Purple Haze (cont)

* * * * *

�KEI!!!!!�
Yuri beat a fist repeatedly on Kei�s locked cabin door trying to
rouse her partner.  A muffled �go a way� came back in response, and
Yuri pounded on the door again.
�KEI, DAMN IT! OPEN THIS DOOR, IT�S IMPORTANT!�
�...will you stop and leave me alone��
�What� you bitch.  Mughi!�
A muffled growl came from the forward part of the ship.  Mughi, the
Angel�s mammalian companion stuck his head around the corner.
�Mughi, come unlock this door,� said Yuri.
The panther sized cat growled again.
�I don�t care if your favorite soap is on, this is an emergency!�
Grumbling, Mughi slinked down the corridor to Kei�s door.  With a
slight flick of his ears there was a small click and the door slide
open.  Yuri rushed in.  She stumbled to a stop in the mess that was
Kei�s cabin.  Clothes were strew everywhere along with assorted
personal weapons and paraphernalia.  She cringed never having been in
Kei�s room before then spotted the mound nestled in the center of the
bed.
�KEI!� cried Yuri, attacking the area where the pillows lay.  �Kei,
get up, this is important!�
Yuri�s hands hit something firm and warm.  Thinking she had found her
partners neck, Yuri pulled only to find a leg and foot instead.  A
weak moan came from the end of the bed and Kei�s mop of red hair
broached from beneath the covers and clothes.
��no, no, Fran�ois� this way� it�s this way, you�re too low��
Yuri pounced landing hard on Kei�s back.  �Kei, Kei come out of it
and wake up, damn it!� she shouted, shaking her about.  Something
strong smelling caught Yuri, and she sniffed the air following it
down close to Kei�s mouth.  Alcohol, and she knew then that Kei was
not only half asleep, but languishing in a massive hangover.
�No not now,� moan Yuri.
�Waazzsh� whazzsh�tz?� slurred Kei.
Spotting a bottle on the floor, Yuri picked it up and read the label.
Great, Highball, she grumbled and began shuffling through the junk on
Kei�s dresser top.  She found a gumball sized packet and cracked it
open.  Holding Kei�s head back, she forced open her mouth and popped
the cream-white pill in, pushing her jaw shut.
�I know this is supposed to be mixed with water, but I need immediate
results now,� said Yuri.
Kei�s bloodshot eyes went wide as the chemicals in the pill reacted
to her saliva.  Her whole body shook and Yuri turned her face up to
hers.
�So he won�t do anything, huh?  Not to worry, not to worry, huh, Miss
Knowitall!�
Ordering the ships computer to bring up a holoscreen of the local
news, Yuri forced Kei�s head towards it.  A commentator was reporting
the actions in downtown New Berlin; behind him pictures of the
planetary police and support units moving around the Exchequer
Exchange Building.
[Police have cordoned off several blocks around the Exchange, and all
traffic has been stopped going in and out of the area,] said the
commentator.  [We also understand that the Superintendent himself is
on his way down to arrest the person identified as the Clown.  This
criminal is responsible for the massacre of Flight 570 and the
several other citizens.]
Kei surged coming up on her knees as Yuri tumbled onto the floor.
�OH shit,� she gasped, mouth wide open.
Yuri pawed herself upright and peered skeptically at Kei.  �Yep, and
now he�s on the move.�
�WE better get down there!� said Kei as she leaped from the bed.
�No duh,� replied Yuri.  �Uh, Kei?�
Kei stopped at the doorway.
�You think you might want to get dressed first?  �Francois� might not
like you parading around town in the buff.�
Kei looked down realizing that she was bare-naked.  Her cheeks
flushed and she dashed towards the closet for something to wear�

* * * * *

�KELLY!�
Baby Harper thundered down the hallway towards the accounting office
calling Kelly McBride�s name at the top of his lungs.  He burst into
the room and found Kelly standing just inside watching as the Joker
pranced about before the accountants herded off to one side.
�Oh come, come now!� said Joker, �somebody surely wants to laugh, don
�t they?�  He snapped off another burst into a computer station
causing the terrified accountants to huddle closer together.
�Kelly!� said Baby.
�I heard you, Baby.  What�s up?�
�There�s a shit-load of cops com�n up the roads!�
Kelly turned around, surprised but holding his composure.  �Which
way?�
�Everyway!  Walk�n, Roll�n, Hover�n, Fly�n, you name it!�
�Eew,� muttered McBride, grimacing.  �Okay, go back out and get the
guys ready if we have to duke it out.  I�ll tell Joker.�
Baby ran out leaving Kelly to relay the information.  Joker was at it
again, this time putting the body of the dead accountant into a chair
and spinning it around ridding gleefully behind with a cackle.  He
stopped it and flopped down into the dead man�s lap.
�Your friends are so, so, boring,� he said to the cadaver, �tell me,
who would you pick as the most jolliest person in your office� after
you of course?�  He paused leaning close pretending to listen to
something.  �UH!  You don�t say� the fat man in the dark suit in back
is a close second?  Why a good choice� what?  You take that back?
The slim girl with the purple hair?�
Joker peered over his shoulder at the woman.  �No I think you�re
wrong there.  She has good taste.  What?  All of the people on the
left side of the group?  An excellent idea!�
�Joker,� called McBride gaining his attention.  �Cops are coming.�
�Already?� Joker looked at his watch.  �Hm.�  He got up and patted
the cadaver on one cheek.  �Don�t go anywhere,� he said and went to
check on Gadget�s progress.
�How much do we have, Gadgets?�
�Uh, about half, a little less maybe.�
�And that is how much?�
�A lot.�
�Be more specific, I can imagine what a �lot� is.�
�A whole lot.�
Joker arched brow.  �Fair enough.  Close it out.�
Gadgets typed in the finishing code for the card and withdrew it from
the reader on the desk.
�Now put this in,� instructed Joker, handing him a small silver disk.
Gadgets put it in; loading the program contained and stepped away
from the computer at the Joker�s pat on the shoulder.  The Laff-a-gun
�s narrow maw trained on the station and with one burst sent the
machine sparking and arching into inoperability.
�Time to go people,� said Joker.  He paused and looked down at the
fearful girl huddled up in her chair.  Reaching into his coat pocket
made her draw up her legs tighter to her body; eyes clenched tight
awaiting the inevitable.
�For you,� said Joker in a gentlemanly tone.  She looked to find him
holding out one of his trademark cards.  Hesitantly, the girl took it
quickly returning back into her protective huddle.
�Okay, let�s go!� shouted Joker.  �You were a lovely audience and I
look forwards to our next meeting.�
Joker, Kelly and Gadgets rejoined Baby and his team in the main
lobby.  They could hear the wail of sirens and see just over the tops
of the tall buildings police air units and mechs racing towards their
position.
�An impressive sounding force,� said Joker.  He started walking down
the steps to the main gates with the rest of his team close behind.
�We can slip out over one of the back walls,� suggested Baby.
Joker disregarded the idea.  �Why should we do that?  It�s such a
lovely day, and I want to take a stroll around downtown.  You know,
do some window shopping.�
The gangsters traded more shocked looks.
�Joker, half the police force is heading our way and, and you want to
go for a stroll?� said Kelly.
�Yeesss.�
�Ah, man!� exclaimed one of Baby�s team, �I�m on parole.  The Supe
will execute me for sure now!�
�He won�t touch you,� replied Joker.  They reached the main gates and
Joker made a few adjustments to the Laff-a-gun.  �Boys, cover my
flanks and try staying slightly behind me,� he told the as they
stepped out onto the street.
The first group of police units sat arrayed before them getting
organized and waiting for the word to storm the Exchange.  Upon the
appearance of the Joker and his crew, one of the cops called out the
alarm.  Weapons were aimed at them and the lead officer on the scene
ordered them to surrender.
BWOORP!
Laughter filled the air, guns and rifles clattering to the street as
the cops fought to control themselves without success.  A section of
bioroids rounded the corner just behind them and the Joker let lose
with another burst hitting them square on.  Violent quivers shook the
hulking mechs and they staggered around firing rounds uncontrollably
caught up in their rows of artificial laughter.
In his command car, Warren and Smith stared at the console monitors,
listening as the section control chief on scene tried to make a
report.  The man�s face was beet red, heaving and writhing as he
gasped for breath.
[HAHAHAHAHA�. HE, HE, HE USED SOMETHING ON USHAHAHAHAHA� A-A-A WEAPON
I_I�VE NNNNEVVER SCEHEHEHEHEHEENNNN!]
�Chief, get control of yourself!� shouted Peter.  �Where is the Clown
now?�
But the chief could not respond.  He made one final heave then with a
wide grin stretching across his face, dropped out of view.
�What is so damn funny?� wondered Garry.
�I don�t know, but I�m not in the least bit amused,� said Peter.  He
switched circuits calling up the bioroid squad on station.  The
warbled, distorted strains of artificial laughter greeted their ears.
�D-7M, D-7M, what is going on out there?�
[�MAHMAHMAH!  SYSTEMS MAHMAH SYSTEMS FAILING� MAHMAHAMHA� ALL UNITS
UNRESPONSIVE� MAHAHMHAHAA� WEAPONS CONTROL FAILURE�. HELP HE�S
KILLING US MAHMAHAMHAHAAA!!!!!]
They heard the report from an explosion just before the circuit went
silent.  Peter and Garry traded fearful looks not knowing what to do
next.
�Must be one hell of a joke,� said Garry.
Warren switched over to his command circuit.  [All units, this is the
Superintendent.  Exercise extreme caution approaching the Clown.
Orders are shoot to kill if he does not surrender.]
His people acknowledged the order.  Garry banked the car around down
to the top of a tall building a block away from the Exchange.  Before
it settled, Peter hopped out.
�Garry, you go and take charge of the units in the street.  I�m going
to hop with the assault units up here and try to cut this bastard
off.�
�Right.  Good hunting.�
Warren slammed the door shut and then peered through the open window.
�You just be careful, got it?�
�Yep.  Shoot first and sort out the injured later.�
The command car lifted off and Superintendent Warren glared out in
the direction of the Exchequer Exchange.  Unholstering his pistol, he
set it to full power then activated his grav-pack.  �Let�s move out,�
he ordered to the teams around him�

