Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

The Wayne Legacy: Knightmare

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 36: Post Metawave – Epilogue II

Wayne Manor

The heads of the C.I.A., F.B.I., N.S.A., and A.R.G.U.S. stood in the ballroom of Wayne Manor in front of multiple chairs. General Swanwick had resigned early that morning and the President had yet to appoint a new National Security Advisor. Congressman Milton was present as well as General Lane, representing the Defense Committee and U.S. Military. Diana was standing next to General Lane.

Seated in the chairs was a gathering of the most brilliant minds the United States had, all dedicated to the country.

Many at the top were not happy about recent additions to the group, but they had been approved by the powers that be. Basically, Diana Wayne had expressed her desire that Lena Luthor, Alex Danvers and Barbara Gordon be included in Black Book. That was all the power needed.

There was pushback, but none to Diana. As usual, any disagreement about Diana’s decisions went through Steve, whom they hoped could sway her. Steve expressed no interest in doing so.

No one could argue with Barbara’s inclusion. She was one of the most the most brilliant minds in the world when it came to computers and when the crisis had occurred, Barbara had been working with Kara regardless of not being on the team. It was only working closely together that the two were able to close the interdimensional tear.

The pushback came from the inclusion of Alex Danvers and Lena Luthor.

Alex Danvers was an unknown. Unlike the others in the room, she had no doctorate or much experience outside of a classroom or laboratory. Much was known about her personal life, as she was a close confidant of Kara Wayne before she moved to the West Coast to attend Stanford. She was working at Wayne Enterprises Medical Research Center for her mother and specializing in cellular mutations which, judging by the pile of mud at S.T.A.R. Labs, would definitely come in handy.

Not that her lack of field experience mattered. Diana wanted her, so Alex was on the team.

The major pushback came from the inclusion of Lena Luthor. Lena had been recruited when Black Book had first formed yet Lex had shut down her participation before she could ever consider it. Everyone in the room, knew she was brilliant. The problem was she was the sister of the most wanted man in the world.

Kara had asked for Lena to be included and that was enough for Diana to agree. As Diana went, so did Milton, Lane and Harcourt.

The Directors of the F.B.I., C.I.A., Homeland Security and N.S.A. easily agreed because of the debacle where a C.I.A. Agent almost shot Kara Wayne after their superiors were told repeatedly to remove the agents hovering around the Wayne sisters. The directors had been waiting for the moment the President called them to the Oval Office to hand in their resignations as the National Security Advisor had been forced to do. It was well known that the only intelligence director whose job was safe was Emilia Harcourt’s. Diana had something over the President that had him dancing to her tune so they were walking on eggshells, kowtowing to whatever she wanted.

Milton stepped up to begin the meeting.

In addition to Barbara, Lena and Alex, another newcomer had been accepted, Dr. Emil Hamilton, currently under a research contract with Wayne Enterprises and an expert in gravitational anomalies.

Michael Holt had been talked out of his basement to come to the manor. William Magnus, Ray Palmer, Ted Kord, Silas Stone, and Ryan Choi were also present. Dr. Martin Stein’s absence was felt by all in the room. There was no sign of him beside his car. It was as if he had never existed.

Congressman Milton made introductions and began. “First of all, thank you all for agreeing to meet here and thank you, Miss Wayne, for allowing us to use Wayne Manor for this gathering.

“For those of you who are new, welcome to Black Book. You are joining the best and brightest, those who are called together to help this world in the event of an unexplained attack. The core group, including Dr. Stein, gathered three years ago and developed protocols in the event of alien invasion, first contact, meteors on a collision course with Earth, massive solar storms, and several other possible worst-case, world-ending scenarios.

“They even developed plans in the event Yellowstone National Park ever erupted. I believe the plan was to run.”

Hearing no laughter, Milton cleared his throat and continued. “When global disasters happen, you will all be called. We ask that you find a secure place to speak and a wireless signal. Our new members will be given a laptop and satellite hotspot to be used only when Black Book is activated. Keep this with you in a secure briefcase at all times if possible in the event you are not around a computer.

“Kara, the floor is yours.”

Kara stood. “Each of you have been given a bedroom. The bedrooms here are large and in each you will find multiple computers and monitors hooked up to all satellites available to us. We will have staff here twenty-four hours a day so whatever you need, just ask.

“I understand Lena and Alex will be working at S.T.A.R. Labs mostly, as that is the only place we can currently contain our one… subject. Barbara will be working out of Wayne Tower because she enjoys her own toys. This will be the command center, open to all of us for the next week or longer. We could have worked out of Wayne Tower but I felt we would all be more comfortable here.

“Any questions?”

No one said anything.

“Then I hand over the floor to our team leader, Dr. Silas Stone.”

