Chapter 48

In the dead of night, the streets of Gotham City still seemed eerily calm, unaware of the storm brewing in its shadows.

"Is this Gotham? I thought it was supposed to be crawling with thugs and criminals," Kara commented, peering out the window of the Batmobile.

She was dressed in a sleek, all-black combat suit, a transformation into a temporary Oracle. Currently, she was riding shotgun in Bruce Wayne's infamous Batmobile, a vehicle that, despite its many upgrades, was still grounded in a gritty reality.

This version of the Batmobile, unlike its predecessors, actually had space for passengers. Lucius Fox had once sat in the passenger seat during Bruce's early test drives, and Rachel Dawes had taken the back seat on an urgent rescue mission. Tonight, Kara sat beside the caped crusader.

As they sped through the streets, Kara's mind wandered. The Batmobile moved with impressive speed, but to her, it felt as though the world had slowed down. She could see every passing building, every flicker of streetlight, in perfect clarity. Her superhuman reflexes and enhanced senses made her feel like the world around her was in slow motion.

Bruce, who was focused on the road, managed to hear her remarks and responded, "Gotham's darkness isn't always so literal. It's not a criminal haven all the time."

Kara gave a small, dismissive laugh. "Sure."

Her sarcasm didn't escape Bruce, but he chose not to engage. He knew Gotham inside and out—its light and its shadows.

As Kara fiddled with the equipment on her suit, she muttered, "This voice modulator sounds awful."

The bat-suit had been custom-tailored for her, adjusted to fit her figure and powers. Bruce had equipped it with a voice changer to mask her identity, much like his own, making her voice low and gravelly—far from the clear, melodious voice she was accustomed to. Kara's voice, when unmodulated, could easily entrance anyone who heard it, much like Clark's deep, resonant tone. It seemed to be a unique trait among Kryptonians.

Bruce glanced at her. "The voice modulator serves a purpose. I wear a mask and disguise my voice to keep my identity hidden. What we do isn't exactly legal, and I don't want the people I care about to suffer the consequences."

Kara frowned slightly at the mention of loved ones being targeted, but then shrugged it off. "Clark and I just use some psychological manipulation—make sure no one recognizes us."

Her approach was simpler, though just as effective. When Kara and Clark took on their roles as Supergirl and Superman, they naturally commanded attention. But once they returned to their civilian identities, it was as if no one could connect the dots, thanks to their subtle yet powerful cognitive influence. It was a natural ability, and one that didn't require them to wear a mask or change their voice.

Satisfied with her adjustments, Kara turned to Bruce. "So, tell me more about this League of Shadows plan. What's the move?"

Bruce sighed. "We're heading to Arkham Asylum. I've got a friend there who can give us more details. He'll explain it better than I could."

Kara nodded, understanding the need for brevity. She trusted Bruce's judgment and knew that time was of the essence. With that, they fell into silence, the Batmobile roaring through Gotham's dark streets, speeding toward Arkham Asylum.

Arkham Asylum sat on a small island near Gotham, separated from the city by a long bridge. It was a notorious place, housing some of Gotham's most dangerous criminals and the mentally ill. Today, the island was in chaos. Ra's al Ghul, the leader of the League of Shadows, had unleashed his plan—fear toxin filled the air, and the once-secure asylum was now a hellish nightmare.

The bridge connecting Gotham to Arkham had been raised, cutting off access to the island. But Bruce wasn't deterred. With precise skill, he accelerated the Batmobile and launched it off the broken bridge, landing smoothly on the other side.

Kara, who hadn't flinched during the jump, smirked. "Not bad for someone who doesn't fly."

The doors of the Batmobile hissed open. Before stepping out, Bruce tossed a gas mask toward Kara. "Put this on. The fear toxin's everywhere."

Kara caught the mask, glanced at it, and tossed it aside without a second thought. She had no need for it. With her Kryptonian physiology, she could hold her breath for hours, and her invulnerability ensured that the toxin wouldn't affect her. She added a layer of psychokinetic energy around her body as a precaution, in case the toxin could seep through skin pores.

Bruce shot her a look but said nothing. He knew better than to question her invulnerability.

As they stepped out, thick mist swirled around them. The toxic fog, laced with the Scarecrow's fear toxin, blanketed the island. It was a scene of utter chaos—prisoners and guards alike were running wild, driven mad by their worst fears come to life.

Kara's attention shifted to the man Bruce had mentioned earlier—James Gordon. He stood there, visibly stressed but maintaining his composure amidst the chaos. He wasn't the police commissioner yet, but he was one of the few men Bruce could trust.

Gordon spotted them approaching and, doing a double take, asked in confusion, "Wait... Batman has a sidekick now?"

Kara grinned beneath her mask but stayed silent. Bruce merely nodded, acknowledging Gordon's bewilderment with a tight-lipped smirk.

The night had only just begun, and Gotham's fate hung in the balance.