Account Two
*The Trial*

"Homework, homework, la-di-da," Tim Drake mumbled two days after Batman left as he sat at a table, working on math homework. He stared slowly out the kitchen window to his father, Jack Drake, who was talking to Mrs. Mac. "Why can't I go out?" Tim whined towards the window. "It's such a awesome day and tonight's supposed to be sooo clear, perfect for roof-running. Maybe I can convince him to let me stay home tonight. Stupid parent/teacher conferences."
Jack noticed Tim staring at him and waved for him to go outside. Tim sighed and set his pencil down. Slowly, he made his way out to him.
"Tim, I was thinking. I'd really like to talk to your teachers alone, so you get to stay home-"
"All right!"
"AND… And you're going to do work on the roof."
'Not the type of roof-running I had in mind,' he thought.
"Dad!!!" he yelled, not happy.
"I know, I know. You're not happy. But as I recall, you're in just a bit of trouble with me."
"Can't you HIRE someone to do it?!"
"I could, but I want YOU to do it. Finish your homework and then get some old clothes on. You're going to start stripping away the old part of the roof."
"Yes, Sir…"
He turned and headed for the house.
'This is unreal! The coolest night of this year yet, and he's making me work on the ROOF!'
He entered the house and turned on the kitchen TV as he went back to work.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" a familiar voice yelled. Tim's eyes widened and he spun around to the TV. There, on the screen, was the grinning Clown Prince of Crime himself. "Hello and good evening! As you all sit around and get ready for tonight's meal, I shall announce MY plans for the evening! Haha! Because it's such a BEAUTIFUL day, I'm going to kidnap someone to enjoy a nice, beautiful dinner and night on Gotham! Actually, I've all ready got her!"
The camera moved from his face to the gagged face of Barbara Gordon.
"Barbara!!" Tim cried out.
The camera went back to the Joker.
"Now, since the Batman has been a no-show in Gotham for the last few days, but my favorite Birdboy has, I'm challenging YOU Robin! Not to save Miss Gordon, because you know as well as I that I've done enough to the dear physically." He glanced over his shoulder. "By the way, you do look just faboo in that chair, Babette." She growled as he looked to the camera once more. "She'll be let free after she has dinner with ME. But, young man… I challenge you to try to catch me. Me and the feisty Gordon shall have dinner and I'll deliver her straight to Dear Ol' Daddy, then you and me get it on! HAHAHA! Phantoms and birdies singing together!! Weeee!"
The screen went blank. Tim's eyes were huge in fright for Barbara's safety.
'Batman's gone in Bludhaven because Nightwing's missing. He won't know what's going on here. I'm going to have to do this myself.'
"Tim, if you're done with your homework, get started on the roof!" Jack yelled from outside as he got into the car.
'Screw the roof,' Tim thought, watching him. 'Oracle's more important than the roof.'

Robin stood in the shadows of a first floor office by the front of the GCPD head quarters, staring out the window. Now, the sky had clouded up and looked like it was going to rain, or even snow, even though it was only late September. Commissioner Gordon sat at his desk, his hands folded together on the desktop. Robin looked at him.
"The Joker won't hurt her. This is too important to him. But if he does, I swear to God I'll take him down," he informed.
Gordon nodded slowly, but didn't reply. Robin sighed and looked at a clock across the office.
'It's 7:30, they should be here.'
Squealing tires could be heard outside followed by a cry and large crash. Robin ran out the door and outside, followed by Gordon. Barbara was on the ground, her wheel chair beside her. They could hear the Joker's maniacal laugh fade into the distance.
Robin sprung down the stairs to her and helped her sit up.
"Are you all right, Barbara?" he asked gently.
"He's mad because I didn't eat," she moaned, rubbing her head.
Gordon sat her chair up and helped Robin get her in it.
"It's okay, sweetie… I'm so sorry…" he whispered, hugging her.
"It's all right, there was nothing you could do," she said soothingly.
"The Joker's gotten done with the "dramatic pause", so now he's going to start the main event," Gordon said, looking to Robin. Or at least he attempted to. Robin was nowhere in sight. Barbara crossed her arms, and he sighed. "The boy is getting as good as the Batman."

'All right, Joker. That was REALLY uncool what you did. Barb isn't part of this, she never was. Batgirl, maybe, but not Barbara,' Robin thought as he ran quickly down the street. 'You've given me a hint in that broadcast. At least, it better have been a hint.' He stopped in front of the large Gotham Theatrics Building and Opera Theater. On the front doors, a large purple and white smile was painted on it. 'Yep. It was a hint.'
He walked cautiously for the doors, pulling his bo-staff out. With a deep breath, he entered. The center place was abandoned and silent. It was almost unnatural, the silence that was in it. Every step he took echoed throughout the building. No matter how slowly or how softly he stepped, it still had a conspicuous ring.
There was a soft whimper to the side. It sounded like a human girl. He walked towards it and saw, that in the walk way of some seats was a teenage girl, about his age.
'What is SHE doing here?' he thought. 'Maybe he put her there as another clue.'
He went and knelt beside her, shaking her gently. Her eyes opened and looked at him.
"Miss? Are you all right?"
"Oh… Oh God… He's-He's got my father! That-that clown!" she cried, sitting up and gripping his sleeves.
"Okay, okay! Calm down!" he said, seeing a gash on her head.
"Nuh-no! He told me… To wait for YOU! To-to tell you that he's downstairs, close to Hell! With my father!"
'The dude's setting this UP for me. Giving me REASONS to follow him anywhere, including the gates of Hell.'
"He's in the basement of this place? But I heard it flooded because the sewer line busted!"
"I-I know!"
"Okay, okay… Who's your father?"
"Derek Knight!"
'Derek Knight. A minor politician with a lot of friends. Great.'
"All right, now listen," Robin said, standing. He brought her to her feet. "I want you to go call the GCPD and ask for Detective Renee Montoya, okay? Tell her where you are, that you saw me, and that the Joker is here. In fact, just…" He was trying to explain it so she'd remember. "Call the GCPD, as for Detective Montoya and tell her everything you told me. Go!"
She nodded and ran off. Robin ran for a stair well, deep in thought.
'He's playing with me until he gets me right where he wants me. And he's going to take down everyone he needs to do it.' He ran down the well and into the basement, immediately ending up in knee-high sewage. 'Ewww, I heard 'Phantom of the Opera' had been cancelled because of this weakening the foundation, but it didn't know it was THIS bad.'
"Ick," he moaned aloud, wading through it. "The Joker's right where he belongs…"
He perked up, hearing the Joker laugh in the distance, down aways in a semi-dark corridor. Heavily, he ran that way, but stopped.
'No, not that way. It's the "Law of Collective Halls" as Dick calls it. Nightwing and I argued about this for hours, and it ended up, he was right.'
He turned and saw an even darker hall nearby.
"That way," he whispered, running for it through the dirty water.
He started to use his staff to lift up, out of the water some, and through, so he could move quicker. When he got about ten feet into the hallway, he had to hug the wall to make his way down. It was so dark, he couldn't see a thing. Normally, he would use his night-vision, but he wanted to try to save the batteries.
With a slight 'oof', he bumped into what felt like a body. He turned on the night-vision to look at who was there, ready to fight. But he gasped, drawing back.
"AH!" he cried, tripping.
Hanging there was a man with a huge, irregular smile, his eyes huge and bulging. Robin had fallen into the mucky water, but quickly stood.
"Please don't be who I think you are," he whispered, walking over.
After dumping water out of his gloves, he searched for a wallet. He found it and sighed, reading the name.
'Derek Knight… Poor girl.'
The lights in the hall flashed on. Robin screamed out in pain as the light blinded him. He blindly shut off the night vision and dropped the wallet.
"You came!" the Joker laughed, skipping out in a fisherman's outfit. "I am SO glad! I was afraid our scheduled clown and bird chase would have to be cancelled due to a no-show!"
Robin blinked hard, trying to regain his vision. He backed into a wall to keep steady, and so any possible attack that could be made, wouldn't come from behind.
"Why did you kill him, Joker?!" he yelled.
"The man wouldn't shut up about his daughter! God, do you know how annoying it gets when people just keep BEGGING for their kids lives?! GEEZ! Well, with exception of Batzboy. Then again, he doesn't plead. He kicks the hell out of ya and saves the day! Haha! But, tonight, that's not going to happen, is it? Because BATMAN is out of TOWN!!"
Robin regained his sight back just in time as the Joker slammed a crow bar into his chest. He doubled over, and the Joker elbowed him in the back. Robin fell to his knees. Casually, the Joker grabbed him by the hair and shoved his head into the water. Robin held what little breath he could. He grabbed the Joker's feet and pulled as hard as he possibly could. The Joker fell back, but kept his grip on Robin's hair. Robin went with his hand to avoid a possible bald spot. He fell on the Joker and elbowed him in the chest. The Joker went under, finally letting go of his hair. He shoved away as the Joker resurfaced and lunged for him. He swung both feet up and slammed them into his chest, kicking him back. Robin sprung to his feet and went on guard. They both heard cops running for them quickly. The Joker stood and bowed.
"See ya across town, little kid!" he said.
He saluted as purple smoke surrounded him. When it faded, he was gone.
"That's a new one," Robin said, running a hand through his wet hair.
"Hey, kid!" he heard Harvey Bullock call. He turned as he ran up with other cops. "What happened?! You lose 'im or somethin'?!"
Robin stripped off a glove and held it in front of Bullock's face.
"Smell my gloves."
"Uck! Kid!"
Bullock backed away. Robin slid the glove back on and glared at him.
"Now that I have your attention, he killed that man. It's Derek Knight, the politician. Now, excuse me."
Robin turned and ran down the way the Joker went (or, the way the water was moving) without saying another word.
'I lost my staff in the fight with the Joker. I'm dizzy from that nice, cozy battle I just had. And to top it all off, I lost the clown. How in the HELL does someone lose a grinning, homicidal psychopath fool?! Only YOU could pull off something like this, Tim. Only you. God.'
He jogged up some stairs and out a small door, into an alley. The alley was lifeless, but there were tire tracks on the ground from burning rubber. Robin remembered the Joker saying, 'See ya across town, little kid!'.
"That's near Arkham. CRAP!" he exclaimed aloud, running.

