It seemed to be a very quiet day in Gotham. Normal people were enjoy their lives, being with others, seemed like nothing could go wrong today. Such days were rear in the city of Gotham, and it's no surprise that some people were feeling a little tense, like something bad was gonna happen. Who could blame them? Gotham wasn't exactly the most safest place in the world, in fact, it's known for being the most fearful. For such reasons, a lot of people were on edge. But, not for Lori and Leni, who decided to take their chance and spend the day at Gotham's mall. It seemed to be the place were a lot of teens hang out in Gotham, aside from parks, basketball courts and...dangerous looking alleyways. A lot of teens here seem to be the edgy, gothic kind of people, much like Lucy, but way creepier. Others were just...punks. When Lori and Leni were inside the mall, a lot of those teens gave them some weird looks, and that creeped both girls out...

Lori:"It's like being surrounded by a bunch of Lucys."

Leni:"I wouldn't know about that, Lori. These guys seem to be a whole lot scarier."

Lori:"Yeah, that is true. Let's just ignore them and see if there's anything interesting in this place."

The only interesting place seem to them both was the clothing store, obviously, since Leni spent most of time looking at and trying on some dress. It was also a fragrance store, allowing Lori to take a look, and a sniff at some of the perfumes they had. The only other person who was in the store, aside from the cashier by the looks of things was a middle-aged man, having shoulder length, unkept, dirty blonde hair, a blue coat, a gold pocket watch and a big nose. He also looks like he's not very stable, as his eyes kept motioning over to Leni...

Leni:"(wearing a blue dress) Lori, what do you think about this one?"

?:"Alice?"

Hearing a voice from behind her, Leni turned around to see the strange man behind her.

?:"Alice? Is that you, my dear?"

Leni:"...I think you have me confused with someone else, sir. My name is Leni."

?:"B-But...Alice...Oh, Alice. I need my Alice."

Cashier:"Hey, Tetch. Stop disturbing the other costumers! Either by something or get out!"

Tetch:"Hmph. I'm...running late for tea anyway. I'm off...to Wonderland.

And with that, the man known as Tetch had left the store, leaving Leni confused just Lori came over to her...

Lori:"What was that all about?"

Leni:"I don't know. He seems to have thought I someone named Alice."

Lori:"Alice?"

Leni:"Yeah. He also said something about Wonderland."

Lori:"Wonderland? Is that-? Hmm...my guess, that guy reads to many children's books."

Leni:"What do you mean?"

Lori:"I'll tell you later. You ready to head home?"

Leni:"Why right now? I'm pretty sure there's lots to see around here."

Lori:"...I guess we take a look for a little while longer."

Meanwhile, below the streets of the city, within the sewers, goons were working on something, something a little big. They were working on some menacing looking machines and loading some sort of substance inside them. There seemed to be a dozen of those machines being set, directly under some manhole covers. Each of the goons were wearing a gasmask, and for good reason. One of them decides to call their boss on the progress they're making...

Goon:"Hey, boss. All of the dispensers are ready to go."

?:"Good. It'll be launching time soon enough."

Goon:"But boss, there doesn't seem to be enough to cover the entire city."

?:"Of course there isn't. It's all for having to draw him out. I want him, and him alone, to feel the fear."

Goon:"Yeah, whatever you say boss. Just say the word..."

A little while later, Lori and Leni seemed to be done with shopping. They were about to head home until they saw something happening going on outside...

Leni:"Hey. Is it me, or does it look like the sky is turning green?"

Lori:"Leni, that's not the sky. That's some sort of gas, it's coming from outside.

The gas seemed to be thickening, as the teens could now barely see what's going on. That was, until someone came up to the glass screaming crazily, scaring both the girls and anyone else who was about to leave...

Infected person:"Help me!"

Leni:"Oh my gosh!"

Lori:"Leni, stay way from the window!"

The two sisters, along with everyone else near the entrance backed away as they saw tons of people out there acting crazy and even trying to break the glass...

Employee:"Everyone, find something to barricade the door! Quickly!"

Doing what the man said, Lori and Leni get away from the door to find something that could block the entrance...

