Family troubles

Cassandra, and Vincent weren't Skrulls. But when I entered the the cave that is adjacent to the house that is ere that "Legacy" Team lives for the most part. I knew something was wrong When I find Cassandra with her costume torn and a strange glow behind her.

I soon realized it was a super saiyan glow. I glared at the kid, that stupid boy Vincent. In her bed.


There was some loud angry words and I stormed out . When I finally returned home I changed out of my Costume,and exited from out of the Grandfather clock entrance to the Batcave, and am surprised by a little blonde girl.

" Who you?" she asks.

" That's the same question I was going to ask you." I think to myself though I doubt a two year old would understand it. Instead what comes out is "Alfred!!!"

He explained that Tim had left Stephanie's daughter here. I know I was going to hear him yell about it after he hears what my next move was I found the girl's mother, Seems she took the utility belt back that Robin took from her some time back.

Good. there is a tracking device in it, So I was able to use the JLA teleporter to go right to her. Though Green Arrow complained. Until I threatened to have the Question Reinstated to the League.

He has a bad enough time arguing with Hawkman every five minutes. Add an Objectivest conspiracy theorist, and Arrow would no longer have the time to regale us with ideas. That and Sage would start calling Ollie by his favorite nick name for him "Marxist Twit." Well he stopped talking about my waste of energy. ( I am not using the Batwing again to go to West City. )

After appearing in West City, I watch Spoiler defeat some small time crooks. After she ties them up for the police She climbs up a building and there I meet her. " Stephanie."


" AAAAAAH!"

" Damn! Just don't jump out at people!" She shrieks. " What did I do this time?"

" Robin has left your daughter at my mansion. " I state.

She's just silent for a few seconds. "Can I see her?"

" Yes, but it will be difficult, if not impossible for you to raise her alone."

She 's just quiet. " Watchtower.... Two for beam up!" I command. After she plays with the child, while not really telling of her relationship with her, I find where Stephanie's father, Arthur Brown, AKA Cluemaster, AKA Reformer, And his wife are these days.

While Stephanie wasn't looking I went into Gotham and found Arthur.

" Reformer." I start.

" What the hell do you want Batman? Haven't you taken enough from me?"


" It's about your daughter..." I start.

" You don't say anything about her! Your the one that killed her!"

" She would have never went into crime fighting if it wasn't for you." I tell him his response is to throw a punch. That I easily dodge.

" Arthur Stephanie is alive." I say.

" What is this? Some kind of sick joke Batman? It's ain't the least bit funny!"

" No Joke. Batgirl did .. something that I still don't understand, and she lives again. Are you aware that she had a daughter?"


" Yeah, I'm aware."

" I have her somewhere safe. and I believe Stephanie wants to raise her, but she needs help. You seem to have actually changed for the better this time, I hope for your daughter and granddaughter's sake you truly have."

I'm about to leave the when he starts talking. " Let's say for a second I believe you Batman. First Is she that Spoiler that's been appearing in West City? Second have you been trying to use her as a weapon like you have that Robin kid, and Batgirl?"


" I've been trying to get her to quit the hero life, as Robin has as well. She's stubborn. Stay here I'll bring her back."

I got her to reluctantly see her father, they argued for what seemed like hours.but they both Agreed to try to at least co exist for now. And Arthur offered to help with Gwen, though. Stephanie. " You screwed up my life Dad! No way am I letting you screw up hers!"

" And you think you can raise a daughter with a team of misfits? You have school you know!" He shoots back.

" yeah well Batgirl can watch when I'm at School."

" No. There is no way I'm letting creepy ninja girl around my granddaughter."

" Hmph. She's a better influence that you are!"

" I'm not Cluemaster anymore, I know I messed up, but Just give me a chance."

"Damn it." She sighs " Ok. Dad you can baby sit, but if you treat her like you did me, well Batman isn't the only thing you have to worry about got it?"

"Ok. "

This isn't the perfect situation, but I'll be watching Mr. Brown. Besides I have offered to allow Stephanie to let Gwen stay the mansion when she needs to. By using The saiyan girl to transport her,. ( I don't trust Inertia.)

Before she returns home, she asks " Was I really Robin?"

" I have already answered that."

" Yeah you were telling that to a dying girl, but the truth?"

" Yes you were Robin, Tim had quit, but as he said I need a Robin. I fired you because of your problem with taking orders. I thought you could die, I hate being right sometimes." She stares at me. " Though you are getting better I watched you fight. As I told Cassandra, you are allowed back any time you want. "

" Yeah. I'll think I'll just keep training with Question, he won't fire me every 5 seconds. But hey thanks for y'know everything. "

I'm hoping this works out. Though I have my reservations.

