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Description
BATMAN: SOUTHERN KNIGHT
PART FIVE:
“WRATH OF THE UNJUST”
Based on the DC Comics Characters created by Bob Kane

The guards surrounding Joker’s holding cell at the city jailhouse were nervous to the point of upset stomachs as they eyed his unmoving grin.  They wondered how one could be so happy on his way to two life sentences in prison.  Then again, how could they relate to the Joker’s chaotic, carefree mentality? They felt a bit better once they saw Commissioner Gordon enter the room, and then the cell.  They might have been scared of the psycho in the cell, but they knew Gordon wasn’t.  The man did beat cancer, after all.
“So where’s my Harley-Bear?” asked the Joker once he spotted Gordon.  “She’s missing one heck of a party!  Or as you good ole boys call it… a shindig!”
“Ms. Quinzel is where she should be right now… away from you,” said the Commissioner.  “I’m here to ask you a few questions, and I suggest you answer them.”
“Ooooh, is that a threat, boss?” asked the Joker with a mocking Southern accent.  “You gonna lash me if I don’t talk, boss?”
“No, but I can make a few calls to some of my friends who work as guards at the prison.  They can make your stay very miserable.”
“Eeeew, not like what they do on that one TV show, I hope.”
“Tell me what you know about the Night Hawks!” said Gordon as he drew closer.  The Joker ate up the tension that vibrated off of him.
“Big birds? Don’t like the sun?  Swoop down and grab little chipmunks?” he shrugged.
“I know you’re in league with them!  I’m not stupid!  I think it’s more than a coincidence that every time you pop up, so do they… and the Batman.”  Gordon was then right in his face.  “What do you know about him?”
“Question is- what do you not know about oral hygiene products?” laughed the Joker as he closed his nose.  “Pew! Pew! Pew!”
“Son of a…”  Gordon came within inches of back-fisting him, but managed to stop himself.  He wasn’t going to let this freak get to him.  He finally turned and stepped out of the cell.  “Get this clown ready for his concrete Big Top.  I’ll see if his girlfriend has anything to say.”

Several Night Hawks perched themselves about the dam which towered over Lake Kane, standing guard like mother birds as the Penguin had several more of their breed prepare his recently purchased weapon of mass destruction.  He looked on as the bomb was attached and timed for midnight the following evening.
But they were being watched as well.  The caped phantom stood in the shadows and waited… waited for the wrathful lord of Gotham and his angels of death to take flight.  An hour-and-a-half passed, but Batman remained patient.  The wait was more than worth it, considering he had discovered Oswald’s plan after confronting the Romanian contact who sold him the bomb just a few miles away from the airport.  The dam had to be abandoned in order for Batman to do his work.  He could not risk another unsuccessful confrontation with the Penguin when multiple lives were on the line.
Finally, the criminals had stepped into their vans and drove away.  Like a ghost, Batman swiftly made his way to the bomb.  It didn’t take long for him to realize that Cobblepot had certainly gotten his money’s worth for this device.  Not only was it highly destructive, it was highly sophisticated as well.  Fortunately, Batman thought, Bruce Wayne had studied quite a bit on Romanian technology (among others) in preparation for the then unrealized WayneTech Division.  However, even Batman could not be ready for every obstacle.  In seconds, a violent bolt of electricity shot out from the bomb and knocked Batman to the ground.  He could feel himself slipping away, but was able to reach a small button hidden under his belt buckle before he became completely unconscious.

Harley was just as helpful to Gordon as the Joker was.  After the Commissioner had finally given up and left before he broke his vow to never strike a woman, the femme fatale was left alone in her basement cell with two guards.  The two men didn’t think much of their job, as they ate vending machine potato chips and played cards at a nearby table.  Quinn seemed to find joy in her attempt to flirt with them, but her smile turned to a low frown when she found herself ignored.  She then sat on her bunk for a moment, turned her frown upside down, and snapped her fingers.
“Hey fellas,” she said.  “Could one of you be a sweetie-cake and get me my purse?”
“Sorry, lady, we saw what was in that purse,” chuckled one of the guards.  “We ain’t putting it back in your hands.”
“Well, could you at least hand me the lipstick?”  No answer.  “Please?”  Nothing.  “Pretty please… with ice cream and a cherry on top?”
Finally, one of the guards sighed and grabbed her purse from the evidence locker.  After a few seconds, he removed Harley’s black lipstick.
“Yesh,” he said as he stared at its shade.  “You know we ain’t supposed to be doing this, so pretty up your lips and hand it right back.”  Harley winked at him as he tossed the lipstick to her through the cell bars.  She applied it to her lips in a silly, but oddly seductive way, and then watched as the guard stuck out his hand to take it back.  She winked at him again before suddenly placing the opposite end of the lipstick applicator in her mouth and blowing a tiny dart into his neck.  Before the other guard could go for his gun, he received the same.  Soon, the darts poison had them down and paralyzed.
“Ya big dummies!” giggled Harley as she reached past the bars and grabbed the guard’s keys.  “You boys would do anything for ‘pretty please with ice cream and a cherry on top’.”

