YJ Origins: Robin the Girl Wonder
How did the child of assassins become a member of the Bat-family?
(Set 2 years before Future and Past Clash 2: Invasion)
Danica looked up at the assassin with pleading green eyes. There was a loud bang and a searing pain in her chest. The 7-year-old fell onto her back, crimson blood dripping from her chest. Sabrina cried out. She jumped up and threw herself at her father.
"Get away you brat!" Bone-Crusher spat.
"Daddy please!" Danica begged, blood seeping from her mouth as she spoke.
"You're not my daughter," hissed Bone-Crusher.
There was more shots and Danica looked at Sabrina with empty, lifeless, eyes.
Dark Eagle knocked-out the last of the Shadows. She panted and looked at her handiwork.
"This would be so much easier if I had a Robin," she said.
There was silence but a muffled cry came from down a corridor. The Black Mistress ran down the corridor and found the room the crying was coming from. She gripped the handle of one tonfa while holding the door handle. She opened the door and was shocked...
A girl, no more than 11, was crying over the body of a dead child, no more than 7. The 11-year-old looked up at the super-hero. Her light, brown, eyes were glazed over with tears. Dark Eagle put her tonfa away and reached her hand out to the 11-year-old.
"Come here, sweetie," the Black Mistress said "You can trust me,"
The 11-year-old ran over to her and cried into Dark Eagle's shoulder. The Black Mistress picked her up and she walked out.
When they were outside; Dark Eagle put the 11-year-old down. She put her hands on the child's shoulders and looked her in the eye.
"Before anything happens I need to know your name," said the Black Mistress.
"S-Sabrina," the child said.
"Sabrina Ashland?!" exclaimed Dark Eagle.
Sabrina nodded. A crazy maybe insane idea came to the Black Mistress. Dark Eagle led her to her hidden Eagle-cycle. Sabrina allowed herself to be blindfolded and sat on the back of the Eagle-cycle. Dark Eagle wrapped a blanket around the child and got on her bike.
The Eagle-cycle came to a stop. Sabrina took the blindfold off and looked around to see she was in a cave.
"Dark Eagle! What do you think you're doing?" a voice demanded.
Sabrina looked to where the voice was coming from and saw...
"Nightwing!" she whispered.
A raven-haired woman was standing next to him, trying to calm him.
"Nightwing. Let me explain," said the Black Mistress.
"You better," Nightwing half-growled.
Dark Eagle walked over to Nightwing and the 2 started talking/arguing. The raven-haired woman walked over to Sabrina, who was standing by the Eagle-cycle.
"Hello," the woman said, kneeling down beside Sabrina "I'm the ex-Justice Leaguer Zatanna the Mistress of Magic,"
Sabrina looked past the Magician at the arguing Bats. She looked at her feet when she heard Dark Eagle say...
"Dad! She's Sabrina Ashland! Daughter of Bone-Crusher and Ash-Maker! I found her crying over her sister's dead body!"
...in a whisper shout. Zatanna put her hand on Sabrina's shoulder.
"Don't worry, Sabrina, if anyone can get around Nightwing me and Dark Eagle can," said Zatanna.
"Alright!" Nightwing said loud enough for the entire cave to hear.
Sabrina sat on a chair by the Bat-computer, a blanket around her shoulders and a cup of hot chocolate in her hands.
"...so you understand what we're asking?" Nightwing asked, his annoyance with Dark Eagle being replaced with concern for Sabrina.
"Yes," Sabrina said, looking into her steaming mug "You want me to testify against my father,"
"Yes," said Nightwing "We understand if you-"
"I'll do it!" Sabrina exclaimed "I thought I hated my father before! But now... h-he..." tears came to her eyes "HE KILLED MY SISTER! RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!" she shouted and started crying "I don't want to be a bad guy! I don't wanna be a murderer! I wanna be a good guy! I wanna save lives!" she wept.
"I believe her," said Dark Eagle, sitting on the Bat-computer controls.
"Excuse me if I don't," said Nightwing, watching his wife comfort the distraught child "Zatanna please help her get traught,"
Zatanna sent Nightwing a death-glare.
"I'll call Man Martian in to do a mind-scan," said Dark Eagle, walking off to do just that.
Sabrina looked at Zatanna, nervously. The Magician smiled at her, reassuringly.
Dark Eagle was down the hall, speaking to an irritated half-Martian half-human.
"M'att! We need you to do this! You're the Team telepath! A little help here!" Dark Eagle hissed.
