drillmaster

The sun around Gotham City was shining off of the Wayne limosine. Inside the elongated car were three people: the enthusiastic Mihoshi, the young and impressionable Sasami, and the humble Alfred. Tagging along for the ride was the group pet Ryo-Ohki. Alfred had decided to take the girls on a nice tour of the city to get them out of the manor while the others were out. They had just finished watching a rerun of Fantasia playing at a movie house and had retuned to continue their day.

“Are all American movies like that? It was so…expressive!” Sasami asked enthusiastically.

“I must have a word with your sister Miss Sasami,” Alfred shook his head. “To think a child such as you have been deprived of such American cinema for so long.”

“But Mr. Pennyworth, Ayeka and Ryoko typically watch the television that would get those channels! I have my small television so I can watch my cooking shows in the kitchen.”

“That is just more of a reason to speak my mind to those young ladies. Though your work habits are to be commended, you really should enjoy some of the entertainment Earth can provide for you.”

“Did Bruce like movies very much Alfred?” Mihoshi asked.

Alfred fell quiet for a moment. “Movies were one of the few escapes Master Bruce allowed himself. Oh, he was quite fond of films and shows like The Grey Ghost and Magnificent Seven. However, he would keep The Mark of Zorro close to his heart. I’m not sure if it was for the right reasons or the wrong reasons, but there is no doubt that Zorro will forever be linked to his life.”

“What is ‘Zorro’ Mister Pennyworth?” Sasami asked innocently. “Is that an animal?”

There was a pause while Alfred stopped to think of an answer. “He was a hero, Miss Sasami.”

“Let’s watch Zorro then!” Mihoshi suggested. “Is it playing in one of those things you took us to…a theater?”

“I was actually going to take you to the Gotham Theater to watch a play. You don’t want to waste away in front of the television, you know. The Gotham Players are putting on a production of Annie which I think you both would enjoy. An old friend, Leslie Thompkins, is volunteering her time there to let some of her charges experience the stage at least once in their life. But yes, Miss Mihoshi, we can indeed view The Mark of Zorro before you leave,” Alfred decided. “But since we have some time, I think we can enjoy some art. The Flugelheim Museum is not too far from here. I hope you both are up for an exciting day.”

“Are we ever? Do you think we can bring back souvenirs for Tenchi and Ayeka and Ryoko?” Sasami asked sweetly. “I want them to have a piece of America since they couldn’t come!”

With a light chuckle, Alfred responded “Of course we can.”

*TGSTGE*

The Batmobile set down on a docking pad in the Bat-Bunker. Washu and Kiyone hopped out and started to look around the area. It was a lot more sleek and modern than the Bat-Cave, but it still kept the motif going. There were barely any trophies or displays out here; only a giant computer. Washu assumed that is was connected to the same system as the Bat-Computer in the cave.

“Nice place you have here sport,” she said with a whistle. “Though I do miss the giant mechanical dinosaur.”

“I do too. Rex was always my favorite display,” Dick agreed, taking off his cowl. “Do you really think your data can shed some light on this whole case?”

Washu sat down at the computer and cracked her knuckles. “I can’t say Batsy. That Pyg fellow seemed to have one crazy, messed up mind. I have no idea what kind of damage it suffered in whatever turned him from a circus performer to…well that!”

“Don’t call him Batsy,” Damian growled. “That’s what HE called father.”

Kiyone looked confused. “Who are you talking about Damian?”

“The clown. I’ve never met him, but when I do, I’ll beat that smile right off his face.”

“Clown? I wish Mihoshi were here; she would catch me up without looking like a fool,” she sighed. “It’s not right for a Galaxy Police detective to be so unprepared.”

Damian made a mocking laugh. “Your words, not mine, even though I agree with them. How can you come to Gotham City and not even know about the Joker!”

A fast furious typing sound echoed the cave. The pink haired scientist had turned on the Bat-Computer and started to pull up files from the archives. At once, a picture of a pale, green haired man in a purple tuxedo filled the screen. A rap sheet followed shortly, which Kiyone read with great interest.

“‘The Joker…real name unknown. Aliases: The Red Hood, Liam Distal, Joseph Kerr, and Jack Napier. Known associates: Harleen Quinzelle, Oswald Cobblepot, and Edward Nygma…'” Kiyone muttered to herself as she got caught up on the history of the Clown Prince of Crime. “This is the guy who killed that Jason Todd guy you were telling us about in Japan! He paralyzed Barbara! He almost killed several newborn infants! This monster is reprehensible; worse than nearly any criminal I have ever come across in the far reaches of the galaxy.”

“Thank you for filling us in with information we already know ‘detective,'” Damian rolled his eyes as he took off his domino mask.

“Now that you mention it,” Dick said, starting to get lost in thought. “He has not been seen since the Arkham incident with the Black Glove. I’ve got no doubt he is waiting in the shadows…preparing his next routine. Unless…”

“Unless what?” Kiyone asked.

“Hmm…” Dick was quiet for a few moments. He picked up a newspaper describing the death of an oil sheik and stared at it intently. “I may need to talk to Oberon Sexton. This might be nothing…might be everything.”

Robin cocked an eyebrow. “The writer? Why would you ever need to see him again?”

“I don’t know…there’s something funny about all of this.”

“Well this is all fun and dandy,” Washu announced loudly. “But I am going to need some alone time to dissect this information. Is that okay Caped Crusader?”

“Yeah,” he nodded. “Take as much time as you need. But remember, I’d like you to take a look at Bruce’s corpse before you leave.”

“I haven’t forgotten your request Mister Grayson. I am a woman of my word. Now shoo! Skedaddle!”

Damian started to say something, but Dick held him back. Kiyone looked at the livid look on his face and fought back a grin. “Why don’t you two get me caught up on all of your known criminal associates? I need to be more prepared and not have to rely on Mihoshi for everything.”

“Spoken like a true cop. Say, where are they anyway?” Dick asked. “I haven’t seen Mihoshi, Sasami, or Alfred since we have gotten back.”

“Pennyworth is probably out doing his job as a chauffeur. Lord knows I wouldn’t want that blonde fool staying alone in the penthouse.”

Kiyone was going to argue in her partner’s favor but decided against it. She knew there was no point in fighting the boy, no matter how rude he might be. ‘Still…he did have a point. Mihoshi probably WOULD have destroyed a good deal of the penthouse…’ Kiyone thought to herself. ‘But I would never tell HIM that.’

*TGSTGE*

Once the play concluded, Alfred stood up to give his applause. He quite enjoyed the production and it made him look back on his own days on the stage. He turned over to Sasami and Mihoshi and were surprised to find them smiling, but not applauding like the rest.

“Alfred, did you find the play bad?” Mihoshi asked. “Why are you all clapping?”

“Err…Miss Mihoshi, in America when you find something well done, you applaud it…oh that’s right! The Japanese culture dictates that silence is the highest compliment you can give!” Alfred smiled.

Sasami nodded. “Yes, that’s true. Tenchi’s father told us about that when we saw A Midsummer Night’s Dream last holiday.”

“Well I am just happy that you had a good time,” Alfred said. Suddenly his eyes widened. “Ah, there she is!”

“Who are you talking about?”

“My old friend. Come, I’d love to introduce you to her,” Alfred said, waiting for the two ladies to rise. They made their way down the concert hall and reached an older woman with grey hair. She turned to the man and looked surprised. Clearly this was an impromptu visit. She smiled and hugged the man.

“Alfred Pennywoth, this is a surprise! What brings you my way?” she asked.

Alfred smiled and acknowledged the two ladies he was taking care of. “I am showing these two lovely young ladies around. It is first time in America when there is not chaos and destruction going around and I wished to give them a proper tour of the city. I heard you were involved with the production. I have to say, it turned out marvelous.”

The woman blushed. “Well, I thought it would do some of my patients some good to get some confidence back in their lives. But enough about me, who might you two be?”

Sasami bowed slightly. “My name is Sasami. Thank you for putting on such a fantastic show for us to attend. I had a great time.”

Emulating Sasami, Mihoshi did the same. “Thank you as well. My name is Fir…Mihoshi!”

Leslie Thompkins, catching on to the Japanese nature of the two ladies, bowed in respect. “It is a pleasure to meet you both. My name is Dr. Leslie Thompkins.”

“Wow!” Mihoshi exclaimed. “You are a doctor! What do you do?”

“I presently run a clinic to help young people cope with their disabilities and get readjusted in the world. Some people need a little push…sorry, wheelchair humor. I’ve already said good-bye to my charges or else I would have loved to introduce you to them. However, I do know at least one person Alfred here would love to see.”

“You do?”

“I do. She came to support Wendy Harris, whom I enlisted to help run the stage crew. Ah, there she is now.”

The trio of people, and one cabbit, were directed to a woman wheeling down to where they were from a higher seat. Her red hair and glasses were unmistakable. “BARBARA!” Mihoshi yelled as she ran over to her.

“Oh no,” Alfred whispered. “This cannot end well for Master Dick.”

The look the bespectacled Gordon gave the blonde detective could be described as a mix of shock and horror. Clearly this was the last place she ever expected to see any of the Masaki Clan.

“Mi…Mihoshi! It’s…good to see you again! Please…I can’t breathe!” Barbara wheezed.

“Barbara I can’t believe that I get to see you! I heard you and Dick were fighting! I hope you are okay!”

“You heard all that?” she asked cooly, giving a side glance to Alfred, who looked incredibly guilty. She also noted the younger Jurain princess. “Little Sasami, I am pleased to see you again,” she said with a bow.

“Hello to you too Miss Barbara! I’m sorry for Mihoshi; she knows better than to pry.”

The blonde haired detective looked flustered and bowed again. “I was being rude wasn’t I? I’m so so so sorrrrrry!”

“It’s okay Mihoshi…aren’t you going to greet me Alfred?” Barbara asked playfully. Though she had no reason to be angry at the man, she knew that he knew that she did not like this situation.

“Miss Gordon, I’m outraged that you would say such a thing!” he responded in a composed form. “It has been far too long.”

“Indeed it has. Leslie, the show was great. Thank you for inviting me.”

The kind woman smiled in return. “Thank you for supporting Wendy. She seems to have gotten a bit more determined since her accident, thanks no small part to you.”

Barbara sighed and grinned. “She’ll find her place soon. I know it. Mind if I step in with this dashing young man and his two lady friends?”

Leslie chuckled and said her farewells to the trio. When she left, Barbara adopted a serious look. “She’s here too, isn’t she?”

Alfred gulped.

