Chapter 1: Him or it? (1/3)
It was the start of Dawn when Batman returned to Wayne Manor with Subject S. He left the still sleeping child in one of the many rooms in the Manor. Alfred had a puzzled look the moment he entered with him.
Right now, Bruce was sitting down at the Parlor explaining to Alfred what he found in Lex Corp and who the child was.
"Master Bruce, this is a exceptionally serious matter. What if Luthor attempts to create another clone?" Alfred spoke in a worried tone.
"I already got rid of the samples and most of the notes and report on the Cadmus Lab" Bruce explained. "But I'll have to warn Superman about it as well."
"And... What about the child?" Alfred asked.
"I'll speak with Superman first, then I'll decide what to do with him." Bruce assured him. "I already sent a message to him."
(Knock,Knock,Knock)
They both hear a knock on the main door. "I think that's him."
Alfred quickly stood up and went to the main entrance. He opened the door and saw the man they were expecting.
"You must Clark Kent." Alfred knew of Superman secret identity.
"Yes, You're boss called for me." He spoke in a polite manner.
Alfred simply opened the door for him to enter. "Follow me sir." He led Clark to the Parlor where Bruce was sitting down. "I'll bring something to drink."
He walked away leaving the two of them alone. Clark quickly sat down and went straight to business.
"What do you want?" He wasted no time asking.
"Nothing. Only that you do your job properly." Bruce said in a serious tone.
"What's that supposed to mean!?" Clark said defensively.
"Three days ago, there was a explosion in Gotham city. Some sources led me to believe that it was caused by a powerful weapon that is produced by LexCorp."
"You want me to check if Lex Luthor had something to do with it?" Superman asked.
"No. I already did."
"What?"
"I went into Lex Luthor's office and look through some of his file-." Batman explained before being interrupted.
"I thought we had a arrangement, We agreed that you'll stay out of Metropolis after what happened." Clark was still angry about it.
"Let me finish Kent." Bruce said with his serious stare. Clark stopped talking. "I found out that the weapon was discontinued, but then Luthor received a Message about something called Project S."
"I'm assuming you investigated what it was."
"I did. This Project was a attempt to clone you."
Clark widened his eyes in surprise. Bruce continued.
"I found out that this Project S was part of something called Project Cadmus."
He explained to Clark what Cadmus was and what were their field.
"After I finished checking Luthor's files, I made my way to their Lab."
"So you took care of the clone right?" Clark asked hoping that he took care of it.
"Not exactly." Bruce explained. "Apparently they were unable to clone you properly. So they tried a different approach."
"What do you mean by different approach?!"
Before Bruce could answer. Alfred knocked on the door.
"What is it?" Bruce asked
"Master. The boy woke up." Alfred said.
Bruce quickly stood up from his chair and signals to Clark to follow him. "I think is better that I show you."
The two quickly made way to the room where Bruce left Subject S. While the two walked quietly through the walls of the Manor. Bruce was thinking on what he should do with the child but before coming up with any idea, they arrived at the door.
"Don't freak out or you'll scare him." Bruce waned Clark.
"Scare who?" Clark was still confused.
Bruce then opened the door which revealed subject S sitting laying on his bed watching some kid's cartoon and laughing.
Clark was shocked. Just by looking at the child he could see some resemblance to himself. "Is that-" Clark tried to say but couldn't finish. The child heard him and moved his head a bit to look at them.
Bruce finally took a look at the boy's eyes. It was a unnaturally shade of blue, just like Superman's. But his eyes are more deep like Bruce's rather than vivid like Clark's.
The boy just stare at them for ten seconds before moving his head back to the television. Bruce closes the door to finish his conversation with Clark.
"Is that it?" Clark asked
"Yes, that's the clone." Batman said. "What I meant by different approach was. They were unable to fully clone you, so they decided to create a hybrid between you and a human." Batman explained to him. "Unlike a full clone, this one was created using the DNA of two people which is not so different from a normal birth. Usually a son or a daughter have a random mixture of the parent's DNA but in the case of him, He had two father's instead."
Clark slaps his forehead and takes a deep breath. "Is Luthor the other one?"
"No."
"What? Then who?" Clark asked in confusion.
Bruce stared at Clark and just said one thing. "Me."
Clark eyes widen at the revelation.
"Apparently there was a problem at the lab and Luthor's sample was damaged, so they needed another and mine was the only other one available." Bruce explained to Clark.
Clark stayed silent for a bit trying to process this whole situation.
"What are you going to do with it?"
"It?"
"You know what I mean."
"Him, you mean." Bruce made it clear. "I have no idea, I was hoping to talk to you about it before making a decision."
"I don't know what to do with him Bruce." Clark said. "All I know is that I need to check this Cadmus and have a long talk with Luthor."
"Clark. Like it or not, he's your problem as much as he's mine now." Bruce said it to Clark.
"I know. I'll think of something but right now, I need to guarantee that they're not making another one right now." Clark said as he starts to walk away.
Clark speeds out and leaves the manor in a fast speed, leaving Bruce in the hallway by himself.
"Master Bruce." Bruce turns around and looks at Alfred. "I think we should speak to the child."
"You're probably right."
Bruce and Alfred made their way to the child's room and opened the door. He was sitting in the same place from before, watching cartoon's on Tv. They got a bit close until the child noticed both of them.
"Hello." He said in a low voice.
"Hello." Bruce said in return. "I'm Bruce and this is Alfred."
"Hello Bruce and Alfred." His speech was normal, Bruce was wondering the level of knowledge the boy has.
"Aren't you gonna tell us your name?" Alfred spoke.
"I don't have one." The boy answered. "They said that my Father was gonna chose my name when he visited."
Bruce was sure that this "Father" was Luthor. Alfred pulls Bruce back a little and whisper at his ear.
"Sir. It isn't my place to suggest, but technically you are the boy's father." Alfred spoke at Bruce's ear low enough so the boy wouldn't hear.
Bruce breathes deeply and approaches the boy a bit. "Well... You see, I'm your father." Bruce decided to be direct.
"Really?" The boy asked with a smile."Can you give me a name then?" He asked with a lot of enthusiasm.
Bruce didn't know how to react but he then looked at Alfred. "Any suggestions?"
"Well sir, I think you should give him a family name." Alfred responded.
"You're right." Bruce said. "Follow me." He said to the boy.
Lex Luthor was working late in his office. Trying to perfect the energy field that he manage to create.
"What do you want?" Luthor asked without moving his gaze from the computer.
"We need to talk." Superman responds.
"About?"
"Project S."
Lex stopped typing on the computer and moved his head to look at Superman.
"This one." The boy said while pointing at the picture.
Bruce and Alfred took the boy to the hall where the portraits of the Wayne ancestors were hanging. The boy was pointing at the Photo of Alan Wayne, Bruce's Great-great-great grandfather.
"You want that to be your name?" Bruce asked the boy.
He nodded enthusiastically.
"Alright. From now on, your name is Alan Thomas Wayne." Bruce said.
"Who's Thomas?" Alan asked.
"My father." Bruce answered.
"Oh, can I meet him?" He asked with a smile
"No... He's dead." Bruce said with a sad expression.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Alan expression darkens a bit.
"It's Okay." Bruce reassures him.
"Alan Thomas Wayne is my name then." He quickly lightens up again with a smile.