Interrogation at Blackgate

[gcpd-mcu.livejournal.com]

 Captain Maggie Sawyer had been in a foul mood for awhile now. First that lunatic Johnny Sorrow killed nearly everyone working at Blackgate, unleashing it's criminals on the populace. Second that crazy preacher put the whole city under some kind of mind control in the name of some alien god. She'd been about to put a hole through that flaming psycho, Doctor Phosphorus', head when Sorrow reappears and backhands her into unconsciousness. And during that time the GCPD building was destroyed, forcing them to regroup elsewhere. And as if to add insult to injury, this new drug craze took root and now if she was hearing things right another new syndicate was making moves into Gotham. Does it ever fucking stop?

Maggie was currently taking a break, neither the albino nor the metal man were saying anything relevant.

Comments

[gotham-gargoyle.livejournal.com]

He exchanges a nod with Robin, and opens the door to Icicle's holding cell, stepping inside. If the heat bothers him in the layers of armor he's wearing, he gives no indication as his gaze fixes on the criminal.

"Hello, Cameron."

[cool-customer.livejournal.com]

He'll admit it. Some part of him was holding out that it would be one of the other Bat-Themed types that would be the one to give him the third degree.

That was his kind of luck though. Freaking Batman.
Damnit, damnit, damnit.


"I'd start making noises about wanting a lawyer, but I'm guessing you don't care, am I right?"


I'm gonna loose teeth. I just know it.

[tim-drake-robin.livejournal.com]

Robin keeps silent, following Batman's lead.

Mahkent doesn't know it, but he's got the wide spectrum lenses on his mask going, recording any and all fluctuations in ambient radiation around Icicle as the Dark Knight grills him. Tim has a theory about emotional states and how they might influence the crook's 'background noise'.

[gotham-gargoyle.livejournal.com]

The question is seemingly ignored, as Batman folds his arms across his chest and just looks at Mahkent for a full minute, before continuing.

"I want everything you can give me about this new operation in Gotham. My patience is limited."

[cool-customer.livejournal.com]

"Hey, talk to the freaking Scarecrow. It was his gig. We were just there to try and muscle some quick cash from a bunch of drug dealers. Would gone fine until you psycho-teen-sidekick started blowing shit up."

He inclines his head in Robin's direction.

"Isn't it past your bedtime pipsqueak?"

[tim-drake-robin.livejournal.com]

No reply. Tim just watches, focusing on the subtle physical twitches as he records.

[gotham-gargoyle.livejournal.com]

"In due time. The Scarecrow is a problem I'm used to - what I don't like, and what we don't usually see in Gotham - are crime tourists. Who brought you here, Mahkent?"

Batman's moved closer, looming over the criminal a little more as he continues.

[cool-customer.livejournal.com]

Gritting his teeth.
"Family history." he replies in a clipped tone.

"Dad use to duke it out with the old Green Lantern in Gotham. Thought I'd see if I could do better."

The room is hot, so sweat is normal.

[gotham-gargoyle.livejournal.com]

"I've heard your Dad wasn't a great liar, either."

Batman leans in, physically imposing - but still making no overt threat of physical force.

"You consider yourself better than most criminals, don't you? A principled man who believes in the old adage of honor amongst thieves. Naturally, according to those principles, you don't want to betray a confidence that your comrades have placed in you."

[cool-customer.livejournal.com]

"I'm big on professionalism," he retorts.
"and default penalty I'm looking at is steep."

Maybe that was too much info right there, but maybe he'd keep his molars too.

[gotham-gargoyle.livejournal.com]

"Naturally."

Batman straightens, pulling back from Cameron a little.

"Principles are useful. I could probably put you in traction for a year, and throughout the entire beating, you'd cling to those principles and not say a word. That said.."

Here, he pauses.

"It's easy to break a principled man if you know how."

[cool-customer.livejournal.com]

That sense of the bottom falling out? Yeah that's his stomach.

No way was he going to try to match the Bat with threats. Talk about asking for hurt. He had enough enemies as it was.

This is what I get for going mercenary in Gotham. I'm such an idiot. They'd better make good on the incentives for the ass-whipping I'm looking at.

"Maybe, but I'm also a guy between a rock and a hard place too. At least my mind won't be turned into oatmeal. Better traction than lobotomy. Silver lining, right?"

[gotham-gargoyle.livejournal.com]

"Not exactly. This matter is my highest priority right now. Meaning, I am pursuing this with the same effort I would usually direct towards the Joker. I am going to keep pushing until I find someone willing to give me information - it doesn't have to be someone directly involved, either. Even some names and dates from a known associate would be helpful."

