Chapter 24: Double Cross
The state of the cruise ship was immense panic as passengers scrambled to the lifeboats. Superman meanwhile, grabbed a spare lifeboat and flew it down to the hold in the ship, placing it over the hole and welding it into place. With the job done, he flew out of the water and back onto the cruise ship in order to start bailing water.
…
Meanwhile, Batman and Robin were jetting through the sky, avoiding the robots deadly laser fire. Batman even launched a few missiles at the robot, but they seemed to do little more than scratch it. Off to the side, Joker watched the fight from a distance, taking note of Batman and Robin's survival.
"This could be a fair fight after all." Joker remarked. "And who wants to see that."
He quietly ducked out as the robot continued firing its laser at the duo. He managed to clip Robin's jetpack, much to his and Batman's horror. Robin went down, ditching the flight pack before it detonated. Batman swooped down and picked Robin up before another laser could hit him, severing one of the wings on his own pack. They both went rolling to the ground, landing on their feet. Both shot out grappling hooks to swing away as the robot gave chase. After a bit of swinging, they made their way onto a Metropolis bus, driving away from the docks.
"Are you alright?" Batman asked.
"Just a little jostled, but I'm good." Robin reassured. "But I don't think we're out of this yet."
The two looked back and saw the robot emerging from the alley and stepping onto the road, immediately causing some cars to crash. The robot then crouched down and activated wheels that were on its underside, allowing it to give chase.
"I'm starting to think you made those things a little too well." Robin remarked. "Might be time to call in some back up."
Batman tried activating his JL communicator, but all he got was static.
"Something's scrambling the signal." Batman realized.
"It has to be the robot." Robin insisted. "If Joker didn't rig it, Lex probably did when he made those military upgrades."
"Then we need to get in touch with Superman the old fashioned way." Batman decided, looking towards the Daily Planet.
…
Back at the Planet, only Lois remained after everyone else left for the night. She was working on the report for the S.S. Atlantis, typing it up on her laptop. She had her phone under her chin, still on call with the coast guard.
"Superman's towing the ship to harbor, excellent." Lois said. "Glad everything worked out."
She hung up and resumed her work. As she typed away, she happened to glance out the window and saw some kind of pink laser shooting across the sky. It even managed to slice through the windows of the building as Batman and Robin came crashing through. They rolled onto the ground hard as Lois came up.
"Let me guess," Batman spoke, looking up. "You're the only one here?"
Lois just gave a silent nod. Batman then grabbed her, picking her up and running with her, Robin in tow. The robot climbed through the window and continued its pursuit. As the three made their way through the door to the stairwell, Batman slammed the door shut and used some rope he had on his belt to tie the door shut.
"Anything going on I should know about?" Lois asked.
"Joker's using the WayneLex T-7 to try and kill us." Robin answered. "I'd hide if I were you."
Just then, the robot started jamming one of its legs through the door.
"No time!" Batman declared, grabbing Lois as he and Robin used their grapples swung down the stairs. "The JL commlinks are down. Do you have a way to contact Superman?"
"He's out at sea." Lois told him. "That and I don't think he has a cellphone on him."
"Never around when you need him." Batman remarked.
The three landed on one of the lower floors as the robot tore through the door. They ran into the Planet's printing press as Batman lead Lois behind a column.
"Stay here." Batman told her. "We're the ones its after, you should be safe."
"That's a first." Lois remarked.
Finally, the robot came crashing in, but it found no sign of Batman and Robin. It started looking around for the two as they peeked out from behind one of the printers. Batman turned to Robin, who nodded in response before they each through bolas at the robot. Upon wrapping around its head, they exploded, damaging it and causing it to drop a bit. Robin ran towards the robot ready to finish it, but the robot just jumped up and smacked him aside.
"Robin!" Batman let out.
The robot suddenly leapt at him, causing Batman to move back. The robot tried bringing its legs down on Batman, but he did his best to hold them off as they back to a printer. During the struggle, Batman's cape got caught in one of the rollers, pulling him backwards towards the machine. Left with no other options, Batman pulled off his cape and cowl before he could be pulled into the machine. Before the robot could do anymore, a fire extinguisher was thrown at its head. The robot turned and saw it was Lois, giving Batman just enough of a distraction to grab the robots leg and jam it into the printer. The robot got dragged in and collided with the machine, causing it and the robot to explode.
