Episode 11: A Showdown Across Time
Sorry it took so long. I got stuck, and I wrote two other episodes. That's why I'm posting three at once. I might have made a mistake when I ended that last chapter. I hope this one is not super short. I don't think it will be, though.
After lunch, Sharon spoke secretly to Dr. Temple and explained about the two mysterious people who tried to take over. He agreed to have the test moved over to another wing of the building. "There's a room over here, just beyond the play area," Dr. Temple explained. On the way, Precious noticed a water fountain. "Sharon, can I get a drink real quick?"
"You just had a large Dr. Pepps at Burger Fool. You're still thirsty?" Sharon said.
"A little bit."
"Alright then, but make it quick."
She went over and knelt to drink, then she saw something else. The fountain was right next to a glass door, and the room was much like her old classroom. But what she saw was a boy about her age with wavy, blond hair and deep, deep blue eyes. He pressed himself against the door and stared at her with those eyes. Precious took a small sip of water and looked up at him. There was something about those eyes.
"Who is that?" she asked.
"Oh, that little Eli," Dr. Temple answered.
"That's little Eli, the boy you keep telling us about?" Sharon said.
"That's him."
"Wow. He's older than I thought."
"Well, he's been here for years."
"How's he doing, by the way?"
"I hear that we're starting to make progress. He's starting to communicate with an original sign language. He saw Batman in person not too long ago, and ever since he's been interested in all sorts of superheroes."
"Sounds like you two would get along great!" Sharon laughed as she patted Precious' shoulder.
Dr. Temple said something else, but Precious was distracted. Eli put his hands level with his head and closed and opened his palms as he continued to stare at her. "It looks like he's trying to talk to me," she said.
"That's odd," Dr. Temple said. "That's his symbol for Static."
"Static?" Precious waited until Sharon started talking to Dr. Temple again, then she whispered, "Virgil, I think he sees you."
"Huh? What? Sorry, I was listening to . . ." Then Virgil noticed the boy. Virgil was very quiet, then he whispered something that sounded like, "Ragnarok." Then he created a speck of light with his finger and traced a message in the air, "Hey bro!" The boy jumped up and down in excitement.
"Do you know him?" Precious asked.
Virgil quickly withdrew his hand. "Uh, I might have run across him a few times."
"No, you know him. You don't just call anybody 'bro.'"
"Come along, Precious!" Sharon said. "We still got a test to do."
"OK." She followed Sharon to a small room, but several times Precious had to look back at Eli. Those eyes . . .
TRANSITION
Gear was still sitting in the lobby next to his aunt. "How you holding up?" he asked. Of course, Claire didn't answer. "That's what I thought," Richie laughed. Claire continued to flip through a magazine.
Richie took a deep breath. "Auntie, I know I've said this a thousand times these last two days, but a thousand and one can't hurt. I miss you. I really do. Your daughter misses you even more, you know. I know she's with you now, but . . . you gotta treasure this. Please wake up, Auntie. We need–"
"Miss Foley, I presume," a voice interrupted. A British man wearing a tuxedo had come in.
"Oh, hello," she said. "I recognize your voice. You must be Mr. Pennyworth."
"Master Bruce wishes for me to escort you to his mansion."
"Fine, after my daughter is done."
"No, I mean now."
"What is going here?"
"I will explain on the way. Come along."
"Go on with Alfred, Auntie. You'll be safe," Richie said. He glanced up at a clock and saw it that it a quarter to three. "It's almost show time. I gotta go. Goodbye, Aunt Claire. One last hug?" He came behind her and squeezed her shoulders.
"Huh?" Claire turned around. Once again, she saw no one. "Sorry. I've really been on edge lately. I don't know what it is."
Richie watched her leave, then he went back into the clinical area.
TRANSITION
"Well, that's it," Sharon said after a few hours of testing. "You did great after such a stressful day. You should be proud of yourself."
"So, you think I passed?" Precious asked.
"Well, Dr. Temple's gotta review all the material. It will take a few months for us to get a definite answer."
"What time is it?"
Sharon checked her watch. "Ten till. Why? You have a watch."
"Yeah, but it's stuck. Ten till what?"
"Three."
Scarcely after she spoke that word, the door exploded. Sharon was knocked down. Virgil immediately tended to her. Bombshell came in through the newly made hole. "There you are, my dear. Now, would you kindly come with me?"
"No!" she shouted. She ran to Virgil and hit his shoulder. "We have to get going! It's almost time!" she whispered.
"Right," he answered. "Head for the door." Precious did, but Bombshell tried to keep her from getting out. As Precious came toward her, Static got up front and pushed Bombshell out of the way. They ran down the hall, passing by the play room on the way. Precious saw Eli out of the corner of her eye. She wanted to look at him more closely, but there wasn't time.
