Counterpart Conferences

By Michael Weyer

This is another one that hit me out of the blue and how it can lead to some intriguing ideas.

Earth-19999

The Moon

The chamber would be the size of the entire Pentagon by how human beings measured distance. The figure standing in its center appeared nearly fifty feet tall although this was merely a height he had chosen for himself for this task. He stood before the mountain of globes that floated before him. Many showcased images inside them that were constantly shifting about. Even the greatest computer on Earth would have a difficult time understanding the myriad of events occurring at once. Yet the Watcher was able to take it all in easily.

He was as immobile as a statue but his mind whirled on a constant basis. His bald head shone under the lights with his huge pupiless eyes fixated on the shifting globes. He wore a simple white gown with a blue sash and cloak around from one shoulder to wrap around it. Even as he watched the globes, he was fully aware of the figure striding into the chamber from one of the upper balconies of the home.

The eyes didn't move yet he was able to see the figure striding in. The blue cloak flowed behind him to cover the dark suit with a disc on a chain hanging from his neck. The large hat on his head kept the upper part of his face covered no matter where he stepped or how the light struck him. He stopped at the edge of the balcony to take in the globes before him. "Watcher."

"Stranger," the large figure stated. "You are not one to cross the barriers of realities often."

"Current events have forced my hand," The Phantom Stranger stated. "I understand I am not the only one of another reality to visit you."

"You are not," the Watcher confirmed. "You feel the struggle as well."

The Stranger nodded. "Myself and Fate. Both my own and another of another Earth. We are having difficulty maintaining the boundaries between realities. You must know that."

"I do." The Watcher waved a hand and a globe slowly lifted up from the pile to float toward him. It showcased what appeared to be the Avengers but their looks were different. Hawkeye was wearing a purple costume with a large headpiece, the Wasp was in a bright yellow uniform, Captain America's uniform was also different and Thor was wearing a helmet while still wielding Mjlonir. "This Earth is much like the one below us now but with several differences in their heroes."

The image in the globe shifted to show another set of Avengers. This time, Hawkeye's uniform was sleeker without a mask while the Falcon wore a more complex suit with what appeared like real feathers rather than the complex wing harness. "This is another, also much alike but the differences are clear. It is a struggle keeping them far apart from this reality we occupy. You know the issues of pure doppelgangers coming together. The mix of personalities and alike forms is far greater a risk than those of two different Earths coming together. "

"Agreed," the Stranger intoned. "There are such realities much like the one I reside in. The Fates and myself are working to prevent them from crossing over. Such as when the Flashes journeyed to Earth-21. It took a swift effort to get them to leave before their presence destabilized the boundaries further. When it comes to close counterparts, it is more vital separating them than Earths that are much different."

The Watcher paused before glancing toward him. "But you have not always been successful." It was not a question.

The Stranger bowed his head. "No. No, I fear there has been a…crossing over from another Earth. One where the lives of the heroes and villains take a…more fanciful direction. Only two so far…and yet the implications of them upon another Earth are large."

The Watcher let out a sigh. "Are they upon your Earth?"

"No, another. But we know that if such crossings become too common…the implications upon the multiverse are huge."

The Watcher frowned as best as he could. "Are they...troublesome?"

"Immensely so," the Stranger acknowledged. "One is a danger to many Earths. The other is nothing but a pure force for chaos. Their arrival can be a danger not just to that Earth but others as well."

"It is increasing," the Watcher noted. "With each incursion, the barriers weaken further and destabilize the entire multiverse. There is an order to it all, Stranger and these disturbances threaten to ruin that."

The Stranger faced him with a stern expression. "You know who is observing us. Don't you?'

The Watcher nodded. "I do. And we both know that while it is best he simply watches…should he interfere, it may be beyond any of us to stop his actions."

"There are others who will not agree."

"They do not see what we do." The Watcher looked to the Stranger. "Another Crisis is coming, Stranger. And it shall not be the last. The ultimate one is still upon the horizon. For all we know, these crossings are the prelude to it all."

"Perhaps," the Stranger allowed. "But we know the preludes are rarely the calm before the storm, Uatu."

The Watcher merely bowed his head before turning his attention back to the globes before him. The Stranger took a moment to look at him before turning and marching away to vanish into the shadows, leaving the Watcher to note once more how much more challenging his task had become.

