The Other Brother
Chapter Three
Matt sighed in exhaustion as he slumped over his desk; his morning classes were finally over. Never before did he look forward to a lunch break. Just as he was about to get up from his seat when an enthusiastic hug plowed into him from behind, pinning him back down into his seat.
"Colin, can you stop doing that?" Matt grunted as he pushed himself off the desk.
His redheaded friend grinned cheekily. "Never bothered you before." He backed off and hopped onto the desk. "Why the long face? Class wasn't that bad."
"Nothing." Matt sighed as he scrubbed his hands over his face.
Colin looked puzzled as he leaned forward. "You okay? Did something happen at home?"
Matt waved off the question. "Nothing like that. Everything's fine at home."
His friend raised a brow. "You sure?"
"Completely fine." Matt ran a hand through his hair as he pushed himself up again. "Hey Colin, what would you do if you ran into someone that technically doesn't exist?"
"What?" The other tilted his head in confusion. "Do you mean a con-artist? Or maybe a CIA agent or something?"
"Uh... sure, something like that." Matt mumbled. "What would you do?"
"I dunno." Colin shrugged. "Depends how I meet them I guess. If they helped me, then I'll help them back. If not…" He shrugged again. "Not much I can really do against experts right?"
"Uh… What if you saved them and then they left something important to you and robbed you the day after?"
Colin scrunched up his face. "What kind of scenario is that? Are you high on something?"
"No." Matt grumbled. "Forget I asked. Come on, let's get some food before lunch break is over." Maybe his brain would work better with a full stomach.
o.o.o.o.o
"Tt…" Damian clicked his tongue in disappointment at the empty clock tower. It was a stretch that Oracle's tower might be in use, if not by her then maybe her successor.
There was nothing whatsoever sans a fine layer of dust from disuse. Hardly surprisingly considering how much it cost to own the property. If it wasn't for his father's wealth, he doubted Oracle could've made it her base. His frown deepened, something wasn't right. Why would a valuable property like this be in disuse? Aside from Wayne Towers this was one of the few other prime locations for affluent socialites and celebrities; rent alone would've made a handsome profit.
"So why?" He murmured quietly as he made his way through, mindful that he was leaving footprints as he avoided the windows on the 14-feet clock face.
Halfway through the room and he was ready to leave and search another possible bunker, but then he heard a creak. His eyes drifted to the ground as he took a step back. Damian knelt down to the ground and brushed away the fine layer of dust. The flooring was slightly different, but not enough to be noticeable on a casual glance. He curled up his fingers and rapped the ground with his knuckles, testing the difference in sound.
A smirk drifted cross his lips as he pressed his weight onto one point. In moments, he could hear the gears smoothly shifting with the slightest hiss of sound. Damian took a step back as the floors and ceiling shifted. Hidden panels opened to walls of equipment and weaponry. Screens descended from above veiling the windows with a mirror image of what it was moments ago to the outside world. The kitchen folded away, replaced by a med-bay and lab.
Damian waited with crossed arms until a hologram of an elderly Alfred appeared with a courteous bow. "Welcome sir."
He raised a brow, where was the security protocol? It was not possible that anyone could access the base simply by finding the activation switch. Damian stayed silent for a moment as he surveyed the hologram of Alfred and glanced about the changed room.
"Override security protocols. Priority Grayson." Damian mimicked Dick's voice as he gave the command. He had no clue if he existed in this world, but Dick was one constant he could rely on.
The Alfred hologram remained still for a moment before he stood straight with a wry smile. "Welcome back Master Dick. How may I be of service to you?"
"Run this bunker under stealth without feedback to the outside." He continued with Dick's voice as he strolled over to the equipment displays.
"Bunker is now running under stealth mode." Alfred responded.
"Bring up information on Terry McGinnis and known associates." Damian ordered as he picked up an unfamiliar batarang.
"Access denied." Alfred stated bluntly.
Damian glanced back to him, bewildered. "Denied? Who has authority over his files?"
"That would be Master Bruce sir." Alfred replied.
"…He…" He coughed and cleared his throat, almost slipping with his impersonation of Dick's voice. "He's still…active?"
"No."
A frown marred his face. "Bring up the most recent article on Bruce Wayne."
"Most recent was a week ago." Alfred replied before an image appeared in front of him. "Master Wayne was at a charity function hosted by Wayne-Powers."
Damian grew silent at the image of his father. The man's face, aged with lines and skin, speckled with liver spots. "Can't be…" His voice cracked out in a whisper, almost losing his composure. For a moment he thought Hush might've gotten free and impersonated his father again, but at a closer look, he couldn't deny those piercing blue eyes. Then Drake wasn't wrong about his father being lost in time. He will make his way back to them eventually, but then Grayson would…
His breath shook as he gathered his thoughts and returned to studying the photos. He could deal with his unresolved issues afterwards. As expected, many of the faces were unfamiliar, not surprising considering the time difference he was from. He would be more alarmed if there were more people he recognized.
