Chapter 5 - Requiem
The sun's rays slowly crept over the city. Bathed in the dawn's golden light, the clocktower glowed. Helena leaned against the wall with her head bowed down and her arms folded. She felt as if she was going to nod off any second. The door next to her opened and Barbara came out. She too looked tired. "She has a few broken ribs, a few cuts and a couple of bruises. She's also feverish and fitful, like she's having a really bad nightmare. Dinah's with her now. Right now you and I need some rest," Barbara said looking up at Helena.
"No disagreement there, but what about her brother?" Helena asked after she yawned. "He doesn't move a lot during the day, we won't attack till tonight," Barbara replied. "Okay, I'll catch you later," Helena said and walked off.
***
Dinah dabbed the wet cloth over Cris forehead. She felt sorry for her. "Must be one hell of a nightmare," she said to her self. There was a soft knock at the door and Alfred walked in. "I've prepared some soup for Miss Stone once she was woken up," he said in his kind, English accent, "I've a feeling she be hungry." "Thank-you," Dinah replied. Alfred smiled and then left. She turned to face Cris again. Cris had stopped tossing about. She placed the cloth on her forehead again. Suddenly Cris eyes opened. "Oh, uh, hi," Dinah exclaimed. Cris coughed and then said, "Wha. what happened?" "You got knocked out, Huntress brought you back here," Dinah replied putting the cloth on the side table. Cris attempted to sit up, but groaned as soon as she moved. "You broke a few ribs, Barbara said you should rest," Dinah said helping Cris back down. Cris smiled weakly, "No rest for the weary." "What time is it," she asked Dinah. "Uh, close to 7," Dinah replied. "Daylight," Cris whispered to herself, she looks at Dinah, "Barbara woke you up early?" she asked smiling again. "No, I was up already, training," Dinah said smiling, "Hang on, Alfred made some soup, I'll get some." "Exactly what I need," Cris said her smile was genuine.
Dinah headed for the kitchen, Alfred was cleaning up. She grabed a bowl and dished up some of the soup. "Oh and you can tell Miss Stone that until she has fully recovered there will be no beer. Honestly I wished she would be a lady for once and drink something more lady like," Alfred told Dinah. Dinah turned around, "What is it about her and food?" "I don't know but every time she's here she clears almost the whole refrigerator. I even start preparing a shopping list as soon as she arrives," Alfred replied packing the last of the dishes. "Well thanks for coming over today, it being your day off and all," Dinah said accepting a spoon from Alfred. "Your welcome Miss Redmond," Alfred said smiling.
***
Once Cris had finished the soup she rested her head against the headboard and sighed, "He always does make a good soup," she said. "Barbara always insists we eat Chicken soup when we are ill, so he's had a lot of time to perfect it," Dinah said chuckling. So, like what does your parents have to say about your brother?" Dinah asked frowning.
"I can only guess how they would have felt," Cris replied, "They're dead." "Oh, sorry," Dinah said, embarrassed. "It's alright," Cris replied. Cris pushed herself up a little. "How did they die?" Dinah asked softly. Cris thought about it a little and then said, "My father was human, when he met my mom and fell in love with her he found out she was telepathic. He didn't mind though, he loved her nevertheless. When she fell pregnant with me her telepathy somehow grew erratic, she started hearing voices she couldn't understand and after my brother's birth, she fell into a depression. The doctor's said it was the depression that ultimately caused her to shoot my father and then herself," she paused as she remembered, "She actually phoned me that night, I spent almost the whole night trying to convince her not to do it, towards the end she just whispered 'I'm sorry' and then there was a loud bang," her voice seemed thin, "It must have been hours I sat at the phone, hoping to hear something that would tell me she didn't shoot herself, a movement or something, but there was nothing," she stared at the ceiling. Dinah knew how she felt, she had watched her own mother die in front of her. She just sat there, feeling the silence somehow comfort the both of them.
***
Barbara felt refreshed, the sleep did her well. She wondered if Cris had woken up so she wheeled herself over to her room. She knocked softly on the door and opened it. The bed was empty, but before she could react she heard Dinah laughing. If she was with Cris, Barbara knew exactly where they would be. Smiling she said to herself, "I should have set her up in the kitchen."
She wheeled into the kitchen and upon seeing Cris she said, "You're supposed to be in bed." Cris looked up from the stove, "You know I can't lie in bed long, anyway I'm teaching Dinah how to make pasta, want some?" Cris replied with a grin on her face. Barbara laughed, "If it's your special pasta I wouldn't mind a. wait a minute if your cooking pasta then." she looked up towards the ceiling and spotted a piece of pasta hanging from the ceiling. Dinah laughed again, Cris joined her then winced and said, "If I laugh again I feel I'm gonna crack another rib." "Would serve you right for flinging pasta to the ceiling," Barbara scolded. Cris grinned. "How are you feeling anyway," asked Barbara. "Not too bad," Cris replied turning back to the saucepot. Barbara nodded, "Yeah right, once you're finished you're sitting down and resting." "Yes ma'am," Cris replied. Dinah chuckled. "Ohh that smells good," came Helena's voice from downstairs. "C'mon and join us there's enough for all of us," Dinah called her over.
