Okay so sorry if there was some grammatical errors in the last few chapters. I write when I'm exhausted and that's really the only chance I get to catch up on this story. But I hope your enjoying the excitment! As I said, we're coming close to the end and that's where it'll wrap up a lot of possible questions and even foreshadow things for the next story so I do hope your paying attention! Anyways I hope you guys are having fun reading, cuz I'm having a hell of a lot of fun writing it! ;)


Batman held a frown underneath his cowl, "I know you have something planned Joker."

J quirked his head innocently, "Me? Why ever would you think such a thing?"

Batman reached over for Joker's collar and slammed him against the stone wall. J winced softly before gritting his teeth and glaring at the Dark Knight. "Listen bats. Normally I'd love to stay and play. But I'm in the middle of something if you couldn't tell."

Sofia grunted but kept her stance. The guards were still struggling behind their guns. "Hey asshole! He's not the one you want!" she shouted angrily.

My my what a mouth on her

Quiet.

Batman slowly turned his head to look at Sofia, who was somehow holding the men imprisoned in their own bodies. J smirked, "I've tried to teach her manners. But you know kids these days."

Batman scowled and grabbed a batarang from his utility belt, flinging it toward Sofia's shoes. Jonathan stepped forward before the metal weapon blasted her enough to shoot her back a couple of feet and release her hold on the guards. Joker growled and sharply thrashed his head into Batman's face, dropping to the floor and turning to see Sofie struggling to get up from the ground. Jonathan noticed one of the men aiming a gun for them and swiftly snatched the barrel of the gun in his hands, forcefully shoving the butt of the gun into the guard's face, knocking the man's mask off.

Joker was just a few feet away before another body slammed into his, making the clown falter to the side. J grunted, realizing he'd torn more of the gash on his arm. He snapped his livid green eyes up to see Jason Todd making his way for him. Batman realized the guards had targeted him now and began shooting. Batman lifted his cape to shield himself from the bullets before pressing another button on his belt, allowing three cylinder objects to fall.

Tear gas. You might wanna move there Johnny.

Crane rushed out of the way before Batman tossed the tear gas bombs into the crowd of guards. Each one quickly covering their faces and wiping their eyes, coughing up the smoke in the air. Batman then dashed for them and began taking them down.

That should keep em busy for a little while.

I doubt we'll have too much time.


J lifted himself up and glared at the sidekick, "You know kid. Your starting to become a serious pain in my ass."

Jason continued walking until picking up a gun and aiming it for the clown, "It's over Joker."

J chuckled, "Your starting to sound like him. Are we having identity problems?"

Jason clenched his jaw, "I'm nothing like him."

"Sure about that?"

"Absolutely," he stated, "You try and manipulate people into doing shit for you. Manipulate your own sister."

J shrugged, "Whatever works you know?"

Jason frowned, "You're not going to manipulate her anymore."

At this Joker raised a bare brow, "Who said I was manipulating?"

Jason furrowed his brows before a foot crashed into his side, sending him back a significant distance. He spun until coming to a halt on the ground and remained motionless from the force of the hit. Sofia stared at him with angry glowing eyes.

J snickered and stood up, "I don't think he even saw that coming."

Sofia snapped her head to look at Joker, her face was anything but pleased, "I'm still pissed at you." She hissed.

Joker groaned, "You sure do know how to ruin a moment don't you?"

She rolled her eyes, "I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing this for me. Because I know Jack would have done the same."

Joker lowered his chin, not liking her attitude. But understanding all the same despite how much he didn't want to admit it.

"Well aren't you a saint," he spat

She pointed at him, "Yeah go ahead and ignore apologizing. It's fine."

J scoffed, "Apologize!? For trying to keep your thankless ass safe!?"

Crane managed to escape Batman's clutches as he was clearly outnumbered at the moment. His blue eyes turned to see Decker waking from the shadows behind Sofia and Joker, he was holding onto his abdomen with one hand while he held a gun in the other.

Oh darn.

Jonathan shot up, "Sofie!" he shouted

The two siblings looked at the doctor who was focused on something behind them. J turned to see Decker standing there with dirt and blood on his face. J instinctively grabbed Sofia and pressed her behind him. Will had his gun aimed for them. Sofia could see where this was going. She's seen these situations unfold plenty of times before and each time ending in someone's death. J wasn't happy, his anger was practically seething as he scowled at the man.

