Episode 7: On Your Side and On My Side
"I'm worried about you," a feminine voice said.
Alfred sat in his easy chair. Next to him on a small table he had hot tea and a cigar prepared. The feminine voice came from his niece, who via holophone stood in the room with him: although she had leaned herself up against his fireplace.
"I am getting older," Alfred said, "and I'm sure I'll die soon. However, you don't have to worry about me Barbie."
Barbara 'Barbie' Wilson sighed because she knew her uncle was telling the truth.
"You're not alone," Barbie said. "You have always taken good care of Bruce, and he takes good care of you. I know I shouldn't worry. I guess I just don't like the idea of a good man like you leaving this earth one day." She brought a smile to her uncle's face.
Alfred couldn't help admire the kind, sprited woman that Barbie had become. They were years away from her stint as Batgirl. That experience had changed her life. Now, Barbie traveled the world using her computer skills to bring power to underdeveloped countries while she still maintained her motorcycle skills and became a professional skydiver and videographer to work whenever she settled long enough at her home base in California.
"I promised you that if I needed you I would call on you," Alfred said.
"I should be happy you never need me," Barbie said. She gave him her signature wry smile. Her deep blonde hair and green eyes reminded Alfred of her mother: an adventurous, kind woman who had left this earth too soon.
"I still need to hear your voice every once in a while," Alfred said, "so I know you're okay."
"I'm doing fine," Barbie said. "How's Bruce, Dick, and the whole gang?"
"They're doing good," Alfred said. "Bruce is occupied with a case at this time, so he's outside the manor. He's got a lot on his plate. I know he's happy about it, but I also know he's overwhelmed by having to confront parts of his past and the emotions associated with it."
"I can't imagine Bruce ever being overwhelmed," Barbie said.
"He wouldn't show it or admit it," Alfred said, remembering parts of Bruce's life he'd seen and experienced with Bruce over decades. "He doesn't think he's very good with people, but he doesn't see how well he connects with others. He draws people to him. He endears himself to people. I was always worried about him, but I never wanted to overstep. I never wanted him to think I was trying to take on, or take over, the role of his beloved father. I'm proud of all he's accomplished, but I'm happiest that he found the love of good women, love of good friends, and the love of a good family."
"He's a good man," Barbie said. "I'm sure his father was probably a good man too, but I know the man who raised him is a good man. Bruce turned out ok. I'm just glad to know he's human. He seems perfect, intimidating at times, but knowing how much heart he has for his city, its people… You're right. It's endearing."
"It's nice to have someone to talk to about him," Alfred said. "I appreciate your calls Barbie." He looked past her into the flames. "His first best friend…Clark… His first love…Andrea… His first son… Richard…" He drifted off to sleep with a small smile on his face.
Barbie couldn't help shed a tear on behalf of her uncle and the relationship he shared with Bruce that brought warmth and light into not only his life but all the lives that came in contact with her uncle. She knew that endearing trait her uncle spoke about Bruce having was one he unknowingly, maybe even subconsciously, picked up from her uncle. She didn't wake her uncle. She nodded, letting him sleep, ending the call.
~~~
Terry had come from his night shift, and he had to finish a paper: How Urban Development Contributes to Moral Decay. He managed to get two hours of sleep after he turned in his paper before he got up early to make Dana a cup of coffee and breakfast. She loved his hot link, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich with grape jelly. Because he didn't get to see her at all the night before, they had breakfast together, showered together, and he sent her on her way.
Terry didn't have class, and he knew he wouldn't run into Phantasm or Carlito until nightfall, which was his lead to Omen. He decided this was the best time to grab some sleep while he could.
Around 3pm, Terry received a knock at his door. He was still kind of out of it, so he opened the door without checking the peephole. Holding onto the doorframes, a handsome young man leaned inside toward Terry. He was chewing on a piece of hay, and he eyed Terry up and down.
"You are alive," the young man said. "Let me in."
Terry turned around, only in boxers and his socks, and went and fell back into his bed.
The young man came in, shut the door behind him, and then went and pulled the chair from the desk and sat down in it near the bed. He kicked his feet up on the near by stool.
"What are you doing here all the way from the farm?" Terry asked.
The young man had curly dishwater blond hair that he kept in a short ponytail. A strand of his curly hair was always hanging just in front of his face. He was wearing his usual pair of brown overalls, a black-gray shirt, and boots. His eyes, one blue and one brown, were laser focused on Terry: waiting until their eyes met before he answered.
"When my uncle starts to worry, my mom starts to worry," the young man said, "and when my mom starts to worry that's when my dad starts, and when all three of these people I love get worried that's when I start looking into things to to ease their minds and hearts."
Kai James Olsen, also known as Kai-El, was the son of Kara Danvers and James Olsen, and the cousin of Clark Kent, but ever since he was a boy Kai called Clark his uncle. He ran the Kent Family Farm with his cousin Lorrell Kent: third child and first and only daughter of Clark and world-renown investigative journalist Lois Lane. Everybody called her Lor. Between his green thumb and her head for numbers, they had returned the farm back to a golden age.
Kai, like most of the El clan with members of the Batman family, was one of the few who knew Batman was Terry. The two had become close when OG Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and Supergirl went off world to look into a planet that potentially housed Kryptonian survivors.
