An escaped Arkham inmate casually walked into the subway with two machetes without anyone reporting him or trying to stop him. He entered a subway train minding his own business. "Hey, you can't have those in here," one man said to him.
"Why the fuck not?" the inmate asked and then scissored his head off.
At this point, the other occupants on the train began to freak out and scurry out of the train car. Jacob, in uniform, entered the train with a shotgun with no backup. "Drop the knives," Jacob ordered the inmate.
The inmate instead charged at him. Jacob blasted the inmate with his shotgun. The inmate fell to the floor with his chest torn open. "Holy shit," Kate said standing over the body.
"I told you to stay in the car," Jacob said annoyed.
The next morning, Kara and Brainiac 5 had a chat at Wayne Tower. "The Crows have a new app that allows for rapid response time. As soon as a crime occurs, you just push a button on your phone," Brainiac 5 explained.
"I imagine that could lead to a lot of prank calls," Kara grinned.
"Except the Crows also have a database of phone numbers and names. If a person prank calls the Crows, they will be arrested," Brainiac 5 said.
"I imagine you have a solution," Kara assumed.
"Indeed, I have developed software that will mask your current number with that of another. Test it yourself," Brainiac 5 said.
Kara clicked "murder" and then pushed the report button. "The Crows will now think the GCPD Commissioner has prank called them," Brainiac 5 said.
"I love this!" Kara said enthralled and started pushing the button repeatedly on her phone.
"In other news, Tim Tesla 'the titan' was shot by Jacob Kane on a subway train. He is in critical condition at Gotham General. He was once the Tennessee Titans' best tight-end of all time," Brainiac 5 said.
Kara looked up his stats. "Damn, a touchdown every game, a hundred touches, and over a thousand yards a season. We got ourselves our very own OJ Simpson in town," Kara said amazed.
"This subject interests you?" Brainiac 5 asked.
"Fuck yeah it does. I used to play football as a kicker in high school," Kara said.
"I know. I was there," Brainiac 5 said coyly.
Kara gave him an odd look. Kate then entered the office. "Hey, Kate, I heard you saw your father kill someone in front of you. Are you all shook up?"
"I'll get over it," Kate said uncomfortably.
"Kate, you ever watch football?" Kara asked conversationally.
"No, I'm a Lesbian, remember?" Kate reminded her.
"My sister is a Lesbian and she loves football so how about you stop stereotyping your own sexuality," Kara scolded. "Do you know the secret to Tim-the-Titan's success before he went bat-shit insane?" Kara asked her.
"Was it cute cheerleaders?" Kate guessed.
"No...steroids," Kara said obviously. "He snapped an official's neck in front of thousands of people. How's that for rage quitting?"
"It is up there," Brainiac 5 said.
"By the way, your father says that if he ever saw Batwoman again it would be war. He seemed super-serious about it," Kara said.
"Well, I guess I'm quitting then," Kate threw her hands up.
"Yeah, very funny," Kara rolled her eyes.
"I'm actually kind of serious. I need to take a break from this and clear my head, maybe go into the wilderness again, and find myself," Kate said thoughtfully.
"Batwoman doesn't get a summer vacation. The city had a fucking fit when Batman left for three months," Kara reminded her.
"I'm also thinking to do a fall semester at Gotham University," Kate added.
"Well, fuck me," Kara shook her head dismayed.
"You can still be Batwoman. You're much better than me," Kate said.
"I know I am but I'm pregnant and it's going to start showing. You've really fucked me on this, Kate," Kara said annoyed.
"Is this the part where you threaten to kill me and everyone I know?" Kate asked.
"No," Kara said softly. "I always had a contingency plan in the likely event you got yourself killed. Don't worry about it," Kara assured her.
"Well, okay then," Kate smiled obliviously.
Kara and Brainiac 5 hung out in the Bat-Cave as he worked on Kryptonite. "The 'nite' at the end of Kryptonite indicates it's a mineral rather than an element. In this case, Kryptonite simply means a mineral from Krypton and has no connection to the element Krypton," Brainiac 5 said.
"Our ancestors must have been total nerds to name our planet after a lame-ass gas," Kara shook her head unimpressed.
"Actually, the Krypton gas was used in ancient religious ceremonies to light people's way. It was prized, not due to its utility, but its rareness," Brainiac 5 informed her.
