12:30

Park Row, Gotham City

November 9th, 2015 AD.

Nyssa al Ghul found herself sitting in one of Julia's safehouses in Park Row. It was rundown, cold and dark, and stank of stagnant water and damp. Julia's bed on Infinity Isle was probably worth more than everything in here combined (and she knew that her niece had a dislike for ostentation). And this was how the girl had grown up? It was a miracle she hadn't ended up a sociopath. Or a two-bit thug. Or outright dead for the money in her pocket.

No, not a miracle. It was a sign. It was a sign that she was destined for more. That her sister was right to take her into the family. That Julia al-Qari was an al Ghul, not by right of blood, but by right of deed.

She held one of Julia's spare helmets. The expressionless visage of the Red Hood stared back at her. The face her niece wore for her crusade against both crime and her father.

Her attention snapped up at the creaking of the front door opening. She slid a hand to her belt, to her knife, and watched as two young men, both wearing red hockey masks in the style of her niece's helmet strode in, and stopped at the sight of her.

"Huh. Didn't think we'd be meeting the Boss Lady's Ma so soon." One of them commented, the picture of nonchalant calm. "Shouldn't you be at her side, rather than slumming it out here in Gotham?"

"...I am not my sister, boy." She hissed. "I am Nyssa al Ghul, sister to Talia. Daughter of the Demon's Head."

"Ah! My mistake, dear Lady. I am Left." He continued, offering her a mocking bow. "This is Right."

"We ran with Jules way back when. 'fore Wayne took her in." Right explained. "Here in the alley. When she came back...well, she told us everything. Not surprisingly, that was all we needed to know to throw our lot in with her."

"...And your real names?" Nyssa questioned.

"Ha! We're not that daft, Lady." Left grinned. "Neither are you. Real names are dangerous. Left and Right'll suffice for now, no?"

Nyssa sighed. "...I am aware of the 'Crime Alley Rules', I believe Julia called them."

"Correct." Right nodded. "The Boss Lady told you about them, huh?"

"Never thought we'd have to drag her out of the rubble." Left sighed. "She was really banged up. How is she?"

She hadn't got out on her own? A chill ran down Nyssa's spine. Talia hadn't cared how Julia had made it to her safehouse. What mother would care how her child survived? Even Father hadn't questioned it. If these two were telling the truth..

She hadn't got out on her own!

Nyssa sighed, breaking the silence after a few moments. "As well as can be expected after being blown up again."

"So not good then." Left let out a frustrated sigh. "Batman saved Joker again, didn't he?"

"He did. However, the clown will not be an issue anymore." Nyssa told them. "He is dead by my hand.

The pair stopped, and stared at her with slack jaws.

"Holy fuck."

Nyssa couldn't tell which one spoke, or if it was both of them, but she replied nonetheless, offering the simplest of explanations. "He hurt my niece."

"That's all we needed to hear!" Left was gleeful. "..Although now what we need to do is figure out why the B-Man kept saving the clown's pasty white ass."

"..Reckon he did it to keep employed?" Right questioned.

"Naw, The B-Man wouldn't do that." Left replied, with a faint grin. "He's already minted."

"The Boss Lady'd be too if she actually took any cash for herself."

Nyssa paused. That wasn't surprising. Julia was often punishingly pragmatic and mission oriented. "How...exactly how much money did my niece make?"

"...In two months?" Right asked with a roguish grin. "Just shy of one hundred million dollars. Most of which the boss lady funneled back into various charities and good courses across the world, all anonymously, of course. Don't think she actually took any profits for herself, aside from funds for gear and the odd chinese."

"Or pizza," Left chimed in. "Christ, pizza night's were fun."

"That they were. But that doesn't matter now." Right let out a sigh. "Pretty clear our plan's shot to hell now. Gotham'll remain the crime-ridden shithole it's always been."

The Daughter of the Demon raised an eyebrow, and glanced back down at the Red Helmet in her hands. After barely a minute's thought, she let out a long sigh, and held the helmet high. And Left and Right looked on in silence as she lowered it down upon her own head

. "Get our people together." The newest Red Hood said as she stood to her full height. "..We continue my niece's plan. An end to crime in Gotham. An end to Crime Alley….and an end to Batman."

Left and Right grinned matching grins, and offered Nyssa cheerful salutes. "...Got it Boss Lady." They spoke as one.

14:05

Justice League Watchtower, Earth Orbit

November 9th, 2015 AD.

"I have news."

It had taken him far too long to call this meeting. Bruce knew it. It had been ten days since he had confronted Julia in Crime Alley. Ten days since his daughter needed proof that she had meant something to him. And ten days since he couldn't do what she had asked of him.

Now he sat in the conference room of the Watchtower, his colleagues and friends all eyeing him with curiosity and trepidation. He had called a meeting somewhat out of the blue after all.

"Red Hood is Julia Todd."

Silence. There was absolute silence in the room as a range of expressions appeared on his colleagues face.

"Bruce?" It was Clark that spoke. "Not that I disbelieve you…but, how is that possible?"

"..I do not know." He admitted. "The al Ghul's are involved, but to what degree is yet unknown."

As the assembled Leaguers fell in swift and quiet discussion, they were forced back into silence when Shayera began laughing. Not a frustrated, nor amused laugh. But a giddy, pleased cackle of pure and unadulterated joy. "Ha! That's my old student! Good on her! Not even death could stop her! Haha!"

Batman shot her what would normally be a silencing glare, but the Thanagrian pointedly ignored it.

"Bruce, in two months she pretty much crippled crime in Gotham on her own. With nary a drop of innocent blood spilled. Why would I not be impressed with her? If she'd been Thanagarian, she'd have medals by now." Shayera beamed. "So! When is she coming back?"

Before he could tell her the cold, heartbreaking truth, Batman's thoughts were interrupted by an alert bursting into life on the main screen.

"Bruce, we have-...there's been an incident. I've been trying to reach you for over an hour now." It was Robin, speaking in a desperate and hurried voice.

"I am in a conference." Batman ground out. "It can wait."

"Bruce. Joker's dead."