Robin landed on the roof of Gotham City Rail less than ten minutes after escaping the old theater house where he had been kept prisoner. This is the fastest way that quantity of people- well, mostly people has of getting to the Court of Owls from the church, which I expect was basically their meeting place. I need to delay them and get there first. Cutting the power to the rail would be a childishly simple task, though in his mind he acknowledged his definition of 'childishly simple' was somewhat skewed due to the expenditure of his childhood under Batman. Finding the exposed power box on the alley side of the building, it was apparent that the lines had been cut, repaired, and cut again. I'd be surprised if the Court didn't know about this. At the same time, I really have no idea how they'd have planned for Blackfire and his men to use the rails. The temptation existed to assume the Owls knew everything, but this was as unwise of an assumption as it was unlikely a reality.

There were lights on at the nearby church. They haven't left yet- but they're going to do it tonight. The longer they wait, the more likely they are to lose the advantage. That is, unless the Court's already found out about them. Grappling to the gargoyle, the design did not provide him with an opportunity to peer inside until he made it up to the bell tower through which he had exited. Peering down the stair it was apparent that no guards had been posted, and thus they had not learned of his method of escape. It's probably not as bad as I think it is. Whatever they're doing, it's most likely that they're about to leave.

Reaching at last a sound booth that overlooked the greater area of the church, he could see what was going on through the black woven panes that covered the speakers, which he moved. Damn.

On the altar directly below him he saw Anarky writhing around in a vain attempt to keep his heart from being pierced by the dagger held by Deacon Blackfire. His wrist communicator made a sound. What the Hell could it possibly be?

"Speak."

"Robin. I'm back." Gordon. All at once it seemed possible, everything, the rescue of his enemy below, the expulsion of the Court and all its vestiges- Robin assumed the Commissioner had already been informed of recent events. Activating the speakers and removing the panes that dampened the frequency, he responded, keeping his voice level.

"What do you need?"

"Your location- we know you're going after the problem at its source." He clicked the sound cables into the board, where he increased the frequency further before temporarily deafening himself with pressure to the nerves connecting his ears to his brain.

"Divinity Church. Prepare for war." He jumped through the hole as the mechanical screech came from behind him, landing on the priest and grabbing Anarky, finding his hand halted by Blockbuster, who was apparently not responding to the sound. Noticing that Machin's ears were protected at least partially by headphones, Robin was less surprised than the brute to find Blackfire's dropped dagger embedded in the monster's abdomen. Grappling and swinging to the other end of the room, Machin swayed as a counterbalance to guide them away from a thrown knife. Sprinting out the double doors as they landed, he missed whatever Anarky said to him as he kicked a flying Scarface, who had been thrown at them by a confused Wesker. They reached the street quickly enough to avoid the swinging arms of the Abramovici brothers and vault over the approaching patrol cars.

His hearing came back gradually on the roof of Gotham City Rail as he remembered something Batman had told him.

"Hal Jordan asked me one time if I would sooner lose my sight or my hearing." He had said after they managed to rescue Gordon's daughter from a handful of thugs. "I told him I need my hearing to detect my enemies behind me. For him it was his sight. He told me that he needed to see to be able to imagine things, and imagination was more than the source of his power. It was the source of his hope." Batman paused at length on the roof of the GCPD where only moments earlier they had reunited a tearful father and daughter. "Every time anyone on the League asked me how it was I never expected anything better out of the world, I said it was because of everything I've seen." They glided silently down to the Batmobile. "For him it was the opposite. He and I both know what the world is like, and he's seen worlds beyond, many filled with horror unending. And yet, he has hope, and he attributes it to what he can see." They entered the vehicle and were away. "I conceded the point to Jordan, but he brushed it off."

"Hey, Robin." Anarky started, bringing him back to the present. "Are you going to arrest me or something?" Looking at him, he would not be in a position to resist much, as he had by all appearances been beaten soundly by multiple large fists. It was a wonder he could stand with his injuries, much more so run.

"The cops are down there. Tell them who you are and they'll take care of it."

"What was the point of dragging me out of there if you're just-"

"This is how I argue with people, Lon." Robin began simply. "Do you know why I blocked your efforts twice before you managed to break out? It's an illustration. I know how laws work. I know how governments work. I can use this against people like you." Machin appeared annoyed. "You claim to be an idealist, but really you're the worst kind. You gave up on due process for the sake of practicality. If you want to create a just world, you can't work with criminals and you can't work the way they do. I imagine you had some future plans for Gotham after you deposed the Court, but what then? The citizens of Gotham never supported you before, they wouldn't support you after that."

