Chapter 21: Intentions (Final Part - 1/2)

Quick shoutout to my new Patreons this week. @David White and @Javier Perez Caridad. Your support is extremely appreciated!

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Date: August 16, 2008

Location: Downtown Gotham City, New Jersey, Old Gotham

Time: 4:39 P.M.

*BOOOOOOOM*

Ripples took over the city as a massive shockwave spread, trees uprooting and window panes shattering when three figures obscured by dust and debris traded blows at amazing speeds in the sky over Gotham's streets.

After a few punches worth of back and forth, one of the figures was roughly smacked downwards, cutting a groove into the road. Seeing this, a second figure ceased in their movements as they chased after them.

Before the third could do the same, a yellow energy beam came tearing through the air, an explosion covering their frame. Unfazed, the third figure waved the resulting smoke away and turned to face the cause.

*SCREEEEEEEEEEE!*

A sound wave rammed into the distracted figure from behind, sending them sailing through a building that collapsed over them a moment later.

As the dust cleared due to the lull in the battle, a man in a white cape threw away a few slabs of heated tar, leaning over another man on his knees with an S inscribed on his chest.

"You alright Superman?" Captain Marvel gave a hand to the Man of Steel who gratefully accepted the help offered.

"Yeah, I'm good." Clark got back on his feet, staring at the quiet mound of debris.

"Did we get him?" Captain Marvel asked, watching alongside him. 

In response, the wreckage erupted outward, Ben floating out. Draped over his Wildcard armor was the familiar Green Lantern's uniform, now glowing in a half-black and green tint.

"Happy with your answer?"

"Not really."

Before he could charge at the duo, Aquaman jumped from a nearby building, his punch striking Ben across the cheek and right into another Canary Cry.

Watching his comrades capture Ben's attention for the moment, Superman put a hand to his ear. "Batman. How's the evacuation going?"

It's been more than half an hour now since their battle against the rogue "entity" inside Ben began, and things weren't looking good for the heroes. The battle area was expanding as time went on, putting them on a timer to both rapidly remove the citizens inhabiting most of Old Gotham's district, and keep Ben distracted long enough to do it.

"Around 58% of Old Gotham has been safely vacated." came Bruce's gruff reply. "How much longer until Wildcard is subdued?" 

"Well…" Clark turned his head to look at the fight, watching as Ben chased after Aquaman while spamming his copied Canary Cry. "...It'll take a while at this rate. Can we use more force?"

"That's the second time you asked me." Bruce pointed out.

"Cause you didn't answer the first time." Clark retorted. "You also didn't tell me if you lead-lined his suit or not."

In order to get a better look at Ben's condition, Clark had tried peeking under his armor with his X-Ray Vision, failing spectacularly.

Of course, Bruce remained silent on that matter. Why wouldn't he have given the very best in gear to his sons (Dick included)? It was a no-brainer for him.

But now…

"Use however much force you think is necessary."

Stunned, Captain Marvel and Superman turned to share a look.

"Are you sure?" Captain Marvel spoke in a weird tone, unable to understand the lack of care in Bruce's voice.

Although currently their "enemy", everyone knew that Ben wasn't in control of his actions and that, technically, they weren't even fighting him. The heroes considered him as one of their own, so that meant pulling their punches and doing their best to take him down without leaving to chance the possibility of causing fatal harm. 

"This is bigger now." Bruce explained. "We need him contained fast. The Zatara's have theorized a couple of spells they can use to drag his soul back, but none can work unless he's bound again." 

Obviously, It's impossible for anyone to swallow the depths harboring the events of today, Bruce included. He was currently at a dangerous tipping point, only keeping it together due to the sheer will of wishing to see his son safe and sound.

Thankfully, Superman seemed to notice Bruce's state regardless as he interrupted Captain Marvel before he could speak. "We understand. But reinforcements would be appreciated."

"I already knew that. Since progress has been made on other fronts, I'm reassigning positions now." 

"Starting with me." Barry appeared beside the duo after a fuzzy streak, watching the battle alongside them. "Yeesh, kid's got anger issues."

Like a lion bearing down on its prey, Ben was beating down on Hawkman before a giant tornado formed behind him, drawing him into its center wind tunnel. 