Leni:"What are we gonna tell everybody?!"

Lori:"Don't worry! We'll call home as soon as we get the chance!"

Back at Wayne Manor, everyone seemed to be relaxing and doing their usual thing. Well, all except for Lincoln, who couldn't get the sight of Harvey's scared face out of his mind. Who would go as far as to permanently scar Gotham's shining hope? A question he kept asking himself. There were lots of things that he couldn't get his mind off, such as the mercenaries, the demon symbol, Talon...he fears it's all connected. Just as he was about to lose himself in his train of thought, he heard his Mom's voice.

Rita:"Lincoln! Girls! You need to see this!"

Everyone was called out towards the living room, where on the TV, some terrifying stuff was happening right now. It seemed like a portion of the city was being covered by some green fog and it was making people insane...

Newscaster:"From the sight of this, it appears as if the gas is resonating from underneath the city. Police are already entering the scene of the chaos, but it appears that their path is now blocked by a gang of armed men keeping them away."

Alfred:"My word."

Lynn Sr.:"This is insane!"

Luna:"No kidding."

Lincoln:"(looks around) ...Wait a minute. Where's Lori and Leni?"

Rita:"Oh, they went to go...shopping...at the mall."

Then all the heads turn back to the screen, where it shows the mall and people outside it are acting like zombies, wanting to get inside by force...

Newscaster:"Civilians inside the Gotham Galleria have locked themselves and have barricaded the door. But it doesn't seem long before those people brake their way inside."

Luna:"Oh boy."

Luan:"This situation has turned rather misty. (laughs)"

Lincoln:"Seriously?"

Luan:"My bad."

Rita:"Lori and Leni are still there! My girls are in trouble!"

Lynn Sr.:"What can we do?"

Lola:"Stay here and wait for something to happen?"

Lana:"I think he meant to help Lori and Leni."

Lincoln:"...I'm going out there."

Rita:"What? Lincoln, you can't! Didn't you see what happened to those people?"

Lincoln:"I have to help Lori and Leni! Trust me, Mom. I know what I'm doing!"

Lynn Sr.:"Lincoln, listen to you mother!"

Lincoln:"And listen to me! ...I'm not backing down. I'm qualified for this!"

Lola:"How are you qualified for this?!"

Lincoln:"...You're just gonna have to trust me."

Lynn:"Lincoln, wait! I'm coming with!"

Lincoln:"No, Lynn, you can't. Not now. But if I have to...I'll give you a call. (winks)"

Rita:"Lincoln, please..."

Lincoln:"...I'll be safe."

Without anything else to say, Lincoln heads out the door. Soon enough, he's off on a red car, speeding towards Gotham, where more of that has continued to spread. As he was going, he was getting a call from Lisa, having a good idea of what she was going to say...

Lisa:"(through phone) Lincoln, you do realize you're going in there unprepared, right?"

Lincoln:"Relax, Lisa. You should know by now I'm always prepared.

Lisa:"What do you mean?"

Lincoln:"You in the cave right now?"

Lisa:"Yes, but why?"

Lincoln:"Watch."

At the push of a button, the car began to shift, changing form and color from hot red to pitch black, looking sharp and sleek. And inside, Lincoln was changing to, from a average guy's attire to a Capes Crusader's. His car transformed into the Batmobile, and he into the Batman. Lisa was actually watching everything from her seat, and she had to admit she was impressed...

Oracle:"Having a vehicle that can change shape from normal to bat-form at any time! Intriguing!"

Batman:"See what I mean? I know what I always got to do."

Oracle:"Nicely done. But the gas is thicker, and from the looks of satellite imaging, it seems to be distorting electrical fields. I would not recommend going in there with that Batmobile."

Batman:"Does that mean I've got to go on foot then?"

Oracle:"I would recommend either high or low. The gas does seem to resonating from below the city, deep in the sewers."

Batman:"Understood. Keep communication to a minimal, Oracle. Things might get a little crazy."

Oracle:"You can say that again."

