The DCFutures Fan Fiction Group recognizes that Batman, Superman, and all related characters are the 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. Nyah Nyah! **** BATMAN: DCF #36 **** Written and directed by: Erik Burnham (darvey@rocketmail.com) **** BATMAN created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger **** "Back to the Future" (Timequake -- Part Two) **** Tim Drake drank his surroundings in. This was the Watchtower. The JLA Watchtower... on the surface of the moon. Sure, he'd been here before -- in the future, where the place was a museum in the middle of the lunar city appropriately named Luna. But this was off the charts as far as experiences go. Nothing in Tim's life thus far had compared to this... Well, there was that one gal in Sweden, Superman's Day 2110, but that really was beside the point. And speaking of Superman, there he was, in all his glory, a completely different man from the Clark Tim had been acquainted with. This man had a quiet strength radiating from him, one that far surpassed the physical power Tim had read about in school. "The suit fits?" Superman asked in a thoughtful voice that made Tim think maybe he wasn't too different from that shy Kansas boy back in the future after all. Rather comforting, that. To make a long story short, Tim had come up with the plan of dressing in his predecessor's costume. Clark didn't see how it would help until Tim growled at him with all the grimness Bruce had ever had to 'get him the damned costume,' laughed, and then said 'gee whiz, you want everybody reacting the same way as Lois, or just shrinking away like usual?' Point was taken, costume retrieved. "Fits just fine," Tim agreed, adding in his Bruce-voice, "like a glove." "Please stop doing that." "Whatever you say." **** Without a sound Bruce Wayne, the Batman, slipped past the Gotham Police officers and up to the forcefield surrounding Mercy Haven. His right hand made a quick trip to his utility belt and pulled out a miniature device that sampled the energy at a closer range, and under different criteria. No offense meant to the current 'Batman,' but Bruce wasn't completely trusting of his equipment. Not after meeting 'Alfred.' Hmm. Nothing dangerous about this energy; that much was consistent. On a whim, Bruce reached his gloved hand out and touched the field. ...It passed through without effort. What kind of forcefield didn't repel outside force? Bruce wondered. He then attempted something else, pulling a mini- acetylene torch from his belt. The flame was denied entrance. This field repelled energy... and obviously, that would be the kind of weapon that the GCPD used; hence the ineffectiveness of snipers. True, they could walk right through the shield, but then the hostages would be at risk. It wasn't a half-bad plan. Too bad they didn't seem to have any defense against him. One thing did cross Bruce's mind as he entered the hospital... he'd read about another vigilante in Gotham... Sandman. Where was he during all this? [Answer: he was roughed up by the cat-woman in the last couple of issues! Go read Sandy's own title if you want any more Sandman -- E] **** ...There they were. The JLA. The Justice League of America. There was Wally West, the Flash... Kyle Rayner, Green Lantern... Aquaman, Wonder Woman HELLO! And... and... "There is nothing wrong with Superman," Tim said, matter- of-factly and in his own voice, slightly dazed. That caught the attention of the whole room, as Batman was not widely known for speaking without a growl. J'onn was the first to act, briefly making mental contact with the Batman before him. Images flashed in his mind, of a future he could not begin to comprehend. Of young men falling from grace, of old friends being tragically marooned... and of himself taking on the symbol of a man he looked up to. "My God," J'onn breathed, his black eyes widening. "He just saw right through me, didn't he?" Tim whispered to Clark. "I'm afraid so." "Okay, damn." Tim said, quickly throwing on a smile for the confused JLA. "Hi," he said. "My name's... ah, Tim, actually, and I'll be your conundrum for today. Now, here's the thing..." "We don't have time for this," Aquaman pointed out, dismissing the Batman. "We have an emergency to--" "Hey!" Tim screamed. "You're absolutely right, Ahab, there is an emergency here -- and you will SHUT YOUR MOUTH while I'm talking so we can correct it!" Tim's sudden explosion had taken aback even Superman -- it was completely unexpected. "I beg your pardon," Tim quickly added, composing himself. "Now, then... I was