15 | Threshold

                                    

                                          
We don't deal with outsiders very well
They say newcomers have a certain smell
                          
METROPOLIS
Aug 15, 02:00
                          
"We need a certain operative for an upcoming plan," Savage explained. Large faces stared down at me from my own screens. Even Luthor's. It had been a week and we hadn't spoken at all but the unspoken boundary had been set and we both seemed to respect and agree with it. Savage continued, "But he's still imprisoned for his previous crime."
                          
"Who is the operative? Is he at Belle Reve or Arkham?" I asked.
                          
"Arkham." Klarion smiled with glee. "You're fetching the Joker." I clenched my jaw to control my glow and anger. They were testing me.
                          
"Is that a problem?" Queen Bee taunted.
                          
"No." I said flatly.
                          
"Good. His partner, Harley Quinn, will be there to pick him up. They will BOTH leave alive and unharmed," Savage warned. If I had to prove my right to be on the Light, then so be it.
                          
"Understood."
                          
ARKHAM ASYLUM
Aug 16, 00:00
                          
I sat outside of the sight lines of the prison towers, waiting for Joker's getaway ride to show and my mind wandered. How could I justify this? Joker killed me, killed Jason, yet here I was, about to release him from Arkham.
                          
Team Year Four
GOTHAM
Oct 31, 21:20
                          
"He'll be fine," Batman said as we were on our way to Joker's hideout. Jason Todd had been missing for weeks and we had received a Joker card with Jason's blood on it. After some detective work, the entire Batfamily and Gotham PD set out to an abandoned warehouse to save Robin. Bruce remained calm but I was a mess inside. "You trained him for this kind of scenario."
                          
"Except I was kidnapped by Scarecrow. Joker is a completely different psychopath." I looked at the card again, fighting my imagination to keep from thinking of ways the sadistic Joker and Harley Quinn have tortured him. "He's just a kid, Bruce. He shouldn't have had to be trained for this."
                          
We were the first on the scene and as we crept inside, Joker's laughter pierced the night. Followed by screams.
                          
Team Year Five
ARKHAM ASYLUM 
Aug 16, 00:04
                          
The screams echoed in my mind as I realized a ridiculously loud sports car was fishtailing down the road towards me.
                          
What is this shitshow thinking?
                          
The red car purposefully stopped inches from me but I stood unflinching. The car would end up with all of the damage anyways. Harley popped out of the sleek car and popped a large bubble from her gum. From behind the safety of my helmet, I glared at the crazed woman.
                          
"So you must be the new boss everyone is talkin' 'bout. Hmmm... you don't seem that tough ta me. What's the helmet for? Ya got some scahs or somethin'?"
                          
"Don't worry about it," I said through my voice altering helmet. "Just stay here and wait for us to come back. And don't do anything stupid. If you can help it." I turned to the entrance to the tunnel that was previously dug.
                          
"I bettah come along." Harley skipped to catch up to me. "Mistah J will probably killya soon as ya set him free and we wouldn't want that now, would we?" Her smile was venom laced with sugar. Jason's screaming echoed in the back of my mind.
                          
"Fine." Before I did something stupid, I turned away from the woman I'd most like to see roast. We walked to the tunnel that was previously dug and crouched to fit in the small, dark hole. Scarecrow's mask flashed in my mind. I took a deep breath and turned to Harley.