The Arkham Redemption- Inferno.

*Frankie Lamar had always wanted to be a director. So naturally, when Delbert Billings announced he was looking for an assistant for his debut film, he said yes. It didn't even matter that Billings was once a notorious Supervillain, nor that he was even more notoriously impatient and rude. He was just happy to have the experience. On October 3rd, something changed. Billings disappeared into his trailer and when he came back, he resigned, and was admitted to a rehabilitation clinic. Stranger still, his prosthetic leg had gone missing. The next day of production, a Gorilla arrived on set. Grodd. At first, he toyed with the crew. Frankie, not wanting to be killed, or worse eaten, had little choice but to comply with the creature's demands. In the span of a week, they had transformed what was once Billings' ego driven passion project into a monstrous satire of the man. Frankie had no clue why Grodd was targeting Billings of all people, but he was just happy to keep his job. It was almost funny, the dialogue under the gorilla was much better. Over the next few days, Grodd grew impressed by Frankie's quick thinking, and when he left to attend to business elsewhere, he was finally put in charge of the film, just like he wanted.

The crew weren't quite so pleased. Lynns, the special effects technician was the most stressed of all. Turns out, the ape had killed a friend of his, a Joseph Martins. But Grodd was someone you couldn't say no to, and so, he showed up on time each day regardless. Monday was the exception. With Grodd occupied, Lynns was finally able to take his daughter out for the day. That was when *he* showed up on set. The Joker.

Two hours after he left, GCPD discovered Lamar's body hung up in the dressing room.*

 

====Gar's Basement====

 

*Gar applies a bandage around his eye and turns to his prisoner*

 

"I don't get it. Why Drury?"

 

"Well, if you don't get it, perhaps I won't bother. Why, that's the first... second rule of comedy. See, once you explain a joke... There is no joke. And there's nothing I hate more than a bad joke."

 

Gar- Heh. You must really hate yourself, then.

 

*He chuckles*

 

"Oh, obviously! But ya see Garfield, that's why I love the little bug boy! An anti Batman indeed! We all know there's only one person who *really* compliments Batsy. The Moriarty to his his Holmes, the yin to his yang."

 

...

 

"Me! He frowns, I smile! I kill, he refuses! He likes tights, I love silk! But that's the point, the little Moth has none of that, but bless him, he tries! And, he succeeds! Sometimes. Mayor of... Motham. That's something neither of us managed, though I certainly tried to! And he did it under the pretense of being redeemed. What a joke! There is no redemption! Just like my Arkham neighbor's last crime spree, like how Harley keeps crawling back to moi, like how Harvey's always scarring his face back to madness... there isn't anyone who escapes who they are! Just look at all the explosives down here, Mr Pyro No More. Got yourself a little baba and you still can't throw in the towel!"

 

Gar- Ok, new rule, don't talk about my kid.

 

"But it's wonderful! A miracle! Someone... Someone actually kissed you! Someone actually let you- Ha! Who's the baby mama? Not the red head?"

 

Gar- Yeah, her.

 

I can't believe I'm actually bragging to Joker...

 

"Hahahaha! Lynns, you devil! I always knew you two would make it work! Ever since we took down Snowflame together!"

 

*Above them, there's a knock at the door. Gar takes one look at Joker, and grabs a roll of gaffer tape, making sure to cover his mouth. Now sure he's restrained, Gar calls out "Who's there?"

 

Guard- Mr Lynns. This is the Stryker Task Force. We're here to ask you some questions

 

Fuck.

 

Gar- I'll be up in a sec, just come in.

 

====The Belfry. Canteen====

 

*The rest of Task Force XI is waiting for Deathstroke when he emerges from Krill's portal a little worse for wear. Copperhead pours himself a cup of coffee, then passes the pot to Prometheus, who empties it into his purple mug, nudging past Slade as he goes to refill it*

 

"Another successful mission, right, Slade?"

 

*Copperhead stirs his coffee, held by his tail, and hisses*

 

Copperhead- It'ssss dangerousssss letting them run about. Who'ssss to sssssay they won't come here? You sssssshould have finished the job.

 

Slade- And I might've done if *someone* didn't suck me through a portal. Bat's here. That's a complication.

 

*Krill ignores them as he puts a quarter into a gumball machine (that wasn't there a second ago) and indulges his sweet tooth.*

 

Prometheus- You, are just upset you didn't get to eat any of them, aren't you?

 

Copperhead- It... Would have been rather nice. I wassss fassssting just for thissssss occassssion.

 

Prometheus- That's your problem. Learn to live in the moment.

 

Copperhead- Easssssy to sssssay when you've got a helmet like yourssssss

 

*Slade groans. The company he has to keep...*

 

Slade- Just someone fetch Blake already.

 

====

 

The Captain's waiting for me. The guy who arrested Jules, Chuck and the rest. I don't much like him.

