7 AM The Batcave
Slowly, Batman pulled his cowl off and loosened his cape. His body ached with pain, age, and anger. Another twelve hours this night and still no sign of the Joker. Escaped from Arkham over three weeks ago and not a peep. Normally something would have come up by now.
Alfred stood at attention, holding a plate of food. "Master Bruce, you need rest and food. Please consider taking some time for yourself."
"I don't have time Alfred. Joker is loose planning who knows what, and I can't find a trace of him anywhere. Has Dick or Barbara checked in yet?"
"No sir, I have not heard from either of them."
Bruce looked around the cave, so much lonelier now, so much darker. Turning back for his cowl and cape, he grasped them with shaking hands, worry beginning to gnaw at his stomach. "Excuse me Master Bruce, there is somebody at the door." Bruce nodded absently. Deciding to wait, just in case they came to the front door instead of the cave door, Bruce sat down to munch on a sandwich and sip some tea that Alfred had left. Reclining ever so slightly, Bruce began to drift off to sleep.
"Excuse me Master Bruce, a package from Master Dick arrived." Bruce instantly woke up, wondering why Dick would send a package to the house. Taking the small box from Alfred he looked it over. Typed, so no idea of the handwriting. Spitting in disgust Bruce removed a small knife and cut the tape loose. Opening it up, he closed his eyes and set the package down. Breathing deep, he moved something to the side and removed a single playing card. A Joker. Flipping it over he read in small print.
Bruce, oh Brucey! I have always dreamed of giving you the finger, here is two. Hahahahahahahaha.
J.
Bruce removed the two fingers, relatively fresh, with dried blood on the ends, and moved slowly over to his scanner. Scanning the prints in, with horror he saw the identifying names matching the finger prints. Dick Grayson, Barbara Gordon-ID Confirmed.
Head down in his hand he stifled back his fears. Not only did the Joker have Dick and Barb, he sent this here, to Wayne Manor, addressed to himself. This was new, this was dangerous. Every person Bruce was associated with was at danger. Justice Leaguers, friends, co-workers. All in danger. "Alfred, try and contact Zatana for me. I have to go break an old friends heart, and destroy his trust." "Yes Master Bruce" Alfred replied, voice cracking with sorrow.
4 Hours Ago-Gotham City 3AM
Nightwing sat on a roof, watching as Batgirl swung down to investigate a van in the street. His mind focused on Bruce's words to stay together, he was poised to move at a moment's notice. Down below, Batgirl looked in the back of the van, then waved frantically for Nightwing to follow. Jumping from the roof, Nightwing landed on a fire escape, then bounced off a wall twice, swinging off a lower balcony, and landing in a crouch next to her. Peering in the back of the van was a totally nude body, bound hand and foot, with a mask on her face. "Keep watch" Nightwing whispered. Batgirl turned back and stepped into the shadows, the dark masking her completely. Observing the lock briefly, Nightwing looked around and caved in the back window, reaching through and unlocking the van from the inside. "Miss. Miss!" he harshly whispered. He pulled open the vans door, and was instantly impaled by a dozen needles, fired from the front of the van. "Nightwing!" Barbara gasped, rushing forward, only to be shot again with more needles from the van. The last thing either remembered was maniacal laughter.
An hour, maybe two passed before they both regained consciousness. Looking around, they were maskless, capeless, and beltless, a long chain around their wrist, tied to the ground. Gritting his teeth Nightwing looked at Barb. There was fear in her eyes. Helpless, in the hands of the Joker, they waited for something to happen. Minutes later they heard laughter, quite at first, then building in volume until it was deafening.
"Dick Grayson, Barbara Gordon. My my my. I would say I was surprised, but the surprise is I knew. Hahahahahaha. I have known for years. Poor Bruce thinks nobody knows? Hahahahaha. His pride will be your downfall."
Dick looked at the Joker and noticed something never there before, total madness. Whatever happed to the Joker between prison sentences was drastic and life changing.
