《Justice Lords Limitless Act 2: EndWar》
Part 1: Chapter 1
"Kimber Stephanie S¨¦-Yeong Lee."
The Korean-American girl strode across the stage proudly to receive her diploma. This was the moment she had looked forward to over the last four years: she was graduating high school. Gold cords over one shoulder and tassel flopping jauntily off her hat in the corner of her eye, she happily shook hands with the principal as she was handed her diploma.
Finally out of this place! She looked out into the audience as the photographer snapped a shot of the moment and saw familiar faces cheering her on. "I did it, Papa!" As soon as the principal let her hands go, both her arms shot up, and she waved at her family.
Her father smiled widely as he clapped for her while the rest of her extended family screamed and hollered in barely restrained excitement, making as much noise as possible. At first, she''d been embarrassed when She''d seen the rather large group taking up a row and a half with her face printed out on large poster board signs; but now, as she saw her young cousins wildly spinning plastic noisemakers, she knew she wouldn''t have it any other way.
Kimber turned to make her way off the stage and get out of the way of the next graduate when someone else in the crowd caught her eye. She faltered. In the audience, sitting near the back, was Bruce Wayne and he was clapping as well.
For the past few months, Wayne, as Batman, had been training her to become a more effective vigilante. He made it explicitly clear that the training was coming from the best of the best. During downtime, he would share stories of the years he spent globe-trotting and of the different fights he''d had over the years as Gotham''s guardian angel. She loved hearing them. However, he always maintained that their relationship was a professional one: the relationship of a student to a teacher and nothing more. So to see him in the audience clapping for her filled her with pride. Finally recovered from the surprise of seeing her mentor, she waved to him. He didn''t wave back - just a nod and a polite smile.
As she stepped off the platform and headed to her seat, the next name was called.
Bruce watched from his seat against the back wall of the gymnasium as teen after teen went through the graduation rite. He wasn''t particularly interested in most of them. He already was pushing it coming out to this event. He had left a Wayne Enterprises board meeting early to attend, but he wasn''t here to support Kimber; no ¨C there was another promising child graduating today.
"Mawk Zander Machaelson! The announcer interrupted Bruce''s train of thought. He checked the list of names and then turned his attention forward in time to watch Kimber''s boyfriend slowly walk onto the stage with a veritable heap of flower leis and money necklaces draped around his neck and rather touching music playing in the background.
After a month-long hospital stay, Mawk had been discharged late in January under the instruction to take it easy. Through all the tests and surgeries, he had thankfully recovered and even managed to catch up and finish school on time. The graduation committee had already held a small, special service for Mawk and the other victims from that winter party six months previous, but people stood and clapped for the dark-skinned boy all the same as he received his diploma with a wide, though slightly pained, smile.
Bruce''s face twisted as the events of that night came back to him. he closed his eyes momentarily and relived the rush of adrenalin he''d felt as he''d made an aerial approach. He recalled taking out the two men on the roof before even landing and then triggering the EMP to extinguish all electronics before entering the house. He remembered the goons, he remembered Jean-Paul Valley''s speech; but most importantly, he remembered the looks on those children''s faces. It was a look he hadn''t seen in years: a look of utter helplessness. As far as they were aware, no one was coming to save them. The Other was right: it would have been worse. He snorted under his breath as he tried to focus on the task at hand. Even so, his mind wandered to thoughts of the last six months.
Life had gotten harder. Reestablishing the mythos of being a creature of the night after having been out in the light for two years preceding a rather public fall was much more difficult than establishing one from scratch. He was starting at a disadvantage. But the girl... the girl did not have that handicap. In fact, her short solo tenure before he came out of self-imposed exile last December afforded her some limited street cred with both cops and low-level crooks. She''d done good work ¨C a bit heavy-handed in some places, but good work all the same.
"Curtis Reginald Orson Walker," the announcer called out, again snapping Bruce back to the present. Had he really stayed for the whole event?
The African-American teen stoically ascended the stairs with silver and red cords over one shoulder and a neck bare of accessories save one: a medal from the Chief of Police. General applause rose from the crowd, but there was a distinct lack of familial fanfare on par with what other graduates received. No one in the audience stood and belted out support for him, no noisemakers were rattled, and no vuvuzelas were blown. Only a few teens in the graduating class shouted out the teen''s name in support. Bruce''s eyes scanned the crowd for any sign of Curtis'' family members but found nothing.
As Curtis finished taking a photo with the principal, the next name was quickly called. A boisterous chant rose from the back-left corner of the room as a quartet of family members stood and hooted their support for the next graduate.
Bruce looked at the program. "Two names left." He stood and exited. He had another appointment to keep.
As Curtis stepped off the stage and headed for his seat, Kimber lowered her hands from yelling Curtis'' name. She couldn''t help but feel sorry for the kid. She''d overheard him telling another kid, Morven, that his father was working and wouldn''t be able to make it to the event.
Thanks to Gotham''s, and by extension America''s, broken healthcare system, the Walker household of two had been served a bill from the response team that had arrived at Mawk''s house. Even though Curtis had denied medical attention the company still wanted money and charged his father''s insurance for work they hadn''t done. Neither Curtis nor his father had the money to fight the bill in court, so they just decided to pay it. As a result, Curtis'' father had to pick up extra shifts over the summer. It wasn''t fair and just thinking about the whole ordeal made her blood boil.
As the last graduating senior of Gotham High School crossed the stage to receive her diploma, Kimber craned her neck to look over the audience for her mentor. Her eyes skipped over her row and a half of family and shot straight for the chairs supporting the back wall but she found her mentor''s chair vacant. Bruce Wayne was gone. Somehow, she expected that.
It took only thirty minutes for Bruce to arrive and pull into the driveway of a simple apartment complex. He walked up two flights of stairs, took a deep breath to focus on his role, and then knocked on the door just below the engraved placard of plastic that read ''207b''.
"Who is it?" came an apprehensive voice on the other side.
"Take one guess, Princess," Bruce replied with his sweet baritone voice.
"Bruce!" The door swung open and Diana Prince enveloped him in a bear hug. "What are you doing here?"
Bruce laughed at her rather enthusiastic greeting. "Don''t act so surprised, Your Highness," he replied with a touch of sarcasm. "You know that the terms of your release require regular check-ins every week for your first six months out. Your assigned officer wasn''t able to make it, so I''m¡ filling in, as it were."
Diana sighed with a smile. "I had hoped you were visiting for more than just that." Her lips curled up in an alluring smile as she invited him in. "But you do enjoy this, don''t you? This isn''t your first time filling in for Maury."
Bruce couldn''t contain his grin. He did enjoy his few visits with Diana, he had to admit. There had no doubt been a thing between them during their short tenure as in Justice League and even as Justice Lords. But he, as Batman, had kept his identity a closely guarded secret. Diana never learned who the man behind the mask had been and he intended to keep it that way. As tempting as it was for Bruce Wayne to pursue the potential relationship where Batman left off, he knew it was best to stay away from the beautiful Amazon. However, a little honesty wouldn''t hurt. "Yes I do, but let''s focus on the reason I''m here."
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Diana sighed in defeat. "Fine. Let''s get the evaluation over with. This is the last one, right?"
"Yes."
"Then maybe we could have some fun later?" Her voice was hopeful.
"Don''t push your luck," Bruce teased.
Finally, a moment to myself. Kimber stepped out of her house and into the night.
She had wrestled with herself over the week about whether to go out patrolling tonight or not. She eventually opted against it and surprisingly Batman agreed with her decision. It would have caused too much trouble and she knew her father would want to celebrate her achievement. Besides, with her extended family ¨C some of whom she hadn''t seen in years ¨C visiting, she knew that they''d be all over her for the whole weekend. The only way she had even gotten this moment of respite was by volunteering to take the overstuffed trash bag out to the dumpster. She looked at the bag of garbage in her grasp and then tossed it into the bin and grumbled to herself. The party with family was fun, there was no denying that; however, she wanted to celebrate not with cake and ice cream, but with her fist against a child abuser''s sternum. It was those moments she lived for now.
"Having a good time?"
She turned with a slight jump and saw Curtis in jogging gear reclining against the gate that now fenced off her house from the street. "What are you doing here?" she asked. She was sure he hadn''t been there when she''d exited the house, so how hadn''t she noticed his approach? She''d have to work on her situational awareness more.
"Jogging. What''s it look like?" he casually replied.
"Shouldn''t you be celebrating with your family and friends, or something?" I never realized how close he lived to me. Kimber looked from the direction he''d come. "Today was a pretty big day, you know," she added with a sarcastic smirk.
Curtis'' face twisted into an expression she couldn''t quite place and she hoped she hadn''t offended him. "Dad''s working an extra shift. Morven and Taylor are both hangin'' with their folks, so I''m just taking advantage of the quiet night." His eyes turned skyward as if searching for something.
"Oh¡" Lucky. She almost wished she could join him. She stepped closer, shoving her hands in her back pockets as she did. "So... What are you going to do now that high school is over?"
Curtis pushed off of the fence as she approached, preserving the distance between them. "I got an internship with WayneTech for the summer," he answered. "If all goes well, they may keep me through the year. I was accepted to Gotham University on a scholarship."
"Are you gonna go?"
"Might. What about your plans?"
Kimber shivered as her anxiety about the future wrapped around her bare shoulders like a cool breeze. "I''m starting at the community college. Should take two years to get my Gen-Eds out of the way. Hoping I''ll know what I want to do by then. As for extracurriculars... I''ll be busy. Trust me." She unconsciously smiled.
"Kimber! C''mere!" It was Kimber''s aunt. "We want to get a picture of you with your cousin!"
"Looks like they want you back." Curtis started to walk back to the side of the street.
"Yeah..." She turned to the door. "Coming, Auntie! Hey, Curt, if you wanna come in and celebrate with me, you¡ª" But by the time she turned back to her new friend, he was already halfway down the street. "¨Ccan..."
Batman climbed up the sheer side of the cave for the seventh time that night. Each hand found its place and each foot rested securely on nearly imperceptible ridges as he ascended and within what felt like the blink of an eye, he was at the top. He checked his stopwatch. "Seven seconds." That was three seconds faster than his previous drill, finally breaking the double digit mark; it was getting easier. But it still was not good enough. His all-time best for this wall had been five seconds, a time he''d been able to consistently hover around before the Justice Lords made him lax. He leaped from the top and landed on the ground soundlessly. "Must do better," he muttered as the faced the climbing wall again.
Hand over hand, foot over foot, he rose again rapidly. His fingers were were raw and dry and his soles were growing more and more numb to the climbing holds with each step. As he went up, his mind blocked out the physical sensation with thoughts of Diana. Not thoughts of romance as earlier in the day, but thoughts of worry.
She''d been released six months prior to great elation, but she seemed more frightful and withdrawn in more recent months. The way she''d answered the door earlier reminded him of how some citizens answered the door during the regime. Timid and defensive. But the regime was over, and Bruce Wayne was no character she had to fear ¨C if anything he had been her advocate. Then again, it wouldn''t be easy for Wonder Woman to blend into a crowd. Nearly a head and shoulder taller than everyone else and just as beautiful, Diana would stand out in any crowd. The idea had been floated among the world governments of returning her to her people, but Queen Hippolyta was adamant in her initial ruling on Diana''s banishment. It seemed there was no place for Diana to go: she was an exile of her people and an outcast in Man''s World. He almost felt sorry for her.
He crested the edge of the wall again and checked his watch. Eight seconds. "Terrible."
"I thought you did quite well."
Batman looked down the wall and grumbled under his breath as he locked eyes with his interdimensional twin. "What are you doing here?" He glanced at the interdimensional portal. The light was slowly dying out and the ambient hum was fading away. Had he really been that much in his own head that he hadn''t noticed the intrusion? Not good.
"Had a spare moment and figured I would check in on you," the Other replied. "I''m glad you''ve found yourself. Your will."
"It''s a hard compulsion to kill." He descended easily and faced his mirror. "To be honest, I expected a visit from you sooner."
"We''ve had some problems."
He dusted more climbing chalk on his hands. "What kind of problems?"
"Superman took a rather surprising and... lengthy leave-of-absence. Leave it at that."
"Fair enough." Batman turned his attention back to his exercise.
The Other''s eyes glossed over a workbench where a helmet and a belt rested, awaiting further tinkering from Batman, as well as a case file. His eyes scanned the file. "Trouble in Star City, and it seems you''re not tackling it alone. You''ve picked up some new partners?"
"Yes," Batman grunted halfway up his climb.
There was a brief pause as space-time was ripped open, creating a doorway for the dimensional double to return to his proper place and time. As the portal stabilized, the other Batman left parting words. "Try not to get these two upset with you as well."
A man hung from a wall. His hands and feet were completely encased in round, spheres made of specialized metals. He wasn''t sure how long he had been here, but he knew that it had been too long. Maybe weeks, months¡ a year even. His restraints held him upright and suspended in a bare room of dull, red light. Despite the dimness of the glow, it was such a debilitating hue that he opted to keep his eyes closed. The darkness was more comforting than the red light. But the darkness was also overwhelming. Yet he had a glimmer of faith: something stirred in the back of his mind, a foreign thought. A spark.
"It won''t be long now," he growled.
"Lights out!" A gravelly voice shouted over the intercom.
All through Blackgate Penitentiary the lights in the cells were shutting off with loud ''chuck'' sounds. In one cell sat a man, cross-legged. It was going to happen tonight. He was sure of it.
A bored prison worker strolled by, pushing a case full of books. "Do you want anything for tomorrow?" He asked with monotone weariness. He angled the dinky flashlight down into the cart and started listing book titles. "Animal Farm, Beowulf¡ª"
The sitter interrupted with a deep, rumbling voice. "War and Peace."
The cart-pusher didn''t seem surprised that the man knew what was available in the cart ¨C or if he was, he didn''t care enough to inquire. He reached into his cart and, by the fading light of his electric torch, retrieved the requested book. "Here." He handed the book to the inmate. When he heard the book crack open almost eagerly, the cart-pusher chuckled. "Are you planning to strain your eyes and read in the dark?"
No response.
The worker shrugged and resumed pushing his cart.
The prisoner behind the bars smiled as he listened to the other man leave. The book had been partially hollowed out, just as he knew it would be. Out of the space fell a package: a small envelope. He opened it up with hands shaky with anticipation, already knowing what it concealed: a dark ring. He slipped it on his finger and felt the warmth of a power he''d missed so much.
He had a new oath. He''d written it the day he''d been incarcerated and committed it to memory, reciting it mentally multiple times a day. Now, it was finally time to recite it aloud. He sat back on the ground, legs crossed, and focused his thoughts.
"From Olympus high to Tartarus floor... All treachery must be answered for!" His voice rose with each stanza.
"Shut up, man!" groaned a prisoner a few cells down.
But the man''s voice only grew louder. "My power returned sevenfold more!"
A dark crimson hue began to emit from his body. It filled his cell and spilled into the hallways. Guards rushed to the cell.
"Those who rise against me shall be...!"
The guards, surprised at the harsh light from the cell, were barely able to aim at the man sitting with his head down in the center of the cell. Some had to shield their eyes. "Put ''em up, Stewart!" demanded one guard, squinting against the oppressing light.
John Stewart raised his head slowly, with an unpleasant grin and crimson-black eyes, and finished his oath with a gentle yet threatening whisper: "Nevermore."
Part 1: Chapter 2
Batman found himself knocked on his back. He quickly rolled to the side just before a heavy boot stomped down on the ground where his chest had been mere moments before. He used his hands to spring himself back onto his feet. Just as he landed, he shot his left leg up, catching his attacker in the shoulder and knocking her back. Not wanting to give her a chance to recover, Batman jumped forward leading with his knee for her chin.
His opponent read his intention and put up her hands in defense. She caught Batman''s knee and, in one explosive motion, she pushed her hands up and out, absorbing much of the hit and redirecting the Dark Knight to the side. Batman went with the new momentum, arching back thus turning the fall into a controlled backflip. Once back on his feet, he reset his position and checked his assailant. She was already ready and sizing him up. Both of them were in a fighting position: he was in a brutal Krav Maga stance and she was in a more basic Subyuk stance with palms open.
Batman broke the silence and dropped his stance. Sparring was over. "You''re doing well, Batgirl. You''re learning quickly."
"Only because I have a great teacher," she replied. She walked over to a bench and removed her helmet to take a breather. She was still getting used to the uniform ¨C her uniform. Batman had forbidden her from using the word ''costume'' to describe the outfit. It was her uniform and they were at war. Calling it a ''costume'' removes the value this symbol stands for, she recalled him explaining during one of their first sessions. If it is a costume, you are simply an actor. Eventually, it should become a second skin. "Are we going out on the town tonight? The breezes are cool and the weather is warm. Perfect patrol weather."
Batman didn''t respond. He walked over to the Batcomputer and started scanning the police waves as he refreshed himself on the newer inmates at Arkham Asylum. The Asylum once again housed crazies, but none of them compared to what he used to face. Riddler, Joker, Scarecrow... It was strange to never have to worry about them again. Yet, he thought, there is something wrong with this city. The crazies always come back in one form or another. As he reviewed various case files, a soft beeping echoed from the Batcomputer.
His blood ran cold as he recognized the old code. He had several unique tones set for unique calls, and this specific pattern had been put in place during the Justice Lords'' reign. It was the ping sequence used by Gotham military police, a direct line from them to Batman should the need arise for his assistance or attention. It was the sequence that had alerted him to the alternate Justice League''s scuffle at Arkham Asylum when they were searching for their Shayera. He''d answered that call after coming to an understanding with his Other. It was a sequence that he had not heard since, and considering the Gotham military police was dismantled immediately after the Justice Lords fell, it was a tone he did not think he''d ever hear again. Unless...
He answered the ping with his cowl. "Jim."
"Batman!" came the frantic voice. It was indeed James Gordon, the former Chief of Police and now the head warden of Blackgate Penitentiary. "It''s your old pal, Green Lantern. He''s free and, well, he isn''t so ''green'' anymore."
Batman grimaced. "Understood."
"We are not sure where he has gone, but we searched his cell. Guards found a book in his cell, War and Peace, but it''s been hollowed out to allow contraband. We''ve got it in evidence for forensics to do their job. If we''re lucky they''ll learn something about where Stewart went or what his plan is, but don''t hold your breath. It seems to me that it was only used to smuggle a small object, likely his signature weapon."
Batman remained quiet as he checked the video feed from a peculiar vault within the BatCave. The live feed loaded and he released a held breath. Stewart''s old ring was still there, dormant and glowing only faintly. More than likely John had received a new ring in that book, and not one from the Guardians. He was vaguely aware that there were other lantern corps such as the yellow that Sinestro founded and a red corp as well that was powered by wrathful emotions. He wondered what possessed John to forego his loyalty to the green and accept a gift from a different corps.
"Batman?"
"Yes, Jim?"
"Are you alright?" Jim voiced concern.
"Yes."
Click. Batman hung up before any further questions could be posed and headed for the Armory.
"What was that about?" Kimber ran up to him, eager.
"Work."
"Who is it this time? Did Mr. Death escape? A crime boss making a move? Mafia in town? What?"
"An old friend," Batman replied. "John Stewart is loose."
"Oh, really?" Kimber wasn''t put off. "Well, you have his ring, so what danger could he be?"
"He is an ex-Marine," Batman pointed out, his voice still level. "That should be danger enough. But it sounds like he has a new ring." He started loading his utility belt with the basic items: bat-a-rangs, bat-claw, smoke grenades, gas pellets, and the like.
Kimber followed suit in loading her own utility belt with the gadgets Batman allowed her to use. She remembered when she first saw the Armory, it was overwhelming. Suits lined one wall and gadgets lined the other. And that was just the first level. The Armory was three condensed levels of tools, suits, and weapons to aid Batman''s crusade. When she asked how much of it she could use, he pointed to a well-worn metal crate in a corner that held retired but still functional items. That had been five months ago. Now here she was loading into her utility belt the same items Batman was loading into his. "You have anything special for him? Yellow powder or something?"
"We won''t need it."
"Why?"
"I have his ring, remember? That means this new ring likely isn''t from the Green Lantern Corps."
"How do you know?"
"Would an intergalactic police force break one of their own out of a planetary jail by just giving him another ring in secret? Or would they make a loud racket with other Green Lanterns enforcing his release?"
This made sense to Kimber. "So when we find him, what are we going to do? He has a different but probably similar power ring potentially limited by his imagination with a weakness we don''t know. We have gadgets limited by quantity."
"We aren''t going to fight him, not yet." Batman attached his belt and then stalked off to the Batmobile.
Kimber pulled on her helmet and walked to her motorcycle. "Then where are we going, boss?"
"To pay a visit to another old friend."
The Batmobile and the Bat-Cycle parked in a wooded area across from the peninsula that supported Arkham Asylum. The duo walked the rest of the way to the strange place. There was a time when Batman would have parked out front and walked through the double doors. There was even a time when he would be driven there by military personnel. But he was re-establishing his persona as a creature of the night. Stepping into the light was one of the worst things he''d done with the Justice Lords.
"This way." He still had the layout of the asylum memorized. He knew every cell and most occupants. He grappled up to a third-floor office window, followed closely by Batgirl, and pried the pane open. From the deserted office, he led Batgirl down the dark hallway and into a ventilation shaft. Finally, Batman removed a terminating vent and led his partner into another hallway.
"Why do we have to go the long way?" muttered Batgirl.
Batman ignored her complaint. After all, she would learn soon enough just how important stealth was. She would either learn or die. "We''re here," he whispered to Batgirl. Taking his cryptographic sequencer from his belt, he easily cracked the code for the cell they were crouched by. "Split-think," he instructed.
Instantly she started thinking about puppies, kittens, and other cute animals; but underneath that veil of stereotypical teenage girl idle musings, her thoughts were a swarm of questions about who, or what, they were going to see.
"J''onn," Batman addressed to the darkness within the cell.
"Batman." A deep, elegant voice floated back, its timbre matching Batman''s. A green-skinned humanoid with a pointed head and chin stepped into the light. His four red eyes which were once fierce and piercing were now dull and glazed. "I never thought I would see you again."
"I have questions."
"I would suppose," J''onn replied. "I was wondering when you were going to visit. If ever."
"John Stewart escaped Blackgate. He apparently has a new power ring. Know anything?" Batman leaned in.
We''re being threatening now? Alright. Batgirl crossed her arms and lowered her chin in an effort to look down on the mountainous Martian before her.
"I am sorry, Batman, but I do not," J''onn replied, a little put off by the threatening disposition of his former comrade. "I do wish I could be of more help to you, but I haven''t had contact with any of our former compatriots since my incarceration. You should know that. I''m sure you track my visitors."
Zero. That''s how many people had visited the Martian Manhunter since his incarceration. Batman had doublechecked the records on the ride over but had still hoped that somehow something or someone had slipped through the cracks. It seemed the Asylum hadn''t yet fallen to corruption. A minor victory. Satisfied for the moment with this confirmation, Batman turned to leave. "Stay alert, J''onn. If he tries to contact you, let me know. I''ll be watching."
"Undoubtedly." J''onn evenly backpedaled, retreating into the darkness of his cell and Batman used his cryptographic sequencer to close and lock J''onn''s cell door.
Once they were back on the outside and nearing their vehicles, Batgirl spoke up. "He seemed like a nice fellow. He didn''t even seem the least bit interested in escaping when the door opened."
Batman only nodded. Like Diana, J''onn eventually showed remorse for his actions against his foster home world. Unlike Diana, however, J''onn felt he did not deserve a second chance. He requested to be locked up in the asylum where he could be sure the world would be safe from him. The beam had rendered him powerless... Or at least as powerless as a Martian could be. Super strength, limited mental capabilities? J''onn still had them. Every Martian was born with them, so using a weapon to strip powers from a being naturally born with powers was rather redundant. His natural Martian heritage could not be destroyed. Even so, he was no more dangerous than he had been all those years ago when the Imperium had launched their attack. A quarter for a book of matches would be all he''d need to keep the alien in line.
"So where are we going now?" Batgirl asked, her voice now coming from over the radio.
Batman realized he was driving to Gotham from the Asylum. Everything had been on autopilot as he''d thought about J''onn. "Rooftops," he growled back.
"Right-o."
He watched in the rearview camera as the Bat-Cycle diverted from the Batmobile''s path down an avenue. He''d instructed her never to start patrol from the same neighborhood. Instead, their patrol would start from two different areas and they would regroup at pre-designated points. It was a strategic move that spread them out over the city much earlier, cutting their patrol time by one and a half hours on average.
The Batmobile pulled off the main road and rumbled before an abandoned service garage. As he killed the lights on the supercar, Batman couldn''t help but feel a familiar sense of anticipation. Each night out in the city''s grime felt refreshingly reminiscent of his early years in crimefighting. Before the metahumans, before the League, and before the Lords. A time when it was just him and his city against all odds. He exited Batmobile and was atop the building in mere minutes taking in the familiar sounds and lights of Gotham at night. The sins of his past weighed on him. But as he stood atop the building, his cape billowing in the cool night breeze, he couldn''t deny the feeling of renewal. The girl had been right: it was perfect patrol weather. It was time to go to work.
Batgirl deployed the kickstand of her new bike. Teaming up with Batman was an amazing thing. The toys, the tools, the vehicles, were nearly all at her disposal as long as she continued to fight the unending battle against crime. The first thing she had received was a new suit. It was modeled after her homemade one, helmet and all. But the functionality and the protective capability were more than she could have imagined. For example, the majority of the suit was bulletproof, not just select segments. That was a fact she took great solace in.
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The second tool she''d received was a new bike. She''d earned her motorcycle license early in the year and soon after that Batman had scheduled nights for her to practice offensive and defensive driving on the BatCave''s simulator. At the time, she''d been upset that he was leaving her behind, sometimes multiple nights in a row; but looking back, it was for the best. Now she was cleared to use the rocket-powered Bat-Cycle to her heart''s content. She hadn''t yet used all of its special features, like the afterburner boost or the autocannon housed above the wheel well, but she was aching to try them out ¨C especially the cannon. However, the Bat told her that the high-caliber gun was only to be used as a last resort.
She grappled to the roof and, once on the top, dashed to the edge. Three months ago she would have been afraid to jump. Three months ago she would have had to make three or four false starts before trusting not only her suit but herself. Now, she finally had the confidence to leap. When her toe reached the edge, she jumped. For the briefest of moments, she felt gravity take full control of her body. She allowed the weak force to control her for a mere moment before she activated the thick, rounded shoulder pads that overlapped her cape. An electric current shot through her cape and the utility fabric stiffened. She lurched up as a draft caught under her cape and she easily glided across the chasm of the street and landed on the next roof.
"Batgirl." Batman''s gruff voice echoed in her helmet. "10-851 in-progress. Heading southbound on Bavis Street." He followed up with a brief description of a sedan.
10-851. That''s... auto theft. Batgirl recalled the many hours she spent memorizing every police code. She''d already known the major ones thanks to her father, he would recite them to her when she was younger to help her fall asleep, but she now knew them all. She checked the street sign below her. Bavis Street was two blocks over. "I''m on my way." She ran towards the next building and jumped. While airborne, she unholstered her bat-claw and fired at the next building. The claw dug into the brick securely and the bat-claw''s reel slingshotted her over the building to the next. At the apex of her arc, she activated her cape''s glide function again and soared to the center of the next building. Once she touched down on the roof, she looked over Bavis Street. To her right, the stolen vehicle was speeding her way.
"I''m busy," Batman said. "Don''t wait up."
She didn''t need to be told twice. Batman may have been the heavy hitter, but she could stop a speeding car, right? After all, it was simply a matter of vectors and basic math. Great... I hate math. She groaned in anticipation as she watched the car approach. She tried to calculate the perfect intercept point in her head but got frustrated and ended up just trusting her gut and guesstimating. She jumped from her hidden perch and slammed into the trunk of the car, the reinforced joints of her suit absorbing the majority of the impact and inertia. Her timing had been off and if she''d waited a second longer, she would have missed entirely.
"Whaa¨C?" The carjacker glanced in his rearview mirror to see what had shaken his stolen ride. He thought perhaps some dolt had rear-ended him but when he saw nothing out the back window, he turned his attention to the road. Much to his shock, a horned phantom lady was crouching on the hood of his car, snarling in his face. With a scream, the man wildly jerked the wheel left and right in a desperate attempt to shake the heroine from the hood. However, he only succeeded in losing control of the car and crashing through a newspaper kiosk in front of a closed department store. The man didn''t even have time to recover from the accident before he was harshly yanked out of the driver''s seat by two slender but surprisingly strong arms.
Batgirl pinned her prey against the car and slammed her armored forehead into his ¨C a move she was quickly growing to love ¨C and then bound his hands with flexi-cuffs. When she let the bound thug go and looked back at the scene, she winced. The damage to the car was noticeable and Batman was already there inspecting the fender as well as the wreckage of the stand. He glared at her and she felt herself whither. "It will buff out, right?" she asked, hopeful.
Batman nodded his head once. "But it could have been avoided." He pressed a trigger on his belt to alert the authorities to the location of the crashed auto. "Finish binding him and move on." He zipped up to the top of the department store roof, followed soon after by his young prot¨¦g¨¦.
Diana looked out her window drapes. Yes, the man was still staring at her house, more specifically; at her. Diana knew he knew who she was. Even though she had been moved to a part of Gotham that promised to be more quiet, her past still haunted her. Even with the assumed name of ''Rebecca Sanders'', somehow someone in the neighborhood discovered that she was really Diana of Themyscira, the former Lord Wonder Woman. After all, a simple change of name would never be enough to cover up her uniquely Amazonian stature and facial features.
"It will be okay, Diana," she reassured herself as she drew the drapes closed. "You may no longer have your Amazon strength," she thought aloud while casually examining a knife on a corner table. "But you still have your training."
It was times like these when she wished that the rehabilitation facility and Bruce Wayne were still required to do their regular visits. Bruce Wayne. She never would have expected that the pretty-boy face of Wayne Enterprises would become one of the only people she could rely on, but these were unusual times. He may have had a less-than-reputable reputation with women, but every interaction with him felt heartfelt and genuine. He really did want to help. She believed that there was more to him than the tabloids would have readers believe.
Sure, Bruce had on-again-off-again relationships with numerous women; most recently, the reformed Harleen Quinzel, much to Diana''s chagrin. But that had ended as quickly as it began, in a comical fashion after he stood her up last December. Diana laughed to herself as she remembered the tantrum the blonde woman threw when Bruce walked into the correctional facility the day after they were supposed to have dinner together that winter weekend. The rare moment of levity gave way to a slight tickle of a fantasy: what if his interest in her was more than just professional?
Then again, would he even want me in his life? She snuck another peek outside into the dark and saw another neighbor had driven a sign on his lawn. The sign had a picture of her from a past life wearing her tiara. A red ''x'' was neatly painted over her face. No... he probably wouldn''t.
The man with the knife came at him again. Batman easily swatted the man aside with the back of his gauntleted fist and turned his attention to the other man with the revolver. With the quick toss of a bat-a-rang, the gun was knocked from the man''s hand and a second later Batman was upon him.
Through all this, Batgirl was fighting off two more would-be muggers. She had temporarily knocked one down but the other was advancing quickly with a rusty pipe. Batgirl flicked her wrist and three discs were fired from her gauntlet. The blades slit the advancing man''s arm and hand as they whizzed by. With a yelp, the man stumbled back in a mixture of shock and pain; it was all the opening Batgirl needed to slam her boot into his chest.
Just as she landed, the other thug rammed his shoulder into her side. Before the thug could attack again, Batman gave him a taste of his own medicine. As soon as Batman slammed his armored shoulder into the thug''s back, Batgirl vaulted over Batman''s shoulder and delivered a flying kick to the man''s cheek. He fell, unconscious just as the first man she had kicked was staggering to his feet.
Rejected. Batgirl rolled towards him and popped up, delivering a solid uppercut to his jaw.
Batman finished his own opponent with a palm strike to the chin and then an open-hand jab to the eyes and brow. In pain, the man crumpled, holding his stinging face. Batman brought his boot down on the man''s head, knocking him out.
"That wasn''t so bad," Batgirl piped up once the last man was down. She adjusted her gauntlet.
"One minute, twenty seconds," was Batman''s reply. He had been working with her on getting their take-down times lowered. In the past months, their fastest had been ten lightly armed gang members in five minutes. But one minute twenty seconds for four guys while having to worry about their victim was pretty good. They were getting much better at reading each other''s movements.
"We can do better," she said as she grappled to the top of a nearby building.
"We will do better," Batman corrected her. Once he was on the roof, he looked to the distant Clocktower. "It''s getting late."
Curtis awoke to a rap-tap-tapping at his window. Groggy but wary that he lived in Gotham, he slid out of bed, picked up a broomstick, and then cracked the window. "Who''s there?"
"It''s me. Mawk," the darkness replied.
Curtis sighed, wiping his face with his free hand and dropping the broom. "What is it, dude?" he asked. "It''s like three-forty or something."
"I needed to talk to someone. Let me in, nuh?"
"And you couldn''t just text?" Curtis grumbled as he opened the window, letting his newest friend in. He was in the middle of a yawn when a chilled breeze swept in as Mawk clambered through the open window and into Curtis'' room. It must have been important for Mawk to leg it to Curtis'' side of town in the dead of night for a chat. Curtis knew that Mawk had friends who lived closer ¨C friends that Mawk had known longer ¨C so whatever topic was bouncing around in Mawk''s head must have been important. And Curtis had a feeling he knew just what that topic was.
Under normal circumstances, Mawk and Curtis would not have been friends. Throughout high school, they never ran in the same social circles and had a confrontational relationship at best. A few times they''d even clashed, Mawk being the aggressor and Curtis on the receiving end. But there is something about surviving an encounter with a murdering psychopath that draws people together. Now, despite their differences, a unique bond had forged between them. It was a connection born of shared trauma. Even still, for the former football star to seek out Curtis in the middle of the night was something special.
Curtis rubbed sleep from his eyes and cleared his throat. "What''s up?"
Mawk plopped down on the floor, wide awake and deep in thought. "I was running through scenario after scenario in my mind, and I think I have an idea as to when I could have acted."
Curtis rolled his eyes before replying. "What are you talking about?" He was pretty sure now he knew what subject had forced Mawk out of his home, but in the hope that he was wrong, Curtis sought clarification.
Mawk gave Curtis a knowing look.
"Oh, come off it, Mawk!" Curtis exclaimed in exasperation. "Not this again! I''m not your shrink, dude¡ Besides, what could you have done? You were slashed through an'' through. That was a nasty gash. Doctors said you''re lucky your guts didn''t spill out!"
"I know, but I had more than a moment to do something. I was the one that led him to the party room. Hell, I knew there''d been no botched order and I even saw the knife on his hip! Just as he headed through the double doors, I had a moment to do something! Something more than just saying ''sorry, wrong house,'' you know?" He started stuttering as different options tumbled from his mouth. "I could have called the police, grabbed a bat, or... or rushed to my dad''s room! He has a gun, you know."
"Yeah, I know. You brought it to school for your how-to speech freshman year and nearly got expelled. You''re lucky that your parents are loaded and the gun wasn''t." Curtis chuckled nervously. "But in all seriousness, that''s what happens when most people are faced with danger: in that moment they freeze. Deer-in-headlights and such. Uh, fight or flight!"
"In that moment..." Mawk repeated ruefully. "You don''t get it, do you? I had more than a moment. More than a split second. Enough time to think and act, but I didn''t. I let it happen, Curt. It''s my fault. You''re talking about fight or flight like I had no choice in the matter, but if that is what kicked in¡ Why did I choose flight?" He looked at Curtis for answers but could barely make out his friend in the night.
Curtis stretched and yawned. "If you ran for the gun, Mr. Death probably would have killed you and then everyone else. If you called the cops, he probably wouldn''t have cared; he seemed to want them there anyway. Heard a rumor that he taunted the cops before he invaded your house and gave them his location. You reacted how a normal, fully functioning human being would react."
"But you didn''t!" Mawk exploded. "I froze, you didn''t! That''s what bothers me! How is it that you were able to think straight enough to survive a fight with a man that brutal while I was just nearly another statistic? I was on the football team: split-second decisions are my thing! You''re just some tech geek, for crying out loud!" Mawk then added with a thumbs up: "No offense, dude. Tech geeks rock."
"Right..." Curtis replied dryly. "I guess I am not normal then, huh?"
"Oh, don''t be modest. Were you, like, Robin or something before the Justice Lords took over? You stayed cool even when you were being beaten. I don''t get it, man."
Curtis scratched the back of his neck nervously as he tried to calm his friend down. "Don''t worry about it. What I did... It wasn''t very smart. If everyone did the same thing I did every time there was a threat¡ª"
"The world would be a safer place," Mawk interrupted.
"...there would be a lot of dead people..." Curtis finished his sentence slowly, his voice trailing off with a look of concern. "Think about it, Mawk. He would have killed me if Batman hadn''t shown up."
"I do think about it, I can''t stop thinking about it. And that''s the problem. You made a difference that night; whether you would have been killed or not, you stood up for her while I... Curt, if it wasn''t for your interference, Kimber would likely be..." He swallowed whatever he was about to say next and thumped the carpet with a closed fist. "But it''s whatever." His voice shifted to a darker tone. "I just want to be that difference, you know? Make sure no one has to go through that trauma. I won''t choose flight. Never again." Mawk made his way to the window and climbed through.
"Mawk, what does that mean?" Curtis hurriedly got to his feet and went to the window. "Mawk, what the hell does that mean?" He called out, trying to get an answer from his friend. "Don''t do anything stupid!"
Mawk''s answered back, his voice distant and seemingly ethereal in the dark. "Oh, I won''t."
The man was hanging in the same position, same location. The black spheres that held his arms and legs sprawled out and the constricting, dark blue jumpsuit that he wore were all making him sweat heavily. The power in the facility had gone out maybe an hour before causing the room temperature to shoot up rapidly without proper ventilation and air conditioning thanks to the parching, dull red lights. Was it an hour ago? I think that''s what an hour feels like. Either way, It can''t be long now, he reassured himself.
Suddenly, an explosion shook the containment room. There were screams and yells outside the lead-lined door ¨C the screams and yells used to be distant but now sounded mere meters away. A chorus of gunshots chimed in his ears and a faint smile creased his face. It felt foreign to smile again, but it also felt good. With that weak smile on his lips, he closed his eyes.
He was falling. His eyes wanted to open, but he was so weak they remained shut. He hit the ground with a thud and lay there, feeling as if he could melt into the bare metal floor. Some time between him closing his eyes and now, the red lights in his cell had been deactivated so the ground was nice and cool. Lying there was the closest he''d come to lying on a bed in nearly a year. He was suddenly disturbed from his makeshift mat, lifted by a strong arm. A familiar militaristic voice spoke over the blaring alarms.
"Get your ass up, Kent, it''s time to get you outta here!"
The weakened man half-opened his eyes and saw a black man with crimson pupils in a dark crimson and black alien jumpsuit looking down at him.
With a determined tone, the man repeated his command. "I said get up!"
Kent found his new smile had never left his face. He had been waiting for this moment for a very long time; storing what he could of his remaining strength. "Let''s do this." The man stumbled to the proper wall as his friend used his ring''s power to shield them from incoming gunfire. Summoning all his might, Kent threw all of his stored strength into one powerful wall-shattering punch. The barrier gave way to his fist and, after his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he found himself staring into an empty shaft.
"Hold on!" John Stewart wrapped one arm around Clark Kent''s waist and held his other arm out. The ring on his fist pulsed crimson and then the two took to the air. Stweart soared up the shaft with his companion in tow and soon he smashed through the roof of the subterranean facility and into the fading blue and rich purple of a glorious sunrise. As the duo left the hectic scene behind, Stewart addressed Clark. "You were down on sublevel 52. They really didn''t want to take their chances. Took me about half the night just to find your cell!"
Kent laughed and said, "At least I am out now." In the warm, rising yellow sunlight, he felt his strength slowly returning. His power would never fully recover. All the power and mutations he had gained in his previous life were gone. And it was all thanks to a certain Dark Knight. But his time will come. Soon.
Part 1: Chapter 3
Diana lay in bed staring at the ceiling. She couldn''t sleep. She''d been lying down since eight but sleep still eluded her. Outside it was raining rather harshly. A seemingly eternal downpour peppered her roof consistently with heavy raindrops that sounded more like dulled machine gun fire than water. The storm had started off rather slow but had picked up steam in the two hours since she''d nestled under the covers. A flash of lightning in the distance partially illuminated her bedroom and a second or so later came the rumble of thunder. She couldn''t sleep, but it wasn''t because it was raining cats and dogs.
As her eyes quickly adjusted from the flash of lightning, she looked out of her bedroom window to the street. She couldn''t sleep because there was a curious sound outside, a sound not likely caused by the storm. She kept hearing a crunching around her window. At first, she thought it was her imagination running away with her, then when she could no longer write it off as a mere auditory hallucination, she thought it was the mild wind disturbing a tree branch. But now she was certain that the crunching noise was footsteps. Someone was rooting around the perimeter of her small home.
But I have no idea who or why, she thought to herself. Every time I look outside, I don''t see anything.
She''d already moved, of her own volition, out of the apartment the Wayne Foundation had granted her and into a quaint condo in the more quiet outskirts of the west end. It was time for a new life. She was no longer Wonder Woman, after all; now she was Diana Prince, a friendly young woman who''d moved to Gotham from a small European town. It was a role she was playing so well that even she was beginning to believe it. Now, with her hair grown out and an unflattering pair of glasses on her face, she felt sure that she no longer looked like Lord Wonder Woman.
Again lightning flashed and again thunder crashed. She instinctively drew the sheets closer to her body. She never liked rainstorms. The turbulent weather always made her feel sad ¨C as if Zeus himself was depressed. But who am I to play psychologist to a god? As she relaxed a bit in her bed, she heard the noise again, this time it was getting further away as if retreating.
She took a few moments to collect herself and then stood from her bed and crept to the window hoping to catch a look at her assumed creeper. With her back pressed against the wall, she peered outside just as another bolt of lightning seared the sky. In that brief flash of light, she caught a fleeting glimpse of a figure dashing across the street from her house toward a car parked along the road. She didn''t even get a moment to process what she''d seen before something large and dark crashed through her window. She screamed.
The rain and wind shot in through the breach, but she disregarded the mess. Her attention was focused on the object itself: a worn, red brick lay on the now-dirty carpet nestled among shards of glass. Twine was wrapped around the brick and pinned to the brick by this twine was a folded note. With shaky hands, she carefully picked up the object and removed the damp paper. She read the message out loud in fear. "Now, even you can die."
"Are you scared?"
The question caught him by surprise. Mawk had been droning on, admittedly a bit absentmindedly, on the firm couch in Dr. Morrison''s office. He''d been going to therapy since the start of the year at his parents'' behest. He didn''t really think he needed it, but if it made his folks more comfortable, he''d go with it. He knew he was fine, so usually he''d carry out his own filibuster and waste time yapping and chatting for the hour. Sure, sometimes Dr. Morrison would ask a question, but this one was straight out of left field. Mawk looked at his therapist with an incredulous smile. "I''m¡ sorry? What?"
The therapist looked down at his notes. "These biweekly sessions are for you to deal with the trauma of that night. However, you usually talk about any and everything but the event. Why is that?"
Mawk snorted but embarrassment still crept over his dark cheeks. He didn''t think his plan was that transparent. He forced a laugh. "Well, that''s probably because we''ve already talked about that night. It''s all we talked about when we started these sessions." He shrugged and slapped his thighs as if satisfied. "I''m sorry to waste your time like this but¡ª"
Dr. Morrison crossed his legs casually. "You''re right, Mawk. We did discuss that night back in January and February. But rather than talk about the attack, you continually focused on your girlfriend." He paused as he checked his notepad. "Kimber."
Mawk was silent for the first time that session.
Dr. Morrison scanned a few pages of his notes to strengthen his observation. "You repeatedly commented on the dress she wore. Twice today you''ve mentioned her early nights, unprompted. Here you point out that she was talking to another classmate at your party ¨C the same classmate who stood up to your attacker. In relation to the event, you''ve mentioned Kimber over twenty times, the classmate ¨C er, Curtis ¨C seven of those times¡ But Jean-Paul has only been mentioned thrice and you''ve never discussed his actions." The calm but piercing gaze of Dr. Morrison rested on Mawk and demanded an answer. "Are you scared?"
Mawk laughed nervously and shifted on the couch, sitting up now. "Scared? Scared of what?"
"Scared that she doesn''t actually love you."
Mawk bit the inside of his cheek and then drummed up his bravado. "We''ve had rough spots. We''ve been dating on and off since early high school, so that''s expected. That''s nearly four years. Now, we''re steady. Sure, she was hangin'' with Curt at my party, but we were on a break. And we discussed it: there was nothing there. After all, how could she say no to this?" He grinned and flexed through his letterman jacket, ignoring the dull pain that shot through his abdomen. "Don''t get me wrong, Curt''s a nice guy, but he''s just some dork. Sensitive and soft, y''know? And it''s not like he won that fight, right? He got his ass handed to him by Jean-Paul, so¡" He trailed off as memories of Curtis'' desperate struggle against Mr. Death resurfaced.
The therapist noted the pause. "If you feel you could have successfully fought off Jean-Paul ¨C and you did say you knew something was off while he was in the hallway alone ¨C why didn''t you confront him?"
Mawk swallowed hard and looked at the floor. His jaw tightened as he recalled the paralyzing fear that had control of his body that night. He''d chosen flight. He hated himself for that, hated himself with his whole being. Never again, he thought, Never again will I choose flight. But he couldn''t move on if he kept lying to himself, right? Right. His response came as an unconscious whisper. "Because I was scared."
Mawk exited Dr. Morrison''s office with a subdued look on his face. His eyes were cast down and his body hunched. Ordinarily when he left his therapy sessions he would head straight to Big Belly Burger and chow down on a Belly Buster Delight with extra lettuce, but now he knew he didn''t deserve that. Not today. No, today he realized he''d only been rewarding himself for his deflection.
He entered the elevator at the end of the hall and hit the button for the ground floor. As he descended alone, he thought over the day''s revelation. It was the first time at these sessions that he''d come away feeling rather introspective. The whole time he thought he''d been deftly dealing with the shrink, the shrink had actually put their degree to use and had been reading him like a book. He would have been impressed had he not been the target.
"That''s unfair," he said aloud in counter to his thoughts. "He did his job. I was only playing myself." He hadn''t realized just how much he''d given way by not talking about the event. His doctor had not only gently explained avoidance as a coping mechanism but also highlighted just how much he was concerned with what Kimber thought. He''d been weak that night, he''d demonstrated that he wasn''t the man that he should have been. He saw the way Kimber looked at him, like she had to be the one to protect him. It was ludicrous. He should have protected her, instead he''d left her to fend for herself and Curtis, of all people, had to pick up his slack.
Roughly, he shouldered the door and excited the office complex. As he did, he thought about giving Kimber a call to check up on her. He pulled out his phone as he walked to his car but his finger hovered over her contact and after a second or two of internal deliberation, he scrolled away from her name. He needed to talk to someone but not her, not after that conversation.
He scrolled up through his contact list, skipping Jerome, and stopped on seeing the name of a former football teammate, David Goggins. He opened the contact and read through the chat. Dave was a great guy, capable and reliable; however, he was also a huge lunkhead. As nice of a guy as Dave was, he wasn''t the type of person to have a sensitive conversation. He backed out of the contact and his eyes fell on Curtis'' entry, and he almost clicked it.
Curtis was one of the few teens he''d invited to the Winter Bash who''d visited him regularly in the hospital that wasn''t also already a close friend. He''d even spent a few long nights helping Mawk catch up on work he''d missed from being infirmed. The tech geek was a good listener and he needed someone that would listen. He opened the contact and hit the call button. Curtis had a good heart, he could understand the appeal his soft nature must have had on Kimber. Mawk stopped walking and his face darkened.
"Hey, what''s up, man?" Curtis answered the phone, sounding a bit distracted.
Mawk let the call linger for a second in silence as he thought about just how well Kimber and Curtis got along so quickly. More than that, he thought again about just how effective Curtis had been in the fight against Mr. Death. He''d joshed about Curtis'' beating to Dr. Morrison, but in reality he knew that Curtis had displayed more physical prowess than anyone would have expected from him. That night, Curtis had been that difference, not him. Never again. Animosity crept up Mawk''s throat.
"Mawk? You there?"
Mawk hung up the call swiftly and ignored Curtis'' redial. He watched the call screen flash with the default profile picture as Curtis called back. He couldn''t talk to Curtis. He couldn''t talk to anyone. This was something he had to handle himself. He waited for the call to go to voicemail before shooting Curtis a quick message about butt dialing him by accident and then silenced and closed his phone before Curtis could pry anymore. That was something the kid was also good at: prying.
He resumed walking to the parking lot, his mind now swimming with possible ways to find his strength ¨C his true strength. As he climbed into his car and started the engine, he checked the time. He grimaced. "Running late¡ Shit." He quickly put the car in reverse and backed out of the lot as quickly as possible. If he was going to get across city lines before five, he''d have to gun it down the highway and risk a ticket. Oh, how he wished his car was rocket-powered.
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
"Got your message, Boss. I thought we weren''t on for tonight?" Kimber entered the BatCave dressed in street clothes and approached Batman at the Batcomputer. "What''s the case?"
Batman kept tapping away at the keyboard. "Emergency reconnaissance. Received word that Clark Kent and John Stewart have holed up in Star City. We need to canvas the area to get an idea of what they could be after and who could be helping them."
"Oh really?" Kimber placed a hand on her hip in half-frustration. "So let me see if I have this right: The former Green Lantern escapes and you instead go to Arkham to talk to the green alien man. Then he breaks out another Lord, the former Superman no less, and we instead focus our efforts on catching Amygdala in Midtown. Now, all these weeks later, you''re ready to go on the offensive when they''re outside of Gotham? I fail to see the logic in that. We may match them man-for-man, but if I remember correctly, John has a new power ring; and with J''onn''s natural powers still functional, who knows what power the malevolent Man of Tomorrow retained!"
"If you don''t understand my method concerning this case, don''t worry." As Batman spoke, Kimber went to the Armory. She entered a stall and began changing into her uniform. "It''s to be expected. Just follow me and do as I say. John Stewart didn''t break himself out of Blackgate ¨C someone on the outside helped him. By trailing them, we may learn who it is. Once we know the full picture, we can plan to take them all down. And if things go south tonight, we wouldn''t match them man-for-man: we would have them outnumbered."
Batgirl exited the stall in full gear but still fiddling with her bracers. Confused at her mentor''s words, she looked around the cave as if a surprise guest would be waiting in the wings. Only blank walls and dark corners greeted her. "I''m sorry, but I only see you and me."
Batman said nothing. He simply stood from the Batcomputer''s chair and stalked off to the waiting Batmobile. The car had swiveled into place for a speedy exit by the time Batman reached it and soon he was behind the wheel.
Batgirl wasn''t bothered by her mentor''s lack of response, she had come to expect it. The Bat wasn''t one for wasting words. She guessed that in time she would learn what he meant. In the meantime, she just had to follow along and watch closely. Learn by doing, learn by watching: that''s what he''d drilled into her early in her training. It wasn''t an unfamiliar philosophy, either. Her mother had taught her an adage from her own profession: see one, do one, teach one. Now, she understood. She straddled her motorbike and flipped the ignition switch. The powerful bike rumbled to life beneath her and she took a few breaths to center herself.
"Stay close," Batman said over the radio. She heard the growl of the Batmobile waking from its slumber and soon the two peeled out of the cave like bats out of hell.
The dynamic duo reached the edge of Star City in record time. Though further from Gotham than Metropolis, Star City was still considered a sister city. Many times during the reign of the Justice Lords, Batman made appearances there to quash unrest and root out dissent. There were a few times that he even patrolled the city by air during the first year of their control. Though he had never established a permanent presence in the city, Batman still felt familiar in the more landlocked city. At least, more familiar than he ever did in Metropolis. He brought the Batmobile to a stop behind a defunct service station.
"Is this where we start?" Batgirl asked after she killed the engine on her bike. She checked her GPS. "Can''t help but notice we''re on the borders of the city."
"Not yet." He looked up to the roof. "Rooftops."