 

Captain- You see Mr Lynns, we have reason to believe that the Joker is targeting a friend of yours, Drury Walker.

 

Really... I would never have known

 

Gar- Joker? Thought he was in Arkham.

 

Guard- That's just the thing. We're not sure how, but, well, he's escaped.

 

Gar- Christ. He hurt anyone?

 

Captain- A group of men believed to be working for the Great White Shark, and the director of a film you were working on. A Franklin Lamar. ... Now, while we have heard reports that Drury Walker was sighted in Arkham City, there's a chance Joker does not know that. Lamar was likely killed to ascertain *your* whereabouts. If you could tell us why The Joker may wish to hurt Mr Walker, that would be greatly appreciated.

 

Something's off. Chances are that they *are* here because of Drury. But certainly not to protect him.

 

Gar- Wish I could. Really. But, I'll help however else I can.

 

Captain- Appreciate it. We'll be in touch.

 

*The captain stand up, and shake Gar's hand. Just as he's leaving, there's a clanging downstairs.*

 

Captain- What was that?

 

Gar- Rusty pipes probably. I'll check it out.

 

Captain- No. No, we'll investigate. Wilkins!

 

Gar- That's not necessary.

 

*He places a firm hand on his shoulder, holding Gar in place*

 

Captain- I *insist*

 

Guard- Sir, there's someone you should see!

 

*The Guards go downstairs, Gar chasing after them. But the damage is done. They remove the tape, and Joker takes in a deep breath of gassy air*

 

Captain- What the hell?

 

Gar- Well... Ahem...

 

Joker- Don't kink shame us boys! We've all done it!

 

*Suddenly the guards become much more hostile*

 

Captain- What... What has he told you?

 

Gar- ... Bad jokes mostly.

 

Joker- Ha! That reminds me! So, a moth walks into a bar-

 

Guard- Shut up. What, did he tell you?

 

Joker- The batman- sorry, barman says "what can I get you?" The moth says he'll have a silk stocking- that's a real drink, I assure you, and the bartender hands it a thimble with the cocktail within. Soon, the bar is filled with all sorts of fine folks. Among them, is a builder and his pals, fresh from seeing a new film... Let's say... Lord of the Rings! The moth, who's been sipping his drink throughout the night, pipes up "Oh aye, I loved that film."

The builder laughs. "You? You're a moth, what are you doing, seeing Lord of the bloody Rings?" The moth places his thimble on the table, and replies, perfectly calm perfectly casually haha "I liked the book"

 

===Further in the facility===

 

Blake- I need another hit, man.

 

*He hands the figure a mask through the cell bars. He swats it away, in a trance*

 

"They lived... They died. They lived, they died."

 

Blake- Fuckin' stop that. I was ready man. Like, ready to pounce on her, Gaige, and- just make it stop.

 

*The figure sighs, and places the golden mask onto his face*

 

Hayden- You. You, are fulfilled. You are calm. You are happy- very happy! Bells ring out in celebration, in honour of you! A year from now, those urges are gone, you are the specimen you knew you were. You don't attack anyone, not when they're coming *to* you. All is as it should be Thomas Blake. All thanks to you.

 

*Euphoria flows through Blake's body, and a big smile appears in his face. No longer is he a predator, he's at peace.*

 

Blake- Yes. Yes

 

====

 

Captain- Get his kid. You, don't move. This could've been so simple. But you had to fuck it up.

 

Idiot's pointing a gun at me. Me. I look at the pipes, Joker's only gone and let gas in...

 

Gar- You gonna tell me what the hell this all is?

 

Captain- Couldn't have just killed the bastard could you?

 

Joker- Love you too.

 

Captain- No, instead you had to let him talk.

 

Gar- He didn't *say* anything.

 

Captain- ...set The Joker loose, know he'll go after Walker's friends... And somehow neither him or they die...

 

They let him- Course they did. Never trust a pig. Drury's always been too kind to them.

 

Gar- You maniacs actually set him loose? Why? Why the hell would you-

 

Oh no they haven't.

 

Guard- Captain, we've got it.

 

He's got Josie in his hands. In his grubby hands. No wonder she's crying.

 

Gar- Her. You've got *her*

 

*Joker glances at the baby. Curious*

 

Captain- Let's try this again, what did he-

 

Joker- *Ahem*

 

Captain- I swear to god, I will shoot you.

 

Gar- Just leave her alone, leave Josie alone!

 

I turn to my daughter, to comfort her. Then I see the spark, almost in slow motion, and I realise what Joker was gonna say. Holy-

 

KaBOOM.

 

*The basement explodes into flames. With all the gasoline, the place is a powder keg. The captain is completely incinerated in the blast, the rest scream their heads off, as debris falls on them, a noise that blends with the Joker's own insane cackles. And for a couple of minutes Gar just stares at the blaze. It's beautiful. He picks his daughter up off the ground, holds her tight to his chest... and sees the fire in her eyes.*

Done