I do not own Batman/Bruce Wayne, Martian Manhunter/J'ohn J'ones, or his twin. DC does. Please enjoy this chapter for free.
Tunnels Under Gotham City Eleven Years After Waynes' Death
Batman drove to the batcave with John still beside him. The Martian smiled even knowing he'd been manipulated. Bruce had made a good point though.
The Martian thought about stationary, stamps, and the possibilities they represented. Bruce's offer allowed him to address those he'd done a mixture of good and bad to while living on earth. Taking that offer seemed the decent thing to do. How had Bruce known? How much research had he done? How much of his past on this planet did he know about? John frowned.
Small Southwest Town Nearly Two Decades Before Wayne's Deaths
There are "so" many of these creatures here! We should go!
He pushed his sense of calm and purpose toward his twin's scrambling mind. If so many are here, there must be food here, which we need.
I know! I know! But can we steal it right in front of them?!
That house over there. I can't sense a mind in it.
He felt his brother bend his mind toward the same building before replying. You're right! But there's light. Why is there light and no mind? The creature that lives there must be coming back soon!
We should sense that then … especially if we can get its food in us first.
In that case, let's hope it doesn't plan to return for a long, long time.
They didn't have the energy to be invisible or phase for long. They moved in long shadows over open areas, when they could. They only became invisible to sprint through lit areas. They became intangible to dash through fences and bushes without climbing or making a sound.
They got the house with a dim light coming from inside, but no mind. Then, they heard voices from inside it as well … and yet … sensed no mind.
He and his twin exchanged questioning stares. Turning invisible they looked through a window. Then let themselves be visible again to save strength. His twin commented in his mind. The voices are coming from no living thing, but that machine.
As is the light. He phased through the wall and window and looked around. The dim light from a glowing square on the machine was not much to see by. He saw clearest the faces of creatures talking, but in black and white, on the lit surface itself. There were no colors, no smells, and no thoughts to go with the black and white sight and sounds ...
His brother soon stood beside him. Where is the food?
His twin was being bold. He'd been the bold one about coming. In the place, he felt uncertainty niggling at him. He gazed at the machine showing alien faces and making alien sounds. What do you think its purpose is?
I don't know. Not hurting us, or it would have already done it. First, I prioritize safety and you prioritize food. Now, I prioritize food and you prioritize safety? There is no mind here! Let's take what we can!
Instead, he moved toward the machine. He gazed another moment at the screen. Then his eyes followed the light it produced. He stepped back. Brother!
What?!
One is here!
Nonsense there is no …
His brother walked to his side, followed his gaze, and froze. One of the creatures, strange to them, but not to the place they were in, sat with its eyes closed, mouth open, and head lolling back. He could feel his brother's as well as his own concentration probing the being. Yet, they received nothing in return, not even the soft rhythms of deep sleep or slighter life signs they could sense in hibernating people. Finally, he scanned the body with his martian vision. He's dead.
What killed him?
We are used to seeing our dead burnt and stabbed now. This is not unlike a look that one of us had passed out before being eaten by something from within or without.
Why didn't the predator eat him? I see no sign of a parasite.
No … a passageway for his blood is blocked.
What?
That seems to have killed him.
So … he won't attack us, or need his food?
And I sense no mind nearby even bent upon this place … We are safe, for some time.
Good. Where is his food?
He stayed in front of the dead creature as his brother rushed about in his search. His twin's mind still called to him though. Why don't these creatures have their food out in the open! I'm starving! Did he starve to death?!
I think not. Here … He stood and went to a window other than the one they'd come through.
His brother froze and stared at him. Don't!
But he bent his mind on that of one of the same creatures alive in another house concentrated on something else. He probed gently. You may be hungry. What will you do about it?
The creature squinted and puckered his lips. Images washed through the creature's mind. He took them in and shared them with his brother, who had already been through more of the building than him. He seemed to know what to do. He flew to a certain room. He followed to find his brother devouring something. Save a little for me will you?
After swallowing, his twin replied, That was very risky!
Perhaps not so much. These creatures see sights and hear sounds, but thoughts … they do not seem to sense thoughts.
His brother froze and stared at him. You think that could be true? They are deaf to thoughts?
It would help us much if they were.
