You know what's funny? So this is chapter 16. Chapter 18 is finished; edited and everything. Chapter 17, however, is at its bare bones. Ain't that cute?

Keys clacked in constant rhythm as Oracle worked on her side project. "If you need to hover, you might as well step out of the dark, you broody drama queen." She muttered the last phrase under her breath as she turned off three screens.

"I heard that." Batwoman stepped out of the shadowy hallway that connected the main entrance and the central meeting room. "You should get that light fixture replaced."

"Starling broke it during an argument with Lady Blackhawk."

"How'd she do that? Wait, forget it. Of course she did." Batwoman's boots clunked against the concrete floor until she was standing three or four feet behind Oracle's right shoulder. "How has your Birds of Prey been doing?"

"Well, all things considered. This facility should be a big help."

"I'm sure." Batwoman spotted the black screens. "Hiding something important?"

"Keeping an eye on matters." Oracle unlocked her chair and wheeled backwards off the five-inch platform positioned in front of the monitors. "Nothing sinister, I assure you."

"That's not vague." Batwoman huffed and crossed her arms. "Do you want to tell me why I've been summoned? And why my DNA is pre-programmed into the entrance?"

"I'm giving you an invitation to join the Birds of Prey." It didn't take transparent cowls to know Batwoman's eyebrows were raise high.

"You're kidding."

"When have I ever kidded about the Birds? I've discussed it with Huntress and Black Canary. You'd be a good fit." When Batwoman didn't uncross her arms, Oracle tried another tactic. "Supergirl would've agreed with me."

"Then maybe you didn't know Linda well." Whether Batwoman revealing she knew Supergirl's other identity was a slip of the tongue or not, didn't matter. What mattered was it was no secret to her.

Oracle drew her shoulders back and adjusted her glasses. "So you know."

"I know."

"How?"

"She didn't tell me, that's for certain."

An eyebrow quirked at the bitterness detected in the costumed ginger's voice. "Did you ever think to tell her who's under that mask?"

"Didn't have to. She x-rayed me."

The glasses slipped back over her nose as she let out a hum at the information. "Forgot about that. That explains Supergirl, but not Linda. Did you think to tell Linda?"

"No," came the quiet whisper.

"Kate, our entire lives revolve around keeping secrets. You can't hold it against her."

Batwoman deflated at this. "It's hard to stay mad at the dead."

Oracle blinked then ducked her head. "Right. And she debated about telling you, for your information."

"She did?"

Oracle smirked when she caught the questioning lilt in Batwoman's voice. "More or less. She tried to get you involved in a Birds' missions as Linda and as Kara. It's a rare occurrence, for obvious reasons. Speaking of which that's why I'm certain she wanted you to join us. I've been observing you, and other than that incident a couple months ago, you're a good fit. In fact, you're a perfect fit considering Huntress and Starling used to kill. Not to mention Canary's early years when she killed at five people with her scream."

"Good to know." The incredulous curl to Batwoman's mouth did not go unmissed by Oracle. "How is Black Canary?"

The other redhead's eyes fell to her interlocked fingers. "She's healing. Huntress visited her two weeks ago. It'll be a long road."

"Like it was for you?"

Oracle nodded and unlocked her chair. Batwoman followed her to the kitchen. "I am serious about that offer. You'd make a great addition."

Batwoman took in the refurbished clock tower with its training facilities and high-tech equipment. "I'll think about it."

X

Robin crouched low as he used his eyes to follow the men moving artwork out of the museum of modern art's rear entrance. "Criminals are stupid."

"Depends on the criminal." He inwardly growled yet outwardly scowled when Catwoman made a graceful landing next to him. "My, my, my, what a lovely collection of bulldogs. I doubt they comprehend the worth of what they're carrying." Robin shifted away from the thief as she let out a purr. "So baby bird, what are we going to do with them?"

"We're not doing anything. I will stop them. Alone."

"Where's the fun in that?"

"This isn't supposed to be fun." Selina released a sound between a sigh and a whine then lounged across the ledge. "You're far too much like your mentor. At least tell me Bruce instilled an appreciation of art in you." Selina's smile took on the definition of a Cheshire grin when Robin tensed. "Oh, yes. I'm aware of his nightlife. Seems like he doesn't tell you everything." Robin resisted the urge to smack the smug grin off Catwoman. "So where did he pick you up? A circus? The street? The suburbs?" That is until it occurred to him Bruce didn't share everything in his life.

