Revelations
Rebecca was so shell-shocked that she almost did one of those movie style faints. She did waver a bit and luckily Terra and Max were able to catch her and placed her on a nearby chair. Rebecca couldn't speak or think. This couldn't be happening, it just couldn't be! It was just too much to take in at one moment. All that Rebecca could think at the moment the two people she cared most about, her mom Barbara, and her one true love, Warren, were now endanger! And it was all her fault! Sparrow Hawk hadn't been strong enough to protect both her home and family! How could she possible save both of them without them getting killed? How could she do that all by herself? It was all too much and she was now even closer then ever to her breaking point.
"Rebecca? Sweetie, you gonna be alright? Hello? Rebecca?" Kendra tried to reach her as she gently shook her boss, but to no avail. Nothing was penetrating Rebecca's mind at the moment. She was lost in a world all of her own and there was nothing gonna pierce that fog it seemed.
"Should we go get a social worker? I mean I really think she needs someone to talk too. She cannot hold all these emotions in any longer. It will have serious repercussions if she doesn't get it all out into the open. Believe me I know what a traumatic experience can do to a person's mind and soul. Not to mention what it does to your heart," Terra whispered to her friends her words ringing with the truth.
If anyone in that room at the moment knew what it was like reaching your breaking point it had to be Terra McGinnis. She had after all suffered countless hardships, including being raped, that she knew what it was like to have a torrent of emotions and needing to speak to someone about it. As a result of all she'd to endure she felt she had at the moment the most insight to what Rebecca was feeling. Yet even Terra knew that while all this trauma drama was going on it would affect everyone differently. Still, she felt the best thing for Rebecca would be to at least talk about this with someone, before they made any attempt to save her mom and Warren.
"Terra's got a good point, Rebecca. You in truth ought to talk to someone. I've already called for backup from my fellow officers. Seth will be here in fifteen minutes, and he's gonna post his finest guards, and watch over everyone here. A number of of my other officers have also already been called in to help. They will make an effort to track down your mom and Warren. In the meantime you really should talk to someone." Lena informed her best girlfriend sympathetically as she sat down next to her.
Kendra immediately sat on the other side of Rebecca. Then both women just hugged their best friend as tightly and comforting as they could be. Each of them kissed Rebecca's flaming red hair. Yet it all seemed to be in vain as Rebecca didn't even acknowledge that anything was happening around her. She just wasn't responding at all. Sensing that Rebecca needed a moment alone with her girlfriends the Batclan went into the room to check on their loved ones.
The hospital room was not very comforting as it could be. Then again it was a hospital. Even it was meant to try and help heal the sick, didn't mean it was gonna be soothing and cozy. They could smell the strong aroma of medicine and blood. Terra dashed quickly to Bruce's side and Ace perked up when she came over. Bending down she fed him one of her homemade doggie treats. He happily devoured the scrumptious treat and wagged his tail. Then he licked Terra's face happily. So she fed him another treat and hugged him tightly.
"Keep protecting the big guy, Ace. You're a good watch dog! So please protect everyone while we're gone, alright Ace? Can you do us that favor?" she requested of the large black dog. He responded by licking her face for a second time then bowed his head in a yes manner. Trotting over to the door he stood attention as if in roll call in the army. Standing tall and proud it was obvious he'd do his duty, the duty dogs had upheld for eons. To protect and love mankind, it was a duty Ace was determined to carry on.
"I believe that's a yes, sis. You can see his fire of protection and love burning brilliantly in those big black eyes. He's a tough as he is loyal and brave as he's strong. You saw how he's protected the family in the past. In particular when we had to fight Ronnie Boxer and his sick dog fights."
"Yes, those dogs still haunt my dreams on occasion, Terry. No wonder I'm a cat person myself. I love my cat Sophia very much. Yet it still sick when people make animals fight for profit or any other abuse. Animals should be loved and cared for. Not used for money and sick other reasons." Max stated angrily as she went over to her new boyfriend's bedside.
Like everyone else in the room he was sleeping. Max saw as she drew closer that he'd a large cut above his left eye and along his wrist to his elbow. The stitches looked well done yet it must have been painful nonetheless. Taking care not to touch them she kissed his right cheek and squeezed his hand. "Oh, Kieran, I wish I'd been there to protect you. I mean when we've gone to the gym, I know you've taken a small number of boxing lessons, and at least two martial arts classes. Still, I guess it wasn't enough to defend yourself against those vile ruffians! Don't worry, my love, I won't let anyone harm you ever again!"