knocked to the past, lady and gentlemen. It's not beyond the realm of possibility that whatever brought me from the right time also caused whatever 'emergency' it is that you're getting ready to discuss." "You don't even know what it is we're going to..." Green Lantern started. Tim was riled; his childish fascination with these people was at an end -- except for Wonder Woman, Greek women could be very hot -- and they were wasting time. "What's the situation?" Tim grunted tersely, in a decidedly Bruce-like tone. "Well, ah, there's some madman in New York blowing things up and claiming to be from the... future." "Really. What a coincidence. Say, why is it that one of you couldn't handle this on your own?" J'onn J'onzz now intervened telepathically, pulling Tim onto a separate plane -- a purely psionic one -- with him. "We need to talk," J'onn said. **** What is this hell that I have wrought? Caleb Marion wondered. It doesn't matter! Destroy! No, no, I'm not like that; I came through the times to protect my future! It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter, it doesn't matter! Only X amount of people can safely ride the waves of convolution! The balance was disrupted with Carter, destroy! IT JUST DOESN'T MATTER! **** Bruce slid wraithlike through the shadows of Mercy Haven Hospital, lowering his breathing. For all his taunting of Clark and his reliance on superhuman abilities, Bruce did wish he had the hearing ability from time to time. As it was, he had to improvise. The Batman took a small device from his belt and held it next to his ear, adjusting tiny controls as he did so... super hearing, the human way. While it was nowhere near as powerful as Clark's, it would do what needed to be done. "Why are you doing this?" A woman's voice sobbed quietly. "We are Patriot. We do what must be done. We do this for freedom." They're not free, Bruce's mind growled. They're being victimized. No. No. NO. The voices were coming from five doors down. The voice did not have the air of authority behind it; it was a preprogrammed response. There was fear in the voice. Fear he could use. Batman was at the room now. The door was open, and he could see clearly inside. The Patriot soldier was holding a gun to the woman's head, uncertainty apparent. This must end. "Stop." The soldier recoiled quickly, his nerves appropriately high-strung. "W-who's there?" "Put the gun down. Now." "Who's there?" The soldier tried again, sweat forming. He wasn't sure what was going down, but the voice was so scary... "Do it." It was a shadow come to life, living, breathing, approaching quickly. Perry MacDonald wasn't ready for this. He had studied the recordings of the Batman. He knew the man's mannerisms and posture and everything... he was prepared for that. They all were. This wasn't the man they were ready to face. Three quick blows to some strategic points on Perry's body confirmed this. He was unconscious and restrained before he even knew what hit him. "Stay here," Batman told the nurse, gliding out of the room as silent as the night itself. **** "Just what, exactly, is your problem?" "Me? I'm just really shy." "And rude," J'onn added, chiding Tim Drake. "That was a king you yelled at." "Hey, I said I was sorry," Tim deadpanned. "Look -- you're a mind reader. You know more about me than I can probably remember... and, I'm guessing, you probably wished you didn't. I'm sorry about that, I'm sorry I'm here, and I'm sorry I lost my temper. But I have got to get home, end of story. If I have to be a little bit forward or a little bit rude to get things done, then again, I apologize... but I don't belong here -- don't you get that? The longer I'm here, the worse things could be." "Now you listen to me," J'onn answered, stonefaced. "Homesickness is not an emotion that is new to me. However, I see no reason for you to act in such a childish manner towards men and women that have risked their lives time and again to ensure that there is a future--" "Hey, maybe you haven't taken too clear a look inside my head, after all. YOUR FRIENDS DIDN'T DO TOO GOOD A JOB. Look -- I used to think otherwise, but ever since I put on this mask I've been forced to see some of the darkest things in the world. Like Justice, for example. Why is he around? Why did he get to do what he did to my life? Why is there a Suicide Squad, or a Patriot? Why is Superman -- the real Superman, no offense -- living under my roof? This is not right! It took me a long time to see that my world isn't what it should be. And as much as I want to admire you and your