The Calendar King #4
*There was a network of GCR towers across central Gotham- One in the Bowery, one in the Industrial District, one in Amusement Mile. Almost all of these have been knocked down to make way for Arkham City, much to one Jack Ryder's annoyance, except for one above Park Row. That has to be where he's transmitting his signal. The Misfits walk through scared civilians and past demonic creatures, and think to themselves. Charles Brown worries, for his friends and the future.
"Bats thinks he's in Park Row, in the radio tower. Together, we make our way through the carnage, Blake still posing. He's just as loony as Julian. All muscles and smiles but no common sense"
Thomas Blake prances through the streets, looking at himself through broken windows and smiling
"I don't see what everyone's so hot and bothered. Day had a meltdown, who hasn't? Chancer joined a cult, Cobb nuked a small town. Small differences yeah, but the same thing mostly. He'll calm down when he sees his old pal Catman"
Leonard Fiasko takes a long puff of his cigarette and pulls his helmet over his face
"Day's crazy. We all might be, but at least we release it in small doses. He's repressed it and gone and fucked us over"
And finally, Montgomery Sharp swings his favourite bat around childishly. With his power, nothing concerns him
"I think I'll ask my manager for a promotion. I've a good feeling he'll say yes"
From above, The Batman flies overhead, scanning the area, beside him are the Firefly and Killer Moth. He is there to keep an eye on the situation while the Misfits below attempt to appeal to the Calender Man's humanity- or whatever's left of it, while his boys- his sons, disable the radio signal and restore order to Gotham once more. Lynns looks down at the fire below, and he's entranced. The elevator opens, and the C-Listers enter*
====
*The walls are like the ramblings of a mad person- Maps, blueprints, CCTV images, the works. Sat beneath the enormous satellite dish- Jules. He sips a cup of coffee, and upon seeing us grins*
Julian- Ah, you made it. Even you. Thomas.
*Blake throws me and Len aside as he strides towards Jules confidently*
Blake- Even me!
*Oh god he's going to kill him isn't he?*
Blake- What are you playing at Jules?
Jules- You tell me Thomas. You seem to know everything. Always had all the answers. Always the cruelest of them all.
Blake- What? No man it's me-
Julian- I wasn't finished.
*The way he says it, like ice sends shivers down my spine. For the first time in my life I realise that this man isn't "Jules." He's the Calendar Man*
Jules- Tearing me down to build up your own ego. And for what? What's the difference between you and I really? Our gimmicks?!
Blake- The difference is, I'm not batshit insane!
Len- Yeah, appeal to his humanity Blake, I applaud you.
Jules- You spiteful, homophobic, sexist little man. Where is your honour now Blake? You think yourself a majestic beast don't you, but you are no predator- I am a predator. You're just an overcompensating pussycat. Go on. Arch your back. Hiss if it makes you feel better
*He's really upset, even Blake is speechless. Julian knew every button, and like a kid in an elevator he went and pressed them all. I have to step in*
Chuck- Jules, you're not well.
Julian- But I am Charlie, but I am. I finally have a clear head
*It's Len's turn, who scoffs, then points out towards the city, burning*
Len- Does this look like the work of someone with a clear head?
Julian- Well, yes.
Blake- How about this- we kill you, rip your head off and come back heroes
Julian- But when has that worked Thomas? It didn't with the Signal Man, it didn't with the Secret Society. You've never got that credit despite how much, how desperately hard you've tried. Because he always takes the credit. But now, we'll all be remembered. For this one glorious night. They might even rename it, make it an annual day of grieving. I would become a holiday.
*Chancer holds Jules' shoulder, who looks at the hand as though it's an insult. He looks right through it*
Chancer- Ok, time to go buddy
Julian- But you haven't asked how I did it
Blake- Spook and some fear gas.
Julian- No, not that. Everything. How did I get in and out of each place.
Chuck- You *broke* in.
Julian- I flew in.
Len- Fuck. He's doo-lally.
Julian- With your harness Charlie.
Chuck- What?
*Julian peels something off the wall and hands me a photo. Sure enough, it looks like me, but why-*
Julian- Look at this lovely CCTV photo, of a man in a kite harness entering the science fair. Want to know how I cleaned up after myself?
Len- You didn't.
Julian- A little bit of Fiasko's patented magic spray. You shouldn't leave that on the countertop Leonard. As for that poor miscreant, carved up on Word Nerd Day, does this knife look familiar Catman? And this baton Chancer, is the one I cracked over a guard's head.
*Chancer looks at the photo and mumbles something*
Chancer- That's not mine.
Julian- Well. Three out of four isn't bad. Besides, you were never there from the start...
Chuck- No one's going to believe you. The feds know you-
Julian- Why not? They believed the testimony of Lex Luthor and Danto Twag when they arrested Lynns and Walker last year. And you four never even got into politics. The Agency already suspects your involvement in some form, this'll just confirm it. Then we'll all be thrown in that shiny new prison we most certainly belong in. Together. And the underworld will never joke again.
Chuck- We- I don't want to be a supervillain! We just wear the costumes!
Len- Do you know the last felony I was charged with? Public intoxication. Not murder or some trash.
*I wanted to do this peacefully. Now there's no choice*
====City Hall====
Senator- You were given a chance Grange. Prove to us those, what did you call them, C-Listers were manageable. Now look at the mess of things. We never should have underestimated their kind.
Grange- Sir, please, this is just one man.
Senator- Impossible. Our agents found evidence linking at least ten other "minor" felons to these crimes. From Maximilian Zeus to Deke Mitchell.
Grange- Zeus? Why, because the killer used lightning? Mitchell because of the acid? You just want an excuse to lock them up
Senator- And if they are all involved *Ms* Grange, is that a risk you're willing to take?
