"The Tourist and Tour Guides"
Star Labs Nevada
Team Year 1, March 15, 16:19 PST
A gigantic whirlwind of energy began to grow. The bright blue light began to fill the room as the energy tornado began to surge with electricity. All the Star Labs employees ran to evacuate as sirens rung through the facility.
"Accelerator's about to go critical! KF we have a chance, the only way to contain it is if you run counter-clockwise to its rotation! You do that before it goes critical and it'll collapse onto itself!" Robin screamed into the mind link.
"Yeah, I got it! Be right back! Get everyone clear!"
"Everyone move!"
A blue flash englufled the area as the tornado began to react violently.
"KF!"
...
Undisclosed Location
April 23, Year...
KF hazily, but finally, gained back consciousness, he felt himself lying on a cot. He was barely able to move, that vibration stunt caused him to be burnt out. He could barely open his eyes, but he started hearing muffled voices talking near him. He lay there tired, hoping that this was some kind of dream that he'd wake up from soon, as he laid there he tried to focus on what they were saying.
"—WOW. You know you'd think by now we'd figure out how to sort out who are clones with all the time we've had. I mean I get they're practically indistinguishable from the originals but there has gotta be some glaring flaw. Why can't bad scientists just be absolute morons for once? I mean seriously, would make this a little easier." The voice added the last part sadly. "Arghh, I feel like I'm forgetting something important. Sorry D." The first voice said to the others, but he sounded... wrong, like his voice sounded like a random mix of a computerized voice and a real person.
"It's fine." The second voice said, sounding like Rob. But older and more hoarse. And more...tired, like really tired. "Did you double check with your other instruments? We need to be sure." He said to the first voice anxiously.
"You betcha I double checked, triple checked, and badabing, checked just now." He said to the others, who looked like they were wayyy too used to the way he spoke. They rolled their eyes, motioning him to continue. "The DNA scans, cell analysis, and brain structure is close enough with my limited processing to the original KF. Also he's not transmitting any outgoing signals, so not a robot or clone with a chip in his brain. Now with all the boring stuff outta the way I'll keep digging, I may have another idea. But what you're saying also probably makes sense."
KF could hear Rob turn to look at him on the cot. "Well, he did say he originated from the energy surge in Nevada, and he doesn't seem to have the clue to where he is, and last I checked the Reach don't do cloning, not after they got what they needed. Question is... Why here? Why now? And why not make him older if he was a clone?"
They all shrugged. "Hopefully this isn't some sick prank," the hybrid voice continued, "otherwise I'd literally attempt to destroy them. On your guys' behalf of course. I mean would I succeed?" He shrugs. "Probably not, but this is terrible way to find where we are, place is reinforced and secure as it can get. Too much trouble and not enough strategy in my unhumble opinion."
"I mean they probably could have done like what they did with Superboy? Could be that." A younger person said to Rob, possibly the one who interrogated KF before. "Maybe they didn't finish on time."
"Nah," the weird hybrid voice said, "SB was a special case, plus this KF was using an old defunct comm frequency that changed a long time ago. Way before Le Reeeeaaach." He added the last part annoyed with a different voice, as if he was repeating some tv personality. "It's probably why it was so easy to find him. Well, that and he was standing right outside."
"Yeah, around Year 1." Rob confirmed. "So is it possible that he's-"
"The real deal?" The young voice said, piping up, slightly hopeful. "Although, from what my folks told me I don't remember KF wearing black."
"Also he was supposed to be fast, but he barely reacted to B outside."
"Its Stealth tech." He replied to B as he turned to the other figure. "I guess, although I'd chalk that last part up to fatigue. I mean for sure we can assume it's not him, not the one we knew anyways. And I-" Rob paused for a moment, looking at KF lying there on the cot, his gaze beyond expression, "-look, his nose bled when he phased and he seems clueless about what's going on here. While clones aren't perfect, I don't think they could duplicate a speedster's powers, it's too difficult, at least not as properly as even KF, whose powers were an accident."
"Records show the light could barely duplicate Superman's powers, don't think anyone else even came close."
"Could be alternate dimension?" The young voice piped in.
"Maybe?" The hybrid voice added, "Or Alternate timeline? Parallel Dimension possibly? Perpendicular dimension? Similar timeline but from alternate dimension? Just spitting out theories here. Damn. I dunno, my chips hurt just thinkin' 'bout it—Laser." He said as he scratched his head. Either no one noticed the weird last part or were just too focused on KF. He noticed Rob looking at KF, just completely frozen as if he was about to break. "...You know D you could ask A to come in here. Maybe she could help."
