The Darkest of Knights

"Okay... So lemme guess. The hippie is the good cop and you're the bad cop. Am I right?" The Great White Shark asked unamused at the lightness that Karmy brought into the interrogation. Her size made it almost laughable. "Wrong Great White, we're not cops." Alice smiled and lifted White up to punch his gut. He collapsed on the floor, bent, one arm clutching his stomach. "Had to hit me there huh?" He asked sucking air through his teeth.
"You watch the News White?"
"Who the hell doesn't?"
"What the hell is up with the slander and lies being broadcasted about my family? Know how's paying Godfrey to put that on air?"
"This isn't coming from me you hear?"
"I hear you."
"Thorne. He flew him in to do it."
"Why?"
"Hell if I know. I'm telling the truth!"
"I dunno. What do you think Karmy?"

"Was that the guy that knew everything about us?" Karmy asked, still keeping an eye on the Great White. A slight shudder went through her body. She remembered that Thorne was the one who had the list of all the people she had killed. After thinking about it for a moment, she turned to them and said, "Then yes, I believe that it was him.." she admitted.

"Okay.. I guess that's all we really need. Thanks for your cooperation Great White. We'll be keeping an eye on you." Alice said signaling Karmy to portal them out of there. "See you in Arkham White Knight." The Great White Shark threatened.

"Alrighty, just gotta do one more thing." Karmy smiled, holding up her finger and walked over to Great White. She crached him as hard as she could. "You JERK, I know you were thinking that I was short!" she screamed at him. "dont deny it f-ckhead! I know you were, ADMIT IT! Don't think I'm short you two bit sonova-" she kicked him in the shins, breaking her good cop demeanor and going back to her Karmyness.

"Gah! Okay okay! Yeah! Ow! Goddammit! Yeah! I thought you were short so what!? Oh my god!! Ow!" The Great White Shark crawled away in pain. He had no idea what was coming. He just expected his normal day to play out. What the hell just happened to him? "Karm... You didn't need to do that he gave us all the info we needed, let's get outta here.." Alice implored.

"Shut it!" Karmy kicked him again. "I'm not short you hear me, not short!!!" she spat and walked back over to Alice. "Lets go.." she hissed and snapped her fingers.

"You.. Are short." Alice said patting her on the head. "Just get us out of here... Like now...."

And Great White had it all wrong. Karmy was the bad cop.

Karmy snapped her fingers and shoved Alice through the portal. Jumping through, she landed in front of Alice. "I am not short." she huffed, crossing her arms and sticking her bottum lip out slightly in a pout.

"Well... I'm just saying 5'5" isn't really tall either." Alice said scared she offended her friend. "I mean, you're like... Fun size." She smiled trying to brighten the mood.

"Pfffttt... Tally.." Karmy muttered, too tired to come up with a come back. "Now what?"

"Are we ready? We're ready, alright roll on me in three." Godfrey took up his position in front of the camera, standing in May's kitchen with a smug smirk and perfect hair, his microphone held tastefully in front of his tie. "Welcome back my loyal viewers. Gordon Godfrey here, in the kitchen of my guest for tonight, the lovely May. May is the aunt of young Nicole. Nicole, was adopted out of her care nearly two years ago and now we're here with May to tell her just what sort of a person has been taking care of her beloved niece." He turned to the brunette woman, the camera panning completely off of him for a moment, but Godfrey soon reentered the frame.

"Now, May, what I'm about to share with you might be a little shocking... Not only has Nicole been adopted by a single man in his thirties, but there are no records of Nicole either been enrolled in school since her adoption, or a single visit conducted by a social worker to insure a safe environment for your niece and the man who adopted your niece, he's not some mobster, or criminal, and he's not living in some third world country or in some distance suburb. Your niece is not only living in Gotham City, but is in the custody of Dick Grayson, heir to Bruce Wayne of the Wayne Corporation." The blond held his mic beneath her head, and the cameras focused on her, looking for that honest shock reaction that entranced so many viewers.

