Aura sat nervously as the two cops stepped into the room. At least this situation couldn't get any worse. The cops tossed a large file onto the table and took their seats across from her. Her lavender eyes roamed over the manila folder before returning to the two Metropolis police officers. One of them was idly texting on his phone while the other was sitting back with his eyes closed and arms crossed. She flipped her long hair over her shoulder, the platinum curls were so light they almost appeared white which coupled with her pale skin made her appear almost ghost like. The cop with the phone had clicked into a recent news report and Aura listened intently.

"This is Lois Lane with the latest on this startling breaking news. It seems the virus created by an unknown woman has spread quickly through the internet, hitting more than forty countries so far. Over six thousand people have been affected by what is being dubbed 'The Deadly Flash.' The virus is said to cause the brain to deteriorate, making the victim become feral and very violent. Many people affected have been caught by local police and taken to area hospitals to be treated, though a great deal of innocent people and the victims themselves have been killed in the ensuing violence. Government officials state that well over five thousand people have been killed as a result of the virus but the body count is still rising as new victims are being found. If you suspect someone has been affected by 'The Deadly Flash' please barricade yourself immediately and call your local police. Do not approach them under any circumstance as they are likely to strike out and kill whoever comes close to them. Symptoms include..."

"Turn that off now!" a new voice said as he entered the room.

Aura looked up in shock as the tears flowed down her face. Superman had come into the room and was now standing next to the table. Aura tried to bring her hands up to wipe the tears away but the handcuffs around her wrists would not let her. "Five thousand people are dead? They said they wouldn't release it if Metropolis met their demands!"

Superman placed a warm hand on her small shoulder trying to calm her down. "Aura Warren? I have some questions I need you to answer if you hope to get out of this situation."

Aura looked up into his calm eyes and nodded. "I'm sorry. I never meant for any of this to happen. He said that he would not need to use it if the government paid up."

Superman nodded. "They did pay but whoever you were working for still unleashed the virus. The police have contained and destroyed the virus, wiping it off the internet, but the victims are still being dealt with. We need to know who you were working for and why you did it?"

Aura looked down at the metal table, her features reflecting back at her. "I don't know his name and I only saw him once. He was tall and didn't have any hair and he was white. They kidnapped me from my apartment about three months ago and told me that I had to create a virus that could hurt people if it was unleashed. They held a gun to my head while I worked but I refused at first. I didn't want to hurt anyone." Aura took a few deep breaths. "Then about a week later they brought my parents in and threatened to kill them. I had no choice. I didn't care if they killed me but I wasn't going to sacrifice my parents. So I built the virus for them and then they let my parents go but said I would be a prisoner until everything was over with."

Superman nodded his head and leaned against the table. Using his heat vision he broke the handcuffs from her wrists. Handing her a napkin, she took it gratefully and wiped the tears away. "That helps a lot Aura. Your parents were moved into witness protection and unfortunately we cannot tell you were they are. I understand you are a victim in all of this and we will not be treating you like you are a criminal."

One of the police scoffed loudly. "Even before this Flash thing she has been trouble. She's a hacker and a thief."

Aura glared at the man infront of her. Superman shook his head. "I have heard the stories of 'The Net Runner' but that doesn't mean anything now. Aura hasn't committed any new crimes and has paid for her past mistakes. Besides that was all in the past when she was young. If we don't look to the future then Miss Warren will not have a chance to prove herself a better woman." Superman ushered the police from the room and sat across from Aura, reaching out and holding one of her hands. "I have spoken with the chief on your behalf and we have come to the conclusion that yes you were forced into this. You will be cleared of the charges associated with The Deadly Flash and placed into witness protection."

Aura squeezed his hand gently. "I have to leave Metropolis? But this is where I grew up, I don't know any other place."

