An Apprentice's Future

By: Malaizjan Dejesus & Reina Grayson

Author's Note: This is the climatic installment of the Batman Beyond Saga. Everything is coming together and this is the crossover fic. If you're a fan of either this series or Young Justice, than you will enjoy this! I am going to list the theme songs to various DC tv series and most of the theme songs can be found on Music of DC Comics: 75th Anniversary, which is available now, and the YJ Theme song is on its own album titled: Young Justice, which is also available. So if you don't have them, I suggest you go and buy them both!

Also, I had lots of help with this story. Reina Grayson deserves half the credit in getting 80% of this fic done. Reina and I worked on this chapter, for I wanted to have events in the future play out... There is some swearing but I think it's like 2 words. Just a warning…

Chapter 17

Music Playing: Justice League Unlimited Theme Song

At the same time as the events in the past of chapter 16 was happening…

Alexander Luthor was trying to hack Watchtowers comps. But he was being stopped. The security was very good. The clone of Lex Luthor suspected that there was another reason he couldn't get in. "I'm being counter-hacked."

"That's not possible, Luthor," Darkin said, walking to stand behind the clone. "We got all the techies."

"Not Gear's son," Star Sapphire said, standing at the other end of the counsel.

"Kid Fate took him. Static's son too," Yami added.

"There may be heroes we don't know about. We need to search this place, top to bottom," Luthor told the group.

"I'll do it. You keep hacking, Luthor," Star Sapphire said, heading off to check.

Max had found a few different Batgirl costumes in the armory. She was wearing the all black one with the waist length cape, the one with the full face mask that had no opening for the eyes, nose or mouth.

She loved it.

Dana, on the other hand, wore the first Batgirl costume, the one with the full length cape, the one with the yellow on the inside of the cape. Her hair was exposed in the back, and she braided it to keep it out of get way. Both had utility belts and they had to figure out what some of the stuff was. The weapons were old tech but that's all they had to work with.

Both Batgirls made their way back to the air vents. That was how they got around the large space station unnoticed so far.

Ten Minutes Later

Bruce and Ace were still being cautious about moving around and thanks to the dog's hearing, they never got seen. Just as Bruce saw there was no one down the next hallway, Ace turned his attention above them and was growling. Bruce still had his cane and was ready for anything. The ceiling gave way as the air vent was coming through and two figures fell right infront of the original Batman and Ace.

"You got your wish...didn't you Max." Bruce said, realizing that Dana was in the original suit so Max had to be in Cass' old suit.

"Um...hi," Dana said timidly.

"This is so cool. We can save everyone, all by ourselves," Max said excitedly.

"We've been sabotaging the LOD," Dana explained. "They were trying to hack the computer."

"Then we will need to continue that," Bruce said, rather impressed that the pair hadn't gotten caught yet. Then again, Max's computer skills were top notch.

"Can you crawl?" Max asked.

"I'm sure my bones will hold up," Bruce jokes lightly.

Ace started to growl softly.

"That's our cue to go," Dana said, going to a vent and pulled off the grate. She crawled in first

A minute later, a couple of Slade bots walked down the very hall that they had been in.

Mathen pulled on his shackles. He was weak from the blood loss. He glanced over at his cousin Eric.

Eric was barely standing up on his own legs, his left knee was broken. He was trying to ignore the pain, but wasn't doing it very well.

Orin had exhausted himself trying to get free so his head was bowed, eyes closed to conserve his strength.

Kevin though was trying to density shift through his restraints, however the collar around his neck was blocking his powers.

There was a snap of metal. Mathen's wrist was free.

Kevin then gasped. His eyes were wide open. "No, no, no..."

Mathen, Eric and Orin stared at him. "Kev?" Orin said.

"She came back for us," he whispered.

"No way..." said Eric.

"I told her to leave," Mathen said angrily.

"She did. But she came back...alone," Kevin explained.

"There's no way she can take down the LOD alone!" Eric said worriedly.

"She must have a specific plan to come back alone like this...we are talking about Meygan," Orin said, having helped raise the young demoness.