"I don't know how his security is but I think we could blow through the wall." Batman said inspecting and scrutinizing the penthouse. "Isn't that too much though?" Batgirl asked. "Unless you want to knock on the doors. I'm getting intel from Alice that Mr. Warren White confirmed our suspicions. But what does he know?" Batman asked hopping down to a ledge that would fit suitable to blow the wall. Thorne and several of his goons were in there, of course they were oblivious to their presence. "Batface, get the side, I'm going to get Thorne. Batgirl, cover me." He said through his communicator. "Three... two.. one." A loud explosion Batman swept through the room and knocked the biggest man in the room across the head, and head locking Thorne from behind. Batgirl disarmed the first thug and knocked the second one out quickly. Everything happened so quickly. "We have some questions." Batman whispered to Thorne. "Are you going to call your men off or do you think your men could shoot through you?"

"Sonovabitch!" Alice screamed slamming her fist against a table in the Batcave as they watched the feed coming through the Batcomputer. "I've been homeschooling Nicole since she joined the family. Everyone has. Dick, Babs, evern Wintergreen!" She crossed her arms. "And they know she's Robin now what the hell?!" Alice asked extremely pissed.

"We're the good guys. Of course we will." Damian said looking into his cold mug, still filled to the brim. He smiled as he looked at Nicole. "Don't worry."

Batface did as he was told to a T- He happily dispatched of anyone that got in his way as he aided Batman, a swirling malestrom of black and red. Unlike when the Joker had him drugged, he now had full control and coudl fight like an organized being instead of a drunken critter. Once Batman had headlocked Thorne, he knew this was over- if anyone could do an Interrogation, Batman could. He took out his dual colored Batarangs, rady to nail the first person that LOOKED like they were going to go for a weapon or make a funny move......

"That is a very good question." Gordon smiled into the camera. "And that," He paused for the drama of it. "Is the question I'm here to answer." The blond smile, and you could swear his teeth glinted. "Why, would someone, so very wealthy, go to such extremes to keep his adopted daughter away from anyone her own age. With the money left to him by Bruce Wayne, and the significant income Mr. Grayson receives from the stock he holds in Wayne industries he could have had Nicole enrolled in the most prestigious boarding schools in the city, he could have hired the most talented tutors in the country, and yet, no one outside of the manner has had continued contact with Nicole since her adoption..."

---

Thorne groaned a little, a hand on Batman's arm another trying to keep the masked man from cutting off the very important flow of oxygen. "Alright now... why don't we just have every body calm themselves down." He took his hand off the Dark Knight's arm and gestured to his men, persuading them to restrain themselves. A few of his men picked themselves up off the floor, one moved toward putting the sofa back up right, and Roxie, who had been present at her boss's side, as she often was, adjusted her skirt and tried to get some of the plaster dust out of her hair.

"You know next time," Thorne wriggled his neck, trying to get a little more comfort out of the headlock he was in. "You could just knock."

Batman looked at Batgirl, "There won't be a next time." Batman replied letting Thorne go. "Warren White says he saw you pick Godfrey at the airport. You know about the lies they've been broadcasting in the last hour. What do you have to do with this. What's your motive?" Batman interrogated. "And why are you trying to get to me?" Batgirl asked desperately. She had been secretly confused at why Thorne had been so intent on trying to get to her.

Thorne cleared his throat adjusting his tie and doing his best to look like he hadn't just been put in a headlock by a very angry man in a bat costume. "Ahem." The mob boss brushed back his hair, and looked around his office, the bat-clan had to have blown their way in... They couldn't have used the window, or heaven forbid the door he'd just had reinforced to prevent incursion like this. "True I did pick that man up from Gotham Air Port, but I only did so as a favor to a friend of mine. I've nothing to do with whatever dribble he's been spouting, honestly I don't even watch his show."

---

"It's beginning to look that way." Godfrey put a gentle hand on May's shoulder, hanging his head just enough to look forlorn with her, but not enough to mess up his hair. "But worry not faithful followers, the Glorious one will not let you down!" He perked up an almost appropriate time later, smiling into the camera and throwing his arm completely around the brunette at his side. "We here at the studio have already taken precautions to insure the truth about young Nicole's foster home is discovered!" The blond man smile and put a hand to his ear piece. "Are you there Doctor?"

