Part 2:

It happened three weeks ago atop the Gotham Cathedral, the burial was supposed to take place last night. I chose not to go as I was still harboring mixed feeling as to what happened. I was never my intention for it to end the way it did. I merely tried to prevent the Joker from getting away, but instead he ended up plummeting to his death. I know that it was not my fault and that I couldn't have anticipated the outcome, but still it weighs heavily upon my heart. In some way I feel as though I have broken my rule not to kill anyone, ever.

These last three weeks have passed by me as though I were in someone else's body, like I was here and yet not. I can't explain what I am feeling. Perhaps I should go to the grave and try to make some sense of it for and in myself, if that is at all possible. Maybe when I am there, everything would become clearer and I can move on, regain my purpose and leave all this 'feeling sorry for myself' shit behind.

After all, my name is Bruce Wayne and I am Batman!

ϿɃ ϿɃ ϿɃ ϿɃ

It was windy and the sky even darker that usual, if that could at all be possible. I was swinging through the city, past skyscraper after skyscraper trying to clear my head. I had still not gotten around to going to the gravesite. Last night there was a terrible double murder at the Gotham Broadcasting Studios, someone decided to go around killing everyone there. Surprisingly, one of the people on the security detail made it out alive and worst of all the cameras didn't pick up a thing. Whoever the perpetrator was knew exactly what they were they were doing, either that or whoever did it was completely insane.

At one point the Broadcasting Studios passed below me as I was swinging by overhead, so I decided to go and take a look. I wasn't up to going to the graveyard yet anyway. When I had completely swung past the studios I let go of the line, two hundred feet in the air and began falling like a rock. Immediately I deployed a decel-jumpline, I fell at least fifty feet before it latched onto something and began decelerating my decent, placing me on the ground safe and sound.

When I touched down on the sidewalk the bat mobile was already waiting for me. I had signaled for it right after I let go of the line. As I approached, it opened and I got inside. When I was inside it closed and started up, that's the advantages of technology.

I put it in drive and stepped on the accelerator, the force jamming me back into the seat. It was exhilarating as the car picked up speed like nothing else on the road. When I am inside the bat mobile is the only time that I know what it feels like to be Clark or even Wally. Of course the bat mobile could never match their speed, but I am quite comfortable at this speed. Besides, I get my thrills by other means.

I turned a corner and drove a few more meters then turned into the studio lot. The guard on duty seemed so stunned by the sight of the car that he merely opened the boom to let me in. At times I have to smile at how intimidating the car can be. I drove right to the entrance of the studio where the yellow crime scene tape hung like ribbons.

I got out and the car went into security mode automatically, damn I love technology, of course no one else had this tech yet. Once more I had to smile. Leaving the car there I went over to where there was the outline of a body drawn with white chalk. The crime scene technicians had already taken samples in knew, Gordon had already informed me. However, I had to take samples of my own. After I had my samples I went inside the studio, careful not to disturb the crime scene tape.

There was blood everywhere on the hallway floor as well as bloody footprints, the killer's perhaps? I had no way of knowing, but I would find out. I followed the trail all the way back to the recording area of the editing room. Here there was another murder and more blood.

There were no obvious clues in here so I left and went into the hallway to take a closer look. At one point there was a pool of dried blood, which was where the footprints began. It seemed as though the killer had slipped there and upon closer inspection there were tiny specs of dirt that remained behind, which the crime scene techies left behind. So, I took some samples of these dirt specs then left for the bat cave to analyze the samples I had gathered.

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After I had returned to the bat cave, I immediately began analyzing the samples I took from the crime scene. The blood samples only confirmed that it was indeed "Gothic Gertie" and the sound guy that were the victims. So, there was no need to analyze those samples any further.

Then I began working on the analysis of the dirt samples, which told me a great deal, such as where the dirt comes from. The Old Gotham Cemetery. This little discovery was really intriguing in that what would the killer be doing at the cemetery? It seemed that for all my reluctance to go there in the last three weeks that fate was now leading me there against my will. Curse you Kismet!

