::Iceberg Lounge::



Batman and Robin climbed through the Penguin's office window. Batman pressed his ear to the door to check if anyone could be outside. The one thing he heard was an unmistakable laugh. He grimaced at the fact the Joker was here. Batman carefully opened the door. No one was in the hallway. With Robin close behind him, they quietly made their way into the dining area. The office was located on the upper level. This gave them an advantage. They walked halfway around on the upper level. Batman motioned for Robin to stay there. Robin lay low as Batman walked towards the other side. Batman positioned himself right above the kitchen door. They waited for their opportunity.


"That's the whole plan! Now do you understand why I need your help?" said the Joker.

"I can't help you. I already told you I don't have the technology! Besides, you can only use it at close range," said the Mad Hatter.

"So?"

"So anyone could spot you a mile away."

"Not if I'm wearing a disguise, you dolt!"

"No, I won't help you! I've changed!"

"Riiiiiiiiiiiiight."

"Yes, that's exactly right!"

"Well, I guess you're leaving me with no choice here. I'll just have to scratch this whole plan now because you won't cooperate! Oh, one more thing.....you'll just have to die now."

The Joker reached into his coat to pull out a gun. Before he could take aim though, it was sent flying. The Joker yelped in pain as a batarang hit the ground. Within seconds, Batman was on the floor in between the Joker and the kitchen. Joker whirled around to face him.

"Batman! Who invited you?"

"Help!" cried Jervis.

"Oh shut up!" said the Joker. He turned his attention to Batman again. "You know, we could have a nice little throw-down here, but I don't want to get into that sort of thing. Heh heh. You have a decision to make here. Go a couple rounds with me, or free the captive audience! So, what's it gonna be?"

Batman stood straight up and folded his arms over his chest.

"Robin!"

Within seconds, Robin was standing next to Jervis and a still knocked-out Penguin. He took out a knife and began to cut the ropes.

"Oh, great! You brought a little help. Wonderful. Could you excuse me for just a minute?"

The Joker sidestepped Batman. Batman turned to face him, but didn't move otherwise. The Joker, while keeping an eye on Batman, called out for Harley.

"Haaaaaar-leeeeeey!!!!"

They both heard a loud crash in the kitchen. The door opened, with Harley's back towards everyone. When she turned around, the Joker growled. She was holding a plate and fork, eating a big piece of cake. Icing was covering her mouth.

"Yeah, boss?" she mumbled while she chewed. "Uh-oh....."

"Harley, can you tell me what's wrong with this picture?"

Harley swallowed the last bite hard.

"Ummm.....Batman's standing right next to you?"

"Go on......."

"Robin's untying the other two people?"

"Exactly! Batman and Robin showed up and you were in there STUFFING YOUR FACE WITH CAKE!!!!!!! Get the car, NOW!!!"

Harley quickly dropped the plate and went back into the kitchen.

"Well, Batsy, it's been fun, but I really have to get going now. Ta."

The Joker quickly hurried through the kitchen door, dropping a bag of marbles behind. Once they hit the ground, they started exploding.

BOOM!

The first explosion woke up the Penguin.

"What? What in the world is going on in here???"

Robin quickly pushed him and Jervis to the other side of the room. Batman was right behind them. A few explosions later, and the chaos was over. The Joker had gotten away. Once the smoke had cleared, Batman looked around to survey the situation. The marbles had caused a lot of damage. Needless to say, the Iceberg Lounge would be closed for awhile until the renovations could be completed. Batman looked up at the second floor. He thought he saw a shadow move.

"Robin, stay here."

He went upstairs to investigate. Batman's hunch was right. He saw the office door close just as he made it to the upper level. Batman raced through the office to find out who else was there. He climbed up to the rooftop. He scanned the rooftops as far as he could see, but there was no one. Whoever it was, they were gone. He went back inside to see what information he could get out of the two.

After Batman went inside, a figure stepped out from behind a smokestack. The figure was mainly black except for the top of the head. The person was still holding the weapon of choice. Slowly, the figure made its way down to the ground.

Back inside, the Penguin was squawking at how awful the place looked, how much it was going to cost him, and how much he wanted to stick it to the Joker, fully knowing that it would never happen. The Mad Hatter was just standing there at a loss of what to do.

He couldn't believe it. He wasn't out of the Asylum for little more than a day and already his life was being threatened. He never found out what the Penguin really wanted. Was it just a party or did he have something else in mind? Then there was the Joker. How in the world could he keep himself safe if the Joker wants his microchips? He knew that Joker wouldn't stop until he got them. What then? Should he help Joker out? Or should he leave town? Even Batman couldn't protect him at all hours of the day. Sooner or later, Joker would show up again. He decided that he would let fate handle this one. He just wanted to go home. Since he didn't get here on his own, he just thought that a walk would do. So he began to walk to his apartment.

Batman had re-entered the lounge. He walked towards Robin.

"Where's Tetch?"

"He left. I told him to stop, but I couldn't leave the Penguin out here with his temper flaring."

"You! You two are to blame for this whole mess! Why, if you hadn't shown up, this place wouldn't have been blown to bits!" squawked the Penguin.

"If we hadn't shown up, you would have died. You know firsthand how dangerous the Joker is," replied Batman.

That statement seemed to calm the Penguin down.

"So, where did you go?" asked Robin.

"I thought I saw something upstairs. When I went to check, the office door was closing. Someone else was definitely here. I just wish I knew who it was."