A Wrinkle in Time

Part Three: Revelations

Much like the last chapter, written in RP form with the help of my other-and-better half.

-Batman_GothamsProtector- the night had been productive. The Joker had found the tracer, only in a fit on blind luck, one of his henchmen had gotten it stuck to his shoe while they had been running around, hastily packing. The Commissioner had been pleased, and the front lines had been halted to put up pictures of the Joker and his men dangling from the streetlight in front of Police Headquarters. On another productive note - hair. One of Marti's to be exact. He wanted to know something more about her, so he was looking to the part of her that could never lie. Oddly enough, though, he could only identify one of the parents off hand. The DNA was his own. Well, half of it, anyhow. He would have matched against samples of Selina, save for that she'd called Selina 'Aunt'. Talia, and several other women he had known were inconclusive. He leaned back in his chair, frowning. "Any luck, sir?" Alfred had returned, having checked in on Marti. He'd lifted the hair from the collar of her shirt when he had laundered it. "Some." He'd used the computer, analyzing the other half of the DNA to make some sort of composite sketch. Dark hair, blue eyes, fair skinned......Not helping.  "I can't think of anyone I know that I might possibly have some extra dimensional 'relationship' with." He knew quite well he wasn't getting roped into a child. "Well, sir, this is someone from another dimension. Circumstances could be extremely different from here." Bruce mused again. Odd circumstances. A flash of random recollection seemed to spark. It was two days ago that he'd last been stared upon by a woman with blue eyes and dark hair. Fingers flew across the keyboard. Alfred stared at the login dialogue on the screen. "The Watchtower. I take it that the Green Lantern and the Flash  have succeeded in lightening the workplace dating regulations?" Smirking, Bruce ran a quick DNA check on one member, and the computer pinged an affirmative. He stared, rather disbelieving such was possible in *any* reality.

-Martha_Wayne-  Marti had to admit, uncomfortable as she was in this place from her past, it had been nice to be able to take a long shower and fall into bed knowing that someone wasn't going to need you elsewhere and that you weren't going to be attacked while doing so. She couldn't help but question the former; wherever she was, her world was still out there, and now it was entirely at the mercy of Denmark. That thought had been the ruination of any solid night's sleep she might have gotten. Meditation had also proven completely useless. Finally, she'd slipped back into her suit, smiling slightly at having found it cleaner than it'd been in months and folded neatly on the dresser, next to a carefully organized pile of the belongings she'd had in the pockets of her trench coat. Mostly makeup, so she didn't much mind that the man had 'gone through it'. Settling in front of the room's mirror, she tried to formulate some kind of plan as she hid her face under the layers of powders and paints. Ok, so perhaps it wasn't entirely true that she didn't wear a mask. She liked to think of it more along the lines of the actor's creed, however: never go out, even to empty the garbage, unless you're dressed to the teeth. Marti wanted to go out, but she needed more information first. Information on time travel. And she was sitting on top of one of the best places to go for such strange information, now wasn't she? Slipping her belongings back into the pockets of her coat, she crept down to the Batcave, hoping that Bruce would be out most of the night.

--Batman_GothamsProtector-- was found dozing lightly, though he seemed to awaken as Marti entered the cave. His fingers had been steepled before him, obviously having been pondering something. Should he confront Marti with what he knew? It would explain why she had seemed so strained, and why she had accused him of being an imposter so fervently. Being here in the Manor would be stressful, if he were dead, he imagined. But, apparently, he seemed to have fallen into the same trap his father had. Marti's demeanor seemed as dark as his had been. It seemed that that Bruce had ignored Marti, just as Thomas Wayne had ignored him.

-Martha_Wayne-  Marti froze, finding that the cave was indeed occupied. She almost just crept back out, but it was unlikely he didn't know she was there. Crossing her arms over her chest, she muttered. "Figures. You would be here, just when I was counting on you not to be." Continuing across towards the computer, she added, "It's not that I don't appreciate the hospitality - even if it is just to keep me somewhere you can keep an eye on me - But I need to get back to my time, world, universe, whatever. Mind if I do a little research?" Her tone had been meant to be polite, in spite of that, it came across as borderline hostile. It was easier to avoid being apologetic with Bruce than it had been with Alfred.

--Batman_GothamsProtector-- "As a matter of fact, yes." He didn't like it when withheld facts from, but then, he was rather hypocritical that way. The chair swiveled towards her, his eyes boring into her. "Time travel and even dimensional travel, can be arranged. However, as I understand it, the jump would likely mean the termination of your existence. There are beings that police the time-space continuum, and if you found your 'Guardian Angel', then you were lucky." He turned away again, soaking, as though voicing a random side thought. "I take it this is how you and your father interacted."

-Martha_Wayne-  "Those 'beings' sure as fuck weren't doing their job if I got -here-," Marti retorted quietly. "So risks or not, I'm going back. -My- Gotham needs me." Further explanation was cut off by the seemingly random statement. Batman didn't make random statements. Marti scowled at the use of past tense, knowing she'd never mentioned her father being dead. He knew. Rolling her eyes, she said after a moment, "Nah. We just -didn't- interact. He hated me. Happy now?" Scowling further, Marti turned on her heel. She'd take off until she could figure something out on her own.

--Batman_GothamsProtector-- "Then for whatever it is worth, I'm sorry." The tone was as flat as ever, but he knew how it was to be tossed aside and forgotten. He was suspecting it didn't mean much. "Your mother wasn't around much either, I take it?" He didn't need to patronize her if she already knew.