teammates for the things you did, I can't -- because ultimately they're failures. If they weren't, I probably wouldn't be here... not in this time, or in this life. Now it may seem selfish, it may even seem rude... but the most important thing in the world you guys can do for the future is get me back to my own time so something that makes a difference can actually be done." "You arrogant, egotistical... brat!" J'onn fumed. "How dare you come here and show such disrespect!" "It's not disrespect. It's truth, and you know it. This JLA did a lot of good. A lot of good, but it didn't last. They held things back for a short amount of time, but look at the big picture. They got blindsided -- YOU got blindsided, and the rest, they say, is history. You have years left in your careers, big guy. And you'll do some big things yet..." "Well, we weren't sure what he was capable of," Green Lantern replied. The conversation between J'onn and Tim now over, having been completed in a fraction of a second. However, even though it was brief, it affected Tim profoundly... rather like his first kiss, back when he was fourteen. These individuals were the template for everything that he was and would one day be. They weren't a collection of amateurs, like they had been portrayed so many times in the movies Tim was so fond of. They were living, breathing legends. And, the Martian was right, deserved more respect than he'd been giving. Three-minute penalty for impetuousness, Tim. Eat some crow. You're not Bruce Wayne; don't expect them to treat you like him. Don't try and intimidate them, don't toss them orders as though they're a junior executive interrupting the rhythm after an eight-hour meeting, and please, please PLEASE keep that temper in check. Aquaman looks like he's about ready to throw down. Superman doesn't seem as comfortable as he had been, and the rest... "Wonder Woman, I must say... you're beautiful when you're angry." Tim smiled. Not the best reception he had ever received from a group, but hey -- pour on the charm. Mend some fences... this approach was as unexpected as the eruption. "However, despite those results, my moody behavior was of course out of line, and I humbly beg for your forgiveness... and the forgiveness of the rest of you. Your majesty. Green Lantern. Now, then... I realize there is an emergency here, as we covered before. There is a man in New York City from the future, causing some damage. We need to get there as soon as possible. And when we do, the first thing I would like is for reconnaissance from you, ah, Superman... you too, Wal -- Flash... if you would. Tell me what's going on, but don't try to engage him, no matter how tempting it may be. Green Lantern, you stick by me... I may need your ring. Shall we?" Tim grinned again, heading back down the hall to the transporters. "What did you do to him, J'onn?" Clark asked. "I'd thought... nothing," J'onn replied. "Either way, when he started tossing out orders, he seemed a lot more like Batman..." Green Lantern added. "That he did," Aquaman acknowledged, finally following the others after Tim. "But if he insults me again, I'll turn him into a decoration." **** The stars looked like a great big game of connect the dots, Clark had thought once, when he was a child. As an adult, he had journeyed amongst many of those same stars -- but they never lost their luster, that sense of wonder that had so captured his imagination. Can you see Pegasus, son? That's what Pa would always say. Pegasus, or Orion. The constellations were up there, just waiting for the dots to be connected, and Pa liked that. He liked when things staid put and waited for him to get them done. Farming was the fastest thing he was able to do; everything else took time. You have to take some time for yourself, son. Clark knew that, it was one of the reasons why Superman wasn't a 24/7 kind of occupation. At least, it hadn't been in the old days. But here, it was all he had. ...All he had. Maybe that was the reason he was so unhappy as of late? You have to take some time for yourself. When Tim took off his cape, he had things he could be doing. Clark really... didn't. Admittedly, he was a bit afraid of how to go about having a life; there was still so much he didn't know, it was risky. You have to take some time for yourself. But he had to try. Was that Pegasus? He had to try. Was that Orion? He needed some time for himself. Clark stood and looked down at the spot he had been lying on the ground and smiled at the snow angel that had taken his place. He had to try. He would