It's an invasion.

The Skrull told me evreything. I have him teleported to the Watchtower. Meanwhile I tell Nightwing the situation. " They are trying to sow distrust among the superheroes that have defeated them over and over. While we are fighting each other. They come in, and take over. He gave me a list of those he knows are Skrulls. there are others. "


" So how do you know who to trust?" Nightwing asks.

I think for a second. " You could do as I do. Don't trust anyone."

He rolls his eyes. " Yeah that's just what I need. "

" Do as you want. I have to go back to the Cave." I head towards the Batwing.

" What about Gwen?" He shouts .

" That will have to wait until later." I state gruffly.


From The Batwing I connect to the Cave's computer, and have it sift through data to find Skrulls. The parameters are acting strange compared to past actions. Among many others.

While it's doing that I'm going to take a quick stop in while I'm in California. Capsule Corp in West City.

As I land. I see Dr. Bulma Briefs exiting her laboratory. " Okay, Cassandra isn't here, and Vegeta is in space. "


" Actually I came here to see you." I respond.

" Um what?" She gives me an odd look. " I'm flattered but..."

" I was wanting that device that changes Skrulls back to their real forms." I interrupt.

" Oh." She sighs." Okay. I can give you designs But we need the one we have here. But you have to do something for me."

" Oh what ? " I look at her suspiciously.

" Leave Vincent , and Cass alone. "

I grind my teeth. " You have a deal the world, is more important, than the fact that Cassandra is making a huge mistake."


She shakes her head. " What you don't remember what it was like to be at that age? "

"At their age I trained, and studied honing my skills fore the Mission. Though She has great martial arts skills her mind still needs to sharpened. For the day when I can no longer protect Gotham. Batgirl, and Robin take my place. "


" Obsessed much?" She mutters. " I'll go get the designs. " After a few minutes of waiting. She gives them too me. As I look over them I have some ideas of how to miniaturize it.

But as I look at the computer results , for suspects that could be Skrulls. It looks like I have to break my promise to Dr. Briefs. The first on the List Is Cassandra Cain. While the second is no surprise Stephanie Brown. Could her resurrection have really been to good to be true? Yes. Looks like it. I guess While I'm here I should find out.

Skrulls in the Tower.

" Master Bruce?"

" Yes Alfred?" I turn to my butler who acts like he's been wanting to find the right words about something.

" Superman called he was at Titan's Tower and saw a little blonde girl being taken care of by Master Timothy."

" By little girl you mean.... ?" Because If Alfred is trying to tell me of Robin's love life with one of the Titans I'd rather not hear it.

" Child sir. He has been feeding and clothing a little girl for days. "

Hmm. Then something hit me from two years back Spoiler had an absence of exactly nine months from active superhero duty. Common Sense told me she was pregnant. A little detective work told me it wasn't Tim's.

I kept track of the child after Stephanie died, and sent money to the adoptive parents. I haven't thought about it since the Bludhaven disaster. I just assumed.... Well perhaps I shouldn't assume things. Though there is the possibility of it being another blonde child. I decided I should investigate.

I had the thought if the child is alive and there's records of her, the Question would probably stumble on them in one of his paranoid background checks. The man can be unpredictable. He might tell Stephanie about her, or he might believe it's all part of his imaginary conspiracy.



On my way to Titan's Tower I see this is in several cities.

I'm just going to guess Clark's clone is at it again. Inside the Tower I find said clone with Kryptonite on him,and the Martian girl on fire I take the rock and put it In my belt. When he recovers Conner blows out the fire on the martian. I get ready for battle keeping to the shadows, I watch as Kid Flash and Nightwing battle with Raven.

The girl has gone rouge before, so I shouldn't be surprised. But the strange thing she wasn't using magic. She was using brute force, and was soon defeated by my Protege' and the young speedster.

When she's knocked out I see why they are battling. She's a Skrull. "Batman! How long have you been there?" Nightwing asks.

" Just got here. " I respond. " I want to talk to Tim About this child he's taking care of."

" Yeah about that... Tim thinks your going to go nuts and kill Spoiler, because it's um hers. "

" I know. I've known for some time, and no I'm not going to kill anyone, but that can wait until later." I took a neurotoxin, that Heroslayer used on shape shifters to freeze their powers.

And people laugh at me for keeping things like this in my belt. Though I have no doubts the Skrull activity on Earth has intensified, since that idiot Vegeta decided to kick a hornet's nest by openly challenging them.

