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[B][COLOR=SLATEGRAY][SUB][SUB][h3]G O T H A M   C I T Y - D E V I L ' S   S Q U A R E[/h3][/SUB][/SUB][/COLOR][/B]
[INDENT]The sound of sirens seemed to have become Gotham's steady backdrop since the disappearance of the Batman. With the Bat gone, numerous criminals had managed to evade the police, worst still several of Batman's most dangerous rogues had managed to escape their holdings. Among these escapees was the father of Stephanie Brown, Arthur Brown or as he was better known to the people of Gotham, the Cluemaster. 

Arthur had been in and out of prison for most of Stephanie's life meaning the girl barely knew her father. What she did know however was that her father had been a game show host at one point before the network pulled his show leading to Arthur and Krystal - Stephanie's mother - living in one of the poorer regions of Gotham. Posessing a genius intellect, Arthur found a way onto Gotham's local TV Station and made a wager on air that he could deduce the identity of the Batman, 

Sadly that was only the first of Arthur's bad decisions. 

Realizing that he would never deduce the Batman's identity through legal means, Arthur began to hire petty criminals to lure the Dark Knight out. It became something of a game for Arthur who began to leave clues for the so-called World's Greatest Detective. Drawn into his own game, it was soon Arthur leaving the clues for the Batman as he began to lead the crimes personally. 

This only sped up his capture, as Arthur soon found himself lounging behind the bars of Blackgate Penitentiary. It was here that Arthur soon met a man by the name of Eddie Nashton. A thin and wirey man, Eddie didn't seem to pose much of a threat to Arthur but harboured a strong dislike for the other man. It didn't take long for Arthur to deduce that Eddie was in fact the infamous Riddler. By leaving direct clues for the Bat, Arthur had tarnished Eddie's gimmick, ruined the game.

And thus a bitter rivalry was formed.

A rivalry that was very clearly on display as clues and riddles alike plagued Devil's Square. Wind blew a few loose strands of Steph's blonde hair as she held her hood tightly over her concealed face. Flourescent question marks were sprayed on the aging brick wall as last week's papers rolled back with the cold gust. Laughter echoed down a nearby alley as an ignorant couple strolled into Devil's Square. Within seconds the resounding sound of metal slapping against flesh rolled through the air as five men in green jackets cornered the couple.

[COLOR=SILVER][B]"Well howdy-ho, what do we have here?"[/B][/COLOR] Came the call of the first man as the group chuckled.

[COLOR=SILVER][B]"Looks like a couple of love birds out for a walk."[/B][/COLOR] Came a second voice as the girl screamed. Her arms seized from behind as her boyfriend grunted from a fist to the gut. 

[COLOR=SILVER][B]"Young and in love, bet they'd like to play a game!"[/B][/COLOR] Called a third as he snicked, running a hand up the woman's bare leg as she cried in protest. 

[COLOR=SILVER][B]"Answer our riddle and you'll be on your merry way, answer incorrectly and we'll play a different kind of game."[/B][/COLOR] The fourth sung with a wicked smile and eerie tone. 

[COLOR=SILVER][B]"What occurs once in every minute, twice in every moment, but never in a thousand years?"[/B][/COLOR] Asked the fifth with a wide smile. The woman's eyes opened wide as she went to answer before a hand was shoved over her mouth.

[COLOR=SILVER][B]"Let the gentleman tend to his damsel."[/B][/COLOR] The man whispered in the woman's ear as the male scrambled for an answer. 

[COLOR=SILVER][B]"The let-"[/B][/COLOR] His answer was cut off as the hook of a crow bar was thrust into his gut. 

[COLOR=SILVER][B]"Time's up!"[/B][/COLOR] Yelled the second thug with cruel glee. [COLOR=SILVER][B]"Restrain him!"[/B][/COLOR] 

[COLOR=DARKORCHID][B]"Hey bozos!"[/B][/COLOR] Steph's voice called, echoing through the alley. [COLOR=DARKORCHID][B]"Your turn!"[/B][/COLOR] The Spoiler yelled as she landed, her staff in hand. [COLOR=DARKORCHID][B]"What's green at nine, purple at ten and black and blue in the morning."[/B][/COLOR]

A smile crossed her face beneath her mask. [COLOR=DARKORCHID][B]"Your asses after I hand them to you."[/B][/COLOR]

[COLOR=DARKORCHID][B][i]Good one Steph.[/i][/B][/COLOR] She groaned inwardly. Perhaps this was why Batman was the strong and silent type. 

The ends of her staff became a blur of motion as Steph loosed her triple staff. The crack of several fingers breaking echoed in her ear as one of the Riddler's goons foolishly tried to grab at the staff. Bringing the weapon around, she impacted the other end with the back of his skull dropping the man to the ground. Hands wrapped around her waist as Steph found herself hoisted into the air. With a grunt, she raised her knees to her chest before heaving them back hard, winding the man holding her as she hit the ground with a role. Reattaching the staff together, Steph delivered a quick jab to the bottom of the man's chin before vaulting over he man's head and delivering a kick to the base of the thug's spine. 

[COLOR=DARKORCHID][B][i]Two down, three to go.[/i][/B][/COLOR]

A sudden flash followed by a loud bang caught Steph off guard as she dropped the ground, the gunshot reverberating through her skull as searing pain bit through her shoulder.

[COLOR=DARKORCHID][B][i]Keep it together Steph, it's only a graze.[/i][/B][/COLOR]

She felt like she was going to vomit. Her vision was alternating between bursts of colour and blinding darkness. 

[COLOR=DARKORCHID][B][i]Stupid move Steph, stupid. Should have checked for a gun.[/i][/B][/COLOR] Her inner voice was screaming, or maybe it was the woman she was 'rescuing'. Either way this was not Stephanie Brown's finest moment.[/INDENT]