Riddle Me This [Open]

[Deleted]

Edward Nigma stood outside the Gotham National Bank door in a crisp new bright green suit, purple domino mask in place, green bowler hat on top his head, purple leather gloves stretched as he clenched and unclenched his hand on top of his bright gold question mark cane. It felt like a beautiful day, as if the doctor had just ripped him out of his mother’s womb and kicked him straight out the door to life. He took in a deep breath through his nose, catching the familiar yet disgusting smell of pollution, cigarette smoke, and trash all in one gulp. He coughed into his hand to get out the weird taste the smell brought into his mouth. He gripped onto his cane with his free hand to stable himself. Reminder, never breath in toxic waste of the city. He’d seen the effect it had on his fellow rogues. He should consider taking an air filter with him at all times. A thought for another time.

“Boss, ya okay?” Deidre asked at his side, wearing the old school Riddler outfit and high heels that seemed almost dangerous to walk in.

He waved her off. “Of course,” he snapped, “Let’s begin, sha’ll we.” He brushed the front of his suit off before giving his best smirk and pulling open the door to the bank. “Good morning, Gotham!” he announced himself, “It has been too long!” He started, walking into the bank. Deidre followed behind him, holding a handheld camera with one hand and an automatic weapon in the other. A few in the bank screamed and went for cover immediately, and a few others only sighed in annoyance. Gothamnites had certainly gotten used to bank robberies at this point. “Tsk. Tsk,” Edward shook his fingers at one of the cashiers whose hand went under her desk, “The alarm is hardly needed.” He reached out and grabbed her chin between his gloved fingers and jerked her face to the camera. “Can’t you see I am already filming?” he smirked, “It’s being broadcast all throughout Gotham. Say hello to Mom and Dad. I am sure they would be…” his other hand with the cane grabbed her hair and slammed her face into the desk, “disappointed to know how stupid their daughter is.” His voice sharp for a moment before the smile returned and he stood straighter. At that, a few tried to make a run for it, and with a quick nod of his head, Deidre shot the gun up into the air, causing them to collapse to the ground in cover.

“No need to run. The puzzle is just beginning! Now,” his voice turned lower as he looked at the contestants, “I request everyone take a seat.” His green eyes ran threatening over everyone, as he pulled out his phone. Once everything seemed in place, he quickly pressed the code into his phone, and the alarms in the entire building started going off. Over the years, there security system had been drastically updated. The code he entered had put the bank into full lock down. Metal covers started to close over the windows and door, keeping everyone nice and secure inside.

He finally turned back to the camera. “As I said before, It’s been oh so long, and in such time, I’ve literally felt your intelligence slipping away. As the master genius I am, I thought it was up to me to solve this terrible dilemma! Therefore, I, the Riddler, propose a game for Gotham. If you lose, I wipe every bank account in Gotham National clear to zero. Oh don’t attempt to pull it out online, you might receive a nasty bug,” he winked at the camera, “I don’t like cheaters.”

“Riddle me this, Gotham, I fly high like a bird, but as my string is clipped and applause fills my ears, I fall, fall, fall, who am I?” he grinned, with that mischief spark in his eyes. Of course the riddle was a reference to the Flying Grayson and their tragic demise, a riddle within a riddle, and a taunt to all to the Bat Family. While they might be unaware of Edward’s knowledge of their true identity, it would still be quite fun to tease at it all night long. If they looked even further into the riddle, they would realize that it suggested something at the circus, particularly where trapeze artists perform.

Each person handled mid-life crisis differently. A few purchased an expensive vehicle while others found a young lover. Edward preferred to tackle it in another way, through mass attention and peacocking. More importantly, he just needed to get out of his house.

[Deleted]

About five-hundred feet away from Gotham National Bank, looking through a pair of binoculars, the infamous sidekick of the clown prince of crime is watching all the events unfold. For weeks she has been planning a huge robbery to get money to support Joker’s crew with more henchmen, vehicles and weapons. Today is the day she marked on the calendar, the big day she’d rob Gotham National! She has been excited for this for the past few days, and now that she’s all geared up and ready to hit the bank, she’s just about to head towards it.

