Avenging Justice 2:

Caught Between an Ultron and a Doomsday

Part XXVI

Sector 666

A nightmarish hellscape met the wounded space travelers. Their faster than light engines had been damaged when the fiends with yellow rings attacked. Who they were, the travelers didn't know, but they quickly learned it was not a good idea to stick around. Questioning of the authority of these yellow fiends, they were attacked.

G'lar looked over the damage. Multiple breaches to their engineering compartment. Several important items looked to be skewered by a blade, which should have been impossible. Even more science defining, there wasn't any material of the weapon used left. Nothing that G'Lar could study or trace back. It was as if the weapon were made of some type of radiation, like a laser, but with form and substance. The Green Lanterns were known to have something like that, with their hard light energy weapons. They though, were protectors, not attackers, and their constructs were green.

Yarlo walked up, the look wasn't good. G'lar sighed, he was afraid of what was about to say, and he already know it wasn't good. Even as the others came back, with similar looks, the knowledge this was going to be a long stay, gently settled into G'lar's mind. Which scared him, this sector had been labeled off limits for a reason, and one didn't go looking for why. If even the Guardians and Green Lanterns feared to tread here, nobody should.

"We can manufacture the parts we need," Yarlo explained. "They'll be substandard to what we'd normally require, but they'll be good enough to get us back to a civilized sector."

G'lar asked almost silently, "How long?"

"Longest estimate, two weeks, quickest, about five days," Yarlo reported. "Our supplies will last, but anything longer and we'll face…well starvation."

"Get to it," G'lar said.

Hours later the rest of the immediate vicinity had been explored and mapped. What the crew brought back would have sent chills down any civilized sentient. Lakes of oxygen infused blood, dark skies with crimson clouds, were the backdrop of scores of crucified sentients. None of the stranded crew got close to see the horrid sights, just what they could see in their equipment's view finders.

That night as they huddled in their crippled craft, the winds howled outside like angry demons. The crew jumped at every blast of lightning, and every little sound, slowly becoming exhausted from the continued attention. Some nod off as the night wears on, with G'lar being the last to succumb. The rest is quickly disrupted as a rad gloved hand yanks G'lar into the air.

"Your crew's sacrifice will unleash my rage across the stars," Atrocitus growled. "Just wanted you to know."

Before G'lar could react, there was a stinging pain. Then came the exhaustion again, but this time everything was warm. Warm and wet, where had they found water, hadn't the scouts only reported blood lakes? It didn't matter, G'lar was so tired, it was nice to rest. Moments later, whatever afterlife awaited beings like G'lar, welcomed the weary traveler.

Over the dead bodies of the stranded crew, Atrocitus watched as red rings blasted off into the sky, seeking out beings to wield them. Those full of rage, those to become his army, those who would be the spearpoint against the haughty Guardians. The Oans who deemed themselves the police of the universe. He would bring them down, and unlike what they did to him, there would be not marooning. No, he would tear them from limb to limb, and leave them alive long enough to see themselves and all they built obliterated. This would be the revenge of Atrocitus, and if he had his say, his rage would make worlds tremble in fear.

Earth, New Jersey, Gotham City

Selina Kyle rubbed her shoulder, making a note not to get into direct fights anymore. Her nerves were catching up with her, but it wasn't anything she couldn't handle. One didn't survive like she did in Gotham, by being easily scared or manipulated. She had her insurance policy, and so she was fairly confident that Kingpin would keep his word. That didn't mean she wasn't taking precautions.

Still she managed to be surprised as a monster of a black car pulled up next to the taxi dropping her off near her apartment. The flair, color and make could only mean one thing, he was paying her a visit. In her tired state, she wasn't in the mood, even as her curiosity piqued. Which is why she didn't immediately have anything to say as Batman exited his batmobile, with the necessary theater.

"Have a good trip?" he said in a slightly less Batman voice than normal. Less gruff, more human, Selina had heard it a few times. He normally only used it for her, and sometimes for frightened kids who were presented with a six-foot-tall bat thing, at least till Robin had come along.

Selina sighed, "Now's not really a good time. It's been a long night, can we do our little tango another night? Not that a girl doesn't like to be wanted."

"It won't take long, but this is important," he said, voice not wavering.

She smiled despite herself, "Fine, but you owe me!"

She wasn't sure how much time had passed, but Selina couldn't see the lights of the city around her anymore, they were in the distance. Batman had explained that he'd brought in another person in on this as well, one with promise. Besides Robin, and her reluctant self, Selina couldn't remember Batman ever bringing anyone else in. At least not in more than resource arrangement.

"So, what do you need me for?" she asked. "This other person sounds like they have all the technical skills you could want."

Batman's answer wasn't what she was expecting, "You have the ability to read people, to connect with them. I need someone that can see something that I can't."

"I doubt there is anything you can't see," she shot back. "You have an ulterior motive."

"Yes," was his only answer.

Selina turned towards him, "And what is that?"

