Batman Beyond Dimensions #7

So. This is it.

I’ve had my first taste of Azrael.

Neither of us truly had the upper hand.

But, that changes today.

Maybe Tim, Dick, and the rest of Gotham will be able to sleep easy tomorrow.

But first? Azrael must go down tonight.

 

“Well how do you plan to do that? You haven’t even got a suit”

 

“Tim…”

 

He’s right. I haven’t got a suit.

 

“I’ll figure it out. Right now, we just have to follow him, and. You know. Finish him.”

 

Dick chimes in:

 

“Follow him? You let our only lead get away. You let HIM get away.”

 

“Dick, if you recall correctly, he came to us at the beginning, not the other way around.”

 

This time it is Tim’s turn to have a go. But I already had this figured out the moment I walked in here.

 

“What’s that meant to mean? How does that lead us to Azrael at all? Are you saying we just bait ourselves and wait for him to thrash us again??”

 

“Use your detective skills, Tim. Look behind you. What do you see.”

 

“A Batmobile”

 

“How many?”

 

“Oh my god. Just one.”

 

“Yeah. If he’s been stealing Batmobiles, then where are they all?”

 

“I- I think you’re onto something. “

 

He shoots a glance to Dick, who is looking intensely back at us.

 

“So where has he been setting that stuff up all this time if it wasn’t here?”

 

“Like I said. Think back to when we first met. Where was he then?”

 

“No… You mean he’s… how could we not have noticed this was here this whole time!?”

 

“How else do you think he was meant to get in the Batcave when I first encountered him? Unless he was already there.”

 

“We can’t go back there.”

 

Tim looks around.

 

“Then we stay here. He’s already brought enough of the Batcave here to give us a full arsenal.”

 

“I still haven’t got a suit yet, Tim.”

 

Sir, I think you’ll find that there is more than enough here to make a new suit.

 

Tim listens to A.L.F.R.E.D’s words, and points out some stolen suits, left unfinished, and smiles at Dick and I.

 

“It looks like Bruce has most of the work cut out for us.”

 

We look at him and grin back.

 

“Time to get to work then.”

 

…

 

You know, Bruce really knew how to make a good suit. I flex my fingers, and sparks of electricity come out.

 

“A.L.F.R.E.D, give me a system diagnostic.”

 

What’s there to say, Sir? Technology is integrated, and all systems are running perfectly.

 

“Schway.”

 

Dick steps up, in a noticeably red suit. And nods at me.

 

“Looks like we’ve had a colour swap.”

 

“Looks like you just copied my homework.”

 

“What can I say? Your suit looked cool. Besides, Red was always my colour.”

 

He pulls out a pair of escrima sticks, pushes a button, and they extend – activating a bright red plasma. He hits them together, emitting a small spark, accompanied with a healthy “bzzzt”.

 

Tim looks on at us, admiring his handiwork.

 

“You could’ve had a cool new suit too, you know?”

 

“Let’s just get this over and done with.”

 

He taps a button on his glove, and a small projection, showing Azrael, appeared.

 

“I got this message 5 minutes ago, beckoning us to face him, and all that bull.”

 

We ignore the fact that he didn’t tell us immediately and begin to gather anything we might find useful. I mean, after all, Batman has gotta prepare for a battle to win.

Turning around, we find that Tim is already inside his Redbird, and gone. Dick tries to call after him, but there’s no use. He then runs over to the stolen Batmobile, but it doesn’t start.

 

“You know. Maybe Azrael just stole this to help decorate his cave?”

 

I walk over, and tap the fuel gage.

 

“Heh. It would’ve been nice if this one had some left in the tank. It’s not going to be fun running after them.”

 

We look at each other, sigh, get out of the car, and begin to sprint.

 

…

 

Arriving at the cave, I was expecting something grim, like the asylum. But instead I get… home.

No rubble. No bodies. No death.

No Tim either.

 

Dick breaks the silence

 

“You know. I was expecting to see Tim hanging over the manor.”

 

“Maybe he took Azrael down.”

 

We both exhale amusingly. But if Tim isn’t here… then, where is he?

Walking into the manor, Dick attempts some conversation.

 

“You know, Tim is a lot more skilled than he seems. He’s young, but he could even be a better Batman than any of us… given time.”

