Chapter 9 - Robo Chat
Utopia Research Center
It was past midnight when they arrived to the research centre. The daily activity had stop, and the compound although imposing because of the lighting look quite peaceful and quiet. So far, everything was going according to the plan. They were inside the building and moving closer to the site where the time portal will materialize in a matter of minutes.
Batman was in near building from where Diana, Flash and J'onn were. He was setting a sonic device and was about to leave when he saw a shadow out of the corner of his eye, swiftly he tossed a batarang at that direction but it was too late, an explosion took place and the force of the backlash sent him flying against a wall. Recovering from the surprise and hurt by the hit, he gingerly started to get up when he saw the orange glow of the flames fast approaching him like tide waves, he was looking for a way to get out or take cover when he felt a tender touch on his shoulder "Diana".
She shield him with her body before the fire could reach him and almost instantly she took off carrying him away. However, even with her speed the fire flames managed to leak her with its deadly caress. Diana could felt the burning heat from the fire, and although she was in pain, her eyes were full with steel determination trying to find somewhere safe to land, she found a room close to the one where the portal had appear hours before. As she landed at the centre, placing Bruce on the ground, he could see how her beautiful back was cover in blisters and ashes, he was sure she had at least second-degree burns. He felt so useless.
- Diana you shouldn't have to do that! I was fine, I could find a way out…
- Why, and leave you there to burn, when I could save you?
- I survived worst. I don't want you to put your life on the line for me, I'm expendable.
- Don't you dare to say that again! You are very important, to the resistance… to me.
He was about to reply to her when a pair of red eyes appeared in front of him and behind Diana, without even thinking, he turn around putting her behind him, ready to face the robot. However, the machine was still, looking at them with its red cold eyes, as if it was waiting for something. Faint drafts entered the room and almost as if they appeared out of thin air, an army of robots encircled them. The machines did not move, and after a pregnant silence a robotic voice erupted from one of them.
- Batman… this outcome was the least expected - Its voice was flat, but for a moment, he thought he heard a hint of surprise.
- But that did not mean we were not ready for it - Said another robotic voice.
- Really? - Said Diana, at the same time that she kicked a couple of positron lords. However, the machines did not respond the attack.
- What do you want? - Asked Batman with contempt.
- Save humanity – The machines answered at unison in their deadpan voice.
- You have a twisted way to do it by killing and torture – Said Diana.
"Diana kept them distracted, we are just behind you and the portal will open any minute now, at my signal we are going to attack them and then you can come with us"- Said J'onn by telepathy to her.
"J'onn I'm not going to leave Bruce to his own devices to fence himself against these machines"
"I will never ask you to do that. We will destroy those machines and then… you can decide my friend "
- You wouldn't understand – Said another of the positron lords, they were all the same as if they share one mind, even though they took turns to talk.
- Try me. Why did you release the virus in the first place? Tell me truth - She said while latching her lasso of truth to one of the machine. She wasn't sure if Hephaestus weapon will work on the robot but it was worth a try.
- The Earth natural resources were about to finish. An élite think-tank developed different scenarios for possible solutions but in all of them, the human race was doom to extinction, until they came up with a more drastic approach to natural selection. They develop a virus highly contagious yet lethal only to the weakest; which could dismay the global population in a way it will be enough resources for the rest of the humankind – Said the robot.
- But without the team knowledge Dr. Jonathan Crane got a hold to the virus, and when they released it had unwanted side effects: it turn the infected into a psychotic state. In time the virus evolved and became contagious to all, weak or not. The entire planet was soon infected, millions died victims of the decease or as casualties between the war that some psychotic leaders started against the so-called meta-humans, the virus affected even some of them too. Therefore, we took control – Said the fourth positron lord.
- We were a prototype, but our mission was clear: save humankind. We sheltered the unaffected, and used the previous luxury island in space to send the human survivors. But humans are complex - Said a thrid positron lord.
- We developed a safe environment, but it was not enough. They didn't take well living in space, and since we couldn't return any of them to Earth; they started to develop a strange condition. We faced collective suicides and the fertile rate drop so drastically; almost all of them were sterile. We started to clone a few and then we decided to perfect the human race; to have one more intelligent, less violent. Now we can correct the previous mistakes the human race made - Said another robot.
- That's why you went back.
- Yes, the virus is the first step. In the mid time we came with a solution to channel the human's negative energy. We gave them a free will sensation with the resistance, and at the same time, a common goal and identity. We knew the human race needed a champion, and we selected Batman as that hero - Concur another positron lord, and Batman swore there was hint of irony in its robotic voice.
- How? - Asked Diana.
- The original Amanda Waller cloned him the first time. We just perfected him; we had various samples of his DNA. We just provided similar environment and implanted memories, but according to our current needs and we waited for him to perform. He always delivered. He worries for the greater good.
- He always delivered… How many times have you clone him? – Asked Diana, barely able to control the fury that was boiling inside her.
- This is Batman number 30th – Said another positron lord.