The response came from both the reporter's ear piece, and a small television carried in by one of his staff. Half way across the city a second television crew had set themselves up inside the office of Dr. Hugo Strange. "I am here Mr. Godfrey." The bald man spoke in a heavy accent though it would hard for even a trained ear to detect exactly where it originated.

"Dr. Hugo strange, noted authority on the psychology of extreme personalities, and former director of psycho analysis at Gotham City's own Arkham Asylum, has generously volunteered his time to treat young Nicole free of charge, for however long it takes to bring her to full recovery." Godfrey smile, a hand still to his ear. "Our viewers thank you for your generosity Doctor."

"Not at all Mr. Godfrey. I am happy to be of assistance. However I fear that the trauma's this girl has suffered, at the hands her so called care-giver may have permanently scared her Psyche. For a child to be adopted but such a noted figure in society, and then to be so completely shut off from that society, it is possible that she may no longer recognize her treatment as, unusual... and then there is the 'Robin' issue."

"Give me a good reason to believe you. Because I'm really not buying it Thorne." Batman clenched his fists, he felt like something was crawling under his skin being around Thorne for the first time in his batsuit. Last time he encountered him, Dick had on a three piece suit. "And answer Batgirl's question. You assistant has been trying to get to her. She expressed her concerns to me." He found himself talking like his father more and more.

"Roxie, is this true?" Thorne looked across his desk to where Roxie sat. He didn't seem too concerned, and really his tone was more like that of a parent who'd caught his daughter smoking with another school girl, than a mob boss talking to his secretary.

The raven haired woman was still picking at the plaster dust in said hair. "Well, you said you wanted me to keep an eye on Gordon's daughter, and she's kinda cute, in a tomboy kind of way." She turned to look to where the masked red head stood, and gave her a wink before returning to dusting her hair off with her bear hands. "I sorry if I came on a little strong. I'm not a patient girl."

"There you are, innocent flirting on her part." Thorne smirked lightly, flicking open his cigar box, the one that actually had cigars in it rather than his hidden handgun. "I don't suppose any of you would like a cigar?" He retrieved one for himself before sliding the box over to his side, offering it to the Bat Clan while he lit himself one and took a short drag on it. "Now as for your other question... I'm sure you're familiar with the concept of team work. Rumor has it you've been teaming up all over the country these past few months..." The mob boss turned in his chair, looking back to the masked man over his shoulder as he tapped his cigar lightly against the edge of his chair. The floor was covered with plaster dust, a little cigar ash wouldn't hurt it.

---

"Well, now that's a problem now isn't it." Strange was the first to reply, knitting his hands together as he leaned back in one of those, deep black leather chairs that all professionals seemed to own as a part of their status.

"I'm sorry to have to tell you this May, but as of this moment, Nicole's current location is unknown." Godfrey returned to playing the shoulder to cry on, putting a hand on the woman's shoulder and leaning down to her slightly. "But don't you worry, we're going to find her." Again though he rose up from the faux sorrow quickly enough, viewers didn't tend to like it when things went all melodramatic on them for too long. "And when we do, I will personally see that custody of Nicole is returned to her rightful guardian, her aunt. And that Richard Grayson pays for his crime in to the fullest extent of the law. As my regular viewers may know, I am a lawyer in good standing with the Metropolis Bar, but what you may not know is that Gotham City allows for lawyers who are members in good standing with Metropolis to practice within their jurisdiction, and that means that I am free to personally make certain Mr. Grayson answers every question the American People have for him!"

Batface kept his arms crossed like a Gargoyle, stone faced staring at Thorne like a cigar store indian. "Explain then how YOUR EMF generator was involved in the death of John Corben, how did THAT benefit you? A man like you could have easily used Corben's muscle to dominate the streets, so what good did orchestrating a complex death for him do for you, hm?" Dent asked, his vocie sharp and abrasive.

Batman kicked the cigars out of Thorne's hand, grabbed his shirt and slammed the heavy mob boss against a bulletproof window, "Don't believe you on either account, you're smarter than that Thorne! Start talking before I lose my temper!" Batman yelled. "Batman... wait.." Batgirl uttered trying to warn him not to go too far.