Just as he was about to call up other information, his eyes drifted across familiar face. He paused when he realized it was the replacement. Realization dawned on him to why the replacement's files were classified.
"He chose him? HIM?" Damian snarled. "Of all the asinine candidates he could've chosen, he picked this idiot as a replacement? The fat-girl would've been a better choice than him. At least she would've been cautious and aware of her surroundings! What was he thinking?"
"I cannot answer that question." Alfred's hologram replied with utmost patience.
"Of course you can't." Damian muttered under his breath darkly. "What happened to Tim Drake?"
"Access denied." Alfred stated.
He growled, why was Dick's clearance on these files restricted? It made no sense. "Fine, bring up information on Colin Wilkes." By this point he was happy to see a single file that didn't have red tape over it.
"Unknown. No information available."
"Unknown?" Damian said in disbelief. Colin was Abuse, heck he was a victim of Bane's venom. How could they not have information on him? "How about Stephanie Brown?" Surely they should have her information.
"Unknown. No information available."
Again? Why would there be no information on her? This was Oracle's tower! Even if his father had clearance over the files, this was still her dominion, why wouldn't it have information on one of her successors? A chill went up his spine. Did something happen?
"What happened to Barbara Gordon?" He demanded.
"There are several matches for Barbara Gordon. Please clarify which—" Alfred was promptly cut off.
"Daughter of Commissioner James Gordon of the GCPD!" Damian snarled in annoyance. "How many other Barbara Gordon is there in relation to Batman!"
"Very good sir." The butler took a moment before replying. "Do you have a time frame of what information on Commissioner Barbara Gordon?"
Confusion replaced anger as puzzlement crossed his face. "Commissioner? When did she become commissioner?"
"Approximately twenty-four years ago shortly after the death of Commissioner James Gordon."
Damian grew silent as he absorbed the information. The piling inconsistencies were starting to give him a headache. His father was alive, but no longer Batman. His replacement was some amateur that couldn't hold a candle to even Stephanie Brown. Grayson's access to the bat-intel was near non-existent. Oracle was the commissioner and apparently both Colin and the fat-girl don't exist.
"What the hell is going on?" He muttered darkly under his breath before he decided to throw out more names. "Are there any files on Cassandra Cain?"
"Unknown. No information available."
"Jason Todd?" Damian tried again.
"Unknown. No information available."
"…Da—" He hesitated. There were so many missing from the database already was he even going to be there? A shuddering breath escaped before he hardened his eyes. "Are there any information on Damian Wayne?"
Alfred's face remained unchanging. "Unknown. No information available."
"Nothing." He murmured quietly.
He didn't exist here. How could that be possible? Lady Chronos was a time traveler; she could only travel backwards and forwards in time. So, why isn't he here? Why isn't Colin? Brown? Or even Todd! Damian's hands clenched tightly as his fists shook.
From what the fan-boy said, the Justice League is nothing more than a shadow of itself. Gotham is being watched over by a novice. Oracle, the best intel in the business, was nothing more than a police commissioner. Half the manpower in Gotham he was familiar with was not there, the ones that do exist he couldn't get any information on.
"Just what the hell am I supposed to do now?" He snarled, breaking his impersonation of Dick's voice.
"If I may be so presumptuous sir." Alfred's voice broke through, making Damian snap his head up in surprise. "Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. If you are in need of assistance, you can contact Master Bruce."
"… You're… just an AI." Damian said tentatively, cautious to why the program was suddenly talking to him without prompting. The hologram returned with a warm Alfred-mannered smile. He stood dumbfounded when the hologram said nothing else. It took a moment before he shook his head in mirth. "I was careless to not see this."
The hologram remained smiling.
"All right." Damian sighed as he placed a hand on his neck and cracked it effortlessly. He was getting tense for no reason. "I want all available information on the Wayne family the last thirty years. No need to brief me on the particulars, I'll read everything myself. I've wasted enough time on idle information. I have a time schedule to keep."
Alfred quirked a brow at his declaration.
The boy wonder responded with a smirk. "Don't bother sending the replacement. I'll be visiting soon."
A smile graced Alfred's aged face again. "Very well sir. We will see you at the manor."
o.o.o.o.o
Bruce sat quietly as he watched the feed from the clock tower base. The moment the boy activated the switchboards and logged in using Dick's voice and code, the system linked back to the cave. Alfred's announcement that the system ran under stealth was only a ruse to distract the boy.
Regardless what protocol system he placed for his former companions, everything linked back to the cave in a ghost system. Alfred was the only one that knew and his choice in avatar only shows his trust in his dear and late butler. The fact the boy saw through the subterfuge was alarming. Not to mention the list of names the boy listed.
