DC Revolutions Presents

Batgirl # 3

Matters of Circumstance Part 2

The Confessions of a Human Weapon

Gotham City, the Batcave.

"…we need to talk."

Batman's words seemed to almost take an almost surreal quality as Cassandra Cain stared at the large screen monitor of the Bat-computer, like some morning fog she knew was there but couldn't touch. Her first (and only) kill was plastered across the Bat-computer in high definition graphics for all to see. Batman was only a few feet from the image. His body language was surprisingly neutral as he softly asked if she had indeed killed the man upon the screen.

Cassandra Cain had faced the World's deadliest martial artist in the form of Lady Shiva. She had fought and defeated crazed serial killers, the most sadistic thugs Gotham had spat out and disgusting rapists, all with no fear for herself whatsoever. True, she was scared that innocents might be harmed or killed because of her short comings, but that was it. She never feared for herself.

Not now. Batman was determined to discover the truth, and that…that terrified her. Batgirl felt as though she finally knew, personally and intimately, why the criminal element of Gotham feared The Batman so deeply. Just one look told her that nothing was going to prevent him from learning the truth. Nightwing once said to her, that the truth frees people. Cassandra had to resist a bitter laugh at the time, as she felt nothing could be farther from the truth.

"Cassandra, I need an answer." Batgirl, hardly the detective other members of her adopted family were, failed to notice Batman's tone was actually even and balanced. He addressed her patiently, calmly waiting for the answer he sought. But to Cassandra, his tone was accusing and barking, and worst of all, she deserved her.

Cassandra looked Batman in the eyes, swearing to herself that she could lie to the man who lifted her out of the gutters, gave her a home, family, a means of redemption and stood as an unbreakable wall between her and Cain. Cassandra was certain she could lie to the man who'd given her all that and more, if only to prevent it all from being taken away.

She tried to answer at first, but instead all Cassandra managed to do was litter the cave floor with the nice French Toast and bacon Alfred had made her for breakfast. Once that was expelled, dry heaves instantly followed. For a full two minutes, the only person to ever beat the deadly Shiva in combat couldn't even stand, she felt so sick. She was on her hands and knee, nausea threatening to overtake her at even the thought of rising.

"Cassandra…" Batman said again, this time in an 'answer me' tone of voice.

Batgirl barely heard him over the pounding of her own heart. But she knew she couldn't delay it any longer, lest she confirm his suspicions (naivety mixed with desperation was the thin strand of hope Cassandra held onto that Batman did not, in fact, know the truth).

So she looked her mentor in the eyes, and swore to herself that on behalf of the adopted family she wanted to keep and the good that she could do as Batgirl, she would lie to the man and simply say no. Language continued to be hard for her and perhaps always would be, but Cassandra was confident she could still say that much.

"Yes…I killed that man," the words flowed far more naturally than Cassandra ever would have guessed. When she realized what she actually had said, all the young girl could force herself to say before her mouth became dry as sand, was, "I…didn't know…"

Cassandra Cain had faced death and worse countless times. When her father upgraded her training with live ammunition. When evil men sought to prey on her body while she drifted through out the world, homeless and nameless. When she slipped past the National Guard who had sealed Gotham off from the rest of the world, a dark time her adopted city dubbed 'No Man's Land'. Thousands fled the city for safety. Cassandra was one of the few who actually fled into the city for sanctuary. And all these perils preceded her career as Batgirl. Danger was one of the few constants in Cassandra's young life, and had been with her since her first breath in this world.

But never once did she feel as helpless, trapped and terrified as she did now. Cassandra felt like a rat staring down the maw of a lion as Batman watched her, his suspicions now confirmed as fact. The fear and terror she felt only moments before was dwarfed in comparison to what she felt now.

Cassandra saw the Dark Knight beginning to move, and held her breath as she waited for him to come down upon her like he would any other common criminal. She realized now this was how members of the underworld felt when confronted by her mentor. And what made it all a thousand times worse was that Cassandra knew she would deserve it. Batman, Nightwing, Alfred, people she loved and cherished like her own family would throw her into jail and then forget about her. The life since assuming the mantel of Batgirl flashed before her eyes, a life she knew would be over before the hour was out.

Batman clicked a button on his utility belt, and the image of her first kill disappeared from the screens. What Batman did next, Batgirl never would have guessed. The fearsome vigilante of Gotham walked up to her, knelt down, and extended his hand in assistance.

Cassandra could always understand body language. What she often had the most trouble with was the 'why'.

