Chapter 5
Black Lightning
Thunder crashes across the sky of Gotham City as Black Adam arrives. His thoughts and motives are his own. He is here with one purpouse, and one mission, Destroy Batman.
Batman's mind races below in the city. Weakness He thinks Adam has to have one, I have spent all my time and energy coming up with contingency plans against super-hereos, but so far I have never found anything to do against him, or Captain Marvel, Marvel at least has a child's mind, but Adam, an adult who was once a warrior in achent Egypt, is formidable indeed.
"He is following my trace" Promethius remarks.
I could get the tracer. Batman thought and buy some time, but it will take more time to find it than I can spare. I have to get to the Batmobile. And with that thought Batman turns on his autopilot to the Batmobile to meet him in an alley not far away.
Adam soars overhead, his headset given to him by the egmatic "boss" leads him right to Promethious, whom he can see from a far "Batman has faded into the shadows."m He remarks to himself, "I will have to rectify that situation."
Black Adam swoops down above Promethious who waves wildly. Adam doesn't even look at him. He flies a few meters beyond Promethious and utters the majic word "Shazam!":
Lightning Crashes from the sky and though the bolt is a good distance away, it lights up the night to reveal Batman running through the shadows.
That's new Batman thinks but stands to reason since I have seen Batson control lightning before. Adam really hasn't displayed all his powers before, I am at a major disadvantage.
At that moment, something fast races by Batman and into the dark wall beside him.
LORD, he can move. I think he is playing though, which minght give me a chance to gain an edge.
Batman trudges forward, he knows of a few tricks he keeps in his Batmobile that at the least will slow Black Adam down, but what to keep him down is the part that he has yet to figure out.
Then he sees Adam through his night vision. Standing like an imposing statue of a god just a little bit behind him. No matter how much effort Batman puts into staying ahead, Adam just hovers a few feet behind him.
"I am told you are a mighty mortal." Adam says, "One who can defeat even the gods, but it looks to me like you are a coward, slinking away in the shadows."
Let him believe it is Batman's first reaction, if he thinks I am running away, that gives me more time to set my trap.
Soon Batman reaches the end of the building, with nowhere left to run, or so he wants Adam to think.
"It would appear there is no place you can hide, it might be dark, but I can still see you." Adam asserts. "You are most disappointing after what I was told. Where it in my power I would spare your life out of pity but it is not."
I've seen Clark do this one-thousand times, that little brace right before he takes off. I bet he is going to be kind of slow, thinking I can't dodge, if I time it just right.
Adam flies forward for a fast and mercifull killing, but is completely shocked when Batman steps back and falls.
"He killed himself rather than face-" Adam intupts himself as he looks down to see in actuality Batman has landed in the seat of his Batmobile. "COWARD!"
With that shout a security guard watching over utility equipment runs, knowing where Batman and any super-powered human are at, there is trouble.
I've got to move fast, at this point Adam's arrogance has been working for me, but it won't hold out forever. Batman quickly pulls the release to the rear compartment and jumps from the car. Adam has turned and is coming straight to him.
"I will crush you miserable bones, Batman."
But Batman reaches into the compartment and randomly pulls out one of his launchers, he pulls the trigger and instantly realizes the one he has.
Damn! He shouts in his mind, all a missle will do is make him mad.
The rocket flies and Black Adam doesn't even try to avoid it. He lets the missle hit him square in the face, laughing as he fans the smoke away "You modern warriors and your guns, is that all you can bring to a battle?"
"Not really," Batman remarks as he pulls out another gun.
"What, a tiny rocket that is supposed to-" But Adam is interrupted by some strange substance around his head and face.
"No not a rocket launcher, a polymer lancher, one that dries in a few seconds, ment to help with space repair on a space station."
Adam struggles for a bit, but as the polymer drys he is able to rip it off his face. No sonner does he have a chance to gasp some air than another glob of the putty like subatance hits him again, followed by another rocket to the abdomin.
If I keep pouring it on, I might have a chance to think of something that will put him down.
