Iron Mario: Yeah, I tend to write the reviews around midday of Thursday my time
Bart and Thaddeus have already met
And I am not answering that question, it would ruin the surprise
Skull Flame: Actually you misread the chapter. Antonia Monetti is Argent's REAL NAME
And Inertia is a real DC character. He is Bart's clone from the future.
To Everyone Asking About The Future Scenes: WILL! YOU! ALL! STOP! ASKING!?
Take a moment and THINK!
Why would I be showing this stuff in snippets at the end of chapters if it was GOING to happen?! It is OBVIOUSLY going to be part of the story arc. It is called SET UP, something I ALWAYS DO!
Tell me. Have any of you heard of something called 'Titans Tomorrow'?
Co-Writter: GhostKaiser23
Artist: GhostKaiser23, he goes by Hangman12 on Deviantart. Either look him up, or go to my profile to see links to all of his official work for this story
Disclaimer: Cartoon Network owns Ben 10 or Teen Titans
AUTHORS NOTE
And now for ANOTHER three part mini-arc!
... God dam it *sighs* Ghost and I are too much sometimes.
And this time, we are going to adapt a famous Batman story!
It is time for the KNIGHT to Fall! *puts sunglasses on*
YEEEEEEAAAAAHHHHHH!
James' Harem 2
Chapter 35: KnightFall Part 1 Broken Bat
It was a rainy day in Gotham, nothing much out of the ordinary. It was always a bit dreary, but it was heavier today than normal. Batman arrived home late at night... he was bloody and tired. And saw his family, forced on their knees, surrounded by thugs and a villain he had not seen before
"What. What do? You want?" He coughed.
"Ah, Mr Wayne." the man said with a heavy Mexican accent "I was wondering when you arrived home. The butler of yours killed three of my men, very impressive. Tell me, did you have fun with my present? Breaking those lunatics out of Arkham was not that hard."
Bruce glared up at the man...he was a giant.
At LEAST eight feet tall, muscular to the point of it being obscene, wearing a black stretched vest, black knuckle-duster gloves, a silver belt with six small pockets, a square container on his left arm, connected by green tubes that seemed to flow right into his back, the base of his brain. His face was covered in a black mask with red eyes and white skull-like marking. Heavy clunking boots and black military trousers.
"Who. Are you?" Batman grunted, bleeding from his teeth.
"Who am I?" The man asked, grabbing Batman with his meaty hands and effortlessly lifted him over his head. "I am the man. Who broke The Bat."
WHOOSH!
CRACK!
THUD!
*In Jump City*
Dick was practicing his gymnastic skills, calm and focused. Doing this, he felt like he was back at the circus. Training every day, it was...simpler days. He needed to keep his skills up and this was just... So relaxing
The door opened, Cass and Duela walked in. "Hi." Cass waved
"Mind if we join?" Duela asked.
Dick released the bar and did a quadripple backflip, landing in front of the two "Of course." he smiled
"...I'm not gonna learn that." Duela joked. "Though I CAN tumble." She smirked
"We'll start something easy first." Dick responded "I am one of the few people on the world who can do that move." he grinned and kissed her
Cass chuckled a little and hugged them. This. This was going to be nice.
In the lower rooms of the tower, James and Victor were working on a new upgrade to the security system and training facilities. Scarlett helped, watching them and assisting as needed "Scarlett, mind passing me that wrench?" A small deep red imp-like creature, dressed in a black costume with a utility belt.
"Okay uncle James." She handed over the wrench, Victor and James got to working at a near break-neck speed.
"I can't believe how many 'tech based' aliens you have." Victor commented "Makes me feel inadequate."
"Dude, with guys like this, be glad I don't turn this into an ICBM. Upgrade only temporarily enhances them, Nano-Mech only works on sub-Atomic stuff, this guy tears apart and makes worse stuff." James explained "Worse as in more weaponised."
"...Oh. But what about 'Ultimate Grey-Matter'? He's pretty smart and capable." Victor answered
"Technopathy can only get you so far and even THEN, VERY situational." James responded. "Copper wire, please."
