Batman: Secret Files, Chapter 9- Parallels

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The Impersonator

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#1  Edited By The Impersonator

SOME OF THE LOGOS, CHARACTERS AND SETTINGS ARE THE PROPERTY OF DC COMICS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Rated M for Mature

Appropriate for readers 18 and over. May contain extreme violence, sexual themes, nudity, or profanity.

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Batman: Secret Files, Chapter 9- Parallels

A while ago, I received a private call from the Stranger, saying that he had another target to be caught. But that was different since he didn't send any photo through the computer slid. He mentioned that the target was unknown and had no idea who he or she actually was. I told the Commissioner that the Stranger wanted me to catch these criminals for him....and possibly his organization. Such secrets had to be revealed in front of the Commissioner. Otherwise, there might be a distrust between us.

The silencer was another reason, which we used to talk privately. The device was also built for lip reading or....more like lip synching except that there is no sound. During the communication, the silent words from the outside gets translated into actual words in the inside. So that the Stranger couldn't listen to our secret conversations. The fact is that the Stranger might have a chance to listen to our private talk. So far, he hasn't mentioned that I would betray him on the line.

I was in the batcave, examining the Joker's recorded voice, which got caught from the grand hotel's security camera in the main hall. The Joker sounded familiar as the real one. And there was no doubt about it. But the only problem is that the Joker was already imprisoned in the Arkham Asylum. Due to the tight security, which my employees developed recently. There was no way that the Clown Prince of Crime could escape. Unless, the Joker himself could be an imposter which I have captured since and the one who laughed around in the hotel, was the real one. There could be a switch taking place. But if the Joker had the same perfect voice, identity, and characteristics, then who would act as the fake Joker and....why.

I asked the computer to scan the Joker's voice and identify whether it was the real Joker. But the machine found a perfect match, which couldn't indicate the real imposter.

"Hmmm...." I thought with a little bit of frustration. "This is going to take some time."

While trying to figure out the intruder, an elevator sprang down beneath the cave. It was Alfred who brought me a sandwich and a glass of orange juice for lunch.

"Your lunch is ready, sir."

"Thanks, Alfred. But another time."

Alfred exchanged his looks and knew I wouldn't eat right away. It happens to me often when I investigate difficult cases at every moment in my life. The butler looked at the computer results which came out in a form of white paper. The paper showed a graph that details the Joker's confirmed identity. The arrow in the graph went higher as the other seemingly Imposter was exactly the same. A perfect match.

"Why, sir," The butler kindly interrupted. "This Joker is the same one whom you encountered back in the hotel?"

"That's right. However, the machine doesn't say who the imposter is. Whoever is acting as the Joker, made an excellent act. The question is why would someone impersonate as the Joker. It doesn't make sense."

"Well....I would rather say that's a good question."

"Hmmm....I have to ask someone who can help me out. Only if he doesn't think it's funny."

"Sir? Are you saying...."

"Yes. It's time for me to take another trip to Arkham Asylum."

Several hours later, I drove the batmobile to reach Arkham Asylum. The place was heavily armed, guarded, and secured by the recent technology that Wayne Enterprises had to offer. I bet the old criminals knew what they were in for. They also must have known that Bruce Wayne funded Batman with advanced technology. So that the Dark Knight can stop the waves of deadly crime in Gotham.

I reached the front gates of Arkham and waited for the security personnel to speak with me. One man came up to the speaker and asked for my identification. The only word which has been said all the time.

"Dark Knight."

The security guard recognized the codename and allowed me into the Arkham Asylum. The mental prison was vast and sort of high enough to reach the top building. Arkham Asylum was once built by the man himself, Jeremiah Arkham. If it wasn't for him, these criminals wouldn't escape any time soon. But the problem always arise as these mad criminals managed to escape, especially the Joker. With the help of my advanced technology, the Arkham Asylum have been rebuilt and reconstructed with the tight metal barriers so that they couldn't escape from their jail cells. There were also traps hidden beneath the mental hospital. But these traps were only meant to hurt the criminals instead of killing them. I wonder if the Joker can really escape this time.

The front door was already opened and there stood another security guard besides it. He kind of greeted me as I completely ignored him. The guy was an African-American who just got a job about a week ago. I told him that I needed to speak with the Joker himself. He kindly escorted me through the front steel door. He then flipped his identification card and accessed the main door. The steel door was widely opened. A little bit of smoke came right through our shoes. We walked into the big entrance while we heard shouts and screams coming from all corners of the insane Asylum.

