Chapter 14: A Deadly Surprise
OCTOBER 18, 20:25 EDT
After the incident at the restaurant involving Vicki's capture, Bruce had returned to Wayne Manor and suited up as Batman. There, he told Alfred everything that had occurred and made no secret of his failure to stop the Joker and his criminal allies from taking Vicki.
"I wasn't able to plant a tracker on that blimp. But if I know the Joker, he won't be able to resist trying to lure me into some kind of trap," the Dark Knight said.
"Yes, and I'm sure he won't be able to resist making some ludicrous crack at the peril he's putting Miss Vale in," replied Alfred. "However, you'll be glad to know that Wayne Enterprises has finally developed the magic cure for Mr. Warren Lawford's condition."
He handed a vial containing a teal-colored liquid to Batman, who nodded and then inserted it into a vaccine booster, which he inserted into a compartment on his belt. Then he leapt into the Batmobile and headed on a direct line for Gotham Medical Center. On his arrival, he found to his relief that Gunther Hardwicke and Armand Lydecker were both released about a week earlier, but Warren Lawford remained in his nearly delusional state of unceasing laughter, and by now he was completely unresponsive.
Batman crept into Lawford's room just as the doctor's left in dismay, and he heard them discussing the possibility of Lawford never recovering from whatever did this to him. However, Batman knew that he had to take this chance. After all, it was the wise thing to do.
Batman took the booster containing the potential antidote from his belt and then inserted it into Lawford's arm. Then he stood back and waited with eyes as intent as a hawk on the hunt. Warren Lawford's giggles and cackles began to slow down until they became only gasps for breath, and then the insane grin on Lawford's face receded. Finally, as Batman watched intently, Lawford began to breathe normally and then relaxed, sleeping for the first time in a month.
"Wayne Enterprises is still on the money, Alfred," Batman confirmed as he left the hospital. "Warren Lawford's condition is stable. But now, it's Vicki's turn to be rescued."
In moments, Batman was off to police headquarters to look into the situation. When he arrived, Commissioner Gordon was in his office with his eyes glued to the screen of his desk computer, hoping that a lead to Vicki's location would be found and Bruce would be able to rest easy for a while. Suddenly, the computer screen went to static, and thinking it was a call from the patrolmen, Gordon called it in. "Gotham Police Headquarters."
The answer came from the Joker, who said with a smirk, "Am-scray, Gordley boy! I'm here to talk to the big bad bat!"
Commissioner Gordon barked in response, "You think this is some kind of prank?! Well, how about I…"
A hand on his shoulder eased Gordon's temper, and he moved aside to give Batman the chance to speak.
"I'm right here, Joker. What have you done with Vicki Vale?" he demanded coldly.
"Why, she's right here with Riddler, Scarecrow, and me, Batsy. And I'd bet my blackjack fortune she'd love to see you," replied the Joker as he stepped back to reveal Vicki tied to a metal beam surrounded by several balloons that were doubtlessly loaded with Joker's laughing toxin. As Vicki tried to speak, Joker cut back in, this time with Riddler and Scarecrow by his side, and he inquired grinningly, "Want to know where 'here' is? If so, just watch the screen."
Suddenly, Commissioner Gordon's computer screen was overrun with blaring static, and Batman was forced to place a hand slightly over his eyes to see it properly. Then in between the static, Batman saw an electronic map of Gotham City. First a dot marked "You are here" appeared at the police station, and then an image of the Joker's face along with those of the Riddler and the Scarecrow appeared in the west side theater.
"Got the picture, Batsy?" asked the Joker in a smug manner. Then he added, "And be sure to come alone. No cops, no SWAT boys, or pretty Vicki gets her last bunch of balloons."
As the transmission ended, Batman said to himself, "It could be a trap. I must be extremely cautious."
With that in mind, he told Commissioner Gordon that he would find Vicki Vale and get her away from the Joker and his two partners-in-crime, and if the three villains escaped, then he would send a transmission to police headquarters and guide the police to the villains and aid in their capture. Then before the Commissioner could say anything, Batman had vanished from the room and was on the road in the Batmobile.
