Life is as tedious as twice-told tale, vexing the dull ear of a drowsy man.
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Batman Beyond Season 4Episode 55: Two Men
Author James the Lesser
I do no own the Characters, names, villains, so forth
A/N This takes place after Batman Beyond Return of the Joker so yes that movie happens in this timeline/series
"Life is as tedious as a twice-told tale, vexing the dull ear of a drowsy man." Shakespeare
Near the docks the water starts bubbling. Some people using metal detectors don't notice it until they see a strange green glow come from it. "What the heck is that?"
"Some fish can glow."
"Yeah, at night, and none around here do." They watch as a man crawls out of the water. He has an oxygen tank in one hand and the mask in the other. "Sir, are you ok?" One of the men recognizes who it is.
"Dude, that's old Powers!"
"Who?"
"You know the guy who once controlled Wayne Powers." They start backing away.
"Keep silent or I will kill you." Blight stands up slowly weak from the swim up. "Run, now." The two men turn and run away.
Terri is with Dana. "Wow. How many have you killed?"
"I don't kill."
"But you just said, with that Xander guy, you didn't save him."
"I couldn't. Some times I can't. Other times I don't. The old Batman would save their lives no matter what. I can't. Some times I just can't." Terri grasps his right hand in to a fist. "I don't think some can be saved. Arkham is a scam."
"I shouldn't have brought it up."
"No, it's ok. I just don't see the point in saving some one who is trying to kill me or some one else. If I fight the Joker again I won't save him or think some time in Arkham will cure him. He's a sociopath nothing can cure that."
"That's kind of scary." Terri puts his arm around Dana's shoulders.
"Sorry." He kisses her. "How about we don't talk about my job? I got paid yesterday and still have a couple hours before my uh, shift, begins. Wanna get some thing to eat?"
"Since our homework is done sure." The two leave his room and head out.
A stranger is walking down the street. He looked normal until you got close and you noticed the color of his skin was off. His whispers to no one would turn in to shouts and then back to whispers. His smile only gave people who saw it the chills. Two T's gang members walk up to him. "Hey old man got some credits you can donate?" With out any other response he shoves both out on to the street where they are hit by a transport truck.
After eating Terri drops Dana off at her house. "See you on Monday." They kiss and he takes off for Wayne Manor.
At the Batcave Terri finds Bruce Wayne going over files and video clips. "What's the word?"
"Mutagen. If the Jokers are bringing him back I think they were using Mutagen."
"The same kind Inque uses?"
"Yes. And if they are using it they might need more. These," He brings up a list on the screen. "Are the most likely targets." Terri reads through. "Which one do you think they would hit?"
"Two choices. The one with the least security or Wayne Powers."
"Wayne, just Wayne. Both Powers are out and I am taking over again."
"Oh, well, yeah those are my choices. The easiest or the one with your name on it." Bruce nods.
"But you can only watch one."
"Well if the Joker isn't back yet and it is just the Jokers I'll go with the one with the least security." Bruce highlights the address.
"I'll let you know if any alerts are sent out." Terri puts on the suit and takes the Batmobile out.
Stumbling down the streets is the strange man. An officer hears him yelling and goes over to see what is wrong.
"Sir are you on any thing?"
"No, why would you ask?"
"You are acting belligerent. Will you submit to a quick sobriety test?"
"Sure. I didn't study but I'm sure I can pass." The officer rolls his eyes.
"Yes, not the first time I heard that one." He gets his flashlight out and points it at the man's face. "Eyes are dilated."
"You're shining a bright light in my eyes what did you expect?"
"Yes, well, say your ABCs backwards."
"Your ABCs backwards." The officer starts getting annoyed.
"Look if you don't cooperate I'm taking you in." The stranger starts laughing. "That's it." He gets his cuffs out.
"Too slow." The stranger reveals a knife he had hidden up his sleeve and slashes the officer across the throat. He grabs at his wound as the stranger laughs and grabs his weapon. "What is this? A toy?" He aims it at the officer's knee and fires. The officer drops to the ground. "This isn't a gun! It barely went through the kneecap. Back in my day you fired hot lead at a person and watched the blood flow. These energy weapons are worthless." He tosses it aside and walks away.
Terri sits in the rafters of the warehouse where the Mutagen was being stored. "It's being transported tonight. Any idea where?"
"Since this is illegal material they didn't put in on the official docket. I only knew they had it is because I know the codes companies use for keeping and transporting illegal things."
"Personal experience?"
"Keeping track of what the Powers were doing. Evidence used against the son in court." Terri sees several guards come in with some workers who wore protective gear.
"No one else is here and they have it guarded. I doubt the Jokers could get it."
