Chapter 4

Gotham Bay Side

The scene was chaotic, just the way he liked it. These private companies like to build new toys for the military, and that made him feel like a kid at a candy store. The guards were dead and what stood before him was exactly what he needed for his new amusement park.

It was a large prototype armored vehicle with several missile launchers, bullet prove windows, and a mounted machine gun turret at the top.

The bleached faced man pulled at his green hair and walked up to the large vehicle "JACKPOT." He shouted, as he inspected his new find. "Oh ho ho ho, would you look at this. This will definitely draw people in." he placed his hand on his chin "though there is one teeny tiny problem. I like the style, but not really my color." He reached into his purple coat and pulled out a can of spray-paint.

The man then began to paint the armored vehicle "Little bit of this, little bit of that, a whole lot there, aaaaaaand DONE." As soon as he finished, the green haired figure threw the can away as he admired his finished work. The armored car now sported white in the front, green at the top and a large red smile on the front of the hood, the rest was all purple. "Perfection." He whispered. "Well, as fun as this was, I better get going." He then boarded the armored vehicle before driving out of the warehouse "I still gotta secure the main attraction." The green haired man then let out a loud crazed laughter

Gordon Family Home

James Gordon sat on his chair in the living room, reading a newspaper. It was worse than he thought. Not only was crime getting worse even with Batman around, but there was also the case of this 'Joker' character that escaped from Arkham Asylum. First, he murders several people for no apparent reason, then he electrocutes a man at an abandoned amusement park and now he stole an experimental piece of military equipment.

"Dad, I'm going out." Barbara called out, catching the commissioner's attention.

"And where are you going, if I may ask?" the commissioner turned to face his daughter, stopping her dead in her tracks.

"Um…n-nowhere in particular." She started sweating nervously.

"Barbara, I know you're not a very good liar. Are you going to see the Grayson kid?" Jim raised a brow at his daughter whose face turned bright red.

"W-why would you ask that?"

"I noticed that the two of you were getting really friendly at Mr. Wayne's party."

"Dad, we were just talking."

"Alright, if you say so. Just do me a favor and be nice to him, that boy's been through enough at his age."

Barbara sighed as she lowered her head. "Yeah, I know. He told me what happened to his parents."

Jim rose from his chair and walked towards his daughter, putting a hand on her shoulder and giving her a warm smile. Barbara rapped her arms around her father who proceeded to return the embrace.

When the two broke apart, Barbara continued on her way to the door but froze as soon as she opened it. Standing there was a man in a purple and green suit holding a gun pointed directly at her. Gordon's eyes widened when he say the man. His bright green hair, his blood red lips, his pale white skin, and his ugly yellow teeth. The commissioner shook in terror, for he knew full well who this man was. This was the Joker.

Before a word could be said, the Joker fired two shots to the girl's legs causing her to fall down while crying out in pain.

"BARBARA" the commissioner shouted as he raced to his daughter, ignoring the maniac as he walked into the house.

"I wouldn't worry if I were you, Commissioner." The Joker said nonchalantly while reaching for a glass and serving himself a drink, ignoring the girls cries of pain "You know how teenagers tend to be, they tend to treat every little thing, no matter how stupid it is, as if it's the end of the world."

"You bastard." The commissioner turned face the man who shot his daughter "I'm gonna…" Gordon was cut off as the Joker hit him in the back of his head, causing to commissioner to fall to the floor.

"Looks like someone won't be going out tonight. In fact, I doubt she'll be going anywhere at all." The Madman continued mocking them. "It's a shame you'll be missing your father's debut, Miss Gordon, but then again rules are rules. No minors allowed."

"Why" Barbara struggled to say "Why are you doing this?"

"To prove a point." The Joker raised his glass "Here's to crime."

Streets of Gotham

Richard wondered the streets on his way to the amusement park, thinking about his encounter Barbara Gordon. Not long after the two of them talked, they threw glances at each other that, from what Richard could tell, didn't go unnoticed by Alfred.

Eventually, shortly before the Gordons left, Barbara slipped a piece of paper onto his pocket, upon discovering it, he noticed it had a phone number on it, no doubt Barbara's. Dick wrestled with himself over whether or not he should call her until Alfred encouraged him to do so.

He still remembered the conversation. He had asked her if she could meet him at the amusement park and she agreed. So one could imagine his surprise when she failed to show up. He tried calling her several times but she never responded.

Dick was beginning to lose his patience, believing she had ditched him. He started pacing back and forth, wondering if Barbara was really just toying with him. Then suddenly, his phone started ringing, he read the number and immediately recognized it.

"Hello." He asked, somewhat furious.

"Dick, it's me. Barbara."

"Barbara, what happened? Why didn't you show up?"

"I'm sorry, I-I'm in the hospital." Dick's eyes widened at the mention of those words "Someone broke into my house, shot me in the legs and knocked my dad out. Please, come quick."