How Do You Play a Villain? Just Tone It Down a Little

The next day.

Harley contacted someone on the black market, hoping to buy a batch of tools she needed.

"You're Harley Quinn?" Roland appeared before her in a sharp suit and sunglasses.

"That's right. You're 'Angel'?" Harley gave Roland a once-over. He certainly had the air of an outlaw, but she didn't recognize him. "Where's 'Pharmacist,' the woman who used to handle this?"

"Her? Batman caught her. She's already been sent to Blackgate Penitentiary for trafficking illegal goods, unlawful possession of firearms, and filing false tax returns. She won't be getting out for decades."

Roland wasn't lying. Batman really had gathered evidence against Pharmacist and put her behind bars.

During that operation, Batman had also learned some of the procedures and details of black-market dealings. It gave him the perfect opportunity to have Roland pose as a dealer and get close to Harley.

"That Bat again..." Harley looked displeased.

"Yeah, that bat freak in tights is rotten to the core. Still, I owe him one. Without him, I wouldn't have gotten Pharmacist's business." Roland flashed an evil grin. "I've prepared a few fun little toys to repay him."

"Oh? What are they?" Harley's interest was piqued.

"Well, you'll find out when you see the news about me taking down Batman."

"Maybe I have a more direct way." Harley produced a huge mallet from somewhere and swung it at Roland. "Aha!"

"Crazy woman..." Roland stepped forward, closing right into Harley's chest, then unleashed a sudden burst of force that sent her flying.

Iron Mountain Lean!

"Ow..." Harley's chest had nearly been caved in. "You're so rough..."

"Sorry. Bit of a reflex." Roland helped Harley up like a gentleman.

"It's fine. I'm a very forgiving person." Harley rubbed her chest with one hand and drew a pistol with the other.

"Glad to hear it." Smiling, Roland used Bajiquan's Entangling force to strip away her pistol—and dislocate her wrist while he was at it.

This time, Harley didn't dare try anything rash. Instead, she attempted to win Roland over with her charms.

Roland, in turn, simply played himself, pretending to be seduced by Harley as he brought out the concoction he had prepared.

"What's this?" Harley asked curiously.

"This is the surprise I've prepared for Batman!" Roland said with a grin. "Once he drinks it, his personality will change completely, and he'll think he's Joker."

"What kind of drug can do that?" Harley blinked. She had once been a legitimate psychologist and psychiatrist, and she knew her field.

The drug's supposed effects were so outlandish that she began to grow suspicious.

"Do you think I'd risk getting beaten to a pulp by Batman just to play a joke like this on you?" Roland countered.

"Fair point... You really plan to use this on Batman?" Harley asked again to be sure.

"Of course." Roland let out a sinister cackle. "I've already got a Gordon double ready. We'll use him as bait, and Batman's sure to bite. Then I can seize the opportunity to capture Batman and make him drink this potion."

"That's pure genius!"

"Exactly. Next, we lure the Police Department and Batman's friends here and film Joker Batman killing them. Then I'll make hundreds of millions of copies for the whole world to enjoy!" Roland kept breaking into manic laughter as he explained his plan. "I can't wait to see Batman watching the footage after the drug wears off!"

"Oh, that's wonderful!" Harley blinked. "Could you let me in on your plan, too?"

"Of course. As long as you..." Roland was halfway through his sentence when a sharp blast rang out in the tiny earpiece hidden behind his ear, like the pop from testing impure hydrogen.

"As long as you can help me out," Roland amended. "When the time comes, here's what you do..."

"Okay." Harley nodded. The two chatted a little longer before parting ways.

"Could you tone it down a little when you're acting?" Batman's voice came through Roland's earpiece.

"I'm making it more convincing," Roland argued.

"I think you're just playing yourself."

"Never mind that. Is everything ready on Commissioner Gordon's end?"

"We're ready."

The next day.

Joker hadn't seen Harley all night, but he didn't give it much thought. He remained wholly absorbed in setting traps for Batman.

Then an anonymous call interrupted his thoughts.

"Oh, I hope you're not a salesman. Otherwise, I'll make sure your entire company learns when not to disturb someone..." Before Joker could finish, he heard the voice on the other end. His expression grew uglier by the second.

Crash! Joker hurled the landline phone to the floor. He clenched his teeth, his furious voice forcing its way out between them.

"Harley Quinn!"

At a harbor somewhere in Gotham City.

"Achoo!" Harley sneezed. "Why do I feel funny? Could Puddin' be missing me?"

"Hey, Harley, you've got to make sure he can't find you. That's how he'll realize he can't live without you," Roland said quietly. "More importantly, is everything I asked you to prepare ready?"

"Of course!" Harley had finished setting the trap long ago. "But how do you know which direction Batman's coming from?"

"I don't," Roland said. "I just guessed. Even if he doesn't come from that direction, we can still use Commissioner Gordon to catch him."

"Then why did I spend all that time..." Harley frowned. "Where's Gordon's double?"

"Right here." Roland clapped his hands, and Commissioner Gordon stepped out from behind him.

Harley drew a sharp breath. She leaned in close to Gordon, studying him from every angle. "He looks exactly like the real thing! How did you do it?"

"How else would we lure Batman in?" Roland said with a smile. "As for why he looks so much like him, this guy of mine was born that way. Quite a coincidence."

"Could he be Gordon's long-lost brother?" Harley guessed.

While the two were chatting, a Batarang suddenly shot toward them. Roland reached out and caught it between his fingers.

"Looks like our guest has arrived..." Roland flashed an evil grin and hurled the Batarang into the shadows.

"Let Commissioner Gordon go!" Batman swept his cape up to block the projectile Roland had thrown, stopped Roland's charge with a front kick, and brought a knife-hand strike straight down toward his collarbone.

"You want to save Gordon? Let's see if you've got what it takes!" Roland laughed wildly, knocking Batman's knife-hand aside with his shoulder and whipping his entire arm at him like a staff.

Erlang Shoulders the Mountain!

As the two fought furiously, Harley slipped behind Batman. With a sudden flick, she sent the tranquilizer needle in her hand flying into the back of his neck.