Kapitel 75: Chapter 75 (edited)
Kara had been suppressing her almost unbearable anger and killing intent since Jennifer's injury and the attack on her. She had been masking it well, not wanting Jennifer to notice. But when Bruce left and Jennifer finally fell asleep, Kara had nothing to hold her back.
Flying over Gotham City, Kara used her super vision and super hearing to locate the Joker. She didn't know him personally or have any prior encounters, but his infamy was impossible to ignore. The Joker had been all over the news, proudly broadcasting his atrocities. In fact, before attacking Jennifer, he had attacked other notable figures in Gotham and sent the footage to news agencies, fueling his twisted need for recognition.
Kara identified his location through his voice on one of those videos. But before confronting him, she flew to the Batcave. Entering stealthily through the side hidden behind the waterfall, she retrieved her personal equipment. Changing into her silver-gray Oracle Man suit, Kara left the cave and flew directly to Joker's hideout—a decrepit and abandoned amusement park that served as his lair.
The place was as dark and chaotic as the man himself. Kara stepped inside one of the old, decaying facilities, unaffected by the pitch-black surroundings. Her super vision revealed everything as clearly as daylight. Dozens of armed men were hiding, their weapons trained on her, ready to attack. At the center of it all was a man dressed in a gaudy purple suit, his face smeared with thick clown makeup. The greasy white paint and hollow black eye sockets framed his grotesquely scarred smile.
This was the Joker, the twisted jester of chaos who had become Gotham's darkest nightmare.
"Oh, look who it is! Oracle Man herself, gracing us with her presence!" Joker's voice was shrill and mocking as he let out a maniacal laugh. "Let's give her a proper welcome!"
At his command, a storm of bullets erupted, the sound deafening in the enclosed space. The hail of gunfire was relentless, a barrage meant to obliterate anyone in its path. But Kara stood her ground, unmoved. The bullets ricocheted harmlessly off her suit, disintegrating into powder.
When the gunfire ceased, the room was eerily silent. Kara calmly dusted off her suit, her voice altered by a modulator as she said, "Are you done? Good. My turn."
In a blur of silver-gray, Kara moved. Unlike Bruce, she didn't rely on stealth or strategy. She had the power of a Kryptonian, and she used it ruthlessly.
Her first target didn't even see her coming. Kara grabbed the man by the neck, her other hand bracing his shoulder, and tore his head clean off. Blood sprayed across the room. She turned to the next, her fist piercing his chest and crushing his heart.
The third man didn't fare any better; a single blow shattered his skull.
One by one, the men fell. Screams echoed briefly, only to be silenced as Kara methodically eliminated her targets. The dark room became a slaughterhouse, the once-confident thugs now cowering in fear, knowing they had provoked a force far beyond their comprehension.
Even the Joker, for all his bravado, found himself unnerved. His wild eyes darted around the room, trying to track Kara's movements, but all he saw was a blur of silver-gray and the aftermath of her wrath.
When the last of his men fell, Kara turned her attention to the Joker. She didn't waste time with threats or taunts. In an instant, she was in front of him, her fist raised to deliver a killing blow.
But the Joker, ever unpredictable, spoke just in time: "Wait! I can blow up Jennifer... and her baby."
Kara froze. His words hit her like a shockwave. Her fist hovered inches from his chest.
"How do you know about Jennifer? What do you mean?" she demanded, her voice tight with fury and dread.
"Oh, sweet Oracle Man," Joker said, his grin widening. "Why do you think the judge could find the bomb in time? Why wasn't it designed to kill her outright? And why, oh why, wasn't the baby harmed? Can you guess?"
Kara's eyes narrowed. "You... planned this?"
"Bingo!" Joker cackled. "You're quick, I'll give you that. Yes, I planned it all. It wasn't just about Jennifer. It was about you, Kara Zor-El. Or should I say, Kara Kent?"
Her blood ran cold. "How do you know my name?"
"Oh, a little birdie told me," Joker said, his voice dripping with mockery. "Or rather, a bat. Bruce Wayne sends his regards."
Kara's heart sank. If the Joker was telling the truth, Bruce had betrayed her. But why? And what was the Joker's real goal?
For the first time in a long while, Kara hesitated. The predator before her wasn't just a lunatic; he was a master manipulator. And now, he had her exactly where he wanted her.
Kapitel 76: Chapter 76 (edited)
"Such childish estrangement?" Kara sneered, unwilling to be fooled by Joker's antics.