It took only seconds for the duo to get to the building''s roof. They were afforded a rather impressive view of Star City''s rather smogless skyline. The skyline was rather square and modern in design and Batgirl could easily imagine that some of the more ornate buildings sported chic interiors. Unlike Gotham, there were no brooding cathedral-like skyscrapers and unlike the pictures she''d seen of Metropolis the buildings did not reach for the sky. The city was almost quaint.
"Follow." Batman broke into a run forward and gave his instruction at the same time. He kept his back curved and his profile low as he held onto the edges of his cape to keep it from flaring out dramatically.
Bagirl recognized what he was doing and why they''d parked so far away. He wanted to keep a low profile. She gave chase and matched his stealthy technique with practiced precision. "Thinking Superman or G.L. could be watching?"
"Among others," Batman replied cryptically. The two bound over a gap between two buildings and kept running.
Batgirl thought about Batman''s response. They were strangers in a strange city and whatever goodwill Gothamites had to the Dark Knight would not exist here, especially after the Justice Lords subjugation. Even so, the chances of being seen galavanting over rooftops to meet with a shady confidant were slim, but if Superman and Green Lantern weren''t the only ones whose gaze Batman wanted to avoid, who else was there? They cleared another jump and halfway to the next building''s ledge, Batman put out his hand and signaled a stop.
Batgirl trotted to his side and waited. One minute turned into two, which turned into three, to five, seven. Eventually when Batgirl could contain her anticipation no longer, she fiddled with the holster of her bat-claw and broke the silence. "So what''s the deal? You have a lead or are we just going to wait for something to happen?"
"We''re waiting for my contact," Batman grunted in response. "He should be here soon."
She could tell he was annoyed by something, but she wasn''t sure if it was her impatience or his contact''s tardiness. He decided to test her luck. "How soon?"
"Now." The new, lighter voice came from behind the duo. Batgirl was caught by surprise and she spun around, fists cocked and ready to strike. Her eyes settled on a dark form that seemed to materialize out of the shadows. He hadn''t been there when they''d arrived and the gravelly surface of the roof would have made it difficult to land without making a sound, so how had she not heard him touch down? Her eyes narrowed behind her helmet as she waited for a cue from her mentor on how to proceed, just like when they''d questioned J''onn.
Batman stepped forward. He straightened his back, his cape swallowing him up and making him more a phantom than anything else. He didn''t appear the least bit pleased at the newcomer''s apparently relaxed attitude.
"You''re late." Batman''s first words to the contact were words of mild admonishment and confirmed to Batgirl that his annoyance had been, at least in part, a result of wasted time. However, it was the next word that shook Batgirl. "Robin."
"Another partner? I can''t believe you have another partner!" Kimber exclaimed at the top of her lungs as soon as she was back in the BatCave. "What on Earth made you think you needed another partner? What, have I not been pulling my weight?" They had arrived in the cave ten minutes earlier, but this one-way conversation had started the moment they were back in Gotham.
Through the whole ordeal, Batman had shown no emotion and given only little response. All he''d said, and repeated, was that she needed the practice.
"You keep talking about practice, but practice for what, exactly? I train in this cave nearly every evening! What on Earth could replacing me with this boy-toy be practice for?" Kimber stormed to the training room and began taking her frustrations out on a training dummy.
"You''re not fired. You''re not being replaced." Batman tersely answered her and quelled whatever concern for her position she may have had. "You hold your own well in a fight, but your detective and problem-solving skills need to be better. Remember the car crash you could have avoided? What about the botched job on Elliot Fudsworth? If your file hadn''t been double-checked, we may have had another murder on our hands."
Kimber glared at her target as she rained blow after blow on the dummy. "That was one time, boss!" She wheeled around with her shoulders squared and her nostrils flared. "One time! It hasn''t happened since and you know that!" She dared to throw an accusatory finger Batman''s way. "I understood your corrections. I''ve improved!"
"I''m not the one who corrected your work."
She tilted her head and her eyes widened slightly in surprise. "If not you... Then who?"
Batman only stared at her.
"Chiz..." Her shoulders sagged. "From back then?"
"He figured out where you went wrong before I''d left." Batman crossed his arms. "I''ve watched him for a while: he''s sharp. Thus far, our nightly escapades have still eluded mainstream news stations. Few acknowledge I am back and even fewer know of you. Yet he already knew about you when I''d approached him, even knowing that you were active before I''d returned. Now, he''s taken it upon himself to find out who you are under the helmet."
Kimber paused her beat-down and looked at her mentor in utter disbelief and confusion. "What the hell?"
"So, consider this a test," Batman continued. "A test of your problem-solving skills and detective work."
She placed a hand on the dummy to stop it from rocking from her last strike and then looked at the floor. "Well, how do I ace it?"
"Find out who is behind the mask before he finds you out."
Kimber was quiet for a moment as she stared at the floor, trying to figure out where to start. As much as she hated to admit it, the Boss was right: her detective skills were sorely lacking. She pensively leaned her rear on the top of a nearby table, propping herself up with her arms. "I didn''t realize I was such a shit detective," she said with a slight huff. "But if I really was holding you back, why not just train me the normal way? You''ve run me through theory on most else. Why this stupid test?"
Batman narrowed his eyes. "Nothing I do is stupid. Some skills are best learned on the job. It helps account for the pressure, the time crunch. It makes it more natural."
Even though he hadn''t growled his response as he usually did when berating her, Kimber still shrank away from his presence before responding, notably less antagonistic. "So you want me to find out who this ''Robin'' character is, huh?"
Batman barely nodded, already moved on to other things.
"Fine, when he gets here¡ª"
"He won''t be here." Batman didn''t even look up from his work as he interrupted her.
Kimber again expressed confusion. "But this is the BatCave, where else would you keep him? On a rooftop in a coop?"
Batman looked up from his work at her, and she swore that a slight look of amusement played on his lips. "What makes you think I only have one cave?"
Robin surveyed the city at his feet. It wasn''t Gotham, but Star City was in just as much need of help. When he was younger, he recalled stories of a drug epidemic sweeping the otherwise safe streets of Star City ¨C heroin, if he remembered correctly. Though the problem was forcibly settled during the reign of the Justice Lords, now that the fascist regime had fallen, drug rings were rearing their ugly heads again like a hydra.
A cry for help in a back alley cut into his thoughts and he made his way there, stealthily running to the roof edge, just as Batman taught him. He crouched low and looked down from his high perch. Two men, one woman. One man was holding the other from behind as the woman was stripping the captive of all his valuables. He analyzed the situation and recognized , just barely, the slight reflection of a knife in the woman''s hand.
"Hero time." Without a second thought, Robin dropped from the roof and landed, noiselessly, behind the captor. He jabbed two fingers into the man''s lower back, striking a nerve. The offender instantly let his captive go and staggered off to the side clutching his back.
Without even a second to lose, the former captive lashed out with a flurry of wild, brutal kicks to the thieving girl''s shins and arms. She cried out in surprise as the victim went on the offensive tackling her to the ground as he tried to wrestle back his belongings. With the thieving woman otherwise occupied, Robin quickly shot his elbow into her accomplice''s temple, knocking him out.
"SCPD, freeze!" As the man slumped against the brick wall, an officer rounded the corner of the alley and swept his light over the alley to get a quick lay of the situation.
Robin felt the beam wash over him as the officer sloppily shed light on the scene. As soon as the beam had moved on from his form, he grappled up. From overhead he watched the beam quickly shoot back to the empty spot he''d occupied moments ago. He grinned from his vantage point as his ear caught a muffled expletive as the officer likely second-guessed her eyes.
Neither the victim nor the perpetrators had seen him and the policewoman had likely only caught a subconscious glimpse at best of his legs. For all she knew, it could have been a friendly ghost that had interfered with the mugging. That bode well because his mission wasn''t to fight crime but observe and report. There were eyes that he didn''t want on him quite yet. Robin cracked a grin. Plus one for stealth.
Robin left the scene behind and stuck to the shadows as he headed for home base. On his way, he thought about how much he and the two Bats could actually hope to stop the potential threat to the world. With Superman and the Green Lantern free to wreak havoc, it would take a whole lot of power to take them down. It wouldn''t be as simple as a Kryptonite bullet and some yellow powder anymore, especially considering Stewart''s wardrobe change. Who knew what, if any, weakness the now-Crimson Lantern had? And if Batman''s hunch was right, there was an even more nefarious plot brewing.
Part 1: Chapter 4
A rap-tap-tapping echoed from outside stately Wayne Manor''s large oak doors. With caution, Bruce approached the entryway. "Who is it?"
There was a muffled answer. It was nowhere near intelligible, but it was there. Without bothering to repeat himself, Bruce looked to the security monitor displaying the outside entrance and, much to his surprise, saw Diana standing with her arms crossed over her chest in a huff and a scarf wrapped about her face tightly. Despite the scarf obscuring half of her face, he recognized her through the screen.
Hurriedly, Bruce opened the two large doors and welcomed the woman. "Diana! What are you doing here?" Ugh, that felt unnatural.
Diana brushed past him and immediately entered. "I don''t feel safe."
Come in, why don''t you? Bruce closed the doors behind her then quickly led her into a parlor that had a kitchenette. As he prepared a warm drink to calm Diana''s nerves, she unloaded on him everything that had been happening to her. The glares, the constant harassment, the threats¡ She understood their anger at first, that was why she''d been going by an assumed name. But now it was getting to be too much.
After she finished, Bruce took a moment to collect his thoughts. "I see." He took another pause. "Diana, I''m sorry you''re experiencing this. We expected pushback from the public so you know there are already proper channels you should raise these issues with. Relocation is all they can offer you."
"Exactly!" Diana sighed. "Great Hera, Bruce. It won''t matter! I''ve already spoken with the director of the rehab center as well as the authorities. They don''t even seem to care!" She pounded her fist against the wall in anger. "I''ve moved twice now and changed my name, but who I am, who I was, always gets out." Diana looked at the spot she had just struck. Not even a scratch. "I''m not even the same person anymore. I can''t fight them all off if they attack me." She closed her eyes as tears teased the corners. "I can die, Bruce. I don''t want to die."
The two sat in silence as Bruce worked out how best to reply. It was a rare moment of weakness in Diana, one he''d never really seen before. He had to choose his words carefully. "To say ''I know what you are going through'' would be a lie. I don''t know, and to be honest; I don''t think I ever will know." He moved in and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. A friendly gesture. "But I want to help you; however, what I can do through the Wayne Foundation only stretches so far. Relocation to a different suburb or even a different city is all I can offer you and, well... I can''t do much else."
Diana understood and she hated that. She didn''t want to understand that Bruce was doing all he could to ensure her safety. She didn''t want to understand that the most he could offer was lousy relocation and maybe, just maybe, a better home security system. In fact, she understood she was already stretching his charity with her unannounced arrival. She made her way to the door in defeat.
Bruce watched her go, he felt a pang to reach out and keep her safe. She''d been stripped of all her exotic abilities and then thrown, helpless by all accounts, into the very people she''d once subjugated with a golden fist. As unfair as it seemed, it was at least far better than how a few other Lords had fared. He kicked aside the desire to protect her in favor of the more practical, and legal, approach. He would work to get her relocated to a more distant part of Gotham. The Somerset District, as much as he didn''t like its proximity to Arkham Asylum, was also a quiet and more remote part of the city. "I promise that I will visit soon. Until then, catalog what you experience and take pictures if you can. The stronger the case for your safety, the more that can be done."
"You better visit¡ They shrink away when you come." Diana paused at the door and managed a smile. "I hear that he is back."
Bruce played dumb. "Who?"
"The Batman." The way she said it, she almost sounded excited.
"Oh, I''ve heard rumors, but nothing concrete," he scoffed as he dismissed Batman''s return to the nightlife.
Diana gave a half-laugh and asked if he thought Batman would be watching over her.
"If I were him, I would be," Bruce replied with a slight smile.
"Mawk, you idiot! You could have been killed!" Kimber''s voice wavered between anger and surprise. Moments ago she and her boyfriend had been walking down the boulevard on their way home from the strip mall when they had been suddenly surrounded by a small gang of youths. The trio demanded the couple hand over their cash and goods at knifepoint. Instead of complying, Mawk unleashed raw fury upon the three would-be gangsters until they could only limp home.
"What? They deserved it," Mawk replied coolly. "Did you want them to take the clothes we literally just bought?"
Kimber flung her arms around his neck and peppered his cheek with kisses. Usually, she wasn''t prone to such a public display of affection, but after that night, she sort of felt responsible for Mawk and his well-being. It was her presence at his party that brought pain into Mawk''s life. Though the attack was blamed on Jean-Paul Valley''s zealotry, Kimber knew better. If she hadn''t been there, Mawk wouldn''t have been injured. She still had nightmares about the party; about watching Jean-Paul slice Mawk''s gut open. She shivered as she pulled away from him, her nose rubbing against his and her hands running down his shoulders as she did.
Her mind couldn''t get the images of him beating the thugs down out of her head. The recklessness of the action aside, he''d actually shown some good form. In the past, he''d never really cared to learn how to fight, often he''d relied on his size when it came to physical altercations. But this time he''d actually thrown punches instead of wild haymakers, more like a boxer than a scrapper. Curious, she squeezed him and realized just how much muscle he''d packed back on in just the last few months. She frowned. "Are you... bulking up? You know what the doctors said about exerting yourself physically, damn it!"
Mawk sheepishly grinned. "Please, I was a star football player in high school; all that muscle doesn''t go away like that," he said with the snap of his fingers. "Kimmie, it''s just some light exercise to keep my spirits up. Doctor gave the okay!"
"If you say so..." She agreed verbally but she didn''t believe him. She''d been with Mawk on and off since their Sophomore year in high school and she was confident that he had never been that big. Couple that fact with the months he had been in and out of the hospital and relegated to limited physical activity as he healed, Kimber was certain that this was a new development. Even so, she decided not to press the issue any further. After all, he''d just bought her a healthy number of tops from Threaded and they were on a date. Maybe he just wanted to keep up his appearance to her? Looking a gift horse in the mouth was never a good idea. Pushing the issue would just agitate both of them.
Mawk unlocked the car and slipped into the driver''s seat of his convertible as Kimber placed her bags in the trunk. As he waited for his date to get in the car, he controlled breaths and rested his hands, still shaking from the adrenaline rush, on the dash. His mind was racing. The fight had been invigorating, rejuvenating, but it had also been costly. The teens were light work but maybe he''d shown his hand too much? After all, Kimber had swooned into his arms but she''d also scrutinized him. She was more astute than he''d expected. He''d have to remember that.
The car shook a bit as Kimber slammed the trunk closed and ran her finger along the shiny and curvy red car frame. Her mouth twisted to the side as the events again replayed in her mind, this time judging the street fight. He''d been careless a few times, turning his back to a target while focusing on another, leaving him blatantly open a few times. Tunnel-vision: a problem she''d had to deal with herself when she''d first started as Batgirl. She had to step in a few times, unbeknownst to Mawk, to cover his back. She revised her summary of the events. Despite his display of form, he was still just a brawler; and a careless one at that.
"So¡" Mawk broke the silence. "You still feeling the movies?"
"Uh huh," Kimber mumbled, mind still preoccupied.
"Terrif''!" Mawk exclaimed, doing his best to shift the attitude in the car. "I don''t want to miss the previews!"
Mawk pulled out of the parking space carefully, then exited from the lot. As he watched the cross-traffic, his trademark grin returned. "Oh, and by the way," he said, "Don''t think I didn''t see you get in your licks, too. I saw the way you ''accidentally'' would trip or bump them when I had my back turned. You were trying to hide it, but I saw."
Kimber looked up at him and smiled nervously. "What do you mean?"
"I know you can fight, Kimmie. I mean, you''re the daughter of a cop! Why wouldn''t you know some of the basics? I don''t know why you''re trying to hide it, but it''s alright. Your secret''s safe with me." He winked at her, then pulled into traffic.
"When are we going to do something?" Kent paced the floor in anticipation. They had been hiding out in Star City for too long and he was getting antsy. Not because he was impatient for the justice he deserved against the Dark Knight, but because they had not left their hideaway for days.
"Patience. We''re still trying to find her," Stewart replied evenly. He already knew that Wonder Woman was ''rehabilitated'' and that the Martian was supposedly nothing more than an inactive, inert alien patient at Arkham. But Shayera''s whereabouts were still unknown. For whatever reason, she was hidden and hidden well.
"Look, we have to do something soon. I''m starting to get cabin fever here. I need to stretch my legs... and my powers. I have to know what my upper limit is now, and I''m sure you''re eager for a test run of that gaudy ring of yours, too. So what better way to let off some pressure than enforcing law and order?"
Stewart tensed up and his grip threatened to crush the ceramic coffee cup in his hand. He knew his partner was right: the longer they hid, the safer they were; but the longer they hid, the weaker they became.
During his time in Blackgate, Stewart had done his best to stay in top form. The gangs in the prison made sure of that. Most of the other inmates were locked up because of him. However, they quickly learned that he was still a formidable fighter without his ring. He exercised daily and though he didn''t pick fights, he sure as hell ended them. Even so, he recognized that a year of captivity had dulled his skills. Fighting the Calaveras de Santa Presca, an offshoot of Bane''s gang in Blackgate, was not even close to fighting the Batman.
With a resigned grumble, Stewart went to the closet to change. "Fine. Let''s go."
Curtis Walker watched as two men, one in blue and one in gray, shook hands behind closed glass doors. They exchanged a few words and one of the men glanced in his direction and then pointed his way. The other man nodded a few times in a confirming way and smiled before a final goodbye was exchanged and the man in the gray headed his way.
"Everything went well?" Curtis asked, doing his best to hide his excitement.
"Of course," the man in the suit replied. "Mainland Associates are more than satisfied with the promised product. You did good work, kid. Keep it up."
Curtis brimmed with pride. He had been working for Wayne Enterprise''s tech division, WayneTech, since the second week of summer and quickly gained a reputation for being one of the most efficient intern field techs in his branch. Though he wasn''t sure why the company had stationed him in Star City, he was glad for the change of scenery. Sure, Star City had its share of problems and yeah, the commute from Gotham to Star City was at times hell on earth, but it wasn''t the first city to spawn a super-criminal and that was enough to keep him happy.
He and his supervisor exited the Mainland Associates office building where the company car waited for them, idling against the curb. The hired driver opened the passenger doors for both WayneTech employees and Curtis slid into the back and scooted into the far seat.
As Curtis buckled in, his boss, seated next to him, opened his phone and read through a few missed texts from his husband as he waited for the driver to get in the car. "Well, Walker," he said without looking up from his phone. "Day''s ended early so why don''t we get some grub? Your choice."
"Wait, really?"
"Sure, why not."
"I saw a Bibbo''s Burger on the way here earlier..."
"Off Cardinal. I know the one," the man in front replied. He finished his text and then began keying in the address as the driver settled into his seat.
"You''re getting Bibbo''s?"
"Yeah. My treat." The supervisor tilted his head in Curtis'' direction. "Use the company card. I''m sure Mr. Wayne can cover it."
Curtis couldn''t help but smile. The money was great, the benefits were awesome, and because of his hard work, he would soon have enough saved to move from his father''s place to an apartment of his own. He was still on the schedule for Star City for three more days yet he had already finished his demonstration of the latest in network security WayneTech had to offer. The potential client was so impressed that they had signed on the dotted line after only a few hours of deliberation, not a few days. The last three days would be his to explore the city.
Kent sat down on a bus stop bench just outside the doorway of the hideout. He tugged uncomfortably on the dumb jacket Stewart had forced on him. He''d managed to purchase a vintage blue tee-shirt with his iconic S-shield printed on it, dirt cheap considering recent events, but Stewart was adamant that he not wear something so polarizing. At first Kent assumed it was out of jealousy considering Stewart wouldn''t be in Green, but then he remembered ''Superman'' was not held in the highest esteem. Even so, he wasn''t too happy about hiding who he was. They wouldn''t be hiding forever.
As he waited for Stewart to join him in the sun, his thoughts drifted to Lois and how she was. After he''d been moved to the more secure S.T.A.R. Labs facility, she hadn''t been able to visit him. Not that she''d visited him often. While he''d been incarcerated, Lois Lane had only visited him a handful of times ¨C and one of those times it had been for an interview ¨C a rather scathing and clinical interview.
He remembered the first day she''d visited him in holding. She glared at him with an intensity he''d never seen before. The tense eye contact had felt like an eternity and he''d expected that glare to be the extent of her visit, so when she addressed him, the shattered silence felt profane. She''d made a harsh quip about how the tables had turned: when he''d last seen her, she''d essentially been a prisoner in her own apartment for her safety, and now he was a prisoner ¨C for the world''s safety. Had the situation been less grim, he would have laughed. He knew she wasn''t a fan of what the Justice Lords had done, but now that it was over he wanted to see her again.
Stewart exited the ramshackle hideout and approached him. "Ready?"
Lois would have to wait for now. He had work to do. The sunglasses on his face disguised him enough for no one to recognize him and he''d tousled his hair for good measure. He looked over at his partner. Stewart''s ring definitely had some new tricks. It hadn''t just projected a fa?ade of clothing over his body, it had also subtly changed his facial features. He now looked like a slightly younger, thinner man. Kent grinned. "I wouldn''t even recognize you."
"It''s supposed to be a disguise," Stewart replied, missing the humor in his friend''s voice. "If people recognized me, then what would be the point?" He brushed by Kent with his hands in his jacket pockets and headed down the sidewalk
Kent rolled his eyes as he stood from the bench to follow. "Sometimes I wonder which one of us is really the alien."
Curtis exited the parked car and entered the fast food joint. The juicy fattening smells of burgers and fries filled his nasal cavity as he inhaled deeply. He''d been up working since seven and the demonstration had taken three hours. Aside from a disappointing bag of air that happened to have a few chips in it, he hadn''t eaten all day. His eyes scanned the menu as he tried to rein in his hunger before ordering. "Can I get a double patty and a medium Soder Cola Blitz, please?"
The less-than-interested cashier nodded mechanically and then asked if that would complete his order.
Curtis looked out the door to where his supervisor and the driver still sat. When he knew he had their attention, Curtis gestured at the menu. The driver shook his head and the supervisor gave him a flippant wave. "Yeah, that''s it," Curtis replied. He handed over the sleek, black WayneTech company card nervously. He wasn''t sure why, but he had a distinct worry that the card would be declined. His worry proved unfounded as his receipt printed out and the disinterested cashier messily ripped it from the machine and handed it over.
"Order 85. Next!"
Curtis quietly thanked the teen behind the counter and then sat down at a table, alone.
He watched the patrons of the eatery with a curious eye. Some stood around the counter awaiting their orders, others sat at tables gorging on fast food and talking with each other. One thing that stood out to him was just how friendly the people seemed to be. Unlike in Gotham, a lot of these seemingly perfect strangers found ways to at least have brief conversations with one another. Despite the restaurant being moderately full, Curtis'' order did not take more than five minutes. He had to hand it to the Bibbo''s staff, their service was always lightning-quick.
"You guys really didn''t want any?" He held up the bag to try and tempt his companions as he got in the car. "It''s good, you know."
His supervisor shook his head. "Had some at their first location when I was on a trip in Central City. Ended up eating it nearly every day for a month straight. I guess you could say I''m over it."
Curtis nodded his head, then turned his attention to the driver. "Roland?"
"Sorry, sir," Roland replied. "But the wife already packed me a lunch. She''s on a health kick again, and I can''t chance upsetting her."
"Oh, tough break." Curtis sunk his teeth into the junk food.
"So, aside from super strength, any idea what other powers you still have?"
Kent shook his head. "Being cramped underground in the detention cell didn''t let me explore my options." He turned his head and looked at Stewart. "And being saved just to be stuffed in another dank room didn''t help."
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"I said I was sorry." Stewart straightened up angrily as he walked, his posture mirroring his insincere apology. "It''s the best we could¨C Hang on." He held up his hand and looked at his ring. It faintly glowed. "It''s picking up something."
Kent closed his eyes. There was a time when he would have been able to hear nearly everything and distinguish whatever John''s ring was detecting, but thanks to a certain power-stripping weapon, all of the mutations he had picked up from Earth''s yellow sun were gone. He could still hear more than the average man ¨C much more, actually. However, it was a fraction of his former power. He couldn''t hear everything anymore. And he couldn''t wait for his fingers to wrap around Batman''s throat and throttle the life from the mortal. "What is it?"
"This way." Stewart marched toward an alleyway and faced the dark path, pausing at its mouth. "Some things never change, huh?"
Kent nodded and then led the way into the alley. On approach, he heard a muffled moaning. Just behind an industrial trash dumpster, he saw two men roughing a third man up: one had his hand clamped over the target''s mouth as the other attacker relentlessly pounded his fists into the victim''s stomach.
"Barely year''s gone by..." Stewart''s disguise shifted in a crimson aura from clothes to his militant bodysuit and flew to engage with his face contorted.
Kent rushed forward as well and slammed his shoulder into the closer attacker''s side. The man was knocked into the brickwork of the building a few feet away and then slid to the ground unconscious. Simultaneously, Stewart zapped the man restraining the victim with his ring and then finished him off with a swift boot to the face. "Not bad for old men, huh?" He grinned at Kent.
"Who are you?" The victim stuttered in shock.
"Green ¨C er ¨C Crimson Lantern and this," Stewart gestured to Kent, "is¡ª"
"Superman," Kent interrupted. He took off his sunglasses and the stupid purple jacket Stewart made him wear revealing his Superman tee shirt. He stepped forward with determination and offered a confident but comforting smile.
The man, instead of thanking Kent or Stewart, quickly made a bee-line out of the alleyway while shouting for the police.
"What the hell, country boy?" Stewart exclaimed in barely restrained rage as the man ran away. He knew what was coming next. "You couldn''t help being the center of attention for one day?"
At a stoplight, Curtis looked through the tinted window. He slurped up what remained of his drink and then chased it down with some fries. "Never thought I''d see someone rock Big Blue''s symbol again."
"Huh? Maybe the guy''s wearing it ironically?" The driver looked out the window and chuckled. "It''s a little early for Halloween, eh?"
"He looks to be in a rush, too" Mr. Browning added.
The light turned green. As the car accelerated, the three occupants watched the curious pedestrian sprint down the sidewalk. The sight of the man bolting on the opposite sidewalk garnered only a nervous chuckle from the driver, but when someone in a black and red glowing jumpsuit followed after the first man, Roland stopped chuckling and a furrow creased his brow. At the same time, sirens picked up.
"Roland! Behind us!"
The driver jerked the wheel sharply to the right curb just as a squad of police cars raced by them. The squad narrowly missed the driver''s side and they screeched to a halt in front of the two strangely-dressed men, cutting them off. The officers exited their vehicles in one smooth motion, guns drawn and demanding full surrender over their car speakers.
Curtis could only watch from the car''s back window as the scene retreated into the distance.
"Good ears, kid." Mr. Browning said as he caught a fleeting glance of the unfolding incident in the side mirror. "Roland, long before we''re back at the hotel?"
"Should be there in ten¡ Get out of this crazy scene."
Curtis numbly kept watching through the rear window. Wow... He watched as the man with the blue shirt managed to flip a squad car onto its side with minimal effort. That must have been Superman...
"I told you to ditch the stupid shirt!" Stewart scolded his partner over the sound of gunfire. He didn''t feel like having a brush with the law so early, but there was no way past it now.
He''d instructed Kent to not wear anything that would be recognizable as Superman. Even so, the man was adamant on wearing the shirt so Stweart had instructed him to at least cover it up. That was the point of the jacket and shades. But Kent apparently didn''t care. He wore the blasted S-shield and tore off the jacket the first chance he got, outing both of them in the process. That was exactly what had gotten them into this mess. Stewart let loose another volley of energy bolts as cover for Kent to tip over another police cruiser.
"Two more cruisers, and we should be able to get away before more show!" Kent grunted as he finished tipping the car. A crimson wall separated him from another hail of bullets as he rushed to the bus stop from where the Crimson Lantern was taking cover.
"Remember the good ol'' days when you could fly and were bulletproof?" Stewart joked.
"Oh, now you have a sense of humor?" Kent grimaced and chucked a bus stop bench at a group of cops. As the bench knocked down an officer, Stewart materialized a crimson shield, effectively putting a stop to the gunfire for a while.
"I''m just saying," Stewart continued with a beleaguered smirk, "Would make getting out of this situation easier."
"Shut the hell up." Kent cocked his head. He could hear one officer frantically radioing for backup, but that wasn''t all he heard. There was someone behind them. "You hear that?"
"What?" Stewart turned just in time for a green arrow to whiz by his ear. "What the devil?"
Crouching on a nearby fence was a man dressed in green padded tights and a dark green vest with a matching bycocket. In his hands was a green compound bow and a green hood hung from his back under which a curious quiver of arrows protruded.
"Who the hell are you?"
The emerald archer ignored all inquiry. "I always hoped this day would come. Been wanting to do this for a long time. That was a warning shot." He nocked another arrow. "And this is the real deal." He let the arrow fly and its blunt tip struck Stewart in the sternum, sending the former hero to the ground.
"That was a mistake, little man." Kent rushed forward to grab the mystery attacker.
Without missing a beat, the green-clad fighter drew and fired a volley of arrows. Kent simply batted them away with his hands and leaped, tackling the man to the ground. "Who are you?" he demanded.
"The name''s ''Green Arrow''." He squinted behind his domino mask. "And you are in my city."
With explosive force, Green Arrow knocked the super-powered man off of him. He then rolled back just as Kent stood and fired another arrow. This arrow, with a boxing glove on the tip, smashed into Kent''s face. This victory was short-lived, however, and Green Arrow was blasted back by a dark beam.
The archer struggled to stand. "Oh, I got something special for you, Army-boy." He threw a blue ball at Stewart and then fired an arrow after it. Stewart flinched at the thrown object allowing enough time for the arrow to puncture the ball. A fine yellow powder exploded and covered Stewart. "Just for you. Love that shade; goes with your eyes." The archer smirked.
Stewart simply arched an eyebrow. "That your best shot, cowboy?"
Green Arrow''s masked eyes turned to fear as he realized that the yellow powder had no effect.
From behind him, Kent''s unfazed voice rang out. "You''ll have to try harder than that."
The green-clad man found himself flanked; but with this scuffle distracting Stewart, the energy shield the renegade Lantern had used to block the police dissipated. Now with a clear line of fire, the police opened fire on all three participants. Stewart regenerated the dark red energy barrier between the police and himself and Kent, ensuring that the officers would not interrupt. But just before Kent could make a move to subdue Green Arrow, smoke enveloped the three combatants. The trio started coughing and waving their hands, completely oblivious to an unseen fourth party swooping down and scooping up the archer.
Once he was on top of a nearby building, Green Arrow looked at his rescuer. "I had that!"
The younger man before him, dressed in a dark orange and black suit, shook his cowled head. "If that is how you planned to take them down, you won''t live long."
Green Arrow cracked a smile but his demeanor was still threatening and upset. "And who are you supposed to be?"
The caped young man pointed to the ''R'' on the cape buckle at the center of his chest. "You''ve never heard of ''Robin'' before?" He looked at the archer. "Because if you''re trying to be Robin Hood, back off. I''ve got dibs on the name."
"Robin?" Green Arrow frowned. "As in ''Batman and Robin''?" He turned away just as Kent, recovered from the smoke, jumped to the top of the building. "Your mentor has done enough ''helping''." He launched an arrow at Kent.
Robin threw a few shurikens at Kent as well, slowing the former Man of Steel. "I''m pretty sure you could use my help about now."
Crimson Lantern rose slowly from street level and hovered behind Kent, his dark aura distorting the world around him. From below, both Robin and Green Arrow could hear the utter confusion from the police force on the street.
Green Arrow looked from the rapidly approaching Kent to the closing-in Stewart and then to Robin. "How about this?" He readied a trio of trick arrows on his bow. "If you help me take down these two jokers," he fired the arrows to keep Stewart back, "I''ll give your mentor a second chance. Deal?"
Robin smirked under his cowl. "Deal." With a quick spring forward, he tackled the recovering Stewart to the ground.
Diana looked up from the dinner dish she was preparing to the sunset outside her window. The reds and purples of the sky calmed her, and as she watched the birds fly overhead, she felt a pang of nostalgia for the days she was as free as they were. A movement on Earth disturbed her musings and she looked at the house across the street. Her neighbor was heading over, and he didn''t look too happy.
"Hera be with me." She whispered a quick prayer and then hid a kitchen knife behind her back.
Ding dong.
"Who is it?" Diana peered through the peephole. It wasn''t just the one neighbor: he had joined a group of individuals already gathered on her doorstep.
"You know who it is, woman," spat a man in front.
Diana didn''t open the door. "What can I do for you?"
A woman''s voice spoke up. "We would just like to talk with you, sweetie." Though her voice was melodic and soft, Diana knew that her intentions were likely anything but pleasant.
"I''m sorry... It''s getting late and I''m going to sleep soon," she stammered. "I will have to speak with you all tomorrow." Perhaps when the sun isn''t setting on the horizon.
She turned from the door and could nearly feel the glares beyond it.
"So are you gonna go see her?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Oh, come on." Batgirl thumped Batman''s arm lightly a few times. "I was on my way to the ''Cave when I saw that woman leaving the Manor! That was Wonder Woman, right? And you were visiting her for a few weeks a while ago." She grinned at her mentor as the night air whipped her hair into her face. "You should ask her out."
Batman''s eyes narrowed. "No."
"What do you mean ''no''? She''s so into you!" Batgirl could hardly contain her amazement. "And don''t deny that¡ª"
"She is an obstacle," Batman interrupted, eyes still set on the streets below Wayne Tower.
"She''s afraid," Batgirl countered quietly.
"She was trained by the best Amazon warriors. She will be fine."
Sirens silenced further conversation. They both looked down to the street. Two fire trucks rushed opposite the flow of traffic with lights blaring. From the duo''s perch, it seemed more like two angry red ants among a colony of black.
"What''s that about?" Batgirl asked. She looked at her heads-up display to make sure she was tuned in properly to Gotham''s emergency channels. She was, but they were all silent on this matter. Whatever the emergency was, it wasn''t being made public.
Batman didn''t reply; he recognized the direction they were heading in. He quickly jumped from his perch. His cape activated and he began his glide.
"I''m right behind ya, boss." Batgirl''s voice came over his cowl''s radio.
"No!" Batman growled back immediately. "I''ll handle this on my own."
"But¡ª"
"Go back to the cave."
"But surely¡ª"
"That''s an order!" he barked again.
"Yes, sir." Batgirl released her cape, fired her grapnel at a building to her left, and boosted into a glide in the direction of Wayne Manor.
Batman reached a specific crossroad and landed on top of an apartment complex. From there, he watched the two fire trucks roll by below him. Do not turn left, he thought as if he could will them in any other direction. But turn left they did and his fears were confirmed.
He had a cache nearby where he could change his skin. Batman would only complicate matters where the fire trucks were going, but Bruce Wayne could be a welcomed sight. With little more thought given to what was happening, Batman raced towards his safety cache with his next stop being Diana''s neighborhood.
A peculiar smell filled Diana''s lungs. Smoke! She bolted up fast and looked around her room. She quickly got up from her bed and rushed to the door then paused; the knob was hot. Very hot. She could feel it radiating heat with her hand inches away from it.
What do I do? In the past, she would have burst through the door unharmed, her magical Amazonian skin would have kept her safe for all the time needed to escape. Unfortunately, now she was¡ª "Human." She uttered the word like a curse under her breath. Soon the flames would overtake her room. She needed a way out.
She rushed to the connected bathroom and soaked a towel in the sink. She wrapped the cool, drenched towel around her hand and then managed enough courage to open the door. The flames were right there, just waiting to lick her up.
"Great Hera!" She slammed the door and used her covered hand to smash out her second-story bedroom window. Looking outside, she saw the fire department pulling up. Already one truck had started dowsing the house''s lower level with water.
"Up here!" she shouted.
This got the attention of the firefighters... and a disgruntled neighbor. Before he could be restrained, the man threw a Molotov cocktail at her window, engulfing the window-side of her room in flames as well. Unsure of what to do next, she did the only thing she could do. She wrapped the water-logged towel around her mouth and nose and sat on the floor, waiting for the end.
Bruce sat in his car across the street. His anxiety levels were rising as the scene continued. "I shouldn''t have changed. As Batman, I could have gotten her out by now."
In the fire department''s defense, they would have gotten her out sooner had the man not thrown the Molotov, but even still they were taking a longer time than Bruce would like. He was about ready to get out of his car and do it himself when finally two firefighters smashed down the front door to get inside. "About time."
From her spot on the floor, she could hear the firefighters struggling to get to her. The first one to ax through the door began blasting water over the scene with a portable hose as the second one grabbed hold of Diana from the waist.
"C''mon, Trevor!" the water-spewing one cried out. "I don''t have much fluid left!"
The man holding Diana covered her with a fire-retardant quilt. "Keep your head down, Wonder Woman," he instructed.
Between coughs, Diana managed to ask for the man''s name.
"My name''s Captain Trevor; Steve Trevor." The trio approached the stairs and started their descent to the first floor. "Stop!"
Just as the three stopped running, the ceiling gave way, blocking their path.
"What now?" the other fireman asked.
Steve looked to the flaming pile before them and sighed. "They just don''t make ''em the way they should, huh?" He kicked the pile that was once the ceiling and some of the debris gave way. The flames took part of the stairs with it. "Great..." He turned to Diana. "Think you can make the jump?"
Diana managed a nod. "Perhaps." She felt like she was about to cough up a lung, but if her life depended on a leap of faith, then she would take it.
"On the count of three." The other fireman started counting. "One. Two. Three!" The trio jumped too little too late. The stairs gave way and they fell.
"No!" Bruce watched from his car as part of the second floor collapsed into the home. "Diana!" In one explosive motion he was out of the car.
"Sir, stay back!" A firefighter called out as he continued to aim the hose at the house. Another two firefighters blocked Bruce and others to prevent them from approaching the flaming wreck.
Before Bruce could retort back, three people emerged from what remained of the front door: the two on each side being supported by the man in the center.
"Trevor!" Two firemen rushed forward to collect the three. The fireman on the right side was quickly taken to a fire truck and his helmet removed. The man still standing, Trevor, escorted Diana a safe distance from the house to a waiting ambulance.
Bruce rushed to her side. "Diana! Are you alright? I was in the area when your home''s alarm system went off and notified me." It was a terrible lie but considering the circumstances, he didn''t think she wouldn''t think much about it.
Paramedics lifted and placed her on the awaiting gurney and Steve removed his helmet to take his first breath of fresh air. Diana reached out and took Bruce''s hand.
"I''m fine, Bruce. But a little late for a visit, don''t you think?"
Bruce managed a smile. "I suppose this isn''t the best time for me to discuss relocation? I spoke with the administrators of the facility and¡ª"
Diana closed her eyes as paramedics began loading her into an ambulance. "Once again, I don''t think that would be enough." The doors to the ambulance slammed closed as the first responders quickly prepared to transport her to Gotham General.
Bruce looked to Steve and then to the retreating ambulance. "Will she be okay?"
Steve slapped Bruce''s back heartily. "She''ll be fine, man. She''s Wonder Woman, remember? It''ll take more than a burning house to keep her down. Just some rest and fresh air and she will be right as rain." He turned to the charred remains of her house as the fire finally started to die down. "Her condo on the other hand..."
"You fought a good game today, kid." Green Arrow was lying on a gravelly rooftop out of breath.
"You''re not so bad yourself," Robin shot back at his new circumstantial ally. "What with the bow and all." He, too, was winded. He sat with his back against a chimney stack, staring into the starry sky.
"Hey, I''d better be good with it if it is my schtick."
They hadn''t actually won the fight against the Crimson Lantern and Superman. But they had forced the two veteran fighters to retreat after more police forces arrived, and that was basically the same thing in their book¡ At least for today. "So what, exactly, did your mentor send you here for?"
"Recon." Robin stood slowly and walked to the building''s edge. He peered over the ledge of the roof at the street below. "He''s paranoid about something other than those two superpowered perps running free."
Green Arrow huffed. "Really? What could be worse than those two running amok?"
Boom.
"I dunno." Robin shrugged. "That, maybe?"
It didn''t take the two long to get there: Robin glided from rooftop to rooftop while Green Arrow swung from rooftop to rooftop. Upon arriving near the scene, it was readily apparent that neither Kent nor Stewart was the cause of the explosion. Instead, just one man with strangely pointed hair and rich green eyes. About his shoulders was a regal green cape.
"Oh, don''t tell me someone is already stealing my look!" Green Arrow stood from his vantage point and readied an arrow.
"Green must be in this season..." mused Robin. "Hang on a tick." He raised one hand before Green Arrow''s bow and used the other to hold binoculars to his eyes. "Oh, terrif..."
"What?"
Robin replied quickly, "We need to get out of here, now."
"Why? It''s one walking fashion faux pas." Again the Emerald Archer readied his arrow. "We just held off Superman and a former Green Lantern. We can handle this guy."
Again Robin blocked Green Arrow''s shot. "No, we can''t. Trust me on this."
The two stared at each other, neither one backing down for a time. Finally, Green Arrow nodded, begrudgingly, and lowered his bow. "Fine."
Suddenly, Green Arrow spun around and let his arrow fly. It struck true, nailing a woman in dark garb and a face mask to a rooftop pigeon coop. "C''mon."
Robin didn''t need to be told twice. He and Green Arrow approached the spy quickly but cautiously. His fingers wrapped around the woman''s neck fiercely. "Who are you?" He did his best to sound demanding.
The woman''s eyes breathed fire. "I am merely a messenger," snarled the woman in a heavy accent. She wrenched her arm free of the arrow and kicked her knee into Robin''s chest. Even through the padding he could feel the bruising hit. On instinct, his fist shot upward and connected with her chin, knocking her back.
"I got your back, kid!" Green Arrow leaped over Robin and let loose a flying kick. Stunned, the ninja fell. Not wanting to give her a second chance, Green Arrow clamped his foot across her neck. "I have questions. You have answers. Cough them up unless you feel like breathing through a tube."
The ninja looked around but refused to relent. In a strange, discordant motion she managed to worm her way from under Green Arrow''s boot and struck him behind the knee. Before he even knew what was happening, Green Arrow was on his knees before the woman and felt the cold steel tip of a knife pressed against his throat. He looked up at the woman towering over him.
"You are a fool believing you could contain a shadow," she berated him. "And now, you die a fool''s death."
"Maybe in another life, princess." Green Arrow nodded behind her.
She only had a moment to turn before Robin''s bo staff connected with the base of her skull knocking her out.
"Y''know," Green Arrow stood as he spoke. "We make a pretty good team."
"Sorry." Robin thumbed a trigger on his belt. "I''m already taken."
Part 1: Chapter 5
The Batmobile idled with a low rumble, nestled in a narrow alleyway and hidden from the potential late-night jogger. The car wasn''t alone in this outdoor corridor. Three figures huddled around the hood of the car and carefully watched a fourth figure laying on the hood.
"Was I right?" Robin asked his mentor, somewhat eagerly.
Batman barely nodded. "I''d recognize that symbol anywhere." His thumb brushed over the insignia emblazoned on the ninja''s shoulder pad. "She''s a scout. A scout from the Society of Shadows."
Green Arrow leaned against the car with an air of casualness. "The Society of what now?"
"Society of Shadows?" Robin restated.
A dumb look.
"League of Assassins?"
Another dumb look.
Before Robin could throw out another alias, Batman explained. "The Society of Shadows is a criminal organization made up of dangerous and highly trained specialists, like her, led by an eco-terrorist named Ra''s al Ghul: a man who cannot die."
"Sounds more like a nuisance than a danger. Especially with a name like that." Green Arrow was obviously skeptical. "So this ghoul person, is he a ninja, too?"
Batman turned to Green Arrow, indignant, and his eyes narrowed. "Ra''s is a dangerous man! He has been alive for over six hundred years, has studied every form of martial art, and has nearly infinite resources. The Society sacked Rome, loaded trade ships with plagued rats, and even burned London to the ground! They claim to balance out corruption through history."
The archer was having none of it. "Sounds more like a story you tell children to make certain they behave. How do you know so much?"
Batman turned back to the assassin''s unconscious form. "They trained me."
"Oh great..." Now Green Arrow began to believe. "So there are more than just one of you running around?"
Batman felt no need to reply. He turned to Robin. "Where did you see Ra''s?"
"Just the block over. Made a mess of the local museum." Robin pointed over his shoulder in the direction of the explosion one hour earlier.
"What? That was Rash Gully?" Green Arrow''s blood boiled.
Robin sighed. "It''s Ra''s al Ghul," he corrected. "And yes, that was him."
"Why didn''t you let me shoot him? I had a clear shot!"
"You think that, don''t you?" Robin mocked. "How about the next time you have a shot like that, take it! Just see how well that works out for you."
Green Arrow frowned. "I will!" He put two fingers to his brow as if he were pointing a gun. "And I''ll put an arrow right between his eyes. Those ninjas will be leaderless. Cut the head off the snake and the body will die."
Batman tensed up. "No. Do not kill." He reached out for Green Arrow''s shoulder, but the newer hero knocked his hand away.
"You''re one to talk." Green Arrow replied sourly. "But you''re right; don''t kill. It''s much better to just give him a lobotomy, right? Let him enjoy life as a useless but subdued citizen of the new world!" Green Arrow fired an arrow up. A rope trailed back from the arrow to the ground providing Green Arrow a means to get back to his patrol above the city. "I have a city to look after."
There was a moment of silence between Batman and Robin after Green Arrow left as the biting words sank into Batman''s head. A few quiet moments after the archer disappeared over the tip of the building, Robin broke the silence with a sharp exhale and a smirk.
"I like him," he said simply, arms crossed and one foot propped up against the Batmobile''s frame. He looked at Batman with a sideways grin as he waited for Batman to return to present.
Now disturbed from his thoughts, Batman shook his head. The hold that the archer''s critique had on his mind vanished and he curled his lips into a snarl as he gestured to his car. "Get in."
It had been a while since Kimber had been given the assignment to figure out who was behind the cowl of Robin. She''d received no hint from her mentor other than the fact that the man behind the mask was a native Gothamite and wasn''t one of the previous men who donned the R. Of course, that hadn''t been of much help. She still didn''t know who the first Robin had been and had only recently learned that there even had been two Robins ¨C and after learning that, she inquired if that meant there were two Batmans. Bruce had only growled at her¡ which wasn''t a no.
Since the revelation of the Boy Wonder''s existence, she''d worked a sparse few cases with him. She had to admit, they made a good team. Cases worked, leads followed, and mooks pounded; yet through all of it, he''d done a rather sterling job of keeping her at a distance. She still hadn''t gotten a clear look at his uniform. Aside from the yellow-lined cape with matching cape buckle and the dark orange tunic, the rest of him was often obscured in shadows.
However, she wasn''t completely in the dark. Whoever was under the mask was at least familiar to her, she knew that much. He''d let slip a few personal details while working together. When working a case on Gotham High''s campus, he displayed a bit too much familiarity with the layout and even muttered something under his breath about the "hole in the wall" where the band kids stored their instruments until music class. While his hunch as to the location of the stolen items proved correct, there was little chance that anyone ¨C even Batman ¨C would have known about that spot without attending the school within the last two years. That alone gave her reason to dramatically narrow down her suspect list.
Kimber looked down at her notebook to review some of her suspicions. Each page of her notebook had a printed picture of a suspect and then a list of facts in favor of the option. "Robin... who are you?" She cracked open the book to a well-worn page. The picture of Mawk wearing his cocky grin met her eyes and again she covered the upper half of his face with her finger as if trying to imagine Robin''s mask over his face. She knew it was a long shot, but it wasn''t completely impossible.
Mawk had changed in the past few months and she was starting to worry. It had nothing to do with their relationship ¨C they were making it work as best they could ¨C instead, she was worried about him. He was exercising more vigorously than his doctor recommended, he''d taken up boxing in the last month or so, and he''d sold his classic convertible to buy a motorcycle. In short, he was taking on unnecessary risks. Overall, he''d developed an air of seriousness that she never thought him capable of. Her mind went back to the brutal thrashing he''d dished out on three delinquent teens during one of their dates and she shivered.
"Mawk..." She sighed, her finger slipping from the photo. That night of the party had definitely changed him. He wasn''t as carefree anymore. One of the few things holding her back from declaring Robin to be Mawk was the very fight that shook her. As much as she could see Batman''s brutality and wrath in his strikes, she did not see Batman''s finesse. Nor Robin''s. The few times she''d fought alongside the Boy Wonder, she''d been impressed at his clinical precision. Every punch, every kick, each strike had a purpose. He was no brawler. Even so, it didn''t stop her from entertaining the possibility. She wondered what it would be like to patrol the city together. She caught herself swooning and quickly stuffed the thought away and flipped the pages haphazardly to get her mind to move on.
She stopped flipping after an arbitrary number of pages and looked at the attached picture: Curtis. He hadn''t changed much since she''d met him in December. Sure, he shaped up a bit from high school, but it all seemed to be just natural growth and not through any effort of his own; he still wasn''t filling out his clothing, for example. Most of his time was spent alone working on computers or helping out his father with money issues. He had accepted the summer internship position offered him by WayneTech that he''d told her about graduation night. Last they''d spoken, he''d excitedly told her and Mawk that soon he''d be able to afford a place of his own. Lucky kid.
The only reason he was on her list? His fight with Mr. Death. The more she thought about it, the more it didn''t make any sense. There was no way that he should have survived the fight. Mr. Death ¨C Jean-Paul Valley ¨C was older, bigger, and more brutal than Curtis... and yet Curtis not only survived the melee but struck the villain. More than once. Despite the desperate situation, he''d kept a cool head and fought with a level of technical skill that she would never have expected from him. She traced his picture with her finger with more tenderness than she intended and blushed.
Ring.
"Hello?" Kimber propped her phone up between her ear and her shoulder as she finished reviewing her notes. "Hey, Jerome, ''sup?"
"Hey, a few of us are goin'' to take the train to the Big Apple,'''' Jerome began. "I asked Mawk if he wanted to come, but the big dope said he was busy."
"And that''s where I come in?"
"And that''s where you come in, ''xactly." Jerome''s lazy way of speaking slid through the speaker. "He said you''d been cooped up in your room for a few days and you need stimulation. Wanna come with?"
Kimber flipped a few pages in her notebook to the last few entries where she found Jerome''s profile. His was the last one she''d added and it had been on a whim, a sort of Hail Mary option. She didn''t know him very well but there were stories of his... antics. Two years their senior, but held back a year due to his grades, Jerome had been a running back on the varsity team through all five of his high school years. He always had a reputation for getting into trouble. Rumors even circulated that he was a Jokerz member at one point and it was no secret that he knew how to fight. The man was likely dangerous, but perhaps she was judging him too soon. "Sure!" she piped up. "Just let me pack some things."
Jerome laughed on the other line. "Dudette... we are just going for the day. What could you possibly need to pack?"
Kimber smirked as she entered the garage. "Hey, I''m a girl. I have needs."
"Alright, alright." Jerome gave her the time they should be at the station, said his parting words, and then hung up.
Kimber slipped the cell phone in her pocket and started her car. She had to make a pit stop to pack her favorite set of clothing.
Bruce Wayne awoke with a start and looked around in a panic for a moment. Instantly, he went on the defensive as questions flooded his mind.
Where am I? What am I doing here? He shot out of bed onto the floor and just as suddenly as the panic had erupted, it was quelled. He was in the master bedroom of his own home. Why had he been so startled? Of course; He had not slept in the master bedroom for quite some time. He was still not used to waking up in a bed, much less waking up as Bruce Wayne. As his mind pieced together the last bit of information about his surroundings, one vital puzzle piece was still missing: Why was he in the house?
A slight moan followed by a yawn reminded him. Diana was in the next room, a guest room, asleep. He moved silently and peeked in on the Amazon. It had been an eventful two weeks for the woman and now she was essentially homeless. For now.
"Bruce?" She was awake. And calling for him.
He turned away and went downstairs.
Kimber stretched her hand out the car window and punched in the four-digit code for the gates that closed Wayne Manor off from the rest of the world. As the gates slowly creaked open, she reached into her mentor''s mailbox and retrieved his mail. It was a normal thing for her. After all, he was becoming like a second father. As she pulled up to the front doors, she stuffed the paltry amount of letters into her satchel and once she was parked, she exited the car and headed for the cave entrance.
