I Palindrome I (R)

[SilentBob173]

This picks up directly from the end of I, Joker. Its rated R simply becuase of all the violence that will take place. Let's not forget whom this story is about.

Oh, yeah, and enjoy.




















---
Part One
---














“No, it’s weird. He’s barely moved and he hasn’t said a word for three weeks now.”

“Any word from Dr. Arkham?”

“Says his scarring incident left him traumatized. He’s probably a vegetable.”

The two guards continued their conversation as they walked down the corridors of the Arkham madhouse. For three weeks, I had sat in my padded cell. I hadn’t moved. I hadn’t spoken. They fed me. They had assumed there was nothing inside me any longer.

I’d like to thank the Academy.

For three weeks, I had silently observed the inner makings of the Asylum. I was always watching. Always learning. When all you do is observe, you’d be surprised what you can learn about something. From when they took me to the medi-lab for my injection to when they hauled me to the shower room; in three weeks, I knew Arkham Asylum inside and out.

I knew that it took the guards about 7 minutes before they would walk past my cell again. I knew that after their next pass, it would be 45 seconds before Dr. Ross would open the secured doors and clock in. Without fail she was 2 minutes late every day. I knew that 4 minutes after she clocked in, the truck with this weeks medical supplies would be let in through the gate outside. I knew that right outside my window, the gate guard and the truck driver would talk casually for anywhere between 30-50 seconds.

I knew that this was going to be a hell of a lot of fun.

--

Far down the corridor, I heard the guard making his way back to me. I had one minute before he was here. Forty-five seconds. Thirty.

I cleared my throat and readied for my performance.

“YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Add in a few desperate breaths.

“HEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLP!!!! THERE’S SOMETHING HORRIBLE IN HERE! HURRY!!! HURRY!!!!!!!!! OH MYGOD, PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

The guard came running. He took one look at me quivering on my bed. He called down the hall.

“It’s the vegetable!”

The guard took his key card out of his pocket and swiped it through the receiver of my cell, the glass hissed open. He shuffled in.

“HE’S HORRIBLE!!!! HE’S HORRIBLE!!! GET HIM OUT OF HEEEEEEEERRRRRE!!!!”

“Calm down! Who is? Who’s horrible?”

I smiled at him.

“Why, me of course!”

I grabbed him by the ears and slammed him into the metal grill of my bed. I didn’t have the resources to be very creative with this one. I threw him on the ground as he grabbed his oozing nose. I placed my foot on his throat until I heard a satisfying crack.

Quickly, I pillaged his pockets. There I found a gun, a night stick, sedative syringes, and a wallet with $150. Not a bad start.

I had only twenty seconds to intercept Doctor Ross at the door. I ran out of my cell, gun in hand. I heard a man’s footsteps quickly gaining on me from behind. I turned and shot. I continued running as his head grew a new ventilation shaft.

I neared the reception desk. The secretary was pretending to read a magazine, hiding from me. There was no sight of Dr. Ross yet.

“Crimeny… Ashley Ross hasn’t come in yet, has she?”

“N… No.”

“Right then.”

“Uh…”

“So, how’ve you been?”

“Uh…”

“I hear you. I know how office jobs can be sometimes. Trust me.”

She was cute. I was making small talk. Sue me.

It was getting frustrating counting the seconds in my head, though. It was becoming quite distracting.

Just then, Dr. Ross appeared at the door. The secretary looked at me and then at Ross, not quite sure what she was supposed to do.

“Aren’t you going to let her in?”

The secretary shakily reached for the button and buzzed her in. Dr. Ross. She walked in the door holding a cup of coffee.

“Hi there, Sheila. I’m running a little later than usual today. I….”

I quickly moved past her and put my foot in the door before it closed.

“I offer my thanks to the both of you. You’ve served my purpose more than well.”

I aimed the gun at Dr. Ross, when something gleamed at the corner of my eye.

“Dr. Ross, does that watch of yours have a second hand?”

“Y-Yes..”

“Gimme.”

I slipped the watch on my wrist.

“Never mind kids, thanks for the watch. Catch you later.”

They lived.

--

With the watch I didn’t have to do all that bloody counting in my head. I now had 2 minutes and 47 seconds to get past that truck. More than enough.

I strolled into the courtyard. I took a look around. Nice building. Nicer than the inside anyway. I looked back and saw a pile of rocks. I went over and picked up a nice pointed one.

I walked over to the brick wall and etched into it.

“JOKER WUZ HERE!”

I heard the truck rumbling towards the gate. I dropped the rock, and made my way to the security guard who monitored the gate. He pressed a button and the truck drove inside.

The truck pulled up beside the guard’s station. The driver leaned out his window.

“Afternoon, John. How’re you holding up?”

“About the same. You?”

“Well, I…”

He turned and looked at me standing right in between them.

“Jeez, what’s your deal?”

“My deal is this that I present to you. You have the option of letting me have the truck and clearance to leave here, or you have the option of going through the motions of refusing and alerting the fuzz,” I aimed my gun at the guard, “after which I’ll kill the both of you and I’ll get what I want anyway.”

They looked at each other.

--

I put the truck in gear and leaned out the window.

“You two boys have done me proud. Now stand to the side so I know you won’t alert the proper authorities until I’ve left, ‘kay?”

They moved to where they were told, and I drove forward. As I drove forward, I saw them out of the corner of my eye.

Ah, what the hell?

