The End and a new Beginning..
The battle was over ... the Anti Monitor was dead. Unknown to the survivors, the battle ended far sooner, with more survivors then it did in a previous time... in that far universe that once was.
Gloved fingers flew across keys typing commands, endless charts coming up onto a extremely large screen.
"Tornado have you calculated how long the pocket dimension has?" Batman asks skimming the charts quickly.
The robot pauses, rechecking it's calculations, "Yes, it has approximately 36 hours 52 minutes 44 seconds until complete collapse."
"When will it become too unstable to sustain a portal?" The cowled vigilante demands.
"30 hours 10 minutes 15 seconds." it replies.
At one of the other terminals Atom suddenly lets out a, "YES!" drawing the attention of a dozen other heroes at similar terminals. "Batman I found one!"
There was far more then one Batman but he was looking at the one that was questioning Red Tornado. Half the people in the room join Atom at his terminal.
"Let's see it." he says as Atom brings up charts and readings from one of his probes.
"As you can see this other multiverse is very similar to ours. It definitely has humans, air, water, the plants are almost exactly like what's on Earth. We could survive there." Atom informs them.
The heroes from Universes that survived already returned to their home dimensions... the survivors of the universes that were destroyed couldn't join them. They just didn't have time to see if there was a counterpart in every one of the universes before the pocket dimension's collapse.
Two of the exact same people could not survive in the same universe without it collapsing.
The easy answer was to just find a different but compatible multiverse.
All they had to do was to make sure the survivors going to the same Universe could co-exist. It was easier to test a couple thousand people then to search hundreds of worlds for counterparts. Especially on this type of time limit.
"Looks good. Let's get to work."
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Hermione Weasley was on a mission. Cutting through the groups of 'superheroes' she was quickly dismissing them one by one.
She needed to find someone she recognized... someone who was a witch or wizard from a reality close to her own reality.
"I saw someone over at third terminal. He was wearing robes like yours only red." One of the Supermen tells her tiredly. He had a soviet symbol on his chest instead of a 'S'. He was obviously exhausted like everyone else that participated directly in the battle. It didn't matter, no one was getting any sleep anytime soon.
"Yes, that certainly sounds like someone from a similar universe. Thank you for your help. I'll check them out. Good luck to you." She nods at the man, quickly moving through the busy crowd.
It didn't take long for her to find the red robed man that Superman saw earlier. "Harry!"
A much younger and almost exact looking copy of her friend turns and gives her a sad smile, "Hermione I presume?..I... It's good to see you."
She knew that expression. She gives him a understanding look, "I assume my counterpart from your universe is lost?"
He swallows and reluctantly nods, clearly not able to vocalize it.
"My condolences", she says quietly.
He shakes his head, "...She's not truly gone. I'll see her again some day... I'm one of the lucky ones that knows that for certain. Her and..." he pauses... he seemed unable to say Ron's name. He swallows hard, "...well.. they... would want me to live on." He takes a deep breath, "Anyways, did you want something?"
"Yes, it's not for me but I need to check your chart." She says holding her hand out for the little pad everyone had on their person now. It showed the frequency readings for each individual. Comparing them showed whether a person could co-exist in the same universe. It also conveniently had a reading of everyone else that survived from their original universe.
Everyone from the same universe was going to the same place. Those in charge at the moment were leaving the choice to the survivors to find who they wanted to go with.
The 'frequencies' were given a number system. If two people were within one hundred points of each other they couldn't co-exist in the same universe of the new Multiverse. There were only so many universes in this new multiverse so many had to go to the same location, "... damn it! If they were fifteen more points lower, it would have been safe.."
"Who is this for? Are they in the infirmary?" Harry asks curiously. She did say it wasn't for her. Not many people were in the infirmary. You were either uninjured or dead when going against someone like the Anti-monitor.
