BAE - Chapter 55

“Send Kate,” Barbara orders, rocketing away into the night toward Arkham. She switches to the radio and jumps the police channel. As expected, her father is already personally issuing instructions, and he’s coordinating with Akham security.

“I’m on my way,” Barbara interrupts. “What’s the situation? ID on assailants? Who’s the target?”

“Batgirl!” the Commissioner says in surprise, and there’s a commotion as several voices try to break in. “Forget it,” the Commissioner says. “All right, Batgirl. We don’t have much. Looks like a targeted breakout. They’ve released the entire medium security block and a handful of maximum security cells. We’ve also lost contact with the solitary confinement wing.”

“Who’d they let out of max?” Barbara asks brusquely. Her foot is already down; she can’t drive any faster. The engine roars and the car sends newspapers and debris flying as it blows past the sidewalk.

“Hagen, Roxy, Ivy, Nygma, and Quinn,” the Commissioner replies.

Barbara resists the urge to swear. “One of two things is happening, Commissioner. Either someone is using those troublemakers as cover to get someone out of solitary, or this was engineered by one of Wayne Enterprises’ competitors to spike their deal with Ivy.”

“Either way, we have to get this mess cleaned up.”

“Agreed. What’s the tactical situation?”

“Situation in Max and Solitary unknown. We have a cordon up, and I don’t think much has gotten past us. The main annex is the problem now. Two of my riot squads are being held up with vehicle issues. I can’t try to pacify with only one team.”

“Leave it to us.”

“Good God.”

“What is it?”

“You sound just like him.”

Barbara grimaces and cuts the connection, switching back to her own comms. “Alfred, get into GCPD surveillance and take a look at their parking garages. See what clues you can get on who might’ve sabotaged those riot vehicles.”

“At once, Miss Gordon. I’d venture that it was the police.”

“I want names. Kate. Take the lead on the front annex. Make sure the riot police don’t get carried away, and make sure none of the big guns use the brawl for cover.”

“Yes ma’am,” Kate replies ironically, the noise of her bike and the wind loud on her mic’s signal. “Anything else, boss?”

“There better not be a mark on you,” Barbara warns. “If you can’t handle some medium security clods from Arkham, you can’t wear those ears.”

“Does that mean you’re going to inspect my body for bruises?”

Barbara’s hesitation lasts about half a second. “Yes,” she says.

“See, Babs? That’s leadership. That’s how you incentivize.”

Barbara rolls her eyes and cuts back to the police feed.

BAE

Arkham isn’t a welcoming place at the best of times. The middle of the night with a fleet of police cars blocking the road and courtyard is not the best of times.

Barbara brings the Batmobile to a shrieking halt that still sends cops diving for cover. She leaps out of the cockpit and grapples to the towering gate, swinging down to where the Commissioner and Bullock are huddled with the riot team.

“Holy jeez!” Bullock shouts, hopping back as she lands in the middle of them.

“God,” Commissioner Gordon says, putting his hand on his chest. “You’ll give me a heart attack, Batgirl.”

“Not tonight, Commissioner. Batwoman will be here in a minute to support your men. Retake the annex as quickly as you can. A standoff might be what whoever is behind this wants. I’m going to assess the situation in Max. Don’t overextend. Take one section at a time and be thorough.”

“Holy quarterbacking,” Bullock says disgustedly. “Who made you commissioner, you freak? Shouldn’t you be in cheerleading practice?”

Barbara ignores that and grapples away before her father can argue with her. She drops to the courtyard and rolls, running straight into Arkham. Naturally, Bruce has overrides that can get her past any lock. It’s not stealthy, but it’s quick. She grapples to an upper walkway, far from the chaos, and makes her way swiftly to the maximum security wing.

To stumble in here and conveniently find Nygma sneaking away would be a little too convenient. Most of the cells are still locked with their occupants secure; the wing itself is quiet. Those from the open cells have already taken off; they’ll be gone, hiding, or mingling with the rioters from gen pop in the hopes of getting out.

