Disclaimer: All characters (except Julia, Danny, Miyax, and Kitty) are not owned by me and are used without permission solely for the entertainment of fan-fiction readers. Please read and review.
Author's Note: In this Chapter, Julia finally finds her way to Gotham and makes becoming a vigilante a reality. For those of you who were wondering when she would meet Terry, this is the chapter it happens in! Only she has no idea he's Batman and frankly, she doesn't really like him too much. If only she knew.
Chapter 4: The Decision
I had been home for a few weeks and we were sitting at dinner, when my dad asked a very important question.
"Julia, have you applied for college anywhere yet?"
I sighed, "Dad I told you, I applied to several and I got three replies. Princeton, Syracuse, and Ohio State accepted me. I'm waiting on the rest"
"Oh. I think you got a few more in the mail today", he said, handing me some envelopes.
I opened them. There were letters from Harvard, Stanford, California State, Michigan State, NYU, Florida State, Columbus, and Gotham U . . . Gotham U? I had forgotten I had even applied there. I guess I was still eight years old, looking at my mom's newspaper clippings, wanting to be a vigilante in Batman's City.
I went upstairs to my room with the letters. Kitty greeted me.
"More letters? Was it Harvard?" she asked.
"Gotham U sent me one", I blurted out.
She was silent.
"Julia dear, I think there is something you should know", she said finally.
"What?"
"There's been a new Batman in Gotham for over a year now. I would have told you before, but I wanted you to enjoy Japan"
"What! Why didn't you tell me sooner?" I shouted.
"I just thought that you needed freedom in Japan to do what you wanted without having that on your mind. Are you still interested?"
That was a good question. WAS I still interested in becoming a vigilante? What WAS I going to do with my life? Was I ready to take the next step? I think that getting out of L.A. would be the best thing for me. Get away from everything my life was before and start my new life . . . a vigilante's life. It had been all I had ever wanted since my mother died. Back then it had seemed stupid, but now, now it was something real. It could really happen now.
I looked at Kitty and grinned, "Definitely"
"Maybe you should send your answer back to Gotham U then", said Kitty.
- - - - - -
January 12, 2044
Once again I was on a plane, but this time I wasn't planning on coming back soon. Just to visit. I was heading to MY life now. And I was going to make the most of it.
I was heading to Gotham City, New York. My dad had insisted that he rent me an apartment; he said it would be more comfortable for me than the dorm. Boy, I could have kissed him when he said that. He had just gotten rid of my biggest problem. Now I would be free to do as I pleased in my apartment. No curious roommates, no chances of anyone walking in and finding something incriminating in my dorm. That had been a huge load off me.
I was going to major in Literature at Gotham U. I had always loved writing. I just had to realize that I had to keep my own life separate from my vigilante life. Before, I had thought that I would need to major in criminology or science or something like that, to go along with me being a vigilante. Now, I knew how important it was for me to live my life normally and worry about vigilante stuff at the right times.
I arrived at Gotham International Airport and took a cab to my new home. Gotham was a huge, busy city. There were skyscrapers as far as my eyes could see. It seemed like the whole city was suspended in air. I was going to need something to fly with. Grappling hooks would do for now, but I was going to need something more practical. I was definitely going to enjoy this immensely.
My cab finally arrived at my building. It was a few blocks from Gotham Park. The area was a rather quiet one, after seeing the disorder of neighborhoods on my ride there. The street was Chestnut Drive and as I got out of the cab I smiled to see trees lining the street. It was typical of dad to choose the nicest neighborhood in downtown Gotham. I walked up the sidewalk to see that it was actually a small townhouse that my dad had rented. I smiled to myself. That was dad for you . . . always giving.
My swiped my key card in the lock at the front door and punched in the security code. I placed my hand on the blue screen and the computer scanned my handprint. After I was granted access, I lugged my luggage into the townhouse. I had three huge suitcases, my trusty backpack, and of course my laptop. I walked around to get a feel for the place.
