The DCFutures FanFiction Group recognizes that Batman and all related characters are property of DC Comics. These stories are written for no profit, but rather a strong desire to peer into the future of the DCU. The stories and concepts presented herein, however, are property of the author. So there. **** BATMAN: DCF #53 **** Written by Erik Burnham darvey@rocketmail.com **** BATMAN created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger **** "Out of the Frying Pan" **** Captain Atom. Cameron Scott. This was not the man that Tim Drake had a grudging association with via Eve Tresser’s Suicide Squad. No, this was a whole ‘nother ball of wax. The details of which tended to give Tim a headache. But the power… Cameron Scott qualified as one of the most powerful beings on the face of the Earth, with nuclear abilities that could match an army. Tim could see his warped reflection in the shiny metallic sheath of atomic energy that covered the Captain’s body; the clarity of said reflection meant that Atom was too close for Tim to try and run. “I’m waiting, Batman.” The only reason Atom hadn’t already used force? Justice. Batman still held the Justice League’s top man in his grasp. Initially, he had come to kill the man in black – a fit of rage over the constant manipulations in his life… But aside from the fact that his conscience had been yammering about how wrong cold blooded murder was for the last ten minutes, Batman was no longer sure that this man had ANYTHING to do with him in the first place. “Last chance.” Batman said nothing. Going against his established persona tended to unnerve people, thus making silence a more effective tool. Silently, Batman’s fingers made their way to his utility belt… **** It was nearly dawn. Clark heard the doorbell, even in the Cave. A good sign that his guest had arrived. “Master Clark?” Alfred said. “Er, someone is here for you.” Clark looked up just in time to see J’onn J’onnz phase through the wall. “Hello, Clark.” “How’s Metropolis?” “Rather well, under the circumstances.” [Yes, this will be explained eventually in Adventures of Superman! –E] Clark smiled. “J’onn, I really need your help.” **** The corrosive hit Captain Atom square in the face, and he screamed. Whether it was from pain or irritation was not something that Batman concerned himself with; he was too busy escaping. As soon as he hit the hallway, Batman tossed a small darklite bomb and took to the rafters above the hallway, making his way upward and outward. …He knew Atom was on his trail, and if he was going to have a prayer of escape, he needed space to move. **** “Can I offer you anything, Master J’onnz? Perhaps a live cow?” “Maybe you could dig up some Chocos for our guest, Alfred.” “If I must.” “Fascinating,” J’onn breathed. “It – he – has a mind that I can touch.” “Well this is a treat; I’m not used to seeing surprise on that green mug of yours,” Clark smiled. “You should have been around more in the JLI days. But I digress. What brings me to Gotham?” “I’m sorry to have called on you so late, J’onn…” “It was no bother, Clark.” “Thank you. I need to borrow your talents, J’onn. I need to know if someone is still alive.” **** Batman was in full sprint now, racing towards the Batmobile and the advantage it would provide if Atom was still on his back. Another twenty yards and he would have made it. The ground beneath him rumbled and shook, resulting in a literal eruption. Fire and molten rock flew into the sky, and out of it all stepped Captain Atom, eyes blazing with energy. “You’re under arrest.” “Not even going to power down and attempt to take me in honorably?” “Don’t be ridiculous.” “I’m not the one in blue booties, pal.” “You may surrender and face the leniency of trial.” “Or?” “Or you’re resisting arrest, punishable by death.” “If that means you’re going to tell me your life story, I may have to think this over.” “I am not Nathaniel Adam, Batman. Your attempts to provoke me will not get the same results.” [See the neo- classic SQUAD RUN crossover! -E] “So you’re telling me you don’t get angry?” “This is your last chance to surrender, Batman.” “This is your last chance to retreat.” “So be it, Batman. I tried.” “You sure did. FIRE!” **** J’onn’s essence walked through the nearly barren mindscape that was Alia Devin. Like the Wise Men of old, he found himself drawn to a distant light. A spark in the darkness… a spark of lightning. Living lighting. “You are the Martian Manhunter,” the spark said, surprising J’onn for the second time that day. “I am. Dr. Devin, I presume?” “I am the Flash. All that you see around you,” the lightning moved, indicated the desolate mindscape. “That