Crashes echoed through the high ceilinged practice room, the bright fluorescent lights flashing against the racks of weapons lining the walls. The clashing paused for a moment before starting up again.

"Maratan 'ukhraa (One more time)!" a man in black yelled at a woman, also in black. He struck at the woman with a quarterstaff and the woman just barely managed to block it.

"Ma 'ant? Alhusul ealayha maea (What are you? Get it together)!"

"Twqf! Daqiqat wahida (Stop! One minute)." The woman dropped her quarterstaff and leaned over, hands planted on her knees.

"Pathetic," the man spat. "Twelve years of this and you're still acting like a ya baqraa."

"Kol Khara," the woman snapped, "I didn't sign up for this. If I remember correctly, you were the ones that came to me."

"Don't speak like that," the man growled, blue eyes flashing. "The Master has given you a glorious gift of a second chance at life."

"What's the point of a second life if you're treated this way?" the woman mumbled.

"What did you say!?" the man said. "Ungrateful-"

"Tawaquf, Sensei."

The two arguing people stood up straight and the man, Sensei, turned in surprise.

"Master," he said with a bow.

Ra's Al Ghul, leader of the feared leader of the League of Shadows stood there arms crossed with a sour look on his face.

"How are things going?" Ra's asked, observing the pair.

"Not much better than yesterday," Sensei said giving the woman a sideways glance as he straighted. "Some people are quite stubborn."

"Leave us," Ra's said, waving a hand.

"Master...?" Sensei frowned.

"Go." Ra's gave an expectant look.

"Yes, Master." Sensei bowed again and walked out the door.

Once he was gone, Ra's approached the woman, "Even after 12 years, you are still stubborn."

"I never thought that I'd have to go through this still," the woman said, not caring about formalities. "I thought you brought me back to fight on the environmental part of things, not hand to hand."

"This is what we do," Ra's said firmly. "You are lucky to be here. If it weren't for my daughters keen eye, you'd still be dead and have no option for revenge."

"I do not seek revenge as you say," the woman said, lifting her chin. "I simply seek a better life. One where I can make a real difference."

"You do not wish revenge for a world that has no defense against treatment from such a horrid parasite?" Ra's asked. "The human race is merely a virus; a disease plaguing the Earth. We will cleanse it, but not without sacrifice."

"I am an enviromentalist," the woman said, picking up her Quarterstaff to put it away. "I do not fight my battles with physical violence. I prefer the more subtitle and effective way of simply talking."

"Talking can only get you so far," Ra's said, "sometimes it's necessary to use violence."

"Only when there's no other option."

"There is no other option," Ra's said firmly, "and if there was, it died out long ago. Just because you passed initiation doesn't mean you can stop practicing."

"I know," the woman said, "but sometimes a break is needed if you've been working too long."

"I push you because I know what you are capable of," Ra's said, circling the woman. "Those who have experienced the Lazarus Pits come back with more than just a second life. With it comes a killer instinct, a need to kill, to destroy. I could see it in your face. More powerful than those before you."

He stopped right behind her and whispered, "Do you forget who has taken your child from you, Annastasia?"