Chapter 96

Marinette/Ladybird's P.O.V:

"Hey, Barbara." I greet the redhead as I enter the cave. "Hey, Marinette. You're just on time. Everyone is suiting up."

Barbara looks around at the company she will have today. "Raven, Gar, Kori." She waves. "Are you sure you want to hang out with me today? I don't have the most glamorous job."

"Are you kidding?" Gar asks. "I wish I was smart enough to do what you do. I think it will be fun to see it all first hand."

"You better not distract her." Batman speaks up from right behind him, effectively making him jump in surprise. "She has a very important role to our team."

"I'll keep him in line, Batman." Raven speaks up.

Batman just nods at her before bringing his attention to me. "Go ahead and transform. Everyone will be here shortly."

"You got it, Batman." I grin before saying "Tikki. Spots on!"

No matter how many times this is seen, weather its your first like Kori, Raven and Gar or you have seen it multiple times like Barbara, they all can't help but to watch in wonder. Batman seemed to be the only person with a blank expression but even he couldn't look away.

"That was awesome!" Gar had a grin on his face from ear to ear.

"Oracle." Batman ignored Gar's outburst. "Am I correct in assuming you got my email?"

"Of course." Oracle rolled over to the Bat computer. "The real question is did you tell Robin your new change of plans."

"Tell me what?" Robin asked as he walked over to stand by me.

"Nothing too major." Batman began. "Just group changes. You're obviously still paired up with Catwoman."

"But not me, right?" I asked.

"Correct. You will be with me again today. Red Robin will be pairing up with Nightwing and Red Hood."

"The dream team." Nightwing smiled as he entered with his arms around both Red Robin and Red Hoods shoulders.

"Now we are just waiting on Catwoman." Oracle said as she continued to type on the computer.

"Sorry I'm late." Selina came waltzing up to Batman. "Latex and leather isn't the easiest to get on. Or take off. Isn't that right, Batman?"

Batman chose to ignore her comment and instead chose to turn his attention to Oracle. "Let's start the briefing."

"Okay. Just for a recap, Catwoman and Robin you're on a team A. Nightwing is with Red Hood and Red Robin on team B so that leaves Batman and Ladybird on team C." Oracle pulled up a map of the city on the computer. "Robin, you and Catwoman will be taking crime alley again. Stealth is usually what we ask for but don't shy away from being spotted together. We do have an end goal here after all. Nightwing, Red Hood and Red Robin will be doing a general sweep of the city. Batman and Ladybird, you two are on a special task."

"Special task?" I question.

"Yep." Oracle pulls up the profile of Edward Nigma, AKA the Riddler. "It was very surprising to us when he called for you outright. He usually sets up some overly flamboyant plan to draw out Batman. It's even stranger that he called just you."

"How did he call for me?" I ask.

"Well as you may know, we have had people following him because of his sudden lack of villainy. We have them note where he's going and who he's going with and even take the occasional picture. It appears that the Riddler was fully aware of this though because on his most recent sighting, one of our men took this picture." Oracle pulled up the picture on the computer for everyone to see.

I looked at the picture to see a very lanky looking man in a gaudy green suit sitting on a park bench reading a newspaper. Taking a better look at the newspaper, I saw it was the headline of the team taking down Two-Face at the museum and oddly enough, my face was circled in green marker with writing that said to meet up at some address.

"Do you think this is another Joker type situation?" Robin asked with a stone-cold face.

"No." Oracle shook her head. "Riddler doesn't seem like the type, which is why this is so bizarre. We wont really know exactly what he wants until they meet with him."

"This is odd." I looked at the picture one last time before looking back at Batman. "Just tell me the plan and I'll follow."

"I'll tell you on the ride over." Batman turned his attention back to Oracle. "Link us up."

"Yep." Oracle pulled out the box containing the comms and made sure everyone got one.

"Comm check." Batman said, starting off the chain of everyone's comm tests.

After the confirmation that everyone could hear each other, everyone set off for their own vehicles.

I tried to not let it show but I really did enjoy riding in the Batmobile. They where driving for not even half a minute before Batman pressed a button on the dash and looked over at me.

"We are free to talk."

"I'm sorry all these villains keep singling me out." I look down at my lap.

"Every single one of my boys had their time in the villain's spotlight. This is just what happens when you are the new hero in town. You can't blame yourself. Especially with Joker. That man isn't right in the head."

"I know." I nodded. "What's our plan with Riddler?"

Batman presses a button on the dash again to allow everyone else to hear us once more. "The address he gave was for an abandoned steel mill down by the old industrial area. I plan on having you walk into the front while I watch from the shadows. I fear that if he saw me first then his plans might change. I'm going to get out two blocks away and set the Batmobile on auto drive. It will stop at the destination for you. All you have to do is get out and walk in through the front door. Be ready for anything."

"Okay." I look at all the fancy buttons on the dash again and can't help but think about how cool this car is. "How far out are we?"

"I'll be stopping to get out in about a minute. Please don't touch anything while you are in here by yourself. And wait for my signal before opening the door. Don't look around for me either. It will give us away."

"Got it." I smiled up at him.

It didn't take too much longer before the Batmobile stopped and Batman got out after setting the vehicles destination.

I couldn't help but to stare in wonder at the self-driving car and I was almost upset that the ride only lasted two straight blocks. As I got out of the car and shut the door behind me, I could hear the cars automatic locks go off.

Looking around at where I was at, I looked up to stare at the large building in front of me. The steel mill building was about four stories high and backed up against the port. The building itself was made out of an old sturdy wood that looked like it was built over 100 years ago. I wasted no more time looking around and walked up to the building's front door, which was an old barn styled double door that was as tall as the entire first story.

"Walk in." I heard Batman say inside her ear piece.

Without hesitating, I reached for the doors handle and pulled it open. It was a surprise to her that candle light came pouring out from the inside of the building. 'The windows must be painted over.' I thought to myself.