Chapter 9: Joker Showdown

After dealing with Killer Croc and afterward freezing the human crocodile man like an ice sickle, Thunderhead made his way to find the Joker. It had been almost an hour as Ethan continued his search for the Joker, even searched for signs of Batman. He decided to head toward the green house and see if Poison Ivy knew where the dark knight when all of a sudden, he heard a display of fireworks as he spotted firework display an arrow down along with a few smiling faces.

"I know it's been a long night with you ruining all my plans Batsy, but the good news is the party's about to start. We've got everything. Music, dancing, and chemicals that create TITAN monsters!" Joker exclaimed, clearly on an intercom. "You don't want to miss this. So get your ass over to the cell block for your big surprise."

The line went dead as some classy music started to play while the fireworks still went off forming arrows, with every arrow leading to the cell block. Thunderhead then ran through the main yard and toward the tunnel. He heard the fireworks and music get louder and louder, giving a clear indication that he was near as he saw Joker's face painted on a plywood door being guarded by two of Joker's men.

"You're not on the guest list, pal." said the joker bouncer. "You ain't getting' in."

"Here's the thing. As of right now..." Ethan started, smirking as he conjured up water to formed into a tsunami as the both of the guards eyes went wide. "I'm a party crasher!" he finished as he surfed on the tsunami, with the guards along with what remained of Joker's thugs being washed away inside the conjured tidal wave. And with every thug of Joker's occupied due to the tidal wave, Thunderhead froze in solid ice covering their bodies while Ethan went on ahead.

Thunderhead entered the cell blocks visiting room, where a explosion took place earlier as he continued on ahead. Then suddenly, Ethan heard loud noises as he sprinted ahead only to find a couple of TITAN monsters and a few of Joker's thugs on the floor unconscious. He also laughter he knew all to well who it came from, the clown prince of crime himself the Joker. Thunderhead conjured any amount of water he could to boost himself up as the bottom part turn to ice while the height, giving Ethan up to the roof. As soon as he made it to the roof, his eyes were widened as he stared at a TITAN enhanced Joker. His hair spiked down to the middle of his scalp, with his bones were sticking out of his arms behind his knees and through his fingers. His ribcage had broken through his chest as his spinal cord was jagged and sticking out of his back. And lastly, his muscles were bigger than any mans.

"Looks like you finally turned into what you really are, Joker," Ethan paused, with his fists charging with electric lightning. "A monster."

"Well, what do ya know?" he chuckled, staring at Thunderhead as he stood on his water shift ladder. "Three freaks in a fight to the death." he finished, only to receive a punch from Ethan as he impacted a double kick

"More like a handicap match." Ethan replied as him and Batman got into a fighting stance, with Thunderhead forming a ice ax and sword. "Two against one."

"And for one night only please welcome our special guest referee." Joker raised his hand over to the hostage he had captive: Comissioner Gordon. "the Commissioner himself, James Gordon."

Batman and Shadow stood their ground as Joker stomped over them, with Thunderhead slicing a piece of flesh on Joker's legs. He raised his massive hand and sharpened finger nails on both of them as Thunderhead, avoiding the impact of Joker's freakish sharp clawed finger nails. Ethan kicked Joker in the gut as he brought his ice weapons up, hitting him in the head with only the hilt of the ice sword and ax while a group of Joker's thugs made themselves present. Batman continued his showdown with Joker while Thunderhead formed an ice escrima stick with a mace on top and bottom. He brought them out, striking Joker's thugs in the gut and back while kicking one of them in the groin where he even threw the ice escrima mace stick at Joker's head. Ethan ran at Joker as the TITAN powered clown prince of crime slammed his fists to the ground, with Ethan sliding away from the impact freezing Joker's fists with his ice powers while the Joker kneel down on his knees. Both Batman and Thunderhead sent blows the Joker's face, making every blow of theirs count with effort. Unfortunately, Joker grabbed both of them and sent them flying back on their backs. Batman got up and sprayed some sort of gel into his right knuckles as Joker started laughing.

"Still ready for another round?" he said, chuckling while Thunderhead got ready as Batman balled his fist

"Always." he growled

"What?" Joker exclaimed, with suppress anger and annoyance

"I'll never let you win." Batman said as him and Thunderhead jumped toward Joker, with his fist connecting to Joker's face while Thunderhead's foot impacted on Joker's stomach. A small shock and explosion erupted between the impact as both of them were flying back. Joker on the other hand, screamed as his massive body fell to the floor while his weight started breaking down. The massive force and weight of Joker's body took a toll as he was sent flying down below, with Thunderhead and the dark knight hearing a loud thud.

"That's one big ass clown." Ethan joked. "I take it the madness is over?"

"For now."

"Well then, see you later Batman." Ethan replied, preparing to leave. "I'm heading out."

"Wait." Thunderhead turned back at Batman's direction. "I know who you are, Ethan."

"Who did you- no wait..." Ethan trailed off, slapping himself in the head mentally. "I forgot, you're the world's greatest detective. When did you have me pegged."

"I did some research on Young's work on TITAN." Batman started as he walked closer to Ethan. "I came up across a Project: Stormwalker. Not related to Young's work with Joker. You're the only test subject that survived the project."

"What are you saying?" Ethan asked, giving the dark knight a hard stare. "That Young caused the accident on purpose?"

"I Doubt it." Batman stated, turning away. "It was Boles. He was working as a corrupt cop and Joker's personal mole."

"Nothing ever goes good into working for Joker." Ethan scoffed. "Did the clown kill him?" he asked Batman as the dark knight nodded in reply. "I thought so. Well..." Thunderhead trailed off, firing a ice beam as it formed an ice slide. "See you around, Bats." he finished as he fled away, using the ice slide as a way to get out of Arkham and into Gotham

Eight days later...

Thunderhead stared out at Gotham City, kneeling down as he stood beside a gargoyle with a narrow expression on his face while he equipped his goggles on his head. He suddenly heard sirens blaring as he caught a glimpse of police cars chasing down a runaway robber in the day time driving a four door sedan. Thunderhead leaped down, creating an ice slide as he slid down toward the runaway robber. He brought out a ice wall as it impacted on the engine of the car, causing it to stop in its track with Thunderhead jumping on the hood and pulling the robber out.

"Why are you suppose to be?" the robber demanded, pointing his gun at Thunderhead who only smiled with frost and lightning being shown on his fists

"I am Thunderhead."