Enter: Oracle

[newoutsiders]

Trouble at the docks again. Steph just phoned in. So much for Damian "settling things there once and for all." There was apparently an explosion. She can handle it, you tell yourself. You've got a lot more pressing things to worry about.

You take another sip of coffee as you trace some shelled bank accounts to Bialya. If you're right, there's a secret European war being funded by some major US corporations, and no one but 12 people on Earth even knows it's happening. You just need a little more-

You doze off for a quarter of a second before perking up. You've been awake for 50 hours now, and you haven't moved an inch. Since the Justice League took off and you took charge, things have been busier than they've ever been. But you can't stop. Everyone is counting on you.

Your main monitor blinks with the notification of an incoming video call. It's the League Watchtower.

Comments

[not_easy_being_green]

Connor looks back over his shoulder at Charlie.

"I can do that. Should we - I don't really know what my best course of action right now is."

[jlf_oracle]

"I think the cops are going to start evacuating buildings near that toxic spill," Babs replies. "Might be a good idea to pull back so you don't get caught downwind of the fumes. With Sal Handy gone you're looking at a run-of-the-mill collision; GCPD can handle it."

[not_easy_being_green]

"I'll take - uh, Batgirl - and get out, then."

If Babs has nothing more to say, he'll say goodbye and hang up.

[jlf_oracle]

"Tell Batgirl-" Babs cuts herself off and sighs. "Watch each other's backs out there. And tell Batgirl I hope she's carrying a rebreather."

[jlf_oracle]

Time keeps ticking by, and Babs alternates between keeping and eye on the tanker clean-up and trying to get an idea of what Steph's up to. She should've checked in by now but she hasn't. Cameras along her patrol route haven't picked up anything except a flash of color as her cape drops into frame.

Charlie hasn't called either, but Babs won't let herself worry. She's with Green Arrow; he won't let anything bad happen.

[newoutsiders]

A couple hours go by, and still no word from Steph. Otherwise, it's a pretty low-key night. You find yourself drifting to sleep.

You're suddenly jarred awake by the max-security door opening behind you.

"I've returned with your requested pastries," Savant says.

What? You sent him out for those hours ago-

Oh. Right. Savant.

[jlf_oracle]

"Thanks," Babs says, tearing open the bag gratefully. "Did you run into any trouble?"

[newoutsiders]

"Trouble? No. I..." he sighs. His once fresh danish is ice cold. "How long was I gone this time?"

[jlf_oracle]

Babs checks the clock. "About four hours. There was an accident on Broome while you were gone; I just wanted to make sure you didn't get caught up in it. A tanker spilled some nasty stuff."

[newoutsiders]

"Oh. I wasn't near there. I-- oh! Four hours? I suppose I should be on my way to Roulette's, then."

You found out a few weeks ago that Roulette has been running an underground fight club for metahumans. She calls it 'Meta-Brawl.' The underworld comes to watch and gamble, and the winners are often bought by various crime outfits as security. You've been having Savant keep tabs on it, undercover as a high roller. Another fight is scheduled tonight.

[jlf_oracle]

"Yeah, you should be on your way soon," Babs agrees. "And don't worry, we'll figure out a system to help you stay on track."

She's been toying with a modified app, to introduce some linear structure for him, but it's more complicated than just setting up reminders. It needs to keep track of time for him, and space out the things he needs do in a way that still makes sense for his non-linear memory.

[newoutsiders]

"Sure. I just have to grab these, and I'll be off."

Savant takes a pair of sunglasses you designed for him from on top a nearby mantle. You'll be able to pick up everything he sees and hears, and feed him information.

"You look exhausted, by the way."

[jlf_oracle]

"So I've heard," Babs says dryly. "I'll catch forty winks as soon as the sun comes up and the roaches crawl back into their holes."

[newoutsiders]

"You know," Savant says wryly. "I believe Roulette's taken a shine to me. Do you want me to sleep with her? She would say yes."

[jlf_oracle]

Babs snorts. "Do you want to say yes? And what about Creote?" The last thing they need on top of all the crime-faction drama is heroes having personal drama.

[newoutsiders]

He snorts.

"Creote? That's not serious. We've only been together for... three days? Four? Wait. I remember an anniversary."

[stephbrown]

Steph taps her foot nervously as she dials Oracle. There's a lot she needs to report on.

[jlf_oracle]

"Okay, you really need to work on relationship markers that don't relate to time," Babs says, shaking her head. "Word of advice: he loves you, and that makes it serious for him."

[jlf_oracle]

Finally, Babs thinks as she accepts the call. "You're late for check-in, Batgirl."

[stephbrown]

Steph winces. "Yeah, well, about that. Green Arrow and I have been busy, and, uh, the former Misfit is back in action." She braces herself for the reaction.

[jlf_oracle]

"I know. Green Arrow called me hours ago from her phone."

[stephbrown]

Well, that's one thing off of Steph's shoulders. That's good. "Okay, well, glad you know. So, Green Arrow and I have been working the whole, uh, expanding person thing. I'm guessing he told you about that? Well, we tracked the whole operation down to Slaughter Swamp, where we found a guy calling himself Professor Barvo being help captive. Does that name ring a bell to you? Because I have to tell you, he wasn't happy when he realised I'd never heard of him."

[jlf_oracle]

"He sounds vaguely familiar. Give me a second." Babs runs a quick search; only two entries pop up. "Looks like he tried to set himself up as the arch-enemy of The Metal Men and learned the hard way that metal beats plastic in that particular iteration of rock-paper-scissors."

[stephbrown]

"I wish I had your resources," Steph complains, not for the first time. "He claims he's clean. Can you confirm that, or should we bring him in?"

[jlf_oracle]

Babs decides to be a grown up and skip pointing out that Steph could've had access to any resources she wanted if she'd called in earlier.

"There aren't any outstanding warrants for him since he got parole for the bank robberies," she replies, "but he might have just wised up and stopped being so obvious. It's probably worth bringing him in for a friendly chat."