Summary: Batman disappears and is replaced by--Batman!
Author's Note: It's been awhile since my last post in this series. A recent thread on the Bludhaven list about unfinished stories started me feeling a bit guilty over my many unfinished projects. I hope you take a chance anyway.--Syl
Disclaimer: All the characters are owned by DC Comics and Time/Warner; this is an original story that does not intend to infringe on their copyright. Feedback is welcome!
Copyright: November 2003
****
JLA/Titans: Stealing Armageddon
By Syl Francis
****
Chapter Six
****
Day 11800hrs Zulu: National Bank
Gotham City
****
"Not again!" the Riddler whined. "How many times are you Batboys going to do this to me?"
"As many times as it takes, pal," Batman replied with a most un-Batman-like grin on his face. He called the security guards over. "Hand him over to the GCPD, gentlemen. I'm sure they'll know exactly what to do with him."
The guards stared at Batman open-mouthed, too stunned to do more than nod mutely. However, Batman had already disappeared down the corridor, headed in the direction he'd spotted 'Bruce Wayne.'
****
Day 11800hrs Zulu: Titans Island
New York City, NY
****
Nightwing sat in the darkened observation booth. Every few moments, he adjusted the instruments before him: respiration rate, heart rate, body temperature, etc. So far all readings were within normal range, but slightly skewed from center.
He sat back with a sigh.
"You okay, buddy?"
Nightwing didn't turn, nor bother to acknowledge that he'd heard the Flash's question.
"We're living in interesting times, as they say, Dick." The Flash ignored the fact that Nightwing was ignoring him and took the seat next to him. "With all the weird sightings recorded because of this 'Project Armageddon,' there's a very good chance that that girl's exactly who she says she is."
Nightwing made another adjustment to his instruments and recorded his readings.
"Kory is--well, I'm not sure what she is--upset? Ecstatic? Neither? Both?" the Flash shrugged. "I can't tell...but at least she's feeling something, Dick."
Waiting for a response from his best pal, the Scarlet Speedster could only shake his head in frustration. Waiting, like 'patience,' had never been the Flash's forte, while Nightwing was a master of the art. Feeling defeated, the Flash was about to leave his friend alone, when Nightwing finally spoke.
"I can't believe her, Wally," he whispered.
"What? Who can't you believe? Nightstar?" At Nightwing's nod, the Flash added, "Why can't you believe her?"
"Because she can't exist--"
"What--? She can't exist--? I don't understand--?"
Nightwing swung his seat around until he was facing his friend. "Wally, it's over between Kory and me. I love her--dearly--and I always will, but things will never be the same between us again. Ever!"
"Hey, buddy...calm down. I'm on your side. Remember? And you can't know for certain that you and Kory will never..." the Flash stumbled over his well-meaning words. "Well, you know what I mean...Dick, you never know...Someday you and Kory might--"
"No!" Nightwing snapped, standing suddenly and pacing. "Don't you see? I love Kory, and I always will. But I'm no longer in love with her." He stopped and faced his friend. "I'm in love with someone else, Wally. Someone very special. Someone that I'm not planning on ever giving up--no matter how often she might push me away, or insist that we're not right for each other. Or that she's not right for me."
Nightwing walked to the observation window, and gazed down at the lone girl who waited, looking small and alone.
"When I was with Kory, I loved her to the point of desperation. She was everything to me, the source of my existence. I didn't think that I would ever be able to live without her. And at the time, I knew--or thought I knew--that I never wanted to try."
Nightwing stopped suddenly, his back to the Flash, struggling with his words. The old wounds still hurt. They'd never stopped hurting, he knew.
"But I was forced to live without her. I was forced to live without a lot of things and people I loved--for a long time. For a while, I wanted to give up, to quit, run away. I even thought of missing my safety line on purpose."
The Flash's eyes widened at this last revelation. Nightwing glanced over his shoulder and smiled sadly at his friend.
"Don't worry. I never actually tried. Too stubborn, I guess." He shrugged, looking tired. "So I didn't give up. I didn't quit or run away. I forced myself to go on, to exist from day to day. And slowly I started living again." He stopped and drew himself to his full height. "Kory and I are in the past, Wally. I've moved on. Found someone else. Someone I love--someone I know I can't live without."
Nightwing nodded at the lovely young woman sitting in the conference room.
