Chapter 8
Joker sat on an ugly, colorful throne. It was made from junk, and painted with cheap paint.
There was a long hall in front of him, the hall of the cathedral he had taken over. The statues of angels were either destroyed or graffitied over, the crosses and anything holy smashed to bits.
Instead of rows of wooden seats, there were tables set out. Weapons lay on top of them; guns, grenades, rocket launchers, and a few explosives hidden in presents.
Joker flipped the card over in his hand as the clowns that crowded the hall went about their business; one came running up to him.
"Joker" he panted. "Our little snoop heard in on a conversation between the bat and his friends…they're going after Riddler"
Joker flicked the card to his left. It impaled a photo of Edward Nygma that hung on the wall; several playing darts were stuck in it. The clown prince of crime chuckled.
"Good work, my boy" Joker congratulated, looking up. "Where do we find our old pal Eddie?"
The bat-bike was loud as Batman sped it through the city. He ignored any Joker or Riddler goons that fought against each other in the streets, or tried to take pop shots at him.
Catwoman and the others were being transported to the factory in SWAT vans. Batman was going to head right in while the others and an army of SWAT surrounded the area, he would take out any resistance that might cause casualties, then they move in.
Simple plan, but it works.
Edward Nygma stood on the balcony that was nearest to the factory ceiling. He overlooked the main processing room of the place, his thugs on strict patrol everywhere; inside and outside.
Snipers and thugs with rocket launchers were at the windows and the roof, and any nearby building that had a good view of the factory. On the catwalks running through the factory and on the bottom floor, thugs were equipped with deadly, heavy rifles. Outside on the ground they were also equipped with heavy rifles, but also grenades and other explosives.
Marshall walked a short set of steps towards the Riddler.
"Nice defences" he admired. "I'm glad they know my face, I wouldn't want to be shredded to death by one of these guns"
"Neither would the clowns" Nygma added.
"Clowns?"
"Yes. I didn't just want Batman and the rest of those fools coming here, but Joker as well. I'm going to do away with both my enemies, very soon"
"How will Joker know where you are?"
Nygma chuckled. "What flying insect can burn and still live?"
Marshall tilted his head. "Firefly" he murmured. "But, I thought Firefly was working for Joker"
"That's what Joker thinks, but I gave him the better deal"
"What?"
"He can burn the remains of the Dark Knight Detective and his friends. Joker wants to burn the remains himself, and Firefly wasn't too happy with that. So, what ever information get's passed to Joker, is passed to me. Of course, I get all the information"
Marshall smiled. "you truly are the greatest enemy of Batman"
Riddler looked proud. "I am. And yet, that clown thinks he's better than me…and, there is one other who thinks he's better than me as well"
"Who?"
Riddler suddenly swung his cane and brought it down on Marshall's shoulder. The doctor yelled in agony as he collapsed to the ground, grabbing his broken shoulder.
"What the hell…" he grunted.
"I told you, Firefly gives me all the info I need to hear" Nygma said, squatting down to face Marshall. "And from what I heard, over in Amusement Mile, you want to use me to…cleanse the world of insanity?"
"Yes, Nygma. Together, we can save this world!" Marshall yelled, eyes wide
"Marshall, the last thing I want to do is save this world" Nygma said, standing back up. "When this war is over, Gotham will be mine. I will have control over some of the most feared criminals in the world; Penguin, Scarecrow, Poison Ivy and even Bane have pledged allegiance to me, and that's just a few…speaking of Bane"
Two thugs grabbed Marshall off the floor, holding on tight to him.
"He lent me a fair dose of Venom, and I'm just dying to use it on someone"
Marshall's face turned from pain to fear.
"No. No, Nygma I beg you. Please!" he begged. The thugs took the screaming man away.
Riddler smiled a wicked smile, turning back to look over the factory.
Everything was coming together.