Red Tornado had his hands outstretched at his sides while riding the top of the channel, doing his utmost to keep the wildly flailing Ben disrupted. The second he noticed his foe's recovering awareness, the android made a pushing motion, forcefully ejecting Ben into the waiting red-clad fist of Captain Atom who sent him back the way he came.

Halting his mid-air trip upside down, Ben properly reoriented himself to aim his ring as a black and green ray of energy streaked toward Captain Atom. The man returned the favor, meeting Ben in the middle with yellow energy rays from both his fists.

Picking up on the stalemate after a while and perhaps knowing that he had to change things up, Ben switched to firing in short, static bursts. Unfortunately for him, the Captain mimicked his tactics as he continued canceling them out with his own, also steering clear from a few of the blasts when possible.

Noticing that Captain Atom managed to keep the deadlock going, Bruce mentally shouted. 'Now J'onn!'

Like a ghost, a green–skinned, six-armed figure slowly rose out of the ground as it hovered behind Ben. Briskly, four hands clamped down onto Ben's every arm and leg, another gripping his head tightly away in case of a point-blank Canary Cry.

As the remaining hand stretched out toward Ben's fingers, J'onn cried in pain when spiked hair poked holes through his palm. Although the wounds quickly closed up before blood could be drawn, the Martian turned himself intangible and backed away, managing to retreat inches before more strands could turn him into Swiss cheese.

Free once more, Ben speared through the air towards Captain Atom fists first, spinning like a drill to rebound the energy blasts the man fired at him in retaliation. Ramming into the Captain, Ben took him for a diagonal ride that ended with him being violently nailed into the ground.

As Superman was finally going to re-enter the fray, he paused, turning to a nearby building as his eyes contracted to the size of pinholes. 

"Flash! Third corridor. Two kids hiding in the closet!"

"On it!" a fuzzy silhouette passed the Man of Steel, wind passing along the hole on the side of the building. Zipping through the stairs up to the place he was directed towards, Barry yanked the wardrobe doors open. "Hey there kiddos!"

Huddled together while hidden under the many jeans and shirts hanging above them, the unexpected greeting elicited screams from the pair of children.

"Yeah… sorry about that." Barry smiled awkwardly, picking the two up as he zoomed out of the building. "The kids are clear." he spoke into his comms.

Nodding his head while up on the remains of the museum, Bruce continued planning as he turned his head back to the battle, watching as Ben tried to tear off Hawkwoman's wings before the rest managed to interfere.

"@%#*^!" Will cursed out loud after some time. "We had him on the ropes!"

Blinking rapidly, Wally watched as Kaldur was violently stuffed down a fire hydrant after trying to redirect its contents, and Aquaman was slammed into an overturned car. "Are we even watching the same fight?! In what universe does this look like a win?"

The pair of archers, depowered lanterns, and the remaining speedster were behind Bruce, standing guard for the Zataras seated cross-legged upon a glowing blue platform.

Due to the rapidly escalating criteria of the situation, Bruce had everyone split up into four groups that he could interchange at any time.

Currently, Ben's renewed production of black fumes was growing worse as time passed, the earlier spry sun no longer anywhere to be seen as black smog clouds blotted it out. Taking into account the corrosiveness of the gas, the first group was made up of the team's most durable close-range fighters such as Superman, Captain Marvel, Captain Atom, Hawkman, Hawkwoman, and Martian Manhunter. 

Although relatively safe for them to enter into the fog, they couldn't linger within it for too long without their skin decaying or suits wasting away. The solution they came up with was rotating in pairs of two and three in order to keep their energy preserved.

Aquaman and Kaldur could also go into the smoke relatively fine, but they were assigned a more important role in the ambush team. Although immensely helpful with her sound attacks, Black Canary was way too vulnerable physically. The Atlanteans were responsible for providing cover for her as she took potshots at Ben.

The third team, evacuation, was originally made up of only Flash who lifted people to safety with his super speed. But, after having Red Tornado try and disperse the gas and failing since it was too cohesive, Bruce had the android assist the speedster before moving him to the battlefield.

Finally, the remaining members were meant to protect the Zataras as they readied their spell for when the time had come. 

"This is comedic gold. GOLD I tell ya!"

