Origins: Nightstar

by Miyu kuran

A retelling of the origins of Mar'i Grayson, other wise known as Nightstar. The story of how a princess became a vigilante of Gotham, how she lost her powers, how she regained them, and how she feel in love with the one man she wasn't supposed to. This is her story, her Epic, her life, her Origins. This is how she came be.

15. Gotham's Best 4

Gotham's Best 4

Displacement (2 of 2)

If Mary was going to find Batman she was going to have to go the one place that not even Superman could clean up, Crime Alley. If Gothamites were anything, they were adaptable. If Superman started cracking down on them hard, they just had to be more careful. Besides, the old buildings down here were perfect to hide from superman, they were lined in lead.

Now Mary knew that if Batman wanted the stay hidden she wouldn't find him, but one thing was also true about Bruce. He stayed watching. She had to get his attention, and that was something Mary was very good at. Screw all that hiding and stealth junk, she'd rather face her enemy in the light. Getting Bruce's attention in a part of town that everyone was trying to keep their head would be way to easy. Sadly, it also meant that Damian would be forced to come after.

Mary shrugged that idea off of her, should she play her cards right, Bruce would get to her before Damian. God, how she wished she could hate him for this, but she couldn't. Mary shook her head expelling the thought from her mind she didn't have time for this. She needed to find a hose, some buckets, and some very unlucky people's cars.

Oh this was going to be fun.

Two Hours later, Mary had finished. Mission should be a success considering she set a building on fire. Yes, she set a building on fire, but what else was she supposed to do? The fastest way to get Batman's attention would be through media. And a raging fire on an abandoned warehouse would sure get people's attention. But she also had to send a message to Batman. Nothing too obvious that anyone could figure something that only someone in the family would know. So, in gasoline Mary painted the Nightwing symbol on the side of the warehouse for all to see. It's midnight, and she was sure it was on all the news stations. Bruce would have to be dead not to see it. And the message? While the giant flaming symbol was Nightwing's it was also shared by another lesser known Superhero known as, Flame bird. Flamebird's real identity is that of Bette Kane distant cousin to Bruce Wayne and first Cousin of Kate Kane, the current Batwoman. In other words, Mary wanted Bruce to meet her at The Kane Mansion.

The Kane's were slightly estranged from the Wayne's in Mary's universe, so in this one ties should be completely severed. So no one could connect Batman to the Kane's. The Kane family were nice people, they just happened to be like every other rich person in Gotham. And that meant a little more shallow then what she was used to. She had meet a Kane once at a gala, one of the few her father attends, and she honestly couldn't tell them apart from the other Gotham Elite. The Kane's certainly lacked the Wayne charisma, Bruce had even passed on to his adopted children. That being said, Mary certainly had some of that charm.

Lying was something that was second nature to her. Mary often wondered if this was hypocritical of her, but then remembered that most of their life was a giant hypocritical mess, and promptly got over her worries. So when she knocked the door, tears in her eyes claiming that got lost walking home, Of course they couldn't say no to her. They invited her in. Waking the whole mansion up to help her find her way back home, and to her fictional parents.

"So, what did you say your name was, " Asked on of the Kane's, Jacob, she believed his name was.

"Stella, " Mary answered. "I Just moved here from Manhattan. I'm sorry to disturb this late, it's just that it gets so dark here at night, nothing like New york. I needed some fresh air now I'm lost. They had given her a phone to call her parents. Of course she didn't, only calling the Manor's house phone which was of course no longer in service.

"Oh it's fine, Sweetie." The lady, Catherine, comforted her. Mary heard footsteps walking down the stairs, it was a face she actually knew, Bette.

"Uncle Jacob, What's going on? You guys woke Matty up." Mary looked down and noticed that a small child clung to Bette's leg. The former Titan was the same age as Tim and Stephanie, Mary had forgotten that. Mary felt a pang of hurt in her chest at thought. Tim and Steph would have surely had children by now. They both loved kids.

"Oh, Bette, This girl rang our door bell. She need help. She just moved to Gotham from Manhattan, and got lost on the way home. We're helping her out till her parents come for her." Jacob Kane answered.

Bette eyed Mary suspiciously, "This late at night?" she asked.

Mary sniffed, putting back on the crocodile tears, "I'm sorry, I just wanted to explore." She lied. Mary wondered if Bette were ever a titan in this universe. She was definitely over cautious enough.

"Oh," She paused. "Have I seen you somewhere before? You look awfully familiar."

Mary shook her head, "Maybe, I've been to a few Galas in Gotham before moving here. Have you ever been to any in Manhattan?" She asked already knowing they had. She looked familiar most likely because they had once or twice met Mari Anders-Grayson before her parents divorce, of course that was more than 10 years ago. They wouldn't even bring it up since the Wayne name being shamed.

"True." Catherine agreed, "I can hardly keep up with all the people I've meet."

"Still, Cathy," Jacob began. "She does favor someone, doesn't she? I think Bette was on to something. It's at the tip of my tongue."

Crap. Mary hadn't planned on this. If they remembered her, it could bring up a lot a questions she didn't have answers for.

"I got it!" Jacob snapped. Mary paled. She was done for. "Supergirl! You look just like a young Supergirl!"

...What?

Mary was beyond confused. Supergirl? She didn't look anything like the Supergirl. Unless...

Mary laughed awkwardly, "Oh yeah, I guess I do." It seemed everyone in the room knew what he was talking about except Mary, and she wasn't about to give herself up. If at all possible Bette was now studying Mary even more intently. Could it be possible that this universes Supergirl, and Mari Anders-Grayson were one in the same? She couldn't get answers here. Once Bruce got to her, he would have them.

Mary heard a small creak on the roof, she wasn't the only one who heard it, Bette was looking up at the ceiling. Before turning back to Mary.

"Thank you for helping me, Mr. and Mrs. Kane. I think my parents are here." Mary said.

"What?" Jacob asked, "I didn't hear-" As he said the word the doorbell rang behind him. "Oh maybe you did hear something."

Mary then began to fidget nervously, "My parents are probably really mad at me. Do you think you both can help calm them down a little. I didn't mean to go out this late honest." Catherine gave hr a sympathetic look.

"I'm sure we can do something. Come on, Jacob." beckoning her husband they both walked to the foyer, and out of sight of the kitchen. Mary made her way to the kitchen window opening it, and climbing onto the seal. Bette stared at her shocked. Mary shot a wink to her before jumping out of the window and landing safely, with roll, in the grass below.

It took Bette a minute to gain her composure, but she quickly snapped out of it, and shut and locked the window in a hurry, erasing any evidence of Mary being there at all.

"Stella?" Catherine called walking into the kitchen, "I'm sorry dear, but no one was at the door- Stella?" She asked as she took notice to the missing state of the child who had been in her kitchen not even two minutes before. "Bette, what happened to Stella?" She asked.

Bette shock her head, "I left the kitchen to go get Matty's pacifier. When I came back she was gone." Bette lied.

"Oh dear," Catherine paled, "Jacob, search the house! Stella'a gone!" She called running to her husband. Bette looked at the window and smirked. They of course would never find.

Mary sat patiently waiting in a tree, when the branch shifted under new weight.

"Hello, Bruce." She sang swinging her legs.

"That was some message you left me." He commented.

"Well, you don't own a cell phone anymore, do you?" Mary turned to him and he frowned. "Of course you don't. " She said with a sigh.

"We need to talk somewhere more private." He said gruffly.

"Okay," She hopped down from the tree, "Lead the way, Batman." She said, and he did. He ended up leading Mary back to Crime Alley, underneath the city in the maintenance section of the sewers. It was cleaned out and was made into a new Batbunker, one Superman would never find.

"Mar'i," he finally spoke. "How are you here?" He asked,

Mary sighed, "Obviously, I'm from a different reality, one where Superman is still Superman, and not Hitler with heat vision. As to how I came here, I honestly have no clue. One minute I'm in the cave talking to everyone next I'm gotham being chased down by Catwoman and Nightwing."

"That sounds about right," Batman muttered, "Notice a temporal flux earlier today. No matter what I'll figure out a way to bring you home, Mar'i." Bruce would always be Bruce no matter the universe, even when everyone else was different Bruce was the only true constant. It was the first comforting thing she found in this whole universe.

"Thanks, Bruce. But I've got to ask..." Mary started. "What went so wrong in this universe? Why is everything so wrong?"

Batman sighed and sat down, "It's a long story, Mar'i."

"Okay, then just answer the questions I've got because I've got to know what happened." Batman nodded, Mary took a deep breathe and continued, "Why did Superman turn evil?"

Batman didn't hesitate on the answer, "The loss of Lois and the baby changed him, scarred him. Some men can't handle loss as well as others." Mary understood his point. Superman lost everything, and cracked under the weight. An eight year old Bruce Wayne lost everything, as well, but as they say "Real gold fears no fire."

Mary looked Bruce directly in the eye, "I want an honest answer now. No hiding things because you don't think I can handle, and no leaving out facts. I want the truth and nothing but the truth, Bruce. I mean it." He stared at her back, Mary almost thought he already knew what she was going to ask. "How did my father die?"