Yet the reason he took thatt course is because they infiltrated his ranks. Meaning they have an agenda. "Nightwing." I order. Some habits die hard. "Take Kid flash, and the rest out of here. They don't need to see what's going to happen next."

I turn my attention to the shape changer. " Now we're going to have a long talk. about your plan, and where the real Raven is. And yes it is going to hurt."

The Joker's weird.

The Shredder teleported out of my city after having a confrontation with Deathstroke, and and Elektra, and another fight with Wolverine. I don't care where they went after that.

After spending a couple of days recovering from the injuries I received from Logan, and making up with Cassandra. I finally track down the Joker. And this battle was well strange. I don't want to talk about it too much.. all I know is a picture is worth a thousand words.

Every time I fight that clown I end up doing something embarrassing. And that's not Robin on the surfboard just some random kid that Joker dressed up, and strapped to his surf board. Long story short I captured Joker again, and he is once again in Arkham Asylum.


I only hope they can keep him locked up for more than a week. As for me and Catwoman... It's complicated. We'll see how it goes.

Chasing Wolverine.

Wolverine slashed my armor open with his claws. If I hadn't have rolled with it he would have killed me . Almost did any way. He left looking to kill the so called "Shredder". I follow him in the bat mobile, doing a quick bandage job on my self after he parks his motorcycle.

After pushing through the pain I sneak in to find that animal slaughtering ninjas The Shredder was attacking him. " You are the last person I expected to see here Logan!"


" Yeah life's jest full O' funny surprises ain't it Sakai? Ya won' be worrying about that much longer though since ya ain't gonna have a life no more."

" Your threats are meaning less when I am a much better fighter than you are Mutant!" The shredder slashes through Logan's chest with uncanny speed.


The short canuck smiles. " Yeah but I'll heal from my wounds bub probably in a few minutes. While you'll just keep losin' blood from this!" Wolverine starts to maul. Shredder.

I throw an exploding Batarang at his head. It knocks him back so Shredder tries to go for Logan's heart I stop him with a Batarang attached to a rope. " There will be no more killing!" I demand.

" From the looks of it your in no position to give orders. " Shredder cuts the rope and tries to hit me with a flying kick. I dodge it and throw and catch him with some strikes in the wounds Logan inflicted on him.

He clutches his chest I'm about to knock the clan leader out when Wolverine tackles me sending us both hurtling out the the building's window.

" Ya know Bats, I wouldn't have went so easy on ya back at Gotham Square. "

I start with the whole plan I used last time anesthesia gas, and exploding batrangs along with some pepper spray. When he starts going bezerker again, I shock him with a tazer.


He's wobbly now I just have to put him down before his healing factor kicks in. I'm interrupted by screams from the inside . I slam Logan with an uppercut wearing the adamntuim glove. Then go investigate.

I catch the Shredder. with some kind of device in his hand I get a closer look and notice it's a teleporter damn! Wolverine( I wasn't expecting Logan to heal so quickly.)
runs up behind me and leaps at the ninja who disappears. yelling. " You and your gallery of freaks keep this city. For now! When I rebuild my clan I will burn it to the ground!"


I look around while me and Wolverine were fighting someone murdered the ninjas. Logan curses and leaves saying something like " There ain't no reason ta stay here if Sakai's gone I'll get 'im when he resurfaces. "

The adrenaline of the fight wears off and I'm reminded how much Logan's and Shredder's blades hurt. The pain is replaced with a cold chill when take off a ninja's mask, and find a garish smile staring back at me. The Joker's back.

Out of town Visitors.

A couple of snitches told me something was going down, at Gotham Square during Midnight. The square was oddly quiet , too quiet. A harsh Voice Announces itself. " So Your the great Batman huh? Not very impressive. "

I turn on this person.

" This is simple Batman, leave my business alone keep chasing your lunatics and you get to live. Challenge me , and you die."I didn't come back here from hell just to be stymied by an idiot in a bat costume. "

So he's saying that he was dead once? Does every one comeback? I'm beginning to get sick of this. " So what is that you want...?" I ask.

" Call me the Shredder. What I want is simple power, and respect."

" There are other ways besides crime." I state.

" What are you my guidance councilor?" He laughs. " I don't want to waste time you see I'm a very busy man. Tell me will you accept my terms? Or will I tear you apart with my bare hands? "

" Many have tried to threaten me before." I say. " And they didn't have a name that sounded like they were making cheese for a pizza."