"Whoa." Lois let out. "Are you okay Bat-?"
She cut off, getting a look at his face.
"Mr. Wayne?" She gasped. "You're… You're Batman?"
"Uh-oh." Robin muttered. "Guess the bat's out of the belfry."
"I suppose so." Batman replied, pulling his cape out of the damaged printer.
"You know, this actually explains a few things." Lois pieced together.
"Your boyfriend thought so to." Batman replied, putting his cowl back on.
"So he knows too." Lois mused. "Well, I can't hold that against him. Not his secret to tell."
"You're taking this surprisingly well." Robin noted. "Then again, working alongside Superman's alter ego probably kills the thrill."
Batman glanced down at Robin, raising an eyebrow.
"What?" Robin defended. "You know she knows. She's Superman's girl. You really think he'd keep secrets from-?"
Just then, the robot sprang back up from the wreckage, damaged, but still working.
"Stay back!" Batman yelled.
The robot then began charging at them, only for Superman to suddenly arrive and stomp on the robot, shutting it down permanently.
"Did I miss anything?" He asked.
…
"Reports indicate target acquisition failed, Mr. Luthor. sorry."
Lex hung up the phone, surprisingly smiling at the news.
"He survived." He mused. "Long enough for Superman to save him."
"But they have the robot now." Mercy told him. "Don't you think they'll trace it back to you?"
"I've considered that possibility, and have a solution." Lex informed. "Call the clown. I need one last meeting."
…
The three heroes gathered in Lois' apartment, where Lois began bandaging Bruce's wounds. Tim sat off to the side with his mask off, talking with Superman nonchalantly.
"So, he tried to dart you?" He questioned. "And that's how he found out?"
"It's how I learned who he was as well." Superman explained. "Though I'd like to know how you found out. I highly doubt Batman told you."
"Oh, I've known for weeks." Tim explained. "I got bored and started doodling on some pictures from the Daily Planet. Drew glasses on Superman and realized it looked a lot like Clark Kent. I showed Alfred and we've been placing bets on how long it would take Bruce to find out."
Lois snorted, covering her mouth to stifle her laughter. Even Superman cracked a smile.
"That's certainly a unique approach." Superman commended.
"How much money do you owe Alfred?" Bruce questioned.
Tim glanced over.
"20 bucks, and I have to do the dishes for a week." he answered. "He beat my bet by a week."
"Could be worse." Lois told him. "You just have extra chores. Me, I'm sitting on the story of the century, 'Batman unmasked' and there's not a damn thing I can do about it."
"You turned down one major headline once." Superman reminded her.
"That was different, Smallville." she corrected. "I still had a story I could publish. Not this time."
She finished her bandaging job, giving him a pat.
"How does that feel?" she asked.
"Better." He answered. "Thanks."
"Joker made a mistake in using the WayneLex T-7." Tim declared. "Now we have solid proof he and Lex are in cahoots."
"Then I say it's time we bring Luthor and Joker in." Superman declared.
"I know where the robots are being manufactured." Bruce replied, grabbing the rest of his Batman costume and putting it on. "That's where they'll be."
"You sure about that?" Superman asked.
"Like Tim said, Joker made a mistake." Batman pointed out. "And Lex Luthor isn't the kind of man to let those kinds of mistakes go unpunished."
"Good point." Superman agreed. "We'd better get going then."
…
At the airbase where the other T-7 robots were being kept, Lex and Mercy led Joker and Harley into the facility. The two clowns looked around at all the weapons and robots, grinning from ear to ear.
"Look at all the cool toys." Joker marveled. "Santa's been good to you, Lexie."
"Glad you're enjoying yourself," Lex tolderated. "But we still have business to discuss."
Joker didn't seem to be paying attention, especially when he saw a large ship that was shaped like a boomerang.
"Yeowza! A flying wing!" Joker exclaimed. "Twenty times bigger than Batman's! And knowing you, a hundred times as lethal."
"Joker!" Lex snapped. "Did you bring the rest of the Kryptonite?"