Unfortunately, through her binoculars she sees something that almost makes her twitch…the bank shutters have shut, the feint sound of an alarm is heard and police sirens are in the distance. Did they figure out the day she’s going to rob the place? Did she already get caught overlooking it? No, that’s not possible. Throwing her binoculars to the ground, Harley gets up off the ground and brushes the dust off of her outfit as she begins to jog to the bank. She has to get this money. So much planning, so much excitement...Harley refuses to be disappointed.

Using her athletic ability to leap up onto the steel platforms on the side of the building next to the bank, climbing the ladders and scaling herself up onto the roof. Turning around, she takes a deep breath, closing her eyes for a split second before taking a few steps back, sprinting to the edge of the roof. The sirens are getting closer, the alarm gets louder with every quick step she takes and soon there will be no turning back. This doesn’t stop her.

With a leap of faith, Harley manages to land on the roof of the bank, crouching down just as she lands. “Ow!” the clown girl remarks, rubbing her sore knee for a few moments before her attention is taken to a large fan next to her “Bingo!” Harley gives a wide grin, pulling out her baseball bat and swinging it to smack the grating of the ventilation shaft a few times until it falls from its hinges with a crash onto the roof. She breaks the fan off using her baseball bat, not wanting to get her hands cut off.

Before long, she’s crawling through the shaft, feeling rather cramped inside – too late to turn back now. Quinn coughs a couple of times, letting out an unsatisfied groan “Geez! You’d think they would dust things in here!” As she progresses further into the shaft, she begins hearing a voice from the other side of the thin metal…wait…she knows that voice. “…Ed…?” figures it would have to be another infamous criminal that ruins her entire plan today.

Harley’s train of thought is quickly broken as she puts too much weight onto the metal with her hands, leaning forward to get a better listen…she hears a horrifyingly loud creek “…uh oh!” Almost immediately she feels the difference, the shaft is about to collapse! Quinn does her best to crawl back, but she’s not quick enough to prevent herself to fall to the ground along with the ventilation, dust clouding the area around it when it makes impact with the ground below. As quick as she can, Harley crawls out and gets to her feet, grabbing the gun from the holster on the back of her outfit, she quickly waves the gun around.

Screams are heard as the gun aims at several people until she finds her target – The Riddler. “Well, well!” she yells in her rather obnoxious voice “What ya doin’ here, Ed? I’ve had this place marked for weeks!” Harley’s eyes dart around, examining her surroundings…typical situation you’d usually see in a bank robbery, nothing new to her. She takes a step back, placing her baseball bat over her shoulder with one hand while she aims the gun at Riddler with the other. “What riddle mumbo jumbo have ya been feedin’ these poor losers this time?”

[Deleted]

Of course. You want the Bats attention? You broadcast your crime. It seemed this was a standard with Gotham villains, saying "Catch me if you can." Not like the much more simpler Rogues of the Twin Cities which just break in, steal and try not to get caught by the Scarlet Speedster. Well Batman wasn't here at the moment, and unsuspected Gothamites would be at their local ATM trying to withdraw a few bucks for the movies or a cab fair, and before they realize it, their entire bank account would be wiped. Oracle was no stranger when it came to leveling bank accounts, so the algorithm was familiar, but it wasn't her first concern: the lives of the men and women in the bank were. She cracked her knuckles and rolled her head around her neck, it was going to be a long night.

Oracle had several options, she could open the gates immediately, but it could agitate the cops and they might open fire and civilian casualties would rack up. It was possible to broadcast herself through the speakers and answer his riddle, but she didn't want to make herself known. Not yet at least. She did a scan on Eddie and could only see what was on the surveillance cameras. A full scan couldn't be possible with such primitive technology, Then there was Harley, which never made any situation better. She was dangerous and could possibly hurt civilians for the sake of hurting them. She had to be smart about this. That thug with the automatic that didn't seem too friendly either.