* * * * *

It was not an extremely hurried pace the Joker and his new minions
made down New Berlin�s main street, more like a casual stroll in one
of the parks.  A stroll Kelly McBride felt only endangered he and his
men and this mad him angry.
But Joker seemed not in the least worried by all of the attention
they had attracted.  Block by ever so slow passing block did the tiny
band travel away from the scene of the crime.  By now they were
passing some of the open-air plazas, and Joker peered through each
glass display like a child drooling after candy in a jar.
�Ooo, here�s something interesting,� said Joker, pointing to several
small pewter statutes of the HCS�s proud past heroes.  �I�m going to
have to have one made of me once I�ve taken over things here.�
Kelly glanced back at the increasing sound of sirens coming towards
them.  He hurried up to the Joker�s side and said, �Joker, aren�t you
even the least bit concerned about getting caught by the police?�
Joker continued perusing the store windows.  �Kelly, Kelly, Kelly,
Kelly� the police are not going to catch us.�
�But listen to that�.�
Joker turned and placed a firm stare on him.  �Kelly, have some
faith.  After all of the demonstrations you still have doubts.�
The high pitched screech of heavy duty combat tires split the air as
two assault vans careened around the corner disgorging its teams of
assault troops behind them.  Without looking, Joker raised the
Laff-a-gun and fired.
BWOORP!
BWOORP!
BWOORP!
Cops heaved and rolled in the street, the crash of the vans startling
the gangsters as they slammed into the sides of buildings.
�Now did the boys do what I told them to do last night?� continued
Joker.  McBride nodded.  �And did Gadgets not put together the other
assortments of goodies I asked for?�
Again, McBride nodded.
�Then there is nothing to worry about.�
Kelly stared at him lost for a second.  Seeing what the Joker�s gun
just did to some of Rosomer�s finest instilled some of his courage,
although he would rather have been several kilometers away from this
place right now.
�Okay, but let�s at least call Oscar and get mobile.�
�Not yet,� replied Joker, moving on down the street.
�Why?  On foot the cops might cut us off.�
�No, not yet,� said Joker again.  He glanced evilly up at the
surrounding buildings as if searching for something.  �I�m waiting
for the guest of honor if you must know.�
�Who�s that?�
�This Superintendent Warren.  I must see what kind of man I�m up
against.�
Gadgets let out a moan, terror in his eyes.  �The Supe!�  You want
the Supe here?�
�That�s what I said.�
�But Joker�,� Kelly started to object, but a gloved hand stopped him
in mid-sentence.
�He must be here,� said Joker.
The small band rounded the corner, and immediately stopped in their
tracks at what lay before them.  Mecharoids barred the far end of the
street; at their feet several squads of power armored police stood
with rifles aimed while hovering about in the air were several
TAC-choppers bristling with guns and missiles.
�Well you wanted him, you got�em,� commented Kelly pointing at
Warren.
<CLOWN!>  roared the voice of Superintendent Warren from atop a high
building,  <DROP YOUR WEAPONS, PUT YOUR HANDS IN THE AIR AND KNEEL.
YOU AND YOUR SCUM ARE UNDER ARREST!>
Gadgets, Baby and one of his teammates scurried back around the
corner.  They pressed up against the side of the building panting
fearfully from their shock and fear.  A new sound came from the
street behind them and the shapes of armored vehicles appeared.
�We are so screwed,� said Gadgets.
Joker and Kelly stared at the police.  �Gadgets,� called Joker out
the corner of his mouth, �You may begin playing with the stuff in
that bag.�
As Gadgets quickly started rummaging, Joker placed a broad smile on
his face and stepped out further into the center of the street.
�Impressive,� he said.  The whine from the automated guns tracking
his movements filled the air.  �Hello!� called Joker, waving up to
Peter.  �Ah, Superintendent Warren I believe?  I would have come by
and visited sooner, but there was a small problem with my bank
account that I had to take care of first.  Forgive me?�
Warren sneered down at this jester standing arrogantly in the street.
<CLOWN!  I WILL NOT TELL YOU AGAIN!  DROP YOUR WEAPON AND SURRENDER!>
�Oh, oh I�d love too, Supe, but I really would like to see more of
this magnificent galaxy we�re in.�
With a wave of a hand, Peter signaled his ground units to move in.
Meanwhile, Joker could see out of the corner of his eye that Gadgets
and Baby had been busy sliding purple hockey puck sized disk out down
and out into the surrounding streets.  His grin drew wider, a finger
setting the Laff-a-gun to its maximum setting.
�Kelly-boy, get ready to� Kelly?�
McBride stood still as a pillar of granite, not daring to move as the
guns of the Rosomer police drew closer and closer.
�Really, Kelly,� said Joker.  With a flick of a wrist out popped a
thin control pad with several colored buttons on it.  A press of two
activated the pucks now beneath the treads of the armored units
behind them.  Some let out a thick cloud of purple gas, the rest
cracking open revealing green colored lenses just the one on his
pistol.
BWOORP!                           BWOORP!
BWOORP!                   BBBBBBBWOORP!           BWOORP!
BWOORP!
Turrets began spinning around uncontrollably, the cries and screams
of terror and laughter filled the air.  When a round slammed into a
skyscraper just past the Joker, Superintendent Warren started in
surprise.  Several plumes of purple gas were also appearing around
his troops, and he acted.
[OPEN FIRE!] came the order.
Joker was already running for cover pulling McBride with him behind a
car parked along the curb.  Rounds of every conceivable making
streaked through the air, but it was obvious that the cops were
shooting at random engulfed by the deadly gas clouds.  The two peered
up over the side to watch the results of their handiwork, then
McBride said, �Amazing.�
�Like that?� asked Joker,  �Don�t worry, once we get in gear this
will all be commonplace.�
A heavy step sounded followed by several more.  Out of the gloom
appeared three mechs searching with grim determination for their
targets.  Their scanner quickly found their mark and tubes raised up
ready to cut them down.  Joker remained calm, snapping off a burst
that hit the center mech.
It started shaking, arms and legs convoluting out of control.  A
sharp backhand crushed the head of the mech behind it sending the
unit crashing into a building.  Debris, smoke and flames burst out
into the air with a loud roar, and then the infected mech; heaving
and swaying about, approached the lead unit.
Without hesitation the lead mech fired smothering its companion
beneath a hail of blaster fire.  As it dropped to the street in
flames, the last mech turned its attention back to Joker and his
crew.  Pod doors on its arms and chest area popped open and the
careen of smart bombs filled the air.
McBride and his gangsters cried out huddling down waiting for death,
but Joker fired catching all of the bombs in his burst.
[NEHAHAHAAAA!  KILL THE MONSTER, KILL THE MONSTER, AND KILL THE
MONSTER!] Cried the tiny voices of the sentient weapons.  Their
billowing contrails curved around back towards their original
starting point with maddened cries filling the mechs sensors.
[NO, YOU FOOLS!] was the only thing the mech managed to say before it
was engulfed in a flurry of explosions that rocked the street.
As the streets burned around them, Joker stood and stepped out into
the open again surveying his work.  �Not too shabby, eh boys?� he
said.
McBride and the others stood in awe at him.  They had just thrashed
some of the Superintendent�s best units and were about to get away
Scott-free.
�Uh, Joker, I mean Mister Joker,� said Baby.
�Yessss?�
�You are one bad dude.�
�You got my vote on that,� added Gadgets.
Joker was pleased.  Having swayed them to his cause, he cut his eyes
over to McBride.  �And you, Kelly?�
McBride took another look around.  �What now, Joker?� he asked.
�I figure we better make good our escape.�
�And call Oscar?�
�No the police are still too close.  Everybody up for a quick run?�
Laughing, Joker led them across the street through the carnage and
away before any of the police could react.
Up on the roof, Peter Warren stood aghast at what just happened to
some of his best forces.  He, and the police units around him could
not move too stunned for any serious mode of thinking.  Finally,
Warren activated his mic.
[Garry!]
[Yo!]
[� you better call out the guard� now.]
[That bad?]
[Get�em moving, and contact headquarters.  I�m declaring level one
status on this Clown.  Shoot to kill on sight.]
[You got it.]

