The Crow Has Been Scared

Episode 65 of Nightwing & Batgirl.
== Plot ==
The episode starts with Penguin coming to Jonathan Crane/Scarecrow's lab. 
"Glad you could make it, Mr. Oswald Cobblepot", Scarecrow told Penguin.
"It's also my pleasure. So, what are you up to this time?", Penguin asked.
"I need your assistance for my new experiment", Scarecrow answered.
"For what?", Penguin asked.
"I've developed a new serum that converts fear gas into super-strength once it enters the bloodstream. We are now at the testing phase", Scarecrow answered.
"So, where's the test animal?", Penguin asked.
"Test animal? I don't have any.", Scarecrow answered.
"What? Then how are you going to conduct testing?", Penguin wondered.
"On what better animal can you test a super-strength serum than yourself?", Scarecrow said.
"Oh. You're really a madman", Penguin said.
"Yes, I sure am. So, are you in this or not?", Scarecrow asked.
"I don't like where this is going.", Penguin answered.
"I repeat the question", Scarecrow replied.
"Yes, I am. As long as I don't take responsibility for it when it goes wrong.", Penguin answered.
"Don't worry. You won't.", Scarecrow assured.
"Alright, then. Let's get started.", Penguin now agreed.
Scarecrow instructed Penguin on the procedures of using the testing chamber. Penguin followed his instructions. 
"You will be the very first to witness my groundbreaking experiment on fear gas!", Scarecrow told Penguin. Now, he entered the testing chamber. Now, Penguin turned on the chamber's power. Inside the chamber were many mechanical arms which hold the super-strength fear gas serums, to be injected on the test animal, which in this case, is Scarecrow. Now, Penguin started the operation, pulling the lever to control the mechanical arms. Then he pressed a button on the chamber's control panel, for the serums to start injecting on Scarecrow. At first the serums injected on Scarecrow were just in mild concentrations, and he said was starting to feel it, but he stayed inside the chamber then he told Penguin to accelerate the serums' concentrations to medium.
"But Dr. Crane, I'm afraid you'll overdose on the serum", Penguin told him.
"Nothing would go wrong, trust me. It is free of side effects", Scarecrow assured him. "Now, just do it!", he insisted.
Now, Penguin did so, increasing the serums' concentrations to medium. 
"Ah, yes. I'm already starting to feel my strength increase", Scarecrow said.
But later, the serums kept injecting, and Scarecrow started groaning in pain. The side effects have started to take place.
"Doctor, are you alright?", Penguin asked.
"You can stop it now!", Scarecrow pleaded.
Penguin did so and now pulled the lever down. Then, he pressed the button to open the chamber. 
"Doctor?", Penguin said, as he gasped at Scarecrow's new look. He has been mutated into a real scarecrow and grew large in size.
"Are you alright?", Penguin asked.
"What do you mean?", Scarebeast answered, as he picked up Penguin and tossed him away. "Of course I am. I like it. I like how it feels", Scarebeast said, looking at his arms and body. Now, Scarebeast ran away, outside his laboratory. 
"Hey, Dr. Crane! Does your serum have an antidote? Hey! Get back here! You might destroy the whole Gotham while in that state", Penguin warned him. But Scarebeast did not hear him as he already got away.
"I'm gonna be so screwed.", Penguin said to himself. 
The scene moves later at night. Catwoman was strolling around Gotham, then she suddenly encountered Scarebeast. She stared at him, then Scarebeast was suddenly infuriated. He ran after her, but Catwoman was quick. Penguin was walking on a dark alley, then she came across Catwoman and grabbed her arm and pulled her into the alley. Meanwhile, Nightwing and Batgirl's supercomputer in their headquarters detected some trouble. They immediately went to it.
"You? Hey! Let go of me. What are you doing here?", Catwoman told him, pulling her arm away from Penguin's hand.
"Come on, I just saved your life. I know who you're running from.", Penguin said.
"Oh, thanks then. Wait! How do you know...", Catwoman replied.
"Be quiet. He might hear us.", Penguin whispered.
"Who?", Catwoman asked.
"Scarebeast", Penguin answered, whispering.
"What?", Catwoman said, surprised.
