Counterpart Conferences

By Michael Weyer

Sorry for long delay, tied up with personal work and such. I was inspired more by "Crisis on Infinite Earths" which I greatly enjoyed as much as the "Arrow" finale and think way too much hate on both. But one point that inspired this with an additional touch by the great Birds of Prey movie so hope you enjoy it.

Earth-99

Gotham City

The skies were dark with flashes of lightning echoing as the hints of a storm ready to unleash itself upon Gotham. The populace might have felt the tension of that in the past but now were used to a far greater touch of fear. For a town surprisingly crime-free, this Gotham was not a place of peace but one where people were terrified of crossing a line, lest they attract the attention of the dark specter that could still prowl the roofs if he wanted to.

For now, that specter was housed within the mansion on the city outskirts. The whirr of the servos on his exo-skeleton echoed as he made his way through the large cave under his home. His hair and beard were streaked with grey yet his features were still strong. He looked at the large suit hanging in the laboratory, musing on its look. He leaned in to adjust one of the bolts on the side. Making a suit capable of holding him was tougher but it had to be done. Sure, thing were quiet now but always the chance of someone trying to strike again and he had to be ready to put them down.

He moved to look at the set of arms stacked to the side. He stroked the twin blasters, trying to figure out how to better miniaturize them for his gauntlets. One for missile and the other for bullets was the best way to go but he liked the idea of one firing out sharper mini-Batarangs to stab a vital organ. After all, keeping them all scared was the only way to make sure this town ran right.

That sixth sense of so many years alerted him as he spun around as much as his suit would allow him, his hands grabbing a mini-flamethrower to aim it. He stopped as he saw the figure standing before him. The suit was much like his own, albeit a bit lighter. Well, as light as grey and black could be. The eyes appeared to be more like white slits yet still able to focus on him with a hard gaze. He stood perfectly in place but in a stance ready to fight if need be.

Bruce Wayne stared at him for a long moment and then scoffed. "Huh. Let's see….Clayface is a pile of….well, clay. Nemesis knows not to show up here. I took out all the Martians….Azrael is gone…." He cocked his head. "So who the hell are you?"

The caped figure just held that long and cold stare. "Intruder scan," Wayne called out. "Full DNA analysis." A shimmer of light covered the caped intruder but he didn't seem to mind it. It took a few moments for the metallic voice to echo. "DNA scan complete. 99.999999997% match for Wayne, Bruce."

Wayne was surprised as he studied the intruder. "So what is this? Time travel? Alternate Earth?" At the way the other figure cocked his head, he nodded. "Ah. Should have known." He turned to march back toward the workbench. "Whatever it is you want, forget it. I have enough problems in my world without helping some other one."

"I don't want your help." Wayne turned at the cold voice that was so much like his own. The other Batman was slowly looking about the room, taking in the "trophies" on the side. From a playing card covered in blood to a broken question mark cane to a helmet covered in ice to crushed vines, it was an odd collection but spoke volumes to him. "How'd it start?" he called out. "Who was the first?"

Wayne grunted. "You really have to ask?"

Batman looked at the playing card. "After he killed Tim…that was when I knew," Wayne continued. "When I had to do it." He shrugged. "You think anyone missed him? Hell, they wanted to give me a statue for doing it. Even Dick understood, said it was just one."

"It always starts with just one," Batman softly said. "Then you decided another was fine. And another. And another."

Wayne rolled his eyes. "God, you still have that self-righteous code. I can tell you right now, once you realize how outdated it is...It frees you. Lets you do what needs to be done."

"How Gordon didn't stop you when it started..."

"After Barbara? He was willing to back me up. Then realized trying to take me down was too dangerous for the other cops. He figured quitting and leaving town were better than bringing down the Bat." He tinkered on his weapons. "I was happy for that. Freed me up to keep doing my job."

"Which became wholesale murder," his counterpart snapped as he looked over the trophies. He stopped at the pair of broken glasses inside another jar. "And then Clark…"

Wayne scoffed. "Strange visitor from another planet comes to Earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men? Clark...Clark always said yes to anyone with a badge. Or a flag. He gave them too much power. How long until he decided it was time to take some for his own?"