Colin Wilkes, Stephanie Brown, Cassandra Cain and Jason Todd were names that meant nothing to him, but the vehemence the boy used in saying them meant they have significance. Judging by the boy's personality, they weren't simply acquaintances. They played a role in Gotham.
Bruce's eyes narrowed as he tried to piece together what little information he had. The boy was a time traveler, the Chronos Belt tested to be real. He was a Robin from the future; possibly recruited by Dick from how quick and familiar he was to the former Nightwing.
Well trained, with a keen eye for details, the boy had an early start, but not by Dick. Everything he did was too cold and harsh—no, he was wrong. The boy's icy exterior slipped twice during the feed. The first time when Alfred told him who blocked access to Terry's files and the second… it's not of concern yet.
There were discrepancies to be noted. While he believed the boy to be from the future, his choice in information gathering was strange. Shouldn't he already know everything he needs to know? Why would he need to gather information on Terry? On his peers? Then there was his outdated equipment.
His brows furrowed as a bleak future seeped into his mind. No, something wasn't quite right about that image. Now that he learned a little more about the boy. He didn't seem like someone from the future. Rather… he felt nostalgic. There was something about his speech pattern that reminded him of long ago.
An alternative past perhaps? Another reality? Blue eyes widened as realization slowly set in. It wouldn't be the first time. A low growl rumbled from his chest. How could he allow the appearance of the Chronos Belt to disrupt his perception?
"Don't bother sending the replacement." The boy's confident drawl pulled him out of his thoughts. "I'll be visiting soon."
Bruce back straightened. There it was again. That speech pattern… but that wasn't the only thing. The way he moved and carried himself. There was a resemblance to… He grabbed his cane and stood. His sudden movement startled Ace to looking up.
"Come on boy. There's work to do." He voice graveled as he made his way towards the steps.
o.o.o.o.o
"So what's wrong with Matt?" Terry sighed as he plopped down in the seat across from Max.
"I thought I saw him today." She started.
He stared at her in deadpan. "And that's enough to drag me out of bed?"
"Fighting Jokerz." Max finished with her arms crossed.
That caught Terry's attention immediately. "What? Are you sure it was him?"
"I didn't see his face since he had a hat on, but the clothes he was wearing looked like one of your brother's regulars."
"So what? Mom buys them at the mall, it could be some other kid." Terry grumbled.
She raised a brow at him. "How many kids Matt's age can you list that could take on five Jokerz by themselves? Mind you, he was unarmed while they had their usual toys."
"…Well…" Terry trailed off. Max was right, there weren't many. "So what happened?"
"I'm not exactly sure. I only caught the end bit of the fight." Max admitted before carefully phrasing her question. "…Terry you guys aren't strapped for creds by any chance, are you?"
"No, the old man pays pretty well." A frown crossed Terry's face. "What did he do?"
Max recognized that look and that wasn't a good sign. "Hey Ter, maybe you're right. It's probably not Matt."
Terry turned to her seriously with sleep and exhaustion gone from his mind. "Max, tell me what did he do."
"… He pinched their creds and left. I think he might've been aware that I followed him… I lost sight of him after a couple of blocks." Max said as she watched Terry deep in thought. "Terry?"
His eyes grew icy as his mind raced through his thoughts and the rare few moments he spoke with his brother. There was nothing in particular that stood out to him. Matt hadn't acted any different in the last couple of weeks; he was the same annoying little brother as always.
Something weird happened to me today too.
Terry jolted as the conversation from the day before rang through his memory. "Matt said something yesterday."
"What happened?" Max asked curiously as Terry closed his eyes in a vain attempt to remember more.
Can't we talk a bit longer?
He pressed his hand against his forehead. "I don't know."
"You don't know?" Max frowned. "What do you mean you don't know? You're his brother!"
"I brushed him off!" Terry snapped. "I was exhausted! There was so much going on, I didn't have the time or energy." His fist clenched tightly and smashed into the table. "Damn it! Why didn't I listen? What the hell did he get himself into?" He reached into his pocket for his phone.
"What are you doing Ter?" Max asked sternly, her tone warning him not to do something hasty or stupid.
"Good, he's at school." He quickly pocketed his phone and got up.
"…You bugged him?" Max said in disbelief.
"Would you rather I call him and demand where he is?" Terry muttered under his breath as he moved to leave.
"How is that even justifiable?" Max retorted as she chased after him. "Where are you going?"
"Something I should've done before leaving the house." He grumbled and said nothing more.
A puzzled expression crossed Max's face as she trailed after him.
o.o.o.o.o
CM Aeris: Sorry for the short chapter, but it took a while for me to get over Damian's death… (sniffs) Why must he die? (shrugs) But knowing DC, they'll probably revive him in the most ridiculous way in a couple of years. LONG LIVE DAMIAN!