Chapter 1 - Bad News

"What do you mean they're gone? We just put the Riddler back in Arkham three months ago. And don't even get me started on the Joker!" Police Commissioner Jim Gordon screamed into the phone as he bolted out of his chair in a manic rage. "I have to go. I've got work to do. Keep me posted," he finished before slamming down the receiver.

Working late in his office at police headquarters, Gordon snarled at the flickering desktop lamp. Tearing his glasses from his face, he rubbed his pale blue eyes and crinkled his forehead with a tired, drudging sound erupting from his throat. With all his years on the police force, from a rookie recruit in Chicago to Detective and now Commissioner of Gotham City, he'd seen a lot in his time, but the antics of the notorious Clown Prince and the ultimate Enigma constantly baffled him.

Work was always a little rough, but with honest officers dedicated to bringing a little Heaven to the Hell that was Gotham City, he kept going. It was the slight chance of hope that always stopped him from giving it all up. 'And that's the name of the game', the Riddler would pose in a twenty-question marathon, Gordon sardonically laughed.

Shaking the Riddler from his thoughts, he put on his glasses and he returned to reading the final report of a case that had just wrapped. Unable to concentrate on the conviction of a two-time felon, serial rapist, his mind raced.

This news about the Joker and the Riddler being abducted didn't make sense. Half the city was buzzing with the news, and it only happened the following night. As far as he knew, no criminal in Gotham could pull a job like this. Even the city's most connected mobsters didn't have the resources.

With two knocks at his door, a man's large frame silhouetted the ribbed glass plate before entering without consent. As the first-rate cop stood up from his desk, Lieutenant Detective Harvey Bullock hurried into his office, hunkering down in a seat and inching it up close to Gordon's desk.

"Commissioner, have you -?" Bullock hastily started before Gordon irately cut him off.

"I know Bullock. I just got off the phone with Detective Peters. I can't believe it took this long for our boys to find out."

"What are we gonna do? That's the Riddler out there, freckled-face creep, and the albino with bad taste in polyester. It took all our manpower to finally lock 'em up. Just watch, any time now the King freak himself will stick his pointed nose in police business again for sure," Bullock steamed, clutching his fists.

"Nevertheless," Gordon muttered, having to be the calm one in such a situation, "we're due in the Mayor's office in thirty minutes. What happened last night could mean anything."

"But the report said -."

"I know what the report said, Detective," Gordon cut short Bullock's words once more, muttering heatedly.

"Oh, I gotcha, you think they might have escaped?" Bullock reasoned with a twinkle in his eyes.

"I don't know what I think," Gordon replied frustrated, slamming his fist on the desk.

"This wouldn't be a personal issue would it, Commissioner," Bullock questioned, folding his arms comfortably.

"No. It's just that we keep promising that these psychos will stay incarcerated. Every time we turn around someone is wreaking havoc on society. And every time one of those whackos escapes from Arkham, the public has less and less faith in us."

"Why us, we're the cops," Bullock countered, pulling a fresh cigar from his coat. "The city should have less faith in Jeremiah Arkham and his lousy hospital."

"But we're a public face to crime and we fight the bad guys. All Arkham provides for the public is a cage to keep these animals in."

"You said it, we never get enough credit. Listen, I'll see ya' in thirty, I'm gonna have a cigar," Bullock replied as he got up and walked out.


A few hours later, a brightly lit probe sat high atop police headquarters. Casting its brilliant beacon across the sky, it illuminated Gotham's grand cityscape. It was the Bat-Signal, the chief means of contact between the Gotham City police and the Batman. As Lieutenant Harvey Bullock and Commissioner James Gordon waited patiently for Batman's arrival, the Dark Knight suddenly appeared, positioning himself directly in front of the bat-shaped searchlight.

"You called?" Batman pronounced gruffly as the men jumped, startled by his sudden presence.

"Evening friend," Gordon started, rubbing his hands together for warmth. "We've run into some trouble. Just last night something happened at Arkham."

"A breakout?" Batman wondered coolly.

"Well, not exactly. It's the Joker and the Riddler. They're gone," informed Gordon, his voiced edged and hard, worn.

Bullock huffed with a roll of his eyes. "An abduction Bats," he divulged, lighting a cigar with a few choice words under his breath.

"Abduction?" Batman repeated, wrapping his mind around the detective's words. "What do you mean?"

"Some of our boys were sent over to Arkham at about midnight last night to respond to a distress call. You may want a look at these," Gordon handed over the letters that were found in the Arkham cells. "It's not much to go on, just some nutcase crazy enough to kidnap two of the city's most dangerous criminals, " Gordon continued.