Batman didn't say anything at first. A long pause hung stagnant across the room heavy on the mood, but finally he answered. "Damian and I were already having disagreements. I decided to ask Dick for help with him. Dick always handled Damian better then I ever could." Mary wasn't sure if she were hearing right. It almost sounded like jealously in Bruce's tone. Longing. "But Damian was 13. He was young, brash, and headstrong. More so then he's ever been. He started picking fights with Dick, too. They would spar and Damian would get so angry that he would lose perspective, and Dick would win. Damian would only get angrier at this and take cheap shots at Dick. Dick would catch them every time. That night at Arkham, I'm still not to clear about what was all said that made Damian so angry he took another cheap shot at Dick. Only this time Dick didn't catch it. That's how Damian killed Dick, and at once I lost two sons." Mary felt like one of the weights had been lifted off her shoulder. It was an accident, but one look at Bruce's face told her that he didn't take it that way. Mary decided to keep her opinion quiet lest start even more drama.

Mary nodded, "Okay last question, What happened to Mar'i Anders-Grayson?"

"I wondered when you were going to ask that." Batman said. "You know a lot more about this universe then I thought you would."

"The internet is a wonderful thing. I found the birth certificate for this universe version of me, but all record of her stops when she was 8 years old when Kori Anders and Richards Grayson's divorce is finalized. I assume Starfire took Mar'i back to Tamaran with her, right?" Mary asked.

"Good deduction, " Batman praised. "Yes, she did. she felt Mari's powers were better suited for Tamaran."

"All record of her stops, but I know for a fact she came back to Earth because of this." Mary pulls out the picture from her pocket and shows it to Bruce. "This is a picture of Mari Anders-Grayson at at least eighteen years of age. If she came back to Earth why is there no record of that?"

"Because Superman covered it up well." Batman answered. "Because Superman made the mistake of trusting her."

Mary stared at Batman suspiciously, "What are you talking about?"

"10 years after Mar'i left Earth she came back to find that everyone she loved here, except for me, were dead, and that Superman was at fault. By Tamaran laws, you wanted to put his head on a sword of kryptonite and march it through the streets for all to see, but it wasn't that simple. Superman was stronger than you, had more allies. So you came to me. I wasn't in for killing everyone in the Regime like you were. I was able to talk you down from that to making them serve their rightful time in prison. Still, you wanted a part in getting revenge. Apparently, you left your space ship floating around Mars away from Superman's watchful eyes, and flew down on your own. No one but me knew that you were on earth a full month before Superman found you crashed in the Nevada desert where we planted you on purpose. You were a mole. You were supposed to be on the inside, and help tear down Superman's reign. You were a good mole, my best one. Superman trusted you so much he gave you the title of Supergirl and let you wear his symbol on his chest. He thought of you like family. Then you tore all of that away from him when you reveled yourself. He was angry...You didn't survive, but you saved the lives of 2 thousand factory workers that day."

"I died..." Mary stuttered.

"You died saving lives, that's what you were trained for." Oddly those words did in fact comfort Mary, that was what she was trained for.

Mary took a shaky breath, "So why no records?"

"Superman didn't want record of his failure at noticing you were a mole. You were in deep cover for at least 2 years." Batman answered. "Are those all your questions?" mary nodded. "Good, now we can figure out a way-"

"Wait!" She cut him off, "Tell me you have a plan to take down Superman, right? Tell me you've got something up your sleeve."

Bruce remained silent.

"Bruce-Grandpa, Please tell me you aren't going to let all those lives lost go to waste. That we can beat Superman." Mary pleaded. She couldn't leave without knowing that Superman wouldn't be in power for long.

Batman gave her an even stare, "There is no 'we' in this equation. I'm going to find a way to get you back to your dimension."

"You can't be serious!" Mary said "After learning about everything happening here you expect me to leave and do nothing."

"I expect you to do as your told." He told her calmly. "Mar'i, This world isn't any of your concern. Though I understand your bleeding heart, you can't help. This universe must be saved by the people in this universe, or else nothing will change."

Mary gaining courage in her words looked Bruce in the eyes, "You know you're not always right, Bruce." She told him, "You can have help. All you need to do is ask. I can't leave without knowing that you at least have some semblance of an idea as how to save the world. If you've got a good plan. Then I'll go, no fighting. I swear."

Bruce's jaw clenched. He didn't like the idea of her staying longer, but fighting to bring her to safety was not something he had a lot of time for. "Fine."

Mary grinned, "So, gramps, Is this the part where we bounce ideas off of each other?"

---

Robin pretended to be scared when the door to the small, run-down, two-room apartment had been kicked down. Nightrix was a better actor then she looked and screamed accordingly along with their "mother". He stood by their father putting on a semi-brave face the best he could. In actuality, this wasn't the scariest thing Robin had ever done, and by the bored glint that only stayed for a few seconds in Nightrix's eye, it wasn't her's either.

Just like Antonio predicted, it was only soldiers who came to retrieve them. No higher ups.

"The thing is Robin, there are still people with in Red Queen's Regime who would recognize you..." Antonio said. He sounded unsure if he wanted to release that information.

"So, why bother sending him?" Nightrix asked, arms crossed. She didn't like the whole situation. It felt wrong to her. "Just send me. No one knows me in this universe."

Shiva shook her head, "They rarely accept children over 15. Only extremely mild mannered ones. If you can fake it that well, then maybe, but Robin is the best ticket in." She explained.

Antonio nodded, "Besides, you should only see soldiers. No one old enough to remember who Damian Wayne is."

Robin and Nightrix exchanged a glance, "What happened to the Damian Wayne in this universe?" she asked.

Lady Shiva, Cynthia Lance, looked up at Robin with sad eyes. "He died...Young."

"Your are in violation of Law Code M012; All minors are to join the army of our lady, The Red Queen, and must join the ranks at her Academy." The eldest one barked. It was a boy, no older than 17. "Take them." He ordered. With a fake scream, Nightrix let herself be grabbed and dragged to kneel in front of the one soldier giving orders. "How old are you?" He asked. There was no kindness in his voice, or eyes. There was no indication at all that the boy standing before Nightrix was her age at all. In fact, it seemed like he had never been a child at all.

"I asked How old are you!" He grabbed her by the hair and brought her face up to his. It seemed she didn't answer her question fast enough.

"17!" She cried out in pain. "I'm 17. Please, let me go! I'll do whatever you want!"

The soldier grinned a sadistic, toothy grin at her before throwing her to the others. "We'll take her. If she can't handle Class, she'll get signed." He walked up towards Robin who was now hiding behind his pretend father. "I won't hurt your family, if you come willingly."

Robin snorted, "Yeah, because you've made that so clear already." They never told him her had to be meek. He didn't even think he could fake being meek.

The soldier clenched his jaw, "A mouth on this one... Doesn't matter. We'll beat it out of him. How old are you boy?" He asked.

"13." Robin answered honestly.

"Perfect. The Red Queen finds favor in boys your age. She says they learn the best." He said. With a snap of his fingers. Robin was in the arms of two other child soldiers. "Let's go." He ordered. "But first..." He looked around. He stared evenly at the 'mother and father', "Lock the parents inside, and set fire to this building." With those orders the soldier walked out with Robin and Nightrix being dragged behind him. They stared wide eyes at the scene playing in front of them. This wasn't part of the plan. No one was supposed to get hurt.

Robin meet Nightrix's eyes, The insecurity playing back again in them. He shook his head at her. They needed to finish the job despite what they just saw.

"Okay, the security access is on the same level where Class takes place. That's where you'll be taking. They'll give you 15 minutes to shower and change. That's when you'll sneak in and take out the shield, letting the resistance into the lower levels. Then we can end the Reign of the Red Queen."

Robin stared at the holographic map presented to him. Wayne Tower's layout was changed since he had last seen it. A smart plan, but that only pegged one question. "How do you know all of this?" Robin asked Antonio. "It seems like there is no way a nobody would have this kind of information. So how do you have it? "

Antonio sighed. He should have seen this question coming. He pulled out the cigarette from his mouth and exhaled some smoke, "Because I used to be part of the Red Queen's Regime." He said. "I Escaped, but Isabella is still in there. I need to save her from being signed, from being killed."

---

"Alright, you have tons of contingency plans, Bruce." Mary said swinging her legs in the chair, "Which one is going to work?" She asked.

"I only have one left." Batman revealed. "Superman did a good job of making sure the others were destroyed. There's only one way to stop him now and it's unreachable."

Mary blinked at him confused. "What do you mean you can't?" She asked.

"After Vandal Savage took my contingency plans and turned them against us. I knew that they were too dangerous to be activated by only one person's decision alone." He explain.

Mary nodded understanding, "So, you left it up to the league. "

"Exactly, The founding members, " He clarified, "Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, and myself are required to unlock it from it's safe."

