It was early in the morning; the sun was just coming over the horizon and all was quiet until the silence was broken by the roaring of engines. Four Humvees and three MRAPS escorted by GCPD patrol cars raced through the gates leading to Arkham Asylum, screeching to a halt in the yard outside the front doors.
"Out, out, out!" Yelled the officer in charge of the Marine MP's. Marines in full combat gear jumped out of the MRAPS, large six-wheeled vehicles impervious to small arms fire with a V-shaped lower hull to deflect IED blasts, as the machine gunners up top scanned the road in front of the asylum for hostiles.
Alex jumped out of the center MRAP, the vehicle they'd be transporting Harleen in, and joined the Marines securing the Asylum. Inside the patients were riled up, the staff desperately trying to maintain some sense of order as the Marines stormed through the building towards Harley's cell. As they reached her cell five Marines in riot gear stacked up on the door in preparation to execute a forced removal if necessary.
"Dr. Quinzel will you comply!?" The lead Marine shouted through the bars.
"I'm in a strait jacket, what do you think?" Came the sarcastic response and Alex sighed before calling out to her.
"Harley don't antagonize the MP's they'll…" He had begun to say but they had already stormed the cell and restrained her by force. "Alright, alright, get her up we gotta schedule remember?" Alex sighed while rubbing my forehead.
"Aye Sergeant."
"Overlord precious cargo is secure, moving to convoy now." He reported into the radio as they made our way back outside.
"Roger that. We have drones flying over suspect agencies including Belle Reve. Get the PC to the airport alive and we'll see that she gets the help she needs. Good luck Sergeant, Overlord out."
They then escorted Harley through the asylum and outside were they rushed her into the designated MRAP as the Marines providing security hoped back into their respective vehicles and pulled out of the asylum grounds. As they drove into the city the convoy commander came over the comms.
"Alright ladies and gents here the scheme of maneuver, were escorting one Harleen Quinzel to Gotham International for transfer to the navel brig in Miramar. Our routes been cleared of traffic and we have Gotham SWAT acting as our QRF in case anything happens. Now we have five major checkpoints totaling for about thirty minutes of travel. Gunners maintain your sectors of fire and stay alert. Remember all of Gotham is watching us so let's show them how Marines get things done, Oorah?"
The Marines rode in silence inside of their MRAP, Alex looked over his weapon for the hundredth time while Harley sat in silence, staring at the floor plates to avoid eye contact with the Marines inside. It was all relatively peaceful and thanks to the gentle bumping of the vehicle Alex was beginning to nod off when one of the Marines spoke up.
"Hey Sergeant, me and the guys been wondering why the local recruiters being involved in this. Seems kinda odd to us." The Marine asked. Alex read the patch on the front of his plate carrier identifying him as a Lance Corporal Jimenez. He was a young-looking kid, no older than twenty by the looks of him, probably his first real mission since hitting the fleet along with the rest of the younger Marines.
"Well kid, Harley and I go back, they asked me to help keep her calm during the transfer, wasn't my idea but you know how it is, gotta do what the green weenie says." He lied. Again, that was the official story, but anyone who believes that load of B.S. probably belongs at the asylum they'd just left. One would think whoever was in charge of creating cover stories would have made them more believable but Alex guessed in the end it doesn't really matter so long as it draws attention away from the real reason.
"Aight, just seems a bit odd that they'd care about it like that? I mean no disrespect Sergeant but I think we got enough guys to keep her under control." He replied and Alex knew he wasn't buying that story for a second.
"Don't underestimate her Jimenez, she might not look it but she could probably kick all our asses if she wasn't in that jacket." Alex told him, causing Harley to chuckle.
"Naw, maybe like one or two of ya before one of ya guys gets in a lucky shot." She said with a grin and the Marines sitting on either side of her leaned away from her in response. They all knew who she was and what she was capable of but it would do no good for her to keep antagonizing them.
"Harleen, what did I tell you…"
"I'm just saying half ya guys don't look all that experienced…"
"HARLEEN!" Alex shouted loudly, causing everyone to jump and look back at him.
"Shutting up now!" She squeaked out and flinched away from Alex as if he was going to hit her. Fuck, he'd forgotten that she was constantly abused by Joker and that she'd associate shouting with physical abuse. It made him sick seeing her scared of him like that, sure he'd thought of killing her before but that was when he was in a bad state of mind. Now that he was past his anger at her he couldn't imagine himself wanting to harm her.
