A.n I own Nothing
So I am now back in Lockdown. Good News is I have been put off my regular day job, however, I have picked up extra shifts for my online Job. You'd think being in Lockdown would free up my time; I am just as busy at home as I was before. I have taken to doing some cleaning and other jobs around the house that I have been putting off for a while...like cleaning out the bookshelf and giving my room a deep clean.
I am still writing and editing. I have the next chapter written up and ready for editing. Hopefully, updates will be a little more frequent. I will do my best but make no promises.
Anyway, as always Please everyone stay safe and Review.
Batman looked up at Wyne manor and frowned. The Large mansion was closed and all the windows were boarded up with heavy dust and muck built up on the windows. Batman took a moment to take in the scene, clearly, this place had not been inhabited or taken care of in a long time.
Green Lantern had dropped him off on the roof of the Gotham City Police station just over an hour ago. while the rest of the team and Slade went to retrieve Hawk Girl. After discussing the Leagues' Situation with Slade and his allies; the president had agreed to help the Justice League in exchange for bringing the Justice Lords down.
Batman didn't believe they could, however, Flash had come up with a plan to get them home, save Hawk Girl. However, it required the portal between worlds and Batman was sure his counterpart would be hiding the portal home in the city. After all, he would not trust anyone else with that kind of technology.
Since Gotham was Batmans city the rest of the League agreed to let him search it and Batman knew there would only be one place he would keep a dimension-hopping portal.
The Batcave.
He'd made his way back to Wyne Mannor, on stopping every so often to marvel at how clean the streets of Gotham were. Without the constant air of corruption, the lack of litter the city looked habitable and liveable. Batman could not remember Gotham ever looking so good.
Staring up at the windows for one long look before Batman walked around the back to see the garden long overgrown, Alfred's Rose bushes and flowerbeds filled with weeds, and the once beautiful flowers that the elder butler cared for greatly were wilted and dead. The dead stems still in the ground. Batman then looked out to the rest of the garden, the fountain long dried, the smaller trees no longer in animal shapes, the grass overgrown, and heavy vines everywhere.
Batman stared at it for a while before trying to access the back door. It was locked and a thick heavy chain prevented the door from being forced open. Batman pulled out one of his exploding Batarangs and set it in the chains lock. He moved back and waited for it to explode; using his cape as a protective barrier.
The door blew open and Batman walked inside. It wasn't breaking and entering…not technically as he owned the house. The inside was just as dreary, dust and dried levees littered the floor and all the furniture was covered in sheets for protection. Even the paintings were covered. Alfred would never let the place get this bad.
"Where is Alfred?" Batman wondered as he made his way through the to the house. Surly his counterpart would not have gotten rid of him…would he?
Batman headed up to the second floor and stopped at a grandfather clock that was covered in a sheet. He pulled the sheet off and triggered the secret entryway in the clock. Stepping inside he walked down the secret stairs that led to the Batcave.
As he walked down, Batman got a good look around the cave. The computer setup was identical to his own, however, everything else was missing. The spare Bat Suits used for different situations, Robin's suit was no longer on display, nor was Bat Girls. Additionally, all the trophies Batman had collected over the years were also missing.
Batman himself was not a collector, sure Bruce Wayne spent a small fortune each year on antiques from across the world. However, that was expected of him. He was a Billionaire and Billionaires spent money on art…even if Batman didn't think much of it. However, when it came to being Batman that was different, he believed in preserving some evidence of his crusade against crime. Hoping that what he left behind would one day inspire others. What he collected wasn't much and certainly nothing too dangerous. A large Penny from one of his earlier battles with Two-Face, A giant Dinosaur from a battle with Toy Master; things that wouldn't be missed.
But there was no sign of anything like that in this cave. In fact, all traces of anything other than the computer and a large empty square on a ramp was gone. Batman had to wonder how his counterpart lived the way he did.
Batman approached the square. This had to be it, the portal home.
"So, you finally showed up," a voice from the shadows said and Justice Lord Batman emerged.
"You had to know I would come here, after all, I wouldn't trust anyone with this technology," Batman responded. He looked up at the empty square "This is it isn't it,"
"Your Perceptive,"
"I'm you remember,"
"Yes, you are, and your right. This is the portal leading to your world," Lord Batman confirmed.
