Everyone gathered to meet two surprises. First was that the Batgirls, Batwoman, and Hawkfire were assisting a CSI expert named Ellan Munro scour a Tiffany's store for clues regarding a theft there. Secondly, there was a new Hawk. Wonder Woman, Omen, Bumblebee, and Tempest were huddled to address Garth's concerns regarding this.
"I say we cut them both loose since Dove is being irrational about this," he insisted.
"He let me read his mind. Hank Hall is a changed man. He's no longer filled with grieving rage over his brother's death followed by Dawn's. In fact, he doesn't share the same concern over her safety as he once did," Lilith explained to him.
"But he could still go full Monarch on us again," Karen warned.
"So could Darkling, Lightning Raider, or Pied Piper at any moment yet we give them a second chance every day," Omen replied, "And tonight raised serious concerns regarding Darkling."
"Lightning Raider and Pied Piper finally accepted the offer to live in the Tower and accept the JLU's money," Wonder Woman told them, "So that's one less concern. Lilith brought up her concerns regarding Dora Keane and I agree with them. But keeping her close is the best way we can manage and respond if she becomes a threat to public safety."
"You're leaning that way towards Hank Hall being Hawk," Tempest was short tempered, "What happened to Holly Granger? Where is she?"
"According to Dove, Holly resigned being Hawk and the Lords of Balance returned her to where she wanted to be. We all knew about her criminal past and how she actually longed to return to it. Frankly, I'm surprised she held out this long," Wonder Woman told him.
"She did it for Dawn," Bumblebee knew, "But Hank Hall?"
"We accepted an even greater risk by bringing Terra in," Donna reminded them, "She was out to actively kill us when we brought her in."
"But she still avoids me like I'm a plague," Omen cautioned her, "She'd hiding something."
"Raven agrees with you," Donna confessed, "I told her it was a jealousy issue clouding her judgment but I've watched Tara Markova studying us. The question remains, is it still for Slade Wilson?"
"And you want add Hank Hall to our list of potential psychos?" Tempest realized.
"The better to watch them closely," Donna confirmed it.
"You're team leader so it's your decision," Karen told her, "I see your reasoning on this but I'm reserving judgment on its wisdom."
"I say we let Hawk stay and we get to retain Dove in the process," Omen voiced.
"What I'd say doesn't seem to matter," Garth griped.
Commissioner Gordon brought Bullock and Montoya with her as she intervened, "I hope I'm not intruding but we have another looming set of crises."
"What are they?" Wonder Woman asked.
"None of the perps we arrested are actual Jokerz. Gotham General and the Urgent Care clinics reopened and were flooded with victims of Jokerz attacking them. They neighborhood by neighborhood today. They also visited Arkham Asylum and Blackgate Prison. We already knew they emptied Central Holding but they released inmates and convicts back into the population," Barbara explained, "The escapees will gravitate towards specific districts. Devil's Square, the Narrows, the East End, the Bowery, and Otisburg being chief among them. Lt. Montoya and the SRU liberated the Crows from their headquarters. Agent Sophie Moore is assisting us in mounting a manhunt. But half her agents wanted time off to be with their families. I can't blame them. I lost half of my officers for the same reason. In short I don't have sufficient manpower to conduct door to door searches."
"Again, how can we help?" Wonder Woman repeated herself.
"My officers and the Crows can handle every district but Devil's Square. It's lawless in there and the Jokerz own territory. They control everything that goes on there," Gordon described it, "Your team can get in and out where mine would face a bloodbath. Duquesne Security is assigning extra protection to everyone that was airlifted out of the Wayne Foundation and is returning to Gotham. They're all likely targets thanks to Neo Joker's rhetoric."
"So the once percent gets a private security force?" Tempest asked, "These people have legitimate grievances against them."
"I'm not playing social crusader here," Gordon grated, "My job is to restore the peace for every citizen. I need to put this down before Intergang decides to mount an intervention and start a gang war unparalleled even in Gotham's bloody history."
"You might as well call your team off of the jewelry heist," Montoya told them, "Holly Robinson learned from Selina Kyle's mistakes as Catwoman. She doesn't leave evidence. She certainly didn't fence the jewels in Gotham. She and Catgirl have means out of the city even during road blocks and barricades."
"Catwoman resigned from the Justice League a week ago. Her zeta tube access was restricted," Bumblebee told them.
"But Catgirl is a member in good standing with Young Justice," Wonder Woman sighed, "Could this Holly Robinson hot wire a zeta tube?"
"If Catgirl still has unlimited access then Catwoman will find a way to exploit that," Gordon told them.
"Have Cyborg trace the tube logs," Wonder Woman sighed, "Bumblebee, recall our detective team and tell them to get ready for an incursion into Devil's Square. The Batgirls can explain to everyone the local situation."
"I'll tell Cyborg. Anything to leave this conversation behind," Tempest stalked off.
"Someone kill his pet dolphin?" Bullock asked, "Cause dat's a mess of rage."
"I'm guessing Hawk is the issue," Barbara stated.
"Keen observation, Commissioner," Wonder Woman conceded.
"Ignatius Ogilvy was the only prisoner left in Blackgate," Gordon told them, "Apparently he crossed sabers with Neo Joker and lost. The warden was killed and so the surviving guards are in critical condition. Emperor Blackgate himself is providing data on the escapees and where they would run to. Doctor Crane provided a list of mental patients released from Arkham. Everyone but the costumes were cut loose into the population"
"Then as soon as you have the data we need, we'll set out," Wonder Woman promised.
"If Neo Joker and the Jokerz are holed up in Devil's Square, they took most of the populations of the Narrows, East End, the Bowery, Otisburg, and Tricorner with them," Commissioner Gordon warned her.
"Why those locations in particular?" Omen asked.
"Because they're now the territories of the KnightsQuest," Gordon raised a hand, "And before you ask, they're vigilantes that follow the Order of St. Batman."
"Who made Batman a saint?" Bumblebee scoffed.
"More importantly, I thought vigilantes were illegal in this city and state," Donna pointed out.
"Well, with the Bonez and Neon Gangs obliterated by the Fourth Reich and Imperialist Forces, they filled the power vacuum and actually protect the people," Montoya told them, "And with chronic staffing shortages since the first Nazi Occupation it was nice not having to patrol those districts."
"How do you know those districts' populations were taken?" Omen asked.
"Because da few survivin' members of the KnightsQuest are in critical condition at Gotham Central and other urgent care facilities. Da ones dat could still talk told us what happened," Bullock told them.
"So the Jokerz effectively have half the city's population held hostage," Bumblebee summarized.
"Just da ones that wouldn't go along wit' her scheme ta loot Founders Island and Downtown," Bullock clarified.
"They may be more than hostages," Omen warned.
"How so?" Montoya asked.
"Think about it clearly. This began as an object lesson for Gotham that the downtrodden and elites alike were nothing short of savages," Omen spelled it out, "That was the first lesson taught last night. Now, tonight is about true believers in that lesson versus the skeptics that want normalcy brought back. Normal can't exist in Neo Joker's world. It undermines everything she stands for."
