With a pair of medieval-looking manacles holding Nijah's hands behind her back, Dominique led the four Gothamites to the speedboats down the hill. A few questions were asked, most of them were deflected, as he drove the speedboat for about ten minutes offshore. Eventually, a vessel the size of a small cargo ship came up over the horizon and he worked the rudder in its direction. At one point, he rolled up the sleeve of his robe and a metal gauntlet identical to the one Tim handled revealed itself. He pressed on its center and quietly said, "En route with our charges. We have captured the jinn as well."

"So, is that our super-secret Vatican transport?" Sadie asked. "What else do you do with it?"

"Rome sits just across the sea from north Africa," Dominique said. "Despite the best efforts of many, much of the region remains unstable. If it is needed, we have travelled southward to retrieve refugees and stowed them away in cargo containers. Legal transport is always attempted, of course. But sometimes human life cannot wait for man's law."

"… Huh," Sadie said. "That's, uh, a lot better an answer than I was anticipating."

Nijah barked out a laugh, but said nothing when Dominique glared at her. Within a few more minutes he dropped anchor next to a ladder at the side of the ship. "Some of my brothers will help you up there. We'll get you all arranged and figure how best to proceed."

Stephanie was the first to rise and take hold of the ladder. "Any chance that might include an actual bed and a decent meal?"

The tiniest edge of a smile crossed Dominique's stoney face. "Beds and food can both be arranged, but I'd lower your expectations for each."

For the first proper time since her capture, Nijah spoke up. "Why are you even dragging them all into this? Why not just take the icon and go?"

"It's none of your concern, jinn." Whatever affability Donique had a moment before dropped away, and he said the last word as if it was derogatory. The bitter display got under Cassandra's skin, but she said nothing in that moment.

Tim and Stephanie ascended the ladder first. With the waves pushing the boat around it took some convincing, but Sadie went next when Cassandra said, "I'll catch you if you slip."

"I don't even know how you'd do that, but I'm trusting you." Sadie got a few steps up before she turned back and asked, "Sure you're not just getting a good look at my butt?"

Brother Dominique let out a long, frustrated breath through his nose. Cassandra, without any emotion in the reply, said, "Sure I'm not."

Sadie went genuine long enough to say, "I'm sorry. Just trying to break the tension a little."

"I know," Cassandra said. "Sorry it didn't work right now. Go."

With a nod, Sadie continue upward and Cassandra followed just behind. When they reached the deck of the ship, three more men dressed in the same gray robes waited for them. All of them held stiff stances, and only when they were all standing straight did the olive-skinned, bald man in the center take a step forward.

"Welcome to the Saint Christopher." His English sounded solid, but edged by a Mediterranean accent. "Declare yourselves and we'll take our next step."

Cassandra cast a look back down as the speedboat as Dominique looked to be handling the motor again. "Where is he going?"

"Other side of the ship, directly to a holding cell for the jinn." The bald man cleared his throat. "Your names, please."

Tim answered first. "Robin."

"Angel."

"Ste—crap, sorry—Batgirl."

When a fourth name wasn't said, all eyes turned to Sadie. After a frustrated moment thinking on it, she said, "Well, I don't know. You guys didn't give your real names. Am I just supposed to?"

"You want Spoiler?" Stephanie said. "Spoiler's available."

"I think that's going to trip me up," Tim said.

Stephanie sighed and scratched the back of her head. "Honestly? Yeah, me too, maybe."

Sadie lingered on it long enough for their newest contact to frown and open his mouth. Before he spoke, she ran a finger across the dogtag necklace she wore and said, "Salty. You can call me Salty."

One of the men behind the bald one smirked and then chuckled until the man in the middle, clearly his superior, silenced him with a scowl. "Is all this really necessary?" He asked. "Couldn't you just give me your Christian names?"

"Security concerns," Tim said.

Almost as quickly, Sadie added, "Never even been baptized. Sorry."

After a groan, he went on, "Fine. I am Brother Alexander. I'll show the four of you to your quarters. You may drop your luggage off and we will discuss what comes next." One of the men at Alexander's side, the one who didn't chuckle, leaned in and whispered something I his ear. "Hm? What? Ah, right." He paused for a beat to consider his next words. "Which two of you are the—ah—the pair of women."

