Bzzz..Bzzz. Harley answered the call. Receiver pressed and a segment of static was heard before a familiar voice was perceived.
"Hello Dr. Quinzel, you have a meeting with the board in ten minutes."
"Thank you Sarah." The receiver was let go. Before leaving she looked at her attire in the mirror she installed recently here at her office. It's a piece she took to work, gave a home vibe to the atmosphere. There was a smile forming but once it reached the max in terms of width she stopped and reverted the smile back to a still face, emotion not revealed, only to him, only in private, only when it was necessary. With that she left to go onward to the board meeting in the Lodge.
"Huh." A man woke up from a deep slumber. The throbbing sensation from a blow to the head numbed his inhibitions temporarily. He had trouble identifying his surroundings as a ringing from the head trauma began to drown out his yells of anguish. A dark figure came out under the a lamp from the darkness with an insidious chuckle.
"Wake up batsy, I'm getting anxious. Would you like a drink?" Shaking a bottle of Disaronno in front of Batman's face.
"Joker. What is the point in asking me, I'm tied up?"
"I can still pour it in your mouth. Man you seem a little peeved, tell me bats, what's your damage?"
"I have a board meeting to attend too, and I think my right eardrum might be blown out."
"Please, don't lie to me bats. I know you think you have more pressing matters but first I would like to talk about a realization I had lately." He took a big swig of almond liquor.
"Go ahead. It's not like I have a choice."
"No, you don't." He pulls up a chair right in front of him. Neither changed expression but Joker breathed heavily. The right eye twitched suddenly then returned to normal. "You ever feel like we go through a continuous cycle? I mean every time we come into conflict, fighting initiates, berating begins, and eventually one falls. It's temporary at first, you capture me, I ignite a rage within you and the fighting starts all over again. If I catch you, I give some exposition, maybe a little torture to go on the side but in the end, you escape, plotting a method to destroy my plans. After the third act of the arc my intentions are silenced while your figure is revered throughout Gotham. I'm put back in my vacant lot up the hill and you wait, watching from top of the skyline with an earpiece listening through the police scanners and whoever else you talk too feeding you intel of cynical actions against humanity. Body or bodies appear in horrific conditions, beaten, cut, gutted, sliced with a smile in the end, bingo, you found my mark. You search for my location around and once you discovered my position, the cycle starts again. Sounds about right?"
A moment passed between them before one spoke. "Yes. It's actually too accurate."
"Exactly," He pulled out a cigar and light it with a match. "I've been feeling very overwhelmed lately. Between my work, you, my romantic interest, and Arkham Asylum, I haven't had enough time to myself to hear the silence."
"What are you doing at Arkham Joker?"
"You'll find out eventually Bats. I'm done with you at the moment old pal." He stood up from his chair and kicked it back. "Nighty night Bats." Batman was knocked out unconscious from a powerful blow to the head.
Back in Arkham: The board meeting has begun. "Good morning everyone. I'm glad mostly everyone is here." An executive of Arkham Asylum's Trustee Committee began the conversation. "Unfortunately due to unknown circumstances Mr. Wayne was unable to join this meeting. Furthermore let's begin the session before we surpass the time block in our own schedules. Dr. Arkham, has there been any notice of Mr. Mecham's return?"
"Since the last time I've talked to the GCPD there has been no further additional information on the disappearance of our District Attorney. I personally suspect it was the workings of one or multiple associates of Batman's Rogues Gallery."
"Who do you expect is the culprits then?" Jeremiah looked at Harley before answering the trustee. "We have a list of people who've escaped or haven't been admitted back from past event. From the list we have four prime members: Riddler, Kite Man, Two-Face, and Joker. The Riddler has been hiding since the events of Dark City so he was ruled out. Kite Man was last seen in Nicaragua capturing intel for local cartels. Two-Face is seen in multiple cctv recordings from the Hellsworth's Bank heists, taking in fifty million dollars. Batman was last seen by the GCPD a week ago, investigating leads into Harvey's crimes. Joker however raised a red flag to me personally though." He pulled out a letter. It appeared crumbled, tinted tan color and worn. Some blood droplets were shown on the letter. "I found this within the Joker's cell. It reads: "I see a person walking the halls of this facility to be guilty of corruption. My leering eyes followed the mannerisms and behaviors of this individual. I can imagine how that person would feel having a straight razor pressed under their abdomen down to their thigh. Pain is momentary but trauma truly resides in all of us. Mortuus rem."
"Mortuus rem? What does that mean?" Said one of the Doctors.
"Dead matter." Jeremiah answered.
"You don't suppose The Joker is addressing someone in this room?" Everyone twisted their heads left and right. Jeremiah intervened, "I'm not sure. There's no details suggesting he's directly commenting on one of us. This facility has over three hundred on payroll and houses two hundred with thirty held in intensive care. I have no idea."
Ring Ring...Ring Ring. The conference phone lit up. Jeremiah turned on the speaker. "Yes Susan." "Hello Jeremiah." Everyone in the room went silent. "Don't worry, this isn't coming from within the building, I'm relaying the frequency so it can't be traced. I assume you've read the letter I 'left' in my home away from home."
"How did you…?"
"Jeremiah, I have eyes and ears everywhere, literally. Oh and your wrong, I was addressing one of you in that glass prone room. You already know who you are. Don't worry yet, I have other affairs to attend to. I'm actually dropping a package to your location right now. It's big, tough, and brutal but you can't help but adore it. If you don't want him, there will be a receipt in the sleeve just in case. Goodbye."
The call dropped and everyone in the room started chatting. Anxiety was beginning to fill the room. It was only elevated when the sound of the glass wall shattered with a body launched onto the table. Dr. Arkham turned the body over and it revealed to be Batman. He was bloody and bruised. His cape was missing and the helm was cracked in three places. Some glass was stuck in his skin. Barely breathing he pressed a button on his left arm plate. Harley ran up to him. "Batman don't worry. You'll be taken care of, your safe here." He turned to face her. "No...I'm too late." He began to fall unconscious again.
"Somebody call the police!"