* * * * *

Gunning their way past a small detachment of police, Joker and his
fugitives hurried along through side streets and back alleys making
good their escape.  The whine of TAC choppers roared by and they
quickly went the opposite direction.  Soon, a quite section of the
main street loomed into view.  Joker and McBride traded cheered looks
leading the rest of the group out along the sidewalk.
�Mister Joker,� called Baby, � might I suggest we call Oscar now?�
�Still plenty of time, Babes,� replied Joker.  �We can�.�
KAPOOM!
One of Baby�s men cried out as he was picked up and thrown back
through the air into the building wall.  Kelly glanced back, and then
spotted something hovering in the air around the corner across the
street.  It was an autolink heavy cannon pod and it was trained
straight at them.
�GET DOWN!� he cried, tackling the Joker to the sidewalk.
The weapon spoke with tremendous fury, kinetic shells shattering
concrete, steel, and pane glass storefronts.  Stitching a path over
their heads, the autogun finally went silent.  McBride dared a look
up.  The once peaceful and serene buildings now looked like a war
zone; smoke drifting out of the destroyed windows and holes.
Joker tapped him on the shoulder.  �Uh, Kelly, I think now is the
time to call Oscar.�
�Already did,� answered McBride.
Together the two crawled behind a now burning car for cover.
�Baby! Gadgets!� called Kelly.
>From a sunken stairwell Gadgets peered up over the side.  �Yeah, we�
re alive!� he said.
�They got Tilis,� Baby was heard to say.
Kelly muttered a curse and dared another peek around.  Up on the
building across the street he spotted a dark haired woman on top
brandishing a mean looking rifle scanning the streets through its
sight.  Looking back to where the autogun hovered, there was redhead
dressed in a black bodysuit hovering next to it with additional
assorted weapons in the air around her.
�Ah shit!� grumbled Kelly, inching back down.
�Trouble?� asked Joker.
�3WA.�
Joker inched up to the front of the car and looked out.  �Hmm, not
bad this 3WA,� he said, moving back.  �Gadgets make a note.  I want
one of those things that makes them fly.�
�Sure, Mister Joker.�
�That�s the Dirty Pair,� said Kelly, �We�re going to have to fight it
out now.�
�That would not be to our advantage.  Let me get my�,� Joker patted
around his body, ��Laff-a-gun� MY LAFF-A-GUN!  It�s gone!�
Franticly he looked around spotting the pistol lying out in the open
on the sidewalk.  Joker started to crawl towards it, then remembered
their situation and stopped.
�UH, hello bad guys,� called Kei, �Look, we have you covered so lets
skip formalities here and make this easy for every one, okay?�
{Kei, will you stop bantering with these guys and go arrest them!}
Yuri sent out.
{They still are armed, Yuri,} Kei reminded her.
{So?  Send Butch in there to scare the shit out of them.  That�ll
make�em surrender.}
Kei smiled.  She knelt and patted the side of her autogun
affectionately, giving the unit a light kiss.  �Does my little-widdle
Butchie-wutchie wanna go down and blast up some baddy-waddy guys ass,
hmmm?�
{Kei!  Will you stop playing around and do something!}
Kei rolled her eyes.  {You are so impatient, Yuri, I swear!}
{Kei!}
{All right!}
Kei cleared her throat.  �Bad guys!  Look we don�t want to use these
things on you�.�
�Hasn�t stopped you so far!�
�A comedian� you must be Clown.�
Joker grit his teeth.  Giving Kelly a tap on the shoulder, he leaned
close to him.  �Can you cover me?� he whispered.
�What are you going to do?�
�Get-my-gun!  Now can you cover me?�
�Only if she feels like ripping me and this car apart with that
flying cannon.�
�Sounds good.  Keep her occupied while I jaunt across the way.�
The call of Kei�s voice drew their attention back to the
Troubleconsultant hovering in the street.
�Look, Clown.  I�m getting very annoyed here.  You and your flunkies
have about ten seconds to give up before I start doing some sidewalk
remodeling!�
�At the count of five, let her have it,� Joker told Kelly.  With a
forlorn mask of hopefulness, McBride drew in a breath and got ready.
�Seven� six� five�WHAT THE!�
Shots streaked past Kei�s head and she ducked back around the corner
of the building.  Her autogun turned laying in several burst in
McBride�s direction and he went prone again weathering the assault.
Permaglass shards, metal and masonry bits flew; Joker taking the
opportunity to leap out across the open towards his wayward gun, a
move not missed by Kei.
�Ah yes, resistance,� she said joyfully.  Her umbilical data cord to
Butch popped free with a thought.  �Sic�em, Butch!� she commanded the
gun, and it sped off towards Joker.
Meanwhile, Joker fumbled with the Laff-a-gun as he rolled across the
sidewalk, trying to regain his bearings on the two agents.  As he
finally came to rest on his stomach, Joker looked up to see the
multi-barrels of the autogun aimed directly in his direction.  Oh
shit, he meekly muttered, and then rolled narrowly avoiding the burst
from the gun.  Quickly he raised his weapon and fired.
Terrified eyes watched as the autogun began a rapid whirl in midair,
its cylinder and rotating barrel shaft spinning at full speed.  Kei
could not believe this, and when it finally came to a stop she
carefully hovered out towards it.
�Butchie?� she called out to the gun.
There came a strange grating noise from the autogun, its exterior
lights doing dim.  Slowly, the gun turned around and faced her.
[Kill, Kill, Kill, KILL THE GIRL!  K-K-K-K-KILL THE GIRL!] it�s
processor said.
Kei stopped.  �Butchie?�
Rushing to the corner of the rooftop, Yuri stared down at the scene.
Something was wrong, and her partner was about to get killed because
of it.
{Kei!  Get away from it!} she sent down to her.
But Kei remained frozen in her place unable to believe one of her
weapons could mean her any harm.  �Butchie?� she said again.
[UrrahhhUrrrrahhhUrrrahhh!!!!!�. Kill the girl, Urrraahhhh! K-K-KILL
THE GIRL!]
The autogun�s exterior lights came up to full brilliance and Kei beat
a hasty retreat up the street crying out at the top of her lungs with
Butch in hot pursuit.
{Kei!} sent Yuri as the chase turned out of sight around the next
corner.  A shot glanced off the corner of the rooftop, Yuri whirling
around to mark its owner.  McBride and the others were taking the
opportunity to escape this trap firing up in her direction as they
ran down the street.  She tried to take aim, but their combined
gunfire drove her back from the corner.  Suddenly, a disk-like object
sailed over the top landing off to one side behind her.
�That can�t be good!� she said and leaped across the street towards
the next roof.  An explosion caught her and Yuri ended up tumbling
head over heels to a painful stop on the hot tarmac.  There came a
hard thump and she looked up to find Superintendent Warren standing
over her.
�Yuri?� he said kneeling down.
�Oh, Peter,� replied Yuri.  With his help she sat up and rubbed the
bruise on her forehead.
�You all right?�
�I�ll be fine.�
�What happened and where�s Kei?�
�Her gun!  It, it suddenly went berserk and went after her!  Right
after that clown shot it!�
�Yeah, he�s been messing up the works for a lot of people.  Can you
stand?�
Together they stood up.  Yuri could see several units of bioroids and
police charging down the street after Joker and his gang.  She glared
angrily up the street and retrieved her rifle ready to continue the
fight.
�Yuri, how did you guys find out about this?� asked Peter.
�News.  Why?  You don�t want us here?�
Warren hid his grimace.  �Uh, we were going to alert you.  Really, we
were.�
�Well I promise we won�t use any real destructive ordinance.�
�This time, I�m afraid to say, please do.�
Yuri smiled.  �Lets go.  No pale face clown is going to blow me up
and get away with it.�
She jumped across to the next building following the pursuing police.
Warren moaned lightly and went after her�

