Lex raised his right hand, making a swift grabbing motion in the air.
"You all know Axel's capabilities. He is not just exceptionally strong. At times, his power seems to transcend three-dimensional limits, reaching into the fourth or fifth dimension. Whatever he wants, he simply pulls into his reach, regardless of who or what stands on the other side.
So what is the Joker, really?
In comics, he might be a massive threat. But stripped down to his core? The moment Axel uses his ability to drag him here, the Joker becomes nothing more than a punchline."
Lex smiled at the group.
Bruce frowned, considering the statement.
"So who is the Joker?" Bruce asked, quietness behind his voice.
"If Axel decides to reach across space and seize the Joker, who actually appears? Is it a single person? Hundreds of thousands of circus performers in makeup? Or the two individuals Zatanna brought to the manor, one of whom is only twelve years old?"
Bruce shook his head.
"The Joker's power in comics might look weak compared to Axel, but he remains one of the most persistent, dangerous threats in our reality. The most problematic aspect of the Joker is that his identity is entirely elusive."
Bruce remembered the story arcs he had reviewed.
"When I sat on the Mobius Chair, it revealed there were three Jokers in the world. But 'three' in that context might carry a broader meaning. It could signify an infinite number.
Arthur Fleck is a frail man who cares for his mother and struggles with a neurological condition. Jerome is just a child.
Could either of them be the Joker right now? No.
Could they become him under the right conditions? Absolutely."
Bruce gestured in the air.
"Arthur's life is fragile. If his mother passes, his mental stability collapses entirely. Jerome comes from a background capable of warping anyone.
I do not worry about a single Joker. I worry that anyone can become the Joker."
He looked around the room.
"I do not know how Axel operates relative to higher forces, nor do I intend to pry into it.
But if our universe has narrative inertia, every time a Joker is removed, another will rise to take his place. Arthur, Jerome, or anyone else could be pushed across that threshold."
Lex scoffed.
"You always find a reason to carry the weight of the world, Bruce.
Supposing a Joker appears today, Axel handles him. Another appears tomorrow, Axel handles him again."
"And if it is Emperor Joker?" Bruce interrupted.
"Characters exist across multiple iterations. Do we face an ordinary man having a bad day in Gotham, or an entity capable of reshaping reality?
Axel values his complete freedom, but extreme freedom and total chaos share a very thin boundary.
What if the primary threat to our world is not an outside force, but the unchecked chaos Axel represents?"
Lex shrugged.
"You can debate philosophy all day, Bruce.
Meanwhile, millions of people were killed during the crisis in Washington. We fought the Wild Hunt alongside wizards, and Tony's home world is currently undergoing severe casualties.
Gotham's current crime rate is lower than it has ever been.
We need to focus on immediate priorities."
Lex clutched his fist.
"We help Tony stabilize his world. We refine the automated suit system, clear the threats there, and then deploy automated units back here to lock down Gotham completely.
If a few hundred mechs cannot handle a problem, we build tens of thousands."
Bruce remained silent for a moment before nodding.
"Fair enough."
"Works for me," Tony said without looking up from his console.
"Lex Luthor playing savior to my hometown is something I never thought I would see."
Carmine Falcone stood near the edge of the room, watching the exchange.
He turned to Victor Zsasz.
"Victor, am I getting old? I understand their words, but the concepts sound entirely alien."
Falcone's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Comics, parallel worlds... it sounds absurd, yet they treat it as fact.
You and I go back a long way.
What am I missing here?"
Victor grinned, showing his teeth.
"If you were still the man you used to be, Carmine, you would not be asking.
In the old days, you ruled Gotham. In this room, you are just an old man trying to secure a cure for your illness.
Focus on staying alive first. Prove your value to Axel, and maybe then you will earn the right to understand what is really going on."
Victor chuckled and stretched his arms.
"I need to vent some energy.
Since Gotham is too quiet right now, I am taking a trip to Metropolis.
The gangs over there should give me something to do."
Victor walked out without another word.
He did not care about cosmic threats or alternate dimensions.
To him, Axel was the authority, Clark and Zatanna were the heavy hitters, and his own job was simply to stay out of the way.
By mid-morning, Victor had already torn through several Metropolis gang territories, securing over twenty million dollars in the process.
Inside the main quarters, Selina adjusted Axel's tie before leaning back on the sofa.
She lit a thin cigarette, watching him through the smoke.
"Bruce and Lex are having their little strategic summits," Selina said.
"Are you taking me along to the new world, or am I expected to stay behind while you run around with the rest of the team?"
Axel smirked.
"You spend plenty of time running your own operations when I am busy."
"Are you complaining?"
"Not at all.
Get ready, we are leaving shortly."
Axel helped Selina finish packing her gear before heading down to the laboratory.
Bruce, Lex, and Tony were waiting, along with seventy newly manufactured automated combat suits designed for deployment.
Tony looked up as they walked in, his eyes widening slightly as he saw Selina.
"Axel, you have her waiting for you at home, and you still felt the need to mess with my life back in New York?"
"Consider it extra motivation for you to keep up," Axel replied.
Axel activated the transport mechanism.
Light flashed through the lab, wrapping around the group and the shipment of automated suits before pulling them out of the dimension.
When the light cleared, the group materialized on solid ground.
Tony looked around, his brow furrowing instantly as he took in the surrounding terrain.
"Where did you drop us?" Tony demanded.
"This is not New York."
They were standing on a vast, open grassland.
Plumes of black smoke rose into the sky, and the sound of heavy plasma fire echoed across the plain.
An army of alien vanguard troops was pushing forward through the field.
Leading the horde from the front was a massive, towering figure with dark purple skin.
===
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