The Last Son of Tomorrow
Prologue: From Endings, Beginnings
ôUgh,ö Terry couldnÆt suppress the pained grunt as he stumbled into the Batcave, one arm slung over SupermanÆs shoulders.
ôThis would be easier if you just let me carry you.ö Clark pointed out.
ôJust between you and me? I hate it when you do that.ö Terry forced out. ôBesides, IÆm fine.ö
Clark glanced at him, his expression blank, and Terry knew without even asking that heÆd looked him over with his X-ray Vision. He could tell from the pain that he didnÆt see anything good, either.
But the Man of Steel had been dealing with the unhealthily stubborn Bat Clan for years and had long since learned that it was easier to beg forgiveness then ask permission. In a blur of superspeedùwhich nonetheless gave Terry time to feel embarrassedùTerry found himself in a chair.
He glared up at leader of the Justice League.
ôI expect stubbornness like this from Bruce, but youÆre usually mature enough to accept help, Terry.ö Superman said. In another situation, he might have had an amused look on his face.
But today, there was no laughter on Clark KentÆs face. There wasnÆt much laughter anywhere.
ôI told you I could have made it back here on my own. You should be out there helping everyone else, not helping me hobble back here. We may have won, but thereÆs no shortage of people who are injured.ö
ôI asked him to bring you here.ö Bruce interrupted, sitting in front of the Bat-computer. His fingers danced across its keyboard with more speed then Terry had ever seen, opening and closing windows as fast as he could and download bars were appearing and filling just as quickly. Hooked up to the powerful computer were a number of portable hard drives. They werenÆt small ones, either; there could have been petabytes of data on those things, maybe even exabytes.
Bruce was storing everything he could find, Terry realized, but it only served to make him more confused.
ôWhatÆs going on, Bruce?ö He asked. ôThere are a lot of people that need help. Maybe more people that have ever needed help before.ö
ôThe Anti-Monitor is dead,ö Bruce said. ôBut weÆre not in the clear yet. That final battleàö
Terry looked down. He didnÆt need to be remindedùanyone who was there would never be able to forget it. But it still wasnÆt over? What could possibly be happeningù
Realization struck like a lightning bolt, but it was several times as painful.
ôDonÆt tell meàö He said, shaking his head in denial. It couldnÆt be. Everything theyÆd doneàall the people that had diedàit couldnÆt all have been for nothing.
ôThe worlds are merging. I canÆt say how itÆll happen or what the results will be, but they are and we just have to accept that.ö Bruce said, as blunt as ever. ôWe donÆt have much time so we need to work fast. Where is everyone else, Kent?ö
ôTheyÆre on their way,ö Superman replied. ôRex and Kai-ro are close by, theyÆre just waiting for Richard and Virgil.ö
ôWhatÆs the plan?ö Terry said, shelving his despair before it could even begin to take root. Of course there was a plan; Bruce always had a plan. And so long as they had one, there still hope, which meant it was way too early to give up. ôWhat do you need me to do?ö
ôDo you still have BardaÆs Mother Box?ö Bruce asked.
ôOf course,ö Terry said, a hand going to his belt. ôIÆd never leave home without it; she gave it to me right beforeàö
ôGood,ö Bruce nodded, not even paying mind to the awkward silence that tried to develop. ôGet in the Batmobile.ö
Terry made to stand, but in another blur he was in the car. This time, he didnÆt so much as frown at Superman, instead giving a nod of thanks before returning his attention to Bruce.
ôEnergy cannot be created or destroyed.ö Bruce said. ôThe Anti-Monitor might have been able to destroy Universes, but that energy still exists. Even with the worlds merging, that energy will have to go somewhere. If it can be found, then itÆs not too late to save everyone.ö
ôSo we need to find it? Any idea where to start looking? We havenÆt exactly got a lot of time here.ö
ôWe donÆt have anywhere near enough time,ö Superman corrected. ôWe wonÆt be able to find it before the worldÆs merge.ö
ôThenùô
ôSo we arenÆt going to bother trying,ö Bruce said. ôWe just need to get someone through to the other side. If we can just keep someone who knows what happened from being rewritten, then we still have a chance.ö
And by someone, they meant him.