was Alia Devin.” “I don’t understand.” “Alia Devin sacrificed herself to destroy the Firebrand virus. There is nothing left except her body… and me.” “The Flash.” “Correct.” “Alia Devin was the Flash. Is this perhaps just a bit of disassociation?” “Amateur psychiatry, Manhunter?” “Comes with the territory.” “You’re wondering if there may be some of Alia’s essence left in me?” “That was my thought.” “I… I don’t know. It never occurred to me to look.” “Solitude does have a way of making false certainties.” **** The complete arsenal of the Batmobile unloaded upon Captain Atom. Which did manage to make him angry. With a wave of atomic energy, Cameron Scott made the Batmobile – the most advanced vehicle on Earth – a thing of the past. But its sacrifice had allowed time for the Batman to work his way behind Atom… and unsheath his claws. Sharp and resilient, these claws – used normally for climbing – were also a last resort kind of weapon. With enough strength – which the Batman was fortunately able to provide – they should be enough to cleave through even Atom’s metallic husk. “Where are you, Batman!” Atom screamed. “Show yours-hhhk!” Batman jumped on the Captain’s back, holding him in a headlock… and then he raked his claws across the Captain’s throat. He didn’t expect them to cut very deep, but with luck they’d go deep enough to awaken self-preservation instincts in the zealot. Captain Atom shrugged the Batman off his back. “Pathetic! You think that you can… can…” In all the time since his transformation into Captain Atom, Cameron Scott had run across little that could penetrate his metallic shell. In fact, it was such a rare occurrence that he took his complete invulnerability for granted. Naturally, under the circumstances, the sight of his blood (no matter how small the amount) spilled onto the silvery surface of his second skin did nothing short of enrage him. And, like Nathaniel Adam before him, Cameron Scott prepared an atomizing blast for this Batman… and the Dark Knight was expecting it. Just as he had before, Batman released a protective casing over his body scant seconds before he was enveloped by the nuclear flame. …But this time, that wasn’t all she wrote. Cameron Scott still stood, powered up and angry. “I told you your provocation would not get the same results, Batman.” A sonic boom was the last thing Tim heard before the second blast erupted from Atom’s hands… **** “So? What happened?” “It’s complicated, Clark.” “Complicated?” “There is a spark of consciousness in Dr. Devin, but she’s convinced herself that that consciousness is not her own.” “English?” “Alia’s mind believes itself to be the Flash – nothing more. And ‘the Flash’ has no body of its own, so until she comes to grips with the fact that Alia and the Flash are one and the same…” “…She stays in the coma.” “Correct. The Speed Force that Wally talked about… it’s really done a number on this poor woman. I--I’m sorry I couldn’t do more.” “J’onn, I can’t thank you enough for this…” “Anything for you.” “Cookies!” Alfred’s voice returned, his metallic tendrils bearing a tray of sweets. “And its not too late to change your mind on that cow.” “I’ll pass.” “Your loss.” “I’m sure.” “J’onn, if you don’t mind, there’s one other thing I’d like to have your opinion on…” “Certainly.” “Okay, here it is…” Clark paused. “Am I really who I think I am?” “You’re kidding?” “I’ve lost my powers something like every other month since I’ve woken up in this world. Isn’t it possible that I’m just an advanced clone or something? A genetic construct that fools people into thinking…” “Listen to me, Clark.” J’onn put his hand on his friend’s shoulder. “There is nothing I am surer of than your identity. You are Clark Kent – you are Superman. And it hurts me that you doubt that for even an instant.” “What can I say, given the scientific climate of the world… the thought had crossed my mind.” “Don’t let it. Not ever again.” **** He was there in the blink of an eye. But where was it exactly? Certainly not Greenland. “You’ll have to forgive me, Tim – I know that teleportation plays hell with your constitution when you aren’t braced for it.” “Who?” Tim asked. His vision was a little blurred. “You don’t remember me? I’m hurt. But don’t worry…” Tim’s savior stepped out of the shadows. “We have plenty of time to catch up.” “Holmes,” Tim breathed. **** TO BE CONTINUED! **** NEXT ISSUE: Concrete fun, peeps. DO NOT MISS IT! **** GOING BATTY **** *sob* I miss the letters I used to get! STILL! C’mon you mute punks – make with the wordage! -E Visit Gotham: http://members.tripod.com/dcfbatman Visit the DCF Message Board: http://disc.server.com/Indices/136525.html