Batman Beyond: Two-Face II
Chapter 12: Die Laughing
By ShadowHawk
8 AM Two-Face stood pacing back and forth at the head of a long table; a dark scowl darkened his face. All of the twins stared watching their boss new orders while he continued to pace deep in thought. "I have to find a way to eradicate the Bat's existence from our lives." Two-Face grumbled.
Dee-Dee looked towards one another their necks decked out in beautiful new jewels recently stolen from a highly accredited Jewellery store. "We've tried everything boss." Began Deirdre.
"But like the vermin he is he keeps coming back." Finished Delia.
Two-Face frowned as he took a seat looking around, all the chairs were filled expect for one. Harley was late again. He ignored it going about with the morning's business. "I have a plan to get rid of the winged rat but we must wait until the time is just right."
The doors of the room suddenly opened and in walked Harley with her pet hyena trotting by her side. She towed in coffer cup holders two balanced in each of her hands, one on top of her head, and a large paper bag clutched in between her teeth.
Two-Face glared at her. "Thank you for joining us, Harley." He said in a sarcastic manner.
Harley sat the coffee cups and bag down on the table handing out each to their requester. "Sorry I'm late but the car I just stole kept stallin'. I've really gonna dump that in the river. Okay I have three blacks, four no sugars with creams, four sugars no cream, five sugars and creams, one mocha latte, two cappuccinos, and one green tea. Also four dozen assorted donuts: glazed, crème, jelly, sprinkles, and iced. Oh and two bagels for Quinton."
Two-Face rolled his eyes as Harley sat a large cup down before him and took a seat on the table edge where he sat. "So what have I missed so far?" She asked before taking a bite of her donut.
He sighed. "My latest plan for the destruction of Batman." He took a bite of the donut when Harley offered.
"Still trying to break my favorite toy? I told you I like to do that for myself." She said.
Two-Face took a sip of the hot liquid in his cup before looking towards her. "Yes, ever since he sent my father up the river I've wanted him dead." A crazed looked passed over his mismatched eyes.
"Ha! You and over a half of Gotham." Harley took a sip of her drink.
A dark smile spread over Two-Face's lips as he took a long look at Harley. "Let me tell you something, not only do I want batman dead, but the Jokerz as well. I believe you share that want with me."
Harley groaned rolling her eyes at the mention of the gang. "The Jokerz, rugh! What a complete waste of space. They give hard workin' people like us such a bad name."
Two-Face smiled at the remark. "Every last one of them should be buried at sea with cement shoes."
Harley shook her head from side to side causing her red and black hair to sway. "No, not good enough. They should die the joker way. A lung full of deadly joker venom, HA! It would be so ironic, the ultimate joke!"
Two-Face removed his silver two-headed coin checking both faces. With a flick of his thumb he sent it flipping into the air and down again into his hand. Good heads. "Then it's settled." He stood onto his feet slamming his balled fist down on the black and white halved table surprising the twin thugs indulging in their drinks and pastries. "To hold us over until the big night with Batman we're going to rid this city of the pestilence called Jokerz."
At the Jokerz dockside hideout most of the city's Jokerz were hanging out doing what ever they could to entertain themselves or just lazing about. J- man sat in a throne-like chair observing his gang unaware of two trucks pulling up outside. "Tonight is the type of night nothing can go wrong." He laughed looking at the stolen goods beside him and Scab, the second in command who only laughed in agreement.
The large metal door was slid open drawing everyone's attention to three young women dressed in jester costumes.
Harley Jest was dressed in a red and black jester costume much like the original's. Along side of her the Dee-Dee Twins both dressed in red and white matching outfits with one tassel falling towards their face on the red caps.
When all heads turned to see the former Jokerz once again. Harley waved and smiled, "Hey boys."
Scab looked on in suspicious wonder at the newbies while J-Man smiled looking them over in their tight body hugging outfits. "Fresh meat." He stated.
Scab nodded in agreement walking over to the three women who were approaching them. Confident he laid his hand to rest on Harley's shoulder while looking over at Dee-Dee twins. "Hey girlies come to have some fun?"
Grinning through clenched teeth Harl suppressed the urge to deck the man. "Thought you might want or rather need some fresh blood in this gang."
Delia smiled running her finger beneath Scab's chin, "We think the Jokerz are-"
"Beyond scway." Her twin finished.
Scab peered down at Dee-Dee twins finding their habit of finishing each other's sentences familiar. "Eh I know you two. J-Man these two were already Jokerz."
J-man signaled them towards them with a come hither motion, when they arrived he took a long look at the Dee-Dee twins, "I remember, they worked for some guy claming to be the original Joker." He laughed.
Scab took hold of Deirdre's chin looking her in the eyes. "Don't they work for someone else now?"
Delia put on a false smile drawing the attention away from her sister. "We were but we like this gang better."
Deirdre nodded in agreement. "We even brought in a new recruit." She said motioning towards
Harley who quickly hid a deadly look from her face and smiled sweetly.
Outside a pair of mismatched eyes watched with scene through a pair of binoculars a look of pure disgust was washed over both sides of his face.
J-Man stood up from his seat to look over the new recruit for himself. Had Harley been wearing her original Jokerz costume from years ago he would have recognized her. He ran his fingers over her cheeks then the swell of her chest. "Nice, very nice. You'll fit in just fine babe." He said giving her rear a good squeeze.
