Dark Knight Of Gotham: A Little Game

"It is my professional opinion that Mister Ray Salinger, otherwise known as 'The Birthday Boy' as the news media have dubbed him, is very much not in his right mind and as such Blackgate Prison would be a poor environment for him." Doctor Johnathan Crane informed the courtroom in reference to the hulking giant who'd finally gotten out of the hospital after being brought down by The Mystery Vigilante. "I am well aware of these rumors of him being a quote un-quote hitman but considering the evidence in his house could have very well been planted by the same vigilante who assaulted him. He has already been victimized enough. What Mister Salinger needs right now is the professional help that Arkham can provide for him. There's enough violence out there in the city. What we need, what we really need, is a center that can provide these poor misunderstood people with freshly-washed sheets, nice nurses, friendly doctors, and a safe, supportive, nurturing environment that can provide him with the mental care he needs. Excuse me..." He faked a choked up crack in his voice and slid off his glasses to subtly squirt some water from a spray hidden in his sleeve for tear effect and wiped his eyes with a cloth. "That...is all." He lowered his head and the courtroom applauded him. All except Rachel Dawes who just stared at him with an 'Are You Fucking Kidding Me Right Now' look on her face. Not buying Crane's act for a second.

"Thank you, Doctor Crane, that will be all." Judge Faden smiled. "We appreciate all you do for this city."

"Thank you, your honor." He replied and stepped out of the booth and took his seat in the courtroom again.

The jury took their time away to deliberate everything they'd heard over the course of Falcone's Hitman's trial but it all turned out to be futile as they returned with their decision that made Rachel's heart sink.

"We, The Jury, hereby declare Ray Salinger..." Sian Griffin, an innocent looking woman with her face flushed with guilt and anxiety, paused before reading but a look from Ray's lawyer was all it took for her to hurry it all along. "Declare Ray Salinger Not Guilty By Reason Of Insanity."

Rachel stood up and slammed her palms on the table. "ARE YOU KIDDING ME? THIS MAN IS A KILLER! THE EVIDENCE SPEAKS FOR-"

"ORDER IN THE COURT!" Judge Faden shouted down Rachel and banged his gavel. "Sit down Miss Dawes!"

Rachel stared him down fearlessly but she sat back down in her seat. "...Yes your honor. My apologies."

"This has been a long day for everyone, Miss Dawes, but that is no excuse for throwing a tantrum in the courtroom. Mister Salinger? I hereby sentence you to five years at Arkham Asylum's Correctional Facility. May you receive the help you so desperately need."

The Birthday Boy Killer just nodded. "I'll send you a cake, your honor."

The judge banged his gavel and the killer was led outside by the police to the wagon.


Court dismissed and but before Crane could leave he found Rachel standing in his way. He gave her a warm smile and adjusted his glasses.

"Is everything alright, Rachel?"

"Oh I'm fine. A little pissed that another one of Falcone's goons is getting away with a slap on the wrist though and...I can't help but notice that they all seems to end up in your care."

"Rachel, these people are mentally ill. They aren't monsters. They just need help that's all and that's what Arkham is for." He assured her. "Trust me, it will all be okay. This is for the greater good of Gotham."

"The greater good for who?" Rachel pressed him. "The innocent people of Gotham or your rich friends?"

"You know if you're going to judge anybody? I'd recommend starting with the mystery vigilante. Anti-Social Personality Disorders, Messiah Complexes and Hero Complexes are rarely a good mix."

"What about Anti-Social Personality Disorders?" She shot back.

Before he could retort though they were interrupted by The Judge. "Now, now, children, this is a court of law. It is no place for petty squabbling. Besides, you should be happy Rachel. He's going to be locked up either way. It's fine right?" He placed a hand on Rachel's shoulder. "You're okay right?"

Rachel removed his hand. "I will be. When justice is served." With that she turned around and walked out.

One look from Crane was all it took for The Judge to drop it and shut his mouth. He walked outside and too his car past the crying families of Ray's victims. Head held high but with a false look of empathy for their pain for show until he reached his car and stepped into the back of it. The door closed and his driver took off to the hotel.