"Yeah," Mary agreed, "And last I checked, Wonder Woman can be found with Superman. The same can be said about the rest of them." Mary paused. It hurt her deeply the information she found out online. "I still can't believe that Hal Jordan turned Yellow Lantern. Once a month, he takes me to the movies... I named my cat after him...The Hal I knew would have never done something like this. "

"This isn't the world you knew." Batman told her, "It's barely the world I knew. Now we have to figure out a way to save it." Mary felt slightly better about the situation. Bruce was right, and Damian had been right earlier. She didn't know this world, or the people in it. They had been in completely different situation. They had fought in a war that probably would never happen in her world.

"So everyone's evil. How do we trick them into getting the kryptonite?"

"Even if we could, it wouldn't work. Green Arrow's dead. We would need him to get it." Mary frowned. She had forgotten that fact. This world was a disaster. She thought to herself, she almost wished...

"That's it!" Mary practically screamed.

"What?" Batman asked her.

"Your Justice League may be evil and missing a few members, but the one from my world isn't!" She told him.

Batman looked up at Mary, She saw a spark in his eye that she hadn't seen since she found him, He finally looked like himself. Two steps ahead. "Making that kind of technology won't be hard, but hiding it under Superman's nose will be."

"We can figure that out later." Mary bounced up and down in her seat. They had a plan. A plan to save this world. She would feel so much better about leaving it now. "Right now, let's figure out how to build a device that can travel dimensions. "

"I know a guy. We need to-" Bruce was cut of by a chime from the computer in the front of the room. Mary looked at him for an answer. "Trouble." he answered. He turned towards it and turned the large computer on. It was no bat computer, but it was no mere laptop either.

On it's screen, a video of what was currently happening not to far from their location. It was Catwoman being mercilessly attacked by what looked to be assassin's decked in red.

"Who are they?" Mary asked. She never seen anyone like these people. They were young, too. Almost too young to be taking her down this way.

"I don't know." Batman answered gruffly, "No would dare attack one of Superman Regime members."

Mary looked at Batman evenly, "You're insinuating that they might be from another dimension...It would make sense. Unless, someone finally decided to rebel." Mary said on a side note.

"Against, the Man of steel. No ordinary person is capable of that." He answered.

"Good thing we're not ordinary people. So, I ask again who are they?"

Batman watched as they kicked Catwoman in the face, "I don't know yet." He growled, "But I'm going to find out." Getting up from the chair, and with a dramatic flare of his cape Batman walked out leaving a a cheering Starling to follow behind.

Batman was officially back.

---

Once inside, That one teenage soldier lead them into a room where they meant another soldier. This one had to be about 19, maybe 20. She had her blonde hair done up in a no-nonsense bun, and her uniform was slightly different, adorned with medal indicating her higher rank. The thing that disturbed Robin about this girl was she was a dead ringer for Stephanie Brown. The Blonde hair, that nose, and face. Everything was the same, except the eyes. Stephanie's eyes were green, these were blue. She also lacked the merriment that were always accompanied in Brown's eyes. She lacked the sincerity, and the kindness.

"This will be your new living quarters till Class is no longer in sessions." She told them. "You will remain in Her Majesty's Forces until you are signed at age 21." Signed. Damian knew this was the word for when they killed the soldiers over 21. "There is no escaping. There is no disobeying orders, and there is no hiding anything from The Red Queen." She told them as she paced up and down. "Now, you will be given new names after you take showers, and receive your student uniforms. When Class is no longer in session, you will be given Doll uniform. Any funny business will be immediately known, and will result in sending you down into reeducation. I heard it's not a nice place." She told them seriously, "Now you have 15 minutes, then you will need to be in Class, or you'll won't be given any food tomorrow. Are we clear?" She asked. Yes, Damian knew she was far too serious to be Brown.

Both Nightrix and Robin nodded, "Good." She looked between the both of them, "Dismissed." She ordered. Getting there belongings both Robin and Nightrix headed for the showers. Luckily, no one else was present, though the room looked to hold about 30 people at a time.

Robin paused when they entered the bathroom, taking in his surroundings. The way the camera's were placed seemed familiar. It was a similar system Batman used for the security in the Watch Tower showers.

Nightrix turned to Robin, "What's wrong?" She asked. He didn't say anything to her, only walking up to the security camera and studying it more, "Ummm... Is everything okay?" She asked. He finally turned to her, and put his finger to his lips indicating for her to be silent as he turned on the shower. Finally he leaned in close to her and whispered in her ear.

"The camera in here is off, let's go. We don't have much time." Knowing it best not to argue, Nightrix nodded and followed Robin. He threw her the uniform of the Red Queen's students. It was mostly black, but with red accents opposite to the actual Doll outfits. Nightrix put it on understanding that they probably wouldn't have time to come back and through it on, not only that, but they needed to blend in.

Stepping out into the hallway, they followed the instructions given to them by Antonio Bertinelli. A right. A left. Another left, then the third door on the right.

"Now," Antonio started, "You'll have to be quick, and silent about it. Make sure you're not seen, or else I can't guarantee you'll be able to make it out with you're Batman. Do you understand?" he asked.

Robin snorted, "Please this is child's play. Let's go and get this over with." Beside him Nightrix shrugged. He wasn't wrong.

Now, this was the hard part about their mission taking down the people in the security room without being seen. Like Antonio had reported, the entrance to the room was in a security camera blind spot. So there should be no record of them at all being there giving them room to leave and search for Batman.

As soon as Robin picked the lock the job was done. Four people, Three girls and one guy, all trained, but caught by surprise. They never stood a chance and none of them had seen there attackers. Soon the traps underneath Wayne Tower, and the security was disabled, and Robin and Starling were waiting for the Captain to show back up to bring them to Class. From here on out they were on their own.

The class was filled with few others. The Red Queen made sure not to miss any children. In fact, the captain mentioned it being the biggest number that they've ever missed this month. It was smooth sailing from here, find out where they were probably holding Batman and get out, that meant sucking up to the right person. It should have been easy from here on out, but Murphy's law is always in effect.

There instructor stepped in finally, She had greying black hair, and a scar running down her cheek. She was an older Asian woman. Who was physically fit, and Robin noticed she had an assassin's stare in her eyes. Something you don't see in many people. It was the face that got Robin, still. She looked familiar, but at the same time he wasn't sure. Trusting his instincts he hung back, hiding behind Nightrix.

"What are you doing?" She hissed to him so quietly he even barely heard her.

"I think I know her." Robin replied at the same volume. Something was wrong, Antonio told them they wouldn't see anyone old enough to remember Damian Wayne while inside Wayne Tower... This had to be a fluke. Damian thought to himself. A change in the plans they couldn't account for.

"Everyone line up!" She called, and on cue everyone gathered in a straight horizontal line in front of her. Damian hoped he had been wrong. Because if he did know her, there was no doubt that she knew him.

Standing in the line Robin and Nightrix stood side by side, Robin succeeding in concealing his worry. The woman strut pat them gazing at each new recruit careful. She passed by Robin once, not noticing anything. He almost sighed in relief when she came back down the line. Now, she was studying them even more closely. She stopped, not at Robin, but at Nightrix.

"What's you're name girl?" The older woman asked.

"Victoria Jackson, Ma'am!" Nightrix replied back properly.

"And you boy?" She asked Robin.

"Benjamin Jackson." Robin replied with a clench of his jaw. From the way she was studying him Damian knew it was only a matter of time before she recognized him. Beside him Nightrix was tense ready to pounce if need be.

"Benjamin Jackson," Her lips curled into a feral grin as she repeated his alias. "You know If I hadn't known you, that might have worked. Sadly, not this time Damian Wayne- UGH!" As soon as she said his name Robin's hand jabbed itself into the woman's throat before running away with Nightrix tailing behind him.

"What are we going to do!" Nightrix screamed as they ran down the hall. Screams of "After them!" rang out behind them,

"Running seems like a good plan for now!" Robin shouted back, pushing and shoving people out of his way.

"And Batman?!" She asked.

"WE'RE IMPROVISING!"

"Get them!" Now the older woman was running after them. For someone well into their sixties, she was keeping up nicely. Apperently her training them wasn't for show after all.

It also seemed that with the woman's chasing of them, the Dolls( As Antonio had called them) tried specially hard to catch them now. With the more they ran into the harder it was becoming to outrun and out maneuver them.

About 100 meters ahead, A door caught Nightrix's eye. "Robin!" She called. "Stairs!"

"I see them!" Turning left and into the stairwell, Robin noted that this was the only thing that hadn't changed about Wayne Tower. Of course Robin noted, Changing stairs was difficult and improbable, but at least knowing where all the stairwells were would help them if only a little.

Instead of running down each set of steps Robin jumped down the gaps in-between flight, Slowing himself own using the rails and flinging his body down to the tenth floor. He had a plan, he just hoped he was right.

"What's on the tenth floor?" Nightrix asked.

"The stairwell got me thinking." Robin answered. "She changed the layout, but nothing that was too hard to move."

"Like the stairwells." Nightrix said catching on.

"Exactly, On the 10th floor is a restroom. In that restroom should be a vent large enough for us to move around. Those vents connect throughout the whole building."

Nightrix nodded, "I get it. A place to hide catch our breath, that also gives us easy access to everywhere in the building. That's brilliant." They ran into the restroom. Just like Robin said, the vent was just exactly where it would be in his universe. Nightrix carefully and quickly unscrewed, before climbing in before Robin. They closed it. Finally safe, but they had to keep moving.

