Episode 11: Succession and Progression

"How did you manage to send me an encrypted message to meet you here?" Phantasm asked.

This time Batman had turned toward him to see him arrive: atop the Belfry.

Bruce didn't want Carlito to figure out he had been the previous Batman, so Terry surmised Bruce relayed his message to Carlito through encrypted comms.

"I know who you are," Batman said. "That was my way of showing I trust your intentions, and we need to work together to get the person that Omen desires before he gets a hold of him. On top of that Omen has a plan for Gotham, we need to apprehend him before he decides to put it into effect: whether he has who he wants or not."

"Omen wants to rid Gotham of evil and corruption," Phantasm said. "The more time passes the more I realize the great lengths he'll go to in order to purge Gotham. I wish I knew who he was. He's not crazy… But, evil can't be purged or extinguished. It can only be managed, handled."

"When you put it that way," Batman said, "you make it sound like the work I do is futile."

"My apologies then," Phantasm said. "Your work, the reason I put on this suit, proves people can do something. We can drive the future forward with hope and good will instead of bloodshed and trauma. The citizens of Gotham, people all over the world, have had enough of the latter."

"You've made it clear that whoever Omen is the man has been deeply traumatized," Batman said. "Had he gone another direction maybe what he had on these criminals would've put them away."

"I agree to an extent," Phantasm said. "The fact he decided to kill them means he had no faith in the justice system. As much as it pains me to say this, you're a criminal. We can fault him for murder, but can you fault him for taking matters into his own hands?"

Terry remembered the murder of his father, and he remembered becoming Batman to bring him justice.

"What do you say we stop him," Batman said. "Then, we work on his behalf."

Terry had been a bit aimless about his future, which is why he was still working on his degree. Dana was already working on her Master's. Because of Phantasm, Carlito, suddenly law was becoming a clear path.

Phantasm nodded.

"Good and Evil," Batman said. "The Powerful and The Powerless. The Rich and The Poor."

"They all seem like endless battles," Phantasm said.

"But they aren't," Batman said. "They don't have to be."

Phantasm nodded again.

Batman turned away from Phantasm, indicated he wanted him to follow, and headed for the home of Paxton Powers.

~~~

Bruce received a call from Damian: a phone call. Bruce found it a bit amusing that one of the things the two of them shared was that they tended to be a bit old fashioned.

"Do you want the good news or the bad news?" Damian asked.

"Bad news," Bruce said. He left nude out of bed to go out onto the balcony and let his wife sleep.

"The Red Clay Raven Reservation and Tribe have become targets for Derek and Blight," Damian reported.

"What's the good news?" Bruce questioned him.

"Luke managed to persuade Derek's Board of Directors to sell the factory to Wayne Enterprises," Damian said. "He had the demolition crew out there by the end of the day. Derek caught wind of this. He wasn't too happy. Blight came out of hiding. I figured he would."

"Luke is all right?" Bruce asked.

"I made sure to keep eyes on him," Damian said. "Beat the shit out of Blight. Then, he went nuclear. He did our dirty work for us. Jon and Raven held him off but not before he destroyed his own factory. Those two were able to limit any damage done to the land."

"I'm glad those two were with you," Bruce said.

"We did our part father," Damian said, becoming a bit more serious, "but Blight left ranting and raving. He believes the Red Clay Raven Tribe went to Bruce, and Bruce brought us in."

"He's not completely wrong," Bruce said.

"Jon, Raven, and I are going to head to your location," Damian said. "You're not in Gotham. You don't have your usual access and resources."

Damian was worried about his safety.

"You need to stay there," Bruce said. "Let Jon and Raven know I appreciate them assisting you. Someone has to stay there in case Blight comes back or sends someone in his stead."

"I'll stay," Damian said. "I'll even get Jon and Raven to stay with me. I'm not leaving you there by yourself. You're getting older. It's the duty of a son to take care of his father. I'm sending Tim, Stephanie, and Conner immediately. Before you object, if you don't agree I'm coming there myself."

"Because you took care of this situation and kept Luke safe," Bruce said, "I won't say anything against your request, but if those three are busy you let them be. Blight is not someone I can't handle."

"I know father," Damian said. "This isn't about what you can't handle. It's about what everyone else can't handle if something were to happen to you." He didn't give Bruce a chance to respond because vulnerability was still something he tried to actively avoid. "I'll call them now. If anything changes here, I'll inform you. If Blight does arrive, call for Jon. I'll have him on standby."

"Good work," Bruce said. "I've heard you."

"Good night father," Damian said.

"Good night Damian," Bruce said.

They ended their call. Bruce couldn't help smirk while he shook his head: remembering when he first met Damian as an intense, aggressive child and how much of a wild, radical, chaotic, good man he managed to become. He had all of Damian's brothers to thank for that: Dick, Jason, Tim, and Duke.

