I do not own Mister Miracle/Scott Free, Big Barda, Batman/Bruce Wayne, Martian Manhunter/J'ohn J'ones or his twin, Alfred Pennyworth, Lucius Fox, Superman/Clark Kent, or Amanda Waller. Please enjoy this chapter for free.

Brussels Six Years After Waynes' Death

Bruce held his sneakers in one hand while circling the large box wearing only his socks to soften his steps. He'd already talked to the venue owner about the request from Mr. Miracle to "not" have his prop placed over the trap door, but elsewhere on the stage. So, how had the escape artist done it, and could "he" put such a magic trick or skill to use elsewhere?

"Well, if it isn't my biggest fan backstage without an invitation!"

Bruce spun. The escape artist was watching him while grinning. He wasn't wearing his red and gold mask anymore, so Bruce could see he had a handsome face and dark hair a bit wavier than his own. Bruce frowned and tilted his head. From what he knew of show-business, he wasn't sure why this performer hid his face. The escape artist next asked, "Still wondering how I did it?"

"Yes. Can you teach me?"

The performer chuckled. "I've been watching you since you got away from your babysitter. You do have some talent." The escape artist reached his hand out toward Bruce. "Scott Free."

The teenager took and shook it, "Bruce Wayne."

Basement Wayne Tower Eleven Years After Waynes Deaths'

The humanoid in a red and gold mask tilted his head studying the human with ruffled dark hair and clothing glaring at him and gave a sheepish grin. "Guess you were right Barda, we weren't needed or even wanted as urgently as I thought we were."

Bruce waved an arm toward Lucius and Alfred who had also arrived. "It wasn't so urgent you nearly had to blow us away when the tunnel wasn't finished!"

Barda lowered beautifully sculpted eyebrows at him. "That's the thanks we get for dropping everything? Oberon is stalling our audience."

John continued to stare at the woman taller than anyone else there even her husband. "Bruce, do not anger her …"

Scott laughed and then said, "Sorry Bruce. We picked up your signal and monitored this place. The continual construction stopped suddenly. Considering you added 'urgent' to your message, I thought we should pop in to see what you needed sooner rather than later."

Bruce sighed his shoulders and head falling. "Understandable. He," Bruce tilted his head toward John. "Needs to get to Mars, before he has to run again or is put in a cage."

Scott's smile fell away. He looked to the Martian who stared hopefully back.

Bruce continued when the silence dragged on, "Can you get John to Mars?"

"Can't say we've ever done a show there, but I think it's possible. Might take new programming."

Lucius tore his gaze off Barda to look at Scott. "So, this will be a difficult task even for you both?"

Scott waved a casual hand. "We'll figure it out, but 'Mars' isn't on our usual routes."

Barda gazed skeptically at John. "I didn't even know anyone or anything lived there."

John sighed. His stiff frame slightly relaxed as he replied, "I would greatly appreciate you trying."

Bruce cut in. "'We' would appreciate it."

Scott grinned at them. "I think Oberon and Barda might kill me if I don't go on with my show first, but then I'll get right to it."

Bruce nodded. "A depth beneath the planet's surface will be needed in the coordinates too."

Scott's eyes widened. His gaze switched to the Martian. "You want to arrive underground?"

John nodded. Barda raised a hand and knocked her knuckles on the side of the titanium tunnel. "For a Boom Tube opening, you need a sturdy structure or at least lot of open space around it."

"There are large caverns under the surface of Mars, I would be fine dropped off there."

Scott nodded. "We'll look into it. Gotta say, though, I don't think many people have good maps of Mars to work with. It's supposed to be uninhabited."

John went stiff and silent again. Bruce put a hand on his shoulder, but kept his gaze locked with Scott's. "Thank you for looking into it."

The Escape Artist grinned. "Hey, I'm Scott Free. If there's three things I like, they're kissing my wife, getting out of tight places, and helping others to do the same."

Sensing their impending departure, Superman broke in. "Are you Kryptonians?"

Both the new aliens raised their eyebrows. Scott shook his head. "Fraid not."

Lucius asked, "Where 'are' you two from?"

Bruce, Alfred, and John saw Scott's right hand turning into a fist even as he continued to grin at the engineer. Barda, though, narrowed her eyes at Lucius. Her husband answered, "I've actually spent a lot of time here on earth. But we took our show intergalactic some decades ago earth-time."