“You aren’t the team leader?” Ray asked, obviously surprised. “According to our charter, I assumed with this being a radiation problem and Martin missing, the expert in physics would take the lead. That’s you.”

Kara shook her head. “You all know Silas is better at organizing large projects, bringing together different viewpoints and specialties… seeing the overall big picture. By our charter, I would be team leader after Dr. Stein and as team leader, I am passing command to Dr. Stone.

“Silas, the floor is yours.”

Kara had a seat and Silas cleared his throat.

“Thank you for your confidence, Kara… and you Ray.” He said, sneering at the man and causing the room to laugh.

Ray held up his hands, a big smile on his face.

“I was just asking. Taking orders from Kara is a lot nicer than taking orders from you. It’s like deciding if you want to deal with the good cop or bad cop.” Ray explained cheekily.

Silas smiled and winked at the man then began speaking, giving out individual and group goals. He was quick and thorough, and they split after ten minutes.

Lena and Alex would be driven to and from S.T.A.R. Labs each day by Wayne Security, staying in their assigned rooms at the manor each night, making it easier for the group to catch up in the evenings.

Before going to her room, Lena grabbed Kara gently then jerked her hand back.

“I’m so sorry. Is it okay to…”

“Touch me?” Kara guessed and Lena blushed, nodding.

“Yes, I have been doing much better.” Kara smiled, wanting to put Lena at ease. “My body has been responding to my treatments better than ever and my immune system is strong. Thank you for your concern.”

“I’m glad… I wanted to thank you.”

“For what?” Kara asked. “You are the one taking time out to work with us.”

Lena smirked, eyebrow raised at her deflection. “Kara, I know I wouldn’t be here if you didn’t want me to be. I would still be in National City in a hole in the ground being asked questions I didn’t have the answers to, over and over again. You pushed for me being included or it never would have happened.”

Kara smiled, Lena’s gratitude appreciated but not necessary. “I know you aren’t your brother. Blood doesn’t make family.”

Lena smiled, remembering Kara was adopted like she was. Two unwanted genius babies.

“Besides, I have wanted to work with you forever.” Kara continued. “I love your work. I have all your academic papers in the first-floor library. I’m glad we have this chance even if the events that brought us together suck.

“I hope this mess isn’t taking too much time away from your company. I expect quite a few medical miracles from you and Jack Spheer.”

Lena looked down for a moment then back at Kara. “I’m afraid I haven’t heard from Jack since this started. I’m honestly expecting a buyout offer. No one will want to work with a Luthor after what Lex has done.”

Kara shook her head, a huge smile lighting her face. “If they don’t, give me a call. I’ll fly with you.”

Lena’s face showed surprise and then she laughed. “Did you just quote Top Gun ?”

“See, I knew you would be great.” Kara exclaimed. “Pop quiz, what’s your favorite Doctor Who episode?”

“Rings of Akhaten .” Lena answered immediately.

“A Whovian.” Kara replied, pleased to learn of something they had in common. “I knew I was right about you. You are a proper scientist!”

Kara went to her room, the smile still on her face, glad she had brightened Lena’s day.

Kara felt for her. If anyone could understand what Lena was going through, it was Kara. She had been told that Victor Sage had landed in Uruguay and traveled to the location Emily Parlow had likely called from. He found her phone and a note telling Kara she would be in touch soon.

At least Lena had the advantage of not sharing blood with Lex. Kara had no such advantage when it came to Emily. She would not be judging Lena or anyone else for the sins of their family, adopted or blood. If she did, she would have to judge herself and that was something she didn’t want to do.

When she reached her room, she fired up her computer and looked over data from the day of the rift. It had become ingrained in her head, yet she still liked to look at it, the data, the tear, the outpouring of energy, the pockets where the energy had struck the Earth. She believed Bad Wolf had marked them all and there were over a thousand, ranging from a quarter mile in circumference to two miles wide.

She chuckled thinking about Lena being a Whovian. Every great scientist was.

As it was wont to do, her mind suddenly sped up when seemingly disparate ideas began to form a coherent whole.

Rings of Akhaten .

“I walked in universes where the laws of physics were devised by the mind of a mad man. ” Kara whispered, quoting the eleventh Doctor.

A thought crashed into her head out of the blue, triggered by that line.

“Athena, show me what happened when the tear closed. Was it an immediate closure and how long before the energy dissipated?”

The computer showed the tear, the satellites firing lasers then colliding with each other, forming a massive energy spike that affected gravity and magnetic fields.. The backlash was enough to close the tear and it had it closed immediately.

“Okay, the radiation held as long as it was attached to its home dimension. We know that. Why did the radiation lose form and dissipate? Maybe because it wasn’t a radiation cloud… it was a hand. What happened when the door slammed shut? The hand was cut off. Stop thinking of our rules and trying to make it work.

