Nightvision Year One
Part 2-The Beginning
Written by: Nightvision
Editted by: Power Guy

As Brendon was read his right and rode in the paddy wagon to Arkham, he slowly regained movement however he was more thinking about if his mom and dad found out what he did and how he was going to survive in an institution that tried to house people like Joker, Two-Face, Scarecrow, Poison Ivy, Night Slayer, and about every single villain Batman ever faced. “You’re going to where the other costume freaks are or should be” said the guard watching him. Brendon felt like he couldn’t breathe in the tight straightjacket. He knew he was in for a long night and possibly would get his wish of seeing Brenda soon by the hands of an Arkham inmate.

The GCPD left Brendon in a cell for a little while after he entered Arkham. Brendon couldn’t help but listen to the non-stop screams and laughing. He questioned why he even considered putting on the costume in the first place. Then he realized his gloves were off his hands, and evidentially when he was paralyzed thanks to Aedos that one of the police got his prints. Just then the metal door screeched open. “OK kid. We got the batarang and can put you at the scene of the crime when Night Slayer was killed, so you might as well admit it.” Officer Essen said. “Essen, lay off the kid. You can tell he is green. Is this your first time on the town in a costume” asked Officer Reece.

“What difference is that to you? You don’t know my story.” Brendon sassed back.

“You’re right kid. We don’t know your story, but in hear, no one cares, so let’s get down to business you little brat. You’re prints didn’t bring up anything like you don’t exist, so what is your story.” Officer Essen said as he grabbed Brendon by the buckle on his straightjacket to lift him up.

“Now Essen, you better treat him good or your kid won’t get that G.I.Joe with the kung-fu grip for Christmas as you wouldn’t work again” a woman said as she walked in. “Here is my card. My name is Kate Spencer, and I have been contacted by a mutual associate of this person to defend him, and right now, you have circumstantial evidence as you have no prints on the murder weapon, the weapon is a replica that anyone could get, and officer did you even question why he couldn’t run when your GCPD got there. Now I need a moment alone with my client”

“FINE!” Officer Essen said in disgust as he released Brendon. “Reece come on.” Both officers walked out the door and shut the door behind them.

Kate Spencer waited until she knew the officers were away and she opened up her briefcase and hit a switch. “Now, all surveillance is temporarily frozen so we can talk freely. It is amazing with the right tech person what you can put into a make-up compact.” Kate said with a laugh. “Now Brendon, a mutual friend contacted me once they realized the GCPD was checking your fingerprints.” Kate reached in her briefcase and pulled out a business card. “My friend wanted me to give you this.”

“It’s a blank card” Brendon said.

“Flip it over” Kate replied.

On the other side, there were no words only a picture:

“ORACLE! You know Oracle.” Brendon asked.

“Yes. You can say we were part of the same team for a while” Kate replied. “Now we don’t have much time. Oracle wanted me to tell you this is your one “get out of jail” card. Next time, Oracle and her “friends’ may not be there to help you. Oracle said to not think Brenda’s death is worth you losing your life in costume. Oracle and I got it so you can get out of jail however you won’t be able to leave town and you will be on probation for a while.”

”What about Brenda’s murderer? What about Aedos?” Brendon explained.

”Some questions are best left as questions.” Kate said. “As far as Aedos, let the pros worry about that. What you don’t realize Brendon is that there are Manhunters out there willing to sacrifice anything to get what they want. Some even prey on people like you. People not thinking straight and seeking revenge. You got lucky that you were not hurt or killed. Now B…” Kate said and as she was about ready to say his name, the officers returned to open the door.

“Time’s up Ms. Spencer, and per the commissioner, this guy is released for now but he better keep his nose clean.” Officer Essen said.

“This from someone whose nose looks like a birthday party whistle.” Brendon joked.

“Now sir. My client will be going now. Thank you for your time.” Kate said . “Now take this to your son.” Kate reached into her briefcase and grabbed a Copperhead JLU toy.

“A Copperhead figure?” Essen said perplexed about the gift.

“Everyone has to start somewhere.” Kate said with a smile and left with Brendon.

Kate drove Brendon home and along the way, Brendon tried to look for clues on who this mystery female white knight was and how she was connected to Oracle. “Here’s your stop. Now remember, you get your 1 free pass, don’t make this a habit.” Kate exclaimed.

“Yes ma’am” said Brendon. “Thank you and tell Oracle thank you.”

