Although confined to her wheelchair due to her physical disability,
Barbara's intellect was virtually unrestricted. She had managed to utilize
her keen intellect and her technological knowlege to ascend to the role of
a veritable Priestess of Information. She continued working as free lance
with her operatives and as the primary information broker for the
crimefighters in the world. Oracle was a palpable presence throughout the
world, tracking, researching and forever watching.
With her disabilities, Babs had pretty much hidden herself high up in her office clocktower, but she didn't want accept it. Very few visitors dropped by, apart from the occasional family member. But she still managed to kept contact with the outside world through the Net, and at school.
That weekend Barbara was in front of Delphi's, she looked at her watch and turned her head to the elevator. She started to type, after a few minutes she looked at her watch again and then the elevator again. She tapped her fingers on the desk impatiently. It was the first night of Helena patrolling and she felt nervous. The kid was good, really good, but she felt nervous anyway.
"Helena it's late!" she shouted. Suddenly she heard the elevator door opened. "What is that?" Barbara looked surprised Helena's costume.
"My work clothes." Helena said raising her hands and looking her black clothes, a top, pants and high boots with a short coat. She had a pony tail.
"Helena that is a oufit to go to a party."
"No, they are just are cool clothes."
"If every time that you patrol you are going to take your time dressing for a party, New Gotham is lost" Barbara sighed.
"I could be a crime fighter and still look nice." Helena shook her coat.
"Vain."
"It's bad to want to look nice?"
"You need a costume and a mask, I told you." Barbara scratched her head.
"No, no, I don't need one. You needed one, me no." Helena pointed. "It's dangerous for you."
"Not if no one sees me."
"Why you are so stubborn?"
"Again the same discussion?" Alfred walked in front of her "Let me remind you two that the last time you two were discussing almost two hours and the score was 0-0, no one won."
"Okay, it's your choice, come here." Barbara turned her chair to the computer. "This is Delphi system okay?"
"Pleasure." Helena put her hand on the back of the chair and leaned over the screen.
"Well I need you to keep your necklace on. Here on the screen I can see where you are and where are you going."
"That part don't like me."
"On this other screen I have the police frequency and I know what's happening in the city. I'll call you and advise where the trouble spots are."
"Is this legal?"
"No, and don't ask okay?"
"Okay."
"We can start with a common thief." Barbara said typing on the keyboard. "I need for you start with something easy."
"Killer Croc wasn't easy." Helena crossed her arms.
"I know, but I don't want to put you at risk unecessarily. You get into enough trouble on your own. Now go."
Helena rolled her eyes and walked out. Alfred entered the lab and stood next Barbara after seeing Helena stepping into the elevator. The door closed.
"This time it's serious, she starts patrolling at nights. Are you sure that she is ready to go out alone?" Alfred asked crossing his hands in his back.
"No." Barbara said looking him surprised by the question.
"So?"
"I'll follow her in the Hummer but don't say a word, she doesn't need to know."
"Smart move."
"She doesn't think sometimes. I don't want her to get herself killed.
"Yes, that's true."
"Remember this is our secret." She took her keys and wheeled to the elevator. "See you."
"Good luck." He smiled watching her go.
* * *
Helena was crouched over a big building with New Gotham at her feet. It was marvelous to see the lights of the city and the movement down below. She closed her eyes feeling the cold wind on her face. Now she understood why Barbara missed her days of being Batgirl. It wasn't only being a crime fighter, it was the freedom that allowed her to breath there.
::Okay, I'm testing it again. now copy clear?:: she heard Barbara's voice
"Yes, it's better now, a few minutes ago it was awful."
::Frequency problems solved. Helena go to your right ::
"To my right, got it."
* * *
A man was hitting a woman in an alley. The woman screamed. She was a lady that was used to working on the streets, her dress showed that. He was tall and put her into a corner and he took his belt off to hit her.
"I said you must pay me!" he shouted.
"Leave me alone!"
A hand touched his shoulder and he turned.
"Put down that thing"
"Stupid bitch." He tried to hit her but Helena stopped his wrist. She turned and kicked him making him fell. He stood up and charged her.
Helena jumped and the man crashed against some empty boxes. He stood up again and tried to hit her, but Helena was to agile and she avoided all his blows. She moved faster and punched him twice, with a final kick she make him fall.
He sat on the floor and saw that her lip was bleeding, "Who the hell are you?"
"I'm the Huntress. and you are my prey." She kicked him again and he fell. She stood up faster and ran down street.
::The Huntress?:: Barbara asked.
