This is part 2 of my story Shadow of the Bat. you can find the links to it and my other two Batman stories here
Shadow of the Bat:Part 1
http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/ChroniclesofMoeniaArcis/news/?a=7737
If you haven't read my previous stories you may find them here
Batman: End of Days
http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/ChroniclesofMoeniaArcis/news/?a=6927
Batman: Dark Side of the Mind
http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/ChroniclesofMoeniaArcis/news/?a=7030
This story is not as long as it looks, it contains about thirty pictures and hopefully a casting video at the end, Let me know what you think, enjoy.
Gordon stood out in front of his old home just before dawn fearing to go in.
After a few minutes he finally knocked on the door, after a few moments his former wife Barbara answered the door “What do you want Jim, its early in the morning.” Gordon stood there looking as if his wife’s words had stabbed him in the heart “I want to see my family.” She sighed and let Gordon in to see his children, Gordon silently kissed his daughter on the head before going to is sons room. The boy awoke and saw his father in the door way, he murmured to his dad sleepily “I knew it, I knew you’d get back together.” Gordon looked as if he had been stabbed in the heart again, he hated to tell his son the truth, but he must “We’re not getting back together, I’m sorry.” Gordon said sitting on the bed by the boy. “Why dad?” Gordon didn’t know where to begin, but he slowly tried to explain to James what had happened. On the other side of the door Barbara sobbed to herself quietly.
Gordon eventually left the house as the deep voice began speaking yet again “So often it seems that the son must suffer the sins of the father. This is a tragic theme that resonates throughout time an literature; from Jesus dying on the cross, to Hamlet’s tragic quest for revenge, to a small boy forced to serve his father’s sentence in a third world prison. The cycle has remained unbroken throughout history. Because of one man a marriage was broken, and now innocent children must suffer for the sin their father committed, putting his trust and that of the city in one man.”
Vesper surprised Bruce early in the morning by paying him a surprise visit, she claimed it was so they could go and get breakfast together, but Bruce noticed Vesper was acting suspicious, did she suspect the truth? Bruce and Vesper sat at an famous Gotham restaurant an hour later carrying on a conversation, while they were talking Bruce was deep in thought. Should he tell her the truth, could she be trusted, did he love her? Bruce knew the answer to all of those questions was but one word, yes, yes he should tell her, yes he can trust her, and he most certainly loved her. He decided that he would tell her just as soon as this business with Black Mask and Harley Quinn was over.
That night a building was ablaze yet again, but this time the police arrived before Firefly could escape.
The police had the building surrounded, none of them dared entered the blaze, and Firefly could not leave, he would occasionally approach a window and throw one of his custom made combustion grenades at the police cars, setting them ablaze. Firefly made his way to the roof, knowing it was only a matter of time before Batman arrived or the police had a chopper in the air. Firefly stood on the roof of the burning building, almost hoping it would collapse while he stood on it; suddenly he heard the blades of a helicopter heading his way. Firefly looked up and saw that it was no police helicopter, but was instead painted mat black with a ladder hanging from it. Firefly, having no other options left grabbed onto the ladder as the helicopter flew away.
Batman and Dick waited on top of GCPD for Gordon, Dick ran through the list of things Batman had told him: be quiet, look serious, keep his questions and answers short, be attentive, keep his ears open he may learn something. Batman and Dick turned as Gordon exited the stairwell onto the roof, Gordon halted momentarily at the sight of Batman and his new partner. Dick’s costume is a dull red and green body armor similar to Batman’s. Gordon looks at Batman “Who’s this?”
Batman looked at Dick, who responded “Robin.” Robin saw Batman’s questioning look “You said lose the hood.” Batman turned away from Robin to face Gordon “What did your men find at the freight yard?”
Gordon put his hands on the rail and looked out over the city “Well, as you know Zucco was killed by Harley Quinn, and you and someone, presumably the boy wonder here, took out the rest of them and blew those crates.”
Batman pulled out some pictures from behind his back and handed them to Gordon “I found these at the scene, two of Zucco’s men were bound a short distance away, that is a picture of a boot print, I estimate that the man who did this is roughly 6’5” to 6’7”. There was someone else.”
Gordon studied the photos Batman took “But who?”
Batman ignored the question “I believe I know who took Firefly, and in turn I know Firefly’s identity. Black Mask took Firefly, which has led me to believe that Firefly’s identity is Garfield Lynns. Lynns was a former demolitions expert for the US military, he received a medical discharge after Desert Storm, apparently he suffered Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. He went freelance as a mercenary for a few years, he showed up in various third world countries. He then returned to the US and applied his skills with pyrotechnics to special effects, he was also a suspect in the deaths of Roman Sionis’s parents in the house fire several years ago. There is no record of him since three years ago, shortly before a series of arsons began during the Calendar Man case.”
Gordon thanked Batman and said he’d put men right on it.
Batman and Robin turned towards the edge of the roof before Gordon called out “Oh, don’t forget your little visit with Strange tomorrow.”
Firefly was led by armed men down a dark corridor towards a brightly lit room, Firefly was surprised that he had not been disarmed or searched. He entered the room to see that it contained two people Black Mask and a woman that Firefly cold only assume was Harley Quinn, Black Mask extended his hand for Firefly to shake “Ah Mr. Lynns how good to see you again, I hope this time our meeting will be even more profitable than before.”
Firefly removed his helmet revealing a bald Caucasian man “What is it you want me to do?” he asked in a baritone voice. Black Mask put his hand on Firefly’s shoulder “You once said fire was an art, well I want to help you create your masterpiece.”
Bruce was speaking to Dick the next day in the cave “I agreed to speak with Strange today, and I want to be close to Arkham anyway, I feel something is going to happen. I want you to stay in contact with Gordon in case anything happens, use the communicator I gave you.” He led Dick towards another part of the room containing the Batmobile “If something happens I want you to use this.” He said hitting a switch, the lights came on revealing the Batpod motorcycle; Dick just stared at it slack-jawed.
Black Mask was in a warehouse with several men going over plans, Harley laid across the table overlooking the plans as well. Firefly stood at the other end of the table, helmet in the crook of his arm, his face revealing no emotion but a hint of impatience. Black Mask turned to face Firefly “You understand your part of the plan?” Firefly nodded, black Mask clapped his hands together “Good now, everyone remember your jobs and lets do this right,” he looked at Harley “We only have one chance.”
Hugo Strange left the Riddler’s room, they had yet another unsuccessful ‘treatment’ Strange had Riddler strapped to his bed for his own safety. Strange walked to his office deep in thought, he opened the door and was startled by the sight that awaited him in the dark office. Batman stood in the office, but there was something different about him, his armor was thicker, heavier than before, it also had a sort of tubing near the base of the cowl. Strange walked in “Shall we get started? Please lay down.” He said motioning to the couch in the corner of the room, Batman looks from Strange to the couch, Strange was surprised to see Batman actually sit on the couch. “Well lets begin with your childhood.” Strange said pulling a chair near Batman, while opening a notebook.
“I have had some questions about your past that may give us some insight into why you do…er…what you do.”Strange said with some discomfort. Batman settled a piercing gaze on Strange “I will answer your questions but I have some of my own as well.”
Strange relaxed, this was a routine to which he was accustomed to with his patients, and one which he could control “Alright I will start first then. You had a tragic childhood, you lost one or both of your parents to some form of crime related violence?”
Batman nodded “Yes. How often did Harley Quinn visit the Joker?”
Strange calmly responded “She was required to see him every day, but she would often visit him with more frequency each day, even after she was supposed to be home she would often spend hours with him.” Strange shuffled some papers “You feel compelled by guilt, guilt from your parents death, to do what you do?”
