Here is just a warm up. RIDDLER AND THE RAIDER
Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2007 8:09 pm
I found this on another site. It looked intriguing unfortuneatly the author never completed it. This was over a few years ago so I decided it might be fun to complete it and give you a small taste of what to expect in THE HARPY and STING OF THE BUMBLEBEE.
The Riddler and the Raider
Anonymous
The Riddle escaped again. And after several weeks of hiding he decided to come out and play. Batman and Robin were out of town. Batman and Superman were involved with a situation in London, England. Robin was off somewhere with the Teen Titans. Thus Batgirl had to carry the ball.
The clues he sent were ridiculously simple. To be or not to be? Where does one go when one goes Hollywood?
Batgirl knew that several years back a group of bored millionaires and investors tried to make Gorham City the next Hollywood by opening up a movie studio just outside town. They ultimately failed, of course. But Gothic Productions was still there. Abandoned and forgotten. She bet her cowl that the Riddler was there and hiding in Stage 2-B. It reeked of a trap. But the only way to get her prey would be to play his game.
Normally she struck at night under the cover of shadows. But Riddler knew that and would be prepared. So she decided to make her move during daylight. Gothic was pretty much isolated. People could be seen coming from miles away. But maybe she could sneak in via parachute. Borrowing one of Bruce Wayne's personal airplanes, to be piloted Alfred Pennyworth himself, the cowled vigilante put on a chameleon jumpsuit over her costume. The chameleon was a special hi-tech outfit that would let her blend in with her surroundings. After a testing the suit and making sure its limited power source was fully charged, she headed for the air field where the unassuming plane and its pilot would be waiting.
Later she was plunging through the air like a missile. The chameleon covering her movement perfectly. As ground zero loomed closer Batgirl angled her trajectory and at the right moment triggered the chameleon's chute. It opened up and the nearly invisible girl glided to a perfect landing into a western ghost town. The chameleon's power source petered out and Batgirl was pretty much visible again. Removing the jumpsuit, and its built-in parachute, Batgirl stashed it someplace safe and began to stalk.
She made her way to Stage 2-B with no problem. Outside one of the doors was a promo-poster of an aborted movie. Bo Derrick in a skimpy safari outfit that showed more flesh than it covered. Revolver in one hand and a bull whip in the other. Clearly this future bomb was trying to capitalize on the Indiana Jones craze from years ago. Batgirl picked a door she hoped wouldn't attract too much attention, used her lockpic, and entered the stage. She had to assume Riddler knew she was there. She took some nose filters from her utility belt and put them in place. He, Joker, and Penguin had a fondness for gas.
The set looked like the entrance to a pyramid. Batgirl cautiously moved about until that all too familiar laugh pierced her ears.
"Riddle me this! What's the opposite of a tomb raider?"
Despite herself, Batgirl answered. "A raider's tomb." That's when the trap door opened. Batgirl dropped down and hit the floor below. Before she could even think she felt the sudden penetration of darts piercing her protective costume and skin. They were drugged. She'd pass out soon. Maybe never wake up again. The last thing she heard before darkness set in was the Riddler's maniacal laughter.
Batgirl awoke to another all too familiar experience. She was gagged with her hands tied behind her back. She felt a painfully sharp, almost cutting, sensation pressing against and across her belly. She opened her eyes. She was on the floor of a large empty room lit by torches. The pain on her belly was a tight and taught wire secured to rings on both sides of her. The rings were attached to some kind of hidden weights inside the floor. The pressure was murder. Her utility belt and cape were removed. She was surprised the mask was still on. To her left was a door with no door knob. To her right was a switch. Both serious running distance from her current precarious position.
"When is a mouse in a maze not a mouse in a maze?" Came the Riddler's voice from an unseen speaker.
When it's a bat in a maze you contemptible cornball, she thought.
"When it's a bat in a maze." Laughed the Prince Of Puzzles. Then he got to business. "When I was in the stir I got hooked on a kid's video game called 'Tomb Raider.'
"All those puzzles and death traps. Childishly simple to one of my intellect. But it did inspire me.
"You're going to be my 'Lara Croft,' Batgirl. If you survive all the levels we will have another battle of wits another day. Assuming you even exist after this."
Huh? What's he mean by that, she wondered.
"I leave you with your only clue for this level. When is the right way to go not the right way to go" The Riddler laughed that insane over the top laugh again and then everything was silent.
The wire pressing against her belly suddenly started to steam and burn. The wire must have been treated with a special chemical, Batgirl thought. She couldn't help but groan through her gag as the chemicals burned through her costume and onto her flesh. The wire snapped and the two weights dropped deeper into the floor. Suddenly spikes shot out from ceiling which began to drop. Ignoring the pain of the chemical burn Batgirl rolled to her feet and charged for the distant switch. It was difficult but she managed to press it with her hands tied behind her back.
The spiked ceiling was halfway down now, The door on the opposite end of the room opened and Batgirl raced for it. She made it through just as the ceiling was mere inches above her and the door started to close. The bound and gagged vigilante found herself in a corridor. Before she could catch her breath she felt a rumbling on the floor. A boulder came rolling out in her direction. batgirl turned and ran as fast as she could. With her hands tied behind her it was awkward going. Ahead was a pit. Too small to catch the boulder. Maybe she could, no. She saw spikes inside. Batgirl leaped over the pit and landed clumsily. But she was still on her feet and able to keep running. Suddenly she felt the floor start to buckle. It was made of some flimsy material. batgirl could only keep running and hope she didn't fall into whatever deathtrap was below her. The breakable part of the floor wasn't wide enough to stop the rolling rock that was gaining on her. It was literally inches behind her. The end of the corridor was fast approaching. There were two openings. When is the right way to go not the right way to go?
