Author Note:
This episode is dedicated to the Christian holidays of All Saints Day (November 1) and All Souls Day (November 2).
Fictions Mentioned:
Episode 23 - The Last Laugh
"Hmhmhmhmhmhmhmhmhm."
Lady Anna Maria "Rusalka" Schwagerin was simply at her desk, humming in a brim of positivity, looking through all of the test papers that were graded by her personally. Basic test subjects relating to the formula and subject of Ewigkeit if one wants to be specific.
She could not help but smile with pleasure and approval at many of the test scores, with many on the grade of A and B. What caught her eyes however are the test scores of a few individuals who were known well infamously throughout the entirety of TARDIS School. The very top of the class to put it simply.
What caught her eyes the most among the few would be the following individuals. Touma Kamijou. Conan Edogawa, secretly Shinichi Kudo. Kyon. Sota Mizushino. Lelouch Lamperouge, secretly Lelouch vi Britannia.
She smiled. The aforementioned students would practically amount to be her most favorite of students in the midst of the bunch of students that come and go when it comes to all things related to TARDIS School. Very bright. Very intelligent. Each with their own sets of ideals and convictions that form a complimentary bond between the five of them which in turn made them a formidable team of an almost unstoppable force of caliber. What one lacks, the other provides. No one get's left behind.
The Doctor's infamous second sons. Five among ten of them. Members of Team TARDIS.
She recalls them with a smile, all as she puts all of the stack of test papers in order, bringing them all together and shake them up and down a bit, before eventually putting them back to one of the drawers of her desk.
"(Sigh). Now then, its about time I went to see what Lord Doctor is doing on the main console room," said Rusalka, stretching her hands and make a smile of fond certainty, recalling how much of a workaholic the man that she loved really was, not even stopping for one second for even some rest or sleep, only doing so when necessary, but even then, Time Lords themselves might not even need much sleep to begin with, she supposed.
She hopped out of her office chair and immediately exited the faculty room. But as she began to exit the faculty room, she immediately begins to sense two strange familiar colors, and the signal was coming from a few meters ahead from her position, somewhere in the next hallway. She widened her eyes in surprise and recognition, all as she begins to sprint fast and head to the source. When she finally came to the location, she turned left towards the corridor and spotted one blonde woman in an SS uniform, sporting the symbol of the Longinus Dreizehn Orden (L.D.O.), while the other woman was wearing simple nun clothing.
"Hello, Malleus. Its been a while," said the nun, known to many as Lady Riza Brenner, sporting a smile.
"Babylon?! Valkyria?!," Rusalka exclaimed in surprise. "Why are the both of you here?"
"(Sigh). Karl Krafft sent for us to be here all of a sudden," said the blonde woman, known to many as Lady Beatrice Waltrud von Kircheisen, sporting an exasperated smile, with both hands to her waists. "He said, and I quote: "The two of you are to be assigned to my old friend of the eternal recurrence for the time being as it is of utmost importance, for the wheel of time and life seemingly turns to him in ways that even I cannot foreseen with my foresight to behold, for probabilities are being shifted and manipulated by forces beyond the control of even the most powerful to the least of significance." Or so he says."
Rusalka blinked at that. She begins to think of the predicament that she and the two of her comrades are both in. Three members of the Longinus Dreizehn Orden (L.D.O.) have been assigned to keep a close watch on the Doctor for the time being. But the question would be why?
Memories of a confrontation between the Doctor and the Empress of the Racnoss spring to mind immediately, along with recalling that poisonous voice that belong to the most crafty of serpents, even more so than even the Mercurial Snake himself. A troublemaker par excellence who shifts things in an instant, almost as if it were never even moved at all.
The Serpent of Eden - Lord Nahash.
On the one hand, she was rather happy that two of her comrades of old have finally decided to join her in the TARDIS considering how seemingly lonely it has been, besides of course being with the man that she loved, to which she had no amount of regret whatsoever, while on the other hand, for both Riza and Beatrice to be sent here would mean that the situation must be serious enough to warrant such a response.
In other words, it was all a simple manner of doing guard duty against threats that might require their professional expertise and experiences in warfare.
"But if you're here, does that mean that Lord Doctor knows that you're here?," asked Rusalka.
"No," Riza said, while she and Beatrice both shake their heads in the negative. "We haven't even visited Lord Doctor yet and informed him of our timely arrival, but we have the intention of doing so after fetching you from your desk work."