* * * * *

By now Joker and his gang were in full stride running down the street
in search of their getaway car and escape from the police pursuing
them.  After passing several intersections, Joker suddenly called a
halt.
�Kelly,� he said, �I thought you called Oscar?�
�I did.�
Joker looked up and down the streets.  �So the car has a cloaking
system on it, hmm?�
�No.�
�So then where-the-hell is he!�
Kelly found the street signs, reading them over.  �I told him to meet
us at the end of this street,� he said in wonder.
�Which end?� asked Joker.
The street sign told McBride that they were at the corner of
Tannerhausen and Dornig.  �Not here.�
�Where!�
�Richtoven Street.�
�Why so damn far, Kelly?� asked Baby.
�To keep from having the cops get him, maybe?  Sheesh!  You�d think I
�m stupid or something!�
�We�ve a flock of cops on our ass and your making us run a marathon!�
shouted Gadgets.
�Okay, okay, okay,� said Joker, defusing the situation, �we�re all
out of shape and we don�t like to exercise.  Typical civilians in an
automated society, lets get to our rendezvous spot shall we?�
To emphasize the point, several bolts of blaster fire flashed over
their heads from a squad of police running up Dornig Street.  A burst
of the Laff-a-gun sent the fortunate ones to cover.  The fugitives
ran on, trading shots with police as they did.
A fresh unit of bioroids forced them to take cover again and a hot
firefight broke out.  Joker snapped off several burst into them,
ducking down behind a transit stop to regroup and check the charge on
his gun.  McBride suddenly dived to the ground next to him, bullets
chirruping at his heels.
�Nothing to worry about, huh?� he said, drawing up next to Joker.
Kelly leaned around and fired briefly out into the street.  �The cops
are building in strength, and we are about be surrounded!�
For the moment Joker ignored him.  He opened the cover on the
Laff-a-gun�s grip, seeing that the charge in his power cells was
nearly depleted.
�Merely a slight technicality, Kelly m�lad.�
A blast punched a hole through the permacrete above their heads.
Both me dropped into a crouch and Kelly peered around the corner.  He
spotted Yuri leaping across the rooftops; Superintendent Warren and
several bioroids right behind her.
�Damn!� he grumbled.
�Trouble?� asked Joker.
�Phfth!  That 3WA bitch with the rifle and the Supe are here now!�
�Excellent!�  Joker slid over to the opposite corner.  �Gadgets!� he
called out.
Gadgets crawled out from beneath the car he hid under.
�Time for that special charge now.�
�Here?  Now?� answered Gadgets.
�Yes.  Throw it into that building across the street if you would
please.�
�But there are people in there!�
�Desperate times, desperate measures.�
Yuri�s heavy rifle was speaking to them again, shattering permacrete,
concrete and metal with devastating effect.  Another shout from Joker
to Gadgets spurred the young man on.  From out of his bag he pulled a
black cylindrical object out.  On the sides were three buttons, which
he pressed in sequence.  �Baby!� cried Gadgets, and tossed it over to
him.
Baby caught it then smoothly pitched it through one of the upper
windows of the building Yuri and Warren stood on.
�What was that!� said Yuri, but Peter never got the chance to answer
as a neck-wrenching explosion blew out much of the front of the
building.  They staggered away from the edge as a dusty smoke filled
jet of flames rose up.
�What is he thinking!� cried Peter, and then the building shook
beneath them.
More flames licked up over the edge and Yuri decided this was not the
place to be right now.  Grabbing Peter by the wrist, she pulled him
along and they both leaped over the side towards the next roof.
Unfortunately, this building was several stories higher and they
smashed face first into the side.
�You wanna tell me why we�re trying to break our faces, Yuri?� asked
Peter.
�Slight miscalculation, Superintendent,� she replied.
The blow had knocked Yuri�s rifle from her grip sending it crashing
down into the street below.  That only made her even angrier, and
when Joker ran out into the open, she hurriedly climbed up to the
top.
Meanwhile, Joker and his men were again running for their lives down
the street. Their diversion had started more fires; smoke hanging
thick in the air to provide ample cover for their escape.  Finally,
they reached Richtoven Street, but Oscar and the car were nowhere to
be found.
�Kelly, m�blasters running on empty,� Baby said.
Joker�s angry grip suddenly spun McBride around.  �I thought you
called Oscar?� he growled darkly at him.
�I did, I did!�
�I don�t see his ass, and there�s a swarm of cops coming down the
street,� said Gadgets.
Joker checked his charge again.  Enough for five maybe six more
burst, he drew in a deep breath and took aim.  �Kelly, signal Oscar
again to pick us up,� he said, letting go with a burst at a squad of
police.  They dropped and Joker scrambled over to them.
�Get their guns, boys,� he ordered and the gangsters grabbed what
weapons they could.  Joker picked up a short tube like weapon, eyeing
it curiously.  He asked Gadgets what it was and the man�s eyes went
wide.
�A Blop Gun!� he cried, taking it from him.
�Blop Gun?�
Gadgets reached down taking the ammunition canisters from the cop on
the ground.  He slapped one into the drum at the end, spun around
aiming at three bioroids charging up the street and fired.  The
weapon let out a thick punt sound sending a round glob of amber
translucent gel through the air.  It hit and immediately expanded
engulfing the bioroids.
Joker let out with a whoop of laughter as they struggled in the gooey
mess.  �I like that!� he shouted, �Keep that, Gadgets.  We might have
use for that later.�
�They are kind�a neat, aren�t they� AAGH!�
Gadgets yelled as a hail of blaster fire peppered the street around
him.  Joker was already darting out of harms way.  He came to a stop
and through the smoke saw Yuri and Superintendent Warren firing down
at them.
�Lets stop that right now,� he shouted, taking aim with the
Laff-a-gun.
Yuri saw him and took a handful of Peter�s shirt, yanking him down
before the resulting blast hit.  Some of the officers that had joined
them mimicked the move, but a few were soon chortling uncontrollably
