Batman stood on the roof of the Convention Center and gazed up at the scintillating Blob hovering in the morning sky. He looked below at the crowds trying to get past the police barricade that had been set up to direct the frantic flow away from the building to keep the exodus from becoming a disaster in itself. Police hovercraft surrounded the Blob at a safe distance away, unsure what to do. Max's husky voice came over the link,
"How bad is it?"
"Bad. A lot of people are down already and the cops are having a hard time controlling the rest. We've got to get the Blob away from here now."
"Can you see his ship? What about using its containment netting?"
"It's already too big for that."
"Maybe we should make a call to the superhero ranks for some help."
"No time. We've got to find our own solution Max. Fast."
Terry was startled to hear a gruff voice come over the link and felt immediate relief from the implication of that fact.
"Stop reacting and start thinking McGinnis. You've got more personal experience than any of us with the creature. Tell us what you know."
"Which isn't much. The thing is sucking the life out of everything and getting bigger because of it. It's too big for any kind of containment I know of. The only other way it's been stopped is by letting it gorge until it bursts. If we let it do that, every living thing in the area will be dead--either before that happens or after, from the explosion that follows." Terry paused, "Too bad we don't have a candy source around here--like what it had from the cave. Maybe that would distract it from pulling at the human energy until everyone was in the clear."
"Ther--." Bruce began before Terry interrupted.
"The Permochine Generator!I saw it near the podium. But--" His voice dulled with disappointment. "That's just a mock-up isn't it?"
"It is." Terry heard the touch of affirmation in his mentor's tone. Having worked with the man long enough, he knew he had gotten a few 'brownie points' for coming up with an answer without waiting for the prompt Bruce had started to give. "The workable device is being stored at the WayneTech research facility in the lower level lab. I'll call and tell them you're coming and to have it waiting outside."
"Okay. I'm on it." Batman sprang up to meet the oncoming Batmobile. "And I suppose you can tell me how it works too."
"From the second hand information I've read--maybe. Max is pulling up data on the device now. By the time you've gotten it grappled it to the Batmobile we should know more."
"I hope so or not only will this be a wasted trip, but Gotham's funeral homes will suddenly have more business than they can handle."
With hundreds of lives on the line, Batman raced against time. On the trip back to the Center Bruce explained to him how to activate it. Setting the Batmobile to hover near the Blob he climbed out and over to the machine.
After the third attempt to activate it the Generator hummed to life. Terry grit his teeth against the high-pitched whine now screaming through the Batmobile's hull, thankful that the vehicle's maneuvering didn't seem to be compromised by whatever caused it. Maybe operating the Permochine Generator outside of its designed shielding wasn't going to cause as much trouble as the WayneTech scientists had warned him about. Hopefully all this noise meant it was working too. Tension held him rigid as he waited and watched.
The sparkling mass of floating energized Blob gradually began rippling and drifting closer to the Generator.
Batman smiled, saying excitedly, "Looks like it's taking the bait. Now what?"
"Back away. See if it'll follow you."
After a few minutes of careful luring, Batman's voice held a mixture of triumph and tension, "It's working. Best ideas on where we should be going?"
"Head out over the river. North. Towards Mooney Bridge. That's the closest, biggest span of open water around."
"Man! It's already getting bigger."
"Is the Batmobile giving you any trouble?"
"Not like last time. It's hard to control, but only because of turbulence. I'm not sure if that's coming from the Blob or the Generator."
"Go faster if you can."
"My pleasure." As Batman accelerated over the city, his thoughts turned to Tamara and how she was faring down below.
The agonized male roar gradually changed to a female's high-pitched scream of pain. Talia's shaking body became frozen in place for a moment before collapsingHer falling form hit the heavy aquarium display, which had already been tilted dangerously from panicked people bumping into it. It moved in slow motion at first, quickly picking up speed before toppling completely and cracking the clear sides wide open. Water and fluttering fish flowed in a gushing stream across the floor towards the inset drains that would eventually empty into the Gotham River.
