had regretted her quip.
"Ugh, not that kind of look. Forget I said anything."
She reached an arm out for Bullock. He took it and she pulled him up. He was heavier than she thought. She turned back around and saw the rest of Bullock's unit, they were staring. They were all watching her as she had stood up to Bullock.
"Listen up Lieutenant. I need you to move the crowd back another two blocks. Put all your men on the perimeter to prevent civilian casualties or perimeter breeches. Send a runner to the hospital and tell them to move all non-critical patients to the basement. When bomb squad arrives I want only one of them on me in case they can't disarm it and I can't contain the blast."
Raven looked around. All the officers were just staring at her.
"Well? What are you standing around for?! Let's get a move on people!"
She clapped her hands, trying to get everyone to move. The officers just looked around.
"Hey! You heard what the lady said! Let's move it!"
Bullock used his booming voice to bark out orders.
"Reid! Grab a squad and push the perimeter back two more blocks! I don't care if we don't have the numbers, just get it done! Thompson! You're the fastest, run a message to the hospital; All non-critical patients to the basement. Sergeant David, make sure bomb squad has a route in."
Raven looked at Bullock with an annoyed look. She turned and began walking towards the hospital. Bullock stopped her.
"Here, take a radio. I'll be with my men on the perimeter. I'll radio you when bomb squad gets here."
He handed her a radio, then turned and went to check on his men. Raven put a finger to her ear.
"Oracle?"
"I'm here Raven."
"Finally got that imbecile Bullock off my ass. Going to look at that bomb."
"Got it. I'm sure you don't need me saying this but be careful. I don't want to deliver bad news to Nightwing."
"Hardly the first time I've done this Oracle. But your concern is noted. I'll contact you when I know something."
Raven continued to walk to the hospital. As she got closer, Raven noticed the box sitting near the hospital. It was wrapped like a Christmas present, with purple wrapping paper and green bows. She saw a tag hanging off the top of the box, it read; "To: Gotham with love. From: Joker." She began carefully pulling at the bow and untying it. Her radio started going off.
"This is Bullock. I got bomb squad here, I can send one your way."
"Fine. Only send one. I'm still trying to unwrap this thing."
"Got it. Sending him now."
Raven put the radio down and finished carefully pulling the ribbons off. She took a deep breath.
"Okay… Carefully. Carefully…"
Raven put her hands on the top of the box. She didn't want to open it, knowing what it contained. She took another deep breath. A voice cried from behind her.
"What's the situation?"
Raven jumped, she never heard the man approach.
"By Azarath!"
Raven turned and glared at the man.
"Sorry, didn't mean to-"
"You didn't mean to scare me? I'm trying to get a look at a BOMB placed here by Joker, and it didn't occur to you that I'm nervous enough?!"
"Uh-"
"Just… Be quiet and be ready. We don't know how much time we have left."
Raven closed her eyes. She felt the lid of the cardboard box in her fingers. Another deep breath, she pulled the lid off the box. Before she opened her eyes, Raven heard it. Sounds were coming from the box, she couldn't make out the noise. She opened her eyes and looked inside the box.
"What the-? By the light of Azar! What the fuck is this?"
The bomb squad member walked over and looked inside the box. He saw boxes of marzipan and kittens crawling over each other. He pulled one of the kittens out.
"Uh- What is?"
Raven was disgusted.
"That psychotic-"
Raven reached for her radio.
"Bullock."
"Yeah? How bad is it?"
"It's all a sick joke. The only thing in the box are kittens and marzipan."
Bullock was speechless.
"What?"
"You heard me. It's not a bomb just marzipan and kittens."
"Hold on I'll be right there."
Raven picked up the box and turned it upside down, dumping everything out. The kittens began crawling over her.
"No. Get off. I said off. You aren't cute, get off!"
She stood up so they couldn't crawl on her legs. Bullock came walking over from her. He looked at the overturned box and all of its contents laying on the ground. Rachel turned to him. Bullock reached down and picked up one of the kittens by the back of its neck.
"That son of a bitch clown! Pulling one of his usual stunts and wasting everyone's time!"
He dropped the cat.
"If I ever see that pale assed clown again-"
Raven cut him off.
"Leave it Bullock. That's not helping."
"Leave it? How can I just leave it? That suit wearing psycho made a fool of us. Of me."
"Standing here insulting him doesn't really help the current situation does it?"
