At Wayne Manor, Kara was playing an intense game of Mortal Kombat. Beth came over and sat down watching Kara's gaming skills completely awed. "How did you already beat him?" Beth asked.
"I read online the sucker punch combo," Kara said. "Which you would know about if you ever cared to look it up."
"Okay, I'm sorry I spent the best years of my life going around killing people in revolutionary death squads," Beth excused.
"Fair enough," Kara allowed.
Beth took the controller from Kara and immediately her character was beheaded like the noob she was. "That's one way to lose your head," Kara said unimpressed.
"Giving me pointers on how to be evil...again?" Beth asked.
"Bitch, you got nothing on me," Kara said taking back the controller.
"Is this really happening?" Beth asked staring off into space.
"What?" Kara asked.
"This, drinking, talking, playing video games?" Beth asked.
"Well...yeah," Kara rolled her eyes.
"I've had some wine so I may come off sentimental," Beth warned her.
"Keep going, I believe in you," Kara said condescendingly.
"Thank you for never giving up on me," Beth said sincerely.
"Beth, you're still crazy as fuck. I just decided not to give a shit what you do," Kara said dismissively.
"Wait...this isn't real," Beth sensed. "Where am I? Who are you?" Beth asked freaking out.
Kara sighed and then knife-handed Beth to the chest kicking her out of the Obsidian system. Beth then woke up on a table strapped down and gagged. Brainiac 5 quickly injected her with a sedative. "What's her progress?" the real Kara asked Brainiac 5.
"She's still a noob at Mortal Kombat," Brainiac 5 said sadly.
"I was hoping for a more clinical diagnosis," Kara clarified.
"She's resisting the programing and waking up too early," Brainiac 5 reported.
"Well...shit," Kara muttered. "How's the other sister doing?"
A jewelry thief raced down the stairs apparently from the top floor. Instead of waiting for him to make his way down, Batwoman fired a projectile cable gun to the top floor, shot up towards the thief, and then managed to land on the floor where the thief was. Kate extended her staff and pointed its end at him.
"Okay?" the thief said unimpressed.
"Consider this your warning," Kate said trying to sound menacing.
"Fine, I'm warned," the thief rolled his eyes.
"You're free to go," Kate told him.
"Really?" the thief wondered.
"I'm not really a fan of the prison industrial complex...and you're black. So, you can see my dilemma," Kate told him.
"I'm going to go now...with the jewels," the thief said walking off with them.
"Oh, no, you don't," Kate said whacking the thief with her staff.
The thief tumbled down the stairs and was knocked unconscious. "Shit, don't be dead," Kate said freaking out.
She checked the thief's vital signs as Crow personnel made their way up the stairs. The thief slowly opened his eyes indicating he was still alive. "You have company," Brainiac 5 informed her.
Kate retreated to the rooftop and began to hyperventilate. The Crows checked up on the thief and then continued towards the roof to apprehend Batwoman. "Kate, you need to get off that roof," Brainiac 5 told her.
"Just cut to the next scene," Kate told him.
"Kate, this is real life. You need to show how you're getting off this roof with a squad of Crows after you," Brainiac 5 said obviously.
The Crows continued their approach up the stairs until they were stopped by none-other-than Supergirl. "Fuck me," the squad leader said as he saw her.
"No, no, no, fuck you," Kara corrected.
"Everyone, slowly back up," the squad leader said to his men.
Kara eyed them like a hawk as they slowly descended down the stairs with their hands up. Once they were sufficiently far away, Kara went to go get Kate off the roof.
One Week Later
With the streets cleared due to the coronavirus, a GCPD cop decided he would go ahead and take a nap during his night shift while not locking his car door. He then eventually awoke to find a bomb attached to his chest with twenty-four minutes to go and a tape recorder taped to his hand.
"Oh my God, holy shit, fuck me," the cop freaked out. He then turned on the tape recorder.
"Officer Wilcox, I want to play a game. You have a bomb strapped to your chest. Don't worry, it's easy to disarm. Simply push the yellow button which will trigger a second bomb I have planted somewhere else in Gotham," Jigsaw said to him.
"What the fuck?" the cop wondered.
