Chapter 2: into the tenth circle of hell
' ever since I can remember myself I knew two things as absolute, I'm the type that takes an opportunity when it presents itself , and most importantly aggressiveness was always a dominant side of my personality, maybe that's why I'm not at least bit afraid facing one of Gotham city's notorious psychopaths, hell he is the most dangerous man in Gotham'
Those were but a few of the thoughts that ran through her mind set when she took out her own royal dark blue jaguar e type heading into Gotham, why an e type rather than something modern and up to date?, quite simple really, first of all when conducting an off the books operation you need to create a false image that will conceal your real one which leads to the second part, to completely sell your image you'll have to fool everyone, that's including one self and as for the flashy sports car, well nobody likes to pay attention to someone who overtly demands it.
Speaking of attention and demands the streets of Gotham can be plainly seen in view and as expected from a city like this, once you set your eyes on it, it would never let you leave, not because of it's beauty but because of it's influence in particular because of it's criminal element, whether it would be an alley, an intersection or even a parking lot she would drive through she could never escape the noise and ambiance of someone either being stabbed, robbed or even scammed in broad daylight, which to this point in time had developed into an art form, speaking of which this is Waller's final destination in Gotham which is also why she brought contingencies.
Gotham city museum 06:06:06 PM:
The first thing that comes to museums is 'you've seen one of them you've seen them all, but this museum is a bit different, for one thing it had a café area where people would show up on dates to wine and dine or respectively would use it as rendezvous point for business purposes, however that wasn't the draw of attention in the eyes of Amanda Waller as she parked her car nearby her destination, what actually did demand notice was the fact that the place was crawling with low lives and thugs dressed in joker's signature colors some armed with 9mm, uzi's and assault rifles while the others are armed with nothing but their muscles and various melee weapons from every shape and size.
The second most interesting detail was the interior of the museum itself, on the outside it looked like any other museum impressive, full of character though a bit old due to it being a structure from the late 80's and onwards, however the shape of the exterior paled in comparison as to the state of the interior, where to begin?, the floors were creaking and messy from debris, both plaster from the surrounding walls and ceiling mixed with debris from statues and sculptures, every kind of fabric imaginable from tapestry, table cloths and curtains ripped off or completely worn out., and lastly there was the actual artwork at the museum to be precise every cheerful and optimistic looking piece of art was defiled letting the depressing and grotesque art works untouched and undamaged
Waller walked into the main lobby of the museum, waiting patiently to get everyone's attention in the room, although in her mind it wasn't worth to waste the effort on some punks still wet behind their ears, and that's her version of being reserved well as reserved as she can allow herself in response to the personality types she interacts with on a daily business.
"good evening gentlemen, I am seeking an audience with the joker, can anyone contribute as to his whereabouts"?
A few seconds later every last one of the thugs were staring down at the strange woman in the Santiago business suit almost cracking up until one of them stepped forward and obliged her "let me speak for all of us on this, suppose we do know where the boss is, what the fuck makes you think we would just tell you that"?
Bemused by the sharpness this goon showed she responds back.
"you're absolutely right you don't know me one bit, so let me make this clear I'm a woman who gets what she's after by any means necessary, that's why underneath my suit and skin are planted enough C- 4 charges to kill anyone in this room unless we can behave like civil people."
Now with a sense of fear in his voice the goon responded, "no way you crazy bitch, you're bluffing, not to mention we could still escape leaving you to die all alone".
With this retort the goon's confidence returned to optimal level slowly but surely until Waller drew her trump card.
"sure that's a possibility, but you won't take that chance, know why? because if you do you'll have to answer to your boss as to why one of his safe heavens or 'works of art' have been reduced to ashes, and I don't think he'll take kindly to that kind of blunder, so either take me to see the joker or risk your life as well as the others, make your choice and make it count, Waller said while reaching into her coat as if she's about to detonate a bomb with a detonator.
Silence falls on the entire room as the goon now covered in cold sweat tries to decide if he should take her threat seriously or not, however he knows one thing for certain as serious, the joker's homicidal tendencies and obsession for the art and as his boss calls it "avant-garde".
The silence broke with the following comment from said goon
"Follow me, I'll escort you to the boss, but any funny business and I'll blow your head clean off". at this moment all Waller did was scoff at the irony behind that threat
'as a child I never liked the silence, not for the lack of noise but due to the fact that I didn't have much of the training I have now to determine where we are headed or how to read body language at that, skills both needed at present time because the joker's goons decided it would be funny to treat me pretty much I would treat an unwilling recruit, a bag over my head, now the only reason I'm going along with such idiocy is to form a false impression on the joker in the hopes in getting a good read on him'
Crossing through Gotham in what only can described in a purple sedan with a neon green hard top towards the ruins once known as ace chemicals, as to how and why the facility was ruined, it never mattered and nobody in the city cared except for the one's who tried to let go and as for the joker it was especially tough and don't you think he hasn't tried .
Standing at what remained of the once main office of the plant overlooking what now are ruptured chemical vats joker was reminiscing on four particular words he once said in his past life 'think about the future' for at least about 5 to 10 minutes, however he would have lamented on it longer if not by the following rude interruption courtesy of his lap dog.
