Author's note: Dear friends. This is the promised sequel to Path of the Jester, taking off where Jester left off, but if you want to start reading this story, feel free, since you really don't need to have a knowledge of Jester's story line to enjoy it. I will supply any facts that might need referencing, but for the most part, this is a whole new story, from scratch, and hot from the oven. In contrast with Jester, which I know was slow and sometimes dragged (it was my first story ever), I promise you an action packed thrilling adventure. Some of the things that happened in the first story will make sense now. Hope you like this little new adventure.

Feel free to let me know your thoughts on this story. I welcome all good intentioned reviews with your thoughts and ideas. For now, please enjoy the chapter..

DISCLAIMER 1: Batman, and all releated characters belong solely to DC COMICS. Unfortunately, I don't make any money writing this story.

DISCLAIMER 2: Sometimes I will will use MATURE LANGUAGE and SITUATIONS and some SEXUAL innuendos might be found throughout. If you dont like VIOLENCE, FOWL LANGUAGE and SEXUAL INNUENDO, be advised....you might find it often here.

BETA: I would really like to thank the wonderful KICHI for her help. I couldn's ask for a better Beta,, since her own writing is so strong and energetic, and she is very insightful. If you want a taste of her magnificent talent, check out her stories founded in the Nolanverse Joker: Mask, Dies Irae Day of Wrath, and my personal favorite, Vitiate.

Chapter 1: Introduction to Chaos

Garrison opened the bottle of Jack Daniels and poured some of the liquor into two freshly cleaned glasses as he looked subtly at the image of his guest reflected in the window glass. The man, blonde and probably in his late thirties, rested comfortably in a chair in front of Garrison's desk with his elbows set loosely over the armrests and his hands interlaced over his lap. The man looked calmed as he looked over to the crime boss at the small bar, and then sighed with some disdain. Garrison added some soda to the glass and once he finished mixing in some ice, he took the drinks back to his desk where his dark suited guest awaited looking out the office window.

"So you say that Mr. Dokeshi is pleased with the delivery, Mr. …"

"You can call me Mr. M, just like the first letter in MYSTERY and yes, that vas precisely vat Mr. Dokeshi needed," the man answered in a thick German accent. He removed the sunglasses from atop of his head and set them gently on the Mafioso's desk as he accepted the drink with a polite nod. "You are indeed a resourceful man, Mr. Garrison. Can I call you Harry?"

Garrison nodded. "It is my business to stay well connected, Mr. M. Nothing is out of my reach in my city especially for the right price," the Mafiosi said as he put strong emphasis on the last sentence. After all, it was well known that Boss Garrison was the most powerful man in Gotham after Thermoupoulos' early demise. He lifted his glass and took a swig, licked his lips and then set the glass gently on the corner of his desk. "And what does your boss need this time, 'cause this is more than a casual visit, isn't it? And this thing of keeping our names to a simple initial…I'm sure is not just a German fad, am I correct?"

M. smiled. Garrison couldn't be easily fooled. "The least you know the least you need to answer to the police in case you end up in one of their interrogation rooms. Just for your protection, really, and you're right Harry, Dokeshi needs your help to tie up some loose ends, and he's confident you can help him vith 'dat."

"I knew it." Garrison smiled as he leaned back into his leather executive chair. "Who does Mr. Dokeshi wants iced? Unless I'm reading you wrong… "

M. looked at the glass of Jack Daniels in his hand and set it untouched beside him smiling wide. "Someone very important, 'cause it vill serve as important piece of 'dis puzzle Mr. Dokeshi vants to leave for the Crusader."

Garrison fidgeted on his chair at the mention of the Detective's name. "Your boss should be very careful with that rat, Mr. M. That vermin bites back."

"Oh, he knows, he knows. The Batman is a beast that my boss finds very interesting and unique. More of a playmate vith vooom to have fun if you vill, and he vill have fun with the rodent."

"Look, I don't mind associating with someone as powerful as Mr. Dokeshi for a mutually profitable alliance, but I'm not going to risk going head to head with the Batman. I did it twice, and ended up with over a dozen men in the hospital. The least the rodent knows about me…and us, the better for this business."