Sleet pounded hard on windowpanes of a large, equipment filled "garage". In the center of all the junk was a computer that was glowing as someone worked on it. The figure was large and black. It's eyes glowed a bright white.
"Come on, Dick. Where are you?" the Batman whispered.
He leaned one elbow on the desk and leaned his chin on his hand. Rapidly, he searched file after file for some clue as to where Dick Grayson AKA Nightwing vanished.
"Batman," Oracle's voice said through the speakers.
Batman grabbed a headset and slipped it on.
"Oracle, where have you been?" he asked, still typing.
"Out. Sorry. Now-what's that sound?" she asked, hearing the pelting ice-rain.
"Sleet."
"Oh. Okay, now, listen. I've searched all Bludhaven surveillance recordings, and not so much as a vigilante shadow was recorded."
"Nothing?"
"Not Dick Grayson, not Nightwing. You sure someone didn't murder him?"
"Don't joke… I haven't ruled it out of the possibilities yet."
There was a long, uneasy pause. Then, Oracle coughed slightly.
"The Joker escaped."
"Has he?"
"Yes. But from Robin's last check-in, he's got it under control and is working with the GCPD to get him."
"Something tells me you weren't just "out", Oracle."
"You're right, but that's not the problem now. We need to find Dick. I've contacted the Titans again, but they still haven't heard anything. They're helping me search airports, and New York recordings right now."
"You're getting help?"
"Do I hear sarcasm?"
"Keep looking. Batman out."

Robin sat, leaning against a tree, catching his breath and recuperating. Off in the distance was Arkham Asylum. Now, Gotham City had turned chilly due to frosty winds that were coming in. After he was rested, he started to run for the asylum.
'Stupid weather man,' he thought as he ran. 'I told Oracle that I had things under control. I told her I was working with the cops. I TOLD her I was doing just fine… All three are wrong. I've lost the Joker, Bullock's angry with me AND heading up this case, and I really need Batman here. Unfortunately, I'm afraid this time, if Batman shows up prematurely, the Joker might call it "interference with the game" and kill someone. From the last radio signal I got from the police, the Joker and his band of hired goons have actually taken Arkham hostage… I really need a car again.'
And then came the sleet. As he came to the large, ancient building, he had to shield his head from the pounding ice.
"Stupid, freakin' weather man!" he yelled to himself.
He ran up the long staircase to the huge front doors. He peered through the crack of them to see guards and doctors on the floor, where they were told to be.
'Okay… One peek inside tells me enough to know… This won't be easy. I'd hate to endanger those guys, but I gotta do it…' he thought, pulling several smoke pellets.
He swung the doors open, sounding the alarm. With a quick hand, he threw the pellets all over. They exploded and filled the room.
"Come ON! Lets move!" he yelled to the doctors and guards.
They quickly obliged, coughing and stumbling the way to his voice. After they were out, he sucked in a lot of air and ran in, slamming the door behind him. Quickly, he ran around, taking the guys out. His eyes watered from the smoke, and he had to fight hard to keep them open, but he kept moving.
After the last goon hit the ground, he took off running for the cells, the alarm still blaring loudly. He entered the long row of lower psychotics.
'They won't know the Joker's plans. But I know who would.'
He ran past as some of the semi-psychos threw themselves at the shields and doors that separated them from him. He ignored them and sprinted up some stairs to a new area. It usually was heavily guarded, and the only thing allowing the inhabitants in that area to look out were small bars in the iron doors, and tiny windows to the outside.
Robin's sprint slowed to a walk. As he entered, he saw none of the freaks had been let out. This is an area he'd never been before, but knew by heart.
He passed Poison Ivy, Two-Face, Killer Croc, and many more. And then, the Joker's cell. It was wide open. On the door was a drawing of the Robin symbol and below it read 'Enter here… If you tweet!'
'Freak.'
Pulling off his own symbol and holding it tightly in his fingers, he walked in cautiously. Inside, tied to a chair and gagged, was a teenage with red hair and frightened eyes. Robin recognized her as a debutant from a very rich family. Her name was Sarah Stuart. He walked over and ungagged her.
"Are you all right?" he asked.
"The wires… cutting into my hands…" she said dazedly, obviously drugged up by a sedative. "They want… ransom… your life… money…"
"Okay, it'll be okay. I'll get you out of here, the cops are on the way." He pulled wire cutters from his belt and cut the wires gently. She brought her hands in front of her and rubbed some blood off. Robin came back to her side and helped her stand. "Come on, lets get moving."
They exited the cell, just to see the Joker standing there with a smile. On his left was the Riddler, on his right was Poison Ivy.
"I suggest the two of you run… VERY fast," Poison Ivy said coldly.
The Joker brought out a huge gun and fired at their feet. Sarah screamed out. Robin pulled her into a run. The Joker looked at his watch.
"Count of five. One… Two… Five! HAHAHA!!"
He did a cartwheel and started to skip after them, the Riddler and Ivy following quickly.
Robin ran to a stairwell that only went up. He didn't want to go that way, but there was no other possible escape route, so he pulled Sarah up. The winding staircase seemed to be eternal, but they finally reached the top of Arkham Asylum. It was the roof, and it was now frozen over with ice. Snow fell rapidly turning their hair white almost immediately.
Robin pulled Sarah across the icy top roof, around gargoyles and such, getting to the furthest part from the stairwell. He attached a rope to the edge and tied the rope around her.
"All right, I want you to swing over the ledge slowly, and I'm going to help you get to the bottom, okay?"
"What about you?" she asked, shaking from the cold.
"Don't worry about me. Come on, up you go," he said, helping her onto the ledge.
She slowly dropped off it. Robin began to feed the rope quickly, but safely, to get her down, but it would be harder than he thought, considering how high they were. In his ear, he heard his intercom turn on.
"Robin? Where are you?!" Oracle cried.
"Arkham Asylum's roof. Get Batman, get him here. I need him NOW. I'll try to hold them back after I get Debutant Sarah Stuart down. But, PLEASE get him!"
"All right, he's all ready on his way back, I'll tell him. Oracle out."

Barbara quickly changed lines from her apartment to the batmobile.
"Batman?" she asked as the video link came on.
"Yes?" he asked, driving.
"Robin's in trouble. Arkham Asylum roof. I think it has to do with the Joker freeing others. He needs your help right now."
"Thank you," he said, canceling the link.

Once the link went off, Batman slammed on the gas and turned on the turbo-engines. He wasn't about to waste time to get there, and would use any means there was to get to Robin ASAP.

The now tiny Sarah could be seen landing on the ground safely. Robin sighed in relief and went to follow, but someone grabbed his cape and pulled him back. He hit ice, slipped and slid several feet from the one who grabbed him, Poison Ivy.
The Riddler slammed his staff into Robin's back before he could stand.
"Well isn't this nice? Although he isn't one of the flying MICE," the Riddler growled, glaring at Ivy.
"Batman's been out of town for the last week, Nygma. Chill out. Besides, we wanna hit him where it counts while he's gone," she replied, slamming a foot into Robin's face and knocking him back.
"Indeed, that is what I have heard, but I still don't know why we even bother with the bird!"
He shoved his staff into Robin's chest and held him down. Robin swung up and kicked him away painfully and flipped to his feet. He went to go after Ivy, when a bullet hit by his feet. He looked at the shooter. The Joker emerged from the shadows with a determined look.
"Sources say Batman's on his way here," he said lowly.
"Yeah, so what are YOU going to do about it?" Robin sneered breathlessly.
The Riddler swung the staff into his back from behind, knocking him to his knees. The Joker didn't crack a smile, he just stared at Robin with hollow eyes.
"What am I going to do? We're going to leave… But not before we leave a little gift."
He aimed the gun at Robin.
'Oh God. The Kevlar can't stop a gun like that! Especially not at point bl-'
The gun went off. Robin cried out as the bullet seared through his chest. He fell to the side and onto his back. The Joker cracked a small grin.
"I get satisfaction EVERY time I do that." He bent down and wrote his name in freshly fallen snow, right by Robin. And then he pulled a camera, took one shot and smiled to them. "For the memory book! Come, before Batbrain arrives! The cops are all ready here! HAHA! Fun-fun!"
He ran off. The two looked at each other, rolled their eyes, and followed.
A hole was in the right side of his chest, inches from being the shoulder. Tears welled in his eyes temporarily as he thought about his father. And then… His predecessors.
"A legacy gone awry. A curse placed on a name," he whispered to himself as he began to get woozy. "Robin exits once again at the Joker's hand…"

Batman swung from a rope, onto the roof. He looked around warily for anything. His eyes landed on a black hump surrounded by a black substance. He crept towards it, seeing the substance was red, and…
"Robin… Timothy… No…" he whispered, kneeling down.
He checked for a pulse, and found a faint one. His mouth was opened, gaping at the scene. His joints stiffed up as he flashed to Dick and Jason.
Now regaining his composure (at least enough to move quickly), Batman stripped off his own cape and bundled it up. He laid Robin flat on his back and pressed the cape into the wound.
"Don't die, Tim. Don't die," he whispered, pressing harder.
'The Kevlar,' he thought to himself. 'It should have protected him. Who…' He looked at where the name 'Joker' was written on it. His white eyes narrowed. 'You. You're trying to take him away again… You-'
"Bat… man… Bruce…?" Robin choked, slowly coming to.
He reached up, and with one hand Batman gripped his hand.
"I'm here, Robin. You're safe."
"Don't… get rid of me… please… I fought… he shot…"
"Don't worry, Tim. He won't take you away from me like he did the other two… Never again." Robin passed out again, his hand dropping to his chest. Gently, Batman picked him up and stood straight. As he walked for the edge to take him down, he repeated in a whisper: "Never again."