"If we take a left here, there should be a panel, that can connect me to the computers here." Robin mentioned.

"But won't that tell them where we are? We don't need them climbing in here after us."

"We need to find out where exactly they keep prisoners. You're brother is probably there. Once we find that out we need to book it for the exit. I just need an updated map of this place." Nightrix nodded. That plan had flaws, but as far as coming up with a better one... It wasn't happening. "Here it is!" Robin said as he came across the panel. Opening it up revealed a screen, where Robin began to hack into giving a map of the building. Updated and all. "There." Robin pointed to the top of the map. "The Top floor is where prisoners are located."

"The Top floor?"

"The most protection. They obviously don't want whoever's in there getting out. Getting there with this much security on high alert is not going to be easy." Robin mused.

Nightrix almost agreed until, "Wait! Antonio, Lady Shiva, and The resistance the attack should be happening at any moment now. In the confusion we can make our way up, and out with Batman."

"Good plan." Robin agreed. "Now let's place ourselves the closest place to the stairwell- !" Gas suddenly began to flood into the vent.

"What!"

"DON'T BREATH!" Robin shouted, but it was already to late. His vision began to blur as he heard a smooth voice talk on a loudspeaker.

"Come now, Damian. You didn't think it would be that easy, did you?" There was no mistaking it. Damian thought just before he lost consciousness beside Nightrix. He had just spoken to the Red Queen.

Robin woke up alone, and in an unfamiliar room. He knew he wasn't with Nightrix anymore, that was clear. Oddly enough, he wasn't bound. He was just laying down in the bed of a nice room. Looking out the window, it was clear that he was now on one of the lower levels of Wayne Tower. He needed to get out of here and find Nightrix, complete the missions and get the hell out of this universe.

"Oh you're awake." A voice called. Robin turned around to see a woman walking towards him. Her hair was black, and she looked to be in her early sixties. Her clothing wasn't militaristic at all, just a simple matching red pants suit. She had a different air about her then the others did. "I was beginning to think that Lian was too harsh on you." She said kindly. "Making you run all over the Dollhouse was just cruel of her. There was no way you could have escaped."

Lian... Damian thought. That woman general was Lian. Now that he thought about it he could see the resemblance. She was older, but that was definitely Lian. Hadn't Cynthia Lance mentioned something like that? That she and others joined the Red Queen. That mean others he knew could possibly be in it as well.

"Where's Nightrix!?" Robin barked.

The woman winced. "I really wish you would relax. You are safe, as is she."

Robin growled, "That doesn't answer my question."

"Fine. She's on the top floor in our holding areas. I'd like to see you get through all of my dolls to get to her. We're on the 4 floor, and every floor there are more than 30 dolls. You can do the math, can't you Damian?" Realizing she was right Damian calmed down slightly. He needed a plan and fast. He needed to buy some time.

"Why am I here?" He asked.

"Cause I wanted it to be so." She told him simply.

"And you get everything you want?" He narrowed his eyes at the woman.

"I usually do."

Robin snorted, "If you get everything you want, then what about the Red Queen, both of you can't be in charge?" At this she began fighting a grin. "What, Old lady?"

"You must be confused, dear Damian." She told him "I am the Red Queen."

Robin stared at her blankly, "You're not the Red Queen. I know the Red Queen, she may have been nine years old last I saw of her, but I do now she's not you. Firstly, The Red Queen is petite. You're tall for a woman. She was a frail, little thing. You I can see are almost to fit for your age. And lastly, The Red Queen is a natural blonde. Unless you died your eyebrows without dying the grey strands in your hair. You're not Alicia Royal, the Red Queen."

She nodded at his word, "You are both correct and dead wrong, Damian Wayne. I am not Alicia Royal, but I am the Red Queen." She smiled at him. Damian paused he knew that smile. "I killed her and a lot of people to get to where I am today. I am a better queen than Alicia could have ever been." That smile haunted him, it was a smile he saw everyday. It was the smile that asked him for help on english homework, and the smile that laughed while diving off a tall building only to swing to safety.

Robin took a step back, "Mary?" He had to be wrong. He hoped he was wrong.

She gave him the sweet smile he saw everyday before patrols, "What, Damian, not going to call me Small Grayson?"

---

Starling felt slightly naked without her cape and skirt. Sadly, she had abandoned them back at Damian's apartment. Now she looked like a small Nightwing clone, and in this universe she really didn't want that. Still Domino Mask in place, Today Starling had to save a Catwoman from an unknown threat she didn't know.

Still It had to be done.

Starling was amazed. While she was used to working with her Batman. This one hadn't worked with anyone, let alone her, in years. Still the team work was as fluid as ever. Batman threw down multiple smoke pellets in the area containing Catwoman and her attacker. Without a word, Starling dropped down to Catwoman's side.

"Selina, It's me, Mary. We need to get you out of here." Starling told the barely conscious woman.

Catwoman groaned, "Mary? Nightwing and I..." She groaned again. "Went looking for you...Have to send you home." Starling grabbed a hold of Selina.

"I've got you, Let's get you to safety." Firing her grappling hook. Starling was almost in the air when a gust of wind suddenly blew away the smoke. Except there was no way the wind was that strong today.

"Please, Bruce, Did you really think that was going to work? Get some new tricks, Old Dog." Catwoman's attacker spoke. She pulled the goggles of her head. Across the lot Starling's gaze meet Batman's. They both had the same thought. A speedster. Now knowing that they were dealing with a meta Mary pushed the button on her grapple to get Catwoman to safety. Only to find her line had been cut.

"Sorry," Starling looked up remembering that the Speedster woman had not come alone. "but you're not going anywhere." Starling barely had time to duck as a meteor hammer was thrown her way. She needed to get away quick. Selena needed a hospital, and she couldn't focus on the assassin and on Selena. To Starling's relief she didn't have to. From the top of one the building came Damian Wayne Decked out in his Nightwing gear to help her fight.

"Get Catwoman and go." He ordered her not even looking back at her only staring at the assassin.

"But, Dam-"

"Go!" She didn't need to be told twice. Firing yet another grapple, and holding Catwoman tight Mary was soon on the roof of a building. Sadly, The hospital was far, and as Starling looked down at the streets below. The number of assassins plus the speedster was 12. Batman and Nightwing needed her help. This could get Bruce caught by the regime, but he'd figure something out. Pulling off Catwoman's cowl, Starling removed the comm link from her ear.

"Watchtower, Come in Watchtower." She spoke into it hoping thy would answer even though it wasn't Selena's voice coming through.

"Who is this?" A familiar voice demanded. Starling recognized it as Cyborgs. "This channel is for High Chancellor's Regime use only. I don't know how you got on-"

"Victor! " She said knowing he would pause at his name, "No time. Catwoman's been injured. She needs transport to the Watchtower, now!" Starling ordered. "I'm putting the comm back in her ear, transport her in there seconds." Starling didn't even give him a chance to speak as she ripped the ear piece from her and put it back into Catwoman's. Two seconds later, Selena disappeared from sight. He took her word for it. Thank god, Now Starling had to help Batman and Nightwing with the problem at hand.

Starling sprinted to the edge of the building, diving off it. She loved this part, the flying. Catching herself on the flagpole below and swinging herself off it. Starling landed perfectly in front of Batman and Nightwing.

"What happened to Catwoman?" Batman asked.

"I had to pick the lesser of evils at the moment. Hospitals too far away, and there was no way I could leave you guys with out helping. I called the Regime."

Batman nodded understanding what that implicated, "So, how long before Superman shows up and tries to kill me?"

" About 15 minutes." Nightwing answered. He spared Batman a glance, "I suggest you be gone by that time." Tension between them was still high.

"So three of us against eleven highly trained assassins and one Meta-human." Starling shrugged. "The odds have been worse." Bending down quickly Starling removed two daggers from the sides of her boots, and threw them at lighting speed, hitting her two assassin's in the soldiers. "Two down! Let's go." And the fight began. Starling mourned the loss of her Daggers, but knew if she pulled them out that the assassins would bleed out. Shame. Her version of Damian had gotten her them last christmas. He would have to replace them. Starling punched a assassin in the face and ducked as Batman hit them with the taser. She maneuvered out the way of Nightwing throwing another one of his shoulder while successfully kicking another in the face with a back hand spring. So far, they were doing pretty well until, the fighting for Starling stopped and she soon found herself outside of the fight and in the arms of the speedster.

"Everyone stop!" She called. Everyone froze including Nightwing and Batman. "I'll snap the little bitch's neck, if you so much as move." She threatened. With her speed, Starling didn't doubt she could do it. "Now, I didn't come here to fight." Starling snorted, and the speedster tightened her grip causing Starling to wince. "I repeat, I didn't come here to fight. I want information that you all have."

"So you beat Catwoman to a bloody pulp?" Batman asked raised eyebrows. "I don't think whatever you're asking is legal."