"Then you know why I'm here," League Batman said seriously.
"I do," Lord Batman confirmed "But if you know what's good for you, you will surrender,"
"If I knew what was good for me, I would not be dressed as a Bat and neither would you,"
"Can't argue with that," Lord Batman agreed.
League Batman glanced around. "Where is everything?" he asked.
"Excuse me?" Lord Batman asked.
"In my world, my cave has trophies, a collection of souvenirs from my achievements and spare suits," League Batman explained "Your cave is empty and I don't see Robins or Batgirls suit either. Plus, the mansion is a mess. So where is everything?"
Lord Batmans' mouth twitched at the mention of Robin and Batgirl. If it were anyone else, they probably wouldn't have noticed. But Batman was not everybody else and he did notice.
"Gone, I got rid of them all," Lord Batman responded "they were cluttering up the place,"
"And Alfred?"
"He's dead, just like Dick and Barbara," Lord Batman confirmed.
That caught Batmans' attention "Dead?"
"They tried to stop you and the Justice Lords,"
"They couldn't see the bigger picture," Lord Batman claimed "they refused to see a better way,"
"You killed them," League Batman said darkly.
"They left me no choice. Just like you and your friends are leaving us no choice" Lord Batman claimed and suddenly threw out a Batarang, however at the same time League Batman drooped a smoke pellet to obscure his counterpart.
The two Batmans collided in the smoke, each one ready and fully willing to take down the other. However, the battle was evenly matched. Every time one Batman threw a punch or a kick, the other anticipated it and avoided the blow by either blocking or dodging. When the Gadgets came out it was the same thing.
Exploding Batarngs were met with regular ones, sonic devices candled each other out. Freeze pellets met with heat pellets, EMP bombs thrown and going off at the same time. Neither Batman was willing to give any ground and the dance continued until League Batman used his grappling hook to pull himself up into the upper cavern. Lord Batman was quick to follow.
The upper cavern was completely dark, neither Batman possessed the ability to see in the darkness naturally and thanks to those EMP bombs earlier both Batman night vision filleters weren't working. The upper caves were the perfect spot for victory and defeat as both Batmans would have to rely on their experience and own senses to find the other first.
Lord Batman glanced around a stalagmite he was hiding behind, he could not see or hear his counterpart, but he knew they were still there. It would take too long to find him and the longer he hid, the greater chance Lord Batman had of being defeated.
So, he tried a risky move.
"This is pointless, we're the same you and I," Lord Batman shouted out, his voice echoing throughout the cave "I know everything you're going to do, I can counter your every move,"
"We're not the same, you just don't see it yet," League Batman called out. His voice echoed around his evil counterpart. Making Lord Batman glance around wearily to try and find him.
"You think your strong by not taking people's lives? You're not, you're weak and afraid to do what needs to be done to achieve world peace,"
"You talk about peace? The Justice Lords are conquers, nothing more. Your peace is false, your Justice is false. At the end of the day your no better than those you put in Arkham,"
"Maybe, but our world was a mess 5yrs ago and we fixed it. We fixed Metropolis, Gotham, every country on this planet knows peace now," Lord Batman claimed.
"If that were true then you wouldn't need our world to support your own," League Batman shot back.
"Your too quick to judge. The old system didn't work our methods didn't work. You can't change the system from the shadows, you need to step into the sunlight and take over," Lord Batman tired "That's what we made, a world with no pain, no victims, no suffering,"
"And no Choice," League Batman shot back "Who elected you, who voted you in. Democracy has its virtues and your trample all over it,"
"Democracy is an outdated and flawed system,"
"You grabbed power, you took it and abused it," League Batman said.
"So, what if we did. Do you know what we did with that power? We made a world that no 8yr old will ever lose their parents to some thug with a gun again," Lord Batman declared.
Lord Batman waited, he expected another retort or his counterpart to continue to try and persuade him that the Justice Lords were wrong. However, what he got in return was a clanging sound. Lord Batman whirled around to see League Batman standing only five feet behind him, so close that the other Batman could have taken him down.
Instead, League Batman had dropped his Batarang. Lord Batman looked at League Batman in surprise.
"You win," League Batman said.
"You're giving up?" Lord Batman asked.
"Yes…your right…you win," League Batman repeated.
