Disclaimer: I do not own any DC Characters including Batman, Superman or anyone else. They all belong to their respected authors. As for Haley Brown, He's my original Character.
Foreword from the Author: I moved to a different word processor till I get the money to move back to Microsoft office (Damn free trial ran out). Stay tuned, this thing is only going to get even darker. I love the reviews, specially the whole dissing Batman part.
Hoody Boy: Elseworld Stories
The Adventures of Haley Brown
Arc Two, Part Three: Stool Pigeons and Sewer Rats
Haley sat in a chair looking at his computer screen, his head being supported at the chin by his hand. He was deep in thought trying to see his next move. Haley moved the rook to E6 and took out the Black computers Queen.
"Check…" It said in an automaton voice.
Haley smiled, he'd been playing chess for the last 6 hours, he and the computer had 2 wins a piece but this game was well over. Haley knew the computer was going to move the knight in which his bishop would nail it down.
"The Mad Hatter…" Haley said aloud, "His MO is about as good as that of Scarecrow or The Riddler. He's got no respect in the underworld of criminals as is… what's he up to? The most dangerous kind of person is one who is trapped with its back to the wall and a thirst to prove himself among the higher ups. He's going to do something out of character to gain respect, which makes him a bigger threat then the Joker." Haley talked as he thought.
"Checkmate…" The monotone voice said.
Haley leaned back and looked out the window, it was dusk now. The streets were getting about as nasty as they could with criminal violence. The busy hours as Haley nicknamed. He got up, pulled out a holstered pistol from his Hoody pocket. Haley secured it around his waist and walked out onto the roof. The sun cast a golden glow on the roof; Haley narrowed his eyes and pulled out at black hat. He pulled his goggles just above the visor and slid down the fire escape. Haley could feel it, tonight was definitely the night things were going to get bogged down.
"HELP!!!"
Just as soon as this was handled... Haley pulled out his pistol and jogged to the sound of the screams. Haley turned the corner and aimed. Typical mugger wanting his piece of the American dream, this wasn't his lucky day.
"Let her go…" Haley called pulling back the hammer.
"What're you supposed to be?" The mugger asked looking at Haley and letting go of the guy's collar.
Haley pulled the trigger and sent the mugger packing his bags to a one way trip to the floor, face first.
"A very tired Cop…" Haley lied and walked off leaving the guy standing there.
"Yo! Wait up man!" Haley heard from the Alley, he sighed; here it comes…
"Yo! I owe you my life, that guy was going tah cut my ass." The guy said patting Haley on the shoulder.
"Save it, I've got places to be." Haley answered darkly and walking faster/
"I bet you do! Yo listen, I can provide you with some 'info on the low low' that only Joy Ray knows." Joey Ray said stealthily.
Haley stopped; it was worth a shot, "Alright, here's a question for you. There's a rumor on the streets the triads are involved in some kidnapping thing. What do you know?"
"Aw man, you came to the right place dawg. I got all that info to make that fact yo." Joey didn't get to finish as Haley stared him down.
"Tell me or I'm going to go help that friend of yours." Haley answered.
"Yo, listen. That one crazy foo, you know hatter. Yeah he's all saying he's going to bring Gotham to its knees from the inside out. From what the local thug's are sayin he's going to pull something big."
"What…" Haley asked.
"I dunno man. The dude's gone underground since he busted out. Why? You looking for him?" Joey asked.
"You can say that…" Haley said putting his gun back, "It's a personal thing. Thanks for the info Joey."
"Yo dawg," Joey handed him a card, "That's my number for my cell, gimme a ring if you need some more info for the streets."
Haley nodded and walked off leaving Joey Ray standing there on the street. He rolled his eyes, he hated having to save people then have his ear talked off about how grateful they were for him doing something around this. Haley's other contacts had told him they'd seen people be taken into the sewer since Haley had busted down the Lucky Dragon. This meant two things, one; Haley had hit whoever was doing this with a powerful blow, and two; He was on the right track.
Haley walked into the middle of the street and pulled out a crowbar from his pocket. His one contact had been across the street when he saw someone dragged down here. Haley pried off the manhole and dropped down. He was greeted with a worse smell then Gotham above could ever compose. He made his way along the edge with a flash light in hand and a pistol in the other; never could be too cautious.
Haley pulled down his goggles and turned on the fluorescent. He squinted as things inverted slowly. Haley looked down and noticed the foot prints and... Drag marks? He pulled the goggles off and turned on his flash light again. He walked for 45 minutes checking his progress with this goggles every few hundred feet to make sure he didn't walk off the trail.
"God damn this guy's heavy..." Someone grunted.
