[size=1](Open to all, but only two or three participants max)[/size]

Deep in the catacombs of Oa, even deeper than the Green Power Battery, was The Vault.  Hidden away for eons, it hid the most dangerous power that the Guardians had encountered, rivaling that of even their Green Lantern Corps.

And it was about to fall into the hands of a madman.

A dark portal appeared in one of the winding caverns, and out stumbled a rather tall and lanky man, arms pinwheeling as he attempted to regain his balance.  After falling flat on his face, checking to make sure no one had been around to witness the indignity, and dusting himself off, Jonathan Crane realized he was in full costume.  Odd, he had only been wearing his mask when he had been forced to escape.

Speaking of which, he would have to find a way to strengthen his fear toxin.  These 'Interferences' certainly seemed to have much stronger willpower than others.  He would have to fix that.

For now, he was safe, something he was grateful for.  Now, that fact may be no longer true if he couldn't find out where he was.  Walking a little deeper into the cavern, he saw a large door, opened, surrounded by pressure plates.  It looked like some puzzle had been there before the door could be open.  Luckily, someone had already done that for him.  Not being one to look a gift horse in the mouth, Crane continued onward, removing his mask as he went.  As much as he enjoyed the intimidation it instilled, it was more of a burden in this stuffy underground heat.

As he went, he saw evidence of explosions.  A fight, perhaps?  Stepping more warily, the Scarecrow kept going.  The deeper he continued, he felt some sort of oppressive... [i]feeling[/i], of sorts.  Odd, but nothing worth noting.

Little did he know the power sitting just under his feet.

====

Through all his travels, and through all his adventures, Batman had rarely seen other worlds.  But ever since he was shunted from his universe into this reality filled with 'Interferences', inter-world travel has become all the more common.  Finally, his travels had led him to another world.  "Alfred, is there any information on this world?"

[i]"Accessing databanks..."[/i]  His vessel's onboard AI chimes in, taking on a rather familiar British accent.  [i]"Unfortunately, there is no initial data, sir."[/i]  However, a warning Klaxon blares out, preventing any kind of response from Batman.  [i]"Sir, it appears that we have incoming hostiles.  Shall I deploy armaments?"[/i]

"Affirmative."  Sadly, the deployment of said armaments prove to be too late as the Bat-G is bombarded by blasts.  "Alfred, drop planet-side immediately!"  The deafening silence showing that Alfred is offline.  Taking manual control, Batman dives into the planet's atmosphere.  Upon reaching that atmosphere, he feels a weight upon his left wing.  He looks over, and he sees a figure stand on top of that wing.  The Cockpit hatch is broken open, and the figure stands there, an arm raised.

"NO MAN ESCAPES THE MANHUNTERS!"

====

Scarecrow was mostly oblivious to the raging battle above ground, although the rumbling gave some indication, and traveled deeper into the cave.  As he went, the feeling grew stronger, and it was almost familiar, but he couldn't quite place it.

The cavern quite suddenly opened up, and was filled with a yellow glow, the source of which was being blocked by an outcropping of rock.  Crane would have gone farther to investigate, but then he heard a voice ahead of him.  He stopped, and pressed his back against the rock wall, hiding in the shadows.

"What the hell... Ring is that another Central Power Battery?"

A voice answered, droning and lacking all emotion, but with a feminine tone.

[i]"Confidential override three-seven-four is in effect.  As this ring is powered by the Green Energy of Will, that battery empowers the Yellow Energy of Fear."[/i]

Fear?  This... thin was powered by the energy of [i]fear[/i]?  Certainly, Crane knew of the Green energy, due to that one member of the bat's irritating little 'Justice League', but he had never heard of Yellow energy.

And he knew immediately that he needed this power.  It [i]had[/i] to be his, for what better place was this power than in the hands of the Master of Fear?

