Bab 48: Chapter 48 (edited)
On the street in the middle of the night, Gotham City still doesn't realize the chaos about to unfold, so it remains eerily peaceful.
"Is this Gotham City? Isn't it supposed to be crawling with thugs and criminals?" Kara asked, gazing out the car window.
Currently, she was wearing a pure black suit. As of now, she had adopted the moniker Supergirl and was riding in the Batmobile.
This Batmobile was not a one-seater—it had a co-pilot seat and room in the back.
Lucius Fox had once ridden in the passenger seat during Bruce Wayne's first test drive, and Rachel Dawes had sat in the back when Bruce went to save her later.
Tonight, Kara was seated next to the driver.
The Batmobile's speed was nothing short of astonishing. However, in Kara's eyes, if she focused, everything around her seemed frozen, allowing her to observe every passing detail with clarity.
Bruce, concentrating on driving, still managed to catch Kara's comment and replied, "What exactly do you think Gotham City is? Even in its darkest moments, it's not a constant hub of crime."
Kara shrugged. "Yeah, sure."
Bruce didn't respond to her indifferent tone.
Being a Gotham native, he knew the city better than anyone.
"By the way," Kara began, "this voice changer you added sounds awful." She lowered her gaze, fiddling with the gear on her suit.
The suit was originally one of Bruce's spares, modified for her. A voice modulator near the neckline altered her voice, making it sound raspy and hoarse, far from her natural, melodious tone.
Kara's voice was sweet and clear, like a silver bell. If she wanted, she could have made a name for herself in music.
Bruce explained his reasoning. "The mask and voice changer are meant to hide my identity. None of what I do is legal."
He paused, then added, "I also don't want the people I've fought to discover who I am and target the people I care about. You wouldn't want your adoptive parents to be hurt, would you?"
Kara frowned slightly at the mention of her adoptive parents but quickly eased her expression. She snorted softly, thinking about how she and Clark could use their mental abilities to ensure people wouldn't recognize them, even without elaborate disguises.
When they were acting as Superman and Supergirl, their heroic personas naturally set them apart.
But when they returned to their civilian identities, no one made the connection unless they blatantly revealed themselves. Even something as minor as wearing glasses could be enough to create a cognitive barrier.
"Alright, tell me about this plan of yours," Kara said, attempting to clarify Bruce's vague explanations from earlier.
Bruce responded, "We're heading to Arkham Asylum. A friend of mine will meet us there. I'll explain everything when we arrive."
Instead of repeating himself, Bruce preferred to save his energy, and Kara didn't mind.
The conversation dwindled as they sped toward Arkham Asylum, located on a small island near Gotham.
The bridge connecting the city to the island had been raised, cutting off access. However, Bruce didn't hesitate, launching the Batmobile off the broken bridge and landing on the island with precision.
Throughout the leap, Kara remained unfazed, sitting calmly. Once they landed, she quipped, "Not bad for a flying car. Your driving's decent, too."
Bruce, focused on their mission, ignored her remark.
The Batmobile doors opened with a hiss.
"Here," Bruce tossed a compact gas mask to Kara before stepping out.
Kara caught it and inspected the device.
The mask was a precaution against the fear toxin that Ra's al Ghul had dispersed throughout the island using a modified microwave emitter.
Kara casually tossed the mask aside.
She stepped out of the car, her long legs cutting through the thick mist that blanketed the area.
The mist was saturated with Scarecrow's fear toxin, weaponized by Ra's.
Despite her nonchalance, Kara was careful not to inhale it, as any loss of control on her part could lead to catastrophic consequences for Gotham—or even the world.
She didn't need to breathe for extended periods, and she layered a psychic shield over herself for extra precaution.
"Better safe than sorry," she muttered to herself.
Once ready, she turned to Bruce, who had found his contact: James Gordon.
At this time, Gordon wasn't yet Commissioner, just a lieutenant navigating the chaos.
When Gordon spotted Kara, he looked stunned. "Since when does Batman have a partner?"
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone