Batman Beyond: Two-Face II
Chapter 18: Terror strikes twice
By ShadowHawk
Disclaimer: We don't own the characters used.
The television screen that once exhibited the marred face of the city's fear villain one displayed a small sign to the public that the station was at the time being having 'technical problems'.
Mary McGinnis stared transfixed at the TV the horror it had just seconds allowed into her home still fresh on her mind. With her hand unmoved from its place covering Matt's eyes she turned her bewildered gaze to all those present, "He's a monster! I don't care how many good deeds he has done, that man is a monster! What justifies his actions? What gives him the right to judge and punish those around him?" She cried in question unknowing that her hands had moved from blinding her son to holding him tightly to her chest in vain hopes of protecting him from the evils of the world.
Salty tears streamed from her eyes to the curves of her cheeks, the horrified look of pain on William Morgan's face would haunt her for nights to come. "I wish Batman would take care of him already." She said with a sob.
Watching his little brother comfort his mother who held him so tightly in her grip Terry cast his eyes towards the blonde who had as of yet made a sound other than a slight gasp upon seeing Two-Face on the show.
She had her face buried into her hands, her shoulders trembling ever so slightly to give evidence that she too was in tears.
"Mel?" Terry questioned slowly moving closer towards her. As he drew nearer he could hear soft murmurings seeping from betwixt her fingers.
"He's not like that. He's not a monster at all! Jeffery, my Jeffery would never do anything like that." Her sobs were stated mostly to herself as if trying to prove with utmost desperations that she too still believed in that. Turning her puffy and near bloodshot eyes up she regarded Terry. "I swear, Jeffery wouldn't."
Terry looked down at Mel and the broken expression etched across her face while his mother's words echo in his mind. Bending down to level himself with her he whispered the things he knew she was dreading, "He's gone too far now and he has something even worse in mind. Mel I know this hurts but they might not be able to save him now. Especially since rumor has it that the mayor is calling the National Guard."
It was Matt's turn to speak above the dense sense of dread lingering about the room like a thick fog, "Do you think they'll be able to stop him?"
Stepping into the hotel with his mismatched colored hair covered with a hat Two-Face wanted nothing more than to skip the next few moments of his life. Behind him the rotating doors moved smoothly after his entrance letting in and out more visitors. But none as esteemed or as grating to the hotel than his current clients.
Prince Raul and his wife, the princess Gwendolyn. A pair of spoiled royalty from a remote kingdom come to take advantage of the diplomatic immunity the government so foolishly offered in hopes of keeping everyone happy and the lands at peace.
Approaching the front desk he frowned down upon a well dressed man. "Can I help you sir?" He questioned with a suave sort of voice that hinted a sort of superciliousness.
"Yes, I have a 2:00 appointment with their highnesses."
Looking down at the guest book the clerk raised a questioning brow, "Your name, sir?"
A somewhat amused grin passed over his make-up covered face, "Mr. Duall -- with two 'els."
Snapping the book shut the clerk brought his eyes upwards to the important man, his condescending attitude quickly lost. "Yes, yes they are awaiting for you, right this way."
Continuing to act on the part as Mr. Duall, save someone might recognize him for who he really was, he met with the royal highnesses, over all in his dual persona's opinion royal pains. He had met them in their hotel room, a lavish suit many would kill just to experience just a fraction of a moment within to see a man in a white suit holding a glass of vodka. "Ah Mr. Duall. My wife and I must apologize for these shabby accommodations...apparently, they're the best this wretched city can do." Prince Raul said in a rich accent heavy with an elegant type of drawl.
"Primitive, simply primitive." Princess Gwendolyn said from her seat on a couch, resting with its head in her lap a purebred Dalmatian.
"That's...quite all right." He said taking a long look about their lodgings not finding a thing in the least bit as crude and primitive as they thought it. "I have an apology of my own; there's been an unavoidable delay in obtaining the KR-17 drug. But I should have it in 2 shakes." Two-Face said with great confidence, they were after all great clients and associates to keep on his good side for as long as they proved useful.
"Well, I rather hope." Prince Raul stated moving to stand aside his wife, "If the Princess and I haven't the bun in the oven by the time daddy king kicks off, there will be no end of bother – including the possibility of a war. Most sordid, no?" He questioned lifting his bushy eyebrows before downing the contents of his glass.
"Er... most." Two-Face hesitantly agreed.
"Besides," Gwendolyn began with a dismissive wave of her manicured hand, "We simply must return to Europe as soon as possible. I simply loathe Americah; it's so...so common."
"There, there snookums. Chin up, we'll be home sweet home soon enough." Raul promised caressing his wife's cheek in a loving fashion.
Two-Face grimaced at the pet name and overall sugary sweet manner it was cooed onto her, "We'll try to have the results for you A.S.A.P."