Peaking out of his hiding place, Crane saw that a man was walking closer to the light, and a cliff.  Judging by his outft, he looked to be a one of those 'Green Lanterns', just like the one in the Justice League.  He would need to be careful, sneak past when the man wasn't paying attention.  Crane had seen what that ring's power could do.

It appeared such stealth would be less necessary, as the man suddenly jumped from the cliff and flew to another, long out of range where he would notice Scarecrow.  This allowed Crane to get a good look at this 'Power Battery'.  It was a massive structure, formed into some odd symbol, and the obvious source of the yellow light.  Of course, he also noticed the large robots hovering around it as well, several of which dispersed and intercepted the man.

This would take far more planning than he originally thought.

====

Manhunters.  John Stewart had information on them put inside the Watchtower's databanks after he returned from his 'trial' on Ajuris 5.  Robotic creations of the Guardians of the Universe who were meant to police space before the Green Lantern Corps, and who were subsequently decommissioned.  This would be a bit troublesome.

A small sound signals that his armaments were unlocked and ready for use.  Without hesitation, Batman triggers the mini-gun on his left wing, tearing through the Manhunter's torso.  With the immediate threat dealt with, his focus was now on landing the Bat-G.  Taking command, he grabs a hold of the control stick tightly, guiding it down onto a roughened patch of rock, skidding and finally stopping.  He gets out and looks around.  Overhead, he sees the tell-tale auras of Green Lanterns.  So many in one place had to mean something big.  And the architecture was telling.  This had to be the central stronghold for the Green Lantern Corps.  This had to be Oa.

Another set of Manhunters descend.  "SURRENDER, HUMAN.  YOU MUST BE PUNISHED FOR YOUR CRIMES."  They surround him on all sides.  Some carry tonfa-style weapons, others energy whips, some on board personal anti-gravity platforms.  All of them targeted on the Dark Knight.

"Get down, Poozer!"  A massive green buzzsaw flies down from the sky.  Batman immediately ducks as the bladed spinning emerald projectile carves through the Manhunters, each of them exploding in a shower of sparks and shrapnel.  He looks up, seeing one of the Green Lanterns land.  Again recalling on John Stewart's information put down on the Watchtower's databases, he recognized this Lantern in particular.

"Kilowog."

The Corps' trainer snorts.  "Another Earthman on Oa?"  One that even knew his name.  He merely shakes his head.  Raising his ring up to his face, he speaks into it.  "Jordan, where are you?"

====

Back in the cavern, Scarecrow had managed to find a somewhat safe path down the cliff, and was currently scrabbling across the rocks towards the Power Battery.  Luckily, the Lantern seemed entirely distracted by the Ultra Manhunters he was facing, and the others were currently rocketing away.  Now was his chance, if he could just [i]reach[/i] it.

One of the large robots whom had been flying away noticed Crane, and along with several others flew down onto the rocks in front of him barring his way.

"YOU HAVE BEEN FOUND GUILTY OF TRESPASSING ON SOON TO BE MANHUNTER GROUNDS.  YOU WILL BE EXECUTED FOR YOUR CRIMES."

This could be troublesome.  It was highly unlikely his toxin would be of any effect on them, and his only weapon was his scythe.  Regardless, he brought out the weapon, and promptly swung it at the nearest robot.  There were sparks, and his scythe was stuck into the chest of the robot.  Tugging at it, he found it very firmly stuck.  Of course, the Manhunters seemed to have little trouble ripping the weapon out of the chest, and tossing it far out of reach.

Well.
____________________________________________________

Meanwhile, Hal Jordan had finished off one of the Ultra Manhunters, but the other continued to give him trouble.  When he received Kilowog's message, it came out as gargled, but he was still able to make it out.

"I'm in The Vault!  No time to explain, I'm a bit-"  There was a sound of smashing far too close for comfort.  "-Busy!"

====

The communication came out in garbled tones.  "Dammit.  Ring, track Jordan's energy signature and lock onto it."  After putting in that verbal command, Kilowog creates an energy sphere around Batman, lifting him into the Oan sky.  "You're coming with me."  Without a second's hesitation, he flies off, the Dark Knight in tow.

