Hi, everyone! October is here and you know what that means? A new chapter/update for the spooky month. Before going ahead, I would like to give a heads up that you may or may not catch some references from Marvel's Spider-Man Maximum Venom Episode 1: Web of Venom. Along with reintroducing a character that makes an appearance in Harry's origin story.
No flamed reviews nor fake advertised ones, please. I am very serious. If I catch you posting false advertisements in my stories I will report, delete, and block you! There should be reviews on what you think of the story you are reading only.
Hope you all enjoy.
So, just to recap, I got to meet my first best friend who happens to be the son of one of my uncles and going to be the next Scarecrow. We pulled off our first heist in gathering equipment to do a new weapons upgrade and met the next Killer Moth in the process. While it's true that our girl Killer Moth is most likely a rival, I knew one day we would have her part of our team soon. In the meantime, after days of doing Scarecrow's heist plus upgrades, I wanted to do a new heist of my own.
However, little did any of us knew...this heist was about to have a remix of its own.
A figure was moving around Gotham in swift speed. Under the moonlight, after stopping for a moment, the figure appeared to be male and had a hoodie on plus one piece suit that looked completely torn. In fact, the boy looked like he just escaped from a big battle with bruises and cuts visible; despite wearing a suit.
"...You...You will regret this, Chapel," he muttered, hurtful anger in his tone while coming down on his knees and slamming a fist to the ground. "I will come after you when I'm stronger than the last time we saw each other! No matter how long it takes! Mark my words!"
The young boy looked up to notice Wayne Enterprises not far from him. He recalled how this place has the top research programs and advanced technologies developed there. A new plan was already in motion within the boy's head.
"...And I know where to start," The purple suited boy said, smiling behind his helmet before running down the fire escape.
Little did he knew that two other boys in masks were heading to the same building. And those two boys were none other than the next Mad Hatter and Scarecrow.
"Okay, Scarecrow. We stopped at your mentor's building where he used to work days ago, and now we're stopping at mind today," Harry the Mad Hatter said, running until making a pause to where they wanted to go and waved his hand on emphasis. "Wayne Enterprises!"
Scarecrow's eyes widened; both from the destination and looking at his best friend. "Harry...I am going to be real with you...This is the maddest decision you've ever made."
"Thank you," Harry responded, smiling proudly.
"That wasn't entirely a compliment," Scarecrow deadpanned. "Wayne Enterprises?! This is bigger than breaking into a college campus! If we get caught stealing from there, then we'll go to jail and get exposed!"
"Calm down, my straw-covered pal," Harry said, patting on Scarecrow's shoulder. "No one's going to jail. While we are sneaking in there, our destination within the building is somewhere that no one will suspect anything gone. I'll explain along the way."
Although a little skeptical, the young Scarecrow didn't argue and followed his mad friend to go inside Wayne Enterprises. The two boys were at higher ground until going through the vents of the building.
However, while they were navigating through the vents, the other mystery boy used a different entrance of the building. He was using a stringed instrument that appeared to be an electric violin where the boy played a song. It seemed to not only leave two guards in a trance but also have a few rats around the area to nab the keys plus access key card from them and give to the musician.
"Thanks for the help," The boy responded, walking past the guards and unlocking the doors to go in no problem. "I normally don't use my main teacher's technique but it's practical on situations like this."
Back with the two boys breaking through the vents, Scarecrow and Harry continued crawling, while Harry leads Scarecrow. Looking through the vent windows, Harry tries to find where he was talking about.
"So tell me, Harry. If it's going to take us a while to get over there via ventilation shafts, tell me what we are looking for?" Scarecrow asked, still feeling skeptical. "Need I remind you again that we could get caught in one of the biggest corporations in Gotham City?"
"We won't," Harry assured, as he took a pause at a specific window vent. "And, as for where we're going, it's right here below."
"It's about time." Scarecrow said, as he looks through the vent window and sees a dark room. "I can't make out what's in there."
"You'll see," Harry responded, carefully opening the vent and extended his staff until it reaches the room. He then carefully slide down from it like a fireman's pole and landed on the table. "Okay, Scarecrow.
Scarecrow followed Harry's instructions and moved gently out from the ventilation shaft and, after sliding down from the staff, onto the table that Harry dropped onto before having it retracted. Making sure he doesn't knock anything out. He drops to the ground, catching up with Harry. Scarecrow finally had a good look at the room where they're at. It appears to be an intersection bunker for damaged looking devices, contraptions, and other defective supplies and products.
"Harry, I think we're either in a secret garbage room or... A place where technological projects for Wayne Enterprises go to rot," Scarecrow assumed.
