Search and Rescue [Scarecrow, Wulfen, Starfire]

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

Tonight was the time to strike. After a long silence out of the Scarecrow after his tricks. There was no sign of him or Starfire's recent actions. Not until the next week. They struck the Penguin's place.

That was Nightwing's lead. And he latched onto it for dear life. Star was still alive. All his blood was coursing through his veins, ready to strike down the man responsible for all this.

Often his mind driven to the verge of darkness. All it would take is one time, one moment, one actions. He could finish it all off. End the man's life tormenting Starfire.

Nightwing had even gone as far as to get Wulfen involved. He needed someone who could track a scent. And the leads he got took him to the sewers. And that was where Wulfen would come in hand.

Dick had gotten the location in Gotham narrowed down. Nigma's apartment had been empty and there had been no since of any of the Scarecrow's work in there for days. Maybe even weeks. By now, after checking so much, Dick knew the vent system there inside out.

It wasn't until the attack with the Penguin that pointed him in the right direction. Then it was a matter of patrolling and searching. Nightwing had left no building unsearched and no rock unturned.

And now, he was in the sewers with Wulfen following the scent.

"Have you picked it up again," Nightwing said. Wulfen had only lost it a moment ago.

Nightwing was on edge. There had been very little sleep since the incident with Scarecrow. And was ready to get his hands around Crane's neck as soon as he got the chance.

[Deleted]

Wulfen kept sniffing the air trying to find Kory's scent again. But it was kinda hard to pick out, the fact that Nightwing was following him around.

The way he got down here was he had suddenly found Nightwing in his apartment.... Again.... And was suddenly told that Kory was in danger. And now here he was sniffing out her scent. He had told her that he wasn't a blood hound but still he was able to follow her scent. Which impressed him to no end.

"Look I want to rescue Kory as much as you do. But like I said before. I'm not a blood hound." He said looking around the sewers. "You know this smells worse to me then it does to you right." He added as an after thought. The whole time he was saying this though he was sniffing the air and searching for the minty smell he came to apply to Kory.

He kept sniffing then paused looking in one direction.... Much like a blood hound. He started and narrowed his eyes, then closed them. There was something off..... Then it dawned on him. It was Kory!. He quickly pointed in the direction of the smell. "This way." He said looking over his shoulder at Nightwing before he began to wade through the water in a rather unprofessional manner.

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

Nightwing knew he was probably working on Wulfen's nerves. But he couldn't help it much at times lately. The lack of sleep and stress of searching for Kory was putting the pressure on him.

And he was having less control over hiding that fact at the time. This was Kory he was trying to save. The woman who turned his life around in more than one way. And here he had let Scarecrow take her away and she was probably being tortured.

Nightwing was doing everything he could to shake those thoughts from his mind. He needed to stay focused on the work ahead. He wasn't one for talking. But with his actions, his patience was wearing thin and it was noticeable at that point.

"Get used to it, because the scent last longer than actually being in it," Nightwing replied to him. More or less ignoring Wulfen's facts of the situation.

Nightwing was going over more files on his screen mask. There was more to be covered. He was pinpointing more calls and monitoring the systems from the police and around town. A few calls had come in from unfolding events that lead them to this.

"Good. Keep it up," Nightwing replied as he let Wulfen lead on.

[Deleted]

Wulfen kept moving forward stopping every once in a while to sniff the air and pick up Kory's trail again. There was something about this that didn't seem right.... Was it supposed to be this easy to track someone via their smell. Or at least was it supposed to be this easy with all these other smells around. "Hey you get the feeling that something isn't right?" He asked out loud trying to see if he wasn't the only one that had this feeling.

Wulfen couldn't help but let his mind wander to the fact that this would be the second time he's faced Scarecrow. And last time it didn't turn out to well. He wasn't sure if he'd be able to face him again and beat him. But he had been training and as much as he hated to admit it. Nightwing being around would probably help him out quite abit. Or rather he would help Nightwing out.