At the moment, Batman's body language was soft and kind. It was a side of him most, even his inner circle, had trouble seeing at times. Batman wasn't heartless, far from it. And Cassandra always knew that. Some in the hero community even said that Batman cared too much. If that weren't impossible in Cassandra's opinion, she'd be inclined to agree. Batgirl saw it each and every time, his body betraying the words that came out of his mouth. Batman would give his all to protect the innocent and punish the guilty. Batgirl just didn't know why the Batman would ever consider her the former and not the latter.

Batgirl stood up slowly, her legs trembling. No matter how hard she tried, or how hard she knew Batman wanted her to, Cassandra couldn't bring herself to look her mentor in the eyes. The closest she could get was his boots before the shame was too much.

"I am sorry about that," Batman said evenly, "we need to have a talk about your future, Cassandra. And we can't do that if we keep secrets."

To Cassandra, there was only one word she associated with her future. Her concern for it pushed through her raging fear, but sadly didn't make it past the hurdle of her language problems, "Batgirl…can't…mine!"

"I have no intention of taking the Batgirl mantel from you either," Batman stated, and Cassandra could see in his body language he wasn't lying. He ushered her towards the center table of the Batcave, "but there are still things we need to address."

Cassandra sat across from Batman. She eyed her face mask longingly, where firmly wedged in Batman's utility belt and still trembled despite herself. Once she'd taken her seat, Alfred, the perfect English Butler approached them with tea.

"Care for some tea, Miss Cassandra?" he offered. Cassandra mumbled a yes, and gratefully accepted the cup, gulping down the soothing liquid like an alcoholic downing a shot. Cassandra couldn't bring herself to look the kindly Butler in the eyes, but she did notice the anger in his form and how he never offered Batman any tea or anything else, the closest Alfred would ever come to snubbing the man he raised.

Alfred politely excused himself, and once he was out of earshot, Batman began.

"Cassandra, I need you to look me in the eyes."

Cassandra hesitated.

"Cassandra, you've earned the right a long time ago. And I'm not having this discussion with the top of your head." Batman informed her.

Cassandra reluctantly lifted her head to face her mentor, but eye contact was short and skittish, like a guilty child anticipating some great punishment about to be handed down.

"To start with Cassandra, let me say that my…new found understanding… of your past does not change our relationship," Batman steepled his hands together, "you're as welcome in the Batcave, in my home and in my life as you ever were."

Cassandra's eyes widened, as if Batman had uttered some great blasphemy, "But…I'm…" Cassandra had to gulp heavily, and even then her voice was little more than a whisper, "…a killer. Murderer."

"No," Batman's response was quick and final, and he spoken with a strength of conviction Cassandra rarely saw in him outside combat, "you've killed once, under extenuating circumstances. Ever since then, your dedication to preserving life…well, it's impressive. Your conviction for the sanctity of human life matches that of myself and precious few others I've met. Superman and Wonder Woman among them."

Most people would have given pause at that moment, not just with the flattering comparison, but also the fact that it was the Dark Knight delivering the compliment. Not Cassandra Cain, however.

"Cain trained… me to be killer. What I…am," she replied mournfully, "I…proved it."

Batman pressed a button on his belt, and the Batcomputer behind them came alive with images. Each and everyone one of them were of Cassandra before her eighth birthday. Some were of her and Cain sparring, either with just their hands or other weapons, including ballistic knives, nun-chucks and bo-staffs. Others were her of a child, battling skilled men twice her size.

"For eight years, Cain trained you towards a singular goal. For eight years he abused you…"

Cassandra winced. She knew her childhood was abnormal, but despite it all she still loved her father and never thought of her upbringing as all that bad. At least she didn't so long as she didn't dwell on it too much.

"…raising you without any other constant human contact. No socialization, no interaction with possible role models, nothing that wasn't for the express purpose of turning you into a human weapon. An object. Cain dehumanized you and then set you loose. That you've only taken one life is a testament to your character. You didn't know what you were doing. In fact, it was impossible for you to know."

"You…still would have…stopped me," Cassandra counted.

Batman chose his words carefully. He knew he could not in good conscience hold Cassandra Cain responsible for her singular slaying. Not after he'd seen her childhood from videos copied from her father and trainer, no only a fool would believe she hadn't crossed that line, however unwittingly. Or a man who wasn't willing to maturely address anything that might lose him his potentially most skilled and trained operative to date, the Dark Detective reflected for a moment. And Batman knew he couldn't take his sanction of Batgirl. She'd earned it a hundred times over. But there were still important matters that he had to address now, matters that her near death experience made crystal clear could wait no longer.

