Chapter 20 Ringing the Belle
At the Hall of Doom
Lincoln and Jinx are exiting the training room and going into the main hall. They see the villains bickering with one another. Lincoln sees Cheetah and walks over to her. He asks her.
"What's happening?" Cheetah whispers to Lincoln
"We are all just discussing who is captured at the moment" She then points at a board in at the end of the table with the faces of Reverse Flash, Captain Cold, Kilgore, Solomon Grundy, Heatwave, Joker, Mirror Master, Gizmo, Mammoth, and Scarecrow. Two-Face exclaims with his normal side
"The Justice Syndicate is taking too many of our members" switches to the scarred side, "I say we go for a prison break" Riddler retorts
"That would be counterproductive, they would know we are a threat to them and hunt us down. I propose we expand our population further." Their statements lead to more arguing among the group. Then from behind everyone, the loud sound of the hall door opening alerts them. As most of them just look at it, a few of them prepare to defend. The door fully opens and an ally walks. It is none other than Catwoman and she says
"Good work, the Hall is still in one piece." Her statement makes the villains chuckle. She continues "Now let's get down to business, I found someone who will publish the Crime Syndicate story. There's only one catch, we need Harley Quinn. Without her, our story means nothing to the press, so a few groups are going searching for her." She looks over at Lincoln and Jinx and says
"Rookie looks like you've been introduced to our newest member. Good for you, then I guess you both don't mind going along with Killer Frost to Belle Reve and breaking out a few of Harley Quinn's Task Force X buddies." Lincoln and Jinx give a quick glance at one another and gleefully nodded yes. Catwoman continues
"Also while you all are there break out anyone who you think is useful to our cause. While they're doing that Clayface, Clock King, and Silver Banshee, go check around Amusement Mile." Lincoln, Jinx, Killer Frost, Silver Banshee, Clayface, and Clock King exit the Hall of Doom and head to the set destinations.
In Metropolis
Lincoln, Jinx, and Killer Frost begins to enter Metropolis, Lincoln asks Killer Frost
"So where is Belle Reve?" She replies
"It's downtown, so we are going to need a ride" Suddenly from down the street a convertible with its top down holding a small group young guys is speeding along. One the guys grab a drink and throw it out the window, from the wind it hits Lincoln in the face. The guys see that and begin laughing. This annoys Jinx and she says
"Goodie, a volunteer" She snaps her fingers causing the car to stop sending the guys to the ground. Killer Frost and Lincoln see this and smile. The three of them climbs over to the car and enters. The original riders see this and one of them runs over and exclaims
"Hey, that's my car!" He then tries to yank Lincoln by grabbing his arm, but Lincoln takes the opportunity to throw him into his friends. Killer Frost says
"Let me make one thing clear boys, you mess with one of us and you mess with all of us. Also thanks for the ride suckers" She then shifts into gear and drives off, leaving the rude guys in the dust.
Meanwhile in Amusement Mile
Silver Banshee, Clayface, and Clock King enter the park. Clayface asks
"So where is their main hideout?" The three of them ponder for the answer, then Clock King states
"Probably over there" He points his scepter at the giant Joker head. They run up the path to the mouth, they see chattering teeth on the floor. Silver Banshee grabs it and opens the mouth revealing a button that opens the mouth of the wall. They walk in the hideout and they notice two figures inside. There is a Caucasian man with bright yellow hair, a blue mask extremely similar to Nightwing's mask, he is wearing a yellow shirt with a T logo and blue filling the gaps, firefighter sashes around both arms, a utility belt with a yellow T logo, and yellow and green checkered pants, it is the Trickster. He is alongside another Caucasian man with orange hair, freckles, a spacing between his front teeth, he is wearing glasses that look like music notes and sheet, a purple jacket with green music notes and a green tie, and a purple fedora with a green stripe, it is the Music Meister. Clayface asks
"Music Meister? Trickster? What are you doing here?" Trickster replied
"We joined up with Joker and now since he and Harley are nowhere to be seen, we have to protect the place against rivals" Silver Banshee states
"Wait, so Harley isn't here?" Music Meister and Trickster nod their heads no. The three villains sigh in defeat and Clock King retorts
"I guess we be head to Hall of Doom" They turn around beginning to exit and unknowingly hinting at Music Meister and Trickster's interests. Music Meister interrupts them