Scarlet nodded and did as she was told
"Guess there's ups and downs to ALL your aliens." Victor answered.
"Yeah. But at least in this case, YOU'RE here to help me keep my mind straight." James answered as he got the copper wire and fitted it into the grid. "That's it."
"All done?" Scarlett asked
"Yep, all done, Scarlett." Victor nodded and patted her head. She smiled proudly at the deed as James turned human
Suddenly the holoscreen turned on, getting a video call "Titans' Tower." James spoke as he transformed back "Who's on the line?"
"JAMES!" Harley Wayne screamed as she appeared on the screen
"Harley? What's going on?" James asked as he heard her.
"S-Some bozo's attacking the house!" Harley answered, throwing a 'shard-star' at someone "We need help! Bruce is hurt!"
"WHAT?!" James gasped. "We'll be right there!"
"Victor to Titans, we have an emergency call from Shard, Batman is under attack! I repeat: Batman is under attack! Make for the Titan Jet!" Victor instructed using his com-link with the other Titans.
*with the Grayson's*
"Victor to Titans, we have an emergency call from Shard, Batman is under attack! I repeat: Batman is under attack! Make for the Titan Jet!" Victor's voice echoed through the coms
"Grandma?" Cass gasped
"H-Harley?" Duela panicked and tripped over her foot on accident.
"Bruce!" Dick gasped and helped his fiancee up.
"We go?" Cass asked as she looked at them
"We're going." Dick nodded and the three ran to the jet. They quickly changed into their suits, arriving at the roof of the building where the Titian Jet emerged
"I came. As soon as. I heard." Garfield panted as he landed on the roof, having turned back from a hawk.
"Titan's, lets go." Nightwing ordered, turning to James
James nodded and transformed into his Galvanic Mechamorph form as the other Titan's got into the Titans Jet. He was a white skinned alien with yellow circuitry markings along the beings body. With the speed that broke the sound barrier in 0.001 seconds, they were off to Gotham and caught in a downpour.
"Did Harley say what or who it was that was attacking?" Raven asked
"No, just that someone's attacking the manor." Victor answered as James was focused on flying the plane.
"Approaching Wayne Manor, ETA: 46 seconds." James spoke through the ship "45, 44, 43."
Cassandra clenched her hands, her mask hiding most of her emotions
Duela noted this and held her hand. "I know, honey. I'm worried too." Duela agreed.
Bart was quiet and held Cassandra's other hand
"This weather. Why can't it ever be sunny?" Garfield frowned, not TRYING to make a bad joke, but just wanted to see some light in this bleak city.
"Approaching Wayne-Oh god." James spoke and frowned, seeing what he saw. "Descent in three seconds!" He called out
"What?" Dick asked in panic
"Just look." James answered as he landed outside the manor...or what was LEFT of it.
Wayne Manor was burning, the front gate was destroyed and the whole place looked like it was going to come down!
"Titans! Hurry!" Nightwing yelled "Kid Flash, get in there and get everyone out!"
Bart didn't need telling twice, zooming in to get whoever he could out. James transformed into an alien to help out. He had transformed into a dark ocean blue armour-shelled alien with yellow eyes, silver claws, legs and shoulder cannons. "Depth-Shot ought to help too." He spoke, sucking up the rain, puddles and water from the surrounding area and shot it like a fire-hose at the burning areas. Within seconds, Bart had rescued Alfred, Harley, Pamela and Damien...but he couldn't find Jason or Bruce!
"Where... Where's Tim?" Harley coughed
"Tim? Who's 'Tim'?" Raven asked
"Our. Our son." Harley coughed
"I'm gone!" Bart answered, zooming back in and looked for anyone else.
"I'm going too. I can douse the fires!" James added. "Raven, throw me!" Raven nodded, grabbing James and threw him into the flames. Inside the burning building, James continued to douse the fire, trying to protect what he could.
"James! There's no-one here!" Bart coughed, calling out.