"That's why I know that as beautiful as she is, as much as I see a little of me and Kory in her, as much as I could feel my heart squeeze when she called me 'Daddy'--Wally, I know that Nightstar can't exist in my future."
****
Day 11800hrs Zulu: National Bank
Gotham City
****
Robin monitored the police band radio. There were excited transmissions of Batman being spotted in the bank, capturing the Riddler. Robin grinned slightly. He wasn't sure if they were more excited about having the Riddler back in custody, or the fact that it was Batman who'd captured him.
Robin frowned suddenly. It was a little unusual that Batman would appear in public at one o'clock in the afternoon.
"Especially after Batman told me to stay hidden," he muttered.
"And why would Batman tell you to stay hidden?" a deep growl asked from behind. Robin whirled, startled. He stared, momentarily uncertain.
"Batman?" he asked. The figure standing in front of him was built like Batman. He looked like Batman! He was even dressed in a 'Batman' costume--but Robin realized, this wasn't Batman! The uniform was all wrong: dark blue cape and cowl instead of black; ordinary spandex rather than reinforced Kevlar/Nomex.
This guy was wearing little more than a Halloween costume.
Robin immediately reached for his Bo staff, extending it expertly and assuming a defensive crouch. "Who are you, buster?" he demanded. "And what's up with the 'Bat' get-up?"
"I could ask you the same question, kid," 'Batman' replied evenly. "Why are you in that get-up?"
"Uh-uh!" Robin said, with a curt shake of his head. As he spoke, Robin circled the imposter, his fluid movements that of a prowling tiger. "I'm asking the questions here."
Using his Bo staff as a pole vault, the Boy Wonder executed a mid-air somersault, aiming feet-first for Batman's head. To Robin's infinite surprise, Batman easily countered his move, spinning out of the way at the last moment. Robin felt an iron grip suddenly clamp down on his ankle.
Before the Teen Wonder could react, however, he found himself being thrown head over heels. Unable to right himself on time, Robin slammed into the concrete roof, shoulder first.
"Uhhnnoooff--!" he grunted. He tried to regain his feet, but the Batman imposter instantly pinned him down.
"Okay, son," 'Batman' began with quiet insistence. "I don't want to hurt you, so I'll ask you again. What are you doing in that costume?" He paused, eyes narrowing. "I have to admit the long pants aren't a bad idea. I'll suggest it to Robin."
Robin kicked up, successfully dislodging his opponent.
"I am Robin!" he growled, leaping suddenly, whipping around in midair and kicking out with all the force he could muster. He missed. Batman had unexpectedly dropped down into a crouch, and as Robin passed overhead, he grabbed the youngster in a headlock.
"For the last time--" Batman demanded. "--before I get rough: Who are you, and what's with the get up?"
Before Robin could reply, Batman was struck from behind with the momentum of a freight train. His hold on Robin loosened, and the Boy Wonder instantly turned, leaped and kicked out, connecting with his opponent's chin. Man and boy went down in a heap, with Robin landing on top of the 'Dark Knight.'
Gasping and gulping deep draughts of air, Robin quickly cuffed the phony Batman.
"Good work, partner."
Robin looked up, a rueful expression stamped on his face. "It's not everyday I get to take down the Dark Knight."
"And you haven't done so today either." Batman rewarded his junior partner with a flitting half-smile. "Now, why don't we take a look at who we have here?"
Batman reached down to unmask his fake double. As he did so, he felt the oddest sensation, an inexplicable sense of vertigo washing over him. At the same time, Robin and the imposter as well as the rest of the world around him started to disappear.
"Robin--!" he yelled, reaching for the Boy Wonder.
"Batman--!" Robin jumped up and lunged for him, his desperate hands reaching out. His fingers closed around empty air.
The Dark Knight was gone.
****
Day 11810hrs Zulu: Titans Island
New York City, NY
****
Nightstar sat alone in the Titans Conference Room, her hands tightly clasped. She reviewed her father's--no, Nightwing's--actions. In this existence, Nightwing and Starfire were not her parents, or at least, not yet.
And from their body language, their unspoken words shouted out that these were two people in pain. Two people who'd been hurt. Two people no longer in love.
She thought of the young man who was so like her father--decisive, authoritative, commanding, and of the stunning, young Tamaranean who was so like her mother as she remembered her--fiery and beautiful.
