"Remember how you had us all fooled with that apple cider? Making us think it was champagne?" Gordon muses as I down another glass of gin...my fourth.

 

"Made up for lost time I guess." I hear him mutter.

 

"Spoken to Dick lately?" Gordon asks, I give him the obvious answer of: "Not in years you know that..." 

 

"Damn shame...with what happened to Jason and all." He says.

I stand up, reach over to shake his hand, "Lets call it a night, Jim." 

 

 

I am Bruce Wayne...JUST Bruce Wayne now, and as we part ways Jim squeezes my shoulder and chuckles to me "You just need a woman." 

 

While in my gut the creature snarls and writhes and tells me what i need.

 

I'm learning to hate, this city has given up, like the whole WORLD seems to have. I'll feel better in the morning I always tell myself that. Its the night, when the city's smells call out to him, though I lie between silk sheets in a million dollar mansion miles away.

 

When a police siren wakes me and for a moment in the night, I forget its all over.

 

But if it was revenge Batman was after, he's taken it..forty years since he was born.

 

Born here...I realize I've wandered back to the place where it all happened....he's taken me to Crime Alley again.

I am Bruce Wayne, JUST Bruce Wayne....a man ten years dead.

Edited July 24, 201411 yr by Zachy1993

"Heal him! Just try to stop the bleeding til we get him to the hospital!" 

 

--Gotham General Hospital - Afterwards--

Batman met with Nightwing there, and informed him about the situation with Alfred and Gordon. "A-Alfred!?" Nightwing said in utter horror.

"I'm asking you to keep this between us." Batman said looking out onto the city from the balcony of the hospital outside Jim's room.

"What? Why!?" Nightwing said.

"If they find out he took Alfred they'll want to come after him, and they'll let their emotions get in the way and that's what he wants...he'll be in control! I'm asking you to keep this between us, Dick." Batman asked.

"You don't know they can't handle it..." Dick muttered.

"I can barely keep control MYSELF, Dick! Now I'm asking you to keep this between the five of us!"  

Dick was silent after that, "What if he knows? I mean, taking Alfred-" 

 

"He doesn't..." Batman said.

Dick looked at him curiously, "Then why would he go through the trouble of taking Alfred?"

"I think its just a coincidence that he chose Alfred, and after all he's well known as my butler." Bats explained.

"Is there something you're not telling me?" Dick asked.

"The thinner in his blood came from the Gotham reservoir. I think I can find him there..."

"Wait, that was where you fought him for the first time! Why would he try to poison it again?" 

"I don't know if he is or not, but I know he'll be there." 

"I'm going too!" Nightwing followed them.

"I need you at the pipeline, contact me when you're there," He turned to Lea, "Lea...can you stay with Gordon and make sure he'll be alright?"

"But....how do you know he'll be there!?" Nightwing asked.

"Because...it was where I first saw him, saw him for who he was. I first understood what I was facing in him then.....and it was where he saw me back." Batman leaped down from the balcony and landed on the batcycle, speeding off toward the reservoir.

 

-Gotham Reservoir-

 

Nightwing separated from them earlier, headed towards the pipeline.

Batman stopped the cycle on the reservoir catwalk. 

Joker had sloppily tied his face back on with bits of rope and yarn...he was even more horrific than before.

"Hello darling." He said, welcoming them with open arms. "Oooh and you brought the kiddies too! How fun! I've recently adopted one of my own you see..."  Joker stepped aside and revealed...Kairi, with a time bomb strapped to her chest, and duct tape over her mouth.

Batman's white slit eyes narrowed and he took a glance at Kairi, but kept his attention focused on the Joker.

 

Joker violently ripped the tape off Kairi's mouth, and she began yelling at Riku and Sora. "I'm sorry guys! I know I let you both down, but he said he'd kill  more people if I didn't go along with him!"

"Let her go and tell me where Pennyworth is..." 

"Whaaat? No hugs, no kisses? No batarang to the head!?"

"You're holding a remote, the second I make a move you'll start pumping the poison into the city's water...and the timer on that bomb will start ticking down at high speed." 

Kairi's cheeks were tear-stained and she was trying so hard not to move.

 

"Ohhh you do remember! Back then we were so young, and full of vim and vigor!" Joker said, cupping his hands to his cheek and sighing romantically.

 

"Whats this about Joker? All of this..." Batman slowly put his hand behind his back, signaling Riku and Sora to hold off on doing anything, as he held a batarang behind his back.

"That's the thing, its been all business with us lately! Business, business business! So I took care of that early, so we can have a nice chat, face," He pointed at Batman, "To face." He pointed at Sora, "To face." then at Riku. Then he pointed at his own gruesome mug, "To face!"

Riku waved his keyblade, casting three Cures followed by a Cura. Sora used Esuna just to be safe."That'll keep you good for the meantime." Riku told the commisioner. Taking off his white vest, Riku used it to wipe the blood off the man.-------The boys stood on the balcony, letting the cold air blow against their bodies. Dick grew suspicious on why Joker would talk Alfred, but Batman reassured him. Lea silently nodded his head at the request, taking a seat in Gordon's room. The remaining two head off with Batman, gliding to their location.----Sora and Riku stared at the Joker, who had strung his face back with yarn. His figure was grotesque as he welcomed the boys. Sora growled at Joker when he revealed Kairi being held hostage, unable to talk."Kairi!" He shouted, unable to hide his nervousness. Kairi's reasoning caused the air to become heavy as Riku simply replied, "We understand."The duo were in agony as they noticed Kairi's dried tears on her face. Riku narrowed his eyes to Joker as well, planning on how he could defeat him in one blow. Just then, they noticed Batman hold a batarang, and decided to go along with the plan. Sora was tempted to say something in reply, but held his silence, leaving his fate in Bruce.

Edited February 24, 201510 yr by Tatsumi

"What do you mean...you 'took care of it'?" Batman growled.

 

"Why our business of course! See in a moment you'd get the call you're waiting for, You'd decide to make your move, and you'd throw that batarang behind your back...just like last time!" "And I'd get it in the face, owww! But fast, fast, fast! I'd push the remote! Like this! And poison the water! And you'd call your little friend, the one who used to be Robin! Nightwing isn't it?" "And he'd blow the aqueduct!" Nightwing's voice could be heard in their ears and was suddenly silenced as they heard an explosion in the distance."And then we'd fight and you'd win and save the city...but I'd still get the same handful I got last time. Funny, you know they tore down those housing projects that were there last time, and made it a condo for the young and uppity. So seeing as they were the ones I'd get....I just went ahead and ya know, got them!""Look, see!?" Batman looked down into the water treatment pool, and saw over twenty people's bodies, tied down with bricks on their ankles...floating just beneath the water."See? The water is poisoned, the aqueduct is blown, and the people are dead dead DEAD! NOW we can talk!" Batman rushed Joker, "YOU SICK MANIAC!" throwing the batarang, it cut the wires to the bomb around Kairi and she rushed over to Sora and Riku. "Now now, Bats...I came to TALK!"

