Alright! I'm smoked, stoked, and ready to go! I even got a review so today was a good day. I even got a review this time.
Bloodystains: if you draw Artemis send me a copy!
Chapter 12
"So, now what do we do," asked Damian. Artemis and Joey both spun around in shock. As they left Arkham no one had spoken a single word. But when Damian asked what they should do it threw them off guard. Damian always had an answer for almost any problem and here he was asking for a change. Not a pleasant change.
"I-I-I don't really know," said Joey, "Do we let the craziness just take over?"
"Why not," said Artemis, now turning around to head for the car, "the madness won't leave us alone. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em."
"I guess we aren't going to try a different doctor then," said Damian shrugging.
"Why bother," said Joey, now sulking, "we will probably fail that one to."
"A good point," said Artemis, "but now we won't have anything to do with our Mondays."
"I'm a little more worried about our mental state then our Monday's," said Damian.
"Why do you guys even care anymore? It's going to take over, no sense fighting it, obviously the Joker's got it more right than we do."
"That doesn't mean we should just give up, Artemis, we just really need to fight this."
"Damian, you've lost your damned mind! Haven't you noticed that the more we fight it the worse he makes it? Think about it, he started out just stalking us with a few cards here and there. Then he just toyed with us and now this!"
"Hey, you guys, look on the car window," shouted Joey. The two stopped their fighting to see yet another Joker card on the window. "I'm going to buy a book and start a collection book," he said peeling it off attached to a note.
"Why not," said Artemis, "we have six of these things now. What's that note say?"
Damian opened it and read it out loud.
Joker here,
When you kids are done playing doctor with Quinnzel you might wanna turn on the news. Your new little friend seems to have disappeared. I wonder who it was, hmm, you kids been up to some mischief! Now down to business. Don't worry, this will be an easy one, I just need you to take the brief case in your car to Gordon. Try not to tag his wall this time, hmm.
Artemis opened the trunk and saw a regular looking brief case. "Should we open it," she asked observing it.
"There is a P.S.," said Damian, "it says 'No, you shouldn't open it'."
"Well that answers that question," said Joey climbing into the car, "whatever man let's just get this over with. I have other things to do I work today."
"Yea," said Artemis, "I'm catching up on sleep."
"What," asked Damian climbing into the driver's seat.
"We are going to Gordon's you useless, deaf, moron," whispered Joey in what he thought was Damian's bad ear. But we all know how good Joey's memory is. Damian threw a cup at Joey on his blind side who gave him a dirty look.
"What," asked Damian as if it wasn't him, "what are you looking at me for? I didn't do it, man. Somebody's throwing stuff, I don't know, we going to Gordon's or what?" Artemis tried to hold back a giggle. Those two cracked her up sometimes. "What are you giggling about over there," Damian asked Artemis. She just shook her head.
They drove down to Gordon's apartment. The supposed death threat was still on the wall. They smiled at the memory. People still believed the Joker was out to get Gordon, several weeks and the poor guy jumped at every motion, it was too funny. They walked up to the door with suitcase in hand. Attached to the suit case was a Joker's card much like the one they had on the car window. Artemis knocked on the door and waited patiently.
Joey and Damian where shoving each other for whatever reason boys do that. Gordon answered the door and was shocked to see them. "Oh, Artemis, Damian, Joey, hello. Is there something I can help you with?"
"We were told to give this to you," said Artemis handing him the briefcase. He observed the Joker's card on it.
"Who told you to," he asked.
"Our car window," she said. Artemis, Joey, and Damian started laughing at the comment.
"You just sounded like a total nut case," said Joey, "we delivered this cause the car told us to."
"Oh, I know, that is so not what I meant. I mean there was a note on the car that told us to," said Artemis fighting past her fit of giggles. Gordon observed them with hard eyes but they barely seemed to notice. He slowly opened the case and dropped it with a look of 'I'm going to be sick' written on his face. The three stopped laughing and looked down to see Jesse James's head. Artemis about fainted. Joey caught her and Damian fanned her a bit. Gordon picked up a note and read it.
