Okay folks, first a short apology for not getting this one out
sooner.
July was a virtual disaster, things went terribly wrong, so I had to
cut back on writing.
Secondly, not much in the way of C&C, so I've also had to review and
edit much on my own as well.  A good thing really, most of the prior
chapters have been moderately revamped as needed.
As for part five, I am not going to post it to the FFML, instead,
I will be posting it directly to the R.A.A.C. along with the entire
story.
This way I will not spoil the ending, and everyone will get a chance
to
do a final C&C on how they liked it overall.
So please read on, and I'll be looking forward to any C&C to come.

Now on with the show...
=====================================================================
========


                 In the Shadow of the Knight


Rosomer Orbit, two days later:

     [Roger, Control.  Lovely Angel receiving approach
coordinates and landing assignment.  ETA, 20 minutes, out.]
     Yuri tapped in their navigation codes to the Lovely
Angel's computer authorizing it to begin decent maneuvers.
She ran a swift check over the instrument panels and then
sat back in her chair.  Rosomer's bright glare loomed in
front of them, Yuri looking over at Kei in the pilots seat.
She toyed with something in her hands, a microchip maybe.
In any case, Yuri was not complaining seeing the fresh and
cheerful glint dancing in Kei's once downtrodden eyes.
     The aimless tune Kei hummed made Yuri smile.  "So, I
can see from your giddy expression that you're not at all
displeased about coming back here?" she said.
     Kei cut her a glance, expression lit with joy.  "Things
could not be better," she answered, resuming her work on the
thing in her hand.
     "I guess Wayne isn't such a putz after all," teased
Yuri.
     "He's not a `putz', Yuri," said Kei, "He's a champion
of justice.  A Knight in shining armor."
     "Ooo, so elegant a choice of words, my love struck
companion."  An alert beeped from the controls, Yuri reached
up to turn it off.  "Dark and Creepy Knight is a better
description for him," she continued, reaching out to take
hold of the ships controls.
     "It's the heart that shines brightly, m'friend,"
replied Kei.  She turned sideways in the seat, grinning from
ear to ear.  "I'm going to go find our `Knight' right now
and get me some more of that fantastic glow."
     "Kei!  We're starting reentry phase here!  You can't go
and leave me alone now."
     Kei stood up.  "Come on!  You can't tell me this is
above your skills, is it?"
     "No, but I could use the company."
     "I'll send Mughi up."
     "Kei!" called Yuri, but the redhead was through the
hatch before she knew it.
     Walking down to the spare bunkroom, Kei quickly looked
herself over, brushed out her hair a bit, and then knocked
lightly on the door.  "Come in," came Batman's heavy voice.
     The room was dark as she went inside.  At the small
desk station sat Bruce; his cowl pulled back, eyes locked on
a projection before him.  He never moved or even
acknowledged Kei's presence, studying the information
scrolling slowly up the screen.
     Kei stopped and peered at the writings.  "Reviewing our
info on the Rosomer situation?" she asked.
     "No," replied Bruce, "catching up on my past."  He shut
of the screen and turned the lights back up.  "What brings
you down here?" he asked, facing her.
     "Well, we're about to commence entry to Rosomer and I
thought you'd like to watch our decent."
     "Hm, tempting, but I think I need to finish reviewing
history before we confront Joker."
     Kei pulled up a chair.  "Come'on, Bruce.  Yuri's really
good at it, and you need to take a break from all of this
research."
     "Joker's not going to wait, and I do not like being
unprepared."
     "You won't be.  What's a few minutes, huh?"
     Bruce, faced with this fact, gave in to Kei's request.
"Alright, you've talked me into it."
     Cheered, Kei grabbed him by a hand and led Wayne out
the room.  They walked down to one of the ships observation
bays, passing Mughi heading towards the bridge.
     "Mughi, be a sweetheart and tell my `assistant' that
we'll be watching her decent so make it a good one."
     Mughi, casting Kei a skeptical glance, grumbled lightly
as he moved on.
     Reaching the observation bay, Kei activated the view
panels displaying Rosomer's green and blue horizon.  Bruce
drew in a breath actually surprised by the beauty of the
planet and stood mesmerized by the sight.  Clouds whisked
past the hull of the Angel, swirling contrails streaming
across her surface in an uncoordinated dance.  Kei meanwhile
watched Bruce with amorous interest playing at the back of
her eyes.  Even dressed in his costume this man was a
remarkable sight.  After the Joker is found and terminated,
she was going to try and convince Bruce to join 3WA.  If
things worked out, she might even get Bill to assign him to
the Angels, what a team that would be then!
     Moreover, she would have him all to herself.
     Bruce turned around suddenly breaking the love struck
Angel out of her fantasy.  "This was a good idea," he told
her.
     Kei smiled, inching up closer to him.  "See?  All work
and no play will just give you gray hair," she said, raising
up to plant a kiss on his lips.
     He laughed, facing the panels again.  "Gray hairs make
men look more sophisticated," he joked.  "From the images of
my predecessor, I didn't look bad with it either."
     Speaking of which," said Kei.  She took a few steps
back, fingers running suspiciously along the side of her
utility belt.  "Bruce, I've been doing some research of my
own about your alter ego."
     Wayne turned.  "You have?" he asked.
     Kei nodded.  "You had a partner most of the time,
right?"
     "Yes."
     "So I was thinking. maybe we can get you another
partner.  Temporarily I mean."
     "A partner?  Kei, I don't think that will be
necessary."
     "Oh, come on.  Don't be so stubborn."
     "And who do you have in mind?" asked Wayne, although he
knew what her answer would be.
     The grin on Kei's face grew wider as she pressed a
button on her belt.  Streaks of light danced about her body,
Bruce drawing back as they increased.  Finally, the swirling
display shifted conforming to Kei's body.  She now stood
clad in a red and green outfit, black boots, a short yellow
cape, with a dark green mask across her eyes.
     Hm, better than I expected," she said, looking over her
attire.  "So what do you think... Bruce?"
     Wayne stood aghast, almost in utter terror staring at
her with his mouth agape.  Images flashed before his eyes,
scenes from long ago during a time when things were changing
in the life of Bruce Wayne and Batman.  Of Joker's cruelty,
the murder and mayhem he spread across the continents.
     Of a death that should not have happened.
     Jason. I'm sorry!
     He spun away from Kei, one arm covering his eyes as the
memories tore into his soul.  Kei frowned and moved closer
to him.
     "Bruce?  Bruce, are you all right?"  She glanced down
at the uniform wondering what could be affecting him so.
"Oh," she said, smiling again, "It's the `K', right?  I can
change it back to an `R' if you like-."
     "Take it off!" said Bruce.
     "What?"
     Wayne rounded on Kei, face turned down in a mask of
anger.  "Take-it-off," he said again.
     "But you need another partner, Bruce!  I think I fit
the bill just perfectly."
     No!  Not you, not another death!
     Wayne's powerful hands took Kei by her shoulders,
gripping them tight.  Her cry of pain did not stop him as he
pulled her up from the floor.
     "Take off that uniform!" he growled again.
     "Ow!  Bruce, you're hurting me!  Stop it!"
     He let go and Kei staggered back from him.  Slowly did
Bruce's hands come down as a wave of exhaustion drove
through his body.  He went to the door and then stopped,
leaning up against the wall.  "I'm sorry," he said low.
     Kei reached down and shut off the chip.  "There,
better?" she asked.
     Looking back, Bruce started slightly in surprise.
     "It was a holograph, Bruce," explained Kei.  "I haven't
plugged the specs into the computer yet."
     "Don't," snapped Bruce.  "I-I, I don't need another
partner."
     "Bruce-."
     "No," Wayne said firmly, ending the matter.
     Kei sadly gazed down at the deck, obviously hurt and
disappointed.  Bruce did not mean to be so harsh with her,
but the pain burned deep into his soul.  They remained
silent for several long moments, and then Wayne said,
"Didn't mean to hurt you."
     He turned and gazed at the growing skyline while Kei
drifted back over to his side.  Hesitantly she placed a hand
on one shoulder.
     "I understand, Bruce," she told him.
     "It never should have happened," he replied low, "My
fault... all my fault."
     Kei let it pass.  "Hell of a way to welcome you to
Rosomer," she said.
     "No, it's a lovely planet."  He looked down giving Kei
a light smile relieving some of the tension between them.
Suddenly, the overhead speaker cracked to life.
     <Okay you two back there,> Yuri's voice called out,
<We're about to hit gravity so whatever position you are in,
you'd better strap it in or strap it down.!>
     "What?" stammered Kei, but Bruce's laughter cut her
protest short.
     "She has an interesting sense of humor," he said.
     "And now you see what I have to put up with."  Wayne's
chuckles increased, and Kei smirked giving him a light swat
on the shoulder.  "C'mon.  We need to get seated before our
pilot decides to do a roll on us."