His brother put something else in his mouth, tried to chew, grimaced, and pulled the food out of his mouth. He took it from him and examined it. Here, I do't know if this part is meant to be eaten. He removed something enclosing a much softer center. Then he took a bite. This, I think is supposed to be eaten. He pulled it into two parts and gave one to his brother. They continued their feast until they felt less pained, less anxious, and even strong.
Then he went back to look at the being whose food they had eaten. His brother followed. Come on, we're better now … Let's leave.
Why?
What do you mean?
We have an opportunity …
To do what?
This being is dead. His people do not know. They expect to find him here.
He reached out. His twin screamed in his head. Brother stop! We don't know if you can do that safely!
But it was too late. He drew some of what remained of the dead creature, he had not been dead very long, into himself. He paused, concentrating. Then, slowly he became like the creature but alive. He looked at himself. Then he smiled at his brother who was shaking his head. No … no … We can't behave like him convincingly! We know nothing about them!
We can read the minds of his people and behave as they expect him to behave.
No! It's too risky! Those we just escaped, just angered, are not that far away!
And we haven't transformed into one of them or anything else here before. If they cannot do that themselves and they don't seem to, perhaps they don't know we can.
And?
They won't expect us too.
What about his body it will draw notice soon!
Perhaps ...
He walked back to the window he had looked out before and to the mind of the creature he'd probed about food. The creature seemed to have realized he wasn't really hungry and had remained where he was. This was a bit riskier now, and his twin knew it. Don't!
But he did. If you need to cover something in ice ...
Rather than being suspicious, the human seemed annoyed. But before he rejected the thought, and went back to concentrating on something else, he thought of something big, cold, and kept downstairs.
This creature might not have such a thing, but … He and his twin went downstairs and found a freezer. It was large and filled with ice and more food. They could eat the food in a few days. They looked at each other.
Days later, someone came to his door. "Yes sir?"
"Hi, I just thought I'd check in. You'd been coming to our church for a few weeks now, but skipped today. Is something wrong?"
"Oh. No I just … forgot. Please forgive me. Don't be worried. Come in."
What are you doing?!
He heard his brother's voice plainly in his head, but simply replied in kind. He's concerned, which is close to suspicious. Stay hidden. I will learn more from him and send him on his way more comfortable with us.
They had taken turns pretending to be the dead occupant of this house to his neighbors even using his "money" still around said house to buy "more" food they had grown to like. "Oreos" he'd heard at the 'store" went well with milk. Having tried it, he quite agreed. They were his favorite discovery in this place. He offered one to their visitor now.
The visitor squinted at him in confusion. He stiffened fearing he had made a mistake. His brother berated him in his head. Then the man shrugged and took it. The visitor began to speak before taking a bite of the cookie confusing him more. "I know when you started coming, and I asked you why, you said you were getting older and worried about your health."
A shaft of guilt went through him. He tried to cover it up by chewing on his own Oreo. "Oh … yes … that is true." He decided to go ahead and read the man's thoughts to avoid further problems.
"You're doctor said there might be a problem …" You'd become concerned about death.
"Yes …"
"You also said you had a son you hadn't spoken to in a while."
He stiffened upon hearing that. He looked at the visitor. He began probing to find the man's inner thoughts about this conversation he'd had with the human he was pretending to be. What he found made his eyes widen. You were feeling guilty you hadn't raised him with his mother.
What sort of father did not stay with his family? His twin had never had a family, though he'd been planning an attempt to have one before tragedies took away his chance. As a male Martian, after your own parents died, you left the cavern of your birth. You then ventured out and found a cavern with a female you wanted to spend the rest of your life with. You convinced her community's council to let you stay, and you convinced her to have you. You became one. You had children. You raised daughters to stay in, and tend well, their community of birth. Your male children you taught to respect and love you and their mother till your own deaths and then venture out and do as you had.
The visitor's words interrupted his memories. "Do you still feel guilt about that?"
"I … Yes … What do you suggest I do? Do you have any advice?"
"Keep trying. Call him again. Then leave it in God's hands. I can pray for you if you want."
"That would be nice."
He'd heard the phrase before among these creatures. It seemed an offer made to someone facing a difficulty, yet also seemed to mean no immediate action in particular. The emotions behind the words seemed real enough. The visitor smiled. "Can I see you in church next Sunday?"
He probed the mind of the man and learned the location of the building he spoke of. "Yes."