"How very kind of you," Rusalka said with sarcasm, all with a smirk on her face. "Well, in any case, we should probably get going and inform Lord Doctor of your arrival," she spoke as she and her two comrades begin to walk towards the main console room.
When they arrived in the console room, they spotted the Doctor sporting a eerily grim and stoic expression on his face, one that made their steps and their voices turn to a halt before they could even make a sound.
They saw the Doctor working on the controls, flipping the levers and switches on the proper sequence of order, no doubt punching a set of coordinates towards a destination that is still an unknown for them, all as they felt the change in direction throughout the entirety of the ship as it sets sail across the ever present winds of the infinite corridors of the Space-Time Vortex.
After punching the last bit of levers, the Doctor begins to face towards the left, immediately notice Rusalka, Riza, and Beatrice, to whom he sees were sporting concerned and alarmed expressions on their faces, all in no doubt due to immediately recognizing the stoic and eerie demeanor that he is now emanating with subtlety, one that they had seen countless times over.
The Doctor simply smiled, both happily and sadly. "Karl sent you two here, didn't he?"
Both Riza and Beatrice nodded immediately. Riza spoke. "Yes, my Lord Doctor. Karl Krafft sent us here in order to keep an eye on you for the time being."
"All with his iconic wax poetic to go along for his specific instructions, correct?," the Doctor said, almost as if he were expecting it.
"Yes," Riza nodded simply. Then she begins to speak with concern. "My Lord Doctor, what is troubling you at this hour? Is there something important that came up?"
The Doctor remained silent for a few moments, sporting a sad expression on his face, which turned slightly towards the left, all with hands in his pockets, one that had three of the L.D.O. Members concerned. After a few moments, he sported a sad smile, simply speaking. "Yes, you could say that something important came up. I'm planning to visit the grave of one of my students as of this very moment."
"One of your students? And who might that be?," asked Beatrice, sporting a concerned expression.
And at that moment, a name was uttered. A name which is most remembered by many. A name that belonged to a friend, a brother, and a solider. A name that belonged to one of many that the Doctor had unfortunately failed to save and change one's fate.
"Jason Peter Todd, the second person to take the mantle of Robin."
And at that moment, the three L.D.O. Members begin to sport expressions of surprise and concern.
OP Song:
Theme of the Week #8 - Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker Main Theme
Insert Song: Start
Dies irae - Animation OST: disce libens
Vworp Vworp Vworp
The TARDIS begins to materialize towards a location that is located in the DC Prime Universe - DCAU, a location that holds the burial grounds of many that belong to the City of Gotham.
Gotham Cemetery.
A place where only the deceased remain. And there were countless many, all in due part to the darkness that came forth from a city that is corrupt to its core.
As the materialization was completed, the doors begin to open. The Doctor steps out first. The three L.D.O. members followed suite. All were in complete silence. Footsteps were only light in respect of the numerous dead who are lying in peace.
The Doctor was simply sporting a grim expression, one full of sadness, all as his hands are in his pockets, all as the calm winds that were blowing from the west were gently blowing and waving his brown Duster-type overcoat. He walks the paths. All in silence. All in respect. With the three L.D.O. members following suite.
The Doctor looks to the left and to the right, seeing and recognizing the graves that belong to the many names of the many peoples of many walks of life meeting a swift, terrible, and unfortunate end all due to the corruption of a city that is embedded and shrouded in darkness. Gotham City. A city that had many unfortunate experiences. A city that had bred the worst of the worst in regards to humanity itself. Gangs were everywhere. Killing was rampant. Psychopaths and madmen seemed to be the norm. The justice system seemed to be affected most of all. Hopelessness seem to be the lot of those who live in this city. A city that should have fallen into shadow, were it not for one who took the mantle of the bat.
The Doctor sadly smiled while he walks the paths. He recalls it. He recalls him. The Batman. Bruce Wayne. An old friend. One that had the misfortune of losing his parents at a very young age, eight years old no less. The unknown hero of Gotham City, hiding his own self in the image of the bat, becoming the immortal symbol of fear to all the criminals and psychopaths, bringing hope to the people of Gotham.