Seeing the fog dead ahead, Batman ejects himself from the Batmobile and glides above it. Before heading in, he activates a face mask that allows him to block out the fumes as he soon jumps in. Within the fog, it was chaos, the streets were destroyed, the roads were cluttered and everyone was freaking out. They were acting anything but human, running around and seeming to be attacking each other like crazy. This was confirmed as a infected civilian came Rushing at the Dark Knight, in an attempt to throttle him. But Batman soon shook him off as he took his grapple gun and took for the skies...again...

Batman:"Oracle, I need to find the source of this gas! Where do I start?"

Oracle:"Head for the nearest manhole cover. The source of the gas should be directly underneath."

Batman:"On it."

Heading back to ground level, Batman made his way through a road of crazies as he spotted the nearest manhole cover. Wasting no time, he pulls it off and jumps into the sewers. In it, he finds...nothing. Just himself knee deep in sewage. But, the sent of the gas was definitely stronger here, as the whole sewer system seems to be blanketed by it.

Oracle:"If this substance seeps into our water supply, it'l surelyl be contaminated for years. You must shut down the source. Continue down the path where it's stench grows stronger, then shut down what is creating it. Good luck, Batman."

Batman:"Thanks, Oracle. I'll be in touch."

Just then, in the Batcave, Lynn was coming down and heading straight for her uniform's display...

Lisa:"What are you up to, Lynn?"

Lynn:"I'm going to help Linc."

Lisa:"Hold on! You are NOT going out there! Haven't you saw what happened to all those people out there?"

Lynn:"(suiting up) Which is the reason why Lincoln can't do this alone! It's chaos up there!"

Lisa:"Which is why he told you to stay behind! He doesn't want anyone else caught in the crossfire! With our second and third oldest sibling out there, staying here is the best bet for us!"

Lynn:"Doesn't he realize that gas is extending across the entire city?! It won't be long before all of Gotham is covered and it won't be long before HE'S infected too!"

Lisa:"Which is why we ARE going to help! Even if he takes down the source, the remaining gas will not dissipate. We need to help clear it."

Lynn:"And how are we gonna do that? Use a giant fan?"

Lisa:"Now, actually, that'll make things worse. But, if I could get a sample of it, then maybe, I'll be able to find the right detergent to destroy the gas and reverse the infects."

Lynn:"And how exactly are you planning on getting a sample of the stuff?"

Lisa:"Well, I could get Lincoln to try and get me one from the source or an infected person."

Lynn:"Hmm...okay. I'll wait, but if we don't hear from him soon, I'm going after him."

Back in the sewers, Batman was sneaking around as he saw that there were some hired thugs down here, wearing gas masks to shield them from the effects of the gas. Taking them down stealthily, he continues on and finds one of the machines administering the gas. But before he could do anything, Oracle began to call him again...

Oracle:"Batman, have you located the source of the gas?"

Batman:"I did. It's a machine, a big one. But not big enough to keep on spreading the gas all across the city."

Oracle:"Hmm...well, I'm going to need you to get a sample of the substance so that I can try to make an detergent for it."

Batman:"Alright then. Give me a moment."

And with that, Batman takes his fist and jams it into the machine. Reaching in, he pulls out something of interest, a canister of a green and orange substance inside. Batman recognized this stuff anywhere, as he sends the data over to Oracle through the Batcomputer...

Batman:"It's Fear Toxin, Lisa. It drives people insane by inducing irrational illusions of fear into victims."

Oracle:"Created by Doctor Jonathan Crane. Aka..."

Batman:"Scarecrow. I had a feeling that it may of been him."

Oracle:"Who else would it be?"

Batman:"Crane's not the only one who uses Fear Gas, Lisa. He's also not the type of guy who would have access to this type of machinery so easily. He's working with someone, I just don't know who it is."

Oracle:"Never the less, you need to stop him. You've rendered the first machine useless, but there are still several around your location. Find them and take them."

Batman:"Understood. I'm heading there now."

But as he signs off, footsteps are heard from behind him...

?:"(female voice) You won't be going anywhere."

