The Darkest of Knights

As E-Lu peered across Gotham, he spotted Casius, Karmy and Cyrah walk to the mansion. With absent curiosity and confusion he watched them, not remembering what the mansion was for but remembering it had a purpose beyond a simple residence. He'd have to see what was happening before getting involved.

"Where do we start?" Hac said in a low tone as he and Seab walked through Gotham.
"I'd imagine his residence would be where most people would start. But I doubt he's there." Seab said, still speaking as a hawk even though he was human now. Seab glared at a random passerby who was staring.
"It couldn't hurt." Hac suggested.
"It could. If I remember correctly, Batman wasn't exactly a pushover."

As Casius knocked on the door, Karmy quietly snuck away.

(Quickfeather, the identity of Batman is exclusive. Not everyone knows where he lives.)

Wintergreen opened the door. "Master Grayson isn't in, please come again another time."

(I get that; he doesn't know anything about Batman anyways; especially not where he actually lives.)

"Not looking for Greyson today, looking for Alice. She in?" Casius asked. It dawned on him they might not recognize who he was without his armor, but he couldn't help that right now. Besides, if Cyrah wasn't a giveaway, he didn't know what was. He also noticed Karmy had slipped away at some point, but over time, he had gotten used to it.

"Alice Mau is... busy at the moment. Take a message for you sir?" Wintergreen asked. Alice was upstairs looking down at them out of site. "Crap.." She said turning behind the corner. "What is it Alice?" Batgirl asked. "It's Casius, they must have followed us. They're probably trying to figure out where Batman is." Alice responded. "This could get ugly. I hope he only wants a talk. Should we go and meet them?" "We have to protect Batman at all costs... I don't think it's a good idea." Batgirl said lowly and moving back. "Lets slip out the back." Alice suggested. "I'm a step ahead of you."

As the two woman headed out the back door, a portal appeared underneath Alice, causing her to fall through. Appearing way above the clouds out Gotham, she began to fall. "Hiya Mercy!" Karmy appeared falling next to her.

Casius was suspicious. He had been tracking and hunting people for ages, so he knew full well Alice was close. But, if she didn't want to talk, he wasn't going to just barge in. He shook his head. "Yeah, just tell her Cas came by to say hi." he said, turning and departing with a wave. Far be it from him to force ehr to talk. Besides- he needed to go into town and get something anyways. He trudged off towards the old district, where the battered apartment building he remembered fondly still stood...

"Alice? ALICE!!" Batgirl tried to jump through the portal but it closed to quickly. She dashed to the front and boomed past Casius and Cyrah.

Alice was flipping and screaming and she noticed Karmy. "What th- Karmy?? What's going on?!"

"Oh you know." Karmy screamed over the win, her hands behind her head. She had done this thousands of times so fell calmly. "Just dropping by to say hi." she laughed.

Alice was tumbling and flailing around, "Karmy if you don't get me back to the mansion this instant I swear I'm going to rip out your spine and beat you with it!!" She screamed in both terror and rage. Batgirl looked into the city and then the sky, but only for a second, thats when she noticed Alice and another figure falling. "Alice...?"

"WHAT THE HELL?!" Ivy screamed from inside her room. She had just turned on the TV. Every single channel, even Cartoonnetwork, had the message: "Batman accused of murder against Officer Gordon." She shook her head. No, no way would Dick every do that. He was a good guy. He'd rather die than commit a crime.

So why would he do this?

She poked her head out her room, fully dressed, moments later. "Did you guys hear the news?!" she asked, unwanted panic adding an edge to her words.

Laughing hysterically, Karmy grabbed Mercy and snapped her fingers. they landed with ease on top on Wayne Manor. Well, Karmy landed easily at least. Standing up straight she turned towards her old friend. "Hows it going Mercy!" she grinned.

"I'm not getting any younger... why do you always show up when sh** hits the fan?" Alice asked standing up straight and peering out to try to find Batgirl.

"Hell if I know." Karmy said crossing her arms. "I have horrible timing I guess. Who are you looking for? Where's Di- I mean Batman?"

Astro wandered the streets of Gotham aimlessly. Another city. Another cleansing? Maybe this is the place...maybe I'll remember... he thought hopefully. But he knew it wouldn't be. So long, had it been, that he just found himself on the orphanage doorstep. His memory in life was fading. Was he really an Astral? Is his name even Astro? What the heck was he doing?

He didn't know the answer to anything, so he continued walking and eying all the buildings, hoping to spark a memory.

"Hopefully out of Gotham and on his way to... wait.. why? You want to turn him in or something?" Alice said getting defensive. Batgirl turned around and saw Casius and Cyrah approach her. "Oh crud.." (Karm are we on top of the Mansion?)

(Yeppers)

"Oh no no!" Karmy said holding up her hands in defense. "I would never do that! But like, the news said- but I don't know if I trust the news. But are you saying? I don't. I'm just... Mercy. I'm not sure what to think.." turning up at Mercy, she look her straight in the eye. For a rare moment, Karmy was actually being serious.

Batgirl shot a hookshot at the roof of the mansion and narrowly dodged Casius and Cyrah. "We gotta go Alice!" She told her. Alice looked at Karmy, slowly turning away, regretting it, "I have to help him Karmy." She followed Batgirl down the roof and away into the streets.

"News the! Murdered, Gordon! BATMAN!" Ivy sputtered in her excitement, stepping out of her room completely. She took a breath, "I mean....Dick has been accused of...murdering Officer Gordon..."
---
Astro glanced back absently. Two girls, each in a strange outfit, dashed by. "What the--?" Police station. Same routine as always, with each city. Find police station. Find villains. Save city. Move on. He kept walking.

Ivy straightened, her usual self now. "I don't know. I bet you he didn't do it. There's no way Dick would!" She clenched her left hand into a fist. "He's been framed, I know it."

The ring on Karmys finger turned to a deep orange as she watched her friend leave her. Again. Before she could say anything, they were out of sight. Quietly she reached into her bag and pulled out a small GPS. A blinking red dot, indicating the untraceable tracker that Karmy had placed on Alice when she had grabbed her, moved further and further away. "See you later Mercy." she said and placed the GPS into her special pocket so that no one could get to it. Snapping her fingers, she portaled next to Casius and Cyrah. "Hey guys. Any luck?" she decided to not let them know what she had done, and just go with the flow.

"I don't know why anyone would say I killed the Commissioner. There's no reason for me to. I must have been framed." Batman said. "Other than that, there's only one possible alternative. Gordon wanted me to kill him. Though I don't see why. And if your story is true there would have to be a reason why I was being so uptight and not telling you." He continued to deduce. "You also mentioned that I was nervous. Where could I have possibly been planning on going.." He began to pace back and forth. Robin was use to this. "We went all the way east to get the Batwing... and we were heading west judging by our position. If we needed to get out of the city why would we go west? Possibly... Jump City?" Batman concluded.

"Did I?" He asked Robin. "Thats interesting." He said deep in thought. "I believe we should go on an investigation Robin. Who do you think knows most about this case?" Batman asked her. "We could visit some of Bruce's old adversaries. They might know someone who is capable of illusions, framing, or mimicry. The Scarecrow maybe? He's located in the west side of town so we're in luck. Lets go Robin!" He pondered out-loud never letting Robin having her two-cents in on his thoughts.

Batman approached a large building. He checked his belt, for some reason he was missing his grappling hook. "Looks like we have to get up the old fashioned way.." He pondered taking a step back. "Robin," He said only loud enough to hear him "do exactly as I do." He ran up the wall and pushed himself up at the last step and grabbed onto the ledge of the second story window; he then hoisted himself up and began making his way to the top.