Disclaimer: I don't own Batman, Clayface, Dr. Victoria October, and the aspects of the story this is based on. DC owns Batman and all his elements.
This is an expanded version of a scene from Detective Comics #963. Because I love Clayface.
"Now there is a final reason I think that Jesus says, "Love your enemies." It is this: that love has within it a redemptive power. And there is a power there that eventually transforms individuals. Just keep being friendly to that person. Just keep loving them, and they can't stand it too long. Oh, they react in many ways in the beginning. They react with guilt feelings, and sometimes they'll hate you a little more at that transition period, but just keep loving them. And by the power of your love they will break down under the load. That's love, you see. It is redemptive, and this is why Jesus says love. There's something about love that builds up and is creative. There is something about hate that tears down and is destructive. So love your enemies."
-Martin Luther King Jr
Clayface slumped as he glanced around the tent, his eyes picking up on the tables and computers occupying the space. He wondered whether or not he could leave soon. He'd spent the last couple of hours doing everything he could to entertain himself; conversations with various people, shape-shifting into different shapes and celebrities, and even retiring Shakespeare. But Basil was finding out that seemingly anything he did today was going to go by fast.
A person entered the tent, and he realized that it was Dr. Victoria October. She was a tall and thin woman in a white lab coat, her hair consisting of a black wave with one white stripe. She always had a quirky nature to her and a determination to solve her work. He figured he was grateful for that, then, as she was working tirelessly to map his "condition" and provide a legitimate cure.
Yet there was always this nagging feeling in the back of his mind…what if they were wrong? What if he was always going to a monster nobody could help, and when they did, all he did was wreck their effort?
"How're you feeling, Basil?" Victoria October asked. She gave a weak smile after expressing her concern.
"Okay, I guess," he replied groggily. "It's been five hours, and all I can feel is the same. Well, maybe a little foggy in the back." He glanced at his left hand and reshaped into a mallet, then instantly reshaped it into muddy flesh. "See? All the same."
"That's at least some progress," she commented. "I know this seems a little hard, but I'm truthful when I say that this experience is going to helpful to my research."
"You could say for both of us," he chuckled uncomfortably.
And today was apparently a day for unexpected visitors, as Batman walked in that exact moment. He was still in his same black-and gray get-up, but something was off. It was like once he's walked into the tent, his attitude had dramatically gone down.
"Hey'a, Bats," Clayface said.
"Victoria, Basil," he said chivalrously. "I take it we're about to discuss your idea?"
Basil glanced at the two and looked genuinely puzzled. "Wait, what?
…
"What're we looking at?"
"As you know, Monstertown's what remains of Hugo Strange's monsters. We've managed to cure the human victims, but that's not the last of it." Turning to Batman, she said, "I assume you remember the mutated birds you and Batwoman encountered during your first visit here?"
"Why?"
"The mutagen's spread to the animal wildlife, and not just the domesticated kind. Small bugs became the size of shopping carts, and tapeworms human-sized snakes. They're starting to congregate inside the sewer system." She looked under her desk and got out a clipboard with notes taped to it. "I sent a squad down there, and they barely made it out alive. From what I've gathered, they'll be a mile or two under the edge of Monstertown."
"Mmm," Batman memes in thought.
"Geez," Clayface said. His grimace turned to shock, though, when he realized that both of them were looking at him. "What are you looking at me for?
"I…need them, to better create a cure for the mutagen. Not only would it keep the sewers clear, but it'd allow us to better study their biology. Can you go get me some?"
"Consider it a way to pass the time," Batman said.
Clayface thought on it for a little. Sure, he was used to the sewers and fighting freaks, but part of him worried about his exposed brain getting out of control during the hunt. What if he got loose and hurt someone? That fear always seemed to be in him like an invulnerable dagger.
"Don't worry, Basil," Victoria said warmly. "The sewers will be clear for you to move around in. All you need to do is move to point A, grab the monsters, and come back safe and sound. Plus we have the added advantage of the wrist device we implanted in your body to chart your condition.." She moved closer and put a hand on his body. "After all…how bad could it really be?"
Clayface gulped. This was going to be a lot more disgusting that he'd have liked.
…
Searching for the tunnel wasn't as hard as he'd have thought. He found a small sewer drain on the outskirts of the A.R.G.U.S. base and began sifting through, making sure his body had ample time to drift down tons of feet into a large sewer tunnel before reforming.
It was dark and cold, but not exactly something he'd been relegating to forget. He trudged through the contaminated waters a foot at a time. The small waves picked at his feet, yet they reformed each short bit the water receded. He turned at the bend of the pipe and soon exited into a massive chamber, the water emptying into a whirlpool being drained out. For a second, part of him wondered what would happen if he were to fall in it.