When it's left, Batgirl thought. She turned left as soon as she reached the end. There was just enough room for her to dodge the boulder as it crashed into the wall. She tried to catch her breath panting through her gag. Trying to breathe through her nose as her heart pounded. Minutes later she was finally able to focus and tried to work her bonds. It was no good. They were too tight. She then looked around her new narrow prison. There was a switch which would open the obvious trap door beneath her. Once again she backed into the wall and pressed the button.
Once again she plunged downward and this time landed in salt water. The bound girl kicked furiously to reach the surface. She broke surface, the long tunnel that lead down here, and gasped for air. The gag had absorbed the salt water and left its unpleasant taste in her mouth. Not to mention make the burn on her belly feel worse. The pressure on her wrists was getting worse too. She must have been bound with rawhide. And the water was making them contract.
She could hear the sound of a motor and feel the churning of the water. Getting as much air as she could Batgirl went under to find her escape route. The source of the churning was a huge fan between her and an open tunnel. The blades were too fast to swim through. Batgirl searched and found a lever on the wall. Kicking her legs she swam over to it and tried to grasp it with her bound hands. The rawhide, or whatever, was getting unbearably tighter, her lungs were starting to burst, but she got a hold and pressed her legs against the wall. With all her might she pushed out and pulled the lever halfway down. She swam over to her air pocket and inhaled deeply. Once again, with her lungs full, she submerged and swam back to the lever. Grasping it she was able to force it all the way down.
Two things happened. The huge fan slowed and another door opened. A huge shape swam out. A shark.
Batgirl kicked out and swam for the fan. The shark was almost on her when she timed her move and shot between the blades. She made it through and the shark's snout was clipped by the giant fan, causing it to break off the chase. Batgirl swam into the tunnel and made her way to the far end. Her lungs were again about to explode when she broke the surface. There was a ramp that let her step out into a room full of crates. After gasping for another supply of air, Batgirl looked about and found a crate with a jagged edge. She went over to it and began to rub her bonds up and down against it. It took forever it seemed. But finally a stand came loose and Batgirl was able to wiggle her hands free.
The first thing she did was pull the bitter tasting gag out of her mouth. She then searched the room and found another switch. Pressing it she opened another secret door that lead to another corridor. Batgirl looked and noticed the floor was the same collapsible stuff as the last one. There were elongated slots in the wall all perfectly spaced. Bracing herself, Batgirl charged in. Outrunning the feeble floor, leaping up to avoid a swinging sword blades from slicing her in half, she made it to the other side.
The next room was another corridor with an open vent at the far end. Spikes popped out and the walls began to close in. Batgirl charged and climbed into the vent just barely. She crawled through only to be sprayed by a gas. Batgirl immediately began to feel weak and dizzy.
The Riddle's voice returned. "The gas is poisonous. It enters the pores of the skin. So there is no doubt you're exposed. But the truth is a cure-all."
Batgirl made it to the other side and found herself in a room with a huge carving on the wall and three busts in the center. Large, medium, and small. She could feel the poison was already taking effect. Batgirl looked at the busts. They were mostly incomplete. The large only showed the details of a mouth and square jaw. Medium was a woman's eyes, nose, mouth, and jaw. Small was the most detailed with only the eyes missing. It looked like Robin with a blindfold. Obviously medium was Batgirl and large was Batman himself. She looked at the carving which showed a royal family holding their crowns in their hands. A king, queen, and prince. Though they looked Egyptian there was the tell-tale symbol of the bat on their clothing.
As her vision started to blur and her legs and arms start to leaden, Batgirl knew what this was about. Truth is a cure-all. Assuming you even exist after this. In order get the antidote she had to remove her cowl and place it on her bust. Thus exposing her secret identity. That's why the cape was taken. She couldn't hide under it. The world was starting to swirl about. She couldn't last much longer.
She peeled off her right glove and kneeled down. She bowed her head and pulled off the cowl making sure her face couldn't be seen. She then tied the glove around her eyes and stretched the fabric as much as she could so it could cover as much as it could. Her breathing was now labored, her heart pounding, hands and limbs barely functional. Still she managed to get up and using her photographic memory went over to the busts. She placed the cowl on her image and heard a click A small door under the bust opened up. Batgirl felt about and found a bottle.. Risking a peek she then opened the bottle and drank.
She then passed out.
Consciousness returned and the Riddler spoke again.
"Clever, Batgirl. Your secret identity is still safe. But the game's not over yet. This is only the first level. If you make it out we'll talk again.
Batgirl just laid on the floor. She gathered her strenght and then got up. She felt her way to the busts and removed her cowl. She heard a wall slide open. Kneeling down again she removed the glove blindfold and replaced her cowl. Slipping on the glove she stood up and saw the new entrance. Sighing she stepped in. The wall closed. A tiger growled.
And the game continued.
The Riddler and The Raider (Part II)
By KnightHawk
This was such an intriguing story but the writer left it in a cliff hanger type persona so I thought I would be fun to try and conclude it. Thanks to Anonymous (Riddler and The Raider) for the inspiration!
Last when we left Batgirl she had wondered her way into the Riddler’s devilish Tomb Raider like attraction. After nearly surviving bobby trapped ceilings, pitfalls, a man eating great white shark, and a harrowing escape from a boulder now our dynamo finds herself in a pit with a ferocious tiger. And so our story continues.
