Chapter Sixteen

"Be careful!" The window to Leslie's X-Terra rolled down slowly with a whir, her voice a biting serious as I ducked into some of the bushes along the Wayne's long, twisting drive. The leaves rustled softly as I squatted to my haunches. Leslie retreated into her car and shifted it into reverse, the white lights around the license plate illuminating the light. I watched her silently as her SUV somberly drove down the drive. I waited only long enough; which was until her ruby-red tail-lights had been engulfed in darkness and the trail of dust subsided into quietness. I assured she was gone and only then did I take off for the Manor again.

It took great restraint not to run the other direction. Bruce was indeed Batman; he could very well get himself out of this if need be. Batman had always said this was his city and he didn't need the amateur help of a "rookie" archer. What he failed to realize was that I'd been patrolling these streets long before Batman had. I knew pain and bruises better than anyone, and I could practically make my way through the Narrows blindfolded. And the Traps….well, I knew them brick by brick.

The Traps. I leapt over a fallen log as I kept my eyes on the darkened Manor from the tree line. I found it extremely odd that Crane would target the Narrows individually and not the Traps. True, Falcone did have more contacts and employees in the Narrows, which was for sure. He had them manipulated, thus meaning Crane would have no problem sneaking his way in there and brainwashing everyone else. Something bothered me about the entire scenario. The Traps being left out in this plot for power seemed…odd.

I panted hard, the freshness of forest air mixed with the scent of pine, evening and wood played hard on my city-accustomed lungs. I knelt behind a bush, parting them with the back of my gloved hand, staring at the Manor. Surely they'd figured out that I'd pulled out the electricity? I waited a few seconds until my breathing resumed to normal. I squinted my eyes behind the mask and watched the window facing the forest line about 20 yards west of me. It was the music room, where Bruce had practiced his many arrays of talent as a child.

I counted to twenty before sprinting off again, careful to stay low and mixed with the tree and foliage. Suddenly a large fallen log appeared and I slid beneath it as if I was going for home-base and popped back up. Before I knew it I sloshed through a puddle of leaves, mud and stone and stopped. I rolled behind a huge Evergreen tree and peered out behind it. Now I was directly in front of the music room window and I watched patiently.

12….13….14…. my counting became hitched in my mind as I saw a white beam of light strike the window. Gasping, I whirled back behind the tree and dropped my right shoulder, rolling and popping back up behind another large tree, this one presumably oak and I watched the window. Finding it was black again, I waited a few more seconds. I began to count again. 6….7….8….Another beam of light passed by the window. So, Ra's had retreated to flashlights? This man came prepared, that is all that I could say. Keeping low, I hurried from my place and wound between trees and retreated deeper into the forest.

I didn't know the forest on the Wayne's property too well…as children we never really took to the woods. Usually we played in the gardens and mangled Alfred's begonias. I knew that the Wayne's held over 1,000 acres worth of land. Someday Mrs. Wayne had planned to start a children's ranch for the mentally challenged. Glancing to my right, I spotted the silent Manor and kept running.

Up ahead a felled tree lay rotting diagonally. I swerved for the lower end and leapt up, grabbing hold of a much thinner, live branch. Swinging my weight forward, I lifted my legs and released the branch. I went soaring through the air; hit the ground and snapping a twig. Rushing back into a steady run, I placed a palm on a smooth rock quickly and pushed down, swinging my legs over another smaller one and bursting back into speed. I didn't mind showing off to the stars, for they held better judgment than some people I knew.

Journeying across the forest and around the Manor took all of twenty minutes. Every so often I caught a glimpse of sashaying light slipping in front of a glossy window. My heart leapt as I spotted the room of Thomas and Martha Wayne…likely where Bruce was held hostage.

It was unlikely he'd leave one of his best student's unguarded, so I'd have to find a way to distract Ra's patrollers. I stopped, peered through the bushes and spotted the small outline of a high, beautiful door. My stomach burned with newfound hope. It was the backdoor to the garage, the entrance from the garden. A memory dashed through my head.