"We need to go into Devil's Square and quickly," Wonder Woman warned Gordon, "We need everything you have on that district."
"Rumors have filtered out where the Jokerz congregate. Have Cyborg pull up the city's plans on that area and I'll correct what's changed since we lost control of it," Barbara told her, "Agent Moore can help since the Crows tried to go in and arrest the Jokerz last year. They were butchered. Even during the Occupation, UN and Nazi forces stayed away from it. Only the Dragon King's Black Dragon Society sent people in. They never came out."
"I suspect we're on a tight deadline," Wonder Woman said grimly as Bumblebee went to fetch Cyborg and Tempest.
But the Jokerz had herded the disbelieving population into Robinson Park. Every potential exit was guarded by teams of Jokerz armed with AR-15 assault rifled and stacks of loaded magazines. Red Alice had to admit she was impressed.
"Where'd they get the firepower?" she wondered.
"Overrunning police precincts," Phantasm told her.
"That'd do it," Red Alice snickered, "So you have a plan?"
"You deploy the Wonderland Gang to deal with as many teams as they can just before they open fire. The Mad Hatter will entrance the rest to kill each other," Phantasm told her, "Meanwhile, You, Mad Hatter with two of her chosen will join the March Hare and the Tweedles in dealing the Jokerz Court. I'll personally deal with Punchline."
"That leaves Chris to me," Hellequin snarled.
"Steady," Phantasm advised her, "She has to order the death of the crowd before you strike. After that, the crowd will support whatever we do."
"We're severely outnumbered and the Hatter can only reach a few before the shooting starts," Red Alice complained.
"We have help from an expected quarter," Phantasm told them, "Azrael and the Black Bat will be unable to resist showing up.":
"They'll go straight after Neo Joker," Hellequin accused, "That wasn't our deal."
"They'll be too busy," Phantasm promised, "Neo Joker hired help to deal with Azrael and the Black Bat."
"And you're just mentioning this now?" Red Alice sounded aggrieved.
"The Terror Titans were a last minute addition," Phantasm told them, "They were released from Blackgate earlier today."
"How do you know these things?" Mad Hatter asked wide eyed.
"There used to be a dozen more Jokerz," Phantasm said coldly, "They confessed to insure a clean death."
"I take it all back. I do like you," Red Alice grinned.
"I'll sleep better knowing that," Phantasm deadpanned, "I'll get the Mad Hatter to two pairs of sentries before the order is given. I expect Neo Joker to put a bit of theater first."
"We'd better start moving because she's getting ready for her spotlight," Hellequin pointed to the central gazebo where bands frequently payed from. The Jokerz had set up a sound system. The Court held position front and center while Neo Joker was off the stage.
"Let's go," Phantasm told the Mad Hatter, we'll barely make it before she orders everyone killed."
"Spread out people," Red Alice ordered the Wonderland Gang, "Get in position to ambush the ambushers."
"We need to get as close to that gazebo as we can," Hellequin demanded.
"I know this is personal," Red Alice told her friend, "But, you have to be careful not to let her pull your strings. Pull hers and throttle her with them."
Inside the crowd stood a certain Dr. Leslie Thompkins, Dr. Mary Hamilton, Grayle Hudson, and Tim Drake. Hamilton made the observation no one had had the courage to admit yet, "From here they can kill everyone."
"They're poised to," Grayle was a mob boss' daughter. She could see a kill box from a mile away.
"I can't deal with this many people spread out so far," Tim said quietly.
"That's your former life, Tim," Grayle was Tim's guardian now, "You can't think that way. You're just a teenager caught up in this with the rest of us."
"Something's wrong," Leslie pointed out, "Four of them have left the stage."
"Look!" Tim pointed through the crowd. Azrael stood poised to enter the ring of death. Beside him, Black Bat had his pistols drawn and was ready to use them. Azrael drew his sword from his back and ignited it.
"A flaming sword? That's it?" Grayle complained.
"You obviously don't recognize Azrael in his new armor," Leslie chided her, "Unless those four teens are very powerful, they're very dead as of now."
"I wish we were closer," Tim opined.
"I'm happy here," Mary told him.
"Look, it's started," Tim observed.
Threshold led Bliss, Dreadbolt, and Disruptor against the pair from the Order of St, Batman. Threshold used his telekinetic power to rise high above his foes. His remaining eye stared them down coldly and arrogantly. Dreadbolt's suit channeled electricity between his hands. Disruptor activated her lethal gloves. Bliss posed seductively, her power to sway anyone into sexual thralldom would be tested tonight.
Dreadbolt unleashed a torrent of electricity at Azrael. His sword intercepted and absorbed the charge, "Is that all you can do?"
Dreadbolt adjusted the output and released his entire battery pack in a single discharge. Azrael stood his ground though the electrical charge washed over him. A lesser man would have died.
"That the best you can do?" Azrael said with strength remaining in him.
"I have him," Threshold boasted. Then he was knocked out of the sky by Batwing. Batwing rode him face first into the dirt.
"I couldn't let anyone die," Batwing admitted. He spun as he heard gunfire. But Black Bat had merely shot Disruptor's legs out from underneath her. So Bliss mentally reached out to seduce the trio. She felt her telepathic tentacles lock onto Batwing and black Bat's minds but Azrael resisted.
"Pity you have to die. Few can resist me," Bliss laughed.
Black Bat and Batwing attacked Azrael in jealous rages. Bliss tended to her fallen brother while they fought, "Get up. I can't read minds but I got a big enough sense off the big one he'll kill his friends to get at us."
"Good. Let them finish each other off and I'll kill the would-be dark knight," Threshold decided.
Bliss warned him, "Disruptor's wounded and Dreadbolt depleted his suit's power. He's tending to her now."
"We never needed them. They're cannon fodder," Threshold told her.
"Wake up!" Bliss slapped his face, "IO wrote us off. Miles Craven wants us as dead as the rest of the world does. We're Neo Joker's cannon fodder tonight. We need their contacts to get us a paying sponsor."
Threshold finally recalled that's why they joined with remaining Terror Titans. Bliss added to the argument, "My power will hold them in thrall for twenty minutes after we leave. So we need to get Disruptor to a doctor. There's one in town that doesn't ask questions and doesn't report anything."
"How do you know?" Threshold asked.
"Unlike you, I actually made friends in prison," Bliss told him, "Now, we have to go."
The lights came back on and those herded into the park could see the gunmen and women in the park's perimeter clearly for the first time. Neo Joker took the stage and activated the sound system, "It seems our friends at the Public Utility District have power restored. Don't worry, we'll change that again. As you can see, your would-be 'saviors' are busy fighting each other. It doesn't matter who wins because you've all lost."
Neo Joker theatrically accepted a flare gun from Punchline, "When I fire this off, you won't have to worry about your failed, miserable lives anymore. You could've accepted my offer to join a new world order but you refused to get rich off of those that have truly oppressed you. You could've taken back the streets and the riches that Gotham has but you refused. So, now you're here facing your final judgment. I'll give a few seconds to reflect and should anyone want to beg for your life now, it's too late for that."
Neo Joker slowly, torturously loaded the flare gun before aiming it at the sky, "Say goodnight, Gracie."