Normally, she would have taken the more direct route to the subterranean base, but she felt like a good climb. Upon reaching the greenhouse by the mansion, she lifted the disguised latch on the floor and revealed a hidden crevasse. The latch was unnoticeable to the untrained eye, but Mr. Wayne had shown her its location. Without a second thought, she climbed down the crevasse and was soon within the subterranean cave system that snaked under the grounds of stately Wayne Manor. It was a short, brisk run in the cold dark to the actual BatCave. Reaching her destination, barely winded, she was surprised to find that her mentor wasn''t already below.
"Batman?" she called out in her Batgirl voice.
No response.
As she wandered the cave to the uniform vault in the Armory, she sifted through Bruce''s mail. One particular letter caught her eye.
"Hello, what''s this?" She carefully opened the letter and began to read it, half-paying attention and half-looking for a light uniform for herself. Finding one, she carefully slipped out of her clothes and into most of the suit. Only the light helmet, gloves, and boots remained off. Those bulkier items would have to be packed in a special backpack that contained a hidden compartment. As she reached for the letter to finish it, a voice broke the silence.
"Reading other people''s mail is a federal offense."
Crap! Again she was surprised by her mentor''s ability to randomly appear out of thin air. However, she no longer felt unsettled by it. After all, she was getting pretty good at it herself. She quickly decided to meet his chilling tone with good old-fashioned snark. "I''ll keep that in mind the next time we are investigating a crime lord," she responded to the dark.
Batman stepped out from the shadows, dressed as Bruce Wayne. She could have sworn he smiled for a second at her retort before snatching his mail from her hand. But she had already read enough and a goofy smile spread over her face.
"What?" Bruce''s face was as emotionless as always.
"She''s here right now, isn''t she?"
"Who are you talking about?"
"Wonder Woman."
Bruce scanned the letter his prot¨¦g¨¦ had opened as the ''why'' clicked. Diana had been relocated. Relocated to his home. Now he remembered. Why was it so foggy before? "Yes. She''s upstairs waking up."
The goofy smile was still on Kimber''s lips and Bruce recognized it. It was the same smile Dick Grayson would give any time the mission involved Selina Kyle. And then he realized why it was foggy: his mind was pushing her away. She was an emotional threat and though the decision to relocate her was a logical one, the decision to relocate her to his home was an emotional one and a dangerous one.
Bruce changed the topic. "Going somewhere?"
"Yeah." Kimber slung her backpack, now filled with what remained of her uniform, over her shoulder. "Some friends are heading for New York and invited me to go."
"Is Batgirl needed there?"
"You never know, Boss."
Initiative. Good. His partners were shaping up to be useful assets.
"I''ll be gone for the better part of the day. Probably won''t be back until tonight night..." She walked to the exit, then turned. "Don''t have too much fun, you crazy kids." She winked and added, "Though seeing you are up late and you weren''t in the ''Cave... I''d say you already had your fun."
Bruce caught the joke and this time allowed the smirk. "Out!" he commanded the young girl with an extended index finger.
Kimber gave a mock salute. "Right-o."
Deep in his cell, the man now known as Mr. Death sat curled up in a corner. He was chanting to himself, but he didn''t know what he was saying. Maybe he was praying? Maybe he was crying? He didn''t know. I couldn''t know. All he knew were two things: first, he wanted revenge on Batman and that police chief for derailing his divine duty; and secondly, he did not deserve to be thrown into Arkham. The cretins here were not human.
When the Justice Lords reigned they lobotomized many, that was true. Joker, Two-Face, Poison Ivy, and even Scarface the Dummy. But there were more that weren''t. Some were already incarcerated when the Lords took over and were threatened with lobotomization if they escaped or otherwise stepped out of line. Ever. Cobblepot, Scarecrow, and Bane to name a few remained in one piece for the duration of the Justice Lords'' reign¡ And when the Lords fell, they immediately threw their weight around the rebirth of the underworld. Now they ran the gangs of Arkham Asylum, Blackgate, and beyond.
"Glory to the one who is chastised in my name." Mr. Death found himself reciting scripture as he tried to get the ghastly hoots of the other inmates out of his ears. "For you will break the rod that¡ª."
His gate suddenly rattled open.
"Get your ass up, Valley," the guard demanded. "You''ve got a visitor."
Mr. Death was roughly yanked up to his feet and led stiffly through the corridors of the Asylum. His knees quivered and his neck barely supported his head as he was paraded down the aisle of inmates. He was afraid.
"Thirty days hath September... April... June... November... All the rest have thirty-one..." Calendar Man''s eerily melodic voice floated into Mr. Death''s ears as they passed his cell. "Hello, Jean-Paul. Wonderful Wednesday, is it not? Fourth of July passed us by... How did you celebrate?"
As soon as Mr. Death passed him, the odd man began his limerick again. "Thirty days hath September... April... June... November..."
"This is no way to treat a god from Olympus, mortals!" A thick booming voice echoed in the hallway: Maxie Zeus. As soon as Mr. Death was near, the delusional man slammed his body angrily against the bars in rage. "You there! Thanatos!"
Mr. Death stopped in his tracks. The man had scared him, good.
"Demand that they release me from this pit!"
"Move it, Jean-Paul!" The guard smacked Mr. Death in the back with the butt of his rifle. "Your visitor can''t be kept waiting."
Mr. Death stumbled forward on numb knees. He hadn''t thought about getting caught. He hadn''t thought about going to Arkham. He hadn''t thought about the inmates that he would have to deal with. He hadn''t thought about the fear.
At the end of the hall were two cells. On the right was Joker''s cell. Even though he was lobotomized and perfectly ''normal'', he still insisted on returning to his cell upon his ''release'' from Arkham Asylum superintendent duty. In the cell, the Joker sat directly in the center. The room was all white and bright. The Joker himself was also in white prison garb and he was smiling. But most unnerving of all; he seemingly never moved. He was always just sitting there, quietly, only moving to eat, sleep, relieve himself, or when his mystery visitor would come once in a blue moon.
The other cell held Scarecrow. The former college professor and shrink was in a contrasting dark room. The light in the cell had long died and the facility had yet to replace it - not that the crazed professor seemed to mind. The man had gone on multiple hunger strikes to not only for more access to the asylum library, but also to keep the lights out in his cell. Now, he was barely visible deep in the dark, standing like an emaciated ghoul with only his odd eyes reflecting the hall light like cracker pearls. It was a wonder the man was still alive.
Mr. Death was roughly shoved through the door and out of the cell wing. Soon he found himself in the visitor quarters where he was pushed to a booth. "Hurry up, Valley." With the stern command given, the guard left Jean-Paul alone and took a watchful post at the frame of the door.
Complying, Jean-Paul sat at the booth and put the phone to his ear. "Hello?"
The man on the other side of the thick bullet-resistant glass, a late-middle-aged man with graying hair pointed on the ends and a face that spoke of ambiguous ethnicity, stared intently at Mr. Death. Holding the receiver to his ear, the man spoke. His voice was smooth and charming like the perfect pour of champagne or the stately voice of royalty. But it wasn''t just the tone of the man''s voice that calmed Jean-Paul. "Hello, Mr. Death."
That the man used his moniker and not his birth name filled him with a sort of pride. Not many had addressed him by the moniker since he''d been locked away, and those that did only did to mock him. But this man was different. This man was earnest. "Yes?" he replied more boldly.
"My name is Ra''s al Ghul and I have a proposition for you." One of the speaker''s companions, a burly man of ruddy skin who seemed, to Mr. Death, a bodyguard, handed Ra''s a notepad. "I have a mission I must carry out. A mission which I believe would be of interest to you."
Mr. Death looked around, wary. As excited as he was at the notion of an ally after having been deserted by his last flock, he was worried about the guards. His eyes traveled to the straight-jawed heathen that had ushered him from his cell.
"Don''t worry about him," Ra''s continued evenly. "I own him and the phone recording device has been temporarily disabled. But even if all those things weren''t in place, there would be no problem. Flawed things cannot eternal be, and no man can stand¡"
"...before the infinite End. Duma? three verse six..." Mr. Death finished the scripture for Ra''s. A true brother in faith! Mr. Death managed to contain his surprise and excitement. "But I do not understand? How was I prevented from bringing on the End? I was ordained, chosen, committed!"
Ra''s al Ghul nodded. "Yes, Jean-Paul Valley, but you were not consumed." He held up a photocopied page from an old tome. "You still bound yourself to this rotten plane, Valley. Your moniker is not a proper name but a fragment of what you should be. Of what you are. Help me with this and I will help you."
Mr. Death grunted in acceptance. "What do you need me to do to further our goal?"
Ra''s al Ghul leaned in even though it would make no difference. "First, I need you out of here."
"You want me to escape? Impossible."
"Not just you. No, you must bring three other inmates with you. They each have a role to play beyond these walls, as do you."
Mr. Death frowned. "The wayward souls in this establishment wouldn''t be of much use. Most are lobotomized zombies while other prideful demons are more interested in their own pathetic gain."
"The ones needed are special cases." Ra''s knocked on the glass and the guard crossed over into the visitor''s side and plucked the note from his hand. The note was then delivered to Mr. Death without the guard so much as sneaking a peek at its contents.
As the guard returned to his post by the door, Mr. Death couldn''t help but wonder aloud, "How did you¡ª"
Ra''s al Ghul cut him off. "I have very deep connections, Mr. Valley. It''s best not to question," he answered sturdily. "On that sheet is the ''how'' and ''who'' of the escape. Study it. Memorize it. There are some final steps I have to attend to, but when the time comes: follow it to the letter."
The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
Mr. Death opened the note and read it with a hint of a smile. Interesting. "With pleasure." As he finished reading the note, his face flipped from amusement to horror as he read how he was addressed. In shock, he looked back at Ra''s. The strange man just smiled. "T¨CThis isn''t my name!" Jean-Paul stuttered in fear. "This is wrong, sacrilegious. Blasphemous, even!"
"Is it?" Ra''s asked. "Do not pretend you were not doing the work of that angel. Perhaps that work was for you because of who you are?"
Jean-Paul Valley took a deep breath. "I can''t."
"You can and you will because you are." Ra''s paused for a beat, then finished his response. "Azra''il. Angel of Destruction. In the flesh."
Mr. Death stood from the booth with renewed purpose. Ra''s was right. He failed because he did not fully accept his mission. He had been tied down by the trappings of this world. No more. "It will be done. So says I, Azra''il."
The two wrapped up their conversation and Jean-Paul was led back to his cell. But with a new sense of divine self-worth and righteous determination.
Through the door, the first inmate to threaten him behind the bars was Clayface. There was a splash of brown and then the monster took a form. ''Batman'' approached the bars and grinned at the passing prisoner. Valley flinched away for a moment but then stood straight and kept walking past the former actor.
Maxie Zeus again slammed against his cell and tried to reach out. "Jean-Paul!" he cried out. "If that is the name you are going by now, for the love of Hera, get me out of here!"
Jean-Paul Valley faced Maxie Zeus and wrenched himself free of the guards and then slammed back against Maxie''s cell bars with a vengeance. "My name is Azra''il! And has always been Azra''il, Angel of Destruction!" he said with a snarl.
Maxie Zeus was taken aback and flailed away from the bars.
"Quit it! The both a'' ya''s!" A baton struck behind Azra''il''s knee and he faltered. He was quiet the rest of the way to his cell, letting all of the hatred and vulgarity of the Asylum''s inmates fill his mind and sink into his thoughts.
He was thrown into his cell violently and for the rest of the night, he lay on the floor. Every so often he would reread the paper and the list of names and laugh. Outside his cell, the other inmates wailed in their demonic and chaotic chorus of woes and insults only to be silenced by the guards every so often. And following that silence was the ever-eerie laugh from the lobotomized Joker. These sounds were enough to curdle the blood of any normal person. Hell, even some others had to be put in solitary because of these so-called "Songs of Arkham". But he wasn''t afraid. Not anymore.
He was going to end the world
Ra''s al Ghul watched his pawn be escorted out of the room. He had instilled in the confused young man a new sense of purpose to carry out his mission: Ra''s'' mission. Slowly, the eco-terrorist stood and made his way for the door followed closely by his helpers.
"He believes that you are a follower of Duma?," stated the helper on the left.
"I know."
"He thinks that your goal is to bring about some twisted version of the Abrahamic Armageddon."
"I know!" Ra''s was not in the mood to talk. Jean-Paul, or Azra''il, was a very easy person to manipulate. Ra''s didn''t have to read the silly religious book Valley had found eight years prior. Ra''s had been there when various books of that volume had been written, and even knew some of the authors. Fools, all of them. And showing up and displaying a similar blind faith to the religion of Duma? then convincing Jean-Paul that he was the embodiment of Azra''il was enough to get this fool eating out of his hands.
Ha, fool indeed! Ra''s al Ghul bowed to no man nor book. He stepped outside into the sunlight and let the warmth bathe his body just as the Lazarus pit did many times in the past.
"Father, would you hurry up?" Talia''s voice broke Ra''s'' thoughts.
"I am sorry, dear." He entered the waiting car and took a seat by Talia as Ubu closed the door before getting into the driver''s seat.
Whatever ''Azra''il'' believed Ra''s to be was not of Ra''s'' concern. Not as long as Azra''il would follow and act as Ra''s commanded. All the chips were coming into place and soon it would be time to contact his opponent and let the final game begin.
Bruce stalked out of the dining room slightly ashamed. It had been a while since he had been on a legitimate date or even had dinner with someone one-on-one. It came as no surprise to him that his manners and small talk would be sub-par, but even with that in mind he was disappointed in the bland meal he''d shared with Diana. Parties were great for the fa?ade of Bruce Wayne, but alone, he was sure he was a bore.
"I''m still surprised she laughed at my token joke..." he muttered to himself as he placed the dishes in the dishwasher. He only knew one joke and it wasn''t a very good one. Half the time he couldn''t remember it. It was great for parties when he faked being intoxicated. Bumble through a half-funny joke in a drunken manner and every rich, inebriated idiot would laugh. Plus ten social points for Mr. Wayne. See you at the next party.
Bruce sighed and made his way back to the dining table, papers in hand. It was time for the nitty-gritty.
"What is that, Bruce?" Diana''s wandering eyes nearly burned a hole through the papers.
Great. First Clark and John break loose, then Ra''s al Ghul rears his head in Star City, and now Diana''s becoming a permanent fixture in my life. He plopped down lazily on an oak chair and scooted to her side. This would be much harder for him than it would be for her.
"These," he said with seriousness, "is the relocation paperwork." He leafed through a few pages and handed the topmost paper to her. "Because of the most recurring attempts on your life and the rather bold loss of your previous home, the administration has agreed with me that you should be moved to a more secure and private location, away from the prying public eye."
Diana''s face twisted in the uncharacteristically puppy dog sort of way it did when she wasn''t quite sure what was happening. He loved that.
Focus. He cleared his throat and continued. "You will not be living alone but you will be isolated from Gotham''s people to an extent. A place with ample security to ensure your safety, and theirs."
Diana moaned as her hands braced her head for the bad news. "I''m going back to prison, aren''t I?"
Bruce was amused at the comment. "Well, I wouldn''t exactly call Wayne Manor a prison but¡ª" Anything else he would have said was overwhelmed by a wave of emotion that transformed Diana''s face, erupted from her mouth, and flooded his ears.
"I''m staying here?" She was incredulous. Her mouth hung open in a dazed smile as she looked around the mansion that was soon to be her residence, albeit a temporary one. Maybe.
"For the time being, yes. You are under my direct care and supervision. I was responsible for sponsoring your rehab and getting you into that rehabilitation program to be integrated back into society. So now I am responsible for you, according to the facility''s administration." He thought for a moment. "I think they''re tired of working on your case."
Diana smirked. "Now you''re making it sound like a prison sentence for you."
Bruce cocked an eyebrow and chuckled. "Just cutting through the legal jargon."
Before he could react, at least as Bruce Wayne, Diana was up and pulling him out of his chair with all her might. "You might as well give me the grand tour then! After all, I am your..."
"Responsibility?"
"I was thinking ''roommate'', but alright." And Diana pulled him along.
A few hours later, Bruce had managed to get away from Diana. Not because he wanted to, no, but because he had to. It was well past his usual time.
"What''s the deal, Batman?" Robin''s voice came clear over the radio once Bruce was in the cave and at the computer. "You aren''t out yet?"
He''d recalled Robin from Star City a night early to cover for Kimber. She''d reported that Batgirl had taken on a caper during her New York trip and would be back later than expected. Usually, that wouldn''t have mattered. Gotham wasn''t so big that he couldn''t handle it himself, but tonight was different. He had a special meeting tonight, so Robin was covering for him and he''d been active throughout most of the late evening. Though the new Boy Wonder shunned the spotlight just as much as the Dark Knight, he began working cases in late evening, sometimes before the sun was fully set, much to Batman''s chagrin. But even for Batman, this was late. "I''m on my way. Start without me."
"You think I need to be told?" Robin joked.
"Humorous," Batman gruffed back. "I have an appointment to keep."
"Alright, but if you get out on the street and there are no bad guys left, you''ll have no one to blame but yourself."
Click.
Within minutes, Batman was in the Batmobile and was cruising along a familiar road to Arkham Asylum.
Robin stared into the distance and his eyes rested on a gothic complex at the edge of the Somerset District''s peninsula. He had a feeling that Batman was going there, he just knew it. Was it a bad idea? Not at all. It wouldn''t be the first time that Batman would go visit and Robin wasn''t about to suggest Batman not face his failings. But sometimes when he came back... He was harder on the thugs. So angry at himself that it spilled out through his fists and into the face of whatever hapless chap decided to break the law. And then it would be up to Robin to calm him down.
The door to the back of the club swung open and three men lumbered outside, laughing boisterously. Robin shifted his attention from the future to the now and stretched as he stood from his crouched position. He had been watching the back of this club for the past half hour. Finally, his targets were exiting the establishment. "About time."
Robin stood and fired his bat-claw at the building across the street, then swung to the club''s roof. As soon as his feet were planted, he strained to listen to their conversation.
"I''m tellin'' ya, man," one was saying, "Not only is the Bat back, but so are his little imp-helpers!"
"So?" This voice was deep and yet somewhat nasal. "What''s the point?"
"I''m just sayin'' this is a bad idea," the first responded.
"If it''s a bad idea, then why don''t you split?"
No response.
"Exactly," the second man continued. "The money''s good and the merch... Well, you saw it."
"Oh, Stan did more than see," a third voice ribbed the first man, Stan. "In''t that right, Stan-boy? Felt like w winner, didn''tcha?"
Silence again.
"Look, pal, if the Bat is back ¨C and that''s a big if ¨C there''s no doubt he''s got something better to do than tail a few buddies havin'' a good time, right?"
The first man, Stan, fell to the pressure of his peers. "Fine. Let''s get this over with."
The three made their way over to a burgundy jalopy. Once they were inside, the car rumbled to life and it pulled out of the parking lot.
"What could be better than this?" Robin muttered to himself as he pulled out what looked like a small air-powered dart gun. He pressed the trigger and a thin antennae flew from the barrel and magnetically attached to the jalopy''s bumper. Robin connected to the tracer just as the old vehicle turned onto the main road.
"I don''t know why you always come here to see him, there''s no need. You don''t owe him anything and Gotham''s better off this way. He''s better off this way."
Batman didn''t look at the man who was talking and instead continued to stare through the one-way window at the subject of the conversation. "It''s something I have to do."
"Knock yourself out."
"Like always, this never happened."
The former commissioner shrugged. "Think nothing of it. As long as I am running things, this will be our little secret."
Batman moved past his old ally and entered the interrogation room. It was bright, even though there was only one fluorescent light in the ceiling. The white walls, floor, and plain metal table reflected the solitary light perfectly and were a stark contrast to the foreboding, dark detective standing at the entrance of the small room.
The man seated in the center looked up in surprise as Batman sat across from him, then his features softened as if he was greeting an old friend. A smile spread across his dark red lips. "Batman! How are you?" The man reached over the table to the Dark Knight and offered his pale white hand for a handshake.
Batman obliged. "I''m fine, Jack. You?"
The man tilted his head, thinking. "I''ve been well, thank you," he finally answered after some thought. "You''d think I''d know by now to expect a visit from you every time I am escorted here, but I''m surprised just the same every time!" The end of his sentence was riddled with short and low laughs. Innocent laughs.
"How are things at the Asylum?"
"Oh, I''m keeping fine, Batman." The voice was the same but devoid of the passion that had once driven the man. "Arkham is doing just fine. I see some familiar faces here and there, but a few new ones as well. The new patient, Mr. Valley, is still acclimating to his room but I feel he will come to like it soon enough."
"I see. Is the food good?"
Calmly and mechanically, the man nodded his head up and down. "Yes. The cooks always did a wonderful job in the cafeteria. Makes me wish I was still in charge. I would give them all a raise."
"Do you miss being in charge of Arkham?"
Jack thought it over. "I suppose I do, yes."
"Do you ever wish you were in control again?"
"Oh no, no, no," Jack hastily replied. "It is better that a new team take over to get a new perspective on care. Besides, I was starting to miss my old room. It''s also good to have more time for my hobbies."
Beneath his cowl, Batman''s eyebrow shot up and he turned his head slightly in Jim''s direction.
Behind the one-way glass, Jim Gordon shrugged. Then he remembered there was no way Batman could see him and felt a bit of embarrassment creep up his cheeks.
"Of course, Jack." Batman''s belt buckle buzzed and Robin''s voice came over the radio in his cowl.
"I know you''re busy, but you may be interested in this..." Robin sounded quiet but preoccupied. "Sending you the coordinates."
"Are things going well for you, Batman?" Jack asked the Dark Knight with slight anticipation.
"I''m fine," was the Bat''s only answer. Then, before Jack could utter another word, Batman stood. "This was a good talk, Jack. It was nice to see you again."
Jack''s eyes dulled and his smile drooped. "You''re leaving so soon? Well, it was nice to see you again, Batman." The man''s inflection barely changed despite his disposition.
"Likewise."
"Don''t be a stranger. Visit me soon."
Batman stepped out of the room and into Gordon''s presence. "Thanks, Jim."
"Like I said before; it''s no problem." Both men looked through the one-way window at Jack. "Hard to believe that only a few years ago he was a murdering psychopath in a bad suit." Gordon crossed his arms and scratched at his elbow.
Batman looked at the fragment of the Joker that remained. Sitting there; still, smiling, calm. It was unsettling. He looked at the Joker with remorse for his actions. "If you were in my place, would you have done the same thing?"
"Pardon?"
"If you were given the option of lobotomizing him or sending him back to old Arkham one more time, what would you do?"
Jim was quiet for a while. "You made the decision you felt was right. Whether it was morally correct or not is not my place to say. You''ve done many things that I have not agreed with before and they all turned out better than any plan I would have come up with. As far as I''m concerned you''ve only been a net positive for Gotham. I can''t judge you... you''re too big."
"Humor me."
Jim sighed heavily. "It was the right thing to do and if it were up to me, I would have drilled the holes myself. The law should have executed him years ago. I''m surprised that you changed back to the old ways. As much as people complained about the grasp the Justice Lords had over the world, the fact remains that in those two years, science and technology advanced exponentially. There were no world wars, and nearly every city was spot-free of crime." Then he added, "If you thought Gotham was clean, you should talk with my ex-wife."
"Hm?"
"She visited France," Gordon replied with a slight chuckle.
Batman made no response and headed for the door.
"Batman, look. You may doubt yourself at times, especially now, but know this; you are the Batman. Our city''s greatest champion and guardian. I don''t know who you are under the mask and cape getup, and I don''t think I''d ever want to know because not knowing gives me something to believe in. A pure ideal pursuing the greater good."
"Thank you, Jim."
Jim Gordon tentatively patted Batman''s back, half-surprised the formidable figure did not recoil and even more surprised that he had stayed for the entire talk. "Duty calls." He pulled handcuffs from his waist and made his way to get the Joker from the interrogation room.
"You called?"
"About time you showed." Robin uncrossed his arms and turned around to face his mentor. "Even the cops got here before you."
Batman said nothing.
"I was tailing these three goons out from a bar across town, some fancy place with polar bears."
"The Iceberg Lounge."
"Yeah, that''s the one. Anyway, I got a lead from a very talkative street rat that these three were small fry in a bigger operation."
"So you tailed them here."
"Mmhmm."
"And the operation?"
"No clue." Robin stretched on one knee. "They''re working on something big and loud, though. That''s the reason the cops came in the first place. The people who lived nearby called about a disturbance."
"And the police showed up full force?"
"Only after the mooks in the warehouse started shooting," Robin replied with dry humor.
Batman observed the warehouse across from him. Below, the police had indeed made a line before the main entrance of the warehouse, effectively forcing whoever was inside to stay inside. The front of the industrial complex was secured and the back held no potential exit.
"You have anything on the men you trailed?"
"Not much," Robin admitted. "Drove in a jalopy that had its plates removed. Now, it''s down in that warehouse parking lot. Did get a few names, though. Seems they got tangled up in this thanks to their boss-man down in Burnley. They were inside sampling some sort of product before the cops arrived. Based on their early conversation, it sounded like drugs. That''s why I called you."
"Boss? What group are they representing?"
"The Burnouts. Know them?"
"They''re small-time. Why would a new dealer reach out to them¡" Batman muttered, more to himself than to Robin.
"Huh?"
"Come on." Batman abruptly turned around and made his way away from the scene. "We need to speak with the chief. Then we need to check the Burnouts hideout."
"Wha¨C? They may start shooting again!"
"I said let''s go."
"Alright..."
Kimber entered her father''s office seeking a distraction.
Aside from being an extra layer of clothing, the Batgirl uniform had come in handy. It turned out Jerome hadn''t traveled to the Big Apple just for pleasure: he and his friends had gone for business, too. She, as Batgirl, had to bust up his dealing without being seen. It had been difficult but at least now she could cross a name off her list. There was no way Jerome could ever be Robin.
Robin was a hero: honorable. Jerome was¡ sleazy. With everything she''d seen him do on the trip and who he''d been involved in, she now believed the rumors about his tenure as a Jokerz member. While she wasn''t expecting Robin out of uniform to act like Robin in uniform, she would like to believe he at least wouldn''t act like an absolute scumbag to hide his identity. Now she understood why Mawk wasn''t hanging out with Jerome as much. At first, she thought Mawk had overbooked his schedule; in retrospect, Mawk was cutting Jerome out of his life.
"Hey, Papa." She greeted her father with a quick, tired peck on the cheek before peering over his notes. "What''s going on?"
Chief Goren sighed. "The world''s going to hell, sweetie." He haphazardly tossed a manila folder to Kimber.
She cracked it open and tilted it to catch the lamp light. "Superman and Green Lantern¡ They escaped?" She read in mock surprise.
Her acting was good enough to fool her father. "I can''t believe it either..." His head slipped into his hands and worn fingers ran through his messy hair.
"That''s the least of your worries." A deep voice from the shadows of Goren''s office called out to him.
Goren and Kimber turned in unison and saw Batman standing in their midst. To his left was Robin, equally obscured by shadows. Both stood just in front of the large open window and a breeze caught their capes, whipping the utility cloth about their shoulders.
So this is what it feels like, Kimber thought to herself, to be on the other side.
"How did you get in here?" demanded Goren. He waited for a brief moment for an explanation but when silence reigned supreme in his office, his shoulders sagged again. "Of course..." he admitted as he recalled Gordon''s stories of Batman dropping by for nightly updates in the days before the Lords. "You''re Batman."
Batman tossed a new file onto Goren''s desk from the dark "You have a more immediate problem."
"What could be more dangerous than two former Justice Lords running free?" Goren then quickly gushed an apology to Batman. "No offense."
"They are currently in another city. Star City. They''ll probably hit Metropolis before they come here. I''ve sent word to Star City''s law enforcement and a friend is keeping an eye out for them." Batman gestured for Goren to pick up the file. "This case should be your highest priority."
Goren Lee picked up the file and thumbed through the pages. "''Rays algol''?" He did his best to pronounce the foreign name, paying careful attention to the accent.
Kimber peeked over her father''s shoulder. "I think that''s pronounced ''Rosh al Ghul'', Papa," she corrected her parent with extra emphasis on the hidden ''sh'' sound of the name as well as rolling the ''r''.
Mr. Lee looked at his daughter quizzically.
"I''ve watched some videos on ancient Hebrew¡ sorry, continue." She sheepishly backed away.
"It''s pronounced ''Rahs al Ghul''," Batman corrected both father and daughter. "It''s Arabic. He''s also been laying low in Star City but it''s likely Gotham is his target."
Goren shook his head as he read the rap sheet for the near-immortal. "Prolific connections to the world''s elite, seemingly unlimited resources, not to mention apparent immortality¡ I don''t see a way in hell that we could have a chance against this. I''d rather take chances against Superman and his buddy." He looked up to Batman. "Why didn''t you Justice Lords take him down when you were in charge?"
"We were doing what he wanted. He stayed hidden." Batman begrudgingly admitted. "Despite his resources, he is only human. If we put a stop to whatever scheme he has before it gets set in motion, your department should have no problem holding him. Separate from his organization, he is just a man."
Goren exhaled with a groan. "I''ll get my detectives to snoop around. I''m sure Bullock would be more than happy to get from behind that desk." Goren put his hand back and awkwardly pushed Kimber forward. "You, uh, remember my daughter, Kimber."
"Papa!" Kimber hissed sideways.
"You saved her life last December, your first time out. If it wasn''t for you, she wouldn''t be here right now." Goren swallowed hard. "I never got the chance to thank you, so... Thank you. Really and truly."
There was no air of recognition in Batman''s face but Kimber caught a slight twitch of something in the corner of Robin''s cheek. Noted.
Batman turned to leave. "Call for SWAT to sweep the warehouse on the edge of the industrial district; the one your officers are currently putting pressure on. Have your officers set a perimeter. Don''t let the men inside get away with their product."
"Do you think there is a connection between this Ra''s character and that warehouse?"
"With Ra''s you can never be too sure."
"Safe bet that you will be there when SWAT arrives?" Goren looked from the pages to Batman.
But Batman was already gone, leaving behind an empty window, a fluttering curtain, and his yellow-caped prot¨¦g¨¦ who''d remained silent through the whole conversation.
Goren turned his shaken attention to Robin. "Hey, uh, Boy Wonder?"
"Robin," Robin corrected. He was still leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, obviously fine right where he was.
"You are going to be there, right?" Goren asked again with a bit more authority. "Don''t want jumpy cops to mistake you two for fleeing criminals."
"Then train them better."
"Unbelievable." Goren was visibly unsettled that even this young man could be as callous and neutral as his mentor. He left without a word, leaving Kimber alone.
She hadn''t had an opportunity really to be alone with the new Boy Wonder like she wanted. Their interactions in the past had always been during cases when their minds were more focused on solving problems and not dying. Other than those moments, Batman did good work keeping them separate, especially with Robin being assigned to Star City for a spell. But now that he was in her father''s office and it was just him and her, maybe she could get something out of him other than a wisecrack. Besides, she could now come at him from another angle: the angle of a regular Joe on the street.
"So..." Kimber started slowly, choosing her words carefully. The last thing she wanted to do was give her own secret away. "You aren''t the same Robin from before, right?"
He stayed silent.
"Because you don''t look the same." She leaned to one side and gave him a nervous grin.
He tapped the symbol on his chest once. "I am Robin. Always."
Of course you are, she chastised herself for not expecting him to dodge her question by referring to himself the same way Batman did: an ideal; something incorruptible. In hindsight, she realized the foolish assumption that he''d reveal to her, a supposed citizen, that there were different people under the mask.
"Oh, I suppose the uniform just looks different after so long..." She bumbled through a response as she grasped for something to keep his attention. "So, uh, if you''re not gonna be at the gun show across town, where will you be goin''?" She pretended to be shy, holding her hands behind her back. She tilted her head down and looked up at him with a slight pout as she pushed her chest forward. It was a stance she''d used on many a boy in high school and it left nearly all of them stuttering messes. She hoped her feminine wiles would stir something human within the teen. He was a teen, right?
Robin retreated a bit to the window. "We will be busy," was all he said.
As Robin put an armored foot on the ledge, Kimber spoke up again. "Doing what? Is there some other danger we should be aware of?" She stepped a bit closer to him, looking at his frame. It was hard to make out thanks to the cape, but she could tell that while he was built he was not overly muscular. He seemed more like a distance runner than a bodybuilder.
Robin didn''t respond right away. Instead, his head tilted slightly to the side, though he didn''t face her. After a tense quiet, he asked, "Why?"
"Just a concerned citizen," she fired back with a bit more spice than she''d intended. Robin turned his head more, now looking at her out of the corner of his eye. She panicked a bit and realized she was likely showing too much interest. Between this and her previous flub inquiring about the earlier men behind the mask, she worried she''d played her hand too much. "You know, police chief''s daughter and all," she added with a nervous, flirty giggle in an attempt to save her cover.
He dismounted the window but remained silent with his back to her. She recognized this silence; it was the silence that enveloped him when his mind was working. In the blink of an eye, Robin had whirled around and she found herself locking eyes with white lenses. She could tell he was watching her, keen and attentive. A lump formed in her throat and her mouth dried. He was scrutinizing her, and in a manner that felt oddly familiar. It wasn''t a gawk of admiration or a gaze of lust, but rather a thorough assessment. She had hoped to spark playful banter, but instead of flirtatious attention, she found herself under scrutiny. Shit.
He took a breath and then spoke. His voice carried a plainer tone than it had before. "Earlier in the night, I trailed three of the Burnout''s men from the Iceberg Lounge. They''re now holed up in that warehouse on Eastern Boulevard. Batman knows where the Burnouts hang their hat. So, while the cops handle the warehouse, we''re going to visit the Burnouts'' home turf."
There was a slight tilt to his voice. She tried to place it but came up empty. God, she wished she had her notes to reference¡ Batman was right. She really was bad at this detective stuff.
A sound broke her musings: Robin was speaking again. "So, maybe you should suit up."
"What?"
"I said, you should suit up."
Kimber expressed confusion and shook her head. "I have no idea what you''re talking about."
"Terrif." Robin was smirking; she could tell. His white teeth peeked from behind his dark lips. And then he approached her.
As he stepped fully into the dim light cast by the desk lamp, she finally got a clear view of his uniform. It was predominantly black, with a burnt red-orange chest design that extended down to his trunks. His face was partially concealed by a cowl reminiscent of Batman''s, though it left the top of his head exposed, allowing curly black hair to peek out. The golden belt around his waist and the silver bracers adorning his forearms and legs caught the faint light. When she first met him, she thought he wore a modified version of the second Robin''s uniform; but now she realized it was a wholly unique design, distinct from any previous incarnations of the role. It was more in line with Batman''s modern suit ¨C and much like her own.
"Please, Kimmie. Don''t take me for a fool."
At the mention of her nickname, she had to catch her breath. He''d figured her out? How had the tables flipped so easily? While she''d been probing him, he''d probed her; but how did he even know to do that? What gave her away? Her mind raced with a million questions as Robin closed the distance between them. He was taller than her by at least two inches, but how much of that was from his boot heels? Did his boots have heels?
Robin took the zipper of her jacket between his fingers and then in one smooth motion, zipped it down exposing the lightweight Batgirl uniform she still wore underneath. She hadn''t bothered to change out of the suit after dealing with Jerome. In fact, she''d almost forgotten she''d been wearing it. It really had become a second skin, but had it been peeking out the top of her hoodie? "How''d you¡ª"
He cut her off. "It was written all over your face. You tried way too hard, Kimber. You had all the subtlety of a brick through a window." His shit-eating grin never left his face as he spoke.
Kimber found his confidence alluring and something about the undertone was pleasant, familiar. Where under Batman''s voice there was always a sort of edge, under Robin''s there was a light-heartedness. Unable to break eye contact, Kimber slowly leaned in and before she knew it, she was pushing for his exposed chin. Her eyes closed as she leaned in the rest of the way and her lips pursed. But she kissed nothing. Only empty air danced across her lips. Her eyes shot open in embarrassment. He''d left her standing there, like a fool.
But he had made a slip-up. A slip-up only one person could make. As disastrous as her attempt at subtlety had been, she''d at least secured one piece of damning information. She was sure she knew who Robin was now.
A part of her wanted to go home and review her notes a final time, but another part of her, a stronger part of her, was confident that would only lead to further confirmation. After all, there were only a handful of people who called her ''Kimmie'' and there was only one person in the world that said ''Terrif''. As she made her way out of One Police Plaza to change into Batgirl and rendezvous with Batman and Robin, she couldn''t help but smile in relief at finally knowing the truth. And while the result didn''t fill her with as much happiness as she''d expected it to, it felt good to know who was beneath the mask.
Mawk was Robin.
Part 1: Chapter 6
Diana wandered the lonely halls of stately Wayne Manor. She hadn''t been a permanent resident long and already she had to wonder how Bruce was able to stay sane while confined in the dusty old mansion. It also didn''t take long for her to get lost. Repeatedly. Every hallway felt identical to the last despite the different trophies and pictures decorating the walls.
But this bout of wandering wasn''t a result of taking a wrong turn: she couldn''t sleep. The Manor was foreign to her and it was no wonder that Mr. Wayne himself didn''t seem to sleep in any of the stuffy bedrooms. Aside from the locked master bedroom ¨C and her guest room, of course ¨C all the bedrooms in the manor seemed more or less untouched. While it was better than the padded room in the rehab facility she''d stayed in, the gothic architecture of the mansion fostered nightmares more often than dreams. Maybe that was why Bruce wasn''t often home at night. Perhaps he had a suite or swanky apartment somewhere in the city itself for when the nights were exceptionally lonely¡ Hera knew he had the money to do so.
After countless doors and halls, Diana found herself in a parlor room face to face with a looming portrait of a couple. The woman was sitting in a chair. She had the beauty of a bygone era and held herself with a reserved strength that reminded Diana of a distant First Lady. Standing behind the woman''s left shoulder was a man with a strong jaw, a dashing mustache, and a twinkle in his eye that communicated compassion even through the paint. Neither was smiling but they still seemed happy and warm.
There was no placard on the frame identifying the couple so Diana assumed them to be Bruce''s parents. She had always wondered what happened to them. He never spoke of his parents and she sure didn''t see a trace of them in the home. Did they live in another state? Were they both retired and on some everlasting second honeymoon? Wherever they were, Diana knew they weren''t lost. But I am.
She continued to wander late into the night, eventually coming upon a room that piqued her interest.
"Hey, boss." Batgirl pushed away from the Batcomputer and approached Batman with a playful smirk under her helmet and a swagger in her step.
Batman was in the crime lab enclave of the BatCave preparing a sample of mystery residue for analysis. The foreign sludge had been retrieved from the Burnouts during his raid on their clubhouse. He looked up from his work, surprised at her haughty state.
"I''m in the mood for some conflict," she finished.
"The dive bar wasn''t conflict enough?" the Bat gruffly returned.
After the tense meeting between her father and Batman, Kimber had been able to get to Burnley, in uniform, in time to meet Batman and Robin. As the dynamic duo took down a fair number of Burnout members at the front entrance, Batgirl had slipped in through a cracked window in the dive bar''s restroom. In a flurry of fists, she had fought her way from the restroom to the stockroom, arriving just as Batman and then Robin broke through the double doors that led to the main bar.
From there the three progressed methodically, clearing out all gang members who stood in their way and dared to challenge their trespassing. It didn''t take long for them to fight their way to the back room and once there, Batman had terse words with the leader of the gang. After scaring the leader silly, Batman confiscated the samples of the "merch" that had enticed the Burnouts to send three of their members to the warehouse. As for the warehouse raid on Eastern Boulevard¡ That had failed.
Goren had ordered his men to form a perimeter expecting he would have no trouble getting the clearance for SWAT deployment. Nothing could have been further from the truth and the goons in the warehouse had ample time to escape. Somehow, by the time Branden''s team arrived and swept the building, it was devoid of both criminals and content. It was, in fact, uncannily empty; almost as if they''d never been there. Another mystery for another time.
"Pfft, some baton-wielding thugs against the three of us?" Three light jabs to the air. "I''d say that was not conflict enough!"
"I would have thought you would jump at an early night." Batman returned his attention to the chemical sample on the sterile slide. "Normal people your age go on dates."
"Feh, what do you know about normal?" Batgirl scoffed.
"Watch it," Batman tersely warned, glancing up from his work for a second.
Batgirl rolled her eyes as her mentor returned his attention to his work. "You know what I mean. After all, Mawk is at some orientation for his new job in Star City. Or so he wants me to think." She gave Batman a grin. "But I''m on to him."
"Get to the point."
"Fine. If you want me to go on a date, then call the Bird-Boy here. I have a revelation that is sure to knock him right out of his stupid cowl."
Now she had Batman''s full attention. "Robin already confirmed your secret identity with me. Correctly, by the way. He said you pretty much told him yourself." He crossed his arms, slightly frustrated that the prot¨¦g¨¦ he had been training for the shorter time was more of a detective than the veteran partner. "Something about you wearing your uniform under a simple jacket and jeans."
A bead of cool sweat ran down Kimber''s back. "Now, I know you''re probably upset, and I totally get that. But I figured out who he is at the same time! And wasn''t that the point of this challenge? For me to become some ace detective? And if we figured it out at the same time, doesn''t that technically make this a tie?"
Though she knew lenses could not physically move, she could almost see Batman''s white eyes narrowing. He stared her down for a moment before an alarm for the manor above echoed through the ''Cave. "Fine." Batman approached the Batcomputer and silenced the alarm before he clacked away at a few keys. "He''ll be here within an hour. In the meantime." He pointed her to the crime station he''d been using. "Put your chemistry skills to work and figure out what that sample under the microscope is."
"What about you?"
"I have someone wandering upstairs."
"Ooh..." Batgirl had to giggle. "You''d better find her before she dies of starvation. A person could get lost in that museum of a house."
Batman said nothing. He simply moved to the intermediate changing station, emerged as Bruce Wayne, then went up the stairs.
Swish. Slash. Jab. Parry. Duck. Roll. Swipe.
The movements were all fluid.
Guard. Turn. Parry. Dodge. Spin. Thrust.
The blade felt so natural, so familiar. It was balanced nearly the same as the training blades she''d used on Themyscira. Diana jumped up and thrust the elegant weapon forward again. As soon as she was back on the floor, she flashed her foot out and then caught her imaginary opponent off-guard with a stab for the midsection. In one swift and final two-handed swipe, she had beheaded her invisible enemy.
She straightened up after the kata and reverently inspected the blade. "This sword is of the gods." She barely dared to breathe.
"It''s Greek. But close enough."
Diana spun around and let out an exclamation: Bruce Wayne was leaning on the door jam with his trademark grin on his lips. His arms were crossed and he had one foot relaxed in front of the other. "Remind me not to get on your bad side." The smirk never left his face as he entered the room.
"How long have you been watching me?" Diana asked, uneasy.
"Long enough to know that this Thanksgiving it will be you cutting the turkey."
"I''m sorry. I couldn''t sleep." A slightly shy, girlish smile spread over Diana''s face. It was unnerving that this man had snuck up on her so easily, but it was Bruce Wayne! Did that make it alright? "It seems you keep odd hours as well," she added. "Normal people usually are in bed at this time."
"Work never sleeps, Ms. Prince. It''s always daytime somewhere." Bruce answered dismissively. "I''ve grown accustomed to burning the candle at both ends."
Diana twisted the blade in her hands, allowing the artificial light to dance along the edge. "Ever done swordplay before, Mr. Wayne?"
Bruce cocked a brow. "Once or twice," was his mischievous reply. "Though I don''t recall if I ever won."
She pointed to a rack of swords. "So all this is just for show, then? Who was your teacher?"
Bruce''s face fell slightly. "Alfred." He reverently removed a similarly dulled training saber from the rack.
"Alfred?" Was he the man in the portrait?
"I''m sorry." Bruce''s jovial nature rebounded and he assumed a very basic stance. "He was my butler. Passed away not too long ago... Treated me like his own son and taught me a lot about life." He chuckled as some fond memories of his longest friend flashed through his mind. "Odd old codger," he murmured affectionately.
Diana assumed a more advanced stance. "Sounds like he was a wonderful and honorable man. I''m sorry for your loss." She started forward with a simple swipe.
Bruce raised his blade and easily parried the strike. "He was a good man," He confirmed as he shoved her blade away and then parried her next strike. "Please, Ms. Prince, I may not have been raised by warriors on Themyscira, but I have had the opportunity to learn from some unexpected teachers in my youth." With a twist of his hips, Diana stumbled past him and barely regained her footing in time to block his blade. "Don''t take my skills for granted."
Diana had to smile again. Seems like this will be a challenge. "I will have to warn you, Mr. Wayne." She swung her blade at his head in a telegraphed move. True to her expectations, he ducked and she punched forward. "I''ve been trained by the best."
Bruce threw his weight back to barely avoid her fist and then stumbled away from her, effectively distancing himself. So have I. He rushed her.
The clangs and slashes were beautifully timed. Bruce, as Batman, had sparred many times with Diana during their tenure in the Justice League and then the Justice Lords. She was a vengeful spirit and a powerhouse. But she didn''t always think too far ahead. She''d often had her super strength to fall back on when the going got tough. But now, her strength wasn''t any more remarkable than anyone else''s. He dodged her foot, then lashed out with his blade again.
Diana pivoted parallel to his blade and threw her head forward. Again, Bruce anticipated her movement and threw a hand up. He caught the head-butt, though he did his best to act surprised. She was surprisingly easier to read than he''d expected, perhaps her time in that facility dulled her edge? Either way, he was ready for anything she could throw at him.
"Who is the couple in your large portrait?"
Almost anything. He faltered and she got a good hit off of him. Her fist thudded against his left pectoral and he stumbled back.
"Which one?" he asked as he lurched forward to attack. But he knew which one she was talking about. Outside in the second foyer before this hallway. Above the fireplace and perpendicular to the wall with the giant grandfather clock¡
"Outside in the second foyer before this hallway. Above the fireplace and perpendicular to the wall with the giant grandfather clock." She voiced verbatim his thoughts as if she''d read his mind. "Who are they?"
"Why, my parents of course." He laughed it off as he brought the blunt end of his sword''s pommel down for her forehead. She easily pivoted away from him.
"How are they?" she asked. "I have not seen them at all."
He switched fighting styles without realizing it. From the basic one he''d been using, he switched to a samurai style that was reserved for the pupils of Yoru-Sensei. He quickly reverted, but not before he had knocked her back a few feet. "They..." He was unsure how to approach it.
It was a sensitive subject that he rarely talked to anyone about. The news, talk shows, interviews: he shot them all down. It was now that he realized he had never told any of his former teammates about the death of his parents. Of course, the Justice League as a whole never knew who Batman was behind the mask; but that Diana didn''t even know the tragedy of Thomas and Martha Wayne reminded him just how fresh she was to the world of Man... and to Gotham.
"They are..."
"Yes?" Diana''s innocent voice was a stark contrast to the furious swipes she was making for his midsection and arm.
"They are dead."
The statement caught Diana off-guard. Dead? She managed to side-step Bruce''s downward swipe. "What happened?"
Just the thought of the nameless mugger who had gunned down his parents outside the theater many years ago filled him with rage. "Murder." He spat the word out and simultaneously rocked his elbow out catching Diana in the temple. Surprisingly, she brushed it off and blasted her knee for his crotch.
He avoided her strike but she was already setting up for her next attempt despite the thoughts swarming her mind. Murder? "Did they ever ¨C ugh ¨C catch the murderer?" She took a step back as Bruce''s knee withdrew from her side.
A warmth flooded his veins and Bruce could only guess that this was how Bane had felt whenever Venom washed through his system. Every night he went on patrol for the first few years, Bruce would catch a mugger, a killer, an abuser, a criminal... and he would ask himself, is this the one? He would glare into the thug''s face and all his anger, all his aggression toward his parents'' killer would be unleashed on Batman''s unfortunate victim. "No." The word came with bitterness. A sense of failure.
Diana''s foot shot out and nearly tripped Bruce, but his footing became sure once more and he was able to stabilize. "Were you there?"
"There was nothing I could do." He felt like screaming but managed to keep himself in check. The words, the admittance of helplessness, were hard to come by.
Diana bit her lip but pressed on with the fight and the conversation. Her off-hand lashed out with a swipe of nails. "How old were you?" She could tell the questions were hurting him, but she felt had to know. She needed to know.
Bruce''s eyes narrowed in concentration as he shuffled by her and then behind her. He glimpsed his face in the mirror during the move and found himself wearing his natural face: the glare of Batman. Before Diana faced him, Bruce quickly wiped the look from his face and managed to throw up a half-hearted Bruce Wayne fa?ade.
"I was eight." It came out as a sort of moan.
Diana jumped back to avoid his blade and then lunged forward, but with not nearly as much gusto as she had before. But it wasn''t because she was tired. The lamentation... It is nearly oozing from his very being. She parried his next two strikes then followed it up with a half-hearted string of slashes and jabs. She could nearly feel his sadness like a burden.
Bruce grimaced and lunged forward just as she prepared to thrust. He tackled her. The two went to the floor in a rough heap of grunts. She''d been fighting messy, but so had he. Her probing questions somehow peeled through his defenses and made him emotional. The conversation had been the true conflict and he''d lost. He looked at the woman under him. Her tears were mixing with her sweat. He, too, could feel the sweat pouring down his brow and collecting on his chin, dripping to the floor.
There was a slight beeping coming from his phone in his pocket, but neither moved. They just stared at each other.
"Look who found his way here! Like a reverse canary." Batgirl''s voice echoed in the BatCave as Robin entered from the underground walk-in path. "Surprised you could find the place so easily."
"Well, Batman sent me the coordinates, so..." Robin answered the darkness. He scanned his surroundings. "It wasn''t that difficult."
True. How else would you have gotten here?"
Robin fired his bat-claw into the cave ceiling and was whisked up into the waiting darkness. "You think I couldn''t have found this place by myself, Kimmie?"
Batgirl shook her head as she watched him zip up above her hiding spot. He was taunting her, she just knew it. The way he said her name, flaunting his hidden knowledge ¨C it nearly took the wind out of her sails. "You''re that confident in your abilities?" she called out to the darkness above her.
"Yup," echoed his distant response. "I''ve always been good at being unseen. And as it turns out, I''m just as good at uncovering secrets."
He was far off to the left of her, likely in a higher crevasse."You''re already off-base," she chided with a light laugh. "Maybe you should stick to one dank cave."
A different laugh echoed back at her. It made a chill jump up her back.
Batgirl heard a faint crumble of loose stone patter down to her left and watched as some small rocks fell from the cave wall ceiling. She wet her lips and made her way to the ledge where the rubble had fallen from, then reached for her bat-claw. "I can hear you, you know."
"Because I want to be heard." His voice was suddenly behind her.
Bagirl whirled around quickly and punched the voice.
Robin let out a squawk of dismay and surprise as Batgirl laid him out.
"Oh, shit!" Batgirl suppressed a chuckle as she offered a hand to help him up. "You okay, tough guy?"
Robin accepted. "Yeah. I didn''t think you''d actually hit me."
"Why not? Fight or flight, right? You could have been anyone."
Robin stretched his mouth to try and work away the soreness. "We''re the only two here. Who else could it have been?" He made his way back to the first floor of the cave and looked around at the rest of the BatCave''s furnishings.
Batgirl chased after him. "Hey, you never know when someone could stumble in here and need to be subdued."
"Funny." Robin rubbed his still-aching cheek as he turned his attention to the stairs leading from the manor. Batman was halfway down. "You called?"
Batman completed his descent. It was clear he had been within the cave during their short cat-and-mouse game and likely had caught some of their interaction from the landing halfway down the stairs. Now on the ground floor, he gestured to Batgirl as he made his way to the Batcomputer. "On her order," he said with a hint of humor.
Robin turned to the girl. "What? Missed me already?" He grinned beneath the mask, clearly referring to the somewhat intimate experience they''d shared in her father''s office.
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
"Hardly," she responded with a huff, turning her head to the side to avoid direct eye contact. "I just figured I''d return your earlier revelation in kind. So let''s dash pretense. You know who I am." Batgirl removed her helmet and let her curled dark hair fall free. "And I know who you are, Robin."