"You know what will happen if people start finding out about her Jack, finding out about you," William started

Joker raised a brow and quirked his head playfully, "Pray tell."

Decker chuckled, "They're gonna' want her. Because now you have a weakness. Your whole empire will start to crumble before you and it'll be easier to take you down."

J's lip twitched, and he smirked despite his growing irritation. He suddenly burst into a fit of laughter. The group all looked to one another, unsure of what the Joker thought was so funny. Sofia couldn't understand what was so comedic about the situation either. To be honest, she wasn't quite sure what would happen if other crime lords found this out. Would Joker kill her? Quit the life of crime? Send her away? She wasn't too sure herself, because while this was still Jack, fragments of something else, something darker…lurked inside of him as well.

Everyone froze. Whenever the Joker laughed, there wasn't ever anything funny about to happen. He leaned over and held his stomach as he cackled, wiping away a tear and finally catching his breath, "Ha! Oh boy! And what makes you think that changes anything?" he slowly stood up and glared at Decker, "Anything at all?" he asked

Joker smiled, "Oh honestly, Decker you should know by now that I'm a lot better at this job than you are."

"You think so? Are you done with your past Joker?" He asked skeptically, his hand whipped towards Sofia, who stepped back a bit

Sofia looked to see her brother's reaction, hoping to see some sort of concern in his eyes. Joker's appearance darkened, "Either way she belongs to me. And whether or not I decide to dispose of her," Sofia narrowed her eyes at the elder sibling, "will be my doing. No one else's."

Decker growled and returned his aim at the Joker, who smiled in return. Sofia stared at his hand and could see his finger slowly press the trigger ever so slightly. Her eyes widened when she realized J wasn't moving.

"No!" she shouted, gripping the back of his blazer, she twisted them before J could do anything.

"SOFIE DON'T!" Crane yelled

A loud blast of firepower echoed throughout the cavern. Joker furrowed his brows when Sofia remained in his arms, he looked down to see Sofia slumping over. There was silence in the room for a few moments before he realized what had just happened. He could feel something wet coming from Sofia's upper back, he raised his arm to see blood covering his gloved hand. Sofia feebly looked up at him, her eyes clearly in shock, "J.." she winced, now falling to the floor.

Joker caught her and gently lowered her on the ground. Her arms laid at her sides as she stared at her brother. Tears started forming in her eyes and her breathes were becoming ragged. The feeling of the bullet blasting through her chest was a pain she hoped to never feel. The throbbing and stinging of the open wound made her frail body shudder.

Her half-lidded gaze was filled with both fear and exhaustion, but all she could whisper was a simple, "I'm sorry."

He brushed his thumb over her cheek and sighed, "I know kitten."

She could feel the blood soak her shirt underneath her coat. Joker's muscles tensed in his arms as he held onto her. Green strands of hair creeping passed his face as he stared down at his sister.

It was almost funny.

She had been experimented on, drugged, abused, electrocuted, crushed and she'd survived it all. It was almost hard to believe that her demise was a simple lead bullet. She didn't know how, but she swore she could hear her mother's prayer from when she was a child. Repeating itself in her head. But she didn't believe in God? So why was this happening? She only hoped that if there was a higher power, he would be kind to her broken soul. But right now, she felt safe, with Joker…. Jack, holding her close.

She could faintly hear Will speak up from the entrance of the tunnel, "I know exactly why you two left your home that day."

J shot his eyes to Decker, slowly shaking his head from side to side, not wanting Sofie to hear this in her current state, "Shut the fuck up Will."

But Will continued, "The reason you two were desperate enough to come here."

"I said shut up!" J barked

A tear rolled down Sofia's cheek as she listened.

"Your daddy was abusive, wasn't he? Enough to kill your mother," Will started, "Which left one of you to kill dear old dad. See I thought I had It figured out. One of you killed him to protect the other."

Sofia began to panic reaching up to cover her ears. J looked down to hold her still so not to strain herself anymore. "Sofie stop," he whispered

"But it wasn't you was it Jack?"

Jonathan walked forward before Will aimed his gun for him.

Wait. I wanna hear this.

She's dying.

I thought you had no feelings left Johnny?