"Close. This is the Project Graveyard section of Wayne Industries," Harry explained, looking around the place in awe. "My mentor would always tell me this is where he and everyone else leaves their past projects that became duds. As small reminders of how past failures are just the milestones of how we improve ourselves."
"A graveyard for technological projects?" Scarecrow said in question form. Never realizing that there could be a room for projects that we're defective and left for scrap. "So, Bruce Wayne throws out people's ideas if they don't work or malfunction?"
"More like reserves them like museum pieces or if anyone would like to use them in fixing up," Harry shrugged, not leaving his sights on the area.
"So why did you bring me here? What's so special about all this stupid junk?" Scarecrow asked.
"Since my mentor, among a few other brilliant scientists, worked here, I figured there would be some microchips left here to update my own devices," Harry answered, looking for a specific section. "I know he had many trial and error projects of his own as much as the other brilliant tech-geniuses that would be useful. Even before becoming the maddest Arkham inmate of them all...not counting Joker, of course. That Clown Prince is his own brand of crazy."
"So you made me break into Wayne Industries' project graveyard vault, so you can find some of your mentor's work before he got fired?" Evan asked. "I doubt you'll find anything that symbolizes what Tetch made in this literal organize pile of junk."
"Come on, bud. I'm sure there's some projects here that might interest you, too," Harry encouraged, taking a moment to pause to see something. "Like that little contraption."
The young Hatter pointed at what looked like a mini- guillotine that started moving on its own. Most people would freak out about that.
Evan was surprised it moved on its own. "What the heck is that monstrosity of a contraption?" He asked in shocked. Not intrigued shock, more of an angry shock.
"Apparently, according to this tag, this is some kind of automatic hamburger slicer," Harry said, reading what this device is. "Why anyone would want to use it to just slice burgers is beyond me."
"Maybe because it decided to cut human flesh instead of dead flesh like hamburgers!" Evan replied negatively.
Harry rolled his eyes, as he continues looking around at the other scrapped projects.
It didn't take long for the young Hatter to come across a section labeled 'H6'.
"Aha! This is it!" Harry exclaimed, hurrying over to that section in going to an advanced drawer case. "This is where they keep Jervis Tetch's old projects!"
"Then, I guess you hit the motherload, Harry." Evan said. "Let's get this over with."
Harry rolled his eyes again. Ignoring Evan's sarcastic comment. "These were before he calibrated his mind-controlled cards to perfection as the Mad Hatter," Harry explained, looking through the case before transferring them all in his own bag. "His own resource technology behind neurology is very complex where only Jervis could fully understand. I can definitely use these to come up with something mad-tastic."
"Mad-tastic?" Evan cringed. "That sounds a little corny, even for Mad Hatter himself.
"It's a Wonderland word I enjoy using," Harry stated, bringing out a high-tech belt where a speaker was at the center. "Huh. This is interesting."
Evan looked closer at what Harry sees. "What is it?" He asked.
"A soundwave emitter. It's supposed to measure soundwaves on the edges as much as create them," Harry answered, studying the object in his hands. "Hmmm...I wonder why my mentor would create such a gadget?"
"Maybe to create shockwaves of his own mind or something? Probably to turn thoughts into sound-based quakes?" Evan suggestibly commented.
Suddenly, the two boys heard the door open and footsteps heading in the project junkyard. They reacted fast by not only putting the belt back plus close the drawer, but also hide behind one of the large projects.
"Oh, man, I knew it. We are so busted," Scarecrow whispered, not liking this. "Security is here ready to arrest us."
"Calm down. We're not caught yet," Harry assured lowly, carefully peeking on whose coming while keeping cool. "Stay low and don't move."
"If you say so," Scarecrow said. "But Wayne security is very uptight, thanks to that stupid rich Playboy. If we get caught, I blame you."
Harry then noticed a few rats moving around the area. Although confused to why there are lab rats loose in Wayne Industries, he was slightly amazed in seeing them work in unity. It was like watching Jervis control the rats in doing what he commanded.
Scarecrow was confused. "Rats? Is Ratcatcher here?"
"Come on...There's got to be something here I can use against that hack," replied a voice.
The boys turned their heads in seeing a different person they didn't recognize. He looked like someone from the future with a glowing suit and helmet. They were surprised at who was in the project graveyard.
"Whoa... Is that supposed to be Tron or the Ratcatcher from the future?" Scarecrow whispered.
Harry then noticed one of the rats going to the section he just finished rummaging around and squeaked to get the futuristic person's attention. He walked over to the rat and looked to the drawer that had the soundwave emitter belt. Although wanting to stop him, Harry was rather curious in what this new comer thinks.
