Welcome to the Madness

Eleanor Piper's POV.
Time to catch you guys up to speed from where we left off. Batman and I were able to find something to track Officer Boles to Commissioner Gordon. However, we ran into a few obstacles. Such as Harley Quinn dropping an elevator on top of us and the trail lead to a dead end. And I literally mean D-E-A-D.

Thanks to Officer North, Batman and I finally have an exit from Intensive Treatment. Now we can continue our search for Commissioner Gordon and get him the hell off this island.

After our conversation with Officer North, he walked slowly to a dead comrade on the floor in the room. He knelt down and closed his eyes respectfully.

"I'm sorry, buddy." he said solemnly.

I don't want to imagine doing that to another family member, I had already enough losses in my life. My mother. My younger half-sister. My aunt, uncle and cousin. And My boyfriend.

That's why I left the circus to be my own person. To find out what makes a psychopath kill. Being blind means being a good listener.

I quickly followed Batman through the door leading to the Utility Corridor. Before moving on, I noticed one of the many Riddler trophies that Nygma said he hid all over Arkham Island. It was hiding behind a weak, cracked concrete wall. I think we need something controlled-explosive to destroy it.

Then, I heard a tune in the distance. It sounded like one of Gotham's news channels, the Jack Ryder Show.

Jack Ryder is very narcissistic about his job, reason why I dislike him, but not too much, only his egotism I dislike.

Batman and I walked through the corridor until we entered a locker room with mangled doors and ruined walls.

On a creaky bench, there was a radio. The radio was small and in a rectangular cuboid shape and the channel it's on was '134.5 FM: Gotham Radio, Jack Ryder'.

The music stopped as it switched on to the news. Batman and I listened:

"We apologized for this interruption of our regular broadcast. Jack Ryder is live from the Gotham Bay area with some breaking news!" A reporter announced before switching to the host, Jack Ryder.

"This is Jack Ryder with breaking news in the Gotham Bay. We’re getting reports of an armed siege on Arkham Island. Two minutes ago, Joker broadcasts all news channels with this chilling message." Jack reported before switching to the message by the demented clown-like psychopath.

"Greetings, Gotham. This is the voice of your new master!" Joker started in a low and chilling tone, until he returned to normal and noticed something, "Oh, hang on... I skipped a bit!" Joker cleared his throat, "Ahem, Joker here! I'm in control of Arkham Island and you can all consider it out of bounds! If I see any lawmen, vigilantes, or do-gooders in tights coming this way, I'll start detonating random bombs around the city."

Guess Robin and Nightwing are gonna be very occupied in the city then.

Then Joker asked, "What'll it be? A kindergarten? A hospital? A billionaire’s mansion?" He chuckled like a kid in a candy store, "Choices, choices, choices!"

"All access to the island has been restricted. Air spaces closed off and earlier reports suggest that Batman himself is trapped on the island. We'll be right here coming to you live on any developments. Back to the studio." Jack finished and switched back to the main studio.

“Thanks, Jack. More into it as it happens,” The studio announced, as the radio returned to its scheduled music tunes.

Batman and I exit the locker room, by a door on the other side. It lead to a small space with numerous stacks of paper or files. Batman spotted a ventilation grate and forced it open. I followed Batman through the shaft.

I started to hear rain coming from around us. We must be out of the building and inside a hillside cave just outside Arkham Mansion. We made it to the exit and Batman pushed the exit open.

Batman and I landed on the solid ground that is leading outside. I have to admit. It felt good to feel soft ground under my hooves. The flooring of the Asylum is so out of balance, I can understand why humans need to wear shoes.

Batman and I reached a ledge and climbed it our own way. Batman by his grappler. Me by running up it. We walked out of the cave and took in the site of the main part of Arkham Island.

The Mansion. The Botanical Gardens. The Graveyard. You can even see Gotham and the tower of Wayne Enterprises from across the bay.

I took a deep breath of the wet air around me. You could smell the fragrances of the flora in the Botanical Gardens from all over Arkham. It felt welcoming, but haunting at the same time. Made me feel relaxed.

However, I didn't have time to relax. We had to find Commissioner Gordon.

The Dark Knight wasted no time to let the scenery sink in, as he used his cape to glide down to the main level of the island. I followed after him by climbing down the hill.

As soon as my hooves touched the grass of the ground, a distorted version of the intercom tune played, followed by Joker's voice.

"Hmm, Harley tells me that the Batman's car is still parked just outside of the Intensive Treatment building. Now, we can’t just have him up and leave us, can we? Every thug, villain, murderer, and kindergarten teacher that isn't carrying out party orders, should head down now and smash it to pieces!"

I switched on my comm and told Oracle, "Oracle, disable the Batmobile’s countermeasure system."

