Chapter 38

After the Joker incident at the party, the media wouldn't stop peskering the people involved to ask for more details about it.

They didn't delve into the fact that WayneTech got infiltrated that same night. It was where Wayne enterprises developed new technology.

"It was a distraction. They knew every important person in Gotham was going to be there and make them the priority." Terry said.

He is in the police commissioner's office talking to Barbara the morning after the incident.

Barbara stared at the photo of a corpse on her desk. It was the russian mob boss that Joker brought into the party.

The russian mob circulates all the illegal drugs in the city.

"The Jokerz just got more dangerous...They're saying they got the russian mob and all its assets now." She said as she tapped on her desk.

"You're still not telling me how the clown came back from the dead." Terry stated.

"Do you think I'd keep that kind of information a secret if I knew?" Barbara furrowed her brows as she faced Terry. "I watched him turn to ash, Terry. I am still baffled how I saw him last night."

"...Lazarus pit? Dionysium?"

"You'd need his ashes to ressurect him. My father and Bruce were the only ones that know where the Joker's remains were buried. Bruce didn't even keep that information in the batcomputer."

"A fake, then?"

"No. He's real. I analyzed his voice, his facial expressions, his mannerisms. All of it matched with the data we have on the Joker in the Batcomputer." She said as she fiddled with her smartwatch.

Although the Joker was wearing an all black uniform rather than his signature purple suit, everything matched the real one from more than a decade ago.

"Then, the mutant leader's hunch was right..."

"Yeah..."

"Have you called him yet?"

"Not yet but I was going to."

She clicked on her smartwatch and put it on loudspeaker.

-Riiiing... Riiing.... Beep.

"He's not answering."

"I'll try."

-Riiing...Riiing...Beep.

It was the same thing. They looked at each other. Their thoughts synced up as they both widened their eyes.

----

"Don..."

One of the mutant gang's division leaders, Don, was in the restaurant that they protect with Terry. He was sulking about their leader going missing and was pinning the blame on himself.

Terry looked at the man clutching his head with worry.

"It's not your fault. How could you have known?"

"You're wrong...If it was you, then maybe you could have figured it out before it got to this point."

"...You're overestimating me too much. I wouldn't be able to figure it out without any evidence, you dolt." Terry said with a rueful smile.

"You're the smartest person I know, man. That's why we tried to get you back in the gang."

Terry could only make a regretful expression as a reply.

"We don't know what to do now...We don't even know if the leader is still alive."

"...Can you get me to meet Cedric? Is he okay?"

"He's in Gotham General recovering...I'll come with you."

Both of them left the restaurant for Gotham General Hospital.

"You..." One of the mutant gang leaders shot up from his seat when he saw Terry.

"It's okay. He's with me." Don said as he lifted his hand.

"Fine. He got the pardon from the leader anyway." He said as he sat back down. He was guarding the hospital room along with his team.

"Come on." Don gestured to Terry with his head as he pushed the door.

Inside the room, Cedric was laying down on his hospital bed wearing a patient's gown.

The bandages on his torso and limbs were visible. There were also cuts and bruises on his face as well.

He opened his eyes and turned his head to see who came in.

"Don...Terry..." He uttered.

"Hey, big guy." Don said.

"Hey. Thanks for the visit."

"I brought fruits." Terry said with a faint smile as he lifted a bag filled with fruits.

Cedric faintly smiled as well.

Terry placed the fruits on a table near the bed and started talking. "You may already know why I'm here."

"Mmm...You want information on our encounter with the Joker and the Jokerz."

"...Yeah."

"I don't know if it can help..."

"Any kind of information is important right now. We'll find the mutant leader together." Terry said with determination in his eyes.

"Yeah..."

----

Last night, before the rest of the mutant gang came to the amusement park.

"Is this where they said they were holding Joe?" The mutant leader asked me.

"They said it was an ice attraction." I replied.

"The North Pole..." He muttered "Let's just make this quick. Grab Joe back and let's go. We don't even have to fight them for real."

"...This feels like a trap. What do you feel about this, boss?"

"Same..." He closed his eyes. "But we still need to save Joe." He said with determination in his eyes.

"Of course." I said with a wry smile.

Both of us went in the attraction until we reached the large room.

In the middle of it, we saw Joe tied up while he's being guarded by three men with clown make up.

"You're finally here!" One of them said. "We were worried you wouldn't come."

"Why did you kidnap one of us? What do you want?" The mutant leader said.

"We want you." A man revealed himself from the shadows, walking forward with his hands behind his back.

Both of us were taken aback. It was the Joker.

"..Us?" The mutant leader furrowed his brows in confusion.

"Just you." He chuckled. "The mutant leader."

I was about to charge after that statement but the mutant leader stopped me with his hand and blocked my path.

"I can't hand myself over. I have people relying on me, you see?" The mutant leader said in a smile. "Can we have another arrangement?"

"Hahahahahaha! I like you...If only you weren't a thorn on our side."

