"You should consider wearing a cowl. Much easier to keep on," I say. I don't know what it is about the kid, but I can't seem to stay as 'dark' as I usually am when patrolling alone. Maybe Alfred's right. Maybe I become Batman a little too easily.
I press the remote, and the canopy to the batmobile opens. I jump up effortlessly and slide into my seat. "Where should we start tonight?"
"You should consider wearing a cowl. Much easier to keep on," I say. I don't know what it is about the kid, but I can't seem to stay as 'dark' as I usually am when patrolling alone. Maybe Alfred's right. Maybe I become Batman a little too easily.
I press the remote, and the canopy to the batmobile opens. I jump up effortlessly and slide into my seat. "Where should we start tonight?"
I take the seat next to Bruce. He cranks up the batmobile's massive engine and streaks out of the cave with a loud roar.
"I was thinking we cruise Robinson Park."
"Calling all cars, calling all cars."
The scanner in the Batmobile sqwaks to life and we both listen as we leave the cave and travel down the road towards Gotham.
"Code 3, 245 reported at Mooney Bridge subject is identifiedas Sergei Kravinoff, note subject is believed to be armed and is highly dangerous. Lethal force in apprehension of Kravinoff has been approved."
I take the seat next to Bruce. He cranks up the batmobile's massive engine and streaks out of the cave with a loud roar.
"I was thinking we cruise Robinson Park."
"Calling all cars, calling all cars."
The scanner in the Batmobile sqwaks to life and we both listen as we leave the cave and travel down the road towards Gotham.
"Code 3, 245 reported at Mooney Bridge subject is identifiedas Sergei Kravinoff, note subject is believed to be armed and is highly dangerous. Lethal force in apprehension of Kravinoff has been approved."
I've already put the car into a 180 degree spin and push the accelerator forward. We tear down the country road in the opposite direction, only minutes away from the bridge.
I press a button on the dash. "Yes sir?"
"I need you to look up a name. Kravinoff, Sergei. Just the highpoints."
"One moment." I hear buttons being tapped. "Sergei Kravinoff. A.K.A Kraven the Hunter. Russian born big game hunter. Evidently it's reported that he prefers to take down large game with his bare hands. Other reports claim he is like an animal himself with abilities that mimic the best hunters on Earth. There are warrants in various African countries for his arrest. All on the same charge. Poaching. But he has never been arrested or convicted of a crime."
"Sir, I'm viewing the news reports now. Why would this man be causing trouble in Gotham?"
"We're about to find out," I say as we turn towards the bridge. Since the police barricade is blocking off the bridge I stop short, pulling us off to the side. The canopy opens and we jump out. I pull out my grapnel and aim it for the top of the bridge. Then I stop myself.
I arch my eyebrow slightly as I fire a rope line into the air. Bruce is acting rather..un-Bruce-like tonight. Usually, it's all I can do to keep up with him.
"If you say so."
I zip off into the air with Bruce in tow. He's acting strange lately, something has to be up.
We both land on the top of the bridge's support tower. I reach into the small of my back and pop open a bo-staff Bruce has been teaching me to use, rather effectively I might add.
KRAK!
A rifle cuts through the quiet night air and bullet richocets about six inches away from my head.
"Get down!"
Bruce brings me down to the ground hard. A man quietly chuckling echoes through the dark.
"That was just a warning shot, my friends. Had I wanted to kill you, you'd be dead already."
A figure emerges from the shadows, a large rifle in his hands.
"I have hunted game from all over the world, Europe, Africa, South America. If it's dangerous, or rare. I have killed it and mounted it on my wall. Now I come to Gotham for a much dangerous game. The Bat and the Robin."
Quentin Beck, now in the guise of Mysterio, approached the center stage as several reporters and paparazzi snapped photos and shouted questions. When Beck cleared his throat, the room went silent.
"Mysterio would like to thank all of you for coming today! Mysterio has the answers you seek! You there! You have a question?" he pointed to a woman in the back and she stood up.
"Yes. Lois Lane, Daily Planet. What do you have to say about the acusations that you endangered the lives of innocent people with the robots you sent after Superman and the other heroes?"
"Well, Ms. Lane, those robots were to be used on movie sets. Mysterio is not quite sure how they went berserk the way they did but, he can assure you, Mysterio was only trying to help. In his defense, it was a bit difficult to tell who was the hero and who is the villain. After all, what do we really know about this 'Super-man'? For all we know, he could be the beginning of an invasion army sent to enslave the human race. It wouldn't take much if the rest of his race is as poweful as HE is."