Earth-51

Gotham City

The loft was as lavish as could be expected for the most infamous criminal in Gotham City. It was laid out with huge gold plating on the furniture and plenty of it on the walls and decorations. The sole inhabitant lay on the ground, clad in a pair of dark pants and an open white shirt to show his pale chest marked with tattoos. His face was pure white with green hair cut quite short. He let out a tired sigh as he ground his gold-plated teeth together. He was, to be honest, bored. That was it, just bored.

Sure, being the top crime boss in town was something. He had enough cops on the payroll to keep him safe and all that. Even with Harley spending more time with that idiotic Suicide Squad, he could still handle himself. Yet he just felt like it was a chore getting out of bed in the morning. The Bat was so busy with his Justice buddies and the effort to humble simple cops just wasn't worth the hassle these days. No, he needed something new in his life. Something unique, something to get the juices flowing. He just didn't know what it was.

He was so lost in his thoughts that it took a few moments to hear the screams outside in the other room. He lifted his head up, looking out at the door to the other room. The screaming appeared to stop and he slowly rose to his feet. He headed toward the door, more curious than concerned about the men outside. He opened it to head into the main part of the penthouse. Normally, his boys would be sitting around, watching TV, playing cards and waiting for their boss to give the word.

Instead, he found a charnel house.

One man had his head shoved through a nearby slot machine. Another was sprawled over a table with what looked like a large cane shoved through his eye. Another lay with his face smoking from the acid that had half-melted it. Others were simply sprawled about, a few with gunshot wounds but the rest all boasting massive grins on their dead faces.

The Joker licked his lips, not really caring about the fate of his men but rather who was out there. He was just moving in when he felt a hand slap him on the back. Instantly, his entire body reacted to a massive electrical shock, stiffening in place and howling in agony. He slumped to the ground, shaking hard as he felt his limbs give way. He coughed as he tried to recover from the pain. He lay on the ground, looking up to see the figure that was leaning down staring at him.

"Do you want to know why I picked you?"

He just blinked in confusion as he took in the face so much like his own but seemingly extended with a wider jaw and darker eyes. The hair was longer but green and the grin was even wider. The outfit was a classic suit, mostly purple complete with spats with a bright orange shirt and green tie. He was sliding a joy buzzer off his purple glove as he continued to speak.

"I saw a few other versions out there, you know. Some were really, really out there. I mean, there's one where we look like a truly demented punk clown of some sort, that's really not fun. There's another where I just sound too damn serious. A couple others aren't too bad and I don't mind them much. Now, one version was just makeup and a scarred face but I kind of liked him. He got the chaos of things and how to enjoy yourself so I let him go by. But you, on the other hand…oh, I had to target you."

He hopped on the side of a couch, crossing his legs as he looked down at the fallen figure. "Because you are just…pathetic. Look at you." He waved at the man's outfit. "The tattoos? That's just gauche, really and mars my beautiful face up. The gold teeth, ugh, how hard it must be cleaning out those things. And your fashion, if we can call it that, is horrendous. But it's your behavior that really sticks in my craw. You're just a nasty thug, a hood with a little joy but nothing like you should be doing."

He waved his hands around. "Where is the style? Where is the panache? Where are the epic schemes? Making fish look like you? The creative death traps for Batman? Hell, when was the last time you just went on a wild drive and tossed pies of poison gas at people?" He shook his head. "Take away the hair and smile and what are you? You're a lame take on Black Mask or someone like that. You are not worthy of bearing our name in any way. You don't try to teach people the joke, you are the joke." He shook his head. "I am the Daniel Day-Lewis of crime, my friend. Whereas you are Adam Sandler."

He straightened up as he brushed as his coat. "This town..this world…deserves a better class of criminal. And I'm going to give it to them. As for you, I believe that it's past time that you got the treatment you truly deserve."

The smile grew broadly and the last thing the Joker heard was that cackling laughter before the wicked grin lunged at him.

The Himalayas

The throne room was mostly silent as Talia entered it. She brushed at her long dark hair as she carefully entered the throne room, taking in the various classic artifacts and statues that had been in the temple since it was founded centuries earlier. A huge map of the world was on one wall with various circles and markings made on it. A globe was situated at the center along with a variety of weapons and suits of armor.

At the throne sat her father, lost in thought. As ever Ra's al Guhl struck a dashing figure, his hair cut short with grey in his beard, clad in his usual dark green suit. While he appeared to be in his forties, he carried himself as a man far stronger and more capable than anyone could imagine. That was correct given his current standing as the Demon's Head.

