Post by J. T./Jessica on May 20, 2012 13:18:10 GMT -5
Sidethought...
A Comics/DCAU crossover with Batman Beyond and Batman... specifically, Knightfall.
Somehow, Terry ends up across T/S at the 'Breaking of the Bat' and takes Bruce's place as Batman instead of JP...
"Even if you're telling the truth, this isn't your Gotham!" Robin snapped.
Terry remained calm, remembering something the Old Man had told him on several occasions, "Are criminals here superstitious and cowardly?"
"Yes," Bruce spoke up from his bed, "They are."
Terry gave a sharp nod, "And the Commissioner's a Gordon and clowns aren't funny. Not that different... Car doesn't fly is about it."
"Interesting," Bruce muttered, and Terry could see the ideas forming in his mind.
Final arc title is 'KnightTime', parts are 'KnightDawn', 'MidKnight' and 'KnightEternal'.
**==
"Who are you?"
"An ally, as it were," the other bat answered.
Despite the pain from his back, the terminology used registered cleanly in Batman's mind, 'Ally, not friend. Interesting.'
When the other bat knelt down and whispered so that only Batman could hear who had sent him, years of training couldn't keep the surprise from showing on his face. The decision was made in an instant.
"Robin... Do what he says... like it was me."
("Even if you're telling the truth, this isn't your Gotham," Tim snapped off.
Terry didn't answer Tim, instead turning to Bruce, "Are criminals here superstitious and cowardly?"
Bruce silently nodded.
Turning back to Tim, Terry remarked drolly, "I think I can handle it.")
("Where is he?"
"Do you really want to know the answer?" Batman answered as he deactivated his cloaking mode and stepped out of the shadows.
"You're as bad as the other one," Gordon chastised.
"Comes with the job," Batman drolly answered, "What's the situation?")
("So who do I need to keep an eye out for?
///
"Arnold Etchison, alias 'Abbatoir'."
"French for 'Slaughterhouse'," Terry translated, "Nice. I take it he's not a flowers and long walks on moonlit beaches type."
"McGinnis, pay attention."
"Some things never change," Terry shrugged, "So, what's his story?"
"Etchison believes that by killing everyone related to him, he can become the sole repository of his family's spirit and power."
"And I thought the artificial intelligence that wanted to download itself into the brain of its programmer's grandson was bad," Bruce raised an eyebrow and Terry elaborated, "It thought it was its programmer, managed to download itself into the Batsuit first, then went after the grandson. One good thing came out of it; after I had to use his to fight the Batsuit, the Old Man decided to restock the old utility belts and update some of the equipment in them, even if they were in storage."
Bruce frowned hard, "That should have been done anyway.")
("What do you think?"
Terry recognised this as a test, something it seemed Bruce Wayne did no matter which Bruce Wayne it was, "You said that some gnome from the Order of St. Dumas threw him out when he saved your life, right? Valley has something in common with you, Dick, me, even Tim to some point - this is part of who we are. According to him, he had been raised to believe the Order was everything, trained to become Azrael... when he lost that, you-Bruce Wayne and Batman both were big influences. He was supposed to be Azrael, the Avenging Angel of St. Dumas. Maybe, somehow, that got mixed up in his head with Batman, the Dark Knight, the Avenger of Gotham - we don't know much about that 'System' he mentioned, right? And he comes up with the idea that with Bruce Wayne out of commission, he - Jean Paul - is supposed to become the next Batman, basically trading one avenger for another in his mind."
Bruce nodded and admitted, "And if you hadn't shown up with proof that at least another one of me had decided you were worth it, I might even have let him. I agree.")
(Terry-Batman and Tim-Robin face off against AzBat and Jason Todd-Robin)