Batgirl froze in her tracks as she could see through the darkness were two pairs of glowing piercing eyes that seemed to throw daggers at her soul. Its growl echoed throughout the chamber as it slowly sauntered near her. Batgirl looked hurriedly around for an escape. The walls of the pit seemed to be made of some moss so she would not be able to climb her way out. She noticed a large large window in the middle of pit like someone might be spectator of this fiasco. Immediately a surge of anger rushed through Batgirl and she rushed and banged on the window in frustration as the tigers growl neared her. “RIDDLER, RIDDLER, I know your scummy face is behind there, games over, do you hear!? Let me out of here now and spare your self a lot of pain later.” There was only a deafening sound of laughter throughout the pit. “Batgirl, Batgirl the voice taunted. “You greatly amuse me. The fun is just beginning. And this will be a real catastrophe!! The laughter again was deafening throughout the chamber as the growls edged closer towards the entrance then soon the slide seemed to disappear as the creature made it’s appearance. Batgirl gasped as she got a close up view. Its fur was sparking white, and its eyes seemed like crystal. Its fangs were pearly white, and its claws looked like blades. This would have been the most beautiful creature Batgirl had ever seen if only it wasn’t so deadly. She had encounters before but not like this. She almost felt sorry for it. Such an innocent creature a ghoulish pawn of a madman, but unfortunately only one of them was going to make it out of the pit alive. The Tiger sauntered around Batgirl slowly eyeing her as Batgirl slowly circled around the tiger. The tiger occasionally licked lips as drool slowly dripped down. This thing was HUNGRY and wanted FLESH. Batgirl’s insides were all jelly ready to collapse. But her survival instinct had kicked in. If for one second she let down her guard she was ground round for kitty.
Before Batgirl could complete her maneuver the tiger let out a ferocious growl and pounced for her. Batgirl seeing nothing but a streaking white ball of fur and teeth fly at her; Batgirl quickly somersaulted out the way before the tiger struck the far end of the pit. Both landing on their feet,
The tiger stuck again hurling it’s self at her. Batgirl’s instincts kicked in again and flexing her powerful legs cart wheeled away from the tigers gaping jaws this time its fangs just missed her by an inch.
By this time adrenaline was kicking in. Batgirl knew she couldn’t avoid this thing forever sooner or later she was going to tire and then that’s all she wrote. Somehow she could sense the tiger knew this as well and that’s what was planning. Batgirl cracked a grin to the tiger. “Smart kitty she thought. Catwoman could learn a few things from this one. The tiger slowly halted in it’s tracks as if watching to see what Batgirl was going to do. When it saw she was stalemate it pounced again this time Batgirl was ready, as the tiger pounced towards her. Batgirl cart wheeled towards it and shot out her left leg, her boot impacted with the tigers chin causing it to howl and collapse. Score one for Batgirl. The tiger dazed for a second by the blow shook it off and charged again, this time it was blinded by rage that it didn’t see Batgirl leap towards the beast again and extending her sexy purple spandex legs her feet smacked the tiger flush in the face both times WHACK, WHACK. Again the blow knocked the tiger back again. Batgirl landed neatly on the balls of her feet and tensed for another attack. By now the tiger was a bit slower recovering wondering what the heck was happening. Batgirl thought that at this point kitty would throw in the towel but that was far from its intentions. As the tiger charged again, Batgirl tensed her self. A solid kick in the breadbasket would give this thing indigestion for weeks to come. As she steadied her shimmering spandex covered leg for a well placed blow the tiger pounced, but before Batgirl could strike, the tiger struck first, its claws stuck out raking her on her thigh. She screamed out it was like being hit with a thousand needles. First blood literally now was in kitty’s favor. . Batgirl fell against the wall in pain, as blood oozed down her side. Now she was in for it. The smell and sight of blood makes tigers especially more vicious. The outcome of this was not looking good right now she thought. She looked back at the tiger it seemed almost to be grinning wickedly at her as speckles of blood stained its right claw. Even thou the pain were unbearable to Batgirl she had to keep fighting. She’ll be damned it this pussy was going to make a main course out of her. But she knew she wouldn’t last another one of strike of those claws.
She hobbled on her feet, although part of her bottom costume was torn leaving an easy mark for pussy cat. The tiger prepared to strike again but before it could Batgirl struck first as the tiger leapt, Batgirl also leapt and extending her left leg, struck the tiger dead in its chest she could almost the WHOOMP of the blow and several bones shatter. The tiger fell back several feet that really hurt it now as it howled in agony. Batgirl knew she had done some damage as the tiger wheezed gasping for air. But Batgirl knew this victory would be short lived as the tiger although wounded rushed at her again this time if caught it off guard pounced on her and they both fell. Batgirl hit the ground hard especially on her wounded leg. She sucked in a gasp of pain as the tiger quickly tried to bear it’s fangs toward her throat. Batgirl was able to cup her hands to each side of the beasts head and keep her legs cradled towards its body so that it would be held stationary. But the tiger was persistent. It tried to bear down on her. Its body felt like an SUV
it was wounded and pissed off. Batgirl felt it’s hot breath on it. It smelled fowl and the stench was overwhelming. Batgirl felt as if she was going to pass out as she stared dead into those now crazed crystal eyes. This had to end now. She couldn’t last much longer. Summoning all her courage in a new burst of strength, Batgirl braced and wrapped her legs around the tigers head.
The tiger reacted in surprise not knowing what was happening as it tried to shake loose her hold in vain. It thrashed around like a wildcat. With a sudden heave of her legs Batgirl flipped the tiger over, her, the tiger growled as it crashed hard to the floor, WHAM!!!
Slowly it got to its feet as Batgirl recuperated her strength. “Doesn’t this cat know when to quit?” she thought. The tiger charged again more determined than ever to spare no mercy to
this Bat. Batgirl had no time to fully recover to her feet so seeing the tiger charge again. Batgirl turned her back to dropped to her hands, raised and shot out her legs full force mule kicking the tiger flush in the face. Batgirl could hear a loud SNAP as the her feet not only knocked one of fangs completely out of it’s mouth but also knocked it back a few feet. She quickly recovered and saw the tiger sprawled out on the ground with a stream of blood running down its mouth where its left fang once was.
