Disclaimer: I DO NOT in any form or fashion OWN these characters, DC comics entertainment, and Warner Bros. are the owners not me. I do not take any credit for the characters or anything, ALL CREDIT goes to DC…..again ALL CREDIT GOES TO DC! No money is being made off of this story…none, No money whatsoever is being made or exchanged so please….please DO NOT SUE ME! I have no money. None. Okay cool.
Hey Readers it's me Nomad88 back again with another chapter in the Batman Beyond Universe. I hope everyone is enjoying the story and the character development I'm bringing to the table. Last chapter you readers saw what Inque had been up to…she's been battling severe radiation poisoning due to Derek Powers and a regrettable fear of Batman. She barely survived but she did and she'll be back…back for blood from both men, but that's for volume 2. LOL! Anyway a chapter is here and it deals with a birthday…whose birthday you ask we'll just Read to find out and remember to REVIEW (A writer's main source of motivation) and of course ENJOY!
Chapter 9: Happy Birthday
Flashback- About 30 Years Ago- Belle Reve- Barbara Gordon- 34
Detective Barbara Gordon took off her gun, her badge, her jacket, her belt and any other sharp objects or fire arms she had on her and placed them in the safe container at the front desk. The orderly at the front desk took her things and placed them on the table behind him. She released a sigh as the orderly held up a metal wand and waved it across her body.
"Is this really necessary?" Barbara asked.
"You're cop and you're asking me is this necessary?" The Orderly replied "Of course it is…this place…these crazies here can turn anything into a weapon."
Barbara rolled her eyes as the orderly finished his scanning. He stepped to the side and allowed her to pass through another metal detector and then led her towards the two individuals that were waiting for her just beyond the metal detector.
Barbara eyed the first individual which was her long time friend Dr. Leslie Thompkins who was in her late fifties. The old and weathered woman gave her a small glare that Barbara averted her gaze from, she pursed her lips together and the looked towards the second individual, the four year Carolyn Thompkins.
Barbara let out a big smile and squatted down to the little girl.
"Hey there"
"Hi Auntie Barbara" the young Carolyn replied "Why are we here?"
Barbara looked towards Leslie
"You didn't tell her"
"No, since you think this is such a good idea to bring her here you tell her."
"Goddman it Leslie. You heard what the Doctor's said…this could be a way to get her back."
"Carolyn is too damn young for this and no matter how much I or you want her back….the Stephanie we knew and Love is gone."
"Oooh Mom you swore…..you did too Auntie you guys owe me a dollar" said Carolyn happily, "Wait….who's Stephanie Brown?"
Barbara looked at her and stared at the young girl for a long moment, her blue eyes and blonde hair reminding her so much of her friend….of her sister. The tired Detective looked at Leslie who turned away. Barbara heaved a sigh and put another smile on her face.
"Carolyn….you wanted to know why we're here, well what if I told you that we're going to wish someone a happy birthday."
"BIRTHDAY! BIRTHDAY! BIRTYDAY!" Carolyn shouted "OOOH Cake…where's the cake….whose birthday is it?"
"It's your mother's birthday." Barbara answered truthfully.
Carolyn looked towards Leslie and then back towards Barbara.
"Nuh-uh. My Mom's birthday is in Sepstember" Carolyn responded. Barbara shook her head.
"Yes, Leslie's birthday is in September but she's…she's not…..well she is your mother but…but you have two moms"
"Two Moms….? Nuh-uh"
"You do Carolyn, you have two mommies. Leslie is the first one and your other mommy is right down this hallway that's behind me."
Carolyn looked past her Auntie see a long hallway with several doors both to the left and to the right.
"My other mommy lives here?" Carolyn asked.
"Yes she does."
"Why?" Carolyn asked innocently.
Barbara looked into Carolyn's eyes and her she swore she could here her heart-breaking into a million pieces at the question. She looked at the floor for a second.
"Because…..she's…because she's sick. She's very sick."
Carolyn gasped
"Mommy….Mommy" Carolyn rattled while turning towards Leslie "My other mommy is sick can you help her."
Leslie glanced over her shoulder and at the small child and then shook her head.
"No, I can't help her Carolyn. She's beyond anything I can do."
"But that doesn't mean we should give up" Barbara interjected strongly, she rose up and stared Leslie down. Carolyn looked back and forth between the two of them before patting Barbara on the leg. Barbara looked down.
"How can we help my other mommy?" she asked seriously.
Barbara gently put her hand around Carolyn's shoulder.
