Author's Note: I find it amusing how many people (who are not from Australia or New Zealand) struggle to understand what Captain Boomerang is saying, so worry no more I have written them all. Cheers to all who read etc, I know it may seem drawn out how I split these chapters but it gets too rushed and just looks like a movie script if I put it all at once. Let me know what you think. The plus side of these shorter chapters is that I will update them much quicker.
Chapter Thirty Three.
Harley kept her pace even as she watched all of those around her. She stayed at Floyd's side as the group made their way through the grim streets. She knew a little of his work; he never missed, and never took out anyone other than his target. Of all the people around her, she had some semblance of respect for him, he would be an asset to be on friendly terms with.
Harley slowed her pace gradually as she spotted Digger walking closely to Slipknot, she could spot trouble brewing from a mile away; although it was usually much closer and she was more often than not involved. Harley stopped and kneeled, pretending to re-tie her shoelace as Digger and Slipknot walked past her. Once they had passed, Harley stood up and resumed walking, now beside Killer Croc'. Digger leaned to the side slightly, closer to Slipknot as he began speaking lowly. "Mind games" He stated, Slipknot looked at him disdainfully "What's that?" He asked as both men turned forward, trying to be casual about their conversation.
"All this bomb in the neck crap. That ain't real mate. See they're trying to trap us with our own minds, right? But look around, we're free bro'" Digger spoke conspiratorially. Harley hopped over a large beam keeping her demeanor casual as she listened to the plans of the two criminals. "How do you know this?" Slipknot asked somewhat suspiciously. "Just trust me, I know, all right? It's a con" Digger stated. "Now I'm going, because I've got a life to live. The question is, are you coming?" Digger continued.
"Yeah" Slipknot responded simply. "Smart" Digger responded. Harley was suspicious of Diggers motives, she too recognised cons when she saw them, and Digger didn't have a reason right now to get Slipknot to escape with him, she suspected that he was going to use Slipknot as some sort of test, because that was very much something she would do. The group turned a corner, the street opened up to reveal a large flaming jet blocking one of the paths. Harley became very suspicious, something was bringing down everything that flew over the city, of course the story they were given was weak, but this wasn't something Harley had seen before.
As the group made their way up the street, Slipknot and Digger flew into motion. Digger punched the guard closest to him squarely in the face while Slipknot swept the legs out from the guard closest to him. Katana turned around to see the commotion, she pulled her sword from its sheath in one smooth motion, it glinted in the night, catching Diggers eye, he whipped out a boomerang, throwing it precisely at her neck. Katana flipped fluidly, avoiding the boomerang.
Digger winced at the flip, turning he made a run for it as Katana gained on him quickly. Slipknot used the distraction to pull a piece of gear from his back, he aimed high up a towering building in front of him, a grappling hook flew from the device, attaching to the tower. He was quickly whipped up, sailing to the building before him. As he reached the building Katana lunged forward and caught Digger, pressing him up against concrete wall as she pressed the blade of her sword to his throat, effectively freezing him in place. Harleys gaze flickered between the two men.
Digger raised his hand suddenly, easily catching his boomerang, "Sorry, it's what I do" He said, surprisingly calmly to Katana, the sword still pressed to his jugular. The soldiers raised their guns, all aiming at Slipknot as he began to scale the building. "Hold your fire!" Flag ordered, as the men lowered their weapons Flag pulled his wrist up, looking closely at a device. His face was stern as pressed something on the devices screen.
Harley quickly understood what he had done. Slipknot, who was making a daring leap between the buildings, was midway through the air when his head seemed to exploded. Like a pulpy water balloon, Harley thought, as she watched Slipknot's now decapitated body thump against the side of a building, where it then hung. "Now that's a killer app" Harley laughed, swinging her bat back around to rest on her shoulders.
Harley felt a small amount of concern at the idea of the explosive in her neck, she trusted Joker, but she needed to know he a method of disarming it before she made a break for it to get to him."Ooh. That's like the world's worst pinata" Harley stated as a chunk of unidentifiable flesh fell from Slipknot's body to the ground below with a wet thump.
Flag waved a group of soldiers on ahead as he turned back to look at the group of criminals. "Okay. You wanna keep playing the Hollywood squares version of 'I'll blow your frickin' head off'?" He said, his voice agitated. Harley rubbed the back of her neck mindlessly, wondering how it would be removed.
Flag walked past the line of prisoners, studying them. "You next?" He asked Diablo. "You're trippin' homie" Diablo responded. "You next Deadshot?" He asked gruffly next, stopping in front of the group. Deadshot walked up to the front of the man quickly "You just threaten me?" He asked, his posture staunch. "Oh yeah" Flag replied, meeting Deadshot's gaze. "He just threatened me" Deadshot said, pointing a finger at Flag as he turned and walked back to the group."Move" Flag ordered, as he turned and walked ahead. Harley turned and noticed that Katana still had Digger pinned to the wall. "You got a boyfriend?" Harley heard him ask, face serious as Katana let go of Digger harshly.