When Bruce finally opened his eyes in the Batcave, the rest of his body felt like it didn’t want to wake up with him.  In fact, it took great force just for him to re-adjust into a sitting position.  He had been placed on a cot with a small table next to it.  And on that was an alarm clock which told him that he had been out for over twelve hours.
“Breakfast, sir?” asked Alfred as he walked in with a tray containing scrambled egg, bacon, toast, orange juice, and two small, blue pills.  Bruce struggled to take the pills and drink half the juice, and then motioned with his head for his faithful butler to sit the tray down.  “I know your ego is probably not in the best of states now, sir, but you must rest a bit more before returning to your quest.”
“My ego is hardly bruised by the fact that my butler had to come rescue me, Alfred,” smiled Bruce, already feeling the healing effects of the pills.  “It’s not the first time I’ve had to rely on you.”
“What I meant, sir, was the fact that you have made the claim time and time again that you anticipate every situation, yet you were not prepared for the electric defense mechanism built into that bomb.”
“You’re right, Alfred.  It was Oswald who was prepared… for me.”
“Such a shame you two aren’t friends anymore.”  Alfred almost sounded half-hearted about this.
“He’s Bruce’s friend… Batman’s enemy.  This is one of the tragedies of a dual life.”  The phone installed in the Batcave then rang, and Alfred answered it before Bruce could even rise up.
“Yes, Mr. Fox?” said Alfred.  “No, sir, Mr. Wayne has become ill and cannot meet any appointments right now.  Oh…oh, I see.  Just a moment, sir.”  Bruce slowly made his way over to the phone, still finding it a bit difficult to walk.
“What’s wrong, Lucius?” he asked his old friend.  “When… last night?  Is Commissioner Gordon… ah, good.  Well, double WayneTech security and we’ll go from there.  Thanks, Lucius.  Good-bye.”  Bruce then hung up the phone and tried to make his way to the vault containing his Bat-suit.  Though an old man, Alfred quickly stepped over and grabbed him.
“I cannot permit you to do this, sir,” he whispered.  “You are in no condition to…”
“The Joker and Harley Quinn escaped last night, and killed two guards in the process.  Commissioner Gordon nearly joined them.  Cobblepot is about to murder who knows how many innocent men, women, and children as well.  Alfred, you are my loyal servant and my friend, so you will have to forgive me for saying this… to Hell with your permission.”

Lucius placed his cellphone in his jacket pocket and made his way into WayneTech.  Before stepping into his office, he turned to his secretary.
“Angie, please postpone any appointments I have until later this evening,” he requested.  “There’s some matters I need to attend to.”
“Yes, Mr. Fox,” said Angie, smacking her chewing gum at the same time.
Lucius closed his office door and made his way over to his desk… not realizing until he was seated that there were others in the room; two very ugly, yet handsomely dressed fellows carrying umbrellas.
“Did Angie let you two in here?” asked Fox with expected surprise.  “I’m sorry, but I’m very busy right now.  If you wish to make an appointment later…”
“But Mr. Fox,” grinned one of the men.  “We’ve been working on a very special project that I think you’ll be interested in.”  Fox stared at him for a second, and then turned to his intercom to summon security.  But before he could press the button, the intruders lifted their umbrellas.  Strange purple gas fired from their tips, causing Fox to pass out upon inhaling.  The two Night Hawks then picked him up by his shoulders and feet and exited WayneTech the same way they entered… completely unobserved.

As if without any hesitation, Commissioner Gordon stepped out of Welmore’s Funeral Home and went right for the pack of cigarettes in his brown dress jacket.  He had just stood over the caskets of two good men, men who had friends and families… men who he thought would see retire in a few years.  And now he felt that because he let his emotions overcome his good sense, he robbed them and their love ones of that.  His anger at Joker and Harley’s blatant disrespect for authority caused him to underestimate them, and to therefore leave them under minimal guard.  And now they were back out, planning God knows what… or doing God knows what.  And still… no Nighthawks… no Penguin… no Batman.
Gordon ignited his lighter, but a sudden, sharp breeze extinguished the flame.  He mumbled out a swear, and was about to try again when the sudden sight in front of him caused his to drop both the lighter and the cigarette.
“You,” was all the Commissioner could exhale as the figure of the Batman stepped closer.
“I know what you think of me,” said Batman.  “And I know under other circumstances, time would be permitted for us to establish a mutual trust.”
“Frankly, I don’t know what to think of you or anything else anymore.”
“Well, for now you’re going to have to face the simple truth like I did.”
“Simple truth?”
“That you and I share the same passion for justice in Gotham Hill… true justice, justice for all men and women, of every race and creed.  And while you and I pursue that justice down different paths, we’re going to have to drop our pride, our assumptions, and our personal torment and work together.  Otherwise, the Joker and Penguin will not be stopped.
“Well, I’ve already dropped my pride, that’s for damn sure,” said Gordon as he looked toward the funeral home entrance.  He then turned back and sighed.  “What do you have in mind?”

The circus that inspired chaos had long been removed from the Gotham Fairgrounds, and now several men and women were preparing the land for the next day’s hot air balloon show.  Away from the main group, spry, skinny fifty-seven year old Roberta Puckins looked over her currently deflated ride, a fancy purple and orange balloon with a flower-decked basket, and nodded with approval.
“Gerald, I think everything’s good to go!” she said.  “You wanna go by the twenty-four hour and get a late soup and sandwich?”  No response.  She turned and looked around with an annoyed sigh.  “Dang it, Ger, I said not to go wandering around.  You can look at all the other balloons tomorrow when we’re in the air.”  She then turned back around to see her dear Gerald… stone dead with a big grin on his face.  She mumbled out his name again, and then looked over to see the Joker and Harley acting as if they were interested customers.
“What do ya think, Harley-Belle?” inquired the Joker in his mocking Southern accent.  “Do you think this here contraption will suit us for the big fiasco?”
“It’s purple and pretty… like you, Pookie?” smiled Harley, who then punched Roberta out before she could scream.
“Well smoke my pigs’ feet!  I done forgot my check book.  Guess we’ll have to pay these fine folks later, Harley-Belle!”  The Joker then groaned and grunted once he and Harley lifted the basket.
“I didn’t think these things would be all that heavy,” he said in his normal voice.
“Sure is mighty heavy,” joked Harley in her own fake dialect.
“Shut up,” said her beau as they made their exit.