"We are hunting right? Do you have a better idea?"
::No. sounds good.::
"And it's as cool as my clothes" Helena turned to see the woman and helped her to stood up.
::I thought you would call yourself 'lady of the rings'::
"Very funny," Helena kneeled next the woman "She is bleeding from her head Barbara."
::Oracle please, we are working.:: the red head corrected her.
"Okay Oracle, she is bleeding."
::Tell her that there is a Fire Department two blocks ahead, they could help her.::
"Where?" Helena turned back, "She is bleeding so much."
::Just tell her. She will understand, they have paramedics there and they will help her:: Oracle sighed.
Helena explained to the young woman and she walked toward it. She looked her go. Suddenly she felt danger; she turned on her. "Problems." She said.
::What happen Helena?::
"Huntress, we are working."
::Okay, Huntress.::
Helena saw suddenly the guy that she had beat up followed by four more men.
"Time to play bitch" He smiled.
"You never told me that a hero received so many insults," Helena told Barbara. "I thought a hero would receive cheers and hurray's"
::You never asked.:: Barbara answered. ::what happened?::
"Our friend brought some friends with him. Party!" Helena smiled.
::Be careful::
* * *
Barbara was worried, she took the binoculars that she had in her front seat of the Hummer and watched the fight. She had been following her with the lap top. She was hidden in a corner following her protegee, she want be sure that she was safe. She watched in amazement at how Helena moved. She was a natural fighter, agile and strong. Not one of the men could touch her. Finally Helena knocked out all the men.
"Very good" Barbara said.
::Thanks.:: Helena smiled feeling proud of her self.
"You just need to practice ducking a bit more."
::Yes, I. hey how do you kow that?::
"I'm Oracle and.."
::Yes I know I know, and Oracle sees everything:::
* * *
The streets of New Gotham were full of people and cars. The snow now covered all the city with almost 6 inches. All the department stores were full of customers buying their Christmas presents. The Christmas season was on. At Clock Tower, Barbara was guiding Alfred decorating the Christmas tree. Alfred was up on a lader installing some lights. She had some ornaments in her hands.
"To the right Alfred." she said. "Yes there. now the star."
"Wouldn't it would be better for Miss Helena climb to the top?" he asked. "She is thirty-five years younger than me."
"Yes. it would be better. She is outside putting the lights on the clock." Barbara wheeled outside while Alfred stepped down off of the ladder.
Barbara went out on the balcony of the Clock Tower and looked up. Helena was sat at the top of the clock tangled between the cables. She almost finished installing the lights. She smiled seeing her growling and fighting to untangle the lights.
"How is it going?" Barbara asked her.
"I hate this."
Barbara saw the socket on the floor and connected it. The lights came on illuminating everything, including Helena. "You look great up there, I should leave you there."
"Ha, ha." the kid faked a laugh.
"I need you inside to put the star on top of the tree. Hurry up."
"I'm coming,."
Barbara wheeled inside the Clock Tower again. Alfred was finishing putting the ornaments on the tree. "Miss Helena?" he asked. Suddenly a big noise was listened. Barbara saw some of the lights fall through the window of the Clock, she raised her brow.
"She is coming, she just jumped down off the rooftop with her usual style."
After a few seconds, Helena walked in cleaning her clothes off. "Those lights are a big problem."
"Maybe if you untangle it first, it would be easier." Barbara said handing her the star. Helena looked around "Did you finish?"
"Yes, just help us with the star."
Helena put the star on the top of the tree and she moved down next to Barbara. She put her hands in her pants pockets. The tree was marvelous, and the ornaments were beautiful.
"It's a nice tree." Barbara said. "We didn't celebrate Christmas the
first year."
"Well" Helena sighed with sadness "We didn't have many things to celebrate."
Barbara looked her and nodded. "But now things looks better."
"Yeah, that's true." The smell of the tree brought Helena's old memories back to the past; years spent in her home with her mother. She smiled lightly.
* * *
"Helena where are you?" Selina asked walking down stairs. It was almost three o clock in the morning and her child wasn't in her room. She rubbed her arms, it was freezing and it was snowing. She must always keep an eye on her.
The child was just 4 years old but she would disappear with ease. Last year she had taken her to a department store and in a second she had disappeared. A few minutes later she found her over a big train that was hanging as an ornament from the ceiling almost five feet over the floor. She had jumped there. The lights had caught her attention and she wanted to touch the Santa Claus that was inside the train and moved his head mechanically.