"Well what do you want me to do?"
Raven turned and started walking back to the bike.
"Do something other than just standing here barking orders to your men, smoking cigars and drinking cheap whiskey, do some ACTUAL police work. Nightwing at the very least calls you a good cop. So prove it."
She got to the police tape and ducked under it, Raven passed through the crowd. She felt everyone's eyes on her. She could hear their whispers.
"Who is that?"
"Is she new?"
"That's not batgirl."
"Wait, isn't that one of the Titans?"
Raven kept pushing through the crowd and put a finger to her ear.
"Oracle? It wasn't a bomb, just a box full of marzipan and kittens."
"I know. Bullock just radioed my dad. Nightwing was right. It's just a diversion to keep people away from Arkham Island."
"Any word from Nightwing? Or Batman?"
"Few minutes ago. He made it to the team that ran into Crane. Since then, nothing."
Raven got back to the bike. She closed her eyes and focused in on the psy-link. She could feel his heart beat. It was elevated. She heard Oracle's voice in her ear.
"Raven."
Raven tried to contact Nightwing through the psy-link, but there was no answer. Yet, she could feel him.
"I'm going to Arkham. I'm not sitting on the sidelines any longer."
"I know. Make sure you keep me updated."
"Will do."
Raven started up the bike and looked over to the crowd of people that was still swarming the area. Bullock was trying to calm everyone down and explain the situation. A few of the people were still staring at her, trying to place who she was. She flicked her wrist and the bike accelerated down the road. Oracle was in her ear again.
"Be careful. And bring my boys home safe."
12:19 A.M.
Arkham Island: Arkham West.
Medical Facility
Nightwing had just finished taking down a sniper from a watchtower. He stood up and examined the area from his elevated position. He was just outside the medical building. He could see the medical building in front of him. He scanned the front of the building. There was a group of six inmates surrounding the entrance of the building, along with bodies of medical staff. He thought to himself.
"Only way in or out. The staff must have been trying to escape. And the inmates killed them all."
Nightwing narrowed his eyes and got ready to strike. He could over hear the inmates.
"Hey, anyone got any cigarettes?"
"Nah, I'm out."
"I got some pills. Found 'em on one of these doctors. You want some? Funny thing though, I took 'em, not even a buzz!"
"Sure, I guess its somethin' right?"
The inmate handed the other one the pills. He looked at the bottle.
"Acetaminophen? The hell is that?"
"Don't know. If I was smart enough to know what it was I probably wouldn't be in here."
"You don't know what it is, so you took it anyway? What if it killed you?"
"Better than being locked in here. Now quit your bitching and take 'em. Or give them back."
The inmate shrugged, he opened the bottle and took a hand full of the pills. He swallowed them and handed the bottle back.
"Well? Anything?"
"Nah man. Nothing."
"See? Nothing. What kinda doctor carries around pills that don't even give you a buzz? Especially in a place like Arkham?"
One of the inmates tapped one of the bodies on the ground with his foot.
"Man, why the hell are we standing out here again? It's cold out here."
"Are you as clueless as you are stupid? We're standing here in case any more doctors try to make a run for it, or more cops show up."
"I thought Scarecrow had them all."
"Not all. Batman rescued some on the ground floor. The ones in the labs were locked in with Scarecrow. Something about testing his new gas on them."
"Better them than me. That Scarecrow guy scares the hell out of me."
"You're telling me. I used to run in his crew back before I got thrown in here. I saw him inject some cop with his fear toxin. He ended up shooting his buddy, then started trying to scratch his own skin off."
"What? Really?"
"Yeah. Turns out the guy was afraid of spiders. He thought they were crawling all over his body so he tried to scratch his own skin off."
"So what happened?"
"Batman came in, rescued the guy. Then Scarecrow instead of getting busted by the bat, he rounds up all the guys in his crew and gives us all the same toxin he gave the cop so Batman had to stay with us. Make sure we didn't end up offing ourselves. Scarecrow ended up getting away."
"Wait, so you've been on this stuff? What did you see?"
"I'm afraid of heights right? So it was like I was falling off a building for hours! And the ground never got closer, I just kept falling."
"That's just messed up man."
Nightwing made his move. He moved to the roof of medical, he scanned the inmates with his eyes looking for the first target. He was thinking to himself.
"Six inmates. No firearms. Improvised weapons. This is going to be easy."