Batman had remain silent, analysing every one of the words of the positron lords, looking for a way to get out of there, but when he heard the last words, those tumble on his ears like a bomb. "No!" - His head was spinning - "This is a trick, a lie. The positron lords are manipulation masters" - He refused to believe the possibility that his whole life was a lie, that the people he cared the most were only an illusion - "I'm not going to let them play with my mind".
- Batman, be logical - Said the first positron lord, with a hint of condescend in its robotic voice - Did you never once wonder, how while we have a total surveillance system you where able slip undetected? How besides minor casualties, your rebellious network were never been taken down? - Said another positron lord.
- We always knew Batman - Said the first positron lord.
"Now Diana" - Said J'onn telepathically.
Diana looked for Flash or J'onn, she couldn't see them but she knew they were there. J'onn materialized while Flash appear near her, quickly Diana looked at Bruce and in a blur the four of them charged at the robots but every time one went down other machine rise.
Then above the sounds of the battle Diana listen a smooth beep in the next room. J'onn, Flash and her exchanged a look, after years of fighting together they could read each other in the turning points of every battle.
"J'onn the portal is open. Go! I'll distracted them"
"Diana…"
"J'onn, please you and Flash are our only hope, you have the vaccine and the Canamera key".
However, it only took one second for everything to change. If before the positron lords, were only in a defence mode, not engaging in any attack they directed a blast of fire to J'onn as if they knew his weakness. He was wounded and Diana flow to his aid but she was hit in the middle of her fly with an electronic ray that whipped her at the back, she stumbled on the air and collapsed on the floor, however, Flash had already knocked the robot and was helping J'onn to stand. Meanwhile Batman tossed batarangs to the positron lords trying to give Flash the upper hand for him to run with J'onn to the portal.
- Flash take J'onn out of here, and go to the portal –Said Diana getting up, and fast deflecting the laser beams directed at her silver gauntlets.
- Di… What about you?
- Flash do as I say, I'll be right behind you –Said Diana, her priority was to make Flash leave.
Then as soon as Flash was a blur, Batman stood next to her.
- Go, I'll cover you – Said Batman.
- No! I won't leave you - Said Diana.
- Princess, you have to go and change our future – He said while giving her a sad smile.
Then she saw out of the corner of her eye how various positron lords move to the next room trying to stop Wally and J'onn. Diana flew faster to hit the robots, but they had already sent a blast of fire in their direction, quickly she put herself in front of them trying using her bracelets to deflect the burst of fire, but they were not enough to cover her, and her arms were burned.
Batman was tossing any kind of batarangs to the robots, but as soon as he saw her surrounded by an aura of fire, he ran to her aid but he couldn't make it becasue a pair of large metal claws stronger than rock held him at bay. He watched as other robots encircled Diana, and to submitted her more, hit her in the back with an electronic whip, before she collapsed on the floor.
- Noooo! - He screamed, his voice was primal, as if he were a wounded beast.
- Interesting… The prospect of Batman to be in love, is so rare – Said the third positron lord.
- Hence the low possibility of this outcome– Said another robotic voice.
- Batman, If you want her to live, you are going to tell us all about all about their plan –Said the first positron lord.
- No! - He said without hesitation. He knew their offer was a lie.
- Fine. You have just killed her –Said the positron lord at the same time, one of them pick up Diana as if she were a ragged doll and released on her another electronic charge, this time even more lethal, leaving her body crumble to the floor. He went limp, as if his whole body didn't had energy anymore, the positron lords stop holding him. He reached to Diana's body, hugging her deeply in his arms, then he felt her faint heart beat, and he heard J'onn voice on his mind "You can still save her".
He knew exactly what to do, with almost superhuman strength and speed, Batman ran with Diana in his arms directly to the bowl of light that was the time portal, just as it was dangerously shrinking.
- We cannot allow you to leave Batman - Said a positron lord as it shoot a bean of light to his ankle, but it did not matter he had already placed Diana inside the portal.
- Diana, I love you – That was the last thing she heard from him before the portal collapsed, and a milky white light embraced her.
- As we said Batman, we are always ready. She will die in her time; the same as you - Said the robotic voice at the same time a beam of light shoot him on the chest.
Despite the pain, Batman had a smirk in his face.
- Why are you smiling? - Asked a positron lord.
- You are going to lose.
- Always the fighter. That's why we choose you
- Nightwing, go –He said to his comm link. Those were his last words, although his last thoughts went to Diana "I don't care if they continue with this cloning experiment… for the remote possibility that one day I could see her again…I hope I recognise her, although I'm just a shadow, a memory of a man who existed long ago".
- Now we know the outcome of this scenario – Say the first positron lord.
- Now we are ready - Concluded the second positron lord, but soon all of them started to stir uncontrollably, something happened, something they didn't expect: Batman's plan.
FIN
E/N: So here comes the end of this journey. Thank you so much for all the readings / favorites / follows. And I can't thank enough for all your reviews; your comments were really valuable to me.