Hey Gordon,
Just wanted you to know that it wasn't me who spray painted your wall. Come on that's just not my style, this is more my style. The three guilty are standing before you and I even got the pictures to prove it. I think they need some lock up time, don't you, ahahahhahaha. Tell Artemis I love her ;)
Love,
Joker
"I think you three need to come with me," said Gordon advancing on them. The three got a very bad feeling and shot to the car and drove off. Gordon got into his police car to follow when a police report came through the CB radio.
"We got the Joker at Gotham Bank! We have him surrounded and we need back up!" Gordon was stuck between the Joker or the new blood stirring things up in Gotham. Plus he needed to find out who's head that was. He sighed and went after the teens in hopes that Batman will show up.
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To say things went according to plan for the Joker would be a lie. He planned on Batman not showing up during they day time, he planned Gordon would go after the kids instead of him, and he planned on getting away. But even though Gordon did go after the kids, batman showed up, he was surrounded, and it didn't look like a getaway. If batman had not shown up he would have gotten away without breaking a sweat, but he has this tendency to make things really difficult.
The Joker cursed himself, he really needed to plan that one better. Not his best moment but shit happens. When the Joker arrived he was searched for weapons and locked in a cell. Gordon then showed up with the three teens in tow.
"Who are these kids," asked his partner, "bunch of trouble makers?"
"Potentially dangerous trouble makers," corrected Gordon, "I think they are working with the Joker. Have them searched and I want them all in different cells and don't pair any of them with the Joker." They were searched and all locked up separately. The Joker, Damian, Joey, and Artemis all were in separate cells but they were all in one room.
First they searched Artemis's purple coat. Taking out a few blades, a shot gun, and a butterfly clip with a knife in the end that was in her hair.
Damian had a switch knife and pistol on his person. Joey had a blade and a couple of small hand guns. Hey, if you're going to be a criminal, you might as well come prepared. Gordon walked up to them with the pictures in hand.
"Are these pictures of you three,' he asked the teens. Artemis snatched one of the pictures in shock, and then a small smile crept on her face. "I take that as a yes," he said a bit unnerved by her reflexes.
"What is it," asked Joey reaching through the bars to see. Artemis handed it to him and Damian looked over to get a look. "Well, lookie there, that sure as hell is us. First time we were caught on camera."
"That's a terrible snap shot of me," complained Damian.
"How about we go back and do it again so whoever took the picture can get you at a better angle," said Artemis sarcastically.
"No thanks, but I appreciate the offer," he said. Artemis just give him a big smile with a thumbs up. The Joker laughed at their childish antics.
"I took the picture," he said. Damian, Joey, and Artemis all turned their heads in his direction.
"Why in Hells name would you give Gordon that kind of picture," asked Joey.
"When in Hells name did you find the time to take that picture," asked Artemis.
"Don't ask like your question was better," argued Joey shaking his head. Artemis and Joker both just laughed at him.
"Well, her question was a better question," said Damian.
"Nobody here is talking to you," said Joey, "shut up you have no friends!"
"What?"
"What do you mean 'what'?"
"Talk into my good ear."
"I said, what do you mean 'what'?"
"Just shut up, your blind, okay, nobody needs you go home."
"Gladly," said Joey laughing now.
"Do you three have any idea how serious this is," shouted Gordon.
"Jeez, settle down man, it was a joke," said Damian.
"Yea, there was no actually death threat against anyone," said Joey, "just blowing some stress out dude, chill." Gordon pinched the bridge of his nose and walked out. He needed a cup of coffee.
"God, you would think we tried to off him," said Joey, "so serious."
"Yea, no shit, he needs to relax a bit, maybe get off the coffee," said Damian.
"He's a damned dirty junky," said Joey shaking his head.
"No comment," said Artemis.
"Uh, you kids might want to keep it downhere. They, uh, don't like a lot of talking here," said the Joker.