“A mad man reached into our universe, just like sticking your hand in a hole only for it to be cut off when a heavy blade drops on it. Once the hand is gone from the body, it is useless.”

Kara quickly moved the map of the blasts and mapped them, not according to time and strength but of area, demographics, population and power sources.

Despite the Earth being mostly water, ninety percent of the blasts occurred over land. Eighty-two percent occurred over heavily populated areas.

She ran the numbers over and over, broke out a marker and wrote on her walls, something that always annoyed Alfred but she loved doing. Soon her walls were lined in equations, her monitors were projecting the Earth in the center of the room, covered by a cloud and then another image, one that made sense.

She stuck her head out the door.

“Silas!” Kara yelled, her voice echoing through the manor.

Dig opened his door, wondering what the hell had happened. Diana, Steve and Hippolyta rushed to her side from the first floor where they had been relaxing in the sitting room.

She waved off their questions until Silas made it from the third floor where he had heard her yell.

“What is it?” he asked as she waved him inside.

The group weren’t sure what they were staring at. Diana wondered for a moment if Kara had fallen asleep and began writing on her walls because they were covered in equations.

Silas stared at them, not saying a word, but his eyes widened. He then turned to the glowing Earth projection in the middle of her workshop.

“I can’t believe this is possible.” he asked, amazed at what he was seeing.

“Someone explain to the idiots in the room what is possible?” Diana asked.

“This radiation cloud, it wasn’t a cloud. It was a hand.” Kara explained excitedly. “The bursts that hit the ground were targeted. They were fingers, or more like tentacles. Whatever this was, it wasn’t some random energy. A sentient being reached through that tear and purposely affected certain areas of the Earth. When we slammed the tear shut, it cut off the hand. The energy hand couldn’t hold itself together without the body so it dissipated immediately.”

“This wasn’t a random blast of energy.” Silas elaborated. “Some gigantic being we can’t understand reached through into our Universe and began targeting our planet. It changed whatever living beings it touched.”

“Changed into what? Giant mud puddles?” Diana asked.

“No. Yes. Maybe… but probably not. It most likely changed people’s DNA or cellular structure.” Kara explained. “We have been looking at this like random lightning bolts. They were actually tentacles, touching areas where people were and changing them into… I don’t know… that’s for Alex and Lena to determine.”

Silas smiled widely and put an arm around Kara.

“Is this really possible?” Steve asked. “A giant beast from another dimension reached into our universe and began changing people it touched?”

“Of course, it’s possible.” Silas said irritated at the question. “Look at the equations on the wall! She spelled it out for you!”

Dig and Steve looked at each other and Dig shrugged. “Yeah, Steve, she spelled it out for you, idiot.”

“This changes things. Nothing is random and we aren’t looking for random radiation pockets. We are looking at cellular structures of pure energy, something that hasn’t even been theorized but here it is. Now that we know it is sentient, we can get some real work done. I’m calling a team meeting in the ballroom in ten minutes. Good job, Kara. That’s my girl.” Silas patted her on the back and ran from the room.

Diana smiled at her fondly. “I’m proud of you.”

“What’s the latest from the search in Peru?” Kara asked.

Diana’s smile fell and she looked at Dig.

“Nothing yet, Kara.” Dig told her solemnly. “They are searching thoroughly. The rest of the staff, the research documents and computers from the lab are on their way back to Gotham. As far as Pamela, they have been searching for forty-eight hours. They haven’t found a sign. The two bodies of the security guards have been… cut down and are enroute to S.T.A.R. Labs for Lena and Alex to study in more detail.”

Kara sighed, not happy. “We lost Parlow and we can’t find a sweet, shy scientist who wanted to change the world into a garden of paradise. We have been on a winning streak, haven’t we?”

“Kara, they haven’t given up.” Dig assured her.

“They should. Bring them back.” She told him. “We both know if she hasn’t been found by now, she won’t be. If she was under one of those blasts, and only her clothes are remaining, she could… we have to figure out what is happening to people. Maybe figuring it out is the key to finding out what happened to Pam and Martin.

“Things with them don’t make sense. I don’t understand why Martin’s clothes would be gone with his body and Pam’s clothes were left behind. Maybe we can make headway studying the bodies merged with trees, the mud guy and hopefully some other victims will step forward. For now, all we can do is keep working the problem.”

Kara made it to the ballroom and shared her findings. Lena and Alex were on video and became very excited. This changed the entire approach they would now take to solving this problem. It likely saved weeks of work, time they didn’t have.

After the meeting, she went to the first-floor kitchen for juice then was making her way back to her room when she was stopped by Ryan Choi in the parlor.