"Listen," She paused. "Let me make something clear. Baby girl here dies, if I don't get the answers I need." Nightwing and Batman looked towards one another. They didn't have the chance to beat her, not with her speed. They relaxed their weapons. "Good. Now, where is Damian Wayne?" She asked. Starling hissed in a breath. They were after Damian, but why?

Clenching his jaw, Nightwing stepped forward removing his mask. "I'm Damian Wayne." Starling gapped at Damian. Why was he willing to give himself up for her. No. This couldn't be right. This world's Damian was different. He couldn't possibly still care. Not after everything he's done.

"Shit, " The speedster cursed. "He's too old. All this time wasted." Pulling out a strange device from her belt the speedster pressed a button that fired a weird image that looked like a portal. "I must report my findings to the Red Queen." She walked into the portal, leaving behind the assassins that were too injured to follow. Starling stared after them. The Red Queen. In some universe the Red Queen was in charge, she couldn't even imagine a world like that. Her thoughts were cut short with a hard shove to her back sending her into the portal in front of her.

"This is your one chance home, Mary!" While Falling Mary twisted to see who had pushed. Damian. The man who killed her father. The Man who committed so many evil deeds in this world was still trying to send her home, but she couldn't go home yet. She had to help Bruce there. She had to stop Superman's tyranny. She had to save Damian.

"No!" But it was too late. Soon the portal closed behind her and Mary found herself on the ground. She tried to get up but a foot stepped on her head stopping her.

"So you followed us, eh? That's Fine." Mary struggled beneath her leg. The Speedster kicked her towards the Assassin's Take her to the holding area. She can stay up there with the others . The Red Queen will deal with her later." Mary gulped. Alicia Royal... She couldn't not yet. This world. She looked around and noticed everyone, all young people ranging in age from 5 to their early 20's wearing the symbol of The Red Queen. This is what was going to happen to their world should they be unable to stop Alicia Royal. Mary frowned as she was dragged all the way to the top floor of the building. taking in her surroundings and slowly memorizing how to get back down and out of here. She only had one mission now. Get home. The device that Meta had was the answer to all of her problems. Final, the stopped and Harshly threw Mary unto a giant cell then closed the door locking it. Leaving without one word. Mary moved to the bars to try to bust out when a voice stopped her.

"I wouldn't if I were you. " A girl about 17 in age walked up. She had on the Red Regime's uniform. Great, Mary thought, She had to deal with two Regimes in one day. "The bars are electrified.

Starling looked the girl up and down, "Thanks for the tip." She wasn't sure if she could trust the girl. It was a nice tip not that it mattered. Her whole suit was insulated, and could produce an electrical charge if need be. She doubted she would even feel the bars shock.

The girl walked back further into the cell, "So what'cha in for?" She asked.

"Running in the halls." Starling answered sarcastically. "Can you tell me anything important? Like how to get out of here?" Starling asked.

"Sorry, no help here. Name's Nightrix."

"Starling." She responded. Nightrix, Starling knew it had to be some kind of an alias. She didn't ask, after all it would be hypocritical of her.

Nightrix gapped at her, "You're Starling?" She asked. Starling nodded. "That can't be right. You can't be here. You were supposed to be in another dimension." NIghtrix rambled on.

"Whoa, Pause." Starling cut her off, "I was till this red clad Meta started came. I followed her here. It was the only way to get back back home."

Nightrix nodded as if she understood Starling's situation. "You're the dimension displaced Starling." She said. Starling turned to her surprised.

"How could you have known that?" She asked. Nightrix sighed and sat down next to what looked like an injured man, with a... Batsuit on? "How?"

"This is going to sound crazy, but I'm here with the Robin. You're Robin. He was with me trying to rescue my version of Batman, but we got captured and separated. I don't know where he is now."

Starling faced palmed, "Knowing Robin if he hasn't gotten out yet. He most likely can't. We're going to have to rescue him."

"And what about Batman? Our mission was to come here and get him, and get back to my universe. " Starling knelt down next to the injured Batman. He was younger than Bruce. Late 20's maybe early 30's He was slightly leaner than him too.

"You guys need to go." He suddenly said causing Starling to jump.

"Holy cow! Totally didn't know you were conscious. " She said moving closer to him. "Can you tell me what's wrong?"

He coughed, "A few Broken ribs, Broken collarbone, A couple of stab wounds. Those wouldn't be as much of a problem if it weren't the broken ankle I could help you two out." Starling nodded.

"We'll have to come back for you then." She told him seriously.

"Hold up! I just got Batman back. I'm not going to abandon him again!" Nightrix protested. Starling opened her mouth to retort, but Batman beat her to it.

"Victoria, Go." He told her seriously, "That's an order."

The teen turned to Batman, "We're not partners anymore, Christian. You can't tell me what to do."

At this statement Batman sat up, with not even so much as a groan, and looked Nightrix straight in the eye, "You're right. You may not be Robin anymore, but I'm still your older brother, meaning I can tell you what to do. I suggest you get your ass moving. The faster you get Robin and the TDT the faster we can get the hell out of here."

Nightrix looked as if she she still didn't agree, but bit the inside of her cheek, and nodded.

Starling looked back and forth between the siblings. Seemed like the drama was now over she had to think of a plan to get out of here. She looked back at at the bars.

"You said the bars were electrified, right?" Starling asked. Nightrix nodded.

"Yeah, made the mistake of touching them when I got thrown in here." Starling walked over to bars studying them even more intently.

"There electrified internally, meaning these weren't made last minute to hold people. These were designed to hold people, specifically baseline humans. I'm guessing not that many Metas in this world, well aside from that one I meet earlier. I'm also going to take an educated guess that the bars are electrified using the main power."

"So..." Nightrix said.

"So, " Starling continued on. "My suit is insulated with enough of a charge to black out the building. It will fry off the electrical stuff in my suit, but I can get it fixed later. Back up generators will be online in at least 30 minutes."

"This used to be Wayne Tower." Nightrix supplied.

"15 minutes, if were lucky." Starling changed her mind. "15 minutes to get Robin, and get back up here. Am I missing anything?" She asked.

Nightrix nodded, "The TDT. It's the device used to travel through universes. Mine got taken when we got captured. To get home we need it back."

"Well, that explains how I got here." Starling realized. " It was weird they were looking for a Damian in the universe I got stuck in, but they said he was too old... OH GOD! Damian is in real trouble! Are you ready?" Nightrix nodded. Starling grabbed a hold of the bars, "This may get a little shocking."

---

Damian needed a plan, good thing one forced it's way to him when the lights suddenly shut down. Quickly, he flipped the table they were sitting at the older Mary's face and made a break for the door. As soon as he touched the door a knife found it's place through his plan.

"Shit!" He screamed in pain, "What the hell!?"

The Red Queen only laughed manically, "I don't know where you think you're going, Damian." She told him walking up to him calmly. She didn't even seem anger at his attempted escape. before she could get close enough. Damian pulled the knife from his hand and threw it at her. Of course, She dodged. He knew she would. He knew because his own version of Mary would do the same thing. Opening the door before she had the chance to stop him, and ran off. He needed to get to Nightrix who was now probably in the prisoner holding area with her brother. Two birds one stone now, at least he thought to himself. That when a thought struck Damian.

What the hell happened to the coup d'etat?

Cursing to himself Damian turned to try and find the stairs. Finally locating them he began to run in that direction only to trip and fall flat on his face. Knowing there wasn't a chance of that happening on his own Damian turned around to see a black tie firmly against his ankle, and at the end of the rope. Mary Grayson, The Red Queen.

"I find it funny that you believe you can get away from me." She spoke, pulling on the line dragging him back towards her. "Please be reasonable, Damian. I'm your partner. I know all of your moves."

Damian glared at the older doppelgänger in front of him, "You are not my partner."

She sighed, "I don't wish to hurt you."

"Then let me go."

"Not an option." She retorted. "I've waited years to be reunited with you. I can't let you go yet." Damian looked up at her.

"What are you talking about?" He asked. It didn't make sense, till Damian Remembered shiva's l words. "I died. In this universe, I died." His revelation stopped The Red Queen from pulling him towards her.

She nodded her head in agreement, "Yes."

Damian taking her moment of weakness to his advantage, pulled the line on his ankle letting it slip through her then weakened hold, untying it and running off up the stairwell. The power was off, but for Damian that was no problem. If everything was still the same the power would turn back on in about 8 minutes with the back up generators. Which pegged the question, who turned off the power. It couldn't have been the resistance. They didn't have the tech for it, and if they could have done it why did they need his help in the first place. The top floor, he thought to himself. The Top floor is where Nightrix and her Batman were being held. If he could get to them, find the TDT first. They'd be on their way back to safer territory. Something about this whole place didn't feel right to him when he got there and now he knew. Someone whom he thought didn't have a bad bone in their body was an evil dictator in this world. He had inkling that it was his fault, as well.