Then as Wulfen thought he remembered something. Another scent. And hair..... Why did he remember hair? That's right! "Nightwing. There's a girl here we need to rescue. Or something.... She was with Scarecrow when he captured me. But she wasn't chained up or anything. I forget her name but she had orangeish hair and radio equipment as I recall." He said looking over his shoulder as he took a look at Nightwing and sniffing the air as well to find Kory's scent again.

[Jonathan Crane - Scarecrow]

Dr. Crane had been working on his toxins. Tonight was brave toxin. He worked carefully with a medical mask over his face and protection over his eyes. He always worked so much more carefully around brave toxin than he did his fear toxin, the only exception being the Scarebeast…and that was far more complicated after what had happened earlier in the month. Each drop went into the vile carefully, as if it was the only thing that mattered in the world.

In his eyes it truly was the only thing that mattered. His toxins were a testimony to his life; they were the only accomplishment that had stood the test of time within this world. It was the only substances that no matter how they tried they could never take from him. Only one man was capable of doing that, or being rather, and he had no problems with him at the moment besides his own dislike for him. It was a complicated….”relationship” which he would rather have no part in, but it would be impossible to get his supply without. The properties of this little toxin however, were quite different and for that he cherished it so.

It was beginning to warm in the sewers but it didn’t make life there any more pleasant. But Dr. Crane was used to dealing with these conditions. His eyes remained focused on his work and for that reason alone he was able to have a drive that no man could endure like him. He was a walking corpse in every sense of the word. His mouth was silent, but his mind was always full of thought. The philosopher was always trapped within the deepest portions of his mind and if he wanted to he could go so much deeper. At times it felt like he could make the world melt away if he really wanted to.

All of his thought and concentration was suddenly broken by the sound of a small squeak. He looked down and a rat ran underneath his feet at the lab table. But that little one was the only rodent to come through, he was followed by another and then another. There was very little that the rats were afraid of down here, except something monstrous, or an intruder. Yet the patter of their feet would only ever be caused by that beautiful realization of all creation. The terror that brings nature to its knees and from the very earth itself. The fact was something was coming their way and he had now been alerted.

Casually he put his vials back in place and took off his mask, followed by his protective eyewear. He had been preparing for this moment, as he could only speculate that it was going to be the family that stalked him, he still had their prize after all. Just about the time that he stood Heather had come in to sight. He waved her over and when she came into the correct distance his hands came to her face and he leaned his own close to hers. His eyes stared into the deep hazel of her eyes and made sure her body was brought closer. “I’m going to need Heather.” He stated his business right away to inform the correct side of her of what he needed. “I’m going to need you to do exactly what we talked about. Remember?” He pulled his thumb over her cheek. It wasn’t going to be an easy task and there was always going to be a beautiful amount of fear in Heather’s eyes. But as long as she did as she was coached before it was going to be fine and she was going to be fine. “I’m going to be right here.” He soothed her like a wolf in sheep’s clothing, telling the sheep that if they step over the fence it’s going to be okay.

[Heather Glass - VerMillion]

Bored, bored, bored, bored... VerMillion hates it when Jon's working. Especially when he's doing something supposedly dangerous and Heather won't shut up about how they should leave Jon alone until she does. Really, if they can't be around Jon, she's not really sure what to do with herself and would think that it's only fair that if Heather's the one who wants to leave him alone then she should be the one having to deal with the resulting boredom. But no - her other half is still having a hard time being 'out' for as long as she'd like when Jon's not literally right there.

Then again, the humbleness of their home is probably actually helpful to Heather - there's a certain simplicity to it, and Heather seems to get more stressed the more complicated things are. VerMillion's actually learning a lot about fear, watching her alter ego dealing with so much of it, even though it's still a foreign concept in her own existence. But as good as it is for Heather, it's bad for her - it's far too easy to run out of things to do. So the instant she hears Jon stirring a little in the lab, she goes to check on him - hopefully he's finished already, and not simply rearranging vials or something.