“Hey, we haven’t really had time to talk, with the world ending stuff. It’s been a while.” He greeted her.

“It’s been three years since we attended the Black Book conference. A year before that, we were together for one weekend, had a good time and you avoided me from that point on.”

Ryan looked around and leaned towards her.

“You were the one who left on Sunday afternoon and told me it was a good experiment!” he whispered.

“It was! At least I thought it was, and we were friends, then you go out of your way to avoid me!” She retorted.

“Do you have any idea what your sister put me through after you left?” He asked, his voice actually squeaking in disbelief. “I’ve never been so scared in my life and I went to a high school that excelled at football!”

Kara shrugged. “That’s my fault?”

“She is your crazy sister so yeah, kind of your fault.” He said, exasperated.

Kara started laughing and Ryan relaxed, chuckling along with her.

“Fair point. I should have guessed she would know. She always knows. All things considered, you probably got off lightly.” Kara admitted, her eyes sparkling in mischief. “Anyway, we will have to catch up after this is all done.”

Ryan rolled his eyes. “Crazy, right? Some Lovecraftian monster reached into our universe and began touching people, doing who knows what to them. What’s scary is that if we could open up a tear, what is stopping a sentient being on that side from doing the same?”

Kara sighed. “I guess it’s a good thing you are looking into how to prevent that, right?”

Ryan nodded. “I’ll figure it out. Though in all honesty, you will probably figure it out first. We could work together.

“Speaking of together, I was reading the news before all this happened. There was some chemical attack in Gotham. The news said you were visiting a boyfriend in the hospital?”

Kara shrugged. “Yeah, we haven’t had a chance to work it out. After the radiation storm, I made sure he was okay but I’ve been working ever since. We are… close.”

“He’s a cop. You are involved with a cop.” Ryan said, trying not to sound condescending but failing.

Kara nodded, oblivious to his patronizing tone. “Yeah. A very brave, foolish one who drives me mad but is a really good kisser.”

“He is?”

“Yes. Why? Do you want to kiss him?” She asked, head tilted quizzically.

Ryan rolled his eyes. “No… I just don’t see what the two of you could have in common.”

“We both like fast American muscle cars and guns. Other than that, not much at all. He’s sarcastic, cocky, foolishly brave, reckless, very handsome, has a great body and isn’t intimidated by anyone. What’s not to love? He just… he does it for me. He is like no guy I’ve ever met.” Kara said, a dreamy look in her eyes.

Ryan’s eyes were wide, listening to her description. “That’s the kind of guy who… does it for you?”

“He chased a serial killer into an abandoned steel mill and got into a gunfight with him, then beat the hell out of the guy. I was angry at the time but now that I’m not so worried, I have to admit, it’s kind of hot.” She admitted. “He also went face to face with Crane. He’s taken on Russian slavers, patrols the Narrows… yeah, he is pretty amazing.”

Kara smiled widely, thinking more about Blake. “We are going out on a date, after I figure out what the big, scary, interdimensional monster did to humans.”

Ryan nodded. Wanting to impress her, he offered, “I’ve made first generation microorganisms that could bond with blood cells and manipulate sizes of them. If I can get these microorganisms to also bond with DNA and allow the mind complete control of them, I could… Kara, are you listening?”

Kara shook her head. “Sorry, you got me thinking about John. What were you saying?”

The man sighed. “Nothing important. Just a really complex, never before attempted project that will make history one day.”

“That’s nice. We should get back to work.” Kara told him.

Ryan gave her a thumbs up and Kara walked away. She didn’t hear him mumbling about athletic, muscular simpletons getting the hot girls as she left.

---

S.T.A.R. Labs

Lena and Alex stood side by side, staring into a glass domed room where a puddle of clay named Basil Karlo sat, or lay, spread out on the floor.

So far, the one sample they had received of his makeup was in a jar and showed outstanding features. Despite having the same chemical makeup as normal clay, there was also an unidentified element to the sample, cells that continued to move, seemingly drawn like a magnet back to him. When he could talk, concentrate hard enough to form a mouth, he explained that he could feel the missing piece and wanted it back.

“Sentient being, giant hand, manipulating human DNA and cells.” Alex repeated, working through what they now knew about the extradimensional energy.

“He doesn’t have DNA.” Lena mentioned. “He doesn’t really have a brain, or blood or a digestive system or a nervous system yet he can feel. These cells… you are the mutation expert. Have fun with that.”

Alex smirked, appreciating her humor. “You are stuck in this mud pit with me. A sentient life form, reached through and turned humans into clay? This is from another dimension. Who is to say, this other dimension has lifeforms that need blood, or brains or digestive or reproductive organs? He may be a fully formed interdimensional mutant, something akin to what serves as a lifeform in that dimension.”

