Authors notes: It's been a long while since I wrote a Mask crossover. With this one I'm going to do something a little different than my usual stuff. Usually in these crossovers I write a story about how the Mask moves from person to person between different characters in the crossover. But for this one I will focus on only one character being the soul wearer.

This story follows on from the Comic Book story Joker/Mask, where the Mask crossed over with the Batman DC universe. In that story the Joker wore the Mask. This means its set in the continuity of the comic book Mask rather than the movie Mask.

The design of the Mask will be that of the wooden Loki Mask, as it was in the Joker/Mask comic, but if you prefer to imagine it as the original jade Mask, then knock yourself out. There was no explanation as far as I can find as to why the Mask shifted from the Jade mask to the Loki design in Joker/Mask. I guess it's just because people were used to the Loki Mask over the jade mask. Perhaps there is a story somewhere to explain the shift, but this is not that story.

The main Mask persona that I have planned is going to be something unique that we haven't seen before. So I hope you enjoy it regardless.

The main inspiration for this story was a plot point in the Amazing Digital Circus episode Fast Food Masquerade.

Enjoy

-TimeLordParadox

Plot

The demon half-breed Raven has always had trouble expressing her emotions in normal ways, but when a cursed mask is dug up and ends up in her lap everything changes once she puts it on. Raven is smiling and feels like a real, human girl. But this Mask is known for leaving rivers of blood in its wake, and Robin is concerned Raven might not be in the driving seat.

Prologue

Lightening flashed and the heavens opened up over Edge City. The tall towers of concrete and metal burn with light that hid the cities dark underbelly of crime. Rain might dissuade the average citizen, or low life from breaking the law. For similar reasons it means the average cop would rather wait in their warm patrol cars with coffee and doughnuts than venture out into a deluge. But when a lot of money or power is involved a little rain and cold never hurt anyone.

In other cities this is where the slack would be taken up by supers and heroes such as Batman or Superman. But Edge City lacks anyone like that to keep its streets clean of crime. Some career criminals leave places like Gotham City, Central City or Metropolis to seek their fortune in unprotected cities. You could argue the lack of supers meant the police were less complacent, not necessarily true when sheer incompetence is added to the mix.

There had been one super powered being in Edge City some time ago. He blasted through their town, caused chaos, raised an organisation to rival the mafia, ran a mock and rocked up a body count so high it'd make Ted Bundy blush. But he vanished just as mysteriously as he'd arrived. No one likes to talk about the Big Head killer, especially the police. The enormous loss from the force was still felt to this day.

A patrol car passed by a van that was suspiciously parked outside of one of Edge City's cemeteries. The side was branded with the title 'Gardening and Landscaping on a budget.' When the vehicles lights had passed and the car rolled on two shadows detached themselves from the van.

Through the rain they marched dressed in unassuming clothing and carrying shovels and other assorted tools. Their flash-lights were off. Harry, the shorter of the two, had memorised the route to the grave in question. He could navigate using the low light from street lamps and nearby buildings if necessary. Once they reached their destination Harry activated his flash-light long enough to see the name on the grave.

Stanley Ipkiss,

Gone, but not forgotten.

Died 1990.

"This the one?" The taller of the pair asked. He was younger than Harry.

"Pay dirt, Garret. Pay dirt." Harry motioned to him. "Do your thing."

Garret approached and started by taking up the grass carefully in slices so it could be put back once they were done.

Once the soil was exposed the pair dug and dug and dug in the rain. It was a slog, but thankfully the grave was high up on a hill so there was no threat of the grave being water logged. They dug until they hit a solid lump. Scraping away the soil they uncovered the wooden casket. It had bent and bowed outwards due to the weight of the soil on top of it, but it was still intact. The lid had marks in it which indicated previous tampering.

"Oh man, did someone beat us to it?" Garret asked in a husky voice. Harry shook his head and grumbled under his breath while he grabbed two crowbars. He handed one to Garret.

The top was wrenched off the casket and the lid lifted away.

Inside was the skeletal remains of the man called Stanley Ipkiss. A very short man in a suit that was still tattered and rotting. Resting on top of his bony hands was something that stared up at them.

A wooden mask. Despite it's hollow eyes and stiff features it looked glad to be rescued from its entombment.

Harry snatched it up into his coat and replaced the lid. They refilled the grave and replaced the grass tiles. Only an expert would notice the difference and in a few days time the rain would allow it to blend in, hiding their crime.

The pair rushed out of the grave yard. They stopped and looked casual as a cop car pulled around the corner and took notice of them briefly. Then Harry nodded and waved. The non-curious cop in the passenger seat made a rude gesture and the car rolled on.

Harry and his partner climbed into the van and slammed the doors.

"What now?" Asked Garret. "We mail it to our client?"

"No." Harry said, "they want it delivered by hand, in person. Then we'll get paid. But we'll make a slight detour before heading to our final destination."

"Detour? How come?"

Harry extracted the wooden mask from his coat and caressed it. "Insurance, Garret. Insurance."

He put the wooden mask inside a small sack and placed it under his chair for safe keeping. He started the van and drove off.

Soon the rain cleared up and the glow of dawn was on the horizon. Edge City was becoming just a silhouette in their rear view mirror.

Garret opened a news paper and turned to the page containing the strip cartoons. "Where is the drop off anyway?"

"In the warehouse district of Jump City."

Garret lowered his news paper. "Jump City?" He asked like he had misheard. "But that's over three thousand miles away! Do we have the gas money to get there?"

"Don't you worry, Garret." Harry sounded gleeful. "Our expenses will be paid and we'll be rich men."

Garret looked out the window at the reddened sky. "That mask must be something special. Wonder why they want it so bad?"

Harry shook his head. "Rich people are stupid. Someone once bought a framed canvas with a banana taped to it for a million dollars."

Garret turned to Harry. "Maybe its an historic artefact. Maybe we could sell it to someone else and get more money!"

Harry shook his head. "With the price this guys paying, we might get richer but we'd forever have a target on our backs."

"Suppose he won't pay up!"

"Oh, he will. That's why we're making a slight detour, Garret." Harry smiled. "As I said, insurance."

Garret looked back out at the brightening sky.

Under Harry's seat, inside the sack. The mask ominously glowed an ethereal green.

It had made a mistake. An error of judgement. But this time it will endeavour to be more careful.

The Mask had returned.

To Be Continued...

Authors notes: Unlike the movie Mask, the comic mask is often shown to have some semblance of consciousness about it.

Enjoy the new story guys.