                          * * * * *

     Police Headquarters appeared oddly quiet to Kei and
Yuri as they walked down the halls to Operations.  Once on
deck, Batman decided that his presence should remain unknown
for the moment and the girls agreed.  Fortunately, it was
early in the evening dusk just about to darken the streets
of New Berlin.  When they arrived, Kei gave Batman
directions to Superintendent Warren's office and he slipped
off quietly into the growing gloom as the Angels went to go
find Peter.
     "Something's not right," said Yuri looking around.
     "Yeah, from the looks of the city you'd figure a full
scale riot would be going on right about now," replied Kei.
     They entered Operations and stopped.  All the consoles
were manned, every display detailing the sectors of New
Berlin and her suburbs, but instead of frantic
conversations, everyone appeared calm.  You could feel the
tension in the air though a sense of unwanted apprehension
waiting for the Joker's next strike.  Yuri spotted Garry
Smith standing at the main console staring up at the
tactical screen and gave Kei a nudge gesturing for her to
follow.
     "Hi, Garry," she said.
     Garry never flinched, eyes locked up on the display.
"Hello, Yuri," he said.
     The girls traded confused looks.
     "Uh, what's up?" asked Kei.
     "Nothing for the moment.  It seems the Joker has called
it a night and gone underground on us."
     "He has?"
     "Yep.  Fighting started to taper off yesterday, a few
large scale robberies at some of our industrial sites, but
except for a few scattered reports he's. vanished."
     Kei gazed around again at the faces of the officers in
the room.  They all held tired expressions on their faces,
Kei noticing the trembling hand of one officer as she
brought a cup of coffee up to her mouth.  "That I find hard
to believe," she said, facing Garry again.  "Where's the
Supe?"
     Garry point back behind him.  "He's looking over the
reports in the conference room."
     Yuri made an immediate beeline in that direction
leaving Kei and Garry behind.  "And she talks about me," she
said with a grunt.  Kei gave Garry a tap on the shoulder and
he looked at her.
     "You better come along," she told him, "this pertains
to you too."
     "What's the surprise?" asked Smith as they went after
Yuri.
     Kei grinned mischievously.
     "You'll find out here in a minute."