"Of course!" Joker insisted, Harley holding up a fair-sized satchel. "Never leave home without it."
"So, what's the plan?" Harley inquired.
"Payback." Mercy replied, holding up her gun.
Upon seeing the double cross, Joker started laughing, much to Harley's confusion.
"What's so funny?" She asked.
"Don't you get it, Harl?" Joker replied. "We're being set up to take the fall."
"What?!" Harley exclaimed. "He can't do that! We had a deal!"
"Deal's changed." Lex replied, snatching Harley's bag. "I have the Kryptonite, and plausible deniability with the use of my robots. Saying you stole them from me to kill Batman will be simple enough."
"It'll be your word against Puddin's." Harley challenged, getting a glare from Joker. "I-I mean Mister J's."
"And who do you think the authorities will believe?" Lex questioned. "A respected businessman, or a wanted psychopath."
"Besides Harl," Joker chimed in. "something tells me we're not going to be around to say much."
Harley gulped.
"You mean..." she stammered, "he's gonna kill us?"
"No, she is." Lex corrected, gesturing to Mercy. "I abhor violence."
Lex then went to unzip the bag, only for several spring snakes to suddenly shoot out and distract the two. Joker then pulled out a yoyo and launched it at Mercy, where it hit her in the face and knocked the gun out of her hands. Harley was quick to collect the gun and aim it at Lex.
"Now this is funny Mister J." Harley commended. "Except, we're never gonna collect our million bucks now."
"True." Joker admitted. "But I do see a fine consolation prize."
…
Some time later, Joker was seated in Luthor's large ship, which had been given several long black stripes to make it look like a flying smile.
"All done out here, Mister J!" Harley reported, saluting with a wet paint brush from the wing of the ship. "Nothin beats a nice big smile!"
"Nice work Harl!" Joker replied before turning to Lex. "Hope you don't mind. I like to personalize all my stuff."
Lex, who was duct taped to one of the passenger seats, just glared at the Joker.
"How amusing." He growled. "Just tell me what it's going to cost me to get rid of you two."
"I'm not some schmo who can be bought off, Lexie." Joker replied, leaning next to him. "No, what I want is for you to lose everything you have, everything you've ever built. Just like I lost everything to Batman."
With that, he exploded into laughter before preparing to take off. Just then, a blinking sound came from the radar, indicating two flying objects coming it.
"We have incoming!" Joker called to Harley. "Bats and flyboy!"
"Be right up!" Harley called back before turning to a tied up Mercy. "Bye bye."
Mercy just yelled through her gag with a smile drawn on it as Harley took off towards the ship,
…
Outside, Superman and the Batwing arrive at the airbase, Batman and Robin getting out of the vehicle as Superman did a scan of the building.
"Lead-lined." Superman cursed. "He's been doing that a lot lately. Blocks my x-ray vision."
"Well there's always the direct approach." Batman suggested.
Superman caught on and decided to punch down the door, allowing the three inside.
"You're learning." Batman commended.
The three then began walking in, getting caught on camera for Joker to see.
"Well, can't have the trump-tastic trio put a hamper on things before we're ready." Joker mused. "A little distraction maybe the ticket we need."
Joker pressed a few buttons and activated the robots. One by one, they turned on and smashed through their glass, surrounding the heroes.
"Uh-oh." Robin let out. "Joker's got more of those things this time."
"And they seem to be bigger." Superman noted.
"That going to be a problem?" Batman asked.
"Just noticing." Superman replied.
Up in the ship, Joker grinned at the sight.
"I think your toys can handle things from here, Lexie." Joker told him. "Besides, I'd hate to scratch my new paint job."
Joker then hit the ignition switch, causing the ship to power up and rocket forward. Harley, who failed to get into her seat in time, was thrown against the wall as the ship plowed through the bay doors and soared into the air.
Back with the heroes, Superman used his heat vision to laser one robots head off before getting smacked aside by another one. As he hit the ground, the robot tried hitting him with its leg. Superman however just grabbed the leg, tore it off, and threw it into the robots body, causing it to explode.