" Die Fool!" He leaps from one building to another I try to land a punch in his solar plexus. He leaps over it and hits me from behind. Hnh. Lucky. His Blades come for my face I block the strike And use his momentum against him tossing him into a chimney shattering it.

" So ! Your not just all show. Good I find it far more satisfying to kill real warriors." He boasts. Throwing two shuriken, I deflect those with Batarangs.

I feint, and pay for it with a slash across my leg, My armor deflected most of it. I elbow him in the chin and follow up with several blows in the chest, He goes for a straight kick that I stop with a foot sweep.

On the ground he takes out a gun. A flash bang grenade stuns him. I'm about to go for a knock out blow when he yells "Foot Cyber Soldiers Attack!" Cybernetic Ninjas burst from their hiding place. " Farewell Batman." Shredder. coldly spits.

One grabs my cape and tosses across to another building. A bunch of kids stare at me as I recover. " Get out of here now!" I shout.

I hear the whirr of the cyborgs' hydraulics. I take some weapons out from my belt, and formulate a plan to defeat all of them when I hear a very familiar "Snikt!" Too late I run into the corridor and can only watch as that savage Wolverine slays the ninja.


He grins. " Look like ya needed help bub. No need ta thank me."

I glare." I'll warn you once Logan. Get out of my city."

" Tch. Some gratitude Bats." He starts growling. " Look I gotta blood debt that needs settled ,and I ain't leavin' till I do."


" Don't make me ship you back to Xavier in chains ." I warn him.

" Looks like we're at an impasse bub. " I'm surprised he knows that word. " But when we get down to it yer just some nutso Billionaire in a cape an' mask And I'm the best there is at what I do. I beat ya once . I can do it again. "

" I wasn't ready for you then. " I enlighten him . " I am now."


" We'll see Bats ." He shouts charging at me. I guess he'll just have to learn the hard way.

Prankster kids!

Robin is back from rehab. He seems much better now. He was telling me about How he was going to train the Titans. I must say I am a little disappointed that the two teams didn't do battle, but eh, I'll just review footage of any battles they have in the future.

I'm still working on the ninja case. Although I did decide to go to tonight's Justice League meeting. I'm going to bring up my concerns about The Question mentoring no wait that's not the right word . I believe the right word is warping young minds.

I ask Robin if he wants to be teleported to Titans' Tower from the Watchtower. " Sure just let me load up on Batarangs."

He goes down the corridor of the cave when I hear the unmistakable sound of a Batarang flying past me. Then a "thunk!" sound. And the sound of shattering glass. The voice of Spoiler yelling " Bonus Points! you knocked him into the Jason Todd Memorial Cass!"

I ran towards it to find this scene.


" Cassandra! Stephanie! This is immature behavior is why I didn't want you going out on your own! This isn't our way! retaliation is the saiyan way!"

The voice of a young man with a slight Californian accent comes from behind me. " What would you know of saiyans?"

I turn on the kid who looks like a taller skinnier version of Vegeta. Especially since he's now wearing the armor.

" I don't know Vincent." I smile, You see while fighting in the saiyan War I learned they have a weakness. With a fluid motion I grab his tail. When I did this to the invading saiyans they passed out from pain, But Vincent keeps staring at me with that damned smirk.

" And what exactly are you trying to do? For what it's worth I tried to talk these two out of this. I have have no problem with Tim, In fact I owe him, but hey you try to change the minds of two women once they set them on something."

His tail slips out of my hand, and it wraps around his waist. Damn it! I bet the grabbing the tail strategy wouldn't work on Vegeta either. The kid smiles at me then disappears when I blink I feel something happen to my cape and mask then the wind rushes out of the cave.


He must have taken Cassandra and Stephanie with him. I must admit, I am a little impressed they were able to get in to the cave without the sensors detecting them.

I look down at Tim. " Are you ok?"

" Yes." He stares at me rubs his eyes then looks at me again." Then again maybe not. I'll have myself checked over the Tower. "

Robin's reaction to me wasn't the only strange reaction I received. Some of the JLA support staff were looking at me strangely. When I go into the main meeting room, the flash spits coffee all over the place. " So Bats? Do you feel pretty oh so Pretty?"


" What are you talking about Flash?" I ask, as Wonder Woman Walks past me. " Merciful Minerva!" She exclaims before laughing.

Superman grins. " And I thought my blue energy phase was bad. "

" What?!" I yell. Green Lantern creates a mirror while snickering, I'm actually surprised Hal went five minutes without hitting his head on something long enough to do that. I look in it and see.....

Damn it! Vincent's parents are definitely going to hear about this!