Three Birds and a Baby

Legend tells of a caped crusader Batman, guardian of New Gotham and his one true love Catwoman, the queen of the criminal underworld. Their passion left behind something extraordinary: A daughter, Huntress. Half-metahuman, she has taken up her father's mantle and under cover of the night, fights to protect the innocent and helpless. Joining her in this struggle, Oracle who was once Batman's protegee, Batgirl. She was caught in the crossfire of the war between Batman and Joker. Now she fights crime a different way: A master of the cyberrealms and mentor and trainer to heroes. Together, they have taken in a young runaway, Dinah. A metahuman herself with powers to open hidden doors to the mind powers that she is only beginning to explore. Together, these three are the protectors of New Gotham the Birds of Prey. My name is Alfred Pennyworth and this is their story. No! - Stop. Leave us alone. She's trying to get away. Stop. No. Settle down. No. No. Get away from me. No. Leave us alone. Don't. Please leave me alone. No. No! No! Please, help us! Sorry it took me so long. Here's your Baby. They were trying to take it away from her. - I didn't know what else to do with it. - You did the right thing, bringing it here. Okay, you know what? Someone has to take the plunge if only to stop the rampant pronoun abuse. - He's a boy. - Figures. What? Men always need saving. Well, we should name him. I'm good with "Boy. " I was actually good with "It. " Helena, don't poke the baby. How about "Guy"? Simple yet insightful. Guy it is. I'll hack into the coroner's database, find out who his mother was. Might give us a clue as to what the attackers were after. Maybe you can find out where we return him. What do we do till then? We'll take care of him. Take care of him? I can't even keep a houseplant alive. No, this is great. I was, like, the babysitter at home. Kids love me. It's easy. It's all about efficiency and planning. You're doing that super-Barbara thing. You know that makes me nervous. It'll just require a little creative scheduling, that's all. Wait. You two are actually serious about this. We vanquish the forces of evil every night. How difficult can it be to take care of one small baby? What is wrong? Here, here. Let me try. Let me try. Ugh. - Hi. Hi. Helena. - It's like holding a sack of screaming cats. - He stopped. Did I break him? No. He likes you. He's smiling. Ugh. Coroner hasn't been able to ID the woman in the alley. Neither have the police. Looks like you now have to go to the morgue. Mm. Sorry, duty calls. Oh, and while you're out, you, uh, better pick up some diapers. Let me cut right to the chase, Dr. Melfin. I'm working on a tight schedule and can't stand for delays. I paid you good money to genetically engineer this baby. Now, where is he? I bought a cute little onesie for him. One of my assistants broke into the lab last night and stole the baby. Now, the assistant has been tracked down and eliminated. The baby has fallen into third-party hands. Some stranger has my baby? Aah! Someone quite lethal. My men didn't really get a good look. They were too busy, um, running away. Let me explain something to you, Dr. Melfin. I know I may look like the ultimate career woman but all this, it means nothing to me. I'm unfulfilled. The Joker and I always wanted kids. Me and my Mr. J, we would have had such beautiful children. My green eyes and his green hair. Instead, the best I could do was to have you custom-make this baby for me and you lost him. My biological clock is ticking, Melfin, and it's a bomb. I'll get him back. You'll do nothing of the sort. It's obvious the pocket-protector brigade isn't up to the task. I'm outsourcing. Bring in professionals for the retrieval. And when I have my baby back then I'll decide whether I'm gonna let you live. Facial-recognition software searching. Everything all right with you and Dinah? Sounds hectic. Yeah, it's nothing we can't handle. Okay, search came up negative. Same on the fingerprints. You know what? Try the resonant image scan. No significant dental work, no broken bones. Ho, ho. Back up. Scanner over her shoulder. There's something under her skin. Looks like a biochip. - I can feel it. Good, cut it out. I don't get paid enough for this. That chip may be the way we can tell who she is. All right. Cutting. You know, you really shouldn't sneak up on people like this. Well, you're one to talk. You've been sneaking up on me for weeks now and all I seem to know is you call yourself Huntress. Are you angling for a phone number, detective? Would it do me any good if I say yes? I doubt it. But I'd enjoy watching you try. I'm not surprised to find you standing over a dead body. I'm not even surprised that you're cutting into one. But what are you doing with these? You don't exactly strike me as the motherly type. Thought you'd be less quick on your judgments. Worked so well for you last time. You're still mad. That you called me a thing and tried to shoot me? Oh, why would I be mad about that? Can we be really clear about something? - I didn't actually shoot at you. - Because you got shot at first. - I'm not gonna win this one, am I? - Mm-mm. Helena, I need you back here now. We have an emergency. On my way. Sorry, gotta bolt. Wait