"Be careful what you promise, Maxine. Every now and then even promises are incapable to be kept. So you should be careful in what you chose to promise, and what you ask of God when you make such promises. I think you should know no-matter-what you've promised, it can and will be broken in some manner. Some things in this world and beyond just can't be kept. So while you want to promise he won't get hurt again, he will in some form or another. So just don't expect to keep the unattainable." Lena informed the pink haired youth. She looked very worried herself and it was obvious she tried to keep the same promise but couldn't herself, so she was talking from personal experiences
"So what are we gonna do, Lena? What is the plan if you don't think we can protect our loved ones?" demanded Max in a slightly angry tone. Max had her arms crossed and her black eyes glaring intensely at the Japanese policewoman, as if daring her to utter another word.
"I didn't mean to sound like it's impossible to keep loved ones safe and protected. I just meant one and all get hurt one way or another. I mean there are many ways to hurt someone; it's not just limited to physical injury you know. We've got emotional and verbal abuse, for example. Therefore, my young friend, just don't think you can protect your loved ones from everything. That all I meant," she clarified patiently to Max.
Max's annoyance vanished from her face and she gazed quickly at Kieran and back at Lena. After a moment she spoke "I guess that makes more sense. And it's a good point as well. Thanks for clearing that up. So again what are we gonna do next?"
"Well, like I already said, I've got my fiancé coming to protect everyone here. So at least everyone here will be safe. We still need to find a way to track these vile miscreants who've got Rebecca's mom and boyfriend."
"I'm gonna find them! I don't care if I have to burn the city to the ground! I will find my mother and Warren! Even if I have to do it by myself! I won't let them die!" Rebecca proclaimed with a savage passion that shocked everyone. Her lovely face was contorted with a fiery rage and her brilliant blue eyes burned with such passion they looked ready to explode!
"Rebecca! Are you alright?" Kendra inquired cautiously to her friend. She gazed at Rebecca and then around the room. This wasn't going well. No-one had ever seen Rebecca this enraged before. It was making them worry beyond belief.
"No, Kendra, I'm not alright! My mom could die! Warren could die! I'm not gonna just sit here and let that happen! I'm gonna go rescue them by myself. I don't need anyone's help! I'm gonna do it!" she hissed like a cobra and she actually made an effort to stand and leave. But Kendra and Lena grabbed her and tried to get her to settle down.
Rebecca tried to free herself from her friends' grip and was trashing around like a wild animal, and she was screaming like one too. The Clan tried to restrain her too, but now she was fighting with the strength of an Amazon. With anger equal that to fifty men she threw everyone off and dashed away. Everyone was shocked but knew they had to do something. Or Rebecca could be exterminated herself if she went after Ven and his men half-cocked in addition to being insane with rage. Luckily at that moment Seth and the rest of the security detail came. So with a quick kiss from Lena she order them to stay put and then herself, Kendra and the Batclan fled down the packed corridor hoping to catch Rebecca before she did something extremely stupid.
The panic group was out of breath by the time they'd reach the sliding glass doors. As soon as they'd crossed the threshold from the haven for sick, to the cool night air their trepidation along with apprehension reached its peak. Rebecca was nowhere to be found. Glancing up and down the moving sidewalks they didn't see her. Her Porsche wasn't in sight either. This was really, really, really bad! Everyone felt the same terror as well as concern for Rebecca but what could they do?
"Where is she? She can't possibly have gotten too far! I know she's distress but this isn't the time to have anger cloud her judgment! We need to locate her and fast! So does anyone have any ideas? I'd be happy to hear any and all ideas if it means finding Rebecca." Kendra proposed in an exasperated manner.
"Well, if we think of this logically, I say we should go to her penthouse. She's probably there." Max hypothesized, as her dark eyes gazed into the direction of Rose Tower.
"That seems a good as an idea as any of us got. So hop in everyone! I may not own a Porsche but my cruiser ought to be fast enough. It just had a tune-up. So come on! Let's get going!"
Subsequently everybody climbed into Lena's personal police car and the lights lit up. This helped them get to the Tower much faster, given the fact people had to pull over so the police could get by faster. They did make it to Rose Tower more rapidly then they'd anticipated. Despite the fact that, the burnished silvery blue cruiser was indeed high-speed, it wasn't nearly as fast paced as the Batmobile, or Robin's hover cycle would've been. Still it was by the grace of God they made it at all. Now they just had to hope that Rebecca hadn't gone somewhere else. Therefore, all gotten on the golden glass elevator and hope it shot up like a bullet to her penthouse.
The door to the penthouse was slightly adjured so they'd hope that meant Rebecca had indeed gone home. Like a herd of thundering elephants they burst into the penthouse. At first it looked like no-one was home. However, they could perceive the sound of Rebecca's bird collection. The harmonious as well as enthrallingly charismatic birds were busy singing up a storm of panic and scariness. So obviously something was upsetting them.