Batman meanwhile, ran around the blasts of one robot aiming at it him. He ran towards another robot and leapt on and over it, causing the laser to hit the robot in the head. As he did so, he threw an electric batarang at the robot, causing its systems to short out before exploding.
Thinking fast on his feet, Robin dove under a robot and shot his grapnel around its legs. He quickly wove through them before coming out and attaching his grapnel to a nearby pipe. The robot tried to give chase, but it only stumbled over the line and fell to the ground, giving Robin a shot to throw an exploding batarang at the robots eye, blowing it up.
"Nice work." Batman commended.
"Thanks." Robin replied.
"Superman, how many left?" Batman asked.
"Just one…" Superman replied, hearing its footsteps approaching. "But there's something else…"
Just then, the final robot entered the room. To everyone's surprise though, Mercy was taped to the front of it. She struggled hard against the unyielding tape, screaming for help into her smiley-face gag.
"That's not good." Robin muttered.
Superman quickly sped to the side of the robot ready to punch it, but the robots torso spun so Mercy was facing him. He tried moving again, but the same results occurred. The robot then started shooting at Superman, forcing him back as Batman shot a grappling line around the robot's neck. He threw it over a pipe above the robot before attaching it to a wench and turning the crank, suspending it in the air and straining its circuits. This allowed Superman to tear at the robots hull and disable it. With the robot down, the heroes managed to pull Mercy free and bring her down.
"Where's Luthor?" Batman questioned.
"Joker took him on the Lex-Wing." she hastily explained. "He said he wanted to destroy everything Lex ever built and make him watch it burn."
"And I'm guessing Lexcorp isn't a localized company." Robin remarked.
"Luthor's built half of Metropolis." Superman realized.
Before anything else could be said, the ceiling collapsed as one more robot came crashing down, this one being bigger than the others and possessing several claw arms.
"I'll handle this." Superman insisted. "You two go stop the Joker."
Batman and Robin nodded as they rushed to the Batwing. Mercy took off herself as Superman flew towards the robot. Just as he closed in on it, its torso rotated, revealing the second half of the kryptonite taped to its chest. Superman lurched back in pain as the robot swatted him out of the air.
…
Meanwhile, Joker flew the ship over Metropolis, firing missiles at every building with the word Lexcorp on it. Lex flinched at every shot, already imagining how much it would cost to repair and replace the buildings, not to mention the PR nightmare.
"How's it feel, Lexie boy?" Joker asked. "Pretty soon, every building with your name on it's going to be rubble!"
Lex just struggled harder against his bonds as the Batwing closed in on the Lexwing. Batman immediately opened fire on the Lexwing, causing the occupants to rattle inside.
"Batman!" Joker swore. "It's always Batman! This thing got any air to air missiles, Lex?"
"You're asking me for help?" Lex asked. "You really are funny."
"Hey, if I go down, so do you." Joker reminded.
"Fine." Lex relented. "It's a red switch."
Joker turned to the control panel and saw dozens of red switches.
"Which red?!" He asked, before deciding to press them all. "Aw, the heck with it."
Missiles then started shooting out randomly from the ship, causing the Batwing to swerve through the sky to avoid them.
"How good are your scores in the flight simulator?" Batman asked.
"I do alright," Robin replied. "Why do you ask?"
"Because I need you to take the wheel." Batman told him. "Keep Joker busy while I move in."
"You got it!" Robin cheered, not about to turn down a chance to fly the Batwing.
Batman transferred the controls to Robins seat as he activated a chute under his, allowing him to drop out and glide towards the Lexwing. Upon reaching it, Batman activated claws in his gloves that allowed him to attach to the surface of the ship. He then clawed his way along the surface until he reached an entry hatch, prompting him to take out an explosive batarang and jam it in, allowing the hatch to be blown off and give Batman a way inside.
…
Back with Superman, he was getting wailed on by the kryptonite equipped robot, the deadly green rays sapping him of his strength whenever he got too close. After it knocked him to the ground, it picked up one of the fallen doors Superman had punched down, preparing to bash Superman with it. It slammed the door right on top of Superman, believing it had crushed him. After a few seconds though, Superman started pushing back on the door, as well as the robot.
"Lead lined door," Superman remarked. "I'll have to thank Luthor."
