Tang Ri Shan

Conundrum

(Remember, I do not own Beware the Batman or any of its characters!)

Chapter 15

"NOOOOOOO!" Wesley Farmin screamed as a cloud of cream-colored smoke engulfed him. He started coughing and choking. Oracle dropped the spray can as the gas consumed her as well.

"Oracle!" Katana yelled, panic clear in her voice as she gasped in horror at the smoke cloud.

Batman suddenly felt the Question whip him around so the two men were face to face. "Tell me" He said, suddenly sounding very urgent. "What you said before, did you really mean it?"

"Yes. Every. Single. Word." Batman replied, putting emphasis on every word, his face unchanging. The Question sighed, as if suddenly relieved. There was a flash of metal in his hands and suddenly the bands holding Batman relaxed. The chunk of metal fell to the floor with a metallic tinkle and Batman stretched his newly freed arms.

"How did you know?" Question asked.

"The second part of the poem." Batman answered softly. "You were right. I was so focused on the first part of the message, I was blind poem's true meaning."

The Question nodded. "Recognizing one's weaknesses is a sign of wisdom". He commented as he handed Batman a small knife and nodded towards the others.

"What's going on, here?"Gordon asked, straightening as Batman walked over to him.

"Long story" Batman answered, using the sharp edge of the tool to cut through the binds holding the commissioner. "Could you get Whale and Harv.." Batman paused, glancing at the bound man. "Get Two-Face out of here? I'll take care of Wesley Farmin"

Gordon nodded and turned towards Whale, who was staring at the Question with terror on his face. "Yeah, get me out of here, baby, this is whack" He muttered as he was hauled to his feet and led away, still bound. A few minutes later, a couple of officers came in and lead King Kraken, Banshee, the Ten-Eyed Man, and Two-Face away in latter snarled at Batman as he was hauled away, murder in his eyes.

"OW!" Batman, who had been steadily meeting Two-Face's glare, whirled around as the Question leapt away from Katana, who he had just freed, holding his arm. Katana lunged forward, catching the Question with a vicious punch before felling him with a savage roundhouse kick. "Okay, I probably deserved that, but..." Katana's cry of rage cut him off as she raised her fist again.

"Katana stop!" Batman ordered. Katana froze, her fist inches from Question's face. "Leave him!"

"Why?" Katana demanded "He deserves this after what he did to Oracle!" Katana raised her fist again.

"Katana!" Barbara's voice made her freeze. By now the gas cloud had cleared, and Oracle was walking towards them, her face still blank, but hr shoulders weren't sagging anymore. "I'm fine" She said, her voice clear, not muffled at all. Behind her, Wesley Farmin was lying on the ground, unconscious, but still with his face.

"Oracle? Katana gasped, still looking edgy. "Is that you?"

Oracle tutted. "Of course it's me!"

"What are you-argh!" Metamorpho gasped, his voice cracking from the electric current still arcing through him. Oracle held out a small remote, pressed a button and the current stopped. Metamorpho gave a sigh of relief as the disk popped off and fell to the floor with a clatter.

"But Oracle, your face-?" Man-Bat hissed as the Question knelt down to cut through his bands.

"It's just a mask, Man-Bat" Oracle said, pointing to her blank face.

"A mask of pseudoderm, to be exact. One I gave to Oracle earlier this evening" The Question added, finishing. He backed away as Man-Bat stretched his wings. "You see, in Hub City, a rumor has sprung up that I possess the ability to take away people's faces. Wesley Fermin is already paranoid by nature, so I figured that if I brought this legend to life, it would scare him into turning himself in for his own protection."

"And you didn't think to share this with us?" Katana scowled.

"Actually, he did" Batman said. Everyone looked at him "The second part of the poem. Though puppetry is seen as a false art, when you face de truth, you must accept your part. The Question pretended to de-face Oracle and she pretended to act like a puppet under his control. That was his plan all along"

"I couldn't tell you outright because I needed your reactions to be genuine, or else no one would have believed it." Question explained. "You saw how scared Whale was when he left, well the effect will be far stronger on Fermin. By the time he wakes up, he'll never want to leave jail again." He turned to glance at the unconscious man, still wrapped in bands of metallic pseudoderm. "And he'll to anything to make sure he doesn't, even turn in fellow criminals"

"So, in other words, you used us" Metamorpho growled, stalking forwards, but Oracle stepped in front of him.

