Hey dudes. I noticed lots of people on the Internet are doing these Season Threes, and I was like, count me in!
Anyway. This fic is written in script format, because a) it's fun, and b)that's how it works. I'm just guessing with the caps though. (Sidenote: someone tell me how they work?) Please try and imagine this out like you would an episode. Everyone will be referred to by their real name, due to the numerous people under the same alias. Excluding Roy Harper, who I will refer to as Arsenal and Red Arrow when indicating speech. Because it's so freaking confusing if I don't.
Disclaimer: One day, my dear boy. One day. (Dramatic music.)
All the times are placed in the same time region, so it makes more sense. Besides, who pays attention to timestamps? (Don't answer that.)
OC PROFILES (FOR THIS EPISODE ONLY):
JASON TOOD. Full name: JASON PETER TODD. 15. Strawberry blonde. Green eyed. Human. Slightly taller than Barbara Gordon.
COSTUME: The original Robin uniform, meaning a yellow cape with black lining, tied at the neck, a red shirt with the R on the right, and a green something, which my sister likes to call underwear, but I have no idea what it's really called (tell me!)
CASSANDRA CAIN. 14. Dark bob cut, dark eyes, of suspected Asian descent (Mother). Human. Slightly taller than Tim Drake.
COSTUME: None. Wears hoodie and jeans.
JERICHO. FULL NAME: JOSEPH WILLIAM WILSON. 16. Curly blonde. Green eyes. Meta-human.
COSTUME: Loose white Cotten shirt, Purple tunic, blue pants and knee-high brown boots.
THe above characters are all canon, belonging to DC. So I guess this is a disclaimer.
BIALYA 3:16 AM
A fist is slammed onto the table, making it jump. The camera travels upwards, until we recognize the scarred face of VANDAL SAVAGE. And he's mad.
VANDAL
What?
The camera jumps backward, allowing us to see the full meeting of the Light. Its members crowd around the long wooden conference table.
Lex Luthor sits back, looking prim in his suit, and sips his coffee. He sets it down.
LUTHOR
Calm down, Vandal. Getting mad does nothing for the situation.
RA'S AL GHUL stands up.
RA
Indeed. The fact remains that I have brought the boy back. He could be the knife we borrow.
VANDAL
We have Deathstroke for that. Cheshire! Sportsmaster! Countless more!
Across the table, BEE sends him a glare.
BEE
Calm yourself, Vandal. Ra is right. No one would suspect us.
VANDAL
He is a useless loose end.
The BRAIN flashes a light.
BRAIN
On contrary. His anger will make him easy to manipulate, and his hatred makes him all the more determined. And we know for sure he would not back down.
KLARION picks his oversize fingernails.
KLARION
This is just annoying. Can't we just kill them already?
The Black Manta removes his helmet, placing it on the table.
BLACK
What if he changes his mind? What if he reveals to the Justice League find out we're behind it?
Luthor leans forward.
LUTHOR
Then let's make sure he doesn't, shall we?
(turns to Vandal)
You've brought the girl?
He nods and snaps his fingers. One of the Manta troops push CASSANDRA forward. Luthor turns to Ra.
LUTHOR (Cont'd)
Summon the boy.
He nods, and one of his men push JASON forward. They face each other. Vandal leans forward and laughs.
VANDAL
Kids, meet your new best friends.
CUT TO:
A woman in an orange prison jumpsuit is thrown onto the cell floor. We recognize her as POISON IVY. The security guard looms over her.
WARDEN
Life sentence, huh?
He peers down at her. She stays silent.
WARDEN (Cont'd)
Next week, ya?
Nothing.
WARDEN (Cont'd)
Any last wishes? We're allowed to do that.
At last, Poison Ivy raises her head to look at him. In a croaking, dry voice, she says:
POISON IVY
I'd like to see my friend, Dr. Harleen Frances Quinzel.
CUT TO:
ANTARCTICA. DAY.
Near-end of Endgame, after WALLY WEST arrives and before his death.
KHAJI DA
(voiceover)
In sixteen seconds, he will cease.
CUT TO: Barry, Bart, and Wally running around the chrysalis.