I quickly swerved and ran both of them over.

I straightened the truck out and drove out of the gate.

First day on the job. Not even half an hour in. Four kills.

Not too shabby.

I’d have to stop at the carwash to clean two guys off of the grill of my truck, though.

Ew.

[AceOfKnaves]

Very offensive, I like it. A nice start to what will probably be an interesting story.

[Panther]

Yo J-man,


Where's the next post?????????

Your fans oh so pateintly await it.

[Bleu Unicorn]

Oof, been awhile... Sorry it took me so long to get back to you SilentBob, I have been away from the boards, and then a million things are going on here at school and stuff.

Anyway this is very interesting. I loved I, Joker -- you have a very interesting grasp of the Joker character and I think this will be just as interesting.

Anxiously awaiting the next installment!

[SilentBob173]

Sorry kids. school just restarted plus I've got my school's play all week, so ol' JS gets a bit tied up. Expect Chapter 2 later today or tommorrow. Promise!

Also, It will probably be an average thing to have a week or two tween posts, unless I find a magic loophole of some sort. Sorry.

I appreciate the comments I've got thus far. Makes me glad leaving I, Joker alone wasn't the way to go.

later.
-Jason S

[SilentBob173]

This was finished and ready to go yesterday, I swear, but with the server problems I was unable to get it up. So here you are Chapter Two of the story. Oh, and if you're interested, with the outline that I'm currently using it looks like this story will be eleven chapters and an epligoue, so we still have a ways to go. Enjoy.


-JS

P.S. Starting with this chapter, if you have not read the first installment (I, Joker), it will be infinitely helpful to you if you do so before proceeding any further.











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Chapter Two
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I had a hundred and fifty bucks to blow. I’d have to be thrifty. Being a methodical serial killer isn’t cheap. But do what you love, right?

There’s some place I’m supposed to go to find clothes and supplies. I don’t know why or what it is. All I know is where it is and that the supplies will be free. Can’t argue with results.

I need to pick up clothes, some food, and a few cleaning supplies.

Tonight; I clean house.

--

I arrive at the address. It’s a crummy old apartment building in the bad part of town. Two steps in I’m hit with the smell of cat litter and old people. Mice scurried across the hallway floor.

Cozy.

I started walking through the apartment building. As I walked past the doors, it all seemed somewhat familiar. Very distant, but familiar overall.

Suddenly I found myself stopping. This was the apartment. I reached for the knob, but it was locked. On instinct, I lifted the doormat and found the key.

--

The apartment itself was tidy, but due to the condition of the building, it still seemed unpleasant. It was if there was a dirt covering the entire dwelling that could never be scrubbed off in a million years.

It was amazing the way I found everything I needed by simply guessing where it was.

First, I made a trip to the wardrobe. I searched through all the suits on hangers and picked and matched an outfit. I walked into the bathroom mirror to check out the new duds for myself. God only knows what color it was. All I knew was; I looked goooood. My suit had tails that swung down past the backs of my knees. I wore a vest and a bow tie. It just seemed to fit.

I was one sexy mother.

Then I clambered into the kitchen and began fiddling around with the cleaning supplies. For reasons unknown, I simply had a natural knowledge for the chemicals in each one of the bottles. I knew what I was doing. Furthermore, I knew what I wanted.

I combined my special ingredients into one bottle. Turpentine, Ammonia, lemon juice, Pepsi, a little of this, and little of were the makings of Mister J’s special gumbo. A mixture of my own special herbs and spices.

Smilex.

--

I walked towards the door with my supplies over my shoulder, ready to kiss the mysterious apartment goodbye, when I caught something out of the back corner of my eye. A red light blinked upon the answering machine.

I never said I was invulnerable to curiosity.

“You have three new messages in Answering Box”

“Um. Hello. This is Gotham Morgue. I’m going to need you to come in and fill out the forms for Jeannie’s burial. I understand this is not an easy time for you, but please come in as soon as you can. Thank you again.”

Jeannie? Who the hell’s Jeannie? Did I kill her? This was all so frustrating. It was if I should be able to recite this stuff without thinking about it, but I just can’t seem to touch the memory for long enough for it to surface. It was like having an intense itch that I could never ever reach.

“Next Message”

“Hi honey. This is Mom. I, uh, look, I know you and I haven’t spoken in seven years, but I wanted to call and offer my sympathy for Jeannie’s death. I’d like for us to start talking again. I haven’t had anything to drink in a few months. I’ve been doing real good. Even you’d be proud of me. So, please, uh, just give me a call or something.”

I couldn’t explain why, but I suddenly felt a great deal of bitterness towards this man’s mother. I felt as if she’d spent years hurting me. My fist clenched. With inspiration still coursing through my veins, I ran to the kitchen and grabbed a few more supplies from the kitchen while the last message played.

“Well, it’s been two weeks since I called. So, I realize that you’ve decided to leave your mother out of your equation from now on. I can understand that. I might… I may have done the same thing… same thing in your spot. I … I just tried so hard to clean up, so maybe we could… I’m sorry. I’ll, I’ll let you go.”

As I stuffed the last few knives in my suitcase, I slammed the door on the apartment.

And on the past, as well, I suppose.





--
-JS
--

[AceOfKnaves]

I just read the first part to this story, and it all makes a lot more sense now.

I must say, the first part was simply amazing! And the second one seem's to be shaping up that way as well!