"Wait" They turn around and he continues "You all are here on Legion of Doom business?" Clayface replies
"We are, why do ask? Do you have business with Legion?" Trickster teeming with anticipation exclaims
"We wish to join!" Silver Banshee asks
"Don't you both have to deal with Joker's gang?" Music Meister comments
"Actually, we finished moving all of Joker's valuables to his other bases and goons will be fine. Even if they revolt, when Joker or Harley get back, the two of them will bash their skulls into the pavement." The three villains begin to consider the responses. After a minute Silver Banshee states
"You both are lucky we are looking for new members, so let's go" The five of them leave Amusement Mile and head for the Hall of Doom
Back at Belle Reve
Lincoln, Jinx, and Killer Frost head to the side of Belle Reve that isn't shown with cameras. Jinx asks Killer Frost
"How do we get in?" They look around and Lincoln sees an open sewer tunnel leading to prison. He taps on Jinx's shoulder and points to the tunnel. The three of them enter, but after entering the vile smell hits them like a bullet. To counteract this Killer Frost freezes the sewage eliminating the smell. They continue walking until they reach the sewer grate inside Belle Reve. Jinx snaps her fingers and the cover becomes loose. The three of them combine their strength and lift the cover off. Jinx peeks her head through and checks for guards or cameras, after her she concludes there are none. She then climbs out and pulls up Killer Frost and Lincoln. They find themselves in the male security bathroom. From behind them, they hear the door beginning to open. The three of them rush into a stall, lock it and stand on the toilet. The door opens and three guards in uniforms go directly for the urinals. Killer Frost takes the opportunity to fire an ice blast at the water in the urinal, freezing it and knocking out the guards. The three of them exit the stall and take the guards' uniforms off and puts them on. Fortunately for them, it was their sizes. They leave the bathroom in disguise. They see an elevator and quickly enter to remain conspicuous. Jinx presses the button and they head for the cells. The door opens and they exit until they run into a keycard scanner. They reach in their pockets and find security cards, they swipe them and get in. They sneakily look around and Jinx sees an information sheet on the inmates, she grabs it and reads who is locked up. Lincoln and Killer Frost see this and Killer Frost quietly asks
"So which of Harley's Task Force X buddies are here? And who else is useful to us?" Jinx whispers back
"Right now there is Deadshot, Captain Boomerang, Firefly, and Count Vertigo. Also, my friends, Gizmo and Mammoth are here too" Lincoln replies
"How should we break them out, secretly or no limit?" Killer Frost answers
"I say let's go wild in breaking them out but first, other than Mammoth and Count Vertigo, everyone else needs their weapons from the armory" The three of them head down the east corridor to the armory. The head to the entrance to the armory and they notice the two guards blocking their path into the armory. Jinx snaps her fingers and the security camera lens crack obscuring the visual. The guards become anxious about an attack. Just then Killer Frost fires her ice blast at the floor making them slip. As they try to get up Lincoln expels his heat blast from his hand that launches them into the wall. Killer Frost says Lincoln
"So you have some powers, nice work" The three villains then walk into the armory and see Captain Boomerang's Boomerangs, Deadshot's hand blasters and his sniper rifle, Gizmo's technologic backpack and Firefly's Jetpack and flamethrower. Jinx asks
"So, how do we get the gear out of here without alerting the guards?" An idea strikes Lincoln, he grabs the gear and shrinks down to size. Jinx picks him up and says
"Good idea, and also how many powers do you have? By the way at this size, you look adorable" She puts him into her pocket. Killer Frost and Jinx then take off the security guards' uniforms and bolt towards the containment cells. The two of them reach the door and Jinx fires an energy blast, slamming the door open and knocking out a few guards. The guards that were unharmed point their guns and both of them and one of the guards exclaims shouts
"Killer Frost and some goth chick" Jinx states annoyed
"It's Jinx if you don't mind, one city I'm feared and another I'm a nobody" Killer Frost freezes the guards' guns rendering them completely useless. A few guards then try charging at them and they are met with Jinx's energy blast to the face sending them flying. They reach the first cell which reads "Count Werner Vertigo, AKA Count Vertigo" Killer Frost swipes the keycard she stole opening Count Vertigo's cell. He says
