Scarecrow
Junior Member
Nothing to Fear, but Fear Itself
Posts: 36
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Post by Scarecrow on Mar 3, 2012 10:10:44 GMT -8
I began this experiment in earnest at Arkham during my last incarceration there. The morgue below the medical facility served me well. It took some coaxing and persuasion to get permission to enter the medical facility. The doctors thought they could 'help' me away from my 'obsessions', but they had their own obsessions like 'reforming' residents such as myself. Then again some of the doctors had offices in the facility so I could there on legitimate grounds as well.
Gradually I subjected my attending psychiatrist to trace amounts of the first compound. He began displaying a new tendency within a few weeks. He kept the window open and the door to his office. Could he claustrophobic I wondered and so I thought it time to hit him with a second compound's dose. He soon gave up wearing ties, buttoning his collar, and switched a belt for suspenders. The second dose in tandem with the first appeared to double the effectiveness.
Before long repeat contact between himself and the other doctors at the facility exhibit changes in behavior for them as well. A female psychiatrist dresses more provocatively around her male colleagues and patients. Perhaps romantically repressed she was I thought. Then one day one could hear screams coming from her office. The screams weren't ones of pain though. Inside I was laughing and noting the gas has different effects on different people.
Also the rate of exposure is parallel to frequency of contact. Some became more withdrawn and others became more friendly. It would appear I was learning more about these so-called medical professionals by tearing their psychological barriers.
For now the exposure radius is limited to Arkham, but once the doctors go off the asylum grounds or some of the more infamous residents escape again - it will spread toward Gotham.
So it goes without saying the fear begins here.
I smile at Dr. Combs and he smiles back nervously.
"So are you sleeping well Doctor?" "Does anyone sleep well working in this place?" "Answering a question with a question... is its own answer." "Last time I heard that was Mr. Nashon's or Mr. Nigma's comeback." "Riddler has his mind games... and as for me... you've read my file." "What do you make of the staff's behavior changes?" "I'd say they are one with their fears... few can say that." "This isn't your doing?" "You already know the answer... otherwise you wouldn't ask." "I'm going to have to report this to the Warden." "What good is a warning when you're losing your mind?" "What do you... uh... can't breathe..." "Guard... guard... something is wrong with Dr. Combs."
The guard attends to Combs, phones for help, and another takes me back to my cell.
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Scarecrow
Junior Member
Nothing to Fear, but Fear Itself
Posts: 36
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Post by Scarecrow on Mar 5, 2012 11:17:05 GMT -8
The cold storage in the morgue is useful for storing the compounds, the delivery methods (spray, pills, powders for beverages, smokes - favored by some guards, cream). Essentially anything you could find or trade here in Arkham. So far the Warden is suppressing any rumors about the behavior 'anomalies' among the residents and the staff - the fool wants to be the next Mayor of Gotham. You think we're mad in here do you... the city is just as mad as we are, but then this place isn't big enough to 'house' all of Gotham.
For that you would have to build a wall around Gotham City.
Dr. Combs is officially on a leave of absence, but in reality he is in an isolated ward for those showing most obvious signs of behaving out of character for them. Wrong agan Warden, I've freed their minds, but what they kept locked up might be beyond their ability to control.
Not that I mind as such, I'm here to learn what taking away the barriers will do to them and eventually to those you disapprove of that bring these needing personalities to your revolving doorstep.
I have also learned the history of Arkham Asylum. Its origins are colorful to say the least. I also think of stories that are part of Jervis Tetch's thinking and films inspired by those stories. Particularly a conversation between Alice and Cheshire Cat:
"But I don't want to go among mad people." "Oh, you can't help that. Most everyone's mad here."
These days that is exceeding true here in Arkham.
They have assigned me a new psychiatrist. Dr. Murphy has taken over almost all of the indisposed Dr. Combs. I look forward to seeing what taking his barriers away as well does to him.
I close off my workspace in the morgue. Hardly anyone comes down here because so few residents die here anymore or so the rumors persist. The general resident population is kept separate from the ones that warrant more security or in some cases maximum security or isolation wings.
The wings that are infrequently 'home' to the more infamous residents such as myself, Two-Face, Mr. Freeze, Joker, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, Mad Hatter, Killer Croc, and the list goes on.
My first 'subject' among them is likely to be Mister Freeze. His blood chemistry is potentially the most susceptible to the gas' separate compounds.
I consider who else would make a sufficient carrier, but several of them are not imprisoned here or anywhere else within my current reach.
