The First and Greatest of Them All
This is from a story I started a year ago and was posting it on a now defunct site. I have been wanting to finish it and so here it goes …
The trip had been uneventful as he had expected. This traveling through dimensions was not new stuff however he was now here under different circumstances. He was dressed simple wearing jeans, a flannel shirt, and his glasses. He even had a smile which considering the circumstances spoke volumes of the man's inner strength. The portal had opened in an alley beside a certain apartment complex in Metropolis. He was beginning to wonder if it was a mistake coming here. Not because of the effect he would have on hypertime but because he didn't want to cause any more pain. He would cause some pain.
"It is still not too late to go back", answered the white ghostly form of a man in a green cape and hood.
" I have to do this Spectre. I have no choice", then chuckling, "okay, I have a choice but I feel I need to get this done. I'm only going to talk to Clark. No Alan, Jay, or even… Kara. I didn't realize how much I have missed her. Anyway, Clark is the only one to know. I would like a few extra minutes to … look around before I talk with him. Would that be okay?"
"It is done", and the Spectre turned to leave.
"Wait!", the older man grabbed the Spectre by the arm, "Wait. I know Jim Corrigan is no longer your human host. I also know who you are and that no one else on this planet knows who you are or were. I just want you to know that despite all that has happened to you, Hal Jordan proved who he was when he gave his life for earth. Thank you".
The Spectre looked at this man with, well, with awe. He didn't know who this person was until he picked him up out of one of the pockets of hypertime. The host had sent him on a mission to locate this man. As soon as Hal laid eyes on him the rush of memories from an earlier, gentler time came back to him. And once again the old man proved he was the greatest of them all.
All Hal could say was, "Thank you", and he disappeared into the night. The old man found himself alone in the alley. He needed to have that talk with Clark but he wanted to look around. In a heartbeat he was on top of the Daily Star, the main newspaper in Star City. He had wonderful memories here. He met his wife here and many long time friends. He bowed his head as a tear ran down his face remembering the memories that had been made here. He then looked up to turn his vision to the newly formed JSA. There were still some of the old ones around like Jay, Alan, and Ted. However he noticed a new Star Spangled Kid, Nuklon in a new costume it looked like, and Dinah taking her mother's place as the Black Canary of the team. He was glad that they haven't retired and put themselves out to pasture.
He then began searching the skies looking for any sign of… her. And he found her, Kara AKA Power Girl. She looked beautiful. He began to cry again as he looked at the only one on this planet that was his blood relative. But even that was changed. She was supposedly related to Atlantis in some form or fashion now. He wanted to go to her and tell her he understood why she was so angry but he had to stay put. It was almost time for him to leave. He had one final destination to look at, Gotham City.
He was watching a man in a purple suit with a wide grin on his face running away from a teenage boy. Of course it wasn't just any teenager boy, this was the newest Robin. And then a shadow fell across the face of the Joker, a bat shaped shadow. A smile crossed his face and he remembered another Batman in another time, another place.
"No matter what dimension you are from, Bruce, you always make an entrance. My God, how I missed you. Well, let's get this over with".
And he flew back to the alley he had originally arrived at in Metropolis. He looked up at a certain apartment and saw Clark and Lois debating another issue of life. He very quietly whispered Clark's name and saw Clark stare him right in the face. Without even a word to Lois, he was out the window in his brightly colored costume and landing right in front of him.
"Who are you and what are you doing here?"
Adjusting his glasses the old man began to speak, "Why, Kal-El, has it been that long?"
And then the pain and knowledge of what has transpired came back to Kal-El. He remembered his cousin, Kara AKA Supergirl, perishing in the crisis. He remembered flying through time and space as if it was sand running between his fingers. But most of all he remembered this man. The older man was never as powerful as him but carried a sense of respect that no one else could ever live up to. he remembered him now, staring at him through the portal in the hypertime dimension. No, not staring but giving him a … wink? Yes, a wink letting him know all would be all right. He has fought with this man, he has confided in this man, but most of all he cherished this man.
And Kal-El began, "Kal-L?"
"We have a lot of catching up to do, old friend"
