Chapter 9: Batcave
"Let me get this straight. You were Batman for over 30 years, had four Robins, one who I've never heard of, three Batgirls, and no one bothered to tell me their involvement for seventeen years?" I summarized, frustrated. We were in the fabled Batcave. He was sitting at a massive computer, while I just took in everything. And there was a lot to take in. How did he get a robotic dinosaur in here? What was the giant penny from? Why did he a have a creepy looking puppet in a display case? Why was that one Robin costume away from everything else and why was it so tattered? And the biggest question on my mind: Who was Jason Todd, and why did Bruce get this pained look when his name was brought up? Just being in the cave made my head spin with questions.
"Dick asked that no one tell you. But since you figured it out, it doesn't matter anymore." He said calmly.
"Why tell me any of this? Yes I know about Terry, and I guessed about the rest of the family's involvement, but there isn't a reason to show me all this," I spread my arms out gesturing to the cave. "I mean, it's nice to know what is going on, but I don't have any desire to be a hero. I'm just hoping to survive the school year and go back to New York. What does anyone gain from me knowing?" I asked.
"I saw those bolas you made. And I know Dick trained you in self defense and basic detective skills. Terry is no where near your skill level and I'm getting older. You would be a benefit." Bruce said. He was admitting they could use my help. I never thought I'd ever hear Bruce ask me for help ever. It isn't exactly a common occurrence.
"What if I say no? If I just pretend none of this exists and continue living how I am now?" I asked. I already made up my mind that I would help, if only to get a chance to see the tech inside the Bat-suit, but I wanted to know his answer. He gave me a calculating look. I always felt exposed when he did that.
"I won't force you, just like I didn't force the others. But I wouldn't have offered if I knew you would say no." He said. For someone who barely talked to me, he really did know me. Must be a Batman thing.
"I'll help, but only if you answer me why this all started." I told him.
He pulled up a old news article on the computer. I skimmed through it, reading about the murder of Thomas and Martha Wayne. How terrible it was that their young son was witness to it. And now he was left all alone as sole heir to their massive company. It was tragic that Gotham had lost two of its best citizens to a random mugger. Over all the article felt detached and uncaring about the whole situation.
"Did the police ever catch the murderer?" I asked him. He shook his head, a dark look on his face.
"Okay. Did Batman take care of him?" I questioned. I knew Batman didn't kill, but revenge can make the strongest people break their morals. I'm not sure I would refrain from killing if faced with my family's murderer.
"No." He said. Another vague answer. My favorite. "I could've. I had the chance to. But I realized that it wouldn't make me any better than him. He died anyways when a building collapsed on him."
"Then why did you continue? If catching him was the end goal and you didn't do that, what was the point?" I was confused. I'm a goal oriented person. I set a goal, fulfill it and move on the next thing. That's why I had such a hard time understanding the point of superheroes. It must be an extremely unsatisfying job.
"It wasn't the end goal. Batman was created to help save the city. Gotham was sick. Still is. The criminals needed to be afraid of something. The police were just as corrupt as the criminals."
"So you took matters into your own hands. But why not try to help in a more conventional way? Donate money like normal rich people? Vigilantes haven't exactly been encouraged here."
"I did what needed to be done. And now Terry is continuing it for his own reasons." Bruce stated.
"What am I continuing?" Terry asked, walking into the cave. I glanced at my phone for the time. It was already six. I had been in here for 2 hours. It hadn't felt that long.
"Apparently the family tradition." I told him.
"Has he given you the tour? I haven't gotten that yet." Terry side glances at Bruce, who ignores him.
"Nope. This is all I've seen." I told him.
"McGinnis, stop talking and suit up." Bruce orders from the computer.
"Is he always like that?" I asked Terry.
"Usually. Sometimes he uses my first name," Terry said sarcastically. He walked off to change.
"So what am I supposed to do?" I turned back to Bruce.
"Familiarize yourself with the suit's circuits. The schematics are on that computer." Bruce instructed, pointing to a computer to the side of the main one. It was surrounded by beakers and chemicals, making me think it was normally used for substance analysis. I sat down and went to work. Terry walked out now as Batman.
"We have a secretary now?" He teased. I frowned at him.
"Watch it McGinnis. I would a better Batman than you." I warned turning towards him.
