"Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise."
Proverbs 20:1
*****
Arkham...
The House of Horror...
The Breeding Ground for Chaos...
The party house of the criminally insane...
Contained within its walls were the not-so-normal, the ones that Gotham never wanted to see the light of the day. Those who struck fear into civilians with just their names. Those who not created immense horror and feared no Batman.
But not all confined within chose their path.
Some were just simply insane.
Nion and Batman walked through the dark and eerie garden of the gothic structure that loomed in the shadows. Many gargoyles sat high above, gazing malevolently below, light flickering in and out, barred windows keeping the desperate in and tall, sharp towers giving it an unwelcoming feeling. Nion led Batman through the familiar atmosphere.
"This place is too gloomy," Nion began. "And you wonder why they keep breaking out. Even a normal person would go mad here. Gotham really needs a makeover; it's too dark to give birth to light."
Nion turned to Batman. "Well, except for a few, of course."
"Gotham is not entirely dark," Batman stated as he continued walking.
"Says the Dark Knight," Nion remarked with irony. "It is true, but you are different. Gotham is a bit difficult, but it could be better."
"What are you planning, Nion?" Batman questioned, his gaze turning to Nion.
He couldn't see his face, but he could discern from the micro-expressions. Nion was speaking like someone with a goal in mind, trying to guide him toward the same end. And he didn't like that.
"Nothing much, just a bit of reconstruction," Nion shrugged and kept walking.
Batman glared as he followed. "Explain."
Nion didn't turn, but he answered, "As I said, this city is too dark. I want to change it from the foundation. I want to rebuild it from scratch into a better city, a city full of opportunity and hope."
"A show of power," Batman commented, not easily fooled.
At this stage, Nion was only a singular force. Even though the government feared him for his powers, they wouldn't sit still. Those at the top had held too much power for too long; they wouldn't let anyone dethrone them.
Nion also hadn't tightened his grip on the laws, leaving enough loose ends for them to exploit. They were all biding their time, gathering genius minds to take him down. Toppling him would give them control of the entire planet, one that will be accepted by people and the veil will be lifted for ever.
A singular force, but also the biggest target.
Nion smiled. "Kind of."
"It won't be easy," Batman replied.
"It never is. Change is always opposed, for better or worse. But I wanted to talk to you about it. I thought you might resist change, be a bit reluctant to be controlled," Nion stated his concern.
"All I fight for is the peace of this city, to end crime," Batman said. "I don't care if it's me or someone else who achieves it."
"Yet you can't end crime, Batman., but you can control it," Nion said as they arrived before the entrance to Arkham. "So, you can continue running in your Halloween costume."
Two people were waiting for them, one female and one male. The woman had fair skin and brown hair tied in a bun. She wore a professional white coat and held a white tablet in her hand. Her eyes showed determination and resilience.
The man had a stern expression as he stood next to her, with short-cropped grey hair and a mustache. He wore his police jacket over his normal shirt and jeans. Dark circles under his eyes and a wrinkled forehead suggested he frowned too much.
"Thank you for waiting, Dr. Young and Commissioner Gordon," Nion extended his hand to Dr. Young.
Dr. Young shook it with a polite smile, and Commissioner Gordon just gave a firm shake without a word. Nion didn't mind their behavior; they were still figuring out how to treat him. It's not every day they meet the man at the top.
"I think we better finish what I came for; I don't want to waste time," Nion stated as he walked through the open door.
The reception was... normal. There was a receptionist sitting at her computer, a few guards and nurses walking around. The whole place was brightly lit with many chairs for people to rest. He even saw few patients happily having a conversation.
Nion had expected a more deserted and gloomy place.
"This way, sir," Dr. Young stated as she gestured to the elevator.
Nion followed her into the elevator with Gordon and Batman. The doctor then flashed her card and pressed the button for the lower floor.
"The dangerous ones were kept underground for better security," Dr. Young stated.
The elevator smoothly arrived at a floor below, and Dr. Young took the lead.
"The people you are here for are on this floor," Dr. Young stated as she looked at her tablet.
"What about the floor below?" Nion asked, but then he realized, "No need, I know."
Dr. Young turned but didn't speak, so Nion continued. "I think I could cure most, if not all, of them here of their fractured minds. The human psyche is really weak, easily broken with enough stress. But I can't say that for all."
Dr. Young turned, seeming reluctant to speak.
"You can ask your questions, Dr. Young," Nion stated. "I won't take offense when someone seeks knowledge."
"Thank you, sir," Dr. Young replied before asking her question. "Does your species deal with psychology?"
"Mine? Yes, all of us are telepaths. Our minds are always touching another's, but of course, we are not exempt from crimes. However, we easily catch the criminal. It's not so easy to hide when your mind is literally connected to everyone around you," Nion answered.
"Are all of you part of a hive mind?" Dr. Young inquired.
"No, we are just partially connected," Nion replied.
"So, you think you can cure people here of their problems?" Dr. Young asked.
"I can," Nion answered. "The mind is like an empty glass. You become what you fill it with or when it breaks from all that was pushed inside. I should be able to remove it or, shall I say, restore it to default."
"Would you mind giving a demonstration?" Dr. Young asked.
