The Scarecrow Walks at Midnight

Basophobia

We don't believe, we only fear.

"Super dose for a Superman. Batman isn't here to help you this time. Too bad, as it was he who, unwittingly, gave me the idea to lace my toxin with Kryptonite." Scarecrow cackles. "You're not so super now, are you?". The Man of Steel attempts to fight the Kryptonite-laced fear toxin, he can feel a tightening in his chest. "We're not... done yet..." Superman says in short gasps.

  "Oh, I think we are. You can just barely form words. This will be over soon. You will succumb to my toxin. I can see it's already beginning to take hold of your mind, Superman," Scarecrow sneers. "You... won't... get away... get away! Get away!" Superman starts flailing his arms around his head. "Interesting... This is the first time this formula has been used. And the only time I've ever used it on an alien species. There was no knowing how it would affect you. Or if it would affect you at all! That is why I combined it with the Kryptonite. Just a little added assurance in case it didn't affect you at all,"

"If this is how it affects you... I wonder how it'd affect your cousin." Scarecrow wonders aloud. Before he can answer his own question, one of his men bursts through the door. "We gotta huge bat-shaped problem, Boss," Scarecrow kneels next to Superman and injects him again. "Keep Mindy busy as long as you can! I'm not ready for him just yet. I'm still acquainting myself with Mork here," The henchman runs back out the door, just mere seconds before Superman lets out an ear-piercing scream. Or would have been if Scarecrow hadn't anticipated that. Unfortunately for his men, they had no such protection and a number of them dropped to the floor, unmoving.

"Oh dear... now look what you've done. It's impossible to find good help these days. Let's see... now I'll have to replace..." he trails off as he quickly counts how many of his men Superman knocked out, probably killed. "Fifteen! How dare you." Another of his men comes bursting in. "He's practically here!" Scarecrow whirls on him and screams "Well?!! What are you standing around here for! Get the Bat!" The man runs out of the room quickly. "He... he's coming... for you!" Superman rasps out. "That may be so. But he'll have to get up here first. And avoid both my men and my traps."

"He's... he's..." Scarecrow cuts him off. "Oh shut up! Finally, my toxin affects you. I can finally say I brought down The Superman. With just a few doses of my fear toxin," He stops talking suddenly, and tilts his head. "We thinks a Bat is among us. Here little Bat, little Bat," A group of his men burst in and surround him and Superman. "I thought I told you idiots to keep the Bat busy!!" he yells as he grabs the man closest to him. "We-w-we tried!" "WELL TRY HARDER! Now get out there!" he says pushing the man into the group. "B-but... but he always gets us anyway. Why don't you ever go out there?!"

"I'M BUSY! Can't you see that?! Do you understand?! Now get out!" he grabs Superman and injects him again. "Let's see if I can drive you mad, Superman, before the Bat comes to save you," The henchman plugs his ears as Superman lets out another shrill scream. "I think you should at least have given us ear protection. We can hear his screams all the way at the main level." the man says hesitantly. "Thank you so much for your opinion, you're fired," Scarecrow cackles as he injects the henchman with fear toxin. The man shrieks once and falls to the floor silent. "Interesting..." he says, bending down to inspect his handiwork.

He points to one of his men. "You. There. Get rid of him," he says, pointing at the now-dead man in front of him. The man steps forward hesitantly, grabs the former henchman's arms and starts dragging him away. "And look out for the Bat while you're out there. He could be hiding anywhere." Scarecrow throws back his head and lets out a snigger. "Make sure you get him before he gets you!"

Superman screams again. "Careful! You might damage that super hearing of yours. What are you doing in Gotham? This is Batman's city alone. My city if I have you." Scarecrow chuckles. "You see, kidnapping you was just a way to lure Batman to me. I obviously knew he'd come looking if the Man of Steel went missing. And I intend on using you to bring down the Bat."

"Ahh!"
One of his men falls to the ground. A Batarang clangs to the floor. "Time for me to make my exit. You guys can hold him off for me. But before I go..." Scarecrow injects the remaining syringes of toxin into Superman. The ALF lets out a series of deafening shrieks as Scarecrow makes a quick exit and the Bat drops down from the ceiling.