on the roof, clutching their throats for breath.
�Oh now he�s done it,� said Yuri.  She pulled a Serec grenade from
her utility belt and activated the primer.
�Gimme� one of those!� said Peter.  Yuri passed him one and together
they both stood up and tossed them down into the street.
Sharp reports from the explosions shook the area.  When the smoke
cleared Yuri could see that Joker and his men were scrambling down
both sides of the street.
�Come�on, Peter.  We�ve got them on the run!� she said, bolting for
the next rooftop.
Things were starting to look desperate for them, Joker thought.  His
foe, although susceptible to his invention, were far too strong and
numerous for just one gun alone.  He would have to build more, and
build an army loyal to his cause.
They first had to survive this, and their chances getting slimmer
with each passing minute.
Upon arriving at the next intersection, Joker stopped again.  Kelly,
running behind him barely avoided the collision, staggering awkwardly
to a stop against the corner lamppost.
�What�s this?� asked Joker, pointing out at the expanse of a long
river running adjacent to the road.
�Great,� said Kelly. �That is the Wagner River.  We�ve reached the
end of Tannerhausen.�
�Where to now!� Gadgets desperately cried from across the street.
Joker could not give an answer, but an angry voice behind him did.
�How�bout jail, or maybe time on a prison asteroid,� snarled Kei.
Hesitantly, he turned around and was surprised to find Kei standing
there with her last remaining pistol pointed right at them.  Her
bodysuit was ripped and torn in several places; hair mussed and
disheveled.  She was scarred up pretty badly and obviously in some
pain, but that wasn�t about to stop the Troubleconsultant from get
her quarry.
�You flinch, Happy, and you�re dead!�
�Well, well what if I have to sneeze?�
�Suck it down!�
�Ewww� you Troublewomen aren�t the friendly type, are you?�
�That�s Troubleconsultant, buster, and its 3WA!�
�What does that stand for?  Wild Women�s Wrestling Association?�
A blast at his feet made the Joker shuffle back.
�Another crack and you get it right through the head,� threatened
Kei.
The sirens were getting louder and it appeared that Joker and his
gangsters had shot their last bolt, when out of direct view one of
Joker�s hockey-puck bomblets slid past them directly towards Kei.
She cried out diving towards the street.  Joker and Kelly dashed
around the corner then hunkered down as the explosion rocked the
street.
Kei shouted a stream of curses as she came to her feet.  Already
battered, this really upset her and she began fanning away the dust
in search of Joker.  His gloved hand appeared tossing three of what
Kei thought were small rubber balls bouncing out in her direction.
She trap shot one while limping out of the way, but the other two
made one more bounce then burst open with a loud pop sending long
streamers out that immediately ensnared their victim.
With her arms pinned across her chest and legs wrapped, Kei cursed
loudly as she toppled back up against the railing like some ancient
mummy in a museum.  As she struggled to break free, Joker and his men
appeared out of the gloom.
�Look what we have here, boys!� said Joker.  �A fish out of water.�
�Baby, shoot this bitch!� McBride ordered, but Joker quickly stopped
him.
�No, no, no, no.  This one is mine.�  The Laff-a-gun came up; Kei�s
terrified eyes locked on the green lens.  �This double-you girl is
gonna laugh extra loud.�
Her pistol lie entwined with her right hand; Kei increasing her
struggles.  With no time to lose, she desperately levered her body
back over the railing and down into the unknown on the other side.
Joker angrily cried out and charged over to the spot.  They all heard
the crash of metal and plastic containers, peering over the edge.
�It�s not going to be that easy�BWAHAHAHAHA!!!!!�
Joker�s howling was joined by McBride and the others upon seeing what
lay below.  Kei had inadvertently landed in a storage vat of marine
entrails and soggy river growth the local fishing community used for
their daily baits.  Her fall was hard enough to crack open the lids
and now she lay squirming helpless in the slimy putrid gunk, hacking
and spitting out the foul refuse amidst cries of anger and misery
sinking further into the mush.
�HAHAHAHAAAA!!!!!�  Joker doubled over, slapping his knees.  �I haven
�t had this much of a laugh since accidentally giving myself a dose
of my own happy juice!�
�NGAAAHHH�YOU (PHFTH) YOU BASTARDS!  WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON YOU�!�
�You�re going to arrest us with your alluring smell and take us into
custody?� Joker cut in sending them all into renewed fits of
laughter.
Baby managed a look down the street and spotted their car racing
towards them with a pair of TAC choppers in hot pursuit.  He tapped
Kelly on the shoulder to get his attention.
�Uh-oh,� said Kelly.  �Looks like our ride is going to get cut off.�
�Huh?  Not as long as I have power left in my gun,� said Joker.
He set the beam to narrow and fired at the TACs.  They wavered in the
air then crashed into the buildings, toppling flaming wreckage and
debris into the street.  Oscar pulled up beside them.
�Sorry I�m late!� he said.
�Oh no worry, we�ve been having a blast� literally,� replied Joker.
They climbed aboard and not a moment to soon as Superintendent
Warren, Yuri, and a horde of police units boiled out around the
corner.
�Not to be insulting, Oscar, but �Home, James�!� declared Joker.
The hovercar hopped away from the area with the cops racing after
them their guns blazing.  Warren and Yuri quickly rejoined Smith in
the command car and they monitored the chase, issued orders trying to
set up blocking positions along the route, hoping to corner the Clown
before he managed to flitter away out of the city.
The chase was now approaching New Berlin�s commemorative expansion
bridge, an immense structure with several tiers of road and gravways
linking the east and west sides of the city.  At the Jokers
direction, Oscar took the upper route.  Ahead the police managed to
erect a barricade of Mechs and armored cars ready to blast them into
smoldering scrap.
