Chapter Text
It didn’t make sense. None of this made any sense.
The Crime Syndicate had not made any secret of their desire to turn this universe’s Justice Leaguers into villainous versions of themselves. The moment they arrived in this world they made a show of explaining their plan. Informing the league that they just needed to take out one pivotal hero and once that hero was gone the rest of the league would crumble from its moral high ground.
Jason had assumed, like the others, that the key hero was Superman or Wonder Woman. Both were founders and powerhouses in the league and there was no question of their importance within it. Even Batman would have made sense, sure he mostly remained in Gotham but there was no denying that he was also a vital member of the superhero community. Because of this heroes from all over the world flocked to the watchtower to cover the founders and to fight the Crime Syndicate when they appeared.
The strange thing was, they never appeared. Instead, after nearly a day and a half of waiting Bruce received an automatic alarm saying the Manor had been attacked. Assuming he had been the target of the Syndicate, he and the other Bats made their way back to Gotham. Only to find a partially destroyed west wing, an unconscious Alfred, a missing Rachel, and no sign of the alternate Leaguers.
“It just doesn’t make any sense.” Tim’s voice echoed throughout the cave, lifting up his head Jason followed his older brother’s gaze and surveyed the Batcomputer which was once again playing the surveillance video from earlier that day. Tim was staring at the screen, eyes pinched in confusion as he attempted to extract anything from the video that would be able to help them. “It doesn’t make sense.”
“No, it doesn’t”.
“I just...Why would they take her?” Jason sighed, running his hand through his dark hair looking away from the screen.
“I’m more concerned about the ‘where’ not the ‘why’ Timbo.” There was no response and after a moment Jason heard the video pause and then restart from the beginning. “Jesus Tim, we’ve watched the video like 20 times, whatever it is you’re trying to find we would have found by now.”
“Maybe they left some clue to where they’re taking her.” Jason had heard this answer before, and feeling himself fall into the pattern they created he stood up and walked towards the computer.
“And why would they do that?” Tim shrugged, his black cape rustling slightly with the movement.
“Maybe they’re actually after B, maybe she’s just the bait.”
“Not likely.” Whipping his head to the side Jason saw Batman striding into the cave, a small USB in his hand and Black Bat darting in behind him. Once he reached Jason and Tim, the two moved out of his way so that he could stick the device into the computer. A small loading box appeared on the screen.
“They sent in a video?” Jason asked looking over to Bruce.
“No, it’s some sort of VPN, it’s allowing us to connect to a secure video call. It was sent to the Hall of Justice 30 minutes ago.” Jason raised his eyebrows in surprise.
“And the League let you bring it here instead of the WatchTower?”
“Of course not... I neglected to tell the League about this recent development.” Despite himself, Jason felt a small grin spread across his face. Ever since Rachel had gone missing the League had tried to flock to Gotham much to the chagrin of the family. Rachel was a Bat, and they would get her back their way. Turning his attention away from his Father, Jason watched as the loading bar inched closer to completion.
“Oracle tracking the signal?” A loud mechanical voice filled the cave.
“You better believe it wonder boy.” Jason’s grin morphed into a scowl at the nickname but before he could say anything the connection finished. A dark empty room filled the screen and for a moment it was quiet. Everyone watched as a tall man with an owl mask and metal wings entered the room. Out of the corner of his eye, Jason noticed Bruce tense slightly at the sight of his alter ego.
“I trust that the rest of the League is unaware of this communication?” Jason suppressed a flinch at the sound of Owlman’s voice. The man sounded eerily similar to Bruce in tone and inflection but without an ounce of emotion or warmth. Bruce however wasn’t phased by the man and gave a short clipped nod. “Good, it’s not time for them yet.” Owlman stepped closer to the screen and after a moment took off his cowl.
Jason could hear Tim inhale sharply at the sight. The alternate Bruce Wayne was just as old as their Bruce, had slightly graying hair and the beginning of wrinkles appearing around his mouth. But his eyes were dead, void of any life, of any emotion. Even at Bruce’s worst, Jason could always see a gleam of hope, a flash of anger, a flicker of sadness, something in Bruce’s dark eyes. But Owlman was empty of everything. Bruce was still for a moment before he reached up and took off his own cowl.