try. **** Look at this place, Tim thought. All the cars are on the ground and the buildings're only half as tall as they should be. Psycho villain is two blocks down, cars surrounding him. You can feel the heat from here. A tap on the old utility belt upped his audio receptors -- thank you, Bruce, for having so much of the right stuff. The guy was yelling about this being wrong, not mattering, and it was all Drake's fault. Ah, pardon? Tim Drake. Oh boy. Too much to hope that Grandpa was a bad boy in the future. Everything was wrong. You could say THAT again. Everything was all wrong! I didn't mean it literally... "The guy's nuts," Wally West said, speeding into view. "His mind is a torrent of emotion. I tried to understand more, but he shut me out." "He just shut you out?" Tim asked. "Yes." "Not good. Superman!" Tim asked now that Big Blue was back within sight. "How's the heat?" "I can feel it when I get close." "Is he in an attacking mood?" "Well, he's been talking about you in an unfriendly way, but right now he just seems to be trying to keep people back." Nothing Tim didn't already know, but that's fine. "How is it he knows you?" Wonder Woman spoke up. "I'm not sure, beautiful," Tim winked and began unfastening his cape. "Wally, I hear tell you can lend speed." "Yeah." "Lend me some. I want a closer look at this guy, and I don't need him seeing me and going nuclear." "Whenever you're ready, ah, Bats." Wally didn't seem too comfortable with that appellation. "You can call me Tim." Tim smiled and tossed his cape on Aquaman's hook. "Great catch, your highness. I'll be back in a second for that. Meantime, if you and J'onn could see if maybe you can try to get into our man's head again? That would be perfect. Thank you, my liege. Supes, Wonder Woman, GL... help the cops. Get as many people as you can as far back as you can in as short a time as you can. Flash, let's go." **** Bruce Wayne continued through the hospital, floor by floor, re-enacting the initial Patriot conflict several times, precisely, almost down to the words used. Who was the Batman of this time? Right now it didn't matter. Bruce had taken out several of the marginal soldiers. As near as he could figure, the ones in charge would be near the delegate. Two floors up. **** "I sense a grave disturbance in the force." "I swear, when you say that, sir, you almost sound like you're kidding." "The duties assigned to you, Myrkin, are not for jest. The time stream is in danger." "Again?" "Always. The late twentieth and early twenty-second centuries seem to have intermingled." "How?" "Michael Carter traveled to the twentieth, made it his home, left in the twenty-first, but did not make it back to his own time. Dying before he was born created one ripple in the stream. Caleb Marion, the man you replaced, left service and jumped into the time stream with tainted apparatus. He was driven insane, and apparently the combination of his divergent point of entry into the time stream, the faulty apparatus, and his own unique biochemistry seems to have given him some disturbing abilities." "Okay. Is that the problem?" "No. Carter's point of death -- outside of Gotham City, on the East Coast of..." "I know it, okay? I grew up thirty miles away." "Of course. Carter's death in Gotham caused a ripple that has expanded outward from the place of his death, catching two individuals and putting them in the wrong eras. The ripple is fast returning. If these two individuals are not at the point of their abduction, they may not be returned..." "And then we have a problem." "The main problem is Marion. He needs to be taken out of the equation. Permanently." "And then get the two individuals to where they need to be, right?" "Of course." "Who are they?" "The Batman." "Both of them?" "Yes." "Send me the specs, I'm on my way." **** With his lent speed, Tim was able to get considerably closer to the guy that caused all this fuss -- but not TOO close. That heat was a real pain. Literally. Was he familiar? No. Tim had never laid eyes on the guy before now; and surely couldn't have ticked him off enough for... this. Damn time travel... you're never sure where you stand. "Wegottaturnback!" Flash said in a flurry of words, pointing back towards the direction from which they'd just left. They were being cooked alive here, and Tim wasn't sure of what else to do yet... so he followed Wally back. "I'm not sure what to do here," Tim admitted back with the League. "Terrific," Aquaman groaned. "Some help you are." "Your mother's a cod," Tim muttered. "There's got to be something