He chose the inmate who was behind all the others. He could get in silently, cause the rest to panic and take them out easily. Nightwing dropped the inmate he targeted, his movements were perfect. The inmate went down silently, without alerting the others. He stood up, took out the next inmate. Again his movements were completely silent. None of the inmates were aware of him. Two down, four to go. One of the inmates turned and saw Nightwing standing over the inmates he had just taken down.
"Hey-! He's here, its Nigh-!"
To slow. He was down before he could get the words out. The other two inmates saw Nightwing and rushed him. One reached in with a metal pipe, Nightwing flowed around him and swept his legs sending him to the ground. In one motion Nightwing looked over his shoulder to target the other inmate, he flipped backwards landing a bicycle kick to the side of the inmates head. He landed on one knee and then stood up. Nightwing then turned to the man whose legs he had swept, he was standing again. He grabbed the pipe from the ground and charged at Nightwing. Nightwing put all his weight on one leg and delivered a thrust kick to the jaw of the inmate. After all the inmates were down he looked around him, he saw the bodies of the medical staff scattered around the entrance. He kneeled down and checked the pulse of one of the bodies. Nothing. He checked another. Again, nothing.
"Dammit Joker. Everywhere that madman goes death follows."
Nightwing stood up and put a finger to his ear. He cycled through his comm channels and stopped at one.
"Gordon. It's Nightwing."
He heard the familiar gruff voice in his ear.
"What do you have for me kid?"
"I'm in front of medical, I've got…"
There was a pause, he was counting.
"Eight medical staff ready for collection. And six more inmates to be put behind bars."
"Eight medical? Can you confirm their status?"
"They're dead Gordon. All of them. I wasn't… I wasn't fast enough…"
"You and I both know that you did everything you could son. The only one responsible is Joker."
Nightwing didn't respond. Gordon's voice was in his ear again.
"Pick your head up son. Only you and Batman can contain this."
"No. There's another. But let's hope she stays away."
"What do you mean? Who? If she can help shouldn't she be here?"
"Listen to me Gordon. SHE is plan Z, last resort. If I go in there, and you don't hear from me for an hour, use that emergency comm device Batman gave you years ago. SHE will come for me. But this place… Arkham…"
He paused and scanned the horizon, he saw the skyline of Gotham across the bay. He saw the old ruined buildings of Arkham.
"This place will change something in her. Force something out of her. If that happens, Gotham will fall. That's why she is last resort."
"I don't understand. You are talking like she's some kind of monster."
"Monster? No. She's worse."
"Nightwing, I don't understand. Who do you mean?"
"Doesn't matter. I'm going in after your team. Remember, one hour."
Nightwing turned and walked into the medical building, the large steel doors were heavy. He knew they were built to last, and prevent inmates from breaking them down. He walked into the main hall and looked around. Nightwing saw that the place looked like it had been tossed. There were papers and files all over the place, chairs and tables were knocked over.
"Are they looking through the files? The place looked like it's been tossed."
He began walking through the hall. There was a corner desk on his left with a file folder hanging off. He grabbed the folder with his left hand as he passed by. He opened it and started reading.
"Patient files. Allergies, treatment history, diagnoses, blood types. Useless information. But why are they…?"
He heard the sound of someone crawling, and a mumbling. He passed the file into his right hand, then put it on a table to his right. Nightwing stopped and listened, the sound was coming from the far side of the room. Instinctively, like he had done it for half his life, he took a step forward with his toes pointd down. As soon as his toes hit the ground, he put the weight on the back of his foot. Moving completely silent he approached the far side of the room. He approached the far side of the room, he could still hear the mumbling. Then he saw the source, in the corner of the room behind a desk was a GCPD officer. He had a panicked look on his face, he was trying to crawl as far as he could into the corner. It was an officer Nightwing didn't recognize.
"Gordon? I have an officer here. A corporal. Blonde. Brown eyes. Probably my age."
He heard the gruff man's voice in his ear.
"Corporal Eric Tyler. New transfer from Central City. This was his first assignment."
"Nothing like sink or swim. I'll keep you updated."
Nightwing began to observe the officer. His pupils were dilated, sweating, scratches on his arms and blood on his nails. He had seen the symptoms before, all were caused by Fear Toxin.
"Scarecrow got him."
Nightwing approached the officer slowly.
"Eric. Can you hear me?"
The officer began to panic. He began feeling for his holster.