Before it could fully recover Batgirl knew that she had to end this fight now. She saw the window behind the tiger and thought of an idea. She quickly rushed and leaped over the tiger hoping to make a perfect landing due to the pain again aching in her leg she slipped and fell on her buttocks, a fatal mistake. The tiger recovered and again charged her, this time it’s was growling non stop. Batgirl knew that she only had one shot and one only heaven help her if she should fail. As the tiger pounced for it’s final killer move, Batgirl fell backward launching her feet into the tigers chest she shot her powerful legs straight out as the creature fell over her it sailed right into the window full force their was a growl and loud CRASH as shards of glass flew everywhere then there was silence. Batgirl slowly recovered
to her feet. She saw the broken window and the carcass of the beaten tiger sprawled out not moving. Shards of glass were embedded in and its white fur was now a crimson of red.
Batgirl saw a control panel in the room and also a television screen she could hear shouts of despair as she slowly wandered into the room and saw on the screen the Riddler. “Impossible, Impossible”, the Riddler shouted over and over again. Batgirl slowly picked up the microphone.
“Oh Riddler, can you hear me Riddler?” she slowly spoke. The Riddler immediately froze upon her voice knowing that she was in the secret room now. “Riddle me this Riddler. When is a clock dead” “Damn you Bat bitch, Damn you! I am the Riddle master, here, I’m the King,
I am .” “Give up? Batgirl teased. When it’s time is up. You are next.” The Riddler threatened.
“You haven’t beaten me yet Bat broad, I’m not down and out. Come and get me if you dare!
Batgirl shook her head and sighed “Don’t they ever learn” She started down a long dark hallway being very cautious, anything could happen and what next. Suddenly she found her feet and legs becoming very soft; as she looked down she found that the hallway floor had turned into a large pit of quicksand. Again the sound of inhuman laughter over the intercom unit echoed. “My such a sticky situation Bat broad. This has all been fun, but now I’m afraid this is the end FOR YOU ta-ta bat bitch!” Batgirl immediately found herself buried up to her neck now. She noticed a large door at the end of the hallway. But it seemed so far away. As the gooey substance began to submerge her she took some deep breaths.
Luckily all those diving lessons had come in handy but against this it wasn’t going to last.
The substance began to feel like a weight against her pulling her down each time as she came up for air. She had made little effort. in this large pit of despair. Again she felt herself going under again as the substance began to fill in her nostrils and her mouth. She had to get out of there soon or else this was really the end. She had come so close but yet now it seemed so far. She looked up amongst all the muck and saw way above on the ceiling a pairs off overhead fixtures that were leading all the way down the corridor. Batgirl thought. If somehow she could get up there she would be clear. But how was that going to happen. The gooey substance was beginning to devour her she could feel herself going under, this was it. Once down there was no coming back. She had one chance to make this shot ONE chance and it was a long shot. Remembering all of her meditation and chi training from some of the great masters of the orient; Batgirl let her body become focused and calm even as the gooey monster was determined to make this eternal resting place. Within a second the substance had consumed managed to flex her legs and with a mighty single leap shot straight above the pit and caught hold of the first fixture. Taking deep breaths, as the muck dripped from her spandex covered body and her face and hair. Then with the grace of an Olympic gymnast she began to swing from fixture to fixture with ease and rapidly knowing that the Riddler was behind the last door. This time there was no escape. As she rounded to last the last door she dismounted and shattered through the sealed doors with a loud CRASH. The sound startled the Riddler who was behind the control panel in what appeared to be large room with a checker board type floor.
The Riddler appeared shocked. “BATGIRL” he shouted. NO! NO! WHY WON’T YOU DIE!”
Batgirl slowly approached the large podium, “Give up now, and you’ll spare yourself a lot of pain” she grimly announced through clenched teeth”. “Au Contraire” he replied. I like pain!” He activated a switch on the control panel and immediately through the checker board various hench persons dressed like checkerboard pieces appeared. “Checkmate” Riddler replied.
In an instant the chamber was a flurry of fists, feet and flying bodies delivered by Batgirl.
Of course all were mesmerized by tightness of her spandex panties that they didn’t see her feet smashing into their faces. Once approached her she felled him by driving her left foot deep into his chest she heard various broken bones as he gagged. Another grabbed her and she jumped up and kicked two more approaching away, while flipping the other into the others. A devastating right cross put the lights out of another, and a nerve splitting karate chop incapacitated another But no matter how much they were getting knocked down they kept coming back for more. Batgirl shook her head in total disgust. She quickly mounted on top of a shelf and grabbed a hanging chandelier. She leaped forward and swung towards the floor. Before the henchpersons could retreat or cry out in terror she collided with them with balls of her feet smashing into them with a tremendous SPLAT.
After that collision there was not a hench person moving on the floor. The Riddler cried out in anger as her he frantically tried to activate the controls on his device for more traps for Batgirl but Batgirl swung towards him. The last thing the Riddler saw a pair of purple spandex feet between some bunched up spandex panties, smashing the Riddler knocking out his front teeth and sending him hurtling full force into the control panel . The machine exploded in sparks and flames as the Riddler fell to the floor below.
Batgirl slowly walked over to the Riddler who was now a smoking, blubbering mess. There were several dark bloody holes in mouth where teeth had been and there were bruises on his face. “Checkmate” Batgirl replied and laid him out with a solid devastating uppercut.
It didn’t take long for the Commissioner and the other authorities to raid and capture up the Riddler and his gang. The Commissioner came to Batgirl before she departed from the scene
He observed her scar and looked at her. “They say it’s like a hurricane struck in there. Do I even want to know? he questioned. Batgirl smiled. “It’s better that you didn’t” she remarked. He smiled and patted her on the shoulder. Batgirl looked at him and smiled. How was she going to explain this to Batman she thought. But she knew this little escapade would be far from over.
