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8 Years Ago: Gotham City

I watched the television in silence, I didn't need to hear anything to know exactly what was going on. Yet, I still raised the remote turning up the volume. After a couple of months of what now seemed like paradise for this city, there was a sudden attack on Arkham Asylum and some of the city's worst villains were now on the loose.

Now I was regretting having stayed behind after hours, but there was just so much work that needed to be done, and I couldn't let this business fail. Especially not after everything that my mother had to go through to get this business going.

Turning off the T.V I went back to work. I looked down at the design I had created, and cursed myself for designing something so complicated especially when the deadline for this dress was was a couple of days away.

As I continued with the beading details on the sleeve the light in the shop went out, leaving me in complete darkness. "Esto es lo que necesitaba." I muttered under my breath as I stood up and even though I knew it wouldn't do anything I tried flipping the light switch a couple of times.

There was a back up generator in the back, but a part of me wanted to take this as a sign to go home. So, I began to gather my things feeling a slight sense of fear that this was happening on the day that dozens of Gotham's worst villains had broken out of their cells at Arkham.

Rushing towards the door, letting stupid thoughts get in my head I was ready to leave when suddenly a loud explosion had my ears ringing. I wasn't fully able to process what had just happened until I felt a sharp pain spread through my body.

I sat up covered in ruble, everything suddenly coming into focus. There was a large hole where the entrance of the store should have been, whatever had caused the explosion had sent me across the room. Then it dawned on me that someone had to have caused that explosion.

Immediately I got to my feet, ignoring every protest of my body to do so. "This can't be happening." I muttered to myself, but I should know better in a city like Gotham this was nothing new.

Running towards the back door I opened it to find three figures, who's face were covered in black mask waiting. Slowly I took a couple of steps back, almost as if I had come face to face with a wild animal. They made no attempt to move forward, but once there was a couple of feet of distance between something large seemed to fall from the ceiling.

I yelled as I instinctively covered my face not sure what to expect. But once I opened my eyes and saw a large black figure, wearing a familiar cape and cowl I felt a rush of relief. Knowing that I was safe.

"Run." He ordered, and I didn't have to be told twice as I ran in the other direction where the large hole in my mother's shop was. Coming to a sudden stop I watched in horror as more figures emerged from that spot. I wasn't able to get a good look at them as the dust from the explosion still seemed to fill the air.

"Maybe you should hide instead." A voice said from behind me. I jumped as I turned around to find another masked figure, however this one I knew. It was Robin, the Batman's sidekick. "We'll take care of this."

In one swift motion I was suddenly standing behind him, and as I looked around what was once the shop that my mother dreamed of having I realized that now it seemed like a battle field as there was fighting all around me. Whoever these people who decided to break in were, they seemed to be no match for these two vigilantes.

Determined to go into the closet where I was hopefully not going to be found I ran, without looking back. Seconds away from reaching the door handle I felt as I was pulled back by my hair and I was suddenly in the grasp of two men as they held onto both of my arms. Panic began to set in and I was wondering why I hadn't felt it before. And maybe it was because before I had some hope of getting out of this.

"I got the bitch." One of them said as I continued to fight against them, but it was pointless as they were so much stronger than I was.

"Good, hold her still." A man who unlike the rest was wearing a doctor's coat. "He wants us to make sure."

"No. Let go of me!" I yelled as the two men held onto my arms. The other approached me with a device that seemed to be releasing blue sparks. I had no intentions in wanting to find out what that device would do to me, so as he approached I kicked him in the chin causing the device to fall sliding across the floor. "I said let go."

At that moment the fire alarm went off as the sprinklers around the shop began to spray water in all directions. Ignoring all the water that was making it's way into my eyes I continued to struggle against the two men's tight hold. A scream of pain from the other side of the room shifted my focus as I turned to the direction of the yell. I could only hope that it didn't come from the city's two vigilantes, they were my only hope of getting out of this situation. A situation that I couldn't understand how I was involved in.

A small pinch on my neck snapped my attention back to my attackers as I looked over at the man who was once again holding the device. I was released and my hand immediately went to the spot on my neck where the device seemed to have taken a sample of my blood or injected something into my body.