"And she won't be alone." Mathen walked from the wall, his wrists free. He set out to free the others. But the blood loss was getting to him. So he sat to rest up.

Kevin wasn't worried about his mate. Meygan could always handle herself…it was how she was dead set on dying that concerned him.

Drow lowered the energy field to Dick's cell. Serenity was resting for the labor pains had eased up enough. His eyes darted at Serenity's skirts, smiling. He made his way to her.

Dick glared with hatred in his eyes. "Don't you dare," he said quietly.

Serenity woke up when she felt the dip in the cot.

Drow grinned. His hands were on her stomach. "I heard that pregnant women tend to be more receptive…"

Dick grabbed the chains and leaped up with both legs, the tips of his boots smacking Drow in the jaw.

Drow got flipped off of Serenity.

When Drow landed, he glared at Dick. He got up, went to Dick and after dodging another double leg kick, he punched Nightwing I in the stomach. As the air was knocked from him, a knife ended up in his left shoulder.

Serenity kicked at Drow as he grabbed her shackled ankle. "Stay away!" she cried.

"Why are you being so shy? You're not a virgin, obviously," Drow told her.

Dick swore at Drow.

Drow moved his hand up and then he was snatched away from Serenity and thrown to the ground, punches raining on him all over, his "package" getting a few of those punches.

As Barb and Tim struggled to get free, Dick worked harder to pick the locks.

Jason wailed on Drow, breaking Drow's jaw with a solid left hook, and a few ribs with multiple punches. "You fuckin' bastard! You'll never touch another female again!" Jason got up and stomped away on Drow, and the villain tried to cover himself.

Dick's shackles came off and Dick pulled Jason away from Drow. The two former Robins stared at each other.

Drow took a peek.

Dick kneeled down and punched Drow in the face, and Drow was out cold.

Jason pulled Dick away and kicked at Drow's prone body.

"Jason, stop!" Barb cried.

"No!"

Dick pulled Jason away again.

The two glared.

Serenity pulled off her collar and with a quick spell, freed herself. She used the same spell to free Barb and Tim.

Red Hood and Nightwing I continued the glare.

Barb helped Serenity to her feet and she walked to the pair.

Jason looked at Dick's wife. "I'm...sorry. You didn't need to see that."

"Jason, don't... You saved me." Serenity kissed Jason on the cheek in thanks and that calmed the two down.

"You were...aggressive," Dick commented.

"Not aggressive enough. He's still breathing. After what he did to Areina, Meygan, Dana and now Serenity, he deserves to die."

"Let's go shackle him to the wall and blow this place. We got a world to save," said Tim.

"Then I beat them up some more," Jason told him

"Jason…Drow's going to be in a body cast for a year after what you did. Besides, didn't you make a promise to my girls?" Dick said. "We need to get the kids here free, then we can plan."

"I did. But one more punch, Dickie-bird," Jason begged.

Dick sighed. "Fine."

After Dick and Tim shackled Drow, Jason went to the limp villain. He thought about it and turned to Serenity. "You do it."

Serenity smiled, then went to Drow and kicked him between the legs.

"Ok. I'm done," Jason said with a grin.

Barb chuckled and Dick shook his head.

Tim went to work to disable the energy shield from within the cell.

Serenity leaned against the wall. Dick guides her back over to the bed to sit her down. Both sets of hands were on her stomach.

They were worried, but then Tim got the shield to fall and everyone but the Graysons headed out of the cell to free the kids and the other heroes and check on their injuries.

"I don't think this one will survive," Serenity said; worry in her voice.

"As soon as we see Molly again, I'm sure she'll protect the baby." Dick said.

"Dick, get over here quick!" Jason hollered to his brother.

"I'll be alright; go see what's wrong," Serenity said and Dick took off.

In the cell with the kids, there was a lot of blood on the floor. Orin's shoulder had not been treated correctly AND Mathen was unconscious on the floor.

"Okay; that does it...they need to burn." Dick said, but it was then that Mathen came to and was happy to see his family was working on getting free. "Dad...Kevin says that Meygan's back here...alone," Mathen weakly said.

