Chapter 3
Jessica stared up in horror at the leering maniac stood in the doorway of Jim Gordon's house. Her legs went out from underneath her and she collapsed in a heap on the rug, doing her best to stay as far away as possible from the mad clown.
"Don't tell me you're his granddaughter?" The Joker cackled, looming over her. "Wow, Barbara's been getting it on! Tell me; was she still in the wheelchair when they got busy? I bet that got things rolling!"
'This guy's sick!" Jessica thought disgustedly before stammering, "I-I I'm not his g-g-g-granddaughter."
"Niece?"
"N-no."
"Cousin?"
The twelve-year-old numbly shook her head.
"Aunt? Goddaughter? Second cousin? Friend of a friend of the neighbor's dog twice removed?"
"N-n-no"
"Oh, tell me, the suspense is killing me... I think its killed Jimmy boy already!" The Joker motioned to the still unconscious form of the Commissioner.
"I'm not a relation; I'm just staying with him," Jessica explained. "Wh-wh-what do you want?"
The Joker grinned, baring his pearly white teeth. "Oh, the Commissioner and I have some unfinished business. I guess paralyzing his daughter and killing his wife didn't quite do it for him."
Jessica had managed to get to her feet and was backing into the lounge. "You're s-s-sick! What's Mr. Gordon ever done to you?"
"Hahahahah! Don't you see girly, that's the joke! Jimmy boys just a pawn in this mad, mad world!"
By now Jessica was standing in the middle of the lounge. She had never been so terrified in her entire life, not even when her father had died. Glancing desperately around her eyes fell on her sword that was leant against the sofa.
Dare she use it?
Yes; the circumstances called for it. She leapt forward and swiped the sword before pointing it at the clown prince of crime.
The Joker stared down the end of the sword and chuckled, though part of him was impressed that the girl was standing up to him. "Tsk, tsk, didn't your Mommy tell you not to play with sharp objects?"
He reached forward to relieve her of the sword, managing to grasp the blade.
More in desperation than fear, Jessica yanked the sword as hard as she could. The blade sliced through the clown prince's hand, staining his white glove with ruby blood.
The Joker hissed at the pain then merely glanced at his hand, before shoving it into the pocket of his purple jacket. "Now that wasn't very nice, was it? I can see I'm going to have to teach you some respect to your elders. Hmmm….too bad you won't have a chance to learn much now, heehee."
Jessica's eyes widened; she was sooo dead. However growing up with her father, he had taught her to stand up for herself. It was this characterization that had seen her through many bullying phases at school.
She swung the sword again, this time catching the Joker on the arm. The Joker hissed again before continuing towards her while reaching into the inside of his jacket.
Jessica was intelligent enough to know that whatever the Joker was going for wasn't going to be anything pleasant, so she sucked up all of her courage and swung the sword once more, this time aiming down low.
The clown prince went to leap out of the way, however the sword still caught him a glancing blow on his lower left leg. The Joker stumbled onto his knees, "this isn't funny kiddo."
'No kidding,' Jessica thought. She took the Joker's momentary stumble as a chance to retreat upstairs.
The Joker watched her and then smiled maliciously; he loved playing hide and seek. He got to his feet and limped up the stairs after her.
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Meanwhile Batman and Robin had arrived at the games factory. All seemed to be quiet but the duo had learnt to expect the unexpected.
"Go around the back Robin, if you find anything call me," Batman ordered.
"Ok," the boy wonder replied and disappeared around the back of the factory.
Batman watched him go and then quietly opened the door to the factory. He found himself standing in a large room filled with boxes. He guessed that they were filled with games consoles and the like. In the center of the room he could make out the Riddler along with three henchmen.
Suddenly a dark shadow fell over him. He turned around just in time to see one of the Riddler's thugs aim a punch at him. The dark knight easily evaded the attack and then grabbed the criminal's shirt and threw him over his shoulders.
The thug crashed into a pile of boxes, knocking himself out. As he had anticipated the noise alerted the Riddler and his henchmen, who looked up in time to see Batman swing towards them. He kicked to of the henchmen in the gut, sending them flying across the room.
"Well, well, looks who's come to ruin my fun," the Riddler sneered.
"What's all this about Riddler," Batman demanded to know. Stealing computer games wasn't exactly the villain's M.O. He was more into cash and that sort of thing.
"I thought I'd see what all the fuss with this Sands of Time game is about," the intellectual Riddler replied. "Can't say I like it much though; the levels are way too simple and the riddles, bah! They're just jokes. Did you like the riddle I sent you? Not one of my best but hey, I wasn't really the one who needed it."
"What do you mean; you weren't really the one who needed it?" Who else would want the Riddler to send him a riddle? Unless…..
The quick mind of the Batman began ticking. There could only be one reason…
"This is a distraction isn't it?" The dark knight guessed, eyes narrowing. "Who put you up to it Riddler?"
"Now Batman, that's for you to decipher and for me to…."
Before he had finished his sentence the Riddler found himself pinned to the wall, as Batman lifted him off the floor.
"Enough games Riddler! Who told you to send the riddle? Someone's life could be in danger!" Batman demanded.
The intelligent criminal merely grinned. "I'll give you a hint, but you'll have to guess the rest."
"I don't have time for this."
"Very well dark knight, but riddle me this: How would you feel if someone were to be killed tonight because you hadn't listened to what I had to say?"
Batman knew the answer to that immediately. He already blamed himself for Jason Todd's death because he had made the wrong choice all those years ago.
"Give me the hint then, but I'm warning you, if I don't like the answer it'll be you who'll pay for it!"
"Very well, but before I give you my clue would you mind putting me down?"
Batman released his hold on the Riddler's green jacket and the villain began to recite his riddle:
"Though an enemy of Batman, he wears rarely a frown.
In fact there's no introduction needed for this psycho clown.
He leaves his victims giggling at the scene, all of a clatter.
But the crimes of this megalomaniac are no laughing matter."
The dark knight's eyes narrowed menacingly as he emitted a low growl. "Joker!"
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Jessica found herself in the bathroom of the Commissioner. It was the only room that had a lock. Outside she could hear the Joker's footsteps.
"Come out; come out, wherever you are?" The Joker searched every nook and cranny. He lifted vase stood on the window still and peered inside it, "you in there girly?"
In the bathroom Jessica was desperately trying to think of a way to escape. Her eyes fell on the bathroom window. Getting to her feet, she made her way over and looked out at the ground below.
It was mostly grass, which was a good thing because it didn't seem she had any choice but to jump directly to the ground. It was either that or be killed by the Joker. Besides, if she successfully escaped she had a better chance of helping Mr. Gordon.
Suddenly she heard the doorknob rattle and the Joker's malicious yet cheery voice issued from outside. "Helloooo in there! Why don't you come on out? I want a go at hiding!"
Damn it! Looks like the window it was.
Jessica began unlocking the window. Unfortunately the locks were stiff and it was taking some time.
Suddenly she heard the Joker's voice again. "Look kiddo, this is fun and all, but I have stuff I need to do Jimmy boy, so why don't I just leave you my card, ok?"
A small joker card was slid under the bathroom door, and as Jessica began to wonder what the Joker was up to, it began emitting a purple gas.