I don't own Halo of Justice League; they are the property of 343 Industries and DC Comics/Warner Brothers respectively.
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Deep in the heart of Arkham Asylum, one lone security guard sat at the console of the central security room. His job was to monitor the screens to the various security cameras and motion sensors throughout and around the entire asylum…or rather, it was the job he was supposed to be doing.
A few days ago, he had been offered a very persuasive bargain for his cooperation in the schemes of a certain former inmate. The bargain was simple: "I'm taking a little trip. You spill the beans; I spill your guts."
Suffice to say, he was more than willing to take up the bargain; he much preferred keeping his guts inside his own body. And besides, it was one less psycho for him to worry about. He was also looking forward to his bonus from the side business going on between the asylum staff and security. And it wouldn't do him much good if he was dead, after all.
He leaned back in his chair, expecting another easy day on the job…only to collapse from a sharp blow to his spinal cord. As he fell to the floor, the now decloaked Spartan inserted a data thumb-drive into the main computer.
It didn't take long for the Spartan to find the entrance to the old sewage system. Just as Arian had described, it was located just a short distance from the maintenance shed. The tire tracks leading from the shed matched those found at the location of the former candy factory. He noted how the sewage entrance had been open for quite some time., The same could be said for the interior of the sewage pipe, which showed signs of usage over the past few months.
The fresh set of footprints and recently discarded straight jacket were also a good indication.
The Spartan moved quickly through the sewage, making sure to keep his eyes peeled for any surprises the Joker may have left in his absence. All the while, Arian guided him through the maze of sewage pipes and intersections. It was fortunate that she had access to the old schematics, as well as satellite imagery and thermal imaging. This came in handy when navigating around the sections that had collapsed or were lined with Joker's booby traps.
Eventually, he reached the exit of a recently excavated sewage tunnel…right next to the laundry delivery garage. After that, the Spartan used his cloak to make his way through the asylum towards the security room – the lack of properly trained security personal made this all the easier, even without cloaking technology.
Now, it was up to Arian to gain access to the central security hardware. And, suffice to say, Arian was not impressed with what she found.
"Good Lord! This is their state-of-the-art security programming? I would've thought they would improve their systems after the last time I was in here. Even the Insurrectionists had better cyber-defenses than this."
"You saying they should have improved them?"
"Would you blame me if I did?" Arian asked. "I mean, I know this helps us in the long run, but even so…Okay, I'm in." Arian pulled up a list of data screens on the Spartan's helmet HUD. "According to this, the Warden had ordered the cyber-security hardware to be temporarily shut down for maintenance; just long enough for someone to download a malware program that would be activated upon remote command. It looks like someone only remembered to turn it back on earlier this evening, which is when Montoya received the notice about the breakout."
"At least we now know why your download didn't notify us about the breakout," the Spartan settled. "It wasn't a cyber-attack; they simply pulled the plug."
"The oldest and most simple trick in the data pad," Arian snarked. "Well, while it stopped my download from alerting us to the breakout, it didn't stop it from recording the security footage before and after the shutdown. And, from the looks of it, there were five recorded footages that were audited during that time. The first three are obvious: the laundry service garage; the maintenance shed next to the sewage entrance; and, of course, the Joker's cell block." As she spoke, she pulled up five recordings from the security monitors in each section. "The fourth is the security camera in the Psychological Analysis and Therapy office. Which, by the way, had been placed under new management just a few weeks ago."
She then enlarged and paused the fourth recording, revealing a certain blonde woman with twin pigtails and dark-velvet lipstick. "Meet Dr. Harleen Quinzel, aka. Harley Quinn. Recently released from Blackgate Prison for 'good behavior and substantial progress in her psychological rehabilitation'. And, most widely known fact, the on-and-off partner of the death-loving clown himself."
The Spartan frowned. "I thought Harley had broken it off with the Joker."
"She did, about a year ago in fact," Arian responded. "However, she recently got back in touch with her 'hubby', and has been holding therapeutic sessions with him over the past month. And, she's recently put in a request for some time off for a 'much needed holiday'."
"Can you find out where and when?"