“Oracle already knows that you would be thankful, and Oracle will be watching you.” Kate said as she pulled away.

Brendon got to his loft and crashed replaying the events and what he did wrong. Each time he replayed it in his mind, he kept finding small things he did wrong. It got to a point that in order to get a fresh mind to find more on what to fix, he got away by going online to research Aedos which there was nothing about the villain, so he researched Prometheus. Then he realized that the information on those discs were the key. He used his computer programming classes to figure a way out to maybe stop Aedos if there was a rematch. “Oracle don’t know me too well if they think I am going to sit on the bench while the Pros ignore me and Brenda.’ Brendon said disgruntled.

Brendon worked thru the night on the program. He replayed it each time however each time, he found that there was a flaw, and he made too many flaws the first time around with Aedos, so this had to be perfect. Seconds became minutes, minutes became hours, and hours became over a day. “WHY WON’T THIS WORK!!” Brendon yelled. He slammed his head on the desk and then began to picture his battle with Aedos. He remembered after Aedos paralyzed him that Aedos reached into his cape for some kind of key that opened a door into another dimension or zone. “If this work then, I can get him there and he can rot” Brendon said. Then Brendon’s computer froze up. “OH WHAT NOW!” Then Brendon got the idea. He was so focused on payback for the paralyzing him that he overlooked the obvious answer. “Yes. YEs. YES! THAT IS IT!” He started adding a 2nd program to run simultaneously on the disc. “That is what I needed”

Just as he finished running the 2nd program to make sure it worked, a news alert came over the airwaves. “This is Vicki St. Cloud live near the historic Gotham Clocktower. A strange villain has appeared out of nowhere trapping citizens in the museum part of the Clocktower and Huntress has just arrived.”

“How many times have I told you? Disrespect me and pay. You put me on camera. I HATE PICTURES.” Aedos screamed and threw a device from his belt and in a flash, the picture was no more and the TV went to static before the news station came back on.

“Time to suit up!” Brendon said to himself. As he reached for his mask, he saw Oracle’s card that Kate had given him. “Sorry Oracle. This may be the break I need to help me find Brenda’s killer.” Brendon put the card in his utility belt, put his mask on, grabbed the disc from the computer and took off out the window.

Brendon rose across the rooftops trying to get to his prey as fast as possible and stay hidden in the shadows of each rooftop. “Oracle, he is at it again.” A mysterious figure said as he seen Brendon thru his binoculars. “I know however he didn’t have to inherit all of that. No he didn’t see me. I will follow him. We may need to be ready for initiation of him into the gauntlet of things.” Then the mystery figure started to follow Brendon to the Clocktower.

“OK whoever you are. Let these people go.” Huntress exclaimed.

“I am Aedos! And this town has never respected my father however they WILL RESPECT ME. A Catwoman made a fool of my father when he tried to stop the pathetic Justice League. Now I have vowed anyone connected to Gotham villain or hero and especially connected to Batman or Catwoman will PAY SEVERELY for what they did to my father.” Aedos said as he got a disc from his gauntlet with Huntress’s symbol on it. “Now let’s dance in the pale moon light.”

“You think you can keep up” Huntress said as she shot 3 arrows from her crossbow at Aedos. Aedos turned the handle of his light saber and the light sword changed. He hit each arrow with ease and instead of destroying them, he reflected them back at Huntress. The first arrow lodged into the barrel of the crossbow. The 2nd arrow broke the string of the crossbow, and the 3rd arrow knocked the crossbow out of her hands.

“Well that was fun. What’s next. A batarang? A spinning heel kick? There is no one here to help you. I will start my revenge TONIGHT with you.” Aedos said.

“Not if I have anything to say about it.” Brendon said as he swung down from the roof and kicked Aedos off his feet.

“OH NO! NOT THIS PATHETIC LOSER AGAIN! What used your get out of jail pass? Maybe this time I will let you spend some time with Night Slayer.” Aedos said.”

“Not if I have anything to say about it.” Brendon explained.

“Well I have Huntress under control. Time to go to the next level of data.” Aedos reached to his gauntlet and revealed a Bat symbol disc. “This disc has the lineage of the Batman family including every hero or villain that ever fought in Gotham City. Always wanted to use this disc, so why not to kill a want to-be.”

“Get out of here kid. You are out of your league. This is the big leagues not someone from high school thinking they are a pro.” Huntress said. Brendon looked at Huntress as to say watch and see.