"Okay," Kara said impressed with his knowledge of Kryptonian history.
"The closest resemblance Kryptonite has with any Earth mineral is Torbernite, a green radioactive mineral made up of hydrated copper, phosphate, and uranium," Brainiac 5 said.
"I bet it's like super-hard," Kara said wide-eyed.
"Actually, it's relatively soft registering a 2 on the Moh's scale. It has been established that the melting point of Kryptonite is relatively low. The Kryptonite itself is not what causes penetration of the suit. Using this rail gun, I can penetrate the suit with a Kryptonite laced projectile," Brainiac 5 said showing her the rail gun.
"If that's the case, why did Lucius Fox write that in his journal? Was he expecting someone like me to put on the suit?" Kara asked.
"I may have suggested that a certain rogue Kryptonian might steal the Bat-suit for nefarious purposes," Brainiac 5 said.
"God damn," Kara shook her head dismayed.
"I seek to inspire mankind to evolve and better themselves technologically," Brainiac 5 said defensively.
"Uh-huh, I'm not buying it," Kara said skeptically.
"Kate is in the Batsuit at the Gotham stadium in broad daylight," Brainiac 5 brought up.
"I have to fire her, Barney. I am so done with this shit! She was my last hope!" Kara raged.
"No, there is another," Brainiac 5 reminded her.
At the Gotham stadium, Kate confronted Tim-the-Titan's brother as he went up and down stadium stairs alone. "Who's there?" he asked noticing Batwoman.
"Someone who thinks you're pretty bold to be by yourself with the Titan on the loose," Kate said. Titan had managed to escape Gotham General and was on the prowl.
"If this is about my brother, I can't help you. If this is about season tickets, I don't want to," Apollo said snarkily.
"I guess my question is are you helping him?" Kate asked accusingly. "He is the only family you have left."
"Well, if you did your research you would know I testified against his ass. Not that I needed to, mind you. He fucking killed a ref in front of thousands of people," he said.
"You did the right thing. You got a psychopath off the streets," Kate complimented.
"I know, right," Apollo said, proud of himself.
"Really? I thought you were going to blame steroids or the game itself for his sudden change," Kate said confused.
"Nah, he was always an asshole. He made millions of dollars, lived in luxury, and could have quit after a few seasons if he really wanted to. But he got greedy and prideful, so he kept going signing contract-after-contract even as his brain was getting pummelled. So, don't blame the game, blame the player," Apollo said.
"Well, okay then," Kate said surprised by this reaction. "We can find him and get him the help he needs."
"Honestly, I don't give a damn. I hope next time, the cops shoot his black ass dead for real," Apollo said scornfully.
"Tell me where to find him?" Kate asked exiting the shadows...of the stadium hallway.
"He's actually over there," Apollo pointed out.
"Well, that's damn convenient," Kate considered.
"Apollo!" Titan shouted as he walked towards them with machete blades.
"This is the part where you run," Kate said to him.
"No shit," Apollo said taking off.
Kate threw a Batarang at Titan hitting him in the shoulder. Titan sliced the Batarang off with his blade and kept coming. The two charged each other with Kate flipping over him. She took out a projectile cable gun only for Titan to slice it in half. The two engaged in hand-to-hand combat in the stands as Apollo watched curiously. Titan then kicked her to the floor and tossed her into the seats.
Titan eyed Apollo with killer intent. "Oh, shit," Apollo realized and started running for real.
Titan threw his blade at him hitting him in the back dropping him. "You abandoned me to a prison. Now, I'm going to kill your ass," Titan said as he withdrew his blade from Apollo's back and allowed him to bleed out.
That night, the press was in a frenzy over the killings. "Commander Kane, what are your thoughts on these murders? Not even Batwoman could take Titan down."
"The fuck did I just hear?" Jacob said incredulously to the reporter. "Look, Batwoman is the reason Titan got out of Arkham in the first place."
"So, you don't find Batwoman's efforts to bring down Titan as helpful?" the reporter asked.
"Fuck no. Batwoman is a threat to the people of this city. The Crows and the GCPD will bring her to justice as well as anyone that has aided and abetted her," Jacob said angrily.