Harley silently gritted her teeth wondering if they could attack now. The small communicator placed in the hallow of her ear buzzed slightly with Two- Face's voice. "On my signal, unleash hell."
A please grin passed over her face as she looked towards the Dee-Dee twins and winked an eye. "You know what J-man?" She asked pushing him slightly so that he fell back into his seat. We have someone we'd really like to introduce you to." A twisted smile spread over her face.
The Dee-Dee's preformed a graceful synchronized front flip that placed them on either side of J-man's throne. They crossed their legs over his chest while Harley leaned towards him. "And he is dying to meet you."
The Dee-Dee twins flipped backwards away from J-man landing next to Scab. "He's twice the man you are." Said Delia.
"An angelic demon." Said Deirdre with adoration.
Scab grabbed the Dee-Dee twins by their wrist. "Oh yeah? Well bring the prick on."
"Yeah, let's see him." J-Man laughed pulling Harley into him arms.
All heads turn at the sound of a high-speed motorcycle from outside. The window shattered as the motorcycle and the rider crashed in then landed hard ground. The rider was wearing a split jumpsuit with one side white and the other black with a helmet that's the same pattern.
"What kinda signal is that?" Harley asked aloud before punching J-man in the face knocking him away from her.
Dee-Dee twins smiled. "Meet our boss!" They said in union before they both kicked out their legs kicking Scab in his belly then face.
"DIE!!!!!!!" The rider shouted pulling the trigger of his guns.
The Jokerz begins to scramble in different directions forgetting about their so-called family.
"Joker's Legacy is now DEAD!!! KILL EVERY JOKER YOU SEE!" Two-Face commanded.
A van crashed through the metal doors and twin thugs rush out at Two-Face's command armed with guns and other weapons. The battle went on, blood spilled, guns blazed, people screamed. The sound of automatic firearms and painful screams echoes throughout the warehouse and the city block.
Harley not taking part in the killing sighed crossing her arms over her chest. "So messy. But ah, gotta love the sound of chaos in the evening."
A single blonde female Joker tried to make a get away, "Dee-Dee you handle her while I hold these two down." Harley shouted over the gunfire.
"Right." DeeDee said together before running after the fleeing girl. Delia jumped in front of her blocking the exit through the door while Deirdre landed behind her. "Going somewhere?" Asked Delia pushing the Joker towards her sister.
"Cause the party's just starting." Deirdre stated grabbing hold of her.
The rider watching everything from behind his helmet twirled his guns and set them in his holster signalling everyone to stop.
After the gun fire had ceased and all but three of the Jokerz were dead the twin thugs took turns beating on J-Man and Scab until their faces were bruised and bleeding from being punched over and over again by brass knuckles and being booted in the face and ribs.
Their bodies were weak with many of broken bones. J-man's leg was bleeding from where someone had shot him. Scab turned to look at the rider through his swollen eye. Dee-Dee twins returned dragging the girl by her hair. "Look what we have for you boss, a lab rat."
The rider removed his helmet to reveal his scarred face. Standing on his knees J-man gasped through a bloody mouth. "Sh*t it's him, the real freakin' McCoy, Two-Face II."
He smiled evilly showing both his neat and ugly teeth.
Harley punched them both so that they bow before him. "Show some respect, this is a man who doesn't mock the name of his predecessor." Harley sneered at the disgraceful pair. A dark smile spread over her face.
"He also decides if you live or join the rest of your grease-painted friends in death."
"She's right, you low life Scum, the Coin will decide if you deserve to live or to die." He said patting his pocket holding his coin.
J-man sneered through a cut lip. "You're going to spare our lives so we can rot in jail?"
"Maybe... maybe not" Two-Face said.
Harley watched along with Dee-Dee twins. "Let 'em live, it's a fate worse than death." She stated.
Two-Face shoots a dark glare at Harl. Harley smirks in responds as she goes about her business.
"Joker's Legacy ends tonight. And I personally will make sure it happens"
J-man and Scab looked on in worry wondering what would become of them.
"My lucky coin will decide your fate." He took out his two-headed coin with a scratched side on one half.
Both Scab and J-man shuttered at the thought of their lives hanging on the balance of a coin toss. Harley sighed rolling her eyes. "There goes that damn coin again."
"But on the other hand." He smirked closing his fist over his coin.
Everyone looked towards him in search of his decision as he turned towards Harley, "Harl, they are yours, except for the girl. " He said with sinister grin.
Harley's black painted lips curled into a cruel grin as she approached them. "Harley you wanted to be one of us! Why are you helping him?!" Scab demanded.
Harley laughed as she carelessly waved her popgun around. "Why? Code, that's why!" She sat down on his chest jabbing her gun into his chin. "It's because of you Jokerz leaving him behind when he needed you the most, he killed himself. And lastly because you are a disgrace to the name Joker."
"Before you kill him Harl, I'd like to ask him a question." he said pointed to J-man
Harley pulled her gun back. "Go ahead."
"What made you decide to honor Joker's name, what made him so Unique, so Special, so whatever, Why Not The original Two-Face, he's got it all but no YOU had to choose JOKER for a f**king gang name!!!!!!"
Everyone was silent awaiting the answer. If J-Man were to tell the truth or lie he was dead either way. "The Joker... We chose him because... I mean... I." He stopped unable to form his answer right.
Two-Face aimed his gun at J-man's head. "You've got two seconds boy before this gun goes boom."
