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“Okay, this is bad.”
Tim looked over to where Jaime was struggling in his bonds, and sighed. He was right, this was definitely not how the mission was supposed to go.
It was just supposed to be a recon mission - no, really - where they gathered info on a drug ring in Washington DC that seemed to be spreading a type of crack that affected metahumans in negative ways. The plan was to sneak around their base by the docks, see how much supplies they had, the number of thugs, and their set up. Because of this, only Gamma Squad was sent, consisting of Robin, Blue Beetle, Lagoon Boy, Beast Boy, and Wonder Girl.
La’gaan had gone in first, using the water as cover, but they had lost contact quickly. The others had gone in to provide backup, and within fifteen minutes, they were all tied up. Cassie was also knocked unconscious, tied with her own lasso.
Tim wiggled around under the ropes, bringing his ankle just within reach.
“What are you doing?” Gar whispered.
Tim slipped a finger into his boots and pressed his panic button. He looked over to Garfield “Calling for help,” he whispered back.
Jaime frowned. “But everyone is already out on separate missions. They won’t get to us for hours.”
Tim shrugged. “Batman will think of something.”
“He better,” La’gaan muttered.
*****
Half an hour later, and no one had come. The group was restless, especially with Cassie having woken up ten minutes before.
Everyone perked up, however, when the door opened up. But it wasn’t a rescue. Instead, the Boss stood smirking in the opening as over a dozen thugs streamed around him and began to pull them up and out the door into the main area of the warehouse.
Cassie and La’gaan began to struggle, but Tim sent them a look that clearly conveyed his thoughts: “Stand down, see what info we can gather and wait for backup.”
They rolled their eyes, but stopped resisting.
Soon enough they were tied in a group by some crates in the warehouse, surrounded by forty goons in varying levels of armed. The drug Boss stood a little ways away from them, just out of arm’s reach.
“What are you doing here?” he asked.
No one spoke.
The man sighed. “I guess we’ll do this the hard way, then.” He motioned to a woman standing to the side, and she came forward carrying a toolbox. He reached in and pulled out a wrench. “Who’s first?”
Tim bit his lip and glanced at the Team. He was prepared to go in their stead, but what was taking the others so long? Why hadn’t Bruce sent someone? He opened his mouth to offer himself up when it happened.
The skylight shattered, and a figure dressed all in black fell through. Their cape snapped open, slowing their fall just enough for them to roll safely to the floor and spring up in a fighting stance. Tim grinned at the new arrival.
The femine figure stood dressed in a leather and kevlar suit with the yellow outline of a bat, utility belt, and cowl with bat ears and stitching over her mouth. Her cape flowed around her shoulders, pooling at her feet.
There were several cries of alarm at the sight, and Tim felt his team tense behind him, not knowing the figure. The young woman didn’t say anything, only tilting her head in a curious manner.
“What are you waiting for?” the Drug lord announced, waving his wrench around, and stumbling back, “get -”
He was suddenly cut off by the woman’s hand darting out and jabbing a pressure point in his neck. He collapsed to the floor without another word.
For a long moment, no one breathed. Then the thugs rose up like an angry wave and attacked.
The woman rose up to meet them, efficiently taking down whoever came in her way. She spun and kicked out at three thugs, turning just as quickly to flip over and strike a pair of women with baseball bats. She fought so effortlessly, it was almost like she was dancing.
“How is she doing that,” Cassie muttered in awe as the woman leapt above the heads of some goons, bringing them crashing down before moving on to others.
“That can’t be real,” Jaime replied, “Not even Nightwing is that good.”
Tim held back the urge to chuckle. They didn’t know the half of it.
Soon enough, the warehouse which had previously been filled to the brim with criminals had transformed into a sea of groaning bodies atop the floor.
The woman turned to them at that moment, and strolled confidently through the masses. She stopped directly in front of Tim, staring down at him.
“You,” she proclaimed confidently, “are an idiot.”
Tim grimaced. “Hey, our intel didn’t cover how much man power they had! We thought we’d be fine.”
She continued to look down at him.
“You gonna let me loose?”
She didn’t let up.
Tim sighed. “Okay, I’m sorry. I won’t go into any more reckless situations, which cause you to have to come get me out.”
She nodded. “Not true, but okay.”
She knelt down and pulled out a sharped batarang. Within seconds, Tim’s bonds were cut loose. She turned and helped him free the others.
“Who are you?” Jaime asked, eyes wide when everyone was freed.
The woman tilted her head and looked to Tim, somewhat expectantly.
Tim sighed. “This is Black Bat,” he said, “my sister.”
*****
“I still can’t believe you have a sister,” Cassie said, glancing back to where Cass was patching a scrape on her arm in the back of the batplane she’d flown to DC.
“Let alone one that’s so freaking cool!” Garfield added, grinning.
“Seriously,” Jaime said, echoing Cassie’s earlier thought, “How did she do that stuff? I thought Batman didn’t allow metas in Gotham?”
Tim resisted the urge to laugh, thinking of a certain glow-in-the-dark brother of his. “Black Bat isn’t a meta … she’s just awesome.”
His teammates rolled their eyes, but didn’t get a chance to say anything else as Cass made her way to the front, a bandage around her left bicep. She looked around, eyeing everyone, before moving to the pilot’s seat. She sat down and turned off autopilot.