Tamara stood motionless for few minutes as she came out of the depths of a trance-like state she had never experienced before. Her eyes widened at seeing Talia's still body. Had she killed them both?
Trembling from exhaustion and dread, she reached out tentatively with her senses to feel Talia. Her body sagged in relief at realization the other woman was alive and that she could not feel Ra's at all. So… had she destroyed him? She tensed at the thought, her smug satisfaction at finally beating him giving way to the shocking revelation of the evil SHE had just committed.
It was too much to think about right now and she felt so weak.
All senses shutting down, Tamara fainted onto the wet floor.
The Gotham River was below him now, the fast speed he was going making it pass by in a shiny blurEven with the protective shielding in the batmobile and suit he was beginning to sweat from the heat created by the Generator. He didn't know how the thing worked, but he didn't need to be a rocket scientist either to realize something was wrong with it. And for all he knew the Blob could be throwing off heat of its own. It was so bright now that it blocked out most of his vision. He had been steering by instrument and Bruce's relayed computer tracking from the cave for the last ten minutes.
"The Generator's starting to cook. I don't think it's going to hold out much longer."
"You're almost to the drop point," Max said. "Less than five minutes. And Barbara's just reported in that it's all cleared."
"Can't wait," Terry muttered, blinking the sweat from his eyes and ignoring the sting while he focused on the batmobile's engine temperature gauge. It had entered the red zone less than a minute ago and was still climbing. He hung on grimly to the steering yokes as the vehicle bucked violently for a few seconds before settling down to its previous steady shaking. "Forget the Generator. This damn car is probably gonna go first."
"Then drop it now," Bruce demanded.
"How much farther to the safe zone."
"About seventy-eight seconds." Max still sounded calm.
"We'll make it."
"Terry--" Bruce again.
"Give me a countdown," he growled and grit his teeth as the savage movements of the Batmobile pulled him against the restraints with bruising force. He half focused on Max's steady voice speaking out the numbers while his other half processed everything else with hyper awareness.
He wouldn't make it. He was losing control of the Batmobile and when he lost it completely he'd be toasted and still wouldn't be right over the drop point so what would he have gained from waiting? He heard Max say "thirty-nine" and made his decision.
"Releasing the Permochine Generator--now!"
For one horrific second he waited while the grapples refused to give up their burden. He toggled the switch again. Could the heat have fused the mechanism or was---
Batman gasped in relief as the glowing generator fell away from the Batmobile into the intense brightness of the Blob that was all around him. There was no time to rejoice. The Batmobile was no longer responding to his piloting and was now spiraling out of control.
He could see the choppy surface of the river coming into view as he continued to fight for control. In his favor was a constant drop in temperature as the car angled away from the Blob which was following the Generator's plunge to the river.
Seconds before the Batmobile was about to hit the water's surface at a breakneck speed, Batman regained control and pulled it upwards into a smooth arc.
Batman leveled out and headed it towards home before slumping back in the seat. He had a minute's respite before everything went crazy again.
Either the Blob had finally ingested beyond its capacity and or the Generator had self-destructed. Whatever happened sent turbulent repercussions for miles around and the Batmobile was caught in it.
Once again Batman wrestled with the unwieldy machine to save himself and…..succeeded.
Sweat cooling on his body and the fade of adrenaline made Terry shiver. He forced himself to answer the insistent gruff voice that was calling to him and hoped his own voice wouldn't sound as weak as he felt at the moment.
"I'm okay." He gazed out the windows and checked external readouts and found no trace of the energies he had been dealing with. "Am I right thinking-mission accomplished?"
"We're getting the Batmobile's readouts. Everything looks clear." Max's voice softened. "You sure you're all right?"
"I'm sure. What's the situation at the Center?"
"Twelve casualties and one death. Police have Ra's bodyguards in custody. Tamara and Talia were both found unconscious. They've been taken to Gotham General."
"Then that's where I'm going next. I need to know how she is."
"Understood."
Changed into normal clothing and having sprayed on an odor masker, Terry made his way through the hospital corridors doing his own search for Tamara in the most likely places. He found her and slipped into her room when the medical staff was busy elsewhere.