The Doctor had been watching. Silently. Stealthily. Ever since his sixth incarnation. The Sixth Doctor. He took immediate notice of Gotham. This and many countless versions of it. A city that has the same story and background, all in most universes which seem to remain as a constant. He was there as the silent witness, seeing all this madness and chaos given shape and form through the worst aspects that could be done by humanity. You could say with firmness that any crime you could think of, someone in Gotham already has done it. Serial killers. Psychopaths. Monsters. Humans who have embraced their inner darkness and became a living terror for the ordinary average citizen.
The Doctor walks the paths. He spots the grave of one Thomas Wayne and Martha Wayne from the corner of his eye. He stops. The three L.D.O. Members stopped as well, noticing the Doctor stopping his walk, all as he turns towards a certain grave.
The basic description of the epitaph has:
Here Lies Thomas Wayne.
Here Lies Martha Wayne.
Beloved Parents.
"Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis. Requiéscant in pace. Amen. (Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.)" the Doctor prayed in a silent voice, all in respect that is due for the dead, all as he recalls of the incident that led to the death of his old friend's parents. For he was there. On that very night. But he could not do anything to stop it. Not without any consequences.
It was during a time when he had a different face, the face of the seventh hour, the Seventh Doctor. He could only watch from afar from the shadows as he saw the following. The Wayne family, happy as any other ordinary family, was seen to exit the cinema after watching the film The Mark of Zorro, a wonderful classic film in the Doctor's opinion, and was unfortunately entering into a trap unsuspectingly. A trap that took the form of an unarmed thug by the name of Joe Chill.
"We'll start with the pretty pearls around the lady's neck... now."
The Doctor winced as he recalled it well. He couldn't do anything for that particular moment. For the event was likened to a fixed point in time. An event that hinges upon many countless events, likened to that of a single piece that holds the building blocks together.
He saw it. One. Two. Shot with no amount of warning. Only young Bruce Wayne was unfortunately spared.
"Bruce... don't be afraid..."
The Doctor begin to emit little silent tears, all as he hears the cries of one young boy who had lost his parents at such a tender young age. He could have intervened. He could have. But he could not. For he had foreseen such consequence of doing so. And just like then, he could only cry alongside the boy to whom he believed to have failed in changing one's fate.
The three L.D.O. members took notice of the Doctor, seeing the little tears from his face, one that had them worried and anxious. Rusalka was the first to took haste, slowly walking near towards the Doctor, gently grabbing his coat, to which the Doctor snapped out from memory lane, looking towards Rusalka, who was sporting a worried and anxious expression. He took notice of Riza and Beatrice also sporting the same expressions as Rusalka. This expression was no doubt directed at him.
The Doctor smiled, gently wiping his tears, turning towards Rusalka, Riza, and Beatrice, speaking. "I'm alright, everyone. Let's keep moving," as he said this, he offered his right hand to Rusalka, who accepted it immediately and gently squeezed it, as if saying that she is here for him.
And the Doctor kept moving, all as the three L.D.O. members slightly looking towards the grave of Thomas Wayne and Martha Wayne with silent recognition and concern, before eventually walking forward towards their current destination.
After walking a few meters from the TARDIS, they finally managed to come towards the location were Jason Peter Todd - the Second Robin was buried. Or not so much by technicality for those who are in the know such as the Doctor.
Here Lies Jason Peter Todd.
Friend. Brother. Soldier.
The Doctor was looking at the simple tombstone with sadness and regret, one that is apparent to the three L.D.O. members who were standing by the Doctor's side.
The Doctor breathe in and out as he recalled of memories that seem so very long ago from his perspective. Memories that seem to haunt him and made him to uphold his name all the more. For the more he loss, the more he grew in strength. For the more the insanity tries to tempt him to give up and give in, he refuses.
He recalls that one simple trip. A trip that he had with his second son, Touma Kamijou. They were the only ones in the TARDIS at that time. The rest of his second sons and many others were in other places for the time being.
He recalls the TARDIS materializing inside the Batcave, making a simple visit as it were. He remembers stepping out alongside Touma, immediately calling out for Bruce, Jason, Alfred, or anyone else who was at home at that time. But alas, no one responded. The cave was empty. Only bats remained in complete silence. It would appear that no one was home.
At that point, they were simply looking around for any clues or hints, checking to see if there are any notes that were left behind for the time being as Bruce would usually prepare notes which he would place on the table in case someone tries to come by, such as them for example. After a minute of searching, they spotted a note which contains the following:
Joker has Jason. Head to Sarajevo, Bosnia.
- Batman.
