Chapter 11: Inside the Communication Room
Barbara is very nervous right now.
After Batwoman left that day, at Barbara's own request, Gordon had to bring her along when he went to work.
It's not that she works at the police station, it's more like she's helping out in the communication room as a volunteer. No salary, no special treatment from others.
Actually, given Gordon's position and prestige, not to mention arranging his daughter to be a cop, even if he wanted Barbara to be the next director, there would be people supporting him.
But he didn't do that; the police station is for serving the citizens, it's not his family's business. If he randomly exercises his power, what difference would there be between him and those he despises the most?
Barbara understands naturally. She's very happy to help out the police station as a volunteer—to help her dad.
So, when she came here half a month ago, she diligently did everything she could. Her computer knowledge is unparalleled, even ranking among the top in Gotham; this place is just right for her to shine.
Her colleagues quickly accepted her, not because she was the director's daughter or because of the misfortunes she's been through, but because of her superb skills and because she's genuinely a wonderful person.
This world's Barbara wouldn't know that in other parallel universes, she's also a superhero, who once acted as Batgirl for many years, and after her spine was shattered by the Joker, she changed her name to 'Oracle,' becoming the main technical and intelligence support for Batman.
She was also the creator of the Birds of Prey, intelligence officer for the Suicide Squad, a good friend of Supergirl, auxiliary personnel of the Justice League, and due to her connection with Batman, she provided tech support for almost every superhero except for the tech-nerds of The Flash.
It's simply overwhelming.
But under the great consciousness of Earth-11, anyone except Briss would unconsciously dispel the idea of becoming a superhero.
The Barbara here finds it rather perverted to dress up like a bat...
However, at this moment, she desperately wishes she were a superhero rather than a powerless hacker.
About ten minutes ago, a group of men in black launched an attack on the police station. Although Barbara noticed them on surveillance and alerted everyone, the officers' response time was concerning.
In the assault, the officers suffered heavy casualties in their first encounter. The attackers were highly armed; they destroyed all the cameras. Barbara could only learn the situation from communicating with the officers via radio.
Her colleagues locked Barbara and other male officers inside the communication room because it's one of the most secure places besides the arsenal, then they went out to fend off the attackers, telling her to find a way to contact outside forces or the Amazon Council.
Unfortunately, the attackers were prepared; they cut off all connections between the police station and the outside world at the first moment. Under such circumstances, Barbara felt not only like a cripple but also mute and deaf.
She could only sit in her wheelchair, attempting over and over to find a way to contact the outside world.
The network was cut off, phones were disrupted, and there was no telegraph. She wished desperately for a messenger pigeon or something to appear at her side.
She could only hope someone would notice the situation and contact external forces, but she understood that in such a stormy midnight, no one would realize what was happening here.
A perfect time for a crime.
She could only listen outside the door to the gunshots and screams, her heart involuntarily sinking into an abyss.
But soon, the shouting outside changed, and the content of the words was no longer chaotic battle sounds but became exclamations or other remarks.
"Oh my god! She's so fast!"
"My Supreme God Zeus!"
"Ah, stop her!"
"Help! It's Doom..."
Barbara, with her heart in her throat, soon realized that outside went silent, the gunfire and cries had all stopped.
What's going on? What's happening outside? What's happening to my colleagues?
Her mind spun rapidly but the tense environment, and the cries of the male colleagues inside the house, made her unable to focus, her mind a chaotic mess.
At this moment, she heard maniacal laughter and humming filtering in from outside the door, which made her think of the Jester, and that terrifying feeling paralyzed her. It was as if the pain in her back suddenly returned, reminding her of being shot down painfully at the hands of the Jester, trapping her in a swirling terror of memories.
Then another voice sounded, seemingly reminding the humming person to use less explosives, which brought Barbara back to her senses.
Barbara immediately retreated, hid behind the table, preparing to avoid the explosion, while also looking around for weapons to defend herself.
Unfortunately, she was locked in the room along with some administrative male colleagues, a few medical examiners, and a cleaner; none of them were armed, and the only things considered as weapons in the entire room were likely a few chairs and her laptop.
She cradled the computer in her arms.
"Boom!!!"
The door was directly blasted open; the airflow pushed the door hard against the wall, the door hinge screeching from deformation.
But Barbara couldn't hear anymore; facing an explosion at such close range for the first time, her ears buzzed with a ringing sound, her eyes seeing stars.
She could only lie on the desk, dimly watching two figures walk in from the smoke, surveying the room's condition.
"Without Gordon, I've won."
One of them said, pulling a weapon from their back, maliciously heading towards the male officers by the wall.