“Yes.” The questions continued on for several more minutes until Batman surprise Strange “Why are you torturing the Riddler?”
Strange was stunned “I…I ..I am helping him, that is not torture it is a highly experimental behavioral correction procedure I have been developing. I am helping Mr. Nigma.” He emphasized the last part.
Batman stood up over Strange, Strange felt fear in the shadow of the bat “Electrocuting the Riddler is not helping him! It is torture, by believing it to be to his benefit, you are no better than the monsters in here!” Strange looked down on Batman with contempt as he was lifted over the vigilante’s head “I am the monster? I AM THE MONSTER? At least I didn’t make them. No, I do what I can to clean up your mess, every day I come in here to try and help your victims, and every day I lose a little bit of myself here, in this house of the damned. But I stay to fight the battle against insanity, while you hide behind your mask.”
Harley, Firefly and several of Black Mask’s men made their way towards the narrow river separating Gotham from Arkham. They carried several bags of gear with them, one of the False Face Society opened a bag and pulled out an odd looking gun, he aimed it at the top of the wall that surrounded the island and fired. The projectile embedded itself in the wall leaving a cord behind it, Harley firefly and the other grabbed their gear and slowly made their way across the river, Harley checked a watch and after a moment she signaled the others to go.
All across Gotham the different precincts of the GCPD either exploded or burst into flames. police officers struggled to escape, or put out the raging flames, others tried pull comrades from the flames.
Before the fire department could do anything to help, they to burst into flames.
The False Face Society quickly crawled over the walls of Arkham, quietly killing the guards before an alarm could be raised. Harley and Firefly both quickly made their way into the Asylum, they burst into the lobby, Firefly burning everything in sight as Harley rushed towards the security console in the guard room. Firefly set charges around the room as the Society rushed up the stairs guns at the ready, each of them carrying charges identical to the ones Firefly was setting. Firefly finished his charges and made his way up to the top floors. A few minutes later Firefly signaled Harley as he activated the charges. The charges were set on several levels and began to ignite the floors in series. Harley hit the security switches opening all of the cells as the same instance that the charges began going off.
Batman sat Strange down “You have no idea what I have sacrificed, what I’ve done.” Batman finished as they were knocked to the ground by a huge explosion.
The Joker lay on his cot smiling as his cell door opened along with ever other cell in the maximum security wing, he calmly stood up moved hi s arms about in the straitjacket for a moment until his arms slowly loosened from the jacket. He slowly walked out into the hall along with the other patients. Joker stood still as the other patients rushed to the exits as he walked towards it he noticed one patient was not among them, he looked into a cell and saw Riddler strapped to his bed, the Joker smiled and continued walking towards the door. Riddler lay there staring at the ceiling muttering to himself “As destructive as life, As healing as death; An institutioner of strife, Just as prone to bless. It is all that is good, Yet with an evil trend; As it was the beginning of things, it can also be the end.”
“Fire.” The deep voice said as Arkham was being consumed by flames ”It brings hope and fear. Fear is an absolute, this city stinks of it. Gotham is ruled by fear, and the Bat is an agent of fear.” Inmates came rushing out of the asylum as Harley Quinn lowered the bridge, she stood near the gate as the prisoners rushed past her until the Joker walked out of the building she rushed up to hug him, he told her she had done good, as the voice continued “This city is now at the mercy of the agents of fear, they are now unleashed to do as they will.
Batman helped Strange get to safety, he then made his way towards the maximum security wing, while on the way he activated the modifications to the suit Fox made him, this activated a breathing system and covered his eyes in a protective screen.
The lights went out in sections of the asylum. Batman saw a man in a clown costume on a walk way below him, Batman hooked his legs to a railing and swung down behind the man. Before the man could move Batman grasped the man’s shoulders and used his weight to flip the man as he dropped.
He made his way through the building smoke, suddenly two men rushed him with knives, and he quickly dispatched them with a quick series of jabs. He knew he couldn’t leave them lying unconscious in the flames, so he drug them over to a window. Batman used one of his explosives to blow the steel guarded widow out, he then grabbed the two thugs and threw them out the window, it was only a few stories to the ground so they would be okay. Batman made his way up a few more floors until he came to the maximum security level. He threw open the door and saw Firefly, waiting there for him. Batman immediately rolled to one side as a torrent of flame shot past him, Batman dived forward towards Firefly, who shot another torrent of fire at him. Batman dropped to the ground to avoid the flames, Batman landed on his hands and quickly hit Firefly with a savage leg sweep, Firefly fell, but as he did his flames hit the ceiling causing it to partially collapse on Batman. Batman struggled to get out from beneath the flaming debris, but to no avail, his legs were trapped! Firefly approached Batman, flamethrowers at the ready, he began a deep disturbing laugh. His flames shot out as Batman’s grapple did, the grapple struck Firefly’s fuel, causing it to catch fire. Flames shot from Firefly’s back as he thrashed about screaming, the excess flames caused the already weakened floor to collapse. Firefly dropped through the floor followed by Batman, who still had a grapple attached to Firefly’s pack, as he moved through the floor he caught a glimpse of the Riddler still strapped to his bed. Batman and Firefly both crashed through the next two floors until they came to an abrupt halt, Firefly was severely injured and had lost all consciousness, Batman got to his feet and saw a window down the hall. He ducked as an explosion in one of the gas lines caused a shard of metal to go flying through the air above him, Batman grabbed Firefly an ran towards the window, he threw a explosive causing the window to blow outwards, Batman dove through the window as a wave of flame gushed out after him. Batman rolled as he landed, he turned to see the asylum seem to sag as it began to collapse. Batman looked down at his arm to see that his glove was on fire, having no other options he pulled it off and threw it on the ground. Batman heard a scream, he turned to see one of the inmates running at him with a gun. The man fired, but all of the shots went wide, the man came within reaching distance and Batman grabbed the gun. He pulled it from the man and threw it into the river, Batman then head butted the man, knocking him unconscious.
Black Mask had his men attack several locations during the inferno, including the National Guard Amory, from which they stole grenades and assault rifles.
Next they attacked several chemical plants in the area. The final place they attacked was the police impound yard, five men led by the Black Mask himself made their way to the evidence room four armed guards opened fire on them, but Mask’s men cut them down without taking a scratch. Mask made his way through the rows of evidence searching each shelf until he found what he was looking for, a box labeled ‘Joker’.
He and his men made their way to their cars when they heard a roar approaching, they turn to see Robin speeding towards them on the Batpod! Robin soared past them firing a cable at one of the cars, this caused the car to crash into another. Mask ordered his men to open fire on Robin as he himself sped away in a car. Robin attempted to follow, but he was thrown off of the Batpod by the cable he forgot to disconnect. Robin jumped onto his feet as the Society rushed him, he took out one man with a sidekick to the gut, another grabbed him from behind Robin head butted this man, breaking his nose. The last man tried to run, but Robin threw a cable, which snaked around the man, causing him to fall. Robin heard a beeping on his belt, Batman was calling him, Robin got back on the Batpod and sped off towards Batman’s location.
Batman, Robin and Gordon stood near the remains of Arkham, as dawn approached. Gordon shook his head “Firefly and Black Mask really did it to us this time, all but three police precincts burned, all of the firehouse are out. The National Guard Armory raided, most of the prisoners of Arkham free, all of your play mates are free. All of this to get the Joker, they used Harley’s knowledge to override the security system, and Firefly did the rest.”
Robin looked up “well, at least we got Firefly, that’s something.” Gordon nodded, and turned to Batman “We were able to recover security footage, and you were right, Riddler never made it out, its unlikely we will ever find the remains.”
