The Dark Knight Returns

Chapter 4

      The halls of Arkham were quiet but the history of the Asylum still haunted the place. John had only visited Arkham once before its alleged shutdown when he was a beat cop. He and some officers had taken a tour of the facility when they thought it was no longer in service, to remind officers of how crazy the criminals can get. He had no idea the Joker was still there, rotting away in his cell with dozens of armed guards to keep him company. The Joker was rarely allowed visitors as only his lawyers were aware of where he still was. John was there under a different disguise: he was the Batman.

     Ever since the Batman returns to Gotham, the joker has been dying to get reacquainted with the Dark Knight. As John walked into the hallway leading to where the Joker was being held, Jim Gordon came out to greet him. “Nice day to speak to a madman, eh?” he said with a soft smile and a chuckle.

   Naturally John wanted to chuckle with him, considering how sunny it was outside, but he preferred to remain in character since the guards were watching. “We’ll keep this as short as possible. We don’t want to set a standard here that we’ll cave in every time he makes a threat.”  

     “We need to speak in private before you go in.” Gordon said as he motioned to a door to another room. “If you don’t mind, of course.”

     “Of course not.” The guards watched as the Dark Knight and Gordon walked into what was one of the executive offices that the staff used to use when there was a full staff still working at the facility. “Is everything all right, Jim?”

    “Yes, it’s fine.” Jim said as he took a seat. “I just thought you’d like to know what was said between the Joker and the Batman the last time they talked.”

     “Wasn’t that on the ledge, when Bruce prevented those boats from blowing up” John asked.

    “No, that was the time before.” Jim answered. “There was another conversation I think you should be aware of if you want to give a convincing performance.”

      “When did this conversation take place?” John asked.

     “It was when Arkham was shut down.” Jim answered. “Batman was the person to break the news to the Joker that Arkham was going to be all his and that this place would be used to keep him imprisoned by himself. We figured that by keeping him in his own lifetime solitary confinement, he wouldn’t be able to conspire with other inmates and it would cut down the chances of him causing any trouble.”

     “How did the funny man take the news?” John asked.

     “He was flattered at first, but as the years wore on he has become more and more bitter.” Jim answered. “He enraged when he learned about what Bane did to Gotham while he was locked away here and nicely kept away. The idea of everyone in Blackwater being let out to play upset him a great deal.”

     “I don’t understand.” John said as he thought about it. “From what I knew of the Joker, he hated people who tried to enact a plan. He was for chaos and what Bane did here was organized and anything but chaos. I have no doubt the Joker would have been against Bane had he been free during that time.”

    “I think so too.” Jim concurred. “We considered releasing the Joker into Bane’s occupied Gotham knowing that he would be a thorn in Bane’s backside. Yet the idea of having to catch him again when it was all over without the Batman who was missing at the time convinced us it was not the right way to go.”  

     “I think you guys made the right call.” John agreed. “Letting the Joker out was a gamble. He could have joined Bane just to piss you off for locking him up. It could have backfired and just been an act of throwing gasoline onto an already raging fire.”

      “I know.” Jim said as he sat back and sighed. “We couldn’t risk it.”

     “So what was said between Batman and the Joker when Arkham was closed down, allegedly.” John asked.

    “The Joker wanted a moment to apologize.” Jim answered. “It didn’t last that long, and the Batman left without responding, which meant he didn’t accept the Joker’s attempt to make amends.”

     “Amends for what?” John asked.

     “For killing Rachel Dawe.” Jim answered.

     Knowing who Batman was, the death of Rachel Dawe meant something much deeper to John who was aware that Bruce Wayne was once romantic with the former assistant DA. “That’s why the Joker was upset after Bane’s occupation. He thought the Batman had died and he wouldn’t get another chance to apologize again.”

     “Could it really be that simple?” Jim asked.

    “Only one way to find out.” John replied as he got back into character. “Let’s go speak to the Joker.”