 

Joker flipped a switch on the remote and dozens of large joke dentures shot out of the water, trailing fibercord wire behind them as they wrapped themselves around Batman, choking him and causing him to fall to his knees.The wires wrapped themselves around Sora and Riku too...restricting their movements for the most part."See? Now we can chat! My king and I!" "You're nothing to me but--" "Shhhh! Don't do that! Don't PRETEND, Not here, not to ME. Not in front of the children! Not in front of me, your faithful court jester! And what does the jester do besides deliver news to his king? Bad news especially, the WORST...The Army has turned pacifist! The children's hands have rotted off and they can't clap for Tinkerbell!""Because the jester is the ONLY one he'll it from, he can make him LAUGH at it...at himself. And that's what I'm going to try to do to you, Deliver the worst news directly to your heart, and boy do I have some for you tonight!" Ripping the com-link from Batman's belt, he tested a few times and finally delivered the dreaded news, to the entire bat-family. "Is this thing on? Yes hello bats and birdies! .....I KNOW WHO YOU ALL ARE!""I know who all of you are beneath those little masks, I know your NAMES, your ADDRESSES, and what soap you use in the shower! And why the terrible two over there...Silver and Spikey, always smell so gooood!""And you know what I wanted to say was really....this.....YOU'RE ALL A BUNCH OF CANDY-ASSES!" "You're fakers, phonies, impostors! Like Gordon, your dear friend Gordon...He seems strong but deep down, no no no, he's a bleeder you see? He bleeds for everyone, the city, his friends, his men, his DAUGHTER!"Crouching down to Batman, "I was just toying with ol' Gordy, but you...oh I'm coming for all of you...one. by one. Because you're all the true villains, the bad guys..you've made him so weak its sickening!" 

"I've got all of your names in my little black book here, made from the skin of a bat from that dear cave you all love to hide in!""You're lying!" Batman growled, beginning to cut the restraints with a batarang."Oh am I? Well we'll see, within seventy-two hours....all of your disgusting bat family and friends will be dead!"

 

"You're nothing but scum!" Batman shouted."Ohhh that's it, I love it when you talk dirty to me.." Joker messed with Batman's cowl.

 

That was when the police arrived on the other end of the catwalk behind Sora, Riku, and Kairi.Bullock was leading them, "Alright freakshow!" Bullock shouted into a megaphone. "You're standing square in the intersection of dead, and doornail! So give me an excuse, I really pray you do!""Well..well..the calvary! Harv is that you big boy? Lemme ask you something Harvey, where were you the other day when I was breaking all your friends' necks? Couldn't be that you've fallen off the wagon and went back to that old dive adult movie theater? Come now Harvey! Say it ain't so!""Leave them alone! This is between you and me!" "Exactly my thoughts!" Holding up a walkie talkie, he said into it: "Light em' up fellas!" Rocket launcher missiles hit the hovering police helicopter, and flipped a police cruiser up in a firey blaze and into the reservoir.Batman became infuriated and broke his restraints at last, rushing Joker just as Joker blew the bridge in two, sending Bruce flying through the air, his suit tattered and  partially ablaze.Joker rushed off into the night, laughing as the flaming bridge fell into the water.

Sora and Riku listened as the Joker rambled on. The dead bodies flowed down as Batman released Kairi, causing the duo to run up to her."Kairi!" Sora said, giving her a quick hug before facing their enemy. Riku nodded at her before staring at the Joker with his weapon ready, prepared to fight. Suddenly, they found themselves restrictied by a trap from the water."Ugh! What is this!" Sora shouted."Try not to move. Kairi, can you get to safety?" Riku questioned. The only thing they could do was listen, at this point. Riku scoffed as Joker said "Silver and Spikey" over the com-link. As the madman continued his rant, Sora tried to crawl closer, yet found his movement bound by the traps. Looking at the twisted being with vermillion hair, he called out, "Joker, stop! You don't have to do this!" When the police arrived, it seemed like the end of the scene, until Joker had missiles fired at the vehicles. As the bridge collapsed, Joker had escaped once again."Batman!" Sora and Riku yelled, watching Bruce being blown away. 

Doing a flip in midair to land on his feet on Riku and Sora's side of the collapsing bridge, he grabbed them both by their restraints and hauled them safely on the grass, he cut their restraints with a batarang and fell exhausted onto the grass to the side of them, the last words he said before passing out were..."He's...just...a..man...."

Nightwing picked them up in the batmobile, miraculously having survived the explosion at the aqueduct.

 

Back at Wayne Manor, Kairi couldn't hold back her awe at the huge house, and her eyes widened as they entered the batcave. "Wowww.."Bruce lay with his mask off on a table in the batcave, he suddenly shot up, startled at the nightmare that seemed so real.He looked around, seeing Damien, Dick, Barbara and Tim in uniform as Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl, and Red Robin..along with Sora, Riku, Lea, and the newly freed Kairi."Father..uh...we have company." Damien motioning to their allies.

"Bruce, we need to talk." Nightwing said."We neutralized the toxin in the water, but it still has lingering eff-" Tim began."I'm fine..." Bruce said, getting up and struggling to walk."I need to go, I have a lead." Bruce said starting for the door."No Bruce, we have to talk..all of us." "You have to tell us, Bruce. Once and for all, does he know who we are?" Batgirl, Barbara Gordon asked.

 

"No, he doesn't" Bruce said with his back turned to them."Then what about this?" Tim pointed to a screen which showed Alfred crawling away in fear, as Joker raised the hammer."He chose Alfred because Bruce Wayne has been known to have at least some connection to Batman in the past." Bruce said."Bruce he came after my mother!" Barbara said angrily."You're not understanding how he thinks, dammit!" Bruce said angrily."Then explain to us, I saw the GCPD footage...what did he mean you have his 'calling card'?" Tim asked.

 

"Soon after our first confrontation at the reservoir, he tried to gas the city using a blimp. I knocked him into the bay. I used the batboat to drag the gas cell out of the water before anyone was hurt. I searched everywhere for him in that bay, and I couldn't find a trace. I remember being so angry with myself I was shaking as I went back to the cave." Bruce turned and looked at them all."I'd never gotten that way about a case before, never! I was just starting to understand him you see, The reservoir case gave me a sense of him, but now I was just starting to understand him.""Understand what?" Tim asked.

"That...he was different from the rest...he was willing to do ANYTHING to make his point known. I came into the batcave through a secret opening from the south palisades that I've since closed off....That night I couldn't sleep, so I went down to the cave to revisit the case....and I found it in the water next to the boat.""Found what, father?" Damien asked.