Batman stood looking at the burning rubble silent “Firefly won’t talk, and even if he was able to tell us where the Society was based, Sionis would have moved to another location by the time we could act.”
Gordon grimaced “So we are back at square one.”
In a hidden location Black Mask greeted the Joker, who had, thanks to Black Mask, dressed in his old suit, along with new makeup, now he looked as fearsome as before, yet more disturbing, he had more self inflicted scars all along his face, around his eyes, his ‘smile’ had more scaring as well.
Black Mask led Joker over to an elderly man Dr. Hellfurn “Joker, allow me to introduce Dr. Hellfurn, he is the man you will carry out your plan.”
Joker smiled his smile at the Dr. and turned towards Mask “You will have everything in place?”
Mask nodded “Soon, we will create a new Gotham, one were crime and corruption is accepted as a normal part of life.”
Joker smiled at this as he took Harley by the arm “I’m not really seeing a distinction between the before and after, are you.” Harley shook her head as she looked at Joker with adoration as they walked out of the room.
Black Mask called after them “Just be sure you help me with what I need.”
After they had left Mask turned towards Hellfurn and told him he didn’t trust Joker, he was just a means to an end for Mask, nothing more. Hellfurn smiled “A man in your position should never trust anyone.”
Late the next afternoon, Dick was beating himself up over Black Mask’s escape; he had lost his chance to prove himself to Bruce, to prove that he was a capable partner. Bruce had given him a speech on awareness and responsibility; he told Dick that there could be no mistakes out there. Dick had remained silent through it all, he knew he had done wrong, he had let a monster escape, but Bruce was apparently giving him another chance. Dick was busy in the cave researching on the computer; Bruce was at the TV studio, taking Vesper out to dinner.
Bulloch walked into Gordon’s office, Gordon informed Bulloch that in light of the recent attack, the city needed all the policemen it could get. So Bulloch was being reinstated.
Bruce sat across from Vesper at the restaurant; he was worried about telling her the truth. She meanwhile seemed distant, off in thought. Bruce and her ordered, and talked for a little while waiting on their food and drinks, when he decided the time was right “Vesper, do you love me?”
She smiled at him “Hmm no.” She said with a sarcastic smile, then her face became more solemn “you know I do, Bruce.”
“I can trust you; can I tell you something that you will never say to anyone, ever?”
“Of course.” She said wondering where this was leading to as she raised her glass to take her first drink, but before she could Bruce put his hand on her arm.
Bruce straitened “Vesper I have something to tell you I-“
Bruce was interrupted by several men wearing masks rushing in armed with automatics, they held the people at gunpoint, and behind them walked Joker with Harley at his side “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen may I have your attention please.” People were screaming and panicking, so Joker pulled out a shotgun and shot the man nearest to him, the whole room became deathly silent “There, now that is more like it. We are looking for Bruce Wayne and his little girlfriend” he said grabbing a glass of champagne for Harley and himself. “Well Bruce lets not keep everyone waiting here, come on down.” Joker said as he motioned for Harley and the men to go through the restaurant to look for Bruce.
Bruce and Vesper saw what was happening, Bruce had Vesper crouch down and they crawled towards the kitchen, they were just by the door when Bruce heard Harley yell “Hey! Mistah J, we got a runner!” Bruce turned and saw Harley and the thugs raise guns in her direction, Bruce told Vesper to hurry as they ran into the large kitchen,
followed closely behind by Harley and the Society. Bruce grabbed a frying pan as they ran, he swung it and hit one of the thugs in the head, while spilling the hot contents on the head of another thug, who cried out in pain. Harley and the remaining two followed them towards the door, Bruce led Vesper outside the back door and stuck a pipe in the door handles, blocking the exit. Bruce pulled Vesper towards the end of the alley, as a car pulled up, the door swung open. Bruce threw Vesper in and ran to the trunk, he pulled out a crate, he yelled at the car “Go Alfred Go!” Bruce ran to a nearby door, pulled out a key and opened the door.
Harley came back out of the kitchen with the two remaining men to where Joker was with his three men, she looked at the Joker with an apologetic face. Joker looked at her with a smile, pulled her close to him, and hit her across the face with his hand, Harley fell to the ground. She looked up at him with tear stricken eyes, Joker held out a hand “My dear Harley, I-“ Joker was cut off by Batman crashing through the window, Joker smiled and pulled Harley up “Well well well, you got here faster than I expected.” Joker said as he grabbed a nearby man and held him at gunpoint, Batman halted his approach as he saw this. Joker pulled a cord out of his jacket with a blinking device on it, he wrapped the cord tightly around the man’s neck “You know what this is hmm? No? It’s a military grade explosive cable, a little gift from Firefly, before you burnt out his light. This stuff can cut a stone pillar in half, imagine what it can do to this poor fellas neck, we’ll be seeing if he is a true blue blood. Unless you let us leave nice and quiet like, oh and did I mention that all of these poor people are wearing similar accessories, and theirs are timed. So I give you a choice, follow me and save this man while they die, or save them and let us and our new friend leave with us, he will come back, in pieces. Either way someone dies, your choice.”Joker said with a sinister smile, as Batman backed up slowly. Joker smiled as he and his men moved towards the door, one of the men went to open it, when it crashed down upon him as Robin raced the Batpod into the door. He leaped off of the machine, soared through the air and grabbed the hostage from the Joker, as he did he threw the cord into the air where it exploded.
As Robin and the dazed man rolled to a stop, he looked up to see the boot of Harley Quinn come crashing towards his head, Robin rolled away and jumped to his feet as the scared man crawled away. Harley pulled out a pistol but Robin kicked it away, Harley assumed a combat position, Robin glance over to Batman. Batman was busy fighting off Joker’s other men as he removed explosives from the bound hostages, one of the men rushed at Batman with a police baton, Batman jammed his boot hin the mans ankle causing him to stumble in pain. In one motion Batman jerked the club from the man and bound his hands in the explosive cord, the man ran off trying frantically to remove the explosive.
Robin dodged another kick from Harley as he saw Joker speak into a walky-talky, Robin was hesitant to strike at the aggressive Harley “Uh Batman, I don’t think I can hit a girl.” Batman didn’t respond as Harley pressed her attack “Good” she said as she swung a kick that connected with Robin’s jaw,causing him to spit up blood “This makes it easier for me.” She said snapping off a deadly kick towards Robin’s face, Robin caught the kick and flipped Harley in the air. Harley landed with a hard thud, Robin went to help Batman with the hostages and explosives. Joker stood by the door watching the brawl before him, he pulled out his knife and clipped a rose from an arrangement near him, he sniffed it and tucked in the lapel of his jacket “Oh don’t worry about me, I’ll wait right here.” He called out into the room. The man finally shook the cord off of his wrist as he ran towards the door “I wouldn’t do that.” The nonchalant Joker said as the masked thug ran towards the door. The man stood in the doorway as his head was snapped back by a gunshot “Told you” Joker said as the body hit the floor and rolled down the stairs.