Selina walked into the kitchen, and later she went to the living room. She turned on a lamp. And looked around. "Helena?" She bit her lip and walked to the couch. She looked behind it and smiled. Helena was curled trying to felt warm while she slept on the floor. Selina moved the couch and kneeled to pick her up.
Helena opened her sleepy eyes when she felt her mother picking her up, she pushed her back with her hands
"No mom." she said drowsily.
"Shhh. It's cold, you are freezing." Selina told her in low voice.
"I want. to catch Santa and you are making too much noise, go away"
Selina smiled "You what?"
"Let me." Helena was more asleep than awake. She rested her head on her mom's chest with her eyes closed, "I want to catch Santa."
"If Santa sees you, he won't leave you a gift." Selina walked to the stairs with the child in her arms.
".No it's dark. he couldn't see me but I could see him."
"That's cheating Hel." Selina laughed.
Helena hugged her mom and started to purr. "Leave me in the living room mom," she asked almost asleep.
"Okay, just let me put a sweater on you, okay?" Helena nodded lightly. Selina put Helena on her bed and covered her with the bedspread.
"Go mom.Santa will come." Helena whispered turning to her side.
"Okay, I'll go, good night." Selina kissed her forehead.
"Nite."
She stood up smiling watching her child sleep. It was the best gift that the life could give to her.
* * *
Helena blinked, she could feel that moment and smell her mother's scense; her eyes were moist, she swallowed and walked out the room with out saying a word. Barbara realized that she was crying and looked at Alfred, he had seen her too. He nodded and Barbara followed her.
Helena stood up at the cornice of the balcony looking down. Suddenly she felt lonely. She felt an emptiness in her soul. She listened to the noise of the wheelchair behind her and she wiped her tears away quickly. "I guess that we could install some lights here too right?" Helena said and didn't turn around. She was trying to avoid seeing that Barbara had realized that she was crying.
"Yes, it would be good." Barbara sighed "But you can do it later, it's snowing now."
"No, I could do it now." Helena walked faster showing her back to Barbara. She kneeled to untangle the cables where she had been working a few mintes ago.
"May I help you?" Barbara asked.
"No, go inside, I'll finish in a few minutes."
Barbara kept silent and didn't move. She almost could touch the sadness of the kid. "Do you feel okay?" she asked.
"Of course, go inside Barbara is so cold here."
Barbara moved her head and wheeled back to Clock Tower. As soon as Helena heard the door closed, she covered her face with her hands and cried, feeling small, very small.
* * *
With her disabilities, Babs had pretty much hidden herself high up in her office clocktower, but she didn't want accept it. Very few visitors dropped by, apart from the occasional family member. But she still managed to kept contact with the outside world through the Net, and at school.
That weekend Barbara was in front of Delphi's, she looked at her watch and turned her head to the elevator. She started to type, after a few minutes she looked at her watch again and then the elevator again. She tapped her fingers on the desk impatiently. It was the first night of Helena patrolling and she felt nervous. The kid was good, really good, but she felt nervous anyway.
"Helena it's late!" she shouted. Suddenly she heard the elevator door opened. "What is that?" Barbara looked surprised Helena's costume.
"My work clothes." Helena said raising her hands and looking her black clothes, a top, pants and high boots with a short coat. She had a pony tail.
"Helena that is a oufit to go to a party."
"No, they are just are cool clothes."
"If every time that you patrol you are going to take your time dressing for a party, New Gotham is lost" Barbara sighed.
"I could be a crime fighter and still look nice." Helena shook her coat.
"Vain."
"It's bad to want to look nice?"
"You need a costume and a mask, I told you." Barbara scratched her head.
"No, no, I don't need one. You needed one, me no." Helena pointed. "It's dangerous for you."
"Not if no one sees me."
"Why you are so stubborn?"
"Again the same discussion?" Alfred walked in front of her "Let me remind you two that the last time you two were discussing almost two hours and the score was 0-0, no one won."
"Okay, it's your choice, come here." Barbara turned her chair to the computer. "This is Delphi system okay?"
"Pleasure." Helena put her hand on the back of the chair and leaned over the screen.
"Well I need you to keep your necklace on. Here on the screen I can see where you are and where are you going."
"That part don't like me."
"On this other screen I have the police frequency and I know what's happening in the city. I'll call you and advise where the trouble spots are."
"Is this legal?"
"No, and don't ask okay?"
"Okay."
"We can start with a common thief." Barbara said typing on the keyboard. "I need for you start with something easy."
"Killer Croc wasn't easy." Helena crossed her arms.
