Disclaimer: Batman Beyond and all related characters, names, and indicia are DC Comics, a division of Time-Warner Communications, and are used without permission. All rights reserved. Making it perfectly clear that I do NOT own it. Those are some people you just don't mess with!

Pointless Key
*** Is an elapse of time or change in scene.
Sound effect
"..." Someone speaking
'...' Someone thinking.

Harley walked through the park her body aching and her head low. "What a night!" She moaned as she swung the bag onto her shoulder.

"Rough night Harl?" Someone asked.

Harley looked up to see a vagabond sitting on the park bench looking highly relaxed. "Hey Charlie. What you doing out here?" Harley asked sitting next to the man ignoring the fact that he reeked of stale garbage.

"Mr. Howle chased me out of the alley. Think I'll go stay by the river now." Charlie said. "You look down what's the matter?"

"Had my first run in with the bat. Ugh my back is in so much pain; he's much stronger than I had first anticipated. Also he made me crash the bike I stole from Fletcher, I could have used the parts to modify my baby." Harley said dropping her head. "And now I have to reload my popgun. Too much to do now."

"Here," Charlie said handing Harley a torn bandana. "Clean off that make-up before someone notices you."

"Thanks." Harley covered her bi-color hair with the bandana and wiped off the lipstick with the back of her hand.

"You up for coffee and pie?" Charlie asked jerking his thumb towards a small corner diner with neon lights announcing that the place was OP N.

"Thanks Charlie but not tonight." She grunted as she stood. "Right now I just want to go home and soak in a nice hot bath." Harley said removing a cred card from the bag and giving it to Charlie. "Keep clear." She said walking away.

***

"She called herself Harley." Said Terry removing his mask.

"Harley? As in Harley Quinn." Wayne said.

"Yeah she even said she was her successor." Terry said.

Wayne began to search through his computer. "Did she say anything else?" Wayne asked.

"Yeah that her grandfather use to work for her." Terry said.

"For Quinn but not the Joker?" Wayne asked.

"What do you mean?" Terry asked.

Wayne moved back from the computer as he petted Ace. "There was a period in time when Harley Quinn went out on her own after yet another break up with the Joker. She had her own hideout and henchmen, the Quinntets. Quinn's favorite: Lewis." Wayne said pulling up a photo on the computer.

"Just Lewis?" Terry asked looking at the picture of a man wearing a hat.

"Lewis LeBeau. I don't have very much on him." Wayne said.

"So what happened to him?" Terry asked.

"Shot in the back when Quinn's hideout was being raided." Wayne said.

"Who shot him?"

"Quinn." Wayne said.

"Ouch! Bad retirement plan. I wonder if Harley knows anything about it. Do you think you can find anything out on Harley by tomorrow?" Terry asked while he removed the suit.

"I can have her personal file up in five minutes." Wayne said returning to his computer.

Less than five minutes later Wayne turned towards Terry. "It seems Lewis had a wife and kids. His wife remarried to a man name Simon Jest." Wayne said showing the information and marriage certificate.

"Jest? Jest, why does that name ring a bell?" Terry asked.

"Lewis's son Marshall grew up and ran a motorcycle business and married Emily Carolyn. They had one daughter before they divorced." Wayne said. "Her name Harley Jest." Wayne said pulling up a picture.

"Harley Jest?" Terry asked looking closer at the picture. It was a small picture of a young girl that strongly resembled the Harley from tonight, only her hair was one dark color and was short. From some reason she looked especially sad.

"You know her?" Wayne asked.

"Sort of, she was a freshman at my school during my sophomore year, one day she just stopped coming. They say she ran away from home." Terry said. "Oh no! I have to get home or my mother will kill me." Terry said rushing out of the Batcave.

"Gotham's protector fighting villains, psycho-maniacs, and androids yet his greatest threat is his mother." Wayne laughed as he returned to the computer.