"Bat-Cave!" James answered, spraying water to get down and save the building.
"But WHERE?" Bart asked, before the sound of a grandfather clock caught their attention.
"THERE!" The two pointed and broke it open and showed a secret entrance and saw a trail of blood on the floor
"Oh god!" Bart panicked and followed the trail, before a beam fell down and blocked their path.
"Hang on!" James answered spraying the last of his water at the beam to break through. "That's all I've got for now. Come on!" The two pushed through and followed the trail, going down into the Batcave...or what was left. It was in ruins. Tatters. Whoever attacked here...they didn't want Batman coming back. They found Jason and a young kid gently resting the broken and injured body of Batman in the chair in front of the BatComputer
"Batman." James and Bart looked at them
"James? Bart?" Jason looked and saw them.
"You're alright." Bart sighed in relief.
"Who?" the younger kid, Tim, asked
"I'm Jay 10, this is Kid Flash. We're here to get you out." James responded. "Hang on Batman, we'll-"
"HNN!" He grunted in pain as James tried to get him up.
"You can't. That guy that was here he...he broke." Tim answered nervously
"He broke Bruce's back." Jason answered, ripping that bandaid off.
"J-James. Get. Get them. Out." Bruce wheezed, trying to speak.
"Not an option, Batman, it's all or no-one. And we're NOT going with 'no-one'." Bart answered. James nodded in agreement, trying to think of an alien to help
"If you got an alien that can heal wounds, James. NOW would be a good time." Jason asked, worried for Bruce and also for Tim.
"...Time." James whispered, searching his Matrix for just such an alien. "C'mon, c'mon dad. I'm connected to Primus...YES! Hang on!" He shifted through his Matrix and slammed it down, transforming. In its place, James had transformed into a bulky bronze looking alien, his face had blue eyes, heavy bronze armoured arms, black metal legs, bronze shoes with a silvery chest-plate, a wind-up key under his chin and a gear sticking out of his waist.
"How's a bulky alien gonna help?" Jason asked in worry, hearing the creak of the Batcave begin to fail.
"It will trust me. Bart, grab Jason and Tim. I'll take Batman." James instructed in a somewhat metallic voice.
"Okay, on your mark." He nodded
"Cast off!" James proclaimed as his turned the gear on his waist
CAST OFF!
As he pulled it James' body began to lose the heavy armour, releasing him from its weight and revealed a dark red and black armoured figure underneath; the wind-up key lifted and rose to his forehead and looked like the horn of a beetle and clockwork gears began to grind and speed up. With that, EVERYTHING came to a crawl. James turned to Bart and patted his arm, which made Bart speed up to match James' own speed.
"I-How? No time. Let's go!" Bart answered
"Exactly what I was thinking." He nodded, grabbing Batman as Bart grabbed Jason and Tim.
The two ran out, not bothering with the flames and dodged them effortlessly and back to safety with the Titans. With all of them safe, the armour returned to James' new form before he turned back to normal and with Bruce without writing in pain. James instantly fell to onto his ass, feeling all strength leave him as Raven held Bruce up with her magic
"I've got him, don't worry." Raven reassured him
"Thank. You." Harley fell unconscious.
"We've got to get them to the hospital." Dick spoke
"And say what? 'Hey can you help heal The Batman?'?" Duela answered. "S-Sorry. I didn't mean to snap."
"The League. We'll call them." James answered. "I still got their number."
"We are going to the ClockTower." Alfred instructed
"'ClockTower'?" The Titans except Dick and the Batfamily asked
"Alright, we're going there, Alfred. Hang on, okay?" Dick reassured him
"I am fine, Master Richard." he nodded calmly
"Can you turn into that guy again and-?" Bart asked
"No chance. That...Took a LOT out of me." James admitted, panting heavily. "Upgrade I CAN do, though." He answered
*time skip*
Bruce, Harley, Pamela and Alfred were all in bed, having been stitched up or given anesthetic. Bruce was the most hurt with a broken spine, courtesy of the man who destroyed their home. Alfred having been the last put in bed as he insisted on being the one to treat the others
"Here we go, Mr Pennyworth." Garfield helped him down.