Turning around, the Dark Knight faces a foe he's never seen before...and still hasn't seen, because there was no one there. However, there was moment, all around him, he could sense it. And then, suddenly, he was attack from above. The assailant was quick and deadly, like a predator determined to not lose its pray. Batman wasn't able to keep up, as he sees his enemy come at him without warning, moving around him with swiftness and agileness. Soon enough, he feels his face mask getting clawed off as he's launched to the ground. Struggling to get up, he then gets a good view of the assailant. A woman, tan skin, ink across her eyes, tattoos around her neck, clothes seeming to be made out of scales, bare feet wrapped in bandages, metal bracers and claws attached to her fingers. At top of all that, her eyes and tongue were that of a snake. Batman only got a clear view for mere moments before the effects of the toxins began to kick in, blurring his vision...

Batman:"Who...are you?"

?:"Copperhead."

Batman:"...I've heard of you. Thought you were supposed to be a man."

Copperhead:"Thought you were supposed to be bigger."

Lunging towards the female, all Batman got was a new severe wound as Copperhead lands a cut on the side of his neck. Batman felt like he was growing sick as he slowly picks himself up and faces Copperhead. Checking his new wound, he find the blade seeping from it as his vision grows worse...

Batman:"...What did you do to me?"

Copperhead:"Finished the job. In a few more moments, your body will realize it."

Batman:"Where...is Scarecrow?"

Copperhead:"Last longer than some of my other dates and I might just show you."

And with that, Copperhead took her leave as Batman felt his body grow weaker by the second. But then he sees something staining the floor, not his own blood but something green. Turning on his detective vision, he scans it to see that it was some sort neurotoxin, very powerful. Scarecrow infects Batman's mind while Copperhead infects his body. He thought it was smart, but not smart enough...

Batman:"Lisa...sending data of a neurotoxin...need you to...synthesize...an antidote."

Lisa:"You're vital signs are going off the charts! What happened?! Nevermind, just get back up to ground level so that I can send in an airdrop."

Lynn:"Alright, that's it. Lincoln's in trouble and I gotta do something!"

Lisa:"You can't! I just finished with the detergent for the Fear Toxin. I need you to deliver it."

Lynn:"How did you finish that so fast?"

Lisa:"Doesn't matter. And as for how you're gonna spread this across the city..."

Just then, Lisa presses a button and a few lights turn on to show a bat themed helicopter...

Lisa:"You'll take the Bat-copter, fly across Gotham and have the antidote rain down on the entire city! Simple as that!"

Lynn:"Except there's only one problem, I've never flown a helicopter in my life!"

Lisa:"Oh great! Now what are we gonna do?!"

Alfred:"Young ladies..."

Both of the sisters turned their heads to see Alfred towering over them...

Alfred:"If you may be able to calm down, I might be able to explain how I could be of service to you..."

Back in the sewers, Batman was fighting off the effects of the poison and Fear Toxin as he searches for a way out...

Batman:"Must get back...to ground level."

Unfortunately, the world around him begins to no longer feel real as his vision begins to blacken and the floor underneath turn to gravel. He felt like he was in Limbo, as there nothing around him. He continued to walk forward nonetheless, hoping that the illusions will disappear. But then, the sound of a crossbow is heard, and soon enough, a bolt is launched in his thigh, causing excruciating pain. He grips onto the bolt, trying to pull it out before more bolts come out of nowhere, forcing him to dodge as quickly could. He heard noises all around him, the sound of something shift from one area to another. It was like it was happening all around him, until...

?:"THE FEAR!"

Coming from out of the shadows, a skinny figure, wearing mostly brown underneath a trench coat and scary looking mask. In it's hands was a crossbow and in its other hand was a glove with syringes attached on it. They were all filled with fear toxin. Slowly lifting up his head, Batman saw the man he was looking for...

Batman:"...Scarecrow."

Scarecrow:"Yes, it is I. (Points to Batman's thigh) That bolt is coated in a specialized Fear Toxin I've been saving just for you. Not only will your worst fear come to life in front of you, but you will experience the most exquisite of pain. Your lungs cease to draw breath, the blood in your veins will run dry, eventually, your heart will stop beating. Oh, but even with all that, it's not a fitting death for the great Batman. Step into the Crow's nest. It is time...for you to feel the fear!"

