Disclaimer: This story, though maybe not in this chapter but in subsequent chapters, will have celebrities in it. I have no knowledge of their sexuality and this is not intended to imply their sexuality. This is all from my own mind.
Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, Angel and all related characters created by Joss Whedon. Copyright 20th Century Fox.
Batman, and all related characters created by Bob Kane. Copyright DC Comics and Warner Bros.
X-MEN, and all related characters created by Stan Lee. Copyright Marvel Comics and 20th Century Fox.
The Vampire Chronicles and all related characters created by Anne Rice. Copyright Anne O'Brien Rice.
Star Wars and all related concepts created by or based on the universe created by George Lucas. Copyright 20th Century Fox, LucasFilms Ltd. and Lucas Books/Ballantine Books.
I don't know for sure if I will use all the above elements, but just in case, I have myself covered.
I have received many emails from people who have enjoyed it and some from those who do not. I would enjoy hearing from you. Any emails you send, please tell me what chapter and story you are commenting on. Thanks.
authorjames2002@yahoo.com
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Other stories in this universe written by other authors: "Tales of a Superhero Band" "Tales of the New Phoenix" "Tales of a Young Mutant"
Chapter 46 Last Laugh
I ran outside looking around to find where Batgirl went, knowing it would lead me to the Joker. Several pedestrians had their heads turned cluing me in as to which direction the clown and the Slayer went. That was my destination, as well. I ran off down the street passing the people as I went.
After several minutes of this running, I came across a toy store with the front window broken out. I looked inside hoping to see Batgirl and the Joker, but I couldn't tell if they were inside or not. Taking several steps back, I ran and dove through the window and rolled to my feet. There was the faint sound of laughing toward the back of the store. Cautiously I headed walked through the doll aisle in the direction of the sound.
Batgirl jumped back as the Joker swung at her. Granted she was a Vampire Slayer, there's no telling where he knew to hit. He was trained in the military, which meant he could hit a pressure point and do some damage, even to a Vampire Slayer.
Batgirl flipped backward, her foot catching the Joker in the chin. He stumbled backwards against the wall.
"My, feisty, aren't we?" he said as he whipped his chin and attacked Batgirl.
The Vampire Slayer side-stepped the clowns attack and elbowed him in the back. He stumbled forward and crashed into some boxes. Then she walked up to him, grabbed him by the back of the shirt, and pulled him away.
"Isn't this grand?" he said.
"What?" she asked.
"You wasting your time beating me to a pulp while elsewhere things are getting jolly."
"What are you talking about, clown?"
"I'm talking about the thievery I've done a while ago. I've got a brew of stew stewing over a brood."
I opened the door to the storage room and found Batgirl holding the Joker by his collar.
"There's a chemical bomb set to go off somewhere. But he's not saying."
I grabbed him from Batgirl and jacked him up against the wall. "Listen to me very carefully. Your sick joke isn't funny. It's pathetic. People will die."
"Oh, I'm not looking to end lives, though that would be a real gas! I'm looking to create an army of clowns to fight in my war!"
"What war is that?" Batgirl asked.
"The way to end all wars! The war against stiff sticks in the mud like you two! Get out, have a little fun! Trust me, it will be worth it!"
I spun the Joker around and threw him into the opposite wall. He slumped the ground nearly unconscious.
"Do you have anything to tie him up?"
Batgirl nodded as she pulled out some handcuffs. Once he was cuffed, we were out of the store just as Robin and Raven showed up.
"We've got to get to the army base where the Joker was made. He's planning on turning all the troops into clowns like him."
Batgirl and I both pressed buttons on our belts. Within seconds, her motorcycle pulled up to the curb. "I can take someone with me," she said as she climbed on. "Who's coming?"
"My car will be here shortly. I can catch up."
"I'll ride with you," Raven said as she mounted the motorcycle behind Batgirl.
"We'll catch up," I said. Looking at Batgirl, I added, "Be careful."
She nodded and the two women were off.
"Uh, Batman," Robin said and I turned to face him. "After you and Batgirl left, after Raven and I beat Harley and Quinn, she, uh, she offered me something."
"What's that?" I asked.
"She offered me a role with a group called the Teen Titans."
I nodded to him. "What are you going to do?"
"I don't know. I got upset because Nightwing left us for some guy that we didn't even have a chance to get to know. But it was his decision, and he felt it was right for him to make. I don't want to be hypocritical and do the exact same thing."
"But..."
"But at the same time, I'll be part of a team that wants me."
"You think we don't want you?"
"Hardly. I think that I don't have much interaction with you and Batgirl. You two are on a completely different playing field than I am. I mean, you're a mutant and she's a Vampire Slayer. I'm in the same position Nightwing was in when he left. I'm just an ordinary boy."