"Then who? Diana? Wally? Hal or John or whoever has the ring here? When will it stop?"

Wayne smirked. "You're gonna tell me you don't have your plans to take out every one of them?"

"Non-lethal," Batman snapped. "And only if they crossed the line. Not when they're trying to stop the one who has. The one who drove Gordon to quit when he saw where things were going and get out of town. Who forced Alfred to leave before he saw you go too far over the edge. Who betrayed everything we ever stood for." The anger was now clear in his voice as he turned to face Wayne who turned back to glare at him.

"You think you're better than me?" Wayne snarled. "You think you can judge me?"

"Why not? You've been judge, jury, and executioner for years."

Wayne scoffed. "How many? How many on your world have died because you wouldn't kill the Joker? Or Ra's? How much blood is on your hands?"

It was Batman's turn to scoff. "That's as stupid as claiming police officers are responsible for crooks who get away in the courts. That Flash is responsible for what his Rogues do. Those madmen are responsible for their own actions, not me. And not you."

Wayne just kept working on his weapons. "I used to think the same way. Then I had my eyes opened after Kate was killed." He looked at Batman. "You know her, right?"

"She's not the same on my Earth," Batman stated. "But a few others who have the same as you. One has her as a good hero herself. Maybe too much attitude but she's trying with our doppelganger."

"He's weak," Wayne said. "Like you. Still not willing to do what it takes."

"Or doing what he needs to."

Wayne shook his head. "It's like Harvey once told me. You either die the hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain. You know where this will lead. One day, we can't do it anymore. One day, one of them gets lucky or some punk gets in a cheap shot. We need to take care of as much as we can before your time comes. There's no such thing as a happy ending for us."

Batman was silent for a moment. "No. At least for one of us…"

Earth-2005

Paris

The cafe was busy at this time in the morning. People bustled about from residents to tourists to enjoy the sights of the City of Lights on a bright summer day. The handsome man was sipping at his coffee when the figure sat before him. He looked up, curious, his light shirt and slacks no different than anyone else walking about the city. The other man was his age with darker hair and a face that didn't seem to smile much, wearing a professional suit. Despite the fact they'd never met, he couldn't help but feel an odd tug of familiarity. "Can I help you?"

The man studied him carefully with an eye that Bruce Wayne had used many times in his own life. "I'm trying to figure out how you did it," he began in a calm voice. "How you could just give it all up."

Bruce raised an eyebrow. "I'm not sure what you mean."

"I always figured 'when I die it'll be on Gotham concrete' yet you…you let it go. You moved on. I never thought a Bruce Wayne could do that."

Bruce stiffened, his instinct to deny it dying as he could see the other man already knew who he was. "Are you League?"

The man shook his head. "Decidedly not. No, just someone…curious. Concerned but mostly curious. Again, wondering…how could you let it go?"

Bruce shrugged as he sipped his coffee. "If you know me as well as you seem to, that shouldn't be too hard a question. I gave my all to them."

"Did you?" The stranger pressed. "You quit after Harvey, let them believe you were a villain and then just hid away."

"Maybe that was a mistake," Bruce allowed. "But the city thrived without me. And when I came back, it almost ruined it again." He shrugged. "What I did…was good. But in the end, I realized that it got so bad under Bane because I couldn't accept my time was passed. Physically and emotionally. And afterward…" He lifted his cup up. "I realized it was best I move on."

"And leave Gotham behind."

"Nightwing has it handled," Bruce stated. "He's young, he's got fire and he's done well. Even heard he has some partner by his side helping him out."

"But you just stopped fighting? Just stopped aiding the city?"

"Not much aid I could do given my financial situation by the time Bane was done," Bruce stated. "And like I said...I may have put myself back together for the final fight but I knew...my time was limited. It was better to just try living it more outside that mask." He rubbed his face. "I let it become me. Change me. I had to be broken to realize that Bruce Wayne was needed more than the Batman."

"And you just live it up like the former playboy?" The man pressed.

Bruce's eyes narrowed. "I don't know who you are. But I lived my life in pain and then in seclusion. Hell, I didn't really live it at all, I just did my best to survive it. Now…Bruce Wayne may be dead to the world but as far as I'm concerned, he's never been more alive."

