Ensure The Aid Of Doctor Kerri Manet

Batman made up his mind, first thing was to make sure Doctor Manet could and would help him once he found Wayne and brought him to the asylum. Batman dropped from the Gargoyle and hit a button on his gauntlet, there was a roar of an engine and a long black car swerved into view and opened it's top for Batman to fall into.

The Batmobile tore off in the direction of Arkham Island.

It sped passed a sign reading 'Hitchhikers may be escaped inmates' and under another reading 'ARKHAM ASYLUM' His car sped to a stop and Batman jumped from the cockpit. The doors to the Asylum opened and out walked a familiar face... Cash, the head of security at Arkham walked out to greet Batman. John Doe under the mask felt a large surge of guilt, last time Joker had broken out of the Asylum he had cost Cash a lot of friends... "Cash." Batman said in greeting. "Batman." Cash responded, the pair shook hands and Cash was the next to speak. "What bring you here? You caught Wayne?" Batman shook his head. "I'm here to see the Director." Cash looked confused. "Doctor Manet? What you want her for?" Batman walked passed Cash. "To talk." Batman was lead through the Asylum, there was a time when the walls felt like a home-away-from-home, but now they were dark and foreboding. The inmates, psychotic and deranged... Animals in cages.

Cash led Batman to an elevator. "Top floor Batman." Batman nodded, stepped in and the pair parted ways.

The elevator doors opened and Batman stepped out into a large office, from wall to wall were bookshelves filled with rare first editions of medical journals. At the center of the room sat a desk, behind which sat a beautiful redhaired woman, who was now staring at Batman with a mixture of awe, confusion and something else that seemed to unnerve John slightly.

"Batman?" She asked confused. "How can I help you?" Batman stepped forwards, the moon light from the circular window behind her desk hitting his face. "Doctor Manet... I need your help." Kerri raised an eyebrow. "With...?" She asked. "Wayne." She shot up in her seat. "You have him?" She asked, Batman shook his head. "That's what I need you for. You cured Joker last time." Kerri shook her head. "This isn't the same man, nor is it the same psychosis." Batman nodded. "But you can help me to think like him, to track him down. No one knew the Joker's mind better then you." Kerri decided to take it slower. "Bruce Wayne, was not the man I treated. The man I treated, was John Doe, the original Joker. The two are non-comparable." Batman shook his head. "I think they are." Kerri raised an eyebrow and scoffed at him. "Oh? And why is that?" Batman took a deep breath. "I-Joker..." He began. "Used to have a theory." Kerri leaned forwards "A theory?" She asked. "Yes. That Gotham, was... Alive."

"Alive?" Kerri echoed.

"Yes."

"The City."

"Yes."

"And you agree with him?"

"No, let me explain. His theory was this: That Gotham City was an entity, a mystical **** of balance between good and evil. Do you know the origins of Gotham Doctor?"

"I'm afraid I do not."

"It was founded by two men, Amadeus Arkham and Solomon Wayne."

Kerri narrowed her eyes.

"Arkham was ruthless, cruel and corrupt. But, Wayne... Was kind, and fair and decent. The two founded the city in harmony but quickly their friendship warped into hatred. Arkham had founded the Asylum and was conducting, what Solomon called 'ungodly' experiments on his inmates, torturing them, castrating them... Uh..." Batman paused to think of another example "...Peeling off their eyelids just to see what would happen. He was evil. Totally evil. Wayne, who was a judge, found Arkham guilty of ****, **** and neglect, sentencing him to 'trial by mob.' He allowed the townsfolk to decide what his punishment should be."

"What was it?"

"To be locked away in a forgotten wing of this Asylum." There was a crash of thunder and a streak of lightning. "They locked him in the walls themselves. Solomon Wayne, died of Pneumonia three days later. And the pattern goes on..." Batman begins to list good and evil pairings that had risen and fallen together in Gotham for the past 3 centuries. "Thomas Wayne, Carmine Falcone. And finally... Bruce Wayne and Joker." Kerri looked puzzled. "Surely you're the bright light of our time?" She asked. Batman looked at her blankly. "Bruce Wayne has done more for this city then I will ever do." This was the truth, as far as he knew it. Kerri stood and moved around her desk. "Batman..." She said her eyes boring into his mask. "...Take off the mask." Batman frowned. "What?" He asked. "I said... Take it off... John." The Batman slowly pulled his helmet, revealing exactly who she knew was under the mask. "Wayne was the original Batman... Wasn't he?" She asked. He nodded. "Shit..." She said leaning on her desk. "...This is..." John nodded. "I know." She looked up and smiled at him. "Oh John... Look at you." He looked down at himself, he braced himself for the ridicule that was to come, for the lecture on how keeping ones sanity was not to dress like a bat and fight crime. "Standing up for Gotham and her people." She said, her eyes couldn't have carried more pride within them. "Look at how far you've come." John smiled. "I'm proud of you John." "So you'll help me?" Kerri smiled and nodded. "Now... I think it's only fair, since you showed me your secret... Let me show you mine..." She said grinning.