Harley

Biodata

Background / History

Harley began following Hugo Strange after graduating from medical school. By the time of Ririko’s confinement, she is in her sixth year as his assistant and has never previously spoken against him. She regards his apparent emotional detachment as something almost divine, comparing him to a “Creator God” 4 11.

At Arkham, Harley participates in the Tomie tissue experiments and oversees Jerome Valeska’s treatment. She knows the consequences of earlier tissue failures, including Subject Seven’s liquefaction and the external bone growths suffered by Subjects Eleven and Fifteen. Her responsibilities include monitoring subjects and maintaining readiness to incinerate dangerous failures 4.

Appearance

• Age: Described as very young; no exact age is given 3.
• Hair: Blonde, pinned back on her first appearance and worn in a tight bun during Ririko’s examination 3 6.
• Eyes: Usually described as sharp and dark brown; one examination passage describes them as gray 3 4 6 21.
• Glasses: Narrow, gold-rimmed glasses 6.
• Clothing: An impeccably arranged white lab coat over a high-necked white shirt; she also wears high heels when confronting Hugo’s lounge guards 6 16.

Personality

Harley is precise, restrained, and accustomed to authority. She records medical findings methodically, expects patients to cooperate, and insists that subordinates recognize her rank. Her adherence to procedure includes keeping a cleanup team ready even when Hugo objects to her concerns about Ririko 4 6 10.

Her devotion to Hugo is tied to his identity as an emotionally detached researcher. Ririko’s influence unsettles her enough to challenge him, demand access to withheld information, and eventually resolve to stop the experiment herself. By their confrontation in the corridor, preserving Arkham’s order takes precedence over her growing attraction to Ririko 4 11 21.

Harley nevertheless responds to personal kindness. Ririko’s description of her as “pretty nice” surprises her because Arkham’s inhabitants ordinarily treat her as a superior, threat, or tool. She becomes more patient with Ririko, listens to her everyday concerns, and arranges small comforts for her confinement 6 7.

Abilities & Skills

Psychiatry and Medical Examination

Harley conducts routine physical examinations and assesses the effects of experimental treatment 6 11.

• Measures temperature and blood pressure, inspects wounds, and checks for neurological symptoms 6.
• Notices that Ririko’s gunshot wound is healing unusually well, although her left eyeball is still missing at that examination 6.
• Reports Jerome’s modification as complete and his condition stable enough for transfer 11.

Experimental Subject Control

Harley manages dangerous subjects through Arkham’s treatment and containment procedures 3 4 12.

• Reports the destruction of two control mechanisms in Isolation Room Three and requests immediate intervention 3.
• Maintains readiness for an incineration protocol if Ririko begins mutating, though Hugo forbids her from initiating it without his order 4.
• Claims confidence in her ability to control Jerome; his immediate obedience and fear at the mention of further treatment demonstrate her authority over him 11 12.
• Her authority is not absolute: Herman blocks her examination visit at gunpoint, and Hugo denies her access to Ririko’s next experimental phase 10 11.

Physical Intervention and Investigation

• Incapacitates two armed guards with a stun gun in less than two seconds 16.
• Pins Ririko against a wall and catches her when she first attempts to flee; surprise at Ririko’s regenerated eye allows Ririko to break away 21.
• Redirects the confrontation between Hugo and Oswald toward identifying Jerome’s motive for kidnapping Bruce Wayne and Sofia Falcone 43.
• Contacts covert sources to find Ririko after her disappearance 43.

Equipment / Items

• Medical cart and instruments — Includes an ear thermometer and other examination equipment 6.
• Tablet — Used to record Ririko’s measurements and examination findings 6.
• Disposable rubber gloves — Worn during physical examinations 6.
• Stun gun — Carried in her coat pocket and used against Hugo’s lounge guards 16.
• Special Access Card — Given to her by Hugo for emergency entry into his private lounge 16.
• ID card — Stolen by Ririko and used to open multiple doors during her escape through Building L 21.

Relationships

• Hugo Strange — Mentor and superior. Harley’s longstanding reverence becomes strained when he prioritizes Ririko, excludes Harley from research decisions, and shows signs of obsessive attachment 4 11 43.
• Ririko — Patient and experimental subject. Harley provides medical care and comforts, but later confines her and attempts to stop the experiment because of her influence over Hugo 6 7 21.
• Jerome Valeska — Experimental subject under her supervision. Ririko’s warnings help turn Harley’s attention toward his perceived sexual misconduct; she interrupts his attempt to touch Ririko and takes him away for further treatment 6 12.
• Herman — Arkham subordinate who obstructs Harley’s access to Ririko. Herman later sends Harley a message about Ririko being in Hugo’s lounge, hoping Harley will expose inappropriate intimacy 10 16.
• Oswald Cobblepot — Connected to Harley’s work through Jerome’s modification. Harley later intervenes when his dispute with Hugo threatens to derail the response to Jerome’s kidnappings 11 43.

Recorded Infatuation Toward Ririko

These values are readings from Ririko’s Mental Corruption System, not Harley’s power levels 3 6.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Monitoring the Tomie Experiment

• Harley’s arrival interrupts Ririko’s encounter with Hugo and introduces a second core character to Ririko’s system 3.
• She questions Hugo’s confidence in Subject Sixteen, cites earlier failures, and warns him against developing feelings for the subject 4.
• Ririko deliberately cultivates Harley’s attraction, hoping to gain an ally and prevent the relationship with Jerome that she remembers from another timeline 6.
• Harley sends conditioner, daisy-scented body lotion, and a comb; their improving rapport also brings Ririko better breakfasts and coffee 7.

Conflict Over Access to Ririko

• Herman prevents Harley from entering Ririko’s room despite Harley’s insistence that she outranks the guard 10.
• Hugo refuses Harley’s demand for surveillance access and keeps the next experimental phase confidential. Harley resolves to intervene if necessary 11.
• Acting on Herman’s message, Harley forces her way into Hugo’s private lounge. She finds Ririko eating dinner with him rather than the intimate scene she expected; her intrusion was something Ririko had predicted in a bet with Hugo 16.

Ririko’s Escape

• Harley admits locking Ririko in her room because she considers Ririko’s influence over Hugo dangerous. She declares that the Tomie Organization experiment cannot continue 21.
• During their struggle, Harley removes Ririko’s eye bandage and discovers that the missing eye has regenerated. Her momentary shock gives Ririko an opening to steal her ID card and flee 21.
• Harley pursues Ririko to the exit overlooking a cliff and calls for her to stop as she jumps. Ririko uses her remaining resurrection opportunity to survive the escape 21.

Search After the Escape

• During Oswald’s confrontation with Hugo over Jerome’s crimes, Harley urges them to establish Jerome’s objectives rather than fight each other 43.
• She tells Hugo that covert contacts should soon provide Ririko’s whereabouts. She also recognizes that his dependence on Ririko resembles addiction, while drugs manufactured by the Tomie Organization have already reached Mr. E 43.

Notable Quotes

“Then I ask that you remain professional toward the test subject and refrain from developing any unnecessary feelings.” 4

“It's a shame, but the Tomie Organization is too dangerous. I won't let this experiment continue.” 21