"It is illegal and you are Batman."
"Call the police I'll keep them distracted." Terri pulls out a batarang.
He makes himself visible and flies down to the floor. "So is this being shipped by UPS or Fed Ex?" Four guards raise their laser rifles.
"Get him!" They fire and Terri throws the batarang. It flies up and hits a fire alarm on the far side. Water starts spraying as a siren sounds.
Terri runs and leaps behind a crate as the guards fire. "Forget about him! If the firefighters show up and find this stuff we're in trouble." One of the guards backs away and starts directing the men in protective gear to get the Mutagen loaded on a truck.
"And the cops. I called them before I decided I'd slow you down."
"Forget the cargo I'm not getting busted with this stuff. Do you have any idea how many years we could get for this?" Two of the guards drop their weapons and start running.
"Well you are just the peons. Your bosses are the ones who should be punished." The other guards and men in protective gear raise their hands.
"You'll let us go?"
"Sure, why not? I've learned that taking out the lackeys is about as useful as throwing water on a burning chair when the entire house is burning down."
"Terri? What are you doing?"
"I'm letting them go. We have the Mutagen and the police will be here soon. The CEOs go down for their crime not the people who are just following orders."
"And when did you come to this conclusion?"
"Beating up the Jokers doesn't take down the Joker. Throwing Ten in jail didn't take down the King. I'm tired of taking down petty criminals while their bosses go free."
"If they have no soldiers they don't have power."
"You told me about dealing with Black Mask. You took down how many of his people and he still seized control of the city until some red mask took over."
"Red Hood, Red Hood not mask." Terri is shocked by the tone of voice.
"You never did tell me much about him. Just that he appeared and caused some trouble. What was his deal?"
"He was a murderer. His way was not the right way."
"Two Face was a murderer and you tole me about him." Terri watches as the guards escape.
"Terri don't let them get away."
"I already told them they could go. Penn Industries will go down not the people they order around." Terri hears sirens. "The police are almost here."
"Terri they helped the company move dangerous, illegal, product. This is a crime. I thought your favorite subject was history."
"It is."
"Don't you remember what happened after World War II or has your school not taught you about that? Just because you were following orders doesn't make you innocent."
"No but this is a little different don't you think? I'd rather go after Black Mask then some idiot who works for him."
"Black Mask is dead."
"You know what I mean." Terri walks towards an exit. "They're gone and the Mutagen is still here. The police can take care of this."
"Get the Batmobile back here now and go home."
"Fine." Terri takes off and lands on the roof where the Batmobile was cloaked.
Terri is flying back towards the Bat Cave when he sees a car driving up to Wayne Manor. "Who is visiting him this late at night? I better check." He lands the Batmobile nearby and climbs out.
Terri sneaks up and sees the person go in. "An old woman? I don't recognize her." He keeps sneaking around.
He sees the old woman sit down with Bruce. He puts a finger on the window so he can hear the conversation. "Bruce you call me this late at night but won't tell me why."
"We have a problem. He's not turning out like we thought."
"Terri? What do you mean?"
"Ever since he faced the Joker he's acted differently."
"How differently?" She taps a finger on the arm of the chair clearly annoyed with having been called over.
"He is disobeying me. He thinks he was smart and got his girlfriend up here with out me knowing. He even made a plan for blaming it on another. And then tonight he let some people go who were committing a crime claiming they were just peons."
"His words?"
"Yes. Some thing is wrong."
"Well Bruce we never have tested how the overwriting of DNA would turn out. He is the first successful completion of the program."
"I never would have let them go."
"You let Selina go."
"Only when she hadn't broken a crime."
"Bruce you are panicking over nothing."
"Mira I am telling you the fight with the Joker has triggered some thing in him. I am worried he is becoming a loose cannon. If he won't follow my orders and does as he wants what will we do?"
"If the fight with Joker has triggered some thing in him it may be a good thing. Maybe it will make him grow up faster. He so far has been getting by on help from you. If the DNA overwrite in the man he thinks is his father is activating now it will make him a far more dangerous if not superior Batman."
"He will never be superior. Dangerous yes but not superior."
"Bruce you are worrying over what we wanted. If Terri is finally stepping up and becoming Batman, the real Batman, this is what we needed. Ever since you retired the crime rate has gone up. Black Mask took back control from Jason when he left."
"Don't say his name."
"Sorry, I forgot." She gets up and walks over. "Terri is becoming what we've needed. If he let a few people go so a bigger fish may fry then that is what this city needs. Stopping a car jacking here and there is great and all but it doesn't stop the drug trafficking or black market for organs and slaves."
"He should stop all of it. I did."
