Hidden Agenda

It was a pleasurable sunset casting its magic across the city of Gotham. Right now at the seashore Terra and Danny were walking barefoot in the soothing obsidian water. Not too far away Terry and Dana were curled up under a magenta blanket near a small fire they'd built. It was a perfect way to end the stressful past two and half weeks they'd endured of late. It was also a Saturday night thankfully; therefore they didn't have to worry about getting yelled at for being out on a school night, for it was the weekend. So curfew was extended to 11:00, not 10:00.

Danny was gazing longingly at the peaceful sunset, and reached up to his ponytail, he then removed his hair tie and let his lengthy ebony locks waft gently in the cool night air. It tickled Terra's face and she sneezed.

"You okay, Terra?"

"Oh, I'm fine, Danny. Once I'm with you I never feel as stressed out as I do normally. Beside, Danny, yesterday acupuncture treatment helped relieve some of the stress too. I must admit it been an extraordinarily busy stressful week, between studying for the GATs and working for Bruce it's been exceptionally demanding along with fatiguing."

"I know, right? I mean how's your new friend Rebecca Young? You and your brother seem to become friends with her in such a short time. I mean I know you're close to the police commissioner in view of the fact that she's a friend of Bruce Wayne. I must admit I feel sorry for the Commish, given everything that has occurred in her family in such a short time. How is she holding up?"

"Well, Barb almost had a major breakdown and nearly cried a few times. I mean I know I only met her daughter for a few days earlier this month, but you don't always know when a friendship will come. My brother and I kinda saw Rebecca as sorta big sister figure. I hope she's okay. I mean she just barely escapes being blown to bits by eco-terrorist and then as soon as she's home, her father gets assaulted by those guinea pigs of Abel Cuvier. If it hadn't been for the Bat Twins he could've been killed, and then Rebecca would've had to come back for a memorial service!"

"Well, that was a bad thing, as cool as splicing sounds, the end result wasn't the coolest. Thank God Batgirl was there. From what was said after the DA told the media of the attack and how Batman freaked out big time. I think he got spliced against his will!"

"You know I do think that what happened. It's a good thing I agree that they're the Bat Twins. If it was only Batman by himself I think the city would be far worse off. Seeing how there's two of them it makes it much easier to deal with the lawless ruffians of this city!"

At the same time as Terra and Danny continued to gossip about the Bat Twins, Terry and Dana were chatting about a few things themselves. They'd been also discussing a few of the Bat Twins exploits. It seemed a lot of Gothamites had been discussing the mysterious events that had happened ever since Batman had come back after so long. And with a new Batgirl that was added gossip. So naturally people when other topics were scarce talked about the Bat Twins. Little did the Bat Twins know that their lives were about to get a lot more complicated but that wasn't on their minds. Right now it was just a date night and that was that.

Terry had been busy cooking some hot dogs and burgers on the campfire, as he listened to his girlfriend talk about her feelings on the Bat Twins. Dana was still a bit shook up about the whole Earthmover incident. It hadn't been easy to escape an underground eruption in addition to toxic waste with her cousin, though they'd managed. Then just when everything seemed quiet that whole rouge computer program had nearly killed the four of them when it made the elevator go bonkers.

Still, that was in the past and right now they should enjoy the lovely evening that was before them. After everything both normal and abnormal that had happened they needed a break. Especially what had happened the day before, they had at long last taken their GATS yesterday and the results wouldn't be in for another week. So just tonight they're nothing more then four teenagers enjoying a beach picnic.

"I'm so glad it's the weekend, Terry. And look at that sunset! It seems to make everything so much brighter and hopeful. It gives me the hope that you and I will get together a little more often. You sure Mr. Wayne won't call you in tonight? I hate to be here without you."

"Don't worry, Dana. Mr. Wayne is taking a break himself this weekend. He's gone to visit an old friend for the next week and half. So he won't be calling either of us. So do you want ketchup or mustard on your hot dog?" as he pulled them off the fire.

The alluring scent of the food wafted gentle with the soothing night breeze. It soon reached Terra and Danny, whom were splashing around in the water happily. The kissing couple soon made a break for the fire both to eat and too get dry.

