DC: My Name Is Not Billy Batson [New]

When Dane accessed Thomas's research logs on the computer, something caught Harleen's attention from inside the isolation room.

Her cell's transparent riot-proof glass allowed her a clear view of the lab. She noticed the computer in the empty hall suddenly come to life, its screen glowing softly in the dim light.

Faint sounds of keystrokes echoed in the otherwise silent space. To an average person, the eerie sight might have been unsettling—a classic horror scene. But for Harleen, it sparked excitement rather than fear.

"I knew it! I knew someone was here!" she exclaimed, pressing her hands against the glass. "Who are you? Can you show me yourself?"

Dane ignored her, engrossed in the data unfolding on the screen. His interest deepened as he uncovered Thomas Elliott's research logs.

Originally, Dane believed he had destroyed every trace of the Joker's remains—his tissue samples, blood, and any lingering connections. Yet, these logs suggested otherwise.

Thomas Elliott, once a brain surgeon at Arkham Asylum, had spent years studying the brains of Gotham's most infamous psychopaths, including the Joker. The clown prince of crime had been one of Thomas's regular "patients," and the doctor had developed an unhealthy fascination with his twisted mind.

As a professional brain surgeon, Thomas was captivated by the Joker's complexity—a mind as diverse as it was chaotic. This obsession had led him down the dangerous path that every "smart" Arkham employee inevitably followed: underestimating the Joker.

Thomas's research journal detailed one such fateful encounter:

[Excerpt from Thomas Elliott's Journal]

*"When I used my tools to carefully pry open his skull and extract a sample of his medulla, something went wrong.

He woke up. That shouldn't have been possible. I had calculated the precise amount of anesthetic to keep him unconscious for an entire day.

I froze. For the first time in my career, I panicked. This wasn't supposed to happen. But then he did something that shook me to my core.

He laughed. Not a scream, not a curse, not even a question. Just pure, maniacal laughter.

Do you understand? He laughed as though he had won some cosmic joke I wasn't privy to.

In that moment, I knew I had made a fatal error…"*

The journal continued with Thomas's clinical analysis of the Joker's samples.

*"I ran every possible test. The results were maddeningly ordinary.

How absurd. He was perfectly normal. And yet... he wasn't."*

Dane's frown deepened as his eyes scanned the final pages of the log. At the bottom, the text dissolved into chaotic, handwritten scribbles of "hahaha" repeated endlessly, as if mocking anyone reading it.

The implications were clear—Thomas had been infected.

Dane knew the symptoms of the Joker Virus all too well. It wasn't a physical pathogen but a psychological contagion, one that planted a fragment of the Joker's personality inside its victim's mind. Over time, the infected would begin to mirror the Joker's thoughts, mannerisms, and deranged worldview.

Thomas had been aware of his condition, but his journal revealed a denial steeped in arrogance.

As Dane continued scrolling, another name appeared in the logs: Harleen Quinzel.

The connection was no coincidence. Dane's interest deepen as he read further. Whatever Thomas had done to Harleen was tied to his growing madness, and Dane intended to find out exactly what.

Behind him, Harleen grew impatient. "You're not very talkative, are you? It's rude to snoop without saying hello!"

Still, Dane paid her no mind, his focus locked on uncovering the truth.

[Excerpt from Thomas Elliott's Journal]

"I found a promising student at Gotham University. Her name is Harleen Quinzel. She's remarkably talented, particularly in criminal psychology. I hope she can help me... help me rid myself of this cursed 'clown.'"

As Dane read further, the pieces began falling into place. Thomas, realizing he was succumbing to the Joker's personality, desperately sought a cure. His attempts grew increasingly unorthodox, veering into the morally grotesque.

To Thomas, Gotham's underbelly, especially Crime Alley, was a wasteland. Conducting human experiments there went unnoticed—a few missing individuals meant nothing in the chaos of the city. With the Elliott family's wealth and influence, silencing any potential backlash was trivial.

Despite his medical expertise, Thomas found no cure for the Joker virus. Frustration turned his attention to psychotherapy, reasoning that the virus might stem from a psychological mutation rather than a physical one.

its led him to Harleen Quinzel.

At the time, Harleen was a young, aspiring academic, deeply engrossed in criminal psychology. Her fascination with the minds of Gotham's criminals made her the ideal candidate for Thomas's experiments—or so he thought.

However, everything changed when Dane killed the real Joker in Arkham Asylum. The Joker's death triggered a profound impact on Thomas. His "Clown" personality, which had remained dormant, suddenly sprang to life, actively vying for control of his body.

Thomas struggled to conceal this duality, narrowly avoiding exposure multiple times. The stakes became even higher when Harleen inadvertently discovered his secret.

Her keen observation and psychological expertise allowed her to see through Thomas's façade. She recognized the Joker's presence within him, setting off a conflict between Thomas's rational self and his Clown personality.

The Joker, ever intrigued by chaos, found Harleen fascinating, while Thomas considered her a threat. Unable to resolve their opposing desires, they devised a twisted compromise—a deadly game.

Thomas decided to infect Harleen with the Joker virus. It was a gamble, one he believed would end with Harleen's collapse, as had happened with all his prior test subjects.

"She won't last. The madness will consume her," Thomas assured himself.

The Joker, amused by the challenge, agreed.

But the outcome defied their expectations. A new personality emerged within Harleen—not the Joker's, but something entirely different.

While this personality was undeniably unhinged, it lacked the malevolence and pure chaos of the real Joker. Harleen transformed into someone who could not only withstand the virus but coexist with it.

Thomas was ecstatic. He believed Harleen held the key to curing the Joker virus.

The Joker, however, despised her resilience. To him, she was an anomaly, an insult to his legacy. He demanded her death, but Thomas intervened. Harleen was too valuable.

"Not yet," Thomas wrote in his journal. "Harleen's spirit is unique. She may even hold the secret to eradicating the Clown entirely. But she isn't ready. Not until she fully integrates with her new personality. When that happens, I'll conduct the craniotomy myself."

The journal ended there. Dane leaned back, piecing together the story. Thomas Elliott wasn't just a supercriminal; he was a man torn apart by the Joker virus, his fractured psyche transforming him into something far more dangerous.

The Clown personality had given Thomas insights into Superman's abilities, which he exploited to manipulate Poison Ivy and control Superman. His intimate knowledge of Bruce's plans—stolen from the Batcomputer—gave him the upper hand.

Thomas and the Joker personality, Together, they were a fusion of calculated and anarchic brilliance, making them a dire threat to both Batman and Gotham's fragile equilibrium.

Dane smirk. "Bruce, this is a dumb loss for you," he murmured. "Two old friends have teamed up to take you down. How far can you go with such limited intel?" He paused, "But that's not enough. I'll have to lend a hand."

In the eerie glow of the computer screen, Dane carried a chilling promise.

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