My mother...

My mother is a killer vigilante...

My mother is Payback...

My mother has some explaining to do...

BATMAN BEYOND REVISITED

EPISODE:

Payback Part 4: Family Feud

"Mom?! You're Payback?!" I asked, completely flabbergasted.

She nodded, clearly surprised to see me, based on the look on her face. "Yes. I am. Just as much as you are Batman."

Dammit.

I'm on thin ice now.

One slip-up.

That's all it will take to confirm to my mother that I'm Batman.

She may be my mother, but she's a killer.

I need to play it carefully.

"Why do you think I'm Batman?"

"First of all, you are, or were, going on a date with Batman's sidekick."

"So what? There's a difference between dating someone and working with them."

"Not in your case. Besides, what nine year old could possibly run away and survive on their own unless they're good at adapting? Something Batman would need to be able to do? Then, nine years later, ten after your father's death, a new Batman just so happens to show up."

"I-" I tried to speak, but she interrupted.

"If you want to argue with me, you may. But if I win the argument, this laser will disintegrate your girlfriend. Normally, it takes several hits to kill a person with it. But she's pure liquid. And liquid evaporates a lot easier than skin, bones and muscle."

I clenched my teeth, trying to think of something that could take down her entire argument, but I just kept drawing blanks.

I could think of nothing.

She kept watching me, wanting me to just give up and admit it.

I guess mothers really do know everything about their sons.

I tried to think of something, but every argument I came up with could be easily countered and Inque would die.

I had no choice but to give up.

"You're right..."

Inque looked at me, shaking her head. She seemed too stunned to move too much more than that. She was in bad shape. Mom must have tortured her before I got out of the limo. The crash couldn't possibly be enough to keep her down like this.

"I'm Batman."

My mother's smile grew wide.

She looked somewhat crazy.

It was scary, actually.

"I knew it. I know my son so well, I can tell who he is even after years of not seeing him. All I need to do is look at a picture of him fully disguised to know it's you. You're nineteen now and I saw you at eight. I still can tell with the smallest of things, even your mannerisms. Some things you can never change." she laughed. "Now, you probably have a few questions."

"How did you know about Inque's past?"

"Oh please." she sighed in annoyance. "Once I found out it was you, I'd have to read up on your lover." she said as she pointed to Inque with her weapon. "Amazing how even the toughest of the tough computer security could be made penetrable by the most basic of hacking skills."

"And the suit?"

"Basic robotics. Anyone with a high school education in robotics could make an exoskeleton."

"If you knew I was alive, why were you surprised to see me?"

"I knew Inque was going to be in the limo, since I was following her around. I used the suit's homing hearing to hear her. All I could hear, though, was when, where, and limo. I just didn't expect it to be you that was with her."

"One more question." And this was not a question I was eager to hear the answer to. "Why?"

My mother sighed and looked me directly in the eyes. "I hated myself. That's why. I was horrible to you after your father passed. I was neglectful and abusive. So when I saw Batman out there fighting crime, I figured I'd help fight the scum that was as terrible as I was. Teachers, principals, bosses, parents, day-care workers and so on. It wasn't hard, either. I'd go out on patrol and find a sad kid walking around. I'd follow them in secret. Almost every time, they led me to abusive authority figures. It's quite sad, honestly. Most people think kids and teens get sad because they're spoiled, selfish brats upset at mommy and daddy for not buying them a new car or game, when, a lot of the time, it's actual abuse. They ignore the facts, though, because people disregard them as being too young to be able to know what's considered abuse or not. I'm here to change that. I'm here to show them that, as few people as there are that do, there's people that care."

I looked on to her in shock. I never expected that. And I couldn't exactly argue with her. She was right. People are too harsh on kids nowadays, dismissed as unappreciative brats. But still, that doesn't give her the right to just go and kill everyone. "Brutally assaulting and even killing, though? That's what you call self punishment?"

"No! I redeem myself that way, not punish myself! I kill the ones that don't care. I kill the ones that abuse, as if their children are just mere objects they can do whatever they want to."

"Your motives are kind, Mom. Inspiring, honestly. And you're right. But killing isn't redemption. It's falling further."

"Really? Look in the mirror, son. You're no less brutal."

I frowned as my anger swelled.

I knew I was brutal my first year, but I've gotten better at holding myself back and normally I'd make a remark, but such efforts would be wasted on my mother. Trust me, I'd know.

"I'm sorry, Mom." I said as I removed my clothes, showing the Batsuit underneath. But I can't let you continue."

I put my mask on and so did she.

I was about to fight my mother.


The poll is now closed! The winner is The Dinosaur with 2 votes to 0. You will see this character within the next few chapters.