we can do!" "There is," A new voice added. "Hi. Ted Myrkin, Time Police." **** Batman could hear voices as he neared the room Hazcook was being held in. Hazcook, a delegate with the United Nations, was in charge of a committee that was investigating the possible removal of Justice from his position in the UN. Patriot wanted a lot more than that; they wanted, for all intents and purposes, anarchy. Taking away the only reality people had ever known, the only reality most of them had ever known... and not because it was blatantly oppressive. Well, not in the picture that they painted. Bruce got in closer. A deep voice boomed, speaking to the delegate. "Mr. Hazcook, we can guarantee there is no help coming. Please, just do as we ask and introduce a bill for dissolution immediately. We have brought a teleline/fax for this purpose." "You don't understand," the delegate tried, unsure of how to address his captor. "No, YOU don't understand! I am a Leech, Mr. Hazcook. Metas cannot get anywhere near me -- your precious League is powerless to intervene. The forcefield we have, the men we have, the hostages we have, no one without superhuman abilities would dare attempt to rescue you! NOW MAKE THE BILL AND GET IT SIGNED!" "You're not thinking clearly," Hazcook stammered, afraid. Leech, for his deep and threatening voice, was little more than a gelatinous little man near-completely immobile save for his spider-like personal transport and his flailing arms, yet nonetheless, he terrified the delegate. "They... they will never change the world, for just one man..." "Well then, Mr. Hazcook... maybe you should be asking yourself what kind of government it is that you work for." **** "I am NOT a Linear Man!" Myrkin grunted. "Then just what are you?" Superman asked. "You job description..." "I'm past Linear Men, all right? Past you, Superman, and you, Batman... yes, that means your present, the future, however you want to call it. Over there? Caleb Marion. He's the guy I replaced. Whacko. Long story short, he doesn't like you, involves the... situation with Michael Carter, and I'm here to take him down. Just need a little time, if you'll excuse the irony." "Lantern," Tim spoke up. "Can you shield me without making me look like a kumquat?" "An invisible shield? I don't know, I can..." Tim sighed, locking GL in his gaze and asking again in a firmer tone: "Can you do it?" "I... yeah. Yeah, I can." "Good." "Tim, what are you doing?" Wonder Woman asked. Aquaman rolled his eyes at the concern in Diana's voice. "Simple, beautiful; I'm going to go have a chat with Mr. Marion. Am I on, GL?" "All set." "Okay. If I'm not back in five minutes, wait longer." Tim let the groaner go and jogged towards Caleb Marion. **** Alexander Hazcook was in between the proverbial rock and a hard place. He wasn't sure he'd survive, even if he did write and introduce the legislation this grotesque little man so desired... in minutes, mind you, not the hours, days, weeks, it usually took... someone ELSE to do it! Hazcook wasn't even sure if he remembered how to start. That's when an eerie feeling overcame him. The hair on the back of his neck rose as the atmosphere in the room shook with electricity. Hazcook looked up. And saw a Batman. Silently, the Dark Knight ducked and avoided a pistol blast from one of Leech's two bodyguards, tossing a boomerang of some sort at the man and striking him square in the face. The other bodyguard attempted a more direct method of attack. He lunged at the man in black. Punch. Block. Punch. Duck. The Batman grabbed his wrist and head-butted the bodyguard, kneeing him in the groin and letting fly another two quick punches to the kidney as the bodyguard collapsed. The first man -- the shooter -- had regained his bearings and tried to shoot again. The Batman easily avoided the bodyguard's wide shots, swinging his cloak at the shooter. From the way the man's head snapped back, Hazcook guessed the cloak had weights in its seams. Quickly, the Batman pounced on the again-dazed individual, striking him repeatedly in the head. Well, what seemed like repeatedly... the poor man was unconscious after only two more hits. And then he moved against Leech who, lacking imagination (as was apparent by his plans to dissolve the world's government) felt that his bodyguards and his power-dampening abilities would be more than enough to assuage any possible threat. He was wrong. "Turn off the forcefield," the Batman breathed. Leech complied. "Good work," Bruce heard, whipping around. "Hey, Batman -- peace. I'm on your side. Ted