She fired and the flare blazed into the night sky. Gunshots erupted. The crowd screamed and ducked. But no one was hit. Instead the Jokerz were turning to return fire and were being killed by unknown assailants. While that battle raged, Red Alice led the March Hare and the Tweedles in front of the stage.
"You know you missed me," Red Alice smirked. Mad Hatter caught up with them with four Jokerz under her control.
"You really should've blown the bomb early," Red Alice advised Neo Joker.
J-Man, Dee Dee, and Card Queen leaped off the stage to rally some crowd control Jokerz on the side. Mad Hatter's Jokerz dealt with them. Dee Dee faced the Tweedles together. J-Man attacked Red Alice herself in a knife fight. Card Queen was intercepted by the March Hare. Punchline went to kill the Mad Hatter but smoke erupted before her and when it cleared, the Phantasm stood confronting her.
"Alexis Kaye, your Angel of Death has arrived," the Phantasm's modulated voice told her.
Threshold telekinetically evacuated the Terror Titans while Azrael was subduing the smitten Batwing and black Bat. Neo Joker sighed, "Why can't hired help ever fulfill a contract?"
"Why is it a Joker always betrays me?" Hellequin asked from behind her.
"Sorry, Ducks. You were dragging me down," Neo Joker replied.
"Red Alice was right, you should've blown the bomb yourself," Hellequin told her, "Because I'm going to make you suffer before you die."
Neo Joker went for her magnum revolver only to have it expertly batted out of her hand by Hellequin's baseball bat, "Forget your knives or your stupid acid posy. II know your tricks better than you do. I was the real Joker's lover for a few years before he went sane and Harley came back to him."
"You're mixing up your Earths again," Neo Joker desperately sought an escape route. She never saw the bat swing that broke her knee.
Hellequin twirled her bat in her hand, "That's one."
The next strike came down to crack Neo Joker's femur in half, "That's two. Shall I go on? Or will you simply end yourself for me?"
"And they say I'm the crazy one," Neo Joker said through the pain.
"The Joker is dead. You should be too," Hellequin pulled her own pistol out and emptied it into Neo Joker.
"Wuh oh!" Dee Dee said together, "We're outta here!"
Card Queen broke and ran too. J-Man watched as the Mad Hatter's Jokerz and the free minded one skilled one another before he fled to the sound of fading gunshots. The surviving Jokerz were fleeing Robinson Park. Only Punchline remained.
Punchline was bleeding from several serious gashes from Phantasm's scythe glove. Phantasm herself had yet to receive a disabling blow. Phantasm drove the Jokerz' retreat home, "It seems you're all alone in this world."
Punchline finally began her retreat…only to run into Azrael's armored and unflinching chest. He'd left Batwing and Black Bat alive but they'd have to be checked for concussions later. Punchline did the only thing she was capable of: she drove her knife into Azrael's unrelenting breastplate. The knife sparked and was deflected out of her grasp. He knocked her out with a single punch.
"You're going soft," Phantasm accused.
"I need her to extract information on the Jokerz' location. They've scurried like fleeing rats. I need to know where they'll reassemble," Azrael said stiffly.
Hellequin had reloaded her .357 Magnum, "Or I'll simply kill her."
Azrael placed the flaming blade of his sword at her throat. She could feel the immense heat despite its not being pressed against her flesh, "Kill my prey and it's last thing you'll ever do."
Red Alice had Wonderland Gang members targeting Batwing and Black Bat. Azrael was indifferent, "They'd gladly give their lives for the holy cause."
He reached towards the Mad Hatter and clenched his fist as a flaming blade extended from his gauntlet's wrist, "Back away while you still can."
"Give her to him," Phantasm urged them.
"I'd heard you were crazy but I didn't know you'd sacrifice your friends," Red Alice smirked.
"Allies in a battlefield aren't necessarily friends," Azrael told her, "We fight for a common cause. No more. No less."
"Leave the Jokerz' warren to him," Phantasm recommended, "You can prey upon the stragglers outside of their nest."
"You heard him," Red Alice played along with Phantasm's ruse, "Party's over."
"And we never had tea," Mad Hatter sniffled.
"Maybe next time, dear," Red Alice consoled her.
Hellequin picked up Neo Joker's dropped microphone and addressed the huddling crowd, "What're you all waiting for? Go home!"
"It's safe now," Leslie called out to those nearest her, "We can return home."
The mass migration began with the street lamps operational once again. They moved towards the Narrows, East End, the Bowery, Otisburg, and Tricorner again. They returned to find the bodies of the dead KnightsQuest vigilantes that had tried to defend them and were overwhelmed by the savagery of the Jokerz. The Coroner's Office was too overwhelmed to collect them all. The GCPD and Crows Security manhunt in their districts was already underway, keeping them blocked out.
Commissioner Gordon spoke with members of the crowd at the Narrows. Dr. Thompkins and Dr. Hamilton pushed through to demand they be escorted back to their clinic in Crime Alley. Leslie argument was simply that they'd be needed soon, if not already.
Patrol officers escorted the doctors and their staff to the clinic. Grayle and Tim quietly spoke with Barbara.
"The Jokerz herded us to Robinson Park to execute everyone for not going along with Neo Joker's anarchist vision of the residents robbing and looting Founders Island and Downtown," Grayle explained to Babs.
"How did everyone manage to get away then?" Gordon asked.
"First Azrael showed up with Batwing and that new Black Bat," Tim told her, "They faced some kind of mercenary squad. They turned Batwing and Black Bat against Azrael before they ran away because one of them was shot."
"That still doesn't explain your survival," Barbara pressed the issue.
"The Jokerz had us surrounded and they had military style weapons," Grayle told her.
"Looted from overrun precincts I'm afraid," Gordon said ruefully.
"Anyway, this is when it got weird," Tim interjected, "The Wonderland Gang killed the Jokerz' gunmen. Then Red Alice and the Mad Hatter led an attack on the Jokerz Court. They drove them all off."
"But what about Neo Joker?" Barbara asked almost desperately.
"Killed by Hellequin. It seemed personal," Grayle told her, "There was another man with the Wonderland Gang. The killer with the scythe glove that ran around Gotham threatening the Valescra Mob all those years ago. He was back and fought Punchline."
Babs pinched her nose and squeezed her eyes shut in frustration, "I suppose she's dead as well."
"They argued but Azrael took her prisoner," Tim told her.
Barbara was still dismayed. Azrael and Black Bat were still vigilante killers. Sister Lilhy, who led the KnightsQuest, only kept them in check to avoid incarceration and prosecution. Batwing was the voice of reason in the Order of St. Batman's field operatives. She couldn't imagine the Catholic Priest, Father M'Buttu, counseling or condoning murder. But INTERPOL had warned US law enforcement agencies that Iron Knife wanted Father M'Buttu dead at any cost or price. What he'd done to enrage an African meta-human warlord was unknown but the Vatican had offered him asylum and trained and ordained him as a priest. He was a bright spot of hope at the Church of St. Hildegard of Bingen-on-the-Rhine.
"I'll send units to collect Punchline," Babs promised them, "In the meantime, we're searching for nearly every convict and inmate from Blackgate and Arkham."
