Counterpart Conference

By Michael Weyer

In the midst of other fics but this one hit me fast and inspired by recent stuff so hope to enjoy.

Earth-1

Gotham City

"Well, Gotham, this is Vesper Fairchild checking in. And are we in for a fine treat today as Bruce Wayne is going to address the press on the allegations of misappropriating Wayne Enterprises funds. With the sharks in droves sharpening knives and employees worried, the question is, has Gotham's favorite playboy gone Bernie Madoff?"

The buzz in the lobby of Wayne Enterprises headquarters quieted as the suited man calmly stepped up the dais. He was older than when last seen in the city, his hair with flecks of grey but still the handsome and charismatic figure the city had come to know so well. He adjusted a microphone, tapping on it, then cleared his throat to speak.

"I believe in Gotham City."

Bruce Wayne let his words echo across the room, showing no concern for the cameras focused on him. "I do. I believe in Gotham. I believe in its spirit, its future and its heart. I believe in it and no matter what, I always will. My father did and so did my mother. The Wayne family has been more than providers for this city, we've been its protectors. And that's something I want to continue."

He paused to continue. "The question in the last week has been where the millions of dollars of Wayne Enterprise funds have gone. First, these are funds I have been careful to allocate with my own personal resources. The investors have not lost a dime. But the question as to where that money has gone remains and you all deserve an answer.

A decade ago, I was approached by a man. I never got his real name. I doubt I've ever seen his real face. But he was a man of vision. A man of purpose. A man who needed my help crafting a new vision for Gotham. A better Gotham for all of us. A way to cut out the cancer that poisons this city.

Since that day...I have funded the Batman's operations."

Bruce let the expected buzz run through the reporters before continuing. "No one should be shocked by this. My parents died before my eyes, victims of a senseless crime. I'd do anything to prevent anyone from going through that pain. He had the skills and determination that, to be frank, I lack. He just needed my help and I was willing to give it to him. Again, most of this has been from my own personal fortune yet I acknowledge using the resources of Wayne Enterprises to ensure the Batman has the tools to wage his war. And make no mistake, that is what this is, a war."

He knew he had their attention as he went on. "So yes, I make no apologies. In fact, I'm proud of this and I dare say more than a few Wayne Enterprises investors will be equally happy. If they're not, they're free to refuse to back a man whose only goal is to keep this city safe from the monsters that prowl it."

He paused, his face somber. "When he left...I admit I was equally troubled. To be honest, much of my supposedly flippant playboy persona was to help deflect suspicion." He smirked. "Well, some of it anyway." Letting the chuckles die down, Bruce went on. "I don't know why he left. I had my suspicions but he's back. Not just him but the Batwoman as well and no, I don't know who she is either. But they're back helping Gotham which needs them far more than the Crows."

Bruce's face glowered a bit. "No, I was never happy with the Crows. The revelations of the corruption within them should be evidence of that. I'm aware there's still a push for them to stay as a special force but that's for the mayor and city council to hash out. As it stands now, I believe everyone knowing where I stand with Batman is the best course of action."

A reporter raised her hand. "Mr. Wayne, Vicki Vale, Gotham Gazette. Aren't you concerned you might be found liable, if not criminally, than civil suits from criminals Batman has beaten on?"

"That, Ms. Vale, is why my legal team is paid only slightly less than Batman is." Another wave of laughter echoed. "I'm aware coming out like this puts a spotlight on the operations neither of us wanted. But I also believe it's time to let it be known, not just to Batman but other costumed heroes out there...As long as you operate, you have a friend in Bruce Wayne."

In the main office 60 floors above, Luke Fox and Kate Kane sat at a desk, both staring at the TV as Bruce handled questions. "You didn't know about this?" Luke blurted.

Kate shook her head, her short red hair framing her face. "Nope. He told me something big but this..."

Luke had to chuckle. "It's...it's brilliant." As Kate looked at him in confusion, Luke clarified. "What's the best way to figure out who Batman is? See who in Gotham City can afford what he needs."

Kate nodded in understanding. "So by telling everyone he's backing Batman, Bruce can make it sound like he's still the playboy and it's someone more interesting as Bats. Damn, he's good."

As she rose up, Luke sipped his drink. "Your dad isn't gonna be happy..."

"Tough shit," Kate intoned. "I know he's had issues since finding out about Catherine hiding Beth being alive and such but I'm not stopping what I do."