Myrkin's my name..." **** Any luck getting something out of this guy, J'onn? Tim thought. Our attempts have failed. Thanks for nothing. Tim had just reached Marion, and was as cool as a cucumber. Tell GL good going, though. Will do. "WHAT DO YOU WANT?" Caleb yelled, noticing Batman. "THIS IS ALL WRONG!" "And don't I know it," Tim replied. "Caleb, right? What's your beef with me?" "How do you know my name?!?" "I'm Batman, pal. I know all, I forget half, I ask about the rest. Why are you doing all of this?" "I have to! IT'S ALL WRONG!" "Tell me about it," Tim grinned. "But why blame me?" "WHO ARE YOU?" "I'm Tim Drake." "YOU!!!" Caleb let fly with a blast of heat at Tim. Batman instinctively shielded himself, forgetting about the Lantern's shield. It was a Captain Atom incident all over again, only without the plastic suit. [See Batman: DCF #18.] GL was good, though -- Tim didn't even start to sweat. "You know what your problem is, Marion? You're a blamer. You blame other people for your failures. Booster Gold was a good man, pal. Yeah -- don't look so surprised, I told you I knew everything. He was a good man, and he went out with some mercy. So DON'T LAY IT ON ME!" Tim walked forward and hit Caleb Marion. Hard. The little man never had a chance, and was out like a light. "THAT'S IT?!?" Tim yelled. "You build this all up and THAT'S IT!?!? I come all this way and you're the candlelight kid? Ahh! What a gyp!" "Hey," Myrkin said. "It doesn't have to be pretty, it just has to be." "What are you going to do with him?" "Take him back to the right time. See, this time travel stuff -- when you do it a lot -- can make you a little crazy. He happened to be a nut from the get-go." "Your policies amaze me. How about my situation?" "Get back to wherever it was that you first appeared in this time -- Gotham -- the exact point you showed up. Well, within five hundred feet. In a few hours, you should be good as new, back where you belong." "Aren't you going to tell me how this all happened?" Tim asked. "Sorry, confidential. Afternoon," Myrkin pressed a button on a wrist device. He and Marion vanished. Terrific. **** Bruce could be a patient man. After all, he had schemed his whole life to become the man he was, he fought day in and day out towards a single goal, the assurance that no other man, woman, or child should have to suffer as he did in the streets of this town. But he was anxious. He was impatient, he wanted -- needed -- to get back to that town. "When is this supposed to happen?" Clark asked. "I'd say the timely stroke o' 12, me lads." Alfred chimed in, slightly changing the nature of his accent. Bruce felt the urge to tell the robot to shut up. He resisted. "Clark, after I go I want you to look in a hole three meters in that," Bruce pointed to his left, "direction." "What for?" "Trust me, Clark." FLASH! **** Alfred Pennyworth poured a cup of tea for both Tim Drakes. "Thank you, Alfred," the younger Tim -- Robin -- said. "Of course." "This is taking too long," the older Tim -- Batman -- complained. "What's taking so long?" a voice came from behind. The three men in the cave turned to see Dick Grayson skipping down the stairs. "Dick! What are you doing here?" Robin asked. "I want you to meet someone..." "Who's this guy?" Dick asked, warily. "Where's Bruce?" "You sonofa..." Bat-Tim grumbled. Bat-Tim leapt at Grayson, punching him full in the mouth, and knocking him down. "Do you have any idea what you're responsible for? C'mon." FLASH. Dick Grayson wasted no time, leaping back and throwing a punch of his own. It was caught in the rocklike grip of the Batman. "Nightwing." Bruce Wayne exhaled. "What are you doing here?" "Bruce!" Dick stammered. "I-I'm sorry, I..." "Save it. I have something to take care of." Without further hesitation Bruce turned and got into the Batmobile -- HIS Batmobile. Resisting the urge to tell it to 'go', he turned the ignition and was off... ...To Metropolis. Silently, Bruce slipped into Clark Kent's apartment and found a photograph. Later, he would sign it and place it where he told Clark to look, and everything would be back to normal. **** "...pal, let's go!" Tim grunted. "Go... where, Master Tim? Perhaps the circus? I do fancy the circus..." "Shut up, Alfred." Tim sighed, closing his eyes. He was really home. A soft sobbing caused Tim's eyes to reopen. It was Clark. "Right where he said to look..." "Right where who?" Tim asked, still a bit... out of things. "Bruce." Clark held up a small, flat item... a photograph. A framed photograph. Of Clark... Lois... and what had to be the parents of one or the other. Look at how happy they were. There was some scribbling on the picture... 