Several hours later, Robin was out of surgery finally, that was conducted by Doctor Leslie Thompkins. Now, he was in a hospital room, asleep. She sat near his bed, incase of a different development. Batman stood at the large windows of the room, staring out at the white city. His face was totally blank, his jaw-line pale.
Gordon entered and walked to him.
"I've placed Montoya at the door, Batman. I think you should get some rest," he said.
"I won't. Not until he's walking again."
"That could take days, even weeks, Batman. He's unstable as it is," Leslie said, going over to him.
Batman didn't reply. He continued to stare out the window. Gordon sighed and walked to the door.
"Good evening, Doctor Thompkins."
After glancing back one last time, he exited. The door shut gently. Leslie set a hand on Batman's shoulder.
"Bruce…"
"You know Dick is missing, don't you?" Batman asked suddenly, still not moving.
"He is? When did that-"
"Almost a week ago. That's why I haven't been here. That boy right there has been doing my job while I went off to "rescue" a son that's probably just trying to show me how independent he is. Because I don't trust the first born, the third born could die."
"Don't blame yourself. Blame the Joker. HE is the reason this has happened."
"And *I* am the reason the Joker exists. It's a chain in this life. In mine. Crime creates me. I recreate crime. Crime tries to claim me. I destroy crime. I destroy myself. Someone comes into my shoes that too was created by crime, and the cycle starts over."
Staring at the floor, Leslie replied very quietly:
"Crime touched you at an age, and in a way that shouldn't have happened, yes. And perhaps the cycle is true. But why deny yourself the happiness you so deserve?"
"I'm inept to happiness. Incapable."
"No, you're not. Or else you wouldn't hurt when they get hurt. They bring you joy, whether it shows on the outside or not, and it hurts you that you can't protect them."
Batman closed his eyes and didn't respond. For the longest time, the two stood there in silence. Leslie heard a slight chuckle come from deep in Batman's throat. A tiny smile came across his face.
"I remember one time… Jason decided to play a practical joke on Dick. Well, there wasn't anything practical about it." He walked from the window and turned back to her. "He decided it would be fun to see exactly what fake-nail adhesive was capable of. So, one time Nightwing and I were going to work a case together, and Robin decided to come along. I had no idea what he had planned. We were about to leap off a ledge, but I wanted to talk to Nightwing. Somehow, without either of us knowing, he put glue on the ledge behind Nightwing. So, Nightwing turned around and touched it as he was talking, then he tried to leap off several minutes later. His hand caught and he hit the side of the wall, and then fell to the fire escape right below. Nearly broke his wrist. Jason was hysterical. Nightwing was out for blood. I had to hold him back from killing Jason."
"Brothers," Leslie smiled.
"Yes." Looking to Robin in the bed, his smile faded. "Brothers…" he whispered.
"What will you do with him?" Leslie asked, almost afraid to.
"I don't know yet. For now, I wait until he is better. Then… Then I'll worry about what to do."
Leslie walked over to him. Standing on her toes, she kissed him on the cheek.
"Goodnight, Bruce," she whispered. "Try to get a little sleep."
She walked to the door.
"Leslie," Batman called darkly.
She turned to him.
"Yes, Batman?"
"…Thank you."
She smiled slightly, and exited. Batman went and sat in the chair beside the bed. He stared at the ground, his eyes going distant. He knew very well that he was right about the cycle he told to Leslie. One day, the Silver days would end, and the Golden would begin. And someone would come and take the title Batman, and start the cycle over.
Batman turned to the table next to the bed where Leslie left spare paper and a pen. He picked up the pen and started to write.
'Everyone has a sequence,' he wrote. 'Every title does as well.'

With a swoop, a dark figure came to a large field. Circuses were often held there because of how massive it was. The figure knelt down and bowed its head.

'Some are blissful, others are not.'

The figure pulled from a box it carried, two red roses and two yellow roses.

'It's a matter of what happens to one person that makes their cycle take effect.'

The figure laid the flowers on the ground, whispering, "Mother, Father… I love you…"

'To some it's the trophies they win from childhood accomplishments.'

Barbara Gordon was near her window of her apartment, gazing at a picture she held. In it, a young Barbara stood in a ballet outfit with her father, smiling brightly. In her hand was a trophy she won in a solo-ballet dancing contest that was national. She had won first place.

'To others is the pain that disables them from living their dreams.'

Barbara rolled in her wheel chair and sat the picture on a shelf near other pictures of her at competitions that she won.

'Whatever it may be, sometimes it feels like you just need to get out, to leave it… To abandon all you ever knew.'

The figure by the roses stood, to show the mask on a man. Across his chest was a blue, winged symbol. He walked to a motorcycle that was nearby. He got on, slipping on a helmet, and sped off.

'Sometimes it truly feels like you can't go on. That you need to end it all. You wish you could just wake up from the garish, atrocious reverie, and go out and fly like you used to.'

Barbara fingered at her Batgirl cowl, the rest of the suit on her bed. Tears started to fall from her face and she doubled over, crying hard.

'And you become inattentive, and hasty. Wanting to get out any way possible. To find an justification to breathe your last breath.'

Nightwing swerved recklessly through the night traffic, his motorcycle tires squealing at every turn he made to advance further.

'That's why there are people like me. We're the ones that help… To pull the others from the chasm of self-made fate. And for people like I, there is no respite. No end to the invariable disquiet. We act tolerable, but we aren't. But if we show what we feel, others will lose hope. We are locked in a twisted regulation of doom and providence, as sentinels to others who will never even comprehend. Never know that we're the reason they are smiling, or talking to their parents, or breathing. But we "guardians" have chosen our paths. And we will not pull out early. We go to the end, no matter what. Protecting the ones that lead lives that are full of torturous agony, taking that agony from them and bestowing it on ourselves.'
Robin shifted in his sleep. Batman sat the pen down and folded the paper. On that fold, he wrote:
'Robin, I won't give up on you.'
He set the paper on the table where Robin would find it, and then went to the window. After a glance back at him, he leapt out and away.

Several days later, snow covered the ground thickly, and the streets were icy. Jack Drake could be found sitting at his desk, tapping his fingers on the top of it angrily. It had nearly been a week and Tim was a no-show at the house. He was going to SO spank that child when he got home…
Then the phone rang. Before anyone else could, he picked it up.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Dad?" Tim asked.
"Timothy Drake! Where are you?!"
"Sorry, Dad. I had gone to a friend's house for a bit, but because of the sleet and snow, I can't get home."
"Which friend's house are you at?!"

"I'm at Billy's," Batman said into a specially designed phone.
It was designed to make his voice sound like anyone's voice that he programmed into it.
"I didn't know you knew a Billy! Are you telling me the truth?!"
"Of course I am! God, dad, lighten up! Do you want to speak to his mom? She'll tell you the same thing!"
"As a matter of fact, yes!"
Batman switched the voice cartridge to another.
"Hello? This is Karen, Billy's mom," Batman said, his voice sounding like a slightly higher pitched Barbara Gordon.
"Well. Um." He paused. Batman could tell he didn't know what to say. After a cough, Jack continued. "Tim is being good, right?"
"Yeah! Tim is an exceptionally good boy. And don't worry, I'll make sure he gets to school tomorrow morning. It's just, these roads are so dangerous right now!"
"Yes, I understand. And thank you… May I speak to him again?"
"Sure! Tim, dear. Your father." Batman quickly switched cartridges again. "Thanks. Yeah Dad?"
"You be good for her, you hear?"
"Yes, Sir."
"All right, good bye, son."
"Good bye, Dad!"
Batman switched off the phone and took it off his head. Alfred Pennyworth clapped from behind him.
"Good show, Master Bruce! Now, what shall be the excuse for tomorrow?" he asked, half-way sarcastic.
"Whatever comes conveniently," Batman replied, standing. "Any word about Dick?"
"No, Sir… I have become rather concerned for the lad…"
"Where could he be?" Batman wondered aloud, walking for the batmobile.
"And where are you pacing off to, Master Batman?" Alfred asked.
"After the Joker. He will PAY for what he has done."
He jumped into the driver's seat and sped away. Alfred watched after, concerned.

Account Three
*The Duplicate and the Sentence*

The Joker skipped into a large technology lab that he had broken into, Ivy and the Riddler still following him around on the whim of a reward. He turned to them and smiled.
"Since you two have been GOOD little kiddies, please treat yourselves to whatever toys you'd like… Hell, it's not like its costing ME anything!"
The Riddler wandered off to explore. Ivy crossed her arms.
"You FOOL, you realize Batman will COME here."
He looked at her unenthusiastically.
"When'd YOU join the club house? Are you HONESTLY that amateur, Red?" he asked, walking over to her with open arms.
"Touch me and I'll rip off your pasty white buddies from down under," she said lowly, staring him straight in the eyes.
He stopped dead in his tracks and turned to the side.
"OH-kay then. Heh. Heh. Eddie! Watcha got THERE?!" he asked, skipping over.
"I don't know what it is that I hold in my hand… I believe it's a transport to a distant land!" he said, looking a small device over.
"Oh? As in dimensional?"
"I believe it is, my fellow psychopathic! I think we can use this to start a MAJOR panic!" the Riddler said.
A vine grabbed it from his hands and it carried it to Ivy. She took it and looked it over.
"I have a better idea. We'll need a protector against the Batman… So what if we use THIS to go snag another Batman, put him under mind control and use HIM as a bodyguard of some sort?" she asked.
"That's-That's brilliant, my dear! Quick, come here!" the Riddler said, waving for her. She walked over and handed him the remote. He slowly pressed at it. "Lets see here. If I press a button here, and I press a button there…" A light shot out and formed a white portal. "Then it should take us to another somewhere!"
"Come on, Red, Eddie!" the Joker yelled, entering without another thought.
The two couldn't see how it would hurt, and followed.

