Chapter 29
"So, you intended to hand Kate over to who you thought was Safiyah?" Luke asked, an eyebrow raised. The group was meeting in the Bat Cave. Kate decided that since Alex and Nia already knew her secret identity, there was no point in hiding the Cave.
"That was the game plan, just long enough to diffuse the bombs," Kara explained. She had changed out of her suit and into her street clothes, as had Alex and Nia. Luke had grabbed some extra chairs and they were all sitting near the Bat Computer.
"It wasn't a great plan but letting a bus full of kids die was a worse plan," Kate spoke up.
"Well, we stopped the guys we captured at Wayne Enterprises from using their cyanide capsules so maybe they could be interrogated but I doubt they'll cough anything up. Someone willing to die for the cause isn't going to suddenly turn on the person they swore allegiance to," Alex said.
"Don't be so sure. I got the distinct feeling that Tatiana isn't exactly doing this on the books," Kate told them.
"The fake bomb in the Glue Factory," Kara said. The reason there hadn't been a major explosion in the factory was because the big bomb had been a fake. The smaller explosions, which would not have been heard outside, were mostly just for show and to scare the workers. It was evident that Tatiana figured the heroes would go for the bomb that they thought would wreak the most havoc and damage, while the real bomb would have killed all of those children.
"Yes. Now, knowing her, if Safiyah had told her to do something big and splashy in Gotham, she'd have done it already. Not only that, but the Many Arms of Death would also have taken responsibility and said that they have exacted their revenge. Nothing would make things better than claiming that Batwoman had failed her city," Kate explained.
"So, because the one bomb was fake, you think Safiyah didn't give her blessing?" Nia found that a tad odd, but she didn't know the inner workings of the terrorist group.
"Nothing that happened today would ordinarily make the world news. However, Supergirl was there. While the other members of the Many Arms of Death may not believe everything they see on the internet, the fact that Kara has been helping out, well that has gotten attention," the brunette said.
"Tatiana was probably planning on keeping things as quiet as possible but since things were not going according to plan…" Mary spoke up.
"Exactly. She was hoping the bombing would justify her actions. The one thing that confuses me is that when she had the opportunity to come at me, she took off instead," Kate said.
"Maybe the fact that the cops were on the way deterred her," Alex suggested.
"Tatiana has killed cops before. They don't faze her," the brunette shook her head.
"Not to toot my own horn but…" Kara spoke up.
"I thought about that. She watched you whip through the factory and rip that bomb off the school bus. Maybe she wasn't sure she'd have enough time to do what she wanted to do," Kate shrugged.
"More like she wouldn't be able to make it stick. With Kara there, you'd get to a hospital faster than any ambulance would ever get you there. I'm guessing that National City's facilities have better technology that could even be utilized if need be. You said that she wants you dead to get Alice to go back to Coryana. She needs you alone and needs your death to be permanent," Mary said.
"Ok, so you're always going to have an escort, no matter where you go," Kara told her friend.
"Agreed. If Tatiana can't get to you then, her plan falls to pieces. It may already be heading down the drain if Safiyah has heard anything she doesn't like," Nia said.
"I don't think we can afford to sit on our hands," Alex wasn't one for this waiting game with trained assassins.
"You're right but that means doing what I suggested earlier," Kara said. Mary could see the look on Kate's face and she could tell that her half-sister wasn't thrilled with the idea.
"I said we needed to do something that Safiyah, and now Tatiana, wouldn't expect," the blonde told them.
"You're thinking about taking the fight to them, aren't you?" Alex could tell her sister was ready to end the hostilities. Too many innocents had been in the middle of the conflict.
"We're coming with," Nia told them.
"Someone needs to stay here to keep Gotham safe. We have no idea if Tatiana and any Many Arms of Death are left in the city. Though I would think they'd be trying to leave as quickly as possible," the Kryptonian said.
"We're going to need to go in as average citizens. We can't go in there, guns a blazing," Kate turned to Kara.
"We stay calm and she'll stay calm. It's the only way to start this but we have to let them know that we have no problem finishing it," Kara said.
"I'll tell the airport to prep the jet," Luke said.
To Be Continued…