“So let me get this straight… despite having plenty of backup, surveillance, and multiple different teams acting in the surrounding areas you lost them?” I said, tapping my fingers patiently against the desk I was seated at.

On a holographic screen were images of various occult runes and half-formed glyphs that wouldn't be out of place on a coding screen from the Matrix, if it were more supernatural than science fiction. The person on the other side was silent at the statement.

They remained like this for several more seconds before I broke the silence. “Well?” My voice was testy, bordering on the edge of me wanting to punch something.

“We encountered… difficulties.” Smith's voice on the other end was neutral as always, but I had been around my creation long enough to know that he knew he had screwed up.

He had small quirks in his voice, the pauses and long moments of silence that lingered. It told me he was trying to think of anything to say to make me less upset. I don’t think there was anything he could do to make me happy right now. Sportsmaster got away inside a helicopter that should have been easy for us to track.

Even had drones installed with lenses modified through chaos magic to be capable of piercing through it and observing them. Yet the drones had failed like all the other times when trying to observe the apartment that used to be Jade's home. 

I had been walking on cloud nine after Joker's death and ensuring no one could find the ashes and somehow bring him back. Not that it would necessarily stop someone if they were both powerful enough and dedicated to resurrecting the clown. But I doubt someone would for him, simply because there were just far better alternatives than him. But after having accomplished what I set out to do and a great deal of stress lifted from my back knowing the clown finally bowed out something else had to come out and ruin the mood.

“I know you encountered some problems, but that doesn’t explain how you managed to lose a helicopter that stuck out like a sore thumb in the middle of Gotham Bay.”

My tone shifted to a freezing tone, something that even gave me pause never once thinking I was capable of such a thing.

“… I apologize, father,” Smith ground out not in anger at me. More like he was angry at himself and his siblings. “We have failed you.” 

I sat there, my work glaring in front of me as I felt deep shame. Not just because I failed Jade who I knew even without surveillance was completely distraught. But because I was taking it out on Smith when he and the other hunters had done their best. If I hadn’t ordered them not to intervene directly and to only follow them maybe this wouldn’t have happened. 

I had put too many eggs in one basket hoping it would be enough to figure out where Artemis is and get her out of there without me having to play any of Ra’s games. As appealing as it was to just wipe out the Light much like the Court, they had plenty of resources that undermining and subverting them would help in the greater conflict.

That’s if I wanted to go through the trouble of doing that all over again. If they could be corralled and controlled then keeping them around a little longer might be necessary. All the decisions that would have to be made would have to be made when I knew what I was working with. A notification popped showing something had appeared in my monastery that the Engineers had taken notice of. A book… maybe it could help me in finding Artemis.

Going back to the prior line of thought, it was one thing for them to pull their stunts in a television show, it was another when it had become real. If they try to pull that stunt with the adults and kids when I could supply far better alternatives and distractions then it is safe to outright dispose of them.

Shaking my head having gone off on a tangent which I for once was thankful for. It was needed to take my mind off my failure. Letting out a long sigh I took my eyes off the list of runes on the display.

“Smith,” My voice had shifted from a barely contained angry tone to a more apologetic and gentle one, “You need not apologize for it was not you or your brother's failure, but my own. I am sorry for lashing out at you, you did the best with what you had, I should have expected them to have other means to help hide their trail and escape.”

“You didn’t fail father, you can’t.” He said to me like me screwing up or making a mistake was an impossibility in his eyes. That… was disconcerting. My ability, which granted loyalty from my creations while not being absolute, also helped with raising children and being a proper father. 

At least to better help and guide them. Smith was complicated and nowhere near simple. I had begun to wonder if I could ever curb that.

“Fret not father, for it was just a single girl. Not much was lost and we will find where the League of Shadows hides eventually in due time.” Smith said matter of factly completely missing why I went through so much trouble just to try and track Sportsmaster. 

It wasn’t because of the League, it was because Artemis was a little girl who didn’t belong there, and equally as important it was for my friend Jade. That was another thing I was trying to curb and shift was his viewings on humanity. Smith did show respect and care for those who had done great things which is why he was all for sparing and not crippling Bruce when he was on the job at night.

But despite that Smith doesn’t understand nor do I think he could fully view Artemis as I do. He and the others understood the potential of Jade and saw through my time training and teaching her that despite coming from a less than ideal background she instead found another better path that could help everyone. 

