I take another peek out the crooked blinds of the dive where I hang my hat at the sound of sirens, but they speed past twelve floors below me and disappear into the jungle. Inside, my gaze flips between Larry as he finishes wrapping up my arm and the high-tech gizmo I managed to slip out from under the Joker when his back was turned.

I needed some cash, or a weapon, something I could use to elevate my situation, but what the hell am I going to do with this thing? Too hot to fence, too heavy to carry around, too fragile to take into a fight. It looks for all the world like a pair of five-foot metal pipes that someone welded a bunch of glass jars to by their lids. From what the newspaper said it's some kind of vacuum that pulls in energy from other dimensions, but I'm not exactly an egghead, you know?

I left Roy-boy and Dave behind. Couldn't do anything about it, and it's not like they'll ever complain again, but chances are someone's going to recognize their bodies and put two and two together. What happens after that... I don't want to think about.

Welcome to Gotham.

>One domino mask, black
>One grappling gun, cartridge-powered
>One mysterious device, silver
>One flophouse, seedy
>One sedan, red
>One accomplice, Larry

First thread:

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/16509669

Ask Larry if he knows any fences who might be willing to do something with the device.

In the meantime, we gotta find a good-GOOD-place to hide it.

Ah man, I've been waiting for this!

Have we tried to turn the machine on?

>>16583350
>>16583388

"Say, pal, don't suppose you know anyone we can unload this on," I ask Larry as I button up my shirt. "Or even a place we could stash it for now."

"What, right now?" Larry asks, glancing at the clock. "I don't know, maybe. What am I supposed to tell 'em, though? We got some kind of souped-up vacuum cleaner?"

He's got a good point, even though I don't want to admit it. This thing, whatever it is, can't just be pawned off like a stolen purse. And I have absolutely no idea what it's good for.

"Crazy thing, isn't it?" I ask Larry as I lift it up onto the bed with me and gently turn it over, inspecting the underside. A small row of switches under a glass panel catches my eye, since one of them is marked with the unmistakable word "POWER".

>OK, here's how it works. Roll 2d100; the first is for Larry's fence and the second is for a place to stash this. If you want to do something else, roll a d100 and state it. You get two rolls.

rolled 23 = 23

>>16583462
I wanna know what this thing does. It could be far more valuable to us if we hang on to it. Rolling to see if we can figure it out, or at least find someone who can.

>>16583502
Waiting on one more roll for that.

(I was planning on starting at a later time, but I wanted to run this...such is life.)

rolled 75 = 75

>>16583502
Well, that was less than steller. Alright, let's try throwing caution to the wind and TURN THAT MUTHA ON!

>>16583584
aw yeah

rolled 68 = 68

>>16583567
Oh, you meant you get two rolls for the same action. Ok, bam.

>>16583502
>>16583584

"Now how the hell does this thing open?" I ask myself out loud, holding the bottom end up and fiddling with the cover.

"You want some help? I got a knife-" Larry says, but then my fingernail catches on something and the panel slides back.

"Nah, I got it. Now let's see what this does," I say, and hoist it up. Larry bolts out of the way as I aim it at the door to my place, then stare at it for a long moment.

What the heck, right? You only live once.

I flick all the switches on at once.

*VZZZZZZAAAZZZZZ!!*

White light explodes inside the glass jars, making me squint and sweat with a heat I can feel baking off of them! At the same instant an arc of white lightning leaps out of the far end and hits my door, and -

- That can't be right. Must be the spots in my eyes from the flash. The door - it looks like... it's changing! Flickering, at first it's my cheap wooden door, then it's a metal one, then it's a cheap wooden one again, but somehow not *mine*... for an instant the door disappears entirely and the hallway beyond terminates in a blasted-out wall and a wrecked landscape beyond where everything's on fire... and then suddenly my door's there again.

"Holy moley, did you see that?" Larry blurts out, rubbing his eyes as the device in my hands crackles and cuts out. "I ain't never seen anything like tha-"

Someone knocks on the door.

>>16583707
Well,let's see who it is. Carefully. We wouldn't want to be ambushed by whoever it is if they aren't on our side.

rolled 37 = 37

>>16583707
EVERYBODY HIDE

>>16583808

"Who is it?" I call out, as Larry raises his switchblade and stands motionless by the door.