"We're in deep shit now," Kara chuckled to Brainiac 5 in the Bat-Cave as she watched the news. Kara then turned to Kate nursing a shoulder injury. "So, Titan escaped, Apollo is dead, and you got your ass kicked. Is that the score?" Kara asked her.
"He was, like, really strong," Kate excused.
"Reset her shoulder," Kara ordered Brainiac 5.
"This won't hurt at all," Brainiac 5 said and then shoved her shoulder back into place.
"Ow!" Kate cried out.
Kara scanned Kate's body for other injuries. "You got some cracked ribs. You're out," Kara told her.
"This can't be my last mission as Batwoman," Kate said depressed.
"Why not?" Kara asked her.
"I don't want to be like Brett Farve retiring on a low note where I don't even make the playoffs. I want to be like Peyton Manning winning that Superbowl and riding off into the sunset to make funny insurance commercials," Kate said passionately.
"My God, I know exactly what you mean," Kara said amazed.
"The man Titan beheaded on the subway wasn't a random victim. He was a neuroscientist until he was fired for falsifying athlete brain scans," Brainiac 5 reported.
"This man kept popular athletes on the field for the enjoyment of the public. He's a damn hero and we must avenge him," Kara said passionately.
"I hacked into NFL medical records. This is the scan they claimed Titan had. This is his real brain scan," Brainiac 5 displayed both scans for comparisons.
"Damn, he's got a hole in his brain," Kara said amused.
"The head trauma gave him an insensitivity to pain," Brainiac 5 concluded.
"That sounds really bad," Kate remarked.
"Kurt Donaghue, the former Gotham Gladiator football coach, is the man responsible for these brain injury coverups. Reasonable to assume Titan will target him next," Brainiac 5 said.
"Then we set a trap," Kara said obviously.
At Gotham stadium, a reporter was with Coach Kurt in the middle of the field. "I'm with former Coach Kurt Donaghue who recently got his ass fired for covering up false brain scans of his players. Isn't that right?" the reporter asked bluntly.
"Yep," Kurt confirmed and then spat on the ground.
"What would you like to say to Titan assuming he's even watching the local news at this exact time?" the reporter asked.
"If you're listening, Titan, I'm not sorry. Join me on the fifty-yard line so I can give you your final concussion," Kurt said to the camera.
On the outskirts of Gotham away from the public eye, Kara and Brainiac 5 met with Alice. At her feet was a body with a hood over his head. "Let's see it," Kara said already knowing who it was.
Alice took off his hood revealing Mouse dead. Brainiac 5 quickly scanned the body. "He was poisoned."
"Ah, a woman's approach to murder," Kara smirked. "Did you do this to get on my good side...because it's working."
"I did it for me. I want to be free of this persona, this identity, this history," Alice said to her.
"Let us begin the ritual," Kara said as Brainiac 5 gave her a copy of Alice in Wonderland. Kara fired heat vision on Mouse's body incinerating him. "Like father, like son."
She then approached Alice with the book and gave it to her. With her eyes, she lit the trash inside a rusted barrel creating a roaring flame. "Now, let it go into the flames," Kara ordered.
Alice wiped away her tears and then slowly dropped the book into the fire where it burned to ash. Kara was at her side as the book was slowly consumed. "Who are you now?" Kara asked her.
"Beth Kane," she said.
"Where is Alice?" Kara asked her.
"Dead and buried," Beth assured her.
"Come with me," Kara said to her taking her back to Gotham.
At the Gotham Stadium, Coach Kurt was on the fifty-yard line bored. Crow personnel were all around the entrances and exists making it obvious it was a trap. Batwoman was on the stadium roof looking over the entire field. Brainiac 5 casually walked over to a Crow sniper, knocked him out, and then morphed his clothes to that of a Crow's uniform. He then eyed everything going on inside the stadium.
The power suddenly went off. Crow personnel immediately activated their flashlights on their rifles giving away their positions instead of using night vision equipment. Brainiac 5 continued to keep his position, able to see perfectly in the dark.
"Why are we in the dark?" Jacob barked.
"Not sure, commander," a squad leader said.
"Turn those damn flashlights off!" Jacob hissed.
"Wait...what?" the squad leader wondered. Titan suddenly swatted the squad leader to the head with his machete knocking him out.
Titan systematically took out each Crow member deactivating their flashlights as he did. Batwoman shook her head incredulously as an entire Crow squad went down. "Is this real? Is this happening?" Kara radioed Brainiac 5.
