A/N: This is Act 2, please read Act 1 ( s/7083098/1/Justice-Lords-LIMITLESS-Act-1-ReBirth) if you haven't yet. If you use the app, and/or the link does not work, you can find Act 1 on my profile along with information regarding Justice Lords Limitless.
Note: This story starts six months after Act 1 ends. Act 1 is December, this starts in the following June.
"Kimber Stephanie Lee."
The Korean-American girl stood and walked across the stage to receive her diploma proudly. This was the moment she had waited for and studied for her entire school career. She was graduating high school. Gold cords over one shoulder and tassel flopping off her hat in the corner of her eye, she happily shook hands with the principal as she was handed her diploma.
Finally out of this place! She looked out into the audience and saw familiar faces cheering for her. "I did it, Papa!"
Her father smiled widely as he clapped for his only child.
Kimber turned to leave the stage and make way for the next graduate when someone else in the crowd caught her eye. She faltered. In the audience, sitting near the back, was Bruce Wayne and he was clapping as well.
For the past few months, Wayne, as Batman, had been training her to become an effective vigilante. He made it explicitly clear that not only was the training impersonal, but it was coming from the best of the best. During breaks in training he would share his stories of the years he spent globe-trotting and of the different fights he'd had over the years as Gotham's Guardian Angel. She loved them. Finally recovered from the surprise of seeing her mentor, she waved to him. He didn't wave back, just a nod and a polite smile. She didn't expect a wave back anyway.
As she stepped off the platform and sat down, special music started playing as her boyfriend was called up. "Mawk Zander Machaelson!"
The teen strode onto the stage. A few months earlier he had been discharged from the hospital under the instruction to 'take it easy'. Through all the tests and surgeries, he had recovered and even managed to finish school. The graduation committee had already held a special service for Mawk and his amazing recovery and dedication, but people stood and clapped for the boy all the same as he received his diploma.
Bruce watched from the back of the gymnasium as child after child approached the stage. He wasn't particularly interested in them. He already was pushing it coming out to this event. He had left a Wayne Enterprises board meeting early to attend, but he wasn't just here to support Kimber; there was another promising child graduating today.
"Curtis Reginald Orson Walker," the announcer called out, snapping Bruce to reality. Had he really stayed for the whole event?
Cheers raved the seats. Around the graduate's neck there was only one item. Not a laurel, not a lei, nor cords. Just a medal from the Chief of Police.
The next name was called and Bruce looked at the program. "Two names left."
He stood and exited. He had another appointment to keep.
Kimber looked back over the audience once her class was seated, but Bruce Wayne was gone. Somehow, she had expected that.
Half an hour later, Bruce pulled into the driveway to a simple apartment complex. He walked up two flights of stairs and then knocked on the door labeled '207b'.
"Who is it?" came the apprehensive voice on the other side.
"Take one guess, Princess," Bruce replied with his sweet baritone voice.
"Bruce!" The door swung open and Diana Prince enveloped him in a bear hug. "What are you doing here?"
Bruce laughed. "Don't act so surprised, your highness," he replied. "You know that part of your release deal included regular check-ins every week for your first six months. Your assigned officer wasn't able to make it, so I'm… filling in, as it were."
Diana sighed and smiled. "I had hoped you would visit for more than just that." She winked at him. "You do enjoy this, don't you? This isn't your first time 'filling in' for Maury."
Bruce couldn't contain his smile. He did enjoy his few visits with Diana. There was no doubt a...thing between them during their short tenure as the Justice League and Justice Lords. But he, as Batman, had kept his identity a closely guarded secret to the League and he planned to keep it that way. As tempting as it was for Bruce Wayne to continue the potential relationship where Batman left off, he knew it was best to stay away from the beautiful Amazonian. "Yes I do, but let's get to the reason I am here."
Diana sighed in defeat. "Fine. Let's get the evaluation over with. This is the last one, right?"
"Yes."
"Then maybe we could have some fun later?" Her voice was hopeful and low.
"Don't push your luck." Bruce teased back.
Finally, a moment to myself. Kimber stepped out of the house. She had wrestled with herself the night before about whether to go out patrolling tonight or not. She knew her parents would want to celebrate her achievement. However, she wanted to celebrate not with cake but with her fist against a child abuser's sternum. It was those moments she lived for now.
"Having a good time?"