"I'll take that as a no.." Still smiling, the mutant leader glared. "I guess we'll just have to force you to give him back!" He charged and I followed.

I was immediately blocked by the three men that were there while letting the mutant leader go to the Joker.

One of them launched a kick. I grabbed his leg and threw him far away so I can take care of the two that were left.

"Hahahaha!" One ran at me with a bat and I dodge it.

But the other one launched a kick at my stomach at the same time. It didn't do much damage but it haulted me from attacking.

I dodged and countered as I kept my eye on the mutant leader who was fighting the Joker.

The mutant leader dodged every attack and countered perfectly

"Too easy..." He said.

The Joker fell back on his behind and panicked as he crawled backwards in fear. His wide grin turned and looked more like a frown.

I didn't even have to watch him anymore as I saw the mutant leader slowly walking up to Joker to finish.

He grabbed Joker by his collar and lifted him up. "So much for making me worry." He said as he smiled.

"...Ha..Haha.." The Joker started chuckling. "Hahahaha...."

"You really are as crazy as the stories say..." The mutant leader said with a curious smile.

"Hahahaha...I think..." Joker continued to chuckle. "...sanity is overrated.." He lifted his hand and touched the mutant leader's face.

-Bzzzzzzzzz

"Arrrrgh!" The mutant leader's face contorted in response to the pain. He dropped the Joker and backed off.

"No!" I shouted before heading in their direction. "Gah!" I was hit by a baseball bat behind my leg. "Urgh!" Then, I got punched in the face.

"Where are you going?"

"Let's have our own party over here!"

As I dodged their attacks, I saw the other one I threw earlier coming back. I glanced at the mutant leader who was being pummeled by the Joker mercilessly. "Hang on, boss!"

I caught the guy-wearing-overalls' fist and I headbutted him. It made him dizzy but I couldn't finish him off because the man called Doug swung his bat at me and made me back away.

"I'm baaack!" The man whose face was drawn on to look like a skull tackled my waist. I didn't go down. I put my two hands together and dropped it on his back. He let me go then, I lifted him up from his waist and threw him at the other two.

They all fell over.

As I turned towards the mutant leader to help him, he said "Don't! I can handle it! Free Joe first so he can help us!" He was dodging and regaining his momentum to attack.

I almost laughed that I was worried about him. I walked up to Joe who was still tied up to a chair and untied him.

As I was setting him free, I noticed that he was wearing a purple suit.

"Thanks." He said as he tidied up before he stood.

I turned back and I saw the three men that had already recovered. They were smiling at us.

"Hey, I know you're not good at fighting, but I need you to at least distract one of them-" I glanced back at Joe. "Huh?" I furrowed my brows at him. He wore a mask unlike earlier and was lifting the chair he was tied to.

"Urgh!" I groaned from the pain as he smashed the chair on my back. "What the fu-!"

Joe jumped on my back and tied the rope he was in earlier around my neck.

I struggled to get him off of me. "Joe!....Gugh!...What is this?!" I couldn't shake him off my back.

"Call me J-man now." He said in a smile. I helplessly watched as the three men rushed to where we were.

As they launched their attacks at me, I glanced back to where the mutant leader was.

"Cedric!" He shouted. He couldn't dodge Joker's punch because he was distracted by me.

I furrowed my brows at him with worry as I fell down.

"Urgh!" The mutant leader grunted as he got punched.

"You're getting tired aren't you?" The Joker laughed as he threw a barrage of attacks. "You probably thought you can handle the cold as long as it's quick! Hahahahaha!"

The mutant leader widened his eyes.

"That's right!" Joker made his already wide grin wider. "I know your weakness, Talon Jr."

The mutant leader clenched his teeth as he faced the attacks head on to launch a punch of his own.

"Gugh!" Joker got hit and stopped for a second as he wiped his bloodied mouth. "Hahahahaha!"

Even when the mutant leader hit him so many times with his full strength, the Joker just took it and laughed.

He laughed as he looked at the mutant leader who looked worse than him. He was sweating and panting as he struggled to stand up straight.

I couldn't do anything but watch him as I got pummeled on the ground.

Moments later, they finally stopped hitting me and they got the mutant leader tied up.

I glared at J-man as I lay on the ground, exhausted from the beating I got. "You...traitor..." I tried to eke out the words from my mouth. "...is Don in it too?"

He noticed me and chuckled as he crouched down near me. "No...I went with them on my own. I couldn't handle what the mutant gang has become. We became like police dogs or something. It just got so...boring" He said with a playful smile.

"Why...won't you finish me off?" I asked them

They all laughed at me.

"No one will be able to tell the tale if you don't survive." Doug said.

"Come on, boys. We'll be late for the party." Joker said.

I watched the unconscious mutant leader tied up and carried like a sack as they left.

There was nothing left for me to do but to wait for the others to arrive. I've never felt so useless in my entire life.

Boss, the mutant leader, was my family, my brother, and I couldn't protect him.

Tears flowed down my eyes as I stared at the ceiling hopelessly.