"See, I have fought Batman for years, and have seen Bruce Wayne almost as much. I realized some time ago they were one and the same, but it wasn't important, because Batman was the one I wanted to destroy." Hahahahaha "He has been pushed but never pushes back. Never will cross that line. I'm tired of living, the in and out of jail, the profitable then failed money schemes. So I decided to quit playing dear old Bruce's games. I realized, if I want to destroy the bat, I break Bruce's heart. And oh yes, he has a heart. Anybody who spends this much time training children and fighting against crime has a heart." A knife appeared in the Jokers hand. With frightening speed the hand darted out, squeezing Dick at the wrist. A flick of the blade and Dick screamed as his middle finger was cleanly cut from his hand. Grinning, the Joker picked it up, and placed it in his mouth, as one would a spare nail. "Now for the bitch. I have twice as much reason to hate you as Dicky here." Hand snapping out again, Barbara screamed as her middle finger flew into the air. "That handles Bruce's souvenir for the night. But, I think daddy dearest might want a piece of you to remember. Oh the exchange between Gordon and Bruce when he finds out you trained his precious daughter to fight crime." Hahahahaha
"Now dearie, let's see what we can send daddy Gordon." With a menacing smile, the Joker moved forward, knife weaving circles in the air.
Metropolis-7AM, The Daily Planet
"Ms. Lane? Somebody here to see you, says she has a story and needs to tell it to somebody." Lois looked up from her computer, a faint frown on her face. "Did she give a name?" Lois inquired.
"Yes ma'am, a Missus Harlequin." Lois froze. Of all the times for Clark to be off planet. "Was she dressed like a crazy clown?"
"No ma'am, she is huddled up in a brown overcoat, blonde hair, real pretty face, but real scared, keeps looking over her shoulder."
Lois thought for a moment, that didn't exactly sound like Harley, sounds almost like she is running from something, or somebody. Remembering that the Joker had escaped just recently, Lois decided that maybe Harley was still trying to go straight. "I'll be down in a moment, put her in conference room A".
Reaching into her purse, Lois pulled out her phone and dialed Bruce Wayne's number. "Hi, this is Bruce Wayne, leave a message." "Bruce, this is Lois Lane, in Metropolis. Harley is here wanting to talk to me, and I was wondering if you knew what was up? She seems scared, so I am going to try to help her. Clark won't be back from his trip for another week or so, but I wanted to let somebody know. Call me back."
Walking down stairs she paused to remove her stun gun from her purse, and slide it up her sleeve. Bruce had designed this one for her, very potent, very small, and very easy to use. Opening the door, she saw Harley curled up in a chair, hair disheveled, eyes wide with panic. "Harley, you wanted to see me?" Harley jumped at the sound and looked over at Lois. "Ms. Lane? I am so sorry, I didn't know who to turn to. Didn't know where I could go where he couldn't get me. He has gone mad, and he knows. He knows who Batman is. I don't know what else he knows, but, he terrified me."
Lois froze with panic. Bruce's worst nightmare made real. The most psychotic person ever encountered, knew who he was, could probably find out who his friends are. May even know who she is. Lois took a couple steps forward, placed her hand on Harley's shoulder. "It will be ok, you did well by coming here." "I'm so sorry Ms. Lane" whispered Harley. Lois felt a small prick in her arm, and looked down into Harley's eyes, reading the sorrow apparent there. "It's what he wants." Lois felt her brain go soft, felt her body control disappear. "Now tell them you are taking me to get something to eat, and let's go," Harley whispered. Firmly under the control of Poison Ivy's toxin, Lois turned and left the building, getting into Harleys van, and disappearing into the morning.
Gotham PD, 7:30AM
Jim Gordon sat at his chair looking over the previous night's reports. Still nothing on the Joker. Rubbing his temple, he wondered if Batman had any news. Well, if he did, he would find out soon enough.
"Commissioner Gordon? A package arrived for you," called out Officer Montoya. Gordon looked up, an eyebrow raised. Montoya brought the package over for him, and turned to leave. His stomach began to drop out, the package was a little too neat, a little too tidy. "Wait Montoya, close the door and the blinds." Taking a deep breath Gordon opened the tiny envelope at the top.
At your age Gordon, you should be bouncing your grandkids on your knee. Never say your Uncle Joker never gave you what you needed.
J.
Hands trembling, Gordon opened the box, and a pungent smell wafted out. Looking in, he closed his eyes and gagged. "What..?" Montoya walked over slowly and looked down. "Madre de dios" she whispered. Looking up, pain in his eyes he asked "Is that?"