-Martha_Wayne-  Marti paused mid-step, lowering her foot back down into place. After a silent moment, she murmured, "Don't sweat it, huh? Alter dimensional self or not, it's not your problem." She was tempted to ignore the question about her mother. Except the thought dawned on her that if he'd figured out half the mystery, it was likely he'd figured out the rest, if nothing else out of curiosity.  And unlike her father, might be willing to reveal the truth. Trying to keep her voice even, she continued, "My mother died shortly after I was born. I guess. I don't even know what she looks like. He never mentioned her. Ever. Alfred wouldn't talk either..." Marti glanced over her shoulder. "If you know - "

--Batman_GothamsProtector-- "It took me awhile, mostly because this is about the strangest pairing I've ever heard of." Keying a button, he called the image up on the screen of the Amazonian hero. Turning back to face her, he imagined she was as shocked as he was. He and Diana rarely agreed, or saw eye-to-eye on anything. Her mission was very broad, his was extremely limited.  But, opposites attract, supposedly. He certainly wasn't mentioning this to Diana. The one he knew. But she deserved to know. Heck, she deserved a lot of things. She'd been raised by *Selina* and *Harley*, for crying out loud.

-Martha_Wayne-  The young woman fully expected him to refuse her that information too. The fact that he didn't somewhat softened her to the man, in spite of the fact he wasn't being helpful when it came to anything else. Turning back around as the image came up, she stared at the picture silently, trying to recall some faint image or feeling from her earliest memories of the woman, and not surprisingly, she found she couldn't. So much for the idea that babies never really forget their mothers. After a minute, licking her lips a few times, she whispered, "What's her name?"

--Batman_GothamsProtector-- "Her name is Diana. Princess of Themyscira. She's also called Wonder Woman." A woman he held in high regard. Quite the rarity for Bruce. An almost bemused grin tugged at his mouth. "I am sorry she didn't survive. If she had, you can be sure that your father would have never ignored you. She would have kicked his tail quite thoroughly if she had known what was to come. But, since you are quite intent on returning home, if you will wait, I can arrange for you to meet with one of the Green Lanterns. His ring used to belong to your 'guardian angel', and has some powers that the other rings don't. It can travel through time and space, and could likely get you home."

-Martha_Wayne-  "Princess...?" Marti repeated, then scowled, to cover up the process of dealing with all the new information. "My father had a job to do. More important than worrying about some stupid kid. I respect that." She snorted. "He should have just shipped me off to Mascara or where ever you said she's from and stayed out of my life. It would have been better for both of us. And spared Alfred a few headaches." She fell silent a moment, then nodded. "If that's how it's gonna get done, then hook me up with this guy so it can get done."

--Batman_GothamsProtector-- "Pardon my assumption, but you seem like the type who would be bored out of your mind on Themyscira. From all accounts," and here he smirked lightly, as the only account was hers, "'Man's World' has not been kind to you, but still, they would keep you there. Amazons are not allowed to leave the island. Diana is the exception, being their ambassador.  But, I have sent the Green Lantern a message. He is currently out on patrol. He'll be back to Earth tomorrow. Hopefully, it can be arranged as a simple dimensional jump, but I'm not much privy to such details of such travel. He'd know more. He knows Jade, and Jade would be the authority."

-Martha_Wayne-  Marti raised a brow, finding herself wondering for the briefest moment if it had been a sincere father-like emotion that had caused her father not to ship her off to Themyscira, knowing she'd never be able to leave. Still, it would have been better than things had turned out, wouldn't it? Marti scowled softly. There was no point in trying to reason why things had been the way they'd been. It was far too late for anything to be fixed. Second chance or not. At length, she broke her still silence, shifting her arms to clasp her hands behind her back. "Thanks." After a brief hesitation, she added, "I hate asking for something else on top of everything you've already done, but would you be able to maybe spare a few smoke and gas pellets? I try to avoid relying on tricks, but it's useful sometimes..." She did it with as much dignity as possible. Marti hated asking for help as much as she hated to admit she wasn't that confident she'd last a week once she went back. The awareness that she was supposed to be dead hadn't escaped her. Who was she kidding, thinking she could 'save' Gotham on her own?

--Batman_GothamsProtector-- An eyebrow quirked upwards in his usual, appraising gaze. He was actually amused. For someone so bent on hating their father, she was following in his footsteps, almost exactly. "That.....can likely be arranged." He usually made it a point to never do anything for someone outside the Justice League or one of his own. Still, she was one of his own, so to speak. She was planning on keeping 'Batman' alive, in her own way. He doubted she'd call herself 'Batman', and maybe not anything 'Bat' at all. But she wanted to help Gotham. She wouldn't be asking otherwise.

-Martha_Wayne-  Marti scowled more when her eyes met his gaze. "Thanks." Wasn't much else to say, was there? Despite that, she found she was hesitant to retreat from the cave just yet. But that would be sentimental. Exhaling a short sigh, she turned again, her hands shifting into the front pockets of her coat.

--Batman_GothamsProtector-- turned back to his computer screen. He was not a conversationalist. He'd certainly done better than his counterpart, though he was assuming that the other Bruce had withdrawn after Diana had died. It just didn't add up to this Bruce. He would never be able to ignore a family, or a lover so close that they would want children. He couldn't have it both ways, it was either Batman or a life. He'd chosen Batman, and was sticking to it.

-Martha_Wayne-  "Goodnight." The young woman disappeared back into the room she'd been given, finally letting herself fully ponder over the things she'd learned so far and what the implications were. Despite the way she played it up, she'd never been able to hate her father, only wondered why she'd been so much of an unpleasantry to him. Marti hadn't become a problem child until she'd realized that being a perfect over-achieving angel wasn't going to make him like her any more. Anything after that was just a cry for attention. Probably why she'd found Harley to be a kind of big sister. She didn't want to sleep, but she eventually forced herself to, quieting her conscience with the fact that she'd be going home tomorrow, and she'd be more use to Gotham with a decent night's sleep under her belt.