Batman Beyond: The Legacy Returns

Chapter 6 - The Wayne Syndrome

Inside the rundown hotel hideout of the Jokers gang, Mr. Smiley watched the news channel on his broken television set on the far wall beside him. The old set was of average size, yet flat and wall mountable. The video flickered and fizzled as he sat there gazing at the screen, his eyes peering out from behind the mask he always wears, gives a squint as the virtual news anchor talks away.

"Fires once again broke out in the lower regions of Gotham City, as the deadly Jokers proved to be a continuing threat to the police. Commissioner Maxine Gibson was on hand to see the arrest of several fleeing subject whom she her self tackled to the ground upon spotting them." The female anchorwoman cheerfully told.

The footage they showed was of Max chasing one of the clowns trying to break free and escaping from the police. He fast footwork and a quick flying kick to the man's back soon had him on the ground and unable to stand up. She knelt down on his back hard and hand cuffed him with the futuristic shackles they use.

"Sucks to be you buddy!" She said to him.

The image pauses and the virtual female anchor returns to finish her report.

"Looks like Commissioner Gibson is right on top of things as usual. Viewer statistics prove an overwhelming majority of support in Gibson's favor, making her the most popular police commissioner since the days of Barbara Gordon. To other news now...the meeting between Wayne and Powers has had some mixed emotions among the shareholders. Terry McGinnis announced his endorsement to handing over Bruce Wayne's company to Jason Smythe, a move that some investors call a bad decision. A new meeting has been scheduled for the end of the week."

Mr. Smiley reaches up his hand with the remote firmly clutched in it and turns the TV off. He gives a long sigh and leans back in his decaying chair.

"This town just isn't what it use to be anymore...ah well, thanks to me it never will be again. Hell hath no fury like the Jokers gang scorn."

Suddenly, one of Smiley's henchmen entered the room and approached the leader who was lost in his thoughts.

"You sent for me boss?" The averaged sized clown henchmen asked as he stood there in the middle of the broken down room hideout.

"Yes I did Big pants." Mr. Smiley said in his usual dry tone. "Gather the troops again for tonight...there's more work to be done."

"But...but boss, the guys are exhausted. I mean...we've been hitting joints left right and center for the past two weeks!"

Smiley rose out of his overly worn leather chair and placed his knuckles on the old desk in front of him.

"Indeed we have. But I want to keep this going until the city is ours; this commissioner Gibson is making things very hard for me to see the glory of the Joker Empire to rise. We need her out of the way..."

The two Dee Dee girls are sitting in a broken down old couch that has no legs to support it any longer. There it sits on the grimy looking floor as the two clown beauties apply more white powder to their faces.

"Why not just kill they broad Mr. S" Dee Dee says sitting on the left.

"A bullet to her brain and out she goes...and you can claim the throne!" Dee Dee on the right also comments.

Smiley comes around from his desk and paces the length of the room as he rubs his smiling mask gently lost in thought.

"Too easy Dee Dee...besides...that would make her a martyr to this town and I don't need another hero to jeopardize my plans. What we need is leverage...an upper hand...something to make the city suits squirm to my bidding alone."