Lena pondered that thought, staring at the clay glob on the floor of the containment room.

“Let’s start with a hypothesis.” Lena suggested. “We have no reports from those who were struck and not affected or affected in a less extreme manner than Basil. Some, like the bodies enroute from Peru, attempted some transformation but were merged with their surroundings instead. Dr. Isley is gone, only her clothes left behind. Dr. Stein is gone without a trace. No other extreme mutations like this one have been reported.”

“So what if there were environmental factors that played a role in the particular type of mutation?” Lena asked. “Maybe the effect on humans had to do with something in the environment.”

Alex caught her train of thought and pressed the intercom. “Basil. I need you to focus now. I need you to answer a question and honesty is important. Your life may depend on it.”

The strange freaky eyes on top of the mound moved towards the glass, then mud covered them. The pile began shifting and a slit appeared on top, resembling a mouth.

“Ask.” A tinny sound came from the speaker.

“Basil what were you doing when you were struck?” Alex asked, turning up the volume as much as possible and reading the words on the screen that acted as subtitles.

“Dr. Roland Daggett… Re Nu. Lab… Daggett.” Came the reply.

The two looked at each other.

“Roland Daggett, Re Nu Lab.” Alex repeated. “Should we call?”

Lena smirked. “We have a big, fancy, armored, luxury SUV and a security team. Let’s visit his lab. I think we will get some answers. Besides, I have a feeling we need to see this lab. We need to call Silas. I would bet this Re Nu lab was the sight of one of the lightning blasts.”

“If it is, it could go towards confirming your hypothesis when considered with the victims we have inbound.” Alex agreed.

“Time to investigate our first big lead, Partner.” Lena said. Despite the tragedy, despite the lives lost and her family name being forever tarnished, the thrill of the chase was bringing her new life. For the first time since this had happened, she was not depressed or frightened of what the future would hold. While she mourned, she also had a mission and that was all that mattered now.

---

Metropolis

Selina Kyle walked out onto the balcony of her apartment and handed Bruce a drink then had a seat next to him.

“Talk. You have walked into my home, not ravished me, made yourself at home on my balcony and now… what?”

“Just have had a lot on my mind lately and needed a break from Gotham. You were so easy to find, I didn’t think you would mind me stopping over. I actually have a job at the Wayne Foundation but with the events of the past week, only essential personnel are working, meaning I already have a vacation. There are some things I wanted to look into here anyway. I was going to check into a hotel but thought I would say hello first.”

Selina snorted. “Look into, huh? Like the Russian slavers that have moved from Gotham to Metropolis docks?”

Bruce shook his head. “That’s a police matter.”

“Then you have given up dressing like a bat and beating them nearly to death? That’s too bad. I was becoming a fan.” Selina said nonchalantly.

Bruce sighed and dropped his head, thought of denying it for a split second but knew it was pointless.

Selina looked amused at his immediate capitulation. “Come on, Bruce, I keep my ear to the ground in Gotham and especially the criminal underworld. You are doing what you always wanted to do. You’ve got what criminals remain in Gotham frightened to come out at night. I guess in those six years away, you became a lot better fighter. The Bruce I knew couldn’t take more than two men, much less six or more armed men. I’ve been impressed.”

He chuckled. “I’m not doing a good job with the whole secret identity thing.”

Selina waved off his concern. “Of course, you are. Everyone with a cheap gun and bad intentions wants to know who the Batman really is, but no one suspects you. You are still the spoiled Wayne kid who took a long vacation while his sisters worked hard and saved the world. Bruce Wayne is still a loser. No worries there.”

Bruce scowled at her and downed his drink.

“You know I would never say a word, just like I know you would never try to take me in.” Selina told him. “Face it, Bruce, we are too intwined in each other’s lives. Since we have a moment where we aren’t fighting or ripping the other’s clothes off, tell me where you have been. Tell me everything.”

Bruce sat back and grabbed the bottle between them, pouring another drink of bourbon.

“Everything?” He asked with a little trepidation.

Selina nodded.

“It doesn’t paint me in the best light.” Bruce admitted.

“I’ve always preferred you in the shadows.” Selina reminded him. “My brave dark knight was much more interesting than the rich pretty boy you were when the best light was shining on you.”

Bruce shrugged and figured why not. Selina knew his secret, probably had since she first heard of Batman. She knew his old phobia and she knew what he did on the streets as a teen. If Gordon had figured it out, Selina would have had no problem either.

Bruce began talking, starting with the moment he left and continuing to his return to Gotham. He told her about the arms and slavery rings he’d broken up, taking out China White but left out important information.