Outside Gordon yelled at Bulloch for firing “DAMMIT Harvey!” he said as he ordered his hidden SWAT troops to rush the restaurant. Joker smiled as the SWAT came crashing through the windows. He grabbed Harley as he hit a button on the detonator in his hand. The windows of the restaurant were between columns
and the SWAT were between these columns, guns at the ready. The columns shattered spraying deadly stone shrapnel, impaling the officers, and crushing others. Outside the restaurant light poles and power poles exploded and fell to the ground, creating more chaos outside, and depriving several blocks of the city of power. During this state of confusion Joker and Harley were able to escape to a car and make their getaway. Gordon and his men were able to get the remaining explosives off of the hostages. Gordon and his men rounded up the thugs and attended to the hostages, Gordon stood by Batman and Robin “Well that could have gone a lot worse.” Gordon began when he was interrupted by many of the hostages choking and coughing, they grasped at their throats as they turned pale from lack of oxygen and collapsed, dead. Gordon, Bulloch, Batman, Robin and the rest of the police stood in stunned shock as death surrounded them.
Hours later after Batman had performed extensive toxicology on blood samples from the dead, he was able to find what had happened: they had all been killed by a time released poison which he assumed had been introduced into their food by the Joker. He himself had not eaten or drank anything at the restaurant, and his first thought was to contact Vesper, he called and received no answer. Bruce sat in the cave in worry, long after he had sent Dick up to get some sleep, Bruce eventually left the cave. When he exited the hidden elevator, still in his costume, in the study he was ambushed, by a kiss. He stood there holding the person, who he hoped was a woman in his arms, eventually he pushed her away to see that it was indeed Vesper. “How did you-“ he began, but she silenced him by putting a figure to his lips.
She smiled “I am a reporter remember, besides wasn’t this what you were trying to tell me at the restaurant? Don’t worry, you can trust me…I love you.” She said as they embraced for another kiss, and for a moment Bruce forgot all of his troubles.
The next morning Dick sat in the kitchen eating cereal and reading the paper with Alfred. Dick looked up as someone entered the room, he was shocked to Vesper walk through towards the refrigerator, what surprised Dick more was the fact that Vesper was only covered by Batman’s cape, which she had wrapped around her like a towel.
Vesper grabbed a carton of orange juice and two glasses before heading back up stairs. Dick watched open mouthed in disbelief as she left the room, he looked at Alfred in equal disbelief, for the butler had not even looked up from the paper at the half naked woman that had just passed by them. Alfred turned the page “About bloody time.” He muttered as he did.
Black Mask burst through the door to Joker’s hideout in a rage “You failed to bring me Wayne! You accomplished nothing!” Harley was in normal(as normal as red and black leather can be) cloths and seated with Joker on a threadbare couch, well Harley was anyway, Joker was laid across it with his head resting in Harley’s lap. Joker didn’t even look up as Mask stormed into the room “Don’t you knock, what if we had been doing something indecent?” He said as he smiled up at Harley and wrapped an arm around her “And for the record Mask, I never intended to bring in Wayne, last night was just an excuse for me to test out my plan, an experiment if you will, or maybe I just wanted to let an old friend know I was in town. Either way I succeeded on both accounts. And besides I don’t take orders from you.”
Black Mask was obviously enraged, he began to realize that his new partner was a loose cannon, Mask reached into his coat, as he did he looked at Joker, who’s hand still appeared to be rubbing Harley’s back. Black Mask voice rose in anger “You will do as I say, you will help me get my revenge and then we will go through with your plan!” Mask said as he pulled out a gun only to see the Joker pointing one at him, Joker had hidden a gun behind Harley. Joker slowly sat up “You might want to put that away, you might accidentally shoot Harley, and that may make me angry. If we are going to work together then you need to be a little more serious and leave the jokes to me.” He said taking Harley by the hand and walking towards the door “Oh and I will help you with your little revenge, but we do it my way, and when I say.” He finished as he and Harley left.
Lucius Fox was at Wayne Enterprises in the R&D division showing Bruce some new improvements he had for the Bat-suit. Bruce held up a new cowl, this one had some type of lenses in it “And these are…what exactly.” Lucius smiled and took the cowl from Bruce “These are heat sensitive photo receptive lenses.” Bruce looked at him with a raised eyebrow “Thermal imaging? This will come in handy.”
“Well these are a little bit more powerful than that, but you get the idea.”
Bruce and Lucius spoke for a little bit longer until Lucius mentioned he had an appointment that he couldn’t miss “Someone has to do some work around here, Mr. Wayne.”
Lucius sat in the back of his car looking over some notes, after a while he noticed that they were going the wrong way “Hey, we’re going the wrong way!” Fox said as his limo turned down into an old tunnel, he leaned up to the driver and was hit over the head by the butt of a gun, he caught one brief glimpse of a woman dressed as a clown.
Dick Grayson was deep underground in the Batcave, practicing combat moves Bruce had been teaching him. He was doing this while undertaking an automated obstacle course designed by Bruce, this gauntlet ran roughly a mile in length, and it constantly created random obstacles for Dick to overcome. This included projecting spikes, walls, pits that randomly opened, projectiles, foam that simulated flame, electric shocks, and more things that Dick had more trouble to identifying.
While Dick was undergoing the training Bruce had prepared for him Alfred was going about his usual duties. Vesper had already left that morning, she had an on location story and would be in town all day, but she had promised Bruce she would meet him for dinner. There was a knock at the door, Alfred went to investigate, he looked out a window and saw several men, one of which kept his face hidden. Alfred was no fool, he had seen combat, he knew when something was wrong. Alfred hurried to a hidden switch, the minute he hit it the door was broke down and the False Face Society rushed in.
Dick was still in the cave when a warning claxon sounded. Dick knew what that meant, it meant that the house was compromised, and the Batcave sealed, only Bruce could deactivate it. Dick was trapped until Bruce came home, he could only hope Alfred was okay.
Alfred was gagged, bound and loaded into a truck by the Black Mask. Mask had his men do a thorough search of the house to make sure Alfred was alone. Mask was the last to leave, and as he did he left a note.
Vesper had been told that morning that she had to be on location at Arkham to interview Dr. Strange, when she and her camera crew reached the ruins of Arkham they didn’t find anyone. Vesper waited by the truck while the three crewmen searched the area for any sign of Strange. Vesper sat in the front seat of the van doing some last minute adjustments to her makeup when someone rapped on the glass window beside her. She opened the door expecting to see one of her co workers, but as she exited the van what she saw terrified her. It was the driver Bill, but his face had been gashed into what resembled a smile. Vesper screamed and ran around the van, as she did she ran right into the Joker! “Alright Miss Fairchild, I’m ready for my close up.”
When Bruce arrived home he was surprised to see the door open, instantly he knew something was wrong, he carefully made his way inside and searched the house thoroughly, and found no one, all he found was an envelope. Next he saw that the caves lockdown had been activated, Bruce deactivated it and rushed to the secret elevator. He opened the elevator and was relieved to see Dick standing there. Dick told him what had happened, how Black Mask had captured Alfred, while Dick was locked in the cave. Bruce and Dick made their way into the cave to open the envelope. Bruce fearing it to contain poison ran the envelope through a series of tests in his lab, but the envelope only contained a note. Bruce read the note, it read “Turn on your TV at 1:35PM” Bruce looked at the clock it was almost that time now, he hit a switch and put the news on the computer. Bruce was surprised to see a reporter other than Vesper on, apparently there was a breaking story.
“There is still no word on the whereabouts of Dr. Hugo Strange or GCN’s own Vesper Fairchild, JT Walsh, and Rick Dial, hold on this just in GCN’s Bill Cox has died while in route to Gotham General. Wait … we are getting a live video feed from our missing film crew.”
