Walking through the corridor, Ladybug passed some dead guards along the way.
"Everywhere that madman goes, death is sure to follow." Ladybug said to herself.
She kept running until she quickly defeated two criminals that were in the corridor. As she heard the security breach announcement play, she saw on the TV screen that inmates were running. A clear sign that they have been released from their cells.
"Hey Ladybug. Over here." A guard said. Ladybug came up to him. "What happened?"
"Joker happened." Ladybug said. "You're lucky to be alive."
"He must've gone this way." The guard said. "Doors jammed. I'll try to get it open." Suddenly, his radio went off
"We need help in Pacification. I repeat. We need backup in Pacification. Can anyone hear this?"
"Can you hear me? I'm with Ladybug. Hello?" The guard asked.
"Where are they?" Ladybug asked.
"Back down there." He pointed in the direction. "Do you need help?"
"No." Ladybug said. "I'll get my own backup." The guard's radio went off.
"Zsasz is free. Oh god. He's got Mike." Was all he got out before he was cut off.
"Franklin, can you hear me?" The guard asked. "If you can, help's on the way."
Ladybug went the opposite way and as she rounded the corner, she called her eyes and ears.
"Micro, can you hear me?" Ladybug asked.
"Loud and clear." Micro said. "What's up?"
"Joker's escaped custody." Ladybug informed. "He's running free in Arkham."
"Do you need anything? Is my dad still there?" Micro asked.
"Commissioner Raincomprix is safe." Ladybug said. "Joker's not far ahead. I'll stay in contact." As she hung up, her mind flashed back.
Sabrina Raincomprix, she was Miss Hound at one point in her life. Defended Paris when she couldn't, saved lives, but she never told her father that she was a superhero. But that career ended when Joker found out where she lived and shot her in the spine. Paralyzed from the waist down, Sabrina's hero career was over. But that didn't stop her from helping Team Miraculous. While she still retained her skills despite being paralyzed, she became an expert in technology and hacking, able to scope the city with sonar towers, and became the team's eyes and ears. It was these skills that earned her new persona, Microchip, or Micro for short.
As Ladybug entered the Pacification Chamber, she heard guards talking to Zsasz.
"Let him go, you'll only end up in more trouble if you continue." The guard said.
"Thank God." Franklin said. "He's got Mike. He's strapped to a chair. Zsasz has totally lost it.
"Wait here." Ladybug said.
"You can't." Franklin said. "He'll kill Mike if he sees anyone trying to get close."
"He won't see me." Ladybug said.
"If I see anything that looks like a bug, this guard dies. Do you hear me?" Zsasz said, pushing the button which turned on the electric chair Mike is strapped to.
Victor Zsasz. Grown up in a life of luxury until it all came crashing down when his parents died and gambled away his inheritance. Since then, he's live the life of a killer, marking his victim's death on his own body. Ladybug encountered him before, always shook her to her core at seeing the body count he created.
Ladybug decided to go upstairs to the second floor to get a better angle.
"Zsasz has got my buddy." A guard said. "He's gonna fry him. Do something. Please."
"Keep him occupied." Ladybug said. "I need to get behind him." She thought carefully about her next move. I've got to get close enough to Zsasz to strike. She then looked up. These gargoyles should be able to support my weight if I grapple up to them.
Using her yo-yo, she hooked on the gargoyle and got on top of it. Switching between the gargoyles, she was able to get behind Zsasz and dropped down. Zsasz didn't notice Ladybug was behind him until it was too late. She punched him in the face before doing a ground takedown.
"Someone put this animal back in his cell." Ladybug ordered.
Suddenly, the TVs behind Ladybug turned on and it showed Harley Quinn, trying to adjust the camera.
"Can you hear me? Is this thing on." Harley asked, until she fixed the angle. "Oh. Hiya, LB! Harley Quinn here. How do you like my new uniform? Pretty hot, huh? Oh, I've got something to show you. One second, LB!" She went to the side to get what she was talking about. All of a sudden, Quincy Sharp, tied to a chair was in the frame. "Ta-da! I'm now subbing for the old man. Old Sharpie's never been happier. In case ya ain't figured it out, today's the Joker's big homecoming, and you're the guest of honor."
"You have one chance to surrender, Harleen." Ladybug said.
"Tempting, Bugsy, but no dice." Harley said. "Now, the inmates are running the asylum. Well, technically, they're the Joker's goons shipped in from Blackgate, but you get the idea. Bye-bye for now." She whacked the camera with the cane she was holding. Micro decided to call.
"Ladybug, you picking this up?" Micro asked.
"Micro, I'm here." Ladybug said.
"Arkham Asylum just vanished off the network." Micro said.
"He's in control of the security system." Ladybug said. "He's probably isolated it from the grid."
"That's not all he's done." Micro said. "All police feeds are reporting he's planted bombs all over Paris. Says he'll detonate them if anyone sets foot on Arkham Island. It's being suppressed at the moment, but the story will break out anytime now."
"He's lying." Ladybug said. "It's just a diversion to keep people away."
"How do you know?" Micro asked.
"I know him." Ladybug said.
"But what's if it's true?" Micro asked. "I know Joker is known for tricking and outsmarting his opponents, but still."