His brother's voice yelled in his head again. Don't agree to that!
He might become more suspicious if I don't.
Don't expect 'me' to go!
Agreed. He nodded to the visitor, who smiled, rose, shook his hand, and gestured to him with the Oreo. "I'll see you there then. And next time I come over, I'll have a glass of milk with this cookie."
Once he closed the door behind his departing guest, his brother was glaring at him. He frowned back. If I had been rude that would have been suspicious.
Why are you letting the man we're pretending to be's son, and his abandonment of him, stay in your thoughts?
Because it is … strange.
No.
He was attempting to speak with his son again. If he stops, that will also be suspicious.
He was 'calling' him! Human's thoughts don't travel over those blasted machines! Reading their reactions to us is all we have to behave as they expect. I'm going to eat all the food before you force us to leave this place!
His brother went to do just that. He went up to what he now knew after watching TV was the bedroom and the phone in it. There he saw a line of symbols on a paper that matched the symbols on the phone's buttons. He pressed the ones on the paper in the same order as on the paper from left to right. Then he waited hearing the sound he'd heard on TV but not in the real world yet. A voice, distorted, but seeming young and male for the human species said, "Hello."
He froze. His brother was right. Being able to see a face and hear thoughts made a lot of difference. The voice asked, "Samuel Marlowe … father … is this you?"
"Yes."
He now knew that was the name of the man he was pretending to be. He heard a sigh. "Look, I … why do you keep calling on Sundays? You never wanted me before."
"I … that was wrong … I'm …"
"Look. I'm not angry. Mom didn't ask you to marry her. We got along fine without you. She lied and told my stepfather you were dead, when I was like two, I only remember him. I'm fine. Just leave me alone, why don't ya?"
He felt his human eyes widen. Who was he pretending to be?
The voice continued. "Just … why involve me in your problems now? You sent mom money a couple times till she married Bill, but ... other than that you never cared about me."
He couldn't speak. After a long silence, the voice spoke again. "Hello?"
"I … I'm sorry … I … should …"
"Wait. You won't cry will you? Mom always said you were tough."
"I am ... I just ... am sick. I may die soon. And ... I should ... apologize, for not caring about your problems until now ..."
There was a much longer pause. "You're really dying?"
He froze. This man's father, who had not acted as such was already dead. The horror stunned him.
The voice continued. "Look … I have leave coming up soon. Maybe I can drive over there for a visit. Would that make you happy?"
"Yes."
Batcave Eleven Years After Waynes Deaths
Bruce parked and approached Lucius Fox, Superman, Scott Free, Barda, Oberon, and Alfred. John could feel the last man's anger. He winced.
Batman addressed everyone. "Lucius will oversee repairs at the tower. We're going to rebuild the tunnel for the Boom Tube here. This time, we'll take into consideration the amount of energy Superman will bring back with him."
Lucius murmured to himself. "If only we can put that in a battery."
Batman continued. "Since Superman has melted, broke apart, and carried all the titanium here, we'll start construction tomorrow." Superman winced. Bruce turned to him. "What?"
"I … have plans …"
The Kryptonian's mind was weak enough the Martian saw his thoughts. Church in Metropolis in the morning, followed by lunch out with a friend from that church, followed by flying to Smallville and spending the afternoon with his parents. The Martian almost sighed. He missed the Kents.
He tried to loudly speak into the Kryptonian's mind. Don't worry about me or this yet Clark, go be with your family tomorrow.
Batman noticed Superman's head spin to look at the Martian, but he addressed Superman. "You can only be absent from our project tomorrow if …" He turned and glared at John, "He promises, to do your part."
John flinched. "I can't melt titanium."
"No, but you can help us with prep work on the far rougher tunnel walls here 'before' we melt the titanium along with completing that other project we spoke of."
John sighed and gave a slight smile. "Alright."
Oberon sniffed. "Good, cause we're marooned here till you do."
The Martian winced. "I 'will' do my part to help you with that. I know what it's like to be marooned."
Even Barda's face softened at that. Alfred though, still squinted his direction. He didn't mind. The godfather of Bruce had been more loyal and trustworthy to his godson than he had been to any human child he'd pretended was his.
What do you think?
Whumptober Prompt "Muzzled." In the flashback, J'ohn couldn't say all he wanted to for fear of exposing his secret.
God bless
ScribeofHeroes