Lucius opened his mouth again and got out, "What species are y …"

Bruce reached out grabbed his arm, making his fellow scientist turn to look at him. Bruce though kept his gaze on Scott. "Thank you again, for helping with this."

Scott's smile became more relaxed as he nodded. Then he turned his smile to the Martian "We'll see about getting you to Mars. Now, if Barda has no one to knock out, and I have nowhere to break into and out of, I think we'll be going." Scott then looked to the older humans in the room, "Which I've come to understand means 'all of you' should be going some distance from here first?"

Alfred nodded. "Unless you both would like to stay a little longer for a cup of tea?"

Scott winked at the butler, "Next visit."

The humans, Martian, and Kryptonian walked down a few tunnels before Lucius turned to Bruce. "Mister Miracle, the escape artist, whose show you dragged me to in Rome, is an alien?" Bruce nodded. Lucius frowned, "And after I watched that show with you in Rome, you didn't tell me?"

"I didn't know then."

Alfred cleared his throat, "We found out in Athens."

Lucius shook his head, "And to think, back then, I thought all that money you spent catching the same show over and over again in different cities and countries would have been better spent on anything else. Though, I agreed some of his illusions were puzzling. Does his being an alien explain them better … and what …" They all felt the air's reaction to the forming of a boom tube. Lulus gave a low whistle. "How do they stand that?"

Superman and John answered at the same time. "Dense physiology."

Lucius nodded. "And are 'all' aliens of their species so 'attractive'?"

Bruce answered this time. "Not from what Scott told me. Listen … Lucius ... Scott spent some of his happiest years on earth. And he didn't develop his desire or ability to "escape" enjoying the place he was before."

The fire of curiosity dimmed in Lucius eyes as he nodded. "I see …"

Bruce nodded and added. "He met his wife in the same place. Their 'species' is extremely strong, resilient, and long-lived, but that can all be taken advantage of. Do 'not' ask questions about it again."

Lucius nodded. "Message received."

Bruce released a sigh and turned to Alfred. "So, you learned something worrisome in your research?

Superman grimaced, but John merely sighed. "May we all sit somewhere comfortable for this?"

Lucius turned to the Englishman. "What's this about?"

"I recently learned our guest spent time in NASA, before spending time in Russia."

Bruce's eyes widened. Lucius' mouth dropped open. Superman put the heel of his hand to his forehead. John sighed. "I did not know then that I would meet someone, who would meet aliens capable of taking me to Mars. My brother and I felt your species was taking too long developing a way there. So, my brother and I made a plan, it was 'not' to sabotage America's rivalry with Russia, but rather to make sure any unique breakthroughs on one side were shared with the other to speed both's progress."

Alfred's scowl became darker. Lucius grimaced. Bruce stared at his green friend. "Continue."

"We only wanted a way home then, but it was a mistake. And I never did share what I learned, or really memorized, from NASA with anyone in Russia."

"Not even your brother?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because my brother went insane!"

The human's almost jumped. The Kryptonian winced. Under the humans' wide-eyed stares, John took a breath. "My brother went insane …"

Bruce broke in in a softer voice, "You have to explain more than that John."

Alfred cut in with a sharper tone, "He became a mind-reader who sent secretly disobedient citizens and spies to gulags …"

Superman bowed his head. Lucius bit his bottom lip. Bruce switched his gaze to his godfather and then back to the Martian. John, however, lifted his gaze and met the ex-agent's stare. "Yes. He did. And I stopped him."

Even Alfred's eyes widened at that. Bruce broke in with a soft voice again, "How?"

Superman's head snapped up, now he was almost biting his lip, but John pressed on, "I buried him in ice and snow … like my war-brother buried my niece, except I did it by force."

Alfred's eyes widened. "Where?"

Finally, John's own tone lowered and hardened. "I'd rather keep that a secret."

Bruce broke in, "Do you want to take him back with you?"

John sighed. "I … wanted to see what was there first … If there is a place there that … reminds him of our youth, perhaps …"

"And if there isn't?"

Alfred cut in as well, "Even if there is … I don't even know yet how many died or were tortured, but certainly some were imprisoned due to his brother's actions."

John clenched his fists. His head snapped a up as he heard Bruce's" voice in it and saw the man staring at him concentrating. He didn't realize the human understood his abilities so well. You know some of what your brother did. That's why you're upset.

Yes.

You don't think those he hurt deserve justice?

He's the only family I have left.

Bruce sighed and spoke aloud. "I"m not setting his brother's crimes aside, or the lives of those he hurt, but whether Waller or the KGB get either of them imprisoned, it won't be justice they receive."

