Light Amidst the Chaos

Ch 26

I was trying to figure out how exactly this casing alerted Charlotte's DNA. I understand fully how it works but I'm missing how exactly it brought her back. Maybe it didn't bring her back, maybe we're looking at it all wrong. Either way, I have to figure out exactly what he did to revive her.

She had scars on her, her hair short, but she was still Charlotte. That same smile that used to be so sweet, those same green eyes that now turn red with anger. She was still her but at the same time she wasn't. At least now I know it wasn't damage control that she died. Levin did it to throw me off.

I also didn't understand the whole other contract Owen had mentioned. I'm supposed to be dead right now. Bruce only found the one at the cabin a while back. That brings me to another confusing aspect of this whole thing. What was Charlotte looking for in the floor boards of my parent's bedroom?

"Are you eating pizza?"

"Gar, thank god!"

"Do you have anymore pizza?"

I looked up from the file at the sound of Gar's voice. Rachel had been keeping an eye on him these last few days. Clark and Bruce have been able to stabilize him enough to where he would wake up when his body wanted him to. He had some internal damage, but the scans Bruce took last night showed Garfield was healing nicely.

I watched as Rachel tossed her plate next to her and wrapped her arms around Gar as best she could. I heard Gar grunt a little bit but I also heard him chuckling.

"You had us worried!" Rachel exclaimed, sitting up. "If you ever pull that shit again, I'll kill you."

"He was gonna kill you, Rach. You're my best friend, I had to protect you." Gar replied, holding his hand out to her.

"You're an idiot." Rachel replied, a small smile on her face as she grabbed his hand. "I thank you for saving me but if you pull a stunt like that again, I'm murdering you."

I smiled at the interaction. I slowly stood up, being careful of the stitches in my side. I made my way over to Gar, leaned down, and kissed his forehead.

"I'm happy you're awake. I'll give you two time to talk. You've missed quite a bit." I told him, patting his head.

Gar and Rach smiled and I left the batcave. It was quiet in the manor today. Conner and Clark went out for some father/son bonding time, Dick was with Bruce at the police station trying to gather information to see if there's anything worth investigating. Jason was helping Kory with trying to figure out what the hell Levin is concocting with heroin and acid. I was off to find Maverick.

Last I left him, he was watching Bluey on the TV while eating a sandwich. I made my way into the lounge and saw Damian had joined Maverick. The two of them were sitting on opposite ends of the couch. Maverick was curled up on one end, still wide awake. Damian was on the other reading a book.

I sat down in the chair closest to Maverick and stretched my legs out. I had a headache from all the whirlwind of twists and nearly getting killed by my own sister. Having everything be still like this, knowing Maverick was safe for another day was calming to me. Besides, Bluey wasn't all that bad.

I looked at Maverick, he was enchanted by the TV. I smiled. At least not all of Charlotte was gone, her clone was laying on the couch. Everytime I look at him, I see her. I felt bad for him because his mother is now a villain, someone who's our enemy. I don't want him knowing her like that. I want him to remember her as his mother.

Charlotte loved Maverick, so much. She gave him everything he ever wanted and more. He loved her just as much. Bedtime stories, baking, playing outside, anything Maverick was able to do she did with him. We all helped her and spent time with him, but there was no one like Charlotte to him in this whole world. She was, and still is, his everything.

Maverick is the one who's truly going to suffer after this is all over. I don't want him to suffer but it's inevitable. He's lost his grandparents, his mother, a normal childhood, and his life is now in danger. I just want him to be able to grow up and not have to worry about looking over his shoulder. It's my whole reason for doing this.

"He's not an intolerable child." Damian piped up, breaking the silence.

"Pardon?" I replied, raising an eyebrow.

"For a child, he isn't insufferable." He replied, looking up from his book.

"Thank you...?" I slowly said.

Damian shut his book and looked over at Maverick. "When I was his age, I was climbing mountains and learning how to shoot. I was 4 when I first broke my wrist. I didn't want to let my grandfather down, I kept going." His eyes averted to meet mine.

"You never had a normal childhood." I concluded, resituating myself.

"I understand what Maverick could possibly go through. I'm built to be a solider, I'm a legacy, and I'm an heir." Damian explained, reopening his book. "He isn't made to be what I am."

"And this has to do with everything going on because...?" I asked, furrowing my eyebrows.

"The League of Assassins taught me that not everyone is made to fight. I was made to fight. Maverick was made out of pure love." He replied, looking at me from his book. "My mother left me here with father to continue being a soldier because it's who I am to them." He closed his book. "From what I've observed, you all see Maverick as an actual child, someone to protect and love. He isn't a soldier to you, he's a person." He stood up and set his book on the coffee table. He walked over to me and crossed his arms. "What I'm explaining to you is how Levin and Charlotte view Maverick. They want a solider, not a child. What I experienced with Charlotte is similar to that of my mother. She acts a lot like her."

I slowly stood up and was now eye level with Damian. "You know something, don't you?"

"I assure you I don't." He replied, narrowing his eyes. "All I'm pointing out to you is that Charlotte is now an assassin and is being trained as such. That's going to be Maverick's future if she gets her hands on him."

"Wait...." I mumbled, looking down at the ground. "Damian! You're a genius!" I grabbed his face and kissed his cheek.

"Ew!" He exclaimed, wiping his face. "What the hell!?"

"Listen!" I grabbed his biceps. "The League of Assassins has access to multiple organizations of technology. The sudden upgrade of Charlotte's powers, the overabundance of fighters Levin has, and the mutagen originated from BCRL. We theorized my dad was the founder, but your mother suddenly showing up and dropping you off now makes sense." I shook him a little bit. "The League of Assassins is BCRL and your mother is running it. She's the puppet master. It all makes sense!"

"Let. Go." Damian told me, removing my hands. "She would have told me if this was her plan."

"Damian, it's no coincidence that you suddenly show up here literally right after we figure out that Levin got his equipment and knowledge from BCRL. It's also no coincidence that right after you show up, Charlotte is suddenly alive and is out to kill us all." I explained, putting my hands together. "Your mother is trying to build on the league with people who have actual powers. Owen, Charlotte, Levin, she's giving them what they need to be powerful enough to be nearly unstoppable." I put my hands on my hips and looked over at Maverick. "He's all they need now."

Damian grew quiet. I looked over at him, seeing him thinking. He looked conflicted, confused even. He didn't even spare me a glance before leaving the room. I felt bad for him. I didn't want to tell him this, but I think his mother is trying to replace him with Charlotte and Maverick.

We found out BCRL existed right before Damian was dropped at Wayne Manor. Talia claimed it was because his grandfather was killed and she feared he would be next. She quite literally abandoned her own child and now all of a sudden Charlotte is alive and wants to kill us. This can't be a coincidence.

I covered Maverick with a blanket and kissed his head gently. I made my way back up to my room and laid on my bed. There's no way the people at BCRL could create something so powerful without some sort of assistance. They had to have had more than just stolen chemicals and parts.

Talia al Ghul as their leader would make sense now considering everything. Bruce wasn't going to like this.