“Oh no you don’t” Brendon lunged at Aedos before he could insert the disc into his breastplate. The 2 struggled until Brendon knocked Aedos gauntlets off him which angered Aedos to the point he used his saber as a large taser and shot a large electric shock right into Brendon. “Now for the disc.” Aedos laughed.

Aedos put the disc into the breastplate. “Any last words you pathetic never-will-be?”

”Yes. Nice dance.” Brendon said.

“What?” Questioned Aedos. Just then, Aedos started to move in slow motion. “Wwwwhhhhaaaattt dddddiiiiiddddd yyyyyoooooouuuuuu ddddddooooo ttttttttooooooo mmmmmmmmeeeeeee?” Aedos barely got out his mouth before he froze still.

“See I remembered our first ‘dance’” Brendon started. “You were like your father and depended on those discs for knowledge. Then you hit me with that beam and paralyzed me to frame me for Night Slayer’s death. Well that time until I reached Arkham and back home, I placed those events in my head OVER AND OVER looking to see where I went wrong. Yes I made mistakes, but you are the one who made the biggest mistake. You messed with me.” Brendon said as he picked up the gauntlets.

“Well I was so interested to paying you back that I wanted to freeze you like you did me, but I got too obsessed with that. Then it dawned on me. Computers love data however too much and POW. Well, the little disc you put in your chest did have a bat symbol on it, but it was MY DISC you put in there and not this one.” Brendon reached into his belt to reveal Aedos’s disc. “The disc you helped yourself to was a disc of my creation. A little paralyzing plus you love to get data for your database so much, I created a data loop program of some of my favorite heroes. By now, you probably have so much information going thru you that your head feels like it is going to explode.” Brendon reached into Aedos’s cape. “Now I remembered this key too. I thought it would be a cool weapon to use on you and keep as a trophy however I figured you rigged it so only you could use it.” Brendon forced opened Aedos’s hand and made him hold the key. “Now Arkham would be too good for you as you would have a feast of information there, but being froze and unable to operate, you should have fun sitting wherever this key takes you to.” Brendon had Aedos hit the button on the key to open the doorway. “Now don’t forget to write.” Brendon did a back flip into a mule kick and made Aedos fly thru the doorway to the other dimension.

“Are you nuts? Do you know where that went to? You could have sent us there too? ARE YOU THAT CRAZY?” Huntress said in disgust.

“What? I won didn’t I?” Brendon said.

“You got lucky! You nearly lost your life the first time, and now this stupid stunt. Give me your equipment!” Huntress yelled.

“What you want to see me out of costume? Sorry I fly solo.” Brendon said

“Look Gotham has enough vigilante try-outs and freaks in costumes. This town is basically under MY WATCH with some heroes semi or fully retired.” Huntress said.

“Yeah, and innocent people are dying, and you DON’T CARE.” Brendon said about ready to breakdown.

“Look! I had about enough of your pathetic textbook attempt to be a hero. You need a swift kick in the…..” Huntress said however a shadow figure stopped her in mid sentence.

“Huntress. You don’t want the crooks and villains to have another vision in the night.” The figure said as he lowered himself head first down towards the ground.

“NIGHTWING!!!” Brendon exclaimed. “I THOUGHT… I THOUGHT….”

“Yes I am not a full time hero anymore, but this instance, I need to be plus Oracle basically threw my costume at me in order to watch you tonight.” Nightwing said.

“ORACLE KNOWS I AM DOING THIS?” Brendon said trying to hide.

“Oracle knows a lot more about you than you think” Huntress said as she looked at Nightwing.

“OK you too. You never know. You may have team-ups one of these days.” Nightwing joked.

“WHAT! NO WAY IN HELL! THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!” Huntress and Brendon said in one voice.

“OK you 2. We might as well get this started.” Nightwing said.

“Get what started?” Brendon asked.

“OH NO! Nightwing you don’t mean?” Huntress asked.

“Relax Huntress. This has already been discussed.” Nightwing asked.

The 3 walked into the Clocktower and accessed a hidden elevator. “Where does this go to?” Brendon asked.

“Oracle.” Nightwing said. Brendon had a hard time swallowing.

The elevator trip took forever. Brendon wondered what Oracle was going to go. Was Oracle goes to “take care of business”? Was he going back to Arkham? Why did Oracle want to see him? When the door opened, a room of monitors cascaded over all the walls was shown. Each monitor was showing different parts of the museum especially connected to the heroes of Gotham.

