[CENTER][COLOR=GRAY][SUB][sub][h3][I]We all wear masks, and the time comes when we cannot remove them without removing some of our own skin.[/I][/h3][/sub][/SUB][/COLOR]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/vtNDce0.jpg?1[/img][/CENTER]
[COLOR=black][indent][sub][B]Location:[/B] [COLOR=#FF3B2D][I]Amusement Mile[/I] - [I]Miagani Island, Gotham City[/I][/COLOR][/sub][sup][right][b]Welcome to the Masquerade #1.06:[/b] [COLOR=#FF3B2D][I]Twinkle Twinkle Little Bat[/I][/COLOR][/right][/sup][/indent][/color][sub][hr][/sub][INDENT][color=black][sub][B]Interaction(s):[/B] [COLOR=#FF3B2D][I]None[/I][/COLOR][/sub][SUP][RIGHT][b]Previously:[/b] [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4895310][COLOR=#FF3B2D][I]Curiouser and Curiouser[/I][/COLOR][/url][/right][/SUP][/color]
[INDENT][i][color=#FF3B2D]I am so dead, so very, very dead.[/color][/i]

[color=#808080]The thought haunted Terry while visions of Dana’s scorned expression played back continuously through his head. He had always hated lying to Dana, but it was a necessary evil. One that unfortunately came with the weight of the [i]cowl[/i]. After ending his call with Bruce, Terry had convinced Dana and Nelson that the three of them would have a better chance of finding Chelsea if they split up to cover more ground. [/color]

[i][color=#FF3B2D]Always worked on Scooby Doo at least.[/color][/i]

[color=#808080]Despite initially protesting, Dana had reluctantly agreed Nelson begun grovelling. Based on her demeanour though, Terry was definitely going to have to make up this missed date. Not that there was anything unusual about that. He had a rather infamous and perpetually growing list of dates he had cancelled on.  [/color]

[color=#808080]High above the streets of Miagani Island, the Batmobile carried the Dark Knight across the city. The vehicle’s cloaking technology keeping it hidden even in broad daylight. Engaging the autopilot, Terry attempted to clear his burdened mind while the Batmobile approached their destination.  The Gotham City Police Department had several precincts across the city, but the Forensics Laboratory was located in one of Terry’s least favourite parts of the city.[/color]

[color=#808080]Amusement Mile.[/color]

[color=#808080]It was nearly impossible to walk the streets of Amusement Mile without being harassed by the Jokerz. Much like their rivals; the Sons of Batman had spawned from Bruce’s myth, the Jokerz modelled themselves on one of the most feared figures in Gotham’s history. [/color]

[color=#808080]The Clown Prince of Crime himself. [/color]

[color=#808080][i]The Joker.[/i] [/color]

[color=#808080]Much like the Harlequin of Hate himself, the Jokerz got their rocks off assaulting the people of Gotham in the name of a good ‘joke.’ But like most common criminals, they were a superstitious and cowardly lot. A glimpse of the bat was generally more than enough to send them running, but some of them took it as a challenge.  [/color]

[color=#808080]Bruce had said Richard Cunningham had been found heavily mutilated, subjected to extreme torture. Were it not ruled a suicide by Gage and Ramirez, Terry would have quickly assumed that a Jokerz gang was behind the murder. The fact that it had however been deemed such kept Terry from forming a solid theory. [/color]

[color=#808080]Bringing the Batmobile to a halt, Terry exited from the lower hatch. Extending the suit’s wings, he glided towards the rooftop of the GCPD Forensics Lab. Steam rose up from the various pipes that vented the building’s ancient boiler system, covering the roof in a thick fog. As usual, the access door was propped open. Terry smiled, thanking the forensic department’s head for his chain smoking.[/color]

[color=#808080]The hallways were off-putting. Dark and narrow, exposed piping hung from steel braces creating the illusion that the corridors were nearly endless. Making his way through the building invisibly, Terry found himself descending into the basement as he entered the morgue. [/color]

[color=#808080]The silence was broken by the muffled sounds of music. Recognizing the beat, Terry raised an eyebrow as he turned towards the blonde, nearly white-haired medical examiner.[/color]

[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E73IQx21DEo][i][color=#FF3B2D]Deadboy and the Elephantmen? Didn’t expect that in the morgue.[/color][/i][/url]

[color=#808080]Remaining undetected, the Batman moved past the woman before looking over the body. The face was a bloody mess, primarily focused around the mouth. Without lifting the lips, Terry could tell that the majority of the man’s teeth had been removed. Numerous injuries dotted his body, many of which could have been the one which ended Richard’s life.  [/color]

[color=#808080]A quick look at the coroner’s report suggested told Terry that Richard had been found outside the office he worked at. Cause of death was suggested to be jumping from the roof, but most interesting, the injuries were consistent with self-harm.[/color]

[i][color=#FF3B2D]What possesses a man to pull out his own teeth?[/color][/i]

[b][color=#44688C]“There’s an object still on the victim’s head.”[/color][/b]

[color=#808080]Terry nearly jumped as Bruce’s voice growled into his ear. Tapping the side of the cowl, Terry magnified the optical lenses as they scanned the cadaver’s head. As Bruce had said, there was a metallic object lodged into the deceased’s brow. The cowl’s scans suggested it was emitting some sort of signal, meaning whatever it was could still potentially be traced. [/color]

[b][color=#44688C]“I agree.”[/color][/b][color=#808080] Bruce stated as Terry felt himself nearly jump for a second time as the older man essentially read his thoughts.[/color][b][color=#44688C] “Extract the object and bring it back to the cave for analysis.”[/color][/b]

[color=#808080]Waiting for the woman to walk away from the body, Terry acted quickly once the chance presented itself. Whatever the object was, it appeared to have once been a band of some sort. Although as Terry quickly discovered, whatever wasn’t currently held by the victim’s caved in face had broken off at some point during the ordeal. Intrigued by the mysterious device, took a moment to run his hand over before pocketing it. [/color]

[color=#808080]Walking past the the medical examiner, the Batman exited the morgue completely undetected. It was nice when things actually went according to plan.[/color][/INDENT][/INDENT][sub][hr][/sub][INDENT][COLOR=BLACK][sub][COLOR=#2c2c2c]Placeholder[/color][/sub][SUP][RIGHT][b]Next Issue:[/b] [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4904146][COLOR=#FF3B2D][I]And Twice As Twisted[/I][/COLOR][/url][/right][/SUP][/color][/INDENT]