The experiement must expand before I run out of subjects to expose. Especially to avoid the Bats discovering the source and my connection to it. I don't need them interfering with this, but I will need their minds intact for the time being.
They too will come face to face with their fears... all of them.
"Hello Jonathan... how are you today?" "Do you have any idea how long Dr. Combs will be on leave?" "Hard to say... they say the job was getting to him." "More like he was getting to him." "Who do you mean by that?" "I mean him... whatever troubles his mind from the inside." "You wouldn't have anything to do with this would you?" "Perish the thought Dr. Murphy." "I had to ask... because some think you are." "They are afraid... naturally... but facing your fears is one of life's greatest challenges... is it not?" "I'd certainly agree about its power over the body and the mind. It just strikes me as odd that so many of my colleagues are acting out of workplace character." "Maybe you never really knew them at all... maybe you don't know yourself."
He sips his coffee unaware that its been gradually putting more of the compound into his body besides the caffeine boosts.
"Perhaps you're right... perhaps we all have something to learn from this... well that will be all for today... I have other cases to attend to." "Then I will leave you to it... good afternoon Doctor..."
He pulls out a pocket watch as I leave.
"Best not be late... otherwise she'll have my head."
The guards have grown less attentive, but then with the spread of these 'mental breakdowns' its keeping them busier than ever. Back to work is all I can think to myself.
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Scarecrow
Junior Member
Nothing to Fear, but Fear Itself
Posts: 36
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Post by Scarecrow on Mar 5, 2012 20:36:26 GMT -8
The Warden is being very tight lipped about the breakdowns, the breakouts, and still I remain because its not time for me leave to these walls yet. It suits also to keep the GCPD, the Bats, and anyone else from intuiting immediately that I have been messing with their body chemistry.
Some of the guards have taken to beating inmates almost as if expressing fears of their childhood where they didn't fight back against bullies in those days. Now the roles reverse and the attempts to isolate the mental breakdown individuals from the general population of the asylum fails repeatedly much to the medical personnel's confusion.
No variation of quarantine is working. Its spreading too fast to pin down they say. Of course their own altering state of mind is impeding their work whether they know it or not. The alpha strain of the gas is fast acting, perhaps a little too fast acting in some test subjects.
Doctor Murphy is reduce to babbling. Doctor Combs as I found out is on oxygen almost constantly because of his breathing difficulties. As for the promiscious Doctor Meridian, she's being kept restrained for her 'safety' and others' 'sanity'. I suspect she's afraid to go back to behaving so prim, proper, and clinical in her work.
Can't say I blame her, embracing what excites and scares you at the same time is literally the point of research for me. In my case being scared is eclipsed by my excitement.
The beta series of the gas will have to be less fast acting, but this will also require a modification of the effects potentially as they won't strike as quickly either. It just wouldn't do for the subjects to become listless and inactive within days... it would be better to prolong it because it would improve subsequent phases. To the point perhaps that people will become addicted to it potentially.
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Scarecrow
Junior Member
Nothing to Fear, but Fear Itself
Posts: 36
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Post by Scarecrow on Mar 6, 2012 5:01:14 GMT -8
Beta phase testing on the more 'dangerous' inmates and residents is proving that the modifications from the alpha phase are indeed prolonging the window. The window between exposure and symptoms that is. As a way to preserve the existing subjects, I fed antitoxins through the ventilation system and left them to recover from the alpha series until blood tests reveal to me that the markers I established for the alpha series were gone. It would take days for even the least affected to recover and besides cognizance would take even longer to return to the worst affected individuals.
If I was still bound by oaths, I wouldn't even be able to do these kinds of things to people, but left those things behind years ago when my methods... my motives became more important than my morality. In this place... even these grounds... its founder was eventually driven to measures not unlike mine. There is no cure for anything here... they use drugs, surgeries, therapies, and everything else they can think of until they exhaust almost all possiblities allowed by their oaths, their rules.
One would say to me but you were man of a science... why become like you are now?
I would say I was always a lot closer to this than your rationale can accept while you sit there judging me as immoral, unethical, and other things you fear you could just as easily end up doing one day. of course in return they would always say I'd never be like you Crane. I'd respond by saying you're always a lot closer to crossing your imaginary lines than you want to believe.
In a few more weeks I will have to attempt further refinements to create the delta, the gamma, the theta, and lastly the omega series. Each variation made more and more like an addiction to the subject. Increase brain chemistry activity, decrease sleep cycles, essentially opposites across the board, and one particular development that's already occuring in the beta series are hallucinations.
auditory, visual, tactile, and smell as well.
will have to also modify the antidote accordingly to compensate for the new gas strains.
as for reaching those who haven't return to asylum grounds yet well that meant calling upon assistance from individuals who remember well what its like to be held by fear itself and as such I shall not disclose names. Only that they were still haunted by their last encounter with me that they would do anything to avoid more of me.