He told her nothing about Diana’s knowledge of his activities though he was sure she suspected. Diana controlled too much of Gotham for him to ever do something like this under her nose. He didn’t tell her about Gordon or Blake. He left Crane out of the discussion. He did his best to make it seem as if he only went after international organized crime in Gotham and the occasional street punk.

“Do I need to be jealous of this Talia?” Selina asked.

Bruce laughed. “Everything I told you and that’s what you want to know?”

“I’ve never like sharing my toys.” Selina remarked, eyebrow raised. “I don’t care that you trained with assassins. You aren’t a killer, Bruce. You aren’t your sisters.”

Bruce almost objected to being called her toy until he soaked in what else she said. “What are you talking about?”

Selina smirked. “About you sisters? C’mon Bruce, the only difference between Diana and a crime boss is her money is legit and her reach is global.”

“You said sisters. What the hell does Kara have to do with anything?” he asked, becoming immediately defensive. “She isn’t like me or Diana.”

“No, she has a lot more blood on her hands than Diana ever will. You watch the news, Bruce. You aren’t blind or deaf. You know what people call her in the Middle East.

“Every time there is some drone attack that the U.S. claims only killed terrorists and no innocents were harmed, there are protests. She makes these deadly weapons and puts them in the hands of people who will use them to kill any innocents so long as their target is dead.”

“She sells weapons to the military. She doesn’t use them. She has no control over that.” Bruce argued.

“She is called ‘Lady Death’ overseas. Arabs call her Tajir Almot, or ‘Death Dealer’. Do you have any idea how many extreme factions and even legitimate nations want her dead? Yes, someone else would sell the U.S. weapons if she were gone but no one could do it so well. The greatest mind in history creates the greatest weapons of war in history. One day, she will be just like her big sister. The great businesswoman, Diana Wayne, runs the world like a crime boss and you… you dress like a bat and beat criminals.”

“And you?” Bruce accused.

“I’m a thief. Not much more to me than that. I always have been and I always will be.” Selina admitted easily.

“That’s why Metropolis police raided a Russian hideout two nights ago on an anonymous tip and found the girls safe, the Russians beat to hell, restrained and mumbling about a masked woman in black using a whip?”

Selina shrugged. “Sounds like a dominatrix gone wild to me. Maybe they tried to kidnap the wrong woman?”

Bruce stared at her, and she felt the weight of his gaze. “Fine, I have a problem with girls being taken as slaves, okay? I heard the Russians were using these docks since you and GCPD closed the Gotham port.”

Bruce chuckled, then sighed. “What did you know about my father?”

Selina shook her head. “I never met him, as you well know.”

Bruce sighed. “I’m betting you know how even Falconè was afraid of him. How Dad took his family. I know that. Did you know that?”

Selina nodded. “You grow up on the streets, you learn the history. You learn who to mess with and who not to mess with. Don’t boost Falconè’s cars, don’t mess with the Waynes because Thomas Wayne will eat you alive.

“Falconè was afraid of him. Thomas Wayne was one of those guys you didn’t mess with.”

“What else did you hear about him?” Bruce pressed.

“What does it matter? Your Dad left organized crime alone as long as they left him alone. When Diana took over, she didn’t leave them alone. She did what the mob was always afraid your dad would do. He was what he was.” She told him. “What’s going on with you, Bruce?”

He sighed, not sure. “I guess I’m trying to figure him out. As a kid, we have this idea about who our parents were. As an adult, we ask questions. I guess even after six years away, I’m still trying to find myself and thought starting with the people it began with would give me answers.”

“You are living at Wayne Manor again, aren’t you? How are you going to find out who you are, when you surrounded by everything Diana is? Get out on your own, buy your own place, hopefully nicer than Falconè’s old lair. You say you are working at the Wayne Foundation, so I guess you are trying to follow your mother’s footsteps. Find a place near there. Six years away and you return to the same place you escaped from to find yourself. Haven’t you figured it out, Bruce? Everybody in that house becomes what Diana wants them to be eventually.

“You may think your little sister is innocent but in a few years she is going to be a blonde copy of Diana… unless she colors her hair to match Diana’s. Kara won’t be wearing old jeans and boy band t-shirts. She will be wearing designer dresses, have manicured nails, and heels like they are extensions of her feet. She will make world leaders shaky in the knees.

“What has Kara always wanted more than anything while she was growing up?”

“To be healthy.” Bruce told her.

Selena shook her head. “She has always wanted to be Diana, health and all. Whether you like it or not, it’s already happening. Get out of that house or you will have a front row seat to watch your sweet little sister turn into who she wants to be.”

Bruce sighed and leaned back, then poured another drink, then another as he pondered her words.

Was it true? Would Kara eventually become as dark as him and Diana? Mom and Dad would have never wanted that but they weren’t here. That perfect world Dad wanted Diana to provide for Kara was crashing down, despite her best efforts to prop it up. She had no way of keeping Kara isolated as she grew, especially after joining the company.