That was a wake up call. One that triggered memories of probability, memories that they never really wanted to see, all as they look at each other and make haste towards the TARDIS.
Oh, he could recall it as clear as day.
For he sees it with his foresight. He sees Jason, tied up to a chair, lying on the ground, struggling in vain, trying his best to figure out a way to escape.
"Ugh!"
He sees a crowbar hitting Jason's face. And the one who hit him...
A person. Or is it a person? How can you say that he is a person based on what he truly is and what he represents? Can you even call such a being a person now?
For he sees the shape and appearance resembling that of a clown, with green hair, a face that has white skin and trademark red lips that is turned into a permanent grin, one that signaled a foreshadowing omen of chaos and death in the form of playful humor, twisted to its core. This shape wears a purple coat, with a flower attached to it which sprouts dangerous acid that could make the victim laugh to death, a green shirt, with a purple bow tie that accompanies it, gray gloves that he wore in his hands, purple pants, and black shoes.
The Joker.
Who is he? Who is the Joker? Why does he do what he do? What drives him? What makes him do all these things? What does he gain by in the end?
Those were questions that the Doctor had to ponder for so very long in the common perspective of his long multi-millennial life ever since he knew the darkness that surrounds Gotham City. A man who should've been tried with the charges of homicide, murder, and other criminal acts of heinous sort that would usually send someone to an electric chair for public execution, all for the sake of giving justice and retribution for his crimes against so many, was always for one reason or another, sent into a psychiatric ward instead. One by the name of the Elizabeth Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane, or Arkham Asylum for short.
The Doctor winced at that. So many gather there. So many souls. Broken in body and soul. Embraced in darkness. So many with such potential for greatness had unfortunately been dragged to the mud. All to insanity. All to darkness. With no seeming hope of redemption. With no seeming way to cure the apparent mentally impaired.
Many personalities of all types reside there. All with their own backstories. All with their own lives. How they ended up as the people they are today is a question that the Doctor had to ponder in his silent observations of Gotham City.
And yet, out of all the inmates, there was one person among them that he payed his complete attention too.
The Joker.
A man. An ordinary man. Nothing special. All with the appearance and mannerisms of a clown. A person who could be easily squashed by even the mightiest of superheroes. A person that seem not worth paying attention too.
And yet, this man seem to be a sort of emitter of probabilities. One that the Doctor took immediate notice as each action that this Clown would take had involved the death of one or more persons depending upon circumstances.
And this man was born from the concept of One Bad Day.
One Bad Day could mean many things really. For there really is nothing as cruel as memory. A memory that could be blurred and twisted depending on how truly far gone one is. Memories deformed. Personas deformed. Only madness remains.
Fate could be considered by some as evil. A predetermined concept. Not by some higher power but by the rules of human nature.
But what if something were to change that opinion?
The endless battles. The endless bad days. The endless brutalities.
That is one way to describe the life of the Time Lord known as the Doctor.
For misfortune always follows him in one shape or form. A man of many faces who experienced things that would make even the most resilient of individuals going totally insane. A man of many faces who had lost so much. A man of many faces who had too many terrible enemies that could no longer fit the grocery list.
For the Doctor had seen such violence. He had seen such darkness taking many different shapes and forms. In all the many countless millennia of many faces, he has battled against all types of people.
Should he have stayed back at Gallifrey? Should he not continue his never ending crusade for time and life? Should he not finally have his rest?
All this comes to mind as he sees the main point of fact regarding the Joker. For the identity of the person who takes the name of the Joker is like a certain twisted promise. A twisted promise that was the opposite of the Doctor's promise.
If the Doctor promises to never be cruel, the Joker does the opposite of it by committing the most cruel act that you could possibly think of in order to get the victim and the unfortunate audience to see the point. If the Doctor promises to never be cowardly, the Joker would use such cowardice and manipulate it to his chaotic delight, turning such fear into a weapon that would greatly wound or destroy the victim(s) of his choosing.
For the Doctor, it did not matter on who the Joker is. For in every timeline that he had visited where there is a Joker, for most of the time, they are completely different people. No, its not who the Joker is. Its what the Joker is. What he represents. What he strives to bring to the masses, even to the point of shedding innocent blood all in order to make this statement.
That life is nothing but a cruel joke. And that one should embrace it with all one's being in order to truly be oneself.