“Where is she?”
“It’s not time for you to know that yet.” Bruce’s lips pursed in anger. “If you took her to get to me then-”
“We did not.” Jason felt his eyebrows come together in confusion.
“Then why did you take her?” Owlman’s gaze flickered from Bruce to Jason, and after a moment of intense scrutiny Owlman responded.
“The others don’t know I’m doing this, the only planned communication was the broadcast but I felt...I was compelled to warn you before then.”
“Warn us of what?” Bruce growled hands clenched tight in a fist.
“Rachel Grayson will be murdered tonight. She has to die for our mission to be successful.” Jason felt his stomach drop at the declaration, at the cold sentencing of his sister’s death.
“No, she isn’t.” Jason looked over at Tim who was staring at Owlman in a calculating way, his shaking hands the only thing conveying his anger. “You said that you were going after the strongest leaguer. That’s not Rachel. Rachel isn’t a leaguer, she’s not even 18.” Owlman stared at Tim the same way he had at Jason, piercingly, before replying.
“Strength is not dictated by how hard one can punch. We’ve been to many Earths, many universes and in each one the person who has come closest to defeating us is Nightwing. Rachel is younger here than in past worlds but there is no question that she is a threat.” Nightwing ? The unfamiliar name threw Jason for a loop. But Owlman continued on. “However, Rachel is not only a threat, she is the key. Our mission is not one of senseless murder. It is to convert every universe's League into The Crime Syndicate. Into its strongest self.”
“And to do that you have to murder my daughter?” Bruce’s venomous tone cut off Owlman’s tangent and for the first time, Jason saw some semblance of emotion flicker in the villain's eyes. An intense sadness.
“I have tried it many different ways. I have killed many different heroes, pulled many different strings. But her death is the only thing that ensures our success. I do not revel in it.”
“Then stop it.” Jason heard slight desperation seep into his tone. “Stop them. Save her. You couldn’t save your Rachel, but why should you damn ours?” A moment of hesitation flickered in Bruce’s eyes before they hardened again. Placing the cowl back onto his head Owlman stepped back from the screen.
“It is our mission, there is nothing more important than its success.” Owlman turned his back to them and began to walk away. “It is time, this will all be over soon.” The screen went black for a moment before tuning into another room. This one gray, but also empty.
“Oracle, where are they?” Bruce asked, gaze locked onto the screen.
“He was bouncing the signal B, I need a moment to try and get a lock on the exact location.” Before Bruce could answer the Crime Syndicate came onto the screen, dragging a limp and bloody body in with them. The body was thrown forward and Jason felt himself tense at the sight of his sister. Feeling a moment of relief when she let out a soft noise of discomfort.
“Oracle-” Bruce’s voice teetered on the verge of distress.
“I’m working on it Bruce, I have three possible locations-”
“People of the United States, what we are about to show you gives us no pleasure.”
“Wait, is this broadcasting?” Tim asked in horror.
“Oracle?”
“I’m working on it. I can cut the broadcast but if I do then I won’t be able to narrow down her location and I still have three possible spots she could be in.”
“But it is our duty to ensure that your Justice League becomes the greatest version of itself it can be.”
“Cut the feed.”
“To do that, one hero must be sacrificed for the greater good of your universe.”
Rachel was lifted up in front of the camera. Her entire face was covered in bruises and blood dripped from the side of her mouth and from a cut above her eye. It was clear that the rest of her body hadn’t fared much better, and slashes ran through her clothes, dripping blood onto the ground. She was dressed in a dark black and blue costume that the Syndicate must have brought with them from their universe. A black domino mask covered her eyes and her hair had been roughly pulled back into a ponytail. Despite the costume and injuries, there was no question that this was Robin. Hands danced around her mask as though they were about to pull it off, and Jason felt his stomach drop once again. Bruce leaned forward staring at Rachel in dread.
“Oracle, the feed?”
“I’m almost done Bruce, I just need a second.”
“Nightwing must be sacrificed for the betterment of the league. But before that can happen you will know her name.”
