Batman: Squid Games

Chapter Three: Red Light, Green Light

The cold, metallic air of the arena was sharp against Matches Malone's skin, thick with the scent of oil and rust. Every step he took was met with the sound of his boots echoing off the arena's steel walls, a reminder that he was far from home. The giant mechanical doll in the center stood motionless, its expression vacant but its eyes glowing red. It was a monstrosity, nearly twelve feet tall, its form made of gleaming metal, with intricate gears and pistons moving beneath the surface. The doll's hands were impossibly delicate for something so menacing, and the red lights that emanated from its eyes were the only visible part of it that seemed alive.

"Red Light, Green Light. One, two, three…"

The doll's voice crackled from hidden speakers, distorting slightly as it began the game. The rules were simple but deadly — advance on the green light, freeze on the red light. But it wasn't just the mechanics of the game that made it dangerous. No, it was the consequence for moving at the wrong time. A split-second mistake, a flicker of hesitation, could mean the end. For some players, the game was a nightmare, but for others like Matches, it was just another test. He had seen worse, fought harder battles.

The players around him shifted restlessly. Their bodies tense, their breathing shallow. They weren't as composed as Matches. He could see it in their eyes — fear, desperation. The doll's head twitched, its red eyes scanning the crowd as if it were searching for the slightest movement. Its sensors were sharp, too sharp for anyone to cheat. But Matches didn't need to cheat. He needed patience. Precision.

"Green Light."

The doll's voice rang out once more, and a few players bolted forward, their feet scrambling to gain ground. They were too hasty. Too reckless. Matches didn't move right away. He didn't need to rush. He took his time, making sure to assess the next move carefully. He needed to be ready when the doll turned back. He could hear the faint shuffle of feet around him, the others trying to outpace each other, their nervous energy filling the air. It was chaos — but it was controlled chaos. He thrived in this kind of environment.

He watched the doll's eyes flicker to the left, then to the right. The perfect moment to make his move. With a subtle shift, Matches moved forward, silent as a shadow, inching his way toward the next safe zone. His steps were steady, his mind alert, constantly tracking the doll's position. He knew the doll's patterns by heart now. It would only take a few more rounds to make it to the exit.

And then he saw her.

A shadow flickered at the edge of the arena, a figure stepping into view like a panther gliding through the darkness. Matches' eyes narrowed instinctively as he caught the subtle movements of her form. There was no mistaking the grace of Lady Shiva, the most dangerous woman in the world. He had crossed paths with her before, but never under these circumstances. She was known for her lethal precision, and though she was calm on the surface, Matches could feel the subtle threat radiating from her.

She was an assassin, a warrior, a force of nature. And now, she was here — in this twisted game.

Matches didn't make eye contact, but he felt the weight of her gaze as it slid across him, analyzing, calculating. He was just another player to her, another obstacle to be avoided or removed, and Matches wasn't sure if she recognized him. She shouldn't. He was just another man in a cheap disguise, an alias he had taken on for the moment. But he knew better than to underestimate her. The moment she saw him as a threat, she would be on him like a hawk on a rabbit.

His instincts flared, but he pushed them aside. Focus. Survive. Those were the only rules now. The only thing that mattered was reaching the exit without drawing attention.

"Red Light."

The doll's voice broke through the tension, and all players immediately froze. Matches stopped mid-step, his body rigid, every muscle still. He could feel the others around him twitching, their anxiety building. He didn't look around, though. His focus was locked on the doll, watching for any sign of weakness.

Then Shiva moved.

It wasn't a sudden burst of motion, but rather an elegant, calculated step. Her eyes never left him, narrowing with a kind of deadly intent that Matches recognized all too well. She was moving closer, edging toward him in a way that made it clear she wasn't just passing by. No, she was making a move, and Matches wasn't about to let her get too close.

Shiva's movements were flawless. Each step was measured, each tilt of her head deliberate. She was studying him, trying to understand who he was, what made him tick. She knew that the others were weak, but Matches? He was a puzzle, and she intended to solve it.

"You don't seem like the others," she said, her voice smooth as silk, a hint of amusement dancing in her words. "You're not afraid. You're calculating. But even the best can make a mistake in a game like this."

