Tom sat alone on a bench in the tranquil surroundings of Gotham City park, his eyes transfixed on the stunning sunset which was painting the sky with an array of captivating colors. However, his thoughts were far away from the peaceful scene before him.
His mind was preoccupied with the brutal beating he had inflicted on The Joker the day before. The memory of their fight replayed over and over in his mind, each blow landing with a sickening thud, but he was unable to shake off the feeling that he should have killed The Joker.
The Joker was an evil and dangerous criminal, a being whose very existence threatened the lives of innocent people. Tom was plagued by the thought that the world would be a better place without him, and he couldn't help but feel that he had made the wrong choice in sparing The Joker's life.
Despite the fact that he had inflicted a serious blow on the villain by completely nullifying his Joker Syndrome and rendering him incapable of causing any further harm, Tom couldn't help but wonder if he should have gone all the way and ended The Joker's life.
But he tried to shake off those thoughts, assuring himself that he had done what needed to be done. He held The Joker's beating heart in his hand, and he could have easily ended him, but he didn't. Instead, he had tweaked with The Joker's brain and fired some of his signal receptors, leaving him in a childlike state where he spouted gibberish each time he was spoken to.
The Joker was imprisoned at Arkham Asylum, but Tom knew that Batman would soon be on his tail. He was willing to face the consequences of his actions, even if it meant going up against the Dark Knight himself.
As the sun sank below the horizon, Tom finally stood up from the bench and began to make his way home, taking in the cool evening breeze as he walked down the bustling streets of Gotham City.
…
[Bruce Wayne's POV]
I received a report about a violent attack at the public library. It was no ordinary crime, for the perpetrators were none other than The Joker, along with Harley Quin and his henchmen. The attack claimed the lives of innocent people, but luckily Jason and Barbara were able to take control of the situation and prevent any more casualty.
However, the situation was not without its mysteries. Barbara reported that Tom had disappeared with The Joker, only to be later delivered to the police station, brutally beaten beyond anything a normal human could take. The Joker, on the other hand, regained consciousness, but he had completely lost his senses. He was no longer a threat to society, nor did he pose any danger to anyone around him.
Harley Quin was now in jail, and she was completely devastated when she heard what had happened to her lover. She was in total denial and refused to accept the fact that she might have lost him for good.
I decided to question her about the incident, and she mentioned how The Joker and a pale-looking kid with white hair had suddenly disappeared, leaving behind a gaping hole in the library's wall. Barbara had confirmed the same scenario, and there was nothing on Tom. I couldn't help but wonder how a kid with such immense power could have lived in this city without using his abilities for good as a superhero or for selfish purposes as a villain.
Deathstroke had mentioned that Tom was just a normal teenager who wanted to live an ordinary life, as impossible as it might seem. It has been a while since I first heard about the potential menace named Tom, and I knew a visit to him was long overdue. I needed answers, and I needed them now.
…
[Jason Todd's POV]
The incident at the library left me and Barbara completely baffled. When she told me that Tom had disappeared with The Joker, I thought maybe he had met his match. But I was completely wrong. Not only was Tom able to defeat Deathstroke, but he went ahead and beat The Joker so badly that he completely lost his mind. It was as if Tom had ripped away the last thread of sanity he might have held onto, nullifying his Joker Syndrome.
Tom was a monster, a monster in the form of a weak-looking boy who wouldn't seem to have any malicious intentions at first meet.
If he happened to be a supervillain, I doubted that Young Justice would be able to defeat him without trouble. We still didn't know the nature of his powers, so there was no way of predicting what he might do or knowing what he was capable of.
I just hoped we wouldn't meet him again in a fight. Hell no, I wouldn't even consider fighting him, even if it hurt my pride. I knew my limits and wouldn't cross a line that might leave me in the same state as The Joker or worse.
As I read Barbara's report, a sense of unease washed over me. Tom was a complete enigma, and the fact that he had been able to defeat two of the most dangerous villains in Gotham was nothing short of astounding. The Joker was known for his unpredictability and insanity, but Tom had somehow managed to bring him to his knees.
It was clear that Tom had powers beyond our understanding, and it was crucial that we learned more about him. However, approaching him directly might not be the best idea. It was evident that he was not someone to be underestimated, and any attempt to confront him could end in disaster.
The question lingered in my mind, who was Tom, and what were his true intentions? The uncertainty of his true nature and the mystery surrounding his powers was enough to send shivers down my spine. I knew that we had to tread carefully around him if we were going to stand any chance of understanding the mystery that was Tom.
…
Tom had just finished his nighttime routine and was ready to hit the hay. As he was settling into his comfortable bed, he heard a loud beep emanating from his portable tab. It was the security breach alert. He quickly picked up the tab and checked the live feed from his house's security cameras. To his surprise, there was no sign of an intruder in the house.