"I want mine, bro with a lot of ketchup! Did you remember to bring the soda and ice-cream, too?" inquired Terra as she did a number of astonishing gymnastic moves and settled down on blue and gold beach blanket.

"Yes, Terra, I'd remember them. So do you want a diet coke or a spirit?" he asked as he opened the big indigo cooler.

"Diet coke, please, Terry. Danny, could you please serenade us with some of your jazz music?" she asked as she popped open her soda. Her boyfriend nodded and started to play his saxophone as the stars came out to play. It was a good ending to a stressful past few weeks.

As with everything else in life nothing good can last forever. All too soon this quixotic and pleasurable evening was over and school came all too quickly. No-one was happy about that as they all grumbled the old argument. Why was there FIVE weekdays but only TWO weekends? It just wasn't fair! Who had decided that anyway? Still at least the serious regime of being buried alive with studying was over. So classes weren't nearly as stressful.

The week went by rather rapidly, although for Terry and Terra, the week seemed even slower. They didn't have much Bat Twins action that week, other then saving a gentleman on a lift train from some Jokers not much happened. It was actually a bit of letdown to them both, more so Terra, seeing how it was such a big part of what made them, them. At the same time it came as a bit of relief, seeing how little action made them have more free time for their lovers.

It was incredibly hard to juggle their secret lives as Gotham's self-appointed protectors. Both had been wondering for a long time how Bruce and his friends had managed to do it. Live the life of a normal person and still be ready at the drop of a hat to go hero. It was like a constant nag and a curiosity to them. Neither of them to the greater extant had attained a lot of information on Bruce's past. He never seemed to talk about it as much as they'd like. They want to hear his tales to learn from them. But he was quiet and guarded of his past. He still hadn't told them the real reason he'd stopped being Batman.

Although, he'd told them a bit of truth this week about his past and they're glad for that. As the twins had told Dana and Danny respectively Bruce Wayne wasn't in town this week and wouldn't be back till next week. He'd gone to visit an old friend, but not in the manner the Tan cousins had thought. Bruce and Ace were in England, visiting Bruce's oldest friend, Alfred, or more to the point his grave. Like with his own parents every year on the anniversary of Alfred's death Bruce always would visit him, and confess his heart and soul to his faithful companion, who'd been more then just his guardian and butler, but a true and invaluable friend. Therefore he wouldn't be back for awhile. As a result the twins were told to be extra vigilant. So while they'd want to honor Bruce's wish they also wanted to have a bit of time to themselves for awhile.

They soon found out however that they never should get too complacent. The scores were in for the GATs and one and all were keen to see how they did. Going to the main school computer mainframe Dana punched in everyone school ID number. She and her cousin had done pretty good. To both Terry and Terra relief both had passed alright too. Then Max Gibson came walking by and typed in her ID and she had gotten a perfect score!

"See? I told you, Max, you'd get a perfect 2400! You didn't even need to study! At this rate you'll be class valedictorian, no problem. It does make me wonder though, do you have any hobbies outside of school?" inquired Terra intriguingly as she passed everyone their score cards.

"Funny you should mention that, Terra. I did find a hobby, come on I'll show it too you."

They're on their way to the computer lab when a redhead student stopped them. "Hey, Max, congrats on the perfect score. Good job!"

"Well, thanks, Carter. But you know it's just a number. It's not like it that big a deal or anything of great importance. So I did see you finish second, so congrats to you too. Come on, guys. See you later, Carter."

None of them notice a very peculiar look etched upon the class president's features. It looked both malicious as well as evil. As they rounded the corner to the computer lab he narrowed his eyes at Max. As if he was a wolf ready to slaughter his quarry and then rip its throat out while it was still alive. Max oblivious to the fact she was even someone prey just kept walking.

They finally arrived at the computer lab and the pink haired young woman printed out something. Dana took two large readouts, she hand one to her cousin, and they started to read them aloud. The blood froze in the twins' veins.

"Batman Analyze: He's between 5'7 and 6 feet. He's between 16 and 25."

"Batgirl Analyze: She's between 5'5 and 6 feet and also between 16 and 25."