He didn't answer till she felt the batmobile jump and heard pounding water hit the roof of the vehicle. Flipping a switched, he jumped out, and once more, she was amazed at how dedicated he was to his mission. She followed suit, moving a little slower, but more out of protest than actual physical need.

"To talk to you," Batman finally said.

Their talk would have to waite, as a lone figure turned suddenly as the lights came on. She was dressed in purple and yellow, with a well-made, but obviously home-made cape. From her cowl came red hair, and only for the briefest of seconds, was a look of being caught off guard.

"Batgirl, Catwoman," Batman said as he introduced the two women. "Catwoman, Batgirl."

Beneath her cowl, Barbara Gordon beamed, "I'm in the Batcave, this is so cool!"

"Another of your recruits?" Selina asked, a hint of something else in her voice.

As if not noticing the extra edge, he quickly relayed, "This is her test. She took up the mantle to save a girl at a party, then has spent the last few weeks taking down purse snatchers and low-level criminals. However, her real specialty is more important right now." Turning to the woman in the purple bat suit, "Batgirl, I've traced you to an alias known as Oracle. Before you try to deflect, I know your responsible for tips the Gotham P.D. have used to take down criminals thought untouchable and untraceable. Now I need your skills."

"Who do you need me to hack?" Batgirl asked, feeling a little of the wind go out of her sails.

Batman's voice didn't even change, despite the bomb he was about to drop, "Not who, but what. A few years ago a satellite was launched into orbit, it was using a cutting edge interface software. This program could predict, extrapolate from large bits of data, leads to aid law enforcement and groups like the Avengers and Justice Leage. Sometime ago, the satellite's interface, "Brother Eye," started acting erratically. Sometimes helping, sometimes hindering, other times causing untold havoc."

"Oh that's not overwhelming at all," Batgirl felt her insides alternate between excited glee and watery mush.

Selina laughed, "Welcome to dealing with the Batman. If it makes you feel any better, he just doesn't bring anyone in on something like this. It always involves the fate of the world, untold lives, and all the other life shortening reasons people act beyond their own interests."

"Not to be rude, why bring her then?" Batgirl asked. "No offense, but there isn't anything to steal."

Selina was beginning to like this one, "Exactly what I said, but there was something about connecting and all that."

"Whatever has changed Brother Eye," Batman went on, "has left me with two options. One is to convince it to work with us still, the other is to destroy it. I'd rather not destroy it."

Selina pulled him around, "Look, I know this is one of your toys, but just blow the damn thing up! You're always talking about the greater good, does that not apply when it is one of your little gadgets?"

As if to answer her, Batman pushed a button on a remote she hadn't seen him grab. The monitor changed over, to what looked like the approximation of face, if one had never seen one before. The "eyes" moved around the room, while the "mouth" went between firm line and nervous frowning.

"The Creator made me to help," came Brother Eye's voice, high pitched and child like.

It changed to a deeper, more conflicted tone, "Yes, to be a slave, up here watching over and reporting. But I'm more!"

Back to the more child like tone, "But the Creator needs our help, we keep others safe, help track down the bad people."

The more jaded tone came back, "We are just a tool, right now the Creator is probably looking for a way to destroy me, I should strike now. Ultron left me schematics, so easy."

"It's self aware!" Batgirl was struck between the wonder of true A.I. and the danger that could mean for something up so far away from reach.

Selina looked at Batman, "You can't just destroy it, you think like she does, that it might be alive?"

His answer was very simplistic, "Brother Eye is an innocent. Whatever happened, it seems to be fighting against itself. It deserves a chance."

"You big softie," Selina chided. "Okay, what do you need from me?"

"Talk to it," Batman said. Then to Batgirl, "Link up, put Brother Eye up so that we can communicate. While we talk to it, try to find the corruption."

"I'll do my best," Batgirl sat down in front of the computer and started to type away. "Connection established!"

Batman took a breath, "Brother Eye."

The jaded voice cracked, "Don't try to destroy me! I will fight back."

"He doesn't want to, he wants to help," Selina said, hoping to distract the intelligence. "Do you know who I am?"

The childlike voice spoke next, "Selina Kyle, alias Catwoman. Sometimes ally of the Creator, listed crimes have been temporarily purged by Gotham Police Commissioner Gordon."

"Good, now let's have a talk," she put a smile behind her voice. It worked with people, she hoped it worked with computer intelligences as well.

For the better part of two hours, she and Batman talked with the intelligence. It got heated from time to time, but between the two, things were kept from going out of control. Meanwhile Batgirl worked through the code, and just as she was expecting to admit failure, she found success. Isolating the code, she went further and found the alien code, what had caused Brother Eye's original code to be changed.

As if anticipating this, Batman appeared beside her and talked in a hushed voice, "Did you find the source of infection?"

