Chapter 104: What’s He Planning? Part 1

After the new instruction was given, Slade met up with Harley, and they proceeded to leave using the same path they came through, utilizing the same blind spot at the rear entrance as well.

On Barbara's end, immediately after Arias gave the new instruction, she was logged out of the secure channel. This came as a surprise, but there was nothing she could do. A new doubt then arose in her mind, *Was this all to just rescue those two?* she wondered with a frown.

Arias had done many wonderful things for Gotham, but she was far from trusting him. If anything, the fact that he seemed so perfect in what he did was suspicious. Her heart couldn't settle, and anxiety began to rise. She needed to know just what was going on, so without hesitation, she picked up her phone and dialed Arias's number.

…

Back in the main office of the Markovic Tower, Arias was still reclined comfortably in his chair, his eyes focused on a large monitor reporting the Arkham events live, despite the aftermath left from his altercation earlier. Seeing his phone, which rested on the table, ring, he wasn't surprised. Unlike Diana, who had no qualms about ending the lives of those she found were in breach of the justice she believed in, Barbara believed it wasn't right to take lives—even those of criminals.

Arias knew the chances of her bringing it up would be high, although he had hoped she was willing to see it his way. With a light sigh, he picked up the phone and answered, "Is there a problem?"

He took an impatient tone with her, making her worry that their already fragile cooperation might break. Despite this, she steeled herself and asked, "What about the hostages?"

Before the matter of killing, she was more concerned with something that hadn't yet occurred. She needed to know that this wasn't just some elaborate plot to use the chaos within Arkham to rescue what she thought would be potential henchwomen.

"What about them? I said they will be saved, and they will. If someone as smart as you can't even see what the plan is, then I'm very doubtful you'll go far, Barbara," he harshly lectured, making it seem like the question she asked was stupid and redundant.

"I—I didn't mean—" It was rare for Barbara to be talked down to in such a manner. She felt she should've been clearer and thus wanted to quickly correct herself, but Arias interjected almost immediately. "I know what you meant, Barbara, but if you're going to doubt my methods halfway through, you're better off not committing at all."

"Lives are on the line, and the last thing I need is a doubtful mind putting them at risk. You're smarter than that. Don't make me regret trusting you with this." Arias's tone eased off toward the end, coming across as sort of caring before he cut the call.

If he gave her a chance to talk and vent her worries, he knew she could present valid points, which he could find problematic to answer without seeing the result of the operation first. Only then could he make it seem like everything was planned to perfection and that she should have had faith and trust in his methods.

By saying she should know what he was planning, he knew he made her feel somewhat inferior and dull in that moment. Given her confidence in her intelligence, questioning her like that was definitely a minor psychological blow—one she would bounce back from quickly, but not before she racked her brains as to what Arias was planning.

And while she was racking her brains, time began to move, and the situation at Arkham was becoming more tense. It wasn't strange for hostage situations to take long periods in some cases, but given what was at stake here, Gordon was on edge to carry out a plan, despite the obvious risks.

Even the quick plan Gordon had in mind involved waiting at the very least, a week. However, while he was thinking along those lines, the main doors of Arkham Asylum suddenly burst open, and a torrent of people came rushing out.

Almost instantly, weapons were pointed in their direction until a gunner in one of the choppers yelled through the radio comms, "Hold fire! They're civilians! I repeat, hold fire."

Once the various officers at the scene heard this, their fingers eased off the triggers, but their caution was still very much there. The chopper focused its beam of light on the civilians, and they were asked to get on the ground.

While they were doing so, many cameras panned in their direction and caught the scene. Whether the people were there live or watching from home, everyone was surprised but, at the same time, worried. After all, even the police looked confused by what was happening… so what if it was a trap?

The thought of that lingered in their minds, but soon, something else entirely caught their attention. Standing at the entrance of Arkham, Killer Frost and Cheetah had emerged with their hands in the air. Focus quickly turned to them with all cameras pointing their way… along with guns.

Noticing this, one woman on the ground stood up and yelled, "Wait, don't shoot! They saved us!"

Her statement made an already confusing situation even more complex. No shots were fired, and the officers waited on standby for Gordon's order. However, he, just like many, had a puzzled expression on his face while thinking, *What is going on?*