The stranger stared at him and Bruce felt an odd sensation of respect mired within that judgment. "I guess that's as good an answer as I'm going to get." He rose to his feet. "It was…interesting meeting you, Bruce Wayne. Hopefully, we never will again."

"I suppose asking who are you is a waste of time?" Bruce already knew the answer to the question.

The stranger's lips turned upward briefly. "Let's just say...someone who wishes he could be as strong as you to make your choice." He turned to go, then paused and looked back at Bruce. "One thing…if, by any chance, you do go back into the suit…maybe cut down on the voice? The audio of the rasp seemed a bit over the top. And coming from me, that says a lot." He began to walk off and soon vanished into the crowds.

Bruce settled back in his chair, musing on the encounter as he heard the sound of heels coming toward him. He looked up as Selina Kyle came up with her, dressed in a blue outfit with her hair framing her gorgeous face. "You okay?" she asked at his expression.

"I'm not sure," Bruce admitted. "I can't shake the feeling…I just had someone feeling…envious of me."

Selina gave him that sexy smirk of hers. "You get that when we go out together."

He chuckled as she joined him to start another day together.

Wayne actually laughed at what he heard. "He just…gave up?"

"He found a life of peace," Batman said in a soft tone. "Something I wish I could."

Wayne's scowl deepened. "Peace is a joke, a lie the public tell themselves to think the world makes sense. Ours stopped doing that on that night in Crime Alley."

"And you think what you do is honoring their memories?" Anger flashed in Batman's eyes. "They would be ashamed of you."

"The dead can't feel shame," Wayne snapped. "They can't feel anything. It's all about making the guilty pay wherever they are."

"The only one guilty here…is you."

Wayne chuckled as he reached to the console. "This has been interesting but I've had enough." He pressed down on the commands as Batman stood there. A whining sound echoed through the Cave…and then slowly died down.

As Wayne's face fell, Batman was already moving. He lashed out with a series of blows and a kick that knocked Wayne back. The elder man snarled, throwing out a fist and while the metallic frame slowed him down, he was still fast. Batman rolled with the blow to punch the other man in the face. "Unlike you, I didn't drive away Dick or Barbara," he hissed. "And I can guess every single access code you'd use for your systems."

"Not bad," Wayne allowed. "That include for Cassandra's birthday?"

Batman frowned. "Who?"

Wayne managed to hit a few commands into his keyboard and the whine echoed once again. Batman was moving fast as a canon lowered from the ceiling to fire a high-intensity laser at him. He was dodging and rolling even as he tossed out a Batarang. It hit the cannon to cause it to erupt into flame. Wayne had gotten his hands on the flamethrower, pulling the trigger to unleash a long trail of fire at Batman. He ducked behind the case of trophies as the fire raced over them, the glass of several cracking under the heat. An item caught Batman's eye and he reached in to grab it.

He raised a small device and fired a grappling hook at the top of the cave. It allowed him to be dragged upward with his feet aimed at Wayne. The elder man instinctively ducked as Batman opened his palm to show what looked like a small flower lapel. He squeezed it to unleash a trail of thick green liquid that hit the back of Wayne's exo-skeleton. A loud hissing echoed as the acid instantly began eating through the metal. Wayne jerked in place as the acid spray cut down his metallic frame. He let out a yell as part of it gave way, the connections to his leg braces shortening out.

As Wayne collapsed, Batman looked at the lapel and shook his head. "Using his acid lapel to take down a Batman. He'd actually appreciate that." He tossed the flower aside as he looked down at the fallen Wayne, putting a boot to his chest. The elder man glared at him. "If you think I'm gonna beg…"

"No begging," Batman snarled. "No, this ends now."

"You really think this solves anything? That justice is done? I'm the only one who can keep this city from going to Hell! I can never stop!"

"That's where you're wrong," Batman said. "There are always good people in Gotham. You just ignored them for too long." He cocked his head. "I should thank you. Every now and then…for just one moment…I think about how easy it would be to get rid of Joker or Ra's, once and for all. Now…I see what happens when I cross that line. No matter what, I'm never going to become you."

Wayne snorted. "Just wait. One day, you'll realize it's the only way."

