Going Out With a Bang

Part 5

        The densely clouded sky was pierced by the beam of a floodlight. In the center the shape of a bat bore into the sky. The sun was ready to peek over the horizon with the first lights of day. As the blistering orb of light began to rise, two black dots shot out into the illuminated patch of orange. 

Inside Blackgate prison the Joker was watching as his henchmen rolled canisters of venom down the rows of cells. As the green gas dispersed into the air, Joker pulled a gas mask over his face that was painted to look like a clown. He took a pistol from his pocket and held it at his side.

“Scumbags of Blackgate,” began the Joker. The inmates were moaning in anguish as their bodies contorted into the personification of rage. Immense muscular shapes occupied each cell in the area. “I have given you freedom. All I ask in return is that you raise hell on Gotham.” 

Joker aimed his pistol at the explosive charges on the wall and shot. The bricks blew apart as the cell doors opened. The inmates ran out and began pummeling anything in sight. The Joker watched in cruel pleasure, a twisted smile etched onto his face.

Superman zipped through the air with the sun rising behind him. If what Batman had said was right, this situation merited breaking out of the prison he was being held in. Clark caught the hatred for the Joker in his heart. He had learned how to filter those negative emotions because the last thing the earth needed was a Superman with murder on his mind. As he inhaled he could feel his lungs expand in his chest; when he exhaled, Clark let the anger flow from his body.

To Superman’s left, Batman looked out of his Batplane. He saw pandemonium on the ground and instantly knew who had caused it. He signaled to Superman to fly down, and they both descended into the madness below. Batman ejected from his aircraft and glided through the air. He spotted the Joker’s purple clad figure standing on the front steps of the prison. 

Meanwhile Superman burst down to the ground and shattered the concrete around a group of inmates. They stumbled to regain their balance, but when they did they all converged on their attacker. Superman landed several blows on each of them as he moved with lightning speed to avoid being caught. One inmate ran into the fray and grabbed Superman from behind, lifting him into the air. Superman tried to wriggle free to no avail. He inhaled the anger that he felt for the Joker. This psychopath poisoned me and I nearly destroyed Metropolis. Superman’s eyes began to glow red from inside the inmates hand, then he shot a laser beam through the inmates palm. He let out a horrified scream, then began flailing his arms at Superman again.

Batman was gliding above the steps of Blackgate, and when he was over the Joker he stopped and dropped to the ground. His dark frame landed on top of the Joker and knocked him down. Joker reached for the flower corsage on his shirt and squeezed it. The green venom gas was released from the center and he laughed through the clown-faced mask. Batman grasped the Joker’s throat and breathed in the gas. He had taken the antidote so that the venom didn’t affect him in any way. Batman set to work punching the gas mask on Joker’s face. The giggle grew louder from inside the more Batman smashed the mask. After countless blows, Batman stopped and saw that his fist was covered in blood. He stood up and took a step back from the body. The glass eye holes of Joker’s mask were broken, the shards stuck into Joker’s face. The mask itself no longer had any shape to it. Joker was not laughing anymore. 

Superman continued to fight his way through the thick hoard of inmates, leaving a pile of unconscious bodies in his wake. He looked back to the front of the prison and saw Batman standing over the Joker’s body. He quickly flew over to the scene and glanced at the Joker’s bloody face, a look of horror in his eyes. Batman solemnly turned and said under his breath, “I didn’t mean to.”

“Bruce we need to focus on the inmates and stop them from tearing apart Gotham,” Superman said. Batman nodded and pressed a button on his belt.

“Alfred, I need you to send in the rest of the antidote.”

“It will be there shortly, sir.” replied the placid voice of his butler. Batman turned and ran at the inmates. Superman followed close behind. Batman threw a circular pellet at one of the inmate’s face. Upon impact it turned into a sticky glue that blinded him. Superman took advantage of the inmates loss of sight and began punching his stomach with all of his might. The inmate staggered then fell onto his back. 

A black canister fell from the sky and landed in the middle of the hoard of inmates. A thin aerosol sprayed from the grates in the center, causing the inmates’ bulging muscles shrink back to a human size. Superman looked around for Batman and found him standing near the front steps. He walked over to console him. 

“How could I be so damned stupid?” Batman scowled.

“It isn’t your fault Bruce-“

“He’s gone.” Superman looked down and saw only spots of blood where the Joker had lain. 

“So he isn’t dead?” Batman nodded in response.

“The bastard is still out there. We should go before the police get here.”

“No,” Superman began. “I need to clear my name first.”

“Right. Good luck, Clark.”

Superman looked out at the morning light that was now cast fully across the sky. Police cars surrounded him for the second time in two days.