It took him a few second before he responded, snapping out of his train of thought. He took a small breath. "I've already told her something was up and I'd explain, but she'd have to wait until we verify. She's going as fast as she can helping serve food right now with L to some new stragglers. Plus, I don't want to put her through that if we're wrong and it's not him." He said, adding the last part sadly.
The hybrid put a hand on Rob's shoulder, "I... get it man, don't worry. I've changed the parameters, looking for something else, this should all be over soon."
Rob nodded in thanks as he turned to him, "...E, if it is him... Set honesty parameters to 90 percent."
"You sure?" D nodded. "It needs voice verification." The hybrid added automatically. Rob mumbled something into E's ear before stopping himself and adding something else. The hybrid looked at him. "Confirmed, attempting to accommodate parameters with existing codes at nearest to maximum capacity. Confirmed, parameters accommodated." He said robotically before returning back to his hybrid voice. "Don't blow your heart out old timer. We'll get to the bottom of this debacle."
"Heavy on the D." Rob added, barely breaking into a small smile. "And Old timer? Really? Last I checked you were the fossil here."
"Eh, relative, I'm only a year and a half older, but I still look great for 60 and I gotcha to smile right? Not all of us can be dour all the time, even with the justifiable circumstances—xeno." He added the last part, as if his voice glitched. "Any-any other thoughts on this B? Helps the brain solve problems if we aren't focused on the actual problem."
"Well," the young voice added, "if he isn't a clone and he's not from a parallel earth then why hasn't the mode crashed?"
"Huh. Good question. No clue, but would we even feel it crash? Maybe that's just what we're resigned to? Like, if it did change and we still end up exactly where we are, then I guess life's an ass that way. Timelines galore, my half of 32 ram be screwed."
"E... Come on." B said half-heartedly, the other half looking in understanding.
"Hey, can't help it. Plus I call them as I calc them. Only better to rip off the band-aid now. If it helps, maybe the mode crashing isn't instantaneous. Speaking of something burning. I'll be right back." With that he walked away, feet patting on the floor like hiking boots hitting the rocks quietly.
"D..." The young voice said turning to Rob. "If this him, do you think it's possible that we can—"
"I'm not sure, I want it to be but... I don't want you to get your hopes up, or ours, and if it is, we can't risk it, not until we know exactly what we're dealing with. So for now, keep it close to the chest."
B nodded. "But if it is him..."
"If it is him, well then this is some crazy paradox we're all living in, and either the universe for once is throwing us a bone or..."
"Or trying to get us on mode." B said, narrowing his eyes.
After a waiting for a while to see if they would say anything else, KF tried to sit up on the cot, touching his upper lip to see if he was bleeding from the nose.
"Rest," the tall figure said sitting next to him, making him lie down as he took his napkin out and cleaned some KF's blood. KF's vision began to clear up more, the man (he hoped was Rob) was older, taller but slightly hunched, he had a little scar over his eye and he was growing a dark 5 O'clock shadow, he had longer black hair, with a slight mullet growing and a slight streak of grey hair, he was wearing dark grey and black clothes that were torn. "Your little vibration stunt practically knocked you out."
"You're lucky that you didn't completely drain yourself." The young voice added. The kid, he can now actually tell is a kid with this lighting in the dimly lit room, had brown hair and green eyes was wearing dark jeans, finger-less gloves, and a maroon shirt. He was also wearing bandana covering his mouth, concealing his identity, probably to protect himself for a reason or maybe just out of habit, as Rob didn't seem to care. KF looked between both of them, holding a hand to his head to stop the headache.
"I-yeah... I remember? Worth a shot, not sure if I could trust you guys." He said, adding the last part a little bit quieter. He wasn't sure if he could trust them, even if it did sound like an older version of Rob, was it really though? "I still don't."
"Well that's still on the table for both of us, but now that you're actually awake. First question, who do you think we are?" KF looked at the old man, squinting and trying to see anything that didn't confirm his actual suspicions.
"You... You're soo...but you sound so familair." The old man nodded to him to continue. "You can't be... It's not possible."
"What's my name?"
"R-Rob?" His eyes filled with tears, it couldn't be, but it was, after squinting and looking at him trying to find features that he knew he saw him. Wow, he looked so different from the 14 year old that he saw just a few hours ago. "Is that really you? Man-I-Is it good to see a friendly fac-"
But before he could finish another figure, who had a human physique but from head to toe looked like he was covered in dark grey shifting particles with only a face that was closely resembling human with brightly lit white LED eyes came in, it took Wally all his strength not to be surprised, but he couldn't help it. "Hold your horses buckaroo, Nurse E's here to check something." The figure said, who he now sees is the one with the hybrid voice.
