I DON'T OWN BATMAN ETC.

I decided to celebrate the New Year by adding a new chapter that's WWAAYY overdue. And, to make it up, this chap is longer!

You're welcome.

SUNDAY, Nov. 6, 2011

"Again."

I whirl around, executing a kick to Bruce's stomach.

We had just begun training yesterday. We are sparring in Bruce's gym, located on the second floor. The room is about two times the size of my bedroom, and painted a bright white. Blue wrestling mats cover the middle area, while various weights, treadmills, and bicycles sit closer to the walls.

I'm wearing black yoga pants and a maroon tank-top over a black racer-back Under Armor sports bra. On my feet are a pair of blue and white Pumas. Bruce is wearing a simple white T-shirt and a pair of navy-blue basketball shorts. His sneakers are a pair of black Nike's.

He dodges my kick, before lunging and trying to land a punch on my face, but I turn and grab his wrist with my right hand. Using the momentum from both my turn and his lunge, I force him into a wall. I then yank him forward into a side-kick while releasing my grip on his wrist, which causes him to stumble back into the same wall. Before he can do anything, though, I rush forward, grab his neck with my left hand, and raise my right hand, which is loaded with a glowing energy bolt.

"Good," my new mentor comments as I release him from my near-death grip and lower my fist. "With your abilities, the final exam could possibly be held next week."

My face- both literally and figuratively- lights up in excitement and anticipation. That would mean only one week of training instead of two! "Really?"

"Yes. Now, again."

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 9, 2011

Darkness, everywhere. Swirling around me, consuming me in despair. Sadness engulfs me, a heavy weight on my shoulders and chest. Glimpses of my real parents and brother flood my vision, along with the faces of my Earth parents. I try to fly to them, my arms outstretched, but they grow further and further away from me.

"Materra! Abbe!" I call out in desperation. They can't leave me- not again! "Come back! No!"

A blazing fire. A gunshot.

A voice calls out. "Andy!"

"Don't leave me!"

"ANDROMEDA!"

I gasp as my eyes fly open. Tears start streaming down my face. I turn and sob into someone's blazer. Bruce. His arms are wrapped around me, holding me close to him.

"Hush, it was only a nightmare," he whispers. "I'm here now. You're safe."

Safe. I only cry harder. Even though it's a lie, I do feel safer in Bruce's arms. After a few minutes, we're still holding each other when my guardian asks, "Will you be okay?"

"Can you stay?" I sniff. "Just for a bit longer?"

"Yes."

SATURDAY, Nov. 12. 2011

I sit hovering above my bed, meditating. It's ten o'clock right now. One hour until my final test, my official initiation.

The rules are simple: avoid being found by Batman for one hour. Stay inside the Newtown community, just above Crime Alley. This gives me about a mile and a half area. No staying inside buildings, and only use my powers for camouflaging purposes, not to manipulate his mind. Save a civilian, earn extra credit. I am to simply take care of the problem, leave him or her tied down at the scene of the crime, and then activate a tracer and leave it with them to make it easier for Batman to find the offender.

I wanted to wear something that I wouldn't be recognized in, and something that wouldn't restrict my physical and alien abilities. I had searched through my show costumes that were made with alien fabric and stumbled upon the silver ensemble that I was supposed to wear the night... the night that my parents died.

Yes, I decide. This is the perfect occasion. I pull out the outfit off the hanger and slip it on. It fits me perfectly. To wear on my feet, I choose a pair of white specially-designed Astridarin combat boots: they reach just above my knees, and come up in a sharp point. They are enhanced with a unique Astridarin metal stronger than diamonds. Even though they are high-heeled, they are quite comfortable. I can walk perfectly in them, and still kick any criminal's sorry ass.

I have my outfit together, but I feel like someone could still recognize me. The closest thing I have to a mask is a pair of very high-tech wrap-around sunglasses made of an alien crystal, and that also comes with built-in Bluetooth and a retractable microphone. I can change the color of the lenses, and the vision to x-ray, ultraviolet, infrared, thermal, and night. In addition, it comes with a tiny six-gigabyte flash drive, and I can program it to give me visuals on directions; blueprints and schematics; how fast I'm flying, my altitude, and my ETA; and any text messages, callers, and more.

Perfect.

I put them on and decide to check my alien form just in case. Standing in front of the full-length mirror, I grasp the pendant around my neck in my right fist and let it transform me into my true self. I still look great in the halter, miniskirt, arm gauntlets, and boots, if I do say so myself. This form will be very useful for camouflage.

Last but not least, I grab my light blue leather belt. I stock it with three knives, two NeuroBlasters, and two extra charges from my home planet. They aren't too dangerous; they're only stunguns. Last but not least, I grab the ten tracers I was given and store them in a pouch next to my earbuds.

Now that I'm all set, I open my window, climb out, and soar off.