"So who pray tell do I owe thanks for my escape?" Jinx waves to him and Killer Frost
"You're welcome for the breakout, now we need your help to another few people out. Be aware if you deny we will just lock you back up" Count Vertigo smiles and exits the cell. The three of them then goes to the next cell that reads "Baran Flinders, AKA Mammoth" Killer Frost again swiped her card and the cell door opened. Mammoth got up and said
"Waller, here again? I have no need for this Task Force X stuff" Then Jinx said
"Sorry, wrong person Mammoth, try again" Mammoth becomes overjoyed and escapes his cell. He then asks
"What took you so long? She answers back
"I was kinda just avoiding to cops and also joining the Legion of Doom" Mammoth replies
"You joined the Legion of Doom? No way, can you help me and Gizmo get in?" Jinx answers
"If you help me break out a few people" Mammoth nods his head yes and then suddenly they become surrounded by security. Then Mammoth charges through some security officers. Jinx then reaches into her pocket and takes out Lincoln, he then grows back to normal size along with the weapons. The group moves forward to the next cell that reads "Floyd Lawton, AKA Deadshot" Killer Frost then knocks on the cell gaining Deadshot's attention. He says
"Killer Frost, good to see you, can you let me out?" She nods yes and swipes her card, opening the cell. He leaves the cell, stretches and then asks
"Who the goth girl and the rabbit?" Killer Frost replies
"The goth girl is Jinx and the other we just call Rookie" Lincoln then tosses Deadshot's weapons to him, he says
"Thanks, Rookie" Jinx states
"We better get going we have three more friends to help escape" The villains go further down to next cell that reads "George Digger Harkness, AKA Captain Boomerang" Jinx swipes the card and the cage opens. Deadshot exclaims
"Boomerang, you want out?" He nods yes while smiling "Let's go" Captain Boomerang leaves the cell and Lincoln gives him his boomerangs. The continue to the next cell, Lincoln asks Deadshot and Captain Boomerang
"So do either of you know where Harley Quinn went off to?" Captain Boomerang replies
"Did you check with Joker?" Lincoln comments
"He's in Arkham at the moment" Deadshot retorts
"If she's not with Joker, she's probably with Poison Ivy" Killer Frost facepalms then states
"Why didn't we check there first?" Jinx says
"How about we go after we drop these guys at the Hall of Doom" She nods yes and the reach the next cell that reads "Garfield Lynns, AKA Firefly" Killer Frost swipes the card and right before she speaks Captain Boomerang responds with
"I got this one mate" He looks at Firefly "Hey Lynns, wanna burn stuff? Then come with us" He shrugs his shoulders then joins them. Lincoln hands him his flamethrower and jetpack. Firefly says
"Belle Reve will burn for locking me in here" Lincoln then asks
"Do you know Heatwave by chance?" Firefly nods no and Lincoln states "You both seem similar" The group reaches the final cell holding prisoners. It reads "Mikron O'Jeneus AKA Gizmo" Jinx pokes Mammoth and then points at Gizmo's cell. He charges at it shattering it. Gizmo at the back of his cell dodging the shards of glass. Count Vertigo asks Mammoth
"What was stopping you from doing that before?" Mammoth replies
"It's stronger on one side" Gizmo sees Mammoth and Jinx and become overjoyed. He gets up and fists bump his Hive-Five friends. Lincoln throws Gizmo his backpack, he catches it and puts it on and activates his robotic legs. All villains united go for the exit but it is blocked by a large group of guards. The villains begin to chuckle at the officers' fruitless attempts to stop them. Count Vertigo uses his powers to make the guards dizzy. Then Captain Boomerang and Deadshot fire their weapons eliminating a chunk of them. Then Lincoln fires his heat blast and Firefly blasts his flamethrower at the left side of enemies while Killer Frost freezes and Jinx shoots the right side of enemies. Left standing is two officers in the middle which Gizmo takes out one with his robotics while Mammoth charges at the remaining guard, completely clearing their path. They exit the building and go to the parking. There are only three squad cars left, Lincoln says
"Let's split up, anyone for a race to the Hall of Doom?" The villains chuckle as the group splits into three groups, Killer Frost, Firefly, and Captain Boomerang in the first car, Lincoln, Jinx, and Deadshot in the second car, and Gizmo, Mammoth, and Count Vertigo in the last car. They all speed off laughing hysterically while driving to the meeting point at the Legion of Doom.
End of chapter 20