Tom groaned, annoyed at the interruption. He picked up the tab and saw that there had been a breach in his home's security system. He quickly scanned the alert. It didn't give him any information about the intruder's location, which only fueled up his curiosity even more.
Tom became even more curious but was on high alert and decided to put on his customized glasses, which had thermal vision settings. He activated it and was slowly looking round, just when he was about to turn around. He suddenly noticed a presence he hadn't felt earlier, as he was about to turn to confirm the person. He heard a deep voice that'll state even the boogie man.
Tom spun around at the sound of the voice. The Dark Crusader loomed before him, his presence sending a chill down Tom's spine. It seemed that the famous vigilante wasn't in the mood for idle chatter.
"Oh, it's just you," Tom said, trying to sound nonchalant. "I've been expecting a visit from you since my run-in with Robin."
The Dark Crusader took in his surroundings, eyeing Tom's impressive security system. "That's quite the setup you've got here. Did you design it yourself?"
Tom shook his head. "No, I'm not much of a tech guy. It came with the place, and I just activated it."
The Dark Crusader's piercing gaze locked onto Tom's face. "What's your business with Deathstroke?"
Tom bristled at the accusation. "I don't have any business with that guy. He tried to force me to join him so he could exploit my powers, but all I want is to live a normal life. It seems like that's impossible now, though. Everywhere I turn, someone is trying to poke at me, just like Robin did."
The Dark Crusader's expression softened slightly. "And what about Joker? What did you do to him?"
Tom's face darkened at the memory. "I was this close to killing him, but I couldn't do it. I'm not a killer. Instead, I did the next best thing and freed the world from his madness."
The Dark Crusader's voice was stern. "There were better ways to handle him. Now he'll never be able to atone for his crimes."
Tom sighed, regret etched on his face. "I know. It was a mistake. But I had to do something."
The Dark Crusader shook his head. "Using your powers to take justice into your own hands is never the answer. It only leads down a dark path."
"Very well," Batman said as he turned to leave, his cape swishing behind him. "But remember, using your powers to take justice into your own hands is not the way to go. It only leads down a dark path."
The lights in Tom's room flickered, and he looked up to see if there was a power outage. But before he could glance back down, Batman had vanished into the night. Tom's sorry expression slowly transformed into a sly grin, as his red pupils emitted a slight glow, and he laughed menacingly.
It was all an act to make Batman believe that he didn't want anything to do with violence, yet found himself in the midst of it each time. Tom had hoped that this display would cause Batman to lower his guard, which he was sure was already fixed on him.
As he continued to chuckle to himself, Tom couldn't help but feel exhilarated at the thought of the thrill that violence brought. He had always been drawn to the power that came with it, and he relished in the idea that he could manipulate Batman's perception of him to continue his schemes without suspicion.
He knew how paranoid Batman was and how he wouldn't be swayed by such displays of emotions and mere words, he just had to fake it till he believed it.
Lex Luthor sat in his luxurious office, overlooking the city skyline. He was deep in thought, poring over his latest scheme to finally defeat his arch-nemesis, Superman. His trusted secretary, Mercy, entered the room and approached his desk.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Luthor," Mercy said, taking her place at the desk. "Is there something I can assist you with?"
Lex looked up from his notes and gave her a sly grin. "As a matter of fact, Mercy, there is," he said. "I've been working on a new plan since the last one was a complete burst, and I believe I've finally found a way to take down Superman once and for all."
Mercy leaned in closer, intrigued. "Please tell me more, sir," she said.
Lex leaned back in his chair and began to explain his plan in detail. He had constructed a mechanical suit that emitted radiation from kryptonite, the one substance that could weaken and harm Superman. The suit also had the ability to convert physical attacks into kinetic energy, making it twice as powerful and fast as before.
But the challenge that Lex was currently facing was that the Justice League had collaborated with the force to confiscate and guard his old lab thoroughly, the lab housed a set of weaponized kryptonite he had hidden in a safe beneath the basement, and any attempt to break in and steal anything would be traced back to him, potentially jeopardizing his entire plan because if they scan the safe the radioactive signature of the kryptonite will be discovered and it would put superman on high alert.
"I need to find a way to get my hands on that set of kryptonite without it coming to the notice of the police and of course Justice League," Lex said, frustrated. "If I use my usual accomplices and thugs, it will only be a matter of time before the Justice League discovers my involvement if the theft was discovered."
Mercy thought for a moment before offering a suggestion. "What if we hired a team of mercenaries from another city, someone who doesn't have any ties to you or your organization?" she said.
Lex considered the idea before nodding his head in agreement. "Yes, that could work," he said. "But we need to make sure that they don't know who they're working for. We'll have to use an intermediary, someone who can hire them on our behalf without revealing our identities."
Mercy nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "The only ones suitable for this job and description would have to be the mercenaries we hired for that job in Central City last year," she said.
"That's an excellent idea, contact them and fill them in on every detail they would need to execute the job." Right away sir, Mercy responded to Lex's orders and was on her way out of his office.
