Chapter 38: Doom

The next hour or so was the worse Bruce and Harley had to endure. They couldn't immediately go out and search for their children, nor even had time to contact their friends or the Justice League for that matter. They had to deal with many questions from the Gotham Police Department, along with the detectives combing every nook and cranny for clues. Commissioner Gordan offered his condolences to a grim Bruce and on-the-verge catatonic Silva( Bruce had to practically force her to don her wig for her Silvia Wayne persona before they were swamped by the cops). After a precious few hours slowly passed by, the cops left the Wayne parents in peace, out to search for their missing kids. However, that didn't disperse the media that immediately took the cops' place. News spread almost instantly that the Wayne kids had been kidnapped by the Clown Prince of Crime.

Bruce and Harley paid the press no mind, shutting the door in their faces. They had no time to waste after all. Under the cover of darkness the two escaped the grounds, going back to where they had hid the Batmobile in the foliage. With their suits donned once more, Bruce pressed a combination of buttons, which resulted in a voice filling the inside of the car.

"Batman? Is something the matter?" the voice belonged to none of than Superman.

"Hello? What's wrong Bruce?" another voice followed, belonging to Dick Grayson.

"Do you have any idea what time it is?" a third voice rang out from the stereo. It was an irritated Edward Nigma. Bruce had three lines of communication running at the same time.

" We need the Justice League and Edward I need you to gather up the others. Two people have been kidnapped..."Batman ordered, his voice cracking a bit.

"We need the entire Justice League for a kidnapping?" Superman asked.

"Yes. Because the Joker has my kids." Bruce answered, which was followed by a few seconds of silence.

"...We will do everything we can Bruce." Superman stated, "I'll be there shortly."

"Damn clown... Don't worry I'll gather Croc and Crane and meet you." Riddler replied, ending the call.

"Ivy and I are already on our way Bruce." Dick said, the only one left on the line. "Do you have any leads?"

"None so far. Meet us at the new Batcave." Bruce ordered as he put the car into gear and sped down the road, he pondered for a few moments, wondering if now was the time, before finally adding, " Dick...He killed Alfred."

Stunned silence filled the inside of the Batmobile, with neither Bruce, Harley, nor Dick talking. Everyone was still processing this grim news, unable to believe that Alfred was truly gone. It felt like ages before Nightwing finally replied.

"...What are you going to do Bruce?" Nightwing questioned, a hint of uncertainty in his voice. He feared that this was finally the moment that the Batman would cross the line.

"I'm not sure." Bruce answered, though his tone suggested otherwise, "I'm more concerned with getting my children back first. Joker isn't a priority and neither is revenge."

"Alright then," Dick stated, though his voice didn't sound convinced, "Ivy and I will meet you guys at the hideout."

After Dick hung up silence once again filled the car. Harley was still dealing with her own emotional state, but she couldn't help but worry for her husband. She glanced over at him as he drove. He wore his usual grim expression while he donned the Batsuit, so for the average person you couldn't tell what he was thinking. However, Harley knew him, and she knew his eyes couldn't hide what he was really thinking and feeling.

"Are you going to kill the Joker?" Harley asked, somewhat hesitantly. Bruce did not reply, just kept his eyes on the road as they sped through Gotham's traffic.

For years Joker has tried to push Batman over the edge, to break the one rule he always stuck to. Joker, murdered, maimed, and did everything under the sun to try to break Batman's restraint. He wanted to prove a point, Harley knew. Now it looked like Joker had just pushed the Bat over the edge. What's worse: Harley wasn't sure if she wanted to stop him, or help him to kill Joker.

She didn't have time to dwell on that serious question any further, when the Batmobile pulled into the new Batcave and they were surrounded by their friends and allies. Harley was instantly pulled into the arms of Ivy as she consoled her, and Harley couldn't help cry all over again. The whole atmosphere in the hideout was grim.

"Any leads yet?" Bruce asked as Wonder Woman walked up to him.

"I'm sorry but no." Wonder Woman answered, "J'onn is monitoring as much of the world's media as he can on the Watchtower. He'll let us know if he finds the clown."

"How are you holding up Bruce?" Hal Jordan asked.

"I'll be fine once my kids are safe and Joker is in cuffs."Bruce answered.

"When I get my hands on that clown I'll tear him apart with my teeth and throw his remains in the sewers!" Croc snarled, as Crane patted his arm, trying to calm him down."

"Trust me. He's not worth it." Crane stated. Suddenly the giant computer screen on one side of the hideout switched on, with the screen filled with Martain Manhunter's face.

"This transmission has just been broadcasted throughout most channels and it's all over the internet. It's something you all need to see." He said grimly, punching in a few buttons as the screen switched to a video playing.

In it you could see both Abigal and Thomas in separate glass square confinements, with an opening at the top with a hose pushed into each cage. Whoever was holding the camera panned it to the right, showing that the hoses connected to two huge canisters labeled, " Joker Gas". Cackling could be heard off-screen before the camera quickly spun around showing the holder of it. It was none other than the Joker.

"I hope that visual image has gotten your attention Bats! Oh and your friends of course." Joker said, grinning as usual.

"Joker quit fooling around and aim the camera this way!" someone barked off-screen.

"Alright alright. Chill baldy." Joker replied, fumbling around with the hand-held before turning it around to face a whole group of other people, with Lex Luthor standing front and center.

"We have the Wayne children and we request Mr. Wayne to turn over all his assets and wealth to us or else." Lex instructed into the camera. For some reason, it seemed Joker had still not let Batman's identity slip. Who could guess the clown's motives with that.

"We know the Justice League is on the case, so we will give 24 hours for Wayne to hand over his wealth to us. Not only that, but to keep most of the League busy, we have canisters of the clown's gas set to detonate across every major city in America." Luthor continued, "Don't be stupid Justice League. Stay out of it or else more than just these two brats will get hurt."

Peering into the background at the individuals behind Luthor the group could spot other major villains, such as Sinestro, Solomon Grundy, Toymaker, Gorilla Grodd, and a few others. It was at that moment Joker joined Luthor on screen, placing the camera on a tripod supposedly.

"So says the Legion of Doom." Luthor finished, smirking as the video cut off.