The German let a soft cackle as he combed his blonde curly hair with a hand. "My dear Harry. This is not longer just 'bout you. Mr. Dokeshi vants to play vith 'dis city and his mascot."

"Then I will have to say that I can't be part of that. The whole idea is just insane. Does he know that dealing with the Batman is like playing with fire? The Bat is not forgiving." Garrison explained as he wiped the sweat on his upper lip.

"Boss Dokeshi vas right, your balls dropped off," Drago said with an evil smile across his face. "You're afraid of a mouse."

Garrison thrust forward angrily. "I beg your pardon?"

"Only ladies are afraid of mice. Vee need people vith courage and determination in our little club, Mr. Garrison because great changes are coming to 'dis city. Unfortunately, your name is no longer part of our lists."

"You come to my very office just to spit on my face, Mr. M? I don't take that kindly." Harry snarled when a shootout was heard outside Garrison's office along with screams and expletives. "And I'm no coward…what the hell is that?"

"Nothing you should be concerned about, Harry, and I'm not calling you coward, I'm calling you bait," Drago responded throwing a playing card at the Mafioso's desk. A Joker card. Three more cards followed, this time embedding themselves deep into Garrison's torso. Harry started at that very same moment to giggle uncontrollably as his white shirt quickly drenched in the blood seeping from the wounds. As Garrison's giggles escalated to a hysterical laughter, he stopped breathing and slumped over his desk, with his blank eyes open wide and his mouth stretched in a broad grin. The door behind M. opened and a man carrying an automatic peeked through.

"You're done there? Have to go before the pigs arrive."

"Yes, I'm done," the German responded rising from the chair and leaning over Garrison's body to confirm he was dead. He then headed towards the door fixing his jacket and tie as if getting ready for a date. "Vee are so happy, you see the funny side of 'dis new plan, Harry. Thanks for all your help. Goodbye."

oooooooooooooooooooooooo

The hall was long and dim, and despite its green makeup, the true spirit of the building peeked through the cracked paint and crumbly cement covering ready to engulf you. Insanity seemed hidden within the old walls like a lurking monster. The remodeled building was all a façade; a nicely painted corridor just to hide the evil that hid behind it. Tunnel to the Bowels of Hell. That was what it looked like to him as he got deeper into the bowels of this monster to find his target.

Hampton have not seen security this tight since he had worked in area 51 ten years ago and he couldn't believe that an institution like this will have so many circles of security to reach access to one of his inmates. Their most dangerous resident. The Clown Prince of Crime. He remembered when Joker asked for ransom as he was ready to blow half the planet in a radioactive mushroom cloud, just to rejoice in the mass destruction and chaos he had provoked. Hampton wondered if he would ever get the madman to speak to him.

The guard at the fifth security station ran a metal detector all over him while a second guard sat on a chair by the security post checking his pass against what seemed a computer file on a monitor in front of him. The man in the chair eyed him suspiciously making Hampton very uncomfortable.

"Name." The man said dryly, rising from the chair and walking up to him.

"Mathew Hampton. I thought I had given you--."

"We know who you are, Mr. Hampton. Sorry, but that's the protocol."

"Unbelievable… I'm cleared to access the Pentagon and the White House and I'm waiting for clearance to see a simple lunatic."

"Not your usual lunatic, Mr. Hampton." The guard looked over the computer and eyed the government officer again. "Why would you like to talk to him, anyways? Nobody ever wants to talk to him, not even the Batman."

Hampton sneered at the curious officer when the computer blipped twice and the officer looked over the small printer by the monitor were a silver sticker was being printed. He removed the sticker from the printer and offered it to Hampton.

"Here you have it, sir. Your clearance. Secure it to the back of the pass and present it when requested, understood?" Hampton snorted obviously annoyed. "Now some basic rules. One. Never, approach the acrylic door or the inmate. Two…"

"I know how to deal with psychos so spare me the lecture," Hampton said starting to walk into the maximum security ward when the guard stopped him and pushed him back.

"Two. On the right hand side of the door and embedded on the wall is a small slot for any papers that need to be exchanged. There is an X-ray unit there so just slide the printed material slowly. If it detects staples, paperclips, or any other type of unusual material it will not let it go through and it will alert us, automatically finishing your interview time, so be careful with what you put in there."

