All villains are equal, but some are more equal than others

[jla_extras]

Alcatraz was cracked open and the prisoners spilled free eagerly, but not everyone was spirited off the Rock. Some prisoners had only themselves to blame for that: they were too distracted by the chance to take revenge against the guards or the prison itself to grasp the larger freedom that awaited them across the Bay. As for the rest of the

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[blackknightone]

He was alone on the teleport pad of Titan's Tower. Lights flashed all around as if some kind of Alarm had been set off. In the distance he could hear some radio traffic, but it all sounded like incoming traffic. On a teleport pad next to find was something he didn't expect to see. A gold and black Checkmate uniform, complete with mask and holsters. Having spent several months in prison he was numb to the idea of stripping off his clothes in public. He ripped the prison garb from his body and slipped on the mutant spandex of his old profession. He had lost wieght so it didn't fit perfectly, but who cared! Oracle was even considerate enough to remember he wore a Flak jacket with the uniform.

"Hello!" he called out once he was finished, "Hello! Anyone here!" He walked into the hallway, looking for anyone who could tell him why he had been called here.

[oracle_watching]

A monitor high on the wall, just a few feet ahead of him, flickers to life.

The images show him footage from Alcatraz: the breached walls, the cell doors open wide, closeups of nullifier collars lying broken on the floor.

[blackknightone]

A riot in Alcatraz, and not a Titan in sight

[jla_villains]

As he draws closer to the nearest inflatable raft, he can see that it carries only one prisoner, who is looking back at Alcatraz and laughing wildly as the powered raft speeds towards shore.

[blackknightone]

The jetski roars to full power as Slater turns the vehicle in pursuit of the raft. He intends to speed past the raft, tearing it open with the blade in his arm holster.

[jla_villains]

The prisoner finally realizes he should watch where he's going when the roar of the jetski fills his ears. "Wha?" He tries to steer the raft away from the oncoming Checkmate Knight, but maneuverability is not the raft's greatest feature, and he is not the most experienced of sailors.

[blackknightone]

The blade rips across the raft as he passes. Slater turns the vehicle around leaving about 15 feet between him and the now sinking raft.

"You better get clear of the raft before it wraps itself around you! Hard to swim back to Alcatraz while wrapped in plastic!"

[jla_villains]

"Wha--I can't swim!" the prisoner screams in panic, thrashing around as the raft sinks.

[blackknightone]

Slater starts pulling cord from his arm holster, his first instinct is that this guy really can swim and is trying to get the Jetski. Worse-case would be that he's a meta looking for an advantage. Let this guy tread water a little, it will take the desire to escape from him.

[jla_villains]

The prisoner's thrashings become even more desperate as the raft deflates, sinking into the Bay beneath him. "Please!" he screams, his voice reaching an impossibly high pitch. His face begins to sprout feathers, and his hands begin to shift as well, resembling an eagle's talons. "Please, help! Help!"

[blackknightone]

It's hard to stick to a plan that is so obviously cruel. This prisoner being a metahuman makes the decision to help more difficult. If this guy really can't swim, his taloned hands wouldn't be able to even dog-paddle. If the feathers were not coated like a ducks, they'll water-log and he'll drop like a rock.

"Grab the line, I'll drag you back to the beach. Anything funny and I'll leave you in the bay."

[jla_villains]

"God, no, I swear I won't, nothin' like that, y'can't let me drown--" The prisoner babbles as he grabs for the line. "Or let the shark eat me, man. The shark, he likes his meat raw."

[blackknightone]

"Trust me, I can let you drown!" a matter of false bravado to secure in the mind of the inmate that I am not his friend and I am in control of this situation. Typical police tactic. He tosses the line from his arm holster and begins to rev the Jetski engine.

What the heck did he mean...Shark?

[jla_villains]

"No, no, please don't let me drown." The prisoner glances over his shoulder. In the distance, a dorsal fin can be seen cutting the water.

"Take me back," he says, spitting out more water. "I don't mind the Birdman jokes. Not if it means not drowning."

[blackknightone]

"Holy..." he revs the engine harder toward Barker's Beach, dragging the Birdman of Alcatraz behind him.