Zero hour was close at hand for those of Gotham who were already condemned to live in the lower-class neighborhoods and projects by hateful politicians like Cobblepot.  On top of Lake Kane’s dam, Lucius Fox awoke to find himself bound to the mayor’s explosive.  Four Night Hawks surrounded him, and in the distance he could see the foggy silhouette of the Penguin.
“What in the hell going on here?” asked Fox.  “What do you want with me?”
“You think you are so special, don’t you Mr. Fox?” hissed the Penguin.  “Good upbringing, fine education, high-paying position at Wayne Tech… lifelong friend of Mr. Bruce Wayne himself.”
“I consider myself blessed, yes,” said Lucius with his usual confidence in a chaotic situation.
“But when it comes down to it, at the end of the day, you’re just another filthy negro; second-class and second rate… and hardly worth living.”
“You are aware of what year it is, aren’t you Mister…?”  With no more hesitation, the Penguin revealed himself.  “Mayor Cobblepot?”
“You should have never came to my city, and tried to walk among my people,” said Oswald.  “Now you must die with the other outcasts.”
“Your blatant hatred aside, Mr. Mayor, this is madness!  You blow up this dam, you’ll kill thousands.  Unlike you, the flood’s not going to discriminate!”
“All new eras begin with necessary sacrifices.  Those of the pure race will receive their reward in the hereafter.”  The Penguin then raised his head and arms to the air as if he were some sort of deranged messiah.  However, his holier-than-thou composure suddenly turned to shock and awe as he saw a strange sight in the air.  It was the Joker and Harley Quinn’s stolen hot air balloon.  Joker’s signature grinning skull and crossbones was spray-painted on the balloon itself.
“Looks like you’re not the only nutcase out today,” joked Fox.
“Hiya, Pengy!” said Joker over a megaphone.  “I can’t believe you are about to wipe out half this town’s population… and you didn’t invite me!”
Cobblepot then looked at his Night Hawks and gave an angry shrug.
“Well, don’t just stand there like a bunch of half-drugged hound dogs!” he bellowed.  “Shoot the damn thing down!”
“I wouldn’t do that, Pengy!” said the Joker once he saw the mayor’s goons aim their firearms.  “This balloon’s been filled with Mirth-ane Gas!  One tiny little hole and you’ll be the first to go!”
“Dammit!” said Cobblepot as he motioned for the Night Hawks to lower their guns.
“Smart move, Pengy!  Now you’ll get to watch me finish off whoever survives your fancy pool party!”  The Joker’s laugh was then interrupted by the sound of police helicopters.  Atop the dam, The Penguin was also alerted of several officers heading his way, among them Commissioner Gordon.
“How the hell did he find out about this?” snarled Oswald.
“Give ya one guess, boss,” said one of his Nighthawks as he pointed to the sky.  The cigar fell out of Cobblepot’s mouth as he looked up and saw Batman, cape spread, glide to the Joker’s balloon from one of the helicopters.
“No!  No!  No!” screamed the mayor.  “What’s he doing working with the cops?”

“No! No! No!” growled the Joker at Batman’s approach.
“What are we going to do?” gulped Harley.  Joker then turned to her with his chill-inspiring grin.
“Batman’s not going to have time for me if he’s busy trying to save someone’s life,” he hissed.
“Who’s life?”
“Sorry, Harley-Bear!  You know how that whole ‘honor among thieves’ thing goes?”  Harley was still confused until the Joker shoved her out of the balloon just as Batman landed outside the basket.  And as the psycho predicted, the hero instantly concentrated on Harley.  Laughing hysterically, the Joker jumped from the balloon, revealing a hidden parachute on his way down to the lake below.  Batman could do nothing about that at the moment, as he had barely caught Harley’s ankle with his Bat-rope.  She was shaking with fear and anger at her beloved as he pulled her up.  However, she then gave her unlikely savior a smile.
“Gee, thanks for…”  She was interrupted by the snap of Batcuffs on her wrists.
“No time for gratitude,” said Batman.  “Your ride’s here.”  A safe distance from the gas-filled balloon, one of the helicopters lowered a ladder, and an officer climbed down to retrieve Harley.
“What are you gonna do about this thing?” he asked Batman as he pointed to the balloon.
“I’ll handle that,” answered Batman.  “Your job is done up here.  Get down there and help Gordon.  You’ve still got two very dangerous criminals running around.”  The officer sighed, but nodded, and then carried Harley back up to the helicopter.
As he drew near to the top of the dam, Gordon peered up to see his new ally detach the balloon from the basket, allowing the former to float safely off into space, and the latter to plummet towards the ground.
“Good Lord,” whispered the Commissioner.  “I hope you know what the hell you’re doing.”