As the Dark Knight examined the notes, he was quiet and motionless. His gaze never wavered as he spoke before handing the notes back to the Commissioner. "And apparently smart enough to get away with it."

"Who in the hell would kidnap the Joker? I mean the Riddler is one thing, but the Joker has mob contacts," Bullock offered, blowing smoke into the night air.

"I know," Batman uttered firmly. "I'm guessing there were no witnesses?"

"C'mon Bats, you think anybody smart enough to get away with kidnappin' high profile crooks is gonna leave any sign?"

"I suppose not, Bullock," Batman shot back, adjusting his glance from the Detective to the Commissioner. "What about the surveillance tapes from their cells?"

"Our boys reviewed them. There is no sign of any break-in. It seems that for right now, you know as much as we do. An Arkham employee gave a statement but she didn't know anything either," Gordon confirmed.

"I think I'll pay a visit to Dr. Arkham to see what he makes of it. Something like this is not to be taken lightly," Batman declared as he moved gracefully to the rooftop's edge, leaping over, then jutting off into the night.

"I agree," Gordon said with conviction, staring perplexedly at Bullock as he shut down the Bat-Signal.


The night was calm but eerie once Batman leapt from the roof's edge at police headquarters. Signaling for his lone companion for the night, he pressed a button on his utility belt as a large, sleek car zoomed to the alley where he hovered in waiting. Jumping in, he took over the manuals and sped through the streets of Gotham en route to Arkham Asylum.

It was the Batmobile, spanning fifteen feet from tip to end, black as the night, demonic as a nightmare. Turning onto a long winding road that led to Arkham, the Batmobile reached the gothic style entrance and as if by magic, the iron-wrought gates crept open, allowing in its nightly visitor. Once the Batmobile pulled in, careening behind the monolithic institution, he parked the car in an isolated spot, hidden by underbrush and a broken street lamp.

Exiting the car, Batman noticed nothing unusual as he crept closer to the desolate building's various towers. A hand promptly crossed to his utility belt, pulling his trusty grapple gun. He shot it upward, quickly ascending to a partly open fifth story window. Resting briefly on a tiny ledge, he took a moment to peer in. Upon entering, the Dark Knight found himself surrounded by a weird darkness, as if he was not alone. Moving slowly around the room, he stilled all movements and ducked his head into his cloak just as a bright light shined across the room, illuminating the hospital's eerie darkness into blinding glow.

A tall, broad man in a dingy lab coat stood directly in front of the Dark Knight, adjusting a small table lamp near the entrance of what appeared to be a messy examining room. It was Dr. Jeremiah Arkham, proprietor of the institution. Batman stood his ground as Dr. Arkham began to speak.

"I thought you'd be along sooner or later."

"Then you know why I'm here. Commissioner Gordon told me what happened last night. It seems you and your staff haven't been cooperating," Batman uttered, keeping as still as possible.

"Cooperating? We did what we always do when one or more of our patients' escapes. Don't worry Batman, I'm sure the police will do their job."

"Escapes? So you have suspicions too?" Batman wondered.

"Suspicions? Please Batman, these inmates aren't dumb, they just think we are. Those ransom notes, I assume you read them, are nothing more than a clever ploy," Dr. Arkham assured.

"I read the notes. I'm not so sure though," Batman informed. "These notes weren't the work of the Joker or the Riddler. Arkham, if you're hiding something to cover yourself, I'll," Batman spoke frustratingly at the doctor before being interrupted.

"Well, you'll what?" I do my job well Batman. I do more than any man in my line of work can be expected to do. The police, or maybe you will find these inmates, as you always do, and you'll bring them back here, and they'll escape again," Dr. Arkham remarked derisively.

"This is not an escape. Someone has abducted two of the city's most dangerous men. Where is the nurse that gave the statement to the police?"

"I'm afraid you're too late. It's three a.m. Her shift ended hours ago."

"Tell me what you know," Batman ordered sternly.

"You know what I know already. I didn't ask you to come harass me in the middle of the night. Why is it that when something happens to one of these freaks, you show up? Why don't you get out of here before I strap you down to a couch and we explore why grown men decide to parade around in Halloween costumes."

Batman realized that Arkham didn't know much of anything about the abduction, and standing around insulting each other wasn't going to solve anything. Arkham stood, silently glaring at the dark figure in front of him, studying him intently.

"Expect to see more of me," the Dark Knight spoke, just before leaping out the window.

Glaring, Arkham hurried to the window and watched silently as the Dark Knight swooped down from the asylum's wall. Studying his moves intently, Dr. Arkham muttered to himself as the Batmobile sped into the night. "Damn Freak."