“Oracle!”
“In this world, she goes by Robin the Girl Wonder, but her real name is Rachel Grayson.”
Hands ripped the mask off of Rachel’s face. Rachel’s eyes were squeezed shut as though keeping them close would keep her identity safe. But the damage was already done. Jason felt himself sink to the ground in horror.
“The Crime Syndicate has one mission, that mission is to unleash the true potential of your Justice League so that they too can rise from the ashes as we have. Rachel Grayson will be killed for our mission, only then will we succeed, only then will we leave this universe and move to the next.”
The screen went black, and the cave was silent.
Jason felt his head drop into his arms. The image of his sister’s battered and unmasked face seared into his brain. Bruce shuffled next to him and typed something onto the Batcomputer.
“Oracle, report.”
“I managed to stop the national broadcast, it was close… god it was to close...but it cut right before they said her name. Only we saw the last bit.” A loud exhale of relief came from his left and Jason felt Tim clasping his shoulder in comfort.
“And her location?” Right, they’re not out of the woods yet . Getting up from the ground Jason turned to Bruce and felt Tim do the same. Cass, who had been standing on his other side, waited silently. Mask still on and obscuring her face so that they couldn’t tell what she was thinking.
“Because I had to switch from tracking the signal to the broadcast I was only able to narrow it down to three locations. You’ll have to split up.” Bruce nodded and picking up his cowl he placed it back onto his head, becoming Batman once more. Moving quickly towards the Batmobile he shouted orders behind him. Leaving Jason, Tim, and Cass to follow quickly after him.
“Jason and Tim will go to one, BlackBat will meet up with Spoiler to go to the other, I will cover the last location.” Turning around just before he got to the car, Bruce stared at them. “As soon as you get to your location radio the others, if you find Rachel radio the league. Only fight the Syndicate if you absolutely have to.”
“And if we get there too late?” Jason felt the words slip from his mouth before he could stop them. Grimacing slightly as Bruce turned to glare at him.
“Don’t.”
********************************************************
When Rachel found out an evil version of the League had appeared on their Earth with the intent to turn her League evil, she had not seen this coming.
She had not anticipated being attacked in her own home. She had not expected to be beaten and tortured and then unmasked on national tv. And she certainly had not predicted that the evil leaguers would forcibly attach her to a bomb that counted down with every heartbeat.
A bit overdramatic if you asked her.
And yet here she was, shirtless, with a bomb piercing through her sports bra into her chest (which ouch). She tried not to think about the scope of her situation because that just elevated her heartbeat which was a big no-no. It didn’t help that her entire family was probably on their way to save her, not realizing that this was a trap. And even if Superman was with them he wouldn’t be able to see through the lead-lined walls.
“Whatever you’re thinking about, stop. Your heartbeat is going faster than I’d like.” Looking up Rachel glared at the other man in the room who was leaning casually against the wall looking at her with an expression of pure disgust.
“You got yourself into this mess, If I’m blowing up then you’re going with me.” Rolling his eyes Lex Luthor turned his gaze away from her and looked at the doorway, waiting. Rachel however never did well with silence and spoke again. “What did you expect would happen? You’d give them access to your Superman proof building and they’d let you join their super-secret syndicate boyband?
“Do you ever shut up?” Rachel smiled at his annoyance, wincing as it aggravated the cut on her lip.
“Nope.” Rolling his eyes once more Lex turned back to her and strode toward where she was dangling in the center of the room. Eyes flicking briefly to the device in her chest before meeting her gaze.
“I don’t know how Bruce Wayne does it, living with five bratty children running around his manor constantly. Though I suppose it’s four now, soon to be three. How do you think your Father will feel about losing two children mere months apart?” Rachel winced at the reminder that her secret identity was not so secret and quickly danced around any thoughts about Damian’s death.
“You’re very confident for someone locked in a room with a bomb.” Lex lifted up a piece of her hair in disinterest before letting it fall through his fingers.
“I had hoped that the evil version of Superman might like me more than his hero counterpart. The fact that he left me here to die is not ideal but not entirely unexpected. I always have a backup plan.” A loud banging filled the room and it was clear that someone was trying to come in from the other side. “Speak of the devil.”