Luke paused. "And Sophie?"

Kate sighed. "Just...it's complicated. I still don't know how to handle her and the whole Beth as Alice mess. Besides, she's dating that cop, Montoya. Not sure she'd want me."

Deciding it was better to keep quiet on that, Luke rose up, taking out a folder. "Oh, got the file on that lady you wanted me to look into. The one who helped you out of that drug-dealing jam." Kate accepted the file to flip through it. "Ryan Wilder. Former Army, just out of jail and you ask me, it was a crap charge in the first place."

"Hmmm," Kate mused as she looked over the file with the mug shot and records of the attractive black woman. "Interesting..."

Luke raised an eyebrow. "What, gonna recruit a sidekick?"

"No, but maybe some security for the club is a good idea," Kate returned as she flipped through the pages. "Or help Mary with her clinic, it's a rough neighborhood."

She became aware of Luke studying her. "What?"

"You get a haircut?"

Kate frowned. "No."

"Really? Sorry, just looked a little different today." Luke shrugged it off. "Bringing Mary into this might be helpful. She's smart, Kate, she might figure it out herself."

"I'll keep her out as much as I can," Kate responded. "I still worry about her with Alice out there."

"Speaking of which, she's been pretty quiet lately."

"Yeah, I hate that too," Kate mused as she looked out the window. "If nothing else, Alice causes trouble anywhere she goes..."

Earth-1992

Gotham City

There was an air in the city that hadn't existed for a long time. Hope

Whenever the Joker was quiet, the city was on edge. It was like a time bomb just waiting to go off at any moment. Yet, as the weeks without his presence extended into months, the city began to feel that tension ease. If there was one thing the Joker wasn't, it was patient. For him to go this long without so much as a single crime or even a calling card was unlike him. Some even speculated that, at long last, the Clown Prince of Crime had met his end.

Regardless of the reason, his absence did leave a hole in the Gotham underworld which had Gotham's defenders racing to keep it from turning into a full-scale gang war. That conflict was the last thing on the mind of the young woman lounging on a couch in the mostly empty warehouse. She tapped a foot in the air as she gazed up at the ceiling. Her mostly red outfit marked with black patches offset her painted white face, her blonde hair pushed under a cap with tassels.

She let out a long sigh, her boredom clear as she tossed a tennis ball in the air. At the mid-point of its downward arc, she raised a huge mallet to send it smashing out a window. She let another sigh as she sunk back on the couch.

"Wow...all ya's needs is the cartons of ice cream and the Sex and the City marathon."

Leaping to her feet, Harley Quinn held the mallet up in her hands, ready for an attack. She froze as she took in the trio of figures before her. The lead pair were the ones dominating her attention. Each was much alike with hair so blonde, it was nearly white, in pigtails and with splashes of color mixed in. Each also wore very short shorts with torn-up t-shirts and matching wild grins on their white faces, one of which appeared painted, the other her real skin.

Behind them was another blonde-haired woman, only dressed in dark pants with a leather coat, her eyes curious as she looked over Harley, who was blinking at the trio. "Um...I'm having another psychotic break, right?"

"If ya wanna think that, sure thing," one of the other blonde's, this a bit older the first said. "Right now, call me Harleen." She nodded to the other. "She can be Quinn, makes it simpler."

Harley slowly nodded as she looked to the third woman. "And you?"

"Oh, Alice," she said. "And I have no idea why I'm here."

Harleen winced. "Yeah, kinda our bad...See, we was on another Earth and saw this blonde-haired psycho running around Gotham so, yeah, just figured she was one of us, ya know?"

"So next thing I know, I'm being dragged across realities," Alice complained. She paused to shrug. "Yet not the oddest trip of my life."

"Hey, it's not like these things came with instructions when we stole them!" Harleen snapped.

"Actually, they did, we just ignored them," Quinn pointed out.

"Oh, right."

Harley was still processing this. "Um...so...you're me...why are you here?"

"Call it an intervention." Harleen sat back in a large futon chair, propping her feet up on a table. "Cause we're gonna give ya the advice we had to go through a lot to learn about."

"Advice?"

Harleen leaned in to look her in the eye. "Mr. J? He ain't no good for ya."

Harley's face fell. "Hey, ya don't know him!"