"By reminding her of you and that are people that still care about her." Barbara replied, "Come on"
Barbara was about to lead Carolyn down the hall when Leslie grabbed her by the arm and stopped her. The old Doctor glanced at her adopted daughter before leaning towards Barbara's ear.
"When this blows up in your face, I want you to know that I told you so. She is beyond saving. What was done to her was monstrous; he killed everything inside of her that made her the girl we loved. He turned her into exactly what he was….a monster."
Barbara moved her head away and just looked at Leslie.
"…..Come on Carolyn, your mommy will be happy to see you."
Barbara moved away from Leslie and began to lead Carolyn down the hall.
Room 54
The orderly opened the thick metal door and he stepped inside.
"Okay no contact with the patient and under no circumstances are you to untie…." He started before he noticed the bed on the far side of the room was empty and the straps were open.
"The he…" he started before a figure descended down upon him from the ceiling and wrapped an arm around his throat.
"ACKK!" he gagged feeling the grip.
The figure quickly twerked her body until she was facing the entrance and got a good look who standing there. Her eyes narrowed a bit and she let a large smile grace her ruby red scarred lips.
Barbara stared ahead at the figure who was none other than the twisted joker like Stephanie Brown.
Stephanie was in her mid to late twenties and she still had the appearance of the Joker; chalk white skin, red lips but instead of green hair her hair had been altered to a black and red color. The strands of black and red hung over her face a little giving her an even more menacing appearance.
"STEPHANIE!" Barbara shouted "LET HIM GO!"
Stephanie let out a chuckle and turned her blue eyes towards the gagging orderly in her grip.
"Shhh….shhhhh…it'll be okay" she whispered into his ear "I just need you to lend me your ear" she said right before she opened her mouth and bit his ear.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" the Orderly screamed as he felt Stephanie's teeth sink into his ear.
Stephanie wretched and tugged her head and with a mighty pull ripped the orderly's ear off spraying blood all over her.
"NO!" Barbara yelled but a gasp caught her attention. She turned her eyes away from the scene and to Carolyn who was standing next her. The young girl's eyes fixated on the bloody and crazed woman who had been revealed to her as her mother.
Leslie suddenly jogged into view from the doorway and she caught sight of Stephanie with an ear in her mouth and blood all over face and the screaming orderly. She instantly grabbed Carolyn and turned her away.
"CAROLYN LOOK AWAY!" Leslie yelled.
Stephanie grabbed the screaming orderly by the neck and she twisted hard breaking his neck in one motion. She then spit the ear in her mouth out and the cartilage flew to the ground and landed at Barbara's feet. Barbara looked at the appendage laying there in front of her and she balled up her fist and gritted her teeth while slowly raising her head.
"Hear me now Batgirl...MY NAME IS HARLEY! HAHAHAHA!" she laughed before charging forward.
Barbara lunged at her and met her in the middle.
Leslie watched the two women fighting in the small room and she quickly took a few steps back.
"HELP! WE NEED SOME HELP OVER HERE NOW!" Leslie roared her voice echoing down the long hallway.
Carolyn moved her head out of her mother's grasp and she turned towards the cell just as her other mother Stephanie punched Barbara in the face.
"You're not my Mom…..YOU'RE NOT MY MOM!" the little girl yelled shrinking away in fear.
Present- About 30 Years Later- Belle Reve
An adult Carolyn Thompkins stood in front of the thick transparent glass that housed a padded cell that contained her birth mother Stephanie Brown. Carolyn adjusted the white Doctor's coat and she gently raised a hand to the glass and tapped on it a few times.
"Mo…..Stephanie, Stephanie it's me Carolyn."
Inside the Cell
An aged Stephanie Brown sat in the corner of her cell secured within a white straight-jacket staring off into space, ignoring the young woman tapping on the glass.
"I know you can hear me and…..and I'm here to wish you a Happy Birthday, just like I do every year but every year you sit there staring off into space like the looney tune you are." She said before scoffing "Why do I even bother."
"Because she's your mother" came a voice.
Carolyn turned her head to see Commissioner Barbara Gordon-Young walking into view.
"She is not my mother" Carolyn whispered forcefully "She's a freak who eats people's ears."
"Don't say that…you don't know the story." Barbara replied.
"I do. My mother…my real mother Leslie Thompkins told me the whole story. About her, about you…the joker…and that old guy that died on our table a few months ago…Bruce Wayne"
Inside the Cell
"…the joke….and that old guy that died on our table a few months ago…Bruce Wayne"
Stephanie heard her daughter's voice loud and clear and upon hearing the words her eyes widened for a second before narrowing. Stephanie slowly lowered her head and turned her crazed and soulless blue eyes towards the glass where Barbara and Carolyn were standing.