a minute, wait Huntress, you You forgot your pacifiers. Oh, it's boiling It's boiling over. Barbara, what is the emergency? These are not ultra-absorbent. I really needed those diapers. Where have you been? I ran into Reese, we were talking. As much as I'd love to stay here and hear the latest chapter of how you looked into each other's eyes but actually didn't get anywhere, I have to get changed. I was bouncing him to quiet him down and he barfed on me. I believe the correct term is "spit up. " What are you, off duty? Might I remind you, Miss Helena, I'm a butler, not a nanny. I thought you raised Bruce Wayne from the time he was little. Oh, yes, indeed. It does seem I have been taking care of children, and everyone else for more years than I can count. Still it's nice that you're developing an appreciation of my work. - Where are you going? To get a biscuit. Take him. Just for a second. I'm gonna get a burp cloth. Huh. Yeah. See, you were doing it all wrong. Hmm. What? It's obvious. Oh, here's your biochip. Guy looks tired, should I take him to the penthouse? Uh, no, Alfred brought over a bassinet from the manor, it's just over there. Come on. You've gotta sleep. I'm tired. You know, this doesn't mean that I like you. He's asleep. I always thought I would be the maternal one. It's nice to see how you're, well, you know, taking to a baby. - I'm not taking to anything. - Of course not. The sooner he gets back to the family the better, as far as I'm concerned. Yes. What have you got? Uh, the biochip you retrieved was some kind of heavily encrypted high-tech electronic passkey. - I just broke the code. - And? And it's from a biotechnology laboratory. Simcron Labs. - Guy's mother must have worked there. - Hmm. So we should probably pay them a visit. I wonder what was so special about her that those thugs wanted her dead. Don't cry, Guy. What in the world is wrong? I had a bad dream. Okay. Macaroni is good. He sure knows how to eat. Yeah, the thing freaking me out is, how'd the kid learn to talk? Why do we live inside a big clock? Ah. He has a point. Hey, don't look at me. I didn't pick it. Senior superhero chooses the lair. You know, maybe he's an alien. Or Or an android. Or maybe he's an alien-android cross. He's not an alien. - Is he? - According to these readings, he's human. Metahuman, to be more precise. With a tremendously fast growth rate. How fast? Well, based on height, weight, bone density and behavior - Ugh. - He's about 4. If he keeps aging at this rate he'll D-I-E of old age in a few days. We can't let that happen. I thought you didn't like him. - I don't. - Oh. Hey, let's go get some more macaroni. - I just wanna help - Hey. But I'm not sure we can. Here, take a look at this. These lines are some kind of neural mesh that have been surgically grafted onto his brain and major nerves. Neural mesh? Can you take that out? It would kill him. And even if we could remove it, I am not sure we should. Think of him as a computer. The mesh is software. - It tells him what to do? - Uh From my analysis, it's more like it tells him how to do things. How to walk, talk, eat. - So he's like a robot? - Oh, no. Not at all. He gets skills from mesh but what he does with them seems to be entirely up to him. He's, uh, got his own personality. Yeah, I noticed. Oh, I also found a passkey biochip embedded in the mesh. - Like the one we found in the woman. - Meaning they've both been to Simcron. Well, we can make a pretty good guess who put the mesh in. Why go through the trouble if he's just gonna die in a few days anyway? He's just a kid. A kid that doesn't know what's happening to him or why doesn't understand that he's different, he's a metahuman. Yeah, all three of us know what it's like to discover you're different. And I know what it's like to be a kid and lose your mother. This whole thing is gonna send me straight to my shrink. I'm so glad you could come in. Why don't you tell me a little about yourself? And your friends. I'm a little confused. You're a psychiatrist? Well, that's part of who I am. I don't suppose you tell people at parties that you're a mercenary for hire? Willing to kill as brutally as necessary if the price is right? - I usually leave out the killing part. - Precisely. Just as I leave out my plan to take over all of New Gotham and bring the city to its knees. But that's why you're here. Due to a regrettable level of incompetence among the scientific profession I seem to have lost an integral part of my plan. I need you to bring him back. - "Him"? - My baby boy. So convince me. Why are you and your men right for the job? Consider yourself hired. "'It's your birthday,' said the big hippo. 'My birthday? ' asked the giraffe. 