"Yes sir, ovaries."
Barbara! Jim slumped forward, gasping for air, choking back the tears, the nausea. What manner of madman would do this, why Barbara? Jerking straight up Gordon remembered that she was going out with Dick Grayson last night. He had to call Bruce! Pausing, his hand shaking, knowing the truth, finally, but still not accepting it. How could he? Could it be true? From Robin to Nightwing, and then once Barbara started seeing Dick, a red-headed Batgirl appears? Sinking down in his chair, he caught his breath. Maybe he always knew, and just pushed it away.
A breeze wafted through a now open window, a sign of his arrival. "Jim, we need to talk" whispered a voice he knew so well, yet sounded different. Wracked with pain, with agony. Spinning around Jim leapt to his feet. "Damn straight we need to talk. You son of a Bitch!" A whisper of metal on leather and Montoya had her weapon drawn, pointed at Batman. "You bastard, we trusted you! She is my friend!" Jim turned slowly. "Did you know?" he asked softly, a deadly undertone to his voice. "No, just now several years of pieces clicked," replied Montoya, tears running down her face. "Lock the door Montoya, and stay," asked Gordon.
Batman stood there, knowing there was a chance this day would come, knowing this would be the end of all he had worked for, all he had sacrificed. He knew the moment he began training his oldest friend's daughter, this day would come.
"Take off the damn mask, face me man to man, Bruce," snarled Gordon.
Bruce stood there momentarily, then removed his cowl. Eyes steady as they met Gordon's. Looking at his face, Gordon realized something, he had aged, and he was in pain. "What the hell is going on? Why is the Joker still lose? Why, with that maniac loose, is my daughter out there! You know what he is capable of, you know what he can do, and you sent my daughter, and your son out there to look for him!" Trembling with rage Gordon stepped forward into Bruce's face. "I have half a mind to arrest you here and now, and prosecute you for all the laws you have broken, that I have turned a blind eye too because of the good you do. But, I need you to find the Joker, find my daughter. After, all bets are off."
Bruce looked at his old friend and nodded. "You will be arresting me afterwards anyway. I am ending this. No more. No more lives will the Joker destroy."
"Good! You should have ended that maniac after he killed Robin! If you would have, my daughter would be safe right now and would never have become this vigilante that I now have to arrest as well, just as soon as she is safe." In pure horror, Montoya stood there, gun lowered, as the two men she admired most in this world, began a path down a lawless road, beginning to throw away over a decade of good deeds. At that point, she made her mind up, she would find the Joker and end him, and hopefully that would snap these two out of their self-destructive ways. Quietly she whispered, attempting to break the tension "What about the Justice League? You two are too close to this, let them bring him in."
"I can't bring the League in. I can't risk this happening to any of them as well. The Joker is deranged, yes, but highly intelligent. My reputation won't matter as most people think I am an all-nighter away from becoming insane myself. He will know how to exploit them, get under their skin, and get them to lose control." Raising his head, Gordon saw something in Bruce's eyes he had never seen before, rage. "And, I want him myself. He is my responsibility." Slipping his cowl back on, he turned to leave through the window. "Wait! Why were you coming here? What did you know?" Jim asked.
"One hand on the window, one on the wall Batman paused then turned around. "I received a package as well, at Wayne Manor, addressed to me, as Bruce. It was Dick and Barbara's middle fingers. I was coming to tell you what I did to your daughter, ask for forgiveness, then kill the Joker." Gordon stood there, new pain wracking his body. "That changes nothing you know."
"I know."
Putting his hand on the side of his cowl, and pressing lightly he answered his radio. "Master Bruce, Lois Lane called, she said she was meeting with Harley Quinn and thought she was in danger. I can't raise her, and Perry said she hasn't been seen since this morning."
In pure rage Batman slammed his fist through the wooden window. "What happened?" Gordon asked. "He took somebody else, added them to his collection. Jim, I am trusting you with this, but please, keep this secret for me. It could have world ending ramifications." Sighing Bruce added" The Joker took Superman's girlfriend, and he is off world for another week." Swinging away, Batman took one last look at his friends face, then focused on getting back to the cave, to meet with Zantana, find the Joker, and end this madness.