Much to her delight, not only has Jon removed the gear that Heather says indicates what he's doing is dangerous, he's also standing and waving her over. That she easily meets his gaze and remains totally relaxed even as he hold her face and pulls her closer would indicate which side of her is on the surface at the moment, though the first five words out of his mouth is enough to change that. VerMillion has never failed to either come out or allow Heather to be out at Jon's request, but then again she's not always completely happy about it either. This time a disappointed look crosses her face and she sighs. "Oh, all right," she mutters, rolling her eyes - he needs Heather now, does he? What could Heather possibly be better for than her?

---

The clearest and quickest sign that Heather's at the surface is her gaze - her eyes suddenly shift away from Jon and avoid meeting his again. Instead she looks down, to the side... sometimes she manages to watch his lips while he speaks, but usually if eye contact is made it's by accident. And never is that more apparent when not meeting his eyes is difficult, such as now. On the other hand, while VerMillion merely accepted his hands on her face, Heather's skin grows noticeably hot underneath them.

She frowns just slightly as she tries to remember exactly what they'd talked about, but the look disappears quickly - it's not like there's very many things he could be referring to. "Yeah..." she acknowledges, but her face fills with sudden anxiety. "Now?" she asks, though she doesn't really need that clarified. No, she's simply trying to wrap her mind around the fact that yes, she's going to have to do it now. Not at some unspecified point in the future that she can pretend will never come, but now. Oh, boy...

The reassuring words help soothe her, though, and she gives a somewhat vague nod - yeah, she can do it. She thinks. Well, she'll try it at least. And Jon will be able to fix everything even if she fails miserably, right? So, nothing to worry about! ...She gives a quiet, anxious whimper and puts her hand on one of Jon's wrists, needing a moment of physical reassurance as well. And yet her features start to steady as she latches onto her inner sense of determination - this is Jon asking her to do it, therefore she will do it.

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

"You learn to get used to that feeling as an instinct," Dick replied as they went along.

It was all a matter of keeping your guard up and moving on. Knowing what move to make next. It was all a game of strategy against these types of criminal minds. They would try to stay two steps head, but the opponent needed to make a move at some point.

Nightwing had his night vision lens going. His computer scanner picking up things his eyes were already noticing in through the lens. His trained eyes didn't miss much. Knowing sooner or later they'd come across some sort of alarm.

He had seen the bits of wiring. Someone had been working down here. And the positioning of old equipment from the workers who once in a while came down here, were off from the usual settings. It wasn't hard to tell someone had run wires down here and had tried to build them into the surrounding again. Covering up their trail.

"Heather Glass. I know. She's been missing for some time. Batman and I have already run traces to find out the reason he keeps her around," Dick commented. Cutting straight to the point. Showing he knew this all to well.

All the old happens of training.

Batman and him knew several reasons, but these facts were not for the ears of an outsider like Wulfen to get involved in.

[Deleted]

Wulfen was wondering through the muck and the smell trying to pick out the smell that he was tracking. After a while he managed to pick Kory's smell out again. He let out a quiet chuckle in response to Dick's comment about getting used to the feeling.

"Ah Heather Glass that was it. I just remember her. There seemed to be something strange about her when I saw her." He explained as he was looking for the smell once again. It was hard to keep it singled out from the smell.

He couldn't shake the feeling that he was being kept out of the loop, after all he was helping out wasn't he? And if he wasn't helping out then why keep him out of the loop? Its not like he wasn't having to stop grading a few papers to come help. "So if I want to know more I'm gonna have to find out on my own. eh?" He asked casually as he once again found Kory's scent and started to follow it further into the sewers.

