The Tower of Fate
The League returned eight hours later.
Superman was helping Aquaman, who was holding the left side of his ribs. Green Lantern carried the corpse of Solomon Grundy on a simple flat construct. The remaining members touted wounds as well, but overall, he saw nothing serious.
“It went relatively well then?” he asked. There weren’t any heavily wounded members, and everyone had returned in one piece.
“We killed Ichtulhu but Grundy…” Hawkgirl said, looking at the giant corpse with downcast eyes.
“I sense that the curse binding him to this world is gone. He is at peace,” Dr. Fate said. Miles’ theory about the resurrection behind Grundy had proven to be correct. With his desire fulfilled, he had finally died.
“In the end, he had what he wanted,” Miles said, taking his hat off. A gangster in his previous life or not, a fate like Grundy’s wasn’t a kind one.
“I made arrangements for a funeral,” he added.
Superman let Aquaman go as the Atlantean soldiers took him. “We should handle it before leaving to rest.”
“Alright.”
—
Salem, Massachusetts
They stood before the grave, chosen in Salem due to its proximity to the Tower of Fate.
Unlike the cartoon show, the attendance was greater. The League members, including Amazo and the android siblings, were there, standing in silence.
“He was happy at the end. I still don’t understand why,” Hawkgirl muttered with a thinning voice.
“Neither do I,” Amazo said, standing next to her.
“Its faith. You’re not supposed to understand it. You just have it,” Aquaman said.
“He is right. Grundy was finally laid to rest because he died believing he had what he wanted, his soul,” Miles said. He would have to be on the watch for the fools who would resurrect him.
Aquaman laid his right fist over his heart, bowing ever so slightly. He left, as did the rest of the League. Miles stayed behind with Hawkgirl and Amazo, waiting.
“Miles, may I ask something?” the android, who had gone from silver to gold during the time he hadn’t seen him, asked.
“Of course.”
“I came to learn that my creator, Professor Ivo, wasn’t a good man. Yet I still want to honor his memory, to leave behind a more positive legacy for him. I don’t understand why I want this,” he said. Aquaman’s words about faith had him interested. Did he feel the same thing too?
“Because you believe in him. That he still had a sliver of good in him.”
“I see,” the android said. He too had faith in Professor Ivo, even though all evidence said he shouldn’t.
“I still have much to learn,” he said, turning around to leave as well.
“Learning is a lifelong journey. No need to rush.”
—
Metropolis
Beckett Residence
“Finally back, huh?” Zalika said, waving a hand from where she was watching TV along with Raven and their guests.
“Saving the world from tentacle monsters is time consuming,” he replied, hanging his hat.
“Didn’t we just stay behind though?” Claire asked with half-lidded eyes.
“It is the thought and the spiritual sport we give that counts,” he said. The android forces didn’t need to be mentioned.
Zalika held out a sheet of paper. “Here is today’s report. Waller put a bounty out for the five of them. A million dollars each, alive.”
He glanced at the paper. It was unofficial, meant for the people that would have to get their hands dirty while risking legal trouble.
“Are you sure we can’t kill that b- her yet?” Orlando said, coughing to stop from almost swearing.
“Yes, I am. Don’t worry though, she won’t be able to search you outside the United States,” he said. A nation like Zambesi would be the last place she would even think to look for them.
“Where exactly are we going in Africa?” Monica asked. Things were moving too fast. They were lab rats of a shadowy government organization until a couple of days ago. Now they were getting a high-paying job offer as security personnel thousands of miles away.
“Zambesi. It has recently been freed from a dictatorial rule. The current administration is friendly and receptive to our cause. You will be meeting the civilian team tomorrow, along with the rest of the security arrangement. So get a good night’s sleep,” he said. There was still much to be done before they would depart.
Timothy turned to Angelica, who was almost asleep on the couch. “Is the kid coming with us too?”
“I don’t believe she will consider leaving you. However, she will not be in the security department. I was thinking she could volunteer with the civilian teams. They are dear friends of mine and could help you with your education on the side,” he explained. He didn’t think convincing Victor and Nora would be difficult.
Jack took her into his arms, carrying her to her room. “I think that’s for the best.”