I imagine if there is anything I have learned from the Batman is this - when people fear you - they are more likely to comply with your demands or questions - because of anticipation of further suffering of any kind. So the anticipation motivates them to do whatever is necessary to avoid more what they are afraid of. However the gas eliminates that possiblity as they get a sampling of one of the delta's compound that I'm already working on.
However it still requires individual compounds from the gamma, the theta, and ultimately the omega. Modifications dictate that I also spread out the exposure window between compounds as refining each to the desired effect will as always take time and of course money.
To afford these things I shall have to enlist the likes of KGBeast, Mr. Freeze, and others who don't mind knocking over some banks for me. I promise them gases that make them harder to fight against. Outwardly it is true for a time that their adrenaline levels are higher as is their endurance, but over time the apparent benefits will turn against them such as the compound requires.
However to regain the initial effects it would require more of the first, but then its back to a withdrawal like compulsion to make them seek out more. Hence my designs for a more addictive gas.
Such a feature as I have yet dabbled in before, but it will likely prove a practical addition when it comes time to expose those who have worked with the Batman. Find a cure or feed an addiction... find the source or break apart... such disagreeable alternatives... such is the mind and the fear.
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Scarecrow
Junior Member
Nothing to Fear, but Fear Itself
Posts: 36
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Post by Scarecrow on Mar 6, 2012 17:00:31 GMT -8
News of strange developments in other major cities such as Star and Keystone are quite vivid as it rewards me with potential 'hero'/'heroine' vectors. Meaning I can spread it much further than just Gotham though it would more favorably help if they were coming to Gotham instead. I loathe to travel much and in unfamiliar territory I would end up on their 'turf' instead mine. Having the high ground of a sort is tactical psychology or so I have come to believe in all the years I have gone against the GCPD or the Bats' allies.
The addictive compulsion is working and often they are back for more. I have also enlisted street dealers to 'peddle' my gas to the gangs, to the junkies, to the guns-for-hire. Any selling point helps fund my research. Whoever said crime doesn't pay... well they could have been wrong... it pays... just not always in currency that is.
Several higher echelon criminal informants have been keeping the pulse on the police for me and so far no stings have been pulled. Besides the point I keep the sellers separate in that there's no one product sold and as for prospectively getting commercial retail into the mix... its another venue worth considering.
In the mean time, the third generation aka delta series is nearing completion and before long it will be joined with gamma. I'm also tinkering with an epsilon strain that will introduce hallucinogenic qualities to to the upcoming generational strains of the gas.
The hallucinations should vary based upon what the gas triggers in each subject so naturally no shared hallucinations. It would work best against those who try to fight crime though the true purpose of epsilon was always that particular category of subjects anyway.
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Scarecrow
Junior Member
Nothing to Fear, but Fear Itself
Posts: 36
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Post by Scarecrow on Mar 8, 2012 17:23:33 GMT -8
A mixture of knockout gas and early phase antidotes render most of Arkham motionless. Essentially I put most of them to sleep, but how else could I accomplish an escape unseen?
I gather up all the necessary records and burn the rest for the earlier phases. It would give anyone an edge to cracking my gas' chemical make-up. Can't have that now can we?
I find my Hangman attire in the high security evidence locker. The Warden has been rather helpful in enabling me access because I have kept the deterioration of Arkham from becoming public knowledge. Plus the fool as I already noted in the past has mayoral aspirations.
The general population can be just as mad as anyone in here. They just aren't reaching notoreity that equals mine, Two Face's, Joker's, Penguin's, or any other so called super criminal. Still this new gas could level the field considerably.
I disable most of the external and perimeter security. It will re-engage once I'm off asylum grounds. Mad Hatter was also quite helpful with those 'special' hats of his since I have to maintain the illusion of active guard patrols. They aren't quite sleepwalking, but its the next best thing.
An optimal hideout will be necessary once I descend into the depths of Gotham City. Must remain below the radar for as long as possible.
Rarely is the Batman seen these days, but there is lack of sightings for his allies. They keep up an illusion of constant vigilance its the only way to fool those too unfocused to realize the magic tricks.
"Fear's here," I whsiper.
I can see the outline of many Gotham landmarks in the distance. Including the university where I was once a professor until my experiments compelled the fearful hierarchy to fire me and cut of my funding. In pursuit alternative financing I ran afoul of the Batman.