***
Once finished the sat in the lounge. "The last victim was a student in one of my classes," Barbara said, "His name was Barry Kline, he lived just outside New Gotham so that would explain why he choose to stay in the hotel during the convention. It would be easy to guess where Darren would go next. There's a computer sciences expo starting tonight, Barry loved computer sciences so it's easy to say he'll be there. "What time does it start," Cris asked. "Eight, it'll give us enough time to rig a strong enough light to stun him," Barbara replied. "That's if we find him in time," Cris said. "Uh, you're staying here," Barbara replied. Cris' head shot up, "You're not serious." "I am, you're not going out, you may feel better, but if you go out to fight him you'll only get hurt more, besides we'll have it under control," she assured Cris with a smile. "What's to stop me?" Cris asked heatedly. "Dinah, if forced to, I'll have her knock you out before you set foot in that elevator," Barbara replied. "You wouldn't." Cris said but knew Barbara would. She then nodded, "Okay, I won't go." "Good," Barbara seemed happy at that and then turned around and headed towards the workshop.
Helena followed Barbara to the workshop. She sat on the edge of the table while Barbara worked on the light. "Last time; Cris sensed Darren, if she's not coming, how will we know where he will be?" Helena asked folding her arms. "The same way her colleges did when Cris was in hospital once," Barbara replied, she help up what looked like a padd out of Star Trek, "When ever he changes into a shadow his body temperature drops, this will monitor all the heat signatures once there is a dramatic fluctuation we'll know where he is." "What if he changes just before he attacks?" Helena asked again. "He wont, he'll approach the hall as a shadow, but to withstand the lights in the hall he'll have to transform into human form, that's when we will get him. Once he is stunned he wont be able to change into a shadow, but it only lasts a few minutes, that's where you come in, I need you to knock him unconscious fast." "Ah, finally, some ass whopping," Helena replied grinning.
***
Cris sighed as she finished yet another one of Barbara's mechanic magazines. She looked over at the watch. It read 8:04pm. "Anything yet?" she asked Dinah. Dinah looked up from the computers, "Relax, Huntress and Oracle will report in if something happens." "Yeah, okay," Cris said adjusting her position on the one seater. Just then the phone rang. Dinah activated it on the computer. "Hello," she answered frowning, nobody ever phoned this line. "Is she there," came a voice over the speaker. Cris sprung up from the couch and limped as fast as she could to the station, "Darren?!" He laughed an almost mechanical laugh and then in a very cold tone he said, "Barbara's looking very lovely tonight."
The sun's rays slowly crept over the city. Bathed in the dawn's golden light, the clocktower glowed. Helena leaned against the wall with her head bowed down and her arms folded. She felt as if she was going to nod off any second. The door next to her opened and Barbara came out. She too looked tired. "She has a few broken ribs, a few cuts and a couple of bruises. She's also feverish and fitful, like she's having a really bad nightmare. Dinah's with her now. Right now you and I need some rest," Barbara said looking up at Helena.
"No disagreement there, but what about her brother?" Helena asked after she yawned. "He doesn't move a lot during the day, we won't attack till tonight," Barbara replied. "Okay, I'll catch you later," Helena said and walked off.
***
Dinah dabbed the wet cloth over Cris forehead. She felt sorry for her. "Must be one hell of a nightmare," she said to her self. There was a soft knock at the door and Alfred walked in. "I've prepared some soup for Miss Stone once she was woken up," he said in his kind, English accent, "I've a feeling she be hungry." "Thank-you," Dinah replied. Alfred smiled and then left. She turned to face Cris again. Cris had stopped tossing about. She placed the cloth on her forehead again. Suddenly Cris eyes opened. "Oh, uh, hi," Dinah exclaimed. Cris coughed and then said, "Wha. what happened?" "You got knocked out, Huntress brought you back here," Dinah replied putting the cloth on the side table. Cris attempted to sit up, but groaned as soon as she moved. "You broke a few ribs, Barbara said you should rest," Dinah said helping Cris back down. Cris smiled weakly, "No rest for the weary." "What time is it," she asked Dinah. "Uh, close to 7," Dinah replied. "Daylight," Cris whispered to herself, she looks at Dinah, "Barbara woke you up early?" she asked smiling again. "No, I was up already, training," Dinah said smiling, "Hang on, Alfred made some soup, I'll get some." "Exactly what I need," Cris said her smile was genuine.
Dinah headed for the kitchen, Alfred was cleaning up. She grabed a bowl and dished up some of the soup. "Oh and you can tell Miss Stone that until she has fully recovered there will be no beer. Honestly I wished she would be a lady for once and drink something more lady like," Alfred told Dinah. Dinah turned around, "What is it about her and food?" "I don't know but every time she's here she clears almost the whole refrigerator. I even start preparing a shopping list as soon as she arrives," Alfred replied packing the last of the dishes. "Well thanks for coming over today, it being your day off and all," Dinah said accepting a spoon from Alfred. "Your welcome Miss Redmond," Alfred said smiling.