Crane glared at Decker, who smiled, "It was poor little Sofie who killed daddy wasn't it?"

Sofia's panicked whimpers became louder. Crane widened his eyes in astonishment.

So that little minx has killed before.

That would explain a lot of things.

J gritted his teeth as he watched helplessly at his sister reliving that dreadful moment. The hammer, the blood, the screams. She shut her eyes and cried.

Safe I am while in thy sight

Her breathing became even more shallow. Blood filling her lungs, Joker could hear it in the audible sounds she was making.

Safely let me sleep tonight

Sofia didn't take her eyes off him, she wanted to make sure he was the last person she'd see before she died.

Keep me every in thy sight

The only one who truly cared about her even after he turned into the heartless murderer he was today. This wasn't how she thought she would die, but it was worth it. Every second with him was honestly worth it. Even through the violence and hatred, she still loved him. Her image of him hadn't changed even now. At least she was dying in the arms of someone she could honestly admit to loving wholly.

Jonathan stared at Sofia with anxious eyes. Why did she do that? Why would she save someone like him? While he figured it was a natural reaction to prevent a loved one from dying, he couldn't understand why she would risk her life for someone like the Joker. Despite his cool composure, his thoughts and emotions raged with irritation and annoyance at the sight of Sofia slowly dying. Why was he not moving to save her? Making some sort of effort to rescue his sister when she was, in fact, the one who saved his life just seconds before.

Well…. I guess this means you have to find a new outlet to release your primal needs on

Jonathan disregarded Scarecrow's words. He clenched his fists, wanting so badly to take Sofia away from Joker. She needed medical attention, and Joker didn't seem too interested in seeking any. He'd kill the clown if she dies. That he was certain of.

So, to all I say a soft good night

Sofia's green eyes slowly lost their glow as she gradually fell limp in Joker's arms. Joker didn't do anything but stare at the young woman.

There she goes Johnny

Crane gritted his teeth. He could hear Scarecrow's snickering in the back of his head which only fueled his frustration. She was gone, she was nearly his, and now she was completely gone. Nothing but a beautiful empty vessel of someone he'd grown quite fond of. No more quips, smart remarks, no more of her wonderful laughter and beautiful smile. He wanted nothing more than to tear her away from the clown, she didn't even look at him. He wasn't the last one she'd seen, no goodbye, not one single farewell. Just a precious gem abruptly snatched away from his grasp.

Joker's mouth slightly went agape, not understanding what it was he was feeling, but it wasn't pleasant. He's seen death countless times before, but seeing Sofia, die in his arms, wasn't something he wanted to experience.

"Well there goes my leverage," Decker muttered disappointedly, pulling out another gun and aiming it for J.

"I guess the saying, kill two birds with one stone applies here?" he inputted

But the response Decker hoped for from the Joker didn't come. The clown chuckled darkly and stood up, leaving Sofia lying lifeless on the ground. "Odd," he started, pulling out his gun and aiming it at the crime boss, "And here I thought I was the funny one."

Suddenly from another empty hallway, appeared Frost along with Joker's men. Decker didn't understand how or what they were doing down there until Frost chimed in, "Everything's set up boss." He said, tossing the Joker a gun.

J caught the weapon and nodded, "Just in time."

Crane quirked his head, wondering what Frost meant. Decker watched the Joker turn his aim to the side and shoot at a broken gas pipe on the other end of the room. The cavern was filled with them, old, rusted and even more importantly…. flammable.

Uh oh

Is he planning to kill us all?

Would that sudden turn of events surprise you?

A sharp blast of fire flew from the piping, trailing blasts all around the cavern. The floor began vibrating when the rest of the pipes began shaking uncontrollably. Decker widened his eyes and turned to the Joker, "Do you have any idea what you've just done!?" he hissed. The Joker dismissed his words and turned to walk over to Sofia. An unexpected rush of bullets came from the opposite end of the room. Frost and Joker's men began killing off the guards now attacking them in a matter of seconds.

Decker shot at the men in costumes. Frost lifted his gun and shot him in the leg. He cried out in pain and fell to the ground. One by one, his men fell, leaving only him left. Frost shot his shoulder, he dropped his gun and began crawling back towards the exit.

