Masquerade-Chapter 2

A New Beginning

By: Angellwings

"Hello?"

"Bette?" A familiar voice asked.

"Hey Gar, what's up?" she asked inquisitively.

"Listen Bette, I've been thinking . . ." He started.

"Oh Lord, this can't be good. Anytime you start a conversation with that phrase I always end up in a heap of trouble." She said skeprtically.

"I know, I know, but hear me out. See, I've been thinking that maybe there is a way for you to get back into the hero business." He told her hopefully.

"I don't know if I want to be in the 'hero business' anymore. There's too much politics involved in defending people." She told him bitterly.

"I know, but you could help people while simultaneously sticking it to Nightwing and those other assholes."

"How so?" She asked with peeked interest.

"Come up with a new alias, and this time don't let anyone know who you are. That way you can show them that your future is in spandex with out anyone constantly assuming you're doing the vigilante thing for Nightwing." There was pause on the other end of the line, and then as if pondering a terribly difficult subject he spoke. "I still can't believe Dick said that to you. It just doesn't sound like something he'd say, then again since he became Nightwing he's been a little off."

"You always say that when we talk about this, but can we back up a second? Create a new alias? Are you crazy?" She asked him in an unbelieving tone.

"Why not? You've done it before haven't you?"

"Well yeah, but that was different. Batman suddenly wanted a batgirl that was affiliated with him, and so I had to give up the title. Besides being Batgirl was no fun if there wasn't a Batwoman to work with."

"I don't see the difference; you we're practically forced to stop being Flamebird just like Bruce forced you to give up Batgirl. Just think about, Bette. I know it could work."

"I'll think about it, but I'm not saying anything just yet. Well, I gotta go BB. I have to do a magazine and radio interview in like fifteen minutes."

"Alright, but seriously consider it."

"I will, talk to you later." She said with an exasperated sigh.

"Okay bye." He said just before the line went dead.

Bette snapped her flip-phone shut, and began to look over her interview questions. Her eyes automatically fell to one specific question.

S.I.W-If you couldn't play tennis or be involved in sports at all, what would you do instead?

"That's a no-brainer" She mumbled to herself. "I'd be a superhero."

Maybe Gar's idea isn't such a bad one after all. She thought as a small smirk stretched across her lips.

She spent the next week debating the pros and cons of getting back in the action, and with a little prodding from Donna and Gar she decided to try it. After all, she didn't have anything to lose.

She slowly started gathering computer equipment. She did this one piece at a time so as not to raise suspicion. This was when her aunts old military contacts came in handy, and slowly but surely a headquarters began to form in her basement.

She redesigned her costume, completely. Of course if she was going to get a new alias she would have to have a new costume. Gar and Donna had come up with her new name.

"We've decided that you should be called 'Guardian Angel'" Donna told her in a matter-of-fact like tone.

"Oh you have?" She asked, "and who exactly is a part of this 'we' you speak of?"

"Me and Gar, of course" Donna told her with a smirk, "No seriously, what do you think? We think it fits you perfectly."

"yeah, but the only problem is that . . . I'll have the same initials as Green Arrow. I mean I'll have to have a big G.A. on my uniform, and that might just confuse people." She responded with a jesting smile.

And from there she'd designed her costume. It was basically a White long sleeved dress or tunic with slits on both sides that ran clean up to her hips. It had a low hanging hood to cover her hair and a little bit more of her face, Indigo blue tights, gold boots, and gold gloves. She had embroidered a big yellow 'G.A.' on the chest of her uniform surrounded by a golden halo. The only things that remained from her old Flamebird costume were her weapons, her facemask, and her utility belt.

Her gold utility belt hung low on her waist. She had just finished stocking it with little trinkets that would prove themselves very handy in a fight. She painted over the red on her face mask with same indigo blue that was on her tights, but left the gold tinted lenses to shield her eyes and disguise her eye color. Her throwing discs which were in the shapes of birds, similar to Robin's, she had repainted gold and indigo to match her new costume, and she had done the same thing to her grappling hook and gun, her boomerang, and her bows and arrows.

It seemed she was all set, with the exception of one thing: Training. Yes, it was true that as it kid she had been trained for speed and endurance, and yes she was still participating in some sort of training exercise every day, but her martial arts training was a tad bit rusty.

She called Donna and Gar to come help her and spar with her, It took several weeks to get herself back up to speed, and then finally, a month later, she was ready.

She was patrolling now. It had become routine again, and she didn't mind at all. She would have to thank Gar later for his brilliant idea. She stealthily jumped the distance from one building to the next as she scanned the alleys and the streets for unusual behavior.

She caught sight of movement below her, and heard a muffled feminine scream. She rolled her eyes. Another idiot female who couldn't defend herself. She quickly dropped down into the alley, and landed just behind the criminal and his friend. Both men had backed the woman into a wall. One held a blade to her throat.

"Don't be scared, girly. We won't hurt you . . . too much." The one with the blade sneered.

"You lowlifes mind stating your business?" She said loudly from behind them. The one with out the blade jumped and turned to face the voice. An eyebrow rose as his eyes traveled up and down her costume. She gave him a clearly disgusted look.

"Hey, Frankie, we got one of those metadames." He said with a sickening grin as he nudged . . . Frankie, apparently.

"Oh yeah?" Frankie asked as he removed the blade from the woman's neck and turned to face Guardian. The woman stood there shaking with fear. Frozen to her spot.

Guardian rolled her eyes and motioned to the woman, "Run you idiot."

The woman quickly did as she was told and Bette swiped her leg underneath the two goons. They fell to the pavement with a groan. Frankie started to stand but was knocked back down as Guardian hit him over the head with her grapple gun.

"They never learn." She mumbled as she fired her grapple gun and resumed patrol.

Hope you guys like it! This is another story that I've had on here before but took down. I am now reposting it out of boredom.

Please REVIEW!

Enjoy!

angellwings