Lord Batman put his Batarang away. He didn't trust his counterpart, but before either of them could do anything the Batcave's alarms went off and both Batmans looked down towards the computer.
"The alarm?" Lord Batman asked.
"That would be the justice League…there at Arkham," League Batman supplied.
Lord Batman glanced at his counterpart, he did not want to trust or believe him. However, he could not ignore whatever set the Bat computer off.
"Don't try anything," Lord Batman warned and he dropped down to the computer, League Batman followed.
While checking the Bat computer, Lord Batman kept looking over his shoulder at his counterpart; expecting an attack. However, his other self was doing nothing, simply standing there. Lord Batman had begun to wonder just what was going on in his counterpart's head. He would never give up so that meant his counterpart would never give up…right?
Once the computer had found the problem, Lord Batman watched secretly feed that showed the Justice League, plus several masked members of the resistance fighting Superman Bots. Lord Batman recognised where the fighting was taking place.
Arkham.
"Your friends are tearing up Arkham," Lord Batman commented.
"They're going after Hawk Girl," League Batman claimed.
"Figures," Lord Batman sighed. He shut off the feed, at least he knew where the Justice League was now and he could go get them. Though Lord Batman was not about to leave his counterpart unattended. He looked over his shoulder again, this time League Batman was walking towards the Batmobile. "Where do you think you're going?"
"To stop them, you coming?" League Batman responded.
Lord Batman followed League Batman and League Batman got into the driver's seat. Lord Batman didn't protest, after all the Batmobile required both hands on the wheel at all times. If his counterpart tried anything, he was in a prime position to get the upper hand.
As the Batmobile raced through Gotham, League Batman started a conversation.
"What happened to Gotham?"
"you're in it,"
"I know, I barely recognise it. What happened to the rubbish, the prostitutes, the suspicious teens in alleyways?" League Batman clarified.
"The Justice Lords," Lord Batman answered.
"The Justice Lords cleaned up the whole of Gotham?" League Batman asked. He was genuinely impressed by this.
"No, the people did that. We don't just enforce the bigger laws, but the smaller ones as well," Lord Batman claimed.
"Amazing," League Batman commented "My Gotham is nothing but a cesspool of scum and Crime Lords…and clowns,"
"That used to be the case here, but then we took over, and now the city is safe,"
"Yeah, it is. Must be nice, living the dream,"
"Dream?"
"A crime-free Gotham. I hope one day my Gotham can become like this," League Batman said "I always believed it was not beyond saving,"
"Gotham wasn't worth saving," Lord Batman growled.
"Then perhaps I should stay here," League Batman suggested.
Lord Batman looked over in shock, he had not been expecting that. "You'd abandon your world?" he asked.
"Why not? If I go back a never-ending battle awaits me and as much as the League may want to defeat you. The fact is we can't," League Batman claimed.
"You think I'm going to believe you? Just like that?"
"I won't get in the Justice Lords way," League Batman assured "I'd hang up my cowl and cape for good,"
"You'd have to prove you can be trusted," Lord Batman said "and that you are willing to cut all ties with your friends,"
"Is that all?" League Batman asked like it was the easiest thing in the world.
"Why would you want to leave your world anyway?" Lord Batman asked.
"I may not agree with your methods but I can't deny the result," League Batman said.
"I didn't think you'd come round to our way of thinking,"
"Why not, you did. I guess I just took longer to see the bigger picture,"
Lord Batman didn't respond, he watched the city go by and it wasn't till they were headed to the west exit of town did Lord Batman notice they were heading in the opposite direction of Arkam.
"This isn't the way to Arkam," Lord Batman accused "what are you playing at?"
"Proving myself to you. Superman and the others will be long gone by the time we get there. I'm taking us to the resistance base that we've been using,"
"Resistance?" Lord Batman asked.
"There leader has promised us the portal home and Hawk Girl in exchange for helping him take the Justice Lords out," League Batman explained "You can capture them all in one fell swoop. Proof enough for you?
"We'll see," Lord Batman responded.
League Batman drove to the outskirts of Gotham and stopped in front of a condemned and abandoned amusement park. Both Batmans recognised it. It was an old hideout of Jokers and one he used frequently.
"The Resistance Hq is here?" Lord Batman asked.