"Mr. Beck, Superman has done nothing but prove himself a hero to the people of Metropoli-"
"And what about this 'Bat-man'? A man who treats every day as if it were Halloween. This man is clearly dangerous and Mysterio STRONGLY urges the police of Gotham City to bring this vigilante in! Or how about this 'Spider-person'? According to the Daily Bugle, this man is a menace to New York and MUST be brought in. Perhaps your newspaper could learn a thing or two from the Bugle, Ms. Lane? Mysterio thinks so."
Lois was again cut off by a reporter from the Bugle. Go figure.
"Mr. Beck! Ned Leeds, Daily Bugle. Are you issuing a challenge to every super-hero in America?"
"No, Mr. Leeds, not America..." Mysterio replied with a dramatic pause as he slowly lifted his hand into the air.
"The entire WORLD."
A roar of questions came over the crowd as Beck grinned behind his helmet.
"Let it be known that, on January twenty-ninth in the year 2008, those pathetic glory-hogs, phoneys, and freaks that call themselves 'heroes' trembled before the might of," there was a dramatic flash and smoke emerged from behind the costumed celebrity. Suddenly, there were THREE Mysterios on stage! The crowd gasped as, in perfect unision, the three Mysterios shouted,
"Mysterio!! Master of Illusion!!!"
Then, in a flash and a puff of smoke, they were gone.
The crowd went wild.
Except for a worried and annoyed Lois Lane.
I arch my eyebrow slightly as I fire a rope line into the air. Bruce is acting rather..un-Bruce-like tonight. Usually, it's all I can do to keep up with him.
"If you say so."
I zip off into the air with Bruce in tow. He's acting strange lately, something has to be up.
We both land on the top of the bridge's support tower. I reach into the small of my back and pop open a bo-staff Bruce has been teaching me to use, rather effectively I might add.
KRAK!
A rifle cuts through the quiet night air and bullet richocets about six inches away from my head.
"Get down!"
Bruce brings me down to the ground hard. A man quietly chuckling echoes through the dark.
"That was just a warning shot, my friends. Had I wanted to kill you, you'd be dead already."
A figure emerges from the shadows, a large rifle in his hands.
"I have hunted game from all over the world, Europe, Africa, South America. If it's dangerous, or rare. I have killed it and mounted it on my wall. Now I come to Gotham for a much dangerous game. The Bat and the Robin."
Damn. I was hoping this would be an easy bout for Robin. I'd be able to gauge how he's come along since...since the Joker. But within a couple of seconds I've found out the hard way that was a bad idea.
Using my cape as cover I slip a few smoke balls out of my belt. "You go left, I'll go right. Get the rifle out of his hands but keep your distance." I get my grapnel ready in my other hand to launch myself to the bridge tower Kraven is on.
"NOW!" I through the balls at Kraven. They explode buying us cover as we swing over to this madman.
I turn to see the familiar face of Uncle Ben. My eyes widen - naturally - in shock. How is this possible?
"Uncle Ben?" I call out.
Uncle Ben steps forward, and Aunt May emerges from behind him. There are tears in both their eyes.
"What's wrong?" I ask nervously - completely ignoring the fact that I'm talking to my dead uncle.
Uncle Ben shakes his head. "I thought you understood what is most important in life," Ben sighs sorrowfully. "But I was wrong about you, Peter. You never changed."
As I open my mouth to protest, Uncle Ben and Aunt May fade into the darkness. "Hey, Peter," Harry's voice announces from behind me. I turn to see my friend standing with his arms folded.
"Harry?"
"You always were jealous of me, Peter," Harry snarls. There's a maliciousness to his tone that I'm not used to hearing. "I had the looks, the girls, the money. What did you have? You were a nerdy orphan who got picked on every day of your life. I have everything you want - even--"
"Gwen!"
Gwen emerges from the shadows and wraps her arms around Harry. She gives me a cold stare while stating, "I'd never want to be with you, Peter. Did you honestly think that you ever stood a chance with a girl like me? I have Harry - what more could I want?"
I don't understand. How is Uncle Ben alive? Why does everyone seem so upset with me? As these questions rage in my mind, the images of Gwen and Harry dissipate.
For a moment, there is silence. Finally, I anxiously call out, "Hello?"
"I was right about you, kid. The others should never have trusted you."
"Batman?"
