Chapter 9: To Catch a Clown

Upon his return to the mansion, Batman informed Alfred of his encounter with the Joker. Needless to say, Alfred was shocked to learn that Jack Napier was still alive and had become the clown-like villain whom his employer had faced. He asked, "Master Bruce, are you certain that this Joker isn't simply a common thief pursuing a life of thievery and frightening the people of Gotham?"

"I wish I could say he was just a thief, Alfred, but he's more than a common criminal," replied Batman. "He's dangerous. A madman, perhaps. I've got to stop him before he causes more harm and destruction in Gotham."

"How do you plan to catch him when you meet again, sir?" inquired Alfred, which earned him a grin from Batman.

"I'll just have to improvise."

…

At work the next day, Bruce went over every suitable test that the hantavirus vaccine had been put through and after confirming with Leslie that it was safe and tested to its full potential, he approved the project and confirmed that it would be sent to the Center for Disease Control for further approval. He looked over another round of tax forms for Wayne Enterprises and spoke about hiring tax accountants for Wayne Enterprises with Lucius Fox. Then as the work day ended, Bruce headed to the garage of the Wayne Enterprises coachbuilders, who provided the work vehicles for his company. It was time to inspect his latest development in his battle against crime as the Batman.

As he entered the garage, the coachbuilders went over the details Bruce had specified, and the chief manufacturer said, "We've gotten your specifications completed as well, Mr. Wayne. All it took was a few spare parts redesigned to perfection and a used stock race car with a military-grade metal alloy. You mentioned that you would be adding the special modifications?"

"That's right," answered Bruce. "But before I add those modifications, I would like to see the finished product."

The chief manufacturer agreed and led Bruce to where a curious automobile was stationed. It was built like a stock race car, only the body was longer and the cabin was near the back. The metal of this car was almost night-black, two structures like bat wings adorned the back, and a metallic bat-like face provided the position of the headlights. At the back chassis of the car, two thrusters were installed to allow it to pursue even the fastest automobiles while the tires were designed to grip roads even in hazardous conditions.

Bruce could say that he was satisfied with the current state of this automobile, and he was certain that his planned modifications would make it the perfect crime-fighting vehicle once installed. He said, "Wrap it up, gentlemen. I'll take it."

…

Bruce spent the remainder of the week adding the modifications to his bat-themed car that he had planned. Alfred was admittedly surprised when Bruce mentioned that he would be adding vehicles to his crime-fighting arsenal, but he was more than willing to aid his master in getting this car prepared to go after the Joker. By Monday of the next week, the bat-themed car was equipped with radar scanners and infrared cameras, a GPS, a mini-computer, and ejector seats in case of emergency. It sported steel tow cables in the front and back bumpers, batarang launchers concealed in the hood, and wheel spikes and magnetic treads for traction off-road and on vertical surfaces. Bruce had more modifications planned, but he could handle them later.

It was looking like a quiet start to the evening when an alert came in over the Batcomputer. The Joker had been sighted on the streets of Gotham, and he was headed for the Gotham City Treasury. Once in his superhero uniform again, Batman was giving instructions to Alfred on how they would work together from behind the scenes to successfully bring the first supervillain in Gotham to justice.

"You'll need to track Joker's location and mine from the Batcomputer, Alfred," instructed Batman. "Keep an eye on the Joker's movements, inform me when he tries to throw me off the track, we mustn't stop on either end until this maniac is in the hands of the authorities."

"Yes, Master Bruce. And good luck," replied Alfred.

With that, Batman activated the remote command that opened the enormous metal doors he had installed in the cave the previous week and extended an interlocking bridge. As Alfred watched from outside, Batman pressed a bright green button and the bat-themed automobile roared to life. Flames shot from its thrusters and blue neon lights blazed from inside the tires and on the hub caps. In an instant, Batman's new car, the Batmobile, sped from the Batcave toward the Gotham Treasury for the second encounter with the Joker.

SEPTEMBER 13, 20:28 EDT

At the Treasury, the sinister Joker and his clown-dressed gangsters were stealing newly minted coins and breaking into every vault that contained money of value. The guards were beaten unconscious by the clown goons and those unlucky to face Joker had been doused with his laughter-inducing toxin or tied up in remote-controlled trick ribbons.

