INT. BATCAVE – MEDBAY – CONTINUOUS
The immediate shock of the kiss has frozen the Bat-Family behind the glass. The silence is thick, broken only by the hum of the medical equipment.
Tim (Red Robin), ever the tactician and observer, breaks the silence, his face a mixture of disbelief and genuine curiosity. He speaks loudly enough for his voice to carry through the glass, slightly muffled.
"Okay. Setting aside the fact that we were almost wiped out by a cult, and that Dick was undercover as a Talon..." Tim gestures wildly between the two of them. "How long has this been going on?"
Dick shifts slightly under the covers, wincing. Barbara instantly pulls her hand away, hovering guiltily.
"Five years," Dick replies, his voice weak but clear. He looks at Barbara, his eyes filled with a weary honesty. "Right after... right after the Joker put Barbara in the chair."
The cavern falls silent again. The explanation is delivered with raw honesty, painting a picture of two people finding solace and strength in one another during their darkest hour.
Damian (Robin), eyes narrowed in intense scrutiny, addresses Batman through the glass. "Did you know about this, Father?"
Bruce, who has been quietly watching the exchange, gives a low, terse reply. "I knew about the relationship. I did not know how long it had been going on."
Jason (Red Hood), leaning against the glass with a heavy sigh, rubs his temples. "This is just... a lot. Seriously. Is there anything else we don't know? Like, is the Joker actually a good guy now? Does Alfred secretly own a yacht?"
Barbara takes a deep breath, her gaze meeting Dick's. He gives her a subtle nod, a quiet sign of support. She addresses the shocked faces behind the glass, speaking quickly, as if trying to get the impossible words out before she loses her nerve.
"I'm pregnant," Barbara announces, the words tumbling out in a rush.
The silence that follows this pronouncement is immediate, total, and deafening. It's a silence far heavier than the first. Every single member of the Bat-Family—from the stoic Cass to the skeptical Jason—is visibly stunned.
Even Bruce is taken aback. His posture slackens infinitesimally, and his mask of control momentarily cracks, revealing genuine, deep-seated shock.
Stephanie (Spoiler), after a long, gaping moment, pushes her face closer to the glass. "Say what? Was that—did I hear that correctly?"
Barbara repeats herself, slower and louder this time, her voice gaining strength. "I'm pregnant."
Stephanie throws her hands up again, her jaw dropping. "Oh, my god! Seriously? Okay, I need a lie-down. I need a year of lie-down."
Jason throws his head back and laughs, a harsh, disbelieving sound that quickly turns sarcastic. "You know what? Fine. Sure. Whatever. This day is officially insane. Okay, is there anything else? Like, are you two married? Because at this point, I wouldn't even be surprised!"
Dick and Barbara look at each other, a shared, knowing look passing between them.
Jason stops laughing, his face instantly draining of color as he watches their reaction. He lowers his voice, speaking in a low, panicked undertone. "You're not serious, are you? I was only joking!"
Barbara gives a tiny, nervous shrug, a faint blush creeping up her neck. "Technically, we're engaged."
The reaction this time isn't shock; it's a cacophony of groans, shouts, and bewildered exclamations.
Tim puts his face in his hands. Damian lets out a small, furious sound of outrage. Kate shakes her head slowly, a grim smile forming on her lips. Duke just stares, completely overwhelmed.
Alfred simply closes his eyes and leans heavily against the glass, muttering under his breath, "I shall begin planning the seating chart immediately, but I shall require a very strong sherry first."
Jason, having reached his limit, begins pacing wildly. "FIVE YEARS! A BABY! ENGAGED! And we are only hearing this now?! After we nearly all died from a cult that you were infiltrating?! Bruce, how did you survive raising these two?!"
Bruce, finally finding his voice, speaks, his gaze directed only at Dick. "You have a lot of explaining to do, Dick."
Dick smiles weakly, holding Barbara's hand tighter. "I know, Bruce. But first... can someone get me a painkiller? And maybe a soda?"