"Not again! Can someone please tell me what the heck is going on?! Dude Rob, its me!"
Before Rob or the young one could say anything the walking computer went next to KF's cot and grabbed the one handkerchief that was used to clean Wally's nose from the bleeding and took a few steps back from KF.
"Hush little redheaded road runner. Just watch the magic." He said as his arm formed into a small laser. Before the beam started to light up he turned to Rob. "Might wanna step back."
Rob nodded as stood up, taking a few steps back next to B.
The borg took the bloody handkerchief and put what looked like a small glowing red cylinder into his arm. His arm began to shift and transform into a small cannon, and soon he placed it right next to the blood, Wally could swear that the (android? Robot?) whatever, closed his eyes as if he was scared. They all waited for a few moments, what he estimated to be at least over 15 minutes, and the blood wasn't reacting. Was the blood supposed to be reacting? Is this how they were going to tell if he was a clone?
"Phew! That's good." E sighed. "Guess we forgot about it in all of the excitement."
"Which is?..." B egged on.
"Well for starters I'm not a Pollock painting on the floor. Oh and I just got two jobs done. This and the other data process."
Rob looked between KF and E. "And?"
"Good news he's not a clone," KF and the others breathed a sign of relief, "-synthetic xenothium isn't making his blood react erratically after over 15 min. Added an extra moment or two just to be sure if it could blow." Rob nodded in understanding, KF looked at them confused. "And I'm detecting faint particles of zeta and chronotron radiation coming off his prepubescent body."
"Hey!"
"I'm usually 100 percent right 80 percent of the time." He piped back. "Just joshing ya red, hopefully those aren't lethal, I don't think they are. Also your semi-teenage body is a extremely fatigued, probably because of the excess energy you must have exerted before I guess—what's a good non-boring way to put it—exploding into existence here."
Wally's eyes shot wide open, "That still doesn't help me any-wait what do you mean explode into existence? Now that I'm proven not be a clone can someone please tell me what is happening here? Please, Rob, what happened to the world? To the team? What happened to you? And who's this kid? Is he your kid?"
Rob began walking back to him as E spoke. "First, let's say your name together."
"What?! But you just said-"
"Hey, gotta give a little entrance fee before we can let you have the a full course. It's not that we don't trust you, we just don't trust you entirely. Trust, but verify, and... we gotta gauge something else here, sorry." E shrugged.
Rob sat next to him, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder, "It's okay. It'll be fine." Rob nodded which KF followed. This was some kind of test, but he had nothing to worry about. Right? "Together, let's count." KF nodded.
"Count of 3... Backwards, upsides, Three! Wallace Rudolph West!" They both said in unison. Rob let out a sign of relief, as did Wally.
"Di-I remember you liked to do that. We can now confirm you're at least older than 14."
"Yeah th at's right, I'm 16. Only you'd know that Rob." He said as he hugged him immediately, Rob hugged back, albeit slower than he expected. "What about... you know..."He gestured to the kid and the walking computer.
"Wally, its okay, we can use our real names, like Bart said, secret identities don't exist here anymore, and... I haven't been called Robin... it was a lifetime ago. So I'd prefer if you just stick to Dick. And he's not my kid, actually. His name is Bart. Bart... Allen." Dick said as Wally looked at the kid, Bart, who took off his mask. Bart ran a hand through his brown hair, he looked nervous to say anything.
Wally looked at him, confused. "Bart... Allen?"
Bart nodded slowly. "For all intensive purposes I'm actually your first cousin, once removed." He added slowly.
"First cousin... once removed? You, you're the speedster. That knocked me out." Wally said, his brain still confused.
"Yeah, I am. Your comm link was sending a frequency, we didn't want to be found."
Wally nodded in understanding. "Soooo... First cousin once removed? How does that work?"
"Well, Iris married Barry and had kids and one kid had him. Although thinkin' bout it, from our perspective you, Mr. West, were quite literally removed."
"E... Streamline it."
"What? It's true."
"Still, trying ease him in."
"I... sorry. It' just we need answers, and you know me, just gettin' down to brass tacks, plus more we drag this dialogue out the more anxious he's going to get."
"I-wait, ease me into what? Where exactly am I?" Wally said, his mind close to full focus almost coming back.