Harley started walking and was soon joined by Deadshot who began walking beside her. "Alright I'm going to kill him" He said quietly to Harley, his gaze on Flag. "Well you better make it quick, 'cause he's going to kill all of us one by one" Harley said, glancing around casually as she ensured that none of the soldiers caught their conversation. "I'm gonna drop him, the sword lady, and five or seven of these soldiers, after that I'm going to need some help. You down?" Floyd asked, looking at Harley sideways. "Always. What about the shit in our necks?" Harley replied, her face uncharacteristically serious as they plotted, she wasn't sure about escaping without Joker already there to disarm the devices, but she was sure she'd have fun trying; what was life without a little risk, or a lot of risk.
"Your friends going to help us out with that, right?" Floyd pushed lightly. The pair slowed to a stop as Harley studied Floyd for a moment. She could never guarantee the safety of anyone once she and Joker were reunited, she liked Floyd well enough though. Harley smiled at him slowly, tapping his shoulder with the handle of her bat "You're my friend too" She said, a wide smile on her face. Floyd hummed slightly in amusement "Stay evil, dollface. Spread the word" He said, moving forward and walking ahead.
Harley watched him for a moment, her mind plotting escape plans and often twisting off into ways she could destroy all the people who had held her. Harley stayed still for a moment longer as Digger walked passed her, he seemed like a safe bet to agree on their escape plan. Harley walked up to his side, keeping pace beside him. "So, I'm thinking if we move together we can kill all these guys and go our separate ways. Yeah?" Harley suggested with a smile, swaying her body a little more as she noticed him glance sideways at her, not that he would need much more persuasion.
"Sounds good" He agreed easily. "Spread the word" Harley added, walking to the side as Digger picked up his pace to walk beside Diablo. "Psst, hey" He whispered, reaching Diablos side. "We need your help man. When the time is right, you hit Flag with a fireball. He'll be too busy burning to death to have a go at us with his bloody phone of doom" Digger said, keeping his head faced forward as he spoke lowly.
"Then what?" Diablo asked, his face difficult to decipher under the heavy tattooing. Harley had a feeling he would be useless, despite his enormous power, what a waste she huffed. "Then we get out of here" Digger stated, his tone heavily implying the answer was obvious. "And do what?" Diablo persisted. Diggers face twisted into annoyance "What are you, bloody Socrates?" Digger asked, his voice a little louder in his annoyance.
As Harley heard Diggers voice raising slightly she rolled her eyes, the soldier's closest to her would hear if they got any closer. Harley spun to walk backwards, still listening intently to Digger as she smiled at them brightly. She didn't say a word as she began twirling around them breezily, capturing their attention as they eyed her in a strange mix of distaste and hazy lust. They soldiers exchanged a glance and dropped back slightly, putting a little more distance between themselves and Harley. With a laugh she turned back around, they were too easy.
While Harley had herded the soldiers back, Digger had glance at Diablo in distasteful surprise. "Ease with all the questions. Freedom man! Freedom, you remember that, don't you?" Digger exclaimed lowly. "We're criminals, you know that right?" Diablo responded. "Yeah and it's great. Come on, do the bastard" Digger persisted before speeding up away from Diablo, who did not reply. Harley rolled her eyes once again, a criminal trying to 'reform', how annoying.
As Digger neared Killer Croc', Diablo called out to Digger. "Hey be careful, he eats people" Diablo warned. "Sorry Mother Superior, what?" Digger called back, a mocking tone easing into his voice. "He eats people for reals, homie. He's a cannibal" Diablo stated again. Digger nodded with a mocking "Ah" and walked ahead, reaching Killer Croc'. Harley sped up to Diablos side, deciding to get a definite answer on his part.
She sidled up to him and draped an arm around his shoulders, before she could speak Diablo held up a hand "No" He said firmly, shrugging Harley off and walking ahead. Harley stopped for a moment, face dark as he walked off, he had annoyed her. She did not take well to others annoying her. What good was a person who refused to do anything, good or bad. Harley wondered why he was even here, not that any of them had much of a choice in the matter.
Her thoughts were distracted by Killer Croc' roaring and sending Digger flying out to the side with one sweeping arm. Harley sped up, as all the soldiers turned their guns towards the commotion. Upon seeing it was just Digger, struggling to get up from a pile of plastic trays and trash bags, they turned ahead. Harley stared down at Digger in irritation "What did you say to him?" She asked. "Nothing, just having a laugh. No worries, yeah" Digger dismissed as he finally struggled his way up from the pile to stand before walking away quickly.
Harley made eye contact with Floyd as he shook his head, his frustration shared by Harley. It seemed like they were the only two actually capable of doing anything. Harley walked ahead quickly to stand by Killer Croc' "So what did he say to make you all upset K.C?" She asked lightly, Killer Croc' rolled his eyes at her slightly, but did not answer. "Come on, Doctor patient confidentiality" Harley pursued, though she normally did not like speaking of her bad past before meeting Joker, it was much easier with Killer Croc' and Joker, criminals who had known her at both points. Killer Croc' gave a low rumble that sounded close to a laugh "Wanted to know how many of the soldiers I could eat" He responded, surprising Harley, getting answers from him was like getting blood from a stone.
Harley laughed slightly, shooting a beaming smile at Killer Croc', "I don't think they'd taste good, they're too bland. No flavour" Harley pondered aloud, though she got no further response from Killer Croc', other than a flash of his teeth, which could have been a smirk or a threat. Harley walked slowly as the group reached the end of the alley they had been walking through, she was getting bored. She needed some action or she needed to escape, hopefully a little of both.