Sorry for the long delay.... writers block much.... anyways... so Superman is in the Cave with Robin.... Nightwing is on a parallel Earth with... uh parallel Alfred... and the Darkness... well... just read it... and please review, lets me know where to go and what i've missed...
Nothing had been said yet. That's not to say the cave was completely silent. I had heard gasps from at least two people. My guesses were Charlotte and Kate, or Mischief and Batwoman, whatever you wanted to call them.
To Alfred and Babs this was nothing too grand, being in the presence of him, and Helena, well, she had met him as well. She was a member of the JLA at one point if I remembered correctly.
Still. There he was, the man who was faster than a speeding bullet, could leap tall buildings in a single bound, and stronger than a speeding whatever... everyone knew the hype, he was Superman after all.
He was taking in the situation, the people in the cave, a polite nod to the women by the master control, another to Alfred who was half way up the stairs.
I was just looking … somewhere... from him, back to the others, back again, and then for some reason down at the Batmobile. His gaze finally rested on me. It stayed there. I motioned to him to walk with me, and he did, staying a few footsteps behind me but not exactly trailing me either.
I had almost forgotten how impressive he was, almost, he was hard to forget.
I turned past the current car, and walked down a ramp into a bay where some of the older models rested. I stopped at the car that was being used when Dick joined up. It was kind of quaint, two pods side by side, on a long retro body. Red highlights, and fins, and a bat symbol for a license plate that said BATMAN on it. Cheesy, but for those days, I suppose it was cool.
If there was any symbolism to my gesture it had been picked up on, he leaned on the car and was more at my eye level rather than towering over me, it was appreciated, as long as the polish wasn't scuffed.
"So, Mr. Wayne. Thanks for calling me. I hope I didn't interrupt something." That smile. Damn it, he was being genuine, it was incredibly difficult to dislike someone when they were that genuine.
"Not at all Clark, and for god sake call me Tim. You never called Bruce that so don't call me that. Please."
"Sure thing Tim. I take it you have been following events."
"Yes, an energy build up and a separate discharge on the moon. I also know about the Lantern Ring that's headed for Earth to find a new bearer."
Clark frowned, he and John had worked together on and off for years. This couldn't be easy.
"We would be better off sticking together. I don't know if its what Bruce would have done, but ..." I cut him off.
"Its definitely not what Bruce would have done, but as I said to Gordon, he's not here, I am." He nodded.
"So, is this your team? How do you want to play this?" He was letting me decide, a sign of respect, was he trying to imply we were equals or was he just playing nice?
"I want Batwoman and Misfit to stay here, continue working in Gotham. Huntress, Catwoman and I will help you with this situation. Oracle can work from here if she chooses but I want her to make the choice where she works from herself."
"Good, your keeping your bases covered. You may not be him, but that's not always a bad thing." He smiled.
"Clark," I had to know. "What is my position?"
"Position?" He was confused, he wasn't just being thick. Superman didn't ever play thick, he would just be insulting the other person and that was something he didn't do.
"In regards to everything? Am I still viewed as a sidekick without a boss? Or am I … whatever?" I asked, eyeing up a red car a little way off.
I felt a hand on my shoulder.
"As far as I am concerned, his chair at the big table, is now your chair. Whether you decide to be Robin, Nightwing or Batman, it doesn't matter you have my support."
I smiled. I mouthed a silent thank you. He nodded, smiled.
"So, to the Watchtower?" He asked, I smiled and led the way back up to the main level.
**
From where I was, it was dark, and it smelled horrible, like unwashed sweat socks that had been re-worn a few hundred times. It was vile. It reminded me of my days working the streets of Bludhaven the summer the garbage workers were on strike. What I wouldn't give to be back in the 'haven right now.
I tried moving my hands, my arms, my legs, yup... everything was still there. But there wasn't much room, and by that I mean, just enough room to just move my limbs and no more.
A flashing green light on my left hand side was within reach, what the hell?
I was rewarded with a display panel coming on, and the compartment getting a little bigger. I could now roll over.
I was remembering things, like, deja vu, but not quite. It was comforting. I remembered there was a way to interact with the chamber. I could interact with the AI program.
New text scrolled over the display panel. Prepare data upload? What the hell? What else could happen? A bright light flooded the compartment, and ….
**
As we materialized on the Watchtower, thousands of miles above Earth, I noticed our positioning, I was at the centre of the platform and I was surrounded by the others, Superman was at the front of the platform but looking in and Huntress and Catwoman were behind me.