[i]Tracking... Energy signature of Lantern 2814 locked onto.  Location:  beneath the Central Battery.[/i]

Nodding, Kilowog descends, entering into the caves beneath Oa.  "So how do you know me, Earthman?"

Batman hides his scowl.  He did not appreciate being towed around like some toy.  Not to mention there was too much damn light.  "Information from one of your Lanterns.  That isn't important, however.  What exactly are the Manhunters doing here?"

"We thought they were just staging an assault on Oa.  Now we got them around the Central Battery... and some beneath it."  Kilowog pours on the speed as the continue to descend.  A number of Manhunters follow behind them, blasts being shot.  "You a crack shot, Earthman?  Take those Manhunters out!"

Batman quickly removes a small set of explosive Batarangs.  Part of the construct dissipates, allowing him to throw his weapons.  Only a few hit the Manhunters, causing those few to fall and detonate.  Looking overhead, he throws one more, this one striking the stalactites overhead.  It explodes, dropping tons of stone down.  The massive boulders and stone spikes impact and impale the remainder of the Manhunter force chasing after them.  The construct reforms, preventing any damage to himself.

"Jordan, I'm closing in on your position!  Make sure to leave some Manhunters for me!"  Kilowog speeds up even more., reaching the bottom of the Central Battery area.

====

As he was surrounded by Manhunters, Crane did what he always did in these situations.

He ran like hell.

Diving between a Manhunters legs, he quickly jumped up and dashed towards the structure.  If he could just get to it, the robots would be nothing compared to him.

The robots gave chase, using their flight to give chase.
______________________________________________________

Meanwhile, Jordan had received Kilowog's message.  It was much more clear now, helping him hear more clearly.  Dodging a swing of the Ultra Manhunter's massive fists, he answered the message as best as he could.

"You got it big guy, I'll leave the biggest ones for you."

Finally, he saw his chance, and leaped into the air, creating a construct shaped like a crowbar to to tear open the giant robot, causing it to fall to a knee.

"Time to talk.  Let's start with the Manhunters."  Jordan said, still keeping his ring at the ready in case of any tricks.

The Manhunter looked up, voice wavering.  "W... WE WERE THE FIRST ATTEMPT BY THE GUARDIANS TO CREATE A PEACE-KEPPING FORCE.  WE ARE STILL THE MOST POWERFUL."  It clenched a fist.

"Ya think?  Then how come puny me stopped you?  Now, let's talk about the informant."

"THIS CONVERSATION IS OVER.  OUR MISSION HAS SUCCEEDED.  OUR DIRECTIVE... THE GUARDIANS AND ALL ASSOCIATED WITH THEM... MUST DIE.  NOW."  The Ultra Manhunter brought up a hand, and turned the glowing orb in its chest before Jordan could argue, and exploded.  The Green Lantern protected himself with a shield construct, and stood up, ready to contact Kilowog again.

Suddenly, he saw the other Manhunters chasing Crane.  He spoke into his ring again.

"There's somebody else here, being chased by more of those Manhunters.  Weird costume... looks more like he belongs in a hay-field scaring off birds.  Get here as soon as you can, looks like he's having trouble."

With that said, Jordan ended the communication, and flew towards the Manhunters pursuing Scarecrow.

====

Jordan's description of this other individual immediately catches Batman's attention.  "Keep that man contained!"

Kilowog keeps speeding ever closer to the Vault.  "What's got your tights in a twist, Earthman?"  However, before any retort can be made, more Manhunters break through the rock, attacking Kilowog and the sphere.  "I'm gonna be dalayed a bit, Jordan.  I've got a small platoon of Manhunters to deal with!"  Looking back at Batman, he shrugs.  "Looks like this is where you get off!"  He throws his sphere construct.  "Find the other Lantern and help him out!"