"Have the team sweep the city for the bombs." Ladybug said. "If they are fake, then there will be nothing to worry about. Also, have Pegasus send Rena Rouge and Stinger to my location. I'll need all the help I can get."
"Ok." Micro said.
Ladybug went to a nearby vent and ripped it off. Micro decided to let Ladybug know what she has.
"Ladybug, I'm patching you into the guard radio feed." Micro said, as she activated the feed.
"Steve, more Blackgate prisoners, by the boiler. Who's that behind them? Oh my god... It's Joker. He's free. How'd he break out?" Suddenly, it cut off.
"Sorry, feed's down." Micro said. "Comms are up and down like crazy. It's not good. I'll keep trying."
Ladybug reach the end of the vent and kick it off. An announcement was heard as Ladybug reach the decontamination section. At the end of the hall, she saw guards on the other side of the room, choking on gas
Warning: Decontamination Room. Toxins detected. Warning: Decontamination Room. Area sealed.
"What is that stuff?" A guard asked.
"Joker toxin." Ladybug said. "Listen. The room is full of poison gas. Anyone caught in there is dead."
"Are you gonna get in there and help them, Ladybug?" The guard asked.
Ladybug yo-yo'd up and went through another vent. As she did, her mind was processing.
This isn't a simple escape attempt. Ladybug thought. Joker's been planning this.
Ladybug saved two guards and a Blackgate convict, the final one she knocked out. She used her Detective Mode function on her mask and saw the fans connected to a panel.
"Hmm. There's the extraction control point." Ladybug said. "A well aimed Bug Disc should power it up."
Ladybug pulled a circular object from her utility belt and readied herself. Breathing slowly, she threw the disc at the panel which triggered the vents and got rid of the gas. When that was done, she went through the transfer loop section. She fought any inmate that was in front of her. She continued walking and entered another room. This time, she saw Joker standing on what looked like a cage.
"What took you so long?" Joker asked, sarcastically. Ladybug got a Bug Disc and threw it at Joker, who ducked.
"There's no escape, Joker." Ladybug said. "I will find you."
"I'm counting on it." Joker said. "Just not yet." The cage opened. "Oooh, he's a big one." What came out was something that could only be described as a monster. It was around the size of Killer Croc, maybe a bit taller. It was disfigured beyond belief, and had muscles on one arm and leg.
It picked up a dead guard and threw it at Ladybug, who quickly dodged it. It tried to charge, but thinking quickly, Ladybug got a Bug Disc and threw as fast as she could, which stunned it but he couldn't stop. She got out the way quickly and punched it a few times. This process kept repeating until it clutched it's chest, as if it was having a heart attack. Then, it dropped to the ground, dead.
"We'll, that was unexpected, wasn't it?" Joker asked. "Oh well, note to self: need stronger test subjects. Seeing as how I'm feeling generous, I'll give you this one for free." He spread his arms. "Knock me off. I dare you. End this, pull the plug, stop me once and for all."
Ladybug pulled out a Bug Disc and readied to throw it. But, she couldn't find it in herself to do it. As she set her arms down, Joker laughed.
"You're getting too predictable, Bugsy." Joker said. "Well, I'd love to stay and chat, but I've got a party to organize. I've got guests flying in from all over Arkham. You'll see." The cage he was on went to the door behind him and close.
"Ahh...my head." A guard said, behind the ray shields. "Quick, get in here before more show up." Ladybug went up to the guard. "They came out of nowhere. I dragged Jerry in here, powered up the gate. Must have passed out."
"Joker went through that door." Ladybug stated. "What's on the other side?"
"We call it Extreme Isolation." The guard said. "Only way in is via the transport system."
"Open it." Ladybug ordered.
"Not a problem." The guard said. "I'll just need to call another cell." He went to a computer. "Ok. Something's wrong here. The main security loop is locked." The TV show Joker.
"Having a little trouble up there?" Joker asked, sarcastically.
"Joker." Ladybug snarled.
"You were expecting maybe Two-Face?" Joker asked, as if she was dumb.
"There's no escape, Joker." Ladybug told him.
"Silly Bug! I don't want to escape." Joker said. "I'm having way too much fun. I even have you here to keep a smile on my face."
"Not for long." Ladybug said.
"Really? We'll see. Ta-ta." Joker said, but before he turn off the camera. "Oh, I forgot to say. Just in case you were planning on following me, I've arranged a little insurance. Raincomprix is on his way to Harley as we speak." Footage shows Roger being knocked out by a familiar face.
"Officer Boles." Ladybug growled, as Joker laughed.
"If I see you trying to follow me, he dies." Joker said. "Harley's looking forward to it. Maybe I'll film it and post it on the internet." The video turned off.
"The transport system is down." The guard said. "Best I can do is open the door you came in."
I should go back to the Holding Cells. Ladybug thought. Boles wasn't too smart. He'll have left a trail.
She decided to go back to the beginning and find Roger.
So yeah. I made Sabrina the Oracle for the series. Since Barbara wasn't here, I decided on an alternative. That means that Barbara never became paralyzed.
But other than that, here's the next chapter. Next time, Ladybug follows a trail, allies are brought in, and more villains appear.
As always, let me know your thoughts.