INT. BATCAVE – BATCOMPUTER
The main Batcomputer screen glows, displaying a detailed holographic map of Gotham, overlaid with floor plans of an ancient, sprawling structure. Dick, leaning heavily against the console, his abdomen tightly bandaged, relays the information he risked everything to get.
"The main base of operations is underneath the old Willowood Asylum in Bristol," Dick explains, pointing a weak finger at the screen. "It's built into the catacombs. Primary access is through a hidden entrance in the asylum's decommissioned boiler room. There's a secondary, older tunnel that leads out to the Gotham Harbor waterfront."
He taps a series of highlighted points on the map. "Guard shifts are rotating every two hours on the outer perimeter, but they have three fixed interior teams operating on a staggered six-hour schedule. I'm uploading the full routine now, along with the patrol routes and security blind spots."
Batman, his massive form a study in grim readiness, watches the screen. The rest of the Bat-Family—Tim, Jason, Kate, Damian, Duke, and Cass—are assembled, absorbing the tactical data.
"Get ready," Batman commands, his voice a low, heavy rumble that fills the cavern. "We leave in one hour. We counter-attack the Court's heart. No more waiting."
The team disperses immediately, a flurry of focused energy as they move to gear up.
"Dick," Batman says, his tone shifting. "Follow me."
Dick pushes off the console, wincing but moving to obey. He follows Bruce into the quiet, isolated shadow of a maintenance bay near the Batmobile.
Batman turns, the heavy scrutiny of the cowl fixed on Dick. "How are your injuries?"
"Alfred did what he could," Dick replies, flexing his fingers. "I'm functional, Bruce. I'll be on the perimeter team."
Bruce ignores the offer. His voice, though quiet, holds a profound weight of disappointment and frustration. "Why, Dick?"
"Why what?"
"Don't play games. Why didn't you tell me? About Barbara being pregnant? And why didn't you tell me she was captured?" Batman asks, the questions sharp and direct.
Dick meets his gaze, his eyes tired but honest. "Because I only found out a few hours ago myself, Bruce. Sam told me as he was dying. I had no idea until then. Barbara... she was going to tell me when I got back."
Batman shakes his head slowly, his voice dropping to a low, intense growl. "This. This is exactly why, Dick. This is why I wanted to keep the mission strictly between you, myself, and Alfred. So the Court couldn't use our family against us."
He gestures around the massive, wounded cavern. "You had the perfect infiltration. You were their favored son, their prodigy. You were winning. But you couldn't just put the mission first instead of your heart."
"You think I didn't try?" Dick challenges, his voice rising in fierce defense. "I spent months lying to Evelyn, watching her build this army, watching her get close to me! I was fighting for my family, Bruce, so they wouldn't have to face this!"
"Then you should have kept your head down!" Batman fires back, the emotion audible in his normally modulated voice. "You allowed yourself to be exposed because you prioritized saving Barbara, something that was not part of the mission parameter!"
"She was carrying my child!" Dick yells, the exhaustion and pain finally breaking through his control. "What would you have done, Bruce? Would you have stayed hidden while the woman you love, who is carrying your future, was used as bait? You sent me in there to protect Gotham, but my protection starts with the people I love! I am not you, Bruce. I will not sacrifice my life for the mission."
The two stand breathing heavily in the silence, the echo of their argument fading into the vast space of the cave. Batman's stance softens infinitesimally, the fight leaving him as quickly as it came.
"I know you're not me, Dick," Batman says, his voice reverting to a weary rumble. "But your heart nearly cost us everything. It nearly cost you everything." He places a heavy hand on Dick's shoulder. "We deal with the Court now. Then, you and I... we talk. And you rest."
He turns and walks back toward the armory, leaving Dick alone, his argument won but his spirit shattered.
INT. BATCAVE – BATCOMPUTER
Batman returns to the main console, his heavy footsteps echoing the grim weight of the task ahead. Barbara is already seated in the chair at the central Batcomputer terminal, the glowing screens reflecting in her intent eyes.
