DC Universe- 2100

In the building across from Catalyst's hideout, exactly one floor above her current position, Jonathan Willis, also known as 'The Fly on the Wall' stood inside and monitored the Bat-Family confronting Catalyst through his miniaturized drone.

He taps on the tablet he's carrying and drags his fingers across the screen occassionally. "The audio is shit. I can't make anything out. The girl must have some countermeasures against certain frequencies."

"So? Do something about it.", a voice speaks through his ear piece.

Willis mutters and keeps dragging his fingertips against the screen. "I am." As he says this, two blue eyes light up by the doorway behind him. "Hmm... Ah, yes. I got it. An easy encryption to break. As expected, childs play comparatively to--"

The fly creeps closer before it suddenly spazzes out and drops down with a light thud on the desk infront of Catalyst.

Catalyst glances down at the drone and picks it up. She taps a finger to her temple and the eyes of her mask light up, scanning it. "Cute," she mutters. She closes down her display and leans against her set-up, turning to the warm family reunion before her. "Well?"

"Good" Edgar said stepping off "it's been awhile since I've flown solo."

"Has it?" Elizabeth asked.

----

"What do you know?" Batman said.

"I know that Gotham is about to become the punchline in a really sick Joke," Catalyst says. "And I'll give you a a Clues as to someone who probably isn't going to admire that as long as he isn't the one orchestrating it."

"I hope you're not saying what I think you're saying," Robin says.

"She's saying it. I don't like it. But she's saying it," Bat-Girl says.

"Great." Batman growled. "Where is he?"

"If I knew that, he'd have an arrow sticking out of his skull," Catalyst says. She turns to Bat-Girl. "Not that that'd have stopped him. Right, sis?"

Bat-Girl narrows her eyes. "Lorie, you've gotta come back with us."

"Way to prioritize," Catalyst retorts.

"Come on, Lorie," Robin says.

"Lorie ain't home, bird boy." Catalyst turns to her monitor. "Black Mask, Emperor Penguin, Professor Paradox, and Two-Face. All of the worst factions in Gotham. All just itching to kill one another and be king of the mountain. And the outstanding factors? Laughing Boys One and Two. Not a pretty picture."

Batman walked up behind her. "Fill me in on what you have. Working together will get us better results than all of us fighting here and now. Like you said, we have to prioritize."

"Batman," Bat-Girl says.

"Ah. The voice of pragmatism, speaks. And here I was beginning to enjoy the circular arguments," Catalyst says. She pulls up a few files on her monitor. She steps aside and lets Batman look it over.

"You've done your homework." Batman said looking over the files.

"Someone has to. Everyone else is too busy having a pissing contest," Catalyst says, crossing her arms. "Black Mask and Two-Face are losing men, it seems. It's royally screwing with their plans. They're just disappearing without a trace. Paradox, you should be aware, recently escaped. His men are more loyal, but there weren't as many to begin with. Though the real challenge is that he's gone and hired Deathstroke, primarily as a precaution... against Clue. Who, you'll note, is still very pissed off as Paradox and, well... this is Clue, we're talking about. All the while either Clue and Joker are at large in Gotham. Assassinations are going down, gangs are getting framed. Tensions are getting bolstered to instigate some sort of gang war. And, to put a pretty little bow on top, one of the laughing boys, most likely Joker, is fishing, with dynamite, for Batman's secret identity. I'd say the GCPD has its hands full, but Hush is busy, at the moment, worrying about recapturing super criminals from the recent Arkham breakout and this little gang war is budding too discreetly for her to pay attention to it yet."

The mysterious figure ties up Mr. Willis and leaves him hanging off the building. He holds the spymaster's earphones to his ears and listens to the Bat Family's conversation.

"Alfred was with me last time but I left him home."

"Poor guy must be lonely."

-----

"Then we need to intervene." Batman said. "Make a big splash to draw out Joker or Clue."

Edgar opened the car door for her "He actually prefers to be alone."

"Luckily, whoever's fishing for your identity doesn't know that under that mask isn't a wealthy philanthropist.  You're not a target.  None of you are," Catalyst says.

"Derek is," Bat-Girl remarks.

"And he's rolling around in a wheelchair at the moment... or should be.  As long as he doesn't miraculously survive one of these mass homicide attempts, I'm sure his role in all of this is secure."

Bat-Girl turns Catalyst around.  "Lorie, listen to yourself."

"I'm suggesting you let him die.  Is that so surprising?  It isn't like I have any delusions of you actually doing that.  Now if you enjoy having your right hand, I suggest you get it off of me."

Bat-Girl glares at Catalyst and lets her go.  "I take it you have a plan."

"Nothing we could possible execute between just the four of us. There are too many things to tackle.  We'd have to help the GCPD recapture a handful of powerful super criminals, including Ivy and the nut that found Frost's suit and gun. We'd need to figure out where Two Face and Black Mask's goons are disappearing to. I was following a lead that suggested Paradox might have known, but you lot stopped me before I could follow up on it. Thanks for that. And we need to find a way to trace whoever's orchestrating these mass homicide attempts."

"I could bring in the League." Batman suggested. "Or a see if a less savory lot would be of aid to us...we could also possibly buy off Deathstroke, it's happened before."

-----

"Guess it worked out for everyone then." Elizabeth said.

"I doubt your candy coated friends will entertain my presence," Catalyst says, turning back to her monitor. "Buying Deathstroke out from under Paradox's nose would remove Paradox as a threat... not to mention it'd be gratifying as hell. And I did a little looking. The Vampire chick hasn't left Gotham just yet. If you can overlook the crazy, she might help."

"You're one to talk about crazy," Robin says.

"You're lucky I find your costume hilarious, bird boy. Otherwise I'd break your arm for that."

"You'd try."

"I succeed. Anyway, Cat-Woman and Inque have been spotted recently. Unsavory, but at least they both have a conscience. And while Missy definitely belongs in Arkham, the fact that she can tell Play-Doh what to do could be useful. Then there are other members of your little family. I'll leave it up to you who you want to drag into this. I have more digging to do, if you don't mind. Someone stole a nine foot killer robot from me and I intend to get it back."

The shaded figure stands up and drops the earphones on the ground before stepping on them. He heads out of the room and eventually the building.

A couple hours later, a car drives up to the entrance of the Scarlet Lounge Nightclub and simply parks there infront of the bouncers outside.

Ruby sits in the back of the club, sipping wine while her bodyguard drags off a man making a pass at her.

As this happens, another bodyguard walks over to Ruby and whispers next to her ear. "There's a Derek Wilson requesting an audience with you."

"THE Derek Wilson? Oh, by all means, Bruno, show him in. I wouldn't want to deny such prestigious company," Ruby says, taking another sip from her wine glass.

The music keeps playing loudly through out the dance floor as Derek Wilson makes his way through. A rather expressionless, plain looking man pushes him forward on his wheelchair.

Derek wears the attire you'd expect a man like him to wear: an expensive, dark suit, his jacket open, however, without any neckwear. "Ah, Miss Ruby Red. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Ruby sets down her glass. "Mister Wilson. The pleasure's all mine. Allow me to offer your friend a seat." She waves for Bruno to bring the man a chair. "I heard about your unfortunate accident. Elevators in Gotham are a regular death trap." She smiles as she raises her glass to her mouth again and takes a sip before continuing. "I'm pleased to see you well. May I get you anything? A glass of wine? A cigarette? A change of music?"