Chapter Twenty-Five
Ivy awoke to find herself in a glass enclosure about the size of a shipping container. There was a chair to one side with a table and bed. The other end had a little room with a bathroom inside. A single light hung from a wire in the center of the enclosure, barely illuminating the space.
"Ah, I see our guest is alive," a familiar voice spoke. "No doubt you're probably wondering where and why, and we'll get to that. But first, I'm going to need your help. And you will give me what I want."
Poison Ivy stood up from the bed. "And just what makes you think I'll ever help you?" she demanded.
Joker appeared from the shadows. "Because if you don't, you can kiss your girlfriend goodbye," he sneered. "Ha ha ha ha ha". Ivy stared at him. "But even if you don't help, I'll probably kill her anyway."
Ivy widened her eyes in fear. "Joker, why don't you just let her go? You obviously don't love her," she said. "Make it easier for her."
"That's not really an option," he said. "Making me the laughing stock of my own jokes, trying to be the comedian and make me the straight man. I can't have that kind of disloyalty."
'Joker really is crazy,' Ivy thought. "You're insane."
"And I thought I was a Scorpio," he retorted.
Joker stared at her. Ivy found herself backing down. "Just what is it you want me to do?"
"Harley and the boys and I, will be taking a short trip soon," Joker explained. "I'm making up a new and improved version of Joker Gas and I need your help to synthesize the final product into usable form. Seems I cannot trust Black Mask to be around when needed. And, well you see, I've been studying up on you, and I've made an excellent discovery. What with your scientific background, I figure you're the perfect fit for the job."
"Joker Gas…I should have known."
"That's only the beginning. The punchline comes later."