So the best option was to work on a virus to counter Riddler's initial threat on Gotham's wallets. Honestly Eddie, what are you going to do with all that money when your name is "The Riddler?" Barbara shook her head and kept her lines open to see how the situation would unfold, whilst sending an anonymous tip to the GCPD that the camera man is armed and dangerous. The quiet approach was always the best. 

[Deleted]

Bruce exited from his walk in wardrobe and stood in front of the full length mirror, examining himself from every angle. He had chosen a very expensive suit and tie for his date with Amanda Bundchen, a supermodel who was touring Gotham City in order to promote her new perfume. It would be a wonderful way to further cement the disguise of Bruce Wayne and, who knows, maybe have fun as well. More importantly, it was a relationship that could never work. Amanda travelled a lot and Bruce was always working, so this would be an easy relationship to break of.

"What do you think Alfred?" Bruce asked his ever present Butler, who was standing to the left of the mirror observing Bruce.
Alfred cast his eyes up and down Bruce before offering his opinion, which was blunt and honest as usual...

"You look dashing and ready to enter your next board meeting Master Wayne," he said, "Might I suggest that, since you are in fact going bowling, a more casual attire be suitable? Perhaps the black collared shirt and jeans. I daresay you suit dark colours and Miss Bundchen will think that as well..."

Bruce gazed once more over the mirror before nodding and walking back to the wardrobe to get changed. Bruce was well known for being stubborn and single-minded in his pursuits. Only Alfred was able to change his mind and do so with his trademark cynical wit. Bruce respected him for it... he loved Alfred like a father for it. Sadly, this joyous mood was not to last.

Bruce's phone began to vibrate upon the counter where he had left it. It was a special mobile phone, military grade that encoded it's signal with quantum cryptology over a dozen of the world's satellites. And only one person had a phone just like it...
Bruce went over to the phone and read the text message that Commisioner Gordon had sent him...

"TURN ON THE TV. ANY CHANNEL."

Bruce went straight to his room, switched on the TV and was greeted with the face of Edward Nigma.

"Just when you thought TV couldn't get any worse..." Alfred muttered, having appeared silently beside Bruce.

Edward Nigma, one of Batman's more persistent foes. Edward suffered from acute megalomania combined with a narcissistic need to prove himself better than anyone else. Edward had remained quiet for many months and, truth be told, Bruce had hoped that he had finally seen sense and got some help. Those hopes, it seems, were dashed.

The Riddler began to brag and grandstand for the camera before posing his riddle. It was a simple one to solve, the riddle referred to the Flying Graysons. But it was never that simple with The Riddler, he would often obfuscate his intentions within his riddles and trick his opponents. There would be no reason for The Riddler to even mention the Flying Graysons unless they were involved with The Riddler's plot. The Flying Graysons were gone... but the site of the circus was still there.

Bruce walked briskly towards the direction of his study. As he did, Alfred called behind him...

"I shall inform Miss Bunchen that you were called away to an emergency conference call Master Wayne,"
"Thank you Alfred," Bruce replied as he stepped into his study.

Within the study, Bruce walked up to the clock and moved the hands towards 7:30. Then he pulled the pendulum of the clock and a secret door opened. The door lead to some stairs, which Bruce descended down and into The Batcave. As he was walking, he dialled the number for Barbara Gordon on his phone. He was going to need her help to solve this puzzle...

[Deleted]

     Tim sat in the large leather chair, propping his feet up onto the large base for the keyboard. The teen had converted the signal and momentarily turned the large computer into a giant HDTV. Tim was often teased by Alfred about how he seemed more comfortable in a cold, dark, and giant cave vs. a cozy million dollar living room. But, to each his own.

     Tim was snacking on a protein bar while enjoying a random reality tv show he found. He wasn't necessarily a fan of the genre, but school had just gotten out, and nothing good was on, plus he honestly had nothing better to do.

     As the winner of that episode was about to be chosen, the video feed suddenly cut out. Tim sat up, and stared at the screen curiously. Suddenly, the feed cut back in. But it wasn't the TV show. Tim quickly identified a face he knew all too well. Edward Nigma. The Riddler.