"Bunker under the Hall. Look Wally..." Dick rubbed the back of his head nervously, then he pinched the bridge of his nose. Wally was getting more anxious. "Its more of... when actually. I don't think there's any real way to tell you this, but you're in the-"
"Wait...I-wait, don't say it. Removed? Years? When? I'm... I'm in the future." He stood up immediately to look at all of them. "HOLY F*#% I'M IN THE FUTURE!?"
Wally began panicking for at least a good minute, shooting every now and then a few swear words as he tried to process what he's learned.
"Dude, come on, there's a kid present." E muttered, but not actually caring, just trying to keep focused.
"Ya, but you swear a lot too. And I'm usually there." Bart was quick to retort, barely hearing E's comment.
"Hey, I'm recording all of this for the archive, don't want to keep blocking out words, it takes a lot of ram. Plus, the walls aren't that thick, don't want the Reach to find us and kill us." He added the last part dryly as both of them turned back to Dick and Wally.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN I'M IN THE FUTURE?! I CAN'T TIME TRAVEL! SPEEDSTERS CAN'T TIME TRAVEL! BARRY WOULD HAVE TOLD US! HE WOULD HAVE TOLD US NOT TO IF WE COULD. I-THAT'S NOT SCIENTIFICALLY POSSIBLE! WHAT THE-I DON'T—"
"Well," E leaned next to Bart, "theoretically in this universe, no." E muttered jokingly to Bart, or at least he thinks he did.
"Wally, Walls, just cool it alright. W-We have an explanation for all of this." Dick said quickly, immediately regretting it as he turned to E and Bart. "Right?"
"Really?" Wally said, eyes erratically shifting to the guys behind Dick.
"Oh yeah we do, we're just-uh, workin' on it right now." E said, rubbing the back of his head. "It's just, relatively, at this moment we have don't have a clear idea. All we know is, for this universe, no, theoretically you speedys technically can't time travel. But I dunno." He shrugs.
"What? You're a computer, how do you not have any idea what's going on ?" Wally snapped back without thinking.
"Hey, its always good to admit when you have no idea, no shame in that. So don't get snippy with me dude, only giving you a pass because this is a unique situation for all of us. Better me giving it to you straight right now then dancing around it. Point is there are multiple variables to consider, if you want at least a solid answer, give us time. Or you can figure it out yourself. If you want, when you've calm down, we'll shoot all the ideas we got." E shot back. After a while, Wally reluctantly nodded, E had a (annoyingly) true point.
"E." Dick said to E, who mouthed a sorry as he went back to work on nearby monitor. "Yeah...Wally, this reaction is understandable, alright. I'm sorry Wally. I'm sure this isn't what you expected. I mean none of us expected this."
"I-no, I didn't expect to be here, but what's worse is... What's worse is why is the future like this? What happened?" Wally said, he wasn't angry at being in the future, on different circumstances he'd be ecstatic, but the fact that world is like this, he was afraid. Was it because of him? What happened? Where did it go wrong?
"...I'm sorry."
"Dick... Please. Give me something."
"I... I'm sorry. Before we explain that we need to know some important things. I promise we'll tell you soon as possible. But for now we need to know how you got here. Wally, this is very important, what's the last thing you remember?"
What was the last thing Wally remembered? Wally closed his eyes, rubbing his temples to focus.
"Yeah, I got it! Be right back! Get everyone clear!"
Then a flash of bright light engulfed his vision.
Wally shook his head. "W-we were in Star Labs Nevada with the team, something happened with particle collider, it got messed up, only way to shut it down was to-to..." Wally shut his eyes.
"Run against it's rotation." Dick placed a hand on his shoulder. "That was... in Spring of 2011."
"Yeah. It was. I..." Wally said, his eyes shifting between everyone, afraid to ask the next question. "H-How long has it been since then?"
Everyone looked at one another, E and Bart looking to Dick as he rubbed the back of his head, as if not wanting to speak.
"...44 Years. Its been 44 years since that happened."
"W-what? That can't be right, are you sure?" Wally turned to E.
"Well, if you want a rough estimate then its 43 years and a few months." E piped in.
"What about the League? The team? Is this all because I disappeared?" Wally looked at all of them, and barely noticing that E was crossing his arms and looking away, trying to not say something but muttering it instead. Bart stayed silent the whole time, as if he didn't want to unintentionally say something.
"What?" Dick responded, looking scared at his friend who looked like he just gained the weight of the world on his shoulder. He looked at him, with little pain in his voice. "Walls no, that's... that's not what happened."
"I assure you Mr. West," E added, "what occurred here to this world is beyond you, beyond all of us and was not caused by your disappearance, you can count on that." He added the last part strongly.
"Well, if it wasn't just me then what was it?"