Bruce leaned up towards the screen intently, the station showed a darkly lit room, the camera swept the room revealing Vesper, the two newsmen, Strange, Lucius and Alfred all tied up. It also showed Harley Quinn, Black Mask, several masked thugs, and eventually the Joker. Joker smiled and gestured to the hostages “As you can see we have a little collection of loved ones of one of Gotham’s most famous celebrities, yes we are talking about Bruce Wayne ladies and gentlemen. And we have a little friend of mine, Dr. Strange, isn’t he cute ladies, don’t you just want to cut him up?” Joker said in a mocking voice as he approached Strange with a knife, and held it up to Strange’s cheek. “But more on that later. Oh Brucy, we know you are watching, we want you and three billion dollars in exchange for your friends. If you want to see your little loved ones alive, you can bring yourself and the money to were Sionis’s family is, by oh let’s say 1:00am.”
“ And people of Gotham, we want one hundred billion for your lives, that’s right, if you don’t pay us a hundred billion, we will tear this city apart you, but there is an alternative. We will cut the ransom back to ten billion, and spare your city, if, if, you can kill Batman, his new little friend or our good Commissioner, you have till midnight tomorrow. If I’m not paid your city will destroy itself in two days. If you don’t think I’m serious just ask our good mayor tonight around eight tonight, and the fair citizens from Crime Alley to Old Gotham around 10:30.” Joker began laughing as he cut the transmission and the screen went dark.
GCPD was a mad house as people tried tracing Joker’s signal, tried to figure out what his plan was. Hospitals, and schools were evacuated, roads closed or diverted, anything that could eliminate a potential attack. Gordon had sent a group of men to mayor Dickerson’s house and he and Bulloch were on their way as well. On the way Bulloch voiced his opinion that Joker would be doing them a favor.
Batman was speeding towards the mayor’s house, he told Robin to search certain area’s of the city and report back to him. Batman stood in the woods near the house keeping surveillance on the mayor and Gordon inside, so far nothing.
It was eight now, Batman saw the mayor begin to cough, he rushed to the house dodging fire from over eager policemen as he went. Batman jumped through the large bay window in time to see the mayor collapse laughing and Gordon administer CPR. Batman pulled a needle out of his belt, shoved Gordon away and stabbed the needle in to Dickerson’s arm. Gordon stood over him “What are you giving him?” Batman checked the mayors pulse “A shot of adrenaline, to hopefully keep his system going long enough to…” Batman dropped the mayor’s arm, he was dead. Batman pulled out another needle and took a sample o the mayor’s blood before leaving.
Robin drove through the streets of Gotham on the Batpod; he stopped when he saw a riot outside of the remains of Gotham Police HQ, and people were demanding he and Batman turn themselves in, or else give them Gordon. Robin heard someone shout “There’s one of them now!” He saw the mob closing in on him from all sides, he couldn’t maneuver the Batpod through the crowd without hurting anyone, he had to think fast! Robin angled the Batpod towards the largest nearby building; he activated both of the cables on the car and shot them towards the top of the building. He gunned the bike and ran straight towards the building as he did he activated the wenches to real in the cables. The front tire of the bike left the ground, just as it struck the side of the building. Robin held on for dear life as the Batpod shot up the side of the building! He deactivated the cables just as the Batpod soared onto the roof of the building and quickly shot onto the next lowest roof. From there he shot off of the last roof to land on the open road, far away from the mob. “Robin.” The comm. Unit crackled to life “The mayor’s dead, head towards Crime Alley.” Robin turned the bike towards that area and sped towards Crime Alley “Batman this city is about to blow, the people are rioting in the streets. Everyone’s going crazy.”
Batman sped towards Old Gotham as he listened to Robin on the comm unit. Something Robin had said troubled him, the Mayor was laughing when he died, his heart gave out, he needed to check something “Computer play back audio feed 125723.” The computer pulled up te audio feed from the Joker’s video
“people of Gotham, we want one hundred billion for your lives, that’s right, if you don’t pay us a hundred billion, we will tear this city apart you, you have till midnight tomorrow. If I’m not paid your city will destroy itself in two days. But there is an alternative. We will cut the ransom back to ten billion, and spare your city, if, if, you can kill Batman, his new little friend or our good Commissioner. If you don’t think I’m serious just ask our good mayor tonight around eight tonight, and the fair citizens from Crime Alley to Old Gotham around 10:30.”
The Joker never said he was going to kill the people, his goal was always to break Gotham’s spirit, he wouldn’t settle for killing them, he wanted to prove they were as twisted as he was. There had to be more to this, he always had a hidden angle, but what?
Joker and Harley stood over the bound hostages, Black Mask sat in a chair across the dark stone room, absentmindedly playing with a knife. Joker whispered something to Harley who nodded, she motioned and two men grabbed Strange and drug him into another room and up a set of stone stairs. Mask stood up “Where are you taking him?” Harley grabbed a bag and walked up the stairs while Joker walked over to Black Mask and laid his hand on Mask’s shoulder “Don’t worry, we are taking Strange with us when we go to meet Hellfurn, we have things to set up to, you don’t need us here to deal with Wayne.” Joker said as he turned and walked up the stairs.
Batman sped through the streets of Old Gotham, it was near 10:30 now, people fled the area in cars, on foot. There was riots in the streets, Batman needed to do something, before he could act however he heard a gunshot. Someone was shooting at him, Batman turned and saw a man with a shotgun firing at the Batmobile, several other people began throwing objects at him, some even pulled out more guns and began shooting at him. Batman knew something had to be done, he hit a switch on the dash and the cockpit quickly opened, Batman was propelled through the air towards the mob. He land boot first on the man with the shot guns face, he then proceeded to quickly incapacitate and disarm several hostile crowd members. One man threw a chain around Batman’s neck and held him back as people began attacking him. Batman, struggling for air, flipped the man with the chain over him into several men in front of him. He bound them and rushed back to his car and sped through the streets trying to find the Joker. Suddenly what seemed to be hundreds of people began screaming, Batman halted his car and looked out the window, they were attacking each other. He exited the Batmobile and rushed to two men struggling, he separated them and was shocked to see them foaming at the mouth, even more hideous they had a sick demented grin, devoid of all morality. They were going crazy, and what’s more, they liked it, you could tell by their laughter.
Batman rushed to the radio in his car, he had to contact Gordon, he was going to have to use a special channel that he and Gordon set up for an emergency such as this “Gordon the Joker has poisoned these people somehow, they are going insane, others are dropping dead from the stress.” Gordon responded “I know it’s happening to all of that areas residents, no matter where they are. Look you can’t help us with this, you have other things to worry about. You and your boy can get to those people Black Mask kidnapped, don’t let them die as well, you can find them before Wayne gets himself killed, we can’t find him.” Batman told Gordon he would get on it, in his heart Batman silently thanked Gordon.
Batman and Robin both arrived at the old cemetery at about the same time.
Joker’s riddle was anything but subtle, all of Sionis’s family members were buried here in a large family crypt. He and Robin carefully made their way into the graveyard, they were surrounded on all sides by huge mausoleums and statues. They make their way into a large fairly open courtyard, occupied by three stone benches, but surrounded on all sides by crypts, Robin heard a sound, he and Batman dodged as bullets riddled the spot where they once stood. Robin looks around and sees at least two dozen heavily armed men surrounding them “Holy crap, Batman.” He says in shock.
Batman thinking fast feigns a charge at a group of men and causes them to fire, their shots go wide but do strike several of their compatriots, Batman pulls out a handful of Batarangs and throws them at a group of men attempting to rush him. Several men cried out in pain as bat shaped shurkins lodged in their hands and chests. Many of the men were out of the fight, the ones still able to fight were quickly taken out by a quick series of jabs. One man came towards him with a large pipe, while another man approached him from behind swinging a heavy chain. The man with the pipe tried to hit Batman across the face, but Batman ducked under the blow as the man behind him swung the chain. The chain wrapped around the pipe, disarming both men. Batman took out the nearest man with an uppercut, and the man behind him with a side kick to the gut. Not even a minute had passed and Batman had already incapacitated nearly a dozen thugs.