"Now? Mary, it's 3 am!" M'att hissed back.
"M'att Th'hoo! You are always up at-" Dark Eagle heard a woman talk on M'att's end.
"Matthew! Come back to bed... Whoever you're talking to can wait!" the woman whined with an Italian accent "I, on the other hand, can't!"
"M'att Th'hoo Miller! You dog! You're with someone! Is it that woman, Katrina was it, you've been seeing?" Dark Eagle said, smirking.
"Get my cousin if you want gentle with the mind-scan," said M'att "And don't you dare tell Will or anyone about this!"
"Aye aye, Captain Martian," said Dark Eagle, signing off.
The Black Mistress walked back to her parents and Sabrina.
"So, is Man Martian coming?" Zatanna asked.
"Unfortunately, Man Martian has... company and can't come," said Dark Eagle "Ya gonna have to call Miss Martian,"
"Company?" Zatanna wondered.
"Alright, I'll call in Miss M," said Nightwing.
The zeta-tubes came to life and Miss Martian hovered over, wearing her navy-and-white uniform.
"So this is Sabrina Ashland?" she asked.
"Yes Miss Martian," said Nightwing "We need to know if she's trustworthy,"
"Of course," said the Martian "Hi, Sabrina, I'm Miss Martian. I need to read your mind. Don't worry, it'll only hurt if you fight against it and you won't if you're sincere about being a good guy,"
Sabrina nodded. Miss Martian put her fingers to Sabrina's temples and her eyes glowed green.
5 minutes had passed when Miss Martian took her fingers off of Sabrina's head.
"She's sincere," Miss M said.
"Thank you, Miss M," said Nightwing "You can go now,"
Miss Martian nodded and walked over to the zeta-tubes and disappeared in a flash of light.
"So, until the trial, what are we gonna do with her?" Nightwing asked, looking to Dark Eagle.
"I don't know," said the Black Mistress.
"She'll have to stay down here," said Nightwing "We can't risk showing her where any of us live,"
Zatanna took Sabrina's hand and led her down a corridor.
"Come, I'll help you settle in," said the Magician.
Zatanna spread the duvet on the bed. Sabrina pulled the provided white t-shirt and black jogging-bottoms on.
"I hope you'll be comfortable despite the lack of hospitality," said Zatanna "There's a jumper in the bedside table if you need it,"
"Zatanna..." Sabrina said, wavering.
"Yes?" Zatanna asked.
"M-my s-sister, Danica, always thought we'd be saved by super-heroes and we would never have to be League of Shadows assassins," said Sabrina, tears rolling down her cheeks "and she was 7... I miss her!"
Sabrina burst into tears. Zatanna wrapped her arms around the emotionally wrecked child. Sabrina wept into Zatanna's shoulder.
"I'm sorry you saw what you did," said the Magician "You're safe now,"
"But what happens after I testify?" Sabrina asked "Where will I go? I don't think they allow children into the Witness Protection Program alone,"
"Don't worry, Sabrina," said Zatanna "You'll be okay,"
Sabrina slept in the make-shift bedroom... or, at least, tried to sleep. The images of her sister dying burned her eyes. She sat up and looked at the dark room. The only light came from the digital clock.
"Oh, Danica," she sighed "Why couldn't I save you?"
Sabrina cried again... by the time she fell asleep her pillow was soaked.
...2 WEEKS LATER...
"Sabrina! Can you come here?" Nightwing called.
Over the past 2 weeks Sabrina had explored the Batcave. She got along with Zatanna and Dark Eagle, who had grown to care for her. Even Nightwing had warmed up to her. Several super-heroes had stopped by to confirm or deny the rumour there was a child living in the Batcave. Zatara had been the most common super-hero visitor. And Batman #2 and Redbeak had come in and out to work on cases.
Sabrina walked into the main area of the Batcave. Zatara, Dark Eagle, Zatanna and Nightwing were there.
"Sabrina. There's something we want to show you," said Nightwing.
"What?" Sabrina asked.
"Follow us," said Zatara and they walked over to the elevator.
Sabrina followed them into the glowing, blue, room. The door closed and they shot up. Sabrina was forced to the ground and she lent against the wall. The adults smiled at her fondly. It reminded them of when they, themselves, had first gone in the elevator.