Stay tuned more adventure with BATGIRL and next time, BATGIRL and ROBIN the girl wonder!
The Riddler and the Raider
Anonymous
The Riddle escaped again. And after several weeks of hiding he decided to come out and play. Batman and Robin were out of town. Batman and Superman were involved with a situation in London, England. Robin was off somewhere with the Teen Titans. Thus Batgirl had to carry the ball.
The clues he sent were ridiculously simple. To be or not to be? Where does one go when one goes Hollywood?
Batgirl knew that several years back a group of bored millionaires and investors tried to make Gorham City the next Hollywood by opening up a movie studio just outside town. They ultimately failed, of course. But Gothic Productions was still there. Abandoned and forgotten. She bet her cowl that the Riddler was there and hiding in Stage 2-B. It reeked of a trap. But the only way to get her prey would be to play his game.
Normally she struck at night under the cover of shadows. But Riddler knew that and would be prepared. So she decided to make her move during daylight. Gothic was pretty much isolated. People could be seen coming from miles away. But maybe she could sneak in via parachute. Borrowing one of Bruce Wayne's personal airplanes, to be piloted Alfred Pennyworth himself, the cowled vigilante put on a chameleon jumpsuit over her costume. The chameleon was a special hi-tech outfit that would let her blend in with her surroundings. After a testing the suit and making sure its limited power source was fully charged, she headed for the air field where the unassuming plane and its pilot would be waiting.
Later she was plunging through the air like a missile. The chameleon covering her movement perfectly. As ground zero loomed closer Batgirl angled her trajectory and at the right moment triggered the chameleon's chute. It opened up and the nearly invisible girl glided to a perfect landing into a western ghost town. The chameleon's power source petered out and Batgirl was pretty much visible again. Removing the jumpsuit, and its built-in parachute, Batgirl stashed it someplace safe and began to stalk.
She made her way to Stage 2-B with no problem. Outside one of the doors was a promo-poster of an aborted movie. Bo Derrick in a skimpy safari outfit that showed more flesh than it covered. Revolver in one hand and a bull whip in the other. Clearly this future bomb was trying to capitalize on the Indiana Jones craze from years ago. Batgirl picked a door she hoped wouldn't attract too much attention, used her lockpic, and entered the stage. She had to assume Riddler knew she was there. She took some nose filters from her utility belt and put them in place. He, Joker, and Penguin had a fondness for gas.
The set looked like the entrance to a pyramid. Batgirl cautiously moved about until that all too familiar laugh pierced her ears.
"Riddle me this! What's the opposite of a tomb raider?"
Despite herself, Batgirl answered. "A raider's tomb." That's when the trap door opened. Batgirl dropped down and hit the floor below. Before she could even think she felt the sudden penetration of darts piercing her protective costume and skin. They were drugged. She'd pass out soon. Maybe never wake up again. The last thing she heard before darkness set in was the Riddler's maniacal laughter.
Batgirl awoke to another all too familiar experience. She was gagged with her hands tied behind her back. She felt a painfully sharp, almost cutting, sensation pressing against and across her belly. She opened her eyes. She was on the floor of a large empty room lit by torches. The pain on her belly was a tight and taught wire secured to rings on both sides of her. The rings were attached to some kind of hidden weights inside the floor. The pressure was murder. Her utility belt and cape were removed. She was surprised the mask was still on. To her left was a door with no door knob. To her right was a switch. Both serious running distance from her current precarious position.
"When is a mouse in a maze not a mouse in a maze?" Came the Riddler's voice from an unseen speaker.
When it's a bat in a maze you contemptible cornball, she thought.
"When it's a bat in a maze." Laughed the Prince Of Puzzles. Then he got to business. "When I was in the stir I got hooked on a kid's video game called 'Tomb Raider.'
"All those puzzles and death traps. Childishly simple to one of my intellect. But it did inspire me.
"You're going to be my 'Lara Croft,' Batgirl. If you survive all the levels we will have another battle of wits another day. Assuming you even exist after this."
Huh? What's he mean by that, she wondered.
"I leave you with your only clue for this level. When is the right way to go not the right way to go" The Riddler laughed that insane over the top laugh again and then everything was silent.
The wire pressing against her belly suddenly started to steam and burn. The wire must have been treated with a special chemical, Batgirl thought. She couldn't help but groan through her gag as the chemicals burned through her costume and onto her flesh. The wire snapped and the two weights dropped deeper into the floor. Suddenly spikes shot out from ceiling which began to drop. Ignoring the pain of the chemical burn Batgirl rolled to her feet and charged for the distant switch. It was difficult but she managed to press it with her hands tied behind her back.
The spiked ceiling was halfway down now, The door on the opposite end of the room opened and Batgirl raced for it. She made it through just as the ceiling was mere inches above her and the door started to close. The bound and gagged vigilante found herself in a corridor. Before she could catch her breath she felt a rumbling on the floor. A boulder came rolling out in her direction. batgirl turned and ran as fast as she could. With her hands tied behind her it was awkward going. Ahead was a pit. Too small to catch the boulder. Maybe she could, no. She saw spikes inside. Batgirl leaped over the pit and landed clumsily. But she was still on her feet and able to keep running. Suddenly she felt the floor start to buckle. It was made of some flimsy material. batgirl could only keep running and hope she didn't fall into whatever deathtrap was below her. The breakable part of the floor wasn't wide enough to stop the rolling rock that was gaining on her. It was literally inches behind her. The end of the corridor was fast approaching. There were two openings. When is the right way to go not the right way to go?
