Chapter 3: Executing A Truce
Harley had just arrived back at the Asylum after making sure Ivy was safely transported to the Chinatown safehouse. The Arkham Knight fellow, who most of the villains53 disliked was gone by the time Harley had arrived back. His soldiers were gone as well. The only people that were currently at the Asylum when Harley arrived back were Scarecrow and the other villains. Apparently they had been discussing their plots for their personal schemes against Batman and Gotham.
Scarecrow and all of the other villains looked at Harley as she approached them. Scarecrow gravelly welcomed the villainess back.
"Nice of you to join us again, Dr Quinzel."
"Yea yea, What are you planning to do with Pammy? Your not gonna pump her with that weird nightmare crap are you?"
Scarecrow looked at her with amusement before replying. "Dr Isley is paying dearly for refusing to join me Miss Quinzel. She could've been a huge asset to us but she let her arrogant pride get the best of her, and that, is what her downfall will be."
Two-Face decided to flip his coin to figure out Ivy's current fate. It landed and Harvey gave his answer. "Fate isn't bright for Pamela, Quinn."
"Shut up Two-Creep!" Harley shouted.
"Awwwwww." Penguin continued. "Poor little Ivy is gonna eat some of that bloody gas. Shame, she could've been on my payroll with you Quinn. My offer still stands." Harley rolled her eyes at Penguin. "I would've payed Ivy fifty grand to release those bloody spores of hers into Wayne Manor. Kill that bastard Wayne and his butler. Shame, me and Plant Lady would've ruled Gotham easily!"
Two-Face had some harsh words for Penguin. "Over my men's dead bodies Oswald."
Penguin laughed before smoking his cigar. "Aw don't worry Dent, i'll make sure to kill half if not all of your crew while i'm at it."
"I'll make sure you all BURN!" Firefly added.
Riddler was simply annoyed with all of the other villains. "You're all incompetent, I, The Riddler, has a superior mind than all of you put together."
"You know, for a guy that's all about being smart, your plans were always dumb and Bat-Brain always beat you down." Harley laughed at the joke she made about Riddler, much to his annoyance. Riddler than fired back at Quinn with a cold insult of his own.
"You know Quinn, for a buffoon that claims to be the Joker's girlfriend, he never once showed it or admitted it. Hell, he was more obsessed with Batman than you." While Riddler was laughing, Harley's rage was boiling up. "Your idiocy never allowed you to see that the crazed clown never loved you!"
"Don't ever insult Mistah J again! He loves me and is smiling from that peaceful place in the sky!"
"Touched a nerve didn't he?" Penguin smiled as he continued to smoke a cigar.
Scarecrow stood by and watched the rest of the psychopaths argue amongst each other. He was growing tired of the nonsense that was unfolding among him. Crane wanted his alliance to work. He wanted to ensure that his plans and alliance would work and that victory was guaranteed. Crane proceeded to take a handgun/pistol he had. He then shot up at the ceiling.
Bang.
The one shot was enough to silence the entire room. Now that Crane had everyone's attention he could make sure that they were really willing to work with each other.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, you all need to settle down. You're all wasting your energy on arguing with each other. Remember, the demise of the Batman is what we all desire and have in common."
"He insulted my Late Puddin! I wanna blow Green-O here to bits!" Harley said pointing her custom made jester's gun at The Riddler.
Riddler responded once again with arrogance. "Then you would be depriving Gotham of it's one true genius! You're making this little 'club' of ours much more difficult than it should be Quinn."
"I hate all ya bloody bastards!" Penguin began ranting. "Especially you Dent!"
Harvey responded with a dark threat. "I'll have that tongue of yours cut off Os."
Firefly at this point already left the Meeting as he had a private conversation with Scarecrow prior to and during the Meeting about his personal agendas for Gotham.
Scarecrow fired another shot up at the ceiling.
Bang. Everyone was silenced once again.
Scarecrow continued to speak. "As i said before, we all want the demise of the Batman. That way our goals can be achieved without headaches and interference. We must be be on the same page with each other if we want Gotham to tremble before our feet."
"Crane's got a point." Two-Face added.
"Sounds logical enough." Riddler added, glaring at Harley Quinn.
Scarecrow continued. "And if we want want to kill Batman and succeed in our personal goals, we have to be on the same page. You all have to put aside your egos. You all have to work together and not fight against each other like you normally do. After we've finished off Batman, your all fair game to each other."
Harley and the other villains nodded their heads, agreeing that even though they couldn't stand each other, Scarecrow valid points. They would need to put their differences aside if they wanted to take down Batman once and for all. Before Harley had arrived back, Crane had blabbed something about him having personal plans for Gotham. None of the other villains knew what these plans were. Even though they had said they'd play along with Crane and his Arkham Knight buddy's plans, they were still somewhat reluctant.
"Well your bloody argument makes perfect sense Crane." Penguin blew smoke from his cigar out of his mouth. "I hate this bastard next to me." Penguin pointed at Harvey, who just growled. "And all of you in this room. I don't wanna work with any of you...but if it means a successful Batman free business, i'm sold." Penguin was now on board. It took a lot for him to swallow his pride and push his ongoing rivalry with Two-Face to the side. "And also, i don't want no bloody problems with ya' Arkham Knight fellow."
