The next evening, tv news was covering the escape.
"We can now confirm that Otto Octavius codename Doctor Octopus, and Max Dillon codename Electro were the only two escapees during the massive assault on the Raft this evening. Witnesses claim the breakout was perpetrated by Quentin Beck codename Mysterio, who was aided by supervillains Poison Ivy and Bane, escapees from the recent train derailment of Gotham City supervillains. A medical helicopter landed on the island, and Daily Bugle sources have provided us images of paramedics taking the mysterious Batman away on a stretcher. The fate of Batman remains unknown." The reporter said. "Joining us now is J. Jonah Jameson. And Mr. Jameson can we just say you look fantastic for someone who was inside a block of ice not one day ago." Jameson waved off her compliment, not wanting to dwell on the ice. "Now Mr. Jameson, many sources including your own Daily Bugle are calling last night, the Night of Bats and Spiders. It appears that even with additional masked vigilantes, Spider-man and company were unable to prevent the massive breakout."
"Look, I can only speak for our own Spider-menaces who I've always said cause more harm than they prevent. If they had alerted the police earlier this whole situation could have been avoided, but this rivalry with these Bat-menaces just makes them act more reckless. But I'll say there might be a secret menace that has slipped under all our radars. Two major breakouts in one week period, one involving moving trains; cannot be a coincidence." Jameson said, with a doctor ordered slightly less high-octane rant.
"I get what you're saying Mr. Jameson, are you suggesting someone orchestrated these breakouts? If so, whom?" the reporter countered.
"Think about it, who arrived from Gotham at the same time that that walking snowman arrived and put me on ice?" The reporter was about to guess but Jameson didn't give her a chance. "Bruce Wayne, that's who! You think it's just a coincidence that a stuck-up rich boy shows up the day all this starts happening and then nobody can find him for a comment. I had a reporter reach out to his people but all she got was his stuffy butler saying Mr. Wayne was unavailable. I'll bet you that he's on his way back to Gotham to establish whatever alibi he thinks he'll need!"
Bruce Wayne was completely unaware of the media's wild speculations. The last thing he remembered was that paramedics had looked him over before they strapped him into a stretcher to medivac him via helicopter. What happened next was a blur. When he stirred from his sleep his first, he was unsure where he was. He looked at the reflection of the television set, and realized he was sitting in a hospital, with a cast over his chest, knee braces, and a neck brace. He tensed when he realized they had no doubt cut his suit off, his cowl was gone, yet his face was covered by a makeshift cowl. His attention was drawn as a nurse entered his room.
Her face perked up when she noticed he was conscious. "Well, well, our celebrity patient is finally awake," she greeted him; he was used to people being more unsettled being in the same room as Batman.
"What happened?" he asked directly.
The nurse smiled and looked at his chart, "well you have four broken ribs, severe whiplash, and sprains in both your knees. All things considered; you are lucky to be alive."
He winced in pain, "the others?"
"I'll let them know you're awake: we told them to go get some rest. We sedated as soon as the doctors confirmed it was safe. But the kid has hardly left your side" the nurse replied. It was then that he noticed Robin who was fast asleep on the sofa. The nurse left the room and started dialing her cellphone. The movement stirred Robin, and the boy wonder began rousing from his slumber.
He was startled when he noticed Batman was awake. He jumped to his feet and went to his bedside. For a moment there was silence, Dick had no idea what to say. "H-how do you feel?"
"I've been better," Batman replied. The pain medicine was starting to kick in. He was about to ask for an update, but Robin anticipated this.
"They got away, all five of them. Bane's mercenaries are in custody, but they aren't talking. Batgirl is working on decrypting the roster list from the transport train. We still have two unaccounted for" he said Batman's torso and arms up to his elbows were immobilized under the plaster casts, but he managed to extend a comforting hand to his young ward.
"Thank you," Batman said stoically.
"I'm glad you're okay" Robin replied, wishing he could hug but not wanting to aggravate the injuries.
The moment was interrupted by Spider-Man entering the room. "I hope your bat-nap was pleasant" he greeted, trying to lighten the mood.
"How long have I been out?" Batman asked.
"15 hours, which is probably 10 hours more than any mask crimefighter usually gets in a night. And nobody saw or heard anything of the escapees during that time" he replied. "We've got to still be missing something! We already know that both escapes were both planned ahead of time. Doc Ock, Mysterio, and Electro are regular members of the Sinister 6; Poison Ivy and Bane bring us up to five, somebody else has to be involved."
"We've got to," Batman coughed, he tried to move but the pain medicine had made him numb. Robin brought the water straw to his mouth so he could drink.
"You need to rest and recover," Robin insisted.
The nurse had just returned to the room. "Rio, what's next for him?" Spider-man asked her.