*TGSTGE*

Kiyone was getting a good history lesson by Dick Grayson in the living room of the Wayne Penthouse. The skylight was filling the room with light. While Washu was far underneath the ground, they were far above several of the buildings that surrounded it. Kiyone found the various costumed criminals and cases rather interesting. It really was like something out of one of Sasami’s shojo mangas about magical girls.

The detective was sharp enough to see that she was not the only one entertained by this discussion. Damian was deeply involved in the conversation, asking even more questions than Kiyone was at times. It reminded her that he really was a boy dealing with the loss of a parent, abet one whom he only knew personally for about a month at most. It really humanized him and caused her to sympathize with him.

“So Joker up and kidnapped Robin and forced him to watch him kill Christmas shoppers?” Kiyone asked with great interest. “That sounds terrible! How did he get out?”

“A Marx Brothers quote…do you have any idea who they are?” Dick asked, laughing to himself. “Pair of comedians…I’ll have Alfred pull out some of their work. It might be a nice distraction.”

“Please,” Damian scoffed. “All that story shows is that Drake was a fool for hopping into a strange car without thinking.”

“Think about what would have happened if he didn’t have that lapse in judgement,” Kiyone countered. “He stopped that madman from going on a worse killing spree than what he did!”

“*tt* Details, details!”

It had been about two hours into the conversation when Kiyone decided to ask a lingering question that was weighing on her mind. “Alfred briefly told us about what happened before the Crisis, but perhaps you can shed some light on this: what IS the Black Glove?”

Dick adopted a serious look. He sunk into his chair and considered his words carefully. “That’s a loaded question. You see, the Black Glove can be either a person or a group…”

Kiyone tilted her head in confusion. “I don’t follow…yet. Are the two related?”

“Oh yes, they are. The Black Glove is a group of corrupt gamblers who meet once a year to gamble on human lives, or at least that’s how Alfred put it. Tim and I were busy fighting the Club of Villains, a bunch of criminals who were either part of the Black Glove or hired by them…it was never really made clear,” Dick explained. “Two of the members, a scorpion woman and a hunchback named Le Bosseu tried to lobotomize me to keep me out of the picture.”

“You said that when we first met,” Kiyone said as realization dawned upon her.

He nodded. “The other members aren’t really important except for their leader: Doctor Hurt. He’s the link between the two organizations and the man who adopted the name Black Glove as his own.”

“I get it now!” Kiyone interjected. “So that’s the guy who is responsible for hiring that Sombrero guy to ruin Wayne Manor!”

“Give the girl a prize!” Robin taunted. “Seriously, are you going to let Grayson finish or are you going to butt in every two seconds?”

“Damian, stop being rude!” Dick remonstrated.

“It’s okay Dick,” Kiyone agreed. “He’s right. Please continue.”

“Well,” the former circus acrobat tried to remember his place. “Hurt set up a whole elaborate trap designed to break Batman. However, he didn’t count on two things: Bruce’s determination and the Joker.”

Kiyone cocked and eyebrow but did not say anything. “Hurt tried to hire the Joker as a servant to kill Bruce in his name, but all that did was offend him. I don’t know the details of the conversation, but I gather it wasn’t pretty. Here’s the kicker: Alfred said that he was going around claiming to be Bruce’s father.”

“What?!”

“*tt* Not even five minutes,” Damian sighed to nobody in particular. The two conversing adults ignored the interjection.

“I know. We haven’t heard anything from him since they first battled right before the Crisis. Right after that, Bruce went to investigate Orion’s death which lead to his…his death.”

“Could he be involved somehow?”

“I’m not ruling out anything,” Dick stared out the window deep in thought. “But there is nothing that links him here yet.”

As the words left his lips, a door slammed open, which caused the blue hair detective to jump. The familiar young form of Washu Hakubi was panting in the doorway.

“You…you need a better elevator,” Washu panted.

“Did you find anything of valuable, harlot?”

“I can’t say to be sure, but come on down Dumb Dumb. You all need to see this!”

Dick managed to smile to himself before he adopted his serious role yet again. Unlike Barbara, he found their company enjoyable. These aliens were amusing yet very grounded. It brought back good memories of when he first met Kori, the aforementioned alien princess. “Lead the way Great Gazoo!”

*TGSTGE*

“I want to preface this with a warning,” Washu explained and the four people crowded around the Bat-Computer. “What you are going to witness is incredibly disjointed and disturbing. Whatever happened to our little piggy did a number on his view on life. He remembers his past in fragments…and barely coherent ones at that. This entire time I have been trying to put his thoughts in a narrative order.”

“Well if anyone could have done it in this short of time, it had to have been the greatest scientific genius in the universe,” Dick smiled.

“Don’t indulge her Grayson!”

Washu batted her eyelashes at Dick, who laughed uncomfortably. “No, don’t stop indulging me Mr. Grayson!”

The eyebrows of Kiyone Makibi started to twitch. It started in low, then it started to grow. “*cough* I thought you had something to show us?”

“Always business with you Kiyone. The Galaxy Police is lucky to have you!” Washu laughed it off. “No seriously Dickie, you can tell me more later,” she whispered with a wink, causing Damian and Dick to shudder.

“Sit back and relax kids. In all my years I have never met a more depraved individual. Now you get to know why! Presenting in HD Professor Pyg: Who He Is and How He Came to Be!”

With the press of a button, a series of small clips started to play. The first clip showed a blurred face of a woman talking to him. She looked middle age with dark hair, but it was hard to tell. Clearly it was straining the Professor to think that far back.

“Can you…Lazlo the circus…Kolossal…” the mystery woman was telling him.

“Again, this is going to be very fragmented and disjointed,” Washu explained. “Hmm? What’s wrong Dick?”

Dick was looking intently at the woman. “That woman…she reminds me of someone…I wish I could see her face…”

“Who do you think she is?” Kiyone asked, trying to take in as much information as she could.

“She reminds me of this woman named Kathy Kane. She was a circus performer who dressed up as Batwoman for awhile. Her and Bruce were very serious, but she died a few years back…”

“Are you sure about that?” Washu asked. “That may be important.”

The young man bit his lip and stared intently at the woman. “I’m not sure Washu. Does this woman appear again?” The pink haired scientist shook her head in response. “Then it’s not important…yet.”

The scene then changed to a dark office. The room was blurry except a bright red symbol. It looked like a spider-web with an eye in the center.

“That,” Washu pointed out. “Is the symbol for Spyral, according to Damian’s father’s databases. There wasn’t much on there but from what I gather it’s some kind of offshoot of Britain’s MI6 I believe.”

“Wait, that would make him a spy then!” Kiyone exclaimed. “I only really watch court tv here and that name has been banded about!”

Damian grunted. “That idiot: a spy? I can’t see it…not after what he did to Sasha.”

“Keep watching. We are about to come to the climax I believe…”

All eyes returned to the screen. They were viewing a first person perspective of the man who would be Pyg running down corridor after corridor. Another voice was heard, this time a male, but it was far clearer than that of the woman.

“Agent Valentin, descend the Spyral Sink! You…breathe deep and then…see what is beyond…door!”

The comment caused Kiyone to snap her fingers. ” Spyral sink! He was ranting on about that when we interrogated him!”

Dick nodded approvingly while not taking his eyes off the monitor. “Good observation Detective.”

The screen suddenly flashed white and a most interesting sight appeared: a series of wires made into the shape of a woman. It was the most clear image thus far and it overpowered the vision of the observers. At this point, Lazlo Valentin could be heard whispering “Mommy…Mommy I’m sorry…I’ll be better…”

“Your pharmaceutical agents work Agent Valentin! See how you fade away…”

“I need a bad operation…I need to operate!”

“This is how you escape the Labyrinth of Dedalus! Embrace your true nature!” the disembodied voice laughed.

There was no commentary now, just horror and pity. Though it was unsaid, they all realized Professor Pyg was not born this way, but created by whomever was speaking to the former Agent of Spyral.

“Lazlo Valentin is it?” a new voice spoke. The picture changed to a dark haired man in a white suit. He was not as blurry as the woman but not as clear as the wire mother.

“Blessed is the ground which the worms crawl…” the voice of Valentin replied.

“And so they shall. I’ve heard so many things about you…my cartel has use for you…”

The group watched as various images played on the screen. Hands were adjusting a test tube…women were being forced to drink substances…the same hands creating a skin like material…and finally an image of several women lined up in a row.

“Soon my dollies will be perfect! I can make you more than human…”

“I have no doubt of your work. It is a masterpiece by design!” the dark haired man was saying. “You need to give a signature to this piece Valentin. How will you sign it?”

“My Mommy made of nails tells me all! It sees me not as a pig to be slaughtered but a pig to slaughter!” The screen showed his “mommy made of nails again.” The man was in view, but upside down now. He was laughing.

“Through your crucifixion, you will be absolved of your freedom, absolved of the burdens of life! Now and forever more, you will be Pyg!” the man gloated. “Now that you are impure, we can outline your vision for Gotham!”

It was here that the video stopped, leaving the room deathly silent. Damian looked angry and started to crack his knuckles, Dick tapped his fingers to his chin, Kiyone looked like she was trying to keep herself together, and Washu looked as though all color had left the world.

“That man had to have been El Penitente,” Kiyone whispered. “He mentioned a cartel…”

“It’s worse than that, detective,” Batman replied. He motioned to Washu to let him sit down at the computer, which she obliged. He pulled up three pictures: one of the dark haired man, one of Bruce’s father, and one of an old newspaper clipping discussing a missing doctor…a doctor named Hurt. “Look at them; Dr. Hurt is El Penitente…or maybe was.”

“We have no idea how long ago this conversation happened,” Washu explained. “It might have been right before you first encountered him or before your little Black Glove incident. Do you have any confirmation that the man died fighting against Bruce?”

“None whatsoever. It’s an old saying, but unless there is a body, always consider them alive.”

“Why is nobody getting to the real issue: we learned NOTHING!” Damian yelled angrily. “You were supposed to give us a clue or anything that could help us, but you found nothing! Who cares about Spyral or his backstory, it does not change that we have no idea what that bloated bufoon’s endgame was!”

Dick got up and turned toward him. “Damian, calm down and think! We know he is in league with the Black Glove! We know that his ‘wire mommy’ is a weakness we can exploit! We can still collect the old one from police headquarters! All we have to do is ask Jim…”

“Ask him what?” a familiar female voice asked. From the shadows of the Bat-Bunker came the familiar faces of Alfred, Mihoshi, Ryo-Ohki, and Sasami. Trailing behind them was the one face Dick was not expecting: Barbara.

“Babs.”

“You’ve got a lot of nerve Mr. Grayson!” Barbara yelled as she rolled up to him. “You kick me out of the cave and yet don’t keep in touch at all! You don’t even ask for my help with this matter, but go to a known intergalactic mad scientist!”