"It's a long story", Penguin just told her. Later, they heard Scarebeast's footsteps and walked away. But Scarebeast saw the dark alley and started chasing them there. He threw a car in front of Penguin and Catwoman which blocked their way. They were trapped. Now, Scarebeast picked Catwoman and threw her away. Catwoman screamed as she was falling back to the ground, but Nightwing swinging and holding on his grappling hook, was able to save her. Penguin was also tossed away by Scarebeast, and was also saved by Batgirl. Nightwing and Batgirl threw explosive Batarangs at the Scarebeast. But, Scarebeast threw several cars at them, and Nightwing, Batgirl, Penguin, and Catwoman dodged those. Then, he punched the ground, sending mini ground waves at them, knocking them down. Now, Scarebeast started secreting fear gas. The four covered their mouths to avoid intaking the fear toxins. Scarebeast then used this as time to escape. The four also went to a safe place now. 
"What was that?", Nightwing asked Penguin and Catwoman.
"Penguin, now's the time. You tell it", Catwoman told Penguin.
"The creature you just encountered, is the Scarebeast. The result of Scarecrow's experiment gone wrong.", Penguin answered.
"What? How did you know? How did it happen?", Batgirl asked.
"Well, because I'm part of the guilty party along Dr. Crane. He invited me to his lab for his so-called "groundbreaking experiment". His experiment was him formulating a serum that converts fear gas into super-strength once it enters the bloodstream. Guess what? It worked. However, the side effects turned him into the beast he is right now", Penguin explained in detail.
"My goodness! How could you agree to such risky experiment?", Catwoman asked him.
"He claimed his serum was free from side effects. I warned him, yet he insisted. Now, here he is", Penguin answered.
"Hmm. I'm not really knowledgeable of the fear toxin. But there must be some things in Dr. Crane's lab which we may use.", Nightwing said.
"Penguin. Can you lead us to his lab?", Batgirl asked.
"It would be my pleasure", Penguin responded. 
"Perhaps we could get more assistance on this. Like the Atom", Batgirl suggested.
"Good idea", Nightwing agreed, as they sent a distress signal to the Atom, and told him about the Scarebeast incident. The Atom was shocked at first, then agreed to help them.
Now, the four rode the R-Mobile and Penguin directed them to Crane's lab. Later, The Atom and the four met at the lab. 
The Atom now took a sample of the fear toxin-super strength serum and analyzed its components under a microscope. He found out that the serum contains several harmful chemicals that cause adverse health effects, which explains Scarecrow's mutation. 
"Did Scarecrow have an antidote for this?", Captain Atom asked Penguin.
"I don't know. The moment I asked him, he already gotten away.", Penguin answered.
"What? Scarecrow's one madman. How could he formulate a toxin without considering creating an antidote for it?", Atom said, surprised.
"That's what I told him.", Penguin responded.
"Before I could formulate an antidote for such monstrosity, first, I would need to examine his body.", The Atom told the others.
"You mean we're going back to face him again", Catwoman asked.
"We have to", The Atom answered.
"Alright. Then let's get it started. Nightwing, locate Scarebeast on the mobile's GPS.", Batgirl said.
"I'm on it. Let's go", Nightwing said, as the heroes now rode the R-Mobile. The Atom shrunk his size so that he can fit inside. 
Later, the heroes reached Scarebeast's location, at Gotham Square. He was seen destroying every building he sees. Nightwing activated the R-Mobile's weapons, and fired missiles at Scarebeast. Then, they went down the car. 
"Guys. For me to make a grand entrance on his body, I need a good amount of time. Keep him busy as I make his way inside him. Maybe plant EMP mines on his body", The Atom told the others. 
Penguin and Catwoman taunted Scarebeast, while Nightwing and Batgirl, using their Batropes and Nightropes, got on the beast's body. Now, they started attaching EMP mines on several parts of his body. Later, Scarebeast got a hand on Nightwing and Batgirl then tossed them away, hitting Penguin and Catwoman, knocking them down. Later, the EMP mines took effect and Scarebeast got electrocuted and collapsed. 
"Good job, guys. That's just more than enough time I needed", Atom said, as he made his away to Scarebeast's body through his mouth.
He now started examining the components of the serum which has spread throughout his bloodstream. Later, he reported his findings to the four, who just regained consciousness. Through the communicators, he told them,
"Are you online? I have my findings. I found an unhealthy amount of radioactive materials present in his bloodstream, thus causing him to mutate. Combined with LSD, one of the main components of fear gas, and krypton, the element for super-strength."
"Oh, named after Superman's planet. Of course that's where he got his super-strength from", Batgirl said.
"Also, the serum was too dangerous to be taken in high doses. How much did he intake, Penguin?", Atom asked.
