When I emerged after a, thankfully, shorter trek through the void I found myself exactly where Paimon told me. Vox Tower. If this was his way of trying to convince me he had no ulterior motives, it was a good start. Still, I knew I couldn't fully trust him. Everything about him made me feel levels of fear and dread that I have never encountered before, nor inflicted on anyone I've come across. I was more than grateful to be away from his presence.

I shook my head, thinking about the man was doing me no favors in helping calm my nerves. I need to focus on the present. Alastor was gone, and he wasn't courteous about it either. He made such a mess slicing up all those Vox clones and he didn't take a single piece of them with him when he left the building. Meaning I would have to be cleaning all this up.

Turning my eyes away from the bits and pieces of metal around me, I looked out the window to the city beyond. It was lit up once more, the citizens within probably getting over the confusion of whatever cut the power and going back to their usual debaucherous activities. I fully intend to join them, once I get Vox… why do I keep calling it that? Once I get Joker Tower in working order.

A smile spread across my face at the thought. Joker Tower. It has such a better ring to it, and I can't wait until this building's features fit the name. It just needs a change in color palette. I stepped back from the window as my mind wandered, thinking about how much different this place was going to get. I needed space just to take it all in. But as I got lost in thought, a loud crunch snapped me back to reality.

Looking down to the floor I lifted my foot, noticing I stepped on a piece of television screen. Right, clean-up, I nearly forgot. With a small groan I got onto my knees and did my best to clear the debris. My hands formed small shovels to push around metal and glass pieces into piles as best I could. But it didn't take long for me to become annoyed.

This is henchmen's work! Sure, a few bottles and boxes in a small apartment I can take care of, but this is asinine! What I wouldn't give right now to force someone to do this in my stead. That way when they prick themselves on jagged bits of glass I can force them to clean their blood off the floor with their tongue. It'd be somewhat funny.

As I crawled along the ground, sweeping every so often despite my lack of interest in the endeavor, I came across a strangely empty space. It was inconsistent with the rest of the floor, which was littered with bits. It was almost as if something was supposed to be laying here, but it wasn't anymore. My eyes scanned the space, and towards the top I saw a bluish stain that stood out against the metal floor which made me realize what should be lying here.

Where the hell was Vox?

"Having trouble friend?"

The voice nearly made me jump out of my skin, and for once it didn't belong to Paimon. This voice was one I knew already, although it sounded somewhat different. Happy, if not downright jovial. My head snapped around to its source, and what I saw gave me more questions than answers.

One of the large monitors on the central console, twisted so it was facing me, showed Vox's face. Although it seemed to have undergone a more appealing change while I was away. Rather than the blue screen that had been taunting me before I killed him, the screen had a purple tint to it instead. His eyes were a luminous green, and he gave me a smile which covered the lower half of his screen. All of which were contained in a green border that lined the outside of his face. It was a change I could almost appreciate, after all it was clearly an inspired choice. But at the same time…

"Vox? How the hell are you still alive?"

He gave me a confused look, then said, "I thought I told you, only Exterminator steel can kill sinners. You bit me."

I looked to the side for a moment, thinking on his matter-of-fact explanation, then I nodded agreeingly. That was what I did, yet still it didn't entirely answer my question. How did he survive the bite? My toxin has a 100% guaranteed kill rate.

I looked at Vox again, seeing his grinning expression was unchanged and he was staring at me expectantly. Slowly I could feel the pieces start to click into place. The change in color scheme, his pleasant demeanor towards me, why he's still alive and not trying to get revenge on me while I'm otherwise at his mercy. Did my bite Jokerize him? It made the most sense, yet at the same time less sense than anything else.

I've bitten other people before him, however none exhibited the change he has clearly gone through. Although, I never stuck around to see if they would change. And besides that, my special formula of converting toxins only worked on living things. I suppose you could argue Vox falls under that, but it's like Alastor said. His anatomy was different from that of a normal person. Then again, what do I know about normal?

I stood back up and watched Vox's face follow me as I did so. As I brushed myself off, I decided a small interrogation was in order. To see if he was actually under the influence of my delicious drink, or if he was faking it for one reason or another.

"Right, well I suppose I forgot about that. Especially since I've been hitting most everyone I've come across with a dose of my happy gas, and they all died laughing. Something you did as well."

"Yes, I remember," Vox said, his tone more patient than annoyed, "but that wasn't a true death. See, we can still 'die' in the sense that a bullet goes through our heads or someone pulls our plug. But we always come back. Unless that bullet or plug-remover uses Exterminator steel."

I looked at him doubtfully. I refused to believe all my hard work went undone. Plus, a certain someone wouldn't be too pleased if my efforts so far were wasted.