"That" Thorne groaned as he was man handled, he was an old man, and though there may have been a time he could have fought back, Grayson was much young than him. "Was a favor for Jim Gordon. Call it a far well present if you will, but I owed Gordon something for all the... fun times, we'd had together." The crime lord twisted in the Batman's grasp. "It wasn't my intention for Corben to die, but from what I hear neither is it my fault." His eyes fell on Batgirl, just for a second before looking away and out the window. Thorne sighed and decided that maybe a peace offering was necessary. "I assume you've heard of Intergang?"

---

"I can assure you miss, I will do everything in my power to help your niece deal with the trauma's she has undoubted endured. However, I am uncertain that I well be able to completely correct her behavior. Your niece has been in this man's custody for quiet some time, and it will be difficult to get her to trust that I want only to help her. She may not recognize that what we want is what is best for her. She has not only had to rely on Mr. Grayson for financial support, but she has been living in his home, eating his food. It is possible she see herself as a member of his family." Strange spoke from the television, and his image was spliced into the broadcast, not blocking the entire screen mind you, Godfrey was the star after all, but Hugo was the expert. "In addition to relying on him for these... domestic needs, she has been inducted into some manner of, formerly secret society with him. She has adopted the Robin persona. It is possible that she believes this decision was made of her own will, but no rational child would choose to... endanger their own life, numerous times in a given evening. The Batman, Richard Grayson, he may have used this as a way to... bond with Nicole, she relies on him for more than simple domestic requirements, she see him as the only thing preventing the cruel world, from destroying her. He is protecting her, and without that protecting she would be easily killed. For this reason it is very unlikely Nicole will be... a willing participant in her treatment."

"We understand Doctor." Godfrey took over the monologue as the image of Strange moved down the corner of the television broadcast. "And that is why, I am issuing this challenge to Richard Grayson. If you're a real man, and not just a cape wearing cook, than bring Nicole to the office of Dr. Hugo Strange at two thirty today. Arrive with the girl unharmed and clear your name!"

"Not buying it, Thorne." Harvey dent said, taking his turn to approach Thorne. "You expect us to beleive-" He hoisted Thorne up by the scruff of his shirt. He was far taller, and the intimidation of the Batface suit made him no doubt daunting to behold. "-That you DIDN'T have to gain from that? That someone else had their hands in this? Please, don't insult our inteligence." Dent snarled. "We know the Terminator boosted the EMF for you, and your lackey used it on Corben." He said, referencing Roxie. "Now why would she have a peice of machinery you went to the trouble of having someone as high a calibur as Slade Wilson steal something if you DIDN'T have something planned that was important, something long and convoluted?" Dent asked, leaning in so close that Dent seemed to be peering into the rotten escence of Thorne's mind with his peircing gaze. "Start making sense, Thorne. I'd love to get the info and jsut leave you, but if I don't, then HE'LL ask you, and he won't let you off the hook as niceley as I would." Dent said, gesturing to batman, who seemed none to pleased at the moment,

Batgirl felt like a shot had been fired at her, a 38 special seemed to have pounded into her chest and pushed it's way past her flesh and through her spine when Thorne looked at her. Her legs felt feeble but kept her mouth shut. "Intergang... wasn't that some organized criminal operation formed on Apokolips? What does that have anything to do what's happening?" Batman wondered, this was certainly strange.

"You think avenging Jim Gordon wasn't important to me?!" Thorne practically spat in Dent's face. "The man was the only face I could be certain to see every damn day for a good forty years of my life! I may have hated him with everything that I was, but that doesn't mean I didn't like the man!" The contradiction of his argument didn't seem to slow him down in the least as the mob boss took a brutal grip on Batface's collar, screaming into the masked man's face. "Every day I woke up and tried to think of some way to deal with Jim Gordon and his police department, every day I had someone looking for something I could use to manipulate him, ever damn day I tried to beat him! And then Corben comes along and what? Kills him? For what?! For Money? Alex Corben was nothing but a hired killer, and because of you damn costumed freaks he came to my city and kill the only man in it who I could depend on for a real fight!" His rage left him and Thorne just went slack in the man's grasp. "Look if you wanna know about Godfrey you're out of luck, that guy got nothing to do with me. I get a call from Manhiem telling me to pick someone up from the air port I do it. Manhiem is a ghoul, in every sense of the word."