Episode 9: I and We
"Terry," Bruce said, standing on the edge of the roof of the resort.
"Bruce," Terry said, sitting on the fire escape steps outside of his apartment.
A short silence settled between them. They could see each other via the holophone.
"Should you start," Terry asked, "or should I?"
Bruce heard the smile, the knowing, in Terry's voice.
"Go ahead," Bruce said.
"I learned about Phantasm: the original and the successor," Terry began. "Andrea Beaumont was the original, and now her son Carlito Beaumont has taken on the role: her son and yours."
Bruce said nothing, and Terry didn't wait for him to respond, expecting he wouldn't speak until he finished, so he continued.
"He's not an enemy," Terry said," but Omen is. I plan to learn more about Omen when Phantasm revisits the city. I'll be alerted to his location, and I'll confront him. We'll work together to face Omen. A few side notes: Blight might be making moves and possibly be at the heart of the trouble in Gotham. I'm not completely sure, but according to some research I did Blight might be one of, if not the cause of Omen's actions. I suspect it's fallout from the Red Clay Raven Reservation V. Derek Powers case from several years ago."
Bruce nodded his head, but he could tell there was more, so he still refrained from commenting.
"I also received word that Dak might join the team," Terry said, "and last but not least Omen might not only be a metahuman but have magic or mysticism at his disposal: maybe something about spirits. That to say we're not dealing with a run of the mill criminal. There's a lot to him: a story we don't know. We should try to avoid a fight as much as we can, or we might have to call in some reinforcements."
Bruce would never say this to Terry although he did say it to Alfred once. He was glad he had met Terry, and he was glad he was the one who stole the suit that faithful day.
"I'm here now on the Red Clay Raven Reservation," Bruce said. "I left to meet with the original Phantasm, and she directed me to her successor. However, she has no idea that Carlito has donned the Phantasm suit and mask. I have spoken with Carlito. He is a metahuman, and we agreed he should go back to Gotham and work with you to stop Omen. He doesn't know Batman's current identity nor my previous identity. Meanwhile, I plan to stay here, at least until I hear word that Luke and Damian have taken care of the mess that Derek has made for the people of this reservation that birthed Omen. If Damian doesn't come across him, that'll mean Derek is hiding in Gotham. With him being Omen's true target, I doubt Omen will stop killing people until he leaves Derek dead."
"And he'll be in for a surprise when he finds out Derek is even more dangerous as Blight," Terry said.
"Mysticism," Bruce said. "Omen might be connected to it, or he might be connected to Spiritualism. While I'm here, I'll look into that as well. Now, what's this I hear about Darius possibly joining the team?"
"I'll give you more details about that as I receive them," Terry said. "As you can probably imagine, I've been kind of busy since you left. Had to make Gotham my number one priority. Don't worry. Whatever comes of it, I'm sure it'll be for the best. I trust Dak."
"I know you do," Bruce said.
"Is there anything you'd like to admit to me?" Terry said: trying not to smile. "The way I see it that playboy persona might've been less an act and more a reality. We're up to three women who fell to your charms."
"I have nothing to admit or be ashamed of," Bruce said. "Those three women didn't fall to my charms."
"You fell to theirs," Terry said.
Bruce could see that Terry tried to keep from laughing while Terry could see that Bruce tried not to show that he was not amused.
"Terry," they both said simultaneously.
"I'm sorry it didn't work out," Terry said: more serious now.
Bruce hadn't quite expected Terry to suddenly shift gears.
"I read an article from a journalist that interviewed Veronica Vreeland," Terry said.
Ronnie. He hadn't spoken with her in ages. Not since he had rescued her daughter Bunny, which had resulted in him discovering his heart condition and put him on the path of thinking about retirement.
"She had said you two made a great couple," Terry said. "That everyone saw that it was love. That everyone saw marriage in your future. Unfortunately, you two had to part ways, and Andrea left with her father. He needed her for his safety. In the end, she lost her father and the love of her life."
"Neither of our lives turned out the way we planned," Bruce said, "but they turned out the way they were meant to be. We both thought we'd end up alone, but we both found our people: family. We found each other again. Even to this day, we are family."
"Glad to hear that," Terry said.
Terry began to receive another call.
"Bruce," Terry said. "This is Melanie."
"I understand," Bruce said. "We'll talk again."
"I'll make sure to keep our city in one piece at least until you get back," Terry said.
Bruce nodded, knowing Terry would.
"Call Clark," Terry added. He ended the call.
While Terry took the call from Melanie Walker, his friend and former lover: a blonde bombshell with robin egg blue eyes, a former criminal trying to turn her life around and keep her life separate from her criminal family, Bruce made his second phone call of the night. This time he called his friend: Clark Kent, also known as Superman, a man many regarded as pure sunshine and a symbol of hope.