Then all of sudden a huge crash was heard along with an aggravated tone of voice cursing loudly. Jumping over the plum colored chaise lounge and doing a number of fancy flips was Terra. She managed to find the source of the crash which luckily wasn't the aviary. But it was a large cardboard box of food and cleaning supplies for the aviary. Rebecca was lying on the floor moaning. It looked like her frantic state of mind she must have tripped and the box just came crashing down with her. Terra slung the judge over her shoulders and dragged her to the sofa. She was still moaning some so Max raced quickly to the kitchen to get a cold compress and the twins went to quickly cleaned up the mess, and Terra tried to calm down the birds that were going nuts.
"You gonna be alright, Rebecca?" Kendra inquired very softly as she placed the soothing pale blue compress on her forehead. Everyone was sitting down around her and then the redhead broke out in tears. And once she started to shed tears she couldn't seem to stop. She just kept showing an extreme expression of grief.
Kendra and Lena quickly hugged Rebecca and tried to get her to stop crying. "It's gonna be alright, Rebecca. We'll find them and we'll stop these terrorists once and for all!" Kendra promised to her best friend.
"We'll all lend a hand in anyway that we can. I don't know how we're all gonna do it, but we'll find them. And they won't die. Now calm down please!" begged Lena urgently as she took out a cherry blossom pink silk handkerchief and tried to dry Rebecca's brilliant blue eyes.
After what seemed like an eternity she finally calm down for a moment. Her beautiful blue eyes now red with the rage and stained by her tears looked around the room at her family. She didn't want to loose another member of her loved ones to this man. Still she would've to do it by herself. That she knew for sure. Taking a few deep breaths she then spoke.
"I love you all and I thank you for your help. But this is something I must do by myself. It's my fault my mom and Warren were kidnapped and I must be the one to save them. I won't risk losing another member of my family to whoever is behind all this. So if you excuse me I've got to get going."
"Rebecca! You can't do this by yourself! You must see that! Can't you see it's a trap?" demanded Lena who was so upset herself that she was slipping into her native accent. She even was starting to talk in Japanese. This caught everyone off guard. For a few moments Lena just shouted at her best friend in Japanese and everyone was just about clueless as to what she was saying.
"Rebecca!" she yelled in English before yelling some more in Japanese "Chotto matte Rebekka, teishi shi, mimi o katamukeru! Watashi wa, anata no kurushimi to kakawaru mina no tame ni zan'nendakedo, shite kudasai watashi ni kiite kudasai Wareware wa anata ga warumono o teishi suru no ni yakudachimasu! Shikashi wareware wa sore o issho ni okonau hitsuyō ga arimasu! (Wait a moment, Rebecca, stop and listen! I'm sorry for your suffering and everyone else involved, but please listen to me, please! We'll help you stop the bad guys! But we need to do it together!)
For a few moments, it looked as if Rebecca didn't comprehend, or understood what the hell, one of her best friends had just said. Truthfully the twins and Max had no idea what she'd just said. They weren't in any second language classes back at Hill High. Furthermore perhaps their mentor Bruce Wayne may've had bilingualism skills extraordinary, yet it was unknown if Rebecca knew what Lena had just yelled at her. Because for them they're totally and utterly clueless. It looked like even Kendra was a bit shocked and not understanding what the police chief had just yelled.
It seemed to take Rebecca a few minutes to translate what had just been spoken. The rest of the group got the jest of what was said when Rebecca yelled back in English her response. "I don't need your help, Lena! I can handle this predicament on my own! I don't need you or your police! They just get in the way! They wouldn't do what must be done! Now leave me!" she angrily spat at her. Lena looked much taken aback by her best girlfriend's statement; she also seemed surprised that Rebecca had translated so quickly what she'd just shouted!
Rebecca made a motion to get up but was very shocked by what happened next. "Not a chance, Mon Cherie!" Kendra yelled as she yanked her boss's right arm hard and forced her back on the couch. It seemed they're about to hear a bit of French because now Kendra was speaking with her own native accent. And the Batclan was sure she was gonna yell at her in her own native tongue too, and they're right. Kendra looked so angry and frustrated, just like Lena. And like before the Batclan had no idea what the hell Kendra yelled next!
"You're not gonna do this alone," Kendra started in English then she began to speak in French, "Regardez, mon ami. Nous avons besoin d'obtenir de l'aide, mais ne faisons pas quelque chose de fou ou dangereux! S'il vous plaît laissez-nous vous aider! S'il vous plaît! Nous ne sommes pas seulement vos amis, Rebecca, nous sommes une famille! (Look, my friend, we need to get help, but don't do anything crazy or dangerous! Please let us help you! Please! We're not just your friends, Rebecca, we're family!)
Like before Rebecca was able to translate quickly what her friend had just yelled at her. And she was still sizzling with anger. She didn't translate what was just said for the Batclan but she did reply in English so they got the gist of what was said.