Dead. Well, it was bound to happen in one world. In others there was a high chance he probably was never even born, yet for some reason Damian believed he could have handled that news better in any other world. Most likely because his death in that world would lead to rule of the worst dictator, ruler known to man that uses child soldiers for their army. He had to hand to this version of Mary. She was cold, calculating, and cunning. Things he knew she was, but not to this extent. She had always been to empathetic. She always wore her heart on her sleeve, unlike the rest of them. Damian knew that out of all of them he'd sooner believe himself, his father and Grayson would sooner go to the dark side then Mary. So what would do this to her? Damian knew the answer, death. Death was the one thing since the beginning that made Mary shut down. She had a fear of hit since seeing her uncle murdered before her eyes at the age of 8. She never quite got over that fear, and with their line of work, she was going to have to get over it. Death was Mary's greatest fear. So put someone close to her dying again, and it was bound to have mental repercussions on her. No one would have guessed to such a scale though.

Damian kept running up the stairs. He needed to find that woman, the Lian Harper of this world. She would know where-! Damian's thoughts were cut short by being knocked into the ground by something. From the groaning her heard not just something, someone.

"Ouch, That hurt- Woah, Robin?!" Damian looked up at his name being called. It was thankfully Nightrix.

"You escaped!" He said relived. He thought escaping something Mary thought of would be difficult to get out of.

"Yeah, I had help actually-"

"Nightrix, I can't find the- DAMIAN!" He knew that voice so well that he didn't even have to look up to see who it was, or brace himself as she threw herself into his arms. "Holy crap, Damian! It really is you! I found Nightrix, and she told me she was with you, and we escaped that prisoner. Her brother's up there, and I'm soo glad to see you! Tonight's been terrible. I thought-"

"Mary!" If he didn't stop her, she'd be going on forever. "How did you get here?" He asked rightfully confused. She opened her mouth, but Damian stopped her, "Never mind. It's probably a long story and we don't have time. " Starling closed her mouth and nodded. He was right they didn't have time for this. Starling stood up brushed off her uniform and lent a helping hand to Damian to pull him up.

"Do either of you know where the TDT went?" Robin asked.

Both shook their head, but it was Nightrix who answered. "They took it off of me when we got captured." Damian nodded that's what he thought. Meaning there next stop was that their next stop was that general woman who had recognized him. Most likely on the 15th floor with still with the new trainees. She would know where the TDT went.

"Back to the 15th floor then," Damian said.

"Okay, I get that securities there, but what else?" Nightrix asked.

"Someone's who's going to tell us where the TDT is. Also that security room should answer some questions I have." He told them climbing the stair. In 5 minutes the power would return, meaning that the Red Queen will have even more in her favor to get to them. They had to work fast. Something still bothered Robin though. The Coup never happened. Why? He didn't know, but he was going to find out.

They had just gotten to the security room and cleared it when the lights had come back on and thus the power.

"Mary, do you think that you can find the security feed for the past 2 hours for the tunnels under Wayne Tower?" He asked Mary sat in the desk chair and gave it a little spin before turning back to the monitors.

"Consider it done." She told him lightly. She seemed just happy to be in the presence of someone she knew that she didn't particularly care if he was being bossy at the moment. Normally she's let him have it for ordering her around.

"Thank you." he told her. The thanks made Starling pause and look at him. He'd never thanked her for something mundane like hacking before. Something must have happened, she concluded, and went back to her work.

Meanwhile, Robin looked at the rest of the monitors. Just like he planned Lian Harper was still in the training room teaching the rest of the trainees. She, with her highly decorated uniform, would know where the TDT would be.

"There", Robin pointed at the monitor to the woman. Nightrix leaned foreword.

"That's the training lady. You think she knows where the TDT?" She asked.

"With her status, I would bet on it." Robin said. Starling moved her swivel chair to she, as well.

"I know that face." She turned to Damian. "You know I never forget a face. I know her. She's older, but I know her." Starling assured.

"I got that feeling, too" Damian agreed. "It;s this place's version of Lian Harper"

"It's Lian!" Starling paled at the notion. Now, that Starling had said it, Robin could see. On the screen was none other then Lian Harper. "It's Lian Harper, but Why would Lian be working with Alicia Royal? It doesn't make sense."

Robin bit his lip. "I wouldn't know." He lied. "So, you have that footage I asked for?" He changed the subject quickly. A feature noticed upon by both Starling and Nightrix, though both just went with it.

"Yeah, it's here..." Starling wheeled back towards the other monitor and played the footage. In it, Robin recognized the Rebellion forces. Robin also recognized them being slaughtered by The Red Queen's forces, all most as if they had been waiting for them.

"Oh Shit." Nightrix cursed, "And the trouble we went through just to get them here."

Starling frowned, "The Red Queen's forces were too well prepared. Something smells rotten."

"My sentiments exactly," Robin agreed. "Mary play the footage again." Replaying it, Robin noticed something very peculiar. "Nightrix do you see Antonio anywhere in that footage." Nightrix eyes scanned the video then turned up in a glare.

"That turncoat, double crossing ass-wipe! He planned this!"

"And we fell for it." Damian agreed. "We don't have time for revenge. We get the TDT. WE get Batman. We get the fuck out of here." Damian said. "General Harper should know exactly-"

"Damian." A voice sang coming from one of the screens. " I Know you're in the security. Just like I know you can see this right now." She told him. He froze. He didn't want Starling seeing her, at least not like this.

"Is that.." Of course, Mary would figure it in less than half of the time he did. She had always been better at that him. She was right, she never forgot a face especially her own.

"Alright, Damian. I admit You bested me back there and got away, but let's stop this game because I have what you want." In front of the camera she waved what they needed to get back home. The TDT. "I know you and your little friends escaped the holding area, as well. Listen. I'm going to cut you a deal because despite what you may believe. I'm still the Mary you know." Beside him Starling gave him a frightened, confused look. "I'll send all your little friends back where they belong. The only thing I wanted from this whole thing was you. If you stay, I'll let them go. I have no desire to even harm them, nor you. Come quietly, the one you came here for is already down here." The camera flashed to the injured Batman being held up by The Red Queen's Dolls. "Now, I'm sending a friend to come escort you all down here. So, no funny business." As if he heard her words the door opened revealing Antonio in the Doll uniform.

"Bertinelli," Robin growled. "What happened to the resistance?"

"Did you really think that the Red Queen would let any faction of Resistance live with in her City?" Antonio answered back with raised eyebrows. Robin didn't say anything only glaring. "That's what I thought. I only do my job." Nightrix snorted sarcastically.

Starling looked between them confused, "I don't know what's going on, but whatever." Walking out the room leaving the glaring contest behind her. Robin finally broke it off following after Starling.

"Bertinelli, Huh? You're a disgrace to that name." Nightrix sneered before leaving.

To Starling's dismay, the elevator ride was silent, and awkward. She still had no idea what was going on, though from how silently livid Robin looked, she guessed it was something serious. They entered the Red Queen's office. She was sitting calmly at her desk her child soldiers armed to the teeth around her. At least 10 highly trained killers stopping them from just grabbing the TDT and escaping. They had to think of a plan quickly, because they knew there was no way they could leave Damian.

"Hello, Damian." The Red Queen greeted with a smile. Her eyes found Starling, "Mary." She said with some loathing. "So how does your future look, Mary." She spoke standing from her desk. The soldiers dropped Nightrix's Batman. She ran to him, standing him up and supporting his weight.

Starling took a step back, "This isn't my future." She said with confidence. It wouldn't be she wouldn't let it.

"But." The Red Queen mused, "But it easily could be, and that's enough to scare you. One day, in your world, something could go wrong, and this is how you'll end up. You'll have to live with that fear. Tread lightly, Mary Grayson, because like it or not, I could be you."

Robin stepped in front of Starling blocking her from The Red Queen, "That's enough." He growled. He didn't like the way The Red Queen spoke to Starling, the way she spoke to herself. She seemed more hostile to the girl.

The Red Queen Laughed maniacally, "Oh Damian, always my protector. Seeing you as you are. You're younger than my Damian was, but still the same mostly. That ego, that glare, those will probably never change about you."

"What do you know about me? " Robin spat.

"So much and that's why I want you here. You're the only person I could give this world to, the only person smart enough to take over my empire. Gotham is my mine. The rest of the world doesn't dare send their heroes to confront me and my army. And in my old age, I need a successor. Who better than the heir of the demon himself?" She told them.

"But that's a problem for you isn't?" Robin interceded. "The Damian Wayne of this world died a long time ago, right? That's why you did this. Took over because I die in your world."

"You shouldn't have died!" The Red Queen yelled turning to him. "You think you're so smart, figuring that out. You're death only gave me the push I needed to do what was right. You can't let these idiotic humans run themselves. They only know death and suffering. You humans have caused more wars with each other than any other alien race."

"You're evil." Starling stared at her other self with wide eyes.

"Evil is a relative term. Yes, to your eyes I am evil, but I had to become this to stop the war. Heroes, Meta and non killing each other left and right. If I didn't step in. If i didn't save the world with my army, you find so evil. That war would still be going on. So, I will kindly accept your label as "evil'" what else was I supposed to become?"

"Anything!" Starling shouted. Moving from behind Robin she stepped towards the Red was never one to cower behind anybody "You could have done anything. Our father and mother taught us to use our talents to help others. Not take over, and rule. We are no ones god. We can not condemn and rule them. Who are you to rule over them? It's not your place." Before Starling could continue the Red Queen's arm reached out grabbing Starling by the throughout and dangling her off the ground.