                          * * * * *

     Superintendent Warren's attention lay strictly upon the
open records and various portable readouts strew across the
conference table when Yuri found him.  She smiled at the
brooding man as she crept in ever so silently up behind his
chair.  Peter grumbled something under his breath, grabbing
another file from the stack; Yuri slowly leaning down
towards his right ear.
     "Boo," she whispered.
     It was like a shot to the heart, Warren leaping from
his chair as papers and folders flew about the room.  "GREAT
SON-OF-A-, WHAT THE-, I'LL SHOOT WHOEVER-!" he cried before
recognizing the giggling Troubleconsultant.
     "Yuri, damn it," said Peter.  He leaned against the
table and tried to regain his composure.
     "I, I, I'm so s-s-sorry, Peter," Yuri said between her
laughs, "I couldn't pass up the opportunity."
     "Opportunity!  Hell, Yuri, you scared the snot out of
me!"
     "Well clean it up and let's get to your office," Kei's
voice called as she appeared at the doorway.  Warren paused
giving her a slight sneer.  "Good to see you too," she
finished, returning the look.
     Yuri quickly took Warren by a hand.  "Come on, Peter!
We've brought back a solution to your Joker problem."
     Warren moaned loudly as she pulled him along.  "No,
you've brought the Nuke!"
     "I wish," commented Kei as he passed.  She suddenly
swatted Garry in the stomach.  "I though you said you
weren't going to tell him about that?"
     Garry just shrugged innocently.
     The four reached Peter's office and Yuri made sure the
light remained low before allowing them to enter.  She
turned on his desk lamp as he sat down in his chair, and
then stood close beside him.  Peter frowned wondering what
it was the Angels wanted him to see.
     "Okay, where is this great answer to my main headache
right now?" he asked them.
     Kei smiled and walked into the middle of the room.
"Superintendent Warren, I want to present to you your final
solution to the Joker."
     Peter rolled his eyes, clearly impatient with the
delay.  "Get on with it, will you?  The Joker could strike
at any moment!"
     "Let's hope not," came a husky voice from the shadows
behind Kei.
     A dark form shifted, moving across the floor towards
the desk.  Garry let out a gasp staring at the ominous
figure approaching his superior.  Instinctively, he went for
his gun but Kei held up her hands stopping him.  Batman
finally came to a stop and stared down at Superintendent
Warren.
     "Peter," said Yuri, "may I introduce... Batman."
     The Superintendent sat petrified gazing up at Batman
unable to speak.  Batman's eyes narrowed.
     "Superintendent," he said with a nod.
     The air finally came back to Peter.  He turned his eyes
up at Yuri and said, "Two heart attacks in one day, Yuri?
You are trying to kill me."
     "Aw, now don't let his looks scare you," she replied.
     Warren stared up at Batman again taking in his features
once more.  "Uh, Batman?  You're here to help us nail
Joker?"
     "I'm going to take him off your hands, yes."
     "I see."  Peter appeared to relax, folding his arms
across his chest.  "Could have used you a few days ago."
     "Sorry I'm late, Superintendent."
     "Sure, but that doesn't help much, Bat-whoever you
are," grumbled Garry.
     Batman turned.  "And you are?"
     "Garry Smith, Assistant Superintendent."
     They all could see Batman make a slight wince, eyes
narrowing.  "What, something wrong with my name, buster?"
commented Garry, drawing himself up to full height.
     "No. a thought came to mind.  Nothing against you."
     Kei sensed the tensions brewing and acted to prevent
relations from souring between them.  "Superintendent,
Batman has gone up against the Joker in the past so I think
we will benefit from his cooperation."
     "And I'm supposed to place all of my trust in him,
Kei?" he replied.
     "Sure," said Yuri,  "Look, even though Batman's
`personality' is not very sociable, I have it from good
sources that he is the man to do the job."
     Batman smirked inwardly at Yuri's comment, taking in
Warren and Smith's reaction to him.  He could not blame them
for being skeptical, but it was nothing new remembering
Commissioner Gordon's first reaction to his appearance.
     "Superintendent, I will need to scout the city and
check for any leads on Joker's current area's of
operations," he said.
     Peter motioned to Garry, and Smith went to the monitor
on the wall across from them.  Calling up an overview of New
Berlin, he detailed the area in dispute with Joker and his
gang.  "Joker's been hitting the industrial works for about
a week now, taking electronic parts and microconduit
circuitry.  He's also had his thugs raiding the docks and
shipping terminals lifting things from metal presses to
crystal smelting trays."
     "We suspect he's making more of those damn guns of
his," said Peter.
     Batman walked over and scanned the display thinking
about this information.  He was silent for a long minute,
eyes taking in the city layout and potential places the
Joker and his cronies could be holed up.  Finally, he
returned to Peter's desk.
     "I'm going out tonight," he told Warren.
     "By yourself?" asked Peter.
     "No, I'll have the Angels with me.  You need to alert
your people and have them stand clear of whatever I turn
up."
     "And how do I tell them that?" asked Gary.  "All units
be on the lookout for a large black caped vigilante slinking
through the shadows?"
     Turning, Batman made his way slowly over to Smith, jaw
set firmly in place.  "You tell them whatever you'd like,
Mister Smith, but tell them to stay out of our way," he told
Garry.
     Taking a light swallow, Garry nodded.  Batman looked
back at Warren again.
     "Is that okay with you, Superintendent?"
     "Yes, Batman, it is.  We'll give you and the girls
plenty of space."
     Batman went over to the window, opening it up.  "We'll
maintain contact on our comlinks and let you know our
status.  Kei, Yuri, meet me at your car."
     With that, Batman climbed out the window and
disappeared into the ensuing night.  Garry rushed over to
the window trying to see which way he had gone, but Batman
was nowhere to be seen.
     "Where did you two dig that up?" exclaimed Garry, re-
closing the window.
     "Probably the same place Joker came from," answered
Yuri.
     "Yuri, knock off the sarcasm," Kei said.  "He's on our
side, remember?"
     Peter, staring quietly at the window, leaned forward
letting out a low hum.  "I can't say that I trust him fully
girls, but in light of what is happening right now, it's
better than nothing."
     "We won't disappoint you, Peter," said Yuri.
     "The Joker is dead," added Kei.
     Turning, Warren raised a skeptical brow at them.  A
tight smile creased his beard and then he told Garry to get
that bulletin out before Batman inadvertently got shot by
their men.  "This could be interesting," he said.
     "Yep," replied Kei, "Time for the Joker to start
running scared, and we're just the people to make him do it
too."

                          * * * * *

Main factory works, Schlieman's und Voss Electronics,
East Side, New Berlin;