"I'm not doing it."
"Yes, you are."
"Pssh. Can't make me."
"Want to bet, young man?"
"Oh… No!!"
A young boy in a tuxedo ran from a hovering limo. A woman in a black, grand evening gown ran after, holding the jacket of the tuxedo.
"Joshua! Get back here!" she screamed.
People who were headed for the large party, stopped and giggled.
"GET AWAY!!!" the boy screamed, shoving past a couple.
"Hey, wasn't that just the kid who lost his family in Haly's circus?" the man asked.
"I don't know!" the woman said as the lady in the black dress ran past. "But, wasn't THAT just Bree Layne, the Girl Billionaire?"
"Josh!" Bree Layne screamed.
He spun around to her at the curb of the sidewalk. He put his fingers together as a cross.
"BACK, WITCH WOMAN!" he yelled at the black haired, 6 foot 2 woman.
She crossed her arms and grinned darkly. She admired the fact that the little 10 year old was standing up to her.
"Witch woman, hmm?"
"Hey, it's better than the truth, Bat-"
Bree cupped a hand around his mouth quickly as people walked by. She smiled and nodded to them.
"Beautiful night!" she said. They nodded warily, and then rushed off. Bree turned Josh to her. "Joshua Richard Bradson. What have I told you about blabbing out in public about that?" she whispered.
"Sorry! It's just kinda hard to keep the fact that I know the COOLEST woman on the planet secret!" he exclaimed in a whisper.
"Well, TRY, will you?"
"Um. Bree?" he asked, looking at the sky.
"What is it?" she asked coldly.
"You-You're being summoned," he said meekly, pointing at the sky.
She turned and looked up at the batsignal that was flashing high in the sky. Bree tossed his jacket over Josh's head and pulled a tiny cell phone and put it to her ear.
"Fredrick, bring the car. It's an emergency."
"Yes, Madam Bree."
Within minutes, the hover limo was at their side. Bree opened the door, literally threw Josh in and got in herself. The old chauffer drove quickly as she spoke:
"Home, Fredrick. And make sure Josh is fed and gets to bed on time. Call the host of the party and tell them Josh got sick and we had to rush him home."
"Aw, man! Can't I go with, Bree?" Josh asked.
"No."
"Why not?!"
"Because you're young, tactless and ignorant. You'll get killed."
She began to fish through a drawer her back turned from him. He made a weird face at her and blew a raspberry. She looked at him and he quickly straightened his face.

On the extremely large GCPD, a lady with graying black hair in a trench coat waved for the batsignal to be shut off.
"Commissioner Montoya, shouldn't we wait a little longer?" asked a young cop.
"No, Detective Gordon. She's gotten the point. She'll come, or she won't. Turn it off."
Detective Gordon did so with a sigh. As Commissioner Montoya headed for the exit, there was a gentle flap behind her. She turned. Standing there was a woman dressed identical to the Batman, eyes glowing and all.
"You called, Commissioner?" she asked, leaping off the edge of the roof.
She paced towards her.
"Batwoman. You've got three new rogues to add to your gallery. Remember the Plant Lady, the Puzzler and the Clown Stalker?"
"How could I forget amateurs like them? What about them?"
Montoya handed her a picture.
"We've been introduced to their older siblings. The lady is Poison Ivy, and that's the Riddler and the Joker," she explained, pointing at each.
"Where was this taken?"
"A LayneTech lab. Lucius Fox warned us of the break-out."
"Break out?" Batwoman asked.
"Yes. Well. It seems that these three appeared through a white portal of some sort… Inside the lab. They broke out after writing on the floor a demand to see the "Resident rodent with wings." I believe they meant you."
"I guess we'll find out. Any word on where in the city they are?"
"Well. That's another thing."
Montoya handed her a small, but highly advanced TV. She raised an eyebrow and turned it on. On the screen, the Joker, Poison Ivy and the Riddler were, in a TV studio.
"Ladies and gentlemen! We've TRIED to be patient! We've TRIED to wait! All we want is the Batman, and that's it! We'll leave you alone!" the Joker said. "But has he showed up?! NO! Time to kill!"
Batwoman's eyes widened in total horror as the clown turned and started to shoot innocent people with a laser tommy gun. She looked at the label in the corner of the screen, then dropped to TV and ran. She dove off the edge and shot a grappler to swing away. Montoya slowly picked up the TV and sighed painfully at the horrified screams and the maniacal laughter.
"Who are these guys?"

"Hey, Red!" the Riddler called from a storage closet. "I found a bed!"
"Idiot," she moaned, kicking a dead man's head to the side, bored out of her mind. "J, what if they don't HAVE a Batman here?"
"Oh, but they do! They do! I saw the batsignal go up!" he said, smiling.
"Oh, but they don't!" they heard a dark voice say from above.
A batarang knocked the Joker's gun from his hand and he sprung back as Batwoman landed from the ceiling beams. The Joker eyed over her with a sadistic grin.
"The symbol's familiar, but Batman! You've grown breasts! And nice ones, too!" he laughed.
"My God, is sex the only thing that matters with you guys?" Ivy asked from the background.
"Like I said before," Batwoman said darkly, walking towards him. "There is no Batman. Just Batwoman." Her hand shot forward and grabbed onto him, pulling him close to her face. "WHO are you? And WHAT do you want?"
"Oh, nothing much! Just a bodyguard!"
"A body-"
She was cut off as the Riddler shot her with a probe that went into her skin. She then, straightened and let the Joker go. Her face drew blank.
"She'll listen to commands, now. But we use HER how?" the Riddler asked.
"The Batman will KNOW something's not right with her, and has a slight complex with hitting women. It's perfect! BACK TO THE LABS!"

Bruce Wayne entered a huge WayneTech laboratory where cops flooded, investigating. He scratched his head in utter confusion.
"Bruce!" Lucius Fox called, walking over.
"Lucius! What in the Hell happened?!" Bruce asked, shocked.
"Three psychopaths stole some technology we got from STAR labs. Dimensional technology."
"Um. Okay? Why would they want to steal technology like that?"
"Um… To travel dimensions, Bruce."
"Oh…" he said, blushing. Everyone gasped as a flash of white light filled the labs. A white portal busted open and the Joker, Poison Ivy, the Riddler and Batwoman came out. "What in God's name?!" Bruce gasped, backing away.
"Get BACK, Mister Wayne!" Renee Montoya yelled, pushing him behind her, her gun drawn. "Let us handle this!"
The Joker laughed hysterically.
"YAY! Get the Batman! We've got his MATCH! Bane may have broken his back, but this little woman will do a LOT more!" he said. "Honey-Bat? Attack."
Batwoman pulled an explosive batarang and threw it at a machine. It exploded, causing a huge fire. Bruce observed her every movement as she fought the guards. But he was jerked out of his thoughts by Lucius:
"Lets go, Bruce!"
"Okay! Okay!" he cried, running after him.

Alfred watched Bruce get his suit prepared, and pull on his cowl.
"She's good, Alfred!" Batman exclaimed.
"Who, Sir?"
"This-this Batwoman! I was watching her battle the cops… Her reflexes, her speed, her tact… It all matches me."
"Wonder of wonders. A lady Bruce Wayne."
"But WHY would she be working for THEM?"
"Perhaps, in her dimension, she was normally evil. Remember other Earths, sir."
"No. She wasn't blinded by evil like an villain. And she wasn't crazy."
"Mind control would be the next solution."
Batman processed that and nodded.
"Then, I attack the Riddler first. Please go check on Robin."
Alfred nodded and bowed. Batman ran to a batcycle and sped away. As he drove at dangerous speeds, he couldn't keep focused on just one thing. His mind kept flashing from Robin to Nightwing to the Batwoman. Nothing made sense to him. He wanted the Joker so bad, it was painful. But he was concerned for Nightwing's safety, while pondering over the appearance of his almost equal match. She'd probably be even harder to defeat than Catwoman or Bane for the very fact that she practically was him.
"Batman, this is Oracle," he heard over the ear piece inside his cowl.
"Batman here. What is it?" he asked.
"I've gotten some readouts on where your long lost twin has been sighted. Currently, reports say she's following the single-handed command of the Joker and aiding him in a chain of small jewelry robberies by holding back the cops. Although, its more like brutalizing. I think she IS under mind control that she's fighting."
"Oh?"
"Yes. Each time the Joker orders her to kill someone, she simply doesn't. She'll assault them, and then stop listening to commands until he gets off the killing thing."
"Any word on the other two?"
"Poison Ivy's at the Botanical Gardens. The Riddler's been sighted at the computer fair that was supposed to be held tonight… Working up the ranks, are we?"
"As much as possible. I'm going after the Riddler first, most likely. He can't get away."
"It probably won't be too hard for Mister Meany-Pants to stop him, either, will it?"
Batman grinned slightly at the remark.

The Riddler cried out as he was slammed against a wall by Batman. Then Batman swung around and threw him on top of a table. He rolled off and tried to stand as people cleared out.
"I'm trying to be patient, Nygma," Batman said darkly. "Really, I am. Don't force my hand."
"Wuh-what do you want?!" the Riddler asked, standing.
Batman lunged over and grabbed onto him. He lifted him into the air by the collar of his jacket.
"I want answers and cures, and I'll make sure they take it easy on you on your trip back to Arkham."
"And if I refuse to give them?" he asked, trying to remain tough.
"Take a look around. What you see here is not even half as bad as it will be."
The Riddler studied his face uneasily, and then laughed weakly.
"I injected her with a mind-control probe. The only way you can get it out is by manually retrieving it. That's all!"
Batman pinned him to a table.
"WHERE in her body IS it?!"
"Ack! Her right arm! It should be visible, and can cause no real harm!"
Batman pulled him to his feet. He patted him on the head, almost tauntingly. But then, before the Riddler could react, Batman spun him around and handcuffed him.
"Lets go visit the authorities, shall we?"
"You may have ME, but you'll never get the other freaks! NEVER!"
They exited the building. Next to the door way, hanging off a low gargoyle, was Poison Ivy, tied and gagged. Cops tried to get her down. The Riddler just sighed. Batman shoved him to them and walked away. Without looking back, he threw a batarang back. It sliced through Ivy's ropes and she fell into a cop's arms.