"This better be good," he grumbled, opening the drawer to see the belt and gasped before picking it up. "Oh, ho, ho! Now we're talking! I can definitely have some fun with this!"
Scarecrow took noticed of what the purple tech boy was doing. "Looks like Ratcatcher 2099's taking that sound belt thing we saw." He said to Harry.
"Yeah, I can see that," Harry the Hatter responded quietly, not leaving his hard gaze at the unknown intruder. "He seems definitely interested in it, but what could he be up to in using such technology?"
"This could help me with my suit." The purple boy said. He then noticed some other scrapped projects. One of them being the mini-guillotine. "Whoever made this, they must really hate people."
Harry couldn't help but hold back a laugh while giving a quick glance to Scarecrow. "Sounds like you two would get along well in thinking the same thing on that machine."
"All right. I've seen enough." Scarecrow said.
"Agreed. Let's not engage in dealing with this new guy yet until we know who we're up against," Harry said, rationally. "I have a feeling he does more than control rats."
The purple tech boy then saw the H6 section and commented about it. "Yeesh, no wonder the Mad Hatter went bad. All of his projects were literally mad. Talk about invasion of insecurity."
That comment struck a nerve on Harry. Although slightly true, he doesn't like Jervis being slandered like that by anyone. It made Harry mad where his crystal faintly glowed red for a small moment.
"Grrr...'Screw the box, I think outside the straight jacket.'," Harry muttered, quoting from his mentor's favorite book.
"Harry?" Scarecrow asked, wondering what's coming.
"On second thought...forget what I said earlier," Harry muttered, grabbing his staff out. "That guy is going down."
"Now we're talking," Scarecrow said, smirking while bringing his new clawed gauntlets up. "I've always wanted to test these."
"Same like last time with the new Killer Moth. I'll get Tech Boy's attention to distract him while you tag him with your fear toxin from behind," Harry explained the plan.
"You got it," Scarecrow said. "Let's do this."
Nodding, Harry the Hatter moved out in one direction while Scarecrow went to a different one in the shadows.
Now that the purple tech boy has gotten what he needed, along with sending the rats back to their homes, he prepared to leave. "Perfect. Now to get out of here."
"If you're trying to find your way back, the section for dull and broken robots is five rows back," Harry remarked, seeing the Tech Boy jump in startlement in hearing him for the first time and turned around to spot who said that.
"What the... Who are you? A rip-off of the Mad Matter?" The purple tech boy asked.
"I think with the top hat and mad getup I'm wearing is pretty self-explanatory," Harry the Hatter remarked, folding his arms. "The better question is...'Whooo...are...you?'."
The purple boy cringed at how Harry the Hatter said phrased that question. "Really? Quoting the baboon from the Lion King?"
"Baboon from Lion King?! Oh, come on! Have you not read 'Alice in Wonderland' to understand the reference quote of the Blue Caterpillar saying it to Alice?" Harry asked in annoyance, folding his arms. "Seriously!?"
"I only saw the movie, dude, and it wasn't that funny. Plus, Lion King did it better. I'm not interested in some stupid fairytale book. Or the fact that you're dressed up as the same guy who calls himself the Mad Hatter around the city." The tech boy explained.
"Ugh!" Harry groaned, facepalming before trying to calm himself. "Okay. You're definitely getting on my nerves here. Who are you and why are you here stealing one of Jervis Tetch's inventions that's a soundwave emitter?"
"Oh, so that's what it is," The tech boy said.
"Yeah. That belt you grabbed happens to be made by the same insecure mad man you recently bad-mouthed," Harry remarked, not taking that insult lightly. "He also happens to be my mentor. You can trash talk your own or someone else's for all I care, but you don't insult him while I'm around."
"Dude, I don't care about your mentor, but dressing up like you're going to take his place as the new Mad Hatter? It feels like you're his sidekick." The tech boy said. "But if you wanna know who I am..." He then takes out put on the belt before bringing out his high-tech violin. "The name's... Techno-Tune. And here's why..." He synced up the belt and then plays his violin doing his version of 'Bad Guy' by Billie Eilish.
As Techno-Tune played his violin, Harry the Hatter couldn't help but notice that his body was, for some reason, moving on its own. It looked like he was... dancing?
"Whoa...What the Hatter?!" Harry exclaimed.
Scarecrow, hiding from the shadows, was getting ready to pounce Techno-Tune with his new Arachnid themed gauntlets. He couldn't help but notice that his body was starting to dance, too.
"What's going on...?" He asked quietly.
