Chapters Narrator's POV.
This is the introduction to all of the chaos, not in Gotham, but on Arkham Island.
The rain poured the city and the thunder rolling continuously in the night sky. Mist and fog cloaked the entire city in a mysterious silhouette with the buildings' lights shone brightly across the river. Lightning flashed in various locations at different times and different patterns. The citizens of Gotham, human and Eponian alike, sheltered inside their homes, protected by the wrath of nature in a form of a storm.
Unknowing to the sleeping citizens, sirens blared from the other side of Gotham at City Hall. The Mayor was about to resign his term for a mayoral campaign but a certain criminal decided to end his life by the explosion of a bomb.
He is a human, like myself, with literal white skin and red lips. Painted on smile with lipstick or paint. Purple tailcoat with matching pants. A yellow collared shirt with a green bow tie and wilted flower. Alongside, he had green hair. The most terrifying and dangerous feature of the Joker is his green eyes.
The eye has six forms with fifteen different variations. When the eye is open, the man is contented, surprised, appalled, or any other emotion that involves a form of shock or anxiety, positive or negative.
When the eye closes, he is angry, depressed, envious, or any other emotion that involves a form of negative energy.
His eyes, those endless portals of madness and hatred and death and destruction: the green irises glow whenever in a dark silhouette, giving the darkness an ominous and evil presence. Those eyes are blank, filled with nothing but pure hate and evil.
He'll laugh at anything, from bad jokes to death of millions, even billions. He cares absolutely nothing to anyone whatsoever, he'll lie like the Devil, he laughs like the sickest jester, and he kills like the lowest criminal.
In my Rogue Gallery, a collection of weaponry or items and statues of my enemies, he is the King in my Gallery. He goes by the Clown Prince of Crime, The Comeback King, The Ace of Knaves, The The Clown Prince of Chaos, the Jester of Genocide.
Whenever he looks at you, you will be staring into those atrocious gateways; you will see every horrible crime he had ever committed throughout the past years. Crime has never been this horrendous and elevated before.
It's a repeated cycle, he breaks out of Arkham, creates havoc and decimation, I show up, stop him, and dropped him back to the institution.
It'll never end, not unless one of us ends up dead. That's the point of this war between us: I cannot kill him without becoming like him and he cannot kill me because he'll lose the only person that can keep up with him.
He goes by: The Joker.
Tonight, I apprehended the Joker from City Hall, sparing the Mayor’s life. What I don’t like tonight is that the Joker is a persistent, stubborn, chaotic, and evil individual who will never give up this war that is going on for nearly eleven years right now, eleven years of my Batman duty.
This night, he gave up, almost without a fight. I’ll figure it out when I drop him off on Arkham Island. As I drove my Batmobile through the city, a Royal Guard officer called her other companions about the capture, "All units, head back to Gotham City Hall. Batman has apprehended the Joker, Joker is now en route to Arkham Island."
I drove my vehicle past several police officers and headed to my rogue gallery, the infamous Arkham Asylum as I drove past the sign. "ARKHAM: Hitchhikers may be escaping inmates."
As I continue to drive towards the massive asylum, I ignored the insane clown’s random spouting and talking, either to himself or to me, "Stand back, fool, I got a bomb! Oh, wait, ha!"
Ignoring my captive's incessant noise, I arrived at the Asylum's gates, stone angels with lanterns guarding the iron gates, leading towards the massive institution.
Finally, I could drop off this annoying clown and probably catch some peace, but since the Joker gave up easily, I have to keep a closer eye on him.
"Hey, Bats, aren’t you coming with me, for a little romantic dinner in the loony bin? I hope you don’t have too much time on your hands.” He asked.
His only response was silence.
"Always the strong and silent type, well then, let’s see we can break your silence: Are we there yet, are we there yet, are we there yet, are we there yet, are we there-" I hit her in the face with the back of my fist, but as usual, she continues to yap at the mouth.
As I was ready to hit him again, I sighed in relief that I arrived at the Intensive Treatment building doors, I exited my vehicle and grabbed the Joker's shoulders and carry him inside the building.
The mechanical doors opened automatically when the Joker and I walked in the building. Lights shone as we entered the entrance of the asylum and the tiles and bricks appear to be clean from the last attempts this clown escaped.
She is a tall light cyan Unicorn female Eponian with a mane and tail in multiple shades of purple, neatly tied in a bun. Violet eyes behind a pair of angular glasses, a dark blue business wear, with a red broach on her blue undershirt, and carrying a cane with a ruby with the Arkham insignia in it.
Beside her is a tall Earth pony with black hair, wearing an Arkham uniform. On his left eye is a scar and a glass eye. His name is Officer Frank Boles.
On Cinch's right is a human male, same height as Boles, bald, dark mustache, Caucasian, his name is William North.
Behind North was a teenaged Earth female Eponian in a white lab coat, white collared shirt and black overalls. Her fur coat is a pastel green. Mane and tail are black with pastel indigo and blue streaks. A green hue can be seen in the black. Fetlocks of a clydesdale horse. Black hooves and nails.
She was different compared to Warden Cinch. Her muzzle and fangs are smaller. Five fingers instead of the usual four. She is Half-Eponian.
What surprised me was her eyes. Pale green irises with pale grey pupils. Always with a blank stare. She's blind. What is a blind Eponian doing here as an intern?
They do not look delighted to see Joker; no one was, for he is the bane in Gotham. I brought him in, ignoring the security guards.
Joker looked at Cinch and chuckled, "Hey, Cinchie. Love what you've done with the place."
He gave the teen intern a glance.
"That's 'Warden' Cinch to you." Warden Cinch corrected, adjusting her broach. She glanced at Officer Boles, "Boles."
Officer Boles walked toward Joker. Joker smiled, "Yo, Frank-ay. How's the wife and kids? Ya miss me?"
Boles violently grabbed Joker's collar, "Shut it, Clown! A lot of people here really want to talk to you."
He took Joker from me and escorted him to a gurney, the other two officers were standing next to.
"Really. I don't mind walking." Joker told the officers.
The officers turned him and strapped him on to the gurney. "Not so tight, boys. You'll crease the suit." Joker laughed.
"Get that filthy degenerate out of here." Warden Cinch told the officers.
"Warden, something's not right." I decided to speak up, then started walking, "I'm going with him."
I followed the officers, the intern and Joker into the hallway, that lead into Intensive Treatment.
I turned to Officer North, "Is Commisioner Gordon here yet?"
Officer North nodded, "Yes, sir. He's... err... just waiting for you down at Patient Handover. He got here just before you did."
Warden Cinch grabbed the intern's arm and pulled her away from the group, "Miss. Piper, I strongly advise that you do not accompany this psychopath to see how we handle patient transfers."
'Piper'... One of my best employees, at Wayne Enterprises, had that last name. Ivan Robert Piper. Good worker and a good man. My wife shared the last name as well. Lorraine Susan Piper. A member of the circus with the Flying Graysons. She died over 13 years ago.
The intern pulled her arm out of Warden Cinch's grip, "I can handle myself. I used to be an inmate, remember?" Then she assured, "Besides, I'll be with Batman. If anything goes awry."
The lights switched on, as the intern, Miss. Piper, and I arrived on the elevator.
Joker smirked, "Cinchie loves his cameras. Hey, Cinchie! You getting my good side?" And he chuckled, "But heck, they're all good, aren't they?"
Warden Cinch rolled his eyes in disgust and spoke to Officer North, next to him, "I want him securely locked away this time. Another escape and I will lose support for my mayoral campaign."
Warden Cinch is running for Mayor of Gotham. Her campaign of keeping the criminals in check has been winning the votes so far.
Joker's voice broke my thoughts, "Look at all this new security. How's a guy suppose to break outta here?"
Once the lift reached the lower level, a four-toned tune played then a female voice spoke from the speakers, "New patient in the Intensive Treatment Lobby. All non-essential staff to vacate the area."
Officer Louie Green stopped Miss. Piper from entering the scanning tunnel, "Sorry, Miss. Piper. But, you have to go now."
"She stays." I told him in a strong tone.
Officer Green hesitated, but stepped back, allowing Miss. Piper to follow. The security moved Joker into a metal detector room. Miss. Piper and I entered close behind.
"Oh, it's always nice to return to my sweet little, ha ha, hacienda." Joker sighed with a smile, then he looked at Miss. Piper and whispered very quietly, "Don't you think, Acie?"