For a moment there's silence, then a voice says "It's me."

"What do you mean 'It's me'? Who are you?" I ask, as Larry glances back at me with a confused expression.

"Look, I told you, it's me. That's all I know," the voice says.

"OK, hold your horses," I tell him, and motion for Larry to hide behind the door. "All right, I'm opening it." I grab the handle and twist it savagely, flinging the door open-

- and come face-to-face with a mirror reflection of myself!

"I told you it was me," the other fella says, walking into the room like he owns the place. "You got a smoke?" he asks, as Larry looks on dumbfounded.

"I ... I don't smoke," I tell him.

"Well I do." he says.

>What now, fella???

>>16583869
Well, it looks like we opened a rift into the dimension that device draws power from. Let's take a look outside and see if we're in the parallel Gotham or if we drew our parallel self into our Gootham. Also, let's see if our double knows any more about this than we do.

rolled 21 = 21

>>16583869

He's obviously not quite the same fella, ask him more about himself, try and figure out how he's different, and how he's similar. Is he even a crook?

rolled 5 = 5

>>16583869
Ask him how far back he remembers, then start planning a heist.

rolled 44, 47 = 91

>>16583869

I'm not dealing with two of me; I'm fucking stabbing him.

>>16583944

"You're... me, aren't you?" I ask him, turning my head in wonderment as I walk past to see what the world outside my door resembles. I half-expect some kind of Hollywood monster to jump out at me, but when I crack it open and peek out... it's the same dingy hallway, the same dirty green carpet.

"Yeah, it's your place," the other me says. "Or at least not my place. That's how I knew something was up. My carpet got torn out last year and they never replaced it."

"So how did you, uh, get here?" I ask him, as Larry pockets his knife.

"Your guess is as good as mine," the other me says, and then he notices the device sitting behind the couch and exclaims "Hey, that's the gizmo from the newspaper! You mean you guys pulled that off?"

>What now?

I was going to suggest that we sell the thing to Lex Luthor, but now I figure that would be a very bad thing to do.

And there is no way I would trust myself. That slimy fucker is going to stab me in the back as soon as he can.

rolled 95 = 95

>>16584018
See if the machine does the same thing again. Three is just the right number of clones for now.

LIGHT THAT SUCKER UP ONE MORE TIME!

rolled 28, 17 = 45

I'm not fucking dealing with two of me; I'm fucking stabbing him.>>16584018

rolled 86, 31 = 117

>>16584018
If we can bring in parallel uses on accident just think what we can do if we figure out how to actually work this thing. We could graduate from regular villain to supervillain in no time flat.

>>16584042
>>16584047
>>16584021
>>16584000
>>16583971
>>16583946

"What, this old thing?" I ask him, hefting it up into my arms again. "Yeah, we stole it fair and square. Got pretty lucky with this one."

"Yeah, we tried to nab it, but the Joker showed up and took it right out from under us." I see him eying the device and I have the sudden thought that if I was in his place I might try to make myself top dog. Lucky for me, I've got a Larry and he doesn't.

"Let's go for broke," I laugh, and flip all the switches back on again, aiming it at the door and clenching my eyes into slits!

The electricity sprays out, and the door flickers between a hundred different types before slowing like a roulette wheel and landing back on my own home sweet home.

When I hear the door knock my dupe and I both shout "It's open!".

The look on his face when he walks in is priceless.


>Time to vote on whether to keep these guys or take them out of the picture. Roll a d100 to vote, highest of three votes wins out.

rolled 84 = 84

>>16584121
Keep them! How are we going to get big-time with just one of us?

Here's the deal: We pretend we know how to work this thing. The clones/alternate reality versions of us might not realize that we don't know how to work it. We tell them that the only way they can go home is if they do what we say, i.e. rob banks/liquor stores, whatever.

rolled 71 = 71

>>16584121
They're essentially us. And who can you trust if not yourself? Besides, this is our home dimension, the fact that we know much more about it than our doubles should be enough to dissuade them from taking us out of the picture.