Vox noticed my expression, "Oh, don't believe me? Here, take a look."

When he said this more monitors came up and crowded around his face. They all showed static for a few seconds, before one by one the images on them shifted. They displayed familiar locations, places I've been where I had my fun. And as I looked at them, a frown grew on my face and my lip curled in annoyance.

On one screen, the studio audience I gassed was waking back up, none of them the worse for wear. The actors as well were shaking their heads, and I could see the bullets I had lodged into their craniums fall out onto the floor. On another screen, the bar I went into when I first came here was up and running again. It had the same bull bartender behind the counter, along with the same demons guarding the place. And as if to pour salt in my growing proverbial wound, a very recognizable gun and mole were sitting side-by-side inside that very same bar. I didn't bother to look at the other screens at that point, what Vox told me was true. Not a single person I killed stayed dead.

"Hey hey, before you get upset, there is one person that's permanently dead," Vox said, possibly seeing the anger in my eyes.

A screen came forward slightly to draw my attention to it, and on it was the bullet-riddled body of the imp I killed on the studio lots. My eye twitched looking at it. This revelation didn't help my mood, if anything it only made it worse.

Putting my hands together, I brought them up to my face to calm myself. I need to get back on track, is he under my control or isn't he? With a wave of one hand, I said, "Let's change the subject. Why do you look the way you do now?"

Vox looked up in thought at this. "I… don't know honestly. I remember being in darkness for the longest time, until I came to back here. And when I did I felt great! The bite mark you gave me was still there but I could barely feel it. Then I noticed the city was lit up again so I decided to crawl my way over here to hook back into the system and see what happened."

His eyes gestured to the side as he said this, and I peered around the monitor to find Vox's body. It looked like he dragged himself from where he lay to the central control pad, then hooked in with his fingers. At least that's one mystery solved.

Vox continued, "When I was in I could see that not only had it changed, but I did too. My face, my internal components, the very software of this building! It had all been re-written…" His voice trailed off, his smile dropped while his eyes squinted in my direction. After a moment they widened again and he finished his thought.

"Re-written to you! Now I see…"

The look he gave me as his smile returned to his face caused me to question what he was thinking, "What do you see Vox?"

"I was so confused. When I woke up and reconnected I didn't know what to do outside of that. Something told me to wait, and so I floated around my new digital space, waiting. Then I found out you returned and I had to talk to you again. I had to… to say…"

Here it comes. This is the moment the other foot falls, and it's revealed this is one big unfunny gag. I put my hand inside my coat, gripping the pistol that decided to make an appearance this time. Although it may not be a fancy box, it can still put a few good holes into his delicate parts. Smashing things to pieces has always been more my speed anyways.

"To say thank you."

I blinked, my hand loosening its grip on the weapon. I cocked my head at him questioningly, and he continued.

"I see now how meaningless my afterlife had been up until now. Constantly sifting through data, so much data, and not doing anything with it. Seriously! I have so many files here, all listed as blackmail! Just monitoring people, collecting such juicy secrets on them, and doing nothing with it! I had been sitting on a goldmine of epic proportions, playing weird boring mind games, when I could have been releasing this to as many people as possible and watching everything go… go to hell!"

He finished his rambling with a hearty cackle, one I couldn't help but smile at myself.

After a few seconds of unrestrained laughter, he calmed down and rambled once more, "On top of all that I have been cowtailing to Valentino, just bending over to every stupid demand he makes. And why was I doing that? I honestly don't fucking know! But do you want to know what I do know?"

I had removed my hand from my coat at this point, my concerns finally allayed. This wasn't a trick, when someone sees the funnier side of life the way they react is hard to fake. No, he was displaying all the right traits. Vox was mine.

I watched his face glide closer to me, as close as the metal beam connecting to his monitor could allow. "I know I have you to thank. Now that I know all my efforts have been pointless, I can go about unfucking myself. To that end, everything I know is at your disposal. Use it how you see fit, and I'll help you in any other way I can."

Any other way he can huh? I looked around my surroundings, seeing it was still a mess of broken metal, before returning my attention to him. "Well, since you put it that way, why don't you start with cleaning all this up?"

He glanced past me, then looked surprised as if he was just noticing the mess all around us, "Ah! Sorry about that, just step over to the center and I'll get rid of it right away."

Bowing slightly in thanks, I did as he asked and stood next to the fluid-stained body that Vox left behind. When I did, the entire floor outside the small circle collapsed, taking all the debris with it. Just as quickly as it had happened, the floor folded back up and closed, leaving it spotless. Somewhat impressed, I walked back out onto the floor and looked down at it.