"Already on it. She can change her name and outfit," Arian paused as she worked her magic, "but she can't change her face. Got it: she's booked a one-way flight out of Gotham International tomorrow morning. Neo Airlines, First Class. Flight 666. Destination: Paris, France." Then, she frowned, "No sign of the Joker. I'm going through the airline reservations in case he booked a separate flight under an alias ID."
"The Joker wouldn't enlist Harley into his plan if he didn't have his reasons. If she's been in contact with the Joker, it's likely that he's using her for something. We need to find out what they're planning, and why the Joker needed Harley's help."
"Actually," Arian said, "it may not have been just Harley he needed. At least, not in the long term." She then pulled up the fifth security footage, which was focused on the Arkham Botanical Gardens. "Because, according to the records, Harley has also been holding sessions with her other part-time coworker. Dr. Pamela Isley, aka. Poison Ivy."
"Meaning she might have an idea about what Joker's been up to," the Spartan suggested.
"Great minds do think alike," Arian joked. "And, luckily enough, Dr. Isley's one of the few heavy hitters who decided to stick around during the breakout. The watchman saw her during his rounds earlier this evening; she's still in confinement in the Arkham Botanical Gardens."
With that, the Spartan retrieved the thumb drive – but not before Arian downloaded an updated malware tracking program into the asylum's computers. There would be plenty of time to track down Arkham's other runaway convicts once the Joker had been dealt with.
The Spartan activated his cloak and made his way out of the security room. He then began the trek towards the Botanical. Hopefully, its resident inmate would provide the answers he needed…before the Joker's plan could come to fruition.
…
In the rafters above, a shadowy figure watched as the Spartan made his way towards the Botanical. Even though he was cloaked, he could not escape the all-seeing eyes of the lifeless assassin. The sound of his armored boots hitting the floor. The slight disturbance of the dust on the floor. The slight shimmer against the harsh ceiling lights. All of this was visible to the assassin, whose raptor eyes kept track of the armored warrior.
The figure wordlessly sent the image to its masters. They would want to know of the Spartan's presence in Arkham.
…
In a darkened room, the assembled council watched the Spartan's movements through their assassin's eyes. They watched in great disdain and resentment as he quickly approached the Botanical Garden. Looking for the eco-terrorist, no doubt.
Well, he would be sorely disappointed. The strumpet was already broken. A wilted weed whose only purpose was to appease the facility's money pinchers, and keep Gotham's 'Dark Knight' from deciphering their true intentions.
And now, it was time for this interloper to learn just who held the true power in Gotham.
After all, even the bat was weary of the owl's gaze.
…
Dr. Pamela Isley, dressed in her dark green leotard and bright yellow hat, gazed at nothing as she tended to her precious babies. All around her were a large assortment of vines and flowers that had grown to phenomenal sizes. She caressed those closest to her, coaxing them to continue pumping life-giving proteins and enzymes into a massive root in the center of the Botanical. She herself was providing her own energy in order to speed up the process…at the cost of her own health and well-being. Already, she was starting to weaken from lack of nutrition, growing thinner and more shriveled as her body struggled to keep working.
But she didn't care. None of that mattered anymore. Nothing mattered anymore.
Nothing, except for making her beloved's puddin' happy and jolly.
"Happy and jolly."
"Happy and jolly."
"Happy and jolly."
This was the chant she now openly declared, paying no heed to anything or anyone else. Sadly, even her precious babies were of little significance to her.
Not like her beloved's puddin'. All that mattered was him, and that he was happy and jolly.
"Happy and jolly."
"Happy and jolly."
Nothing else mattered. No one else mattered.
Not even the lone Spartan walking up towards her.
"Dr. Isley. We need to talk."
"Happy and jolly."
"Happy and jolly."
She took no notice as the Spartan stopped in front of her, keeping his rifle at the ready in case she lashed out at him. Instead, she simply remained on her knees and tended to her still growing vines and flowers.
"What do you know about the Joker? Why is Harley working with him?"
"Happy and jolly."
"Happy and jolly."
The Spartan kneeled down in front of her. She now gazed blankly at her own reflection in the Spartan's visor.
"Dr. Isley…where is the Joker?"
Again, his words received no answer, other than her endless chant. She simply continued staring into nothingness, oblivious to all except her lover's desire to please her puddin'.
"Arian, what's happened to her?"