>>16584153
We could give them a quota of cash to bring in. For example, once a clone brings in 10 grand, we tell them we'll send them back to their reality. Except, since we have no idea how to do that, we just kill them and dispose of the body discreetly.

>>16584153
>>16584155
>>16584162

I will let you all discuss this for a minute.

>>16584177
Well, if we do kill them/decide not to summon any more, what do we do with the machine? Mount it on the wall? Also, we need a base, because I guarantee that the Bat knows what we took, and is working on tracking us down.

rolled 67 = 67

>>16584177
I say we keep them. They'll surely be able to see that a lot of us will be much more profitable than a few of us. And our knowledge of how this dimension works should keep them cowed for a while. And if not, we've always got Larry.

rolled 75 = 75

Hardest thing will be to stop them muscling in. Also, they're similar, but not exactly the same as us. We don't know if they differ in trivial or important ways. Pretty sure some of our counterparts will end up being female. And that just makes things confusing.

rolled 44 = 44

Self slave, wat do?

rolled 71 = 71

>>16584279
Delicious, orgiastic selfcest is clearly the only option.

rolled 68 = 68

"Okay, so we're all us. Except for Larry here. But whatever. We're all us, but different. So let's see. What's different from our worlds. You guys have The Batman, right? Yeah? Do you know anything about him?"

rolled 99 = 99

I saw hold them around, especially after losing two people in the heist. Hands on deck and all that.

We don't need any more at the moment, and we need to figure out where we're going. Maybe try and find out who came out of the heist worse off? The Bat or the Joker? Surely someone in the underworld knows something about what happened.

rolled 43 = 43

I say hold them around, especially after losing two people in the heist. Hands on deck and all that.

We don't need any more at the moment, and we need to figure out where we're going. Maybe try and find out who came out of the heist worse off? The Bat or the Joker? Surely someone in the underworld knows something about what happened.

>>16584197
>>16584220
>>16584275

"All right, listen up, you two," I say, aiming the device at the other two fellas for a moment. "There isn't going to be any funny business, got it? I can send you guys away any time I want. As long as you're here you're working for me, got it?"

The other two fellas glance at the gizmo, then at each other, and nod. "Yeah, you got a deal. What other choice do I have?" they both say.

"All right," I tell them, setting the device down gently on the table. It's heavier than it looks. "Now here's what we're gonna do. The Bat is out there, and he probably knows what we've got, even if he doesn't know we're the ones who have it. We need to find a better hidey-hole, but we also need some cash."

"Maybe they could go hold up a place and bring it back here?" Larry asks, "Sort of like rent, you know?"

"Not a bad idea," I mutter. "Seems like a waste not to make use of you two fellas." I think about it for a second, then another second. When I woke up this morning I didn't know I'd be juggling copies of myself.

>So what's the plan, fella? Gonna kick these fledgelings out of the nest to bring back some scratch, or are you going to pull a bigger heist?

rolled 30 = 30

I say hold them around, especially after losing two people in the heist. Hands on deck and all that.

We don't need any more at the moment, and we need to figure out where we're going. Maybe try and find out who came out of the heist worse off? The Bat or the Joker? Surely someone in the underworld knows something about what happened.

>>16584397

Wow, I didn't even know it was possible to double post here.

> Potential infinite clones.
> everywhere man
> beside ourselves
> crowd sourcing
> two heads better than one
> want a job done do it yourself
etc,etc.

rolled 62 = 62

>>16584406
We need to hit a bank.

rolled 87, 4 = 91

>>16584406
Let's pull something big. Standard villain big, not supervillain big. We don't want to draw too much attention to ourselves. Something like a bank heist or robbery of a wealthy home ought to do it.

rolled 17 = 17

>>16584513
>Wealthy Manor

Hey, Wayne Manor should have a lot of valuables.

>>16584353
>>16584368
>>16584468

"Yeah, I know about the Bat," one of the fellas says. "Big guy, wears a metal helmet with a bat skull on it."

"That's funny," the other one says. "Where I come from he looks kind of like this" and demonstrates by holding his index fingers up to his head like ears.

I think about this for a second, what it means, while Larry makes a quick phone call.