"Over here!" Terry was calling to them from in a storeroom. He was in his Batman costume. Precious and Virgil slipped into the door, and Gear came in as well.
"Oh, how is this going to work?" Precious whined. "How will it know that it's 3:00? It said 3:00 all day!"
"Your guess is as good as mine," Gear shrugged.
"And I really don't understand how I can change without my Magic Hat. Wait, that hologram, she wasn't wearing a Magic Hat."
"This is going to sound strange, but in the future, the Magic Hat is inside your head instead of outside," Static explained.
"You're right, that does sound strange." Just then, they all heard a thump and voices outside. Precious ran and opened the window. She gasped, "Static? Gear?"
"Hey! We found the best place to get off!" Static answered. He flew up to her and handed her Magic Hat 2. "I believe this is yours, milady," he said in a dramatic voice.
"What about play practice?"
"Batman got us out of school, said you were in trouble."
"I told through my message not to bother you!"
"Hey, he knew that you couldn't change without your Magic Hat," Gear answered. "Don't worry. We recited our lines on the way here. We had such a long drive, we had little time for anything else."
"Guys, it's not a good idea for you to be here!"
"No, no, it's OK," future Virgil answered. "I saw my past self before, and the world did not blow up."
"But it will be so confusing!" she hissed.
"What's confusing?" present Virgil said. "We're here when we're supposed to be in Dakota? You know we'd help you if you were in trouble, no matter where you are!"
"You don't know! It's a long story. I–" Just then, her watch beeped repetitively. A light emitted from the watch. It scanned over her and transformed her into the Muse. The same light flashed once, and when it faded all the future people had shadows and more detail.
"What's this?" present Gear said.
"These are the people I told you about that were following me."
"She sees future people," present Static whispered. "How you doing, man?" he said reaching out for Terry's hand. "It's been a while."
Terry quickly took away his hand. "There's no time for greetings. Bombshell and Spellbinder are out looking for this girl."
"Bombshell and Spellbinder?" present Gear asked.
"No time to explain!" future Static yelled. "Let's go!"
They ran out of the store room. "By the way, where's Batman?" the Muse asked.
"He said he knew a special entrance," present Static answered.
"Did you all see the Titans on the way here?"
"No."
"Come on, Muse!" future Static yelled.
The Muse got up to the front. They kept running until they came upon Bombshell and a figure completely obscured by a red and black costume. "Muse!" the figure said suavely.
"That's right."
"What are you doing in Gotham?"
"I know what you're up to! I brought a few friends that you might find familiar." Terry stepped beside her.
"Batman!" the figure growled.
"Spellbinder," Terry sneered.
The other superheroes stepped forward. "Static! Gear!" Bombshell yelled.
"Static? Gear?" Spellbinder said when he saw the present editions next to the future ones.
The present Batman suddenly leapt behind the villains. "Batman?" Bombshell said.
There was a commotion, but Spellbinder got over it when he spied what was still cradled in the Muse's arms. "The hat!"
Before the Muse knew what he was doing, Spellbinder pulled out a device that looked like an eye. It flashed. Suddenly, the Muse was standing on a crowded street in a third world country. A little boy wearing almost nothing sat on the side of the street. He was only skin and bones, and he was crying. The Muse then noticed that she was carrying a bowl of fruit. She knew she had to share, but somehow just sharing didn't feel like it would be enough. She walked near the boy almost in slow motion and began to hand him the entire bowl. He reached up for it hungrily, then–
A shadow fell over her as someone appeared hovering above the poor boy. "Raven? What are you doing here?"
She answered by pointing at the Muse and chanting, "Azerath, Metrion, ZINTHOS!" Immediately, everything disappeared, and she was back in the ARC again. "What you were seeing was not real," Raven explained.
"It was quite good, wasn't it?" Spellbinder asked. "Did it feel real to you?"
"Uh, yeah I guess so," the Muse answered.
"I know why you're hesitating. I can make it better, though. All I need is that hat you hold in your hands."
"Uh-uhh!" she answered shaking her head. "I know someone who can use that hat. Magic!" She used her powers to push him back. Then she handed the hat to Raven. "Here, put this somewhere safe."
"I will." Raven flew away. Just behind her were the whole group of the Titans.
"Titans, go!" Robin ordered. And the Titans went.
Meanwhile, Raven flew around looking for a place to put the Magic Hat. "Maybe in a closet," she thought.
"RAVEN!" a voice screamed in her head. Raven cringed and looked around. All she saw was a wild-haired young boy with bulging eyes. He waved his hands around his face.
She can feel his thoughts. Her mind flashed with all sorts of images. She could tell that he wanted to help, and she decided to appease him just to clear her head again. "Do you want to help?" she asked telepathically.
The boy nodded.
She put the hat in his arms. "Make sure nobody gets it." The boy nodded again.
