Hey everybody! CJzilla here with another chapter. Enjoy. Oh... there is a tiny drug reference in the latter part of this addition. Nothing big, just suggesting...
As I rampage all over this city, alls CJzilla has to roar is this: Love... hate... I don't care.
A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor's book.
~Irish Proverb
Chapter 5
Arkham Hush
Arkham Asylum hadn't even begun to stir yet. Night shift employees were still counting the minuets before they were relieved. And the asylum's residents were still sleeping in their padded cells. The front door was locked however the backdoor had less security during these wee morning hours. On the other hand, Bruce and Dick never had trouble breaking into the mad house. Security, what is was anyway, had always been lacking. The word "comical" often entered into Bruce's mind every time an inmate would escape; which seemed to be every other day.
The Dark Knight and the Boy Wonder entered Arkham, passing through the stone wall corridors like ghosts. The asylum was very quiet, only the sound of water dripping and the footfalls of a lone guard patrolling the cell block were heard. Peeking around a corner, Bruce watched the sentry walk, daydreaming by the look on his face.
"What's Joker's Arkham number THIS week?" Dick quipped, an ironic smirk on his face. "Since they reset IDs after every breakout, you'd think Joker's gone through the alphabet about a dozen times all ready."
Bruce shook his head.
"230D1." He spoke. With that he moved out into the hallway, running into the nearest shadow, Robin right behind him. "As he's always been. But I reason that he's in Arkham's penthouse."
Now standing with a good look over the huge prison block, Bruce cast his eyes upwards. There, at the tippy top of the enormous building, was a corner cell. More spacious than all the other cages, the "penthouse" had a bathroom sink, chairs, a wonderful panorama of Gotham City and a mattress; luxuries considering the prison.
"They're probably keeping Joker separate from all the other offenders." The Capped Crusader mumbled. Dick looked up at his mentor.
"Why the special treatment all of a sudden?" The boy questioned. Bruce looked down.
"Joker is responsible for the asylum being so full. He did act in the Batman's place for a little over a month." He answered. "And I bet everyone, from the smallest mental case to the biggest criminal, wants Joker dead because of his crimes against fellow criminals. Think of the bloodlust they have towards me… but against one of their own."
Dick's eyes widened from under his mask.
"Whoa." The teen awed. Joker's state was indeed grim; every criminal probably had their sights set on his head. "And so we're here to what? Break Joker out so we can cure him?"
Bruce's eyes narrowed.
"I highly doubt Black Mask is going to make this that easy." He growled. "But this is our best lead. We find Joker, we can save him and Gotham. And yes; if Joker is here, we'll have to give him an escort out."
Dick gave an ironic yet entertained smile. With that, the Batman dashed off toward the stair case, Robin on his heels. Why the extra stealth? Because anyone incarcerated in Arkham would relish the pleasure to find the Batman within harm's reach. Bruce was all too aware that his presence could cause a massive riot.
The paramount echelon offered a unique view to the Arkham cell block. Guard posts were wisely positioned on this floor because of the clear vantage point to all inmates' chambers. And at the very corner, the pinnacle of the building was one lone cell. Joker's cell.
Bruce and Dick silently approached the cell, not too sure what they would find. Opening the shutter, Bruce's blue eyes scanned the room.
"No Joker." He cursed. "That means he's escaped."
Dick frowned.
"Without any of the authorities being notified? Without any alarms being set off? Are you sure he's not in there?" Without waiting for the Batman's say so, Dick dropped to his knees and began picking the cell's lock. Bruce watched him without stopping him; Joker's cell could offer some clues as to the bizarre nature of the harlequin's silent breakout.
With one last turn on his pick, the door easily opened. Bruce's eyes were set directly on Joker's bed. The blankets were not disturbed, having appeared to be searched by the asylum staff and promptly put up after. It wasn't even warm, as Bruce found out.
"Joker's toothbrush isn't wet, Batman." Dick said. "The facial towel is dry and the place seems organized. It's like its lacking-…"
"Lacking Joker? He would have put his own special touch on his cell by now." Bruce narrowed his eyes. "That means he's been gone since the last bed check; any giggle-based paraphernalia would be confiscated during those preventative raids. The last round was near to 6:00 at night; dinner time."
Dick growled.
"Well, SOMEONE would have noticed that Joker's flown the coop by now! Why hasn't anyone been informed?" The teen threw his hands to the ceiling. "The Arkham staff couldn't prevent a breakout even if it was a zit on their face."
Bruce mulled his bottom lip.