The door opened and Merci came running into the room carrying a suitcase, steps behind her ran Batman. As soon as the two entered the room the door slammed shut behind them.
“Congratulations.” Luthor drawled, making his way over to his bodyguard and taking the case from her. “You’ve found Robin.” Batman’s gaze snapped over to Rachel and he quickly made his way to where she was hung up. Rachel felt her heartbeat quicken at the realization that he was now trapped with her and the bomb.
“Batman you have to leave, it's a trap.” As soon as he reached her he took her head in his hands and looked her over. “Bruce you need to leave please, there’s a bomb.” His gaze dropped to her chest and she could see his jaw tense in anger at the sight of the wires intruding into her chest. His eyes flickered back up to hers, set in determination.
“I’m going to disarm it and get you out of here, Rachel.”
“You don’t understand-”
“The countdown is monitoring her heart Batman” Both turned to look at Luthor who inched nearer to them, hands clasped behind his back. “The detonator is hooked into it.” Batman turned back to the bomb and began inspecting the wires. Rachel took a deep breath, swallowing the lump in her throat.
“Batman the bomb... it only disarms if my heart stops.”
“No.”
“B-”
“No. I’m not going to let that happen.” Pulling his hand away from her chest, Batman activated the comm in his ear. “Batman to Oracle, I’ve found Robin and require assistance.” Rachel blinked back the tears that were starting to form, she would not let herself break, not now.
“Bruce it won’t work.”
“Batman to Redhood and knight do you copy?”
“Bruce. This building was designed to keep out Superman. It was designed to keep out everyone. There isn’t any signal in here.” Dropping his hand from his ear Batman focused back on the bomb. Taking another deep breath Rachel continued. “Please listen to me, you still have time to get yourself out of here.”
“I’m not leaving you, Rachel.” Bruce looked up at her in anger, desperately trying to mask his own terror. “I’m not abandoning you. I am not leaving my kid to die alone with a bomb, not again do you understand me?” Of course, he was thinking about Jason, even Rachel had to admit there were a few similarities. Me and Jason should make merch ‘I was blown up by a supervillain and all I got was a stupid shirt’.
“Bruce, it’s not the same, you’re not abandoning me-”
“Stop.” Rachel felt her mouth close tightly at the order ”I’m not leaving here without you.” A loud blast filled the room and Batman was thrown away from her, looking up she saw Merci holding a large laser. “What the hell are you doing Luthor?” Rachel could no longer see Bruce but she saw Merci run over to where he presumably was and could hear the two fighting. Luthor stepped in front of Rachel.
“I’m making an executive decision Batman, I’m saving our lives...by ending her’s.” Lex’s hand clasped itself over Rachel’s mouth and nose and suddenly she couldn’t breathe. She felt a small pill forced into her mouth and instinctively Rachel swallowed in an attempt to get air. Rachel stared into his eyes in panic, struggling violently against her restraints. Strangely she noticed a look of pity flicker across his face as he tightened his hold. “I’m sorry Ms. Grayson.”
A trail of fire followed the pill down her throat before enveloping her heart. The fire expanded into a sharp pain that almost distracted Rachel from the fact that she couldn’t breathe. Distantly she could hear Bruce shouting but the fire in her chest held her attention. Even as it began to dim and black spots began to fill her vision. Her body continued to jerk softly, and she felt her eyelids grow heavy, her ears slowly muffling as though filled with cotton. Pulling her gaze away from Luther she managed to catch sight of Bruce running towards her eyes wide. Then finally her eyes shut.
********************************************************
“Are you ever afraid?”
“Perhaps you could be more specific?”
“Are you ever afraid to die?” Damian looked up from the book he was reading and looked at his sister who was standing in front of him staring at the ground. Closing his book with a sigh he set it down on the coffee table and gestured to the empty spot on the couch next to him. In an instant, Rachel filled the space and leaned into his side. After a moment of hesitation Damian draped his arm around her shoulders.”