[Jonathan Crane - Scarecrow]

He knew that she would be reluctant to the change, but it was necessary for what was about to happen. Days before he had her in the very same position, talking to her sweetly, telling her the lies of what was going to keep her safe and what wasn’t. He was building her a beautiful web to which she could sit in and become tangled as she tried to move. It was exactly where he wanted her and exactly where she needed to be.

The doctor had told her to force those screams from her chest, to let them open and flow out beautifully. He needed those tears to pull from her eyes and darken her pale cheeks. She was to be the crying catalyst on the ground that he had left to her own demise. There wasn’t going to be anything that could save her now from what she had gotten herself into. This was what they were going to believe, but they were going to try and save her. She always was a good actress, even on the radio she could pull the listeners to remain on her side regardless of the topic. She could sway the populace and that was exactly what he needed her to do now. They had talked about this that night and now she was prepared for it. The task wasn’t going to be easy, but she was going to pull it off beautifully. After all….It wasn’t as if she never is in any danger.

There may be a fire, but just beyond the line of the oblivion into darkness the wolf remained.

“Yes..” He answered her softly, but seriously. His thumb moved across her cheek again. She was going to have to do this just right. “Get ready and do exactly as we talked about” He let his hands drop from her face and moved to make the next step. They were on their way and it was only a matter of time before they were upon them and he had to be ready. He left her there, standing to fend for herself. Now it was time for him to get to work.

The doctor took off the things still hanging around his neck and grabbed his mask off the far table. With a pip and a click the green lights came on and the fan started. After he checked to see if it was functioning he pulled the mask over his face and went next for his arm brace. He was going to need as much defense as possible for the coming assault as they could bring the entire Bat family if they wanted. Dr. Crane wasn’t scared, he was never scared, and he just wasn’t stupid.

Turning on a dime after the brace was on he strode into the area that was off limits to VerMillion. She knew she wasn’t allowed over here but he had never quite told her why. The reason was clear as he came around the corner and the image of a woman braced in chains on the floor near a drainage pipe came into focus. The scarecrow walked up to her but made no acknowledgement of her presence. He simply walked by her and climbed up the pipe into the darkness of the overhead walls. He was ready.

[Heather Glass - VerMillion]

Though she can feel her anxiety attempting to overwhelm her, Heather gives him another nod. Yes, she can do this. She can do this! He steps away and she feels her heart sink... No, no - she can do this. She just has to stay calm. Or, actually, freak out but in the right way and not too much. Attempting to steady herself, she breathes hard for a moment, trying to focus on everything Jon said that she must do. As much as she tries to reassure herself that it isn't absolutely critical for her to do it perfectly, she still wants to. It will help Jon, after all, and she wants it to be perfect for him.

As Jon does his last moment preparations, Heather paces in slow motion, trying to keep her thoughts from spinning wildly out of control. This is for Jon... This is for Jon... When she sees him heading for that area he told her not to go, she almost loses it - why can't he be here? Or at the very least, why can't he be somewhere that she can go if she has to? She hasn't the slightest idea what may be over there, but she's guessing that Jon wouldn't have forbidden her to go there if it wasn't really bad. How bad she can only guess, but he hasn't forbidden her to go by the toxic chemicals in his lab (though she of course knows better than to touch anything), so whatever it is must be even worse. It therefore worries her whenever Jon goes that way.

But that worry is actually helpful in a way - it makes her want to cry and scream, and there's nothing like method acting to make it all seem real. Actually, the hardest part of it will be keeping control of herself - it would be so easy for her to let herself get so upset that she passes out. That's definitely not desirable. No, she needs to keep it from going too far - just screaming, just tears, still breathing properly...

The tears come first, and she lets herself crumble to the ground as a whimper pulls at her throat. Nope, she needs to do better than that - Jon said she had to scream! Forcing herself to take a deep breath, she pushes it back out in a wail of terror and despair that echoes far through the sewers. It ends abruptly in a short string of sobs before she manages another. It's hard to keep her wits about her as she lets the sounds pour out, just hoping that she's doing it right. She half-curls into a fetal position on the floor, but lets herself stay loose enough that it doesn't interfere with her ability to take the deep breaths she needs. Holding her head in her hands to help her ignore everything but the task that Jon gave her, she screams again.

