Fic: [DC Comics] In the Shadow of the Bat
Title: In the Shadow of the Bat
Series: DC Comics
Type: Crossover
Links: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3262416/25/
Oracle
The computer center was hidden from view, much like the old watchtower that she had used as a headquarters. Officially Oracle and the Birds of Prey were primarily based in Metropolis, but Barbara Gordon considered herself a Gothamite born and bead. She could no more completely abandon her home town than she could cut off her arm.
Barbara reviewed files and data, even as she rerouted information to allies and friends. Booster Gold was fighting against a cloned Blockbuster, and she sent him data on the thing's weak heart. Hitman and members of the Shadowpact were fighting a army of demons, data she routed to the JLA and JSA. Images crawled across screens as she worked, sending information where it needed to go.
"You want some coffee?" Dinah Lance asked, the attractive blond carrying in two mugs, steam rising gently from them.
"Thanks," Babs smiled at her warmly, pulling her wheelchair away from the terminals and glowing screens before rolling over to where Dinah was standing. She breathed deep in the steam then sipped, sighing gratefully.
Dinah grinned at her as she noted, "You make drinking coffee seem like a sexual experience."
Babs blushed, thankfully not drinking at that moment or she'd probably choke on it. "Good coffee should be appreciated," she said with as much dignity as she could muster.
"So what do you think about the Penguin being killed?" Dinah asked, deciding to stop teasing the boss for now. 'Damn she's cute when flustered,' she noted, smiling.
Barbara frowned in annoyance as she said, "I'm running into some surprising brick walls in investigating it, actually."
Dinah raised her eyebrows slightly. "They've actually managed to out do you with computers?" she asked skeptically.
"No," Babs growled her answer, "they've deliberately stayed off the internet."
"Huh?" Dinah blinked.
"I know who bought the Iceberg Lounge, but it's a shell company. Set up in person, by someone not on any facial recognition system," Barbara said flatly. "The money simply appeared when another individual cashed in a antique sword. I can track the blade's history, to a point, but it simply appears at one point."
Dinah tilted her head to the side as she noted, "That's eerie." Taking a drink of coffee she asked. "You think it's the League of Assassins?"
"First name that Bruce and I thought of," Barbara admitted, "but why? Talia Al Ghul and her people don't give a damn about the Penguin, unless he managed to insult them somehow."
"I remember him ogling my ass once," Dinah noted, "it really wouldn't surprise me if he did insult them somehow."
Babs had a moment of irritation at Penguin for doing that, but had to concede Dinah had a really nice ass. Shaking that off she continued, "It bothers me that it's almost too obvious. Especially with what Batgirl's done."
Both women exchanged satisfied grins at that comment. For over a year the new Batgirl had covertly infiltrated the League of Assassins, becoming close to Nyssa as well. In the process she had learned about the entire organization, the membership and everything else. She had reached through the years of hatred that had haunted Nyssa, and in the end actually turned her. The two women had fled the League and contacted Batman, handing him the data on the entire league.
The next few weeks had been crazy as the Birds of Prey, Batman and Robin and every ally they could grab raided the League. Together they shut down dozens of bases and captured hundreds of League agents, crippling the organization for the time being.
"Personally I'm not a hundred percent sure I trust Nyssa," Dinah noted, "she could be trying to pull something like Batgirl did." She shook her head, "But that's not really important. If it's not Talia, who else do you think it could be?"
"Anyone with a stock of antiquities and the right internal security," Babs admitted as she finished her coffee. "There are several secret societies who could do it, HIVE, the Order of St, Dumas, Vandal Savage's Illuminati and others," she said, disgusted.
"I thought that the Order of St. Dumas was gone?" Dinah asked, "I heard that Azrael managed to take them down."
"He defeated a splinter group," Babs corrected, "but the original group has stayed out of sight." She shrugged, "According to data I got from Manhunter they tried to create a earlier agent, but he went insane and became a assassin."
"What a mess," Dinah shook her head.
"Tell me about it," Barbara agreed.
Dinah looked at her boss curiously and asked, "Have you decided about what to do about the new Question?"
Babs looked at her thoughtfully, then shrugged at the change of subject. "You mean Huntress asked you to ask me?" she asked.
Dinah laughed quietly, "Yeah, pretty much. Huntress wants her on the team, and was wondering if you'd changed your mind."
"I get that Huntress likes her," Babs acknowledged that point, "and as a detective she brings some useful skills to the table. But she's tightly connected to Batwoman, and I still don't trust her to put our objectives first."
Dinah thought about speculating how tightly connected the two women were, but decided to save that for later. "Why don't you trust Batwoman?" she asked instead.
"I knew the original Batwoman back in the day," Babs said quietly after a moment, "her murder at the hands of the League of Assassins was a tragedy. I don't like a new heroine taking the name."
