Date: Fri, 29 Aug 2003 07:15:26 -0700 (PDT) From: Author James Subject: Judgments of a Real Dark Knight 32 Disclaimer: This story, though maybe not in this chapter but in subsequent chapters, will have celebrities in it. I have no knowledge of their sexuality and this is not intended to imply their sexuality. This is all from my own mind. Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, Angel and all related characters created by Joss Whedon. Copyright 20th Century Fox. Batman, and all related characters created by Bob Kane. Copyright DC Comics and Warner Bros. X-MEN, and all related characters created by Stan Lee. Copyright Marvel Comics and 20th Century Fox. The Vampire Chronicles and all related characters created by Anne Rice. Copyright Anne O'Brien Rice. Star Wars and all related concepts created by or based on the universe created by George Lucas. Copyright 20th Century Fox, LucasFilms Ltd. and Lucas Books/Ballantine Books. I don't know for sure if I will use all the above elements, but just in case, I have myself covered. I have received many emails from people who have enjoyed it and some from those who do not. I would enjoy hearing from you. Any emails you send, please tell me what chapter and story you are commenting on. Thanks. authorjames2002@yahoo.com I also have several online messenger services. If you want to chat with me in real time, email me and tell me the services you use and I will tell you my screen name. Other stories in this universe written by other authors: "Tales of a Superhero Band" "Tales of the New Phoenix" "Tales of a Young Mutant" Chapter 32 Back Into the Swing of Things The alarm went off waking from restless sleep. The events of last night played over and over in my mind as I slept. I reached over and shut the alarm off, showered and went downstairs for some coffee. After getting my books and notebook together, I headed out to the college campus. The first class went well. There wasn't anything too knew or exciting there. I met with the Professor after class and arranged getting caught up as best I could. I knew I would have to work hard, but I was willing to get my degree. It was going to be the foundation for the rest of my life, or at least part of the foundation. As I walked to the food court for lunch, I met Christine, the young girl I had met when I was getting my books. "Eric?" she asked as I neared. "Yep," I replied. "How are you?" "Good," she replied while rubbing her impregnated stomach. "How about you? I haven't seen you in a month. Where have you been?" "If I told you, you wouldn't believe me," I answered. We sat in the Food Court eating lunch and catching up on classes when the monitors switched to a news channel alert already in progress. "Pentagon authorities say that a chemical accident has taken the lives of Russian General Rekoj and his two aides. Though questioned heavily, they will not reveal the nature of the chemical accident. They do, however, reassure nearby residents that no chemicals have leaked into the atmosphere and there is no danger of contamination." The news anchor flipped the paper and continued with her broadcast. "In the same area, a young woman was found with bite marks on her neck. She was discovered by military personnel and rushed to the military's base. Soldiers refuse to allow reporters in to ask questions, but spokespersons say she was attacked by a wild animal that occasionally frequent the area." "Wow," Christine said. "Can you believe that? I wonder why the military won't let anyone in." "Probably to encourage mystery. Military leaders thrive on seeming secretive about their work." My answer was only a smoke screen, though. Deep inside, I knew why they wouldn't let reporters talk to her. They didn't want any reports to go out that it was me, or should I say Batman. The same with the death of the three Russian soldiers. They didn't want citizens to know that someone broke into the base. That would cause insecurity in the population, and trust and faith in the military would decrease. The last thing the American government needed was the truth going around about someone breaking into a military base. Slowly General Rekoj opened his eyes and found himself in a tank with an oxygen mask on. He looked around and realized the tank was filled with water and his body was fitted with sensors. He also noticed his body didn't look like it used to. His skin was bone white down to the skin covering the head of his cock. The hair on his legs as well as above his dick was green. He felt the muscles in his cheeks pulled up and he moved his hands up to his face. His mouth was in a smile. And no matter what he did, it wouldn't stop smiling. Looking to his left and right he found his aides in similar tanks, and their bodies were similar to his. 