"He's doing better than we expected but still has a long way to go. We'll move him as soon as the doctor clears him" Rio Morales explained. "And don't worry Batman, the staff on this floor are all good people, they won't try to peek." She gestured to imitate the mask covering Batman's face. "Neither did I."
Batman nodded at her graciously. "I'll go check on the others," Robin said as he got up and left the room planning first to call Alfred and then Barbara.
"You've got quite the kid, kind of reminds me of my boy," Rio complimented. Batman tried to hold back his proud smile.
The moment was interrupted by the loud vibrating of Spider-Man's phone. "Excuse me," he said laughing. "Hey Gwen! good news, he's awake, and his usual brooding self." He answered, then listened. "What? When? Ok I'll meet you there!" He hung up and turned to Batman. "Someone blew a bar in Hell's Kitchen."
The Bar with No Name was now a skeleton covered in rubble. Fire trucks had the area blocked off as emergency personnel tended to bystanders injured from the blast. Curious locals, and the press were waiting behind barriers as the police searched for survivors. Spider-Gwen and Batgirl had been assisting the search but had stopped to catch their breath. Most of the injured people had been outside the bar and been hit by flying debris. "This doesn't seem like a supervillain plot; it's more like a mob hit," Barbara said.
"This bar is frequented by members of Kingpin's gang," Gwen replied, then sighed, "the last thing we need right now is a gang war!"
A firefighter came over to them. "The fire and gas fumes have dissipated. Should be safe to explore without a gas mask."
"Do you know what caused the explosion?" Batgirl asked.
"So far we have twenty confirmed fatalities, all were inside the bar at the time. We're still trying to determine where the explosion came from" the firefighter reported then headed back to the truck.
Miles swung over next to them. "The police are combing the neighborhood for any witnesses; but nothing so far. Have you two heard anything?"
"Batman woke up about twenty minutes ago; and we just got the okay to look around and help figure out if somebody caused the explosion or not," Spider-Gwen replied. Miles gestured offering 'ladies first' and then the three of them swung into the rubble. The Police and medical examiners had cleared the site.
"I'm not sure what we're gonna find; this place is more pieces than a jigsaw puzzle" Miles said, picking up a smashed table. "
"Well, considering three out of three heroes here grew up with a police officer dad, I think we've got an idea of what to look for," Spider-Gwen replied. "If this was the Maggia they would've done this old school; with a machine gun or a Molotov cocktail."
"And if it was Poison Ivy we'd have a massive root sticking out of the ground," Batgirl added. She was studying shrapnel that had embedded in the back of a booth trying to determine if it came from a piece of bar equipment destroyed in the explosion or a grenade.
As they continued the search the firefighter reappeared with a request. "Our arson inspector went into the subway tunnel to check the gas lines, but we couldn't reach him over the walkie. We're shorthanded with all of this happening. Can y'all go make sure he's okay?"
While they were heading underground. Spider-Man and Robin arrived on the scene. Batman had insisted Robin didn't have to stay with him; he worried about the boy's anxiety; and thought the distraction would be good for him. He convinced his sidekick by telling him he needed him to be his eyes on the street hunting for the escapees. Captain Stacy signaled for them to meet him by the forensics van. "We've got a big problem," the captain said, skipping pleasantries.
"More bombs?" Spider-Man asked.
"No; the dogs sensed none. We did find the bomber's calling card in the cash register", he signaled a technician to bring over the evidence bag.
"Sounds like we're on the right track" Robin said confused why Captain Stacy was so nervous. But as soon as he saw the bag he knew why. Inside was a simple playing card with a purple, green and white jester printed on it. The boy wonder stepped back, his pulse increasing rapidly.
"Oh crap!" Spider-Man said. He and Mary Jane had done a deep dive on Batman's rogues gallery the night before and he knew who left that card.
At that very moment; the other young heroes had dropped underground through the manhole. "Ugh, this is never going to come out!" Batgirl groaned after splashing into the ankle-deep dirty water.
"Spider-Man's got it down to science; we'll take care of it later" Spider-Gwen reassured. Barbara had traveled to New York City supposedly to tour NYU. Following Batman's hospitalization, she had been crashing on the Stacys' couch.
Their attention was drawn to a gurgling sound; and they saw a man lying face down in the water surrounded by bubbles. Realizing it must be the arson inspector they rushed to him. Miles turned him over and he coughed up water. But before they could ask if he was alright; he started laughing uncontrollably, spasming with pupils dilated. Batgirl was speechless; she had seen this before and seeing it once was one time too many. "What's the matter with you?" Miles said, trying to steady the man despite his convulsions.