"No, but the base under it is where we have been hiding out and this is where we have been negotiating with the Resistance Leader," League Batman suppled "they didn't trust us with the location of their Hq,"
"Smart, I'll call in the military for backup," Lord Batman decided. He watched for any reaction from his counterpart but all the other Batman did was lean against the Batmobile and looked up at the abandoned theme park deep in thought.
It didn't take long for Lord Batman to finish his call from the Batmobile. "they'll be here in twenty minutes," he said "Anything you want to add before they get here?"
"One question first. The Resistance Leader claimed that there was a man called Trevor on your team. He claimed that they were immortal and had been the cause of many of the Resistance cells downfall," League Batman claimed "Is any of that true?"
"It is, Trevor can't die either by age or other means. He claims he's over 500yrs old and believe me, the Justice Lords have tried,"
"Everyone can die," League Batman stated.
"Not him,"
League Batman narrowed his eyes, the time frame matched Alucard, but he supposed that made sense since they were both from the same time period and they knew each other. However, League Batman wondered how Trevor had survived that long, according to Alucard; Trevor was Human and no Human should live that long.
"Is that why he's part of your team?"
"Trevor's inability to die is an annoyance, but his ability to make anyone he meets immediately trust him. That is invaluable to us," Lord Batman informed.
"Oh?" This peaked League Batmans interest "Does he have some kind of mental ability or is he that Charismatic?"
"No, all he has to do is approach someone and they will give or tell him anything he wants. They can't help themselves,"
"I take it this ability doesn't affect the Justice Lords,"
"No, it does and it did. When we met, we let him on to our team and gave him anything and everything he wanted. That was before we took over," League Batman admitted.
"But you're not like that now,"
"No, whatever he did wear off after a couple of months," Lord Batman claimed "since the effect isn't permanent, we have Trevor find and route out any resistance cells,"
"From your tone, I guess you don't like him,"
"No, I don't and the rest of the Lords don't think much of him either,"
"Then get rid of him,"
"Believe me we would if we could but we can't. The fact is whatever his power is, it's useful and it keeps us ahead of the resistance," Lord Batman confirmed "Why the interest in Trevor?"
"Just making a comparison to my team. The Justice League doesn't have anyone like that," League Batman commented.
"What about that extra, the one that Trevor took an interest in?"
"Alucard. His powers are flight, high-speed regeneration, and magic. But barely uses it," Batman answered.
"I see, any abilities to temporarily bend people to his will?"
"He has never displayed anything like that," League Batman stated. This wasn't a lie, Alucard had mentioned a similar power as Trevor's before however, it wasn't active due to his lack of blood consumption. Now that Batman thought about it, Trevor's powers sounded almost the same as some of Alucard's.
The two batmen waited and after another ten minutes or so, several military vans arrived and surround the area. If they were surprised to see two Batmans they didn't show it. The captain who approached Lord Batman gave him a salute.
"Sir, we're here. What are your orders?" he asked.
"The resistance Leader is hiding in that theme park. We're going in and taking him alive along with as many prisoners as you can. If they resist and they will kill them," Lord Batman instructed "Also there will be copies of the Justice Lords in there wearing different costumes. They are to be taken alive too,"
"Copies?" the captain asked confused and looked at the League Batman "Can I ask where these copies came from?"
"You may not,"
"Understood sir," the captain finished and he turned to address his men to relay the orders. Once everyone was ready, League Batman led his counterpart into Joker's old hideout to the old prop-building behind a performance hall and to where the rest of the Justice League and the Resistance were hiding.
Resistance hideout,
The League and Slade were standing around a table looking at a map and trying to discover where the portal was hidden. Their plan had been a simple one, collect Hawk Girl from Arkham while Batman found the Portal and meet back here. They had initially planned to use the fact that they looked exactly like the Justice Lords to go in and collect their missing ally.
Unfortunately, that plan had fallen through and resulted in a fight between the Justice League, Slade, and an army of secretly Superman robots. They had managed to get away with Hawk Girl who was still unconscious but alive. Green Lantern was both relieved and sad at her state and refused to put her down. He had created a replica of the medical tubes from the watchtower with his ring to help her and it was working.
Unfortunately, when the League had returned, Batman was not there. At first, they thought he might be delayed but the Dark Knight had been gone too long and the Justice League were beginning to worry.