~~~
"Melanie," Terry said. "You ok?"
"Hey Terry," Melanie said softly. "I've been missing you." She smiled sadly, sweetly.
"I messed us up," Terry said. "I own that. But I told you, if you ever need me, to call. You might be without your biological family, but you'll never be alone. I'll be here for you as long as you want me to."
Melanie had a way of putting him on edge: in a good way and in a bad way. She was an omen: of good or bad coming his way.
"I remember," Melanie said softly. "I'm calling you because there's been a murder at the university. She worked in the Chemistry Department. I was calling to make sure you were okay but also to relay a message to you."
"About Dana," Terry said. "Is she-"
"Yes," Melanie said: not letting his mind go in that direction. "She's fine. She's been taken to the police station. She was with the professor: Professor Joanna Artsburough. Dana had told me she was going to meet with her as part of her paper she was writing on radioactivity: its contributions to society and effects on the environment. Apparently, that's when Omen arrived. He explained that Joanna had been getting paid to give false claims in court cases as an expert witness. Dana tried to stop him, but he told her he wasn't there for her: to close her eyes. He tossed her into a bookcase, then proceeded to kill Joanna and leave his mark on her office: black feathers, white feathers, from the raven, everywhere. Omen - written in Joanna's blood."
"I'm guessing they checked her out," Terry said more to himself than to Melanie. "I'm going to her. Are you ok? Were you there too?"
"I'm fine," Melanie said. "She and I were going to meet for lunch. When I came to the office, she was making the call for help. She told me what happened while we waited for emergency services to arrive."
"Thank you Melanie," Terry said.
"Anytime," Melanie said. "Now go see her. I told her that I'd make sure you got there." She winked at him before she ended their holophone call.
Terry grabbed his jacket and headed for his motorcycle to reach Dana at Gotham City Police Department.
~~~
"If you were worried," Bruce said, "you could've called."
"I know better than to call when you're deep into your work," Clark said. "You left Gotham, so I figured it was pressing and extremely important."
"You're worried about losing me," Bruce said.
"You are getting older," Clark said. "I'm worried about losing you, and everyone I know at this point in time."
Clark was sitting in his office at home. No doubt waiting for Lois to return home from work.
"You're the one who always says I'm going to outlive you all," Bruce said.
"That's true," Clark said: after a hearty laugh. "What's going on with you? You're acting outside your normal, so don't try to brush me off."
A long silence followed.
Bruce wrestled with his thoughts and feelings on the matter, and Clark waited patiently as Bruce knew he would.
"When I was young," Bruce began.
"When were you young?" Clark asked innocently, smiling a bit. "Go on. I'm done."
"When I was young," Bruce began again. "I had a chance at happiness, letting go of the past, starting my life anew. It was around the time I started becoming Batman. I met a woman who almost had me put Batman behind me. Her name was Andrea Beaumont. Her father was murdered due to his mafia connections, and she became his avenging angel. This avenging angel was known as Phantasm. By the end of her chapter in my life, she had taken down the joker: at least for a little while. Left Gotham and me behind. And, she unknowingly was pregnant with my son."
"You met him?"Clark asked.
"I did," Bruce said. "He's a striking young man. He's got a strong sense of justice, he's a metahuman, and he admired Batman growing up. He took over Phantasm like Terry took over Batman. I got a chance to be a part of Damian's life…" He let his words hang in the air.
"And you lament not knowing about him sooner to be a part of his," Clark said. "Don't feel guilt. You would have if you had known. You can be a part of his life now."
"I find it humorous," Bruce said, bowing his head, shaking it slightly, and smiling briefly to himself. "He holds no resentment toward me. He hugged me. He agrees with you."
"Must've gotten that from his mother," Clark said.
"I agree with you," Bruce said.
"Don't," Clark said. "It makes me uncomfortable." He laughed. "You had some hard years. You changed. You grew: as we all have as we all do. What are you going to do next?"
"I'm going to stay here and work with him on the case he's working," Bruce said. " Dig more into the things that are being left unsaid. While Batman, he'll help him on the case he's working in Gotham. Derek Powers is involved, which means Blight is involved. Derek has a target on his head. If Terry and I can't bring this to an end, root out the initial problem, a lot of innocent people will end up hurt or dead."
"You and Terry have a lot on your plates," Clark said. "I know you would never ask, but if Terry needs help make sure he knows I'm here. That goes double for you."
"We got it under control," Bruce said. "I'll call you again. Tell you how it goes."
"Before you go," Clark said. "What's your son's name?"
"Carlito," Bruce said.
"I like it," Clark said. "Good strong name. Starts with a C. I look forward to meeting him."
Bruce smiled and shook his head. Clark was beaming.
They ended the call.
Bruce let the smile fade. He went back to work.