 

“I’m well aware. The Tim of my universe was a brilliant detective. I actually ran into him, in another universe, where he’d taken up the mantle of the Bat.”

 

“So Bruce is always dead? Wherever you go?”

 

Our footsteps echo through the halls of the manor, as we approach the entrance to the cave.

 

“Yeah. I don’t even know what I’m looking for. Answers? Bruce himself? I’ve watched entire worlds crumble under the strain of Bruce’s disappearance. And I know that I have to find a way to return him, otherwise… my home. Your home. Everywhere could face the same fate.

But I have nothing. Nothing but this.”

 

I pull out the strip of metal that other Tim gave me. Dick stares at it, with no hint of recognition on his face.

 

“What is it?”

 

“It’s from a bomb that appeared out of nowhere and killed the Bruce and Dick of one of the universes I visited. It’s the only lead I have.”

 

“Wow… I died too? Or… a version of me. I’ll admit, that’s pretty… schway.”

 

He grins at me. I’d spent all this time here, and I’d never really gotten to know the first version of Dick I’ve run into on my adventure.

 

“Well. Here we are.”

 

We come to the grandfather clock, torn off its hinges, exposing the entrance to the cave below. Nothing but darkness greets us, as we begin to descend.

 

…

 

The cave is a mess. An absolute mess. Would it kill Azrael to clean up after he visits a place, once in a while?

The lights are off. Illuminating the room, is a single strip of light, coming from a crack in the cave wall. A crack big enough for a person to fit through. A trail of blood continues on the floor, leading up to the crack. He was hiding in plain sight. It makes me wonder what other secrets and hiding places are in my cave. Without a word, Dick looks at me, nods, and we make our way towards the crack.

 

Beyond the crack, we find ourselves in another room. A Batcave, inside the Batcave. What Azrael managed to set up in here, makes the lair at the asylum look like a child’s playhouse.

In here, is the real asylum.

The first thing that caught my eye? Bane. Bane’s body, hooked up to a series of tubes and wires, having everything sucked out of it. Whatever is being sucked out, is mixed with a series of green liquids on a work bench – resulting in a glowing concoction. Also on the workbench, is a gun. To the right of Bane, is a row of a dozen tanks, all full of this green liquid. And inside these tanks? People. Or rather, the same person. He’s managed to clone someone. The psycho is cloning. Probably thinks himself as god, creating life and giving it to… whoever this person is.

 

“He’s cloning himself…”

 

Well, Dick answered the question for me. Thanks, Dick.

The missing Batmobiles are also here, along with probably everything else Azrael stole.

Three more Azrael suits sit near the workbench. One of them is the suit that resembles the one he was wearing earlier, no empty. Two more are almost identical, except for the colour scheme. Looks like he’s taken a cue from us, and made red the ‘in’ colour.

Behind the workbench, a holographic Batcomputer set up, technology beyond what I expected from this universe. Then again, they’re cloning over here.

And to the left of the bench… Tim.

Tim in a tank filled with the green stuff.

And he’s screaming. No sound comes from him. But he’s constantly screaming. Continuous bubbles of air escape from his mouth, as he attempts to express himself. He doesn’t even stop to breathe. Not that he can breathe. He should be dead right now, but he isn’t. Whatever is in the tank is keeping him alive.

 

I take a step towards the tank, whatever is going on can’t be good. Dick stops me.

 

“Terry. Don’t. Whatever is going on, can’t be good.”

 

“He’s right. Terry.”

 

One of the suits moves, the blue one, and steps up to meet us.

Azrael. Hiding in plain sight again.

 

Dick approaches the tank, with Tim in it. Azrael slowly walks over, clearly injured from out last fight, and stops him from getting closer.

 

“What are you doing to him?”

 

“Look around you Grayson. What does it look like. He shall be reborn and become a member of the Order of Saint Dumas.”

 

“You’re not cloning yourself… you’re turning people into you…”

 

He looks over at the green liquid.

 

“That’s not just venom. You’re turning it into leviathan.”

 

I’d heard of leviathan once. One of those mythological substances which give people superhuman abilities, altering their DNA. And if Azrael is effectively turning others into him, he’s infused the leviathan with his DNA. Compared to Leviathan, Venom and Titan are far tamer. No wonder Azrael has been so unstable, he’s been injecting himself with it.