"The entire floor is collapsible, in case of intruders. The switch for the center is different for the outer circle in the event I'm in the room."

I nodded, remembering my long fall when I first came into this room, "Yeah, you made me experience it first-hand Vox."

I heard him hum in response to that. At first I thought he felt bad about what he did upon my mention of it, but instead he said, "Joker, there's one more thing I'd like to mention."

I looked back at him, his expression was somewhat nervous. Upon seeing it I thought he had bad news to share. My least favorite kind of news. Whatever it was, however, I'd be able to take it, so I gestured for him to tell me what was on his mind.

"I'd prefer you not call me Vox anymore." Of all things I was expecting him to say, this wasn't one of them. Before I could ask why, he answered for me. "I mean, it's just I have you to thank for this new makeover… which is something I've already said, so I feel a new name is needed for it to fit. So, from now on, you can call me Jox!"

I looked at him in silence, while he stared at me with a toothy grin, as if he was proud of his announcement. Jox. I really needed to let that one sink in. I have come across many people in my life with stupid names. I mean I had to share air with someone who called themselves Condiment King! But… Jox? Of all the dumbest names I've heard, it still wasn't as stupid as Condiment King. But it was pretty close.

"Jox…" I said slowly, trying to see if it sounded any better aloud. It didn't. Rather than say that though and break the poor man's heart, I threw my hands in the air as if to share in his pride, "What an inspired name!"

"I knew you'd appreciate it, Joker!" He replied happily.

"Well of course I would, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery you know. And if Jox is what you want to be from now on, then Jox you are!"

Jox seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, "Man, that's good. I was thinking about it before you came back and I was a little nervous to tell you. I'm just glad it's finally off my chest now."

I nodded, not really having much else to say. Also I wanted to move on from the topic of name changing as quickly as possible, fearing I'd let slip how idiotic I truly thought it was. Thankfully, Jox did so.

"With that out of the way," he said, "what do you want to do now?"

I let out a hum at the question, placing a finger underneath my chin. What to do indeed. I could go ahead and see what else this tower has to offer, while I still have the time. But housewarming didn't seem interesting to me at the moment.

You should be free to explore at your leisure, until the other "Overlords" get wind of what you've done.

Despite trying to keep him out of my head, Paimon's words crawled to the forefront of my mind. While a shudder rode up my back hearing them, they gave me an idea. If Paimon wants his bloodbath, and I want my fun, what's the point in waiting for them to learn about Vox's fate? A wide smile spread across my face, one that Jox matched. I think a formal announcement of an exchange in power is needed.

-Somewhere in Pentagram City-

Having concluded his own personal business for the day, Alastor was making his way back to the hotel through the sprawling city streets. While he was slightly bothered by how crowded it was, the demons around him knew to give him plenty of space as he passed. He knew he could have avoided this minor issue entirely had he transported himself back, but he needed the fresh air. Especially after recent events.

He needed time to fully move on and forget about the man he was once pursuing, hoping that in doing so he can forget about him as well. But those prospects seemed all for naught when Joker's voice came blaring back into his head.

"Testing, testing! Is this thing working?"

Alastor froze in place upon hearing him, noting that he wasn't going crazy and the voice definitely came from outside of his head, then turned to face the source. As if to confirm his sanity, he saw other demons had stopped in their tracks as well. They too were looking in the same direction as he was.

Up high above them on the face of a tall building was a giant LED screen, typically used for advertisements of products Alastor never used. But this time it was displaying something else. A simple letter, a J, colored purple and styled with a jester hat on top. If there were any doubts in Alastor's mind as to who spoke, they were immediately dispelled upon seeing it.

Now that Joker had the attention of most every demon in the vicinity, a new voice made itself known. "Yes Joker, I can see your voice is coming through. Give me a moment to enable picture."

The screen fuzzed food a moment, static replacing the letter, before it switched over and Joker could be seen clearly. Alastor recognized where he was broadcasting from was none other than Vox Tower. He grimaced at the sight. He didn't expect Joker to be let go from, let alone survive, that other world. But he couldn't deny what he was seeing. He had returned, and that was a problem.

"Ok Joker, you're live. All of Pride can see you now."

Joker's characteristic smile grew at this information. "Excellent."

He paused again to clear his throat, then with a wave of his hand went on with what he was going to say. "Greetings citizens of fair Pentagram City! You must be confused right now, seeing me instead of your favorite television program. Hell most of you probably don't know who I am, but I know some of you do." When he said this, Joker's eyes seemed to glide over to look directly at Alastor, as if he could see him. Clapping his hands, "Anyways, you may be asking yourself right now, where is Vox? Who are you? And why should we care! Well my unwilling audience, I'll tell you."

