Date: Sun, 25 Sep 1994 16:08:52 EDT Reply-To: Highlander TV show stories Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: "Jason R. Tippitt" Subject: Dark of Knight, Part 11 ************************************************************************ D A R K O F K N I G H T ************************************************************************ A Highlander/Batman Crossover Jason R. Tippitt, 1994 Caveat: Some pretty violent bits as it winds its way to an ending Part Eleven Bruce sat up in his bed. "Alfred!" His tall English butler walked into the room carrying a tray with a sandwich, an apple, and a glass of milk sitting on top. "Yes, Master Bruce?" "I just dreamed Jason was still alive." He winced, looked down at the bandage across his stomach. "It all happened?" "Yes, so it appears." ******* Commissioner Gordon looked at Bullock and Montoya. "Thirty seconds. If anyone knows any prayers--" A young lieutenant named Abbott ran up to the senior officers. His face was bright red. "Sir, it looks like someone's broken into a window on the back side of the building!" Bullock gave a big grin. "Well, *that* was a quick answer." Montoya looked at the Commissioner. "We've got the area cleared... do you still think there might be a chance of explosions?" The elder Watcher looked at his understudy. "One never knows." ******* Jason and Duncan KO'd the guards as they ran across them. "Looks like he knows we're the only ones stupid enough to try taking him on," Duncan told Jason. "Otherwise, we wouldn't be finding them all solo-- they couldn't stop us, but they could stop a police officer." "We're the only ones who can stop him," Jason answered. "Don't get cocky, kid." Duncan pulled his sword out. "That's one thing I don't get...where the hell do the swords go when we aren't using them?" "It's just a kind of magic, I guess." Duncan smirked. "I'll teach you how to conceal them, but not at the moment." He and Jason leaned up against the walls to either side of the doorway leading, they hoped, to the catwalk above the studio. Duncan looked at Jason. "Ready?" Jason nodded. "Born ready." Duncan's boot kicked the door open, and the two Immortals found the Joker staring at them from behind a mounted Thompson machine gun. ******* Bruce pulled on his costume, ignoring his butler's protests. "I've got a duty, Alfred. Gotham needs Batman." Alfred looked at his friend. "Master Bruce, Jason and Duncan are doubtless already there. The situation will be taken care if whether or not you burst your stitches, so you might as well stay here." Bruce looked at Alfred. "MacLeod took a full-strength shot of the Joker's gas. The only other person who's ever come back from the dead is Ra's al Ghul. I've never seen a body with any of the others. So it seems there might be a connection--I'm not sure which one worries me more, MacLeod or the Joker. I've got to get to the bottom of this, and letting him get out of Gotham City isn't the way." Batman pulled his real face over that of Wayne and walked down the stairs into the cave. (Looks like it's time to test the new motorcycle.) ******* The Joker looked at the two Immortals. "Hello! What a delightful surprise, Mr. MacLeod--you just made my job *so*much* easier! But where is the Caped Clod?" "You killed him, remember?" Duncan looked warily at the cannon the Joker had pointed their way. The Joker let out a shrill cackle. "Oh, good one! You know as well as I do that he's one of us. And speaking of *us,* who's this young whipper-snapper?" The Joker rested his chin on one hand. "He looks so gosh-darned familiar, Aunt Bee..." Jason's heart sped up. He remembered the warehouse, could almost feel again the crowbar's blows to his body. The struggle to unlock the door, then the blinding light and noise. Then blackness. "I remember! You're that Crusher kid on _Star Trek_, aren't you?" ******* Batman parked the cycle in front of Gordon. "Sorry it's taken me so long, Commissioner. I had a tangle with the Joker earlier in the night, and have just now gotten mobile again. What's the situation?" ******* The Joker looked at the two Immortals. "What *ever* shall I do with you two? My friend Horton has given me all I need to know to rule the world...I suppose this is the point where I should enter cheesy-villain mode and offer to share my power with you if you only submit your will mine, right?" Duncan looked past the Joker and saw a black-clad boot smash one of the Joker's men in the head, knocking him out. [What the hell's he doing here?] The Joker saw Duncan's distraction and turned his head a bit. "Joker, I think you're bluffing," Duncan said. "You don't know the rules, just that there's a game, and you're trying to make me tell you." Jason turned to look at MacLeod. "Wha--?" Duncan crossed his arms. "It's obvious he doesn't know anything about us. He thinks that beheading will kill any Immortal; he doesn't realize that it varies from person to person." The Joker laughed. "Oh, you're trying to trick me, I see!" Duncan spread his hands out. "I wouldn't lie to another Immortal. Come on and fight me--just for a little while--trying to behead me won't do the trick. Haven't you ever heard of the Green Knight?" The Joker drew his sword. "An interesting point there, MacLeod. Besides, it's like I always say--there can be only *fun!*" ******* With all eyes on the drama unfolding on the balcony, Batman's work in disabling the Joker's men was easy. He herded the hostages toward the doors of the theatre. (Don't know what's going on up there, but I'll be back for answers in a minute.) ******* Duncan disarmed the Joker within seconds. He held his sword high, ready to make the killing cut. "Surrender. We can find you help." The Joker laughed. "How do you know beheading will kill *me?*" Duncan sighed. "I made that up to distract you while the Batman cleared out the hostages. It's over, Joker. You can keep your head or lose it, but it's over." The Joker looked at Duncan and then at Jason. "The Batman...losing one's head...I know where I remember you from! You're Robin!" He began to cackle. "Oh, this is *too* rich! Someone should make a comic book out of this!" He laughed, leaning against the big gun. "Get away from the gun," Jason hissed, sword at the ready. "Oh, blow me," the Joker murmured, squeezing the trigger. There was a puff of gunpowder, and a sign reading "Bang!" popped out. Duncan and Jason looked at one another. "That's *it?*" ******* Batman looked at Gordon. "I'm going back in to get that bast--" The building exploded, debris flying in every direction. The police helicoptor circling above was caught in the fireball and careened down toward the police cars and ambulences. Bruce tackled Commissioner Gordon, knocking him to the ground and covering them both with his cloak. He remembered warehouse in Ethiopia where he'd found Jason's body. (This is the last time, Joker.) ******* To be continued... =========================================================================