The Joker

[The Joker]

The Agent of Chaos -- Reborn

Part I

Finally, the sirian story of The Infamous Joker ended right there, in front of that colorful horizon.

Or did it?

Way off course, a darkened, structurally damaged coffin was slowly moving through the emptiness of Omicron 99. As it passed by the planet 9-4, its weak impulse trail was being clouded by the steam which the tomb of the fallen clown was releasing. Something was obviously wrong with the hibernation chamber in which The Joker still lay frozen with a smile paused on his face. It was as if he knew that the inevitable death was close by and he laughed at it.

And suddenly, out of the nebula, a small group of nomads emerged. They were out on a patrol, hunting down the intruders of their space. This strange box, however, was something they did not expect. As it usually happens, this their thoughts were not answered with deep fear or anger. The unconscious state of this unusual mind responded in a way the nomads have not encountered before.

The man with a painted face found himself complaining in a small bright room made of stars.
- You... You woke me up... I'm asleep, go away! Turn the light off!
A soft whisper, singing a song in a foreign tongue, spread throughout the room. On the other side of it, out of the blinding bright light, a boy emerged, with even brighter white eyes.

- What's that awful song? - The Clown asked. - You! You seem kinda familiar. You're that stupid boy I stabbed in juvenile penitentiary back when I was a kid. My first victim, aren't you?
The song made of whispers continues while the boy slides through the room towards the Joker, without making a sound. The brightness slowly faded away until the surroundings were completely black. Only the boy and the man of many jokes were still surrounded by the bright light. Suddenly the whispers transformed into a voice.
- We only took this form so you can better understand what is going on.
- Well... Your riddle-talk did always sound confusing to me, nommie. Am I dead? Or... Is this... Is this one of those mindsharing thingies I've heard of in my past life? - He had many questions.
- Your life is not the past yet but soon it will be - the boy says.
- Wha... What are you talking about?! And, how dare you waking me up anyway?! - he asked angry. - I was supposed to sleep for an eternity! Leave me be!
A feeling of warmth and calmness suddenly surrounds the Joker.
- Calm down - the whisper continued. - You are in danger'€¦ Your vessel is severely damaged and the life energy within you is flowing away. You are one step away from eternal darkness.
- That's not the type of eternity I've had in mind. Can't you do something to repair my chamber of slumber so I continue my voyage to oblivion?
- We have heard of you. The fate of your enemies will now be your own - the whispering image of a boy answered. - We will return the flow of life, and guide you to back to your true path. To continue down the path of Chaos and to spread it among humans... It is either that or the path of Eternal Darkness. Choose quickly.
- Not much of a choice. The Life has always been a joke made of my own irony '€“ The Joker responded. - It seems that my own joke is on me this time. Fine, fine. Take me in...

All the remaining light dimmed, and the Joker returned to his state of deep hyper-sleep. Comedian's coffin was then taken to Altair soon after the telepathic conversation has ended. Life signs were weak and the death got close to Mr. J but apparently not close enough. Hibernation chamber was unsealed in time and his body was eventually revived by an alien techniques unimaginable and inconceivable to humans.

The days passed. The weeks passed as he lay without moving on some diagonal table surrounded by dozens of moving contraptions which constantly buzzed all around him. The whole time the Joker was sleeping, his new Friend was constantly talking to him, materializing visions of things he needed to understand, of things he needed to do when the time comes. Those dreams were more vivid than the previous encounter in space.
- This is only the beginning '€“ the boy said on one occasion. '€“ We will return... You will follow our guidance...
- Hey, I'm nobody's slave! - the comedian rebelled.
- Choice has already been made and made by you, Funny One. There is no turning back. Without us, your path will end in the Eternal Darkness... You will aquire our medicine of life from a Keeper Telchine, a Voidrunner in Inverness. If you do not, your vessel will undoubtably collapse and you will cease to exist.
- I'm depended on nommie apothecary now. That's just great - the Clown murmured. - Do you have discounts for senior citizens?

---