The room was rather plane, glass panels covered most of the walls and the wizardry that was behind them, I remembered my last visit to the Tower, they had redecorated slightly. Superman broke the silence.
"Come on, they are about to start a meeting to discuss our options."
He turned around and stepped off the platform and headed for the doors that just parted in front of him, gotta love technology huh? What was I saying, with my upgrade of the Cave even we had sliding doors with automatic sensors on the lift. Mind you, ours completed a DNA identity scan before they opened, wonder if these did.
The corridors were deserted, no one could be seen, a stark contrast to what it had been like on my last visit when the place was packed. In fact, this time, the only thing of interest was the view down to Earth below from the observation ports. God I forgot how awe inspiring it truly was. Talk about amazing.
After another few minutes we were there.
The meeting room. It had been remodelled since my last visit. Instead of a long square shaped table it was now a large amphitheatre. At one side there was a long table where the main members would sit, split into two levels with nine chairs in the middle being slightly raised, and on the other side of the room was where all the auxiliary would sit. Through the glass panels on the door I could make out many people, most of who I had seen, heard or thought of since my last appearance on the Tower, shortly after I took over in Gotham.
The Titans, the JSA, The Teen Titans, the various members of the JLA. They were all there. I spotted Starfire and Cyborg first, then Beast Boy, the green skin helped. On the big bench I spotted the Flash, I was guessing Wally West, mind you that was a guess based on the fact there wasn't a Flash with the Titans. Black Canary, was also on the upper section and was talking away to someone who was sitting down who I couldn't quite make out. There were seven empty seats on the upper level, one was occupied by the Flash, but who was in the other chair I still wasn't sure, at least, until Canary moved. In the final chair was Wonder Woman, the Wonder Woman, Diana Prince, the one who ended the life of Nightwing, Dick Grayson.
Quickly I caught myself clenching my hand and balling it up into a fist of anger, this wasn't the time or the place. Hell the doors weren't even open yet and already I was having to calm myself down.
The doors slid open with a woosh, I had sank to the back of our little group, and that left Superman to go through the door first. People turned to take notice, most smiled politely, some waved. Some buttoned up, the meeting was surely about to begin. The next two through the door were Huntress and Catwoman, they also got a nice little reception. Canary stepped down from the upper level and walked over to greet them, what the hell was I doing?
The door slid shut behind the women and they turned to see where I was, but through the glass I was no where to be seen.
Superman turned as well, I saw his head dip and a smirk form on his face from my place in the shadows. He smiled, maybe he knew where I was, hiding in the shadows.
Catwoman and Huntress moved into the large crowd and found a seat. Straight away people were asking them what was going on, and I knew they would just be playing it slowly, Superman just asked them to come to the meeting, nothing else was happening, they knew nothing about Gotham, honest.
I kept watching from the shadows as Superman took the chair to the left of the centre one, Wonder Woman was already seated on the right and soon Black Canary was sat in the centre chair, in between Superman and Wonder Woman, the Flash was a few chairs down from Wonder Woman though. Was that just his chair or was he keeping his distance? That's when it dawned on me, he was barely moving, I had never known a Flash to be so still, so lacking of movement. What was going on?
Canary stood and called the meeting to order. The room fell silent, then the room fell dark. Spot lights appeared on the people sitting on the raised platform, was this their forum? Canary began.
"We all know why we are here, so lets cut to it." Firm yet effective. Bruce must have liked her in this role. Her hands flew over a control and an image came up on the wall behind it. "As you see from the image behind me, the Green Lantern Corps is on its way to Earth. They are coming to engage whatever force attacked John Stewart on the dark side of the moon. Any questions?" Canary asked before scanning the room.
"Yeah I got one." I knew the voice, Guy Gardner, a Green Lantern. "Why aren't we investigating this ourselves. Kyle and I are Lanterns, why did you ask us to stay here?" He was irritated. I could hear it in his tone, even from out here.
"For those of you who do not know, Guy and Kyle were sent here from Oa by the Guardians for disobeying orders. The reason I am not letting them go to the moon is because whatever happened to John happened fast. I will not risk another life, the rest of the Corps will be here shortly, you can meet up with them when they get here and take it from there." she finished curtly. She was also staring Gardner down. Trying to impose the whose boss principle on the infamous Lantern. Good luck. "Any other questions?"
Bleep bleep.
The comms system. Flash was obviously the first one to the control in front of him and accessed the call. The display panel above the head table changed. A Green Lantern signal appeared instead.
Guy looked at Kyle and vice versa. Why had the call not gone to their rings? I moved myself around to get a better look. Their rings weren't as bright as I remembered. Canary looked at Rayner who nodded before Flash put the call through.