"Oh, do we know him, sweetie," Quinn said, settling into her own chair across from her counterpart. "We all have our versions of him. Although hers," she nodded to Harleen. "Had this really nasty style going for him."

"Yeah, then yer Mr. J showed up to kill him," Harleen said.

Harley's eyes lit up. "Wait...Mr. J is there! Wow, that's great, I can be with him!"

The other two women exchanged looks and let out matching sighs. "Harley...sweetie...sit." Harleen patted a seat and despite herself, Harley sat next to her. Harleen took her hands in her own to give her a serious look. "Honey...we already told ya, Mr. J is not good for ya. Believe me, I knew that. He was nuts, abusive, he used us..."

"Hey, he loved..."

Harleen snorted. "Harley, come on. We're all trained shrinks, we should know every sign of a manipulator coming a mile away. Yet we all fell for that lunatic who never cared for anyone but himself." As Harley opened her mouth, Harleen cut her off. "You have to know any stories he fed ya on his past were absolute crap."

"And before you start denying that, keep in mind, we've been where you are," Quinn added. "We know every crappy tale that guy could give us, every trick." She shook her head at Harleen. "I mean, your Mr. J sounded even freakier than mine and mine put giant nails through people's heads."

Harleen nodded. "Yeah, he was a nutjob. And I mean that sincerely." She looked back to Harley. "Which is why you should be taking this as a massive opportunity to remake yourself. Get rid of this annoying habit of going back to him when he treats us like shit and make your own path. Like we have."

"Well, I think I'm a little more successful," Quinn mused. "I mean, the business is going well, got things going with Pammy..." She looked to Harley. "On that, give Red another try? I know, she can be a handful but a hell of a lot better than the alternatives."

"Take your word on that," Harleen said. "I don't know if I have an Ivy in my reality. Or maybe I do and they haven't introduced her yet."

"Oh, you do it too?" Quinn smiled. "That can be fun, a little nutty sometimes but we make it work."

Alice rubbed her temples as she tried to keep up with the madness spouting from these women. "The point being," Harleen went on. "You are in a terrible cycle, Harley. He ignores you, abuses you, leaves you high and dry, maybe you say you're done but you come back to him. Take his being gone as the sign it's finally time to drop Mr. J and be your own woman."

Harley crossed her legs in thought. "I get it. I do, it's just Mr. J is...ya know, something."

"Oh, he's something all right," Alice muttered. "Assumption is he's dead in my world. At least, hasn't been seen in years and that's not like him." She brushed at her nails. "But hopefully, we've got enough madness to fill the void."

Quinn took a bite from the pizza on the table before them. "Hey, nothing wrong with a little insanity in the world! Just gotta handle it right. At least your worlds sound a bit better, not like mine. I mean, folks get blasted to atoms on a daily basis but it's treated like an insurance claim. Maybe me and Red outghta take a vacation to one of your spots."

"I don't know," Harleen said. "My Gotham can still be weird. Although the Birds would love ya!"

"Yeah, Black Canary is actually black in your world? Funny how these things go."

"We have a Canary on my world," Alice responded. "At least, I think it's just one, hard to tell sometimes." She shrugged. "Sorry, but since I got turned to dust and back, I had a hard time catching up on things."

"Yep, that wasn't fun," Harleen had to agree.

"Oh, I wasn't," Quinn responded. "In fact, I had no idea what happened, me and Pammy were on a...vacation and didn't get back until it was settled."

"Now, does she still try to make plant versions of people on your world?" Harley asked. "That was a really weird period for her."

"Nah, gave that up a while ago. She's more into directing them like a cartoon."

Quinn pursed her lips. "Ya know, your worlds strike me like some weird animated world." She waved at Harley. "Yer Gotham is rough and tough yet surprisingly low body count." She nodded at Harleen. "Yours...I mean, geez, I've seen war zones with less body count, how the hell do people live there?"

Harleen shrugged. "Not sure. Every time there's some big crazy shit going down, the media talks of 'that' it, everyone is leaving' but they never do. It's Gotham, something about it attracts a certain kind of people."

"Gotham pride, gotta love it!" Harley grinned. "In fact, they're having the Gotham Bowl next week! I was thinking crashing it to at least throw a bunch of poison pies at players."

"Aw, I did that once!" Harleen said with a wistful look on her face. "Snagged the MVP trophy to boot."

Alice rubbed her head. "I can't believe this."