But everyone else as far as Smith was concerned were weeds choking out the garden that needed to be dealt with. Or in Artemis' case, she is just one little girl, the world must move on and the gears churn away regardless of that single loss. Like a factory uncaring of individuals as it must continue production. 

Not that Smith completely dismisses Artemis or any child for that matter, but what I can infer it’s more about how many resources are going towards this individual and we are pumping all of this into that individual. What are they going to do in the future? If they cannot bring great change or help humanity ascend to never before seen heights they are a bad investment. Then there is no point in helping them beyond a certain point.

The power that granted me such loyalty from my creations showed me plenty of avenues but none of them were necessarily good in trying to better shift Smith's opinions. They could help, like bonding with him and getting close enough to try and shift how he viewed things but it could only do so much. The engineers had kept me informed about him and several of the other hunters’ discussions. They had kept silent both verbally and digitally about any misgivings or resentment towards the people of the city. Whether that is a good thing or a bad thing because they suspect we have fail-safes and are keeping an eye on them remains to be seen.

But it didn’t smooth over my concerns. If anything it made me more suspicious. Like in Malcolm in the Middle, when those three boys are on their best behavior something was up. Nowhere near as bad as what those three hellish kids could do, but enough to warrant my fatherly instincts to flare up. 

“That we will. Keep in mind Smith, Artemis has just as much if not more potential than her sister. They may not be on our level but that doesn’t mean she is a complete waste. You need to stop viewing things with a cold calculated method, you will tend to overlook things that on paper make sense but in reality show an entirely different picture.”

A good example of that is video games. On paper, it sounds nice, but in application, it is not so clear-cut and dry.

“Very well. I will try to do as you ask.” 

“That’s all I can ask of you. With what is coming in the near future you and your brothers will be getting some upgrades soon. If you are to remain relevant and capable agents of my will then you need the power to back it up.”

“I look forward to it and serving you as best as we can,” Smith said, a sliver of delight entering his tone. Smith ended the call soon after that as I checked in with Light and the others. 

The engineers were on double time trying to ensure that the various forms of surveillance across the world were catalogued, organized, and subsumed by our growing network beyond Gotham. Even with the Batcomputer without the memory crystal doing this would have required more room than the engineers would have to cook up a proper server to do what they are now.

I’d rather not have another area someone could just stumble onto randomly or with some effort. Save me the trouble of just coming up with a cover for it. That crystal has made this far easier even if it was still going to take some time. Each method of surveillance whether it was local or through some spy agency was keyed to log any facial recognition for Sportsmaster or any other agent of the League of Shadows that they could find.

I would do as Ra’s had suggested, but that doesn’t mean I was fully giving up on finding Artemis and their headquarters. Even if I never find either, having a worldwide surveillance network was just too valuable to pass up. A huge breach of people’s personal privacy most certainly but it was another means for me to gather information, handle various threats, and maybe get some blackmail if I needed some wheels greased to make things easier in the future.

My phone chirped near me as I looked at the text. Glancing between my current work and who was texting I let out a sigh before standing up from my work. I could use a break. Texting back and a trip through Gotham later I found myself beside Pam as we walked through one of the parks I had set up across Gotham through Will Hardigan.

“Thanks for coming out and joining me Dan-- oomph!” Pam was cut off when my lips pressed against hers for a few seconds making her blush up a storm after I stopped. “D-Daniel! Don’t do that in front of other people.” She said shyly looking around as I chuckled at her antics.

“If anyone should be thanked it should be you. Got me away from some work,” I ignored the pointed look she sent me at the mention of that word that I made her sputter by wrapping my arm around her shoulder and pecking her cheek, “And instead relaxing at a wonderful park with an even more wonderful woman and girlfriend.”

Pam all but melted into me at that with a big goofy smile on her face. The sun was out, birds were chirping, and people were enjoying the park with surprisingly little litter. There was some here and there with Pam frowning at the sight of it but it was quickly wiped away when I produced a bag from my pocket and started picking up what I could that wasn’t disgusting to touch.

Pam joined me with a proud and happy smile as we took care of that. “I… probably should mention I invited someone else to enjoy the day with us. I hope you didn’t mind.” Pam said, looking away from me as I nudged her with my elbow.

“Of course I don’t mind. So who did you invite?” A couple of steps and Pamela looking over towards a tree had me look over to see Jade walking along. 

She looked… bad. Bags under her eyes, like she had hardly rested at all while crying every night and her movements were slow and looked uncoordinated. Her hair was even more frazzled than it normally was. She perked up seeing us giving a small smile that did nothing to hide the pain in her eyes.