"Miss. Piper. And no." She answered back in the same volume.
'Acie'... That was the nickname of Joker's hacker sidekick 'Ace'. No one knew her face or where she was. But, she offered to help me out, when I first encountered Joker.
The officers, Joker, Miss. Piper and I entered the metal detection room and waited for the scanner to activate.
"Tunnel's full. Start the scan." A deep, African-American voice spoke from the speakers.
It must've been Officer Aaron Cash. A loyal, and the best security officer in this damned facility.
"Scan initializing." The operator answered.
The machine started scanning and running down the tunnel.
"Y'know what? I preferred the good ol' cavity search. Much more personal." Joke said, as the scan ran by him.
"Joker!" Miss. Piper scolded.
"What? I'm being honest." Joker shrugged.
Miss. Piper rubbed the bridge of her nose with a sigh. The scan ran over Miss. Piper, Officer Boles and me. The scanner turned red and beeped in alarm.
"We got a red light. Multiple prohibited items." The operator alerted, switching the machine back on stand-by.
"I want Joker searched again!" Officer Cash shouted.
"It's not the patient. It's... er..." The operator tried to answer.
Joker looked at me and smiled, "Whatcha sneak in with you, Bats? C'mon. Tell me, tell me. Batarangs? Batclaws? Bat Snacks?"
I remained silent.
"Scan is green on Joker." The operator spoke up, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"Open the gate. Get him outta there." Officer Cash shouted. The door opened and we mad our way out of the tunnel. "I want weapons on him at all times. Do not let him out of your sight." Officer Cash ordered the security.
"There'll be time enough for you later, Cash." Joker answered him, "Speaking of time, tick, tock, tick, tock. Is that a crocodile I hear?" Joker laughed, then looked over and saw Doctor Rachel Redheart, "What's up, Doc? Counsil me in for tomorrow, at 4. We've got a lot of catching up to do."
Doctor Rachel Redheart is one of the psychologists in the Asylum. An earth Eponian with a pale grey coat. Pink mane and tail tied in a neat bun. And sapphire eyes. Seemingly, cold and calculating, but is now afraid of Joker.
Why?
We continued walking down the hallway, then Warden Cinch's introduction video started playing on the screens.
Joker looked at the screens and smiled, "Oooh, it's my favorite show." He mocked, sounding like Warden Sharp, "'I'm Warden Idiot'. 'You'll never escape'."
Upon the other side of the gate, Joker's men from Blackgate noticed their leader and cheered, as they walked past us.
Joker looked at the bars, "I'm telling you, the state of the wiring in these federal facilities is... Shocking. My boys, over there, could have been hurt in that unfortunate fire."
Miss. Piper raised an eyebrow, "You care, why?"
"Loyalty is one of the best traits in a henchman, my dear." He answered.
We came to a stop as a doctor, a Zebran in light green scrubs, came in, "Just got to check your prisoner, Officer Boles."
"Only following procedure." The doctor shrugged, then looked over Joker, "Patient seems to be in satisfactory condition. Looks like he suffered minor lacerations, probably in the last two hours." Then he took a closer look at Joker, "There seems to be..."
Joker shot his face to the doctor, "BOO!" Then burst into laughter.
The action caused the doctors and security to get away from him in startle. Miss. Piper and I didn't flinch.
Once everything calmed down, Joker asked, "Need to take my temperature? I'd be happy to drop my pants."
Annoyed and disgusted, the doctor answered to Boles, "He's all yours. Get him outta here."
"He's good. Get the door open." The officer, that was driving Joker's bed, told the door operator.
The four-toned tune played again and the female voice spoke, "Alert in Intensive Treatment. Category 9 patient in transit. Pacification system active. Shoot to kill permissions granted."
We wanted into the room and waited for the transit elevator to show up. Along the wall were more security.
"You heard the lady. Another psycho is on the way." The security guard, in front of us, alerted.
The elevator arrived, but seemed to be having a bit of trouble. "Can you smell the excitement in the air?" Joker asked, "No? Huh. Must have been one of the guards, then." Then he looked behind him with a smile, "Croc old boy, is that you?"
The elevator revealed a large creature, with reptilian-like skin, wearing prison pants and shackles, inside. The gate opened so the creature could move out.
"Get ready." An officer alerted, "Keep your weapons trained on it at all times."
Miss. Piper smiled, "Waylon!"
I kept her behind me.
Waylon Jones is another known criminal in Gotham. But he mostly tries to keep to himself in the sewers. The reason he does criminal jobs, is so he could survive.
In the Underworld of Gotham, Waylon is known as Killer Croc, due his appearance. He was born with a rare skin condition, which childhood trauma mutated him into a crocodile-like creature.
As Killer Croc made his way out of the elevator, a guard grimaced, "He looks angry."
Killer Croc got out of the elevator and stood upright, stretching from being cramped in a tight area. A light shone into his face, but he looked unaffected. Croc sniffed the air.
"That thing looks pissed." A guard whispered, as Killer Croc looked at me.
He glared and turned to face me. "What's it doing?" Another guard asked.
"I've got your scent, Batman. I will hunt you down." Waylon growled.
The collar around his neck sparked and shocked Croc out of his aggressive attitude.
Killer Croc snarled, "A toy collar won't stop me from killing you, Batman." Then he walked over to the next room, "I'll rip you apart. Eat your bones."
The other guards followed after him and left the room. To break the tension, Joker spoke up, "That reminds me. I really need to get me some new shoes."
"Ok. Move up." A guard told us.
We walked forward and entered the elevator. The gate closed behind us and the guard shouted, "Hold tight!"
The elevator started going down and Joker cheered, "Wheee! Great night for a party."
"Not where you're going." I answered, finally able to speak after a while of silence.
Joker smiled, "The night is young, Bats. I still have a trick or two up my sleeve. I mean, don't you think it's a little bit funny, how a fire at Blackgate caused hundreds of my crew to be moved here?"
"I thought I told you to stay quiet!" Officer Boles snapped at the Clown.
Miss. Piper pinched her nose with a look of disgust
"Oh, Frankie. You really should learn to keep that fat mouth of yours shut." Joker told Boles, then added in a dark tone and lightly motioning to Miss. Piper, "It'll get you into trouble."
"Tell me something. You've never let me catch you so easily. What are you really after?" I asked.
"Oh, nothing much. Hundreds dying in pain and fear. All their meaningless lives brought to a horrifying conclusion." Joker answered casually, then added in a low tone, "All thanks to you and a book of matches." Then he asked in his normal tone, "Was that the answer you wanted?"
Then, Warden Cinch's extra video started playing, "All patients should avoid contact with prisoners from Blackgate Prison Facility. Their presence in our institution is-"
Suddenly, the elevator stopped working, and the power went off. Joker burst into laughter. The officers started panicking and looking around.
"What's he doing?" The guard asked, then he shouted, "Stay where you are!"
Joker's laughter started to sound choked, as Boles shouted, "Get a flashlight! Get a light on him!"
The elevator regained power and the lights revealed Joker being held by the throat, by me. The video continued where it left off.
Joker looked at me, "What? Don't you trust me?" I let go of him.
"Our guest has arrived." The guard spoke up. The gates in front of us opened.
The four-toned tune played again and the female voice spoke, "Intensive Treatment lower floors are now at level Red Alpha."
Boles, Joker, Miss. Piper, the other guard and I continued walking, making our way to Patient Handover.
"So, you're back. You killed three of my crew when you busted outta here." A guard told Joker, as we walked past him.
Joker faked a gasp, "Only three? I'll be sure to try harder next time. What say we aim for a hundred?"
Once we entered, I noticed Commissioner James Gordon, or Jim, on the desk, filling out the paperwork.
I looked over and asked, "Long night, Jim?"
Commissioner Gordon looked over and smiled, "Heh. Joker invades City Hall and holds the Mayor hostage." He shook my hand in greeting, "Leaving me to juggle SWAT teams, the media and you. Yeah, it's been a helluva night."
He joined us in escorting Joker to his cell. "Hopefully, the last one we'll ever have with him." I noted about Joker.
"Fingers crossed. Run a joke for too long and it's not funny." Miss. Piper spoke.
"Wise words." Gordon smiled at her, then he asked, "What brings you back to this place?"
"Thought I might do good here." She answered.
Once we reached the gate, a security officer stopped us, "Hold it there. Sorry, Batman. Arkham staff only."