The fact of the matter was Kara loved weapons. Creating them had been her favorite projects since their mom and dad died. She was fascinated by guns, by the idea that if their dad had one, both he and mom would be alive. While Bruce was afraid of guns, wanted nothing to do with them, Kara began to make them better, more powerful, more resilient and Diana allowed her to do so.

Diana wouldn’t let Kara learn to fight so she felt that building weapons in controlled circumstances would be a good way for Kara to work out her anger. One thing he had slowly figured out since his return was his blonde‑haired, little sister’s bright smile hid a lot of anger.

He thought about his own batsuit and the tactical suit she had made for Dig that he wore in Themyscira, the incredible weapons he carried there. Dig was an unstoppable soldier who fought monsters and returned without a scratch because he was outfitted by Kara.

He wasn’t privy to most of her projects, but she had the United States Military and intelligence agencies in love with her in a way they had never loved another person or company. What wonders… or monstrosities, had she created for them?

He knew she made guns, fighter jets, tanks and body armor and those drones she had been fascinated with for as long as he could remember. Her drones, and her satellites were dangerous. All the current generation of Wayne Enterprise satellites had been designed by her and he knew those satellites were not orbiting the Earth sending out weather reports or Wi-Fi signals to share the internet with the world.

The same girl that could build revolutionary farming equipment and household appliances could destroy the world if she wanted to.

Together, Diana and Kara were a force the likes of which the world had never seen. Kara calmed Diana and Diana made Kara tougher. So, what would happen when Kara became a copy of Diana?”

He and Selina sat in a comfortable silence, watching the Metropolis skyline come to life while each was lost in their own thoughts. Metropolis was a beautiful city that Bruce knew would soon fall into economic ruin.

LuthorCorp was a building block of Metropolis economy and it was gone, defunct, a building with no employees, a company that prided itself on innovation with no innovators.

In a few years, maybe less, S.T.A.R. Labs would be gone, obsolete, replaced by the as yet unnamed research lab Diana would begin construction on as soon as the last remnants of Arkham Asylum were gone. It would be completely funded by government contracts she would no doubt get and be the most respected research lab in the world.

Everything his twin sister ever wanted was coming true. She had taken over the world. A part of him was happy… another part was completely terrified.

As he continued to watch Metropolis, he could plainly see the city’s fall. Much of the workforce in Metropolis would seek employment just down the interstate at one of the major factories now being constructed to make the projects in Kara’s mind become reality. Many would tire of the commute and move to Gotham City. Contractors having no new businesses or houses to build would flock to Gotham, looking to develop middle to high class living communities in and around the city. Most likely though, Diana would retain ownership of the land, given the company owned the majority of it, and take a portion of the profits while putting in no Wayne Enterprises assets. She was brilliant that way.

Everything she had ever wanted for Gotham and for Wayne Enterprises, everything she talked about when they were teenagers was coming true. He had to admit, as jealous as he had been of her at times in their life, what she accomplished in a few short years was awe inspiring. She never used the enhanced physical abilities she possessed, the ones he wished he had so many times in his life. She used her brain, her wits, her gut feelings and her ruthlessness.

Gotham City was rapidly growing into what she had always wanted it to become.

Arkham City was gone, Crime Alley was gone and the downtown area was booming. Despite the often-gloomy weather, Gotham was becoming a paradise for the middle and upper class.

That left the Narrows. He knew if he wanted to save the one refuge for the lower class, it would take more than fists. That was why he was working for the center to be built, that was why he would champion these people.

No one else would. They would be forced into Metropolis, a dying city that could well become what Gotham had been for the past few decades. He would work to give them opportunities so they too could have better lives for themselves and their families, so they could maybe achieve their dreams.

“I’ve got plans to revitalize the Narrows.” Bruce said, breaking the long silence.

Selina snorted and looked at him as if he had lost his mind. “Revitalize? When was it vitalized in the first place?”

Bruce admitted to himself she had a point. “It has to become better.”

“Right, because Diana has closed down Arkham City, Crime Alley, cleaned up downtown and forced dealers, homeless, street girls all into Bludhaven and the Narrows. My bet is she has her eyes set on the Narrows next before she sets about killing a separate city like Bludhaven which is too close to comfort to Gotham.”

“Not if we can turn the area into something livable. We can provide the people there education, medical services, job training, jobs…”

“Who is we? You and Diana?” Selina asked incredulously. “Something tells me educating and rehabilitating the people of the Narrows isn’t on her to do list, no matter how many free kitchens and shelters the Wayne Foundation sets up.”

Bruce leaned back and smiled. “I was thinking more like me and you.”