Unable to take it anymore Scab spoke up. "The Joker came first! He had this city pissing on themselves at the sound of his name that's why!"
Harley stepped in, "Then why disgrace his name?" She asked.
Two-Face's hands trembled as his anger began to building up, he was a walking bomb with a gun ready to explode.
Harley walked over to him gently placing her hand over his shoulder. "I see these two are pissing you off, lets wipe this world clean of Jokerz by killing them." She whispered sweetly into his ear.
Ignoring her words he flew towards Scab grabbing him and throwing him into the near wall. He took hold of him again and held him up but his outfit.
J-man stood to help his friend but the sound of Harley's gun cocking made him look up to see the jester had her gun locked on him. With a tsk tsk of her tongue she made him sit still again. Scab winced in pain looking at Two- Face through one swollen eye with fear.
"Listen to me, you snot nosed punk, you may have ruled the street using that clown's name but lets get things Straight..." Two-Face growled into his face. "1: This is MY city, and your kind is not wanted here. 2: If I EVER see any more of your kind in this city, I will hunt down and destroy all of you and none shall be spared DO YOU UNDERSTAND!!"
Scab nodded trying to avoid looking on his scarred face. Two-Face gave Scab a firm pat on his cheek.
"Good you get to live and tell all of your kind what I told you."
Harley tapped her gun against her waist watching as Scab made a run for it. "And what of the others?" She asked pointing towards J-man and the blonde.
"Him he's yours. But the girl, well I've got something in store for her."
Sitting on J-Man's chest Harley chuckled darkly as she traced the trails of sweat on his face. "I never did get much of a chance to play with you all those years ago. I'll fix that." She spun the chambers of her popgun. "We'll play Russian roulette."
J-man trembled as he was at her demented mercy. Harley looked back towards the others. "Um I highly doubt that most of you are immune to Joker venom so either put on a mask or get out." She suggested. She waited a few seconds for everyone to step out before going back to tormenting J-Man. "It tore me apart when I lost Code because of you." She placed the barrel of her gun into his mouth. "They say laughter is the best medicine, let's see if it works." She smiled pulling the trigger. A green cloud of mist clouded over the last Joker and Harl.
Harley's face twisted into a dark grin. "Oops forgot the object of that game is to have at least one chamber empty."
J-man giggled slightly before bursting out in a fit laughter. His complexion paled as a broad grin spread over his face. Harley laughed as she got off J-man's chest.
"That's it laugh it all up." Two-Face said as he heard the hysterical laughter increasing so loud that they could hear it outside.
Harley stuck her head out of the closest window calling for Two-Face as the boys laughter died with them. "I'm done!"
Once Two-Face stepped foot inside the Jokerz's sanctum Harley giggled licking a few trace green residue from her gun fingers. "Anyone else wants a taste of Joker venom?" She offered.
Two-Face groaned as he felt a great pain in his head that could only rival with a rusted nail being hammered into his hand. He clutched his aching head as his voice began to change. "This is wrong, all wrong, they should be turned in-"
Dee-Dee and the twins looked towards Two-Face with confusion. "Boss?" They asked with worry.
Two-Face regained himself but still held his head. "BE QUIET DENT, I am in control not YOU..."
"We should get moving." Dee-Dee stated worry still apparent in their voices.
Two-Face smoothed back his hair, "Yes we should, but before that I liked to leave a gift for the cops and Batman."
"All so kind of you." Harley chuckled moving on the recent change in Two- Face noted in her mind but worrying her as it did the others.
He walked up to a wall and used the blood of the dead Jokerz to write out a message: 'Two-Face Strikes Again'
"Such penmanship. Now may we go?" Harley asked.
"Yes and take that prisoner with us." He pointed to the tied up female joker
One of the many twins hoisted her up on his shoulders then walk out, followed by everyone else. "One pain in the ass gang out of your two colored hair." Harley stated strolling aside Two-Face.
"Yes..." He laughed insanely
Harley sighed adoringly. "Such a lovely laugh."
"One more thing, knock that joker out for me. But don't kill her yet." He added when he saw the edger look in her eyes.
"Blondie?" Harl ask tilting her head to the side. "Okay then, um you say not to kill her but what about broken bones?"
Two-Face sighed "Just knock her unconscious." He said firmly.
Harley frowned walking off to do as she was asked.
"Killjoy." She muttered before taking the handle of her gun and smashing it into the back of the blonde's neck knocking her out cold.
Dee-Dee stood aside Two-Face kissing him on their designated side of his lips. "You are the most scway boss any girl could ask for." They commented.
Two-Face chuckled. "I've always been like that." He said as everyone piled into the vans.
Later that night the cops arrived to the bloody scene due to many phone calls reporting gunfire in the area.
Batman followed suit when he realized that the calls all reported hearing the guns in the area the Jokerz took refuge.
Commissioner Gordon frowned at the scene of the dead Jokerz all shot or beaten to death. A young officer ran only to vomit seconds later out the side of the door. They all looked the same except for two who had a board grin on their dead faces. "How can anyone do such a thing?" Gordon questioned said as another cop ran by trying not to puke.
Batman stepped up from behind her. "Two-Face did this." He stated.
Gordon nodded but pointed at Scab and J-man. "Except for those two. Someone else did them, we think it was with joker venom. But the question is who?"