Sitting in quiet contemplation on the bed she didn't notice him until he spoke her name.
She looked at him strangely for a moment then smiled, "Oh, it's you," and grabbed his hand. "Thank you--again. I owe you so much."
Terry returned the smile and shook his head, "We help each other. So--how are you?"
With her fingers she combed back strands of hair from her face, still smiling, "Much better than I've been for a long time."
"Good." Terry nodded and grinned for a moment before it faded. "Tamara--" he locked eyes with her, expression serious, tone hushed. "I need to know. What did you do to him?"
Tamara lifted her chin, words defiant, "He is gone from Talia."
Terry's brows angled downward, "Dead?"
"I--" her expression became confused. "-- don't know."
She visibly retreated into herself, head bowing, hands pulling at the bed sheets before suddenly looking up at him and stating boldly, "But I hope with all my heart he is. And if there's something worse than death I pray it finds him."
He felt it again. The burning hatred she felt for Ra's--much stronger than his own. Not a good thing for someone so young.
Flicker of movement through the observation window caught his attention. It was the Commish, personally escorting Tamara's parents. They were at the nurse's station listening intently to what medical personnel were explaining to them.
He should leave before he'd have to explain his presence. Tamara must have sensed his sudden tension. She spoke out with strong reassurance.
"I've never told them about--us."
Terry grinned sadly, "I'm guessing that's not the only secret you're keeping from them."
"I don't want to hide things from them, but….I don't think they'd understand."
He nodded, "Will you be all right?"
She gazed at her preoccupied parents through the window, her voice was wistful, "As long as they never stop loving me, I have a reason to survive."
Man! And he thought his life had been tough. He touched her arm, "If you ever need me…"
"I know," Tamara's smile lit up her face like he'd never seen before. That's who you are. Someone I can trust."
His peripheral sight glimpsed movement and he saw her anxious parents hurrying to the room. Terry began moving for the exit.
"I'd better go."
Tamara lifted a hand in farewell, though her bright eyes were intent on her parents. Terry stepped aside as Mr. And Mrs. Caulder barreled into the room straight for their daughter's arms, not even seeing him standing there. He stepped outside, pausing outside the window to observe the reunion. Barbara joined him there.
They witnessed the family hugging, uttering tender words and crying without reservation.
Barb, a slight grin on her face, turned to Terry, "You did good kid."
Terry smiled, "Can I record you on that and replay it next time you make those cryptic comments about not wanting vigilantes in your city?"
Barb gave him a knowing look, her eyes dancing merrily, before walking away.
Terry took a final glance at Tamara. A sinking feeling tore at the edges of this page of the happy ending. Tamara had, once again, been unwillingly pushed from her innocence. No matter how uneventful the rest of her life may be--and he doubted her future would reveal a peaceful, simple existence--these recent events would leave her scarred for life. She couldn't deny the dangerous impact of her powers and neither could he or anyone else who found out about them.
He admonished thoughts that spoke of trouble ahead, 'Let it go for now McGinnis. You'll deal with it when the time is right.' With the final vision of Tamara's smiling face impressed positively in his memory, Terry left the scene.
In another part of the same hospital Bruce and Max were also observing a patient. This one was unconscious, her slim body barely lifting the bedding that covered her.
An old family friend is what Bruce had told the medical staff. He'd heard by chance that she had been taken here and he was concerned. Could they tell him what was wrong with her? Would it be all right if he saw her?
Because Bruce was still weak and needed Max to chauffeur him, she had witnessed it all and was duly impressed by how smoothly the old man could handle people. She supposed it helped that he was famous in Gotham and a major financial supporter of this place.
Bruce was speaking as he walked closer to the bed, "I would speculate that Tamara exorcising Ra's from her mind triggered major psychic trauma. It's amazing she survived to reach even this point."
Max stayed where she was standing, sensing that Bruce wanted to be alone. Curiosity kept her a moment longer in the room as she asked, "Do you think she'll ever come out of the coma?"