Superman smiled warmly. "Think of it as restarting your life and a new adventure. Someone is on their way to pick you up and he will explain what you will expected to do in your new home." Superman drew the young girl up and into a hug. "Please be careful, the man who did this to you may have people after you. If anything comes up even if you think it is small, don't hesitate to call the police. I know you are scared but if you follow all the instructions given to you, you will be fine."

Superman left her in the interrogation room by herself and went to the observation room. He took a phone and called a familiar and private number. The man picked up and in a gruff voice said, "This is Batman."

"Hey its Superman. I'm sending you the girl we talked about, Aura."

"Net Runner? Did you find who was using her to make the Deadly Flash?"

"Not yet, but we will. Thanks again for finding a way to destroy it. Look, she's not dangerous just full of mischief but she has changed. Please don't treat her like a Gotham Rogue, she isn't one. We got her a job at Wayne Enterprises as the personal assistant to Mr. Wayne. Luckily he said he heard the story from you and was too eager to help her."

Batman was quiet for a few moments. "I am still going to keep my eyes on her. There are too many people in Gotham that would take advantage of her unique talents."

"Please do my friend. We already have her set up in a nice condo in a good part of town. Commissioner Gordon is coming himself to pick her up."

Batman made a soft sound to say he was listening. "I'll be in touch. I have to go there has been another attack by this Scarecrow character."

"You haven't figured out his identity yet?"

Batman growled softly. "No, he seems to be smart and capable of keeping himself from being caught. I will get him soon though."

Hours later a man entered the interrogation room and Aura met his eyes. He had kind brown eyes, feathered brown hair, and a small mustache. He pushed his glasses up his nose and smiled kindly. "Are you ready to go Miss?"

Aura nodded and follow the older man through the police station and climbed into his unmarked car. Once they were on the road did Aura look over again at him. "Where are we going?"

He looked over at her briefly before returning to the road. "My name is Commissioner James Gordon. We are headed to Gotham City, ever been there?"

Aura felt her heart grow cold. She had heard of the notorious city in the north where crime would run rampant and a man dressed like a bat tried to stop the criminals. "Gotham City? I have never been there but the stories are awful that come from that place."

Gordon laughed softly. "I can see how you would think that but the city has gotten better since the Batman has helped root out the Rogues and gangs. Plus you have a condo in a safe part of town. If you look in the glove box there is a file in there with all the details of your new life."

Aura took out the file and started reading it. "I don't have a new name? Isn't that going to be dangerous?"

Gordon sighed. "I tried to fight about that but they said that the gangsters that kidnapped you only knew that your name was Net Runner from your hacker days. I would recommend that you change your hair. That color is not common."

Aura nodded and kept reading. She was to be a secretary or assistant to Bruce Wayne. "The Bruce Wayne? How in the world did you manage that?"

"Batman is a good friend to Mr. Wayne. When Wayne heard about your story he wanted to help in any way he could. Don't worry, Wayne Enterprises is one of the safest places in Gotham. You should have no problems at all and before you know it that gangster will be rounded up and you can reunite with your family in Metropolis."

Aura felt a fresh wave of tears forming at the mention of her family. She would never see them again so long as the man who did this was free. Hopefully they were safe, that was all that mattered. The drive to Gotham was long and Aura slept most of the way there. Sometime in the middle of the ride Aura had wound up with the Commissioner's jacket around her shoulders and when she woke up she held it confused. "Did you put this on me?"

Gordon nodded. "You started shaking and the heater is busted in this old car. We are almost at your new place."

Aura watched as the towers of the city closed in around the car. Metropolis looked a lot like this but Gotham felt different, more dangerous. Aura tried to will herself to disappear from the world but knew that no matter how much she prayed it wouldn't happen. They pulled up to a gate that surrounded a group of condos. Gordon input the gate code and pulled up to a corner condo, that was half hidden by a giant Dawn Redwood. Gordon handed her a set of keys and bid her a good night.