"Sergeant is she alright?" Jimenez asked after Harley remained trembling in her seat.
"Joker abused her constantly while they were together, part of the reason her heads so fucked up. He'd treat her like shit even though everything she did was an effort to gain his approval. She's as much a victim of his evil as anyone else." Alex explained.
"Never heard that before, always thought she just had a screw loose up there but…man that's some fucked up shit. Hope she can get some help."
"Well that's what we're here for right? Military's looking out for her in exchange for intel, that sorta thing."
"Convoy be advised we are passing checkpoint four, ETA to final checkpoint ten minutes over."
"Damn, home stretch already…" He couldn't have said those words any sooner as an RPG exploded against one of the patrol cars before a semi-truck slammed into the lead Humvee, pinning it against the wall of a gas station and blocking our route. Alex's truck screeched to a halt after swerving to avoid rear ending the MRAP ahead of it just as bullets began to ricochet off the armored hull. Their gunner quickly swiveled his machine gun towards a parking garage across the street and returned fire, causing Harley to jump in her seat as hot, empty casings rained down into her lap from above.
"Gun one is hit! I say again gun one is hit!" Came a frantic voice over the radio before an RPG struck another Humvee.
"Driver get us outta here!"
"Can't Sergeant, roads blocked!" Shit, they were sitting ducks for that RPG if they stayed in this vehicle.
"All vics, all vics. Dismount and take cover inside the McDonalds to our three-o-clock! Machine gunners provide suppressive fire,over!" The convoy commander ordered over the comms. As the highest-ranking Marine in his truck Alex quickly set about tasking the Marines.
"You two secure Harley and get ready to move on my command, Jimenez you're with me, provide security for them. Move Marines!"
Alex opened the rear doors and jumped out of the vehicle with Jimenez, taking cover behind a parked car. He pointed out where the fire was coming from to Jimenez and the two began to return fire, buying time for the other MP's to rush Harley inside the McDonalds with the rest of the Marines. As they rushed inside the civilians who had been enjoying their breakfast screamed and ran in terror as bullets began to strike the windows. Alex saw the two MP's escorting Harley take her to the back of the building away from the fire as the remaining Marines flipped over tables for cover and set up firing positions. Across from them Alex could see multiple figures running about the parking garage and once he looked through his scope he saw that it was indeed the soldiers he and Barbara had run into before.
The soldiers had set up firing positions on every level of the five-story parking complex and from the looks of it they outnumbered the Marines three to one. Alex saw the flash of another RPG firing and ducked behind an overturned table just as it struck the last of the Humvees, destroying its engine and wounding the gunner.
"Goddamnit where's our QRF!?" The Captain in charge of the MP's yelled as the wounded were pulled inside the building.
"Sir, QRF has been engaged five blocks over!" A comm Marine replied urgently.
"Fuck! Get our wounded in the back and post a guard on Quinzel then ready two squads and a support team to assault that building, post machine guns on the roof to provide covering fire for them to advance!"
"Yes Sir!"
"And someone get these civilians out of…" The Captain's order was cut off by the 'CRACK' of a sniper rifle and he fell dead to the floor, a fresh bullet hole through the center of his forehead, followed by the two words everyone dreads hearing on the battlefield.
"MAN DOWN!"
"Sergeant what do we do!?" This was bad, really bad. The Commanding Officer had been killed and while they were putting up a fight the Marines were still taking one casualty for every five they killed.
"Suppress that sniper and focus fire on those RPG's, we need to buy time to get that semi out of the way!" Alex ordered before he heard the machine guns light up the garage while the riflemen started picking off the RPG's. But even as the last RPG fell that sniper kept on popping up and scoring headshots on his guys. They needed reinforcements and they needed them now.
...
It was another boring day at working, cataloging new additions to the library's collection when Barbara's cellphone started ringing and caller ID said it was Alex.
"Hey what's up?" She asked as she picked up, expecting some of greeting in return but instead she heard shouting, gunfire, and a muffled explosion before Alex came through.
"Barbara! We're pinned down in a McDonalds on the corner of Eighth and India, taking sniper fire from a parking garage across the street! I have excessive casualties and need support asap!" Came the short reply. Barbara didn't even hesitate before dropping her phone and rushing to the nearest bathroom to change into the Batgirl suit.
