He reached out and gently raised a hand to the helmet covering her face. A part of him was a bit worried of how she might reactùafter being kept in conditions like this for who knows how long, pretty much any reaction would be possible. She could have shrunk away, started to shake, or even tried to attack him and he wouldnÆt have been surprised.
But she didnÆt do any of that. In fact, she didnÆt react to him in any way, which may have been the worst possible reaction.
Not that heÆd been especially optimistic about what state sheÆd be in when he came here. It had been a long time before he was born, but the Ace in his home reality had willingly gone along with the Joker without complaint after being freed by him and the reports in both the Justice LeagueÆs records and the Batcomputer hadnÆt exactly presented an image of completely mental health. In fact, sheÆd supposedly been stoic to the point of being unresponsive during the first half of the Las Vegas Incident.
He silently began to remove the helmet, unlocking it in three places in the back before he could even start to take it off. It didnÆt simply slide off, however, as another segment of the helmet went firmly under her chin, and around the back of her neck. Shaking his head, he unlocked it in the fourth placeùif nothing else, he had to give the makers of it credit; getting out of this helmet on your own would have been pretty damn hard, especially with your hands bound.
Now if only they put that much effort into keeping the Joker from escaping, maybe heÆd break out of Arkham less.
After he was done, the helmet opened like a flower separating along each of the locks and he carefully removed it and got his first real look at Ace.
While she didnÆt show any signs of having been physically injured, it was obvious that she hadnÆt been given a great deal of care, either. Her hair was long and unruly, in an æI havenÆt had a hair cut in yearsÆ sort of way. While all of the people kept here were pale, Ace was an especially bad case, to the point of almost looking sickly. Sweat covered her face from the stuffiness of the helmet and the way she blinked rapidly made him think it was probably running into her eyes, so he ran one of his sleeves across her brow, wiping it away as best he could. The few places of color on her skin were where the helmet had been pressed against her face and they stood out in struck contrast. She was thin, too, and while he wouldnÆt say she had been starved or anything, she would probably be a lot better off if she ate more.
Taking that in, Terry worked his jaw. He wanted to take a quick trip upstairs and kick all of those scientists in the head, but he wasnÆt here to take vengeance on them, he was here to get a group of kids to safety. As long as he got them out okay, he could get them nutritionists or psychiatrists or whatever they needed, but he had to get them out.
As for the scientistsàheÆd let their bosses think of their punishment when he finds out how they failed. He took a little bit more pleasure in that thought then precisely appropriate for a Batman before shaking himself.
Undoing AceÆs handcuffs was a lot easier then taking off her helmet and he cast them casually to the side. Ace silently looked at her hands after resting them on her knees, interested in a way only someone who hadnÆt seen them in years would be.
ôHey boss, are we getting out of here any time soon or what?ö P-13 asked impatiently, walking into the room. Ace lifted her eyes to watch him solemnly. After a moment of staring, she dropped her eyes back down to her hands.
ôJust a moment,ö Terry soothed. ôI just have to remove her collar and weÆll all leave here together.ö
AceÆs head snapped towards him so abruptly he was worried for a second and she stared at him with wide eyes in her first emotional reaction in what was likely a long, long time.
ôReally?ö She asked, a glimmer of hope appearing in her voice and eyes.
Terry smiled at her and unlocked her collar with now practiced ease.
ôReally,ö He assured. ôCan you walk?ö
Ace tried to stand, but it was obvious her muscles had atrophied with years of disuse, so he stopped her with a raised hand and scooped her into his arms.
ôDonÆt bother; IÆve got you.ö He nodded towards P-13. ôWe can leave now.ö
However, P-13 was now staring at the girl in his arms with interest.
ôWhatÆs your power?ö He asked, curious, because Ace was the only one who hadnÆt given a little display once she was free.
AceÆs eyes darted towards him for a moment before looking away.
ôHmàö Terry hummed, before glancing at her. ôWell, what do you think? Should I tell him?ö
After a moment, Ace shook her head, curling in one herself in his arms to make herself more comfortable.
ôTch,ö P-13 said. ôFine, be that way. How are we getting out of here, Boss? I hope you brought a truck or a plane or something.ö
Terry chuckled.
ôSomething like that,ö He said, and Mother Box responded without prompt. In a rush of noise and light, the Electron Road opened along the left wall. ôEver heard of Bifrost?ö