Avenging Justice 2:

Caught Between an Ultron and a Doomsday

Part III

Earth, New Jersey, Gotham City

They were all here, all her friends and those that mocked her. Graduating at sixteen did that to you. People could be jealous, but they could be gracious too. It sounds cliché, but some of the popular girls hated her. You may ask why? Because her beauty was effortless, and her mind was photographic with knowledge. She seemed to get things easier, know things beyond her years, and they were jealous.

Barbara Gordon didn't know that, just knew enough to stay away. Even the more intellectual guys had been threatened by her ability. She tried to explain that she was naturally curious, and was always looking for new bits of information that she didn't know. It didn't matter, and it didn't bother her. She had her friends, and she had a role model. One who didn't care about popularity, but protecting those in the city.

At seventeen, she was a freshman in college. Gotham State University, keeping the legend alive, as she took courses even her professors were shocked by. Forensics, computer sciences, and more, she wanted to follow in her father's footsteps. She wanted to be a cop, maybe one day Commissioner, and that way she could work with the Batman.

Barbara smiled as she thought about the costumes she and Marcy used to make as kids. It was where she got the idea for the costume that she wore now. It had come out better than she expected and made her feel powerful, strong. She just had to get over her own nerves, and get on with it.

Hanging outside the building with loud blaring music, was a sign that read, "Delta Beta Delta and Alpha Gamma Gamma Mixer Celebration." The annual party between the fraternity and sorority consisted of the usual debauchery one would expect, but also a costume contest. While yes, many of them were won by how little the women wore, Barbara had been intrigued.

Course work was light, well for her, it wasn't too hard to whip together a costume. She may not win, but it would be good to see the looks on everyone's face when they saw it. She had checked out her image in the mirror before leaving home, and had to pinch herself. Barbara Gordon didn't stare back at her, rather something else. That brought a smile to her face again, and decided it was time.

Inside Bethany felt a little woozy. She had gone to plenty of parties in the past, but this one must have some really good booze. Not that she hadn't had good stuff in the past. As the daughter of a local councilman, she was above reproach. Her teachers feared giving her bad grades, so she always tended to pass. She didn't mind, her only real trouble was history and latin, both of which she didn't see the need in.

Her real dream was to be a YouTube influencer, and she regularly uploaded videos. Some were the standard girly tips on make up and stuff, but her real passion were skits. Her friends and her would do several skits written, edited and taped with the help of her brother. It was about the only time the two got along. He was still mad that she had been so mean towards that Gordon girl.

Apparently, her brother had the biggest crush on that over achieving smarty pants. What he saw in the red head, she would never see. Of course, her real issue was just how insecure Barbara made her. She just was hiding from that little revelation, unsure what that would say about her, or how to face it.

Her college boyfriend had brought her out to the party, said she'd have a great time and many of his frat brothers would love to meet her. There had been a mischievous gleam in his eye as he had said it, but that normally meant he was up for more physical fun later in the evening.

Not thinking anything of it, she was not sluggishly and mind numbingly thinking that was a mistake. She couldn't act on it, everything felt different, her arms and legs as if on a different planet. Bethany tried to speak, but her words came out slurred. Something was very, very wrong, and she wanted to just go home. That wasn't in the cards though.

"Get Black Mask on the phone," one of the frat boys said. "We have the girl."

"You guys didn't say anything about that psycho!" Bethany's boyfriend argued. "I thought we were going to have some fun."

The same frat brother from before sighed, "I don't see why we can't, but make it quick. Apparently, he has needs her for his plans. All I know, is he was offering a lot of money for her."

"How'd you get involved with that guy?" one of the other asked, but was soon answered as the other guy pulled out a powder and snorted it right up. "That stuff is rough, man."

"Shut up dickweed, it's fine, I can stop when I want," the lead frat boy shouted. "Besides, it's unfu.."

The door opened then, the dark shape sent shivers down their spines. Like a walking shadow, with pointed ears, the shape came into the room. Unconsciously they all moved back, terror seized them. As if to accentuate that point, the smell of fresh urine soon wafted around the room.

"Wait, Black Mask's people will be here any second, no bat's going to stop us!" the lead frat boy said, the drugs in his system making him feel invincible.

He swung a meaty fist at the dark shape, only now as his mind registering that the nightmare was shorter than reported. The bat shaped thing dodged, and he caught the sight of yellow towards the feet. He swung another hook, and this time the shape dodged under and put a knee deep into his kidney.

Crying out in pain, he clutched his side, but sent another punch out. This one got the closest, but still missed. Two yellow gloved hands levered his arm down and back, pushing him towards a nearby wall. He stopped and despite the pain in his side, sent an elbow back. This one did connect, and he heard a grunt.

