A/N - With the recent death of Adam West, I decided to write this small fanfic. This would be set during the Thangarian invasion of Earth. He may not be the hero they had wanted, but he was the hero they needed.
It had happened so quickly, the former actor had thought as he sat in his old comfort seat, watching the TV. Although the world had changed much in the last few years, the actors life hadn't changed much since his encounter with Batman. The only difference was that Simon Trent was getting residual checks now for all the Gray Ghost episodes. This meant that he could finally rest easy in his apartment and do some conventions every once in a while.
Due to his increased bank balanace, he had finally managed to get one item of memorabelia that he had internally wanted for many years: The Ghost Locomotive. A refurbished 1960 Messerschmitt KR-200 with various labelled buttons covering the dashboard and the normally colourful paintjob now the colour of the TV hero.
His mind wasn't on the car outside or on his small amount of money in his bank or even on the cult following he had gained. His mind was on the horror that had consumed Gotham and the world. The news as showing the 'protectors of earth' proclaiming that the earth was now under martial law and that the Justice League were the villains. He would've just thought that he was watching an old goofy sci-fi tv show if the hovering ships outside weren't declaring the same news. Standing upwards, he walked towards the Television and turned it off, no longer wanting to watch it.
His attention was drawn rather quickly by a female scream from the outside. Moving faster than he had in years, he gazed out the window and saw a few of the winged warriors surrounding a lone woman. Looking from the group towards the rooftops, he waited for the shadows of a cowl and cape, Batman always being there to defend the defenceless in the city. God, he was beginning to sound like his own alter-ego. However, as the three aliens grew closer, it soon became apparent what their intentions were, if their hands had anything to do with it. Feeling his knuckles clench, he looked down.
"I'm an actor, what am I supposed to do?" he asked to the room, his eyes closing before turning around to return to his seat. Opening his eyes, his sight was captured by the poster above the television. The televised caped hero gazed back at him with his glowing goggle. A voice played through his head from long ago, 'I used to admire what the Gray Ghost stood for'. His response to that had been the same just a few seconds ago. 'Like you said, you need my help'. The screams echoed throughout his room, his gaze going from the poster towards his closet, the costume lying in wait for his owner.
Walking towards it, he opened it up and gazed into the blank goggles awaiting him. He was an actor. He fought villains like King Ram, Dr Death, Baconman etc. on TV. How was he supposed to fight aliens that had seemingly defeated the Justice League. 'Good always, no matter the delay, always triumphs over evil'. It took only a few seconds to put the uniform on, the goggles covering his eyes and two stun-guns replacing the prop guns in his holsters (he lived in Gotham, every one had a weapon hidden to protect themselves). Dashing to his window, the hovering ships had disappeared round the corner of the street and the woman in distress was putting up a good fight but it was obvious that she wasn't going to succeed. Opening the window, he quickly descended the fire escape and rushed over to the alley, his cape rustling behind him in the wind.
"Stop right there evil-dooers!" he yelled out, his silhouette being captured in the street light. All eyes came on him, his mind once again yelling at him that this was a really bad idea.
"It's that human hero, Batman!" one of the hawkmen yelled out, their weapons quickly becoming trained on him. Placing his hands on his hips, his Gray Ghost persona managing to overcome the fear coursing through Simon. "Those with evil hearts beware, the Gray Ghost!"