"Who's there!? Who are you?"
Nightwing kept his hands up.
"Easy. I'm here to help."
The officer found his holster and pulled out his sidearm. He aimed it towards Nightwing.
"No closer! I'll shoot! I-I mean it!"
Nightwing stopped in his tracks.
"Okay. I won't come any closer."
The officer began acting more erratic.
"No! Go away! "They're everywhere! Get them-"
He fired his gun at Nightwing. The round hit Nightwing in the shoulder, his suit kept the round from penetrating his flesh. The round dropped to the ground and landed on his boot, then then the floor with a metallic sound. Nightwing looked at where the round hit and shrugged the pain off. Nightwing turned back to the officer completely unshaken. The officer was still holding the gun at him, he was still panicked. In three seconds Nightwing was upon the officer with the gun. Nightwing had both of the officers hands clutched in his own. The officer was struggling, panicked.
"Let me go! Let-!"
"Listen to me. You've been exposed to Fear Toxin by Scarecrow. The more you panic, the faster your heart rate, the faster your heart rate, the faster the toxin pumps through your blood stream. That's when the toxin is at its worst. You need to stay calm. Take a breath and hold it. Count to five, exhale."
The man began to do what Nightwing had told him. Nightwing noticed that after a minute the man's pupils started to come back to normal, his heart rate began to drop into normal range. Nightwing let go of the officer's hands.
"I'm okay… I'm good. I'm good."
"Just keep your heart rate down. I'm not in the mood to take more friendly fire."
The officer began to get nervous.
"Friendly-? Oh god I… I shot you! I'm sorry! I was so scared! Please… Please don't tell Gordon. He'll-"
Nightwing held a hand up, signaling the officer to stay quiet.
"Don't. Your senses weren't your own."
The officer looked him up and down.
"You aren't injured are you? Gordon will kill me."
Nightwing pointed to where the round struck.
"Titanium Kevlar weave. Resistant to small arms fire. Even resisted a .50 caliber rifle a few months ago. So no…"
He reached down and picked up the round from the floor.
"You didn't injure me. I'll have a bruised bone at the most."
"Thank god."
Nightwing flicked the round into the air, it hit the ground behind him with a metallic clang.
"What happened to your team Corporal? I know you were in one of the labs with Crane."
"Right. We moved in to one of the medical labs in the lower levels to secure Scarecrow. We found out that he was experimenting with his toxin on some of the captured staff. Half the team stayed behind to secure the doctors, the other half went to apprehend Scarecrow. Next thing I know the alarms in the labs are going off. The decontamination system starts spewing out his Fear Toxin, and the lab goes into lockdown. Before the doors close, one of the doctors yells for me to get help and pushes me out of the room. I turn tail and run. God… The screams I heard coming from the room… They… They..."
"No. Don't think about that now. Focus. How long ago was this?"
The officer stood up, he looked at his watch.
"Fifteen minutes maybe."
"So he has a head start, wonderful."
He looked to the officer who was now fully on his feet.
"Check in with Gordon. Tell him you've been exposed to Fear gas. Then follow his instructions."
"What about you?"
Nightwing looked at the officer, a cold look on his face. His voice was low.
"Crane is MINE"
He turned on his heels and headed towards the elevators.
"Oracle. Check the medical security cameras. I need to know if Scarecrow has left the building and I need to know NOW."
Her voice was in his ear.
"Looping all camera feed now. I've narrowed the search to the time Gordon got the call to now."
"Just… Get it done."
"Dick, your voice. It's tense."
"This isn't a simple break out attempt Oracle. Joker has been planning this. But why now? Why tonight? After a year of nothing and he comes back. And that's the other thing, he knew about the Blackgate inmates. He knew the Warden had them sent here."
"You don't think he was in contact with Sharp do you?"
"No. He wouldn't make that mistake again. He has to have an inside source. He knew the inmates were transferred, and he knew which high profile inmates were incarcerated…"
"I've played back the security footage, nobody has been in or out except for you. Scarecrow must still be inside."
"Good. I need another favor."
"Anything."
"Look through Arkham's personnel files. Find who's had shifts guarding Joker in the past, or anyone on staff that would have close ties to him. Find a connection, and we'll find his inside source."
"I'll get on it."
Nightwing hit the button to the elevator, ready to descend into the labs. He put his finger to his ear again.
"Rachel's been unusually quiet, what's she up to?"