But this handsome, young Nightwing did not reach his hand out for this Starfire. Nor did he speak to her in that special, caressing way that her father had when he'd addressed her mother. And this sad-eyed Starfire did not have her mother's inner laughter, which had bubbled forth whenever her Nightwing said something especially silly or corny.
"Not my mother," Nightstar whispered. Her mother was gone, her inner laughter forever stilled when she'd been called home to X'Hal all those years ago. She reached up and wiped her wet cheek, recalling the many long, lonely nights that followed her mother's funeral. She remembered the heartbreak and the darkness that descended up her, which almost consumed her beyond help.
Still, through all the pain and anguish, her father never left her side, offering simple words of comfort. ~"Remember, Starshine...your mother will never truly be gone as long as we keep her in our hearts."~
Nightstar allowed a single tear to spill unchecked. A fine thing to cry like a child, she chastised silently. She should be working with the Titans to find a way to send her back home. Instead, she was busy sitting her feeling sorry for her herself. What would Daddy say? Or Ibn?
Wasn't it she who was always harping on her father that she was now a grown woman and quite capable of taking care of herself? Wasn't it she who kept insisting that her father retire from the super-hero business? That Grandpa Bruce needed him to run WayneCorp?
Daddy retire? Maybe in another existence--! She stopped. Another existence? What did Jonathon say about the Multiverse? About Hypertime? Have I been somehow snatched from my own time-stream into an alternate existence? An existence in which I was never destined to be born?
Nightstar valiantly fought back the tears, failing miserably. If that were the case, then she was truly lost.
"We're sorry to have kept you waiting."
Nightstar jumped up from her seat and whirled to face the two people whom she'd been thinking about--Nightwing and Starfire.
"X'Hal!" Starfire instantly took Nightstar in her arms. "You have been crying."
Nightstar shook her head in weak denial, but nevertheless allowed herself to be enfolded in Starfire's arms.
"I'm sorry," she mumbled and began to cry in earnest.
Nightwing stood back, unsure about what to do. Even though he'd denied the possibility of Nightstar's existence to the Flash, Nightwing couldn't help the churning emotions he was feeling. Her heartbreak tore at him, and he had to fight an overwhelming desire to take Nightstar in his arms.
But no! Nightwing couldn't afford to let his emotions take control. Whatever the situation, Nightstar was here, and she'd sought him out for help. Whether or not she was his daughter, Nightstar believed that Dick Grayson was her father. And with the recent spate of trans-dimensional crossings due to Project Armageddon, Nightwing couldn't deny the possibility that she could be right.
Watching her in Kory's arms, a frightened little girl who'd been forced to be brave until she was finally safe, he felt his own heart melting. Although outwardly mirroring his mentor, unyielding and cold, Nightwing couldn't help but wonder, 'What if?'
****
Day 1
1825hrs Zulu: Apartment of Barbara (Oracle) Gordon
Gotham City
****
Barbara spotted Robin's emergency beacon and instantly zeroed in on his location. Simultaneously, she raised Nightwing. She received both responses a few seconds apart.
"Oracle, this Robin." Barbara locked in on his video signal and initiated the uplink. The young hero was standing in broad daylight on the rooftop of the National Bank. Shaking his head, he shrugged and lamely said, "Houston, we have a big problem."
Before she could respond, Nightwing's answering call in. "Oracle, this is Nightwing. What do you have?" As he spoke, he initiated the Titans video uplink and quickly materialized on her monitor. Barbara saw that he wasn't alone. Behind him stood Kory and another beautiful Tamaranean young woman.
Barbara instantly experienced a stab of jealousy, which she just as quickly fought to suppress. They were in the midst of a global crisis, after all. She didn't have the luxury to indulge in such silly emotions.
Still, seeing the exquisitely lovely alien princess, with whom Dick had been so in love and shared so much, left Barbara with a momentary pang. Looking down at the wheelchair that was now a permanent part of her, she bit her lower lip and shook herself. She had work to do.
"Standby, Nightwing," she said. "Robin, report."
"Is Nightwing there?" Robin asked, sounding suddenly hopeful.
"Yeah, little bro'," Nightwing reassured. "What's up?"
"This isn't easy for me to say, guys," Robin began. "So here goes..." He paused for breath and then plunged in. "Batman has disappeared, just like that boy Robin did in the video tapes."
"Disappeared--?" Nightwing felt his insides go cold.
"And another Batman has appeared in his place." Robin's voice sounded regretful.