[Panther]

My first response:

Much, /much/ too short. Come on - that wasn't a chapter - that was a teaser! Keep going!

My second response:

I find it very interesting how you have drawn (so to speak) Joker and Jack as two seperate entities. Most other pasts of the Joker usaually portray him as a fairly bad man who's dip in the vat let loose all his inhibitions making him Pure Evil. Your rendition can draw closer parallels to Jekel and Hyde and its heart breaking to see what's happening to this sympathetic Everyman gone schizo.

I'm a little disturbed by the knowlegde Smilex can be whipped up in the kitchen sink. Who knew? And I've got a sense of forebodding by the combination of the telephone messages and the last thing he stuffed in the suitcase, but I'll just have to wait.

Great touch of the door slamming down on the past

later,

[Bleu Unicorn]

<crawls out from under her rock again> Oiy, so busy lately. Never get to spend quality time here on the boards and read everything I want to.

That said, Panther's right -- that was harsh, SilentBob, that wasn't a chapter -- way too short. I'm hurt, deeply hurt. And curious, deeply curious. :p

Panther, you took the words right out my my mouth. This is a very interesting take on the Joker. I actually like this angle better than the tried and true dump him in that vat of chemicals and poof his id just takes over. This on the other hand seems to be a far more interesting take on things and I must say you're handling it very well.

Ok... Smilex can be made in my kitchen... I'm a bit freaked out. That could be bad. :(

Anxious to see where this is going -- and rather wary of that "Bag o' Tricks" he's got. :eek: Can't wait for the next chapter!

[Coran]

ALl I can say is... wow. This is an amazing story SilentBob. I love the new take on the Joker and everything. I can't wait to see how you continue to take this farther on. Especially if Batman shows up and we get to find out what Joker thinks about him. Anyways, keep up the great work!

[SilentBob173]

Here' s part three. Introducing the one, the only...




















---
Chapter Three
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Knock. Knock.

…

Knock. Knock.

“What do you want?”

“Oh, come now! You’re supposed to say ‘Who’s there’!”

“Honey, is that you?” her voice was slurred and excited. I stood there with my suitcase as I listened to her fumble with the locks.

“I’m so glad to see you, I…”

“Hi.”

“Honey? Is that…?”

I cut her off, pushing her into the apartment and closing the door behind us. I stared her down for a moment. She wasn’t making any attempt to get up, so I propped my suitcase on the table and began searching through it.

“What… what’s the matter? Why are you doing this? Why are you dressed like that?”

I didn’t look up from my suitcase. “Oh, this isn’t makeup, my fine example of maternity, this is the real deal.”

She rose from the floor and started towards me.

“Oh. Oh, my baby! Who’s done this to you?”

She wrapped her arms around me. I exploded out of them.

“Off! Off! Germs! Germs! Woman, I have no idea who the hell you are, and all I do know is that I should kill you. It’s not my damn fault I’m crazy. Don’t take it out on me by hugging me!”

“You don’t remember me?”

“I can only guess that I should.”

“Its me! I’m your mother!”

“Hmm.”

“Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”

“No. Can you tie yourself up, or do I have to do it for you?”

--

She was too busy sobbing to do too much struggling. I stood back to observe my work. Her arms were tied behind her back. Her feet tied together. Her mouth gagged. She stood atop a chair. There was noose around her neck.

It looked strange. I couldn’t find a nice length of rope on such short notice. I did find an extension cord, however. I looked it all over. I went to her to make a few more adjustments. I tightened the noose around her neck a little.

“Don’t move.”

I patted her on the cheek and smiled at her. She had a wonderful look of fear in her eyes but didn’t dare move too much for fear of falling off the chair.

“Now, I’m doing you a great favor by hanging you. I have a bag just chock full of wonderful things. Painful things. This should be relatively quick. Judging by the amounf of empty alcohol bottles on the table, I don’t think you’d have felt it anyway. Any last words?”

I gently pulled the tape of her mouth.

“Please! Don’t! I don’t know what’s happened to you, or what I did, but please don’t - - !”

I moved the tape back towards her mouth.

“HELP! PLEASE HELP!”

I taped her mouth shut again.

“Look, its midnight. Who’s really going to be out here at this time of night to help you?”

Her eyes focused on something that wasn’t me. Something that was behind me.

Someone was here.

I turned and saw a figure shrouded in the darkness. I couldn’t make out who it was. I didn’t have time for this. I took my gun out and shot them. They let out a grunt and fell to the ground.

Whatever.

“Now, as I was saying before we were interrupted, I - -“

Her eyes focused behind me again.

Now what?

I turned with my gun, but this time it was kicked out of my hand, and I was pushed into the wall.

My throat was being clenched so hard I couldn’t see very well, but I could still think just fine.

I grabbed a knife from my belt, and sliced at his arm. He growled and it gave me time to slip past him. I decided my best bet was to turn on the lights, so I could have a better view of what I was doing.

I flicked the lights on. I looked to him, and all I saw was a mass of black flowing cloth. I wanted to know who this buffoon was, but he seemed unhappy with me so I wasn’t going to strike a conversation with him. I grabbed a chair and swung it at him.

He grabbed it and mid-swing and tossed it aside. In a split second he jumped on top of me and we fell to the ground.

I got my first look at him. My eyes went wide with surprise. I looked up into the face of a bat.

