A few sparks exploded from the cigarette butt as it hit the pavement. A thin smoke trail wheezed from the decaying embers. He crushed it under his foot and grinded it against the ground. Then he raised his head back up and stared down the dark entrance, hands nestled in his pockets. The wide entrance of the abandoned tunnel stood before him. Honestly, when Jo had told him that they were going someplace special, he wasn't expecting this.

A gentle patter told him someone was approaching. Jason looked over his shoulder. Jocelyn replied with a light smile. "Yeah, yeah," she said. "Go on and say it."

"I didn't realize you knew where the boogeyman lived," Jason remarked, looking back at the darkness.

"Perfect place for a ghost, huh?"

"Yeah, uh… I feel like we're going to go in there and never come back out." Jason turned back to her. The sight of Jocelyn made him feel playful. Reaching out, he took her hands and leaned towards her.

Instantly, she withdrew back. "Really?" she said.

"What?"

"You just finished another one, didn't you? You absolutely reek, Jason! I could smell you from a mile away." Jocelyn pulled her hands out of his. "No way I'm getting near that mouth." She headed into the tunnel. With a sigh, Jason followed after her.

"Well sorry, babe. I'll bring mints if it bothers you so much."

"You could jump into a tub of peppermint extract and still come out smelling like burnt ass," Jocelyn countered. She slowed down to let Jason catch up and took his hand. "I didn't mean… Seriously, Jason, those things are bad for you."

"Oh I've seen the commercials. 'Cigarettes are so evil.' Yeah fucking right."

"Not to mention the outrageous sin tax Gotham charges for them," Jocelyn pointed out.

"I like to think of it as one of my many contributions to society," Jason said.

"You should also think of how I'm never going to kiss you again."

"Don't be like that."

"I'm gonna."

First Barbara, and now her. Why did all the women in his life have to be so goddamn stubborn? Anyway, there was no point in arguing.

Jason looked down at his feet. The stretched shadow in front of him was growing dimmer and dimmer as they continued down the tunnel. He could barely see anything around him. The only things he was sure of were the ground underneath his feet and the warm hand he was holding on to.

"Right here," Jocelyn suddenly instructed. Jason could barely make out her outline as she faced the closest wall and reached out, running her hand along the surface.

"Wish you'd touch me like that," he teased. Suddenly Jocelyn's arm tensed. She pulled a piece of the wall open.

"Careful what you wish for," she said. A soft blue light emanated from the newly opened chamber. The light illuminated Jocelyn's face as she leaned forward. A flat light swooped over her eye, and then the machine chirped. A sharp hissing sound came from the wall beside the scanner as a large door slid open.

"Hmm. Didn't expect that," Jason noted as he peered through the door. Beyond was a stairwell that led down to a faint light source.

Jocelyn held an arm out towards the door in a dramatic gesture. "Welcome to the Specter's lair," she announced with a laugh.

"Apartment wasn't enough, huh?" They went down the steps. Behind them, the hidden door slid close.

When they reached the end of the stairs, Jason looked up and found himself in an expansive room. It looked like a mix between a living space and a laboratory. A small cot and furniture sat among large machinery, monitors, and glass chambers. Jason spotted the Specter's suit resting inside of one of the chambers.

At the head of the room was what could only be described as a huge supercomputer. It wasn't much taller than the Bat computer, but it stretched across the entire room.

"This… Man, this is just…"

"To be honest," Jocelyn spoke up, "you're the first person I've brought down here. It feels kind of weird. But at least now you'll get to meet—."

Suddenly a loud siren blared. Red and white lights flashed around the room. Jason jumped, while Jocelyn covered her face with both hands.

"Alert! Alert!" a male voice blasted. The voice surrounded the room as if it were being spoken through a PA system. "Intruder detected! Intruder detected! Lethal force will be used! Acquiring target… target acquired!" A harsh beam of light hit Jason. He flinched and shielded his eyes. "Firing penis-shrinking ray in three… two…"

"Verlix!" Jocelyn snapped.

"… On—Yes, Jo?" In an instant, the siren and flashing lights ceased. Jason lowered his arm.

"Oh my god… you told me you wouldn't!" Jocelyn accused.

"My apologies," the voice replied in a much calmer tone. "I just couldn't resist."

"What the hell was that? Who's there?" Jason demanded, blinking his blinded eyes. There was a searing white fog in his vision from the beam. He felt Jocelyn rest a hand on his arm.

"Jason, you just met Verlix."

"Met? I didn't see anyone! He just blinded me and threatened to shoot me with a—what was it?"

"Ugh, Jo," Verlix sighed bitterly. "Do you hear him? I really wish you hadn't chosen a whiner."

"Verlix, please!"

"Where are you, huh?" Jason snapped. His vision was slowly clearing. He took a step forward and looked around. "Quit messing around! Come out and face me like a man!"

There was a chuckle. "Like a man? That's rich." To Jocelyn, he said, "You didn't tell him?"

"No. I wanted him to see it for himself."

"See what?" Jason growled.

Jocelyn walked in front of Jason and turned to face him. "I'm really sorry about what just happened," she said. "He just has a… peculiar kind of humor. Anyway, let's see if I can do anything about this sinking ship." With a deep breath, she continued, "Verlix, this is Jason. And Jason…" She stepped to the side and gestured to the supercomputer. "… This is Verlix."

Jason stared at the machine. "Uhhh…" A few possibilities came to mind on what this was all about, but he was still wondering which one to believe.

"He's an AI," Jocelyn clarified. Right. AI. That had been at the bottom of his 'believable' list.

"You know, when you mentioned Verlix, I was kind of thinking of like a father-figure."