TRANSITION
"My goodness, this is what it's like to live as a billionaire, huh?" Claire said uneasily as she came into Wayne Manor.
"Make yourself at home, Madam," Alfred said.
"Oh, thank you." She took around and saw a bat stuck in a grandfather clock. "Say, um, did you know you have a little bit of a pest problem?"
"They're more like pets, actually," Alfred answered.
"Oh. So, Mr. Wayne must really like bats."
"You could say that."
"OK, cool." She found a place to sit down.
"Would you like to watch television?" Alfred asked.
"Uh, may I? It is time for 'Dr. Phil.'"
"Absolutely." Alfred turned the TV on. The first thing she saw was the ARC.
"Two mysterious assailants have taken over the Bruce Wayne Autism Research Center," a reporter said. "Luckily, several superheroes have appeared to take the center back, including our own Batman, the Teen Titans, Static, Gear, the Muse, and what is apparently Static, Gear, and Batman look alikes."
"Oh my goodness! That's where my baby is!" Claire yelled. "Mr. Pennyworth, I need to go back! I need to get my baby!"
"I believe she is in good hands, Madam," Alfred answered. "I have orders not to let you leave until after Master Bruce has given the signal."
"In he in on this?"
"I do not know."
"But how would he know?" Then she gasped. "How did SHE know?"
TRANSITION
The battle was very difficult. Even though Spellbinder and Bombshell were seriously outnumbered, their powers compensated quite nicely. Present Static and Gear were helping people get out safely. Future Batman, Static, and Gear were taking on Spellbinder, and all the Muse could do was marvel at their advanced power. She helped when they needed it. She wasn't sure where the original Batman went. The Titans were mostly adding extra support as well. Raven snapped the heroes back to reality whenever Spellbinder tried to put them into a dream again, but then Robin had other ideas.
"Raven," Robin ordered, "The woman's powers are psychic in nature. Maybe you can use your powers to block hers."
"I got my hands full," she answered. "Every time that guy in the stripes creates a mental illusion, I got to stop it."
"We'll work on that. You take the woman out."
"All right." Raven approached Bombshell.
"Oh, so you are the infamous Project Raven?" Bombshell said with a smile.
"What are you talking about?"
"We have files on you, my dear. How would you like to join the Braintrust?"
"What? You're from the Braintrust! You're going to get it now!" Raven fought like she never fought before. Bombshell still proved to be more powerful.
Then Spellbinder advanced on the Muse. "Now, honey, there's no reason to have this all-out war. All we want is that hat."
"And the person who owns it," Bombshell added.
"Don't you realize what you're going to do to her?" she yelled. "She'll lose her mind! She won't be able to take it!"
"We don't care!" Bombshell answered. "She'll still be able to work for us!"
"And I'll still be rich!" Spellbinder added.
Suddenly, the original Batman jumped in front of her. "What are you doing? Are you going to hurt her?"
"Not unless she agrees with us," Spellbinder said suavely.
"Never!" she answered.
"Then we will hurt you!" Bombshell answered. She let out an explosion. Batman tried to block it, but he was forced back and landed on top of the Muse in a broom closet.
"Ow," the Muse groaned.
"Sorry," Batman said.
The Muse groped around as she got up, and she accidently pulled off Batman's cowl. "OH MY GOODNESS! I'M SO SORRY! I'M NOT LOOKING, PUT IT BACK ON. IT WAS AN ACCIDENT, I DIDN'T MEAN IT, I'M SORRY!!!!!!!"
"Precious, it's ok."
The Muse peeked through her fingers. "Mr. Wayne?"
"Yeah. Didn't Virgil tell you?"
"Well, Virgil's had his hands full lately. He's starring in Othello."
"I didn't know that. I bet that'll be a good show."
"I guess we better get back."
"Yeah."
The fight was still going on, and as everybody was starting to lose energy Spellbinder and Bombshell had the advantage. Sharon happened to come in the middle of all the fighting.
"SHARON!" future Static screamed. He jumped out to save her.
"Wow, Static, when'd you become such a hunk?" Sharon asked simperingly.
"Well, my big sister fed me right," he answered. Sharon giggled. "Here. This'll keep you safe." He formed a huge dome of energy around her.
The fight continued for almost an hour. Soon, everybody was beaten down and exhausted physically and mentally. Spellbinder stood over the Muse's body. "So, will you tell me where the hat is?"
"Don't ask her," Bombshell said. She held up Raven. "This girl knows."
"You won't get it," Raven said. "Someone else is guarding it, somebody determined, somebody faithful."
"Who?" Bombshell screamed.
Suddenly, the room went up in flames. A wall of fire surrounded the foes. At first they did not seem worried, but then Bombshell tested it. She shrieked. "This is no illusion!"