"It is, indeed," Brainiac 5 said unimpressed.
Titan then charged Kurt on the field with his blades out. The remaining Crows inexplicably didn't shoot his ass down. Batwoman fired a cable dart into the field and then descended down from the roof towards Titan. As she did, her cape flung out slowing down her descent to a manageable level. Batwoman landed near Coach Kurt.
"Go," Batwoman ordered him off. He proceeded to run as fast as he could out of the stadium.
Batwoman extended her staff as she engaged Titan's blades. Batwoman got a good hit on Titan's leg but was thrown to the ground. Batwoman lost her staff as she disarmed him of one of his blades. Titan then threw her into a practice dummy and sliced down with his remaining machete. Batwoman blocked the blade with her armband. The two were locked in place as neither gave ground. Titan screamed at her as he put more effort into his blade.
Suddenly, the Crows fired into Titan's back killing him for real this time. Batwoman got up and then conveniently the power went back on. It was then revealed that she was surrounded by a Crows squad led personally by Jacob. They all had M4 rifles on her.
"What are you doing?" Batwoman asked Jacob.
"I promised you war. This is what it looks like," Jacob said to her.
"It looks like a circular firing squad to me. If you all fire at once, you'll end up shooting yourselves," Batwoman said obviously.
"They're here only to keep you from escaping. I'm the one that's going to put a bullet in your head," Jacob said to her.
"I don't believe you," Batwoman said to him.
Jacob fired into her right shoulder. The bullet bounced off the suit. Batwoman gave Jacob a surprised look but kept her footing. Jacob then tossed a smoke grenade at her. "What is this going to do?" Batwoman asked as green smoke flowed around her.
Brainiac 5 eyed the scene intently as Batwoman was overwhelmed in green smoke. She began to cough from the Kryptonite smoke. "A little something my brother-in-law, Bruce Wayne, gave me. You might have heard of him," Jacob said smugly.
"I must admit it took me a while to figure it out. One night you were a ferocious killer and the next a complete amateur that got her ass kicked by even the weakest of criminals. Then, Supergirl saved your ass from me that one time. Then, I knew the truth. Batwoman doesn't exist at all. It's just Supergirl dressed up as a Bat to troll my agency and this city. Well, now, I have the upper hand. You're going to be put in a Kryptonite cell for the rest of your miserable life," Jacob said to her.
Batwoman emerged from the green smoke unaffected and punched Jacob to the ground. She then fired a projectile cable gun to the roof of the stadium ceiling. The Crows immediately fired on her as she ascended to the roof. Brainiac 5 then withdrew from the stadium.
Batwoman entered the Bat-Cave and collapsed. Kara walked over to her and scanned her injuries. "Let's get the suit off you."
Batwoman then took off her cowl revealing herself to be Kate.
Kate was dressed in a t-shirt and pajama pants as she sat on a couch in Kara's office. "Have a drink," Kara offered her. "You did a good job keeping that coach alive and keeping Titan at bay long enough for the Crows to kill his ass. This might be your best outing yet," Kara complimented.
"I think...it's my last outing," Kate sulked.
"Say what?" Kara thought she misheard.
"My own father tried to kill me. He saw me as no different than the terrorists he fought in the Middle East. He saw me as his enemy," Kate said.
"He doesn't know you are Batwoman. He thought Batwoman was Supergirl for a moment there, but your performance is going to confuse the fuck out of him," Kara smiled.
"The look in his eyes was anger and hate. I've never seen my father so bloodthirsty...to kill me," Kate said.
"We can take turns kicking his ass if that's what you want," Kara offered.
"My father considers Batwoman to be just as crazy as Alice," Kate said sadly.
"Your father loves you, Kate, in his own way. He's the commander of the Crows not just because of the six-figure pay, the benefits, the prestige, the authority, and...," Kara said.
There was an awkward pause between them. "Lost my train of thought," Kara admitted.
"Really?" Kate asked dismayed.
"Your father runs the Crows to keep you and your sister, Mary, safe for as long as you two live in Gotham," Kara told her.