First thing I said to him was "You look like a man who takes himself too seriously."
Then I gassed with my hidden wrist sprayer when he attempted to grab me as I was robbing the university blind. It would become of many lessons in the strength of will, of mind, and as such that's why every new variation of gas must exceed its predecessors. Its the only to combat individual minds in such ways that they can't fight back for long.
Time for the mind to become the enemy at the neural chemistry level.
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Post by Oracle on Mar 9, 2012 19:55:56 GMT -8
Gotham's nights were always dark and creepy. Tonight's night seemed to be no different, save for the fact that there was a mission to accomplish.
A group of street thugs, dressed in rag-tag sports wear, armed with baseball bats and crowbars were making their way down one of Gotham's notorious back alleys in the packing district.
A large, brutish guy, pulled out a crumpled note from his back pocket and huddled under a streetlamp. He wore all black, a hoodie, and a pair of black and white Nike sneakers. Standing at six foot, two, he squinted trying to read the scribbled on piece of paper. "Freeze said... he needs two spark generators from THIS place." He motioned to the building behind him.
"Lets be quick about this boys." the tall man in the hoodie explained. "We got some extra stops to make after we leave dis place."
A smaller asain sporting a backward black baseball cap, grinned. "Aiight, no problem Ricky. Let's do this--!" He stepped forward through the group of four others and hopped up onto a trashcan.
"Just get through and open the door. Just like we talked about Lee. "
Lee nodded and fussed with his footing. "Aiight, bro. I got this." Too small for anyone else to fit through. Lee was the smallest and usually the guy that could get in and out of just about any situation. He was the one they needed for the job at hand. He managed to hop up and slide through the angular window, face first.
It wasn't long before a small creek to the factory's back door was opened, with Lee grinning back to his buddies. he kept his voice down, but signaled the others. "Party's in here, guys."
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Post by Black Canary on Mar 9, 2012 21:01:09 GMT -8
After a long day with little sleep as it was, Dinah finally slipped between the sheets and passed out as she hit the pillow. Hopefully tonight will be better than the last couple of nights. Dinah slept peacefully for about an hour before the nightmare began.
The city was in chaos, no one knew what had caused it or who was behind it all, not even the almighty Oracle knew. Dinah was doing her best out on the streets to try to control the chaos but she was quickly being over run and something had caused her com link with Oracle to fail, She prayed that Barbara was alright. Finally finding a safe spot up on a roof top Dinah looked down on the city in fear. Was Gotham going to end up like Star City? Was she going to fail them to? Dinah’s thoughts were quickly interrupted by Charlie’s frantic cry for help.
“Misfit where are you?” Dinah’s did her best to hide the panic in her voice.
“I’m in an alley… on…. fourth street….please help me!” It sounded like she was running and she was scared.
“I’m not far from you hang on!” Dinah took off running towards Misfit location. The fear in her voice really got to Dinah.
“CANARY……” Dinah’s heart skipped a beat with Charlie’s cry followed by nothing but static.
“Misfit?.....Misfit?.....Charlie! answer me damnit” Dinah could feel tears start to form as she feared the worst. Quickly turning the corner into the alleyway Dinah was greeted by emptiness. As she ran further down the alleyway something crumpled on the ground caught her attention down near the end. Please don’t be what I think it is….
As Dinah neared the end of the alley her tears started to flow freely as she came face to face with her worst fear. Dinah couldn’t control her sobs as she reached down to the girls body hoping that she was still alive. As she turned her over she found a giant knife had been thrust into her chest. Dinah removed the knife and pulled the girls body close to her and she cried. This wasn’t happening….it couldn’t be happening…she was to young for this….who would do this?
Dinah’s grief was quickly interrupted by some loud shouting “Drop the knife and put your hands behind your head!” Dinah turned to see a cop pointing a gun at her.
“You’ve got to be kidding me! She said angrily as she stood up to face him.
“I said drop the knife!” his hand shook a little as he held it. Dinah stepped towards him ready to disarm him when suddenly everything went dark.
Dinah awoke to a cold dark room with a killer headache. As she slowly sat up she recalled what happened before ending up wherever this was. Charlie was gone, she had no contact with Barbara, she was alone and hurting. She slowly stood up to try and find out where the hell she was only to turn around and find bars. “What the hell….” Dinah tried to look down the corridors only to see nothing but darkness. Suddenly the lights turned on and her heart started to race when a slight calm washed over her when she heard a familiar sound, she couldn’t help but smile when se saw Barbara wheel up in front of her.
