Batman shakes his head, disgustedly. "Any leads on Crane's whereabouts currently? I've checked with some of his usual associates and hideouts, but turned up nothing. I was following what few leads I had when this occured." Gordon replys with the negative "Nothing. We had people on it as soon as we heard... Could very well be that he had help, /good/ help" Batman nods slightly. "True; he went to ground quickly. And without many contacts with the usual crowd. I suppose you're right; chances are, he's with the Joker. Not sure how long this association will last, however. Especially considering their last...partnership." Gordon straightens his glasses "We'll I know this much.. It is going to last long enough to cause us a world of problems." Batman looks frowningly at the ambulance as the body of the hapless 'perp' is carted away. "Correct." He narrows his eyes. "The Joker couldn't have had much time to prepare this. And he had little to profit from it as far as we know; if he'd wanted to do this anytime, I think there might have been more complexities involved. More...art. No, no. This was quickly devised, and I wouldn't be surprised if the man your snipers killed wasn't just a random victim." He squints, thoughtfully. "Chances are, this was a whim. Prompted by Crane's escape." Gordon nods "We'll be checking all lines on the 'perp'... See if there are any links... hmm... it's going to be a long halloween." You say "...quite." Batman gives the Commissioner an odd look. "I have a hunch that our next problem will be Crane's first 'return' to the criminal scene..." He pauses, and checks something on his belt. It looks almost like a beeper. He grits his teeth. "Just a moment, Jim..." Batman mutters something subvocally. You paged Alfred with ' What is it? I'm talking with the commissioner...'. Alfred pages: You hear the voice of your favorite Butler say "Sir, you may wish to make tracks to the WGOT station immediately. It seems a recently escaped friend of yours has decided to...visit." You then hear a statticy recording...Scarecrow's voice..." "Yes, Roddy, isn't it... It's like you're a child all over again... And he just beats youand beats you... and yells that you've been bad... And it's true, isn't it, Roddy? You have been bad, haven't you? Your daddy certainly wouldn't approve, wouldhe?" Batman's face hardens, and his stature seems to rise almost a full inch. The hunt is on again, from the look of him. He mutters something else, and points at you with a gloved hand. "WGOT Radio Station; Crane's making a call to a show..." You paged Alfred with '<> I'm on my way, as are the Police. Good work, Alfred; keep me informed of any changes in the broadcast.'. Alfred pages: <> As always, sir... Alfred pages: <> The announcer sounds as if he has been hit with Scarecrow's trademark gas...there was mention over the air of flowers...Ivy, sir? Gordon turns his head slightly, then blinks "Radio?!?..." He runs out of the alley, and shouts to a few officers "Alright people we got another live one. WGOT radio station, let's move it?" Officer Stoltz looks confused "Commissioner?" Jim looks back "Crane's called in." Batman backs away down the alleyway: "Lets make his vacation time short, Jim..." He then fades, and running footsteps can be heard. Soon, there's the powerful thunder of the Batmobile's engine. Alfred pages: <> here's the sounds of activity within the radio station, as Roddy shouts, "NO! He's in here, keep him the hell out! He's not ever touching me again..." Scarecrow grabs the remote and whispers deeply, "You can't hide from me, son... Only place you can hide from me is the grave." Gotham: Gotham Village - North If you have ever had the opportunity to visit New York's Greenwich Village you'll notice that Gotham Village is very familiar. The two places are often compared, and sometimes competing. Gotham Village has often been called Little Bohemia a nickname relating to its friendly atmosphere. Apartments, and shops line this area of the Village. And the city lights spread a magical glow about the place at night. After all, a visit to Gotham is never complete without a stop at one of Little Bohemia's many shops or coffeehouses. Contents: Gordon The Batmobile Poison Ivy Scarecrow Obvious exits: Coffeeshop Village Apartments Midtown Little Stockton Scituate Gotham Village Scarecrow is in a car with Poison Ivy, driving around town speaking into a cell phone and a remote control-like device. Gordon drives down the street quickly, a few other police cars behind him You paged Alfred with '<> How long has he been on the show?'. Alfred pages: <>Mere minutes... The Batmobile takes a hairpin turn down the narrowing boulevards of Gotham Village. It comes to a sudden halt, and the canopy jerks open. The caller is cut off the radio. The producer's voice comes over, "Roddy... This is Dave. Talk to me, man... What's going on?" Roddy shouts, "KEEP HIM AWAY, DAVE!!!" You paged Alfred with '<> Any background sounds you can filter out of the phone transmissions?'. Alfred pages: <> I'm in the cave now...recordings are muffled...he's smart. However, I would guess they are using a cellular phone...and are on the move. Car, perhaps, sir? Batman vaults out of his ride, and starts making fast tracks for the back fire stairs, his face taut with alert concentration. (Not late again, Bruce. Not this time.)Oo. Officer Stoltz moves quickly to the Commissioner's side. "I doubt it, but see if we can get some sort of trace going... And get me some more info as to what this 'call' is all about" Orders Gordon. You paged Alfred with '<> Understood. I'll let Gordon know. Any echoes in the background or birds?'