Six Months Later

Aura dressed in a black pinstripe skirt suit with a crisp white button up shirt. She expertly tucked her white hair into a bun before placing her black wig on. The curls gently fell to her shoulders and she sighed as she looked at herself in the mirror. Checking her watch to make sure she was still on schedule she returned to her bedroom. A figured stirred within the heavy sheets and Aura smiled as chocolate brown eyes opened. She bent down and kissed the man's ebony cheek, smiling at the smell of his cologne from the previous night.

He rolled over and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer to the bed. "You on the way out baby?"

"Yep, I have that early meeting that I need to prepare the conference room for. Are you going to be home all day Tony?" Aura asked as she disentangled herself from the strong arms holding her.

"Yeah, I'll be here. I might have a job later." Aura turned her back on him to grab her purse from the floor. "You better not be late coming home, I got a surprise for you."

Aura yelped as his hand smacked her rear. Her face blushed darkly. "I'll be home by nine. I promised Susan I would go with her to grab a drink."

"Where are you going?" he asked suspiciously.

Aura tried to smile as her discomfort grew. She had met Tony two months after moving into Gotham. He was sweet and gentle to her at first. Within a month of dating he started pressuring her to move in and Aura agreed since he was having issues at the place he was currently at. That's when things started getting worse. He would get jealous if she went out with friends from work and if she was ever late coming home he demanded to check her phone. Aura at first tried to brush it off as he was just concerned for her but the unease of the whole situation grew. "Just the bar down the street from work. I will be home by nine I promise."

Quickly Aura left the condo and jumped into the company vehicle that Bruce Wayne was adamant that she have. It made Aura feel uncomfortable with his generosity but she couldn't tell him no. Within twenty minutes, Aura was pulling into the underground garage below the Wayne Tower. She flashed a smile at the young security guard as he checked her badge at the front desk. "Good morning Samuel. How is the new baby?"

"Fine Miss Warren. The wife is starting to get some sleep so she's happier. The monster-in-law is helping to babysit while I'm here." he laughed.

Aura gave him a playfully stern look. "Now, now. Be nice to her. She'll babysit when you want to make a second, remember!"

Aura skipped away and into the elevator just as the door's were closing. After pressing the button for the ninety fifth floor, she leaned back against the back wall. The doors opened a on the third floor and an older black gentleman entered. He smiled warmly to Aura and she returned the expression. "Good morning beautiful. You on your way to the bird's nest." he asked.

"You know me Lucius. How is your wife doing? Is she still sick?" Aura asked, looking over the man's tired face.

"No, the hospital just released her last night. She has gotten much better. You should come over for dinner some time and meet her. Tanya would love to meet you." Lucius Fox replied touching her shoulder gently.

Aura winced slightly at the discomfort in her shoulder. "I would love to when she is fully better."

Lucius narrowed his eyes slightly at the discomfort in her eyes. On the sixtieth floor Lucius exited with a kind good bye and Aura was left alone again. Wayne Tower was a ghost town at four in the morning. When the doors opened to her floor, Aura quickly made her way to the conference room. She spread out the booklets that contained the paperwork for the six o'clock meeting. The water pitchers and glasses were placed on two ends of the long table. Next she opened all the curtains on the windows to let the early morning sun into the room. As she was checking to make sure all the windows had been spotlessly cleaned the conference room door opened.

Aura gasped and back away quickly from the door, tripping on her heel and landing on her butt. "Oh Miss Warren!" Warm hands grasped her hands and pulled her back onto her feet.

Aura blushed darkly when her eyes met a pair of caramel brown eyes. Bruce Wayne returned her smile with one of his own handsome grins. He straightened his suit and looked around the room. Immediately Aura straightened her own skirt and fixed the chair she had bumped into. "I'm so sorry Mr. Wayne. You surprised me and I wasn't expecting company so early this morning."

Bruce looked back at her. "I should be the one apologizing Aura. I woke up early because I received a phone call."

Confusion clouded Aura's features. "A phone call Sir? Is there something I can do for you?"