�We are in trouble, Joker,� said Kelly.
Joker surveyed their situation.  �No, this is perfect!�
�WHAT?� cried the others.
�Yes.  Gadgets, how many bombs do you have left?�
�None!  Just a laughing puck and a few smokes.�
The gauge on the Laff-a-gun was nearly at the bottom.  Joker shrugged
and said, �It will have to do.  Gadgets, get ready to toss them out
behind us.  Osc, make this thing jump.�
�Jump?�
�On my signal, boys.�
They all traded looks but readied themselves for whatever the outcome
of this situation.  Joker held his control pad in one hand, aiming
the Laff-a-gun forwards at the barricade of police ahead.  He gave
the signal and the pucks were tossed out behind them.  Joker fired,
his weapon set on widespread engulfing the police in the deadly beam.
A press of a button activated the pucks and soon the lead units
behind them were crashing into each other setting off a chain
reaction with horrendous results.
Kei, Peter, and Garry cried out as the command car streaked
unavoidably towards the ensuing pileup before them.  Garry hit the
reverse thrusters, but it was a tad late and only managed to reduce
the impact of the blow as they slammed sideways into an overturned
armored car.
��ooo� knew we shoould�a gotten back into the air,� Garry muttered
weakly, � good thing this car isn�t on my insurance list.�
�Save the jokes,� grumbled Peter.  He pulled away from the door, its
glass cracked and the frame bent in, stiffly turning to check on Yuri
in the back.  �Yuri?�
�Alive� I think in one piece� am in a lot of pain though.�
�Well that�s two out of three (ouch).�
Garry popped open his door and pushed it up.  He helped Peter to
climb out then Yuri and they all stood staring at the mess around
them.  The approach to the bridge�s upper rampway would be blocked
for several hours preventing further pursuit of the Clown and his
men.  Peter held his injured right arm and limped towards the bridge
to see if they had succeeded in stopping them on the other side.  Not
a chance.  In the middle of the bridge, almost as if waiting for him,
sat the Clown on the rear of his car.  Yuri limped up beside Warren
and them then the Clown waved.
�Hello again, Superintendent!  So glad you survived my little
 mishap!�  Peter growled; teeth barred unable to do much more.  He
wavered and Yuri steadied him up as the Joker continued his taunt.
�Listen, Suppie!  If you�re going to be my P.R. man then you�ve got
to get the name right!  It�s not Clown, its Joker, or The Joker if
you want to be proper!  Now I expect my billboards to be correct next
time I come calling, okay?�
�You bastard,� growled Peter.
Joker hopped back around, but before sitting down looked at Warren
again.  �Oh yes, one more thing.  A parting gift to all of the
citizens here on Rosomer and in New Berlin.�
An explosion ripped the air behind them from the center of the city.
Yuri spun around shocked by the action, and then gasped as several
more explosions ripped through the surrounding city skyline.
�Aw no� AW NO!� moaned Peter.  He dropped to his knees and they could
hear the Joker�s deviant laughter echoing across the bridge.
�Tah-tah, Superintendent� I will be seeing you again.�
The purple-gloved hand that waved at them was the last thing they saw
of the Joker as his getaway car sped off.  More explosions rocked the
city, sirens and warning alarms filled the air.  Yuri could not
believe this was happening.  How could such a criminal mind be so
cold was beyond her, but the spiraling pyres of smoke and flames
proved that Joker could be that cruel.
A pungent order caught her and Yuri gagged.  She covered her nose and
looked around searching for its source.
�What, is he using stink bombs now?� shouted Garry, his nose covered
by one arm.
The officers around them too started gagging on the smell, and then
from out of the sky Kei landed down on her knees.  She was still
bound in the Jokers streamers, goop and rotten bait dripping from her
body.  Kei shook her matted hair from her eyes and looked at Yuri.
�Let me guess(pftht), he got away?� she said.
�Geeesss, Kei!� shouted Garry as he made a hasty retreat away from
her.  �What sewer dump did you take a dive in?�
�Don�t worry about how I smell!  Did that Clown get away?�
�Yes,� answered Yuri, also leaving the area, �he got away, and you
need to get away too.�
Warren wiped his eyes clear and scrambled for the nearest breath of
fresh air.  The clack of vents sealing shut echoed from the Mechs and
even the bioroids were having a hard time coping with the offensive
odor.
Kei looked around and then activated her grav-pack again hovering up
into the air.  �Which way did that bastard go,� she snarled, �I�m
going after him!�
�No, no!� cried Peter, waving his hands desperately before him.
�There�s been enough destruction already!�
�Besides, you need to get cleaned up,� added Yuri.
Kei frowned and returned to the ground.
That was a relief for the Superintendent.  He gazed around at the
carnage thinking about what tonight�s news reports will be saying.
�Garry, get on the line with central.  Tell them to initiate martial
law and close down all traffic into and out of New Berlin.�
�Everything?�
Warren nodded.  As the orders were being passed along, the
Superintendent paused to reflect on what Joker had said to him.  This
was only the first round, and he did not like what he had seen so
far.  The smell from Kei caught him again and he choked drawing
further back.
�Yuri, could you please take your partner somewhere and get her
cleaned up?�
�I don�t want to go near her either, Peter,� replied Yuri.  Peter�s
stern gazed made her have second thoughts.  �Alright, we�re going,�
she said.
As Peter left, Yuri smirked as she tried to get closer to Kei.  Her
nose wrinkled sharply, and Yuri said,� Kei� you need to get back to
the Angel.�
�I wanna stay and find this creep!�
�No!  You stink and need to get cleaned up!�
�But I want to find him!�
�You get back to the ship now, lady!�
�But�.�
�GO!� roared the police officers around her.
The odds, and opinions against her, Kei acceded to the demands.
�Say, partner,� she said in a meek voice, �think you can at least cut
me loose?�
Yuri planted her fist on her hips narrowing an eye at Kei.
�Not until you�ve had a bath.�

* * * * *

You could still feel the terror inside the accounting office of the
Exchequer Exchange; Jokers deadly touch permeating its walls leaving
a stain that could not be easily erased.  Teams of forensic
specialist worked around the crime scene going through everything,
searching for any clue that would get them on the trail of Joker and
his gang.
Yuri walked through the office careful not to touch anything as she
looked around.  She spotted Peter over near the back file cabinets
kneeling next to one of the Jokers unfortunate victims.  As she
stared down at the girl, deep feelings of sympathy went out to this
woman who only an hour ago was a living breathing person with an
ordinary life.  Now she lay cold and lifeless, lips stretched back in
a wide sardonic grin, glasses askew on her forehead, clutching one of
Jokers calling cards in her stiff fingers.
One of the CSI team members was at work pulling the card from her
hands with a pair of prongs.  She tugged it lose and ran a scanner
across the surface.
�Looks like some form of a nerve toxin,� she told Peter.  �A nasty
version this is.�
�Get it broken down and find us a counteragent,� ordered Warren.
He stood up starting slightly not expecting to see Yuri there.  The
Troubleconsultant�s stare remained locked on the woman and there were
tears of anger shimmering in her eyes.
�He�s going to pay,� said Peter.
Yuri looked at him.  �You bet he is,� she replied, �Make it painful,
Peter, or I will.�
�I have every intention of doing just that, Yuri.�
Across the room Garry call to Peter.  They joined him over at one of
the working terminals where the senior accountant was busy reviewing
some data on the screen.
�Looks like Joker got himself a pretty hefty sum of credit,� Garry
told them.
�So?  Cancel it out,� said Peter.
�I can�t do that, Superintendent,� said the accountant.  �This Joker
fed a scrambler into our main data files.  That means he�s basically
loaded what information normally assigned to any account in amongst
the billions we have there now.�
�What about tracing down the amount?� asked Yuri.
�No, he�s disbursed it quite well, and in addition he�s slicked the
Exchequers operation system so we can�t shut down all accounts.�
�If that�s true, how are you looking at this?� asked Peter.
�The systems of the other banks are tied into a secondary loop just
incase some disaster befalls the mainframe.  If we attempt to shut
off that loop, all credits for Rosomer will be completely cut off.�
A disaster!  Warren knew that if he ordered a complete shutdown he
would be effectively killing Rosomer�s entire infrastructure causing
an economic collapse that even with the help from the home worlds,
they would never be able to recover from.
�Damn it!� snapped Peter, turning away.
Yuri leaned closer towards the monitor and looked over the data on
the screen.  �Is there anyway to crack this code and back trace the
actions?� she asked the accountant.
�There are only three people who can give us that information,� he
replied, �Two of them are the crooks who did this and�� He paused,
looking sadly up at her.  �The other one is dead,� finished the
accountant, gesturing back to the dead woman lying on the floor.
A mind like this, thought Yuri, shaking her head.  The Joker had
planned this one well and worse of all he was still lose in the city
avoiding detection despite the literal house to house search being
conducted.
�Smart man,� she said, rubbing her chin thoughtfully.
�Too smart!� said Garry.  �He�s going to slip up though, and that�s
when we get him!�
�I�m not too sure about that.  My main concern is when he will strike
again and where.�
Peter heard Yuri.  �He can�t get out of this city,� he said.
�After what I�ve seen.�  Yuri shook her head.  �No, this cordon will
not stop him from traveling to other cities.�
�I can�t stop all commerce on Rosomer, Yuri.  I�ll have every
merchants guild, every city mayor, every business council breathing
down my neck; not to mention The Director when their complaints
finally reach him.�
A signal on her bodysuits commpanel beeped.  Yuri looked at her wrist
and saw that it came from the Lovely Angel�s computer.
She tapped an icon and said, �Go�head, girl.�
[Incoming signal from Director Galet.]
Billy, and it must have something to do with this case!  Yuri held up
her right arm and pressed another icon on her sleeve.  A holopanel
projected up and William Galet�s image came into view.
[Hi, Billy,] she said.
Galet did not appear too happy to see her.  [Hello, Yuri.  Guess I�m
too late getting back to you about your mystery criminal.]
[Yeah.  Joker really did a number on us.]
[Sorry to hear that.  I would have warned you about him, but this
information I dug up took longer than I expected to gather.]
�You�re sorry!� shouted Peter striding closer to the projection.  �I�
ve got half a city burning here, Mister Galet, not to mention several
thousands now lying dead or wounded!�
�Peter, please,� said Yuri.  Warren fought back his anger but glared
at Bill.  [Sorry, Billy.]
[No, I understand.  Where�s Kei?]
[Back on the ship.  She had to, ah� cleanse herself.]
Bill arched a brow but let it slide.  [She needs to be present for
this.]
Yuri ordered the Angel�s computer to patch a vid through of Kei to
their connection.  In seconds a split screen appeared and it was
difficult for Yuri to suppress her laughs.  Kei stood under a steady
stream of a hot shower with thick mounds of soap foam covering her
from the shoulders down.  The men in the accounting room stood
staring motionless at her figure, and Yuri quickly zoomed to a
headshot view.
Kei shut off the water.  [What is so important that I can�t finish
cleaning this crap off of me?] she said.
[I�m sorry, Kei,] answered Bill, [I can call back later once you�re
done.]
[No, you better talk now.  This is my seventh shower and its not
going to be my last.]
[Ew!  You better not be stinking up the Angel!] said Yuri.
Galet laughed.  [Okay, girls, back to the subject at hand.]  His
humor faded.  [The Joker is a master killer, professional criminal
who terrorized the Twentieth Century with daring crime sprees that
left thousands dead in his wake.]
�Oh great.  I�ve got a two century old Jack the Ripper loose on my
planet,� said Peter.
[Unfortunately, Superintendent.  He was only kept from destroying
many others by what was then known as Super Heroes.  His last
appearance was around 2098 in the middle of the resettlement phase on
Earth.]
[Is this guy immortal?] asked Kei.
[Don�t know.  However; his appearance has the council terrified.]
[Don�t blame them either,] said Yuri.  [If this Joker ever got out
into the Confederation, who knows what calamity he�d cause.]
[We sure could use a couple of those Super Heroes right now,] added
Kei.
[Yes, but we have you two,] replied Bill.  Kei and Yuri could sense a
change in Bill.  They way he was looking at them, that troubled
hesitant shift of his eyes meant he was about to do something that
did not sit well with him.
[Girls, this order I am giving you has only been issued four times in
3WA�s history.  You�re number five.]
Yuri frowned, cutting her eyes over at Kei with a slight shrug.
[Angels, from the Council and the Central Computer, you have been
given clearance to terminate Joker upon apprehension.]
The Angels both drew in loud breaths, their eyes wide with surprise.
[B-B-Billy, are you giving us a Kill Order?] asked Yuri.
[Yes, Yuri.  I�m not in agreement with it, but in light of Joker�s
recent actions, I can�t argue.]
�Good,� said Peter, �It matches my orders also.�
Still, the girls could not believe what their Chief Inspector had
just said.
[Wow,] said Yuri.  [Never thought the Council would actually want us
to start killing people.]
[Usually that just inadvertently happens anyway,] commented Kei.
[Just Joker, ladies,] said Bill.
�Thank you,� Peter added, shooting Yuri nervous looks.
Bill continued.  [I can�t emphasize how important it is to find and
stop him.  We cannot allow his madness to spread in the
Confederation.  It would be like authorizing Anarchy.]
[We�ll do our best,] said Yuri.
[No, we�ll get him!] Kei said with determination.
[Hope so.  Joker was using some advanced technology even in his day.
This is the Twenty-second Century.  Think about what he could achieve
if left unchecked.]
It was a thought none of them even wanted to consider.
[Okay, Billy.  We�ll get right on this.]
[Hey, Bill,] Kei suddenly said.
[Hmm?]
[What about that bald dude from the starport?  He wasn�t in the dead
pool, ooops� sorry Superintendent� and I suspect he is in cahoots
with Joker.]
[We still haven�t found anything on him.  I�ll keep looking. You two
be careful on this, okay?]
The girls told him yes and Galet�s projection winked out.
[So what now, partner?] asked Kei.
Yuri thought a moment.  Yes, what now?  They could join in with the
search going on, but she suspected that Joker and his gang would
avoid detection.  Better to sift through the wreckage of their battle
and see if she could find anything that would help them counter the
effects of his strange gun.
[I�m going to look for clues,] she told Kei.  [Shouldn�t take long,
so when I get back you better have that place de-fumed and spotless.]
Kei sneered.  She turned the shower back on, stuck her tongue out at
Yuri and closed the link.  Yuri sighed, wishing the day was over.
She turned to see Peter sneering at her, angered about something.
�Dead Pool,� he said anticipating her question.
�She said she was sorry, Peter.�
He let out a low growl and walked away.
�Oh this is just not going well at all,� said Yuri as she headed for
the door�

* * * * *

Bill Galet sat quiet for a long moment thinking about the orders and
the conversation he just finished with the Lovely Angels.  This was
like handing a blowtorch to a monkey in an ammo dump, and most likely
it would explode with tremendous force right in their faces.
Something had to be done to minimize the carnage.
He turned facing forwards again eyeing the people sitting around the
office.  To the left of the desk sat Kelvin O�Donnell, 3WA�s Head of
Research and Development.  Just behind him sat M97, once an enemy,
now an agent for the agency and close personal friend.
O�Donnell sat back and crossed his arms across his chest.  �So, Bill.
You think the girls are up to the task?�
�I�m not quite sure, Kelvin,� answered Bill.  �This one is not out of
their league, but I fear it will be a hard battle to come.�
�Those poor Rosomerians,� said Em.  �I am sure glad I�m not there.�
Sobs from the right of the desk drew Bill�s attention to Cory
Emerson, sitting dejected with her hands to her face.  It was she who
informed Bill of Joker�s identity once the news and images came
across her news web resources.  Remembering the story aired not more
than a week ago, Cory immediately flew out to Pacifica with the
information and a copy of the show.
�It�s not your fault, Cory,� Bill said, patting her gently on the
shoulder.
�People are dead, Bill,� she replied between her sobs, �and they�re
dead because someone saw my show and cloned the Devil himself!�
�You couldn�t have known this was going to happen.�
�Yeah, and the girls will get him,� said Kelvin.
Cory sat stiffly up in her chair.  �That�s what I�m afraid of,
Kelvin!  Bill has just given Kei and Yuri clearance to use whatever
they can get their hands on to kill the Joker.  They might go as far
as using a nuke on him!�
�And knowing those two, they might just try that,� said Em.
�Stop it, people.  You�re scaring me,� said Bill.
Kelvin rubbed the back of his head not liking what he just heard.  He
shook his head slowly, clicking his tongue.  �Cory�s right.  Not
knowing how this Joker operates, how he moves and what he uses, the
girls will probably meet force with force if you know what I mean.�
Bill did know what he meant and felt an uneasy feeling flow through
his stomach.  A spark or maybe an idea hit him then.  It was true
that nobody there knew the Jokers Modus Operandi, but there was one
person he knew who did.
�Em.  This Bornke.  Did he report the theft of the Joker�s DNA?�
�No, but I�ll go and inquire why he didn�t.�
Bill waved the idea off.  �No, lets let it stay quiet for the
present.  Nobodies bothered to ask, so we won�t go and stir up the
pot.�
�But Bill, we should be arresting this guy and all of his associates
for allowing Joker to be reborn,� said Kelvin.
�True, but not yet.  First, we need to get something from them.�
�What?�
Galet smiled.  He turned on his wall monitor and recalled Cory�s talk
show.  Cory immediately knew what was on his mind.
�No, Bill,� she said, but Galet only cast her a brief look.
�Kelvin, how long will it take you to nurture a clone from raw DNA?�
Kelvin made a few quick calculations.  �About three to five days from
scan to life.�
�Good.  Ready a medlab.  You�re going to have a patient here
 shortly.�
�Bill!� shouted Cory, shooting from her chair.
Galet only gazed calmly at her not worried at all.  �It has to be
done, Cory,� he told her.  Cory nervously nibbled on her bottom lip,
unsure what he was planning was right or not.  She sat down again and
Galet gazed up at the monitor again.  His eyes scanned the screen
stopping on the image of one of Earth�s greatest heroes.
The steady stare from this masked man�s white eyes told Galet this
was the only way to stop Joker once and for all.
�Em,� he said, �get a hold of the Carsons�.  I have a job for them to
do��



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