“Thank God your okay” what little happiness Dinah had suddenly disappeared when she looked into her friends cold face. She must have found out about Charlie.
“how could you?” her words were even colder than her face. Dinah was taken aback.
“Barbara I tried to get to her…” Tears started to run down her face. “I was to late…”
“Save your lies!” Dinah jumped slightly at Barbara’s sudden outburst.
“I saw it all! How could you turn on her like that?” there was a slight waver of emotion as Barbara spoke.
“I….I don’t know what you are talking about” Dinah said very confused.
“I watched you….you…” Barbara tried to regain her composure “You murdered her….she trusted you….I trusted you! you murdered her!”
“what! Barbara that is insane I would never….” Her words were quickly interrupted
“they have security camera footage, your fingerprints on the knife, you at the scene with the knife….they showed me the tape! How dare you lie to my face! I hope you rot in here…” Dinah looked at her in shock, how could she think that she could hurt Charlie it angered her slightly.
“Barbara I don’t know what you think you saw but I didn’t touch her, I did what I could to save her!”
“I’ve made sure that you will never leave this place, because this is what you deserve” She turned and wheeled away.
Dinah’s anger was quickly replaced by panic and fear when she realized where she was, she was in arkham, and lets face it Canary was terrified of being caged. “Barbara please you have it all wrong! They are tricking you! Barbara please don’t leave me Here!!!!” Dinah heard a door shut and the lights turned off, and again Dinah found herself alone, in the dark and trapped.
Dinah Jolted up in bed breathing heavy, covered in sweat, her heart racing. Fortunately for the rest in the clocktower Dinah had learned to control her screaming a long time ago, otherwise Barbara would be doing some new construction right now. Dinah did her best to slow down her breathing and calm herself down. It was just a nightmare, she kept repeating to herself. She looked over to the clock near her bed. 3AM….well she got about 2 hours of sleep. As she sat there in the dark, the room started to feel a little claustrophobic. Needing some fresh air Dinah changed into her costume and quietly headed out of the tower, doing her best not to wake anyone.
Still pretty shaken by the nightmare Canary headed out looking for anyone who needed a good ass kicking anything to forget the nightmare she had just been through. Fortuantely it didn’t take long to find some clients as she came across what looked like a few guys robbing a factory. Dinah smiled as she snuck up behind them.
“hey boys, do you mind if I join in?”
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Post by Oracle on Mar 9, 2012 21:25:44 GMT -8
The gang of thugs had already fanned out, looking for the acquired components as to where only one stayed behind.
And that, of course, was Ricky.
Hearing the sudden voice, he raised an eyebrow, watching the small blonde. "WoooooHOO!! Why HELLO there, little lady. Where did YOU come from??"
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Post by Black Canary on Mar 9, 2012 21:29:11 GMT -8
"well the most common line I have received is Heaven because I must be an angel" Dinah smiled at him.
"whatcha doing?"
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Post by Oracle on Mar 9, 2012 21:32:48 GMT -8
Ricky pushed his large frame toward her. He had NO idea where this lady came from. But judging from her outerwear. Maybe she was looking for a good time. "I'm sure you fell from some cloud somewhere, babycakes." he smirked.
"I could be doing whatever it is you WANT me to be doin' if you'd like..."
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Post by Black Canary on Mar 9, 2012 21:36:06 GMT -8
"I think I would be more interested in what you are doing...seems dangerously illegal..." she moved closer to him.
"what could possibly be in this stuffy old laboratory that would interest a man such as yourself?"
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Post by Oracle on Mar 9, 2012 21:46:31 GMT -8
Ricky was finding himself a bit hot under the collar. "Ohh.... some of this.. and some of that...."
He wasn't going to spill the beans too much. He could find himself in a world of hurt.
"What about YOU, dollface? Why are you here...? Hopin' to score.... something?"
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Post by Black Canary on Mar 9, 2012 21:51:00 GMT -8
" I was hoping to find someone like you, end the night out of breath....tired.....sweaty....." she ran her finger slowly down his chest, oh how she loved playing with her prey, this guy had not clue what was coming.
"what do you say?"
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Post by Oracle on Mar 9, 2012 21:58:53 GMT -8
Ricky gulped. Was this brod for real?? He was finding himself melt like putty. "I uh....."
He looked over his shoulder to see where his crew had fanned off to. He was the back of Lee's hat as he darted behind a box. It seemed that he was still lookin' for what was needed.
He turned back to the woman. "I....why the hell not?"
He had time. What's the harm?
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