The middle-aged witch shakes her head, "The monitor contacted one of Dumbledore's counterparts minutes before his universe was bound to collapse. The Monitor told him that little fact hoping to get him to jump into the portal and then into the fight. Dumbledore was talking to your counterpart for some miss adventure..."
Harry smiles fondly a sad air about him, "He didn't save himself and instead shoved the kid through the portal??"
Hermione stops and stares... how did he... never mind. Harry might deny it but he really did know Professor Dumbledore... even if they were talking about the professor's counterpart and not the one he specifically knew.
"He only managed to save him, the monitor thought he was heading to evacuate more of the children," she informs him.
An ill look crosses his face, "He's all alone up here isn't he? Merlin, he must be terrified..."
"Exactly. He's too close to my group's frequency and now yours. I'm hoping to find someone from a similar enough universe so I can feel safe leaving him in their care. That and he's only eleven. If he doesn't continue learning how to control his magic it could backfire on him in the future." she reasons. "So basically we need someone who practices our brand of magic."
Harry rakes his hand through his hair, "Oh bloody hell.... Yeah that's serious...." He thinks about it for a moment. "I think I do know someone who might be able to help. She's a female counterpart. I was going to invited her to my group. She's the only survivor of her universe. I think her frequency is higher than mine not lower like the kid's."
Hermione lets out a breath. "So they probably could co-exist. Hurry, lead the way. If she doesn't want to take him on I'll need to continue searching."
"No. We'll continue searching." he corrects her with a smile.
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Nightwing and the other universe's Robin looked through each other's charts towards the frequency reading.
Nightwing and his family survived the battle but their world and their League was lost. He was one of the lucky ones. He had his brothers and sisters.
Jason was restlessly twitching up against the wall obviously wanting to reach for a cigarette but having the common sense not to risk it. Tim was looking through the base's database diligently and Damian was brooding. Babs was with Tim at the terminal conducting frequency tests on the few Heroes yet to get them, Steph was tiredly perched on a counter and Cass was watching the countless people moving about. Even Alfred and Damian's dog Titus managed to survive. Batman... their Bruce was at the main terminal helping the Techs to stabilize the link to the other multiverse.
"It looks like we're just outside of each other's range. Our groups are safe to co-exist." Nightwing smiles at his younger counterpart, not that the kid knew he was a counterpart.
"Yeah." the kid says quietly. Behind him was a small group of what Nightwing would have identified as Titans but the younger him told him they were called 'Young Justice' in his universe.
"Do you guys want to join us?" It seemed that they lost all the adult heroes from their universe. This was especially a nightmare for them..
Robin looks behind him towards Wally, Artemis, Megan, Superboy and Kaldur. They were standing back, keeping a respectful distance from the other group.
Nightwing was part of a group that didn't have a lot of heavy hitters. The others might want to go to a universe with familiar faces, to a universe with more metas.
"Give us a minute." Robin was more tech savvy then the rest in his group so he was given the task of looking through the readings and checking out the other groups. He had no right to make this choice for them.
"Nightwing" Red Robin calls to him, drawing his attention from the group of teens. Turning he quickly joins Tim at the terminal. It would give the alternate Robin and his team some time to think through their choice.
"What is it?" Tim was keeping track of the traffic feed to the other terminals. There were a lot of issues being worked though at the moment. Some people didn't know if any of their friends were alive, some were looking for counterparts of people they knew. A few were checking to see if their universe survived. There was A LOT of grief.
Tim nods his head at the overhead display. "Looks like they stabilized the link. Each group is going to be able to send out scouts in about an hour. Once they figure out the logistics they're going to have a meeting at the primary terminal. ETA for the meeting is thirty minutes." there were at least fifty terminals.
Nightwing nods, "Keep me posted."
"I... we'll join you." the alternate Robin was back. His group wasn't standing back from their group this time.
Dick gives his younger counterpart a slight smile and holds out a hand. "Welcome to the group. I'm keeping track of our group's frequency readings.... so.."