The Calendar King #4
*There was a network of GCR towers across central Gotham- One in the Bowery, one in the Industrial District, one in Amusement Mile. Almost all of these have been knocked down to make way for Arkham City, much to one Jack Ryder's annoyance, except for one above Park Row. That has to be where he's transmitting his signal. The Misfits walk through scared civilians and past demonic creatures, and think to themselves. Charles Brown worries, for his friends and the future.
"Bats thinks he's in Park Row, in the radio tower. Together, we make our way through the carnage, Blake still posing. He's just as loony as Julian. All muscles and smiles but no common sense"
Thomas Blake prances through the streets, looking at himself through broken windows and smiling
"I don't see what everyone's so hot and bothered. Day had a meltdown, who hasn't? Chancer joined a cult, Cobb nuked a small town. Small differences yeah, but the same thing mostly. He'll calm down when he sees his old pal Catman"
Leonard Fiasko takes a long puff of his cigarette and pulls his helmet over his face
"Day's crazy. We all might be, but at least we release it in small doses. He's repressed it and gone and fucked us over"
And finally, Montgomery Sharp swings his favourite bat around childishly. With his power, nothing concerns him
"I think I'll ask my manager for a promotion. I've a good feeling he'll say yes"
From above, The Batman flies overhead, scanning the area, beside him are the Firefly and Killer Moth. He is there to keep an eye on the situation while the Misfits below attempt to appeal to the Calender Man's humanity- or whatever's left of it, while his boys- his sons, disable the radio signal and restore order to Gotham once more. Lynns looks down at the fire below, and he's entranced. The elevator opens, and the C-Listers enter*
====
*The walls are like the ramblings of a mad person- Maps, blueprints, CCTV images, the works. Sat beneath the enormous satellite dish- Jules. He sips a cup of coffee, and upon seeing us grins*
Julian- Ah, you made it. Even you. Thomas.
*Blake throws me and Len aside as he strides towards Jules confidently*
Blake- Even me!
*Oh god he's going to kill him isn't he?*
Blake- What are you playing at Jules?
Jules- You tell me Thomas. You seem to know everything. Always had all the answers. Always the cruelest of them all.
Blake- What? No man it's me-
Julian- I wasn't finished.
*The way he says it, like ice sends shivers down my spine. For the first time in my life I realise that this man isn't "Jules." He's the Calendar Man*
Jules- Tearing me down to build up your own ego. And for what? What's the difference between you and I really? Our gimmicks?!
Blake- The difference is, I'm not batshit insane!
Len- Yeah, appeal to his humanity Blake, I applaud you.
Jules- You spiteful, homophobic, sexist little man. Where is your honour now Blake? You think yourself a majestic beast don't you, but you are no predator- I am a predator. You're just an overcompensating pussycat. Go on. Arch your back. Hiss if it makes you feel better
*He's really upset, even Blake is speechless. Julian knew every button, and like a kid in an elevator he went and pressed them all. I have to step in*
Chuck- Jules, you're not well.
Julian- But I am Charlie, but I am. I finally have a clear head
*It's Len's turn, who scoffs, then points out towards the city, burning*
Len- Does this look like the work of someone with a clear head?
Julian- Well, yes.
Blake- How about this- we kill you, rip your head off and come back heroes
Julian- But when has that worked Thomas? It didn't with the Signal Man, it didn't with the Secret Society. You've never got that credit despite how much, how desperately hard you've tried. Because he always takes the credit. But now, we'll all be remembered. For this one glorious night. They might even rename it, make it an annual day of grieving. I would become a holiday.
*Chancer holds Jules' shoulder, who looks at the hand as though it's an insult. He looks right through it*
Chancer- Ok, time to go buddy
Julian- But you haven't asked how I did it
Blake- Spook and some fear gas.
Julian- No, not that. Everything. How did I get in and out of each place.
Chuck- You *broke* in.
Julian- I flew in.
Len- Fuck. He's doo-lally.
Julian- With your harness Charlie.
Chuck- What?
*Julian peels something off the wall and hands me a photo. Sure enough, it looks like me, but why-*
Julian- Look at this lovely CCTV photo, of a man in a kite harness entering the science fair. Want to know how I cleaned up after myself?
Len- You didn't.
Julian- A little bit of Fiasko's patented magic spray. You shouldn't leave that on the countertop Leonard. As for that poor miscreant, carved up on Word Nerd Day, does this knife look familiar Catman? And this baton Chancer, is the one I cracked over a guard's head.
*Chancer looks at the photo and mumbles something*
Chancer- That's not mine.
Julian- Well. Three out of four isn't bad. Besides, you were never there from the start...
Chuck- No one's going to believe you. The feds know you-
Julian- Why not? They believed the testimony of Lex Luthor and Danto Twag when they arrested Lynns and Walker last year. And you four never even got into politics. The Agency already suspects your involvement in some form, this'll just confirm it. Then we'll all be thrown in that shiny new prison we most certainly belong in. Together. And the underworld will never joke again.
Chuck- We- I don't want to be a supervillain! We just wear the costumes!
Len- Do you know the last felony I was charged with? Public intoxication. Not murder or some trash.
*I wanted to do this peacefully. Now there's no choice*
====City Hall====
Senator- You were given a chance Grange. Prove to us those, what did you call them, C-Listers were manageable. Now look at the mess of things. We never should have underestimated their kind.
Grange- Sir, please, this is just one man.
Senator- Impossible. Our agents found evidence linking at least ten other "minor" felons to these crimes. From Maximilian Zeus to Deke Mitchell.
Grange- Zeus? Why, because the killer used lightning? Mitchell because of the acid? You just want an excuse to lock them up
Senator- And if they are all involved *Ms* Grange, is that a risk you're willing to take?