--
-JS
--

[AceOfKnaves]

I love your writing SilentBob! It's just a shame we all have to wait to read it....but it's totally worth the time it takes.

Keep up the great job!!!


Oh, and by the way, I have been telling all my friends about your Joker stories, and the ones who actually listened to me, and came to see them, told me how great they were.
One of them isn't really a Batman fan! That says something!!!!!

:D

[Bleu Unicorn]

:D I absolutely love this story, SilentBob! What an exciting "introduction" to the Bat himself (even though he's seen him before, but you know). How Joker-ish, though to be completely preoccupied with his victim and not even care that someone snuck in his apartment, or might attack him. What a gem.

As Selena said, it's a shame we have to wait so long to get more, but it definitely is well worth the time and patience. See you after the next installment, I'm sure! :)

[Panther]

Ditto to what Selena and BleuUnicorn said! Great entrance for Bataman. Wow is that guy quick on the uptake - I didn't expect anyone to track down Joker for a lot longer than /that/. Of course, he /is/ the World's Greatest Detective.



he seemed unhappy with me so I wasn’t going to strike a conversation with him

He really does live in his own little world...

Hope to see another post soon!

later,

[Daughterof_Evil]

Just gotta say what a great job you're doing here, SilentBob. You have a gift for the dark humor, I see, and I like how in I, Joker you referred to "the man" in third person, whereas here Joker has claimed himself and his actions.

Just fantastic. I am definitely hungry for more!

[SilentBob173]

Originally posted by Daughterof_Evil
I like how in I, Joker you referred to "the man" in third person, whereas here Joker has claimed himself and his actions.


The idea I always wanted to get acrossed was that it was always Joker telling the story. From the beginning with the comedian, until now, until the very end. It was always Joker at the typewriter, but the its the fact that he does not regard the comedian as himself. That's a completley different person to him. So he's telling this story, and that's why the comedian sounds as pathetic as he does. Joker finds this sad man an absolute pathetic waste. That's why in these early days he blocks the memory out completley. Some things happen near the middle to end of this second Act that bring it all back for him.

This second part is going to tie in with the first real soon in the best way, I promise.

Since I haven't acknowledged it yet, I'd very much like to thank everyone for their high praise. It makes my day, I swear.

And I apologize for the time it takes between posts. Apart from school and such, I've also got another project I'm working on at the same time. It doesn't have anything to do with ToonZone, and its getting the majority of my attention right now. I love writing this story, though, and I have every inention on keeping it going all the way until the end of the third Act.

Look for the nex chapter later today or tommorrow.

Jason S.

[SilentBob173]

I can't decide if my internet connection hates me, you, or the lot of us, but regardless lack of connection to the web kept me from giving you this when I said I would. Sorry.

Hope you enjoy.























---
Chapter Four
---



















I soaked him in.

The costume was just goofy as hell.

I struggled to speak with his strong hands tight around my throat.

“That’s not a face you’d want to wake up to in the morning. Just who the hell are you supposed to be?”

He picked me up by my lapels and held me to his face.

“Call me Batman.”

I was thrown into the kitchen table. A bruised rib, easy.

“Do I really have to?” I reached for a knife in my back pocket. “You have to admit, that’s not a real high-quality moniker you got there, champ.”

I lunged for him with the blade, but it was dodged and he planted his fist in my gut. I spit blood. Great; just great.

He pinned me to the wall.

“Anything you want me to call you?”

“Oh, now I’m embarrassed. I can’t; you’ll laugh.”

“Not likely.”

“The Joker.”

“Nice.”

I tried to land a punch on him, but he seemed untouchable. Who was this guy? I couldn’t gather if he was a badass or a queer. There was - - wait. An idea hit me. I start attempting to jerk him to my left quickly. He becomes tired with this as I would hope, and throws me to the right. Moron.

I land right beside my suitcase. I make it look like an accident. I shove my hand inside the suitcase as I hit the floor.

Nope. Nope. Yep.

I kept the charade that he had hurt me. I crawled a few feet to my right. Should I moan? Yeah, that’s a good idea.

“Ooooh.”

I was only ten feet away from the woman whom still happened to be standing atop the chair. He hadn’t gone to save her yet. He must be new at this whole super-hero game. He’s not very good yet.

I fake the pain and shakily stand, holding my hand against the wall. Then I look up at him and side step to the chair lady. I held a knife to her throat.

“Leave or kill her. Pick your poison.”

Now, I may be eccentric, but I’m not stupid. I knew this had no chance of ever working. He stood there for a few seconds to call my bluff, when he saw that I was letting down, he started to back away. In one fluid motion almost too fast for the eye to see, he thrusts his arm in my direction.

Something black and made of metal hit me directly on the hand that was holding the knife. It surprised me, but I had anticipated something like this. The knife was a charade. The real fun was what was in the other hand.

He rushed for me. I went for the woman. He grabbed me by the waste. I only had time to touch her by the arm. No chance to pull her off the chair and tighten the rope. No matter, I didn’t really want to hang her anyway. By touching her arm, I accomplished everything I needed to.

My body exploded in pain as he laid blow after blow on me. I was then thrust into the wall. Sprained wrist.

Knowing my job here was done, I sat tight for a spell. He lifted the noose from around her neck. He cut her ropes.

“ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha”

Someone was laughing.

“Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha HA HA HA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!”

It wasn’t me.