"Father," she intoned in her accented voice. She struck a stunning figure herself with her flawless beauty, her lush dark hair flowing about her tanned face and clad in a tight leather jumpsuit. While beautiful, she had an edge to herself with her smooth walk and the aura of a woman ready to become lethal at any moment. The sword at her back and the knives at her belt and boot proved that. "We have heard from our scouts in Switzerland."

"Do they know what happened?" Ra's asked in his dark accented voice that carried traces of a language long lost to modern civilization.

Talia shook her head. "No. They found the Pit already used up. Its energies drained already."

Ra's frowned, his fingers stepped together. "This is very concerning. For one to know where the Pits are is bad enough. I had thought perhaps the Detective had stepped up his efforts to discover and destroy them. But he would never use one himself."

Talia frowned. "No, he would not. I have tempted him with it, especially given his age but Bruce refuses."

Ra's glanced at her. "Daughter, I had hoped your infatuation…"

"I cannot control where my heart lies, Father."

"You must if it interferes with our efforts," Ra's snapped. He sobered. "For now, we must discover who is using these Pits. Someone who cannot handle its effects can be most dangerous upon this world."

"Then it is fortunate that I know the effects quite well."

At the deep accented voice, Talia spun around, her hand instantly pulling out a gun that she had aimed at the figure striding carefully into the room. He was wearing a long cloak with a hood over his head, his bearing almost regal as if he owned the place. He seemed to not mind her in the least, his gaze focused upon Ra's.

For his part, Ra's merely arched an eyebrow. "I must give you my congratulations. To penetrate my sanctum without discovery is impressive enough. To reach my presence proves that I must discipline my League." He rose up carefully. "I do warn you that I shall not be an easy target."

"Who sent you?" Talia snapped. "A government or one of my father's enemies? Savage? Kobra?"

"No one sends me," the man responded. "As for how easily I was able to enter…I have found it quite easy to penetrate a fortress that matches one I helped design." He drew back his hood and let it fall with his cloak. He wore a mostly green suit that looked very expensive but also fit his frame well with the a high-collared cloak flowing behind him. His face was older but bore a regal majesty to it, dominated by a short beard at either side of his chin, a widow's peak to his hair and white at his temples.

Talia blinked, glancing at him, then at her father. Ra's had to fight to control his emotions as he took in a figure who seemed so much like himself. "Who are you?"

"You," the figure stated. "Or one as you from another Earth. A world somewhat like this one but many differences."

Ra's arched an eyebrow. "You will forgive me if I find that difficult to believe."

The other man smiled thinly before speaking in a thick dialect that Talia could only grasp traces of. Ra's eyes widened as he heard it. He responded in the same language which the newcomer easily answered. Ra's slowly licked his lips before speaking in English. "The only other man who knew that language fell at my sword four hundred years ago."

The stranger smiled. "As I said, we are much alike." He carefully paced the room. "We have much the same problems. Particularly the Detective although mine is younger. It is a reason I came to this Earth. I do apologize for the use of that Pit but I had to rejuvenate myself as the journey took much out of me."

He paused before Talia, taking her in carefully. "Hmmm…Different than my daughter and yet, I sense you are just as skilled." He looked to Ra's. "It is intriguing how alike our worlds are and yet how much different."

Ra's frowned deeply. "On your…Earth….Are there still the same problems?"

The other Ra's scowled. "There are. Corporations dominate, pollution marks the planet, population expanding beyond all control. Human geed and stupidity threaten to make it even worse. Like you, I have attempted to correct the problem and cull the populace. And, like you, I have been opposed by the Detective and others." He looked to Ra's carefully. "This is why I have managed to reach out to you. Although it required allying with one I normally disdain, I believe it is worth the effort."

Ra's crossed his arms carefully. "What are you proposing?"

His counterpart faced him. "The Lazarus Pits. They exist on my Earth and do on yours. And they do on other Earths as I understand it. An energy pool that works on multiple Earths with the same effects." He arched an eyebrow. "Have you ever considered just where the source of that power can come from? And how it can be harnessed?"