"There would be problems, yes, but only with the corrupt system out of the way can we improve things." Fair.

"When you get rid of that, would you uncover an uncorrupted people? They don't value liberty or justice. They value their comfortable lives, more so the more comfortable they are. This doesn't give other people the right to oppress them or kill them, but they can't really call the city a grave. It's the future they chose."

"We've learned from history. Robespierre made the mistake in claiming 'temporary order' when really he was just being a dictator, worse than before. The thing is though, just because he brought in an age of mob rule doesn't mean France was better off staying under the king. We don't know what would have happened if they hadn't executed him, but the entire royal system is geared toward self-perpetuation. The bourgeoisie even had a good way of replacing it before they had to get rid of the king for betraying the revolution." Anarky sighed. "The problem was the rest of the population. The nobility realized they were next and they had the peasants trained like dogs."

"The peasants believed in divine right as well as the three estates system. The reason it was different in America was because the colonies were essentially already free and self-governing. The English made the mistake of thinking they could take control when they really never had any authority or means of establishing it."

They stared silently at each other, eyes for optics.

"I'll return. Populist revolutions may have not worked in the past, but that doesn't mean they won't ever work, and only by trying them under different circumstances can we discover the truth. Perhaps I've failed, but I've failed in the act of what I believe to be right and necessary." Machin straightened himself and began to turn. "I'll have a better plan when I am free from prison, however that may come about. Expect me."

Robin said nothing as he left, listening out for him to reach the officers below as he activated the radio on his wrist once more.

"Gordon. What happened with Bard?"

"He's helping. You may have missed this, but the real Hamilton Hill surfaced- he's alive. Unfortunately for us, he tried to resume every protocol his double had enacted."

"What did you do?"

"Officer Bullock arrested him for fraud shortly before my daughter picked me up from the hospital." Barbara's back. "There can't be two mayors, we already have one and he's in a cell designed for Clayface." He'll be out by morning, but his plans have been delayed.

"Good thinking, Gordon." He responded, able to contain his amusement. "Tomorrow I have a Court date." He began as he tried to remember where he had stored his civilian clothes. "I think I know about the full extent of their plans- at least from everything I got out of Hill. We need to keep an eye on Falcone and White. I think they want the Owls to believe they're done, in hiding, you get the idea."

"You have reason to believe otherwise?"

"Call it a character assessment. One of them has Victor Fries- they were using him to spy on Blackfire's mob. He left conspicuously and he never would have counted himself among them in the first place."

"You understand I can't take your word for it."

"Don't. Keep an eye out for White and Falcone because you received an anonymous tip that they're both up to something big." When I get back I'll send the same tip to Barbara. The very idea of it already concerned him. There was something decidedly suspect about Ivy's activities- more so than those of Riddler, though he was definitely involved. That riddle I found hasn't helped any case for his innocence.

The riddle was on the entrance to Gotham City Rail, where he had seen it a matter of hours earlier, having time to think on it as he glided back to the garage.

All over the city, just what's going down? Why are they using rails? Are the roads broken down? Is everything simply frozen in this town?

Though he had previously not dedicated much time to the riddles, this one particularly stumped him. It's like something I've been wondering in the back of my mind this entire time. It can't be Mr. Freeze, though- the subtlety is about on his level, but I can't imagine what he's trying to accomplish. It's possible the Riddler is wrong- he's been wrong before, but it's more likely he's trying to mislead me.

Entering the garage and making his way up to the offices, he made sure to restock his gear, including an electroshock mechanism for his belt. He radioed Batgirl, noticing she had tried to get in contact with him earlier.

"I hear your father's back on the force."

"He is. Training went well."

"You're done?" He asked as he sent her the information through the communicator, remembering it all of a sudden.

"No. We need to practice more, a lot more. The more I practice against her, the more apparent the gap becomes. You would think she relies on her superhuman strength, but she really is an incredible fighter. We have to put it on pause now that I have a dad who watches my movement again."

"You learn anything else?" He asked, expecting a positive response.

"A lot. She has something on her mind, and she wants to tell you herself, in person." Robin could hear movement and he rose silently, not wanting to give any indication he knew there was someone there.

"I'm in the office."