"You're just an irresponsible brat," Batman growls. "Look at what you caused."
Suddenly, the darkness surrounding us transforms into the horrifying sight of New York lying in ruins. Batman says and does nothing as I allow the images to sink into my brain.
"How did this happen? Where did I go wrong?"
"I'm ashamed in you, Spider-Man," the normally comforting voice of Superman reprimands. Sure enough, when I turn around, Superman has joined Batman. Both of them look at me in disgust. I'm used to it from Batman, but it hurts coming from Superman. I thought he believed in me! "I thought Batman was simply being paranoid, but he knew that you would fail us."
Fail them? How did I fail them? What happened to New York?!
"Aha! Look at this! Undeniable proof that Spider-Man is a menace!" J. Jonah Jameson barks. I watch as he marches through the ruins to confront me. "Brock? BROCK! Are you getting this?"
"Right behind you, boss," the voice of Eddie Brock replies. A bright light temporarily blinds me as I realize that it is the flash of Eddie's camera. "Didn't I warn you about Spider-Man?"
"Once tomorrow's paper is published, the whole world will know the truth about the Wall-Crawler! Make sure you get a good shot of his reaction, Brock!"
I'm completely overwhelmed. Won't someone explain what is going on?!
The images of Batman and Superman, Jonah and Brock, and New York City fade away. In their place are two people that I never expected to see.
"Mom? Dad?" I cry out. There they are - my parents standing right in front of me. As they smile at me, I run towards them. But no matter how hard I run, they always seem to be just beyond my reach. "Guys, please tell me that you're not upset with me! Please tell me that you're proud of who I've become!"
They say nothing. Instead, they stand there with those warm smiles. I reach out to grab them, but before I can, there is an explosion. When I regain focus, my parents have been obliterated. The Green Goblin hovers over the site.
"I will destroy everything you hold dear, Spider-Man! HAHAHAHAHA!"
***
"NOOOOOOO!!!!"
I spring up in bed - drenched in a cold sweat. It was all one big, terrifying dream. The nightmare has completely disheveled me. I sit up in my bed and examine the clock. It's 4:07 in the morning. I peer out my window into the darkness of the night.
I get up from the bed - my head aching from that terrible dream. I make my way over to the chair, where my black suit waits. I know that as soon as I put it on, I will instantly feel better. Right now, I need that quick fix - I need some fresh air.
That's it, Peter. Just let me handle your problems. A nice midnight swing will help ease your troubles.
Breathing deeply, I allow the suit to overtake me. And suddenly, all of my fears seem vanquishable.
***
It won't be long now. The Master is giving in to his impulses - to his instincts. His fears and anxiety can be manipulated into rage and aggression. The bonding process will be complete very soon. Until then, I must continue to provide The Master with a sense of comfort.
Landing on the other side of the tower, I watch Robin's fight. He's come a long way from his injuries in a short time. But I can see he's favoring his injured arm slightly. He's not quite as quick as normal. And I can tell he's lost some muscle mass. But it's nothing a couple of weeks of double-training will fix.
Robin does his best to keep away from Kraven once the bola disarms him, but he only has so much room to maneuver with. So I make sure the batarang finds its mark.
Kraven spins around to face me, tossing back a bola to keep Robin busy. "So, finally the real game. Although I don't see how much game you could possibly be if you send your youngling into battle first."
"This is no game," I growl in a crouch.
Kraven smiles. "You are right about that." He runs at me, I remain motionless. His smile grows, but I see the bloodlust in his eyes. Just before he reaches me I snap up, driving both palms into his chin.
Kraven's head snaps back and he staggers. But he doesn't fall. If I wasn't fighting a man trying to kill me I'd be impressed. Kraven looks at me and wipes a trickle of blood from his lip. "Good. I haven't bled during a hunt in years."
This time he doesn't rush in, but he sizes me up. I spot Robin behind him, waiting for his moment. "You're youngling can't help you." Now I am impressed because he can't see my eyes through my cowl's lenses.
And then, with a speed no man his size should be capable of, he's grabbed my throat and lifting my high. I'm certain that without the flexible kevlar in my cowl, I wouldn't have a windpipe right now. But all I can do is gurgle as I try to breath. I reach into my belt for a sleeping pellet, but he grabs my wrist. Pain shoots through my arm. I think he's fractured the ulna.
Even though it's hard to put force behind my blows while dangling in the air, I through a couple of kicks into his ribs. I punch him in the throat a couple of times. I don't even think he feels it. I can't even guess as to what he may be taking. So I plant my boot in his groin. He felt that!