"You said 'nearly'," Grayle caught that distinction.
"Except for a foursome called the Terror Titans, no costumes were released from either site. Ignatius Ogilvy was also excluded," Gordon explained.
Gordon's phone rang and she answered, "Gordon."
"Commish, we gotta load of em bottled up in the East End," Bullocks voice came the receiver, "But we can't get passed their barricade and the Jokerz armed these suckers wit' our own guns."
"Understood Harv, but you have to hold your position until I can get you reinforcements," Gordon told him.
"That would be us," Bonecrusher told her from behind. With her was the undercover International Operations agent, Captain Atomic.
"You're volunteering?" Barbara was skeptical.
"Knightfall wants order restored and the Penguins and Riddles are decimated and securing Intergang reinforcements. So that leaves us working with you," Bonecrusher explained.
Barbara knew Charise Carnes was Knightfall just as Charise knew Barbara had been Batgirl thanks to her tutelage in Arkham by Babs' brother, James Gordon Jr. The real estate development magnate was close to being the richest woman in the world. Only Lena Luthor surpassed her value. Charise and Barbara also detested one another because of Knightfall's successfully lobbying the City Council to license criminal acts.
"Fine. Capt. Bullock and a squad of officers are pinned by highly armed fugitives in the East End," Gordon relented. She could honestly use the help.
Captain Atomic bridle carried the very tall and muscular Bonecrusher towards the East End. Expectedly, Bullock called moments later, "Commish, are ya outta yer mind? The two ya sent are tearin' through the perps."
"If they kill anyone, arrest them. Otherwise just arrest the fugitives so they can be sorted through and returned to whichever cells they belong to," Barbara instructed.
"Dis is like takin' help from dat Azrael," Bullock bemoaned.
"Long story, Harv, but Azrael, the Wonderland Gang, and Hellequin seemed to have solved our Jokerz and hostage situations," Barbara told him.
"Dis I gotta hear in person," Bullock admitted.
"I have to go. I need Montoya to do a prisoner pickup," Barbara ended the call and called Lt. Montoya instead, "Renee, the Order of St. Batman has Punchline in the custody. I want her."
"Good, because Agent Moore and the Crows aren't leaving us much to do," Montoya complained.
"Check Robinson Park," Barbara told the Special Response Unit commander, "They were all last sighted there."
"Copy that. We're on our way," Montoya crisply replied. Hanging up she called Det. Sgt. Jason Bard, "Rally up. We're going to Robinson Park."
"I'll get everyone moving," Bard promised.
With no traffic on the road to speak, the SRU quickly traversed from the Bowery to Robinson Park and deployed by the numbers.
"Ye gods, Lieutenant, it's futzing massacre," even the veteran Bard was shaken.
"This is where the hostages were held," Montoya saw the signs, "They were herded here like cattle to slaughter."
She called it in to Gordon. Surprisingly, the Commissioner already seemed to be in the know. She relayed the necessary information about Punchline to Montoya. Renee grimaced, "There's no sign of her or Azrael anywhere here."
"Call in the bodies to forensics and the Coroner. But eyewitnesses place the blame on the Wonderland Gang and Hellequin," Gordon told her over the phone.
"One cheery bit of news is they bagged Neo Joker," Montoya was squatting next to the body, "Looks pretty damn personal to me."
"Jilted lover syndrome," Gordon replied, "Neo Joker did try to blow Hellequin and the Wonderland Gang up."
"Azrael has punchline. Neo Joker's ticket has been punched. But the rest of the Jokerz Court is unaccounted for," Montoya told her.
"The Outsiders breached Devil's Square, so I doubt they'll return to their old haunts there," Barbara sighed, "They'll go to ground. The questions is: where?"
"Well, they're not here. I'll make the appropriate calls and we'll be rolling in ten," Renee said.
"Be careful. Azrael is temperamental at the best of times," Gordon advised her.
"We'll tread lightly," Montoya promised.
The criminal element in Devil's Square was done resisting. Now they were fleeing. Wonder Woman had the firepower to send them scurrying but insufficient numbers to close off every escape route. When signaled, the GCPD came in back beside the Crows and began sorting through detainees and their rap sheets. Dozens of Blackgate and Arkham fugitives were re-arrested. Dozens more with outstanding warrants found themselves in the crosshairs as well. The State Police and County Sheriffs deputies that had been requested made their appearance.
The GCPD Bomb Squad confiscated hundreds of pounds of dynamite from the Jokerz lair. Hundreds of illegal guns were confiscated. Several stolen vehicles with fake plates and tags were impounded to have their VIN numbers checked so they could be returned to their rightful owners.
"Have you ever see so many knives collected at one location?" one detective complained to another. Biohazard teams came in to store the remaining quantities of Joker Venom. Neo Joker had raided all of the Joker's old hideouts to retrieve the decaying remnants of the toxin. Her genetic memories were intact enough to strengthen the formula to lethal levels but fragmented enough to prohibit her from originating fresh batches from scratch.
With Neo Joker dead, the Jokerz lacked fundamental leadership. J-Man and Card Queen were the ideologues. J-Man had the look and the charisma but Duela Dent was literally Joker's Daughter. Genetics notwithstanding, she was the craziest one outside of Neo Joker and had been the leader until Neo Joker's coup. Punchline was a killer and a tactician but she was no inspirational leader. Donna knew Barbara Gordon feared an implosion where the Jokerz waged a city-wide war of succession. Many members of the city had proven willing to join such a crusade.
Tempest approached Wonder Woman, "We need to go. We aren't equipped or designed to be employed in a police state. Our targets are either apprehended or fled Devil's Square. We can't lock down an entire city district. The state and county authorities are here. It's the first time the police have been in Devil's Square in over a decade."
"We're pulling out," Wonder Woman sighed, "What was the word on Cyborg's search of the zeta tube logs?"
Tempest was surprised she still remembered that detail with everything happening, "Catgirl and an unspecified guest tubed to Metropolis."
"I'll get Catgirl's access restricted to single user status," Donna sighed again.
"How did she ever join Young Justice?" Tempest asked.
"It was hoped Selina Kyle's chosen successor would follow in her vigilante footsteps. The new Catwoman is a selective vigilante, taking up personal causes. She funds herself through theft. Selina handed over Catgirl's training to the new Catwoman. It seems she's an apt pupil at both Young Justice and ta Catwoman's feet," Wonder Woman said miserably.
"She should be kicked out," Garth opined.
"The JSA would need proof to advise Katherine Webb-Kane to do so. Ultimately it's her decision whether to or not. She harbored Blue Streak despite great reservations regarding her attitudes," Donna warned him, "Speculation and circumstantial evidence won't sway Webb-Kane."
"Wasn't she SPYRAL's director?" he asjked.
"She was. And she innovated the programs that gave us Batwoman and Hawkfire," Wonder Woman reminded him.
"But her father was found to be a wanted Nazi war criminal and she trained Matron, who now oversees the Court of Owls," Tempest pointed out the fine print in Katherine's resume.
"Both Steve Trevor and the JSA Founders agreed to give her the role of Young Justice Administrator. So far, the evidence is mounting that she'd done a stellar job so far, despite lingering doubts," Wonder Woman refuted his argument.