Dick looked away. "I-it was a lot of things."
"But most importantly," Bart spoke in, "It was the Reach."
"The Reach?"
"Yes, and what we're living in now is what we call the Reach Apocalypse." Bart crossed his arms. "Those things you saw? Followed by the blue hulking guy? That's the Reach. And Blue Beetle, the armored monster, is the sole overseer of this world. He makes the non-metahumans into slaves, scavenging for parts in different sectors of the world." He added the last part bitterly.
"Metahumans?"
"Enhanced people like you and Bart, just a more colloquial term for them is all. Coined it back in 2016, I think." E said, treading lightly as he looked at Bart, who said all those words while still being vague.
"I... I have so many questions." Wally asked defeated.
"I know, I—" Dick turned to the door behind Wally, a figure in the shadows who motioned to Dick. "I'll be right back."
"Wait, where are you going?" Wally asked as Bart and E looked at one another with a knowing glance.
"I'll be back, I have to speak with someone, but I'll be back. Count on it. Talk to Bart and E, get settled, and they'll try to the best of their ability to accommodate you, alright man?"
Wally reluctantly nodded at Dick, who hugged him to comfort him for a brief moment before weirdly leaving in a hurry. Dick walked into the room behind them and Wally could swear he saw another figure in there looking at him.
With that Dick disappeared into the next room, shutting the door.
"Soo...?" Wally looked at E and Bart, both raised a brow. "I know it's a bad time, but is it possible you guys have any food? Just asking."
...
Dick shut the door behind him and the figure, the red light turning to green as he locked it. The room was right next to Wally and the others, but was soundproofed enough that they can chat. They looked through the camera staring at Wally and the others. The figure locked on Wally's face. Dick just stood there, waiting if he should make the first move or not.
"Is it him?" The figure asked shakily in a hoarse but smoky voice. "Is it really him Dick?" She pleaded to him in the dimly lit room as she turned to him.
Dick nodded, his eyes slightly reddening. "Yeah Art. It is him." He added softly. He walked up to her and grabbed her hand, gently squeezing it as she looked between him and the camera staring into the room.
"Are you sure it is him, 100 percent? And he's not like..." Artemis said making a gesture between the them as her voice slightly failed her, her last words dipping between her and Dick, as Dick knew exactly what she was trying to say. He could tell she was trying not to sob. She dropped her head, looking to the ground and letting out a breath that she was didn't know she was holding for while.
"Arty, it is him. And no he's not a clone, trust me. We all went through a lengthy interrogation process. It payed off." He said as he lightly put a finger under her chin so she can look at him. Her eyes were reddening, her features were tired, worn out by all the sleepless nights. He brushed a stray hair from her face as they looked at one another.
"But is it really him? He's looks so... young."
"It is him, but not the one we knew, he's from the past... and I don't know how he got here but he's here. Alive."
"I just can't believe it." She said as she squeezed both his hands tightly, looking at his blue eyes. He dropped his head to get a better look at her, hesitantly freeing one his hands to raise it to her face, eventually doing it to gently wipe a tear off her face. Her smile was soft and strained like after all this time, all this pain, none of them deserved to see this. She closed her eyes and pressed her forehead against his, Dick followed her lead.
Her breath was slow, she was thinking, trying to process this, but she was also trying not to cry. Not to break in front of them even though they were alone. Dick wanted to tell her that she didn't have to, and she knew he was going to, but no words came out between them, this was too much.
They stood there for a while, all these emotions and pain building up. They didn't know what to do, they didn't know if could do anything. All that came out were soft tears and unspoken words. Eventually they both opened their eyes to look at one another. "Our lives are so fucked aren't they Grayson?"
"Yeah, Art. Yeah, it is." He chuckled lightly.
"You know what have to do right?"
"Yeah... I do Art, Stay whelmed and-"
"Get Traught." She added, softly smiling, as if some life was coming back to her. Dick chuckled back, grinning like he did when he was a kid. Artemis pulled her head back, Dick did the same as they both turned to the screen. "...So, if he is from the past? When from?"
Dick took a sharp breath, confused. "That's the crazy thing Art. He says from Spring of 2011, Star Labs Nevada. But if you and I remember as correctly as we can, then-"
"Then that makes no sense." She looked at the screen. "It was all there. Wally was there, completely fine and intact after stopping the accelerator. He would have told us if he went to the future. Wouldn't he?" She said the last part confused.
"Yeah, he would have. Or at least when it was important. Bart, E, and I think that either something happened to him on the way back, or he didn't want to tell us... or we're in a new timeline entirely."