"Perhaps I won't kill you." He lets go of my arm and grabs my leg. He lift me high. "Perhaps I will just break you!"
The six armed men who had just robbed the 2nd Bank of New York hurried out of the building, laughing behind their ski-masks.
"YES!! We're gonna be MILLIONAIRES, boys!!" one of them shouted excitedly. The men reached for the door of their get-away car, coneniently parked right outside, but were surprised when their hands passed right through the vehicle.
"WHA-WHAT??!!" a startled thug shouted. Suddenly, a distorted voice boomed all around them.
"Your time is UP, criminal scum! Now, you face the might of..."
A thick, green fog quickly encricled the frightened thugs, then a helmeted being in a green costume with a purple cape appeared out of nowhere, whisps of white smoke billowing from his helmet.
"Mysterio!!"
The six thugs thugs gasped as their guns turned into snakes before their eyes. They shrieked and dropped their weapons as they hit the floor.
"PLEASE, Mr. Mysterio," one of them pleaded.
"Don't hurt us!!"
Quentin Beck grinned triumphantly behind his helmet.
I handspring through the air and kick Kraven squarely in the jaw, he stumbles and drops Bruce.
"Foolish child."
He strikes me hard in the back and I stumble forward, teetering off the edge of the bridge and falling.
"AHH!"
I fall through the air for a few seconds, before I find my grapnel gun and shoot a line underneath the bridge.
"Well, Bat. I've defeated your brat."
Kraven and both Bruce must think I've fallen to my death. Best to leave it that way, that way I can catch Kraven with his guard down. From a strategical stand point, being dead is a good place to be..
I hit the tower and bounce. I almost scream in pain when I land on my arm. Definitely broken. But I don't give it a second thought.
Dick!
"Well, Bat. I've defeated your brat."
I've already won this fight in my head. A couple of gas pellets should either knock him out or slow him down enough for me to strike the right nerve clusters. After that, he's pretty much be done.
"BASTARD!!!"
Pure rage and vengeance guide my actions. Instead of gas pellets I whip out my grapnel and fire it right into his shoulder.
"RAAAAHGGGGHHH!!!" He screams as it digs into his flesh. I retract the line and it pulls me towards him. I bend my knees up and drive them right into his jaw.
I land on my back, but flip myself back to my feet. He swings at my head, but I'm not going to underestimate his speed again. Ducking under the swing, I quickly punch two nerve clusters. He doesn't fall, but I see the muscles in his arms spasm. The strikes did something.
I kick him in the knee. The bastard finally goes down for a moment. I punch him in the face, then backhand him. He swings, but I block and drive my fist into his nose with one movement. He spins, trying to sweep my legs. I leap into the air, but as I land, he uses his momentum to drive his shoulder into my chest. It sends me flying back.
"ENOUGH!!!" He spits blood on me. "You are nothing but game. I! I am Kraven the Hunter." He turns and walks away. I try to cough air back into my lungs. Kraven bends down and picks up his rifle.
Thank god. I mentally chide myself for being worried in the first place. And for losing my temper. I've trained Robin well these last two years. Far more than I was trained by his age. But I don't have time to think about it anymore as Kraven runs for Robin.
I throw a lined batarang at Kraven's feet. It wraps around them, throwing him off balance. "Wha-?!" Before he can recover, I run into him with my shoulder, knocking him off the tower. "NOOOOAAAAHGHGGHHH!!!" he screams as he falls.
But I don't stop running and leap off the other side of the tower as far as I can. We both freefall for a few moments towards certain death. Until the slack in the line draws tight and we counterweight each other. When the line snaps taunt, the bridge tower becomes a fulcrum. I extend my legs up in front of me and use the momentum to swing under the tower. I pass by the screaming Kraven, and swing up above the tower. The line goes slack again, but I've already flipped over, and I make a clean landing near Robin.
Kraven falls again for a moment before the line goes tight. Straining to hold the line with one arm I shout at Robin. "Hurry, tie it off! We'll leave him for the police."
My hands work quickly, taking the rope and tieing it in a knot.
"Roger that, Batman. He isn't going anywhere."
Bruce lets the rope go and it draws tight again, Kraven just yells in anger as he swings above the bridge.
"YOU FOOLS! NOBODY CAPTURES THE HUNTER!"
I look down as he tries to grab the rope and climb up.
