NOTES: This story takes place after the event of The Dark Knight. However it also takes place after a hypothetical third film by Chris Nolan which restores Batman's credibility with the people of Gotham. This is stated to avoid confusion to the reader.
The Title, The Intimidation Game was the original title for Batman Begins, In honor of the hard work Chris Nolan and co. have done to the franchise, I give my own story set in Nolan's Gotham the title.
All characters are owned by DC Comics, all right reserved. Batman created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger.
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Dr. Cavish welcomed his next patient. Joseph Kerr had complained of a sore tooth and came in. The dentists directed the man to his chair. Kerr told his assistant to get his equipment ready.
"Now let's see what the problem is", Cavish said, "Open wide".
Kerr removed his hands from his face. Cavish's face grew white as he recognized his patient. Joker!The man had escaped Arkham Asylum three weeks ago.
Joker grabbed the drill from the frightened assistant and stuck it into the dentist's mouth.
"Do you wanna know how I these scars", he asked.
The doctor didn't reply, so the Joker nodded for him.
The psychotic man licked his lips and began to tell his tale. "My father took me to the dentist once, a guy like you."
Joker pulled the drill closer in.
"I was sacred of the dentist at the time, so I freaked out. But the doctor would have none of it. Not one bit. He tells me to give me a smile so he can see my teeth, but I don't. So he takes the drill and sticks into my mouth, and says, " 'Let's see that smile of yours'". He puts the drill closer, and closer and then her does this."
The Joker pointed a the scars on his face. "So" he asked Cavish, "Let's see that smile of yours."
With that he killed Dr. Cavish with his own drill.
Joker let Cavish's body fall to the floor frightening his assistant, who screamed in horror.
"Thank you for the performance. Now", the Joker asked her, "where is the good doctor's nitrous oxide?"
The assistant pointed behind the chair. The Joker got up, and grabbed a large tank of the gas.
He was about ready to leave when he paused and came back to the woman.
"You look nervous", he noted, "let me make you happier."
With that he covered the assistant's face and released some of the gas. As he left the assistant was uncontrollably laughing hysterically. The Joker smiled as he left the office.
Commissioner James Gordon frowned. This was the third dentist office attacked by the Joker in as many weeks. The only thing the clown had taken was nitrous oxide and the lives of the dentists he had taken it from. Gordon had now idea what the Joker wanted with the gas, but he knew it was not good. So he called in help.
Behind Gordon, stood the Batman, Gotham's Dark Knight. "Another dentist?"
Batman asked. "That makes three"
Gordon answered, "I'll admit it even for the Joker this doesn't make sense, why steal nitrous oxide."
Batman scowled, "what's the other name for nitrous oxide?"
Gordon paused in realization, laughing gas. "You don't think Joker is going to release it on the entire city."
"Wouldn't be the first time, something like that's been done", Batman answered, "The Joker only knows what his plans are."
"You think it has something to do with the war."
The mob war, between Tony Zucco and Roman Sinois aka Black Mask and the Freaks, as the Mafia called them. A hodgepodge of phycotic criminals drawn to Black Mask. At the moment it was deadlocked and both Gordon and Batman had their hands full trying to stop the violence before it consumed the city.
"If I find something Gordon, I'll let you know."
"You better do it soon, before someone else is kille…" Gordon turned around and Batman had vanished, typical.
Bruce Wayne awoke, from his morning nap. Alfred was there with breakfast.
"I hope everything went well last night?" the old man asked him.
"The Joker's lose again, targeting dentists and taking their nitrous oxide."
Alfred frowned at the absurdity of the crime. "Laughing gas, what does the Joker want with that."
Bruce got up, "No idea, but it could be big."
Alfred brought him the paper, The Gotham Times. Bruce saw that his stock was up, which was a good thing, he also saw that De Mon Industries was branching into Gotham, Wayne Enterprises had planned to negotiate with them on several projects.
However the front page, which usually did not catch Bruce's attention, caught his eye. Apparently there was a big headline, of the arrival of Helena Bertinelli from Italy. "What do make of it Alfred?" Bruce asked showing his valet the story.
"Franco's daughter." Bruce looked at him puzzled.
Alfred smiled at his master's ignorance. "Franco Bertinelli, sir, was the man in control of the Mafia when your parents were alive, as much as Thomas Wayne despised the man as a criminal, Franco did his best to help the city, he and your father collaborated with the man, to help the less fortunate. Unfortunately, Franco Bertinelli was murdered along with his wife and son, for some reason Master Wayne, only Helena survived the attack."
Wayne listened to Alfred and looked at the woman's picture intently.
Helena Bertinelli was happy to get off the damn plane. For seven years of her life she had lived in Sicily and Italy, attending the University of Palermo, she was happy to be back home in Gotham. She had unfinished business to attend to.
She had heard of the vigilante in Gotham known as the Batman, she had heard of the exploits against the Mafia, which had corrupted the lives of Gothamites and had taken her family away from her.
Now she returned to have her vengeance against the mob. Helena colasped on the sofa in her penthouse. She then began to take out a notebook and photos of the members of the Mafia, and began to take notes. She planned out a list of equipment, a diagram of her costume, and plans to attack the mob.