Riddle Me This (open)

[The Riddler]

There's only one way to start a game, and that's to bring the Bat into it, Riddler thought as walked around inside a warehouse. His cane tapped against the floor as he walked along the concrete floor, no one else in sight of that night. There was only on thing he needed and then he would be gone after the fun.

He walked along a tall line of cargo boxes. He slowed down as he knew he was getting closer to what he had been waiting to claim as his own. He stopped when he came to a box that was labeled that said it had been sent from South American. A smile crept on to his face as he tipped his green bowler cap with the tip of his cane to get a better look.

He had been waiting for the shipment for a while now. Now, if only he could open it. Riddler looked around and found a crowbar sitting near by. This was too easy, he walked over and grabbed the crowbar. He walked back over to the box and pried the box open. The Riddler put the crowbar down and dug into the packaging of the box to reveal some type of rod with a green gem on the end of it.

Riddler knew all about this artifact, why else would he be after it. It was worth a large amount of money. Riddler grabbed the rod and started to walk away. He knew that someone was on there way. After all, it wouldn't be like the Riddler to not invite the Batman. Oh, and may be someone else to help cause a distraction for his get away, a certain bird turned night.

Riddler knew what he was doing. He always worked a few steps ahead of everyone and knew how to mess with their minds. And that was exactly what he was planning to do, as he looked at his watch and leaned again a box in waiting, knowing his plan was in action when he could see the sight of the Bat signal shining in the sky through a window. "This will be too easy," Riddler said to himself.

[The Batman]

Batman was out driving when the Bat-signal lit up the sky. He had Alfred put Gordon through to his communicator. "Commissioner Gordon?" Gordon replied "Batman, we have just discovered Mr. Nygma has had a shipment come into Gotham."

"Did it show up on the manifests?" Batman knew it wouldn't but he needed to know how Gordon got this information. Gordon hesitated to answer. He had raid part of the shipping yard early and took some criminals in to the precinct. Did he really want Batman to know everything. Batman always makes the police look incompetent.

"We got it from one of the guys inside his gang," Gordon replied. Batman knew anything Nygma brought into this country could not be good. Making a rapid turn around, Batman headed to a recent hideout of Nygma's.

[Nightwing]

Over the transmitter, Nightwing voice came on, clearly wanting some information. "Any trouble than needs to be handled," Nightwing asked.

Nightwing hated to try and jumping in on cases, he liked to get his own, but when there's the bat-signal and no report, he knew there was something going down. And Nightwing was not one for calling Commissioner Gordon for information. As far as the police were concerned, Nightwing was just another vigilante trying to do the polices' job. As well as that, he was know to cause a bit of damage to to city property, and as Nightwing likes to call it "bending" some of the city's laws in come of his cases. So, he wasn't much of a friend to the cops when he was one to race down the streets and stirring up a few problems to further his investigations.

Nightwing was riding his motorcycle on the streets of down town Gotham and hadn't had anything better to do. So, when he saw the bat-signal, he thought it might be something he could get in on.

[The Riddler]

Riddler sat in wait of the Batman, preparing his trap. He knew the Bat would take the bait, after all, he knew that Batman would never miss the chance to put someone way for a crime. The Riddler knew the only way to protect his plan was to take care of the Bat first, as to make sure he wouldn't end up in the way later.

Now, if only Riddler could find away to get someone else in on this. It was a shame though, he knew how to play his cards this time as to not to get stopped. It seemed that everyone now a days was in good old Arkham. Riddler had been thinking of maybe getting a few of those other inmates back at Arkham out. After all, they would be a good distraction when they were needed. For some it was a small price, for others it wasn't worth working with them.

Riddler had yet to make up his mind as to if he really wanted their help in his plot. He seemed to have better look when working on his own. Now that he had what he wanted for the first faze of his plans, it would be much longer before Gotham would see what they were up against.

The Riddler made his way out of the warehouse and was ready to head out. He knew the first place the Batman would be looking for him.

[The Batman]

"Nightwing, Nygma or Riddler has imported something. It is making some noise down ad GCPD. Gordon said Riddler might be down there. I'm headed there now," Batman informed Nightwing. Batman pressed down harder on the gas petal, the speed crept up to 75 then 85. He did not listen to these laws. To him, these laws were for other people not him. As he got closer to the docks he slowed down and ditched the car.

