Hawkgirl was mid-patrol over Midway City when Sophist made his appearance. She pulled up instinctively, her wings snapping into a hover position.
"Evening, Shayera," Sophist said pleasantly.
"you know, normal people use phones," she said as she landed on the rooftop, opposite Sophist, with her mace in hand
"Normal people don't have your phone number," Sophist replied.
"There's a reason for that. Besides, you're far from normal," she replied, studying him and his irritatingly calm demeanour. "What do you want this time?"
"To comment on your new look. No helmet. It's a very bold choice, very 'au naturel', Sophist answered, gesturing towards her head.
Shayera's jaw tightened. Her helmet was stolen by the Fadeaway man in her own apartment in her own presence. She now had her hair pulled back in a practical braid.
"It's on loan. Don't worry, I plan on getting it back very soon," she said, slight irritation in her voice.
"Pity. It gave you a certain...gravitas. Very ancient warrior vibe. Now you look so bland and boring," Sophist joked, tilting his head.
"Are you here to critique my fashion choices, or is there a point to this meeting?" Shayera replied.
"There's always a point. I have a game for you tonight. Something more brainy this time. I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun," Sophist replied, pulling a small card from his pocket and holding it between two fingers.
"I'm getting very tired of your 'games', Sophist," Shayera replied.
"This one has a bomb at the end," Sophist said.
"Excuse me?" Shayera stepped towards him.
"A bomb. Somewhere in Midway City. Set to detonate," Sophist said and checked his watch. "In around ninety minutes. I don't know why you're so surprised. I've used bombs before, you know?" he continued.
"Where?" Shayera demanded, her grip tightening around her mace.
"That's the fun. The big game. I give you riddles. You solve them, and each solution leads to the next location. Follow my breadcrumbs, and you'll find the bomb. Eventually...hopefully," Sophist answered and tossed her the card. "The first riddle's on there. The clock is ticking. Literally", Sophist smiled before vanishing.
Shayera looked at the card.
I stand where justice weighs its scales,Where marble speaks and truth prevails.Beneath my steps the guilty fear.Above my doors, the law is clear.
"The courthouse," Shayera muttered.
She launched into the air and started to fly towards the courthouse, and in three minutes she landed on the front steps. She entered the courthouse and scanned the area. No bomb in sight. She read the riddle again. Beneath my steps.
Shayera descended the stairs into the basement, and with her mace, she broke the locked metal door. The place was mostly empty, full of filing cabinets, and taped to one of them was a card. She grabbed it.
Where children laugh and swing so high,Where metal arcs toward the sky,Where joy is found on painted ground,Seek the place where lost is found.
"Playground? Lost and found...The community centre?" Shayera said.
She took off again and crashed through the community centre door and started her search. Under the merry-go-round outside, she found the next card.
I witness vows and tears and rings.Where "I do" makes two from single things,My garden blooms with roses red,where the living join and mourn the dead.
"The church", Shayera mentioned immediately.
The next riddle stopped her cold.
Time tells all and all tells time.My face speaks true in rhythm and rhyme.Above the city's hurried beat,I stand where hours and minutes meet.
The clock tower. Of course. Then Shayera's comms buzzed.
"I'm tracking your flight pattern. What's happening?" Batman asked.
"Sophist's playing Riddler. leaving me breadcrumbs across the city, saying there's a bomb at the end," Shayera replied.
"...That's remarkably derivative for him," Batman replied.
"Right? I was going to say something, but I've been too busy solving his discount riddles," Shayera laughed.
"Do you need backup?" asked Batman.
"For what? His creative bankruptcy? I've got it. Bomb disposal might be helpful though," Shayera replied, the clock tower now in sight.
"Sending a team."
"Copy."
She circled the clock tower, looking for an entry point and finding nothing. Then she saw it. A small piece of paper stuck to the clock face itself.
She flew to the clock face, hovering beside the massive hour hand, and grabbed the note.
My, my. Made it this far. Impressive time.
You mock my riddles? That's fair, that's fine.
But here's the twist you didn't see
The bomb's inside. Behind the three.
Shayera looked at the clock, the number 'three'. Behind it meant the bomb was actually inside the tower.
"Oh, you absolute..." She bit off the curse.
Shayera found a maintenance door hidden on the tower's exterior that led inside. The space inside was tight, barely any room to stand between the gears and their deafening ticking. She pushed deeper, looking for the bomb.
The gears were massive up close, most of them taller than her with teeth the size of her hand. Shayera spotted it. Behind the largest gear was a small device. Looked like a classic bomb.
The timer read 18:43 and counted down. She tried to fly closer, but her wings kept on getting clipped by the gears. It was too tight.
She folded her wings entirely and started to climb, using the gears as handholds, timing her movements the best she can.
Twelve minutes. She was close now and could see the bomb clearly. A gear shifted, and she had to flatten herself against the wall, watching as it passed inches from her face.
Eight minutes. She was almost there. She reached out. She couldn't reach, so Shayera dove and landed in the small alcove where the bomb sat.
Shayera examined the bomb and pulled her comm. "Batman. Got visual on the device. Need bomb disposal."
"Team is three minutes out. Can you wait?" Batman asked.
"That's going to be close," replied Shayera.
"Don't touch it. Wait for the experts," Batman commanded.
She looked at the bomb. A red, blue and green wire. She spotted a card underneath the bomb.
The answer isn't cut or clipped.No wire to snip, no switch to flip.Look closer at what tells the time.The solution's simple, not sublime.
Shayera looked at the timer, the display counting down. 3:47. She remembered the riddle behind the three. The clock's hand was approaching three in around three and a half minutes.
"It's not the wires. The bomb defuses when the clock's hour hand points to three," Shayera said into her comms.
"You're sure?"
"No. But it's Sophist," replied Shayera.
She waited, watching the timer as the gears around her continued to rotate and click around her. Putting her trust in the psycho who's tormented her for months. Not the best person to put your trust in.
1:00
"Shayera..."
"Wait!"
The hour hand continued to move.
0:15
0:10
0:01
The timer stopped. She closed her eyes, preparing for the worst. She opened her eyes, and the bomb displayed 'Well Done', and then the device powered down.
Shayera sighed in relief and then climbed out of the clock and handed the device to the bomb disposal crew. They gave her looks that either meant they thought she was brave or very stupid. She was too tired to care.
Just another night in Midway City. Hawkgirl flew home for some much-needed rest.