'What's happened?' he thought. 'Just a little accident,' came the answer instantaneously. And something in his head cracked. Laughter came over the speakers as the scientists monitoring the Russian General sat to check on his vitals. "What is that?" one asked. "Sounds like laughter." "I know that. But where is it coming from?" "I don't know." The scientist flipped several switches attempting to ascertain the humorous sound's origin. "That's coming from Rekoj!" "Get some soldiers in there now! We need to sedate him!" The scientist rushed out of the room and grabbed two soldiers to enter with him. The room was full of laughter as both the general and his two aides were laughing hysterically. "Oh, God," the scientist said searching for the right sedative. Rekoj moved around in his tank aggressively and the soldiers took aim. "Do we have permission to shoot?" one asked. "Negative. We need to study the chemicals that made him this way. We can't afford to lose him or his assistants. It may hold the cure for the soldiers he's inflicted." Suddenly the glass broke and the general spilled out onto the floor with the water. He looked up at the soldiers and laughed even harder. His burning green eyes held an evil they never imagined. He leapt at the two men clad in green and tackled them. The other tanks burst and his aides came to his side. One kicked a soldier in the nuts while the other punched him out. They looked at each other and then at their boss. The general picked up one of their guns by the barrel and turned to the scientist. "Oh, God," the scientist whispered. "He had nothing to do with it," the general stated. "It was some pointy-eared rodent that did this to me. And you know what? I feel better than ever!" He let out a hearty laugh. "So much better that I'm going to get back into the swing of things!" With that the general swung the gun and hit the scientist in the face knocking him to the floor. He continued to beat the scientist while Lacey and Larissa watched and smiled. I went to class and sat through the lecture notes. "Quantitative Methods" class was very boring, in my eyes. Granted the equations and statistical formulas used in psychology helped establish whether something could be generalized was awesome, just the fact of doing math got to me. Math was never my strong point. I muddled through the hour and left, heading to my last class of the day, a sociology class. It was fun sitting and listening to the professor talk of how sociology encompasses three theories, and that those three theories could explain just about everything. Considering the implications current society had for me, there were many inequalities. As a gay man, I can be fired if my boss did not like gay people. I could lose my home if my landlord didn't like gay people. I could be approached and beaten simply because I love the same sex. And sociology explains why society does what it does. Rekoj dropped the bloodied gun, looked at his blood-covered hand and body, and turned to Larissa and Lacey. "That was fun!" Then he let out a laugh. The general grabbed his washed out uniform, which was now a purple instead of the dark color it used to be. He pulled on the tattered garb and looked in the mirror as his aides did the same. "You're all backwards," Lacey stated. "You used to be so cold!" "And now I'm so lively! That drug did wonders! Let's patent it and sell it on the market!" General Rekoj looked in the mirror and saw his face and name tag. "True, I'm no longer that stuffy, uptight, tight-wad. I'm much, much happier! And crazier!" He looked at the name tag closer. "Hmm, that's what I'll do! New face, new attitude, new name! And this name fits so much better!" His name tag, which was now backwards, was spelled J-O-K-E-R. "Last one to the weapons closet is a rotten egg!" Joker said as he tore out of the room. Lacey and Larissa followed after. "And the first one's got to eat it!" Lacey replied. This caused a sparkle in the Joker's eye. They jogged down the corridor to the weapons closet. There was a guard standing at the door at attention. The Joker ran up and tackled him. His hands darted out and grasped the man by the neck squeezing tightly. The man gasped, trying to break the Joker's grip, but to no avail. All he could do was watch as this grinning clown strangled him. The officer went limp in the Joker's grip and the Joker dropped him. "All I wanted was his key. I asked nicely." "No, you didn't, Mr. J," Lacey replied. "Really?" the Joker said unbelievingly. "Hm, I'll have to remember to ask politely next time. Ha!" Larissa grabbed the keys from the guard and unlocked