Batman scaled a building to get a better position on the situation. He looked for clues, with the Riddler tings are never obvious. As he switched to night-vision, he could make out some people were inside the building. He moved closer for a look and saw Riddler step out of the warehouse.

[Nightwing]

"I'm on it," Nightwing said as he started his motorcycle. The engine roared to life as he was ready to head to the docks. It always seemed the docks were a great place at night to start a crime. Maybe he should start sitting around there to be able catch a break.

Nightwing race through the streets. The motorcycle only picked up speed as he drove on. There was no way he was going to let Batman have all the fun on this case. The Riddler may be smart, but sure was weak. It was always interesting to what he would throw at someone next. Nightwing continued on to the docks, knowing the way like the back of his hand. Once he came to the docks, he slowed down and saw the batmobile sitting a ways away from the dock. The engine to his motorcycle went silent right away as he looked around for any sign of Batman or the Riddler. Nightwing had this strange feeling he was the one being watched.

[The Riddler]

The Riddler walked around the side of the building a bit. He hadn't seen or heard anything, yet he knew he was not alone. Riddler went back into the warehouse. He couldn't wait for the games to begin. He just needed to wait for one of his men to come back. He had it all planned out to get away with this stage of the crime. He just needed the bait to make the fun a little more interesting. After all, games aren't much fun unless you had a life on the line. At this point, Batman's life wasn't yet to be put on the line. It's better to make him suffer first before he were to be finished off some day. The Riddler walked back down aisles of cargo, waiting for the game to be set.

Nightwing had the right to have the feeling that someone was watching, but wouldn't have the chance to get away. Before he would even have the chance to fight, a stun gun was shot at Nightwing, rendering him defenseless. It was one of the Riddler's henchmen attacking from the shadows. The henchman tired Nightwing's arms behind his back and lifted him up and took him to a car a bit down the road, it had been hidden in the narrows. He put Nightwing in and headed for the docks. When he reached there, he carried Nightwing's motionless body into the warehouse.

"You got the bird," Riddler asked from up above the cargo shipment, as he stood on a platform that over looked the place.
"Right here boss. Sure was an easy task," the henchman replied.
"That's because I know how to plan the attack," Riddler said smugly. "You know where to tie him up."
"Sure thing," the henchman said as he carried Nightwing over to a platform that hung over an open part of the dock into the warehouse, the water dark beneath it. A single chain dangled from the ceiling with an anchor attached to it. The henchman chained Nightwing, still out at this point, to the anchor and left.

"It's time to use a bird to get a bat," Riddler laughed as he saw movement come from Nightwing a bit.

[Nightwing]

Before he knew it, Nightwing went to turn to see if someone was behind him. And there was a man behind him, but before he could fight, something hit him in the back and sent a shock through his back. Nightwing almost yelled in pain as he was shocked. Nightwing fell to the ground, unable to move as he lay there on the ground.

Nightwing started to come to after a while. He was no longer in the alley like before. It took him a bit to realize where he was as he lifted his head. His eyes were still blurry as he tried to see where he was. After a moment or two, he saw he was in a warehouse. And he could now feel that he was chained up to something hanging over what looked like a platform, how dangerous could that be? He then looked up as he heard the Riddler's voice.
"Riddler," Nightwing said out loud.

[The Batman]

Batman heard the stun gun go off. His head whipped around to the general area. At first he did not see it, but then it caught his eye. Nightwing was captured by Riddler's men. Batman moved in closer. He had to follow Nightwing, it would be his best lead to Riddler and the best way to save Nightwing's life. Batman keep in the shadows. He moved only when Nightwing's captors moved. Batman followed them to the warehouse.

Batman snuck inside and quickly climbed to the top. It was the easiest way to get a floorplan for the building, while finding out who was in side. From the rafters he watched the his former ward and the Riddler. It did not appear Nightwing was in any immediate danger. Batman moved as close as he could without leaving the rafters and darkness, to listen to their conversation.