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

Nightwing let the first part of the conversation drift on. His mind set on trying to find Kory. And Scarecrow better be ready for him.

His mind was set on many thoughts. All that had been happening to Kory. Part of him wanted to end this all here and tonight. He would get his chance. And that chance could weave a path of destruction.

Dick shook his head. He needed to keep it together. He couldn't let his rage get him. And so far he was keeping it in check around Wulfen. The other man would not know the difference. He didn't know him well enough.

"We all have our ways of getting information. And ours is classified," Nightwing replied on the subject of more details.

"This is as far as I got with my leads," he said.

Which in the moments to come...the whole atmosphere around them changed. A high pitched scream came from one of the long dark tunnels. And it was not Kory's. Nightwing knew right away.

"Come on," Nightwing said as he raced ahead of Wulfen and down to the left tunnel. He was hot on the trail with how the scream echoed in the systems. He wasn't going to waste any more time.

[Kory Anders - Starfire]

Sometimes in the outer worlds of slavery, there is an unwanted use of powers and when it is striped down. So much so, you are left with a sword in your hand or in Starfire's case two swords. Pulled freely from the casing on her back. Within the canopy of the bushes. Green eyes stowed upon men of three, a mother and a small boy. Would have been easier to just starbolt the men off their feet, but in place unwanted of power… There was one power unable to shake, that was hope. The fiery princess broke from the hidden and challenge the men of three. Large, bulky fellows. Block, attack, attack, block and so on. With attention averted, alerted the mother and child to escape over the bridge. To undoubtedly safety across the river… In a swift of a sword across the first man's throat, he slipped to the ground as his blood did. When the second fellow challenged, a sword slipped into his gut, his organs melting like butter. Yet his defines attack had come back more aggressive, even a nick at her shoulder blade, but he was not match to either sword at his own neck. Soon his head rolled around on the ground as his body slid to its grave… When reality hit with a scream. The third man had departed.

Kory had turned at the curdling sound to see the burly man on the old wickery bridge, with his hand stretched out and Kory's eyes widened at the sight. X'hal. As the boy dangled over the side. With the mother pleading for her son's mercy… Could Kory make it? There was no questioning. No guessing. Kory floored it on foot. Her rage to what he was doing caused her to use every muscle to push her forward, yet it felt like she was running for ages. Barely realising when her footsteps finally hit the wood. How? Why? This was even happening… Didn't matter. Kory would make sure to stop it. Even though felt slow motion in her effort. The man more like beast caught sight. His hand let go. Sight of the boy's body beginning to fall like a leaf and Kory sped as fast as she could.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO..... Hold On, I've got you."

A scream ripped from Kory's lungs. Whilst her body slide hard across the wood, so much she felt the tingly burn on her skin, reaching a hand and caught the boy in the nick of time. Hand at his arm and words came strong to the boy. Assuring hope. He would not die. Not while she was to save. Set them free, She couldn't fail them. No… Tears peaked at her eyes. Her heart shattering at the thought. With nobility of strength, Kory pulled the boy up. Her heat racing until the boy was finally on more solid ground. Safe. On her knees. Kory engulfed the boy not too firmly in a hug. Making sure he was up and wouldn't let him fall again. A smile broke through face as she pulled from the hug. With the opening she could now see. There was no second thought. Her eye sight could just then hinder the man behind her…

"You'll be fine... Now go with your mother and run... Run and don't look back."

