The facility was located in the backyard of Wayne Manor, a hidden underground structure that had served a critical purpose in history.
According to Alfred's introduction, this place was once used by the Wayne family to help enslaved people escape persecution during a dark chapter in history.
The Wayne family had always carried a legacy of service, striving to aid Gotham City and countless people in need. During the Great Depression, their efforts played a pivotal role in saving the city's economy, thwarting the League of Shadows' original plan to destroy Gotham by economic collapse.
Under Ra's al Ghul's leadership, the League of Shadows had now returned with harsher methods and intended to strike again soon.
As Kara followed Alfred into the facility, she found Bruce in a disheartened state.
"What happened to him?" Kara asked Alfred, eyeing Bruce curiously.
Bruce looked up and answered her himself, his voice tinged with sarcasm. "If you'd been knocked to the ground by a burning beam an hour ago, you'd feel the same way."
"Sounds like someone's been drinking too much," Kara quipped, glancing at him before her eyes wandered to the room's surroundings.
Bruce chuckled dryly, too exhausted to argue. Instead, he watched Kara pick up his cowl from the workbench.
It was the mask he wore as Batman.
Curious, Kara removed her glasses and tried the mask on, smirking at her reflection. "Supergirl debuts as... Oracle Woman?" she teased herself.
"Oracle Woman" wasn't a reference to the female version of Batman but to a lesser-known member of the Bat-family, Kathy Kane. Kathy had been the first Batwoman, with her niece Kate Kane later assuming the mantle.
In the Bat-family hierarchy, Batwoman held a status akin to Batman's, while Batgirl's role mirrored Robin's. Despite her significance, Batwoman remained less well-known to the public compared to her male counterpart.
"I have to admit, this feels weirdly fresh and exciting," Kara remarked, spinning around to face Bruce with the cowl still on. "What do you think?"
Bruce scrutinized her, his expression neutral. "It'd look better if you hid your hair."
"Dark and brooding—typical," Kara muttered, grabbing the cape to drape over her shoulders. She tucked her long, golden hair beneath it. "Now?"
Bruce gave her an approving nod. "Now you could blend perfectly into the shadows."
Kara sighed, clearly unimpressed. "Exactly why I don't want to be some kind of Batwoman. Hiding in the shadows isn't really fulfilling."
Bruce smirked slightly, but his expression grew serious as Kara tossed the cowl and cape back onto the table. "So, what's going on with this League of Shadows situation?"
As Bruce explained, he worked on modifying an existing suit to fit Kara's specifications.
Under Ra's al Ghul's leadership, the League of Shadows planned to release a citywide poison gas through Gotham's sewers. This gas was derived from Scarecrow's toxin but required a special delivery method: a stolen Wayne Enterprises microwave emitter capable of evaporating water.
Kara raised an eyebrow. "Let me guess—this is partially your fault for inventing that thing?"
Bruce sighed. "When I regain control of Wayne Enterprises, dismantling the weapons division will be my first order of business. But blaming me won't solve anything right now."
Kara shrugged. "Fair point."
Alfred, standing nearby, interjected smoothly. "If you two are finished arguing, perhaps we can focus on stopping the League of Shadows before Gotham becomes uninhabitable?"
The duo exchanged sheepish glances before nodding.
"So, what's the plan?" Kara asked, leaning against the workbench.
Bruce outlined it simply. "We know they plan to spread the toxin through the sewer system. The emitter will evaporate the water, releasing the poison as gas. We have to intercept and stop them."
Kara frowned. "You do realize that a microwave emitter strong enough to evaporate that much water would vaporize people too, right?"
Bruce froze, processing her observation. "Maybe... that's exactly what they're counting on."
Kara sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Well, that's just peachy."
With Alfred's assistance, Bruce finalized Kara's new suit. Its design was sleek and functional, tailored perfectly to her form and needs.
As Kara suited up, she glanced at Bruce. "By the way, you still haven't told me the full plan."
"You interrupted me earlier," Bruce retorted. "The plan is simple. I need your help to stop Ra's and his men before they release the toxin."
Kara rolled her eyes. "That's not a plan; that's an objective. But fine, I'll work with what I've got."
As they prepared to leave, Alfred smirked. "Don't forget, Master Wayne—if you fail, I'll repossess the car and nameplate I lent you."
Bruce groaned, and Kara chuckled. Despite the dire situation, the camaraderie among them was evident—a family bound by loyalty and determination.
"Let's get to work," Kara said, adjusting her suit. "We've got a city to save."