She is setting up the tactical display, preparing the communications channels, and integrating Dick's hastily acquired intelligence into their operational framework. The familiar sight of her in the command seat, despite the day's trauma, is a small, anchoring certainty in the swirling chaos.
He approaches her, his movements stiff from the recent fight and the emotional drain of the confrontation with Dick. He places one massive, armored hand on the back of her chair.
"Barbara," Batman says, his voice low and carefully controlled. "Are you alright?"
Barbara stops typing, her hands resting briefly on the keys. She doesn't turn immediately, keeping her gaze fixed on the complex mission parameters scrolling across the screen.
"I will be," she replies, her voice steady, professional, but carrying a faint tremor of exhaustion. "Physically, yes. Pauline didn't get far before Dick found me." She pauses, then lets out a sharp, self-deprecating breath. "Emotionally... I've had better days. Being hung from a rope while your life and the life of your—" she cuts herself off, correcting quickly—"our child is threatened, tends to put a damper on things."
She finally swivels the chair to face him, the faint paleness of her face stark beneath the harsh computer light.
"How is Dick?" she asks, her priority clear.
"He's functional," Batman replies tersely. "Stubborn. Too injured to be fighting, but he insists he's on the perimeter."
Barbara sighs, a sound of weary inevitability. "Of course he does. He thinks this is his fault, Bruce. He needs to know it isn't."
"He needs to prioritize his life over his guilt," Batman counters, his tone still heavy with the frustration from his earlier argument.
Barbara's expression hardens. "And I need you to understand that his 'guilt' is driven by the fact that he loves us, Bruce. That's not a weakness, it's his greatest strength. He risked his infiltration to save me. I'm grateful he didn't behave like a cold operative."
She meets his stare directly, her eyes sharp and challenging. "We are a family. You don't get to demand he turn off his heart when we're what they're using as leverage. You accepted this mission knowing who Dick is. Don't blame him for being himself."
Batman shifts his weight, the armor plates groaning softly. He doesn't look away, but the tension in his shoulders eases slightly.
"You're right," he admits, the concession small but significant. "It was a mistake to believe his loyalty to the mission would completely override his loyalty to you. I underestimated the depth of both."
He looks back at the tactical screens. "But we are where we are. Your condition... the baby. The Court knows. They now have two vulnerabilities to exploit: Dick's immediate family and the integrity of the team."
"They knew about me and Dick for a while Bruce," Barbara points out calmly. "They only exploited it now because Evelyn needed a final move to break the Batman's mind, not just your body. Now they know the full picture. My job is to make sure they can't use it again."
She gestures to the consoles. "I've integrated all of Dick's data. I've set up three fail-safes on the comms. Tim is rerouting satellite coverage to the Willowood sector. I'll be Oracle for this operation. I will guide you from here."
Batman regards her, seeing the unwavering resolve in her posture, the cool logic in her eyes. The trauma of the day has not broken her; it has forged her.
"The danger is not over, Barbara," he warns. "If the Court realizes I'm no longer trapped, they may attempt a strike here, in the Cave."
Barbara smiles, a grim, battle-ready expression. "Let them try. They'll have to get through Alfred and the most sophisticated security system in the world. Besides," she pats the arm of her chair, "I'm not sitting here unprotected. Go. We only have an hour left before your launch window closes. Save Gotham, Bruce."
Batman nods, a silent acceptance of her command structure. "Be safe, Oracle."
He turns and walks away, heading toward the armory to prepare for the final confrontation. Barbara turns back to the glowing screens, her focus absolute, her hands flying across the keyboard, the heartbeat of the mission now resting solely with her.
INT. BATCAVE – MAIN CAVERN – HOUR LATER
The main cavern is a flurry of controlled, focused activity. One hour has passed, and the team is ready to move. Batman stands at the center, a dark, imposing figure, receiving final reports from each member.