As soon as I take to the deep purple sky, I turn into my alien form for easier camouflage. A trick I learned back on Astridareus during the war, I manipulate the light around me to pass through me instead of reflect off of me. It's simple, but also very effective. A few minutes later, I radio Bruce through my glasses' Bluetooth system.

"I'm out."

"Good," he responds. "You know the drill, right?"

"Yup." I pop the"P" as I scan the ground for any endangered civilians.

"Good. I'll be out in a minute. Over and out."

I dive down and land on the rooftop of a trashy four-story hotel. I switch my vision to the nighttime setting and scan the surrounding streets for any criminal activity. Seeing nothing, I float over a couple streets and land on another roof. I look over at Pike Road, then follow it as it turns into a sketchy-looking alleyway.

Lady walks by, all alone. She passes the opening of the alley, a creeper with a ski mask pursues, et cetera.

Of course.

Keeping my visual contact, I leap onto the next rooftop and drop down just as I see the thug about to attack. He appears to be startled at first, but he quickly regains his composure.

"Who... what the hell are you supposed to be?" he demands upon seeing my crystalline blue skin.

"I'm a new hero, partner to Batman," I state simply. I turn to the shocked woman and tell her to hurry home. Thankfully, she does.

"You?" the thug laughs. "Partner to Batman? Ha! I could easily beat you any day!"

I put on a defeated look. "Well, you are much taller than me, and you do have much more muscle than me." I smirk as I lunge forward at a superhuman speed and ram my shoulder into his gut. I whirl around him as he doubles over and bring my elbow down on the back of his neck.

"And yet, here you are, doubled in pain, and here I am, and I haven't even broken a sweat." I straighten before whipping out a stungun and shooting him once. I haul him over to lean him up against a lamppost and take out a length of titanium-weave cord from a pouch on my belt. I use one of my daggers to cut a bit off, and then use that to tie up the goon. I pull out one of the tracers given to me, activate it, and stick it on the lamppost. I'm long gone when Batman arrives just a couple minutes later- or so he thinks.

I keep hidden in the shadows, watching every move he makes. He calls Commissioner Gordon, pauses for a second to look around, then shoots a grappling hook and swings off into the distance.

So THAT'S how he travels so quickly, I think to myself. I wait about two minutes before stepping out of the shadows, when I'm positive that he's gone for sure. I shoot up into the sky as I convert back to my alien form. I search the surrounding area for places where Bruce might look for me. Positive he isn't by the old church, I fly north to the Roger's Yacht Basin. I land gracefully and silently on top of an abandoned-looking warehouse and almost immediately catch a voice coming from inside.

"...and Batsy will be walking straight into my little trap!" The voice cackles evilly.

I can't help but wonder: the voice sounds familiar... male, kinda scratchy, calls him "Batsy"...

The Joker.

Shit, man! I switch the Bluetooth back on and immediately call Bruce.

"What is it?" comes his deep voice.

"Uh, yeah, we might have to hold off on this initiation thing," I whisper worriedly.

"Why's that?"

"I accidentally stumbled upon an 'old friend' that you would be very interested to see." As I'm saying this, I switch on a tracking device and clutch it tightly in the palm of my hand. Just a few minutes later, I catch the faint thump of someone landing on the roof behind me.

As he walks towards me, he says, "Smart thinking, not going in by yourself and calling me instead."

I let out a soft, half-hearted chuckle. "I was so not gonna get caught up in that right there."

"Did you manage to hear anything?"

"Yeah. You're apparently gonna fall for their plan, and walk right into- and I quote- 'my little trap'."

"Hmm..." Batman pauses for a moment to think. "I don't want you to go in immediately-"

"Wait!" I excitedly interrupt him. "I have a plan!"

"Yes?"

"I was thinking that I could go in, they would 'overpower' me, and then I would call out and we'd go all ape-shit on their sorry tails."

"Hmm..." he says again. "I don't know..."

I pout. "Fine. I'll just wait here."

And I do? Of course not!

My mentor goes in and five minutes later, I drop down to the ground. I sneak around to the front and peak in through the doorway. Batman is being held by two of the Joker's thugs while the menace himself is bragging about how much easier this was, so now he doesn't have to waste more bombs. Harley Quinn is sitting in a folding chair next to Joker, and on the other side of her are four more goons. Not really stopping to think of a better than go in and attack, I burst through the door, startling everyone but Batman. I fire bolts of concussive energy at the henchmen holding Batman and at those who pick up machine guns, and then deal with the two who chose to use crowbars instead.

I charge the first crony, who's kinda fat, similar to the move I used when dealing with the mugger earlier that night. Winded, he drops his crowbar, and I take those few seconds of him being stunned to grab the other guy's metal pole as he tries to bring it down over my head. I heat up my hand, which causes the metal to grow hotter and hotter until the goon releases his end and gasps at the pain. I let my hand cool down as I smack the thug upside the head with it, and then ram it into the other guy's crotch as hard as I can.

