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[spoileralert]

12:34

Friday, May 4

Verizon

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[srsbat]

They are.

I'm in that area. Someone claims the Joker is further south, so be careful if you're coming down.

[spoileralert]

I'm going up. I'm just down here to pick up Zach, then we're headed back to the museum in the east.

[srsbat]

All right. From what I've read and who I've spoken with, east seems to be the biggest lead. I'm going to try to keep Joker out of the way and find what I can here.

[spoileralert]

It's the easiest, at least. We're working on digging it out. You might have more luck with the big honking gate than the others have had.

[ Because you are SO SMART, even if you are an asshole sometimes. ]

[srsbat]

[So smart he's sometimes socially stunted.]

I'll see what I can do. Seems too easy. It may have been a deterrent strictly for the residents which makes the chances greater of the unlocking mechanism being further away, maybe in the location you're heading.

If the town is running on technology, there must be a central hub even if it's being managed remotely.

[spoileralert]

We know that there's some sort of monster under the city, and that the previous residents that still exist are with it there. We also know that these kind of walls and the administrative system are not an uncommon feature of cities in this world. Assuming that's true, and the monster doesn't pre-date the defenses, it's possible that its taken up residence in or near the hub. If the hub isn't underground, it seems likely that it's either in the town hall or managed through the town hall.

Either way, we were told that there's a path, and that we need to follow the spiral. We just don't know yet which way the spiral goes. If the gate isn't the right direction it may be a shortcut we can open from somewhere on the spiral.

[srsbat]

We still lack a great deal of information. [But he already knows she knows this, too.] Let's try to find out if this "monster" is organic in any way. It's either guarding the hub or perhaps feeding off of it.

I'll be on this side as long as I can manage. Let me know if any of you attempt anything that doesn't seem to work, and I'll check here. [A pause.]

I don't care for the idea of being controlled by nanomachines. I saw the data with-- [It feels odd to say it so casually, over this.] Red Robin.

[spoileralert]

[ So it's true, Tim Drake is Red Robin. Anything else she might have had to say about nanobot mind control goes out the window. ]

Do you know about the team you and Batwoman put together? With me, and Cass?

[srsbat]

[Wth, self.]

No. Explain.

[spoileralert]

[ Thats not the answer she was hoping for. She's surprised to find that it scares her, the thought that those memories might not be real. ]

Do you know about Cassandra Cain? Do you know about Orphan?

[srsbat]

I know Cain and the alias, yes.

[spoileralert]

What about after that? Do you know about me and T- Red Robin?

[srsbat]

[After a pause.] Tim. [It's strange, but he's giving them clearance to say it.]

Yes.

[spoileralert]

[ She needs a minute. She needs to sit down. She is going to sit down.

The ground is way too fucking cold she is standing up again. ]

I wasn't sure how much of it was real. I dreamed it, the last time I died - everything after my dad was killed.

[srsbat]

You're real. Likely, we're not from the same timeline. I'm aware. But you're real, Stephanie. And we're real, too. Robin, Batwoman, Nightwing, Red Robin, Orphan, even--Jason.

[spoileralert]

[ She sighs, a little limp with relief. ]

I don't know why that makes me feel better.

[ ... ]

No, that's not true. I do know. Everything went to shit when my dad tried to kill me. Now I know it really does get better.

[srsbat]

It does. Life fluctuates through good and bad. Things will always get better. I understand at times it doesn't seem as if it will, that the darkness seem endless and suffocating. But I promise it does.

Here, too. Escape may seem hopeless, but we'll find a way.

[spoileralert]

Yeah.

[ She may talk a big game, but she sounds pretty comforted. ]

Sorry, I got kind of sidetracked there. What were we talking about again?

[srsbat]

You should get some rest.

[spoileralert]

Rest? Hah! What is that?

[ When not sleeping stops being a choice... ]

[srsbat]

[He can't even talk. He's the worst one of the bunch about not resting. Not sleeping.]

How long have you been awake? Do you have any unusual symptoms? [To explain his questioning:] I read about the MN poisoning.

[spoileralert]

Depends how you define "awake". I know I must have drifted off once or twice because I remember waking up from nightmares.

[srsbat]

Any time that you have slept here, have you always had nightmares?

[spoileralert]

I could count the times I haven't on one hand. But it's not too different from back home. There's... plenty to have nightmares about.

[srsbat]

[Bruce is quiet for a long moment, thinking.] Not if nanomachines are involved. [He's just thinking of all of the consequences. Typical Bruce.] Do you feel as if any of them have been significant?