As Techno-Tune played more, Scarecrow and Harry continue dancing against their will. And Scarecrow dance-walked out of the shadows.
"I figured you had a partner," Techno-Tune said, as he played more of his violin. "Now, we can rock this joint!"
"Hatty, I can't stop myself..." Scarecrow said. "Is this some kind of hypnotizing thing? But for bodies?"
"Sort of. Looks like this Techno-Tune kid is using soundwave frequencies from his violin to make us dance uncontrollably yet leave us aware on what's going on," Harry/Hatty responded. "This must be what my mentor was trying to accomplish involving that belt and why Techno was interested with it."
"So he's acting like Fiddler?" Scarecrow asked.
"No. Not Fiddler," Harry shook his head while still grooving to the music. "I'll explain later. Right now, we got to stop Techno-Tune. Scarecrow, can you try to get your dancing body to go around and not stay in one place?"
"I can try. It just needs some improv," Scarecrow said.
"Good. Since our minds are still working, let's try to use our new dancing skills against him," Harry suggested, now dancing his way to try to hit the violinist.
However, Techno-Tune was moving around, as Harry and Scarecrow continued dancing yet work on attacking Techno-Tune while dancing. Scarecrow kept trying to hit Techno-Tune with any dance moves his body can use. Unfortunately, Techno-Tune evaded them, since he's playing his violin. It is like no one can harm him if they're under his musical spell. Harry also tried to hit Techno-Tune but his dancing moves keep missing.
"It's like we can't touch him, even while we're in this trance," Scarecrow said.
"Must be a hidden suggestion to his playing where we're not allowed to hit him directly during his song," Harry responded, still dancing until noticing something that made him smile. "But maybe we don't have to."
Scarecrow was confused about everything, even what Hatty said. "What are you talked about?" He asked.
"Keep Techno-Tune busy with any will you got on your body," Hatty stated, formulating a new plan. "I'll handle the rest in using one of the failed projects to our advantage."
"Okay, I'll try," Scarecrow said, as he tries moving towards Techno-Tune, and trying to strike him with his hands.
With Techno-Tune distracted, Harry danced his way to an offline hoverboard. He brought up his staff where he was spinning and tossing it up like a majorette in a marching band.
"Got to focus..." Harry muttered, using all his will to aim his crystal staff at the hoverboard.
Just then, the crystal glowed green where it sent enough energy to turn on the hoverboard and make it fly out of control.
"Scarecrow, look out!" Harry exclaimed.
Scarecrow heard Harry's warning where he noticed the hoverboard spiraling out of control in time and he quickly duck his head while doing the splits. He cringed a bit because it hurts doing the splits. "The pain..." He said in anguish, as his body still dances.
The hoverboard was hitting different projects until crashing to one of the stacked sections from behind Techno-Tune where it was raining projects on top of him. That stopped the violinist from playing entirely where he shouted in surprise.
Scarecrow and Hatty stopped dancing. Hatty went down to his knees; exhausted from the dancing and how his body was sore. Scarecrow was lying down, resting his legs after doing the splits. He won't be able to move his legs for quite a while but he needs to in order to get back home.
Hatty took a breather while seeing he was back in control of his body. "Looks like it worked."
"Yeah. Looks like it," Scarecrow said, holding his legs. "I have got to start stretching my legs."
Groaning, Techno-Tune slowly got out of the pile of failed projects that fell on top of him. He wasn't completely hurt but he did get a headache from it. At least, Techno was wearing a helmet.
"He seems vulnerable now. Or probably very dizzy." Scarecrow said, getting halfway up. "Either we take him down or we just get out of here and let him take the fall?" He asked Hatty.
However…the young Hatter didn't listen to him.
Just then, the tall empty heavy metal shelf behind Techno-Tune wabbled until it was about to fall towards him. If that lands on him, it's going to most likely do worse damage than hurt Techno.
Hatty noticed that where he reacted in running towards the dazed violinist, ignoring the slight aching in his body.
"Hey! Watch out!"
"Hatty, what are you doing?!" Scarecrow shouted.
The young Hatter in training immediately jumped and tackled Techno-Tune away from the falling shelf where it left a big dust cloud.
Scarecrow coughed while looking around in concern for his best friend. "Hatty? Hatty! Oh, please tell me you didn't go out like this."
After a long few seconds of silence, the dust cleared to reveal Hatty was all right with a knocked-out Techno-Tune by his side.
"Trust me, Scarecrow. If I were to ever go out, it would be something grand," Hatty assured, getting up halfway.
Scarecrow took a breath of relief, but he expected this kind of behavior from Hatty. He wasn't upset because...It was madness and Hatty is known for that. So, he just rolled his eyes. "Regardless, are you alright?"
