Accessing archives…
Universe 19: the Gaslight Universe…
Accessing personal files: Harleen Quinzel…
Somewhere in East Gotham, a young blond woman sits alone in a little room tucked inside the publishing house for one of Gotham's newspapers: the Heroic Inquirer, the only newspaper in town that focuses solely on the actions of the local superheroes.
The woman is the newspaper's manager and sole employee: Harleen Quinzel. She is staring at a small rat in a cage, occasionally pausing to take notes on its behavior.
"So this is where you've been lately. I have to say, it's not what I expected." A voice says, causing Ms. Quinzel to jump back, dropping her pen.
"Mr. Wayne! I'm so glad you're here! I knew it was a load of bull when they arrested you." Harleen said.
"Yes, well we have your hero to thank." Bruce said, pointing to the front page of the latest issue: a long article with a picture of a shattered batarang as the header.
"Really?" Harleen asked, practically jumping from her chair, "What happened?"
"To put it briefly: you have a new story to run." Bruce said, smiling coyly.
"Come on you big tease, tell me what happened." Harleen insisted.
"Alright, alright. Batman found the Ripper while I was locked up. It turns out that old Jacob Parker was the one framing me." Bruce said.
"Your lawyer?" Harleen asked.
"That's the one." Bruce said through gritted teeth.
"I was sure it would be the Laughing Butcher." Harleen said.
"Wait, why?" Bruce asked.
"Because he never leaves any real evidence." Harleen said.
"Harleen, you think every murder in Gotham is his. Now you've moved on to London?" Bruce asked.
"Why not? He never seems to make any sense." Harleen said.
"Of course not. He's insane." Bruce said.
"That's the thing: why is he crazy? I mean, you don't just wake up one morning and become insane. I want to know what's going through that demented head of his." Harleen said, staring at her little caged rat.
"You're better off trying to figure out the Batman." Bruce said.
"You say that as if the two are similar." Harleen said.
"Aren't they? Two unknown men, operating at night, usually attacking each other, plus they're both crazy. You'd have to be to go looking for trouble like the bat." Bruce said, listing traits on his fingers.
"But the butcher uses his insanity for nothing but killing. Batman is a hero. Even if he is insane, he turned himself into a force for good." Harleen said.
"Well then, at least I know you won't be bored when I tell you about what Inspector Gordon says happened." Bruce grinned.
Harleen grabbed a notepad from her cluttered desk. "Tell me everything." She said.
End log, playing next in profile…
"Pamela, I can't keep doing this." Harleen said nervously as she unlocked the storm cellar in the Heroic Inquirer's publishing house.
"Relax Harleen. We'll be fine." Her companion said.
"You're a wanted criminal. If Mr. Wayne finds out you're here, he'll have us both arrested. I heard that Commissioner Tolliver said he'd burn you like a witch if he ever caught you." Harleen said.
"I bet he says that about all the green skinned women he meets." Pamela joked.
"Come on Pam, this is serious. You killed a man." Harleen said.
"That was over a year ago. And he deserved it for what he tried to do to you." Pamela said.
"I'm not saying what Amadeus did was justifiable, I'm saying that killing him was too extreme." Harleen said.
"He did this to me Harleen." Pamela said through gritted teeth, motioning to her green skin, "He turned me into a freak, and he tried to violate you. That bastard got what he deserved."
"Okay Pam. Look, I don't want to have this fight. I just… why do you stay here?" Harleen asked.
"To keep an eye on you." Pamela said.
"But I've got Mr. Wayne now. You don't need to protect me anymore. You can escape." Harleen said.
"Wayne is a pretty boy. He wouldn't know right from left if his butler wasn't there to sort things out." Pamela said.
"Stop trying to protect me if you're just going to get yourself hurt." Harleen said.
"Harleen, I'm not leaving your safety up to some rich punk and your pet rat. My life is pretty much done thanks to Arkham. I'm not letting the same thing happen to you." Pamela said, descending into the storm shelter and closing the trapdoor behind her.
End log, playing next in profile…
It was midnight. As far as Harleen knew, she was the only one awake for miles. She had stayed up all night to make sure the morning issue would be on time. Then, there was a knock at the door.
"Mr. Wayne, I know you like to visit unannounced, but this is a bit much." Harleen said as she opened the door. She was met with a sharp pain in her stomach.
"Sorry to disappoint dear, but Mr. Wayne is out right now." A gruff voice taunted. Harleen looked down to see a large cleaver protruding from her stomach.
"The laughing… you're the…" Harleen said as she collapsed.
"Yes, yes I am." The butcher said as he burst into a cackle. Suddenly, a burst of energy hit him from behind.
"Finally." The butcher said, turning around. Much to his surprise, his nose was broken in seconds.
"Playing hard tonight bat?" The butcher taunted. This one earned him a roundhouse to the jaw. Then came an uppercut, followed by a batarang to the forehead, which promptly emitted a sonic screech. The butcher was out cold, and possibly suffered permanent hearing loss.
"Harleen! Are you okay? Please say something." Batman said as he examined the newsgirl. Something about his voice was familiar.
"Mr… Mr. Wayne?" Harleen asked, coughing up a bit of blood.
"Listen to me Harleen, you're losing a lot of blood. I need you to stay calm. I'm going to get you to a hospital." Batman said as he lifted Harleen and ran out the door.
"I figured it out. It was right in front of me the whole time." Harleen said between coughs. She curled up in her employers arms as he tried to rush her to medical help.
Harleen Quinzel died three hours later. The doctors reported that she was remarkably calm. She even died with a smile.
End log, playing next in profile…
"You're sure this is the one?" A tall man asked.
"There are only three graves on this property, and it's the only one that doesn't say Wayne." A German accented voice replied.
"Good. Remember, take care. We wouldn't want to rouse the owner of this fine abode." The first man said.
"I still don't understand how this girl is important to the dark knight. She was just a little newsgirl who wrote about him." The German said.
"All in good time my friend. All in good time." The first man said.
"What the hell are you doing here?" A woman asked from the brush. As she stood up, the two men saw little but fiery red hair and emerald eyes.
"Ah, you must be the elusive Ms. Isley. I've been looking for you." The first man said as the German began digging up Harleen's grave.
"You have five seconds to explain what's going on before your friend there dies a bloody death." The redhead threatened.
"Justice my dear. Tell me, have you ever heard of the League of Assassins?"
End all logs in profile.