"Nothing good," was her response. She quickly ran a diagnosis on the metahuman kneeling before them. "She's suffering from severe malnutrition and dehydration, and she's showing signs of organ failure. From the looks of it, she's been like this for quite some time."
"Can we reverse this? Get her to tell us what she knows?"
"Physically, it should be an easy fix; given her connection with mother nature of all things, she should be in her prime right about now. But, from the looks of it, she's not even trying to nourish herself. In fact, I'd say that she's deliberately starving herself, forcing her body to surrender all of her energy into that giant root."
"The Joker must've done something to her during their sessions," he suggested. "Given his history, it's the sort of thing he would do for a laugh."
"Oh, he definitely would, though I doubt she'd let him get close enough to do try anything," she countered. "What's strange is that, despite Dr. Isley's not-so-subtle hatred towards the Joker, she's agreed to hold joint sessions with him in Harley's office."
"When did this start?"
"Just after Harley arrived at Arkham."
That got the Spartan's attention. "That can't be a coincidence."
"It isn't. She was strongly against Harley having anything to do with the Joker. That was before her first joint session with the two of them. After that, she's been described as distant. It's like her emotions have been more…subdued."
"Happy and jolly."
"Happy and jolly."
The Spartan sighed as he glanced at the green skinned villainess. It seemed that in her present condition, she wouldn't be of much help to him. They would have to search for answers elsewhere…
Then, the woman gasped as her eyes started glowing a sickly green, and a small stream of blood started running down her face from her left eyeball. The Spartan's enhanced eyesight spotted a light red glow from beneath her yellow hat. He reached over and pulled the hat off, revealing a metal band wrapped tightly across her forehead. Turning her head, he saw the back portion was inserted into the base of her occipital bone, and was injecting a mixture of green and purple liquids into her head.
"Arian…"
"Already on it. The band is some kind of neuro-compliance device, similar to what that fairy tale cosplayer, Mad Hatter, uses, albeit with a number of modifications. It's forcibly downloading some kind of nanotech-based chemical into her brain. Don't try to pull it," she warned. "The band is directly injected into her brain."
"Can we remove it?"
"Assuming the design specs haven't been altered too much, yes, we can. But we have to unplug the wires and the clamps before it can be safely remove-"
Then, a massive hand grabbed the Spartan and lifted him into the air. He was held up in front of a massive cloaked figure, whose face was concealed by a raptor-themed mask. The giant roared in his face as it raised a massive mace in its other hand. The Spartan just barely managed to activate his wrist mounted plasma blades and slash at the titan's face, throwing its downward swing off course enough to mere glancing blow to his left shoulder. The injury also caused the titan to release its hold, allowing the Spartan to drop down to the ground."
"Michael!"
"I see it," he answered briskly. He rolled aside to avoid a second swing, then pulled up his rifle and fired at the titan's head. A burst of 7.62mm bullets ripped through the titan's head and throat, causing it to collapse in a bloody heap. A second roar directed him to another titan rushing towards him, this time wielding a battle axe along with a massive metal shield. The Spartan exchanged his rifle with his twin plasma blades, opting for engaging the new threat up close.
At that moment, his motion sensor lit up as multiple red dots appeared around him. He quickly glanced towards the rafters, and saw multiple raptor masked figures lunging towards him, their daggers poised to deliver a killing blow…
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Yes, that's right. You all asked for it, so I delivered. The Court of Owls has finally been introduced into this story. Given the damage the Spartan has done in the previous chapters, it shouldn't be a surprise that he's managed to inadvertently affect the Owl's efforts in ruling the city from the shadows. But don't worry, the Spartan has a few surprises of his own to fall back on…which I will reveal in future updates.
Now, as you all know, Poison Ivy absolutely hates, nay loathes, the Joker for what he's done to Harley over the years. Realistically, there's no way she would ever help him in whatever schemes he has up his sleeves. So, of course, the Joker enlists her assistance through the only logical means he can think of: forced subjugation via mind control.
In other words, he cheated.
I apologize for not updating much sooner. Family issues, and attending the Remembrance Day ceremonies kept me busy this past weekend. Now, I'm hoping to start getting back to the normal pace of updates. I'm hoping to have the next update within the next day or so – and that it won't be as challenging or poorly written as this one.
Until then, please read and review.