"Don't be angry at Question." She said, her voice tight. "If you're going to blame someone, blame me. This was my idea"

"Yours?" Katana exclaimed, "Why?"

"You know why" Oracle replied, hands on her hips.

"No, I don't" Katana mirrored Oracle's move.

"This charade may have been an act, but what I said earlier was not a lie" The Question explained.

"You were treating me like a third wheel!" Oracle added. "How can I truly be a part of your team if you continue to shut me out?"

"What I said wasn't a lie either." Batman responded, fixing both Oracle and Question with a scowl. "Did you expect to earn my trust this way?"

"No, I wanted you to realize that I was just as important to this team as any of you are!" Oracle snapped. "I take the same risks you do, even more sometimes!"

Wesley Fermin suddenly moaned and shifted.

"As much as I hate to agree with Fermin on anything, I think he has the right idea, this conversation is has been going on for too long" The Question said, pulling a pocket-watch from his pocket and examining it. "I should get back to Hub City."

"So soon?" Oracle looked up surprised.

"Things are getting-complex, around here. You and your partners have much to discuss. The last thing you need is me stifling your thoughts." The Question turned to leave, then stopped. "I will need the mask back, though." He added.

Oracle groaned, then reached up to her chin, searching for a seam, to her surprise, she didn't find one. She felt over her entire face, but all she felt was skin-like pseudonym. She gripped one of her cheeks and gave a curious tug. "Ow!" the pseudoderm mask seemed to be glued to her skin. "Um Question?"

"Yes?"

"H-how do I take this mask off?" She asked.

The Question paused a minute before answering. "This is one of the factors that made pseudoderm so successful. When combined with a special gas upon application, the material bonds directly with human skin, and renders it impossible to remove by external forces."

"So you're saying it doesn't come off?" Oracle sounded panicked.

"Did I say that?" The Question asked, before pulling a small cylinder from his pocket. He held it up to Oracle and sprayed a green gas on her face. "Try now"

Oracle once again ran her fingers along her chin and this time she discovered a seam right away. She dug her fingers under it and felt the mask come away from her face as she pulled. "Ah, that's better" She said, holding out the pseudoderm mask.

"Fascinating" Man-Bat's eyes widened. Batman had to agree with him. While the mask was blank and featureless on one side, it clearly had an eyepiece and a mouth filter on the other side. Oracle handed the mask, reluctantly, to Question,who placed it in a pouch on his belt.

"I trust you can make sure he gets to jail?" Question nodded at Fermin, who was stirring. Batman nodded. "Then I take my leave. Until we meet again" The Question bowed, and as he did, thick grey smoke began to seep out from beneath his overcoat. The Question walked, still bowing, backwards into the smoke cloud and disappeared.

"He's got style" Metamorpho commented as the smoke began to fade away.

An hour later

"I still can't believe you deceived us like that!" Katana raged, pacing around the Batcave. Oracle, Batman, and Alfred watched her pace. Katana stopped and frowned at Oracle. "What were you thinking?"

"I was-!" Oracle paused, then then she looked at the ground, unsure of what to say.

"It's been said that many people never truly realize how valuable something is to them until it's gone." Alfred spoke up."Seems to me that Oracle was trying to show us how useful she's been to us all this time.

"Yeah" Oracle agreed. "Question was trying to scare Wesley, I guess I was trying to scare you guys into thinking you needed me."

"Makes sense" Katana finally said after a minute. "When you were faceless, I felt so worried and, so helpless"

"Really?" Oracle's eyes lit up, but she looked surprised.

"Really" Katana nodded. "It made me realize just how close we became during all those training sessions, and all those times we worked together. You're like my second partner" Oracle felt her cheeks redden slightly.