Bruce Wayne came closer to her, standing just a few inches away. "Lucius is concerned that someone may be bothering you. Is there something we need to talk about?"

Aura shook her head after a few moments of silence. "I have no idea what Mr. Fox could be talking about Mr. Wayne."

Bruce flashed a smile. "Well he is protective over you Aura." He gently patted her shoulder and Aura winced. When her eyes twitched Bruce caught hold of her chin, holding her face. "Did you hurt your shoulder?"

Aura felt a small panic rise in her stomach, a nausea beginning to wash over her. "I fell out of bed this morning. I can be kinda klutzy sometimes." She tried to laugh softly.

Bruce Wayne sighed, his face turning emotionless. "Are you okay Aura? It has been six months since you came here and I have never seen you klutzy before. The last few weeks I have noticed that your personality is changing. You are becoming more docile and skittish. Is everything alright at home?"

Aura backed away from Bruce Wayne, walking around the table and straightening the portfolios. "Everything is fine Mr. Wayne. I haven't had any trouble so far in Gotham which is surprising considering the crime rate of the city. I mean I did happen to be driving home the other week when, and don't quote me, but the Riddler pulled up next to me. He was honking his horn trying to get me to lower my window so I just went ahead and made a right to get away from him, I didn't want to get into trouble. Oh and the old woman next door made me some brownies that I am pretty sure had something funny in them so I threw them out. Commissioner Gordon came by here the other day to check up on me and brought me some lilies. That was nice."

Aura tried to laugh when she realized she had been babbling, but it came out awkwardly. Bruce smiled kindly and headed for the door. "Aura if anything is bothering you never hesitate to tell me. You know I am here to help you right?"

"And I'm very appreciative Mr. Wayne."

"Bruce, please. We are friends now."

"Thank you Bruce." Aura waved to him as the door closed. She fell down into the closest chair to her, holding her face in her hands.

Bruce Wayne stood outside the door to the conference room, listening to the quiet crying of his secretary inside. The second that he saw her face twitch from the pain of his soft touch on her shoulder, Bruce put the dots together. Lucius said that the same thing happened in the elevator and all he had done was place his hand on the same shoulder. A simple fall from out of the bed would not be enough to cause her the pain that her face displayed. Someone had grabbed her shoulder with enough force to cause a substantial bruise.

He crossed the hallway and entered into the outer office that contained Aura's desk. Lucius Fox was standing next to the window of the room, gazing out over the city. "I think you're right Lucius. Someone hurt Aura."

Fox turned to his friend and boss, the frown still present on his face. "I brought what you asked for. A small microphone recorder that has a range to reach the cave."

Bruce took the small device and crossed over to the desk. He opened the bottom drawer and pulled out the small white purse. He reached in and took out the touch phone, popping the back off and placing the small bug inside. "It will also catch her calls right?"

Fox nodded, his frown deepening. "Yes. Mr. Wayne when we get to the bottom of this situation you will remove that bug correct. I can understand finding out who is hurting Aura but I cannot condone invading her privacy after she is safe again."

Bruce Wayne replaced the purse and resealed the drawer. "Of course Lucius. She has gained my trust the past six months and I have all faith that she is no longer being sought by anyone from Metropolis. Superman says that they found a good lead on who was using her though the main culprit has yet to be caught."

"We can only hope Mr. Wayne. I bet she is anxious to get back home and reunite with her family." Lucius answered, taking a deep breath.

When the lunch hour rolled around Aura found herself in one of Bruce Wayne's favorite cafes. She waited in the long line, double checking Bruce's order that he wrote on her paper. Suddenly a man bumped into her, spilling his coffee all over her front. Aura gasped in surprise at the cold beverage and the man cursed. "What the hell you bitch! Watch where you are going!"

Aura shook her hands, the coffee dripping down her fingers. "I am so sorry I guess I did not see you walking as I have been standing in this same spot for twenty minutes."

