GothamRobinson Park"Robin, stand down." Batman answered.
"This goes beyond your training. I haven't prepared you to take on something like this, yet.""No can do, Bats. I didn't come out all this way for nothing.""I said, stand down. That's an order. I won't repeat myself again.""You can ground me later. Right now you need help." Robin replied before charging forward back to the Mech.
The Mech turned around to face the annoying little bird that dared attack it with explosives. The explosions didn't do anything, but provide a momentary distraction. There was barely any sign of damage.
Batgirl turned to her uncle who was clearly pissed.
"He's going to get himself killed.""Not if I can help it. Stay back and round up any stragglers." Batman said before he charged in. He pressed the emblem on his chest, activating the homing beacon for the Batmobile.
The Mech began charging its laser to fry the bird while Batman reached into the Batmobile and grabbed his EMP Gun.
"Please, don't be too late." He thought to himself, thinking back to when he lost Bruce in the alley. If he hadn't froze. If he hadn't hesitated. If he had acted sooner his son would still be alive and his wife wouldn't have gone insane. He would not let history repeat itself tonight.
The Mech was beginning to release another energy beam when something stopped it. The cannon was plugged by what appeared to be vines causing it to explode in the Mech's face. More vines were wrapping around the Mech itself like constrictor serpents. They squeezed and squeezed until the entire thing exploded and killing whoever was manning it. Smoke filled the area and both Batman and Robin stopped in their tracks.
When the smoke cleared they couldn't see who was responsible for taking out their trash. The trio ran up to where the Mech used to be and analyzed the scene.
"Did you see anything, Robin?" Batman asked as he knelt down to look at the burnt vines.
Robin shook his head.
"I saw the vines moving, but I didn't see who was controlling them."Batman sighed in disappointment.
"Alright. You're done for the night. Alfred will take you back to school.""What? You're going to make me miss the investigation?""You disobeyed my orders, almost got yourself killed, and have nothing to show for it. I thought you were ready for this, Bruce, but you're not.""... Bruce?""Uncle...""I meant Dick. Just go. We'll discuss your future as Robin later."Dick couldn't believe that he called him Bruce. Was that really all he saw him as? As a replacement for his son? He dropped his head to hide the tears that were forming in his eyes and ran off to where Alfred was waiting.
"Did you see anything, Batgirl?" Batman asked as if the slip-up hadn't just happened.
"Uh... Sorta. One of the Purifiers was carried off into the woods by one of the vines.""Given what this rally was about it's safe to assume that a mutant helped us out. One that can manipulate plant life." He took a sample of one of the vines and picked up one of the pieces of the Mech.
"But right now I'm more interested in who provided the Purifiers with this kind of technology. Take the rest of the night off. I'm going to the Batcave to investigate."Batgirl nodded and was about to walk away when she stopped.
"Please go easy on the kid, okay? I know he almost got himself killed, but he's got a good head on his shoulders. He just wants to make you proud. You're the only dad he has left. He also wants you to see him and not as a replacement for Bruce."He couldn't bring himself to turn and look at her.
"I know and I don't see him as a replacement for Bruce. It was a Freudian slip. I was at Crime Alley tonight. I'll talk to him later.""I miss him too, but you're not alone. You still have a family that loves you. One that'll keep you from drowning in the darkness. You just have to let us. Anyway, I'll hold you to that conversation with Dicky. I'll see you, Unc." Batgirl said before finally taking off into the night.
GothamGotham Academy"I can't believe you're real." Olive said as she waved her hand through the mist surrounding the Ghost of Greta Hayes.
"That tickles." Greta said with a giggle.
"Really? I'm sorry.""Nah. I'm just messing with you.""At least you still have your sense of humor in death." Colton said.
"This is so fricking cool. I can't believe Dick isn't here to see this." Pomeline exclaimed with glee with a hint of disappointment.
"Dick?" Greta asked with a very confused tone.
"Her boyfriend." Maps answered.
Greta was less confused, but still confused that someone would name their child that.
"He is not my boyfriend." Pomeline retorted with a blush.
"Who are you kidding?" Colton asked.
"Even I know you two are in love with each other. I know that look of love anywhere.""Oh yeah? Who made you an expert?" Kyle asked.
"Uh... Let's focus. So Greta. If you can be seen and can talk how come you haven't told anyone what happened to you?""I've been trying to." Greta answered with a solemn expression.
"So far you guys have been the only ones able to see me.""What exactly did happen to you?" Maps asked.
"There's a rumor going around...""That my brother killed me? It's true...""But why?" Kyle couldn't ever fathom an older brother killing their little sister. He definitely wouldn't do that to Maps.
"He did it for power. He made a deal with some kind of demon that gave him supernatural powers including the ability to cast illusions."Colton stepped back a bit after hearing that last part.
"How do we know that you're not an illusion and Billy's not lying in wait to kill us?"Greta was disappointed by the question, but understood the concern.
"If he knew you were down here looking for me you'd be dead already. He wants to be the world's greatest serial killer."Despite that last bit Colton was feeling a bit more reassured.
"That guy definitely needs a hobby and some better dreams. What's stopping him? What's keeping him here in this school?""He's waiting for a sword to come to the Gotham Museum. The Sword of Beowulf. It'll make him more powerful and he won't need school anymore."Something clicked in Maps' head.
"I've heard about that sword. It's coming to the Gotham Museum next week. We have to stop him.""We?" Kyle interjected.
"Nope. I agreed to supervise the Detective Club. Not put my sister in danger by pursuing a murderer with powers who's after a supernatural sword. Why don't we just tell the Dean?""Babe, I love you, but what exactly are we going to tell them? That Billy has powers and is planning to steal a magical sword and we only know this because his ghost sister told us? They'd send us straight next door to Arkham.""Olive's right. We're going to have to stop him ourselves.""You guys don't have to do that. This isn't your problem.""You heard her guys. It's not our problem.""It is now." Maps retorted.
"It's officially a Detective Club case and we're going to need the full team for this one. Want to help us take down your brother, Greta?"Greta couldn't believe her ears. She couldn't form the words to say thank you. All she could do was smile and descend from the air to grab Maps' hands to show her gratitude.
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