"I still don't approve of what you did, Oracle." Batman rose form his chair. "But ultimately you're right." Oracle looked confused for a second, then a big smile slowly crept across her face as Batman continued. "We kept you out of the loop to keep you safe. But you've made it clear that you already take the same risks that we do, and are capable of performing at our level. If this is what you truly want, then I guess it is time you were officially inducted into our...little family"

"It is" Oracle nodded, her eyes shining behind her mask.

"Then allow me to start things off" Alfred stepped froward, hand extended. "Alfred Pennyworth, former MI6 agent, at you service m'lady" He gave a small bow as he shook hands with Oracle. "I also make a nice cup to tea" He added, winking, causing Oracle to laugh.

Katana sighed and shook her head, but eventually she reached up and removed her domino mask. "Tatsu Yamashiro, former CIA operative, working in the League of Assassins."

"You were with the League of Assassins?"Oracle took a step backwards.

"Once upon a time" Tatsu smiled at the shock on Oracle's face. "It's an interesting story. Maybe I'll tell you sometime"

"I'd like that" Oracle smiled back. Then she turned as Batman typed some commands into the computer. A picture of Metamorpho appeared on the screen. "Metamorpho, AKA Mason Rex" Batman explained. "Former security guard at Stagg Intustries, he fell in love with his boss's daughter, Sapphire Stagg, and was mutated by her father as a result. He didn't want his daughter fraternizing with the 'hired help'" Pictures of Simon and Sapphire Stagg appeared next to Metamorpho's.

"Ouch" Oracle commented. Batman snorted and typed another commend.

Man-Bat's picture appeared. "Man-Bat, aka Dr. Kirk Langstrom, a scientist who was studying the genetic makeup of bats, more specifically their immune system. He was forced by Professor Pyg and Mister Toad to develop a mutagenic formula, and they tested it out on him." Pictures of the two eco-terrorists appeared. Batman looked at Oracle. "You've seen the result"

"Double ouch" Oracle made a face before looking up at Batman. "And you are-?" She asked, narrowing her eyes. Batman returned her gaze, unmoving. Oracle's frown widened. Behind her, Alfred gave a small smile and Tatsu slowly nodded.

Well, here goes nothing. Slowly, Batman reached up and grasped his cowl and pulled it off. Oracle gasped, her jaw dropping and her eyes widening to the size of dinner plates. "B-Bruce Wayne?"

"The same" Bruce said, before smiling at Oracle. "Welcome to the family, Barbara Gordon"

Oracle looked stunned, then she slowly reached up and removed her mask. As she replaced it with her glasses, her eyes began watering and she gave him a smile. "Thanks for having me" Her voice was choked with happiness.

The Next Afternoon

Barbara Gordon shifted in her seat, watching as the new mayor of Gotham was appointed in front of City Hall. Wesley Fermin had awoken in prison, and, like the Question had said, seemed very eager to remain there. He was cooperating with prosecutors and she had heard about dozens of arrests in Hub City, several of them being crooked cops. The police commissioner from Hub City had resigned under fire and his successor was doing very well.

Barbara rose with the rest of the crowd, cheering and clapping as the white-haired man waved to the audience before coming to shake hands with some of Gotham's benefactors. Barbara's grin widened as she spotted Bruce Wayne among them. I still can't believe it. Barbara thought as she watched Bruce shake the man's hand. It's so obvious, he's got the wealth, the muscles, and the time to be the Batman, and yet he's probably one of the last people I'd ever suspect. He's good. As if reading her thoughts, Bruce glanced towards them and spotted her. Barbara's eyes widened as he stepped away from the group and walked towards them. Tatsu rose as he passed her, falling into line behind him.

"Hey Commissioner" Bruce smiled as they walked up to Commissioner Gordon. "I heard about your capture of Wesley Fermin and Whale. Congratulations" He extended his hand. Barbara raised an eyebrow as her father shook it.

"Call me Jim, and as much as I would enjoy taking credit for that Bruce, I had a lot of help" Her father replied. Bruce nodded, still smiling, but his smile seemed slightly forced and he avoided looking at her entirely. Behind him, Barbara saw Tatsu's eyes roll.

