Chapter 7

Bruce was sitting at the communicator screen. He had patched a call through to the Watchtower and was waiting for J'Onn to pull up the information and send it to him. It was then that the Martian popped back up on the screen.

"I've all our records about the Lazarus Pits and I'm afraid that I have some bad news."

"What kind of bad news?" Bruce asked.

"We have records of where they are just not how to destroy them. The only way to keep Ra's from regenerating is to keep him away from them. Should I beam down a team to help you?" J'Onn asked.

"No, not yet. I think that Sportacus and I can handle him. However, here are the coordinates for LazyTown. I'll call if we need help." The human told his alien friend.

"Bruce, I know you handled him before but remember, as you humans say, 'even old dogs can learn new tricks'. I'm sure that you don't want to be the one telling Sportacus' wife that he's dead and she has to raise their baby alone. Please call if you need us." J'Onn said.

"Thanks. I will call if we need help. Goodbye." Bruce nodded.

"Goodbye and, to use another human expression, good luck." J'Onn said. The transmission ended and Bruce stood up. Quickly, he printed up the information that J'Onn gave him. Then leaving the cavern, he returned to the airport.

Once the plane was in the air, he called the Schevings and told them that he was on his way. However he didn't tell them what J'Onn said. Bruce never accepted defeat. There had to be a way to destroy those pits. The information that he received would have to give him a clue. Looking through the paperwork he discovered something very interesting. The nearest pit was too far away and that would mean in order to reach it Ra's would have to fly. In other words, they had to make sure that his body never left LazyTown.

Bruce knew that this idea wouldn't thrill Sportacus. In fact, it didn't thrill him either. Both men had seen loved ones killed by criminals. If they killed someone it would mean stooping to the criminal's level. That was something heroes couldn't do.

Jailing Ra's wouldn't do any good. They couldn't actually charge him with anything until he did something. But waiting until the villain did do something could prove fatal. Bruce decided that it would be best to discuss this with Sportacus in private. If it came down to it, would either one be able to do what was necessary?

The plane landed in FunTown's airport. Again Sportacus was waiting to pick him up. The two climbed into the car and that's when Bruce started to explain the situation. Sportacus listened as he drove. He didn't like where Bruce was taking this but he was beginning to wonder if there was another way. Then he had an idea.

"You said that all the pits are made up of chemicals, right?" The above-average hero interrupted Bruce.

"Yes, but…" he didn't get a chance to finish.

"Is there some kind of chemical cocktail that we could work up to counteract what's inside the pits? Maybe that will destroy them?" Sportacus asked.

"A chemical cocktail is probably not the best idea. The substance in the pits is made up of unknown components. The records that J'Onn gave me seem to believe that they originate from within the Earth's crust. Throwing a chemical mixture in them may cause severe problems. But also part of the problem is that the chemicals may revive the sick, dying, and even recently dead but they will kill a healthy person. Taking samples from the pits tends to be impossible. On a more positive note, according to the records, the Lazarus Pits can only be used once. I contacted J'Onn again while on the plane. He has agreed to send teams to see which ones can still be used. However, that will take a while. Because of their limited use, there are at least thirty documented pits." Bruce explained. Sportacus' concern began to show.

"So our only option is to…?" He stopped.

"No, there has to be another way. I promise we'll find it." Bruce reassured his friend. However, the hero wished he was as confident as he'd sounded.

Ra's was busy preparing himself. No doubt that when Bruce came back, he would have all the information he needed to try to defeat him. The time to act was now. If he could take them by surprise then he couldn't fail. A master of many different types of combat, Ra's knew that Sportacus would be no match for him. Now that he felt no compassion toward Batman, he too would be easily defeated. Then all that would be left to do is get the unborn child.

To Be Continued…