Meet the Bat Family

4: Caught

One-night, Amelia had climbed up to the roof, a spot Jason had showed her. They'd watch the sun set behind Gotham City on nights he wasn't patrolling. She was enjoying the evening air and writing about the day when she heard several thumps behind her. Amelia turn around and saw the whole Bat Family; Robin, Red Robin, Red Hood, Batman, and Nightwing. Amelia was stunned, as is anyone who was approached by the whole family.

"Who are you?" the Bat asks in a deep, threatening voice.

"I'm Amelia Sky," she says, unafraid. The sidekicks looked a bit shocked. They must be used to people fearing Batman.

"Why are you different than your profile in the database?" He said, and she knew he was trying to get info.

"Because it's not me. I'm not from here." the bat boys looked confused, all except Red Hood.

"Don't play with us! Why are you here?!" Amelia could see he was a bit hurt saying this, but it was Jason's role as Red Hood.

"You don't need to use that voice with me," She replied quietly but stern, shook that he had yelled at her, "Jay." Now Red Hood was shocked.

 "How do you...." He started, dumbfounded. All the boys, including Batman, were staring at her, as she realized what she had said. Sighing, she stood up and stepped away from the ledge. 

"Yes, I know who you all are. I'm sorry for not telling you sooner." She knew Batman was mad. "I didn't tell anyone and never will. I just..." she hesitated. "I just had to know if it was all true. And wanted to enjoy the life for a bit before the chaos." 

"What was true?" Said Robin, Damien.

"If this world was real. I'm," she hesitated again, not knowing how they would react. "I'm not from this world. Or even this universe. I'm from one where your world is only a dream. A place for the minds of children and adults to escape to. In movies and comics, in stories and books. A place where superheroes and villains exist, some with powers, and some without." Amelia was happy the truth was out but frightened about what would come after. The boys were silent, deep in thought. Nightwing, Dick, spoke first.

"So you're saying that there are other universes? Other than this one?" He asked, confused. 

"I suppose so," Amelia told him. "I am from a town called Winona." 

"If you're from another world, how did you get here?" Red Robin, Tim,  asked the million-dollar question. 

"I was in my apartment on the college campus and then there was some sort of portal that appeared. I was pulled into it and ended up here." She replied.

"Where did you land?" Red Robin asked.

"I found myself in an alley outside of the city of Gotham. I saw skyscrapers, although they were far away. There was abandoned buildings there," Amelia explained. "It was around the area you rescued me." She looked at Nightwing. 

"Did you see anything unusual or strange around where you landed?" Nightwing joined in.

"There was a metal factory that was abandoned nearby."

"Wait, a factory. You mean a warehouse. It could be a perfect hiding place for criminals. Do you remember where it was?" The Red Hood  asked.

"No, but it has a metal fence around it with a caution sign," Amelia said. "I don't know why, but when... he captured me, they said something about a machine. Does that mean anything?" The white on Red Robins mask raised as he turned to his mentor.

"Batman, what if the Joker was the one who made the portal? Maybe he found a way to open a portal to a different world." The young genius said. Batman was deep in thought when he joined the theories.

"That might be possible. He might be hiring people to take the metal and tools to build a portal. The portal may have to exchange one person for another to get through."

"Wait, does that mean he could have already gotten through?" Amelia butted in on the investigation. 

Nightwing said, "No I don't think so. He has been spotted around the city at night. He might be trying to find you."

"That's why we wouldn't let you out very much without one of us," said Robin quite ruefully, not sure if he could trust her after lying. She gave him an apologetic look, one which he tutted at but nodded.

"Anyway," The blue and black masked hero said, going back to his thought. "He may have to have you captured for him to get through." 

They had been talking all the way to midnight about how to deal with the Joker and possibly get her home. Amelia had mentioned that she would like to find a way for her to return any time she liked, maybe with her sister who would very much like to meet them. Eventually, with Nightwing's help, Amelia convinced Batman and Red Robin to find a way to make a device she could use to go between worlds.

"You guys can go ahead on patrol and keep an eye out for the hide out." suggested Nightwing, who wanted to talk with Amelia some more. When the two got inside, Dick went to his room to change into normal clothes. Alfred had met them in the big living room, with a flat screen TV, and a plate full of cookies. 

"So, you lads finally found out that she knows," the old man said, a grin on his face. 

"You mean you knew!" Dick blurted out, then for a second, responded, "Of course you knew," Shaking his head with a smile on his face. Alfred knew everything.