He's teasing me! Barbara realized, then she smiled. Okay, let's see how he likes it. Hitching on her sweetest smile, she boldly stepped between the two men. "Excuse me Mr. Wayne, but I don't think we've officially met. I'm Barbara" She said, extending her hand.

Now Bruce raised an eyebrow, clearly having been caught by surprise, and Tatsu curled the corner of her mouth into a smile. Barbara heard her father groan behind her and she winked at Bruce. "No, I don't believe we have officially met." He said slowly, smiling himself. "Is this your daughter, Jim?" He asked.

"Yes, and she should have better manners than this!" Commissioner Gordon scowled.

Barbara pretended to look embarrassed. "Oh my gosh, you're right Dad! Bruce Wayne is practically royalty here, I should be bowing, shouldn't I?" Barbara gave a small bow. She heard Tatsu snort with laughter, and when she looked up she saw amusement gleaming in Bruce's eyes.

"Bruce, I am very sorry about this. Barbara should know better than to-"

"It's okay Jim" Bruce held up a hand and flashed Commissioner Gordon a smile. "Your daughter clearly shares her father's cunning wit. I admire that. Well, it is nice to officially meet you, Miss Gordon." Bruce gave a small bow of his own as he shook her hand. "I look forward to seeing you around Gotham"

"Count on it" Barbara replied as Bruce turned to walk towards his limo. Tatsu gave Barbara a sly wink and followed.

"Okay, what was that all about?" Commissioner Gordon demanded as they watched Bruce and Tatsu drive away.

"Just... making a new friend, dad" Barbara replied, giving him a smile. "After all, you never can have too many friends, right?"

Commissioner Gordon stared down at his daughter for a minute, then laughed. "Honestly" He exclaimed, ruffling her hair. "What am I going to do with you? Come on" He led the way to their car. Barbara followed, feeling very pleased with herself.

By the time they got back to their house, Barbara still felt smug. As she closed the door, she saw a small pile of letters on the carpet. Flipping though the official looking bills and the flashy advertisements, she noticed a small envelope at the bottom of the pile that was addressed to her.

"Anything good in the mail?" Her father called from the kitchen. Barbara hesitated. Should she tell him?

"No, nothing really interesting." She called back, stuffing the envelope into her pocket. She carried the letters into the kitchen and set them on the table. "I"ll be in my room if you need me" She said, darting out of the room before her father turned around.

Inside her bedroom, Oracle smoothed out the envelope and slit it open. As she read the letter, her eyes widened.

From Farmer Brown to the Frog Prince

Castle the Knight with the King

It's your Move, Oracle

The huntt is on!

?

Barbara sat there for a few seconds, staring at the letter, then she smiled and laughed. Reaching into her phone, she dialed a number.

"Barbara?" Tatsu answered

"Yep"

"That was quite the performance you gave earlier" Tatsu commented.

"Thanks" Barbara could hear the humor in the swordswoman's voice. "Listen, that gala that Simon Stagg is throwing tonight, is Bruce going to be there?" Barbara asked.

"He's just about to leave for it" Tatsu answered after a minute, her tone sounding guarded.

"Are you going to be there?" Barbara probed.

"I wasn't planning on it, why?"

"Let's just say I have a feeling it's going to be a very eventful party and it would be very questionable if you were not there" Barbara smiled as she glanced back at the letter. "Especially around say, 11 pm"

"I see" Tatsu replied slowly, and Barbara could almost hear the smile creeping across her face "I'll inform Mr. Wayne to 'be ready'. Thank you for the head's up" She hung up.

Barbara pocketed her phone and walked over to her desk. Having a seat, she fired up her laptop. "Okay, time to get to work." She smiled as she pulled up security footage of Stagg Industries. She smiled, "Man, I love this job"

THE END

And there you have it, another story in the can! PLEASE let me know what you think, I ALWAYS could use feedback, Good or Bad! (But preferably good!) Be on the lookout for my next story. Coming soon!

Until then- Zai Jian! (Goodbye!)