"I assure you, if anyone's qualified, it's..." Commissioner Gordon was about to argue, but the officer stopped him, "Listen, I appreciate the assistance. But, he'll unsettle the more violent inmates."
Boles and the guard got Joker out of the gurney and moved him toward the doctor and the officer. He chuckled and looked at me, "I think he's talking about you, Bats." The officer took Joker and the electric field opened. "Don't be a stranger. You're always welcome here. Gotta say, it's good to be back."
The officer and doctor lead Joker into the main lobby and the gate closed behind them.
Gordon looked over to me, who was a little on edge, "You okay?"
"He surrendered, almost without a fight. I don't like it." I answered.
Miss. Piper shook her head in agreement, "Me neither. He sounds too calm." Then she asked me, "Was he smiling the entire journey?"
"Yes." I answered, "Why?"
She shrugged, "Just a hunch."
"At least he's back where he belongs." Gordon noted.
Miss. Piper, Gordon and I walked into the office, and watched the officer and doctor take Joker to his cell. Out of nowhere, Joker collapsed to his knees.
The officer went to his level to help him, "Get up. Now!"
Joker gave him a head-butt, then wrapped his cuffs around his neck, choking him.
"Joker's loose!" Miss. Piper alerted.
"Alert the Warden!" I told Gordon.
"Hurry. We're loosing him, Doc!" Joker pleaded in laughter.
The doctor unlocked the cuffs, freeing Joker. I punched the glass, weakening it. Joker let go of the guard and kicked the doctor to the ground.
He returned to the guard, "The choke's on you."
Then he started dancing and laughing, then pointed at the second electric gate.
He looked at the security camera, "Honey, I'm home."
Within a second, the gate was down. I jumped through the glass, but Joker ran to the other side and announced, as the gate closed again, "Welcome to the Madhouse, Batman. I set a trap, and you sprang it gloriously!"
Joker ran into the office, and the cells opened, "Now let's get this party started."
The inmates, within the cells surrounded us, as Joker spoke again, but in the speaker, "Ladies and maniacs. I apologise for this interruption to your regular entertainment. Up until a few seconds ago, I was going to kill everyone in the room and then watch cartoons. But then... Well... You know how I do love a captive audience."
I took out the inmates with ease. Joker smirked, "I'm just warming you up, Bats. Fresh from Blackgate Correctional Facility, with a combined sentence of 752 years. Ding, ding, ding, ding! It's round two!"
More inmates were released and surrounded me. I took most of them out, but my muscles tensed behind me. I turned to see Miss. Piper take out three of the inmates, behind me, and took a low stance.
Joker checked his watch and alerted, "Sorry. Gotta run. I've got places to go and people to slay." With that he was gone.
Miss. Piper and I were able to take out the last of the inmates. Then, Gordon's appeared on the screen, "The system's jammed. We're stuck in here. Joker's in full control of the security gates!"
"We'll find a way out." I assured, "Gordon, try and contact the Warden. Let him know what's happened. We'll be back."
Joker's image appeared on the screen, as he was running down the hall and looked at security camera, "Don't make promises you can't keep, Bats. I'm in control of the Asylum. You're not going anywhere I don't want you to. Understand?"
In a low tone, I threatened, "If you think I'll let you run..."
"Blah, blah, blah. Always with the hero speak. I'm getting bored of watching you. Why don't you just come find me..." Joker countered. The gate that lead further into Intensive Treatment opened.
Gordon appeared on the screen again, "You know it's a trap."
"Of course it is." I noted.
Miss. Piper's POV. Okay, let me back up a bit. Batman had just stopped Joker's scheme at City Hall that involved Gotham's current Mayor. I arrived to deal with some donation affairs with Wayne Enterprises and Arkham Asylum.
Just before he was taken to his cell in the Asylum, Joker broke loose and took control of the entire facility. Now, it's up to Batman and I to stop him before he hurts anyone beyond the island.
Batman and I followed the hallway, trying to chase after Joker. As we turned a corner, security guards laid dead along the path. My heart burned in anger.
"Everywhere that madman goes, death is sure to follow." Batman muttered under his breath.
My hand balled into fists. I can't believe I grew up with the psychopath of a man. But, I was very young, I didn't know any better.
Suddenly, the alarm sounded, as we ran. The female voice alerted, "Warning. Security breach in level B3. Warning. Security breach in level B2. Warning. Security breach in level B8. Warning Security breach in level B1."
A group of inmates arrived and tried to attack us, but Batman and I took them out with ease. We came to a two-way fork. The left one lead to a locked door and a security guard regaining consciousness, the right lead further into the hallway.
Batman and I walked to the security guard. He looked at Batman and asked, "What happened?"
"Joker happened. You're lucky to be alive." Batman answered.
"He must've gone this way." The guard replied, pointing to the door behind him, "Door's jammed. I'll try and get it open."
Then another voice spoke from the guard's radio, "We need help in Pacification. I repeat, we need backup in Pacification. Can anyone hear this?"
The guard tapped his radio and replied, "Can you hear me? I'm with Batman and Miss. Piper. Hello?"
"Where are they?" Batman asked.
The guard pointed down the hallway, "Back down that way. Do you need help?"
"No. I work better alone." Batman answered.
The guard was about to argue, but his radio went off again, "Zsasz is free! Oh, God. He's got Mike!"
My eyes widen with shock. I recognized the voice on the radio. Zsasz?! Sanity help us all.
Then there were screams and silence. The guard spoke into his radio, "Franklin, can you hear me? If you can, help's on the way."
I quickly grabbed Batman's hand and lead him down the hallway, toward Pacification.
Near the corner of the hallway, Batman something around and into my ear. I felt it. It felt like an earpiece with a button on it.
I pressed the button and Batman asked, "Oracle, can you hear us?"
"Loud and clear. What's up?" A familiar female voice spoke from the other side.
Oracle, or Barbara Gordon, is Commissioner Gordon's only daughter. She used to fight crime alongside Batman, Nightwing and Robin as Batgirl.
How I know is that I recognised her voice when Joker held me hostage. Also I know my cousin, Richard Grayson is Nightwing. I promised not to tell anyone. Hell, I don't even know what anyone looks like.
A few years ago, an accident, involving Joker, rendered her paralysed from the waist-down. So, now she hides in secret and became the crime-fighting information broker, Oracle.
"Good to hear from you, Oracle." I greeted with a smile.
"Ellie?" She recognised, "How did you get this line?"
"Miss. Piper is helping me out. I gave her an earpiece." Batman explained.
I nodded, then went serious, "Joker's escaped custody. He's running free in Arkham."
"Do you two need anything? Is my dad still there?" Oracle asked in genuine concern.
"Commissioner Gordon is safe. Joker is not far ahead. We'll stay in contact." Batman assured.
The door ahead opened, allowing us entrance to Patient Pacification Chamber. Two officers were at the gate, shouting at someone.
The African-American officer, Zach Franklin, noticed us coming and called, "Batman. Over here!" Batman and I approached Officer Franklin.
He sighed in relief, "Thank God. It's Zsasz. He's got Mike. He's strapped in the chair. Zsasz has totally lost it."
"Wait here." Batman told him.
"You can't. He'll kill Mike, if he sees anyone trying to get close." Franklin argued.
"He wont see me." Batman assured.
"I see anything that looks even a little bit like a bat, and this guard dies. Do you hear me?!" We heard Zsasz shout from the chamber.
Electricity followed and a loud scream of pain. Zsasz means business.
Victor Zsasz is another criminal in Gotham. He's well known for killing women and keeping a tally by leaving scars on his body. I think he's trying to imitate Jack the Ripper, but with his own twist.
I looked and saw the office door was open. If working alongside Batman has taught me anything, it's that criminals and henchmen hardly ever look up or below.
I grabbed Batman's hand and lead him to the office part of the chamber, which was set on a second floor and above Zsasz's head.
Batman looked around and patted my shoulder, "Good job, Miss. Piper. Now wait here. I'll deal with Zsasz."
I nodded and crouched behind the fence of the balcony, as Batman used his grappler to hop across the gargoyles, that hanged above the chamber. He got behind Zsasz and delivered a gliding kick. The kick knocked the switch from Zsasz's hand and him to the ground. Batman finished the job by giving Zsasz a punch to the head.
I quickly climbed down and grabbed the switch for the chair. The gates were shut down and Officer Franklin and the guard ran into the chamber.