On one of the upper floors, one of Joker's clowns was watching for any sign of Batman as the police had their hands full trying to keep the clown gangsters away from the vaults. It wasn't long before that clown-dressed mug noticed Batman heading for the treasury, running over the rooftops as he went. The goon ran to the Joker and said, "Boss! Batman's headed our way!"

"And that's our cue to twenty-three skidoo!" the clownish criminal hooted. "Pack it up, boys and get to the van! We head for Gotham's south side and we're free as birds for another day!"

With that, the Joker and his goons ran for their getaway van, though Joker stopped and used another trick ribbon to prevent the back door from being used. Then he and his gang drove away from the Gotham Treasury with their ill-gotten gains, unaware that Batman wasn't chasing them yet. He was watching them as they drove off, just as he thought they would. In seconds, he returned to his vehicle and began the pursuit.

…

While Batman had been setting the plan in motion, the police department had dispatched a riot squad to stop the Joker and his goons from putting any civilians in harm's way. Alas, they soon found that the Joker was prepared for getaways as well. He had two of his goons pour oil on the road with hoses, and three patrol cars ended up sliding out of control, and two of them hit streetlights on either side of the road and the third suffered a front-to-side collision.

"Slick move, boys!" the Joker laughed over his shoulder, and then he ejected several spiked chattering teeth that bit the tires of two other police cars followed by water balloons that actually contained acid.

Once again, the Joker had a pun up his sleeve and he said with a cackle, "If they're called coppers, they really are only worth their weight in pennies."

Suddenly, another of the Joker's gangsters shouted, "Boss, Batman's right behind us! He's got a set of wheels too!"

"What?!"

Joker looked in the rearview mirror and saw the Batmobile chasing after his getaway van. He looked curiously at the bat-shaped molding bearing the headlights and the wing-shaped spoiler, and he was sure that he saw the tires and hubcaps glowing blue.

Joker chuckled and said, "For a car, that ride's a real showboat." He suddenly got out of his seat and had the goon next to him take the wheel as he hoped to get a clear shot at Batman. He opened the back door of the van and shouted, "Fire on him, boys! Let him have it!" And they tried, but their Tommy guns were no match for the Batmobile's military-grade armor.

Seeing that shooting the carriage was ineffective, Joker took up another one of his deadly prank items: a flag gun that shot spears from it, and he aimed at the front tires as he gleefully cackled, "This should really stick in his mind."

However, Batman was prepared for this sort of trouble and he lowered a metal screen over each of the tires that repelled each of the spear-tipped flags that Joker fired. When Joker tried using his oil hoses, Batman merely used the batarang launcher on the Batmobile to jam the nozzle. When the acid balloons were used, all it took to handle that problem was water released from a fire hydrant thanks to another launched batarang.

By now, Joker was getting annoyed, but he kept his grin plastered on his ghastly white face and hollered, "Can't take a joke at all, can ya, Bat-brains?"

And with that, he and his gang led Batman on a merry chase toward the bridge spanning the Gotham River that divided the east and west side of the city. However, Batman seized his chance when another group of police patrol cars came from the other side of the bridge along with an armored car. The armored car slammed through a divider and came at Joker's getaway van, and his hastily chosen driver turned to avoid it while Batman continued to give chase, leading the police after the crazed crooks.

Batman released the tow cables he had installed on the Batmobile and managed to hook Joker's van like a stubborn fish. When the van tried to lurch itself free, the lines were tightened until they strained on both ends. But this turned out to be a perfect opportunity for Batman to improvise, and he released the tow cables. Before Joker and his goons knew what was happening, their getaway van shot forward like a cork from a bottle and slammed into the side of the bridge, and the blow fractured the engine block and the axle.

The Joker stumbled woozily from the back of the van and was seized by the collar, and he jumped as Batman stared into his eyes with a look of immense displeasure. When the police caught up with the getaway van, they only found that Batman and his Batmobile had vanished and now Joker and his clown gang were clapped in bat-shaped handcuffs and were ready to be taken under arrest. In the minds of the officers who had been part of this chase, the Joker's first trial was coming sooner than expected.

A/N: I hope this chapter didn't have a rushed ending, my readers. Feel free to review my fanfiction if you'd like, and keep an eye out. The first year of Batman's battles against crime has only begun.