"Got it, got it…" Hampton rambled. "Can we go in now?"

"They granted you forty-five minutes so make the best of it if you can make him talk coherently for that long. He's been unusually out of synch with reality lately." Hampton knitted his brow and nodded silently. "Follow me."

The doors opened and the guard led Hampton down another smaller corridor that somewhat darker than the one with the security post and was flanked with cells on both sides. He could feel the hair rising on the back of his head as they stopped on the last cell to the left. Inside, a man restrained in a straitjacket sat in a corner with his back to the acrylic glass door. He wouldn't recognize the man if it wasn't for the mane of wild green hair on his head. There was a small camera on the outside the door, looking into the cell and focused on that particular corner. "You have a visitor, Joker."

The man in the corner did not respond, but seemed to mumble something to himself before he started to giggle nervously in his corner. Where was the dangerous psychopath everybody was supposed to be afraid of? This had to be a joke. This was not even the shadow of the criminal mastermind he had spoken to on the phone last year. This man was not going to be able to help him or anybody else for that matter. He was just too far gone into his own world. Hampton came one step closer to the acrylic door and cleared his throat.

"Mr. Joker, remember me? I'm Mathew Hampton." The government official said gingerly. No answer; only the incessant mumbling. Who was he talking to? There was no one else in that cell. "Mr. Joker I'd like to talk to you, ask you a few questions…"

Nothing. Hampton didn't know what else to do to get the man's attention and in his frustration he stared at the officers in the security station. They just stared back and Hampton felt his stomach tighten. He was not going to just give up now. Mathew just faked a smile and tapped on the acrylic door.

"Why do they make these things so tight?" The Joker finally said, not directed at anybody in particular. "I can hardly breathe." The Jester giggled. "Maybe I should make them stop breathing so they know what it feels like…"

"Mr. Joker if you please…"

"What are they going to do if I itch…call the Clown Brigade? HA!" Joker said releasing a grunt and bursting in laughter. "I need a masseur," the Clown said turning to face the government official at last. "Are you going to give me my massage…?"

Hampton was confused. "Massage…? No, I'm Mathew Hampton from Homeland Security and I came to…"

"If you're not here for my massage…then you're useless so drop dead in a corner or something. At least that will make me smile." Joker spat back angrily. "What I need is a massage, right here between my… This suit is too tight. See, even he agrees with me. I'm gonna kill that tailor. HEY, ROOM SERVICE…!" The Jester exploded in a hysterical laughter that made the hair in the back of Hampton's head rise on end.

"This is a waste of time…" Hampton said as he turned to leave the hall when, from the corner of his eye, he saw something coming at him very fast from within the cell, hit forcefully against the acrylic door and fall to the floor in front of him. Hampton backed off from the door until he hit the acrylic of the cell behind him. His heart pounded in his throat like a hammer as he looked at the floor where the straitjacket laid flat. He looked to the corner inside the cell where the Joker, sans his straitjacket was slowly rising from the floor, stretching his arms wide while laughing.

"That's much better, yes, yes, yessss! Like murder in the morning." The Joker said turning around and approaching the acrylic door with a limp. "A waste of time indeed. What you want? I hope is not negotiating because you suck in that department."

The security guard appeared by Hampton with his stun gun tightly in his hand and looked at the now free Joker who was staring at him with a wide smile. The Clown waved a white hand at the officer. "Hi ya, Rudy."

"Is he…is he… is he sup-p-pposed t-to be able to do that?" A surprised Hampton, still pressed against the acrylic door asked the security guard. No matter how hard he tried, Hampton couldn't hide the dread in his voice. Joker's smile widened.

"This is the third time this week, Joker. What part of don't remove the straitjacket you don't understand?"

"Did I break my previous record? The Jester said as he clasped his hand under his chin and started to laugh hysterically. "What did I win…your head on a pike?"

"You mean to tell me he has done this before?" Hampton said looking puzzled.

