Batman was standing in the clock tower with the others. Members of the Bat Family, volunteers from the Titans, and a few people from both the Justice League and Justice League Dark. Batman couldn't help but make a mental list; Nightwing, Robin, Batgirl (Cassandra Cain), Batwoman (Kate Kane), Catwoman, Donna Troy, Bumblebee, Beast Boy, Raven, Starfire, Pantha, Herald, Wonder Woman (Diana Prince), and Green Lantern (Jessica Cruz). Even Zatanna and John Constantine managed to show up despite saying they were busy before. Others wanted to join and help, but Batman didn't want to leave everywhere else vulnerable just for this. Not even for Barbara's sake.
Once Barbara hit the panic button, Batman had been first on the scene in under three minutes, and yet when he arrived there was no trace of Barbara or her attackers. Batman started by saying, "Oracle sent me some video footage shortly before she was attacked, so I can only assume they are related."
Batman then pulled out a device and then it started projecting the video that Barbara had sent him. It was a feed from three different security cameras, showing three different attackers, and strangely enough, all three were in perfect sync with each other. The time stamp at the bottom confirmed they were happening at the same time. The even ended the same, with the three attackers looking at the cameras and disappearing in the blink of an eye.
John was the first to speak, "Right, well Bats, that presentation alone was worth justifying the trip. Those three on your projector all had a brand on their souls." Batman responded, "Care to explain?" While the others looked at John with a mixture of contempt and curiosity, John himself was unaffected by their stares and he just took a swig from his flask.
John said, "Those three fellows are hunting dogs, they're looking for someone specific, but since they're of their leash so to speak, they're just going after whoever catches their attention. Did you notice that each one took the few seconds. Like they needed to confirm their victim's fate?"
Batman replayed the footage, and John was right, it was subtle and very easy to miss, but there it was. John then continued, "There's also the little matter of the arcane gate in the floor." This got a confused look from everyone. Zatanna and Raven focused on the spot John pointed at, then they got a look of realization. John muttered a spell, and then the outline of black smoke on the floor.
The three spell casters huddled around it, Batman asked, "Do you know who uses this type of magic?" They looked at each other, and then John turned and said, "No, and that's because this magic is so old there shouldn't be anyone who would know how to use it. Yet here it is."
Diana spoke up saying, "Surely there are places that have records of even the oldest of magic users? The library in the Underworld for example." Zatanna responded, "From what I'm seeing, the source of this magic predates the concept of concepts. It clearly existed before the celestials thought to give themselves names. So, even if Hades had information on this thing, it would be vague and unreliable at best."
Batman decided to circle back to something John said earlier, "You said they were looking for someone, any idea who?" John shook his head and said, "With something this old, there is no way to guess its motivation. There is definitely someone or something that is working as an anchor, because there no way something keeps opening gates from its own realm without drawing attention, not even in Gotham."
Beast Boy asked, "What do you mean by that?" John scratched his chin before saying, "Listen up, there are places in this world that, because of their nature are arcane blind spots, which keeps most magic users from noting that magic is being used. That being said, it also takes a lot more effort to use magic in places like this..." A realization hit John because then he said, "Which means that the anchor no matter its nature will need to feed constantly." Batman understood the meaning and said, "So, if it's a person they'll be doing something in an excessive amount, if it's an item a large group of people will be effected."
They went into further details about what was needed, Catwoman decided to check her contacts in the criminal underworld and the others would split up to investigate the other crime scenes. Before the left Robin said, "Hey! I might have a dumb question. If the gate that Oracle disappeared into is right there, why can't we just open it?"
John answered, "Here the deal, even if Zatanna, Raven, and me pooled are power, it's still a big if that we can get that door to appear. The real problem is that particular gate appears to be one way, things go in they do not come out. To reverse that it would take every spellcaster on earth, that includes Clarion the witch boy and Dr. Fate, all of them working together." Everyone knew that that was never going to happen. Then everyone agreed to meet at the designated location to compare information and divide Gotham up to search for the killers, immediately.
...
Selina Kyle, aka Catwoman, was approaching the apartment of Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy. Even though Harley didn't really do anything in the same level as before her "retirement" she was still the therapist for the costume community, and with Penguin confirmed KIA. Harley stands to be the most informed person in Gotham.
Selina knocked on the door, she heard shuffling inside, she hoped she wasn't interrupting anything important, that would make getting the information harder. The door suddenly opened and there was Harley, in an oversized t-shirt. Selina couldn't tell if Harley had anything underneath, but she wasn't really trying to find out. Harley invited her in, Selina found Ivy eating breakfast at the kitchen counter, wearing a robe, Selina couldn't tell if Ivy had anything underneath, but once again she wasn't really trying to find out. Selina said, "I hope I wasn't interrupting anything." Ivy answered, "No, we were just enjoying breakfast, we haven't been up long." Harley started to laugh, and then said, "Hey Red, you got a little something on your cheek." Harley wiped Ivy's face, Harley's bleached skin stood in stark contrast to Ivy's green skin. Selina could tell they were happy with each other.
Suddenly there was another knock at the door. Harley sighed, and then said, "My, aren't we popular this morning." Once again Harley went to open the door. A minute later, Katana entered with two other women. Selina didn't recognize either, but that's because they never operated in Gotham. Katana didn't say a word, she just put a device on a coffee table. A second later, someone Selina never met but instantly recognized appeared, Amanda Waller.