Batman looked closely at the smiling corpses. "The Jokerz today don't have the brains to even come up with the main ingredients for the venom, the best they can come up with is a very strong laughing gas. But this is a joker trademark." He wondered who had the knowledge to do such a thing. He then remembered having dealt with someone who had used the deadly laughing poison before. "Harley Jest."
Gordon's usually emotionless face deepened into a hard frown. "So they are really working together now, we had hoped that it was just a one-time deal. But there are no sighs of plants." She said looking around.
"Nightshade mustn't be involved in this one so we're lucky." Batman said.
"The two of them together can be a dangerous pair. A huge threat on all of Gotham if they actually put their resources together."
Batman nodded in agreement. "I'm on it."
Gordon glared at him from the corners of her eyes. "Don't get cocky kid. This is the only time I'm allowing you to get away with this. The next time I see you getting involved with police business you're heading into jail."
Batman nodded ready to fly off. Before he took off the ground the commissioner looked him over. "New suit? The old man still has it in him." She commented.
Batman smirked then took flight heading out of a shot out window.
Back at Two-Face's hideout everyone was lazing about after just wiping most of the Jokerz from the city.
All except for Two-Face and Harley that is.
Two-Face paced around the control of his lab making sure everything was ready. In a dreary looking gas chamber the female joker without her makeup was waking up to her new surroundings.
At seeing her motions Two-Face spoke into a microphone as he watched the monitor "Did you have a nice nap little girl?" He asked.
The girl looked around to see that there was no visible way out and she was trapped. Before she never spoke but now fear and anger broke her silence. "What the hell is going on?!" She cried out.
"I have two answers for you. 1: you are in my new chamber and 2: you are to become my test subject to my experiments." His voice boomed over the speakers in the small room.
She stood looking around for a face to yell at. "I'm not your damn lab rat!"
"TOO BAD!!!!!!!!" Two-Face's voice roared at her.
She tumbled back at the rumble of his voice in the small chamber. "W-what are you going to do to me?" She asked.
In his lab Two-Face turned to Harley who sat back on a semi-empty table watching everything while eating from a bowl of popcorn and from time to time tossing a few pieces down to Erik laying at her dangling feet. He turned off the mike. "Harl, be a dear and come here."
Harley obeyed. "Want some popcorn?" She asked standing beside him.
"Not while I'm working." He stated waving off the offer. "But take a look."
She looked in via the monitor. "Whatcha gonna do to her?" She asked.
Evil shinned in his eyes as he let out his hand to her pet hyena. Harley looked at Erik watching as he approached them. "Ducie?"
"Come here boy." He said as Erik went to the caller happy for attention. "Yes that's a good boy" he said as he petted her hyena.
"Duce? What are you up to?" Harley asked her suspicion growing.
"Now to business." He said as he turned to face the monitor. "Care to give her a bon voyage, Harl?"
Inside the Joker banged on the walls. "Let me out of here you prick!"
Harley almost felt sad for her, almost. "Bye, bye you cheap imitation Harley Quinn knockoff!" She growled.
"Let the experiment BEGIN!" He said as he presses a button which let out a brown gas from small cracks in the walls of the chamber room.
The Joker cowers away from the smoke for as long as she could crying for help, but in time couldn't escape it. She coughed as the smoke entered her lungs. Soon after her coughs became groans and inhuman moaning.
She clutched her blonde haired head in pain causing the pigtails to fall loose. She began sweating profusely, clinging to the sides of her head. She trembled violently with her body dripping wet. As a new spasm of pain wracked her body, she cries out in great anguish. By then her hair was wringing wet. She screamed and grabbed at her clothes which was making her body fell all the more hotter, bit by bit she tore it from her body then began grabbing at her legs.
Harley watched frozen with her hand ready to place more popcorn into her mouth. "Holy...."
Harley looked back out into the chamber. "Oh my-." Harl whispered cupping her hand over her mouth.
Lying there naked in the center of the room, she gasped for air. She was on her knees then fell forwards on their hands. She remained on her hands and knees, trying to master her torment; but it was of no use. On all fours she gave herself over to the excruciating hurt and slowly began to change.
The metamorphosis from man into beast is never an easy one. As bone and muscle bends and reforms themselves, the body suffers lacerating pain. They can actually see her flesh move, and the rearranging of tissue. Her mouth bled as her new fangs began to emerge. Her whole face distorted as her jaw extended, and her skull literally changed in shape before their very eyes.
"Two-Face what have you done?" Harley asked in a hush voice at seeing the girl change shape completely.
The Joker's hands gnarled and her fingers curled back as claws burst forward. Her moans of pain changed slowly into low guttural growls, and then into laughter
Two-Face smiled at seeing the job done. "It... worked!"
Harley remained in shock her trembling hands ready to drop her food. "What have you done?" She asked again.
"I created a gift for you." He said pointing at the hyena circling around the chamber sniffing around and licking herself.
Harley looked at him with disbelieve. "You changed a human being into a hyena for me?" She asked in a fearful voice.
He nodded smiling at his success as he pressed a button opening the chamber door letting the hyena out. Harley kissed him sweetly, "That's so sweet; Erik would love a playmate! I'll name her, Alexandra, but for short I'll call her Lex." She said stroking her new pet.
Two-Face frowned at the logic of it all, just Harley being Harley again. "But until it is time for your next big hit I think we should celebrate your success over the Jokerz." She said taking him by the arm and leading him out of his lab.