And with that said, Scarecrow vanished, leaving Batman to continue wondering through this world of his. It felt he was getting nowhere, but soon...he heard droplets underneath his feet. Looking down, Batman was shocked to see he was now stepping in blood.

Batman:"What the-?"

He wasn't sure what to make of it, until he looked forward and saw who the blood belonged too.

Batman:"No..."

Stepping forward, he fell on his knees as he was looking at the corpse of his sister, Lori, who was shot in the chest. And it was not just, but the rest of his family, all his sisters, his parents, Alfred... Ronnie Anne...all dead and bleeding out a pond before the Dark Knight...

Batman:"No...no...this can't be...this can't be true...I can't lose them...I don't want to be... (Voice breaking)...alone again."

The Dark Knight looked like he was ready to give up, until he felt the hand of his sister Lori being place at his cheek, and she was looking straight at him...

Lori:"Lincoln..."

Batman:"Lori?"

Lori:"...You can still save us...don't let us die."

Batman:"I...I can't go forward...I'm sorry."

Lori:"Hmm...just what I would expect from you..."

Batman:"...What?"

Lori:"You left us...you forgot us...and now, you throw us away...leaving us to die. All that I would expect from my sorry excuse of a brother..."

Batman:"No..."

Lori:"You...did this to us."

Batman:"No. Stop..."

Lori:"You're no hero. You're just a stupid kid in a costume."

Batman:"Stop it..."

Lori:"Every bit as weak as the day you were left to rot in the streets."

Batman:"Shut up. Shut up...!"

Lori:"(disoriented) You can't save us...you can't save anybody..."

Batman:"Grrr..."

Lori:"Let alone...yourself."

Having enough, Batman roars as he jams his fist into his sister, turning her into smoke. And that smoke stretches to the rest of his dead family, turning them onto nothing. The Dark Knight found himself standing on his feet once more, with a flaming fury within his eyes...

Lori's voice:"Now go show them what a kid from Royal Woods can do..."

Batman:"...Thanks. I needed that."

It was then that voice of Oracle was coming to him through his com link.

Oracle:"Batman?! Batman, are you okay?"

Batman:"I'm here. I'm fine."

Oracle:"What happened? We lost communication a while ago.

Batman:"Scarecrow got to me... He injected me with Fear Toxin."

Oracle:"Does this mean I must make another antidote?"

Batman:"No... I've dealt with in before. It'll wear off for me. But tell em that you have the other antidote ready?"

Oracle:"Affirmative. Have you made your back up to ground level?"

Bat looks around him and sees that he's right below a manhole cover...

Batman:"On my way up now. Have it ready."

Oracle:"It's in its way."

Heading back up to the surface, Batman arrives up top to see that city was still covered in Toxin, but the streets were now clear of any people. Hearing the sound of a jet about him he looks up to see the Batwing coming and dropping the capsule with the antidote inside. Opening it it up, Batman wastes no time injected himself with the cure as he shakes his head to clear his mind.

Oracle:"The antidote should reverse the effects of the neurotoxin, as well as to help counter the effects of the Fear Gas."

Batman:"Thanks, Oracle."

Oracle:"Not going to lie, I was quite surprised you were able to hold out for this long. The toxin should've killed you a while ago."

Batman:"Heh. Well, I'm not exactly indestructible, but I've been through worse. Have you found a way to clear the toxin?"

Oracle:"Indeed. But, have you destroyed the rest of the machines yet?"

Batman:"Hmm...I was so focused on getting the cure, I forgot about those. But I might have an idea."

Oracle:"What do you mean?"

Batman:"Take out Scarecrow, and we stop the toxin from spreading."

Oracle:"How will that would work?"

Batman:"It's a bit of a long shot, but I'm guess that Scarecrow could a control on him for his dispensing machines. If I can get to that controller, I could shut them down while you clear the city."

Oracle:"I suppose that could work. But how can you guess that he might have a controller for those things?"

Batman:"It kind of seems to be a flaw among criminals."