“Why do you ask?” Rachel was silent for a moment which caused Damian’s worry to spike. The 14-year-old was many things but quiet was rarely one of them. He said nothing however, as he let his sister collect her thoughts.
“It’ll be a year on Friday.” Damian did not need to ask for clarification. On Friday it will have been a year since his Father’s death. A flash of sadness washed over him at the thought, followed by annoyance as his mind flickered to Tim who was still off working with his Al Ghul, certain that Bruce wasn’t dead. Neither of those things were important now however, as Rachel waited for his response.
“I hadn’t realized it had been a year already.”
“I wasn’t keeping count or anything, Cass had asked if I wanted to hang out and I couldn’t figure out why because usually she has dance late on Fridays. And I just kind of realized...I can’t believe it’s been a year.” Damian shared that sentiment. Much had changed since his Fathers passing, he and Grayson had always been close, ever since his Father brought her into the family when she was 8 and newly orphaned. Especially after Jason had died and his Father was...absent. But over the last year, their sibling bond had morphed into something more parental. That wasn’t something Damian was ready to discuss however so he simply pulled Rachel closer.
“Neither can I.” The two sat in pleasant silence for a moment before Damian remembered her original question. “I’m not.” Rachel looked up in confusion and Damian smothered an affectionate grin. “I’m not afraid to die. Mother instilled in me early on that it was a senseless fear. We all die, and we can’t control when or how so there is no use fretting about it. I do however fear other things.”
“Like what?” Damian took a deep breath, he had been unprepared for this conversation, but he had been trying his best to be more open.
“I fear what will happen to others once I die. I fear losing you and Todd, Cain and Brown, Drake-” Rachel let out a snort and this time Damian did smile, “Yes even Drake - As much as I am loath to admit it - You all are my family. If I die then I would not be there to protect you.” Rachel thought that over for a moment before sending a brilliant grin his way.
“Well, then I suppose you’re not allowed to die.” Ignoring the sensible part of his brain that was saying there was no way he could promise that, Damian pulled Rachel in closer to his side and kissed the top of her head.
“I shall do my best.”
********************************************************
**GASP**
“Rachel?” The warm hands that cradled her tightened as frantically she breathed in. Blinking wildly into the bright lights above her. A dark figure leaned over her and her eyes swam trying to focus in on the person. “Rachel?” The familiar voice was tight with fear, or maybe hope, images of a tall man with dark blue eyes and a sometimes stern, sometimes kind smile filled her mind.
“Bruce?” She felt him take a stuttering breath before she was pulled into his arms. Weekly she nuzzled into his side. Unable to wrap her arms around him due to the pain that radiated throughout her body. She whimpered slightly in pain.
“It’s ok now, we’re going home.” She let herself be carried out of the room, her focus on the soft thud of Batman’s boots against the concrete. A feeling of safety wash over her, she was sure she would be a mess later when she had time to process things. But for now all that mattered was that she was going home. The two turned a corner and Bruce stopped, jolting her back into awareness. Still, she did not have the strength to look up.
“I’m taking her and you won’t stop us, I won’t let you.”
“I’m not here to stop you.” Rachel felt a cold shiver roll down her back at the sound of Owlman’s voice. “I want you to win.”
“You tried to kill her.”
“No, I tried to save her. We’ve been to many universes, and in each one it is the same. She is unmasked, she is hooked to a bomb, Luther is with her, he kills her to save his own skin. But this time, this time you were there.”
“He still killed her.”
“Yes. But because you were there, he brought her back.”
“Earlier when you called to warn us… You never did that before. With the others.”
“....My Gotham is gone. Alfred is dead. Cass and Jason died trying to take me down, Stephanie and Tim were killed by Superman. She is all I have left, I can’t let her die again.”
“She’s not yours.”
“...They will watch, only for a while to make sure she is truly dead. Once they are sure they will forget about this world. You must keep her hidden.”
Silent steps walked towards them and she could feel Bruce grab something with his hand. After a moment the steps walked away and the two of them just stood there. Bruce, silent and unmoving, Rachel barely holding onto consciousness. Finally she felt them begin to move, and after what felt like a second, though must have been several minutes, the cool Gotham air rolled across her face. She could hear the Batmobile drive over to them and when it arrived Bruce opened the door and she felt herself being laid across the back seat. She expected to hear the door close and Bruce to get in the front but after a moment of silence, she slowly opened her eyes.