“OK Huntress. I got it from here. Thanks. The hostages were locked in the conference room on the main floor. Please free them, and you can go back on your regular patrol. We will get it from here.” Nightwing said.

“OK keep in touch” Huntress said as the elevator doors closed.

“OK now let’s go thru the trophy room to meet Oracle.” Nightwing said.

“Wait I get to see some of your trophies. I thought they would all be in the Bat Cave, and I am meeting Oracle.” Brendon said.

“The cave can’t hold all my memories.” Nightwing said with a wink. “As far as Oracle, Oracle wants to meet you, and I think it is time you meet Oracle.”

”OK” Brendon said as he cringed with fear of how knowledgeable he heard Oracle was and after what Kate Spencer told him, Oracle may be his end.

“Relax kid. The only thing you have to fear is fear itself. Now let’s go.” Nightwing said as he wanted thru the trophy room to where Oracle was.

“Now you see a mask from a villain who went by “The Wizard”. Next to that is a piece of rope from a hangman’s trap and coin from Two-Face. Slade Wilson’s power staff that he used against us while I was a Titan. Then pictures of the Titans and various communicators we used. After that….” Nightwing said.

“What a minute. Wizard isn’t that a JSA villain? And is that Tarantula’s mask?” Brendon asked as he interrupted Nightwing.

“The Wizard that Batman and I faced was a twin that worked for a genius scientist in his day. Tarantula-yes however no stories on that one. Now let me do this.” Nightwing said as he opened Shakespeare’s head and put his hand down to open a door. “Now then, let’s go and see what Oracle has to say.”

Brendon and Nightwing walked into the main computer area of Oracle with computer screens all around. “WHOA. This is where the stories of Oracle happened. Oracle must be connected to EVERYTHING.” Brendon said with his eyes as big as saucers.

“Yes Oracle was. Hmmm. She isn’t in her seat. I was under the impression she was going to be here.” Nightwing said in bewilderment.

“What? You’ve seen Oracle? I thought no one ever seen Oracle.” Brendon asked.

“Some have. It was for Oracle’s protection and security that only a few know who Oracle is.’ Nightwing said. Then the Oracle system appeared on all the computer screens.

“Sorry to interrupt you too. I had to change my plans in case you were followed. Congrats Brendon on beating Aedos however you didn’t listen to me, and your actions will have consequences that you choose to occur.” Oracle said in a stern voice. “Now Nightwing take him to the rail car because it has been determined that his fate is clear.”

“You sure. You know what that means.” Nightwing asked Oracle.

“Yes I do, and he said it is time.” Oracle said.

“OK. Come on kid. Guess your role is changing in front of our eyes.” Nightwing said.

“Gulp. OK sir.” Brendon said as he stepped into the Bat rail car.

“Buckle up. We will be there sooner than you think.” Nightwing said.

“There?” Brendon asked.

“Wait and see.” Nightwing said as he fired the rocket engines and the pair took off.

Brendon could barely move when the G-Forces. He tried to look out, but the section of the car he had the windows blacked out. He hoped Nightwing could see or someone knew where to go.

“OK we are here.” Nightwing said as Brendon could hear the engines shutting down.

“Here?” Brendon asked.

“Stand right there” Nightwing said. Then a revolving laser light and wall-like lights rotated around Brendon.

“Scan complete. No tracing or listening devices. No threats. Threat level-safe.” A computer voice said.

“OK. Let’s go.” Nightwing said

Brendon and Nightwing started walking in the dark path. “Nightwing, I was thinking. Oracle was right. I shouldn’t be doing this. Can you just take me back now? I promise I will never say anything.” Brendon said nervously.

“OK let’s do this. Instead of saying kid, can I call you Brendon?” Nightwing said.

“You know who I am?” Brendon asked.

“We’ve known since you first put on that outfit.” Nightwing said.

“Why all of this then? You could have prevented all of this if you and your “buddies” were out protecting Brenda instead of letting her die.” Brendon exclaimed.

“We knew about Brenda and she wasn’t as good as you thought in the beginning. We heard about a possibly elimination of her, but our sources didn’t think it was going down so fast.” Nightwing said.

“YOU KNEW SHE WAS GOING TO BE KILLED AND DIDN’T STOP IT.” Brendon yelled. He lunged at Nightwing with his fist. Nightwing sidestepped the punch and Brendon landed flat on his face.