Then there's one other aspect regarding the Joker's identity. One that he and Batman both agree to keep to the absolute secret. For the Joker, like any other human, had some connection to someone, whether to family, friends, loves ones, and acquaintances. Imagine what could have happened if the Joker's secret came out. Those same persons, whether direct or indirect in their connection with the Joker, would no longer be safe. They would have to run. They would have to flee. They would have to hide. From both the public and private. From people trying to seek him out, whether for good or ill. That was a common agreement between the Doctor and Batman. That they must not tell a single soul regarding it. For they do not have such a right in respect and care to the persons most affected by it.
"Ugh!"
Which leads him back to the past flashback regarding his student. Jason Peter Todd. A boy who had live a rough life on the streets of Gotham, trying to find ways to survive, being orphaned from a young age. He smiled, both in happiness and sadness. For he recalls the time of his eighth hour, the Eighth Doctor. In that time, he was simply watching from afar, seeing the young Jason Peter Todd trying as he might, to steal the tires of the Batmobile. That was very amusing to say the least. A for effort he suppose. Not that he condone stealing of course. Students like Kaito Kuroba - Kaito KID don't count in his opinion.
He remembers watching, all as he sees Batman meeting the young lad for the first time. A simple meeting. One that doesn't seem special in the grand scheme of things. But one could not be more wrong. For even the simple meetings can bring about great and terrible outcomes. He would know that better than anyone.
"Ugh!"
He sees it. The Joker hitting Jason with a metal crowbar, all while laughing to his heart's content. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Each time was a blow in the hearts of the Doctor. One that was also no doubt seen by his second son, Touma Kamijou, as his ability - Reading Steiner - is now kicking in, in major events only, while the Doctor alone sees all.
"Ugh!"
He could not bear it. He could not let this continue on. He recalls vigorously pressing the levers and switches, punching the coordinates to Sarajevo, Bosnia, hoping against all hope that he could truly make it in time. But he knows that he can't. He knows that he cannot interfere. But... But... But...
"Ugh!"
A struggle comes to a tug of war in the Doctor's hearts. Save him or let him be as the script demands him to be.
No! No! No! Not again! Not now! Not ever!
But it must be so. For time itself is a sensitive beast all together when pushed. He would know that more than anyone. But even before this event that is now ticking by the nanosecond, he was trying to find ways to save his student, his companion, and the young man that he considers to be a son.
"Ugh!"
But no matter what he did, he could not truly change it, only bend it to a certain direction, to the very least painful outcome as he could think of. Alas, another thing to remind him of, all as he looks towards the woman that he is now holding by the hand. To one Lady Anna Maria "Rusalka" Schwagerin. Then, he turns to look at both Lady Riza Brenner and Lady Beatrice Waltrud von Kircheisen. All three of them were under the script as well. The script of Dies Irae (Day of Wrath). A time of failures upon failures that were eventually built upon success. But at what cost?
The Doctor trembles in sadness and guilt, eyes in slight visible tears, all as the three L.D.O. Members took immediate notice, looking eye to eye. The three L.D.O. Members see the Doctor, the man that had once had a different face that they knew by since the eternal recurrence of the relative past, the man who had set the stage and finally freed them from the eternal silent hell, now sporting expressions of sadness and guilt that made them understand clearly as to why the man was acting this way.
And it was one that made Rusalka gently squeeze the right hand of the Doctor once more, to which he took notice as he looked towards Rusalka.
She never spoke with words, but she spoke with her green teary eyes, her trembling mouth, and her anxious expression, almost as if saying that he should not blame himself any longer. Dies Irae (Day of Wrath) is over. End of story. He saved them from the eternal recurrence. He stuck around when he didn't even have too. He tried his best to save them, and did what he could, to which had finally paid off by the very end of it all.
Rusalka showed her feelings through only expressions and subtle gestures. Riza and Beatrice were also smiling, but trembling as well, all as if to say "Thank you, Doctor, for everything that you've done," one that made the Doctor touched from both hearts, all as he silently cries little tears, now sporting a smile of happiness and sadness, as while the guilt never truly goes away, he had gain a family by the very end of it all, and three of the same family is now beside him in his moment of reflection regarding his student, Jason Peter Todd.
The Doctor nods to all of them, as if saying "Thank you" in a gesture of silence, all as he turns back towards the tombstone that has the inscription of his student.
"Hahahahahah-Ooff! Haha-Ooff! Ofof-Haha-Offof!"