"Yeah, OK, thanks," he says, hanging the phone up in its cradle. "They say the Joker's fit to be tied. He's on a rampage, been coming into places all over town and shaking them up looking for who took this thing. What are we gonna do if he hits up the Iceberg Lounge?"

"All the more reason to move on this, and quick," I tell him. "We need to hit something big, get ourselves some dough to work with. Unless any of you feel like trying your luck with the Joker."

I can tell by the other fellas' faces that they know who I mean.

>What now? Bank heist with you, Larry, and your two dupes? Something else?

>>16584527

This is probably the best plan.

rolled 79 = 79

How about something where having three of the same face would come in useful? Or even use it to give us the perfect alibi?

I'm thinking possibly hitting an art gallery, with lots of rooms and lots of doors, sending the security on a wild goose chase with whack-a-mole tactics. Cue scenes straight out of a pantomime.

>>16584531
I'm all for a bank heist.

>>16584587

Bank heist is my vote too.

We need 'names' for ourselves
I say we call our self's "A" and the other two of us "B" and "C" respectively.

rolled 78 = 78

>>16584632

Rolling for the names to be Huey, Dewey, and Louie.

rolled 36 = 36

>>16584632

Who, What, I-Don't-Know.

>>16584629
>>16584587
thirding

rolled 11 = 11

>>16584632
we are boss they are thing one and thing two

>>16584632
>>16584644

"All right, Dewey, Louie, and Larry, here's the plan," I start to say before the other fellas interrupt. "What's the big idea, fella?" Dewey asks me. "You think this is a joke?"

"We have to have *some* way to tell us apart," I point out. "Besides, I'm in charge here. Any more of us and we'll have to call ourselves the Alphabet Soup Gang. All right?"

The other two mutter agreement, before the conversation turns back to the idea of sticking up the First Gotham Savings and Loan.

"How are we supposed to do that without any guns?" Larry asks. "We got one knife and one grappling gun between the two of us, and these guys ain't got nothing!"

"That's right, fella. Huey," Louie adds. "We're gonna need some pieces to pull this off."

>What now?

rolled 69 = 69

>>16584719
"Who needs guns when we can get an army of disposable us's?"

We should have asked the first dupe why he was so damn calm.

>>16584732
Do not imply that other guys are disposable.

They are not.

rolled 14 = 14

I think we need to prioritize finding out if there are any important differences between us and our opposite numbers, particularly if there is anything we can exploit to make sure they can be trusted (at the very least, making sure ONE of them is more willing to work with us as opposed to the third one)

Rolling to grill them on their home realities.

rolled 39 = 39

Who needs guns? We go outside, get a bunch of ordinary weapons. Boards with nails in them, Big rocks, shit like that. We go out, and rob three liquor stores at once.

rolled 82 = 82

>>16584719

Whack-a-mole tactics to distract the security guard, nick his gun, then play "Who's got the gun?" with the cashiers and water pistols. Like Russian Roulette but more fun.


Or maybe that's just too Joker.

rolled 37 = 37

Why are we aiming for a violent raid?
Why not steal shit while no one is looking.... You know, catburglar-like ?

rolled 12 = 12

>>16584796
I like this plan.

But first we need to hit some smaller stores to get some cash and weapons.

One of us goes some place public to set up an alibi. The others start robbing liquor stores and gas stations, getting a few thousand dollars after a couple nights. Then we get some specialty tools from some dealer and become cat burglars.

rolled 38, 84 = 122

>>16584719
We wouldn't happen to know anybody who'd loan us a few guns would we?

>>16584845
Normally I would say "two separate rolls" to be more inclusive, but I'll let it slide for now.

rolled 8 = 8

>>16584824
Brilliant!
Hell as a whole our super-criminal name should be Alibi!

>>16584737
>>16584771
>>16584776
>>16584786
>>16584796
>>16584824
>>16584845

"You know, you're taking this awfully well," I tell Dewie, looking at him from across the table. "It makes me wonder."

The other me, Dewie, looks at me for a long moment, then asks "What would you have done if you were suddenly standing in a hall that looked nine-tenths of the way like your place and one-tenth like a stranger's?"

I think about it for a second, and realize he was probably scared loopy. You have to know how to bluff in this line of work. "Good point. You really do think like me, don't you?" I ask. "Both of you."