Two-Face then spoke up. "You've got some good points Crane...Even you Oswald...i've got faith in this Arkham Knight guy...i just wanna make a fortune big enough for me and my boys to retire...i'll play along...i've already got my plans for tonight ready...i sure hope you all do." Two-Face ensured that he'd cooperate with everyone. Crane was pleased to hear that he and everyone was starting to come along and put their egos aside so they can come together and eliminate Batman once and for all.
Riddler was smiling on the inside because he already had his plans set up for Batman. This time he was sure that Batman would fall and Gotham would be his for the taking. HE had made a call to someone for a supposed break in job. They would meet at a disclosed location and things would progress from there. "My plan will ensure Batman meets his long awaited demise. I Edward Nigma will make due on my promises. In shorter words, alright, if it makes you all feel more secure about yourselves, i'll put my superior genius aside and work together with you all. You should all be grateful for my generous and kind nature."
Harley then said her bit. "Well my Joker ain't like nun of you when he was alive. I personally don't give a damn about any of you, excluding my Pammy Wammy. I hate working with anyone that isn't the love of my life or my best friend. But i hate Bat-Brain as if not more than you and my Joker combined...I'll join you guys in taking down B-Man! I've even got a contact helping me out with my plans!" Harley decided to put hers and her late Joker's egos to the side. She wanted the demise of Batman as much as the other villains in the room, so working together with them would ensure that they'd all get what they wanted. Harley desperately wanted revenge on Batman for the death of The Joker, so working with the other villains would ensure that Harley got what she desired.
"Splendid..." Scarecrow replied. "You all made the right decision...if you all had rejected like Dr Isley when The Arkham Knight was here, he would've likely killed you all or torture you all until you forcibly joined his cause."
All of the villains in the room had finally put their egos aside and were now in complete cooperation with each other. Scarecrow was slightly happy on the inside. Phase one of his plan was complete. Now Phase two could begin. Before that could happen Scarecrow had to answer some of the questions the other villains had for him.
"Hey Crane..." Two-Face started. "Is there more than just you and The Knight working together in this Alliance crap?" The demand in Dent's tone could be heard. He asked his question in a threatening tone, which did not phase The Scarecrow in the slightest bit. "We all paid a combined three billion dollars...that's a helluva lot of money..." All of the villains nodded in agreement to Dent's point. They had all put their money together and gave Crane three billion dollars combined.
Crane, unfearful, answered Harvey's question. "All of your money has been donated to The Knight's Militia to supply them. It all helps our cause in breaking The Bat." As Crane said this, he squeezed his hand to imitate him breaking something.
"Hey Scary Doc?! What if one of us takes down Bat-Brain before your jumbo plans or whatever?" Harley's question raised up a good point amongst the villains. What would happen if one of them some how some way brought down Batman before Scarecrow and this Arkham Knight had gotten to him
Scarecrow answered that question as well. "Who knows?" he said Gravelly. "Fate might be on our side tonight."
Two-Face and Harvey's face widened hearing the word fate. Dent then proceeded to flip his coin to determine the fate of what would happen tonight.
It landed on the undamaged side.
"Looks like fate is on Batman's side...for now." Dent added in a dark manner. "I guess that answers Quinn's question." Harvey turned and looked at the virtually nervous Harley Quinn.
"Ya burnt face is giving me the creeps Mistah DA!" Harley exclaimed how creeped out she was by the former District Attorney staring a hole into her.
Penguin then chimed on how much money he invested into what would unfold. "Crane, i hope all this bloody money i invested helps out you and ya' little discount Bat...for your sake."
Scarecrow wasn't frightened in the slightest. He was more amused than frightened. "Calm down Mr Cobblepot, i promise you as i promised Mr District Attorney Dent, your sacrifices will most certainly not be in vain. At the end of the night, our goals will be achieved."
"Ahhhh Yes. It is guaranteed that i, The Riddler, will once and for all prove that i am intellectually superior than The Dark Knight!" Once my contact, which is one of Batman's allies by the way, arrives at unsaid location, Batman's fate is sealed!" Everyone was now growing curious as to what Riddler's plan was. He had apparently set up one of Batman's allies and was going to use said person to force Batman into his crazy little plot.
Scarecrow was actually quite intrigued with Riddler's plan. "Quite fascinating Mr Nigma...might i ask which one of his allies?"
"Uh uhhhhh Dr Crane, that's a surprise that will be revealed later tonight...you'll see...all of you we sill how flawless and full proof my plan is." Nigma was excited and didn't want to spoil the surprise he had in store for everyone.
"Fair enough Mr Nigma, i do not care which one of Batman's allies you've chosen. All i care about is breaking Batman and ruining his legacy." Crane replied.
"I've got weapon caches all over this bloody stinkin' town with more weapons moving in and out of Bludhaven and Gotham. I've got a good feeling business is gonna be good tonight!" Penguin laughed as he lit up another Cigar in toast of what he assumed was going to his most profitable business day and Batman's final day on earth.