"Where is he?" Superman wondered "Its' not like Batman to be this late,"
"Perhaps something happened," Wonder Woman suggested.
"More like he ran into his counterpart and was killed or worse captured," Slade offered.
"No, Batman would never allow himself to be captured," Flash insisted "he's way too good for that,
Superman was about to respond, but his super-hearing picked up on something and he looked up "Uh-Oh," he said "we've got company,"
The door suddenly burst open and in ran several men wearing military gear rushed in with guns drawn and surrounded the Justice League.
"Spread out find any and all Resistance members," the captain ordered as men continued to file in. Some of them ran past the League and further in.
"How did they find us?" Slade hissed.
"Doesn't matter, half of us are bulletproof and the other half are fast enough to disarm them before they get a shot off," Flash claimed.
"I wouldn't if I were you," a familiar voice spoke.
The League looked at the door and they saw Batman walk in. "you should all stand down,"
"Like hell," Flash retorted.
"Wait Flash…how do we know you are not this world's Batman," Alucard demanded. His hand resting on the hilt of his blade.
"Because I'm here too," Batmans' voice repeated and Lord Batman walked in and stood next to his counterpart.
The League stared at both of them in shock.
"So, Slade was the Resistance Leader all along," Lord Batman stated and stared at the President "and to think you were right under our noses the whole time,"
"Batman, what are you doing?" Superman demanded.
"I've decided to stay in this world and help the Justice Lords," League Batman answered.
"You can't be serious," Green Lantern demanded "After what they did,"
"They created a world without crime, their world knows peace isn't that what we set out to do?" League Batman asked.
"Not like this, not their way," J'onn answered "their way is wrong,"
"And what right do you have to decide that. Maybe if your kind had been more tactical Mars would not be the barren dead planet it is now," League Batman declared.
"You go too far," Alucard declared.
"You're just as bad, your father nearly wiped all life off the face of the earth and you think you can make up for it by sleeping and hiding in your castle?" Batman accused "for someone who is so old and sitting on thousands of years of lost knowledge you sure are stupid,"
"Hey that's uncalled for," Flash defended.
"Don't care, give up you know we can't win against the Justice Lords," League Batman claimed.
"Even so that doesn't mean we shouldn't try," Wonder Woman argued.
"It's pointless, how many years did we work trying to make our world safer. All of us spend years before we formed the League fighting crime and nothing changed," League Batman declared "Nothing ever changes,"
"It takes time," Superman assured "we are making a difference,"
"Maybe in your city but mine is still a cesspool of scum and filled with those that prey on the week. It's always been like that," League Batman claimed "but here, in this world Gotham's streets are clean, there is no crime. Why would I want to go back to my city when the one I want to live in is on this world?"
"Your serious, aren't you?" Flash asked, "You're going to sell us out to live in fake peace?"
"Not going to. Already have," League Batman declared "Who do you think led them here?"
The Justice League tensed up; this was not good. They didn't want to hurt their Batman, but they could not just let the Justice Lords win and take them, prisoner, again.
"Sir, we've searched the area, no sign of any other Resistance members," the soldier reported. Lord Batman looked at the soldier and then at the Justice League.
"I thought you said the resistance was here," he growled at League Batman.
"I said the leader was here and that we had been using it as a base," Batman reminded.
Justice Lord marched up to Slade and grabbed him by his Resistance Uniform.
"Where are the rest of the Resistance?"
"You really think I'd keep any of my fighters here when there are copies of the Justice Lords wandering around?" Slade scoffed "If you think for one second that I will tell you then it's no wonder we've been able to avoid you for 5yrs,"
Lord Batman growled and threw Slade to the ground. "Arrest them all," he ordered.
"Sir, what about your look alike," a soldier asked.
"Him too," Lord Batman instructed "Superman will deal with them when he returns,"
"Wait, we had a deal," League Batman protested.
"I said you had to earn our trust, this is a start," Lord Batman claimed.
"Still don't trust me, fine," League Batman quickly reached over and pulled out a pistol from a nearby soldiers' holster. Everyone got on guard and before he could be disarmed Batman aimed it directly at Alucard and fired.
Alucard fell to the ground dead, blood trickling out of the bullet hole in his forehead.
"How about now?" League Batman asked coldly.