"You said it Mistah J!"

…Then, there was Wonder Woman, standing in annoyance beside an entertained Joker and Harley Quinn as she held onto the golden lasso currently keeping them tied up.

"Why are these two even here?" Oliver groaned. "Isn't keeping them far away from Wildcard the exact thing we were told to do?"

Just like his student, Oliver was frustrated that he couldn't be of any support. Not only were he and Will running low on ammunition, but at some point, their titanium shaft arrows could no longer cut through the gas.

"Leaving them alone is equally dangerous due to their unpredictability. It's better to have them in our sights." Bruce curtly answered.

Diana glanced at Oliver. "Believe me. I tried to dissuade him otherwise."

She was also feeling antsy. A warrior like her should be out trading blows with another combatant, not delegated to monitor duty.

"Hey!" Harley pouted. "We're sittin' right here ya know?"

Joker grinned as he enjoyed the spectacle unfolding before him. "Ignore them pumpkin. They're nothing but killjoys. Hey, kid vroom!" he turned to Wally. "Be a dear and get me a large popcorn with extra butter." he shamelessly asked.

Floating alongside Zatanna and Sindella with a blue light passing around them, Giovanni grimaced as it faded away, rubbing his temples as he opened his eyes in annoyance. "Batman. May you at the very least gag these nuisances? They are preventing us from fully concentrating."

No sooner had the man spoken before pieces of duct tape magically appeared over the pair's mouths.

"Two custom-ordered gags on the house." Wally dusted off his hands as Joker looked at him, devoid of his former amusement. "Would you like an extra side of blindfold?"

"Hawkman, Hawkwoman, Red Tornado." Bruce ignored the quips, finding a change in the battle as he called over the comms. "Regroup and assist emergency responses with keeping civilians out of harm's way. The battle site is expanding quickly and they need support."

Pulling herself out of a pile of wet cement, Hawkwoman looked like she was about to argue before her male counterpart gave a look that shut her down. 

As the two sailed to follow orders with a mute android following, Wally suddenly had a lightbulb go off.

"Hey, voice inside my head that's definitely some science I still don't get and not magic!" his shouting earned a bunch of strange looks. "Can't you lend a hand? We're getting our butts majorly handed to us right now, and some help would be appreciated."

-Quit your whining!- ESAMAL complained. -You're lucky that the rings are mainly being used as a battery right now. That thing can't waste its remaining charge to create any draining constructs since it needs every drop of energy to keep itself sustained here. If it even has the imagination to make something. Be grateful that things aren't a hundred times worse.-

As ESAMAL spoke, the battlefield shifted once again as J'onn sent out an invisible telekinetic blast, cargo crates splitting apart as Ben was plowed through the fence of a nearby shipyard. Swiftly rising, Ben grabbed a leaking fuel truck within reach and chucked it tank first.

Turning intangible, J'onn was halfway out the other side before he saw a card attached right by his head.

*KA-BOOOOM!*

"Not like the Traveler cards that Ben most likely made loads of isn't dangerous enough..." Zatanna turned scornful, the recovered Atlanteans rushing to provide aid to the alight Martian wailing in agony.

Suddenly, the black gas around Ben churned as it coalesced into a giant cannon, firing at the incoming Superman projectile and bouncing him back.

"...And there's your constructs." Wally muttered with a pale face as he turned to Zatanna while he still had her attention. "Can't you guys just 'bibbity bobbity boo' him and be done with it?"

"It's not that simple." Zatanna denied. "This ritual is too magic expensive. We need to save up on our reserves so that we don't tap out."

Paying some mind to their conversation, Bruce narrowed his eyes. Not only was Ben starting to directly make use of everyone's weaknesses, but they were still unaware of the entity's full capabilities. ESAMAL already admitted that he had no idea what it was exactly, so it wasn't wrong to say that he was also in the dark and incorrect on some points.

Wally was utterly lost at this point. "...Anything to say ESAMAL?"

-…I already called for help. Just wait a bit longer.- 

"Really?" the young speedster perked up as he wondered. "Who is it?"

*AWOOOOOOOOOOOO!*

A powerful howl bounced off the remaining buildings, a giant blackish-red dog bounding through the debris-filled battlefield and slamming into the unaware Ben's back.

