Welcome to Gaia! ::

// Yep. Honestly though, this version is harmless unless he has a serious interest or personal vendetta with someone. If you're not in Greece, you're not in his 'jurisdiction' so he can't add anyone to his growing list of 'residence'. Heck, he doesn't even do the whole deal with the devil thing unless you have something he honestly wants. //

The Ghost drifted through cyberspace. He was amazed at how much information was so instantly available to him. But instead of getting lost on various tangents, Russell concerntrated on viewing the medical and police reports about a recent aquaitance: Barbara Gordon.

What had happened to her was absolutely criminal. Especially how Barbara had been brutallized by the Joker a couple of years ago: the shooting, her damaged spine, the Joker's pictures, and what he.....

Anger burned inside of Russell. There were just some things you didn't do. Why did the authorities even allow this... thing to exist. Looking through all of Joker's exploits, Russell was simply astounded as to why society even allowed him to draw breath.

In his own time, the authorities would have simply sent the Joker to the electric chair. Then, glancing back at earlier records of Barbara of her academic achievements, her karate championship, her gymnastic awards...

He took that all away from you: Your joy, your strength, your self-worth, your dignity. You live in prison without walls. That would kill the spirit of most, yet you struggle and strive on. Your one of those rare people that the world should write books about your genius. Yet, most people would only see the cripple... And that maniac is still laughing.

The Ghost tore himself out of cyberspace and back to the reality of his lair. Once back in the real world, Russell's fatique sets in, and it takes him a few minutes to recover. When he finally does, he calls his head henchman on his cellphone.

["Yeah Boss?"]

"Chris, come up. I need to talk to you face to face."

["I'll be right up."]

Russell turns off the cell, and then after a few minutes Chris came up the stairwell inside the power plant to where the Ghost was.



"You needed to see me, Boss?" Chris inquired.

The Ghost turned around, "Yes Chris, there is a problem that I need taken care of, and I need you to find someone to take care of it."

Chris shrugged, "Why not just send me? Who's in the way?"

Russell shook his head, "No, I don't want anyone associated with me involved. This problem has quite a few underworld contacts. I don't want this coming back to me. Also, I need someone 'special' for this."

Chris nodded, "Alright. Who's the problem?"

The Ghost looked evenly at his head henchman, "The Joker."

The hired gun blinked in surprise, "How's he involved?"

Russell thought a moment, "Let's just say that he's offended my sensiblities, and we have other things to attend to."

Chris nodded, "Okay. I look into it."

Chris Brooks left Ghost's base of operations to tend to the task at hand: To get a hitter that would go after the Joker. There weren't too many who would want to go after the clown. The black man remembers all too well what happened to his original outfit he henched for.

Chris was the lucky one. He happened to have gone out for Chinese, when the Joker came calling. He saw the aftermath, when he got back. It was worse than some the warzones he's seen.

Everything seems to have come full circle.

Also, Mr. Brooks could think of a couple of people who would hunt down the hit man after: Harley Quinn and the Bat. He could see a lot of downside in this; he would have to move carefully.

Chris took out a cigarette and lit it. Smoking while he thought a bit, an idea hit him. There is someone he could ask where to look.... As long as he didn't mention the Joker, everything should be fine.

[Exit Chris Brooks to Iceberg Lounge]

Peyton Riley

Ventriliquist II

Peyton smiled as they came up to a small cafe. "You seriously want us to eat here?" She made the comment before Ivy shot her a glance of death and she moved in her seat suddenly uncomfortable. She gave her a mean glare back as she made her own comment. Peyton slowly got out of the car. Scarface whispered something to her. "No we will let this one slide...we might just need their help..." She whispered back and followed them in slowly after looking around a few times.


Ivy turned off the car and then quickly responded to the comment. She followed her facial responce with a responce of simple, "What I don't take girls and their dolls out to fancy resterants..." She said as she happily got out of her car slowly. Harley made a comment to her and she softened up and they walked towards the door.

Harley wiped the tears from her eyes watching the interaction then jumping to solve the comflict. She quickly jumped out of the car and ran around. "Red,..." then followed with. "I kinda like him..." She said lieing. Those kind of dolls always bothered her but her training before meeting Mr J was kicking in. She wanted to help her and Red and herself by helping them and others. That is what she wanted to do...help people and she forgot that.

Nightshade's search to find the Joker dragged on for hours. He had questioned various hoods about the Joker. No one seemed to know anything. Des noticed fatigue begining to set in. He wasn't going to do anyone any good, "I going to go rest."

Only silence answered the vigiliante. Nightshade then walked into a shadow and disappeared from sight.

[Exit Nightshade to Xavier's Institute for Learning]

{Enter Robin from JLA sattelite}

Robin was not happy.

Which was not to say that he was angry, exactly; part of him agreed whole-heartedly with Zatanna. There had been long periods of comparative quiet on the satellite over the past few days, usually triggered by some world-threatening plot or other. Something about this, though...

It was they way they'd been slowly falling silent on the radios. First the Flash. Then Iron Man. Then Wonder Woman, then Superman, then Batman, then Spider-man. All of them had stopped using their communicators. And then, suddenly, all of the communications had just cut out. "And then there were none," Robin muttered darkly to himself, grappling up to a nearby roof. Pulling himself up, he tried to think things through.

He had to stay in Gotham. It was his responsibility with Batman gone, and if he couldn't protect the rest of their screwed up little world, at least he could do his best to keep his own city safe. He would go on patrol, by without any backup to speak of, and as though that didn't sound stupid enough, he would also try to trace the path Batman had taken before he'd vanished.

"...Okay. Time to go get shot at," he told himself in an over-bright tone of voice. Then he took a deep breath, and slipped off into the night.

Crystal used a hook to jump to a higher roof, swinging up and over. Not expecting anyone to be up there it was a surprise to see Robin on her path. "EEK!" She flopped on her rear, trying to miss Robin.

She stood up and rubbed her butt, wincing. "Hi Robin..." She smiled slightly. "How are you?"

She pulled a comb out and started running it through her hair, making sure nothing had gotten caught in it thus far this night.