***
Once Cris had finished the soup she rested her head against the headboard and sighed, "He always does make a good soup," she said. "Barbara always insists we eat Chicken soup when we are ill, so he's had a lot of time to perfect it," Dinah said chuckling. So, like what does your parents have to say about your brother?" Dinah asked frowning.
"I can only guess how they would have felt," Cris replied, "They're dead." "Oh, sorry," Dinah said, embarrassed. "It's alright," Cris replied. Cris pushed herself up a little. "How did they die?" Dinah asked softly. Cris thought about it a little and then said, "My father was human, when he met my mom and fell in love with her he found out she was telepathic. He didn't mind though, he loved her nevertheless. When she fell pregnant with me her telepathy somehow grew erratic, she started hearing voices she couldn't understand and after my brother's birth, she fell into a depression. The doctor's said it was the depression that ultimately caused her to shoot my father and then herself," she paused as she remembered, "She actually phoned me that night, I spent almost the whole night trying to convince her not to do it, towards the end she just whispered 'I'm sorry' and then there was a loud bang," her voice seemed thin, "It must have been hours I sat at the phone, hoping to hear something that would tell me she didn't shoot herself, a movement or something, but there was nothing," she stared at the ceiling. Dinah knew how she felt, she had watched her own mother die in front of her. She just sat there, feeling the silence somehow comfort the both of them.
***
Barbara felt refreshed, the sleep did her well. She wondered if Cris had woken up so she wheeled herself over to her room. She knocked softly on the door and opened it. The bed was empty, but before she could react she heard Dinah laughing. If she was with Cris, Barbara knew exactly where they would be. Smiling she said to herself, "I should have set her up in the kitchen."
She wheeled into the kitchen and upon seeing Cris she said, "You're supposed to be in bed." Cris looked up from the stove, "You know I can't lie in bed long, anyway I'm teaching Dinah how to make pasta, want some?" Cris replied with a grin on her face. Barbara laughed, "If it's your special pasta I wouldn't mind a. wait a minute if your cooking pasta then." she looked up towards the ceiling and spotted a piece of pasta hanging from the ceiling. Dinah laughed again, Cris joined her then winced and said, "If I laugh again I feel I'm gonna crack another rib." "Would serve you right for flinging pasta to the ceiling," Barbara scolded. Cris grinned. "How are you feeling anyway," asked Barbara. "Not too bad," Cris replied turning back to the saucepot. Barbara nodded, "Yeah right, once you're finished you're sitting down and resting." "Yes ma'am," Cris replied. Dinah chuckled. "Ohh that smells good," came Helena's voice from downstairs. "C'mon and join us there's enough for all of us," Dinah called her over.
***
Once finished the sat in the lounge. "The last victim was a student in one of my classes," Barbara said, "His name was Barry Kline, he lived just outside New Gotham so that would explain why he choose to stay in the hotel during the convention. It would be easy to guess where Darren would go next. There's a computer sciences expo starting tonight, Barry loved computer sciences so it's easy to say he'll be there. "What time does it start," Cris asked. "Eight, it'll give us enough time to rig a strong enough light to stun him," Barbara replied. "That's if we find him in time," Cris said. "Uh, you're staying here," Barbara replied. Cris' head shot up, "You're not serious." "I am, you're not going out, you may feel better, but if you go out to fight him you'll only get hurt more, besides we'll have it under control," she assured Cris with a smile. "What's to stop me?" Cris asked heatedly. "Dinah, if forced to, I'll have her knock you out before you set foot in that elevator," Barbara replied. "You wouldn't." Cris said but knew Barbara would. She then nodded, "Okay, I won't go." "Good," Barbara seemed happy at that and then turned around and headed towards the workshop.
Helena followed Barbara to the workshop. She sat on the edge of the table while Barbara worked on the light. "Last time; Cris sensed Darren, if she's not coming, how will we know where he will be?" Helena asked folding her arms. "The same way her colleges did when Cris was in hospital once," Barbara replied, she help up what looked like a padd out of Star Trek, "When ever he changes into a shadow his body temperature drops, this will monitor all the heat signatures once there is a dramatic fluctuation we'll know where he is." "What if he changes just before he attacks?" Helena asked again. "He wont, he'll approach the hall as a shadow, but to withstand the lights in the hall he'll have to transform into human form, that's when we will get him. Once he is stunned he wont be able to change into a shadow, but it only lasts a few minutes, that's where you come in, I need you to knock him unconscious fast." "Ah, finally, some ass whopping," Helena replied grinning.
***
Cris sighed as she finished yet another one of Barbara's mechanic magazines. She looked over at the watch. It read 8:04pm. "Anything yet?" she asked Dinah. Dinah looked up from the computers, "Relax, Huntress and Oracle will report in if something happens." "Yeah, okay," Cris said adjusting her position on the one seater. Just then the phone rang. Dinah activated it on the computer. "Hello," she answered frowning, nobody ever phoned this line. "Is she there," came a voice over the speaker. Cris sprung up from the couch and limped as fast as she could to the station, "Darren?!" He laughed an almost mechanical laugh and then in a very cold tone he said, "Barbara's looking very lovely tonight."