He lowers his chin, fixing his gaze on Icicle's eyes.

"How's Artemis doing?"

[cool-customer.livejournal.com]

Cameron's jaw tightens.

"Fine. Probably killing innocent people in strange and exotic places."

Injustice League, they don't sell out.

[gotham-gargoyle.livejournal.com]

"According to my latest information, that's exactly what she's been doing. So do you want to talk, or do I go after her? She'll be in Iron Heights within 24 hours, feeding me the information I need - and your organization is smart enough to know if she's talked. I imagine she didn't get the memo about how serious your new friends are about that sort of thing."

He half-turns, looking back towards the door.

"So who gets the price on their head, Cameron? You, or Artemis?"

[cool-customer.livejournal.com]

Icicle's typically one to keep his head, but Batman's hitting some angry nerves.

"Fuck you. The Injustice League would paste these guys. Even if they didn't have to go through Sorrow and Zard first, Tigress would hunt these glorified money changers down and feed them their livers. Their second rate rent-a-psychic would be dog food before she came anywhere close to spotting her.

Besides, if you really did know where she was, you'd be bringing her in whether I helped you or not."

[gotham-gargoyle.livejournal.com]

"You're half-right, Cameron. She's going to be brought in, whether you talk or not. If I'm too busy following leads on this case, then I'll hand it off to the Flash or Green Lantern. They're a lot nicer than I am, and your syndicate friends won't assume that they talked to her about you."

He pulls some photographs out of a pocket in the cape, tossing them on Cameron's lap.

"New speeding cameras in Midway City. I guess Calculator hasn't spread the word, yet. Nice likeness."

[cool-customer.livejournal.com]

"Hey, you got her good side." Icicle sneers at the pictures. The clench at his jaw is noticeable, as is the dilation of his pupils.

"Nice try. Tigress is tough, and she'd be pissed if I wussed out on her account. Nobody's gonna rat on these new players Batman. They've got the system wired. Cops, politicos, even some of the jail screws here. They're already in the pocket. I just have to keep my mouth shut, and me and mine are taken care of. You're fighting a really big wallet Batman."

[gotham-gargoyle.livejournal.com]

Batman just .. smiles.

"Money, we can handle. Haven't you heard what happened to Lex Luthor? I doubt your new friends have deeper pockets than he had."

[cool-customer.livejournal.com]

"Yeah I know all about Superman's jilted fanboy. He might be loaded, but a hundered pockets can add up, is all I'm sayin."

[gotham-gargoyle.livejournal.com]

"They certainly do. Of course, with you talking to me, all those bribed 'screws' might try to hurt you."

He turns, as if to leave.

"I'll have you transferred to Arkham, as a precaution - you may want to be careful on the mandatory psychological evaluation, though. I'm told that everyone who goes in gets flagged as dangerously unstable, subjected to whatever treatment is in vogue that week."

[tim-drake-robin.livejournal.com]

Batman just got mean.


Robin supresses a smile.

[cool-customer.livejournal.com]

Graphic images of antiquated electroshock therapies and dodgy pharmacology with Cameron strapped to a rusty table in a dark musty basement in Arkham dance in Icicle's mind.

...

"W..wait. WAIT!!!'" he calls after the Dark Knight as the cowled vigilante and his sidekick leave. The bravado in his voice has been replaced by panicked alarm.

[gotham-gargoyle.livejournal.com]

Batman pauses at the doorway, and turns to look over his shoulder at Cameron.

"Make it quick."

[cool-customer.livejournal.com]

Shit. Shit. Shit.

He didn't want to be the latest lab rat for whatever sketchy psycho that was running Arkham this week... damint...

"The old shutdown bakery, in the East End. The one with the warehouse next to it...that's where they had us meet. The had tryouts and broke us up into three groups. Tech types, enforcers and organizers. Said there would be no communication with the other teams after being placed."

He licks his lips.

"Faced down Captain Nazi to become a lietenant there. Some chick named Minddancer put the psychic arm lock on his head to keep him tame afterwards. A guy anmed 'Chiller' recruited me out of Chicago. They're looking to taken over the underworld and are trying to do it smart. Buy the cops, find our who supports you and undermine whatever arrangements you have. We were supposed to lean on the new drug ring and get them to join up or disband."

He thinks hard.

"Look, that's all I know. Just don't put me in Arkham man!!"