This tale is a work of fiction.

Any similarities between characters and events to people in the living world are purely coincidental.

None of the players here belong to each other's world

Nor did fate ever intend for them to meet

Yet they meet regardless, bound by events unforeseeable to all parties.

Distortion has clouded history, the future lies in uncertainty

And identity itself hangs in the balance.

XXX

Music like ballroom only mechanic and dull.

Walls full of geometric designs depicting towering stately figures.

High-rise ceilings complete with dazzling intricate chandeliers and skylights revealing the starry night sky.

Scores of technicolor people, fashioned with appearances that reeked of high class and power, haughtiness and privilege.

Perfectly inorganic, perfectly in place, perfectly in order.

Time to fix that.

Like thunder on a silent night, an explosion went off in the far back, rocking the room and causing many fixtures to tremble and either rattle or even fall and shatter in turn. Every patron broke into panic instantly, some dashing for the exit on the other end of the room while others froze in place out of confusion, fear, or even outrage.

High above all this bedlam, a lone figure in black and a fanciful white mask crouched atop a support beam, coolly surveying the scene below.

Heh-heh, worked like a charm, chirped a high-pitched voice from the small device in his ear.

I still can't believe they fell for it, followed a deeper yet more mellow voice, their tone full of surprise.

I can't believe they actually left the thing in the open like that, a husky-sounding female voice murmured.

That's a superiority complex for ya, another female voice, younger sounding and nerdy, commented. Alright, Joker, you know what to do!

The dark-haired intruder nodded with a visible smirk before leaping off towards a nearby chandelier, making sure to stand on the edge where all could see him.

He didn't have to wait long.

"Up there!" shouted a short yet stocky red feminine being with a squarish afro and dressed in formal wear, her raspy voice somehow audible over the din of the guests' bedlam.

Flawless timing.

With a confident grin, Joker jumped off from the chandelier and onto the next and then the next, playing a game of chase with the pursuing rainbow personnel below in a manner that felt like old times. He only hoped no capture by the authorities would follow this time around. Otherwise, the gang better be ready to cook up another complicated escape plan.

Fortunately, he managed to reach the final chandelier no problem and easily vaulted himself through the adjacent glass window, sending shards flying as he soared into the starlit night. Tucking into a roll midair, he scored a perfect landing on the roof where a gorgeous view of the luminous cityscape awaited him.

As did a massive swarm of masked security guards, batons at the ready. God damnit.

Ah well, at least these guys he could use lethal force on. He needed the practice anyway.

Shit, griped a male voice rougher than the one from before, they're really going all-out, ain't they?!

Joker, I still need time to break through! Keep these creeps busy until the others catch up, OK?

Sounded simple enough.

With a silent nod, the young man in black pulled out his dagger and pointed it straight at the horde. Behind him, his pursuers had caught up. The moment they paused a few feet away from him, they started to twitch and then convulse before becoming engulfed in red and black liquid. Once the liquid subsided, in their places stood four hulking beings decked in armor, two red and the others blue.

Joker tossed a challenging smirk over his shoulder at the newcomers. Good, he'd been worried this would be easy.

Blue flames lit around him as his white mask lit up the same way, dissipating to join the swirling inferno.

He raised a hand at the ready.

It was showtime.

"MARDUK!"