"Someone, put this animal back in his cell." Officer Franklin told the guards.
Then, the screens in the room switched out of the security and showed a woman adjusting a camera, "Can you hear me? Is this thing on?"
I recognized the voice in seconds. Doctor Harleen Frances Quinzel, now known as Harley Quinn. She used to be Joker's psychiatrist, but ended up supposedly Joker's girlfriend, but he just uses and abuses her for fun. And she likes it and understands why he does it.
(https://poisonvicky.deviantart.com/art/Poison-Ivy-and-Harley-Quinn-Ponified-355819647 )
Harley backed from the camera and we got a good look at her, "Oh, hiya B-Man. Harley Quinn here." She greeted, then asked, "How do you like my new uniform? Pretty hot, huh?" Then she realized something, "Oh, I got something to show you!"
She walked off, then returned, "One second, B-Man." She walked off and there was a sound of a chair moving,
"Ta-da!" Harley walked in again, "I'm now subbing for the old lady. Old Cinchie's never been happier." Then she spoke to Batman, "In case you ain't figured it out, today's the Joker's big homecoming, and you, B-Man, are the guest of honor."
"You have one chance to surrender, Quinn." Batman told Harley with a glare.
"Tempting, Bats. But, no dice." Harley answered, "Now the inmates are running the Asylum. Well, technically, they're Joker's goons shipped in from Blackgate, but you get the idea. Bye-bye for now." Then she whacked the camera with something until they was static.
I shrugged, "What the heck happened there?"
"Harley has Warden Cinch hostage and hit the camera with her cane." Batman answered.
Then Oracle's voice spoke up, "Batman, Ellie. You picking this up?"
"Oracle, we're here." Batman answered.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Arkham Asylum just vanished off the network." She informed us.
"He's in control of the security system. He's probably isolated it from the grid." Batman explained, referring to the Joker.
"That's not all he's done. All police feeds are reporting he's planted bombs all over Gotham. Says he'll detonate them, if anyone sets foot on Arkham Island." Oracle added, "It's being suppressed at the moment, but the story will break any time now."
I scoffed, "He's lying. It's just a diversion to keep people away."
"How do you know?" Oracle asked. Batman gave me a surprised look.
I shrugged with a small smile, "It's me, remember?"
The conversation ended and Batman and I started looking around the chamber. One of the guards tried to reopen the gate, but to no avail, "The room's locked down. I can't open the gate. We're trapped in here!"
"Try the radio. Control should be able to shut down the gate." Officer Franklin instructed.
I closed my eyes and focused my senses on the vibrations of the guards' footsteps. I noticed a ventilation grate, that lead into the ceiling and out of Pacification. I snapped my fingers with a smile and tried to pry the grate loose.
I heard Officer Franklin ask, "Miss. Piper, what the heck are you doing?"
"Harley was never very bright on traps and exits. Luckily, I know this place like the back of my hand." I answered and successfully removing the grate from the vent.
Batman looked and smiled, "Never ceased to amaze me."
I smiled back, and Batman started crawling into the vent. I quickly followed after him.
Oracle spoke through the comms again, "Batman. Ellie. I'm patching you into the guard radio feed."
Then the comms started sounding like gunshots and loud footsteps. A male voice spoke up, "Steve, more Blackgate prisoners. By the boiler."
Another voice asked, "Who's that behind them?" Then grimaced, "Oh my God... It's Joker! He's free! How'd he break out?!"
Then there were louder shots, and silence. Oracle spoke up, "Sorry. Feed's down. Comms are up and down like crazy. It's not good. I'll keep trying."
Batman and I were able to find the exit of the vent and, as expected, found ourselves at the fork of the hallway. The security guard got the door open and ran down the hallway, which lead to Decontamination.
The four-tuned tone played as the woman's voice spoke, "Warning: Decontamination Room. Toxins detected."
Batman and I quickly arrived and saw through the window. Multiple guards, officers and inmates were inside. They were laughing and collapsing to the ground. Joker Toxin.
An armored shield rose and covered the window, "Warning: Decontamination Room. Area sealed."
"What is that stuff?" The guard asked.
"Joker Toxin." I answered in a low and angry tone.
"Listen. The room is full of poison gas. Anyone caught in there is dead." Batman explained.
I placed my hand against the wall and felt the vibrations from above us. One, two, three, four men.
"There are four men above us. Standing on the catwalks." I informed Batman.
"Are you gonna get in there and help them?" The guard asked.
Batman looked up, then looked at me, "Miss. Piper, wait out here with the guard. I'll take care of the toxin."
"Be careful, Batman." I answered, as he used his grapple to enter the ceiling.
Once he was gone, I sat down against the window, thinking about this escape attempt. Something doesn't feel right about this whole thing. If Joker wanted to escape, he shouldn't have cut Arkham Island from the grid and mess around with the security feeds. It feels like he's trying to get to someone that's on the island. Or something...
"Something on your mind, Miss. Piper?" The guard asked, breaking my train of thought.
"This isn't just a simple escape attempt. Joker's been planning this for a while." I answered.
"How can you tell?" He asked me.
Before I could answer, the sound of fans reached my ears. I stood up and the shield lowered. The four-toned tune played and the voice spoke, "Attention. Air purity is now at normal levels."
Then Joker's laugh echoed from the speakers. The woman spoke again, "Attention. Decontamination Room access is now permitted."
The door unlocked and opened. I entered the room and met up with Batman. The room was covered in canisters of Joker Toxin and dead victims. Anger burned in my heart. Joker is gonna pay for what he's done.
Batman and I arrived to the other end of the Decontamination Room, green spray paint arrows and dead guards were leading the way.
Joker's voice spoke from down the hallway, "What are you waiting for? I'm so close, you can almost taste me."
Two Blackgate inmates tried to take us by surprise, but Batman and I took out one each. We followed the arrows down a hallway, to a door with Joker's face on it.
The door opened to reveal Joker on top of a large, iron and steel cell, close to a balcony and with nowhere to run.
Joker saw us and smiled, "What took you so long?"
Batman threw a batarang at Joker, but Joker ducked before it hit him. Joker laughed at Batman's attempt to warn him.
"There's nowhere to run, Joker. We will find you." Batman told Joker.
"Oh, I'm counting on it. Just not yet!" Joker replied.
He stomped his foot and the cell opened. Batman pushed me back, as a mutated, monster of a man, around the size of Bane or Killer Croc, exit the cell and glared at us.
"Oooh, he's a big one." Joker laughed.
I stepped back as I stared at the monster. My body froze, as something came into focus in my vision.
*Vision*Within the darkness I saw a portion of Gotham City behind a reinforced wall. Criminals, crime lords and gangsters were all inside and raging war on each other. Joker's laugh echoed and the city was engulfed in flames. The smoke of the flames weren't their normal charcoal black, but a murky green, like a haze or a... Gas.... A glowing green dragon emerged from the flames and cried to the moon. The moon's craters moved and formed into a scarecrow-like face on it. Then, everything went black again.
"Eleanor, look out!"
I blinked back into reality, to find the 'Titan' charging toward me. Quickly recovering, I grabbed a ball of blinding powder, threw it at the Titan and jumped out of the way. The Titan was blinded by the powder and charged into the wall, that was behind me. He turned and swung his large arm around, trying to attack me or Batman.
He recovered by his blindness and threw his fist at the ground twice, in a fit of frustration. The Titan turned to me, then clutched his heart and his head. Like he was in a lot of pain. He backed away, toward Joker, holding his head, then after two powerful pumps from his chest, the Titan's eyes stopped glowing and collapsed on the ground.
Dead.
"Well, that was unexpected, wasn't it? Oh well." Joker sighed, then muttered to himself, "Note to self: Need stronger test subjects." He looked at Batman, "Seeing as how I'm feeling generous, I'll give you this one for free."
Joker walked toward the edge of the cell and stretched his arms out wide. My eyes widen in shock and memory. He's done this a few times before.
"Knock me off, I dare you! End this, pull the plug, stop me once and for all!" He told Batman.
Batman grabbed a batarang and was ready to throw it.
Quickly, I grabbed his arm and stopped his throw. Batman looked at me and pulled his arm out of my grip.
He remembered his vow and withdrew his batarang. Joker laughed and stepped away from the ledge.