"And she's had her failures too," Tempest pointed out, "What happened to the girl that wanted to be Robin? Or the kid called Red Robin? They both vanished. Rumors are circulating that Nightwing, when he chose Stephanie as his successor, also chose Anarky to be the new Red Robin after Squire abandoned the name."
"So now you want to cast blame at Nightwing?" Wonder Woman was incredulous, "Steph is still with us as a Batgirl. It wasn't her fault she inherited a killer out to destroy any Nightwing. Blackwing is exactly the type of obsessive that can eventually wear down even someone as brilliant as Stephanie Brown."
"She calls herself Batgirl now but she dresses as Spoiler again," Tempest was impatient with the argument. He wasn't persuading Donna and could see it.
"When did you become such a cynic?" Wonder Woman had had enough of this.
"You heard what ARGUS did to the Teen Titans after we all moved on," Tempest told her, "We're working for the same agencies that directed that. They call themselves by different names but Amanda Waller and Bones are still the brains that sent ARGUS after the Titans."
"So that's what's behind all of this," Wonder Woman realized.
"Donna, ARGUS pushed Red Hood, Speedy, Green Arrow, Squire, and Ravager to form the Outlaws and work as assassins. They may think of themselves as heroic vigilantes pulling a fast one but what they are in the end is hired killers," Tempest refuted her, "How many of our people do you think would sing with the Outlaws if we were shut down?"
"I fundamentally disagree with their methods but not their motives," Wonder Woman told him, "We were both trained as warriors. Doesn't it tempt you every time we deploy to strike out and end a threat permanently? No more legally revolving doors?"
"Of course," Garth admitted.
"I feel the same way. But we lead this team. That's why I chose you, Bumblebee, and Omen as my lieutenants. Because they have a stricter moral compass than either you or I," Wonder Woman confessed, "As a Darkstar, I crossed that line more times than I care to remember. But it tempers me now."
"Is that why you gave up being Troia and left Earth to join them? To finally cut loose?" Tempest asked.
"That was part of it," Donna admitted, "But I was still searching for my place in the world. I told myself I didn't want to be Diana's backup plan anymore. But when Hippolyta appointed me, I couldn't say 'no'. Now, it's the greatest honor of my life. And so is leading this team."
"I wish I could say the same," Garth revealed, "After King Orin decided to retire his Aquaman identity, he chose Kaldur to be the Aqualad that would replace him. I was dismissed from Atlantean service except as a liaison between Atlantis and the Justice League."
"Garth, I had no idea," Wonder Woman told him.
"You think I wanted it known?" Tempest bitterly replied, "My shame brought me to the Outsiders when you asked me to stand as one of your seconds. I couldn't deny an old friend and one in need."
"And I do need you. We all do. Your experience is valuable to the newer recruits and is valued by me," Donna told him.
"Where did you and I go wrong?" Tempest asked.
"You returned to Atlantis just as things started to get serious. And then Roy was off and on. I could never tell when he was being serious about wanting a relationship. Then Cheshire happened," Wonder Woman told him, "Then I discovered my real past. Can a goddess even stay faithful to a mortal? My brothers, nieces, and nephews certainly never did."
"You can for the right mortal," Tempest told her, "I'm guessing you haven't met him yet."
"I thought I had before he abandoned the surface world," Wonder Woman replied.
"Well, I'm back in it, aren't I?" Tempest was still angry.
"You feel banished. The minute Orin rescinds your orders to stay in the surface world, you'll return to Atlantis. It's where your heart is," Donna predicted, "We'd just hurt each other all over again."
"There is someone waiting for my return," Tempest shared, "Her name is Tula. We studied water sorcery together."
"I wish you both the best of everything," Donna told, "I can speak with Orin.. I can persuade Poseidon to stand with me and make the request."
"How is that relationship working out?" Tempest asked.
"Poseidon is accepting. Hades is jealous, of course. Zeus views me as a threat. That's why he banished me to Troy when I was a child and he killed our parents and their fellow Titans. He hadn't counted on Hippolyta taking me in while she pregnant with Diana. Zeus didn't want to threaten his position with her to threaten me further. * always thought of Diana as my adoptive older sister. But I'm actually the eldest," Donna shared, "He thought Diana was his until the Olympians version of a DNA test proved she was Hades' daughter. So he shifted his focus to Cassie Sandsmark. To Hera's relief, she wants nothing to do with him."
They received a prearranged signal. Wonder Woman grimly smiled, "That ends our official sanction to be in the city. Mayor Blood came out of wherever he was and ended our time here."
"He's survived the Jokerz' rampage where the City Council aldermen and women didn't. It makes me wonder how he did it," Tempest pointed out.
"Blood has a lot of friends in the Narrows. And I'm told his constituents love him. They've been protecting him. So even the Jokerz couldn't get him," Wonder Woman theorized based on what actually knew, "I wonder how he'll govern now that there's no legislative body to contend with."
"All I can say is we received our boot to get out so we should get going," Tempest advised her, "Or we may find out Blood's temperament sooner than we'd like to."
A second signal sounded and Donna grimaced, "Knightfall returned from hiding. I suppose she'll rebuild Intergang's infrastructure here now that they legally operate within city limits."
"I don't think Knightfall cares anything for Intergang," Tempest advised her, "Her whole pitch every city is a utopian fantasy. She's using Intergang as much as they're using her. It's symbiotic."
"At least it's not parasitic," Donna snorted.
"Look, everyone got the signal. They're returning to the rally point," Tempest pointed out.
"Then we need arrange rides back to the zeta tube locations," Wonder Woman reminded him.
"On it," he sighed mournfully.
The Jokerz reassembled in the Eats End, not far from where Captain Atomic and Bonecrusher had ended the standoff with Bullock and the GCPD. The manhunt in the district had already swept through their area. Now it was time to settle up.
"Neo Joker's dead. I'm the Joker's Daughter. Leadership of this gang is my birthright," Duela Dent proclaimed.
"Aren't overreaching, 'Card Queen'?" J-Man snickered.
"Neo Joker gave me that name. I'm retaking what is mine," Joker's Daughter warned him, "Get aboard or get dead."
"No one will follow you," J-Man told her, "If we learned anything tonight is that we shouldn't even have a leader."
"I'll give you one opportunity to just walk away. But if you do, don't expect any help from the Jokerz in whatever you do next," Joker's Daughter told him.
"Is anyone buying into this?" he loudly asked the assembled Jokerz, "Leadership is what got us slaughtered."
"Bad leadership got us slaughtered. Neo Joker wanted a war with the entire city. I say we wage a guerrilla war one street at a time. We choose own our targets and we have our fun and don't let anyone get in our way," Joker's Daughter passionately spoke.
"History is on her side," Deidre Dennis told J-Man.
"Yeah, no one really remembers you," Denise Dennis sounded off.
"Fine. I'll leave. But I'll make a bigger mark on this city than even Neo Joker dreamed about," J-Man stormed off.
"No, he won't," Dee Dee said together.