"What the hell?!" Wally exclaimed, watching Brutus drag Ben back to land. "Since when could Clifford get that big?!"

The last time Wally saw Brutus at the bank incident, he was only as tall as his shoulder. Now, the Cerberus was as big as a two-floor multistory building and as wide as a bus.

Yet, regardless of the young speedster's astonishment, nobody thought it was time to provide him with an answer.

"Brutus!" Bruce earned the dog's attention. "Force him into Grant Park."

Grant Park was right at the edge of Old Gotham, forming a triangle between the Fashion and City Hall districts as well. It was the first place the heroes had made sure was empty since they had wanted to draw Ben over there earlier, but failed due to their forces being spread thin on keeping the populace safe.

Instructions given to him, Brutus tussled with Ben till he managed to snag him by the ankle and toss him in the direction given. 

'J'onn.' Bruce called out mentally. The tired Martian seated on the ground met the Dark Knight's gaze standing overhead while the rest of their comrades followed after the pair of man and dog. 'I need you to take a huge risk.'

Even though the Zataras said they had come up with a viable ritual, Bruce had never stopped thinking up alternative solutions to bringing his son back, one sounding extremely dangerous, but equally feasible the more he thought about it.

Trying to read the entity's mind.

Years ago when J'onn had first tried to read Ben's thoughts, nothing had worked, the Martian even suffering a backlash instead. Although no true reason could be found as to why that happened, Bruce had been studying magic recently, leading him to believe that it was some sort of defense mechanism attached to his son's soul that was behind the rebound.

But now… both ESAMAL and Sindella had confirmed that Ben's soul was gone. And as unexplainable as it was, the entity didn't seem to possess one either. It only housed a mind that was capable of making intelligent decisions.

Although he couldn't fully anticipate the consequences of this move, Bruce knew they were running out of time to ponder and options to use.

'...I understand.' Martian Manhunter answered after having read Bruce's thoughts, catching up to see Ben being pinned down by Brutus. 'I shall not delay.'

Setting down a little ways from the two, J'onn put his hands on his head in a show of intense focus, his eyes lighting up as an invisible link slowly extended between him and Ben. 

Plunging through the metaphorical pipe and entering Ben's mind, J'onn was greeted with…

…nothing but an empty black. 

'Impossible.' J'onn observed the vast expanse of mental landscape. 'This being is obviously self-aware.'

In all the heads that he entered before, never had the Martian seen one so desolate. Everyone always had something running through their mind, subconscious ones included. Even Bruce wasn't an exception to this, his resolution only providing him with greater control in keeping them much more hidden than normal.

As he continued wandering around the bare plain, J'onn felt something shift underneath his feet. Like an ocean, the black was stirring waves, growing to heights unimaginable before it suddenly towered over him, becoming both sky and sea. 

Nails clawed their way out of the darkened depths, heads made up of bone poking through. Little flesh hung off the body's joints, their hollowed eyes adding an impotent feeling to the surrounding abyss.

'What is this…' J'onn was slightly scared as the already copious amount kept increasing, heaps of living cadavers surrounding him at every turn. In his shallow knowledge, J'onn realized he was too quick to judge. 

It's not that this entity's mind was empty, but that there was no room for anything else to inhabit it.

Suddenly, a huge burst of white light went off behind J'onn, a shadow being cast directly ahead of him as the zombies stopped in their tracks. Slowly turning to look at the source, his red eyes burst as he witnessed…

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Date: Unknown

Location: Unknown

Time: Unknown

A wise man once said that surprises were the greatest gift life could grant…

Unfortunately, seated before his mother, Ben found life's "gracious" present to be nothing but absurd.

His emotions, currently back in full force, allowed him to experience the entire weight of Mary's reveal, leading him to be dumbstruck on another level.

He was startled enough to find his mother wondrously appearing before him and figuring out that David Cain was his grandfather… 

But the fact that Ra's Al Ghul, the Demon's Head, was his great-grandfather…?

"How?" Ben whispered, the room's walls turning stuffy once again. How can he feel his emotions again? How did he not notice anything before?

'One thing at a time…' he tried calming himself by inspecting the unknown black door and white walls, finding nothing amiss. 'Is this something like the astral realm?' 

