I do not own Batman/Bruce Wayne, Martian Manhunter/J'ohn J'ones, Lucius Fox, Alfred Pennyworth, Superman/Clark Kent, Lois Lane, or Dr. Leslie Thomkins. DC does. Please enjoy reading this chapter for free.
Batcave Eleven Years After Waynes' Deaths
As it turned out Superman had done a great deal with his own hands to make a tunnel connecting to the Batcave usable for a Boom Tube opening. Barda and Scott had a great deal of strength and motivation to continue the project with some direction from Lucius Fox. Lucius commented that, over time, water was excellent for smoothing stone, but was difficult to control. The Martian overheard this and began to prove him wrong. After Barda and Scott carved out a general circular shape in stone John smoothed it with water into perfection.
Lucius watched the Martian work open-mouthed. "Amazing. Absolutely amazing. What do your people use this process for?"
"Shaping new tunnels for travel, to build chambers to house ourselves or our food, sometimes to form hibernation chambers."
"Fascinating. Hibernation chambers? Can you tell me more about that?"
"Green Martians don't sleep on the same schedule as humans. When life came to our caves and caverns with the hot water springs overflowing … you needed to get as much wakeful living in as possible. We hibernate, or sleep, when the water and heat recedes."
"What about here on earth?"
"I've hibernated on earth before … I did so almost a year after leaving Gotham after ... escaping the freezer."
"You sent me down quite a few rabbit holes attempting to figure that out."
"Forgive me ..."
"Well, it was kinda fun and gave me ideas to try out."
"I'm ... glad."
"How long do you think it will take you to smooth out this tunnel for the titanium?"
"I will keep going till I need to eat. After I have, I will continue again until it is ready for Superman to melt the titanium to cover it. Then I will take Bruce up on the offer he made me."
"How did Bruce convince you to come back?"
"He told me I could write letters to … those I've gotten to know on earth and haven't seen for some time. He said I could write them on fine stationary somewhere in the manor."
"Well, if any have an email address you could also …"
A strict English voice spoke behind him. "I know Mr. Fox that you take great pride in being up with the times. But letters still give a sense of dignity and personalness, when we use them to communicate. Besides not 'everyone' has an email address particularly not most people as old as us whom our old extraterrestrial guest might know. You are quite unique, Mr. Fox."
Lucius turned toward the voice. John attempted to keep his eyes on the water he was rushing over stone at an accelerated rate. Lucius' warm voice called him from the task. "Apparently it's your lunch break John."
John put the water in a nearby barrel before turning. Alfred Pennyworth had brought him down a long tray of food. Much of it seemed to be his favorites from his time living in the manor.
"I thought with all the work you'd need to keep up your strength."
John nodded and walked over to eat. After he finished, Alfred took the tray back saying "By the way, I have set up a small room with that stationery and plenty of pens. It's window lets in light from the gardens, but beyond those gardens the encircling wall should block any view of you from the drive behind them."
John nodded. "Thank, for both that and the meal."
Alfred cast his gaze over the smooth stone. "Lucius is correct about your talents 'and' work ethic."
"Thank you. Mr. Pennyworth?"
"Yes?"
"You seem … has my work on the tunnel since last night, really impressed you so much?"
Alfred sighed. "I do not appreciate 'your' disappearing acts. They play havoc with Master Bruce's mind, but it would put Master Bruce's mind to great rest if this worked and you and our other guests from outer space could safely travel to places out there, where you will be happy."
"True."
"Can you give that to my godson? Please."
The Martian sadly met the man's gaze. "I would like to, though it is not entirely within my power."
"You could … if Mars does not need you, go with our other guests. I imagine with your many talents you could be of use to them."
"Perhaps … but in that case … I might be of even more use on earth."
"Just please … do not break Master Bruce's heart again."
"I understand."
Daily Planet Offices Metropolis Eleven Years After Waynes' Deaths
Lois Lane was a bit surprised and even miffed. Her offer to go get a hot dog with Clark Kent Monday evening after work, was turned down. Clark Kent did turn her down apologetically. He added he had promised to help friends with something. Lois glared at the back of his head as he headed to the men's restroom.