“Almost there,” she said, “sit.”
*****
“What do you mean ‘they were compromised’!” M’gann exclaimed, glaring at Batman. “Why didn’t you tell us?!”
Batfam frowned - oh, what a surprise - “You were on a separate mission, and you couldn’t be pulled.
“Of course we could be pulled,” M’gann argued. “They’re members of the Team, and when they’re in trouble, we help!”
“You weren’t necessary,” Batman said, and quickly continued when M’gann opened her mouth again, “I already sent one of my own operatives to aid them.”
M’gann frowned. “But the new intel said there were ten times as many henchmen there than previously thought! How could one person get them out of that?!”
Suddenly, Dick started to laugh. Everyone whirled to face him, only to find the acrobat leaning against a wall, trying to catch his breath.
“Oh gosh,” he said after a moment, “You sent her ?”
Batman nodded.
Dick straightened and let out a long sigh. “Oh, those thugs don’t stand a chance.”
Batman nodded. “That was the thought.”
The Team looked back and forth between them. There was something they were missing, right?
An alert sounded, and the group turned to the now opening bay in the mountain. In which flew a sleek black jet - clearly a Batplane. It came in and set down beside the bio ship. A moment later, it opened up.
Out strolled a petite figure dressed in all black, with bat ears and a yellow Batsymbol on their chest. Honestly, she looked like a female batman. Except Batman didn’t have that weird stitching over his mouth.
Behind her Gamma Squad followed tentatively. Robin came out and stood by Nightwing, and the others slowly made their way to the group.
The Team’s eyes, however, were on the stranger. She continued up till she was face-to-face with Batman.
“Hello, Black Bat,” the Dark Knight said, “Did the mission go well?”
Black Bat nodded. “Idiots, but safe.”
Why did Batman look like he was resisting the urge to smile? Or maybe that smallest corner of his mouth was twitching from all that frowning he did. Yeah, that must be it.
She tilted her head. “You were worried.”
Batman sighed, looking long at her, pointedly ignoring the stares of the surrounding heroes. “Yes.”
She nodded, then stepped forward and gave him a hug.
Black Bat wrapped her arms around Batman.
Hug.
Physical affection.
What was going on?!
Oh, but the real kicker was when he hugged her back. They held onto each other for a few seconds before Black Bat pulled back.
“Send me out more,” she said, “avoid stupid.”
Robin let out a yelp. “Excuse me? It was one time! Not my fault the info was outdated!”
Batman and Black Bat turned simultaneously to stare him down. The boy wonder shrinked a little and slunk behind Nightwing under the combined glares of the bats.
Oh yes, this girl was totally Batman’s mini-me.
Batman turned back to the girl and nodded. “You can join on a mission or two. Might keep the boys in check.”
Black Bat nodded. “Boys are dumb.”
Batman didn’t have a chance to reply, as at that exact moment, Bart ran into the room from where he’d been getting after mission snacks.
“Oh my gosh, why didn’t you tell me Black Bat was here?” He demanded.
“Do you know her?” M’gann asked.
Bart shook his head. “No, but I know of her!” he turned to Black Bat, vibrating in excitement. “You’re incredible, did you know that? You were one of my favorite bats to learn about!” he paused for a split second, in which he flashed away and came back with a notebook and pen in his hand. “Could I have your autograph?”
Black Bat nodded and took the supplies. A moment later, however, she looked back at him. “I … uh, can’t … um, you know …”
Bart looked confused for a moment, and then brightened. “Oh, right! Could you draw a picture then?”
Black Bat tilted her head before opening up the pages and drawing a big smiley face on it. With Bat ears.
Bart’s eyes were filled with pure joy as he looked down at the simple drawing. “IhavetheautographfromsomethatcankickShiva’sbutt!”
Bart left with a grin on his face and a whoosh of air. A moment later, a loud crash came from the recreational area.
“I’m okay!”
Batman sighed. “He broke something I’m going to have to pay for, didn’t he?”
Black Bat hummed as she reached up and patted his head comfortingly.
It was at this point that M’gann had had enough. First, she wasn’t alerted when members of her Team were in jeopardy. Then, and unknown operative was sent in without her consent. Now, said operative just gained permission from Batman to join the group?
“Who is she!?” M’gann demanded, her hands on her hips.
The pair of bats turned on her at that moment, but she didn’t back down. After a moment, Batman spoke.
“This is Black Bat, my daughter. She is incredibly skilled and operates in Hong Kong and Gotham.”
The young woman seemed to preen under the praise.
“You have a daughter?” Conner asked.
Robin and Nightwing looked to each other before saying in unison: “Spoilers!”
Batman glared at them before turning back to the group. “Yes, I do.”
M’gann considered the girl, she seemed capable, if she could save Gamma squad from what apparently were impossible odds. And it would be nice to get more girls on the Team …
“Fine,” she said, turning to Black Bat, “You can come join us on a mission or two, if you want.”
Black Bat bounced on her heels in excitement.
Nightwing turned to Batman. “You know if she’s allowed to join, the others will want in too.”
There was a pause, then M’gann asked quietly.
“Others?”