WALLY
Just tell them, okay?
BARRY
(Yells)
Kid!
SWITCH TO: Wally's POV. We see Barry's HAND reaching towards him, just before the world dissolves.
CUT TO:
MOUNT JUSTICE. FORTY YEARS LATER. DAY-ISH.
NATHANIEL (Neutron) stumbles around in the barren wasteland.
NATHANIEL
(mumbling like a mad man)
Everything should have changed. Why didn't it change?
A WOMAN's voice sounds behind him. She's still out of sight, but her voice rings clear.
WOMAN
I told you we couldn't change anything.
Nathaniel turns to face her, watching on a rock a few feet away. She's in her late forties, with long black hair, and slanted eyes. Her face is eerily familiar.
NATHANIEL
You didn't say anything.
The woman walks over to stand next to him, sliding of the rock with the ease of a superhero. (Because now that's a thing.)
WOMAN
I thought it. We all thought it. We pretty much knew it was impossible.
NATHANIEL
But would you rather have given up hope?
Theme song thingy. (Not sure.)
FADES TO: GOTHAM CITY. 3:00 AM
A single policeman on patrol, walks through the streets with a torch. It's a shaded, urban area, between building. He passes by a bank, under a lamppost, then..
From above, a BOY crashes into him, bringing him onto the floor in a headlock.
CUT TO: Above on the roof of the bank, we watch over the shoulder of a black-haired girl. The boy, about fifteen, with strawberry-blonde hair nods at her. She nods back, and scrambles of the roof in a slightly familiar move.
CUT BACK TO: The boy glances around in a wide circle. There's a small thump, and he turns back, a smirk etched across his face. It's BATGIRL/BARBARA.
BARBARA
(Points at the officer)
Let go of him. Now.
BOY
Hey, Babs. Welcome to the party. Thought you were caught in the traffic.
He lets go of the man, steps off him. Batgirl nods at him, and he backs away slowly.
BOY
(casually)
Don't worry. I wasn't going to hurt him. Just wanted to catch your attention.
BARBARA
(suspiciously)
How do you know my name? And what do you want with me?
BOY
(smirk widens)
Aww, Babs. Don't I have the right to miss you?
BARBARA
Do I know you?
BOY
Don't tell me you've forgotten already.
He spreads his arms wide like Moses from the Bible.
BOY
It's me, Boy Blunder. Todd?
BARBARA
(amazed)
Jason?
JASON
At your service.
BARBARA
But you're dead!
JASON
(frowns)
That's not very nice.
Barbara starts to answer back, but the intercom crackles to life.
DICK
(via comm.)
Break-in at Arkham Asylum. Where are you?
BARBARA
We're three minutes away. And-
(she looks at Jason, then sighs)
I'll explain later. Just- except someone.
CUT TO:
ARKHAM CITY. 3:02 AM
We're in front of a castle-like building, complete with a gate. Cassandra steps into the light, glancing at the sign. She presses the intercom button. It crackles a few times.
INTERCOM
Hello?
CASSANDRA
My name's Talia. Talia Jackson. Batman gave me permission to come and visit the Joker. I've got documents.
'Talia' pulls a crumpled piece of paper out of her pocket, and shows it to the camera. A few seconds pass.
INTERCOM
(surprised)
They match.
CASSANDRA
Of course they do.
The gates swing open, and the girl steps in. The journey down through the yard, down the staircase(s) are played on speed. We halt as the guards push open the Joker's door.
GUARD
Will you be able to take him?
CASSANDRA
He's in a straitjacket.
GUARD
(skeptical)
We'll be outside the door.
'Talia' sits down at the table. The Joker giggles.
JOKER
Hello, blueberry. Come for a little stroll at the Asylum? How are you liking the view? So many people bashing their head on walls. So entertaining.
The man is clearly mad.
CASSANDRA
(Deadpans)
My name is Talia.
JOKER
(Laughs)
Tut tut. Such a bad little girl. Lying in people's faces.
(wags his finger in her face)
Naughty, naughty. You're grounded, poppyhead. Be in bed by nine.