Prince Raul gave him a small evaluating look that could almost pass as a disgusted snide sneer, "Very good."
"I promise you I will get the drug by your leave." Two-Face vowed before bowing as was customary before leaving.
Standing outside the hotel on the gray cement of the cold sidewalk he heard the usual hustle and bustle of the city life flowing about him in a steady peace, almost making the sudden appearance of the large man behind him unnoticeable.
"Remind me about my choice of clients. I'm not making enough on the job to satisfy their needs." He grumbled harshly into the air before him just as a black Rolls Royce pulled to a stop before him.
Buttons McBoomBoom nodded briefly while moving his great bulk to open the door, "I will boss, I will."
Pausing outside Two-Face reached into the inner compartment of his jacket to remove his trademark, the two headed silver dollar with a scarred head. "Hmm." He flipped the coin once and with ease caught it...good side up. "Blast it. I can't double my price." With a dreading sigh he slipped into the awaiting car.
From the front passenger seat Harley, without her usual apparel of black and red, turn to cast admiring eyes onto Two-Face, "How'd it go?"
"They gave a new meaning to royal pains." Two-Face sighed deeply.
Once the door was closed and Buttons was securely within the car pulled ahead in their journey homeward. "Well while ya were busy everyone made their rounds." Harley began, "First, no one has shut up about your live broadcast, it's in every paper, the radio hasn't stopped debatin' on your actions, and they say there's been a record demand for the play back! The only other person who ain't so happy with the publicity Gotham is gettin' is our beloved mayor."
"Oh?"
A newspaper dropped into his lap, "Compliments from Tomax and Xamot. They said in that funny talk of there's that this would interest ya. It seems the mayor's requested for the National Guard to come and deal with ya two personally. In my 'pinion he really needs to loosen up."
"I'll just have to introduce him to some friends who can help him lighten up." Two-Face grinned maliciously into the rearview mirror. Some moments later the car pulled to a stop before the sanctum of duality, Two-Face's hideout.
The hideout was in its usual two-sided setting one half dark and morbid while the other spouted light and joy. One side of him hated the design while another held contradicting thoughts finding it all quiet enjoyable.
After a kiss on the cheek from Dee-Dee, Two-Face moved on into his office followed by both Buttons and Harl. "What about that bombing? Did anyone find out anything about that?" He questioned taking his seat and looking down at the newspaper showing the face of the city's mayor irate at some sort of question most likely regarding him.
"Yes," She paused to roll up the sleeve of her top revealing her arm decorated in the usual array of notes written in ink and marker. "I know I have it somewhere on me. Ah found it! That coffee house bombin' last night; word has it that some hippy revolutionist by the name of Mad Stan is behind it. Somethin' about them being a cooperate operation that catered to the government lapdogs and not permittin' pets. This ain't the first time he's done this either."
If ever it was possible for his face to turn even more so hideous then upon hearing the news of some second-rate radical destroying his city made him achieve a new level of unsightliness. "Buttons, I want you and Dee-Dee to take a look into this. Keep a close eye on him." With a nod of acceptance Buttons left the room to obey his orders.
Once the doors had closed Two-Face growled tossing the newspaper away from him as though it were some despicable creature. "So the Mayor thinks he can stop me by using the NGs! Well we'll see about that."
Never one to shrink away from her boss's mood Harl took a seat on the dark corner of his desk peering down at the paper. "Ooh if they bring tanks can I hijack one?" She questioned grabbing the paper with delight.
"What do you think Harl," He questioned pulling the paper down in the center so that he could look her eye to mismatched eye, "Should we pay a visit our beloved mayor?"
With a squeal of delight Harley slid into his lap, "I call shot gun on the way there!"
Ringing ringing ringing. Day in and day out that's all that the phones had been doing ever since Two-Face had murdered on live television and the papers paling on his desk seemed to get higher by the second after he had announced to the city that he would call for outside help.
At home, at work, he received no peace, the phones, television, and radios all had become his enemy his only solace was to hide in fake meetings to settle his thoughts. He even had to call the police to get rid of the press lingering outside the doors like vultures waiting to feast on the dead.
From his desk the intercom droned to life. "Mayor Hill, there are some people here that wants to see you."
Hill paused in mid stride only to sigh deeply before pacing about his office once more. "If it's more censors tell them I'm in a meeting." He commanded.
"Um sir. I-hey!" From the other end there came sounds of shuffling and the distinct sound of another present with his secretary.
There was a muted shout followed soon after by a deafening bang as the doors of his office was forced open. Before the situation could even process itself into the mayor's frizzled mind members of the Two Timin' Gang rushed into the room with guns raised.