Boom.
Kara grabbed Joker by the collar, showing no fear of his grotesque makeup, and pulled him close to her face.
Joker, who was the same height as Batman at 1.88 meters, was now looking up at Kara, who stood taller at 1.9 meters. Her imposing stature added to the pressure she exerted over him.
"Speak. How did you discover my identity? And the threat to blow up Jennifer—how did you do it? What exactly did you do?" Kara's voice was harsh and demanding, distorted further by her voice changer.
Joker, however, was completely unfazed. Instead, he grinned wickedly. "If you're trying to threaten me, I suggest you get creative with your methods."
"Like ripping out your heart?" Kara's gaze shifted to his chest, her voice chillingly low.
Joker's grin widened, a testament to his madness. "NONONO, that's far too simple," he replied mockingly. "I mean really breaking someone—torture their mind, destroy what they love most right in front of them. Or, if you're into the classics, a bit of physical persuasion works wonders too."
His lack of fear or concern was unnerving, as if he truly didn't mind whether Kara carried out her threats or not.
Frustration built up in Kara as she realized the extent of Joker's insanity. He wasn't someone she could intimidate easily. Her instincts told her to kill him outright, but she also knew it wasn't that simple. If she miscalculated, Jennifer's life—and the secret of her identity—would both be lost.
"You'd better stop provoking me. When I get angry, I even scare myself," Kara warned, her tone calm but menacing.
Joker seemed delighted by her reaction. He spread his arms wide, his manner taunting. "You don't have to worry so much," he said, grinning. "I'll tell you what you want to know."
Reluctantly, Kara released her grip on his collar, her patience wearing thin. She could feel herself walking into his trap, but she had no choice. For now, she had to play along.
Joker explained, his tone laced with amusement. "I figured it out, of course. Last night, I crashed a gala Bruce Wayne was hosting at his mansion—a fundraiser for Harvey Dent. Naturally, Batman showed up to intervene."
Kara's eyes narrowed as Joker continued. He revealed that during the chaos, he'd taken Rachel hostage. By observing Bruce's desperate efforts to save her, Joker had pieced it together: Bruce Wayne was Batman.
"And once I knew who Batman was," Joker said, "it wasn't hard to figure out who Oracle is. You, Kara. The signs were all there. You've traveled the world like Bruce. You're strong, brilliant, and resourceful. And let's not forget your connection to Bruce—he trusts you."
"Even if my guesses were wrong," Joker added, "your reaction just now confirmed everything. Isn't that right, Kara Kent?"
Kara's hands clenched into fists. Joker's deduction was unnervingly accurate, his mind sharp enough to exploit even the slightest mistake.
"But don't worry," Joker said, his tone feigning reassurance. "Your secret's safe with me... for now. Unless, of course, you'd like to play a little game. I won't reveal your identity—if you can survive my test. What do you say?"
"You expect me to trust you?" Kara scoffed, her anger bubbling to the surface.
Joker shrugged nonchalantly. "Why not? After all, you can kill me anytime, can't you?"
The threat hung in the air, but Joker didn't seem to care. His madness made him fearless, and that fearlessness made him dangerous.
"I've rigged Jennifer's hospital with enough explosives to blow it sky-high," Joker said, his voice dripping with malice. "And I can detonate them at any moment. You wouldn't want your best friend to die without seeing her child, would you?"
Kara's jaw tightened. Joker had pinpointed her weaknesses with terrifying precision. She was cornered.
"What do you want?" Kara asked, her voice cold as she loosened her grip on his collar. She hated giving in to his game, but she couldn't risk Jennifer's life—or the exposure of her identity.
Joker's grin widened. "I told you, just a game. Prove to me you can handle the chaos. If you pass, I'll keep your secret. If you fail..." He didn't need to finish the sentence.
Kara glared at him, calculating her options. She could kill Joker, but he claimed the hospital explosives would detonate automatically if he died. Her X-ray vision confirmed he wasn't carrying a detonator, which only complicated matters further.
"Don't do anything stupid," Kara warned, her voice icy. If Joker pushed her too far, she wouldn't hesitate to act.
But Joker merely laughed, his maniacal glee echoing in the room. Kara realized she had no choice but to play along for now. However, she vowed silently to find a way to outsmart him—and protect the people she cared about.
With a final glare, she turned and left, her mind already racing with plans. This wasn't over, not by a long shot.
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