"Kimber..." Robin''s smirk was replaced with a look of slight admiration. He caught his breath as her midnight curls bounced down her neck and cascaded between her armored shoulders.
Kimber bit the inside of her cheek. "Thanks," she shyly mumbled back. Keep control of the situation, Kimber. Don''t let him get in your head again. Even still, she looked at her reflection in her dark visor and nodded approvingly. "I''m sure you''ll look just as good with the mask off."
"Okay, this oughta be good." Robin took a stabilizing breath as he, too, regained his composure. He put his weight on one foot and placed his hands on his hips as if expecting her to fail. "You really think you know who I am?"
"I just cut through your bullshit up there¡ª"
"Debatable."
"And!" Kimber was beginning to get flustered. "I''m about to cut off your parading here." She marched over to Robin and cradled his covered face in her gloved hand gently. Had Mawk''s chin always been this square? "I know it''s you under there, Mawk, so why don''t you just peel the cowl off and we call it even?"
"Mawk?" Robin seemed to glance in Batman''s direction. The Dark Knight also seemed to find some humor in it. "Terrif¡ You think I''m Mawk?"
"I know you are." Without warning, Kimber leaned in to kiss her boyfriend.
"No, wait¡ª!" Robin began to protest and put a hand up to push Kimber away, but it came too late.
Their lips met for the briefest of seconds and Kimber felt her heart flutter as a spark seemed to leap between their lips and for the first time in a long while, she felt alive. She separated and smiled at the stunned boy as she adjusted her grip on her helmet. "Take the mask off."
Robin looked at Batman, shocked by the events. "Should I? Because now I''m scared."
Batman responded, shaking his head in slight dismay, "Depends how much longer you want to play this out."
Robin heaved a sigh. He looked at Kimber. The girl''s mind seemed to be occupied, her gloved fingers brushing over her lips as she seemed to replay the tender moment in her head. He swallowed hard. "Mistakes have been made¡" he muttered. His hands lingered at the edge of his cowl and a distinct look of uncertainty was etched on his face. "Kimber..."
Brought back to Earth by her name, the crime fighter placed an impatient hand on her hip. "Are you takin'' that mask off or what, bud?"
"Yeah, yeah..." He started to lift the cowl from his head then stopped mid-removal. "Just don''t get angry at me, alright?" The jovial tone he''d used before was long gone, replaced with a nervous one.
His tone unsettled her slightly, but she pushed the feeling aside as he removed his mask. A strange feeling of anxiety crept in as she prepared to see Mawk''s mischievous grin. However, it wasn''t Mawk under the mask and for some reason, relief washed over her. Even so, she found herself speechless once the cowl hung from the neck of Robin''s uniform and she was staring at Curtis.
"Curtis?" She was incredulous. "How the¨C? What the¨C?" She extravagantly wiped her mouth with her forearm and then looked at Batman. "The hell just happened here?"
Batman approached, microscope slide in hand. "Basic misdirection," he stated. "He adopted all the mannerisms and traits of someone else you knew, effectively throwing you off. Apparently, it was someone you knew well." There was a hint of amusement in the Dark Knight''s voice.
"I told you it''d work, Boss," Curtis mumbled.
"A little too well," Batman confirmed.
Kimber stared at Curtis unsure of how to feel about the quick kiss she''d forced on him.
"Don''t look at me like that!" Curtis'' brown eyes avoided his still-stunned friend''s glower. "I protested!"
"You acted like my boyfriend!" she charged.
"And you didn''t do your homework!" Curtis shot back. "He''s been out of town for three days and you didn''t even think to call him to check where he was before pulling this? How would he have gone between Gotham to Star City so quickly without anyone noticing? And do I even look as big as Mawk? The guy''s the size of a pickup!"
"No," Kimber said as her cheeks went flush and her eyes turned down. "But you are bigger than I remember," she added with a low purr.
There was a moment of silence in the BatCave. Finally, Curtis spoke. "Well, I have been working out, so at least I know that''s noticeable."
"Cute." Venom laced Kimber''s comment but she couldn''t help but feel respect for the show her friend had put on. He''d taken her for a ride. She''d been so sure in her father''s office that she discarded even the idea of double-checking her notes. Looking back, it should have been obvious that Mawk could be ruled out, but Curtis was right: she hadn''t even thought to shoot him a text. In fact, aside from a scant few messages, she hadn''t even spoken to him over the past few days. Defeated, she turned to the Bat and hoped for a change of topic. "So what happens now?"
Batman handed her the slide he''d tasked her with examining. "You tell me."
She sighed and began explaining the compound she had been tasked with identifying. "I can''t say for sure what it is. I set it up with a quick profile and ran it against all chemicals in the Batcomputer''s database, but came up with only partial matches. So instead of having it trying to match one compound, I set it to match multiple compounds; they would have to be volatile enough to mix well and match at least 30% of the substance with a low overlap threshold."
"Well? Don''t keep us waiting."
Kimber gave Curtis a dark look. "You did."
"Feh. It was supposed to be a light-hearted game." He waved her off but she could read he was feeling every bit as bothered as she.
"The result?" Batman interrupted in his impatient way.
"Horrifying." She sat before the Batcomputer and pulled up the profile on the substance she''d started putting together. "A lovely little mixture of Venom and an unnamed liquid in the database. I looked at the nameless compound''s parent file and ¨C get this." She clicked a few more keys on the keyboard and Curtis read the title out loud.
"Lazarus? You mean to say that this horrifying liquid is a lethal combination of Bane''s Venom and Ra''s al Ghul''s Lazarus Pit liquid?"
"Horrifying? Yes. Lethal? Far from it," she corrected. "This compound is a near-perfect synthesis of only the positives from each compound. In theory, it would have all the physical enhancement effects of Venom without the risk of dependency nor the withdrawal symptoms."
She pointed out to her partners the results of the simulations she''d run. "It also has all of the life-prolonging properties from the Lazarus serum, to an extent, without the threat to the user''s psyche. The two compounds could be so perfectly balanced that they cancel each other''s negative side effects out."
"So Venom''s resulting physical buildup would prevent the Lazarus serum''s mind-altering enzyme from bonding to molecules that pass through the blood-brain barrier... While the Lazarus serum''s replenishing attributes could cancel out the risk of dependency and withdrawal symptoms from the Venom and facilitate the rapid growth and repair of muscle tissue." Batman mused.
Curtis bit his lip.
Kimber nodded. "Yup, but there''s a bit more." She opened up another computer-simulated test. "See this here?" She pointed to a subset of the results. "The compound can integrate with cells through the Lazarus liquid and those cells then can be modified via Venom''s mutagenic effects¡"
Curtis caught her logic. "Then that stands to reason over time, the effects of the serum could become¡ª"
"Permanent," Batman growled, effectively silencing the BatCave for a good few moments.
"So that''s the Society of Shadows'' game; some sort of drug trafficking?" Curtis pondered out loud. "Seems sort of low-key, honestly."
"It''s never that simple with Ra''s," Batman stated. "There has to be more... Something you aren''t telling me, Batgirl."
Kimber nodded. "I was still looking over the molecular design when Boy Blunder here entered and I... went to hide." Her cheeks burned.
Curtis laughed. "An effective use of time."
"Hush you." She dismissed Curtis'' jab and pointed to the screen. Sure enough, the two compounds were there but there was a trace of another element that the Batcomputer had no match for. "No clue what it is and it doesn''t interact with either compound in any way. Directly, at least." Her fingers flew over the keypad and the computer simulated over 50 different builds for all three molecules but none of the builds found any way for the third trace molecule to activate within the human body. "I think it''s just a stabilizing compound they''re tweaking to get the ooze to be more potent, but can''t say for sure."
"I don''t recognize this compound, either." Batman eyed it suspiciously. "I have a feeling that only Ra''s al Ghul knows."
"You feel like calling him up and asking?" Curtis piped up.
Surprisingly, Batman didn''t glare at him for the joke. "I have the distinct feeling that he will be attempting to make contact with me." He began removing his gauntlets. "In the meantime, focus on the rise of the gangs here in Gotham. The Burnouts are likely not the only groups that Ra''s doled out samples to. Could make fights unpredictable."
"No problem, Batman." Curtis lightly punched Kimber''s armored shoulder. "After all, now that your little test is over, we can focus on working together rather than against each other. Also, what about your end of the bet?"
Batman reached for a key fob hanging from a panel of similar devices and tossed the shiny silver object to Curtis. "Here. Key it to your belt."
"Is this what I think it is?" Curtis thumbed one of the two buttons on the oval-shaped piece of metal. There was a low rumble of an engine and both Kimber and Curtis looked into the Garage as a vehicle rumbled to life. "Oh yes..."
The trike-like vehicle had two wheels in the front and one larger wheel in the back. The cradle for the driver was snug between the three wheels with the feet of the driver near the two front wheels and the back close to the rear wheel. The sleek black-tinted canopy was forward in the ''open'' position and revealed the graceful controls and electronics. Under the cockpit were two trunk spaces, one on each side, no doubt for equipment that couldn''t fit on a belt.
"Awesome," Curtis breathed.
"Unfair!" Kimber whirled around to her mentor. "You never said there was going to be a prize!"
Batman, now in the costume of Bruce Wayne, started ascending the stairs. "I never said there wouldn''t be," he sang back.
"So when are you going to tell her?" Kimber shifted the conversation to Diana as Curtis gushed over his new ride.
Bruce''s face darkened. "Never."
Kimber caught up to him. "She''ll find out eventually. You don''t want her finding out on her own, especially with the conflicting feelings she no doubt has since... you know."
This girl was the perfect embodiment of his conscience. He knew damn well that if Diana continued to live in the manor, there would come a time when he would have to face the music and tell her he was the Dark Knight. Or she would find out on her own. But he didn''t want to. "She won''t be here forever, Batgirl." He continued his way up and the darkness enveloped him.
"Keep telling yourself that, Bruce," Kimber retorted more to herself. Then she quickly walked back down to the BatCave and cornered Curtis. "We cannot tell Mawk."
"What? That we run around in long underwear and punch people that cross the law?" Curtis joked.
"I''m serious, Curt!" Kimber pleaded. "Not that we are Batgirl and Robin, but that we kissed. That I kissed you."
"Yeah, of course. You know I wouldn''t..." His expression was one of confusion. "Why would I? He''s my friend, you know. Or at least, I think he is¡ Besides, I told you not to."
"Yeah, and I ignored you because you made me think you were Mawk! Why him of all people?" She threw up her hands.
"Because he''s easy to imitate," he replied with a grin, though a hint of something deeper flickered in his eye.
Kimber''s glare didn''t waver and when her shoulders squared, Curtis sighed and lost his smile. "When I stumbled upon the Bat-Trike in Batman''s files, I wanted it. Boss wasn''t happy I''d been rooting around his system but when he presented the challenge to me, I bet him I could mislead whoever Batgirl was into thinking I was someone else. I wagered the Bat-Trike and he accepted, so sure I couldn''t pull it off." Curtis glanced at the sleek vehicle, a small, rueful laugh escaping him. "Showed him..."
It was a more honest answer but it wasn''t the answer Kimber was looking for. "But why Mawk?" she asked again, more pleadingly.
He hesitated at first, but when he finally spoke, his voice was softer. "Because Mawk¡ Mawk''s got that charisma, that confidence I''ve never had. It just flows naturally from him. It didn''t matter what anyone else thought of him, he was confident in his own abilities and that trickled into how others viewed him. With the mask on, I felt like I could borrow some of that. I felt cool and capable, like him."
The two were silent for a moment as Kimber reflected on his answer. Soon, Curtis continued. "It was only after I realized who you were that the irony came through. Either way, I thought you were going to do like me and just tell the boss in private. Then he''d tell you you were wrong and you''d either try again or give up." He looked up at the cave roof, avoiding her gaze. "I didn''t think you''d showboat it so much..."
Kimber was quiet for a moment as she digested his words. "I honestly thought you were him ¨C I wanted you to be him. I wanted that so bad..." She trailed off. There was a part of her, a deeper part, that was relieved that Mawk wasn''t the man beneath the mask. A part deep down that she didn''t wish to acknowledge. At least now she knew he would be safe. She sniffed before continuing. "So screw you but I apologize." She sat on the ground in a huff. "Just... Please, don''t tell Mawk¡"
"I won''t. I promise."
The night had been rather eventful. Not only had she apparently lost the opportunity to upgrade her ride, but Kimber had also found out Curtis was Robin and in the most embarrassing way possible. Now, walking next to Curtis down the gravel path leading out of the BatCave, she felt different around him. She looked him up and down as the light from outside reached them. He had changed. How had she not noticed before? His chin was more chiseled than she remembered and had he always been that tall?
Curtis caught her staring and looked at her, lost. "What?"
Were his shoulders always that broad? Kimber continued to look at him, then a thought hit her as they stepped out of the cavern and onto the lower grounds of the Wayne estate. "Curt? What size clothing do you wear?"
Curtis'' face sort of fell into a sad smile. "You noticed. When I was growing up, my folks often came home with clothes a size or two too big for me. Dad always said I''d grow into them." He laughed at the memory. "Never did... Looking back, I realize he was often buying second-hand since it was all we could afford, but they always made me look scrawnier than I was." Curtis looked out at the distant Gotham skyline as if reflecting on something. "With my internship stipend, I thought I could finally afford a wardrobe upgrade, but most of the money has been redirected to some of my father''s past-due bills and saving for an apartment."
Kimber was silent a moment as her gaze lingered on Curtis. She saw it now, the way his shoulders slumped as he spoke of his father''s financial woes and his childhood. That was the Curtis she remembered from high school. Back then, she assumed he simply stood with a hunch but now she could feel the invisible weight he carried. Perhaps being in the BatCave, being Robin, gave him a chance to escape that weight ¨C even if for a few hours. But in asking him about it, she realized she had inadvertently brought it all crashing back to him. She placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Are we cool?"
"Huh?"
"Are we cool?" she asked again. "About the you-know-what? It didn''t mean anything, right?" She sounded like she was trying to convince herself.
"Yeah, of course not." Curtis smiled through his feelings. Actually, it kinda did. He liked Kimber a lot. It was a feeling that sprouted during their first interaction before winter break and further developed over that Christmas season. She was single at that time, and at the bash, he honestly thought he had a chance. But soon after Mawk was hospitalized, Kimber rushed back to his side making them a power couple again. It took time, but Curtis managed to repress his feelings. But now that kiss had broken down the dam holding back his emotions; all those initial feelings came flooding back. It would take time to build that wall again.
As for Kimber, all the uneasy feelings she had moments ago were shattered by his smile. There was something disarming about it. "Y''know... I''ve been working for him longer... So what say you let the veteran claim seniority over that trike?"
Curtis ''tsked'' Kimber. "I earned it fair and square. Besides, you already have the bike! What would you need with another transport?"
She tousled his hair but gave no response.
"So what has Mawk been up to lately?" Curtis shifted the conversation to her significant other. "I know he''s been between here and Star City, but that''s about it. Thought I would run into him myself while I was out there, but never caught sight of him."
"To be honest, I haven''t heard from him recently." She hadn''t thought about just how thin their relationship was quickly becoming. He was getting busier with college prep and she was a superhero. She pulled her phone from her pocket.
"You''re gonna call him?"
"I might when I get home, yeah... We haven''t talked in a bit." She unlocked her device and skimmed their text message chains. "We''ve both just been busy ¨C him more than me. I hope he''s alright."
"Nothing can hold him down, Kim. College is starting soon and the athletic scholarships he''d been granted were taken away after the¡ party. I''m sure he''s just scrambling to be prepared for Fall. His parents may be rich, but they''re not that rich."
"Fair enough." She sat behind the wheel of her car and realized that hers was the only car in the courtyard. "Where''s your ride?"
Curtis shrugged. "Didn''t exactly come here in a conventional way," he replied. "So I''ll probably have to grab a bus home or something."
Kimber started her car and gripped the wheel. For a moment, something in her gut prompted her to ask if he''d like a ride home. She remembered that he lived rather close to her. But she managed to squash the feeling after considering what had happened earlier in the ''Cave. She put the car into reverse. "So, we will be seeing a lot of each other, huh?"
"I guess we will." Curtis stepped back from her car as it slowly started to roll back. Then he added just before she was out of earshot, "Call Mawk."
-Six Months ago. Mid-January-
"Yetch!" A young teen gagged at the wretched sight on his plate. "What is this slop?"
His friend nudged him with laughter. "It''s the day''s special: guess who you''re eating."
The first boy shook his head slowly. "Aren''t they supposed to feed us actual food? I mean, we are in high school."
"Oh calm down, Tim." His friend stabbed whatever was his dish with his plastic fork. "At least with enough salt, it tastes good." He stuck the morsel in his mouth and chewed.
Tim leaned back in his chair and risked another nibble and then gagged. "Bleh! Nope!" Tastes like something Croc would eat. He stuck his tongue out in disgust at the meal. "You want it, Melvin?"
Melvin, wearing a likewise disgusted face, pushed Tim''s dish further down the table to another kid eating a peanut butter and honey sandwich. "Give it to Mikey, he will eat anything."
"No, he doesn''t!" Tim protested. "He won''t eat it, he hates everything."
True to Tim''s words, Mikey took one bite of the mystery slop and shook his head. "What the heck is wrong with you two?" He asked slowly. Then he returned to his homemade meal.
"One day, I''mma remember to bring a sandwich from home."
"You say that every lunch period, Tim," Melvin pointed out.
The group talked for a bit about various subjects as the news on the cafeteria''s television screens droned on in the background.
"...And that was pretty much why my Dad had to get his leg amputated¡ª"
"Hang on," Tim cut Melvin off. He perked up an ear and listened to the latest news bulletin. He couldn''t make out the entire thing over the loud cafeteria, but what he was sure of were two words: ''Batman returns''. "Oh you''ve gotta be kidding me," he muttered. He turned to his friends. "I''ll catch ya''ll later!" He called as he picked up his tray.
Mikey followed. "Dude!" he exclaimed. "You can''t just leave! School doesn''t end for another three hours! And Beth will be so pissed at you if you miss her study session!"
Tim brushed his friend''s concern off. "I know, just tell her I had a family emergency or something."
"''Or something''?" Mikey shook his head. "I''m pretty sure that she''d expect you to text her that sort of thing directly, since, ya know... She''s your girlfriend?"
Only for, like, a month. Tim rolled his eyes. "Just tell her something. Anything!" Then he was out the doors on the way home.
Tim burst through the front door of his aunt and uncle''s apartment. "Hey, Rog!" He grabbed his cellphone charger from his room and snatched an extra jacket from his closet.
"Timothy Drake!" Uncle Roger called after his nephew. "Just where do you think you''re going? Aren''t you supposed to be in school?"
"Uh... No!" Tim snatched a black book from his bookcase, and a phonebook, then bounded down the stairs and by his father figure. "It was a half day. Didn''t the school call? See ya later, going to the library to study. Bye!" His disjointed answers came at a machine-gun''s pace as he booked for the door.
There was nothing Uncle Roger could do to stop the bundle of energy that was Tim Drake. He knew full well that school was still in session. But Tim wouldn''t die from missing one day of class, would he? The older man looked through the blinds and caught sight of his nephew waving down a taxi. "That boy knows damn well he could just walk to the local library. The laziness of the youth these days."
Tim entered Gotham Public Library after a long drive from Bl¨¹dhaven. His legs ached and he was sure he''d likely expended his allowance for the next two months with the fare alone. But once the gritty sign advertising Gotham city limits met his eyes, he felt a surge of energy. Within seconds of the taxi stopping before the library, he was through the main doors and at the main desk repeatedly ringing the bell. "Babs! Babs!"
"Shhh!" A stern young woman exited the back office with a deliberate pace and clapped a firm hand over the service bell, cutting off all further ringing. "I don''t care if you''re skipping school. This is still a library and you have to¨C Wait, you moved to Bl¨¹dhaven¡ How did you get here?"
Tims narrowed his eyes and searched her face. "You look silly with glasses."
"Thanks, Mr. Suave," Barbara replied flatly. "Guessing my question will go unanswered, so let me try again. What''s up, sport?" She came around the desk and stood before her young friend.
"I think he''s back."
Barbara straightened up and arched one brow in librarian fashion. "Really?"
Tim''s head nodded up and down with conviction.
"You think that after everything that has gone down. After everything he has done part of that... League," she said the word as if it were a slur. "You think that he has just come back to take his place as if nothing happened?"
Tim nodded again, unphased by her cynicism. "Uh-huh. Heard some dude on the news talking about it!"
"Really?"
"Yeah!"
Barbara sighed. "Tim... those are talking heads. Only half of what they say is true and even that half is extremely biased. I wouldn''t trust them as far as I could throw them."
"Well, you can throw a full-grown man pretty far," he pointed out.
"You know what I mean!" she snapped back hastily. "Besides, my father would have mentioned him by now."
"Your dad isn''t in charge of the police force anymore. And it''s not like you and him are on the best of terms, what with his new role and all. He is some sort of dual prison warden per the B-Man''s request."
"No need to remind me of Dad''s promotion." She leaned against her desk and crossed her arms. "He isn''t back, Tim. He can''t be. I don''t care what you heard."
"Has your dad said he wasn''t back?" Tim asked, again ignoring Barbara''s inquiry.
"Like you said: we don''t talk." Barbara stooped a bit. In the past, she would have had to bend over to get on Tim''s level, but he had grown over the years, now all it took was a hunched back. "What? You want me to call him?"
"Who? Bru¡ª"
"No!" She hissed the boy quiet. "My father! Duh!"
"Only if you don''t believe me."
"Fine. I''ll let you know later tonight, then." She extended her arm.
Tim shook her hand. "Sweet!" He turned to leave.
"Oh, Tim?"
"Yeah?"
"If he is back; what are you going to do? Ask to join up again?"
Tim fell silent and left the library.
Part 1: Chapter 7
Ra''s al Ghul sat comfortably in his limousine. To say he was nettled would be an understatement. His most promising wayward student had achieved what he had only dreamed of: peace on Earth. And this peace had been achieved without an excessive show of force, just one death. No extravagant killing, no subterfuge or clandestine operation, just a simple sacrifice for the greater good. Luthor had been killed, the League became Lords, and the Earth began to heal. But it didn''t last. The student''s flawed conscience must have blinded him, like a bad habit. As a result the Lords fell and the student had willfully handed control back over to the people.
"If you want anything done right," he murmured the adage to himself, "You have to do it yourself." The fingers of his left hand gently flexed around the trigger that would send the signal to put his plan into motion. The second he pulled the trigger, the snowball at the top of the proverbial hill would be pushed and Azra''il would escape Arkham Asylum with the needed agents.
No matter how tempted Ra''s al Ghul was to just hit it now, his discipline kept him in check. He was nothing if not patient. He''d waited hundreds of years for all the pieces to be in place, he could wait another hour or two. He had to meet with him. One final chance for his prodigal pupil to recognize the mistake he''d made ending the Justice Lords and join him to take control again.
Tim had been waiting for months for Barbara to call him. In fact, he hadn''t answered any other phone calls the first day he''d brought Batman''s return up to her. He just waited for her call; and for every other call that came through, he would immediately decline it once he saw it wasn''t her ¨C much to his now ex-girlfriend''s displeasure. Days turned to weeks and weeks to months. Eventually, he moved on to other things. Life doesn''t stand still, you know. However, every day he would hope and pray that it would be the day that she''d call.
Today was no different; and as Tim sat staring at his phone and ignoring the summer book report he had to write, he twiddled his thumbs anxiously. "C''mon, Babs... I gotta know!" The anxiety got the better of Tim and he stood up and walked to his bed. He got on his hands and knees to pull a small backpack out from under the bed. Inside were a few tokens from the past including a damaged Robin mask, his first bat-a-rang, and a torn piece of cloth from his Robin cape. Small mementos of the most exciting time in his life.
Though he hadn''t been The Boy Wonder for too long, he felt that it was his real life; his only life. And that was something he needed. He traced the bat-a-rang with his finger as its edge dredged up memories of fights gone by. Without Robin, he was just "Timothy Drake", that one high school underclassman who makes decent brownies. He was ordinary. He hated being ordinary.
His phone rang, pulling him from his nostalgia trip, and he rushed to answer it without even looking at the caller ID. "Hello? Hello? Barbara!" He couldn''t help but exclaim as he recognized the voice on the other line. "About dang time!"
Barbara sighed on the other end, clearly not as enthused about the conversation as he. "It seems to be true, Tim. The Bat is back."
"Yes!" He was sure she was frowning at his exclamation on the other line, but he didn''t care. "How long?"
"Dad couldn''t say. In fact he didn''t outright say he was back, but I figured that that was only because of his job. Plausible deniability. But between some vague news reports I''ve noticed and my father''s avoidance of the topic, I''m sure it''s a fair guess that Batman''s returned to the night."
The line was quiet for a moment.
"So¡ Now what?" Tim asked.
"Now nothing," Barbara responded dismissively. "I am going to continue being a librarian. I don''t need to be Batgirl. I don''t need that other identity to make a difference or to feel special. Sure it was great being Batgirl, but that part of my life is behind me. I''ve given it up. I recommend you do the same."
"Are you joking?" Tim countered seriously. "The Bat is back!"
"Yes!" Barbara nearly shouted back. "And what are you going to do? Drop by the manor out of the blue and get the cape back on? You really think life will just pick up where it left off? If I remember correctly, he fired us¡ To keep us safe from whatever bad press the Justice Lords would ¨C and did ¨C get. If he wanted a Robin, he would have called you, don''t you think?"
Again Tim was silent, clearly crestfallen.
Barbara gave a delayed sigh, regretting the harsher tone she''d just used. "Tim... I understand, somewhat, what you are going through. But you don''t need to be Robin to make a difference. Sure, you were helping people in need, but it was dangerous! We fought crazed maniacs with guns, mutations, and powers! That armored spandex only protects so much... You were a kid and Bruce threw you into a war, for Pete''s sake! You had your entire life ahead of you. Ever thought about what would happen if you got captured by Two-Face ¨C or the Joker even ¨C and we couldn''t find you? What then? Two-Face already had a nasty history with you and prefers everything in twos, but Joker? He was a madman! There''s no telling what he would do to you!"
"I was careful, Babs!" Tim angrily shot back. "I may have joked around while on the clock, but hero time was serious time! That would never happen!"
The line went silent again as the two sat with their thoughts.
Finally, Barbara cleared her throat to speak. "My first few nights out, I got a real taste of the city... The shootings, robberies, killings... There''s something terribly, terribly wrong with Gotham, Tim, something dreadful. It breeds a plague of psychosis. Every gun shot that would ring out would remind me that there were consequences and that one day I might have to pay them. I often worried what that payment would be. What if I was crippled in a fight? What if I fell from the top of a building chasing down a supervillain? My secret would be out, my family would be put in danger, and I would no longer be able to help people. I''m asking you, Tim ¨C no ¨C begging you... Do not go back. You''ve got a great life in Bl¨¹dhaven, friends, and a found family that loves you for you. Promise me you''ll stay home."
"Yawn-a-rooney."
"Timothy!"
"Kidding!" And then his voice dropped to darker levels. "In all honesty, Babs, I can''t keep that promise." Without giving Barbara another chance at dissuading him, he hung up.
Clark Kent plopped down on his hideout''s couch and greedily opened a pizza box. "C''mon, John!" He called his partner-in-revenge over. "You can''t find Shayera on an empty stomach!"
John''s dark eyes narrowed. "Watch me."
Clark frowned. "Don''t make me force feed you. You know I can."
John Stewart grunted but approached the pizza box all the same. "I''m not hungry."
"I don''t care. You need to eat. Nourish yourself."
"With pizza?"
Kent held up a folded slice of the meat lover''s pizza. "Hey, it''s got a great balance of protein, starch, and veggies, so why not?"
"Har-de-har-har, Kent." Stewart cracked a smile for the first time that day. He rose from his seat before the laptop and accepted the slice. "You were gone awhile today. Any luck with your own investigation into Shayera''s whereabouts?" He asked as he started scarfing down his piece.
Kent had spent the better part of most days since their first rough outing in Star City putting his investigative journalistic skills to use. Any and every lead he could find he would follow up on. Unfortunately, so far the only thing he''d uncovered was that most of Clark Kent''s contacts had gone the way of the dodo. "Nothing new. Wherever she is, they sure didn''t want her getting out."
"Makes sense." John pulled another piece from the box and sprinkled some of the included pepper flakes on the top. "Like you, her physiology is not entirely human. She might still retain superhuman strength. Maybe even has some control over her wings."
"Think that she has enough control to fly?" Clark asked.
"Hopefully." John stared off into the distance out the grimy, low window. He thought back to the last time the two of them had a meaningful conversation. It had been about strategy against the other world''s Justice League and not much else. There was so much more that had remained unsaid.
The two powerful men sat in silence, munching on the Italian pie. As the pizza was whittled down to its last three slices, Kent noticed the wistful look on John''s face. "Don''t worry, we''ll find her."
John''s melancholy grimace didn''t fade. "All the good we did¡ Just for them to lock her up and throw away the key." He took another bite of his pizza slice. "Ungrateful."
Clark was silent for a moment as he contemplated his next words carefully. "Perhaps they couldn''t see the forest for the trees, John. Perhaps she''s in protective custody somewhere? Like Lois--"
Stewart interrupted him. "Lois isn''t an intergalactic warrior refugee from a space-faring people, Kent. She''s a reporter. Shayera doesn''t need protection, she was their protection. And they''ve locked her up like a common criminal."
"Say what you will about our goals, but you can''t deny that the people didn''t really view us in the best light. I mean¡" Kent trailed off as he weighed whether or not the conversation should continue.
"And here we go, again." The ex-Marine rolled his eyes at the former Man of Steel. "Spit it out, Kent."
"Well, think about it. Remember when we were rooting out that disruptive political party? J''onn nearly had a psychotic break when he reached out with his mind over the people to nail down their location. He kept muttering something about the entire world exuding sorrow. That''s something that''s still haunting him. I can tell."
"I remember." Stewart threw the remnants of his crust back into the box and crossed his arms disapprovingly. "We got the bad guys in the end, that''s what mattered. We kept the world safe. What''s your point?"
Clark exhaled sharply and stared at John. "Diana''s on the fast track to being a ''normal'' person. Have you read her statement? The one that got her into the rehabilitation program?" Clark waited for Stewart to respond, but when the man said nothing, he sighed. "I''m just saying, what if we really did mess up?"
Stewart frowned and shook his head. "That''s not something I entertain. We were ¨C are ¨C the strong. We have to rule because¡ª"
"We have the power to?" Superman''s words were bitter and slightly resentful.
Stewart''s frown deepened. "There are a lot of terrible and dangerous things in this universe, some of which originate here on Earth. We tried playing by the old rules and where did that get us? Power hungry cretins with superweapons tried taking over the world bi-weekly. And when one did take control of the most powerful country in the world, we lost the Flash." Stewart closed his eyes as painful memories resurfaced. "We have to rule because if we don''t, someone else will."
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Tim stepped out of the taxi cab and handed the man a disorganized wad of cash. "Keep the change," he said quickly as he slammed the door.
"Oh, thank you, sir!" The gruff driver-for-hire then sped off leaving Tim alone at the gates of Wayne Manor.
Not much had changed. The gates were still the same, the driveway was still fresh and clear. He inhaled the Gotham air deeply. "Well, now or never, Drake." He thought about trying the code for the gate but dropped the idea in favor of sneaking back into the ''Cave. After all, what better way to show Bruce he was ready to pick up the crusade where he left it than by demonstrating that his stealth skills were still up to par? He easily slipped over the gate and landed quietly on the other side. "Piece of cake." He dusted off his hands.
"And you are?"
The voice gave him a shiverand he immediately spun around. Behind the wall was a woman crouching next to a bush with clippers in her hands and a canvas hat on her head. She was very attractive¡ and very familiar. Then realization hit him: "Wonder Woman!" He quickly scurried a few feet back off of the gravel driveway and nearly toppled into shrubbery.
Diana''s countenance fell slightly and she stood from where she had been trimming the hedges. "Please, don''t say that name out loud," she begged. "Mr. Wayne has just started getting rid of the bad press. That''s not who I am. Not anymore." She motioned with one hand for Tim to approach. "I won''t hurt you, young man."
Tim cautiously stepped forward. "Where is Mr. Wayne?" he asked slowly.
"Mr. Wayne is in a meeting right now, but he should be returning soon." She looked into the sky and squinted against the falling sun. "It''s nearly evening and he usually is home around this time." She stooped and returned to pruning the flowers. "Again I have to ask, who you are. It isn''t every day that someone hops the front gate. Much less with such ease."
"My name''s Tim," the young boy replied with a bit of pride at her compliment. "I used to live in Gotham and Mr. Wayne was my boss for an... after-school job."
"What sort of work did you do for Mr. Wayne, Tim?"
"Uh, I was sort of a cleaning person. Broke a window on his mansion and had to pay it back doing clean-up work around his house for about a year or two."
Diana looked up from her spot. "That''s quite a long time to be working to pay back a window."
Tim averted his eyes. "It was a big window."
Bruce sat in his empty boardroom across from a man he had grown to begrudgingly respect. "What do you want, Ra''s?"
Ra''s al Ghul sat relaxed but at odds with his host at the other end of the table, easily looking Bruce Wayne in the eye. "Order. Peace. Progress. Take your pick, Detective."
Bruce didn''t respond, he simply glared at the enemy he had hoped would never return.
"Seeing as you aren''t willing to small-talk, I''ll cut straight to the chase." He slid a small case across the desk straight to Bruce''s hands, then laced his fingers together again. "Open it."
Bruce did as the eco-terrorist instructed and was greeted with a smattering of newspaper clippings. He retrieved the topmost one and inspected it. He didn''t have to read further than the date to know what the rest of the snipped article was about. "The Gotham Herald headline from the day the Justice Lords took control. Why?" Bruce demanded.
"You''ve disappointed me, Detective. You had it all: The control, the man-power, the respect. You accomplished in days what I and the Society of Shadows have been working at for centuries: world peace." Ra''s took a deliberate sip of the complimentary water before him before continuing. "But then you had to ruin it." In a rare show of emotion, Ra''s raised his voice. "You had achieved the ultimate goal! My goal. You took your rightful place and became humanity''s leader; its savior. And then you threw it all away! Why?"
Bruce''s eyes narrowed. "It wasn''t my place."
"Wasn''t your place?" Ra''s had to bite his tongue to restrain himself. "Detective, I don''t know the full story. I do not think I ever will know just what convinced you to relinquish your hold, but I know this: I will pick up where you left off. With or without you, I will save this planet. Not just the people, but all of nature.
"When you took control, I thought there was a chance for this world, a chance to course correct these wayward people. But now I see that was a foolish hope. So now you leave me with no other choice: I have to reboot the system. And it all starts with the push of a button." Ra''s al Ghul raised the trigger in his hand and pressed the button. "The Endwar starts now, Detective. Which side will you choose? Progress or them?"
Ra''s stood cooly from his chair and Bruce shot up soon after; but before he could ask what the eco-terrorist meant, a dull explosion echoed from the outskirts of Gotham city. Bruce looked outside and saw smoke billowing from the direction of Arkham. "No..."
"You see, Detective, I did not have to come here. I could have simply started my grand plan to pick up from where you left off without letting you in on my goings-on. But since you actually accomplished what I''d set out to do so many centuries ago, and because you are still the best student I have ever had, I felt it only noble to give you one final chance to make things right. One final chance to join me." Ra''s al Ghul reached out his hand to his former pupil.
Bruce Wayne looked from the smoke to Ra''s al Ghul, then to the city he had sworn to protect. "Never again." He stood firm, fists clenched and hands evenly at his side ready to fight.
The eco-terrorist stood his ground but shook his head. "Very well, Detective." He turned to leave.
"What makes you think I''ll let you just walk out of here?" Bruce''s fingers curled into fists.
"Because you don''t have much of a choice."
Ra''s pressed a button on his belt and there was a flash of intensely blinding light accompanied by a deafening sound. Bruce instinctively looked away and shielded his eyes behind his arm. As soon as they had come, the sound died down and the light faded. The office was silent again save the distant wails of sirens. Bruce looked around but found himself alone. Ra''s al Ghul was nowhere to be seen.
"Ah shit, you see the latest, kid?" Green Arrow leaned his bow against the brick wall of an empty townhouse as he scrolled through his phone''s instant newsfeed. "Arkham''s been hit."
Robin turned his head and looked at his friend. "What? When did this happen?" he asked.
"Seven min¨C er, ten minutes ago." Green Arrow looked up from his screen. "That''s pretty dumb, don''t you think, though? Who''d be stupid enough to jailbreak Arkham? Most of the inmates are lobotomized and most of those that aren''t can be retained with a snap."
Robin furrowed his brow as he contemplated the news. "Unless..."
Green Arrow looked at his ally. "Unless what?"
Slowly, a possible motive formulated in his mind. "Unless they have a way to undo... Oh no..." Robin dashed to the Bat-Trike and leapt into the cockpit.
"Mind fillin'' me in, bird-boy?" Green Arrow caught up to Robin. "Where ya headed?"
"Stay here and keep a lookout for Superman and Stewart."
"Now hang on a sec¡ª"
Robin ignored Green Arrow''s protests as he readied his vehicle. "I''ve got to get back to Gotham."
"Wait, but¡ª"
"If that jailbreak is by who I think it is, we could be in for a world of trouble." Robin punched in the coordinates for Arkham and the GPS plotted the fastest route to the Somerset District.
"Wait one second, pal!" Green Arrow shot a finger in Robin''s face. "I''ve got seniority here, so where do you get off giving me orders like I''m some kid?"
Robin looked at his friend. Now was not the time for Green Arrow to be difficult. He gave Green Arrow a withering look.
"Look, what I say goes, got that? ...and I say you go to Arkham and I''ll stay here and relay to you if I see dumb and dumber." Despite Green Arrow''s continued bravado, it was clear Robin''s grim expression had shaken him.
The Bat-Trike canopy slid over Robin''s body with a hiss sealing him off to the outside, and soon the rocket-powered vehicle was off to Arkham.
"Robin to all points. Robin to all points. Converge on Arkham Island. I repeat: all points to Arkham Island. ETA thirty minutes."
"Batgirl here. I''m on my way. Seventeen minutes out."
"This is Batman. I''ve been held up. Start without me. I''ll be there as soon as I can."
"Roger." Both Batgirl and Robin replied in unison.
Robin put his communicator on stand-by and focused even more on dodging and weaving between cars and lanes. One wrong move would spell disaster. Batman had warned him that the Bat-Trike was unstable at these high speeds, but in a situation like this, he felt the risk was necessary. Based on recent events, he had a suspicion that Ra''s was the one responsible for blowing Arkham open, and with the doomsday murderer Jean-Paul Valley inside, those two together could be a lethal combination.
Bruce pulled into the parking garage of his mansion and rushed into the manor. "Diana?" He called out quickly.
"In here!" came the angelic response. Bruce followed her voice and found her in the kitchen with another person he never thought he''d see again.
"Tim?"
"Hey, Bru¨C Mr. Wayne. Just came to check on that window." He grinned and gave a subtle wink.
"The window is fine, Tim." Bruce caught the cover-story. "Nice of you to visit and check."
Tim made a face. "Er, no problem-o."
Diana stood, seemingly oblivious to the tension. "Well, it is lovely that you two have been reunited and I would love to stay and chat, but I have to take a shower¡ Get all this dirt from the garden off me." She waved at her moderately soiled clothing and apron jokingly. After a beat, she slipped out of the kitchen and headed up the stairs. "Don''t wait up!" she called back.
Bruce goofily smiled back and waved. As soon as she was out of sight, his face was wiped of whimsy and he turned to Tim Drake. "What are you doing here?" he hissed.
"I heard that you were ''operating'' again and came to see what was up."
"Go home." Bruce''s eyes narrowed. "I have somewhere to be."
"A mission? Tim hopped alongside his old mentor, "Who is it? Bane? Croc? that Mr. Death guy?"
"All of them," Bruce answered automatically.
"Sweet!" Tim fist-pumped, then ran after Bruce, "So you are definitely gonna need backup, huh?"
"No. Go home, Tim."
"What?"
"Go. Home." Bruce slipped behind the grandfather clock in the second foyer and descended the steps to the BatCave. Before he even hit the main floor, he was in uniform. As soon as he pulled on his cowl, he barked into the radio demanding a status report.
"Robin here. ETA ten minutes or less. I can see the chaos. It''s¡ it''s bad, boss."
Batman scowled. "Ten minutes? You should have been there by now according to your own calculations."
"Yeah, I''m disappointed, too. But I didn''t account for the public response. The sidewalks are teeming with people rushing away from the island and its bridges. Emergency vehicles are already tending to the wounded. The two newer bridges were also taken out by secondary explosions, no doubt to impede police response. All that''s left is the peninsula road itself. I had to take a slight detour."
"If the bridges are out, then whoever''s planned all this will likely be at the sea. Keep an eye on the harbor."
"Got it."
"Batgirl here," Batgirl''s voice came over the comm system, not nearly as stressed as the Boy Wonder. "I''m here. Half the wall''s missing and much of the main detention area is rubble. There are prisoners everywhere. Bodies, too. Of those that got out alive, most are lobotomized zombies. But there are a few of the¡ normal cases. I''ve already subdued Julian Day and Nigma."
"The name is Riddler, you Philistine!" Edward Nigma berated her from the background.
"Shut up!" Her attention returned to Batman. "Don''t know what to say. Still trying to find Mr. Death. He is my main target."
"Why?"
Robin''s voice came up. "Batgirl checked recent visitor logs. One ''Ray Algol'' had a visit with Mr. Death a week ago. Such a thinly veiled alias, not sure why it raised no alarms."
Batman grimly nodded. "Corruption is seeping back in. Stay sharp, Batgirl. Don''t forget that there are more dangerous criminals on that island with you than just Jean-Paul. Robin, as soon as you get there, rendezvous with Batgirl and then find out what blew Arkham open. If it was a missile from off-island, track the trail. If it was an explosive on-island, see if there are any clues as to who set it."
"Roger."
"And Batgirl¡ª"
"Riddle me this, Batgirl," the Riddler''s voice carried over the comm. "What time should you be watching right now?"
"I said shut up!" Batgirl directed her voice to Nigma.
"I''ll give you a hint! This Spanish adder has a sting like none other!"
Robin answered the riddle in seconds. "Batgirl! Watch your back! Bane''s gotta be who¡ª" Robin''s warning came too late and there was a loud crash on Batgirl''s end.
"Batgirl!" Robin called to his teammate, her comm now offline.
"Get down there now! I''m on my way!" Batman cut the transmission and headed for the BatCave''s small harbor.
"Cool!" A young voice from behind Batman was gleeful. "You still have my uniform!"
Batman whirled around with his teeth bared and his eyes landed on the intruder. "Tim!"
Tim Drake stepped out of the shadows half in his Robin outfit. "Sup?"
"Go. Home." Batman hissed.
"Hey, Arkham''s been hit! You know I can help!"
"I have help." Batman''s belt flashed twice indicating that Robin had arrived at Arkham. He was running late. "Go home or stay here until I return. Either way; do not go out with that on!" He rushed to the Batboat and within seconds the powerful sea vessel rocketed off from the cove.
"Pfft, right." Tim finished dressing up. "You''ll need my help. Just like old times." He straddled a black jetski and sped off towards Arkham Island.
Part 1: Chapter 8
Robin jumped out of the Bat-Trike and rushed over the old bridge to Arkham. Batman had given him a task, but he only had one goal in mind: he had to find Batgirl, and quickly. Bane had just attacked her with her back turned, a coward''s move. He could only hope the villain hadn''t indulged in his Venom serum before engaging her.
A few inmates started to amble towards him. He recognized the boisterous Maxie Zeus as one but the other wielding a prison shiv eluded his memory.
"Foolish mortal! You dare stand in my way? Do you not know who I am?" Maxie Zeus, running in an undone straightjacket, speedily closed the distance to Robin as the scarred man behind him took a more cautious and eerie approach. "I am a god! With but the flick of my wrist, I could throw a lightning bolt¡ª"
Robin gritted his teeth as the man monologued. I don''t have time for this! He vaulted over the first lunatic''s head and smashed his foot into the second. Landing on the ground, he exploded backward with both an arm out, clothes-lining Zeus and cutting him off from spouting any more nonsense. "Just shut up!" He wheeled around and faced the second man.
The scarred man''s face was dirty and blood leaked from his now-crooked nose. Despite the injury, he was smiling. He raised his weapon to his lips and licked the blade. "Here, boy," he said, pointing the tip of the shiv to a spot on his shoulder. "That is where your mark shall be."
It took a moment, but soon Robin recognized that the scars on the man''s body weren''t random: they were tally marks. A new feeling of disturbed dread washed over him and he took a tentative step back only to be roughly pushed aside by a heavy hand.
"That was a mistake, mortal." Maxie Zeus had found his feet and his voice. He lunged for the young hero with a feral growl unbecoming of royalty.
Robin dashed to the side to avoid Maxie Zeus'' attack and withdrew a baton from his belt. In the blink of an eye, the baton had expanded to become a staff. He hoped it would be enough to keep the two villains at bay. He watched as Maxie Zeus approached head-on while the scarred man attempted to circle him from behind. He glared behind his mask. "Let''s make this quick. I have work to do."
Batgirl slid between Bane''s legs and lashed out a second time with the two bat-a-rangs in her enclosed fists, slicing into the villain''s calves in an attempt to hamper his mobility.
The powerful self-made meta growled and turned to face the small Bat. "Burra!"
"Flattery will get you nowhere, Bane," Batgirl taunted back. Behind her helmet, her eyes were red. But she wasn''t crying, she was angry; angry she had gotten tunnel vision. Again. Always mind your surroundings¡ You''d think I''d have learned that by now. Her eyes danced from Bane''s angry face to the brick-red tube connecting his head to the dosage device on his wrist. She knew from Batman''s old war stories that severing the tube was the key to victory, but it was easier said than done. The tube still stood, almost tauntingly, in the moonlight. Focus. Stop hitting and start planning. "Last chance to surrender, or are you really about to try your luck one more time, imbecile perro?" She narrowed her eyes behind her visor. She hadn''t practiced her Spanish since Sophomore year; she hoped she wasn''t rusty.
Bane roared in fury and rushed forward, fists outstretched to smother the smaller fighter. Batgirl threw down a smoke bomb and then nimbly dodged to the side as the ''roided villain charged into the empty smoke. Before he had time to comprehend where she had vanished to, a winged shadow fell over him. He turned and saw Batgirl descending from the night sky with her fist cocked back.
"Check..." Batgirl slammed her fist as hard as she could into Bane''s face, forcing him to the ground. His skull bounced off the soft dirt. "And..." Batgirl vaulted over him as he swiped at her to squash her like the bug he thought she was.
After grasping only thin air, Bane rocked forward to right himself but there was a slight tug at the base of his skull followed by a pop. Suddenly he felt light-headed and his stomach churned. Like an inebriated idiot, he stumbled a few steps forward and then looked over his shoulder. Batgirl stood a few feet from him with his tube clamped under her armored boot. "No..."
"...Mate." She was breathing heavily but the adrenaline pumping through her veins felt good. "Seems you''re out of shape, bucko," she said as she stilled her breathing. "The cozy life of the last few years did you no favors. Something tells me you thought this would have been easier."
Bane could nearly hear the sneer on her face. "You... Bruja!" He stumbled for her. Surely he had enough energy to at least squash her before the terrible withdrawal effects kicked in. He saw her throw a bat-a-rang at him and easily leaned to avoid it. Once it sailed by his head, Bane took a few more steps but then paused. Something caught his ear: a distinct whizzing noise behind him. And it was getting closer. Before he could look, the returning bat-a-rang struck his cranium from behind. Bane, already on unsteady legs, lost his balance and before he knew it, he had toppled forward before his foe.
Batgirl silently and glared at her fallen foe as she collected the bat-a-rang and bound Bane''s limbs. Once she was satisfied with her work, she moved back to where the Riddler sat, still also bound. "Watch my six, huh?" She violently pulled him face to face with her and raised her fist. "I got six things for ya¡ª"
"Batgirl!" Robin slid down the side of the mountain of rubble and rushed to the threatening heroine. Even in the dark and at that distance, it was clear he wore a relieved smile. "You''re just full of surprises, aren''t you?" He looked from Bane''s bound form to her, still holding Nygma.
Batgirl crassly dropped her captive and met Robin halfway. "I haven''t located Mr. Death yet." She quickly shifted the subject. As much as she wanted to gloat on her victory, now wasn''t the time. Especially since the fight had been borne of her lack of situational awareness.
Robin nodded. "Though, I have a horrible feeling that he''s out of the facility by now."
"Reason being?"
Robin stalked further away from the audience of the subdued Bane and Riddler. "Ra''s al Ghul could very well be behind this, remember?"
Batgirl nodded.
"Ra''s doesn''t leave anything to chance, everything he does is planned and controlled." Robin crouched down and examined the rubble before him. "This attack is no different. This wasn''t caused by an explosive device. Something blew through this wall." He stood and pointed out to sea. "Something from somewhere out there. Batman was right: there must be a boat nearby."
Batgirl crossed her arms. "You can tell all that from the rocks?" she asked skeptically. "This place is a mess! How can you¡ª"
Robin interrupted her. "The rocks are strewn about in a random order, but primarily away from the building. It''s like something big smashed through here at a high speed. Simple vector math to determine the trajectory based on the damage here," he pointed to a few piles of debris that had scorch marks, "and we find our main point of impact. From that we can determine¡ª"
Batgirl mimicked a yawn and cut him off. "Blah, blah, blah, vectors, blah, blah blah, analysis. I get it, but that''s gotten us no closer to Jena-Paul."
Robin frowned beneath his mask. "You really should pay attention to this stuff."
"Save it for study hall, Boy Wonder. We''re running out of time. I don''t care what blew a hole in the side of Arkham, I care about where those inside went!"
Robin heaved an impatient sigh and his eyes scanned the rocky shore of the peninsula. A moment later, he inhaled sharply and pointed over Batgirl''s shoulder. "Prepare to call me amazing, then, because they''re right down there!"
Batgirl followed Robin''s finger and saw two shadowy figures rushing to load a third limp figure onto a speedboat that already had a few passengers onboard. Nearby the boat floated a smaller vessel, some sort of water scooter. Further on the waters was the Batboat and it was closing in fast, and trailing the Batboat was something smaller.
"What are we waiting for?" She jumped from her vantage point without a second more to lose. It took her a moment to realize Robin was not trailing behind her. "Hey!" she called into the radio as she landed on the shore. "What gives?"
"Batman gave me a task."
Batgirl put up her fists as a bald, beefy man in a simple tunic charged at her with conviction. "You found out how Arkham was blown open, what more is there to know?"
"A lot. We know the wall was blown open, but how could this have happened in the first place?" Robin stalked off into the smoldering debris of Arkham Asylum. "It doesn''t make any sense to me. When the Justice Lords took over, there''d been a big to-do about beefing up the security of this place. It was one of the few things the city agreed with Lord Batman on," he continued. "A whole suite of new sensors were installed and yet somehow no alarms went off for something at sea?" The lenses in his cowl shifted function and he looked around the mess for any sort of hint to what happened. "That''s suspicious, wouldn''t you... Are you listening?"
"What? Totally! You have ¨C oof ¨C my undivided ¨C WOAH ¨C attention." However, Batgirl''s broken-up response indicated otherwise.
Before Robin could retort, Batman''s voice came through a loudspeaker mounted on the Batboat and commanded attention. "Jean-Paul Valley! Stay where you are!" A bright spotlight from the boat illuminated the simple short pier.
From where he stood on the rocky shore bathed in light, Azra''il looked at the advancing Dark Knight and sneered. "There is no Jean-Paul Valley!" he bellowed back. "Only Azra''il, Angel of Destruction!"
Batman ejected from his vehicle and descended upon the boat that Azra''il and company were boarding. He landed on the bow and glared at the two criminals at the helm. Scarecrow recoiled but Azra''il just glared right back. Before further action could be taken, a grunt from the shoreline caught his attention. Batgirl was up against Ra''s al Ghul''s strongman, Ubu, and she was losing. Ubu was deceptively mobile for a man of his size and despite being only human, unlike Bane, he hadn''t gone slack. He was easily out-maneuvering the heroine and as the two continued to tangle, she was getting more and more worn down.
