AUTHORS NOTE: Companion piece to The Evolution of Batman and Robin. Takes place in the same universe. Will contain similar tone and character.
Barbara Gordon was twelve the first time she saw Batman in person. He showed up on her porch to talk to her dad. Ever since then she has had a sort of obsession. Well, not really an obsession, more like a curiosity.
She's curious about what drive him. What makes him do what he does? She's curious about who he is under the mask. Who is he? But she's most curious about his partner. What made this kid want to start fighting crime? What happening to him?
She was 14 when Robin first appeared, and it was mesmerizing to watch him on TV. Batman, he was quick and all, but Robin had a grace about the way he moved. It was mesmerizing to watch them fight crime.
She's 15 now, it's January first and she should be celebrating the New Year with her dad. Except, her dad is working. Apparently Joker escaped, again. She turns on the TV and that's when she sees it. A headline on the TV news channel that reads 'Commissioner James Gordon being held hostage by Joker.'
Her stomach flips. She rushes out of the house and calls a cab. She tells the cabbie, "Drive to the GCPD quick!"
When they arrive she hands him money quickly and rushes out into the police headquarters. She walks past the front desk and up to Bullock. "Harvey, what's going on?"
"Honey, what the hell you doing here?" Bullock asks avoiding her question.
"Harvey, I saw on the TV that Joker has my dad. Tell me it isn't true," Barbara begs. Harvey avoids eye contact with her. She begins crying.
"Don't worry honey, we got everyone working on getting your dad back." He says giving her a hug. Then he whispers in her ear, "I even talked to Batman. He and Robin are trying to figure out where the Joker is."
He crying subsides for a minute as she says, "Let me help."
"Sweetie just go home. You've been through enough already," Bullock tells her, "Here, I'll go drive you home." Harvey begins walking out with her, but turns around and shouts, "Montoya I'm taking Barbara home! Be back in forty!" He continues walking out with Barbara and they get in his car.
They get to Gordon's home and Barbara gets out. "Just rest. Take a nap even. By the time you wake up we'll have your dad back," Bullock says uncharacteristically optimistic. She walks inside and Bullock begins driving away.
Barbara knows that she just has to help. She won't just wait for her dad to come back. She has been good with computer for years, and she has been hacking into things for the past couple of years to test her abilities. She hacks into security footage of where her dad was last seen, the old Clocktower.
She watches the footage and sees her dad clearly in it. In the footage her dad is looking in the alley at something that's obscured because of the angle the camera is on. About a minute into the video a dark van pulls up and takes him. As he is being taken he drops something though.
She decides to check out Crime Alley, but she can't go dressed like this. She takes out her old gray gymnastics leotard. She also takes out a Batman cape and mask, from when her dad went as Batman to a Halloween Party a few months back. She realizes the mask is too tight because of her hair to, so she cuts a hole in the back of the mask for it.
She goes into her garage and borrows one of her dad's motorcycles he bought during his midlife crisis. She knows how to ride one because Harvey Dent, her 'Uncle', taught her how. She takes off the plates so it can't be tied to her dad. After she is done, she gets on the bike and rides off to the Clocktower, the scene of the crime.
When she arrives, she gets off the bike and begins examining the scene. She remembers in the video that her dad was looking at something, that was out of the camera's view. She goes over to where her dad was standing and find what he was dropped.
She sees a piece of paper on the ground. It reads a bunch of seemingly random chemicals ordered by a Mr. Joseph Kerr. "Joseph Kerr?" Barbara wonder. "Joe Kerr. Joker," her eyes widen. She checks the address and sees that it was this place. Her dad must've found this paper and came here. When Joker found out he took him. Barbara looks at what her dad was looking at and sees empty chemical containers.
She checks to see if there are any clues inside. She turns the knob of the Clocktower door and enters as quietly as possible. The floor creaks as she steps inside. She walks up the stairs and screeches when she sees two figures cloaked in darkness. One of them steps out and she realizes the figures are Robin and Batman.
"Sorry, didn't mean to frighten you," Robin says walking towards her.
"You're lucky that we are on your side Miss Gordon. Otherwise you'd be dead," Batman comments without taking his eyes off of what he's inspecting.
"How'd you know?" Barbara asks.
"I got a notification when you hacked into traffic camera footage. Plus your red hair," Batman explains. He continues examining the table.
"What are you looking for?" Barbara asks. Batman remains silent. "Is it something to do with chemicals?" Batman's eyes widen and Robin begins laughing.