. Alfred pages: <> I'll check, sir? Scarecrow says into the remote, throwing the telephone from the moving car so it slams into a wall and shatters, "Roddy.. I'm coming for you... You can't hide from me... No one can hide from me. You'll see me coming, and you know the only way you can be safe... The only place you're safe from me... So long as you live I'll haunt you.... hunt you." Ivy swerves into an alley and parks the car now that phone trace is fairly well out of the question. She leans back in her seat and laughs. Batman speaks into his mask radio on the police band: "Commissioner Gordon; they are calling from a cellular phone, on the move. Ivy may be with Crane. I repeat; Poison Ivy may be with crane." He races up the stairs, cape fanning around his shoulders. Alfred pages: <> Here's all I was able to get, sir... Dave says, "Roddy... put down the gun for god's sake... We're your friends." Alfred pages: <> Roddy has a gun, sir...be cautious. There's another man...Dave...with him. No idea who these men are... Scarecrow says into the remote, "Roddy... You've gotta be ready for me... Be a man.. take your punishment... I'm coming for you..." Batman turns a corner, checking the floor numbers. He kicks open a door, and races towards the studio rooms, looking for an On The Air light or other sign...He speaks into his mask radio: "They're in our area, Commissioner..." Dave, the producer, turns to Batman and almost screams, "God... he's gonna kill himself... he's talking about someone coming for him." The radio goes dead, Dave having shut the output off a few moments before Batman happened to arrive in case something bad went down. Batman takes a pair of razorwings from his belt, and nods to the frantic producer. He checks the window to the studio itself, and then the door to it, eyes on Roddy's booth. "Keep talking to him, sir..keep talking..." Scarecrow chuckles and ups the volume on his remote, and Roddy's panicked voice, "God, no... he's coming for me... He's out there..." Gordon listens over the radio and nods oO (Crane, Joker, and now Ivy... great...) "Stoltz. Pull people from Neville, now! Get this area cornered off, call over the chopper. We may have some bugs in the area." Scarecrow shouts into the radio, "RODDY!!! I'm HERE!!! Take your punishment like a man, NOW!" Scarecrow says into the remote, his voice having the chilling tone of death itself, "The only place you're safe, Roddy, is in the grave." Police helicopters hover over the Village, they don't know quite what they are looking for, but anything suspicious will be noticed. Batman takes in a breath to center himself, then imitates Scarecrow's voice, trying to mimic his tone and inflection. "...No, Roddy, don't. Don't...Your father is coming in that door...that door to your left...shoot him as he walks in..." Scarecrow frowns as he hears the voice over his radio. "That...BAT!" He shouts into the remote, quite simply, "No, I won't die... you can't fight back... you're weak and helpless." Gordon scans the area, while making sure his commands are being met oO (Another crazy man with a gun.... putting himself in danger.) Batman keeps talking: "Roddy...your father can't hurt you now...YOU have the gun...YOU have the power...He walks in that door...shoot. Shoot him dead. YOU Have the power...and he won't ever hurt you again..." He moves to the opposing door, and raises his arm... Scarecrow pauses the briefest of moments and then shouts into the remote an elaborate shriek, the embodiment sound of fear itself. It's a last desperate gambit, trying to keep the Batman from letting this guy get back in control of himself. Batman kicks open the door, and points to his chest, hand concealed behind his back. "Shoot ME Roddy! I'm your father! Shoot me!" With a terrified and anguished shriek, the abused child in the man's body squeezes the trigger... BLAM BLAM BLAM. The radio goes silent suddenly. A smoking gun drops to the carpet. Ivy looks to the radio, eyebrow raised, waiting to hear confirmation on the kill... Scarecrow flings the remote out of the car. He punches the dashboard. "THAT BAT!!!" Gordon motions to his fellow officers "Shots fired. Move in, move move!" Police rush the building. The radio squelches to life....a staticky voice comes over. Its not Roddy. And not his 'father'. "Scarecrow. Ivy. Your time is running out. I'm onto you. I'm onto you...always. I'm right there. Always." Ivy chuckles, shifting the car into gear, "We'll see what's in the paper tomorrow...at any rate..." she continues as she pulls out of the alley, "...what you boys forgot about was....costume and set design. Now to find myself a pimp...." Scarecrow snorts, "Shouldn't be too hard... Besides, Joker dresses like one..." Batman takes in a breath, and looks over at the cops as they arrive, his arm around Roddy's quivering shoulder. "Don't do anything to his man. Understand? Find him help. Help." He scowls at the bullet-shattered flower pot, and fingers the hole in his breastplate. (Bruised ribs. A life saved.)Oo. You paged Alfred with '<> Alfred; its over. I stopped him. This time.'. Alfred pages: <> Very good, sir...you sound pained, however... The Cops look a bit stunned at seeing 'the' Batman, but they do manage to nod and get the man to safety. Gordon settles back into his car and starts driving back towards the station, and a long night of paperwork. Batman walks out, and heads home.