"You smart ass bitch. I won't let some little whore talk to me that way."

The man raised a hand to smack her face only another hand clasped around his wrist, twisting it hard. "I suggest you remove yourself from this place before something happens that you won't like."

Aura glanced over her shoulder at the tall man behind her. He was tall and thin, wearing a nice business suit with a vest underneath. His medium brown hair was neatly brushed back so it did not fall into his eyes. When she looked into those eyes, her breath caught in her throat. They were the palest shade of blue she had ever seen in another human. He narrowed his eyes at the man behind his glasses, the square frames doing nothing to contain the fire in his eyes. The man stared back at him, unmoved. The tall man behind Aura pulled off his glasses and a whole new life seemed to bloom in those icy eyes. The man infront of Aura quickly pulled his hand away and whispered an apology, all but running from the cafe.

Aura looked back at the tall man behind her. He had replaced his glasses and inclined his head towards the counter. "It looks like you're up."

Aura was stunned for a few seconds. "Thank you so much for that." She turned back to the employee behind the counter. "Can I get two of the King Prawn salads with balsamic vinaigrette please." She handed the employee her card and leaned forward closer to her. "Please charge the man's order behind me as well."

Aura stepped to the side and quietly sat in a close chair while she waited for the order to be made. A few moments later the tall man stepped up next to her, handing her back her credit card. "You didn't need to do that."

Aura looked up into his icy eyes, stunned at the intensity of his gaze. She smiled softly. "And you didn't need to step in and stop that man from hitting me but you did."

The man chuckled softly. "I just can't stand bullies like that."

Aura smiled and stood, holding out her hand. "Aura Warren, it is a pleasure to meet you."

"Jonathan Crane. I see you work for Wayne Enterprises, how long have you been there?"

Aura blushed lightly as she slipped her company card into her purse. "About six months. Where do you work?"

He chuckled softly. "If I told you, you would not be standing here for long."

"Oh come on, it can't be that bad." Aura looked over at the counter when her name was called. "I'm sorry but it looks like I have to go. I hope I can see you again Mr. Crane and thanks again."

"No thank you for lunch and an interesting day." He shook her offered hand and Aura picked her bag up heading for the front door. She gave the tall man one last look as she walked past the cafe window. A dark blush crept across her face as she saw his eyes following her.

Jonathan Crane sat as he started eating. 'Looks like today's lunch was not a complete waste of time.'

'So we will track her then?' A dark voice whispered in his head.

'No, not her. She is too innocent and easy.'

'Easy?' the voice screamed. 'I want to see her screaming and pleading for mercy. Her fear would be delicious.'

Jonathan sighed internally as he sipped the hot coffee. 'She is full of fear. Her mind would break too quickly for any worthwhile experiments. That man on the other hand...'

'Jonny you need to live a little. We could do so much with the girl, things you have not felt for quite some time.'

Jonathan grimaced and closed his eyes tightly as images of a naked woman covered in blood and pleading for him to stop came into his mind. With strong conviction he willed the images away. 'Stop that Scarecrow! That was your doing! We will get the man. He should prove to make an interesting night.'

The Scarecrow groaned in his head as he finished his meal. Jonathan stalked out of the cafe placing his hands in his pockets. He spotted his target down the street, trying his luck with another woman. He followed the gangster down an abandoned alley, quietly closing the distance between them. Jonathan pulled out a hidden syringe from his pocket, taking the sheath off the needle. The man stopped walking to light his cigarette and Jonathan made his move. Quickly pushing the needle into the man's neck and sinking the plunger down to inject the clear fluid. The man tried to swing around to hit him off but Jonathan was too quick and back stepped. Within seconds the man's body fell to the ground, limp and lifeless. Jonathan wasn't worried, the paralyzingly agent would not be enough to kill him. Taking the man from under the arms he began to drag him to the end of the alley, throwing the limp body into the trunk of his car. He was sure to make a break through in his new fear gas tonight.