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. **** The last thing Tim remembered was a love tap from Clark that was only slightly less jarring, proportionately, than the time he crashed a speeding bike into a wall when he was nine. And now he sat at a dinner table in an ornate room. Sitting across from him was a man. His face was vaguely familiar... "Braye, Mr. Drake. The name you're looking for is Braye." **** BATMAN: DCF #46 **** Written and Directed by Erik Burnham darvey@rocketmail.com **** BATMAN created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger **** "Dream me a Dream" **** Tim's recollection was quick - given where he knew himself to be. Ashley Braye used to work for him, partnered up with a psycho by the name of Jonathan Weiss. They were working on a way to enter the subconscious mind. 'The next step up from VR,' they called it. They were fired. They were also - as it turns out - quite successful. Braye entered the subconscious mind of Tim Drake once before, bent on revenge. Jonathan Weiss wound up slaughtered his family. [In Batman DCF #11 and Batman: The Mercy Seat, respectively. -e] By all accounts, neither was really toting a full load. "Now, now. There's no need for insults," Braye smirked. Tim had forgotten; they were in his MIND. Thoughts may as well be spoken word here. "So," Tim asked. "Where've you been?" "Funny you should ask, Mr. Drake. Funny you should ask." **** It was uncommonly chilly in San Francisco that night. It had been, lately. Leon fought back with a nip or two of scotch to tide him over between the bars. That sounded like a flapping. Leon looked up. That looked like... He dropped his flask. It couldn't be... Was it... "Batman?" He whispered... **** "After our... meeting," Braye began, the world around them shifting to a version of New York's Central Park, "I found myself unable to escape the collective subconscious of humanity." "Tough break." "I thought so myself at first. It did seem like I was doomed to be the reincarnation of that old horror vid character... but then I discovered how freeing this all truly is." "Pardon?" "I can travel through dreams. Fantasies. Nightmares. Influence them, change them, cause them. It's all... tangible to me. I have all of the pluses, and none of the minuses of the corporeal. And I know everyone's secrets. Everyone's." "Meaning?" "Ask me about Justice, for example, and I can give you three names." Braye grinned. "I owe this power to you. I was mad at first; but hey - our design wasn't perfect, and I had to get past my ego to realize it." Braye chuckled. "I'm sure my body is dead now, no doubt. Or - if someone found me in time - vegetating in a hospital somewhere, a ward of the state. I wish it well." "You're... happy?" "Mr. Drake, I know no suffering. I have complete control over my environment, and can travel to the minds of anybody - anybody! - and know their most intimate secrets, feelings, desires. If I want sex, I find a fantasy. If I want action, I find a daydream. If I want entertainment, I relive the memories of others. I'm a god... and I owe it all to you." Braye grabbed Tim by the shoulder. "Observe," he said. "Practice made this perfect." Braye snapped his fingers. **** Tim saw himself hanging on a wall, held in place by a force unseen. Also there was Elenor Haines - in full Black Canary regalia. "She's been thinking of you a lot lately," Braye chuckled. "And if you thought I was hostile..." Elenor shrieked, and the faux-Tim's head exploded. She shrieked again and... "I don't need to SEE this!" Tim grimaced. "I knew she was mad, but..." "Women," Braye said, "Are not to be trifled with." **** In the real world, Jon Isaacs lightly massaged his knee while he skimmed the day's headlines. Crime, it was of no surprise, was up in Gotham - despite the best efforts of the GCPD. ...And Batman. The time had come to make a decision; a decision Jon had feared making since moment the shrapnel had first ripped through his leg oh so long ago. He had to answer, once and for all: was he still cop material? After his leg had been blown to hell? After what had happened to his partners - Paul Chandler's long suspension, O'Halloran's murder, and the murder of Kylie's husband? Grayson's death and Jon's own incarceration at the hands of the nut that called himself Clayface were the twin cherries on top. Could Isaacs still handle being a cop? He'd been through a lot in his career - and things only looked to be getting worse as time marched on. Was it time to... retire? **** "So the first time you invaded my mind you were trying to kill me," Tim restated for sake of clarification. "And now you're past that?" "An initial impulse. I wanted revenge before I discovered what I really had. Something you were an indirect cause of. But to answer you, yes. I'm past it." "Amazing." "But," Braye said. "Don't think I'm leaving you unscathed