When it's left, Batgirl thought. She turned left as soon as she reached the end. There was just enough room for her to dodge the boulder as it crashed into the wall. She tried to catch her breath panting through her gag. Trying to breathe through her nose as her heart pounded. Minutes later she was finally able to focus and tried to work her bonds. It was no good. They were too tight. She then looked around her new narrow prison. There was a switch which would open the obvious trap door beneath her. Once again she backed into the wall and pressed the button.
Once again she plunged downward and this time landed in salt water. The bound girl kicked furiously to reach the surface. She broke surface, the long tunnel that lead down here, and gasped for air. The gag had absorbed the salt water and left its unpleasant taste in her mouth. Not to mention make the burn on her belly feel worse. The pressure on her wrists was getting worse too. She must have been bound with rawhide. And the water was making them contract.
She could hear the sound of a motor and feel the churning of the water. Getting as much air as she could Batgirl went under to find her escape route. The source of the churning was a huge fan between her and an open tunnel. The blades were too fast to swim through. Batgirl searched and found a lever on the wall. Kicking her legs she swam over to it and tried to grasp it with her bound hands. The rawhide, or whatever, was getting unbearably tighter, her lungs were starting to burst, but she got a hold and pressed her legs against the wall. With all her might she pushed out and pulled the lever halfway down. She swam over to her air pocket and inhaled deeply. Once again, with her lungs full, she submerged and swam back to the lever. Grasping it she was able to force it all the way down.
Two things happened. The huge fan slowed and another door opened. A huge shape swam out. A shark.
Batgirl kicked out and swam for the fan. The shark was almost on her when she timed her move and shot between the blades. She made it through and the shark's snout was clipped by the giant fan, causing it to break off the chase. Batgirl swam into the tunnel and made her way to the far end. Her lungs were again about to explode when she broke the surface. There was a ramp that let her step out into a room full of crates. After gasping for another supply of air, Batgirl looked about and found a crate with a jagged edge. She went over to it and began to rub her bonds up and down against it. It took forever it seemed. But finally a stand came loose and Batgirl was able to wiggle her hands free.
The first thing she did was pull the bitter tasting gag out of her mouth. She then searched the room and found another switch. Pressing it she opened another secret door that lead to another corridor. Batgirl looked and noticed the floor was the same collapsible stuff as the last one. There were elongated slots in the wall all perfectly spaced. Bracing herself, Batgirl charged in. Outrunning the feeble floor, leaping up to avoid a swinging sword blades from slicing her in half, she made it to the other side.
The next room was another corridor with an open vent at the far end. Spikes popped out and the walls began to close in. Batgirl charged and climbed into the vent just barely. She crawled through only to be sprayed by a gas. Batgirl immediately began to feel weak and dizzy.
The Riddle's voice returned. "The gas is poisonous. It enters the pores of the skin. So there is no doubt you're exposed. But the truth is a cure-all."
Batgirl made it to the other side and found herself in a room with a huge carving on the wall and three busts in the center. Large, medium, and small. She could feel the poison was already taking effect. Batgirl looked at the busts. They were mostly incomplete. The large only showed the details of a mouth and square jaw. Medium was a woman's eyes, nose, mouth, and jaw. Small was the most detailed with only the eyes missing. It looked like Robin with a blindfold. Obviously medium was Batgirl and large was Batman himself. She looked at the carving which showed a royal family holding their crowns in their hands. A king, queen, and prince. Though they looked Egyptian there was the tell-tale symbol of the bat on their clothing.
As her vision started to blur and her legs and arms start to leaden, Batgirl knew what this was about. Truth is a cure-all. Assuming you even exist after this. In order get the antidote she had to remove her cowl and place it on her bust. Thus exposing her secret identity. That's why the cape was taken. She couldn't hide under it. The world was starting to swirl about. She couldn't last much longer.
She peeled off her right glove and kneeled down. She bowed her head and pulled off the cowl making sure her face couldn't be seen. She then tied the glove around her eyes and stretched the fabric as much as she could so it could cover as much as it could. Her breathing was now labored, her heart pounding, hands and limbs barely functional. Still she managed to get up and using her photographic memory went over to the busts. She placed the cowl on her image and heard a click A small door under the bust opened up. Batgirl felt about and found a bottle.. Risking a peek she then opened the bottle and drank.
She then passed out.
Consciousness returned and the Riddler spoke again.
"Clever, Batgirl. Your secret identity is still safe. But the game's not over yet. This is only the first level. If you make it out we'll talk again.
Batgirl just laid on the floor. She gathered her strenght and then got up. She felt her way to the busts and removed her cowl. She heard a wall slide open. Kneeling down again she removed the glove blindfold and replaced her cowl. Slipping on the glove she stood up and saw the new entrance. Sighing she stepped in. The wall closed. A tiger growled.
And the game continued.
The Riddler and The Raider (Part II)
By KnightHawk
This was such an intriguing story but the writer left it in a cliff hanger type persona so I thought I would be fun to try and conclude it. Thanks to Anonymous (Riddler and The Raider) for the inspiration!
Last when we left Batgirl she had wondered her way into the Riddler’s devilish Tomb Raider like attraction. After nearly surviving bobby trapped ceilings, pitfalls, a man eating great white shark, and a harrowing escape from a boulder now our dynamo finds herself in a pit with a ferocious tiger. And so our story continues.