Thinking he had scored a greater hit than he did, the lead frat boy rushed forward like a bull. Encircling the dark shape, his intent was to use his mass to drag the person down. Much to his surprise, the shape fell into it, putting those yellow boots into his chest. Rolling, he was launched at the apex and he found himself hitting the opposite wall. He meant to get up, when a very close boot knocked him out.

"Anyone else want a go?" Barbara said in her best impression of Batman's voice. The other frat boys, including Bethany's loser boyfriend all stepped back. "Didn't think so. Go downstairs and find the nearest campus security, confess."

Faster than she could blink, all of them were gone, the pungent smell of urine though remained. She didn't envy the person that would end up cleaning this room. That being said, she hurried over to Bethany. They didn't have much time, as the drugged-up frat boy could return to consciousness at any time.

Instead, she collected the fallen phone by Bethany, and helped the poor girl out of the room. Bethany wasn't in any condition to move, so she ended up doing a fireman's carry, and glad that she hadn't skipped her regular work outs. As they left, they left a major scene. Many of the partygoers had pulled out their phones, and were recording.

Luckily for Barbara, one of the campus police officers was nearby. Setting Bethany down, she put the phone into her hands, and then used the piercing whistle all girls were given on campus. Then she fled, finding a dark corner to hide, and watch to make sure Bethany was found.

Barbara watched as the officer came over to the out of it girl. Fear was visible, he moved like one in the middle of a slasher film. For some reason, she found that very funny, despite the situation being anything such. He should know that only the guilty and criminal had anything to fear from the Batman.

Once a second officer, this time female, arrived on the scene, Barbara made a more permanent exit. Heading back to where she hid her clothes, she quickly removed the cowl and cape, and put a turtleneck sweater over her costume. She threw on a very long skirt to hide the lower part of her costume, and only then did she relax.

Her heart was still pounding an hour later, the pure adrenaline still in her system, as she thought about what she had just done. She hadn't gone to the party to get into a fight, but she was glad she had chosen to go. What would have happened if nobody had been there? That was a sobering thought.

Having walked into the party, she had decided to make an entrance. Instead of going in the front, she was going to come in the back, sneak around and make a grand appearance. Because of this, she had a clear view as Bethany being drug up the stairs. She had also heard the snickers coming from the frat guys.

Despite her father's best efforts, she knew of some of the cases he worked. It was how she had walked in talking to the Batman. Talk about a memory that she would never forget, her estimation of her father had skyrocketed after that. He was important enough for the Batman to get assistance from. Though he shared some with her, there was one set of cases he tried to keep from her.

She had just lived through one of those, but thanks to her, Bethany would be fine. It gave her a feeling, that she had made a difference. This was something she was going to have to look into further. In the meantime she needed something to take the edge off. Luckily her friend arrived a few minutes after Barbara texted her.

"Hey Babs!" her friend called out as she pulled the car up. "How was the party?"

Smiling deviously, "Fantastic, I feel like I could run all night!"

"Yeah, I remember my first party like that. I would say I was younger than you, but you're actually a college girl, and I was just a sixteen year old sneaking into a college party," her friend said. "Well let's get you home, I've got the new Netflix Dracula show all queued up."

"You know, that doesn't sound half bad," Barbara said as she watched the city lights go by.

"Yeah, you've got a type, I know. Tall, dark, and bat like," the other young woman teased her.

Hours later, a very beaten frat boy was hung from his feet, blood pooling under him. Sitting in a fine chair, sipping an aged wine through his mask, was the gangster known as Black Mask. He nodded and one his henchmen began to beat the frat boy mercilessly. One more signal, and the henchman stopped. More blood fell and the frat boy vomited up something red. He could feel something was wrong inside, and fear of death took over the young man.

"Explain to me what happened with the councilman's daughter, again," Black Mask growled.

"I told you, the Bat came," the frat boy spit, more of the crimson vomit followed. "The beast can change its size, it was small this time."

"Incompetence, I'm surrounded by incompetence," Black Mask signaled, and the henchman tore into the frat boy again. "If the Batman had been there, all of your friends would be in the hospital. You were taken out like a punk and are of no use to me, comprehend me?!"

The frat boy could only groan, and he barely could open his eyes. What little he could see, was the shine of something metallic. He didn't need to see what came next, thunder resounded across the room, and a sharp pain pierced through him. In his final moments, the frat boy only knew that last painful feeling. His body would be found in the Gotham Harbor the following day.

"Locate his friends, see if they can be of further help," Black Mask turned to leave. "It would be a pity if he was actually telling the truth."