Kory's voice came strong at the boy, with the piercing look in her eyes, their time was now… Clenching a fist, Kory could handle this. She was born to be a princess. She was also trained to be a warrior. What was one man? With her lasting smile. The boy hugged her one last time. Which shook Kory. Touched her, knowing what this was all really for. Why she was here. Fighting… There was such pure innocence and with one last glance. The boy ran to freedom with his mother… Hand re-grasped her swords, but gasp from her lungs also came. With a hand coming at her hair. Twisting her firmly. A growl escaped her lips, arms motioned to push him back… A leg came back to push herself up. As to aim and ram the hilt of a sword up his nose, into his skull as he lunged back. Felt the bones crack and blood came. Anger built inside him. Swung at Kory. Swiftly ducking, with a few steps, caused her back against the rope of the bridge. With one last attack, met with a block of his sword and his leg came at her torso. Firmly pushing her back. So swiftly she lost her footing at the edge… Her body fell weightless to the river water below and then there was nothing… Least really visible.

It was light above. Dark below. Engulfed in water. As if deep in the ocean. Bubbles seeped from Kory's lips. As if a scream muffled. Anger, the burning passion for freedom. Beating from within. As if trying to swim, but it was rather fruitless in getting her anywhere. There was almost a recollection. Something above… Reaching out, but it was something that reached out before. Many times over. She had wanted it. Wanted it still, but every time she caught hold. Even tried, it seemed to slip form her grasp and then come calling again. Testing hope, but below… It was darkness as if to swallow her whole… In this battle, darkness couldn't win… Freedom, but at what cost… It worth every cost. In her passionate being. As hands fell to nothing solid, but sand. Almost crawling, swimming what was left of the shore to the beach… It always seemed to come back too… Too this… Kory could almost collapse, but in whatever world, could she really give up. No matter the torment. No matter the trials… As water continually dripped and water lapped at her feet. Which momentarily almost felt useless, but they did have mobility. Crawled further up. The sand cascading along her skin. It was surprising she could almost feel it. That was something, only odd thing. It was cold. Ice cold… In this place, least had it been reality, would have been warm… Much… The heaviness in her chest risen, the tears smeared with the soak hair around her eyes. Orange fingers pulled her hair aside, behind her ear and a voice echoed. It shot a pain through her system, but even though she knew there be nothing… Still… Still she looked… She was not the dumb mice. No matter what one thought… Her hope. Her courage. Her bravery. Her inner strengths that were just as, if not as powerful than any of her more physical powers… Even though again nothing was there. There was some sense… Of him… Of them… Nothing… Nothing but the beach. With the ever closing darkness that seemed to encase it… Like the sun had a spotlight, but just out of it, were thick black clouds.

Pulling her legs in. Arms around her knees. Hand ran through her hair firmly, falling down her face. Her tears broke, falling at her hand. Letting her knees go. Letting them sink into the sand. With the echoes ever coming and going… Images always changing reality… She was not broken, otherwise she would have fallen first… A curdling scream escaped her lips, this time, it shook through the edges of this reality. Rippling against the ocean. With the tears almost forcing themselves out in just the shear about of passion, to the extremes… Just with the throwing up her hands… To bring them back down… There was no give, but a tightness around her wrists. Steel cuffs clang with a chain. Her body felt elevated from anything below, but that really wasn't a concern… The sounds of the flames was sadly all to familiar… It crackled against the skin of her back. A flame torch… It felt like fire… She was maybe hard to damage, but it wasn't impossible. Like the sun it may not last, but it can still be bruised. Just as it felt her back would heal, it would start again, as if reopening the wound. Her body could almost fall, save the chains held her in place. Bitting her teeth down, between the bellowing screams, it echoed around… The dark chuckling laugh behind. Only of shadows could Kory see the figure, though whom confused her, but didn't hinder the burning anger that built around inside her… Her wrists struggling against the chains. Chains seeming to almost be made for her. Over powering her natural born strength… The dark voice echoes defeat of the tamaranean princess, to simply give up.

"No… You can go to hell… Push me… Break me… I will not give up and in that moment… When freedom is mine to take… I will take it… When I do… Hide or I'll rip you apart."