Batman crouches down low as the sphere construct is sent flying down, through the catacombs and finally arriving in the Vault.  The construct dissipates, and he leaps out of it, sliding to a stop.  He pauses to look.  More Manhunters, another Green Lantern (probably Jordan, since he was human)... and Scarecrow.  Without hesitation, he breaks into a run, pulling out another set of Batarangs, these ones filled high-voltage electrical charges.  Leaping up, he tosses them at a few of the Manhunters, before extending his cape outwards and gliding down towards the Scarecrow's position.

====

The Manhunters behind Crane jerked randomly as the electricity from the Batarangs coursed through them, eventually causing them to explode.  Meanwhile, Hal Jordan flew to the robots in front of Scarecrow, destroying them quickly with various constructs.

Jordan stopped in front of Crane, stopping the villain from going any further.

"Hey, you alright?  How'd you even get down here, anywa-"

It was just then that Crane spotted the growing shadow beneath his feet, and looked up.

The Batman.  [i]Here[/i].

He was scared of the Batman, terrified even.  He was the only thing that could scare him out of his wits.  And he enjoyed every moment of it.  The adrenaline pumping through his veins, the pure emotion that drove it.

But he couldn't let it stop his common sense.

Quickly, he stabbed the Green Lantern with one of the needles on his hand, the fear toxin injecting into his bloodstream before he could make a construct to protect himself.  Crane then dashed away from Jordan as the effects of the toxin began to begin, once more towards the Power Battery.

"I hope you have an antidote, bat, else your friend will be having quite the mental experience!  Make the choice!  Come after me, or help him!"

He continued running towards the structure.  He was almost there, he could almost grasp the power that could make him nigh unstoppable.  He just hoped the distraction would give him the time needed to reach it.

====

Batman curses underneath his breath.  He didn't anticipate that he would encounter Scarecrow, and as such, he didn't have any kind of anti-Fear Toxin on his person.  Without hesitation, he drops down by Jordan.  He immeidately takes a pulse.  "Heart rate's elevated already."  He grimaces.  The adrenaline surge that came with fighting would cause the toxin to spread quicker.  "Jordan, I need you to listen.  You've been injected with a hallucination-inducing fear toxin.  I need you to stay as calm as possible.  These are only illusions in your mind.  Take deep breaths, and focus."

====

Jordan did as Batman instructed, trying to calm his breathing.  Of course, the caped crusader's current appearance under the effects of the toxin wasn't helping.  He raised his ring to his mouth.

"Ring... analyse toxin."

[i]"Analyzing..."[/i]  The ring remained silent for several seconds, before a hologram showing a chemical formula appeared from it.  Jordan looked up at Batman, trying to ignore his appearance.

"I... don't know how to make it.  But you can use it to... make antidote.  Help others."

Crane had finally made it, and stood just under the massive Power Battery.  He reached up, despite the Battery being far too high for him to reach, and spirals of yellow energy flew towards him, circling around a finger.  He grinned.  The power was almost his.  He could finally destroy all those who were against him.

As the energy began to solidify, words came to him, words no one else would hear until he said them aloud.

[b]"In blackest day, in brightest night,
Beware your fears made into light,
Let those who try to stop what's my right,
Burn like my power... Scarecrow's might!"[/b]

====

Batman nods and takes a look at the chemical composition of the proposed antidote.  While he did not have a ready-set antidote with him, he was sure that he could create it with the other various chemicals that he had in his belt.  In the future, he needed to make sure that he had this antidote ready beforehand.

However, the bellowing of Scarecrow makes him look back.  He had got his hands on that yellow energy.  "Dammit."  He quickly grabs one of his standard Batarangs, turns and throws it at Scarecrow.  If the power of that energy was anything like what the Green Lanterns use, this could spell trouble rather quickly.

====

After the oath was complete, the yellow energy solidified fully into a yellow ring, glowing much like the Green Lantern's ring.  He had it, and the power was all his.  A yellow wall of energy, shaped like a brick wall, appeared behind him, blocking the Batarang.