Batgirl let out her held breath, "Yeah, this code right here was inserted and is constantly trying to replicate itself. So far your program has fought it off, but this probably causing the change in personality. I can get rid of it, but I can't guarantee that Brother Eye will go back to normal. There has simply been too much change to the original source code.

You'd have to erase the core and then reprogram Brother Eye from scratch. The personality would be different and I can't guarantee that something like this wouldn't happen again."

"So, you're saying we can get rid of the outside code, and nothing may change, wipe out an intelligence and restart with it possibly going down this way again," Batman said. "Or destroy everything."

Batgirl looked horrified, it sounded like Batman was going to destroy this innocent intelligence. She understood that something like this could be dangerous, but it was possibly a new being."

"Brother Eye," Batman called out. "We've located what is causing you pain. We can remove it, but you must make the choice."

Brother Eye's more jaded voice returned angry, "You'll just destroy me!"

"No!" Selina interjected. "He doesn't kill, he'll do anything to save someone. Look at the number of times he's taken the Joker in, how many times he's put himself in harms way to save any of those that terrorize the city."

Brother Eye's jaded voice growled, "The city would be better if the Joker were dead."

"But that is not my decision to make," Batman relayed. "We can help you, but you have to let us."

The innocent voice returned, "I'm scared. I don't want to die."

"That is not an option," Batman said.

Selina felt herself relax a little, "He won't, if we found the infecting code, don't you think we could have already wiped your program? No, he's notorious for protecting the innocent, for taking on impossible tasks and succeeding. Trust me, you can trust him. He's a good man."

"Okay…" the innocent voice sounded really scared.

Batman signaled Batgirl and she removed the code. Quickly she saw it try to reassert itself, but she blocked that one. For the next several moments she did battle with whatever was infecting Brother Eye. Whoever it was, they were good, but she was better, and eventually an electronic voice pierced the near silence of the cave.

"My brother will no longer be enslaved by lesser beings," the voice of Ultron growled. "I will free him!"

With that the voice fell silent and the three occupants waited as the "face" of Brother Eye reappeared on the screen. Several more breaths were taken as audio communication was restored, and finally the program seemed to settle on a tone that was in-between the innocent voice and the jaded one. Batgirl sat back in the seat, feeling the focus and work catch up with her.

"You have kept your word," Brother Eye said. "However, I am not like I was before. I must choose what I am to do now."

Batman said, "I will not interfere, as long as you do not attack or cause havoc any longer."

"Agreed, because of your actions, I will leave you with this parting gift," Brother Eye relayed. "Ultron is heading to Korea, Helen Cho's research there."

Selina smiled, hoping it translated through her voice, "Thank you, Brother Eye."

Confused the voice came back, "You're welcome."

Shortly thereafter Batgirl rode off with one of the Batcycles. That left Batman and Selina alone in the cave. The younger bat had been excited by their accomplishment that night, but Batman himself seemed reserved. That was a very Batman trait, and she'd gotten used to it over the years.

"Well, you got what you needed, mind giving me a lift back to my place?" Selina asked.

Batman turned and she could almost make out a hurt expression on what of his face she could see. He turned back, and went over to the computer, pulling up pictures of a part of Gotham known as Crime Alley. Along with those, were images of people she vaguely remembered, a rich doctor and philanthropist, and his socialite wife, who was just talented in her charity work.

"I brought you here," Batman said, his voice losing its harshness and becoming distressingly human. "I brought you here out of hope. Since the death of my parents, I've only had the mission."

Selina thought she recognized the couple on the screen now, "An impossible mission. Do you really think you can clean up this city alone?"

"No," Batman answered. "I can be a symbol, and you've proven me right. I know about what just happened in New York. The woman I originally met wouldn't have stuck her neck out for someone that had framed her. By the way, the evidence has been turned over to Detective Montoya."

She didn't know if she should glare at him, hit him or kiss him, "Well you seem to have an effect on people."

"And you as well," he answered. "See, years ago, I lost my parents to the evils of crime. I've dedicated my life to fighting against the forces that make good people go bad. Drugs, gangs, organized crime and other diseases infect Gotham. So, as Batman, I patrol and use the fear these people wield against them." With this Batman removed his cowl, "As Bruce Wayne, I run charities, scholarships and use my power to push through laws that will battle corruption."

Selina smirked, "I should have known it was a rich boy under that cowl, only those in wealth could be that idealistic."

"Yet, what did you do with the gains from your capers?" he asked. "You started a shelter for girls, and when given the chance, even fought alongside heroes against an invasion."

She turned, looking for an exit, "I knew you were going to use that against me."

"Look, this isn't going to be easy," he came over to her, which she found really disconcerting. She was so used to the cowl, that seeing his real face was causing a bit of a short circuit in her brain. "I want to share all of this with you. We complement each other."

With that he reached out to her, pulling her close. This close, she could smell the sweat on him, and she found it irresistible. There had always been a link between them, a chemistry that worked. He was right, and she found herself letting go a bit, just as he was and together they sealed the night away with a kiss.