“She’s got you there Sonny Jim,” Washu shrugged. “How are you doing Barbara? Long time!”

“How does it look like I’m doing Hakubi?” Barbara shot her a look on contempt.

Washu jumped back slightly. “Yikes! I think we should leave those two to themselves. Come on guys and gals. Perhaps Alfred here can whip up some lunch.”

“Yes…that seems appropriate.”

All of the occupants in the Bat-Bunker, Damian included, started to move away from the two quarreling people. Everyone, that is, except Mihoshi.

“I know that guy!” Mihoshi said, pointing to the computer screen. All eyes fell on her.

“Mihoshi, how could you possibly know who that is? That man is presumed dead.”

“But Kiyone, I met him! Well, actually Ryoko met him, I only saw him talking to her.”

“Mihoshi, I need to ask you a very serious question,” Kiyone asked her, knowing full well that all of the denizens in the Bat-Bunker were acknowledging her. “Where did this happen?”

“At the Fortress of Solitude! Ask Ryoko, she would know better than I would!”

Dick gave Washu a look. “Can you contact her? It’s not that late in Japan right now…in fact it’s early morning there.”

A door suddenly appeared in the center of the room. The pink haired scientist bowed to everyone and opened it up. The group of people looked perplexed as they wondered whether Mihoshi Kuramitsu might have stumbled upon the man behind the Pyg or if she was deceiving herself.

*TGSTGE*

Ayeka and Ryoko lounged on the couch watching their soap opera. It was a dull day to be sure, since Tenchi had to return to school, but this made it all worth it. A plate of rice cakes sat between the two women and they sat back and relaxed their cares away.

“You know something Ayeka, without the others here, it is actually easier to do chores.”

“I know exactly what you mean Miss Ryoko. Here it is, midday, and we have finished our daily routine. I’m sure if Mihoshi or Washu were here, they would bungle it all up.”

“I’ll drink to that,” Ryoko laughed. She took a gulp of her tea and sighed. “Still, this doesn’t taste as good as Sasami’s tea.”

Ayeka hung her head in shame. “And I’m so lonely! Lord Tenchi is at school, the others are in America, Father is working, and Lord Yosho is tending to the shrine! Do we do ANYTHING to pass the time besides argue Miss Ryoko?”

The spiky haired woman thought about it for a minute and rubbed her head. “I refuse to believe that we do NOTHING but argue! No, I can’t accept that. Let’s think for a minute here, what do we do all day?”

“Flirt.”

“Fight.”

“Chores.”

“Avoid chores.”

“Bathe,” both women said at the same time. They turned their heads down dejectedly at their tea glasses.

“This just won’t do Miss Ryoko! We need a hobby…or something fun to pass the time!”

“We now return to Popoko!” the television announcer spoke through the television. At once, the two lamenting ladies returned to their previous positions and continued to watch their show in peace.

“‘scuse me!” an all too familiar voice announced from behind them. Ayeka and Ryoko turned around to see Washu standing next to the couch with her hands on her hips. “I know you two are so ‘busy’ but I have need for Ryoko.”

“Now wait just a damn minute Washu!” Ryoko got up and growled. “Why do you need me help, and why are you here in Japan?!”

Ayeka got up and joined her rival. “Miss Washu, did something happen to Sasami?!”

The scientist held her hands up to calm them down. “Hold your horses princess! We just need Ryoko to identify a person and then we can have her back here as a productive member of the house!”

“Why you…” Ryoko boiled. She sighed and relented. “Fine, but you owe me one! This show is starting to get good!”

“Surrrrre it is. Tootles!”

In an instant, Lady Ayeka Jurai was all alone. She looked around the house and at the remaining tea cup and sighed. “Now I have nobody to argue with either…”

*TGSTGE*

“So how did it go Damian?” Sasami pried curiously.

Alfred had left the group to prepare some tea once Dick and Barbara started arguing. Kiyone was catching Mihoshi up on the situation as best she could, leaving Damian and Sasami to talk amongst themselves.

“*tt* How should I know? All we have learned is that Professor Pyg needs to be put down like a horse with a broken leg.”

Sasami looked horrified at the response the boy gave her. “That is a terrible thing to say! I thought you liked animals!”

“What I like or dislike is inconsequential. It is an Earth saying, nothing more.”

“But that’s still a mean thing to say about a person,” Sasami expressed her concern. Damian gave her a look of anger and regret.

“You’ve never met that monster. He disfigured a girl no older than…well regardless!” Damian bluntly put it. “I failed to save her when I promised to! Whoever that man was is gone. All traces of humanity have been ebbed away by El Penitente and that labyrinth fool! When you experience such things Princess, then you can tell me when something is mean!”

The blue haired girl put a hand to her mouth and tears started to flow. Damian, clearly not expecting this, reluctantly patted her back. “I’m sorry…I wasn’t trying to make you cry. This planet does not always have kind natured fools like that Masaki fellow you cling to. I should know; I’m one of them.”

Sasami sniffed her nose and stared deeply in his eyes. “You are only what you believe yourself to be Damian! Just because something hurts today doesn’t mean you should bring it into tomorrow!”

At once a lightbulb went of in the young Jurain’s head. “Have you ever seen the musical Annie?”

Damian looked offended by the question. “What purpose would an heir to the Al-Ghul family have to watch a musical about a red headed orphan?”

“You could learn a lot from it Damian.”

He forced a laugh. “What; how to do a box step?”

“The message of the play is that you have to find hope in every situation,” Sasami explained. “The sky might be grey and you might feel lonely, but good things will come! Tomorrow; it’s only a day away!”

The child assassin blinked a few times. “What are you talking about? Why can’t you just make sense?!”

“I’m saying cheer up and look on the bright side of things!” the Princess smiled. “You have to think of the good things you have and remember that no matter how bad it might be, it’ll pick up!”

“Why should I believe you, girl?” Damian asked. “Why should I listen to a stupid song from a stupid play?”

“Because silly, Professor Pyg might be a bad guy, but you’re not! You tried to save that girl! You are a hero Damian, don’t let anyone say otherwise! Mr. Grayson really brings the best out in you!”

“Yes,” Damian chuckled. “Yes he does.”

“Do you like being Robin Damian?” Sasami asked curiously.

Damian thought about it for a minute. Between admitting that Grayson was a worthy mentor and this question, what was Sasami driving at.

“Being Robin is the best thing about my life,” Damian explained with a sigh, staring at his domino mask. “I never thought about this life, but this truly is the path I have chosen for myself. I have Grayson and Pennyworth to thank for that.”

“See?” Sasami jumped up excitedly. “It got better for you Damian! Just like before! You need to give yourself more credit buddy!”

“What is it about you?” Damian began. “That makes it near impossible to brood around?”

Sasami shrugged and smiled again. This time, however, it was returned by a ten year old boy in a cape…a boy who truly smiled for the first time.

Once Damian had woken up, and yelled at Washu for good measure, Sasami, Kiyone, Mihoshi, and Washu packed their bags to prepare for the trip across the Ocean to the Land of Opportunity. Though Noboyuki desperately begged them not to leave, the girls waved goodbye as they sat down in the back of the Bat-Plane.

“Yes Mother, I’m perfectly healed now…it was some alien scientist named Hakubi…yes Mother…Mother, I have a job to do. If you need to talk about something, come to America and tell me directly. Goodbye Mother,” Damian talked into a cellphone. He hung up and threw his hands in the air. “I’m ten years old and she things that I’m three!”

“That sounded intense Damian,” Dick told him from the cockpit. “Did you really need to give the Daughter of the Demon a reason to come to the house? I really could have done without that.”

“Grayson, you know my mother. She is an Al-Ghul. She will never stop until she gets what she wants. What she forgets is that I have Al-Ghul blood in my veins as well.”

“How cute! He wants to continue playing dress up!” Washu goaded from the back of the plane.

The boy’s eyebrow twitched. “You are lucky I refrain from killing out of respect for my father, harlot. If I was not honor bound to do so, I would gladly end your life.”

“And hit the beautiful face of the girl who saved your life?” Washu mockingly looked hurt. “How could you?!”

“How much longer Mr. Grayson?” Sasami asked excitedly. “I can’t wait to see Gotham City!”

“Only about twenty minutes Sasami. Don’t get yourself too excited, though. Gotham isn’t all that different from a city like Tokyo.”

Kiyone shuffled in her seat. “I really want to thank you again for your help with the rent Dick. It’s not that often that I accept charity.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Dick waved it off. “Honestly, consider it payment as opposed to charity. Pyg is one hell of a customer.”

“I’ve been a Galaxy Police Officer for years now. I’ve seen scum from one side of the universe to the next. This pig guy can’t be that bad.”

Damian chuckled to himself. “When you see that tub of lard, you’ll eat those words.”

*TGSTGE*

Upon landing in Gotham, Alfred took the liberty of taking the long way back to the Penthouse so the tourists could see the sights. Though Damian was getting bored by the extraneous travel, Sasami was clearly thrilled beyond belief about it.

“Wow! I’m actually in America!” Sasami exclaimed. “It’s so…big!”

“*tt* You are hopelessly childish Jurai,” Damian chided.

Sasami turned up her nose. “You just don’t see the beauty of what you have in front of you.”

“You might be the first person to call Gotham City ‘beautiful’ and not be a crazy killer,” the Boy Wonder laughed mockingly.

“Now Master Damian, I can think of at least one other individual who would disagree with you,” Alfred said from the driver’s seat.

“Who? The Kryptonian? The Amazon?”

“Your father.”

Damian opened his mouth to comment on it, but he closed it and kept to himself.

“Most of the city was actually built by Master Bruce’s ancestors. Would you like to hear about how Solomon Wayne commissioned the area that would eventually be this city?”

“Would I?!” Sasami asked in wonder. “Tell me everything!”

“Ugh,” Damian hung his head. “Somebody get me an Advil. This is going to take awhile.”

*TGSTGE*

“So what is our game plan?” Washu asked, taking a bite into a burger. “Hey, this isn’t half bad!”

“If you come to America, you have to at least try a burger,” Dick laughed. “This place makes the best in Gotham.”

Alfred had stopped at a Burger Fool restaurant at Dick’s request. Though they were all eager to visit the Penthouse, Dick was very adamant about giving the Japanese visitors the true American experience.

“Don’t generalize Grayson. Not everyone is as in love with the prospect of eating cow beef like you,” Damian countered while eating his salad.