"You're correct," Batman answered, "I would have stopped you. I would have brought Cain in, and ensured that you received treatment to…correct his abuse."

Cassandra bristled when she heard Batman referring to 'correcting' her. It wasn't that Cassandra thought she was normal, far from it. It was because no one was willing to teach her how to actually be normal. And if they weren't willing to do that, the least they could do was not call attention to it.

"But we can't change the past. The best we can do is focus on the future."

"Batgirl…is my future," Cassandra asserted.

Cassandra could see how that answer disappointed her mentor, and hesitated.

"Isn't it?"

A pause.

"I don't know Cassandra, is it?" asked Batman, "is that all you want from life? Just being Batgirl?"

Cassandra stared at Batman intently, trying to divine the answer from his body language. Unfortunately, Batman was an expert at hiding and deception, even when it concerned the minor tics and tremors of his muscles that were like bold letters to Cassandra's unique perception. It combat it was nigh impossible to hide, but in planned confrontations like this, the Dark Knight was a mystery even to her.

"…no?"

"Are you answering me honestly, or just saying what you think I want to hear?" demanded Batman, his tone final but gentle.

Cassandra didn't know much, but she knew better than to answer that question. His point made, Batman let it slide, and continued.

"Tell me Cassandra, who is Batgirl?"

Cassandra tilted her head to the side and looked at the Dark Knight curiously, "Batgirl is me. No…I am Batgirl."

"Is Tim Drake Robin, or is Robin Tim Drake?" Batman inquired.

"Robin is Tim Drake." She answered.

"Is Nightwing Dick Grayson, or is Dick Grayson Nightwing?"

"Nightwing is Dick Grayson."

"Is Oracle Barbara Gordon, or is Barbara Gordon Oracle?"

"Oracle is Barbara Gordon."

Batman didn't hide his body language the entire time, and with each question Cassandra began to feel more and more confusion and panic. She knew the truth, that her answers were right, but Batman felt they were wrong. It never occurred to her that Batman might be wrong, or that there might be another answer.

"I…don't understand!" Cassandra finally protested.

"And that's the problem," Batman concluded.

"Am not stupid!" Cassandra protested quickly, almost before she realized her. It was often intimidating, working in the Batclan knowing as little as she did. They solved giant, long winding puzzles, deciphered the motives of the insane and could sometimes even solve crimes with little more than a glance. The only thing that prevented Cassandra from being overwhelmed with an inferiority complex was her own stubborn belief, supported by very little she felt not so deep down, that she was not in fact as stupid as she often felt.

Batman produced a folder from behind his back and set it on the table, "I'm inclined to agree, for a host of reasons. Remember when you were captured on film by a Black Ops. Government agency? Oracle and I copied their records before we destroyed them. According to their expects, you're a borderline meta-human even though you don't possess the gene. They speculate that you have surgical implants or cybernetic alterations that account for your combined skills."

Cassandra gave Batman a concerned look, "…do I?"

Batman smirked, however slightly, and the pride in his expression shored up Cassandra's weakening self esteem, if only for the moment, "You're a hundred percent human, Cassandra. Your combined speed, strength and mental coordination is simply off the charts. You're a model of human excellence, in fact."

Batman slid the folder forward.

"Read me the high lighted sections, please."

Cassandra looked at the manila folder in terror, and then back to Batman.

"You are by no means stupid Cassandra, but I'm afraid you are very ignorant."

Cassandra wanted to shrivel up and die, right then and there. Ignorant was just another word for stupid, she thought, and she could never bring herself to disagree with Batman.

"And I mean ignorant, Cassandra," Batman emphasized, "not stupid."

"No difference," Cassandra protested weakly.

"Ignorance is lack of knowledge. Stupidity is lack of ability to understand a subject," Batman explained, "and no one on my team is stupid. But your ignorance worries me. What's two plus two?"

"I don't…"

"What year did Columbus sail to America?"

"Who?"

"What month is it?"

"What's a…"

"What's today's date?"

"Stop it!" Cassandra screamed so loudly the bats of the cave awoke and shrieked in protest. Cassandra stood up and took a few steps away from the table, clutching her fists they turned white, "just…stop…please?"

Batman walked to his young ward and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, "I'm sorry, but I needed to make my point, Cassandra. There are certain matters regarding your life that need to change, and they can't wait."

"I don't want…to change," Cassandra growled, "I'm fine…like I am."

"I don't believe that for a second," Batman shot back, "and because I care about you, I'm not inclined to give you a choice in the matter."