"Look, Kendra, Lena," she began, took a deep breath and continued, "I know you're more then my friends and like the trio standing beside you, we're a family. And because of that fact I do not wish to endanger anyone else! I can handle this by myself. It's my fault! And I'll be the one to correct this mistake! I won't let you or anyone else die because of me!" she yelled defiantly as she tried to run away. But Kendra kept a firm grip on her.
Lena did something a bit drastic to make certain Rebecca didn't hightail it out of the penthouse. She took out her Taser and aimed it at Rebecca. This shocked the Batclan somewhat, but they didn't want to intervene. It would've been a bit nasty if they accidentally got electrocuted. Therefore they just backed away but behind their backs got a pair of batarangs and birdarangs ready in case of trouble. Rebecca looked shocked and confused by her family holding her at gunpoint but the Clan, Kendra and Lena knew it was for her own good.
"Rebecca! Don't make me do something I'll regret. Now sit down and listen or so help me I will Tase you! Now sit!" Lena commanded sternly. Her Taser was about a foot away from Rebecca's body and it crackled like Zeus' lightning blots. Rebecca actually looked very scared at that moment.
Shocked in addition to petrified she obediently sat down and tried to catch her breath. She didn't' start to breath well till after Lena had withdrew her Taser. Sighing she put the Taser into her holster. "Now could you please listen to us?"
"Yes," she answered meekly.
"Good. Now let's talk about this crises and how to handle it."
"And could we do it in English, please? I don't know either Japanese or French! Neither does my brother or Max. We've never had a foreign second language class. That's an elective not part of the core curriculum. Therefore can you make somebody's day and converse in a language we all comprehend?" requested Terra politely.
"Sure, Terra, we can do that. Now, Rebecca? How can we help you save your mom and boyfriend?" Lena asked her kindly. She gazed her dark brown almond shaped eyes into the weary as well as petrified sapphire eyes of her friend. Rebecca's radiant sapphire eyes seemed to be nothing but an ocean of agony at the moment. But neither Lena nor Kendra would permit her one to do something stupid, and two not give her any chance of going under. They were determined to help her!
"I don't know how you can help me. I don't think you understand why I need to do this by myself. And that I cannot afford anyone else getting involved. I cannot tell you why you can't help. However, just trust me when I say you cannot help me!"
"Why? Why do you think we wouldn't understand?" challenged Kendra in a slightly angry tone. Her sharp teal eyes bore down into her friend's eyes and it was a bit scary. For a moment Rebecca eyes seem to show she was frighten by her friend, and not her troubles. Still she had to be firm with them.
"I cannot tell you why! I just know you wouldn't understand and I refuse to put more people I love in danger. I will do it myself! And I mean by myself!" she snapped at the Batclan who seemed taken aback by her orders.
"You think we won't understand?" Kendra sounding a bit insulted, "I think we understand more then you know, Rebecca! We've known you for years! How could we not understand something?"
"This is one secret I can't divulge. I just can't, Kendra. I can't tell you or Lena what it is! Just trust me on this one!"
"Lies, Rebecca, are never protection. Even little white lies or lie by omission, its still a lie and it won't protect anyone!" Lena retorted sternly at her friend.
"I just can't! If I told you the truth you won't understand and just be pissed off at me! I can't and won't tell you why I can't allow you to help me! So just accept that!"
"Who do you think we are?! We know a lot more then you think, Sparrow Hawk! A hell of a lot more then you thinks, Sparrow Hawk!" Kendra and Lena said in unison. The room got so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Everyone gasped in surprise and just started at the two ladies in shock and awe.
"What did you say?" Rebecca asked in shock.
"Don't try to deny it, Rebecca! We know you're Sparrow Hawk! We've known all along! And we know these three," Kendra jammed her thumb at the Batclan, "We know these three are the Batclan! So don't think of us as idiots!"
Rebecca and the Batclan just stood there in shock. This wasn't what they expected to happen and now they're worried if these two could be trusted not to blab!
"What makes you think I'm Sparrow Hawk?"
"Rebecca, we a moment ago said don't take us for idiots. We figured this out on our own months ago. We knew Sparrow Hawk appeared in Gotham the same time you went to visit your mom. Furthermore, my darling friend, we also knew that the Batclan came here, at the same time as these three came here to visit you." Lena informed her with the powerful power of deductions. Everyone was still speechless.
"More to the point, Rebecca, Sparrow Hawk is your size and weight, and she's got red hair as well. Perhaps a number of people see and hear what they want to see and hear, but we weren't fooled for a minute. Plus you're more then a damn good judge. You're also the only one who has enough passion and desire to be a heroine. We've always felt you do good work as both a judge and a heroine. So do you really think we're that dumb we wouldn't figure this out?" Kendra inquired inquisitively with a single eyebrow cocked.
"Well, I guess I thought I was covering my tracks well enough that no-one would know my secret," Rebecca confessed finally.