“Cobblepot,” said Gordon as he approached the vile leader of Gotham.  “I knew you were a crooked and corrupt politician, but I had no idea you were capable of committing mass murder.”
“You and your fine boys in blue wanna join them, Jimmy?” smiled The Penguin.  “Then stay on this dam.  And don’t forget…”  He pointed his umbrella to Lucius.  “I have a hostage.”
“What good am I as a hostage if you are planning to kill me anyway?” asked Fox with a slight chuckle.
“Good point, Mr. Fox.  You’re not as dumb as your color makes you look.”  But as he motioned for one of his Night Hawks to cease Fox’s existence, a flying Batarang nailed the henchman in the back on the head.  Then, without a word, Batman knocked out two more with his knuckles before nailing Oswald with a back fist.  He then turned his attention to the bomb.
“You tried to deactivate it before,” said Cobblepot as he rubbed his fresh bruise.  “And look what happened.  There’s no way you’re…”  His eyes then widened as Batman removed a small, rectangular device from his utility belt and destroyed the electric device that had put the Dark Knight down in his first attempt via a small laser.  Then, with a combination of knowledge and near inhuman quickness, he deactivated the explosive.
“Looks like you got a bad deal on this device, Oswald,” joked Batman.
“Oh, I couldn’t agree more, Bats!” said a voice behind him.  Batman and Gordon looked up to see the Joker, dripping wet after his plunge in the lake below.  The police officers behind Gordon aimed their guns, but the Joker lifted his figure to stop them, and then removed a remote control from his jacket.  “Gas is the way to go, Cobblepot.  It’s silent, deadly, and darn near inescapable!”
“Forget it, Joker,” said Batman.  “Your balloon’s floating out of the atmosphere.”
“That’s the gag though, Bats!”  laughed the clown.  “Why do you think I chose to float said balloon over this lake?  I’m not just attacking Gotham by land and by air, but by water.”
“Good God,” said the Commissioner.  “He’s poisoned the lake.”
“Well, not quite yet, not quite yet, hence the little accessory in my hand,” He then grinned at Batman.  “And you can thank Batman for allowing me to swan dive into the drink to plant my pretty little canister.  So Po-Po over there, put down your pop guns as I am prepared to make a deal.”
“Do it,” sighed Gordon with a hint of hesitation.
“Swell,” smiled the Joker.  “Okie-dokie, what I want is simply one thing… a martyr, one noble soul to give himself for the lives of Gotham.  You see, I came here to cause chaos, and I thought I could achieve that by sending this whole pathetic town to Hell.  But then I thought to myself as I was splashing about down below, what better way to bring the city down than to eliminate the one person who didn’t hang a dark cloud over it,” He then smiled at Oswald.  “That ain’t you, Fatty.”  He then turned to Batman.  “And it ain’t you, Mr. Vigilante.”  Finally, he turned to Gordon.  “It’s you, Commissioner.  You’re the only voice of authority in this town that people genuinely respect.  Without you, the people will panic, the mobs will form, and the buildings will burn.  So, here’s the deal I spoke about, Gordon:  Either you sacrifice yourself with the meager hope that the townsfolk will follow your example and not tear themselves apart… or I wipe them all out with a self-made plague.”  He then removed a gun from his slacks.  “You’ve got one minute to suck bullet… Jimmy.”   However, as he threw it to Gordon, Batman caught it and threw it down.
“No more Martyrs!” he growled as he sprang at Joker.  The two then struggled for possession of the remote… only to have Oswald himself grab Joker’s gun and shoot the remote out of the clown’s hand.  Batman then had Joker dozing with a left and right cross.
“Like I said,” groaned Oswald as he handed the gun to Gordon.  “I do care about this town.”
“At least the folks that count… huh, Cobblepot?” mocked the Commissioner as he cuffed him.  “Well, I think it’s about time we untied Mr. Fox, Bat…”  Gordon then turned around to see Fox unbound… and Batman gone.
“So Commissioner,” said Fox as he looked down at the neighborhood that Cobblepot came so close to destroying.  “Do you think they’ll ever know that they’ve been spared tonight?”
“They don’t need to know,” said Gordon.  “I don’t know him that well yet, but I think that’s how Batman likes it.”

Despite all that had happen, it was hard for Bruce to take in the sight of his old friend behind the bars of a holding cell.  Oswald looked so weak in there, so sad; nothing like his usual smiling, upbeat self.  Bruce wondered if what had truly been inside the ex-mayor since his childhood had finally come out.  Still, Cobblepot managed a grin as he saw him approach.
“I heard you’ve been considered to be my replacement,” he chuckled.  “Congratulations.”
“Relax, Oswald,” said Bruce as cheerfully as possible.  “I respectfully declined.  Too much stress for an easy-going guy like me.”
“You don’t know the half of it.”  The two shared a laugh before Oswald sighed.  “Thanks, Bruce.  Thanks for showing up in court and testifying in my favor.”
“All I did was tell them about the Oswald Cobblepot that Bruce Wayne knew,” said his friend.  “A good person with a good heart, who would go out of his way for someone he cared about… who didn’t let prejudice and bitterness cloud his mind.”
“Maybe one day I’ll find that person again, Bruce,” said Oswald.  “I guess I’ll have quite a while to try.”
“Good-bye Oswald.”
“Good-bye Bruce.”  As Wayne stepped away, Oswald rose.  “Oh, and Bruce, when you see Mr. Fox again, tell him it was nothing personal.”  Bruce simply nodded and made his way out.

As he stood atop City Hall and watched over the children of Gotham, Batman knew that the road to true peace and equality among the townsfolk had only just begun.  Until that day came, there would always be those with evil in their thoughts, and hate in their hearts.  There would always be victims of something that could kill much more mercilessly than guns or knives.
Batman then stopped and watched as an elderly white woman accidentally spilt her groceries.  Without hesitation, a young African-American gentleman helped her pick them up.  The woman gave him a smile of genuine gratitude as he offered to walk her home.
There was hope… and there were those, like Commissioner Gordon and himself, still fighting to change the world.

The End.