She was bent over clutching her stomach. She was in the throes of hysterical laughter. The big guy was certainly confused. He’d clearly never seen anything like this before. Neither had I, really. It was my first time. It was all very exciting.

“What? What’s wrong? What’s so funny?”

Oh, Batsy, just you wait.

“HAHAHAHEHEHAHAHAEHAHAHAHAHAHHEEEAHAHAHAAAAAAA – urk!”
“What’s wrong? What’s - -“

He rolled her face over took at him. Her eyes were rolled back into their sockets. There was drool dripping from her stiff grin.

I stood up.

He inspected her. He found fresh blood on her arm where I had touched her a few seconds ago. it was only a scratch, but it was very much so a fresh scratch. He looked over to me and stood up straight gently laying her on the floor. He looked like he wanted answers. I gave him one.

I waved at him. In my hand was a hypodermic needle. In its chamber was Smilex. There were a few drips of fresh blood on it.

“A clever little concoction of mine. I wasn’t sure how well it was going to work out though. She was more a guinea pig than anything. Had all the effects I wanted it to. I’m rather impressed, what about you?”

I saw it in his eyes. In a split-second he realized the kind person I was. He figured it out. He was sickened.

He started walking towards me.

“ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha”

Someone was laughing.

“Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha HA HA HA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!”

This time it was me.




--
-JS
--

[AceOfKnaves]

YAY!!! More to your story!!! As usual, I love it!!! :D

*WHISTLE**CLAP*

[Panther]

His first victim of Smilex was his /mother/?!? Ouch.

I like his evaluation of Batman. Too bad we can't see what Bat's view of the situation was.

PLease post more soon!

later,

[Patrick Bateman]

WOW! This is great stuff! Truly the real Joker.

[Bleu Unicorn]

Oof, falling out of the loop here. Had some massive catching up to do. SilentBob you've just got the Joker nailed here. Kind of disturbing that mommy-dearest would be his first victim, though for some demented reason I'm not surprised. I love Joker's thoughts on Batman. Panther's right, too bad we don't get to hear Batman's thoughts about Joker. Still great stuff, can't wait to read more!

[SilentBob173]

Part 5 for you listening, er... reading pleasure. I apologize for the shortness, but if its any consolation, the next two should be rather lenghty if my calculations are correct.















-----
Chapter Five
-----




















The court plea of insanity became my best friend. On two dozen separate occasions I have been denied the death penalty because I’m bull-goose loony. I’ve spent more time in Arkham Asylum than most doctors there. Despite popular belief, I’m actually there more often than not, its just that every time I do make it out, I make an impact large enough to make it seem like I’m always on the loose.

Then there’s Batcram. No one knows that kid better than me. We’re practically brothers. I mean, just look at how much we hate each other.

He’s fascinating more than anything to me. A science project. He’d never admit it, but he’s so damn close to being me, it hurts. Something happened to him. Something gloriously horrible. Hell if I can figure out what it is, but I can just feel it.

That’s what happened to me. Something horrible came through and changed everything. I just wish I remember what it was. I have bits and pieces that run through my mind, but none of them fit together. Sometimes I remember it one way. Sometimes I remember it another. I do know one thing though. It was only one bad day.

The same thing goes for Bats. I’m sure if I knew his story, I could narrow his disposition down to a single solitary day. That’s all it takes. All it takes is one bad day to reduce the sanest man alive to lunacy. That's how far the world is from where I am. Just one bad day.

I’ve made it my personal mission to drive him off the deep end. No such luck, though. For a guy who prances around in skin-tight black molded rubber, he has one hell of a sturdy mental stronghold. I mean, the things I’ve done to this guy would have broken the rock of Gibraltar.

First off, I shoot Commissioner Gordon’s daughter through the spine. I drive Gordon to near the brink of madness. To the best of my knowledge, she’s still yet to take another step since then. Nothing.

Then, I slaughter his precious Robin. I beat his tiny head in with a crowbar and blow him and his mother to absolute smithereens. Batman just trades him for a new one.

Aiming my sights toward his friends again. I put a bullet hole in both sides of Sarah Gordon’s head. I get shot in the kneecaps, and Batman is still Batman.

I tell you its enough to drive a guy crazy.

Maybe he keeps his balance fighting all those other loonies out there. Course none of them have the loonies like your old pal Joker has the loonies.

There’s Harvey Dent, the former DA. A classic schizo, that one. Goes by the name of Two Face.

Oswald Cobblepot goes by the title Penguin. Societal avoidance issues from childhood trauma. Basically, Ozzie has his pants in a bunch because in school, he was the fat kid.

Edward Nigma and Pamela Isley are both sociopath. They are The Riddler and Poison Ivy respectively.

Then there’s Selena Kyle. She’s Catwoman. I don’t know what her problem is. Personally, I think she’s just overly horny.

None of them hold a candle to me, though. I’m the cream of the crop of the crazies, baby. I was Batman’s first, and if I have my way, I’ll be his last.

We’ve doing this dance of ours for years. Ten years now to be exact. I’m quite satisfied when I look back on it. Had a lot of good laughs, y’know?

Through all the time I’ve never given up on my hope of driven Batman insane, and he’s never given up his fight to drive me sane. Neither have the quacks residing here at Arkham either.

I’m sitting here in the doctor’s office waiting for my latest therapy session, as a matter of fact. The latest attempt to revert me to sanity. I hear them nearing the door.

They’re crazy, though, if they think anyone in this building could ever shake up my routine even a little.