"From now on, we work in terror cells. Small groups networked together and we go out and play until people die," Joker's Daughter offered the assembled Jokerz.
"And that's how history is made," Dee Dee said as one.
"That was Barbara," Bruce told Jaina and Selina, "The city is back under control. You're welcome to stay another night but then you should all leave."
"I can leave now," Jaina took the bluntly proclaimed hint.
"We'll be leaving too," Selina didn't even sound offended. Bruce couldn't do anything more offensive then already had denying Helena her birthright.
It took an hour to get everyone packed and gone. Bruce stood watching the door as so many people that had been important to him departed again, "Were you going to announce yourself?"
"You shouldn't push them away," Andrea counseled him with her gear stowed in its bags.
"So, did you kill Neo Joker?" Bruce didn't bother turning around.
"Hellequin did the honors. I faced off with Punchline. I spared her but gave her to Azrael. It's probably a crueler fate anyway," Andrea shrugged despite his inability to see it. Finally he turned to face her.
"You could stay. For awhile," Bruce offered.
"You just kicked your own daughter out and you expect me to stay?" Andrea laughed, "What have you become, Bruce?"
"Nothing. I'm nothing anymore," he said regretfully.
"Only you believe that," Andrea advised him, "Go out and get yourself a normal life. You deserve it after all your sacrifices."
"Do you get a normal life?" Bruce asked.
"Waller already contacted me with new mission orders," Andrea sighed, "So, I can't stay even if I wanted to."
"Do you want to?" he asked.
"More than anything," she confessed, "But our time passed a long time ago. You should be with Selina now. She's your true soul mate. Go to her and embrace her and Helena. If you mean it, she'll accept it and you."
"Like you said, that time has passed," Bruce said grimly.
"Then I hope you enjoy wallowing in your bitterness," Andrea moved passed him and exited like everyone else. Bruce stood alone for a long time before returning to the shadows of his very empty manor. It reflected his life now. Without Batman, he had nothing.
"Well, that was certainly satisfying," Red Alice lounged across a sofa. The Mad Hatter was preparing breakfast tea for everyone while the March Hare cooked a traditional English breakfast. The majority of the Wonderland Gang had doffed their masks and weapons and were trading stories of ambushing unsuspecting Jokerz. The Tweedles napped in chairs near the gas fireplace. Only Hellequin seemed restless.
"Oh, do sit down," Red Alice sighed.
"I have to go," she told Beth Kane, "There are people I need to talk to."
"The Tweedles will certainly fight over who gets to eat your share," Red Alice groaned, "I don't see what the problem is. Neo Joker tried to kill you and all of us and you put six bullets in her. Case closed."
"Even though we saved nearly half of Gotham, Gordon won't let it go," Hellequin warned her, "I have to persuade her otherwise."
"Good luck with that," Red Alice snorted.
"I don't need luck. Just sufficient firepower," Hellequin smirked.
Barbara was back in her office. Bullock was off in the Major Crimes Division still complaining about his promotion. Montoya and Bard had taken the SRU back to their precinct. The GCPD was lightly staffed today as most of the officers and detectives were getting much needed time off. In the aftermath of the Jokerz War and Empress Penguin and the Riddler's triumphant return ahead of an army of Intergang enforcers, the city was deathly quiet. The Acting Warden at Blackgate had declared every convict had been returned. Dr. Crane was less enthusiastic. He still had a half a dozen escapees.
Still, Gordon was surprised to get a call from the Desk Sergeant, Aaron Cash, that Hellequin was shooting her way through headquarters. Barb emerged from her office to see Hellequin employing her grenade launcher with bean bag rounds and even a confetti grenade to disable the officers and detectives still lingering around headquarters.
"Enough!" Gordon shouted from her second story perch that overlooked the bullpen.
"Just insuring we had a conversation," Hellequin smiled manically.
She looked around at the broken glass and fallen officers and shrugged, "A very private conversation, Little miss Former Batgirl."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Barbara wondered how everyone was learning her secret. Bullock had deduced when he'd been her partner. She'd told Montoya and Bard. Charise Carnes was an easy pick because James Jr. had betrayed her secret after he'd deduced it. Could he have spoken with Hellequin as well? She seemed the Arkham type.
"Puh-leeze, I got it straight from Bruce Wayne's mouth after he revealed he was Lord Batman," Hellequin dismissed the denial.
"Why is everyone applying labels to Batman these days?" Gordon had to wonder, "And why would he tell you his secret?"
"That's my secret to keep," Hellequin laughed, "Look, I'm here about tonight. We did you a public service. I don't want any grief over it."
"Even under Knightfall's system, murder is still illegal," Babs reminded her.
"The GCPD wouldn't have hesitated to do what we did and for the same reasons. It was the only way to keep the crowd safe," Hellequin told her, "And Neo Joker was my problem to solve."
"I spoke with Commander Kane. It seems Neo Joker made it personal," Barbara told her, "Six shots with a .357 Magnum is a lot of pent up rage. Not to mention the previous damage done with a baseball bat, I'm guessing."
"Tim Drake killed the Joker. It was a moment of passion. You excused him and your father covered it up. The mystery of what happened to him spawned the Jokerz," Hellequin reminded Barbara, "We're heroes to the crowd we saved."
"Which is why I haven't issued APBs on the lot of you," the Commissioner told her, "But Neo Joker deserved to face justice."
"Crane would catch and release her," Hellequin snorted, "We both know he's the new Scarecrow, no matter what his public spat with his father implies."
"Crane's auto accident does seem a little too arranged to cover why he needed a body cast," Gordon admitted, "But I can't get medical verification that Azrael beat him to a pulp."
"Check the doctor's financials. Geez! Am I the only one that'll do the work?" Hellequin complained.
"I need probable," Gordon reminded her.
"Then get your buds in the Network to pull them," Hellequin said dismissively.
"You know a lot of things you shouldn't," Barbara told her.
Hellequin leveled her grenade launcher at Gordon, "Gonna test those rusty Bat reflexes? This is a live round."
"I thought you didn't come to kill anyone," Barbara said accusingly.
"The day's young," Hellequin pulled the rigger and the beanbag loaded grenade blew Gordon through a door, "By the way, I lied about the live round. That's this one."
She opened the grenade launcher's breach and the empty 40mm shell ejected. She slipped her next to last round from her bandoleer into the M-49 and snapped it shut, "Toodles."
Hellequin strolled out GCPD headquarters. A squad pulled up as she descended the steps to reach the sidewalk. Officers Dick Menso and Josh Sabra scrambled out of the car and drew their pistols, "Freeze."
"Mine's bigger," Hellequin laughed as she fired the grenade through the windshield. The blast destroyed the car and flattened Menso and Sabra. She holstered her launcher in a saddlebag on her Ducati super bike parked on the sidewalk and slipped on her helmet. Gunning the engine she squealed the tires on her way back onto the street and into traffic.
"You okay?" Sabra shouted.
"What?" Menso yelled back. Both of them suffered from ruptured ear drums. A very beaten looking Sgt. Astra Adams met them from inside the building checked them out.
"You okay, Sarge?" Menso yelled at her.