At the sight of armed weapons a scream of shock found its way out of the frightened mayor's voice who so happened to have dodged underneath his desk in a record amount of time. He had expected demanding shouts of orders, gunfire, anything but the smooth voice that called out to him, "You can come out of your desk, Mr. Mayor."
Timidly the mayor comes out of hiding to see a handsome man standing at the east wall looking at the portrait of Jordan's father
"W-w-w-hat are you doing here? How did you get past security? What have you done to Ms. Brames?" He questioned all the while trying to hold back the urge to urinate on himself.
The man at the portrait turned slowly reviling his disfigured face inch by inch slowly allowing the mayor take in the true hideousness of his facade for himself. "Your security is nothing compared to my men, Mr. Mayor."
"As for your gal Friday, she's just taking a little nap." Harley grinned waving her pop-gun as evidence. "She won't think of this as anything but a funky dream."
"It has come to my attention that you plan on destroying my career as a crime lord by calling in the NG." Two-Face stated getting down to the business at hand.
Suddenly a rush of bravado washed over him, all the fear and hiding, all the stress was gone as a since of pride filled his being. "Yes! It is my job to see to the protection of this city. And if such measures must be taken then so be it! I will not allow you to harm innocent people any longer."
"You think that you're all high and mighty? Sorry to say this, my friend, but you are wrong!"
The mayor was surprised to say the least, to the point that had to back down for a moment before returning the gesture. "And what of you? You think you're a king in this cesspool? It's because of people like you that this city became so appalling! You, the Jokerz, terrorism, the list goes on."
"Don't you dare compare me to that low-life gang! All they bring to the true Joker is shame." Two-Face stated calmly casually walking around the desk until he stood beside him.
"And you do the original justice?" Hill remarked sarcastically knowing full well that if it was his desire Two-Face would have put a bullet into the back of his head ending it all.
"I'm just living up to the original." Two-Face replied in the utmost sincerity.
Breathing deeply from the shouting the mayor took his seat in the lovely caramel colored leather chair that once gave him so much comfort. "I am just trying to do what is right for this city." He repeats lowly as though speaking to himself.
Placing his scarred hand on the spiritually tired man's shoulder sympathy seeped into Two-Face's somber voice, "So am I." With a final sigh he looked towards the hoard of twins, Buttons and Harley standing out amongst the identical faces, silently calling on one particular pair.
From out of the group stepped two identical men standing somewhere about 6'5 at the top of their silver blond dreadlocks. They looked as pale as death himself had the skeletal figure been bleached in the sun.
Moving in perfect union the two reached their pale fingers into the sleeves of their white trench coats, which fell down nearly to the feet of their heeled boots. A flash of bright light cut through the air made nearly every eye stare in complete awe as they brandished indistinguishable old-fashioned straight-edged switchblades with pearl handles.
"Fascinating aren't they? Sigmund and Simon Kreiger, known better as The Doppleganger Brothers. They came to me all the way from Germany to join my collection. Boys please don't make too much of a mess with the mayor here." Without another word Two-Face began to move away for the panicked man while the white twins steadily stalked forwards with weapons ready.
"What will killing me prove? That you will kill a man doing his job in cold blood? The National Guard will still come with me dead or not." He shouted in one last desperate effort.
Two-Face grinned forcing the discolored scars to lift into a hideous mask. "That's what you think." He lifted a small black box to his mouth and spoke in the mayor's very voice. "I can just call in and say I have the situation under control." in the mayor own voice
"You'll fail someday, Two-Face. Like the Roman empire yours too will fall."
He laughed before waving to the twin men giving them his permission to continue.
Moving on either side of the mayor the twin brothers took on a defensive stance with polished blades poised for attack.
"Are we ready?" Asked one, his eyes never leaving their target.
The other nodded in the affirmative, "We are."
A small grin tugged at the corners of their lips before they simultaneously dashed forwards their boots thudding in perfect rhythm against the floor as they drew nearer. Their pace was too fast for the frightened mayor to dodge. Before he could blink they passed on opposite sides of him, their razor sharp blades slicing into his cheek and back. Landing on their left foot they spun back to face him once more. While the mayor hissed doctoring his bleeding gash gracing his cheek Sigmund approached from behind and Simon masterfully twirled his blade in his hand switching back and forth with great ease and skill the metal flashing in the bright office lights.
Everyone was slightly fascinated by the sight of the skillful wielding that no one really remembered Sigmund until he forcefully kicked the mayor square in the back pitching him forwards into Simon who spun, his hand baring the weapon arching outwards towards the incoming man.
In motion with the twirl the knife slashed into the mayor's skin three times before Simon stopped and Sigmund rejoined them. A cut to the back tendon of the mayor's left foot brought the man tumbling down; no longer able to stand while the white twin sprung up from his crouch bringing his knife up the length of Mayor Hill's back to the nip of his neck.
