Batman aboard the Batplane found the situation extremely thorny. Monsters were everywhere in the city, and the High Tower called the Eye of Sauron was constantly watching everyone here. The moment the Batplane appeared, it took a shot.
Zzzzt—
As the High Tower charged up, Batman had already tried to steer away. Unfortunately, the Eye of Sauron anticipated his anticipation. The Batplane made a sharp turn, but the laser pulled back, then blasted into the Batplane's tail fin with a boom the next second.
Tim picked up the Laser Gun they had found earlier and aimed, but its range was too short. He could only barely shoot down two strange pterosaurs. Dick climbed outside the Batplane and kicked away several aliens trying to cling to it.
Batman focused on controlling the aircraft, but he could not save the out-of-control plane from its gradual descent. The huge craft plunged down trailing smoke. A parachute drifted down unsteadily, and Batman landed safely with Tim in his left hand and Dick in his right.
"Ha! Good thing I had the foresight!" Batman said smugly, only to turn around and find a black gun barrel pressed to his forehead.
Joker gave him a crazed grin.
"Got you, Batman."
"Hey, listen, you damned criminal." Batman raised his hands. "Now isn't the time for infighting. Do you want to watch our city be destroyed?"
"Of course I can... hey, wait, did you just say 'our city'?" Joker froze slightly, then narrowed his eyes and grinned.
In that brief second, every word Schiller had ever said to him flashed through Batman's mind. He immediately lowered his arms, looked Joker in the eyes, and said, "Yes. Isn't this a city that belongs to both of us? I maintain order, and you create chaos. This is our stage alone."