Terry swallowed.
ôAnd what about all of you?ö He asked, his voice rough. He already knew the answer.
ôWe donÆt matter,ö The former Batman snorted. ôIf we can get you through, it doesnÆt matter if every last one of us dies. You could save trillions upon trillions of lives. There isnÆt a member of the Justice League that wouldnÆt give their lives for that.ö
ôBesides,ö Superman said. ôDonÆt write us off yet. We all believe in you Terry, and if our lives are in your hands, none of us are worried.ö
Warhawk and Green Lantern swept into the room, Static and Gear close behind.
Gear squinted, eyes turning immediately to the Batmobile.
ôDid you already make the modifications?ö He asked Bruce.
ôAs much as I was able, but we still have some time. Just work fast.ö
ôAlready on it.ö Richie said, moving towards it, the legs of his backpack extending. ôGuys, help me out.ö
Superman, Static, and Kai-ro immediately began moving materials and disassembling the Batmobile according to his instructions, quickly taking pieces of it apart and putting them back together.
The computer sounded as the last of the data finished loading into the hard drives and a moment later Superman deposited them in TerryÆs lap.
ôThis is everything we could get that looked like it could be even remotely useful. And I mean everything.ö He said. ôWe have no way of knowing what things will be like on the other side, but something in there should help.ö
Terry nodded, shoulderÆs tight.
ôWhatÆs wrong?ö Virgil asked, floating over to look at him. ôYouÆre getting nervous over something as small as jumping past the end of the Universe? For shame, Batmanùfor shame.ö
Terry tried to smile at the older manÆs jokes, but he couldnÆt.
ôI get that one of us has to go throughàbut why is it me? Why arenÆt one of you sitting in this seat?ö
ôWeÆre hedging our bets,ö Warhawk said. ôI think it goes without saying that none of us have ever done this before.ö
ôHuh?ö
ôLong story short,ö Richie began. ôWeÆre breaking out all the stops to be sure this works. The stuff I added to the Batmobile should help it get through in one piece, but itÆs obviously untested. So weÆre going in with you. Hopefully, if something goes wrong, IÆll be able to fix it before IÆm wiped from existence or something. Static and GL here will be putting up additional shields around the Batmobile and Supes is going to help push it into the next Universe.ö
ôGuysàif you do that, then youÆll allàö Terry had known this was going to happen, but he still had to drop his gaze.
ôDie? Disappear? Vanish?ö Virgil asked. ôMaybe. But weÆll get you through, even if we do. ItÆs gonna be tough on you, too, but you have to keep driving, no matter what you see happening to us.ö
Terry worked his jaw and nodded once.
ôAll of youàIÆm not good with speeches and I know, butàIt was a pleasure and an honor to be able to work with all of you,ö Terry said, secure that his mask would hide any tears he couldnÆt stop. ôThe thing about this thatÆs going to hurt the most is that this new world might never know about all the heroes that fought until the end to help save lives. But I promise that at the very least, I wonÆt forget.ö
ôMan, donÆt start getting solemn and depressed on us.ö Richie sighed.
ôNone of us think of this as goodbye,ö Kai-ro said. ôWe know you are too stubborn to ever give up. So go save the Multiverse.ö
Terry nodded firmly.
ôYou can count on me. What do you need me to do, Bruce?ö
ôOpen a Boom Tube when I give the signal and then drive as fast as you can.ö
The hatch of the Batmobile slide closed with a hiss. Inside, Terry lifted a hand to the communicator by his ear.
ôI wonÆt think of this as goodbyeàbut I want to say that IàBruce, I want you to know that I consider you a father. You took a kid like me and made a good man out of him. I just want to thank you for that.ö
Bruce silently listened to TerryÆs voice through the communicator in his own ear. No one in the room but Superman could hear it, which was how he preferred it and was probably why Terry had done it.