The door opens.

“Joker, how are you? I’d like you to meet Dr. Harleen Quinzel.”



--
-JS
--

[Bleu Unicorn]

Ahh...the inevitable meeting! <bounces around> Yeah, like it's a shock that Harley's my favorite character, right? I say it like five times everyday. Anyway, another great chapter, SilentBob. I reread some of it -- and I like this changing that you do with some of it narrative and some in the first person. I'm assuming that Joker is actually writing the story...just confused sometimes?

Short or not, it was a great read, can't wait for the next installment!

[AceOfKnaves]

Another great section! I am officially hooked to this little story. :D

~Selena~

[Panther]

I don't know why I was surprized that this is comic book continuity setting. ::shrugs:: NEway, great recap of past evenbts, and very very very chilling how we get this up close and personal tour of Joker's head. You've gotten inside his skin so well its /scary/.

The writing style is truely amazing - it's humerous but at the same time the content makes you recoil after you stop laughing. Amazing.

I can't wait to see what happens now that Harley Quin's on the sceane!

(dare I ask your opinion of the doc on Birds of Prey?)

[SilentBob173]

Originally posted by Panther
I don't know why I was surprized that this is comic book continuity setting.

(dare I ask your opinion of the doc on Birds of Prey?)

Well, I did state from the beginning that I, Joker was based off Alan Moore's The Killing Joke. So it'd have to be in comic book continuity.

As for my opinion of BoP? Are you sure you're ready for this?

Well....













I didn't watch it.

Sorry. :D

[Panther]

Well, I did state from the beginning that I, Joker was based off Alan Moore's The Killing Joke. So it'd have to be in

Hence the fact I was surprized by my own surprize, if that makes any sense at all...


As for my opinion of BoP? Are you sure you're ready for this?
I didn't watch it.

Your entitled. :D

But it's interesting how they've reworked Harley Quin's character for the 21st century and the show.

later,

[SilentBob173]

So. Yes.

Uh... yeah.

I'm only a... month late. What's the big deal?

...don't hurt me...

In all seriousness, I'm sorry. That other project I've been mentioning? It's dominating my life. Its like some sort of brain sucking alien monster.... thing.

Also, I just finished with the play I was involved in. so up until now, that was a very large chunk of time.

To make it up to you, I'm going to do my best to get the next two parts to you within the next week and a half. If I'm right, that'll close the Harley arc of the story.

Soon, Joker's past will come flooding back to haunt him. I hint at how in here, but the next chapter it will become alot more apparent.

So here is chapter 6. Hope you enjoy, and hope I can be a little more regular about this from now on.










---

Chapter Six

---











I loved her from the very moment I saw her. I don’t know why. My loving her was as irrational to me as any other action I take, and maybe more so.

She was absolutely beautiful. Not beautiful in a shallow, fashion magazine way. She radiated beauty from her very pores. She had a face that was refreshing, but… somehow… I had seen her face a thousand times. It was hard to wrap my mind around it.

She motioned for the guards that accompanied her to leave. She then took a very long time sitting down, leafing thrown her papers and finding an ink pen.

“Joker.”

“Yes, m’lady?”

“Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Doctor Harleen Quinzel.”

“Can I call you Harley?”

“I’d rather you didn’t.”

“Right, right.”

“Now, I was wondering if I could talk to you about - -“

“You know, if you say your name fast enough, it sounds like harlequin.”

“Yes, yes, I’ve heard it all before.”

“Kind of ironic, given your present company, don’t you think?”

“Perhaps. Mind if I continue?”

“Not at all, Harley.”

She looked at me crossly. “I was wondering if I could talk to you about your childhood a little?”

Ha! Perfect! Put on a sad face, man.

“My childhood? …oh… Yeah, sure. If- - if you want to…”

“What were your parents like?”

“Well, my mother died giving birth to me.”

“I see. And your father?”

“My dad… he used to beat me up pretty bad…”

--

After an hour, she was mine. I had paced around the room telling her my “story”. She cried. She laughed. She gasped at the frightening parts. All of it was crap, of course. I remember enough of my past to tell it to myself, let alone her.

“I had no idea. No wonder you feel the need to express yourself in such extreme ways.”

Err… right.

“I… I didn’t know how to deal with my pain. It boiled up. I cracked. Went mad. I started to… started to… Oh God, I’m a monster.”

I’d like to thank the Academy.

“No, no of course you’re not! No one can blame you for what you became. What you need is people to show you that they care. You just need a little counseling and guidance.”

“Well, I guess that’s what you’re here for, right, doc?”

“Exactly. You name it. Anything within my means. What is you need from me?”

“I just… I really need someone to stay close with me right now.”

She got up from her chair and let me back to the couch. She sat with me. She put her hand on my shoulder and got closer to me.

“We can get you back on top of your life, Joker. You’re a special case, and I will give you special treatment.”

She was near nose to nose with me now. My mouth was moving to the words of someone who knew how to be in love. Someone who knew what it was like to be totally in love with another person. Hell, I didn't even know compassion was in my cards.

“Thank you. Thank you so very much. You’ve given me what no one else has even bothered offering. You have a very kind heart. You’re more than I could have asked for.”

We were kissing. I don’t think either of us knew how we ended up locked together, and it certainly didn’t seem to matter. Long and passionately, we kissed our first kiss.