today." "I thought you said you were past things." "And I am. That doesn't mean I hauled you kicking and screaming into the paradox that is your subconscious mind just for grins. I've been thinking about something for a while, and just now decided to do it. You may not like it when you wake up, but then... that's life." Tim felt himself tensing up. "Meaning what?" "Meaning I've explored your mind. It's a fascinating place - but..." Braye snapped his fingers, once again changing the scope of Tim's perceptions. "I'm glad I don't live here." **** Bradley Carrington had served with the Justice League for much of his life. He was in his fifties now, and retired, but had seen so much that he was sure he could never be surprised again. Never say never. "Mr. Carrington," the man in black said as Carrington entered his suite at the Gotham Mermacia. "I believe I have something you want." **** "What is it?" Tim asked. "Let me tell you about your mind, Mr. Drake. It's complicated, but actually fairly organized. And I've had an interesting time looking around. One place, however, I haven't been able to go..." Braye motioned to a door that looked to be made of steel. A bat was proudly emblazoned on it. "What is it, locked?" "Something like that. I've got a theory... remember the sword in the stone? I expect this is similar." "Meaning what?" "It's your mind, open the door." "What's on the other side? A trap?" "If it were, would I tell you?" Braye chuckled, shimmering and looking ever-so-much like a three-dimensional shadow as he did so. "Mr. Drake, I have no idea. You've got things rolling around in here that you don't know about. My curiosity brought you here so we could both know. What do you think?" Interesting, is what Tim thought... it certainly gibed with what he was led to believe... by Holmes, by Justice... by others... And it may help him solve his own personal mystery. He reached out for the door... "Stop," a powerful voice filled Tim's mind like a dark cloud blotting out the sun. Immediately, it was the Batman standing on the mindscape, defending his territory. "Who goes there," he tried in his harsh whisper. The voice ignored him, addressing instead Ashley Braye. Tim could feel that much, although he wasn't sure how. He'd be questioning the logic, under different circumstances. "I've been looking for you, Ashley Braye. You're not supposed to be here." "Protect me," Braye whispered. "Who are you?" Batman asked. Again, the voice ignored him. "You're playing god in my realm, Ashley Braye. It's not to be tolerated." "Protect me!" Braye said again. "From WHO?" "From..." Tim never found out who Braye was so afraid of, his mental form flung headlong into the door he had been set to open. Behind it was darkness. On the other side, Tim heard Braye's screams... and what sounded like a raven... laughing. And then... "Awaken," the big voice commanded, from the other side of the door. **** EPILOGUE: SEVERAL DAYS LATER **** "You put in that rush order like I asked, yes?" "I did, Master Tim. Although I still don't understand why you're bothering with this particular young lady." "Some bridges just should not be burned Alfred," Tim smiled, punching a number into his teleline. Moments later, the face of a beautiful woman filled the telescreen. "Hello?" Elenor Haines said before noticing who it was. "Oh." "Hiya, El - nice to see you again." Elenor replied quickly and tersely. "I prefer Ms. Haines." "Get your mail today, 'Ms. Haines?'" "No." "Well run along, I'll hold." Tim smiled when he heard her squeal in the background. "Looks like she got it, Alfred." "But of course, sir." "Mister Drake, I... I mean this is...." It was an original - one of a kind - Tobito Bush dress. Almost priceless. "I can't accept it!" "You said something like that to me once before. I changed your mind then, didn't I? I think I could do it again. And - by the way - I hate it when you call me sir; my name's Tim." He smiled. "This is an apology, Elenor. And when you hit the office tomorrow, you'll find better equipment." "You're talking like you own the place." She gasped. "You OWN the place?" "I'm also raising expense accounts, to see if we can't get a wider breadth of stories..." "...We don't have expense accounts..." "Makes my job easier, doesn't it? Don't be surprised if yours is just a little bit more than your co-workers." Elenor's face turned red. She scowled. "I am NOT a whore, MISTER Drake, and I refuse to be treated as--" "As what, a commodity? I read your magazine, and that seemed to be you. I'm not wrong. Am I?" Tim paused, noting her embarrassment. "Am I?" He repeated. "No, you're not." "Good. Now, I've got one last thing to discuss with you, and if you play your cards right, it could mean a bonus." "If it involves sticking something of yours in my mouth, then this conversation is over." "Black Canary." "Excuse me?" "Black Canary - your local