The extreme bout of pain brought a silent scream from his mouth his head arching upwards with his motions. Smirking lightly Simon stabbed one final time cutting into the mayor's jugular while Sigmund moved in union stabbing into his back separating his spine in the center.
"We must admit that was fun." Sigmund grinned withdrawing his knife in perfect sync with his twin letting the corpses between them fall with a loud thump.
Simon stood to inspect his clothing please to see that not a drop of blood had stained neither his nor his twin's white outfits. "Yes, it was most entertaining." Wiping off their weapons on the back of the dead man they retreated back to stand among the rest of the Two Timers.
Two-Face looked down upon the dead and heavily gashed figure of Jordan Hill, "Hmm, we'll need to hide him for awhile, at least a day or two. We don't need this coming back on us just yet." Two-Face stated looking towards his left hand woman.
"I'll call the 'cleaners'," Harl began with a deep sigh while removing a cell phone from her bag, "But we still need to pin this on someone else. Um, how about Don Morello? This is sort of his style, besides he tried to cop a feel in the last meeting, I think he deserves to die."
"Do as you please. Now go wake up the secretary, the rest of you can head back to the cars."
"Miss Brames." Ginger Brames moaned deeply in her grogginess as she pushed herself up from her position slouched over her desk. "Miss Brames." The intercom called again moments before the face of the mayor appeared on her screen. "Don't tell me you fell asleep again."
"Um yes Mayor Hill, I mean no sir."
"Miss Brames, please send a message to General Slocome that I wish to cancel the National Guard."
"Cancel sir?" She questioned looking towards him.
"Yes, cancel them. I think it would be best that we handle this situation on our own. Also, I want you to cancel all of my appointments tomorrow; I'm going on a much needed break." He stated airily.
"Yes sir, is there anything else?" She questioned.
In the blood splattered office Two-Face grinned behind the holographic mask, "Yes, there is one more thing. Some men will be coming soon to clean the office, let them in the moment they arrive."
Night had fallen onto Gotham as it did every single day regardless of what has transpired during the day. A figure dressed in black and white moves in a pacing manner along the shadows and silhouettes gracing the rooftop of her choice of home. Behind her the dark knight himself stood with a displeased look upon his usually stoic face.
"You saw it for yourself. He has gone too far this time, beyond reasoning." Batman spoke lowly, as if saying so hurt him just as much as it did her.
Ten froze in her pacing upon hearing such words, "Jeffery's nothing like that I swear. It wasn't him."
"You have to accept the facts that Jeffery might not be alive in Two-Face any longer." Batman stated firmly while moving closer towards her, "He's killed too many people, bad and good alike. We have to stop him before his actions gets even more extreme if that's even possible."
Ten could only stand dumbstruck in her place in the back of her mind the discussion, if one could call it that, that she had with the jester replayed a hundred times over. "He's still alive in there. I know it."
"Mel! He killed a man on national TV! Things have gotten out of hand. The commissioner has been ordered by the mayor to stand aside and let the NG handle things on a shoot to kill command!"
At this she reacted. "No! They can't, they can't kill my Jeff. They can't kill an innocent man!" She shouted passionately towards him, almost begging him to stop them from hurting her loved one.
Batman watched as tears spilled from her eyes to stain her mask. She was emotional, too emotional, and a liability in such a mental state. It was then that he came to a difficult decision, "Mel, you can't get involved in this case anymore. You're too attached to him."
Her eyes grew wide in horror. "No, I'm not, I can still help!"
"And if a moment came where you could save the lives of the innocent at the cost of his would you be able to take the chance and do what's right?"
Her silence was answer enough for him. Sighing deeply he began to retreat leaving her behind.
Unable to do much else Melanie ripped her mask from her face and stared teary eyed but heatedly at his back. "Like anyone knows what's right anymore." Going back towards her apartment she decided that she did not need him she would just have to come up with her own plan to save Jeffery.
A few days later...
Two-Face sat quiet reclined on his split-styled couch the television before him showing the news.
"This is tragic news for Gotham. Early this morning the body of Jordan Hill, the city's mayor was found in the upper east side just days after he made the controversial decision to cancel his request for the Nation Guard to help regulate crime. He had said that he had made such a rash decision because he wanted the city's residents to regain their faith in the local police.
"Detectives believe that this is most likely the work of Gotham's lesser crime lord Nicolas Morello. Newly appointed mayor, Lucas Allans swears that he will do all that he can to have those responsible found."
Two-Face rolled his eyes at the report, "Barely a day as mayor and already the boy's lying to everyone."
"That's why ya have him on your payroll, darlin'." Two-Face turned to see Harley standing in the doorway looking towards him. "Buttons and the girls are back. I think they've found your lil' bomber man."
To be continued.....