"Why," said Artemis, "what's going to happen if we talk a lot?"
"Hey," shouted Gordon's partner, "keep it down. This is jail, not a social club."
"Why, what are you going to do about it," asked Joey with genuine curiosity.
"I'll put you in the drunk tank," he said, "how would you like to be locked up with a bunch of angry drunks?"
"That would kind of suck," said Joey.
"Yea, so keep it down."
"How long have you been doing this job," asked Artemis. Gordon's partner slowly walked over to her and looked her hard in the face. He turned around and looked at the Joker with the same suspicion.
"You look an awful lot like him," said Gordon's partner, "you guys related somehow?"
"I asked you first," she said with a smile.
"I'm not going to let you play with my mind. I already made that mistake with this clown over here. I won't make it twice." Artemis put her hands up defensively.
"Hey," she said, "I only asked how long you had this job, I wasn't trying to get into your head or anything. If you don't want to tell me you don't have to."
"The lady just asked you a question, man, don't need to act like a total dick about it," said Joey. Gordon's partner looked around at the four inmates. Even the Joker was giving him a disapproving look.
"This is ridiculous," he grumbled, walking back over to the desk. The four sat around silently. Joey dug around in his pockets and found one that the police overlooked. He pulled out a bag of marbles! He had been searching for those for ages! He walked over to Damians cell and tapped in on the shoulder. This caught the Jokers attention. Joey looked over at the Joker who tried to get Artemis's attention but she was off in space somewhere.
"Psst," said the Joker waving his arms around. Artemis looked over at him and at the other two. She walked closer to the Joker's cell keeping an eye on the angry cop. Joey pulled out the marbles and threw one across the room. It had just missed the partner's head and hit the wall.
Gordon's partner spun around to find the sound than back at the inmates. They all seemed to be minding their own business but he didn't trust them. He picked up a book to read and tried to ignore the snickers coming from the cell.
Joker signaled to Joey to hand him on. He threw it and it hit the police officers book. He put the book down and saw the inmates just sort of hanging out in their own little corners of their cells. He gave a sigh of frustration. The four started giggling again at him. It was Damian's turn to throw a marble and it hit his desk bouncing across the room.
The police man was growing really tired of this and looked up. A marble was coming strait to his face and hit him right in between the eyes. The four prisoners busted up laughing at the stupid look on his face. Time to end this. He stood up and walked over to Artemis's cage and stared her strait in the eyes.
She held the stare until he finally gave in. "I'm taking you to the tank," he said coldly. He opened the door and Artemis backed up a bit. At that moment Gordon had come in a seen what was happening. He ran over and slammed the door shut pulling the man out.
"Have you lost your mind," he hissed.
"I'm taking the damned girl to the drunk tank!"
"You can't do that! We shouldn't even have her here. If you put her in their she could get raped, she is the only girl in the whole building!"
"Then why is she here," asked the Joker with a very angry look. Gordon looked over at him. The look he gave him was so dark and empty it sent shivers down his spine. That cold hearted look never failed to frighten Gordon. He stood his ground though, he swallowed his fear and stepped up to the Joker. The other four in the room watched the scene curiously.
"What does it matter to you," he asked, "do you know these kids?"
"Uh, as a matter of fact the pretty young lady across from me is my, uh, daughter, and if you hurt her You. Will. Pay." Gordon was throw off guard with nothing to say. He wasn't sure what to expect, that wasn't it. True, he knew Artemis was his father, but he didn't think he would actually care enough for her or her well being for that matter. Gordon walked over to Artemis's cell and unlocked it. The Joker's eyes never left him. Gordon could feel them burning wholes through him. He should probably be careful with this one.
He opened it and stepped forward. "Ms. Napier, if you would please, we need to take you to the interrogation room." Artemis seemed to be thinking about it. She wasn't sure if she should come or not, she wasn't going to say anything that was for sure, not to mention she wanted to make this other officers life a living hell for some reason.