The security guard was a bit shaken as always since it was his new job. I told him to relax because first time always overcome your nerves. But he already managed to keep himself safe from the dangerous criminals. He walked towards in front while I was following him behind. There were two security guards escorting a bald man with lots of severed skin marks on his face and body. It was the psychotic Mr. Zsasz who marks his own skin after killing a number of victims. Those marks overcame my sensation, telling that those were poor souls resting on Mr. Zsasz's shoulders. He was looking down to the floor and simply didn't notice me. But when we passed each other, the bald criminal raised his face up and turned a bit, facing towards my back. I knew he was looking directly where I was going. But he didn't mention a word as he went further down to the other main exit, which lead to where he might be kept in another jail cell.

We finally reached towards a single jail cell way behind from the other doors on both sides. This single jail cell is where the Joker was strapped with white cloth behind his usual jail costume. The security guard opened the door slightly, fearing the Joker might pounce on him. I placed my black-gloved hand on his left shoulder and told him to stay away from the jail cell. I came inside the cell as the door got shut behind me. There lies the Joker who keeps whispering to himself, laughing, crying, and smiling as always. Until he began to face towards me. He was so happy that the Batman came to his psychotic arms.

"Oh Batsy. You came for me."

"I want some answers, Joker."

The Joker looked puzzled, wondering what I was talking about. I mentioned about him being present at the grand hotel. But he gave a quick confused glance and suddenly began to laugh. I interrupted his laughter as the Batman couldn't stand it any longer.

"This is not funny, Joker. I want to know the truth."

"Oh Batsy, Batsy, Batsy. When will you ever learn? I'm the real Clown Prince of Crime here. Hmmmmmm?"

"Then who is the other Joker? Did you hire someone to do the dirty work for you?"

"As I recall....BATSY!. I never hired anyone. How else I can contact an outsider and tell him to become like....ME?!"

The Joker got frustrated as he tried to move around his strapped arms and legs. He couldn't get up easily like a small child. I ignored his childish behaviour and continued the interrogation.

"Don't play jokes with me."

"Is it, Batsy? IS IT?! You put me here in this rotten h*llhole and expect me to believe that there is another Joker, the real one out there and I'm a fake? YOU'RE PATHETIC, BATMAN! I AM THE REAL CLOWN PRINCE OF CRIME!"

My teeth got clenched when he said those familiar harsh words to me. The word, pathetic came to my mind, thinking that this Joker and the other one were exactly playing the same coin. It was a doubt, which the Batman can't even tell who the real Joker is. If Harvey Dent aka Two Face were playing his coin, which side would he choose? Heads or Tails? Heads would mean win and the tails, loss. The main problem is that you can't choose since both Jokers are identical. Like a pair of twins whom anyone can't distinguish between their looks and personalities. They are the one and the same, and yet they don't do anything different each day. Which means there is no decision to make. Unless, the real twin shows he has something different, hidden from his own brother.

The Joker still stared at me with a full glance. He was able to get up slowly as any other mental patient would do. He then gave out a big wide smile on his pale face.

"You know....Batsy. If I were you, I would certainly hunt down that imposter. But make no mistake. I am what I always was. Don't even forget that!"

While looking down upon the Joker and hearing the chill crazy words from the clown's mouth, a security guard came knocking at the door in an instant. I slightly opened the door for him.

"Batman! There's a phone call for you. It's Commissioner Gordon!"

The Joker got excited to hear that name as he used to taunt him, and shot her own daughter, Barbara Gordon on the leg. I opened the door, borrowed the security guards's cellphone, and picked up the call.

"Batman!"

"Jim, what is it?"

"Are you still in Arkham Asylum?"

"Yes. Why?"

There was silence in the background until it took two seconds for the Commissioner to speak up.

"Didn't you hear the news? It said that the Batman robbed one of the national banks in Gotham."

"What?" I asked with confusion and stood firm as a frozen statue.

"It's true, Batman. Something's not right here. But I suggest you come here quickly and private. You've been....wanted."

To be continued in Batman: Secret Files, Chapter 10- Identity Crisis.

Holy Batsy! Batman just robbed the bank? Something tells us that this is the true work of an imposter. But who would do it? Find out how the real Batman deal with his identity crisis in the next chapter of....BATMAN!

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Edited.