'Wish you were here, -B' It took Tim only a moment to understand just how truly alone Clark felt. How do you drown that out? "Clark, did I ever mention to you I own a lot of businesses in this town? Alfred. Tell Clark how much I own." "Master Tim is responsible for forty-nine percent of the Gotham job market alone." "Alfred, do I own anything that has to do with publishing?" "Ah, no, sir." Damn. "Tim, what are you doing?" "Clark -- you've been cooped up, y'know? Hanging around here with Alfred, can't be good. You were happiest when you came back from Metropolis." "Master Tim, you were in Italy when we returned from--" "Shut up, Alfred. You were the most happy then because you were out, interacting, doing the normal guy thing. I want to give that back to you." "Tim, thank you, but..." "Ah-ah-ah! Now, this is the part where you object and tell me how you want to do this on your own. Right? Of course, right... and ordinarily I'd respect that. However my friend, you have absolutely no ID of any kind, you have no identity. Clark... you can't get a job without friends in high places. I wasn't looking to give you a cushy, do-nothing position, if that's what you think; I was looking to give you some options -- have you find something that suits you -- and then let you go to it." "Tim, I..." "Hey -- I'm a success because I know what to do with what I have. And with what other people have. Alfred, you know what Clark's good at. You know what I got. Make sure the twain meet -- I'm gonna hit the sack." "But Tim, I..." "No good, Master Clark. He's in his way again. Shall we begin?" "I guess so, Alfred. I guess so." **** J'onn wasn't entirely comfortable with what he was about to do, but knowledge of the future was too dangerous a commodity to possess, especially when he, himself, and others were to play a direct role in said such future. They couldn't allow themselves to tamper with history, and the temptation would grow with each passing day... to save themselves, to save Dick Grayson, to save the world one more time. J'onn's mind reached out, capturing the mercurial mind of Wally West. He was fast, but not fast enough to outrun a thought. Gone was any knowledge of the Batman they had met and the future he had come from. Gone was the knowledge that anything had been amiss. J'onn said a silent prayer for forgiveness. Wonder Woman was next and then Green Lantern. Just what do you think you're doing? Aquaman asked when J'onn's mind touched his. I'm, ah, closing Pandora's Box. Our friend from beyond? Yes. I understand. And that was all from the King of the Sea as J'onn removed all memory of Tim Drake from his mind. A joyful event Arthur wouldn't even remember to thank J'onn for. Clark's will was strong, and J'onn had a decidedly difficult time with his task; especially since Clark had every intention of preventing the one thing he'd heard Tim grumble about. He hadn't yet thought of those whose lives he would change... or erase, and what kind of domino effect his resolve to change one thing would trigger. Tim put it best -- if they didn't fail, he wouldn't even exist. J'onn knew the old theory of sacrificing the few to save the many, but wasn't entirely sure of the ratio. It took time. It took concentration... but Clark Kent no longer remembered Tim Drake in any way. And now, the greatest test. J'onn himself needed to forget. To erase his own memories was something he had never tried, never dreamed of trying until now... but he needed to forget, he needed to not know anything about a visitor from beyond. He needed for things to be as they were; he needed this to be... **** THE END **** NEXT ISSUE: Jon Isaacs just has this notion that Tim and Batman are one n' the same. Plus: Clark gets... a job! **** GOING BATTY **** Some of you may have noticed just how I thanked Schuyler Bush for this storyline. Did he co-write? Not really... he almost did, though, back when we were cooking this tale up as a "Christmas Special" world's finest kinda thing. The majority of his writing went into Adventures of Superman #7, I believe. But he gave me a few good ideas and the spirit to go on this, so deserves my thanks! Anyhow... Letters! Here we go! (Keep 'em coming!) Date: Tue, 29 Jun 1999 23:03:49 -0500 (CDT) From: tiggr@ix.netcom.com To: darvey@rocketmail.com Subject: BATMAN: DCF #35 Loved it! (Time travel being my fav of all things.. hehe) Glad you sent it even if it is 'to be continued'. Espically the Bat-Tim's situation. Had me rolling on the floor and getting really strange looks from my family. One question that I had that's not really totally related; is Terry from BATMAN BEYOND a different dimension from this? Most likely but I had to ask. Don't stop writing. -completly devoted fan (who can't stop humming the Brady theme thanxs to you) Amber ****Hey, Amber -- thanks for taking the time to write! I hope you'll let me know if the closing matched up to the opener. And yeah, Terry and Tim are different dimensions. Ladies and gents, TIM WAS ALSO HERE FIRST. Heh.