"Welcome Citizens of Gotham City," Barbara spoke to a crowd outside Wayne Enterprise the following afternoon. After experimenting on the Miracle walker, a special chip created to reverse crippling spinal injuries, she was now ready to introduce it to the world. Hundreds of people from the police force, news, military, hospital, as well as other citizens curious about the new device came to see this "Miracle walker" in person. Among the many guest was Barbara's room mates and best friends Harleen "Harley" Quinzell and Sarah Strong. Harley was recording the whole thing on her phone while Sarah was giving her two big thumbs up and a huge grin for encouragement. Barbara's father was also there on the front row, not just because he was her father and wanted to be there for moral support, but also as a cop something like this could prove wonders to getting injured cops back on the field.
"Today is a big day not just for the future of Gotham but for the future of Medical work in general." Jim gave Barbara the thumbs up from the crowd encouraging her to go on. Barbara pulled out a small square mechanical chip and showed it to the crowd. "I know that this don't look like much, but this chip is the key to getting people long paralyzed to walk again. This chip that I call the Miracle Walker sends small electronic shock waves through the spine that helps heal and straighten up the spine better then any surgery can ever do. But I know that I probably just win you over off my words alone, so let me show you a actual live patient that we experimented on."
A middle aged man walked up on stage and stood next to Barbara. Barbara had a projector screen behind her that showed the audience pictures on the now walking man back when he was crippled. "This man is named Oscar Chase, twenty years ago he was a officer in my dads police force when he got shot and crippled in a shoot out that left two other of his fellow officers dead. He became paralyzed from the waist down and had to retire. But thanks to the Miracle Chip he can finally for the first time in twenty years walk again.
The crowd was stunned over the fact that a man long crippled was now walking and many in the crowd stood up and started applauding her. One reporter though wasn't quite yet convinced over her so called "Miracle Walker."
"Yes, Miss Gordon isn't it?" The reporter, a tall thin, middle aged man in glassed said raising his hand. "Jack Ryder, Gotham News, um, if you don't mind me asking how can we be convinced that something like this is actually legit?"
"Explain Mister Ryder?" Barbara asked
"Well obviously with today's technology someone can easily fake a picture like that you are showing on your screen in order to win one's product over. "How can we be so sure that something like a simple chip can suddenly make someone crippled for years to just suddenly walk again? That sounds technically impossible. I don't think I am quite yet convinced."
"You're right Mr. Ryder a photo can be cropped to show something that wasn't real, and do you know how that is Mr. Ryder? Because of advancement in technology. I know something like this sounds impossible, but two hundred years ago the idea of automobiles seemed impossible, the same with phones and computers and most technology we use today. Just because something seems impossible doesn't mean it isn't, proven history has shown that and just not with our technological advancements. In Metropolis we got a flying alien from a destroyed planet saving the city, and in Central city we got a man who can run faster then light. You talk about stuff being impossible but we see the impossible everyday in other cities."
"And if you still think that this is fake, I can give you witnesses that will prove that this man was indeed crippled. One being Oscar's wife who just so happens to be in the audience just two rows behind you." Jack turned around and saw Oscar's wife stand up to show herself. "You can also ask my dad and anybody else who was in the G.C.P.D at that time. And you can also ask the man who is serving a life sentence for the murder of his fellow officers. I assume you are a smart man Mr Ryder being a reporter and all. You like to follow the facts. You follow the facts and you will see that everything I showed you on this stage is true."
Jack Ryder was silent and he soon sat down defeated.
"That's what I thought." Barbara smirked victorious.
The rest of the presentation went smoothly and once it was over every hospital in Gotham was rushing to her begging to by the product. Barbara found herself surrounded by a dozen of different hospital managers and CEO's asking Barbara to name her price on the thing. It took some time but Barbara was finally able to squeeze her way out of the doctor's swarming her... Only to be caught sandwiched in a hug from her two best friends.
"Babs you have outdone yourself this time." Sarah replied
"Really, because I thought my stage presence was a bit off" Barbara joked
"Screw the stage presence!" Harley replied "That product of yours is one of the coolest thing I have ever seen."
"Well I'm just trying to help people, same as you two."
"And the way you took that idiot reporter in his place," Harley replied "Damn I wish I had got a picture of his face after you were done, I bet it was priceless."
"I am actually surprised that you two came," Barbara replied "Considering you two usually work at this time..."
"Girl no way are we missing out on your presentations." Sarah replied "Your like our little sister."
"Awe, I'm touched."
"Plus it's your birthday, so CELEBRATION!" Harley screamed that last note. "And girl, do we have some plans for tonight. First it's dinner at Mario's Italian place, then it's the pub for some drinks and karaoke."
"But I was planning on spending time with my dad," Barbara started to protest.