He recalls the fiery explosion of the warehouse. He recalls how it was too late. That they didn't make it in time. He saw his second son sporting a horrified expression, kneeling down from the snowy ground, saying in a soft, subtle tone of horror "...No." a tone that had been a part of the Doctor's living nightmares ever since.
He recalls all this as he sees Batman brutally beat the Joker in a savage beatdown, all down to a bloody mess. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Nine. Ten. Not stopping. Not faltering. Not considering. Just sheer rage. Just sheer vengeance. A very raw appearance that blankets the darkness amidst the snowy mountains of Bosnia.
"I'll break you in two!," Batman growled, lifting the Joker by the collar of his shirt, all as he prepared to raise his left fist for another strike, only for the Joker to cut him off with a laugh, denoting amusement.
"Heheho! Oh, Batsy! If you have the guts to do that, you would have done it years ago," said the Joker.
And the moment the Joker said this, Batman was now sporting a horrified expression on his face, all as he sees what is he is now doing. He looks at his trembling hands, with red blood dripping from his gloves. He lets the Joker go, and slowly backs away, seeing and realizing what he's done. He spots the Doctor and Touma in his sights. He spots the Doctor carrying Jason's dead body, figuring out that he was trying, if in vain, to rescue Jason from the wreckage of the burning warehouse.
"...Jason," Batman spoke, all while trembling from both inside and out, with eyes wide open as he sees the person he considers as a son seemingly lying dead in the arms of his old friend, who he noticed was now sporting a sad, solemn expression on his face, all with tears in eyes. He also sees Touma, crying silently near the right side of the Doctor, only looking at the dead body of Jason and no one else.
The Doctor would begin to hand the dead body of Jason to Batman, to which he gently accepts, cradling him with care in paternal like fashion, with eyes widened and trembling, all to the point of crying and breaking down, but remained standing strong, if only to ensure the respect that Jason's body deserved, not liking to put it down on the ground that was his grave.
The Doctor, after giving the dead body of Jason to Batman, begins to sport a stoic cold expression that was directed on the Joker, who only continued laughing madly, all as if in a job well done, despite his terrible appearance and condition that was caused by the brutal beatdown. He walks slowly, with dignity and strength, for with each loss from the past comes to the fore, and the present loss of now was acknowledge, all as he walks slowly towards the Joker in a solemn manner.
The encounter that is now taking place was likened to that of both God and the Devil staring each other down. Only the accursed laugh was heard. Only the fires of the warehouse were heard and seen by all who were present amidst the cold landscapes.
"Its over," the Doctor said, all in a tone of finality.
And as soon as the word was said, multiple clone shock troopers, all armed with DC-15 staser rifles and carbines, suddenly came on the scene in droves, and they were all aiming their respective weapons on the Joker, who still continued laughing in spite of it, as if he had already won and that he had the last laugh despite his seeming lost once again.
He recalled it. As bright as day. As black as night.
He recalled the time of resolve. The time when he would help and assist Batman as it were watch over the Joker 24/7/365 with no amount of sleep or rest on his part, all through sheer will and determination to see this through, not letting one single chance slip for the Joker this time, all as the Joker awaits his trial at the Inter-Dimensional (ID) Court.
"Joker, after reviewing all of the evidence that is deemed proper, the court finds you guilty of all charges, regardless of your state of mind. Therefore as punishment, you will be sentenced to D-Mat execution. You will neither live nor will you die. You will forever be sentenced to a state of complete and total non-existence in no place. No afterlife will have you for eternity, for you have none. This is our verdict, and so shall it be," spoke the judge, in a solemn tone, hammering down the gavel in order to give the verdict to the accused.
He recalls the moment of execution, the moment when the Joker, in his last moments, still made a laugh despite his fate, almost as if he welcome it glady.
"Hehehehehehe! Hehehehahahahahaha! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
And just like that, the Joker was truly no more.
However, his legacy still remains, forever to be remembered as the man who had succeeded in finally having the Last Laugh in spite of it all. For the Joker may be a human being, with no superpower at all, with not a hint of specialty, but he was and is still regarded as a firm reminder on the Doctor, in consideration of the promise of his name. For him to never lose the mark. He will accept the lost with dignity. He will accept all of his losses. He will continue to uphold his name even unto his last remaining fraction of a moment. For Rusalka. For Jason. For all the peoples that he failed to save in the end because of the script. He will stand tall and face it all. He will not let the skies fall nor let it crumble. He is the Doctor. That is his name. That is his promise.