"The day I think that is the day I give it up. There are a lot of us across the multiverse. We've all stared into the abyss." He leaned down to hiss at his counterpart. "The difference between us and you? You blinked."

Wayne tried to push back on his boot but Batman merely stamped down on his face. Wayne just glared up at him. "So what now? Drag me to prison or Arkham?"

"Please. We both know, even in your condition, there's no prison on this planet that can hold you." Batman reached to his belt. "Besides…the last thing I want is to have Mother and Father's names dragged through the mud in your trial. No…no, Bruce Wayne just vanishes while Batman comes to an end." He unhooked a device and Wayne's eyes widened as he recognized it. "No…" he whispered, a rare dose of fear flashing over his face.

Batman stepped back as he held up the projector. "I'm not getting any satisfaction from this," he snapped. "But unlike you, I'm not going for the other option. Maybe a few decades in the Phantom Zone can heal your mind. If not…" He let out a sigh as he pressed the trigger. The beam struck Wayne, the man yelling as he tried in vain to crawl off. His body shimmered and then slowly faded into nothingness.

Batman lowered the projector and looked down with sadness at the spot where his doppelganger had been. A set of footsteps echoed and he looked up to see a young black man step down the steps. His handsome face was set in a stern expression yet he didn't seem too upset as he looked Batman over. "So…he's gone."

"He is," Batman returned. He looked the youth over. "Luke Fox. I know your father in my world. He's a good man."

"Mine was," Luke said in a flat voice. "Until he was murdered. I thought his way was the right way to find justice." He looked down with shame in his eyes. "But after a while…I began to realize murder isn't justice. That I was just adding to the pain and not stopping it. I hoped…maybe somehow I could get him to see that."

Batman nodded. "Good. There's still hope for you. It passed him a long time ago."

Luke sighed as he looked around. "It's just too bad. He really was a hero, once. Now Gotham has no defender."

Batman looked at the suit on the wall, a prototype lacking the bat-emblem. He then gazed at the athletic and intelligent man before him. "Doesn't it?"

He removed a device from his belt and activated it. In a crackle of light and energy, a portal appeared behind him. He gave Luke a long nod before vanishing into the portal which closed behind him. Luke Fox looked at the spot, then gazed at the suit in deep thought.

Earth-1992

As the portal shut behind him, Batman was moving to the main computer array of the Batcave. Alfred Pennyworth was already there, as immaculate as always, lifting up a tray with a sandwich and cup on it. "Your trip go well, sir?"

"As well as could be expected," Batman stated as he sat before the computer. He began looking over the screens of data from Arkham Asylum to the latest international crime reports. "Still no sign of the Joker or Ra's."

"You truly believe they escaped to another world?"

"Ra's was doing research into it before he vanished. And the Joker disappearing for so long isn't like him at all. They must be out there somewhere." Batman clicked on the screens as he spoke. "At least I stumbled onto that doppelganger which I had to handle on my own. I always thought that the Justice Lords version of me was how bad I could get. But that…" He shook his head. "To see a version that not only killed but enjoyed it…" The haunting look in his eyes showed how it had affected him.

"It wasn't you, sir." Alfred's voice was softer. "No matter his face or his voice…He could not be you. I know you would never cross that line, no matter what."

Batman gave a look of gratitude. "I just had to handle it on my own. Clark may not feel the same for some version of him who quit or something but I think he'd agree here."

"Speaking of, sir, that version of you who had retired…you didn't enlist him in this crusade?"

"He was too out of the game," Batman stated. "I saw his medical records, the long-term damage much worse than mine. Combine that with being out of it for so long…He wouldn't be effective at all. Plus, his world doesn't have a Clark or Diana or any metahumans. Throwing him into this fight would be a drawback."

Alfred nodded. "And…the real reason?"

Batman paused to look at him. The butler merely gave him the long look of a man who knew his employer well. Batman let out a tired sigh as he looked off. "He called himself Bruce Wayne. And he meant it. That's something I haven't done in a very long time." He glanced at Alfred. "His Gotham is better. He has a Nightwing protecting it. He…deserves to live a life outside the cowl."

Alfred smiled softly. "I do confess, sir, a version of you that did indeed decide to live a calm life is…appealing."