"Al, Al," Flash panicked and raced over to Alucard. He felt for a pulse and looked up at the League with horror in his eyes "He's…He's dead,"
"YOU TRAITOR!" Superman yelled and rushed towards Batman, however before the man of steel could even reach him. Batman pulled out a chunk of Kryptonite from his utility belt and held out, Superman immediately lost his strength and collapsed on the ground.
"Superman," J'onn called out and was about to charge in when Batman pulled out a cigarette lighter.
"J'onn, did you know this chunk of Kryptonite cost over 70,000 dollars," Batman stated "However this lighter only cost a dime," he then looked at Green Lantern "and don't get me started on how much a banana cost,"
This action intrigued Lord Batman, he was sure his counterpart had some kind of ploy or plan and that he was just acting. But shooting and killing an ally, pulling out Kryptonite on Superman, and threatening to burn J'onn. These weren't the actions of someone acting or infiltrating, this other Batman was serious. However, Lord Batman had to be sure. He walked over to Alucard's unmoving corpse and gave it a light kick. When the body didn't respond he bent down and looked for a pulse, but did not find one. Lord Batman stared at the body for a moment before standing up again.
He turned and walked past the League, his counterpart, and the soldiers that had been called in.
"Fine, you come with me. Take the rest of them away," Lord Batman ordered.
The soldiers rounded superman and the others up, Flash had to be pulled away from Al's body and Slade went kicking and screaming. However, in the end, it was fruitless as they were hauled into the back of a military van and once the doors closed and they felt the truck start to move and drive them away.
After a few minutes of driving Slade let out a sigh and leaned back against the wall of the van. "I can't believe it," he said.
"Yeah, me either," Wonder Woman agreed.
"The plan worked," Superman grinned.
They waited and a thud was heard on the roof of the Van. The occupants looked up and all smiled, they braced themselves as the van's breaks screeched bring the vehicles to a sudden halt. Shouting and gunfire could be heard from outside, and then abruptly the sounds ceased and the doors of the van were flung open.
Back at the Batcave,
The two Batmans returned to the Batcave. Now that the Justice League had been re-captured Lord Batman wanted to send the rest of the Justice Lords confirmation and to bring them back to deal with the Justice League before they could escape again.
League Batman stood off the side as Lord Batman sat down and began to type commands into the Batcomputer. He would need to ensure where he put the Justice League would hold them permanently this time.
"I have to admit I did not expect you to shoot your friend," Lord Batman said as he typed "I expected you joining was some poor attempt to force me to let my guard down and then you would strike. I am glad to see I was wrong and that you truly do see our way is better,"
"About that," Batman said and he quickly pulled out and threw some weighted wire. It wrapped around Lord Batmans' torso and legs tying the Justice Lord to the chair. League Batman walked up to him and unhooked his counterpart's utility belt; tossing it aside and out of reach.
"What are you doing?" Lord Batman demanded.
"Making sure you can't escape," League Batman said. "Your me so that means you have contingencies for every member of the Justice Lords, but since the only contingency, you made for yourself no longer exists. Which made it easy to get the drop on you,"
"It was a ploy wasn't it,"
"If it were anyone else, you would have seen through it. After all, it's so easy to lie to yourself," League Batman grinned.
"Even if you have me, you'll never find your friends again,"
"Oh, I'm not worried about that," League Batman smirked. A loud thud was heard and all of a sudden, the roof to the cave burst in and came down. Both Batmans looked in the direction of the crumbling roof. When the dust cleared Lord Batmans' eyes went wide. The entire Justice League, plus Slade was standing there.
"They've already escaped," League Batman grinned and he walked over to stand with them. Lord Batman looked over the Justice League, he was racking his brains on how they could have escaped. Then he noticed Alucard standing with them. The same person Lord Batman had seen his counterpart shoot directly between the eyes, the same person that not ten minutes ago did not have a pulse or heartbeat.
Lord Batman had checked. Alucard had been dead.
"How…that's…you died, you died ten minutes ago," Lord Batman claimed.
"My apologies, news of my death was greatly… exaggerated," Alucard claimed with a smile.
"But how?"
"You guys lucked out when you recruited Trever. You guys have a Vampire Hunter well we have a Vampire," Flash grinned "and Vampires can't be killed by regular bullets,"
"But all those things you said…"
"All planned," Green Lantern smirked.