The elevator came to a bone-jerking stop and the door slid away. The adults stepped out, around Sabrina, and into the room. Sabrina stepped out. She turned around to see a clock slide in front of the elevator. The room she was in was a totally normal sitting room. The walls were wood-panelled, as was the floor, and the carpet was a wall-to-wall rug. There was a sofa in front of the fireplace. Above the fireplace was a family portrait depicting a man with greying hair (Bruce Wayne), a woman with greying hair (Selena Kyle-Wayne), a younger man with raven-black hair (Dick Grayson), a younger woman with raven-black hair (Zatanna Grayson), a raven-haired girl around 17 (Mary Grayson) and a raven-haired boy around 14 (Giovanni Grayson).
"Where are we?" Sabrina asked.
"Our home," said Zatanna, taking Nightwing's hand.
"You live above the Batcave?" Sabrina said, astounded.
"Yes," said Nightwing "This place was owned by the first Batman," Nightwing sighed "But my father passed away a few months ago and I inherited his house,"
Zatanna rubbed circles around Nightwing's back, comfortingly.
"Mine and Nightwing's son, Zatara, lives with us until he finishes college," said the Magician.
Zatara gave Sabrina a curt nod.
"Our daughter," said Nightwing "Dark Eagle, moved out of the house and moved in with her boyfriend when she was 20,"
"Speed Arrow's a great guy," said Dark Eagle.
"Why are you telling me this?" Sabrina asked.
"Sabrina..." Nightwing knelt down in front of her and put his hands on her shoulders "After you testify we would like you to join our family," he said.
"Really?" Sabrina asked, unable to stop herself from smiling "But then I'll need to know who you are,"
"Indeed. You will," said Nightwing and he took his domino mask off "My name's Richard John Grayson, Dick for short," Zatanna knelt down beside Nightwing, in front of Sabrina "This is my wife, Zatanna Grayson,"
Dark Eagle and Zatara knelt beside their parents.
"This is our daughter, Mary Sindella Grayson," said Zatanna and Dark Eagle pulled her mask off "And our son, Giovanni John Grayson," Zatara pulled his mask off and took his top-hat off.
"The Graysons? You guys are billionaires!" said Sabrina.
"Sabrina," said Dick "Will you be a member of our family?"
Sabrina stared at them. Her whole life she had wanted a real family... now she had a chance of that.
"YES!" she cried "YES!"
The Graysons pulled Sabrina into their arms and Sabrina had her first, real, family hug.
...1 WEEK LATER...
Sabrina sat behind the stand. As a condition to her testifying what she looked like had to remain a secret so she could blend in with her new family in the papers. To do this, Sabrina wore one of Mary's old, Girl Wonder, domino masks and a hooded sweater with the hood pulled down low.
"Is the man who you witnessed kill your half-sister in this court room?" the lawyer asked.
"Yes," Sabrina said, worried.
Despite there being 3 undercover Bats in the court room, Sabrina was still terrified the League of Shadows was going to silence her.
"Can you point to him?" the lawyer asked.
Sabrina pointed at her father.
"The witness has confirmed that Danica Ashland's murderer is Phillip Dunes A.K.A Bone-Crusher," said the lawyer.
After the trial, the Bats stayed with Sabrina. Their presence was no longer a secret so they were in uniform. The jury had found Bone-Crusher guilty of all charges (and then some).
"Thank you for your help. Now, if you don't mind, Sabrina will be coming with me," said a social worker.
Sabrina looked at the Bats.
"Yeeeeeah. No," said Dark Eagle "Sabrina's coming with us,"
"What?" the social worker said.
"It's already being set up. Sabrina's got people who will care for her waiting for her," said Nightwing "She'll be living under a new identity and she'll get a fresh start,"
"Not one thing you just said is legal!" said the social worker.
Dark Eagle waved a document in the social worker's face.
"Read it 'n' weep, man. It's already been approved," said the Black Mistress "Sabrina will be coming with us as soon as she's been released from custody of the state,"
"Super-heroes have way to much power," hissed the social worker and he walked away.
That night, Nightwing was putting the finishing touches on Sabrina's new identity.
"Sabrina," said Nightwing "You need to choose a new name,"
"Lauren," said Sabrina without hesitation "That's a name I've always wanted,"
"Lauren what?" Dark Eagle asked "You need a surname,"
"Bennett?" Sabrina tried "It's the most common surname in New Gotham,"
"You want a middle name?" Nightwing asked.
"No," said Sabrina.
"Okay then," said Nightwing, typing in the final details "Welcome to the family Lauren,"
'Lauren' smiled with joy. Things were looking up for her.
...1 MONTH LATER...
Lauren sat at the island counter in the kitchen.