Nothing happened.
Flash worked the panel. He looked up, shook his head. Canary stared at the two Lanterns in front of her and they stared back. After a moment Layner lifted his ring baring hand and the ring died. It just dulled. The tension was beginning to build.
**
The light faded inside the chamber and I had what felt like a brain freeze, you know when you eat ice cream or a frozen drink too fast. Yeah, man it was killer. But the fog on my memory was beginning to clear. I knew how to access the chamber, or the unit, or Pegas as it was known.
I knew how to access the Artificial Intelligence software, and did so. A small view screen played over my face. I saw various targets.
I was just passing Mercury, the planet nearest the sun, and in orbit of the sun was a miniature black hole, and a Black Lantern, one I had to stop. I could feel it from here, she was draining energy straight from the sun and using the black hole to feed whatever was on the other side... I had to stop this... now...
I called up the sensors and ran a scan.
It was indeed her, Alfred has been right.
It was the Black Lantern who had killed me, or this reality's me. It was Wonder Woman, or at least this universe's Wonder Woman.
It was Donna Troy.
I heard a voice at the edge of my consciousness.
It was my living power battery, talking to me. Alfred's trump card to make sure the energy wouldn't kill me like it had my predecessor.
I listened.
I uttered the command.
"Pegas, bring transformation chamber online."
"AFFIRMATIVE." The voice that replied was deep and masculine. It was without pitch and without character. It lacked personality. But it responded none the less.
"Pegas, begin transformation."
"AFFIRMATIVE. TRANSFORMATION PROCESS BEGINNING, IN FIVE, FOUR, THREE..."
The chamber once again began to fill with light. I could hear a gentle humming.
We were getting faster, accelerating through space. I could feel energy... something was happening...
"TWO... ONE..."
The process began... and the universal laws of space and time began to fall apart around me.
**
Proximity alert! Proximity alert!
Suddenly the station was rocked. I lost my footing and stumbled half a step. Inside the room people were violently tossed from their seats and thrown around the auditorium.
I looked inside the room. A man was standing there. A man in green... the Spectre... to hell with it... I began to move but he burst into black flames and I skidded to a halt on my side of the door way... black flames were never good...
The flames began to subside.
Someone was standing there, and he was dressed from head to toe in a purplish black.
It took me a moment to realise who it was. Yeah this wasn't a good thing.
I went for the door, it didn't open, I tried to move it, not happening.
I looked up and saw a vent, I reached for my grapple and fired it up and into the vent, blasting the grill upwards and somewhere into the unknown ... and without thought I headed upwards and into the darkness...
I saw his sick smile as I got to the other side of the air vent, his pale white face and his sick grin. A gun was in his hand. No one was moving... what the hell was happening... maybe they were in as much disbelief as I was.
Never mind that, how the hell was he here? Screw it. I tried the grate. It was stuck fast. I turned around and brought both boots to rest against it, and kicked out hard. It gave way at the first time of asking and clattered to the ground. I brought my grapple to bare once more and fired it out into the auditorium and swung out into the big room and dropped down between the man and his target, who appeared to be Wonder Woman.... gee there was irony.
I acted before he could, I brought my bo staff out from within my cape and smacked the gun out of his hand with an expert blow, while the next shot cracked the man in purple across the jaw and dropped him to the ground.
He laughed.... but what do you expect with the Joker?
I lunged forward and reached down and grabbed him by the lapels of his jacket and pulled him close, not many would hear us, I wanted it that way.
"What do you want Joker?" I was nearly taken aback by how much I sounded like him... but now wasn't the time.
His laughing continued. But I could see it in his eyes. He began to quieten, he leaned in and whispered... "... the joke's on you bird-brain... very soon you will be all that's left..." before I could react he socked me quickly in the jaw and when my grip loosened he scrambled away from me and out the conference room door. Funny, the doors would work for him, but me no...
I stood and began to give chase but as the doors slammed shut a fiery light lit the hallway behind them and an explosion rocked the station.
People were once again knocked from their feet and crashed to the ground as I once again barely lost my footing.
I could see Superman begin to move then stop. He turned, and looked at Diana, at Wonder Woman, who seemed to go up on her tiptoes and then go back down. They both looked surprised and confused, and more than a little panicked.
Warning Warning... this facility is no longer in a stable orbit... please evacuate this facility... impact with the moon in 10 minutes...
A yellow light began to flash on all the panels and the words, "Please evacuate this facility" began to flash on the panels as well.