Harley stood in a cage elevator with her arms crossed and her head low as she counted her gains and loses. "Now I understand why Miss Q found the bat annoying at times. As long as he doesn't interfere with my bigger plans than I wouldn't mind keeping him as a playmate." She laughed halfheartedly as the elevator stopped on the second floor.

"Honeycombs I'm home!" She shouted. "Oops forgot for a moment that I live alone." She laughed as took off the bandana and dropped the bag on the kitchen floor.

Harley made her home in an old two story garage that had once been used to repair cars when they all were still on the ground. Now she used it to build and repair her bikes as her father once did. The top level, which only took up half the space as the bottom, served as her living area. Containing a kitchen, a corner for the living room, a bathroom, and a decent sized bedroom.

After having soaked in a hot peach bubble bath Harley, wrapped in a towel, checked the refrigerator for leftovers. "I wonder if this shrimp lo main still any good." She said sniffing the contents of the container. "Ew! Nope." She gagged tossing the container into the trashcan. "I guess it's fried chicken tonight." She said placing the dish into the microwave then went into her room to get dressed.

As soon as the microwave sounded she jumped over the balcony and fell over twenty feet into the garage. After landing gracefully Harley seated herself comfortably at her bike and turned on the old television. "...Jordan Fletcher, president of Fletcher motorcycles and raceway had no comment on the robbery."

"Great now I have to wait for the morning news." Harley moaned biting down on a forkful of chicken as she began work on her motorcycle.

"Also today scientist Ira Heights has made an advancement on A.I.-artificial intelligence-devices at Tanium laboratory."

"What's so great about thinking devices?" Harley asked searching blindly for her wrench.

A man somewhere in his later forties with graying hair appeared on the screen standing a few yards from a car. "The device sort of becomes the mind of any mobile machine. Think of it this way, you don't have to worry about remembering where you parked your car anymore. All you need is the command link." He said holding up a small cylinder the size of an earring. "And something mobile the device can attach itself to. Car come to me." He said into the cylinder. The car started and rolled up to Mr. Heights just to stop a foot away and open the door on its own.

"Now I see." Harley smiled removing the gloves from her hands. "It seems I'm going to go on a trip tomorrow night." She chuckled in her throat.

***

The next day Terry and Max sat down with Dana for lunch. "Do any of you remember Harley Jest?" Terry asked.

"Who?" Blade asked sitting down next to Dana.

"Harley Jest she was a freshman here." Terry said.

Chelsea sat down next to Max. "Wasn't she that quiet girl who always wore some old jacket and boots that were too big for her?" Chelsea asked.

"Oh yeah, the girl with her own bike, I remember her now. Weird wasn't she?" Blade asked.

"As I remember you was sub artic to her." Max pointed out to Blade.

"You have to admit it was anomalous how all day she wouldn't talk nor do anything until she got to Auto Tech class." Blade said.

"Whatever happened to her anyway?" Dana asked.

"She ran away from the foster family she was living with." Terry said poking at the processed chicken he had bought.

"Yeah that's right she was an orphan." Blade said as if it were wrong.

"She was? What happened to her family?" Chelsea asked.

"Um let me think...I think her dad died in some sort of accident." Max said.

"What about her mother?" Dana asked.

"Oh that's easy. Her mother left her and her father behind so she could live the rich life." Blade said.

"You mean her mother didn't take her in when her father died?" Chelsea asked.

"Most likely not if she was placed in a foster home." Max said.

"Why are you so interested in her all of a sudden?" Dana asked Terry.

"Um I was going through my old yearbook and noticed her picture." Terry said. "I was wondering if anyone else remembered her."

Later the bell rung pronouncing the end of lunch. "What's the real reason you're interested in her?" Max asked walking in pace with Terry.

"She had a small run in with Batman last night." Terry said.

"What?" Max asked.

"Yeah, do you think you can find anything that might connect her to Fletcher racing?" Terry asked.

"Why don't you get Bruce to do that?" Max asked.

