Gotham City.
One week earlier.
"Our hunch paid off," Batman said into his com-link as he flew the Batmobile after another flying vehicle.
A small figure next to him tapped his shoulder. "Educated guess, you mean," she corrected.
"Whatever, Coba," Batman muttered, rolling his eyes. He turned his attention back to the com-link. "Inque was after the prototype battle-pod."
"That figures," a gruff voice at the other end of their com-links stated. "Any terrorist organization would pay a fortune for it."
"Then I hope they didn't pay in advance," Terry said with a smirk, "'cause they're not getting this one." He pressed a button in the Batmobile, shooting out a small, electric claw-like contraption at the battle-pod.
The battle-pod was suddenly consumed by the electricity. The power shut off inside of it before Inque could do anything to stop it. "What?!" she exclaimed in surprise, previously unaware that she was being tailed by the Bats.
Batman steered the Batmobile after the slowly descending pod, not once letting it out of his sight. After about a minute, Inque's vehicle crashed into a pond. Not wiling to let another moment slip away, the oozy villain launched herself to the bank. She jumped up onto a cement wall and jumped to the other side of it, landing in the sea lion part of the zoo. Batman and Batgirl glided out of the Batmobile and pursued her, both landing on a tall rock in the water. They looked at the different banks, but they could not see their target. Coba's eyes settled on a group of seals. Aw, they're so adorable! she thought. It's still strange, though: one of them is black and oddly sleek while the others have course brown fur- -"Wait a minute," she muttered, becoming serious once more.
The black seal shifted into the all-too familiar form of Inque and lunged at the two Bats. Coba grabbed her half-brother and flew herself and him into the air as Inque sliced a sharp arm at them. Once they were a hundred feet above her, Inque jumped back to dry land and was on the run again. Coba allowed Batman to fly away from her once she knew he had an idea of what was going on. Inque grabbed a bench as Batman landed on the edge of a concrete wall and slammed it into his face. McGinnis grunted in pain as he was launched into the seals' water.
Batgirl watched as a person wearing green clothes and a green cap stopped in the middle of Inque's route of escape. The person scowled at the villain as if challenging her. Inque responded by lunging at the man. Coba quickly tossed an electric batarang at the woman. Immediately seeing the dangerous weapon, Inque dodged the attack and shot one of her arms at the vigilante. Coba managed to swerve out of the arm's path, but lost control of her gliders and crashed into a nearby tree. Before the man standing in Inque's path could do anything, Inque tightly wrapped herself around him. Batman came running towards them as Brooklyn tried to get herself out of the tree to help both men.
"Okay, Bats," Inque said spitefully, "back off! Unless you want to see me put the squeeze on him."
"He's just an innocent bystander, Inque," Terry said gruffly.
But is he just an innocent bystander? Coba wondered, remembering how he had scowled at Inque.
"Too bad for him," Inque shot back.
The man looked up at Terry seriously. "I'll take it from here, Batman," he said gruffly. He started spinning in circles at an alarmingly fast rate, sending parts of the screaming Inque flying all over the place.
Batman stood his ground as steadily as he could, despite the wind that tried to knock him down. Batgirl clung tightly to the tree, swerving her head left and right to avoid getting hit by particles of the villain. The man stopped spinning. While Batman pinned the greatly weakened Inque down with his foot, Coba noticed that the man was no longer wearing the green outfit, but instead wore a black and white suit. The girl joined her half-brother as the man turned around to face them. Both teens' eyes went wide with surprise. "Superman!" they breathed in shock.
~!~
Terry and Coba led Superman down into the Batcave. At first Terry was not sure if Bruce would appreciate them showing the cave to the superhero, but Coba and Kent patiently explained to the boy that he had been there before. "How is it that you know more about it than Terry does?" Clark whispered to the girl. "I thought he's supposed to know more about these things than his sidekicks."
"I was adopted by Bruce about two years ago," Coba explained. "He showed me around the cave before he got to show it all to Terry. Bruce figured it would be best for him to learn how to stop crime while in the field while I learned how to stop it in the cave because of my bad leg, and I agreed."
"Why didn't you go in the field with your brother?" Clark inquired. "Also, why doesn't he live with you and Bruce?
Coba swallowed hard, remembering the grim events that answered those questions. "It's a long and complicated story in both cases," she told him. "I'll tell you later if you'd like."
Although Kent was still curious about it, he did not press Brooklyn to continue after seeing the saddened look on her face. "Yeah, later."
The trio came to a stop in front of the four cased costumes. Superman could not help but look at the first Batsuit, clearly reminiscing about the times when he and Bruce fought side by side. Coba chose this time to think over the oddness of Clark's timing during their chasing of Inque. There's something he wants to ask us- -Bruce and Terry, at least, she decided. Something to do with the League, no doubt. But why did he choose now, of all times, to talk about it? It hit her. The accident involving Micron.
Bruce took a few steps towards them from his computer chair in the cave. His face was a seemingly cold mask. Superman approached his old friend and held out a hand. "Good to see you again, Bruce," he said with a smile on his face, although he expected a cold response.
To Kent's surprise, Bruce smiled back and shook his hand. "It's certainly been a while," Bruce stated.
Terry and Coba each grinned from ear to ear at the sight of Wayne communicating with Superman. "You seem to be holding up pretty well," Kent complimented.
"Not exactly," the original Batman confessed with a frown. "I could use some of that Kryptonian DNA."
"You'll outlive us all, Bruce. You're too stubborn to die."
The siblings struggled hard to suppress their giggles, but to no avail. Bruce shot a Batglare at both of them. "What are you two laughing about?" he scowled.
Terry shrugged innocently. "Nothing."
Coba smiled bigger. "We're just thinking about when I told you the same thing a few months ago," she jeered.
Bruce rolled his eyes with an embarrassed grin as he turned his attention back to his old friend. His features became grim once more. "Shall we cut through the chit-chat? I know it wasn't Inque that brought you to Gotham."
Superman became grave. "I think it's time your protege joined the Justice League," he said bluntly.
The young Batman's eyes grew wide. "The Justice League?!" he asked excitedly. He did not notice Coba's equally surprised face.
Wayne was a bit concerned about Superman's statement. "I can't help but consider the timing. Is he supposed to be a replacement for Micron?"
"No," Clark answered. "This goes beyond that. "I've watched him. I've studied him. He's proved his valor. His time has come, Bruce. What d'ya say?"
"I don't think it's my decision to make," Bruce said gruffly. He and Superman both looked at Terry expectantly.
McGinnis was still overwhelmed by the invitation. "Justice League," he breathed. It took him a full minute to recover. "But what about Coba?"
"I was thinking about that just now, too," Clark said solemnly. "She's proved to be an excellent partner to anyone, and that she can do very well on her own if need be." He turned to Coba. "I usually don't ask sidekicks this question, but would you be willing to join?"
Coba was awestruck, but recovered four times faster than her brother did. She noticed the pleading look in Terry's eyes, and a nod of approval from Bruce. Something odd is going on, though, she thought. Once I accept and get involved with this situation, there's no turning back. The girl looked back at Superman and grinned. Of course, when has that ever stopped me? "Yeah, I'll join."