End of Days
By
Angelina
Wayne Manor: December 18, 2012
Bruce emerged from the Batcave later that night. The meeting had only just concluded and now he was faced with the task of putting together a plan and team to stop a comet that threatened the existence of Earth.
Sometimes he hated being a hero.
Technically, he hadn't even envisioned Batman as a hero. Batman was supposed to be figure of the night, an enforcer of law, a bringer of justice, not the hero that he was made out to be.
Before he had time to dwell upon the problem any longer, Dick sprang up beside him with a smirk fixed to his face and his completed homework clutched in his hands.
"Why'd they need you at the Watchtower?" the teen asked.
Bruce masked the surprise that wanted to flit across his face, "Alfred told you?"
"Nah, I figured it out on my own. And don't dodge the question. Must be important if you don't want to tell me."
Bruce sighed, Dick didn't need to know that the Earth was in peril, but he would likely find out on his own if Bruce didn't tell the boy. "Fine, but not here."
Dick nodded as they turned on the spot and headed back for the Batcave in silence.
Several minutes later found them seated before the bat-computer with hot chocolate clutched in their hands. Alfred flitted about in the background, dusting odds and ends all around the Cave.
"So, you gonna tell me what the meeting was about?" Dick ventured after a small length of time had passed.
Bruce nodded and, turning to type a command into the Bat-computer, pulled up a connection to the Watchtower's monitoring system. "What do you see?"
"I see a blip that looks like an SSSB," answered Dick.
"What else?"
Dick paused for a moment, observing the blip and the data stream on the monitor. "A core made up of an unknown compound, looks like it includes chlorine, hydrogen, and something radioactive. That's strange, a radioactive comet?" Dick's eyed suddenly widened, "Bruce, tell me this doesn't mean what I think it means?"
"It means that a specially designed comet is on a collision path with Earth."
Dick swore, and received reproaching glares from both Bruce and Alfred. He gave them an apologetic look before asking, "and you can't send the anti-SSSB missiles or nuke at it?"
"No. Any atomic or hydrogen based weapon wouldn't work given the amount of radiation in the core. A specifically designed energy weapon or laser might work, but we don't have a long-range version of either."
"What is the League doing?" asked Dick as the information sank in.
"The Justice League is launching an offensive strike to try and break down the comet before it reaches Earth."
"Well that sounds promising. But I'm assuming if you're going with the brawn method, that you guys have no other idea to stop it."
Bruce sighed heavily, "Dick, we've activated Omega 253."
"What!" before he could stop it, his hand flew to his mouth in shock. "But we'll beat it, we always do!"
Bruce cut him off before he could work himself up any more, "don't worry, Dick. It's just a pre-caution."
"Omega 253 is not a precaution, Bruce! That's an end-time protocol, in case of an imminent mass level extinction event."
"I know, Dick. We're just covering all our bases in case-"
"In case this thing kills us. Yeah, I get it."
Alfred chose that minute to wander over with lunch, "sandwiches, sirs?"
Bruce accepted his, but Dick refused and Alfred wandered a good distance away where he pretended to dust something while he listened in on the conversation.
"So what are we going to do?" asked Dick.
"The League is going to handle this, Dick. You are going to-"
"Live life like nothing's happened? Keep this all a secret?" exclaimed Dick angrily.
Bruce was getting tired of being cut off, "essentially. You aren't to give a clue that anything is wrong until such a time as we know what course of action we are going to take."
"You mean until you know whether we're going to live or not?"
Bruce sighed; Dick was almost as stubborn as him, "Yes."
"So why are you telling me?"
"Because I may need you later on. Plus, I couldn't risk you finding out on your own."
Dick snorted, "Because I'd tell Wally."
Bruce glared at him, "and Wallace would tell the world. And we don't need the world in a panic right now; it would seriously hinder our efforts."
Dick nodded and the corners of Bruce's mouth twitched upward in gratification. Enough time had been spent between the two to develop their own language; a language based on looks, gestures, and keywords. Nearly an entire conversation had passed between the two from Dick's nod to Bruce's slight smile. They always found that actions spoke much louder than words.
After a few minutes, Bruce spoke again, "you should stay at Mount Justice tonight."
Dick looked up in surprise at the drastic subject change, "Do we have a mission?"
Bruce inclined his head. Possibly, he was saying in their language.
Mount Justice: December 18, 2012
Robin stepped into the eerily quiet mountain. It was nearing midnight and most of the teens were in bed, learning to savor every chance for sleep that they got in their hectic double lives.
Wally, however, was up with two gallons of ice cream, three liters of soda, four bowls of popcorn, five bags of candy, six pizzas, seven movies playing on fast forward, and eight video games.
Robin snickered, classic KF.
Silently, the protégé of Batman slunk into the room and crept up behind where Wally lay sprawled on the coach.
"Ah!" Wally screamed like a little girl, jumping three feet into the air and staring with wide, fearful eyes at the source of his surprise.
Robin cackled, "your face!"
"Haha, Rob, very funny," Wally tried to regain his composure as his best friend laughed at him. "What are you doing here, anyway? I thought Batman was keeping you on a short leash in Gotham?"
Robin's laughter halted abruptly at what his friend said. For a split second, Robin considered telling Wally everything, but his years of training and absolute trust in Batman stopped him. "Do I need a reason to hang out with friends?"
"Of course not, dude," replied Wally. He did, however, remain skeptical of his best friend's excuse.
Robin gave Wally a sad smile, he knew the speedster was still suspicious, "plus, Batman actually wanted me to spend some time with you since you never know what's gonna happen in our business." Robin figured a half-truth would have to throw Wally off for a while.
Wally nodded and slung an arm over Robin's shoulders, babbling to him about his latest high score.
And Robin struggled to keep the façade he had put up, struggled to keep his composure as he thought of losing the few friends he had.
Angelina: Apologies for the short chapter, I've kind of hit writer's block again.
Arthur: You always use that excuse!
Angelina: Well it's true!