"I don't get it, Max, what are you trying to do with the Bat Twins?" asked Dana as she handed the paper to Terry.

Terry and Terra blood ran cold in their veins. Terry actually went pale as a ghost. Luckily no-one noticed, though to make sure they didn't Terra stomped him with her right heel. He groaned inaudibly and glared at her, but for a second time not a soul was paying attention as the Tan cousins were busy listening to Max's explanation.

"I've created a compiler program to discover the Bat Twins identities. I've got it combing the network for information on them. It's really only a matter of time before I've got them pegged. And I know what you're thinking, Dana. I know a lot of people fit these descriptions. I also know what you want to say too, Danny. That it seems that they're too young if they'd been around this long. So I've come up with a theory that the Bat Twins are both totally new Bats. Furthermore I'm sure they are related. Not to mention I've got a few other hunches. I'm sure they're tied to this school. Plus I'm convinced Batgirl came with those bizarre anomalies we had a few months back. If she had been here before them she and Batman would've been working together from the start. So I'm sure I'm right she came to the city that night. So what do you think?"

"It does sound like a better leisure pursuit then needlecraft, Max. With the exception of this little snag, and that is don't you think the Bat Twins deserve some privacy? They both must sacrifice a lot to protect the city from evil. If you did find out who they were don't you think that might be wrong? I mean if everyone knew who the Bat Twins were then they've no chance at a semi-normal life, not to mention how much danger it would put their families in if they're find out. So I don't know if this is the best idea. That all I've got to say on the subject," Terra remarked solicitously without a hint of panic in her voice or face.

However, both she and her brother knew that this was bad. They needed to find a way to delete the program and get Max to not restart it. But how? They both knew if Max was smart enough to get a perfect score on the GATs, then it really was a matter of time till she found out who they were. Terra also was scared that she might blow her cover story. While their mom, Mary, had accepted Terra into the family without further questions, she was apprehensive of what might happen if the truth was found out. She'd lose her mom again, and after already losing her once, she knew she couldn't do it a second time. It had been four months since she'd come to this reality and finally things were starting to fall into place. She had all she wanted, she'd a family, friends, her boyfriend, a semi-normal high school life and most importantly she was still Batgirl. She didn't want to lose that at all, so she was very desperate to get rid of Max's program.

So at this moment Max had three people who wanted her for two extremely different reasons. One an unidentified Joker whom she unknowingly upstaged and two teenagers who had things that need to remain secret.

For unknown to anyone else at school or even in his gang of friends, Carter Wilson, was secretly an incredibly sick-minded and ruthless Joker known to his gang as Terminal. Furthermore, for the reason that of his unsympathetic mother, who taught him that only being "The Best" was the only thing that made a person worth anything was already formulating a plan to get rid of her.

Terminal and his bunch of criminals broke into the school and then did their absolute best to trash the place. They did everything from tagging the place to vandalizing all the computers. They even blew up the main supercomputer and followed by attempting to delete the computer academic records. Unbeknownst to the rest of the Jokers of Terminal's gang this was his personal agenda. They didn't know about Terminal's other side. Unlike most Jokers once initiated they ceased their former identities. On the other hand, Terminal hadn't done this yet. Sure he made sure that his 'friends' didn't know who he was behind the makeup, but since he was the leader they didn't question his orders.

The next day all and sundry was shocked as well as disgusted by what the Jokers had done. You couldn't walk anywhere without having to watch your step because there was more then just paints on the ground.

"Eww! That is so gross!" Dana said as she accidentally stepped in a puddle of crimson paint and rotten tomatoes. Terra handed her a hankie so she could uncontaminated her black ankle boots.

"I totally have the same opinion with you, cuz. I've been to quite a few schools prior to coming here, and some of them had been trashed, but this is the far worse then I'd ever seen. Though, Dana, I don't believe this was just a random act. I've got a feeling that this was deliberate. Whoever did this was after someone or some ones. I've taken enough of acting to understand somewhat how people react and think. It's good to have great insight in a character's mind; otherwise you wouldn't be able to portray them so well. So I strongly believe based on these attacks that one of them wanted to hurt someone very bad."