"I found his card..." Bruce pointed to a large scale replica of a  joker playing card."I tested in in every way possible, no homing device, no toxin...nothing." "Whoa whoa you're saying he might've gotten IN here?" Nightwing asked."I'm not finished....and the next part of this...I haven't told anyone." Bruce sighed."After that I visited him in Arkham, but not as Batman." Bruce said.They all looked shocked, "You didn't..." Batgirl said."It was a reckless thing to do I know, but things were different...I was just starting out. And I showed him the card, and he....his eyes were different....they didn't register me or the card...he just looked right through me....like I didn't matter. I'm not sure if it was his own psyche or a combination of sedatives that he was shot up with, but then I knew....he didn't care who I was beneath the mask. He only cared about Batman, not anything else.""How could you not tell us this? He might know! And if he does...it's only a matter of time before you have to--" 

 

"No." Bruce simply said."Why? Because its your code? Its too HARD to cross that LINE?" Nightwing practically shouted."You don't understand...I don't think any of you ever have. The reason I don't, won't, and never have attempted killing him...is simply because...it'd be too damn easy on him." 

 

"What?" Batgirl asked."You think I haven't thought about it? All I've ever wanted to do is subject him to every horrible torture known to man and then finally..end him. But if I allow myself to go into that dark place, down into that darkness....I'm afraid I'll never come back." 

They were silent for a moment, until Tim spoke up. "You trained us to fight evil, Bruce. Let us help." 

 

"There's nothing that can prepare you for him...he targets everything you love and everything you care about....and I won't let you all-""Let us fight with you father!" Damien said, balling his hands into fists.

Batman surprisingly recovered mid-air, freeing the boys before passing out. His last words echoed in their mind before Dick rescued them in their car."How the heck did you survive?" Sora asked, in the batmoblie."You're not the only one who can pull a last minute move." Riku replied with a playful tone.----"If you think that's cool, just wait till you see the batcave." Sora told Kairi in reponse to her awe at the building. "We even have these suits with night vision!"Lea smirked at Kairi, pressing his back against a wall. "See? Told ya you'd get her." Walking over to the girl, he waved. "Remember me, young lady?"Bruce was suddenly roused by an ephiphany, and set out, insisting the Joker didn't know anyone. As Bruce explained the calling card, the trio looked on in shock at how the Joker might've entered the Batcave and how he visited him as Bruce Wayne.Riku was taken back by such a bold move. "No way, you visited him?""What.... he didn't care you were Wayne?" Lea asked.Batman spoke of the reason he never killed, to which the group agreed after the silence.Sora was the first to reply. "Killing... doesn't solve anything. It just causes more killing.""We'll help you, Bruce. We have nothing to lose here, except our lives." Riku added in reply."I'm always in." Lea tossed, wanting to join the conversation. "I've already died twice, I think."

Kairi turned to Sora, "No way! He gave you suits like his!? I want one!" Kairi said enthusiastically. When Lea approached her she looked at him for awhile, "You're Lea, right? I can tell because you don't have those marks under your eyes and your eyes are a darker color" Kairi said, as everyone seemed surprised she could tell a difference between Lea and his Nobody Axel.Bruce finally sighed and decided to let everyone help, "Fine, Damien you're with me and Riku.  Dick you can go with Lea and follow this lead, I think Lea will have fun interrogating Penguin at the Iceberg Lounge...though it'll be a bit chilly...Lea can always threaten to heat the place up or something if Cobblepot is reluctant to help." Bruce smirked at Lea and Nightwing."What's Cobblepot got to do with this?" Dick asked."Joker met with him the other night, I want you to find out why." 

 

"Barbara...you need to go find out where he's taken your mother..""He left me a message, saying where she was...I need to go before midnight arrives." Batgirl said as she left."What about us?" Kairi asked, speaking for Tim and Sora."You three will stay here, Kairi I'm counting on you to assist Tim by telling him anything and everything Joker told you and what you might think he plans to do." 

 

Kairi nodded and Tim sat in the chair in front of the big computer, "I'll show you how this baby works!" Tim smiled at her as she came over.

 

Bruce turned to Sora, "I think she'll open up more about him to you, since she knows you well. Besides, you can show off that suit and give her a tour." Bruce smiled at Sora."Alright, lets go Damien, Riku." Damien nodded and followed his father out.**Later outside the Iceberg Lounge**"Ready to do this?" Nightwing asked Lea from a skylight overlooking Penguin's office. The squat fat little man was counting money at his desk.

Riku laughed. "You'll need to ask old-Bruce for one. Although they do stretch, so if you wa-""Nope!" Sora interrupted.Lea had an amused look on his face. "Finally! Someone who had it memorized."--------Riku nodded at being with Bruce and Damien. Lea laughed at going to the so called Iceberg Lounge. "You got it chief."Sora was about to complain about the lack of adventure until Bruce mentioned showing off. "Hehe. You got it."Riku followed them out, but not before waving to Kairi and Sora. "Try not to have too much fun without me, Sora."Sora gave a fake pout in reply. "But mooooo~ooom."---------Lea looked at the midnight sky, then to the blue-hued building as he smirked. "Always ready."

Tim turned to Sora and Kairi, "I think we should order some pizza, since we're probably gonna be here for awhile...and I doubt Joker fed you." Tim frowned.

Just then Kairi's stomach growled...then Tim's did. Kairi blushed, "Uhhh...yeah I'm pretty hungry."

 

-Iceberg Lounge-

 

Nightwing and Lea entered through the main entrance, intimidating the bouncer into letting them in.Penguin had several strippers on a large round stage shaking their stuff with a band singing a cover of Motley Crue's Dr. Feelgood. Go-Go dancers danced in cages hanging from the ceiling and a crowd was dancing in front of the stage, slipping the strippers money.The music pumped out of speakers as the singer sang the song with energy that kept the party going.

"Cops on the corner always ignore, somebody's gettin' paid! Jimmy's got it wired, law's for hire, got it made in the shade! Got a lil' hideaway does business all day. But at night he'll always be found! Selling sugar to the sweet, people on the street, Call this his town!" 

 

Turning on the camera in his mask, Nightwing spotted some crates hidden behind a curtain..he took a video and sent it to Tim on the batcomputer as the music now blared through the Batcomputer's speakers and into Tim and the other two teen's faces.

"Came by his wealth as a matter of luck, says he never broke no law! Two time loser runnin' outta juice, time to move out quick! Heard a rumor going round he's goin' down and this time it's gonna stick!" Nightwing said over the sound of the music and rowdy crowd into his comlink: "Tim! Got anything on those crates?"Tim smiled over at Kairi dancing to the song coming over the batcomputer, saying through a mouthful of pizza he replied: "Nuffin yetf!" Nightwing blinked at Lea, "Uhh...are you eating while you're on the batcomputer?" Nightwing frowned.