"It may not be that simple, Robin. Sionis has men everywhere; maybe even here. Black Mask had Joker released." The detective grunted. "It's the only explanation to why someone like Joker had such a quiet escape. The cards have been dealt, Robin."
Snatching his Bat Wave, the Batman was dialing Commissioner Yin's phone number.
"Good idea. We can get Gotham PD to send out an APB." Robin smiled. "That'll make it easier for us."
Bruce looked down at his sidekick and narrowed his eyes. The benefit to the police's assistance would mean thousands of extra eyes out for Joker. But that would be too dangerous.
A sudden ring woke Commissioner Ellen Yin from sleep. It was the Bat Wave. Turning in bed, she snuck a glance at her clock. Thirty minuets before the alarm went off. Groaning, the oriental woman dug around in her night stand's drawer. Placing it to her ear, Yin sighed.
"Batman? This is a little early." She ran her fingers through her hair. Opening her eyes, she looked at the ceiling fan turn.
"We have a situation, Commissioner." The Batman's gravel voice entered her brain. "And it involves all of Gotham."
A brick hit her stomach as Ellen sat up.
"Care to elaborate, Batman?" She sat up and swung her legs over her bed.
"Black Mask contacted Robin and I this morning and told us about a plan of biological warfare." The Caped Crusader said, sounding like he was pacing. "He divulged that he'd infected Joker with a powerful chemical that will spread once the harlequin succumbs to the poison. The toxin will infect all of Gotham."
Yin swallowed hard.
"A plague? A new one for Black Mask." She growled. "But the last report that went through my office was that Joker is still in Arkham. There's no-!"
But the Batman cut her off.
"Robin and I are standing in Joker's cell. He's gone. Black Mask made sure that we have plenty to do. But my team and I will handle Joker, Commissioner. Sionis has something else up his sleeve." An angry tone was present in the Batman's voice. "Joker's plight is just a small task. Black Mask is planning something big; something that required making a dangerous distraction to accomplish. We're going to have to work together on this."
"I'll put an APB on Joker immediately." Yin voiced, her hand reaching for her cell phone.
"No. This is far more delicate than that, Commissioner. I need you to find out what else Black Mask is planning. You have a time frame; something will happen in the next twelve to twenty four hours." Yin looked at her clock. It was 6:30. "Let me handle Joker. You take care of Black Mask."
Yin sighed as she grabbed her clothes.
"Fine. You have point, Batman. But if you need anything, don't hesitate to call." She responded. "But riddle me this, Batman... Where is Joker now?"
A lengthy pause, indicating that the super detective did not know.
"Right." Yin hushed. "Then I will take care of Sionis. You find Joker."
Without a goodbye, the Batman ended the call. Ellen Yin took a moment to catch her breath and steady the pounding in her heart. The Batman was the best in the business, as far as getting into Joker's mind goes. But now Gotham PD had a daunting task placed in front of them; they needed to know Black Mask's next move. Roman Sionis had friends, resources and time on his side. The odds were not favorable. But Yin would rather chase after the crime kingpin than play gatekeeper to Joker's mind.
Finally dressing herself and on her way to the bathroom to quickly make herself presentable, Yin snatched her cell phone. Punching the first number on her speed dial, the Commissioner of Police contacted her dear friend and Police Chief Ethan Bennett. They would work together will all precincts to find Black Mask.
Bruce and Dick were still haunting Arkham Asylum's hallways. Robin stood lookout as Batman feverishly hacked the Arkham guard and orderly schedules. There had to be at least one person acting under Black Mask that was on shift when Joker disappeared. There was about 150 guards and 130 orderlies on duty last night. Bruce worked to narrow down the list of suspects. And he had to find out the individual or individuals as soon as possible. Morning rounds would be made in a mere hour and as soon as someone discovered that Joker had gone missing, all alarms would be raised. And every enemy of Joker's would be informed that the harlequin was without a protective escort.
"Uh… you might want to move a little faster, boss man." Bruce heard Dick whisper. The Caped Crusader looked up. "I just heard some guards talking. The shifts are changing."
Bruce cursed under his breath. He was down to 15 staff members. But then one name stuck out at him. Clarence Splash. A young man with nothing to lose and all things to gain.
"Found him." He said aloud. Dick perked his head up. "Clarence Splash. He has the motive, opportunity and time."
Robin nodded.
"But something tells me that he's not working right now." The teen returned, a crease of disappointment on his face. Bruce frowned as he tucked his communicator away.
"He starts on the lunch shift. But that's too much time to waste. WE find him." With that, the Batman bolted toward the nearest exit, his sidekick right behind him.