Description
BATMAN: SOUTHERN KNIGHT
PART FIVE:
“WRATH OF THE UNJUST”
Based on the DC Comics Characters created by Bob Kane

The guards surrounding Joker’s holding cell at the city jailhouse were nervous to the point of upset stomachs as they eyed his unmoving grin.  They wondered how one could be so happy on his way to two life sentences in prison.  Then again, how could they relate to the Joker’s chaotic, carefree mentality? They felt a bit better once they saw Commissioner Gordon enter the room, and then the cell.  They might have been scared of the psycho in the cell, but they knew Gordon wasn’t.  The man did beat cancer, after all.
“So where’s my Harley-Bear?” asked the Joker once he spotted Gordon.  “She’s missing one heck of a party!  Or as you good ole boys call it… a shindig!”
“Ms. Quinzel is where she should be right now… away from you,” said the Commissioner.  “I’m here to ask you a few questions, and I suggest you answer them.”
“Ooooh, is that a threat, boss?” asked the Joker with a mocking Southern accent.  “You gonna lash me if I don’t talk, boss?”
“No, but I can make a few calls to some of my friends who work as guards at the prison.  They can make your stay very miserable.”
“Eeeew, not like what they do on that one TV show, I hope.”
“Tell me what you know about the Night Hawks!” said Gordon as he drew closer.  The Joker ate up the tension that vibrated off of him.
“Big birds? Don’t like the sun?  Swoop down and grab little chipmunks?” he shrugged.
“I know you’re in league with them!  I’m not stupid!  I think it’s more than a coincidence that every time you pop up, so do they… and the Batman.”  Gordon was then right in his face.  “What do you know about him?”
“Question is- what do you not know about oral hygiene products?” laughed the Joker as he closed his nose.  “Pew! Pew! Pew!”
“Son of a…”  Gordon came within inches of back-fisting him, but managed to stop himself.  He wasn’t going to let this freak get to him.  He finally turned and stepped out of the cell.  “Get this clown ready for his concrete Big Top.  I’ll see if his girlfriend has anything to say.”

Several Night Hawks perched themselves about the dam which towered over Lake Kane, standing guard like mother birds as the Penguin had several more of their breed prepare his recently purchased weapon of mass destruction.  He looked on as the bomb was attached and timed for midnight the following evening.
But they were being watched as well.  The caped phantom stood in the shadows and waited… waited for the wrathful lord of Gotham and his angels of death to take flight.  An hour-and-a-half passed, but Batman remained patient.  The wait was more than worth it, considering he had discovered Oswald’s plan after confronting the Romanian contact who sold him the bomb just a few miles away from the airport.  The dam had to be abandoned in order for Batman to do his work.  He could not risk another unsuccessful confrontation with the Penguin when multiple lives were on the line.
Finally, the criminals had stepped into their vans and drove away.  Like a ghost, Batman swiftly made his way to the bomb.  It didn’t take long for him to realize that Cobblepot had certainly gotten his money’s worth for this device.  Not only was it highly destructive, it was highly sophisticated as well.  Fortunately, Batman thought, Bruce Wayne had studied quite a bit on Romanian technology (among others) in preparation for the then unrealized WayneTech Division.  However, even Batman could not be ready for every obstacle.  In seconds, a violent bolt of electricity shot out from the bomb and knocked Batman to the ground.  He could feel himself slipping away, but was able to reach a small button hidden under his belt buckle before he became completely unconscious.

Harley was just as helpful to Gordon as the Joker was.  After the Commissioner had finally given up and left before he broke his vow to never strike a woman, the femme fatale was left alone in her basement cell with two guards.  The two men didn’t think much of their job, as they ate vending machine potato chips and played cards at a nearby table.  Quinn seemed to find joy in her attempt to flirt with them, but her smile turned to a low frown when she found herself ignored.  She then sat on her bunk for a moment, turned her frown upside down, and snapped her fingers.
“Hey fellas,” she said.  “Could one of you be a sweetie-cake and get me my purse?”
“Sorry, lady, we saw what was in that purse,” chuckled one of the guards.  “We ain’t putting it back in your hands.”
“Well, could you at least hand me the lipstick?”  No answer.  “Please?”  Nothing.  “Pretty please… with ice cream and a cherry on top?”
Finally, one of the guards sighed and grabbed her purse from the evidence locker.  After a few seconds, he removed Harley’s black lipstick.
“Yesh,” he said as he stared at its shade.  “You know we ain’t supposed to be doing this, so pretty up your lips and hand it right back.”  Harley winked at him as he tossed the lipstick to her through the cell bars.  She applied it to her lips in a silly, but oddly seductive way, and then watched as the guard stuck out his hand to take it back.  She winked at him again before suddenly placing the opposite end of the lipstick applicator in her mouth and blowing a tiny dart into his neck.  Before the other guard could go for his gun, he received the same.  Soon, the darts poison had them down and paralyzed.
“Ya big dummies!” giggled Harley as she reached past the bars and grabbed the guard’s keys.  “You boys would do anything for ‘pretty please with ice cream and a cherry on top’.”