Words were aggressive built up, that it was pushed through her gritted teeth, the passion that yearned and burnt. Dark chuckles as really all they wrote, other than turn up the dial and the flame torch almost felt like it was going to burn her flesh right off her bones. In the shear pull and her scream. Feeling almost something snap in her wrists, breaking the chains, maybe more will than strength.

Fell, not far until Kory sank into the hard floor. A low groan seeped from her lips, but otherwise, silent. Footsteps stealthy carried beside her… Only in a shear glance up, green eyes through the red mess of hair, she saw the master. Climb up and be gone into the shadows born of him. Regained chains dragged lightly, but her effort was stopped by the pulling of metal at her arms.. Falling back in a seat, against the wall of the sewer. Her purple Starfire suit, barely shined up and torn. Boots gone, flung up somewhere near by if they hadn't been tossed for good. Deep burning metal marks at her ankles, whether for chains to dangle or being chained down for different purposes. Knees were bent to her torso, but soon dropped them. Legs out. The bruises cascaded up them, bigger as they moved up her legs. Her thighs. Imprinted at her flesh… Her orange flesh, though it wasn't pale in comparison for a human, it wasn't its usual golden glow. Suggesting a lack of sun exposure. Not that no sun drained her of her powers for good, but it lowered the energy. Arms fell limb in her lap with the chain coiled shortly beside on the ground. The hefty collar around her neck. continually keeping her in check, until it needed refilling, but it was questionable how much she could take… If this was meant to kill her, it would have already, Kory would push that. Hold on. Dropped her head slightly to a tilt, her eyes looked on in a continuous gaze of almost dread, of almost lost… Where was she? Where truly was Koriand'r?

---

Music:
Delta Goodrem - Be Strong

[Deleted]

Wulfen snorted abit as a strange smell hit his nose. He knew that smell, he looked over at Nightwing when he commented about his methods of gathering intel being classified. "I don't really mind you not telling me how you get your info. In fact I get the feeling that the less I know the better." He looked back around and took a deep sniff before flinching at the sudden scream.

He began to quickly follow after Nightwing. He had the strange feeling that there was something off here. If there was a woman screaming then either it wasn't that VerMillion lady or that Stockholm Syndrome wasn't messing with her anymore. But what ever was going on they needed to stop it.

He felt the water sloshing around his feet and silently noted that as soon as he could he should get out of the water so that he wouldn't keep making sounds as he kept moving through the water.

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

Nightwing raced ahead some distance. Slowing his pace when he though he might be getting closer. Something was off. And he racing right into a trap. His heart sank when he could only think of the torture Kory would go through every minute he wasn't there.

His mind racing with vengeance, boiling his blood. The the vengeance he had once tried to seek out against Tony Zucco. The unmistakable lust to kill. This was truly a new thirst for him. Seldom did he want to kill an individual like this.

A longing that was always questioned after facing matters on different scales but same stakes. A loved one on the line, being dangled in front of his face. Scarecrow was dancing all too close with the devil.

If Nightwing didn't keep a hold of himself, he could guarantee Crane has one foot already in his own grave. Thought had crossed his mind. To kill the Scarecrow, ending the man of fear. He really could. It would only take a short reaction and he had all the right. The man's past could justify for such an action. Right?

And one stray thought came to his mind....his mind so blinded by rage, but he was kept in check. No one could see the looming murderer within Nightwing. Within the eyes of Dick Grayson. All too many times with dangerous criminals had he put them away with some of them in body casts. How would this be any different? It would be one less criminal on the street.

His own mind battling its own thoughts. All the years of training. What it had taken for Batman to pull him out of that mind thought against Zucco the second time round. This was when Zucco escaped jail and tried to skip town. He had stopped him again. Only to a year later to hear of the man's possible death. But there was no body. He didn't believe it.