And as he recalled all this, he and the rest of the L.D.O. would begin to immediately notice someone who is coming near. A handsome man in a black business suit was walking towards them. A man that is immediately recognized by the Doctor and the three members of the L.D.O.
Bruce Wayne.
Bruce was sporting a solemn expression, with hands in his pockets, making his way towards them. By the time he reaches them, he does not speak nor say, but only made a simple nod towards the Doctor, one that is out of gratitude in regards to their friendship, and to their close bond when it comes to someone that they have both loss. The Doctor in turn made a smile, making a nod of his own.
Bruce had also given a respectful nod towards three of the L.D.O. members, recognizing them immediately. The three L.D.O. members made a simple smile, making a nod of gratefulness for the respectful gesture.
And with that only comes silence for all, in memory of and in respect to one Jason Peter Todd. Friend. Brother. Soldier.
It had been about three hours at most since then, amidst the grey clouds of the sky that denote that rain may come sometime soon. The Doctor, Bruce Wayne, and the rest of the L.D.O. were simply walking the paths in a solemn, quiet manner, as they all head back to the TARDIS.
As they drew near to the TARDIS, they all stopped, looking towards each other.
"Well Bruce, this is the moment where I and the ladies say our farewells for now," spoke the Doctor, all with a solemn tone.
Bruce nodded. "Godspeed, Doctor."
"And to you as well," the Doctor said, sporting a smile of friendship and camaraderie, all as he opens the TARDIS doors, with him allowing the three L.D.O. members to come in first before him. Before he closes the door, he said to Bruce, sporting a sad smile. "Tell Clark and the others I said hi," and with that, the door closed.
Vworp Vworp Vworp
"I will," Bruce said simply, all as he watches the TARDIS begin to leave the cemetery, until it is no longer seen, for it has now dematerialized into the Time Vortex.
Insert Song: End
The Doctor was sporting a solemn professional expression, all as he presses the levers and switches in perfect order, while the rest of the L.D.O. could only look on in silence, sporting expressions of concern and worry.
After the Doctor pressed the necessary levers and switches, he turned towards the three L.D.O. members with a sad smile, saying. "So, since Karl decided on assigning you two (referring to Riza and Beatrice) to watch over me for the time being, I could only assume that something of importance concerning me has come up upon the radar of even the Hegemony Gods."
Both Riza and Beatrice nodded in confirmation. "That's appears to be the case, my Lord Doctor," spoke Riza. "But for this case, we haven't exactly been given all of the information as to why would three L.D.O. members be currently assigned to guard you at this time."
"Well I could take a guess, and its one that even Anna knows about considering the fact that she figured out the hints of Karl's poetic," the Doctor looks at Rusalka with a meaningful look, one that was noticed by her in particular. The Doctor looks back to the two L.D.O. members. "If my hunch is right, and it usually is, it might have something to do with that slithering serpent that's been whispering to my senses from time to time, only in cases where and when my death is a certain possibility."
"Lord Nahash," spoke Rusalka, as if confirming the Doctor's hunch.
"..." both Riza and Beatrice sported surprised expressions, turning towards Rusalka, then back to the Doctor.
"Are you certain of this, Malleus?," asked Beatrice for confirmation.
Rusalka nodded. "Yes, Karl Krafft had shown me something from Lord Doctor's memories that involved the subtle machinations of that irritating snake."
"I bet he did," muttered the Doctor, having some idea as to what specific memory did his old friend showed to Rusalka.
"If that is truly the case," Beatrice responded with conviction and concern. "Then all the more reason we will remain here for the time being."
"If that's the case," the Doctor responded with a smile, "Then welcome aboard."
ED Song:
Dies irae: The Animation 『Einsatz』
Characters:
The Tenth Doctor - A: David Tennant
Lady Anna Maria "Rusalka" Schwagerin - VA: Yuka Inokuchi
Lady Riza Brenner - VA: Risato Habuki
Lady Beatrice Waltrud von Kircheisen - VA: Kei Mizusawa
Touma Kamijou - VA: Atsushi Abe
Bruce Wayne - Batman - A: Kevin Conroy
The Joker - A: Mark Hamill
Jason Peter Todd (Young) - A: Alexander Martella
Jason Peter Todd (Teen) - Robin - A: Vincent Martella
Clone Shock Troopers (STARS) - A: Temuera Morrison