"Honestly, Robin, in some respects, you are just an ordinary boy. You have the same hopes and desires that anyone your age would want. You want to be with people your own age doing the things you love to do. I don't know of many teenagers doing what we do.
"I know you are looking for something, Robin, something you thought you had when Nightwing was here. Once he left, you felt as if you lost it again. Is this something you feel deep inside that you want to do?"
Robin remained quiet for a moment and then he nodded "yes". I put my hand on his shoulder and gave it a squeeze.
"Then, by all means, do it. You have to find your own way, just like Nightwing found his own way. Like I'm finding my own way. Opportunities come in our life that may never come again. And these opportunities can define who we are as human beings, help shape our personality and outlook on life. This might be just what you need. If this is where you want to go, then I'm all for it."
"Thanks," he said with a smile.
I nodded.
My car pulled up beside us and I motioned for him to get in. He ran around to the other side and climbed in, and we were off.
Out of the shadows the two jesters emerged. They giggled to themselves and headed into the toy store where they found their precious Mr. J. unconscious and tied up.
"Mr. J," Harley said smacking his face trying to wake him up while Quinn unlocked the handcuffs.
Slowly he came to and he looked at the two ladies. "What happened?" he asked.
"The bats and the birds went to the army base," Harley said. "We overheard them."
"Good," he replied. "Now we can make our exit."
"Where are we going?" Quinn asked as the Joker got to his feet.
"We're going home! Russia needs some joy spread around!"
Arm-in-arm-in-arm the three clowns headed off into the night.
When Robin and I arrived at the military base, we saw several guards firing upon Batgirl and Raven. Raven had done some magic and pulled the weapons away from the soldiers. However there were several soldiers taking aim at the supernaturally powerful women.
"Robin!" I said and pointed in the soldiers' direction.
"I'm on it," he said.
I pressed a button and the top of the car retracted giving him a wide opening to climb out, which he did. He pulled himself up, pulled out a slingshot and took aim at a sniper. Letting the lead ball fly, it hit the target and the sniper dropped his rifle. He then hurled several of his metal birds which connected with their targets as well, and the soldiers dropped their weapons.
"Yeah!" the youth replied enthusiastically. Then he climbed down into the car and we drove up to the hanger where Batgirl and Raven were dismounting.
I stopped the engine and we climbed out as well.
"What exactly are we looking for?" Raven asked.
"I'm not sure. The three Russians were working on creating a chemical bomb when Catman and I interrupted them. We should start there."
"I know some things about chemicals," Batgirl replied. "In some ways, chemistry and physics relate to magic. I've been trained in those areas extensively."
"Then you two look around, see what you can come up with," I told the two women. "Robin and I will start at the place the clowns began their experiment."
The two groups split up and Robin and I made our way down into the laboratory where the Joker was created.
"We have to be careful of the guards," I whispered as we rounded the corner.
Two soldiers stood near a door. I tossed out several sleeping gas bombs and they gas shot out causing the men to go to sleep. I slipped the respirator that was in my mask into my mouth and told Robin to stay put until the gas cleared. He shook his head 'no' and put on his own respirator. 'He's prepared,' I thought to myself, and we went down the hallway.
I tried the doorknob but it was locked. I motioned for Robin to step back. After attempting to kick it down, I motioned for him to help. We kicked and the door flew open. Pulling several bats out to be prepared, I leapt into the room. A scientist stood with a pistol aimed at me. Quickly, I threw a bat and hit his hand, causing him to drop the weapon. Then I jumped at him and grabbed his coat.
"I'm not here to hurt you," I said. "The Joker, General Rekoj, has created a chemical bomb set to go off in this base. It will turn every soldier that survives into clowns like him. We have to stop it. Where would he get the maximum coverage of that explosion?"
"Uh...if, if it's a gas explosion, the main air conditioning duct down below would be the best. It...uh, it would spread the gas throughout the entire base. If it's...if it's a liquid, he would want to put it...uh, in the water supply. The base has its own water supply."
Thinking back, I remembered that the chemicals were liquid form. But that didn't stop him from converting it into a gas.
"Where is the water supply?" I asked.
"Two buildings to the north."
Reaching up, I engaged the communications device that the Watchers' Council installed in my costume.
"Batgirl, this is Batman. Do you copy?"
"Go ahead, Batman."
"I'm with a scientist who says the base has its own water supply two buildings north of the one we started in. Where are you and Raven?"
"We're a building away from the water supply?"
"I need you two to check out the water supply. Robin and I will check out the air conditioning vent here. If you find anything, let us know, and we'll do the same."
"Understood."
"Take me to the air conditioning duct."
The scientist nodded and Robin and I followed him out into the corridor. We headed down into the base. Several soldiers stood in our way, but the scientist explained what was going on, that there was a chemical bomb General Rekoj had created, and we needed to disarm it. The soldiers hesitated but I would drop the gas pellets and they fell asleep, allowing us to continue.