"That depends," she said, "what am I getting out of it?"
"A moment to yourself," he suggested with a smile.
"A moment? Not very long but I guess that's something. My guess is your Best Bat Friend Forever will be there? Or is he most wanted today? It's so hard to tell." She laughed at his distressed look. She had not had this kind of fun ever. For some reason she really had it in her to send these people over the edge and she wanted to enjoy it. "Don't worry," she said, "I'll amuse myself. Even come quietly if you would prefer it that way."
"Thank you Artemis," he said with a sigh of relief. She stood back as they opened the door and even let Gordon hand cuff her. He watched her closely but she wasn't struggling or even looking at him, she was far off in her own little world, letting her mind dance to whatever tune she wished and at that moment that tune was that of her mother still alive. Oh if she only knew where Artemis was now she would turn over in her grave.
He put her in the room and she sat at the table and waited patiently. The door opened and batman stepped in. She watched him carefully as he walked in and stood before her. "Well, well, well," she said, "I've heard an awful lot about you."
"What is the Jokers name," was his first question.
"What," she asked.
"I asked 'what is the Joker's real name'," he said impatiently.
"Can't you ask in a normal voice? No one understands what you are saying," she said with a ghost of a smile on her face. He was then in her face and shouting.
"TELL ME," he said. When she said nothing he pulled her over the table by her shirt collar and sat her on the table.
"Uh, uh, not without dinner," she mocked. He picked her up and threw her across the floor forgetting who he was talking to. It didn't really matter. If what Gordon said was correct this was the Joker's daughter and probably just as dangerous. She lay on the floor laughing at him. "Um, I'm a woman, you really should treat me better." He walked over her menacingly and she didn't even back away. She seemed rather excited at the moment; she certainly wasn't scared, not of him.
"Please, Artemis, I need you to tell me. We can lock him away and he won't hurt you anymore."
"Like I haven't heard that one before," she said rolling her eyes, "besides, I don't know if you noticed, but he is already sitting in a cell. I figured by now his name isn't all that important. What good is a dead man's name anyway?" Batman stared down at her for a moment then walked off. Artemis sat shocked on the floor. "You give up to easy," she said before he left.
"No," he said, "I have better things to do than deal with another dead end. You are just like him, just as twisted and disturbed. Trying to get information from you would be like me trying to get information out of the Joker."
"I am not," she whispered, mostly to herself.
"Then explain yourself."
"I can't," she said silently, "I don't really know what I'm doing, I'm just doing it."
"Then stop now before it's to late. Realize the people you are hurting."
"Why should I care," she said now fighting tears, "they hurt me first."
"The innocent people of Gotham didn't do this to you," growled Batman.
"Tell me something," she said lazily, "what is it that Gotham has done for you, hmm?" She stood up and faced Batman. "Have they ever thanked you for what you do for them? Aren't they chasing you down and trying to imprison you even though nightly you are out on the streets trying to keep them safe? Why don't you try, uh, explaining yourself before you ask me what my reasons are?" Batman stood silent for a long moment but turned to leave. Artemis smiled, she got to him alright, that little thought will be stuck in his mind for a while. Hell, she might actually get an answer to her question to him. Why did he do it?
Gordon put her back in her cell with a satisfied smile on her face.
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Bruce sat in the bat cave researching on Artemis Napier. The things he learned about her where making him start to wonder. This girl truly had no love for humanity, no wonder why, humanity never gave her any love. Then he thought back to her question 'What is it that Gotham has done for you, hmm?" The question burned him. He started to realized that the people of Gotham were really ungreatful.
Alfred watched him in curiosity. Bruce told him what Artemis had said to him and Alfred could tell by the look on his face that Bruce was starting to wonder the answer to her questions. He walked over to Bruce feeling like he should say something.
"Just remember, master Bruce, the enemy will say anything to get your eyes off your goal." Bruce nodded. Alfred could tell that he wasn't totally convinced.
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Okay, end of da chapter!