     Like typical customers strolling down a grocery stores
aisle, two dark figures walked casually along panning the
narrow beams of their lights around the stocked shelves of
merchandise.  So much to be had thought Chuck Fenton as he
gazed around in silent awe.
     A small time hood not know for such daring and bravado
as this, Fenton along with is companion, Freddie Mares, knew
this job was special or so Oscar Taylor told them earlier
that day.  A simple job that if completed successfully would
grant them full membership into the new boss's central
organization.  Not many were allowed entry into the coveted
Joker Gang's inner sanctum, but the offer from one of his
top men could not be passed up.
     Mares suddenly tapped Fenton on the arm.  "Hey, Chucky
man," he said, "Look this is starting to feel wrong with
me."
     "We just got here, Freddie.  Geesh!  Have some faith,
will'ya?"
     "Do you know how large this `Conducer' thing is?"
     Mares pointed his light up to the ceiling.  He pulled
out a folded piece of paper and opened it up.  Reading over
some of the specs, Chuck looked around at the boxes on the
shelves.
     "It's going to take a few more backs to move it, so
what?"
     "So what?  If the Supe's goons catch us they'll mash us
into the dirt!  We can't run away from them with something
like this on our backs!"
     "Don't worry about the Supe, okay?  Joker's got him
quivering in his headquarters scared out of his wits.  No
cops gonna dare stick their faces around here."
     Freddie shuddered sensing the air temperature dropping
a bit.  He gazed about the darkness before continuing on.
"Sure don't like this," he muttered.  Fenton rolled his eyes
and followed.
     After checking several more aisles, they finally came
across something that might be what they were looking for.
It was metal box about waist high with several black numbers
stenciled across the front and sides.  Chuck matched the
numbers with the one on the paper then looked up at Freddie
with a smile.
     "This is it," he told him excitedly.
     "Great, now lets find a grav-dolly and-."
     Something caught Freddie's ears and he paused staring
out into the surrounding darkness.
     "What?" asked Chuck, dropping down into a low crouch,
reaching for his gun.
     "I though I heard..." Again, Freddie paused,
concentrating.  "It sounded like. wings."
     Fenton shot to his feet.  "Wings!  Freddie, damn it,
stop imagining things!"
     "I-heard-something, Chuck," Mares replied.
     "You heard wings.  It's probably a bird that got caught
in here during the day.  Now like you were saying, find a
grav-dolly and lets get this down to the truck."
     "We should leave it," suggested Freddie.  There was
fear lacing his words, but Fenton ignored it.
     "Are you kidding?" he said, astonished.  "Look, man!
This is our ticket into the top gang in this city.  We're
going to be rich, powerful, and feared by everyone who knows
us."
     "Some'n not right here, Chuck!"
     "Will you stop freaking out about wings and go find us
a dolly!"
     Grumbling curses, Freddie went off to find a grav-dolly
as instructed.  Panning his flashlight around, his light
came across three of the units neatly arrayed side by side
near the end of the room.  "We should be outta here," he
mumbled.  Another beat sounded, Freddie stopping dead in his
tracks.
     "Chuck," he called over his shoulder.
     "Will you get the blasted dolly!" hissed Fenton.
     Freddie's steps were more hesitant now, head turning
back and forth searching for signs of trouble.  He reached
out and grabbed the upright control handle with a shaky hand
and pulled the dolly sharply away from the wall.  As he
turned to rejoin his companion, the dolly suddenly jerked
pulling itself back to its original spot.  Freddie yelped
and jumped away.
     "Hey Freddie what are you doing now?" said Chuck.
     "Dolly is locked to something."
     "Well break it loose and come on!"
     Freddie smirked.  He was about to grab the dolly again
when his senses felt the presence of someone or something
standing in the darkness next to it.  Slowly, his light
drifted over until it came up on a caped figure one dark
gloved hand holding the handle.
     The strange figure's mouth set in a thin grim line,
eyes locked on him piercing his soul.  Freddie tried to call
out, tried to form even the smallest of words but he
couldn't as terror filled him.  Suddenly, the man spoke.
     "Joker. where is he?"
     "AAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!"
     Mares scrambled back tripping over things in the
darkness, yelling at the top of his lungs.  Chuck jumped and
quickly shined his light in Freddie's direction.  His
companion rushed past then into view appeared the Dark
Knight striding purposely towards him.
     "S-S-Sweet Mother of.!"
     "Joker," called Batman again, "Where is he?"
     Instinct told Fenton to draw his gun, but common sense
instructed his legs to mimic Freddie and he quickly
scrambled away down the aisle.  The sensors in his mask
allowed Batman to track their flight.  He stopped next to
the crate they were after and scanned its surface.
Recording the numbers into the memory cube of his suit,
Batman resumed his pursuit of the two criminals.
     Meanwhile, Freddie and Chuck had reached the side door
they came through, scrambling out into the alley where
their truck sat.
     "START THE ENGINE, START THE ENGINE!" cried Freddie to
the others they had left waiting for the signal to
move.  The truck remained silent and the two staggered to a
stop staring into the cab.  No one there, carefully Chuck
made he way around to the back.  "Hello," he called timidly,
and then knocked on one of the rear doors.  It opened up and
out dropped a body to the ground.
     His face was badly bruised, no doubt beaten into
unconsciousness; Chuck peering into the back to find the
rest of his men in the same condition about the place.
     "Chuck!" cried Freddie.
     "Its every man for himself!" replied Fenton.
     Freddie started climbing into the cab when he heard the
sound of wings again.  Ahead, silhouetted beneath the glow
of a night lamp, stood Batman's terrifying form.  Mares
leaped down and joined Fenton in a mad dash down the alley.
A foot suddenly extended out of the shadows tripping Chuck
up.  He fell; Freddie tripping over his body and the two
crooks tumbled into a heap on the cold concrete street.
     Out stepped Kei; Yuri just behind her, smiling down at
the two men.  "Now you boys weren't thinking about leaving,
were you?" she said.
     Both men cried out and tried to scramble away but a
powerful grip took each by the scruff of their necks and
hoisted the effortlessly from the ground.  They were slammed
face first into the side of the building moaning in pain as
Batman jerked them roughly around.
     "Joker. where can I find him?" he snarled as he
tightened his grip.
     Both men cried fearfully out in terror unable to do
much else.  Another strong jerk and Batman hefted them both
up higher into the air.
     "I'm not going to ask you again!  Where-is-Joker?"
     "AH, NO! PLEASE DON'T, PLEASE DON'T HURT US!" cried
Freddie.
     "Joker!" Batman shouted again.
     "We don't know, we don't know!" Chuck frantically told
him.  "W-W-We were just supposed to get this thing and
deliver it to a drop off and go from there!"
     "And where is this drop off place?"
     "Ends Neck!  Near the west docks!"
     "And will Joker be there?"
     "We don't knahooooooo!" whined Freddie.
     Batman let them go and they slumped to the ground.
Behind him, Yuri held a display pad in her hands examining
the area in question.
     "Hm.  A few clicks from here," she said.  "A good area
for Joker to hide out in."
     "We'll have to hit every building there," Kei said.  "I
better get Garry online and have him drop some of his boys
off to seal the streets."
     "That will alert Joker," said Batman.  He thought a
second before reaching down to grab the two crooks by the
front of their shirts again, pulling them to their feet.
They cried and moaned expecting to be beaten just like the
others of their team, but Batman drew up close to their
faces with a grim frown.
     "You two are going to make your appointment," he told
them.
     "We, we are?" questioned Chuck.
     "Yes!  You're going to take a message back to Joker for
me.  You tell him... you tell him I'm back, and I'm coming to
get him."
     Chuck and Freddie traded looks.  "Who are you?" asked
Chuck.
     "I'm Batman.  You tell Joker that.  He'll understand."
     They were roughly let go collapsing down at the Dark
Knight's feet.  "Go," he told them and with no hesitation,
Freddie and Chuck bolted off down the alley, their cries of
terror cutting the night air.  Once out of view, Batman made
a slight twitch of one cheek activating the microdisplay on
one of his eye coverings.  It displayed a top down view of
New Berlin and two distinct blips marking their targets.
     "Boy look at them run," commented Yuri with a laugh,
watching the same readout on her pad.
     "I must admit, Mister Batman, your interrogation
methods are quite effective," said Kei.
     He said nothing, continuing to monitor the fleeing
hoods.  Finally, Batman turned to them.  "I'll follow them
on foot," he said.  "You two get the police here to clean
things up, then follow me.  We'll maintain a discreet
distance until I can determine if Joker is present."
     "Then we'll nail his butt," commented Kei.
     "Hopefully it will be that easy," replied Batman.
     He spread his arms wide, the cape forming into firm
wings and with a thought; Batman hovered up into the night
sky.  The Angels watched him, and then Yuri made a light
moan, shuddering.
     "What's wrong with you?" asked Kei.
     "He looks so creepy when he does that."
     "Part of the effect.  Works, eh?"
     Kei winked and went off to secure their current
prisoners, while Yuri gave the sky one last look.  She
grimaced; shuddering again and quickly went to join her
partner.