Even as I discovered that origin of the dirt I was still disinclined to go there for whatever reason my subconscious mind had concocted. So, instead I decided to go to the Gotham Police Headquarters and speak to Commissioner Gordon, just to find out if there were any new leads.

I got into the bat mobile and rocketed off toward my city and on the way there I let Gordon know to meet me on the headquarters' rooftop. The road leading from the bat cave is a long winding road and the car goes through the turns and bends effortlessly. Not long after I spoke to Gordon, I was the city and I parked the car in the empty alley behind the police headquarters.

Seconds after I exited the bat mobile, sensors inside the car detected that I am no longer inside and the shields are deployed. Man, I just love technology. Next to the building wall I took the grappling gun from my belt and fired it. The hook caught on the roof and when pushed the button to activate the winch I swiftly shot into the air, the speed of it propelling me just high enough to land safely on the roof.

As usual Gordon was smoking and he seemed distracted, so when I spoke from the shadows behind him, he was startled and let the cigarillo drop from his mouth. "Yes, well, I should really not be surprised by this anymore, but hello to you too," he said.

We began talking about the case and he informed me of the lab results. It wasn't really anything I didn't already know, but I kept that to myself. No sense in making him feel the he was inadequate. I told him that I would look into it and that I would come back to him. Gordon turned at the sound of a noise and when he turned back I had already left.

The decel-jumpline of the grapple-gun let me down gently. I was really hoping it wouldn't have to come to this, but I was going to have to go to the cemetery after all. As I neared the bat mobile other sensors on the car detected me by way sensor nodes in my suit and the shields retracted, opening the hatch as well. I am continually amazed by man's ingenuity.

I got into the car and it started up, then I put it drive and stepped on the gas, rocketing off toward the cemetery where the Joker was buried. I had mixed feelings about going there and my insides were all in a knot, but if was going to get over this I needed to do this.

Gordon told me that no one had been here yet. The Old Gotham Cemetery was abandoned mostly, but there was a caretaker that came here once a month to clean up and the like. I knew where the Joker was buried. It was on a hill where one could go and sit to be alone, but as the cemetery was now redundant the mayor though it fitting to bury him there.

I drove the bat mobile slowly to the hill, dragging out even more what I had put off doing. It was dark in the cemetery as there were no lights to be seen anywhere and so when I parked the car when I got to the hill. I deactivated the sensors leaving the car open. Security would be no problem here.

When I was outside the car I took the torch from my belt and switched it on. Then only did I activate the night-vision lenses. It was redundant to use them in total dark as night-vision lenses utilize ambient light. I sighed and then with extreme lack of enthusiasm I began walking up the hill.

What I found atop the hill hit me like a bullet to the brain. I was shocked and mortified. The hearse was still there, the grave was empty, but worst of all so was the empty coffin. The lid was in splinters and the Joker nowhere to be found. Beside the coffin there were indentations in the mud and a trail leading from it. Some how he was alive, The Joker was Alive!

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Somewhere, I knew the Joker was laughing and really laughing his ass off. For long moments it felt as if that laughing echoed in the back of mind. It was a really sickening feeling to know that he was alive and to know that for all this time I had been feeling guilty for his supposed death.

I was completely stunned and numbed by this revelation. For long moments I just stood there transfixed, staring at the empty coffin with its lid shattered to splinters. This was indeed a puzzle, a puzzle that I needed to solve and fast. So I ran back to the bat mobile for some gadgets that would help me in solving this mystery of the Joker's remarkable resurrection. I had a hunch and perhaps my hunch would be right on the money.

When I returned to the coffin, I switched on the Electro-spectrometer and began scanning for electrical residue. My hunch was that maybe, just maybe… but I couldn't be sure. It had rained the previous night so the chances were excellent that my hunch would prove to be correct. The spectrometer showed nothing at first as I slowly moved it around. When I reached the part of the lid that was shattered, the spectrometer went berserk, totally nuts. Its readings were off the charts, confirming my hunch.