Kai usually left the hero fighting to the rest of his family, but that didn't mean he wasn't on standby if the need arose. He was a mostly serious, peaceful, laidback guy. He didn't like to mince words too much. He and Terry were the same age, and Terry was fond of him because they could be in a room together and usually similar to with Dana he put him at ease. Dana took mental and emotional weight off his shoulders, and Kai could do the same with Terry's added physical hero weight too.
Kai wasn't Clark or Kara: superpower lottery. He could fly, he could run, enhanced speed and power, had freeze breath, but unlike them if he reached a point of exhaustion or near death he hit a power surge that multipled his ability X10 for at least an hour. He also could become invisible and had healing hands. He also wasn't as badly affected by kryptonite. His mom believed that this was because of his dad's stint as an empowered Guardian before he eventually lost those powers. The trade off was Kai wasn't invulnerable: too many bullets, wounds, a major injury, and he could die. And if he healed someone, depending on the severity of the injury, he could take on the pain and aspects of the injury that could lead to his own death. His healing hands didn't work on his own body either. In honor of the strengths of his family and his own morality compared to the rest of his family, Kai, when he was assisting in the superhero realm, went by Krypton. Even if he didn't appear often, each of his appearances was memorable.
While Kai was a head and a half taller than Terry, having the frame and build of his dad, he had the sweet disposition, optimism, and righteous fury of his mom. Working on the farm with his uncle gave him the muscular definition his family was known for, and his aunt Kelly made sure he wasn't as reckless and as impulsive as his dad. However, like his dad, Kai would never give up in times of trouble, fiercely loyal to his family and friends, fighting to the end for them, for good, and all about the truth and defending others from harm.
The metahuman called Countdown who thought he could wipe Gotham and Metropolis off the planet when OG Batman and Superman left learned this the hard way when Batman and Krypton teamed up. Countdown could cause anything and anyone to explode with a touch after 10 seconds. Terry investigated and tracked him down, and Kai beat the tar out of Countdown before Countdown could lay a finger on him because of the destruction he had caused. Now, Countdown was at a black site.
"They've got nothing to worry about," Terry said: right before he yawned. "I've got everything under control. Besides, even if I didn't, it's not like I don't have people watching out for me or watching out for the city: in honor of the Dark Knight that has protected it for decades."
"This is a far cry from the Terry who thought the first Batman would come back home to a demolished city," Kai said, "and then demolish you." He smiled.
Terry raised his head.
"Just admit you're really here because you missed me," Terry said.
"One thing both Batmen have in common is that they're stubborn," Kai said, ignoring the comment. "They don't usually like to admit when they're in over their heads."
"Hey," Terry said. "A lot is going on here in Gotham, I'm not sure of the magnitude of it all, but I'm not taking it lightly. Compared to last time, you and I worked together, I realized something."
"Go ahead and tell me what that is," Kai said, leaning forward and clasping his hands together.
"I am Batman," Terry said, "but I'm my own Batman. Batman is a symbol. For the people of this city, it must endure. And I'll do whatever it takes to ensure it does, whether that means putting my life on the line or asking knuckleheads I know to jump in the fray with me for an assist."
Kai stood.
"That's what I like to hear," Kai said. "You tell that mentor of yours to call Clark."
Kai walked to the bed and pulled on Terry's shoulder, putting him on his back. Kai placed a hand on Terry's chest. They both felt Terry's heartbeat: calm and even.
"I hate the idea of losing people," Kai said. "I hate it so much some times it builds into unspeakable rage. I'm telling you this-"
"Because you trust me," Terry said.
"Yeah," Kai said. "You're all heroes, who would die for complete strangers. I would risk my life for them, but I would only die: for you, my parents, my family." He pulled his hand back.
Terry rose up on his elbows.
"That's not selfish," Terry said.
"Yeah it is," Kai said. "The murders happening here aren't natural. Don't let your focus on the present criminal make you forget your other enemies. Nobody likes an opportunity more than a scorned villain."
"Bruce's grief birthed a legacy," Terry said.
"He wouldn't trade that for anything," Kai said.
"He wouldn't acknowledge having a legacy," Terry said.
"Part of the reason he started his legacy was to make sure no one ever had to experience the grief he did," Kai said. "Some people might believe him to have been crazy, broken, or traumatized, but he himself acted as a way forward."
"You know," Terry said. "Your way of thinking I'd almost say you were more related to him than you are Clark."
"Yeah well," Kai said. "I've said something similar about you and Clark once or twice to my mom." He nodded.
The two of them smiled, trying not to laugh at each other's words. Kai turned around, walked toward the door, and threw a hand up in farewell.
Terry thought about Bruce, Carlito, and Phantasm. Omen was on his mind, but also the information Jason had passed onto him. Jokerz, members of the group, were getting hired to hassle the rich and powerful. They were stalking, harassing, and assaulting old jury members.
Natives were coming in between the police who were called or hired to help or assist them.
Citizens were starting to see things, hear things.
Feathers, black and white, were starting to appear in places, all over.
"We'll make sure no one experiences that level of grief," Terry said, "and we'll make sure our families don't have to experience that kind of grief."
"I know," Kai said. "Wanted to make sure you did." He opened the door, he sped off: the door closing behind him.
Terry laid back in bed. Tonight, Greta Hayes, then Carlito Wayne Beaumont.