Bruce, thinking of his past with her, replied, "I don't know." He paused before adding. "But if there is any part of her left inside, I think she will. She was always a very strong-willed woman."
"Yeah," Max let out a snort of amusement. "If even half of the stuff I read about her is true she must have a will of titanium."
Bruce made no reply and when she saw his hand reach out gradually to grasp Talia's much smaller hand she knew it was time to leave. She backed out of the room.
"I'll be in the waiting room whenever you're ready to go."
Lane and his little sister Ceil liked trekking down the rough path through the small scrub of trees that led to an edge of the Gotham River. It was especially fun doing it at dusk when shadows cast eerie shapes and they could imagine themselves in a fantasy land where they might meet horrid monsters and have to fight for their lives.
The children tired of battling bushes and trees with sticks. They shrieked, pretending they were being chased by the monsters they had failed to conquer and ran to the water's edge. Once there, they grew still and gazed upon the unusually serene quiet of the river. The water's surface glowed red from light of the setting sun. Small waves lapped rhythmically against the garbage strewn shoreline. Soon the sound of frantic splashing reached their ears. Sharp young eyes searched to find the source. Lane picked up a few pebbles at his feet.
"Must be a fish jumping," he stated with authority and flung the stones in that direction. Ceil found some of her own to throw and soon they were bragging about who could throw the fastest or farthest. Angry that her brother was always doing better, Ceil ran back toward the path.
"I'm gonna get home before you Lane!"
Lane flung the last of his stones and chased after her.
The growing dark hadn't revealed the orange-yellow color of the fish they had heard or shown that it was a small carp--a goldfish to be exact. And they certainly would never have seen from the distance how the goldfish's fins waved or its lips moved or have heard its tiny voice calling out to them,
"Stop. Stop! I command you to stop and attend me. Now!"
The cave resounded gently with the sound of a young man's intense voice.
Terry was facing Bruce. "I realize now that was a stupid, unrealistic goal. I could never be who you are or-- were. But I have made a difference here in Gotham. Destiny has given me this chance. Who am I to deny her?"
Bruce's reply was to tip his head to one side as if he was considering the question before giving a slight nod.
Terry turned to Max who was standing behind him. "I've tried and I can't do it. Cause if I did that I'd deny myself. This is what I want. I know that now. I've always known it, though I didn't totally understand why. Gotham needs a Batman. It needs..." he showed her a winsome smile. "Me."
Unwilling to resist his sudden charm, Max returned the smile. It had been ages since she had seen him use it and it brought back pleasant memories of their early days working together. Fun times. Innocent times.
"What about you Max?"
"Huh?"
"Is destiny gonna keep you here with us or are you supposed to be somewhere else---out of our lives?"
Max's slow smile held a mixture of secrecy and mischief. There was seductive sway in her stride when she walked towards him. She had made up her mind. The reason she had kept him at a distance was no longer an issue. She had admitted her love for him. She didn't have to fight it anymore. It was time now to go with their feelings and see what would come of it. She was as ready as she'd ever be.
Standing before him, she placed her hands on his waist and looked into his eyes, which at the moment were widened in surprise. She was still smiling, her voice radiating its usual husky tone,
"So destiny is female?"
"Ah…yeah, I guess. I mean--you know how women have a way of--messing up a guy's plans because they think they know better and--a lot of times they do."
"We do? What an interesting revelation coming from a man. I think men everywhere should hear this. It could change the world."
"Hey," he settled tentative hands on her shoulders. "I'm being serious here."
"You've been serious for way too long. Someone needs to remind you how to have a little fun occasionally."
"Strange, I was just think'n the same thing about you."
"Me?" She batted her lashes, mock drama in her tone. "Serious?"
"Yeah, you," he grinned and slowly let his hands trail up the curve of her neck. His thumbs began a gentle stroke along her jaw line.
Max's eyelids half-closed as his touch triggered languid fire inside her, "Hmm. I didn't realize that. Well, then maybe that's something we could work on together. What do you think?"
"You know me," he drawled in a low voice. "I don't like thinking much. Doing is what I'm better at."
