The Arkham Redeption #1- Reports and Returns.

===Somewhere below Arkham===

 

Ubu- Master, we moved the asset, as you have requested.

 

Ra's- Very good Ubu.

 

March- *ahem* However, there has been an incident.

 

Ra's- Do not mince your words.

 

March- It was the bugs. I told you, letting them live- bad idea.

 

Ra's- Enough. You're sure?

 

Ubu- Yes master, the bird man is correct. Three of them stormed the main entrance. The Moth, his brother. And the Bat's... mate.

 

Talia- Father, if Walker is here, then surely his wife must be nearby.

 

Ra's- Yes. Yes, this could work well for us. Tell Strange he can use his puppets, but I want them brought to us alive. It is time we met our enemy head on.

 

Talia- As you wish, Great One

 

====GCPD Rooftop====

 

*It's cold, and he's late. Which is never a good sign. Maybe one day, we can just meet up in a cafe. Would certainly be warmer. I breathe in, put my gum in my pocket, preparing for the incoming heart attack, and-*

 

Batman- Jim.

 

*I nod, and hand him the file*

 

Gordon- Evening. Here. Just got wind of the Fairbanks autopsy, you won't like what they found.

 

*It takes him seconds to flick through it, then, he hands it back, a grimace on his face*

 

Batman- It's not him.

 

Gordon- Didn't think so either. *Sigh* It doesn't matter, you know how it is. Mayor's got a reputation to keep and people have kids to protect: Everything goes on lockdown, schools close, curfews at five pm, place becomes a ghost town by six...

 

*He gazes off into the distance, like he suspects we're not alone. He must have some kind of thermal imaging in that mask of his. Satisfied, he turns back*

 

Batman- Jim. It's the Court. They're working with Ra's Al Ghul, and though I don't know the *whys* I know that they're behind Arkham City.

 

*Jesus. You would thought they'd have all fled the country years ago. But, then again, this is Gotham... Has a habit of attracting the criminal element. Like moths. Now for the elephant in the room*

 

Gordon- I *assume* that's why you tackled Fairbanks in the subway? You know I'm all for taking them down, but you can't just abduct a CEO during rush hour.

 

Batman- It worked with Luthor.

 

*He almost smiles. Almost.*

 

Gordon- Was that a-? Look, you know that's not the same thing. Anyway, the real reason I called you, was a breach in security at Arkham. ... Another one.

 

Batman- Hmm?

 

Gordon- It's Walker. His wife, and the Texan guy, the one with the dice, flew in, landed somewhere in Amusement Mile- Hatter territory. Walker was sighted making his way through Park Row with Catwoman and the damn Secretary of Metahuman affairs. His brother.

 

Batman- Norbert?

 

Gordon- Yeah, that's him. ... The way I see it, if you want to stop The Court, find out what's what, now might be the best- -Time.

 

*Heh. You'd think he'd have grown out of it by now...*

 

====City Hall====

 

*Look at the pair of them. They see me as a thug, a puppet they've wrapped around their fingers. Peh, they're all the same. Machin's scum like the rest, but he's right about one thing. The politics. Self serving scumbags, just like the one's I've put away in Arkham. Only thing separating them from the inmatea is money and posh suits, and even then, Cobblepot has both in spades. Let 'em ignore me. Let 'em underestimate me. In the long run, only one of us will come out on top*

 

Strange- Madam Mayor, this is most irregular, we are in the middle of a complicated situati-

 

Grange- And I've got one of my own. In. We need to talk.

 

*She shows us the files, nothing I hadn't seen before. This is Strange's mess. And we both know his partners arranged this*

 

Grange- Michael Fairbanks, the Arkham contractor. You'll know by now that he's dead? Pulled out of Dixon Docks a few days ago. Well, I only just got the files on my desk from an anonymous source. He was half eaten by sharks, but it's undeniably Joker venom in his bloodstream. Imagine that. If I were to go down to those secret cells of yours, am I to assume that his would be empty?

 

Strange- I am well aware of the matter.

 

*He's a hypocrite. The point of Arkham was to get rid of those meatbags. Don't care about the reason, what he's paid... If you let the Joker loose, what's even the point? But even this isn't going to keep him down for long. He can spin the PR, he's a master at it, saw it every day at the Asylum when I was chief of security*

 

Grange- Shut your mouth, I'm talking. ... How did this happen?