"What will you do, Batman?" cackled Scarecrow nervously. "You can''t save the girl and stop us from leaving!"
"Watch me." The Dark Knight tossed a smoke pellet into the boat and then jumped for the shore to engage Ubu just before he could deliver a crushing blow. Batman landed behind him and kicked the back of his knee, causing the formidable opponent to buckle forward into the sand.
"Robin,"
"Busy."
How dare¡ Batman took in a breath as Ubu stood. "Batgirl, go for Scarecrow and stop that boat from leaving! I''ll take Ubu."
Batgirl nodded with a pained groan as she recovered, then rushed into the smoke obscuring Azra''il and Scarecrow from view.
"I may be no Bane, Batman," Ubu addressed the Dark Knight as he rose from the sand. "But I, too, can break you!" He went in for a tackle.
Batman wasted no time in jumping over the dive. In mid-air, Batman twisted and threw a bola for Ubu''s feet. The attack wire wrapped around Ubu''s body and he fell to the beach restrained and surprised. Batman landed soundly and quickly ran to properly bind Ubu before he could free himself of the wire. No such luck. Just as Batman was within arm''s reach, Ubu went up with an explosive force, knocking the detective into the sand and snapping the wire that had contained him.
"It''s going to take more than a simple string to keep Ubu down!"
Apparently. Batman charged forward to meet Ubu again in combat.
Batgirl took a chance to look over at Batman. It was difficult to make out her boss even though the smoke was starting to subside, but he seemed to be holding his own. She turned back to her own fight in time to dodge the downward arc of Scarecrow''s rod.
"Are you just going to stand there Jean-Paul, or are you planning on helping?" Scarecrow, annoyed, called out to Azra''il for aid as he swung his staff again for Batgirl''s head.
"It makes no difference. They can''t stop us ¨C He won''t allow them!" Azra''il finished repositioning a third body in the boat. It gave off a content giggle as it settled in its seat. "Get her off the boat as fast as you can," he demanded. "I''ll get it started."
Scarecrow made a face but did as he was told, tossing two of his fear gas grenades at Batgirl.
Great, Batgirl thought to herself. And just as the Batman''s smoke was clearing up. She was less than amused. As the thick and toxic smoke filled the air, she engaged the ventilation system built into her helmet and then grabbed her bat-claw, hoping to fire at Scarecrow to reel him into his own sick smoke. She was too slow. By the time she had aimed, Scarecrow had moved to Azra''il''s side at the helm. Batgirl staggered a bit to keep her balance as the boat lurched from the shore.
"Don''t worry, I got you! Just hold your breath!"
Batgirl regained her balance just as a short but lanky figure leaped into the boat and grabbed her by the waist.
"Hey! What do you think you''re doing?" she asked as his arm caught her hip.
"Saving your behind," came the muted, matter-of-fact reply.
The stranger leaped from the boat with Batgirl in tow. She attempted to free herself from his grasp to remain on the accelerating boat, but it was too late. The two landed in a heap on the rocky shore. Batgirl was the first up. She watched the boat of criminals pick up speed in the dark waters and then quickly disappear beyond the harbor. Befuddled, she looked at the newcomer with restrained frustration.
A young man in red and black smiled cockily beneath his domino mask as he got to his feet. "You''re welcome."
"What the hell was that about?" she fumed.
The red-breasted teen stood. "So you did return to the hero gig. Why''d you try to talk me out of it? Wanted all the adventure to yourself?" If he''d heard Batgirl''s question, he''d ignored it. "Nice suit, by the way. Is that wig part of the helmet or a separate piece? You look a bit shorter, though. And smaller." He paused for a moment with a hand on his chin as he inspected her form. "Did you lose weight?"
The nerve... Batgirl was about ready to strike him when Batman stalked up beside her.
"Ubu got away on a PWC. Not sure where it came from." He glared at the pint-sized ''rescuer''. "But I know it isn''t mine," Batman venomously finished, his chilling voice pointing directly at the newcomer. "I told you to stay away."
"Oops." The kid shrugged with little care for, or fear of, Batman''s rebuke. "But you totally needed my help. I just saved her butt from Scarecrow''s gas."
"There''s a ventilation system in my helmet!" Batgirl spoke slowly and deliberately, finding the strength deep within her to not strangle the interloper. "The gas was getting filtered out!"
The kid shrugged again. "Better safe than sorry. That''s my motto. Besides, this isn''t my first rodeo. See the ''R''?" He pinched the black and yellow symbol on his tunic. "I''m Robin. Seeing as you didn''t know that, you must be new."
Batgirl felt her eye twitch behind her visor and found herself clenching and unclenching her fists. "You must be new?" she repeated with indignation. "You must be mentally damaged! And if you aren''t," she took a menacing step forward, "you''re about to be."
"Batgirl, stand down," the Dark Knight demanded. Then he turned to the young Robin. "I don''t need your help with this mission. You were fired. Now, take off that mask."
"Oh, please!" Tim replied. "Batman needs a Robin! What good is the dynamic duo if it is Batman and Batgirl? That doesn''t exactly roll off the tongue well."
Batgirl pouted slightly and grumbled under her breath, "It was ''Batman and Batgirl'' for a while¡ª"
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
"Batman." Another voice came over the radio and interrupted the spat. "I''ve got something here."
"Bring it."
"I''d rather not move it."
Tim looked from Bat to Bat but couldn''t make out who they were suddenly talking to. "Wait... you guys have radios in your cowls? So cool!" He fidgeted with his mask, but his face fell upon finding no earpiece attached. "Aww, lame."
Batgirl ignored the former sidekick and responded to Robin with an exaggerated sigh. "Just bring it. We have a situation here."
"Fine." There was a grunt and then a pop on Robin''s line. "I''m on my way." Moments later, Robin was descending the debris pile to the shore.
"Another newbie?" Tim watched as Robin landed before them soundlessly.
"What''s the issue?" Robin asked as he rose.
"That uniform''s pretty cool!" Tim was duly impressed. "Stealthier than bright red, right? Is that you, Nightwing?"
"What?"
"No, he''s not in the States right now..." Tim thought again and looked at the ''R'' symbol on Robin''s chest. "Another R, huh? What are you, like, ''Red Robin'' or something?"
There was a moment of silence.
"I''m Robin, er, Robin." Robin stuck out his hand to shake Tim''s.
Tim looked at him in shock, shook Robin''s hand, then turned to Batman with indignation. "You replaced me?"
"Can we do this later, Robin?" Robin asked. "GCPD got across the bridge finally. They started swarming the main facility toward the end of my investigation. No doubt they will be combing the shore soon."
Batgirl nodded in agreement. "I''d rather we keep up the illusion of being figments of the night..."
Batman stared Tim down. "Cave. Now."
Diana stepped out of the guest shower and removed the towel wrapped around her body as she fished clothes out of her chest of drawers. As she got dressed, she thought about the young man who''d effortlessly scaled Wayne Manor''s front gate. It was an impressive feat and no doubt the kid had been a delinquent in the past if he was putting those skills to use trespassing private property. "At least it seems Bruce is good with kids."
She didn''t know all that much about Wayne aside from rumors and press releases, but she did know that he had an adoptive son: a boy who''d been tragically orphaned in some sort of circus accident. For a moment she''d thought the boy who''d scaled the fence had been Bruce''s son, after all the boy had displayed rather impressive acrobatic finesse at the fence. But even before he''d introduced himself as Tim, she''d remembered that Bruce''s son ¨C Richard, if she remembered correctly ¨C was an adult himself. No, this was another young man that seemed to hold Bruce in high regard.
She thought about Richard as she pulled on some long socks to stave off the cool air. From the scant facts she could remember, Bruce had adopted Richard as a nine year-old and raised him. Nine years old¡ The way Richard''s situation mirrored Bruce''s own tragic childhood was not lost on her. He tried to be to Richard what Alfred was to him. She smiled at the thought. I suppose he does have a heart.
She ran her fingers through her hair and exited the guest room. As she did, a painting of some foreign-looking Wayne ancestor caught her eye and a thought crossed her mind. Bruce had raised a child. For nearly ten years, Bruce had effectively been Richard''s father. Yet she hadn''t seen even one picture of the boy, and Bruce never never mentioned him. Not once. What had happened?
"Bruce?" she called out into the emptiness. There was no response. She made her way further into the upstairs hallways and tried again. "Bruce? Are you still here?"
She turned a corner and started down a flight of stairs. Halfway down, she was able to glimpse the kitchen. It was barren. Both Tim and Bruce were gone like the wind. I swear, he is the most mysterious socialite I''ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. As she walked through the various rooms, the picture of his parents caught her eye again. To witness your parents gunned down before your eyes as a mere child. She wondered how many times he had wished that he had died that night with his parents. I wonder what that does to a boy.
As she stared at the picture, she thought of her own mother, Queen Hippolyta, and how devastated she would be if her mother were to fall. It had been awhile since she''d spoken to her mother¡ and they hadn''t exactly been on the nicest of terms last they interacted. In that thought, she recognized something: a possible answer to her question. What if what happened between Bruce and his son is exactly what was happening between her and her mother? Estrangement.
She started to feel a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. One of them would have to reach out to bridge the gap and she knew her mother would be too proud to do so. She also knew the burden of apology wasn''t on her mother''s side¡ Walked back to her room and pulled a piece of paper out from a desk drawer. On It were a series of thoughts and blurbs that she''d scrawled in the hope of one day shaping into a letter for her mother.
A tear tugged at the corner of her eye. "Maybe it''s about time I got to writing this."
She walked, slowly and pensively, back to the parlor. She turned one of the lush chairs sitting before the cold fireplace to face the portrait so she would be able to see it while sitting. If ever she found herself at a loss for words, one look at the portrait would hopefully give her inspiration as to what to write next.
Once in the chair, she began to draft the long-overdue letter to her mother.
The Batboat coasted into the private dock just behind the black jetski. Meanwhile, in the garage, Robin and Batgirl were parking their respective vehicles.
"Quite the night, huh?" Batgirl grinned as she reclined against a cave wall and waited for Robin to exit his vehicle.
"You tell me," Robin replied slightly sour as he climbed out of the Bat-Trike. "I''m not the one that went up against Bane¡ª"
"And won!" Batgirl interrupted quickly.
Behind his lenses, Robin rolled his eyes. "Don''t lie to yourself. You know what I mean, Batgirl. You''re lucky he didn''t shatter your spine on that first punch." Robin passed by her with a grimace on his face and walked away from the garage.
Batgirl pushed off the wall awkwardly and chased after him. She gulped down a sour feeling as they made their way to the main chamber. "Yeah, yeah. I know I was stupid for dropping my guard, but hey! I came out on top and that''s what matters!"
"This time," Robin added. He stopped walking and looked back at her. "Just be more careful. Alright?"
Batgirl blushed slightly and avoided his gaze. "Don''t tell me you''re starting to get a feel for me?" she asked in a surprisingly shy and vulnerable tone.
Robin let out a chuckle. "Not at all, Batgirl. I just don''t want to be the one to tell Mawk his girlfriend died fighting a supervillain." He walked off, a smirk playing on his dark lips.
"Oh, morbid much?" Batgirl called after Robin with a smile.
"You''re welcome."
The two stepped off of the joining walkway and into the main chamber. At the Batcomputer, Batman was finishing a conversation with Warden Gordon while near the cases of retired uniforms, Tim was slipping out of his Robin outfit and back into his street clothes with a look of dejection.
"This bites." Though it was a whisper, the curious acoustic qualities of the cave carried his frustrations throughout the air.
Batman cut the transmission with Gordon and said, "If you had followed my orders before, we would not be in this mess."
"What mess?" Tim exclaimed. "I saved her from the Scarecrow and his fear gas!"
"Saved who?" Batgirl interjected. "My helmet could filter out the gas, remember? All you did was keep me from taking down the Scarecrow! That means everyone who got away is on you." She pointed an accusatory finger at Tim.
Tim made a slight sound of surprise and backed away. "Look, woman, Scarecrow''s a nasty customer! And it wasn''t just him! There were, like, three other people on that boat and it was pulling away! You don''t even know where it was going! I''d say your capture would have been more likely than theirs once that boat hit open waters."
Robin crossed his arms and leaned against the Batcomputer''s screen as Batman got to work. He watched Batgirl angrily approach Tim Drake as if she was a cat that had cornered a mouse. "This could get ugly," Robin noted.
"Hmm." Batman seemed almost wholly uninterested. Instead, he was busy reviewing the list of patients and inmates yet to be accounted for.
"I had the Scarecrow on the ropes and Azra''il was definitely not paying me much mind!" Batgirl''s fingers were splayed out, tensed. "I was so close and you¡ª" She jabbed a clawed finger at him again. "You let them get away!"
Tim, wide-eyed with concern at this Batgirl''s ferocity, took another step back and propped himself up against the case that held his uniform. "Look, I''m sorry, alright? I thought you were in danger and had a split second to make a decision. Like I said, better safe than sorry."
"Danger? Why the hell would I be in danger? I had just taken down Bane! What threat could Scarecrow possibly pose with his stupid gas?"
Tim''s face darkened as memories from his tenure in the red-and-black dredged up to the surface. A night of horror that saw him pitted against a Batman with no fear. He shivered as he remembered the internal struggle of whether or not he should subdue Batman and face Scarecrow on his own... Of whether or not he could subdue Batman and face Scarecrow on his own. He glared at this new Batgirl. "You have no idea."
"That''s enough." Batman stepped between Batgirl and the former Robin. "Tim, you went out when I explicitly told you to stay put."
Tim looked up at his former mentor with a look of disbelief. "I was trying to help! Just like before!"
Batman raised his voice. "You disobeyed a direct order!"
Tim felt his heart skip a beat and a pang of sadness tugged at his heart. The dream of rejoining the war on crime in red and black was quickly slipping away and a feeling of fury rose in its place. "I thought I didn''t work for you anymore?" Tim replied, coolly.
Batman tightened his lips and looked down his nose at Tim but before he could say anymore, a soft chime echoed through the BatCave. The chime faded and Batman looked back at the staircase that led to the Manor above. "Proximity alert? Tim, I hope you closed the grandfather clock behind you when you came down here."
The color drained from Tim''s face. "Oh, crap... You don''t think she''d...?"
"What''s that? Something else you''ve messed up?"
"Oh, shut up, Bat-Brat!" Tim snapped at Batgirl''s chiding.
Batman removed his cowl and started for the Armory as Batgirl and Tim''s argument started back up, though at a lower volume. Even though the grimacing mask of Batman had been removed, the scowl remained on Bruce''s face as he entered a stall to change clothes. As he did, Robin, who''d been silently watching the tense interaction, approached the Armory and spoke. "Hey, Boss? If Tim knows you''re Batman, should he know our identities as well?"
"I don''t see why he should," Bruce replied as he emerged from the Armory in haste dressed in sweatpants and a casual workout tank top. He glowered at Tim. If the kid had forgotten the grandfather clock and Diana was still in the manor... He hurried for the stairs. The last thing he wanted was another unexpected visitor in his cave. "He will be leaving soon."
Robin watched his mentor rapidly ascend the stairs to the Manor above.
Diana turned from the portrait and placed the paper she had been writing on down on the end table. Something was not right with the room. It had bugged her for the longest time. Something was off about the normally simple and tidy room and she could now finally put her finger on what the issue was: the clock. The great grandfather clock was slightly shifted to the right. Diana stood and approached the heirloom to correct its position but was surprised when she saw what appeared to be a slight cavity behind it.
"Hera..." The young woman peeked behind the clock and saw the space wasn''t just a slight cavity: it was a cavern. A deep cavern. Is this where you disappear to, Mr. Wayne? She teased the man in her mind. With some effort, she managed to force the clock away from the opening just enough to squeeze by it. Once on the other side of the clock, she recognized the artificial construction before her.
"Stairs?" Indeed a bland, stone staircase descended before her, fading into the darkness. There was a single lightbulb hanging over the landing, but nothing else that she could make out. "What in Tartarus?" She thought of running, she considered slipping back the way she came to avoid the ire of snooping around her host''s home. After all, she was only here out of his good graces. But curiosity got the better of her and she started her descent down the mysterious staircase.
After a few tentative moments of descending into the black, she looked behind her and realized just how far away the solitary light was. She felt scared, but not scared enough to turn around and head back up. She had already gone this far and she was dying to know what waited at the bottom. So she continued.
Someone was coming down the stairs. He could hear it. This was his cave, after all, how could he not know when someone was in it?
Light feet. Unsure steps. Slight faltering. He was sure who it was and picked up the pace. If he could get to the intruder before she could get around the first bend, he would still be able to salvage the situation.
As Bruce ascended to intercept Diana, Robin took out a small handheld device and carefully studied it as he approached the Batcomputer as Batgirl, who''d finally made a truce with Tim Drake, took some time to clean and run maintenance on her bike. As the two worked independently and silently, Tim Drake couldn''t help but feel out of place.
With Batman out of the ''Cave, he was the most seasoned fighter there and yet neither the new Robin nor the new Batgirl seemed all that impressed or star-struck. And judging from how miffed the Batgirl seemed about his actions, perhaps he had gotten off on the wrong foot. Now wasn''t the time for maverick behavior, now was the time to prove he could be an asset. If he could get them on his side, perhaps they''d vouch for him with the Bat.
Tim looked at Robin and cleared his throat. "So, let''s review. What happened tonight?"
Robin didn''t even turn around. "We lost," he replied matter-of-factly. He placed his clue on the desktop of the Batcomputer and inspected its side.
"All thanks to Tim the Boy Blunder over there." Batgirl stood from the Bat-Cycle and stored the tools she''d been using in a toolbox tower mounted to the cave wall.
"An honest mistake made in a split second," Tim replied, dismissively doubling down on his defense as he watched Batgirl approach where Robin sat at the Batcomputer. "What matters more is where do we go from here?"
"We?" Batgirl replied a bit scornfully. "What''s this about ''we''? You''re not staying. You heard the boss. You were fired."
Tim chuckled as he stepped up to the Batcomputer and crossed his arms, cutting her off from further approach. "Don''t let my age fool you. I heard what Bruce said, but I''m the second Robin, okay? I was here way before either of you. Why wouldn''t I stay?"
"Things change," Batgirl answered, unknowingly echoing words Tim had heard from Barbara.
"And things are about to get a lot harder." Robin punched in a few codes and activated Batman''s backdoor routines to access the Arkham database. The statuses of most inmates liberated by the prison break were updated. A short list of criminally insane patients previously held in Arkham scrolled on the screen. Most were accounted for in one way or another, but a few were still flagged as missing. Robin let out a low groan of frustration as he read a few familiar names. "Obviously Mr. Death and Scarecrow are not in Arkham anymore."
"I heard Croc got away, too," Batgirl added.
"Mhmm." Robin nodded his head. "Considering Ubu was there, I''d say for sure Ra''s al Ghul was involved with this." He pointed to the item resting just to his right. "This inconspicuous thing is capable of putting out an electromagnetic pulse capable of wiping out a two-story building''s electrical system."
"You think that Ra''s al Ghul gave that to this Mr. Death guy?" Tim pitched in.
"Shut it," Batgirl snorted. Then she turned to the device and looked at it inquisitively. "It was given to Mr. Death by Ra''s, wasn''t it?"
"Doubtful." Robin shot down the assumption. "More than likely a guard within the asylum planted the device. Probably one of the same guards who obscured Ra''s al Ghul''s visits to Arkham. It was caught in the blast that took out the east wall." Robin hit a few keys and pulled up a blueprint of Arkham Island. "This right here is where it was planted, at the base of a guard tower. The guard tower. The only tower equipped with radar and a clear view of the water."
On the screen, a diagram was drawn that showed the range of the sonar versus the range and power of the weapon hypothetically used to blow a hole in Arkham. "As powerful as that blast was, based on the reconstructed trajectory, it would have been within range of the sonar."
Tim''s face lit up. "So that means that the ship couldn''t set up a shot to fire unless someone on the inside disabled the tower! Otherwise, it would have been spotted and the coast guard would have been scrambled to intercept it."
"Exactly."
"Fine, but that still leaves a bigger mystery." Batgirl shook her head. "That''s a whole lot of trouble to go through just to spring Scarecrow, for a reason that we still don''t understand, might I add. But to then also take a D-list criminal like Mr. Death? In fact, it almost seems like Jean-Paul was the goal since he''s the one who Ra''s visited, not Scarecrow."
"It''s clear that Ra''s has his fingers in the staff at Arkham since visiting Azra''il raised no alarms. But I doubt it would have been as easy to slip by if he were visiting Professor Crane. But more than that, Ra''s wants people who will follow his plans to the letter with no deviation and no ambition. Who better than a man whose religious devotion set him off? When Batman ordered Jean-Paul to surrender, he didn''t call himself Mr. Death. He called himself Azra''il."
"The Angel of Death." Batgirl reverently nodded her head. "I heard. You think Ra''s is behind the name change?"
"Definitely. Jean-Paul''s mind must have been pretty impressionable after being thrown in Arkham."
"More bad news," Tim piped up as he scrolled an RSS feed on his phone. "Been following the chatter while you two got all technical." He looked up and bit his lip before continuing, partly enjoying the suspense he was building. "The Joker''s been added to the list of missing patients. One guard reports that she last saw him with Jean-Paul, er, Azra''il heading to the shore."
Batgirl couldn''t help but laugh. "The Joker? You mean Jack Napier, right? He''s no more violent than a retiree at a nursing home. The wall to your prison is blown wide open and you go through the trouble to drag the Joker with you? He''s basically dead weight!"
"We''re dealing with Ra''s, remember?" Robin replied, a bit more serious than Batgirl would have expected.
"So what?" Batgirl countered. "Again: lobotomized zombie. The only real threat with Ra''s right now is Scarecrow and maybe that lame of a villain, Azra''il. What could Ra''s possibly gain from also taking Joker?"
"I dunno," Robin replied, half-sarcastic. He pulled up the files of the chemical Batgirl had been analyzing a few weeks earlier. "You tell me." He pointed to the second chemical structure.
"Lazarus Pits..." Batgirl''s face fell.
There was a moment of silence.
"You think Ra''s can actually bring back the Joker? I thought that it only worked on dead people and people that at least have... their brains intact."
"You''re the chemist, you tell me," Robin replied. "I don''t know the full extent of what that juice is capable of. I only know that it has kept Ra''s alive since he discovered it. The boss'' reports say that it can heal wounds. Though whether it can heal brain damage such as a lobotomy or not... That''s anyone''s guess."
Batgirl looked at the screen and sighed. "He was right."
"Who?" Tim asked.
"Batman. He told me that this city harbors evil. That somehow or another, they always come back."
A speedboat pulled alongside a nondescript ship anchored amid the waves. At the helm, a blond man in prison clothes and a disturbingly calm look in his eye moved away from the wheel. "We''re here." He walked to the rear of the boat and pointed a jagged knife at a second man, bound and scarred.
A third man, with the appearance of an undead Puritan preacher wearing a noose like a necktie, hoisted a fourth man, gently laughing, over his shoulder in a fireman''s carry. "It''s about time." The preacher stepped off of the boat onto the landing, and waited for the former Mr. Death to gather his prisoner.
"There''s no need to rush. They cannot stop the inevitable." Azra''il pushed past the preacher and led a fourth figure, struggling and swearing, off of the boat at knifepoint. The unsightly quartet made their way onto the larger vessel.
Ahead of them, a port door swung open with a creak, and on the opposite side stood Ra''s al Ghul, flanked on either side by Ubu and Talia. "Welcome, gentlemen. Let''s get started." He turned to lead the quartet deeper into the boat, followed closely by his loyal bodyguard and his daughter. "This world won''t end itself."
Part 1: Chapter 9
Diana was tired. How long had she been walking these stairs? She wasn''t sure, but she did know that she was deep underground. There was barely any light for her to see and the one bulb that illuminated the top of the stairway seemed long gone. As she carefully continued, she waved her arms out to either side and found that there was no wall to her right: just inky black space. One wrong step and I may just fall to my death... She was nearly certain that eventually, the stairs would turn from straight... And she was worried there wouldn''t be enough light for her to see it until it was too late. Suddenly, she bumped into something.
"Ow! Eh, Diana? Is that you?" The ''something'' spoke.
She recognized that voice. "Bruce?" Diana squinted in the dim cave light and could barely make out the eyes of her host, "What on Earth are you doing down here?" She strained to see past him. "Don''t tell me you have a portal to Tartarus down here without my knowledge."
Bruce chuckled in the dark. "No such thing, Princess," he replied. "Here." There was a mechanical click and the light from a flashlight stung her eyes. As she recovered from the light, Diana felt Bruce take her hand. He was now behind her. How had he gotten past her on the narrow stairway? "I''ll guide you back up." He began to lead her up the stairs.
As she followed, Diana craned her neck behind her to look into the yawning abyss. Nothing. "What''s down here, Bruce?"
"There are some treasures I like to keep close," Bruce said with an unseen smile.
"You expect me to believe you keep a vault of expensive trophies under your house?" she asked skeptically.
Bruce grinned as they approached the solitary hanging lightbulb. "It''s a vault, alright."
There was a collective sigh of relief from all three as a chirp from the Batcomputer signaled that the grandfather clock had been closed, sealing the secret of the BatCave from prying eyes. For a time, there was silence as each of them worked on individual projects: Robin was on his back under the Bat-Trike tuning the engine, Batgirl was sitting crosslegged before a laptop running new simulations on the foreign compound confiscated from the Burnouts in light of recent events, and Tim was browsing news sites for anymore information on the most recent Arkham escape.
Finally, Batgirl addressed a question that had lingered at the back of her mind since they''d returned from Arkham. "Robin?"
Robin rolled out from under his machine and sat up facing Batgirl. "What''s up?"
"On the beach, you said that you would rather not move it. Yet that device was no bigger than my papa''s old tape recorder." She looked across the chamber at the phone-sized EMP device still resting on the desk of the Batcomputer, inert. "Why didn''t you want to move it?"
"Well, it was used to disable a security tower," Tim cut in as if the answer was obvious. "So clearly it would have still been connected when... Robin came across it. It would have been better for Batman to inspect the whole set-up and not just the main piece. There would be more forensic evidence to glean seeing it in place rather than just seeing the tool itself."
Batgirl looked at Tim with slight annoyance.
"What?" he asked nonchalantly. "I know stuff." He reclined deeper into the Batcomputer''s chair and kicked his feet up on the table. "Like I said: that wasn''t my first rodeo."
"Don''t get too comfortable," she muttered under her breath, disgusted with his apparent lack of respect for Batman''s supercomputer. "You''re not staying."
"So you keep saying, and yet I''m still here," Tim stuck his tongue out at Batgirl. "I''m doing the same as you: trying to make a difference."
Batgirl rolled her eyes. "There is more than one way to make a difference, especially considering the circumstances. For example, you could obey what Batman said and leave, allowing us to do our work. That would make a world of difference."
Tim glared at her and swung out of the chair defiantly. "Fine! I don''t need this!" He marched to the ''Cave''s exit, fists cocked. "Just wait until I tell the real Batgirl that her replacement is a vindictive wanna-be who wouldn''t be able to even fill out the true Batgirl uniform!"
"What are you talking about ''fill out''?" Batgirl shot back at Tim, getting her feet under her.
"You heard me, you overconfident, A-cup-having witch!" Tim yelled. "You''re small-time!"
"A-cup? Small-time? What the hell''s that mean?" Batgirl indignantly yelled as she balled up her fists and readied to fight the insolent teen again.
Tim didn''t elaborate. With the juvenile insults flung, he stormed out of the cave.
Robin barely managed to suppress a chuckle. "You got your wish. He''s gone."
Batgirl stood with her eyes fixed on the dark exit that had swallowed Tim Drake, stunned. "What the hell''s his deal?."
"He''s having a bad night. We''re all having a bad night." Robin replied, sliding back under the Bat-Trike and refocusing on whatever he had been tinkering with. "Best not to take it personally."
"Easy for you to say. He didn''t insult you." She crossed her arms and glared into the dark before looking in Robin''s direction. "Did you hear him?"
"Yup." Robin kept his answer short, hoping her anger would dissipate into the cool night air.
Batgirl headed to the garage in a huff and removed her helmet as approached Robin''s workspace. "Curt," she spoke in a low voice. Using her foot, she rolled him out from under his vehicle. As best as she could in her uniform, she pushed her breasts together with her arms and bent over. "Do you think they''re small?"
Robin inhaled sharply and quickly rolled himself back under the Bat-Trike.
"Screw you! Is that a yes?" Kimber surprisingly sounded offended.
"I didn''t say shit!" Robin exclaimed from under the chassis.
"I''m a B-cup, you know..."
"And I didn''t ask."
"I know, but¡ just for the record, okay? A B-cup isn''t¡ small."
"I think Mawk would be the better man to talk about this with," Robin replied. "He is your boyfriend after all."
Suddenly the trike lurched and dropped a few centimeters closer to Robin''s face. Kimber had sat on the side of the vehicle. Robin released the short breath he''d held and waited for his heart to settle. "Why¡"
"It sure hasn''t felt like it recently," she replied, completely unaware of the scare she''d just given him. "He hasn''t answered my texts today and he''s been dodgy lately... He called off our last two dates for some sort of... appointment in Star City. And he''s been bulking up. A lot."
There was an awkward silence and Robin murmured an "Mmhmm" just for safe measure.
"Curtis," Kimber asked after another period of silence, her voice hesitant. "Do you think he would cheat on me?"
There was a dull thunk and then an "Ow." Robin wheeled himself out from under the car and stood from the mechanic''s creeper he had been using, rubbing his forehead through his cowl. "What did you say?" he asked, incredulous, pulling the cowl from his face.
"Do you think Mawk would cheat on me?"
"That''s what I thought you said." Curtis ran his fingers through his curls and sat beside his friend. "What''s going on, Kim?"
"I just told you." Kimber gave Curtis a blank face in annoyance. Then her eyebrows raised suddenly. "Also, check it." She reached for her phone.
Curtis shook his head in disbelief. "Kimber?" he asked, "You do realize that you also keep odd hours and ''dash'' off, too? And is it because you don''t like him or are cheating on him? No, it''s because you''re Batgirl. You''ve taken on a big responsibility. A secret responsibility."
"Okay, counterpoint: he isn''t a superhero. That much I''m certain of," Kimber clarified. "And look at this!" She held up her phone and scrolled through her call and text logs with Mawk. Their conversations were generic at best and one-sided at worst. Most of Mawk''s messages seemed to be just a few sentences in length on average. Kimber''s were shorter.
Curtis studied the logs for a moment. "Looks like he doesn''t call much, but I don''t see any outgoing calls. Wait¨C don''t you hate phone calls?"
She quickly locked her phone and pocketed it. "You''re missing my point," she said as she looked at her feet. "There just... isn''t as much interest as before."
"From you or from him?" Curtis asked carefully.
"Him! Obviously!" Kimber replied impatiently. She crossed her arms and looked down her nose at her friend.
"Okay, okay. Didn''t mean to strike a nerve¡" Curtis twisted his mouth to the side. "So you think he''s cheating because he isn''t calling you a lot and he''s increased his workout regimen?"
"Well, there''s also the text messages..." Her voice cracked and then trailed off as if even she recognized the rather silly accusation she presented was held up by the flimsiest of circumstantial evidence.
Curtis laughed at the crack in her voice. "Your deductive skills need more work."
"What?" Kimber shot up off her seat in defense. "I am just as good a detective as you!"
Curtis simply arched an eyebrow and studied her. "This is the first time you said your suspicions out loud, isn''t it? You gotta realize it sounds ridiculous." Curtis waited for her to joke back, but when she didn''t, he continued. "Look, Kim. I get it. But sometimes people have their reasons for acting a certain way. Maybe he''s going through something you don''t know about. Have you tried to ask him about it?"
"No..." Kimber mumbled back begrudgingly.
"Then how do you expect to fix it?"
Kimber looked away, her expression troubled. There was a part of her, a repressed part, that didn''t want to fix it. "It''s just... something feels off, you know? A woman''s intuition and all..."
"Look, Kimber." He reached out for her hand but hesitated a moment before taking it, hoping she wouldn''t take the gesture the wrong way. "Mawk isn''t pursuing anyone else. He loves you and he''d have to be out of his mind to cheat on you. If anything, he is probably bulking up for you."
"I''m not that na?ve, Curt." She looked at him and her fingers tightened around his. "That doesn''t make sense."
"He was a football star! Remember?" He playfully knocked on her skull a few times to which she let out a subdued huff and waved his hand off with a small smile. "He likes workin'' out; that''s, like, his thing. It''s how he clears his head and deals with his stress." Curtis bit his tongue, pondering how much to share. "Last winter, he felt... He felt weak and helpless at his bash. Invaders came into his home and he was dealt a nasty hand. I think that''s why he is back in the gym. He likely doesn''t want to feel like that again. He''s not trying to impress anyone new, Kimber. He''s trying to impress himself."
Kimber let Curtis'' hand go and pursed her lips into a sarcastic smirk. "Mawk is going through a masculinity crisis? Mawk?" She scoffed. "Sure." She crossed her legs and drew out one of her razor-sharp bat-a-rangs to busy her hands. "And I should believe you, because?"
"I''ve caught him at the gym a few times. We''ve chatted. He shared some diet tips, a little more red meat than I''d like." He grinned. But when he saw that Kimber still didn''t seem to buy it, he drummed his thighs anxiously. He wasn''t good at this. Interpersonal connections and relationships had always been a bit difficult for him, but more than that he was stuck in a bind.
On the one hand, he knew why Mawk was at times cagey and why he was pushing his body to the brink. Since he knew that, he could share it with his friend and relieve her of her concerns. But on the other hand, Mawk made him swear to secrecy, especially regarding Kimber. For whatever reason, Mawk didn''t want his girlfriend to know just what was running through his head. At the time, Curtis thought it was silly. He thought perhaps Mawk was being a bit too concerned about what Kimber would think, but now Curtis could tell that something was eating away at her and he likely was the only one in a position to placate her worries.
Was he really about to betray Mawk''s trust and come clean about the man''s vulnerabilities? He looked at Kimber. The girl was boring a hole through the cave floor with her eyes and he watched a salty tear roll down her tender cheek and come to rest in the corner of her lip. He groaned. He really wasn''t good at this. "Alright, I have something to tell you, Kim. He made me promise not to, but I think it''s better if you know..." And then he shared how Mawk used to come over late at night and confide in him his secret feelings of inadequacy.
Tim brushed the tears from his eyes as he walked down the avenue. After dashing out of the secret entrance to the BatCave, his mind was swirling with conflicting emotions. Anger at Bruce for callously discarding and then replacing him, frustration at Bruce for barely even greeting him ¨C not even a true smile! A mix of awe and fury at whoever now claimed Barbara''s moniker. She''d claimed to have bested Bane, and all evidence backed up her claim, but she was also an utter asshole. All these thoughts and more consumed him and as he walked from Wayne Manor grounds, he knew he wasn''t in a good headspace to call a ride back to Bl¨¹dhaven. So he''d walked, angrily, from 1007 Mountain Drive to Gotham. A long walk, but he had the time. How could he have been so stupid? "Barbara was right."
He kicked a tin can at his feet. He shouldn''t have gone back. But why not? He was Robin. He was the rightful Robin, not that other¡ pretender! Just thinking about his lost place in the Bat-Clan stoked the fires of hatred all the more. "Bruce had no right to¨C Well, I guess he did have the right to, but still! That''s my gig! I was the Boy Wonder first!"
"Is that so?" A voice spoke up behind him. "You really shouldn''t talk so loud, kid. You never know who''s around ya."
Tim recognized that voice immediately. "Dick!" Tim spun around to face the young man and hugged him excitedly.
Dick stepped back and shoved his hands back in his jacket pockets. "Hey, Tim. It''s been a while." He looked down at the teen and measured his height with a hand. "Jeez, have you grown! Civilian life treating you well?"
"Totally! I''m kicking butt in school!" He punched at the air and then saw the expression on Dick''s face. "Don''t worry." Tim held up his hands to alleviate suspicion. "I''m not getting into any fights. Anymore, at least."
Dick tousled his surrogate younger brother''s hair roughly with a grin. "I sure hope not."
"How long have you been in town?"
"Long enough. You?"
"Just got in about a day ago to check on Bruce..." The two walked down the street towards the nearest bus stop. "How are you feeling about the breakup of the J-Lords? We haven''t spoken to each other since their collapse."
"I couldn''t care less, you know I hated that regime."
"Same," Tim responded quickly.
"But I do understand their move to do it." Dick continued.
Tim stopped walking. "What? Why?"
"When you''re older, you''ll understand, kiddo." Dick gestured for Tim to catch up. "For now, stick with being a kid."
"That''s what everyone keeps telling me..." he grumbled. "But I can''t help but want to return to the gig. You know, make a difference and all that!"
Now it was Dick''s turn to stop walking. He gazed over the skyline with the slightest look of displeasure etched on his face as if staring into a harsh wind. "Tim, do you know what I did after I left Bruce?"
"Not really. I was fired soon after you and then you lost the guy keeping tabs on you, so I dunno."
"I traveled the world to¡ª"
"To train more?" Tim interrupted, hopefully.
"¡ªto help," Dick finished with a scowl. "I traveled the world to help, Tim. I was part of a volunteer relief team. We traveled the world and brought aid wherever it was needed. We built houses, community centers, storm shelters, and sheds. I did medical work and administered vaccines. I helped people, Tim, and I didn''t need fancy gadgets or a high-tech supersuit." He put a reassuring hand on Tim''s shoulder. "There is more than one way to be a hero."
"But we saved lives back in the day! You and me and the boss! Heck, even Babs for a time!"
"You don''t need a batsuit to save lives." Richard glared against the pale red haze of Gotham. "I realize now why I really left being Robin. It wasn''t just because I didn''t agree with Bruce''s methods ¨C I didn''t, to be clear ¨C but what I also didn''t agree with was the distance. We had to distance ourselves from the people we saved... and I didn''t like that. Sure we used our civilian identities to help in the aftermath, but¡" He twisted his mouth as he searched for the right words.
"What I''m trying to say is when I''m staring death in the face," he turned to Tim, "I don''t want my hero to be a faceless man in a mask. I don''t want to be saved by an impersonal agent of justice who will be gone as soon as he arrives. I want someone who cares for me to save me. I want to look up into the warm face of a human being who can empathize, not a dark grimacing face belonging to a detached hero. I don''t want to be saved by the Batman. I want to be saved by a human."The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
"So even if you hand the choice..."
"I''d decline as I did before."
"What do you mean ''before''?"
"Did you really think Bruce could fire me as Nightwing? I wasn''t working under him."
"You quit the hero gig?"
"Yep." He plopped down on the bus stop bench and patted the empty spot next to him. "A good few days before the takeover, too. And I''ve no plans on goin'' back."
Tim obliged and sat, eager to catch up but also stunned at Dick''s disregard for the mask. "Wow... I don''t think that I could define myself without the boots and my cape. I mean, I was a good sidekick, right?"
"I wouldn''t say you were the best," Dick ribbed. "But you had your moments."
The two sat in silence for a moment, Richard seeming to drink in the distant ambient sounds of Gotham City and Tim coming to terms with his older brother''s revelation. As he sat in thought, a new question popped into Tim''s head. "So why are you back in Gotham?"
Dick shrugged. "I''ve been traveling the world helping people out, I thought it was about time I came home for a visit."
Tim stared into the street and watched a car rush by. "I saw Bruce."
"So you said. How is the old man?"
"He''s active again."
"I know."
"He has two new sidekicks."
"Partners," Dick corrected. "The correct term is partners, Tim."
"Either way, I feel cheated. Robin was my title, ya know?"
"It was mine for a time, too." Dick straightened his jacket and looked into the sky as the bus rumbled up to the stop. "But things change and time moves on."
"Well, I wish it didn''t."
The bus ride to Dick''s apartment was a light-hearted one. Being in a more enclosed and populated space forced the two to change topics and talk about lighter things. Tim shared more about his improving performance at school as well as his friends, while Dick in turn shared a story about caravaning through Libya. By the time the transport pulled up to the stop before Grayson''s flat, the two were laughing like no time had passed. Now, Tim sat in a beanbag chucking a shuriken against the wooden board in the basic training area in Dick''s flat while Dick worked on a meal for the two of them.
"Y''know, you don''t have to keep doing that, Tim."
Tim threw his last shuriken and then shrugged. "It''s a habit." Empty of ammo, he retrieved the three bat-shaped shurikens and chucked them again with deadly precision.
Dick toweled off his hands and then approached Tim. "Well, you may as well get better at it." He snatched one from Tim''s hands and then threw it forward. Bullseye.
"Big deal." Tim grinned and threw one. It thudded a few millimeters from Richard''s. "I''m sorry, what was that?" He put a hand to his ear. "I can''t hear you over how awesome I am."
"Alright, then. How about this?" Dick plucked a pen from a nearby cup and then flung it to the makeshift target. The pen tip thudded into the target just outside of the bullseye circle. "Beat that!"
Eager to meet the challenge, Tim picked a pen from the same cup. "With pleasure," he stuck out his tongue and concentrated. He retracted his arm, but before the pen was out of his hands, someone gently rapped on the flat''s door.
Dick looked at Tim.
"What?" Tim asked. "You think I''m the one at the door?"
Dick snorted as he headed for the door. "Just put those away," he said, pointing to the shurikens buried in the board. "If it''s the building manager, I don''t want him asking more questions."
Tim rolled his eyes but got to work prying the projectiles out of the wood.
Dick unlocked and opened the door but stopped halfway as he recognized the redhead on the other side. "Barbara?"
"Good to see you, Dick." Barbara Gordon looked up at him with a shy smirk on her dark red lips.
Dick stepped to the side in a bit of shock. "It''s been a while!" He stumbled over some of his words as she entered his apartment and he caught a whiff of her perfume. "How''d you know I was back?"
"A little bird told me." She winked at Tim.
"Hey, Babs!" He sheepishly waved and then chucked a shuriken at the board.
Dick closed the door and followed behind her. "I was planning on surprising you at the library but it looks like you got the drop on me."
Barbara pulled a small blade from her purse and threw it at the board. The weapon thudded into the board at the dead center of the board, dislodging the pen Dick had thrown. She turned around and gave Richard a sarcastic smile. "Good save, Dick," she replied. "I almost believed you." Despite the cutting words, the glimmer in her eye hinted that she wasn''t as sour as she let on.
Dick chuckled and looked over her shoulder to the board. "Still have the magic touch. I''m surprised you still remember your training. Would have thought your skills would have softened behind a desk." He eagerly switched the topic.
Barbara put a hand on her hip and arched her brow. "I live in Gotham. A girl''s gotta know how to fight. I teach a women''s self-defense class and Muay Thai at the rec center." She threw a quick punch to Dick.
He deftly blocked it, spun her around, and embraced her from behind. "Don''t think I''ve gone lax, too, Miss Gordon," he whispered into her ear. He felt her partially melt into his arms and for a brief moment, he felt regret.
"Or me!" Tim piped up, interrupting the tender moment.
"Of course not you! What with your recent shenanigans¡ Do your Aunt and Uncle at least know you''re in Gotham this time?" She looked over at Tim but when he looked away, she sighed. "Don''t answer that." She strode to the target Tim had been using and inspected the shuriken he''d thrown. "Gotta say, you always had a knack for these things." She poked it with her finger a few times to test its give. It was embedded deep. "What''s the secret?"
"Before I was Robin, I was on the streets, remember? I''d found one of Batman''s bat-a-rangs and trained with it. Kept me safe. And I wasn''t throwing these to just knock guys out! It was like a war out there some days."
She looked over her shoulder. "Did you ever..."
"Kill a guy? Nah, but plenty of jerks have some deep scars, let me tell ya."
Barbara stepped away from the training board and leaned against the wall. She looked from Dick to Tim and couldn''t help but smile. "I gotta say it sure is surreal seeing you two side by side."
"Why?" Dick asked, hands buried in his back pockets.
"It''s like a mirror image of you and Bruce from back in the day."
Dick''s face fell slightly. "Gee, thanks, Babs."
"What¨C Oh! I''m sorry... That''s not what I meant!" She stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I meant like a family. A family formed from impossible odds."
Tim shrugged. "She''s kinda right... I''m Robin, she''s Batgirl, and you were one promotion away from becoming the Dark Knight himself."
"Not exactly a goal I''d aim for," he reminded the youth. "But I freely admit that I do miss the camaraderie¡ Who''d''ve thunk it, huh?"
There was a moment of silence, then Barbara spoke again. "Speaking of your folks, Tim, I don''t think there''s any way they signed off on your trip out here. Especially after last time. They must be worried sick!"
Tim scratched behind his head, hoping someone would bash through the wall and utterly distract the trio from the current conversation. When no such thing happened, he relented to talking. "Well... They think I''m overnighting with a friend."
"Not cool, Tim," Barbara scolded the high schooler. She whipped out her cell. "I''ll let them know I''ve got you."
"It''s not technically a lie now!" He gestured emphatically at Dick.
"And I will be taking you back home today. It may be summertime, but that doesn''t permit you to rush out here without notifying your family! You''re their responsibility."
"What?" Tim cried out. "Why? That''s so... lame!"
Behind her librarian glasses, Barbara looked at Tim from under her brow. "Hey, watch your tone. I''d say you got off easy for ditching school last time. But to run away to Gotham a second time with no heads-up to them? Not cool," she reiterated. "And let me guess, you went to see if Bruce would welcome you back to his foolish crusade? What did he even say when you showed up?"
"He said no..."
"Told you."
Tim rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Dick, you gonna visit the old man?"
Dick looked out the window beyond Gotham''s skyline. "I thought about it on the flight over. Was on my way to when I ran into you¡ I might, just to tie up some loose ends and clear the air between me and the guy before I move to Bl¨¹dhaven. Will admit that I''m curious about what cases he''s working on."
Tim crossed his arms and took on a somber expression. "I saw some of what was happening at the asylum break, but¡ª"
"Wait, you were at Arkham last night?" Barbara was suddenly back in the conversation. "How the hell?"
"Yeah, I was there!" Tim''s face lit up. "Highlight of the year! Kickin'' butt and takin'' names! Just like old times!" He dropped into a horse stance and his fists flashed out fast and furious. "Saved the new Batgirl''s butt, too!" Tim slouched as he remembered the spiteful words he and Batgirl had flung at each other in the BatCave. "She was mean."
Barbara couldn''t help but laugh. "And I''m sure that had nothing to do with you interfering with the breakout." She covered her laugh with her hand. "I''d probably be just as upset."
"Don''t take her side! She''s your replacement! Either way, I''m planning to get back into the hero gig... It''s just clear that I need to do it my own way."
Dick shook his head. "Or maybe just drop it and move on, Tim. Like I''ve said, there''s more than one way to make a difference."
"Maybe for you, but for me... Being a hero''s all I know."
A week had passed since the strange boy had jumped the fence of Wayne Manor and Diana was getting cabin fever. She''d spent most of the last few days gardening and, other than taking brisk walks up and down the rather impressive grounds of Wayne''s estate, she felt more cooped up than she''d ever had before. Sure, she had run the odd self-made errand just to keep from going crazy, but those were often no more than half an hour among people before rushing back to her temporary home. So when Bruce told her he''d made reservations for her to have a late night out at a Greek restaurant, she got excited.
She''d wanted him to accompany her, but he had a meeting with some fellows from a European firm so she would be going solo. This didn''t put too much of a damper on her spirits, though, as she eagerly planned her night out. First, she selected her outfit, a simple sparkly black and blue dress and matching blue heels. From her modest selection of purses, she chose a small, plain black one with a golden latch. She wanted to look good, but she didn''t want to draw attention to herself... Or at least, any more attention. When the time was right and her ride had arrived, she bid Bruce a farewell, excited for her night out.
The drive to the restaurant was fast and the closer she got to the destination, the more excited Diana got. It was finally a chance to be among people and just... be. Bruce had reserved a private booth for her under his name, but when she''d showed up at the establishment, she''d been turned away. The host had given some excuse that the booth was unavailable despite the reservation. All of a sudden.
The plans she''d been looking forward to for the past few days were dashed in an instant. While she could read the guilt on the host''s face for his lie, more apparent was the fear: the fear of her. Without making a scene, Diana graciously thanked them for letting her know and returned to Wayne Manor to sulk only to find out that Bruce, surprisingly, wasn''t at his meeting. She also found out that he was pretty good at ordering to go.
Now, Diana found herself guiding a piece of sushi into Bruce''s mouth. "You know," she said, "When I was released from that rehabilitation center, I never would have imagined I''d be cooped up with one of Gotham''s most eligible bachelors, helping him eat undersea delicacies."
Bruce finished chewing the fishy food and then swallowed it. "Life comes fast."
She nodded. Her thoughts revisited the event that had played out the hour before. "Are you still getting flack for housing me?"
Yes. "Not really." Bruce shifted in his seat and turned on the television set to pass the time. He''d planned for Diana to be out of the Manor tonight because he''d planned to be away for the night. Tensions were rising between the Jokerz and a local street gang, and the plan was for the Bat-Clan to clean up both sides before things could get too messy. But when Diana returned to the manor teetering between umbrage and tears, something in him couldn''t just leave her alone. "You haven''t done anything egregious, and I haven''t been making a scene recently either. You''re fine. I''m fine."
"That''s good." She scooted closer to him. "It''s nice to know that I won''t be turned away from here anytime soon."
"Again, this is a temporary placement..." Bruce tersely reminded her. "But I have to admit, it''s nice having someone else in the house again."
"Just don''t call me Alfred and I won''t complain," she cooed.
Bruce actually laughed and switched the channel to the news. Over the airwaves and between his conversation with Diana, he caught a report about a hijacked private jet. I should...
Diana nuzzled closer into his chest and eventually started purring herself to sleep.
No. Bruce reclined and ran his hand through Diana''s hair. They''ve got this. And he switched the television channel.
Below Wayne Manor in the BatCave, Kimber sat before the Batcomputer idly scrolling through case files and refreshing her memory on the local gang they were to be up against while Curtis worked over a training dummy. As Curtis came to the end of his kata, Kimber gave a loud groan and let her head fall to the keyboard. "Where is he?"
Curtis struck the mannequin a final time and then headed for the towel rack. "Upstairs, where else?"
"That''s not what I meant," she moaned with her head down. "He told us to be ready by nine for briefing and yet here we are, an hour over time, and we haven''t even heard a peep from him! If I''m late by even a minute, he reads me the riot act!"
"He''s right above us, you know. Perhaps you could head up there and find him?"
Kimber raised her head, her black hair messily cascading over her face. "Really? Invade the sanctity of his home to read him the riot act?"
Curtis grabbed a towel and grinned mischievously. "You know you want to."
Kimber watched him towel off with a contemplative pout through her hair before sighing. "Damn it, you''re right," she finally admitted. She slipped off the chair and headed for the stairs.
"Oh, shoot! You''re actually going to do it?" Curtis'' eyes went wide and he smiled in disbelief. "That''s pretty bold."
"No, I''m not," Kimber corrected as she leaned against the cave wall at the bottom of the stairs and pulled her phone out. "I''m going to text him. But I am going to be right here for when he gets down here."
"And then you''ll read him the riot act, right?"
Kimber''s cheeks went red with embarrassment. "No..." she muttered, losing some of her nerve at the thought of scolding her mentor. "I''ll just... glare, I suppose." She found the disguised contact in her phone and shot it a message before going through her other messages absentmindedly. Her phone vibrated as a new message came in and Curtis'' head popped up.
"He responded?"
"No, it''s Mawk," she replied, disappointed. "Apparently, he got an internship in Star City." Kimber stared at her phone screen with an upturned lip. "Late in the summer for an internship, don''t you think?"
Curtis shrugged. "I suppose? But it''s not like real life cares for summers, right?" he pointed out. "When was the last time your father got a good three months off? Work is work." He took a seat at the Batcomputer and pulled a sheet of paper out of his backpack.
"I''m just saying it''s suspicious."
"And I''m just saying you''re looking too much into it." He vigorously erased a mark he''d just made on the paper and muttered a formula to himself before correcting his mistake. "I would think you''d be happy for him."
"I am," she replied with a bit of delay. "I''m just... It''s in Star City, Curt. Couldn''t he have found a place in Gotham?" She clucked her tongue and stowed her phone in frustration.