"We told him to say those things, they had to be hurtful to convince you that he was on your side," J'onn claimed.
"But that's impossible, I would have anticipated all plans you made," Lord Batman argued.
"Yes, you would have…except this was not my plan," League Batman confirmed.
Flashback
"We need a plan to take down the Justice Lords and we also need to get Hawk Girl back and you two," Batman pointed to both Flash and Alucard "Are going to come up with something we can work with,"
"Actually, I had this one idea while I was out getting Al's stuff back," Flash admitted "it's kinda stupid and risky,"
"Stupid and Risky is what you need right now," Slade commented.
"What is your plan, Flash?" Alucard asked.
"Well…what if…what if you joined the Justice Lords," Flash suggested and pointed at Batman.
"Excuse me?" Batman asked both offended and horrified that Flash would even suggest such a thing.
"Yeah. We need to find the portal, right? I bet this world's version of Bats is guarding and no one in our group knows where you hide your stuff but you. So, while the rest of us cause a scene to get Hawk Girl, you find it and when you and your evil-self duke it out, you switch sides. Then lead them to a fake resistance base and kill Al here to prove your loyalty, then we all surrender and get captured," Flash finished.
"Why do I have to die?" Alucard huffed.
"It's not real, all bats have to do is shoot you in the head or something with a regular gun," Flash claimed.
"And how will shooting him in the head help?" Slade asked.
"Al can't die," Flash grinned "he's immortal,"
"What?" Slade asked in shock.
"Is he like Trevor?" Rose wondered.
"He's even better than Trevor," Flash bragged.
"Flash I can die if killed in a specific way," Alucard reminded. However, he didn't say out loud how to kill him in from of Slade.
"Yeah, but being shot in the head isn't one of them…right?"
Alucard shrugged. He had never been shot in the head before, then again guns did not exist back in his time. He really hoped he could not die if his brain had a bullet in it and quite frankly Alucard was in no condition to find out.
"Alright let's say this does work. I am still confused as to how Batman shooting Alucard and us surrounding helps," Superman spoke up.
"It's simple since bats will know the location of the portal. We just wait for Alucard to break us out and we meet you at the portal,"
"How will you know where the portal is though?" Plastic man asked.
"We have two Martians on our side. J'onn can set up one of those mind links with Batman. Or Rose here could do it,"
"That is the most stupid plan I have ever heard," Slade said "Not only does it put everyone, including us in danger but there is no way any of the Justice Lords would believe your Batman switched sides,"
"Your right it is stupid, that is why it could work," Batman said seriously. He then looked at Alucard "Could you survive if I shot you in the head?"
"I do not know…that method of killing me has never been tested," Alucard admitted.
"I would rather not risk the whole plan on whether or not Alucard can be killed by being shot in the head," Green Lantern said.
"Maybe we should have Plas or myself turn into him," Rose suggested "Neither of us can die by being shot in the head,"
"I would prefer to keep you out of danger," Slade responded "besides, Batman is not easily tricked. Tell you what lets test in right now,"
Slade suddenly drew his gun and fired at Alucard. The bullet hit him square between the eyes and he slumped over on the table.
"ALUCARD!" the League cried out and sprang into action. Wonder Woman grabbed Slade by his throat and held him up in a tight choke. Green Lantern trapped Plastic man and J'onn tackled Rose. Flash and Batman were at Alucard's side and pulled him back into a sitting position. Alucard had life-less eyes and wasn't breathing.
"You, why did you do that!" Wonder Woman demanded.
"Was…testing…immortally…like…Trevor's" Slade struggled "Trying…to…help,"
"I'm not getting a pulse," Batman said, his fingers at Alucard's neck.
"That's it we're done talking," Superman started however he stopped and looked over at Alucard's body. "Wait…he's alive…I can hear his heart still beating,"
"You sure?" Flash asked.
Superman nodded and Batman looked at the hole in Alucard's head. The bullet was there, he could see the end of it, and…was it moving?
"I think the bullet is moving," Batman said.
They waited and after a full minute, the bullet was pushed out and dropped on the table. Alucard's blinked and his hands immediately went to his head.
"Ow…that hurt," Alucard hissed "I have the absolute worst headache,"
"You're, okay?" Plastic man was freaking out from the bubble "HE'S, OKAY?"