“Aaaanyway,” Dick said, switching gears. “I think Pyg might be the bigger issue, though I don’t like to admit it. I have no idea how long your analysis of Bruce could take, so I think we should reach out to Commissioner Gordon after lunch.”

“Barbara’s father?” Kiyone asked. “Does he know who you are?”

“I wouldn’t put it past Commissioner Gordon to know about the night time activities of the Wayne family,” Alfred responded. “However, he knows he cannot legally acknowledge that fact. He’s a very smart man.”

Mihoshi looked around while she drank her shake. “Hey, you said Mr. Wayne was dead, right?”

There was a silence as everybody looked at Mihoshi as if she had three heads. “…yes Mihoshi; that is why we are here.”

“Then who is that?” Mihoshi asked, pointing at the restaurant’s television.

The group immediately watched the television in earnest. Sure enough, a reporter named Vicky Vale was interviewing a man identified as Bruce Wayne. The jaws of Sasami, Washu, and Kiyone hit the floor. Damian’s fist tightened and focused back on his salad.

“I want to kill that fool Elliot so badly,” Damian said to himself. “If not for the fact he was doing us a favor he’d be dead already.”

“‘Elliot?'” Kiyone asked. “Who…?”

“One of Bruce’s enemies who actually knows his identity,” Dick explained, clearly as disgusted as Damian. “He’s a surgeon who literally changed his face to resemble Bruce’s.”

“That’s sounds weird,” Sasami said.

“Tell me about it,” Dick agreed. “However, it’s working out well. The public thinks Bruce is alive and well and we have him right where we can keep an eye on him.”

Washu shook her head. “You Americans are so confusing.”

“Hey, when are we going to see Barbara?” Sasami asked. “Is she around?”

Dick shuffled in his seat. “Well, Babs and I aren’t exactly…it’s hard to explain.”

“You…you didn’t let her know we were here did you?” Washu pried. “Trouble in paradise eh?”

“…I’ll explain later if you ladies are really concerned. Let’s just focus on finishing lunch so we can get this unpleasantness out of the way.”

*TGSTGE*

After stopping home and switching into costume, Batman and Robin directed Kiyone and Washu into Blackgate Prison. Waiting for them there was a grey haired, mustachioed man with glasses. He extended his hand for Batman to shake.

“I have to say Batman, this is a bit direct and forward for you. Well,” he dropped his voice into a whisper. “Both you and him. You know…the other Batman.”

“Desperate times Commissioner. These two women actually helped shut down the Anti-Life Equation in Bluddhaven. Don’t take them lightly,” Batman countered. “Commissioner Gordon, meet Washu Hakubi, the brilliant scientist, and Officer Kiyone Makibi.”

“Pleasure to meet you both,” the man told both ladies. “Hakubi…hmm I seem to recall Barbara mentioning something about a pink haired girl named Hakubi. Would you happen to be her?”

“Ask me no questions and I will tell you no lies Commissioner!” Washu winked. “Does Mr. Valentin know he is going to have company?”

Gordon shook his head. “I managed to keep this quiet. I had to pull a few strings to get this to even happen.”

The pink haired woman bowed slightly. “The privacy is greatly appreciated.”

“I don’t know what you two think you can do. Pyg hasn’t talked to anyone at all except to ask for his mask. The guards report that he is always speaking in some kind of gibberish to himself.”

“Leave that to us Commissioner,” Kiyone reassured him.

“Where did you say you were a cop Miss Makibi?”

“I didn’t,” she said with a smile.

The group walked past several doors until they got to an interrogation room. There was a window in the wall that showed the lone occupant: an overweight dark haired man. He did not look up from the table, but Kiyone noted his mouth was moving. She tried to listen in and was met with a strange string of babble.

“The penitent one will descend upon the goat head in the big blow out. Then Piggy will be released from his sty. But before the beautification, my face must be claimed from the rats,” he muttered to himself.

Gordon looked to the Dynamic Duo and waited to hear if they understood his ramblings. Finally Dick spoke: “He said ‘big blow out.’ That may be circus speak for the finale of a show.”

“Which would be his ‘beautification,'” Kiyone nodded to herself. “What about his ‘penitent’ comment?”

“El Penitente is some big time crime lord in Mexico who sent Flamingo to Gotham. *tt* Makibi, didn’t you do your homework?” Robin sneered.

“Hush you. Everything he is saying is a clue. I think it’s time we entered in,” Washu told Kiyone. “I think you being in the room may be counterproductive Batman. Any objections?”

The Dark Knight shook his head, but Commissioner Gordon spoke up. “Keep your guard up, but don’t sink to his level.”

“We won’t,” Kiyone reassured him. With that, the two ladies entered in the room with a babbling madman all alone.

The two women sat down and waited for Lazlo to notice their arrival. After about a minute, Kiyone made the first move. “Mr. Valentin, my name is Officer Makibi. How are you doing?”

There was no response. Washu tapped her finger on the table in irritation. “This isn’t going to get us anywhere, but I know what will.”

Washu created her computer and started to type furiously. “Okay, a Gotham Gazette report about Professor Pyg. Says here you created something called ‘Dollotrons.’ I’m both impressed and disgusted. As a fellow professor, I think I know what the problem is. We can’t work if there isn’t the proper equipment. Will this do?” After a few keystrokes, Washu managed to create a plaster mask that resembled a pig.

Lazlo finally looked up at the mask and started to smile. “My face…it’s perfect!”

“Perfection is the first step to beauty,” Washu reasoned.

“The pink haired one speaks the truth,” Professor Pyg agreed. “You are so close to perfection, but your face is lacking. You need work to become wonderful!”

“Perhaps I do, but what are you?”

“Pyg is not perfect, but Pyg will MAKE everything perfect. Then Mommy will love me again!”

“How will you make us perfect Professor?” Kiyone asked, catching on to what Washu was doing and realizing it was getting a response. “We have so many problems.”

Pyg looked at both of the women and seemed to think about it. “You need a bad operation. You more than her,” he said, pointing to Washu, who blushed. “To be imperfect is to be ugly. All the top names rid their ugliness through one bad operation after another. The germ is the only way to bring results.”

“Does El Penitente have the germ?”

After making a squealing sound, Valentin found himself shifting uncontrollably. “Dr. Johnny B. Damned will come in time! Mommy told me so.”

Kiyone and Washu stopped talking and tried to process what they were hearing. Finally, it was Kiyone who spoke. “Is El Penitente your Mommy?”

Pyg started to laugh and cry at the same time. “Dr. Johnny B. Damned, my Mommy? In her gown of nails, Mommy can be cruel. In the morning she is Kali, at lunch she is Mormo, and at night she sees red. ALL WAYS LEAD TO HER!”

“So El Peniten…I mean Dr. Johnny B. Damned is coming from Mexico? Do you work for him?” Washu asked earnestly.

Kiyone reflected inward. It was amazing that these two women managed to keep their cool around this man. They knew the risk of giving him back his mask. ‘If we play this the right way, we’ve got him!’ Washu had told her. ‘If we say anything to offend him, he will try to kill us. This is a cold and calculated game you and I have to play Kiyone. I hope you can keep a poker face. Be prepared for ANYTHING.’

“The Doctor pulled me from the Spyral Sink and showed me the path to perfection! With the germ in place, I can make lovely ladies anywhere I want! All my collection, mint in package! Pristine to the last curve. If even a speck of dust is found, the Dollotron is ruined!”

“The germ…what is it?”

A smile crept on the visible portion of Pyg’s face. “The milk from mommy’s nursing embrace is addictive and its in you all. It’s addiction you catch! Pyg gives you hunger, Pyg offers you salvation! Salvation through perfection! Once you accept the drug, your reason will leave you and you will be mine!”

With that, Professor Pyg got out of his chair and lunged for Kiyone. The girl dodged his attempt and punched him in the gut. However, the behemoth of a man kept advancing. As this was going on, Washu furiously typed on her computer. “Did you really think I would give a clinically insane man the object of his desire without a way to curb your instincts?!”

One keystroke later and Lazlo Valentin started to writhe in pain. At once, he toppled to the ground: fainting from being electrocuted. With this development, Batman, Robin, and Commissioner Gordon ran into the room.

“What the hell was that?” Gordon asked furiously. “You electrocuted the man!”

Washu shrugged as Kiyone panted. “He was trying to kill us. I was merely applying self-defensive strategies.”

“I can see that, but WHAT did you do?”

She handed the lawman the mask. “The mask I created had the ability to give off a low level electrical shock if the wearer displayed any negative behavior. Nothing lethal mind you.”

“Fascinating,” Gordon said, clearly impressed.

“That’s all well and good,” Robin growled. “But we didn’t get any information we didn’t know or couldn’t surmise on our own.”

“Ha,” Washu laughed. “So you think Baby Bird; but this mask did far more than just act as an incredibly unsettling facial disguise. It was probing his mind to get any snippets of his past that can be reached beneath the layers of madness that he possesses.”

Batman considered it. “Basically, you developed a USB flash drive for the human mind?”

“In so many words,” Washu announced. “Just another win for the GREATEST SCIENTIFIC GENIUS IN THE UNIVERSE!”

“Oh no,” Damian uttered, putting a hand over his face. “Here they come…”

As if on cue… “You did it Washu!”

“Your genius knows no limits Washu!”

Commissioner Gordon blinked a few times and turned his attention to Kiyone. “Are you alright Officer Makibi? You look a bit shaken.”

“I’m fine Commissioner,” Kiyone said, catching her breath. “I was caught off guard for a moment. Don’t worry about me.”

“You did well in there,” Gordon said reassuringly. “Batman, I hope that you can find something that can stop whatever he is planning before it starts.”

“I hope so too Commissioner,” Batman nodded.

Ch. 9: No Need for a Miracle

Stately Wayne Manor was silent when Kiyone and Washu returned to it after finalizing a game plan with the Man of Steel. Though they had visited it prior to the final confrontation with Darkseid, the two never got a good look at the house. Looking around for Damian, whom they suspected to have followed them, the pair were drawn to various Wayne portraits left on the floor. It appeared that this section of Wayne Manor had seen some kind of action. A card remained on the floor. Kiyone bent down to pick it up. A skull wearing a sombrero adorned it.

“‘Death Traps by El Sombrero?’ What the hell happened here?” Kiyone asked herself. Washu took the card and examined it.

“Obviously Wayne Manor here was infiltrated by this El Sombrero at some point prior to the Darkseid crisis. See here?” Washu pointed to a collection of family portraits that have collapsed on the floor. “This place was rigged to kill someone. Hopefully it didn’t hurt anyone…”

“Well, Alfred did a good job of getting rid of the damage, but he didn’t get around to a few places,” a male voice said. The two girls turned around and were met with a pleasant sight.