superhero? I saw her back when I was in London. If you could do a feature, I don't know, maybe an interview... I think it could be a big boost for circulation. Is she accessible?" Tim was trying not to chuckle at the look on her face. It was tough. "I... ah... I could try?" "Excellent. Excellent, Elenor, that's great. You get that piece and I'll wire you twenty thousand on publication." "Pounds?" "Universal currency." She gasped when he said it. "Elenor, before I let you go, could I ask one more thing?" "What's that?" "If you DO get ahold of Black Canary..." dramatic pause. "Could I get her number? I swear, that woman is so hot I struggle to understand it!" "I... uh... I... excuse me, my other line!" Elenor stammered, hanging up. Tim smiled. "And that... should take care of that. I got a clear conscience, no doubt boosted productivity at that soon-to-be-former rag, got back in the good graces of a lovely young lady... and I did it all with one phone call." "If only you were this efficient in all things, Master Tim, perhaps you wouldn't have to play hero quite as often." "Alfred, you're spoiling my moment." "I could reconnect you with Ms. Haines, sir, if you'd care to recapture it--" "Shut up, Alfred. Just... shut up." **** END! **** NEXT ISSUE: Clark fights for the safety of Gotham and the world as Batman #47 ties into FIREBRAND FALLING! **** GOING BATTY **** Also coming up in Batman - Tim takes a trip to San Francisco - home of the infamous LADY SHIVA! She told Tim the last time they met if the bat ever showed his ears in Frisco, he'd be a dead man... how can we turn down something like that? Letters! From Jason Tippitt: Hoo-boy. I'm seriously looking forward to the next two issues... Dark. Then Clark. (Didja do that on purpose?) There was a lot to like this issue, as well. I'm curious how Tim got away from the "crime scene" without answering a lot of questions from the police-- unless the commissioner pulled some strings for him behind the scenes, of course. (Speaking of whom --when do we see Mr. Isaacs again?) -- Jason **** Well, you got a shot of Isaacs this issue - and he's got to come upon a decision soon! Will he remain commish, or will he retire? As to why Tim wasn't questioned - the answers are all in the next issue! Thanks for the note, Tipp! (; **** From Racoon Dagger: So; why no medic? And why is Tim going to thank Clark? And, what has Clark been up 2, lately? Michael (in wheels) **** The first two questions will be answered next issue, and Clark's exploits were explored by Wayne Ligon in a crossover with Black Lightning! The one-shot will be available (again) on the Batsite soon! **** And finally, from CL Bishop: Erik, I haven't read much of the Batman title since I started reading DCF this year. I've read all of Flash, some of the anthology stuff, Weird War Tales, Robin and select others. Batman, however, has seemed somewhat daunting, as it was already into issue 39 or 40 when I got around to the DCF (some more tpb's in .txt format would be nice- my computer is soooo ancient). When I got #45 in my e-mail, however, I couldn't resist that teaser about the last line, and so I read it, despite the fact that I didn't know what had happened in the previous 44 issues. I must say, I was very pleasantly surprised. A complete story in one issue, and I didn't feel at all lost. Very nice. As for the last line: I haven't read the Superman title either, so while I did think it was cool to glimpse Supes DCF, I'm not fully up to speed on the significance of the appearance. However, I'm looking forward to issue #46... as long as it's not titled "World's Finest." ;) (It's just a little overdone, is all). Additional praise is in order, because even tho' I have yet to post a single fanfic to the internet, I am probably notorious to those who e-know me as an armchair editing pain in the rump. I am forever e-mailing people about the pitfalls of using spellcheck as an editor, or correcting misuses of words, or some such. I was very pleasantly surprised when I realized, just as I was starting this e-mail, that I hadn't noticed any spelling errors, grammar gaffs, or even awkward wording. If they were there, they didn't distract from the story, and it's the distraction that usually draws my critiques. Yours, tho', was very nicely written, and for that I say, "Thank you," and "Bravo." See you next issue, C.L. Bishop => **** Thanks for the long and thoughtful letter! I appreciate it! Clark's not exactly Superman. (; The line was used in fun because even without the S on his chest... well, y'know. I'm glad you enjoyed what you saw and hope you enjoy the back issues when you get to them! (I can't help being a fast writer) Thanks again! **** That's all for me folks - seeya next time! Visit Gotham - NEWLY redesigned!: http://members.tripod.com/dcfbatman Visit the DCF Message Board: http://216.35.120.23/Indices/108808.html