"Looks like he was only dead while the bullet was in his head," Batman said. He looked at J'onn, Wonder Woman, and Green Lantern "let them go,"
They did, though Wonder Woman was not as gentle with Slade as J'onn and Green Lantern were.
"Don't do that again," Wonder Woman warned.
"Noted," Slade agreed "If he can survive then this plan could work,"
"Even if it does the Justice Lords influence here is too great," J'onn stated "We would not be fixing anything,"
"Unless we cripple their control while they are not here," Rose said.
"And how are we going to do that?" Plastic man asked.
Batman stood up and walked over to the side table, he returned with a notepad and pen and wrote something down on the paper before folding it up and handing it over to Plastic Man.
"Use this," he advised.
"What's this?" Plastic Man asked.
"The control code to the watchtower," Batman said "when used it gives complete control over the watchtower and any device connected to it…including the Bat computer,"
"Um Bats, does our watchtower have something like that installed?" Flash asked.
"Yes," Batman answered.
"Of course, it does," Superman sighed "You know your contingency plans are getting out of hand,"
"His what now?" Green Lantern asked.
"Batman has plans on how to take us all out should we ever turn evil," Superman explained "It's why he carries Kryptonite on his belt,"
"Even me?" Alucard asked.
"Even you," Batman confirmed. "They were designed as a last resort only," Batman defended "being in this world proves just how much we need them,"
"I should be mad, but right now I can see how they would be useful," J'onn said "so what plan did you have for yourself,"
"If I go rouge, there is only one plan in place…it's called the Justice League," Batman said. He then looked at Plastic "Type that code into the watchtowers central, then give control to Rose. She will control the watchtower and the Bat computer from here. Once you have control will implement Flash's plan,"
"Um I'm all for this but how am I supposed to input this code without suspension?" Plastic man asked.
"You're a shapeshifter, figure it out," Batman said.
"Oh right," Plastic man responded.
"Won't the Justice Lord Batman just input the Reset code?" Rose asked "when he figures it out, he will know how to reset it,"
"Not if Flash comes up with a new one," Batman smirked "Even if we can't take down the Justice Lords, this will still give you a fighting chance against them,"
"Alright, then we're set. Plastic Man and Rose will take control of the Watchtower and the Bat computer. We'll get Hawk Girl while Batman finds the portal," Superman agreed.
"I still think this a really dumb idea and won't work," Slade claimed,
End Flashback
"See, we figured out that you and the Justice Lords would be able to anticipate any and all plans we came up with. Because you are us," Superman explained "So we let Flash come up with a plan because he doesn't have a counterpart in this world,"
"And we knew it would work because he's tricked you before," Leauge Batman added.
Lord Batman stared in shock; he could not believe what he was hearing. The Watchtower, the Batcomputer under the Resistances control…and Plastic Man, a wanted fugitive had been working for them this whole time.
"No, you're lying," Lord Batman shouted in denial "I would have known if that code had been activated. No one but me knows it,"
"That might have been the case 24hrs ago, but there are two of you now," Slade grinned "if you think it's a lie then let's prove it. Rose, sweetheart I've got Lord Batman with me. Please show him all the alerts from around the world that he has missed on his computer," Slade asked, through a comlink.
Suddenly screens came to life on the Bat computers feed. Hundreds appeared, each one showing a different city or facility and Lord Batman recognised them all. They all had resistance cells breaking in or burning them down. Freeing those taken for speaking out or trying to do the right thing. In Metropolis, Lois Lane led her cell against some military units defending a redhibition centre…and she was winning. League Batman recognised an older and more battle-weary commissar Gorden leading a riad against a warehouse filled with medical supplies, meant for those who bowed to the Justice Lords' will.
Both League Superman and Batman were impressed that their allies had not given up or been caught under the Justice Lords' rule.
"The second the watchtower was under our control my men and all the resistance cells around the world launched a raid against the Lord redhibition centres, warehouses, and other targets," Slade grinned "Your empire is crumbling, the whole world is rising up against and you and you didn't even notice,"
Lord Batman had no words. He was supposed to be the smart one of the group, the one who was always ten steps ahead of everyone. Yet here he was beaten and outdone.
"In other words, Good Guys one. Justice Lords zero," Flash grinned.