"You're getting too predictable, Bats." Joker said, as the cell was getting railed off, "Well, I'd love to stay and chat, but I have a party to organize. I've got guests flying in from all over Arkham. You'll see."
Two large doors closed, cutting view of Joker and his sinister laugh and smile. I rubbed my arms in discomfort and sighed in worry. Whatever he has planned, it's not gonna end well.
"Are you hurt?" I heard Batman ask me in a genuine tone.
I shook my head, "I'm alright." Then I looked at Batman, "You?"
"I'm fine." He answered, then asked, "You froze for a moment. What happened?"
I rubbed my arms, "I saw Gotham behind a wall. Destruction. Fire. Death of hundreds..." I closed my eyes to stop the tears from the thought of what the vision meant.
I felt the Dark Knight put a hand over my shoulder, "It's going to be okay, Miss. Piper. I wont let it happen."
I looked at him and nodded in determination. For the sake of the citizens of Gotham, I hope he's right.
Then we heard a voice mutter from behind a gate, "Aaah... My head."
The unconscious guard regain consciousness. He saw us and called, "Quick. Get in here, before more of them come!"
The guard leaned over to the gate switch and shut the gate down, "Batman. Miss Piper. I'm over here."
Batman and I entered the control room. Batman turned to talk to the guard, while I tried to use the computer to see where Joker was going.
"They came out of nowhere! I dragged Jerry in here, powered up the gate. Must have passed out." The guard told Batman.
"Joker went through that door. What's on the other side?" Batman asked him.
"We call it 'Extreme Isolation'. Only way in is via the transport system." The guard answered.
"Open it." Batman instructed.
The guard nodded, "Not a problem. I just need to call another cell."
He walked over to the controls and tried to call a cell from Extreme Isolation, but it wasn't responding. Even the screen on the computer went static.
"Something's wrong here. The main security loop is locked." The guard informed Batman and I.
Then, through the static of the television, a very familiar face voice asked, "Having a little trouble up there?"
"Joker." Batman growled, as the face backed for good view.
"You were expecting maybe Two-Face?" Joker asked.
"There's no escape, Joker." Batman told Joker.
"Silly Bat! I don't wanna escape. I'm having way too much fun. I even have you and Little Acie here to keep a smile on my face." Joker answered with a chuckle.
"Not for long. Whatever you're up to, we'll put an end to it." I told the Clown Prince.
"Really? We'll see. Ta ta." Joker said, as he was about to leave, then something came to him, "Oh, I forgot to say."
He turned to screen, "Just in case you were planning on following me, I've arranged a little insurance. Gordon is on his way to Harley, as we speak."
Batman growled, "Officer Boles."
"Don't tell me. Boles has Gordon hostage." I spoke up. Batman nodded.
Joker laughed at the footage, then turned to the screen, "If I see any of you two trying to follow me, he dies. Harley is looking forward to it. Maybe I'll film it and post it on the internet."
With that, the screen returned to its static image.
"The transport system is down. Best I can do is open the door you came in. Sorry." The guard apologised.
My fists tighten as my anger burned. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, calming myself down. The first thing Batman and I have to do is get Gordon off this island. But, to do that, we have to find where Boles took him.
Batman and I left the room and Oracle contacted us, "Batman! Ellie! What's happening?"
"Joker's escaped. He's sealed himself off." Batman answered, then added in a sad tone, "He's got your father."
"Dad..." Oracle gasped.
"Don't worry. We're getting him back." Batman assured her.
"Okay, I know. But.." Oracle started, but I cut her off, "Barbara, we're getting him back! Joker will not win. We won't let him!"
"We're starting where he was taken." Batman explained, "An officer, named Frank Boles, attacked him. If we find Frank, we'll find your father."
"Bruce. Ellie. Hurry, please." Oracle answered.
With that, we shut down communications and made our way to the Holding Cells.
Eleanor Piper's POV. Okay. Let me pick you guys up to speed. Batman and I were able to catch up to Joker, of course without bumping into Victor Zsasz and Harley Quinn. And Joker set a large mutated human, which I called Titan, on us. The Titan didn't have much luck taking us out and died, due to its size on its heart.
As predictable as Joker can be, he disappeared off again. Batman and I tried to chase after him, but Joker threatened us with a hostage situation with James Gordon.
Now, Batman and I have to find my uncle and get him off this island, before catching up to Joker and stopping his upcoming scheme.
Batman and I made our way to the Holding Cells. We arrived to a hallway with tvs running down it. Joker's face appeared on the screens and he smiled, "I bet you're wondering how I did it. Was it a clue the great detective missed?"
Joker laughed, then answered, "Oh, me and Frankie go way back. I got out of a spot of... Bother a few years ago. So, when I need security codes or an old man clubbed to the ground, I know just the man to ask."
Then there was static.
"What happened?" I asked.
"Joker was broadcasting a taunt." Batman answered. I nodded in understanding.
Batman and I continued to follow the corridors and bumped into a couple of Blackgate thugs. We easily took them out and made it to the Holding Cells.
Batman and I entered the office and activated the comms, "Oracle, Miss. Piper and I are at the Holding Cells. I'm setting up a crime scene."
"So what's the plan? Isolate something in that room unique to Boles?" Oracle asked.
"Exactly." Batman answered.
I sniffed the air and covered my nose in disgust, "Ugh! This room stinks!"
Batman sniffed the air, "I don't smell anything."
I looked at him in slight shock, "You don't? It reeks of alcohol in here. Ivy's cell smelled better than here."
Pamela Isley used to be Gotham's most talented botanist. An Earth Eponian that loves flora and took good care of them, as well as try to help them adapt. However, over a year ago, one of her colleague's experiment has gone wrong and Isley was caught in the experiment.
The accident spliced her with plant DNA and replaced her blood with chlorophyll. Now, she's capable of communicating with any type of flora and command them to do her bidding. Alongside her talent in seduction, she uses pheromones to control the minds of weak-minded men. She calls herself Poison Ivy.
Like Waylon, she and I are good friends. Reason is because, being an empath, I can hear the voices of the plants. They behave more like whispers among each other. And all Ivy wants is to give plants a home again. Which is understandable.
"Alcohol?" He repeated, then he looked around. The smell was strongest around the bottom of the desk. It smelled like bourbon or whiskey.
"Boles dropped his flask." Batman informed me.
I folded my arms, "Sloopy much?"
"Let's see what the forensic scanner picks up." He suggested.
Batman walked over the flask and activated the detective vision of his cowl.
After a few seconds, Batman stood up. He contacted Oracle again, "Oracle, I've got a trail."
Oracle sighed in relief, "That's great. You and Ellie follow it. I'm grabbing every reference to Arkham I can find. May be useful later."
The communication went on stand-by. Batman looked at me, "You sure you're able to keep up?"
I lightly smirked, "Are you kidding?" Then pointed to my nose, "I've had the whiff of alcohol since he started talking. I'm very sure."
With that, Batman and I followed Officer Boles whiskey trail down the corridor. It lead straight to the elevator to intensive treatment. Oh boy...
Once we reached the registry, the phone started ringing. After a few rings, a female voice answered from the other side, "Hello! What's happening there? I'm trying to contact Steve. Is he there?"
"Hold one second. I'll see if I can find him." A familiar voice sang in reply. Joker...
The woman's voice sighed in relief, "Oh, thank you."
After a second of silence, Joker answered, "I'm sorry. I've looked everywhere, but I can only find his head. I'll get back to you when I find the rest of him."
Then he burst into a fit of laughter before he hung up the phone. I felt Batman's aura. His calm demeanor was slipping into anger and he balled his hand into a tight fist. Good thing he was wearing his gauntlets. Any tighter and he'd be drawing blood.
Batman was angry.
I put my hand over his shoulder. I sensed Batman giving me a look.
"Joker will pay for his crimes soon enough." I assured him, "But, we have to get Jim off this island."
He looked away for a second, then gave me a confident nod. His calm demeanor returning to him. Thank goodness.
The doors opened to the elevator. A guard was fiddling with the controls, "What's wrong with this thing?"
Batman and I entered the room and started looking around. The guard continued to mutter, "Stupid, unreliable..." Then he saw us and asked, "How did Joker get free?"
"Be quiet." Batman told him.
"What's going on?" The guard asked.
Batman and I looked around the room. The trail of alcohol seemed to be flying upward. Officer Boles must've used the elevator and put it on lockdown once he reached the top.
Before any of us could react, Harley Quinn appeared on the support beam of the elevator.
