But even fighting at normal human capability, he could see her progress. She was good. Really good. In another six months, she'd be ready for actual vigilante work.
"You've been practicing," James said between exchanges.
"Every day. I want to be ready."
"Ready for what?"
Barbara threw a combination. James blocked and countered gently. "Ready to make a difference. Gotham needs more than just Batman. Needs people willing to stand up."
James could hear the conviction in her voice. This wasn't just training for self-defense. Barbara Gordon was preparing to become Batgirl.
"Just be careful," he said. "Making a difference is good. Getting killed trying isn't."
"I know. That's why I'm training. Learning how to stay alive while doing the right thing."
They sparred for another hour. James offered suggestions on her technique. Showed her more efficient ways to generate power. How to read an opponent's tells.
All of it was information that would serve her well when she eventually put on the costume.
When they finished, Barbara was sweating but grinning. "Thanks, James. These sessions really help."
"Anytime. You're doing great."
"You too. You've gotten even better since last time. What's your secret?"
James smiled. "Just dedication. Same as you."
They parted ways. James checked the time. Eleven AM. Thirteen hours until the raid.
He spent the afternoon maintaining his civilian identity. Had lunch with Timothy Drake Sr. to discuss their shipping company partnership. Reviewed investment portfolios. Made calls to business associates.
Normal James Carter activities. Building the facade that kept Sovereign's identity secure.
At six PM, he returned to his factory base. Time for final preparations.
AEGIS had compiled a complete tactical briefing. Maps of the subway station where Intergang's hub was located. Guard estimates based on thermal imaging. Weapon placements. Escape routes.
Batman had sent additional intelligence. Superman and Flash were confirmed for the operation. They'd handle the other distribution points while Batman and Sovereign hit the Gotham hub.
James reviewed everything three times. Memorized every detail. Ran simulations through AEGIS of potential scenarios.
At ten PM, he suited up as Sovereign. Checked every piece of equipment. Every weapon. Every system.
At eleven PM, he received Batman's final message.
"One hour. Rendezvous point alpha. Come ready for war."
James grappled into the Gotham night. The city sprawled below him, dark and dangerous and full of people who needed protecting.
Tonight, Intergang would learn what happened when they brought alien weapons to his city.
Tonight, Sovereign would show the Justice League what he could do.
Tonight, everything changed.
....
The rendezvous point was a maintenance entrance three blocks from the abandoned subway station. James arrived two minutes early. Batman was already there, a shadow against the brick wall, barely visible even to James's enhanced vision.
"You're early," Batman said.
"Figured punctuality matters for a war."
"Good instinct." Batman handed him a small earpiece. "Encrypted comm channel. Keep it active. I want real-time updates if something changes."
James took it and fitted it under his helmet. "Status on the others?"
"Superman hit the Metropolis hub twenty minutes ago. Clean sweep, no casualties on our side. Flash is mid-operation in Central City right now. Both reporting standard resistance. Armed guards, conventional tactics, nothing unusual."
"And here?"
"That's what concerns me." Batman's eyes narrowed behind the cowl. "Gotham's facility has nearly double the security of the other locations. Viktor Dragunov is running this one personally. That tells me something."
James turned that over in his mind. His enhanced intellect cross-referenced everything he knew about Intergang from his old world's comics. Bruno Mannheim ran a tight, profit-focused operation. Brutal but practical. Doubling security at one node out of ten, especially the node where Sovereign had already struck twice, suggested something beyond standard caution.
"They're not just protecting the weapons," James said slowly. "They're protecting against something specific."
"Or someone specific." Batman studied him for a beat too long. "We'll find out soon enough. Let's move."
They descended through the maintenance shaft into the old service tunnels beneath Old Gotham. The air turned cold and damp. Concrete walls gave way to brick, then to the crumbling tile of a station that hadn't seen passenger traffic in decades.
AEGIS fed tactical data directly into James's HUD as they advanced.
"Thermal mapping complete. Thirty-one heat signatures detected within the main hub. Twelve carrying Apokoliptian energy weapons based on power signature. Remainder armed conventionally. Central relay device confirmed active at the platform's center."
"Guard distribution?" James asked quietly.
"Defensive perimeter established in three rings. Outer ring: light patrol, conventional weapons. Middle ring: heavier numbers, mixed weaponry. Inner ring surrounding the relay: six guards, all carrying energy weapons, stationary positions."
Standard defensive doctrine. Nothing unusual yet. James filed the information and kept moving.
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