"Seventeen times and four straitjackets later this month." Joker said with a poised attitude, his eyes half open as he spoke matter-of-factly. "You see, strait jackets are designed to restrain dangerous, violent criminals and I'm neither so they don't stay on. I'm not a threat to anybody, I have just been mistaken for a Tiffany lamp. That's why they have me in permanent exhibition here at the psycho ward." The Clown laughed and faked scratching his lower back.

"That is not funny…" Rudy retorted.

"OK sourpuss…and I had this horrible itch right here." The Jester turned around and lowered his pants showing his naked white buttocks to the officer and the government official. "Itching so bad without being able to reach it and nobody listened to my pleas…what was I supposed to do, Rudy? Even this Tiffany needs to be dusted once in a while." Joker purred shaking his naked ass. "Wanna dust me now? Right between my--."

"Follow the rules, Clown," the security guard answered angrily putting his gun down. "This is not a hotel. Here you follow rules so put your pants back up."

Joker did as he was told and adjusted the pants around his waist. "Rudolph, so far I have been a good sport, but I am not putting that straitjacket back on. It is two sizes too small and not my color. Not fair…all I have done is bringing joy to this town and is this how they treat me? No wonder I have to do what I do…" Joker covered his face with his hands and started to sob.

Hampton could not believe this man and his mood swings. It was all like a well rehearsed performance and even the tears poured from the Jester's eyes on cue between his loud wails. Then Joker suddenly slammed both hands against the acrylic door and started to laugh maniacally. The officer aimed his gun at the laughing clown. "…and you know what I do, right Matt? I kill people usually in packs of ten or more…. The best medicine in a world that makes no sense at all." He giggled evilly.

"I'm not going to say this again, step back Joker…" Rudy warned the Clown, when he felt the Federal officer's hand on his shoulder. Hampton lifted a hand towards the security officer.

"Why would you want to kill me, Mr. Joker? I have not done anything to you."

"You stand," the Clown Prince said calmly and matter-of-factly. "And if you stand, you can fall dead on your back. Now that would make me laugh…funnier than the AIDS epidemic and I could use a laugh now."

Hampton remained as calm as he could, but he couldn't help to feel butterflies in his stomach. This clown was creepy, but he couldn't let him get scare him. "Have you seen where you are? You can't harm me or anybody else. You are done for as a criminal."

The Clown stopped laughing and glared resentfully at the government officer. "Have you read my resume, Matt? I'm not done until the last citizen of this city dies with a smile on his face. And you're here, so obviously your government is not forgetting me either. I'm a superstar…and superstars transcend even acrylic walls. I'll show you, come 'ere."

Hampton fixed his tie. "This visit is just procedural, Mr. Joker. The virus you inserted ran its course and was successfully removed from the network in case you didn't know. And we know it was all a simulation, a bad joke."

"Was the virus the only thing I left in the network? Hmm…maybe not. Maybe I decided on postponing Armageddon simulation until Mother's day. Now that would make a great mother's day gift for my mom, what about yours?" The Joker smiled widened again as he combed his green mane with his hands. The security guard looked at both men as if they were speaking another language, and Hampton didn't appreciated having an audience when discussing such delicate subject. "And you're still here trying to find out how I did it, aren't you? Because Uncle Sam is just so curious…"

"Can you leave us alone, officer?"

"This Clown needs to go back in his straitjacket…"

"Make me and I swear to you I'll make you eat that sweaty straitjacket…" Joker riposted with an evil glare. "No more Mr. Nice Clown."

"I think I can handle this pathetic clown without his straitjacket for a few minutes, officer," Hampton said noticing the resentful eyes of the Clown Prince of Crime frowning at him. "You can put it back on when I'm gone."

Rudy stared at the government officer and nodded. "Have it your way, Mr. Hampton, but your time now is only thirty minutes. I will be back then…and you Joker…"

"What?" Joker exchanged looks between Rudy and made a loud raspberry to the security officer. Rudy turned around angrily and started to walk back to his security post. The Jester giggled softly. "I'm gonna kill that creep before Thanksgiving…."

"Shut the fuck up and listen." Joker turned around and gave Hampton a resentful stare. "The government is tired of your rants BUT, is willing to do some concessions if you cooperate with some information regarding the virus. In order for this deal to work, you'd need to behave…normally."