"You said you'd like to help." Terry said.

"I'll see what I can do." Max said heading into class.

***

It was late at night as Harley crouched over a security system on the rooftop. "La lala hum hum hum. First you cut the wire that's red, make sure not to touch the dummy wires, once you're sure the system is dead, sneak away and don't forget your pliers." Harley hummed as she cut into the colorful wires. "There. If I end up blowing something up the police won't find out until it's too late." She smiled triumphantly as she opened the sky window and slipped inside.

Inside the Tanium Labs Heights sat looking down on his work. "Hey Heights don't work too hard." One of the other scientists said heading out towards the door.

"Ha, don't sleep in too late Knight." Heights said continuing his work.

Heights stood as he heard the sound of someone grunt then hit the ground. "Don't worry Doc he won't be out for long." Harley said standing over the unconscious man. "He'll wake up...eventually."

"Why did you knock him out?" Heights said in surprise. He reached out to call the security but the phone was dead.

"He was stealing office supplies." Harley said shrugging as she walked over to Heights. "Oh I took extra precautions; I wouldn't want anyone to interrupt our little talk."

"What are you doing here?" Heights asked.

Harley sat down on the desk; "I'm interested in acquiring one of your devices I saw on the news." Harley said blowing a bubble with her gum.

"You broke into my lab to steal an A.I. device?" Heights asked.

"Actually I came to buy one from you." Harley said producing a credit card then returning it to her pocket. "But if you insist that I steal it, hand it over." Harley said pulling out her gun and holding out her hand.

"You're that crazy girl who held up Fletcher's." Heights said noticing the red and black shorts and the black shirt under the red lather jacket.

"Oh so it did take a scientist to figure that out! Ya known you should get better security. I walked right by three of them, and one of them was nice enough to direct me straight to you." Harley smiled. "Such gentlemen."

"Why rob us then?" Heights asked.

"Well this isn't really apart of my plans; this is more of a pleasure robbery. Now where are the devices?"

"The devices are in the vault." Heights said pointing towards the door behind him.

Harley got onto her feet and stood beside Heights. "Well then move your ass." Harley said motioning the gun towards the vault.

As Heights stood he tackled Harley onto the ground. "Hey! I'm the one doing all the assaulting around here!" She stated smashing the gun into Heights head knocking him unconscious.

With a grunt she pushed Heights off her. "Men." She groaned walking towards the vault.

"I tried to do things peacefully and avoid confrontation with b-man but I guess I have no choice." She mumbled aiming at the door.

BOOM! The force of the gun caused her to fall on her back and roll backwards. Once she stopped tumbling she looked up at the vault to see the damages. The vault door was now a twisted piece of metal hanging off the hinges. "Oh! I love this gun!" She shouted performing a headstand to get herself off the floor. Bringing her feet before her she stood straight up then ran into the now opened vault.

***

"Wayne you there?" Batman asked tying a cat burglar to a lamppost.

"Yeah." Wayne said. "Are things busy tonight?"

"Not much happening tonight." Batman replied.

"Well your friend Harley was reported being sighted at Tanium Laboratory a few moments ago."

"Tanium?" Batman asked.

"She blew open the vault and stole a prototype for a limited artificial intelligence device." Wayne said.

"I'm on it." Batman said heading in the direction of the laboratory.

***

By the time Batman arrived the entire building had been emptied and people lined the sidewalks curious to find out what had happened.

"Bruce, I think she left already." Batman said turning on his cloaking device and headed downwards towards the police asking questions.

"Did anyone see anything particular tonight?" A female officer asked.

"I heard some loud explosion." A teenage boy said.

"I saw some chick wearing red and black and had red and black hair on the rooftops." A woman from the building across the street said.

"I think I saw her riding off on a bike." Said a teenage girl with a hat over her hair.

"Which way did you see her go?" The officer asked.

"Heading that way. I believe." She said pointing up the street.

"Anyone has anything to add? The officer asked.