                          * * * * *

     Steadily did Joker nibble upon the small plate of
Rosomer's version of smelted sardines, smacking his lips
with each bite, ignoring the steady glare coming from the
man displayed on the wide display above him.  Thomas Preston
could hardly contain the fury he felt and wished he could
just reach through this screen and throttle Joker now.
Things were not going as he instructed from the news and
lack of reports by his man on the planet.  The Joker's
haughty demeanor explained much, and it appeared that
personal intervention would be needed to salvage the
situation.
     Finishing the last bits of his snack, Joker handed the
plate back to Kelly standing behind him, wiped his lips
clean before staring up at Preston.
     "Hello, Presto!  Didn't expect to hear from you so
soon?  What's up?"
     [You know what is up, Joker,] snarled Preston.  [I
thought my instructions were clear about how we were going
to operate on Rosomer?]
     "Oh they were, Presty, they were!"
     [Then why does it look like a small-scale war has
broken out on Rosomer!]
     "War?"  Joker turned a questioning gaze back at Kelly.
"Why.  I'm not sure I know what you are talking about?"
     [You know damn well what I'm talking about!] cried
Preston, fist slamming down on his desk.  [Rosomer was to be
subverted, not destroyed in uncontrolled sprees of death and
destruction!]
     "Now, Presto-."
     [That's Mister Preston, Joker!]
     "So you have said.  Anyway, I have merely `improved'
our acceptance with the populace of this fine planet.  So
far I seem to be doing well."
     Thomas reared back; words' coming out in short fits and
stutters as he fought to control his anger.  [James!  Where
is James?]
     "James?" trailed Joker, again looking quizzically back
at Kelly.  A snicker from Gadgets across the room told
Thomas that Joker had broken his leash.
     [What have you done to James?] he seethed.
     "James," said Joker.  He peered up at the ceiling
pretending to ponder the name.  "I don't think I have anyone
here by that name, Presto.  However, we do have a new lawn
decoration the gang and I have affectionately named `Jimmy'.
Could that be who you're looking for?"
     [You killed him!]
     "Wha-, (phft!), who, me?  Kill someone. now Presto that
hurts me, and after our relationship was just about to
improve."
     [Don't you mock me, Joker!  You and your gang have gone
way past boundaries now.  You forget who runs things here!]
     "No I have not, Preston!" snapped Joker, rising up from
his chair.  "Things have changed, and it is I who now holds
the power in this section of space.  I am the boss here not
you!"
     [You dare dictate to me, you pasty-faced no good clown!
I gave you the chance at a second life don't forget that!]
     Joker laughed at Preston.  "Cone on, Presto, you can do
better than that."  His smile dropped into an evil mask of
hate, one finger pointing menacingly at Preston's image.
"You will rue those words, Thomas Preston.  Our relations
are at an end, and once I've complete my takeover of this
HCS, you can bet I will be dropping by to see you... count on
it."
     [What!  Joker, don't you-!]
     The screen went black, Gadgets breaking the connection
at Joker's signal.
     "Oh great," said Kelly.  Tossing the plate in his hands
aside, he sat down in a chair and pulled his fedora down
over his eyes.
     "And what may I ask do you mean by that, Kelly?" asked
Joker, facing him.
     "I mean now we've really stepped into it.  You have
inadvertently declared war on the most powerful syndicate
boss in the galaxy.  Start looking for muscle in dark suits
to appear on the corners soon."
     "Fear does not become you, Kelly," replied Joker.
"Forget not the progress we have made on our latest weapon."
     Kelly, tipping his head back a bit to see Joker,
grunted skeptically.  "That's if we can get the rest of the
parts Gadgets here needs."
     "We will get them.  Is not Oscar and Baby out now
retrieving one of our vital components, hm?"
     "Sure is," said Gadgets.  "Once I have that puppy
installed, all's that left are a few dishes, some charging
coils, and a level ten core system."
     "Which are currently on our delivery list pending pick-
up," added Joker.
     "Then what?" asked Kelly.
     "Why, why we start phase three; the subjugation of
Rosomer."
     With a laugh, Joker flopped back into his chair
spreading his arms wide.  Kelly felt somewhat secure again
about their plans, but Preston's dark specter clouded his
visions.  Ambitious as the Joker was, taking on a vast
galaxy crime syndicate did not factor well and felt akin to
a death warrant.
     "Joker," he said, sitting up.  "You cracked a remark
about the HCS.  Are you serious about trying to take it
over?"
     "As far as the boarders will allow."
     Now Gadgets seemed concerned.  "Uh, Mister Joker, the
Director-."
     "-mean's nothing, boys!" cut in Joker.  "With Rosomer
under our control and its vast resources and wealth ours to
use, we can build an army that can conquer all of the HCS.
and maybe part of the Confederation as well."
     Giggling, Joker gazed at his two men with a leer.
"Listen to me, planning the fall of a civilization.  Never
fancied myself to be some kind of a generalissimo."
     "Stretching it, Joker," commented Kelly.  "Still
haven't achieved our present goals yet."
     Suddenly through the door appeared Oscar, and he was
hopping mad as he walked in.  Baby followed and clutched in
his massive hands hung a terrified Chuck and Freddie.  "We
got problems," said Taylor as the two were tossed into the
middle of the room.
     Joker arched a brow, quietly turning his chair around.
He propped his feet up on the console and said, "Kelly, why
does this feel like trouble?"
     Kelly looked at Oscar.  "What's up?"
     "I'll let these two explain."
     A sharp slap on the side of their heads from Baby
startled the hapless pair.
     "Boss wants to know what happened!" shouted Baby.
     Chuck slowly came up on his knees staring at the dark
looks on the faces around him.  He tugged on his collar,
swallowing the fear welling in his throat.  "We... we didn't
get the part, Mister Joker."
     "Aw not again!" said Gadgets.
     Kelly waved him to silence, motioning for Fenton to
continue.
     "We had it.  We had it in our grasp, but then, then we
lost it."
     "How?" asked Kelly.
     "We got jumped!" cried Freddie, leaping to his feet.
"They came out of the dark, something big, black, and
terrifying!"
     "They got the rest of our guys and chased us down into
the alley."  Chuck began to cry, sobbing into his hands as
Kelly watched in surprise.  "It all happened so fast.  So
fast!"
     "So you lost my part?" came Joker's level voice.
     "We didn't mean too, Mister Joker!" pleaded Freddie,
dropping to his knees again.
     "It wasn't our fault!" added Chuck.
     "So I'm to take the blame for this then, hm?"
     His anger mixed with the fear in the air, a steady tap
of fingers the only sign of Joker's annoyance.
     "Failure is not something I'm keen on forgiving, boys,"
continued Joker.  "I believe in effective operations, no
sloppy screw-ups which this is of major proportions."
     "We didn't know!" cried Chuck.
     "If you had it in your hands, you should have been able
to bring it with you," said Kelly.
     "Ah, well said," added Joker.  "So, in light of your in-
competence, I'm afraid we will have to dispense of your
services."  Briefly did Joker's level gaze turn to them
before he finished.  "With your lives."
     Baby's heavy hands snatched the two up by the back of
their shirts dragging them away begging for their lives.
     "Please, please, Mister Joker!" cried Freddie.  "We
didn't mean it!"
     "He came out of nowhere!  A ghost he was!" said Chuck.
     "Who?" asked Kelly, stopping Baby at the door.
     "We don't know! He was just there!"
     "And I'm not interested either," said Joker.  "Baby."
     "He called himself `Batman'!" shouted Freddie.
     Joker's leap over his desk startled everyone as he
became a purple streak dashing across the room.  Chuck and
Freddie found themselves caught up in his tight grip,
slamming them furiously against the wall.  His eyes were
wide almost to the point of bulging from their sockets,
teeth grit together in mute astonishment.
     "B-B-B-Batman?  Did you say `Batman'!"
     "Yeah, yeah, Mister Joker!" sobbed Freddie.  "He was
look'n for you, said something about coming to get you and
that you'd remember him!"
     Joker let them go spinning around with a look of shock.
It was the first time Kelly or anyone had ever seen this
change and they waited to see what Joker's response would be
next.  Slowly Joker walked back towards his desk, abruptly
stopping, muttering aimlessly in a low voice.
     "...no... no... it... it can't be?  He's not come back to haunt
me again... could he?"
     "Joker?" called Kelly.  No response, Kelly and Oscar
wondering if they'd have to break out the smelling salts.
"Joker, are you gonna be alright?"
     But the Joker's mind was filled with flashing images
from long past, images of a time where he spared against his
arch-nemesis in mortal combat.  Painful jolts suddenly
wracked him and he gripped the sides of his head letting out
a long, sorrowful wail.
     "NOOOOOO!!!!!! IT CAN'T BEEEEEE!!!!!!!"
     He leaned against his desk, body heaving from his
exertions.  Kelly went to Joker's side.
     "Joker, what's gotten in to you?"
     The Joker turned and gripped his aide by the shoulders.
"It has to be some kind of trick!" he gasped frantically.
"S-Some kind of trick to lure me out, or frighten me!"
     "Well it's working quite well," said Kelly.
     Joker thrust him aside staggering over to the wall.
"Batman," he sobbed in to his arms, "Why can't you just
leave me alone!"
     "Is this `Bat-dude' that much of a threat?" asked
Oscar.
     Pausing, Joker suddenly looked around at him.  "You
brought them here," he said.
     "Who?  These two?"
     The fear had vanished from Joker, replaced with a
determined stare.  "Kelly, we're bugging out!" he declared
returning back to his desk.
     "Bugging out?  But Joker, we just got things pretty
much set up here!"
     "Them un-set them!  Baby, activate our next site, Oscar
get the boys moving, chop-chop.  We leave in five minutes!"
     "What about the parts?" asked Gadgets. Joker tensed,
setting his jaw tight glaring at them hard.
     "Get going guys," said Kelly.
     "What about these two?" asked Baby of Chuck and
Freddie.
     Joker stared at them and his all to familiar grin
reappeared.  "Yes," he trailed, walking back over to the
two.  "You know what they say about messengers?"
     "Uh. spare them and show the world how much compassion
you have to others?" said Chuck.
     "Hah ha, nice try."  Leaning close into their faces,
Joker chuckled lightly as he thought about what to do next.
"I too have a message for you to give to Batman, if it is
him."
     "How, how are we going to give it to him, M-Mister
Joker?" asked Freddie.
     The Joker's grin widened more.
     "Very carefully.  In fact you both will not have to do
much at all."
     Chuck and Freddie drew back, knowing this was not going
to be good for them at all...