I looked around, people were still clamouring to their feet or attending to those who couldn't.
I turned and walked over to the main desk and quickly looked over the four heroes and heroines.
"Where's the nearest escape pods?" I asked... but no answer came.
A hand squeezed my shoulder and I turned around and came face to face with Wonder Girl, or Cassie leader of the Teen Titans, whichever you preferred. Behind her were a mix of Titans, Teen Titans and other heroes... but none of them could be seen or heard to utter a word...
I'm guessing they were shocked to see me. The Reclusive Boy Wonder himself. The last of Gotham's masked vigilante Royal Family was in the building. Thank you very much. But this wasn't helping matters. No one seemed to be acting normally, it was like they were all in some kind of shock.
I moved through the crowd and to the conference room doors, but they wouldn't budge. I looked through the portal. No wonder they were locked. The corridor beyond the doors was gone and in its place was the vacum of space.
"Robin?!" I turned my head to the side to see who was there, it was Catwoman, and Huntress was beside her. "What's going on?"
"Well if i'm correct we have about ten minutes to find a way out of here before the Watchtower slams into the moon."
"Alright Robin, then lets get moving." Huntress replied in her usual blunt manner.
"I'd love to... but there is one problem." I responded while turning back to face the door.
"What's that Robin?" Catwoman asked, I could tell her hand was on Huntress' shoulder to try and calm her down, that wouldn't last long.
"This is the only way out..."
**
As the transformation sequence completed I opened my eyes and was rewarded with a green visor tinting my view slightly. I flexed my arms and legs and wiggled my fingers and felt the armour around me. It seemed strong yet light.
A visual display came to life in the helmet and I could see the armour was, waking up, if you were. It was coming online for the first time and various systems were charging up. I felt the energy at my disposal and looked at various options that were available to me. Numerous propulsion systems, including faster than light travel, numerous weapon systems including plasma and Ion cannons. I had to admit it, this was cool.
I engaged the short range transporter and smiled with joy as the damn thing worked and I re-materialized near Pegas who was now preparing to sync up, all be it in a rather informal way. I accelerated away and doubled back overhead and came down and found myself standing on Pegas back in grooves that seemed design for my feet. Gotta love that Alfred.
Quickly scanning my display I located the Black Lantern ahead of me and set course. In seconds she was in sight, and my heart leapt into my mouth. It was her. In all her beauty. This wasn't right. I slowed Pegas and she turned to face us head on, and she smiled.
"Hello." she uttered. It was faint, and tired, and barely above a whisper. But this wasn't a Black Lantern. From what this universe's Dick Grayson has experienced, they were dead people brought back to life, and they looked like they had been dead. This woman in front of me looked very much alive.
"Donna.... Donna Troy... You look..." I uttered, weary but hopeful.
"... alive? That's cos I am.... You on the other hand... you should be dead Dick Grayson." She asked in a voice I found all too familiar.
"I..." I heard the voice again, don't confirm who you are.... this could be a trap... she may still be under the Black influence...
"I am a traveller, I am trying to get back home, through that Black Hole." I said with hesitation.
Donna's head fell slightly, and her face was hidden from sight by her hair. But that's when I saw it. I couldn't miss it. A Black Lantern Ring on her hand.
"Don't play games Dick. I know its you in there." Her voice was weary, but it was confident. She was confident it was me, I knew that voice, it meant Donna was sure, very sure. "I don't know how, but I know its you. I shouldn't be that surprised, you always found a way to make the impossible possible." Her voice was tired, she was tired... what was happening?
The display in my visor started to flash as my sensors detected an energy build up. I could sense weapon ports coming online on my armour. My power battery was taking over, it wouldn't risk failure. But this was my call.
I took back control, but let the weapons come online regardless.
"Donna... what's happening?" I asked without giving too much away. I wouldn't confirm my identity, if she was still linked to the Black Lanterns my return was one thing they didn't need to know, just yet.
"You have to be quick.... the energy drain from this universe is going through the black hole... but I guess you know that already... "
Donna's star studded costume seemed to be growing more dim the longer she talked.
"... I have held out so long... waiting for someone to come... I'm glad its you..." She winced, grabbed her side and doubled over in agony. I immediately wanted to go towards her... but …
"I have to stop the energy transfer Donna. How can I do that?" I asked from the safety of Pegas' back.
"You have to destroy me. That's the only way to destroy the ring. I have been using all my strength to fight it. Waiting... but the darkness.... its falling..."
The energy levels from the ring were rising in leaps and bounds... it was coming back at Donna... it wanted its host... its tool...its weapon...