It would have been so easy right there. I could have killed her without her ever knowing what hit her. I could have broken her neck. I could have strangled her.

But I didn’t want to. All I wanted to do was kiss her.

Finally, after a period of time neither of us could measure, we broke apart.

“I’m here for you.”

“I know.”

“What is it you’ll need to best suit your therapy?”

“To get outside of my dark and drab four walls. Now that I know that there’ someone to care for me, all I really need is for some time in the real world to start coping. I need freedom.

She seemed taken aback at first. Then, she got a thoughtful look on her face.

“Consider it done.”

--

It was like a dream come true. She sat the security console, while I made my escape. It had never been this easy, and it was the best time of my life.

Of course, I had no real intention of stopping my current way of doing things. If you believed that, you have to be crazy.

I had heard Harley got caught freeing me though. A shame, really. Dr. Arkham committed her without batting an eye. She was locked up there in Arkham and I walked free. It was too ironic for words. I’d have busted her, out but it was too much of a risk.

I had told her before I left where I would be hiding out. I got letters from her every week or so. They were coded to seem like she was writing letters to her grandfather.

I kept reassuring her that I was coming back for her. I told her nothing short of the apocalypse would prevent me from coming to get her.

Kind of surprising that apocalypse was just about what happened.

I had finally gotten all the supplies I needed to start my organization again. In the morning, Gotham would be in the palm of my hand all over again.

Only trouble is, there was no Gotham in the morning.

That night, Gotham fell to its knees.


--
-JS
--

[Bleu Unicorn]

Ironic that you put this up the same day "Mad Love" airs. :D I like this take on Joker. While, I think I've said before, I'm not really sure I like this added in tragicness of Joker -- I'm one of those that thinks The Killing Joke is just Joker's theory (or one of them) on his life. Plus, I think he loses something being sympathetic...he doesn't seem as psychotic and menacing.

Anyhoo, 'nuff of my rambling. Again, I like this history -- and I like how Harley's coming in. I really don't know what else to say (it's been a hard day, forgive me). Glad you posted again, I need to get time to write. And I'm looking forward to more.

[AceOfKnaves]

YAY! More story, I really am enjoying this! Can't wait for more! :D

[Panther]

Wow, did Joker played /her/ like a piano! Interesting to see how far /her/ fall was - from Miss Perfect and Prim to just another insane immate of Arkham.

/Excellant/ writing, my friend. You are leading us on a fascinating tour of Joker's head - so up close and personal its scary. Well worth the wait too.

later,

[SilentBob173]

...stop looking at me like that.








(This contains dialogue written by Paul Dini)


---
Chapter Seven
---





















I woke up staring at the ceiling. A small piece of the ceiling hit me in the head. A larger piece of the ceiling fell five feet away from me. It was then that I realized that the ground was shaking.

I leapt up and ran out the door of my office. Out in the halls, the lights blinked on and off. One of the lights fell from its cord and smashed to the floor. I fought to stand, but repeatedly stumbled as the earth shook beneath my feet.

After much trouble I reached the outer exit of the plant. I was at least safe from being crushed under the rubble. I didn’t know what was happening, and frankly I was too tired to think straight. All I knew was that my hideout was falling apart with everything inside of it.

Ah hell. The supplies.

The guns, the chemicals, everything I needed were still inside. Without them I’d have to start all over again before making my first move. Without thinking I ran back inside. Promptly upon reentering, a wooden beam struck me on the top of the head. The world went black for a little while.

---

When I woke up, I felt like Batman played the bongos with my skull. As clouds in the sky I was staring at finally became one cloud again, I sat up.

My hideout. My base of operations. Ace Chemical Processing Plant. My birthplace. It was nothing but rubble now. Bah, oh well. I’ll get a new one.

I looked behind me, across the ravine. Far away, there stood Gotham City. Thing is, there was a big ass chunk off it missing. The earthquake that took my plant down did the same to half the buildings in the city. It was pure cataclysm. Gotham looked like a veritable no man’s land.

That wasn’t even the worst part/ The big drawback, was that all those supplies I’d taken the time to collect were in that rubble that was the plant. Now I’d have to think of a person who could supply me with my losses.

Ah, wait. I knew just the guy.

---

“Get out.”

“Oh, Oswald! I’m sure you don’t mean that, do you my friend?”

“I do. And I am not your friend. Don’t address me as such. You may call me The Penguin.”

“Ozzie, old pal! I knew you’d be flying high even in the face of this urban blight. Civilization falls and the rabble tears itself apart for the scraps, but still the Penguin richly feathers his nest!”

He sighed heavily and lit himself a cigar. He really was fascinatingly ugly. Ugh. If I didn’t need his help I’d kill him just for being so ugly.

“Joker, you’ll pardon me for cutting short this meeting of the mutual admiration society, but I’m a busy man and now…”

“What a coinky-dink! I’m looking to set up business again, too! I know I can count on my bosom chum, Oswald to loan me the few basics I need to get started. Just odds and ends, really. Food, water, gasoline, guns, ammo, a selection of the more powerful explosives, couple of generators…”

He put his hand up to hush me, and began to chuckle.

“I believe, old friend, the immortal bard said it best: ‘neither a borrower not a lender be.’ These days I’m running a strictly barter operation.”

“I’m sure you’ll advance me credit, right, ma brotha?”

“The rules of commerce have changed since the quake, pally. I can’t afford charity, not can I waste time on beggars with nothing to trade.”