Christmas Eve, my tenth grade year. It was my first time in a public school, where I'd started taking part-time classes. Mostly sciences and PhyEd. I'd gotten Alfred to hang a smidgette of mistletoe from that exact threshold in hopes of being able to kiss my best friend. Alfred had obliged. I'd stayed hidden in the shadows of Thomas' motorcycle collection, sitting beside the door, trying my best to keep my toes warm in my first pair of high-heels. I slightly remember the sound of girlish laughter as Bruce and Rachel came bounding from outside the gardens, painted with snowflakes and red-cheeks. They'd flicked on the light, I'd hopped to my feet, only to find in dismay that Rachel had already homed in for the kiss. They smooched while I ducked behind Thomas' cherished 1986 Harley.

My heart sunk inside my chest. That was right. Bruce had always liked Rachel more romantically. I was the dinner-after-a-break-up friend or the text-when-you're-bored buddy. I'd always been the better pitcher, the fastest runner or the best three-legged-racer. Rachel looked better on Covergirl or the Gotham Gazette, and I looked better from the bottom of a desk drawer.

"Focus," I chastened myself,

And focus I did. I stared at the front-door, gave myself the all clear and burst forth from the foliage. Running hard and fast, I came to the door quickly and reached for the trim. I scooted my fingers across the top, kicked the bottom of the door slightly, and then went for the latch. Slipping it open, I had to refrain from clicking on the light.

I reached for my thigh-belt and popped open one of the smaller compartments. I grabbed the small flashlight and clicked it on. A beam of white light landed on the same Harley from my memory, only now it was refurbished and polished to perfection. I tore my attention from it and hustled through the room.

I made my way to the door and jumped the small cement step that led into the mud-room off the garage. I then stopped as something caught my attention and spun around. My heart lifted, a smile played onto my lips, and fire ignited in my soul. Hustling to it, I rested my hand on the throttle and gripped the rubber with my gloved hand. A quiet chuckle pulled at my lips.

I shifted the bike into neutral and rolled it forward. Helping it up the cement steps, I clicked open the door quietly and peered around the edges, making sure everything was clear. Once it was, I led the bike over the threshold and around the corner.

Most of the attention would be focused on the foyer and the main corridor, or the steps. Ra's figured I would come up the front of the house, the same way I'd departed. He also presumed I didn't know the house as well as I did, considering I'd spend my childhood summer's here and three months after receiving word of Bruce's death. So, in essence, I knew this house fairly well.

Making sure I stuck in the shadows, I led the bike around corners and into hallways. I took the long way around the mansion, dodging most of the exits and entrances to the main corridor and foyer. So far I saw no guards. He probably had them stationed on the upper levels and around Bruce.

I dared a glance into the foyer, where only an hour before I'd felt like Princess Diana. It was completely empty, darkened by my brilliant scheme. I kicked down the kickstand to the bike and looked up the main stair case. Ra's body had risen after all, in command once again. I shrugged and swung my leg up over the bike and grabbed the handle-bars. Kicking it to a start, it roared angrily as if spouting off my anger. I shifted up and the bike lurched. It's strong engine roared loudly throughout the house, echoing off the walls and throwing its mad power back to me. I burst ahead and stood on the stands, taking the stairs roughly but managing well.

I angled left and the bike turned. I spotted a surprised and frustrated group of ninja's who swung about. They were late, and I braked hard. I stopped, stared at them and let my foot touch the ground. They glared hard at me and rushed, and I quickly drew my bow and nocked and arrow, aiming for the closest one. The arrow soared from my grip and pounded into his leg. He roared in anger and collapsed, gripping his leg. The one to the right hurled himself into an impressive show of front flips, while the other leapt and extended a leg as if to drop kick me. I replaced my bow, throttled hard and took off from them down the hall. Both of them hit the ground, sprang back up, and took off after me. Shouting obscenities, I glanced over my shoulder and had an idea hatch into my brain. I slowed, downshifted, and turned the bike around hard. Now stopped, I revved my engine, leg supporting my weight and the bike's and I stared dead head at them, who ran hard and silent to get me. Quickly I reached into my thigh belt and retrieved a line. I frantically wound it around the throttle, tied it to the foot-rest, and then swung my leg off. Without warning, I kicked the bike into first and it took off frantically ahead of me in a cloud of exhaust. Angrily it sped down the hallway and I took aim again.