 

*She's got a mouth on her. So did Walker before her. And where did that get him?*

 

Strange- Poor security.

 

*Grin you jackal. Laugh why don't you*

 

Grange- And Bolton assured me this place was impenetrable!

 

*Like I said. All the same*

 

Strange- Mr Bolton tells me that you've not been listening to his advice. Perhaps, if you had, we would not have these breaches in security, and perhaps Mr Fairbanks would still be alive

 

Grange- You mean public executions? Mounted guns?

 

Strange- Precisely.

 

Grange- Of course I didn't take his damn advice- don't look at me like that- These are people Strange!

 

*Letter opener on her desk. Metal. Maybe I'd do it just to see how Strange would spin *that* *

 

Strange- No. No, that's what they want you to think. They are cruel. They are deceitful, but they are not people. Mr Bolton knows this, as do I. Keeping these monsters in line requires discipline.

 

*Finally, he's speaking *my* language*

 

...

 

Grange- Did you say "breaches"?

 

Strange- As I was about to say- Drury Walker entered Arkham City an hour ago.

 

*She turns around immediately*

 

Grange- Are you out of your-

 

Strange- Actually, I had nothing to do with it. All I know is that Walker, and a small group of his associates entered the prison. Of their own volition, I might add.

 

*She collapses into the chair. The doc offers her a cup of Joe*

 

Grange- I didn't think he would-

 

Strange- Didn't you? These are troubling times. You've no doubt read my psychiatric profile on him?

 

Grange- You weren't authorised to conduct one.

 

Strange- He was my patient. And I will warn you now that he is dangerous, delusional, and has laid some hefty accusations against me upon his release. He suffer severe mood swings, stemming from a *potent* case of bipolar disorder, and if there is something- or someone in his way, he will do everything in his admittedly limited power to take them down.

 

Grange- Well, we both know about those "accusations." Including illegal experimentation, was it? It's a good thing the President likes you, you-

 

Strange- Nevertheless, I have discussed this matter with Senator Eilling.

 

Grange- Eilling *scoff*

 

Strange- And, he suggested now would be the perfect opportunity to release Task Force XI into the field.

 

Grange- Do I even have a say anymore?

 

*Strange chuckles. "I'll be in touch" *

 

Bolton- Just remember who's the shrink and who's the warden here Doc.

 

Strange- And remember who *I* represent, Lyle.

 

Bolton- Hard not to. You won't shut up about them.

 

=====Arkham City====

 

*I'm already starting a fire, while he's still trying to untangle his kite. Idiot. The only reason we brought him was as a mascot. After all, Drury said we could use the luck. Someone's watching us up there. And I hate being watched*

 

Miranda- Get up.

 

Chancer- Not every day you go hang gliding. Still a bit-

 

Miranda- Well, get over it.

 

Chancer- You don't like me, do you Gaige?

 

Miranda- "Oh, gee, why ever would you think that?"

 

*He frowns, taking off his mask. A shroud of dust comes pouring out of it. That's what happens when you can't fly for shit*

 

Chancer- I'm twenty six now, I'm not eight.

 

Miranda- You tried to kill Drury. And, because of that, The Reverse Flash kidnapped him, and then killed Simon.

 

Chancer- He came back, that's the important part.

 

Miranda- The important part is that they may have forgiven you, said it was probably Charaxes who was messing with you, just like Carson. I don't care, understand?

 

Chancer- *sigh* That's the game, miss. We're scum. Scum and proud. It's just who we are. It's what I've always been. You meanwhile, were the first lady, or whatever the mayor's wife's called, so maybe you're just a bit out of touch about-

 

*He grabs his throat, and falls to the ground, unconscious. I'm beginning to doubt he even has luck powers. Sure hasn't helped us so far. Guess it's up to me again*

 

Miranda- Show yourself. I'm not playing.

 

"You never did, Aibnat Albahr"

 

*Talia... Still doing daddy's bidding.*

 

Talia- I'm sorry about your friend, Miranda, but he was attracting attention. The wrong kind. Come, sit. We've much to discuss.

 

Done