"Oh, yeah. She took your spare bike and went to help with one of Joker's bombs they found outside Mercy General."
"Well, as long as she's not here… Wait… She took my spare bike? The black Ducati? The new one?"
"I think so? That's the only one that was here."
"Well, if I'm going to trust anyone with it, it's her. Let's hope she doesn't have any problems with Bullock."
The elevator arrived and Nightwing stepped into it. He pressed the button to take him into the labs. Oracle was in his ear again.
"I gave her Batman's symbol of authority and a second cryptographic sequencer. Want me to patch her in?"
"No. She'll only want to come here."
"What is the deal with her going to Arkham? I know the speech you gave her was only half the truth."
He took a deep breath.
"The darkness here. The pain and suffering, the negative emotions. They'll take a toll on her."
"Oh right, she's an empath!"
"Exactly. And if Joker manipulates her, or uses me against her… Let's not go there…"
Oracle's voice waivered.
"So you don't trust her?"
Nightwing looked down.
"There's nobody I trust more. I don't trust myself…"
The elevator hit the bottom floor with a sudden stop.
"I'm in the labs. I need to track Crane, I'll call you later. Keep me updated on the bombs."
"Be careful…"
Nightwing stepped from the elevator and looked around. He began to walk down the long corridor, then he saw the lab the officers were trapped in. The walls were made of polycarbonate glass, to protect the inmates and doctors in case of riots or a patient becoming violent. Nightwing could see the entire lab was flooded with fear gas. The bronze colored gas covered every square inch of the lab. He narrowed his eyes and peered through the gas as best he could. He saw silhouettes in the room, then suddenly a figure appeared in front of him on the other side of the glass. It pounded on the glass and began screaming. Nightwing jumped back in a defensive stance.
"Shit! They're still in there!"
The figure kept pounding on the glass. Nightwing was able to make out the uniform; GCPD. The officers and doctors were still in the lab, they had been exposed to the gas for who knows how long. Nightwing ran to the ventilation controls. He vented the room and walked to the entrance of the lab. The bronze gas began to be vented out of the room. As the gas cleared he could see the officers inside the lab. Most of them were in corners or in feeble position against the walls. After about half a minute the room was cleared. The lockdown on the room was lifted and he walked in. Nightwing surveyed the scene, officers panicking and hallucinating.
"Gordon? I've found your team. They were locked in a lab and exposed with Fear Gas. All of your men look to be accounted for."
The gruff voice was in his ear.
"Thanks Nightwing. How are they?"
"Uninjured. Being exposed to the gas though… That'll most likely leave psychological scars…"
"We can get them counseling if we need to but right now-"
Nightwing spotted something in the corner of his eye.
"Hold that thought."
Nightwing ran over to what he had seen; one of the officers had been shot in the shoulder. He kneeled down, the man was in shock. He heard an officer whimpering on the other side of the room.
"I'm sorry… I thought he was… It's the gas… It-"
Nightwing looked at the officer who was mumbling.
"Don't. I know…"
He looked back to the injured officer, Gordon was in his ear.
"Nightwing. Report. What happened?"
He put a finger to his ear.
"One officer was shot. Friendly fire."
"What? Dammit! Who?"
"Santiago."
"How bad?"
Nightwing began looking him over. He saw the entry wound in his shoulder. He slowly moved the man forward, he saw the exit wound on the other side.
"Shoulder wound. Through and through. He'll be fine once the bleeding stops."
"Okay. I'll send a doctor with an escort."
"Contact Aaron Cash. His team is holed up in the manor. I'm sure he or one of his team could bring a doctor here."
Nightwing stood up, and started rummaging through the medical supplies in the lab. He found what he was looking for and began to stop the bleeding on the wounded officer. After a minute he heard Gordon in his ear.
"Nightwing, I contacted Cash. He's bringing doctor young to the lab himself. Says his team is secure."
"Copy Gordon. I've stopped the bleeding as best I can."
"So what's the plan? You staying until Cash arrives or tracking?"
"Need to track Crane. If he gets loose…"
"Understood Nightwing. Radio me if you need anything."
He stood up from the wounded officer, who was now coming out of shock.
"What's going on...? The last thing I remember is-"
"Easy. You're in shock. You've been shot. Medical is on its way. Keep pressure on that."
He stood up and began walking to the entrance of the lab.