"What is your story anyway?" Harley asked, honestly curious.

"Oh, you want to know?" Alice sat on the sofa. "Let's see...nearly killed in car crash separating me from twin sister, raised as a prisoner by a monster, my dad bought a story I was dead to eventually abandon me, ended up on some island for wild stuff and eventually just embraced being a completely different person."

"Ah," Harley mused. "Classic abandonment issues combined with trauma, that'll shake ya up."

Harleen was studying Alice. "Also, ya want my advice..."

"Hell, no."

"You should get yourself checked out. One thing I can recognize is someone who had their head messed with and wouldn't be shocked some missing memories contributed to your breakdown issues." The professional words sounded more bizarre coming from the garishly dressed woman.

Quinn put a hand to Alice's shoulder in what was meant as a reassuring squeeze. "It's okay, hon. Maybe ya do need to find a guy yourself to get off the funk." She shrugged. "Or just blow up a warehouse, works for me."

Alice blinked, marveling at how, somehow, she was the sanest person in this entire conversation. "So, ah, are we nearly done here? Because I was in the middle of some stuff when you dragged me into this. And by stuff, I mean plotting twisted revenge on my family."

"Ah, okay, sure," Harleen said as she put down her drink. "So, listen to what we say, Harley. You're better off being your own self, own it, girl!"

"And by own it, we mean steal what you can then it'll be yours," Quinn added with a wild grin.

"Now that I get behind." The three women laughed as they clinked some glasses together while Alice once again wondered how long it would take to write this entire thing off as a very weird dream.

Earth-89

Gotham City

Returning to life was a rush for her. After so long kept in that dark and dry state, to feel the rush of energy flowing back into her was amazing. She let out a loud gasp, her eyes firing open as she shot up from the bed of flowers she'd been in. She shook hard, looking down at herself in her mostly red outfit showing her nice body well, her lush dark hair flowing behind her.

She took a deep breath, inhaling not oxygen but the feeling of power around her, the connections to nature. It felt different than what she knew. Somehow, someway, she knew instinctively this was not her Earth.

"Welcome back." She spun to see two women standing before her. One was dressed in a very bright green outfit fitting her like a second skin, her red hair long and lush flowing behind her. Her bright red lips were pulled into a smile and the makeup around her eyes resembled leaves, as did her outfit. The other's hair was darker, her outfit also a darker green but the same leaf motif as her companion.

"Hello, Ivy," the first woman said, her voice lush and seductive. "To make it simple, my colleague is Pepper. You can call me...Poison."

Ivy slowly rose from the bed of roses, her eyes on the duo. She took them in, the red hair, the leaf-like outfits, the green eyes, and slowly understood. "You're both...me."

"In a way," Poison confirmed as she leaned back against a table. Ivy realized she was in, fittingly, a greenhouse, the moon pouring in from the glass ceiling to cast an odd light on it all. "Before you ask, we sensed you. It's an odd connection we seem to carry across..." She looked to Pepper. "What did you call it?"

"The Green," she answered. "At least, a good enough name for it." She leaned against a wall, studying Ivy. "Interesting...You really seem experienced, must be the doctorate."

"What, you never went to college?" Ivy asked.

Pepper chuckled. "Actually...I never went to high school. Technically, I'm still 15." She saw both their looks and shrugged. "Pretty complex but, at the risk of sounding like I'm making a bad pun, I had a unique growth spurt."

"I can relate," Poison replied. "I was a cliché myself, a glasses-wearing nerd before an accident transformed me into the stunningly effective bad-ass you now see." She brushed at her hair. "According to the doctors, also drove me insane and power-made."

Pepper frowned. "That happens a lot on these other Earths, you notice?" Poison had to agree with her.

Ivy looked around, taking in her surroundings. "This isn't my world. The connection isn't right."

"It's not," Poison responded. "You're on my Earth. An Earth that needs a lot of fixing and I believe you can help with that."

"You're not the only one of course," Pepper said, her voice lighter and a trace of mischief in it. "We've seen others but they...well, lack the fire we want."

Poison nodded. "One is far too connected to her Harley Quinn, even engaged for crying out loud. She cares for the planet, but she's gotten soft, not willing to do what it takes. Another isn't bad but likewise small-minded, not willing to cut loose."