"It''s with that law firm, right? Don''t they have an office in the Diamond District?" Curtis put up a defense for Mawk, again. It was becoming a rather recurring, and tiring, topic. While Kimber seemed more and more adamant that her boyfriend was losing interest in her, Curtis remained steadfast in his opinion that Mawk was still head over heels for her. She was a rather permanent fixture in his social media posts and to any observer, it was clear that Mawk cared for Kimber. Curtis over his shoulder and watched her fiddle with the curls of her hair.
"They do, but I''m pretty sure he''s more obliged for the main office. He''s even accepted an offer for college out there." She began braiding her hair. "I still think he''s hiding something."
Curtis looked away for a moment as a rogue thought gnawed at him. If he didn''t know better, he would''ve guessed that Kimber was seeking a reason to end things. But that couldn''t be right. The two had been a power couple through most of high school and after the Winter Bash, they''d become stronger than ever. He chalked it up to his own feelings clouding his judgment. He shook the thought from his mind and faced the paperwork in front of him. "Everyone has their secrets, Kim," he said, his voice tinged with a hint of resignation. "After all, you are keeping quite a big one from him."
Kimber scoffed. "Name one!"
"Where are you again?"
She looked around the BatCave and then snapped her fingers. "Right."
"What do you tell him when you have to rush here anyway?" Curtis spun in his chair to face the girl.
"I tell him that¡ª" Anymore was cut off by a severe beep. Alfred, the BatCave''s A.I., came online and announced a summarized police bulletin. "A plane has been hijacked over the Eastern seaboard and is heading for Gotham Harbor. No group or person has yet claimed responsibility."
"A hijacking? Over Gotham airspace?" Kimber pushed off the wall and pulled on her helmet. "I guess we really aren''t heading to Founder''s tonight."
"No rest for the wicked, I''d say." Curtis whirled his cape around his shoulders and then began putting on his gloves. As he checked the fasteners, he looked again toward the empty stairs. "Where is the boss? This sounds even more time-sensitive and yet..." He checked his gauntlet for any message from Batman. "Nothing."
"I bet I know what''s got him distracted. Or rather, who''s got him distracted," Batgirl replied with a smirk as she fastened her belt. "I bet he''s with Diana. She was supposed to be out tonight but I bet she stayed in and they''re eating."
Robin frowned as he pulled on his cowl. "Now I see why she''s a problem."
His rather clinical reply caught her off-guard. "Have you seen her? She''s gorgeous."
"Gorgeous isn''t going to stop a hijacked airplane."
Batgirl glanced back at the stairs and then relented. "Fine. I''ll go grab the boss from upstairs. You see if you can locate that plane." She threw off her helmet and rushed up the stairs, barely pulling her sweats and a loose hoodie over her uniform, just in case Bruce''s ''house guest'' really was back in the manor. Kimber took extra care when pushing open the grandfather clock; she didn''t want to make the same mistake Tim Drake had made days earlier. As she stepped cautiously into the parlor, she couldn''t help but feel a sense of awe. After all those months working with the Bat, this was her first time in Bruce Wayne''s home.
Once she was fully out of the secret passage, she took a moment to listen for any sign of life. The low, distant droning of a television caught her ear and she figured that would be the best place to start. Kimber carefully navigated the parlor and followed her ears through two tall hallways to a living room of sorts. Inside, she could make out two people on the couch by the light from the screen. As she approached, the sound on the TV went out and in a moment, Bruce''s head snapped evenly in her direction. Her heart stopped.
The man looking at her waved her off angrily.
Kimber''s heart started back up and she went from fear to frown until the TV program switched to a bright and peppy commercial for Burger Fool illuminated the scene: lying across Bruce''s lap was Diana, sound asleep. Kimber''s face melted into a smile. She mimed an ''awww'' and threw up a thumbs up to Bruce. The multi-billionaire scowled.
Moving on. Kimber made her way back down to the BatCave. Just as she was in the main chamber, Robin tossed her helmet her way. "Thanks," she said as she caught it.
"Found the boss?" He asked as he secured the last gadget onto his belt.
"Yep. He''s busy."
"What could be more important than this?"
Kimber gave him a knowing look as she pulled on her Batgirl visage. "A girl?" she answered.
"To the Batman? Right, fat chance." He went over to the Batcomputer to grab the errant plane''s call-sign.
"See? This is why you''ve never had a girlfriend." She approached her Bat-Cycle.
"I have so!" Robin protested. "I''m even talking to someone right now."
"Let me guess: she goes to a different school?" Batgirl smirked at him and ignored the strange pit she felt in her stomach. She knew he wasn''t lying, but why did she care?
"Yeah, well, it''s true¡" Robin made his way from the Batcomputer to the cave wall adjacent to the private dock "By the way, Batgirl, you may want to do a quick check. As far as I''m aware, your bike can''t get airborne and I doubt that from even the highest of buildings our bat-claws will catch a plane."
"You have a better idea?"
"I might," Robin replied with a mischievous smile, then flipped a rather large level jutting out of the cave wall. A large steel wall rotated from out of the BatCave''s waterfall over the harbor, then tilted at an angle. A ladder unfolded, cascading down from the platform to the metal bridge that spanned the harbor. Resting on the revealed platform like a giant bat ready to take on the night was a uniquely designed aircraft.
"That''s not the Batplane," Batgirl observed as she carefully followed Robin to the ladder.
"Yep, found this thing hidden away in the Batcomputer''s archives around the time I''d found out about the Bat-Trike. It''s some sort of prototype aerial vehicle. A flying wing, if you will."
"A bat...wing? Hey, wait!" She tugged on Robin''s cape, attempting to keep him from the cockpit of the Batwing but to no avail. She ascended the ladder and continued her protests. "Are you sure we should be using this?"
Robin started performing preflight checks. He was so engrossed in what he was doing that he didn''t even look at her as he responded. "The Batplane''s not nearly as maneuverable as we may need to be and this thing''s an estimated two times faster. The faster we get there the better, right? Besides, the Batplane is out of commission. Missing wing flaps or something and, again, Batman is nowhere to be found." He looked at Batgirl as if confused as to why she wasn''t scrambling onboard. "Batman isn''t coming down here and that plane isn''t gonna stop itself. We have to do this ourselves! Get the hell in!"
Batgirl looked back over the BatCave as if expecting Batman to have materialized in the middle of the cave. But Batman was not there and time was running out. "Dammit," Batgirl cursed under her breath and barely tumbled in the co-pilot''s seat before the cockpit hissed closed. "You''re gonna be in so much trouble when we get back... If we get back..." She looked down as the heat from the engine blurred the cave around her. "Do you even know how to fly this thing?"
"I read."
There was no more room for objection as the plane was catapulted out of the cave mouth and up into the night sky.
The Batwing whizzed over Gotham like a giant guardian shadow. Three pairs of eyes in three different locations turned skyward to watch the dark craft zip over the city against the crisp night sky.
From the large window overlooking the city, Bruce Wayne watched the flying wing soar into the murky clouds. His eyes narrowed and a feeling of rebuke welled up in him. They hadn''t asked, they had just acted. As incensed as he felt, he had to applaud their initiative. The woman asleep on his shoulder moaned and shifted her position slightly. Reminded of her presence, Bruce felt another feeling well up in him: relief.
From his penthouse apartment, Ra''s al Ghul watched as Batman rushed to save the night once more; off to push back against the relentless tide of evil. With Batman out of the way, even for a precious hour or so, he would be able to launch the next phase of his plan: an increase in manpower. He retrieved a small tape-recorder-sized device from the bag resting on his bed and activated it. There was a slight hiss and then a thunderous crack. The glow from the resulting energy made him smile.
From a deserted street, Kent watched the Bat zip over Gotham City with his telescopic vision. No doubt the Dark Knight was on his way to save more lives that wouldn''t be in jeopardy if the Justice Lords were still protecting the world. He looked down into the dark hole and called out to John Stewart, asking if his fancy piece of jewelry could detect anything. The answer was yes. Kent looked back to the sky as the flying Bat disappeared further across the harbor. His flight may be taken and Batman may rule the skies, but soon that would all change. Shayera was found. And she would fight.
Part 1: Chapter 10
The Batwing rapidly closed in on the target aircraft. "So how are we gonna get on the plane, exactly?" Batgirl asked Robin from the seat behind him. She looked uncomfortably out the canopy at the distant streets below. The only thing that kept her from throttling him was the fact that he actually seemed to know what he was doing.
"Just you, actually," Robin corrected.
"What do you mean?"
"Can''t exactly park this thing and return to it, you know?" he asked with a wry smile playing beneath his cowl. "Besides, I''m sure you''re more than capable of clearing a few armed guys at 30,000 feet."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence..." She was not at all pleased with these developments. Batgirl looked out the canopy as the Batwing matched speeds with the private plane and prepared herself mentally to deal with whoever would be inside. "Question still stands: how am I getting on that plane?"
"Let''s call it an air crossing," Robin replied casually.
"A what?" Batgirl was confused.
"An air crossing," Robin repeated before elaborating. "Think of it like a drive-by." He flicked a switch.
"Wait, what?" Behind her helmet, Batgirl''s brow furrowed.
"In mid-air." He ticked another switch, ignoring her questions as he continued blithely explaining his made-up term.
Batgirl felt her seat slide back and rotate up slightly.
"The Batwing is the gun." Robin continued as he rolled the Batwing to the right, pointing the cockpit at the nearby plane.
"Gun? What?" Batgirl asked, incredulous.
"And you, the bullet."
Before Batgirl could object, the back half of the canopy slid forward and she was ejected from her seat into the air in an arc heading straight for the hijacked plane. After an initial exclamation, Batgirl managed to gather her wits. "Oh, I hate you, Boy Wonder," she muttered into her radio.
"It''s part of my charm," Robin replied, sounding partially distracted.
Batgirl could almost see the smug smile on Robin''s face and snarled. The plane was growing closer. Robin had launched her at nearly the perfect angle to intercept it. Despite the objectively great position, Batgirl couldn''t help but feel rather afraid. After all, she was a good few thousand feet up in the air and falling fast toward a cruising Learjet. With a defiant growl, she pulled at all her training to handle the situation she now found herself in. She leaned into the fall and flattened her cape to her body, aiming for the main body of the plane. As soon as she was within range, she fired her grapnel gun at the cabin and reeled onto the top of the low-flying aircraft.
Once securely atop the plane, she whispered a small prayer to whoever was up above while also muttering a distinct curse on Robin before pondering the best way to get in. As she mentally checked various items off her belt, she asked Robin if any communication had been made between the plane and any law enforcement, but he didn''t respond. Not wishing to wait forever for an update, she removed a pair of small explosives from her belt. This should be enough to get me in without completely ruining the cabin. Could also force the plane to land, too. She set two detonation devices on the roof of the plane and then shielded herself from the blast with her cape. "Planning on answering my question anytime soon?" she asked, again prodding for words from Robin.
"Probably not," Robin finally replied with a grimace and a strain in his voice. "I''ve got issues of my own."
"What issues could you possibly¡ª"
Boom.
Batgirl was nearly thrown off the plane as an explosion lit up the night sky just off the right side. "The hell?"
The Batwing screamed overhead and then executed an aileron roll just as two more missiles narrowly missed the left wing. Following behind the Batwing was a small jet with a foreign symbol painted on the tail. Well, at least he''s keeping busy. Her explosives went off and she jumped through the subsequent hole into the plane.
Batgirl landed behind a man carrying a rifle. The thug was still recovering from the concussive force of the blast when she lashed out with a fist to his face. Further down the aisle, another man opened fire with a machine pistol. Batgirl dodged behind a few seats but not before taking a shot to the back. She felt the bullet skip across her suit and a pang of panic set in as she feared the worst. Temporarily safe among the middle row, she took a moment to check herself out. No entry wound, no blood. The shot had merely winged her. Thanking Batman for the bulletproof interweave in her batsuit and cape, she threw down a flashbang.
"Oh, jeez! My eyes!" The gunman wailed out as the blinding light overwhelmed him. He clutched at his face and doubled over.
Just as the light faded, Batgirl popped up and flung a bat-a-rang at the shooter, ridding the man of his weapon... Along with some of the flesh from the top of his hand. In pain, the man clutched his hand. Batgirl was on him in mere moments, smashing his head into the bag compartment door. "How are things on your end, Robin?"
"Terrible, I think I can shake this guy, but don''t know how to take him down."
Batgirl dropped to one knee and dodged a stab from a third thug wielding a knife. "Robin... Shoot him," she hissed.
"It''s not that simple."
"Why the hell not? I saw those barrels on the front tip of the Batwing." Batgirl smashed through the knife-wielding goon and finally approached the hostages. "It''s an experimental aerial combat vehicle, right?"
"Uh-huh. Keyword ''experimental''." In the pilot''s seat, he flicked the yoke to the side to break the missile lock his assailant had on him. "Weapons are less-than-functional at the moment."
"You''ve got to be kidding me." Batgirl used a bat-a-rang to slice through the bonds of the captives just as another goon appeared, this one waved a rifle at not only her but the hostages as well.
He smiled at Batgirl. "You think you can throw that knife before I can pull the trigger, girlie?" His tongue ran over his top teeth. "Go ahead and try."
Before Batgirl could do anything, Robin''s voice rang in. "Got ''im!"
"What?" Batgirl hissed back. She had her answer seconds later as the plane rocked to and fro as if it had been hit. The gunman lost his balance and fell forward, just enough of an opening for Batgirl to clock him across the face. As soon as the gunman was down, one of the hostages grabbed the man''s weapon and pointed it shakily at him while the few other former hostages pulled on oxygen masks.
"W¨Cwe''ll be fine," one of them reassured Batgirl. "Go bring down this plane! Please!"
Batgirl didn''t even nod, she just left them. "What did you do?" she asked Robin as she ran past the final rows to the cockpit.
"Flares. Managed to get around and under him. Peppered his undercarriage and engine intakes with some flares. He got confused and one of his engines blew out. Clipped your plane and lost his wing and then crashed into the bay. That''s two points for Robin!" Over the radio, Batgirl could hear Robin giving himself a high-five.
Seriously? She blew open the heavy pressurized cockpit door and rushed into the small space, taking out an armed man with a precise elbow strike to the side of the head before tearing the co-pilot from his chair in a head-lock. "So, here''s the deal." With her free arm, Batgirl tossed two bat-shaped detonation devices onto the windscreen and then glared at the pilot. "You are going to land this plane or I snap your buddy''s neck and blow the front wide open."
The pilot looked in shock at the girl in the bat costume for a moment then smiled. "You wouldn''t dare..."
Batgirl applied pressure to her captive''s neck. The man screamed out in anguish and pain. "Try me," Batgirl warned the pilot. "Your co-pilot here can''t take much more of your posturing."
The co-pilot let out a strained scream from within Batgirl''s headlock."Please, for the love of all things decent! Land the damn plane! We weren''t paid enough for this!"
Unnerved, the pilot began the plane''s descent.
Something isn''t right, here... Batman watched the news in the BatCave. He had managed, unfortunately, to get away from Diana to check on his charges. What he found was less-than-wonderful.
Oh, they were doing a lovely job handling the hijacked airline. What bothered him was how much attention the situation was getting. Yes, the hijacked plane was big news ¨C especially considering those onboard ¨C and yes, the experimental Batwing had been stolen from the cave without permission... Batman groaned again at the thought. But this was Gotham, no matter how egregious the situation, never would every news network in the city be tuned in to the same event.
"Something''s amiss..." Batman minimized the feed to a smaller screen and began trawling through GCPD''s dispatch log. After a good few minutes of searching, he found what he was looking for. A robbery had been reported at an antique store only for the responding officers to dismiss the call as fraudulent. Batman didn''t trust the dismissal, though. The store wasn''t just any antique store: it was the same antique store the Joker had stolen the Laughing Dragon from ¨C the event that had forced an encounter with Superman and led to the two heroes teaming up for the first time. The plane must have been a diversion.
As Batman rushed to his vehicle, his thoughts drifted to Kent and, by association, Stewart. Both men were still on the run and he couldn''t help but wonder just what the two former heroes were up to.
"No, no, no!" Stewart punched the wall repeatedly, each strike more desperate than the last, but he knew it was a lost cause. The two men had been listening to the airwaves and when the reports came through of the hijacking, they both knew they''d have no better time to free Shayera than now. After a rather disgusting trek through the winding sewers beneath the city, the two renegades came across a wall that had been lined with lead, preventing Kent from peeking on the other side. With no idea as to what could be waiting on the other side, they could progress no further. Stewart eventually let his fist drop to his side as he sulked.
"This was supposed to be a quick in and out!" His forehead gently rested on the offending wall. They''d been too eager to progress and too reliant on Kent''s weakened x-ray vision. But now with no insight on just what was waiting for them on the opposite side of the wall, his power ring was no more useful than a vending machine trinket. "So close!"
Kent was equally upset. The plan was to find the closest point of entry, bash in and grab Shayera, then escape while the guards were still scrambling their men. While he was sure that the two of them had enough strength to barrel through the wall, there was no way of knowing what was on the other side. And if what waited on the other side was a plethora of S.T.A.R. Labs guards, they would be starting from nothing to find her. Stewart''s ring and his durability would only hold out so long as they searched for Shayera''s cell: the guards would make short work of them down in these cramped corridors and sewers. Gosh, how he missed the old days. "What now?"
Stewart''s jaw tightened. "Shayera is somewhere beyond this wall. I know it." He paused as he let his hand linger on the surface. "We need a new plan, one that puts the ball in our court without drawing attention too quickly."
A slow smile spread over Kent''s face as an idea that didn''t feel wholly his own formed in his mind. "Actually, a little attention wouldn''t hurt, would it?" he slyly asked.
Thirteen minutes later, Kent, dressed in his urban Superman outfit, was back on the ground smashing cars and taking names at the facility they''d just been beneath.
"Alistair! Alistair!" A security guard screamed into a CB radio at his booth as his partner fired at Superman. "We have a 4-61b in progress!"
A static voice crackled over the radio. "Copy, James. What''s your status?" Alistair asked.
James ducked as an all-terrain vehicle crashed through his booth and nearly pinned his partner against the wall. "It''s Superman! He''s attacking our perimeter! We need some cavalry up here, now!"
Superman squinted as a hail of bullets rained down. He could only hope that Stewart wouldn''t take so long. He grunted as he grabbed a hold of another chunk of concrete and held it between himself and the incoming fire. After all, I''m not as super as I used to be.
Below the ground, Crimson Lantern was hard at work avoiding security guards and other emergency personnel as they rushed to the conflict at the surface. In his heart, Stewart knew that Batman was away. If the Dark Knight wasn''t taking care of the hijacked airplane, then he was most certainly attending to some drug trafficking ring. The man never could take a break. Even so, he thanked his lucky stars that this lab was outside of Gotham.
"I''m sure I''m close." As he rounded a corner, he tilted his head down and moved aside as a trio of armed guards rushed by him; they were too anxious to reach the surface to give the man in janitorial garb a second look. As they passed, Stewart looked down at his dark red ring for reassurance. The thin blips of light greeted him, comforting him. As long as he stayed focused, his generic disguise would hold up, he just had to keep from drawing attention to himself. He resumed his walk once the guards were well enough away.
The foundations of the sublevels shook and Stewart was certain Clark had blown something up. Stewart couldn''t help but laugh to himself as he reminisced about various adventures as a member of the Justice Lords. They had blown up a lot of things in their day.
"Now, here''s something interesting." A sign caught his eye: confiscated. He peeked in and found it to be a room containing various trinkets, weapons, and items on display within glass-like containers and marked with various labels denoting their origin. Fortuitously, only one person worked inside: a woman sitting at a desk and running some sort of test on a helmet of some sort, similar to the headgear he''d seen Gorilla Grodd don in years past. Among the small collection of curios, a particular weapon caught his eye. With little time, he snagged from its protective case Shayera''s all-powerful mace and, after disposing of the too-curious researcher, resumed his clandestine mission to find Shayera''s chamber.
It wasn''t long after that that he found her cell. With the guards topside busy handling the Man of Steel, Stewart found himself with almost free rein of the facility¡ as long as he didn''t have to get through any service doors. He grimaced at the high-tech security shielding blocking his path. He''d been quiet and patient this long, but he was running out of time. If this was when he had to make noise, so be it. He pointed both fists at the thick steel door before him and let loose a volley of energy beams. With a loud bang, the door was blown off its hinges and Crimson Lantern was inside.
"Shayera!" John announced his presence over the sound of a blaring alarm.
"John?" Shayera answered back in surprise.
As the dust settled, Stewart saw Shayera braced against the wall staring at the blown-off door now settling gently on the ground. Wires and diodes ran from her back to the ceiling. "What in blazes are you doing here?"
"Busting you out," the former marine replied tacitly. He grabbed her hand and half-dragged her to the doorway, causing the cables connected to her back to snap carelessly off. "We don''t have much time before guards rush down here to deal with that alarm." He turned to her. "Can you fly?"
Shayera blushed. "Can I fly? I don''t know yet, I haven''t had the opportunity to try! My wings aren''t what they used to be..."
The sound of footsteps marching down the main hallway made both of their hearts jump.
"Move!" Crimson Lantern''s militaristic bark snapped Shayera back to the situation at hand and the two dashed to the nearest elevator shaft moments just before a squad of security guards rounded the hall from the stairs. He used his power ring to rip open the elevator doors, then said, "I need to know now whether or not you can fly, Shayera!"
Shayera frowned at Stewart. "Don''t get snippy with me, Army-boy," she snapped back. "My treatments were going just fine until now."
"Treatments? What are you¡ª" Stewart''s question was cut off as Shayera grabbed his shoulder and jumped into the shaft, pulling him along for the ride. "Woah!"
"Here goes nothing..." Shayera closed her eyes and concentrated hard. She felt an uncomfortable twitching in her back. Uncomfortable, but familiar. The wind whipping at her cheeks felt almost like a taunt. She strained more and more until, finally, she felt a slight movement throughout her bird-like appendages. C''mon... c''mon! Shayera focused her mind and tried to relive her youth on Thanagar whens he first learned to fly. Her head felt like it was going to explode from mental stress.
"Uh, Shayera?" Her passenger''s tone had shifted from commanding and sure-footed to more unsure and worried. "The ground''s gettin'' mighty close!"
Shayera blocked out Stewart''s worry and only concentrated on reconnecting with her wings.
Batman touched down smoothly on the roof across from the antique store and slowly took shape as he stood to his full height. Before him, stood Green Arrow.
"Nice entrance," Green Arrow dryly remarked.
As much as it irked Batman that the green-clad man wasn''t phased by his appearance, he had to admit to himself begrudgingly that he respected the Emerald Archer''s cool head. "I thought your base was Star City," Batman asked. Though it was less of a question and more of a ''go away.''
"I was in the neighborhood visiting a friend. Figured I''d extend an olive branch by checking out this call." The masked blond uncrossed his arms and approached the Dark Knight. "Got here just before the police arrived. I don''t know what they are doing inside, but the crooks haven''t left since I''ve been here."
Batman retrieved a pair of binoculars. "Are you sure they''re still in there?" He put the lenses to his eyes and peered at the building across the street.
"When I got here, the last few were marching in. Thought about rushing in after them, but then the police arrived. Eventually, the officers left ¨C didn''t even get out of their squad car ¨C so I thought about picking up their slack, but didn''t see any activity inside. Yet their lookout in that building is still there." He pointed to a small apartment structure to the right opposite a crossroad. "Don''t think he''s seen me yet¡ª"
"This was reported as a robbery," Batman interrupted. "Where''s the getaway driver?"
"Their driver took off as the red and blue rolled up. I assume the cops probably spooked him." Green Arrow nocked an arrow to his bow in anticipation of a fight.
"You''re expecting something?"
"You look like you''re about to jump down and whoop ass. Figured I''d get ready to give you ranged support. Olive branch, remember?"
Batman said nothing. Instead, he stood and fired his line launcher at the building Green Arrow pointed out. "Stun him."
"Done." Green Arrow aimed and fired at the lookout just as soon as Batman was airborne. The arrow whizzed across the street and smashed into the poor lookout''s face. On contact, a net exploded from the head of the arrow and entangled the man. Just as the trapped man hit the floor, Batman was through the window. Without wasting a moment, he properly bound the man''s hands and feet before chucking him into a closet. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.
From across the street, Green Arrow flashed a thumbs up to the Bat, but when he got no response, he grumbled under his breath, "Robin''s his kid? Most probably adopted."
Before slamming the door on the tied-up thug, Batman inspected his outfit. The man wore a weathered leather jacket and torn-up jeans. A handkerchief peeked out from his breast pocket. Everything about him screamed ''Burnout''. Looks like that meeting went well for them despite my warning, he thought. He closed the closet door on the man. The police would deal with him later; right now, he had more pressing matters. Batman turned his attention to the rest of the room.
He took in every inch of the small, dark studio apartment with keen eyes. Nothing escaped his sight. Day-old pizza. Numerous prepaid cell phones. Fake IDs. Flashlights. A map... With careful hands, Batman spread open the map. Upon closer inspection, he realized that it was a floor plan for the antique store with the most recent building owner''s name printed neatly in the corner. On seeing the name, Batman came to a grim realization. He picked up one of the prepaid cell phones and dialed a number from his gauntlet.
Across the street, Green Arrow''s cell phone rang. "Oliver Queen. Who''s this?"
"Green Arrow." Batman''s distinct voice came over the line.
"Ho, crap!" The Archer''s face reddened with a mix of anger and surprise.
"Focus. I''ve known for a while. Not a good idea to carry your personal device at all times."
"Yeah, hit a vigilante while he''s down, why don''t ya?" Green Arrow leaned against a chimney stack as his heart raced in his chest.
Batman ignored the comment and continued. "You said the police showed up at the scene after you arrived. You didn''t suspect anything foul when they left?"
Green Arrow nodded even though he was across the street. "They took off to the north; probably headed to the airport. Apparently, some nuts decided to hijack a private jet coming into Gotham International. Busy night."
Batman growled through the prepaid phone he was using. "You didn''t find it at all suspicious that they didn''t even get out of their car to check the door?"
"Now that you mention it..." Green Arrow scratched his head then straightened his hat. "It was odd, but what do you make of it?"
"Dirty officers likely taking a cut," Batman surmised. As he cradled the phone between his shoulder and head, he scrolled through recent police report logs on his gauntlet for anything related to the robbery. Only one sparse report of a false call came up for the address this night. He gritted his teeth. "They called off the report."
"What? You''re pulling my leg, right?" Green Arrow seemed just as annoyed as Batman.
Batman ended the call and crushed the phone beneath his heel before firing his line launcher at the store across the street. He rode the wire not to Green Arrow''s spot, but to the antique store. Without warning to Green Arrow, Batman dove in through the store''s open front door and disappeared within.
"I guess I''ll stay here, then." Green Arrow relaxed his hold on his bow and leaned back against the chimney stack.
As Batman stealthily moved through the abandoned store, he couldn''t help but replay his first time stepping foot inside. The Joker had just stolen the Laughing Dragon: a Chinese statue of a dragon carved out of pure green kryptonite. That adventure led him to meet Superman for the first time... And it was that meeting that put both heroes on the road to crafting the Justice League. This store was the reason he had become best friends with the powerful alien.
He passed the pedestal where the dragon had been stolen from those years ago. A few watches of dubious origin now rested atop it, almost profaning the pedestal. He paused as he took a look at the spot. Times were simpler back then. He would be a liar if he said he didn''t miss the days of promise for the League. Maybe one day the world would be ready for a new Justice League, one made up of fresh faces. Faces that wouldn''t carry a negative stigma.
He slowly turned in a circle and looked over the showroom. "Doesn''t look like a robbed storefront at all," he mused. Batman''s night lenses allowed him to take in the entire scene. There was no evidence of a scuffle, no bullet holes, no gunpowder residue, no toppled stands or broken items. Nothing out of the ordinary except... Except for the door to the stockroom. It was slightly ajar.
Like a wraith, he moved to the door and saw the reason it was open: a trapdoor leading under the store was displaced and was preventing the stockroom door from closing properly. From his belt, Batman dropped a sonic bead through the trap door and waited a few seconds. A supersonic pulse was emitted from the device: ground-penetrating radar. Batman sighed as the pulse came back and the result filled his cowl''s lenses. Catacombs beneath the store.
Clever. The Dark Knight slid down the depths.
"What''s taking them so long?" Superman took cover behind the remaining parked cars as a spray of bullets trailed behind him. "If this keeps up, I''ll be caught for sure."
"Well, we wouldn''t want that, would we?" A feminine but strong voice came from behind him.
"Shayera! About time you showed up. I was running out of collateral to damage." He grinned as he helped Shayera and then Stewart climb out of the manhole.
"In the flesh and feathers," the alien woman replied. Her sense of dry humor seemingly never left her. "Now, I hope you boys had a plan for getting out of this mess."
Crimson Lantern looked at Superman. "Not going to lie, I thought you would have made your own escape by now."
"How? Hoof it on foot? I can''t fly, remember?" Superman pointed out.
"But you can still leap tall buildings in a single bound," Crimson Lantern responded. "Still very impressive in my eyes."
This garnered a smile from Superman.
"You''re both oh, so powerful, yes," Shayera interrupted quickly as the hail of bullets stopped and the distance command to advance was given. "But patting each other on the back isn''t going to save us."
Crimson Lantern nodded and looked at his ring. "Looks like it''s on me, then. I don''t know how far I can take us on my ring. Still working out the limits on the power of the infrared spectrum." He raised his fist and a dark red bubble enveloped the team. Slowly they were lifted into the air. "But I should be able to at least get us to higher ground and out of the immediate area so we can disappear a bit easier."
Various commands from the guards to halt were muffled by the orb and the three escaped Lords ignored each and every one. When it became clear to the guards that the three Lords weren''t going to obey, they raised their weapons and opened fire. Bullets plinked off of the rising dark red bubble containing the three escapees as harmlessly as raindrops. Soon the trio was high in the air and rushing away from the compound. Kent watched as the facility receded into the distance and shivered unconsciously. An unsettling feeling in his gut pushed him to regret, but he managed to justify his actions. Shayera had to be freed for the reunion to work, that was the plan.
As Kent retreated into his thoughts, Stewart started up a conversation with the woman he had not seen in over a year. "You mentioned a treatment, Shayera. What sort of treatment?"
"I got off pretty light despite being charged with treason," she replied. "My connection to my wings was temporarily severed by that power-stripping weapon the other Luthor made. Once they got me below, they strung me up like a scarecrow and tried to restore that connection. I''d been on a fairly consistent physical therapy regimen for the past few months."
"But those wires you were hitched up to¡"
"Just electronic diodes to stimulate the nerves and advance recovery. Batman''s orders."
Kent wore a pondering face. "First Diana and now you. It seems almost like he was trying to lighten our sentences."
Stewart frowned. "Don''t tell me you''re getting cold feet now, Kent. He''s the one that put us in this situation in the first place. Don''t forget: you were stuck in an underground bunker being washed with red sun energy."
"No, I... I''m just not as sure about this anymore." Kent seemed lost in thought. His mind was consumed in a conflict of views. "We''ve got Shayera, so let''s call it a win for now. Perhaps we should regroup. If we reach out in good faith, Batman may meet us on neutral ground and we could have a discussion; you know, talk it out like adults? Heck, if we don''t raise hell I doubt that he''d come looking for us. We could just¡ª"
"He ruined our lives! Took our power!" Crimson Lantern yelled out. His voice took on a darker, more alien tone.
"Your power, John," Clark corrected. "Even now, I''m still vastly more powerful than any man on this planet. Scream at me again like that and watch how fast I remove your ring. Then we will really see if you are still a Green Lantern." He turned to Shayera. "What are you aware of?"
Shayera shrugged. "Nothing."
"Absolutely nothing?" Stewart turned his head back as he guided the orb to the outskirts of Star City.
"Cut me some slack," Shayera retorted. "I''ve been literally living under a rock regaining my strength. The newspaper doesn''t exactly deliver down there, you know." Then her tone shifted from apprehension to tenderness. "What''s happened to everyone?"
Kent sighed. "The Bat recently went active in Gotham, but you know that. J''onn is... holed up in Arkham for now. He could easily break out but tells everyone his sins to the Earth have condemned him to life in prison or some bullshit like that."
"And Diana?"
"Heh, you''re gonna love this," Stewart huffed. "She got off the best. A few months in a stringent women''s correctional facility but then a lucky transfer to some cushy rehab center after she pleaded her case."
"And now?"
"She''s living with the media whore Bruce Wayne."
"Wow. Some girls get all the luck."
"The landing strip is in sight, Robin, and the pilot''s taking the plane down. You better be there. I''d like to make a hasty exit."
"Alright, I''ll swoop low to pick you up." Robin banked the Batwing to the side, up away from the landing plane. "Be ready. You''ll only get one shot at it." Below he could see police lights flashing and a small crowd of media and law enforcement officers gathering at the end of the runway. For such a caper, he found its resolution unexpectedly anticlimactic. "Am I the only one weirded out that this went over so easily?"
If Batgirl heard him, she didn''t respond.
"I guess so."
After the plane touched down and came to a stop, Batgirl released her prisoner and detonated the two explosives she''d thrown on the plane''s windshield. With thick and fiery booms, the windscreen blew outward as smoke and material filled the cockpit. "Good luck with the police," she whispered into her former prisoner''s ear. With cat-like grace, she leaped through the smoking hole and slid down the nose cone to the ground. Instantly, a familiar voice greeted her.
"Long time, no see." Chief Goren approached her from the side of a squad car. He had both hands shoved in his trench coat pockets and wore a look of restrained nervousness; it wasn''t everyday that a plane was hijacked¡ Even for Gotham. His breath was visible in the chilled night air and swirled in clouds of vapor before dissipating. "You stopped all this racket alone?"
If Papa''s trying to make small talk, he still hasn''t gotten the memo: Bats don''t talk. At least, not trivially. "The hostages on the plane have the weapons now and most of the hijackers are unconscious and bound. Three more are in the cockpit. One likely has a concussion. They all were hired for this job but had no plans on doing much more than cruising around. They''re likely locals of Gotham''s underbelly who''d been trained for this."
Goren stared into the black visor that shielded the young heroine''s face, completely oblivious that he was staring at his daughter. There was an awkward silence between the two: Batgirl waiting for the right moment to make her exit and Goren wanting to talk more to the enigmatic heroine, but not knowing the right words to say.
He finally settled on a question. "We picked up the joker who''d crashed his jet in the harbor. He told us that he''d been taken down by a giant bat. Got some frantic calls from concerned citizens about a giant bat soaring overhead and chasing this plane." He shrugged in the direction of the now-subdued aircraft. "Know anything about that?"
Behind her visor, she rolled her eyes and looked to the sky. A distant dark shadow trailed by a speck of light approached just over her father''s shoulder. About time. With her cape hiding her movements, she readied her bat-claw and counted down in her mind. Her father prattled on about another detail of the case, which she ignored. She had to focus, if she was off by even a second, this would be rather embarrassing.
Chief Lee stumbled over a few of his words as he stared at the blank face of Batgirl. She hadn''t reacted to a single thing he''d said, standing still almost like a machine on standby with her line of sight not even meeting his. He wasn''t even sure if she was breathing. He cleared his throat. "I suppose what I mean to say is, thanks. With that jet chaperoning the plane, the military couldn''t get in close without risking everyone onboard. You saved Senator Gilbert''s life."
The time was now. She snapped her head in her father''s direction. "I''m aware of that." She drew her bat-claw and then fired straight into the air in one calculated motion.
Woosh.
Something powerful screamed overhead. Goren and his officers instinctively ducked down as wind and dust kicked up around them as if a helicopter had just dusted off. The screech had come out of nowhere and sounded one part mechanical and one part devilish. When he stood back up, Batgirl was gone. He caught sight of her further down the tarmac, airborne and rising. Her cape was fully spread giving off the bat-like effect so commonly associated with Gotham''s protectors. But what took his breath away was the giant bat she trailed.
"Well, I''ll be..."
"I''ve got a pitstop to make," Robin spoke to Batgirl, who was finally strapping back into her seat.
"Oh for the love of Pete¡" Batgirl snapped as she clicked in her buckle. "Can''t you at least drop be at the ''Cave first?"
"Night''s not over, Batgirl," Robin replied. "May seem still from up here, but Gotham''s still awake."
"Well, aware, bird-boy. Counterpoint: you just shot me out of one airplane and into another. I think I deserve a breather."
"You''re stronger than that."
Robin''s words were simple but they felt so sincere that they caught her off-guard. She felt blood rush to her cheeks and clicked her tongue to disguise her appreciation. "Look, I''m tired. I''m hungry. I''ve got to go to the bathroom." Batgirl crossed her arms and allowed her head to thud gently against the headrest. "I''d like us to just head back, now."
She could hear him stifle a laugh over the radio. "You had ample opportunity earlier, Batgirl," he teased. "I''m sure there was a lavatory on that jet. Just settle in and let me follow up on something right quick. I''ll be done before you know it."
Batgirl felt the stealth craft crawl to a stop. There was no arguing with this boy, after all, he was the one flying the craft. She was just along for the ride. Batgirl closed her eyes with a sigh. "I''ll be done before you know it¡" she muttered.
"I hope that''s sarcasm," Robin grumbled. "Just... indulge me for a moment." He switched the Batwing to stealth mode and then to standby. With a quick check of gadgets, he readied himself to drop down to the cityscape below.
"It was a diversion, I think," Batgirl, eyes still closed, spoke up before Robin made his exit. "In response to your question earlier: it was a diversion, that''s why they gave up so easily. Something else was going down tonight. They were paid to distract The Bat."
Robin was quiet for a moment as the canopy slid forward. "I know. That''s why we''re here." Then he jumped from the Batwing.
"This is the quietest night in a long while."
"You and I both know that this city is never quiet." Robin dropped down behind Green Arrow.
"Well zip-a-dee-doo-dah, the night really does bring out all the wackos, huh?"
Robin smirked. "It is more comforting." He then turned his attention to the antique store across the street. "That''s the place?"
"You betcha. Your mentor''s been down there for at least twenty minutes now." Green Arrow propped himself up on one knee and withdrew an arrow from his seemingly bottomless quiver. "I''ve stopped about two mooks in that time. This area isn''t frequented much."
"Doesn''t your city miss you?"
"I have someone working the streets while I''m gone," Green Arrow replied, purposely cryptic.
"You''ve got a partner?" Robin looked at Green Arrow in surprise.
Green Arrow responded jokingly. "Well, after you turned down my offer, I had to find someone for me to boss around. Gotta fill that void, you know?"
Robin cocked his head to the side with a half-grin. "I''ll find out who."
Green Arrow thought about the harrowing phone call with Batman earlier in the night and made his peace with how invasive the Gotham trio could be. "I know," he replied with an air of defeat.
"Yo, boy wonder." Batgirl''s voice came over the comm. "I gotta go and I have no clue how to fly this thing."
"Just five minutes," Robin dismissed Batgirl''s concerns.
"In five minutes I''ll be borrowing your water bottle, so don''t use it when you get back... Unless you are into that, and if so, ew."
Robin tuned her out and focused on the darkened store across the street. He caught the faintest movement after a quick flash of light. "You see that?" he asked Green Arrow.
Green Arrow squinted. "What?"
Robin didn''t reply. "Batgirl, can you access the radar equipment of the Batwing? It''s similar to the Batmobile''s installation."
"Is it attached to a toilet?"
"This is serious," Robin warned in a slightly hard tone.
"Yeah, I think I got it." She sighed and shifted back into work mode. "What do you need?"
"Angle the radar at the buildings across from me and tell me what you read. It should be strong enough to penetrate the ground..."
There was a moment of silence over the radio and then, "I''m reading twenty¨C No thirty-five¨C Wait... Fifty. I read at least fifty heat signatures. What are you doing down there? Facing off a battalion?"
"No... I''m staring at a storefront..." Robin''s voice trailed off into a subdued tone as his interest in what was happening in the closed antique store piqued. "Ready your bow, G.A..."
Green Arrow did just that. "Just tell me when to fire and I''ll light ''em up with my flashbang arrow."
A tense few seconds passed with no further action coming from the store.
"I have a bad feeling about this." Robin then called back up to Batgirl and gave her the address of the store. "Tell me about this place."
"The store was built in 1895 by Randolph Moise. Passed down through the Moise family for a few generations... blah blah blah... Until 1995 when it was burnt down in a local fire during a riot... Insurance paid for the damages but the family had to sell it. It was bought by one Joseph Duley. Nothing to note until about six years ago when the Joker stole a jade statue and put the shopkeeper in the hospital for a good while... Unable to tend the store, Duley sold his shop to... Oh, get this, Mr. Henri Ducard."
"Fascinating..." Robin whispered.
"What?" Green Arrow relaxed his hand, confused.
Robin stood up straight and took a few steps back as he caught sight of a second shadowy figure moving in the store. He caught his breath. "Oh, we gotta get outta here."
"What about your mentor?"
"If they are coming up now, he''s likely fine. He won''t be found unless he wants to be. But if Ducard''s got all those men coming up and we engage, I swear it will be the death of us!"
"What do you mean? Ducard? As in Henri Ducard, the owner?"
"Henri Ducard is an alias; a fake name."
"So who is this guy really? Who owns this store?"
Batgirl''s voice broke into Robin''s thoughts, "Okay, Robin. I''m telling you this not just as a partner or as Batgirl, but as a friend: Get the hell outta there. The radar just picked up catacombs under the store. Catacombs! And they''re just teeming with blips. He must have at least a legion down there... But it makes no sense, more just keep popping up! Just, boom! And then there are more men!"
"Robin!" Green Arrow snapped Robin back to the situation. "Who is Henri Ducard?"
"Ra''s Al Ghul."
As if he heard his name spoken, Ra''s al Ghul himself stepped out of the store with a confident smirk followed closely by Azra''il and Ubu.
Green Arrow steamed. "Oh, I got a special arrow just for you, buddy," he whispered. From his quiver, he withdrew a stealth arrow with a deadly point.
"You''re gonna try and kill him? Didn''t we already agree on no bloodshed?"
"I''m making an executive decision. Don''t like it? Leave." He drew the bowstring back and aimed.
"I''m telling you that we need to get outta here, he''s got an army of honest-to-god ninjas, remember? Ninjas!"
"I seem to recall a certain situation where I promised that I would shoot an arrow between this fool''s eyes. Well, here it is."
Robin aimed his bat-claw up at the Batwing but didn''t fire. "I''m only staying long enough to say I told you so."
"Thanks for the moral support." Green Arrow let loose his arrow and it silently whistled across the expanse to the unsuspecting eco-terrorist. "Perfect."
Just as the arrow was sure to hit Ra''s al Ghul''s face, the evil man caught the arrow by the shaft just as easily as one would catch a lobbed softball. With the smirk still playing on his lips, Ra''s snapped his head in the direction of Green Arrow and, across the dark, the two made eye contact. Behind him, dozens of dark-clad figures erupted from the store''s entrance and flooded the streets, rushing into darkened corners.
"Well, shit."
"I told you so." Robin fired his bat-claw and was whisked up to the Batwing before Green Arrow could even turn around. As a parting gift, he emptied his entire belt of smoke pellets to at least give Green Arrow some cover to escape. "Get outta there, G.A..." Robin murmured as the scene below him rapidly shrunk.
"Great bit of detective work there. You''ve uncovered yet another problem." Batgirl congratulated Robin as he scurried into the cockpit of the Batwing. "Now please deduce the location of the nearest restroom before I ruin my suit and this seat."
"That doesn''t make sense. How did so many men get down there?" Robin looked down but could only see the smoke clouds below him. He could only pray that Green Arrow had escaped.
"Go, Robin!" Batgirl hollered into the radio.
"I''m goin'', I''m goin''!"
The final man rushed past Batman''s hidden spot. Now was his chance. He had expected the men down here, but what he hadn''t expected was the sheer number. In fact, he was certain that there hadn''t been this many men in the catacombs at the start. They had all come from somewhere... But where? Batman stepped out of the shadows and entered the large storeroom from which all the ninjas had come.
There was nothing special. A few boxes with old trinkets and some crates of various odds and ends. The space was definitely too small to accommodate even a fraction of the ninjas he''d seen rush by. Even so, Batman''s ever-clear gaze didn''t waver or drop. Something was down here; some hint at Ra''s plan and, hopefully, insight into how to stop it. Whether it was in plain sight or tucked away in the darkest corner, he''d find it.
Then he saw it: a small tape recorder-like device lying on the floor, discarded. It was damaged and slightly burned but he knew what it was. He''d seen one in the Fortress of Solitude as well as in the Watchtower evidence room. It was a motherbox and it could open a boomtube: an inter-dimensional gateway that was a preferred method of travel on Apokolips. His mind instantly went to his meeting with Ra''s al Ghul before Arkham was blown open. The bright light and noise that had consumed Ra''s? Now he knew what it was.
He kicked the device and the motherbox flashed opening a portal linking the storeroom to the last coordinates used. Batman braced himself, for the other side could very well be a remote monastery from where all of Ra''s'' men had just come from or even Darkseid''s hellish planet. The light faded and Batman could see again. It wasn''t Apokolips. Batman inadvertently whispered thanks to above, but a few moments later he rescinded his gratitude and wished to the highest heavens it had been Apokolips. The other side of the space-time doorway was not that hellscape, Ra''s al Ghul''s hidden base, or even an army of assassins. There was only a malignant¡ thing.
The deadlights that shone from what could only be understood as the creature''s eyes seemed to pierce Batman''s soul. The head seemed to be a grotesque combination of a squid mantle and a humanoid skull with a sickly green hue. It existed in a seemingly endless expanse of red clouds as its numerous coarse tentacles snaked through the realm in a random pattern like mountainous elephant trunks. The horrible thing was suspended there, staring through Batman.
The Dark Knight winced at the horrible sight at first, then stood firm for he knew what the impossible entity was. When he was training under Ra''s, he had heard rumors that the madman worshiped an eldritch deity from some nether-realm. It was through the knowledge and permission of the entity that Ra''s had learned about the Lazarus pits. At least that is how the rumors went among the Society of Shadows. Batman had discredited even the notion that such an extra-dimensional creature could exist.
That was until decades later when he heard Shayera on the Watchtower speak of the same thing in hushed tones some nights on monitor duty. She would stare off into the vacuum of space and share with him tales of an ancient religion on her home planet of Thanagar. Though she said she no longer believed the "fairy tales" anymore, every time she uttered the horrible word used to identify the thing that had no true name, she would shudder and her voice would become a hoarse whisper.
Before Batman was the Old One. The Great Icthultu.
Part 1: Chapter 11
The apartment front door slammed open and a whirlwind of a boy crossed the threshold. In the blink of an eye, his coat was hung sloppily on a wall hook and his shoes were kicked off haphazardly on the mat. The door wasn''t even closed before he was already halfway to the bedrooms of the apartment. In his rush, he nearly bowled over one of the old occupants.
"Woah! A Tim-nado''s blowin'' through!" Uncle Roger had to pin himself to the wall to avoid the teenage rush of energy. "The convention was that good, huh, kiddo?"
Tim was about to just continue on his way to his room when a voice forced him to a halt. "Timothy Drake! Don''t tell me you left your manners at the Bl¨¹dhaven Arena, young man." Aunt Harriet stood in the kitchen cleaning up a table with three place settings. She''d watched the whole interaction take place with a stern look on her face. Apparently he was extremely late.
"I''m sorry, Rog." Tim half-groaned as he offered a stock apology and hoped that would be the only conflict he''d have to resolve. "I wasn''t looking where I was going."
"Apology accepted," Uncle Roger answered with an understanding smile. "This was a good reminder to stay my aging rear in the slow lane!"
Tim was already off, rushing for his room before his uncle''s safe humor could land. He also heard his uncle yell something about a visitor, but couldn''t make it out. He was too focused on his goal. He slammed his room door behind him with gusto and took a moment to himself to breath and organize the thoughts bouncing around in his head. A wide grin spread over his face. A plan was forming. "I''ve finally got it!"
"Got what, sport?"
Tim froze for a moment as the foreign voice shattered his expectation of privacy. He made a slow about face and locked eyes with Richard Grayson, sitting on his bed with one leg crossed over the other and the morning''s paper opened in his hands. Dick casually folded up the newspaper and purposefully placed it on the floor next to his dark, nondescript duffle bag. "Come on, now; share with the class." He patted the spot next to him with a lazy smirk. "Sounds juicy."
"What are you doing here?" Tim asked with a held breath.
Dick feigned injury. "Ouch, and here I thought you''d be happy to see me again."
"That''s not what I meant," Tim clarified. He dropped his bookbag and started unloading it of its contents, paying special attention to a notebook.
"I know," Dick replied after a beat. "I''m in town working on establishing roots. Roger and Harriet gave me the green to crash here while I sort out my own apartment."
"I thought you had one in Gotham?"
"Investing in real estate is never a bad idea, especially if you''re planning on flitting back and forth," Dick cryptically explained. "Besides... I''m tired of sleeping in hostels. I''d like to have a bed of my own for a while."
"But you''re sitting on mine," Tim duly pointed out.
Dick winked. "You''re quick. I''ll be slumming it on your couch for a few days, don''t worry. It''s still better than an over-starched cot." He stretched high and groaned into the stretch. "But enough about me, what about you? Sounded like you were on your Eureka run."
Tim looked around the rest of the room with nervous eyes. "Where''s Barbara?"
"She''s not here. Unlike me, she calls Gotham home."
"Okay, good. I''m pretty sure she''d discourage me." Tim''s excitement returned, and that worried Dick.
"Now hold up, I may have the same response." Dick''s brow creased slightly and he crossed his arms in anticipation of disapproval.
"You wouldn''t stop me, though," Tim dismissed Dick''s mild protest as he opened his notebook and quickly flipped through a few pages. He spoke as he did. "Ever since Bruce closed the cave on me, I''ve been thinking about how to get back in on the action." Finally finding the page he wanted, he handed the book to Dick. "Take a look at some of these rad designs I''ve done."
Dick took a look at the book in his hands and judged the drawings. On the page was a rather impressive technical sketch of some sort of short-sleeved suit surrounded by a number of small, incomplete sketches that focused on various aspects of the design. Dick was impressed. "You''ve got a decent talent for drawing, Tim. Proportions on point and the cross hatching is impressive." He nodded approvingly. "I''ve never been able to get a handle on it but you seem to have a knack for it. Ever thought of a career in drafting? I think you''d have a decent future as a technical illustrator."
"For crying out loud! The artstyle isn''t the point, Dick!" Tim moaned as he completely ignored the encouraging words. "The design itself is!" He eagerly tapped his finger on the main drawing repeatedly.
Dick tilted his head. "A bit dark, don''t you think?"
"This coming from Nightwing, Mr. Black-and-blue himself?" Tim asked dryly. "Besides, a bright red chest just makes for a target. Only works out when you''re with a partner. Alone, that''s a good way to get caught. Or killed."
"Point taken," Dick replied. He brushed his finger over the drawn tunic. "No logo for your character yet?"
"No not yet," Tim confirmed. "And I told you already, this isn''t a character. This is for me."
"Oh, geez, drop it, Tim!" Dick frustratedly tossed the notebook to the side. "You have a chance I never got: to live your life as a kid. You got your vengeance on Dent, and on top of that you also put away a good number of other bad people. Why on earth would you want to risk your neck again when you don''t have to?"
Tim harshly shushed Dick''s outburst and his eyes shot to the door to ensure neither his aunt nor uncle would come barreling through with questions as to their conversation. Once he was satisfied, he took a breath and retrieved his notebook. "You may be content with sitting on the sidelines, but I have to go out there and make a difference in the only way I know how. I hated the Justice Lords, but ever since they fell apart, crime''s shot back up! Bruce is up and running in Gotham but who does Bl¨¹dhaven have? Nobody, that''s who."
"Is that your name, Odysseus?" Dick interjected with a wry smirk; but when Tim stared back at him with a blank expression, he realized his tease had landed on deaf ears. "Pearls before swine, I swear... Tim, you can''t be serious. You''re barely in high school, your whole life ahead of you... You don''t even keep track of your own homework!" He thrust a finger at a scattered pile of summer reading books, one of which labeled Homer. "What makes you think you can survive alone what Bruce worked with you to accomplish? I can''t let you do that, kid."