"I hate you." She spat. "Everything that you stand for, the life that should have been mine. You of all people can't judge my actions. You are me. " She threw Starling to the ground harshly, "I've changed my mind." the Red Queen spoke. She pulled a gun out of her jacket and aimed it Starling. She unlocked the safety. "Damian, You stay, and the rest of your friends are free to go, except this little mouthy Bitch!" She said uncharacteristically loud. "She dies. Just like I should have so long ago!"

It all happened to quickly for anyone to really see. One second the Red Queen is pulling the trigger on the gun. Robin screams and run towards her to stop her. Nightrix struggles to support her brother, and help Robin and Starling with guns pointed at them. Oddly enough, Starling doesn't scream. She does not accept her fate, because she knows she wasn't going to die today. She only glares at what this universe version of herself has become. Then a gun shot his heard. Starling never looked away. She never blinked because she wasn't afraid, and what she saw was her death. The Red Queen had missed her shot, and blood began to stain her clothes. In the window, and hole the size of a high-caliber bullet, capable of going through the glass. Mary Grayson had been shot, but it was not Starling that was dying today. The Red Queen falls to the ground clutching her torso.

"What?" She ask confused as she finally lays down, blood pooling on the white tiled floors.

The soldiers reactions were instantaneous. They pointed there guns at the four heroes as if they were the culprits to the Red Queen's assassination. They were more than ready to take their lives for only being in the room.

"Stand down." Commanded Antonio stepping forward, pulling out a cigarette. He walked towards the fallen red Queen and stood over her.

"but, My Lord." said one of the soldiers.

Antonio shot them a glare, "I won't ask again." On the floor he knelt not caring about the blood around him.

"Tony?" She asked confused. "You- Why?" She asked tears beginning to fall.

"I'm sorry, Aunt Mary, but it had to be done." He spoke before standing up, and blew out some smoke from his cigarette. "You can come out now, Shiva. Mission complete." The door opened, and in stepped the greying Lady Shiva.

"Sin? This was you." The red Queen hissed from the ground. "You've betrayed me twice now."

"Yes, and I would do it more for all the times you've made me betray myself." Lady Shiva answered simply.

"It wasn't supposed to turn out like this." In her voice. Robin heard something he hadn't heard since he meet the Red Queen. The part of her that sounded like the Mary he knew. The insecurity, the pain that life had dealt on her, and the remorse. The life. The whole Robin felt like it was a puppet of Mary's image and not actually herself until this moment. In this moment he realized that the older woman on the ground and the young girl just across from her were the same person. The Red Queen used the last bit her her strength turned her head towards Robin. There was a glimmer of something in her eyes that Robin couldn't identity before the life faded from them. The Red Queen had died.

"I'm terribly sorry for all of that." Antonio apologized breaking the silence, and cutting through the heavy atmosphere.

"I'll say." Nightrix said. "What the hell is going on? We deserve an explanation!"

Robin turned to Antonio, "I can tell you what's going on. He used us. Not once, but twice. So the tapes we saw of the resistance getting slaughtered underground."

"They went down there knowing it was a suicide mission. There was no chance of any of them coming out alive. It was a necessary loss." Antonio told them unfazed with the fact that more than 100 people died down there. "The Red Queen needed to be dealt with. Their sacrifice was needed and will always be remembered. "

"Why didn't you go down there and die then." Robin told him. Antonio didn't respond to the teenaged boy's words only turning to the soldiers in the room.

"I want every Doll aware of the fact that I am in charge now. Also find Generals Scarlet, Harper, and West. I want them arrested. " He told them. They nodded, and in unison left the room with a "Yes, Sir."

"Thank you for your help." Lady Shiva told them. "Without you, we couldn't have ended the Red Queen's reign."

"Yeah, well, I'm not to keen on being apart of an assassination." Nightrix said sardonically "Keep your thanks to yourself." To her right Robin nodded.

"I was her most trusted Doll, and she never even dropped her guard around me. So yes, I believe thanks are in order." Antonio stated. "She instantly came out into the open when she heard you were here, Robin."

Robin frowned, "Like she said, Don't mention it."

"What will you do know?" Starling asked. With the Red Queen now died what happens to Gotham.

Antonio shrugged. "As far as who takes her place, The Red Queen named me her successor. Though she never really wanted me to be that. I'll take over until we can get the city integrated back with the rest of the world. She cut us off, built walls twenty years ago to keep her people in. From there I don't know what will happen, but anything is better than rule under the Red Queen." Antonio walked over to the desk, took the TDT and threw it to Robin, "But I know you all are going home."

Robin didn't bother to thank him. He only took the TDT to Starling, and offered to take a hold of her brother in her stead. She kindly accepted the offer. As Starling moved to join them. They didn't say anything as all of them went into the portal and disappeared from Antonio's sight. He removed the cigarette from his mouth and blew out smoke. He knew that this universe had a long way to go before it could go back to what it was.

When Starling blinked again they were in a futuristic version of the Batcave. It was more of a hub of Gotham heroes now. She stared in awe, hoping that maybe this is what her future could look like and not the one she just witnesses.

"I Need A Medic!" Nightrix screamed, and suddenly a stretcher with a some masked heroes cam running took Batman from Robin's grasp, and took him away to treat his wounds.

"Rookie!" A young voice shouted. Flipping down some stairs was the same little boy Robin had come across in this universe before. This universe's Robin.

"Robin, Code names in the cave only." She reprimanded with a sigh. Again.

"Sorry, Nightrix." He amended. "We were worried about you. The Commander wouldn't stop pacing and everything. Did you get back Batman? "

Nightrix nodded, " I did. Did you guys finish up things on this end?" The boy nodded.

"There finding the last one right now, we've decided to send them all home at once. You guys can follow me up to the lab." He said before, like a child running up the stairs. Starling giggled, The boy was younger than her.

"Sorry about him." Nightrix apologized again, and began climbing up the stairs. Starling and Robin followed close behind.

"You okay?" Starling asked Robin.

He snorted, "After all the things I've seen today. No, but I will be."

"Couldn't agree more." Starling said with a sigh. They finally reached the top of the steps where the rest of their universe Batfamily was waiting.

"Starling!" Nightwing shouted and ran up to her. "Thank god! They said they were having trouble locating you." He told her "How did you end up with, Robin?"

Starling and Robin sighed at the same time, "Its a long story," She said. "Are we all set to go?" She asked. All Starling really wanted right now was to be back in her own universe.

"Almost, We only now started looking for Oracle." NIghtwing admitted with an embarrassed blush. Starling blinked at her father confused.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, we forgot she was in the cave, too." He told them. Robin and Starling stared blankly at nightwing.

Robin snorted holding back a laugh, "What?"

"You forgot Oracle!" Starling shouted horrified. "How?"

Nightwing pointed at Batman, their batman, and said, "It's all Bruce's fault he told us to grab each other so we'll end up with at least somebody we know. He miscounted though, we weren't an even number. Oracle ended up somewhere by herself."

"She's going to kill you." Robin said stating the obvious.

Nightwing deflated, "I know. Still, anything is better then where Batgirl and I ended up. One word Zombies. Two words, Never again."

"Here, here!" Batgirl shouted in agreement.

"Oh please, Goldie. Cass and I ended up dodging amazons and a crazy homicidal Wonder Woman. I'll take the Zombies." Jason snorted with Black Bat nodding next to him.

"They had razor teeth!" Batgirl said

"And one had Chainsaw!"

"I got stuck in world where everyone that's a hero in our world is a villain in that one. " Red Robin said joining the conversation. "Alfred and I didn't know who to trust."

"You trust everyone that's evil in our world." Robin said dryly, "Idiot." Red Robin glared at the younger Robin.

"Been to that one." Batman said. "It's not that bad, but I still say Hood and Black Bat had the worst." Nightwing and Batgirl protested.

Batwing laughed, "Yeah, the world Batman and I ended up in wasn't that bad. The only thing was that their was no such thing as Batman in Gotham. There was still a Catwoman however, and her team. Trust me, it was awkward."

"Awkward how?" Nightwing asked. Batman didn't meet his eyes.

"Guys, look." Black bat called, "I think Oracle's coming through." And just like she said, Oracle rolled down the platform. Out of all of them, she looked worse for the wear. Her white button up was now missing the sleeves and the bottom half it entirely. Her pants were ripped and now resembled shorts more than anything. Her shoes were gone, and her hair was ragged being held back by her now broken glasses.

"Babs, Oh my god. Are you okay?" Batgirl asked.

"Yeah, just ended up with dinosaurs. I'm all good though." She said. She wasn't injured, she just looked terrible. She didn't dwell on how a woman in a wheelchair handled being stuck with dinosaurs, but then again this was Barbara Gordon they were talking about. They decided it would be better just not to ask.

"Alright, Ive set the coordinates to your Batcave in your universe." The blonde haired Nightwing of Nightrix's universe. "It's time for you all to go home."

"Thank God!" Batgirl said racing to the portal. "I'm in major need of a shower."

"Seconded." Batwing proclaimed and followed her into the portal.