Once he was safely away from the prying eyes of Gotham the judge fiddled around between the seats and took out an envelope and tore it open to collect his payment from Falcone for getting his lapdog out of jailtime. He smiled at the fat wads of cash. No paper trail but he received his payment all the same. Life was good. He put it into his wallet and relaxed. He was going to have a very good time at the club tonight.

Judge Faden relaxed in his limousine until it returned to the hotel and he stepped out and slipped the open envelope to one of Falcone's men for disposal and walked inside.

Walking into the elevator he pushed the button to go up to his suite room and relaxed.

So a few people died here and there. It wasn't his fault. He wasn't involved. All he did was make sure they went into a Mental Health Facility. What's wrong with that? They were getting locked up either way right? Yes, yes they were so really there wasn't a problem. He just made his judgments, bang his gavel, keep his mouth shut and collect his money. It was a simple do-nothing job.

The Heavyset Golden Hearted Judge Of Gotham hummed to himself while he rode the elevator to the top of the hotel until it suddenly seized up and stopped! The music in the elevator turned off and the lights shut off with it! He was trapped in here! Trapped in a stalled elevator. "HEY! HEY WHAT THE HELL'S GOING ON OUT THERE? HELLO? CAN ANYBODY HEAR ME?!"

The lights in the elvator flashed back on except something was wrong. Instead of being the normal color they were now shining a green light on the elevator! "What the hell? HEY! WHAT'S GOING ON? IS THIS SOME KIND OF JOKE?!"

"The only joke here is you, Fatty Fallon Faden." A sinister voice spoke to him through the elevator's speakers.

"Who the hell are you?" He demanded. "Show yourself!"

"You want to know who I am? Alright then. Let me answer your question with another question. To Judge It Is To Oversee It. It Is A Balance Carefully Provided.
Revenge, It Is Nearly, But Never As One Sided. What Has No Ledger, No Purse, No Sheath For Its Blade, But Is Its Point, The Coin, The Whole Heart Obeyed. What Isn't To Reimburse But Is A Debt Squarely Paid?"

"What the hell kind of answer is that? Listen punk this shit isn't funny! When I find you I'm going to-"

"Justice, Judge Faden. The Answer Is I Am Justice." The voice spoke to him again. "Allow me to introduce myself properly: I Am The Riddler. Gotham's Cleverest Carbon Based Lifeform here to drag the liars and sinners of Gotham out into the light and cast judgment upon all of you. But I am a fair man, Fallon. So I am going to give you a chance to save yourself. You see, there are bombs attached to the top of your elevator car. We're going to play a little game. Answer a few simple questions and you get to live. If you get them wrong however and I'll detonate the bombs and you'll die. If you continue act like a petulant child? You will die. You irritate or vex me? You will die. If you attempt to call for help or contact the police? You will die. It's three simple questions, Fallon. All you have to do is answer them and you can live. It can't be that hard right? Just think of it as a high-stakes gameshow."

"WHAT THE FUCK? WHAT KIND OF PSYCHO-"

"Ah, Ah, Ah, Fallon! Remember what I said!"

"...Y-you can't...you can't be serious. L-look. I-I have money. I can pay you whatever you want!"

"Ohhhh I know you can. I know all about those envelopes you collect from the mob for turning a blind eye to their bloodbaths. That's why I'm starting with you. To get the whole ball rolling. Now. Are you ready to play or not?"

"Y-yes...I suppose I-I really don't have a choice."

"Nope! Now here's the first one that I think you'll be able to relate to. A man is cheating on another mans wife. The husband comes home to find the man he thinks is the cheater. So he knocks him unconscious and tosses him out the window. But because he's really angry he tosses the fridge on him as well. In heaven two men come up to god because they died. One is the man who was thrown out the window who is the second man and how did he die?"

"...You know about that?"

"Oh Fallon. I'm The Riddler. Of course I do."