"I saw the alert, what’s wrong? Where are you?" She asked.

"Batman and I are just outside Arkham Mansion. Harley must've triggered the alarm." I answered, "If she's still got your father with her, he could get hurt."

Oracle nodded, "Okay, done!" Then she added, "The Batmobile is parked outside of the Intensive Treatment building in Arkham North. I've sent you both the schematics of the entire island. I've also marked key locations just like the car."

I nodded, "Thanks, Oracle. Batman's gonna need 'em."

"You know, you're actually quite good in this hero business." Oracle smiled, "After this is all over, you should join the Bat Family."

"I appreciate the offer, Babs." I smiled back, "I'll think about it."

I put the comms on stand-by and started looking for Batman. He left in such a hurry I couldn't know where he was going. I placed my hand on the ground and focused my thoughts on the vibrations around me.

Security guards were patrolling. Batman was standing on the other side of the right garden gate of Arkham Mansion.

Without a moment of thought or hesitation, I ran to his location. The Dark Knight was staring at another plaque of Arkham's Chronicles.

"There you are. Did you hear? The Batmobile's under attack." I informed as I landed from leaping over the gate.

Batman looked at me, "Sorry. I got caught up." Then he looked back at the plaque, "Can you read this?"

I looked at the plaque, then nodded, "Sure."

I knealt down to the plaque and started rubbing my hand against the carvings, reading out loud,

'My family's blood ran through the heart of Gotham.
We were doctors, politicians, and teachers; we have been the organ cleaning the arterial filth from the city.
We have been its servants giving all to protect it. And it has still chosen to hurt us.'

Like before, Batman stared blankly at the plaque. His aura told me he was deep in thought, but the vibrations of his heartbeat told me something completely different.

Cautious, I waved my hand over his face, "Batman? Hello, Dark Knight? Arkham to Batman."

Batman blinked and looked at me, "Did you say something?"

I lowered my hand, "No. But you've been blanking out a bit lately." Then I asked in a genuine worried tone, "You feeling alright?"

Batman shook his head, "I'll be fine. Make your way to Arkham North. I'll meet you there in a minute."

"But, Batman-" I was about to interject, but he used his grapple and disappeared into the balcony.

I sighed and made my way to Arkham North. I walked to the gate as it opened. Inside, an archway made of stones and bricks hover over.

In front, an ambulance is parked. I sensed two armed Blackgate inmates on the other side of the archway, ready to shoot anything in front of them.

Unfortunately, the ambulance barricade left a guard dead from gunshot wounds. Another guard was alive and looking over the deceased comrade.

I walked over to the guard. He looked at me and gasped, "Miss. Piper? How did you get out of Intensive Treatment?"

"Batman helped." I answered casually.

The guard shook his head and lightly smiled, "Well, I'm glad someone is here, who knows what she's doing." The his smile faded, "I can't believe it, they killed Jackson."

"Stay with your colleague." I told him, then added, "If you see Batman. Tell him I'm on the other side. He'll know what it means."

He nodded in understanding. With that, I made my way to the top of the archway by climbing the ambulance and being swift, avoiding the armed threats' attention.

I silently climbed down to the ground behind them. I snuck on one and muffled his mouth and throat, silencing his screams. He fell silently.

The next inmate, I kicked the back of his knee and put him into a Sleeper Hold, "Ssshhh..." He fell limp and quiet.

With the threats taken care of, I walked through another mechanical door, automatically opening, leading me to North Arkham.

As I suspected, six Blackgate inmates vandalizing the Batmobile with pipes and weapons, two humans, three Bat Eponians and one Changeling. The Batmobile’s extremely durable but it had several dents in the body and the windshield is cracked by the many blunt blows.

I continued to walk towards them to end this nonessential vandalism.

Some were hitting the vehicle with metal pipes and some were kicking it and some standing, observing the gradual damage of the vehicle.

Luckily for them, I disabled the countermeasure of the Batmobile. If it’s still active, they will be fried by now. I know cause I tired. I threw a ninja star at one, knocking him down. The other five were alarmed as I walk smoothly towards them, with fear in their eyes.

"It's the Blind Piper! How did she get out?!" One of the human thugs shouted.

I charged toward the henchmen, as another distorted chime rang and Joker spoke again,

"The entire island will soon be under my control! That’s right, boys and girls. Mine! Mine, mine, mine, mine, mine! Just wait until you see my plans for the place. It's going to be glorious!" He announced, cackling afterwards.

I took out the henchmen with ease. When you've been learning martial arts since you learned how to walk o your own, you're truly a deadly force to be reckoned with.

Once the last henchmen fell to the ground and I flexed my hands, the gate to Arkham Mansion and the Botanical Gardens opened to reveal Batman.