"Hear me out, Dick." Tim again opened up the notebook that held his uniform designs again. "I saw this tech demonstrated this afternoon. A few nerd-heads over at S.T.A.R. Labs showed off a super interesting compound! It made stuff not only appear invisible, but also teleported stuff from one side of the hall to the other! It could totally be what I need to tip the scales in my favor!" He pointed again at his sketches, specifically the belt. "Spent the whole ride home on the bus just drawing up a potential means of utilizing it!"
Dick''s face darkened. "You''re talking about Dr. Cheng''s xenothium compound," he stated sagely. "Tim, that stuff is volatile, dangerous. It''d sooner kill you than teleport you."
Tim shook his head. "Don''t count on it, Dick. That''s the beauty of it, it''s not radioactive in the slightest. It breaks down naturally and safely! You only need to make sure¡ª"
Dick stood and cut Tim off. "So let me get this straight: you saw a military contractor demo the weaponization of an unstable compound and you want to wear it?" His frown deepened as he squared his shoulders and for the first time in years his attitude toward Tim took on that of an authority figure rather than simply a brother. "Tim, you have to realize just how insane that makes you sound, right?"
Tim felt a familiar feeling bubbling in his throat, a feeling he''d felt back when Bruce had duly shut him out and the new partners ¨C the pretenders ¨C summarily confirmed he was no longer necessary. He felt underestimated. His jaw clenched up despite his best efforts to not let his growing frustration show. He looked under his heavy brow at his surrogate brother; but as the Dick came into view, Tim saw not a young man standing with a practiced faux laziness and carefully crafted carefree swagger but a strong adult with squared shoulders, planted legs, and a stern expression. He didn''t see Richard Grayson, he saw Bruce Wayne. He closed his eyes for a moment to clear his head and when he opened his eyes again, he saw Dick Grayson again, but still the young man''s arms were crossed and a disapproving look was on his face. Finally, he simply shrugged. "I''ll figure it out," he answered with a mumble. "Just you see."
Batgirl leaped from the Batwing before the full docking procedure was complete and beelined for the restroom. With no need to rush, Robin carefully monitored the auto-docking process of the large flying wing in the stand-up hangar then used the cockpit''s pulley to lower himself down to the ground level. At the computer, he spotted his mentor just standing about and looking a little lost.
"Woah! ''Sup, Boss?" Robin greeted Batman casually but with a tinge of awe. He pulled back his mask and sat in the main chair before the Batcomputer. Eyeing the black and grey suit Batman wore up and down, Curtis went on. "Feeling nostalgic?"
Batman tilted his head. "Not exactly..."
If Curtis didn''t know any better, he would have guessed that Batman seemed surprised at his presence.
"Hey, Boss." Batgirl calmly strode past The Bat with a satisfied sigh and pulled her helmet off. After combing her fingers through her hair and resting her protective headgear on a side table, she stood by Robin and began logging the night''s escapades into the computer. "How''d you get back before us? That archer guy said you went into that store and never saw you come out."
Curtis laughed. "He''s the damn Batman, that''s how." Despite his jest, he still shot Batman a suspicious look.
In response, Batman scowled at him and a light snarl shook off the unwanted stare. "I''ve been here for a while. Close to an hour or so."
Kimber stopped her typing and turned around. "An hour?" she repeated. "Nuh-uh, that''s impossible. We left you under that storefront." It took but a moment for the girl to realize just how that sounded and another for her to clarify her objection. "Well, not left you, more like... A tactical retreat."
"Ninjas were swarming the streets and just disappearing into the night even faster than we could!" Curtis piped up to help out his friend. "There was no way we''d be able to sneak past all of them to the catacombs for you... Much less passed Ubu and Ra''s. Azra''il, maybe, but not Ra''s."
"Azrael?" Batman asked, pronouncing the name slightly differently.
There was an awkward moment of silence as both prot¨¦g¨¦s looked at each other, then back to their mentor. "Either you were knocked out for a while and are suffering some¡ Short-term memory loss..." Curtis started.
"Or you are a robotic clone bent on replacing Batman and slowly assimilating all other people into robots!"
Curtis looked at the girl leaning on the computer keyboard, befuddled.
"What?"
"I can''t believe I''m saying this but you gotta cut down on the sci-fi."
"It was as good a guess as yours..."
"You''re both wrong." Batman''s voice came from out of the darkness but not from his body.
Curtis wiggled a finger in his ear. "What the hell?"
Batman stepped up next to Batman.
"Oh jeez, there are two of them?"
Kimber put a hand to her forehead. "That explains a lot, actually."
Batman continued. "This Batman is from a different dimension. A twin from another timestream."
"No way..." Kimber gazed at The Other, now with more curiosity than suspicion. She approached and took in the stranger''s uniform. She''d only seen the black and grey suit through protective glass in its commemorative display, a relic from a different time; a time before the Justice Lords. Now seeing it in person on a person, an odd sense of reverence came over her that she hadn''t felt since last December. "That explains the retro duds. Your Flash is still alive, isn''t he?"
The other Batman barely nodded. "How do you figure?"
Kimber finished circling The Other but her eyes remained fixed on his form. "Justice League didn''t go militant until the Flash was killed. The uniform change inaugurated the Justice Lords. Since you''re still in the black and gray, I assume that he''s still alive. That they''re both still alive." Her eyes lifted and met his guarded ones, and even without needing to see his eyes she knew she was right. Both the Flash and Lex Luthor were alive and well.
"The event before the fall." Curtis sat up and started typing away at the Batcomputer keyboard. "I''ve found references here and there, but there''s never been a full report... I''ve tried piecing the bits I''ve uncovered together, but details are scant." He pulled up a pet file he''d been maintaining and then looked over at a large, unused machine gathering dust in a corner of the BatCave. "So that thing actually works?"
Batman evenly nodded once. "It does."
The Other looked from the two teens to Batman. "They''re good."
"They have to be. Come to check up on me?"
The Other nodded. "And I''m pleased. You picked up the pieces: you found your strength. Couldn''t have done better myself."
"That''s because he is yourself," Kimber pointed out with a rather nervous smile.
"Not now!" They responded in unison with equally hard edges and both glared at her as she shrank away.
"Great, now it''s in stereo..." Curtis muttered from the Batcomputer.
The two Batmans returned their attention to each other.
"I''ve had to get busy thanks to certain¡ Things. Incidents that have occurred."
"I took the liberty of perusing through your recent case file. Ra''s al Ghul''s back at it again."
Batman nodded. "Care to lend a hand?"
"Would you stay for me?" The Other replied.
"No," Batman answered. "I don''t think I would." He turned to a nearby terminal and began running a cross-reference for any other building or business establishment under Ra''s al Ghul''s known aliases.
The Other Batman turned to leave for his dimension and Kimber ran back up beside him. "So you are like a glimpse into the past, right?"
The dimensional double didn''t respond.
"So that means on the other side, I most probably have a double as well?"
Still no response.
"I''m guessing you have no idea who I am, huh?" She sounded slightly dejected.
"No."
"Well, do you and your Wonder Woman have feelings for each other on the other side, too?"
The Batman stuttered on his next step as he approached the interdimensional gate. "What are you talking about? Diana''s a valued member of the League. Nothing more."
"Of course." Kimber hid a smile. "Good to know at least some things are constant."
"I have no idea what you''re on about." The Other set the correct parameters for the gateway and the empty space hummed with life. "Wonder Woman is an excellent fighter and respected colleague. She can handle herself well in a fight and is in peak mental condition. I admire her in that regard; as one teammate to another."
"So you''re saying she''s capable, independent, attractive, and beautifully intelligent?" Kimber twisted his words a bit. "Sounds like a cause for a wet dream on a dark night."
The Other glared at her again but was surprised when she didn''t wither. She just beamed back.
"You should tell her," Kimber said with a smile. "Before it''s too late."
"There''s nothing to tell."
"Mmhmm, right." Kimber wasn''t buying it. "I suppose we will see you around, other Batman." She gave him a casual salute.
He didn''t reciprocate and left without a word.
"Just like ours." Kimber left the portal''s threshold as the exotic energies died down and headed back to the main chamber.
"Putting aside for now the fact that you have an interdimensional portal shoved in a corner... What did you discover when you were under the antique store?" Curtis asked his mentor as Kimber rejoined the group.
Batman looked up from his terminal''s monitor. He began to recall just what he''d witnessed in the basement. The memory only partially replayed as attempting to paint even the slightest mental picture of the terror beyond seemed to start a fire in his brain. They don''t need to know about it, not yet. Not if we can stop it before it starts. "Nothing. Just an empty room." He shoved the memory aside and felt the burning at the back of his mind subside.
Kimber and Curtis exchanged glances behind Batman''s back. "Just a room?" Curtis gave his mentor a second chance to share.
Kimber shook her head and gave her mentor a skeptical frown. "No... That can''t be right. I was monitoring in the Batwing and there must have been an army just appearing out of nowhere down there! Saw the blips on the radar. And Robin was at the storefront with Green Arrow. They both can attest to seeing a legion of ninjas just spilling out into the streets!"
On the mention of Green Arrow, Curtis bit the inside of his cheek and looked away. "I sure hope he was able to escape..."Stolen story; please report.
"I''m sure he''s fine, bud." Kimber rested her elbow on Curtis'' shoulder and gave him a smirk. "You pretty much filled that whole rooftop with smoke. If he didn''t get away with all that cover, that''s on him, not you."
Sensing a shift in tone and an opportunity to control and redirect the conversation, Batman swiftly changed the subject. "You both proved yourselves rather capable. You handled the hijackers surprisingly well."
"Why, thank you!" Kimber beamed, standing back up straight. "I did most of the work."
Curtis cleared his throat.
"Fine. Curt helped, too." The armored teen deflated a bit and rolled her eyes as she headed to the Armory to change. "Even if all he did was play chauffeur in an experimental death plane."
"Speaking of which." Batman fixed his eyes on Curtis. "It appears that you''ve been rooting around in my file system and know more than you should. I hope in your meddling you also learned how to run maintenance on the Batwing." He felt a bit of indignation rising up in the face of Curtis'' circumvention of his systems and he had half a mind to fire the young man on the spot. But he felt another feeling fight down the fury: pride. Curtis had shown not just resourcefulness, but initiative and drive. And wasn''t that a reason he''d brought them onboard in the first place? The other Batman was right, they were good. They had to be. "Next time check with me before using another vehicle."
Curtis laughed sheepishly as he removed his cape, heading for the Armory as well. "Sure thing, Boss."
"How did you learn to fly it?" Batman inquired after a moment''s reflection.
"I downloaded the manual and read it. Found out that, like your other vehicles, the Batwing had a built-in flight simulator. My uncle got me into flight simulators as a kid and I even have a junior pilot''s license. So, I spent a fair amount of my free time running the simulator. Just in case."
"Reading manuals and playing flight simulators for fun." Kimber stepped out of her changing stall in full civilian clothing. "Really living up to your stereotype."
Curtis'' lips curled into a thin line as he exited his stall in casual clothes and tossed an insulted look her way. "Well, if it wasn''t for me, I don''t know how we would have handled that plane."
She stuck out her tongue at him, the corner of her mouth twitching up in a restrained, playful smile. "I know what I said."
He faked a sigh and looked over at Batman. "See what I went through tonight?"
"You''re no picnic, either," Batman replied before he even realized it.
"Woah, did the Boss make a joke?" Kimber asked as she followed Curtis out to the exit.
"We''re rubbing off on you!" Curtis called back into the ''Cave.
"Hardly," came the distant reply.
Goren was tired. Dead tired. He hadn''t seen sleep in two days and his daughter in four. The city was continuing on its downward spiral of corruption and decay. The week had barely started and already he had busted two crooked cops. Supervillains were making a comeback in full force and it was all he could do to stay sane enough to run the ailing police department. He had a feeling that things were only going to get worse. Worse than they were before the Justice Lords reigned supreme.
It took a few more seconds of fiddling with the machine in front of him before he decided to give up and try the fax another time. "What am I doing?" He wearily smacked his face with his palm and his hand slid down slowly. He took a deep breath and looked at his reflection in a window. Gray hairs dotted his stubble. His unshaven beard was definitely in need of some grooming.
His partner, Elden, wheeled over from his desk. "Why don''t you take the day off, boss?"
"Why?"
"Heh, why do you think?" Elden stood from his chair and braced against his desk. "You''ve been here for two days now, and last night''s round-up of the Jokerz cell in North Quarter followed by that averted travesty with the Senator''s plane has surely done a number on you."
Goren shook his head as if he could shake the sleep out of his ears. "I just need more coffee, that''s all."
Elden straightened up and though he retained his smirk, the mirth in his ace partially faded. "Buddy, I just watched you try to force the copier to send a fax for five minutes. You''re tired, Goren. Go home and see your family." Elden''s face fully morphed from jovial to concerned. "You have a family, remember? When was the last time you saw your daughter?"
Goren looked at the copy machine and wrung his hands in frustration. He was losing his mind. "What does it matter? She''s starting school soon and somehow pulling a graveyard shift job. Between all that, she even finds the time to go on dates with that boyfriend of hers." He loosened his tie from his neck and took out his cell phone. He stared at his phone''s lockscreen, a family portrait taken years earlier when Kimber was in grade school and they were a family of three instead of two. "Amazing how time flies. One day you''re helping her practice for the chemistry bowl, the next you barely see her even though you live under the same roof."
Goren looked around the station. Two beat cops were doing their best to usher in a rowdy and crass drunk in handcuffs to the holding cells, Montoya was doing her best to work through some information with Jane, and Officer LaVerne was holding a stapled file as she walked with purpose to his office. He knew what she held: an incident report. Once she was inside his office, she added it to the mountain of paperwork still waiting for him at his desk and then marched right back out, headed directly for the evidence locker. Everyone was working and working hard, far be it from him to go to his house and relax with his daughter while his officers slaved away to keep the city safe.
"I''m tellin'' ya, Goren, don''t end up like Jim. Poor old coot lost his wife. The stress really gets to you." Elden looked over the department all running their various tasks, anxious and focused. His eyes landed on Bullock. The rough-around-the-edges detective was perusing a printed file as he chowed down on a donut-bacon sandwich. "This job will consume you if you let it."
"And his daughter? He had a daughter, too, right?"
Elden nodded with a shrug. "She moved out and got on with her life. They don''t talk much from what I hear."
A cool sliver traced down his spine. As much as he looked up to the example Gordon had left the department, it was no secret that all his achievements came at the sacrifice of his personal life. Goren licked his lips nervously as if the right answer would descend from the heavens. When it was clear that such divine fanfare would come to pass, he made the decision for himself. "You sure you can handle this paperwork by yourself?"
Elden laughed. "This is why we have interns and rookies, Goren! Now, get outta here and go see your house for once!"
Goren Lee did just that.
"Any plans for tomorrow?"
Curtis shrugged at Kimber''s question as the two continued walking down the natural corridor that led to the outside world. "Not particularly, just work before patrol. Why?"
Kimber''s smile widened in disbelief. "Wait, really? You''ll just... be biding time until you have to come here?"
Curtis looked in her direction out of the corner of his eye for a moment before responding. "When you put it like that, it sounds pathetic."
"I just call it like I see it," she offered honestly.
"I''ll be busy. WayneTech''s given me a few courses I have to brush up on and then..." He paused mid explanation and looked back at her, a question forming in his mind. "Why?" he asked carefully.
Kimber bit the inside of her cheek as she drummed up the nerve to explain. "I have plans." The words erupted out of her mouth. "Mawk got arrangements to eat at some fancy restaurant in Star City. It''s been awhile since me and him have gone out. Like out-out, you know? Haven''t been on a real date in awhile." She cleared her throat and stopped walking. "So I''d need you to cover for me with the boss."
Curtis froze mid-step and swiveled to look at her. He could almost make out her expression in the dim light from the far exit of the cavern. Even so, he attempted to read her expression. It was a big ask she was putting on him and while he was confident he and Batman could take on the night together, Bruce already had a prior engagement that would keep him occupied for most of the night. "You know that Batman won''t be available tomorrow night, right?"
Despite the dark, Kimber could feel his gaze resting on her, judging her. She looked away. "Yes," she replied tersely, fully aware of what she was asking of him.
"You talk to Bruce about it?"
A bolt of lightning seemed to hit Kimber as she twitched involuntarily. Her head shot in his direction, eyes wide. "No! No..." she stuttered out of fear rather than nervousness. "I... I don''t think I have the nerve to ask for a night off. Knowing him, he''d likely say no out of spite. His love life''s a mess, you know. I''m sure he''d demand mine be the same."
Curtis almost laughed. "You really think he''d be that petty?"
Kimber''s expression shifted from fear to seriousness in the blink of an eye. "You don''t?"
Her voice seemed to chill the air in the cavern and the look she gave him, even in the near darkness, actually gave Curtis a shiver. It wasn''t often that Kimber would point out flaws in Bruce, she revered him in a strange sort of way, so hearing a legitimate critique from her gave him pause. He dropped his smile and met her gaze for a moment before looking up to the natural ceiling.
Anticipating Curtis'' decline, Kimber tried harder to build her case. "Mawk asked me all gentlemanly-like this morning and I thought about declining... But then you launched me out of a high-flying aircraft at a wayward plane at cruising altitude! I need a mental break. I need a night where my life isn''t on the line. Just one night to be a college kid." There was a moment of silence between the two. Eventually Kimber couldn''t take the tension anymore and tried to lighten the mood. "And you wouldn''t believe this place, bud! A four star Chinese restaurant headed by world-renowned chefs! I don''t know how he could afford it." She resumed her walk to the exit.
Curtis followed her lead, likewise eager to leave behind the palpable unease. "Doesn''t he work?"
"I mean, yeah." She nodded "He''s got some job at a law office out there, but I don''t know how that would be enough for this place. Did you know he wants to be a lawyer now? Apparently, he wants to be a prosecutor so he found an apprenticeship through the summer. Kind of like you." She smiled for the first time since they''d started walking and playfully punched Curtis'' shoulder.
Curtis took the hit in stride but ignored it. "He could be making good money in Star City, then. Perhaps more than you''d expect. I get a decent enough stipend through my WayneTech position."
Kimber softly laughed a bit as the two finally stepped into the cool early morning. "That''s ''cause you''re a brown-noser!"
Curtis half-smiled back. "You''re a jerk," he replied with a subdued but humorous tone.
"So is that a yes?" Kimber smiled back with finger-guns prodding him for an affirmation. "You''ll cover for me?"
Curtis looked up as if thinking hard on Kimber''s request, knowing full well he would cave anyway. "Alright, alright, You''ve twisted my arm." He wrung his hands in the air as he headed to the street.
"Yes! Thank you!" She lunged forward excitedly and gave Curtis a hug. She held onto him for a moment or two before releasing him just as suddenly with an abashed expression. "Sorry about that," she quickly said as she fixed her hair back behind her ear. "But thank you so, so much. We really need this. I really need this."
Curtis cleared his throat and shoved a hand in his pocket. "No worries," he said with a dismissive wave of his other hand. "I mean, how bad could one night without backup really be?" Curtis dryly replied as Kimber walked to her parked car. "Just make sure you have fun, Kim."
Kimber grinned as she opened her car door and started the wheel. "Hey, I''m not the one who will be alone tonight, bud," she replied as she started her car.
Curtis winced with a grin and threw her a thumbs down. She just stuck out her tongue and whipped out her phone to confirm with her boyfriend about the evening''s plans.
It had been a while since she had been out on a date. Between school and Batgirl activities, Kimber hardly had time for herself or Mawk. She hadn''t heard much from him in a week or so, and she had seen him less. It didn''t help that his apprenticeship required him to be in Star City so often. But today would be perfect. The last month or so may have been rocky with last night''s plane heist and the earlier breach at Arkham, but finally it would be a whole day free for herself. "Tonight will just be me and him."
A man in a high-tech crusader-inspired set of caped armor strode down a dark, twisting hallway. He seemed almost out of place in the space, his light and almost angelic garb standing out in stark contrast to the dank and decrepit scenery around him. But there was something off about the angelic man haunting the hall, something dark. The weight with which the man walked seemed heavy and the posture of the man seemed less regal and more aggressive. Azra''il continued his march to the door at the end of the hall even as he heard light but disorganized footsteps chasing after him.
Behind him trailed Scarecrow, the mad professor of fear, doing his best to catch up. The disgraced doctor still wore his trademark mask and garb that made him look more like a wandering evangelical than an actual scarecrow. As he ran, his oily black hair splayed out behind him like a necrotic aura and his tattered cloak fluttered like ravaged wings. Under one hand he carried a plain notebook with a pen neatly pinned to its cover. "I said to wait for me!"
Ahead, Azra''il ignored the doctor and kept his even but quick pace up. He waited for no one. The plan would come to pass whether folks were ready or not. He thought about responding but opted against it. Scarecrow would catch up soon enough. Instead, he focused on the door, now coming into view, and the two guards that posted on either side of it.
As he approached, one of the guards nodded her covered head in simple acknowledgement of his presence. Her face was covered by dark cloth but for her eyes. To a layperson, she appeared to be a ninja, even Azra''il had identified the Society of Shadows honor guard as such but Ra''s al Ghul had quickly set him straight. He stood before the two kunoichi and they bowed at the waist before him. He reciprocated.
"Is it time?" one of the guards asked.
Azra''il nodded. "It is," he replied with a rather neutral tone. "Open it."
The two guards quickly manned the door, one undoing the lock as the other prepared to pull the heavy metal door open. The door itself was an ancient sort of thing as old as the island fortress itself. With a weighty clunk the lock was undone and then the door was wrenched open. Rusty, unlubed hinges creaked and squeaked as the door swung open and Azra''il had to resist the urge to cringe.
"Do you think it will work?" Scarecrow had caught up to Azra''il in the time it took to unlock the door, giving Azra''il something other than the disconcerting door to focus on.
"I''m not too certain," Azra''il replied honestly. "I was not blessed to observe the Pit''s test subject, so I don''t know if it can restore what''s been taken." The sight before him seemed less like a door being carefully opened and more like the yawning of a hungry maw. He averted his eyes and looked at companion. "But I have faith. It is all that we can have at times like this." He placed a comforting hand on Scarecrow''s shoulder and smiled. He knew that Crane wouldn''t care for an appeal to religion as he cared more for hard science and evidence, but he couldn''t help it. It was all he had to hold on to. It was all that had gotten him this far.
The door slammed against its metal stopper; the cell was open. Azra''il leaned slightly to the side to get a better look inside but saw nothing. There was no light inside the cell and since there were no windows aside from the simple barred slit built into the door, none of the early morning light streamed in. He was tempted to inquire if the occupant was still present within, but when he heard the slight scraping of cloth on stone, he knew the answer. He steeled his nerves and stepped into the cell.
Scarecrow watched as Azra''il was seemingly swallowed by the darkness inside the cell. There was a sound of a scuffle and a grunt that sounded almost like a giggle. Then, came the sound of two people walking: one in armor and the other barefoot. Azra''il emerged from the dark first and he violently pushed a silent white body forward. The man stumbled the first few steps and squinted. Even though the light was dim, for one who''d been plunged in darkness for weeks, it must have been as harsh as the sun.
"Where are we going?" the white man asked as he shakily regained his footing. He looked over at Scarecrow with a confused expression. "Jonathon? Is that you, old friend?"
Scarecrow adjusted the noose around his neck with one lanky hand as if it were a business tie. "Ra''s al Ghul says that the End is coming. We all have a role to play. Even you." He nodded at their captive. "Let''s go." He prodded the confused man to walk forward as he and Azra''il watched him from the rear.
"Soon and very soon, indeed." Azra''il muttered under his breath as if it were a promise longed for. "Do you fear it, Scarecrow?"
The mad doctor shook his head. "Fear it? No! I embrace it! The End will do wonders for my studies!"
The glee in his voice slightly put Azra''il off. It was almost as if he didn''t fully understand just what had to happen. He had to be forgiven, though. He''d been chosen, not for his faith but for his skills. Favor would be shown to him. Hopefully. "Do what you will during the End, doctor. Just know that after the epilogue, your studies and papers mean nothing."
"Perhaps to you." They rounded a corner in the island caverns. "But they are my life''s, and death''s, work."
The trio walked the rest of the way in silence, descending into the island itself by way of a narrowing hall. Only every so often did the white man utter a nervous chuckle or ask a question¡ Questions that always went ignored. Eventually, the three arrived at a door made of wood with metal bands preserving its structure. Even with the metal brace attempting to hold it together, the door still did not properly fit in its frame.
"We''re here." Azra''il kicked open the misaligned wooden door and the two freaks guided their companion inside an earthen chamber.
Before them stood Ubu and several members of the League of Assassins. The small group was gathered around a pit containing a bubbling green liquid that seemed to almost glow a sickly green color. It was this color alone that illuminated the natural chamber. All eyes turned to the three new arrivals and watched as Azra''il and Scarecrow led the now-nervous man to the edge of the pit.
"What''s going on?" The man''s question was again ignored.
"We have his personal effects," said a nearby shinobi holding a cardboard box filled with clothing.
"Then let us not waste any more time," Ubu growled with a tinge of impatience. "Toss him in."
Without warning, Azra''il shoved the white-skinned man into the green bubbling waters and watched the liquid quickly overtake him. It seemed almost like the liquid itself was sucking its struggling prey in. Azra''il took a step away from the edge as the flailing, drowning man splashed the Lazarus liquid onto the rim of the pit in his attempt to save himself.
The turbulent struggle in the water continued as the poor soul tried his best to fight to break the surface. The man''s usually calm disposition was nearly gone as he struggled and fought whatever unearthly forces were trying to drown him. A few times, his head would break the surface and he would call out to Scarecrow for help in abject terror.
Scarecrow simply watched with grim fascination. "Incredible."
"Feh." Ubu was unimpressed.
Eventually, the flailing in the waters subsided as the man exhausted his energies and succumbed to his fate. He sank beneath the waves with a final gurgle. The struggle seemed to take forever, but in actuality it had likely only been a minute or two before the pit claimed him. A few tense moments passed with no sign of life from within the waters.
Scarecrow spoke up. "He is dead now, yes?"
Azra''il felt a pang of anxiety. "Have faith," he said, more to himself than Scarecrow. "Just have faith."
Another half minute passed and the chamber remained silent. Impatiently, Scarecrow took a few steps forward to the edge and leaned ever so slightly forward in an attempt to catch a glimpse of the body.
Splash!
A white hand shot out of the green gloop with vigor and latched onto the shore at Scarecrow''s foot. The drowned man slowly rose from the depths of the pool, pulling himself out awkwardly with one hand. Crane wheeled back from the edge to make room and as he did, he noticed that the twin scars from Lord Superman''s heat vision remained and plastered over the man''s face was the same docile but wide-eyed look of a lobotomized patient.
Ubu turned to leave. "We tried. I will inform the master of the situation." He looked at a nearby guard. "Kill him."
The ninja nodded and moved in to put down the villain formerly known as the Joker with his blade drawn.
As the ninja approached, the former Joker looked at his bare hands as if they were foreign limbs. "Who has my gloves?" He asked in a calm voice.
The shinobi in charge of the Joker''s clothing looked around at the others and, after being given the go-ahead from Ubu, he withdrew the Joker''s classic purple gloves from the box and tossed them to the drenched man.
"Thank you." Joker picked up his gloves and pulled on one, wiggling his fingers inside it a bit. "Just as I remember." Then he tossed the other glove in the face of the ninja that had advanced on him. Instinct kicked in and the ninja flinched, raising his blade to slash at the glove. The Joker took advantage of the distraction and grabbed the ninja''s head with his gloved hand. Electricity flowed from his glove into the assassin.
In a scream of pain, the assassin attempted to put his blade to the Joker''s arm, but his arm did not respond. The electric current running through his body had locked up nearly every muscle. The madman was in control. Joker kicked the man''s knee and then took him to the ground at the mouth of the Lazarus Pit. With the slightest of cackles, Joker dropped his knee into the man''s neck and twisted with his hands. An audible crack punctuated the ninja''s pained screams of protest.
After the scream died in the man''s broken throat, the Joker forced the head to turn all the way around and kicked the dead body into the pit. Moments later, the reborn shinobi breached the surface with confused screaming, alive again but with his head not at all in the right orientation.
Those present looked from the screaming man to the Joker. He wore a wide, unsettling grin and had a wild look in his eye. "Now that''s comedy."
Kimber stepped out of her room and into the kitchen. After a long morning bath, she was set to just waste the day away until the evening. No school stuff, no bat stuff, just Kimber stuff. As much as she enjoyed her work with the Bat, she had to admit she''d been burning the candle at both ends. She deserved the rest. Especially after taking down that damned plane. Greedily, she popped open a tub of ice cream and removed a spoon from the drawer. "Come to mama."
"Kimber?" The front door slammed open and her father walked around the corner into the enclave that was the kitchen. "Well, surprise of surprises; you are home!"
The soon-to-be college freshman just stared at her father like a deer in headlights. In one arm she cradled the tub of ice cream, and in the other hand she held a spoonful shamelessly to her open mouth.
"Relax, Kim," Goren reassured her, laughing. "I think I can turn a blind eye this time." Then he added with a wink, "If you are okay with buying a new tub for the rest of us to enjoy."
Kimber cautiously swallowed the cold cream. "Sorry," she gurgled back to her dad with the spoon still in her mouth.
"It''s fine, Kimber." Goren exhaled as the house''s stillness crept in. "Just make sure to replace it." He set his briefcase on the floor and plopped down in his favorite chair. Without thinking, he began fishing for the television remote in the chair''s side pocket.
"Isn''t this weird?" Kimber shoved another spoonful of ice cream in her mouth as she came over to his side and sat on the arm of the chair. "We''re home at the same time."
"First time in what feels like months," Mr. Lee agreed as he retrieved the remote. Then a serious look crossed his face and he asked with worry, "Did you find the place okay?"
"Of course, Papa! I''m in college now." Kimber rolled her eyes. "I know how to use GPS. Going to see what''s on TV?"
Goren looked at the remote control in his hands for a moment and then made a conscious decision to put it back in the pocket. He shook his head. "I was, but now I''m thinking we could just hang out. Maybe play a board game? I''ve been aching for a rematch on that game of chess, you know." His eye twinkled a bit.
"Really? From, like, last year?" Kimber shoveled another spoonful of ice cream into her mouth.
"Yeah..." Her father trailed off a bit as the harrowing experience of the last holiday season was again fresh in his mind. He looked up at his daughter happily scooping another serving. "Do you have anything planned tonight? The next installment of Mon Capitane is out, we could catch it at the drive-in. Oh! We could have dinner at Arthur''s Court! Remember that place? You used to love taking pictures with the princess there."
Kimber set the now quarter-eaten tub of ice cream to the side and whipped her nose with the back of her hand. "Uh, actually yeah. I do have plans, Papa. Mawk''s taking me to dinner this evening out in Star City. I thought I sent you a text about that?"
"Oh yeah." He laughed ruefully at himself for forgetting. "I guess it slipped my mind, Kim."
Kimber looked at her father and caught a sadness in his eyes. Geez, We''ve really become strangers in the same house. And in such a short time, she thought. "Well, hey." She stood dramatically to break the dour atmosphere. "My date isn''t for another few hours at least and you know I don''t take too long to get ready... So I think I''ve got enough time to beat your butt at chess again. Then maybe I can take a victory lap with a few rounds of that trivia game you like so much?"
She approached the cabinets that held the numerous board games that her father had shared with her over the years. She had to wipe a thin layer of dust off a few of the boxes before finding the one she wanted. As she brought over the box containing the chessboard and its pieces, she caught a melancholy smile on her father''s face.
I miss you, too, Papa.
Part 1: Chapter 12
Curtis stood in the BatCave alone. Bruce was off with Diana at some convention for the filthy rich where he was sure to win some other award¡ Along with some tabloid publicity speculating further on his and the former Wonder Woman''s relationship. And Kimber was out with Mawk.
"I''m not the one who will be alone tonight." Kimber''s final words seemed to echo through the dark BatCave and Curtis couldn''t help but look around in sour remorse and wonder: was this really all he had? Through a series of circumstances that in no way could be called "mere coincidence," Curtis Reginald Orson Walker was now on the path that the first Robin must have been on years before. If he continued on this path, this would no doubt be his inheritance. The Bat.
"Ugh." His unveiled disgust echoed in the cave and disturbed a small colony of bats. Their distant screeching answered him as they fluttered deeper into the cave system.
He was alone tonight. Almost every night. Holed up in this cave working. When was the last time he had been on a date? Over the summer he had a few, but as he became more engrossed in his duty as a Gotham Knight, his social life declined. Now that the summer was winding down and classes were starting up, his already shallow love life had all but vanished. He stared into the lenses of his cowl and sighed in resignation.
I''m not alone tonight, he tried to convince himself. I have the entire city out there, just waiting for me.
"Be safe! That''s what Papa said before we left! Be safe!" Kimber slammed her purse into her lap repeatedly with restrained fury, letting out pent-up frustration. It was the only thing that kept her from tearing the young man across the table from her a new one.
Mawk reached across the table for her hand. "Well, I had to do something! Did you want them to hurt you? I didn''t!" He paused as he waited for Kimber to respond; but when she only continued to fume under her breath, he let his hand go slack and drop on the table with a thud. Where did things go wrong? His mind replayed what led up to the argument.
The night had started with so much promise. He''d arrived to pick her up from the Lee residence early. He wasn''t often late ¨C most times he would arrive on time or a few minutes before, but this time he''d made it a point to be there well before the scheduled time. Their date was scheduled for nine. He was at her front door by seven-thirty. He stayed for a while ¨C probably ten to fifteen minutes ¨C sharing what he had been up to in the recent weeks with her father. He hadn''t really seen much of Mr. Lee over the summer months, that didn''t surprise him, though. Gotham was continuing to unravel and Chief Lee was one of the few threads holding the patchwork of a city together. He shared a few of his corny jokes and managed to eek a few laughs out of the elder Lee as Kimber finished getting ready.
The drive to Star City took just under an hour and in that time, the two danced and sang to crappy pop tunes, played a game of ''I Spy'', and otherwise caught up on life. He felt like he''d not spoken with her in weeks. She''d gotten more and more illusive after graduation, and after he got his intern position in Star City, their conversations only got thinner. As he drove, they also exchanged a bit of ribbing, like him pestering her over how she was able to get a night off from her demanding night job, and her laughing off his question silly.
The restaurant was expensive and most of the money he had partitioned for the date went to the reservation and their meals, so this made parking a hassle. With valet parking out of the question, they had to park a block and a half away from the eatery at a public parking lot, meaning they would have a little walk to get to the restaurant. It was embarrassing, Mawk had to admit, but Kimber didn''t seem to mind. Money was tight and she understood that. So, he did what every gentleman should: as soon as he parked, he opened her car door for her. Hand in hand, the two walked to the restaurant.
It was during their walk that it happened. Right as they finished crossing the street, a gang of five wearing painted face masks approached them. The one in front rudely bumped Mawk''s shoulder as he walked between Mawk and his date, forcing the couple''s hands apart. The next two passed on either side of the couple and the final two stopped in front of them. In mere moments, Mawk and Kimber were surrounded on the sidewalk.
"Where you two lovebirds goin''?" the first one asked from behind Kimber.
"None of your business!" Mawk shot back. He then put his hand on Kimber''s lower back to prompt her to resume walking. Jokerz. Always a bane.
"Nah, hang on a minute." Another gangster grabbed Mawk''s arm to hinder him. "My man asked you a question. Ain''t you gonna answer?"
Mawk grimaced back. "Why''d you leave Gotham, Jokerz? Too much of a challenge now that the big bad Bat is back?"
"Mawk, calm down," Kimber whispered under her breath to him. He could tell she wasn''t eager to get into a fight with him again. She probably didn''t think he could handle it, that he couldn''t keep her safe. She was choosing flight ¨C for his sake. But he wasn''t about to make that same choice. Never again. Besides, the goon gripping his arm had a vice-like grip. He''d rip his jacket if he tried to get away.
Behind them, Mawk heard a snap of something like a switchblade opening and did the only thing he could think to do: He broke them. Or rather, he and his date broke them.
Back in the present, Mawk smiled. "Oh, Kimmie, you''re as much to blame as I am!" His eyebrows shot up approvingly at the pouting young woman across from him. "I''m surprised you could fight so well, much less in such a gorgeous dress."
"Cop''s daughter and black belts, remember?" She quickly dismissed his compliments and returned the focus to him. "But that''s not the point. Dammit, Mawk!" Her head dropped down to hide her face. She was angry, but the girl couldn''t help but smile at his compliments. "I get that you wanted to keep me safe and fight back, as unwise as that was, but you didn''t need to go so hard. It''s one thing to defend yourself, it''s completely another to shatter a person''s shoulder when they are no longer threatening you!"
"He was going to get up!"
"He was begging for mercy, Mawk!" Kimber glared at her boyfriend. "Besides, Green Archer showed up! I highly doubt the perp could have gone anywhere."
"It''s ''Green Arrow'', Kimmie¡" Mawk relented with a strained exhale. Arguing would serve no purpose; this wasn''t a fight he would, or could, win. Nor was it a fight he wanted. He just wanted a nice date. A simple reminder that he did, in fact, have a girlfriend.
"Mawk." She put her hand on his, recalling what Curtis'' had shared with her about Mawk and his insecurities. "You don''t have to prove anything to me, you know."
"Yeah¡ I know." He smiled back but the smile was only skin deep. I have to prove it to myself. "How about we just... drop the topic and get on with the evening, huh?" He made a slightly pouty expression which brought a smile to his date''s face. "I''m here, you''re here, food''s on the way, an'' the in-house music is making me want to melt. Isn''t that what matters? That you''re with me?" He managed the grab ahold of her hands this time and clasped them, tenderly massaging her hands with his thumbs.
"Fine... Fine! Just stop with the puppy-dog eyes. It''s weird on you." Kimber giggled back. I guess for a short time I should act my age.
Bruce Wayne pulled out the chair for his date and then sat down himself. "I have to say, Daggett, this is quite the party you''ve cobbled together."
Roland Daggett chuckled as he sat opposite Bruce. "Thanks, old chum, but this is nothing. Next week, the real party begins."
"Oh?"
"Yes. Next week my company will begin the process of absorbing another asset."
Bruce smirked as he leaned toward his friend. "Care to share some more information?"
"Well, nothing is official yet, Bruce. Preliminary paperwork still has wet ink," Daggett teased.
"All the better." Bruce laughed. "Nothing like insider secrets to get the blood pumping, right?"
The two laughed over the investment ''joke'' as their dates both looked at each other in exasperation.
"Is he always like this?" Diana asked the woman across from her.
Daggett''s date huffed. "Only if I''m lucky."
"Here''s the scoop, Wayne." Daggett scooted closer to Bruce and put a cupped hand from his mouth to Bruce''s ear. "Mercy Graves is selling LexCorp. Mark my words: by this time next year it will be under the Daggett Industries umbrella, It''s been a hard battle, but I''ve won out."
"No way!" Bruce recoiled back in legitimate shock. "I didn''t think after the last presidency that company would ever go down to someone else! I didn''t even know Mercy was looking for buyers."
Daggett nodded. "Lex built that company from the ground up for sure, but everything''s for sale... For the right price. And I can''t wait for my guys in white suits to get their hands on Luthor''s R&D department! It''ll be like candy land!"
"Well, Roland, I can''t say I''m not jealous. I''m sure he''s got more than enough toys for your tinkerers to play with." Bruce put his hand around Diana''s chair and she instinctively leaned her head on his shoulder, partly out of boredom.
"By the by, Bruce," Daggett came again, "what is the deal with you and the former Justice Lord, anyhow?" He gave her a suspicious look.
Diana''s face reddened and Bruce could feel the tension emanating from her as she stiffened in her chair.
Seeing the apprehension in the Amazon''s features, Daggett made a swift apology to which Diana threw up her fakest, most condescending smile.
"I am the one who vouched to get her out and sponsored her rehabilitation. And with her last few housing arrangements turning out less than hospitable, she''s living with me for now."
"Breaking all the rules now, are we?"
"Well, he is Gotham''s Prince," Daggett''s date joked, finally perking up now that social gossip was the discussion. "Who''s to tell him otherwise?" She coyly played with her glass as she gave Bruce a smokey look.
Bruce shrugged and avoided the woman''s eye. "Maybe Daggett himself?" He looked at his friend. "Pretty soon we''ll be twin princes if things keep rolling his way."
Daggett laughed. "Right, right, and we''ll just have to pretend that your company doesn''t own twenty-six percent of my company''s stock?"
Again Bruce shrugged and Diana had to smile at her man''s calm and relaxed nature. Companion. Not your man; your companion. Diana reminded herself. Don''t forget that. Hera help me...
"Besides," Daggett continued. "If anyone''s going to tell you what to do, it''ll be Lucius. That man is wilier than a¡ Well, you know." He took a swig from his wine glass, a bit more than the cultured sip most others in attendance were taking. "How''s the old tinkerer holding up?"
"He''s fine." Bruce took a fake sip of his glass. "Working himself to death in the Basement, but he sure loves those toys. Speaking of which, when you acquire LexCorp and crack open those R&D files, do you think Lucius and I..."
Daggett put up a hand and nodded. "Way ahead of you, friend. I''ll need a chaperone through it all, anyway."
Diana rolled her eyes. "Bruce, is it not possible to speak on something more... interesting?" She pushed her elbow into Bruce''s chest and he smiled.
"Alright, since corporate talk doesn''t seem to do it, what does?"
"Oh!" Daggett''s date spoke up. "Do you still have your powers?" she squeed.
Diana''s face reddened again. "Well, erm, I''m not too sure. I haven''t needed to, well, try, you see¡ª" She found herself stumbling over her words at a loss of what to say.
"Nonsense!" Daggett interrupted boisterously. "Surely you must still be able to do something neat?"
So, now I''m a sort of entertainment fixture? Diana looked at Bruce and saw a tinge of anger at the question. Or was it worry? Well, at least we''re on the same page about this. How about a rescue, Bruce?
"Now, now," Bruce interjected. "The last thing you want is a former Justice Lord flying around here. I''m barely washing the bad press off now, trust me. The media would eat this up for sure. And consider the optics, Roland. You and a powered Justice Lord? It may complicate your acquisition..." Bruce''s voice trailed off.
"Flying?" Diana and Daggett''s date exclaimed in unison.
"Oh don''t act so surprised," Bruce nonchalantly continued. "She flies all over the manor, don''t think her feet have even touched the marble yet." He laughed a bit.
You''re digging the hole deeper, Diana thought. But she didn''t know what to say. There was no way she could speak out. After all, social gatherings weren''t her fort¨¦. It was best to just be silent and trust Wayne to successfully navigate the conversation.
"Makes it a pain to keep her in line, if you know what I mean." Wayne winked at Daggett.
"Oh, I think I understand, Bruce." Daggett returned with a devious smile. "I''d say the Kama Sutra may need a revision, eh?"
The nerve. Diana wondered if she still had the strength to rip out a man''s spinal column.
Bruce closed his eyes and brought his drink to his mouth signaling the end of the conversation. "My lips are sealed."
Kimber stirred the mashed potatoes on her plate, absentmindedly pushing them into elaborate yet nonsensical patterns. The ambiance was calming, the food was rich, and Mawk had been nothing but a dapper gentleman the whole time, but the night still felt so flat. She''d tried to convince herself that it was just her nerves still firing off after the mugging attempt earlier in the night; however, she was now an hour removed from the event but still she felt as if the night was a lie. As she corralled her mashed potatoes back to one side of her plate, she watched Mawk.
The big guy cut a surprisingly slick figure in his suit. It was well-pressed and she could tell he''d spent a lot of time in putting together his outfit. And while she could barely nibble at the edges of her food, he was readily taking healthy bites from his meal with barely restrained abandon. For someone who''d grown up eating at dinners similar to these, he sure seemed like he''d never even heard of a salad fork. She fought a giggle as he paused piling food on his fork to chew.
"What?" he asked innocently as their eyes connected.
"Nothing," she averted her gaze to the window and the dark city outside.
"You feeling alright, Kimmie?" he asked. "You''re usually more gung-ho about steak dinners." He frowned slightly as he looked at her partially eaten plate.
Kimber looked down and felt a bit of guilt. He was trying his best. She tenderly cut through what remained of her steak and combined the sliced piece with the portion of mashed potatoes already poised on her fork. After chewing and swallowing the morsel, she cleared her throat and started a new conversation. "So I have to ask, on a law firm apprentice salary, how the heck did you manage to get a reservation here?"
Mawk chuckled and took a sip of the sparkling cider in his glass. "Saved up for a while and asked for an advance on my last paycheck. Also, the firm''s parent company has some deal with this place. Employees get discounted rates and they will always make a table for us."
"They must really love you there."
Out the window, a movement caught her sharp eye. A man with a bow and arrow was chasing someone out of view, obviously on the street level. The quick sight of Green Arrow led her thoughts to Curtis. Was it fair that tonight, of all nights, she had left him to patrol the city alone? Bruce didn''t know she would be missing tonight. He was at some fancy-schmancy dinner, so no Batman. No backup. I hope Curt''s okay. She shook thoughts of him from her head and promised herself she would text him as soon as she got the chance. Just to check. "What firm do you work for, again?"
"Queen Industries." Mawk scratched the back of his head. "I work indirectly for that Oliver Queen guy."
"Didn''t he give up his company?"
"Yes and no. He still owns most shares but isn''t actually running things. Turned it over to a close advisor. Either way, the firm I work for acts as one of his company''s legal teams. We take all his workers'' compensation lawsuits and defend his company. Well, the lawyers do... I''m more of a gofer." There was a tinge of sadness in his voice.
She took pity on him. "Hey, Mawk, everyone starts somewhere."
"Yeah? What about Curt? Dude''s somehow makin'' big moves straight outta high school! Working for Bruce Wayne. The Bruce Wayne." He shoveled a final load of string beans and gravy into his mouth, then continued talking. "Some guys get all the luck."
Kimber smirked knowingly. So you''d think. But you''re not the one stuck in a dank cave or running around rooftops alone tonight. You''re with me. "Oh and Oliver Queen isn''t in the same league as the high and mighty Wayne? Believe me, I''m pretty sure Curtis would gladly trade places with you for a day." She tentatively blew Mawk a kiss. "He has all the luck because he lacks every social skill necessary to function in society." A part of her gut twisted at talking bad about her friend behind his back.
"Well, not all social skills." Mawk blew her a kiss back as the waiter brought the check for their meals. "He''s an ace at trivia games. And don''t forget how helpful he is with computers."
She doubled down. "Mmhmm, like I said: lacks social skills."
Mawk signed his name on the bill as Kimber packed up her leftovers in to-go boxes. The duo left the eatery soon after. "Had fun?"
Eh. "Yeah." She draped her arms around his neck and the two began their walk to the car.
"Hey, buddy," Green Arrow called over his new secured line to Robin. "Slow night in my city. Just took down a den of Jokerz. How are things on your end?"
Robin slowly stood from his crouched position. "Wet." It had been raining in Gotham on and off for the past half hour. "Weather can''t make up its mind. But nothing remarkable in the way of crimes..."
"You sound like you''re thinking," Green Arrow pried. "What''s up, kid?"
"Good ears. I''m thinking about Arkham," Robin replied, still a bit distracted. "News outlets didn''t let on just how many escaped."
"Right." There was a slight strain in Green Arrow''s sarcastic tone.
"Just caught another guy?"
"Gal, actually." Green Arrow waited for the knock-out gas given off by the trick arrow to dissipate before making his way to the unconscious would-be mugger pinned up against a wall. "You were saying about Arkham?"
"Yeah. The bridges were blown, leaving only one one on and off the island."
"They must have given initial numbers to not alert the populace." Green Arrow surmised. "Why worry everyone if those that escaped left Gotham by boat? Someone else''s problem, they''re probably thinkin''."
"I don''t think that''s just it," Robin countered. "Everyone focused on Azra''il, Crane, and Joker as the big names who escaped. Later, they confirmed Clayface and Croc. And that makes sense, you know? High-profile criminals with rap sheets that could rival novels. They are all, aside from the Joker, still whole."
"I''m waiting for the point, Robin." Green Arrow dryly prodded the conversation along.
Robin adjusted his position and watched as one stranger in the high rise opposite him finished propping up another in a lounger. "Arkham guards took for granted that the more docile inmates of the Asylum would remain on the grounds. It makes sense, right? Even when they had a full run of the place, they never actually tried to leave. They had no desire to. Yet here one sits across the street from me."This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.
"Okay, spill it, kid. Who''ve you found?" Green Arrow asked, his impatience cutting through the static of their radios.
Robin watched the stranger exit the room via a door and, once he was confident they weren''t returning immediately, Robin swung to the building before him. "I think I''ve found Two-Face."
He easily slipped through the apartment''s open window. He moved aside and allowed the obscured moonlight to grace the disgraced district attorney. Dent was sprawled out on the couch unconscious and breathing heavily. He still wore his Asylum jumper but it was damp, as was his spot on the couch. The distinct look of the formerly scarred villain clued Robin in that the dampness wasn''t just rainwater.
Robin stooped down and examined the more moist spots on his clothing. He touched a green stain with his finger. "Lazarus." He looked back at Harvey''s healed face and noticed that the disfiguring scars weren''t all that was missing. The two dark scars on his forehead that signaled his lobotomy were all but missing, only light blemishes remained. "Someone took him for a swim. Then why is he here?"
The junior detective made his way silently around the room, taking in as much detail as he could. He took note of a demolished six-pack of beer, a few loose travel magazines, and a map from the Gotham Tourist Board. On a small table were a few unopened bags of chips, some sort of tape recorder, and a rather large bottle of water. There had to be something he was missing. He took a few more moments to look around, hoping a clue would spring out of the ether and push him in the right direction. When nothing did, he sighed in defeat.
"Okay, let''s review." He slid out of the window just in case whoever put Mr. Dent in the chair decided to return while he tried to collect his thoughts. "His disfigurement is all but gone, the burn marks from his forehead are also gone, and his outfit is soaked with green liquid. Obviously, he was taken by Ra''s al Ghul to a Lazarus Pit to be ''restored.'' But why is he unconscious? And why here of all places? Is the a Lazarus pit nearby? Is Ra''s?" His head was swimming with questions that he had no way to answer. Even Batman had assumed Ra''s al Ghul had booked it out of Gotham and headed for open waters after the breakout, but could that escape all have been a ruse?
A scream and a scuffle came from Harvey''s room. Questions for later. Robin was through the window in a flash. On the floor, he found a young woman crawling to her feet and the door to the small apartment wide open. Robin looked at the couch: Dent was gone. "Are you alright?"
The woman half-righted herself and turned her face to Robin. "Oh!" She secured some of her dark locks behind her ear and gave him a doe-eyed look.
He recognized the beautiful woman from Batman''s criminal profiles almost immediately: Talia al Ghul. She stood shakily with his help and he feigned a comforting look, pretending not to notice the dagger she quickly slipped into a hidden sheath on her thigh.
"I found that madman drugged out on my couch!" She held horrified hands to her mouth. "That was Two-Face, was it not? I thought he was... dealt with?"
She''s an excellent liar, Robin noted mentally. "Did he hurt you?"
"No, thank the stars, but he gave me such a fright!" Talia''s accent poked through on some words. "And in my own apartment, too! Shouldn''t he be in Arkham with the rest of the crazies?"
Robin nodded and moved to the window but never turned his back on the dangerous woman. "Don''t worry, I''ll get him back where he belongs. Sorry for the trouble. I''m really glad you''re safe, ma''am."
The woman nodded eagerly. "Yes, do so quickly! Who knows what he could do while free? Oh, the havoc! He was stark raving mad and speaking gibberish! He needs to be taken off the streets!"
Robin jumped from the window then fired a line from his bat-claw and swung into the night. "She sure wants him locked up quickly. But didn''t they break him out? Why would you break out someone just to throw them back behind bars..." He then remembered the knife. "Or worse... I know he''s a criminal, but so is she. And raving madness and gibberish?"
He released the line and transitioned into a glide. The obvious thing to have done was try to capture her on the spot. Take her down then throw her in jail and get her to rat on Ra''s al Ghul. But Robin knew that though it was the obvious thing, it wasn''t the right thing. Even if he could subdue her, she would never rat out her beloved father. Not even torture would get her talking. It was best to let her believe her farce worked. That would keep her off his case.