"Your all dead! I'm not the only one who has eyes on you Joker!" he yelled

Joker steadily walked over towards him, with Sofia in his arms and a gun in hand. Joker pulled his gun up and shot his on the side of the face, the man shrieked out in pain. Blood now dripping from his cheekbone. He held onto the side of his face as he panted, "You can't hide who you are Jack."

"Jack's not here."

Joker stared at him calmly before lifting his gun. Decker suddenly covered his face, "Wait! I can tell you who I'm working for Jack! Who it is that helped me!" he stuttered

J watched him apathetically.

"She's got power. She'll stop at nothing to get what she wants."

"A name Will. I need a name."

"H…Her name is Wal—" Before Decker could finish, his head suddenly imploded in on itself. Cracking his skull in half and falling to the ground. J quirked a brow and looked at his pistol, eventually smiling, "best gun ever."

He then turned to Frost, who waited for his orders in silence. The ground still shaking, at any point the place was going to blow.

"Have the car ready," he said bluntly

Frost nodded and ordered the rest of the men out of the tunnels and back onto the street. Jonathan was ready to follow behind Joker, until Scarecrow stopped him.

Get out of here.

But Sofie.

Is dead. There's nothing left you can do but save yourself. Now do it or I'm taking over.

Crane tightened his fists, eventually sighing in defeat and trailed back toward the exit. Batman noticed Jason lying on the ground across the room and bolted for him before a large piece of debris landed on him. He pulled out his grapple gun and shot it above, flying through the shower of rock and dirt.

Joker glanced down at Sofia. He held her tighter and turned on his heel, heading down the stairs. Pieces of the cave began falling from the ceiling, but it didn't bother the Joker one bit. The green light from the Lazuras Pit illuminated the cavern as he inched closer towards it. Joker walked into the liquid and set Sofia on the edge, throwing off his silver blazer and tossing it aside. He picked Sofia back up and walked in the middle of the pit. He took one last look at his sister, this was probably the last time he'd see her the way she used to be. Untouched, unfazed by what he had caused her. He only hoped her memories would remain and that she'd remember him.

Then.

He let go.

Sofia floated for a few moments until descending into the water. He moved his jaw out of habit at the anxiousness he couldn't understand he was feeling. This was taking longer than it should and he couldn't help but think he was possibly too late. But as his doubts muddled through his mind, he let out a breath when he saw bubbles rise from beneath the surface. He walked closer, searching for her.

Sofia gasped as she pulled herself from the water. To Joker's surprise Sofia's hair had changed just as drastically as his had when he took a swim in acid that night. Her hair was a white hue and her eyes illuminated bright green while she scratched at her now healed chest. She screamed in pain. Joker reached out for her arms, but she quickly lost energy and fell into his grasp. He held onto her shaking unconscious body, caressing the back of her head to calm her down. He figured the effects of the Pit were anything but easy for someone like her, so this was a normal reaction he would have expected.

"It's okay kitten, I've got you now," he purred, "Jack's got you."

Sofia seemed to relax, and he took this opportunity to pick her up and take her out. He grabbed his coat and wrapped it around her, turning and rushing for the exit. He stopped when a large pillar fell and blocked the exit. He growled in annoyance and glanced around, seeing a smaller tunnel across the way. He could hear cracking sounds coming from above and noticed a piece of the ceiling falling towards them. Joker rapidly covered them while the debris landed on his back and head, nearly knocking him to the ground. Joker grunted, but kept moving, he could feel the warm feeling of blood falling down his face.

He made it passed the room just in time for another large pillar to block the entrance. He held Sofia as tight as he could in his arms while he made his way up to the surface. He took deep breathes and searched around for Frost. As if on cue, the henchman turned the corner and drove up to where he stood. He reached over to open the door, Joker stepped in the passenger seat and sat down. He may have been safe now, but there was still a bat on the prowl, and he couldn't afford to have Sofia taken away from him now. He couldn't risk her losing her memories or having them tampered with before he could.

"Go," he ordered lowly

Frost put the car in drive and started driving back to the club. He glanced over to see the Joker adjusting Sofia in his arms, her hair was an unusual color. He almost thought it to be an entirely different person before realizing it was Sofie. Breathing. They drove down through the narrows, the two looking in the rearview mirror to see the entire area now collapsing in on itself. It was over.

That was the end of the Basilisk.