A young man was standing behind them in his own costume. He had spiked black hair and wore a black and blue form fitting spandex costume. On his face was a domino mask that was similar to Damian’s but pointed at the edges. Behind him was the boy in question, tied up and gagged.

“I take it you are the ‘pink haired wench’ Dami here screaming about when I found him racing toward Bludhaven?” the male asked.

Washu rose an eyebrow. “That would indeed be me. Told you he’d follow us, right Kiyone?”

Kiyone, who found herself staring at the man, blinked out of it and nodded. Washu noted the look and smiled to herself. “Aaaany way, my name is Washu Hakubi, the greatest scientific genius in the galaxy, and this is Kiyone Makibi, a detective in the Galaxy Police. Judging by the age and outfit, I’d say you are the first Robin, Dick Grayson.”

If Grayson was surprised, he didn’t show it. “Clever, though I technically go by Nightwing now. Damian was telling me that you hacked into the Bat-Computer. Gotta say, I’m surprised. Why would an alien scientist and a cop want the aid of superheroes in America?”

“You know, I’m still getting used to the fact that nobody seems to care or find it weird that we are aliens,” Kiyone said annoyingly, speaking up at last. “We have always been taught that Earth isn’t ready to join the greater galaxy.”

Dick shrugged. “Hey, I don’t care. I was engaged and almost married to an alien princess. In our kind of work, it’s rather common.”

“You don’t say?” Washu said, impressed and intrigued. “Regardless, your pal Barbara Gordon sent out a message that I was able to decipher throughout all of the Anti-Life crap that we have been dealing with for what seems like weeks even though it was really only days. We picked her up and brought her to my subspace laboratory.

Nightwing nodded. “Got it. Interdimensional doorways…makes sense. I assume it was there that you contacted Damian and Alfred?”

The level of comprehension that Dick Grayson was showing made Washu smile uncontrollably. “Right in one. Damn, it is good to talk to someone who isn’t completely lost when I explain things!”

“When you have visited the Fortress of Solitude and spent a weekend palling around with the likes of Cyborg and Raven, you tend to pick up some things,” he admitted.

The comment caused Washu’s eyes to expand. “And you, good sir, have just gotten me back on track! Superman has requested our presence in the Fortress of Solitude. I was going to collect the others. Want to tag along and bring bound and beautiful over there?” Washu asked, pointing to a struggling Damian.

“Why not? I’ve got nothing better to do. It’s not like we have a choice since it looks like the planet itself has basically been murdered. I’d ask why you two went to Bludhaven, but I assume you are waiting for an audience.”

“I like him,” Washu said, pointing to Nightwing. “He hasn’t met me for longer than ten minutes and he has me figured out. Ready squirt?”

Damian made a muffled sound that sounded like “I’m going to kill you!”

“Atta boy!”

*TSGTGE*

The tension in the subspace lab could be cut with a knife. Mihoshi paced around while Oracle scoured Washu’s computer for any hint of information on her new allies. The only one who seemed calm and composed was Alfred, who went around observing the lab as if nothing life threatening was happening with Ryo-Ohki on his shoulder.

“I miss Kiyone!” Mihoshi wailed. “I don’t want her to die or lose her soul!”

“Have faith Miss Mihoshi,” Alfred told her comfortingly. “We haven’t heard any negative news at all. That means there is still hope.”

“Meow!” Ryo-Ohki purred encouragingly.

“My, you are a smart one, aren’t you?” he chuckled to himself. “Though, I must say that if we do not hear anything from Miss Washu or Miss Kiyone then one of us will have to attempt to open up the doorway to Wayne Manor again.”

Oracle grunted in frustration. “I’ve been trying Alfred. I’m a hacker, not a miracle worker. This system is beyond anything I have ever encountered…at this rate, by the time we can get the doorway working we will have starved to death and Damian would be who knows where!”

“Again Miss Gordon, I believe in you. You just need confidence,” Alfred told her. “Enough of that negativity nonsense. After all, we need to save some energy to scold Master Damian for his little ‘escape escapade.'”

“I look forward to that conversation,” Barbara allowed herself to smile. “‘Pennyworth, I had every right to follow that pink haired harlot to my father’s house! She defiles it by even being there!'”

“Good impression Babs. Sounds just like our Boy Wonder wannabe here,” a new voice said.

As she was speaking, the door they were longing for finally appeared and opened. Out from the shadows came the all too familiar forms of Washu, Kiyone, Damian, and Dick Grayson. After making his comment to Barbara, Nightwing started to look around and take in his surroundings. “Wow, nice place you have here. What did it take you to design it? 1,000 years? 2,000?”

Washu shrugged and blushed. “Well actually this iteration of it was developed in mere moments, but my collection has been steadily growing since that time. I was even able to reclaim several items of mine that were confiscated before my own banishment.”

“No kidding,” Nightwing said.

Any further quips by the former Robin were interrupted by Barbara making her way to him and giving him a hug. Alfred joined her embrace to greet him. “Master Richard, it is good to see you!”

“Thanks Alfie. Happy to see everybody safe and sound. Where’s Bruce? Is he meeting us here?”

A loud coughing sound was heard by all. Damian had managed to remove his restraints and get the gag out of his mouth. “Grayson, I will…I will kill you for that,” Damian panted. “But your question has merit. Hakubi, where is my father?”

Kiyone, who was trapped in her own embrace by Mihoshi, pried the woman off of her and bent down to Damian’s level. “Damian…when we were in Darkseid’s bunker…we…found something…”

“Stop playing around woman!” Damian barked. “Where. Is. My. Father?!”

“He’s dead,” Washu whispered. “He mortally wounded Darkseid and was killed for it. Superman found the corpse and will examine it after all of this is over. I’m…so sorry to have to tell you.”

The room was still. It took the Bat Family a few minutes to process what they had just heard. Barbara was the first to shed tears, followed by Alfred. It was impossible to comprehend what was going on in their heads. Bruce Wayne, the man that brought them all together, was killed by the God of Evil.

“That’s impossible!” Damian roared. “I refuse to believe my father is dead! We are going to the Kryptonian’s and I will give him a piece of my mind!”

“That can be arranged. Superman wants everyone to come to his Fortress of Solitude. Though Darkseid is dead, it seems that he is bringing the planet with him. The planet has become unstable and if I didn’t know any better, the Multiverse as well. We only have a short amount of time before the planet dies!”

“What’s a Multiverse?” Mihoshi asked innocently.

“Beyond your comprehension.”

“Wait,” Barbara asked. “You haven’t told us anything. Did it work?”

Washu forced a weak smile. “You can see for yourself. We need to pick up Tenchi and the gang before we head over. Into the doorway everyone.”

As the people entered the doorway, abet unwillingly to a degree, Damian locked eyes on Washu. “If you ever try that locking me out crap again, I will kill you where you stand.”

She blinked and nodded. ‘Now’s not the time to attack his ego. He just lost a father and all guidance in his life. I’ll let it slide…for now…’

*TGSTGE*

Tenchi Masaki blinked.

He looked around his house and surveyed the surroundings. The last thing he remembered was sitting down to watch TV with the girls. Now he was standing up with in a different area of his house with the TV playing a string of words on loop in the distance. He also noticed that he seemed very physically tired and hungrier than he had been in ages.

“What just happened? Where are Sasami and Ayeka, or Ryoko for that matter?” Tenchi asked himself.

The youth started to move around the house, looking for any clues that might tell him where his friends were. He noted that the door was destroyed…again… and was planning on investigating it. From outside he could see that the sky was still as red as blood. As he moved by a mirror, he had the shock of his life. He was no longer wearing his casual clothing but rather a dingy uniform with what appeared to be a lowercase “N” on it. “Whaaaaa? I don’t…what’s going on here?!”

“Trust me Lord Tenchi,” a familiar voice called out. “It is a long story.”

Tenchi turned to see Washu, Mihoshi, Kiyone, and surprisingly a host of other people he had never met before appear from the remnants of his closet. “Washu, why am I not surprised that you are behind this. And…”

“Shhh,” she said, putting a finger to his lips. The genius scientist seemed more distant and haunted than usual. “That can wait until the others return. I expect they should be arriving soon, probably from whatever factory the Anti-Life Equation willed you to work at.”

Tenchi opened his mouth to protest, but closed it after realizing that he was beyond confused. Thus, he turned his attention to the costumed individuals who were standing around admiring his living room. “I’m not even sure if I want to ask at this point, but who are these people?”

The older gentleman, balding with a small mustache, started to speak in what Tenchi believed to be English. As he was not naturally fluent in the language, Tenchi had no idea what he was saying. Washu noticed this and started typing on her keyboard.

“Sorry Tenchi! Here, put this in your ear. It is a universal translator, that allows them to understand you, and you them,” she said, handing him the small device.

As he was putting it in his ear, he found himself stuck in a giant embrace. Mihoshi was squeezing him with all of her might. “OhTenchiIwassoscaredIthoughtyouwouldnevergetbetter!” she was crying at a mile a minute.

‘Just another typical day of my life,’ Tenchi thought to himself. ‘Always two steps behind everyone.’

“I…can’t…breathe!” Tenchi managed to get out.

“Mihoshi, please! Tenchi is probably malnourished and exhausted. You are doing more harm than good!” Kiyone exclaimed, trying to pry her off.

“*tt* If that’s all this rube is going to say then why bother with a translator at all? At least I can speak fluent Japanese…” the caped boy started out.

“Damian, you aren’t the center of the world, despite what your Al-Ghul half tells you,” the man who looked only a few years older than Tenchi replied. Though he was clearly joking, he sounded so…defeated.

“Let’s put it like this: I don’t know if there will be a world for the kid to be the metaphorical center of. Darkseid’s death is destroying all of time and space around this planet. If Superman can’t create his Miracle Machine then…”

“Hold on a minute! Where are the girls, or Dad or Grandpa? Why are there Americans in my house? And what am I wearing?” the lad cried out.

“Buddy, why don’t you sit down and breathe. My name’s Nightwing and I’m…did anyone else just feel that?” the young man started.

Tenchi looked over to the window. He did indeed feel a rumbling from his feet and knew exactly where it came from. “Well that answers one question,” he sighed. “Brace yourselves!”

A large explosion filled the room. From the ashes of the wall came the familiar spiked hair of Ryoko and the purple hair of Ayeka. Both ladies were dressed in similar clothes to him and looked like they would kill everyone in the room.

“TENCHI, WHERE ARE YOU?!” Ryoko roared.

“STAY AWAY FROM HIM YOU DEMON, HE’S MINE!” Ayeka retorted, panting at the energy used to keep up with her foe.