The layout downstairs was this: you walked in the door into a small 'room' with a closet for coats, then you passed through another door to reach the entrance. There you would find a small hall the stairs leading up to the second floor. The hall led to the living room complete with an armchair, couch, and entertainment center (Digital DVD, Stereo system, MP3 player . . . the works). Another door led to the dining room with a lovely mahogany table, chairs, and china cases. Yet another door led to the kitchen, which was full of high-tech gadgets, half of which I did not know how to use. What was with all the doors? What the hell, I liked it! As I approached the window at the back of the kitchen, it slid open to reveal a beautiful porch and a small backyard. I smiled, close to tears. Wow, I really had a home!
I climbed up the stairs to find a hallway with four doors. Two were bedrooms, one was a big bathroom, and the fourth was a study. I found a trapdoor in the ceiling of the study that led to the attic. I grinned. This could work. I would need Kitty's opinion. Then, thinking, I raced downstairs and into the kitchen. Yes, there was a door that led down into a basement. I could have to decide which was best. Let the redecorating begin!
- - - - - -
First Week of Class
Coming out of the mathematics building, I walked through the light snow to the English building. Inside, I made my way to room 24, English 101. The room was filled with freshmen students and the professor was shouting for class to begin. He lectured on Shakespeare, telling us not to confuse all the romance and duels with real life. He wanted us to write from the heart and not use "Shakespearian" plots. No problem there for me. Not that I didn't like my Shakespeare. I just had talent for making up stories.
I had gone through the whole week without meeting many people. At least no one I could really relate to. Today I had met Miyax, a shy girl from; you won't believe it, Alaska. She was a classic Eskimo beauty. She was slightly short-limbed and small, but wired with strong muscles. Her face was pearl- round and her nose was flat. Her eyes were black and slanted gracefully on her face. Her raven black hair was silky and straight, flowing down to the middle of her back. Her voice made each word she said sound like bells. She was kind and very smart. We got along very well.
Miyax and I were walking down the hall, when all of a sudden somebody ran into us. Digital books and notebooks fell to the floor. I stooped down to pick them up and when I looked up to stand, I met a pair of icy blue eyes.
"Sorry about that, I wasn't looking where I was going", said the boy. He brushed back his dark hair with his hand.
"Maybe if you wouldn't have been yelling at your phone, you would have seen us", I replied coolly.
He smirked and handed me my digital notebook.
"I've seen you before", said Miyax.
"We're in Chemistry together, I believe", he answered.
"Oh right"
The three of us fell silent. I took this opportunity to speak.
"I'm Julia Alvarez. This is Miyax Kapugen. We're freshmen here at Gotham U", I said, reaching my hand out for him to shake.
He took my hand and shook it. He had a strong grip. "Terry McGinnis, native to Gotham City and a freshman as well. You two don't look like you're from around here".
"We're not", said Miyax.
"I'm from L.A. and Miyax here is from Alaska"
Terry raised a brow, "Really? Alaska? Wow, that's schway"
"Schway?" I asked with a raised brow.
"Don't worry, you'll get used to the lingo here", Terry said.
I huffed, "Right".
"Yeah well, pleasure meeting you guys, but I got Calculus class. See you around!" he said as he walked off.
"That was not nice Julia", Miyax said after he left.
"Please, he was an arrogant guy trying to impress us. Did you hear him and his 'I have to go to Calculus'? Give me a break! He's lucky I let him off easy!"
"He was cute though", replied Miyax.
I glared at her.
"Well, he is", she said.
Another glare.
I had no idea how much significance that meeting would have in the future.
- - - - - -
May 17, 2044
I sipped a cup of coffee as I climbed the stairs to my room. My laptop sat on my dresser. Kitty appeared on it.
"Julia, could you come up to the attic a minute?" she asked.
"Sure", I said, putting down my coffee. Finals were coming up and I was studying like crazy. Well not like crazy, but I was studying.
I walked down the hall into the study. I had a PC in there. Kitty face showed up on it.
"Don't forget the CD", she said.
"Right", I grabbed the CD next to the PC.
I yanked down the trapdoor and pulled down the ladder. I climbed up into the attic.
