*Chapter 11: The Final Act*
The helicopters are retreating to base after they hear Hugo Strange is dead and activated the eleventh protocol. There is nothing TYGER could do. Batman will have TYGER dealt with another day after he is done with Joker and get the cure. After taking out the snipers near the theater, Batman and Mia were about to walk inside. He had tried to convince her to go to the church, but Mia refused. She wanted to help him like the last time, and she wondered why Joker had Talia in the first place. Batman didn't have time to argue with her and walk inside the old theater with her close behind him.
Joker was standing before the screen with Talia on her knees. The clown smirked down at them and see Mia. The blond woman stared at him in silent. She hasn't seen Joker since the asylum.
"Hurry up and take your seats, you two." He spoke. "The show's about to begin."
"Let's just talk about this." Batman said. Joker gave a chuckle.
"Now you want to talk? Too late, Batman! Give me the cure!" He said, aiming his gun at Talia's head. What is he talking about? He took the cure, didn't he?
"But you've already got the cure." Batman told him with a glare. Joker could be playing tricks on him. Before Joker could respond, Talia whipped around and freed herself from Joker, taking her sword... "Talia, no!" Batman shouted. But it was too late. Talia stabbed the Joker from the back and the sword went through his chest. She kicked him off stage. Batman and Mia stare in shock.
"Problem solved." Talia spoke, wiping her hands.
"Was that necessary?" Mia asked in a cold tone. Talia gave her a look before turning her attention to Batman.
"You didn't need to..." Batman spoke, staring at Joker's body.
"Why? You would never do it. You left me no choice." Talia said.
"There's always a choice." Batman told her. Talia pulled the cure out. Mia gasped.
"I had to save you." Talia said. "Harley Quinn stole it for him. I took it back." Batman kneeled down to look at Joker's body. Mia took the cure of Talia's hand. She will thank her later for this. Talia placed her hand on Batman's shoulder. "It's over." She said. Batman is quiet. He started to think back of when he examines Joker's body at the Steel Mill, then he was poisoned. There couldn't be two Jokers, could it? He overheard one of the Joker's goons saying that Joker wants everyone to think he is sick. Then it hit the Dark Knight. This is a trap! The click of a gun is heard.
"Talia! Mia!" Batman shouted. But the bullet hit Talia in the back. Mia cried out in alarm. Batman caught Talia in his arms. Joker's laughter went off. Mia looked up at the top seats to see Joker with a gun. The real ill looking Joker. Mia covered her mouth at the sight of him.
"I'm sorry, beloved." Talia gasped. "I didn't know."
"Talia." Batman spoke. Talia's hand went up to his face.
"Take care...of my son." She said. Her hand fell from Batman's face. She is gone. Batman couldn't believe it. Joker killed her.
"Encore! More! Bravo!" Joker applauded. He coughed a bit. Batman turned to his enemy with a glare, still holding Talia in his arms.
"It was never you." He growled.
"Not always. Well, sometimes." Joker coughed. "Confusing, isn't it? I know I'd want to know just what the hell is going on if I were you. Let's just say, at times like these, it's important to keep up appearances." Mia winced as Joker coughed some more. He sounds worse. It looked like he didn't have much time left. Mia grips on the cure in her hand. "But first, if you would be so kind." He aims a gun at Mia. "Hand. Over. My. Cure."
"Joker-" Mia was cut off when Joker pulled the trigger and shot by her feet. Batman stood up and got in front of her, glaring up at the clown.
"I am not going to repeat myself." Joker said. "Nurse Harlow, if you please." Suddenly, Mia could hear sounds coming from behind. She turned and see the fake Joker started to transform. Joker started to giggle.
"Mia, stay away!" Batman told her. Mia backed away in shock as she realizes that this is Clayface. She had no idea he was here.
"Ladies and gentlemen." Joker announced. "For one night only, standing in for yours truly, and doing a damn fine job of it, I give you...Clayface!" The monster let out a roar.
"Oh my god." Mia gasped, backing away.
"You weren't even supposed to be in here, Karlo. Why sign up for Joker?" Batman demanded. Mia moved Talia's body out of the way, watching Clayface. Joker looked over at Mia and form a sickening smile.
"Easy..." Clayface spoke in a monstrous voice. His hand transformed into a hammer-like object. "The role of a lifetime!" Batman dodged his attack. He wiped his face.
"One...last...chance!" Batman told him.
"Oh, lighten up, Bats." Joker spoke. Mia gasped and saw Joker right next to her, aiming his gun by her face. "The final act's just starting to get doozy!" He wrapped his arm around her neck. "Let's go watch from the top, my dear." He whispered in Mia's ear.
Batman threw a freeze blast at Clayface, figuring it could slow down the enemy. It worked. He threw more ice grenades at him, dodging Clayface's attacks. He noticed that Mia isn't around. He looked up at the top seats to see Joker holding her hostage. He was about to throw a batarang at him, but Clayface hits him with an axe hand. Clayface laughed.
"Now, my dear. Hand over the cure and I promise I will save some for Batsy." Joker said.
"I will if you call this off." Mia told him.