To be Continue
Chapter 12: Die Laughing
By ShadowHawk
8 AM Two-Face stood pacing back and forth at the head of a long table; a dark scowl darkened his face. All of the twins stared watching their boss new orders while he continued to pace deep in thought. "I have to find a way to eradicate the Bat's existence from our lives." Two-Face grumbled.
Dee-Dee looked towards one another their necks decked out in beautiful new jewels recently stolen from a highly accredited Jewellery store. "We've tried everything boss." Began Deirdre.
"But like the vermin he is he keeps coming back." Finished Delia.
Two-Face frowned as he took a seat looking around, all the chairs were filled expect for one. Harley was late again. He ignored it going about with the morning's business. "I have a plan to get rid of the winged rat but we must wait until the time is just right."
The doors of the room suddenly opened and in walked Harley with her pet hyena trotting by her side. She towed in coffer cup holders two balanced in each of her hands, one on top of her head, and a large paper bag clutched in between her teeth.
Two-Face glared at her. "Thank you for joining us, Harley." He said in a sarcastic manner.
Harley sat the coffee cups and bag down on the table handing out each to their requester. "Sorry I'm late but the car I just stole kept stallin'. I've really gonna dump that in the river. Okay I have three blacks, four no sugars with creams, four sugars no cream, five sugars and creams, one mocha latte, two cappuccinos, and one green tea. Also four dozen assorted donuts: glazed, crème, jelly, sprinkles, and iced. Oh and two bagels for Quinton."
Two-Face rolled his eyes as Harley sat a large cup down before him and took a seat on the table edge where he sat. "So what have I missed so far?" She asked before taking a bite of her donut.
He sighed. "My latest plan for the destruction of Batman." He took a bite of the donut when Harley offered.
"Still trying to break my favorite toy? I told you I like to do that for myself." She said.
Two-Face took a sip of the hot liquid in his cup before looking towards her. "Yes, ever since he sent my father up the river I've wanted him dead." A crazed looked passed over his mismatched eyes.
"Ha! You and over a half of Gotham." Harley took a sip of her drink.
A dark smile spread over Two-Face's lips as he took a long look at Harley. "Let me tell you something, not only do I want batman dead, but the Jokerz as well. I believe you share that want with me."
Harley groaned rolling her eyes at the mention of the gang. "The Jokerz, rugh! What a complete waste of space. They give hard workin' people like us such a bad name."
Two-Face smiled at the remark. "Every last one of them should be buried at sea with cement shoes."
Harley shook her head from side to side causing her red and black hair to sway. "No, not good enough. They should die the joker way. A lung full of deadly joker venom, HA! It would be so ironic, the ultimate joke!"
Two-Face removed his silver two-headed coin checking both faces. With a flick of his thumb he sent it flipping into the air and down again into his hand. Good heads. "Then it's settled." He stood onto his feet slamming his balled fist down on the black and white halved table surprising the twin thugs indulging in their drinks and pastries. "To hold us over until the big night with Batman we're going to rid this city of the pestilence called Jokerz."
At the Jokerz dockside hideout most of the city's Jokerz were hanging out doing what ever they could to entertain themselves or just lazing about. J- man sat in a throne-like chair observing his gang unaware of two trucks pulling up outside. "Tonight is the type of night nothing can go wrong." He laughed looking at the stolen goods beside him and Scab, the second in command who only laughed in agreement.
The large metal door was slid open drawing everyone's attention to three young women dressed in jester costumes.
Harley Jest was dressed in a red and black jester costume much like the original's. Along side of her the Dee-Dee Twins both dressed in red and white matching outfits with one tassel falling towards their face on the red caps.
When all heads turned to see the former Jokerz once again. Harley waved and smiled, "Hey boys."
Scab looked on in suspicious wonder at the newbies while J-Man smiled looking them over in their tight body hugging outfits. "Fresh meat." He stated.
Scab nodded in agreement walking over to the three women who were approaching them. Confident he laid his hand to rest on Harley's shoulder while looking over at Dee-Dee twins. "Hey girlies come to have some fun?"
Grinning through clenched teeth Harl suppressed the urge to deck the man. "Thought you might want or rather need some fresh blood in this gang."
Delia smiled running her finger beneath Scab's chin, "We think the Jokerz are-"
"Beyond scway." Her twin finished.
Scab peered down at Dee-Dee twins finding their habit of finishing each other's sentences familiar. "Eh I know you two. J-Man these two were already Jokerz."
J-man signaled them towards them with a come hither motion, when they arrived he took a long look at the Dee-Dee twins, "I remember, they worked for some guy claming to be the original Joker." He laughed.
Scab took hold of Deirdre's chin looking her in the eyes. "Don't they work for someone else now?"
Delia put on a false smile drawing the attention away from her sister. "We were but we like this gang better."
Deirdre nodded in agreement. "We even brought in a new recruit." She said motioning towards
Harley who quickly hid a deadly look from her face and smiled sweetly.
Outside a pair of mismatched eyes watched with scene through a pair of binoculars a look of pure disgust was washed over both sides of his face.
J-Man stood up from his seat to look over the new recruit for himself. Had Harley been wearing her original Jokerz costume from years ago he would have recognized her. He ran his fingers over her cheeks then the swell of her chest. "Nice, very nice. You'll fit in just fine babe." He said giving her rear a good squeeze.