'How do you know? ' The hippo replied: 'Because of all these presents I brought for you. "' I never had a birthday. - Guy - Am I different than other kids? Yes. You're different and so are we. Okay. Well, we've been frantically searching for Guy, as you call him since he was abducted from our lab. He has a rare aging disease. He's a very special child. So we've seen. He was scheduled to undergo a treatment to slow the aging process when our lab was broken into. Industrial espionage. - People are trying to steal him? - The boy is an orphan and his condition makes him very interesting to less-principled scientists. My assistant attempted to save the child. I'm very sorry to hear what happened. So there's a chance you could cure him? Well, like I said, the treatment is experimental. Without it, he'll die. I need you to get him to me right away. Time is of the essence. We'll be right there. - I'll get Guy. - Wait. We don't know enough to bring him to them. Barbara, he's dying. We don't have a choice. There's no time to argue strategy here. We can't afford to lose even an hour. We have to take a chance. It's too dangerous to go in there blind. Then we won't. You're driving like a maniac. When did you become the backseat driver from hell? You should check mirrors when you're changing lanes. Look, I got us here, didn't I? Who made these straps so tight? - Guys? Yeah. Where are we? - When did this happen? I don't know. I'm looking out the window. He's got the growth spurt from hell. - Hey, don't swear. - Oh, sorry. - How old do you think he is? - Ten, 11, maybe? Which means he's aged six or seven years. Yeah, and slept through the entire thing. Asleep? Both times he's taken naps, he's gotten older. That must be when he ages. Dr. Melfin will know how to stop that. Stay with Guy. I'll take Dinah, suss things out. If there's a problem, we'll signal. I was relieved when you called. - Dr. Lewis Melfin. - Barbara Gordon. - It's a pleasure to meet you. - It's Aah! - A trap. You're not at all wrong. Now, where's the boy? It feels like years since I've seen him. Wait in the car. Don't move. And please, stay awake. Okay. Oh, come now, don't make me do something unpleasant. Now, where's the child? How about this? You tell us what you created him for and we'll tell you where he is. Deal? No. See, I have a reputation to rehabilitate. How about this? I shoot her in the head and you tell me anyway? How about not? Hope I'm not interrupting. Very impressive, but are you faster than a speeding bullet? Let's see. - That's my boy. You. Well, uh, you You said he was your boy. Isn't this delicious? Baby came home to visit Daddy. Now, this is what I call nice work. Quick, precise, perfect. Now you can see why I'm so anxious to find him. A baby did this. My boy's growing up. Where has the time gone? He was designed to go through an entire human life cycle in just three days. Really, he is the perfect child for the busy career woman. Low maintenance, no sleep deprivation, they don't live long enough to borrow the car. If he grows so fast, why not just get another one? He's a prototype a blueprint for my family of baby assassins. Completely loyal and willing to do Mommy's bidding. Loyal. You mean, you told him to do this. No, this he did on his own. Free will. Pesky. I told Melfin to bioengineer it out of the boy. Obviously, one more thing he didn't manage on the to-do list. But the child is still controllable. That's why we're here. Mine. This. Mm. The trigger. It's like a remote control. It turns on his programming to destroy. Now, all we have to do is track down my baby. Guy, we need to talk about what happened at the lab. I saved you. Yes, you did. How'd you know how to do all the fighting? I just knew. Why am I like I am? Look up there. That's Orion, the hunter. Guy you're a hunter, just like me. You killed a man. Even though it was an accident, you cannot do that. Why not? He was bad. Good point. I ask myself that same question all the time. We have to try not to hurt people. - Even bad people? - I know it's hard. Sometimes I wanna hurt people too. A lot of the time, actually. But we can't. Because we're strong. We have to be responsible with our power. Because that's what being strong's all about. Are you sure? I'm faced with that choice every day. But you can't give in to it. No matter how much you want to. Otherwise you'll be just like the bad guys. Okay. Hey, am I ever gonna have a birthday? Of course you are. With cake and candles and everything. Cool. What do you say we go home? Okay. For Master Guy when he wakes. Children grow up so fast. Even at a normal pace, it's never long enough. I don't know what to do, Alfred. Welcome to parenthood. I understand exactly what he feels. Not knowing who you are being pulled two ways so hard, you feel like you're gonna split in half. Indeed. When I look at Master Guy, there's much that reminds me of you. When we look at our children, the hardest thing is to see ourselves. All the struggles and wrong choices. All the mistakes we want to help them avoid but we can't. He has to find his own way, just as you did. You've turned out rather well, I think. I had time to make mistakes. When I was a kid, Barbara never gave up on me. I won't give up on him. You haven't found any answers, have you? Well, actually I've been analyzing the neural mesh. It looks like it has two modes: The passive mode has been giving him skills as he grows things like combat expertise. - The active mode, on the other hand - Does what, stops the aging? No, I don't think so. It's programmed to tap into the part of the brain that regulates violent behavior. It's obvious that he's been designed as some kind of assassin or warrior. Warrior, yes. Assassin? We still don't have any proof of that. Well, you see what he can do. - I mean, now the only