 

Another voice joins in:

 

“Doesn’t matter what he’s doing. He’s a pig. And all pigs get taken to the slaughter.”

 

The owner of the voice, a small child, interrupts the fray. He jumps in front of the tank Tim is in, and brandishes a sword at Azrael.

 

“I am the son of the Batman. I have come to claim what is rightfully mine.”

 

The appearance of this child baffles me. Is this boy, this universe’s version of me?

 

“Ha. No child is worthy of the Bat. Only Azrael.”

 

He charges at Azrael, he’s brazen. I’m give him that. But the same thing happens to him, that has happened to everyone that has tried to charge at Azrael. He is tossed aside, and crashes into a computer. Azrael makes a roar of anger, and holds himself, still feeling the effects of the explosion. He’s weak. This should make this easy.

I go to meet him, but instead Dick steps up, activates his escrima and gets into stance.

 

“Ready for round two, big boy?”

 

Without a word, Azrael flings his limbs at Dick. Dick hasn’t got enough time in between throws to get any licks in, but he manages to dodge each attempt flawlessly. He’s going to try to tire Azrael out. Deep red stains start to appear in various places in his suit. He’s bleeding out. The fool, he’ll probably be the first to tire.

Azrael realises what is happening, takes a leviathan filled syringe and runs into another corner of the room. He’s smart, but buying time for him, is buying time for us too. Dick looks at me, as he chases after him, and shouts out:

 

“Check on the child!”

 

I nod, and run over to the boy. Let’s hope this one on one goes better this time.

 

I hear a yell come from across the room:

 

“You’re no Batman, pretender, you’re not even a Wayne!”

 

Clearly Dick has his own ideas of who should wear the mask. Speaking of, I pull off mine, and the child stares at me. Before Azrael can return, I blurt out the number one question on my mind.

 

“Who are you?”

 

“Does it matter, Impostor? I am the rightful heir to the mantle of the bat. Damian Wayne!”

 

He tries to get up, but his wounds are far too taxing on his body. This child can’t take a supercharged punch from a supervillain yet. It makes him mad that he can’t do anymore, he gives up and lays back down, nearing unconsciousness. But once he looks at my face, I get a different reaction from him.

 

“You’re not Bruce Wayne.”

 

“No. But I’m the best thing you’ve got.”

 

With the satisfaction that he’s fine, I turn to the battle happening behind me.

 

Dick has his escrima ready again. The plasma shines a bright crimson on his face.

 

“Let Tim go.”

 

“Or else?”

 

Azrael does have a point. What are we going to say? We’ll beat you up? We’re going to do that anyway.

 

“Doesn’t matter, he’s gonna be free any second. And you’ll be in a cell.”

 

“You’ll be in a grave, Grayson.”

 

The two of them go a few rounds, with Dick repelling Azrael with his electric bursts from the escrima, stumbling Azrael back, who moves back to the workbench. He puts the syringe into a small medical gun, and injects himself with the leviathan. Slag.

Dick charges at Azrael, expecting to make a final blow, but Azrael has gained his breath, and turns around instantly.

One leviathan charged punch, and Dick is down too.

Azrael lets out another roar, but this time of victory.

Oh no. He turns to me, ready to pound in my head with his drug induced rampage, his voice reaching points of anger I’ve never witnessed in my life:

 

“DIE DEMON. St. Dumas screams for your blood!”

 

This guy is really off his nut, and the leviathan is not helping at all.

 

He leaps unto the air, and I roll out of the way as he thunders down his fist into the floor. I’ve seen far too many people use this move. But the leviathan isn’t enough to keep him going, not in the state he’s in.

I activate the plasma on my own suit. Bright blue electricity emanates from my limbs. He comes at me with a furious fist, and I meet it with my own electrified punch. Sparks fly, and lightning strikes out from where we make contact. Each action creates a new light show. He’s getting tired, and needs a new tactic. He moves away, and I smell gas. I strike his gauntlet, and break his flame thrower. I’m not having any of that dirty play this time around.

He moves to the other gauntlet and shoots out small batarangs, which my suit’s electricity knocks out of the air.

