Dick and all others involved soon regretted finding out who Melissa's mother was even if it was an accident. When she arrived for weekly training she didn't even smile, choosing instead to throw herself into the task at hand. Besting every one of her teammates in sparring matches, working through drills and only taking a break when Nightwing ordered her to. She said nothing sitting against the wall, chugging the ice-cold water and trying to calm her spinning thoughts.

Could things get any crazier?

...


Meanwhile.

VILE Island.

It shocked the legions of henchmen when Carmen postponed her yearly game with The Dark Knight but they kept their mouths shut. No one wanted to be reprimanded not by Carmen.

So, they kept quiet while their boss locked herself in her office and set to solving the mystery Batman had presented her with whether he had intended to or not. It was child's play. Bruce Wayne although friendly and quite upbeat didn't really seem to expand his social circle often. It had, in fact, stayed the same for many years with the exception of a new child, a new Robin every once in a while. All it took was an article on the Foundation's generous donation to a small school and a few photos of Dick Grayson with a girl at several social gatherings.

There had been photos of the top art students from that school painting the mural in the newest building.

The girl-Melissa-had the star on her heel.

The image of which had been burned into Carmen's mind for sixteen years.

But there was more. A whole lot more and Carmen wasn't done yet.

You could learn a lot about someone by looking around their room. What Carmen found was very telling. After learning her daughter's new name, a quick internet search had done the rest and that's how Carmen now stood in her daughter's room looking around in curiosity. Dark colors everywhere, trying to mimic what she had grown up with. Dark clothing, bedding, curtains. But the curtains were left open. Allowing a view of the backyard where two Border Collies currently slept.

A desk littered with art supplies with a sewing basket beneath it, bright green fabric peeking out. Carmen shook her head.

Thalia should really be more careful

There were photos all around her that told her daughter's story but instead of taking one she simply looked.

She did want to take something, to learn a little more but she had to be careful about what it was

A picture's worth a thousand words they say but Carmen, Carmen was in the mood for some reading when


Melissa returned home she knew something wasn't right. True, there were a LOT of things not right with her life but stepping into her room she suddenly felt like her privacy had been invaded. Jenny used to search her room for razor blades convinced she was cutting herself when she first arrived. It would irritate her make her scream and hit Jenny. This felt a lot like that but she knew hiw to keep a handle on her anger now.

Mostly.

Glancing around she tried to find the source of her unease. Her nightstand was exactly how she had left it, her journal a pen and a worn-out copy of Matilda one of the few books she owned that weren't graphic novels or books on nature. Her bed was made, her desk still littered with art supplied and her sewing basket-

Oh, Now she understood.

I'm stupid.

She folded the green fabric so that it wouldn't be seen.

Why did she still feel uneasy then?


I loathe my sessions these days Carmen read. Mary wants me to talk about it. About him I'd rather die at the hands of the Joker, thank you very much. Still, she tries to get me to open up. Every time she does it feels like my lungs are going to burst and my heart will explode. Then she told me to at least write about it. One sentence at a time.

I can only try I suppose.

When I was little he used to buy me Barbies to keep me quiet while he worked. They didn't last very long a day maybe. He would get mad and throw them into the fireplace in my room. Lock me in there so I could watch them burn.

But that wasn't the worst.

When he would drink he'd

He would...

He...

The words trailed off, the pen sliding down the page.

Carmen had taken two of Melissa's full journals from months ago. Something that you wouldn't notice was missing until you went looking for it.

She turned the page.

"Everyone is born but not everyone is born the same"

I say this to myself sometimes when I wake up from a bad dream. I don't know why I was so attached to the movie as a kid. I supose I felt I could relate to Matilda but where she had books and Miss Honey I had my sisters and Art.

Carmen closed the journal.

It was time she paid a visit to the pair who had rescued her daughter.


You would be surprised just how easily Carmen could disguise herself. A smartly dressed reporter asking to interview some of the inmmates wasn't anything new.

"Miss Isley and Miss Quinnzel are in a visit right now but If you'd follow me,"

Carmen followed the beefy orderly as he expertly navigated her through the halls and to a thick steel door with guards posted on either side. The door opened shortly before they reached it. Carmen's breath hitched. That was her daughter! She watched as she retreated down the hall, her flip-flops smacking the floors loudly

After regaining her composure, Carmen strode into the room with a purpose. As soon as the guard was gone to help the riot happening several floors down Carmen spoke

"Tell me about the girl who was just here,"

"Why? What importance is she to you?" Ivy demanded, feeling fiercely protective just like she always did when someone asked about Melissa.

"I'm her mother,"

"Not likely," Ivy replied, straining against the cuffs on her seat.

"You aren't from the press, are ya lady?" Harley asked.

Carmen peeled off her mask. Took off her wig and shook out her hair. There was no one around to see so she placed her hat back on her head.

"You're-You're Carmen Sandiego," Harley exclaimed.

"Well", Ivy said thoughtfully. "That WOULD explain how gifted Melissa is."

"But it don't explain everything!", Harley shouted, then turned to Carmen. "If you're really her mom, why did you abandon her?! Why'd'ja leave her with that despicable, abusive jerk?! She had ta run away into the streets of Gotham ta getaway! When we found her, she was half-starved, dirty, and covered with bruises from him! WHERE THE HECK WERE YOU?! Too busy runnin' yer empire?!"

"He stole her from me. She was born early, a breech baby. I nearly died giving birth to her. I passed out and when I woke up he and the baby were long gone,"

Harley and Ivy remained tight-lipped. There was no way they were telling Carmen anything. Regardless of who she was. She didn't deserve to know anything about Melissa, not one thing. However, Carmen was insistent.

"Tell me about her," Carmen prompted, "And I can break you out of here,"

the duo looked at each other. That was appealing. Still, they remained quiet. Melissa would want them to stay put. To finish their time in Arkham so that they'd be free and then she'd be able to spend even more time with them.

"I can get you both certified sane,,"

Okay, that was VERY appealing!

But it was also cheating. Melissa wouldn't want that either. The duo shook their heads discussing Carmen's very appealing offer

"No, Lissa would be disappointed," Harley said.

From then on the two remained quiet. Oh well, Carmen had all the answers she needed anyway. Slipping back into her disguise she quickly left the building as if she had never been there at all.

There was one final stop she needed to make but that could wait.