"And look what has happened. Bruce twenty years ago when we started this project you said it was so we could save the future. He has done well but really Shriek? Or that freak that was his friend, Charles? They are no Two Face or Joker."
"No, they aren't. The closest he ever came to any thing I ever dealt with before Joker was Blight."
"And didn't he kill Blight?"
"No. Blight couldn't be saved."
"And others? He has let others die hasn't he?"
"Maybe. He is not as skilled as I was. I have tried training him but he doesn't learn. If he were more skilled maybe he could have found ways of saving them."
"Or maybe he knows what we need." Bruce gets up with help with his cane.
"This is not what I agreed to. I wanted another Batman not some one who decides what is right and wrong. Not some one who will let criminals go because they aren't good enough for him to stop."
"And if we made a few tweaks during the process it is far too late. He is becoming every thing this city needs. Even if that means some thing you don't agree with."
"Mira this is immoral!"
"What is Bruce?"
"I, the DNA overwrite of his father with mine was to make a hero not some drone you control. He should have some free will."
"But only when he does what you want. What free will is that? Bruce you knew the dangers of this project."
"I also thought I would have a chance of making him better than he could be. Better than I was. But he is becoming dangerously wild."
"He is becoming more skilled you mean. He may not need you as much as you need him. You've been living a second life through him. Now that he is becoming more independent you are losing your second life."
"I don't need him for a second life. I don't need the Batman he is becoming and neither does the city. If I can't reign him in soon enough I'll call off this whole thing."
"Like we'd let you?" Bruce sees her pull a small device out from a pocket.
"Mira is this what it has come to?"
"If you make us. We have invested a lot of money in to this."
"I invested the money. I nearly went bankrupt doing it. I was a far richer man before we started this project."
"It was all for a purpose Bruce. Project Batman Beyond has been a success. We won't let you mess it up."
"You don't understand." Bruce knocks the device from her hand with his cane. "I won't let you ruin this. Your company has many dark secrets. I could destroy you if I gave even a tenth of what I have to the police."
"And we would bury you."
"You would bury an old man dying from liver disease. You can't threaten me."
"And what of your son? Terri shares the same DNA as you."
"I am not his father. I never raised him. The man who I regrettably chose for the DNA overwrite is his father."
Terri is stunned and pulls his finger away from the window. "Max would know what they were talking about." He spreads his wings and takes off.
He contacts Max before reaching her home. "Terri what are you doing?"
"Max, I have a recording you must hear."
"Take it to the old man."
"It is the old man. I'll be there in a few minutes."
"I, well, let me get changed before you come barging in here."
"You have until I get there." He hangs up on her.
The strange man sees a museum exhibit. "Weapons of the past? Maybe I can find what I need in here." He tries opening the door but it is locked. "Must be later than I thought." He smashes the glass door and goes in as the alarm sounds.
Terri lands outside of Max's room. "Is it ok if I come in?"
"Yeah, get in here." Max opens the window. "But be quiet."
"Yeah, gotcha." He slides in as quietly as he can.
"What is this about? You sounded scared over the phone."
"This." He holds up a small disc. "Put it in your computer and listen."
"What is it?"
"Just do as I say, please." She takes the disc and puts it in her computer.
After listening to the whole thing she pulls away from the computer. "This is science fiction. You can't rewrite some one's DNA. I mean the technology doesn't exist."
"If the technology did exist would it be possible?"
"Well, the nanotechnology needed for it is impossible."
"But if the technology existed would it be possible?"
"I, I guess. I mean ok yeah if some one figured it out I guess it could be possible. But why? Why your parents?"
"I don't know. Is it possible?"
"Well, he was rich at one point. If he spent his money on this project and lots of it he could have come up with it I guess."
"Meaning he is my father." She shakes her head.
"He even said it. He isn't your dad. Your dad raised and loved you. Bruce was just some mad scientist." She sighs. "I don't know Terri. I mean this is crazy. If this is real and that technology exists then you could be the biological offspring of Bruce Wayne."
"Some one who was created in a test tube and designed before I was even born. They made me to be Batman." Terri punches her bed in frustration.
"How? I mean they couldn't have known Derek Powers would kill your father just after you found out about Bruce and the Bat Cave."
"I don't know. Maybe they planned it."
"No, no way Bruce would do that."
"How do you know Max? If he did all this who knows what else he could do."
"Well that woman, Mira, you said she threatened Bruce with some thing. Maybe she did it with out him knowing." Terri walks towards the window. "What are you going to do?"
"Find that woman. I saw her license plate. I'll figure out where she lives and find out what she knows. Find out if what they said could happen." He takes off again.