"I'll make sure to not get any grease on the keys, I promise!" They had ordered pizza, might as well...he doubted Joker had fed Kairi.

Dick sighed, "Save me some!" Tim looked over at the large stack of pizzas in their individual boxes, some cheese...some pepperoni...some sausage. Kairi was in awe of how many pizzas there were, her mouth hanging open."Will do. And those crates are apparently assault weapons..big time, they're to be sent to...Arkham."  Tim said grinning inwardly at how many pizzas the family would come home to find. "Tell Lea we got some pizza with hot peppers on it, and you got...ick...anchovies and pepperoni." Tim made a face.Nightwing's stomach growled and he just remembered he hadn't eaten all day."Okay fine, over and out." Nightwing said, he turned to Lea. "Ya like pizza? Tim says to tell ya he ordered you some with hot peppers on it...just seemed fitting." Nightwing smirked as he made his way to Penguin's office with Lea.

 

Riku and Batman lingered on an apartment rooftop, before Batman used a grapple line to lift the man off the ground and zip him up to the roof. "Hello Daniel, I hear you're working for Joker now." "Please, don't hurt me. He said he'd kill my family...I had no choice!""Who else is working for him? what's he planning?" Batman said, letting the man stand on the roof instead of dangle upside down."....Everyone at the Asylum is. And he never told us, most of it seems so nonsensical..what he has us doing...its like he wants to see how much we can take."

Sora's stomach growled in unison. "Sounds good! I'd take ham and pinnapple." Walking over to Kairi, he smiled. "How are you liking Gotham so far? It's danger after danger, but Bruce makes up for it with cool gadgets." Looking around awkwardly, he finally got to asking his real question. "How have you been? I really missed you, but Lea brought us to the wrong world, and then old-Batman needed help, and then we got sent to this world and then Joker kidnapped you and the-" Sora suddenly stopped his rambling and hugged Kairi. "I missed you."----Lea observed the interior, unimpressed. The music wasn't his type, and so was the woman. He promptly choked upon hearing  "Uhh...are you eating while you're on the batcomputer?".---Sora nodded his head back and forth while Kairi danced to the music. Grabbing a slice, he ate a few pizzas.-----"Of course I do!" Lea shouted over the music. "And hah, peppers. Nice!"----------Riki watched as Batman interrogated the man. "Damn, everyone is working for Joker? I sense a prison break."

Kairi smiled and hugged Sora back, "I really missed you too!"

 

 

--Iceberg Lounge--

 

They entered Penguins office with no trouble, in it they found Penguin fumbling over a minibar and pouring himself a scotch on the rocks.He gulped it down with shaking hands..and dropped the glass when he heard Nightwing greet him."Gah! ...Oh its you....and who's that behind you? Never seen him in Gotham before. Make sure to close that damn door." Penguin fixed his monocle, he was a squat fat little man with a somewhat pointed nose."You nervous cause you met Joker the other night?" Nightwing said, shutting the door behind Lea.Cobblepot choked on his second scotch. "Bloody hell, how'd you know about that?" "Someone has to keep tabs on what you do, Cobblepot." Nightwing leaned over on Penguin's desk."Listen, I've gone straight! I swear!" Oswald exclaimed."That why there's a shipment of weapons to be sent to Arkham out there?" Nightwing sighed.Cobblepot grumbled under his breath, "Bloody stupid people, I'll have them all fired." "Speaking of fired, you'd better start talking or my buddy here is gonna melt this whole place." Nightwing growled.

 

"I honestly don't know what he's planning, only its so important he threatened to start a gang war between me and Black Mask's crew if I refused to go along with him....it must be something very intricate."  

NIghtwing glared at Penguin one last time before turning to leave.

 

--After regrouping at the cave--Damien was out on patrol, Tim and Dick and Barb were too...they all went out on their own...despite Bruce's objections.Bruce had to admit the ordering of pizza was a good idea, though he couldn't help but think they ordered too many.After eating a bit...he went back down to the cave with the others.That was when he tried to contact Damien, Tim and Dick, Barbara too. And received only a loop of the Joker's recorded laughter.He woke Sora, Riku, Kairi and Lea, telling them what happened.

 

"There's only one place he would take them...Arkham." --Arkham Asylum front entrance--

 

Batman approached the doors, he could be heard mumbling under his breath as they entered: "He's just a man...just a man..." They entered and immediately noticed the people hanging from the ceiling. "Hail the batking..hail the batking.." They chanted."Its about time you got here darling! Just listen to them! This place is full of nothing but love, we welcome you home...home to the asylum!" Joker's voice could be heard over the loudspeaker.They entered through the main hall and into a dark room, which had only one point of light..it was lighting a fleshy colored..."Look what we have here my lord! A royal tapestry! Made from skin of course! Only the finest for you!" Joker's voice could be heard again.On it was painted Batman holding Jason Todd's body, Joker holding an infant with a gun to its head.."Its like yesterday isn't it? All our adventures! The laughter! The times we've had! This whole place is a love letter to you!" Joker could be heard laughing over the loudspeaker.Batman let out a yell as he charged down the hallway and up the stairs, "Getting close now bats! Here in the inner sanctum, where your REAL family resides!"

Lea smiled mischievously, noticing the plump man fumble with his drink. Walking around the room with fake murderous intent, savoring his chance to intimidate the Penguin. Summoning his keyblade, he lit the weapon on fire, backing up Nightwing's threat. Watching Dick leave, Lea frowned tiredly. "But I didn't burn anything yet!"-----Sora groaned, having still been have asleep and having suffered a nightmare from the pizza overload. "Er... yeah. Ark-ham pinneapple." No one bothered to correct Sora as they followed Batman for the Asylum.---Riku stared at the poeple who cheered on Batman. "Are they looking for a fight?" The trio was confused at the situation as they followed Bruce throughout the asylum. Lea looked at the tapestry, remembering the old Bruce's story on Jason. "Huh.... poor kid. I still wish we could've saved him, at least." Still a bit disoriented from sleeping, they simply focused on making sure they didn't get lost as Batman ran through the stairs.

They reached a door at the top of the stairs, Batman tried to open it, it would only open halfway and there were various furniture pieces blocking the door from opening fully.Batman struggled to get through as Joker could be seen wearing a jester's hat. "Welcome to your throne room, Bats! Where the magic happens!" 