"Uh, uh, uh, uh, you two. Mister J doesn't want you following us just yet." She told us in a tsk. With that, she pressed a button on a trigger.
There was a loud explosion above us and Harley was flew up. There was a sound of metal sliding and it was getting louder rapidly.
Quickly, Batman grabbed me and the guard, "Get down!"
He pushed us down for cover and he jumped out of the way as the elevator crashed down in front of us. Sparks flew and dust clouded the crash.
Once the collision cleared, the guard recovered and asked, "Oww, what the hell happened?"
I got back to my hooves and dusted the debris and concrete off my overalls.
Harley spoke up from above us, "How did ya like that? No way you're following us now. You're trapped down there 'til me and Mister J are ready for you."
She ended with a cocky laugh. I looked up and around. There's always another route. Even if it isn't the most convenient.
Batman looked around, then at me, "Any chance you can get us to the top?"
Eponians are known not just by their equine features, but also by their special gifts. We all have unique talents, centered by our Cutie Marks, but our powers differ, like Metahumans. Unicorns are capable of using magic. Pegasi have air-oriented abilities. And Earth Eponians depend.
The Piper Family, despite being all Earth Eponians, have very special gifts. But only few of us were able to discover them.
My cousin Phillie is capable of teleportation and has an extra sense she calls her 'Pinkie Sense'. Her body gives a reaction that determines what will happen. Such as a twitchy tail means something's gonna fall.
Maude, my second eldest cousin, is capable of Geomancy, magical influence over the earth. Lucky girl.
Lillian and Melody still have yet to discover theirs.
As I explained before, I'm an empath. Which means I'm able to sense emotions and hear the inner-inner thoughts of anything alive.
My uncle, Jonathan Grayson, taught me to use my blindness as an extension of my other senses. So I'm able to sense vibrations of any surface, as long as a part of me can feel it.
I sighed and folded my arms, "I'm an Earth Eponian. I can't fly. And I can't see, Batman." But then I smiled, "Then again, who wants it easy?"
Batman smiled back and grabbed his grapple. He used it climb up the nearest cliff and started climbing from there. I, on the other hand, put my parkour training with my cousin, Richard, to good use.
Once Batman was making his way through the first vent, Joker's voice spoke up from the intercoms, "Hey, Bats. Acie. I know you two can hear me. I've got a little something for you to listen to. Harely and Frank are nearly out of the building with the old man. How are they going to get past all those guards? Let's have a listen, shall we?"
Me and my father met up on the other side of the vent. Then an audio security feed played.
"Hey Frank. Where you've been?" A voice asked. It sounded like one of the guards.
"Joker's got more men on the way." Officer Boles answered, "They're coming around the front of the asylum. Gotta stop them getting in! Quick! Get over there!"
After a second of silence, Officer Boles shouted, "Dammit! C'mon. Everyone! Cover the main entrance!"
"How many are out there, Boles?" The officer asked. Then he noticed something, "Wait, hang on, how the hell do you know what..."
Suddenly, there was a sound of gunshots.
"Boles!" Another officer shouted, "Frank, what are you doing? No! Put it down!"
Another round of gunshots.
"Frank! What the hell?"
More gunshots.
Then Officer Boles called, "Quinn. It's clear! Get your ass in here."
"You're some piece of work, Frankie." Harley answered, then she sighed, "A girl could fall for someone like you!"
I scoffed, "Yeah right. When she's not right in the head, or sheltered by her parents."
"Stop flirting with the hired help, Harley." Joker told her.
"Don't worry, sweetie. You know I only have eyes for you." Harley assured him.
Then Joker turned his attention to us, "Do you hear that? Sounds like Frankie is working out just fine. Another valuable employee for the organization."
Batman and I continued to climb up the elevator shaft until we found a stone tablet with a scarab attached and circular writing carved into it. I've found one of these tablets before. I had one in my cell when I first came to Arkham.
Batman looked at me and asked, "What is it?"
"This tablet is a Chronicle of Arkham." I answered, rubbing my hand against the carved writing, "There are around twenty-three of these tablets all over the island. Said to have been left behind by Amadeus Arkham himself."
"Can you read it?" He asked me.
I nodded, "Of course." I followed the circular motion of the carvings and found the beginning was closer to the scarab and was written counter-clockwise. I read out loud,
'I am the spirit of Amadeus Arkham. Through my actions, I have saved this cursed city, though my own curse is to forever remain in the shadows. My story is carved into the very soul of Arkham and will only be revealed to those dedicated enough to discover it.'
I looked back at the Dark Knight. He felt a little spaced out for a second. He regained his composure and used his grappler to reach the top.
I'm starting to get worried about him. He's been spacing out a bit since we got here. I've got to ask him about that.
I quickly followed after him. A group of inmates were standing around a dead guard. They were discussing on how easy taking over the facility was compared to just escaping.
Batman wasted no time striking them down. A couple got lucky and were aiming attack him from behind. However, I took them down with a surprise attack of my own.
Once the inmates were taken out, Oracle spoke up from our comms, "Batman. Ellie. How's it going? Any sign of Dad?"
"Not yet, but we're getting close." Batman answered.
I shrugged, "Harley Quinn tried to slow us down. Dropped an elevator on us."
"Did it work?" Oracle asked.
Batman lightly smirked, "Heh, of course not. We'll get back to you when we've reached the end of the trail."
With that, the comms went back on stand-by. I walked over to the automatic doors, but they didn't move. I placed my hand over the center and sighed, "Dammit! Locked from the other side."
I heard the sound of metal creaking coming from my right. I looked over and saw Batman remove a ventilation grate. He entered the shaft.
I put my hands on my hips and smiled, "Show-off." Then followed after him into the vent.
One the other end, I heard gunshots and a voice pleading, "Please, I've got a kid. You don't have to-" The voice went silent after another gunshot.
Batman quietly opened the grate and exit the vent. I followed after him and there were two dead guards. Bastards!
"You're right. I don't have to. I just want to." An inmate laughed, then instructed in a clear voice, "Okay, boss says no one gets past. Anything moves, shoot it!"
"You've got it! Anything coming this way is dead." Another inmate answered.
Good thing there was a wall between us and the inmates. Otherwise they would've seen us and shot us down.
Batman contacted Oracle, "Oracle, Joker's men have taken control of the Cell Block Transfer corridor."
"That's not good." Oracle grimaced, "I patched into a guard radio. It sounds like Joker's crew have got their hands on weapons."
"Yeah, we know." I answered.
"I'll calibrate the cowl's vision mode to isolate armed henchmen." Batman informed.
I sniffed the air, "By the smell of gunpowder in the air, all four men in this hallway are armed. It'll be suicide to use the straight-forward approach."
Batman nodded, "Indeed. You wait here, while I find a way to take them out."
I nodded and he used his grappler on a gargoyle above us and disappeared into the ceiling. I sat down with my back against the wall and waited for Batman's signal. I let my mind wander for a bit, until I heard a knock against metal.
I peeked past the wall. Batman was standing between three out-cold henchmen. Huh. Talk about working fast.
I followed Batman down the corridor the forth man.
He was up a small flight of stairs, in an office, talking to Joker in about three monitors, "No problem, boss. The boys are finishing off. The Arkham chumps never stood a chance."
Both Batman and I crouched down before we were seen.
"Oh, good! Our friendly neighborhood rodent is on his way with his little Wayne friend." Joker smiled, then ordered, "You need to set a trap. They must not leave this building. Do you understand me?"
"...Y-yes, boss. The Bat is good as dead!" The thug replied nervously.
I felt Batman pat my shoulder. He wanted me to knock the thug out. I smiled and silently crept up behind the thug. I didn't think Joker saw me.
"I hope you can keep your promises, boy. I hate that I have to go to punish your family just to teach you a lesson. Now I could promise you, they won't be laughing!" Joker warned and laughed at the bad joke.
"But, Joker..." The thug pleaded, not wanting his family to be killed by this maniac. Can't blame him either.
Joker stuttered mockingly to his comment, then ordered, "Just do it! And have fun. I know I will." He laughed afterwards.
I stood up, punched the thug in back and leaned him over my knee into a headlock. I covered his mouth with my free hand. He tried to fight back, but that only tightened my grip on him. After a few seconds, the thug fell limp and I gently put him down on the ground.