Matches stiffened slightly, but only for a second. "Maybe I'm just good at this game," he replied evenly, keeping his tone calm, nonchalant. He couldn't afford to give anything away. "Or maybe I'm just here to survive."

Shiva tilted her head, intrigued. She could see the control in his eyes. But she was no fool. She wouldn't let him fool her for long. She closed the distance between them just a little more, the tension rising with every step she took.

"Green Light."

Before Matches could even process it, Shiva darted forward with the fluidity of a snake striking its prey. Her movements were lightning-quick, her hands shooting out to grab him. She aimed for his throat, a strike so precise it would have killed any other man. But Matches was prepared.

In a blur of motion, he stepped back, his body twisting out of her reach. He wasn't fast enough to completely avoid her, but just enough to dodge the worst of her attack. Her fingers grazed his neck, but he didn't flinch. He didn't even blink.

"You're good," she purred, her eyes flashing with respect. "But you won't get away from me that easily."

Before Matches could respond, the sound of a familiar voice rang out from behind him.

"Hey, you! Watch where you're going!"

Seong Gi-hun, number 456 from Squid Game, charged past them, his sneakers squeaking against the steel floor. Gi-hun had been a wildcard in this deadly game, but Matches knew he wasn't the kind of man to shy away from confrontation. He had seen Gi-hun's tenacity firsthand and recognized it immediately in his sprint towards Lady Shiva.

Shiva's eyes flickered toward Gi-hun, momentarily distracted by the sudden intrusion. She didn't even acknowledge his presence, her gaze still fixed firmly on Matches.

Gi-hun, however, was not deterred. He was quick, moving as fast as he could despite the threat of death hanging over them all. With a burst of energy, he dashed between them, his body blocking Matches from Shiva's view.

"Let me through!" Gi-hun shouted at Shiva, a hint of desperation in his voice. "Just trying to get through the game like everyone else."

Shiva paused, her eyes narrowing. She didn't speak but assessed Gi-hun with the same lethal precision she had shown Matches. But she didn't attack, instead calculating the risk of engaging him further. Gi-hun was not her target; Matches, on the other hand, was.

"Green Light!"

The doll's mechanical voice broke the tension, and once again, the game was in full swing. Players moved forward, but the standoff between the two assassins was far from over.

Gi-hun turned back to Matches with a sly grin. "I think she's all yours now. I'll buy you some time!"

Matches didn't have time to argue. Without a second thought, he moved past Gi-hun, using the distraction to put distance between himself and Lady Shiva. She remained still for a moment, considering her next move, then followed after him, her predatory instincts taking over.

As the two circled the arena, Matches couldn't help but appreciate Gi-hun's timing. The man might not be a fighter, but his ability to make an entrance when it counted was invaluable. Still, the game wasn't over yet. The exit was within reach, but he would need to stay one step ahead, both of Shiva and the deadly mechanical doll that was now recalibrating.

Matches Malone's heart raced, but he kept his composure, using his years of experience to stay calm as chaos erupted around him. Lady Shiva's deadly gaze was still locked on him, her steps following him like a shadow, never letting up.

His hand moved with practiced ease to the inside of his sleeve, where a small, discrete transmitter was hidden. The sleek device blended seamlessly into the fabric of his suit, making it nearly impossible for anyone to notice. It was his silent lifeline, a hidden communication link to Alfred Pennyworth.

Matches thumbed a small button on the device, and in a second, Alfred's calm voice came through the earpiece in his helmet, low and steady.

"Master Wayne, are you in position?"

The sound of Alfred's voice grounded him, steadying his thoughts.

"I'm in position. Now, Alfred," he murmured, barely audible over the sounds of chaos, his eyes flicking back to the mechanical doll as it began its twitching dance across the arena floor. "Initiate the interference. I need you to disrupt the doll and the clock—now."

"Understood."

Alfred's response was immediate, his efficiency never in doubt. Matches could almost imagine Alfred's fingers flying across the control board in the Batcave, entering precise commands to activate the satellite network.

Outside of the arena, hidden far above in the depths of the atmosphere, Alfred had access to a network of satellites capable of altering electrical frequencies, blocking signals, and scrambling systems. The same satellite that Bruce had used for years to deal with Gotham's most dangerous criminals, or to find a solution when he couldn't rely on physical force. It was time to use it for this.

