In moments like these, Jess couldn't help but hate her job, especially now that her current situation took the absurdity up a notch.
Enduring the chilly stakeouts and facing crime scene horrors wasn't the worst part. It was the chair, the duct tape silencing her protests, that made her detest her job.
Harley's never-ending monologue about the Joker filled the air, a seriously irritating soundtrack to Jess's misfortune. The clownish woman snagged Jess's red leather jacket, savoring the stolen threads. "Oh! This is, like, super cute." She tossed it over her shoulders like a cape and struck a pose. "What do you think? Looks hot, right?"
With childlike glee, she slapped on Jess's badge, announcing her newfound authority like it was some whimsical game.
In the midst of Harley's theatrics, Jess couldn't help but roll her eyes at the sheer farcicality. This wasn't the job she signed up for.
Harley's attention then shifted to a photo booth picture, a souvenir from a wild night with Bruce Wayne. The photo froze a moment of escape from the paparazzi, a brief break in a diner with an old-school photo booth.
Harley whistled with delight, flaunting the image like it was the ultimate prize. "Oh, is this Bruce Wayne?" she teased, waving the photo tantalizingly in front of Jess's face. "You AND Bruce Wayne. This just got way more interesting!"
Fueled by defiance, Jess tried to kick Harley in the leg, a feeble move dodged by the agile blonde. "HA, too slow," Harley mocked, relishing the chaotic dance that had become Jess's reality.
No doubt about it, she hated her job.
Jess shot Harley a withering glare, frustration simmering beneath the surface. The absurdity of it all fueled her determination to break free from the chair and end Harley's chaotic performance. Muffled protests behind duct tape only intensified as Jess's resolve grew.
Harley, seemingly oblivious to the storm in Jess's eyes, pranced around the room, reveling in the stolen badge and the notoriety of having Jess, the Detective, at her mercy.
The atmosphere crackled with tension, the clash between the criminal's whimsy and the detective's grit forming a volatile mix.
As Harley continued her gleeful exploration of Jess's belongings, the detective's mind raced. She needed a plan, an opportunity to turn the tables on the clown princess and escape this absurd hostage situation.
When she was nabbed, Jess had ripped off her necklace after she collapsed and puked on the floor. "Harley!" Joker's voice echoed through the security room.
"Here, Puddin'!" She called with a giggle.
Joker pranced in, paper in hand. "Besides the Detective here, everything is going according to plan!" His eyes landed on Jess, and his smile grew wider. "Oh, smile, my dear! You're never fully dressed without one!" When he noticed the duct tape, he giggled. "Oh, whoops! Can't do much with duct tape over your mouth." He leaned close to Jess's face. "I saw you gave Harley a run for her money, hoohoo! Quite the show."
Jess jerked her head back, crashing her forehead into Joker's. The clown tumbled to the ground in pain. "Feisty!" He chuckled before standing up. He delivered a sharp backhand slap across her face. "Naughty, naughty!"
She prayed Batman found her clue because if not, she was in deep trouble.
Barbara leaned against the computer console, observing Bruce's adept navigation through the air vents. "So," she began, "what made you leave her behind?"
The Dark Knight crawled through the narrow passages, his cape whispering against the metal. "You made me promise to stop if I felt it became too serious," he replied, his voice echoing in the vents. "Besides, her tagging along would've been too dangerous."
Barbara sighed, regret tinged in her voice. "I was wrong for that," she admitted, fingers dancing over the keyboard to access the asylum's radio feeds.
"No," Bruce declared, his boot kicking open another vent cover. He dropped down into a dimly lit hallway, the Intensive Treatment sector surrounding him. As he walked back towards the holding room, he continued, "You weren't wrong."
"Well, don't beat yourself up too much," Barb said. "Jess can't stay away from danger, danger finds her."
Bruce sighed through his nose. "I found myself indulging in her flirting, so much so, it distracted me."
Barbara couldn't suppress an eye roll. "Men."
"What was that?"
"Nothing," Barbara said, a small smile playing on her lips. The banter between them was a familiar comfort amidst the chaos of Arkham Asylum.