                          * * * * *

     The fingers of Thomas Preston's good hand flexed
steadily as he stared at the darkened screen before him.
The multitude of things he would do to that insolent clone,
the pain he would personally inflict burned hot in his mind.
His hands slammed down loudly on the desk, Preston turning
the chair around.
     "James," he seethed.
     Out of the shadows appeared James with his usual, calm
demeanor.  "Yes, Mister Preston?"
     "I want all of my best shooters, all of my best
enforcers, every hardcore hitman in our organization.  I
want them all sent to Rosomer... immediately."
     James arched a brow.  "Is this necessary, sir?"
     "What?" replied Preston.
     "I do not mean to question your instructions, sir, but
I do not believe any direct action from us is required."
     "James what are you getting at?"
     "Two things, sir.  First, I have it from a good source
that 3WA has dispatched a certain person by the name of
`Batman' to go and eradicate Joker's presence in the HCS."
     Thomas sat back.  "Really?"
     "Yes, sir."
     "And second?"
     "Secondly, there is this."  James reached into his
jacket and produced a folded piece of paper, which he handed
over to Thomas.  The kingpin opened it and read over the
contents.  All of the tension faded away from him as he read
then Thomas cut his eyes up at James.
     "And how long have you been holding this, James?" he
asked.
     "It was delivered an hour ago, sir.  I had it checked
before I presented it."
     "Hm."  Preston folded the letter back up, paused, and
then opened it up once more.  He rescanned it, a light smile
appearing.  "Batman, eh?"
     "A reputable crime-fighter, sir.  One I think will do
what is required on Rosomer."
     "Yes."  Preston handed the letter back to James.
"Accepted.  Make the proper arrangements if you would."
     "Yes sir."
     "Oh, and James."
     "Sir?"
     Thomas steeped his fingers together before him.  "You
can say it."
     "Say what, sir?"
     He laughed lightly.  "`I told you so'."
     James stood erect, thinking a moment about the
statement.  "I do not believe that will be necessary, Mister
Preston," he finally said.
     "You're a good man, James," replied Thomas.
     "Thank you, sir."