"WEE!!!" the Joker screamed, spinning in a chair, tossing jewels and money around. "I have monEY, lots of monEY!! I have money! And money! And-Batwoman!" He got up and stomped over to her. She stood, still as a statue. He smacked her across the face, but she did nothing. "WHY DIDN'T YOU KILL THOSE MEN?!" he screamed.
"I do not kill," she said in monotone. "I am not a murderer."
"'I am not a murderer'!" he mocked in a high-pitched voice. "BS! You're a thief and you work for ME, so the next time I say KILL, you KILL!"
"I can not, Master. I am sorry."
The Joker sniffed and rubbed his eyes.
"Aww… Stop it! Whenever you call me 'Master', I get all starry-eyed!" he said cutely, pinching her cheek. They both spun around as Batman crashed through the window near the roof and landed nearly twenty yards from them. "Batman! Hi!" the Joker waved. He looked at Batwoman. "Sweetie? Destroy him." Batwoman charged for Batman. The Joker began to "cry". "They grow up so fast!" he whined.
Batwoman lunged and drop kicked at Batman. Batman blocked her kick and knocked her to the side. She hit the ground, rolled, and sprung to her feet.
"Batwoman!" Batman begged darkly. "You have to fight this! This is NOT you!"
"I obey my masters," was all she said.
She jumped closer and crescent kicked him. He went to the side a bit and she swung down a hammer-fist, into his left shoulder-blade. He went up a bit and punched her in the solar plexus. She doubled over, but dove away from a downwards, double punch from him. She dropped to her hands and swiped his feet out from under him. He hit the ground hard. She did a backwards somersault and sprung to her feet.
"Wow!" the Joker laughed, turning on a conveniently placed video camera while eating popcorn. "So THIS is how he's survived! Haha!"
Batman flipped up and kicked at her. She blocked it with one hand and slammed the other fist into his stomach hard. He doubled over. She pulled a dagger from her cape and raised it up, but Batman spun around and grabbed her arm, his back facing her. He pulled her arm closer and flipped her over his shoulder, right in front of him. He twisted her hand back painfully, causing her to release the dagger. She hit hard, but swung her feet up into his chest and knocked him back. He stumbled back, but stayed on his feet.
Batwoman got to her feet. Quickly, she did a flip towards him, latching onto him with her legs. They both fell to the ground, her straddled over him. She tried to punch him, but he grabbed her fist. She grabbed his cowl with her free hand and clawed downwards. He held back a cry of pain and grabbed her hand. He managed to twist both her wrists back. She cried out in pain and retreated the best she could as he kept his grip. He sat up and slammed his head into her face, just enough to get her to fall back. He stood, backed off and went on guard. She stumbled to her feet and sucked in the pain, going on guard in a similar stance.
They both stared at each other warily, studying each other. Neither could find a weakness that they themselves didn't already have. Batman had noticed a small bump in her suit, near her right shoulder. She lunged for him. He whipped out a knife and slammed it into the bump while her hands were outstretched. Batwoman let out a cry of pain and collapsed.
"Uh oh…" the Joker said. "That's not good. YIPE!"
He dropped the camera and ran. Batman ran after him. A bola wrapped around his feet and he crashed to the ground. Batman walked over and picked him up roughly with one hand.
"Well, what should I do with you?" Batman asked tauntingly.
"I didn't mean a THING by this, B-man! Nygma made ME do it!" the Joker cried shakily.
"You've hurt him THREE times," Batman said, walking towards a wall. "*Three*. And what about all the other countless people you've murdered?" He shoved the Joker into the wall as hard as he could. The Joker hit it and fell to the ground. "How do you suppose we go about the stopping of this problem?"
"Well, I just don't know. You're supposed to be so smart… YOU FIGURE IT OUT!"
Batman walked over to the chair the Joker was previously at and picked up his revolver.
"You know. I think I get why you use this instead of a different method, Joker," he said, pacing back over. "You realize you're nothing as just you, so you need the support of projectiles to make you look big and bad. But, I commend you on knowing exactly how to use it, and making every shot count for your purpose. Really. It's good. It's important to make… each shot… count…" he said, slowly trailing off as he stared at the gun. "Is the same one you've used each time? I remember everything but the gun. And, of course… The crowbar and the bomb. But this? Was this it?" he asked, looking at the Joker.
"Of course it is! I make ALL my major killings and maimings with that one. The lovely and handicapped Miss Gordon has got to be my FINEST piece of living material."
Batman's eyes narrowed and he dropped the gun to the ground as he continued to stare at the Joker. He slowly pulled a batarang as he stared at him.
"I could kill you now. Get it OVER with. End all the train misery you've caused. No one would know. I could kill you, dispose of your slimy corpse and get on with my life," he said, taking a few steps forward. "All I would have to do is ram your nose through your skull, into your brain and you'd be dead."
"Now, now Batman! Lets think about this!" the Joker laughed uneasily.
"I have."
His fist shot forward. The Joker cried out and squinted his eyes shut. When nothing happened, he slowly opened his eyes to see Batwoman gripping Batman's hand tightly. The Joker laughed.
"My protector to the end! So he DIDN'T break the spell!"
"Batman, don't do it. Don't become a murderer. Don't become him," she said.
"Oh," the Joker sighed.
Batman still stared at the Joker hard. Every muscle was tensed. Batwoman kept her right hand gripped tightly on his fist, her other arm around his neck. Even despite the wound on her arm from the destruction of the probe.
"Calm down," she hissed darkly into his ear. "That man deserves to suffer mortally. Don't fall into the dark pit he runs around in as king. For God's sake."
Batman slowly untensed and backed off. Batwoman went to the Joker and grabbed onto him by the jacket. She slammed him to the ground and pulled her batcuffs. Batman slowly connected with Oracle.
"Oracle… Call the police…"
He started to give her directions. Batwoman lifted the Joker to his feet and unraveled the bola rope. She held onto it and dragged him over to a pole and tied him to it roughly. She then walked over to Batman and extended her hand.
"Lets try the first meeting again, shall we?" she asked, cracking a little smile.
He smirked a little and took her hand and shook it.
"Batman."
"Batwoman…" She trailed off and went closer to him to whisper, "What did he do to you, anyway?"
Batman closed his eyes, flashing to the moment he found Robin on the asylum top. His white eyes opened back to her.
"I'll show you."

When the two went into the hospital room, Batwoman gasped at seeing Robin lying there. She walked over and stared down at him.
"He looks like my Robin…" she whispered. "But, my Robin is younger."
"The clown shot him. Shot him when he couldn't fight back…" He walked towards the door. "When Detective Montoya got called away, I'm sure Doctor Thompkins stood at the door."
"Detective Montoya?" Batwoman asked.
"Yes. Why?"
"…Nevermind…"
Batman opened the door and reached around, grabbing Leslie Thompkins' hand. He pulled her in. She looked at him, then to Batwoman.
"I see you've brought… company. What can I do for you?"
"Has Oracle called you on anything new over Nightwing?"
"Yes. She says he was in Manhattan tracking down a murderer, or at least that's what he told her on a pay phone before rushing off. But now he's headed back here… I was shocked she contacted ME with the information. She said you were busy, but I had NO idea!"
"Yes, well, she's going home. Agreed, Batwoman?"
"Agreed. My Gotham needs me, and I can't risk my ward digging himself into a hole," she said, standing straight and gripping her cape like Batman.
The two dove out the window perfectly. Leslie sighed and shook her head.

Batman and Batwoman entered the WayneTech lab she appeared in, that was now deemed a crime scene, and the fire was put out. Blood and ruins were everywhere.
"Did I do this?" she asked stiffly.
"Yes. But, you weren't being yourself today."
She turned and nodded to him.
"You're right, I wasn't. Do you have what I'll need to get home?"
He pulled out the small device.
"One of the flaws of the Riddler. He keeps everything handy."
"Question for you… Would you have killed him tonight if I hadn't been there to stop you."
Batman stared at her blankly for a moment… And then nodded.
"I think you know that answer from the impact when you stopped me."
"Yes… I want you to know that if you ever need another person like you to help you, you can come to my dimension and tell me. You're a good soul, I can tell that."
"I'll keep that in mind."
He pressed the buttons that he had figured out and the portal opened brightly. Batwoman looked back to him. He nodded reassuringly, and she nodded back. With that, she leapt into the portal, and it faded away to nothing. For several minutes he stood there, staring at where the portal closed. Finally, he turned to leave, but leaning in the doorway was Nightwing.
"Didja really miss me?" he grinned.
"Where have YOU been?" Batman asked stiffly, walking to him.
"Manhattan. Some dude shot a new and fond acquaintance of mine, so I tracked him down."
Batman pushed past and he followed.
"And what did you do with him?"
"Beat the Hell out of him, and then turned him over to the authorities. Why? What would YOU have done, all power Batty?"
"…The same thing."
"Oracle to Batman, and I assume Nightwing," they heard.
They froze dead in their tracks.
"We're here, Oracle," Nightwing said.
"I suggest you run over to the hospital. Robin's just received your essay, Batman."
The two men looked at each other.
"What happened to Rob?"
"He was shot."
"Oh no."
They both took off running.

Robin sat, fully dressed (which had not been an easy task as to he wanted to put everything on himself, and was fighting Leslie over it). In his hand, the mini-essay Batman wrote that first night. Leslie was out of the room now, figuring he'd need to discuss things with Batman alone.
There were two gentle swoops through the window. He looked up to see Batman and Nightwing standing there.
"Robin," Batman said, walking over to him.
"I-I like your little---Aw, Hell. I'm in trouble, aren't I?"
"No. No you're not," Batman said quietly, shaking his head. "You saved lives at the risk of your own. I'm proud of you."
"We all are, kiddo," Nightwing said in the background.
Robin's eyes were wide in shock.
"Are you serious? But I messed things up! I got SHOT!" he exclaimed.
"Yes… You did," Batman said in agreement.
Nightwing walked around to Robin's front.
"Timothy, you did a damn good job, you hear me? So, you got shot and you may have fumbled a few things, but you went in there knowing the risk and you fought and won. You may have been shot, but look! You're still in the suit! And you look good, amigo. Stylin'!"
Robin chuckled, holding a hand to his wounded shoulder.
"Am I fired, though?" he asked meekly.
Batman looked at Nightwing, and then to him.
"No. Just grounded. This calls for more training."
"Okay, but I can't guarantee anything because my dad is gonna explode into a rage when he sees me again. Could you guys help me?"
"Kid, we handle villains, not parents," Nightwing grinned.
"Oh, I'm SO dead…"
Batman looked at Nightwing.
"Nightwing?"
"I'll go get her," he agreed to whatever hidden message he got from Batman and hurried for the window.
"Huh?" Robin asked.
"Lets get you some street clothes. Come on," Batman said, waving for him.
"Um… Kay…"

The next day, Tim Drake entered his home, immediately to be bombarded by his father.
"Where have you been?!" Jack Drake yelled, shaking him. Tim held back a cry of pain and didn't respond. "Well?!"
"He was helping me, Sir," a lady's voice said from the door way.
He turned and saw Barbara Gordon there in her wheel chair, a bandage around her head and arm.
"Helping you?"
"Yes. I had been hit by a car, and my father, Commissioner Gordon, was not available. He saw it and helped me home, and stayed with me until I got better," she said. "Timothy, thank you again for saving my life, practically. If you hadn't been crossing that alley, I surely would have died."
"No problem, Miss Gordon," he smiled. "It was a pleasure meeting you, and hearing your stories about Batman and Robin!"
"Anytime! You come and visit me sometime, you hear?" she said, wheeling away.
"Okay!" Tim called, running to the door. "Bye, Miss Gordon!"
He shut the door and looked at his father.
"You could've at least called, Tim."
"Sorry!" He then yawned and stretched. "Boy, am I tired. I'm gonna take a nap. Bye!"
He ran up the stairs quickly.

