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Isolated—Superboy, chapter 2
Location: The JLA Watchtower
"Can we trace where this boom tube took him?" Batman asked. "Did it deposit him on New Genesis or Apokalyps?"
"I'm running the scan now," Oracle said. "If these readings are right, it was...neither."
"Explain."
"I'm not a physicist, but boom tubes leave particles in a trail towards their destination. With this one, there's simply a concentration of particles. It doesn't seem to have taken him anywhere."
"Yet, we know he's missing?"
"Is it possible that it moved him between dimensions?" Kon asked. "I moved through Hypertime with that one device, is it possible that this was an equivalent process?"
Batman sat back in his chair and thought about it. "It's possible. We need the Atom here, and possibly Orion or Big Barda. They have expertise that we do not."
Location: The Bat Cave
"Are you sure you don't want to be with your family?" Robin asked.
"I want to hear the news as soon as possible," Kon said. "Oracle will let you know when she does, so being here will cut out the delay."
"There's a funny thing about that location where Match was abducted," Robin said, keeping an eye on Batman. "It's directly on the flight path you'd take from Gotham to Smallville."
"You're saying Match was in Gotham?" Kon asked. "Why?"
"That's what I'd like to know. I've checked some sources, and it appears that while I was with the Titans for the past two weekends, Batman's been seen accompanied by a ninja sidekick. Is there anything you'd like to tell me?"
"I've been training Match," Batman admitted.
"For what purpose?" Kon asked.
"I've asked him to consider being my successor."
A hurt look flashed across Tim's face. "You're going to have him replace me? Am I not good enough?"
"That's not it at all," Bruce said. "I know you don't want to take my mantle. Neither does Dick. Match might be interested, so we're seeing on a trial basis to check if it would work."
"Did you know?" Tim asked Conner.
Conner frowned. "This is the first I've heard of it. He didn't tell me anything. I wonder why he didn't. He should have."
"He was adamant that I be the one to tell Robin before anything," Bruce admitted. "I was trying to find the right time and way to do it."
"Why don't you think I'd want to succeed you?" Robin asked. "Don't you think things might be different now?"
"I didn't want you to feel obligated. It has to be your choice and not because you feel pressured to accept. If you don't do it for the right reasons, it'd be better that you didn't do it."
There was a beep at the console. Oracle's mask appeared on the screen.
"I've got word," she said.
Location: the JLA Watchtower
"Knowing where he went is difficult," the Atom said. "However, since we have the equivalent of a 'footprint' leading there, we should be able to generate a boom tube that opens there."
"There are limits to the equipment," Big Barda said. "Only two people will be able to go through, so if Match returns, only one person will be able to get there. Also, the boom tube can only be opened for a few moments, and it will take ten minutes to open again."
"I'll go," Kon volunteered. "When can we do this? I'm ready now."
"Perhaps I should go," Superman said. "I can make sure to find him in ten minutes."
"I know him better," Kon argued. "If that world has its own Match, would you be able to tell them apart? I'd be able to."
"I'm inclined to side with Superboy," Batman said.
"It will take us three hours to configure the equipment," the Atom said.
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