"Fuck." Artemis ran a hand through her hair, trying to process this. "You know what we have to do right? This could be a so many paradoxes, only worse."
"Yeah I know. E and Bart are keepin' it close to their chest, in their own ways. For now, we've told him all he needs to know. Just the Reach and Blue Beetle."
"Wait, so how much of the rest can we say?" She looked him, trying to understand.
"We're not going to tell him a lot. Not right now. At least until we figure out what to do. We've got a lot of theories on how he got here. If one of our theories is even right, and hopefully it's one of the good ones, I still don't think this might go the way we want it. Either way, Art, I'm scrambling right now. I don't think I know how this goes. If we tell him everything, I don't think he'll be able to take it. We have to tread carefully here. I-don't, I-just—"
Artemis stopped him speaking, placing a finger over his lips. He calmed down as looked at her.
"I know Dick." She grabs his hand and squeezes it tightly. She walked up to him and placed her head on his chest, hearing his heart beat. "I don't want to break his heart in more ways than it is now." She looked up back at him. Both of them scared. "But what if he does find out?"
"Well, if he does find out, then we'll have to hope he doesn't die." Dick said, "I want to tell him everything, to save us from this. But I don't know what would happen." Dick said he layed his chin on top Artemis' head.
"I know Dick. I know. Fuck paradoxes." Artemis said as she buried her face into his chest.
...
"Soo...?" Wally looked at E and Bart , both raised a brow. "I know it's a bad time, but is it possible you guys have any food? Just asking." After that run and exploding into existance he was beyond beat.
Wally looked between the two of them. Both who threw glances at each other like they were telepathically linked.
"If there isn't any. It's fine. I'll just—" A load rumble filled the room. His stomach picked the worst time to grumble loud. As always, bad timing.
Geez.
E rubbed the back of his head. "Um-we'll try and reconfigure rations to accommodate you. Though not making any promises-" E said before being cut off by Bart.
"It's fine, he can have my rations." Bart said without hesitation. Wally looked at him, very embarrassed.
"Are you sure? I mean aren't you a speedster too? Won't you get hungry?" Wally said worriedly, he didn't want to mess with anybody's way of living. Especially if he was to go back. Hopefully he goes back. "Are you sure? I don't want to be a burden."
"It's fine, unlike your powers, mine are genetic, so I don't have a higher drive to eat as much as you. I mean, Allen Family genes have to come with benefits right?" Bart explained, slightly rambling to Wally who nodded in somewhat understanding. E, who Bart knew was looking at him rolling his eyes in total understanding for the situation despite it sounding like the biggest load of bullshit he's ever heard the kid say.
"Alright, if you're fine with it. I'm good." Wally looked at Bart. It made sense. "Thank you, so much."
"Hey, gotta do something for my first cousin once removed right?" Bart smiled at him lightly as he placed a hand on his shoulder to comfort him. Wally looked at E. Who was staring at Bart waiting for him finish talking. Bart turned around to E. Bart sighed. "It's time isn't it?"
"Yeah, it is, sorry man." E said almost sadly. "Scout sector 91, 92, 19, 94."
"Wait." Wally said as he took off his googles. "Take it, you probably need it more than I do."
Bart nodded, looking at the goggles "Schway, thanks cuz." He picked up a strap in a tool box, tying it around the goggles so they won't slip. "Okay, see ya in a bit. E, after he's done, you know what to do." E nodded, but before Bart began to put on his bandana, E slipped him a little bit of food. Bart whispered to him. "Dude no, come on, no. I don't deserve this. These are your sentimentals." He said looking at the little munchy foods he gave him.
"Yeah well now they're yours, besides why do you think they're my reserves, I'm a bot, don't need them. It's not much anyways. Now go. Go make it up by finding us some good stuff." E whispered back as Bart said thanks. "Eat. You'll feel better."he said looking at the chocolate that he hoped didn't expire.
"Take care of him ya old bucket of bolts."
"Acknowledged. Stay safe." Bart nodded back at E as he took off.
Wally didn't see much as he lay back down on the cot looking at the ceiling of the bunker. He waited for the food which E went to go get.
He began to tap his fingers rapidly. Smiling that he realized how fast they went, at least had his powers back. Only realizing that he shouldn't use his speed. Rationing it off as to save energy and food consumption. Wally slumped back into sadness. E said that the more he thought about it, the harder's it's going to be to adjust to his hopefully temporary circumstances.
E walked back from the kitchen. With a small plate and a cup of water in hand. He sat down on the floor near Wally's cot.
Wally took the drink and small plate of food. He said thanks to E as he looked at him weirdly.