Nightwing took a step back and went to grab his escrima stick. “Did we miss some of Darkseid’s minions?!”

“No,” Washu hung her head low. “They would be with us.”

He blinked and observed the situation. “Are you sure? They look like they are about to kill your friend over there.”

The group looked at the sight of two women nearly tearing the arms off the poor Japanese lad whose house they were currently in. Damian made a dismissive notion and slammed a wall. “Listen you simpletons; we are on a tight schedule here! If your impromptu mating ritual is over we need to figure out what happened to my father!”

Ryoko and Ayeka stopped their bickering and noticed the plethora of new guests in the house.

“Who’s the brat and why is he dressed like a Sentai character?” Ryoko asked.

“*tt* Goodie, another Japanese idiot.”

“You come in to MY house and call me an IDIOT?!” Ryoko roared, making her way to the child.

“Well technically it’s my…” Tenchi started before being knocked over by Damian.

“Listen to me you pathetic wretch, I have just lost my father today and right now, I REALLY want to shed blood. Shall it be yours?” Damian got into her face. “Please say it will.”

With a flick of a wrist, Damian brought out a batarang. At the same time, Ryoko created an energy sword.

“Ryoko, calm down!”

“Master Damian, Master Bruce would not want you behaving in such a manner as this!”

After a tense moment, the two prideful beings let their guards down. Damian scowled and started to leave. “If you fools are not going to take this seriously, I’ll find my own way to the Kryptonian’s Fortress.”

“Grow up Damian,” Nightwing offered. “You can’t get to the Arctic from Japan just by walking.”

“At least I’m doing something Grayson!”

Tenchi blinked and tried to process all of that information in between Ayeka scolding Ryoko and her retorts back. “Wait, the arctic?! This is raising even more questions!”

“Jeez, you are confusing the poor kid!”

“Shut up Grayson!”

“Ayeka,” Washu turned to the Jurian princess. “Where are Sasami and Nobuyuki? Were they with you?”

Looking incredibly grateful to answer a question that she knew something about, Ayeka smiled, but then turned to immediate shock. “Oh my goodness; we ran off without them! We were in the city! We left them in the care of Azaka and Kamidake.” She turned to the small animal on Mihoshi’s shoulder. “Ryo-Ohki, would you please go find my dear sister? There are several carrots in it for you!”

“MEOW!” She hopped off the blonde and through the hole in the wall. Once she made it outside, she transformed into her spiked spaceship form and sped off.

Grayson looked at everyone in the room with amazement. “Nobody is going to question the small animal that turned into a spaceship? Nobody? Not even you Babs?” He shrugged. “Oh well; guess that I’m alone on this one.”

Barbara cocked an eyebrow. “Please tell me we can explain everything on the way North once everyone gets here, assuming Azaka and Kamidake are people too.”

Washu nodded. “Ancient alien knights actually. And sure; no problem. Hey all of you grab anything you immediately need! We have a schedule to keep!”

“What ARE you babbling on about Miss Washu?” Ayeka asked. “What could we possibly have missed while we were…well doing whatever we were doing?”

“Oh, you guys lost your free will and we helped Superman kill the God of Evil!” Mihoshi explained.

“What?”

*TGSTGE*

“Incredible! Dad is somewhere out there after being mind controlled by this Darkseid God guy?!” Tenchi’s father exclaimed.

“It sounds like our foe was fearsome indeed!” the Knight named Kamidake exclaimed. “I feel ashamed we missed the battle and lost Lord Yosho.”

The group had finally joined back together and all of the occupants of the house, guests included, made their way to the Arctic Circle. As promised, Washu, Kiyone, Barbara, and Alfred were attempting to fill those affected by the Anti-Life Equation in on what they missed.

“Well we know he was somewhere near the Hall of Justice, but that was weeks ago. He could be anywhere,” Barbara offered.

“Supes will make sure he is okay. That’s what he does,” Nightwing added. “Seriously, if Superman is involved, expect a happy ending.”

“Phrasing Grayson,” Damian scowled.

Dick patted the boy’s back. “See; he made a joke! He can be taught!”

“So when did you two lunkheads get back to Earth? You weren’t at the house or the shrine when the Equation hit,” Washu asked the two Guardians of Jurai.

Azaka looked to his partner and hung his head in shame. “We had gotten the signal that there was a galactic upset on Earth and made our way back here. I believe we just barely managed to land before the time distortion took place. We arrived at the house to collect you all but it was too late and we were done for.”

“We should have prepared ourselves better! We are Knights of the Planet Jurai! We are above such failings! Forgive us Lady Sasami!” Kamidake bowed in shame.

The young girl simply smiled. “You couldn’t have known silly! Don’t worry about it! You are here now and that’s what matters!”

“I just can’t believe we got caught up in another intergalactic conflict. Even Father knew better than to get involved with the conflict on New Genesis and Apokolips,” Ayeka stammered. “I wish I could have showered before leaving; my hair is atrocious!”

“Just your hair?” Ryoko chided.

With that, Ayeka and Ryoko reignited their feud once more, subjecting all parties involved to hear their squabbling.

“Do these women do this every day over you?” Damian asked Tenchi.

Tenchi scratched the back of his head and chuckles nervously. “Yeah; it’s the story of my life I suppose.”

Looking at the sight of two grown women trying to kill each other, the young lad shook his head. “Then you have my condolence.”

Barbara observed the carnage with intense curiosity. ‘These two women have just as much power as Firestorm or maybe even Power Girl. Who ARE these people and why haven’t they attracted more global attention before? Is Washu just that good at covering their messes?’

“Babs, is everything alright? You seem worried,” Dick moved over to his on again/ off again girlfriend.

She cocked an eyebrow in response. “Worried? Why would I be worried about sharing a small cockpit area with two aliens trying to kill each other? It’s just another normal day for us, isn’t it?”

“I know, right?” Dick laughed. “To think, not too long ago I was nearly lobotomized by a hunchbacked dwarf. That was something. This? This is a typical Tuesday.”

Barbara could not help but smile. “Only you, Richard Grayson, would call this typical.”

He shrugged. “What about Supes? Or Kara? Or Hal? Or…”

“Okay, okay you made your point!”

“Ah, young love~!” Washu whispered in a sing song voice. “Even in the face of the end of the world it still shines through!”

“…I hate you,” Barbara grumbled, her face becoming as red as her hair.

“Listen up all of you,” Kiyone yelled from the helm of the cabbit ship. “We are coming up on your coordinates. We should be at the Fortress of Solitude momentarily.”

“Thanks captain obvious,” Damian grumbled.

*TGSTGE*

For a palace of solitude, the Fortress was full of life. Several beings, both in costume and out of it, were rushing around to either be aided to offer assistance. It was a bit much for the alien guests from Japan.

Well, not all of them.

“This is incredible! Actual Kryptonian architecture! It has been so long since I got to observe it up close!” Washu blurted out in overzealous excitement.

“So this Krypton was a planet that exploded?” Noboyuki asked, scratching his head. “This space stuff is too far out for me. Still, the design is incredible!”

“Dad’s an architect,” Tenchi explained to the others.

Damian grunted. “I really don’t care.”

Just then, a big blue blur appeared in front of the crowd. However, this blue and red adorned figure was not the Son of Krypton. Rather, it was a young woman with long blonde hair. She squealed with delight and gave Barbara a hug.

“Barbara! Kal told me you would be here soon! I’m happy to see that you got here okay! Uncle Alfred too!”

“It is a pleasure Miss Zor-El, though I do wish we could have met again under better circumstances,” Alfred chuckled.

The blonde eyed the Masaki clan. “Hey Barbara, who are they?” she whispered.

“For better or worse, they are friends…I guess,” she replied. “The pink haired one is the one who brought down the Anti-Life Equation.”

“Oh!” Supergirl exclaimed. “You must be Washu! I’m Supergirl, but you can call me Kara! My cousin told me about you! I have to direct you to the tech lab! That’s where the others are working on the device.”

“Nice to meet you Miss Zor-El! Lead away; I’m curious as to what your cousin has in mind,” Washu said, clearly humbled by the praise.

“Hey, what about us?” Ryoko growled. “What are we supposed to do?”

“And where is your cousin Kryptonian?! I need to give him a piece of my mind!” Damian roared.

The blonde haired Kryptonian studied the boy and cocked her head. “Who are you again?”

Damian screamed in rage. “I’m Damian Wayne Al-Ghul, son of Batman and grandson of Ras al Ghul! The pink haired whelp told me some ridiculous fairy tale about the death of my father. I’m here to beat the information out of him! Where. Is. He?!”

As he finished his rant, the man himself flew in. Superman surveyed the group of people and tried to smile. However, a perceptive mind like Kiyone could see that it was hiding a great sadness.

“It’s Superman! Wow!” Mihoshi exclaimed.

“I do not have long Damian, but I could hear you from my study. If you are here for answers, I am happy to give them after the…”

“NO! It is a simple question Kryptonian! What happened to my father?” Damian cut him off. Though they were obscured by his domino mask, his eyes were begging for an answer. The sudden display of passion caused Kiyone, Mihoshi, Ayeka, and Sasami’s eyes to water.

The tears started to flow when Damian was handed a burnt cape and cowl.

“Damian…I….” Superman started. Damian held up his hand and walked away. The man of steel made a motion to follow him, but Alfred shook his head.

“The lad needs to adjust to this himself,. You did everything you could Master Kent,” he explained.

“It doesn’t make it any easier Alfred. We failed him.”

Kiyone put a hand on his shoulder. “He died a hero Superman. It’s more than most people could ask for.”

Superman nodded. “All of you, I wish I could have the time to talk and get to know you, but time is of the essence. Our Earth is about to crumble into an abyss and I need to brace the Fortress.”

“Crumbling? Do we have a way to move the Fortress to my subspace lab?” Washu asked. “I have resources there that can aid in the creation of the ‘Miracle Machine.”

Superman blinked and then nodded. “We need to find Shilo Norman. His Motherboxx could ping the entire compound there. Come with me and then you can help Luthor, Caulder, Silvana, and the others. Our existence depends on it.”

“Oooh! Our very existence in the palm of my hand! This is the best day ever!” Washu cheered and she grabbed Superman’s hand. The two flew away in a blink of an eye,

Barbara just shook her head. “She is the only one I know that would have that kind of response to a life or death situation like this.”

“Sister,” Ayeka sighed. “I could tell you stories.”

Nightwing looked around. “Say, where IS your sister?’

“What are you talking about? She is right…” Ayeka stopped and frantically started to run around. “SASAMI?!”