As I stood there everything became clear to me, the murders at the Gotham Broadcasting Studios had a certain quality to them. Only a certain kind of madness could possibly have committed those murders. It had to be him, it had to be the Joker.

The electrical readings from the coffin were astronomical, nothing manmade could possible have done this kind of damage. And somehow, beyond what I could figure right then, that electrical charge brought the Joker back to life. I needed to know how this was possible, so I turned back to the car, got in and headed back to the cave. On my way I contacted the Commissioner and informed him of what I found. He was just as flabbergasted as I was, but I told him that I would get to the bottom of this case as soon as possible.

All the way back to the cave the Joker's laughter echoed in the back of mind as I tried to figure out how it was possible that he was back from the dead. But the other thing that gnawed at me was why the murders took place at the Gotham Broadcasting Studios, why did he want "Gertie Dead?"

As I entered the cave and parked the car, the answer came to me, it was "Gertie" that did that show about the Joker. That psychological profile must have struck a nerve. But it wasn't "Gertie" that did the profile, it was a Dr. Winchester.

Immediately I got in contact with Gordon to inform him. He said that he would get some people he trusted implicitly and he would send those men to Dr. Winchester's apartment right away. The chances were extremely good that the doctor's apartment would be the next place the Joker would go.

It was strange, well not really as this was the Joker, that he was killing these people. It was almost as if he was after revenge and if was after retribution then surely, he would be coming for me next. He was obviously going after weaker prey first. That night at the top of the Gotham Cathedral he made it clear that he blamed me for dropping into him into the chemicals that made him the way he was.

That was it. He was after revenge and his ultimate goal was either to kill or severely main me. I wasn't really surprised at that, but… Of course! That had to be it, the electrical charge and the chemicals he fell in. How could I not have seen this? It is all so obvious, but I still had to make sure.

In the mean time I had to prepare for the Joker's Revenge.

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That night I sat there in the cave working on the how's and why's of the Joker's resurrection. Though not absolute proof, my conclusions were that the chemicals that made the Joker the way he was today, had done something to his physiology. Somehow, I assume, these chemicals were able to manipulate his body on a cellular level and at the time of his apparent death began healing the damage sustained by the fall. Then of course the electrical charge, which I assume was a lightning bolt, acted as a defibrillator causing his heart to start beating again.

Of course this was all speculation and needed concrete facts, but that was something that I intended on getting somehow. In the meantime, there was something I needed to check up on. I knew that Gordon said he would get some of his most trusted officers over to Dr. Winchester's apartment, but from past experience I was just a little distrustful.

I set aside my curiosity for the time being and got back into the bat mobile and I felt the engine hum as it started right up. The vibration of the engine died away as I put it in drive and when I stepped on the gas it was gone completely. As I exited the cave the turbo kicked in and once again I relished the sensation of speed. Minutes later I passed over the bridge leading to the city on my way to Dr. Winchester's apartment.

Once more I parked the car behind the apartment building in the alley. The shields deployed as I exited the car. I then fired a grapple hook to the roof of the building and as soon as it caught I pushed the button activating the winch. It pulled me upward faster that any elevator could and in seconds I was standing on the rooftop. I walked over to the front of the building and peered over the edge, Gordon's men were parked out front, but something felt off.

I activated the infrared lenses in my cowl to determine if the officers were still in the car. What I saw was only the residual body heat left behind on the seats. Perhaps they went inside to check up on the doctor and perhaps that was just wishful thinking on my part.

I needed to get to the doctor's apartment and fast. My discomfort was escalating by the second, somehow I knew that something was about to happen or has already happened. I knew the doctor's apartment was on the seventh floor and that was two floors down on the front part of the building. I retrieved the grapple hook and as I returned I leapt over the edge firing the grapple. It caught instantly and the decel-cord let me descend right to the doctor's apartment.

The window was closed as I reached it and with the infrared lenses still activated I could see anyone in the apartment. I opened the window, taking care to watch for possible booby traps, there were none and so I entered. Once I was inside, I deactivated the infrared lenses and switched to night vision. I began searching the apartment for the doctor, but he was nowhere to be found.