Dinah sighed, knowing how she felt somewhat. As a legacy hero who knew the earlier generation of heroes she understood about new people taking on old names, and how it could feel like a betrayal. Still she said, "Babs, doesn't she deserve to be judged on her own merits?"
"I suppose," Babs pouted, looking adorably cute.
Part of Dinah wanted to sweep Babs up in her arms and take her back to the bedroom just off the nearby hall. The blond firmly stepped on that emotion, knowing at least part of her basic reaction was from her recent break up with Oliver Queen, Green Arrow.
"Just think about it," Dinah asked, finishing off her now cool cup of coffee. Deciding to stretch her legs she said, "I'm going out on patrol, do you want me to bring you back anything?"
"I will," Babs nodded, agreeing to consider it. She smiled a bit sheepishly as she asked, "Chinese from the usual place?"
Dinah laughed as she headed out, "You got it."
Babs watched her go, taking in Dinah's usual uniform of tight black leather jacket, leotard and fishnet stockings. She blushed and turned back to her computers, her heart racing a bit at the sexy sight. Rolling back to her computers, she silently cursed Oliver Queen for breaking the woman's heart once again.
Babs had... always been aware of how good looking Dinah was. And, in her private moments, she would admit to having had certain fantasies about a attractive blond. All perfectly natural, of course. And she had never used the mini camera she added to Dinah's uniform to watch her shower, change clothes or anything else. Because that would be just wrong.
Okay, yes, she HAD done it! But just once. Or maybe twice.
With a soft grunt of annoyance Babs opened up a series of files, reviewing data on another open case. Intergang was still out there, despite the efforts of her team and the Question, and she wanted this case closed. News articles by Dani Grayton had helped blow the lid off some of their other activities, in fact it looked like Gotham was getting too hot for them.
'So where would they run to?' Babs wondered. Tracing the money was always a good bet, and Babs soon hit several instances where Intergang members were buying property. Interestingly they were doing it in two places, Metropolis and Coast City.
Being a former member of the Justice League had resulting in Babs copying their database, which meant it was very easy to place the first phone call. The phone rang a moment, then was tiredly answered, "Hello?"
"Hal Jordan?" Babs smiled as her computers verified his voice print, "This is Oracle."
"Oracle?" Hal echoed, the man known as Green Lantern sounding alarmed. "Listen, if this is about the rumor that I and Lady Blackhawk..."
Oracle raised her eyebrows, amused. What had Zinda done now? "No, this is a business call," she said briskly, "what do you know about Intergang?"
"High tech crime gang," Hal noted as he quickly came awake, "has ties to the New Gods. What about them?"
"Well done," Oracle smiled. "Apparently they're buying up land in Coast City. I'll send the addresses to your PDA."
"My PDA is off and has security features...," Hal started right before it turned itself on obediently and pinged happily.
"And I'm Oracle," she answered smugly, "have a nice day."
As Babs signed off, she had a impish smile on her face. She didn't show off very often as Oracle, for various reasons, keeping her capabilities out of her allies view. But every now and then it was nice to remind people just what she was really capable of. Speaking of capabilities...
Superman blinked as his Justice League signal device went off, the ultrasonic chime tuned to his unique hearing. "Superman here," he answered as he soared above Metropolis.
"This is Oracle," she answered formally, "and yes, I know I'm not currently supposed to have access to these devices. However, the information I have for you may be important."
"Carry on," Superman banked, trying to 'see' where the transmission was coming from. Interestingly it had been bounced off a communications antenna to a satellite, then was lost in other streams of data. He knew who Oracle was, of course, but he was still impressed by the lengths she went to maintain security.
"It appears Intergang is on the move again," Oracle reported, "I've told Hal about their moving into Coast City, but they're also buying properties in Metropolis." She gave him the details, including one dangerously near the Steelworks run by John Henry Irons.
"I'll keep an eye out, thanks," Superman said.
Oracle signed off, stretching in her seat. A bit guiltily she sent a copy of the Intergang data file to Lois Lane too. If Superman was too ethical to directly act against the group now, she was certain that a determined reporter like Lane would investigate them. Either way, Intergang would be slowed down or stopped cold.
Barbara sighed as she rolled out of the computer core, having heard the chime that Dinah was coming back. She was looking forward to Chinese, as well as sharing Dinah's company. She felt a pang of guilt over her... liasons with Huntress, but tried not to think about it.
To be continued...
Notes: I established she was sleeping with Huntress earlier. I don't think it's too serious for either woman, considering Huntress is sorta putting the moves on Power Girl in another chapter. I'm loosely following Black Canary's status in DC Comics, though I'm putting my own slant on it.
Babs having a attraction to Dinah is semi-canon, with a lot of unintentional femslash tossed in. Chuck Dixon, the first Birds of Prey writer, has said he was against including hints they were lesbians, but many artists on the title loved putting them in suggestive scenes.