"You and Batman are always together in situations like this. I thought you and Brucie had a serious relationship going on." Joker wondered. "Hmm. Speaking of that rich man, where could he be? I heard he was around this city somewhere."
"Joker, call Clayface off!" Mia demanded. "I'll give you half of the cure if you do! Just spare Batman!" The Dark Knight uses Talia's sword to chop frozen Clayface into pieces. Joker took notice of this.
"You're making me late for my spa treatment!" He complained. "I mean, it's not like you've got a girl to save anymore, is it?" He laughed cruelly. Mia gave him a look. "Oh, I'm sorry. Too soon?" Joker brought out a button. "Would a change of scenery help ease the pain?"
"Joker, no!" Mia gasped. But Joker already pressed the button. Batman hears the sounds from the bombs. The theater floor blew up, sending both Batman and Clayface down below. "No!" Mia shouted. Joker laughed. Mia rush down to get to the pit. "What are you going to do, Harlow? There's no stopping Clayface!" Joker asked. Mia looked down to see Batman on the ground. He is in the Lazarus Pit.
"Batman!" Mia called. Clayface's hand reached up and pull Mia down along with her cure. Mia screamed and got stuck inside the monster. Batman grabbed the sword and turn to see his fiancée getting pulled inside Clayface.
"Mia!" He shouted as Clayface sends out mini versions of himself to fight him. Batman uses the sword to fight them off. "Bring her back!" Batman yelled.
"You want her? Come and get her!" Clayface said. Mia popped her head out, gasping for air.
"Let...go of me!" She yelled. She was pulled in again. Batman took out the freeze blasts and threw them at Clayface. The monster is now frozen. Mia's muffling sounds can be heard. Batman didn't waste any time and dove into Clayface's mouth to grab the cure and Mia. The sword went through Clayface and use a grapple to get out. Batman and Mia rolled on the floor. They are covered in muddy clay. Mia coughed.
"Mia, are you-"
"Take...the cure...now!" Mia told him, pointing at the cure in his hand. Batman opened the vial and drank half the cure. His face slowly returns back to normal. Mia got on her feet and look at his face. She wanted to smile and pull him in for a kiss, but didn't. Joker's voice is heard from above them.
"Get out of my way, Bats." He shouted. "I've got a date with immortality." Batman took out Talia's sword and throw it at the contraption that Joker was standing on. It swung down and knocked Clayface into the pit instead, making an explosion go off. Batman shields Mia from the explosion but they flew back from the force it.
Batman gripped on the cure as Mia groaned and held her head. They both got on their feet.
"Are you okay?" Mia asked.
"I'm alright." Batman replied. "You?"
"Peachy." Mia said. "I can't wait to take a shower and sleep for the rest of the week."
"Quick, the cure!" Joker's voice cried out. He coughs a bit. "What're you waiting for? C'mon! I killed your girlfriend, poisoned Gotham and hell...it's not even breakfast. But so what? We all know you'll save me." Joker chuckled. Batman stares down at the cure in his hand, thinking it over.
"Every decision you've ever made ends with death and misery. People die. I stop you. You'll just break out and do it again." He spoke.
"Think of it as a running gag..." Joker chuckled. He jumped on Batman from behind and stab him in the shoulder. Batman cried out and drop the vial. "No!" Joker was tossed off to the ground. He got up and try to gather to try to lick the cure up from the floor, but there was no hope. Batman pulled the knife out of his arm. Joker glared up at Batman. "Are you happy now?"
"Joker, this was on you!" Mia said. "You pulled the most stupid stunt!" Batman held his arm, looking down at his dying enemy.
"Do you want to know something funny?" He began. "Even after everything you've done, I would have saved you." Joker began to give off his laugh and coughs as he fell back on the floor. Mia watched him with pity. Despite him dying, he is still able to laugh.
"That actually is...pretty funny..." Joker laughed. He is getting wretched coughs and his breathing was getting rougher. His hard breathing came to a stop. Mia kneeled down and check his pulse. Joker is dead. She slowly stood up and turn to Batman.
"He...he's gone." She told him. Batman didn't say a word. All he could do is stare at the body of his long time enemy. Joker is dead.
Alfred arrived outside the gates of Arkham City with Axel in the backseat. The butler was told from Batwoman that Hugo was stopped, and Jim arrived with cops to get his team who were captured and stuck in the city. The car was pulled up behind the police cars. Axel got out of the car and see Batman walk out of the gates with Joker in his arms and Mia beside him along with Damian.
"Mom?" Axel called, pushing through the cops. Mia sees her son and ran towards him. They hug each as Batman placed Joker's body on the hood of Jim's car and silently walk away, ignoring Jim's questions. Damian watched the Dark Knight walk pass the cops, not saying a word. He grapples away. Alfred shook his head in pity. Jim told the cops to go inside the city to rescue anyone who were trapped. Mia looked up at the cold night sky, worried about her hero. The deaths of Talia and Joker really hit him hard.
"Come on." Mia told Damian and Axel to get inside Alfred's car to go to the manor to rest. Alfred was relieved that they are safe and alive, but he is concerned about Bruce. Maybe things won't be the same.