Chapter 39: Cycle of Violence
"J'onn did you manage to trace the signal of that message?" Superman asked as soon as Luthor's face was gone from the big screen. The screen was instantly replaced by the green martian.
"Yes. Fortunately I did." J'onn answered, "The signal seems to be coming from the outskirts of Metropolis. Actually it seems to be coming from the sea nearby the city."
"Their base is probably a submarine then." Batman inferred, "J'onn, alert Aquaman to this and have him pinpoint where the sub is. Since their base is mobile they won't be at the same place by the time we get there."
"Will do Batman. I'll keep you all updated." J'onn replied, before cutting off the transmission and turning the screen dark.
"We might as well make our way to Metropolis. Either way, the sub should be in the vicinity of the city."Wonder Woman stated.
"How are we going to get at them exactly?" Crane asked, "We can't exactly go in guns blazing. They do have the kids hostage."
"This will need to be a stealth mission until we can get my kids to safety. Until then, our team needs to be limited so we can secretly board the sub."Batman answered, tapping a few buttons on his computer panel as a boom tube opened nearby, "Once my children are safe, then we can tear into them."
The gathered group entered the boom tube tunnel, instantly being transported to the docks of Metropolis. As they exited the boom tube, it's yellow light vanishing behind them. As the group stared out into the vastness of the sea Batman's earpiece came to life with Aquaman's voice.
"Batman. Aquaman here." The voice inside his earpiece greeted, " I've tracked down the submarine. It's going west a few miles off the coast of Metropolis. I've pinpointed a hatch underneath the vessel to get inside. It's your best bet if you are wishing to go in stealth-wise."
"Thanks Arthur. We are on our way to the location." Batman replied, " I recommend you turn your attention to trying to help the other League member is tracking down and destroying the joker gas."
"Will do. Aquaman out." Aquaman answered, before cutting the communication.
"While this has to be a stealth mission we do need to hurry." Superman said, "It won't take long till the Legion of Doom realizes that not all of the League members are out dealing with the Joker's laughing gas."
"I highly doubt there is even that many Joker gas canisters."Batman replied, "It's more than likely just to send us on a wild goose chase in hopes that I turn over all my wealth and they are gone before we realize they are bluffing."
"Enough of the chit-chat!"Harley growled, "Let's go save my babies already!"
Their infiltration team consisted of Batman, Harley, Superman, Wonder-Woman, Killer Croc, Scarecrow, and Green Lantern. The rest of the Justice League was busy dealing with the Legion of Doom's threat. That and hopefully diverting their attention long enough to put an end to this whole ordeal and save Abigal and Thomas. Using his ring, Green Lantern encased their group in an airtight bubble, before guiding it underwater and towards the location of the sub. Sure enough, Aquaman's intel was spot on as they came up behind the submarine.
The green bubble maneuvered underneath the vessel to where the hatch was located. The bubble latched itself onto the sub, as if it was a leech. Dissolving the top part of the bubble, Superman reached up and opened the hatch with ease. One after another, they entered the sub, before they locked the hatch once more and Green Lantern let the bubble dissolve.
The inside of sub was dark and, as far as they could tell, they had not been discovered yet. Casting a small green glow, Hal Jordan lit the way as they traversed down the steel corridor. Even though the situation was dire, the group did their best to make their progress as slow, and more importantly, as quiet, as they could. If they rushed down the corridor as fast as they could, their footsteps would alert the Legion of Doom and their stealth mission would be a failure. Bruce was worried the rest of the team, besides Harley, Scarecrow, and Croc (who he had trained personally) wouldn't be able to advance quietly, since heroes like Superman and Wonder-Woman weren't known for subtlety. However he was surprised that they were almost as quiet as he was, which was a blessing since they needed the element of surprise.