Almost instantly Sadie asked, "You're Greek I take it, right?"

Alexander flinched in confusion. "What?"

"The accent, your name, you're Greek, right?"

"I don't know what that has to do with anything, but yes, I am."

"Yeah, you guys have a word for that. It starts with an L and rhymes with one of your islands."

Alexander pinched the bridge of his nose. "Well, that answered half the question."

Cassandra laid a hand on Sadie's arm to try settling her down, but the stress of the day was making her increasingly indignant. "Well, that's just stereotyping. Maybe I just believe in a just cause."

With tone dry as a desert, Alexander said, "I just noticed, 'Batgirl,' is wearing a wedding band. It's easy enough to deduce."

"You don't know. Maybe she's my wife or fiancé or just promised person until they make it legal in our state." Sadie raised an open hand. Without missing a beat, Stephanie reached over and held it.

Cassandra and Tim exchanged baffled looks before, with a crease in his brow and a disgusted look across his face, Alexander turned and started to walk. "I've made up my mind which is which. Hurry along."

Stephanie and Sadie held hands for a few seconds longer than was strictly necessary before Sadie released her grip and leaned over to Cassandra. "You know I was just messing around, right?"

"Yes," Cassandra said. "Didn't bother me. I've held her hands too."

"Cool. Good." Sadie leaned the opposite way. "Tim?"

By this point, he struggled to contain his laughter. "I thought it was pretty funny." After a moment, he regained his serious look. "Seriously though, you might want to stop antagonizing these guys."

"Agreed," Cassandra said.

"What are they going to do, throw me overboard? Not while they still need this thing from me." Sadie raised her stigmata hand. "This thing kinda evens the playing field." As the four spoke, Alexander led them past lines of sealed shipping containers and down a flight of stairs. A particularly low bit of ceiling forced Tim to lower his head before they entered the lower deck.

"Can you at least try to be respectful?" Cassandra asked.

"Hey, I was mostly fine with your guy back in Gotham, because he treated me decently," Sadie said. "If they're gonna treat me—or need I remind you—us, like dirt, then I'm gonna bite back."

Cassandra sighed but did not press the matter further. Most of the light on the deck came in from the open sides of the ship, which also let in a chilly, salty breeze. Toward the end of the path stood a wall that covered the end of the ship, a series of doors ran along the edge with small posts written in Italian marking them.

"All right, no jokes this time." Alexander glared at Tim and Stephanie. "You two. Are you married?"

They held their stare at him for a few seconds before Stephanie said, "Engaged."

Alexander exhaled with relief. "Good."

Tim raised an eyebrow. "Good?"

"There are three barracks on this level," Alexander motioned to the other doors down the wall. "I'm not allowed to prevent a married couple from sharing quarters. But you aren't married, so the point is moot." As if he sensed Tim might object, he hastily went on. "You two—" he motioned at Cassandra and Stephanie. "Traveling women's barrack is here. You—" he pointed to Tim.

Tim asked, "Why'd you take our codenames if you weren't going to use them?"

Alexander ignored him and pressed on. "Men's barrack is down on the opposite side. And you," he gestured toward Sadie. "You'll have to take the barrack in the center. It's the marital quarter I mentioned, but you'll be on your own to prevent anything illicit."

Sadie crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. "That's an insult to Cassie more than anything else. You have no idea how dedicated to that little cause of yours she is. Fine. I'll cooperate and bunk by myself. But one of them is going to wait outside the door."

"Plenty of the brothers are already patrolling this ship, and others will be posted outside of your door."

"That's great and all, but I don't know any of you guys. And you haven't exactly made the best first impression."

"We can sleep in shifts," Cassandra said. "May have anyway, our sleep is inconsistent."

With a last grunt, Alexander acquiesced. "Fine. The rest of the brothers and I have more to discuss, most of this day will be yours." He trained his look on Sadie. "We'll take words with you starting tomorrow morning to prepare to remove the icon."