"You're just happy there's a version of you that gets to enjoy his retirement."

"There is that." Alfred placed the tray within his employer's reach. "I do know how difficult things have been, sir. But I dare say it may be more important to focus on the actions of this world before interfering in another."

"One world's problems can become another's very easily, Alfred."

"As long as you don't try to stir up the pot more, sir. I understand you taking on that other version and I agree it was necessary. However, deciding to interfere in other universes seems to approach what that Bruce Wayne felt when he decided to do what he believed needed and damn the consequences."

Alfred headed off toward the stairs, leaving the Dark Knight to muse on his words. "How does it feel to always have the right answers, Alfred?"

"I strain daily under the burden, sir."

A soft smile came to Batman's lips as he brought up the images of a familiar face and once more wondered what had become of the Clown Prince of Crime.

Earth-51

Gotham

The chaos of the warehouse could be heard for blocks around. Yells and screams echoed as the pack of drug factory workers were tangling with the quartet of ladies fighting them inside the large warehouse. Clouds of cocaine and heroin were kicking up along with debris as bullets flew in a vain attempt to stop the feisty ladies attacking the area.

Black Canary flipped over one man, her dark costume with fishnet stockings matching her dark skin. She had finally bowed to the demands of her colleagues to cut her hair much shorter so it didn't fly in her face. She kicked a man back then unleashed a loud scream that picked another gunman off his feet.

Behind her, Huntress was firing a bolt from her crossbow to knock another figure back. Her mask nicely hid her eyes as her dark suit helped her flow into combat. Renee Montoya was behind her, lashing out at an enemy with brass knuckles as she moved into the fight, her tight jumpsuit aiding in combat.

With a loud whoop, Harley Quinn skated past them both. As in on literal roller skates with the trio calling themselves the Birds of Prey fighting the various criminals. Her blonde hair framed her white face as she wore yet another of her outlandish outfits that somehow managed to survive any fight intact. "See, this is what I'm talking about!" she yelled as she smashed one man in the face with a huge mallet. "I told ya all, a girl's night is just what we needed!"

"This is not a girl's night, Quinn!" Renee yelled as she punched another guy down. While she and the Birds had agreed to a temporary truce, the former cop still wasn't happy having to work with a raving psychopath. "This is us answering your call for a drug lair bust that you didn't even tell us was happening until we got here!"

"We're getting mimosas later! And I can braid your hair!"

"God, why do we hang out with you?"

"Cause I'm so damn fun!" Harley spun on her skates to smash the hammer into a goon's jaw. "I'm kinda like Deadpool but a bit less fourth wall-smashing and folks don't use me as much in fanfics to wipe out some other characters they hate for petty reasons while they rant as if they represent the vast majority of a fandom!" She ducked under a table and then slid under the legs of a gunman with the mallet raised to hit him in between. As he howled in pain, Harley continued on. "Really, it's a sign of grandiose entitlement but at least much better than the ones who showcase pure sexism/bigotry and approaching incel behavior!"

As usual, the Birds had no idea what Harley was talking about and had realized it was much easier to never ask. They concentrated on ensuring the last of the gunmen were finally taken down and taking in their illegal wares. The final goon fell to a Huntress arrow as they paused for breath. "Chalk another crack factory down," Renee noted.

"Now we get to blow it up!" Harley grinned as she pulled a massive batch of dynamite sticks out of her purse.

Canary stared at her. "Tell me you just packed that for tonight. Tell me you don't just have that in your purse every day." She rolled her eyes at Harley's shrug.

A set of footsteps echoed as the group spun around in fighting mode. They saw a figure step out of the shadows on the balcony above the warehouse floor. He leaned on the railing, pursing his red lips as he looked down at the floor, his green hair and purple suit illuminated under the lights. "Huh…now this is interesting…"

Harley blinked in confusion. "Mr. J? You…look different."

"And you're different from my Harley," the Joker mused. He looked to the Birds. "Hmmm…I don't get the Canary. It's like how some folks in this world are somehow different races. Don't get me wrong, I have no bias, I kill everyone no matter their ethnicity, just odd." He looked to Huntress. "At least your suit is a bit better although a tad more bloodthirsty. And Renee…well, actually, I don't know you that well on my world."