Carefully positioning the arrow, I inhaled deeply and whispered an apology. Releasing, I followed through and the arrow struck the bike in the appropriate place. Instantly it exploded in a raging fireball, white and orange and yellow enveloping the Honda. The force of the explosion sent me back into the wall, knocking all air from my lungs and sending black spots dancing across my eyes. The windows rattled and the walls shook, fire erupting down the hallway and licking the doors and walls. Instantly fire alarms burst into song and newly-installed sprinklers erupted into action. Water came pouring down from the sky, and slowly the flames became held back.

Choking on smoke and gassy exhaust, I covered my mouth with my arm and got up. I maneuvered down the hallway farther, until I reached another staircase. I hustled up them, feeling weak and utterly exhausted. Bruises began to pound on my chest and my shoulders ached suddenly. Every breath hurt. I stumbled up the last of the stairs and looked around. The master bedroom was down here, to the right…second door.

Without warning, a door swung open before me. Sending back a few steps, I was now surrounded by newly formed ninja's. Three of them stood before me, held back by the patiently still Ra's. He stood in the middle of their triangle, staring at me with a strange, passionate desire. I straightened, coughed the rest of the exhaust from my lungs and glared back at him fiercely.

"I see you've already received a new identity," he clucked his tongue. "And I was so hoping that you'd find yourself with mine."

I narrowed my gaze at him. "I want nothing to do with the identity you have," I spat, "I know exactly what you are."

His laughter stung. "Oh? And what am I dear girl?"

"A dictator," I said coldly. "You want power. Just as Hitler and Mussolini and Caesar did. We already have one lunatic running around here, we don't need another."

He sauntered toward me, hands folded behind his back. His wanting eyes devoured me even behind the security of my suit. I felt examined and suddenly owned; two things which I desperately hated. He circled around me once, keeping his distance and chuckled. "It is not dictatorship that I desire, my dear. It is justice and…revenge. People like Caesar and Hitler are exactly who took away my one passion in life, and I want to see them fall. The League was there when their empires fell to ruins, though many do not know it," he gave me a cheeky half smile and stopped before me. "Jonathan Crane is exactly the kind of many who needs a powerful master to see to his bidding. He cannot be trusted to bring down an empire as powerful as Gotham."

Realization struck me like a lightning bolt, frying my nerves. "Jonathan? You mean you're behind Crane and Falcone? You stole the vaporizer?"

He applauded me sarcastically. "Very good. You're smarter than I originally presumed. As I said, Dr. Crane cannot possess such a powerful operation without observation. He needed guidance and….leadership. But he is exactly the kind of man I needed to directly attack the heart of this foul city," he frowned and approached me. I backed away and reached for my bow. He allowed me this and I nocked another arrow. "…and you're exactly the kind of woman I need to bring this city back."

I shook my ponytail. "No."

He frowned horribly at me and quickly reached out for me. Within an instant he seized my arrow and took it in his hands. He effortlessly snapped the body of the arrow as if it were nothing, letting the fiberglass fletching and the arrowhead drop to the ground by either side of him. Then he lashed out for me, but I ducked and dodged him. Snapping to attention, I watched him turn on his heel with grace and face me again. "Yes. Together we can build an empire, Marianne! You could have more power than Cleopatra, more riches than Hatshepsut. I could make you strong. We could rule. Rule, woman! Gotham could be at our fingertips. Our generations could be kings, queens, rulers! Powerful. You would be subject to no one than yourself," I swallowed hard as he stopped just inches from my face. His huge form stood at least a head and shoulders taller than myself, his daring and dangerous eyes piercing my own. He seized my shoulders and shook me slightly. "Bruce would live only to desire you. You would not be living in shadows of bats…you would be glorious."

His words manifested horror to my ears. I stepped back from him, brushed his hand from my shoulder, and shook my head in disbelief. The thought of being desired…such as this man suddenly "desired" me, to be wanted by Bruce…the thought stabbed a horrible trail of passion through my heart. To have such power would be absolutely astounding; changing the world….I could house the hungry. Hospitals could heal the sick. It swirled through my mind wildly….

"She doesn't need power."