[The Riddler]

"What do you get when you put a loss of a sidekick and a new hero in town," Riddler asked with a grin as he hopped over to another platform along the wall on the second story of the warehouse. He looked at Nightwing and smirked. "There's only one thing you get and that is the bird," Riddler said. "Bet you wonder how I figured it out."

Riddler looked over at Nightwing again as he started to struggle. "Try all you want to get free, but now one will hear you, except me," Riddler laughed. He spun his cane over the back of his hand and grabbed it before it could touch the ground.
"Now I'm sure you know a bit about my games by now, after all you followed the Bat for so long," Riddler said. "Once a shadow always a shadow." Riddler walked around the platform some more. He was just having a little fun while he waited for the Bat. After all, it was fun to mess with people's mind, that's what he did best. Riddler decide he was going to try and lore the Bat out from hiding. The best way to do so, was by putting a life on the line, but it was up to the Bat if he want the life to end. For Riddler, it was just part of a bigger plan, and he wasn't planning on killing anyone just yet.
"How's it feel, knowing you'll never be able to sure pass the Bat," Riddler asked. Riddler's hand loomed over the tip of his cane, ready for his chance to start the games.

[Nightwing]

Nightwing listened to the Riddler babble on with one of his riddles, until he heard the word "the bird" mentioned. Riddler now had his attention. "You're mad, that's how," Nightwing insulted the Riddler.

He tried to reach on of his gadgets to help him cut through the chains that held him to the anchor. He need to get out of there. The problem was that his arms were chained behind the anchor rather than his back, this made it all the more difficult to get to his gadgets.

The Riddler started to go off about something and then he just had to start on about his past. Nightwing knew the Riddler liked to play with the minds of his victims with puzzles, but this time what the Riddler was saying was true. Nightwing stopped struggling for a minute. Then he heard a question directed at him again.

"I'll tell you what. What ever you're planning, it's not going to work," Nightwing said. "Besides you aren't that smart, otherwise you'd get away with your crimes and not leave clues."

[The Riddler]

"Mad, you say? Really? I wouldn't say mad," the Riddler said with a hint of irritation. Nightwing was hitting a bad note with the Riddler. "For your information, I prefer to be called a genius. After all, I'm not the one who's all tied up right now, am I," Riddler laughed.

Using his thumb, he flipped the top part of his cane open to where a button was hidden. "Riddle me this bird boy, when does a bird learn to swim," Riddler said. Riddler wasn't really going to let him answer, he was just trying to stir things up a bit to get the Bat to come out from the shadows. "Times up! And the answer right now it, there is no time to learn, it just happens," Riddler said as he hit the button with his index finger.

The platform below Nightwing opened up and the anchor suddenly dropped into the water below it. Riddler spun his cane over his hand a few times then stopped and hit the button again. The chain holding the anchor cranked up, bring the anchor and Nightwing back up. Riddler was a bit puzzled. He hadn't kept Nightwing in the water long enough to cause any damage. "Strange, guess the Bat's not coming to save you? Oh, well. Have a nice swim," the Riddler said as he pressed the button again, the anchor once more falling into the water.

[Nightwing]

Nightwing had no way of getting away from listening to the Riddler. He saw the irritation he had caused the Riddler. At this point, he had to be careful. He had no idea what the Riddler had in store. As soon as Nightwing heard the riddle he was going to try an answer it, but was cut off as the Riddler answered it.

All Nightwing could do was watch as the Riddler hit a button. He saw the floor below him open up and then felt the sudden drop of the anchor pull him down into the water. Nightwing quickly held his breathe as he went into the water. The icy water was enough to want to make him struggle even more. He had to keep himself calm in order to hold his breathe as he tried to work. He tried to get free, but it was still no good. To his surprise and relief, the anchor was lifted out of the water. He hadn't even been under for a minute. He gasped for air as soon as he came up either way.

He heard the annoyed and questioning tone of the Riddler's voice about Batman not being there. Then once again the anchor plummeted into the cold water below. The shock of the water came hard once again as he had to hold his breathe again as he went under. Nightwing was now under water, he could hardly move at this point. The cold water was taking over his body. He was starting to quickly lose the feeling in his arms and leg. He tried to struggle some more. He had to keep holding his breathe, and he had to get out of there.