"Normal?" The Jester said looking around joyfully. "We are behaving normally…aren't we boys?"

"Drop the insane clown routine, 'cause I'm not buying it. You're an intelligent man, Joker. A crazy lunatic would have not been able to get away with what you did with the defense system. Now it's your time to show off. Why don't you share with us how you did it? How did you get into the mainframe? Where can I find that hacker that was working for you?"

"Drop the curious fan routine, Hammy, cause I ain't buying it either. I do my shows for a different audience and just for fun, not fame, but you intrigue me. What type of things is your government offering that could possibly interest me?"

The government officer cleared his throat. "For one, I can make arrangements so you don't have to wear that straitjacket while you are on your cell."

"I will not wear that straitjacket again, whether you arrange it or not…NEXT!" Joker said jumping into bed and sitting against the wall to face the government official.

"I can arrange for you to have some type of distraction in here…" said Hampton looking around the almost empty cell. The only things inside the Joker's cell was a cot, a table, chair, sink and toilet all of them tightly bolted to the floor. "It has to be boring to be locked up all by yourself."

"I am not alone, Matt. I have me… and me…" The Clown scratched his head, yawned and raised a hand. "…and me too, and we can be very resourceful when we want. You're not impressing us one bit…"

"What is it you need, then?"

"Need? Isn't that obvious?" Joker started to laugh and straightened in bed. "I need to get out of here. You met Rudy. This place is depressing and no fun. And let's not talk about the food. As an extra treat can you please kill the cook? He is feeding us recycled garbage."

"Out of the question." Hampton replied emphatically.

Joker shrugged. "OK, I'll kill the cook. Can you kill the Batman for me then, please? It's a health issue with the rabies and all that…"

"Are you crazy? They're filming this, you know?" responded Hampton noticing the large smile on the Clown's face. That was a stupid question.

"Don't think I don't know you are having this camera shut off when we talk." Joker answered as he rose from the bed and pointed to the small camera at the door as he limped towards the acrylic door that separated him from the government official. "At least kill the Governor. He's guilty of abusing state funds to build larger and stronger prisons. Dumbass…as if he's gonna be able to stop crime in Gotham City." Joker cleared his throat. "And you know how hard it is going to be to get out of here on my own now?"

Hampton smiled maliciously. "I'm actually thankful that Major Stratton took the initiative to tighten security in an effort to keep psychopaths like you were they belong."

"Oh, my friends and I are starting to dislike you. Not good." Joker shook his head. "Thought you knew who ruled Gotham."

"Not you. You're locked in a lunatic asylum in case you forgot."

"Where I spent my vacations is none of your business, Ham. I work very hard to keep this city smiling and you just caught me between tours. I would reevaluate my alliances if I was you."

"You're not scaring me, Joker."

Joker got closer to the acrylic door, narrowed his eyes and glared at Hampton as he sniffed the air. "Yes, you're scared. I can smell it on you, as sweet as strawberry shortcake because if you weren't, you'll be more stupid than I thought. Some people are born dumb…that's why I have to kill them." The Clown Prince of Crime let out a loud cackle. "I do a service to society and that's what they don't want to understand."

"Here we go again, talking about murder. I was right…this was a waste of time. You're out of your fucking mind." Hampton said heading towards the security station.

"Oh, so now I'm crazy. Make up your mind, Hammy. You just said—"

"I know what I said," Hampton spat back acidly as he started to walk towards the security post. "But it is obvious that you couldn't have pulled anything like last year's incident. It was all your hacker's handiwork. You just enjoyed the show. So now enjoy yourselves in that cell, because I will find my answers with the real genius. We will find Garibaldi soon enough with or without your help."

"The nerd? You're a riot, Ham. There is a lot you can get if you play your cards right, but you don't even know the game we're playing." Joker said while laughing as Hampton had almost reached the exit. "And my favorite hand is the one with the cute little Cindy Lou, all alone at her birthday party. She has one coming soon, doesn't she? Will you be able to make it to this one, Matt or is this gonna be another long distance Happy Birthday song?"

The hall was silent. Joker shrugged and let out a chuckle as he walked back towards his bed. Then finally Hampton reappeared behind the acrylic door.

