Task Force X
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Real Identity: Various
Appearances: Crack-Up! Part One, Crack-Up! Part Two, and Crack-Up! Part Three
Powers/Skills: Various
Task Force X is a unit of superhuman criminals overseen by Amanda Waller. They take on the most dangerous, unsanctioned black ops missions for the U.S. government. In exchange, the criminals are offered commuted sentences but there is a catch, the criminals are injected with nannites, ultra microscopic machines, and if they abandon the mission the nannites will effectively blow up and decapitate its current host. Each of the criminals also have to serve on the Force for five years before they are released.
One late March, on Batman's recommendation, the Muscle was recruited to the team. He was injected at Belle Reve Federal Penitentiary. A short time later, the government tasked the team with capturing Captain Finley, now known as Straightman and an associate of the Joker. A battle with Batman spilled outside Gotham City's Simon Trent Theater into an alley. From 100 yards, Deadshot fired a diamond-tipped tranquilizer into the carotid artery in his neck. Muscle and Katana attacked Straightman. Muscle declared Batman was his punching bad and was surprised Straightman could still move. Katana kicked him into trash and stressed patience. Straightman promised to kill them all but he lost consciousness. Joker intervened, threw out smoke bombs, and fled the theater in a Joker-themed motorcycle with Straightman stashed in the sidecar. The team returned to their local headquarters, The Institute. Batman arrived some time after.
King Shark reckoned a midnight snack arrived. Batman jumped over him and threw a net on him then threw out a Batarang to counter a boomerang thrown at him. He quickly pinned Captain Boomerang to a wall with three Batarangs. Deadshot raised his gauntlet to the back of Batman and teased it would be a shame to blow his head off after he saved his sorry butt. Batman already deduced as much. Katana found Batman as charming as ever. Boomerang teased he was still the bat you loved to hate. Muscle clarified he only hated Batman. Batman mused his recommendation for Muscle paid off. Muscle promised he would quickly serve his time then look him up. Katana asked Batman if he was walking out peacefully or if it was going to be messy. King Shark liked messy. Amanda Waller told the team not to bother since there were only five of them against one of him and he would not leave until he was ready so she wanted to hear him out.
Batman noticed a chair and asked if that was used to inject the nanite bombs. Waller replied it was sometimes and asked if he was volunteering but cut to the chase. Batman asked her what Task Force X was doing in Gotham. She claimed the government assigned them put the Joker down once and for all. Batman did not believe her and noted the team was focused on Straightman. She claimed their strategy was to knock off the goon and the boss falls next. Batman was not buying it and stated the Suicide Squad was sent in when it benefits the government or to cover up their mistakes. Waller stuck to her story. Batman asked about the "woman on the building." Waller had no idea what he was talking about. Batman fired his grappling gun and remarked that was the only thing she said he believed. She informed him Katana was the only woman on the team after Harley Quinn made parole. Deadshot had Batman dead to rights but Waller told him to save it. She stated Straightman was the target and if Batman wound up as collateral damage, that was on him.
Harley Quinn finally hosted a girls' night at Taqueria Tiki with March Hare, Roxy Rocket, and Baby Doll. Harley revealed she and Poison Ivy made up via text and Ivy was coming as soon as landed in Gotham. Amanda Waller commented that was a cause for celebration but asked for no salt in her margarita because she had to watch her blood pressure. Harley told her it was a private party and handed her a bowl of chips and salsa. Waller stated Task Force X needed her help even though she already served her time. Harley quickly declined. Waller ordered King Shark, Captain Boomerang, and Katana to take Baby Doll, Roxy Rocket, and March Hare instead. Rocket blocked a boomerang with a chair and was angry he would dare after they locked lips at Harley's Christmas party. Boomerang insisted it was just business and asked her not to take it personally. She did and whacked him with the chair. Before March Hare could blast Katana, the tops of her ears were sliced off. Baby tried to run for it but King Shark grabbed her. She threatened to kick out his teeth faster than he could regrow them.
Waller ordered them to fit Rocket and Baby with neck bombs while she made sure Hare got deported. Harley demanded to know what the job was. Waller replied she wanted Joker and Straightman. She suggested open mic night at Laff City. To prove how serious she was, Waller took out her phone and showed Deadshot and the Muscle holding Poison Ivy hostage. Harley caved and agreed to do her dirty work but warned if Ivy or her friends got hurt, she would kill her. After a long night of fruitless searches, Task Force X arrived at the Pizza Clown Family Restaurant. Muscle remarked he lived in Gotham for his whole life but he never saw Pizza Clown ever. Harley promised she would show him all the high-class dumps if he stuck with her. She took her bat and smashed the lock off the front doors. Captain Boomerang guessed it was the 25th or 26th amusement place they searched in one night. King Shark stated he lost count. Katana asked Harley if there was an arcade or funhouse she and Joker didn't use as a hideout. Harley feigned amusement and but replied there wasn't.
Deadshot asked for the skinny on the place. Harley warned the team she and Joker booby-trapped all the games and clowns to explode just in case Batman came to investigate. Boomerang was ready to inform Waller they found another dead end. King Shark saw a whoopee cushion and sat on it. Harley could not warn him in time and a bomb was detonated. Joker stepped into the room and was grateful the early warning system still worked. He was delighted to see Harley and asked what brought her back to the old stomping grounds. He joked it wasn't the pizza. Harley agreed they sucked more than his jokes and took a weak swing with the little energy she had left. Joker easily ducked and she lost consciousness. Joker surveyed Task Force X and declared he had his own army. Joker used the helmet on her teammates one by one and renamed them J-Team. Only Harley and King Shark were spared due to Joker wanting to charm Harley back himself and King being heavily injured. They commandeered a S.W.A.T. van, took police hostages, and were headed to Camp Finger.
They breached the south entrance. Dressed as a general, Joker commanded the brainwashed Task Force X to attack soldiers. He thought the army life was fun and spotted a tank. He used it to blow a hole in the side of the main building. Haslett had enough and pulled her handgun. Joker signaled Deadshot who shot her right shoulder. Robin jump kicked Deadshot while Batgirl provided cover with gas balls. Joker told the Task Force X team there were weekend passes for whoever got the first kill. Batgirl, Robin, and Haslett took cover behind a giant satellite dish. Robin saw Deadshot with a bazooka. Batman swung and and kicked Deadshot. The bazooka went off and the explosion took out Muscle and Boomerang. Robin warned Batman Katana was behind him. Harley fired a tranquilizer dart into Katana's neck. Harley apologized and promised she was welcome to join the next Girls Night. Harley declared she was done with Task Force X and reckoned she should join the Bat-Family because they could use a few laughs. She realized they were gone.
The Psi-Ber Helmet was able to remove most of Joker's brainwashing from Straightman's mind and Task Force X was completely restored since they were under Joker's control for a shorter amount of time. Muscle was the last to have it erased. Waller kept her word and released Harley Quinn's friends. Task Force X no longer had a reason to eliminate Straightman and Amanda Waller pulled strings to ensure Professor Strange was blamed for the incident.