Knowing that the Lazarus Pit was no doubt close at hand the Batman got up, calmly took the buzzer from the Joker's hand, destroyed it and said 'Let's go'.
Somewhat confused by his lack of sympathy for the dead man the Joker quietly did as was told and followed on.
Heading back in the direction they had come in, the Batman pressed his finger to his earpiece, 'Oracle. I need all the information on Talia you can find. I need to know her current location and any other recent goings on'.
'Not this again. She is no good, leave her be. You need to concentrate on proving your innocence. It was just a fling, let her go', the voice spoke back.
'It's not about that. I believe she has a connection to the crimes', he replied.
'First the Joker is tagging along and now you're off on a search for Talia together, your days just get weirder and weirder', she sighed, eventually the clicking of her keyboard was heard in the distance.
'There is no definite whereabouts but apparently she is known to have been recently residing somewhere within the central area of Gotham, next to the courthouse', she continued.
'Thank you Oracle', Batman answered, once again cutting their conversation short.
'Are you aware how ridiculous you look when you speak into that thing? No one hears who you are talking to, I can see with the cops thought you were crazy', the Joker grinned.
Reaching the platform in which to descend back to ground level the Dark Knight merely grunted in reply.
When both were on the platform they waited patiently to be lifted from the base whilst the clown muttered something about the need for elevator music.
Awkwardly the platform refused to budge and the Batman began to look around for a mechanism that would work the machine, he tried placing another sword in the slot but to no avail.
'Ahem, Bats I know what's stopping us from moving', the Joker interrupted, gesturing towards a group of assassins one of which held a snapped cable in his hands.
The Batman took up a fighting position but quickly realised that a battle would be futile as from out of the shadows hundreds of similarly dressed men appeared armed and ready to avenge their leader.
'You're on your own for this one Batsy', the Joker gulped, side-stepping away from Batman.
Aware that there would be no sense in trying to fight the Batman fought the urge to leave the clown in the hands of the assassins and instead grabbed him by the collar and batgrappled them both to the surface.
Allowing no time for explanation he activated the controller on his arm and the plane came flying towards them. Jumping in he allowed several seconds for the Joker to do likewise and then they were flying away from the area just as the army of ninjas re- appeared onto the field.
'Never a dull moment with you is there Batman? I could get used to this, I mean Harley has her moments and sorry to say but is better looking than you but her voice is enough to make you go looney toons. I like how you maintain the strong, silent type and just get on with it, you never try to get the first punch line in, you have all these crazy gizmos and the only time you really speak is when you are having a conversation with yourself or your imaginary friend Oracle whatever you prefer. I guess what I am trying to say, is in general, I just like you a lot more', the clown smiled.
Disturbed that he was at the top of the Joker's friend's list he remained silent as they flew towards central Gotham.
Noticing the various police and media helicopters flying through the city the Batman growled and changed his original plan so that the plane landed on an empty docking area on the far side of Gotham. To avoid too much attention they were going to have to make their way to the centre by foot.
The Batman went to grapple towards a nearby rooftop decoration and became suddenly aware that getting through the city undetected was going to be a lot harder with the addition of the giggling 6ft bleached man.
Beckoning the Joker to follow he changed his stance into a crouch and began to smoothly make his way through a maze of dark, narrow alleys. It looks like they would have to find Talia the old-fashioned way.
On seeing a police car stroll past, the Batman instantly made himself fade into the darkness, unlike the Joker who laughed and began to wave maniacally, yelling 'Yoohoo! Over here, we could do with a lift!'
Kicking him in the back of the knees the Batman knocked the clown to the ground just as the policeman in the passenger seat looked in their direction.
'We stay out of sight, no tricks Joker', the Batman hissed and sensing that it was safe to move onwards he grabbed the Clown Prince of Crime and pushed him forward.
Almost at the centre of the city the Batman decided it was best to assess the area by going through each building individually and by staying off the streets as best as they could.
Sliding into an open window both he and the Joker ended up in an old tenement, surveying the area and finding nothing but a drugged-up, mumbling old man they moved into the next building.
The warehouse was dark and looked to be abandoned. From the broken, dirty windows the courthouse could be seen.
The Batman began to search the area for traces that Talia had been there whilst the Joker fiddled with the dirty windows, finger-drawing a picture of him sending the batman into space on a Joker-faced rocket.
Their acts, however, were cut short by the sounds of panicked muffles. Placing his detective mode on the Batman was able to detect the thermal silhouette of an anxious individual at the far end of the room.
In unison the Batman and the Joker walked slowly towards the figure, the Joker bringing out a novelty lighter to brighten their way and show the identity of the figure.
On reaching the far end of the room they saw a nervous, unmasked Jonathan Crane strapped to a surgical table.
The Joker walked over to him, wiping a tear of sweat from his brow with his gloved hand and laughing.
'How ironic that the Master of Fear is quivering; helpless in his current predicament', the clown smirked.
The Batman looked around for a sign of anyone else in the room and then, taking off the tape from his mouth, he grabbed Crane by the throat.
'What's going on here? Where is she?' he growled.
The ex-doctor looked genuinely confused, 'she?' he whispered in reply.
A door suddenly opened to the right of them and a familiar pale, bald man covered head to toe in scars entered.
'Ah, lucky me. It appears I now have 3 for the prize of 1', the man whispered viciously, branding his bloodied blade.
'Zsasz', the Batman hissed just as the Joker's lighter went out, leaving the room once again in complete darkness.
A dark snicker was heard as the whispered voice of Zsasc said, 'four more additions to be added'.
The four men were left in the black of the room, ready to fight or kill whoever happened to cross their path in the darkness.