—
EnviroCorps Headquarters
“Mary,” he greeted, shaking her hand. “I hope everything has been well.”
“Of course it is,” she said, gesturing at the chair at the head of the table.
“Miles,” Victor called out. He was more enthusiastic, gathering him in a hug. “Viktor, how are you and Nora doing?”
He had made it a point to call every now and then to ask how they were doing. With his job, it was difficult to always visit in person.
“Good, good. She is packing up for our trip,” he said. He believed it was too early, but his dear wife disagreed.
He turned to their green-skinned guest, who seemed halfway asleep. “And you, Pamela?”
“Better than usual. I do have a problem with this whole politics side of the mission though,” she said, yawning and stretching her arms.
“Don’t worry. I’ll explain everything.”
—
EnviroCorps would be partnering with the new government of Zambesi. The company would be providing consultation on agriculture and distributing a cure for HIV. Between twenty-five and twenty-eight million people suffered from AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. Zambesi was the first step to distribute a mass-produced vaccine.
Victor had worked wonders with ample technological and financial resources.
Pamela Isley would be the agricultural expert to create stable farms that would fit the land. Zambesi was already a lush country. Her abilities would help the country achieve a balance between expansion and nature. Her work would be an example, proving that nature didn’t need to be destroyed for humanity to prosper.
A detachment of Captain Neumann’s men were registered under a new security company. Timothy, Jack, Monica, and Orlando would be members, while Angelica was a volunteer who would assist the medical team.
Infrastructural investments would flow at the same time, transforming the country into a fast and steadily growing economy.
The first of many on the continent.
Following Zambesi’s success, they would offer the same opportunities to other nations. The only necessary qualifications would be democracy, rule of law, freedom of speech, and, of course, a working financial system.
“Your security is paramount, so there will be androids in reserve. What I am asking you is a heavy responsibility, so if you have any requests at any time, let me know,” he said. The cost would be nothing in return for what he would be earning.
Loyalty.
“You will have equipment for safety and comfort. Victor, if you would,” he said, nodding at the scientist.
Victor put a silver, metallic belt on the table. Except for the small circular section, there was nothing outstanding. “This is a cryo-belt. Basically, it keeps your body temperature stable in hot weather. You can take a trip through the Sahara on foot and not sweat even once.”
“Explains why you are wearing a suit in this weather,” Pamela said, seeing the belt he was wearing. She had found it weird that this man would go around in such a style in this sweltering weather.
Miles smiled and put a briefcase full of watches on the table. “These watches are nanotech armors. They offer protection against a variety of attacks and boost your metahuman powers.”
“Ah, before I forget, here,” he said, pulling out five cards from his pocket. “Each of them in your name with two hundred thousand dollars in. Consider it your signing bonus.”
“I doubt we’ll have the opportunity to spend it in Zambesi,” Jack said, pocketing the card and putting the watch on.
“Don’t worry. We have a same-day delivery service, and you’ll have a satellite internet connection,” he said. Teleporting their purchases to Zambesi was a trivial affair.
Monica grinned at the card in her hand. "Thanks, boss. You are the best.”
“Then here are your contracts as employees of Shield Security Services,” he said. Claire handed the papers out.
“Ladies, gentlemen, you will be moving in one month. Until then, you are free,” he said, ending the meeting.
—
“When will the cure for her be ready?” Timothy asked on the way back home. The day was tiring for Angelica, and her eyes were already droopy.
“In a couple of days,” he said, checking the message from Michael. Sometimes he marveled at the difference in capabilities of this Earth and his own. He didn’t know enough about genetic engineering to calculate how long it would have taken for a cure like this to be developed, provided the technology existed.
Michael promised to have it ready in four days, and he wasn’t even spending his entire time on the cure.
Jack scratched his beard. “Do you really need this much security for the mission?”
“Considering the continent is rife with military autocrats and dictators, yes.” They would also be a deterrent for any coup attempts.
“We aren’t going to fight against entire nations, right?” Orlando asked, squinting his eyes. That was a bit too much in his opinion.
“Goodness no,” he waved his hand with a chuckle. “You’ll just take out their leadership. I’ll handle the rest.”
“Assassination?” Jack asked, crossing his arms.