A loud snort from Bruce made them both turn to stare at him, "Well now that you're finally admitting to that fact maybe you're ready to do something about it. Thinking ahead so you're prepared will eliminate a lot of the unnecessary doings that waste so much of your time. I think if we start you on a--"
Terry smirked, "Bruce."
Bruce's eyes narrowed.
"I'm about to do something that you'd probably consider completely thoughtless, wasteful and untimely. You can stay and watch or leave. Either way you can't stop me." Without delay Terry turned his attention back to Max and murmured softly to her, "But you can--if this isn't what you want."
Bruce harrumphed and reached down to pat Ace on the head, "Come on boy. You're too young to be watching this. Let's go before they end up blocking the stairway again."
The young couple grinned to hide a twinge of embarrassment and waited until Bruce was ascending the stairs before resuming their conversation.
"Is this what you want Max?"
"I want to help Gotham as much as you and Bruce do and this is one way to do it."
"That wasn't the kind of answer I was looking for."
"Then maybe your question should be more specific."
Terry dipped his head for a moment then looked into her eyes once more.
"What about Whitfield?"
Max stared into his searching baby-blues and considered continuing to give him a hard time about his oblique questions even though she knew what he wanted to hear.
"He knows--how I feel about you."
"How'd he take it?"
"In stride. He's a very level-headed and patient man, unlike a couple of other men I know." She emphasized the 'other men' part and looked directly into his eyes. "That's what attracted me to him in the first place."
"You really did--like him?"
"Yes," her grin held skepticism. "I thought it was obvious even to you."
"Well, sure I saw you two together and you looked a little tight, but I never really…" he trailed off with a shrug.
Max cast him a discerning look and smirked, "You were jealous."
He drew back. His brow furrowed and mouth opened to what she thought might be a strong protest. In the next moment he relaxed, blew out a breath and replied evenly, "Maybe."
Max's smile gradually faded, "I never led Travis on. He always knew my heart belonged to someone else even when I wouldn't admit it to myself. He's a good man. There's a woman out there who's going to be very lucky some day."
"I suppose he's all right."
"You know he is." Max grinned and squeezed his waist.
"Isn't that what I just said? And hey--I'm a patient man too. Look how long I've been waiting for you."
"Aw--you're still jealous."
"Give me a reason not to be," he challenged with a hint of tease.
"I'm here right now--" she drew closer to him, "--with you."
He got a wickedly delighted look on his face before demanding softly, "Give me another one."
Her expression became complacent. She stretched over and up to reach his lips with her own, the intention of devouring them foremost on her mind. Terry contained his excitement and held himself still, letting her mouth do whatever it wanted to his. He was just about to let it loose when she slowly pulled away.
"Convinced yet?"
"Not sure," he rasped. "I think I might need more than that."
"How much more?"
"As much as you want to give me."
A loud irritated voice sounded from the top of the cave steps, "You're pushing it McGinnis. Get to the point before she decides to walk again."
Frowning, Terry looked up at the distant Bruce and returned his own loud comment, "Aren't you old enough to be deaf by now?"
"Lucky for you I'm not," Bruce retorted before taking the last step out of the cave and the door closing behind him.
Max's quiet laugh got Terry smiling again. "What?"
She answered with a smile and shake of her head, her dark eyes memorizing every line of his face, her heart filled to bursting with this moment and realizing how far they'd come to get here. This was her destiny. To be with both of them--fighting to help Gotham.
To be with him-- her hand lifted, fingers stroked across one dark eyebrow down along the angled plain of his face--to whatever end may eventually come.
Terry took hold of the hand, interlocking his fingers with hers, "What are you thinking?"
"That I love you. And I'm wondering when you're going to start all that doing you keep talking about."
"Doing?" He grinned and tipped his head closer to hers. "You mean something like this?"
The bats hanging high above the body-tight, lip-locked human couple fluttered and squeaked in annoyance. Things had been so much quieter when it had just been the old man who came to the cave. Oh well, even a bat's world had to change with the times.
THE END
We did it Jean! WOO-HOO!