Robin had been doing quite well on his own, he used his superior speed to disarm several of his opponents. He pulled out a gadget given to him by Bruce, it was a collapsible telescoping staff, Dick was able to use it to keep distance between himself and his foes. He planted the staff into the ground and used it to vault into the air, delivering two staggering kicks to the faces of the thugs he landed on. Dick did a leg sweep to take out another thug.
At this point he was forced back to back with Batman as the remaining members of the False Face Society encircled them. Batman yelled for them to lock arms, Robin did as instructed. Batman swung the lighter man against his back lifting Robin’s feet off of the ground, as Batman swung him Robin was able to kick the remaining thugs. They looked at the defeated men silently and made their way to the Sionis crypt.
They were met in the doorway to the crypt with a gunshot.
The bullet hit the young Robin in the chest sending him backwards, Batman looked in anger at Black Mask as he stood in the doorway with the still smoking gun pointed at Vesper’s head “Batman I have just killed you sidekick, don’t make me kill the girl. I offer you one last chance, join me, we masked terrors of the night. We are but two sides of the same coin, we walk the same line, I on one side, you on the other. We could work together, we could rule this city!” Mask cried as he gripped the woman tightly. Batman replies “I don my mask to protect the people of the city, not kill. You, you have become consumed by hate, that is your true face your mask was Roman Sionis. You now appear as evil as you are.” Mask prepares to shoot Vesper, when Batman lunges at him knocking them both down the stairs into the mausoleum. As they fall Black Mask shoots Batman, he misses and the bullet ricochets about the stone chamber as Batman and Black Mask fall down the stairs. As they land at the bottom of the stairs Black Mask’s head slams against the sarcophagus of his parents, snapping his neck, Batman lays there for a moment staring at the black skull that had caused so much hurt in this city.
Batman heard footsteps rushing down the stairs, he turned to see Vesper helping a Robin who was gripping his chest “Well Batman, at least we know this body armor of yours works.” Robin said removing his hand to show where the bullet had impacted the body armor. They go to the next room and untie the other hostages, everyone is accounted for except for Strange of course.
Gordon and his men were having slightly worse luck than the caped crusader, they had been able to apprehend and get medical help for several hundred people, but many more died from the shock of the poisons, but finally the night was over, dawn had arrived. He gathered some blood samples to be sent to Batman, since all of the city’s crime labs were destroyed by Firefly. But for the moment Gordon sat down to call his family.
The deep voice returned as the camera moved away from Gordon to show the city as dawn approached.
“In one night two madmen won, and one perished, as most do. The average people are the ones that suffer from these higher being’s battles, these clash of titans, they suffer the casualties, and this will continue until the city breaks completely and they all can experience the bliss that comes with oblivion.”
Gordon got out of his car and walked to his apartment building as he did someone shot at him, the bullets missed as Gordon dove for the ground. Before he could respond three policemen tackled the gunman to the ground, Gordon stood there as he watched his neighbor being handcuffed.
Bruce had insisted that Vesper stay with him at the mansion until things calmed down. He attempted to get Lucius Fox to stay, but the older man would have no part of it. So many hours later Bruce sat in the cave going over the analysis of the blood samples Gordon had sent him. The poisons were similar, but this new one was much more effective, but it had to be introduced into the subjects system several days in advanced, while the previous poison required an hour. If they could find him tonight, they could prevent a lot of people from dying.
That evening at dusk Gordon had stopped by his old home to see his kids and ex wife, he was worried about them. All day he had dodged attacks and avoided mobs, so he was understandably stressed. She had argued with him for a few minutes and sent the kids upstairs so they wouldn’t hear.
A doorbell interrupted their argument, Barbara stood up and walked to the door, she opened it to see a deranged clown pointing a gun at her “Smile” he said as he pulled the trigger. Gordon jumped to his feet and pulled his gun out as he was shot by the silenced gun in the shoulder. Gordon slumped to the ground as the Joker, Harley and two others entered the room. Joker turned towards Harley and told her to bring down the kids, she paused and looked back at him with concern “The kids?” Joker seemed to lose his patience “Yes the kids, do it now!” he yelled harshly as he walled over to the bleeding woman one of his men had drug into the room. Joker prodded the body with his toe as he watched the injured Gordon, “Hmm” the Joker grunted as he savagely kicked the corpse. Gordon reared up despite the pain and was knocked unconscious by one of Joker’s men.
Batman and Robin both sped across Gotham in the Batmobile checking locations to see were the Joker may be hiding. Suddenly Robin calls Batman’s attention to the sky, high in the clouds there was a spotlight with a vague Bat-like shape on it. Batman spun the car and headed in the direction of the spotlight, it was coming from the remains of the Gotham City Police HQ. The building was able to survive the explosion and still served as the base for the police. Batman and Robin grappled to the top of the roof, they were both surprised to see Harvey Bulloch waiting for them, his trench coat draped across a huge spotlight.
An obviously uncomfortable Bulloch walked to Batman “Gordon’s wife is dead, and him and his kids are gone. We can’t find anything, but you, you have always come through. And no matter how much I don’t like ya, you’re still Jim’s best bet.”
Batman handed Bulloch a packet containing his lab findings “You have to shut down the water, that’s how he’s spreading the poison.” Bulloch shook his head “No can do Bats, all of the cities phone lines and cell towers are down since about 6:00 pm, the only way that waters stopping is if someone destroys the reservoir.”
When they got back into the Batmobile Batman hit a switch and a computer terminal rose out of the dash. Batman told Robin to use the computer to find any of Sionis’s holdings that had to do with chemicals. Robin found five chemical plants, one of which was less than a quarter mile from the reservoir “That’s where we’ll be going.” Batman said as they sped towards the ACE Chemical Plant.
Gordon awoke to find himself in a large chemical plant somewhere, it was dark and all of his things, wallet phone gun, had been removed. Gordon tried to move his arm, but stopped because of the searing pain, the bullet definitely broke his shoulder. Gordon winced as he got to his feet, he opened his jacket to see that someone had bandaged his wound. As he wondered who patched him up he heard a voice crackle on the intercom “You can thank Harley’s bleeding heart for the fact that yours isn’t bleeding.” Gordon limped his way around some machinery as the Joker continued “I know you’re wondering where your kids are, well I know they are dying to see you.” Gordon heard someone screaming from above on the catwalk, he rushed up a sat of stairs and saw his kids, each suspended over a vat of chemicals “I know it’s a bit cliché, but it was short notice, oh well no used crying over spilt blood.”
Gordon made his way onto the catwalk and shouted “WHY, WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?” Gordon heard a hideous laugh over the speakers “Think of it as a social experiment, you’ve been through so much lately, attacked by the people you were trying to protect, watching the woman you love bleed to death in front of you, and this facing the loss of your two kids. You were an ideal candidate.” Gordon leaned against the rail gasping for air “Candidate? Candidate for what?” The Joker stopped laughing and is voice took on a darker tone “To prove that anyone can go crazy after one really bad day.”
Gordon reached out for his daughter to see that she had weights tied to her, he saw his son did not “What do they have to do with it?” Joker laughed lightly, or he may have been clearing his throat
“Well each of your kids are suspended over a vat of toxic chemicals, you just have to reach out and grab one of them. Oh and one word of advice before you get started your kids are on a balance, if you move one the other will fall. Oh and they are timed, so they will both fall anyway if you don’t save one of em.” Gordon stood there reaching towards is daughter in disbelief, he carefully pulled his arm back as she cried out to him “SSSAVE ME DADDY!” Gordon looked up and shouted “WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?”