     In his usual wordiness, Nigma addressed Gotham, and continued on with a threat and a riddle. It was a rather easy riddle to solve, the answer was the Flying Grayson's. But, of course, with Riddler, it was never that simple.

     Tim flashed back to a memory of when he was very young. His parents brought him to Haly's circus, and all day Tim had been looking forward to the Flying Grayson's show. He fondly remembered sitting on a young Dick Grayson's knee. Tim still had that picture in a frame in his room. But, then the accident happened. It was... Traumatizing to say the least. Tim couldn't even imagine what Dick had gone through. However, there was always a silver lining, if Dick's parents had never died, he never would have become Robin and eventually Nightwing, and Tim would have never become a Robin either. But why would Riddler bring this up? It had to be a coincidence.. It had to be...

     Another figure quickly appeared on the screen. Quinn. This whole situation was going to be quite a mess. Harley was unpredictable, but putting Riddlers riddles on the back burner was also not an option, when left unsolved, they could possibly cause many casualties. Looks like reality TV would have to wait.

     Tim hopped out of his chair and began to walk towards the case that held his black and red Robin costume. He opened the case before he heard the door to the gigantic cave begin to open. He peered up the stone stairs and saw Bruce begin to walk down them, dialing on his phone. Before he could call the number, Tim yelled up at the man.

     "Did you see the new TV show that aired just a couple of minutes ago?" Tim asked in a joking tone, already knowing the answer.

[Deleted]

Barbara's algorithm was only half done; a counter virus to protect Gotham's wealth from The Riddler. Blue light shed across her features as she opened the wrapper of a hot pocket with one hand and her teeth, the other typing along the keys spread across her desk. She considered eating it cold, as she had to keep a close eye on the civilians and be sure to account for any casualties. Still she felt gross, yeah she was gross. Totally gross. Barbara took a bite out of the Cold Pocket and continued her work, sneering in disgust, but it helped her get some food in her stomach, which she was ignoring for the last three days.

Hacking into surveillance cameras revealed police officer meatheads already lined up around the bank. Damn. They were probably going to call SWAT, and it would turn into more of a mess than she could handle. Barbara pondered just how she'd do this without Batman. She was just one girl behind a computer and a monitor. Well, several towers that cost a few million dollars, thanks to a generous grant from the Wayne foundation. Odds were stacking against her, but the only wondered what the Riddler's game was. If he intended for Batman to solve all his riddles, he clearly didn't lock the building down tight enough if someone as brainless as Harley could sneak in, what made him think Batman couldn't? Oh right, no Batman.

It was just when she considered maybe she could use the help of The Dark Knight to take care of a hostage situation like this when his call came in. Relief set in and she took a deep sigh, Barbara hated always going to him for his help, but when she had a her agent in Moscow rescuing a prisoner of war, she knew she could always rely on Batman to be in Gotham. Plus, if anyone had been more supportive of her aside from her dad, it would have been Bruce. "This is Oracle," Barbara said smiling as she enjoyed saying it as well as feeling happy to be speaking with Bruce. "Batman, I've already assessed the situation. Riddler and Harley in Gotham National, by the looks of it, Riddler didn't expect her to show, so I got her point of entry, since he has the facility on lock down. It's a ventilation shaft on the roof. You could probably enter through there if you want to go after Riddler himself. Just be careful sneaking in, police have the place surrounded…" Barbara paused to check on her suspicions by hacking into the police feed "… they've got SWAT called and they're on their way. Otherwise he could have something dangerous at the abandoned circus ground where Nightwing's parent's met their fate. I'll check the Wayne satellite feed to make sure he doesn't have any hostages there." She had to be fast. Faster than Batman could get to; that way if he ever did call she would be prepared for him.

Barbara knew he'd also be concerned about the bank accounts as well, but if she was being frank it was the last thing on her mind. She's hacked into bank accounts before, sometimes for her own gain to get just a little bit more to fund her station in the Clock Tower. It was always from drug lords who didn't need it the six million dollars, they'd probably only use it for more slave-work anyway. If Riddler really did go through with this heist, she'd do her best to make his life miserable.