With his strength back, Superman pushed on the door as hard as he could, sending the robot crashing through the wall and into the side of the cliff, effectively smashing it. The impact even managed to shatter the Kryptonite, sending the pieces falling into the ravine below. With the robot dealt with, Superman flew off to catch up with Batman and Robin.
…
Back in the air, Robin continued flying the Batwing, doing his best to keep out of range of Joker's missiles, much to the clowns irritation.
"Keep flying fancy, Batso." Joker let out. "A few more minutes, and I'll send you to join boy blunder number 2."
"You first." Batman replied, surprising Joker as he turned and saw him standing next to him.
Batman quickly punched Joker out of his seat before moving in to continue the fight.
"Hey, who's flying this thing?!" Harley let out as the Lexwing swerved in the air.
"Somebody better do something!" Lex yelled, prompting Harley to take the pilot's seat.
Harley looked at the array of buttons and switches, completely overwhelmed. Unsure of what to do, she closed her eyes and decided to choose randomly.
"Eenie, menie, minie… mo!" She let out, pushing one button.
This caused the engines to shut off and the ship to fall out of the sky. Harley began screaming in horror, hitting buttons randomly until the engines started up again. Once the engines started again, she pulled up, but they were still on a collision course with a skyscraper. Fortunately, Superman managed to arrive in time and get on the underside of the ship, pushing it upwards so it barely missed the skyscraper.
Back inside, Joker tried pulling something out of his coat, but Batman just kicked him aside, knocking a bag of explosive marbles out and causing them to go off. As they started exploding, Superman busted through the floor of the ship.
"It's gonna blow!" Batman told him. "I'll get Quinn, you get Luthor!"
Superman nodded as he picked up Luthor's chair, flying off with it. At the same time, Batman grabbed Harley and leapt out of the ship. Robin swung the Batwing around for them to land in as the ship started going down.
"Need a ride?" Robin remarked.
…
Inside, Joker tried putting on a parachute to make his own escape, but he was knocked to the ground by the explosions and was greeted by the marbles rolling right towards him. All Joker could do was laugh as the ship exploded around him.
…
Outside, the ship exploded into a massive fireball before dropping into the water below.
"Puddin!" Harley let out, looking outside.
"At this point, he probably is." Batman commented.
Harley just started sobbing as the heroes flew down to Hobbs bay, where the cops were waiting.
…
The next day, Batman and Superman reconvened on the roof of the Daily Planet to discuss all that had happened.
"Has the coast guard found the Joker's body?" Batman asked.
"Not yet." Superman replied. "You don't honestly think he survived that crash, do you?"
"Wouldn't be the first time." Batman replied. "Heard Luthor managed to walk away again."
"DA's office is still wanting answers though." Superman told him. "Not a lot, but it's a start. Besides, I heard it gave you enough to terminate your partnership with Lexcorp."
"It did." Batman agreed. "Lexcorp will also find business in Gotham City hard to come by."
"I'll bet." Superman remarked. "You know, for someone who's not a 'people person', you do seem to work well with others."
"It… has its benefits." Batman relented. "Not that I'm thinking of going full time anytime soon."
"Perish the thought." Superman jeered. "But if you need help, and you might, call me."
"I'll keep that in mind." Batman replied, leaping off the roof and shooting a grappling hook.
Superman just stood on the roof as he saw Batman swing off into the horizon.
…
At Lexcorp, Lex was in his office, talking to Mercy over the phone.
"How's your vacation?" He asked.
"Restful." she replied. "The doctor's say I'll make a full recovery in about a month. Thanks again for letting me take the time off."
"Well I need my best at my best." Lex replied. "Can't afford my personal bodyguard to be walking around in a body cast."
"Only wish I could put that psycho clown girl in a body cast." Mercy voiced.
"We have other concerns." Lex told her. "Superman and the Justice League are getting closer to bringing down my life's work. More drastic measures need to be taken."
"What did you have in mind?" Mercy asked.
"As the saying goes, we must fight fire with fire." Lex promised.
Hope you've all been enjoying this story. it's the first of my special "Brave and the Bold" chapters. stories that feature two members of the League working together, much like the comics that the original JLA came from. Expect to see more in the future.