However, Adam had been inhaleing as quickly as he could when the polymer was breakable, in order for one big exhale for one word and he was ready.
"SHAZAM!"
The lightning bolt squarly hit the batmobile. The car exploded knocking Batman to the ground, and his polymer lancher from his hand. But he managed to keep hold of the rocket launcher that had one more rocket in it.
Great the medical nature of his lightning must not be affect by the rubber in the batmobile's tires, another fact to note for later, if I survive.
"It appears I did underestimate you, Batman." Black Adam said, "A mistake I shall not repeat."
Batman rolled up and launched another rocket to Adam's chest. "You'll find I am loaded with surprises."
As before Adam lets the rocket hit him and laughs. "Do you think you will eventually wear me down with those. You are quite the fool." Black Adam chuckled as he fanned away the smoke.
Batman reaches for the lead lined pouch in his utility belt. "No but it gave me an opertunity to get THIS!" Batman says as he shines the Kyptonite ring in front of him. He has carried the ring at all times since his run in with Superman in Metropolis. The lead lined pouch protects him from the harmfull effects long term exposure that Krytonite has on humans.
"What?" Adam Laughs "I do believe you have lost your mind, Ha, ha ha. That substance has no effect on me, Ha, ha ha."
I know, but it buys me some time and puts you into the underestimated state of mind again.
"I should just finish you, spare the misery and shame you bring to heroes-SHAZAM!"
Batman narrowly avoids the lightning strike that hits the ground. But he lands beside some cables being used for some powerline repair. It locked in a massive crate with other equipment.
Batman quickly places some plastic explosives he had in his untility belt, right when Adam repeats "SHAZAM!" and Batman dives out of the way. The lightning sets off the explosives.
I just got lucky there. Batman thought in fact I couldn't ask for that strike to be any better.
"SHAZAM!"
Batman again narrowly misses the strike, but it forces him away from the cables he needs.
I have to get to those wires, but Adam is to determined with his strikes now. Got to work my way there.
Finally on one of Adam's strikes, Batman is able to work his way back in the opposite direction.
"Scurry like a rat, Batman, all you do is delay the inevitable."
This has got to work. Batman thinks as he finally gets to the cables.
"SHAZAM!" Adam calls out again as Batman tosses one end of the cable at him.
The lightning strikes at the same moment the cable touches him. The blast transforms him back to Theo Adam.
Batman lay on the ground, slightly stunned by a brush with the blast. "I-I thought you would be effected by your own lightning." He shakidly says.
Theo, stunned for a moment, Looks to the sky and starts to speak.
"Oh no you don't." Batman shouts as he desperately launches a Bat-a-rang.
The bat-a-rang hits Theo right between the eyes, knocking him cold.
Not my strongest throw, but it counts.
"Oracle," Batman says into his cowl's headset, "It's Batman, come in."
"About time," Barabra Gordon relpies, "have you had your headset off again."
"Yes." Batman says straining into the Batmobile.
"What's wrong, you sound hurt." Oracle said worridly.
"I am, caught a slight bit of a lightning bolt."
"Lightning bolt? It's a clear night, How did you-"
"Captain marvel's foe, Black Adam, desided to come calling."
"You need medical attention, I am calling in the rest."
"NO! Barbara listen to me, this is the start, something major is happening tonight. Whoever it is, they are testing me, and this is only going to get worse."
"All the more reason for you to come in and let us handle-"
"NO! the city needs me now. I need you to call Tim, Huntress, Black Canary and anyone else to come in and watch the city in case this is a distraction."
"Distraction from what?"
"If I knew that I wouldn't call it a distraction, Barbara."
Overlooking Batman's location though were two dark figures. One the mysterious Evil, donned in a black outfit with a skull like mask, the other Deathstroke the Terminator, who is ready for a war.
"I will not kill him" Deathstroke said, "it violates my code."
"That is alright." Evil replyed, "another wants his head, for past sins he said, I asked no questions. All you have to do is distract him."
"Very well. That I can do, plus, we have some old scores to settle."