Series: DC Comics
Type: Crossover
Links: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3262416/25/
Oracle
The computer center was hidden from view, much like the old watchtower that she had used as a headquarters. Officially Oracle and the Birds of Prey were primarily based in Metropolis, but Barbara Gordon considered herself a Gothamite born and bead. She could no more completely abandon her home town than she could cut off her arm.
Barbara reviewed files and data, even as she rerouted information to allies and friends. Booster Gold was fighting against a cloned Blockbuster, and she sent him data on the thing's weak heart. Hitman and members of the Shadowpact were fighting a army of demons, data she routed to the JLA and JSA. Images crawled across screens as she worked, sending information where it needed to go.
"You want some coffee?" Dinah Lance asked, the attractive blond carrying in two mugs, steam rising gently from them.
"Thanks," Babs smiled at her warmly, pulling her wheelchair away from the terminals and glowing screens before rolling over to where Dinah was standing. She breathed deep in the steam then sipped, sighing gratefully.
Dinah grinned at her as she noted, "You make drinking coffee seem like a sexual experience."
Babs blushed, thankfully not drinking at that moment or she'd probably choke on it. "Good coffee should be appreciated," she said with as much dignity as she could muster.
"So what do you think about the Penguin being killed?" Dinah asked, deciding to stop teasing the boss for now. 'Damn she's cute when flustered,' she noted, smiling.
Barbara frowned in annoyance as she said, "I'm running into some surprising brick walls in investigating it, actually."
Dinah raised her eyebrows slightly. "They've actually managed to out do you with computers?" she asked skeptically.
"No," Babs growled her answer, "they've deliberately stayed off the internet."
"Huh?" Dinah blinked.
"I know who bought the Iceberg Lounge, but it's a shell company. Set up in person, by someone not on any facial recognition system," Barbara said flatly. "The money simply appeared when another individual cashed in a antique sword. I can track the blade's history, to a point, but it simply appears at one point."
Dinah tilted her head to the side as she noted, "That's eerie." Taking a drink of coffee she asked. "You think it's the League of Assassins?"
"First name that Bruce and I thought of," Barbara admitted, "but why? Talia Al Ghul and her people don't give a damn about the Penguin, unless he managed to insult them somehow."
"I remember him ogling my ass once," Dinah noted, "it really wouldn't surprise me if he did insult them somehow."
Babs had a moment of irritation at Penguin for doing that, but had to concede Dinah had a really nice ass. Shaking that off she continued, "It bothers me that it's almost too obvious. Especially with what Batgirl's done."
Both women exchanged satisfied grins at that comment. For over a year the new Batgirl had covertly infiltrated the League of Assassins, becoming close to Nyssa as well. In the process she had learned about the entire organization, the membership and everything else. She had reached through the years of hatred that had haunted Nyssa, and in the end actually turned her. The two women had fled the League and contacted Batman, handing him the data on the entire league.
The next few weeks had been crazy as the Birds of Prey, Batman and Robin and every ally they could grab raided the League. Together they shut down dozens of bases and captured hundreds of League agents, crippling the organization for the time being.
"Personally I'm not a hundred percent sure I trust Nyssa," Dinah noted, "she could be trying to pull something like Batgirl did." She shook her head, "But that's not really important. If it's not Talia, who else do you think it could be?"
"Anyone with a stock of antiquities and the right internal security," Babs admitted as she finished her coffee. "There are several secret societies who could do it, HIVE, the Order of St, Dumas, Vandal Savage's Illuminati and others," she said, disgusted.
"I thought that the Order of St. Dumas was gone?" Dinah asked, "I heard that Azrael managed to take them down."
"He defeated a splinter group," Babs corrected, "but the original group has stayed out of sight." She shrugged, "According to data I got from Manhunter they tried to create a earlier agent, but he went insane and became a assassin."
"What a mess," Dinah shook her head.
"Tell me about it," Barbara agreed.
Dinah looked at her boss curiously and asked, "Have you decided about what to do about the new Question?"
Babs looked at her thoughtfully, then shrugged at the change of subject. "You mean Huntress asked you to ask me?" she asked.
Dinah laughed quietly, "Yeah, pretty much. Huntress wants her on the team, and was wondering if you'd changed your mind."
"I get that Huntress likes her," Babs acknowledged that point, "and as a detective she brings some useful skills to the table. But she's tightly connected to Batwoman, and I still don't trust her to put our objectives first."
Dinah thought about speculating how tightly connected the two women were, but decided to save that for later. "Why don't you trust Batwoman?" she asked instead.
"I knew the original Batwoman back in the day," Babs said quietly after a moment, "her murder at the hands of the League of Assassins was a tragedy. I don't like a new heroine taking the name."