ôÆFor this reason above all, their capacity for good, I have sent them youàmy only son.Æ ThatÆs how it wentàright?ö Bruce murmured back before raising his voice. ôEveryone, in position. ItÆs almost time.ö
Prologue: From Endings, Beginnings
ôUgh,ö Terry couldnÆt suppress the pained grunt as he stumbled into the Batcave, one arm slung over SupermanÆs shoulders.
ôThis would be easier if you just let me carry you.ö Clark pointed out.
ôJust between you and me? I hate it when you do that.ö Terry forced out. ôBesides, IÆm fine.ö
Clark glanced at him, his expression blank, and Terry knew without even asking that heÆd looked him over with his X-ray Vision. He could tell from the pain that he didnÆt see anything good, either.
But the Man of Steel had been dealing with the unhealthily stubborn Bat Clan for years and had long since learned that it was easier to beg forgiveness then ask permission. In a blur of superspeedùwhich nonetheless gave Terry time to feel embarrassedùTerry found himself in a chair.
He glared up at leader of the Justice League.
ôI expect stubbornness like this from Bruce, but youÆre usually mature enough to accept help, Terry.ö Superman said. In another situation, he might have had an amused look on his face.
But today, there was no laughter on Clark KentÆs face. There wasnÆt much laughter anywhere.
ôI told you I could have made it back here on my own. You should be out there helping everyone else, not helping me hobble back here. We may have won, but thereÆs no shortage of people who are injured.ö
ôI asked him to bring you here.ö Bruce interrupted, sitting in front of the Bat-computer. His fingers danced across its keyboard with more speed then Terry had ever seen, opening and closing windows as fast as he could and download bars were appearing and filling just as quickly. Hooked up to the powerful computer were a number of portable hard drives. They werenÆt small ones, either; there could have been petabytes of data on those things, maybe even exabytes.
Bruce was storing everything he could find, Terry realized, but it only served to make him more confused.
ôWhatÆs going on, Bruce?ö He asked. ôThere are a lot of people that need help. Maybe more people that have ever needed help before.ö
ôThe Anti-Monitor is dead,ö Bruce said. ôBut weÆre not in the clear yet. That final battleàö
Terry looked down. He didnÆt need to be remindedùanyone who was there would never be able to forget it. But it still wasnÆt over? What could possibly be happeningù
Realization struck like a lightning bolt, but it was several times as painful.
ôDonÆt tell meàö He said, shaking his head in denial. It couldnÆt be. Everything theyÆd doneàall the people that had diedàit couldnÆt all have been for nothing.
ôThe worlds are merging. I canÆt say how itÆll happen or what the results will be, but they are and we just have to accept that.ö Bruce said, as blunt as ever. ôWe donÆt have much time so we need to work fast. Where is everyone else, Kent?ö
ôTheyÆre on their way,ö Superman replied. ôRex and Kai-ro are close by, theyÆre just waiting for Richard and Virgil.ö
ôWhatÆs the plan?ö Terry said, shelving his despair before it could even begin to take root. Of course there was a plan; Bruce always had a plan. And so long as they had one, there still hope, which meant it was way too early to give up. ôWhat do you need me to do?ö
ôDo you still have BardaÆs Mother Box?ö Bruce asked.
ôOf course,ö Terry said, a hand going to his belt. ôIÆd never leave home without it; she gave it to me right beforeàö
ôGood,ö Bruce nodded, not even paying mind to the awkward silence that tried to develop. ôGet in the Batmobile.ö
Terry made to stand, but in another blur he was in the car. This time, he didnÆt so much as frown at Superman, instead giving a nod of thanks before returning his attention to Bruce.
ôEnergy cannot be created or destroyed.ö Bruce said. ôThe Anti-Monitor might have been able to destroy Universes, but that energy still exists. Even with the worlds merging, that energy will have to go somewhere. If it can be found, then itÆs not too late to save everyone.ö
ôSo we need to find it? Any idea where to start looking? We havenÆt exactly got a lot of time here.ö
ôWe donÆt have anywhere near enough time,ö Superman corrected. ôWe wonÆt be able to find it before the worldÆs merge.ö
ôThenùô
ôSo we arenÆt going to bother trying,ö Bruce said. ôWe just need to get someone through to the other side. If we can just keep someone who knows what happened from being rewritten, then we still have a chance.ö
And by someone, they meant him.