At the museum the strange man picks up a short sword. "Not what I am looking for. Although," He moves his finger across the blade. "It could work until I find what I need." He keeps going through the museum.
Terri is outside Mira's house. He sees her in her bedroom reading a book. "No time for subtlety." He smashes through her window.
"Aaaa!" She reaches for her desk but he throws a batarang stopping her.
"One minute of your time Mira."
"Who are you?" Terri pulls off his mask.
"You know who I am." He stops at the foot of the bed. "And I have some questions of who I am."
"You were there? Where? Bruce would have told me."
"He didn't know I was there. I saw you driving up and thought I would check out what was happening. I heard several interesting things."
"You heard every thing didn't you?" Terri nods. "Well not the way I wanted this to happen. So what part do you have questions about?"
"Every thing. The DNA thing how is that possible?"
"A ton of money and scientists working several years is what makes it possible. So yes Bruce is your father and you were partially modified while still in the womb."
"Just gonna tell me every thing?"
"Why not? I don't have a lot of choice do I?"
"No, you don't. So Bruce is my father?" She shrugs her shoulders. "What does that mean?"
"What is your definition of father? The man who raised you or the man who paid billions to overwrite the DNA of the man who raised you?"
"I know who my father was. He was killed by Blight. Wasn't he?"
"Yes, yes he was. Before you ask no we had nothing to do with it. I may have tried having your family killed a few years ago but Bruce shot that down. He said that when you turned eighteen we would come to you and give you a choice."
"But then Blight killed my father."
"And you discovered the Bat Cave. Almost as if your DNA knew where it was."
"And then what? You just moved your plans up from there?"
"A little. Bruce still had the noble idea of giving you a choice but we did not spend billions on creating you to give you a choice." Terri smirks. "What do you find so funny?"
"And how do you plan on taking my choices away from me?"
"Just because we didn't kill your family before doesn't mean we still can't. Especially once Bruce dies then you will owe your life to us." He reaches over and grabs her by the front of her shirt.
"The old Batman would try and get you arrested. IamnottheoldBatman." Terri's voice goes deeper and gruffer. Sounding a lot like a certain some one from decades ago.
"So what will you do? Kill me?"
"No. Not unless you give me a reason." He pushes her back. "I have some one else who owes me a lot of answers." He goes to the window and leaves.
At the museum the stranger is stopped by a guard. "What are you doing in here? You set the alarm off?"
"What took you so long? I've been here for what ten minutes?"
"This is a large place and I'm only one man." He reaches for his weapon. "Don't make me use this."
"Oh don't worry you won't be using that." He throws the short sword and hits the guard in the chest. "Maybe I should have asked where the guns were. Some thing that does more than go pew pew." He laughs as he continues walking through the museum.
Terri lands on the roof of Wayne Manor and goes in through a skylight. He sees Ace. "Good boy don't bark." He walks by and goes to Bruce's bedroom.
He is about to shake Bruce awake when Bruce grabs his wrist. "What are you doing back here?"
"I met Mira." Bruce's grip tightens. "And heard what you planned all those years ago." His grip goes limp.
"I'm sorry."
"You're sorry? That's it? You made a genetic freak of my father and created me out of it."
"Yes. At the time I thought it was for the best. I thought I would be saving Gotham." Bruce grabs a glass of water and takes a sip. "Mira called before you came here. I've thought about what I should say."
"And all you could come up with is you're sorry?" He nods. "How come I can't hate you? I should after finding out what you did with me but I can't."
"Because you have matured. I thought the fight with Joker changed you for the worse. But maybe it didn't." He clears his throat. "I still think you should have had those guards arrested."
"And I still think they were pointless."
"How did you find Mira? Did you follow her home?"
"No. I checked the DMV."
"Detective work? Maybe you have changed." Bruce almost laughs.
"It wasn't that hard to figure out." Terri sits on the edge of the bed. "We need to talk."
"Yes, yes we do."
At the museum the stranger starts laughing. "No, I can't, I'm not him!" He laughs louder.
Outside the police drive up. Several officers go in with weapons drawn.
The stranger finally stops laughing. He drops the trenchcoat he had been wearing. "I need some thing flashier. They have a section around here with old clothing don't they? I wonder if they have any thing in purple." He smashes a case and grabs two pistols. "No flag but I'll get one later." He laughs again as he starts looking for new clothing.
A/N Two Men meaning... Well, two father's for Terri. Totally taken from the episode of Justice League but using it here for some thing coming up. And also the two men sharing one body becoming the Joker. And also Terri being two men. Batman and Terri, sharing one body. Not a lot of action in this episode but I promise plenty in the next!