~~~

Red Hood had arrived in the cemetery earlier: half an hour before Carrie, Matt, and Dak arrived.

Carrie was Batgirl

Matt was Robin.

They had been the ones to speak with Alfred about Dak. He didn't know Dak, but he knew of him. The Jokerz had told Jason about the kid, who hung around them but wasn't trying to be a member of any criminal gang. He preferred to be his own boss. Red Hood was the de facto leader of the Jokerz. That was the rumor: after the original head of the Jokerz was found dead. Only the Jokerz knew the truth. Red Hood changed their status quo, threatened to kill them all if they broke the rules, and put Jason in charge to handle the day-to-day business.

Jason had been wary about his original plan to put his civilian identity in charge of the gang, but it worked out: better than he expected. He had wanted to stop killing, at his own behest and thought he hated to admit it at Bruce's behest. He wanted to show the rest of his family while he did contain a lot of anger he wasn't a raging maniac. He had to figure out how to channel his anger without violence.

At Babs' suggestion, Jason went to therapy. Therapy helped him get past his anger toward Bruce and at his death. Anger remained, but he channeled the rest of it into his garage. He used it to guide and steer the Jokerz into better lives. Even though he only ever talked to his wife about it, he found his work that straddled the line rewarding.

Red Hood watched over the trio. He would talk to Carrie and Matt while the Jokerz put Dak through his paces.

He threw gas canisters through the air.

Batgirl and Robin were immediately on alert. Red Hood jumped into the midst of his cover. Batgirl and Robin saw him, but Red Hood grabbed them both and threw them toward the back of the cemetery as Jokerz emerged from the gas to surround Dak.

"You wanted to speak with me," Red Hood said.

"That'll have to wait," Batgirl said. "Our friend is in danger. Get out of our way."

"You don't stand a chance against me," Red Hood said. "Your friend will be fine. You wanted him to take on my legacy. Did you think I wouldn't take that seriously? If it's truly something he wants and can handle, he'll survive."

"We don't want to fight you Red Hood," Robin said, "but you can't expects us to stand by while our friend is in danger."

"Then come at me," Red Hood said. "That's the only way you'll get to him."

Batgirl and Robin glanced at each other. They moved.

Dick and Babs. Tim and Stephanie. Cassie and Duke. He had seen a few iterations of the Robin and Batgirl team. Their teamwork never failed to impress.

This Batgirl didn't rely too heavily on gadgets like Babs, have expert level martial arts skills like Cassie, or the unpredictability of Stephanie; however, she had studied and trained with all of them. She incorporated all of their strengths, fused them together, into the mantle, so they would never be forgotten, and from this, relying on her intelligence and ingenuity, she created her own strength.

Her first move, in sync with Robin, she went high while he went low.

This Robin never rubbed Jason the wrong way in any manner like the others did at one time or another. Sometimes Jason wondered if it was because he saw some of Terry in him, but he would push those thoughts aside. He had hated when he had been compared to Dick, so he made himself see Matt through his own character and merit.

Matt was a likable guy. He was subtle, easygoing. And he could be funny. He had grit, but he had more than enough heart. He was respectful: only giving Terry a hard time and usually that was only when it was the two of them alone. Despite losing his dad at a young age, his mom and Terry didn't let the darkness of loss take root inside Matt.

Similarly to Bruce, Terry trained Matt. Eventually, Matt learned of the other Robins, even met a few, but he only wanted to admire them and show them his way of being Robin. They offered to train him and show him the ropes, but he said his stint as Robin was more about doing good, having fun, and most importantly looking after his brother. All the Robins had their own opinions on Matt and his reasons for wearing the domino mask, yet they all agreed with Terry's choice to have him carry on the Robin legacy.

Matt had told Alfred because the two of them became rather close. Alfred had shared this with Tim, who had been the most concerned about Matt's tenure as Robin. Matt didn't know how long he'd be in crime fighting or if it was even his calling, but as long as Terry wanted and needed him that's how long he planned to stay.

Batgirl flipped over Red Hood dropping firecrackers before she landed. They were meant to disorient him: the flashes of light and cracking sound.

Robin slid under him preparing to use his hoverboard to take out his legs.

Red Hood turned as the firecrackers fell, as Robin prepared to try taking out his knees, and Batgirl prepared to knock him to his back with her boots to his chest.

Red Hood bent down and created a wall with his arm and knee to block Robin while he avoided Batgirl and grabbed her by her arm with his free hand. He put Batgirl onto the ground. He grabbed up Robin and flipped him over onto his back beside Batgirl. A second later, he had two guns aimed at the two crimefighters.