"I know, but I don't want to put you at risk unecessarily. You get into enough trouble on your own. Now go."
Helena rolled her eyes and walked out. Alfred entered the lab and stood next Barbara after seeing Helena stepping into the elevator. The door closed.
"This time it's serious, she starts patrolling at nights. Are you sure that she is ready to go out alone?" Alfred asked crossing his hands in his back.
"No." Barbara said looking him surprised by the question.
"So?"
"I'll follow her in the Hummer but don't say a word, she doesn't need to know."
"Smart move."
"She doesn't think sometimes. I don't want her to get herself killed.
"Yes, that's true."
"Remember this is our secret." She took her keys and wheeled to the elevator. "See you."
"Good luck." He smiled watching her go.
* * *
Helena was crouched over a big building with New Gotham at her feet. It was marvelous to see the lights of the city and the movement down below. She closed her eyes feeling the cold wind on her face. Now she understood why Barbara missed her days of being Batgirl. It wasn't only being a crime fighter, it was the freedom that allowed her to breath there.
::Okay, I'm testing it again. now copy clear?:: she heard Barbara's voice
"Yes, it's better now, a few minutes ago it was awful."
::Frequency problems solved. Helena go to your right ::
"To my right, got it."
* * *
A man was hitting a woman in an alley. The woman screamed. She was a lady that was used to working on the streets, her dress showed that. He was tall and put her into a corner and he took his belt off to hit her.
"I said you must pay me!" he shouted.
"Leave me alone!"
A hand touched his shoulder and he turned.
"Put down that thing"
"Stupid bitch." He tried to hit her but Helena stopped his wrist. She turned and kicked him making him fell. He stood up and charged her.
Helena jumped and the man crashed against some empty boxes. He stood up again and tried to hit her, but Helena was to agile and she avoided all his blows. She moved faster and punched him twice, with a final kick she make him fall.
He sat on the floor and saw that her lip was bleeding, "Who the hell are you?"
"I'm the Huntress. and you are my prey." She kicked him again and he fell. She stood up faster and ran down street.
::The Huntress?:: Barbara asked.
"We are hunting right? Do you have a better idea?"
::No. sounds good.::
"And it's as cool as my clothes" Helena turned to see the woman and helped her to stood up.
::I thought you would call yourself 'lady of the rings'::
"Very funny," Helena kneeled next the woman "She is bleeding from her head Barbara."
::Oracle please, we are working.:: the red head corrected her.
"Okay Oracle, she is bleeding."
::Tell her that there is a Fire Department two blocks ahead, they could help her.::
"Where?" Helena turned back, "She is bleeding so much."
::Just tell her. She will understand, they have paramedics there and they will help her:: Oracle sighed.
Helena explained to the young woman and she walked toward it. She looked her go. Suddenly she felt danger; she turned on her. "Problems." She said.
::What happen Helena?::
"Huntress, we are working."
::Okay, Huntress.::
Helena saw suddenly the guy that she had beat up followed by four more men.
"Time to play bitch" He smiled.
"You never told me that a hero received so many insults," Helena told Barbara. "I thought a hero would receive cheers and hurray's"
::You never asked.:: Barbara answered. ::what happened?::
"Our friend brought some friends with him. Party!" Helena smiled.
::Be careful::
* * *
Barbara was worried, she took the binoculars that she had in her front seat of the Hummer and watched the fight. She had been following her with the lap top. She was hidden in a corner following her protegee, she want be sure that she was safe. She watched in amazement at how Helena moved. She was a natural fighter, agile and strong. Not one of the men could touch her. Finally Helena knocked out all the men.
"Very good" Barbara said.
::Thanks.:: Helena smiled feeling proud of her self.
"You just need to practice ducking a bit more."
::Yes, I. hey how do you kow that?::
"I'm Oracle and.."
::Yes I know I know, and Oracle sees everything:::
* * *
The streets of New Gotham were full of people and cars. The snow now covered all the city with almost 6 inches. All the department stores were full of customers buying their Christmas presents. The Christmas season was on. At Clock Tower, Barbara was guiding Alfred decorating the Christmas tree. Alfred was up on a lader installing some lights. She had some ornaments in her hands.
"To the right Alfred." she said. "Yes there. now the star."
"Wouldn't it would be better for Miss Helena climb to the top?" he asked. "She is thirty-five years younger than me."
"Yes. it would be better. She is outside putting the lights on the clock." Barbara wheeled outside while Alfred stepped down off of the ladder.