Terry swallowed.
ôAnd what about all of you?ö He asked, his voice rough. He already knew the answer.
ôWe donÆt matter,ö The former Batman snorted. ôIf we can get you through, it doesnÆt matter if every last one of us dies. You could save trillions upon trillions of lives. There isnÆt a member of the Justice League that wouldnÆt give their lives for that.ö
ôBesides,ö Superman said. ôDonÆt write us off yet. We all believe in you Terry, and if our lives are in your hands, none of us are worried.ö
Warhawk and Green Lantern swept into the room, Static and Gear close behind.
Gear squinted, eyes turning immediately to the Batmobile.
ôDid you already make the modifications?ö He asked Bruce.
ôAs much as I was able, but we still have some time. Just work fast.ö
ôAlready on it.ö Richie said, moving towards it, the legs of his backpack extending. ôGuys, help me out.ö
Superman, Static, and Kai-ro immediately began moving materials and disassembling the Batmobile according to his instructions, quickly taking pieces of it apart and putting them back together.
The computer sounded as the last of the data finished loading into the hard drives and a moment later Superman deposited them in TerryÆs lap.
ôThis is everything we could get that looked like it could be even remotely useful. And I mean everything.ö He said. ôWe have no way of knowing what things will be like on the other side, but something in there should help.ö
Terry nodded, shoulderÆs tight.
ôWhatÆs wrong?ö Virgil asked, floating over to look at him. ôYouÆre getting nervous over something as small as jumping past the end of the Universe? For shame, Batmanùfor shame.ö
Terry tried to smile at the older manÆs jokes, but he couldnÆt.
ôI get that one of us has to go throughàbut why is it me? Why arenÆt one of you sitting in this seat?ö
ôWeÆre hedging our bets,ö Warhawk said. ôI think it goes without saying that none of us have ever done this before.ö
ôHuh?ö
ôLong story short,ö Richie began. ôWeÆre breaking out all the stops to be sure this works. The stuff I added to the Batmobile should help it get through in one piece, but itÆs obviously untested. So weÆre going in with you. Hopefully, if something goes wrong, IÆll be able to fix it before IÆm wiped from existence or something. Static and GL here will be putting up additional shields around the Batmobile and Supes is going to help push it into the next Universe.ö
ôGuysàif you do that, then youÆll allàö Terry had known this was going to happen, but he still had to drop his gaze.
ôDie? Disappear? Vanish?ö Virgil asked. ôMaybe. But weÆll get you through, even if we do. ItÆs gonna be tough on you, too, but you have to keep driving, no matter what you see happening to us.ö
Terry worked his jaw and nodded once.
ôAll of youàIÆm not good with speeches and I know, butàIt was a pleasure and an honor to be able to work with all of you,ö Terry said, secure that his mask would hide any tears he couldnÆt stop. ôThe thing about this thatÆs going to hurt the most is that this new world might never know about all the heroes that fought until the end to help save lives. But I promise that at the very least, I wonÆt forget.ö
ôMan, donÆt start getting solemn and depressed on us.ö Richie sighed.
ôNone of us think of this as goodbye,ö Kai-ro said. ôWe know you are too stubborn to ever give up. So go save the Multiverse.ö
Terry nodded firmly.
ôYou can count on me. What do you need me to do, Bruce?ö
ôOpen a Boom Tube when I give the signal and then drive as fast as you can.ö
The hatch of the Batmobile slide closed with a hiss. Inside, Terry lifted a hand to the communicator by his ear.
ôI wonÆt think of this as goodbyeàbut I want to say that IàBruce, I want you to know that I consider you a father. You took a kid like me and made a good man out of him. I just want to thank you for that.ö
Bruce silently listened to TerryÆs voice through the communicator in his own ear. No one in the room but Superman could hear it, which was how he preferred it and was probably why Terry had done it.
ôÆFor this reason above all, their capacity for good, I have sent them youàmy only son.Æ ThatÆs how it wentàright?ö Bruce murmured back before raising his voice. ôEveryone, in position. ItÆs almost time.ö