[b]Another one about Azumi's travels, now that we're clearing out some others since their parts are completed. This one is written by Gregzilla and The Doctor.

[center]Chapter 11: Pier Pressure[/center][/b]

Within his base of operations, Scarecrow was growing more angry by the second. Everything was falling apart around his ears.  The Penguin and Joker had been turned against him, and the TITAN had disappeared.  The only thing he had accomplished in retrieving was Tetch's mind control serum, and even that had not been apart of the original plan.  He needed to contact Ian.  As irritatingly rebellious as she was (he still believed that breaking her mind would have been the best option), she was at least competent in what she was doing, besides having been beaten by that 'Wraith'.

He had his suspicions about that, though.  Another caped crusader similar to the Batman, but one he had never heard of before, even outside of Gotham.  It was true that this person could have appeared while he was gone for those eighteen months, but there had been nary a whisper of his appearance that he could gather, and he knew rumors of a person like this Wraith traveled fast.  Either this person had been tracking him or the Collective across the worlds, and had only appeared on this one just recently, or Ian had made him up.  It was easy to think which one was more likely, but it was a theory that was not a main priority, and couldn't be acted upon just yet.

Regardless, he picked up the radio that he used to keep in contact with the soldier, and thumbed the 'on' button.

"Ian, I need a status report!"  He practically yelled into the radio.  He could at least verbally take his frustration out on her.  "Have you found any-"

Scarecrow was interrupted by another, much more smug voice, that of the Riddler, breaking in on the conversation.

[i]"And who would you be talking to, Crane?  I wasn't aware you were in contact with anyone, and you know how I love making your life difficult."[/i]

Scarecrow's voice crackled back to life.  "Be [i]quiet[i/], Nigma!  Ian, I need to know if you've found anything useful!"

Her voice came over the radio at that. [i]"From here holed up in the subway trying to scavenge for ammo and avoid a certain reptilian enemy who missed some food? I'd have to say I did, but it's things for Rikka, not for you. Oh, that's unless you mean useful information on your incompetence when faced with this kind of situation, or, even failing that, basic science. I'm thinking that how rumors are flying about how you're back from the dead, you might want to just run for the hills at this point. Seems like your style in any case. I got word about some female ninja running loose. Anything on those?"[/i]

[i]"Oh, I like her."[/i]  The Riddler once more butted in.  [i]"And everyone knows about your little run-in with Killer Croc, Crane.  Don't try to say you [b]didn't[/b] scream like an adolescent girl."[/i]  There was a thoughtful pause.  [i]"Based on some of the things she said, and it really is obvious to someone like myself, I think you're working with someone.  Who are they, and that Rikka person?  Not that I'm interesting in joining a group whose collective IQ points are still smaller than mine, I'd just like to know if there's any competition out there for me."[/i]

Scarecrow nearly audibly growled at the two's teasing, but had far too much tact to do so.  "Think of it like one of your ridiculous riddles, Nigma.  Solve it."  He ignored the Riddler for the time being, putting his full attention on Azumi.

"No, I don't know anything of any 'female ninja'.  And don't talk about [i]my[/i] incompetence, child.  You've had your own failures that I will be reporting as well."  And really, he thought, could anyone have expected [i]two[/i] Batmen?

Azumi seemed to catch Nigma's jibes, as it took her a few seconds to respond. In all likelihood, she was laughing at him, or holding it in. Finally, she did answer. [i]"What failure? My failure to spot an enemy you have yet to see, but has rumors floating around this area, and come out conscious? My failure to procure equipment for the person I actually work for? Oh, wait, no, I did both of those things. What did you do? Oh, that's right. You took some tea. Fancy that. Tea from a dwarf, but no actual allies. Who's the incompetent one, Crane? All I'm telling you is to cut your losses, considering it's highly likely that you, by this point, have the entire half of the city after your a**."[/i]

Scarecrow pounded a fist on his worktable (which unfortunately spilled and broke a beaker, only adding to his frustration).  Why couldn't he ever work with people who [i]weren't[/i] completely aggravating?  He sincerely doubted that the Joker or Penguin could take him on in a fight with his new-found Ring, but they could certainly hire a hit man to take him out from a football field's length away.  He found himself having trouble as it was with the usual competition, something he had grown unused to out on the other worlds.  It was tiring, and this venture had gained almost nothing.  Maybe it was better to 'cut his losses' as Ian had said.  No, he wouldn't be letting this failure go, nor the scorn that Azumi had given him.  Soon enough, he would have his chance at revenge on the Batman, as well as the Sergeant.

He once again picked up the radio, his voice more steady now.  Thoughts of his eventual and glorious revenge had calmed him somewhat.

"Very well, child.  I think you're advice is sound in this matter.  We would best take what we have and get out before the clown manages to kill you."  He would never admit the Joker capable of killing him, after all.  "The others would be displeased if they lost their favorite [i]pet[/i]."

A frown was probably on the other end, or at least gritted teeth. [i]"That's not particularly the term, and as you did say yourself, I am [b]theirs[/b]. Not yours. Think you have anyone coming over to... wherever it is you are? No, I'm not coming yet. Unlike you, I have this little thing called a moral fiber. And I've handled myself well enough here as it is. I'm not the one who's been proclaiming himself some kind of Grim Reaper. Comes with not having some kind of superiority complex, unlike roundabout a third of the people here at a minimum. So I'll see you later, Crane. Good luck explaining this to them after I give all I know to her. I don't lie to her, and she knows it. You, on the other hand, aren't so lucky in how you interact with her. So just go on and do your non-science. I have to see if I can get anything more for her out of this mess Strange set up here."[/i] And she cut off again.

===========

- Changes back into ODST armor, and calls in to Scarecrow that "Wraith" is screwing everything up, but he'd have better luck cutting his losses and leaving to let her handle things.
- He reluctantly agrees, angry at how little he accomplished.
- Goes to Freeze in the warehouse after following ice trail (sees Robin leaving via grapnel on the way in), saying she's "with Batman" when he asks, and asks for some of his technology to help fight the Joker to make sure Nora remains safe.
- Takes the Freeze Blast and schematics from Freeze as thanks.
- Comes outside, and dives low to avoid a missile coming in, out and in to the water below (Protocol 10 begun)
[0 Hours to Protocol 10]