CASSANDRA
Poppyhead? At least blueberry made remote sense.
JOKER
Talking back, are ya? You should learn from your mother.
CASSANDRA
I have nothing to learn from her.
(clears her throat)
I have come to break you out.
The Joker throws back his head and laughs. His chair topples, and he is left lying sideways on the floor.
JOKER
Eh, lambchop. You've grown so tall...
CASSANDRA
Do not call me lambchop.
JOKER
A little birdy told you that, huh? Pick me up, and we play a bit of truth or dare. We have to! It's a sleepover!
Talia grabs the chair and the his mummified body, heaving them both upwards with an almost inhuman strength.
JOKER (Cont'd)
(grins, revealing bone-white teeth)
I'll start. I dare you to break me out of jail.
CASSANDRA
(Deadpans)
Dare accepted.
JOKER
(Taps the table with a finger)
How about you, sunflower? Truth, or dare?
CASSANDRA
We don't have time fo-
JOKER
(leans back, looking disappointed)
Tsk, tsk, rosebud. There's always time for fun.
CASSANDRA
(Sigh)
Truth or dare?
JOKER
(Leans forward)
Truth. What's your name?
CASSANDRA
(Rocks on her chair)
Talia.
JOKER
(sing-songy)
Liiiiaaaarrrr!
CASSANDRA
Cassandra, then.
JOKER
(pats her cheek)
Much better, sugar-cheeks. My name is the Joker.
CASSANDRA
(mimicking)
Liiiaaaarrrr!
JOKER
(suddenly turns serious)
Enough games, girl! Let's talk business.
CASSANDRA
(deadpans)
Let's.
(Clears her throat)
Batman's up at the Watchtower, so the Bats will be taking over for Gotham. A band of Mantas will try abd break in. I'll bring you out in the chaos, get you out of your straitjacket. Can you get to Ace Chemicals?
The Joker's face sours.
JOKER
(sullenly) Why there, blueberry?
CASSANDRA
No one will think to look for you there. You can hide there for a few days.
JOKER
And then?
CASSANDRA
Let's focus on the present shall we?
JOKER
(giggles)
Ohhh!
(Hopefully)
You brought me a gift?
CUT TO:
ARKHAM ASYLUM. 3:20 AM
A troop of Black Manta soldiers March-run put from the shadows. The one in the lead waves a hand, beckoning the others forward.
Dick crashes out of the tree, landing on the lead soldier. The other disperse in panic .
DICK
(skeptical)
Wait. You're telling me Jason, Robin II, who died four years ago, has come back to life, and is this guy.
Jason flips past him out of the tree, squarely onto the shoulders of another soldier. He presses his finger onto his crown, and the guy crumples.
JASON
(Grins)
Yes, my dear Dick. You're still as slow as ever.
Tim and Barbara follow suit, sliding out of the branches more subtly. While Babs engage in combat of screen, Tim sweeps his staff, and pulls a soldier's feet out under him.
TIM
(snickers)
Yeah, that's him alright. No one else can be that rude.
The soldier takes a slash at them, and it misses Tim foot by a couple inches. He slams his foot into the man's stomach, and smashes his head on to his knee when he doubles over for good measure.
CIT TO:
Jason ducks a chop the soldier takes at his into the small window of opportunity, he smashes his face with an uppercut, then dances away out of his range.
JASON
Okay, my turn. In the four years I've been gone, Tim's become me, and Dick's lost all of his fashion sense, and the rest of his brain cells?
CUT TO:
Dick leap-frogs over a guy, grabbing his shoulders in the act and flipping him onto the pavement.
DICK
(Scowls)
Have you seen yourself? At least I'm wearing pants.
Jason darts past him, backing a soldier steadily into a wall.
JASON
Ladies dig the legs.
Above the wall, Barbara suddenly hangs out of the tree, dealing with Jason's soldier with a quick blow in the neck.
BARBARA
(breaks in with an eye-roll)
Boys, I'm sorry to break up the 'I'm more of an idiot' club, but I can't stand you anymore. I've forgotten how truly annoying you can be, Jason.
Jason stops and grins up at her.