Back at the mall, everyone was continuing to barricade every exit. While Lori tries to calm Leni down, a twenty-one year black man in glass and holding a camera was busy getting pictures of this whole thing. But as he was doing that, he then turns to the worrying sisters, sensing something familiar about them...

Black man:"Where have I seen those two before?"

But it was then that moment was interrupted by the sound of cracking glass. Everyone turned to the main entrance, and saw that the barricade wasn't holding. The infected were soon to get in, just as...

Scarecrow:"Fear!"

The glass entrance apart with the master of fear himself jumping through it.

Racing through the streets right now, Batman was heading straight for the mall, flooring it and wasting no time...

Oracle:"How's the Batmobile?"

Batman:"Working as good as ever. Nice idea with the nimbus cell."

Oracle:"I did it was right idea, since Scarecrow was using nimbus power to amplify the effects of the toxin."

Batman:"The police have located Crane at the Mall."

Oracle:"At the mall? But that would mean-"

Batman:"Yeah. Lori and Leni are in danger. I need to hurry."

Continuing forward, Batman had made it to the mall in no time. Ejecting from the car, Batman glides above the whole scene, seeing what was happening. Scarecrow was outside, he had hostages. Lori was among them, and she seemed to be crying her eyes out as the effects of the toxin were getting to her. Heading straight down there, the Dark Knight confronts Scarecrow, but was shocked to see that he was holding Leni by the throat...

Batman:"Let her go."

Scarecrow:"Who? This poor little thing? When I found her, she was crying for her Dear Brother, Lincoln. And the only man I know with that name in this city...is Wayne. Let's make a deal, Dark Knight. Bring me Wayne, or I will make you and everyone else here suffer unimaginably."

Batman:"I'm not hear to negotiate Crane. I will brake you in two."

Scarecrow:"Hah! As if you have the spine to do such a thing. Very well...do you're worst. (Brings out crossbow) I know I will do mine."

Seeing Crane draw a weapon was enough for Batman to come straight at him and throw a boomerang. Surprisingly, Scarecrow moved swiftly out of the way and then pointed his crossbow at the Dark Knight, hitting him with yet another bolt coated with Fear Toxin...

Batman:"Ugh!"

Scarecrow:"Feel the fear!"

It was also then that someone snuck behind Batman, and soon enough, cut him at the side of his face. It was revealed to be Copperhead, hissing at Batman...

Copperhead:"As well as the pain."

Batman:"(groans in pain) I made a cure toxin, Copperhead."

Copperhead:"You think so? My poison will remain in your body for as you live, which won't be for very long."

Scarecrow:"How long do you think you'll last, Batman?"

Tossing Leni aside, Scarecrow and Copperhead advance upon Batman, who gets back his feet and does his best to fight back in the condition. Despite being cured from the poison, the Fear Toxin is still infecting him and he barely even see straight. But he will not fall down to the two of them, as he desperately counters everyone of their moves, and does his best to retaliate.

Copperhead:"You should already be dead!"

Scarecrow:"There's no escaping fear!"

Meanwhile, just above the mall, the Bat-copter was flying over the fight, and inside were Robin and Alfred, who were watching the whole thing...

Robin:"We have to help Bats!"

Alfred:"Be sure to wearing your respirator. One whiff of that has, and you will hallucinate!"

Robin:"I got it, Pennyworth! You just worry about spreading the antidote. Wish me luck!"

And with that, Robin jumps from the Chopper and joins the fight. Scarecrow and Copperhead were were expecting this.

Batman:"Robin! What doing here?"

Robin:"Helping you out, boss! You know you can't do this alone!"

Batman:"I can handle this, Robin."

Robin:"Just accept it! I'm not going anywhere else!"

Copperhead:"A silly little girl will not even things up for you!"

Scarecrow:"She too shall feel the fear!"

Robin:"Man, shut the hell up!"

Batman:"I got Copperhead, you go for Crane."

Robin:"Got you covered, Bats! (Brings out staff)"

And with that, Crane starts firing bolts rapidly at the Girl Wonder, but every one of them land on the ground as she deflects them with her staff.

Robin:"Boom!"

Scarecrow:"Okay...(brings out scythe) How about this?"