"Confirmed." The man holding the device stated as he looked down at the screen. Still holding onto my neck I expected to collapse on the floor unconscious, yet what I felt was the opposite effect as something inside of me seemed to wake. "We take her alive."

Their words didn't seem to register in my mind as whatever I felt grew stronger. I gasped as an unexplainable feeling washed over me. It wasn't pain, not exactly. The feeling almost made me feel whole and suddenly I could feel an incredible amount of power come over me. I opened my eyes seeing the lights in the entire store flicker as lightbulbs began to burst. The electricity seeming to rush rush into me, but  I couldn't be sure all I knew was that I felt that I was going to burst with all the energy that seemed to be inside of me.

Needing to feel some release from all that power I screamed. At that moment the water in the room seemed to be electrified as almost everybody in the room collapsed suddenly uncontrollably convulsing all around me. Everyone except for Batman and his partner who only to stare back at me.

However, unlike before where I felt like I had more energy than I could handle. Now I felt as if I had absolutely no energy at all, and just like my attackers I collapsed on the floor. So many thoughts were running through my mind, but the only one that made sense was that I had beed electrocuted too. That was the only reasonable explanation as suddenly I began to shake, feeling as if I was some addict that could no longer satisfy their addiction.

"I got you." I heard a voice say, but I wasn't even able to open my eyes from the pain that had taken over my body to the point where I was now uncontrollably shaking in someone's ams. "Just hold on."

"We leave her at the hospital." A deeper voice said.

"No. Did you see what she did? The wouldn't know what to do with her." The other argued as the burning pain continued to spread through my body. And although I was using every bit of my energy to stay conscious, I knew I wouldn't be able to stay awake for much longer. "And what if there are more of them out there we have to help her."

I wasn't able to finish listening to how the argument ended, as I finally let myself get consumed by the darkness.

***

I woke up with a sudden gasp, every bone in my body aching and my muscles screaming for me not to move. But I bit my lip as I slowly sat up on the medical bed, I was expecting to be laying in a hospital room. Not this place that seemed to be a cave surrounds by thousands of computers and crazy devices.

Suddenly, I remembered the events leading up to where I was now. I looked down at my clothes that seemed to be sticking on my skin from all my sweat. Reaching up to move the wet hair from my face I winced from the needles in my arm. Without thinking I ripped them out of my arms, holding in my scream. I had to get out of where ever I was now.

Although I knew that the Batman was good and that he wouldn't hurt me, it didn't change the fact the he scared the hell out of me. I jumped down from the bed my legs instantly giving out under me. I felt tears of frustration slip down my cheeks as I continued to try to get on my feet, now I was hopeless holding onto the edge of the bed to not fall over again.

"Excellent. We were wondering when you would wake Miss Freemont." A voice said, and I turned my head to find an older man standing behind me holding a tray of towels. I looked at him in confusion he was dressed as a butler, and I could only wonder who even had butlers anymore.

"Who...how do you..." I began to say realizing that I hadn't asked a question at all. "where am I?"

"Let me assist you first. And then I will get someone who will answer any questions you may have." The older man assured me as he helped me back onto the bed. "To answer what would have been your first question my name is Alfred Pennyworth. But you may simple call me Alfred."

"Thank you Alfred." I said my throat still raw, every word was becoming more painful. Though all the pain made sense considering that I had been electrocuted last night. Yet, something that I still wasn't able to find an explanation to was how I was able to do what I did.

"Now sit tight. I will only be a moment." He replied before heading across the room and into a bright elevator. I sat there in silence taking in the sight of the room I was in. Of the cars, and a collection of what seemed like a dozen variations of the Batman suit. Although I knew I couldn't all I wanted to do was walk around and take everything in. I had never seen anything like this before.

"You're finally awake." Someone said as they entered the room, and I watched as a boy who seemed to be around my age walked towards me. Unconsciously I pushed some strands of hair behind my ear, but if I looked the way I felt this action was completely pointless. "I was wondering when you would."

I was speechless for a couple of moments as I took him in, wearing the Robin suit. He was Robin and I didn't know how I was supposed to react to that fact.