The disturbance made me whirl around. My eyes became wide and my stomach dropped into the basement. It had never felt so good to hear such a growl scratch the air. Suddenly the fog in my mind was wiped away and hope flashed within my spirit. My lips burned with fire and a smile pulled at my cheeks. It took everything within me not to drop my bow and rush beside the figure before me. I swallowed and suddenly found that my heart was palpitating and my knees were weakened.

Ra's anger was evident. "How in God's name—"

"There's a lot you don't know about me, Ra's." Within an instant, he whipped his hand down and smoke burst forth in a mini explosion. Suddenly I was blind, and a hand brushed my arm from behind me. I jerked away, lungs suddenly enveloped with this gunpowder smoke. I hacked for air, and another hand seized my wrist. I was about to scream when another clapped onto my mouth. I smelled the remains of thick gunpowder and glove, and felt my body press into familiar Kevlar. Relief and adoration exploded within me and I allowed him to take me from the cloud.

We stumbled out and hustled own the hallway, my lungs seemingly to cook within the cavity of my chest. It didn't dawn on me until he wisped me down the steps, his cape quietly playing on the air in front of me that he might potentially know who I was. It didn't bother me. All I could think about how good it felt for him to possessively clutch my wrist, his run desperate to bring us both to safety.

Perhaps I was taking his knight-in-blackened armor rescue far too dramatically.

He released me as we reached the study. He shut the door and practically lunged for the piano. I stood, dazed, watching his terrifyingly wonderful form play a chord on the piano, and a creaking groan sounded from the bookcase. Instantly it parted and he hurried to it. When I didn't follow, he stopped, wisped aside his cape and frowned at me. "Come."

I obeyed, jogging towards the stairs. I slipped by him and he began to reset the code on the security box. It flashed green and the bookcase began to close again, leaving us in darkness. I felt his footsteps slip by me, and the tip of his cape brushed my thigh. I shivered and followed him down carefully, minding my footing in the darkness.

"Light." He rasped.

Instantly the darkness was lit. I stopped and looked around. It was a cavern, much like the ones I'd seen in books and movies. It was a high-ceiling, completely constructed of rock and darkness. It smelled musty and dank, much like mold, and rushing water played into my ears from a distance. It was brightly lit by construction lights and a huge computer set was installed into some of the rock-needless to say my mouth dropped open. I looked up, unaware that I was about to walk right into a stainless steel table. I bumped it and jerked back into reality.

"How did you...?"

He stopped me. "Not now." He clicked a few keys on the computer and the huge screen became consumed with mini screens. I recognized hallways and corridors, and within seconds Ra's and his men hustled into sight from around the corner. They began terrorizing rooms and rushing down the stairs. They stared quizzically at the charred hallway and steps and the smoking, burned bike. His men sloshed through waters as Batman glared at me. "Your work?"

"Mhm." I said quietly.

He shrugged slightly. "Impressive."

"Thanks." I wrapped my arms around my abdomen and approached him slowly, noticing that my footfalls echoed. I looked down and bit my lower lip. "Bruce, I'm-"

He whirled around. "Why didn't you tell me?" he voice rose a few octaves. "For God sakes, Marianne, you've been running around this city a….a masked vigilante! You could've gotten killed. Multiple times! What were you thinking?"

I looked up at him. "The same thing you were!" I shouted at him. He blinked at me and reached up for his cowl and ripped it off his head, exposing his full face. He shook out his damp hair and tossed the mask onto the keyboard of the computer. "And why didn't you tell me? The same rules apply here—"

Instantly my voice was silenced as he rushed me, his gloved hands seizing my face and his head quickly lowering to my own. I pulled back hastily, only to have his pursue me, and without much warning, he pressed his lips onto mine with force. My back bent backwards out of surprise and my knees weakened and I stumbled beneath his sudden attack. Every wall of resistance fell as fireworks crackled to life on my lips, hot coals seemingly replacing his. My arms were raised and my hands were positioned as if I were going to claw his eyes out of his head. But my resistance fell and I softened, welcoming his kiss with reluctant trust.

Only when my nerves relaxed did he pull back, letting his hands drop from my face. I flushed bright red and swallowed. Without hesitance I forced the Venetian mask off my face and grabbed the binder from hair. Letting my massive amount of curls fall around my neck, I inhaled deeply and bit my lower lip.