"Well, I warned him that high concentrations of the serum might be harmful to his body. But, he insisted. So, I set the serum machine to inject high doses on him", Penguin answered.
"Oh, great. This is some big trouble.", The Atom said.
"So, is there any way you can internally just stop the flow of the serum in his bloodstream?", Nightwing asked.
"Of course, but I might end up killing him.", The Atom answered. "Though being the beast he is right now, he's still human and his vital organs are still sensitive. The human veins are not like the Dark Heart I could just stop the flow of blood."
"Oh, yeah. Silly me. Why haven't I thought of that?", Nightwing asked. 
"So, what would the best way to save him be? Create an antidote?", Catwoman asked.
"Exactly. You know what? This is suspicious. There's no way any person in their right minds would put a little too much radioactive material in a serum and claim it safe. And use it for themselves. Especially without an antidote!", The Atom answered.
"You've got a point", Penguin said. "After we save him from monstrosity, let's bring him to justice.", he added.
"That includes you.", Catwoman replied.
"Why?", Penguin asked.
"You were part of the scheme. You shouldn't have agreed to help him in the first place.", Catwoman answered.
"Unfortunate for you, Penguin, she's got a point.", Batgirl agreed.
"Before you talk about arresting anyone, we need to start working on the antidote first. I need to get back to Scarebeast's lab, and work on it asap.", The Atom said.
"What about Scarebeast?", Catwoman asked.
"Oh, right. I also need you guys, to look over him. I sense his system about to wake up in a few minutes. I'm heading outside him now.", The Atom said.
Now, The Atom went out of Scarebeast through his mouth. He reached the other four.
"Now, that's disgusting.", Catwoman said, seeing The Atom covered in saliva and enzymes.
"Sorry.", The Atom said. 
"So, I'm heading to Crane's lab now. Please take good care of him and hold him down while I formulate his antidote", he reminded the others.
"We got this.", Nightwing said. The others also agreed. 
Now, The Atom got going. Right when he reached the lab, Scarebeast also woke up and started wreaking havoc at Gotham Times Square. The four battled him again. But once again, he secreted fear toxins, and used the smoke as time to escape. He went down the sewers. 
"Oh great. He got away!", Penguin said.
"This is all on you.", Catwoman told him.
"Whoa, guys. Let's focus on the mission. Let's get back to my car. We'll be able to track him with my GPS.", Nightwing told the three. Now, they got going. Nightwing called Atom and asked, "How's the antidote going?".
"Uhm. I'm still figuring it out. Cause to be able to create an antidote for the hybrid super-strength and fear serum, first I need a strong base that could neutralize the effects of the serum.", The Atom answered.
"Gosh. I hate science.", Catwoman said.
"Things you don't understand, I see", Penguin replied. 
"I understand it, you idiot.", Catwoman replied.
"Alright, Atom. Take your time.", Nightwing replied to him.
"Where's Batman when we needed him most?", Catwoman said.
"Probably got sick of you being the damsel", Penguin replied.
Catwoman slapped Penguin and said, "Shut up!"
"Could you please just sit down and stop running your mouths for a second?", Batgirl told them, getting annoyed.
"Alright.", Penguin said.
"Wait. I think we found his location.", Nightwing told the others, as he looked on the GPS and saw Scarebeast's location: Midtown Gotham. They reached there, and they were shocked to see Midtown being covered in fear gas.
"Let's get to work.", Nightwing told the three, as he gave them gas masks. "You wouldn't want to get infected by the fear toxin", he told them. Now, all of them wore their masks.
Now, they started attacking Scarebeast. Nightwing and Batgirl swung on and reached his back using their grappling hooks, but Scarebeast threw them away this time. Catwoman fired her pistol on him, but it didn't affect Scarebeast. Penguin hit him with his lasers from his umbrella weapon, and it damaged him a little.
"Ugh! It's you pests again. Hiding behind your masks. Don't you realize? You're already infected by the toxins. Cause you're afraid of being infected.", Scarebeast told them, trying to trick into believing they were infected.
"We know what you're trying to do. You're tricking us into thinking we are already infected. And it won't work.", Catwoman replied. 
"Oh, really? It doesn't matter. I've already infected the citizens of Gotham.", he told them, as the four were surrounded by citizens, under Scarebeast's fear toxin, about to attack them. 
Atom called them and asked them how's everything going.
"We got a situation here. Scarebeast's already infected the citizen's of Gotham with his fear toxins.", Batgirl answered.
