Joker sat in his chair, his face down in his hands. Harley and what few men had made it out of the club without being arrested or dying stood in front of the old tattered desk Joker sat behind. Harley leaned down, looking at the Joker who had remained oddly quiet since putting his face down.
"You ok, Puddin'?"
In a blur, a knife slammed down on the desk, driven into the desktop between Harley's outstretched fingers. Harley let out a yip pulling her hand back as the Joker stood up, pulling the knife out from the desk and slowly running his finger along its blade.
"I was thinking…and you no there are no interruptions when I'm thinking!"
"Okay, Mr. J…"
Joker's mouth widened into a big smile.
"I think it's about time to find some friends…"
Harley raised an eyebrow over her domino mask.
"Friends, Mr. J?"
"Yes…"
Joker turned to look at his men.
"Get the word out, boys…anyone who thinks they can take out Lethal needs to make their way here. They'll get a wonderful surprise!"
His men shrugged and turned, walking out of the warehouse. Harley looked at the Joker questioningly.
"I don't get it, Mr. J…outside help?"
"I don't care if they kill that masked gun carrying lunatic…I just want to keep him busy for a while. He seems to have a little grudge against your 'Puddin'. Wouldn't want him spoiling another plan to take out old caped and pointy…or this town. And after that's done…I'll have Lethal's severed head gold plated and hung over my desk."
Harley smiled as Joker's laugh echoed within the warehouse.
James Gordon sat at his desk sorting through a pile of papers that littered his desk. Standing up he walked sleepily over to a very used coffeemaker sitting in the corner of his office, pouring more of the hot, bitter liquid out into his cup.
"I need a vacation."
Turning around, he nearly dropped his coffee stumbling backwards from surprise. He leaned against the wall holding his chest and trying to catch his breath.
"I swear one day you're going to give me a heart attack."
Batman stood in front of the now open window, covered completely in shadow.
"Good evening, Commissioner."
Gordon looked at his watch.
"Evening? It's morning now."
Gordon slowly moved over to his desk, sitting down.
"You never laugh at that."
Batman just quietly moved to the desk, lifting one of the multiple papers that laid on it and looking at it.
"Did anyone die at the club?"
"Two civilians. They were killed trying to get out before you showed up. A bunch of others are injured, but none too seriously. Thanks for tonight, I don't know what would have happened if you didn't show up."
"Or Lethal."
Gordon stared momentarily, then sipped his coffee.
"So have you gotten anything on your new competition?"
"No. I was hoping you could help me on that, Jim."
Gordon leaned back in his chair, sliding open one of the drawers of his desk. Lifting up an evidence bag, he dropped it onto his desk. It was badly burned, but Batman could see a few frayed wires.
"It's what's left of the little joy toy that killed Wesker. Our guys have looked at it, but can't tell me anything more than it was designed good enough to go boom."
Lifting up the bag, Batman slid it beneath his cape.
"I'll look at it."
"Any idea about the Joker?"
"Not yet. But I have a feeling that when I find Lethal, I'll find the Joker."
Gordon looked up from his desk to ask why, but Batman was gone. Gordon slowly shook his head turning back to his paper work.
"One of these days I'm going to nail his feet to the floor."
Harley slowly walked up behind the lab coat wearing Joker as he stood in front of a large metal vat, using pneumatic arms to lift barrels of chemicals up and pour them into it.
"We got some takers, Mr. J."
Joker turned around, looking at Harley.
"Excellent."
Pulling his rubber gloves off, Joker walked up the stairs, walking from the basement to the floor level of the warehouse. Pulling off the white coat, he walked into a room that had three men standing around in it. A giant, green scaly man walked out of the shadows staring at the Joker.
"Bout time you showed up, clown."
"Nice to see you too, Croc."
The Killer Croc growled at Joker, walking up and standing a good foot and a half over Joker.
"I still remember what happened the last time, Joker…I'd be careful about upsetting me."
Joker reached up and patted Croc on the shoulder.
"Relax there, Croc."
An almost happy voice called out over to Croc.
"Oh dear, Crocodile…you must relax. Let the man speak."
Croc turned around and stared at the man sitting at the table, pouring tea into a small cup. Lifting his head up, the Mad Hatter looked out from under his top hat at Croc, lifting his tea cup up and sipping it. Another voice from the other side of the room, this one sounding as though it came from under a mask talked.
"Yeah, jolly green giant. Sit down and shut up."
Croc turned and looked at the man.
"Shut your mouth, bug…or I'll rip that stupid mask off your head and tear it off your face…"
The man slowly clicked a lighter on, standing up from the box he was sitting on.
"It's Firefly…and I'd hate to have to light you up like a birthday cake."
Croc started to move forward at the man. Firefly quickly pulled his coat off, revealing the full fire suit, lifting up his flamethrower. Firefly yelled through his oxygen mask.
"C'mon, big man!"
A gunshot suddenly echoed in the room. Turning all three men stared at the Joker who stood with plaster dust falling over his head…a handgun aimed up at the ceiling.
"All of you shut up!!"
Croc snarled as he moved back, leaning against the wall. Joker looked at the men around the room.
"I assume all of you have heard of a non-Bat-bad-guy-killer running around on the streets…even you, Croc."
Croc bared his teeth again, but stayed against the wall. Hatter slowly shook his head as he sipped at his tea cup.
"Heard he killed Scarface and Ventriloquist…true shame…"
Joker stared at Hatter, then shook his head.
"Getting back to the point…since you all have heard of him, then I assume all of you realize that at some point, he will be coming after you."
Firefly spoke up.
"And you, right, clown?"
Joker smiled.
"Of course. Anywho…I thought of getting ahead of the curve and gathering a few friends to have a little contest."
"What are you talking about?"
Joker smiled at Croc and snapped his fingers. Harley stepped forward and opened a briefcase of hundred dollar bills. All three men stared at the money.
"The first man to bring me Lethal's head gets a fairly large amount of money. Do we have a deal?"
The three men looked at each other. Hatter stood up from the table.
"I do believe we have an accord."
Removing his hat and lowering his head at Harley in respect, Hatter turned and left the room. Firefly clicked the lighter in his hand on again, then turned and walked away.
"Keep that warm for me."
Joker turned and looked at Croc who walked slowly up to him. Croc looked at the money, then at Joker.
"Better not be playing around, clown. Cause if you are…I'm not only going to get that money, I'll be adding your head to Lethal's."
Joker chuckled.
"No worries, Croc…honest…scout's honor."
Joker lifted his hand in the scout's sign. Croc just stared at him, then turned and walked out of the room. Joker's smile faded from his face.
"Next time he threatens me I'm going to be giving you a new crocodile skin jacket, Harley."
Harley giggled with glee as she shut the briefcase and followed the Joker back down to the basement of the warehouse.