During this time, Batman was taking care of the thugs who decided to be stupid and use firearms. I strut almost aimlessly up to him as he grabs a thug by his collar. As the creep is swung around, I take this opportunity to deliver a powerful tornado kick to his jaw, most likely resulting in its break. Batman flings the unconscious crony aside before scoping out the warehouse and then turning to me.

"Can you get Harley? I'm going after the Joker."

I grin cockily. "No prob."

"Call if you need anything." He turns and follows his arch nemesis.

I exit through the door I used before and shoot up into the sky to get a better view of any escape routes that Harley could've used. "Now," I mutter to myself, "if I were a crazy deranged chick, where would I-" But before I can finish, I spot a purple and orange hippie van swerve dangerously around the corner.

Eureka.

I follow her crazy-ass driving down a couple streets before diving down and landing lightly on top of the van's metal roof. I hold on, waiting until she finishes wheelie-ing around a turn onto Chestnut Avenue. I roll off the roof and land in a crouch behind the car. I raise my arms and fire a bolt of energy at the tires. They blow up, causing Harley's reckless driving to make her go crashing into a lamppost. I jog a few steps up to the car before slowing to a walk, and see that Harley is throwing a temper tantrum. I watch, very amused, as she busts her door open, turns around, and kicks the side of the van. All the while, she's screeching.

"This stupid car! It never works! Is there anything it can do right?!"

I snicker. "You know, your New York accent only makes it funnier."

Hearing my voice, she whirls around and glares at me. "YOU HURT MY PUDDIN!" she screams at me. She rushes to the back doors, throws them open, and pulls out a rocket launcher. Before she can aim it properly, I ready another bolt and fire it at her, being careful of the rocket. The bolt isn't that big or powerful; she only drops the rocket and stumbles back into the car. By now, her two hefty sidekicks (Judy and Punch, I think) had made their way out of the van. I continue to walk forward as they run at me, their intentions probably to pummel me. They're gonna be sorely disappointed.

As soon as the henchmen come close enough, I kick Punch in the gut as hard as I can and deliver a powerful hook to Judy's jaw. The latter is instantly out cold, but I have to take another whack at Punch to knock him out. Harley has gotten up and now dashes over to take a swing at me. I catch her fist in my hand and use that momentum to yank her into my fist. There's a sickening crack as my hand collides with her nose. That in addition to her head hitting the pavement as hard as it does is enough to put her out, too. I tie her up, along with her thugs, who I give an extra blast of my NeuroBlaster, only strong enough to make sure they stay unconscious.

I sigh as I switch on the communicator built in to my glasses. "Yo, Bats?"

"Mhmm?" is his gruff reply.

"I got Harley and her fat thugs."

"Call Gordon. Be there in a second." He then closes the link.

Probably fighting Joker, I assume. And now, to call the Commissioner. Wonder what he's gonna think about me at first sight. I dial his number and he answers after three rings.

"Commissioner Gordon speaking."

"Yeah, um..." I babble as I think of what to say. "Hi, I'm working with Batman, and I just caught Harley. And her two thugs. I'm on Chestnut, between, Second and, uh, Gilmore."

"Is this a prank of some sort?" he demands. "Because if it is, I can have you arrested."

"Of course not, come on down and see for yourself," I huff.

"Oka-a-y... I'll be over there with a couple squad cars ASAP."

"'Kay." I hang up. Just as I do, though, Batman comes swinging in on a grappling hook, the Joker slung over his shoulder, unconscious. "Hey."

"Hey's for horses," he smirks at me as he dumps the Clown Prince of Crime onto the asphalt. He quickly becomes serious though "Have you called Gordon?"

"Yeah. At first he thought I was prank-calling him, but he should be on his way."

"So, how did you like your first mission?"

"Not bad. Oh, look," I say as I hear the squad cars pulling up behind us. Along with the Press. O, they are just gonna have a field day with my appearance.

"I guess Gordon decided to finally show up."

"Shush." He then says to Gordon in his deep Batman voice, "Commissioner Gordon."

"Batman," he greets, nodding. "And... partner...?"

"Luxia," I smile, shaking his hand. "I'm new here. League member-in-training."

Of course, the Paparazzi eats that up.

After Batman talks things over with Gordon, we head back to the Cave. During the car ride, my mentor says to me, "I thought I told you to stay up on the roof."

I raise my eyebrow at him, questioningly. "One: that was my idea. Two: you were being held hostage. You should be thankful I entered at just the right time."

He just rolls his eyes. "You know, I should probably ground you for being disobedient."

"I like the term 'insubordinate' or 'rebel' better."

"But I won't, because you could kick my butt from here to next Tuesday. And I'm just that nice."

"And because you're a good guy?"

"...Sure."

I grin smugly.

Happy New Year! This is not the last chapter of this story, but I will start working on chapters of Alpha Centauri 2: Face to Face soon. FYI: AC2 will probably be longer than this story, but I'm not sure by how much.

Thanks for all the support!