As the police officer began to question others some of the people began to walk away.

"I think I've found her." Batman said crawling down the wall towards the teenage girl with the hat. As she walked by he pulled the hat from her head.

"Oh." She cried as her short brown hair fell onto her face. "This is the weirdest day." She mumbled picking up the hat and heading towards the subway.

"Was it her?" Wayne asked over the radio.

"No." Batman said heading back towards the laboratory.

***

"This is such a great night!" Harley smiled removing the hat from her head as she rounded the corner. She removed the brown wig from her head allowing her bi-colored hair to fall. She opened a dumpster removing her bag. "No batman and the AI device for my baby." She smiled changing into a pair of black pants and a black belly shirt. "If I can get some parts this night will be prefect!" She smiled pulling on her red jacket while walking toward the subway station. She then decided against the subway figuring walking wouldn't kill her.

Harley walked triumphantly down the ally onto an empty gritty street with her bag proudly swung on one shoulder. Her hips swung rhythmically side to side with a song in her head.

"Dressin' like your sister
livin' like a tart.
Don't know what you're doing.
Babe it must be art.
You're a headache in a suitcase
You're a star!

Oh don't be shy
You don't have to go blind.
Hold me, thrill me, kiss me, kill me."

Harley stopped and smiled as she placed her rose tinted glasses over her eyes. "Tell me, how long are you going to follow me?" She asked.

"Not too long." A voice said.

"Did you like my performance back there?" Harley asked jerking her thumb in the direction of the laboratory.

"That was clever the way you hid yourself as a witness. Even the bat was tricked." The voice said.

"I didn't see any bat." Harley said turning in the direction of a young man perhaps a year or so older then herself. His hair was short and a lovely dark red. His green hazel eyes looked down on Harley as she stared fixated on his green skin.

"Believe me he was there." He said reaching out his hand. A large vine grew from the concrete to the top of the fire escape where he stood.

"Ooh a plant boy." Harley said watching as the vine shrunk back into the ground carrying the young man down with it. "Now let me guess Venus Flytrap? Thorn? Bleeding Heart?" Harley asked as he came nearer. "No I got it, Greenhouse Guy!" She laughed tossing her head backwards.

The young man grabbed Harley by the wrist and twisted her around so that her back was pressed hard against his chest. "I'd prefer if you called me Nightshade." He said.

"Oh that's original." Harley said trying to free herself from the man. "I wouldn't stand out here like this if I were you." Harley said.

"Oh and what going to happen?" Nightshade asked.

"Them." Harley said jerking her head in the direction of a band of Jokerz walking towards them.

Nightshade released Harley and stood before her. "Harl, I'll go for the big ones you get the rest and the ladies." He said.

"You won't make it far if you're afraid to hit women. Besides I know these jerks!" Harley shouted jumping over Nightshade's head. "Skuzzy!" She shouted jumping onto the back of a large muscular joker.

"We've been hearin' all 'bout you on the news Harl." Said a joker wearing only a poke-a-dotted tie, and rainbow suspenders holding up a pair of green pants two sizes too big.

"No fashion scents whatsoever." Harley said under her voice. "Let me guess you want me in your gang now Chaos?" Harley asked removing herself from the back of Skuzzy. "Sorry you had the chance years ago; this head case is doing things on her own now." Harley said pointing at herself proudly, with her thumb.

"Yeah? What about him?" A female joker with a china doll painted face asked pointing towards Nightshade.

"He's a perk that comes with the job." Harley blew a kiss towards Nightshade.

"C'mon Harl come back to us. We could use someone like you around." Skuzzy said draping his arms on Harley's shoulders.

Harley flipped away from Skuzzy landing beside Nightshade. "You mean you could use the money and the things I've stolen. Back off! I'm not going to lower myself to your crude standards." Harley said her joyful attitude changing as her face fell with scorn.