Barbara left the library and used the city's skyline to quickly get to the street Alex had mentioned but he needn't have bothered as she could see the black smoke billowing from the wrecked convoy and hear the excessive gunfire a mile away. After perching on a rooftop across from the parking garage Barbara was able to fully take in the battle raging below. The patrol cars and Humvees were smoldering wrecks while the three larger vehicles were intact, flashes of gunfire appeared from every level of the parking garage and she could barely make out a squad of Marines pinned down behind one of the destroyed Humvees by the sniper. Speaking of which Barbara spotted the lone figure on the roof of the garage, only accessible via stairwell. That is unless you have the ability to fly, or glide down in her case.
"Alex I'm in position, have your guys ready to move in sixty seconds!"
"Roger that! Alright boys our guardian angel just arrived, we move in sixty!"
With that Barbara leapt of the roof and let her cape carry her down behind the stairwell where she could finally make out the sniper. He held a high powered, semi-automatic rifle in his hands and wore a metallic helmet and armor plates over a red under suit and Barbara instantly recognized the uniform. Deadshot, the most skilled marksmen in the world. This would be tricky, she had to get him away from his weapons and force him to fight her with his fists, otherwise she'd end up like she did in the sewers only this time Alex wouldn't be here to save her.
45 Seconds
Deadshot hadn't seen her land, he was too busy lining up his next shot to notice so it was now or never. Barbara readied a batarang and broke cover, running in a dead sprint to him.
30 Seconds
He'd heard her boots hitting the floor as she ran and was in the process of spinning around to fire at her when she threw her batarang. Her aim was on point as the batarang buried itself in his weapons receiver, jamming the bolt in place and rendering the weapon useless. That's when he threw it down and reached for his pistol.
15 Seconds
Barbara used her momentum to barge into him, throwing him off balance and causing his pistol to drop from his grasp and clatter to the floor where she then kicked it out of reach. Deadshot had recovered however and sent his fist slamming into the side of her head before kicking her legs out from under her.
5 Seconds
"Batgirl, does Batman think so little of me that he sends his lackeys after me instead of facing me himself? Well I'll just have to rectify that, won't I." He sneered.
Time.
Down inside the lower levels of the garage the sounds of gunfire picked up as the squad of Marines entered and started clearing their way through the structure. It wouldn't be long until they reached the roof, Barbara just needed to hold her own until they did. Deadshot was aware of that fact as well though and he quickly changed his mind about fighting and instead bypassed her to recover his pistol. Barbara couldn't let him escape, not after killing so many Marines, so she scrambled to her feet and reached Deadshot just as he was picking up his weapon. Barbara quickly stomped her boot down on his hand, causing him to grunt in pain, before she picked up the weapon herself.
"You little bitch!" Deadshot shouted, taking a step towards her but stopped when Barbara raised the pistol level with his chest.
Barbara didn't know what was coming over her but it felt wrong, so wrong. It went against everything Bruce had taught her but how many more people would die if she let him escape. A part of her wanted to do it, Alex made it look so easy when he did so why was she hesistating? The weapon in her hand was already leveled, all she had to do was apply pressure to the trigger, causing the firing pin to strike the rounds primer and send the bullet flying out of the barrel towards Deadshot, but as much as she tried to rationalize doing it she couldn't stop her hand from trembling in fear. Deadshot was able to pick up on this and Barbara felt that he was smirking behind his mask.
"Can't do it, can you? Come on Batgirl, stop being a pussy and pull the trigger. We both know those Marines will kill me for what I've done, might as well get it over with." He said as he closed the distance between them and removed his mask.
"I…No…" Barbara whispered quietly, lowering the weapon. She couldn't believe this, he'd let her do it?
"DO IT!" Deadshot shouted, taking her hand and forcing the muzzle against his forehead. "PULL THE TRIGGER!"
No, this wasn't right. Why had she picked up this stupid gun? Why did he want her to kill him? He had her hands in a death grip keeping the pistol against his head so Barbara did the only thing she could think of and kneed him in the groin. Her hands were freed as Deadshot crumpled to his knees and she quickly backed away from him, tossing the pistol over the guard rail as she did. It was at this moment that the Marines stormed the rooftop.
"Coward… you're weak!" Deadshot shouted as he was restrained by Marines.
"No, I won't do it. You have a lot to answer for Deadshot but I won't be your judge."