"Oh we already worked it over with the Police Commissioner and he said it was cool as long as we didn't drive you home drunk, then he said he would lock us up for life."
"And I have a suspicious feeling he wasn't joking." Sarah added
"Knowing my dad, he wasn't."
Barbara had to admit her room mates knew how to celebrate one's birthday. They had reserved some seats for the three of them at Mario's and paid for Barbara's full meal. The only part that embarrassed her was when Harley had the waiter's come out and sing Happy Birthday to her while wearing a silly birthday hat, but she quickly got over it when they gave her a free desert on the house.
Then it was off to the pubs, which once again, Sarah and Harley paid for the drinks. As a promise to Jim they made sure not to get drunk considering they had to drive home, to Harley's disappointment. However a few songs on the karaoke station quickly cheered her up. Barbara couldn't help but burst out laughing to Harley's rendition of "It's Raining Men" by the Weather Girls. They where having so much fun they hardly noticed that the sun was starting to set. They left the bar around seven and started making their way home.
"I had a really fun night, thanks for this." Barbara replied as they arrived home."
"We have one last surprise for you." Sarah said as she unlocked the front door.
"What?"
"SURPRISE!" Barbara jumped in shock as the door swung open and inside was her Father, her Boss Lucius Fox, and several of her friends from both Wayne Enterprise and the police force.
"Happy Birthday Babs!" Jim said wrapping Barbara in a hug.
"Oh Dad did you throw all of this for me?" Barbara cried
"Who do you think told them to keep you occupied tonight?" Jim laughed before turning to Harley and Sarah "Oh and thanks for not getting drunk like I asked."
"Hey I think getting threatened with jail is enough to make one listen." Sarah replied
"Oh I got a present for you." Jim replied taking out a box and handing it to Barbara.
Barbara opened the box and inside was tickets to Barbara's favorite boy band the NightCrawlers (Totally made up band for the story by the way. Don't Google it) "I know we haven't spent as much time with each other since you moved out, and I thought this would be a fun way to send some quality father daughter time again like we did in the old days.
"Oh Daddy this is wonderful." Barbara was nearly in tears looking at the tickets "But I thought you hated boy bands."
"I do, but knowing I was spending time with my little girl will make the music at least some what decent."
"Oh, us next, us next!" Harley squealed. Harley and Sarah each handed Barbara a small wrapped up package. Barbara opened Sarah's first and saw a photo album of fun times then three of them spent together the past year.
"Oh Sarah I love this." Barbara was in tears ow.
"Then your really going to love mine," Harley replied. Barbara unwrapped Harley's gift and saw that it was a small bedside picture frame of the three of them at the amusement park, they were standing in front of a roller coaster they were about to board and Harley had the people behind them take a funny picture of them. Harley put bunny ears behind Barbara while giving a funny face with her tongue hung out, and Barbara had Sarah in a playful headlock.
"This was my favorite picture of the three of us especially remembering that I barfed all over Sarah after the ride. Maybe chugging down six hot dogs before boarding the ride wasn't a good idea."
"I did try to warn you about that." Sarah replied remembering that horrifying event.
"Anyway I thought it deserved a special place on your bed."
"Oh you two are so sweet, how did I get so lucky to have such roommates like you."
"Well for starters you answered the roommate add in the paper," Harley joked
"Hey Babs you better hurry up and blow out your birthday candles," Jim laughed "Otherwise your going to have wax flavored icing on your cake."
"I'll be right over." The three of them ran over to the table with the cake and after blowing out her candles they all helped themselves to a slice of Chocolate cake, Barbara's favorite.
As they all laughed and ate their cake Harley felt her phone vibrating in her back pocket. Her eyes widened when she recognized the number and she quickly took the call to the next room.
"I gave you specific orders." Harley snarled at the voice on the other end "You want to explain to me why they have not been met?"
"Look Boss it's not out fault, the bat lady keeps getting in the way."
"I don't care! Take more lethal actions, do whatever it takes, we need those weapons, the Joker needs to be freed."
"Look boss, if we are going to continue to risk getting our ass thrown in jail because of that Bat lady then we are going to demand double the pay."
"Fine but this is your last chance, if you fail again so help me you will not want to face me!" Harley quickly slammed her phone off and let out a frustrated sigh. She has spent months trying to get the Joker out of prison, months paying Joker's former inmates to rob weapon dealers but every time Batgirl got in the way.
"Once Joker is out," Harley swore "I'm going to come after Batgirl myself. The Bat family must pay for what the Batman did to my "puddin'".
You all saw this coming, Harley is now officially under Joker's control. I know at the end of Batgirl Origins she was on the verge of being fully brainwashed but with this being a one year time jump I thought it made since that she would now be fully under his control.