"I'm good. Techno-Tune is fine, too. He only hit his helmet head very hard when I tackled him," Harry responded, looking at the unconscious boy with sympathy. "Scarecrow, I don't think Techno is from Gotham City nor has anywhere to go."
"What do you mean?" Scarecrow asked, raising a brow from his mask while walking over to his friend.
"Look at his suit covered in tears. These bruises and cuts visible all over his skin were done recently," Harry responded, using his staff to indicate the following while standing back up. " Indicating that he just escaped from a big battle yet not unscathed. And based on his self-conversation from earlier, he seems to be out seeking revenge on whoever did that to him. Most likely someone who gave him shelter somewhere in the city to work for until today."
Scarecrow looked closely at Techno-Tune where he starts thinking about what Hatty said. "Now that you mention that, it would make sense for him to not come to Gotham unintentionally," He said. "And he doesn't look anything like Ratcatcher to be a threat.
"I think we...well, mostly you, were way off about him being related to Ratcatcher from the future," Harry responded. "I have reasons to believe that the person we just went up against is none other than...the Pied Piper's protege from Central City."
"Pied Piper?" Scarecrow has heard about that villain. "As in the Flash's enemy?"
"Exactly. Think about it," Harry reasoned, using his fingers to number the facts. "He had rats around the area to look for equipment, uses an instrument that causes people to dance uncontrollably, and is clearly doing all of this in improving himself to be strong enough in taking down the individual who wronged him or even went back on a deal they made. It's exactly like the lore of the Pied Piper from the Brother's Grimtales. He even has the hoodie and pointy boots not far from Pied Piper's look."
Scarecrow then examined Techno-Tune's outfit, and how it had resembled to the Pied Piper. "Now I see it. And, to be fair, Ratcatcher wasn't my only point of reference. I also assumed that he was also like the Fiddler." Harry just rolled his eyes; ignoring that comment. "But if he's from Central City, why did he travel all the way to Gotham in the first place?"
"I wish I knew the answer to that question," Harry responded, sighing gently while not leaving his gaze on Techno. "Only he knows and can tell us. And Scarecrow...you're probably going to hate me for what I'm about to say next."
Scarecrow realized what his friend was going to say. "Oh, no. Please, don't say it..." He begged.
"I think...we should consider...taking Techno-Tune with us back to my place," Harry responded gently, carefully picking up Techno and having his weight leaned on him plus an arm to secure.
Scarecrow whined and groaned at Harry's suggestion. "Come on! Why? Didn't you notice that he was controlling us with his music like puppets. Why can't we just ditch him here and bail?"
"I know what I heard from him and saw back there. Honestly, I don't mind the idea of leaving him for security to pick him up," Harry admitted. "But there's something Techno is going through. I can see it in his body language and hear it in his tone. He's losing hope in something to a point that he plans to go back to where he barely survived that could risk his life. And I'm not going to leave him behind the way whoever caused his pain in the first place."
"That's a huge risk; even for you," Scarecrow stated, not on board with the idea while shaking his head in disapproval. "Sorry, but that's not happening."
"Okay...Let me rephrase that statement," Harry responded, sternly while giving a deadpan look at his friend. "If we leave without Techno-Tune and he ends up caught, then there's the chance of where we risk our existence to the police because he snitched on us and Batman won't be far behind to start a search party. Is that a risk you want to take instead?"
Scarecrow understood Harry's statement and warning. He puts his hands on his head. He did wanted to take the risk but even he knows that his friend was right where he just groans. "UGGGHHHH! Sometimes, I hate it when you're right." He sighed. "Fine."
"That's what I thought," Hatty replied, already moving while carrying the unconscious violinist and holding his violin. "Come along, Scarecrow. Time to head home."
"Good. I don't want to stay here anymore longer than we already were," Scarecrow replied.
Around leaving, Scarecrow noticed what was left of the hoverboard on the floor. He decided to take the components of it and put them in his pocket.
'Well, best to get rid of any evidence from us,' Scarecrow thought to himself. 'And I'm sure Harry might find a use for this junk.'
So, after everything, you can already guess that we escaped Wayne Enterprises without getting caught. I'll admit that my first encounter with Techno-Tune wasn't exactly glamorous. Most of you probably already knew why from that 'Fortissimo Therapy' story in the present. But I guess the better questions would be the following; How did we convince Techno-Tune to trust us enough in being part of our team? What was my actual reason in bringing him to my home? And how is he going to handle meeting my family that's waiting for us? All of those questions would be answered in another chapter.