                          * * * * *

     So strange sailing over the city like this, thought
Batman, zooming around one of New Berlin's high-rise
buildings.  He had to admit, technology has improved over
the years.  This beat swinging from line to line in the dark
wondering what pratfall would be encountered at the next
landing.
     Gliding to a stop alongside a rooftop, Batman reviewed
his display, marking the location of his inadvertent guides.
They were not far away now, three blocks max, but oddly had
not moved in several minutes.  A beep from his comlink
sounded.
     "Batman."
     [Batman, its Kei.  We're three streets over from your
position.]
     A short pan of his eyes, Batman picked up the Angel's
icon approaching on the display.  "Got you," he told her.
     [So what's up with our pals?  First they're running all
over the place, now their just sitting still as stone.]
     "I don't know, but we'll find out here soon.  Meet me
at the corner of. 46th and Zimmermann."
     [Roger... Batman.]
     Batman let a rare smile form, diving towards the ground
to join up with the girls.
     Arriving at the corner, Kei and Yuri parked their
vehicle in the shadows of a nearby side street and stood
waiting for Batman to appear.  Yuri watched the time
nervously, slightly agitated by the wait and uncertainty of
another encounter with Joker and his fiendish device.  She
looked over at Kei, finding her standing nonchalant in the
open car door, calmly checking over her pistol.
     "Aren't you the least bit afraid of what might be
happening here soon?" she asked her.
     "Nope," quipped Kei, "I feel lucky tonight, and with
Batman along this should be a pushover."
     "Sure.  Where is your dark and frightful boyfriend at
anyway?  He could at least be a bit more prompt at his own
meetings."
     "Get off it, Yuri," snapped Kei.  "Batman will be
here."
     "I am here."
     Batman walked out of the darkness behind them startling
the Angels.  "A little more patience is required, Yuri," he
said coming up next to Kei.  Yuri faintly sneered at him.
     "So is the Joker about?" asked Kei.
     "Can't tell.  We'll have to move in for a closer look."
     Yuri studied the readout, her brows furrowed close
together.  "If those two haven't move for this long, Batman,
my guess is that Joker or his thugs whacked them and left."
     "Possible," replied Batman.  "We'll need to cordon off
this area."
     Kei activated her comlink.  [Garry, you there?]
     Garry Smith's voice answered her call.  [Yeah.]
     [Listen, we're on the corner of 46th and Zimmerman
about two blocks away from where we think Joker is holed up
at.  You got anything close by to seal off the area; oh lets
say four blocks deep?]
     [Have two squad cars in that area, not much else.]
     Batman came online.  [Have them start closing down the
streets, Smith.  We're moving in for a closer look and see
if we can flush him out if he is there.]
     [Right.  I can zoom a few AlTAC over to give you
support.]
     Kei glanced up at Batman.  He shook his head, not
wanting to give Joker any indications that they were on to
him.
     [Thanks, but no, Garry,] she replied.  [We'll be in
touch, out.]
     Checking the display again, Kei sensed that something
was not right with the situation.  "Are you sure we're not
going to need back up?" she asked Batman.
     "No, but if we do catch him off guard then he will not
be much trouble to apprehend."
     "Well I'm ready," said Yuri.  She ducked back down into
the car producing her favorite heavy-duty rifle.
     "You won't need that," said Batman with a tight smirk
pulling at his chin.
     "What, this?  Batman, there are crooks in there,
heavily armed and ready to shoot us dead at the slightest
provocation."
     "Your point is?"
     "I'm not going in there unarmed!"
     "You won't be going in there."
     Yuri flinched.  "I'm not?"
     "No.  I want you to cover the outside just in case
Joker does try to escape."
     "Still means they might try and shoot me.  You do know
Kei and I have a drop order on Joker?"
     "I will take care of Joker, now put that away."
     The firmness of his voice made Yuri reluctantly comply
with his order.  Batman drew back and eyed the pistol on
Kei's hip.
     "Oh, going for the more standard approach are we?" she
said, removing her holster.
     "Cuts down on casualties."
     Kei laughed.  "In that case I'm game."  Tossing her
pistol into the passenger's seat, Kei reached in back
producing a long, hexagonal shaped rod with a black rubber
handgrip at its center.  She admired its clean surface
lovingly, running her fingers along its length.
     "What is that?" asked Batman.
     "A combat gravity baton," she replied with excitement.
"I call him `Mjolinar."
     The sparkle in Kei's eyes brought worry to Batman's
mind.  "Mjolinar?"
     "She names all of her weapons," commented Yuri.
     "Hmm.  Well if `Mjolinar does not cause any critical
injuries, then he can come along.  Keep a close eye on
things out here, Yuri."
     Yuri huffed, tossing her head back and turned away.
Batman ignored her.  He extended his cape again and hovered
up into the night.  Kei activated her gravpac and followed
when Yuri's angry thoughts assailed her.
     <And who made him boss?> she seethed.
     <Aw, stop having such a tantrum.>
     <He told me to put my rifle away!  Nobody tells me to
put my rifle away!>
     <Get over it!  Besides, maybe this time we can actually
keep casualties low.>
     <He still can't go around telling me what to do!>
     Kei sighed.  <I'm going to sign off now.  You keep your
eyes open and be careful.  Scream if anything happens.>
     <Right, you too.  Batman can break a leg for all I
care.>
     <Behave.>

