Cyber Joke Par 05-2: To the Rescue

Jason, as Robin, arrived at Arkham in a short time Wayne Manor and the asylum were both north of the city and he was there in minutes traveling at top speed. He was greeted by security and a few familiar uniforms that let him in. He found Gordon and heard the story of the faked sickness. The man who had switched with the Joker and two other missing guards had only been with the security agency for a week. It was obvious he had someone's outside help. But they weren't going to get any answers from his doppelganger in his former cell. The man was dead with a huge grin on his face.

“What about this Harleen Quinnzel.” Robin asked Gordon.

“We are going on the assumption right now, that she was forced into this situation. She has been here for a few years now and has an exemplary performance and spotless record. Though she volunteered to work with the Joker, she never quarreled about having extra security around him.”

“I'm gonna look around.” Robin said

“Be my guest. Maybe you'll find something we don't see.” Gordon offered.

Jason walked the halls and corridors and examined the Joker's cell and ward. The guard Blaine had been taken to the hospital, but was doing okay. He had been poisoned, but it was not a lethal dose. Some of the other guards that had called in sick had been found with the same poison in their system. This had been an elaborate plan, but Jason could not figure out how anyone had been communicating with the Joker, when he was locked up so tight.

As Jason continued to search he went to where the lab coats were kept. He wondered if Harleen's would offer any clues. The guard, Eric, pointed out Harleen's. Jason held it up and searched through the pockets, but found nothing. He set it aside and scanned the area and that's when he noticed what looked like a spider acting in a peculiar way. He stared a moment. It appeared that the spider had legs on only one side and was continually walking in tight circle. Most people would not even notice the thing in the corner limping in a circle. The most striking detail, however, was the faintly glowing eyes. Jason bent over and picked it up. When he did, he saw what were probably it's legs scattered by the wall.

He held the thing up and looked it over. It was big and ugly for a spider, the body being about the thickness of a finger. He knew immediately it was some sort of nano tech. On it's rear abdomen there looked to be a small firewire type of port. The most interesting thing was that the hairy body seemed very organic. It was something of a cybernetic spider.

Time was of the essence. Jason went to the infirmary in the asylum and asked if there was a microscope anywhere. A lab assistant offered one in a research lab. The whole time, the legs that were still on the spider kept moving. He had brought along the other legs in an evidence bag and now he broke off the remaining legs and put them in the bag. Interestingly, fluid oozed out of the body where he removed the legs. Grabbing a scalpel he sliced open the body of the spider and the eyes finally stopped glowing. Inside, surrounded by spider fluids and parts was a microchip that was directly attached to the firewire port. Under the microscope, Jason could see two logos. On the port was the Wayne Enterprises logo and on the chip was the same logo he had seen on the binder that Dr. Bryce's assistant, Julia, was holding during their earlier interview.

He called Alfred immediately and told him what he found. “Have you found anything else out and how about that security footage?”

“That is disturbing news Jason. Nothing with the footage yet, it's still processing, but should be done soon. One more thing. A pawn shop owner near Crime Alley was found dead and wearing Joker's signature smile.”

“Alfred, I'm going to check on this Harleen Quinnzel and then head over to the Cyber Tech division over at Bruce's industrial park.”

“Do be careful. I will let you know when the security footage is cleared up.”

“Thanks Alfred. Out.”

Robin slipped out of Arkham and sped into the city. He was there at Harleen's apartment building in twenty five minutes. When he arrived, the cops were there and an ambulance. He hopped off the Batcycle and right over to the ambulance that was loading a victim in to the back.

“What happened?” Robin asked the medic.

“Severe beating. She was barely alive when the cops got here. If she had been left here for another twelve or so hours, she would have died from dehydration, blood loss and shock. On top of that, one of her breast implants has ruptured and could have created even more complications. Luckily it was a saline implant.”

“Holy....Crap!” Was all Robin could say. He could not tell what she looked like from all the swelling and bruises on her. “Looks like she was quite the unwilling partner.”

“Looks like rape too.” Said the medic.

Jason's demeanor turned to quiet controlled rage. “He's gonna pay for this.” And he ran to the Batcycle.

“Go get'em Wonder Boy!” The medic yelled after him.

“It's Boy Wonder, idiot!” Said the other EMT with him.

“Oops.”

Robin headed northeast out of the city to Wayne Enterprises Technology Industrial Park.

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