[Deleted]

Soon the idiots would come running for him. They would be attracted to his little game like moths to the flame. He couldn’t blame them for being enticed but every time to fall into his hands? It was almost too easy. If they weren’t smart enough to see what they were walking into then that was their own problem. He had given them plenty of clues and all the opportunity to understand what was going on.

Edward’s head turned upward as a loud banging sound came from above. His eyes narrowed at the space. He knew that they would come flocking but to be so soon….he would have been flattered if it didn’t show how incompetent they really were. A voice came rumbling through the vents and into the room. It was one he was all too familiar with. “Harley?” He frowned and asked upward just as she fell through the vent and crashed into the middle of the floor. If he wasn’t so stunned that she had actually tried to sneak in, while talking aloud he might have had a better answer for her. The gun didn’t intimidate him in the slightest but she was becoming increasingly annoying. Still his charm took over and he smirked, taking steps toward her as she backed. “ Harley my dear, you look stunning as always. How good of you to drop in…” His voice turned a bit darker toward the end but he let it go. “I’m in the middle of something at the moment…Feel free to do whatever you were planning. Perhaps dinner later?” He asked assuming the Joker wouldn’t be tagging behind her. He had always enjoyed Harley’s company for a pretty face to look at.

He kept the camera focused on himself and tried to regain his train of thought after the interruption. He had expected it to be Batman but he would have used a bit more of his brain to get inside. His phone showed him all the cameras around the building and he continued to scan through the surveillance data looking for anyone else that was watching. He knew that Batman was always watching and that’s why he would be here. “Give up, Gotham? Was that one too hard for you?” He laughed, this was way too easy. If they were really going to come after him like this he would be disappointed. Edward didn’t like to be disappointed. “ Surely, someone has an answer for me. How about another?” He raised his finger and a satisfied grin came across his lips. Playing with them was really too easy.

“I’m black like the bat but was shot in the back, who am I?” He smirked but pulled the camera closer to his face. He was reading a message that something was pulling through his files. He waggled his finger in front of the camera. “ Now now, I warned you about cheating.” He warned.

[Deleted]

Scratching her head in confusion as she watches Edward talk to the camera held in his hand, Harley gives a light shrug of the shoulders as she realizes how easy this entire thing has made her plan. “Do whatever I was plannin’, huh?” muttering under her breath, Harley slips her gun into the holster, realizing she might not have to shoot anyone today – slightly disappointing. As she approaches the annoyed looking cashier with a wide smile ear-to-ear, she gives a light wave of her hand to the cashier “Hellloooo! I’m here to make a transaction.”

“…Let me guess, all the money in the safe, right?” the woman speaks with a short sigh, rolling her eyes as she slips the key into the safe underneath the desk, turning it and pulling open. “We only have a couple of thousand in the bank right now…the rest is digital.”

“You’ve gotta be kiddin’ me!” Harley throws the empty bag towards the woman, letting out an audible groan. “I brought six of these freakin’ bags! What the heck am I gonna do with the rest!?”

“Nothing I can do about it.” The woman begins filling the bag on the desk as Harley overhears the riddle behind her, turning around as she peaks over Eddie’s shoulder, taking notice to the camera. “Ohhh! Are we on TV? Hi Mistah J! If yer watchin’! And Red, look, I’m famous! Ain’t ya proud of me!?” Harley gives a wave as she grins wide, hopping up and down excitedly.

“Black like the bat…shot in the back…hmmmm…” Tapping her chin lightly, Harley raises an eyebrow, deep in thought. Harley could sometimes get these riddles, but most of the time they just confused her or she couldn’t figure out the answer – this was looking to be one of those times. “Oh! I know!” With a light skip in her step, she quickly makes her way over to one of the unfortunate employees – a man dressed in a black suit; she grabs him and lifts him up off the ground. “Alright, stay still!” Harley makes her way behind him, pulling the gun out of her holster and aiming it at his back with her finger on the trigger, fully prepared to shoot. “Do I have the right idea, Ed!?”