The Dynamic Duo were met at Police Headquarters by Commissioner Gordon and Chief O'Hara.

"Is this some kind of dark new era our world is entering? Our worst nightmares being realized?" wondered Gordon. "Those hijacked vessels represent the entire submarine fleet for the eastern seaboard! Not only is one half of the country defenseless, but 473 nuclear missiles are now in the hands of unknown villains!"

"Unknown?" said Batman. "We did receive that mystifying riddle less than a week ago."

"You mean this is work of the Riddler? "

"The 'Emir of Enigma'," confirmed Batman. "...back to baffle and bewilder."

"But you solved his clue."

"I fear we must re-examine our findings on his latest conundrum."

Robin gritted his teeth and nodded. "'What's loud and sticky and found with Chubby R. Buckle?'"

"Your answer of bubble gum sounded correct," said the Commissioner.

"Wait!" said Robin. "What's loud and sticky could also mean audio tape!"

"Good thinking, Robin! And the reference to Chubby R. Buckle...hmmm." Batman said, rubbing his chin. "Chubby R. Buckle was a silent film comedian...a bit on the heavy side...he played bumbling, incompetent characters... "

"Wasn't he in those Keystone Cop movies?" said Robin.

Chief O'Hara shut his eyes to think. "Mmm. Keystone Cops...bumbling...incompetent. It's a tough one, all right," he said, shaking his head.

Batman's hand dropped from his chin as he looked at the police chief. "Just to entertain a wild notion, Chief, you don't happen to keep an audio tape player here at headquarters, do you?"

"Oh yes, Batman!" the Commissioner answered. "It's in that cabinet on the wall." He walked over and opened the cabinet to reveal an old reel-to-reel tape player inside. "Why, there's a tape in the machine now!"

He punched the "on" button. The sound of the Riddler's manic laughter instantly blared from the tape player.

"Begora!" said O'Hara. "But how on earth did ye know it was here, Botman?"

"A lucky, lucky hunch, Chief."

"Holy Disinterment!" said Robin. "Now I feel bad about suggesting we dig up Chubby R. Buckle!"

"No time to cry over spilt milk now, chum! Listen..." said Batman.

The Riddler's laughter finally came to a stop and was replaced by his taunting voice. "Oh, you found the tape, eh, Batman? Well, riddle me this: Why will a traveler never starve in the desert?"

"Uhh..." offered Chief O'Hara.

"Because of the sand which is there! The sandwich!" exclaimed Robin.

"Are you still listening, Batman?" the Riddler's voice continued. "Because I want to know why the Batboat isn't mine!" The insane laughter resumed.

"That one sounds a bit trickier," said Gordon.

"If only we'd thought to look here earlier!" exclaimed Batman, slapping his fist in his palm. "Think of the words in his statement, Commissioner! 'Oh', 'eh', 'why', 'are'..."

"Words that sound like letters! So...the Batboat isn't 'his' boat because it's 'you' boat!"

"U Boat! Referrin' t'submarines!" said O'Hara.

"And submarine is also a type of sandwich!" said Batman, tying in the earlier clue.

"How about one more, Batman?" the pre-recorded voice asked. "Which alarm do you think I'm going to pull this time?"

"Alarms," said Robin. "Let's see...there's fire alarms, alarm clocks, burglar alarms..."

"But which alarm?" said Gordon.

"Didn't he mean 'witch alarm', Commissioner? Or a word that means both 'witch' and 'alarm'? In other words, a siren!"

Everyone turned in the direction of the new voice. Leaving a string of gawking patrolmen in her wake, Batgirl came striding up to the Commissioner's desk. "Perhaps 'how about one more' means the Siren is teaming up with him."

"Batgirl! What brings you here?" asked Batman.

"Oh, just something a little bird told me. You'll hear it too if you turn on the radio right about now."

Gordon switched on the radio. A self-assured, slightly smug voice greeted them.

"This is Barry Brown, your radio announcer, bringing you disturbing news of the day! The Hexagon and members of 'military intelligence' are keeping mum over their decision to lock down Gotham Naval Base. The base went to its highest state of alert on Wednesday night. Although the police and other 'respected' government officials assure us that nothing is wrong, this reporter can't help wondering what could make an alert last three full days. A test of military readiness? If they're taking this long, they must be flunking! What's the matter, fellas? Forget where you parked the tanks? This reporter will get to the bottom of this and bring you the scoop!"

Gordon turned the radio off angrily. "Of all the nerve! The correct decision was made! What else could the navy do? Announce that four submarines with nuclear missiles are lost and in the hands of a madman? Think of the panic that would ensue!"

"Yes, but if we can't recover them quickly, the public will have to be told for their own safety," Batgirl pointed out.

"A grim turn of events, indeed," Batman said, pacing the room. "Traditionally, nation/states have targeted their missiles either by aiming for 'mutually assured destruction' or at enemies' strategic installations. Now, however, the Riddler will deploy his 473 warheads in a prankish, nonsensical manner, with his only goals being to confound and offend."

Batman suddenly began to experience a nightmarish vision – a vision of a nuclear blast enveloping Gotham City.

Above the tremendous explosion, he pictured a dark mushroom cloud rising up higher and higher in the sky. The cloud separated, slowly forming into letters - to spell out the words, 'When is a jet stream like a daffodil?'

The image faded away before his eyes, leaving him with a horrified expression.