"You can either disarm the bomb to save yourself allowing countless others to die or you die and save all those people you've never met who will never know of your sacrifice. Live or die, the choice is yours," Jigsaw told him.
The cop, being a total coward, pushed the yellow button to save himself. A bank a few blocks away suddenly exploded killing...actually no one as the bank had already been closed since that afternoon. The cop in question quickly tore off his suicide vest, got rid of it, and none were the wiser.
The next morning, Kara waltzed into Kate's apartment and saw that it was a complete mess. She found Kate on the couch passed out. "Your door is unlocked. I could be anyone," Kara lectured. "You haven't returned my texts. Virus or no virus, you still work for me."
"Thank you for your concern," Kate said sarcastically and got up.
"So, what's your deal?" Kara asked impatiently.
"I've crossed so many lines...being associated with you. It's like I'm an accomplice to dozens of murders," Kate said ashamed of herself. "I mean, what happens when you kill someone else?"
"You think you got it rough? Imagine how I must feel," Kara said not taking her seriously. "But I dig it. You want to punish yourself. Fine, I got some BDSM techniques I'm just dying to try out on you."
"That's your pep talk?" Kate asked dismayed.
"Kate, get over yourself. Someone blew up a bank, my bank. Vacation is over," Kara ordered.
At the Bat-Cave, Kate worked on her punches against a punching bag. Unfortunately, the punching bag was kicking her ass. Brainiac 5 gave Kate a condescending look as she practiced. "You seem off your game, Kate," Brainiac 5 sensed.
"I'd like to see you do better," Kate challenged.
Brainiac 5 lazily punched the punching bag off its chain and down onto the cave floor where it burst open. "So, you got some skill," Kate allowed.
"Your problem is not your technique. You simply lack the muscular power to make a sufficient enough impact against your foes," Brainiac 5 said simply.
"So, what's the solution?" Kate asked.
"I have concocted a formula that will dramatically increase the testosterone in your system. The human female body produces one tenth-to-one twentieth the amount of testosterone as human males. These injections will bridge the gap," Brainiac 5 said opening a case.
"Why would I want to put that toxic masculinity into my body?" Kate asked him.
"So, you can become stronger and not have to rely on Supergirl to bail you out," Brainiac 5 enticed.
"I'll think about it," Kate said uncommittedly.
"In other news, Jigsaw is back and he wants to play a game with the city of Gotham," Brainiac 5 said referring to the bank bombing.
"Why has he come back?" Kate asked.
"Probably in response to Batwoman being gone," Brainiac 5 suspected.
"I was only gone a week," Kate shook her head.
"I'm not passing judgment on you, Kate. Whether or not people live or die, live in fear or serenity, it's all the same to me as long as I can record it," Brainiac 5 said unconcernedly.
"So, what's his deal?" Kate asked.
"Jigsaw tends to target so-called heroes like cops, fire-fighters, paramedics, doctors and nurses," Brainiac 5 listed off. "Jigsaw believes all of these people have wasted their lives saving others while neglecting their own personal goals and enjoyment. They can save others...but not themselves," Brainiac 5 said.
"How do we know it's him and not a copycat?" Kate asked.
"Good question. The bomb recovered at the bank had the same serial number as the ones recovered seven years ago. That information was never made public," Brainiac 5 said.
"Any suspects?" Kate asked.
"John Kramer, ex-military, EOD, and combat engineer," Brainiac 5 said handing her a folder with his file inside.
"Two-one-four," Kate said as she saw the bomb serial number. "DD-214."
"A little too obvious for my tastes," Brainiac 5 smirked.
"Yeah, the Air Force didn't think I was good enough but my insider information is going to save this city's ass," Kate said bitterly.
"Awareness of the DD-214 is common knowledge," Brainiac 5 shut her down.
"I'll go find Kramer," Kate volunteered.
"You do that," Brainiac 5 agreed. "By the way, your suit can withstand an explosive overpressure of ten pounds per square inch."
"Nice," Kate smiled feeling confident in herself once again.
"The explosion that destroyed the bank was equivalent to 4,000 pounds of TNT and a minimum pounds per square inch of pressure of 800 at 50 feet away," Brainiac 5 informed her.