Harley silently gritted her teeth wondering if they could attack now. The small communicator placed in the hallow of her ear buzzed slightly with Two- Face's voice. "On my signal, unleash hell."
A please grin passed over her face as she looked towards the Dee-Dee twins and winked an eye. "You know what J-man?" She asked pushing him slightly so that he fell back into his seat. We have someone we'd really like to introduce you to." A twisted smile spread over her face.
The Dee-Dee's preformed a graceful synchronized front flip that placed them on either side of J-man's throne. They crossed their legs over his chest while Harley leaned towards him. "And he is dying to meet you."
The Dee-Dee twins flipped backwards away from J-man landing next to Scab. "He's twice the man you are." Said Delia.
"An angelic demon." Said Deirdre with adoration.
Scab grabbed the Dee-Dee twins by their wrist. "Oh yeah? Well bring the prick on."
"Yeah, let's see him." J-Man laughed pulling Harley into him arms.
All heads turn at the sound of a high-speed motorcycle from outside. The window shattered as the motorcycle and the rider crashed in then landed hard ground. The rider was wearing a split jumpsuit with one side white and the other black with a helmet that's the same pattern.
"What kinda signal is that?" Harley asked aloud before punching J-man in the face knocking him away from her.
Dee-Dee twins smiled. "Meet our boss!" They said in union before they both kicked out their legs kicking Scab in his belly then face.
"DIE!!!!!!!" The rider shouted pulling the trigger of his guns.
The Jokerz begins to scramble in different directions forgetting about their so-called family.
"Joker's Legacy is now DEAD!!! KILL EVERY JOKER YOU SEE!" Two-Face commanded.
A van crashed through the metal doors and twin thugs rush out at Two-Face's command armed with guns and other weapons. The battle went on, blood spilled, guns blazed, people screamed. The sound of automatic firearms and painful screams echoes throughout the warehouse and the city block.
Harley not taking part in the killing sighed crossing her arms over her chest. "So messy. But ah, gotta love the sound of chaos in the evening."
A single blonde female Joker tried to make a get away, "Dee-Dee you handle her while I hold these two down." Harley shouted over the gunfire.
"Right." DeeDee said together before running after the fleeing girl. Delia jumped in front of her blocking the exit through the door while Deirdre landed behind her. "Going somewhere?" Asked Delia pushing the Joker towards her sister.
"Cause the party's just starting." Deirdre stated grabbing hold of her.
The rider watching everything from behind his helmet twirled his guns and set them in his holster signalling everyone to stop.
After the gun fire had ceased and all but three of the Jokerz were dead the twin thugs took turns beating on J-Man and Scab until their faces were bruised and bleeding from being punched over and over again by brass knuckles and being booted in the face and ribs.
Their bodies were weak with many of broken bones. J-man's leg was bleeding from where someone had shot him. Scab turned to look at the rider through his swollen eye. Dee-Dee twins returned dragging the girl by her hair. "Look what we have for you boss, a lab rat."
The rider removed his helmet to reveal his scarred face. Standing on his knees J-man gasped through a bloody mouth. "Sh*t it's him, the real freakin' McCoy, Two-Face II."
He smiled evilly showing both his neat and ugly teeth.
Harley punched them both so that they bow before him. "Show some respect, this is a man who doesn't mock the name of his predecessor." Harley sneered at the disgraceful pair. A dark smile spread over her face.
"He also decides if you live or join the rest of your grease-painted friends in death."
"She's right, you low life Scum, the Coin will decide if you deserve to live or to die." He said patting his pocket holding his coin.
J-man sneered through a cut lip. "You're going to spare our lives so we can rot in jail?"
"Maybe... maybe not" Two-Face said.
Harley watched along with Dee-Dee twins. "Let 'em live, it's a fate worse than death." She stated.
Two-Face shoots a dark glare at Harl. Harley smirks in responds as she goes about her business.
"Joker's Legacy ends tonight. And I personally will make sure it happens"
J-man and Scab looked on in worry wondering what would become of them.
"My lucky coin will decide your fate." He took out his two-headed coin with a scratched side on one half.
Both Scab and J-man shuttered at the thought of their lives hanging on the balance of a coin toss. Harley sighed rolling her eyes. "There goes that damn coin again."
"But on the other hand." He smirked closing his fist over his coin.
Everyone looked towards him in search of his decision as he turned towards Harley, "Harl, they are yours, except for the girl. " He said with sinister grin.
Harley's black painted lips curled into a cruel grin as she approached them. "Harley you wanted to be one of us! Why are you helping him?!" Scab demanded.
Harley laughed as she carelessly waved her popgun around. "Why? Code, that's why!" She sat down on his chest jabbing her gun into his chin. "It's because of you Jokerz leaving him behind when he needed you the most, he killed himself. And lastly because you are a disgrace to the name Joker."
"Before you kill him Harl, I'd like to ask him a question." he said pointed to J-man
Harley pulled her gun back. "Go ahead."
"What made you decide to honor Joker's name, what made him so Unique, so Special, so whatever, Why Not The original Two-Face, he's got it all but no YOU had to choose JOKER for a f**king gang name!!!!!!"
Everyone was silent awaiting the answer. If J-Man were to tell the truth or lie he was dead either way. "The Joker... We chose him because... I mean... I." He stopped unable to form his answer right.
Two-Face aimed his gun at J-man's head. "You've got two seconds boy before this gun goes boom."