"You know who we are as well? You're not gonna tell anyone, right? We need some sense of a normal life!" Terra pleaded with the two women. "I've already have lost so much and I cannot take it if I lose everything I worked so hard to regain!"
"What do you mean by that?" Kendra inquired confused. "I mean we figure out that you're the Batclan, but what do you mean 'regain all that you lost?"
"That story I told you a few days ago? The one where I was separated at birth by mistake? It's a lie. It's just a cover story. A cover story I wish so badly was true. Yet it isn't. You see I in point of fact came from a parallel reality, where scores of inhabitants were the opposite gender, save a small number of citizens, who were the same as this one. My reality lost its energy, its lifeblood so to speak to continue to exist and implode. I was the soul survivor. I was able to cross over to this reality, and with some help from Bruce Wayne, he made it possible for me to reclaim much of what I lost. I was so very lucky to have him again in my life. I was also extremely blessed to find my true love again in this reality! I know Danny still isn't the same one I fell in love in my world, yet in everyway that matters he is still the one I love."
Lena and Kendra just kinda stared at the raven haired woman in shock. They'd know she was the new Batgirl, yet they hadn't known about this secret. After a moment they picked up their jaws and turned their attention back the problem at hand. Still they did ask a few more questions to make sure they'd guessed every thing correctly.
"So just to confirm we're all on the same page, just tell us if we're wrong." Kendra started to say and Lena continued on, "So you three are the Batclan. The former Batclan was Rebecca's mom, Barbara Gordon, who used to be the previous Batgirl, because we've both seen old newspaper clipping from Gotham on the old clan. Therefore the former Batman must've been Bruce Wayne, and his two wards, Dick Grayson and Tim Drake, were both Robin, until Dick became Nightwing, correct?"
"Yeah, that the truth. I figured out my mom's secret as a child because of begging to be told about the adventures of the Batclan for bedtime stories. I also saw old newspaper clipping and it just clicked. So you've got all that right."
"I've got to know, are you the only ones in on the secret or you're beloveds in on too?" Kendra asked to the Batclan.
"Dana and Danny is, Kendra. On the other hand I've only been dating Kieran for about a month at the present. Despite the fact, I feel like he's the one for me, I've not found the right moment to tell him that I'm Robin thus far. I mean I've gone practically my whole life devoid of anybody special in my life! My parents are divorced, I never see either of them, and my sister gone so much I'm practically a latchkey child! I've never had many friends and not one ounce of a love life before Kieran. Not a soul ever asked me to a sleepover, or a party, or even a movie, for God sakes! Not till I became friends with Terry, Terra, Dana and Danny I mean. The only guy before Kieran who showed any interest in me was Zander. Furthermore he was insane! He was the leader of Kobra and wanted to turn me into a dinosaur! So no, I've never had anyone special in my life. I was therefore euphoric to meet Kieran. One day I swear when I know we're serous and always gonna be together I will tell him. I love him, but I'm not ready to tell him just yet," Max explained quickly with her cheeks flushing as pink as her hair.
"So when were you planning on telling Warren your secret, Rebecca?" the blond lady asked her boss who was getting annoyed for a second time.
"That's not important right now, Kendra! Can we please get back on track?! I'm glad we're all being honest here and that they're no more secrets. So can we please focus on finding my mom and boyfriend before they're killed?!"
"She's got a point, ladies," Terry agreed and everyone took a deep breath and sat down. "Alright, now how can we find Ven and stop him?"
"Let's take another look at that note again," Lena suggested as she reached over the coffee table and took the note from Rebecca. Taking a look she began to study it. After a moment she gave a sigh and looked at everyone not very happily. "The most I can determine is that whoever wrote the note is left-handed. On the other hand I don't know much more anything that might be useful. Gomenasai. I can run the coordinates through the computer though, so we at least know where you're supposed to appear. Kendra?"
"All right, give me a minute to boot up my tablet. Okay, done! Now what are the latitude and longitudes that the note said?"
"Latitude is 26 degrees north and longitudes 14 degrees south. So that intersects where exactly?"
"Give me a few minutes. God! I wish I paid more attention in math class!" Kendra mumbled some as she clicked her screen quickly. She let a gasp of shock and surprise when the computer finished processing the information.
"What?! What is wrong, Kendra? Don't leave us hanging, blonde!" cried Terra loudly.
"The coordinates say that Rebecca's loved ones are being held hostage at if you can believe this or not…"
"Where?! WHERE?!" demanded Rebecca in a crazed frenzy. She looked like a rabid beast and if she didn't get an answer she might actually attack someone. So Kendra quickly answered her question for fear of her own life.
"They're at the courthouse!"
"What?!" everyone cried in shock. Who would be stupid enough to go to the courthouse with kidnapped victims? What the hell was going on? None of this made any sense, not at all. Still they had to rescue them. Still everyone admitted this was so weird!
