Date: Mon, 26 Sep 1994 18:32:30 EDT Reply-To: Highlander TV show stories Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: "Jason R. Tippitt" Subject: Dark of Knight, Part 11, *Major* Correction It's been pointed out to me that there was a glaring error in this part of the story, with the Joker making a reference to Horton. This is a revised posting with that error omitted and a couple of other things changed. Sorry about the second posting. > --Jason ************************************************************************ 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, someone's broken into a window in the back!" 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." ******* Duncan and Jason KO'd the guards as they ran across them. "Guess he knows we're the only ones stupid enough to try taking him on," Duncan told Jason. "Otherwise, we wouldn't be finding them solo. They couldn't stop us, but they could stop a police officer. Just don't let your guard down. A shot to the head can still put you down." He drew his sword and stepped toward a closed door marked CATWALK. "That's one thing I don't get...where the hell do the swords go when we aren't using them?" Duncan grinned. "It's a kind of magic. Seriously, though, I'll show you how to conceal them, but not at the moment." He and Jason leaned up against the walls to either side of the door. 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. "It's my duty, Alfred. Gotham needs Batman." Alfred looked at his friend. "Master Bruce, Jason and Duncan are no doubt already there. The situation will be taken care of 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 anyone else. At least when the Joker or Two-Face comes back, there's not a body. But there seems to be a link between MacLeod and Ra's al Ghul. If the two *are* connected, I'm not sure who worries me more, MacLeod or the Joker. I have to get to the bottom of this, and letting MacLeod leave 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. He felt his face growing red, his palms sweating. He wanted the psycho's head. But he remembered Bruce's teaching--wait until attacked. "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?" Bullock looked at Batman. "I thought you were already in there?!?" ******* The Joker looked at the two Immortals. "What *ever* shall I do with you two? With your heads, I can have all I need 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 to me, 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 started to look back. "Joker, you obviously don't know all the rules," Duncan said. "You just know that there's a Game, and you're trying to find out the rest." Jason turned to look at MacLeod. "Wha--?" Duncan crossed his arms. "It's obvious he doesn't know as much as he thinks he does. It's obvious that he thinks beheading will kill any Immortal. It wouldn't be a game if you didn't have to guess, would it?" The Joker laughed. "You're trying to trick me, I see!" Duncan spread his hands out. "I wouldn't lie to another Immortal. That wouldn't be fair--whoever trained you obviously gave you some bad information. Come on and fight me--trying to behead me won't do the trick. Haven't you ever heard of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight?" "You're pulling my leg," the Joker said, drawing his gaudy sword. "But this could be amusing." Duncan looked at Jason. "Stay back--it has to be one-on-one." Jason stepped back into the hallway to watch, sword still in hand. The Joker raised his sword to the ready. "There can be only *fun*!" ******* The Joker's men were like everyone else, their eyes glued to the drama unfolding on the balcony. Batman's work in disabling the gunmen was laughably easy. He herded the hostages toward the doors. They weren't exactly quiet, but the Joker was too wrapped in playing Errol Flynn to notice. (Don't know what the hell's going on, but I'd better be getting some answers.) ******* [Even *Richie* fought better than this.] Duncan kept one eye open to the rescue-in-progress. As soon as the last hostages were out of sight, Duncan disarmed the Joker. MacLeod held his sword at neck level, ready for the killing stroke. "Surrender. We can help you." The Joker laughed. "Well, if the rules vary from person to person, 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." "I knew that you were lying!" The Joker backed up against his gun. "Can't you take a joke?" He looked from MacLeod to Jason. "Hmm...bombs and evacuations...Batman nearby..." He looked at Jason. "I know where I've seen you! You're Robin! I killed you! Made you one of us!" His grin spread, and he let out a sick cackle, slapping his thigh. "Oh, too rich, simply *too* rich! Someone should make a comic book out of this whole blazing chain of angst!" The Joker laughed, leaning against the big gun for support. "Get away from the gun," Jason hissed, sword at the ready. "Oh, blow me," the Joker murmured, the grabbed 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 ambulances. Bruce tackled the Commissioner, knocking him down and shielding them both with his cloak. He remembered the warehouse in Ethiopia where he found Jason's body. (Not again, not when I just got him back...This is the last time, Joker...) ******* To be continued... =========================================================================