"What did you just say?"Hampton asked glaring at the Clown Prince.

"I was talking about your daughter," Joker giggled as he sat on the cot's edge. "Your little princess. Cindy Elizabeth Hampton, soon to be six years old and living with her mother Mary Alred--."

"How do you know about Cindy or Mary?" Hampton interrupted raising angrily his voice.

"I know a lot of things about you and your family and I know a lot about princesses. I had one for dinner once. It was her last supper." The Jester said boasting in a hysterical laughter. "Anyways, I have these crystals balls that when rubbed together give me a window to whatever it is I need to know. And it feels soooo good to rub them hard. Do you wanna see my balls?"Joker put a hand on his crotch and started to laugh.

Hampton grimaced. "I don't know how you got this information, but you'd better keep my family out of this…"

"But why? It's more fun when you add a wild card into the game, specially a five-year-old one," Joker said with a sheepish shrug. "It adds randomness, chaos. There's nothing more beautiful than chaos and your girl is the chaos in your life, isn't she? The pain in your soul since your divorced that witch you had for a wife."

"SHUT UP!" Hampton barked at the clown. "I'm warning you Joker…"

"It changes the meaning of the equation, doesn't it? It's like the Russian roulette. Put the bullet in, spin the barrel and let everything to chance. I'm sure Cindy would love the Russian roulette. I'll send her a gun for her birthday and teach her how to play. " The Joker put his index finger against his temple and faked a gunshot by mimicking an explosive noise.

"Joker, leave my family out of this or I can make your life here…very difficult."

"OOOHHH. Uncle Sam is threatening the Clown. What am I gonna do now?" Joker rose and walked slowly towards the government official with his tongue rubbing against his teeth. "OK. This is boring. We'll finish this later. In the meantime there is something you can actually do for me if your government is still interested in that stupid virus."

"What is it? Knowing you it has to be something sick."

"How little you know me, Matt. I'm gonna make it easy and cheap for you: Origami paper."

"Origami…? And you will help the government for origami paper?"

"Yes, I learned the ancient art of paper folding a long time ago, but never had a chance to practice it to its full beauty and it beats having to stare at the ceiling all day long. Even with all of us here, it can get really boring sometimes. Just ask him, he knows." The Joker said pointing beside him to an empty space.

"You will have to prove you know about the virus before you get anything from us, Joker."

"Sure, my pleasure. Joker said with an unusually wide toothy smile. "But when I'm done, I get my paper and later…I will kill you, your family, your friends, your neighbors, your pets, plants, dust mites--."

"Language of the virus, please…" Hampton angrily pressed on. The Jester sighed obviously annoyed and walked over his bathroom area where he picked a sheet of paper towel from the stack above the toilet tank. After sitting at his desk he started to write on the paper with a worn piece of crayon that was hidden within the table. Once he had finished, he hid the crayon again and he rushed to put the piece of paper though the scanner by the wall. A green light flashed as the scanner opened on Hampton's side. He took the torn piece of paper and after putting on a pair of glasses read over the scribbles that were written in a computer language he was not familiar with.

"And this is…"

"The beginning sequence for your elusive virus. Just to prove Uncle Sam my sincere desire to help." Joker responded with a perverse smile splitting his face. "I can be such the patriot at times…"

"This is something…like I've never seen before…"

"And never will, Hammy. For if you find it in your computer, kiss your motherboard goodbye because is mine to play with forever and usually anything I play with…for some reason…dies. Delicious." The Jester kissed the tip of his fingers and with a shrug, boasted in a crazy, hysterical laughter "And any more information will require the payment of one ream of origami paper, por favor."

"And I'm supposed to believe you wrote something like this? Do you have any computer training?"

"It's not just a program. It's a Joker original designed for a special type of cybernetic chaos. It works just like my mind works. Pure crystal clear chaos." The Clown Prince of Crime stood proudly in front of the door. "And I have a master's degree in chaos as you well know…"

"I will take this at my specialists and this better be true…" Hampton said folding the paper and securing it in one of the pockets of his suitcase. "Otherwise you're not getting any paper."