"Not as much as you'd think," Louie says, pointing at the pin-up calender tacked to the wall. "I like brunettes."

After I have a chuckle at that, we get down to business. "We need cash, there's no question about that. We could just go mob some liquor store, but I've got a better idea. A little more quiet."

I pick up the phone and dial a number, and a few rings later someone picks up.

*Hello?*

"Yeah, I'd like to place an order," I tell him. "I need four small fries with salt. Delivered soon, I'm starving."

*Yeah, yeah, you'll get your order. What's the name on the account?*

For a moment the word "Oswald" is at my lips, but then I remember who I'm working for nowadays.

"Huey," I tell him, and hang up the phone.

>Let's see how well this connection works out. Roll a d100; highest of two rolls decides.

rolled 25 = 25

Well, here goes nothing

rolled 36 = 36

You guys aren't very mad scientist like are you? We know what the device does on the inorganic matter but what if a person were to get hit with the bolt. I say we shoot a hobo with it to see what happens.

Also I like the art gallery idea and all the stuff about whack a mole tactics. Have one of you in a public place like a crowded fast food joint or bar (it has to be some place a guy like us would be) while the other two rob knock over a few cash registers and lottery tickets.

rolled 1 = 1

>>16585007

rolled 64 = 64

>>16585064

Rolling again, for SCIENCE!

>>16585058
>>16585064

Two hours later, after fending off complaints from Dewie and Louie, there's finally a knock at the door. "Midtown Burgers," the voice calls.

"All right, you two, out of sight," I say, waving the other two fellas into the bathroom as I walk to the door. "Hang on."

"About time you got here," I tell the pimply-faced guy when I open it. "You're gonna run a tab for this, right?" I ask as I snatch the two fast-food bags out of his hands. As soon as he nods I tell him "Good, now beat it!" and shut the door before he can say anything else.

"OK, let's see what we've got," I say as I open the bags up on the table.

"What the hell?" Louie asks as they step out of the bathroom and see the pair of dinky pistols I'm holding. "What are we supposed to do with those, scare off a squirrel?"

"Pipe down," I tell him, frowning. "I'll think of something.

>Now what, fella?

rolled 45 = 45

Even better, have one guy locked up for a minor felony. Best alibi ever. The other two can just run riot.

Also, can we only create more clones if we stay in our hideout? That mean's if we move we lose our supply of personnel. What happens if we use it in different places?

rolled 63 = 63

>>16585173
This. While I still want to run some more tests with the doohiky being in the slammer for a day or two, because oh say we got piss drunk in public, would be an excellent alliby while the others rob something. Also have we considered trying to spring our old boss?

rolled 5 = 5

>>16585198

The Penguin? We don't need him, we're making our own way now. He'll only try and come back and take over the show. We don't need him anymore, let him rot.

Lets get Louey pissed, and push him in a fountain or something. Get him locked up overnight while we use the pistols to hold up a liquor store.

>>16585258
Differentfag, but can you imagine the street cred we'd get for springing someone out of Arkham?

rolled 91 = 91

>>16585166
These things'll sling lead as well as anything else, so let's rob a couple liquor stores to get some money to buy something respectable, like a shotgun or something.

>>16585173
>>16585198
>>16585258

"You're in luck, pal. Half a bottle left, and it's all yours."

"Maybe this isn't such a bad plan," Louie laughs, tossing back another glass. A few more, and he's looking a little fish-eyed.

"OK, let's get you outside," I tell him. "You can finish the bottle out there, where people can see you."

"-hic- All right, pal. Huey," he laughs. "S'what I'm gonna tell the cops. Huey, Louie and Dewey."

Larry takes over once we get to the door, and leads him to the elevator. A minute later I see them walk out the front of my building, and Larry heads for a pay phone up the block while my dupe upends his bottle and finishes it.

As I peer out the window, I see a squad car pull up to the curb with its lights on, and I watch the surreal scene of myself being arrested on the street below. "Well, that's that," I tell Dewie. "Once Larry gets back we'll head out. You're gonna need a mask," I say as I fix my old domino mask to my face. "I think I have a skimask around someplace, but it might be a little moth-eaten-"

"No thanks, I've got my own," Dewie says as he pulls an identical domino mask out of his own pocket.

