The Speed of Sight

Part 6

A few weeks after the battle, Alli was up on her feet again, even though she had not recovered to her full strength and had trouble going faster than a walk. She, Tony, Steve, Hal and Coulson, all "in suit," were going to DC to return the villains. Alli was going along to try to figure out her past.
They loaded the villains into the Quinjet, the Avengers favorite mode of transport, and prepared to leave. "Are you sure you want to go?" Steve asked. "You can stay here if you want. It's no big deal."
"No, no. I'm fine." Alli said reluctantly.
Steve shrugged and said, as he got into the pilot's seat of the jet, "Alright, let's go then."
"Buckle up." Tony said. "We've never taken a jet through an interdimensional portal before."
"Oh goody! We are all going to die!" A pitchy voice hollered from the holding cells as they entered the portal.
"Oh, shut your face, Joker." The Riddler quipped.
Hal let out a laugh at that last remark but was abruptly stopped by Harley's shout from her cell, "Oh you'll see who has the last laugh!"
"I wouldn't threaten your captors, Harley." Coulson warned.
"Harley... Where do I know that name? Or was it Harleen? Dr. Harleen, uh, Quinzel?" Alli mumbled. Harley's head slowly turned towards Alli with a quizzical look.
Tony looked suspiciously at Harley, then at Alli. "So how do you know this doctor?"
"I'm not sure. I just remember hearing her name when I was younger. I do remember what her hair looked like though. She had blonde hair... and that's all I remember."
Tony nodded and said, "Harley, I can't help but notice you seem to know something about this doctor too. Please, do tell."
"I don't know nothin'!" She harshly replied.
"Oh," Tony remarked, "but I think you do." He walked up to her cell and looked her in the eyes. "Tell us what you know."
Harley looked around in despair, then sighed and said, "Fine. I know stuff about her. She worked at Arkham Asylum as a psychologist." She turned her glare at Alli and said sharply, "What do you know about her?"
"I already told you. I don't remember anything else! How do you know her?" Alli replied, forcefully.
"Cool down! Yeesh!" Harley snarled.
"Yeah, Harley." Hal joined in, "How do you know her?"
"She, um, was, uh, a friend of mine." She hurriedly replied, "She died in an explosion at the hospital. Such a shame."
"A friend?" Hal said skeptically. "How long ago was the explosion?" Hal looked over at Alli and saw that she might be remembering something.
"About fourteen years ago. Why?" Harley replied.
Alli shook her head and said slowly, "She survived."
"What?" Harley asked. They all turned to look at Alli.
"She survived the explosion." Alli continued, slowly. "She ran to a black car and drove off right after the hospital exploded. I remember seeing her."
Harley looked nervous as she said, "You must be thinking of the wrong person! How could you know what goes on in Gotham if you live here, in Marvel? Plus I know she died. A friend of her's told me."
"Because... Because I was born in Gotham. I remember now! Dr. Harleen Quinzel came to visit my parents after I was born. My parents were surprised for some reason and said something like, 'Dr. Harleen Quinzel, it's been a while.' Then she handed them a gift and said something about how sorry she was and that she brought a baby gift to make up for it. She didn't stay for long though. She left the door open and I wandered out. I had gotten out of the building and around a corner when I heard an explosion. And that's all I remember at the present." Alli, who had been standing up, sat down and leaned back against the chair.
"Goodness, Alli, that's awful." Hal said.
Harley suddenly seemed nervous, and moved to the back corner of her cell.
Alli noticed this and walked up to the cell. "You seem awfully nervous." She said. "What do you know about this? And I want answers. I will know if you lie!" She flipped a switch and then looked at Harley with a questioning look.
Tony hit his forehead with the palm of his hand and said, "I forgot about the lie detector!"
Harley widened her eyes and looked at Alli.
"I'm waiting." Alli probed.
"I, uh, I, uh. Fine!" Harley yelled. "I'll tell you the truth! She didn't die. She set off the explosion in the hospital and ran off." Alli looked down and was about to walk away when Harley quietly added, "In fact, she... she's... standing in front of you."
Alli looked back at her rather quickly and asked, "What did you say?"
"I said she's me, OK? I'm Dr. Harleen Quinzel." Harley said. "And I know exactly what you're talking about. While I was working at Arkham I was paired with two genetic scientists. Their names were Aaron and Kelly Slate, and we were given the task of producing a substance that could change a villain's ways. They tried to test their serum on someone I loved, even though they knew it could be dangerous and may hurt him, or worse! I tried and tried to convince them to wait, to run more tests in the lab first, but they didn't listen. I couldn't let them hurt the man that I loved." She paused, then turning to the cell next to her, said, "Isn't that right, sugar plum?" Hal and Alli exchanged looks of disgust as Joker's maniacal laugh ripped through the air. "That made me so mad and I wanted to get back at them. I left the project and refused to talk to them until I could come up with a way to get back at them. When I heard that Kelly was expecting, I knew I had to act fast if I wanted to deal a serious blow. I came to the hospital a day after the birth, pretending to apologize and saying I had brought them a gift to make up for it, but it was really the bomb. I thought everyone had died." she added bitterly, glaring at Alli.
Alli couldn't believe what she had heard. She scrunched her brow, bit her lip, and slowly shook her head before turning away and walking to her seat. She sat down heavily as a tear slid down her cheek.
Hal walked up slowly and sat down next to her. He put an arm around her and pulled her towards him. She leaned her head on his shoulder as he said, "She'll be dealt with the way she deserves; don't worry."
"We're here." Steve said as they came out of the portal and into Gotham city.

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