Post by thekillingjoke on Oct 30, 2011 18:45:25 GMT -5
Batman #5
By Cornelius Spunkwater
---
Texas - 1904
The scent of clansmen is strong and it mingles with Gordon’s scent. Wayne rides toward Reverend Blackfire’s camp in the mountains and from this distance he hears men hoot and holler around a crackling fire. He dismounts and makes way through the woods and soon he comes at the end and hides far back in the darkness. Men dance with women who are chained to rocks and these women move listlessly as the men pull them around. Some are pregnant. One man lifts a teenaged girl’s skirt up and rapes her for all his brothers to see and they cheer for him. She lies still and says nothing.
A bell rings. The men immediately stop everything and filter into a small church and the doors slam shut. Wayne comes into the light and looks down at the women. Some are expressionless and say nothing while others stare at the darkness of the forest as though somewhere beyond is a new life. He leaves them and goes to a window at one side of the church.
Past the pews is Reverend Blackfire at his pulpit. He wears the clothes of a preacher and behind him is an altar where Gordon lies tied down. Gordon tries to scream but there’s a bit in his mouth. Meanwhile Blackfire takes the pulpit and says: Brothers. I have told you many times the good news of Christ our Lord. How comforting it is to know we are saved from our wickedness! That is a guarantee no other way of life can offer. Can they offer morality? Yes, or at least some idea of it. But the truth is that all those ideas are subjective and the only real truth we can rely on is that the gospel of Christ saves us. How long has it been now since I came to you bearing my prophecy? A year? Yes. A year. But it was ten years ago when I first saw the vision of Christ consuming sin as we have consumed His body and blood in holy communion. In that vision he asked me to eat with him and I did. Together we ate the flesh of a man who committed every sin contained in the Word of God. After I woke, I knew then His plan for us. We are to consume the sins of the world. It is the will of God that we cleanse the world and wash it pure with the blood of inequity. Brothers, let us bow our heads and pray.
The congregation prays and Gordon struggles and then Blackfire says: Father. Thank you for the harvest of flesh you give us today. Let us consume this holy offering in your name and let us pray always that we carry out your will.
Blackfire takes an axe from beside the altar and turns toward Gordon. The congregation is silent. He swings the axe up and brings it down on Gordon’s exposed leg just below the knee. Gordon screams with the bit between his teeth and Blackfire swings again to cut the remaining flesh. He takes Gordon’s severed leg and holds it high while Gordon bleeds out and he says: The peace of the Lord be with you always. Let us feast!
Gotham – 2115
Eddie Nashton lies in bed at his apartment feeling a headache from the concussion he suffered after the Gotham mainframe exploded two days ago. There’s a knock at Eddie Nashton’s door and he answers it. Two police officers stand there and say: Mr. Eddie Nashton?
Yes?
We’re from Gotham PD conducting a criminal investigation. We have a few questions we’d like to ask if you wouldn’t mind.
What do you want to know?
Well, let’s go over the details first. We were looking at Edward Nigma’s computer and the last thing sent was an email to you. We also noticed there was an email notice that you read the email. Thirty minutes after you read it the Gotham mainframe exploded. We couldn’t read the email because it was scrambled on Edward’s end. So, we have to ask: What was in that email?
I don’t know. A riddle I guess. We liked doing riddles like they were jokes and sometimes we'd email them to each other.
A riddle. Is that all?
I don’t think I should say any more without a lawyer. You should leave.
Fair enough Eddie. We just wanted to ask a few questions.
Nashton shuts the door then and listens to them leave. He watches through the peephole until they’re gone and returns to bed. He holds the side of his head and it’s hot to the touch and he says: I feel like shit. Maybe I should see another doctor.
Wayne Manor - 2115
Wayne stands at the doors of his home looking out at Gotham for several minutes. How long has it been since he’s stepped outside this house? Years. Years. He steps outside and stretches his wings and beats them on the air. The wind runs around his body. He runs over the ground and picks up speed and finally jumps and flaps his wings more and more until he’s gained altitude.
Texas - 1904
While clansmen gather around their giant fire roasting Gordon’s leg, Wayne goes inside the church and approaches the altar. Gordon’s bleeding out and losing consciousness. Wayne rips away strips of Gordon’s pant leg and ties it around the wound. Gordon stirs with the pressure on his leg and says: They took my leg Wayne.
I know sheriff. I know. I’m gonna get you outta here but I gotta cauterize your leg first.
How ye gonna do that?
I need fire.
Oh shit. Don’t do that.
I’ve got to sheriff. You’ll get gangrene if I don’t.