 

"Here we have your inner circle, the people who love you the most! Your man of cloth, Bishop Cobblepot!" Penguin could be seen dressed with a pope's hat and smirking."As well as your royal strategist Sir Edward!" Riddler was to the side of Penguin, not dressed in anything but his usual Riddler attire."And finally, your honorable judge, Mr. Dent!" Two-Face was wearing a judge's wig and standing last before the armchair that Joker was standing to the side of."And I, your faithful court jester! We could've served any king or queen bats....such as the king of Metropolis!" It was then Bats and the others noticed innocent people dressed as Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and Aquaman. Riddler stepped up to the man dressed as Superman and prodded them forward with his ? shaped cane.The man looked frightened and turned to Joker, who had stabbed a chainsaw with jumper cables attached to it into a stone. "You never know until you try! The current goes off and on at an interval, you live...and I set you free!" "STOP IT!"The frightened man dressed as Supes put his hand around the chainsaw handle, and was fried.Batman stepped back and charged the door, smashing it open with pure force. "He's in!" Two-Face cried just as the woman dressed as Wonder Woman was going to be forced to grab the chainsaw handle as well."Drop the bars!" Joker said, and iron bars dropped down in front of the villains and their hostages. "Too slow Bats! If I squint my eyes its like you're wet behind the ears, fresh out of the-" Batman threw a batarang and cut the power to the jumper cables. Joker went quiet.Grabbing the wonder woman hostage in front of him, he taunted them. "Go on! Throw it!" "I don't need to throw a damn thing, the police will be here any minute." Batman growled

 

"What the hell is happening!?" Penguin cried out."Whats happening is the Bat just won you damn fool." Two Face griped."I don't think so, look to your left Bats..would you?" Batman did so and saw on four different screens...One showing Nightwing fallen with a stab wound and Joker holding a knife. Batgirl being punched in the face, Tim Drake as Red Robin being gassed, and Damien laying on the ground bleeding."No..." Batman leaned against a wall as Joker continued to speak. "That's the proclamation I made to you Bats! Be as smart and fast as you want, but as long as they live..you'll ALWAYS always lose." "Where are they, what have you DONE to them!?" Batman shouted."Sit on that throne and you'll find out, deny your destiny..and you'll never see a single trace of them ever again. You'll grow old wondering what happened to them." Joker said smiling.Batman sighed and trudged toward a chair, which he knew...was an electric chair...judging by the chrome cap hanging on it.Fixing the cap over his head, he called out to the four kids. "Whatever happens, don't worry about me, and don't make a move against him. He'll kill them...I know he will." 

"See you on the flip side! Old friend!" Joker said as he flipped a switch, and electricity surged and sparked from Batman's head, his nose began bleeding and his mouth foamed.

The trio peeked throught the half opened door, staring at the group of enemies in Court Attire. Other, anonymous people were dressed as superheroes. The man wearing a Superman costume was challenged by Joker, and died a gruesome death. Sora and the others followed Batman as he smashed into the room, but found themselves separated with an iron bar. As Batman sat on the electric chair, Lea snarled at Joker."You psychopath! Just wait until I b-" Lea barked before Riku held him back, worrying for the hostages."Just go with it for now." The oldest boy whispered, watching as Batman was electrocuted.Sora stood helplessly, hoping his healing magic would eventually be enough to save Bruce, after Joker revealed where they were.

They were led to a room, with a dinner table, and Bruce's body was carted off to the head of the table, and lining both sides of the table, were Batman's friends and family...with sacks over their heads."Don't want to spoil the surprise now do we?" Joker smacked Dick on the back of the head, eliciting a muffled shout.There were cords hooked to Batman, that somehow depicted what his fried brain was dreaming. He was of all things, dreaming of a bat flying towards the screen. Bats began to stir as Joker spoke "The first time is frightening isn't it? Its okay! It was scary for me too!" 

 

"Where....?" Bats murmured weakly."Shhh! You're safe! We're watching it come after you, as I'm sure you did that first time!" "Joker..listen to m-" Bats murmured again."No! There is no REASONING with it, it was the same for me! When I saw it coming, when I saw YOU coming for me in the chemical plant!" "Stop this!" Batman shouted with a raspy voice."And so you called out there in the dark, Even though you knew you were seeing it, your face...THE REAL bone and tooth face beneath it all! You knew it in your soul, but still you called out to someone, anyone to save you from the darkness..."They saw Bruce's dream change, to a childhood Bruce falling through a hole and landing hard on the rocky floor, as a red eyed monstrosity...an enormous bat flew towards him, just as a man...who Bruce called dad, pulled him up out of the black pit, and asked him one simple question."Bruce...why do we fall? We fall so we can learn to pick ourselves up."

 

The scene then showed various flashes, one with young Bruce falling to his knees before his parent's bodies. "Bruce...don't be afraid." Were his father's last words.

 

They then saw a younger version of Alfred coming into Bruce's room, he stared out into the afternoon sky."I've prepared a little supper...." When Bruce didn't answer, he turned to leave before Bruce called out his name, turning around with teary eyes."Alfred, it was my fault! If I hadn't asked to take a shortcut, and we went down that alley-" Alfred hugged Bruce, "No, it was his fault...and his alone. Don't ever say that again."

They saw Bruce bleeding in the sitting room, apparently after a failed vigilante attempt. He talked to a bust of his father, "Father....you have left me so many gifts....one of them is my best friend and butler Alfred, who is trained in military medicine..and if I call him...he'll come stitch up my wound...but.....I'd rather die here...than wait another eighteen years. How father? How do I make them afraid of me?" A bat flew into the window and landed on the bust.

 

Thomas Wayne's voice was heard once more, "Bruce...why do we fall?"

 

As Batman opened his eyes, Joke finished "...and into the light!"

"TADAA! Dinner is served!" Batman's eyes focused, and they widened, "My god..." "Oh don't worry old friend, they're all FINE AND DANDY. I've been talking to them for HOURS, Telling them how you really feel! Their ears are burning!" Joker giggled.

"I'll DESTROY you for this you--" Batman went to get up. But Joker interrupted him, "Oooh do you smell something? I wouldn't be so fast to get up!" "....Gasoline." Batman's eyes narrowed. 

"That's right! They're all anointed and await your judgement, sire! There are flints under the table as well, So at any time during our meal, should your TRUE feelings for this little fake family of yours, get the better of you...should you tire of their company...all you need to do is rise from that seat." "Oh and earlier you asked about old Jeeves or Mr. Pennyworth?" "Where is he!?" Batman shouted, helplessly."Oh he's around, and waiting to serve!" Alfred crawled out of a dark hole in the wall, a hidious grin on his face and dried blood on his head. "Alfred..listen to me!" Batman called out."Would you be so kind as to lift their blinders and show them the feast that lies before them?" Joker said, ignoring Batman and having Alfred pull a rope and lift the Bat family's hoods.Each of their faces was wrapped in bloodsoaked bandages, their eyes uncovered. "No....you-you didn't!" Batman said horrified.