Roman Sionis was quite pleased with himself. He sat in a posh penthouse, a bowl of imported chocolates near one hand and his internet phone in the other. Currently the crime boss was in a digital conference with his various henchmen. His men were everywhere. Black Mask had his fingers in nearly every bowl of cherries from here to Metropolis; from catering companies to crooked cops within government ranks. Gotham had seemed to forget exactly who was pulling the strings. The manifestation of the Batman seemed to give the city a very large sense of security, but they neglected to remember that even before the masked man showed himself, Black Mask always had presence. Gotham was overdue for a reality check.
"Black Mask, there have been 34 more additions to the summit's attendance." One Black Mask agent spoke.
"That means we will have to add approximately 3.4 more grams of explosive to the existing." Another voiced.
"The blast has to be carried over, say… another fifty feet or so." Yet another said.
Sionis snorted, hearing his bomb-makers argue over the proportions and size of the warhead's explosive range.
"The details of the explosion are simple, you fools." Black Mask growled. "Bring City Hall to a crumble. I want the first four rows and the podium destroyed for sure. Whether there are survivors, is not a care to me. I want to make this crime prevention convention as an example. I don't care if you get creative with the blasts."
He heard a few chuckles over his comm.
"Would you be against ball bearings and pieces of rebar laced with the blast, boss?" One agent asked. Sionis grinned softly at the thought of deadly shrapnel shooting through his victims.
"Like I said: make it an example." The crime boss repeated, holding in a laugh. "I want no mistakes. Show Gotham city that Black Mask will not sit back and allow such an insult go unnoticed."
"Yes, Black Mask."
"Yes, Black Mask."
Barbara Gordon was fast asleep in her bed, her face buried into her soft pillow. After a long night like last night, the red head still smelled like cut grass. Poison Ivy was especially draining to Barbara, aside from dodging the mutant teen's plant-based creations. Pamela Isely was once her friend; they even ran around avenging crimes against the environment together, though Pamela always took the lead and was more aggressive with her opinion. And Barbara couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt over Isely's plant transformation. Had she turned Pam in sooner, maybe she wouldn't be a humanoid-vegetable with plant powers.
Turning in her soft bed, her brown eyes came to the digital clock on her bedside table. Blinking the post-sleep fuzz out of her eyes, Barbara saw that she had just five minuets before her alarm would ring. Groaning, she turned again and pulled the pillow over her messy red hair. Day one of being grounded for another week. She had called Bruce right before she went to bed last night, explaining her dad's disciplinary measures. Reaching for the Bat Wave communicator under her pillow, Barbara thumbed the cool stainless steel and plastic. Bruce had told her that he would "take care of it".
Barbara felt relief. Who better person to get her out of this pickle than the Batman? But until Bruce acted on his word, she would continue on just as her dad had told her. Obey the curfew! So that meant fewer night assignments and more work during the day. Barbara was confident that Bruce and Dick could hold their own while she was grounded. They'd done so before, making room for her gymnastics career without a complaint.
Sighing, Barb felt more guilt rise. If she'd managed her time a little better, she wouldn't be in this situation. But no more! Right then, Barbara Gordon made a goal to be more responsible, starting by hitting the snooze on her alarm clock and dozing off for another five minuets.
Clarence Splash sat in his apartment, staring at a flickering television. His eyes were blood-shot, his hands and legs shaky but he felt on cloud 9. Being an orderly in Arkham Asylum offered little pay, little room for advancement; not that Clarence cared about his humdrum job. Splash was all about instant gratification, immediate pleasure… and various illegal substances packed into syringes and fed through his veins. And that little job for Black Mask gave him the extra cash to fill many syringes. The pitiable young man watched his lewd television program, enjoying the pulse of excess chemicals assaulting his brain. Suddenly something blocked his vision. Blinking his dry and dilated eyes, Clarence looked up. He saw a mass of black and two angry eyes narrowed at him.
"Clarence Splash?" And suddenly a boy entered his frame of view. And at seeing the kid's colorful costume, he knew exactly who he was dealing with. "We have a few questions about last night's shift."
For added effect on the druggie, Robin pounded his fist into his hand. The motion took a long second to register but he did see the man's eyes widen in terror as he gripped the arm rests of his worn chair. Batman had little to say; he merely stared down the intoxicated young man.
"Robin… go into the kitchen and get some cold water." The Dark Knight finally spoke, his hand going to his utility belt and retrieving two plastic restraints. The boy smiled and did as he was told.
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