"That's a nice thought and observation, Danny. Perhaps I could rewrite my compiler program to figure out which people are most likely to be Jokers. It shouldn't be too hard. If only though we had a clue who they wanted that would greatly help with the programming," Max replied wonderingly as they reached their lockers.

"So, you'd stop trying to find out who the Bat Twins are?" inquired Terra as she used her keycard to open her locker.

Before Max could reply to her inquire she opened her locker and ducked. Something flew out of her locker and nearly pulverized her. It was a banana cream pie with a boxing glove stuck to it. It could've seriously hurt her if it had hit head on.

"I am now."

It was a bad scene all around. The Twins didn't know what to do. They both knew that Max was endangered, and both agreed that they'd to protect her, but they still had to shutdown her original program. That night they flew the Batmobile over the school. They saw a gang of Jokers getting ready to do more damage and decided to split up. Terry chased after the Jokers and Terra went into the school to make sure Max was safe.

It turned out she'd just came in the nick of time. Terminal was trying to use the cleaning bots to exterminate Max. He'd replaced the cleaning fluid with acid! For Max there was nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. Just as she was about to be melted Batgirl threw three of her electric blue batarangs and short-circuit the automatons. Then she grabbed her by the waist and flew her to safety. After she'd gotten Max to safety she quickly flew out of the school leaving Max alone before she even had time to register what had happened.

"Batgirl! Wait!" she called out as Batgirl disappeared into the dark cloak of the night. Max looked disheartened and in a state of shock. She quickly returned to the computer lab to gather her things when she heard footsteps. She instinctively grabbed the first thing she could get a hold of, which was her history, textbook, and got ready to swing it. But stopped when she saw who opened the door.

"Max! You okay? The hallway a mess of goo!" cried Terra concerningly as Terry rushed in too. He looked like he'd been in a fight. He was sweaty and breathing hard. Still he looked just as concerned as his sister.

"Terry! Terra! Boy, am I glad to see you! I must have tripped some kinda of Joker trap!"

"I don't think so, Max. I think this trap was meant for you. I mean you're the only one here. Besides, Max, based on that pie in your locker one of the Jokers obviously wants you. But we don't know why," Terra replied calmly to Max.

"I think it's your search program. I mean this all started when you started that program. I delete it if I were you. And we better get out of here quickly before those Jokers decided to return. We saw a couple of them fleeing after the Bat Twins flew by. So they must've fought some. Still you can never be too careful. So let's hightail it." Terry suggested nonchalantly with a quick glance at his sister.

"Alright, give me a few minutes to get my stuff and I'll meet you two at the door."

"Alright, Max. Hurry up." Terra said impatiently.

The twins walked out of the room and hurried down the hallway. So they didn't hear that the computer had finished Max's Jokers List. She printed it out the list and too her shock Terry's name was on it. And given the fact they'd both shown up after a Joker's attack, and how close the twins were it only made sense that both had to be Jokers! Why else would they be at the school at 10:30 at night? Or they'd wanted the list delete?

The next day Max acted indifferent to the twins who both said the Jokers shouldn't bother her again. During lunch hour Max slipped back into the computer lab and wrote an email to the twins. It said to meet her at the fountain in the park at eight or she blow their secret wide open.

So that night Max showed up at the park and was met by the Jokers. They looked so smug and happy to see her. Although their leader whom looked like a cross between a zombie and mental escapee looked ready to kill her.

"Well, well, if it isn't Miss 2400. Out for a moonlight stroll? That makes it so much easier. You see I know who you are," Terminal replied smoothly at Max, whom looked unafraid.

"I know you are too, Terry."

"McGinnis?" he laughed "She thinks I'm McGinnis!"

"I know he's one of you! And I'm sure Terra here too! One of them told you I was here!"

"No-one told us anything! We've been following you!"

"Because of this?" she asked holding up her data file.

"Wrong again, Max! It seems you may've gotten a perfect score on a test. But when it comes to the real world you ain't got a clue. I don't care about your data crunching! I've got a more personal reason for wanting you gone!"

"Who are you?"