 

"What have I done? I merely dressed them for the party, or rather....undressed them...to expose their true features..invisible to everyone else. And now, Mr. Pennyworth?" Alfred pulled another rope, and the tin coverings of each plate came off...to reveal...Each bat family member's face....laying in bloody ice cubes."I think I'm gonna be sick!" Kairi said, tears streaming down her face as she covered her mouth."Do you like it!? I made it with lots of love!""Which is what you and I share..the secret ingridient to our chemistry!""I hate nothing more on this EARTH than-""Oh do tell! If that's the truth, why have you never attempted to kill me?""Because....because....you'd win." Batman said defeated.

 

"AHAHAHAHA! No Bats, THIS is how I win. I win by keeping on living, by keep on keepin' on!" "But that's what you tell yourself isn't it? What you tell THEM.""That and the ol' slippery slope! You kill me and whats stopping you from killing everyone else in your rogues gallery!"Joker sighed and leaned his hand on the table, "But the ugly truth of it is, bats! Is that you love ME more than you love them! We have an understanding! I know it, and now they know it too! How you want me to free you from them all!""In the end, you're the one who wrote this for me!" Joker pulled out his black book, and gave it a pat. "A love letter backwards, a hit list!""And so, I did it for YOU. I carried out your orders, And now all that's left for us to do is put the kiddies to bed and celebrate! Should you do the honors...or should i?" Joker struck a match and held it above the table.Batman shockingly lifted up the chair and the table was set ablaze dangerously close to the hostages, "Ah...love!""You know me so well, you should've realized....I'd have a plan." Batman broke the restraints on the chair and threw a canister up to a pipe on the ceiling, it burst and flooded the hostages in water."NO!" In the confusion Joker ran deep into the tunnels.Batman grabbed Damien and began to undo the bandages, "I'm here Damien....""Is it bad? I can take it, tell me! My face is all numb!"Batman's eyes widened....as Damien's face was completely untouched...no harm at all.Batman hugged his son and cut the other's restraints. "It was all some twisted joke!?" Damien cried out angrily."Keep Alfred restrained, we'll get him back to the cave and-.."Dick interrupted Bats, "Go after him Bruce, we'll be alright!" 

Edited February 26, 201510 yr by Zachy1993

"Didn't know you were a cannbal, Joker." Lea managed to joke, staring at the table and Batman in a cart. In truth, he was shaking with anger, but found solace in insulting the enemy. Sora and Riku watched as Batman's dreams were on display, a child falling into a hole. A bat, horrendous and vile. Then a man, asking why people fell. More dreams showered the scene, from his first failure, to his realization of using a bat. Bruce woke up with a shock, utterly horrified at what the Joker had done. Each member's face, in ice cubes."T-that's going to far....." Sora whispered. Even Riku felt nauseous at the scene. Lea couldn't hold in his feelings. "Damn you, Joker! When this is over, I'm going to light you on fire! GOT IT MEMORIZED?" he yelled helplessly. As Batman suddenly flooded the hostages and freed Damien, the younger Robin's face was revealed to be normal.  The group was too surprised to make sense of the situation. "We'll take care of these guys," Riku said, "Don't let Joker escape again."

Bats nodded and rushed after Joker, who attempted to cowardly attack him from behind with an axe. Their conversation could be heard echoing through the tunnels and on the speaker system that had been set up."YOU JUST HAD TO GO AND RUIN THE MOOD DIDN'T YOU!? BLOWING OUT THE CANDLES, DESTROYING THE AMBIANCE! Though..at least you came outside to console me, to take me into your ar-"SHUT UP!" Punching Joker in the face he knocked him to the rocky ground. "No more of this, I've had enough." He could be heard saying over the speaker system."What do you mean? Oh and by the way, you're not the only one with a failsafe...There's a bomb in that room I left your family in! A gas bomb! And if I were you I'd go back before they start getting a case of the giggles-" "They won't, I have complete faith in all of them." "Well you shouldn't, THEY'RE not your real family! They're killing you ya know! Making you wea-""They make me STRONGER." Batman interrupted.

 

"LIAR!" Joker practically screamed.Rushing Bats, Joker pulled out a knife and took a slash at him, only to fall to the ground after being punched several times.Wiping the blood from his face he rolled over and took a mad dash down into the tunnels, nearly slipping off a cliff.Batman grabbed Joker and lifted him up by his throat, dangling him over the cliff.Joker's eyes widened as Batman spoke to him face to face. "What were you honestly trying to prove? That deep down, everyone else is as ugly as you!? You cling to this pitiful idea that we're in love because deep down you're afraid...you're afraid of being alone with just your thoughts to keep you company...you're afraid of dying and nobody caring about you, nobody there to comfort you. YOU'RE ALONE!"

"W-what!? N-No!" Joker's voice had turned fearful over the P.A. system, "Y-you can't use those mind games on me! I won't listen! La la la la la!"

 

"And by the way, I found out who you were before falling into that vat of chemicals....your real name is and always will be-""STOP IT! SHUT UP!" Joker zapped Bats with a joybuzzer, and fell down into the chasm when Bats let go of him in surprise."AAAAHHHH!" Batman's eyes narrowed as he watched Joker fall, and he picked up the black book that was left on the floor of the room as he came back.He flipped through the pages, they were all blank...nothing in them.

Edited February 26, 201510 yr by Zachy1993

As the grop of teens helped free Bruce's friends, the shouts echohed through the hallway. Sora searched frantically around the room for the bomb Joker had gleefully announced. "Anyone? Can you find it?" He asked.Riki froze for a half-second, listening to Joker's screams before resuming to search for the bomb. "Did he just.... die?"Lea looked under the table, not minding the conversation. "Priorities first. I'm sure he's still alive, anyway."----Sora stared expresionlessly at the blank notebook. Letting out a deep breath, he shook his head. "So.... it's over, isn't it."Lea leaned back with his arms crossed, staring at the floor. "Eh.... he's still alive, right? Maybe a helicopter caught him....? Or..?"Riku took the notebook, flipping through the pages, himself. "An elaborate plan, just for nothing. Maybe he really was afraid of being alone."

"Nobody could've survived that fall...Its just like I always said.." Batman turned back to them, "He's just a man." "Did you um...kill him?" Kairi asked timidly on the way home."He electrocuted me, forcing me to let go of him...he fell by his own doing." 

 

When they arrived back home, they got some much needed rest...Bruce insisting on the entire bat family sleep over...they raised no objections as Bruce injected Alfred with the antidote for the Joker toxin.

They slept in Alfred's room until morning when Alfred awoke.Alfred opened his eyes and looked at everyone gathered around his bed, "Er...my apologies Master Bruce, I'll get right to making breakfast for everyone.""Don't worry, we made breakfast for you." Bruce smiled, as Dick came in with an entire tray of eggs, bacon, toast, oatmeal and the works."Everyone here made you something...I'm sure you're hungry from your...ordeal." Bruce smiled as Dick put the tray on Alfred's lap."I'll get right to my duties after I finish." Alfred promised.