"Your friends sure have needed your help a lot lately."
"I know. Hopefully, things will turn the corner soon."
Downstairs Drawing Room Wayne Manor Eleven Years After Waynes' Deaths
The Martian stared at the paper in the evening light coming in through the window. As it dimmed he turned on a nearby light with his telekenisis. He ended up forming himself into the figure of the first man he'd taken on the identity of in hopes it would help his memories flow. Where to begin?
Southwest United States Decades Before Waynes' Deaths
The young man did come. He appeared like a younger version of the man he was currently pretending to be. His twin stayed in the bedroom sometimes giving him advice. He took very little of it.
He asked the young man about his life. He didn't have much context for what the young man said, something about trying out for professional baseball, not making it, and then joining the navy. He asked questions about all this, and showed concern about his son joining something that had to do with war. He stopped himself from speaking of his own experiences in the matter, barely, with the encouragement of his brother.
He ended up asking the young man if he could stay in town longer. The young man, whose smile had gone from forced and polite, to relaxed and real, to quite wide and continuous throughout the afternoon agreed to stay in a hotel near the edge of town and drop by in the morning. His brother asked him about this invitation in his mind at the time, and after the man left face to face. Only then, did he share an idea he'd been till then hiding in his mind even from his twin.
What if we go back with him to this far larger city he spoke of living in?
We? How would that work?
In these "cars" there seems to be some extra space. Invisible and perhaps taking on a smaller form, or even going intangible at times, you should be comfortable enough for some time. Especially if you eat most of the food we've stored away or go out and buy some more beforehand.
And what would the purpose be of going with him to this city?
Our greatest challenge is how much people know the man we pretend to be here. However, he and his son barely talked. The whole time he was attempting to find out who I was, what I was like. I could read that in his mind. Other than a few short talks on the phone and his mother's words, he knew next to nothing of his father. He even came to the conclusion people change, when a few things aroused suspicion about me, and was relieved I was not what he expected. In a city of people who knew this man even less …
We might have to do less to pretend. But brother, are you sure that's all this is about?
What do you mean?
Being a 'father' of sorts again isn't tempting you? You know we are pretending to be a man here, but are not. We don't belong, not among them. We are merely surviving until we can go back. You "promised" someone to go back.
I know, and I still plan to do so. Did you not hear me asking him about the rockets that fly through the sky they use as weapons here?
I did.
Then you must have heard his laugh about my question about going to other planets with such things. Despite their movies on television they haven't been to outer space at all.
How long do you think our war-brother's daughter has to wait for you?
I don't know. But we are pretending to be a man who is dead, and knew he was getting old and sick. We may not have to play him very long, and in that time, we can learn more, and ... continue to give his son what he did not.
He's not 'your' son! Why do you care about that?
The man who "thinks" I am his father may … do well in the navy and learn things about those who put much resources to learning how to build weapons that fly through the air.
It sounded like that air force he spoke of would be better.
Perhaps we can pretend to be someone who can go among them later.
He "is" easier to fool than the man's own neighbors …
His brother had more trouble traveling in the man's car than they'd thought. It also got hotter than they thought, which was the real problem. In the end they had to trick his pretend son into leaving them alone with enough time to switch back and forth. Hot, tired, and disgruntled, his brother had a hard time being a good father. At one point, he made the young man wish he was not taking them to the city. However, during his turn playing the man's father, he apologized and made the man less angry, even if he didn't make his twin so. A meal in a cool room of a hotel made his twin feel much better. The city was more than he or his brother expected though.
There was much noise, so many minds, it took time for them to block it all. His pretend son seemed to worry and empathize with his excuse of a headache, but a walk along the beach helped. The lapping of the waves, indeed the presence of so much warm water nearby was soothing. Still, his brother later told him. I don't like this city. Going to a new place might have been a good idea, but this place was not.
I think you're right. I've already been talking to my son …
He's not your son!
Thinking of him as such helps me to remember to act like it with everyone but you. Anyway, I've been talking to him about moving to a place with a smaller group of people near the city, but not so near our minds will be so bombarded with their thoughts.