Ra's took in his words, the implications sinking in to him. "Such a power…if it could be used…and perhaps even unleashed…"

"It would mean much chaos," the other Ra's stated. "But the after effects upon the Earth can be beneficial in the end." He faced his other self and spread out his hand. "This world has rejected the efforts of the Demon's Head. But…if you shall forgive the turn of phrase…perhaps this is a case where two Heads are better than one."

Ra's mused on this for a long moment. He then extended a hand. "Welcome…brother."

"And you as well…brother."

Talia watched the two shake hands and for the briefest of moments had a true flash of sympathy for what was coming for her beloved.

The factory was normally shut down at this time of night but was currently looking at capacity. The call had gone out through the criminal underworld and the curiosity had grown enough to allow over a hundred high-ranking gang bosses and a few super-villains to join together. Each had been struck by the bizarre sight before them.

Atop a catwalk overlooking a huge vat was the Joker. But not the Joker they had known, the wild man with the tattoos and crazy behavior. This was more of a clownish Joker in a nice suit standing beside a coffin that housed the body of the Joker they all knew. The vat was steaming with various acids that gave off a foul smell but the Joker seemed to be putting up with it. With great ceremony, he removed his hat and placed it under his arm. Clearing his throat, he began to talk to the assembled group.

"Dear friends…Today is the day the Clown cried. Not for the passing of one man, you see but the passing of a dream. A dream of a version of myself who did succeed on his epic quest to teach the Bat how life is a grand ultimate joke. He did well at first, even robbing the Bat of the annoying Bird. Of getting his own Harley. He had a good start. Sadly, like many a fine artist, he lost his way.

"Really, what has he been up to? Sheer brutality and attacks. No panache to it all, no art. He was bad, very, very bad and not in the good way. No, he could have ruled this town and instead he transformed into just another third-rate thug who is a disgrace to our fine name." His face tightened. "Nothing but a green-haired fool with too much gold in his teeth, whose plans are farcical in their inception, idiotic in their execution and just plain dull to boot! Who cared for more the cash than the chaos!" Spittle was flying from his mouth at this point. "Who had the most obnoxious dress sense imaginable! A horrific pretender not fit to lick the dirt off my spats!"

He took a deep breath and grinned. "But I digress…." He waved his hands. "The time has come to give this town a new Joker! A happy soul that knows you have to balance the fun with the mayhem! Who knows that the joke is all that matters and how to properly execute a punch line. It's a brand new day in Gotham, boys and girls! And it starts now."

He pulled a lever as the platform carrying the coffin slowly raised up. The Joker raised a kazoo to his mouth to blare out his take on "Taps" as the coffin slid down the platform. It fell before hitting the acid, floating for a few moments before finally sinking into the liquid.

The Joker finished his "playing" and bowed his head with a somber expression. He then looked up and grinned. "Well, that was fun! Who's for Chinese?"

He sauntered down the catwalk as he faced the group below him. "Now, I'll admit, gassing you all to death as a topper was highly tempting. However, I need to understand my audience before I embark upon my routines like any good comic should. So, you can all go to your places and tell your bosses and underlings that there's a new Joker in town. A better Joker." His grin shifted to one of menace. "A deadlier Joker. One who won't take to someone else trying to steal his thunder, especially with the Bat."

One mohawked gangster in a dark suit frowned. "Maybe you took out the old Clown but the Bat is something else."

The Joker arched an eyebrow. "So this town is tough, eh?" He grinned brightly. "Wait till they get a load of me…"

With that, he threw his head back and let out a cackle of laughter that seemed to echo for miles. And without knowing why, across Gotham City, every resident felt themselves suddenly shuddering.

So the DCCU Earth gets a few visitors from the DC Animated Universe. Let's face it, the DCCU Joker is really terrible despite Leto being a great actor, he just lacks the great charm and style of the character. And the idea of the Joker and Ra's from a "cartoonish" world that's really more serious than it seems interacting with the DCCU is interesting.

And also addressing how there's a reason Earths that are almost direct counterparts to each other are being kept from interacting as much due to various cosmic issues (and also a bit easier for said writer).

BTW, the Earths the Watcher sees in the start are for the Avenger's Earth's Mightiest Heroes and the separate Avengers cartoon shows.

And the Joker references various other animated Batman universes as well as a few films.

So obviously can imagine Mark Hamill and David Warner as voices of the DCAU Joker and Ra's with appearances like the cartoon. Meanwhile, for Earth-51 Ra's, think Oded Fehr with Priyanka Chopra as Talia.

All comments welcomed as usual.