Revenant Part Five
Virgil was sat in the gas station, back in his meditation and was still waiting for Richie to wake up. He was unaware that Richie started coming to and the next thing Virgil knew was something pass through him and hit the wall. Inwardly, he sighed, opened his eyes and stood on his feet. "Wasn't that a waste of a zap cap, Bro?" Virgil asked, seeing a shocked Richie.
Richie woke up, his head ringing and tried to remember why he was on the floor. Looking up he saw a bright light hovering in the air. Swallowing a scream, Richie grabbed a zap cap and threw it at the light orb, but instead of hitting it, the zap cap simply passed through the orb and hit the wall behind it.
Jumping up onto his feet, Richie watchedas the light faded and revealed his deceased best friend. "Wasn't that a waste of a zap cap, Bro?" The ghost asked Richie. Richie paniked, grabbed his helmet as he ran out of the door.
Virgil watched as Richie grabbed his helmet and ran out of the door. Virgil followed and saw Gear fly away from the headquaters and head for the city. Sighing, he focused on having the door close, before vanishing from sight. A tear coming down his right cheek. 'Sorry... but this is the way things have to be...'
---
Somewhere a evil voice laughed an evil laugh, "This is just perfect! Puff, Carmandillo, It is nice of you to join our little group" The evil voice said, seeing the two metahumans walk into the dark room and sit at the lit up table.
They joined Chainlink and a man dressed in a black cloak. Unsure of their surroundings only Puff had the gutts to speak. "Thanks for the breakout! But why did you bring us here?" Puff asked, leaning against the back of her chair.
"That will be explained shortly... but first we got some more friends to recover!" The evil voice said sticking to the shadows and laughed evily once again.
---
Gear had flown to the nearest pay phone and called a number. "Wayne Manor" An english voice answered. "Hello Alfred, I was wondering Mr. Wayne was about?" Gear asked, keeping his voice low and was getting wierd looks from passerby's who wondered why Gear was using a pay phone. "He is at the space station Master Foley, I can get him to come and see you if you wish" Alfred said, his voice normal and calm. "Yeah... I will be at the clock tower, I do need to speak to him about...V... something" Gear said, his fingers wrapped around the phone cord. "I will get in touch with him at once Master Foley" Alfred said, and movement was heard in the background. "Ok thank you, good bye" Gear said and hanged up the phone.
Stepping out of the phone box, he took off to the sky and headed back to the clock tower to wait for Batman.
---
Robert had finished paying respects to the graves and headed back to the office to lock up. It was his turn to do the shopping for the meal tonight. 'And now a special request from a mysterious caller, who says that he is very sorry for what he has to do' The radio dj announced and the introduction of the song started. 'don't loose your way with each passing day...' The song started. Robert reached down and turned up the volume, ever since his death this song has always touched him and felt that both Jean and Virgil were looking down at them.
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Richie sat back at the clock tower and had Backpack tune into the radio, 'you've come so far, don't throw it away' The minature radio device played. Richie half listened and worked on one of his ideas that had been in his head for about six months and only now did he feel that he needed something to distract him.
---
Backflash
It had been a month after the memorial service for Virgil Hawkins aka Static, Richie sat at the clock tower alone after a evening patrol. The letter from Batman in his hand, sighing he carefully opened the envelope and opened the letter.
Dear Richard,
I know the pain you are going through... I have lost people close to me in the past.
Do not feel that the world is punishing you for your past mistakes by taking him away, he would not want you to feel sorry for yourself or for you to keep on suffering from his death.
He died a hero, he died protecting the city against one of the worst villains I have ever come across. We have locked them away seperately, these villains are to never escape as long as the Justice League lives. As long as I live, no one will know the passcodes to get into the cells.
Being Batman does mean alot to me, but so did Static... and I knew from watching you fix Timezone's machine that you cared for him more than anyone could.
I guess you hate hearing, I know what you are going through but I can honestly say, I do know what you are going through.
I became Batman because of all the pain I suffered from loosing my parents to gansters, I have never told anyone this in anyway but I can trust you and you need the most support right now.
If you ever need to talk to me about anything, I am only a phone call away. Or you can always come to Wayne Manor if you ever feel like you need to get away from the city but being Gear is important to you. Getting away from the city, away from the strength the mask gives you can hurt but it is part of the long healing process.
Keep up the courage and keep fighting.
Static knew the costs of being a hero, and I know you do too...
I will be in touch
Bruce Wayne.
Richie closed the letter and put it back in the envelope and watched the stars appear as the sky darkened into night. For the first time in a long time, Richie smiled and with a swift movement he put the letter back in his pocket and jumped off the clock tower. His boots activated and kept him from falling, he flew back to his home for a nice rest.
End Backflash
---
A large shadow loomed over head and landed on top of a nearby skyscraper. It was the Bat Jet. Gear flew off the clock tower and landed on top of the skyscraper next to the Bat Jet.
Opening up, it revealed the dark knight himself, "Gear... got the message, what is it?" Batman asked, jumping out of the jet and closed it behind him.
"I wanted to talk to you about something... ever heard of anyone talking about ghosts?" Gear asked, making sure that Backpack was on his back securely.
"Ghosts? I would of thought that was a little too silly for you to think about... and I got the impression that you wanted to talk to me about Static" Batman saw Gear flinch at the mention of his deceased partner.
"I know... but it is possible for ghosts to exist, isn't it?" Gear asked, his arms crossed his chest and then looked around nervously.
"Maybe, I have come across the supernatural from time to time... so anything is possible" Batman said, opening his jet again and saw how twitchy Gear was acting.
"Come on, I will let you fly around for a bit... it is possible for him to come back as some sort of ghostly being" Batman said, in an attempt to cheer Gear up a little.
"I should be more open-minded... thanks" Gear said and climbed into the front of the Bat Jet, Batman sat in the back.
---
At the graveyard Virgil sat in deep meditation, marks down his cheeks showed that he was taking the revealing hard.
"Shh... its ok" Jean said, wrapping her arms around her son.
"It's just so hard... all the pain he has been through and now this... why does this have to happen... I don't like putting him through any more pain" Virgil said, his voice half muffled.
"It had to be done... remember, if you ever need any help and support, I am watching over you" Jean said pulling her son away so she could see him better and then wiped his cheek with her thumb. "Go on hunny, be the hero that you are" Jean said, and hugged her son more tightly before he disappeared back onto earth.
"Thanks mom" Virgil said, getting back to his feet and then vanished from sight once again.
To be continued...