JASON
(Wriggles his eyebrows)
You know you love me.
TIM
(grins)
I sorta missed this.
Barbara starts to answer back, but she yelps and slumps on the tree branch.
ALL
Babs!
Camera shifts to reveal a soldier standing nearby, his gun still smoking. Jason yells, and grabs from his belt, of all things a crowbar, and pounced on the poor soldier. Tim and Dick attend to Babs. She's shot in the back, red staining the black of her cloak. Her bead lolls as they turn her over. There is no exit point. Dick grabs her limp body and pulls her higher into the tree, safe out of gun range, while Tim rejoins the fight. Jason appears, calmly wiping his crowbar on his cloak.
The Bats had been holding their own, but with Babs gone, and more reinforcements arriving, they are backed slowly into a wall.
JASON
(To Dick) So far, it seems even our extremely-socially awkward Timmy-boy has a girlfriend, Nightlight. You should be ashamed.
DICK
Nightlight, huh?
JASON
Yes, my dear apprentice. In addition to being a Dick, you are now also a Nightlight.
DICK
And what's your new name, Robin's back study?
JASON
No, no, no. I'm Robin-who-died-a-hero. Also known as Red Hood.
DICK
And you laughed at Nightwing.
TIM
Hello? Life or death?
They ignore him.
JASON
According to my dictionary, Nightwing means doomed-to-spend-his-days-alone, Tim means incredibly,-against-all-odds-gets-a-girlfriend.
DICK
(Snorts)
Your dictionary's out-dated.
JASON
I was dead for four years. Give me a break. Besides, you still haven't got a girlfriend.
DICK
And you do? What does your dictionary say under Jason? Socially awkward loser?
JASON
No, it means, totally going to get together with a kickass beauty.
TIM
Where is she?
JASON
Oh, she's on her way.
A soldier suddenly lurches forward, a kick slamming his head forward and possibly breaking his neck. Cassandra stands there, turning slightly towards them, still releasing the momentum of the kick.
CASSANDRA
Sorry to crash the party. But it looked like you had free drinks. Am I too late?
JASON
No, you're just in time for cake.
(To the others)
Did I mention she has impeccable timing?
The Bats pause.
DICK
If that guy's head is a metaphor for you, I love your girlfriend.
JASON
Jealous much?
They jump back into battle, splitting up. Cassandra and Jason stay together. The troops split up likewise, surrounding them.
FOCUS ON:
Jason and Cassandra stand back to back. It's obvious by their stance that they're used to working together.
CASSANDRA
(Mutters)
He got away.
JASON
(whispers back)
Good.
He pauses, and turns to look at her.
JASON (Cont'd)
Also, duck if you like your head.
Cassandra immediately drops, and Jason leaps in to the air and split-kicks the two advancing soldiers. Cassandra catches their bodies before they hit the floor.
CASSANDRA
(annoyed)
Careful.
JASON
Whatever.
Cassandra rolls her eyes, and leaps upwards, using his shoulder as a second kickoff point, leaping into the nearest tree and stepping on another soldier's head. Jason follows, clambering the tree-branches to the every top.
JASON
(cries out, surprised)
Hey, I think I see the Joker!
Cassandra scrambles onto his branch.
CASSANDRA
And he's getting away!
The Bats all look up, distracted. The Black Manta leader makes a signal to their troops, and they all scramble away.
TIM
They're getting away!
DICK
Leave it. It was a distraction, to get Joker out.
TIM
I'll track him.
JASON
Nah, I could hardly see him. Plus the moon's dim, and it hasn't rained in ages.
CASSANDRA
So we lost him. But at least we know the Black Manta's helping the Joker.
DICK
We figured that out ages ago. Let's get Babs to the Batcave.
TIM
(Gestures to Cassandra)
What about her?
Cassandra starts to talk, but Jason loops an arm around her and interrupts.
JASON
(Moses again)
Allow me to introduce Cassandra Cain, the bane of the known world. And I vouch for her too.
DICK
(Holds out his hand)
Please to meet you. Tell me when you plan to murder him.
CASSANDRA
Ditto. And I'm working on it.