The astral realm was the only place Ben ever knew about where he could freely express his full, unmuted self. He had never come across another alternative when he searched inside the Zataras magical archives for a spell that could help him out or scoured through the innumerable scientific inventions stored on the Batcomputer. 

Even when he manipulated his emotions to bring about other supernatural effects, it was more like he was manipulating the light behind that specific feeling and its properties. For example, when he pumped himself full of the Indigo Light's healing properties, he didn't feel some overwhelming urge to show compassion at every turn.

So far, only the Black Light proved to be the only exception…

After Ben gathered his bearings, he focused on his mother who started explaining at his urging look. 

"I wasn't aware of my relations at first, my grandfather meeting me for the first time to merely preach of how I would one day aid him in fulfilling all of his endeavors."

"But soon, I learned the truth, and things changed when I did. My early days were spent living isolated, forced to wear a mask that concealed my identity around anyone who wasn't father, grandfather, Sensei, and Talia when she was born."

"Training, eating, sleeping… all of it was carried out within the confines of a room, not unlike this one." she murmured, voice dim. 

Ben didn't need to put himself in her shoes to understand what she went through. After all, he already experienced something similar. Like she insinuated, nothing was different about his stay at the hospital.

But it begged one question…

"Who was my grandmother?" he asked.

Although he wasn't really in the best state back at the storage house, his attention snagged in so many directions like acknowledging his uncanny resemblance to David while also being unable to understand Bruce's betrayal, he should've picked up on a slight hint at the very least.

Yet, he noticed nothing. From what he remembered with his face-off against Ra's, he felt that the man was disconnected in his words and actions. 

The other assailants were no help in granting clues either. The only people he could get a read on were the ninjas who provided him with little to no information to go on since they were in the dark about everything. Meanwhile, Ra's prominent leading right-hands like Sensei and Sportsmaster were all protected by the device.

Yet, there was one other time when Ben had a chance to get a read on three of those main figures…

Back at the bank incident, Bronze Tiger, Talia, and Merlyn were definitely free of the device's protection. After they had left the scene, Ben absorbed the blobs of emotions they left behind. Of course, since they were incredibly accomplished martial artists, their sense of self was great enough for the bleed rate to be extremely low, meaning that not enough was scavenged for Ben to make use of his psychometry properly.

However, the impression Bronze Tiger's emotional energy gave Ben was the most peculiar since it felt familiar…

It reminded him of Will.

Before Martian Manhunter had purged his mind, Will was more robot-like than human, his every feeling associated with each thought coming off as mechanical. Bronze Tiger seemed to be the same, yet paradoxically, his actions were simultaneously brought on by his own will. It was like an unseen struggle was going on inside the man's mind, signaling a higher level of mental influence.

But what stuck out to Ben most was the feeling that vital pieces were missing from the man's emotional energy, parts he couldn't identify.

'Focus…' Ben reminded himself, dashing those thoughts out of his mind. 'Talia is your priority.'

He was fixated on the woman right now for a couple of reasons. Based on Mary's words and the fact that Ra's was his great-grandfather, Talia should be his grand-aunt since she was the immortal man's only known descendant. 

Well… before now of course.

What worried Ben the most about his grand-aunt was how during the first moment he had met her, he didn't feel any resonance.

All emotional signatures were different. Yet, in families, a tiny portion of people's emotions were copied and pasted to give off a sort of resonance that Ben could identify. That was partly how he found out Will's strangeness.

'What's the reason?' he pondered, unable to rack his head around it.

Suddenly, a harrowing question came upon him….

'...Have I ever felt that resonance with father?'

As his face paled and mind distorted, he came upon the answer rather simply. 'No… How did I miss this?'

Although his photographic memory allowed him to remember every detail he witnessed or idea he thought up, it was entirely up to Ben to string together the clues that connected all those thoughts, expounding upon them.

He'd never made this connection before now.

While Ben had seen the results from the DNA test Bruce had performed and confirmed them for himself, recent events have shattered most of the trust that remained within him.

'...What do I do?'

"Are you okay Habibi?" Mary called out at Ben's quietness.