"So?" Kate wondered.
"Be careful, Kate," Brainiac 5 warned.
(DD-214 is a military form that lists the awards, schools, jobs, and honorable status of discharged active-duty personnel. I'm assuming Kate was a cadet for longer than 90 days because otherwise, she would get a DD-220 form. In any case, the DD-214 is not some hidden insider knowledge but is common knowledge to the entire military/veteran community to the point of being a popular meme. This concludes this ball-busting service announcement.)
Kate decided to go investigating on her own and arrived at the apartment complex where John Kramer supposedly lived. John opened the door for her wearing bunny slippers, pajamas and drinking a giant slushie. He was elderly with white hair.
"John Kramer?" Kate asked.
"Yes and you are?" he asked.
"Kate Kane, I work on behalf of Wayne Industries. We own this building," Kate said. "I have to photograph all the units."
"Well, come on in," John said warmly.
Kate then noticed Kara was already in the apartment hanging out on the couch. "Go ahead and do your photographs," Kara smirked at Kate's obvious lie.
"So, you're not involved with the bombings?" Kara asked him.
"No, I retired from that seven years ago but I imagine someone within the police force knows my signature number," John said.
"So, we got ourselves a mole," Kara grinned. "That's okay. I have my own mole."
"Wait, you're just going to believe him?" Kate asked incredulously.
"Why would I lie?" John asked bored with her.
"He's been a great help," Kara nodded.
"He's a mass-murdering psychopath," Kate accused.
"When you're in hell, only the devil can help you out," John replied.
"Isn't that the God damn truth," Kara agreed.
"You're still evil," Kate said immaturely.
"We're all the same color on the inside," John replied. "Kate, you've wasted your life away. Have these last several months made you grateful to be alive?"
"He knows? What the fuck?" Kate glared at Kara.
"I didn't tell him shit. He figured it out on his own," Kara said defensively.
"When you're good at anticipating the human mind, you leave nothing to chance," John smirked.
"Alright, wise guy, who is the copycat mole?" Kate demanded.
"I'm the only one that knows the identity of the copycat. This city only has a short time before he strikes again. If you want to know his name, you're going to have to play a game," John said.
"I'd do what he says," Kara nodded.
"Yeah, fuck that," Kate rejected.
"All I ask is that you sit with me for two hours and talk to me. All you have to do is play by the rules," John said.
"Here's the thing about me and rules," Kate said to him as she left the apartment.
"I am so sorry. She can be a handful," Kara excused her.
"It's quite alright, my dear," John said to her.
"So, what's up with 214?" Kara asked.
"It's the title of my favorite song from Rivermaya, a Filipino rock band," John said.
"Damn, I would never have guessed that," Kara said amazed.
"Just as planned," John smiled.
Kate sped along on the freeway on her motorcycle. "There's a new bomb threat. Crow and CCPD are clearing buildings," Brainiac 5 radioed her.
"Where is it?" Kate asked.
"Near Mary's clinic," Brainiac 5 said looking at the map.
"Shit," Kate cursed as she increased her speed.
Jacob Kane and the Crows surrounded the car of a hapless defense attorney with the bomb strapped to his chest. "Bobby, you have no idea how much it tickles me to see you like this," Jacob smirked at him.
"Get this thing off me, man," Bobby said freaked out.
"Oh, we will," Jacob said with false sincerity. "Can you tell me what your assailant looked like?"
"No," Bobby shook his head.
"Okay," Jacob nodded and then quickly handcuffed Bobb's hands to the steering wheel.
"What the fuck?" Bobby shouted at him.
"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few...or one scumbag lawyer," Jacob said ruthlessly and then shut the car door.
"Evacuate all nearby buildings just in case," Jacob ordered his men.
Mary rushed her patients out of the clinic as Kate arrived. "You have to leave," Kate told her.
"Not without my patients," Mary refused.
The bomb detonated killing Bobby and completely destroying his car. The Crows were safe in their armored vehicles. Jacob casually walked over to Bobby's remains and recovered his handcuffs from the scene. Mary and Kate could hear the explosion a short distance away. Kate then noticed one of the patients was a fat version of Kara in a Batwoman suit.