Anyone who went in that attic would have been amazed by the number of computer screens, hard drives, modems, and wires filled the room. I had acquired all of this over the past months, working at a software company as a computer analyst. They didn't even ask for a degree of anything after I had saved their system from crashing after it had been infected with a really nasty virus. No one else had been able to. They had hired me immediately. I worked at night and took classes in the morning. I had installed a gym in my basement with gymnastics apparatuses, straw mat for martial arts, and weights for my physical training. I usually went down there at night to unwind after a long day.
Kitty's face appeared on the biggest screen. I had installed her program on every computer I owned, so she could just pop up on any computer in the house when she wanted. She could even pop up on my pocket PC if she wanted to. Not that she had . . . at least not yet.
"Okay, put the CD in the main hard drive" said Kitty.
"Kitty, I know"
"I'm just reminding you"
"Right"
"Done yet?"
"Yes, your majesty"
"Tell me when you've installed it"
"Done"
"That was fast"
"I'm good at what I do, Kitty"
I had just installed an intricate web of programs that would allow Kitty and I to access any type of information we wanted. It would hack into the system and extract the information we needed without ever being detected. It automatically made a copy and the information would be replaced . . . all in a matter of seconds. Damn was I good!
"Alright Kitty, we are up and running now"
"Yes we are"
"When do I get to go out on patrol?"
"How did I know you would ask me that?"
"Kitty!" I protested.
"Listen to me Julia. First, we have to get on Batman's good side. This means that we are going to have to play by his rules. Just for now. We're going to have to do this my way"
"What exactly is YOU'RE way?"
A picture of a Batsuit appeared on the screen. Except it was made to fit a girl and it looked like it was MY size.
"I have to wear that?" I asked, appalled.
"Just until he trusts you. Believe me, it will be easier wearing this. Later you can make changes in your costume"
"Yeah, major changes!"
"The suit will take a month to prepare. And I found some rocket boots for you"
"Schway"
- - - - - -
I was studying for English class at the school's cafeteria. I was absorbed in my book, but two loud voices broke my concentration. They were fighting.
"You never have time for me Terry! Why can't you make some time for me?" shouted a dark haired girl.
The boy I knew only as Terry McGinnis answered, "I told you, my job is very important. Mr. Wayne needs me!"
The girl scoffed, "Why can't he find other people to do all that stuff? Why does it always have to be you?"
Everyone was starting at them now, and Terry noticed them. He tried to calm the girl down.
"Dana please, can we talk about this somewhere else?"
"Why, am I embarrassing you Terry? Can't have a fight with your girlfriend in front of everyone?"
The girl turned around and marched out of the cafeteria.
Terry sighed and sat down at the end of my table.
"You should probably go after her", I said as I sipped my drink, my eyes never leaving my laptop.
"What?" Terry asked.
"After a fight like that . . . it would be a good idea to go after her and do some damage control"
"You're that girl I met the other day, aren't you. The girl from L.A.", he remarked.
"Something like that", I answered.
"I haven't seen you at any parties", said.
"Like you go to any parties . . . How many have you gone to this year? I'm going to take a guess that it's in the single digits", I said.
"And how many have you gone to?" he asked, obviously annoyed.
"More than you, that's for sure", I snickered.
"Why can't I have a normal life?" Terry sighed.
"Who does normal anymore? Normal is overrated", I said, gathering my things to leave.
"Thanks", he said.
"Thank me after you go after her. See you around McGinnis"
- - - - - -
"Kitty, I'm going out on patrol"
"Is the suit ready?"
"I tested it out last night"
"Good. Remember your communicator. Let's go out on a test run"
I put on the new suit and admired myself in the mirror. Not bad, not bad at all. I placed my communicator in my ear before pulling my mask on.
"Can you hear me?" I asked in to it.
"Loud
and clear"
"Okay I'm moving out"
"Good luck"
I climbed out of my bedroom window and threw a hover board into the air. It stopped right in front of me. I jumped on it and flew off into the night.
Let the games begin.
- - - - - -
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- Lady Artemis -