As Bruce reached the holding room, memories of the night's events lingered in his mind. He surveyed the surroundings, his focus momentarily shifting from the mission at hand. Barbara's voice echoed through the radio, breaking the silence.
"So, what's the plan now?" Barbara inquired, her tone more serious.
Bruce scanned the room for any signs of disturbance. "I need to find Jess; if Joker wants the both of us, I can't leave her."
Barbara's fingers danced over the keyboard as she continued to monitor the radio chaos. "Be careful, Bruce. Joker's playing a dangerous game."
A wry smile crossed his face. "Danger is my middle name."
Barbara chuckled, the sound resonating through the communication link. "Just get back here in one piece, okay?"
The Dark Knight nodded, even though she couldn't see it. "I always do."
Activating Detective mode, he scanned the room with a discerning gaze, his eyes catching a glint on the ground. Intrigued, he approached to discover Jess's cross necklace. "Smart move, Jess," he murmured to himself.
Standing tall, he activated Oracle. "Oracle, I found her necklace."
"Her cross necklace?" Barb's voice held surprise. "Her parents gave that to her; she'd never be caught dead without it."
"Exactly, the detective lens is picking up her fingerprints." He adjusted the program, casting the surroundings in a soothing purple filter. "I'll follow her prints until I find her."
"Be cautious; it seems like Joker's thugs have taken over the entire Asylum."
Bruce trailed Jess's fingerprints, left in every conceivable spot. Some were smudged, others barely visible, yet she left her mark wherever she went.
It appeared that Joker was still holding her in the Intensive Treatment unit, a reassuring sign for the rescue mission. As her fingerprints led him to a stop at double doors, he kicked them open, revealing a scene of chaos with guards' bodies strewn across the floor.
"Welcome, Batman!" The Joker's voice echoed from atop a colossal metal cell suspended by a thick chain in the air. "What took ya so long?" His throaty chuckle reverberated through the eerie atmosphere.
Batman's gaze locked onto Jess, restrained and struggling, held by the back of her neck under the Joker's menacing grip. Ropes bound her, and she fought to wriggle free.
Joker seized Jess's jaw, forcing her to face the Dark Knight roughly. "Nice to see you followed the Detective's scent like a good boy!"
Anger surged within Batman as he swiftly produced a Batarang, hurling it toward the Joker. With uncanny timing, the Joker dodged, causing the cell to sway as the projectile struck the chain above.
A muffled gasp of fear escaped Jess through the duct tape. Below, a foggy darkness loomed, the depth unknown and dizzying. Any wrong move, or wrong word, could send her plummeting into the abyss of the Asylum.
"There is no escape, Joker!" Batman's authoritative voice echoed. "I will find you."
Another laugh escaped the Joker. "I'm counting on it, Batman!" He stomped on the cell, sending the door crashing open. "Just not yet!" A colossal, mutated monster emerged, with glowing green eyes, protruding bones from it's back, and exposed gums. One arm was bigger than the other, the same with one foot. It looked like it could've been human once, mutated into something of nightmares. "Ho, ho, ho! He's a big one!" The Joker whistled, capturing the monster's attention. "Over here, boy!"
Joker grabbed the excess rope binding Jess, to prevent her descent into the darkness below, and kicked her forward. A muffled gasp fell from Jess as she came face to face with the heavy-breathing monster. Her eyes slowly widened upon a closer look at the bright, glowing, green eyes. "Did I forget to mention her life hangs in the balance?" The Joker laughed loudly as the monster roared in Jess's face. "Go get him, sparky!"
The monster, amidst various painful noises, grabbed a lifeless body and hurled it at Batman. Swiftly dodging, Batman flipped to safety just as the monster charged. A well-aimed Batarang disoriented the creature, allowing Batman to evade being crushed.
However, the monster began making pained noises, clutching its chest. It released a final cry, a spat of blood, before collapsing lifelessly. "Ah! Well, that was unexpected, wasn't it," Joker mused, patting the top of Jess's head. "Note to self: need stronger test subjects."
Joker made Jess stand. "Well, since I'm feeling generous, I'll give you this one for free! Knock me off! Go ahead and do it! I dare you, end this once and for all!" Batman hesitated, realizing the Joker was using Jess as a shield.
Reluctantly, Batman stowed his Batarang.