He was standing over her, cowl resting around his neck with an unreadable expression across his face.
“Bruce?” He kept watching her for a moment before he seemed to come to a decision. Brushing a hand through her hair he pulled out a syringe from the side of his belt. Gently pulling her arm toward him he placed the needle at the crook of her elbow above a vain and slowly pressed it into her. “Bruce?” She asked again, this time in confusion. Pulling the needle out, he placed it back into his belt.
“Just a sedative, you’ve been through a lot. Go to sleep, we’ll talk when you wake up.” Unable to respond with the drug already flowing through her, Rachel simply nodded her head and closed her eyes again. Letting the tantalizing pull of unconsciousness finally pull her under.
********************************************************
When Rachel woke up again it was strange.
When she was 15 after a particularly awful fight against Two-Face she had been placed into a medically induced coma to recover. For two weeks she remained unaware and stagnant in a medical cot. When she awoke her body felt strange, having been unused for so long all her limbs felt disconnected from her body. Her mouth felt dry from the oxygen mask, and her eyes were overly sensitive to even the smallest of light.
When Rachel woke up this time, it felt exactly like that. Like more time had passed than just a night. Blinking her eyes to get accustomed to the fluorescents above her she took in the familiar sight of the Bat Infirmary. The cave was silent, absent of any noise, or any life. That itself was strange. Usually, when Rachel was injured she woke to the sight of all her siblings draped across various chairs pulled up beside her bed. Alfred could be heard coming down the stairs with tea or blankets. And Bruce would hover just outside the room divider, waiting for when she woke up.
Now, however, there was just silence.
Slowly moving her hand to her face, Rachel pulled the oxygen mask away from her mouth. Looking to her right arm she saw the IV and gently she untaped it and pulled it out as well. Sitting up she stilled when a wave of vertigo crashed over her. After a moment of letting it settle down she swung her legs over the cot and placing her bare feet against the cold cave floor she stood up. Walking around the room divider she made her way to the main part of the cave, certain now that no one was there. Going to the elevator she pressed the button for the main-floor only for a small red light to pulse in error. With a frown, she pressed the button again, and again it blinked red. Turning towards the Batcomputer she turned it on with the intention to restart the elevator, only to realize that a private WatchTower communication log was up on the computer.
Superman 10092: We’re worried about you B please just let us know that you're okay. (Mon. 3:45pm)
Superman 10092: Hood let us know that you’ve initiated lockdown in the cave, when need to talk. (Tues. 9:50pm)
Superman 10092: I know it's hard B, but your kids need you. It's been three days (Fri. 11:42pm)
Superman 10092: Me and Diana are arriving early Sunday, we hope to see you before everyone arrives (Sat. 10:13am)
Superman 10092 You need to come upstairs, no one wants to start without you. You owe it to Rachel, B. (Sun. 8:30am)
Superman 10092 We had the funeral, we couldn’t wait any longer. If you want to talk we're here, if not that's fine, but you can't lock yourself away. (Sun. 1:00pm)
Vaguely Rachel could hear the sound of the Batmobile drive into the cave but she couldn’t look away from the screen. The car door opened and the sound of heavy footfalls walked towards her. She waited for a moment, hoping that Bruce would say something, anything to explain this. But he remained silent.
“What the hell is this Bruce?”
“We had your funeral today.” A wave of fury rushed through her and spinning around she glared at Bruce, who looked down at her with a blank look stretched across his face.
“I’m alive.”
“Are you?”
“Yes.” She spat out, confusion and anger spinning around in her head. Bruce stared at her for another moment before throwing something at her. In reflex she caught it and looking down she realized that it was boxing tape.
“Then prove it.” Looking back up she placed the tape on the keyboard refusing to participate in whatever game he was playing.
“Bruce, what is going on?”
*CRACK*
Rachel felt her head snap to the side and the rest of her body followed, crashing to the floor from the force of the punch.