Outside, Barbara went to a black Cadillac that Dick Grayson sat in, waiting for her. He watched admiringly as she got herself into the passenger seat, folded the chair and put it in the back seat with no problems. After she adjusted her legs, she shut the door.
"Jack was NOT a happy camper," she said as he began to drive.
"I would imagine he wouldn't be!" he smiled.
Barbara unraveled the bandages to her perfectly fine arm and head.
"The good thing is I think he bought it," she said, putting on sunglasses.
"Good. But I doubt we'll be seeing him for a while. Jack's probably going to ground him."
"Yeah… How's Bruce taking the whole ordeal?"
"Not too well, but better than I thought. I think the whole Batwoman event enlightened him a little, and with me backing Tim up to stay Robin, there's not much he'll do to the kid, probably."
"Yeah…" she agreed thoughtfully.
Nearly ten minutes, they said nothing. But finally, Dick said:
"Wanna get a bite to eat?"
"Nah. There's this JLA thing I have to work on today. I guess there's this virus that's attacking different mega-computers around the world. Batman and Superman asked me to find it."
"Ah, the life of a computer hacker," he swooned jokingly.
She sighed and said nothing more.

Account 4
*Old Days Past - New Days Come*

Several days later, Barbara could be found in her apartment, finishing her work on the virus she was tracking down. She hadn't slept at all, either, and at this point, she didn't think she could.
"There we go," she mumbled as she finished destroying the virus.
She leaned back and took in a deep breath. After all that time, and all that caffeine, she could finally get sleep. Before she could get anywhere near to nodding off, her eyes came across VR equipment she bought and was modifying. It was a feeling suit and helmet that tapped into different minor games such as Solitaire and SimCity and such. Enabling the user to play the games in a different form. Unenthusiastically, she and Tim had been working on it together to make it better and work for other games, but over several weeks, they grew totally uninterested. But, as she looked at it, she got interested again. She wheeled over and picked it up, grinning.
'Hmm…' she thought. 'I think I know what to do with you now!'

"ACK!"
Nightwing crashed into the roof of a large truck hard, on his upper back. Robin soon sailed down and crashed into him. Batman hit the roof next to them and went off.
"'This'll just be routine,' says you!" Robin yelled at them both, getting off Nightwing painfully. "'Perfect to get you back on your feet,' says YOU!"
"Things deemed routine can always spiral out of control quickly," Batman responded.
Green slime shot over the edge, all over Nightwing and Robin. Both just froze, unbelieving at this. Nightwing pried his eyes open and his jaw dropped.
"I can NOT believe this," he said, panting. "That was SO NOT RIGHT, Skully!!"
"SCREW YOU, MAN!" a man screamed from above, on the roof. He came to the side, holding a huge gun that was connected to a tank that was behind him. "EAT SLIME, YOU PANSY BASTARDS!"
He opened slime-fire. Robin cried out in utter disgust as he got hit with more slime and pushed off the roof by the force. He crashed into Batman and they both hit the ground. Robin flew off him, behind him.
"Oh yeah," Robin sighed, shaking off some of the smelling slime. "This is really routine."
Nightwing managed to grip the side of the roof to fight the force of the slime as he began to think of a plan. Skully stopped and laughed maniacally.
"Time to see if those suits are flame proof!" he laughed, charging his gun in red.
He fired, the slime now lit in fire. Nightwing gasped and leapt off, falling next to Batman.
"Hope you have a plan!" he said as Batman helped him up.
"I do. Run."
He took off running as the truck started to explode. Robin and Nightwing looked at each other, and ran after. The truck exploded into a large mountain of fire. The force knocked them away a little more. Robin held his shoulder tightly in pain.
"God… The stitches tore!" he winced.
"Then stay here," Batman said, pushing Robin to an alley. "Nightwing, lets go."
He pulled his grappler and fired towards the building. He swung up for it.
"But, I want to-" Robin started.
Nightwing squeezed his shoulder and made Robin go to his knees.
"Stay PUT, Feather Brain."
Robin held his shoulder in pain. Nightwing fired his grappling gun and followed Batman.
Batman landed on the roof. He lunged and tackled Skully to the ground, the gun sliding to the side. Skully punched him off and stood, but Batman swiped his feet out. Nightwing jumped over with a humored grin and took everything into his own hands.
Robin paced around, in pain, in front of the alley. Until he heard:
"Hey, Rob!" He looked up to see Skully flopped over the edge of the roof, Nightwing standing victoriously there with Batman. "Its off to home you go!" Nightwing chanted.
"Aw, MAN!"

Two days later, Batman and Robin entered Barbara's apartment for a routine scan of criminals who had escaped their confounds. Barbara sat, finishing up on the newly designed VR system. Robin laughed and walked over.
"Wow! You should've called me!" he grinned.
"Uh-uh, little Holey Wonders need their rest. Besides, this was way out of your league," she said, grinning back.
"When have you slept last?" Batman asked, seeing the circles under her eyes.
"Five or six days ago… Heh, can't quite remember! Don't worry, as soon as we're done with the check-ups and I finish here, I'll get some rest. Promise!"
"No. Finish with that and then get some rest. We'll do the rest," he said, reaching for her computer.
She pushed away from the table and rolled back, slamming into his arms.
"Back away from the comp., Rusty. I'm the techno-geek around here and you better remember who's apartment you're in."
"And who's funding you again?" he asked, a slight grin coming to his face.
"Who cares where the money COMES from, it's a matter of who's using it! Now, get away!"
She smacked him away and turned to it. The two began to review as Robin studied the suit. After they went through all the plans, Robin turned to her, holding the visor.
"Can I try it?" he asked.
"Well, it's not ready completely yet. I mean, it IS, but only for MY use and Nightwing. It's going to be set on feature definitions depending on the wearer."
"Um… Huh?" he asked.
She grinned and rolled over to him, taking the visor.
"Role playing in gender-specific roles, Boy Blunder. You all get out of here, and be careful with that wound, buddy!" she called after as they left.
When they were gone, she smiled to the visor, and grabbed the rest of the equipment. She slipped on what she had to quickly over her clothes. She plugged the equipment into the computer. Accessing a program she built and closing her eyes, she slid the helmet on…

^When Barbara opened her eyes again, she looked around. She was atop a large sky scraper in the middle of the city. The batsignal shone high above her.
"Are you coming?" the frightening voice of Batman asked behind her.
"Huh?" she asked, turning to him.
"Commissioner Gordon is waiting for us, Batgirl. Lets go."
He tossed her a grappling gun and dove off the building edge. She looked over herself to see she was in the Batgirl suit. For a moment, she was stunned, but then she remembered that she programmed it that way. Taking in a deep breath, she ran for the edge and dove off after him, firing the gun in the process.
In no time she managed to get to the GCPD. On her face was a huge smile. Even though it wasn't real, she felt as if it was. And it felt *good* to be at it again.
"Batgirl, welcome," Commissioner Gordon greeted. "The Mad Hatter has broken out of Arkham Asylum and has hired some strong muscle to help him take over the Underworld."
"That's what I will be handling," Batman said.
"And what about me?" she asked.
"Two Face is holding the DA hostage. You need to save him and get Two Face under control."
"That I can do!" she nodded.

In a large hotel where the DA was being held, Batgirl was winning. She had been in the battle for nearly ten minutes, and all ready she was succeeding. Starting by taking down the outer perimeter, she worked her way through to Two Face. When she got to the room, she went on guard.
"It's you!" he bellowed.
He tried to fire on her, but she winged out a batarang into his hands.
"Damn straight!" she laughed, flipping over and kicking him in the chest. She landed on her feet and grinned. "And doncha forget it!"
As he started to stand, she kicked him in the face and pulled batcuffs, still smiling widely.^

When Barbara pulled off the headset, she was slightly dizzy, but just fine otherwise. Sitting on a table nearby was Nightwing, who was grinning widely at her.
"Robin said you were working on that VR project again! From the sounds of it, its working good! Does it do well?"
"Runs like a dream sequence," she said with a smile. She took off the sensor vest and handed it to him. "Give it a try! I've got you programmed in."
"You sure?" he asked, taking the vest slowly.
"Positive! Lemme just open this different file and get your file set up."
"Okay!" he said, putting on the vest.
As she worked, she managed to toss him the helmet. She opened the file and nodded to him.
"All systems go!"
Nightwing gave a "What the Hell" shrug and put it on.

^Nightwing appeared atop the GCPD, and no one was around. He awed at the reality of the entire area. He could even feel the breeze due to the helmet equipment. He paced towards the edge and looked down, getting the same feeling he did when he did that in real life. A hand set itself on his shoulder. He spun around to see Batgirl standing there.
"Follow me!" she smiled.
She took off running, Nightwing following.
"A second VR suit and system?!" he called after.
"Yes!" she laughed, jumping onto the ledge.
"NOW I know why you're so interested in this!" he yelled. "I'm going to get you!" he chanted, leaping over and grabbing onto her.
He held her in the air and spun her around. She laughed hysterically.
"I LOVE this feeling! If I can't have legs in Real Gotham, than I can at least have them in fake Gotham!" she said.
He set her down and hugged her.
"It's a good thing you built another one. That way others can enjoy it with you," he said. "Its great to see you on your feet - literally."
"I know…" she whispered, hugging him back. She pulled away and poked him in the chest. "YOU'RE IT!" she screamed, running.
She quickly grappled off the roof and swung to another building. He laughed and followed her. He swung towards the building, but suddenly, it vanished. They both cried out as they plummeted down to the earth. They hit hard, actual pain flooding through their bodies.
"Batgirl! What the Hell just happened?!"
"I don't know. It must be a glitch in the program," she said, leaping to her feet. She waved her hand in the air and a 3-D menu in green appeared. She started to poke at it. "I'll fix it up no problem."
"Okay… Well, listen BG, I'd like to stay and play…" He looked her over. "Really, I would. But I have a date with Destiny."
"Which Destiny? Destiny the complex, or Destiny the slut?" she joked.
"Both, actually!" he grinned.
She looked him over this time, slowly, and then went back to work.
"Lucky girl," she grinned.
He smiled and vanished.^

Nightwing stripped away all his equipment and set it down. He walked over and kissed Barbara on the cheek. And, in a gust of wind, he was gone.