"Another Batman?" Nightwing glanced over at Starfire and Nightstar, his own shocked expression mirrored on their faces. He looked helplessly at Barbara. She knew that all he could see was her Oracle icon at the moment. She wanted desperately to reach out to him, but as long as he was in the presence of others, she couldn't.
At that moment, the Tamaranean young woman that Oracle had never seen before stepped forward and placed a hand on Nightwing's arm in a gesture of emotional support. Unselfconsciously, Nightwing covered it with his own.
"Grandpa Bruce?" the girl asked frightened. At his nod, Barbara felt a sudden chill. She looked at Dick, then at Kory, and finally her eyes again fell on the achingly beautiful girl who stood next to him in a manner suggesting an uneasy familiarity.
Did she say 'Grandpa Bruce'? Barbara wondered.
"Nightwing?" Robin called, looking lost. "What should I do? I have Batman--I mean the imposter--cuffed here." His words brought them all back to the problem at hand. "What do you want me to do with him?"
"What's your current location?" Nightwing asked.
"The Gotham City National Bank."
"Oracle, contact the Watchtower and have them transported there. Robin? Don't worry, kid. We'll figure something out. Remember who trained us. We'll do what he'd expect of us, right?"
"Right!" Robin said, relieved. "Oracle, I'm ready for transport anytime. And, uh...could we hurry? The guy's been unconscious for a few minutes now. If he's anything at all like our Batman, I don't want to be alone with him when he wakes up."
"One JLA transport coming up," Barbara quipped.
"Waitasec, Oracle!" Robin interrupted quickly. "Before I go. There's one more thing. I checked under the mask. Nightwing, it's really him...or his twin."
There was a long pause at the other end. Finally, Nightwing spoke. "I read you, kid," he acknowledged. "Loud and clear." Robin waved a little weakly and then winked out in a shimmering transporter effect.
"JLA transport complete," Barbara reported.
"Thanks, Oracle. I'll head up to the Watchtower as soon as I tie up a few loose ends here. Nightwing out." As she watched, Nightwing reached across to terminate the transmission.
****
Day 11845hrs Zulu: Titans Island
New York City, NY
****
Nightwing was about to sign off, when the Tower's global 'Red Alert' rang out. "Oracle--! Something major's up!" Starfire and Nightstar were instantly airborne, heading towards the assembly area. Sprinting after them, Nightwing activated his private Batlink. "What do you have at your end, Babs?"
"Wingster!" Arsenal called, meeting him on the run. "What's up?"
"Reports are coming in from all around the globe," Nightwing reported, relaying the information Barbara was sending him. "Union soldiers are marching across Georgia, burning everything to the ground! Attila the Hun is sacking Rome. Custer is surrounded at Little Big Horn--" He stopped, listening in disbelief. "--And the Japanese Navy is preparing to launch its air attack on Pearl Harbor!"
Arriving at the assembly area, Nightwing strode purposefully towards one of the waiting T-jets. Without breaking stride, he snapped out his orders. "Arsenal--the Japanese fleet! You know what to do--"
"I do?" Arsenal asked, taken aback. Meeting Nightwing's dark, Bat-glare, he nodded in quick agreement. "No problemo, Wingster!" Turning and jogging towards a second T-jet, he called out, "Argent! Damage! With me!" Not waiting to see that he was being followed, he quickly boarded the jet through the open hatch. Argent and Damage exchanged chagrined looks and hurried after him.
"Flash!" Nightwing called. "You've got the burning of Atlanta! Troia! You've got Rome! I'll contact Jesse Quick and have her beat feet towards the Little Big Horn!" The two senior Titans nodded and without further word took off under their own power. Arsenal's team followed closely in their heels.
"What about us, Dick?" Starfire asked.
"You two are with me," he said boarding the remaining T-Jet. "I have a sinking feeling that by the time we're airborne, there's going to be a few extra fires that'll need putting out." Nightwing climbed into the pilot's seat and had them airborne in less than a minute.
Soon after that, Oracle reported on several more global disasters. "The JLA's activated its entire roster--both active and inactive members have been called in to help. They request that the Titans do the same. I'll be coordinating the crisis cleanup on this channel."
"I copy Oracle. Nightwing out." His expression grim, he faced Starfire and Nightstar. "Ladies, we're re-living some of the worst nightmares in our world's history!"
****
End of Chapter 6