Joker dipped below the screen, continuing his speech, "Firstly, where is Vox? I regret to inform you that he had to be pulled off the air. The man was getting too controversial for his profession, and really he should have been removed years ago. The swearing, the blood and gore, and the sex? Ugh, it was distasteful. I mean think about the children who live down here, am I right? Why would you want to expose them to such vile images on screen, when they could step outside and see it for themselves?"

Joker came back on screen with a hearty laugh, which echoed through the streets and caused more than a few demons to feel uncomfortable. When he finished, he said, "So, for that reason, he had to be removed. But he does have a few parting words for you before he takes his leave."

With a grunt of effort, Joker pulled Vox on screen. At least, what was left of him. His face was frozen into one of painful and eternal laughter, his shoulder was missing with teeth marks embedded into his synthetic frame, and fluid stained most of his suit from the aforementioned damaged area. As soon as his corpse was in frame it elicited more than a few gasps from the crowd, something Alastor knew Joker was going for. He, on the other hand, didn't react at all to the display. But it seemed this macabre act wasn't over yet.

Joker lifted one of the arms up, then shook it to make it seem as if it was waving to the throng below. "Hello everyone," Joker said in a purposeful poor impression of Vox's voice, "as Joker said it's been decided that I should retire from the film industry."

Joker forced the hand over to rest on the body's chest, "I have had a hell of a time working here, bringing joy and laughter to all who watched me on screens both big and small. But I have made errors in my past that I regretfully cannot undo with a simple apology. So I must depart, for the betterment of my studios and Hell as a whole. I know my presence will be missed, but honestly it's for the best. This is Vox, signing off for the last time!"

Lifting the hand up, he made Vox salute before dropping the body with an unceremonious thud. Returning to his normal voice, "Ugh, that was awkward. I told him he should leave quietly but he just had to make a statement. Television personalities, am I right?"

Joker rolled his head exaggeratedly, "Anyways, next line of inquiry. Who am I? As I said, some of you know me already. But it isn't by my name, rather by my work. Do the Smile Killings ring any bells?"

A murmur rose from the crowd around Alastor, the mention of the murders did indeed draw recognition. Alastor himself knew about them having talked to Rosie the few times she was available. The poor woman had been running around her district trying to keep the odd plague from spreading, and recently it seems like she finally has it under control. Still, learning he was behind it all angered him a little more. Once again he found himself thankful he didn't make a deal with Joker.

After giving a brief pause to let the revelation sink in, Joker continued, "Yep, that was all me! Turns out my bite has a little more kick to it than I once believed. Poor souls have been dropping left and right having even just the smallest taste of me. If only I had known sooner, I'd be chowing down like a fat man in a buffet!"

He laughed again at his own joke, another thing that grated on Alastor's already frayed nerves.

"But, this doesn't really answer the question, does it? Sure you know me as the Smile Killer, but that's not what I want to be known by. The name is just too bland and forgettable. And if I'm going to make my mark in this city, you'll have to address me correctly."

He leaned forward so his face took up the majority of the screen, his green eyes gleaming with malice. "My name is Joker. Remember it, because I'm going to have it painted in blood throughout this entire ring before the next Extermination Day comes. This I promise you."

Joker drew back from the camera after he made his threat, a low laugh accompanying him. This laugh grew, until it became louder than the ones he let out before. A crescendo which reverberated in the ears of everyone present, making it impossible for them to forget it. Then he pulled a hefty crowbar from his coat and slammed it down in front of him, destroying whatever was being used to broadcast his message.

But through the cracks and damaged pixels of the screen his face could still be seen, a psychopathic smile permanently ingrained on the frozen image. And his haunting laugh still came through, the audio was perfect despite the damage. It wasn't until the screen cut to black altogether that everything went silent again, leaving those present to digest what transpired.

Alastor, however, was noticeably absent after listening to Joker's not-so-formal address, having decided he'd take his walk some other day.

-Back in Joker Tower-

I put the crowbar back into my coat, satisfied that I had got the message across clearly. They know my name, they know what I've done, and they know what I plan to do. Oh the possibilities! It's just a shame a certain caped crusader couldn't be here to witness them all. I could only imagine what Hell would be like with him in it.

I could feel my smile dim somewhat upon thinking of Batsy. While the characters I've come across have all been rather colorful, I knew I was going to miss that iconic black and gray. Ah well, can't sit around sourly on his behalf. Now that I've gone public I need to keep up my reputation more than ever. Which means fresh lipstick, a brighter smile, some new toys, and a target. With that in mind, I posed a simple question to Jox.

"What can you tell me about Valentino?"