Dinah sighed, knowing how she felt somewhat. As a legacy hero who knew the earlier generation of heroes she understood about new people taking on old names, and how it could feel like a betrayal. Still she said, "Babs, doesn't she deserve to be judged on her own merits?"
"I suppose," Babs pouted, looking adorably cute.
Part of Dinah wanted to sweep Babs up in her arms and take her back to the bedroom just off the nearby hall. The blond firmly stepped on that emotion, knowing at least part of her basic reaction was from her recent break up with Oliver Queen, Green Arrow.
"Just think about it," Dinah asked, finishing off her now cool cup of coffee. Deciding to stretch her legs she said, "I'm going out on patrol, do you want me to bring you back anything?"
"I will," Babs nodded, agreeing to consider it. She smiled a bit sheepishly as she asked, "Chinese from the usual place?"
Dinah laughed as she headed out, "You got it."
Babs watched her go, taking in Dinah's usual uniform of tight black leather jacket, leotard and fishnet stockings. She blushed and turned back to her computers, her heart racing a bit at the sexy sight. Rolling back to her computers, she silently cursed Oliver Queen for breaking the woman's heart once again.
Babs had... always been aware of how good looking Dinah was. And, in her private moments, she would admit to having had certain fantasies about a attractive blond. All perfectly natural, of course. And she had never used the mini camera she added to Dinah's uniform to watch her shower, change clothes or anything else. Because that would be just wrong.
Okay, yes, she HAD done it! But just once. Or maybe twice.
With a soft grunt of annoyance Babs opened up a series of files, reviewing data on another open case. Intergang was still out there, despite the efforts of her team and the Question, and she wanted this case closed. News articles by Dani Grayton had helped blow the lid off some of their other activities, in fact it looked like Gotham was getting too hot for them.
'So where would they run to?' Babs wondered. Tracing the money was always a good bet, and Babs soon hit several instances where Intergang members were buying property. Interestingly they were doing it in two places, Metropolis and Coast City.
Being a former member of the Justice League had resulting in Babs copying their database, which meant it was very easy to place the first phone call. The phone rang a moment, then was tiredly answered, "Hello?"
"Hal Jordan?" Babs smiled as her computers verified his voice print, "This is Oracle."
"Oracle?" Hal echoed, the man known as Green Lantern sounding alarmed. "Listen, if this is about the rumor that I and Lady Blackhawk..."
Oracle raised her eyebrows, amused. What had Zinda done now? "No, this is a business call," she said briskly, "what do you know about Intergang?"
"High tech crime gang," Hal noted as he quickly came awake, "has ties to the New Gods. What about them?"
"Well done," Oracle smiled. "Apparently they're buying up land in Coast City. I'll send the addresses to your PDA."
"My PDA is off and has security features...," Hal started right before it turned itself on obediently and pinged happily.
"And I'm Oracle," she answered smugly, "have a nice day."
As Babs signed off, she had a impish smile on her face. She didn't show off very often as Oracle, for various reasons, keeping her capabilities out of her allies view. But every now and then it was nice to remind people just what she was really capable of. Speaking of capabilities...
Superman blinked as his Justice League signal device went off, the ultrasonic chime tuned to his unique hearing. "Superman here," he answered as he soared above Metropolis.
"This is Oracle," she answered formally, "and yes, I know I'm not currently supposed to have access to these devices. However, the information I have for you may be important."
"Carry on," Superman banked, trying to 'see' where the transmission was coming from. Interestingly it had been bounced off a communications antenna to a satellite, then was lost in other streams of data. He knew who Oracle was, of course, but he was still impressed by the lengths she went to maintain security.
"It appears Intergang is on the move again," Oracle reported, "I've told Hal about their moving into Coast City, but they're also buying properties in Metropolis." She gave him the details, including one dangerously near the Steelworks run by John Henry Irons.
"I'll keep an eye out, thanks," Superman said.
Oracle signed off, stretching in her seat. A bit guiltily she sent a copy of the Intergang data file to Lois Lane too. If Superman was too ethical to directly act against the group now, she was certain that a determined reporter like Lane would investigate them. Either way, Intergang would be slowed down or stopped cold.
Barbara sighed as she rolled out of the computer core, having heard the chime that Dinah was coming back. She was looking forward to Chinese, as well as sharing Dinah's company. She felt a pang of guilt over her... liasons with Huntress, but tried not to think about it.
To be continued...
Notes: I established she was sleeping with Huntress earlier. I don't think it's too serious for either woman, considering Huntress is sorta putting the moves on Power Girl in another chapter. I'm loosely following Black Canary's status in DC Comics, though I'm putting my own slant on it.
Babs having a attraction to Dinah is semi-canon, with a lot of unintentional femslash tossed in. Chuck Dixon, the first Birds of Prey writer, has said he was against including hints they were lesbians, but many artists on the title loved putting them in suggestive scenes.