The corridor soon gave way to a huge chamber, which seemed to be the main control room of the submarine. Peering around the corner while motioning for the rest of the crew to halt, Batman surveyed the area. Luthor was at the main controls of the sub, with Sinestro and Grodd on either side of him. He also spotted Toymaker, Cheetah, and one or two other super-villains sitting around the room. However, what worried the Dark Knight was that he didn't see Joker anywhere at all. Any second that clown was out of sight sent Bruce's paranoia into overdrive.
His attention was diverted from thoughts of the madman when he spotted his children on the far side of the room. Both Thomas and Abigal looked unharmed, in their dome prisons exactly as they were shown in the Legion of Doom's video. Sure enough, connected to each glass dome prison for his kids was a canister of Joker gas. There was no telling from the distance if the canisters were remote controlled or set on a timer. Batman didn't like the layout of this at all.
They couldn't just charge in and take on the villains. The Joker was surely nearby and would set off the Joker gas on his kids before he would have a chance to break them out. There was also no way a large group such as his could sneak around the room without alerting at least one of the rogues in it. There were just so many risks and yet they still had to proceed. Gazing up at the ceiling of the control room Batman noticed that steel beams ran along the entire length of the room. The beams weren't wide or strong enough to hold more than one person.
"Bruce what's the plan?"Harley whispered beside him, daring to take a quick peek into the room as well.
"Ok listen up everyone." Bruce replied, loud enough for the rest of the team to hear yet quiet enough for their enemies not too, " I'm going to grapple up onto those steel beams and navigate my way to my kids. I'm going to try to disconnect the Joker gas canisters from each dome before trying to get Thomas and Abigal out. Once I have disconnected the canisters, I'll signal you guys to charge in and distract the Legion of Doom while I bust the kids out and carry them to safety. Does everyone agree with the plan?"
"This plan is rather risky Bruce." Wonder-Woman answered, concern written on her face.
"Yeah, so many things can go wrong. Are you sure there isn't any other way?" Scarecrow interjected.
"Any other options would be just as risky, if not worse." Batman answered grimly.
For a moment no one spoke, before finally Harley let out a strained sigh, "Alright...fine. I trust you Bruce. Just get our babies back. We'll wait for your signal."
Bruce nodded as he took out his grappling gun from his belt, firing it into the nearby steel beams and zipping upward into the rafters. Landing on top of the beams in a crouched position, Batman slowly started traversing the beams carefully towards his children. He kept his eyes on the ground, watching the members of the Legion of Doom as he walked above them. So far no one even so much as glanced up, much less spotted his shadowy presence. He was about half-way across the room when he heard poorly-concealed cackling coming directly in front of him. He quickly took his eyes off the enemies on the ground and looked straight ahead, but it was too late. Standing only a few feet in front of him, with a grin going from ear-to-ear and waving, was the Joker.
"Surprise Bats!" Joker yelled, as the clown pulled out a boxing glove from inside his purple tux. The boxing glove surged forward, propelled by a spring, into Bruce's face. Batman grunted in both surprise and pain, losing his balance on the steel beams and slipping. The Caped Crusader tumbled to the metal ground below, crying out as his body landed.
Before Bruce could react the members of the villainous group were upon him. Yellow cuffs appeared on his wrists and ankles, constricting them both together while a chain formed from them and led to Sinestro's ring. Sinestro jerked his ring hand back, causing the chain to pull his body across the floor and slam into the nearby wall. He watched as all the members circled him, with Joker jumping down from the steel beams and landing gracefully in front of the Dark Knight. The clown landed a quick kick to his gut, causing Bruce to grunt loudly.
"Oh Batman. You're so predictable."Joker said, laughing. "After all these years you seriously thought that old trick of yours would still work? I know how you function Batty-boy!"
"If Batman is here then his super friends won't be too far behind." Gorilla Grodd growled, turning his huge head this way and that, scanning the area.
"Possibly. Then again, Bats here doesn't like relying on others to get the job done." Joker replied, grabbing Bruce by the chin and forcing him to look up at his white-powdered face, " After all, Batman doesn't trust anyone but himself. Am I right? Batman can do anything, and involving others would just slow him down or worse, make him fail. You're nothing more than an open book I've read so many times that I can recite all the words."