Batgirl froze in her tracks as she could see through the darkness were two pairs of glowing piercing eyes that seemed to throw daggers at her soul. Its growl echoed throughout the chamber as it slowly sauntered near her. Batgirl looked hurriedly around for an escape. The walls of the pit seemed to be made of some moss so she would not be able to climb her way out. She noticed a large large window in the middle of pit like someone might be spectator of this fiasco. Immediately a surge of anger rushed through Batgirl and she rushed and banged on the window in frustration as the tigers growl neared her. “RIDDLER, RIDDLER, I know your scummy face is behind there, games over, do you hear!? Let me out of here now and spare your self a lot of pain later.” There was only a deafening sound of laughter throughout the pit. “Batgirl, Batgirl the voice taunted. “You greatly amuse me. The fun is just beginning. And this will be a real catastrophe!! The laughter again was deafening throughout the chamber as the growls edged closer towards the entrance then soon the slide seemed to disappear as the creature made it’s appearance. Batgirl gasped as she got a close up view. Its fur was sparking white, and its eyes seemed like crystal. Its fangs were pearly white, and its claws looked like blades. This would have been the most beautiful creature Batgirl had ever seen if only it wasn’t so deadly. She had encounters before but not like this. She almost felt sorry for it. Such an innocent creature a ghoulish pawn of a madman, but unfortunately only one of them was going to make it out of the pit alive. The Tiger sauntered around Batgirl slowly eyeing her as Batgirl slowly circled around the tiger. The tiger occasionally licked lips as drool slowly dripped down. This thing was HUNGRY and wanted FLESH. Batgirl’s insides were all jelly ready to collapse. But her survival instinct had kicked in. If for one second she let down her guard she was ground round for kitty.
Before Batgirl could complete her maneuver the tiger let out a ferocious growl and pounced for her. Batgirl seeing nothing but a streaking white ball of fur and teeth fly at her; Batgirl quickly somersaulted out the way before the tiger struck the far end of the pit. Both landing on their feet,
The tiger stuck again hurling it’s self at her. Batgirl’s instincts kicked in again and flexing her powerful legs cart wheeled away from the tigers gaping jaws this time its fangs just missed her by an inch.
By this time adrenaline was kicking in. Batgirl knew she couldn’t avoid this thing forever sooner or later she was going to tire and then that’s all she wrote. Somehow she could sense the tiger knew this as well and that’s what was planning. Batgirl cracked a grin to the tiger. “Smart kitty she thought. Catwoman could learn a few things from this one. The tiger slowly halted in it’s tracks as if watching to see what Batgirl was going to do. When it saw she was stalemate it pounced again this time Batgirl was ready, as the tiger pounced towards her. Batgirl cart wheeled towards it and shot out her left leg, her boot impacted with the tigers chin causing it to howl and collapse. Score one for Batgirl. The tiger dazed for a second by the blow shook it off and charged again, this time it was blinded by rage that it didn’t see Batgirl leap towards the beast again and extending her sexy purple spandex legs her feet smacked the tiger flush in the face both times WHACK, WHACK. Again the blow knocked the tiger back again. Batgirl landed neatly on the balls of her feet and tensed for another attack. By now the tiger was a bit slower recovering wondering what the heck was happening. Batgirl thought that at this point kitty would throw in the towel but that was far from its intentions. As the tiger charged again, Batgirl tensed her self. A solid kick in the breadbasket would give this thing indigestion for weeks to come. As she steadied her shimmering spandex covered leg for a well placed blow the tiger pounced, but before Batgirl could strike, the tiger struck first, its claws stuck out raking her on her thigh. She screamed out it was like being hit with a thousand needles. First blood literally now was in kitty’s favor. . Batgirl fell against the wall in pain, as blood oozed down her side. Now she was in for it. The smell and sight of blood makes tigers especially more vicious. The outcome of this was not looking good right now she thought. She looked back at the tiger it seemed almost to be grinning wickedly at her as speckles of blood stained its right claw. Even thou the pain were unbearable to Batgirl she had to keep fighting. She’ll be damned it this pussy was going to make a main course out of her. But she knew she wouldn’t last another one of strike of those claws.
She hobbled on her feet, although part of her bottom costume was torn leaving an easy mark for pussy cat. The tiger prepared to strike again but before it could Batgirl struck first as the tiger leapt, Batgirl also leapt and extending her left leg, struck the tiger dead in its chest she could almost the WHOOMP of the blow and several bones shatter. The tiger fell back several feet that really hurt it now as it howled in agony. Batgirl knew she had done some damage as the tiger wheezed gasping for air. But Batgirl knew this victory would be short lived as the tiger although wounded rushed at her again this time if caught it off guard pounced on her and they both fell. Batgirl hit the ground hard especially on her wounded leg. She sucked in a gasp of pain as the tiger quickly tried to bear it’s fangs toward her throat. Batgirl was able to cup her hands to each side of the beasts head and keep her legs cradled towards its body so that it would be held stationary. But the tiger was persistent. It tried to bear down on her. Its body felt like an SUV
it was wounded and pissed off. Batgirl felt it’s hot breath on it. It smelled fowl and the stench was overwhelming. Batgirl felt as if she was going to pass out as she stared dead into those now crazed crystal eyes. This had to end now. She couldn’t last much longer. Summoning all her courage in a new burst of strength, Batgirl braced and wrapped her legs around the tigers head.
The tiger reacted in surprise not knowing what was happening as it tried to shake loose her hold in vain. It thrashed around like a wildcat. With a sudden heave of her legs Batgirl flipped the tiger over, her, the tiger growled as it crashed hard to the floor, WHAM!!!
Slowly it got to its feet as Batgirl recuperated her strength. “Doesn’t this cat know when to quit?” she thought. The tiger charged again more determined than ever to spare no mercy to
this Bat. Batgirl had no time to fully recover to her feet so seeing the tiger charge again. Batgirl turned her back to dropped to her hands, raised and shot out her legs full force mule kicking the tiger flush in the face. Batgirl could hear a loud SNAP as the her feet not only knocked one of fangs completely out of it’s mouth but also knocked it back a few feet. She quickly recovered and saw the tiger sprawled out on the ground with a stream of blood running down its mouth where its left fang once was.
