Chapter Nine - Theory

John and martha arrived hugged in the tower. A trickle of blood trickled down his forehead, already Martha had a few scratches and a big sore on her arm. Kira came later, along with the Lanterns. Medical care was already waiting for Batman. They put him on a stretcher and took him away.

Shayera and Diana arrived first and hugged their children. J'onn was about to receive Kira, and she hugged him. Soon Diana and Martha headed for medical bay to hear about Batman. Flash and Lily joined Shayera and John.

"It's just a cut, Mom."He said. "You worry too much."

"Look at me, I sound like a real mother." He touched her son more.

They laughed. Lily hugged her brother, and whispered.

"What happened down there?"

"I have no idea, but I think those fighters came from the First World War. On the other side, I saw German fighters chasing an English squadron. This explains the fall of the first plane."

Honey moved closer to her computer.

"Displacement in time and now in space? That puts my theories down."

"We urgently need a meeting." J'onn said.

Everyone agreed. With Batman gone, the urgent meeting would be between the other six members and their children. When Batman woke up, they might have new information, but they needed to start figuring out what was going on over time.

John looked at his family. Shayera and Lily were still hugging him, and Flash had a hand on his shoulder. His mind, however, was a little far away. Martha. He needed to talk to her. He was carried away by the emotion of the moment, and now he could have spoiled everything. It took him a long year to try to hit his life, and in minutes he ruined everything. He got out of the family.

"I need to get out for a minute."

"See if you don't ruin everything, John, or it won't be Martha who's going to kill you." Lily said, it would be too much for John to think it was a joke. John just shrugged and left.


Martha looked out the window at the doctors working on her father.

"How's Uncle Bruce?"

She jumped, but she recognized the owner. He gave a half smile and turned to John. He had his hands behind his body, and he swayed a little. Martha took a step forward, but stopped.

"I don't think you're here just to know how my father is." She said.

John shook his head. He felt the sticky liquid on his forehead. But he would not let a doctor sew him for something so small. His bandages he made them himself, or his mother, or Lily, when he needed to vent. Maybe he would ask his sister for help later.

A huge bandage was wrapped around her arm. She probably took some points. The scratches and red marks were on her face. Her clothes were dirty with dust. He had no idea how long he just stared at her. His will was to hug her again, but it would make it all more difficult.

"So? I am still waiting."

"I think you know why I'm here."

She nodded.

"Don't give me that old story."

"Martha, you know ..."

"It's been a year, John!" She shouted.

"That's what everyone says. Mom, Dad, Lily, Joy, my friends ..."

"They're right." She returned. "You cannot stop your life for so little."

"It was not enough for me. No one would understand ..."

Martha approached, pointing her finger at him.

"Don't say no one would understand what goes on in your mind! Not for me!"

"Martha ..."

"No, John! Don't make excuses, or anything else. Don't expect to really lose me or you'll have something that you really regret."

John opened his mouth to speak, yet his voice did not come out. She was right. He stared at the floor, staring at a spot between his feet. Martha sighed, shaking her head. Her face turning red.

"You really are an idiot, John Wallace West!"

"I'm sorry, Martha."

"I don't apologize, no."

Martha turned away and left. John watched as the girl entered the medical bay. He kicked the first thing he found, then punched the ship's wall. Bad idea, how the pain hit him full.

"Shit!"


Half an hour later, the members would show up for the meeting. J'onn, Kira and Honey were already present. John Stewart and Rex arrived shortly thereafter, followed by Jason and Terry. Gradually, they were present. The founders were in their seats, and their sons standing beside.

They were six adults and seven young people. Aside from Batman, someone was missing.

"Where's John?" Shayera said.

It gained some confused looks from the adults. John Stewart Coughing, frowning. Did the redhead talk about him?

"Oh, I'm here?"

But she shook her head.

"I don't mean you." She said. "Talk about my son John."

Lily grabbed a few feathers from Shayera's wing, gaining her attention.

"I think I know where John is." She was looking at Martha as she spoke. Martha, for her part, looked away. "I can look for him if you want."

"Go there."

Lily nodded and left quickly. J'onn coughed, trying to bring the focus of the meeting together. All eyes turned to him.

"A few days ago, Shayera and Superman attended a call in Metropolis, when the monitors were out of control." He started. "Thanks to some interference, eight young people traveled twenty years in time. I crossed the information tower with the information of Honey, and the images of the costumes of Terry and John. The epicenter of the anomaly was in the boys' time."

"But it spread quickly for your time." Honey stood up, projecting some data. "We travel in a matter of seconds. The same anomaly was detected today, which caused the confusion we faced in the morning."

"I don't remember any crack in the sky the first time." Martha retorted.

"We were entertained with the robot to notice anything. I know it's the same anomaly because the traces of energy are compatible. However, the epicenter has changed. John was right. It started in 1918 and came to present Gotham."

"Savage once changed the weather." It was Superman. "We stopped in World War II."

"But time has not changed, Uncle Clark. We are not in an alternate universe. It is the same linear time, you continue yourselves."

"Maybe it's collapsing."

Green lantern won interesting looks from colleagues. He did not know if he should speak, but maybe the information was useful. Maybe even the same villain, though Batman made sure to take care of him. He sighed uncomfortably. She saw Shayera move in her chair, she knew in part.