"The only reason one criminal would want another criminal taken care of is that they are a threat. Either physically or they just know too much. And for the dear former district attorney... I believe he knows a great deal."
"Look at that!" Mawk''s finger shot out into the night sky. "There goes Green Arrow, again!"
"Who?"
"The hero from earlier? You called him Green Archer?" Mawk responded, laughing at Kimber''s blunder. "Gotham has the Dark Knight, Star City has the Emerald Archer."
Kimber ''hmphed'' and her lips curled into a dissatisfied huff. "Thus marks the return of men in tights."
"It''s for the better." Mawk shot back, grinning. "Wait, don''t tell me you''re not at all taken by men running around on rooftops?"
The girl rolled her eyes. "Oh please, that just sounds ridiculous."
"Ridiculously terrif, you mean," he corrected. Then he leaned her way and brought her into his side with one arm. "You mean to tell me if one of them swooped in, cape flapping dramatically, and saved you, you wouldn''t swoon?" Mawk''s teasing grin grew wider but his words seemed earnest. "I think you''re lying."
A flicker of movement on the building above caught Kimber''s eye and for the briefest of moments she expected to see Robin watching over her. But it wasn''t him, a tattered flag flapped in the breeze and she felt her heart resume beating. She allowed a half-laugh to escape and regained her composure before replying. "Yeah, because nothing''s more swoon-worthy than a guy who probably smells like sweat and roof tar." Her voice dripped with sarcasm.
If Mawk had noticed her falter, he didn''t say anything. "You are so lying, Kimmie! I''m calling your bluff. Deep down, you''re totally into it."
Kimber blew air from her nose, feigning annoyance. "I think it''s stupid."
Mawk threw his free hand up in mock frustration. "Ah, you got me there." He opened the car door with a flourish and gestured for her to enter.
"Oh! Well, look who learned how to be a gentleman!" Kimber scooted into the car. "Thank you."
"Chivalry. It''s a dying art." Mawk closed her door, rushed to the other side, and slid into the driver''s seat but didn''t start the car. Instead, both sat mute for a few moments doing their best to think of what to say.
"Well, this was fun," Kimber said finally.
"Yeah, it was." Mawk adjusted himself in his seat and then checked his mirrors. Once he was satisfied with his setup, he started the car and pulled out of his parking spot. "Really glad we had a night when we both were free, Kimmie. Definitely needed this."
"It''d been a long time coming. Almost forgot what you looked like." Kimber gazed out the window absentmindedly and watched the city pass by her eyes from ten to fifty-five miles per hour. "We should do this again. I just need you to promise me one thing."
"What''s that?" Mawk glanced her way with a smirk as he turned at the intersection.
Kimber looked his way and their eyes locked for a moment. She hesitated. Words were on the tip of her tongue but she wasn''t even sure what they were, so she pulled them back. Her eyes darted to the dash as she fidgeted with her dress, roughly twisting and rubbing the fabric out of nervousness. Mawk''s recklessness was dangerous, but it was also a part of his charm¡ªor so she kept telling herself. Even if she had to shatter his ego, she''d have to rein him in. She couldn''t see him hurt, not again.
"You need to stop picking fights."
"Seriously?" Mawk groaned. "This again?"
"Yes! This again, Mawk!"
"We won that fight, Kimmie! I won that fight ¨C both of them!" His grip on the steering wheel tightened and his brow furrowed. "They put you in danger, Kimber. I had to do something! Or did you want us to get robbed? That''d be a banger of a way to start this night off, huh?" He looked at Kimber out of the corner of his eye. "I know how to protect you, Kimber. I have to, or did you forget Mr. Death''s attack?"
Kimber''s face darkened as her eyes dropped from the dash to her hands. A chill ripped under her skin as her mind spiraled back to that night: Mawk hunched over in the corner, clutching his stomach. Kimberly Nolton bleeding out from gunshot wounds while others frantically tried to keep her conscious. Curtis fighting the madman, barely holding his ground. And Kimber? Frozen in helplessness. She''d since seen and experienced worse acts of crime under Bruce''s tutelage, but the images of that night would forever remain seared in her memory. "I remember."
The edge in her voice unsettled Mawk for a moment. He took a breath and tried a softer tone. "Then you know why I''m doing what I''m doing, Kimber. I''ve got to be strong. For you. For me." The tension in his shoulders seemed to loosen a bit. "Never again, alright?"
Kimber stayed silent for a moment. She replayed the first time she saw Mawk in the hospital. She''d failed him but that''s now how he saw it. How could he? "I''m just saying I don''t want to have to visit you in the hospital. Again. I know you think it''s on you to protect me, but you don''t¡" Her mind grasped for the words to say but somehow it all eluded her and all she could sort out were traces of a feeling of dissatisfaction. She blew some hair out of her face and unclenched her fists, releasing her dress. "Just be careful, Mawk."
If Kimber had been looking at Mawk in the darkness, she would have seen Mawk''s genuine grin. "Now that I can promise." He reached out one hand and lovingly squeezed high on her thigh.
Kimber let herself smile, just faintly. His words felt reassuring but part of her couldn''t help wondering if he actually meant it.
Robin rushed forward and leaped from the rooftop onto the next building. Below on the sidewalk, the villain formerly known as Two-Face rushed through the mill of citizens, garnering gasps and ''oohs'' from those nearby as he ran. Robin had spotted him a few minutes after he''d left Talia to her deception. It wasn''t hard to find the man: Even if the scars had been quenched, the former White Knight of Gotham still had a face that stood out in a crowd. He was also wearing a dirtied and stained Arkham jumpsuit.
"Robin to Batman. Robin to Batman." He tried again to call in his mentor. He didn''t wish to disturb either the Bat or Kimber, but for such information as this, he had to do away with discretion. One of them was about to have a ruined night. And he feared uprooting Kimber''s date more than Bruce''s. "Hello?"
The line was still silent and Robin could only assume that Batman was still at that rich man''s function. What was his name? Roland Daggett? Suddenly, Bruce''s voice broke his thoughts.
"This is Bruce Wayne, to whom am I speaking?" The elegant voice nearly caught Robin off-guard. It wasn''t often he heard Bruce actually sounding like, well, Bruce. Sounds like he''s having a hell of a time.
Normally accustomed to hearing the raspy and gripping voice of The Bat, Robin put his surprise behind him and informed his mentor as best he could. "Uh, this is Crow Incorporated. We seem to have a dispute here with one of your past clients."
"Oh really?" Bruce''s voice sounded distant, but Robin could tell that his mentor had caught the anagram of his initials. "Do go on." Then in the background, a giggle. "Diana, stop!" The teasing voice of Bruce Wayne laughed to his date.
Robin coughed into the mic to make sure he had his mentor''s attention then continued. "The client is currently in my office and making quite the ruckus. His dual roles as head of the legal department and the face of the accounting department make him quite a volatile customer. He''s not at all cooperating as expected and this new predicament leads me to wonder what other surprises this customer has in store. Needless to say, I''m having to think twice about this deal and may need some help to save face." Robin threw in as many allusions to Two-Face as he could: duality, twice, faces and heads, and even a hidden hint to the lobotomy Harvey had received having been seemingly repaired. He could only pray that Bruce would get the message.
"Mhmm." This wasn''t necessarily in Bruce Wayne''s tone, but more of a mix as his mindset shifted to Bat-mode. Suddenly it rubber-banded back and Wayne''s characteristic charisma dripped through the receiver. "Well, I''m having a ravishingly good time, I''m afraid I can''t be bothered."
Oh, you have got to be kidding me.
"In fact, from what I hear, I do think you can handle the situation thoroughly."
No, don''t do this¡ What am I supposed to ask?
"Now if you will excuse me, I have a beautiful woman to attend to." And the line died.
Robin would have stared at his phone if it wasn''t embedded in his cowl. He was in mid-glide as he tried to cut off Two-Face, but the man was still unpredictable enough to not be caught. Missed.
There were various exclamations from the crowd as Robin landed on the ground just a few feet short of his target, now running down a dark alley. In a flash, Robin gave chase down the dead end to cut off Harvey Dent''s escape. Looks like it would just be him. Robin let his cape envelop him and did his best to stalk the dark alley like the Dark Knight. "Nowhere to run, Dent."
"You''re not the Bat," Dent spat back.
"You''re right." Robin stood to his full height as he alone faced down the recently restored man of duality. "You got lucky," Robin smirked under his cowl. "But if you''re really missing him, I can give him a call. I have him on speed dial."
Dent gave out a warcry and pulled a pistol from the belt of his jumper.
A gun? Robin''s mind spun. When the hell did he get a gun?
Robin rushed toward a metal garbage bin near Dent in a zig-zagging pattern as the man opened fire. Most shots zipped harmlessly by Robin, but one grazed his lower side and he thanked Batman that there was armor there to protect him. As he pushed his back up to the garbage bin, he heard two more bullets plink against his impromptu cover before the telltale click of an empty gun echoed in the alley.
Robin pivoted around the trash and closed the distance. With his clip empty, Dent grabbed the closest pole-like object to him and swung for Robin''s head. The hero ducked under the wooden plank and then rose, delivering a swift uppercut. Dent''s head snapped back and he stumbled against a brick wall. Before Two-Face could reorient himself to attack once more, Robin crashed into him and then slammed him against the wall a second time. Dent lost his footing and slid down, allowing the caped teen to hunch over him, holding him up by his dirty white collar.
"Grimy D.A.! Speak!" Robin snarled into Dent''s face. "Where is Ra''s?"
"The pointy-haired freak? Hell if I know, boy!" Two-Face snarled back, then, shifting personalities Dent added, "There was a lot of water where we were... And we were rocking... I could see a lighthouse flashing in the distance from my cell. I... I think could see Gotham."
"Anything else?" Robin''s voice died to a whisper. Two-Face wasn''t the big fish in this and Robin realized he was a test. A pawn. Nothing more than an experiment to see if the lobotomy could be reversed by the Lazarus Pit''s unearthly juices.
"Creatures. Many strange creatures and black-clad figures, too. Cultists? Some¡ thing named Karkull seemed to be in more control than others. It spoke of a feast. And lights¡ Horrible lights!" Dent winced at a tormenting memory. In that moment of weakness, Two-Face fronted and kicked Harvey to the side. In a way, it was like one personality protecting the other. "Why''re you even messing with me, anyway? What good''ll it do, ya? It''s the Clown you should be worried about!"
"The Joker?"
"And that stupid lanky professor, Crane!" Two-Face struggled against Robin''s grip but found himself unable to break free of the iron grasp. "Leggo of me, kid! Who do you think you are?"
"Robin."
Harvey attempted to push Robin off of him, but the hero kneed him in the side. As Two-Face lurched over, Robin slammed his palm into Harvey''s belly and Harvey felt something pinch into his flesh. He pushed the feeling aside and growled before shoving Robin roughly, managing to break free. However, as he ran, he felt his legs growing more and more sluggish¡ like he was wearing shoes made of concrete. He took a few more steps and collapsed as the sedative Robin had administered fully took hold of his nervous system.
The last thing Two-Face saw was Robin standing over him with a distinct look of smug satisfaction.
Mawk walked Kimber to her front door. "It was a real treat to see you again."
"Seems like it''s been forever." Kimber laughed. "I didn''t even realize you''d ditched the motorcycle¡"
"Oh! Yeah." Mawk looked back at his car, "I got rid of that bike a while ago, Kimmie. It''s just... we''ve only been meeting up at places, so you''ve never actually seen my new ride. Hope it isn''t too lame, because the gas mileage is a dream." He chuckled and pressed the arming button on his key fob again. The electric hatchback chirped a response. "You never rode on the motorcycle, did you?"
They stopped on the steps of her front door.
"Maybe once or twice when you first got it? I don''t remember¡ That was so long ago." Her eyes traced from Mawk''s car to a particular spot against the fence. She caught herself staring wistfully and laughed nervously. "You know how I feel about motorbikes, though. Not a fan."
"Yeah."
"Yeah."
There was an uncomfortable pause and the two shuffled their feet awkwardly. They were both expecting a kiss and it wasn''t too much to ask. They had kissed dozens if not hundreds of times before. But it had been so long that they both just felt awkward.
"What the heck are we doing?" Mawk finally laughed out his nervousness.
Kimber couldn''t help but smile at his small outburst. "Trying to kiss?" she joked.
"Yeah, if you wanna call it that." He smiled. "It''s feeling like our first kiss all over, right? Our first real kiss. In the hospital?"
Kimber blushed and looked off to the side. "Never would have thought that after so long it would feel so weird..."
"But so right?"
"Yeah..."
Another pause.
"You know, the anticipation will make it better," Mawk pointed out. He rubbed the back of his neck with a goofy sideways grin and glanced at Kimber, hoping for a reassuring smile. She was facing the road and vacantly staring as if weighing something ethereal in her mind. The corners of his mouth drooped a bit. "You alright, babe?"
"Of course..." She sounded a thousand miles away.
Mawk tried to catch her gaze, but she didn''t seem to notice. He followed her eyes to try and see what had caught her attention by the fence, but there was nothing there. He cleared his throat and stuffed one hand in his pocket. "Under normal circumstances, I''d be all over you," he said with a bit more swagger than he''d intended. He hoped it hadn''t come across as too forward.
To his delight, Kimber actually laughed and turned his way ¨C the spell of whatever had her enchanted was finally broken. "Oh, I don''t doubt it," she said with a slight blush. "You can get quite handsy when sparks start to fly."
"So why don''t we start a new chapter and re-light those fireworks?" Mawk cocked a brow and felt his smile returning.
Kimber looked up at him but stayed put as he saddled up to her. His strong and warm hands gently grasped her shoulders and ran down her form until they settled on her hips. They felt foreign. She kept her light smile but felt empty and distracted.
"Unless you''re not up for it?" Mawk prodded slyly.
She felt one of his hands slide to her rear, a move he''d done so often before but she stiffened all the same. "Well¡ we are on the chief of police''s porch... so don''t get too carried away, Romeo," she playfully warned.
"That''s a promise I can''t keep, Kimmie." Mawk leaned in and they shared a kiss.
But there were no fireworks. No magic feeling or spark. It felt like their first kiss ¨C not the one in the hospital, but the first one they ever shared, in front of a group of girls so many years ago when Mawk had kissed her not out of love but because it was expected. A kiss of obligation. The kiss felt empty.
Oh God, no... No matter how much she wanted to hold on to whatever spark had been between her and Mawk, she felt it slip away with a single kiss.
"G''nite, Miss Prince." Bruce planted a peck on Diana''s forehead and then slipped out the door.
"You know you could sleep in this room for once," she tempted in the darkness. "The bed is big enough for two."
"I know." Bruce tenderly replied. "But perhaps another night. I have some business to attend to."
Diana ''aww''ed then drifted off to sleep.
As soon as her room door was closed, Batman dropped the Bruce Wayne fa?ade and made his way to the BatCave. Two-Face is loose unless Robin was able to contain him. The eye scanner acknowledged his retina and the bookcase in the second master bedroom slid open revealing a series of poles to the BatCave. Most likely restored courtesy of Ra''s. But why? What is his place in Ra''s'' plan? He pulled on his face and shed the last bit of Bruce Wayne by the final pole. Surely there was a point to all this.
He marched into the first floor of the BatCave with purpose just as the Bat-Trike vroomed in from the waterfall and parked. The cockpit slid forward and Robin squeezed out from beside an unconscious, and unscarred, Two-Face.
"Y''know, the ''Trike could really use another seat or at least a space for a passenger. Like, if I need to transport someone, I have no way of doing it comfortably. Or respectfully."
"You''ve been busy," Batman remarked.
"Quite. Thanks for the help, by the way."
"I knew you could handle it."
"I''m happy to not disappoint. Though backup would have been appreciated."
"Batgirl should have been out there with you."
Robin dragged Two-Face to a sound-proof holding cell. A sure-fire way that he wouldn''t hear or see anything he wasn''t supposed to until they could cart him off to One Police Plaza. "I''ve only been able to get a bit of information from him. The Robin persona doesn''t scare as much as the Bat, but I did my best."
"Do better," Batman replied without a second thought. "But good work. What did you learn?"
"Most important tidbit of info: Joker is most probably restored. Seems Two-Face was chosen only to be a test subject. To see if the Lazarus Pit could restore what Superman took from them. Memories, brain tissue, etcetera."
Batman frowned. "Dangerous game. What possible use could they have for these villains? Ra''s and the Joker would never team up. Ra''s is too much of a strategist while the Joker is pure anarchy and chaos. They would be at each other''s throats more than ours."
"Well, that''s the thing. I don''t think they are working for Ra''s as much as they are all, including Ra''s, working for someone else. Or rather something else."
Batman froze in his suit and cast a glance over his shoulder at Robin."What do you mean?"
Robin didn''t seem to notice the sudden change in his mentor''s tone. "I mean nothing short of a paranormal experience could move Ra''s to go to such lengths to team up with other villains in general, much less the psychos he''s chosen. I''ve read up on the man, very spiritual. Harvey Dent mentioned a person or creature named Karkull who seemed to be in control over an army of sorts, but any more than that and he''d just end up screaming and screaming about impossible angles and bright gateways. Then his personality switches in defense."
Karkull: demonic seventh-lord of the Inner Pits. Batman''s memory rattled off the information Superman had shared with him years before on the three-armed menace. This is going very deep. If worst comes to worst... I may have to call on Dr. Fate. Then he remembered the unfortunate luck that befell the Egyptian hero. The helmet had been lost to Arthur, King of Atlantis. And now Atlantis was rumored to be in ruins at the bottom of the sea. Reportedly the result of some extraterrestrial attack. Or extradimensional. The more Batman thought about what he had seen through the boomtube, the less skeptical about otherworldly and cosmic entities he became. "Sounds like Two-Face''s mind wasn''t fully fixed, then," Batman responded.
"No, he seemed pretty lucid," Robin countered. "Though his short-term memory could be damaged¡ But what about the monster man? Know anything about this Karkull?"
"Probably Ian Karkull," Batman lied smoothly. The last thing he needed his prot¨¦g¨¦s to be worried about was potential interdimensional war. If they learned about that, they''d probably quit on the spot. No, he had to keep them on board and push them to improve. If they could stop Ra''s al Ghul before the truth came out, then they''d be saved a world of hurt. He pulled up the file on a less-than-impressive criminal named Ian Karkull on the Batcomputer.
"Reads a lot like the Shadowthief," Robin remarked as his eyes skimmed the dossier on the screen.
"He''s a little more... hardcore. Where is Batgirl?"
"She had a previous engagement so I promised to cover for her," Robin explained with a hint of bitterness.
As much as Batman wanted to lecture on covering for another''s shirking of duty, he wasn''t in the mood. Robin had done good work tonight. Brilliant detective work. He''d question Dent in the later hours of the night. For now, he just wanted to patrol his city. "I''m going out."
"A little late for patrol, don''t ya think?" Robin chided.
Batman entered the Batmobile. "Don''t wait up."
"I''ll be right here. After all, I was just out there! Didn''t leave much for you except clean up!" he called over the roar of the Batmobile''s turbines.
Eventually, the turbines faded into the distance and Robin was alone again.
Shayera nuzzled John Stewart''s cheek over his shoulder as he and Kent poured over a scattered collection of newspaper clippings. "Hey, there. What are you two doing?"
John heaved a heavy sigh and then turned to the winged female. "Planning, plotting, and scheming." He looked back at the collection before him.
"Planning what, a scrapbook?" She took one of the paper snippets and looked it over. It was an old article recounting the aftermath of the Imperium''s attack. And the first article on the formation of the League.
"Just reminiscing."
Shayera kept her eyes on the black-and-white image accompanying the article. "He never did belong. Sure he was always there to save our hides and he helped fund us in ways I still don''t understand, but¡ª" She handed it back. "Look here: this picture. He was so distant from us that day and in this other one..." She pointed to a picture on another clipping, "He''s not even there!"
Kent shrugged. "Well, that was his thing." He took a sip of his tea as he stared out the window. Star City was quiet this evening. Then again, he could not exactly hear as much as he used to. "Are you suggesting he went in intending to destroy us from the beginning?"
"Well, I wouldn''t say ''destroy''," Shayera clarified. "But he always did seem...suspicious of us."
"We had and still have magnificent power. Three aliens, an intergalactic officer, and an Amazon warrior princess." He chuckled to himself. "It was easy to forget considering everything we accomplished together, but he was just a man."
"Perhaps it was a pride thing, then? Or jealousy?" Stewart threw one arm over the back of his folding chair.
"No, it couldn''t be jealousy." Clark took another sip. "Before the League and the Lords, it was just me and him. We were the World''s Finest. We worked together on numerous occasions and though he came across as cold and aloof at first, he never seemed to have it out for me. Why would that change when there were more of us fighting side by side? No, something else got to him."
"You don''t think he got angry when there ended up being more heroes like you and less like him?" Stewart glared at Kent. "You don''t think he''d have any animosity toward those with unique abilities?"
Clark directed his attention back out the window, his expression was grim but unreadable. He said nothing, instead letting the silence hang in the air.
"Yeah, yeah, the silent treatment. What a load of hooey."
Shayera''s eyes narrowed as she glanced from Kent to Stewart. The tension between the two had only grown since they''d busted her out and she wasn''t sure how much longer their group could play well without coming to blows themselves ¨C it was a wonder they hadn''t already. She closed her eyes and counted the days. It didn''t matter. Soon she wouldn''t have to deal with the two bickering men anymore and finding the Dark Knight would be the least of their worries. If her math was correct, in two more Thanagarian months, they would be here.
Part 1: Chapter 13
Tim Drake stood atop a defunct bakery as the cool city air tickled his bare ears. The building below his feet had at different times been a toy store, a hardware store, and a pharmacy. Even now, as a boarded-up bakery, he knew it wouldn''t be long before another short-lived business venture made the mistake of choosing this building for its location. But that was the point, as timeless as Gotham looked from a distance, it was always changing.
Across from him was a remodeled apartment building. During the Justice Lords, the building had gone under forced renovations. What at one time had been a decrepit five-story complex was now a bland, modern eyesore among a row of buildings with more gothic character. It wasn''t just any apartment building, though, it was his last home before Bruce had taken him in. He''d lived at that spot for a time until that fateful day when he became a preteen hostage and had his first run-in with Batman.
And now things are about to change again. His thumbs ran circles over the cloth mask in his grasp. Change. It had been a rather annoying fixture in conversation these last few months and it was getting to him. Dick, Bruce, Barbara, even the new Batgirl¨C they''d all at one point picked at the scab unwittingly. But they had been right: change was inevitable. What mattered was who instigated him.
For the last few months, he''d been reactionary. Change had happened and he''d played the part of the unwitting victim of it all. As the world spun around him, he''d allowed the whims of others to carry him like some sort of plastic bag in the wind. Not anymore. He pulled on his mask and turned his back on the apartment complex. It was time to institute a change of his own.
Mawk collapsed onto his bed with a sigh, the tension of uncertainty still curling in his chest. No matter what he did, he was never right. I defend her purchases, I''m wrong. I look out for our wallets, I''m wrong. I stand up for our literal lives... and I''m still wrong! When am I ever right? After all the money his family had thrown at his therapist, Kimber was an issue he really thought would have been sorted by now.
He sat up and scratched his head in frustration. The thought of texting Curtis crossed his mind, but he knew this was something he just wouldn''t understand. The kid was pretty good grounded in a fair number of topics such as computers and finances ¨C shoot, his workout regimen was surprisingly effective ¨C but there was no chance in hell that he''d have much advice on the topics of women and relationships. He probably hadn''t even gotten past first base yet. Besides, lately Curtis had been too buried in work and upcoming classes. Over the summer, Curtis'' social life seemed to plummet.
"Didn''t have that far to fall." The former high school football star laughed at his friend''s expense. He stood and walked to his closet and began to change. As he removed his fine clothes, his thoughts drifted from Curtis to his high school friend group. A number of them had moved out of state for college. Some had traveled to Bl¨¹dhaven or Metropolis while others went as far as Jump City on football scholarships. He didn''t really keep in contact with them anymore. "Ironic. Here I am making fun of Curtis'' social life, while mine is only a few levels better..."
He unloaded his pockets and slipped off his pants before hanging them up. As he stepped back from the closet, he looked at his phone resting on the bed among his wallet, keys, and some spare change. He fought the drive to pick up the phone and call Kimber. As much as he wanted to talk to her, he knew it wasn''t a good idea. They''d only just spoken and she''d seemed distracted. If he hadn''t gotten her full attention in person, there was no way he''d get it over the phone. Calling again would make him seem needy, and he wasn''t needy.
He replayed the kiss they''d just shared. Her lips were soft as the day they''d met and her eyes were beautiful in the early moon''s light. As he''d held her close, he''d felt a flutter in his heart ¨C that craving for her validation and the stability she represented. But as magical as the moment had been, something hadn''t been right on that doorstep. Something was missing. She had seemed to tense up in his embrace instead of melting into it like she usually did. Part of him felt as if she had been pulling back, hesitant. Then again, we were on her porch. I think her father was home. Rare.
As Mawk finished changing into his nightly wear, a picture on his dresser caught his attention. It was a picture of him and Kimber from a school banquet two and a half years ago. He picked it up and relived the memory. Kimber''s dress, a terrifically risque wine-red, had stunned him that night. He was no slouch himself, dressed in his tailored European suit he''d looked rather dashing. Gosh, had it only been two and a half years? It felt like a lifetime ago; back when he felt like nothing could touch them, when he was truly invincible. He smiled at the innocence captured in the photo. How had things grown so complicated?
"She loves me and she just wants me to be safe. That''s why she doesn''t want me standing up to injustice." He placed the picture back on the dresser, kissed his fingers, then touched the photo. "I''m sorry, Kimber. I know you just want me to be safe, but being a bystander just isn''t who I am. I''m doing what is best for both of us. You''ll see."
Mawk pocketed his personal items and, after a few minutes, he exited his apartment building. Both of his hands held tightly to the straps of a backpack containing precious cargo. Soon he would show her what he''d been working toward. Soon he''d be able to feel in control again and make things safe. He just needed a little more practice.
He slipped back into his car. The cabin was still warm and he took a moment to enjoy the fleeting warmth of the cold car. Soon, things would be awesome again. Soon he would make sure the city was safe for people to walk at night. Sure, it would be tiring and his schedule get even more crowded, but one didn''t become top dog by lazing around. And the hero always gets the girl. Always. So, of course, Kimber would cling to him even more. That''s how it would work.
Hopefully.
He stared at his mask.
Kimber stared into her palms with horror. She had been sitting in the bathroom for the past half hour, still in her dress, thinking. Her feelings for Mawk were... waning at best.
"How did this happen?" She turned her hands over a few times as if answers would spring from her palms. When they didn''t, she continued to dive. "Where did the magic go¡" It was more of a statement than a question and, before she could stop herself, a darker thought crossed her mind: had there ever been magic? Had she been so afraid of losing someone who''d been a constant companion that she was willing to enter a relationship with him just to keep him close? Did she ever love him or was it simply the fear of losing him?
No. She had loved him. It was real. Was. But now it was gone.
Her thoughts were interrupted by her phone. She quickly wiped her eyes and cleared her throat before answering. "Hello? Hey, Curt, wassup?... Yeah, I''d called on the way home...Nothing important, I was just checkin'' up on you...Yes, Mawk was driving, why?... No, I''ve got some things to think about, now..." She could hear the concern in his voice and as comforting as it was, she couldn''t accept it. His well-meaning questions only prodded at problems she wasn''t willing to face. She deflected. "Naw, I''m totally fine, just something personal...Yeah, I know I can talk to you about it, I''d just prefer not to!"
She wasn''t sure where the vitriol came from, but something inside her went sour and she felt her temperature rising against the boy on the line. "Yeah, yeah, whatever...Go take a nap¡ªor whatever you do when you''re not in orange and black. Fuck off." She hung up in the middle of his confused response and then instantly regretted snapping. But she didn''t want to call back. She couldn''t talk to him at the moment. Even though she knew she probably should. At least to apologize.
"Dammit!" In a spontaneous fit of anger, she chucked her phone across the bathroom. It smashed into the wall violently. She sat there, numb. Tears streaked down her face as she stared at the shattered phone screen. They were both broken.
Batman crept along the edge of the rooftop, his steely gaze fixed on a shady individual. A man in an all-black unitard was sneaking around the perimeter of a prominent government research facility run by S.T.A.R. Labs. As tempted as Batman was to jump down and accost the mook, the man in black had done nothing wrong. Yet.
Back in the days of the Justice Lords, just being near any S.T.A.R. Labs research facility would have been enough for authorities to swarm a character and cart them off to jail for questioning. Now, here was a man in all black prowling the grounds for god knows what reason, and the Bat could do nothing but watch. Trespassing was a crime, but not one the Batman would fight over. The time for brutally enforcing the little laws was in the past.
He''d first spotted the suspicious individual loitering around a WayneTech satellite office before losing sight of him. Turned out the man had hopped on a late-night trolley, stealing a ride from the Cauldron to Founder''s Island. From there, it hadn''t taken long for Batman to catch up with the prowler across from the S.T.A.R. Labs facility; and while the Dark Knight knew the dark figure was up to no good, so far it was nothing that a security guard couldn''t handle¡ If the security guards hadn''t been distracted by the radio broadcast of a local sporting event.
Batman shifted on his haunches as he watched the obscure figure run his fingers along the base of the building in a seemingly random manner. Make a move.
The nightcrawler did just that. In the blink of an eye, the man scaled the security fence and narrowly avoided the motion detection monitors just before slipping through an open window. It was impressively fast even by Batman''s standards. Batman leaped from his perch and glided soundlessly to the facility''s roof just as the invader closed the window. Finally, he could act; this trespassing was now a breaking and entering.
Kimber staggered out of the bathroom and managed to change from her dress to something she felt more comfortable in: slightly worn jeans and an oversized hoodie. Under the hoodie, she had on part of her homemade Batgirl uniform. The weight of the padded tunic made her feel calm. As much as she hated to admit it, she was becoming like the old man. Not her father, but Bruce Wayne. The Batman.
"Goin'' somewhere already, Kim?" Her father called her from the living room. "You just got in."
Kimber paused at the door. "Yeah, I just need to go for... a walk, I guess. Clear my head." She hoped her dad didn''t catch the tremor in her voice.
No such luck. He was her father, after all. "Kimber." Mr. Lee stood and approached with concern in his eyes. "Have you been crying?"
"What?" Kimber wiped her eyes with her sleeve and turned to her dad. "No, Papa." She smiled as best she could. But her father, the veteran parent that he was, saw through the charade.
"Kimber." Mr. Lee frowned slightly at the front his daughter was putting up. "Something''s wrong." His voice shifted from protecting and powerful to soft and caring in an instant. "How was that dinner with Mawk?"
"Good."
"Did something happen?"
"No."
"Are you sure?"
"..."
"Kimber..."
"Yes, Papa, I''m sure!"
Goren paused. Kimber noticed a vein begin to bulge on his forehead as his face hardened. "He didn''t try to¡ª"
"What? Papa!" Kimber looked at her father with disbelief and disgust. "No! Mawk''s not like that!"
Instinctively, the older Lee raised his hands in a gesture of peace. "Okay, okay, calm down." He combed his fingers through his hair. "Just making sure."
"He''s a good guy. It''s just..." Kimber found herself walking to the couch. She had hoped to go to the library. She had things that could keep her mind busy. College was starting and there were books to read, classes to prep for, essays to get ahead on... Whatevs. "I don''t feel the same way I did last year." She plopped down on the couch. "After that¡ party, I realized how precious he is to me. But, now I don''t feel like he is precious in the same way, y''know?" She looked at her father.
"I know, kiddo." Mr. Lee stared straight ahead, thinking. "People grow apart sometimes. Love can fade, especially if you never knew for certain, to begin with." He used his calloused thumb to wipe a tear at the corner of his eye. "It happens to the best of us." He looked at his daughter.
"Mama?"
Goren adjusted himself in his seat with a grunt and nodded. "Your mama and I... We thought we had it all figured out. And together, we made the best thing in our lives¡ªyou. But just like everything in life, things change. People grow, Kim, and sometimes people grow apart. She just decided we weren''t working." Mr. Lee gave a small smile, one that didn''t quite reach his eyes.
Kimber studied her father''s face, caught off-guard by the raw honesty in his voice. "Do you still love her?"
Goren paused, his eyes staring past his daughter for a moment as memories of a past life rushed by in mere seconds. A melancholy feeling tugged at his gut but he managed to fight it down. "I do," he admitted, his voice soft but steady. "And I think she does, too... Or maybe thinking that just makes it easier for me." He cleared his throat, brushing a hand over his face. "But this isn''t about me, Kim. My issues, my mistakes, are my own. This is about you and Mawk. How do you know you ever really loved him like¡ well, like a relationship ''love''?"
"Huh?"
"Kimber. I know what you two would do." Her father gave a knowing smirk. "You were almost always together, but was that because you wanted to be? You spent more of your dates with him studying than ¨C well ¨C dating. If I didn''t know better, I''d say the whole relationship was a ruse."
"Well...it wasn''t totally for that reason..." Kimber stared out the window, her cheeks and eyes burning. "He was the brash and lovable playmaker who''d been a varsity starter since Freshman year, I was a star in the Chemistry Bowl circuit who moonlit as a competitive gymnast. We were both at the top of the social pecking order, so people just sort of assumed we would be a great couple. After a while, it felt easier to go along with it." She let out a short laugh, bitter and hollow. "He was the jock, I was the merit scholar. We were a stereotype, Papa. A match made in high school heaven."
"That kind of pressure can screw with your head, Kimber. A fake relationship can do more harm than good." Goren brushed a loose strand of hair from his daughter''s face. "As proud as I am that you didn''t fall into risky behavior in high school, I feel what you did was... extreme." He paused. "You never found out if what you felt was real or just... convenient."
"So you think I tricked myself into liking him? Because I didn''t." Kimber was quick to object to her father''s insinuation. She scooted forward on the couch and glared in his direction. "I didn''t realize I loved him until after his stupid, stupid party."
"Loved?"
Kimber felt tears well up again in her eyes. She hadn''t even realized she''d used the past tense. "I don''t think I care for him the same way anymore. I don''t know, but something just..."
"...doesn''t feel right." Batman carefully wandered the halls of the empty S.T.A.R. Labs building. Equipped with an infrared flashlight and matching lenses, he shouldn''t have been having so much trouble searching for the trespasser.
He had gotten in through the same window the sneaker had snuck in through and yet there was no trace of anyone aside from the odd oblivious security guard. Whoever this guy was, he was good at leaving no trace. Batman switched off his flashlight and shifted his lenses. Perhaps more progress would be made in the dark.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
A rattling caught his attention. Quickly, the Dark Knight ran out of the hall he was investigating, headed for the noise. Careful, Batman. As he approached the room the sound had emanated from, he slowed his stride and pressed his back against the wall. Flat against the wall, he peered around the corner.
He saw the man in black rummaging through various secure boxes. Though even just one object from any box would fetch a pretty penny on the black market, the thief seemed to sort past them with little care. Every item he took out, he quickly inspected and then placed back within its container carefully. It was almost honorable.
He has something specific in mind, Batman thought to himself. But what?
Suddenly, the prowler whirled around and faced a man-sized safe. He approached the safe and ran a slow hand over the digital lock. He mumbled something incoherent and then checked something in his hands. As he read his palm, the prowler began typing into the interface.
Silently, the Dark Knight crept behind the man in black. When he was within ten feet, he jumped to tackle him. The thief somehow expected the surprise attack and sidestepped, allowing Batman to tumble right by him. Batman rolled over one shoulder and pushed off the vault floor, redirecting himself in the man''s direction with fists cocked to attack. But by the time he''d righted himself and thrown his punch, Batman found the space empty. His fist whiffed through the void and a quick about-face revealed the vault had been cracked open, and the man had slipped inside. He stepped into the vault and blocked the entrance. "Who are you?" he demanded into the dark.
"I think the better question is," the digitally distorted voice echoed from inside the safe, "where am I?''"
Batman looked into the vault and found himself asking that very question. Within the safe was a small party of mannequins. Though all were dressed in standard military wear, Batman could tell one of them had been partially pilfered. While the rest wore standard military gloves and belts, one mannequin was distinctly bare. A belt harness and gloves? What was S.T.A.R. Labs developing? Batman turned from the vault and scanned the outer room. "Where are you?"
"Nice to see that the pretenders aren''t with you." The voice came from Batman''s right and instinctively the detective threw a punch at it. His packed fist connected with a face and the thief was taken off his fell to the ground on his rear a few feet back.
"Oof! Hey!" the man cried out as he hit the ground. "I knew you had good reflexes, but that was crazy!"
Batman ignored the platitude and leered down at the thief. The sneaker''s face was covered by a mask of sorts, but Batman wasn''t able to make out the details too well in the dark. "Who are you?" he demanded again. The question was now more charged.
"Like I said." The prowler tapped his belt buckle as Batman reached down for him and vanished before Batman''s eyes. "''Where am I?'' is the better question."
Batman spun in a circle in surprise and looked around for the prowler with every sense heightened. His hand had gone right through the spot the man had been moments ago. It shouldn''t have been possible. Either the man was very fast, or¡ª There! Batman adjusted his position and faced a window close to thirty feet up. Crouching on the sill and seemingly watching with interest was the skulking figure. Once Batman locked his eyes on the figure, the figure clapped slowly.
"I Spy champion, right here." He gestured in Batman''s direction mockingly.
Batman hunched forward slightly, his cape further swallowing his arms. Behind his cape, he readied the bat-claw and prepared to fire at the window.
"I know why you''re hiding your hands, Batman. Grabbing your bat-claw, no doubt to try and catch up to me," the digitized voice taunted. "But you won''t get even close. You''re not fast enough."
Faster than a gunslinger in the Wild West, Batman fired his bat-claw at the mystery man and zipped toward him. However, right when he was no more than ten feet from his target, Batman watched the thief vanish again into thin air like an apparition. He tumbled through the space the man had just occupied, dumbfounded, and barely caught the ledge. As he hoisted himself up, he ran through all the possibilities of what he could be experiencing. This wasn''t invisibility and he had a feeling this wasn''t superspeed, either.
On the other side of the closed window, the prowler fizzled into view. Through the glass, Batman could finally make out the man''s mask. It was black with a white skull painted over the face with a red marking over the forehead. In a move that almost made light of the whole fiasco, the man waved.
"See you ''round, B-man." The digitized voice was muffled by the window, but it was still enough to hear the taunting tone in his voice. He gave a mock salute and then faded from view.
The Batmobile rolled to a stop in the BatCave and idled for a few moments as its driver sat in contemplation. He''d managed his way out of the S.T.A.R. Labs warehouse without being seen, but by the time he''d gotten to where he''d last seen the prowler, there was no sign of him. He''d scrutinized the scene with various tools but found nothing, not even a hair. It was almost like the man had never been there in the first place. Batman exited the Batmobile with a scowl still clinging to his face as he tried to piece together just how the mystery man disappeared.
"Well, look what the bat dragged in." Robin''s dry greeting came from the crime lab. "I was about to send out a search party when the sun peeked over the horizon."
"Don''t you have a home?"
"Don''t you?"
"You''re in it."
"Really? I thought the deed was for the manor above?" Robin asked. "If you''re not using it, you think I could¡ª"
"Fair enough," the Bat interrupted. He gestured to the cell that still housed the villain formerly known as Two-Face. "Learn anything more from our guest?"
"Not in the slightest ¨C he''s still half cooperative, after all. But even when he was of a mind to inform, he wasn''t sure where he had been taken. Just that it was on the water. Could be anything from a boat to an island to a beach." Robin rubbed his brow to try and wake himself up. "Chief Lee wants him dumped off at One Police Plaza in an hour."
"You''re aware there''s not much night left?"
"Yep. Speaking of which, you''re never out that late. What gives? Surprised you didn''t turn to dust."
"Funny." However, Batman sounded anything but humored. He drew a few items out from his belt and scattered them on a bare metal table. A half-finished pack of gum that held an audio recorder, a pair of sunglasses that hid a camera, and a fake mustache; all were spread out on the table. "I did some undercover work. Stretched Matches Malone''s legs for a while to glean some information about Ra''s and his plan."
"Anything?"
"A mob boss is supposed to meet with Ra''s to discuss their partnership. Apparently, he has chosen to side with Ra''s'' extremist agenda. Not sure what they''ve been promised, but I am confident that this meeting will give us more information as Ra''s builds his foothold in Gotham."
"You''d think with all his underworld connections, Ra''s would already be in charge of half the gangs."
"Gotham''s peculiar that way. Too many egos for Ra''s to only show up every so often and still hold control. It would have to be a full-time commitment, one Ra''s al Ghul would never make considering his global concerns. Besides, like a few other groups who survived the Justice Lords'' shake-up of the organized crime underbelly, the Society of Shadows is likely trying to rebuild more than as they are trying to expand."
"Sounds like you should have dismantled him when you had the whole world under your thumb, huh?"
"It wasn''t my place."
"You sure made everywhere else your place," Robin shot back. "Or at least, Superman did."
"The world had been through enough turmoil." Batman spun around and faced Robin. "Gotham especially! Once the initial event settled, I took time to think. I decided to keep my case files separate and only brought in the Lords when I felt it necessary."
"Must have felt it a lot."
"Only on the ones I brought up with J''onn."
"The Martian?" Robin''s face twisted in confusion. "Why would you bring up cases to him and not to the whole team?"
"It was easier that way."
"For who?"
"For whom," Batman corrected instinctively.
"Question still stands. Why wouldn''t cases be brought to all the Lords? Couldn''t have been that hard with video chat."
"Because we would meet in person."
Robin''s face grew even more quizzical. "You and J''onn? Here? Why?"
Batman turned back around to the items on the table and mimed inspecting them, but his mind was elsewhere. J''onn had always been so insistent on meeting regularly with Batman. The alien was always a bleeding heart and seemed to stem from a desire to remain connected despite the increased responsibilities the team had taken on. All that considered, his meetings with the Martian Manhunter during the Justice Lords never seemed odd to him; but looking back, it was a question he should have asked a long time ago¡ and he wasn''t liking the answer.
Diana stood up out of the garden and eyed over her handiwork. As much as she enjoyed fighting in the past, raising a garden turned out to pose just as many challenges for her as saving a life. But finally, my children are free to soak up the rays!
She hated to admit it, but she was starting to understand Poison Ivy''s obsession with plants. They were easy to talk to, cheap to manage ¨C if done properly, of course ¨C and they don''t keep secrets aside from the occasional aphid infestation. Which is much less than I can say for Bruce Wayne...
The more she lived with the multi-billionaire playboy, the more her first assumption of him was proven right: there was more to the dashing man than the gossip columns could ever know. The many unexpected meetings, the late nights at the office, the numerous business dinners; Diana wasn''t sure what to make of it all except that he was very invested in running his company. It was no wonder Wayne Enterprises was such an influential powerhouse, the man running it all never seemed to sleep. But where there''s smoke, there''s fire and while she didn''t believe the outlandish claims made by the tabloids, she did believe there was something that her suave host was hiding.
Back in the day, she probably would have exercised her authority and recruited the Justice Lords'' staff reporter Clark Kent to do an investigative deep dive on Bruce or maybe even petition Batman to dig up whatever Wayne was hiding under Gotham. But now she was on her own and left to her own devices.
"And I feel it all starts with the vault behind that clock of his. I''ve heard of some men needing a ''man cave'', but that cavern is ridiculous!" She crouched by her flowerbed as she continued to consult her flowers. "I know the wealthy have a penchant for wanting everything bigger, but that place looked so underdeveloped. The lack of lighting on that staircase alone is dangerous." She paused in thought. "Maybe he''s constructing a bunker down there?"
Recognizing she was no longer just speaking to the flowers but having a discussion with them, she promptly stood up and started walking back to the mansion. The sun must have been getting to her. Or the lack of social stimulation. Bruce had been more or less absent the past two days, so who else was there to talk to? She closed her eyes and could almost hear the muddled conversations and classical music of the last dinner party. Despite some of the attendees, that gala Bruce had taken her to hadn''t been so bad. She moved in gracefully in time with the imagined music as she waltzed across the grass. She felt soft for admitting it but she wanted to attend another. "At least it got me out of the house..."
"If you were bored, you should have spoken up!" Bruce Wayne''s voice rang behind her and his surprisingly gentle arms settled on her waist and followed her through the end of her waltz.
She shivered under his tender touch and allowed herself a small smile. "Be careful, Mr. Wayne," she warned. "Wouldn''t want the news to think we''re an item, would we? After all, what would that do to your reputation as Gotham''s most eligible bachelor?"
"Maybe it''s time I slowed down that role anyway. Age and all." He laughed into her raven hair. "But if it''s excitement you want, how about some sparring?"
Surprised, the Amazon pushed him away playfully and spun in place to face him. "You''d like another go at dueling?"
Bruce half-shrugged. "I was thinking on a more... personal level?"
Diana''s gaze trailed from his lips to his eyes. "Personal? How personal do you want to get, Mr. Wayne?"
Bruce didn''t respond. Instead, he threw a punch at her. The punch was sloppy, telegraphed, and clearly a playful warning strike. Diana easily controlled it and pivoted, throwing him to the ground with an Amazonian exclamation. She looked down at him with a pitying expression.
"Oh dear, you want to play this game, Mr. Wayne?"
Back on the ground, Bruce looked up at Diana. The expression on her face was one he''d seen before, a lifetime ago, on a redhead''s face. And from the same position, too. "It would be a lot safer sword fighting. If you''d indulge my interests." He attempted to sweep Diana''s legs out from under her with a well-practiced jiu-jitsu move.
Diana displayed rather impressive footwork as she nimbly stepped out of Bruce''s attack. Once her feet were back on solid ground, she tilted her head to one side and waited for her attacker to get his own feet back under him. "You have interests outside of women, business, and fast cars? Pinch me, I''m dreaming." She didn''t wait for him to steady himself before throwing a punch.
Bruce deflected the attack and then he jabbed with his off-hand. He had a clean opening to her right cheek; but instead of striking, Bruce stopped his hand short, reached out with his pointer and thumb, and pinched Diana''s cheek. "Only because you asked so nicely," he said with a wink.
Diana pursed her lips. In a surprisingly quick movement, she swept Bruce''s feet out from under him and grabbed his shirt as he lost his balance. With a twist of her hips, she sent him tumbling to the ground again. Despite his bulk, he didn''t feel as heavy as she had expected. As the multi-billionaire rolled onto his back to rise again, Diana adjusted her feet. "You are quite the kidder."
"And you always fill me with surprises, Ms. Prince." Bruce got up and struck out with his heel to her temple.
Diana raised both forearms to block the back-kick and pushed him away with her hands. Before he was able to regain his footing, she executed a palm thrust to his chest, knocking him back. It all felt so natural to her: the strikes and the blocks¡ Each hit and each throw reminded her of home. The anxious feeling in her hands before contact, the sound of her heart pounding in her head, how acute she felt her senses get as the more primal parts of her brain anticipated danger at every turn, she loved it all and, oh, how she missed it.
She watched Bruce stagger trying to regain his footing to no avail. He tripped over his legs and fell into a bush, and she had to restrain her laughter. She wasn''t sure if he was sparring to make her feel better or if he actually thought a playboy like him could best Themyscira''s best fighter, but Hera bless his heart for trying. "That''s three for three." Diana wiped an imagined bead of sweat from her brow. "Tired?"
"Are you asking me or telling me?" Bruce shakily pulled himself out of his hedge as Diana laughed at his foolhardy fighting spirit. He balled up his fists and gestured for her to come at him. "C''mon! I''m not done yet!"
"Feels like it''s always night in this damn city..." Stewart grumbled as he glared out the window of the hideout he shared with the other Justice Lords. The breakout wasn''t his brainchild, but he''d been onboard early as he was eager to get out of his cell and back in the skies where he belonged. He''d been one of the most gungho for the revenge scheme they''d plotted out, but now it had been weeks and they were still only venturing out under the cover of darkness to gather intel on the Bat and his patterns. And even that was inconsistent.
After his last outing in Star City and the resulting fiasco he and Kent had caused, the decision had been made to further limit his time out and about, even though the squabble with the authorities revealed not only a new vigilante on the scene but a new Robin as well. Kent alone was able to wander the streets unfettered ¨C so long as he didn''t draw attention to himself or don the cape. Stewart clenched his jaw. Perhaps there was something to that secret identity thing after all.
"You''re grinding your teeth again." Shayera casually pointed out from across the room.
Stweart looked from the window to Shayera. She sat at the table before a chess board, lazily playing solo a game made for two. Stewart smiled to himself; there was at least one good thing to come from Kent being out of the hideout. It had been a long time since he had laid eyes on Shayera. A long time. Her fierce orange hair curled around her neck and shoulders like a luxurious scarf, her eyes as emerald as his ring were fixed on a black rook, and her magnificent wings were neatly folded against her back. She was still as gorgeous as he remembered. And he was damn certain that this time he would make this work between them. "Shayera."
She didn''t look up. "Yes, John?"
"I have something I want ¨C er ¨C need to tell you." He closed the distance at an even pace but felt an invisible weight with each step. He took the seat opposite her and looked her in the eye despite the turmoil welling in his chest.
"Well, out with it, army boy." Shayera crossed her arms and a smirk playfully darted across her dark lips.
Stewart felt some of his anxiety melt away. He loved the way she smiled. It was never a full smile but always a sort of half-cocky, half-shy smile. He rocked back and forth in his chair and smiled in a boyish manner before speaking. "The past few years have been hectic, especially after we were taken down and strung up."
"A wrong soon to be righted," she murmured.
He nodded. "But that''s not what I want to discuss with you right now. We know his time is coming, so I want to discuss what comes after. After this is all over and the world is set right." He paused and took a moment to plan out as best he could what he wanted to say. "Being in prison gave me a new perspective. If you can believe it, I had time to think about what I had and, more importantly, what I''d lost. That time unfairly behind bars forced me to acknowledge just how much certain people meant to me. As it turns out, some people meant a lot."
Shayera''s smirk was gone, replaced instead with an uneven line of confusion. "What are you saying, John?"
He didn''t reply. Instead, he clumsily got down on one knee.
Oh, he better not do what I think he''s about to do... Shayera smiled through her teeth. However, within her was a struggle.
"I''ve never done this before and years of fighting have hardened me to matters of the heart, but¡ª" From the energy of his ring, he fashioned a rather exquisite engagement ring from imagination. "Shayera, I lost you once and thought it permanent. Now that I have you back, I don''t want to lose you again." He held the dark red ring up to her with both hands and gave her a happy and pleading look. "Shayera Hol of Thanagar, when this whole mess is over and done with, will you marry me?"
Shayera put a hand to her chest as if that could stop the veritable pounding bass drum behind her ribcage. "I¨CI¨CI don''t know what to say..." Her breath had been sucked from her lungs.
"You''re supposed to say ''yes''." John nervously chuckled as he waited for her answer.
Before the Justice Lords fell, she had an inkling that this moment would come one day. In a different life, she probably would have anticipated this moment. But she had a duty to a greater plan. A higher calling. Back then, this would have been easy. Just say, "No." But now that he had actually asked for her hand in marriage ¨C after everything over the past year and a half ¨C she just couldn''t get the word out. Her heart had decided logic was for the birds.
It was true, she had grown close to John Stewart. He was an admirable man and a courageous warrior with a powerful code of honor. It was no wonder the Green Lantern Corps had chosen him to police Earth and its sector. But she already promised another; betrothed to her commanding officer. She couldn''t say yes, but she found it just as impossible to say no.
"It''s a beautiful ring, John." She tenderly clasped her hands over his hands. "But...I can''t say for sure yet if I''m ready for this step... With everything that''s happened, my world is still spinning. Still spinning... Please understand that this isn''t a no, but it isn''t a yes either. I just need to think about it some more."
"I knew I should have held out until I got my hands on a real ring," Stewart muttered under his breath with a slight wisp of laughter. The former Marine bowed his head with a smile as he stood and the ring faded away. Despite his dour disposition, Stewart didn''t seem as crest-fallen as she had anticipated. When he raised his head, she could see disappointment written on his face, but with it was hope. Hope that after some time to adjust, she''d say yes.
Oh, how I wish it were that easy.