“Isn’t it obvious? I want you to choose.” Gordon heard a click and knew it was the sound of the intercom shutting off.
Batman and Robin approached ACE Chemicals plant, by this point Robin was again on the Batpod while Batman was in the Batmobile. Batman told him to approach on opposite sides. Batman stood outside the Batmobile and used the thermal imaging device Lucius made him, it allowed him to see through the walls of the plant. He saw the plant was divided into two sides divided by an office section, Batman briefly remembers the layout from his last time hear, all those years ago. He remembered it because it was his first encounter with Tony Zucco, back when he had just begun his career. He was able to see bright silhouettes of several individuals, a large majority of them were on the ground, but three were on a catwalk, high over the others, Batman knew that this had to be Joker, Harley and probably Hellfurn.
Batman tapped his cowl near his ear, this intensified the resolution, allowing him to see on the other side of the factory, Batman saw three silhouettes one of a man and two smaller ones suspended in the air, the Gordons. “Robin the Gordon’s are on your side, there are no guards now, hurry, and…be careful.” Batman deactivated the imager and got back into the Batmobile. “Batman, it may take a while security is pretty heavy out here.”
The Joker sat in the control room overlooking the section of the warehouse where Gordon was, he set up the video monitor so he could record what happened, he then smiled and walked out onto another catwalk overlooking another section of the large plant. On the catwalk stood Harley and Hellfurn. Hellfurn was ordering several men down below who were working on a huge tank “Alright men when we give the word you start pumping the chemicals into the reservoir.” Joker walked up and leaned over the rail “No do it now.” The men ignoring Hellfurn and instead listening to the Joker began pumping the chemicals into the reservoir despite the protesting Hellfurn. Joker walked over the other side of the catwalk as Hellfurn asked “Have they turned down or offer?” Joker smiled “I honestly don’t know, or care, we’ve cut off all communication to the city. Ya see, I’ve planned on releasing the toxin all along.”
Hellfurn stood there by Harley
“Are you going to pay me as I was promised?” Joker smiled and shook his head. Hellfurn ran behind Harley and hit a pulled a lever, deactivating the machinery. The Joker pulls out a gun “You shouldn’t have done that Dr. Death.” Hellfurn pulls out a gun and grabs Harley, he holds the gun to her head and uses her as a human shield “You may not care about me, but what about the girl?” Joker holds his gun on the two, his aim steady as ever. Harley looks at Joker pleadingly, she begins to tear up “Please Puddin, I don’t want to die.” She is crying at this point, Joker smiles at her and acts as if he is lowering his gun “My dear Harley…We all have to die sometime.” With this he whips the gun up and fires. The bullet hits Hellfurn in the head, causing him to stumble back and fall over the rail into one of the chemical vats, as he fell back the gun fired. The bullet struck Harley in the back; she stumbled over the rail just as the window nearest her shattered.
Batman crashed through the window and grabbed the falling Harley, he caught her and roled onto the grounds. He looked at her, she was shot and crying “why, mistah ja…. I loved….”she said as she lost consciousness. He stood up and saw Joker throw a lever on a panel and destroy the panel, he turned on the pumps and it couldn’t be shut off! Batman raced for the stairs as he saw Joker run outside. Batman rounded a row of vats to see several armed guards rushing towards him.
Gordon stood there on the stairway torn, he looked at his son and daughter, she hung there crying, while the boy had an odd calmness about him. Gordon himself was crying he hated the decision he was about to make “Save her dad. Save her, you can reach her easier with your arm, save her.” His son said as he began to tear up “DO IT!” Gordon held his limp arm at his side “I love you son...I’m sorry” He said as he reached for the girl, he pulled her towards him and over the rail, the second she cleared the rail the boys chain dropped. The boy screamed in spite of himself as he fell, he fell to within a few feet of the vat of hot chemicals, when he was snatched out of the air by a caped figure. Robin grabbed the falling boy from the air and swung to the other side of the catwalk, he landed and deactivated his grapple. The boy laid there in shock at what had nearly happened, Gordon limped over there with his daughter to his son “James, oh James, I’m so sorry I had no choice, I’m sorry.” Gordon kept repeating over and over. Robin heard gunfire, he left Gordon and rushed to the control room, as he did he heard someone moaning, he opened a closet door and saw a bruised, but breathing Hugo Strange, Robin untied the man and told him where Gordon was. Robin rushed out into the main room to see Batman fighting several armed men, Robin vaulted over the rail and flew through the air.
Batman needed to put an end to this fight, he had to catch the Joker and get Harley to a doctor, if she was still alive, but unfortunately these men were tougher than Joker’s previous men. One of the thugs had a large pipe and rushed towards Batman, Batman easily dodged. As he did he used the man’s own momentum to swing him into the midsection of one of his compatriots. Batman saw a man charging at him from the side, rather than dodge Batman let the large man rush him. At the last moment Batman dropped to his hands and issued a leg sweep which sent the larger man sprawling. As he returned to his feet, Batman sensed two men armed with some kind of clubs behind him, but before he could attack them he heard a crash, he wheeled about, leg sweeping another man to his right as he did, to see Robin crouched on two unconscious thugs. The last man tried to run, but Batman threw a cord that snaked around his legs causing him to collapse. Batman picked up and handed Robin the unconscious Harley “Take her and get the others out of here, now. I’m going to put an end to this.”Batman said darkly as he shot a grapple towards the door the Joker ran out of.
Batman looked around in the dark, he couldn’t see anything, he activated his thermal imager. He searched carefully and saw a figure moving on the other side of the reservoir.
Batman made his way out into the open, he carefully made his way out onto the narrow concrete ledge of the reservoir wall, he almost lost his balance when he heard a voice broadcast over a loud speaker “Watch your step Batman, the fall won’t kill you, but the water will. I’ve been pumping poisons in there for days, it’s fine and dormant, unless you add the catalyst. Which I have tonight. Think about it a town full of people like me. In a few minutes when the aqueducts draw the water, the entire city will be contaminated. And the best part is, even if they try to filter it, it will be just as potent, I have to admit Dr. Death made one hell of a poison.” Batman was about halfway around the wall at this point, he still had a long way to go. He knew the Joker liked to talk, and just maybe if he asked the right question Joker may reveal something “WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS?” A sick laugh came over the loud speakers.
Joker stopped laughing “You took me and locked me away in that little box, and forgot all about me, that was your first mistake. You sent me, a man with vision, a man who had contacts in all levels of Gotham, you locked me in a government run hospital, were the underpaid guards and underpaid orderlies have keys to the cells. You messed up my little game with Harvey, so while I was in Arkham, I decided to play a more subtle game. Everything that has happened in this town since I …went on vacation, has been my doing. I set up the gang wars, the fact that it killed Calendar Man’s family was a perk. I was the one that arranged for Zsasz to escape. I helped get Riddler in contact with Sionis, and I was the one that let Wayne discover that Sionis was Black Mask. Firefly, he was already on the edge, I just made sure he could get at the chemicals he needed. Harley, ah Harley, she was my greatest creation, I spent years quietly twisting her to my will. And the good Dr. Strange, he is as twisted and sadistic as me.” Joker laughed “Everything that has happened has been because of me, all of it, I set this town on the edge of collapse, and I didn’t lift a finger. But my true masterpiece will be Gordon, the most upstanding and reputable man in all o Gotham. Can you imagine seeing the woman you loved killed before your eyes, or having to choose to sacrifice one of your own children?”