"Check again, buddy. From where I'm standing, you look caught. Oh yeah, you might want to wax your chest. You got like a Teen Wolf thing going on there."
I reach into my belt and grab a grapnel gun. I look at Batman as I shoot a line out.
My hands work quickly, taking the rope and tieing it in a knot.
"Roger that, Batman. He isn't going anywhere."
Bruce lets the rope go and it draws tight again, Kraven just yells in anger as he swings above the bridge.
"YOU FOOLS! NOBODY CAPTURES THE HUNTER!"
I look down as he tries to grab the rope and climb up.
"Check again, buddy. From where I'm standing, you look caught. Oh yeah, you might want to wax your chest. You got like a Teen Wolf thing going on there."
I reach into my belt and grab a grapnel gun. I look at Batman as I shoot a line out.
I cradle my arm. Guess we'll need to call this patrol short. "Yes. Back to the cave." We fire down our lines and zip to the batmobile. The police already on the scene ignore us as they try to figure out how they'll get Kraven down. We have no problem driving out of the scene, although driving one handed in the batmobile isn't very fun.
Pulling back into the cave, Alfred is already waiting for us. "I took the liberty of preparing the x-ray machine and casting materials, sir." I just grunt as I sit down and let Alfred cut away my uniform.
"Sorry Dick," I say, pulling off my cowl. "Didn't want your first night back to get cut so short."
"I don't know. You were dropping your guard a bit back there." I watch Dick's expression turn sour. I look at Alfred, he pretends to be unconcerned, but I can see the corners of his mouth twitch up. "Ok. But only petty crimes and thugs. No supercriminals. And after New Years we go on double training to get back into fighting condition."
He closed his eyes and listened to the absolute silence, this man of power and destiny.
His plans were in place. His thralls prepared. Soon he would topple all the world's giants. But for now, one test remained.
Slowly, hesitantly, he opens his mouth and releases his breath to the emptiness. For an instant there is panic as he struggles with the unfamiliar feeling of empty lungs. But the instant passes quickly as he finds that he is not gasping for air, or expanding, or any such mortal tedium. He wasn't breathing! He didn't need to breath!
Nefaria opened his eyes and laughed triumphantly, and soundlessly, in the vaccum as he looked at the blue green planet earth that hovered before him.
Raising an open palm he couldn't help but simulate the act of holding the planet in his hand then crushing it as he made a fist.
"I don't know. You were dropping your guard a bit back there." I watch Dick's expression turn sour. I look at Alfred, he pretends to be unconcerned, but I can see the corners of his mouth twitch up. "Ok. But only petty crimes and thugs. No supercriminals. And after New Years we go on double training to get back into fighting condition."
The shadows danced over the stone walls of the ovoid room in the bowls of Castle Doom as the candles and torch light slowly flickered away.
Victor Von Doom, Emperor of the small but powerful country of Latveria, stood in the middle of a large en-circled pentagram drawn in white chalk on the stone floor. The chalk lines were flawlessly drawn, as though they had taken many painstaking hours to complete.
And so they had. When attempting dimensional travel, everything must be in perfect order.
To Doom's left and right stood his two Kryptonian bodyguards, Ursa and Non, and directly behind the monarch loomed his greatest creation, the android Amazo.
"Do not disrupt the outline", growled the Doctor to Non as the Kryptonian shifted a bit, almost rubbing his foot against a line of chalk that formed the pentagram.
Non simply grunted in subservience and remained still.
"There", spoke Doom, more to himself than his servants, "It is finally complete."
"Now, prepare yourselves", commanded Doom as he began chanting. As the ancient arcane words escaped from Victor's lips, the symbol began to pulse with an eerie white light. The pulse was slow and drawn at first, but soon increased in speed as the Doctor's chant grew louder.
Ursa crinkled her nose as a foul oder filled the air. The smell of sulfur.
Non grunted as he curiously watched his master finish the spell and the pentagram's pulsing light turned solid and began to envelope the four in a dome of energy.
"What is happening, Lord Doom", asked the apprehensive Ursa. "Where is this magic taking us?"
"Do not fear, Ursa", Doom replied softly.
He stood in the middle of it all, a beacon of calm amid uncertainty. The white light from the mystical dome that had enclosed around him shining off his regal armor. Under his mask though, Doom stared out straight ahead. His eyes, along with his mind, looking more at what is to come next, his face an outer mask of the indomitable will that burned inside him.
When Doom spoke those four words, Ursa steadied herself and remained calm as the event transpired around her and the world began to blur and shift before her eyes.
