Goku opened his eyes and saw lights. They were blindingly bright and they made him squint. He put his hand in front of his face to block them and sat up.
"I fed you a senzu. You should be alright now."
Goku started. Batman was sitting beside him no further than three feet away. His calm manner seemed almost out of place, considering what had just happened.
"I want you to tell me what happened," said Batman.
Goku thought for a moment. "I lost," he said.
"Yes," said Batman. "Why?"
"I wasn't quick enough," said Goku. "I need to do speed training."
"Wrong," said Batman. "Your speed wasn't the issue."
"But if I had been quicker," argued Goku, "then I would have dodged those things you threw at my arm."
"Yes," said Batman, "if you had known what they were. But you didn't. Just for argument's sake, though, let's say you dodged my batarangs. Then what?"
"Then I attack you."
"And then?"
"Well..." Goku thought for a second. "I suppose then I would have got electrocuted then."
"Yes," agreed Batman, "and even if you didn't, there are a hundred other ways that I could have taken you down. Now listen very carefully. I blocked your ki because I knew the frequency at which you operate. I've done my research. I was prepared. Your first mistake was challenging me. Outside, not many people can beat me. Almost no one can beat me twice. But absolutely no one, not even the Blue Boyscout himself, could take me in this room. And that was your second mistake. You challenged me on my terms without practice, without preparation. Had I been the killing type, you would have signed your death warrant."
Goku was silent.
"Your mistakes," continued Batman, "are really one and the same. You didn't prepare. That's why, if you go out now, you'll lose. I won't stop you again, but he will. And trust me, when he gets his hands on you, you'll wish I'd killed you in here."
Goku thought about this for a while. Then he turned to Batman and said, "I'm sorry. I usually listen to those who train me. The truth is, I underestimated you."
"That," said Batman, "was your worst mistake. And, incidentally, my greatest weapon."
"Please," said Goku, "teach me how to fight."
Batman smiled. "Now you're learning," he muttered.
Commissioner Gordon was running. He'd seen that smile on the Joker's face. Far too long had he fought with that maniac to miss when he'd found the upper hand. He wished he'd had more time to warn the Flash.
But this was no time for regrets. He had to keep going.
"Oh, Commissioner!"
That was the Joker's voice. It was coming from the direction of the warehouse. So he had beaten the Flash after all.
Gordon turned sharply and sprinted down an alley. His eyes took in the darkness and started to adjust, but not quickly enough for him to avoid the homeless man sitting directly in his path.
He tripped over him and tumbled forward. There was a sharp pain in his wrist and he fought the urge to cry out. He knew almost immediately that it was broken, but he couldn't stop now.
He stood up and scanned the area for a way to escape. He saw a fire escape ladder and made straight for it.
Behind him he could hear the man he had woken yelling loudly at him. He ignored him. He pried a second-story window open and tumbled inside, taking care to shield his injured wrist. A door on the other side of the room was the only exit. Opening it, he saw a staircase that ran down on his left and up on his right. He sprinted down the left staircase as fast as he could manage. Better to be near the ground in case he needed to run again.
He heard a loud bang and the homeless man's voice disappeared. Gordon felt a pang of guilt. He had nearly hoped that the Joker wouldn't go after civilians while chasing him.
He reached the bottom of the staircase and spun around, about to head for the front door. The sight that met his eyes froze him in his tracks.
The Joker was standing directly in his path. In his hands was the head of the man from the alleyway.
"Ah, Commissioner!" said the Joker. "I knew you'd come this way, so I thought I'd wait here and head you off." He chuckled at his joke.
Gordon turned and sprinted for the back door, but the Joker had already grabbed the collar of his jacket. "Come on," he said. "We're going on a trip!"
Before Gordon could think about what he had just heard, he was out the door and flying a few hundred feet above the ground. Looking down he could barely make out any of the people walking along the streets.
"Look at the city, Commissioner," said the Joker. "Everyone running around like their lives are the only ones that matter. Here and there, not realising that they're just like tiny little insects, scurrying about with no purpose, just doing the same thing over and over and over." He gripped the jacket tighter and stared down at the street below. "I'll show them though," he said. "I'll destroy their pretty little world. Slowly. I'll show them how useless and pathetic their lives really are. And then," he said, looking back at Gordon, "everyone will see the truth! And you know what?" He pushed his face into Gordon's. "No one can stand reality," he said, smiling. "They'll all be driven round the bend. The whole world, stark raving mad. Just imagine it. There'd be no need for me! You'd all rip the world apart yourselves!" He tilted his head back and laughed.
And then the Joker wasn't there anymore. It took Gordon a moment to realise he was falling. He saw the ground travelling at him much faster than he would have liked. He thought of Barbara, sitting at home late at night while he worked late hours. He wished he'd spent more time with her.
He closed his eyes and waited for the end. He felt an impact and then a wrenching feeling in his stomach that reminded him of that one time he'd gone on a rollercoaster, only much worse. Was he dead? He opened his eyes. The ground was still there below him, but he was moving much slower now. His feet landed on it gently.
Superman stood beside him.
"Are you hurt?" he asked.
Gordon shook his head slowly. He was just piecing together what had happened.
"I'd get that to a hospital if I were you," said Superman, pointing to Gordon's wrist. "There's one just across the street."
Gordon looked down. In all the confusion, he'd forgotten about his wrist. As he stood there in shock, he felt a huge gust of wind and looked up. Superman was gone.
Gordon's brain kicked into action. He took his phone from his pocket and dialed the number for the Metropolis City Police Department.
The hospital visit would have to wait. The city needed to be evacuated.