"Just a bean bag grenade. The vest protected me from the worst of it," she shouted back, "I'm calling paramedics for you two. Get inside and sit. Watch out for the shitload of glass."
As they entered, they saw Cash re-affixing his prosthetic hand. He'd lost his original hand in a Joker inspired rampage in Arkham Asylum when he'd been assigned that beat. Rather than dismiss him from the force, Jim Gordon had let Cash stay on as a desk sergeant. Det. Lucky Dale came out of the bullpen clutching his ribs.
"Teaches me not to wear a vest," he groaned.
"Sit down. You could have broken ribs that could puncture a lung," Adams told him, "The medics have been called. Now we need a fire crew as well."
"On it!" Cash called out.
"What da hell?" Bullock exclaimed coming through the front doors, "Wha' happened?"
"Hellequin happened," Barbara as on her feet and nursing her ribs. She'd taken worse punishment as Batgirl though, "She wanted my undivided and private attention."
"I suppose she wanted ya to not investigate da murders at Robinson Park," Bullock guessed.
"Exactly," Gordon told him, "She called it a 'public service'. And she knows things that she shouldn't."
Bullock paled, "Is she goin' public? Or is it blackmail?"
"Neither. I think she just wanted me to know she was trustworthy," Barbara told him.
"She guns down her girlfriend an' yer supposed to trust her?" Bullock thought that it was ludicrous.
"Are any eyewitness stepping forward about the killings?" Gordon asked.
"Nope," Bullock was disgusted, "Everyone wants ta bury it."
"Maybe they should," Barbara got philosophical, "Most of those people joined in on the Jokerz War the first night. They balked at Neo Joker's plan for redistributing Gotham's wealth. They wanted life to go back to normal after they'd vented their rage. They'd made their point already. Neo Joker wanted to kill them for not subscribing to her world view. Just like the Joker before her."
"So ya believe the rumors now? That the Joker spliced his DNA inta her?" Bullock had to ask.
"She knew things too. Things only the Joker and Harley knew about," Barbara shrugged, "I'm not sure what to believe at this point."
"Any hits on Harley Quinn yet?" Bullock asked.
"No," Barbara lied. In fact, the Medical Board had certified Harleen Quinzel (supposedly no relation) to practice psychiatry at a seaside resort town. She also owned and operated an amusement park and an apartment building. Lucy Quinzel had been born in Brazil but made a US citizen through an application at the United States embassy. A Massachusetts marriage certificate and license had been issued to Harley and Pamela Isley. Poison Ivy now ran a botanical research startup a few miles outside of the resort town where she and Harley lived raising Harley's daughter by an unspecified father. The timing of the pregnancy was over year after the Joker's death. So that ruled him out.
Overwatch had downloaded copies of texts exchanges between Harley and Ivy. They referred to the father as "Officer Sperm". Records showed a police officer in the sleepy resort town transferred across the state of New Jersey to join the State Police right after Harley was found to be pregnant. So much for the moral superiority of the police. But Harley and Ivy showed all the signs of retiring. The Huntress reported that Ivy occasionally assisted the Birds of Prey but that Harley never joined them.
"No, Harley Quinn is presumed to be dead," Barb told him.
"But there's a chance she coulda survived the fall offa dat cliff," Bullock insisted.
"Harv, drop it for me. If Harley Quinn were still alive, we'd have heard from her by now," Barbara told him, "She's a ghost."
"If ya say so," Bullock still had his doubts, she could tell.
"What's Montoya's status with retrieving Alexis Kaye from Azrael?" Barbara asked.
"Montoya sent the SRU home along wit' Bard. But she still at da church pleadin' wit' Father M'Buttu to get word ta Azrael not ta kill Punchline or torture her. Much anyway," Bullock chuckled nastily.
"Harv, I'm ashamed of you," Gordon chided him.
"You saw Dr. Doyle's reports on da cops Kaye carved up. It ain't pretty," Bullock was incensed, "No one should die dat way."
Dr. Cheryl Doyle was the GCPD's Medical Examiner. A dozen officers had received Punchline's undivided attention. The pieces of them that were left had been sent to Doyle's office who'd positively identified the blade as belonging to one Alexis Kaye and used in multiple homicides. Even the stoic redhead had been sickened by the brutality displayed.
"If anyone can talk Azrael down, it's Renee," Gordon promised.
"Yah, cause he's gotta thing fer Puerto Rican lesbians," Bullock chuckled.
"Father, I need Alexis Kaye brought in alive," Montoya repeated the same argument again.
"Azrael has no intention of killing her. He just wants information," the priest assured her again.
"It's his methods that scare me. If he tortures her, it'll botch our case against her. Juries tend to side with torture victims," Montoya warned him.
Sister Lilhy emerged from a vestibule with Punchline. She didn't look physically worse for the wear, but the infamously cold blooded serial killer was badly rattled, "You want her? Take her. We're done with her."
"You seem the stone cold killer type too," Montoya had only heard of Sister Lilhy through the KnightsQuest members until now.
"I am what I was made to be," Sister Lilhy told her simply, "Be warned. My methods of interrogation may eventually inspire her to new heights."
"What did you do?" Montoya was now on edge.
"What I was trained to do," Sister Lilhy told her, "And seriously, Ms. Kaye will not be willing to speak of it. It would unfortunate for her if she did."
Punchline actually winced. Montoya had had enough, "I will find out somehow."
"Good luck, Detective Lieutenant Renee Montoya. Let our dance begin," Sister Lilhy chuckled.
"Are you trying to flirt with me?" Montoya asked.
"I wouldn't dream of it," Sister Lilhy strode off towards the convent.
"Who trained her?" Montoya asked M'Buttu.
"Like Azrael, Sister Lilhy came to us from the Order of St. Dumas," he answered.
"Jesus," Montoya gasped.
"They'd like to believe so," M'Buttu said solemnly.
J-Man found himself awakening, hanging upside down off of the Ryder Corp building, "Is this supposed to scare me?"
"Inspire you," Azrael told him.
"You won't cut that line. Especially not in broad daylight," J-Man predicted.
"I was rejected as an Agent of the Bat because he was too soft on criminals," Azrael told him, "He spared those that shouldn't be spared. Redemption is only offered each man once. If he rejects it and offends again, he should be cut down like the vermin he's become."
"Nice try," J-Man laughed.
Azrael ignited his sword and held the flame under the rope the suspended J-Man. It burned slowly, "You have this long to tell me where the Jokerz relocated to."
"They scattered," J-Man laughed, "Joker's Daughter is setting them up as splinter cells."
"Then where do I find her?" Azrael asked.
"I don't know," J-Man told him.
"I'd reconsider that answer," Azrael advised him.
"I don't owe her anything. If I knew where she was at, I'd happily and gleefully tell you," J-Man said, "So cut me down."
"As you wish," Azrael sliced the rope. J-Man screamed his way down thirty stories before splattering across the sidewalk below. Pedestrians had heard him soon enough to clear a landing spot. Everyone looked up too late to see Azrael use his grapnel gun to crossover to a neighboring building.
Luke Fox unhappily answered the pounding at his door, "What is it already?"
He was startled to see Commissioner Gordon outside in the hall, "I need to come in."