"Well thanks to your foolish actions and that ego of yours Batman you have doomed these children." Luthor stated, taking hold of a remote control that the Joker was offering him, "We simply wanted Bruce Wayne's money, not the lives of his children. Guess you'll have to tell him what happened to his dear brats."
"Oh that little conversation would be so interesting to listen in on." Joker replied, cracking a sinister smile.
It was at that moment that a red laser beam struck Luthor's hand, causing him to cry out in pain and drop the remote control. The device skirted across the floor. In an instant Superman, Wonder-Woman, and the rest of his team were upon the group of villains. Green Lantern landed a quick right hook to Sinestro's jaw, causing him to lose his concentration and thus, his chained construct disappeared, freeing Batman. Getting back on his feet as quick as he could, Bruce landed a punch to Joker's stomach, before grabbing the clown's face and bringing his face down onto his knees. Joker yelped in pain, stumbling back onto his butt and clutching his nose.
"I'm not the same person I use to be Joker."Batman growled as he started making his way to the clown, "I've grown. And I've outgrown you."
Joker's face twisted into a picture of rage, " You miserable little brooding boy! You need me! I give your life purpose! Without the Joker there is no Batman!"
Batman landed a swift kick to Joker's chest, causing him to be thrown further back and roll onto his belly. He coughed loudly as blood streamed from his broken nose. All around the pair the heroes and the villains were battling it out. Batman couldn't find Harley anywhere among the fighting though. He finally spotted his wife near where their children were being held. From the looks of it Harley had already disabled the canister that was connected to Thomas's cell.
"My family and friends give my life purpose. Fighting for Gotham gives my life purpose Joker."Batman stated, looking down on his hated foe, " I think you also must be confused. Because it seems it's the other way around. I give YOUR life purpose. However, I don't need you. I never did."
For a minute the Joker said nothing, only the sounds of fighting filled the air. Slowly, Joker's face of twisted rage relaxed, being replaced by his usual smile. He cackled loudly, though to Bruce it seemed forced and even somewhat sad. Joker suddenly reached into his tux.
"So you're breaking up with me huh?"Joker asked, before pulling out a second remote control device, "Sorry to tell you though Bats but I'm one of those spiteful lovers!"
"No!" Batman screamed, reaching for the device but he wasn't fast enough.
Joker quickly pressed the center button on the device, and Bruce was forced to watch in horror as, on the other side of the room, Joker's gas started filling the dome prison where Abigal was being held. He heard Harley scream as well, as she was just about to disable the second canister, but she was too slow. Bruce heard his little girl crying inside the glass dome, before her cries were replaced with coughing followed by laughter as the gas completely filled the dome.
"Always have a backup Bats!" Joker said, laughing madly as he held his side, as if he had heard the best joke in his entire life.
Taking two exploding baterangs in each hand, he threw them towards the glass dome encasing Abigal. The glass could hurt her but he had no choice. Both baterangs exploded when they came into contact with the glass. Causing glass shards to go everywhere. The gas instantly started pouring out of the opening that the explosion created. As the gas started to clear, Bruce could his a hand inside the dome, clinging to the opening. The hand was pure white, with black fingernails. Batman however, did not foresee that the the larger glass shards would fly across the room and hit the control panel for the sub. The controls short-circuited and red lights started blaring as the sub lurched from left to right. Everyone was flung to the ground, trying to not slide across the metal floor as the sub started going out of control.
The sub then soared upward, causing everyone to be thrown backwards into the far end of the wall. Batman could tell by the position that the sub had surfaced, and was still surging forward. Casting a glance at a nearby porthole, he saw that the sub was heading towards the Metropolis docks, and at full speed.
"Everyone hang out to something!" Bruce shouted as loud as he could, before a couple of seconds later the submarine crashed into the docks and the whole area was lit up with explosions. Batman couldn't tell what happened next, because he blacked out.