The Muse shrieked and covered her ears. She was sure the fire alarm was going to go off.
Cyborg was searching for a water cannon arm. Beast Boy turned into an elephant. Both of them spouted water toward the fire, but it had no effect.
"Raven, can you smother it?" Robin asked.
"I don't think I need to," Raven answered.
"We got them trapped now," Static said to the Muse. "Why don't we pen them up?"
"You do it!" she yelled.
"Muse," he whispered, "it's not a real fire. Well, not to you anyway. The alarms won't go off. Everybody's safe, except for our criminals."
She sighed and stood. "Magic!" she yelled. The foes were surrounded by a bubble, and the flames disappeared. "So, where did you learn that trick?" she asked future Static.
"I didn't. He did."
Static pointed down the hall. There at the end with the Magic Hat on his head was Eli. He walked slowly up to the Muse, took the Magic Hat off, and smiled. The Muse smiled back. Those eyes even looked better when he was happy.
"Ragnarok?" Gear asked.
"Yeah, Ragnarok," Static nodded.
"What does that mean?" the Muse asked future Batman.
"I don't know. Maybe it's old school slang."
Present Static and Gear came back. "Well, everybody's out," present Static said.
"Y'all know where Aunt Claire is?" Gear asked.
"She's safe at Wayne Manor," future Gear answered.
"OK, we're ready," future Static said. "We'll be gone in thirty seconds."
"Awe man, we didn't get to work together!" present Static complained.
"We didn't miss you much," Terry answered.
"So, you have anything to say before you guys go?"
Future Static patted present Static's shoulder. "Take good care of your sister. And lighten up on her. One day you might regret how hard you've treated her."
"Oh, I hear you."
"And you," future Gear said to present Gear, "You look out for your aunt."
"I will," present Gear answered.
"Guys, it was great working with you," the Muse said. "Especially you, Terry. You're a good friend, and I'm going to miss you a lot. I hope we'll have lots of adventures in the future. You'll remember me, will you?"
"Sure. I got to remember because you are every bit as schway as they've been telling me. In fact, you're the creme de la schway."
"What?"
"Uh, that means you da bomb," future Static answered.
"Oh. Thanks." She reached up to hug him, but as she did, Terry, Static, Gear, and the two criminals were enveloped in a green light. "Wait a minute!" The Muse tore off her watch. "Don't you need this?" But it was too late. They disappeared.
"So, how did they get here?" Static asked.
"They traveled through time of course, and then they followed me around, like I told you. But it was weird because I was the only one who could see them. It's like a third sight, you know, like the first is reality, and the second is the imagination, and the third is neither one. But now I got this watch. They need it more than I do. Hey, maybe I'm supposed to have this watch. That way I can give it to Terry at the right time, and he can give it to me, and I can give it to him, and . . . wait a minute. If that's true, then where did this watch really come from? How was it made? When did I record the message on it?"
"Well, that's easy," Gear said. "You bought it, and somehow you recorded on it."
"But how could I if I had it all along? I . . . I think I'm going to have to think about this for another forty years."
TRANSITION
A month or two later, Claire got the results. She read them through thoroughly. Then the phone rang.
"Hello Ms. Foley," Mr. Wayne said on the other line. "I was calling to see if you got the results yet."
"Yes I did. It looks good. So, you think she might have Asperger's?"
"Well, from what I understand, it's not quite AS, but it's really close."
"But it's still enough to get her into a new school, right?"
"I'll fight to get her placed into better school myself if I have to."
"This is wonderful."
"But I do have a suggestion. She'd be going directly into junior high, and that can be stressful on her, especially because of how little she actually learned in her previous school. I think you ought to home school her for part of the day, just to fill her in on what she's missing."
"Well, that's a tall order. I am a single parent with a demanding job."
"I'd be happy to send a tutor."
"I'll do whatever I can for my baby. I'll think about it. I hate to cut this short, but Precious and I are going down to Dakota tonight. Her cousin and her closest friend are the stars of a play, and Precious has been begging me to see it."
"Oh, so you're going to see Othello at Dakota High School?"
"That's right."
"What a coincidence! I was planning on seeing that as well."
"You were?"
"Yes, I donated some money to their art program a while ago, and I want to see what they're doing with it. You know, I'm going to be alone. It would be nice to have some company. Would you mind if you and your daughter sit with me?"
Claire paused. "Yes. Yes, I'd think I'd love that."
"Thank you. I'll meet you there."
"Right." She hung up the phone and went upstairs to put on some extra makeup and perfume.
Next Episode: Secrets Revealed–Precious turns 13, and all of her superhero friends throw a huge surprise party. But then Claire shows up and tells Precious a devastating secret that shakes her world. The Muse is prepared to end her career forever, and to make matters worse two has-been villains have returned to ruin the Muse's reputation.