"Why would anyone in their right mind take them there?" inquired Max in a perplexed manner, as she double checked on her own computer to make sure that they matched. And they did. This was extraordinarily out of the ordinary. "I'm a genius and I don't get it. I mean for god sakes I got a perfect score on the GATs, and I've written tons of software for the Batcomputer, and I just can't make any sense out of this at all!"
"I don't think, Max that even Edward Nigma could answer this riddle, and he was the Riddler!" exclaimed Terra in a bit of an amused tone. "I mean we've studied all of Bruce's old foes and we trained against automatons of them and all that. Yet this is just plain weird!"
"Well, sis, we can either sit here all night trying to figure out what it means, or we could go kick someone's big fat ass. Lena? Do you mind calling Seth up and asking him if Bruce and the others are in good health? We need to know they're safe before we attempt to get Barb and Warren back safely," Terry requested to the young Chief of Police.
"Sure, I can do that, Terry. I was going to do that in any case. I need to make sure my men are ready to fight in case you four can't do this daring do. Excuse me a moment." Lena took out her cell phone that was bejeweled in little ying-yangs plus bright pink cherry blossoms. After a few moments she hung up and flicked a strand of raven hair over her shoulder. "Seth reports that everyone is doing very well. No-one conscious yet I'm afraid, but otherwise they're all doing alright. In case you're wondering that include that stubborn ass Bruce Wayne. His heart is doing alright; still he shouldn't stress himself out much. I still don't get how someone who's got the body of an Olympic athlete could have such heart trouble. They've got him on some oxygen to help him breath better; in addition to that his IVs are giving him a fair amount of nitroglycerin and morphine for the pain. Therefore I believe strongly that he should be okay. They did also give him an additional small dosage of a sedative so his body can recuperate."
"Bruce Wayne is and I can say this 100% positive is for ever and a day is one piece of stubborn, hardheaded and never could just 'relax' man." Terra confirmed with a giggle. "I know it's serious but every now and then I wish Bruce would take it easy. It's not been unproblematic for any of us to take care of both him and Gotham, still we all do what we can."
"That's all very nice, my friend, though it's time we suit up and go get my mom and my boyfriend back! We've only got a half hour till midnight and unless I show up they could end up dead!"
"We know that, Rebecca, but remember we need to have a plan before we attempt anything to aid your mom and Warren. So give us five minutes to at least attempt to come up with a strategy, alright?" Kendra recommended strongly.
"Alright!"
"Great! So let's see, what the best plan of attack?"
"Well," Max spoke up as she finished getting into her Robin costume, "I'd say we analyze all the data from their previous attacks and what we know of this mysterious man named Ven. That should give us a good idea what to expect."
"Robin's got the right idea. So pull up those news bits and we can do this quick," Batgirl said as she slipped on her mask. Nearby Sparrow Hawk and Batman finished getting into their own costumes. It was such an honor for Kendra and Lena to get to see this.
After a few moments of studying they'd got all they could from all of the data. The brainstorm that followed was almost as bad as Hurricane Katrina had been. Still it hopefully wouldn't end up in such devastation. Hugging their friends' goodbye they flew off into the moonlight. Sparrow Hawk liked up her onboard computer with Kendra tablet and made sure her new radio link was up and running. It was so scary that night to know that this might be the last moon she'd ever see.
"We're approaching the courthouse. We'll take them at each side. But you three go in invisible to keep the element of surprise. Ven is expecting me to come alone. Though it'd be foolish to think I wouldn't bring in any backup. So stay out of sight till I give the signal, alright?"
Sparrow Hawk flew more rapidly then ever to the courthouse and just as she expected she found Ven waiting for her. She didn't see a handgun or any other type of weapon, but that could mean it was concealed. So she pressed a few buttons on her gantlets and jumped down to meet him. He removed his dark shades and looked at her with bright brown eyes. He inhaled to drink up her loveliness and licked his lips as if wanting to taste her.
Sparrow Hawk wasn't impressed by this, yet she could tell by his body language that he did have some infatuation with her. Yet her heart belonged to Warren and him alone. So after doing a small number of fancy flips she got as close as she thought safe and asked, "So, Ven, we meet for a second time, now you want to tell me what this is all about?"
"Let's not talk shop so quickly, Sparrow Hawk. I mean the night is still young and look at that beautiful full moon! I say instead of fighting I'd say we dance. Not the sweet tango of battle, like you're thinking of I'm sure, but a real tango. Just you and me under the light of that beautiful full moon. Or if you don't know the steps I say if you want information I could give you it in exchange for a small favor."
"What kinda favor?"
"I tell you everything, like who hired me and my family. I tell you where to find the one calling this dance and you can go beat the living daylights out of him for all I care. I've already sent the money he paid so handsomely to me to my family back home in Guyana. That should be enough to get by for at least two to three years. All I want in return is one small act of kindness."