"Right." He said as he suddenly remove the black mask that was covering his eyes, and I wasn't sure if it made me feel any better. It actually made me feel more nervous that before.

"Robin." A deep voice scolded as suddenly a figure emerged from the shadows. I felt myself jump slightly causing me to wince in pain. The sight of the Batman made me believe that I was dreaming. He is someone that everyone talks about, yet hardly anyone has ever really seen him. He was practically a myth. Or an urban legend.

"It's okay Batman. I don't want to scare her anymore than she probably already is." Robin assured him before turning back to me. "I'm sure you're really confused."

"Where am I?" I asked trying to keep my voice as steady as possible.

"I call it the Batcave. But he doesn't like it when I do."

Although that wasn't the answer I wanted, I simply nodded as I continued to look around the room feeling extremely awkward. I knew this probably wasn't the reaction that they were expecting, but I wasn't sure how I was supposed to act.

"How many hours have I been out?"

"Hours?" The boy repeated as he looked back at Batman who hadn't spoken another word. "You mean days?"

I opened my mouth about to repeat what he just said, but the words wouldn't come out. Almost like they were stuck in the back of my throat. I didn't understand why but this news had my heart beating wildly in my chest. How could I have been conscious for days?

Suddenly all the lights in the room began to flicker uncontrollably. "What's going on?" I asked the panic that I felt increasing.

"It's you." Batman stated as he took a step towards me. "Most likely from the electrokinesis that you inherited from your mother."

"My mother?" I questioned wondering how he could know anything about my mother. Or make assumptions about who she was, I knew that she would never hide something like that from me. "Electrokinesis? I'm sorry but you're not making any sense. I think I would know if I was a meta-human."

"You wouldn't if your meta-human gene was dormant." He replied, being someone who wasn't anywhere close to being an expert in anything that had to do with science it felt ridiculous of me to try to counter what this man was telling me. Especially when he clearly knew what he was talking about. But I just refused to believe that it was true. "A gene that was activated by the events of last week. And one that grants you the ability that allows you to manipulate electricity."

"So, your saying that my mom was hiding the fact that I have powers from me my entire life?"

"Your mother did much more than hide that you inherited her meta-human abilities."

"Batman maybe we shouldn't throw all of this at her now." Robin told him, and I was beginning to feel insane. At this point I just wanted to stay unconscious or continue to be blissfully ignorant of whatever the situation was with my mom. "It's a lot to process."                 

"Sir, the young Master is right." Alfred agreed, and I looked at him just noticing his English accent. "She has only just awoken. Maybe it would be best if we let her rest before you explain everything."

There was a long stretch of silence before the man in the black cowl only offered a simply nod. I wondered about the man behind the mask, and what could have possibly turned him into Gotham City's Dark Knight. But I guess I had that same curiosity towards the boy who helped him fight crime.

"I'm Dick Grayson by the way." He introduced himself, as he extended his hand towards me. I looked into his dark eyes and shook his hand instantly regretting my decision. Hating myself for having such sweaty hands, I pulled away almost instantly.

"I'm Cheyenne." I said softly suddenly feeling very self conscious about the way I looked. I could only imagine what he thought of me right now, I was a mess. "But you already knew that."

"Yeah sorry about that. We just had to know more about you if we wanted to help you."

"Dick. We have to finish training." Batman said though it sounded more of an order. I looked back at Dick who now seemed to be slightly embarrassed. But I couldn't understand what there was to be embarrassed about.

"Well we got you some new clothes. And Alfred do you think..."

"Do not worry Master Grayson I will help her with anything she needs." Alfred assured him, and Dick only gave me a small smile before he made his way over to his mentor who was waiting motionless but the elevator doors. I watched as the both disappeared behind the large metal doors not able to tear my eyes away. "A very charming young man is he not?"

I looked back at Alfred not sure if I heard him correctly, but from the glint of amusement in his eyes I knew I had. "What?"

"Exactly." Was all he said as he extended his hand, and I took it without a second thought as he helped me on my feet. "Now we must get you cleaned up."

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