^Batgirl had a wide smile at the kiss that she felt him give her. She continued to work.
"Funny. All systems are clear of any malfunctions, but unless Carmen San Diego is running around, this building shouldn't have vanished," she said to herself.
"That's because I made it," a man said.
She spun around and gasped. There, standing before her, was a handsome, muscular man with black hair and glowing green eyes. He wore a tuxedo and had one rose in his hand.
"Who are you?" she asked.
"Your knight in shining armor," he said gently, waving his hand. She was engulfed in green light. When it faded, she was in a long, flowing white dress and her now long red hair was curled and pinned back slightly by diamond pins. "And I'm here to take you to your palace."
"My… what? You're real, aren't you?" she asked, backing away at each step he took towards her. "How did you get in here? This isn't on a computer with a phone line!"
"My sweet Barbara… I don't need a phone line to get where I wish to go," he said gently. Barbara gasped as she felt herself being sucked in closer to him. He put a hand to her cheek. "And I wish to be with you…"
He pulled her into a kiss. She pulled away slowly.
"You're a real Casanova, buddy. But I want to know your name."
"Oh, do forgive me, Love. My name-" he bowed to her grandly, "-is Otoren."
Barbara searched her memory for an 'Otoren' but couldn't find it.
"I've never heard of you."
He gave her the rose and went next to her, taking her hand. The scenery completely changed into a large garden, in the distance was a palace.
"Barbara, my sweet, I can give you wonders! Anything you wish to have within this world. And perhaps, if you give yourself to me entirely, the world outside too."
"If you know me so well, than you know I can't walk, Otoren," she said dully.
"Yes. I know this. That insane man that calls himself the Joker tortured you… But I can free you from that! Be mine, and you can have anything you desire!" he said, pulling her close to him.
She stared into his eyes and felt herself growing weak. Blinking hard to stay awake, she pulled away.
"N-No… I…"
She collapsed to the ground.^

"So, it's this entire Gotham City layout," Robin told Batman.
They were in the batmobile, driving on patrol. Batman processed everything Robin had just told him.
"Are you sure Nightwing wasn't over exaggerating?" he asked.
"Given what Barbara can do? I'm sure he wasn't."
"She must be really into the game. I haven't been able to reach her for several hours."
Robin studied Batman's tone and looked at him.
"You don't like the thought of a virtual world, do you?"
"Every encounter I've had with virtual realities have ended in tragedy of some sort. I hope this won't be a similar case."
Robin yawned and sat back, starting to drift asleep.
"This is really… boring…" he said drowsily.
"What?" Batman asked.
"Patrolling. I know I can't do anything real until I'm totally fine, but… still…"
Batman saw him yawn and go limp as he drifted to sleep. Batman grew silent.
As Robin fell into a deeper sleep, he got the sense that he was flying (much like most people do). A vision of the top of Gotham going under him came into his mind. Soon following was a scream of pain and help as he flew over Wayne Tech Enterprises. Barbara screamed as she was knocked off it by a being not quite human, but not really anything else. As she fell, the surroundings changed into a dark pit that seemed to be neverending.
"Nuh-NO!" Robin screamed, jolting awake.
"Are you all right?!" Batman asked, concerned.
"Can-Can we stop by Oracle's?" he asked, rubbing his head. "I have to see how she is. Please."
"The dream?" he asked.
"Yes."
"We're nearby," Batman said, U-turning to go the opposite direction.
"Please, hurry. I have a VERY bad feeling…"
Batman responded by pressing down on the accelerator. When they got to the clock tower, he slammed on the breaks. The shield slid open and they leapt out.
"Quickly," Batman said.
They hurried their ways up there on ropes and entered to see Barbara hunched over in her chair, the VR equipment on her and running. Batman hurried over and tried to pull off the helmet.
"Get it off her!" Robin yelled.
"I can't, Robin. It's fried onto her… Dug into her neurological system."
"But-but WHY?!"
"I don't *know*."

^Barbara blinked awake to find herself lying in a chair, now in a wine colored ball dress without sleeves. Her hair was long and curled. She sat in the middle of a huge ball room that was bright. Slowly, she pulled herself to her feet. Otoren walked to her and took her hand. After kissing it, he pulled her in and started to dance slowly as music became audible.
"You see, my love? Anything you want I can give you. Every leisure, every pleasure… I can do anything for you," he said.
"You remind me of a door-to-door salesman," she said, pulling away. "And quite frankly, I'm done playing this game!"
"But you can't leave the game," he grinned.
"And why not?" she asked.
"I've fused the equipment to you, so now you can be mine within this haven for eternity."
"Wuh-what? How?" she asked, backing away from him.
"I contain more power than you'd suspect for a creature that plays in virtual realities."
"Then WHY do you play with virtual realities, oh powerful Otoren?"
"Because, my dear… I have fallen in LOVE with you… I want to have you as mine here. And then, we can leave this virtual world and become the King and Queen of the REAL world!"
"But I'm a *cripple* in real life, Otoren!" she said, trying to get him to leave her alone in anyway possible.
"My dear… Love is not a passion that goes skin deep. And for you, I find it even more so… Oh, do I love you. And, as I've said, your desires are my laws to obey and create into a reality! I have the power to give back your legs!" he said, walking to her and rubbing her arms gently.
"And if I refuse?" she scowled, not moving.
"If you will not belong to me…" He put his face on the side of hers and breathed into her ear. "…Then I will have to make you suffer like others."
"Others?" she whispered shakily as he continued to rub her arms.
"They denied me and I was forced to throw them within a maze of perils that they would have to beat with their birth right skills. They win, they go free… They lose, they die… And no one… has ever win…" he said.
He pulled her lips to his in a passionate kiss. For moments she was drawn into the lustfulness of this man for her. She didn't even fight his kiss that grew in deepness. But, with a shiver and a nod, she pushed him away enough to talk:
"I can't… You're offering me something I can't accept…" she whispered.
"Shh…" he said, pulling her in again.^

Robin worked quickly with the computers, typing quickly.
"I've called for Nightwing," Batman said, walking over. "Fortunately, he's nearby as well."
"I was supposed to have a Young Justice meeting tonight, but now I won't be able to make it… Erg. I've almost got it where we'll be able to see everything that's going on like as if it were a camera."
"What about the other equipment?" Batman asked.
"The circuits are fried. We can't pull her out that way. All we can do is recognize the situation and see if we can't do something out here. But, inside the game, it'll mostly depend on her. But… There's something you need to know."
"What?" Batman asked as he followed Nightwing's shadow in the apartment.
"She can feel anything, good or bad… And that means she can get run down as if she were actually doing this. Accelerated heart beats, rapid breaths… All of that. Ah! Here we go," he said as the screen flicked on.
The three were a little drawn back to see Barbara making out with Otoren.
"Well, this is interesting," Nightwing said sourly. "SPEW!" he yelled.
"Shh!" Robin hissed.

^Barbara suddenly pulled away from Otoren.
"NO!" she screamed, stumbling away. "I WON'T ACCEPT!!!!"
"Wh-What?" he asked, his emotions obviously being crushed.
"I will NOT abandon my duties just for some… Unreal lust!" she yelled at him.
"Barbara, I can give you anything you want! …Make you feel each desire. I can heighten your senses into an explosive array of passion!"
"No…" she said, pulling away further as he tried to grab onto her once more. "I… don't… LOVE YOU!!"
The scenery suddenly changed in a painful blur of light. Then it faded down to a black pit, Barbara was falling down it endlessly. Her wine colored dress melted down into a pair of cameoflage pants, black boots, a Batman tank-top and a flannel tied around her waist. Her hair shortened to shoulder length.
~Barbara!~ she heard a familiar voice call. ~Barbara, it's Robin! Can you hear me?! I can only keep contact through the computer for so much time!~
"He's throwing me into a game where I have to fight with my birth right talents!" she screamed as she fell. "I can't get out unless I-"
She cried out as she hit the muddy ground of a forest on her left shoulder first and crashed totally into the three inch deep mud. She was rendered unconscious.
~BARBARA! Barbara, wake up!~^

"Unless she what?!" Nightwing cried.
"I don't KNOW!" Robin yelled, beginning to type. "I lost contact with HER!"
"She's unconscious," Nightwing said.
"YOU know what I mean!! Dammit! Get on the computer over there! We gotta find this guy!"
Nightwing ran and started to work quickly on the computer Robin pointed to. Batman paced to Barbara, kneeling beside her. He took her hand gently and stroked it, whispering:
"Be strong… We're with you, Batgirl," he whispered.

~We're with you, Batgirl~ the whispered voice repeated in Barbara's head as she regained consciousness slowly.
She slowly sat up on her knees as it began to rain. She was disoriented by the fall, and the humid surroundings, but cold rain didn't help any. With a weakened moan, she got to her feet. Standing, she looked ahead of her. Standing there was Otoren. He looked different now. His eyes glowed red, he was entire pitch black, skin and all, except for his glistening fangs. He stood in the shadows of trees, watered down moonlight shining on him.
"I'll give you one last chance, Barbara," he said lowly.
"It's like making a deal with the devil… Something I won't do."
"Usually I give each of them a maze in which monsters roam that they must pass… But you… Mmm… You'll be a catch I want to myself. I suggest you run."
His eyes glowed brighter and he lunged for her. She turned and sprinted from him. Quickly she jumped over logs and such as hurdles, and ducked branches and such.
~-stop that, I'm trying to reestablish-Oh! Barbara! Do you know of something we can do out here?!~ Robin cried in her mind.
"He's a techno-demon! There has to be some way he's accessing the computer, some how he FOUND me!" she panted. "Look for anything! Viruses or something around the apartment!"
She came to a low cliff by a river and sprung off, doing a flip across to the other side of the river. She turned and saw Otoren still following her. Rolling her eyes, she ran again. She came to, oddly enough, something that resembled a gigantic Mayan pyramid. Without thinking twice, she entered it.^

"Gah! No! Don't go in there!" Robin yelled as the screen blanked and he lost contact. "Nightwing, Batman! Look around for talismans or something!" he ordered as he typed quickly. "Aw, man! Her heart beat is accelerating unreasonably! That is not good! Hurry and find an odd item!"
"What?" Nightwing asked.
"Something a spirit could pass through!" The two began to search carefully. "Babs, be careful…" Robin whispered.