Now, Nightwing, Batgirl, Penguin, and Catwoman battled the civilians. Nightwing and Batgirl told them to avoid hurting them severely as much as possible. They gave them EMP mines which they can attach to their bodies to give them slight electrocution and render them unconscious, instead of killing them.
"Just hold them. I need more time to finish creating the antidote for the Scarebeast.", Atom replied.
"We're... Running out of time!", Penguin responded, as they were struggling.
"Alright! I'll get it done as quick as I can", Atom said, dropping the call.
Later, the heroes stopped holding off the civilians and now went after Scarebeast. This time, Scarebeast is aware of the heroes attempting to use EMP mines to knock him down. He picked Penguin up, but Catwoman swung her Catrope and wrapped around Scarebeast's hand, which holds the Penguin. Catwoman now told Nightwing and Batgirl go and to tie up his legs. With all their strength, they tried pulling down the Scarebeast off his feet. 
Meanwhile, at Scarecrow's lab, The Atom finally finished creating the antidote for the Scarebeast serum. Now, he went to Midtown Gotham immediately. Back at Midtown, Penguin was dropped by Scarebeast, and before he could fall down the ground, The Atom was able to get there and save him. 
"Woohoo! The Atom's here! We're getting saved!", Penguin said. 
Scarebeast broke free from the ropes that bound him and the three others were knocked down. When, Scarebeast was about to step on them, The Atom, growing a little in size, pushes his foot back off. The Atom told the others as he keeps him busy, they try putting EMP mines on his back once again. Nightwing and Batgirl did so. Then, they activated the mines immediately, knocking Scarebeast down immediately as well. Now, The Atom picked up the antidote from his belt's holsters. Then, he now injected it onto him, which reverted him back to Dr. Jonathan Crane. The civilians knocked out from the fear toxin's control regained consciousness and wondered what the hell happened. Even Scarebeast wondered what happened as well. When the heroes told him what happened he was shocked. The police later came. 
"But, I was unconscious the whole time. Plus, I hadn't anticipated the side effects of my serum.", Dr. Crane told the heroes.
"Yes. But you've caused serious physical injury and damage to property. That alone should be enough to warrant you an arrest.", the chief told him.
"You owe me your life, Mr. Cobblepot. Now, we're even.", Catwoman told Penguin.
"Well, thanks then.", Penguin replied.
"You're lucky we didn't send you along with Dr. Crane", Nightwing told Penguin, as he grinned.
"We saw you took full responsibility for what happened.", Batgirl added.
"Of course I do.", Penguin replied. 
"That's only for now.", Nightwing told him.
"Alright. I need to go now.", Penguin said.
"Get going then. Remember this Penguin. We're keeping our eyes on you!", Batgirl warned him. 
"Before I get going, why not let's send this antidote to Batman? Just in case Scarecrow intentionally uses the super-strength-fear serum once again", The Atom suggested. 
"Good idea.", Catwoman agreed. 
Now, the four all went to the Batcave, and explained to Batman what happened to Scarecrow. Catwoman asked Batman, "Where the hell were you all this time?". 
"I was on a business trip.", Batman answered. 
"Oh, I see.", Catwoman replied, though she was not convinced by Batman's answer. 
"Batman, we got this for you. The antidote for Scarecrow's new hybrid toxin, just in case thie Scarebeast ever returns.", The Atom told Batman, handing him an antidote. 
"Alright. I'll have my men at Wayne Enterprises manufacture this.", Batman replied. 
"Just one more thing", The Atom told him. 
"What is it?", Batman asked. 
"You better put my patent on it.", The Atom answered. 
"Of course, I will", Batman agreed. 
"Alright, we'll get going.", Nightwing said. 
Before going, Catwoman went to Batman and hugged him. "Till we meet again.", she told him. 
"Till I meet you too.", Batman replied. 
Now, the four others got going. The episode ends with them exiting the Batcave. 
== Characters ==
=== Heroes: ===
* Selina Kyle/Catwoman-former cat burglar turned hero.
* Dick Grayson/Nightwing
* Barbara Gordon/Batgirl
* Ray Palmer/The Atom-a genius member of Justice League with the power to shrink and grow his size; created an antidote to the Scarebeast.
==== Other: ====
* Penguin-assisted Scarecrow in injecting fear serum on himself; unaware of what could go wrong. 
* police 
* Batman 
=== Villains: ===
* Dr. Jonathan Crane/Scarecrow/Scarebeast-experimented on fear gas which converts fear toxins to superhuman strength; however it gone wrong as he tested the serum on himself and transformed into Scarebeast.