"Right now, let's get you kids free, then we'll figure out about Meygan." Dick said as he started working on PROPERLY treating the wounds on the two oldest kids while Tim and Barbara went to work at unchaining the others.

Meanwhile, in the armory…

Dana and Max helped Bruce Wayne to his feet as Ace jumped out of the vent. Bruce immediately went to the auxiliary computer terminal and sat down, to see what was going on.

The two young ladies dressed as Batgirl stood behind him, waiting.

"The other captured heroes are on deck 17, in the holding cells there. You two should head there and free them. Ask Cyborg to take on the Slade Bots," Bruce told them.

"Ok then. But there are too many of them," Dana said. "We need everyone on that."

"True, but the LOD are still in control of Watchtower. Some of them, Like Nightwings I & II will need to lead that fight."

"So where are they?" Max asked.

"Deck 2, prison cells." Bruce was thinking about something. "Dick has the access codes to Watchtower. Get him after the others. With the confusion, Dick and Mathen will have a plan."

"Got it." Max and Dana went back to the vents and crawled inside again.

As soon as the girls were gone, Ace growled.

Bruce got up. "What is it, boy?" he asked. He went to hide, taking Ace with him.

A portal opened up and Komos and Rave arrived in the Armory. They were ready to take on the LOD. Komos watched Meygan fill up her utility belt. But it wasn't a hurried pace. Meygan shook her head again. She could feel Strife working to make her lose her focus on her demon powers. And he, as Raven's brother, was relentless.

"So great and powerful leader, what's up?"

Eolus was glared at but he wasn't intimidated.

"Strife...he's trying to get me to lose control… of myself." Meygan slowly put on her utility belt.

"Why did you ask me to come with you and not Red Bird or Batman?"

"Eolus...I'm going to do something and you're as strong as me. I needed the others protected."

"From the LOD? No prob."

"No. From me. I plan to unleash my true self on the LOD. But if I turn on the team, on our parents, I need you to take me down."

Eolus was shocked, and it showed on his face. "Seriously!" He just stared in worry and disbelief.

"The way Strife is working at me, I might...I might not be me. And I need you to protect everyone from me."

"Meygan..."

"Please... I need the team's demi god to do this."

Eolus had to think about what his co-leader was asking. He then let out a heavy sigh and had his eyes closed. "Alright...only because you're asking and I know you don't want to hurt your family on purpose. I don't like the idea of attacking you, but if I have no other choice, then so be it."

Meygan hugged him and he jerked as he felt the cold from her touch. "Thanks." She then moved away. "And I'm sorry."

"It's alright, just a shock to the system."

Meygan let out a light hearted laugh.

"What?"

"Uncle Virgil use to say that when he was in battle."

Eolus looked at the frost on his skin. He saw that the frost was absorbed into his skin. His eyes widened in shock. "I wish I had grown up with you guys."

"You still have that chance. Now let's go save our world." Meygan reached for Eolus' hand and the two were gone in one of Meygan's dark vortexes.

Bruce came out of hiding, and he had a worried look on his face.

Dana and Max were able to use the vents to get 95% of the way there to deck 17 where the other cells were. The two Batgirls made their way down the hall, not being as careful as they should be.

Star Sapphire was hiding above them, in the ceiling, watching them. She smiled for Claire knew she could nail them and give them to Ian as a gift.

She raised her hand...

Dana stopped. She turned to look behind her. Something wasn't right. "Max,"she hissed. "We need to turn back."

"Stop being scared Dana," Max whispered back. "We're nearly there."

A purple beam hit the ground in front of them and the blast blew both Batgirls back.

"Well, looks like I found the counter hackers," Claire purred. "And it's a couple of wannabe Batgirls."

"Wannabes!?" Max threw a batarang at Star Sapphire.

A diamond shield appeared, stopping the batarang. Claire smiled as she sent energy beams at both girls.

Dana and Max leaped to opposite sides of the hallway. Dana rushed toward Star Sapphire and when she got close, threw a batarang at Claire.

It exploded upon impact, knocking Star Sapphire to the floor.

"I got one!" Dana cried.