"Yeah, not happening today," he said assuredly. Clayface's body quickly stretched over the massive gap, taking pains to land on the other side and make sure that his body was in order. Feeling satisfied, he started walking forwards before feeling something collide with his foot,
Basil looked down and saw a small doll at his feet. It had blonde hair that was remarkably familiar to Spoiler's.
Was this…a kid's? Did these things eat people?
"Geez Louise, this ain't pretty," he mumbled. Feeling a sort of companionship for the doll, he reached down and grabbed it. His fingers expanded until the doll was part of his arm. He couldn't explain why, but he felt that it would be more honorable to do something productive with the doll than leave it in the grime of the sewer.
"Uggghhhh…" Clayface rubbed his head as he felt a sharp pain in the back of his skull. Suddenly, everything began to feel distorted and off. "Woaahhh….got to keep it…together…." He attempted to walk forwards, but his warped sense of vision sent him tumbling into the ground of the sewer. As mud splashed on his face and chest, picking at it like vultures, Basil could feel himself unable to keep control.
Then he realized what was happening to his body. Small smudges of clay across his gelatinous appendages were moving in different directions, an excited energy in them. His arms became wobbly as they stretched in length. The final strike was when he felt his spine begin to flutter around, and then and there, Clayface saw himself melting.
"No! Noooooo!"
Don't do that, Basil…
His body oozing at least a few feet into the sewer water, Clayface looked up and saw that nobody was around.
"Hello…Anyone there?" He blurted out, his voice distorted by his scrambled body.
Get up, Karlo. You're better than this.
Basil looked around again, but there was still visibly there. He lifted an arm, but it simply melted back down. He groaned in effort.
Back when you were a villain, you never started falling apart on a mission, the voice lamented. What a joke…
"Who you callin' a joke?" He managed to yell out at the tunnel. "Who're you?!"
I'm your mind, dummy.
No you aren't, Basil thought. There's only one me.
Right. And there's only one you who became Batman's bitch. You don't need to listen to him.
Clayface managed to reach a semi-liquid hand to his face and mushed it a little, attempting to see straight. All he saw was the ends of the tunnel he was stuck in.
I've got..to keep…going…
Listen, why don't you pull yourself together and go rob a bank or something? Better than being here, hunting monsters.
This is important! I'm helping people! That's what I do know!
Don't lie to yourself, the voice protested. You're only working for Batman so you can get cured. And while you wait for it, he's using you as his grunt, his pawn! The real Clayface would never-
"Nooooo!" Clayface roared ferociously. His scream echoed through the tunnel before it disappeared. Once he heard silence, Basil realized that the voice was gone, and better yet, he could feel again. Slowly, his puddle of a body reconstituted into its hulking, gelatinous shape. "Well, That sure was scary."
But as he started up his pace again, Basil wondered if what the voice had said was true..
…Batman's bitch…
…you never started falling apart on a mission…
…The Real Clayface would never….
"Ugh," Clayface griped while gingerly massaging his head. "Gotta push forwards…"
…
Twenty minutes later, Clayface reached a massive tunnel intersection that opened into the open portion of Monstertown. He glanced his eyes up as the darker night sky shone from the existing area. When his eyes returned to the ground, he saw that another massive pipe was ahead of him. Checking the device in his wrist, Basil confirmed that he was close to where he needed to be.
"This sure took a while," he complained suddenly. "The sewers'll be clear, Basil. Go an' check 'em out, Basil." "And don't worry Basil…how bad could it really be? Good advice for people who don't come do this stuff themselves."
Clayface walked forward more and reached the beginning of the tunnel. Morphing one of his hands into a giant flashlight, he aimed it into the well of blackness. The effect revealed a shocking sight; hidden near the corners of the tunnel were three giant bugs of maroon color and a crocodile creature. The bugs had human appendages and hissed ferociously. The sight of the crocodile was enough to warrant throwing up.
"Score," Basil remarked as he cracked his muddy fingers.
He ran towards the creatures intensely, his very steps could be heard in the tunnel. Two of the bugs and the crocodile went immediately for him, but he was counting on that. His hands morphed into clay sledgehammers that swung at the creatures. His right hammer sent a bug smashing into the ground, while his other one pummeled the crocodile down. In the midst of all the confusion, the other bugs were sent flying by the action.
A spirit of anger rose with Basil as he continued to bash the creatures with pain. "I almost feel bad. Got some of the that monster goo on ya and melted into all them corpses laying around the wreckage."
Yeah, like I feel for you at all, he thought. Too bad.
The creatures wriggled in pain as the sewer water continue to circulate around them. Checking to see that they were somewhat down for the count, Clayface put his hands down and let them begin to envelope around them. His fingers were now giants masses of mud, and the mutants wriggling under them desperately. It felt oddly funny, but in a sick way.