In only fifteen minutes, Batman arrived on the west side of Gotham City. After hiding the Batmobile in a dead-end alley, he headed for the old and rundown theater to get Vicki to safety. He crept inside and began his search from one theater room to another, but it wasn't until he reached Theater 8 that Batman heard what sounded like muffled shouts. He opened the door and went inside when suddenly, several stage lights were beamed down on him, forcing Batman to avert his eyes to avoid the lens flare. While he was thus disoriented, he felt himself being knocked around by hard blows from multiple blows until he felt something metallic slam into the back of his head, and for once, Batman dropped into unconsciousness.
...
A sudden blow to the face brought the Dark Knight back to consciousness, and he found himself staring up at the Joker, the Riddler, and the Scarecrow. Assessing the situation, Batman noticed that he was tied by his wrists and ankles with chains to a large, metal tragedy mask. He looked up and saw that a comedy mask of the same size and material was positioned on a hinge above him. The other thing he noticed was that he had been deprived of his utility belt. At least he was still allowed the dignity of wearing his cowl.
"Comfortable, Batman?" smirked the Riddler. "Well, don't get too adjusted. I'm sorry to say that your short time of interfering with criminal lifestyles will be over quite soon."
Already quite disgruntled, Batman snapped at the villains, "No more games, you three! Where is Vicki Vale?!"
The Scarecrow took that question and he replied, "Currently in the custody of our hired hands while we set Joker's first-ever death trap in motion for you."
Then the Joker approached and chortled, "And since we drew straws on it- my apologies for plucking your head, Craney- we all agreed that the first-ever 'do-it-yourself' bat-trap would entail this paragon of comical death traps! I call it… the Masque of No Return!"
Batman groaned in his head and thought, Only the Joker would come up with a death trap themed with the symbol of comedy.
"Now, it was our hope that we could stay and witness your upcoming demise, Batman. But we have an important engagement tonight for all of Gotham to attend," grinned the Riddler.
"What kind of engagement?" asked Batman with a prominent lack of amusement.
The Joker cackled and said, "Well, picture this, Batso. First, we and our gang set up this nice big raygun atop the highest building in all of Gotham. Then, when we pull the switch, a cloud of fear will hang over every youngster in Gotham, and with another level pulled, all the grown-ups get a break from their boring little lives and start laughing louder than a pack of hyenas, and the screams will keep on coming til we're all ready to drop!"
Batman's eyes widened with fierce anger under his cowl, and he snapped, "So you're planning to scar the minds of Gotham's children and endanger the lives of millions more?!"
"Think of it as proving a point, Bats," chuckled the Joker. "The point that no one is capable of putting crime out of the picture of life. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got to set the timer in motion before my two comrades and I break out the smiles and screams!"
With that, the clown-faced menace set an alarm clock sporting a miniature sledgehammer to one minute, and then he and the Riddler and the Scarecrow left the theater to fetch Vicki Vale and depart for their sinister rendezvous.
There were no guards on hand, but the villains had been sensible enough to place Batman's belt on the back row of seats. However, Joker had set the trap to go off in one minute, and Batman had trained in escape artistry as well as martial arts before beginning his fight against crime, so now was the time to put this part of his training to good use.
First, Batman found that there was a lock keeping the chains wrapped around his body, but it was around his ankles. Despite this, he still had his gloves, and the blades below the wrists were stainless steel, so he began attempting to saw through the links as soon as he found an opening that would work without him puncturing himself. The ticking of the clock was driving him close to madness as he worked, but Batman remained intent on escaping the Joker's trap and stopping him and the Riddler and Scarecrow from fulfilling their evil plan for Gotham.
It seemed as though Batman's efforts to escape were fruitless until finally, with only five seconds to spare, his glove razors sawed the chains through, and then he cut the lock and loosed the remaining chains just as the trap went off. As Batman jumped aside, the huge metal comedy mask came down with a tooth-jarring creak and slammed into the other with a thunderous CLANG!
Now free, Batman rushed to the back of the theater and grabbed his utility belt before he leapt into the Batmobile to go after the Joker and his two companions. He immediately sent a signal to Commissioner Gordon and informed him that he was on Joker's trail already, for he had already guessed where the villains were headed the moment that Joker boasted of the plan.
They were headed for the headquarters of Wayne Enterprises.
A/N: How was Batman's first escape from a death trap, folks? Feel free to let me know in a review, 'cause reviews keep me motivated! Next up: the big fight for Gotham!