Claire waited until Max and Dana got closer and she popped up, sending energy beams at them. One wrapped Max up tightly and Dana got caught by the ankle. She was flipped upside down, the blood rushing to her head. With a smile, Claire knocked the two into each other. The crack of bone was heard and the two got knocked out.

Star Sapphire then lifted both girls up by the energy beam constructs and was happy to see both limp. "Like I said. Wannabes."

Max waited until she felt she was close enough before throwing an explosive batarang in her face.

Claire cried as she covered her face. Both were dropped to the floor.

Max rushed her and attacked with kicks that she learned. When Claire tried to counter, Max got her in a headlock. Max held on tight, hoping to make Star Sapphire pass out.

A yellow beam grabbed Max, shook her free from Claire and threw her into the wall.

Max didn't get up as Sinestro came into view.

Claire coughed as she got to her feet.

"She was no wannabe," Sinestro commented.

Star Sapphire glared at the Yellow Lantern. Star Sapphire walked to Dana and kicked her should but she didn't wake up. "This one is."

Max slowly came to and she struggled to her knees.

Sinestro sent an energy hand construct to snatch Max up and squeeze her.

Max struggled.

"I better call Luthor," Star Sapphire told Sinestro.

"Time to take out the trash!" Komos flew at Sinestro and crashed into him, knocking him down, thus freeing Max.

Star Sapphire tried to catch Komos as he flew out of her energy constructs' reach but he was making her mad.

"Ekam ti niar!" cried Meygan as she appeared via vortex.

The sprinklers opened up and the water came down on them all. Meygan weaved her hands and arms, guiding the water to hit and pin both Star Sapphire and Yellow Lantern to the wall. Meygan's eyes were red as she edged ever closer to her limit as Strife's whispered worked her last nerve.

As the water continued to pin Claire and Sinestro, Meygan or Komos didn't realize that a black ooze was coming up behind her. As the demi god was checking Dana and Max for injuries; the black ooze prepared to attack Meygan.

"This time, I'll get you!" The voice said; remembering that she almost had the demoness a while back. With that said, and the swiftness only it possessed, the black ooze wrapped around Meygan's upper body and trapped her arms. This caused her to lose control of the water and the two villainous Lanterns were free.

"My thanks Inque," Claire said.

"Anytime Claire, I may not have killed this girl's mother; but I WILL end this Grayson," Inque said as a head seemed to appear from the ooze.

"Screw you!"Meygan opened her mouth and cried, " Azarath! Metrion! Zynthos!"

Inque was pushed away from the energy shield protecting her.

That same energy electrocuted Star Sapphire and the Yellow Lantern for several minutes before they got knocked out.

Inque make her way to Meygan and as soon as the energy shield dropped, rammed into her from behind.

Meygan pitched forward to the ground, and Eolus flew at Inque, but as he wrapped his arms around her, she leaked through and then smacked him in the face with a blobby hand, that became a fist and she punched.

Komos was stumbling back but he was still on his feet.

Inque rammed into him again and again but Eolus still stayed on his feet.

Meygan pulled out a taser and ran to them. She got Inque with it.

Inque screamed before wrapping herself around Meygan, pinning her arms. Meygan dropped her taser. "Open up."

Meygan stayed tight lipped.

Inque squeezed.

Meygan wanted to scream but she still held on.

Komos had made sure to punch Claire and Sinestro hard enough that they would be out for a while, and made sure that Max and Dana were alright.

He heard Inque say 'open up' and knew that his team leader was in trouble. It was just then that a floodgate of knowledge and power opened up within him and he knew what he had to do. Using this new power, he was able to control the water that Meygan had called forth and sent it right at Inque. Before the water even reached her, the villainess saw it coming and she released Meygan to avoid becoming diluted. At the last second, the water was all around her as if she were trapped in a box and said box became solid ice.

Inque froze inside as Meygan took in huge breaths of air. She eyed Eolus, who looked rather proud of himself. "Titan God of water?" she said.

He stared at her. "How...?"

"I doubt Poseidon would leave you on Earth."

"Ha ha," Komos said sarcastically.