"What's the matter, Batman?  Is that all you can muster?"

A yellow glow appeared around Crane, and he lifted into the air.  A scythe construct appeared in his hands, and he flew towards the Batman at high speeds, swinging the scythe.

====

Batman reaches into his belt again as Crane swoops down.  He is able to avoid the mast majority of the scythe swing, with the energy cutting across the symbol on his chest.  He barely touches it before he pulls out what he pulled from his belt: a bola-launcher.  Triggering it, he fires a tri-weighted bola line towards Crane.  It probably wouldn't have any effect, but he needed to buy time.

====

The Batman fired the weighted lines at Crane far too quickly to react, and they wrapped around his waist, trapping his arms to his sides.  He lost his grip on the scythe construct, which disappeared once out of his grasp.  Although the weights were heavy, they weren't enough to drag him down, and he stayed floating several feet in the air, struggling against his bonds.

The Ring glowed once more, and a giant yellow knife construct appeared, slowly cutting through the lines.  In a few seconds, Scarecrow was free once more.  This time, he created new weapons.  Several large and deadly claws formed over each hand, and he prepared to try and rip the Batman to pieces when there was a shout.

"DO NOT LET THE HUMAN ESCAPE WITH THE YELLOW ENERGY."

The remaining Manhunters flew towards Crane at high speeds, several firing energy blasts at him.  They seemed to completely ignore the Dark Knight for the time being.

Looking back down at the Batman, and then back at the Manhunters, Crane was forced to make a decision.  He could stay and try to kill the Batman now, and possibly be overrun by the robots, or he could escape and live to fight another day.

As much as Crane would have loved to stay and watch the Batman's final moments of pure terror at his own hands, he had just as much a sense of self-preservation.

"We will meet again, bat.  And when we do, I will be sure to finally tear that cowl off your face, so I can see your deepest fears."

That said, he used the ring's power once more to fly upwards, attempting to escape from the caverns.

====

Batman scowls.  Sacrecrow escaped, no doubt planning and plotting his next twisted attack.  However, Jordan's health was becoming more paramount.  He kneels down by Jordan and begins to extract chemicals from his belt, preparing to make that fear anti-toxin.

At this point, Kilowog arrives in the Vault, and notices Batman kneeling by Jordan's side.  "Jordan!"  This catches the attention of the remaining Manhunters, who subsequently swarm the Corps trainer, and are utterly decimated.  Kilowog flies over to Batman's side.  "Just what the hell are you doin' to him?"

"Someone else injected him with a fear toxin."  Batman continues to mix the chemical ingredients.  "I'm trying to create an anti-toxin that will counteract it."  Mixing up the final components, he removes a small pneumatic syringe gun and loads the anti-toxin into it.  Without a second though, he presses it against Jordan's carotid artery and presses the trigger, injecting Jordan with the anti-toxin.

====

The Green Lantern winced as he was injected with the anti-toxin, but soon enough the hallucinations disappeared.  He stood, somewhat shakily and nodded to the Batman.

"Thanks for the help."  He nodded to where Scarecrow had flown up and away.  "I'm guessing you'll want to go after him."

"Don't worry about it, poozer."  Kilowog said, clapping Jordan's shoulder.  "We can handle the situation from here."  Jordan nodded in agreement, and extended a handshake to Batman.

====

Batman takes Jordan's hand and shakes it.  "When I deal with Scarecrow, I'll make sure the yellow energy he obtained goes back where it belongs."  Reaching into his belt, he pulls out his grapple launcher and fires up towards the hole that Crane made.  Letting go of Jordan's hand, he presses the trigger a second time, propelling him upwards.

Kilowog turns to Jordan.  "He knew who I was.  Is he someone you know, Poozer?"

Jordan shakes his head.  "Not a chance in Hell, 'Wog.  First time I met him."  Once more tapping into his band of will, he takes flight and leaves the Vault, ascending towards the Citadel, Kilowog close behind.