It was cold in NEO Gotham tonight, and the woman was regretting not bringing a pair of jeans to change into. She was stuck wearing her miniskirt and a thin jacket. She shivered and looked around at the myriad of other late night partiers walking the streets. A few called out to her, making lewd gestures and comments, but she just waved and kept walking. She looked behind her and noticed a hooded man following her. She walked faster, hoping it was just her imagination, but every time she turned around he was there, smiling and always a certain distance from her. Her fear growing, she started jogging. She looked behind her; he was there, matching her pace. She broke into a run, wishing she hadn't worn heels and regretting every second of it. She turned down an alley, panting, and pitched forward into a puddle when her heel snapped. She groaned lightly and looked up. The hooded man was there, he started laughing. "You're pretty fast little bird", he said. He pulled his hood down, revealing a painted face and jester hat. "But it's time for this Joker to put a smile on your face." He began giggling as he advanced on her. The woman backed up, her skirt riding up as she tried to get away. "Oh, a little foreplay, that's hot.", he said, advancing on her. The woman screamed, and from further down the alley, a voice rang out. "That's enough Jingles." Jingles looked down the alley, squinting in the darkness for the voices owner. "Someone trying to spoil my fun?" he pulls a length a chain from his jacket. "Well come on tough guy." A figure emerges from a shadow, clad in black pants with combat boots, a black shirt and brown jacket. And on his head was what resembled a red motorcycle helmet with no face visor, only two white eyeholes.
Jingles looked him over. "You been spendin' time on the game grid program? Did you derezz Mr. Sark?" he began to swing his length of chain back and forth, walking towards the helmeted figure. The helmeted man flicked his wrist and a blade sprung into his hand. He pressed a button and the bottom fanned out, making the blade resemble the spade on a playing card. He drew his arm back and hurled the spade at the Joker. It flipped end over end until it finally embedded itself into Jingles forehead tip first. Jingles fell back landing with a thud, the spade stuck in his head. The helmeted man walked over to the woman and held out his hand. "You alright?" he asked. The woman took his hand and shakily stood. "Yeah, I think I'm okay.", she said, pulling her jacket tighter around her shoulders. She looked at Jingles, and the spade sticking out from his head. "Aren't you going to get your knife back?" she asked. The man shook his head. "I'm sending a message.", he said simply. "To who?", she asked. He turned around and pulled a spraypaint can from the ground and sprayed a symbol onto the wall. When he stepped away, she moved closer. Painted on the wall, in blood red paint, was the symbol of Batman. He dropped the can and turned to her. "You better get home.", he said. The woman nodded and continued down the alley before disappearing around the corner.
Terry McGinnis walked out of his class, stretching and yawning, accidently smacking himself in the face with his history book. "Tired McGinnis, or did you just want to log onto Facebook?", a voice said from behind him, he turned around, smiling at the pink haired, dark skinned girl that was his best friend. "Why bring up that dinosaur site Max?", he said, bending backwards and feeling his spine pop. Max smiled. "The joke was there, I had to go for It.", she responded as they walked towards the schools entrance. After graduation Terry and Max had decided to attend Gotham University together. Daina had moved a few months into summer and Terry had been single ever since. Though Max was taking classes Terry couldn't even begin to wrap his head around, he couldn't hold it against her. "You see the news? Someone's been killing off gang members. Mostly Jokerz, but the others are there sometimes. The old man have any theories?", Max asked. Terry shook his head. "You know how he is, wants me to figure it out for myself." Terry shook his head again before yawning. "You want to grab a bite to eat? My treat.", Terry offered, hitting the button on his keychain to unlock his car doors. Max nodded as she pulled open her door as Terry slid across the hood and got into the driver's seat. Max shoved her backpack in the backseat and clicked her seatbelt into place. "Burgers?", Max asked. Terry looked at her and smiled. "Always.", Terry said, starting the car. The engine roared to life and Terry pulled out of the parking lot and onto the road. Max switched the radio over to the news station and listened to the reporter. "Gotham police have discovered another body belonging to the Jokerz gang. According the reports the gang member was killed by a razor sharp spade shaped blade."
"What do you think, Royal Flush Gang?", Max asked. Terry shook his head. "Doesn't match their MO. If it was them the spade would be marked with a "J" or something along those lines. I'll head to Gotham PD tonight and see what I can dig up.", he said pulling into the parking lot of the fast food joint. They ate in relative silence, briefly discussing some of their lessons and teachers. As Terry drove Max to her apartment he was cut off by a man wearing a bright red helmet and riding a motorcycle. "Damn Sunday drivers.", Terry muttered as he pulled up in front of Max's apartment complex. Terry and Max said their goodbyes and Terry drove towards Wayne Manor. He pulled up in front of the wrought iron gates and waited for them to open, once they did he pulled his car into the garage and headed for the Batcave. He patted Ace on the head as he passed the dog, lounging on a comfortable chair. He pulled the grandfather clock aside and descended down the staircase into the Cave. As he approached the computer, he began speaking, knowing Bruce was listening. "You hear about the latest corpse? Had a spade blade sticking out of its head.", he said as he reached the console, he found Bruce in his usual pose; fingers laced together, his chin resting on his thumbs. "I always hear McGinnis.", Bruce said as he looked at his newest protégé. Terry saw that Bruce was reviewing crime scene photos of the latest murder. "Get out there and see what's going on."
Terry suited up and flew out over the city.