"Seriously...I'm impressed."

Eolus was quiet.

"Where the hell have you two been!?" cried Max. "We've been fighting and you two decide to swoop in!?"

"Max…we were in the past. I took the kids that were free into the past," Meygan said. "And sorry, it's only us."

"Great! The old heroes aren't going to last against the Slade Bots!"

"MAX!" cried Meygan, trying to get the other girl to calm her down. "Listen, you go do what you were going to do. Komos and I will keep the LOD busy."

"What!?" Max cried.

"Just do it!" Meygan and Eolus flew off, leaving a dazed Dana with a bewildered Max.

In the past, 3 hours later...

Everyone at the Wayne Manor were sitting at the table, eating breakfast. Alfred loved hearing the laughter of children within the home and as he fed young Wesley Kent, he eyed the future Speedster, Brian West, who was eating everything.

Bruce was at breakfast too, smiling as Terry finished his plate and helped clear the dirty dishes from the table.

It reminded him of Jason.

That was a sobering thought. Jason was gone, buried.

Bruce shook his head.

Molly then let out a burp.

Everyone looked at her.

She grinned sheepishly. "Um, excuse me."

"Let me show you how it's done, Moll." Brian closed his mouth for about a minute. Then he opened it and let out this disgusting burp.

"Ew!" cried Barb.

"That's not a burp," Vincent challenged. He let out a burp even louder that Brian.

"Those are not proper table manners," Alfred admonished.

Andrew then let out a burp of his own; which was at the teen boys' level.

"Andrew!" cried Molly.

"Excuse me."

"That's it. You two better stop or it's a fireball at your heads!" Areina took charge at the table.

Dick, Reiena and Tim were laughing their heads off.

Just as all the kids from the future were cowering away from Areina; something unexpected happened...the biggest burp any of them ever gave was released from the fire controller. "By the way; THAT'S how it's done."

The boys just blinked.

"Well, that's official. Areina is my kid," Roy said, coming from the room with the grandfather clock in it. Wally was on his heels.

"DAD!" Vincent and Areina ran from the table to hug him.

Bruce shook his head. Now normally, he'd be mad about other heroes showing up without permission, but with the kids from the future there at his home, he made an exception.

Billy looked around as Virgil Jr. took his plate to the kitchen. "Where's Meygan and Eolus?"

"Hey dad," Brian said to Wally. "Oh, they went to Watchtower," he lied.

Roy and Wally eyed him oddly. "We didn't see them," Wally said.

Brian cleared his throat. "They might be in a training room?" he squeaked.

Vincent gave him a look.

Areina saw that look. "Brian? Vincent? What's up?"

All of the Bat Family stared at the two.

"Well, they didn't want to be interrupted," Brian added to the lie.

"Then let's get this table cleared and go meet up," Terry said from the kitchen.

"Terry's right," Billy said. "We got a little over 5 hours left before the timeline resets."

"Then let's go meet up with them!" Molly was out of her chair and ready to go in a second.

Brian and Vincent looked at each other.

It took a little time but they all returned to Watchtower. Terry and Areina hunted down Superman and the two had a favor to ask of the Man of Steel.

"Hey Superman," Areina said casually.

"Hello…Um, Red Bird, right?" Clark asked.

"Yeah. Listen, I was wondering. Can you tell me where Meygan and Eolus are?"

"Sure." Superman scanned the entire Watchtower and had a confused look on his face. "They're not here."

Terry and Areina looked at each other. "You sure?" Terry asked. It was a dumb question.

Superman stared at Terry as if he was hearing things.

"Okay, you're sure," Terry said, answering his own question.

Areina was pissed. She stormed Watchtower looking for Brian West. Terry knew that their team's speedster was in for it now.

Brian was enjoying playing the gaming console that Best Boy had brought out of his room and hooked it up to one of the huge monitors in the main control room. The future team members were all watching Brian get his butt handed to him by Beast Boy. But Brian wouldn't give up.

Areina walked in, a firm look on her face. She eyed Brian and crossed her arms. Terry was right behind her. "Brian."

"Hey Areina! Try this racer's game! It's sway!" he told her.