"excuse me boss, someone's here to see you" the joker now sporting a mixed expression of anger and impatience responded, "send him or her away, I don't do requests", now with slight fear in his voice the goon opted to continue, "cant do boss, she threatens to kill herself and take us along with her if you refuse to listen", usually that kind of response would wind up with the joker shooting someone's ear off, but at that precise moment curiosity was replacing any for of anger or impatience.
"send him or her in, oh and Jim"? the goon turned around "actually it's…" but before he could answer joker pulled out a revolver and shot him next to his ear. agonizing in pain, joker stepped closer to kneel down the injured man situating now next to his healthy ear.
"First of all I could care less about your name, second consider yourself now fired, and thirdly you should really have someone take a look at that", gesturing to the bleeding wound, while taking a look at the woman approaching him with confidence.
"Who are you?, if you're some kind of cleaning saleswoman or real estate agent, I'm sure you would find some use for this place, I was thinking of branching out anyway"
The joker got no response only a grin which prompt him to listen carefully as to what she said next,
"you were right I am an agent however I work with the government heading an off the books task force, a task force which could use your particular set of skills so what do you say are you in or out"?
"I beg your pardon?" the joker asked while moving to and old mirror situated just behind an old office desk, he smashed the old mirror with his right elbow and in a swift motion similar to a knife thrower in a circus, grabbed a large serrated shard and launched himself on his intended victim while carrying a normal conversation, "have you taken a good look at me, what makes you think I'm some government stooge you can boss around?.
However his attack was to no avail because in a swift motion similar to his, Waller has managed to lock his arm while pinning him to the old desk with her knee firmly planted in his back for good measure
"Listen closely, anyone you'll ever meet will call you a crazy clown, however I can see you're more than that, you're an opportunist just like me"
"funny, for a moment I thought I was van Gogh, the joker replied vengefully while cursing under his breath over this humiliating predicament, Waller on the other hand resumed the conversation, "since you're in such a listening mood, let's continue, I need you to create a distraction on a scale large enough to carry a covert assassination mission carried out by my suicide squad, do you have any questions?"
The joker now visibly excited about the prospect couldn't or wouldn't rather but ask, "will you provide me with magic bullets heheheheheh" Waller now applying less pressure but still with a tight grip elaborated "no but I will provide you the opportunity to murder robin the boy wonder, interested ?"
The joker signaling her to let go had this to say, "I would love nothing more than to be given that one on one time with traffic colors boy, but here's a newsflash I murdered him already so unless you can raise the dead, you're out of luck lady if I can actually call you that with your bulk of muscles"
Not amused Waller continued, " correction, you murdered a replacement, I'm offering you to kill the original instead."
Now with his curiosity at it's peak he couldn't contain his excitement and joy however the paranoid side of him needed assuring so he asked the following question to at ease his mind, "as tempting as the offer may be I must ask why precisely me, I know a few companions who can do the job as good as me, heck there must be a dime and dozen like me around Gotham who're more manageable miss…. Count to think of it we never made proper introductions."
If you mean your former partner in crime miss Quinzel, I assure you that I've used her before but she's a half measure I need the genuine article… and speaking of introductions my name is Amanda Waller , founder of the suicide squad, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
The joker now moving about his arm to release it from Waller's grip had now begun contemplating her offer while replaying every last detail she gave him in his head, about ten to fifteen minutes have passed, Waller's patients has started wearing thin so she opted to ask the following question, "something on your mind?".
The joker never one to miss a cue to throw a witty retort, opted to reply with the following statement, "you'll have to be a bit more specific miss Waller, however I do have a few requests before we seal our deal"
Waller, now in the mood to humor him, replied the following, ''a year's supply of mechanical teeth I imagine" the joker a bit stunned by her display of humor, shook it off and said "nothing of the sort, I do however ask you to make sure that batman and his gang of colorful friends wouldn't retaliate harshly for killing their young ones, and most importantly I need some young blood on my crew, some with experience mind you I'm getting rather tired of shooting my own men in their ears or heads respectively".
Taking it as sign of compliance Waller smiled a devilish crooked smile and proceeded to leave, the joker now starting to grin as well as though he remembered something "by the way miss quin has informed me you're a pain in the neck, Waller replied while not once looking back " so what's your point"?
"I don't intend on losing my head" came a quick reply which followed by another one, "the thought never ran thru my head", Waller with a satisfied and smug look on her face contacted her number one recruit officer thru her ear piece and said "primary target is secured, proceed with the secondary ones" now done with her conversation as if on cue she answered the joker's inevitable question "expect some more company in the next few days"
The joker now in a very pleasant and quite frankly creepy mood had this to offer for his new found play mate
"Thank you, and for you well expect the unexpected" and while Waller was now quite a few feet away from his 'office' and on the verge of leaving ace chemicals heard what now sounded as a high pitched laugh so powerful you could imagine him laughing is head off, or at least close to that as far as in Waller's consideration is.
Unbeknownst to her someone or something was patiently watching and observing from the shadows as she went about her way back to her car and hopefully away from Gotham city for the mean while .