the door. They entered and the Joker threw up his arms. "Shopping spree! Find whatever looks good on you, ladies! We want to look our best for our arrival!" "What are you looking for?" Larissa asked Lacey. "Personally, I'm looking for something in an M-16. How about you?" "AK-47's look good on me." The two smiling girls winked at each other and went off to find their accessories. "Accessorizing is always a chore," Joker said as he went through several boxes trying to find the right weapons. "Remember, ladies, this is only to get us to our room. From there, we get our stuff and get out. We may have overstayed our welcome." Once the three had their weapons together, Larissa opened the door first, then slammed it and threw her back against it. "Mr. J, we've got company." "Then let's give them a proper welcome, shall we?" Larissa and Lacey flanked the Joker and they aimed their weapons. On the count of three, they open fire, riddling the door with bullet holes. "Boy, I hope this thing isn't bulletproof. If so, we've wasted a lot of happy pills!" Once their clips were empty, the three stared at the door. "Larissa, if you would do the honors." Larissa walked over to the door and slowly opened it, peeking her head out. Then she closed it and looked back at the Joker and Lacey. "Well, let's see what's behind door number one!" Joker said. Larissa took on the posture of a game show hostess. She turned the knob and threw the door open. "Ta da!" The bodies of all the soldiers lay strung out along the floor. The opposite wall was covered in blood, as well as the floor. "We got the jack-pot!" Lacey said, jumping with joy. She rushed out the door with Larissa. "My girls are so happy," the Joker replied as he exited the door. He picked up a radio and led the ladies toward their room where they could get their supplies. In a short while, they were loading up a truck with chemicals and their weapons, leaving a trail of dead soldiers from the truck delivery to their barracks. The main base sat across the way and the girls climbed in the cab. "Time for my little announcement," the Joker said as he raised the radio to his lips. "Helloooo," he said in a very cheerful voice. "Welcome to the Joker's radio address! I hope your attention is wrapped! You thought you could learn my secrets! But they are crazier than you could possibly imagine! Ha, ha, ha! Soon the city of Orlando will be under my control! And there isn't a damned thing any of you can do about it! If, however, you would like to persuade me to not cause panic and destruction, you could try and find the rodent that did this to me! He looks like a bat! I'm sure you know who he is! I want him! Not in a sexual way, although that would be fun! You have my request! I'll be in touch!" The Joker tossed the radio into the air and whipped out his machine gun. He pulled the trigger letting the bullets fly in the general direction of the radio. He followed it down to the ground continuing to shoot. A stray bullet hit a truck across the way and it exploded as the gas tank was punctured. The Joker's eye sparkled. "ON DASHER! ON DANCER! ON PRAN CER AND VIXEN! Let's get the hell out of here!" "Aye, aye, cutie pie!" Larissa said as she put the truck in gear and headed toward the gate. A guard at the gate stood with his gun ready having heard the Joker's speech and orders to stop the madman at all costs. "Stop or I'll shoot!" he yelled out. "Move it or lose it, soldier boy!" Larissa exclaimed as she hit the accelerator and sped up. The soldier stood his ground as long as he could before diving into the gatehouse. This did not daunt Larissa from steering the truck into the gatehouse. Several thumps later and she knew she hit him with the truck. "Seven-ten split!" Lacey said to Larissa as the truck sped down the road. I arrived home to the open arms of Lance. "How was your first day back?" He asked me. "It went okay. How was your day?" "It was interesting. I got a telephone call from someone at a record company. It seems that because most people think boy bands are made of gay guys, this particular record company wants to create a gay boy band. They've started gathering young people from around the country and will eventually end up here. They want me to be a judge to narrow down the contestants." "Really? When will that happen?" "In a few days. It should be fun." "Sounds like it." I sniffed smelling something rather tasting emanating from the kitchen. "Hey, good-lookin', what you got cookin'?" "Dinner," he said. "I figured that. But what is it?" "Chicken Paprikosh and dumplings." "Sounds tasty." To Be Continued... Any comments on the new villain? And with 18 more chapters to go, it should be a wild ride!