Cassandra reacted immediately. She swung her left wrist towards Batman's neck where it collided with Batman's left forearm. Batman, still operating on instinct, was reeling from surprise when Cassandra, balancing on just her right leg, kicked backwards with her other leg and connected solidly with Batman's stomach, driving the air from his lungs. Spinning around gracefully, Cassandra let loose a series of punches aimed at vital or important areas, with one or two aimed at less vital parts of his body. To his credit, Batman blocked them all by the time Cassandra disengaged and flipped backwards.

For a moment, the World's Greatest Detective felt clueless. Cassandra Cain, despite being nurtured on violence from the cradle, was not a young woman prone to violence. She never attacked without just cause, so why would she now…?

Cassandra pulled the specially designed Kevlar weave mask down across her face. The young woman facing Batman now was not Cassandra Cain, but Batgirl.

Batman was equally impressed and disappointed. He hadn't even noticed Cassandra remove her mask from his belt. Few people on this planet could do that. But he was disappointed to see how much of her identity, her self esteem, she placed in the mask. It wasn't that way with civilians during or on a mission, Batman knew and it served only to disappoint him more.

"You told me…a long time ago…you supported my choice… to use my identity…to fight crime," Batgirl snapped at Batman as harshly as she could.

"I'm not having this discussion with Batgirl," Batman growled. He removed three gas pellets and lobbed them at Batgirl's feet. Two exploded in a cloud of white smoke that completely obscured Batgirl's vision. Batman leapt forward, and Batgirl dodged a round house kick aimed at her head by inches.

Batgirl readied herself for a follow up attack when the third pellet, a flare, exploded in a bright burst of light. Only a split second, the young warrior was vulnerable while she shifted tactics to accommodate her blindness. Batman didn't waste a second, his right hand swinging outwards, snatching the pointed ears of Cassandra's mask and yanking it off her head.

Cassandra stepped forward to retake her mask, this time with only the personal confidence of Cassandra Cain. One raised hand from Batman was all it took to stop her in her tracks.

Batman took the mask in both hands and was about to tear it in two, to make a point, when he saw the silent horror on Cassandra's face. It didn't matter that Batman had dozens of replacement masks already prepared for her, to see her mentor destroying her mask would be a blow to her sense of self she might not be able to take, he realized. Batman relented, and once again tucked the mask into his belt.

"I wish I had to wonder where you got the idea to hide behind a mask from your personal problems, but I don't," Batman sighed.

Batman pulled his cowl back, so that Cassandra Cain was looking at the face of Bruce Wayne instead that of The Batman.

To say it was disconcerting to Cassandra was an understatement. Yes, she knew Batman and Bruce Wayne were on and the same, and she had even worked with Batman when he was being Bruce Wayne. But never once had he engaged her Cassandra to Bruce Wayne. Somehow, seeing Batman as Bruce Wayne seemed wrong to her. Bruce Wayne was human. Batman was more than that.

"It's only fair we both discuss this without masks. And you're right. At the time I did support your decision not to actively engage in civilian life. I made a mistake, one I intend to correct."

"It's still…my life!" Cassandra snapped defensively, "my life, my choice!"

The two night vigilantes started one another down for long minutes. Cassandra believed that Batman would fire her, he'd have done it long ago. That he hadn't done so already meant that he was only bluffing at best, and wouldn't press the matter at worst.

Batman, for his part, knew when the battle was lost. Cassandra seemingly didn't want a normal life, even when made away of how ignorant she was. But what she wanted and what she deserved were two different things. And just because he couldn't force her to try a normal life hardly meant he'd lost. No, they say that The Batman plans for everything. And in this instance, they were one hundred percent correct.

"Alright," Batman said finally, "I'll respect your decision under one condition. I have a mission. Perform it to my specifications and we'll never have this discussion again. I give you my word."

For Cassandra Cain, there was nothing to consider, "Name it."

"Spy on the Teen Titans for an entire weekend."

Next Issue: What do you think happens? Batgirl invades Titans Tower, but what she discovers there may be more than she can handle! Guest starring the Teen Titans (duh), Oracle and the Birds of Prey! Be here!

Author's note: Those of you who have been following the series no doubt recognize this chapter. It's actually the first chapter that's the newest issue.

As I have stated elsewhere, I write for group fanfiction sites. Batgirl was originally at a place called DC Revolutions and the continuity was just post War Games. Now it's at DC Infinity, and the continuity is OYL. The first issue, labeled 0, addresses Cass' altered continuity starting from issue 73 of her mainstream series. There will be some minor changes for the first three issues (I'll tell ya right now, ignore the Hawkman reference in the first issue) but in terms of substance nothing has changed. Sorry for the confusion, all.