“Pammy!” a delighted voice shouts, echoing through the vast wing.

“I’m on scene,” Kate reports in Barbara’s ear.

“Get to work. I have a situation.”

“Need help?”

“No. I have it under control.” Barbara grapples the ground floor, dashing around the corner.

Looking less than impressive in her Arkham uniform, Dr. Harleen Quinzell is in the open cell of Dr. Pamela Isley, squeezing her in a bone-crushing hug. It’s especially awkward because Ivy is seated on her bed, not participating in the hug.

“It’s not what it looks like,” she says to Barbara.

Harley turns, looks up, and spots her. Her face lights up.

“Bats!” She yanks Ivy to her feet, holding both of her hands in a **** grip. “Get us outta here!”

Barbara approaches cautiously.

“That’s not what I’m here to do,” she says in what she hopes is a calming voice.

“It was good seein’ ya! Come on, baby! Let’s blow this joint!”

“Hang on,” Barbara says, lifting a hand. “Harley. You know that if Ivy leaves tonight she blows her thing with Wayne Enterprises.”

“Aw, what’s she care about those losers?” Harley replies dismissively. “They just want to juice her like an orange. But she’s my orange.” Harley faces Ivy, plants both hands on Ivy’s rear end, and squeezes. “Gimme some sugah, baby!”

Visibly annoyed, Ivy stops Harley’s puckered lips with her palm and pushes her face back, then pulls away.

“Harls! You destroyed six months of my work!”

Harley looks hurt. “Aw, that was ages ago!”

“That was two months!”

“How was I supposed to know that cartel wouldn’t think it was funny that I smooshed his face in that pile of coke? It was a cultural reference! It was a compliment! Who doesn’t love Scarface? They loved it!”

“They shot up my lab!”

“They got no culture! Pearls before swine!”

“Harley, I am very angry. And I am not ready for this,” Ivy says firmly, batting Harley’s grabby hands away. “You almost got me and Frank killed.”

“Aw, baby! Don’t do this!” Harley falls to her knees, grabbing Ivy’s hand with both of hers. Ivy vainly tries to pull free. “What do you want from me? You want me to see a big pile of coke and not smoosh a cartel boss’s face in it? He enjoyed it, I promise!”

“He had a heart attack and died! The infighting that came after killed tons of people and all the bombs and stuff destroyed a lot of plants too!”

“It was your idea to go to Bolivia!”

“And it was your idea to go introduce yourself to the cartel!”

“I was just tryin’ to score you some fancy flowers!”

Ivy freezes. “What?”

“Orchids, baby. One of his side pieces had this cute little greenhouse and these fancy orchids. I read they’re the rarest in the world! I wanted to give it to ya for our anniversary! Spooky orchids!”

“Ghost orchids?” Ivy looks taken aback. Her expression softens. “Oh, Harls.”

Barbara senses danger.

“I knew you’d like that,” Harley says, beaming.

“I would,” Ivy admits.

“I wouldn’t let nothin’ stop me from getting ‘em for the love of my life,” Harley says proudly. “So while they was shooting at the tigers that I let loose, I smashed my way in there and—”

“You what?” Ivy demands, aghast.

“I smashed my way in there? God didn’t give me a giant hammer to use doorknobs, Pammy.”

“You—you…” Ivy’s face turns a violent shade of purple. She shakes Harley off. “Unbelievable! See! You always do this! The glass in a greenhouse is there for a reason!”

“Well that reason ain’t to keep me out,” Harley replies with a giggle.

Ivy groans in disgust.

“Come on, baby! Let’s get outta here!” Harley presses. Ivy’s pissed, but she looks tempted. She could go either way, but Barbara can’t leave it up to fate. She has to stop Harley from leaving here with Ivy.

Should she take Ivy to Wayne Enterprises now?

Or convince them both to stay at Arkham?