Robin stood with confident, if not arrogant, strength and gripped his retractable staff before shooting his grappling gun. "My mother thought it to be beneficial to know my father. And so far, she's been right." He swung off the building and aimed for the largest thief. Later on, he asked Oracle if her satellites took pictures of the district. He wanted to frame the look of shock on Catwoman's face.

Metropolis…

Tokyo Steakhouse sat in the middle of the business section of Metropolis. Customers could choose between private dining, the bar, or hibachi. Since Veronica had never experienced the latter, Jimmy said he would treat her if she was willing to accompany him and Lucy. Not one to pass up free food, she agreed. The three sat at one end of the grill and a family of four on the other: a grandfather, two grandchildren, and the girls' mother. Veronica was singing along to the fifth 'Happy Birthday' song and gong special when Jimmy leaned over and poked at Lucy's rib, which made her jump.

"You've been quiet."

Lucy shrugged and took a sip of her Redd's Apple Ale. "Not much to say."

"You're a Lane, you always have something to say." She choked when Jimmy's comment caused her to snort up her ale. "Sorry. Sorry," he said while rubbing her back.

She waved him away. "I'm fine. I'm fine."

When she had control of her breathing, Jimmy asked, "But are you really?" Veronica, witnessing more of the interaction than her new friends realized, took that as her cue to go the bathroom. Plus, she hoped to flirt with the cute hostess up front.

Lucy shook her head at Jimmy's question and unlocked her phone before sliding it to him. A reminder flashed on the screen: "BUY LINDA'S BIRTHDAY PRESENT!"

"It was a joke between the two of us. Between work and life, we'd forget to get each other presents. We set reminders six months in advance that would go off each month. When it first went off in March, I dismissed it. When it went off in April, I almost deleted it. This time around, I don't know…" Lucy sighed and looked at the screen, the first time she had done so since handing the phone to Jimmy. "I can't decide on whether to delete it or keep it."

Jimmy mulled over his words before answering her. "If it was me, I wouldn't delete it. I'd want it to go off every month. But I'm not you, Luce. Only you know what's right for you. I may have been in love with her, but she was your best-friend." He picked up the phone like one would pick up baby animal, with gentle firmness, and handed it back to her. She handled it in the same manner and let the fingers of her free hand hover over the screen. Then, in a movement that resembled a reaction more than purposeful choice, Lucy deleted the reminder.

"If I want something to remind me of Linda," she said answering the silent question coming from Jimmy. "I want it to have meaning. What made this meaningful were the gifts, not the reminder." Jimmy smiled and pulled Lucy into his embrace with his left arm then gave her a kiss on the crown of her head. Veronica witnessed that last bit and took out her phone. A picture for the memory books, for sure.

On an anchored yacht somewhere in the Aegean Sea…

Women of various heights, ethnicities, and beauties mingled on each deck of the double-decker yacht named The Vesper. Most were chatting and drinking while others were playing in the pool or sunbathing. The more adventurous ones were learning to scuba dive or jet ski from a handful of instructors. Bruce Wayne lounged in the shade in a halfway-buttoned floral print shirt and khaki cargo shorts.

"Come on, Brucie. Come join us."

He let his gaze fall on the women in the middle of the pool. "We're about to play," a blonde turned to the girl next to her, "chicken fight, right?" Her raven-haired companion nodded. "Come play with us, please." Bruce smiled at her.

"Maybe next time. Right now I've got to finish this paperwork." The girls with strong grasps of the English language groaned but didn't push the matter. When they started their game, Bruce frowned at the document Dr. Havens sent. After he destroyed the portal, he forced the doctor to help him find where Kara would reappear. It took several of his astrologist friends and him to decipher the coordinates. With the money at Bruce's disposal, it didn't take as long as if it was one man. Dr. Havens was more of an M.D. than a PhD though he did, impressively, have both.

The document contained their theory on where the portal would open and on what date. According to the coordinates, it was at the center of the Pacific Ocean but Bruce new better. He knew those coordinates better than Arthur Curry. Until then, he had another mission to fulfill. Dr. Havens may have recruited Kara, but someone recruited him. Someone with the knowledge and resources to create a portal that could rival the technology of Apokolips. The question was, who?

For those following this story, if you see any discrepancies between the chapters then let me know. There are large gaps of time between these chapters and sometimes I forget things try as a might. I use ProWritingAid to edit these but I don't have a beta reader to keep me in check.

Thank you