"That's weird," Kate remarked and then walked off with Mary following her.
"Do you want to know why people like her exist? It's because you inspired hope in them and now they feel abandoned," Mary lectured her.
"Wait...what?" Kate wondered.
"Please, Kate, I know you're Batwoman. I just couldn't believe it took me so long to figure it out. You and Batwoman being in two places at once was a neat trick, but you are her. It couldn't be more obvious. Batwoman is the same person as the person that I looked up to my entire life. And now, this city needs you as much as I do," Mary said.
"It's not that simple," Kate said vaguely.
"It never is, but Batwoman doesn't get a sick day," Mary said.
"Mary, listen to me very carefully. Batwoman isn't about hope or inspiring people. She's a monster that terrorizes criminals, a cold-blooded killer. That's not me. You know me, Mary. You know that I would never kill fifty gangsters over a damn dog," Kate said to her.
"You're right. There are two of you," Mary figured it out. "And whoever the second one is, you need to take charge and reclaim Batwoman as a force for good, to fight social injustice," Mary said to her.
"I can't do that. It's impossible," Kate told her.
"Why?" Mary asked confused. "Just kick her ass when she least expects it and take the suit away from her."
"The second Batwoman is Supergirl," Kate revealed.
"Oh, shit," Mary realized.
Kara heard the bomb go off with her super-hearing. "Alright, smartass, who is the copycat?"
"Could you get me a glass of water?" he asked her.
Kara rolled her eyes and got it for him. "Who is he?" she demanded.
"You know, I'm quite keen on comic books, especially the ones about superheroes. I find the whole mythology fascinating. Take, Superman, not a great comic book, not particularly well-drawn," John remarked.
"Sure," Kara agreed.
"But your mythology is not only unique, it's also great," John said.
"If you say so. How much longer are you going to make me wait?" Kara asked impatiently.
"Just long enough to make my point. Superman has this alter ego of his, Clark Kent. When he wakes up in the morning, he's just Clark. He has to put on a costume to become Superman. But that's where you stand apart. You were born on Krypton. When you wake up in the morning you are Kara Zor-El. Your alter ego is Kara Danvers. Your outfit with the skirt is your Kryptonian clothes. What you're wearing, right now, is the costume," John said.
"Is there a point?" Kara wondered.
"The way you dress, the glasses, the ditzy behavior is not you. It's how you view us, humanity. Kara Danvers is weak, unsure of herself, a coward. Kara Danvers is a critique of the human race. You see the human race as I do, not appreciating their pathetic lives, not taking advantage of all of their gifts, not prioritizing what's truly important," John said to her.
"I think when the chips are down, you'll fall just as easily," Kara smiled dangerously.
"I have terminal cancer. What more pain do you think you can put me through?" he asked.
"I have a really vivid imagination," Kara replied.
"You're a natural-born killer. You always have been. You always will be," John said. "You, working at Catco, going to the movies with your husband, clipping coupons, that's you trying to disguise yourself as a worker bee. That's you trying to blend in with the hive. Nothing in this world can change that," John said knowingly.
"I'm a warrior, that's all there's to it. And like any warrior, I await the day I can finally put my sword away. That's the difference between you and me, the difference between who I kill and me," Kara clarified for him.
"The moment you stop killing is the moment your life ends. You'll waste away alone, a bitter old drunk. So long as you stay in the fight, whatever that fight happens to be, you'll feel that excitement, the energy, the feeling of purpose," John told her.
"Does it excite you to fuck with the most powerful being in the universe?" Kara asked him.
"It does a little," John smiled. "Another glass of water, please."
Kara sighed and got another glass for him. There was a long awkward pause as he drank down the glass. "So, who is it?" Kara asked again.
"Miguel Robles, head of the Crows' homicide department," John revealed.
"What a twist?" Kara rolled her eyes.
"So, now that you know will you take your vengeance upon me or learn to forgive?" John asked her.
Kara centered herself and then smiled. "I don't judge people. I just send them to God's courtroom."