"That will not be an issue." Diana's voice came as she entered. "I scanned the skyline until I spotted you. Your friend told me about this place."

"I see." What is it that's so important?

"Firstly, I came to tell you that I too have found the death of your leader to be hard to accept. Batman showed incredible skill, intelligence, and heroism for a normal human, and though mortality seems the prerogative of such a species, his own was something I had never guessed."

"Well that's nice of you." Direct, summary, but oddly nice.

"Secondly, I have consistently opposed all efforts made to 'help' you. While I understand Superman, Green Lantern, and others have acted earnestly and in good faith, I argued against their ideas about Gotham and its protection, asking if they were worried Gotham would die or simply fail and be crushed." The implication was not lost on him. "I believe that you have the right to live or die by your own choosing." Thanks for the vote of confidence. "Either way, I believe I learned something about you that many of the others do not know, or at least understand."

"Yes?"

"Earlier, I contested Batman's discretion in bringing you into his leadership 'at the ripe old age of nine'. He did not bother to correct my presumption that he impressed you to duty, merely stating that you needed to see the punishment of your parents' killer." She eyed some of the gear lying around. "At the time, I assumed overmuch. I asked if he intended that you would turn out to be the same as he. In turn, he informed me it was the opposite. On any other day, I might have called it a confession of weakness, but this was something else entirely."

"Batman wanted me to be better than he was."

"I believe so. Though this may already be clear to you, it is my view that you should know this is your life, your choice, your Gotham. Only in choosing to do so out of the same sense of justice without any underlying motivations of guilt, fear, or grief can you transcend your leader as he wanted. Know that his was a character to want it for you, not of you."

Without any further comment, she left.

His dreams were dark and drew sweat to his skin, but they escaped his memory as he woke. Like fleeting breaths of air, they were gone seemingly as soon as they arrived. I have to get to school. I'll be late if I don't leave now.

Gliding, he considered radioing Gordon, though he doubted he would gain new information. There's no way the police rounded them all up. The most they probably could have done was pick off a few of them as the rest ran. The GCPD had long ago learned to combat crime defensively, minimizing risk to the lives of the officers. Arranging the cars in angled rows, they shielded themselves from powerful charges as well as most supercriminal abilities. Other threats, the subtler and the more deadly they found themselves leaving to Batman every now and then, and in the beginning that took the form of his hunting down the people of interest, subduing them, questioning them, and tying them up before the police ever arrived. As far as an act of shirking went, it was the most unwilling of which any of them knew.

Attending school was exactly what he expected it to be.

In short, his classmates had generally forgotten about recent developments, and Anarky, the villain who apparently lacked an actual name did not stand out to them among the names of those who had been arrested, especially not when one of the Abramovici brothers had been mentioned as well.

"How the fuck do you arrest one of those crazy asses? What's the other one doing?" One of Orenthal's friends had started at lunch. "I'm sorry your honor, but this is the classic 'twins episode' where you've confused my actions with those of my twin. I was actually completely innocent of the crimes he committed, so it looks like since you can't take him to jail without taking me, we're both free to go."

"The other one's dead." Machin said simply and without emphasis. "They were attacking the cops and they put a bullet through his skull- didn't have a choice. The other one couldn't fight with that much dead weight and basically fell over and waited there for the police to take him to a cell. They won't force him to live with the corpse of his brother attached to his body, but separating them will be difficult and costly, and as a result probably take a long time to actually happen." The mood darkened considerably, but he could not bring himself to care. "They're bad guys." He added as a caveat. "Maybe the dead brother deserved to die. I can live with that. He was a murderer because he had the conviction to act on his hatred. Most people don't, they just sit around wishing other people would die and they imagine themselves to be better. Maybe the living brother deserved what he got, a punishment worse than death." He took a long drink of water. "I have a little more trouble living with that, but I suppose it could still be true. It just makes me wonder how many people would suffer the same fate if everyone got their just deserts."

One of the friends had risen and left as he was speaking, but the rest of them were giving his monologue its due.

"Damn." One of them offered. Orenthal neglected to comment, possibly having expected it or something similar.

"Sounds like you were there."

"I had work to do in the area, so yeah." The conversation ended soon after that, with his rising to leave for his other classes. My character was really slipping there. I've become too familiar with people- to the point where I actually tell the truth here and there. I need to work on that going forward, but really I've got other things with which to concern myself. Funny how things work that way.