"That's exactly what he is." Jocelyn smiled gently at the computer. "He's taken care of me my whole life. Here." She tugged at him and directed him towards a glass chamber that was built into the wall. Behind the glass stood a huge android. It was tall, and its appearance looked a bit blocky and antiquated. It had obviously been built a long time ago. "This was his first body. When I was a kid, he took care of me like this." Jason spotted the faded doodles of flowers and spirals on the android's arms and head.

"Then what's he doing back there?"

"He left this body a while ago, and downloaded himself into that mainframe. He uses this whenever we move, though."

"Who made him?" Jason wondered. And why go through all the trouble of creating an AI to raise a child?

"Verlix says it was my mother," Jocelyn answered. "Before I was born, she programmed him to take care of me."

"I do not think we should be telling him this," Verlix cut in. Jocelyn turned around to face the computer.

"It's okay. We've been together for a few months now; I think he should know."

"Fine. You're right, Jo. In a meaningful relationship, you two should be completely honest with each other. And… oh, how interesting! You should be a little more honest yourself, Mr. Todd!" A screen lit up. It showed a police report with Jason's picture. "Have you told Jo about this? Hmm, this seems to be about an account of vandalism. Or this?" Another screen lit up with another report. "Disturbance of the peace. Looks like you couldn't keep your fists to yourself. Oh, and another!" Another screen. "Underage possession of tobacco. Charming. And these were all cited while you were supposed to be Gotham's 'Boy Wonder.' Of course, the police are none the wiser to this little irony."

Yikes. Verlix definitely had the over-protective, overbearing father role down to pat. "And I suppose you did a bit of digging to find my identity?"

"No. Facial recognition, Mr. Todd," Verlix answered simply. "A pair of shades hides your face better than that silly little mask does."

"You can just call me Jason."

"I'll keep that in mind, Mr. Todd."

"This is ridiculous!" Jocelyn cried, marching over to the monitors.

"You're telling me," Verlix mumbled.

"No, I'm talking about you, Verlix!" Jocelyn snapped as she pushed buttons on the computer, shutting off all monitors. "I brought him here so you could meet him, not antagonize him!"

"I did not fabricate these reports, if that's what you're thinking."

"People make mistakes! And my hands aren't exactly clean either!"

"That is different. We had no choice. These? These are just stupid."

Jocelyn let out a huff. Without turning around, she asked, "You ready, Jason?"

"Sure."

"Good. She whirled around, and the two of them began to head back to the stairs. "Later, Verlix."

"Where are you going?"

"Out."

"In that case, I expect you to bring her back to her apartment no later than midnight. Otherwise, Mr. Todd, I will find you and annihilate you. Darling, a word?" Verlix ordered. Jocelyn stopped. She gave Jason a little push. "I'll meet you outside," she told him. Then, she faced the computer, crossing her arms. Jason gave the both of them a backwards glance as he climbed the steps and exited the chamber.

"I—."

"You're going to apologize to him later," Jocelyn interrupted.

"Later," Verlix said. There was a heavy pause. Jocelyn drummed her fingers against her arm. "I don't like him."

"You couldn't have made that more clear."

"The only reason I'm not stopping you from seeing him is because he saved your life. And…" His voice became very gentle, much like the voice she remembered in her childhood. "He makes you very happy. I can see that."

Jocelyn's face softened. "He's not replacing you, Verl."

"Nothing can," Verlix replied lightly. "Go on, then. Go back to your trashy prince charming."


Several months later…

"Encrypted files? That sounds like something Ms. Gordon should handle," Alfred suggested as he peered over Batman's shoulder at the Bat computer.

"That's why I'm here, Alfred," a voice answered. Batgirl emerged from the dark and stopped beside them, resting her hands on her hips.

"Ah, Ms. Gordon! Care for a spot of tea? Or perhaps a small bite to eat?"

"No thanks," Batgirl replied. "Bruce and I are about to head out."

Alfred looked from Batgirl to Batman, who was prepping his gauntlet. "I wasn't aware there were any disturbances tonight. Out for another patrol?"

"Not quite, Alfred," Batman answered. "It's about those files I told you about. They've been circulating around the Gotham underground. Right now, Nygma has them. He's taken their unbreakable reputation as a challenge."

"I see. And what about these files is so special, aside from their impeccable security?"

Remember the Duvale?" Batman recalled. "About a year ago."

Alfred took a moment to recount that event. "Ah, yes. That was when Master Todd met that lady friend of his."

"Speaking of him," Batgirl cut in. "Where is he? Shouldn't he be here too?"

"Master Todd spent the evening with Ms. Drei. Inseparable, those two. She's even come along on a few missions before. I tell you, it's been a whole year and he's still as smitten as ever. For the better, at least. She managed to break that ghastly smoking habit of his," Alfred mused.

"But it's pretty late," Batgirl pointed out.

"That's a good point," Alfred agreed. "Perhaps I should call him?"

"You best not, Alfred," Batman objected as he donned on his helmet. "He's… uh, planning to spend the night with her."

At first, Alfred didn't quite understand. Then, his eyebrows rose. "Oh. Oh my."

"Yeah."

"They grow up so fast, don't they?"

"You could say that."

Batgirl glanced between them with a slight frown. "What are you ta—?"

"What about the Duvale, Master Bruce?" Alfred interjected quickly.

"The Specter held an audience when Two Face for those files," Batman explained. "She risked her life for them. And now every criminal in Gotham wants them."

"Why?" Batgirl inquired. "What could they possibly be?"

Batman turned briskly, his cape sweeping the floor around his feet. He marched towards the Batmobile. Its windshield slid open to expose the cockpit. "Plans," he answered, "for a secret weapon."


Addendum: His wish finally came true. Oh my, indeed.

Also, screw shotgun threats. Verlix is above that. He will straight up obliterate your existence.