Selina stared at him for a moment with wide eyes then laughed. “I told you, I am a thief. That’s it. I am no social worker.”

“You are more than a thief if you are staying in Metropolis, doing what you are doing. Not much of a profit in taking down the Russian mob.” Bruce said.

“I don’t think so. I think you can handle this on your own. But it makes me wonder… maybe the reason you don’t know much about your father is because you are more like your mother.” Selina told him. “Did I ever tell you I met her once?”

Bruce was surprised. In all the years he had known Selina, she had never mentioned that.

Selina smiled fondly. “It was one of my earliest memories. I was in an orphanage, I can’t even remember where or how old I was. Maybe four or five. It was Christmas and we were opening the one present somebody donated to a toy drive. I got a box of Hot Wheels.

“Then Martha Wayne comes in with a big red sack and four or five other women followed behind her. They had food and presents… so many presents and the turkey and dressing… it was amazing.

“She didn’t just drop off the food. She stayed and ate with us. She even let me sit on her lap because I was too short to reach across the table and grab refills. Then she sat on the floor and handed out presents. The girls all got red paper and the boys got green. She held one back for me. It was this giant stuffed cat. It was so fluffy and warm. She also gave me a pretty necklace which I still have, but I loved that cat most of all.

“I slept with that cat every night. I never lost it. Even after it had gotten old and I had to sew its eyes back on over and over, it traveled everywhere with me. I named her Melody Martha Kyle.”

Bruce was fascinated, listening to her story and wondering why she had never mentioned it before but the answer was simple. Even though they were close growing up, even though she was closer to him than anyone, Selina was a very guarded person.

“Where is it now?”

Selina jerked her thumb behind her. “On my bed. I still sleep with her. I never told you… I always put it away when you came over because it was mine. That was the only motherly thing anyone ever did for me in my life. It was my memory, and I didn’t want to share it with anybody… not even you.

“I never saw her again. She visited different orphanages every Christmas and after a few years I had ditched the foster system as you know, took to the streets and a life of crime. My heart broke and I cried when I heard she had died. I kept my distance but I was at the funeral, or at least in the cemetery watching from a tree.”

Selina paused for a moment, reflecting on those private moments she had always held close to her heart, her eyes a little glassy. “She was a good woman, Bruce. If anyone could save the Narrows, it would have been her. Now you can do it… as that good woman’s son, you can take up another mantle to help people, one that doesn’t involve using your fists. You don’t need me.

“But first, you need to stop trying to live up to your Dad’s example and live up to hers.”

Bruce stood up and walked inside. He stopped outside her bedroom door.

“May I?”

Selina nodded, so he walked inside and found a stuffed Calico cat in the middle of her bed, its head peeking out from the covers.

He reached down and picked it up, impressed by the softness it still retained after all these years. He imagined his mother handing this to a young Selina, the young girl sitting on her lap at the dinner table. She had never really known Selina but made such a huge impression on the little girl that she kept a keepsake of her all these years later. His mother made it the one Christmas an orphaned little girl looked back on with joy in her heart.

“I miss her so much.” He whispered.

Selina wrapped her arms around him from behind. “I miss living in a world where someone like her exists. Your sisters aren’t evil, Bruce. But they will never be her… not even Kara. You could though. You could be that guy that makes some orphan’s Christmas one they never forget. As I said, you don’t need me or this masked persona. You just need to be her son.

“Speaking of your masked persona, I have a lead on a possible hide out for six girls taken in the past week. Did you bring your scary suit? Maybe you can’t make an orphan’s Christmas tonight but you can help me save some girls from a fate worse than death.”

An hour later, ten Russians sat at two tables playing poker. The girls they were in charge of were sedated and bound in a holding cage. They were in an abandoned factory not even homeless people bothered to investigate.

The girls wouldn’t be shipped out until the next week but considering some mystery woman had taken down another crew, security had been doubled at this site. From what they understood, it was some skinny broad that had taken down an entire crew with no help.

“You think she will make an appearance?” one asked.

“Not if she wants to live. Maybe she will be hot and we can sell her with the rest.” another said.

Two bat-shaped shuriken landed on the tables in the middle of a pile of chips. The men’s eyes widened.

“It’s the damn bat!” One of the thugs whispered. “He isn’t supposed to be here. He’s always stuck to Gotham!”

The shuriken glowed and then flashed, the bright light as strong as a stun grenade. They scrambled away from the tables, blinded.

When they began to regain their vision, some reached for their guns, only to find them in pieces on the floor.

The ten men regained their footing and stood shakily.

In front of them stood the Batman and the woman in black, her claws gleaming brightly and a very long whip in her hands.

“I think you mean the cat and the bat.” Catwoman told them just before she and Batman attacked.