Joker's menacing laugh echoed as mechanical gears moved above them. "Hahaha! You're getting too predictable, Bats!" he taunted. "I'd love to stay and chat, but I have a party to organize. People from all over Arkham are coming!" He ran his gloved hand through Jess's frizzy brown locks. "I hate to part with you, my dear, but you aren't allowed to be part of the planning."
Jess unleashed a round of muffled curses in defiance. "Oh, I know you're sad to go, but I have plans for you and the Bat!" Joker grinned at Batman. "Since I require for you to have two for the party, here's your plus one back!"
With a swift kick, Jess soared off the hanging cell with a muffled scream. Batman lunged forward, catching her effortlessly.
"It's going to be a blast!" The cell retreated into the Patient Isolation chamber, a shocking foreshadowing. "You'll see!" The Joker's laughter echoed in the darkness long after the doors closed, disturbing something in Jess's gut.
The realization of her near-death experience surged through Jess as Batman held her, the urgency to break free consuming her. Batman, his grip unyielding, lowered her to the ground, tearing off the oppressive duct tape.
"No!" she hissed. "Took you long enough!"
"I saved you, didn't I?" Batman's narrowed eyes met her defiant gaze.
"Barely!"
Contemplating silencing her again with the duct tape, Batman thought better of it, dismissing the idea as he saw the dark glare in her eyes. Using the blades on his gauntlet, he swiftly severed the ropes. "Get up," he grunted, pulling her to her feet with one hand.
Jess surveyed the aftermath, realizing her possessions were now in the hands of her captors. "She took everything," she sighed. "My gun, my wallet, my badge, my phone. Ah, he's gonna flip."
"Your brother?" Batman blurted before catching himself.
A confused look from Jess prompted an internal scolding. "How did you know that?" she asked.
"Way to go, Bruce," Barb's voice crackled over the comm.
"Ugh, my head," a groaning guard interrupted. Upon noticing Batman and Jess, he powered down the electrical gate. "Hey, I'm over here!" Batman headed toward the control booth, leaving Jess with a whirlwind of thoughts. Did he investigate her past? The only confidants she had were Barb, Jim, and Bruce.
"Detective," Batman called after her. Jess pushed her frizzy hair behind her ear and joined him in the booth.
The guard removed his riot helmet with relief. "Man, am I happy to see you two."
"What happened?" Jess inquired.
"They came out of nowhere!" he explained. "I dragged my buddy Jerry up in here and turned on the gate." Touching his bleeding forehead, he continued, "I must've passed out."
Batman motioned toward the Intensive Treatment doors. "Joker went through that door. What's on the other side?"
"We call it Extreme Isolation. The only way in is via the transport system," the guard explained.
"Open it," Batman barked aggressively, earning a disapproving look from Jess.
"Relax," she told Batman before turning to the guard. "Could you call another cell?"
The guard nodded. "Of course, give me a second."
As the guard worked on the computer, Jess addressed Batman quietly. "Listen, I know you're frustrated, I am too, but you can't just go barking orders at the guards."
"You're stuck with me, just stay quiet and stay out of my way," he growled.
"You're such a dick," she retorted.
Before they could break out in an argument, the Guard made a grunt of confusion. "Uh, something's not working," the guard interrupted.
Batman and Jess exchanged confused glances. "What do you mean?" she asked.
"It's like I've been locked out of the system."
Suddenly, the computer monitor displayed Joker's sinister grin. "Having a little trouble?" he giggled.
"Oh great, it's you," Jess grumbled, hand on her hip.
"You were expecting maybe Two-Face?" Joker quipped.
Batman glared at the monitor. "There's no escape, Joker."
"Escape? I don't wanna escape! I'm having way too much fun to escape!" Joker laughed. "In case you two were thinking of following me, I have a little insurance that the Detective hasn't spoiled yet!"
It clicked in Jess's head. Jim. "Oh my God, Jim!"
"Bingo! Right on the money, dollface!" Joker exclaimed. "Gordon is on his way to Harley right now as we speak. If I see you two trying to follow me, or if you two split up, he dies." Another laugh escaped him. "Harley is looking forward to it! Who knows, maybe I'll film it and post it on the internet!"