She pushed passed him, "I know about your arrangement with the DEO, Batwing. But what is your place with the Order of St. Batman?"
"I don't have one exactly," Luke confessed, "I just help out on occasion,"
He sat down in a chair as Gordon dominated the couch. She handed him an espresso drink.
"The Order of St. Batman surrendered Punchline to our custody," Barbara told him.
"Azrael said he would so I left," Luke told her, "He said they wouldn't bother with torture because they had more effective means of making her talk."
"Harbor Patrol fished a body out of the Hudson. The vic's skin had been slowly sliced off and the cutter was working on his muscle tissue one layer at a time before he died of shock. Lt. Montoya has reason to believe Sister Lilhy did it," Gordon told him, "Is she capable of that?"
"I don't know if she's skilled enough but I'm guessing she'd be more than willing to do it. She and Azrael both came out of the Order of St. Dumas," Luke said with disgust, "No matter how much they say they want to be different, they fall back on using the same methods."
"What I'd like answered is how Jean-Paul Valley came back from the dead, stronger, faster, and more ruthless than ever," Barbara told him.
"Waitaminute! Azrael was dead?" Luke yelped.
"His death was witnessed by the Justice League. Sister Lilhy took the body with her back to Europe. A few years later, they reappear in Gotham with Azrael healthier than ever," Gordon explained.
"Sister Lilhy said her sole purpose in the Order of St. Dumas was to watch over Azrael," Luke told her, "What if that meant medically as well?"
"Luke, the Order bred Jean-Paul valley and indoctrinated him since birth. Could it be they went a step further and created a new Jean-Paul Valley?" Barbara wondered.
"I have no idea," Luke confessed.
"I need you to get closer to them and find out," Gordon explained her visit, "I know you have your vendetta against Powers. I can help with that through legal channels. The DEO sanctions your crusade because Bones is worried about Powers turning into the next Lex Luthor. I can reopen the investigation into your father's murder with the evidence you've already gathered and I can point you towards key evidence to collect. But I'm asking you to infiltrate the Order of St. Batman."
"Is that a condition of your help?" Luke sounded angry.
"The offer is free. I don't want Powers going Luthor either," Babs told him, "But as a favor, I'm hoping you'll help me investigate the Order of St. Batman. Especially since one of the Jokerz Royal Court dropped off the Ryder Corp building roof today. He'd been tied and hung up there and someone cut the rope. Cut it with a blade that left burn marks in the rope."
"Azrael. It had to be," Luke gasped.
"I think so too. But Father M'Buttu won't share details of Azrael's whereabouts at the time of the murder and we can't track down Black Bat or Sister Lilhy nor would they cooperate if we did," Barbara said bitterly, "Batman rejected Azrael as a successor for just this reason. Your anger towards Powers kept you from the designated role."
"I'll help. I saw what Azrael and Black Bat did to Black Mask and his crew. I was there. But I was also an accomplice," Luke told her.
"I already knew all that. Roman Sionis' aide came to us and reported everything in a plea deal. We couldn't dismantle Sionis' operation while the Jokerz War was underway but my officers are out there with warrants now that they've rested up," Barbara explained, "I'm keeping you three out of it."
"Why?" Luke asked.
"Because I can't afford to implicate you," Babs said flatly, "Like it or not, the GCPD needs Batwing in the skies of Gotham with Batman gone and the Bat Clan dissolved."
"I want Azrael and Black Bat's killing spree to never happen again too," Luke promised her, "So I'll go undercover for you."
"Thank you," Gordon said with heartfelt gratitude, "You're literally the only one that can."
"Anything to stop the killing," Luke said.
"I did some digging into Black Bat," Barbara warned him, "He appeared at the same time a former Assistant District Attorney named Tony Quinn received cybernetic eye implants."
"Tony is Black Bat," Luke reluctantly confirmed.
"Then you should be aware that Tony received the implants from Wayne Powers and reports to their clinic every week to run diagnostics on the implants. I didn't have to break all the way through their firewall but I think they're downloading what Tony's eyes see for the week," Barbara warned him more strenuously.
"It must've taken a lot to confess to a cyber crime," Luke appreciated the fact she'd confided in him, "I've never removed my helmet in front of any of them. They have no idea of who I really am."
"Keep it that way," Barb stressed, "For own safety."
She went to let herself out, "For appearances sake, you're still a target of the anti-vigilante laws. The DEO can intervene again if you get arrested again. But I can't be seen playing favorites by the Mayor. Blood already is on me for delaying the release of licensed criminals. He says he disapproves of Knightfall's system. With no City Council, it's up to him to decide whether or not we continue to abide by the statutes that created the license system."
"I guess we'll see then," Luke agreed as Barb slipped out. He wondered how great a magnitude of trouble he'd just agreed to get into.
"Rise and shine!" Red Alice banged on Marian Drews' bedroom door as she entered in. Marian threw a pillow at her.
"Go away!" she snarled.
"It's peak crime hours. So don't sleep the night away," Red Alice sat at the foot of the bed, "I hear you paid a visit to the GCPD. How'd that turn out? Besides the obvious ass kicking and explosions."
"Gordon won't come after us. No one will testify against us," Marian said unhappily as she roused.
"This is a bad thing?" Red Alice asked.
"They'll still pursue the whole hostage taking at the Wayne Foundation," Marian warned her.
"But we were almost blown up," Red Alice complained.
"Unlike the rest of them that were miraculously saved, we skipped out before the bomb detonated in the middle of the Hudson," Marian told her, "Which goes to show there are other mysterious forces lurking about Gotham we don't know about yet."
"Why is there always someone willing to put a costume on?" Red Alice groaned, "Is it in the city's water?"
"You don't want to know what's actually in the city's water," Marian deadpanned.
"Are you getting up or what?" Red Alice asked, "We're going for a romp and I want my bestie at my side."
"I'll pass," Marian yawned, "Some of us didn't get any rest at the Owl's Nest," Marian reminded her, "I was busy running chores and making plans."
"Fine," Red Alice sulked, "Somebody blew up an old Kane Industries factory after killing a bunch of Jokerz. I want to know why a heap of concrete was worth defending."
"Go. Solve your mystery," Marian shooed her away, "Report back to me when you've solved it."
"I will," Red Alice huffed.
"Don't let the neighbors see you," Marian called after her.
"Do I ever?" Red Alice called back before exiting.
"Never should have given her a key," Marian groaned. Marian Drews had a serious Joker problem. Every one that she loved betrayed her in the end and she had to kill them. This world had one out of Jokers. Where would she go next? Harley had found Ivy. Where was her true love to be found? All she knew for certain was that she wouldn't worry about until morning. Or much later.
Anna Wilson created by redpyrocat
"Captain Atomic was created by Michael P. and is available for use by anyone, with only one condition: This paragraph must be included in any publication involving Captain Atomic, in order that others may use this property as they wish."
While his adventures, as well as his various artistic interpretations, are under copyright to their respective creators, the character and idea are free for anyone and everyone to use.
Iron Knife
Real Name
Unknown
Alias
Mbeli Ebedende
First Appearance 2014
PDSH wiki
Created By
Brandon Longstreth