"Thank you, Master Logan." Alfred sighed in relief and numbed pain.
Dick was over by the side with Tim and Jason. "Are you two alright?" He asked his brothers although he was confused about having another little brother. No one had gotten around to telling him yet
"Yeah, we're fine...We. We got out of there before he found us." Jason answered.
"Thank you, Nightwing." Tim added
"Of course." He sighed gently as he took his mask off "But call me Dick, kiddo."
"D-Dick Grayson!" Tim's eyes widened in shock and awe.
"Surprised you've heard of me." Dick smiled gently and got hugged by the kid "Oh. Okay." He blinked and turned to Jason.
"He's a hugger." Jason admitted
"What're we going to do? We can't just leave them." Kom asked the remaining Titans.
"And we can't abandon Jump City." Victor agreed as Barbara Gordon rolled into the room
"Thank you Titans, I couldn't call anyone soon enough." The red head apologized
"Who?" Cassandra asked her mother in anger
"We don't know his real name. But in the underworld, he goes by 'Bane'." Barbara answered sadly. "Cass, I-."
"Where is he?!" Cass yelled in rage
"We don't know." Barbara answered, holding her hands up "The damage at the Batcave makes it difficult to track him...but he IS in the city."
Cass punched the wall and yelled in rage "Miss Cassandra." Alfred tried to stop her.
"Cass, stop! Stop, stop, st-!" Duela tried to calm her down, only to get hit in the stomach by accident by Cass' elbow and that made Cassandra freeze. Duela coughed as she was winded, but she understood. It was the rage talking. This 'Bane' had hurt her family...and she wanted revenge. "I-I'm okay. I'm okay, Cass." She coughed as Cass was crying now
James turned to Victor, who nodded. "Barbara, with permission. Can Victor and I get back to Wayne Manor and grab what we can to remake the Batcomputer?"
"Of course." she nodded
"I think it's time I broke out EVERY smart-guy." James added.
*Elsewhere*
In Gotham, the police had heard about Wayne Manor exploding, though officers were on the scene and even paramedics they couldn't find the Wayne family; they were worried that they had perished in the fire. The socialites and wealthy were worried as well...as well as those who were looking to bank in on the departure of the Wayne family. But in the dark corners of Gotham, was a gathering of some of the most deranged and vile beings in the city, all gathered in a single location. Where Bane was standing tall with the cowl of the Batman in his hands.
Bane was laughing in victory, standing tall and proud
He was King of Gotham.
He stood among those beneath him, he did what the others could not. Break the Bat.
"So, Mr Bane...What're you gonna do?" A rotund villain, wearing a black suit with a top hat, smoking a cigarette pipe and walking with a cane.
"Whatever I want! I rule Gotham now!" Bane laughed. As he proclaimed that, the cowl dropped and was trodden down under his boot.
*Elsewhere*
Commissioner Gordon sighed as he smoked his cigarette, waiting next to the lite Bat Signal. But no one was coming. He couldn't blame the Bat, he had a busy night. Arkham burnt down. Having to deal with Riddler, TwoFace, Mr Freeze, Firefly, the Ventriloquist, Mad Hatter and Joker all on one night?
He was probably exhausted
'Nights like this make me realise WHY I smoke.' Commissioner Gordon frowned. A soft 'thud' came from behind Gordon, just enough to catch his attention. He raised an eyebrow, the Bat was never that loud. He turned around, his hand going to his gun. He was stopped, his hand stopped by an armoured glove. Gordon turned around and looked at a new and imposing figure...DEFINITELY not the Batman he knew.
A figure clad in dark blue and grey metal, covered in spikes "What's the trouble, Gordon?" a dark voice hissed through the metal mask with a computer distortion
Gordon looked at the figure in shock, his cigarette dropped from his mouth and to the floor. "Arkham's inmates are amuck. I thought you were exhausted."