"We have a date with the devil, and I do not wish to be late."
A green flame erupted around the dome and soon winked out of existence in a powerful implosion. The rush of air from the collapse violently put out every candle and torch in the ovoid room, bathing in entirely in darkness.
And as the dust settled the room was empty, it's four occupants now nowhere to be seen...
Tonight was a quiet night, I only stopped a few muggings, two armed robberies, one grand theft, and a attempted arson.
I sit on a rooftop facing the Gotham Police Department. Bruce has a few bugs in the department, and I use them to hear some news. Apparently, Harvey Dent is gonna be named District Attorney permanently. That's good news, Bruce has worked with him before. He's a good man who wants justice. Bruce believes in Harvey Dent, and so do I.
"Master Dick."
Alfred chimes in to my ear as I walk towards the roof's edge.
"What's wrong, Alfred?"
"It's almost day break. You best be returning."
I shoot a grapnel line off into the distance and swing off the roof. The sun starts to peak over the horizon as I fly through the air.
It's been two years since my parents died, in that time I've helped saved the world, been kidnapped by a deranged arabian terrorist, met mutants, and fought a killer clown. While I miss my parents everyday, I wouldn't trade my new life for anything in the world.
I'm Richard Grayson, Dick Grayson for short. Former member of the World Famous Flying Graysons, son to John and Mary Grayson, and ward to Bruce Wayne. But you might know me by another name.
I smile as wide as I can dreading the long night ahead of me. Brenda St. Claire. Millionaire socialite. Family's been in Gotham for two generations. Made their money in shipping. She's in her early 50's, but has the body and face of a thirty year old. She knows the best surgeons.
"Well, what can I say. Decided to get out and hit the scene tonight. It is New Years, after all."
"Well, the party's just getting started." I knew that was a lie. Some of these parties probably started last night. "So, are you going to introduce me to your lovely friends?"
"Why of course." A server walks by and I snatch a pair of champaign flutes. "Well, this beauty is Tiffany." I hand the redhead on my right a glass and she giggles. I sigh inwardly. "And this lovely redhead is Claire." I hand her the other flute and she giggles too. I die a little inside.
"Oh!" Brenda laughs. "Claire. St. Claire. What a coincidence."
"Ha! You're right. What are the odds?" We all laugh.
God, kill me now.
...
6:18 pm
"Bruce! Long time no see!"
I grab Terry's hand and shake it as hard as he shakes mine. But I keep that easy smile going. Terry Quinn. Multimillionaire. Made his money trading junk bonds in New York before moving here when the SEC started sniffing around. Slimy, but never did any illegal. Just skirted the edge.
"It sure has. Not since you beat me in that golf game last year."
"Hollow victory. You wound up taking me for twenty grand after all those side bets. But I'll get you back."
"Then I'll just get back on top tonight by drinking all your booze." We laugh.
"So who are these lovely ladies?"
"Well, this is Tiffany. Claire. And Marie. I met Marie at Brenda's," I say with a wink. Marie turns red and looks away with a shy smile. She'd be cute if she wasn't half-drunk and completely brain dead.
"You dog you. Well, I'm sure this party will be much better than what Brenda could ever manage. So, how'd you hurt the arm?"
...
8:32 pm.
"Polo accident. Took a bad swing with the mallet, hit the ground instead of the ball."
"Oh, poor baby. Broken?" Brandy Carlyle. Formerly Brandy McSwain. Formerly Brandy Moskowitz out of Brooklyn. Changing her name and learning an upper class accent helped her marry the oldest billionaire in town. Unfortunately for her, old man Carlyle has lately been suffering from a nasty bout of health and is still hanging on.
"Nah, got lucky. Only a fracture. Which means I still get to drink!" I say holding up my glass. While the others around me are busy laughing or drinking, I quickly dump my glass into the plant behind me. Although, god, I could use a drink about now. Maybe after I get home...
...
9:48 pm.
It's my seventh party of the night. At least I hope it's the seventh. Because if it's actually the eighth, I'm going to jump off this balcony.
"And then Lex said, 'Robot? That's my girlfriend!' HAHAHA!!!" Everyone laughs. Not because my joke is particularly funny. But because they've all been drinking for several hours now.
"Well it's damn cold out here, and I need a refill," Ricky says. "Anyone else?" Rich 'Ricky' O'Brien. Made his millions in Ireland, but no one can quite figure out how. Even I've had some trouble finding out. But he throws the best parties in town. And if I want Bruce Wayne to be seen as a party-guy, an appearance at an O'Brien party is a must.