TIM
(nods)
Batcave it is.
CUT TO:
BATCAVE 03:57
Alfred is waiting for them, with coffee. He watches as they load a wounded Babs out of the Batmobile. He sets down the tray.
ALFRED
(sighs)
I'll fetch the medical kit. Master Robin?
They exit.
DICK
(turns to Jason and Cassandra)
I'll contact Bats. Jason, no one's touched your room since you've―
CASSANDRA
(deadpans)
Gone.
DICK
Gone. Find Cassandra a room, or share a room, or something.
JASON
Ew.
Dick manages a smile and turned to the giant computer screen. While Dick is preoccupied with Bruce, Jason pulls Cassandra aside.
JASON
(whispers)
He's there, right?
CASSANDRA
(whispers)
Probably. You never known with a mad man.
JASON
(whispers)
Make an excuse for me, okay?
He slips away.
CUT TO: A news report plays on screen. It's Cat Grant again. A picture of the Joker is in the corner.
CAT
...The criminal, colloquially known as the Joker, was discovered early this morning, lying dead in Ace Chemicals. Police estimate his time of death to be three to four in the morning. They are yet to confirm the cause of death, but the our sources say that it's a severe head injury, administered with a blunt instrument. Why and how the villain, previously reported to be at Arkham Asylum, appeared at Ace Chemicals is unknown, but-
Dick turns away from the TV as the door opens. Tim pokes his head in.
DICK
How's Babs?
TIM
Alfred says she'll live, but the bullet hit her spine and-
DICK
(finishes)
She might be immobilized.
TIM
Yeah.
They stare for a moment in silence. The screen is now scrolling through a long list of missing people,
DICK
What do you think happened?
TIM
(squints at the screen)
Carlo Davies got kidnapped at a bus stop?
DICK
No, to the Joker. You think it's Light related?
TIM
(shakes his head)
No. With their resources, they could have made it seem like a heart-attack or something. The killer has no obvious skill.
DICK
Agreed. Probably some hobo.
(sighs)
But something just doesn't make sense.
Tim reaches forward and pats him on the shoulder. It looks odd.
TIM
Relax, Dick. Babs is going to live, the Light's been silent, the Joker's dead, and Jason's back. It'll be fine.
DICK
I know, but―
(sighs)
Our main concern right now should be Cassandra. What are we going to do with her?
TIM
We obviously can't cast her out into the street. She doesn't have family, or she wouldn't be traveling with Jason. We can't take her in. People will wonder, especially when Bruce is out of town. THe only logical solution would be to let her join the team.
DICK
Yes, but what if she's a spy? She obviously knows our real identities.
TIM
Jason's a careful guy, Dick. He wouldn't vouch for just anyone.
DICK
Ys, but he can be so… rash.
TIM
We'll let the Team observe her. They have a better chance than us.
DICK
(nods)
An probation period, see how she works with the rest of them.
TIM
I tell them.
He opens the door. He pauses.
TIM (Cont'd)
What about his statue?
DICK
Jason's statue?
TIM
Yeah.
He pauses.
DICK
Take it down. Tell Mal.
Tim nods, and leaves, closing the door.
CUT TO:
Cassandra tours the Wayne Manor, looking for her bedroom, when Jason's hand darts out of his room and grabs her wrist.
JASON
They know, right?
CASSANDRA
Duh.
He nods and she continues like nothing has happened.
CUT TO:
PSIMON grins at Queen Bee.
PSIMON
Oh, yes. We know.
Queen Bee nods, and Psimon's gazes shifts to a darker corner. A blonde boy sits there, looking out of place and tiny among the authoritative adults in the room.
PSIMON (Cont'd)
Proceed as planned, Jericho.
The boy raises his head, and at last we see his face, acid green eyes glowing. He nods.
Okay, maybe this episode was too Bat centric. I'm sorry about that. I couldn't figure out a better way for Cassandra and Jason to crop up. The Team will show up soon, don't worry.
More episodes on the way!
And, in case you don't know, Babs getting hurt was canon, too. And also Jason coming back. Though he was brought back by Superboy Prime, so...
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