"Not for the city, Gordon." 'Batman' answered, his computerised voice hissing slightly "Just needed to grab an extra tool. Who's the next trouble maker?"
"Um. Victor Zsasz. He's been sighted around the red-light district." Gordon answered, looking at the messages on his phone and the 'Batman' rushed off into the night... With Gordon clearly seeing him, the man just sprinting away
Gordon exhaled the remnants of his smoke into the rain...and lit up another one. "What is happening to our city?" He asked himself, turning the Bat-Signal off as he knew ONE thing for sure... that was NOT Batman!
*At the Manor*
"Is that everything?" Bart asked as he, Kori and Kom, Raven and James moved all the computer systems, hard-drives, physical materials for the Bat-Computer out to the jet.
"Yeah, this is it." James answered.
"I wish we could've remade this in different circumstances." Victor frowned.
"Be honest, Batman wouldn't have allowed it." Kom answered with the others nodding I'm agreement
"Let's get this stuff to the WatchTower. We've got a LOT of work to do." Victor answered
"Upgrade time." James answered, turning into his alien and merged with the ship to hold all the cargo.
"Titans to the Watchtower, ready for pick up." Victor called
"Understood, Cyberian. See you soon." Superman responded and teleported them away and up onto the Watchtower.
"...MUCH faster than me doing it." James admitted as they were safe, but James still in his Upgrade form as he looked around the WatchTower, the League already at work collecting Batman's gear
"We'll help out however we can." A black-man with a silver 'T' on his face, wearing a black and red costume and jacket.
"I'm helping too." James answered, merging with some tools. "I'm VERY flexible."
"Who's he?" Raven asked the Flash
"Mr Terrific. One of the three smartest people on Earth." Flash answered. "And a good friend of the League."
"Am I even needed here?" Victor groaned.
"What's the League's plan?" Kom asked
"We honestly don't have a contingency if Batman was taken out, he was kinda cagey about things like that." Flash answered
"Canary has volunteered to take a leave from the League to assist Gotham, as that is the home of her trainer Wild Cat." Wonder Woman informed "She had wanted to get back to street level for a while."
"Well, that's something. But she'll have to be on her guard. The man who broke Batman is still there. He's called 'Bane'." Kori informed.
"We'll go tell her." Wonder Woman answered
"This way, Mr Stone. We need your help with this." Mr Terrific spoke respectfully to Victor.
"Okay." he nodded
*at the ClockTower*
Duela, Cass and Dick were sitting with their extended family, hoping they were going to be alright... especially for Bruce. Cass was terrified. How still Bruce was made her worry he wouldn't get up again. Finally Bruce's eyes started to open. Cass went over to him, holding his hand in worry, wanting to be there for him.
"Bruce?" Dick asked in worry
"D-Dick. Where?" Bruce groaned, his voice weak and strained "I can't feel my legs."
Cass' and Barbara's eyes dropped and looked in worry. Barbara knew this feeling...the terror of not feeling your legs.
"BANE?! WHERE IS BANE?!" Bruce yelled in panic
"Bruce, calm down!" Barbara held him down.
"He's gone, Bruce. He was gone before we got there." Dick explained, doing his best before he broke anything else "But the mansion... The cave... Its gone."
Bruce was heartbroken. His home. His work. It was gone... But not ALL gone. Harley, Pamela, Alfred, Tim and Jason... THEY were still alive. His FAMILY were alive.
That was all he could ask for. For now at least...
"Dad!" a female voice yelled as a new figure entered the ClockTower
"Huh?" Tim looked behind him
"Helena." Bruce winced as he saw her.
It was Huntress, come to see her father here in pain and incapacitated. She ripped her mask from her face, falling to her knees "No... It... It happened early... I couldn't stop it..." Helena exposed her face, her wet blue eyes, long black hair and her fair skin, but from it, she was crying heavily.
"What? What happened. Early?" He asked, breathing heavily.
"What do you know, Huntress?" Barbara asked in concern.