"Sounds good to me." Ricky and his friends start to walk away. "Tiff, Claire, Marie, Charlene, why don't you go with these good men and get us all a couple of rounds of champaign." I give Marie and Claire a little pat on the rump as they leave. They all go back inside, laughing. If all goes well, they'll end up hooking up with Ricky and his friends and leave me the hell alone.
Despite the falling snow, I don't feel the cold. I lean over the balcony and look out over the city. I see it from this view most nights. But I can never take the time to just stand there and let the cold breeze hit my face. Sometimes I see just how nice Gotham can be and almost forget about the crime and scum that fill the poorer streets. Almost.
"Bruce? Bruce Wayne?" I roll my eyes, dreading to see whose behind me now. I turn...and am stunned. "It's been a while."
Vicky Vale. Although I've read her articles (quite good actually), I only met her once at the mutant benefit. She's very intelligent. Smart. Quite love-Wait...is she asking me something?
"Wh-what? Sorry. What did you say?"
"I asked how you broke your arm."
"Oh. Right." Wait, how did I break my arm? I dredge it from my mind. "Polo accident."
"Polo accident. In this weather?"
"Well..." I don't even try to keep up the lie. "Off the record?" She leans in conspiratorially. "I came home a little too late one night...fell down the stairs."
She laughs a little. "You're kidding."
"Nope. Just a bit of a klutz I guess."
"I don't believe that for a second."
Like I said. Smart. "Would you like to go back inside. Get out of the cold. Maybe we could catch up. I can think up some more excuses you won't believe."
She smiles. And that makes me smile. What the hell is wrong with me? "I'd like that, Bruce."
"So would I." I lead her inside.
...
11:59:32 pm.
"So you insisted on going out in that chaos?" I say, amazed.
"Well, I tried. But I couldn't slip past the police. Got caught up in the mandatory evacuation. So I just covered the story from the perspective of the locals displaced from their city. Not knowing what kind of damage was being done to their homes. Or if they'd even live through the day."
We've been sitting next to each other, talking for the last two hours. While catching up, we'd gotten to Galactus. The fact that she tried to get in and cover the story from ground zero blows my mind.
"Oh! Look at the time. 15 seconds until the New Year."
"Already?"
"Here we go. 10!" The crowd shouts the numbers as well.
"9!"
"8!" I join her in the countdown.
"7!"
"6!"
"5!" We look at each other.
"4!"
"3!" We stop counting.
"2!"
"1!" We lean closer.
"Happy New Year!!!" Our lips brush-
Screams break the moment. Our heads whip around towards the sound. There are more screams and gasps. I even hear some tears. Vicky and I run towards the commotion. On the tv we see it. We see him.
And my blood boils.
HAPPY NEW YEAR! HAHAHAHAHA! He said blowing a silly whistle, Thats right people of America, Jokers back on the air, and not just for Gotham, oh no its my New Years special HA HAHAHA! Were broad casting live so you can all, LOOK UP IN THE SKYS!
Just then in Gotham City, a near by plane exploded, people started screaming and panicking, the sight of it made them run in the masses.
Thats right, boys and especially GALS! Lets see what Uncle Joker has planned for all of you HA! This time I have soooo many things to show you all, now watch, as we show you whats been happening in New Years all over America! HAHAHAHAHA!
A clip from the explosion of the plane in Gotham is now shown from a different angle, from just outside the plane, with R Kellys Gotham City playing in the background, The Joker introducing his sick new joke on the nation, with a laugh track introducing each plane explosion.
We all need it, can't live without it
Gothem City (ohhh yah)
The songs lyrics followed by a plane full of innocent civilians explode in mid air, followed by the laugh track, typical of the brutal skin crawling clown named the Joker.
HAHAHA, ALL THAT ONE CRACKS ME UP, Who wants to see the New Years celebration all around the country? The Smile, the horrifying smile came back, as he saw several clips of planes exploding all across the country.
I'm leaving today
I want to be a part of it, New York, New York
While hovering above the skyline of the famed city, it combusts and slowly falls into the Hudson river, HAHAHA! Sleeping with the fishes, anyone? HA! Now what about Las Vegas?
Viva las vegas, viva las vegas,
Viva, viva las vegas
Above the landmark, Las Vegas strip the explosion happens again followed by the next laugh track, as the rumble of it all falls down to the city and the sick laugh track comes yet again.