When Bruce finally opened his eyes in the Batcave, the rest of his body felt like it didn’t want to wake up with him.  In fact, it took great force just for him to re-adjust into a sitting position.  He had been placed on a cot with a small table next to it.  And on that was an alarm clock which told him that he had been out for over twelve hours.
“Breakfast, sir?” asked Alfred as he walked in with a tray containing scrambled egg, bacon, toast, orange juice, and two small, blue pills.  Bruce struggled to take the pills and drink half the juice, and then motioned with his head for his faithful butler to sit the tray down.  “I know your ego is probably not in the best of states now, sir, but you must rest a bit more before returning to your quest.”
“My ego is hardly bruised by the fact that my butler had to come rescue me, Alfred,” smiled Bruce, already feeling the healing effects of the pills.  “It’s not the first time I’ve had to rely on you.”
“What I meant, sir, was the fact that you have made the claim time and time again that you anticipate every situation, yet you were not prepared for the electric defense mechanism built into that bomb.”
“You’re right, Alfred.  It was Oswald who was prepared… for me.”
“Such a shame you two aren’t friends anymore.”  Alfred almost sounded half-hearted about this.
“He’s Bruce’s friend… Batman’s enemy.  This is one of the tragedies of a dual life.”  The phone installed in the Batcave then rang, and Alfred answered it before Bruce could even rise up.
“Yes, Mr. Fox?” said Alfred.  “No, sir, Mr. Wayne has become ill and cannot meet any appointments right now.  Oh…oh, I see.  Just a moment, sir.”  Bruce slowly made his way over to the phone, still finding it a bit difficult to walk.
“What’s wrong, Lucius?” he asked his old friend.  “When… last night?  Is Commissioner Gordon… ah, good.  Well, double WayneTech security and we’ll go from there.  Thanks, Lucius.  Good-bye.”  Bruce then hung up the phone and tried to make his way to the vault containing his Bat-suit.  Though an old man, Alfred quickly stepped over and grabbed him.
“I cannot permit you to do this, sir,” he whispered.  “You are in no condition to…”
“The Joker and Harley Quinn escaped last night, and killed two guards in the process.  Commissioner Gordon nearly joined them.  Cobblepot is about to murder who knows how many innocent men, women, and children as well.  Alfred, you are my loyal servant and my friend, so you will have to forgive me for saying this… to Hell with your permission.”

Lucius placed his cellphone in his jacket pocket and made his way into WayneTech.  Before stepping into his office, he turned to his secretary.
“Angie, please postpone any appointments I have until later this evening,” he requested.  “There’s some matters I need to attend to.”
“Yes, Mr. Fox,” said Angie, smacking her chewing gum at the same time.
Lucius closed his office door and made his way over to his desk… not realizing until he was seated that there were others in the room; two very ugly, yet handsomely dressed fellows carrying umbrellas.
“Did Angie let you two in here?” asked Fox with expected surprise.  “I’m sorry, but I’m very busy right now.  If you wish to make an appointment later…”
“But Mr. Fox,” grinned one of the men.  “We’ve been working on a very special project that I think you’ll be interested in.”  Fox stared at him for a second, and then turned to his intercom to summon security.  But before he could press the button, the intruders lifted their umbrellas.  Strange purple gas fired from their tips, causing Fox to pass out upon inhaling.  The two Night Hawks then picked him up by his shoulders and feet and exited WayneTech the same way they entered… completely unobserved.

As if without any hesitation, Commissioner Gordon stepped out of Welmore’s Funeral Home and went right for the pack of cigarettes in his brown dress jacket.  He had just stood over the caskets of two good men, men who had friends and families… men who he thought would see retire in a few years.  And now he felt that because he let his emotions overcome his good sense, he robbed them and their love ones of that.  His anger at Joker and Harley’s blatant disrespect for authority caused him to underestimate them, and to therefore leave them under minimal guard.  And now they were back out, planning God knows what… or doing God knows what.  And still… no Nighthawks… no Penguin… no Batman.
Gordon ignited his lighter, but a sudden, sharp breeze extinguished the flame.  He mumbled out a swear, and was about to try again when the sudden sight in front of him caused his to drop both the lighter and the cigarette.
“You,” was all the Commissioner could exhale as the figure of the Batman stepped closer.
“I know what you think of me,” said Batman.  “And I know under other circumstances, time would be permitted for us to establish a mutual trust.”
“Frankly, I don’t know what to think of you or anything else anymore.”
“Well, for now you’re going to have to face the simple truth like I did.”
“Simple truth?”
“That you and I share the same passion for justice in Gotham Hill… true justice, justice for all men and women, of every race and creed.  And while you and I pursue that justice down different paths, we’re going to have to drop our pride, our assumptions, and our personal torment and work together.  Otherwise, the Joker and Penguin will not be stopped.
“Well, I’ve already dropped my pride, that’s for damn sure,” said Gordon as he looked toward the funeral home entrance.  He then turned back and sighed.  “What do you have in mind?”

The circus that inspired chaos had long been removed from the Gotham Fairgrounds, and now several men and women were preparing the land for the next day’s hot air balloon show.  Away from the main group, spry, skinny fifty-seven year old Roberta Puckins looked over her currently deflated ride, a fancy purple and orange balloon with a flower-decked basket, and nodded with approval.
“Gerald, I think everything’s good to go!” she said.  “You wanna go by the twenty-four hour and get a late soup and sandwich?”  No response.  She turned and looked around with an annoyed sigh.  “Dang it, Ger, I said not to go wandering around.  You can look at all the other balloons tomorrow when we’re in the air.”  She then turned back around to see her dear Gerald… stone dead with a big grin on his face.  She mumbled out his name again, and then looked over to see the Joker and Harley acting as if they were interested customers.
“What do ya think, Harley-Belle?” inquired the Joker in his mocking Southern accent.  “Do you think this here contraption will suit us for the big fiasco?”
“It’s purple and pretty… like you, Pookie?” smiled Harley, who then punched Roberta out before she could scream.
“Well smoke my pigs’ feet!  I done forgot my check book.  Guess we’ll have to pay these fine folks later, Harley-Belle!”  The Joker then groaned and grunted once he and Harley lifted the basket.
“I didn’t think these things would be all that heavy,” he said in his normal voice.
“Sure is mighty heavy,” joked Harley in her own fake dialect.
“Shut up,” said her beau as they made their exit.