"There's a reason I'm Batman. I know what I'm doing." Terry countered. I rolled my eyes.
"I can guarantee that I have a better skill set than you do for detective work. Not to mention my gymnastics and self defense. I could probably take you out in a fight." I bragged.
"I doubt you could. I've fought on the streets. Plus I wouldn't fight an innocent girl," Terry argued.
"Sexist much? Or you just scared I'll win?" I taunted.
"I know I could beat you." Terry said cockily.
"Without your fancy Bat-suit? I know it enhances your strength." I gestured to the schematics on the computer behind me.
"I definitely can, Grayson."
"Don't count on it McGinnis."
"McGinnis, stop arguing and get to patrol." Bruce ordered. Terry made his way to protect Gotham from who knows what.
The cave became quiet once Terry left. I tuned out Bruce and Terry's conversation over the coms, studying page after page of information on the Bat-suit. And I have to say that it was a technological marvel even for something created 20 plus years ago. The suit's tech was more advanced than anything I had seen or read about. The more I read, the more I wanted Terry to hurry up and return so I could look at the actual suit over just reading it's specs.
My phone rang, starling me out of my reading. I looked at the time, surprised that it was around the normal time Anni called. I answered without looking, fully expecting Anni.
"Hola chica!" I greeted. I kept my voice low so I wouldn't bother Bruce.
"Hola to you too, but I'm most definitely a chico, Little Bird." My mood instantly fell. Dad was the last person I wanted to talk to.
"You're calling early." I forced myself to keep the annoyance out of my voice. I was literally sitting in the biggest secret he had kept from me. The urge to start yelling was strong but I managed to keep my temper in check for once.
"Well I have a free minute now, so I thought I'd take the chance to call, see how you liked your present." He reminded me. I had completely forgotten about that amid my anger towards him.
"I love it! Its an amazing ride! I took my friend Max for a ride today. She said the thing was terrifying and she'd love to ride again." I gave a genuine laugh. I might be mad at him, but he did do good with the bike.
"Great. Just don't go breaking any laws or you loose it. So what are you up to?" He asked. I glanced around the cave. I debated telling him that I knew. But I was still angry he didn't tell me. It was clear he didn't plan on telling either. He had decided what I should and shouldn't know about my heritage. I was mad he thought I didn't deserve to know.
"Oh, you know, homework. You?" I lied.
"Working, which I need to get back to. I'll talk to you later. Love you Little Bird"
"Bye." I replied shortly and hung up.
I returned to studying, going beyond the Bat-suit files and looking into all the gadgets Batman used. And once again I was blown away by how advanced it all was. All this just made me more acutely aware of how little I knew Bruce. The man was a genius. He invented tech decades ahead of its time,
managed to keep a secret identity from the public for over 30 years, and gained a reputation as the world's greatest detective. Not to mention everything he had built up and achieved as just Bruce Wayne. We had more in common than I first thought.
"I went through the suit and gadget files. Now what?" I asked Bruce around ten o'clock. I really wanted to research the mysterious Jason Todd, but I figured I'd help where Bruce wanted first.
"Get some sleep. This is a lot to take in for one day." He didn't even look at me. I didn't like that idea, but I wasn't going to push it. All my questions for him would have to wait.
"Wake up," I kicked Terry's leg to stop him from face planting into his food. He jolted awake. We were sitting at our usual lunch table waiting for Dana and Max. Terry had been falling asleep all morning, with one of us constantly waking him up.
"Sorry." He mumbled, rubbing his eyes.
"What time did you come back last night?"
"Two, I think. It was a long patrol." He shrugged. The poor kid looked ready fall asleep again.
"And what time did you actually get to sleep?"
"Six?" He guessed.
"What were you doing?" I asked.
"Some research and homework." He said. "It took longer than normal because I got hit in the head while stopping some Jokerz and I had a headach."
"Maybe Batman could use some help," I commented. His eyes widened in surprise.
"I don't think your dad would let you. Wasn't he the reason you didn't know?" Terry asked.
"That isn't what I meant McGinnis. I have no desire to run around Gotham dressed as a bat. I was thinking about maybe building some patrol bots to take care of minor crimes twips like Jokerz commit so you and Bruce could focus on the bigger stuff." I explained.