"True as the Gospels, Matt…I swear. Now get me my paper and we can talk some more… otherwise, leave me alone. Your voice is as disgusting in person as it was on the phone."

oooooooooooooooooooooooo

Gerard threw his last dart hitting really close to the bulls eye taking the lead on the score. He smiled as he walked back to his chair dancing joyfully.

"Heh, see if you could top that, guys." He said taking a sip of his beer as he sat down at his table. Gerard leaned over and kissed the blonde girl sitting in front of him suggestively on the edge of the mouth. He licked his lips as he sat back on his chair. "No one can beat me tonight."

Gerard's phone rang loudly. He looked at the ID screen and not recognizing the caller, he transferred the call to his voice mail. He returned the phone to his pocket and stretched on his chair. The phone rang a second time. He looked into the screen again and saw the different number with the same Gotham City area code. He didn't know anybody anymore over there so he transferred the call to his voicemail again. When the phone rang a third time, he started to become very annoyed.

Persistent little asshole, Gerard thought answering the phone this time. "Who the hell is this?"

"No need to be so gruff, boy. Where are your manners?" A strong male voice with a thick Asian accent answered on the other side. "Trying to play hard to catch?"

"Don't fuck with me, man." Gerard spat back. "This is the third time you call, isn't it? You better have something good to tell me or I'm going to send the Leopards after you."

"Ohh, I'm terrified. You're quite the bag of testosterone, Mr. Garnier." The Asian replied mockingly.

"Screw you. And how do you know my last name? How did you get a hold of this phone number?"

"Oh, I make my business to know everything I need to know to become successful in my line of work Mr. Garnier and right now I have my eyes set on you. Do you want to increase your yearly income by let's say…a 500 percent?"

"Very tempting if I only knew who I was talking to."

"We have common friends Mr. Garnier. Do you remember Neo, the computer hacker? He used to work with Charley Almeida if my memory serves me well."

"Charley is dead, Neo is in prison, and you said your name was?"

The man on the other end of the line grunted. "My name is a little difficult to pronounce by you Americans, so I let my friends call me Mr. D. and like you, I direct a very powerful organization."

"You still have not told me anything worth my time. What is your business with the Leopards?"

"Make you lots of money just to help me play a little game on a friend of mine, Mr. Garnier. Interested?"

"Why us?"

"I know the Leopards, Gerard. They are loyal, strong, and resourceful. You were once highly regarded in Brenton."

"We still are." Garnier responded resentfully.

"Not as in the past, I've heard, but I can restore your cattery to greatness if you want. All this, tax free and just for a little bit of your time, interesting no?"

"It's not that your offer is not good, Mr. D, but we have learned that if something looks too good it probably is. Last year fiasco with the psychotic clown has made us a little more suspicious of that type of offers."

"I'm no Joker, Mr. Garnier. Just a reputable businessman trying to extend his territory, that's all. Let's expand together."

"Expanding to a city with a rodent vigilante in case you don't read the news."

"The bat on steroids will not be a problem. You will work in the background while I will be in the foreground playing with the little vermin."

"You're strange Mr. D. Most people want to avoid the Batman."

"And that is their mistake. If no one is afraid of the rodent, the costumed vigilante loses its magic and becomes insignificant. Like an old rag. I'm not afraid of mice, Gerard. Are you?"

Garnier ponder for a moment. The rat was a legend in Gotham and Gerard had heard his men speak almost in supernatural terms of the vigilante, but he knew that the Batman was nothing more than a man in a costume. No mystical or extraterrestrial powers but a simple man who can bleed and die just like anybody else.

"Me neither. I take it you have plans for the Batman?'

"Plans I do have and they don't involve you, so you and your little boys club are safe." The Asian coughed loudly on the phone. "Would you at least consider my offer, Mr. Garnier?"

"I don't know…"

"Let me have a friend of mine meet you at Brenton with my offer and you will realize that there is just too much to win from an alliance between our teams."

"All right, the Leopards will listen, but that doesn't mean we're buying it. You understand, right?"

"Sure, didn't expect anything less, Mr. Garnier, and I can tell you that you are a much better leader than Ms. Almeida ever was. I see a lot of me on you. We'll talk real soon, I promise."