^Barbara ran down a hall as Otoren continued to chase her. At the end was a huge gap in the floor. She charged at it fearlessly and sprung off the edge. She sailed over and hit the edge. She slid off partially, but clawed at the ground tightly. Otoren sprung over and in front of her, spinning to her.
"You're trickier than I thought, sweetheart."
"Yeah? Well, ungh, check THIS out!"
Barbara used all her energy to reach up, grab one of his feet and pull hard, going off the edge with him. He cried out as they plummeted downwards. They were falling straight for a spiky grave of a trap. Barbara grabbed at statues and rocks on the side of the chasm, trying to stop her fall, as did Otoren on the other side. They both managed to grab the sides at equal times. Barbara wasted no time to spin, gripping the wall with one side of her body, and kick at Otoren. He hit the wall, but kept his grip. He swung around and slashed at her, getting cut across her arm. She cried out and retracted to the wall totally. Swiftly, she began to climb. Otoren jumped to her side and climbed after her.
When she reached the top, she crawled over the side, just to meet face to face with a virtual version of the Joker, who held a revolver at her. Otoren climbed up next to her.
"I didn't want to result to such tact, my sweet. But I figure the fear method might just work."
"I don't frighten easily," she said lowly, crescent kicking the gun away and tackling the Joker. The Joker kicked her off and she flew further away from the edge. She jumped to her feet and ran. "ROBIN!!" she screamed.^

"Robin!" Nightwing called, walking to him with a small, flat device that was on a magazine. "It's some sort of transmitter. It's emitting radio waves to the computer."
"Okay. Can you work with it?" Robin asked as he worked quickly.
He had already regained visual contact, but he needed audio. Nightwing sat at another computer.
"You know it! Batman, could you help?" he asked.
"Yes," Batman replied sternly.
He walked past Robin as he regained audio contact.
"Yes! Babs! You okay?"
~I'm getting TIRED!! Now I've got the virtual JOKER following me!~ she screamed.
"Hang on tight, hon! We think we've found the source! You've got the first and second best detectives in the world on it."
~Joy…~

^Barbara grunted as she sprung onto a wall with vines crawling up it. She crawled quickly, reaching another level. She rolled from the edge and stood. Looking around, she found herself in what was like a tomb, lit by torches. Far down, by nearly one hundred yards, was an opening to what looked like an electrical storm of blue and such. She had a feeling it would be the exit. Grabbing a torch, she slowly walked down that way, knowing there would be traps.
Surely enough, Catwoman jumped out in front of her. Catwoman snapped her whip towards her, but she dodged and spun closer, swiping the torch towards her. Catwoman tried to dodge it, but it caught her clothes and she lit in fire. Barbara didn't even pause. She just ran past and for the doorway again.
"Robin! I think I see the exit! Can you break into the program and set it closer?"
~Don't you think that if I could break into the program I would take it OVER completely? It's encrypted and unbreakable. Batman and Nightwing are continuing their struggle with the transmitter that was on your Cosmopolitan magazine. Hey! I didn't know you even subscribed to that!~
Barbara slowed into a jog, getting more cautious.
"I don't, Boy Freak. It's Karen's."
~Karen? Isn't she the augmented one?~
"That's her-ungh!"
Barbara slammed into a statue as Bane punched her.
~Barbara!~
Barbara ran out of another one of Bane's strikes. Her torch went to the side.
"I can't DO this!" she cried, backing off.
~All right,~ Robin said, meaning business. ~You listen to me and you listen to me NOW, Barbara. This is YOUR program. This is YOUR business. Take it BACK. You understand me?! You're Batgirl! Use those techniques!~
"That's-that's brilliant!" she gasped.
~Huh?~ She jumped into the shadows and closed her eyes, concentrating hard. ~Barbara! Barbara, where are you?!~^

"Barbara, talk to me!" Robin cried, now on his feet, holding his shoulder.
"What's going on?" Batman asked.
"Grr, she's not respond-whoa…"
He paused as Barbara emerged from the shadows as Batgirl and went after Bane.
~Don't worry about me, Robin. Worry about that transmitter!~
"Right!" He turned to Batman. "What are you guys doing with it?"
"I don't know!" Nightwing yelled.
Batman thought a moment, and then walked calmly over. He took the small transmitter and looked it over.
"I have an idea. Move."

^Bane was on the ground, twitching. Batgirl grinned at the cattle prod and knife she held. But then she was off again, running. When she got within twenty feet of the door, she stopped, seeing the Joker standing on one side and Poison Ivy on the other. Otoren came behind her and set his hands on her shoulders gently.
"Come along, Barbara. You know you can't beat both of them. Tell you what. Why don't we just call this a wash and I'll give you a second chance."
"Lets not and say we did!" she yelled, elbowing him hard in the solar plexus.
She reached behind, grabbed him by the shoulders, and flipped him over her, into the Joker. Poison Ivy caused vines to wrap around her legs and lower torso. Batgirl drew a batarang and sliced through them quickly as the Joker ran for her. Before she could react, he tackled on her and started to punch her. She got her footing just right and pushed up into a half-arch with her back, putting her face out of reach of the Joker. He grabbed her around the waist and tried to get her to stop. At one point she did and swung up, wrapping her hands around his neck. Sitting in not the best position in the world, he was kneeling on the ground, his arms around her waist, and she was straddled over him… Choking him.
"That's cute!" Otoren joked in the background.
"Erg… No it's not! …It's sick!" she growled out through her teeth. She slammed her head into his and he fell back. She got away from him quickly. "Ick. That was got to be the worst position I've EVER been in… Uck!"
She shivered in disgust, and then whipped out a bola and wrapped it around Ivy just as vines tired to grab her. Ivy fell back, into the wall, and to the ground. The Joker stood and drew a gun.
"I didn't want to DO this, Barbara. But you forced my hand."
Batgirl gasped as the Joker squeezed the trigger. A pain flooded through her that was so recognizable, it scared her. She flew back and hit the ground, blood everywhere from the hole in her stomach. She grabbed her stomach as Otoren walked over.^

For the first time in a bit, Barbara made noise. And it wasn't little. It was a scream of pain that caught all their attentions. Robin ran to the computer, Nightwing ran to Barbara and Batman continued to work.

^"Why…?" she choked out as tears flooded her eyes. "Why…?"
"Does it HURT, Barbara? Does it hurt badly?" he asked. He shoved a hand into the wound hard and she screamed in pain. "Aww, poor Babsie. I loved you. But you never returned the love. I tried to get your attention all my days, but you never paid attention. And finally, when I can give you the world? Nope. YOU DENY ME AGAIN!" he screamed, punching her in the stomach. She screamed again, the tears pouring out uncontrollably. Otoren walked over and took the gun from the Joker, and paced over. "Now, if you won't be mine… You'll be no one's."
He fired, hitting her in the arm.^

Barbara and Batgirl screamed identically. Robin checked her vital signs.
"Oh, no… Batman! Hurry that up! Her vitals are speeding up so fast, she could die!"
He cringed as Barbara was shot in the other arm. Batman stood and hurried to the computer Robin was at with the transmitter and slapped it by the cable that connected to Barbara's equipment (that was also fried on).

^Otoren tried to fire, but he was sidetracked as the surroundings began to vanish. And then, he too was gone. Within seconds everything just disappeared.^

"Pull it off!" Batman ordered Nightwing.
"Oh boy…"
Nightwing pulled at the helmet, expecting it to still be stuck. He fell back from the easiness of it. Barbara screamed awake and doubled over from the remaining pain. Batman ran to her and knelt in front of her. Taking her gently by the arms, he made her sit up a bit.
"Barbara?" he asked gently.
"What… What did you do?" she asked, trying to suck in the pain.
"I reversed the transmitter so it would take back everything it sent."
Barbara laughed breathlessly.
"It took you five minutes to do only that?!" she exclaimed.
"Only?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, I mean… It's good, for an amateur. Hey, thanks," she said, smiling. "Oh, Dick…" She stripped off the rest of the gear and handed it to him. "Destroy that for me, will ya?"
"Are you sure?" he asked, stunned. "You put a lot of money and labor into it!"
"Just, destroy it. And the transmitter. And take that magazine with you, please," she said.
Nightwing shrugged, gathering everything.
"Says you. But I'm gonna take these home and I'm gonna program those models into the computer and use this stuff to-"
"Dick!" she laughed.
"Okay, okay. I'll destroy it!" he grinned. "And then I'm off to Bludhaven. The Chief is gonna have a field day with THIS one. "Why were you gone?!" "Um. My dog ran away…?" Heh…"
Barbara and Robin snickered as he left. Robin walked over, still holding his shoulder, and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"I gotta go, Babs. My shoulder is killing me… I gotta run by Doctor Thompkin's, and then I gotta get home and get yelled at more. Bye!"
"Bye!" she smiled, waving. When he exited, she looked to Batman. "This has been an interesting night."
"Are you all right?" he asked.
"Just after-shock. Nothing too bad… So, when will I see you again?"
"What do you mean?"
"I'm always talking to you, but I hardly ever see you. It'd be nice to get a visit from you, or Bruce. Both are nice to talk to."
Batman looked at her strangely. But then he turned and headed for a window.
"Maybe one of them will stop by tomorrow," he said with a half-grin. He turned to her right at the window. "You did good tonight. It's good to know you're on our side."
Barbara crossed her arms and leaned back.
"There is no "our side", Batman. It's *your* side. But, yeah, I guess it's cool that you think that."
"…What made you decide to refuse his offer?"
"He was too damn controlling!" she joked.
Batman smirked and turned to the window.
"I have to escort Robin home."
"He's waiting for you?"
"No, but I'm going to find him."
"Ohhh. Well, okay," she sighed, turning away in her chair. "Goodnight, Batman."
"Goodnight… Batgirl."
Her eyes widened and she spun to look at him. But there was nothing. All that she could see was the open window and light snow flakes beyond.

The End