Zero hour was close at hand for those of Gotham who were already condemned to live in the lower-class neighborhoods and projects by hateful politicians like Cobblepot.  On top of Lake Kane’s dam, Lucius Fox awoke to find himself bound to the mayor’s explosive.  Four Night Hawks surrounded him, and in the distance he could see the foggy silhouette of the Penguin.
“What in the hell going on here?” asked Fox.  “What do you want with me?”
“You think you are so special, don’t you Mr. Fox?” hissed the Penguin.  “Good upbringing, fine education, high-paying position at Wayne Tech… lifelong friend of Mr. Bruce Wayne himself.”
“I consider myself blessed, yes,” said Lucius with his usual confidence in a chaotic situation.
“But when it comes down to it, at the end of the day, you’re just another filthy negro; second-class and second rate… and hardly worth living.”
“You are aware of what year it is, aren’t you Mister…?”  With no more hesitation, the Penguin revealed himself.  “Mayor Cobblepot?”
“You should have never came to my city, and tried to walk among my people,” said Oswald.  “Now you must die with the other outcasts.”
“Your blatant hatred aside, Mr. Mayor, this is madness!  You blow up this dam, you’ll kill thousands.  Unlike you, the flood’s not going to discriminate!”
“All new eras begin with necessary sacrifices.  Those of the pure race will receive their reward in the hereafter.”  The Penguin then raised his head and arms to the air as if he were some sort of deranged messiah.  However, his holier-than-thou composure suddenly turned to shock and awe as he saw a strange sight in the air.  It was the Joker and Harley Quinn’s stolen hot air balloon.  Joker’s signature grinning skull and crossbones was spray-painted on the balloon itself.
“Looks like you’re not the only nutcase out today,” joked Fox.
“Hiya, Pengy!” said Joker over a megaphone.  “I can’t believe you are about to wipe out half this town’s population… and you didn’t invite me!”
Cobblepot then looked at his Night Hawks and gave an angry shrug.
“Well, don’t just stand there like a bunch of half-drugged hound dogs!” he bellowed.  “Shoot the damn thing down!”
“I wouldn’t do that, Pengy!” said the Joker once he saw the mayor’s goons aim their firearms.  “This balloon’s been filled with Mirth-ane Gas!  One tiny little hole and you’ll be the first to go!”
“Dammit!” said Cobblepot as he motioned for the Night Hawks to lower their guns.
“Smart move, Pengy!  Now you’ll get to watch me finish off whoever survives your fancy pool party!”  The Joker’s laugh was then interrupted by the sound of police helicopters.  Atop the dam, The Penguin was also alerted of several officers heading his way, among them Commissioner Gordon.
“How the hell did he find out about this?” snarled Oswald.
“Give ya one guess, boss,” said one of his Nighthawks as he pointed to the sky.  The cigar fell out of Cobblepot’s mouth as he looked up and saw Batman, cape spread, glide to the Joker’s balloon from one of the helicopters.
“No!  No!  No!” screamed the mayor.  “What’s he doing working with the cops?”

“No! No! No!” growled the Joker at Batman’s approach.
“What are we going to do?” gulped Harley.  Joker then turned to her with his chill-inspiring grin.
“Batman’s not going to have time for me if he’s busy trying to save someone’s life,” he hissed.
“Who’s life?”
“Sorry, Harley-Bear!  You know how that whole ‘honor among thieves’ thing goes?”  Harley was still confused until the Joker shoved her out of the balloon just as Batman landed outside the basket.  And as the psycho predicted, the hero instantly concentrated on Harley.  Laughing hysterically, the Joker jumped from the balloon, revealing a hidden parachute on his way down to the lake below.  Batman could do nothing about that at the moment, as he had barely caught Harley’s ankle with his Bat-rope.  She was shaking with fear and anger at her beloved as he pulled her up.  However, she then gave her unlikely savior a smile.
“Gee, thanks for…”  She was interrupted by the snap of Batcuffs on her wrists.
“No time for gratitude,” said Batman.  “Your ride’s here.”  A safe distance from the gas-filled balloon, one of the helicopters lowered a ladder, and an officer climbed down to retrieve Harley.
“What are you gonna do about this thing?” he asked Batman as he pointed to the balloon.
“I’ll handle that,” answered Batman.  “Your job is done up here.  Get down there and help Gordon.  You’ve still got two very dangerous criminals running around.”  The officer sighed, but nodded, and then carried Harley back up to the helicopter.
As he drew near to the top of the dam, Gordon peered up to see his new ally detach the balloon from the basket, allowing the former to float safely off into space, and the latter to plummet towards the ground.
“Good Lord,” whispered the Commissioner.  “I hope you know what the hell you’re doing.”