Before long, we arrived at the air conditioning system and found several barrels connected to the duct.
"Is that supposed to be here?" Robin asked.
"No," the scientist stated. "This must be the bomb."
The three of us looked it over.
"This is going to be impossible. If we disconnect this thing in one place, it will pump all the chemicals together anyway. And we don't have enough people to disconnect everything. What do we do?"
"I could use my powers," I stated though with great reservation. "But I can't guarantee anything. My powers have been acting weird as of late."
"Still, that might be the only way to do it," Robin said.
I nodded knowing that it was true. Having Robin and the scientist with me, I wouldn't have to extend my powers greatly, which would help. Still, I didn't want to mess up.
"Then let's get to it," I said. "I need you two helping me as well."
Robin and the scientist both nodded. Then they found two places to disconnect. I held my hands toward several of the disconnection spots and started to concentrate.
"Batman!" Batgirl's voice rang over the communication systems.
I jumped and Robin and the scientist did as well.
"What is it?" Robin asked.
"It's Batgirl," I answered. Then, to the comm. device, I said, "Go ahead, Batgirl."
"We have a problem here. There is a bomb hooked up to the water supply. And the way it is set up, if we disconnect one or two, the device will go off."
"Can Raven use her magic to disconnect some of the ports?"
There was a short pause, and then Batgirl offered an answer. "Possibly. Do you want us to go ahead with it?"
"Yes. We have the same problem here."
"Oh. I guess the Joker was well prepared in case someone stumbled upon one of these devices."
"Let's get to work, then," I said, and went back to concentrating.
Robin and the scientist watched me as I concentrated, waiting for me to give the signal. My powers wrapped around all the ports the two men did not have in their hands and I searched for any extra ports that we might have missed. I could sense each one. It felt as if I had dozens of hands, each ready to pull away the connections to the air conditioning system.
I nodded to the two men. "On the count of three. One...two...three."
In synchronous movement, all three of us disconnected all the ports to the device. We stood for several seconds waiting for some type of repercussion to our act. But nothing happened.
"We did it!" the scientist cheered. "Excellent!"
Robin let out a sigh of relief and a smile as he patted me on the shoulder. "Good work!" he said.
"You, too," I replied.
"I can't wait to get this to the laboratory to analyze it," the scientist said.
"No," I answered.
"No?"
"I will not allow the government to turn this into a weapon. Both of you out."
"But..."
"No 'buts'," Robin said as he grabbed the scientist by the arm and escorted him out.
Once they were out, I concentrated my powers on the chemicals. Feeling secure that I could control my powers, I expanded my abilities and focused them at the same time. I could sense every molecule making up the compounds that, once combined, would make the same liquid that turned the Russian general into the Joker. It fascinated me how his mind, so rich and full of knowledge, could create something so complex, yet make it into a weapon of destruction. How could one do such a thing?
Moments later, I emerged from the room unscathed.
"What did you do?" the scientist asked.
"I broke down all the molecules into their simplest form and then dissolved them. The containers are empty."
"I'll head over to the water supply base and get the other one."
"Too late," I replied. "I contacted Batgirl and had her and Raven dispose of the chemicals over there. You're not getting anything from this."
"I'll have you brought up on charges of treason! You're going against your government."
I stepped up to the scientist and leered at him. His face changed from anger and indignation, to helplessness and fear. Then I turned and walked away with Robin following behind me.
We emerged from the base to find Batgirl and Raven heading toward us.
"It's taken care of," Batgirl said as she approached us. "There's nothing left in there."
"Good," I said. "It's over."
Later that night, while Lance and I cleaned up from the evening's events, I told him of Robin's decision to join the Teen Titans.
"Does it bother you that all your friends are going their separate ways?" he asked.
"Yes, it does. I know they are going to be happy, but it still bothers me."
"I know what you mean. I felt the same way when NSYNC broke up. These guys that I spent so much time with, getting to know and becoming a family, are now doing their own thing and they are doing it far away."
Lance came over and sat with me on the bed and I put my arms around him. "We have each other," I said. "We'll be okay."
Lance smiled. Then he said, "What's this?" and he turned the volume up on the television.
A news broadcast was showing video surveillance of the Joker, Harley and Quinn commandeering a private plane.
"No one was on board the jet as the three took control of it. They were overhead as saying, 'We're going home to our mommas' as they climbed on board the jet. The Joker then pulled his pants down and mooned everybody as the plane taxied down the runway."
"It looks as if we've heard the last of him," I said.
"Thank God!" Lance replied.
"That guy was nuts!"
I chuckled and turned off the television.
To Be Continued...
How do you think the storyline with the Joker ended? I hope I didn't fail any diehard Joker fans. Only four more chapters to go!