The Birds looked at each other in confusion. "I know he's insane," Canary allowed. "But this is just...weird."

"Although his dress sense is better," Renee allowed.

"Yes, it is, thank you!" The Joker made a turn, showing off his coat. "I had to burn so much of his wardrobe, the entire thing was way too much in black and white, I was starting to think purple didn't exist here!" He laughed. "He was actually into gold necklaces! Who am I, Jay-Z?"

Harley stepped forward, still confused. "I heard ya was dead, Mr. J….I was kinda….well, not sure, half happy, half sad."

"Oh, your Joker is very much dead, I assure you," he stated. "Consider me the older but much-improved version." He waved around. "Thanks for this, by the way. These guys were trying to skim a bit off me so you saved me a lot of trouble getting rid of them. Although I am a bit annoyed, I was dying to use this new batch of poison cream pies..."

Renee had a gun out and aimed at him but Joker just sighed. "Seriously, is that supposed to impress me? I can easily kill the four of you now. But hey, I don't wanna start a war with the heroes of this Earth just yet."

"What do you want?" Huntress demanded.

"A smile, a dance, Batman's head atop a lance." The Joker waved his arms. "He's been a bit busy but I'm sure I can get his attention soon." He focused on Harley. "I had briefly considered asking you to join but…Frankly? You're just a tad too wild for me."

"Aw, come on," Harley groaned. "I wouldn't be that bad! I was only doing narration for the movie audience, I can conform for this! Least until I get dragged into another Suicide Squad adventure, I really don't know when they'll be calling me..."

The Joker just stared at her. "Ya know, my Harley is a bit quirky but you….you are downright batshit insane." He shook his head. "Way too much for me, I've got enough on my plate without going down that path again. Sides, for all I know, there's an Ivy on this world to drag you off." He turned to head off. "This was fun, ladies but I've got bigger fish to fry, behead, eviscerate and cook. So, thanks again for this but don't expect a repeat soon."

Huntress raised her crossbow. "You really think…."

"Right, I forgot to mention this place is gonna blow in about thirty seconds so I'd be running if I were you. Ta-ta!" The Joker stepped out through the door. The Birds and Harley exchanged looks before turning to tear their way out through the nearest doorway. They had just managed to get into the parking lot when the building erupted in a massive explosion that knocked them back. The ladies moaned as they slowly pulled themselves back up to sitting positions.

"Just what the hell happened?" Huntress demanded.

Harley pursed her lips. "Hmmm…it could be we just had an odd encounter that could lay the groundwork for a much more dramatic coming event in which we will be participants in a huge crossover that will shake the foundations of our reality…" She paused and shrugged. "Or just some weird meeting. Hey, who's up for cheesesteaks?"

Dinah frowned as Harley got to her feet. "You're…not going to go back to him?"

"First of all, my Mistah J was a totally different guy than that. Dating a pale substitute to fill up a romantic hole in your heart is a disturbing trend that never ends well. Second, a guy trying to blow me up isn't on my nice list. At least not without buying me a drink first. Finally, I'm just having too much fun as a single gal with my pals!"

"We're not pals," the Birds said in unison.

Harley didn't seem to hear as she began skating toward the car. "So, again, gotta hit the clubs, nothing like a batch of drinks to cap off the night! Oooh, plus, we can riff on the latest Star Wars movie, that's a blast!" The trio just sighed as they followed their madcap ally and left the burning building behind.

On the other side of the warehouse, The Joker adjusted his long hat atop his head. He looked over to where Harley and the others had left, musing for a moment. "Hot, yes. But, nope, I'm insane all right but taking up with that chick? That's just nuts." He turned on his heel and whistled a tune as he headed off into the Gotham night.

Now, I didn't hate the entire Batman-99 as much as others did. If there are Earths were Superman turns into a dictator, it's only logical at least one where Batman crossed the line to become the Punisher. And having him confronted by the other Conroy Batman made sense as well.

Had considered the Nolan Batman entering but figured he earned that nice retirement, hated ruining the movie's end.

And just a showcase of how wild this Harley can be for Earth-1992 Joker.

All comments welcomed.