"Me? I'm the best!" firing a laser at her burning her papers to a crisp. She backed away slowly and looked very afraid.

"Help! Someone help!"

"Who do you think gonna hear you out here, Max?"

"Us!" cried a voice valiantly as two figures jumped out of the shadows and started attack the Jokers. It was the Bat Twins!

Batman took on the big guy in orange and Batgirl danced with the blonde. Max though stunned also joined in the fray. However she was quickly subdued and held at gun point.

"Move and she dies!" Terminal said as he pointed the gun at her head. Max knowing that he'd shoot regardless if the Twins moved or not used all her strength and threw the goon at the fountain and shut it off causing the big metal ball to come rolling down. This made Terminal fall face first in the water and reveal him as Carter Wilson!

Max was in total shock! And before she could say anything else the Twins had disappeared as the police arrived to pick up the trash. The police asked her for the story and all she could say was if it weren't for the Bat Twins she'd be dead.

By the next day the whole school knew the story and many said that Carter was a loser. While the school gossip about it Max walked over to the Twins who had been standing silently by the mainframe. Max hung her head and spoke humbly to them.

"I guess I'm not as good as programmer as I thought. Carter wasn't even on my list of possible Jokers. Though your name was, Terry and I just assumed you'd be a Joker too, Terra. Seeing how close you two are. I guess I was wrong."

"Wait a moment you didn't really think we're Jokers?" asked Terra as they once again enter the computer lab which they'd spent so much time lately.

Max smiled slyly and nodded. "I did, but now I know the truth." She then put two fingers in the air to form a pair of bat ears. The twins looked worried but also okay.

"So whatcha gonna do now?" asked Terry concerningly.

"First I'm gonna cover my tracks before anyone else can figure out your secret."

But Terra stopped her and said, "It's already been taken care of. By someone who knows how to keep a secret. This does change everything."

"Maybe for the better," replied Max with a smile. "At least you two ain't alone with your secret anymore. You've got someone to talk to now. Someone who can be of assistance to you two out if you need it."

"Well, I guess you're right about that. And I guess now that you know one of my secrets, I guess I can share with you my other secret. But only if you promise not to tell a soul," Terra said sternly.

"What secret is that, Terra?"

"Well, my secret is this. You're right that I came with those energy anomalies that happened four months ago. You see Terry and I were both born on the same day, at the same time, to the same parents, only I was born in another reality. As you may know there are an infinite number of worlds all of them vibrating on different frequencies. Think of it as a huge tree with many branches each springing from a common source. But my branch of my world, where almost everyone in this reality was the opposite sex, save for a few people, was cut clean off. It ran out of lifeblood and imploded. So for some reason my biometric energy frequency shifted to match this world. So I was spared my world's demise. Now I've worked hard as Batgirl and I've worked hard to get my life back. So please don't ruin it."

"Wow! I'd never dreamed that would your secret. I just believe what you said. I guess that is quite a secret. Don't worry I won't tell a soul your secret, Terra."

"I still don't see how you're gonna help us by knowing our secret," Terry started to say when Dana's voice broke through.

"Where were you last night, Terry? You told me you'd a free evening! Danny and I waited half the night for you and Terra! Did the great Mr. Wayne come home early and snap his fingers or did you two just forget?" she demanded as her cousin came into the room. Both of them looked very pissed off.

Before the twins could explain Max spoke up. "It was my fault, Dana. I was supposed to sit with Matt, but I had to cancel. And Terra didn't think it was fair for her to go on a date if Terry couldn't. So she stayed home too. I'm so sorry."

"Oh, babysitting, I guess that okay. And you're right, Terra. It wouldn't have been fair for us to get together, if Terry couldn't come too. Don't worry we'll make it up." Danny replied as he and Dana kissed the cheek of their loves and took a seat at the back of class.

"You know this could work out very well," Terry whispered quietly as he got up to get to his seat. However Max monition for him and his sister too come closer. The twins got closer to her and she whispered to them.

"Just one thing you two, you call me "Robin" and I'm out of here."

"No, problem, Alfred," Terra replied slyly and she and her brother both giggled a bit as they took their seats. Leaving Max confused as to why they'd called her that.