Chapter Eleven

Beneath Wayne manor, an old man dressed in casual wear sat directly in front of a large computer console. Focusing intently on his protégé's patrol as he took down the trash in the lower part of the city, posing as wannabe Jokers. He remembered the times wore that suit fondly, he never believed he would see a time he wouldn't be 'Batman'. Even now, (though it sounds silly) if someone called out 'Hey Batman!' he would be the first to respond.

Hearing soft taping echoes of very expensive shoes behind him, Bruce deduced it could only be one person… Diana. She was still a very beautiful woman even after all these years the very sight of her made him wish for more, but he forced himself to only perceive her as a friend. Bruce believed himself too old to indulge in flights of fancy and placed his usual scowl on his face as he waited for the woman to speak.

"What's happening tonight?" She asked appearing briskly to his right side. Bruce briefly wondered why she had stuck around this long, the woman had responsibilities on that island of hers but he didn't wish to know as well. Whatever reason she was here, it had soothed something inside of him and he didn't look forward to losing it.

"It's the Jokerz again. They've been running rampant in the streets of lower Gotham fighting another gang called 'Intergang'." Bruce shook his head he honestly didn't understand why anyone couldn't come up with a decent criminal name these days. It was like after he retired all the truly creative criminals stopped as well, it was uncanny.

"So that's why you had the kid ditch his date for the third time this week?" Diana asked raising an eyebrow at her old friend. She had backed up Bruce when the kid had complained about his treatment earlier that day, but she knew Bruce did nothing without a reason.

"No." His simple statement was loaded with an insinuation that only someone who knew him well enough was able to pick up. She knew Bruce had kept an eye on everyone in the kid's life, she guessed Bruce had stumbled onto something frustrating involving Dana Tang and in true Bruce Wayne fashion had remained silent about the facts.

"So, is she cheating on him or is she dangerous?" Diana asked as her eyes narrowed at the very idea. She had become quite attached to the young man for a reason she didn't quite understand and if someone meant him harm, she would take care of it herself.

"Neither... Or both. It's too early to tell." Bruce replied.

Pinching the bridge of her nose Diana asked, "But you noticed something?"

Nodding grimly Bruce remained silent, she trusted Bruce enough not to question him… too much.

"You know, the kid isn't a pushover. He can handle his emotions well enough, while it would be hard someone like that wouldn't push him over the edge." Diana advised on Terry's behalf, though she knew it wouldn't do much to persuade this stubborn man.

Taking his eyes off the screen for a moment he met Diana's sparkling dark orbs, "I'm not doing this because I think it'll break him if I didn't. I just don't want to see another person who wears my symbol become..." She could hear the words Bruce didn't say clearly, he didn't want Terry to become like him.

'It might be true', Diana thought. If Terry had to take down someone, he believed he loved, it could make him lead a similar path to the one who previously wore the bat moniker. Bruce was only doing this to protect Terry, though she doubted the kid would see it in the same light.

Bruce had gotten sidetracked with their conversation, which caused him to miss the interaction between Kara and his newest charge during the first few minutes. He did, however, catch the blonde's eyes when she flashed the tale-tell signs of X-ray vision. Bruce guessed the kid disabled the led lining feature on the suit. Bruce could admit it was inconvenient to be unable to change your facial expressions when the feature was engaged, it beat having to scramble to protect your secret. It was too late to regret, which if this girl wasn't friendly it could be dangerous.

"Dammit, it's a Kryptonian." Bruce started typing a few commands into his computer, while Diana's eyes widened at his comment.

"What do you mean?! How can there be another..." Her words were cut off by Bruce's raised hand. Diana was a lot of things, Queen, demi-god, badass super-heroin and none of them take kindly to being silenced like a peasant, but her outrage was short-lived with Bruce's next words.

"Terry listen to me. Ask the girl in front of you how she knows Kal-El."

Confused by Wayne's request, Terry wanted to ask 'why' but he knew the old man wouldn't give him a straight answer regardless of how much he requested. If he knew anything about Mr. Wayne, it was that he would never ask Terry to do anything without a good enough reason. The only problem was, the old man rarely explained what those reasons were.

Attempting to keep the frustration out of his voice he relayed the question back to the pretty blonde. Allowing his face to remain neutral, he asked, "What is your relation to Kal-El?"

Kara asked her own question in return, "How do you know that name?"

Narrowing his eyes, Terry unconsciously got ready for a fight, "Answer the question..." as an afterthought he added, "Please."

Disliking Terry's tone, she growled at the boy standing in front of her, "Cousin, he is my cousin."

Confused once again, Terry knew there was obviously a misunderstanding between them, but as usual, Wayne didn't give him enough information to judge what he should do next. Stepping away from the pair Terry put his hand to the side of his mask to speak with the old man, "Alright, what is going on?"

"Don't let her out of your sight. She is important. I will be going silent on my end until I know more." Without further explanation, Wayne was gone again.