“Bru-” Another punch was coming towards her and quickly she scrambled out of the way, flipping backwards and wobbling slightly when she landed.
“I trained you to live, and I watched you die.” His words stabbed into Rachel's chest like a dagger, leaving her breathless. Bruce stalked towards her, hands raised, ready for a fight. “I trained you to live, AND I WATCHED YOU DIE! ” Another swing, this one landing at Rachel's chest, causing her to stumble backward. “After that, I need to know if you can come back, if you’re strong enough , for what comes next. I need to know if you’re strong enough to make the sacrifices we will always have to make.” In an instant, Bruce was at her side foot striking out in a kick that sent her flying several feet. “I have a mission for you Rachel.”
“Are you crazy? What the fuck is wrong with you right now. I’m not going on a mission. I’m not going to pretend that I’m dead. I'M ALIVE.” Bruce was running towards her, sweeping her legs under his feet she leaped away as he fell. Bruce stood, voice switching into one he used for mission reports. He lunged forward.
“Spyral, the espionage group. They fight the usual evil around the world, terrorists, murderers, the cowardly and superstitious.”
*Punch, Dodge, Kick, Dodge, Slap, Hit, Flip*
“They’re hunting for masks… for hero's identities, I’m not sure why but whatever the reason I know it’s not good. They’re planning something, big, something deadly. I need you to figure out what that is.” The two were dancing around the room trading hits, Rachel getting more than she was giving. Her already battered body was feeling fatigued.
“I can’t, I can’t lie to them. To Jay, Tim, Cass, any of them. I can’t let them think I’m dead.” Bruce ignored her, continuing his monologue as he fought.
“They’ll come for you now. They’ll want someone like you, someone off the grid, someone who knows our secrets... If you’re not dead then they’ll come for you, a masked woman without a mask.” Bruce decked her across the face sending her flying into a rack of batarings. “They’ll come for you and you’ll let them.”
“Everyone thinks I’m dead, they must think I’m dead too Bruce. I’m not going to do this.”
“You’ll go on the run, be seen by just enough cameras that they’ll find you. They’ll be looking for you, I’ve made sure of it.” Rachel felt horror wash over her body and she felt herself freeze, surprised when Bruce did as well.
“You’ve already planned this, all of this. I don’t have any say in the matter, is that it? I’m just your puppet and you’ve already decided the best way to move my strings to make me dance.” Bruce stared at her, and for the first time since they started fighting Rachel saw past his blank facade, she saw anger.
“You failed...you let yourself be unmasked” Something shifted in Bruce at his words and straightening his back he continued. “Let yourself be killed. You put us all in jeopardy and now I have to fix your mess. You care about your brothers, your sister? Then you’ll do this because this is the only way to protect them. Work undercover, gather information from Spyral so I can stop whatever it is their planning, so I can prevent more heroes being unmasked.” Rachel knew Bruce was guilt-tripping her, knew he was playing her to get what he wanted. But she was also so tired. Tired of fighting, tired of arguing, tired of death. Sitting down on the ground she covered her head with her hands.
“After this Bruce, after doing this... We’re done. I’m done. Do you understand?”
“I’m willing to make that sacrifice because I don’t give up, I don’t give in… Do you?” Taking a deep breath Rachel looked up, a sense of hopelessness filling her. When she first met Bruce he had been kind and understanding. Had taken care of her. But then Jason died, and then he came back, and then Bruce went into the time stream, and Damian died. And with each blow, he had gotten colder and colder until there was no sign of the man Rachel had begun to see as a Father. A deep ache filled her heart and for a moment all she wanted was to see Damian again.
But he was gone. And now she had to protect the family she had left.
“Tell me what I have to do.”
********************************************************
Rachel sat in her motel room, blinds closed. A book bag carrying only a change of clothes and a cellphone sat next to her. Staring in front of her she sat and waited. After an hour a strong knock resounded against the door. Squaring her shoulders she stood up and moved across the room. Without looking in the peephole she unlocked and opened the door to come face to face with a tall tan man. A beige scarf covered his dark hair and piercing green eyes stared down at her.
“Rachel Grayson, my employer is very interested in meeting you.