"Bigger stuff? What are you two talking about?" Dana asked as her, Max, and Chelsea Cunningham sat at the table. Terry looked like Dana's question hadn't fully processed in his mind yet. He really needed sleep. To be honest I was surprised he talked to me as long as he did without crashing.
"I was just offering to help pick up some of Terry's work so he can focus more on bigger things Bruce wants him to deal with." I said. It wasn't exactly a lie.
"You would think that someone who lived alone for so long wouldn't need to be so dependent. Its kinda weird. No offense Jamie." Max said.
"None taken. But until about five years ago, Bruce had the family butler live with him. Although my Dad said Alfred was more like family than an employee. He was the only person I ever knew who could win an argument with Bruce. And he made the best cookies. Alfred was more like a grandfather to me than Bruce." I told them. A thump interrupted our conversation. We turned to see Terry had fallen asleep and his head had fallen into his lunch. He didn't even wake up as he napped in his lunch.
"Poor Terry. Your Grandpa must really be working him hard." Chelsea commented. Dana gently shook him to no avail.
"Terry!" She shook him harder. He jumped up in surprise. Max and I couldn't help but laugh at the mashed potatoes stuck to his face. Chelsea handed him some napkins.
"Thanks. I think I'll take you up on you offer Jamie. Can you talk to Bruce?" He asked me.
"I already planned on it Sleepy." I smiled.
When I got home, I went straight for the cave, figuring that was where Bruce would be. I was right. He was sitting at the computer, video chatting with Uncle Damian. I approached quietly, not wanting to interrupt.
"You have a visitor Father." Uncle Damian said stiffly when he saw me. I remembered that I wasn't supposed to know about this and Uncle Damian probably thought I had just stumbled into the cave. Bruce glanced at me.
"This is Jamie, Damian. You know that." Bruce said.
"Yes, I recognize Grayson's child. What is she doing in the cave?" He asked.
"Hello to you too Uncle Damian." I muttered. He made a face at being called Uncle. He hated it when the twins or me called him "Uncle" so I used it as much as possible. Uncle Damian was my least favorite. He had an air of superiority about him that made me feel incompetent around him. I preferred Uncle Tim and Aunt Steph.
"Anyway, I suggest you keep an eye on MedCorp for suspicious activity. They haven't done enough for me to pursue this further." Damian continued, ignoring me.
"I'll keep an eye out and send Terry to investigate if needed." Bruce responded.
"Good. Goodbye Father. Grayson." Damian nodded to me and then ended the call. Bruce turned to me.
"I assume you came down here for a reason." He said.
"A few reasons actually." I started. He didn't say anything so I continued. " Firstly, I have an idea for some patrol bots to help Terry so he doesn't have to worry about every little dreg that decides to rob someone."
"And the other reason?"
"I want you to tell me who Jason Todd is and why haven't I heard of him before yesterday?" I said. Sure I had other questions, but this was the most pressing. Bruce gave me his uncomfortable calculating look for a minute.
"Fine. You will create schematics and blueprints for the bots. After I approve those, you have to build at least two working prototypes before I allow them out of the cave. Batman works with the best equipment and it will stay that way." He said. I nodded in response.
"And Jason Todd?" I pried. I really wanted to know. He closed his eyes and that pained expression crossed his face again. He gave a deep sigh, then looked me directly in the eyes.
"It wasn't long after Dick became Nightwing. I had returned to the Bat-mobile after a patrol to find a kid removing the tires..."
"When was the last time you saw him?" I asked when Bruce had finished.
"Seventeen years ago. I've kept tabs on him. He was in Gotham five years ago but hasn't been back since." Bruce stated.
I sat there going over the sad story of Jason Todd. His life seemed tragic from start to finish. It was weird, but in a way I related to him. My anger was something I had always struggled with. And from what Bruce told me about the Red Hood, I can't say I disagree with Todd's methods for criminals. It was strange, but I felt like I would have gotten along with Jason.
We had sat in silence for a bit, each lost in thought.
"Well, I guess I should start those bot plans if I don't want Terry falling asleep in class anymore," I got up and went to the second computer to get started.
I could give you a million reasons why this is very late, but no one has that kind of time.
So now Jamie is an honorary Bat! Yay for her!
Fun Fact: Jamie hates puppets, and thats why she was creeped out by the Scarface puppet in the display case