"If you kill me this whole building explodes," John told her.
Kara scanned his heart and saw the device linked to a detonator. "I already evacuated everyone out," Kara revealed.
"Well played," John smiled.
"Game over," Kara smiled back and then punched him hard to the chest stopping his heart. The entire apartment complex then exploded and fell on top of them. Kara emerged from the ruin dusty but otherwise unharmed.
Kate walked into the Bat-Cave and stared at the suit. "I'm not like you, a killer," Kate said to it.
"That's why there are two of us," Kara said obviously emerging from the shadows.
"What do you want me to be? A killer like you?" Kate asked her.
"I want you to have fun, to enjoy yourself out there. You're so damn depressing," Kara critiqued.
"Sorry but killing people doesn't make me happy," Kate told her off.
"You don't have to be like me, Kate. It's actually quite amusing our little dynamic. The criminals don't know what to think of us. Your father basically sentenced a man to death to save hundreds, thousands of people, today. Your father saved your life and that of your step-sister with his decision. What would you have done? Tried to save the poor bastard's life and detonated the bomb hoping that everyone had been evacuated?" Kara asked.
"Yeah," Kate said flustered.
"And that's fine but you can't have the consequences bum you out. You have to keep going. You have to continue the game and enjoy yourself while you're at it. You're Batwoman. You do whatever the fuck you want and no one can stop you, tell you what to do, or what you can't do. That, right there, is freedom," Kara told her.
"To not give a fuck and troll the city?" Kate asked incredulously.
"Exactly," Kara nodded.
Brainiac 5 then casually strolled into the cave. "What is it?" Kara asked him.
"Miguel Robles is trying to exit the city in clear violation of stay-at-home regulations," Brainiac 5 informed her.
"Sweet Jesus," Kara said stunned.
"There's also a car bomb in our parking garage. It's electronically linked to the Crows headquarters. I imagine Jacob Kane is the intended target," Brainiac 5 said nonchalantly.
"So, shut it down," Kara ordered.
"Doing that will ensure Jacob Kane's death," Brainiac 5 said.
"Oh my God," Kate said freaked out.
"Alright, let's move out," Kara ordered.
"I'll remind you that the few dozen prisoners in our cells, the Bat-Cave and all of its equipment, and Wayne Tower will be destroyed," Brainiac 5 reminded her.
"Kate's father comes first," Kara told him to Kate's amazement. "Kate, get your ass to Crows headquarters and make sure your father doesn't martyr himself."
"Moving," she said taking off.
Batwoman went after Miguel and easily found him using the Bat-Cave GPS tracker. He immediately shot at her as they got close. Kara shot out a cable hook that entangled up Miguel's motorcycle. He was thrown off as he crashed. Kara kicked off his helmet and put her boot on his chest.
"You see the badge, bitch. I'm a Crow," he said to her.
"Do I look like I give a shit?" Kara asked him.
"We'll destroy you," he spat.
"Tall order," Kara mocked.
"What do you want?" he asked finally as his chest was slowly crushed.
"Did you kill Lucius Fox? Are you the wannabe Jigsaw?" Kara asked him. "You see, you were the first one to the scene at Lucius Fox's murder, you covered it up, and then killed poor Reggie who you framed for it."
"You can't prove shit!" he shouted at her.
Kara put a pistol to his head as she knelt down on his chest. "Do I look like the kind of woman that needs to?"
Kate rushed into Crows headquarters and found Sophie with her father. The suicide vest was on him. "The second bomb is at Wayne Tower," Kate said.
"How do you know that?" Sophie asked.
"I work there," Kate said obviously.
"I can cut the wires but the pressure plate on your chest is a problem," Sophie said.
"No, evacuate Crows headquarters immediately," Jacob ordered.
"But, Sir," Sophie protested.
"That's an order," Jacob said.
"Dad, you can't just let yourself die," Kate said to him.
"Kate, I knew going into this job that I might have to sacrifice myself for this city, for you. Now, get out of here," Jacob ordered.
Kara tossed Miguel's ass onto his own truck filled with explosives. "You tamper with it, the other bomb goes off," Miguel said to her.