Joker looked at me and smiled, "Oh, look who it is! Are your pointy ears burning?" Batman entered the room behind me. Joker looked over his shoulder, "I suppose I better warn my boys that you're on the way..." Then an idea hit him, "Hey, maybe I won't... It'll be a nice surprise!"
He chuckled, then the screens returned to their normal stand-by mode. Without a doubt, the other doors are locked. Guess we have to take the ventilation again. Oh, well.
I walked over to the ventilation grate and removed it with great strength. Batman entered first, then myself.
Half way through the vents, Joker's voice sang through the intercoms, "Ding, ding, ding, dong. Arkham Asylum is now under new management. Here's a quick update on what's going on." Then he informed, "Attention. We have two escaped patients. One dresses like a bat. The other thinks she's an intern. What idiots! Should be considered costumed and dangerous."
I sighed and rolled my eyes at the poor report. So much for the element of surprise...
Batman reached the end and opened the other grate quietly, due to a Blackgate inmate in front of us. We reached the main lobby and entrance to Intensive Treatment.
"Personally, I think the best solution is to put the Bat out of his misery, and put the intern back in her cage. They're the only reliable cure." Joker finished.
I quietly hid in the shadows while Batman took out the three guards with two Silent Takedowns and a gliding Ground Takedown.
Easy... Maybe a bit too easy...
Joker spoke up from the intercoms, "Did you really think it was going to be that easy, Bats? I've sent a few more of my boys your way. Let's see how you deal with these odds!"
Three more of Joker's thugs arrived from the entrance of the lobby.
"Joker wants the Bat and intern girl found! Spread out!" The leader ordered.
"They could be anywhere." One shouted in a panicked tone.
"Then keep your eyes open. Now move!" The leader replied.
The three henchmen entered the lobby and started looking around for me and Batman. I raised a brow and an idea hit me.
Batman stayed close to the control room and took out two of the henchmen with Silent Takedowns. He was going for the last, but I shook my head. I hid behind the boiler near him and faked a cough.
The thug heard me, picked up his gun ready to shoot, and shouted, "Come out where I can see you!"
I raised my hands and walked out of my hiding place. The thug passed Batman without noticing.
"Is someone there? Please don't shoot me. I am unarmed and lost in this house of madness." I spoke in a fake, but genuine sounding, scared tone.
The thug kept his gun aimed at me, "Where's the Bat?"
I shook my head, "I dunno. I'm not even sure where I am." Then I asked, "Is this the way to the elevator?"
"The elevator?" He tilted his head and lowered his guard.
I twitched my left ear. Batman left his hiding spot and delivered a Silent Takedown. The thug fell limp and was placed on the ground.
Once everything calmed down, Batman looked at me and smirked, "Lost in this house of madness?"
I giggled and shrugged my shoulders, "Most believable thing I could come up with."
Joker spoke up from the intercoms, "Oh, those were the easy ones. I'm just playin' with ya. You'll see."
Batman and I made our way through the lobby and into the entrance. By the door, there was Officer Boles on a gurney. The same gurney that Joker was in before all this.
I couldn't feel his heartbeat. That must mean Joker, or Harley Quinn killed him.
"Joker must have figured out how we've were tracking Gordon. Officer Boles' trail stops here." Batman noted.
I balled my hands into fists of anger, "So much for hired help."
Before Batman could reply, there was a noise of static coming from the comms. Then a familiar voice cleared from the static.
"Can you hear me, Batman? I know you can."
The static cleared and the voice continued, "Yes, it is I, Edward Nygma, the Riddler and more importantly your intellectual superior. My genius has allowed me to easily hack into your primitive communications."
I sighed in light annoyance. Here we go again.
Edward Nygma, or Riddler, is a criminal hacker that used to work for GCPD. However, he has a problem; An obsessive compulsive need for attention and to try and finally outsmart Batman or myself. Don't get me wrong, he is a very clever man, but he's insane. And insanity makes things obvious.
"My goal is simple!" Nygma hissed, then explained, "You complete a series of amusingly taxing challenges and, well, you'll see. Ready for your first one? Good. But be careful!"
"Don't CUT yourself on this SHARPLY observed portrait."
"Okay, Nygma. You made that one way to easy." I spoke up.
Batman nodded, "Indeed."
He walked over to the portrait of Warden Cinch, on the wall.
Nygma spoke up again, "So you did it. Well done. I would have expected a child to work that one out, let alone the world's greatest detective."
I shook my head, "Not funny, Nygma."
"He's gone. For now." Batman told me. I sighed.
Then a metal door opened to reveal Officer North. Thank God another good guard still alive.
"I'm over here, Batman." He called.
Batman and I jumped down and joined Officer North in a secret passage.
"It was a massacre. Boles came walking in telling everyone to cover the front entrance. Said something about Joker's army coming through the main gate!" North explained what happened, "Two of my guys moved to the exit and Frank shot 'em dead. Never stood a chance."
"Was Boles alone?" Batman asked.
North shook his head, "Thought he was, then I saw Harley Quinn. She was surrounded by Blackgate prisoners. They were just killing everyone in the room! I ha no choice! I got in here. Locked the door. I could see it on the security feed. They had someone with them, it looked like the Commissioner."
"Boles is dead." I informed him, "They carried on without him. Must have outlived his usefulness."
North lightly smiled and nodded, "Good! He was scum."
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.
Eleanor Piper's POV.
Batman and I followed down a slope that lead to a door that connected to West Arkham. The door opened and Batman and I were on the right track of following Commissioner Gordon's Wild Country tobacco on the ground.
A stony archway was on my far left, over a shallow ravine. A wooden bridge was one of the leading pathways that lead to the Visiting Center on my right.
The Visiting Center was a place the builders added for hard-core prisoners incarcerated in the Penitentiary, next door of the Visiting Center, to well, you know, visits their relatives. Only Trigon knows what Joker has done to it now.
On the far end of the segment, across from the Penitentiary and the Visiting Center was one of the biggest facilities of the Island: The Medical Facility. That is where Harley took my uncle.
Shrubbery had overgrown the ground and the walls of the Visiting Center. Bare brambles and lengthy vines covered the entrance of the Penitentiary. Above the Penitentiary was an upper floor that lead to a control room, barricaded.
One watchtower stood over the Western side of Arkham Island. Also, there was a flight of stairs at the very bottom of the island that lead to the upper platform that enters anyone in the Penitentiary. In addition, an inactive lift is placed at the bottom of the Medical Facility. But there was a flight of stairs in case the lift is not working.
I turned and sensed two henchmen at the Visiting Center, a Zebran and a Pegasus. But they were not minding mine or Batman's presence. They appeared to be working on a constructive project on the entrance of the Visiting Center. The two henchmen were hammering the nails of painted wood and boards on the frontal wall of the Center.
I felt Batman's aura tense, as if he was ready to attack, but I stopped him. "Leave them be. I'm very sure they won't hurt us." I told him, "But I sense Joker has something inside the Visiting Center."
(A/N: Am I the only one that notices this during the game? )
"I'm going to see. You resume on the trail to Jim, or look for survivors." Batman told me.
I nodded, "Be careful, Batman. Only Trigon knows what he has planned in there."
With that, Batman made his way to the Visiting Center and I ran to the watchtower to look for any survivors. I found another deceased body but luckily, I found another guard.
The guard turned to me and gasped, "Miss. Piper? How did you get out here?" Then he shook his head, "Never mind. What's going on? The crazies are moving towards the Medial Facility. What's Joker doing?” he asked anxiously.
"He's trying to take control of the island piece by piece. It looks like Medical is his next target." I answered, then asked, "Has anyone got out of the building?"
"I saw a doctor trying to get out.... He was torn apart... Thrown in the water. He never stood a chance." The guard answered somberly.
"Wait here and stay safe. If you see Batman, tell him I'll be in Medical." I instructed.
The guard nodded returned to his hiding spot. I felt the vibrations travelling up the tower, from Medical. Six Blackgate inmates. They must be the ones that killed the escaped doctor the guard mentioned. I guess I had to deal with them before continuing. I made my way down from the watchtower when the distorted intercom chime rang.
"I don't know about you, but I'm having a great time." Joker started in a light tone, then grew in anger, "You guys just make it look too easy. Like you're not even trying. Which is now what I pay you to do. Find everyone. Now!"
I ran up the stairs to the main entrance to the Medical Facility. I threw a shuriken at one the inmates' head.