*TGSTGE*

Damian Wayne sulked in the corner, hidden from all of the people that remained in the Fortress of Solitude. Though he heard Superman’s cryptic warnings about the death of the Earth, he cared little for it. All that mattered at that moment was the object in his hand: his father’s cape and cowl.

“She wasn’t lying. Father is dead,” Damian whispered to himself.

He punched a wall and observed the crack in the ice expand. With that, he started to repeatedly punch the wall. “I wasn’t there for him! I could have helped! If only that Hakubi woman didn’t lock me in I would have…”

“Would have what?” a soft voice asked curiously. Damian spun around and found himself staring into the innocent pink eyes of the youngest Jurian princess.

“None of your concern ‘Princess.’ Leave me be,” the boy muttered, clearly annoyed at being discovered.

Sasami paused and then sat down beside the troubled youth. “You know, my mommy died when I was very young.”

Damian turned his head slightly in recognition and then shrugged it off. “I’m sorry for not giving you my condolences, but I hardly see the…”

“It was hard to get over it. I cried and cried every night. My daddy and Ayeka were a wreck too, but it was hard to get through to him. I only had Ayeka. But you know what?” Sasami asked, maintaining a cheerful smile.

“I’m going to assume you are going to tell me even if I don’t ask, so what?”

“Ayeka was all I needed! She was there for me, and I was there for her. We got through it together! I took up my mommy’s love of cooking as a way to get closer to her. Now every time I cook, I feel like I’m cooking with her!”

“That’s all well and good, but she is still dead! Just like Father is still dead!”

“But you still have Alfred…and Nightwing…and…”

“*tt* The servant and a circus clown. What use do I have of them?” Damian sneered.

*WHACK*

Damian recoiled and put a hand to his face. It was burning red. “You…you slapped me! Are you mad woman?!”

It was then that he looked into her eyes again. He could see the girl’s pain behind the cheerfulness. He could see her empathy toward his situation. He could see her disgust at his attitude.

“Family should always stick together! How can you say that about them? You should be ashamed!”

“Should I?!” Damian countered back. “These people were never there for me in my life! My mother raised me to be an assassin who can kill without mercy or regret! I never met my father until roughly a year ago! My grandfather tried to kill me so he could return to life in my body! My mother…”

“Isn’t here,” Sasami said curtly, tears in her eyes. “If your mother loves you so much, why isn’t she here? “

“The Anti-Life Equation…”

“Do you really believe that?”

The question pierced Damian’s soul. Doubt began to set in and it truly dawned upon him: he was alone…and yet had Grayson and Pennyworth by his side. ‘If Father trusted these buffoons…maybe….’

“I…I honestly can’t say,” Damian managed to get out. “What do you suggest I do then?”

Sasami paused and thought about it. A smile appeared on her face and she hugged him. Damian began to try to pry her off. “Get off of me or I’ll cut your hand off!”

The blue haired princess laughed. “I’ll let go if you come back with me! Stop sulking in the shadows and join the whole group! The world needs a Boy Wonder and you seem dressed for the part!”

“Are you always this optimistic? Seriously, it is sickening.”

*TGSTGE*

“Miss Washu, you made that seem so…easy. I have never seen a dimensional hop on this scale done so fast!” Superman told the pink haired scientist. Using her computer and Shilo Norman’s Motherboxx, the pair managed to transport the entire Fortress of Solitude into a pocket of her subspace lab. Various heroes were bringing technology that Washu possessed into the area where the world’s greatest minds were working on the Miracle Machine.

Washu laughed as hard as she could. “Oh Son of Jor-El, it was easy enough for the Greatest Scientific Genius in the Galaxy!”

The ever familiar form of Washu’s doll popped on her shoulder. “Washu you did it!”

“Washu you saved the planet!” the second doll appeared.

“My, how narcissistic,” a jeering voice said from behind. Washu observed a bald man walk toward the two of them. He was wearing green and purple power armor and staring incredulously at the scientist.

Raising an eyebrow, Washu paused a moment. “Ah, you must be the former American president, businessman, and criminal genius Lex Luthor!”

“I am. It’s nice to see my reputation precedes me. However, I must say I have never heard of you before little girl. You give the air of an older woman, yet you look like you are nine. You created an entire dimension in an instant, something that even a being like Braniac could not do…as far as I am aware of. Tell me, who or what are you?” Lex Luthor interrogated.

“Lex, is now a good time…” Superman started before Washu put up a hand.

“I got this Supes. We will get your machine up and running in no time. I am just who I said I was: Washu Hakubi, the greatest…”

“Spare me your dolls child. I know your name and your ridiculous boasting! I want details!”

This caused Hakubi to smile. “I like him,” she told Superman. “I’m a 20,000 year old alien scientific genius who has invented so many things, from weapons to tools. I was even a member of the Galactic Academy before I was banished to this planet oh so many years ago. Hell, I even cancelled out the Anti-Life Equation.”

“That was you?!” Luthor roared. “You beat me to the chase! I managed to create a device to block out Tetch’s equipment to hijack that Equation! You wasted my time!”

“Feh, who cares Luthor? She got my daughter back to her senses. So what if she showed us up?” another bald scientist called over. “I am Doctor Thaddeus Bodog Sivana and I do, uncharacteristically I might add, thank you for that.”

Washu bowed in respect. “No problem Silvy! Now, tell me how this puppy works!”

As Superman moved over to explain Washu’s portion of the project, Luthor curled up his hand into a fist. “Damn cocky aliens…I’d love to go to your Galactic Academy and show them who the ‘Greatest Scientific Genius in the Universe really is…'”

“Keep dreaming Lex!” Washu shouted from the other side of the room.

“GAH!”

*TGSTGE*

“Come on folks, move along this way!” Kiyone yelled, directing people down a hallway.

After parting ways temporarily with the American heroes, the Masaki clan was enlisted to direct the entire population of Earth to an area where Superman had them shrunk and frozen in order to reawaken on a fixed, healthy Earth.

“I don’t get this plan at all,” Ryoko complained. “It seems stupid as hell to me.”

“Well if something were to go wrong with whatever Miss Washu is helping Superman build, this way the people of this planet could be restored off world!” Mihoshi explained. “Oh, this way please! Single file!”

“I hate to say it,” Ayeka moaned. “But I agree with Ryoko. This seems rather much. I don’t like the idea of being a beautiful woman stuffed in a refrigerator. It seems unnatural and unfair!”

“Come on, he’s Superman! He has to know what he is doing!” Sasami pointed out. “Isn’t that what he is known for?”

“Hell if I know? Hey you!” Ryoko yelled at a brown haired man in a black suit. “Why are you trying to leave the line? The big blue boyscout says that everyone has to do this so he can save the planet or some crap.”

The man observed Ryoko. Something about him made her feel uncomfortable. He looked like a middle age man, but his eyes were hardened and dark, much like the black gloves he wore. He moved himself back into the line and put his gloved hand out.

“I do apologize. I must have just been careless. Which way do you want me Miss…?” he asked, clearly inquiring about Ryoko’s name.

‘Dirty old perv.’ “Ryoko. Get over there and don’t cut in line.”

“I assure you; you will see no further trouble from me today,” he said with a chilling smile.

Ryoko made a note to put that face on her list of people to avoid, or more accurately to castrate if they got on her bad side.

“Hey Ryoko! Earth to Ryoko! We have to get the line moving! Who was that guy?” Mihoshi asked.

She looked back at the man one final time. “I don’t know Mihoshi, but I don’t like him.”

*TGSTGE*

“Well folks, I think this baby is ready to rewrite the laws of physics!” Washu cheered. “Nice work Lexy! You are smarter than I gave you credit for.”

“Ignorant cow,” Luthor muttered under his breath.

“I’d like to thank each and every one of you for all of your contributions to this project,” Superman announced to the assembled scientists and doctors. Behind him, the completed Miracle Machine stood. “For this to work, you need to be able to trust me enough to keep you safe.”

“You mean shrink us down like the other lost souls?” a blue skinned man in a helmet asked.

Superman nodded. “Yes Victor. It is the only way to ensure your safety.”

Surprisingly, it was Luthor who made the first move to the shrinking device. “Listen to me alien, you know once we are restored, our historic team-up is over. All bets are off and I swear I will dedicate every ounce of my vast resources to seeing you brought down before me. Are we clear on that?”

“Understood Lex,” Superman responded with a weak smile. With that, the members in the room were shrunk down one by one. Finally, all that was left was Washu. “Funny, I thought ladies were supposed to go first.”

She shrugged. “I just wanted to make sure these clowns wouldn’t do anything foolish. Are you sure you do not want my help? I mean, I’ve built galaxy destroying bullets and…”

“I’ll be fine Miss Washu. Don’t worry, it will all work itself out.

“Do me a favor, would you?” Washu asked on her way to the giant laser. “Don’t let your guard down and feel free to use my lab’s resources to assist you.”

The Man of Steel shook her hand and put his hand on the switch. “Don’t worry about your friends; Kara took care of them already.”

“Good. Nightwing said to expect a happy ending from you. I’m holding you to that.”

With that, the world of Washu Hakubi went dark.

*TGSTGE*

“Pass the bread please! This is delicious!” Mihoshi begged.

Superman had did it: the world was fixed and the universe was back to normal. Time and space had readjusted to its original flux and all of the damage was fixed though the combined effort of nearly every able bodied person, be they super or not.

Well, almost all of the damage.

“Do you really need it you blonde buffoon?” Damian asked tauntingly. The comment caused Ryoko to laugh at her side of the Wayne dining room table. The younger Wayne shot her a look. “I don’t know why you are laughing. You are a bigger buffoon then she is.”

“Cut it out Damian!” Dick Grayson scolded. “I don’t want this dinner to turn into a giant fight!”

“Bring him on!” Ryoko growled. “I’d prefer a fight to all this lounging around. There isn’t even any sake here!”

Damian flashed a sinister smile. “I seem to recall telling you I wanted to shed blood Space Pirate. That urge has not subsided.”

“Oh yeah half-pint?!”

“Oh yes!”

“Ah, the sounds of a traditional Wayne dinner. I missed those sounds ever so much,” Alfred quipped as he brought in a giant turkey while Sasami brought in the trimmings. “I’ll have you all know, if I see a single knife thrown then you will not be able to sample any of Miss Jurai’s stuffing. I thought I had tasted it all. Clearly I was mistaken.”

Sasami began to blush. “Aw, stop it Mr. Pennyworth!”

“If Alfred says it, you know it has to be true. His food is to die for! Why do you think nobody else has ever tried to cook?” Dick laughed.