"It's more than just my father's hate. I've made so many compromises being Batwoman. I've gone along with your killing, torturing, and complete disregard for other people's safety. I did it because I naively thought I could change what we had from the inside, to make you more like me. But instead, I think I've become more like you and one terrible night I'll go too far and actually kill someone," Kate said reflectively as she looked out the window.
"Gotham is at war with itself. It always has been even before you were born. It requires soldiers to defend the innocent and put down the criminals. That is the sole purpose for why I am in this shithole city and every action I take, no matter how violent or cruel, is for the greater good of this city," Kara said to her.
"I can't take part in this anymore," Kate resigned turning back to her.
"Then what can you be a part of, Kate?" Kara asked condescendingly.
"I don't know," Kate admitted. "So, what's next? You going to kill me, throw me in a cell, kiss my memories away?" she asked cynically.
"No," Kara said softly as she looked out the window away from her. "You know, your moralizing, naivety, and general incompetence remind me of my own daughter when she was growing up."
"I'm sorry I disappointed you," Kate said sincerely.
"No, Kate, I haven't had this much fun in a long time. But what about Beth?" Kara asked her.
"Beth died in that terrorist attack. I should have accepted it and moved on. Now, I need to focus on my real sister, Mary, who I've been neglecting this whole time. I'm not going to let Alice distract me any longer," Kate said.
Kara gave Kate a sad look. "A girl has to make her own way," she said finally. "Good luck to you."
"Thank you for everything," Kate said shaking Kara's hand.
Kate then exited Wayne Tower feeling relieved, relaxed, and free. Regan waited for her on a street corner. "Are you sure you want to go on adventures with me?" Reagan asked her.
"Absolutely," Kate smiled. The two drove away on their motorcycle out of the city.
San Francisco
Meanwhile, Brainiac 5 led Mary to a common apartment near China Town in San Francisco. With his key, Brainiac 5 opened the door and found Catherine Hamilton Kane alive and well in the living room. "Mother," Mary said overjoyed at seeing her in person.
"I'm so sorry I faked my death. I've missed you this entire time," Catherine said to her daughter.
"I don't care why or how. I'm just happy to see you," Mary said tearfully as she embraced her.
"You may return to Gotham if you so choose," Brainiac 5 informed her.
"What of Alice?" Catherine asked fearfully.
"She's no longer a problem," Brainiac 5 assured her.
Gotham
At Crows headquarters, Jacob was noticeably pissed off at losing Batwoman and an expensive Kryptonite grenade that failed to work on her. "This might interest you. This was collected at the stadium," a Crow said handing him a collection of smashed bullets.
"That, in particular, is a slug from a Desert Eagle," the Crow said as Jacob looked it over.
"Desert Eagle can shoot through anything," Jacob doubted.
"Except a Bat-suit...apparently," the Crow said awkwardly.
"Then, we're going to have to find something stronger," Jacob mused.
In the Bat-Cave, Batwoman suited up and went over to an inventory of weaponry. She began taking gas balls, folded Batarangs, a TASER weapon, and a projectile cable gun and putting them on her utility belt. She took a pistol, slammed a magazine inside, and pulled the action back to chamber a round. She did the same with the second pistol and then placed them both in holsters.
The Batmobile then roared to life remotely as it spun around for her on a platform. Batwoman placed black make-up around her eyes and then put the cowl on her head. Batwoman calmly walked up the stairs to the platform hosting the Batmobile. The Batmobile cockpit opened for her.
Kara walked over to Batwoman. "While Kate is on vacation, I need you to fill in. Either I or Barney will be monitoring your every move to give you guidance. Consider this a trial run. Think you can handle this awesome responsibility?" Kara asked her.
"We'll see, won't we?" Beth replied.
Kara smiled as Batwoman leaped into the Batmobile and took off down the tunnel to an unsuspecting Gotham.
On the outskirts of Gotham, a portal opened and closed suddenly. Bruce Wayne eyed Gotham with bloodshot eyes, presumably from laughing too much. He smiled insanely and his complexion was deathly pale. He wore an all-black outfit with spikes featured on his shoulders. As he looked upon the city, he began to laugh uncontrollably.
End of Season 1
Author's Notes: I am considering a Batwoman Season 1.5, waiting until Jan 2021 for Season 2, or ending it here and now. I guess I'll let you decide. I hope I have entertained and/or offended you throughout this season. Remember, if Kate can be Batwoman anyone can.