The beam hit a foot away from Batman. A wave of heat flashed over him as the floor collapsed. He gripped the grenade tight, falling, dirty tiles spiraling around him.
A hammer blow exploded across his back when he hit the floor. He tried to breathe. Hot blades tore through his mid-section. Some of his ribs must be broken. Maybe all of them. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to sit up.
The ceiling on the other side of the room burst apart. Superman dropped down, standing amidst the small rubble pile.
"Will you get it through your thick head?" the alien shouted. "It's over. Just stop."
Batman scowled. Stop? Just give up and let him one day rule the world? Or destroy it?
"I'll stop . . . when I'm dead." His hand hovered over his grappling gun.
Superman shook his head and started forward.
Raising his arm, Batman launched the cable through the hole above him. The hook dug into the ceiling three floors above. He shot through the hole, grappling gun in one hand, the grenade in the other.
He kicked forward and landed on the floor, falling to his knees. He forced himself to take a breath. The effort crushed his ribs. Fist clenched, he shut his eyes. No time to worry about pain. The damn alien would be here any –
Superman smashed through the floor, hovering above him. Batman tried to rise.
A red boot struck him in the chest. Batman flew across the room, slamming into the wall. He fell on his side, still holding the grenade. Rolling on his stomach, he slipped a finger into the pin.
Wind rushed around him. Hands gripped his shoulders and yanked him off the floor. Superman locked eyes with him, his face inches away.
"We're done," the Kryptonian growled.
"No. You're done." Batman glanced over his shoulder.
Brow furrowed, Superman looked to the wall . . . where the grenade rested.
The sharp blast pummeled Batman's body. His ears rang. Green mist enveloped them. Superman hacked and let go of him. Batman grunted as he bounced off the floor.
Superman stumbled back, still coughing. He sagged to one knee.
Batman grunted and got to his feet, staring at the weakened alien.
Don't let up. Finish it.
He charged, ramming a knee into Superman's face. The alien tumbled across the floor. Batman rushed toward him, kicking him into the wall. He grabbed the top of Superman's tunic and lifted him to his feet. He kept coughing, looking dazed, his body limp.
Batman punched him in the face, again and again. Every strike sent crushing, fiery lances through his broken hand.
He didn't care.
He kneed Superman in the gut. Once . . . twice . . . three times. The alien doubled over. Batman grabbed him by the hair and slammed his face into the floor. He stomped his back with an armored boot. Superman stopped coughing. He only moaned, appearing half-conscious.
Teeth bared, he hefted Superman onto his shoulder and carried him to the hole. With a grunt, he flung him through it. The Man of Steel dropped to the bottom floor, slamming into the ground, cratering it.
Batman fired a grappling hook into the ceiling and lowered himself to the bottom floor. He stood over Superman, who was barely conscious.
It's time. He reached behind him, closing his fingers around the spear. After a long breath, he removed it from its sheath. The green glow from the tip illuminated the room.
Batman held it in front of him, his eyes shifting from the point to the battered form of Superman. Flashbacks spooled through his head. Buildings collapsing throughout Metropolis. Fire. Rubble. Bodies.
Lucius.
He stoked his fury, wanting it to overwhelm him. It was the only way he could do what needed to be done.
Superman's eyes flickered open.
Do it now, before it's too late.
"Now you finally answer for all the lives you took." Spear in both hands, Batman lifted it over his head.
Superman's eyes came fully open. He groaned, his head rising a couple of inches. "So this is it. You're going to take that final step. Become a killer."
Batman gripped the spear tighter. He imagined the green tip plunging into the alien's chest, the life snuffed out of him. Lucius and so many others avenged.
Then what? Could he live with that? How much would he change knowing that he had done something he'd promised to never do?
What's more important? The entire human race or your psyche?
"Are you ready for the nightmares?" said Superman. "Are you ready for the guilt?"
"Shut up." Batman's arms tensed. Do it.
"Are you ready for the fear that you'll do it again? That you'll want to do it? That you'll enjoy it?"
"Shut up!" The spear shook in his grip. "I have to do this!"
"Then do it." Superman sat up slightly. "Just remember, there's no going back once you've crossed this line. You're going to be changed . . . forever."
Batman shut his eyes, trying to block out the Kryptonian's words. Of all the times he needed to be strong, this was it.
But was it strength to kill a man? Wasn't that the easy way out? And when killing became easy, could he stop?
Just once, for the sake of the human race.
His shoulders rose and fell. The spear suddenly felt heavy in his hands. He stared into Superman's eyes, eyes that would soon close forever.
Eyes that would no longer fire heat rays and kill thousands.
Batman roared, raising the spear higher . . .
Then flinging it to the other end of the room.
"I can't!" He dropped to his knees, throat tight, tears stinging his eyes. My God, my God, he'd never been so close to taking someone's life. What if he had?
He trembled, fighting the urge to sob.
Superman rose to his feet. Batman looked up, holding his breath. Was this it for him? For all humanity?
"You actually do have a point."
Batman drew his head back. What did he mean by that?
Superman's shoulders sagged. "All the destruction that happened when I fought Zod, all the deaths. You're right. I never had to answer for them. There should be some consequences. Having all this power shouldn't mean I avoid responsibility when people get hurt or killed."
Batman said nothing, just stared at the Kryptonian, noting his voice, his body language. He'd dealt with enough liars in his life to know the signs.
Superman was sincere. He actually showed remorse. Could he have been wrong about him?
And I was going to kill him. He swallowed against the lump in his throat.
Batman slowly got to his feet, facing Superman. "So what do you plan to do? Turn yourself in to the police? Spend time in jail?"
"I don't know if that's doable, since I've never been charged with a crime." Superman looked away for a moment. "But I may have an idea."
TO BE CONTINUED