**** From: MSR77@aol.com Date: Wed, 30 Jun 1999 17:25:53 EDT Subject: Batman: DCF #35 Comments To: darvey@rocketmail.com Erik, Loved this issue of Batman DCF! I thought it was interesting seeing Bruce Wayne in the future and Tim Drake in the past. Seeing Bruce and Clark talking brought back a lot of memories and it was nice seeing these two working together even though I'm in fact sure Bruce will be returning to his own time. I also liked seeing Tim and Tim in the Redbird talking since I know Tim is related to this Tim, however confusing that is. Other then that great story so far and I can't wait to see how this ends-up! Mike ****Well, Tim and Bruce are back where they belong. Glad #35 did some good things for ya. Again, I hope this wrapped up well enough for you!**** To: darvey@rocketmail.com Subject: bats #35... From: Jason S Kenney Date: Tue, 06 Jul 1999 19:47:32 EDT ...kicked major ass. 'nuff said. J~ ****...Well, that was to the point. Thanks, Jason! And good work on Heroes. (Could use more Bats: DCF coverage, though.)**** Date: Wed, 7 Jul 1999 22:32:49 -0700 (PDT) From: jpratt To: darvey@rocketmail.com Subject: Batman:DCF 35 -- BEST EVER!! Erik You've done the unthinkable!! I thought nothing could my favorite Batman:DCF story of Mr. Mxylptlk. But I was WRONG... I just finished reading Batman:DCF #35, and all I got to say is that it is the *BEST* issue of Batman:DCF Ever!! Hands down; that's it; Rome has spoken; That's all Folks; end of discussion!!! To even attempt explain why I looooooooooved this issue so much would take forever... So, for the sake of your time schedule and my overdue incomplete term paper, I'll just mention some simple elements of why #35 (for me) RULES to infinity and beyond: -Tim Drake II meeting his (younger) Grandfather, the old school Tim Drake (my favorite DCU character, next to the Big "S"). -The Re-union of "The World's Finest" -- No explanation needed. -Watching the ultra-serious Bruce Wayne getting annoyed by Alfred the Wiseacre Wonder and the dancing holo-Batgirl. -Seeing the smart-alecky Tim Drake II get lectured by the O.G. Tim Drake (Hell yeah!! That's my boy!!!!). For once, someone (besides Clark) is telling (AND teaching) Tim II how it is. In short SPECTACULAR JOB!!! I can't wait a second more for Batman: DCF #36...but as Bruce pondered in this issue "...the REAL Alfred -- would be lecturing him [and me] on his [and my] impatience." Just a few questions: -I noticed that Batman:DCF #35 touched on the scene of Nightwing's death (also shown in Legends of Gotham:DCF #2). Are we beginning to see the gradual revelation of how the greatest Titan became the sadistic dictator of Justice? -On a lighter note, Batman:DCF #35 also mentioned a reference to the signifcance of (the original) Tim Drake's girlfriend. Is it Stephanie Brown, a.k.a., the Spoiler? And if it is, what is significant that happens to her? (NOTE: Currently, in DC's ROBIN title, there is indecision amongst fans as to who should be Robin's girlfriend) Thanks for your time. Sorry, about the looooong e-mail. Keep up the great work. Without a doubt, Gotham is the best place to hang out in 2113!! (I guess Alcatraz is, or "was," the worst place... he, he). Sincerely, Ryan Pratt Religion Major / History Minor University of Southern California ****No, thank YOU for a letter so long I actually had to cut some of it to fit it into this issue! (; I'm so glad you liked #35 -- and hope this issue was a fitting end to the TimeQuake saga. (It was a tough one to do.) Your ques: No, it's not the gradual revelation of Dick's downfall. That may come later... with, I think, a writer braver than I. And is it Stephanie I'm referring to? Maybe if Jason Tippitt ever gets around to his "Final Young Justice" story, we'll know for sure. My money is yes... but you never can tell.**** Thanks for reading everyone -- and be on the lookout for a *NEW* Batman: DCF website soon! (Damn Yahoo/Geocities merger...) -Erik VISIT THE DCF DISCUSSION BOARD: http://disc.server.com/discussion.cgi?id=6074