Chapter 5 'Phoenix'
(Batcave - Training Area - two nights later)
Mary grunted as she fell on her ass for the eight time. She stood, slowly, and glared at her grandfather. It was difficult to admit when something didn't come as natural to her as breathing. After all she excelled at school, was first position in ballet, but the training grandpa Bruce was putting her through made school and ballet look like a piece of cake.
"Again," Bruce said.
"It's not a fair fight grandpa," she said.
"There is no such thing as a fair fight. Get used to it or leave," he said.
She blew a dark strand of hair out of her face and stood back up. She got ready and waited for the training bots he was using. She knew two of them was going to come straight toward her, and the third would either come from the left or right behind her. Within seconds one came straight toward her and she looked to the right of it to see if the second one was there. Instead there was nothing. She heard a slight crunch of something mashing the training pad down behind her and jumped forward and right. She kicked the back of the left leg of the training bot that had been in front of her and watched as it stumbled. She then focused on the two behind her. Both had stun rods, and they seemed to be activated. The first training bot began to stand, but before he could she kicked it hard in the side where it's kidney would be. It grabbed its side and fell over in a heap. She then backed away from the other two.
"Okay, both have stun rods, I can't let them touch me, so what do I do?" she thought.
They both jumped toward her and she ducked and rolled. The action kept her from being hit with the stun rods, but she was instead kicked in the lower back by the bot on the right. She winced in pain, but kicked out and got them both in the back of the legs. The one on the left fell on its own stun rod and powered down. The one on the right caught itself and turned toward her. She rolled out of the way of it for a moment, but then found herself caught by the first one. She kicked out trying to get loose. Instead she found herself shocked into submission moments later. The bots backed off and Bruce walked toward her. He knelt down and watched as she winced in pain.
"The criminals we face out there on the streets are going to be just like this. They aren't going to try to be fair, and none of them are going to give you a chance to beat them. The kidney kick was a good start, the avoidance was good, but your mistake was not finishing the second bot with the stun rod before the first bot had a chance to recover," Bruce said.
She nodded and started to stand. For a moment she stumbled, and he caught her keeping her steady. He walked her toward the medial area and made her sit down.
"Is that it for the day?" she asked.
"No, you're doing the training exercise again until I'm certain you can handle three opponents. After that I'm moving you up to four. As for right now drink this," he said handing her a cup of brownish liquid.
"Pain meds?" she asked.
"No, they cloud your mind. It's tea," he answered.
She quirked her eyebrows at him and shook her head.
Once Mary finished her cup of tea the training started again. It was slow going, attempting to get the better of the training bots, but slowly she began to out think them and managed to put each of them out of commission. Once she had done that he began adjusting the bots. Their holographic projectors creating hard light skin and muscles. At first it was random thugs, but soon he adjusted them toward known enemies of league. Still, he kept the enemies he had faced out of the training. He didn't want her to see what could easily be considered some of the worst society had to offer. The training slowed and Bruce watched as Mary's face looked flushed.
"That's enough," he said gruffly.
She looked at him and walked toward the seating area. To her surprise she saw Alfred coming down the steps.
"Miss Grayson, it is a pleasure to see you my child, but may I ask what it is you think you are doing?" he asked.
"Alfred," she began but Bruce shook his head.
"She's doing what needs to be done," Bruce said.
"Sir, was it not bad enough before with Master Timothy?" Alfred asked.
"What happened to Tim shouldn't have ever happened, and I'm going to make sure it doesn't happen again," Bruce said.
Mary looked at both Bruce and Alfred in confusion. She cleared her throat and the elder butler looked toward her.
"It's nothing to concern yourself with my dear. Although, Master Bruce, it does appear that Madam Grayson is on the phone. She was calling to see if you've seen your granddaughter. Should I inform her that she is here and safe?" Alfred asked.
"Oh zhit... I told mom I was going to study. I didn't even realize what time it is," Mary said.
"Don't worry, we'll make sure you aren't in trouble," Bruce said as he activated the computer to take the phone call.
"Galatea, it's Bruce. No, she's here. Yes, I understand. Listen, I told her she had complete access to the library and the den. All right, Alfred will meet you upstairs in an hour," Bruce said as he hung up.
"Does she know?" Mary asked.
"It's possible she may have suspensions, but she isn't the kind to just jump to conclusions," Bruce said.
(Grayson house - Kitchen)
Galatea looked at the phone in her hand. Bruce going out, doing this hero business was one thing, but she knew those kind of answers he was giving. She had given them before herself.