"Bane... He was supposed to do this five years from now... When Tim was Robin..." she explained
"I'm going to be 'Robin'?" Tim gasped in shock, holding his head.
"Five years." Bruce frowned, trying to calm the boy down
"It's all my fault." Helena cried and berated herself "I should have stopped it!"
"Don't. Don't blame yourself." Bruce answered. "A good man once told me...You can't control everything." And looked at Alfred.
Alfred nodded with a proud smile
"Would you like the good news now?" Barbara asked
"What good news?" Bruce responded
"He didn't sever the nerves, he cracked and dislocated some of the bones... But they can be put back and healed." Barbara assured
"What?" Helena and Bruce asked in shock.
"Y-You can get better?" She asked
"He can get better." Barbara smiled
"Whoo-hoo..." Harley groaned as she waved her hand.
"Bad side? It will take four months." Barbara added
"Four months." Batman frowned
"Better than twenty years." Helena answered, hugging him.
"Twenty years?" he asked
"That-thats how long I knew you in a wheelchair." She admitted.
"Oh." he said simply
"Jesus Christ." Duela whispered.
"Where? Where's Damian?" Harley asked
"He's asleep, Harley." Dick answered, pointing to a sleeping Damian who was resting in the green fur of a dog Garfield.
"Aww." Cass smiled
CLICK!
Duela took a photo of the sleeping baby resting on Garfield and forwarded it to EVERYONE on her call-list. Being the Titans, Teen Titans and Garfield's lovers... They met up for a picnic a while ago and exchanged numbers "So cute." she smiled
"I'm going to be Robin!" Tim whispered with a smile
"Maybe." Bruce answered, struggling to get comfy.
"So, you're the kid from the future?" Jason asked, trying to look tough and big
Helena looked at Jason and nodded slowly... her shaking hand reaching up and cupped his face. "H-Hi." She nervously spoke.
"Um...Hi?" He awkwardly answered as she kept shaking his hand ..."... What are you doing?"
"Sorry. I just. I never got a chance to... MEET you." Helena apologised.
"You haven't?" Jason frowned
"No." She shook her head.
Dick looked a little awkward... he hadn't told Jason or the Bat-Family about this. He thought it wasn't his place to say... plus, Helena's present sounded... depressing. But at the same time he wasn't sure if he should stop the two from talking
"Dick." Harley asked her step-son, leaning up gently.
"Yeah?" He asked as he knelt next to her.
"What... What is Helena's future like?" She asked. "Please."
"... I don't know much." he admitted
"What DO you know?" Harley asked.
"... Helena is from a world where Bruce married Catwoman. And... Jason is either dead or missing in her world." Dick sadly answered as he looked away
Harley was stunned, turning to Jason and looked in worry and instantly hugged him tightly "Whoa! M-Mum!" Jason blinked in shock and concern. "What's wrong?"
"I'll keep you safe, my baby boy!" she cried
"...But. You're in bed." Jason answered awkwardly. "I should be looking after YOU."
Tim smiled softly and laughed a bit
BEEP BEEP.
"What's up?" Dick asked as he answered his communicator.
"Hey Dick, just an update. The League is working on Batman's computer. Vic's managed to salvage most of the data, some of the hard-drives are damaged, but we're fixing it up." James responded
"That's good." He sighed in relief.
"...How're the patients?" He asked nervously.
"All going much better." Dick assured
"Good. I'm going to get back to fixing this massive computer. If there's any porn, I won't tell Harley." James answered, joking at the end.
"Careful, it might be Jason's." Dick joked back
"HEY!" Jason snapped at that
"What might be Jason's?" Tim asked
"Nothing." Jason snapped, Dick smirked and Harley reassured
"Thanks, James." Dick responded
"Later." James responded and ended the call
Dick nodded... And Barbara looked worried as a holographic screen was in front of her "Barbara, what's wrong?" He asked
"This." Barbara said, showing the holographic screen to them which had a newspaper article
Victor Zsasz Murdered!... By Batman?!