Barbara went out on the balcony of the Clock Tower and looked up. Helena was sat at the top of the clock tangled between the cables. She almost finished installing the lights. She smiled seeing her growling and fighting to untangle the lights.
"How is it going?" Barbara asked her.
"I hate this."
Barbara saw the socket on the floor and connected it. The lights came on illuminating everything, including Helena. "You look great up there, I should leave you there."
"Ha, ha." the kid faked a laugh.
"I need you inside to put the star on top of the tree. Hurry up."
"I'm coming,."
Barbara wheeled inside the Clock Tower again. Alfred was finishing putting the ornaments on the tree. "Miss Helena?" he asked. Suddenly a big noise was listened. Barbara saw some of the lights fall through the window of the Clock, she raised her brow.
"She is coming, she just jumped down off the rooftop with her usual style."
After a few seconds, Helena walked in cleaning her clothes off. "Those lights are a big problem."
"Maybe if you untangle it first, it would be easier." Barbara said handing her the star. Helena looked around "Did you finish?"
"Yes, just help us with the star."
Helena put the star on the top of the tree and she moved down next to Barbara. She put her hands in her pants pockets. The tree was marvelous, and the ornaments were beautiful.
"It's a nice tree." Barbara said. "We didn't celebrate Christmas the
first year."
"Well" Helena sighed with sadness "We didn't have many things to celebrate."
Barbara looked her and nodded. "But now things looks better."
"Yeah, that's true." The smell of the tree brought Helena's old memories back to the past; years spent in her home with her mother. She smiled lightly.
* * *
"Helena where are you?" Selina asked walking down stairs. It was almost three o clock in the morning and her child wasn't in her room. She rubbed her arms, it was freezing and it was snowing. She must always keep an eye on her.
The child was just 4 years old but she would disappear with ease. Last year she had taken her to a department store and in a second she had disappeared. A few minutes later she found her over a big train that was hanging as an ornament from the ceiling almost five feet over the floor. She had jumped there. The lights had caught her attention and she wanted to touch the Santa Claus that was inside the train and moved his head mechanically.
Selina walked into the kitchen, and later she went to the living room. She turned on a lamp. And looked around. "Helena?" She bit her lip and walked to the couch. She looked behind it and smiled. Helena was curled trying to felt warm while she slept on the floor. Selina moved the couch and kneeled to pick her up.
Helena opened her sleepy eyes when she felt her mother picking her up, she pushed her back with her hands
"No mom." she said drowsily.
"Shhh. It's cold, you are freezing." Selina told her in low voice.
"I want. to catch Santa and you are making too much noise, go away"
Selina smiled "You what?"
"Let me." Helena was more asleep than awake. She rested her head on her mom's chest with her eyes closed, "I want to catch Santa."
"If Santa sees you, he won't leave you a gift." Selina walked to the stairs with the child in her arms.
".No it's dark. he couldn't see me but I could see him."
"That's cheating Hel." Selina laughed.
Helena hugged her mom and started to purr. "Leave me in the living room mom," she asked almost asleep.
"Okay, just let me put a sweater on you, okay?" Helena nodded lightly. Selina put Helena on her bed and covered her with the bedspread.
"Go mom.Santa will come." Helena whispered turning to her side.
"Okay, I'll go, good night." Selina kissed her forehead.
"Nite."
She stood up smiling watching her child sleep. It was the best gift that the life could give to her.
* * *
Helena blinked, she could feel that moment and smell her mother's scense; her eyes were moist, she swallowed and walked out the room with out saying a word. Barbara realized that she was crying and looked at Alfred, he had seen her too. He nodded and Barbara followed her.
Helena stood up at the cornice of the balcony looking down. Suddenly she felt lonely. She felt an emptiness in her soul. She listened to the noise of the wheelchair behind her and she wiped her tears away quickly. "I guess that we could install some lights here too right?" Helena said and didn't turn around. She was trying to avoid seeing that Barbara had realized that she was crying.
"Yes, it would be good." Barbara sighed "But you can do it later, it's snowing now."
"No, I could do it now." Helena walked faster showing her back to Barbara. She kneeled to untangle the cables where she had been working a few mintes ago.
"May I help you?" Barbara asked.
"No, go inside, I'll finish in a few minutes."
Barbara kept silent and didn't move. She almost could touch the sadness of the kid. "Do you feel okay?" she asked.
"Of course, go inside Barbara is so cold here."
Barbara moved her head and wheeled back to Clock Tower. As soon as Helena heard the door closed, she covered her face with her hands and cried, feeling small, very small.
* * *