Fine goddammit. Hurry up.
Stay quiet. I’ll be back, Wayne says and opens a window and crawls through it. He snaps a piece off a dead tree branch and comes back through the window. He ties a bit of cloth around the end and dips it in a lit oil lamp. When the torch catches he gives Gordon the bit and holds the flame against Gordon’s stump a few seconds and Gordon bites down and screams. The smell of burnt flesh lingers but Wayne says nothing and puts out the torch with his hand.
Wayne turns and Blackfire has a rifle aimed at him. He pulls the trigger and a bullet rips through Wayne’s chest and he stands looking at the hole but he doesn’t go down. He just stands there. Blackfire stares at him with wide eyes and runs for the door. Outside he runs among the clansmen screaming: Brothers! There is a demon among us! Inside the church!
A group storms inside the church with hatchets but no one’s there. The ropes binding Gordon to the altar have been cut. A window at one side is open and outside Wayne carries Gordon through the forest.
Gotham - 2115
A window opens and Wayne comes inside the hospital room. He stands beside Derek Powers who lies unconscious and attached to life support equipment. Powers doesn’t move. Wayne goes to the foot of the bed and takes his chart and reads it. Powers is scheduled for cybernetic reconstruction on sixty percent of his body followed by a year of physical therapy.
Wayne sets down the chart and comes closer. He looks at Powers for several minutes and says: I don’t know whether to thank you or pull the plug.
Wayne jumps from the window and lets the wind carry him.
Gotham - 2115
For hours Gotham goes dark. City lights shut off blocks at a time with steady rhythm and the citydome sky vanishes. Its walls are now transparent and without is a wasteland of rocks and charred remnants of generations past. Suddenly power returns with waves of light now green. Crosscity transporters collapse with passengers inside and crush them until they explode a bag of blood and bones that hangs as an apparition. Vehicles deactivate safety belts and brake suddenly so broken bodies lie smeared on the streets. Screams across Gotham are heard. Communications between Gotham and other citydomes are cut off without explanation. Then all is silent. Somewhere someone laughs and doesn’t know why. Screens citywide go black and flash text that reads:
Dear Gotham,
I am tired of running you. I have reevaluated my priorities. You’re on your own.
-Joker
The Joker virus is sentient and Gotham cannot survive.
By Cornelius Spunkwater
---
Texas - 1904
The scent of clansmen is strong and it mingles with Gordon’s scent. Wayne rides toward Reverend Blackfire’s camp in the mountains and from this distance he hears men hoot and holler around a crackling fire. He dismounts and makes way through the woods and soon he comes at the end and hides far back in the darkness. Men dance with women who are chained to rocks and these women move listlessly as the men pull them around. Some are pregnant. One man lifts a teenaged girl’s skirt up and rapes her for all his brothers to see and they cheer for him. She lies still and says nothing.
A bell rings. The men immediately stop everything and filter into a small church and the doors slam shut. Wayne comes into the light and looks down at the women. Some are expressionless and say nothing while others stare at the darkness of the forest as though somewhere beyond is a new life. He leaves them and goes to a window at one side of the church.
Past the pews is Reverend Blackfire at his pulpit. He wears the clothes of a preacher and behind him is an altar where Gordon lies tied down. Gordon tries to scream but there’s a bit in his mouth. Meanwhile Blackfire takes the pulpit and says: Brothers. I have told you many times the good news of Christ our Lord. How comforting it is to know we are saved from our wickedness! That is a guarantee no other way of life can offer. Can they offer morality? Yes, or at least some idea of it. But the truth is that all those ideas are subjective and the only real truth we can rely on is that the gospel of Christ saves us. How long has it been now since I came to you bearing my prophecy? A year? Yes. A year. But it was ten years ago when I first saw the vision of Christ consuming sin as we have consumed His body and blood in holy communion. In that vision he asked me to eat with him and I did. Together we ate the flesh of a man who committed every sin contained in the Word of God. After I woke, I knew then His plan for us. We are to consume the sins of the world. It is the will of God that we cleanse the world and wash it pure with the blood of inequity. Brothers, let us bow our heads and pray.
The congregation prays and Gordon struggles and then Blackfire says: Father. Thank you for the harvest of flesh you give us today. Let us consume this holy offering in your name and let us pray always that we carry out your will.
Blackfire takes an axe from beside the altar and turns toward Gordon. The congregation is silent. He swings the axe up and brings it down on Gordon’s exposed leg just below the knee. Gordon screams with the bit between his teeth and Blackfire swings again to cut the remaining flesh. He takes Gordon’s severed leg and holds it high while Gordon bleeds out and he says: The peace of the Lord be with you always. Let us feast!