                          * * * * *

     There was no sign of life in the ten-story office
building Kei and Batman approached.  Every window was dark,
beckoning holes reminiscent of catacombs dug into the sides
of a large mountain, menacing and filled with foreboding
dread.  At one of the fifth story windows they stopped, Kei
shining a light inside.  The office was empty and she turned
it off.
     "I don't like this," Kei whispered.
     "Neither do I," answered Batman.  He looked in as well,
night vision mode turned on studying the walls and floor.
"I'm not detecting any electronic sensors.  Nothing
mechanical to trip around the window that I can see."
     "Joker's left?" suggested Kei.
     "I think so."
     Kei hovered to the front corner of the building.  She
looked around spotting their car with Yuri inside parted
just up the road.  [Yuri,] she called over the comlink.
     [Got something?]
     [Joker doesn't appear to be here.]
     [Damn.  This clown move fast!  What now?]
     Looking back, Kei waited for Batman to answer that
question.  He felt around the window and then drew out a
slim tri-legged device, affixing it to the lower corner.
Its legs rotated micro-fine beams of laser light cutting a
hole into the glass.  Batman pulled it back, reached through
the hole, and undid the latch.
     [We're going in, Yuri,] finished Kei, hovering back
over.
     Still careful not to touch the floor, Batman drifted to
the door.  He slowly opened it and looked down the short
hallway.  A dim glow came from around the corner and he drew
back.
     "There is a light coming from down the hallway," he
whispered to Kei.  "Could be a trap."
     "Lets go see if it is," she replied.
     Carefully, the two made their way up to the corner.
Batman signaled a stop and peered around.  The hallway
opened up to a connecting tier that ran completely around an
open work area below.  He spotted the source of the light, a
small lamp set on a large box in the middle of the room, and
sitting on either side were two figures.  Kei drew up over
his shoulder.
     "Our boys?" she said.
     "Yes."  Batman glanced up at the rest of the tiers then
moved out into the open.  "Go around and come down the
opposite way."
     Kei flew off as Batman went to the stairs leading down
into the work area.  When she was ready, together they
stared moving down watching for even the slightest hint of
trouble from the surrounding shadows, but nothing happened
and they reached the bottom floor with no problems.
     Drawing Mjolinar up before her, Kei approached the two
figures.  She could see in the dim light that the one
nearest her sat leering at his partner with a broad toothy
smile.  I've seen that look before, she thought, as she got
closer.  Sure enough, his eyes were wide open and his skin
had turned a clammy pale white-blue.
     "Damn," muttered Kei, lowering her weapon.  Batman
stood behind the other dead man.
     "Joker," she heard him say in disgust.
     "At least we know he was here."
     He had underestimated Joker this round, Batman not
expecting him to kill these two before he could arrive.  It
was an error he would not make again.
     "Kei, check the other tables," he told Kei.  "But don't
touch anything."
     Nodding, Kei went over to the nearest workbench.
Obviously, Joker and his men had left in a hurry.  There
were tools and other parts still strewn about along with
several trays containing electrical components.  This didn't
look like something for a gun, mused Kei.  She glanced back
over her shoulder to see if Batman was watching, and then
picked one of them up.  Odd?  This reminded her of some
parts found in the Angel's computer mainframe, but what were
they doing here?  Yuri would be able to make more sense out
of this; Kei tucked the part down into her top.  "Kei,"
called Batman, drawing her back over to him.  He pointed
down at the top of the box.
     "Notice anything odd?"
     "Yeah, their playing cards," Kei answered, eyeing the
spread of five cards lying in front of each man.
     "Anything else?"
     The cards in front of the stiff next to her were all
lying face up.  Joker's deviant face leered up at them from
each one.  Kei smirked and then noticed that the other five
were all face down.
     "What's it supposed to mean?" she asked.
     "He playing a game with us," answered Batman.  "A
challenge to me."
     "Cowardly fellow.  We'll have to teach him some respect
for this."
     Batman reached down turning the first face down card
over.  In thick bold black marker was written the letter
`B'.  They exchanged looks then he turned over the second
card.
     `O'.
     This one was starting to feel bad, Batman suspecting
what the next card would read.  It was another `O', and he
smirked.  A quick flip of the last two reviled an `M' and an
exclamation point.
     "Get out!" he told Kei, and they sprinted away from the
box for the nearest exit.
     Outside, Yuri stretched, yawning from her boredom
wishing that she gone in with her partner and unwanted
assistance when a bright flash and loud explosion shattered
the night.  Chunks of debris bounced off the reinforced
windshield, and Yuri ducked down covering her ears from the
blast.  When she sat up most of the office building had
collapsed with fire raging through what remained.
     "Kei!" cried Yuri, springing out of the car.  She
started running towards the mess then stopped realizing
there was not much she could do now.  "KEI!" she yelled
again, fearing the worst.
     <We're okay, Yuri,> came Kei's weak but steady reply.
     Frantically, Yuri looked around.  <Kei!  Where are
you?>
     From the smoke and dust around the building Batman
appeared supporting Kei with one arm.  They were covered
with soot, but still alive much to Yuri's relief.  "Are you
hurt?" she asked Kei, helping her over to the car.
     Kei shook her head.  "A little dazed that's all."
     "Wow.  How did you two survive that?"
     "You can thank Mjolinar for that," said Batman, holding
up the grav-baton.  "Kei turned it on and the field it
created was strong enough to break through the walls when
the blast occurred."
     "Popped us right out the other side," added Kei.
     "Well it's a good thing you had that with you."
     "Better than a standard rifle I will say," commented
Batman.
     Yuri's dark sneer looked up at him gaining a slight
smile.  "Okay, point taken."   She gently pushed Kei's head
back examining her eyes and the scrapes on her face.  "We
need to get you cleaned up."
     "I'm alright," replied Kei, pulling away from Yuri.
"Batman, what we do now that Joker's slipped away from our
fingers."
     "Again," added Yuri.
     Batman looked at the burning building again.  Sirens
could be heard coming down the streets aircraft zooming in
overhead.  Too many police in the area now the Joker was
probably miles away from here.  Although he had missed him
there was one positive result out of all of this.  Joker was
now on the defensive and he knew that it was only a matter
of time before they found themselves face to face once
again.
     "Lets return to headquarters," he said.  "I want to run
some numbers through their system, and research a few other
things that are on my mind. not to mention allow you two to
go over that part Kei managed to retrieve before the blast."
     Kei grimaced, flinching down caught cold.  "Nothing
slips by you, does it?" she said.
     "Comes with experience.  Shall we?"
     Helping Kei into the rear of the car, Yuri and Batman
climbed in and the trio were soon whisking away down the
street back to Police Headquarters.

                          * * * * *

     His eyes straining to see though the smoke and flames,
Joker adjusted the magnification on the macros in his hands,
scanning the area where his old hideout had been.  From
their vantage point atop another building several kilometers
away, Joker, Kelly, Baby, Oscar and Gadgets observed the
events in silence.
     I must be sure, thought Joker.  He took a few steps to
the right hoping that would give him a better view, but the
smoke had all but obscured the streets below.  Finally, he
lowered the macros and leaned against the ledge.
     "See what you wanted to see?" asked McBride.
     "No," replied Joker, handing back the macros.  Slowly,
he turned around to them.  "I did however spot one of those
3WA girls sitting out in the street just before the blast.
Our intel is wrong."
     "They must have come back," said Oscar.
     "Yes, bringing additional trouble right along with
them."
     "This Batman can't be such a threat too us, Joker,"
said Kelly.  "Let's forget about him and finish what we've
started."
     Joker's eyes cut over to Kelly and in a split second he
grabbed him by his tie, pulling tight.  "Being my number one
does not grant you the privilege of becoming lazy, Kelly
McBride," he said as he reeled him in.  Kelly gasped choking
for air.  The rim of his hat pressed up against Joker's
forehead, and with a finger Joker bent it back staring in a
sinister way at him.
     "We do not take the name `Batman' lightly, especially
when some smalltime wannabe mentions it out of the blue.  Do
I make myself clear?"
     "Sure... right... Joker!"
     He let go facing the city again.  Dark thoughts ran
through Joker's mind, but there was one thought that seemed
to persist.  The threat of Batman here to haunt him again.
A century old ghost rising up to destroy he fledgling new
life here in the future.
     No!  It had to be some mistake!
     But to be sure, he had to be sure!
     "Oscar!  I need a section of this city large enough to
draw as many of the Superintendent's force as we can, and
still give us ample room to maneuver."
     "Well the airfield is out," replied Oscar, thinking a
moment.  "We could go to the southern districts.  Our next
shipments are due in from Bad-Julich so we might as well
pick them up while we're there."
     "Yes, lets do that!" exclaimed Joker, spinning around.
"Kelly-."
     McBride eyed Joker, rubbing the pain from his neck.
     "Ah, no hard feelings?"
     "Right."
     "Good.  Kelly we're going to need some heavy muscle
tomorrow."
     "Muscle?  Baby's not enough?"
     "Oh no, no, no.  Baby is fine, but we are going to need
more, and all of the Laff-A-Guns we have made."
     "We head'n for a showdown with the Supe, Mister Joker?"
asked Baby.
     "No. I'm going to do a little `bat' hunting.  It's been
awhile since I've had that pleasure."
     "And if there isn't a `bat'?" asked Kelly.
     "Then I've answered a question that is gnawing at me."
     Kelly nodded.  "When do strike?"
     "First light, just before the crowds begin.  I want
nothing to impede the Police from joining our little party."
     With instructions in hand, Kelly motioned for the rest
of the gangsters to head on back down the stair.  He stopped
at the door looking back at Joker.  "You coming?" he called
to Joker.
     "In a moment."
     Joker gazed out over the city.  His eyes narrowed and
he sneered.
     "Batman," he seethed, the corner of his top lip
twitching angrily.  "Here to ruin my plans.  If it is you, I
will not hesitate to end your existence, oh no my erstwhile
friend.  You will die, and you will die knowing that I was
the one who killed you.  That I swear."
     His sneer gave way to his ever-present grin, several
brief chuckles following as Joker pictured the image in his
head.


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