[The Batman]

Batman sprung from the shadows, throwing a batrang at Riddler. "Your game is up, Edward." Batman mumbled. He quickly ran toward the controls. He had to save Nigthwing. He brought Dick into this life and he was not going to let him die, like Jason. He had to save Dick. Batman punched at Riddler. He must reach the controls. He must save Dick. He could not bear the lose of anyone else, especially Dick.

[The Riddler]

Riddler moved his cane quickly, knocking the batarang off course. "Aw, come now. Can't I have a little harmless fun," the Riddler said. Riddler held his cane close. He wasn't going to let the Bat have it.

He backed away as the Batman came down. Before he knew the Batman had come charging at him and punched him in the face. Riddler was sent backwards and fell to the ground. His cane had gone flying in another direction. Riddler tried to focus, the Bat could pack a punch. These heroes now a days, nothing but muscle and not much brain. Though Batman had both, that's what made the games even more fun for the Riddler.

Riddler got up quickly to made a dash for his cane. He needed to keep the upper hand of the game. If he loses it, it could be the end of his fun. He couldn't let it end that easily.

[The Batman]

Batman saw the Riddle dash for his cane. He quickly calculated how long Dick was do there and how long it would take him to get the cane and then rise Dick out of the water. There was not much time. Besides with Dick safe. It would be two against one. Batman could not beat the Riddler to the cane. So he sprinted toward the controls.

[The Riddler]

The Riddler reached his cane and laughed. "Wrong controls Bats," Riddler said as he waved the cane. "You should know me better than that."

He watched his back for now. He had made his move, now it was time for the Bat's. A smirk came onto his face as he saw the chain of the anchor start to shake. This outta be interesting. "You're going to have to chose Batman...Me and my crime or the boy and his life," Riddler laugh. Games were more fun with lives on the line. Riddler knew that Batman was weak when it came to lives at stake. He knew all about the one Robin that was killed by the Joker. After all, the Joker had talked about it a million time at Arkham, proud of it, but always mumbled he wished it had been the Batman.

[Nightwing]

Nightwing tried one last time to try and reach his gear. He was starting to lose the feeling in his hands, making it all the more difficult. He didn't know how much longer he could hand in there. Nightwing looked up toward the surface to see the light from the warehouse. He saw a few shadows cast over the light at times. He knew Batman was up there now. He knew that he was a distraction away from the Riddler's crime. Nightwing had to get out on his own, there was way he would ever be able to live this done if Batman saved him. But at the moment, it didn't seem like he had any other hope of escaping, and that was a first for him, usually he could escape from something like this. How could the Riddler have out smarted him on something like this. Riddler must know more than he let on about his enemies.

Nightwing tried one last time. He started to try and use his legs as the tried to kick against the anchor. He had to keep his body moving. Even the smallest movements would help to keep from hypothermia from setting in. At this time of season, the water was strangely colder than it would normally be. The anchor began to shake as he tried to kick against it. He started to struggle more until he could manage some free space between his back and the anchor. Nightwing was now able to move his hand around to the secret compartment on his side to try and operate the lazer to try and cut through the metal. He hoped he could get through the chains before he couldn't hold his breathe any longer. Nightwing kept it going, the lazer having trouble with the chains.

[The Batman]

Batman knew he would have to let Riddler escape. One life is greater than catching the villain. He even thought about the people Riddler might harm escaping, but knew he had to save Nightwing first. Riddler was right, the controls did not control the chains attached to Nightwing. Where could the control panel be? Quickly looking down at Nightwing, Batman saw his efforts to reach his lazer. This would buy him some time. If Batman jumped in, surely he would freeze too.

Batman looked around. He did not see the control panel in sight. But there is always another way of doing things. Out of the corner of his eye, he spied another chain with a hook on the end. If there was no machine he would have to pull Nightwing up. He was not going to let this happen. Batman dashed for the chain.

[The Riddler]

Riddler began to walk away from the situation going on. He smiled at his work, his plan worked perfectly. "See you again soon, Batman. It was worth you dropping in," he smirked. He then ran out of the building, he didn't want to waste his time. The whole point of this set up was to buy time to get on with the next part the plan. Riddler climbed into the driver's side of a van that was parked behind the warehouse waiting for his get away.