"No problemo. Bart should be back later. He's going to raid some places." E said cheerfully. Wally got whiplash by how many times he changed tones throughout the course of the past conversations, he wasn't sure how anyone dealt with it. "What's the matter dude?"
Wally looked at him, still weirded out that he was talking to a robot that was so human, with facial features that resembled a human face, not a skull, but face, and with a full body as if he had skin but colored bluish-grey, it probably didn't help that he looked like an advanced terminator, good thing his eyes were just bright white. He's talked to robots before, why was this one different? "Nothing, well... I mean besides me being here, a lot. I don't know still trying to rap my head around this. Time travel doesn't exist. Its not possible. I can't be here, I'm not supposed to be here. I just... Ihave a lot of questions."
"Hey, if its any consolation, we're just as confused as you are." E said, his voce modulating into a comforting tone. "Don't worry, we'll talk about the theories and your questions later. But worrying about it right now isn't going to be of any help." E cocked his head to look at Wally, who was staring at E's arm, that was shifting slightly. "You good man?"
"Sorry, it's just..." This was awkward. He was humanoid but not like Tornado. "I'm just not used to seeing a robot with your... shape?" Wally cringed.
"I'm pretty sure you just called me fat." E said, sounding offended.
"What? No! Not what I meant, I just you've got shifting particles like ants, it's just... odd."
E looked at him, confused. Then coming to a realization. "Just pulling cords dude. Perhaps this will help." E shifted his body, turning and morphing it into a human, with skin color and clothes. He was taller than Dick, he looked he was 26, had brown hair, light but tanned skin, and wore clothes like he was a butler, but it was just a bit ruffled. "I assume this is better. I made it better."
"Woah, how did you..? You look..." He touched his skin, literally forgetting that he hasn't eaten yet. His skin was decently hard, but still shifting a little as he looked at him. "What are you made of?"
"They're nanomachines, lad." He added the last part too enthusiastically. "Plus it helps, being originally human, I don't have to focus on this structure too much, seeing as this was a older variation of my original body, but the original one you saw before, requires no concentration, so that's why I stay like that, after all it's just a holographic overlay."
Wally was admiring the nanotech before actually processing what he said. His eyes shot wide open as he looked at him. "Wait, what? Wait a minute, E, as in—you-you're—"
"Dead." He cut him off in a monotonous voice. Before switching back to his weirdly chipper regular voice. "I know. Don't worry about it man. I'm over it." He added the last part positively, despite how crazy it sounded.
Wally was still shocked. "I... dude, man. I'm sorry."
"Don't worry Walls. The original body may have died a horrible death, but this contingency was necessary." He said in a matter-of-fact tone. "Merging with watchtower and batcave computers, I live on, well not really, I mean I'm just a copy of his consciousness so it's not like it was a transference or anything. Original is dead for all intensive purposes. But nevertheless, I live to serve, to help, and hopefully one day see the end of this war."
"...I'm sorry." Wally said, just shocked.
"Hey, don't be. Sense of duty and determination helps me and us keep moving forward. As I always say, if I can do something good, I should, and if I can do more, I have to. Otherwise everything I've been through, well, what would have been the point?" Wally looked at him shocked at his words. "As far as I'm concerned, I'm doing all I can, everyone is because really, that's all we can do. That's all we should do. Keep a cool head. I may be dead, but, in the end, no one's really gone. Not really. Plus, it helps sometimes remember I'm not the only echo here. So I'm here, in all binary spirit." He said smiling like he wasn't scared.
Wally understood most of what he said, hung up on his words as if he remembered them. "Yeah, I think I got what you're saying. Thanks E." He was right, Wally had to stay focused, he shouldn't trouble anyone unless necessary. He had to remain strong.
"No problemo dude." E said as he looked at Wally, who was still holding his food. "You need a table?"
"No its fine I..." He looked around, he held both the plate and glass in his hands the whole time, there was nowhere, except the ground, and he's pretty sure he just saw a few cockroaches chitter by. "Um. Where can you get a table?"
E quickly morphed into a small bedside table, making a jokingly small transformers sound as he did.
"Come on, I don't shiv."
Wally was hesitant. "E, I appreciate it, but I have to ask, which part of your body is it?"
"Dude, I'm made of nano-tech. It's all relative. Plus your food's getting cold."
Wally hesitantly placed his food on the small desk part of the table, raising a brow. "I... thanks."
"No problemo sir. But let's not make this a regular thing okay? I got my own stuff to do."
...
