It had been three long agonizing days since Terry's family was taken from him. He still didn't know of their whereabouts. The Joker had hidden them well. Terry was making his nightly rounds again, hoping that he would find a clue to help him find his mom and brother. Bruce was continuing his search via the Batcomputer. He too couldn't find anything.

As Terry started to head back to the manor, Bruce began to pick up disturbances. Various gangs of Jokerz had started to cause trouble. They were at some local stores, at the city mall, some even harassing drivers in the streets.

"Are you getting this?" asked Bruce over the receiver.

"Yeah, looks like the Jokerz are starting to pop up everywhere," replied Terry.

"Don't worry about any of them. Let the police handle them. They're nothing more than diversions. Obviously, the Joker doesn't want everyone's attention."

"I'll make sure that he gets mine."

Another break-in popped up on the screen.

"Terry, someone broke into the Gotham Power Plant. I think the Joker has finally made his move."

"Consider me already there."

Sure enough, when Terry reached the power plant, some of the more familiar Jokerz were hanging around. J-man, his gang, and the Joker's gang were there. With them outside, it was pretty obvious who was inside.

Batman leaped out of the Batmobile as it sped past the power plant. He was met with J-man's gang who was armed to the teeth with weapons. Chucko had one too. Batman took them all out one by one. Chucko and J-man had fled into the plant.

When Batman had entered the plant, the door slammed shut. Batman looked through the window and saw J-man, his gang and Joker's gang laughing and riding away on motorcycles. He pounded the wall in anger, not realizing that there was more to be done.

As he was searching for a way out, he walked into a large room filled with computer equipment. There was also a woman tied to a chair at the far end of the room. As Batman walked towards her, he realized who it was. His mother.

Mary McGinnis looked terrible. She was battered and bruised. She had cuts and abrasions all over her face, arms, and legs. She was also sporting a black eye. He just stared at her in disbelief. The anger inside of him began to rise like a thermometer on a hot summer's day.

"B...Bat - man?" Mary said through a busted lip.

"Isn't this great?" A voice from behind Batman said. "Together again for the last time. It's touching moments like these that make me wish I had a barf bag."

The Joker appeared in the doorway that Batman entered moments ago. Batman leapt at him, hoping to knock him to the ground. The Joker just stepped aside, letting Batman fall flat on his face. As Batman got up, the Joker kicked him in his side.

The Joker then slapped his hand on Batman. A surge of electricity raced through Batman's body. When the Joker let go, Batman again slumped to the ground.

"Don't bother to get up."

Batman continued to struggle but to no avail. He was at the Joker's mercy.

"Well, Batfake, I hadn't expected you to arrive here so early. I was hoping that you'd be preoccupied. I'll just have to make sure that those Jokerz work harder at getting your attention next time."

The Joker electrocuted him again with the joy buzzer, just to make sure that he wouldn't be getting up anytime soon.

The Joker then activated the main computer in the room. He punched in a few keys and made sure that the computer was ready.

"Well Batsy, I've decided to create priceless pandemonium in this city again! This disc will turn off the city's power. I intend to send Gotham back into the dark ages......literally!! HA HA HA HA HA! No more cars, T.V., radios or lights! Nothing in this town will work! Not unless you can find a cure for this Joker Virus of mine. Since I'm going to kill you now, I don't see how you'll ever get that chance! HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!"

Batman suddenly found out that he couldn't move. His entire suit was paralyzed. He tried his best, but he couldn't budge.

"Now comes the really fun part!" exclaimed the Joker.

The Joker bent down towards where Batman lay and began to pull off the mask.

"Mary McGinnis, allow me to introduce you to the man behind the mask," squealed the Joker with glee. He ripped off the mask. "He's none other than your own flesh and blood! Your son, Terry! AAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Tears were streaming down Mary's eyes as she heard what the Joker had just said. Terry couldn't face his mother. He just kept his head down so that his mom couldn't see his face.

"Oh, so now we suddenly become shy? Let's not keep your mom in suspense!"

The Joker viciously pulled up Terry's head by the hair so that Mary could get a good enough look at him. Mary couldn't hold back any longer. She began to cry like there was no tomorrow. Terry held back his tears as the Joker let his head drop back to the ground.