"Oh God," I breathed.

He shook his head. "I don't believe this," he threw his hands in the air, "you're…her. I haven't been able to get he—you out of my head for a week, and here you are." He rubbed his chin forcefully and exhaled heavily. "Marty, why didn't you tell me?"

I didn't answer for a few moments. "Why didn't you tell me you were him?" I pointed to the mask. "It took you almost dying for me to find out."

"Wait-"

I rolled my eyes. "Never mind," I shouldered by him and grabbed the mask brutally. Then I pointed to the screen and began to replace my mask appropriately. I stopped only when his gloved hand grabbed my wrist. He pulled it down, the mask still in my hands, and then ran his thickly gloved fingers over my eyebrow.

"I just can't believe it's you."

I said nothing but replaced the mask quickly, a shake evident in my hands. I shook my head and exhaled shakily, watching as Ra's began to terrorize the Manor; ripping pictures off the wall and smashing objects. His ninjas tore books apart and broke mirrors, busted out windows and felled bookshelves.

"Ra's is behind Crane," I explained quickly. "He's going to take down the Narrows and release the inmates," I turned on my heel and began approaching Bruce's massive black tank. "He wants to tear Gotham down from the heart of the city."

He frantically put on his cowl and hustled beside me. "Okay. Did you alert Gordon?"

I nodded. "Taken care of. All we need is to get Crane and Stop Ra's. If he released that stuff into the air….it's going to be chaos."

He grabbed my wrist and led me toward another huge desk-looking table. He punched in a combination below the desk and the drawers released. I scanned the contents, finding his infamous batarang toys and other goodies-flares, flash-bangs, hooks, grapnels, binoculars, brass knuckles…anything and everything he would need. My eyes popped open when he handed me a heavy looking gun. "A grapnel. You can use it, right?"

I nodded. "Should be easy enough."

He gave me an array of other things. Communication devices, trackers, pagers, cameras and other technological devices. Also I received a tazer, twelve batarangs and six flash-bangs. He gave me another earpiece and lastly awarded me with a remote. He handed it to me but did not remove his hand from mine. I looked at him strangely and he gestured behind me with his head.

"Press it."

I did, reluctantly.

The floor beneath us groaned and vibrations shot up my legs and into my spine. I watched as the tank's platform shifted and slowly began to move to the left. I wrinkled my brow as steam arose from the platform and plates began to shift beneath the tank. Every so carefully I approached, curiosity plaguing my mind. Out of the depths appeared a black, sleek looking motocycle, but not your usual kind—it was a Spider, one of the new models of motorcycles. It was midnight black, with a deep purple colored seat, and a flash of cream-colored lettering along the fuel tank. It beautifully styled 'R' claimed the machine and I pivoted on my heel to stare at him quizzically.

"You…what is that?" I pointed to it. "You didn't."

He nodded. "I did. I was going to give it to you after your home was destroyed. I thought Reacher would need something to get her somewhere. You can't keep outrunning these guys on foot and by rooftop," he gestured to it with his head. "Get on it. It goes fast-very fast."

I laughed and trekked up the two steps to get on the platform. Tossing the tank a look, I focused my attention to the sleek Spider-cycle. Grabbing onto the throttle, I slowly slipped onto the seat and turned the key forward. It roared smoothly to life, rumbling beneath me with majestic, justly power. Adrenaline laced my veins and I revved up the engine a little and gave him a look as he began to close down his cave. Batman donned once more, he jumped one of the steps and approached his vehicle.

"Well?" he questioned darkly.

I chuckled. "It's gorgeous," I winked at him like I'd done before.

"I called it the Fist. But whatever you call it is up to you." He leapt into the tank and it closed around him. A slight crackling buzzed in my ear. "It's fast….but not as fast as the Tumbler."

Tumbler, huh? So that was the tanks name. I swung my leg over and shifted the baby into reverse. It purred magnificently beneath me and I throttled it lightly. "Care to test that theory?"

Bruce sprouted through the Bat, a chuckle evident over our communication line. "Oh yes. Definitely yes."

My laughter was drowned as I gunned it down, bursting from the platform and disappearing into the black abyss of the exit tunnel.