She turned with a slight jump and saw Curtis in jogging gear reclining on the gate of her house. "What are you doing here?"
"Jogging. What's it look like?" he casually replied.
"But shouldn't you be celebrating with your dad or something or friends?" I never realized how close he lived to me. Kimber looked from the direction he'd come.
Curtis' face twisted into an expression she couldn't quite place. "He's working right now and everyone else is hangin' with their folks so I'm just taking advantage of the quiet night."
"Oh…" She stepped closer, shoving her hands in her back pockets as she did. "So... What are you going to do now that grad is over?"
Curtis pushed off of the fence as she approached. "I got an internship with WayneTech for the summer," he said. "If all goes well, they may keep me through the year. I was accepted to Gotham University on a scholarship for an essay I wrote."
"Are you gonna go?"
"I might. What about your plans?"
Kimber unconsciously smiled. "I'm starting at the community college to get Gen-Ed out of the way. Hoping to figure out what I want to do by then. As for extracurriculars... I'll be busy. Trust me."
"Kimber! C'mon!" It was Kimber's aunt. "We want to get a picture of you with your cousin!"
"Looks like they want you back." Curtis started to walk back to the side of the street.
"Yeah..." She turned to the door. "Coming, Auntie! Hey, Curt, if you wanna come in and celebrate with us, you—" But by the time she turned back to her new friend, he was already half way down the street. "Can..."
Batman climbed up the sheer side of the cave for the seventh time that night. Once at the top, he checked the stop watch. "Seven seconds." That was three seconds faster than his previous drill, but two seconds slower than his all-time best. "Must do better," he muttered.
"I thought you did quite well."
Batman turned to face his interdimensional twin. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm here to congratulate you," he replied. "On finding yourself and your will."
"To be honest, I expected you sooner."
"We had some... problems within our league."
"What kind of problems?"
"Let's just say Superman took a rather surprising and... lengthy leave-of-absence."
"Fair enough."
The alternate Batman turned to leave. "So I noticed you have started working with a partner again."
"Yes."
There was a brief pause and then before he left, the other Batman added, "Try not to get this one upset with you as well."
A man was hanging by his limbs from a wall. He wasn't sure how long he had been there, but he knew that it was too long. Maybe weeks, months… a year even. His hands and legs were completely encased in specialized metal spheres that restrained him upright and suspended. The darkness was overwhelming to his senses, but he had a glimmer of faith.
"It won't be long now," he growled.
"Lights out!" A gravelly voice shouted over the intercom.
All through Blackgate Penitentiary the lights in the cells were shutting off with loud 'chuck' sounds. In one cell sat a man, Lotus-style. It was going to happen soon. He was sure of it.
A fellow prisoner strolled by, pushing a case full of books. "You want anythin' for tomorrow?" He asked wearily. He angled the dinky flashlight down into the cart. "We gots Animal Farm, Beowulf, uh—"
The sitter nodded and interrupted with a deep voice, "Give me War and Peace."
The cart-pusher didn't seem surprised that the man knew what was available in the cart, or if he was, he didn't care enough to inquire. He reached into his cart and, by the fading light of his electric torch, retrieved the requested book.
"Here." He handed the book to the inmate with a smile. When he heard the book crack open almost eagerly, the cart-pusher chuckled. "You gonna strain to read in the dark?"
No response.
The prisoner pushed his cart forward.
The prisoner behind the bars smiled as he listened to the other man leave. Out of the book fell a package: a small envelope. The prisoner opened it up already knowing what was inside: a dark ring. He slipped on his finger and felt the warmth of power that he'd missed so much.
He recited the new oath he had mentally written when he had been incarcerated: "From Olympus high to Tartarus floor..."
His body, still in the seated position, slowly started to rise off the ground.
"All treachery must be answered for!" His voice rose as he continued.
"Shut up, man!" shouted a nearby prisoner.
But the man's voice only grew louder. "My power returned sevenfold more!"
A dark crimson hue began to emit from his body and filled his cell and spilled into the hallways. Guards rushed to the cell.
"Those who rise against me shall be...!"
The guards, surprised at the harsh light from the cell, were barely able to aim at the man sitting with his head down in the center of the cell. Some had to shield their eyes. "Put 'em up, Stewart!" demanded one guard.
John Stewart raised his head slowly, with an unpleasant grin, and finished his oath with a gentle yet threatening whisper: "Nevermore."