"Fool, this is far bigger than you could possibly imagine. You think you saved these men, saved Quinn? This was just a demonstration. My employer isn't afraid of the military and soon you, Quinn, and all the rest of these costumed villains and vigilantes will be destroyed!" He raved, almost fanatically before receiving a blow to the back of the head from Alex's buttstock, rendering him unconscious. Either he had been brainwashed or he truly believed in the goal of whoever had hired him, whatever it was.
"Shut up you! Take this fucker away!" Alex ordered. Two Marines then brought Deadshot to his feet and dragged him away. "Thanks for the help, we'd have been dead without you."
"Right, anytime Sergeant. You guys going to be alright?"
"Sergeant, hostile reinforcements en-route!" One of the Marines that had accompanied Alex shouted.
"Does that answer your question? Jimenez, where are we at with clearing the route?" Alex replied before addressing the Marine.
"Trucks been moved but we only have three vehicles operational." He reported back.
"Can we get the wounded out?"
"Should have enough room Sergeant, I'll radio the guys at the airport and have Corpsmen on standby."
"Alright let's get these guys loaded up, Batgirl you with us?"
"Yeah, I'll make sure you get to the airport." Should be a simple enough affair, they'd move Harley and the wounded out of here while the Marines who could still fight regrouped with the SWAT teams holed up a few blocks down. Once everyone was loaded Barbara and Alex climbed into the same truck Harley was in. Harley looked at Barbara in surprise as she sat in the seat across from her.
"Brat, uh I mean, Batgirl! What are you doing here!?"
"Saving your life it would seem. Again."
"Oh, well thanks for that I guess."
"Batgirls good people Harley, saved my life after your boy tried to have me killed."
"Fuck, I'm sorry you got hurt because of me again." She said with downcast eyes. She studied the floor plate for a second before looking up at Barbara, her blue eyes boring into hers. "Batgirl…I know I've caused nothing but grief ta you and yer friends but…thank you… for saving my friend. I gotta lot to make up to you guys and I swear I will." Barbara actually believed her when she said that.
"I'm sure you will, but obviously it's going to take more than words." She told her sternly.
"I know, whatever you guys need name it. Once I'm sane again, that is."
"You will be. Once we get to Miramar the Navy will work their special brand of magic and make your head right again."
"The Navy has magic? I knew it! How else could they keep those giant metal ships floating in the ocean!" She exclaimed excitedly. Barbara raised an eyebrow and Alex rubbed his forehead before correcting himself.
"Wha?…No, not actual magic Harley. The Navy has their own psychiatrists, I had to go see one after…you know…" An awkward silence came over the two at the mention of that night. Not wanting to intrude on the two Barbara looked out the window to see that they had finally reached the airport and were pulling onto the tarmac towards a waiting C-130, but before she could relax Barbara saw several black SUV's plow through the gate and race towards them.
"Uh, guys we got trouble." She informed Alex and he looked out the window to see the what was going on. He swore as he removed the magazine from his rifle and counted the remaining bullets before reinserting it.
"Don't suppose you carry any ammo on that utility belt of yours?" He asked but she shook my head no. "Alright, well I only got eleven rounds left so fighting's out of the question. Once this truck stops we head straight for that plane, got it?"
"What about these guys?" Barbara asked referring to the wounded Marines riding in the other trucks and their drivers but she needn't have bothered as the Marine manning the mounted machine gun, Jimenez she remembered his name was, began firing at the SUV's once they got in range, shredding the engine block of the first vehicle and killing the driver.
"They got this! Get some Jimenez!" Alex replied, congratulating Jimenez on his shooting.
"Oorah Sergeant!" Jimenez called down from above.
Barbara could see the C-130 now and was relieved to see that it already had its engines started on the runway and even more relieved to see Humvees racing down the tarmac to intercept the SUV's and take the fire off us. Our MRAP screeched to a stop in front of the planes ramp and Barbara grabbed Harley as Alex opened the doors and rushed her up the ramp and onto the plane were the crew chief directed them to some seats. Barbara had just gotten Harley strapped in when Alex came running up the ramp, the MRAPs already headed towards the rendezvous point with their wounded as the ramp was raised and the plane started accelerating down the runway. That's when Barbara realized she was still onboard.
"Wait, I can't leave!" She told the crew chief urgently but there was nothing he could do.
"Too late for that Ma'am, we're already in the air."
Crap.
…Mission Complete…