Chaos shook his head as the others slowly began to close in on Harley and Nightshade. "We didn't really want to do this to you Harl, you having ties with Harley Quinn herself and all, but you understand right?" Chaos asked throwing a punch at Harley.

Harley ducked away while ramming her knee into Chaos' stomach. She flipped backwards away from the clowns. "Perfectly." Harley said. "You do understand us defending ourselves?" Harley asked cracking her knuckles. Nightshade stood next to Harley ready for the oncoming fight.

The circle of Jokerz began to close in again. "Wait wait wait!" Harley shouted looking around.

"Now what is it?" Skuzzy asked.

"This is all off. Something's missing...something... Ah ha! I've got it. La-la-la-laaaaa!" Harley began.

"Right now I would rather be in bed. / But I'm here with you instead. / Love's got me doing things I'd prefer not to do. /Ain't that just a kick in the head?" Harley sang kicking her leg up catching the chain doll Joker in the chin.

The others began to attack the two. Nightshade punched Skuzzy in the belly knocking him backward onto the ground.

Harley flipped between two Jokerz. "I want to go on a robbing spree. / You want to stay home and cuddle with me." Harley rubbed her nose with the two Jokerz. "I prefer scheming and city lights. / Oh I must be a sight after our violent mindless fights." Harley knocked the two's head together. "Red you try!" Harley shouted.

Nightshade was amazed at the fact Harley was singing as she fought as if it were all a game. Her peculiar actions had caused confusion even to the Jokerz. But now she wanted him to sing! This chick was definitely crazy "Um okay. Comes fighting these jerks I rather be dead. / It is all a crying shame. " Nightshade sang as he threw a few seeds on the remaining Jokerz. The seeds emitted a green pollen causing the Jokerz to cough and breakout in an itchy rash.

"Like a bullet to the brain!" Harley jumped over to Nightshade's side when Chaos swung at her with a pipe. "Big finish Red!" She said.

"Ain't that just a kick in the head!" They sang together kicking Chaos back down.

Harley laughed. "Not bad bud buddy. You've got a lovely singing voice." She whacked him once on the back.

Nightshade moaned as he dropped to his knees. Harley quickly put on a more serious tone. "Red!" She cried quickly kneeled to his side. "I thought you were a little green but I thought nothin' of it. You must not be use to Gotham's lovely-polluted air."

The once dark street was suddenly illuminated with red flashing lights.

"Hey let's move it's the cops." A joker said running off.

"Great just what I needed more challenges from authority." Harley grumbled as she helped the green young man to his feet.

A GCPD car drove over to Harley and Nightshade. "What's going on here?" The police officer asked as he and his partner stepped out of the car.

"Jokerz attacked us!" Harley shouted in a near hysterical voice.

"Jokerz? Do you need any help with him?" Another officer asked pointing to Nightshade.

"No I think we can manage. My bike isn't too damaged." Harley jerked her thumb to one of the bikes the Jokerz had left behind. "Thanks for scaring them off." Harley said looking at the police.

"Wait a minute you match the description of the girl who just robbed Tanium." The first officer said as Harley sat Nightshade on the bike.

"Who me?" Harley asked innocently placing her hand to her chest.

"Now that you mention it she does. Let me see your license." The second officer said.

"License, right." She said searching through her bag. "Well let me find it. Black rose lipstick; you just don't know how hard it is to find this shade. Um...sticky string, grenade gum, bola yo-yo, joy buzzer taser, fun gun, spring punching glove, tampons, hey my sour watermelon liquorish -forgot I had that." Harley placed the candy in her mouth. "Squirting flower, industrial size whoopee cushion, rubber ducky what do that do again? AI device. Magic 8 ball. Great I have everything except for my license." Harley said practically holding her bag upside down.

"You are her. Miss you are under arrest!" The police officer said.

Harley bent down to gather all of her things and returning them to her bag. "Give me a minute! Geez you guys are impatient! It ain't like big bad boys like yourselves can't handle little ol' me." Harley said.