Unable to take it anymore Scab spoke up. "The Joker came first! He had this city pissing on themselves at the sound of his name that's why!"
Harley stepped in, "Then why disgrace his name?" She asked.
Two-Face's hands trembled as his anger began to building up, he was a walking bomb with a gun ready to explode.
Harley walked over to him gently placing her hand over his shoulder. "I see these two are pissing you off, lets wipe this world clean of Jokerz by killing them." She whispered sweetly into his ear.
Ignoring her words he flew towards Scab grabbing him and throwing him into the near wall. He took hold of him again and held him up but his outfit.
J-man stood to help his friend but the sound of Harley's gun cocking made him look up to see the jester had her gun locked on him. With a tsk tsk of her tongue she made him sit still again. Scab winced in pain looking at Two- Face through one swollen eye with fear.
"Listen to me, you snot nosed punk, you may have ruled the street using that clown's name but lets get things Straight..." Two-Face growled into his face. "1: This is MY city, and your kind is not wanted here. 2: If I EVER see any more of your kind in this city, I will hunt down and destroy all of you and none shall be spared DO YOU UNDERSTAND!!"
Scab nodded trying to avoid looking on his scarred face. Two-Face gave Scab a firm pat on his cheek.
"Good you get to live and tell all of your kind what I told you."
Harley tapped her gun against her waist watching as Scab made a run for it. "And what of the others?" She asked pointing towards J-man and the blonde.
"Him he's yours. But the girl, well I've got something in store for her."
Sitting on J-Man's chest Harley chuckled darkly as she traced the trails of sweat on his face. "I never did get much of a chance to play with you all those years ago. I'll fix that." She spun the chambers of her popgun. "We'll play Russian roulette."
J-man trembled as he was at her demented mercy. Harley looked back towards the others. "Um I highly doubt that most of you are immune to Joker venom so either put on a mask or get out." She suggested. She waited a few seconds for everyone to step out before going back to tormenting J-Man. "It tore me apart when I lost Code because of you." She placed the barrel of her gun into his mouth. "They say laughter is the best medicine, let's see if it works." She smiled pulling the trigger. A green cloud of mist clouded over the last Joker and Harl.
Harley's face twisted into a dark grin. "Oops forgot the object of that game is to have at least one chamber empty."
J-man giggled slightly before bursting out in a fit laughter. His complexion paled as a broad grin spread over his face. Harley laughed as she got off J-man's chest.
"That's it laugh it all up." Two-Face said as he heard the hysterical laughter increasing so loud that they could hear it outside.
Harley stuck her head out of the closest window calling for Two-Face as the boys laughter died with them. "I'm done!"
Once Two-Face stepped foot inside the Jokerz's sanctum Harley giggled licking a few trace green residue from her gun fingers. "Anyone else wants a taste of Joker venom?" She offered.
Two-Face groaned as he felt a great pain in his head that could only rival with a rusted nail being hammered into his hand. He clutched his aching head as his voice began to change. "This is wrong, all wrong, they should be turned in-"
Dee-Dee and the twins looked towards Two-Face with confusion. "Boss?" They asked with worry.
Two-Face regained himself but still held his head. "BE QUIET DENT, I am in control not YOU..."
"We should get moving." Dee-Dee stated worry still apparent in their voices.
Two-Face smoothed back his hair, "Yes we should, but before that I liked to leave a gift for the cops and Batman."
"All so kind of you." Harley chuckled moving on the recent change in Two- Face noted in her mind but worrying her as it did the others.
He walked up to a wall and used the blood of the dead Jokerz to write out a message: 'Two-Face Strikes Again'
"Such penmanship. Now may we go?" Harley asked.
"Yes and take that prisoner with us." He pointed to the tied up female joker
One of the many twins hoisted her up on his shoulders then walk out, followed by everyone else. "One pain in the ass gang out of your two colored hair." Harley stated strolling aside Two-Face.
"Yes..." He laughed insanely
Harley sighed adoringly. "Such a lovely laugh."
"One more thing, knock that joker out for me. But don't kill her yet." He added when he saw the edger look in her eyes.
"Blondie?" Harl ask tilting her head to the side. "Okay then, um you say not to kill her but what about broken bones?"
Two-Face sighed "Just knock her unconscious." He said firmly.
Harley frowned walking off to do as she was asked.
"Killjoy." She muttered before taking the handle of her gun and smashing it into the back of the blonde's neck knocking her out cold.
Dee-Dee stood aside Two-Face kissing him on their designated side of his lips. "You are the most scway boss any girl could ask for." They commented.
Two-Face chuckled. "I've always been like that." He said as everyone piled into the vans.
Later that night the cops arrived to the bloody scene due to many phone calls reporting gunfire in the area.
Batman followed suit when he realized that the calls all reported hearing the guns in the area the Jokerz took refuge.
Commissioner Gordon frowned at the scene of the dead Jokerz all shot or beaten to death. A young officer ran only to vomit seconds later out the side of the door. They all looked the same except for two who had a board grin on their dead faces. "How can anyone do such a thing?" Gordon questioned said as another cop ran by trying not to puke.
Batman stepped up from behind her. "Two-Face did this." He stated.
Gordon nodded but pointed at Scab and J-man. "Except for those two. Someone else did them, we think it was with joker venom. But the question is who?"