Fine. I’ll do business with someone else.

“All I wanted was a leg up in reestablishing myself, but if you’re going to be piggy…”

A third voice cleared their throat behind me.

“A-hem! Speaking of legs, check out these gams, puddin’!”

Wait…

“That voice is familiar…”

I wheeled around to see a woman dressed like a court jester. Her red and black outfit only helped to exaggerate her beauty. I knew her… from somewhere.

“…but I can’t place the face.”

She didn’t wait for me to figure it out. She jumped onto Penguin’s desk and looked at him nose to nose. Of course she was still four feet away from him. Heh heh.

She put her hand on his shoulder, and pointed to his coat. “Now hold your horses, pengy. You can’t start a first class gang war with your jacket all dirty like that.”

Penguin looked where she pointed. What an idiot.

“Ha! Made you look!”

The girl planted her fist to the underside of Penguin’s nose. He fell backward as blood oozed everywhere.

Without hesitating, she started doing flips and making short work of three of Penguin’s men. She tossed me a gun. I nonchalantly began shooting until every one but a few of Penguin’s men were dead.

“A most timely diversion, my mysterious mountebank, but I have the strangest feeling we’ve met before.”

She ran to me and embraced me.

“’Course we have puddin’ I’m the gal who’s gonna put you back on top!”

One of my boys, put a gun to her head.

“Playtime’s over, cookie. You want me to snuff her, boss?”

“Excuse me, but nobody’s talking to you!”

She casually reached into her handbag, and pelted my crony with a rubber chicken with a concealed brick inside. I liked her style. I…

Wait…

It clicked in my brain.

“Why, bless my soul! I’d recognize that bedside manor anywhere! It’s dear, daffy doctor Quinzel, run away to join my own little circus!”


--

-JS

[Panther]

Hey wait! Don't stop now! It was just getting good! I want to see more of Gotham's couple of the week!

Another great post. Try not to leave us readers hanging too long this time?

later,

[AceOfKnaves]

This is simply killing me. It is amazing stuff, and we have to wait so long to read it. :)

Keep on posting! And please do so soon. ;)

[SilentBob173]

Hey, kids.

Don't get so excited yet. I don't have a new story post for you.

What I do have is an apology, an explanation, and a rundown of how things are gonna happen.

I'm sorry its taken so long between posts. In my opinion, the story isn't worth the time you have to wait to read it, and fo that I really am sorry.

The 'project' I've mentioned in the last few posts has been occupying most of my time. Its my hope that within the next year, I'll start my own online comic. In the past months, then, I've been drawing, writing, and basically doing things to get myself ready, and frankly, its taken precedence over Palindrome. I've said in the past that fanfics aren't my first love.

But that doesn't mean you don't get to read the rest of Palindrome. What I intend on doing is just sitting down and writing the rest of the story and giving it to you in one very large piece. When do you get this? I'm not sure. A few weeks at the earliest.

As for part 3 of the trilogy, well, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

If you're interested in my cartooning, I'll be happy to keep you updated if you like. Just send me an email. I wouldn't want to take too much space on the Forums promoting a comic that has nothing to do with Toons.

Here's a few samples of my cartooning, though:

Main character profile (http://img.ranchoweb.com/images/mrgazpacho/john-profile.jpg)

Fan Art (http://img.ranchoweb.com/images/mrgazpacho/sdfanpencil.jpg) that I did for www.smallstoriesonline.com

Another Fan Art (http://img.ranchoweb.com/images/mrgazpacho/something-positive.jpg) that I did for www.somethingpositive.net

If you wan more information like plot and such. Give me an email at FatHead173@msn.com

Thanks for understanding.

Jason Sigala

[Panther]

Well, I won't say I wasn't all excited when I thought you had posted more of the story and then not disappointed when you didn't, becuase I was and I am.

But I wish you the best of luck with your project and hope to see you around the boards! :D

later,

[SilentBob173]

Alright, guys. Its been more than a year since I started this story, and about 8 months since I've given you any word on it.

Here's how it breaks down.

I'm sorry. I really am. I know there's actually a person or two who read it and looked forward to it. Bless you for that. You can't imagine how appreciative I am of you. As I've said before, I'm not a fan of my own writing, so the fact that someone else likes it throws me for a loop. I love you people, and I feel bad telling you things like this.

But I'm not going to finish this story.

My heart's just not in it. I'm not a fanfiction writer. I really don't even fancy myself much of a story writer.

But here's the catch. I really would like to see this story meet an end. Its gotten right to the point where we would've gotten into the meat and potatoes of the story.

I'm making an open offer. If there is one of you who would be willing to take on the task of finishing 'I Palindrome I', please, please, please contact me.

I'd really like it if one of the people I've known on here for a while decided to do it, but I want anyone who's interested to contact me.

All I'd want is slight proof that can carry a story.

I'll give you all the notes I had on the story (which isn't much) and will answer any questions you might have.

And then, when its all said and done, I'll write the epilogue myself.

(I know the Joker story was meant to be a trilogy, but.... well, we'll cross that bridge later)

Email: FatHead173@msn.com
AIM: MrGazspacho

Please get ahold of me. Even if you have a question, or if I havent' talked to you for a while, and you want to chew the fat. I miss you guys.

I look forward (hopefully) to anyone who may be interested.

Thanks again to everyone who said such nice things to me in the past. You guys really are the best.

Cheers.
Jason S