And now...here he was plotting his way to take revenge. Scarecrow had crossed the line on many levels. He had left Nightwing looking a fool. The novice crime fighter he once had been as the boy wonder. But he had also tread on uneven grounds now with Nightwing.

Nightwing then stopped. His mind thinking all this over when it is pushed to the side only a moment. They needed a different way to get around. His night vision working effective as he looked up.

The large pipe lines above them. That was what they needed to do. He pulled out his zip line and launched it up. In seconds, he was up and crouching on the pipe lines now. It would be a more silent way to tread and unexpected.

Nightwing dropped a line down to Wulfen to climb. They needed another angle to approach this situation.

"Be quick," he hissed. His patience running thin with finding Starfire and that good for nothing, low down, filth....

[Roy Harper - Arsenal]

The city of Gotham was enormous to say the least. Much could be said for the sewers. As the red boots landed in the damp, dank and damp ground of the sewers. Mice, rats and Arsenal could question half of them looked like dogs, as they scampered. The lens in the red masked that covered Arsenal's face focused… It wasn't not hard to pick up the trail. His buddy maybe stealth, but Arsenal knew him almost better than he knew himself. A little aid by a device may or may not have helped. As a subtle expression came to his lips. The faint echoing of a deep scream, almost rippling through also of course helped. With quick speed. Arsenal darted in the desired direction. It was certainly not a scream so familiar with a certain princess, but it was a bite. Feet treaded through the water. The smell certainly was there, but it was not at the forefront. As the speedy weaved through how a wulf and a bird came. As the sewer grew darker. Arsenal adjusted his eye wear. Whilst fingers toyed at a button possibly at his sleeves for only reasons he needed to know. The red as always contoured a suit to his body. The pants. The top bit with cut off sleeves. Leaving his arms bared save tats and gloves. Though with the splash of water, it was probably unavoidable mess there… Random cap on his red fuzzy hair. The most important. The weapons. Quiver with arrows visibly strapped to his back. There was maybe more weapons hidden in compartments, certainly had his bow nearby and a belt with varies weapons. Enough to aid in saving the princess. He wanted her back. Safe and sound. With all her cute orange fingers and toes. As much as the next titan or ally or friend. There were many, although non as determined than Nightwing. Unlike the usual, this was personal and likely for Nightwing do the unspeakable things. Not that Arsenal could totally argue with that, it was always different when it was someone you loved, but something he figured he was best equipped to help, than Wulfen. So, when Arsenal caught up. Sent Wulfen in perhaps another section of the sewer.

"I'll take it from here, Pup!"

Arsenal finished off with the light comment. As his eyes moved to the line that dangled before them. Following it where it lead up above. With a curious look with the tilt of his head, he could have thrown up his own line. Though, well it was already there. Dangling before his eyes. Reached with his gloved hands, with a tug. Arsenal pulled him his own weight. Shimmying up until his hand came into view. Hearing the hiss from Nightwing's tongue. Soon pulled up to his feet. Mildly dusting himself, though rather pointless given they were in a sewer.

"You forget I was dubbed, Speedy for a reason… Thought I'd be better company… Now lets get our girl back."

In response to Nightwing's words, Arsenal jested. Whether or not he had expected him. He was certainly was here. As Arsenal walked mere feet to where Nightwing was and reached out a hand. A gesture. Somehow he imagined he was someone more trustworthy and had been in these kinds of situations before. Whilst Arsenal was as determined and thinking of many ways to rip Scarecrow's face apart. Nightwing, he could snap any second. Very much on edge… He didn't need to know the possibilities Arsenal had hijacked a certain part of Nighwing's suit, for a tracking device, because thats certainly not something Arsenal would do. This certainly wasn't anytime too linger nor goof off. Shifting his eyes off in the general direction from where the screams had strayed. He wasn't overly familiar of the other woman if at all, but the Scarecrow would pay sooner hopefully than later. With mild crack of his knuckles.