One Last Hour

The Ups and Downs of Gone

Sept. 16

The Joker was being moved to his cell, back in Arkham. The guards had quickly deposited him into his cell and locked the door as they left. He went to sit on his bed and faced the east wall.

"They sure have -ah- upped security since I was last here. Good to see they haven't changed my room though." He said out loud. The room was in complete silence until he spoke again.

"Don't you think, Bats?" The Joker giggled.

Batman stepped out of the shadows on the other side of the cell. The Joker turned to face him.

"So, what did you think? Big? Bright? Oohoo, I bet it was FANTASTIC!" The Joker broke into hysterical laughter. Batman resisted the urge to punch him. Repeatedly.

Eventually, the Joker quieted.

"But, in allll seriousness, why are you here? I'd say you were here to kill me, buuuuttt... not really you're -ah- style."

"I just came to make sure you got here, Joker."

"Ooo, cold. Why so serious?" The Joker giggled. "And here I thought you had come to congratulate me on a job well done. It was a good job, wasn't it? Really suuuuch... emotional performances."

Batman grabbed him and shoved him against the wall. The Joker grinned, elated that he had gotten some reaction.

"And wasn't that some tear-jerker, that 10 o'clock girl? I've never felt more SENTIMENTAL! HEHEHEHEHEHE!!!"

Batman threw him onto the floor. The Joker grimaced but still laughed. Batman went to the door and was about to leave when the Joker spoke again.

"She was wrong. You can't FIX Gotham. It's muuuuuch too LATE!" Again, he broke out laughing. Batman exited the cell and locked the door behind him, leaving the Joker alone.

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Jeremy Wilson sat in his squad car, absentmindedly listening to the radio. He thought back to the day before. It had been a tough day, what with the Joker and all. He had been one of the officers who went to the killswitch location. He even got to see the Batman. He had also seen Nancy Morgan's hour. Everything about it had stuck with him.

He rubbed his eyes. The police radio crackled as a message was issued through it.

"Attention, all units, we have a 10-62, B and E, Westbrook. Community center. Any available units in Westbrook, please respond."

Jeremy Wilscott picked up his radio speaker.

"This is Officer Wilson, responding about the 10-62. I'm around the corner from the location. Asking permission to investigate."

"Acknowledged, Officer Wilson. Proceed with caution."

"Copy that." Jeremy got out of the car and made his way to the back of the building. He slipped in through a back door. He heard raised voices as he got closer to the lobby. He peeked around a wall and saw three men, two armed, with about seventeen civilian hostages. He thought about calling for backup but held off for the time being.

"On the ground! Get on the ground!" The lead man was obviously under severe mental stress. He was sweating bullets; looked ready to lay into anyone without the slightest hesitation. When one woman didn't move as quickly as he liked, he kicked her, drawing a cry of pain.