"Oh and one more thing, tell whoever's in charge that if the job has any hiccups along the way, it'll affect their total pay." He added as he gestured in the direction of the door, letting her know that was all he had to say.
"Understood sir." Mercy replied, she walked out of his office then closed the door behind her.
Lex leaned back in his chair, feeling confident that they were on the right track. With a team of skilled mercenaries on their side, he knew that they could finally get their hands on the kryptonite and set their plan in motion. Superman would finally be defeated, and Lex Luthor would finally emerge as the victor.
The League had destroyed the synthetic kryptonite he had used against Superman in their previous battle, he was sure they won't expect an attack from him soon.
…
[Justice League Headquarters]
The Justice League was gathered in their headquarters, seated around a large table, discussing recent events in the world. Superman, who was seated at the head of the table, suddenly brought up the topic of The Joker. "I heard that The Joker was defeated by someone and lost his senses," he said. "He's now locked up in Arkham. Does anyone know anything about this?"
Wonder Woman, who was seated next to Superman, leaned forward in her chair. "I heard the same thing," she said. "But I don't know who could have done it. The Joker is a dangerous villain."
Green Lantern, who was seated across from Wonder Woman, nodded in agreement. "It's true," he said. "The Joker is one of the most unpredictable and dangerous criminals in Gotham City. Whoever defeated him must have been very skilled."
The Flash, who was seated next to Green Lantern, added, "I heard that The Joker was completely out of his mind when they took him to Arkham. He was laughing hysterically and couldn't even speak coherently."
Martian Manhunter, who was seated at the other end of the table, chimed in. "I believe that whoever defeated The Joker must have been very powerful. He's not an easy villain to defeat."
All eyes turned to Batman, who was seated in his usual spot at the far end of the table. He had been silent throughout the entire conversation, but now he spoke up. "It was an unfortunate incident," he said, waving off the conversation. "The Joker is where he belongs, and that's all that matters."
The other members of the league exchanged glances, wondering why Batman was being so evasive. But they knew better than to press him for information. Batman had always been secretive about his methods, and they respected that.
Superman nodded, accepting Batman's answer. "Well, whoever did it, we should be thankful that The Joker is off the streets," he said.
The conversation moved on to other topics, but the members of the league couldn't help but wonder who had defeated The Joker and put him in his current state. But they knew that Batman would never reveal the answer, and so they let the topic drop.
…
Tom had been living in Gotham for several months, trying his best to steer clear of trouble and stay off the radar of both Batman and the authorities. However, it seems that the Dark Knight has his eye on him now, and Tom realizes that he'll need to be even more discreet with his activities.
He knows that he can no longer afford to draw attention to himself and must present a façade of a normal teenage lifestyle to the public. Tom has to convince Batman that he has no interest in either heroism or villainy, and that he just wants to stay out of trouble.
But things are not as simple as they seem in Gotham. Tom knows that danger lurks around every corner, and he needs to be cautious about who he meets and trusts. With Batman watching his every move, he must navigate the treacherous underworld of Gotham, all while trying to keep his true identity as Ghost hidden.
Suddenly he received a call on his burner phone and it was none other than his old crime partner, Leo, a.k.a Captain Cold. Tom smirked a little as he answered the phone, not knowing what to expect but he knew it would be an interesting call.
"Tom, my old pal, how's it hanging?" Captain Cold's voice crackled over the line.
"I see you haven't been locked up yet Leo." Tom said.
"Ouch, you know I won't be caught that easily. And if I do get caught,I'll just get out again." He replied Tom with a hint of sarcasm in his voice, accompanied with a glimpse of reality.
"It's rare to get a call from you man, I'm sure there's something cooking over at your end."
"That's quite true kid." Captain Cold said. "Listen, I've got a job for us. It's from one of our previous employers. They need our skills once again."
Tom's pulse quickened at the thought of getting back into the game with Leo. "What's the job?" he asked eagerly.
"We need to break into one of the labs owned by Lex Corp," Captain Cold said. "Our employer has some package they need to retrieve, and they're willing to pay us handsomely for it."
Tom felt a thrill of excitement at the thought of pulling off such a high-stakes heist. "I'm up for it," he said, sounding cool and collected.
Captain Cold chuckled. "I knew you would be," he said. "We'll need to move quickly on this one. I'll send you the information we'd be needing for the operation."
Tom hung up the phone and leaned back in his chair, feeling a sense of excitement towards another job with someone as efficient as Leo was. He knew that breaking into a Lex Corp lab would be no easy feat, especially with the high surveillance over the lab currently but he was ready for the challenge. He eagerly awaited the details from Captain Cold, determined to make this job a success as he usually does and it was a great opportunity to get to see the insides of a Lex Corp laboratory.
Please kindly visit my to read 20 chapters ahead./Maverick_DaSupreme