"Thank you for helping us." Batman told the twins before heading into the portal with Red Robin by he's side asking how they built this size of a portal in that amount of time. He had to be pushed in(very harshly) by Red Hood so he would stop talking. Black nodded a thanks to them, as well and her and Alfred went through the portal.

"Starling?" Nightwing asked. She stayed behind with Robin instead of heading through the portal.

"Go on, dad. Just give us a moment. " She told him. He nodded and headed back home with out her. Robin and Starling turned back to Nightrix.

"I wanted to thank you for helping me get my brother back." Nightrix spoke to them. "He's not done as Batman yet, and I don't know what we would have done with out you."

"Probably handled that situation a lot better. " Robin answered.

"No seriously. Thank you, you too Starling. If you handed showed up when you did, we'd still be stuck with The Red Queen in her prison." Starling waved her off.

"It wasn't like I meant to be there, it was just luck."

"Yeah, but whatever it was I still owe you guys a lot. You helped me save my brother." Nightrix said. "Don't take this the wrong way, but I sincerely hope we never meet again."

"Agreed." Robin said. Nightrix shook both their hands before careful not to shake Robin's injured one, and just as swiftly as they came Robin and Starling left Nightrix's universe.

School was something that Mary was glad to go to. She liked school. It kept her busy, it gave her a place away from her nightly activities, and it gave her time to think about what she saw on her last mission.

---

The bell signaling the middle schoolers to their third periods rang as Mary and Kevin walked across the quad. Across the way she could see Damian laying in grass underneath one of the many trees. Mary sighed. He didn't look like he would be moving anytime soon. That meant that Damian had decided to skip third period. It was his art class, but still Mary thought that going to all classes were important when they could, as they miss a lot of it. Still, something she knew she needed to say to Damian before she did anything else. The mission opened her eyes to a lot of the things, and she wanted to make sure that her world didn't end up the those other two she saw. The Third was nice from what she could tell, but Mary definitely didn't want anything that happened in those worlds to happen in this one, and that meant words needed to be said to Damian.

"Riri?" Kevin called out. He stared at her worried. Kevin had been on her case since he had saw her in San Francisco at the Competition. He was getting closer to learning her secret meaning that they were growing apart. Bruce had already talked to her about it. Kevin would get to close one day, she had to make sure it doesn't happen.

"Oh sorry, I didn't realize I stopped walking." Mary apologized. She gave him a sheepish grin, and glanced back at Damian. She needed to tell him now. "Listen, Kev. Head to class without me. I'll catch up when I catch up. Okay?" She told him. Kevin looked behind her Towards Damian before nodding.

"Fine, Mary. Just don't miss practice after school again. I'll come up with something to tell, Ms. Mcolly." He told her before turning away. "Tell Damian I said hi." With a wave Kevin headed off to class leaving Mary to her conversation with Damian.

"What do you want, Tiny Grayson?" He asked her. He's eyes was closed. He was resting. Mary knew he didn't sleep as often as he should. He never really let his guard down to sleep. Her eyes flittered to his wrapped up hand. He never told her how exactly he got, but in a way she knew. Knives were her favorite weapon.

"Came to talk." She told him simply. He opened one eye and looked at her.

"Aren't you supposed to be in english class. Last I checked that was your worst subject. Go study and leave me alone." He told her. Mary sighed and sat down next to him. He was in one of his moods. Great, that would make it so much easier. she thought to herself sarcastically.

"If I leave, I'm telling Bruce you skipped class again." She threatened "What's the punishment for this offense? Washing all of the cars?"

She saw Damian visible stiffen, "No, all of the vehicles. " He corrected.

"Ouch, not a job anyone wants to do considering he just flew the jet through Clayface. I suggest you listen to what I have to say, and you'll have your weekend free still." He sat up and looked at her seriously.

"Fine, Mary. What do you want?"

"Like I said to talk."

"About the last mission." He finished for her. Was she that transparent?

"Yes." Mary nodded. "I'm being serious here, Damian. So, I think you should take what I say with some weight. You don't have to listen to me. I'm not ordering you around, or telling you what to do. I'm just giving you my honest opinion here."

Damian rolled his eyes, "Just spit it out, girl, God."

"Damian, I think you should stop fighting with Bruce." She told him finally just getting to the point.

"Excuse me?" He said. He was taken off guard by her comment.

"Yeah, I know, but hear me out."

"Hear you out? Mary, you've have had absolutely nothing to say about for the past what? Year and 4 months, and now you want to give me your two cents." He was a little upset. She had expected that.

"I know. I said, just hear me out okay. Let me start from the beginning. " She told him. "The world I went to was very different from out own, and very similar. I learned a lot of things, and I should do something with what I've learned, Right?" She asked rhetorically. "Long story short, I met you, Damian. You were older, and were still very much the same, and you were Nightwing. I realize how different you were until it was too late." She told him all in one go. Mary paused trying to find the right words. "What I'm saying is, That version of Damian was colder, meaner, and crueler. I didn't like it very much, and I was less then pleased to have learned exactly what he's done. That Damian had no one from his family to rely upon, he was alone. The Damian and the Bruce from that world weren't...Haven't been getting along since he was about your age. I don't want to see you like that." Mary admitted.

"You and Bruce are very headstrong and stubborn, but I'm asking you for once is to concede the fight. I don't think people were meant to stay made at each other for this long. I won't lie it scares me that it has gone on for this long. Not only that you never talk about it. I know what happened, Damian, but that woman dying was not your fault no matter how much Bruce implies it is. That was a hard choice you made, but at the end of the day, it wasn't your fault. I believe that. My dad believes that. Alfred believes and deep down I know Bruce believes it, too. He's at fault here for being to harsh on you, but I think that you share some of the blame too. I'm scared if you don't make up now, their won't be a relationship to fix later. I know I choose to stay out of it earlier, but not anymore. Not after the things I've seen. " She finished taking a deep breathe.

At first, Damian didn't say anything. He didn't even look at her only looked out and up at the sky. "You know." He finally said. "I thought I failed my father. I blamed myself playing what happened over and over again in my head. I realized then that, there was nothing I could have done. If I would have saved the woman, my father would have died, and I know he dislikes me for making that choice, but it was the choice I made. Her injuries were so severe that even if I saved her she probably would have died in the hospital anyway. " Mary was slightly she shocked. She had expected him to take her words to heart, but open up to her. No, she didn't see that coming at all.

"All in all, I can't feel bad that I saved my father over some civilian woman." He finished. He turned to Mary. "Consider your words taken to heart. I can't guarantee that my father and are just going to magically stop fighting, but I'll try to patch things up."

Mary nodded. "I just want you to try. I saw and learned some horrible things that could have happened. I prefer if they didn't carry over to this universe."

"And you?" He asked her.

"What?" She asked confused.

"Just because we traveled Dimensions doesn't mean that the topic of Alicia Royal is any less prevalent. I'd say it's even more now that we know she plans to use these children for her army. We've seen what one Red Queen can accomplish. I'd rather not see another one. Plus, there's the fact about your missing memories."

Mary sighed. "I know for a fact that this was my plan. Now that we've seen me as the Red Queen there's no denying that I was the one who gave the Red Queen her plan on how to build an army. I could have planned so much more, but I can't remember. If I did, we'd be one step ahead of her, and could probably catch her."

Damian shrugged. "We'll find out something. Maybe father well talk to that Martian, or Drake will talk to his. We'll figure something out we always do." Mary nodded her head. Yeah, he was right. They always find solutions. Why should this time be any different.

---

Final Word Count: 15,774

Whole Word count: 28, 213

A/N: Displacement was a fucking monster to write mostly because of it's length. Single space in word it's about 75 pages. I wrote a whole book instead of z chapter. So I apologize for it's length. I do love this chapter though. It's emotional filled with action. It's definitely one of my favorites to write. I hope you enjoy it as well. I guess could be taken as my approval over the Convergence Plot-line. I loved reading Convergence, and I would love to know your feelings on it, now that the multiverse is officially canon again!

Funny story, this chapter was originally about 32,000 words before I made cuts while editing. I cut flashbacks from Mar'i Anders-Grayson. After a while I felt that I was dumbing it down for you guys by giving you them. You all are very intelligent and I want you to form your own conjectures about the story and it's subplots. I don't have to spoon feed you everything. That's something I believe a lot of writers forget. Why say what is already understood? Of course, if anything is confusing and you don't follow the story tell me immediately. I know my mind is very weird, and I see things that many. I know it's possible I wasn't clear on many things. So I hope this chapter wasn't terrible.

Fun fact, all the Mary Graysons in my story have varying names. They all don't share the same name. Injustice Mari, or Supergirl was Mari Anders-Grayson, The Mary we know Is Mary Stella Grayson, and the evil Red Queen Mary is actually Mary Donna Grayson though I never did say that in the chapter.

As always special thanks to my reviewers 21 is Awesome, Nightwing0126, and Addicted2Books13. You guys are amazing. Thank you so much for your reviews. They really do help!

If you have any questions/concerns/comments please review. I'm happy to answer any and all of for time!

~Miyu K. June 13, 2015