Batgirl sprung into action; pulling out an injectable vial of antitoxin and plunging it into his shoulder. The man slowly quieted before collapsing limply, exhausted by the energetic uncontrolled laughter. Gwen and Miles were speechless, and their spider senses went off. Before she should explain they heard another laugh; and then a fist rocketed through the air and caught her in the gut. It was a purple boxing glove; Barbara fell backwards with the wind knocked out.
"Now that was a punch-line!" a voice called from the shadows and a man emerged. He was clad in a purple dress suit, with bright white skin, red lips, and a mop of green hair. He was holding a modified underground pistol from which the boxing glove had previously been fired.
"Uhh, Batgirl, who's the clown?" Spider-Gwen asked.
"Not clown, Joker" Joker corrected with a little bow.
Batigirl was still catching her breath as she got up. "So that was your handiwork up there" she accused, leaning on Gwen and Miles as she regained her balance.
"Took you that long to figure it out?" Joker taunted, "sheesh, that doctor octagon-apus takes Batsy out of the game and you fall behind."
"Well I know a certain police captain who'll be super happy when we deliver you to him." Miles snapped.
"Oh, I'm chattering" Joker replied pulling windup teeth from his coat pocket and tossing them at the heroes. Mid air they started glowing blue and threw themselves at them like a guided missile. Miles quickly webbed them to the ground but they cut through them with ease. He and Gwen grabbed Batgirl and jumped to the ceiling. The teeth made it to right below them and then exploded. Joker laughed, "Joker teeth, now with heat seeking technology!"
"Looks like he's been raiding the Underground's pantry" Gwen said to Miles.
"Oh that's right, you probably didn't hear; after the Tinkerer went to jail the rest of the Underground needed a new leader. And I killed, at the job interview!" The sound of boots sloshing in the water grew louder and a half dozen underground soldiers appeared behind Joker. "Got big plans for this town, big plans!"
"Are you crazy!" Miles exclaimed. Batgirl stared at him like 'did you seriously just ask a psycho clown if he was crazy'.
"Let's just say I didn't make the team and I'm letting the manager know!" Joker replied and then tossed razor sharp cards that sliced the webbing holding the three heroes to the ceiling. "Oh, this is going to be fun."
His laughter was cut off by a punch to the side of the head. Robin and Spider-Man had silently entered the tunnel behind them. Joker staggered backwards and leaned into his Underground minions. "So tell me did you guys team up just because you all wear purple or because you like playing with toys?" Spider-Man asked mockingly.
"Finally, a hero with a sense of humor" Joker taunted, his lip was bleeding from Robin's punch. A horn drew all their attention. "We'd love to stay in play; but we've got a lot to do!"
"If you think we're just gonna let you go!" Robin shouted but an underground soldier pressed a button and a spotlight revealed five large timed explosives glued on the walls and floor of the subway tunnel.
"Actually, I think you'll be far busier making sure everyone else doesn't get off track!" Joker laughed before his new minions set off a smokescreen exit.
As the villains had predicted the bombs became the heroes number one priority. "This could sink the whole block!" Spider-Gwen exclaimed.
"Expect nothing less from the Joker!" Robin countered. He was already into the wires of the first bomb. "They aren't linked, we'd have to shut them down one at a time!" The train whistle blared again.
"Gwen, get down the tunnel and get the train to slow down. We'll handle the bombs" Spider-Man ordered. While she ran down the tunnel on the wall the others dealt with the ticking explosive clocks.
"We've got 2 minutes and five bombs" Batgirl began before the bomb Robin was working on was deactivated. "Ok, four."
"If we fried the electronics would that work?" Miles asked. On examination the defused bomb; the wires suggested it was possible. After coating a bomb with webbing to muffle any blast, he applied a stinging pulse of electricity that fizzled out the timer on the keypad. Batgirl had gone back above ground to warn the bystanders to clear the area. Robin and Miles defused another bomb each.
The final bomb started ticking down to 25 seconds. Out of time Peter webbed it, yanked it off the ceiling. The other watched in shock as he dove back up to ground level then launched himself as high as possible before lobbing it straight up like football. It exploded in midair. "Sometimes you just can't get rid of a bomb," he said, wiping his forehead. The five heroes regrouped at the maintenance entrance to the subway where EMTS were attending to the gassed fire inspector. "So not only do we have the latest incarnation of the Sinister Six on the loose, but we've got a psychotic clown starting a gang war" he said, out of breath.
The others were equally as tired. "Well we better get back to Batman, he'll want to know the Joker was on the train. That's four of five escapees identified" Batgirl explained.
"And I bet whoever your last one is will round out our new Sinister Six," added Spider-Man.
The enormity of their task, sinking in. They headed off to regroup, unaware of where their enemies were and who would strike first.