All the while, Batman deals with Copperhead, but she seems much tougher than she looks. He manages to dislocate her arm, twice, she resets the bone each time. But this fight had to have come to an end. So he decides to allow her to attack him, having her lunge at him and allow him to grab her as she moves allow around. Pretty soon, he grabs her by the deets and swings her towards a lamppost, making her hit head and knocking her unconscious.

Back to Robin and Scarecrow, Robin was having more trouble deal with Scarecrow and his scythe as he seems to be moving fast than the speed of his crossbow...

Scarecrow:"Scared yet?"

Doing a downward swing, Scarecrow manages to break Robin's staff in two and knocks her down by hitting her with the blunt end of his scythe. Then, he starts moving for her respirator...

Scarecrow:"Fear..."

Batman:"Fear this!"

Getting him from behind, Batman sweeps Scarecrow's leg and knocks him to the ground. Recovering quickly, Scarecrow tries to swing his scythe at the Dark Knight, but he retaliates, knocking away Crane's weapon and starts to rapidly punch him without and content. Just when it looks like Crane has had enough, he's still standing on his feet as he lunges forward at his adversary...

Robin:"I don't think so!"

Suddenly, Robin takes on his Scarecrow's crossbow bolts and launches it directly into his shoulder. This sends Crane tumbling and struggling to stay on his feet, allowing the duo to savor the victory...

Robin:"Scared yet, Crane?"

But it doesn't look like Crane was starting to lose his mind. In fact, he was staying very still, which was not what the Toxin was supposed to do...

Scarecrow:"The fear...the fear!...The FEAR! I SEE IT! THE FEEEAAAR!"

With that, Scarecrow begins to shake vigorously until he falls backwards and...explodes...

Scarecrow's voice:"(echoing) FEEEEAAAARR..."

His body completely vanished in a blast of smoke. Batman and Robin were barely able to watch as the smoke dissipated and Scarecrow was now gone. Copperhead was still here, however, and she was still unconscious, and Batman thought that at least one criminal should be apprehended...

Oracle:"Batman? Batman, are you okay?!"

Batman:"I'm fine, Oracle. Scarecrow is finished."

Oracle:"That is good to hear. Does that mean you have apprehended him?"

Batman:"He's... he's gone. He just...blew up."

Oracle:"Really? ...Interesting."

Alfred:"Master Wayne, if you don't mind..."

Batman:"Alfred?"

Alfred:"I was here in the helicopter with Miss Lynn. The cure of toxin is ready to be administered, sir."

Batman:"Good. Lisa, how is it Toxin looking?"

Lisa:"The spread seems to have stopped. Perhaps you were right. But Scarecrow didn't have the controller. He WAS the controller."

Batman:"In any case, administer the antidote and cure the city now."

Alfred:"Right you are, sir."

Batman and Robin both watched as the cure of the Fear Toxin rained down on Gotham. It took only seconds before what remained of the toxin began to disappear completely. As this happened, Batman turned over to Leni, who was shivering on a fetal position on the floor. He got on one knee and put of his hand...

Batman:"Give me your hand."

Leni:"(voice breaking) N-No! Get away!"

Batman:"Leni! Look at me..."

Leni was surprised to hear that the Dark Knight knew her name. It's almost he knows her very well...

Batman:"It's okay. Give me your hand."

Rising up, Leni lifted and gave her hand to Batman, who suddenly pulled her into his embrace...

Robin:"Whoa, boss. Getting a little clingy, don't you think?"

Batman:"She needs it right now."

Lori:"Leni!"

Just then, Lori rushed over to her sister and Batman, pulling Leni away from him.

Lori:"Stay away from her!"

Leni:"Lori, it's okay!"

Lori:"He's dangerous, Leni. You should know better."

As the two sisters walked away from the Dark Knight, he did the same as he was done here. All the while, the black man from before watched everything, sensing the same familiarity from all those people...

Black Man:"Hmph. Came by to meet an old friend and maybe get a new job, and a ton of crazy stuff happens around here. Guess I'll stick around. I have a feeling things are gonna get a whole lot more interesting."