question is Am I meant to kill? Guy. What am I, huh? What the hell's wrong with me? We'll find out. Everything's gonna be fine. You don't know that. You don't have a clue. - I'm just a freak. - No, you're not. - Yes, I am. - Calm down. Calm down. You're not the one this is happening to. Why did you save me if you can't do anything to help me? I hate you. He didn't mean that. He just needs a little time. He doesn't have any time. Neither of us do. I'm gonna go talk to him. Have you seen Guy? - No. - He's gone. - Tell Barbara I'm gonna find him. - Can I help? Do whatever you can. I gotta go. I've been looking all over for you. Ooh! Killer, it's just me. - I'm not going back. - Did I say anything? No, you just feel sorry for me because I'm a freak. Oh, please, like the three of us are so aggressively normal. You know, the only one feeling sorry for you is you. Look, I know you may not believe me, but I know how you feel. Hey why don't you dump the punk and dance with some real men? Well, if you see any, you'll let me know, right? Yeah, let's go. Ugh. You should wash your brain out with soap. What's up with blondie? - Get off. Hey. - Get away from her. - Yeah? Make us. You know, I do have a cell phone. I need your help. My nephew is missing and I've gotta find him. Your nephew? Oh, right, right, right. The diapers. Can you help me or not? Sure. Of course I can help you. Any distinguishing marks? Only that he's about 14. Fourteen. In diapers. Okay, it's a long story and I don't have time to explain it now, okay? We just have to find him. Okay, okay, easy, easy. You have any idea where we should start looking? None. All units in the vicinity Sheridan and Twelfth possible riot at the Club Slippery. Looking for a male Caucasian, mid-teens, violent and dangerous. All available units respond. We just got a police scanner intercept. Sounds like some kid just tore up a teen dance club. Police are classifying him as extremely dangerous. That's my boy. Helena, I tried to stop him but he wouldn't stay. - Do you know where he went? - No, I don't know. - He ran off towards Maple Street. - Okay, go home. It's okay. I know where he is. He has such a flair for destruction. I positively must find him. He was here. Slow down, Guy. I can't keep up. Now, take your men and go find my baby. It shouldn't be too difficult. Just follow the mayhem. Move out. It's okay. Everything's gonna be Do you feel it? Something Something dangerous. Yeah, me. Guy, something's happened to you. Why are you doing this? It all fell into place. I know why I was born. - Why? - To kill. And it feels good. - Don't do this. This isn't you. - Yes, it is. No, it doesn't have to be. What? Why don't you fight back? Because the battle you should be fighting isn't between us. It's inside you. You can fight what's in your nature. I know it. You don't have to be what people expect. I know how hard it is to choose not to hurt but to love instead. - Why should I listen to you? - You shouldn't. The only person you should listen to is yourself. It's not genetics or programming that defines who you are, Guy it's you. I face my demons every day. And there's only one thing I know to be true. You can be anything you wanna be. Anything. It's okay. It's okay. Everything's gonna be okay. That might have been a tad premature. Kill the woman, we'll take the kid alive. - Run. I'll take care of this. - No, I'm not gonna leave you. Once his attack mode was triggered, the aging process sped up. I'm sorry, Helena, there's nothing we can do. There has to be. He didn't complete his mission. He stopped. He changed. It's okay. - Just let me sleep. - No. You can't, you have to stay awake. We have something for you. Guy. Guy. Guy, come on. Wake up. Guy. I'm ready to go now. Look. Look, today can be your birthday. Make a wish. I wish for you to be happy because that's what you gave me. Just so I understand the woman who has continually thwarted my plans is alive and unidentified, the prototype has been completely lost. How is this possible? They were fighting a coordinated attack, like a team. He was programmed to kill her. He was programmed to kill anything in his path. How is she doing it, drugs? Some kind of counter-implant? What could she possibly use that would be more powerful than a neural mesh? - Well, it looked like they were friends. - Oh, that's it. She overrode millions of dollars in bioengineering research and surgical procedures by becoming his friend. Don't be insane. Well I suppose there is an upside. They left you for me to kill. Whoever you are I know you're out there somewhere and I will find you. Knock, knock. Hey. Thought I'd track you down for a change. I didn't startle you, did I? Not a chance. Well, listen, there were no injuries at the club. Just a whole lot of smoke damage, you know? Did you find your nephew? He's gone. Gone? Gone where? Just, uh gone. Huntress I'm sorry. About everything. What kind of a person would make a baby that's programmed to kill and die? Helena said she saw someone at the club, a woman. She didn't see her face, though. You think? I'm starting to get a really bad feeling about this. Like someone's trying to put the "organized" back into New Gotham crime. So, what do we do? What we always do. We find her and we stop her.