I turned and folded my arms with a small smirk, "What took you so long?"

Batman gave me a glare, "I told you to wait at the gate."

I unfolded my arms and turned to him, "And let Harley get away? Mr. Wayne, this Asylum, the Joker and Nygma's taunts are getting into your head. Don't let them. That means they win."

I could feel Batman's icy cold glare aiming at me. His glare softened. He knew I was right.

Then he asked, "How did you know about-"

"That you're Bruce Wayne? CEO and owner of Wayne Enterprises?" I finished, then smiled, "I'm blind, not stupid. Besides, I recognised your voice. Same how I know Barbara Gordon is Oracle and my cousin in Nightwing."

"You're Dick Grayson's cousin?" He asked.

"Second cousin, once removed." I corrected, then assured, "Your secret's safe with me, Batman. No-one believes a blind Eponian from the looney bin."

I sensed Batman smile, then he walked toward the trunk of the Batmobile. The trunk opened, and he grabbed a gadget.

Then Batman closed the trunk and looked around, "Harley trashed the car. Looks like there was a scuffle."

I nodded then pointed out, "Maybe Gordon left something behind for us to follow."

Batman nodded. We began looking around for clues. I started searching the ground. A strange and familiar scent reached my nose. It smelled like burning leaves with an addicting scent.

Tobacco smoke!

I followed the scent and my hoof nudged something wooden on the ground. The smell was really strong around this area.

I pick up the wooden object and felt its shape. It was a tobacco pipe. It had the initials 'J. W. G' written on its side.

James W. Gordon.

"Batman. I found Gordon's pipe." I alerted.

Batman walked over and looked at the pipe, "Strange. Barbara gave this to him. There's no way he'd leave it."

I nodded in agreement. Curious, I dipped my finger into the pipe. I sniffed the remaining ash. I know that scent too well.

Recognition hit me and I gasped, "Wild Country! Gordon's favorite tobacco."

Batman nodded, "Gordon's smarter than he looks! Left us a trail to follow."

I quickly contacted Oracle, "Oracle. We found a pipe. It has your father's initials carved on it." I informed her.

"It was a birthday gift I gave him last year. There's no way he'd leave it." Oracle added sadly.

I nodded, "Exactly. He's left us a trail to follow. He’s alive, Barbara."

With that, Batman and I followed the trial of tobacco. Father via his forensic vision and I via my sense of smell. The intercom tune chimed again. This time, it was back to normal.

Joker spoke from the intercoms, "Anyone seen the big bad Bat? I warn you. He may look like an idiot and talk like an idiot, but don't let that fool you. He really is an idiot." He cackled and went silent again.

"That's not funny, Joker!" I shouted to the speakers at the door to Intensive Treatment, as Batman wondered off toward the main gate.

Without a doubt he didn't hear me. Oh well. I needed to get that out.

"Eleanor! I found another plaque." I heard Batman shout from the worn out building that leads to the sewers of the island.

I ran to the Dark Knight's location and sensed the plaque. Obvious that he wanted me to read it out to him, I knealt to eye-level with the stone tablet, ran my hand over the carvings and read it out loud,

'As Gotham's veins slowly filled with pain and suffering, the effects were felt everywhere.
My father fell first, infected with some foul disease; my mother lived on, but only in a dream.
I returned to the family home to care for her where she remained in her bed for as long as her body continued to breathe.
Her tears kept me awake at night.'

My ears picked up on something below. I followed my ears and found something where it doesn't belong. Another Riddler Trophy. I jumped down and aimed to pick it up. However, the moment my fingers touched the question mark, it shocked me with strong static.

I quickly retreated my hand and took a step, "Ow! Damn it!"

"Sorry, Miss. Piper. This is Batman's challenge. Not yours." Nygma told me over the comms, with a laugh in his tone.

I sighed and shrugged my shoulders in a sarcastic tone, "Oh, thanks for the heads up, Nygma."

Then Joker started rambling randomly over the intercoms. While Batman continued to look for Riddler's trophies and solves his riddles within the area.

I sighed and made my way to the door to Arkham West. I checked the security door and it was locked. Damn! I looked over and saw a weak concrete wall. Must lead to a hidden door on the other side. This security door was always faulty.

I walked over to the concrete wall, went on all-fours and started kicking the wall with my hooves. After five kicks, the wall started to feel like it was going to collapse upon itself. I gave a final kick and the wall fell apart, giving passage to the tunnel.

"Now you're showing off." I heard the Dark Knight's voice speak from behind me.

I turned and light-heartedly shrugged, "Hey. Saves explosive gel, doesn't it?"

Batman thought for a second, then nodded, "Fair enough."

With that, Batman and I entered the tunnel, following the tobacco trail to Gordon and Harley Quinn.