Her goal was to help the patients in Arkham Asylum. Her determination to this cause gave her strength to look into the abyss.
"I don't mind," Nion answered, "But let's finish my business."
"Okay," Dr. Young agreed and led them through the hall.
Nion had already seen a few people he recognized in the cells that had passed: Calendar Man, Scarecrow, and some others. The cells were separated by a distance to keep them isolated. But the one he was here for was in a specialized cell.
Nion could already feel the cold seeping from the distance.
They finally arrived at the cell of the wanted person, Dr. Victor Fries, or Mr. Freeze. His whole cell was covered in ice, with its temperature below freezing. The man could not survive in room temperature. But Nion was not here for the villain but the genius cryogenist.
"It's nice to meet you, Dr. Fries," Nion spoke, drawing the man's attention from carving ice.
The blue man turned to glance at his visitors. He scanned each face but failed to recognize Nion. His cell didn't have a TV, not that he was not allowed to, but for security reasons.
"Who are you?" Dr. Fries asked, recognizing that Batman had accompanied the small man.
"I am Nion, currently the governor of Earth," Nion stated. "And I am here to make an offer."
"Governor of Earth? Sure that you are not one of us?" Freeze spoke with sarcasm.
"Well, I am. You can ask these three," Nion pointed to Batman.
Victor turned to Batman, the man he trusted to tell the truth.
"He is," Batman answered.
"Hmm... fine. What is it that you want?" Victor asked.
"Easy, you working for me," Nion stated.
"What do I get in return?" Victor asked.
"Freedom, money, and a high-tech lab to continue your research," Nion answered.
"Good offer, but what's the catch?" Victor was an intelligent man.
"Actually, nothing much. You will probably assist me in my research and exploration. Your biology allows you to survive in places where life would not," Nion explained, "And I would like a man like yourself on the right side for once."
Victor remained silent, contemplating the offer. The offer was too good to be true, but if he would get funding to continue his research, then he was more than willing to accept. He needed to cure his wife; there was no more important goal.
"Well, I might as well add a cherry on top," Nion spoke. "I can cure your wife, Nora. I have the technology to do so."
Victor looked at Nion for any signs of falsehood, but he couldn't see his face. But even with his suspicion, he decided.
"I trust that you will keep your word," Victor replied.
Nion smiled. "Good."
He then turned to Dr. Young. "You can return his suit to him. I will remove him from your hands." He then turned to Victor. "I will come back after I meet with the other person I came to meet."
Victor nodded.
Dr. Young tapped on her tablet and instructed the nurse and guard through the comms. She then guided the trio further into the facility. Nion saw Joker and Killer Croc during this part of the walk. Joker was, of course, frantic when he saw Batman and went into his usual dialogue, but Croc was silent.
Then they arrived at their location.
Nion looked in and saw a green-skinned woman in her hospital clothes just lying on her bed, swirling her red hair. Her seductive figure was visible even through the loose clothes. Nion leaned and knocked on the glass.
She turned her head and looked at the visitors with disdain. "What do I owe the pleasure, Batman?"
"..." Batman didn't answer her.
"I am here to talk," Nion jumped in.
"Who are you?" Ivy questioned.
"Someone who can get you out of here," Nion answered.
"How would you do that?" She asked with slight interest.
"Well, first, I have the power to. Second, I have the power to," Nion answered in two different tones, first nonchalant, second confident.
"A powerful man... But what do you want with me?" She asked.
"Your expertise in Herbology," Nion answered.
"That can be given, but my service is pricey," Ivy spoke as she got up from the bed and walked to the glass.
Each of her movements tugged at one's heartstrings, but none here would fall for it.
"I can afford it," Nion replied.
"Well then, why don't you release me first? We can talk about our business face to face without this wall," Ivy spoke, pressing her body against the glass.
"Fine," Nion stated and turned to Dr. Young. "Open the door."
"Are you sure?" Dr. Young asked.
"Yep," Nion confirmed.
Dr. Young then tapped on her tablet and swiped her card, opening the door that separated them from Ivy. Ivy saw that the door had opened and walked out with her hips swaying hypnotically. She then walked to Nion and leaned closer, pushing her body against his.
"Why don't you remove that helmet? So, we can have the conversation face to face," Ivy suggested in a very alluring tone.
"Sorry," Nion replied.
"Why? Do you think I would judge you based on looks?" Ivy asked, again in a very alluring yet toxic tone.
"Not for looks, but for this." Nion pulled out a syringe and stabbed Ivy.
Ivy jumped back in shock, her hands covering her neck. She had a very high immunity, so she knew she would not die.
"It's a very powerful... agent," Nion noted. "Sleep well; we'll talk back at my place."
Finishing his sentence, he waved his hand to open the door, and Ivy just fell into it and vanished. The door was connected to his city, where she would be kept for research purposes.
"Where did you send her?" Batman asked.
"To my place," Nion answered. "She will be fine," he assured.
"..." Batman glared silently.
Nion shrugged and took the road back. He watched the patients and arrived at Joker's cell, who was still pressing his face against the glass.
"Batsy, I knew you wouldn't forget about your best buddy," he smiled creepily.
Nion frowned, and Joker slammed into the back wall.
*****
Leave a comment if your find the characters out of character!