Outside the Cell
"Leslie told me all about her, but the only thing she didn't tell me was who my father was, and you know what it doesn't matter. I don't care about him and I don't care about her."
"If that's true then why are you here?" Barbara questioned.
"…."
Barbara released a sigh
"Carolyn I know how hard this is for you but Stephanie Brown is your mother and she is not well but that doesn't mean we should give up on her."
"It's been 30 years Barbara, are we….are you still going to be wishing her a happy birthday a 100 years from now."
"If that's what it takes to get her back then yes."
"Well you're a better woman than me, or maybe you know her better than I do because I can't keep doing this. First off, it costs too much money to hop a monorail to get here and see her and second every minute I'm away from the hospital that's another patient my mother has to see, I don't trust half of the rift-raft that come through the doors and I hate leaving her alone with them."
"She's tough, she's been doing this far longer than you or I have been alive. She knows how to take care of herself."
"I know that but…but ever since your friend Batman returned to Neo-Gotham business has been picking up."
"How so?" Barbara asked.
Inside the Cell
Stephanie rose up to her feet and slowly stalked towards the glass.
"Ba…Ba….Bat…" she whispered.
Outside the Cell
"People being injured in crossfire by underground gangs." Said Carolyn, "One my regular patients who has his ear to the ground told me that since Batman's attention is on the major crime syndicates that the other small time crooks are free to move and make some plays. I said…."
THUMP! Came a sound that interrupted Carolyn; she and Barbara heard the thump again and they both turned towards the glass barrier to see Stephanie standing their staring at them with her intense blue eyes and her stringy red and black hair hanging around her face.
Stephanie reared her head back and then hit her forehead against the glass.
THUMP! Went the sound again.
Carolyn swallowed hard a bit because in the years that she has been coming to visit her 'mother' she had always sat in the same spot staring off into space, never before had she stood, never before had she even looked at her but there she was looking not only at her but at Barbara with a look that scared her senseless.
THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!
Stephanie reared her head back again but before she hit her head she stopped and her ruby red scarred lips curled into a heinous smile.
"Bat….Man. HEH HEH! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" she laughed loudly.
Carolyn pursed her lips together and she quickly walked away from the cell and down the hall, her heart beating a mile a minute in fear of the look on her mother's face. Barbara continued to stand there for a second longer staring at Stephanie who resumed banging her head on the glass and laughing.
Barbara soon turned away as well moving down the hallway as Stephanie's laughing echoed behind her.
End Chapter: Read and Review: Hey readers it's me Nomad88 back again with the closing comments. I hope you all enjoyed the chapter and huge revelations that was dealt. Dr. Carolyn Thompkins is in fact the child of Stephanie Brown. If you remember back in Batman Beyond Volume 1 Dr. Thompkins said that Stephanie had miscarried but you now find out that that in fact was a lie. At some point I'll revist the part in which Barbara actually finds out that Leslie Lied but that part isn't as important as this part right here. Stephanie is still alive but not actually well. She's still as twisted as she was when we last saw her in the Fall of Batman. As you can see what the Joker and Harley did to her has had a lasting impression. And uh-oh did she hear that Batman was back. This chapter here is one of the more important segments of this bridging tale because it sets up a major plot point for Batman Beyond Volume 2 which is coming soon.
I want to say that this chapter takes place almost a year after Terry has taken the reigns as Batman. It hasn't quite been a full year yet but the year mark is coming up and I'll probably state in the chapter that it has been year. Anyway the 1st year is almost up and the 2nd year is approaching and with the second year there'll be new challenges and plot points springing up. Batman Returning has opened up a window of opportunity and everyone is cashing in on it….old villains and New. After the second year this bridging story is gonna wrap up, Batman Beyond Volume 2 begins on the eve of Terry McGinnis heading into his third year as Batman. He's been Batman for 2yrs and the 3rd is where all of these plot points kinda explode in his face and in the faces of his Allies. Anyway readers I hope you enjoyed the chapter and I hope that you drop me a review telling me your thoughts. The next chapter will be up soon so I'll see you faithful readers then. This is me Nomad88 saying later….
Ps: Check my profile for any updates. I think Superman got an update and an update on TSA Amazing Spider-Man is coming up soon. Secret Warrior is still in the works and when I post a new chapter for that story I'm gonna try to post like 2 new chapters at one time followed by a third since you readers have been patiently awaiting that story. It's kinda like my gift to you. LOL! Anyway this is me saying Later…
Next up: I am Huntress…hear me Roar!