Artemis and Dick stared at the monitor in silence, after finishing their previous conversation and ironing out all the details on what to say, they had to proceed.
"I'm ready to talk to him. Has he finished eating yet?" Artemis said to Dick, who let go of her hand as headed for the door.
"Yeah."
"You know," she patted her foot nervously. "I really don't know what to say."
"Art. It'll be fine." He said, walking up to her and tucking her loose strand of hair behind her ear. She leaned her head into his hand. "Besides we both look great for pushing 50 plus."
"Hey," she punches him on the shoulder lightly, he chuckles. "60 is the new 35."
Dick smiled lightly. "It'll be ok."
She nodded. "Don't make promises you can't keep Senile Wonder."
He chuckled. "I know, but Art, he'd be happy to see you even if..." Artemis dropped her head. "I know you want to see him, it'll break his heart more if he found out you were here and didn't see him despite our circumstances."
"I know, I'm just afraid how that conversation would go." She took a deep breath, she couldn't wait. "Okay, I'm ready." The door clicked from green to red as they slowly walked out to see the conversation between E and Wally.
"—So what else can you transform into?" Wally asked he placed his finished plate and drinks on the cot.
"Anything but a functioning person." E said jokingly, though possibly not really, before he transformed back into his grey form. He stood there quiet as his gaze went to Artemis. Who walked out of the other room with Dick. Wally quizzically looked at him, slowly turning around.
His heart stopped for a moment, mostly in confusion. "A-Artemis? Is that you?" She looked older, taller, with platinum strands of hair. But still, oddly the same Artemis.
Artemis could only nod as she jogged up to him. He ran up to her, stopping short and hugging her. He was so confused. She was here too? Who else was here? This was crazy. This whole thing was crazy.
"You okay Baywatch?" Artemis said, her voice strained.
Wally chuckled and shed a tear at that name. He dug his face into her chest despite the dirty clothes as he hugged her tighter. "Honestly no, but I'm glad to see you Artemis. I really am." He pulled his head from her chest and looked at her.
"We're glad to see you too. We really are, but Wally, we're... we aren't the same people you knew. You have to know that." She said, straining but clearly getting all the words out.
Wally barely heard her as he hugged her tighter, he motioned his other hand to Dick to come over. Dick obliged as he joined into what was now a group hug.
"I don't care. You're here, you're still the same to me." He hugged both of them tighter, looking like a little kid who had just found his lost loved ones.
The AI looked over at all of them, Wally was shedding tears as Dick and Artemis hugged him tightly. E smiled lightly, before dropping his gaze, his smile turning sad. As if he knew something was coming. Something bad.
...
Reach Main Warship, Over Atlantic
April 23 2055, 16:00 EST
*Translated from Reach*
"*Prepare a second test. The last one resulted in an energy surge that disappated before we could analyze it's yield. We need to see if this will be any threat to our mode.*" Blue Beetle said as he crossed his arms waiting for the computer to reply.
"*Scans indicate that the surge was most interesting result from this test, though it maybe costly to procede again. If proceeding, this will take some time.*"
Beetle shrugs.
"*What else is there to do around here? Run the second test again, I'm sure our slaves won't mind. It is their nature to run. If this wave can help us locate that signal and find more meat, then this endeavor will be a success. Plus... We have all the time in the world.*"
He said looking out at the rest of the unmanned drone fleet over the ocean, grinning as he looked at the horizon.
"*And so, the unslaved meat will fall.*"
...
...
...
A/N: Hey guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter, I made it longer but I had to cut out some stuff in order to streamline it, It was a little expo dumpy but with this type of story it has to be, the next chapter will be as well, mostly. Almost reaching the halfway point. Also I'm not sure people like longer chapters. Sound off if you prefer longer or shorter ones. Anyways, some references if you didn't catch them and some facts.
•91 and 92 were the issues Impulse first appeared in the Flash 1994.
•E's percent calibration is based on TARS from Interstellar
•Yes, E is a transformers fan
•Voice verification is a reference to Batman: Arkham Knight, I loved the end of the game.
•Kid Flash was displaced at 4:20pm, a reference to 42 which is the answer to everything *wink*
•Xenothium exists synthetically in this universe. *Wink*
•The nanobots E is made up of is based on Ted Kord's research as well as Star Labs' on the Amazo project.
•They are squatting underneath a large hollowed out section of Hall of Justice.
•I edited the first chapter and a little preface to the story, hopefully with this chapter you all can have an understanding of what this story is going to be.
•Yes, this is a sort of time travel story.
•Hopefully I can finish this before the new season of YJ comes out.
Anyways, happy holidays!