"Wayne Tower is on lockdown," Brainiac 5 said.
All the windows and exits in the building were sealed. "Handy tech courtesy of the man you murdered, Lucius Fox," Kara said to him."Now, the only one that is going to die is you."
"So, why did you kill Fox?" Kara asked him.
"Money," Miguel said lamely.
"Whose money?" Kara asked impatiently.
"Tommy Elliot," Miguel revealed.
"What was his motive?" Kara continued.
"Lucius had a book, a journal. Tommy was obsessed with it. He gave me ten grand to rough him up," Miguel said.
"He shot him in the chest," Brainiac 5 clarified.
"He charged me, kicked my ass, and I shot him," Miguel admitted. "I spent the last four years trying to cover it up."
"Shield it up," Kara ordered Brainiac 5.
He proceeded to place a device underneath the truck activating a dome energy shield over it. "Tell your dad he can push the button," Kara said to Kate.
The truck then exploded inside the energy field destroying the truck but not harming the building. Kara then went over to Miguel. "Lucius Fox...is still alive, you dumb bastard," Kara whispered into his ear.
The next morning, Kara sat her desk reading an article on Batwoman's reappearance after missing for...one week. "This city is so entitled," Kara shook her head dismayed.
"The bomb squad is done with their investigation," Brainiac 5 reported. "All evidence of future tech was already gone from the scene."
"I've never said how much I appreciate your help with the little things," Kara said.
"That's what partners are for," Brainiac 5 replied.
"I want Lucius Fox's journals. We can't have that getting into the wrong hands," Kara said.
"Of course," Brainiac 5 agreed.
Kate then walked into the office. "Thank you. You saved my dad and the city," Kate said appreciatively.
"Kate, you think I am an infallible hero that makes the right decision every time. I just wanted you to know that you're right about me," Kara said arrogantly.
"I think you're putting words in my mouth," Kate rolled her eyes.
"Your mouth belongs to me...wait, that wasn't supposed to sound sexual," Kara said embarrassed.
Mary then barged in with her smartphone. "You are looking good," she said showing Kate a photo of Batwoman...in the day.
"Kate isn't Batwoman. She's my assistant," Kara corrected.
"It's fine, she knows," Kate said.
"Kate, you have real estate showings to get to. You know, your actual real job," Kara said scornfully.
"I'll let you handle this," Kate said to Mary and Kara and then walked out of the room.
Kara advanced on Mary. "If Kate is Batwoman, then explain this?" she asked showing a photo of Batwoman and Kate at the same time.
"There is more than one woman in the suit," Mary stared her down.
"Clever girl. I would keep that to yourself. You know what you also should keep secret?" Kara asked rhetorically as Brainiac 5 handed her a phone.
Mary stared at the video on the phone showing her mother, Katherine Hamilton Kane, very much alive in hiding. "Oh my God," Mary said becoming emotional.
"Do you understand what it means to be grateful?" Kara asked her.
"Yes, totally. Lips are sealed," Mary said overjoyed.
"Well, okay then," Kara smiled letting her go.
Mary then realized who and what Kara Wayne was and then a sudden feeling of dread went through her. Mary simply stared at her terrified. "I'll be going now," Mary said freaked out.
"Stay safe," Kara said to her as she left.
Kara and Beth arrived at the Arkham gate and went inside meeting Dr. Butler. "I appreciate you taking my intern in. She will be most helpful to you," Kara said to him.
"Well, the Wayne Foundation does fund fifty percent of our budget. How could I refuse such a small favor?" Dr. Butler replied.
"You're a man that understands gratitude. I like that," Kara said pleased. She then turned to Beth taking her aside. "The choice is yours whether you'll end up free or not while you stay here."
"I won't let you down," Beth assured her.
"Here, you can be the queen. Don't let it get to your head," Kara said to her and then released her to Dr. Butler.
Author's Notes: And Alice and Mouse escape once again. The Joker killed by Batman? Say, it ain't so. In Adventures, Kate will continue to be innocent and pure. The Jigsaw dialogue comes from Saw and Kill Bill. I shot myself in the foot by killing Thomas off but we'll see if I have to reverse course on that front.