"It's the intern! How did she get out here?!" He alerted, then dashed toward me to attack.
The others joined him, but I was able to fight back and take them out with a fluid motion of martial arts. Once all six inmates were out, I destroyed three chattering teeth, in front of the entrance, by stomping on them. Really hard to think with all that repeated laughing and chattering.
The intercom chime rang again and Joker spoke again, "I just want everypony to know that I…I really appreciate all the hard work. You know, watching you guys is like a night-in, watching my favorite movie." Then he sounded in thought, "What’s the name of the movie again? Oh yes: Attack of the Stupid-Bumbling-Idiots-Who-Can't-Stop-An-Even-Bigger-Idiot-Running-Around-Dressed-Like-A-Bat-! Now get to it!" He yawned, "I'm getting bored."
I rolled my eyes and opened the door to enter the Medical Facility. Joker should have known I would never back down from a challenge. I know Batman can handle himself well, but he's not Superman! Or Martian Manhunter.
Inside the Medical Facility, I entered the Medical Foyer. The foyer was like your everyday foyer in any medical institution. A desk, chairs, and a small TV screen mounted on the pillars. What I expected was Harley Quinn being there.
Which she was.
She is calmly sitting on the chair, humming a tune while filing her nails innocently. I sensed an electrical barrier was the only protection between her and me. She stopped her tune when she noticed me.
"Acie? What are you doing here?" She exclaimed, then calmed and barked, "Who cares? Scram, Ace. This is my 'me' time."
"Where's Commissioner Gordon?" I asked darkly.
"Wouldn't you like to know-" She replied rudely before she was interrupted by another voice, "I'm over here!"
It was Commissioner Gordon. He's okay! Thank Celestia.
"Shut up!" Harley barked, throwing a cup of coffee across the room.
"Ow!" Gordon yelped, then hissed in anger, "You crazy bitch!" he snarled angrily.
Just then, the screen on the wall in front of me switched on to reveal Joker. "Harley!" He cried out.
Harley let out a startled shriek and turned to the tv.
Joker looked at me and exclaimed at Harley, "What's she doing here? It's too early!"
Harley got up from her chair and walked seductively to the tv, planting her gloved hands on the screen, "I'm sorry, Puddin'. Don't be angry with me."
She smooched the tv screen in a loving affection.
"Oh, you little minx. I can never stay mad at you." Joker replied in the same manner before switching off.
Harley turned to me, "Sorry, Ace. You and B-Man will have to find another way." Then she waved, "Bye-bye now!" She turned around and did several backflips, out of sight.
I balled my hands into fists. The electrical barrier was stopping me from following Harley. I had to find another way into the building.
The secondary roof! One of the inmates tried to escape through the secondary roof a few months back. Ended up dying due to a malfunction with his bomb. It leads straight to the Maintenance Access! The opening should still be in reconstruction, knowing Cinch.
I exit the entrance to bump into Batman.
"Batman. What took you so long?" I greeted.
"Did you find Gordon?" He asked me, getting straight to the point.
I nodded, "Yeah, he's okay. But I couldn't get to him. Harley was there too. An electrical barrier is blocking the main entrance." I told him, "There's another route up in the secondary roof. It leads to the Maintenance Access, which goes straight to the Sanatorium."
Batman put his hand over my shoulder, "Good work, Miss. Piper. Let's go."
With that, he used his grapple to reach the roof. I lightly smiled. Batman;s tone showed praised and his aura showed he was proud of me.
I quickly climbed to the roof and Batman used his Explosive Gel to force an entry through the wooden, weak concrete and cardboard covering of the hole in the roof. Reconstruction wasn't complete. As I thought.
I quickly followed my father through the door and into the Maintenance Access. The Maintenance Access was a series of ventilation ducts and girders for janitorial and custodial uses. Father and I climbed over the girder in front of us and spotted a ventilation grate.
Joker's voice gave me a small startle, as this time the intercom chime didn't ring, "I want all the doctors rounded up, search every inch of the Medical building!" Batman pulled the grate from its bolts with powerful force, "I mean it; search every room, every corner, and every trash can!" Batman and I entered the vent and followed it through, "If another doctor tries to run and get out of the building, then you don't! I'll just flood the room with Happy Gas and leave you to die! Hell, I might do that anyway, sounds fun."
The Dark Knight and I followed through the vents and empty hallways until we reached the Sanatorium.
The Sanatorium was one of the biggest areas of the Medical Facility. The Sanatorium helps out patients, mild or hard-core, for patient interviews, examination, and mental treatments. A walkway with two stairs and ladders connected the lower and upper platforms of the room. At the bottom, showers and an area with a gigantic cell in it.
Waylon's old cell, until they couldn't keep him in there anymore and dumped into the sewer network under Intensive Treatment.
On the far left of the Sanatorium were the examination rooms for interviews. There were five in total and one the far right, a small office-like box had all medications for the Facility. Enormous ceiling fans hung from the ceiling. It looked like one of the largest sanatoriums in your everyday mental institute.
I placed my hand over the metal floor of the duct and sensed five armed Blackgate inmates holding innocent doctors hostage. One of the doctors was a female Pegasus with red hair, tied in a bun, and sharp green eyes. Dr. Sarah Cassidy. She was trying to refuse their barked orders.
"Get off of me!" She shouted.
The thug ordered threateningly when he shoved her in front of the elevator, "Get down with the others, move it!"
Dr. Cassidy flinched from the gun aiming at her head, "Okay, okay. I hear you. I'm going."
She walked slowly with the gun at the back of her to the front of an elevator on the upper level of the Sanatorium. She curled into a tiny ball and cried softly amongst the other terrified doctors.
"Why does Joker need the doctors?" Batman wondered.
"I have a hunch, but we have to save them first." I answered.
With that, Batman and I followed the vent to somewhere wide enough for us to split up and take out the henchmen quietly.
Batman continued to follow the vents, whilst I jumped down and hid against the walls. I noticed three of the henchmen were staying near the elevator. One in front of the elevator. One on the other side of the interview room and the other inside the medical supplies. I can take care of these three, while Batman can do what he does and take out the two roaming the levels.
I climbed and jumped across to the gargoyle above the henchman guarding the elevator, used my tail to hang up-side down and took out the henchman with my own version of an Inverted Takedown. Batman drops the victim and hangs him up-side down, so he could scream. I hang up-down and combine a Silent Takedown. One of the reasons they call me the Child of the Night. No-one knows it was me, until they put the pieces together.
Dr. Cassidy noticed the henchman dropped to the ground like a sack of potatoes. She must have saw me, because I heard her gasp.
"Miss. Piper?" She asked quietly and shakenly.
I put my finger over my mouth and jumped to the gargoyles on the other side of the room. I snapped my fingers and the two bombs I set up in the weak concrete structures detonated, knocking the two other henchmen out-cold.
Taken the explosions as signals, Batman took out the other two henchmen in their startled and panicked states.
"The room's secure, you're safe now!" I called out, once everything calmed down.
"Hello? Is there a doctor in the house? No? Pity. I seem to have a pile of wounded henchmen that need medical attention." Joker spoke up from the intercoms.
I jumped down from the gargoyles and joined up with Batman and the doctors near the elevator.
"I don't know what happened. One minute, we were doing our evening rounds and the next, armed thugs burst into the room and took us hostage." Dr. Cassidy explained what happened that brought them to their previous predicament.
"Did they have anyone with them?" Batman asked.
"They took someone to the elevator, I couldn't tell who it was." She answered.
"They obviously didn't want to be followed. The elevator appears to be powered down." I summarized, then asked, "You're going to be okay?"
"We'll be fine." Dr. Cassidy answered.
"What about the others? We heard gunfire. They could be dead! We should go and help." A male doctor asked.
I quickly recognized him as the doctor that examined Joker from the Cell Block Transfer, before all this madness started.
Then Dr. Cassidy gasped, "Oh no, I forgot! Dr. Kellerman is in the Observation Room and Dr. Chen went to Surgery."
"And Dr. Redheart went to X-ray." The Nurse finished.
"Okay, stay here. Batman and I will find the other doctors." I told the medical staff.
Dr. Cassidy nodded and walked over to the other staff that were strapped on the gurneys near the exit. Batman and I exit the Sanatorium and split up to find the other three hostages.
I exited out of the Sanatorium at the bottom of the area and entered the Upper Corridor that leads to these three medical examination rooms to rescue the three hostages.
