Robin, Kid Flash, Beast Boy, Static, and Blue Beetle led Goldfinch to the Bio-ship. Gar had tried making conversation with her, but she merely responded with a simple "Yes," or "No." Bart also tried playing 20 questions with her (which was more like 1,000 questions when it came to him), but again, Goldfinch either ignored him completely or answered with one word responses.
They piled into the Bio-ship. Robin radioed ahead to Batman to let him know of their situation. The boys all sat down in their seats, and the seat belts came over them on their own. Static jumped a little when his came over him. Goldfinch showed no emotion towards the seatbelts.
"How are you not surprised by that?" Virgil asked. "I'm still getting used to these things!"
"Not much surprises me anymore. I've seen too many things for that to happen."
Virgil grumbled a little at her response, but said nothing more.
Robin piloted the Bio-ship into the sky, going up into the atmosphere, all the way to an area just outside of Earth's orbit. He steered the ship into the Watchtower. They landed safely, and exited the Bio-ship.
As they walked through the halls, Goldfinch looked at everything, her head turning as they passed doors and hallways. Her expression wasn't one of awe, but one of interest, as if they were walking through a museum.
Bart noticed this, and grinned. "Just wait until you see this one window we have! You can look out and see outer space. It's crazy!"
"Technically, you can look up into the sky and look into outer space."
Bart frowned at her remark. "Whatever."
They finally made it to the meeting room, where Batman, Martian Manhunter, Zatanna, and Black Canary were waiting. M'gann, Connor, and Kaldur were there as well.
"I assume this is Goldfinch?" Batman asked. The way he said it wasn't really a question, but more of a statement. He looked her over, almost as if he expected her to do something extraordinary. She did nothing but cross her arms and narrow her eyes. "Hmm. J'onn and I will interrogate her." With that, he turned and walked down a hall, J'onn at his side. Goldfinch followed them silently without being told.
Once they left, M'gann set up a telepathic link with members of the team. Wow. She's certainly...something.
Connor nodded. If what you guys told us is true, she could be a valuable ally.
Or a dangerous enemy, Kaldur warned.
I personally think she's a killjoy!
Thanks for your valuable input, Bart, said Jaime, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Is there any way we'll be able to know we can trust her? Virgil asked. She seems pretty smart, so wouldn't that make her a pretty good liar?
It might, Robin said. There's no way to know for sure unless we find out the details from the interrogation.
Let's go watch it then! Sure, we can't hear it, but it could help us somehow. Right?
Bart, that was the best idea you've had all day, Jaime said. Let's go.
M'gann broke the link. They heard the last bits of Black Canary and Zatanna's conversation.
"...so that means no magic?"
"Pretty much. I'd be able to tell instantly if she was a powerful sorcerer. Clearly, she's not. There's a slim chance that I didn't pick up any traces of magic off of her, but like I said, the odds are slim."
Their voices drifted off as they walked away. Connor cleared his throat. "Let's go watch an interrogation."
Goldfinch was seated across a table from Batman and the Martain Manhunter. Batman had been staring at her for the past few minutes before he broke his silence.
"I want to know how, when, and why you discovered the identities of the entire Justice League and our Covert Operations team."
Goldfinch sighed. "I won't tell you how, or why. Maybe later, if I feel comfortable with it. I will, however, tell you when. I was twelve when I unmasked the identities of both rosters. Of course, when new faces were added, I unmasked them as well." She leaned forward, her elbows against the table, staring at Batman. "Unmasking you and each protégé of yours that came along was difficult. But when I discovered who you were, all the others were so easy to deduce."
Batman narrowed his eyes. "And who am I?"
She turned to the Martain Manhunter. "I suggest establishing a telepathic link, in case of any eavesdroppers." She looked pointedly at the one-way window on the wall to her right.
J'onn established the link almost immediately.
You're Bruce Wayne, she said simply, as if it were obvious.
Batman narrowed his eyes. Terminate the link. He and J'onn appeared to be having a private conversion, most likely about her and whether or not to trust her. To determine if they trusted her, they would have the Martian look into her mind- something Goldfinch couldn't afford to have happen. She began preparing mental barriers.
Not a moment after she was ready, Goldfinch felt the Martian's powerful mind attempt to enter hers. Immediately, she fought against it, not offensively, but in defense. She allowed him to see her greatest fears, and only that, for she believed it would benefit her greatly if she showed vulnerability instead of strength.
Her tactics must have been successful, because the Martian withdrew. The ordeal left Goldfinch drained both mentally and physically. Her head ached, her palms were sweaty, and her thought process seemed slower than usual. She forced herself to ignore this and focus on the task at hand.
"Pyrophobia and arachnephobia? Why those?" asked the Martian.
"I've always been terrified of spiders, and as for fire..." her voice trailed off as she remembered the inferno that had surrounded her. "I have my reasons."
"I must also make a note on your...surprising mental strength. The only person who you've come close to in terms of mental strength would be Batman himself."
"Did you conclude if we can trust her?"
Martian Manhunter nodded. "I believe you shall prove a powerful ally, Goldfinch." He shook hands with her and left the interrogation room.
Goldfinch walked to the door, but was stopped by Batman. "You do realize that I will eventually find out who you are, correct?"
"I'm aware. I suppose I assumed that if I kept who you were a secret, you'd keep who I really am a secret."
Batman gave her a nod. "You assumed correctly." He allowed Goldfinch to leave the room, and they walked back to the meeting room, side by side.
"I also assumed that that interrogation was only the first of a few tests?"
"You're correct again."
"What will the next one be?"
"An IQ test."