She was planning on answering his earlier question before she found his face rapidly undergoing many changes. Worried, she tightened her hold over his hands, never having let go this entire time.

Hesitating, Ben gripped the sheets of his bed as he muttered. "...Are you… sure that Bruce is my father?"

Mary's body turned rigid, eyes turning into saucers as she gaped at him like a fish out of water. 

"Ya majnun!" a sandal suddenly appeared in her raised hand as she started beating him with it. "Ma rayuk fi waldataka!?*" (*Translation - You crazy boy! What opinion do you have of your mother?!)

Yelping at the unexpectedness, Ben tried to cover himself with the sheets to soften the blows crying out for her to stop. It was only a few pleads for mercy later that Mary ceased, huffing as Ben rubbed his slightly sore body. 'Guess physical resilience doesn't matter in this place either.'

After asking him why he would voice such a question, Mary shook her head. "Ridiculous. Your father was the only man I ever touched, and when I fell in love with my religion and found out about the sacredness of marriage, I never knew another."

Much calmer now at her answer, Ben was able to admit his hastiness in coming to conclusions. Although he forgot a lot of things about his mother in this life and the last, it should've already been a no-brainer for him that both of them were devoted Christians.

Of course, the circumstances were different. As opposed to this Mary's terrible living environment, which left little room for trying to learn more about the world around her, Ben's past life Mary grew up going to church before carrying the tradition down to him.

Although the logic and wholeheartedness in his mother's words affirmed him somewhat, the doubt that now seeped inside Ben couldn't be erased so easily as he looked at his hands. 'How could I be so gullible with the ones I love? How could I not further confirm the results?'

Ben had examined the results of the test and confirmed their authenticity. Even the little details making up the records of his existence in this universe that Bruce dug up were too sophisticated to have been counterfeit.

But still… he couldn't stop the blame flowing within him for not seeking further verification.

Wallowing in self-depreciation, a sudden strangeness hit him. 'Come to think of it… I've never seen my own emotional signature before.'

It came down like a ton of bricks. As inexplicable as it sounded, since he never entertained the idea before, Ben was never able to see what made him tick.

'Do I even have a normal signatory, or is it also deformed?' Ben inspected himself. 

As his power and connection to the ES grew, Ben's body had undergone many inexplicable changes that were, at first, beyond his imagination. ESAMAL had already attested that as time passed, Ben's existing power set would not only improve, but new ones would definitely come in. The problem was that both of them were in the dark as to whether the new powers would be beneficial or detrimental. 

He would've liked to consult with the lovable blob, but since he had awoken, Ben couldn't converse with him. The connection he had with ESAMAL was like an extra limb, and right now, his every sense was telling him that such an appendage never existed. 

'What other options do I have?!' his patience cracked, a slight, rabid feeling coming upon him. 'Do I have to live in uncertainty, unable to confirm for myself who I am?!'

Right now, he wanted nothing more than to redo some tests with his father to confirm the truth, but a repeat DNA examination was out of the question. Not taking into account his loss of faith in the procedure, he could no longer draw any genetic material from himself without it evaporating into thin air at a later point. 

Past scenarios have proven to Ben that his emotional synchronization was an authentic avenue for detecting relations. It was incomprehensible to him that he hadn't thought of using it on his father before now or tried it on himself.

'Was I so caught up in the idea of a perfect family that I purposely kept myself blind to the facts?'

Watching as Ben tiredly sunk his head down on the bedding, Mary carefully inquired. "Are you better now?"

"I feel more terrible than ever." he emptily stared up at the ceiling. "Tell me everything please. Where we are… how all of this got here… how you summoned a sandal from space…"

Although he wanted to take his mind off things and the idea of reconnecting with his mother seemed like it would do the trick, so many qualms kept burying his mind.

"Unfortunately, I don't have the time nor permission to answer that." Mary sadly spoke as she looked around the various equipment strewn about the room. "All I can tell you is that this place is meant for you to face your nightmares. If you are willing to listen to me, you may be able to figure out the rest soon enough."

At his begrudging nod, she began her tale.

"One day, father had previously gone to grandfather with a request to train up the perfect weapon, one who would do their utmost to perfect every art of combat in existence, taking their place as his partner and eventual successor." 