“Cobblepot,” said Gordon as he approached the vile leader of Gotham.  “I knew you were a crooked and corrupt politician, but I had no idea you were capable of committing mass murder.”
“You and your fine boys in blue wanna join them, Jimmy?” smiled The Penguin.  “Then stay on this dam.  And don’t forget…”  He pointed his umbrella to Lucius.  “I have a hostage.”
“What good am I as a hostage if you are planning to kill me anyway?” asked Fox with a slight chuckle.
“Good point, Mr. Fox.  You’re not as dumb as your color makes you look.”  But as he motioned for one of his Night Hawks to cease Fox’s existence, a flying Batarang nailed the henchman in the back on the head.  Then, without a word, Batman knocked out two more with his knuckles before nailing Oswald with a back fist.  He then turned his attention to the bomb.
“You tried to deactivate it before,” said Cobblepot as he rubbed his fresh bruise.  “And look what happened.  There’s no way you’re…”  His eyes then widened as Batman removed a small, rectangular device from his utility belt and destroyed the electric device that had put the Dark Knight down in his first attempt via a small laser.  Then, with a combination of knowledge and near inhuman quickness, he deactivated the explosive.
“Looks like you got a bad deal on this device, Oswald,” joked Batman.
“Oh, I couldn’t agree more, Bats!” said a voice behind him.  Batman and Gordon looked up to see the Joker, dripping wet after his plunge in the lake below.  The police officers behind Gordon aimed their guns, but the Joker lifted his figure to stop them, and then removed a remote control from his jacket.  “Gas is the way to go, Cobblepot.  It’s silent, deadly, and darn near inescapable!”
“Forget it, Joker,” said Batman.  “Your balloon’s floating out of the atmosphere.”
“That’s the gag though, Bats!”  laughed the clown.  “Why do you think I chose to float said balloon over this lake?  I’m not just attacking Gotham by land and by air, but by water.”
“Good God,” said the Commissioner.  “He’s poisoned the lake.”
“Well, not quite yet, not quite yet, hence the little accessory in my hand,” He then grinned at Batman.  “And you can thank Batman for allowing me to swan dive into the drink to plant my pretty little canister.  So Po-Po over there, put down your pop guns as I am prepared to make a deal.”
“Do it,” sighed Gordon with a hint of hesitation.
“Swell,” smiled the Joker.  “Okie-dokie, what I want is simply one thing… a martyr, one noble soul to give himself for the lives of Gotham.  You see, I came here to cause chaos, and I thought I could achieve that by sending this whole pathetic town to Hell.  But then I thought to myself as I was splashing about down below, what better way to bring the city down than to eliminate the one person who didn’t hang a dark cloud over it,” He then smiled at Oswald.  “That ain’t you, Fatty.”  He then turned to Batman.  “And it ain’t you, Mr. Vigilante.”  Finally, he turned to Gordon.  “It’s you, Commissioner.  You’re the only voice of authority in this town that people genuinely respect.  Without you, the people will panic, the mobs will form, and the buildings will burn.  So, here’s the deal I spoke about, Gordon:  Either you sacrifice yourself with the meager hope that the townsfolk will follow your example and not tear themselves apart… or I wipe them all out with a self-made plague.”  He then removed a gun from his slacks.  “You’ve got one minute to suck bullet… Jimmy.”   However, as he threw it to Gordon, Batman caught it and threw it down.
“No more Martyrs!” he growled as he sprang at Joker.  The two then struggled for possession of the remote… only to have Oswald himself grab Joker’s gun and shoot the remote out of the clown’s hand.  Batman then had Joker dozing with a left and right cross.
“Like I said,” groaned Oswald as he handed the gun to Gordon.  “I do care about this town.”
“At least the folks that count… huh, Cobblepot?” mocked the Commissioner as he cuffed him.  “Well, I think it’s about time we untied Mr. Fox, Bat…”  Gordon then turned around to see Fox unbound… and Batman gone.
“So Commissioner,” said Fox as he looked down at the neighborhood that Cobblepot came so close to destroying.  “Do you think they’ll ever know that they’ve been spared tonight?”
“They don’t need to know,” said Gordon.  “I don’t know him that well yet, but I think that’s how Batman likes it.”

Despite all that had happen, it was hard for Bruce to take in the sight of his old friend behind the bars of a holding cell.  Oswald looked so weak in there, so sad; nothing like his usual smiling, upbeat self.  Bruce wondered if what had truly been inside the ex-mayor since his childhood had finally come out.  Still, Cobblepot managed a grin as he saw him approach.
“I heard you’ve been considered to be my replacement,” he chuckled.  “Congratulations.”
“Relax, Oswald,” said Bruce as cheerfully as possible.  “I respectfully declined.  Too much stress for an easy-going guy like me.”
“You don’t know the half of it.”  The two shared a laugh before Oswald sighed.  “Thanks, Bruce.  Thanks for showing up in court and testifying in my favor.”
“All I did was tell them about the Oswald Cobblepot that Bruce Wayne knew,” said his friend.  “A good person with a good heart, who would go out of his way for someone he cared about… who didn’t let prejudice and bitterness cloud his mind.”
“Maybe one day I’ll find that person again, Bruce,” said Oswald.  “I guess I’ll have quite a while to try.”
“Good-bye Oswald.”
“Good-bye Bruce.”  As Wayne stepped away, Oswald rose.  “Oh, and Bruce, when you see Mr. Fox again, tell him it was nothing personal.”  Bruce simply nodded and made his way out.

As he stood atop City Hall and watched over the children of Gotham, Batman knew that the road to true peace and equality among the townsfolk had only just begun.  Until that day came, there would always be those with evil in their thoughts, and hate in their hearts.  There would always be victims of something that could kill much more mercilessly than guns or knives.
Batman then stopped and watched as an elderly white woman accidentally spilt her groceries.  Without hesitation, a young African-American gentleman helped her pick them up.  The woman gave him a smile of genuine gratitude as he offered to walk her home.
There was hope… and there were those, like Commissioner Gordon and himself, still fighting to change the world.

The End.