Grumbling to himself he turned back around to find the blonde standing directly behind him, stepping back in surprise he eyed her suspiciously, "What are you doing..."

"Who was that? Why does he know Kal-El and why are you being so secretive?" Kara asked in concession.

Even if her questions weren't too quick, he honestly didn't plan on answering regardless... At least not directly. He did, however, notice that the blonde knew the gender of the person he was speaking to a moment ago, most would have dismissed her statement as a guess. He, on the other hand, didn't believe it was a coincidence.

"Someone that is supposed to answer my questions." He replied cryptically.

"Alright, can I get your names?" Terry ventured.

"I'm D d d, Danny, this is Kara." The redhead replied stuttering.

"What about you?" Kara asked eyeing the costumed boy.

"Batman." Terry answered arching an eyebrow at the blonde, 'maybe those old jokes are true about blondes' he thought.

"Really, so your parents decided to give you the name of a type of rodent, human hybrid?" Kara questioned skeptically.

Now even Danny was giving her disbelieving looks.

"No..." Terry was a little confused on how to explain. "If you are expecting me to give you anything other than my persona you're just as naïve as you look."

The indirect insult felt like a slap to the newest member of planet earth, but before she could say anything about the slight Danny distracted her with a question.

"Do you not know about a hero's secret identity? Didn't you know all about Superman before?"

During the week the pair had spent together Kara had talked a lot, particularly about Superman. The world hadn't seen the hero for roughly forty years, but he was still a popular topic especially around Metropolis. So, Danny figured Kara already understood the importance of a heroes 'Secret Identity'.

Scrunching up her face in confusion, "What are you talking about? He wears his Family's name on the front of his shirt. It's obvious he is..."

"Look we don't have time for this." Terry said cutting her off impatiently, "From what you said you guys were tracking down Intergang's home base, maybe we can assist each other."

Terry wasn't too keen on babysitting two noobs on a dangerous mission, but the old man wanted him to keep an eye on the girl and until he understood why he needed a reason to stick close to them.

Danny seemed excited for the chance to go along with a modern-day hero, dreaming of getting an interview with one of the more elusive heroes of the modern age. "Could you answer a few questions, B Batman?" Danny asked still feeling nervous at his possible big break.

Terry didn't answer, he didn't feel it was necessary. Terry didn't want to give them false hope, motioning for the two to follow him he went to the closest building that had a fire escape platform. Starting up the latter on the side of a building, he didn't bother keeping an eye on the pair, the building wasn't too large which meant it didn't take long before they reached the top.

Turning to face the blonde and red-headed teens, he watched as they stepped off the latter and looked around at their new surroundings.

"I need to know what you guys have found so far," Terry said giving them a blank expression.

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After several minutes of hearing them, Terry could tell it had almost been blind luck, they hadn't gotten killed within fifteen minutes in their investigation. The clue was solid though, it was something he knew his mentor would have noticed but very few others would have. Danny had potential, but he was still too green if he wasn't careful, he would find himself in a bad end one day, sooner or later.

Nodding his head, he examined the facts and Terry guessed the Jokerz that had jumped the pair earlier must have been investigating Intergang's base as well. The only problem was if Intergang hadn't realized this fact with all of the commotions outside… then they either were either too stupid or just didn't care. If they were too stupid to notice then it was easy, but if they didn't care that another gang was on their doorstep just a few moments prior… it meant they were already prepared.

This smelled like trouble… 'Slaggit, just what I needed tonight.' Terry thought.

"So, will you help us?" Danny almost yelled.

"Something tells me, if I don't you guys would just end up doing this on your own." Terry could see the determination in the blonde's eyes from the beginning and Danny even though nervous around him was had the same determination as well.

"You're right, this is my big break. I will get the story or die trying." Danny responded

"Would it help if I tell you there is something off about all of this. Criminals are usually quiet. They don't advertise themselves like tonight, which means they are even more dangerous than usual." Terry said. He had really only been doing this type of work recently, but even with his inexperience, these facts made him want to be more cautious.

"What do you mean? They seem pretty quiet now." Danny asked.

"No, they are pretty much poking out like a sore thumb. If these guys didn't want to be found they wouldn't have made so many mistakes. I'm honestly astounded the police haven't already arrived."

"I don't see it…" Danny said but loud cackling laughter interrupted whatever else he was going to say.

"Ha ha ha, agreed. When you are strong why would you fear the weak? Those 'mistakes' as you call them, are just Granny letting her little ones… have a little fun." The older woman grinned at them, her black lipstick stood out the most on her wrinkled face. She was at an average height, had large cotton white hair and her eyes looked black, but what made her seem intimidating was the glowing metal rod in her hands that sparked electricity.

Behind her was about twenty people in blue suits holding blasters in their hands aiming directly at the three on the rooftop.

'Slag, they've caught us.' Terry thought.