"Not only had grandfather agreed after taking a great liking to the idea, he went one step further and declared that the child would be his bodyguard, much like Ubu."

A weird look appeared on Ben's face as he thought back to the man who was one shot by Killer Croc. 'More like way better than Ubu…'

"They started out by training children, knowing that their impressionable age would help speed up the process…" Mary continued, unaware of his musings.

"...They failed." she loudly laughed. "It became clear after multiple trials that, although susceptible to father's doctrine, none of the kids possessed the flair or genius he sought. So, grandfather prepared to begin a search for the perfect partner. A woman capable of adding to the child's future potential, not tarnish it." 

"But, right before he could send out his forces… someone was already waiting at his doorstep." Mary sighed, a complicated look appearing in her eyes. " 'A daughter of old, lost and forgotten in the vastness of previous generations.'"

"That was how my grandfather described her to me. Other than an Al Ghul, what better candidate could bring to fruition his dreams?"

At some point, Ben's body had tilted closely towards his mother, attention undivided.

"...My father's purpose couldn't have been any clearer to me. My grandfather's vision expanded from raising me as a bodyguard to a right hand and possible heir. It was only my mother's objectives that eluded me."

"I don't know if she asked for a favor from grandfather in return for her actions. If she did things of her own volition. If she was forced into doing the deed…"

"...I don't know who my mother is, and I wish I did." Mary sorrowfully admitted. "I only know that she merely communed with my father to conceive me… then left."

Ben didn't know how to console her the despondent Mary, feeling as if he was in no state to do so.

Thankfully, Mary seemed used to the feeling as she schooled her features. "After I was trained up to a satisfactory degree, my first mission came upon me. My task was to kill a common man who had unwittingly stumbled upon an important base in my grandfather's operations. Witnesses were a hindrance, so they were to be eliminated on sight."

She looked at her hands, a haunted look in her eyes. "I slew him down then and there without thought."

Ben froze, not having expected that answer since it contrasted so heavily with what he knew of the woman. 

"It was then that I truly awoke. Witnessing what remained of his despair as it poured out alongside his blood, I realized that I didn't want to live a life where others hated me. Where I had to constantly look over my shoulder in fear of a knife plunging into my back." she gritted her teeth. "At that moment, I took advantage of my family's heightening expectations and pride, turning my blade against them and fleeing in the resulting chaos."

"But that man's lifeless image will always be ingrained in my heart, and his name will forever be untold." 

Ben remained silent. He had never taken a life, so he couldn't speak out his thoughts without feeling they were biased or thoughtless. It made him reconsider how he would feel if he took a life. Or when he did…

"I'm not entirely surprised to know that after all this time, my father still hasn't given up…" Mary sighed, taking a quiet moment to think on something before changing the subject. "You said that Bruce trained with grandfather at his crystal fortress, yes?"

Ben nodded in confirmation. After he learned more about his father's experiences with his many teachers, he asked him for more stories of his journey. The most riveting one that stuck was the tale detailing how, after multiple coercive invites, Bruce had gone to the deserts of Abu Dhabi to learn from Ra's.

Gazing at the unknown black door, Mary whispered in melancholy. "How apt it is that our two families continue to remain intertwined. To think that a single door prevented us from meeting for so long."

Ben paused, momentarily unable to comprehend what he just heard. 'She was trained up in the crystal fortress?'

"Yes, I was." Mary smiled at him, seemingly reading his mind. "I'm fortunate to have learned this from you. I can now appreciate the blessing I stumbled upon."

At Ben's scrunched brows, she softly clarified. "Think back on everything you've told me of your father's enmities with my grandfather..."

Ben kicked himself in the head. Back then, Bruce became enemies with Ra's the second he learned of the man's goals and methods, refusing to work alongside him. 

First impressions stick, and although not one who was normally quick to judge, anyone who was family to Ra's would also have suffered Bruce's ire. He would need to be aware of the dissent within the household to think otherwise.

A glint beyond reasoning crossed Mary's eyes. "Innumerable strings bind us all. Strings not of fate nor destiny, not words woven in the stars, but of a fellowship that transcends such narrow-minded notions." she solemnly taught.

"It is a fellowship tied deeply into a concept we should remain content to leave forever uncomprehended."