Teen Titans Roster Day Off (7)

Heroic

Marcia Bradly

The only way to catch a criminal, is with Bait. With most cases that bait is an object, some times it's a person. Usually the best bait is something the target wants.

For Vampires that is blood.

For a Mobster, it's the prized item, treasure or sometimes a close relative.

The Joker, if he was actually the one promoting these kids and sponsoring their crime spree, could be one of two cases. Considering his past crimes, then sudden disappearance only to be parading around these kids the options were: These kids were his and important to him, or they were apprentices, like I was to the Original.

In the later case, he wouldn't even show. I was hoping they were genuinely related.

"Well, well, well. What have we here!" The voice echoing out of the darkness was crackly and strained, as though from years of abuse, but it carried well across the factory floor. "Somebody had done their research into my origin story and thinks they can wave it over my head!"

The factory was brightly lit, yet somehow this guy was still finding a shadow to monologue from. I was positioned in a shadow too, pretending not to be there, and had left the kid known as RingMaster hanging from a rope over a large vat of chemical.  You might think it was a random possibly deadly chemical, but no. I read the label on the vat, it was hair conditioner in the process of being mixed. If I did dump her into this churning vat it wouldn't hurt, but it might make her oily!

"I thought it might be a nostalgic surprise! You can share an origin with her!" I called out, trying to do the same echo trick he was. My voice felt flat,  okay so I probably just gave away my location and I quietly stalked across the room to his location.

"You don't have much experience do ya kid. Ya kidnap someone close to me, threaten them. Then instead of some clean automatic setup where you can drop her by remote control you just dangle my kid from a cord!" The Joker's voice was sarcastic, almost disappointed as he addressed RingMaster, "You'll be fine honey, I'll get you free in a tick, just hang tight!"

I saw the kid's head tilt in a scared nod, to her credit she didn't seem to be crying. Just the expected amount of fear from my threat.

That was when the third voice I had not expected joined the fray: "Joker! If that's you, focus on the kidnapper. I got your kid!" I looked up in shock, Robin had dropped down from the ceiling and was on the walkway RingMaster was tired to.

"Robin,  what are you doing! This is the easiest way to bait the Joker out!" I hissed quietly, then doubled back down the path I'd came, torn between catching  the Joker and keeping Ringmaster tied up.

"This isn't how heroes do things Miss A! I heard the Original had been crossing lines but heroes don't use people as bait!" I groaned over his monologue.

"There you are! Walk out please Mr Joker!" A brief double take, in mere minutes this scene had gone side-ways, but then it didn't look right for the scenario to begin with! At bat-point, literally, Batboy marched the Joker out from his dark corner amongst the machines and into the open ground floor.

"AAAH! You got him, score one for the BatBoy!" I declared, leaping down off my catwalk and landing nearby. "See, Robin! This was the correct plan, a classic double pass and over the line with time to spare!" I tumbled into my landing, followed by a cartwheel, then brought my baton up towards the clown. He looked old, a face lined with years of stress, villainy and too much makeup.

"The mascot here made the perfect distraction, and with a little team work all I need to do is bring in the final flourish on this cold-hearted monster!" End of my staff in front his chest, I flicked the little button to extend it out into my spear!

Batboy's upward swing blew past me in slow motion, a last minute parry throwing my staff and myself bodily back, the blade barely even nicking the monster's forehead.

"What the HELL!" I pinwheel back as BatBoy struck out! "Wind burn? From a supporting player?" I grinned wickedly, backing up.

"Starfire! Can you catch Ringmaster!" I looked up, the whole posse was here, Robin untying the little villainess while BatBoy kept me distracted. Beneath Ringmaster the alien girl was positioned to rescue the kid from the vat!

"Oh! I see how it is, the seasoned hero is going to side with the villain. That fits with the rumors going around about you and Bad Penny!" I sneered, "You and you're girl-friend there will help the villain kids escape, then pass the buck to us real heroes!" I growled.

It was pointless, they were all genuinely stupid, corrupted by the team they knew into thinking everyone was savable.   "Have you idiot's even looked at this guys rap sheet!" I struck in, attempting to drive Bat Boy back, big swipes from my admittedly softer weapon at his knee-caps, and in under his guard, with one or two attacks being parried.

"Get back you sad excuse for a side kick!" The Joker at least had predictable tricks, a cloud of mist emerging from a fake flower on his outfit! The rag-man hood had been removed but this new outfit still stood out from his old attire, made to fit around his kids themes.

"I got her Mr Joker! Miss Ringmaster, You are under Arrest!" I watched my hard earned bait fly up to the rafter, where Robin excitedly checked them over.

"Starfire! You were just in time! How'd things go at the main fight!" The orange girl was mottled, a small bit of her hair was on fire, and her clothing appeared to be regenerating, with holes in the outfit slowly patching up. Not that you could see them heal, while they were out of sight the material simply healed over the patches.