Pamela winced and looked concerned while I frowned before smiling and walking over towards her. “Hey Jade.”

“Are you alright?” Pamela immediately started to check her over like a concerned mother hen. Something Jade was against but she faltered on stopping her when she saw the look I gave her and then at Pamela fussing over her in genuine concern.

“I… I’ll be fine given time. Something bad happened recently and… I just need time.”

I came over and pulled her into a hug that she didn’t even hesitate to return as Pamela wrung her hands in concern but she understood there was only so much she could do right now.

“Jade I understand life feels like it’s kicking you while you're down and piling everything it can on you at once. The best advice I can give is two things. The first is that everyone and I mean everyone has dark moments like this,” Jade was focused on what I was saying despite the tired look she had in her eyes. Just like when I first taught her.

“They make life difficult, seemingly unbearable like it’s crushing the air out of you. There’s no easy way to fix it or to make it magically go away. Not all at once. The big thing is you learn to handle it and don’t let it control you. Don’t panic under the weight of it all. Breathe and stay in the present.” 

Jade nodded hesitantly at first. She seemed to think it would have been a magical means of getting Artemis back along with Sportsmaster in a stretcher leading down to a grave twenty thousand leagues below the ocean. Unfortunately, it wasn’t. 

“Struggling blindly against whatever is causing you problems only pins you deeper under it, and panicking wastes energy you otherwise could have used to figure a better way out of the situation. Instead, you need to ground yourself. Take one breath,” She did as told again. “Then another.” Again she did as told.

“It doesn’t mean you're weak. It means you’re still in control. With that control, you can then begin to figure out how to get out of the mess you have found yourself in.”

“What’s the second one?” She asked, looking a little better taking the first piece of advice to heart as she takes a literal breath.

“That’s simple— If you can’t take care of it all in one go, then take it one piece at a time.” She opened her mouth to interrupt me but I held my hand up with a gentle serene expression on my face, and she fell silent and listened once more. 

“No one escapes when life decides to dog pile you by throwing it all off in one motion. It’s never that easy. How you get it off of you is by dealing with the nearest thing pressuring you first,” I pat her arm noting the muscle she was packing on under it but she knew what I was referring to. As capable as she is, she is no match for Bruce or Sportsmaster. Yet.

“One step, one decision at a time. Progress doesn’t come from heroics or any other action beyond only one thing-- persistence!” I raised a finger tapping her on the nose playfully and earned a mild smack from Jade getting a giggle out of Pam for my troubles. “And if there was one word that best describes you, Jade, it's persistent.”

Her expression of absolute focus on every word like she was dissecting them to unravel the secrets to the universe turned into a warm smile that for a brief moment made the sorrow and grief that clung to her tightly fade away.

“Every inch you gain no matter how small is proof you are moving forward. Though it should be common knowledge for most I will say it anyway. Life isn’t going to stop bringing trouble your way like it is right now. Not because you managed to handle this day's worth of trouble doesn’t get you, me, or even Pamela here a pass.” My hand gestured to each of us, making Pamela took on a fond look at me working my magic.

When bad things happen you learn to deal with them when you can’t immediately fix whatever is causing the problem and live your life. You fix it one piece at a time. And…

“Hate to break it to you, Daniel, as nice as your pep talk is, your math is off. I count three bits of advice, not two.” Jade said smugly, holding her fingers up to emphasize the miscount.

I give her a less than impressed look. “Joke's on you I never learned to properly count, ha!” I threw my head back and looked down on her imperiously. 

It got a snort out of both girls before the sound of hands clapping greeted us. We all turned to see none other than Alfred Pennyworth alongside May. Alfred was wearing a tweed jacket and gentlemen’s jeans while May wore a shirt that wouldn’t look out of place in an old school construction crew, as you would see in old fifties posters.

“Ignoring mistress Jade's jest, your advice was sound and good, Daniel.” He said with sincerity giving me an approving nod and smile. 

May looked at Alfred then me. “Rather surprised to see someone as young as you saying stuff that older people struggle to put into words.” 

Pamela gave her surrogate grandmother a pointed look but I waved her off knowing that was her way of showing me respect and her approval like Alfred. I give Alfred this; he gave May a look that easily put Pam’s to shame yet he kept it subtle.

“Thanks, Daniel,” Jade said, giving me a brief yet powerful hug, and then after a moment of hesitation did the same albeit it was more like she didn’t fully want to touch Pam giving her a hug as well. One that Jade was forced to extend when Pam cooed and hugged her back even tighter. Tight enough that she couldn’t just get away from her.