"Morning," said Zatanna, walking in "You're up early,"
"I'm always up early," said Lauren "Um... Zatanna, there's something that's been bugging me,"
"What?" Zatanna asked, taking a seat next to her "Sweetie, you can talk to me,"
"It's... it's my mom, Ash-Maker," Lauren said, Zatanna's smiled dropped and she looked concerned "She may have been an assassin and she may have trained me to kill but... she was also encouraging and somewhat kind..."
"I get it. You miss her," said Zatanna "For a long time she was the only nice person in your life,"
"Other than Dani," said Lauren "Zatanna... would it be a bad idea if... if I visited her in Belle Reve?"
"Oh, sweetie. Not at all," said Zatanna "The only reason Dick would object is because he's kinda paranoid, the side-affect of being raised by Batman. I'll call Mary and ask her to go with you, just in case because I doubt children are allowed to visit prison alone,"
"Thanks Zatanna," said Lauren "Thanks for everything,"
Zatanna leaned over and hugged her, hard.
...2 WEEKS LATER...
In her domino-mask-and-hoodie disguise, Lauren was once again Sabrina. Dark Eagle walked beside her as they headed towards the interrogation room, where Ash-Maker was waiting. A guard opened the door for them and they walked in. A woman with back-length ruby-red hair was sitting at the table, wearing an orange jumpsuit and an inhibitor collar.
"Come ta see yer old mom then, Sabrina?" Ash-Maker said.
"Hi Mom," said Sabrina, sitting across the table from the criminal.
"I heard ya testified against Bone-Crusher," said Ash-Maker "Got 'im put in Arkem,"
"Yeah," said Sabrina.
"An' got the protection of the Bats," said Ash-Maker, looking at Dark Eagle (who was standing by the door) "Keepin' an eye on m' baby-girl, then?"
Dark Eagle remained silent.
"They keep me off the Shadows' radar," said Sabrina.
"Good ta know ya won't be an assassin," said Ash-Maker "Gives ya a rush but it ain't the best career choice,"
"I can tell," said Sabrina.
...1 MONTH LATER...
Dark Eagle worked at the Bat-computer. Lauren hadn't gotten wind of it yet and Dark Eagle intended to close the case before she did. The Black Mistress reread the News statement...
Philip Dunes, better known as Bone-Crusher, has escaped Arkem Asylum.
Dark Eagle knew it would be easier to deal with the assassin if she had help (but she didn't want to ask her ex-mentor, Redbeak, for help and she wasn't one to ask her dad for help and Batgirl had recently gone on a leave-of-absence since her father was ill and Dark Eagle was most definitely NOT going to ask Batman #2 for help). The Black Mistress looked at the Robin uniform that was once Jason Todd's, it was still hung up in a glass tube to remember the fallen Boy Wonder. Maybe it was time for a new Robin?
"I wonder if Laur would be interested," said Dark Eagle.
"Interested in what?" Lauren asked.
Dark Eagle turned in the chair and looked at her parents' ward. Lauren's ruby-red hair was in 2 neat pigtails. The Black Mistress looked at the Bat-computer screen. Lauren read the News statement.
"Lauren..." began Dark Eagle "I was wondering if you are interested in becoming Robin,"
"The second Girl Wonder?" Lauren said, astounded "I- I don't know what to say! Y-yes!"
"You'll have to train," warned Dark Eagle.
"I can handle that," replied Lauren.
"You'll have to be trained in a weapon, like how I'm trained in tonfa and Nightwing's trained in escrima sticks," warned Dark Eagle.
"I can handle that!" said Lauren.
"You won't be allowed to kill," warned Dark Eagle.
"I don't want to kill!" said Lauren "Mary. I can handle it. I can be Robin the Girl Wonder!"
"Good. I'm glad you think that," said Dark Eagle "Because training starts now!"
...1 MONTH LATER...
Dark Eagle climbed onto the roof of the New Gotham Police Station. The Bat-signal shown in the sky. Commissioner Ralph Smith was standing by it, accompanied by 3 of New Gotham's finest.
"Commissioner," Dark Eagle greeted.
"Eagle. Let's cut the pleasantries," said Commissioner Smith "We have a lead on Bone-Crusher but we're not sure if it's legit. Care to confirm or deny?"
Dark Eagle took the file and looked inside.
"I have no idea if this is legit or not," said the Black Mistress, the officers groaned "But my friend may know,"
"Who? Redbeak, Batman, Batgirl, Nightwing?" the only woman cop said.