"C'mon let's go. I don't know what you did to that young man there but if you're claiming to be the successor of Harley Quinn it ain't good." The officer said.

"Ah ha!" Harley cried holding the rubber duck. "Now I remember what the ducky does!" She squashed the body of the duck giving off a shrill squeak then a thick gray smoke.

Harley ran to the bike as the smoke bomb rubber duck hid her actions from the police.

"Red usually I wouldn't dare get on a bike without my helmet but desperate times." Harley said getting on behind Nightshade. "Just hold on." She said as she revved the engine then drove in a loop heading onto the street.

"HEY!" Officer #1 coughed. "C'mon let's go." He yelled helping his partner back into the car. "Call for back up!"

***

Batman sped down the street in the bat jet; he had just seconds before received word that Harley was running, more like riding away from the police. Just that she had a sickly young man with her.

"Do you think she resorted to kidnapping?" Bruce asked.

"No. I was talking to the man who Harley stole the prototype from. He said this was just a pleasure robbery for her. It seems she has bigger plans." Batman said.

"Must have something to do with who she's robbing next." Bruce said.

"I have Max looking for connections between her and Fletcher now." Batman said.

"You believe there's a connection?"

"Why else would she chose him as her first big robbery when there are easier places." Batman said. Suddenly a motorcycle sped before the bat jet followed by five police cars. "Wayne I gotta go." He said turning the corner after them.

"Holy hole in the head." Harley moaned looking behind her. "Not only do I have to deal with the police I have the bat on my back now. If it weren't for you!" Harley said to the barely conscious Nightshade.

"Ge-get ready to t-t-turn on to the hi-highway." Nightshade said reaching into his pocket. He tossed a brown pocket onto the street as Harley turned. Gigantic roots exploded from the small pocket. All but one of the police cars managed to avoid getting tangled into the roots.

"Hey not bad you just gave me a great led." Harley said. "Now it's my turn." She laughed reaching into her bag.

"Eight ball, eight ball! Where in the back seat of a jeep is it? Ah ha! Magic 8 ball." Harley declared. She shook the black ball until the blue liquid inside turned red. "Bombs away baby!" Harley cried kissing the ball then tossing it behind her shoulder.

KA-BOOM!!! A large portion of the highway road was now a gaping hole leaving most of the pursuing police cars stranded on the other side.

Harley caught a glimpse behind her. "Three down! One car and a bat jet to go." Harley sang.

"You on the bike stop now!" A police officer said in a speakerphone from a hover police car. "There is a roadblock up ahead. You have no way out." She said.

Harley looked up trying to decide if she should use her popgun on the pursuing bat or the hovering police car. 'Can't do that the force will throw me off the bike.' Harley thought. 'But there is an alternative.' She smiled removing her flag gun.

Pop! FLOOSH! The BANG! flag torpedoed from the barrel into the sky. Exploding into a bright white light. Blinding the pilot of the police hover car.

"She just took down a police car with a flare." Batman said with surprise.

"She's resourceful." Bruce said. "And dangerous."

"She's caught the road block is just ahead." Batman said. "I guess I wasn't needed."

Harley began to fret when she noticed the many police vehicles awaiting her up ahead. She looked to her side, nothing, no way for her to escape. And she couldn't turn, that would put her right in the mercy of Batman and the police car behind her. Well as she said before desperate times. And all desperate time comes with insane actions.

"Nightshade if you have an ounce of strength left in you hang on tight to me!" Harley cried as she accelerated towards the shoulder.

"No wait!" Batman cried out to Harley and the pursuing car. The bike jumped into the air over the side of the shoulder falling downwards. As for the care the occupants dived out just before it crashed headfirst into the cement blockade.

"Terry what happened?" Bruce asked.

"Nothing a few hundred thousand dollars won't fix." Batman said.

The bike landed roughly below the chaos. Harley looked up to see her handy work.

"I just LOVE this city!" Harley cried as she raced away from the fiery wreckage.