Alfred's voice came back, just a whisper in his ear. "Disruption sequence initiated. The signal will be scrambled in five, four, three—"

The countdown that had once sounded steady and mechanical now turned to a garbled, distorted buzz. It was like a wave hitting the doll, and almost immediately, the towering creature jerked violently, its massive frame shaking as if struggling against some unseen force. The red lights in its eyes blinked erratically, the once-predictable movements grinding to a halt.

The doll's massive gears—those that had once moved in perfect, rhythmic order—now ground against each other in a harsh, shrill screech. Its mechanical arms stopped mid-swing. The electronic voice it used to command the game sputtered, turning from the authoritarian tones of "Green Light!" and "Red Light!" to nothing more than a jumbled mess of static.

"What—" Lady Shiva's voice was laced with confusion as she glanced back at the malfunctioning machine.

"Now's our chance," Matches whispered, his voice barely audible. But the moment of distraction was short-lived. Shiva's attention was already back on him, a piercing gaze that never relented.

"Impressive," she purred, almost as if she were toying with him, trying to gauge his next move. "But even a malfunction won't save you from me."

But Matches knew something she didn't. His mind raced as he watched the clock—its hands no longer moving in synchronicity, stuttering as if it were being powered by something faulty. Every tick seemed to drag, each second drawn out unnaturally, giving him a precious window of time.

And that was when he felt it—the real magic of Alfred's interference.

With the signal scrambled, the doll's internal timing mechanism was thrown off entirely. The countdown clock, too, began to glitch in the most frustrating of ways. For the doll, that meant it was no longer able to track the players' movements. The carefully calculated pattern of Red Light, Green Light had been shattered. The game was no longer just about speed or precision—it was now about survival in a world where the rules no longer applied.

"Green Light!"

The voice rang out again, but this time, there was no precision. The tone was broken, fragmented. Players around Matches were still frozen, uncertain of whether it was the doll's command or another trick. They didn't know what to do—some started to move, but others hesitated, unsure.

Matches saw his opportunity. His legs carried him forward swiftly, darting around the players who had been immobilized by the doll's failure. The arena was a frenzy of disarray now, and every second mattered. He was moving closer to the exit.

Shiva, however, was still a threat. As Matches darted toward the door, her speed was unparalleled. She could close the gap between them in seconds, her footsteps like whispers on the wind.

"You're not leaving this arena, Malone," she called, but there was no urgency in her voice—just an icy resolve. "Not without answering my questions."

Matches' eyes flicked to the side, seeing the towering doors ahead. The exit was just within reach, but Shiva was hot on his heels.

"We'll see about that," Matches muttered under his breath, his pulse quickening. He pushed harder, faster, weaving through the players. A final burst of speed, and the arena's exit was just a few feet away.

In that brief moment, Matches dropped to the ground, rolling to the side. As he did, he activated another part of the transmitter, sending out a secondary signal—a pulse that activated another part of Alfred's satellite system. A deep, resonating hum echoed across the arena as a secondary wave surged through the doll's systems.

Suddenly, a series of sparks exploded from the mechanical doll's chest, followed by a deafening crash as the doll collapsed to the ground in a heap of smoking parts. The last of its lights flickered out, its voice trailing into oblivion.

The clock above the door froze. The countdown had ended.

In the stunned silence, Matches stood up, his eyes locking with Shiva's once more. Her eyes narrowed, but this time, there was no longer any trace of amusement. She was a hunter thwarted.

"Next time, Malone," she said coldly, retreating into the shadows, her promise hanging in the air.

But Matches didn't look back. He didn't need to. The arena was silent now, the chaos quieted. He could hear Alfred's voice crackle again in his earpiece, calm and composed as always.

"You're safe, Master Wayne. But you'd better make your exit quickly before the others regroup."

Matches paused, letting the quiet of the moment sink in. He didn't respond right away, taking in the stillness of the arena. He could already hear the others scrambling to find their way out. But for now, he was ahead of them. And for once, the game was over.

"I'll be there soon, Alfred."

With that, Matches Malone moved toward the exit, leaving the broken doll and the chaos behind him, knowing that Lady Shiva's pursuit was far from over, and the games had only just begun.

"That was quite a show," Gi-hun said while patting Matches on the shoulder. "I think your girlfriend may not be so happy though.

'You have no idea my friend," Matches replied.

To be continued...