"What is this favor you want of me? It better not be illegal!"
"It's not illegal, I just want one thing. For all the information you want all I ask is one kiss."
She recoiled and just gawked at him. "You're kidding! You wish me to kiss you?! Are you nuts?!"
The cloaked Batclan were all trying to not barf from the outlandish request. Robin came the closest to actually barfing, but managed to hold it in. Batman on the other hand just whispered a warning that they still needed to remain on the lookout even if this guy was off his rocker! They all gave each other a silent nod and waited to see what happened next.
"Lady, I don't kid. I will admit I'm very hard to impress. Yet you're an extraordinarily gorgeous, intelligent, in addition to exquisite as well as envious figure of a woman. When I first took up this assignment I was thinking of killing you and anyone else who might get in the way. On the other hand after seeing you in action I can honestly say I don't desire to shed even a single drop of blood. So if you want to know where the hostages are its only gonna cost you a kiss. So if you wish me to let my lips utter the words you long to hear then you better pucker up!"
Sparrow Hawk had a very bewildering look upon her features, which was even hard to tell seeing how she was wearing a mask. Still she shocked the Batclan when she lowered her energy sphere. "If I kiss you, Ven, you'll keep your word? That you'll tell me where the hostages are? And you won't put up any kind of fight? No tricks at all?"
"If you ask your friends the Batclan to uncloak, and I ask of what's left of my men to become able to be seen, I will honor all I said. Boys! Come on out! Now! And dump your weapons at my feet! Each and every one of them!" he yelled and from all the hidden angles men in black came out and threw down their weapons at his feet. Ven turned too looked at the masked redhead and said, "I've let you see my men to show a bit of trust. Now do the same and let see the Batclan. I know for a fact you wouldn't have come alone. So show them now or things could get a bit messy."
"Guys! You heard him! Please! Show yourself!"
Reluctantly the Batclan did show themselves and jumped down next to Sparrow Hawk. Everyone was still eyeing each other ready to strike should this transaction be broken. Still Sparrow Hawk who never wished to kiss anyone other then Warren made her way to Ven. She could see for herself he most definitely wanted to feel her breath on his lips. Still she hoped this would be over and done with and she could save her mom and Warren.
"Do you want it on the lips or on your check?"
"Lips."
"Alright, but one kiss only and then you keep your end of the bargain. And I mean it!"
"I swear on my life and my honor that for one kiss I will in exchange tell you everything you wish to know. Satisfied?"
Sparrow Hawk got closer to Ven and her friends the Batclan were ready to fight if he went back on the deal. And it looked like Ven's family was ready to do the same should Sparrow Hawk went back on the deal. The blue moon broke through the cloudy skies and seemed to shine a spotlight on the villain and the heroine. Taking a deep breath Sparrow Hawk then leaned in and gave Ven his kiss on the lips. Everyone recoiled and looked again like they're gonna vomit. Still it lasted only a moment and then she broke it off. She looked a little grossed out and her lipstick was badly smudged.
Ven seemed extraordinarily euphoric and to everyone surprise did a little dance and then a backflip and smiled devilishly at Sparrow Hawk. "My dear, Sparrow Hawk, you most defiantly kiss by the book. As promised here's the information you wanted. Now my family let's get out of here! We pick up the rest of the gang and then we head home. So let's go!" he proclaimed loudly as he handed her a disk. "You'll find everything you want on that disk. All I ask of you, is you let my family go. I promise that we'll have our day in court back home. I've already spoke to a judge back there to do the case. So yes you'll find we'll go quietly. So just let's go home and stand trial for our crimes at home. Deal?"
"A bargain is a bargain. I'll let you go, Ven, nevertheless you must give your word to send a live video feed of your trial, back here to Eco-City to verify you'll keep your word about your trial. And just so you know I'm recording this conversation to make sure you keep your word. So is it a deal?"
"Yes, it's a deal, milady. I will keep my word I promise. Thank you for the kiss. You must have someone very special to you if you can kiss that good. So thanks again. Now we're taking our leave," Ven informed the Batclan and Sparrow Hawk. At that instant a hovercraft materialized overhead and they climbed up a rope ladder. Before Ven enter the craft he smiled and blew Sparrow Hawk a kiss. With that he left and the Batclan looked a bit shocked that they hadn't even put a tracer on them!
"What did you just do, Sparrow Hawk?! How could you let them go like that?!" exclaimed Batgirl in shock. The hovercraft was already reaching the borders of Eco-City and soon it'd be gone!
"I had to stick to the deal, Batgirl. If I went back on it thing would get messy. Besides I coated my lipstick with some of those nanonites tracers that were used in the tiger cubs. So we can track them anywhere on the planet. So no matter where they go we can find them later. Now can we focus on something else more important? Like freeing my mom and Warren?"