Batman looked closely at the smiling corpses. "The Jokerz today don't have the brains to even come up with the main ingredients for the venom, the best they can come up with is a very strong laughing gas. But this is a joker trademark." He wondered who had the knowledge to do such a thing. He then remembered having dealt with someone who had used the deadly laughing poison before. "Harley Jest."
Gordon's usually emotionless face deepened into a hard frown. "So they are really working together now, we had hoped that it was just a one-time deal. But there are no sighs of plants." She said looking around.
"Nightshade mustn't be involved in this one so we're lucky." Batman said.
"The two of them together can be a dangerous pair. A huge threat on all of Gotham if they actually put their resources together."
Batman nodded in agreement. "I'm on it."
Gordon glared at him from the corners of her eyes. "Don't get cocky kid. This is the only time I'm allowing you to get away with this. The next time I see you getting involved with police business you're heading into jail."
Batman nodded ready to fly off. Before he took off the ground the commissioner looked him over. "New suit? The old man still has it in him." She commented.
Batman smirked then took flight heading out of a shot out window.
Back at Two-Face's hideout everyone was lazing about after just wiping most of the Jokerz from the city.
All except for Two-Face and Harley that is.
Two-Face paced around the control of his lab making sure everything was ready. In a dreary looking gas chamber the female joker without her makeup was waking up to her new surroundings.
At seeing her motions Two-Face spoke into a microphone as he watched the monitor "Did you have a nice nap little girl?" He asked.
The girl looked around to see that there was no visible way out and she was trapped. Before she never spoke but now fear and anger broke her silence. "What the hell is going on?!" She cried out.
"I have two answers for you. 1: you are in my new chamber and 2: you are to become my test subject to my experiments." His voice boomed over the speakers in the small room.
She stood looking around for a face to yell at. "I'm not your damn lab rat!"
"TOO BAD!!!!!!!!" Two-Face's voice roared at her.
She tumbled back at the rumble of his voice in the small chamber. "W-what are you going to do to me?" She asked.
In his lab Two-Face turned to Harley who sat back on a semi-empty table watching everything while eating from a bowl of popcorn and from time to time tossing a few pieces down to Erik laying at her dangling feet. He turned off the mike. "Harl, be a dear and come here."
Harley obeyed. "Want some popcorn?" She asked standing beside him.
"Not while I'm working." He stated waving off the offer. "But take a look."
She looked in via the monitor. "Whatcha gonna do to her?" She asked.
Evil shinned in his eyes as he let out his hand to her pet hyena. Harley looked at Erik watching as he approached them. "Ducie?"
"Come here boy." He said as Erik went to the caller happy for attention. "Yes that's a good boy" he said as he petted her hyena.
"Duce? What are you up to?" Harley asked her suspicion growing.
"Now to business." He said as he turned to face the monitor. "Care to give her a bon voyage, Harl?"
Inside the Joker banged on the walls. "Let me out of here you prick!"
Harley almost felt sad for her, almost. "Bye, bye you cheap imitation Harley Quinn knockoff!" She growled.
"Let the experiment BEGIN!" He said as he presses a button which let out a brown gas from small cracks in the walls of the chamber room.
The Joker cowers away from the smoke for as long as she could crying for help, but in time couldn't escape it. She coughed as the smoke entered her lungs. Soon after her coughs became groans and inhuman moaning.
She clutched her blonde haired head in pain causing the pigtails to fall loose. She began sweating profusely, clinging to the sides of her head. She trembled violently with her body dripping wet. As a new spasm of pain wracked her body, she cries out in great anguish. By then her hair was wringing wet. She screamed and grabbed at her clothes which was making her body fell all the more hotter, bit by bit she tore it from her body then began grabbing at her legs.
Harley watched frozen with her hand ready to place more popcorn into her mouth. "Holy...."
Harley looked back out into the chamber. "Oh my-." Harl whispered cupping her hand over her mouth.
Lying there naked in the center of the room, she gasped for air. She was on her knees then fell forwards on their hands. She remained on her hands and knees, trying to master her torment; but it was of no use. On all fours she gave herself over to the excruciating hurt and slowly began to change.
The metamorphosis from man into beast is never an easy one. As bone and muscle bends and reforms themselves, the body suffers lacerating pain. They can actually see her flesh move, and the rearranging of tissue. Her mouth bled as her new fangs began to emerge. Her whole face distorted as her jaw extended, and her skull literally changed in shape before their very eyes.
"Two-Face what have you done?" Harley asked in a hush voice at seeing the girl change shape completely.
The Joker's hands gnarled and her fingers curled back as claws burst forward. Her moans of pain changed slowly into low guttural growls, and then into laughter
Two-Face smiled at seeing the job done. "It... worked!"
Harley remained in shock her trembling hands ready to drop her food. "What have you done?" She asked again.
"I created a gift for you." He said pointing at the hyena circling around the chamber sniffing around and licking herself.
Harley looked at him with disbelieve. "You changed a human being into a hyena for me?" She asked in a fearful voice.
He nodded smiling at his success as he pressed a button opening the chamber door letting the hyena out. Harley kissed him sweetly, "That's so sweet; Erik would love a playmate! I'll name her, Alexandra, but for short I'll call her Lex." She said stroking her new pet.
Two-Face frowned at the logic of it all, just Harley being Harley again. "But until it is time for your next big hit I think we should celebrate your success over the Jokerz." She said taking him by the arm and leading him out of his lab.
To be Continue
