Part 2

Part 2

Alfred looks up when I come into the Bat-cave. "Ah, master Bruce. I trust you had an eventful night?"

"Just rosy Alfred."

"I saved some dinner for you. Poached salmon and rice."

Of course he had. He's a saint.

"Thanks. I'll have it in a moment." I tell him about my run in with the imposter.

"Did he say how he got here?"

"He told me some story about attending a scientific demonstration that Wayne Enterprises had funded, when the Joker attacked. As he fought it out as Batman, some machinery exploded and the next thing he knew he was where I found him. He really believed that he was me."

"Did you ever consider that perhaps he was telling the truth?"

"Of course not Alfred, that is impossible. Besides the man was a nutcase."

"Well there's only one way to find out. Did you happen to take a blood sample from him?"

I tell my faithful butler that I had. It's become a habit of mine lately.

"I was going to run some tests to see if he has some kind of illness."

Alfred says nothing, but gives me that infuriately knowing smile and leaves.

At first I don't believe the test results. I check and re-check them but they all point to the one conclusion. His DNA is just like mine. In fact it is mine. I sit back in my chair and brood. Maybe the other man is me, but from some other alternate world. As fantastic as this seems, I think it's the only feasible explanation. Another world where everything is like a television show. After all, it's like the guy stepped right out of a comic book. If so, how did he get to this world?

Wait, that's it! When his version of the Joker interrupted the demonstration and the machine exploded, it must have somehow have propelled him from his world to mine! Now that I think about it, it doesn't seem so unrealistic. I mean, Clark's from another planet. When most people think about Superman, it seems pretty unbelievable. Even I find it hard to get my head around from the few times we've worked together. Alfred returns to collect my dinner plate and I share my theory.

"Well that might explain things master Bruce. But where is the gentleman now?"

"I took him to the police station, for them to keep an eye on him! I have to go find him!"

I shove through the doors of the station. The man at the desk glares at me, obviously one of those police men who thinks I'm a menace. I ignore it and ask for the other Batman.

"We got him out the back. Follow me."

We reached a cell and the policeman stops in surprise.

"He's escaped! Gone!"

I realise that he must have picked the lock and gotten out the back way. It's what I would do. I run back to the Bat-mobile and call Alfred.

"He's gone! He gave them the slip!"

"That's not all master Bruce. I just received a call from Commissioner Gordon. Apparently the Penguin has kidnapped Batman!" he says.

"The Penguin must have been about to pull a heist and the other Batman tried to stop him. But this is a new and probably much harsher world than he's used to. He wouldn't have had a chance. Ask Jim if he was able to trace the message."

"At once sir."

"I have to go after him."