“Now Master Richard, you know that your attempts to cook have almost destroyed the Manor almost every time. Master Bruce was even worse,” he chuckled.

The group was sitting down for a meal to celebrate the death of Darkseid and to honor the sacrifice of Batman. Alfred insisted upon it and managed to tidy up the dining room for one final meal before the Manor needed to be vacated to clean up the Black Glove’s mess. Once the meal concluded, the two sets of families would part ways and return to their daily lives, or so it seems.

“Has anyone heard from Tim yet?” Barbara asked. “I know he went to check in with the Titans, but I thought he was going to arrive before dinner started.”

“Master Timothy…isn’t handling the loss of Master Bruce well. I think he needs some time to himself before he returns and I intend to let him have it.”

“So what is going to happen to the city?” Mihoshi asked earnestly. “What happens to Batman and Robin?”

Dick and Alfred shared a look. “It is still far too early to say Miss Kuramitsu. Let us focus on celebrating Master Bruce’s life and our victory against the forces of all evil.”

Noboyuki grabbed his glass and raised it up. “To Bruce Wayne, savior of the universe.”

The others followed his lead. A moment of silence followed, allowing all of those present to reflect on the events of the last few weeks of their lives.

“So Lord Katsuhito, where did you end up anyway after the Equation was cancelled out?” Washu asked curiously. The group had only just been reacquainted with Tenchi’s grandfather, who was brought over by Superman as a thank you for all of the help they gave at the Fortress.

The former prince of Jurai drank deep from his glass. “Well when I came to I was in a giant American city…Metropolis I think. I met a very nice man named Bibbo and the two of us went to the pub for a nice soft drink called ‘Soder.’ You Americans have such interesting products here; it astounds me.”

“Wait, instead of coming home you went to a bar?” Tenchi asked incredulously. “Did you even think about us?”

“Tenchi, you know that I do not know how to fly or teleport. How did you expect me to get back to Japan without any currency?” Yosho asked. “Besides, never question your elders Tenchi.”

“…the only one here who isn’t my elder is Damian,” Tenchi muttered under his breath dejectedly.

A ringing noise filled the dining room. All eyes turned to Barbara, who took a quick glance at her phone. “It’s my dad. I have to take this. I’m sorry for being rude Alfred.”

“Go on Miss Gordon. We do not want the Commissioner to be kept waiting. He is no doubt just as worried about you as you are for him.”

Barbara excused herself from the table. Ryoko leaned back on her chair to try to listen in, but was knocked back by Ayeka. “Hey! What was that for?!”

“You know it is rude to eavesdrop Ryoko! It is not nice to disrespect the head of the house!”

“Well I didn’t know the redhead’s dad was a cop! Old space pirate habit, no offense Kiyone,” Ryoko explained. The Galaxy Police officer sighed and continued her meal.

Barbara wheeled back after her phone call was done and made herself known. “Dick, Alfred, I have to go. Dad wants to have a quiet night, just the two of us. Call me if you need anything. I’ll stop by in the morning.”

Dick got up and gave his friend a hug. “Great seeing you Babs. Tell your dad I said hello.”

She spotted Washu in the corner of her eye and sighed. “Hakubi, you are a real piece of work, you know that?”

“I do try ‘Oracle,'” she smiled. She put out her hand. “It was an honor and a pleasure Barbara.”

Though she hesitated for a half a moment, Barbara couldn’t help but smile. “Yeah, I guess it was. Just do us a favor and try not to get involved anymore.”

“Oh now you are just tempting fate!”

Barbara bowed slightly to Mihoshi and Kiyone. “Thank you all for your help with this. We couldn’t have done it without you.”

Tears streamed down Mihoshi’s face as if she were saying goodbye to a family member. “I’ll miss you so muuuuuuuuch! Come visit us agaiiiiiinnnnnn!”

The bespectacled redhead blinked in confusion and smiled. With that, Barbara Gordon returned to the city she defended to spend her night with the man she loved above all else.

“So what comes next?” Noboyuki asked once she left. The table all turned to him and pondered the question. “I mean, do we just go our separate ways at this point?”

“That’s a good question. Would you all want to keep a continued line of communication open? We can call it a Bat-Phone if you want to keep the theming going?” Washu offered. Dick turned to Alfred and started to laugh. “Let me guess; you have a Bat-Phone.”

“Bruce had it in our study. It was an early way to contact Barbara’s father directly when the Bat-Signal couldn’t be used,” Dick sniggered. “That was back in the good old days where I think Bruce was actually having fun when he went on patrol.”

“Getting back to the matter at hand,” Alfred interjected, coughing slightly. “I see no harm in keeping in touch if the situation requires it. However, we all have our roles in life. Ours is here in Gotham, and yours belongs in the stars,” he said looking to Mihoshi and Kiyone. “And yours in Japan. It truly was an honor to work together to save the planet, but at the end of the day we all have our roles to play.”

“Spoken like a true Shakespearian thespian!” Yosho cried. “Alfred speaks the truth. There are enough superheroes and costumed characters in this city. I have our family’s shrine to tend to, Noboyuki has houses to design, and Tenchi has to continue his studies.”

“What about us?” Mihoshi asked earnestly.

“We need to pay the rent,” Kiyone reminded her, causing both of their heads to hang low.

“Well, in the end, we all know how to reach each other,” Alfred pointed out. “May the next time we meet be under better circumstances!”

And thus, with the God of Evil slain, the genius scientist and her family returned to Japan. But evil always finds a way to sink back into the picture.

The only question is when it will happen.

Ch. 7: No Need for Antonyms

Washu held her breath. The moment seemed like it would never end. For the first time in what seemed to be eons, Washu began to doubt her own scientific ability. This realm of gods was not something that Washu was used to. She was no goddess; she was merely a scientist (a damn good scientist, but a scientist nevertheless.) If she failed, the kind soul that was Barbara Gordon would be lost forever.

Lost to Darkseid.

Finally, a blue glow appeared from under the Justifer helmet. The formerly lifeless arms of Barbara Gordon started to move. She ripped off the helmet and threw it to the ground. Behind her glasses, Barbara gave a determined look to her genius companion.

“Consider the ‘Life Symbol’ proven Hakubi. Hypothesis confirmed,” Barbara said confidently, the blue glow of the symbol fading.

“I…I can’t believe it! We have a God Weapon in our possession! How does it counteract the Anti-Life Equation? How does the brain know that the skin has the markings on it? This raises so many questions!” Washu started to prattle off.

“We can discuss logistics later. Right now, we need to put this on everyone’s faces. I managed to listen to the full Anti-Life Equation without being affected. We need to counter each step of mathematical formula to create the full ‘Life Equation.’ When we do that, I think we will be safe to transmit it on the same frequency as the Anti-Life Equation.” Barbara told her. Washu nodded her head and collected Ryo-Ohki, who was “meowing” at the pair.

*TGSTGE*

“So by wearing this ‘New God Life Pattern’ we will be safe from Darkesid’s plans? I still can’t wrap my brain around that,” Kiyone admitted while examining Ryo-Ohki.

“Well stop thinking about it because the proof is in your hands! It worked for Ryo-Ohki and it worked for Barbara. As a scientist, I’m convinced. There is a lot we still do not understand (and honestly, without a New God I’m not sure we will), but what we DO know is the actual Equation itself! Before I bring it it, please apply the Symbol to your head thank you!” Washu said curtly.

Damian gagged a bit. “I feel like a buffoon!”

“That’s because you are a buffoon,” Washu muttered.

“What was that you cow?”

The scientist whistles innocently. “I didn’t say nuttin! Barbara, are you ready to show us the formula?”

Barbara grabbed a piece of chalk from a chalkboard Washu willed into existence. She began to write a rather lengthy mathematical proof. Finally the board was filled with the following phrases:

“loneliness + alienation + fear + despair + self-worth ÷ mockery ÷ condemnation ÷ misunderstanding × guilt × shame × failure × judgment n=y where y=hope and n=folly, love=lies, life=death, self=dark side”

The group stared at the words and processed what they meant. After a lengthy period of time, Alfred was the first to regain his voice.

“If I am to understand this correctly, the first portion of the Equation is meant to bring emotional turmoil to the reader while the second half proves the futility of resisting Darkseid himself. Interesting…this raises the question that if this was the natural state of the Equation, was it brought into existence by Darkseid living or did the Equation sure Darkseid to be its prophet?”

“Fascinating notion Pennyworth. The alternative is that the Equation was manipulated by Darkeid when he finally obtained it,” Washu posited.

“Am I supposed to understand any of this?” Mihoshi asked innocently.

“No, I don’t think you are Mihoshi,” Kiyone sighed. “Don’t feel too bad. I only barely get what they are talking about.”

“Long story short, we need to either paint every person’s face with the New God symbol or we need to break this down and create an alternative Equation to restore the planet’s free will. Any ideas?” Washu asked.

“Well,” Kiyone said, thinking about it. “We are trying to do opposites, aren’t we? The first part would be love plus friends plus bravery plus happiness plus self worth right?”

Barbara nodded. “That sounds about right. Anyone else have any ideas?”

“Oh! The opposite of mocking is complimenting! And freedom comes after that!” Mihoshi chimed in.

“Following that train of thought, the next steps would be understanding, innocence, pride, success, and acceptance,” Alfred thought intently. “This is all starting to come together to make sense!”

The genius scientist continued to scribble everything down as fast as she could. “Don’t stop guys, you are doing great!”

“That leaves the equalities then,” Barbara said simply. “Hope would then equal wisdom…”

“And love would equal truth…” Washu added. “…While life would have to be paired with birth!”

“So self would equal free will!” The two ladies spoke aloud at the same time.

“Why not ‘light side?'” Mihoshi asked. “Wouldn’t that make more sense?”

“Because free will is the whole point of a Life Equation,” Barbara explained. “Darkseid’s will was the purpose of the Anti-Life Equation. It stands to reason that it would mean just that.”

Damian, who had been silent up until this moment, just groaned. “Now that you have finished your antonym game, can we address the bigger question?”

“And what, pray tell, would that be?” Washu asked.

“How are you going to get this silly Equation broadcasted? Our Batcomputer was over a secure channel and you claimed you contacted Checkmate through that Undernet that Kuttler developed. That won’t reach every person on the planet. Did any of you even consider that?”

Blinking, the occupants of the room looked at each other. It was apparent that this part of the plan was not fully thought all the way through. Realization dawned upon each of them. In order to save the world, one of them would have to take the journey into hell and face the source of the red sky crisis. Someone would have to go to Bludhaven, where the Anti-Life Equation was transmitted from and where, no doubt, Darkseid was waiting. Finally, it was Washu that spoke.

“Shit.”