"You've all been exposed to Fear Gas. It's still in your systems. All of you need to take deep breaths and keep your heart rates low or else the gas will take hold of you again."
Nightwing walked through the entrance, Oracle was in his ear.
"Nightwing? Raven investigated the bombs. You were right. They were full of marzipan and kittens."
"Just a diversion. He's trying to keep GCPD away from the island. And now that you have control of the network, his control of the island is slipping… That makes him unpredictable. And dangerous. Any word from Batman?"
"No."
His voice was low. For the first time, he began to worry.
"Bruce. What have you gotten yourself into...?"
Oracle came back in his ear.
"It's Bruce right? He'll be fine."
"Normally I'd agree with you. But whatever the Court of Owls did to him… And Damian before that… It's getting to him."
Nightwing took another step, then he heard a voice. THAT voice. His blood turned to ice, and his a shiver ran down his spine. He looked up.
"Hellllloooooo? Anybody there? Paging doctor Bird-Brain. Paging doctor Bird-Brain."
In front of him was a flat screen with Joker on it. Joker was standing in a room staring at the screen. Joker must have spotted him from a security camera. Joker saw Nightwing through the monitor and that damn smile appeared on his face. Nightwing clenched his fists.
"Joker…'
"You were expecting maybe Two-Face?"
"What do you want Joker?
"Oh the usual. A laugh here, a giggle there."
"Uh, huh. And why are we talking?"
"Y'know I really thought it was Batman who was taking out my guys and restored Arkham to the network. All up until twenty minutes ago. Want to know how I know?"
"Not really."
"OH come on. Guess. Pleeaaaase?"
Nightwing rolled his eyes. He wasn't in the mood for one of Joker's games.
"You looked in a security camera? Talked to one of your guys?"
"Party pooper. What kind of answer is that?"
"No games Joker. What do you want?"
"Well, I just wanted to let you know that Uncle Joker has an early Christmas present for his most favorite Robin."
Joker looked to his right then back to the screen. His smile grew. He held up a finger to the screen.
"Just a second…."
Joker reached over to the screen and turned it to the left, Nightwing could see more of the room Joker was in. It was a security room in the Intensive Treatment building on Arkham North. As Joker panned the screen, Nightwing could see what Joker wanted him to. He saw Batman tied to a heavy metal chair, his suit had some wear and tear, and it looked like he had taken a bullet to the right pectoral judging by the exposed Kevlar. Batman looked at the screen, Nightwing met his eyes. In that moment, his anger rose. Joker moved back to the screen and moved it over again so Batman was out of view. Nightwing narrowed his eyes, his voice cold, threatening.
"I'm coming for you Joker… "
Joker just grinned.
"Oh I'm planning on it. But I'm not quite ready for you. So what shall I do? Oh! I know! I've got friends flying from ALL over Arkham for you."
Joker turned the screen the opposite direction this time, revealing three more monitors. From left to right he saw rooms he had previously been in, Archives where Cash's team was, the security room where he saw Gordon pacing with a radio in his hand, and finally he saw the room he was standing in now. Joker walked in front of the screen again.
"Oh would you look the time? I think it's time for our party guests to make an appearance."
On each screen Nightwing watched as all the work he had done in the last hour was undone. He saw as the room where Cash had previously been in, the lights went out in the room. For a minute and a half he watched the screen. When the lights came back on, he could see that the room had been cleared of all Cash's staff. Almost immediately he saw the next screen, he saw an Arkham guard he recognized; Frank Boles. He wasn't the cleanest guard but he did his job. Nightwing watched as the two of them struck up a conversation, Gordon turned his back to him to look at a screen. Once he turned around Boles took out a security baton and hit him over the head and knocking him out. Gordon crumbled to the floor. Nightwing glared, anger rising, fists clenched. Joker took the screen back.
"So did you enjoy the show Nightwing? Looks like you have some options. Whose party are you going to crash? Mine to rescue Father dearest, after the team of guards in the mansion, or rescue dear old Commissioner Gordon? Ohhh Choices, choices, choices."
Nightwing glared at the screen. Anger spiking. He was going through his options. He knew exactly what Joker was doing, stalling for time. He also knew what he wanted to do, go straight to Joker and knock him out. But he knew if he did that, Gordon or Cash's team would be injured or killed. Still going over his options, he heard Batman yell from the room.
