บท 119: News #119

Author's note: the timer didn't work properly for some reason, and I just realized it now so the chapter is late.

"Jail? No, not with what Waller did to you in the name of the U.S. government, even if it was off records," I said, shaking my head as I scoffed at Deadshot's words.

"Maybe you'll be sentenced for a month or two, and that's if the worst fucking lawyer was on your case," I added as I resumed hiding any evidence of my involvement in the deaths of the two villains.

"And I intend to hire the best lawyers money can buy," I added, calculating where everything needed to be to make it look like Merlin went rogue and killed Copperhead.

"Maybe if we had hard evidence, but we don't. All we got is the word of three convicted criminals," Deadshot, his frown audible in how he spoke as he watched me work.

"The explosive chips prove nothing. Anyone could have planted them in our heads," Deadshot added, crossing his arms and shaking his head in utter dismissal.

"The best we can do is put Waller in the limelight and slow her down with what we got right now," he concluded in a tone that dared me to come with a reply, and Lady Vic nodded in agreement from the side.

"I can get hard evidence. I've already pinpointed the Task Force X database, and I only need time to dig it up," I replied with a sigh and stopped to look at my handiwork, searching for anything I might have missed.

"I can do that without your help, but I'd prefer to do it with the limelight on Waller, not me," I went on as I nodded, finding nothing that would lead back to me.

"If there's no pressure on Waller, she might be able to maneuver around any allegation and turn me into some public enemy..." I remarked as I turned to face the three villains.

"If that happens, I'd have zero credibility, and no one would be willing to take my case, regardless of how much evidence I'd gather by that point," I concluded, shrugging my shoulders as I went silent to let them process my words.

"And you're so sure you can get that evidence?" Deadshot blankly asked, but the mockery in his tone wasn't lost on me, prompting me to chuckle lightly in genuine amusement.

"If I can find this place, disable the security protocols, and hack into the explosive chips in your heads while fighting for my life..." I replied, raising a finger with each feat I mentioned as I trailed off.

"Then who's to say I can't hack into Task Force X database?" I added, my tone assured as I shook my head in disregard at the very notion. "Even if I couldn't, which is impossible, I can always pay someone to break into Belle Reve and get me what I need," I concluded, shrugging my shoulders.

"Let's say we go through with this, we testify, buy you enough time to get the evidence, put Waller Behind bars, and get exempt..." Deadshot said, not sounding convinced by my words as I'd hoped.

"What then? Do you expect us to turn a new leaf and become law-abiding citizens...?" Deadshot said in a disgusted tone as if turning into a law-abiding citizen was the worst thing that could happen to him.

"Why not? You just want the money to get Zoe into college and give her a bright future, don't you?" I asked, and Deadshot immediately froze at the mention of his daughter's name.

"What's your point...?" Deadshot asked, and the words came out more like an angry growl than anything else, his tone turning several degrees colder as he reached for his gun.

"Scary, but we both know that little toy gun won't do shit, and we're just talking here," I said with a chuckle, raising my arms in mock surrender, and Deadshot moved his hand away from the gun with a grunt.

"The same goes for you. You just want money to keep your ancestral estate afloat, right...?" I asked as I turned to Lady Vic, who only nodded in reply without reaching for her gun.

"Well, there are other ways to make money with your skill sets. I can give your two permanent, lawful employment that would provide for both of your needs and then some..." I added, making a money sign with my hands.

"And how you intend to go about that, mate?" Lady Vic quickly asked in an interested tone while Deadshot merely listened from the side, still defensively crossing his arms.

"I'm rich. My toys don't come cheap, you know?" I replied with a chuckle, 'technically' lying through my teeth. I was by no means that rich, and I'd probably spend most of my money on lawyers before the ordeal was over.

However, I will soon be, and that's all that mattered.

"As for what positions you can expect... I intend to use the positive media attention from exposing Waller to kick start a tech company..." I added, gesturing to the side.

"The positions of security counselors that come with a considerable salary will be yours should you accept the deal," I concluded, and the two mercenaries remained quiet, contemplating their options.

"What about me? You're not abouta leaver me out o' this, are ya?" Harley asked, raising an eyebrow as she gave me a suspicious look, to which I could only sigh.

"You are criminally insane. Even if you get an exemption and a clean record, you'd still have to spend some time in a minimum security mental institution," I replied, shaking my head.

"Though it won't be anything like Arkham, and that's all I can do for you," I explained, sighing as I noticed Harley's expression, which looked genuinely offended at my lacking offer.

As much as I wanted to cut Harley loose and forget about her, she would play a big part in convicting Amanda Waller since she was technically insane.

But how could the crazy, unpredictable, and unstable Harley play such a vital role in bringing Waller down, and why would her being insane have anything to do with it, you might ask?

Well, the answer is simple. What Waller is doing, by planting explosives in people's heads and forcing them into a situation where they will most likely die horribly, is blatant slavery.

And what could be worse than enslaving people to death? It's enslaving mentally insane people who technically can't stop themselves from committing crimes and driving them into an early grave.

It was all sophistry and bullshit, but it was essential in winning over public opinion. And I needed that on my side if I wanted to get Amanda Waller to be permanently behind bars with no chance of bouncing back.

"There, it's up to you if you want to stay and let them fix that fucked up head of yours or just escape. Either way, I'll owe you one favor," I concluded and stopped talking to let the crazy blonde think, and her answer came unsurprisingly quickly.

"I'm in."

...

Gotham

The Batcave

"What have you uncovered so far...?" Batman asked as he worked on his supercomputer without bothering to turn around and face his two proteges, who were sharing an awkward look.

"Not much. It's like Harley Quinn along with the other missing villains just disappeared off the face of the earth..." Nightwing replied with a sigh, shaking his head in exasperation.

"The only thing we've managed to find so far, is that some of them are disappearing in The Penguin's club..." he hesitantly added, trailing off at the end of his sentence.

"What do you mean?" Batman said as he stopped working and turned to Nightwing with an intense frown that looked like a diluted Batglare, much to the latter's chagrin.

"The Penguin is holding an underground fighting ring in his club, which you'd know if you weren't obsessing over whatever the hell this is..." Nightwing replied, scoffing as he gestured at the supercomputer, to which the Batglare intensified.

"In any case..." Night wing said, sighing. "All known villains who lost their fights went missing, and no one saw them ever since, like The Condiment King and the Tweedle cousins..." he went on and proceeded to name every all the missing criminals.

"This doesn't sound like The Penguin... there's more to it..." Batman said as he turned back to work on the Batcomputer. "Either way, if that's your only lead, then keep working on it and keep me updated," he added, going silent as if to signal the end of the conversation.

"We already did. I infiltrated the tournament as a contestant. I only managed to tag one of the missing people today, and I know where The Penguin is taking them..." Jason replied and quickly explained how he did it.

"You did good," Batman said, and Jason's eyes widened at the rare praise, but he said nothing as his mentor seemed like he had more to say. "Then there's no need to wait any longer. Let's move," Batman said as he got off his chair, prepared to accompany his two proteges.

However, Alfred suddenly showed up, interrupting them before they could leave.

"Master Bruce, young master dick, young master Jason," Alfred greeted, nodding at the three vigilantes. "You might want to check the new before you leave..."