Then as I returned to the lounge area something on the coffee table caught my eye and I went over to have a closer look. When I stepped closer to the table I stepped on something below the rug and the TV came on as well as the DVD player. The light from the TV activated a safety mechanism in my cowl that deactivates the night vision mode, protecting my eyes.

There was static on the TV for a few seconds then the Joker's face appeared. He was smiling well, not that I could really tell when he was smiling and when he wasn't. It seemed he had a message for me.

"Greetings Batsy," he said in that insane manner of his. "I had a feeling you might find your way here, so I left you this little surprise. If you want the good doctor come and get him. Of course I forget where I put him. Where, oh where did I put the good doctor? Could it be, oh I don't know, Robinson Park? Or perhaps over in Blackgate? Maybe it was Crime Alley? Ah hell, I just can't remember. Anyway, better go Batsy. Time is ticking. Tick tock tick tock. And if you don't find him by the stroke of one, the good doctor's life is done. Hahaha hahaha hahahahahahah!"

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That crazy laughter resounded throughout the apartment, but there was more to the video and when the Joker recovered enough he continued with his little play.

"Ah ha ha, well, yes that was fun. I hadn't laughed like that since, oh, I can't remember when. But listen, Batface, in all seriousness." He said with that perpetual grin on his face, which made it extremely hard to distinguish, whether he was serious or not.

"While you are standing there wasting time watching this the doctor's time is running out. So I'm gonna make it a tad easier for you, the locations I mentioned were not very specific. One of the locations you know very well I would imagine and well the other two? Well, Blackgate is of course where the prison is and Robinson Park is of course where Gotham's Reservoir is situated. I truly hope that was helpful to you. Alright then, gotta go and remember Batsy, tick tock. Hahaha hahaha hahahaa hah!"

Once more that despicable laughter echoes within the apartment and it grated on mind like a stone crusher. I doubted that I would ever get used to it. This was going to be a long night. I took the remote control and stopped the DVD, then played it from the start again. I paid close attention to what he said and the locations he gave.

Crime Alley, yes I knew that place all too well, that's where he killed my parents. Then there was Robinson Park and the reservoir, but what was there? Blackgate of course was where he was once a prisoner. The real question here was what would go back to Blackgate for? How would he get in, in the first place?

It couldn't be Blackgate. Too risky.

It couldn't be Crime Alley either. Too obvious.

That left Robinson Park and the reservoir. It could be were the Joker has the doctor and perhaps it was another decoy. But I had to make sure. I pushed a button on my belt, then took a look out the front door and there was one of Gordon's men, out cold lying on the floor. I turned and closed the door and went over to the window. The bat mobile was already there right behind the police vehicle.

I took a few steps back and then ran and dove through the open window. As I cleared the window frame I turned mid-air and fired the grapple hook upward to the roof. I fell for four stories before the hook caught on the roof and the decel-cord decelerated my fall, letting me down safely to the ground. The doctor's apartment was just high enough for a stunt like that. I told you before that I got my thrills by other means.

Doctor Winchester's apartment was in Newtown and Robinson Park was almost in the center of the city. I had to move if I wanted to save the doctor. The car opened as I approached and as I got inside it started up. My heart was still racing from the fall as I drove off toward the Park.

Just before I got to the Park entrance something about the Joker's little video message made me think about something else. Time is ticking. Tick tock, tick tock. And if you don't find him by the stroke of one, the good doctor's life is done, were his words and remember Batsy, tick tock.

Why the time references? Perhaps the locations he mentioned were decoys like I first suspected. Time is ticking. Tick tock? The stroke of one? The Clock Tower Perhaps? No, that's where Barbara lives and the security there is practically the same as that at the cave. No, it must have some other connection. Wait, before there was the Clock Tower, the bell at the Gotham Cathedral was used to indicate time.

That's it, the Cathedral. The location of our previous encounter. What a perfectly good place for a reunion? Of course, it makes perfect sense. I spun the car around and headed for Gotham Cathedral in Old Gotham and apparently the scene for the Joker's Revenge.