"Don't worry about me go after Gordon! If he's not running the operation GCPD won't be organi-"
He saw Joker walk off screen then heard a grunt from Batman.
"Quiet Bats! We don't need you spoiling the party now do we?"
Nightwing spoke through gritted teeth.
"If you think I'll just let you win…"
"Blah, blah, blah! Always with the hero speak. Now if you'll excuse me, I have inmates to organize and a bat to clip. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
The monitor went dark. Nightwing glared down at the ground.
"Fuck…"
He turned on his heels and began running the way he came. He hit the elevator and hit the button to take him back to ground level. He was anxious, he punched the wall of the elevator. He put a finger to his ear.
"Oracle?"
His voice was low, cold.
"Dick… Your voice… It's…
"It's Joker. He's got your father!"
"No! Dad!"
"Don't worry, I'm getting him back. And Batman… He's been captured.
"Dick… Raven's on her way. I'm calling Kate. And Jason. They can be there in-"
"Kate's out of town… And Jason is running a mission with Artemis. I can handle it. ALONE."
"Dick this isn't you… You're acting exactly like HIM"
"Yeah… I've heard that a lot lately."
Nightwing was so focused on arguing with Oracle he didn't notice the gas that was pouring in through the filtration systems. The elevator got to the top floor and Nightwing took a step forward. That's when it hit him, Fear Gas. Joker had flooded the elevator shaft with his gas and Nightwing had been breathing it in the entire time. The room began spinning, then his vision blurred. Then blackness.
12:30 A.M
Arkham North
Arkham Asylum: Main Gate
Raven made it to Arkham Asylum, she sped through the main gate and parked her bike outside Arkham Manor.
"Oracle? I'm here"
"Good. Listen, things have changed. Batman has been captured, my dad taken hostage, Cash's team has been recaptured, and Nightwing's vitals… They don't look good."
Raven put her helmet on the handlebars and pulled her leg over the bike, she looked around.
"So in other words I'm in the shit? Got it."
"I need you-"
A wave of energy washed over Raven. A dark negative energy. Then emotions. The emotions of long buried inmates. Their fear, anger, loss of hope, and rage of every buried inmate. She could feel it all. It was almost too much for her. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and centered herself.
"Azarath. Metrion. Zinthose."
At first it helped, then suddenly it didn't. Her 'other side' reveled in the negative emotions. Her tattoos appeared, a ring of magic appeared around her feet. She was fighting for control.
"Not now… Not here…"
Her eyes changed. Her violet eyes were gone, in their place were four orange colored eyes. Her 'other side' was winning. The demon blood was flowing strongly through her veins. Her fists were clenched so tight that her nails drew blood. Like it was an instinct she brought her palm to her mouth and licked the blood, it almost completely covered her lips. She smirked, the taste of blood was always a turn on for her demon form. Once Raven tasted the metallic taste of blood she knew what was happening. She had to gain control again. Raven meditated harder, her tattoos began to fade and the magic ring at her feet subsided. She heard Oracle in her ear again.
"Uh Raven? You okay?"
She answered.
"I'm fine."
Her voice wasn't her own. When she spoke, there were two voices. A darker, colder version of her voice. And a more demonic voice. The voice made Oracle's blood go cold.
"Raven? What's going on? Your voice is…"
"I said I'm fine!"
She yelled in her demonic voice. Then she began to come back to herself.
"Just… Give me a minute Oracle."
Her voice was under control again.
"Azarath. Metrion. Zinthose."
She forced all the air in her lungs out. Then as quickly as it came, her demon form was gone. She was herself again. She could still feel the negative emotions, but as long as she kept her anger in check, she would be in control.
"Sorry Oracle. I'm here. What did you need?"
Oracle responded.
"What. The hell. Was that?"
"Let's just say that SHE wanted to come out and play. But I'm in control."
"Riiiiggggght. Anyway, what I was say was I need you to head to Arkham Mansion. It's in Arkham East. Aaron Cash's team was captured there, need you to find them and to check on Warden Sharp."
"What about Gordon?"
"Nightwing's on that. If I don't hear from him by the time you're done, then he will be your priority."
"What about Nightwing? And Batman?"
"They can handle themselves. Cash's team and the Warden are your priority. Now that you're there at least Nightwing will have backup."
"Alright. I'm on my way to the mansion. Let you know what I find."
Raven flipped her hood up to cover half her face. She took a step and walked towards the tunnel to Arkham East."