Before it could fully recover Batgirl knew that she had to end this fight now. She saw the window behind the tiger and thought of an idea. She quickly rushed and leaped over the tiger hoping to make a perfect landing due to the pain again aching in her leg she slipped and fell on her buttocks, a fatal mistake. The tiger recovered and again charged her, this time it’s was growling non stop. Batgirl knew that she only had one shot and one only heaven help her if she should fail. As the tiger pounced for it’s final killer move, Batgirl fell backward launching her feet into the tigers chest she shot her powerful legs straight out as the creature fell over her it sailed right into the window full force their was a growl and loud CRASH as shards of glass flew everywhere then there was silence. Batgirl slowly recovered
to her feet. She saw the broken window and the carcass of the beaten tiger sprawled out not moving. Shards of glass were embedded in and its white fur was now a crimson of red.
Batgirl saw a control panel in the room and also a television screen she could hear shouts of despair as she slowly wandered into the room and saw on the screen the Riddler. “Impossible, Impossible”, the Riddler shouted over and over again. Batgirl slowly picked up the microphone.
“Oh Riddler, can you hear me Riddler?” she slowly spoke. The Riddler immediately froze upon her voice knowing that she was in the secret room now. “Riddle me this Riddler. When is a clock dead” “Damn you Bat bitch, Damn you! I am the Riddle master, here, I’m the King,
I am .” “Give up? Batgirl teased. When it’s time is up. You are next.” The Riddler threatened.
“You haven’t beaten me yet Bat broad, I’m not down and out. Come and get me if you dare!
Batgirl shook her head and sighed “Don’t they ever learn” She started down a long dark hallway being very cautious, anything could happen and what next. Suddenly she found her feet and legs becoming very soft; as she looked down she found that the hallway floor had turned into a large pit of quicksand. Again the sound of inhuman laughter over the intercom unit echoed. “My such a sticky situation Bat broad. This has all been fun, but now I’m afraid this is the end FOR YOU ta-ta bat bitch!” Batgirl immediately found herself buried up to her neck now. She noticed a large door at the end of the hallway. But it seemed so far away. As the gooey substance began to submerge her she took some deep breaths.
Luckily all those diving lessons had come in handy but against this it wasn’t going to last.
The substance began to feel like a weight against her pulling her down each time as she came up for air. She had made little effort. in this large pit of despair. Again she felt herself going under again as the substance began to fill in her nostrils and her mouth. She had to get out of there soon or else this was really the end. She had come so close but yet now it seemed so far. She looked up amongst all the muck and saw way above on the ceiling a pairs off overhead fixtures that were leading all the way down the corridor. Batgirl thought. If somehow she could get up there she would be clear. But how was that going to happen. The gooey substance was beginning to devour her she could feel herself going under, this was it. Once down there was no coming back. She had one chance to make this shot ONE chance and it was a long shot. Remembering all of her meditation and chi training from some of the great masters of the orient; Batgirl let her body become focused and calm even as the gooey monster was determined to make this eternal resting place. Within a second the substance had consumed managed to flex her legs and with a mighty single leap shot straight above the pit and caught hold of the first fixture. Taking deep breaths, as the muck dripped from her spandex covered body and her face and hair. Then with the grace of an Olympic gymnast she began to swing from fixture to fixture with ease and rapidly knowing that the Riddler was behind the last door. This time there was no escape. As she rounded to last the last door she dismounted and shattered through the sealed doors with a loud CRASH. The sound startled the Riddler who was behind the control panel in what appeared to be large room with a checker board type floor.
The Riddler appeared shocked. “BATGIRL” he shouted. NO! NO! WHY WON’T YOU DIE!”
Batgirl slowly approached the large podium, “Give up now, and you’ll spare yourself a lot of pain” she grimly announced through clenched teeth”. “Au Contraire” he replied. I like pain!” He activated a switch on the control panel and immediately through the checker board various hench persons dressed like checkerboard pieces appeared. “Checkmate” Riddler replied.
In an instant the chamber was a flurry of fists, feet and flying bodies delivered by Batgirl.
Of course all were mesmerized by tightness of her spandex panties that they didn’t see her feet smashing into their faces. Once approached her she felled him by driving her left foot deep into his chest she heard various broken bones as he gagged. Another grabbed her and she jumped up and kicked two more approaching away, while flipping the other into the others. A devastating right cross put the lights out of another, and a nerve splitting karate chop incapacitated another But no matter how much they were getting knocked down they kept coming back for more. Batgirl shook her head in total disgust. She quickly mounted on top of a shelf and grabbed a hanging chandelier. She leaped forward and swung towards the floor. Before the henchpersons could retreat or cry out in terror she collided with them with balls of her feet smashing into them with a tremendous SPLAT.
After that collision there was not a hench person moving on the floor. The Riddler cried out in anger as her he frantically tried to activate the controls on his device for more traps for Batgirl but Batgirl swung towards him. The last thing the Riddler saw a pair of purple spandex feet between some bunched up spandex panties, smashing the Riddler knocking out his front teeth and sending him hurtling full force into the control panel . The machine exploded in sparks and flames as the Riddler fell to the floor below.
Batgirl slowly walked over to the Riddler who was now a smoking, blubbering mess. There were several dark bloody holes in mouth where teeth had been and there were bruises on his face. “Checkmate” Batgirl replied and laid him out with a solid devastating uppercut.
It didn’t take long for the Commissioner and the other authorities to raid and capture up the Riddler and his gang. The Commissioner came to Batgirl before she departed from the scene
He observed her scar and looked at her. “They say it’s like a hurricane struck in there. Do I even want to know? he questioned. Batgirl smiled. “It’s better that you didn’t” she remarked. He smiled and patted her on the shoulder. Batgirl looked at him and smiled. How was she going to explain this to Batman she thought. But she knew this little escapade would be far from over.
Stay tuned more adventure with BATGIRL and next time, BATGIRL and ROBIN the girl wonder!