"You two entertained me," Red Hood said. "Take pride in that."

Robin threw his body at Red Hood.

Batgirl stood. Red Hood holstered one gun, grabbed Robin in mid air, and kept his other gun trained on Batgirl.

"You won't shoot us," Batgirl said. "A person who knows Alfred and accepts a request from him wouldn't gun down his allies."

"You're testing Dak," Robin said: not struggling in Red Hood's grip. "We get it. Now. You're having some fun with us. We get that too. Now."

Red Hood set Robin down and holstered his other gun.

"You could've taken us out without us ever setting eyes on you," Robin said: clearly impressed.

"But thankfully that wasn't your intention," Batgirl said. "Now I know why you're considered the big guns: in more ways than one."

"I guess there's nothing left to do," Robin said, turning to Batgirl, "but to introduce ourselves." He reached for his domino mask.

"Leave your masks on," Red Hood instructed. He walked past them, and they saw he intended for them to follow. "I know who you are: Carrie and Matt."

"Do we get to know who you are?" Batgirl asked him.

They shared a few moments of silence.

"Jason," Red Hood finally said.

"I feel like an idiot," Batgirl said. "Of course it's you."

"Did you not want us to know your identity because you thought we'd think differently of you?" Robin asked.

That kid. Red Hood didn't respond.

"Red Hood is known for his brutality," Batgirl said. "The cold-blooded murders he committed. That is a part of you, but that isn't all of you."

Took some time to embrace that. Red Hood said nothing.

"Thanks for finally letting us know this part of you," Robin said. "And entertaining our idea of Dak picking up what you started."

In the short time allotted Red Hood monitored Dak as he put his wrestling moves to good use. Red Hood could see his Jokerz were hesitant to fight Dak. Dak could see this was some type of test. He had made quick work of the Jokerz, finishing off the last one with a suplex. As instructed, the Jokerz scattered after their defeat.

Red Hood stopped across from Dak, who showed no fear.

Batgirl and Robin stood right behind Red Hood, then they joined Dak.

Red Hood saw an instant: of Dick, Babs, and himself.

"You're not Red Hood material," Red Hood told Dak.

"Why is that?" Dak asked: pissed off and disappointed.

"You're not a killer," Red Hood said. "You don't hate Gotham. Lastly, you're a friend to the criminal element of Gotham not a bloody reaper."

Dak glared into Red Hood's eyes.

Red Hood aimed a gun at Dak's forehead.

"You disagree?" Red Hood asked.

"These two wouldn't let you kill me," Dak said. "Even though I know you outclass them."

"Do you disagree?" Red Hood asked.

"I don't," Dak said.

"Do you want to live?" Red Hood asked. "Do you want to be a part of our world? Does Gotham even matter to you?"

Dak's eyes shifted. He was thinking. He was trying to find answers. He was trying to find the right answers. This was a test. He thought it was. He was becoming unsure. He clenched his fists at his sides. He only knew that he could stand his ground, even if he didn't have the right answers.

Red Hood shot at Dak's feet. Dak didn't move. Dak looked from the targeted area back up to meet Red Hood's eyes.

"I don't got all night," Red Hood said.

Batgirl and Robin were about to object, but Red Hood cocked his gun, signaling this was between him and Dak.

"I do want to live," Dak said. "I do want to be a part of your world. I don't give a shit about Gotham, but…" His eyes shifted again. "The people of Gotham, the old and the young, need someone to believe in: whether it's heroes like them." He turned toward Batgirl and Robin. "Or someone like you." He faced Red Hood again. He met his eyes with righteous fury.

Red Hood holstered his gun.

"You'll train under me," Red Hood said, "but not as Red Hood. I'll be around for a while. You've got some growing to do before you're ready for that weight. You'll become the Arkham Knight."

"The Arkham Knight tried to kill Batman but then ended up saving him," Dak said.

"Not many people know that," Red Hood said.

"I used to have a lot of admiration for Gotham's villains," Dak said.

"Arkham Knight eventually became Red Hood," Red Hood said. "I'm offering you the chance to follow a similar path. You interested?"

"I am," Dak said: without missing a beat.

"Good," Red Hood said. He watched Batgirl and Robin congratulate Dak while Dak tried to play off his relief and happiness at the result of his test.

Red Hood left them without them realizing his absence. He would be in touch.

Jason had seen a little of himself in Damian after he had been brought back to life, but he saw a little of himself in Dak before Bruce came into his life. He would make sure what Gotham did to him never touched Dak. He felt good about making that decision. Once again, he appreciated that he could always rely on and trust Alfred to lead him forward in the best possible way.