All it took was one.
One bullet.
One second.
A-1-1
All that happened afterwards was one.
One wheelchair.
One computer.
A-1-1+1+1
Everything it took away was one.
One hero career.
A-1-1+1+1-1
What it gave back was one.
One normal-ish life.
A-1-1+1+1-1+1
Go do the math.
A-1-1+1+1-1+1= ?
A-1+1-1+1-1+1= ?
A-0=A
A=A
Nothing should have changed.
A-1-1+1+1-1+1= 0
A=0
That's the right equation. Apparently the universe doesn't go by math anymore.
Oh, no, wait. Forgot a 'minus one'.
A-1-1+1+1-1+1-1= -1
A= Barbara.
The added -1= Batgirl.
She turns the wheels together, rolling the chair forward.
She goes into the Batcave, and type in a password to the computer. She connects it to Tim's helmet.
"Oracle here."
Tim's voice fills her ears first. "I'm sorry Babs."
She shifts in her chair. "Thanks."
"I know you wanted to be on this mission. I'm sorry you're..."
"Stuck," she supplies.
He clears his throat. "Yeah. Stuck."
Stuck in this infernal wheelchair. Stuck at the Batcave. Stuck here to watch through someone else.
Whatever you call it. She called it crippled.
Oh well. Time to adjust her equation again.
A-1-1+1+1-1+1-1+0.5= -0.5
A= Barbara Gordon.
The last -1= Batgirl
+0.5= The Oracle.
Yeah, I agree. This is weird.