“I prefer them captured alive and in one piece. Makes it so much easier to help the new governments flourish.”
Timothy shrugged. “Whatever you say, boss.”
—
The Watchtower
“Diana,” he greeted the Amazon, seeing her watch the Earth from the comfort of the station.
“Miles,” she said without even turning.
“What has you so down in spirits?” he asked.
She looked down, shoulders slouched. "It's nothing.”
“Really?” A hunch told him it was not.
"It's personal.”
“Is it Batman?” He knew they had a thing for each other. Only, Bruce was too afraid of loss to consider romance.
She turned to him now, crossing her arms. “Was that just a guess?”
“That look on your face. It's the look of someone heartbroken,” he said. It truly was, and unless Diana had another flame, Bruce was the source of her discontent.
“He doesn’t have the time for a relationship in his life,” she said.
He chuckled without mirth, done putting the latest intel on the computer. “That’s an awfully long way of saying he is afraid.”
“You think so too?”
“He is afraid of creating bonds with people. Therapy would do him good, but I doubt anyone could convince him,” he said. Bruce had a lot of unresolved issues. Dressing as a bat-themed vigilante, beating up villains black and blue wasn’t exactly a healthy way to solve them.
Diana huffed. “Good luck with that.”
—
Batcave
“Still working? I am surprised Alfred hasn’t sent you off to bed,” he said. An hour later, he stood in the Batcave, watching Bruce work tirelessly on his computer.
“He did,” Batman said, still typing away.
He chuckled, taking an empty seat. “Sneaking out like a naughty boy? My, I bet you eat ice cream before dinner too.”
“Maybe,” he responded in a rare moment of banter.
“What brings you here?” the caped crusader asked.
“I wanted to ask you something,” he said, leaning his chin on the headrest of the chair.
“Go on.”
He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Do you want to know how Batman will die?”
He stopped, turning the chair around, eyes narrowed. “You can see the future now?”
“No,” he said. Bruce didn’t respond but kept waiting.
“Batman will die when he has no one left around him. He will die because he drove everyone away. He will die as a desperate man with a gun in his hand because he didn’t have anyone to ask for help,” he said. He remembered Terry McGinnis from Batman Beyond and how the original Caped Crusader retired. Old, beaten by a thug, he almost resorted to shooting the man. It was the day Batman died, not taken out by his gallery of villains but desperation.
He couldn’t carry the mantle after holding the very thing that killed his parents.
That was the fate which awaited him if he continued down this path. Hoping he would see it without interference was a child’s dream. Bruce Wayne needed to face the harsh reality of the decisions he was making.
He closed his eyes. “Did you speak to Diana?”
“She didn’t send me down here if that’s what you are asking. I simply came as a concerned friend,” he said. Diana would never request anyone’s help to get a man’s attention.
“Concerned about my personal life?” Bruce asked. His tone was flat, and his defensive posture didn’t bode well.
“Concerned about the lack of it. You aren’t a machine without emotions. Don’t act like it.” Honestly, even Amazo was trying to understand the very emotions Bruce was trying to ignore.
“You don’t understand,” he said, looking away.
Miles sighed. His parents weren’t the kind of people he felt sad about losing. In fact, he didn’t lose anyone to feel the pain Bruce had. He still understood, even if it was because of his meta-knowledge and observation of people.
“You are afraid that you will not be able to handle it if you lose another family member, a wife or children,” he said.
And truly, something like that might wreck Bruce Wayne beyond any hope of recovery.
“The thing is,” his smile vanished, “if you let fear control you like this, then what right do you have to patrol the streets at night, acting like a protector, an avenger? he asked, glaring at him.
“You will have to make a decision. Live in fear or rise above it,” he advised. There was nothing else he could say. If change had to happen, it would have to come from Bruce. He couldn’t force it.
“What happens if I lose someone else again?” he asked, unshed tears gathering in his eyes and voice thinning. The
“Everyone will die one day, Bruce. You, me, everyone. Even Diana, for all her immortality, will die one day, even if it's a billion years into the future. What you do is what the majority of the people do. You remember the memories you created and honor them,” he said as he walked out of the cave.
Bruce hung his head back, watching the ceiling. He would stay there until Alfred returned to urge him to sleep.