"But you..." Pepper smirked. "You are different. Okay, you had your infatuation with that Renee Montoya...who oddly looks exactly like the one from my world." She shrugged. "But aside from that, you get it, Ivy. You know the world has a virus on it. One called humanity."

"And we're the antibodies," Ivy intoned, brushing at her clothing to wipe off the dirt. "I can understand that. And respect it." She looked to Poison. "The only question is, why should I be putting my Earth over yours?"

"A fair one," Poison allowed. "Yet you understand we have gone to a bit of trouble getting you out of your prison, to our world and restoring you. If nothing else, just maybe a little gratitude is warranted."

"Besides" Pepper added. "Once we know our efforts can work on one Earth, we can streamline the process to transform another."

"And that is what it'll be, Ivy," Poison said. "We're going to be seen as monsters...But we'll embrace that if it means saving our natures from the never-ending pestilence."

Ivy mused on their words before nodding. "Very well. Where do we begin?"

Poison smirked. "First, we have a Bat and his annoying little clan in this world to handle. But after that, we'll ensure this planet is finally ready to fight back."

Pepper made an evil grin. "Mother nature is a caring creature...but it's time we reminded humanity she can also be one horrible bitch."

Ivy had to join in their laughter as they marched away into the night.

Earth-2014

Gotham City (yes, again)

The clicking of the high-heeled boots echoed on the rooftop as the figure raced across them. She was a lithe woman in tight black clothing, her head covered by a tight mask with dark goggles over her eyes. What could be seen was a beautiful dark-skinned woman in the suit that fit her like a second skin.

She was racing to leap across a rooftop, landing on her feet and somersaulting into another run. She glanced over her back to see if she was still being followed before jumping across a short distance, landing on a fire escape. She leapt across to another rooftop, pulling herself up and going back on the run.

She was just getting across the roof when a whistling sound came through the air and she felt something wrap around her legs. It tugged to trip her up, letting her fall on her face before she could stop herself.

A dark shape fell over her as another woman in a similar black outfit stood above her. She was younger, her dark curly hair flowing beneath the cat-shaped mask but a similar wicked smirk on her lips. "Too slow, Cat," she purred as she reached to grab the pouch hanging off the other's belt. She reached to yank the bullwhip off of the other woman before giving a wave and then running off.

"Oh, just wait, Kyle!" the woman named Cat snarled as she got to her feet to chase after the other woman. It was a wild race, leaping across the roofs of the city with Kyle throwing out her whip at a nearby pole to allow her to swing across a gap and to an adjourning roof. Cursing, Cat had to shift her direction to another roof before racing on a parallel path after Kyle.

Kyle was ducking under a large vane, sliding a bit on her boots before coming to her feet. She stopped to see a figure lounging on a nearby terrace as if she was simply watching television. Her black costume looked like it had been literally stitched together but still fit her well with the tight cowl covering her head alongside the mask across her face. Her face looked older than the other two, propped up on her shoulder as she smirked. "Not a bad run, Kyle. Better than Cat."

"I've been doing this since I was a kid," Kyle retorted, looking calm even as she took on a fighting stance. "And no offense, but still younger than you, Selina."

Selina let out a loud and bright laugh. "Ah, yes, the fire of youth, I do miss it." Her eyes twinkled. "But as another one of us told me...there's something to be said for experience."

Too late, Kyle heard the snapping of a wire just as a cable wrapped around her legs. She yelped as she felt herself yanked off her feet, pulled upward by the cable hanging from a nearby pole. She tried to yank at the cable as Selina marched over, nonchalantly swiping the pouch off of Kyle's belt. She waved it in front of the younger woman's face before moving to run off the roof.

Before she could, Cat was there, tackling her down as the two rolled around the rooftop. Selina grunted as she fought back, hating to admit her age was a shot against her as Cat launched some kicks at her. Selina fought back, dodging to slash out with the razor-tipped claws on her gloves, Cat leaning back to avoid them.

Kyle managed to get her legs loose, somersaulting in mid-air to land on her feet. She was moving in on the other two, dodging a slash from Selina to kick out at the other woman. She grabbed at the pouch with both women dodging and Kyle tried again, this time, rolling herself off the back of Cat to snatch the pouch only for Selina to snatch it only for Cat to grab it right back.