Harley was now worried about the current well-being of her best friend Poison Ivy, who was abducted earlier by the strangely familiar Arkham Knight and his henchman. She wanted to kill both Scarecrow and The Knight for smashing two flower pots over her head. Even though she had rode in the van with then to ensure her safety, she still didn't feel comfortable leaving Pammy with all of those soldiers in a disclosed location. As badly as she wanted to hurt both Crane and The Knight, attacking either one of them head on was direct suicide, so Harley reluctantly decided against it. Harley hoped she would not lose Ivy because if she had died, Harley would truly be alone. No Joker. No Ivy. Ever since The Joker died the only things that kept her going in life were her burning hatred and need for revenge against Batman and Ivy. "Please don't die on me Pammy. Mama Harley needs her Pammie Wammie now that Mistah J is in clown heaven."
Scarecrow noticed the worried expression on Harley's face. "I notice the fear on your face Dr Quinzel...The fate of Dr Isley is what your afraid of...If i'm feeling generous i will spare her." Harley was somewhat happy that Crane was gonna spare Ivy, but in reality, Crane was gonna gas her and kill her with his newest strain of Fear Toxin.
"Don't harm her Scarecrow." Harley demanded.
Crane looked at her, then all of the other villains and spoke. "Tonight, Dr Isley's fate is not promised, but the fall of the Dark Knight is upon us. You all have your plots, your plans. Go and get them started. Tonight will be a Halloween Gotham never forgets." Crane dismissed the meeting and all of Gotham's infamous villains left to carry out their personal plots
A Safehouse In Chinatown.
Somewhere in Gotham, Ivy was locked up inside a chamber in a safehouse. Everything went black for her after Scarecrow and this Arkham Knight fellow knocked her unconscious after slamming two flowerpots against her head. She was unaware of the fact that Harley had rode with her while she was unconscious to mak.e sure the soldiers currently guarding her didn't try anything funny.
There were five soldiers guarding the unconscious Poison Ivy. Only one out of the five of them were equipped with a firearm. The fifth soldier was inside the chamber with Ivy guarding her and awaiting his orders.
"I wonder what the Knight's personal grudge against the Bat is all about." Said the first of the five men in the room.
"Who knows." Added the second. "Maybe the Bat kicked his ass and ruined his life personally before tonight."
As the Militia continued chatting amongst each other, Ivy was finally starting to come to.
"Hey guys! Plant Bitch is finally waking up!" the third shouted in excitement.
Ivy was now fully awake and now curious as to why she was sitting inside a chamber with guards surrounding it and a guard standing by her. "Where am i? What's going on?"
"HAHA! Should we tell her?"
The fourth guard replied to his ally's question. "Yea tell the bitch!"
Ivy was already growing tired and bored of their antics, she sat their and listened the the militia.
"Scarecrow had you kidnapped and tied up when you decided to be stupid and reject his offer to join up with him and all the other freaks!"
"Charming." Ivy replied, sarcastically.
"Yea it was 'charming' when that Flying Fire Bug guy burned those shitty plants of yours!"
Two of the militia laughed at the joke that was made. Ivy glared at them, remembering how upset she was when she witnessed it up close and personal. "When i get out of here, you gentlemen will pay for that jab dearly."
"Awwwwww, What are you gonna do? Make us plant some daisies? Take away our junkfood rights and make us eat nothing but vegetables?! HAHA!"
"I've got to get out of here, one, because my babies need tending to, two, i'm bored of these fleshy trashbags." Ivy desperately thought of a plan of escape. That's when she looked at the guard that was next to her armed with a pistol. "Hey handsome, you've been awfully quiet around little old me...Would you like a kiss?"
Ivy hoped her plan of seduction would grant her freedom. Unfortunately, things didn't go her way. "Uh Uh, That half assed trick of yours won't fool me! I've heard tales about you and you using your sexy mind control or whatever it was to control people. You ain't fooling me with that shit!"
That plan was now flushed down the crapper. Ivy now only had one more means of being set free, and that person wasn't even present at the moment. She had to hope that a certain vigilante slash caped crusader would show up and rescue her.
"How long do we keep her in there?" Asked one soldier.
"Until we get the order to gas her."
Ivy had some sassy comments for the Militia. "Do your worst. The boredom is killing me."
"Oh don't you worry. You'll get what's coming to you when we're good and ready."
"Why do we have to wait?" Asked a bored and impatient soldier. "We could give her a dose now."
"Be my guest. I'll tell Scarecrow it was your idea."
Casually the other Militia in the conversation said "I was just joking."
"Didn't sound like a joke."
"What? You think i want him to know i was going against orders. Have you seen him?" The Soldier shuddered remembering how hideous and deformed Scarecrow's face was.
Smash!
Suddenly Ivy's second hope of freedom came to life when the glass ceiling from above was shattered, which surprised the Militia.
Ivy smirked as the light from the moon above revealed a familiar Caped Crusader.
Batman.