For two days he and his pretend son visited in places around the city. His brother chose to stay in the hotel. But then, as they returned one day, indeed, as soon as his pretend son pulled in to the parking lot and brought his car to a stop, a brain blast knocked the human out. Then his twin entered the back of the car. We have to leave!
Why?
I left the room invisibly, but then became visible on the beach. This "dog" as they call it went mad at me. Then a woman staying here too, who saw you leave with your son here earlier, looked confused.
You don't need to panic because of that.
That was yesterday, but I didn't speak of it then. Tonight, I went for a walk again. When I returned, the woman who saw me before and asked questions saw me walking up and you in the car. So, I brain blasted her.
You what?
I tried to lower her down gently, but someone will find her and ask questions. I can't keep this up anymore! We need to go somewhere else and be two people from now on!
So, we just abandon all this, the plan?
He's not your son! I "am" your brother! And we just have to leave! You brain-blasted that man before!
He winced at the reminder. His brother went on. These humans have TV, phones, radio, do you think together they won't put together what you did to him and what I just did?
Were you more careful than I was at least?
I barely did it all, so who knows when they will wake up?
He sighed and looked over at the young man he'd been a father to. He tried to arrange his body more comfortably and cracked the car windows. By that time someone had discovered the woman his brother had knocked out. Against his brother's wishes, he went to stand in the crowd gathering around her and see if he could discover if her mind was truly damaged or not. It didn't seem to be. He and his brother ended up going invisible, flying down the beach, and hiding in a boat that seemed on a long journey.
Downstairs Drawing Room Wayne Manor Eleven Years After Waynes' Deaths
The Martian sighed, began to write, then crossed things out, got another paper and did the same. Then he quit using the stationary and began to use more plain paper in a stack nearby. He began again. Then he stopped and shut his eyes. Explaining ... explaining ... How on earth, could he possibly explain? Earth ...
How could a Martian explain to a man, why he had stolen a face, a life … and then abandoned it? He couldn't imagine what had happened when the real man's body was discovered in his freezer. At the time, he and his brother had not understood how disturbing that would seem to humans having placed themselves and others in ice to preserve not only their bodies, but possibly restore them to life if enough resources to save it from great injury were available later. Humans would not see it that way. What had he done to that young man's life?
He opened his eyes, put pen to page, and tried again. Explaining would not be easy, but he had to try. He may never get another chance.
Batcave Eleven Years After Waynes' Deaths
Lucius watched the Martian's fourth attempt at writing on a screen in the Batcave as Bruce put the Batsuit gauntlets on behind him. "I guess your plan Alfred filled me in on earlier is working."
"Finding the right words can take time."
Lucius' further added, "And starting over with pen and paper takes more time with pen and paper than white out and a typewriter, and especially a computer."
"As long as it takes enough time ..." Bruce nodded toward Superman in the back. "that he can finish, and go find a reason on Mars for John to live for before he's satisfied with his efforts in writing his apologies, it should work."
Lucius' turned fully in the chair before the Batcomputer to meet Bruce's gaze. "If you think he's so bad off, why don't we call in Leslie?"
Bruce paused in pulling on his cowl to sigh. "I've thought about it." He pulled the cowl on fully as he continued, "She's told me she 'hates' my vigilantism, going against the letter of the law. How will she feel about helping to hide a fugitive?" Batman then looked back to the screen and Martian getting farther on his fourth draft on cheaper paper, though he kept crossing seemingly whole sentences out. Batman nodded to the moving image of his troubled friend. "Keep an eye on him as well as keeping an ear out for me tonight. Have Alfred take over, when you get tired. Switch off since I have you both here. Try not to lose track of John even if I'm in distress. Have Superman keep working here unless something else is an obvious matter of life and death. If Superman finishes, have him visit Mars again without waiting for me, or telling John."
"Will do."
What do you think now?
Whumptober Prompts Denial, CCTV (Closed Circuit Television- what Lucius and Bruce are watching John on) Exposure, They Caught Me Red-Handed. The prompts other than CCTV basically relate to J'ohn and his brother being caught. "Denial" might refer to John's feelings toward his pretend son and hoping to settle more firmly into a parent-role once again denying his true motives and what it means to him.
God bless
ScribeofHeroes