The stars from the kick were still fading when my vision focused again. Batgirl was standing over me, her stance sharp. I groaned, rolling to my knees, fighting the vertigo. "Could've just said hello," I muttered under my breath, not loud enough for her to hear.
The Zeta tube pulsed again. I tensed, rising slowly to my feet, arms slightly raised in readiness. The last thing I needed was to get tagged-teamed by one Gotham's finest fighters. Plus a Martian with a mean physic attack that would make what Martian Hunter did to me look like a love tap.
M'gann stepped out of the Zeta tube with cautious, her green skin illuminated by the soft glow of the platform. Her eyes locked on the scene instantly—a tall man in black gear and Batgirl, ready to strike.
"Miss Martian," Batgirl said, her voice curt. "We have an intruder. Establish the link."
M'gann nodded, her expression turning serious. Within seconds, her eyes shimmered faintly as she established the psychic connection between them. "Batgirl's to Miss Martian do you copy?" "I copy Link has been established." What is the situation>
"Just got here myself. Found him near the computer. He was accessing it, probably pulling files."
"Got it. I'll scan his mind. Keep him busy," M'gann responded mentally.
"Roger that."
I stood there silent, eyes moving between the two of them. I couldn't hear a thing, no whispers, no commands. But I knew the look. When Batgirl said it I new they were speaking through the physic comms that the Titans established when Miss Martian joined the Titans.
I have stay on my toes so I get out of here and disappear into the night.
Then Barbara lunged.
She came in fast, low and tight, with practiced precision. I could see the way her hips moved, the pivot of her back foot—a mix of capoeira's momentum, kickboxing's force, and jiu-jitsu's fluid traps. Nothing lethal maybe a bruise rib or limb at worse she could break a bone or give a concussion. If I was someone normal. She was fighting to capture.
I moved.
My arms stayed close to my body, weaving through the strikes with minimal effort. Each motion was clean, efficient. Making sure not to waste energy, and keep my self open from a pincer attack. One wrong movement too much strength, a signature dodge. Anything Wildcat taught me she'd know who I was, she'd seen me train enough I estimated.
I ducked a sweep, flipped over a kick, and slid to the side, keeping my profile narrow.
My eyes flicked to Miss Martian. She wasn't moving. Not physically. Just floating up by the ceiling.
It look like she was focused. But why didn't she make a move? I could feel the subtle pressure, like a the back of my mind was vibrating. Was she trying to probe through my mind? I didn't resist her with thoughts I wasn't that good yet. I just focused on getting out of here without showing my powers.
Her brow furrowed. It felt like she was pressing harder and the back of my head vibrated even more feeling like my cellphone when I put my phone on vibrate and I'm getting a call it honestly tickled a little bit.
Still nothing. I could see the frustration growing in her posture and her face. Her hands twitched. Her jaw tightened. I don't know what's going on but its seems like she can't get into my head. Lucky break for me but that leaves some questions for later I have figure out.
I stepped back just enough to create space between me and Batgirl, still dodging, still fluid. Never striking. I couldn't drag this out much longer before more people show up. If that happens I'm screwed especially if its Batman. The seconds ticked by.
Miss Martian's eyes narrowed. She whispered aloud now, breathless: "I… I can't read him."
Batgirl faltered just slightly.
Their plan—whatever it was—just hit a snag.
Miss Martian's voice echoed through their psychic link: "I can't breach his mind... and I don't know why."
Batgirl's response came quick: "You think he's a metahuman?"
"I don't know. I never had this type of problem before. High-level psychics or Kryptonians with intense mental discipline are resistant. At worst, I should be able to hear surface thoughts. But with him there's nothing. Just silence."
"We need to pin him down, and try a physical connection then. Go stealth and wait for the chance to get closer and pin him down," Batgirl instructed.
M'gann nodded and activated her camouflage. I felt the shift in pressure, like static in the air. I didn't need to see her to know she vanished. That was my cue.
Time to leave.
I bolted.
Batgirl's eyes widened as I sprinted straight past her, heading for the window on the far side of the room. If I could leap through it, I had a clear escape to the roof—and then the sky.
She reacted fast. Not fast enough to chase, but fast enough to throw.
A baton flew at my head. I ducked just as a batarang spiraled in, unfurling a mess of carbon thread wire aimed at my legs.
It wrapped.
For a split second, I stumbled. But with a grunt, I snapped the wires apart with a flex of my calves, tearing free before they locked.
I was almost at the window—glass glinting, wind howling beyond it, and then she appeared.
Miss Martian. Right in front of me. My body stopped on instinct, heels digging into the floor. But that's when she made her move. Two long muscular green arms extended from her back, slithering through the air before they gripped me tight.
I thrashed, twisted. "Damn!" Then her hands—her real ones—touched my head, palms gently pressing against my temples. I felt that vibration again this time harder. She pushed again, her eyes glowing bright. Raw psionic energy surged through the contact.
I tried to shake her, but the extra arms held me in place tightly. I didn't want to hurt her. I didn't want to hurt any of them. So I did the only thing I could. I leaned forward—and slammed my forehead into hers. The impact cracked like thunder.
Then a flood of memories came flashing into my head. Not mine but hers things I already knew through comics and tv shows. I didn't just see them I felt the emotions as well. He true face as a white Martian . Her fear. Childhood isolation. Pain. Hope. Rejection. The joy of finding the Titans. Laughter and loss with Beast Boy and other Titans. The weight of a secret identity. Shame. Strength. Courage. Love.
It was like drowning in someone else's soul. We both screamed. I staggered backward as her grip failed. She dropped to her knees, clutching her head, her breath ragged. I didn't wait. I turned and leapt through the window, shattering the glass into a thousand razor-edged stars.
The cold air slapped me in the face as I soared out into the night. Batgirl rushed to M'gann's side. "Hey—hey, you okay?" Miss Martian's voice trembled. "He... he headbutted me... and I—he saw my memories. I saw... something in him too but I don't know what it was."
Batgirl turned toward the shattered window, her cape flaring. But there was no sign of the intruder.
Only the dark Gotham buildings and silence.