Batman breathed a sigh of relief as he reached the edge of the reservoir and stepped on safe ground “Gordon saved both of his kids, and he is just fine. Don’t you see the people of this city are stringer than you, they can persevere, withstand your sick games.” Joker laughed, this time Batman heard it without the speaker as he made his way into an area with a bunch of storage crates “Oh Batman, I have won you see all of the water the people have come into contact with has been poisoned, all it will take is a half a gram of Hellfern’s chemicals for the poison to be lethal.”
Batman activated the thermal imager again and was surprised to see nothing, but he did hear something “Even if you do stop me tonight, I will still win. And besides I told you, we are destined to do this until the end of days. We are both inevitable, you need someone like me, I give you a purpose, a reason to do what you do. And you, you give me something fun to do.” As he finished that last line Batman was hit in the head by a pipe, this caused the imager to flare and temporarily blind him.
Batman stumbled about and switched off the imager, he blinked trying to clear his vision as he was hit in the side by the pipe. He waited a second and reached out to his left and caught the pipe, Batman jerked the pipe up and back, he was rewarded by hearing a satisfying crunch. Finally he was able to see again, he turned and saw a bleeding Joker rushing at him with a knife, Batman dropped to the left and jabbed, but missed. Finally he cloths lined the Joker, flipping him over the rail! ‘Rudimentary but effective’, Batman thought as he reached out to grab the Joker, he barely caught the end of the Joker’s pants leg. Joker looked back at Batman “Oh, I’m not going to give you the satisfaction of saving me again.” He said as he reached out and slashed at Batman’s hand with the knife. Batman somehow managed to retain his grip, but before he gave the Joker another chance he slammed him against the wall, causing Joker to drop the knife. Batman pulled Joker up and tied him up as claxons began wailing “You hear that? It’s the sound the main aqueduct opening up, it’ll give water to all of the cities pipelines, you’re too late, I’ve already won.” The Joker said as he began laughing. Batman dropped his prisoner and pulled out a small remote from his belt, he hit a switch on it.
The aqueduct was actually the water transfer system for the city, it was encased inside of a large wall and pipe, after it reached a junction it would be spread throughout all of Gotham and eventually come together under Wayne Tower. Against the wall of the aqueduct sat an unusual car, the Batmobile, inside of it a light began blinking as millions of gallons of water rushed towards its location. Suddenly the car exploded with tremendous force, it caused the aqueduct wall to collapse, diverting the flow of water into the Sionis Industrial Plant. This activated the emergency shut off sequence for the water system.
Joker looked at the cloud of smoke rising from the demolished water way “Huh.” He said as Batman drug him to his feet. Batman drug Joker over to where Robin had taken Gordon, his kids, Strange and Harley. The injured Harley leaned up from the ground when she saw Joker “I don’t care what you say, me and Mistah J have something special. He told me the truth.”
Batman looked at her with actual pity “You mean how he disfigured himself for his wife?” Gordon leaned up holding his shoulder “Or how the mob cut him up for not paying a debt?” Strange walked over to her and said softly “or how his father cut him in his sleep?” Harley looked at the men in horror, and finally she faced the Joker. He smiled at her.
“Harley, sometimes I remember it one way sometimes another, If I have to have a past I’d prefer it to be multiple choice.”
Harley broke down crying, they heard sirens approaching in the distance Joker smiled from where he sat “It’s so tense here, why don’t I lighten the mood, I know this one joke that’s really good.” Joker cleared his throat before continuing as the others sat there waiting for the police and ambulances. Batman and Robin were attending to Gordon and Harley’s wounds and Strange was sitting off to himself staring at the ground. hearing no objections, or comments period, Joker continued:
“Well you see, there were these two guys in a lunatic asylum... and one night, one night they decide they don't like living in an asylum any more. They decide they're going to escape! So, like, they get up onto the roof, and there, just across this narrow gap, they see the rooftops of the town, stretching away in the moon light... stretching away to freedom. Now, the first guy, he jumps right across with no problem. But his friend, his friend daredn't make the leap. Y'see... Y'see, he's afraid of falling. So then, the first guy has an idea... He says "Hey! I have my flashlight with me! I'll shine it across the gap between the buildings. You can walk along the beam and join me!" B-but the second guy just shakes his head. He suh-says... He says "Wh-what do you think I am? Crazy? You'd turn it off when I was half way across!" Get it?”
Joker began laughing, but everyone was surprised when he was joined in by Strange, who laughed with an apparent lack of control. Harley screamed and reached out her arm, the hideout gun slid from her sleeve, into her hand. Before anyone could react she fired at the Joker. The bullet struck him in the shoulder, despite the pain he continued laughing. Robin quickly snatched the gun away from Harley. Everyone jumped when somewhere in the city they heard a huge explosion, followed by several more. The injured Gordon made it to his feet “What the hell was that?” he asked with worry in his voice.
Joker smiled from where he sat “Just a little gift from a friend.”
The deep voice returned as the camera panned out to show the city racked with flames
“A man made a choice, he chose what seemed like the lesser of two evils, but in turn he was responsible for the homes and lives lost in Firefly’s last act of destruction. For a short time after it seemed as if Joker still won, because in the madness that ensued people rioted in the streets, pillaged and murdered, but the city was able to rally itself, they persevered. The media blamed him for the destruction as much as the Joker, his actions indirectly forced these people to rely on themselves for once, and they hated him for it. And yet when the truth came out, they applauded him as their hero once more.” The camera showed that it began to rain on the city, the drought was finally over “Their faith in him was increased. The people stood on the brink of freedom, and he pulled them back down into the depths of dependency. But his time is over, it is time for the natural order to retake its place. He will be hunted, he will be studied, but know this, HE WILL BE BROKEN!.” The camera moved over the city before finally settling on a large silhouette in the shadows on a rooftop. “Beware Batman, for Bane has come to Gotham!”
After a week things were finally gaining some sense of normalcy, the rain had spared three fifths of the city firm the Joker’s endgame. Bruce Wayne had donated large amounts of money to the relief efforts, and Roman Sionis’s personal fortune was also used by the city to heal some of the harm he helped cause. Power had been fully restored and lives were beginning to go back to normal.
Harleen Quinzel awoke in her hospital room, she could see a guard posted at the door. Sighing, she turned her head to see an object on the table next to the bed. It was a red rose in a simple black vase, it did have a note on it though. Harley took the note and looked at it. She slowly smiled happily to herself and dropped the card on the bed. It bore no markings or signatures, but a smiley face.
Vesper kissed Bruce goodbye a week later, she had to go back to the studio, he told her he loved her she smiled as she got in her car. A short while later Vesper Fairchild pulled into the parking garage of the TV studio, she got out of her car and locked it. Vesper began walking through the area, her steps echoing , when suddenly she feels a hot stab in her chest and hears an echoed shot. Vesper drops to her knees and puts her hand to her chest, she looks down and sees a red sticky substance coming out of her chest. Vesper slumps to the ground. Across the parking garage a hand gun is dropped to the ground.
Bruce heard a knock at the door, Alfred was still at the hospital recovering from the kidnapping, so Bruce answered the door himself. He opened it and was surprised to see Detective Harvey Bulloch and several other police officers at the door “Bruce Wayne?”
“Yeah.” Bruce responded with concern.
Bulloch held out a pair of handcuffs “You are under arrest for the murder of Vesper Fairchild.”
Thank you for reading the story, let me know what you think. And rather than presenting my casting in the usual way I decided to create a video showing my cast. The music is the theme from Clockwork Orange, if Youtube will let it play.
Let me know what you think, thanks for reading.
HAWK out.