- - -
Gotham – 2115
Eddie Nashton lies in bed at his apartment feeling a headache from the concussion he suffered after the Gotham mainframe exploded two days ago. There’s a knock at Eddie Nashton’s door and he answers it. Two police officers stand there and say: Mr. Eddie Nashton?
Yes?
We’re from Gotham PD conducting a criminal investigation. We have a few questions we’d like to ask if you wouldn’t mind.
What do you want to know?
Well, let’s go over the details first. We were looking at Edward Nigma’s computer and the last thing sent was an email to you. We also noticed there was an email notice that you read the email. Thirty minutes after you read it the Gotham mainframe exploded. We couldn’t read the email because it was scrambled on Edward’s end. So, we have to ask: What was in that email?
I don’t know. A riddle I guess. We liked doing riddles like they were jokes and sometimes we'd email them to each other.
A riddle. Is that all?
I don’t think I should say any more without a lawyer. You should leave.
Fair enough Eddie. We just wanted to ask a few questions.
Nashton shuts the door then and listens to them leave. He watches through the peephole until they’re gone and returns to bed. He holds the side of his head and it’s hot to the touch and he says: I feel like shit. Maybe I should see another doctor.
- - -
Wayne Manor - 2115
Wayne stands at the doors of his home looking out at Gotham for several minutes. How long has it been since he’s stepped outside this house? Years. Years. He steps outside and stretches his wings and beats them on the air. The wind runs around his body. He runs over the ground and picks up speed and finally jumps and flaps his wings more and more until he’s gained altitude.
- - -
Texas - 1904
While clansmen gather around their giant fire roasting Gordon’s leg, Wayne goes inside the church and approaches the altar. Gordon’s bleeding out and losing consciousness. Wayne rips away strips of Gordon’s pant leg and ties it around the wound. Gordon stirs with the pressure on his leg and says: They took my leg Wayne.
I know sheriff. I know. I’m gonna get you outta here but I gotta cauterize your leg first.
How ye gonna do that?
I need fire.
Oh shit. Don’t do that.
I’ve got to sheriff. You’ll get gangrene if I don’t.
Fine goddammit. Hurry up.
Stay quiet. I’ll be back, Wayne says and opens a window and crawls through it. He snaps a piece off a dead tree branch and comes back through the window. He ties a bit of cloth around the end and dips it in a lit oil lamp. When the torch catches he gives Gordon the bit and holds the flame against Gordon’s stump a few seconds and Gordon bites down and screams. The smell of burnt flesh lingers but Wayne says nothing and puts out the torch with his hand.
Wayne turns and Blackfire has a rifle aimed at him. He pulls the trigger and a bullet rips through Wayne’s chest and he stands looking at the hole but he doesn’t go down. He just stands there. Blackfire stares at him with wide eyes and runs for the door. Outside he runs among the clansmen screaming: Brothers! There is a demon among us! Inside the church!
A group storms inside the church with hatchets but no one’s there. The ropes binding Gordon to the altar have been cut. A window at one side is open and outside Wayne carries Gordon through the forest.
- - -
Gotham - 2115
A window opens and Wayne comes inside the hospital room. He stands beside Derek Powers who lies unconscious and attached to life support equipment. Powers doesn’t move. Wayne goes to the foot of the bed and takes his chart and reads it. Powers is scheduled for cybernetic reconstruction on sixty percent of his body followed by a year of physical therapy.
Wayne sets down the chart and comes closer. He looks at Powers for several minutes and says: I don’t know whether to thank you or pull the plug.
Wayne jumps from the window and lets the wind carry him.
- - -
Gotham - 2115
For hours Gotham goes dark. City lights shut off blocks at a time with steady rhythm and the citydome sky vanishes. Its walls are now transparent and without is a wasteland of rocks and charred remnants of generations past. Suddenly power returns with waves of light now green. Crosscity transporters collapse with passengers inside and crush them until they explode a bag of blood and bones that hangs as an apparition. Vehicles deactivate safety belts and brake suddenly so broken bodies lie smeared on the streets. Screams across Gotham are heard. Communications between Gotham and other citydomes are cut off without explanation. Then all is silent. Somewhere someone laughs and doesn’t know why. Screens citywide go black and flash text that reads:
Dear Gotham,
I am tired of running you. I have reevaluated my priorities. You’re on your own.
-Joker
The Joker virus is sentient and Gotham cannot survive.