"Donna... don't do this....fight it!" I asked... no... I begged, Pegas began to move backwards at a slow yet steady rate.
My request went unanswered. I could see her power level increasing... but then it happened... I blinked and was blinded by a white light.... when my vision returned I was standing back in limbo, in front of a lake... beside me was Donna... she reached out... squeezed my hand... and leaned in and kissed my cheek.... she said something I would never hear... but I could read the words on her lips....
Please... end this...
…. and she was gone... and I was back in reality... and back facing the Black Lantern who had killed this universe's Dick Grayson... Wonder Woman: Donna Troy.
I felt a tear roll down my cheek followed by another and another....
I sent Pegas backwards sharply and caught a glimpse of my armour in the black aura that started to emanate from Donna's... no from the Black Lantern's black hand. White... pure white... with red highlights and gold and green accents.... a tribute to my days as Robin perhaps... but this was not the time to reflect...
"Im sorry Donna..." but her energy levels were now begging to worry me as well as the entity inside the system, my system.
I locked on and my shoulders opened upwards and revealed a cluster of energy canons, liked headlights on a car, but all a dark green, but that too began to change as the energy build up began.
It was so fast...
so sudden...
I let go and the energy flew from my shoulders and lashed out at the Black Lantern who was quickly engulfed... all you could see was a shadow in the brilliantly bright emerald light... and it soon faded... till all that was left was the emptiness of space, and the now even darker looking black hole...
Within milliseconds the energy canons stopped firing and seconds later the shoulder pads locked back down into the armour and it was as if nothing had ever happened...
"INCOMING TRANSMISSION... LOCATION IS THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BLACK HOLE..."
I was caught off guard with no time to reflect but what the hell... "Play it Pegas."
".....assist..... need..... tance... Watch.... moon..........utes......" A male voice said... at least I think it was.
"Pegas any chance you can...."
"MESSAGE HAS BEEN RERECIEVED, INTERFERENCE FROM WEAPONS FIRE HAS DISIPATED."
".... this is the Watchtower in orbit of Earth's Moon. We have been attacked and are in need of assistance, repeat we need assistance. The Watchtower will impact with the moon in nine minutes.... please respond...."
"MESSAGE NO LONGER BEING TRANSMITTED. PLEASE STATE COURSE OF ACTION."
I didn't bother, I just set the course... through the Black Hole... home....
**
Meanwhile... outside of Gotham...
He could feel his master close by... even without a body he could feel the presence... the magic as it were that emanated from his being, but it didn't bother him, no... this was his … he stopped short of the word God... but it was definitely a worthy term for his master...
He stood over the unmarked grave of Bruce Wayne and watched... and waited...
What had happened?
What had caused his master to panic so suddenly?
He lifted his ring baring hand and looked down at the black ring which bore his own insignia...
He prepared to open the link.. when... did the earth move?
No...it couldn't have... did it?
He leaned in... leaned closer... let his gloved hand run over the ground in front of the tombstone.
It happened so fast...
A hand exploded outward from within the grave...
It was black... and so fast...so strong... so full of …
It grabbed at the Black Hand's Black Lantern uniform and quickly yanked him forwards smacking his head off of the ground and sent him crashing backwards off balance.
Black Hand was stunned... but he shook his head...tried to get away... to find a way back to his feet … but he couldn't...
As he tried to crawl to his feet he was sure he heard something.. a flapping... but what...?
They were on him... and thudded against him and around him... they trapped him against the tombstone... against his tombstone... their master's tombstone...
The black glove became and arm... then another hand appeared... and soon it became a head... and then a man, as slowly but surely the man from the grave pulled himself out of the hard and cold ground... and closer to freedom... slowly... in his own time... he gathered his bearings... as the bats thundered around him, letting him stand as they pinned Black Hand to the tombstone...
He opened his eyes for the first time... saw the chaos of the bats.. and felt at home... and then he looked down and saw his attacker... Black Hand lying against the unmarked tombstone... how ironic this was...
Black Hand on the other hand still wasn't fully aware of what was going on... and by the time he started to realise... he looked at the ground before him, and saw a pair of black boots, with a silver and dark grey lining... he looked up...
"But..." he said in shock and awe "I am the Emissary.... the Black Hand of my master... the Darkness itself... the first Black Lantern..." he shrieked as he panicked... but he realised his mistake... he realised why his master had vanished...
it was him....
…this was not in the plan...
….this was not meant to happen...
…..for the Black Hand... the darkness was just beginning...