"TIME!" a voice echoed along with a loud buzzer. The trio stopped, each letting out a simultaneous curse as they backed apart from each other, dropping the pouch on the ground. They turned toward the figure stepping out of the shadows. She was in her 80s with white hair yet carried herself with an elegant touch and was still strikingly beautiful. She wore a mink coat and suit that clearly cost more than some cars.

She stepped forward, checking the expensive gold watch on her wrist. "Not bad…not bad…You lasted longer, Cat. But I do have to say, you still failed."

"Come on, we agreed, no whips," Cat complained.

"Yes, heaven forbid we break some rules," Selina dryly said as she got to her feet. "You'd do the same thing to us." Cat opened her mouth but then shut it as she had to concede the point.

The woman the trio had come to call Original Catwoman stepped forward, that smirk on her face. "It was a good try, but you still have a ways to go. But you can try better next time." She sighed. "Now, if only we can get that version of us who settled down with her Bruce Wayne to come out of retirement."

"Ah, I can take her," Kyle confidently said.

"You couldn't take me," Selina responded.

"Try us on a different night," Cat fired back. "Might go a little differently for you, Samantha."

"Why am I the Samantha?" Selina complained, waving at Catwoman. "She's oldest, she should be!"

"Oh, I live up to that more than you'd imagine," Catwoman answered in a literal purr. "You young ones...always so confident with your technology and such. I was pulling jobs on my world before computers, darlings. Don't think I still can't do the job."

"Even when you look like you're ready for AARP?" Kyle smirked.

Catwoman smirked. "Ah, the fire of youth, I respect that. Of course…something to be said for experience." She lifted up the pouch with the other three startled, each wondering how she'd managed to get it without any of them noticing.

She turned to walk off. "Now, let's get going girls, before someone notices those dimensional extrapolators missing. I'll send the invites for next month." She looked to Cat. "I think we'll try your Gotham next time." She continued to march off. "And maybe invite some other Cat to join us."

"I wouldn't mind trying that," Selina mused. "A couple of other Cats up my alley."

Kyle rolled her eyes. "You just had to make a cat and alley joke, huh?" Selina winced at the realization.

"It's all right," Catwoman assured her. "Sometimes the puns are just too easy to resist. You should have heard some groaners I came up with in my time."

Selina smiled as they marched across the roof. "This is fun. I was chafing a bit in retirement, I needed the exercise once more."

"That's what you get falling for your Bat," Cat remarked with a smirk.

"I can't see myself trying with my Bruce," Kyle remarked. "I mean, a few kisses when we were younger but he's so..."

"Intense?" Selina said with her matching smirk. "Oh, he can be that way. Yet, oddly, that's what draws me to him more."

"Mine is a lot harder," Cat noted. "But yeah, I get that appeal."

"My Batman was...lighter in spirit," Catwoman softly said, her eyes looking off in melancholy remembrance. "He kept wanting to see the best in me, no matter what. He always said I could be a better woman." She shrugged. "I feel a bit bad I couldn't fully live up to that...but I can't change who I am, not even for him."

"None of us can," Selina said, her own face wistful with Cat and Kyle nodding in agreement.

Catwoman shook herself, becoming professional once more. "Enough of that. Let's get going to discuss the next hunt."

"Hey, is there a point to this?" Kyle asked as they followed. "Or just fun?"

"I don't mind the latter," Selina smirked. "I can use the exercise."

Catwoman smiled at them. "Let's just say, I'm putting together something…special. Ever see Ocean's 8? Just imagine it with the best classy cat burglars in the multiverse."

The other three Catwomen grinned as they followed the woman ready to lead them on the caper of any of their nine lives.

So, for those wondering, Harleen is Margot Robbie, Quinn is Kaley Cuoco from the HBO Max show and Harley is Tara Strong.

Meanwhile, Ivy is Bridget Reagan, Poison Uma Thurman and Pepper Peyton List.

Finally, Selina is Michelle Pfiefer, Kyle is Camren Bicondova and Cat is Zoe Kravitz. And Original Cat is, of course, Julie Newmar.

Also, Crisis established Earth-89 as the world of the Tim Burton movies while Earth-2014 is named after the year Gotham premiered.

And I threw in the line of Kate's "new haircut" as I still feel much better just recast her when Rose left and move on rather than upend the show (which, while flawed, had potential) for a totally new character.

Just a fun quick bit to show the intriguing mix of ladies of the Batman universe as these are the more logical ways they'd click together.