"They're not here."

Brian winced at the tone of voice.

The others were all looking at him.

Kid Flash II put down his controller. He sighed.

"No. They're not." Vincent spoke up because he didn't want to get his step brother burned by his sister. "They were back…alone."

There were gasps from everyone.

"You let them do WHAT!?" cried Areina. She got into her brother's face face. They glared at each other.

"She got spooked," he told her.

"And you let her and Eolus- who was out REMAINING POWERHOUSE- walk away!?"

"Hey!" Brian got up and stood up to Areina, standing next to her. "Don't yell at him! She told us they had to get back."

"And you two just let them!"

Reiena went to her future daughter and gently pulled her back a few inches. "Easy, Areina. Calm down."

"I AM CALM!" she screamed.

"Hey, that's your mom!" Vincent cried. "Don't yell at her!"

"No, I should be yelling at you! What possible reason would you let her go!?"

Billy then thought of something. "The countdown."

Everyone looked at Syfon. "What?" Terry said.

"Meygan was very concern about the countdown."

"Would she have gone if something changed her mind?" Dick asked.

"She dreamed. She sees things before they happen," Vincent said, being hesitant about telling anyone what he caught on their link. "I think…I think she saw us all go down when we got back."

"THINK!? Either you know or don't know!" Areina cried. "How could she do this!?"

Vincent went to his Legionnaire's ring and tapped the 'L' on it. "Brainy, I need a favor," he said into it.

A holographic image of Brainiac 5 came to float about Vincent's ring. "No."

"What?" Vincent said.

"You can't. Meygan gave me back the ring." Brainy was very quiet when he said this, as if he couldn't believe it.

"She did what!?" Vincent said.

"She hacked Computo. She knows about her…impending death."

Everyone who heard him were shocked.

"When the timeline was changed, it shifted to a new one into place, one where she and all of you would die when you tried to take back Watchtower. But I didn't want you two to find out. On your last visit, she hacked my computer and found out."

"Brainy…you should have stopped her!" cried Vincent.

"She was saving all of you! I couldn't stop her. I'm no match for her when she's pissed off," Brainy said truthfully. "She wanted me to look after you."

"Screw that! Send me to her! You got the tech!" Vincent cried.

"No Vincent. There's no saving her on this."

"Then I'll get Carlos!" Vincent cried.

"You have to let her face this head-on, Vincent. She was ready. For whatever she has planned, she's ready to meet her destiny."

"She's my sister!" Vincent cried. "You have NO idea what you're asking me to do!"

"She was mine too!" Brainy yelled. He then realized that HE of all people just slipped.

"What?" he said. Everyone else was forgotten.

"Meygan…in the original timeline, she becomes immortal. She lives forever. She lived to my time. She saved me, saved the Legion countless times. Meygan made me her little brother." Brainiac 5 had tears in his eyes. "And now…"

"Now we just let her die…" Vincent had tears down his eyes.

"I…I'm sorry, Vincent. She wanted to do this alone." Then Brainy was gone, leaving a stunned Vincent Crock-Harper standing there.

"Mey-Mey..." Molly said quietly.

Areina stared at him. "You are the worse brother to ever exist." She then left, she needed to get away.

Vincent was too stunned to speak.

"Wait…he said the timeline shifted to this new event, right?" Syfon said. "Well, what if she died AFTER the timeline resets?"

Shock got the jist of it. "Then she won't die!"

The future team was excited now. Was that even possible? For her to not die, to hold on long enough for the timeline to shift back to normal? "How much time?" Terry asked.

"3 hours, 37 minutes," Billy announced.

"Then we wait," said Brian.

Areina Greyson had gone to the training hall and found an area just for fire controllers. She couldn't believe it; she felt like she just severed her connection with her half-brother AND her demon possessed cousin. Areina fell to her knees and for a bit cried at the thought of what all she just said and done to Vincent.

**And now the major fight begins. Can Meygan take down the LOD alone? Will she die before the timeline resets itself or after? Will Eolus, aka Komos, show the bad guys what a demi god can do? All this and more in the next chapter! **