"Okay, smart and clever idea, Sparrow Hawk. So now let's see what's on this disk," Robin said with a somewhat impressed smile on her face. She took the disk and pulled out of her utility belt her mini supercomputer.
"Well, what does it say, Robin?" inquired Batman impatiently. The new Girl Wonder just shushed him and pressed a few keys. "Well, I'm sending all this information to Lena now. She can get the cops here to help and we can do our part. So if we wish to save Barbara and Warren we need to go now."
"No, Robin. It is I who will go face this madman who's endangered the lives of my city. You three will stay out here and make sure there is no double-cross. I will call for help if I need it I promise. But this is something I need to do by myself. So tell me where in the building are my loved ones?"
"You'll find them in the fourth judge chamber on the northeast side left hand side."
"That's impossible!"
"Why?"
"That's my chamber!"
"WHAT?!"
"I don't know who's doing this, but I won't let them die!" and with that Sparrow Hawk dashed down the stairs and hurried to her chambers. When she got to them she found that someone was standing in front of them. And it wasn't who she expected. It was Judge Darien French!
"DAIREN?! DARIEN FRENCH?! You're the bad guy who's been terrorizing the city?! You've endangered the lives of children with both a gunfight and burning down a Children's Hospital?! You gassed the best restaurant in the city?! You stole newborn tiger cubs from their mother?! And now you kidnapped an innocent woman and young man?! Why?!"
"It was all for love, dear Sparrow Hawk! It was all in the name of true love! You see there is an attractive, smart and breathtaking young woman. This is her chambers to be exact. I'm in love, very passionately in love with Judge Rebecca Young. We're meant to be I just know it. But she was being brainwashed by that bastard Warren Williams and her mom wasn't helping her seeing the light either. So once I kill them and you of course Rebecca will finally be mine!" he said with an insane look upon his face.
"You monster! You couldn't take a hint that she wasn't into you?! It wasn't brainwashing! She was just in love with another man! You're as insane as Frollo was in the Hunchback of Notre Dame when he was insane over Esmeralda! You couldn't just accept the fact a woman told you no?! So you had to endanger an entire city just because you couldn't take a hint?!"
"I won't be denied any longer, Sparrow Hawk! I know she's the one for me! And I will kill as many people as I've got to till her and I am together forever!"
"No, Darien, you won't murder anyone! I won't let you get away with this! You won't kill Commissioner Barbara Gordon and Judge Warren Alan Williams!" and with that a fight in sued.
It turned out that Darien knew a little about fighting. He also had both a knife and a gun! He plunged the blade down her left arm and she yelped in pain. But luckily wasn't bleeding due to the unique material her costume was made up of. But this scream was enough to bring the Batclan down to help. Though the moment they arrived Darien in his insane lust filled mind was now shooting every which way!
Batman managed to get into the office to make sure Barb and Warren were safe. Batgirl combined her electric blue batarangs with Sparrow Hawk's solar energy disk and one knocked the gun out of his left hand and the other knocked the knife out of his right hand. Then Robin tied him up. The courthouse hallways looked worse then a battlefield. Still at least the danger had passed. Sparrow Hawk ran into her chambers and there was her mother and Warren waiting.
Sparrow Hawk just rushed into her mother's waiting arms and hugged her tightly and was crying like she was a little girl. For it turned out her mom's instincts had been right on. Danger had been lurking in her future and now her mom and her true love had been placed in danger. But now at last they're safe.
After a few moments of crying Sparrow Hawk let go and just leapt into Warren's arms and kissed him passionately. "Oh, Warren, I thought I never see you again! Thank God you're not dead! I couldn't live without you, ever! Not with the knowledge I caused your death!"
"Becky, it's alright. I'm safe, so is your mom. Everything gonna be alright, my love."
"What?! What did you just call me?!"
"Becky, I knew you're Sparrow Hawk for a long time. Like your friends Lena and Kendra probably said I'm not an idiot. Beside I know how you kiss. I love you Rebecca Ruth Young, and I love all of you. Both the judge and the hero! I love you so much! And no matter what you choose to do with your life I will support you."
Sparrow Hawk removed her mask and just stared at her true love and kissed him again. "Oh, Warren! Now you understand why I can't leave Eco-City. And I love you so much too. But I don't know if our relationship can work if you know you live in Gotham and I'm busy here."
"I was gonna wait till after the awards dinner, but I just signed my resignation as a judge in Gotham and got a transfer to be a judge here in Eco-City. And now that Judge Darien French is going to jail you're gonna need me. So I was hoping I could move in with you and make our relationship work."
"That would be prefect, Warren!" and they kissed.
A little while later Lena's men had arrested French and everyone was back at the hospital and happy and safe. Now all that was left was the awards dinner!