 

"Relax Alfred, you've got the week off." Damien said grinning.Alfred choked on the coffee he had just taken a sip of, "A week!? I can't-" 

 

Bruce crossed his arms, "Its not like you're JUST a butler, Alfred." Bruce looked at his watch, "Better hurry and eat, you've got a flight to catch." He smirked."...Flight?" "Remember how you always wanted to go to New Zealand?" Tim asked."....Of course I do, ever since I was a boy." "Well..here's your chance." Bruce pulled a plane ticket and Alfred's passport out of his pocket.Alfred stared at the plane ticket and wiped a few tears from his eyes, "Thank you so much....all of you." 

 

--Later in the Batcave--Bruce sat in the chair in front of the batcomputer. He had found an old recording of his father...he thought it was time he heard his father's voice once more."The last will and testament of the deceased: Thomas Wayne. In the event of my death, I hereby declare that all my worldly possessions pass to my son: Bruce Wayne." Bruce's eyes were shadowed as he listened."Bruce...I ask that you honor the Wayne family legacy...and commit yourself to the improvement of Gotham City...its institutions and its citizens. Please, be strong, you are young but destined for great things. Make the most of your opportunities, use them to give back to a city that has given us so much, to change the lives of millions of people...do not be frivolous with this wealth, please do not waste it all on fast cars, extravagant clothes and the pursuit of a destructive lifestyle."On the monitors many individual windows, shopkeepers were fighting back against robbers who had terrorized their stores.People were putting up fights against muggers who cornered them.Criminals were running scared from people inspired by the Batman."Invest in Gotham, treat its people like family, watch over them and use this money to safeguard them from forces beyond their control. My deepest regret is that I will not see you grow into the good man I know you will become.""And finally my son...I ask that you never abandon this city to fate..." Tears ran down from Bruce's shadowed eyes as he continued to listen."We have lived through dark days...its no doubt there are more to come. But it is the GOOD and GREAT men who stand up to the darkness, when others turn and run..""In death..I will love you forever. Your father...Thomas." 

Edited February 27, 201510 yr by Zachy1993

Sora and the others stayed quiet on their way home.---------Sora yawned, stretching his arms. "Phew.... what a night." Lea found himself sleeping on a sofa, as usual. "Sleep is always good. It's how I spent my day offs." The flame-haired boy commented. Riku looked at the group-meal they had created, which now layed on Alfred's lap. All of them contributed in one way or another. They smiled as Alfred thanked them.-----The trio stared at the monitor, watching Bruce's father pass on his inheritance. They stood behind him with near-watery eyes, as Thomas hoped Bruce would become a good person. When the video ended, Sora put his hand on Bruce's shoulder. "You're a great person, Bruce. Your dad would be proud.""You haven't let us down." Riku tried to add, not really knowing what to say. Lea stood behind them, putting his hand on Bruce's other shoulder.

Bruce smiled and wiped the tears from his eyes, "Thank you all." Kairi smiled and hugged Bruce as he got up, surprising him. "I never said thanks for helping save me!" "You don't need to..." Bruce said with a smile. "I have some people I'd like you all to meet...you've earned it a thousand times over." Bruce typed in something in the computer, and they were instantly teleported all of them, on the steps of a large building.

 

Bruce, donning his cape and cowl, led them inside..."Welcome to the Hall of Justice." Bats grinned at them.A woman clad in amazonian armor walked up to them. "Been awhile since we've seen you, Bruce!" The woman had flowing dark hair and a golden tiara, a golden lasso was strung at her hip as well a sword."Boys this is Diana of Themyscira, she's one of the Amazons. Her civilian name is Diana Prince but her alter ego is Wonder Woman." "Pleased to meet you!" Kairi said respectfully."Are they being trained by you?" W.W. asked."I'm....considering it to be totally honest...not that they need it. But as of right now no." Bats answered.

 

Kairi blushed but then realized what he was saying, "Really!? You're gonna train us to fight like you!?" That was when a loud burp was heard from the next room over, Batman raised an eyebrow at Diana, she massaged her forehead."Don't look at me, that's all Wally has been doing for the past few minutes. Slurping soda and belching." 

 

A red blur whooshed by the group, Wonder Woman glared at the direction this 'Wally' had apparently ran."If I hear that ONE more time-" Wonder Woman shouted into the snack room."URRRP!" The red blur zoomed in front of them and stopped, revealing a man in a red outfit."Hey who're they?" Flash asked curiously, before W.W. suddenly put him in a headlock. "GAAAH!" 

Riku looked around the large building, impressed that they were teleported so easily. Lea waved at Diana, using his habitual greeting. "My name's Lea. L-E-A. Got it memorized?" The two other boys introduced themselves as well. Sora then smiled at the prospect of being trained by Batman, imagining himself throwing a Blizzaga-infused Batarang.

 

"That would be great!" He cheered, placing his hands behind his head. Riku laughed, imagining a Batman-trained Sora fighting heartless. A red blur dashed in, almost sweeping Lea off his feet.

 

"You and me are gonna get along reeeaaal fine!" Lea said, giving a thumbs up to Flash.

Finally being released from Diana's headlock, Flash gasped for air and finally recovered. "Thanks, I hope we all do." Flash returned the thumbs up. "Name's Wally West aka The Flash. Not to brag or anything but I've been known to break all the barriers and go lightspeed, even break into another dimension via the speedforce." Flash grinned. "What's the speedforce?" Kairi asked."Basically it's an energy field which all speedsters, or us folks with super-speed draw their power." Wally explained.

 

Hal Jordan came over, dressed in his Green Lantern uniform. "I heard we have guests. My name's Hal Jordan, Green Lantern of Sector 2814.1 as the Guardians designated it, most of us just call it Earth." Hal smirked.

 

Batman began explaining, seeing Kairi was a bit confused and the others probably were too. "Hal is the first human ever given the honor of being in the Green Lantern Corps. They are pretty much an intergalactic police force that watches over 3600 parts or 'sectors' of the universe at the behest of the Guardians of the Universe. Their headquarters are on the planet Oa, which resides at the very center of the universe." 