Just then the lights came on. “Welcome to the Bat cave, Brendon. If you choose, probably a home away from home for you in the near future.” Nightwing said.

”What do you mean home away from home? Oracle said they didn’t want me to do this. Now someone does?” Brendon said perplexed.

“Well it was a group and mutual decision. See Oracle and I try to retire but the thrill of the action and change in crime waves make it difficult. I put this costume on for the first time in years once I heard about you going out recklessly.” Nightwing said.

“You did that for me? Why? You said I was reckless yet if you saved Brenda, I would not be here right now.” Brendon said.

“There you are wrong. Your parents hoped that you would not suffer any pain for the crime in Gotham for all these years.” Nightwing said.

“See Brendon. I warned you 1.) To get you back in sound mind and in control of your actions 2.) For your safety. But I knew with your genetics that was not going to happen.” Oracle said from the darkness.

“Oracle. Nightwing. You know my parents? How? They have never mentioned you that much.” Brendon said.

“Well walk up with me to the Bat Computer, Brendon and you will see why?” Nightwing said

“OK sir.” Brendon said as he tried to remember his parents talking about Nightwing and Oracle and wondering what this was all about.

“See your parents really care about you, Brendon. They wanted the best for you. You can’t image how happy they were about your graduation, how you could have made the Olympics, when you met Brenda, and more. Each day they lived their life and enjoyed your life to the fullest.” Nightwing said.

“So you talk to my parents a lot?” Brendon asked.

“No Brendon.” Nightwing said as he stopped near the computer reached to take off his mask. “It is time you see the truth.” Nightwing took off his mask.

“DAD!!!” Brendon exclaimed. “YOU ARE NIGHTWING!!!! HOW? WHEN?? DOES MOM KNOW?”

“Why don’t you ask her?” Nightwing said as he hit a switch on the computer to turn the perception filter off.

“Hi Brendon.” Barbara Gordon said.

“MOM!” Brendon said confused. “WHY ARE YOU IN THE BAT CAVE?”

“Brendon meet Oracle” Dick said.

“MOM IS ORACLE!” Brendon said

“Yes, Brendon. We didn’t want this “curse” that we consider this sometimes call it to fall on you. We have seen loved ones and friends die, teammates turn to villains, and identity crisises with villains going after our secret identities. We wanted you save, but fate chose otherwise.” Barbara said.

“OK. Let me get this straight. We are in the Bat Cave. Dad is Nightwing. Mom is Oracle, and you both let Brenda die even though you knew how much I loved her.” Brendon said almost crying.

“Brendon. Huntress, Mom, or I would have stopped her death if we could. We didn’t know, and thought it was going to happen at your wedding or would involve more people instead of an assignation-like death.” Nightwing said.

“Now we realized we were wrong not telling you about this. We have decided if you want to start training and be a hero that is up to you. You defeating Aedos was a major accomplishment. You used your fighting skills, gymnastics, and computer skills into one fighting machine. Now we will have to work with you on sharpening all your skills for the threats out there.” Barbara said.

“Mom. No offense but you can’t fight.” Brendon said.

“Oh-o!” Dick said as he stepped back.

“OH REALLY!” Barbara said. Just then, she pulled out her Escrima sticks and knocked Brendon flat on his back. “In this life, you have to expect the unexpected.”

“Each of us put on a suit and fought along some of the greatest heroes including Batman.” Nightwing said as he pointed over to the trophy case of old Robin and Batman suits. “You are a legacy for the Bat family. You have big boots to fill. We will work with you on costume creating and what weapons you want to use. One Bat family rule is no guns though, and that stuck with Batman and anyone he trained. Are you sure you want to be a hero?”

“OK on the guns. Yes I want to be a hero to honor you both and avenge Brenda’s death.” Brendon said.

“OK then. I guess we need to come up with a name for you. Robin, Bird boy, Nightwing…” Oracle said.

“Had to bring up the bird boy name didn’t you” Dick laughed.

“Well when Dad talked to Huntress, he said about another vision in the night, so I think the name Nightvision suits me.”

”Nightvision it is.” A voice said walking down the stairs. “Let’s stop the talking and get to work.”

”Grandpa Bruce?” Brendon said.

“Meet the original Batman, son.” Nightwing said.

“Let the training and gauntlet begin” Bruce Wayne said.

And the rest is history…..