Haley stopped and listened through the dark. He could hear the shuffle of the feet and a long drone grinding as well. Haley shut off the flash light, pulled down his goggles, switched to night vision and cocked his pistol. He moved silently with as much effort to keep quiet as he could.
Haley peeked his head around the corner and saw two guys dragging a rather buff dude through a door. Haley lifted his goggles up and saw a dim glow, probably from a lamp, radiate through the door. When it closed, he moved to the door and put his back up against the wall and waited like a predator. It only took a few minutes before the two thugs walked out the door. Haley buried the gun into the side of second guy.
"Don't move asshole." Haley ordered, "Otherwise I'll turn your kidney into Swiss cheese."
The two thugs stopped and turned around, Haley went behind the hostage thug for cover. He shined his flash light right into the other guy's eyes and blinded him for a second. Haley slammed his foot into the back of the hostage thug's knee and put the gun to the back of his head. He dropped the flashlight and drew another pistol and aimed it at the other guy.
"Now what do you have back there?" Haley asked politely.
"Nothing..." The guy with the gun to his head defended.
Haley slammed the butt of the gun into the back of his head, "Nope, what do you have back there?"
"We have not..." The second thug was cut off.
"If you don't want to clean brain meat off your suit then I suggest you tell me or I'll pull this trigger." Haley bluffed.
"Pull it then." He called it, damn it.
Haley put his second pistol away and grabbed a flash bang grenade. He pulled the pin and threw it at the guy's feet. Haley almost didn't get his goggles off in time when it went off. The bang disoriented him more then he'd hoped. The two guys cried out in agony as they eyes were just exposed to high end light in a very dark place which in a sense doubled the effectiveness.
Haley opened the door clutching his head to ease the pounding in his ears. Even though he was disoriented and cranky he stopped and looked at what was in this room. People were working non-stop digging and mining at the wall like some sort of construction crew. The place was dimly lit by lanterns and electric lights. It stunk of sweat and BO like a foot locker. Haley pulled out some Tylenol from his pocket and dry swallowed two pills and looked at it. The whole crew hadn't even paid attention to him. A blonde girl turned around and Haley instantly recognized her as being the girl from the alley.
Haley whipped around as the door was yanked open. The two guys stumbled in guns pulled; one's face had a welt the size of a base ball right on the nose. These were the two guys from the alley as well. They raised their guns at Haley who immediately noticed he was in the middle of a no cover zone. He raced to the side as the two disgruntled guys ran at him. Haley didn't stand a chance; his mere 135 pound frame didn't match up with a Rhino like Baseball nose. He grabbed Haley by the collar and threw him to the wall which gave off a shudder.
Haley looked around in the dark; he saw faces, lots of them. He saw the faces of those who had betrayed him, the faces of his parents, the face of his Uncle Jim and Aunt Sara. Haley woke up as a fist pounded the side of his face. Blood leaked down his chin and dripped onto his pants.
"Well, well, looks like sleeping beauty is up now."
Haley's vision was almost delusional; things were moving that weren't supposed to be.
"Good..." New voice.
Haley looked up in the direction of the new voice, his head splitting like a quart of firewood. The guy was wearing a big top hat; Haley instantly knew he was in the belly of the beast.
"Hatter..." Haley mumbled lowly.
"Ah yes. Well, you know my name yet I don't know yours except for what they call you on the streets. Hoody Boy, the scourge of Evan City." The Mad Hatter answered, "Too bad you lack your Hoody so you can't get me."
Haley realized he was missing his Hoody as well, crap; this just kept getting better and better. A shudder was felt from the floor; even the bruised and beaten Haley felt it. The Mad Hatter looked up, his face becoming grim.
"Great, the Red Queen finally found us." The Mad Hatter said angrily, "Boys we have to move. Leave him for The Queen."
Haley sat idle as the three men walked out of the room leaving Haley sitting there bleeding. He heard the crack and saw something hit the ground in front of him. Vines cascaded down from the ceiling and a woman, with fiery red hair and skimpy clothing, descended with it.
"Damn. Missed him again." She said cursing under her breath, she turned and faced Haley, "Maybe you can tell me where he is..."
"I wouldn't know where he went..." Haley uttered, "He beat the living crap out of me so much I can't even see straight."
She walked over to him, upon closer inspection Haley noticed her skin was slightly green, "My, he must not like you if he beat you this hard."
"Can you just let me go? I won't talk to the police." Haley lied.
"Not in your life. I'll let you go, but I want you to help me find this bumbling fool." She offered.
"I'm already looking for him... you want me to give you a call when I kick his ass?" Haley smarted.
A vine came down and wiped the blood off his lip, "Who are you?"
"Just some dumb kid who gets himself in a world of trouble..." Haley answered.
"I don't understand why, but I'm going to go out on a limb and help you." She said, "Call me Poison Ivy."