"What do you know?" Batman asks.
"I know that my dad had this paper, which is the reason he came here," Barbara announces waving the paper around. Batman goes to grab it, but Barbara moves her hand away before he can. "I'll only give it to you if you allow me to come.
Without even taking a minute to think Batman responds sternly, "Absolutely not."
"Then you don't get your paper." She tells him. Batman is clearly vexed.
"C'mon B, maybe she can help us." Robin tells him.
Batman narrows his eyes at Robin and answers, "No." Robin glares at Batman and Batman glares back at Robin in return.
"Fine. But you're not getting this paper." Barbara tells him.
He sighs but gives in, "Fine, but when it comes time to confront Joker you stay as far away as possible."
"Deal," she says extending her hand out to shake. Bruce pretends he doesn't see it, but Robin accepts it. She hands him the piece of paper.
Robin looks at the paper. "Damn," he mutters.
"What?" Batman asks. Robin hands him the paper. Batman's eyes widen. "He's making enough Joker Gas to kill the entire city," Batman announces, "And I know where he is going to be."
Batman grapples out the window and Robin prepares to do the same. "How am I going to go with you guys?" Barbara asks.
"Here," Robin says offering her his hand. She accepts and he pulls her in close, "Hold on." He presses the button on the grappling hook and they grapple onto a building. They swing to the building across the street and Batman calls the Batmobile. They all grapple down to the ground as the Batmobile arrives. Batman and Robin hop in and Barbara gets in the back seat.
When they've been driving for ten minutes, Barbara finally asks, "So, where are we going?"
"Gotham's reservoir. If Joker wants to affect the entire city, that's how he'll do it. Meaning that's where he and your father will be." Batman states.
"Why would he be there? Couldn't he just have henchmen do it?" Barbara asks.
"Joker is always very hands on in his crimes," Batman explains.
The rest of the ride goes by in silence, until they arrive. The tires screech as Batman pulls to a quick stop after just going a hundred forty miles per hour. Batman and Robin begins rushing towards the reservoir. Barbara runs after them and they all duck as they get close.
They see Joker standing with Gordon, watching his henchmen pick up chemicals to dump in the water. Batman knows he has to stop any Joker Toxins from going into the water, so he throws a batarang at the guard's hand.
The guard picks up his gun and begins firing wildly, not knowing where Batman is. Batman throws a batarang down the gun's barrel, stopping it from working. "Batman, joining the party a little late!" Joker announces. "Though as they say, better late than never!"
"Robin you free Gordon, I'll take care of the guards," Batman declares. Robin nods.
"What do I do?" Barbara asks.
"Don't get in our way and stay clear of Joker," Batman growls. Batman rushes over to the five guards there. He knew Joker wouldn't have brought more than five guards, even though he could've brought fifteen and done the job in way less time. Joker just wanted to get Batman's attention. He knows that Joker was probably the one who sent the receipt to Gordon, just so Batman would have a private investment in the situation.
Batman stands between the guards and the containers of chemicals. The first man comes rushing towards him to get the chemicals. Batman takes him and tosses him over his shoulder to the right. The next two attack simultaneously. One has a knife, the other a bat. The one with the bat starts swinging and Batman dodges every swing. He catches the last swing, disarms him, and hits the man trying to stab him with the bat. The now disarmed henchman who had the bat begins running away, but Batman shoots the grapple gun making it wrap around the henchman's legs. Batman begins pulling until the guard is knocked over.
Barbara watches in amazement as Batman takes out all of the henchmen. Then she sees one of them get up. She watches, but Batman doesn't realize it. She runs over and kicks the henchman behind Batman, towards Batman. Without looking Batman punches the henchman flying towards him. "Nice kick," Batman compliments in a monotone voice. She is amazed that he knew the guard was behind him and that she kicked the guard towards him.
Robin is above Joker and Gordon now. He sees that Joker has a gun to Gordon's temple. He jumps down landing on Joker causing him to drop his gun. He lands on Jokers shoulders, but doesn't stay there for long, instead opting to backflip off of him. Joker reaches for his gun and aims at Robin.
"Robin," a watching Barbara screams. Joker turns around and aims at Barbara's torso. Before he can shoot Robin delivers a flying elbow to the back of Joker's head.
Batman and Barbara rush over to Robin. "I'm fine," he assures them, "go check on the Commissioner." They all walk over to Gordon.
"Thank you Batman and Robin. And you're who?"
"Batgirl," Batman announces.
"Batgirl." Gordon repeats.