"When Batman and I traveled back in time to a villain named Chronos, time was deteriorating. Chronos stole important objects, and changed the story. At one point, time itself deteriorated. When we stop, we return to the point where it all began, and only we had the memories of what happened. It seems we have changed the future, in part."

It was a condensed version. He did not touch names beyond what was necessary, and gave a new perspective. A villain with time-traveling powers was possible. They now had a new direction to follow. Maybe they would approach the identity of the enemy, right?


A confusion of images danced in his mind. He saw past, present and future, in countless different realities, colliding in time. His head ached and twisted. He grunted, trying to open his eyes. With great effort, he succeeded. It was dark and silent except for a half-light coming from outside.

Batman looked around, getting used to it. He knew enough about the medical bay to recognize where he was. He tried to remember how he got there, but in vain. The ideas were still vague and confused.

He felt something warm on his hand, and looked down. The grip was soft because the figure was asleep beside her. Diana was sitting in a chair, covered by a thin blanket. Her head hung down, and her eyes were closed. It was not difficult to realize that it was already night. He finally decided not to disturb Diana's sleep, but she moved a little later, opening her eyes and finding Batman very close.

She blinked a few times, startled her sleep. She smiled as she saw him awake.

"I'm glad you woke up."

"How long have I been away?" he asked.

"A few hours. Can you tell what happened?"

"I'm not sure. Still confusing."

Diana shook her head in agreement.

"I suppose so."

They stared at each other for seconds that seemed like forever. Diana wondered, but she gave up the protocol of formality and threw herself into his arms. She pulled him tight in a hug, hoping he was not in pain.

"I can't believe we almost lost you! Martha and I were worried."

Diana stepped away, feeling as if the contact was insufficient. Batman removed his mask. His blue eyes fixed on her, vibrating with something new.

"But I'm here ..."

"Yes." She whispered.

"And you, too."

Bruce was not sure why, but he wanted to have her closer. He reached out and touched her cheek. He traced the outline of her cheek. His hands and everything else seemed to have a will of his own. In his mind, a voice screamed to pull away, yet his will was to ignore it. Oh, Diana was so beautiful!

She closed her eyes with their closeness. When she realized it, she felt Bruce's lips pressed against hers. For Diana, it was like a dream. The second time she kissed him, now without the weight of a disguise. In the dark room, he felt as if he discovered a new part of himself.

However, the moment of intimacy lasted little as the door opened, revealing Martha. The couple walked away, watching the girl standing in the doorway.

"I just came to check on Dad, but I think he's fine. I'm so sorry."

More than quickly, she rushed out. Diana looked at Bruce again, feeling that the moment was over, but not ashamed.

"Martha's a great girl." She said. "You should try to get closer. after all, someday she would be your daughter."

"Our daughter." He confirmed.

"And that changes something?"

"Maybe ..." For the first time, Diana saw him smile.

"Fine." She stood up. "As much as I want to go on, I think it best to let you rest. Good night."

Without thinking twice, she stretched out to him, placing a soft kiss on his lips. That kiss meant a promise of something new, perhaps.


John stared at the lights of Central City. Beside him a glass of whiskey hung and hung a cigarette. He always liked high places, and it was the top of his father's dwelling. Lily joined him, sitting on the edge of the building, her feet swaying out. John blew the smoke away.

"Are you drunk?"

"Not yet."

"If you say you're smoking in hiding because of Mom, I won't believe."

"Martha." He simply said. "I kissed her."

"I saw it, everyone saw it."

"I don't want to hurt her, Kiwi."

The girl shook her head. Same old excuse. Same stupid brother.

"It's been a year, John. It is not enough?"

"It will never be enough. I'm so screwed."

"You were more screwed up when you and Rex stabbed."

The siblings laughed. The memories were not pleasant, John had the gut pierced and Rex had to remove the appendix, but at the moment it seemed hilarious. Maybe because of the drink. John threw the cigarette out and faced his sister.

"If I'd known that Katy was still with Rex, I would not have stayed with her. I already wanted Martha, but I thought ..."

"I know, everyone knows except Rex." She paused. She took the glass and took a sip. She grimaced, and John laughed. How did people drink that? It was awful. "But this forced celibacy will not get you anywhere. And Martha will not wait for you for a lifetime."

"Actually, I hope she finds the right guy."

"You're so covered up that you still have not realized you're the right guy." John opened his mouth to speak, but she interrupted him. "What is it? Everyone knows you got a bunch of girls and ... some guys, but no one cares, not even Martha."

"I don't think my bisexuality is the issue at hand."

"She really likes you, John! And you like her. Let me help you how you helped me with Jason."

"It's different, Kiwi."

Lily went down to the exit.

"No, it's not. I give up for now, but we'll still have this conversation as many times as it takes."

John knew Lily would never give up. But maybe she was right.


Bruce closed his eyes, trying to sleep after the brief encounter with Diana. His heart racing, pulsing hard in his chest. It was not normal, he observed. And she certainly was not related to Diana. His head was heavy, it seemed to have a ton. The pain came next.

Batman shouted, it was too much power. Again, past, present, and future collided in his mind, like the first time. But as fast as it came, it was gone. It gave up on him, calling him weak. He erased it then, certain that it would leave him for good. His mind was not enough, he said. Even unconscious, the word danced in his mind. Chaos...

My First moment WonderBat !

I'm still thinking about the best way to introduce my villain.

Thanks!