Hal smiled at Bats explanation, as the teens all seemed to be in awe of the scale of what Bats just said. "Um..what's the ring for?" Kairi asked timidly."Funny you should ask. I was passed down the honor of Green Lantern by a man known as Abin Sur, who in his last moments sensed that I quote 'had the ability to overcome great fear' probably due to me witnessing my father as a test pilot crash his plane and perish in a fiery inferno." Hal sighed, "Anyway, a Green Lantern is supposed to be fearless, and their only known weakness is the color yellow, which is designated as the Yellow Impurity." Kairi blinked in confusion. "The reason for this is because of a yellow creature made out of the very essence of fear, it creates terror in anything it comes in contact with. It's caused entire civilizations to destroy themselves out of sheer paranoia, and their fear was 'eaten' by this creature. This creature is called Parallax."Kairi shivered, suddenly feeling cold."Anyway you asked about this ring. Basically its only as strong as the holder's willpower, and it can make any hard construct that the holder can imagine. The only limits are the user's imagination." Suddenly the ring began to light up and out of the ring sprang a florescent green image of the four teens in miniature."See?"

"Going through different dimensions with just your speed? You put our dark corrdidor to shame." Lea said. Sora gawked at Hal, not understanding the 3,600 "sectors" there were. "So.... you're like a police officer! For space!" Riku nodded at the ring's explanation, following through. "Glad to know we have someone so fearless." Riku complimented, smiling at the flowers."Oh. Oh. Can you replicate this?" Lea asked, summoning his fiery keyblade. Sora summoned his Kingdom Key in turn, curious.

Hal smiled and they all heard a voice come from the ring. "Recharge required." The electronic sounding voice said."Okay, I can replicate it just gimme a moment to recharge my ring with my power battery." Hal smiled again as he summoned a large glowing lantern made of green, and pointed his ring at it and recited:"In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight, for those who worship evil's might..beware my power, Green Lantern's light!" The ring and lantern glowed as Hal recited the oath and his ring charged. The lantern vanished and Flash came up and patted Hal on the shoulder."Do ya have to say that stuff every time you recharge your ring?" Flash sighed.

 

"Yes, it IS the oath of a Green Lantern, we all have to memorize it so we can recharge our rings." Hal blinked at Flash."Lay off him, Flash." Wonder Woman told Wally.

 

Green Lantern then made his ring construct Lea and Sora's keyblades. "Did it come out right?" Hal asked.That was when a man wearing a green hooded costume and a mask over his eyes, all green too. And blond hair and a beard approached them. "Heard we had some guests. What's up, I'm Oliver Queen aka Green Arrow." Oliver grinned at the teens.A man with green skin and red eyes without features to them, approached them as well. "Greetings guests...are you wishing to join the Justice League?" The man asked in a monotone voice. "And I am J'onn J'onzz, the last surviving member of Mars, which I suppose is why I am called Martian Manhunter." He gave a ghost of a smile. 

 

Flash came over and patted J'onn on the back, "What's up J'onn?" J'onn looked confused, "The Earth's sky, all manner of flying birds, beyond the Earth's atmosphere there is-" Flash facepalmed, "Its just a way of saying 'how are you' J'onn." 

 

"My apologies, but it was one my attempts at Earth humor...it appears it went a bit as they say here, over your head." J'onn said smiling genuinely.

 

Flash blinked and burst out laughing, "Ya got me J'onn! Good one!"

 

"Oliver here is a master of the bow and arrow, and J'onn is the world's strongest telepath and is able to shapeshift." 

"So where's Clark?" Kairi asked, having been told about him by the others.

 

"Lets go find him." W.W. said, handing the teenagers thick coats."You'll need them, trust me. And hang on, we're about to teleport everyone here...again..now that you've met almost everyone." W.W. pushed a button and everyone was teleported into a snowy setting...with ice everywhere."Uhh...I don't think we're at his fortress of solitude."

 

"Give him a break, he just constructed the damn thing." They spotted a giant ice castle and entered in.It was surprisingly warm for a giant ice castle. They spotted Clark without his uniform standing before a computer."Guys, you're just in time, I'm about to get something major done, I know all these clues have been leading me here...and remember I showed you that crystal thing that whoever sent me here put in that space pod that crash landed at Ma and Pa Kent's farm? I'm about to get some answers, and I'm so glad you all could be here.He smiled at his closest friends and pushed the button. Instantly the lights dimmed and a figure who resembled Clark appeared.After a few moments of silence, the figure spoke. "To see you standing there, now grown into an adult...if only Lara could've witnessed this." "Who are you?" Clark asked."I am your father Kal, or at least a shadow of his consciousness...my name...is Jor-El." The figure spoke.

"I'm...Kal....that's my name." Clark said as he seemed to remember something long forgot."It is....Kal-El." "Answer my questions...where do I come from?" Clark asked.

 

"You came from Krypton, a world with a much harsher environment than Earth's." Holograms of the world and its people appeared and swirled around the group."Long ago, in an era of expansion, our race spread out through the stars. Seeking new worlds to settle upon. We built outposts on other planets, using great machines to reshape the environment to our needs. For one hundred thousand years..we flourished. Accomplishing wonders."The group was silent before Batman asked to the hologram of Jor-El, "What happened?" Jor-El glanced over at Bruce and sighed, "Artificial population control was established. We abandoned space exploration, and as a result...our planet's core became unstable." "And eventually our military leader and my friend, General Zod....attempted a coup." A harsh looking man was shown shooting and slaughtering his own people. Jor-El was seen confronting him, "What have you done? You've taken up the sword against your own people!""Join with me El, and together we will sever the DEGENERATIVE bloodlines that caused all this!""And who will decide what bloodlines survive, you?" "Don't do this El, we've come so far." "I will not be apart of this, I will honor the man you were Zod...not this monstrosity you've become." 

 

Jor-El turned to Clark, "Your mother and I forsaw the coming calamity, and we took steps to ensure your survival." A image of a chamber with artificial birthing fluids and babies being born in machinery was shown, "This is a birthing chamber...all Kryptonians were conceived in these. Your mother and I knew that along the line Krypton lost something important..the element of choice..every Kryptonian was designed to fufill a certain role in our society...a scientist, a worker, a warrior. But what if a child dreamed of something other than what society intended?" He turned to Clark cryptically."What if a child aspired to something greater?""You were Krypton's first natural birth in centuries, we risked so much to save you...because you were Krypton's future. And you are now as much a child of earth now...as you are Krypton." A tube rose up from the ice coated floor and it was lit and showed the outfit with the Superman symbol on it. "You can embody the best of both worlds..you and your friends. The people of this planet...Earth, are different from us its true..but ultimately I think that's a good thing..they won't make the same mistakes we did. Not if you and your friends give them hope..." Jor gestured to the uniform, "That is what this symbol is, the symbol of our house means hope...that every person has the potential to be a force for good...that is what you and your friends can bring them." There was a flash and suddenly Clark was in the Superman uniform, he turned and smiled at his JL friends and asked one final question. "Why..why am I so different from-""Earth's sun is younger, and your cells have bathed in its radiation. And as you use your powers to guide these people Kal...they will struggle, and fall, and curse..but ultimately...they will join you as you help their race accomplish wonders."