Red Hood (Jason) checks the dual magazines on his pistols, his helmet visor reflecting the tactical screens. Red Robin (Tim) is strapping a final gadget onto his utility belt, his movements precise. Batwoman (Kate) and Signal (Duke) check their comms. Robin (Damian) and Orphan (Cassandra) stand ready, silent and deadly. Spoiler (Stephanie) is running a quick diagnostic on her gauntlets.
A small tremor of movement draws their attention. Dick emerges from the shadows near the infirmary exit. He is no longer wearing the heavy, blood-stained Talon armor. He is dressed in the sleek, dark blue and black of his Nightwing costume, his escrima sticks clipped securely to his back. The pain in his side is obvious in the slight stiffness of his posture, but his eyes are clear and resolute.
He joins the group, stepping into the circle of light.
"I'm ready," Dick says, his voice low and steady.
Batman turns, his gaze sweeping over Dick, lingering on the fresh bandage beneath the suit. His voice is a deep, controlled rumble.
"Your orders were to rest, Nightwing."
"My orders are to protect Gotham, Batman," Dick counters, his stance firm. "I gave you the intel. Now I'm helping you use it. I know their hierarchy, their internal traps, and how Evelyn thinks better than anyone here. I'm a necessary component."
"You're a liability," Damian interjects, his voice sharp with scorn. "You are running on less than forty percent operational capacity. You should be in the MedBay with the mother of your child, not here."
Dick looks at his younger brother, his jaw tightening. "I know my limits, Damian. And I know the stakes. Evelyn wants to dismantle everything Bruce built. She wants to kill us all. I am not going to sit out the final act."
Jason steps forward, adjusting the fit of his helmet. "Look, I hate to agree with the little assassin, but he's got a point, Dick. You got shot today. Go back, man. We'll handle this."
"You can't," Dick insists, meeting Jason's eyes. "Evelyn is faster than any of us, maybe even Bruce. She uses the Court's resources and her Talon training perfectly. She's too good for a straight-up fight. We need misdirection, infiltration, and someone she won't see coming."
Kate nods, a practical assessment in her voice. "He's right about the utility. He knows the blind spots in her command structure. That's a massive advantage we lose if he stays behind."
Tim looks up from the tactical board, his expression thoughtful. "Oracle's guidance will be invaluable, but Nightwing's on-the-ground knowledge of their defenses is irreplaceable. We'll deploy him on the external perimeter—recon only. No direct engagement unless necessary."
"Recon only," Dick agrees immediately, knowing that's the only compromise he'll get.
Stephanie steps up next to him, her expression serious. "We get your side watched, Dick. Any move you make, we're covering you. If you go down, we're dragging you out. Understood?"
"Understood, Spoiler," Dick says, a faint smile touching his lips.
Batman gives a slow, heavy nod, accepting the reality of the situation.
"Final tactical briefing: We are splitting into three teams. Red Robin and Red Hood—you're the breach team, hitting the boiler room entrance. Robin and Orphan—you're the distraction, hitting the harbor tunnel to draw out reinforcements. Batwoman, Signal, and Spoiler—you're the infiltration and extraction team. You find Evelyn, you don't engage and you wait for the signal for the main assault."
He looks directly at Dick. "Nightwing—you're independent recon, feeding real-time internal data to Oracle. You are the eyes inside the asylum grounds. Your priority is to locate Evelyn's center of command and avoid physical contact."
"My target is the Grandmaster," Dick corrects quietly, his eyes fixed and hard.
Batman locks eyes with him, a final, silent battle of wills. "Your target is information, Nightwing."
"We'll see," Dick mutters under his breath.
"Comms check," Oracle's voice cuts in, clear and commanding over the speakers. "We are 3 minutes to launch. All units, move to the transport bay."
The team disperses, the conversation finished. Dick walks toward the waiting transport, his resolve cold and absolute. He was going to end this war, no matter the cost to himself.