"Looks like this is finally ready to download my virus."

The Joker then went back to the computer. He inserted the disc and began to download the virus into the computer.

"Where's my brother?"

"I've decided to hold him hostage just in case you actually do make it out of this. I doubt it though. The same virus that I'm downloading into this computer has already been injected into your batsuit. The electric shocks were just a pleasant bonus.....for me! HAHAHAHAHA!"

"ENOUGH!" bellowed a voice from outside of the room.

"Who invited you??" asked the Joker.

"Joker, I've been looking everywhere for you. Your angel of death awaits," Phantasm said as he stepped into the room.

"Look, I'm a really busy guy. How about you get back to me next Tuesday?" the Joker replied with a devilish grin.

"No more games. Your time is up. You won't hurt anyone ever again."

"On the contrary.....I intend to hurt everyone! Ha!"

The Joker pressed a button to activate the virus. It came to life on the vidsrceen above the computer. The virtual version of the Joker looked almost as hideous as its creator. Its eyes were glowing red as it proceeded to carry out the work it was meant to do.

As all of this was happening, Terry was struggling with his suit. He slowly moved his head towards his right hand. He took the glove in his mouth and pulled it off of his hand. With his free hand, he then took off the rest of his costume.
Finally, he put the mask back on his head. The Joker saw Batman stand back up.

"I'd give you a dollar, but I just don't swing that way Batfake!" said the Joker, grinning again.

"SHUT UP!" yelled Batman as he backhanded the Joker.

The Joker staggered back, but didn't fall. Phantasm then tried to get to the Joker, but Batman got in his way.

"Get out of here, he's mine!"

"No, he needs to die. Just like all the others. His legacy must be destroyed as well."

"Funny you should say that. You're the one who started his legacy up again," said Batman.

"Me? How?"

"It's a long story, one that you probably wouldn't care to hear."

"No, not really."

While Batman and Phantasm were talking, the Joker had quietly slipped out of the room.

"Wait, where did he go? You fool! I could have killed him, but you got in my way!"

Phantasm threw a punch at him, which Batman easily avoided.

"Look, I don't really have the time for this right now," Batman said as he dodged another punch from him.

Phantasm didn't give up though. He then gave him a roundhouse kick that knocked Batman to the ground again. As Batman struggled to get up once more, Phantasm leaned into his face.

"Don't ever get in my way again!"

Phantasm pushed Batman into a wall. Batman remained standing this time, but he was holding his sides. He looked up and saw Phantasm being hit from behind. Phantasm fell to the ground unconscious.

The Joker had returned, and was holding something in his hand.

"Here you go Bats! A memento for tonight's enjoyment! If you don't like it, give it to the dog. I'm sure he'll eat it up! HA HA HA HA HA!"

The Joker dropped what he was carrying and left once more. Batman walked over to his mother who was still tied up. She hadn't stopped crying. As he undid her wrists, she threw her arms around him and started to cry uncontrollably.

"Mom, stop it please. I need your help."

She let him go long enough for him to explain to her.

"We have to get out of here now. I don't want the Joker to come back and take you away again. I also need you to carry something for me. My suit and the object that the Joker left behind."

"What about him?" Mary asked, pointing to Phantasm.

"He's coming with us. He has a lot to answer for."

Batman hoisted Phantasm over his right shoulder and walked out of the power plant with Mary close behind him. She carried the Batsuit and what appeared to be a giant bone.
Batman hurled Phantasm into the Batmobile, and then offered his hand to help his mother in. When Terry hopped into the driver's seat, he called.

"Hey, you there?"

"Yes."

"Three to beam back home."

"What happened out there?"

"My mom's in the car, along with an unconscious Phantasm," Terry whispered.

"And you think you should bring them here?"

"You don't want me to bring them?"

"Take Phantasm to the police."

"She knows. My mom knows I'm Batman."





***silence***





"Bring her here....after you drop off Phantasm."

Terry looked outside the window. He could see the effects of the Joker virus starting to come to reality. The city was quickly shutting down. Terry could see all of the lights in the city being turned off. Cars were piling up at intersections where there were no traffic signs. Trains had stopped dead in their tracks. Nothing had seemed to be working anymore. Terry sighed. He knew it was going to be a long night.