"Not quite," said Dark Eagle "What do you think," a girl walked out from behind the Black Mistress "Robin,"
'Robin' was young. She wore a black cape with a hood that hung around her so it obscured her (but you could see it had an orange interior), an orange skirt, her golden utility-belt peeked out from below the bottom of her cape, black leggings and red combat boots that went up to her knees. The hood of her cape was pulled down so you couldn't see her face, if you got a glimpse of her face you would have seen her face covered by a black mask that showed her eyes. Ruby-red pigtails hung out of her hood, they swayed in the wind.
"You took on a sidekick?" said one of the officers.
"Robin's my protégé. She's more of a partner than a sidekick," said Dark Eagle, she passed the file over "Legitimate? Or a hoax?"
Robin looked at the file.
"Hoax. Bone-Crusher would never hang-out somewhere like this. He likes to think himself as 'original' so there ain't a chance he'd hang in an abandoned warehouse," said Robin "He's also off his rocker and is obsessed with bone-breakage. Somewhere where there is regular snapped bones. An underground fight-club, maybe?"
The officers looked at the Girl Wonder.
"How'd you figure that?" the woman officer asked.
"Deduction. I've read up on Bone-Crusher," said Robin.
Dark Eagle put her hand on Robin's shoulder.
"I woulda come up with the same conclusion. Robin used a Bat-technique that's been used ever since the first Batman," said Dark Eagle "We'll check out Robin's lead and get back to you,"
The new Dynamic Duo went over to the roof ledge, their hair swaying in the wind. Dark Eagle took out her grappling gun. Robin did the same. They reached out to aim, revealing that Robin had long, black, sleeves under red, elbow-high, gloves and short, red, sleeves. They fired their grappling guns and jumped off the roof. The officers looked as the Dynamic Duo swung around the corner.
"They're insane, aren't they?" said one of the officers.
"I'm just glad to have met the new Robin," said the woman officer.
Commissioner Smith turned the Bat-signal off and walked back inside.
…5 DAYS LATER…
Robin pushed Bone-Crusher to the ground. Dark Eagle stood behind her. Robin had her hands around her father's neck.
"Robin... if you kill him you will become no better than him. Nightwing had to make the same choice you have to when he was only 9," said Dark Eagle "He became Robin now it's your turn to choose. You aren't your father, you're not a murderer... you're Robin,"
Robin loosened her grip on her father's neck and he fell back, coughing for breath. She turned to look at the Black Mistress and looked up at the adult. Robin flipped her hood off and the crowd around saw that Robin the Girl Wonder was barely 11. Tears trickled down from her eyes, rolling over her mask, and she wrapped her arms around Dark Eagle's waist. Dark Eagle went down on one knee and hugged her little sister.
"C'mon, Robin... let's go home," said Dark Eagle.
...THAT NIGHT...
Lauren sat before a grave. On it, engraved on stone, was the word, Danica Patricia Ashland, beloved sister and daughter. Lauren smiled at her sister's grave.
"You always said we'd be rescued... I'm sorry it took your death for me to be saved. It's unfair. I'm gonna make it fair... I'll fight for truth, liberty and justice. For you, Dani, for you," said Lauren "I'll never forget you... you always said if we had to come up with new identities you'd go by Elizabeth Bennett, Lizzie for short... I'm now Lauren Bennett. According to my new identity's file 'Lauren Bennett' had a sister 'Elizabeth Bennett' who died in a car-crash. Looks like you did become Lizzie,"
"Lauren! We have places to be!" shouted Dick from where he and Zatanna waited by the car.
Lauren put up her index finger, asking for 1 more minute.
"See ya, Danica. Being the adopted daughter of billionaires, Dick and Zatanna Grayson, gives you a unpredictable schedule," said Lauren "I go to New Gotham Junior High, I got homework... I miss you, Dani, and I wish you could've been saved too. I love you, sis, good-bye..." Lauren got onto her feet, then remembered something "Oh! And if you meet the Flying Graysons, please tell them their son/cousin/nephew is a good man,"
Lauren got to her feet ran down the hill, past the other graves, out the gate, onto the pavement and into the arms of her new parents.
"C'mon, sweetie," said Zatanna "You've got homework then it's off to bed,"
"Alright, Zatanna, alright," said Lauren, jumping into the back seat.
The Girl Wonder put her seatbelt on and smiled, her life was good.
So that's how the daughter of assassins become Robin. If you feel sad over what happened to Danica Ashland/Lizzie Bennett then I totally understand!