BC monitored several realities simultaneously while his synthetic heroes worked across his Earth.
Superman caught a falling satellite above Metropolis. Perfect execution. The crowd cheered for their artificial savior. BC stored the success rate in his database—public approval maintained at 94.7%.
In Gotham's East End, Batman finished dismantling a weapons smuggling ring. Seventeen criminals down, zero casualties. BC logged the incident and sent an anonymous tip to the GCPD.
Wonder Woman talked down a hostage situation at Lincoln Elementary. The gunman lowered his weapon, crying. The child ran to safety. BC filed it under "Diplomatic Victories" and moved on.
His Earth was secure. The illusion held.
But most of BC's attention focused elsewhere—on the thousands of rice-sized probes drifting through alternate realities. Each one sent back streams of data that he processed and catalogued automatically.
Probe 3,891: A Gotham where Batman wore robes and cast spells. Currently fighting a demonic Two-Face with elemental magic. BC filed it under "Mystical Variants—Not Target."
Probe 6,102: 1940s noir Gotham. This Batman carried a tommy gun and wore a fedora over his cowl. He was chasing gangsters through fog-covered streets. BC tagged it "Lethal Force Variant—Historical Deviation."
Probe 8,439: A Batman in tricorn hat and flowing coat, swinging from ship rigging with a cutss. Fighting pirates under a full moon. BC couldn't help but find this one amusing as he filed it under "Pirate Variant—Circa 1720."
More data flowed in. Priest Batman. Corporate CEO Batman. A Bruce Wayne who never lost his parents and became a phinthropist instead of a viginte.
Several Batman variants catalogued. None was the Batmaker.
---
Harley stood in the Batcave, eyes locked on Joker as he kicked Batman's corpse like it was a soccer ball.
"Wow," Joker said, voice bored, "that was too easy. Thought this Batman would put up a fight. Your universe's Batman wasn't even fun."
Harley shrugged. "Well, they don't make Batman like they used to."
Joker smirked, kicking the body again. "Definitely not. But he got what he deserved. Killing is the Joker's job. Didn't he get the memo? Didn't he read the book?" His ugh slid sharp and wild through the Cave. "If anyone's killin', it's gonna be me."
Harley's mind spun. Stuck on the lie she'd told him. Told him Batman killed her Joker. Wasn't true. Wasn't even close. Truth was, Ivy did it. Caught her and Joker sneaking around. Ivy didn't like sharing.
Now Ivy was in Arkham, locked up for something else, like always. Harley thought about her there—about how twisted everything had gotten, and how none of this would have happened if Ivy hadn't walked in that night. If Ivy hadn't caught her and Mistah J in bed.
She gnced at Joker, a shiver traveling down her spine. Batman was gone. Really gone. And now she had no idea what came next.
Joker's voice broke through her thoughts. "When you found me in my Gotham, you told me your universe would be fun. It was, for a while..." His grin turned darker. "But now the Bat's dead. I'm sad. And I don't like being sad."
Before Harley could respond, a portal ripped open in the Cave. She blinked from the unexpected light show. Joker stopped kicking the body and turned his head toward the light.
Another Batman stepped through. His eyes went straight to the body on the floor.
"You murderer," he said. "Haven't you killed enough?"
Harley stared.
Joker's grin stretched wide, his face lit up. "Batsy. Is that you? My Batsy?"
Batman snarled and lunged.
The Cave filled with the sounds of blows. Fists and boots smashing into Joker, beating him to the ground. Joker ughed, twisted back to his feet, swung a wild punch just to touch him.
"I knew you'd find me!" Joker shouted. "We couldn't keep away from each other! I missed you so much!"
Batman kept hammering him. Joker's ughter only got louder. Then, in a fsh, Joker tossed powder into Batman's face.
Batman coughed, blinded, choking. Harley's pulse skipped a beat.
"Move it, Harl!" Joker yelled.
Her body reacted before her brain caught up. She threw herself into the Batmobile's passenger side. Joker dropped into the driver's seat, smmed the controls, and the car roared forward. They sped up the tunnel, lights streaking past as stone walls blurred.