Suddenly, Basil felt his head becoming harder, and everything he was planning on doing disappeared into a void. What filled it was a desire, a need to get angry and wreck these creatures.
They're ants…I gotta…crush them.
"Prolly don't even know what you're—ugh!" Clayface stopped, and his holds on the animals became less hard. His body was fluctuating in a static fashion, akin to goosebumps on skin. Small faces and jagged spikes began to pop up and out of his mud. For whatever reason, though, all Karlo felt was anger; a drive to destroy horrible creatures.
The intense hatred began to fill his brain, causing his freeze while the mutants slunk deeper in the tunnel, keeping their eyes on him. As he stared at the water, he couldn't hear the slinking of a human-shaped tapeworm behind him. It hissed and slithered in his directions, it's arms dropping to the sides like snakes ready to strike. Even worse, he couldn't hear the monster creeping up on him because his brain was full of anger.
You've got them corned, Basil. Kill them!
I should…
You can cover this whole cave and suffocate them. Construct them to death. Smash them with spiked balls. Better yet, why not makes some duplicates of yourself and gang up on them?
Yes, yes, yes….
But whatever feeling of hatred he was feeling was broken when a sudden memory shot into his state of mind.
That memory was simple. It was Cass, in her black-and-yellow jumpsuit gazing at him. At a monster and saying "You…be better."
All the anger that Basil had been feeling was suddenly gone within an instant, replaced by the horrifying revelation of what he'd been feeling.
My god…
And it was that exact moment that the tapeworm took its chance to strike. It's two tentacles shot out and popped through his chest, sending bits of stray clay everywhere. This gave the tapeworm the opportunity to slip into his body and begin rummaging around, seeking to become a part of the mud man.
Clayface realized too late what was happening and began to panic. Unable to control himself, his arms flailed in shock while the tentacles continued to slosh through his stomach. "No no no no no! Stop stop stop!" The feeling of fear and disgust coming from him was not a good one.
He wanted to wither away, melt, disappear for what was happening and what he'd considered doing. But then it all started coming back to him…the memories of Cass and Batman, and the growth he'd made. It was enough to keep him going.
"HRRRR!" He growled in annoyance. "Focus, you dummy. Remember your trainin.' Even if it doesn't include walkin' tapeworms and giant bugs."
Clayface stood up and hardened his body, his hands morphing into his trademark pikes. The tapeworm's tentacles sloshed through his chest once again, but in his rejuvenated state, he barely felt it at all.
Seeing the remaining mutants eyeing him, he charged forwards and swung at the crocodile with his left arm. The mutant was knocked into the wall and grunted heavily before stopping. He stretched his hand and waited while his muddy blob of fingers enveloped the crocodile in his grasp.
Then he turned to the trio of insect mutants and send his right hand careening toward them. Before they could get away, it hit the wall and exploded into a muddy blast that caught all three of them. They strained and fought, but to no avail. Before long, they were all strung up in it.
With the four mutants in his hands, Basil let his body open and aimed it for the exposed sewer section. The tapeworm fell out with a hiss and hit the water, clearly weak from its failure of a host. It raised its head to receive a powerful kick from Clayface, sending it splashing into the shallow water.
He walked closer and gazed upon the parasitic creature, hissing weakly as it feebly attempted to pick up its weak limbs. He felt no pity or sympathy in his heart for the monster and raised his arms, the other ones still trapped in them. A grin of pure satisfaction erupted from his face as he said "You? I don't fell bad about this at all." He then brought them down swinging into the creature, a big wave of water splashing up as a result.
When he lifted his arms, he saw the parasite laying unconscious on the floor. Grinning, he breathed before shooting out a massive blob of clay from his stomach. Absorbing the creature in his grasp, he lifted it up until it was at least some feet above the ground.
A small stream of clay from his right arm stretched near his face, containing the contact device he had been gifted. "Bats, this is Clayface," he stated. "I got the mutants."
"Good work, Basil," Batman responded over the frequency. "Keep going through the pipe until you come out near a big rock. That path loops around to base."
"Got it, boss man," Clayface said back. His device retreated back into his arm. He turned and looked back into the pipe. Then it occurred to him that moving this way would be weird, so he shifted his body until his head and arms were facing the opposite way. The parasite was snug in the ball, but this time located on his back.
"Time to go, I guess." As he started walking back, thoughts rolled across his mind. Was he really better than what he claimed to be? Did these monsters have something better than he did?
I dunno, he thought, but for now, I can do is hope. That's what matters.
The clay man trudged through the tunnel slowly, making sure he wasn't getting lost in the abyss.
But even though he had conquered his demons, Basil didn't know how bad things were about to get. His anger was still in his head, and even thought he tried to hide it…
It would always be a part of him.