"Bruce, for your sake I hope you don't get her caught up in this," she thought.
(Wayne Manor - Main hall - an hour after Galatea called)
Galatea watched as Alfred walked toward her. The old Englishman had insisted that he bring her a cup of tea. She told him that she was perfectly able to com into the kitchen to get it herself, but he refused. Instead she started walking to meet him.
"Madam Grayson, you didn't need to trouble yourself," Alfred said.
"I know, but it gave me a chance to change my perspective of the room," she said.
He smiled, knowingly, and handed her the cup of tea.
"Alfred, what's going on. I mean, what's really going on?" she asked.
"Madam, I'm afraid I'm unsure of what you're talking about," he said.
"Okay, I'll take that as an answer. I didn't ask specifically, and you didn't answer specifically. I'm not going to make it anymore specific. I don't really want to know," she said.
"How is Master Richard?" Alfred asked.
"Dick's fine. He's in line to become the DA for Blüdhaven," she replied.
"It would be nice to see him more often. I'm afraid the only ones to visit us has been you, Miss Grayson, and of course Master Hermes. I do enjoy having them visit, but I miss Master Richard and Master Timothy," Alfred said.
"Yeah, Tim. I've seen through Kara's eyes and Tim's... I don't think he really ever recovered to what the Joker did to him. I know Kara has wanted to go to Arkham and... I've never seen her filled with that kind of hate toward anyone before," 'Tea said.
"What happened to Master Timothy should have never happened," Alfred said.
"It's something I regret and still live with," a gruff voice said.
Galatea looked toward the den area and saw Bruce walking toward them with Mary.
"Hi Mom," Mary said nervously.
"Don't hi mom me young lady. You told us you were studying at the library. This doesn't look like public library," she said.
"I know, but Grandpa Bruce offered me a chance to study in his library, and you know he has all of that ancient Greek texts and everything. I couldn't say no," she replied.
"No, I suppose you couldn't. However, you're going to have to say something next time," Galatea said.
"If you're going to have words start with me," Bruce stated.
"Oh, I plan on talking to you about several things," she said.
Bruce studied her and narrowed his gaze.
"Mary, go wait in the car," Galatea said.
"Mom..." she started before Galatea glared at her.
"Okay," she said as she slumped her shoulders.
Once Mary walked out Galatea looked at Bruce and narrowed her eyes toward him.
"Don't think for a second I'm going to just let this happen," she said.
"Let what happen?" he asked.
"Bruce, you restart hero work. Everyone knows about the legendary Batman coming out of the woodwork. Hell, I'm glad you are. Old Gotham needs you. But If you think I'm going to let my daughter get caught up in this you're sadly mistaken. If the government finds out she's engaged in this... They'll take her from me. They'll have to kill me to do it, but they will do it. Do you really want that for her? To be trapped in some place like CADMUS? To be poked, prodded, and... and..." she closed her eyes and began to shake.
"I know what happened to you," he said.
"Yeah, I figured you did. Dick doesn't, and he doesn't need to know. That part of me life is clean to him. I want it to remain clean to him," she said.
"It won't happen to Mary," Bruce said.
"It won't? Really? So Major Force won't come in when she's strapped down to an examination table and rape her?! He won't laugh in her face when she threatens to tell everyone?! No, of course he won't because she won't go there!" She yelled. She blinked back the tears trying to come to the surface and clenched her fists together, " Look Bruce, I like you. You're my father-in-law, and you did a good job, despite some rough patches, with Dick. I want Mary to be a part of your life. I want both of my kids to know their grandpa, but if I think for a second that you're going to endanger my little girl I will do everything, and I mean everything, I can to stop it. I won't let what happened to me happen to her."
She turned around and started to walk off before she stopped. She turned back around and walked toward Alfred.
"Thank you for the tea Alfred," she said.
She then turned and walked outside.
"Madam Grayson's response wasn't uncalled for sir," Alfred said.
"I know Alfred. I know what happened to her, but when I promised her it wouldn't happen to Mary I meant it," he said.
"I'm sure you did sir. Still, if the Government does discover her," Alfred began before Bruce shook his head.
"I've already got it covered. The computer is putting the finishing touches on her new armor. It'll be complete by the morning," Bruce said.
"So, you're going to include her anyway, sir?" he asked.
"She came to me Alfred. If I don't include her she'll only try and do it on her own. If she does it won't end well," Bruce said.