Eventually Jade managed to break the hug and be free of it looking like a cat that just didn’t want to be touched or bothered. She looked at me then smiled like a weight had been lifted off of her just enough for her to be capable of breathing and for a moment live her life.

“So what are you two doing here?” I asked Alfred and May who side-eyed one another before Alfred explained.

“I felt it best for Mistress Jade after certain events had unfolded recently she got out and enjoyed the park… and had a chat with her closest friend.”

I had to fight off a smile that threatened to form at Alfred being the cool caring family member everyone wished they had. 

“Thank you, Alfred,” Jade said quietly, looking unsure. 

“I think it's best if you enjoy your time with these two, and heed Daniel’s advice,” Alfred said, giving her a reassuring pat on the shoulder before walking off with May who gave a kind smile towards Jade.

Then it was just the three of us as I began to realize Alfred also used this as a means to go out with May… the guy is pretty crafty when he needs to be. 

“He gave me the same advice,” Jade said, breaking the silence.

“Alfred?” Pamela asked, looking towards the older man’s retreating back as he and May were chatting.

Jade just nodded. Even though the question lingered for a long time pestering me to ask why she is out here I didn’t ask it instead I think that Jade had looked up to me a lot and my advice because of that and the unique bond we have while Alfred’s could be the same as my own but because it’s me it would carry more weight.

“After this, Jade, heed Alfred’s advice more often. I may or may not always have an answer, but his advice would be far better than my own. The guy has lived, and experienced far more than I.”

Jade looked towards me along with Pamela before the former nodded, giving me another quick hug that Pam thought was adorable but didn’t say anything when Jade glared at her. Something Pam wasn’t bothered by was trying not to smile and giggle at Jade.

“So how about I show you two some moves to relax?” I said leading the two to a clearing in the park where we could go through some relaxing stretches and exercises.

…

“Must you be so indifferent and at times hard on Daniel?” Alfred asked aloud as the two enjoyed the park's atmosphere. 

It was something that he never liked about Gotham was the constant dreary atmosphere and pervasive darkness that clung to everything. It’s part of the reason he was so stubborn about making sure Wayne Manor was as clean as can be to keep it warm and welcoming to those in need and for master Bruce. If he wanted constant dreariness and depressing rain cloud-filled atmospheres in his life he would have stayed in England.

The closest thing he had to a son and family needed more rays of sunshine in his life… it was why he would privately admit to himself he was thankful Jade had entered their lives. Bruce had been pushing himself even more after the gang war than he had before it.

Despite how others would judge Jade for her background, Alfred saw past it and saw the child beneath it all. She was strong, but strength had its limits when life turned its gaze towards you.

May snorted at that before pausing, realizing she had done that in Alfred’s presence, trying to be more ladylike despite her current attire being the opposite of that. It was like old times after the two had first met and warmed up to each other. 

“The kid is dating the closest thing I have to family. He may not be from Gotham but that doesn’t mean this city hasn’t sunk its claws into him.” She said softly but any heat she could have had behind it wasn’t there.

“You shouldn’t judge him so quickly.” He mildly scolded her as she softened at his words.

“I’m… not judging him, Alfred, he already has my seal of approval for being with Pam. Out of all the young men I have seen in this city he is the best thing I could have hoped for Pamela to end up with. Someone who can take care of her after I am gone.” She said softly as Alfred gave a soft smile understanding her reasoning.

“But you question if he is truly sincere because of Gotham.” He said softly as she paused briefly before continuing to enjoy the park with him. Alfred almost forgot what it was like to enjoy himself like this.

Most days he was just too busy to do such a thing. Either patching up Bruce, helping him in his mission to rid the city of all crime, or cleaning the manor while helping provide nutritious meals for his family. But one thing he was thankful for was meeting May again.

They may not be as close as they had become on that expedition but it was nice to catch up with someone from the old days. 

“Yes. Too many times this city has made someone appear kinder and better than this city deserves only for us to find a monster wearing human skin. Please don’t hold that against me, Alfred.”

She looked towards him hoping he didn’t think less of her for it. After seeing how Daniel gave nearly the same advice he had to Jade, and helped console her, and from what he could glean before they lost sight of them showing her some poses to help relax he could not see Daniel as anything but someone too good for this city.