"Ready to go?" Larry asks, grinning, when he walks back into the place and jingles his car keys.

"Let's do it," I tell them, handing Larry the other pistol. "No offense, Dewie," I tell my dupe, "But I need to know I can trust you first. You understand, right?"

"I'd do the same thing if I were you," he tells me.

Fifteen minutes later Larry's red sedan is idling around the corner of the Discount Liquors as my dupe and I get ready.

rolled 31 = 31

>>16585403
If the place isn't 24 hour I say we just wait for them to leave that way we don't have to worry about the gun under the counter. Then when the place is locked up and empty. We do a quick smash and grab of the cash register and anything that looks particularly valuable.

rolled 62 = 62

>>16585403
Find out the layout of the bank and if it has security.

>>16585360

Five minutes later, we're speeding across the Eighth Street Bridge and into the slums, scot-free with more than a thousand dollars between us!

"Holy moley," Larry says, looking over at the bag full of cash as he grips the steering wheel. "Now that's a score!"

"You aren't kidding," I agree, grinning. "Must be a bachelor party in town OK, fella, here's your cut," I say as I hold up a pair of fifty-dollar bills and look back at my dupe. "You want to stick with us, you just wait around. Take a left up here, Larry."

The sedan circles the block while I think about my next move. There's a warehouse near here where I could probably pick up a few choice pieces... or we could milk my alibi a little more... but then I think about that gizmo back at my place, guarded by nothing more than a cheap lock.

>What now, fella?

rolled 80 = 80

>>16585532
We need to move the gizmo. The police are looking for it. The Joker's looking for it and the goddamn Batman is looking for it. I say we buy our selves a new gun and a bullet proof vest if we can afford it and then try and come up with a good hiding spot for the gizmo. It doesn't have to be fancy but it does have to be somewhere nobody will look.

rolled 51 = 51

>>16585554
Agreed

>>16585554

Larry pulls the sedan up to the curb and I check my pistol once before I pop the door open. "You two wait here," I say to Larry and my dupe as I step out. "Evening, boys," I call to the two men standing near the warehouse.

"Hey, I know you," one of them says to me.

"Good to hear," I tell him. "What I'm looking for is a little home protection..."

My shopping trip doesn't last very long, but boy, is it productive. A brand-new shotgun, the same bulletproof vests Gotham's finest wear on the job, and enough ammo to make me feel like Rambo.

"Now we just have to find a place to stick that doohickey for a while," I say, once I'm back in the car and we're headed back to my building.

"Say, I've got an idea," my dupe says. "It might be a long shot, but do you know about a place on Eighty-First street, behind the grocery store?"

"Never been there," I tell him. "What is it?"

"Someplace I used to use," Dewie tells me. "For hiding things."

TO BE CONTINUED

>>16585554
Also, we should consider find Larry something else to do.
He can make a good driver, but he might do us better as a different support role, finding us good contacts for guns and gear, or scouting out places we'll hit. Take over were Roy-boy was.

>>16585646
And it seems every dupe has a little varied skill set. We could get a one of us whos good with tech, another good with cars, or one of us might be a crack shot. We need to find out what Dewey and Louie know...

Accounting for the shift, his place for hiding, could be a current office building, or hideout for the joker. We need to have one of us dupes watch this hideout a day or week.
I say we make 2-3 more of us next time

rolled 3 = 3

>>16585704
I'm with this. We should find out more regarding what each member of our team should do. Also I thing we should scout out the hiding place first. Accounting for the shift something might have changed. But if not we should take the gadget there.

bumpu!

>TO BE CONTINUED

It seems I may have gotten here a little late. This mean the quest is done for the night?

>>16585917

That is correct. I'm out of steam, and it seemed like a good place to end for the night.

rolled 64 = 64

>>16585928

I hope to God the fact that the police has "us" in the slammer at the same time some idiots selling guns see us isn't going to come back to bite us in the ass. Batman could probably put two and two together, though he probably doesn't know who we are. If the Joker can figure it out though, it is not going to end well.