Harley's face didn't show reaction, she just asked, "What do you want Waller? As far I can know, I haven't done anything that you could use to recruit me." Waller ignored Harley's obvious resentment and said, "I'll keep it simple, five individuals who's only connection was that they were an inconvenience to Lex Luther were killed. There is evidence to suggests that if he is involved, he did it with someone from Gotham. A new player from what little we could tell. If you agree to help, I'll owe you a favor."
This got Harley's attention, she immediately said, "Wow, this must be serious if you're willingly offering me a blank check... All right tell what you need, and I'll see if I can help."
Waller's image was replaced with two images of seemingly random numbers and letters. Waller then said, "Luther contacted these two individuals, unfortunately it was through his network, so this was the only form of identity we could get." Harley looked at the images, while Selina thought, 'This could either be very useful or very problematic.'
Harley then said, "Yeah I know these two, they're both one-time D-lister villains, so that probably why you couldn't identify them. The first one is Baby Doll, a full-grown woman who is stuck in the body of a child. The second one is called Calendar Girl, a beautiful woman who thinks she is hideous. Luther probably called them to use as disposable pawn to find your new player."
Harley then said, "I have Calendar Girl's number since she was a client once upon a time. I'll make a phone call and see what she knows."
Waller then implied gratitude, and casually added that for Harley to cash in the favor, then Harley would have to escort Katana and the others while they were in town. Then Waller's device shut down.
Harley let out a sigh, and then dialed on her phone, while leaving it on speaker. A few rings later a woman answered and asked, "Hello? Who is this?" Harley responded, "Miss Monroe, It's Harley."
Monroe said, "Harley! It has been a while, so long in fact that I know this can't be a social call. What do you need?" Harley answered, "You got me, I got people asking me about someone you might have introduced to Lex Luther recently." Monroe interjected, "And they want to know what I know about him. Ya, I suppose I could tell you a thing or two, he's out and about right now, so if you come here, I can answer your questions, I'll text you, my address."
Before anyone could say anything, Calendar Girl ended the call. Ivy, who had been silent up to this point, asked, "Did she just imply that the dangerous target was staying with her?" Harley nodded. The fact that it was sounding like a trap, had allowed for Ivy and Selina to tag along without any resistance.
...
Queen Bee was sitting in a town car, not the luxurious mode of transport she preferred, but considering the town it was better not to draw to much attention. Next to her was a brief case said to hold the contractor's payment. It was sealed, she didn't know what was in it.
It was light whatever it was, and the fact that the drivers were robots meant she couldn't charm them into telling her what the payment was. She would have to wait until her meeting with the contractor. The car arrived at their destination, she was handed a device and was told to press it when the meeting was concluded. That way they could be outside waiting for her.
As she got out her guards also exited their vehicles. Their destination was an old theater, one that has been closed since the death of two of Gotham elites.
They entered, something off to the side caught everyone's attention, it was a twisted pile of flesh. Maybe the contractor left as a warning for not messing around, or perhaps it was something else entirely. Either way, Queen Bee felt that she was being under paid.
They entered the main stage area. Sitting on the edge of the stage was a man holding a broad ax, behind him was some kind of mirror that held no reflection. He looked up at them, then sighed. He said, "I guess it was too much to hope that you wouldn't show up on time." Confused by that statement, they still made their way to the front row. Queen Bee said, "Here's your payment." She raised the briefcase. "Now, why don't you be a good boy and tell me what it is."
She was close enough for her phenomenon power to work. So, she was surprised when he started laughing and said, "Luther didn't tell you... I guess he wouldn't now, would he." Before he could say anything, else someone came crashing through the roof.
They looked and saw a woman floating there. It looked like Supergirl, but more mature, more... developed. A skintight outfit that left nothing to the imagination. Queen Bee suspected Luther of sending the new girl. That way he wouldn't have to pay anyone anything. Her guards got into a combat stance, but it was for show, they were no match for whatever this intruder was.
Suddenly a distorted voice said, "Did you drop this?" The new girl immediately turned around, only to come crashing down right in front of them. Then the section of the roof that was destroyed was instantly repaired. Then something else dropped down. She recognized it as the twisted pile of flesh from earlier.
It quickly stood up straight, or as straight as it could be considering how twisted it still was. Then something extended from the area that would've been its stomach. She was getting ready to dodge whatever happened next, but that was she noticed some substance clinging to her feet. It was covering the new girl and had spread all over the floor.
The others noticed it too. That was when it launched a ball of some vile substance at them. Killer Frost, Silver Banshee, and Livewire all tried to stop it, to no avail. It exploded and covered them. She found herself struggling to stand or do anything to defend herself.
The creature began to laugh as it approached. Suddenly, it stopped laughing, it sounded upset, and then turned into a black puff of smoke. Standing where it used to be, was the contractor. At some point during the commotion, he had circled around.
He looked at them and said, "To answer your earlier question, what Luther was paying me wasn't in the briefcase, it the ones bringing it." He then said, "You lot should take a bath and get yourself cleaned up, we can discuss the details another time, if you remember to do so."
Suddenly a black fog enveloped them, and then Queen Bee found herself in a rather luxurious apartment. Without thinking she went to the bathroom and turned on the water to a rather luxurious tub, not questioning what was happening. She didn't pause before removing her filthy clothes, nor care when they disappeared. As the warmth of the bath water enveloped her, and scented lotions were applied, the events that lead to this were slowly forgotten, and when there was a knock at the door, she didn't hesitate to open it despite not wearing a stich.