Now now, lets not forget the folks in Alabama shall we HA!
Sweet Home, Albama! Where the skys are so blueeee.
In the suburban town somewhere in the state another plane explodes, full of innocent passengers already spending New Years on a plane now all dead as their burnt body parts and rubble fall into the state.
HAHAHAHA! Do you know what the best part of it is? None of them knew it happened! Hee hee, makes me all giggly and sparkling, anyway Unlce Joker must be going, the police will be searching for me, hee hee hee, Oh sure some of you dont laugh, but I do intend to put a smile on all your faces, oh yes alllllllllll your faces HAHAHAHAHA! Until then .TOODELS!
While walking away he stepped back to the camera, Oh almost forgot, my New Years kiss!
Grabbing a woman by the hair and taking the bandage he put on her he kissed her on the lips and put the bandage back in her mouth, Smile for the camera baby, the whole nation wants to see a nice smile on the New Year!HAHAHHA!
Saying that he sprayed her with his laughing gas from his hands and she started laughing her head off, he took the bandage off again and waved to the camera, Goodbye HAHAHA!
The Joker then left the camera on his new victim, tomorrow morning she will be identified and authorities tiring to track him down for the death of nearly 150 people, his highest yet, surpassing even that Christmas stint he pulled nearly a week ago, all they knew though was that he was heading somewhere different, somewhere he called marvelous.
I want to throw up. I want to shout at the heavens and curse God himself for letting a monster like this live.
I curse myself for letting the monster live.
"B-Bruce, I've got to-I've got to go." Vicky almost doesn't have a voice. But the reporter in her takes over.
"I-I," I can't find my voice either. At least, not Bruce Wayne's voice. "Go. I understand." Vicky looks at me for a moment, then runs off.
After Quicksilver leaves, I decide to head back home. I've been hanging around Gotham for a while now, helping after Galactus' attack. But seeing Pietro makes me think of my family. And I realize how much I miss Joan.
So I run back home. I stop off in this little place I know in Chicago to grab a bouquet of flowers. I know I could have gone to Dinah's shop, but this place has been open since before Joan and I started dating. And I got her first bouquet there. I always bring her one when I've been away so long.
When I get back to Keystone, I head straight home. I open the door and call out. "Joan! Surprise!" But there's no response. Odd. Joan isn't scheduled to volunteer today. Maybe she took an extra shift since I've been gone. I could run over to-
"Jay?"
Joan's broken voice makes me jump into superspeed. I'm in the bedroom before she finishes saying my name, the bouquet dropped on the floor. The tears in her eyes tear at me and fill me with fear.
"Joan?!" I sit down next to her. "Joan, what's wrong?"
"Jay-It's..." She buries her head in my chest.
"Joan. What happened?" My heart is pounding a million miles an hour. Literally. I hear a footstep outside our door.
"Jay."
I look up and see Barry standing in the doorway. Was he in the living room? Why didn't he say something.
"Barry? What's going on?"
"I-It's Iris."
Iris? Oh no. "The twins. Did something happen to them?"
It's then I notice the red in Barry's eyes. The tears on his cheeks. He shakes his head "She's gone Jay. They're gone. My...my family's..." Barry can't even finish. He just walks out of the room. "Oh god."
***
Pietro Maximoff stops running in a remote forest somewhere in the northwest United States. Finding the clearing he's looking for, he lifts his glove and checks the time. Precisely three seconds later, a light appears in the center of the clearing. And the shapes of two figures emerge.
"Is it done?"
"It is," Pietro says. "I made contact with Jay today. Just as required."
"Good," the other figure says. "Events will proceed as we need them. We may yet survive what is to come."
"It's not like we have any choice. Although the thought of helping Garrick and his clan..." "I feel the same way. But without the League, we have no hope."
"So what you told me will be avoided now?" Pietro hopes.
"Possibly. There is still much work to do. Many events that need set into motion. But you have done well. When this is over, I will reward you with what I promised. The secret of the Speed Force."
Savitar smiles at his young disciple. "You're helping to save the world from a Crisis, Pietro. You will have earned it." Savitar turns to his companion. "Take us out of here Kang."
Kang the Conquerer presses a series of buttons on his gauntlet. "Gladly. I find this century so...archaic."
The light surrounding the two brightens, then collapses, leaving Quicksilver alone in the forest. And not for the first time, Pietro wonders if he's made the right choice...
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