Alfred turned to face his godson, "So, we just forget?"

Superman crossed his arms. "Like Bruce said, there is no court or law system that specifies what an alien like John or his brother must be treated like while 'going' through a court of law to receive justice."

Bruce cut in again. "They won't be criminals, or even agents of espionage in the eyes of such agencies, test subjects. Alfred … I can't hand them over to that … him or his brother."

Alfred sighed. "If what he says continues to align with what I learn …"

John's head snapped up fully. "Who are you talking to?"

Bruce stepped between the Martian and his godfather while glancing at Superman. "Alfred has retired agents from his team he talks to, who talk to other retired agents."

John began to tremble. "Bruce if Waller has people watching them …"

"I know." Bruce turned to Alfred. "I think you should call off the digging for more information."

"Should I?"

"Sending him to Mars with John may be the best thing we can do to make earth safe from them both. You heard Barda and Scott. Mars seems less connected to the rest of the galaxy than Earth is."

Alfred's face was growing red. John watched solemnly. "I am sorry. My brother should never have spent so long in Russia by himself. It seemed like a good plan to us at the time, but it was not. I grieve what my brother did to those who worked for you or their allies in Russia, and for those who longed for the freedom, or merely disagreed secretly with your enemies, till my brother reported their thoughts to their leaders. I wish it had never happened. But please, he is the last family I have."

"And you're certain he's not a threat now? You've been back there to check on him recently?"

Superman half raised his right hand. "I can do that."

Bruce sighed. "You flying over Russia could make their government nervous."

"I can fly pretty high and see pretty far."

Bruce paused a moment and then glanced at the Martian. "Can you give him directions?"

Superman smiled, "I'm still not recharged from using up a lot of energy with my heat vision yet. My mind should be more human now."

John sighed again and stared hard at the Kryptonian, who shut his eyes in response. Then the Kryptonian smiled, "Got it." Another blast of wind hit the humans and Martian as he left.

Lucius stared open-mouthed in the direction he'd gone. "That's how he can move not fully charged?"

John nodded. Lucius shook his head still meeting the Martian's gaze. "Well John, you want to go look up what we have on Mars, maybe come up with something to tell our other alien friends when they come back about where exactly you want to go?"

John nodded with a slight smile. "Yes."

After they left, Alfred walked Bruce back to the cot he longed for even more than when he'd left it. "Master Bruce …"

"You have a right to be worried Alfred, but I'm honestly trying to be smart about this myself."

"I can see that …"

"You have a right to be angry … I know you had some experiences with being captured and knew others who were."

"This is no easy thing, Master Bruce. I'm afraid, this old spy's heart still wants justice for those turned over to enemies I knew all too well back then."

"So do I, but I also want justice and mercy for John."

Alfred sighed, "If everything he told us 'is' the truth … I admit, I probably will too."

Bruce gave a sigh as he laid down on the cot."I know." Alfred smiled softly as he turned off the light.

Bruce had been asleep for a quarter of an hour, when a gust of air hit him. Then another and the light was turned on over him, and then yet another as Superman returned back to his side. Bruce grimaced and growled while rolling over and sitting up. "Why are you coming to me now?"

He opened his eyes and looked up into a pale-faced Kryptonian. Bruce lowered and softened his voice, "Clark?"

Superman only moved his lips carefully and slowly in response while staring straight at Bruce. "I scanned for dozens of miles around the place he showed me. There's a place the ice was broken even more recently than when he would have buried his brother there, but no one 'is' there now."

Bruce met the Kryptonian's intense gaze with his own before answering in something softer than a whisper. "Did you notice any clues?"

"Animal hairs around the broken and refrozen ice, especially dog hair, but some strands from humans as well."

"No other bodily remains of any kind?"

Clark released a sigh. "No, at least not there, regular stuff like wildlife some distance from it. I tried to look at them carefully … in case … they were him ... But I know a Martian's cells."

"At least we have that."

Clark kept staring at him with the same intensity. "Bruce … how do we tell him?"

"Before I tell Alfred."

A red message began flashing on a nearby computer screen with an annoying sound effect playing with it. Bruce scowled and ran his hands through his messy hair. Superman glanced at the computer screen and then looked back down at his friend's head. "What's that mean?"

"Waller just sent me a message."

What do you think?

Whumptober 22nd 2024 Prompts "Reopening Wounds" and "Oh That's Not Good."

God bless

ScribeofHeroes