“I don’t, I just ask that this one time, give the young man a chance. Jade thinks quite highly of him, and from what I have gathered he is genuine.” Alfred meant every word of it. Even with Bruce’s paranoia keeping the boy in his sights at all times he had seen enough to know he is not like his father.

“I will. I just need some time to open my heart back up. It has been hardened for far too long, the few times it softened up were when I met Pamela and took her under my wing.” She said softly, stopping for a moment to enjoy the flowers near their path that had attracted some butterflies and bees.

Alfred would be thankful for this park being set up if it weren’t for Will Hardigan. His grip tightened for a moment before he relaxed when May glanced at him. Unlike most people, she was more observant courtesy of their pasts and knew him well enough even after years away from each other to know when something bothered him.

She didn’t need to say a word, giving him that same questioning look she had when she realized something was going on back on that expedition where everything went wrong. Or maybe that would be right? 

If it wasn’t for that incident, Alfred never would have found his way to Gotham after a series of unfortunate events. He never would have met Thomas Wayne who despite checking into Alfred’s past saw that he was a decent man, took him in as a butler for their family. He never would have been there for Bruce on the day that tragedy took two of the greatest people who could have helped this city.

“The man who had this park created for the public is not a good man.” Alfred couldn’t say he was evil either. He felt complicated thoughts about him, thoughts he hadn’t had since his younger years when he was doing work for his country.

Questioning if the enemies his superiors pointed at were truly as vile as they made them out to be. They were seldom as bad beyond a few cases.

May tilted her head thinking over what he said but accepting his statement showing the effect Gotham has had on her and so many of the citizens for years. “Hard to believe that when he has built all of this, but as I said before you understand why I am hesitant to believe something is genuinely good.”

Alfred nodded. It’s why he didn’t judge her for it. He understood where she was coming from and why he let her open up slowly at her own pace. The same thing he did to help console Jade, and why he was out here because after hearing what happened to her sister, and her horrific father escaping he needed to get out of the manor with her.

Some time away from it would do them both some good, surrounded by acquaintances new and old, people they could enjoy the moment with together.

“How do you know he isn’t good?” May asked. Alfred knew her well enough to know she wasn’t asking because she didn’t believe him. She was willing to place her life in his hands without hesitation, just as he would do the same. After what they went through in South America together it should be no surprise. 

Hard to forget when you finally encountered something that made you question the world you lived in when faced with undeniable proof of the supernatural.

“Master Bruce has had business dealings with Will. He is not as good a man as he liked to portray himself according to him. I wouldn’t say he is outright evil or malicious, but far from good.” 

May shook her head wryly. “I never expected you of all people to work for that man. Is it true what the media says about him and constantly having supermodels over at his manor?” 

Alfred paused before giving her the most deadpan stare he had given anyone in his life. Instead of cowing her like it would Bruce or Jade who had learned quickly that Alfred was no slouch and knew how to get others to do what he wanted.

“Do you truly believe I would have worked for master Bruce all these years if that were truly the case?” He countered with a question of his own.

His question earned him a bark of laughter from May. “Of course not, otherwise I doubt I would have anything to do with you after the fact Alfred. It’s why I grew so close to you back then,” She said softly, stepping closer to him.

“I know.” Was all he said before May for a moment paused. Alfred quirked a brow before May had an odd look on her face before she began looking for something. 

Alfred knowing something was up began more subtly looking around old instincts coming to the surface. They looked around for a long moment before May stopped with Alfred tracking the direction her head was pointed in seeing the same thing she did. 

An unkempt man, looking worse for wear like many of the unfortunate homeless of the city. He was pale, long-limbed yet little muscle to him. His clothes were nothing but greased-up rags and his hair plastered to his head was little better. What had May and him eyeing the unaware man with suspicion was his binoculars staring in the direction they left Pamela and Daniel.

The man froze for a moment as if struck before looking around with his binoculars at the edge of the park near the fence. He finally stopped looking at both of them. Alfred gave him a stern, unimpressed glare. It didn’t take long for the man to scowl at them before fleeing. Alfred made a note to bring this up to Bruce. He may not care for his nightly activities but he would admit he has done a great deal of good.

Perks gained: Biotech (Marvel Cosmic) (200CP)

There are many fields of scientific and engineering expertise. They are all studied and mastered by assorted scientists across the universe. One of the most versatile and powerful fields is that of biotechnology. You are a veritable god in this field. Force evolve creatures at your whim, uplift entirely new species just because. Feel free to create biological interfaces with mechanical devices. The sky's the limit and flesh is your servant.