I’m not in the mood for this, I target the points where blood is seeping through. Where I know he’s wounded and is weakest. With each point that I hit, he staggers and stops using that part of the body. He slows down as the leviathan’s effects begin to run out, and the blood starts to show in more areas of his suit. But his energy says otherwise, he’s still swinging at me. But in this state, it’s doing nothing. He’s far too weak physically and mentally to make any of the punches count. He’s finding it hard to dodge my punches, as I’m finding it easy to dodge his. Before long, he’s slowed down to a punch per second, then a punch every two seconds, then he stops punching altogether, and falls to his knees.

 

“Bruce Wayne was not worthy of the mantle of the Bat.”

 

He pulls off his helmet, and screams at me.

 

“YOU are not fit you be the Bat. Bruce Wayne failed in his post. And you in turn, failed Bruce Wayne! You’ll never be the Batman I am. I am the one true Batman. Batman lives… in me!”

 

“You’re wrong. I am Batman.”

 

I punch him, and he falls. The leviathan wears off, and his eyes return to a pale blue. He looks up at me, and begins to tremble.

 

“You… you’re right. You are Batman… I was too blind to see it. You have always been Batman.”

 

I look down upon him, forgivingly. And his eyes turn from that beautiful blue, to the vicious green again.

 

“But I will not give up this mantle! This city is full of filth, and it must be cleansed!”

 

He pulls out another syringe and lunges at me once more.

 

A gunshot is head, and Azrael drops. Dead.

Behind him stands an exhausted Damian, who falls to the ground, unconscious.

And Tim, freed from the tank, and holding a gun in his hand.

 

“Tim…”

 

I’m about to tell him it wasn’t right. But, we all knew it was the only true way to stop him. Tim slumps down, heavied by what he had just done. Dick rushes over to console him.

 

…

 

The Batcave is awfully silent. Though there’s no other way the atmosphere could be, granted what had just happened.

Sucks, being in a family of brooders. We’re all so damn good at it. Dick leans against the wall, with his arms crossed. He looks away into the distance, deep in thought.

Tim, with no apparent side effects from his dunk in the insane pool, clacks away at the Batcomputer, compiling all the information of this universe into my belt. A.L.F.R.E.D should be pleased, once he’s booted into a new suit. Looks like it’s back home for a quick stop. At least I’ll see Dana again. Dick walks over to me, and breaks the silence.

 

“So. What happens now? Gotham can’t handle life without a proper Batman. That much is clear. Who is Bruce’s successor, since you don’t exist in this universe?”

 

I glance over at the unconscious child, and then back at Dick.

 

“Look after him. I have a feeling he’s desperately going to need a father figure.”

 

I tap him lightly on the chest, and give him the cowl from the nearest batsuit.

 

“Tag. You’re it.”

 

Dick takes a moment to realise what has just happened, and accepts it. He moves over to Damian, picks him up, and takes him to the medical bay. Good man.

 

Tim steps forward, and gives me back my belt.

 

“What if we ever need you again, Terry? Not everyone is going to accept a new Batman, especially not after what happened with Azrael. What sort of idiot could think that Azrael would ever be Batman over Dick, or even myself anyway.”

 

We both have a small chuckle. He’s right. Who in their right mind would choose Azrael to replace Bruce?

 

“The fact remains, Terry. We’re gonna need a Batman. That Batman is you.”

 

“You know I can’t do that.”

 

“I do. Gotham needs a Batman.”

 

“I’m sure you’ll find one soon enough. But just in case, here.”

 

I throw him the interdimensional communicator.

 

“Tell Dick I said 'bye', yeah?.”

 

“Terry… thanks. For everything. I’m sorry you couldn’t find Bruce.”

 

This reminds me of my last encounter with the other Tim.

 

“I’m sorry you were dunked in a vat of crazy juice.”

 

He laughs, and I hook up my belt. Here’s hoping this works with this suit. I touch the central red button on my belt, and open up the dimension stream. A look of awe fills this version’s face as the swirling colours and bright lights hit him.

 

“I’m sure I’ll see you guys again.”

 

“I’m sure you will. We’re gonna need you.”

 

Without any more words, I leave for my next destination, sure in the knowledge that I’ll find myself back here again. My time here isn’t quite finished.

 

 

Epilogue.

 

Nanda Parbat.

 

Another rises from the pit. Greeted by the immortal himself.

A scream echoes through the halls, calmed only by The Demon’s voice:

 

“Your ‘father’ is dead.”

 

A scream stops. And turns into one word:

 

“Bruce…”

 

Done