"Oh!... here." Robin says handing over their groups tablet to the man. "Since we're joining your group, I guess it would be easier if one person was keeping track of them."
"Yeah." he says quietly and waves them towards the area the group was now waiting.
Time goes by at a snail's pace. Other groups go through, checking the readings but most of them had counterparts that couldn't co-exist with the current group.
"Yeah, I'm looking for whoever is in charge of that kid. He accidentally blew up a side terminal." It was an alternate Batman. He was shorter then Bruce and definitely much younger. His suit was pitch black with a red symbol instead of a yellow one and he didn't have a cape. The suit was highly advanced.
Oracle who was helping him, shakes her head, "I checked the computer. No cape came through with him. He escaped his universe seconds before it was gone."
The young Batman lets out a breath, "Is there anything else in the file?"
"Someone is going around looking for a group for him, that's about it." Oracle informs him.
"How about you bring him over here? We have a lot of people just standing around." Nightwing suggests, indicating the group of young heroes along with his brothers and sisters.
The young Batman grunts, "I think the old man wants him to go with us. We have a kid and a dog with us too." he didn't mention that their kid was his little brother. Secret identity and all that...
"Are you part of a larger group yet?" Nightwing asks.
He shakes his head, "The old man is being picky."
Nightwing gives a reluctant and humorless chuckle, "Yeah I know how that feels. I'm currently in charge of this group. Our Batman is at the main terminal. Lets see your chart, along with the kid's info. Maybe your group could fit in with us."
The information is quickly turned over Nightwing checks it then nods, "We're good to go if you want." It was a good match then.
The young Batman nods and lifts a finger to his cowl's ear, "You listening in old man?" he pauses listening to the other end, "I see. That would have been a problem. Well bring everyone over. We can check the kid's readings and you can decide if we're joining them."
The young Batman turns back to them. "The kid has magic based abilities. That's how the terminal ended up fried. Someone is looking for an adult with the same abilities, that's why he was alone. They didn't want to drag him through the place and possibly upset him more with everything going on. Apparently it's dangerous if he doesn't get trained eventually so he needs to go to the new dimension with someone with the same abilities."
Nightwing nods grimly. "Have they found anyone?"
"Not yet. The old man is in contact with the lady that's looking. He's heading over here with the kids."
It takes a couple of minutes but a person who was unmistakably Bruce Wayne comes out of the crowd. He was old and gray and leaning heavily onto a cane. At his side were two children and a dog. One of the children was a little older then the other. He was wearing pajamas with little lions as a print. The little lions were moving as if they were alive. He was clearly the kid with magic.
The old man pauses at the sight of Nightwing's uniform, but he quickly walks over to the two. He silently holds out his hand for the chart information of the group. He looks around at the people joining the party, making a quick visual assessment before turning to the charts.
"So?" the young Batman asks impatiently.
The old man goes over the information on the pads and doesn't look up for several moments, He checks and rechecks it, "We'll be joining them." he grunts reluctantly, handing the pads back to Nightwing.
Nightwing nods, "Red Robin is due for a break at the terminal if you want to take it over." Batman and in turn Bruce Wayne didn't like to be out of touch in situations like this. For everyone involved it was probably a good idea to stick him at the desk. It was also the only place in the area with actual chairs.
Old Mr. Wayne lifts a brow at Nightwing. He knew he was suggesting it because of his age. Red Robin who was listening in practically jumps up to give him the space. He couldn't help but grunt in annoyance as he steps forward and takes the chair.
"The meeting is in five minutes Nightwing." Tim informs him quickly as goes to the bit of wall next to the terminal. The futuristic Batman and the two kids were already leaning up against one of the nearby walls.
"I'll head over there. Watch it on the overhead screen. If you want to relay any questions I'll be on channel 15." he informs the group, tapping the on switch of his communicator. He hands the information pads over to Red Robin. The meeting hall was too small to accommodate everyone who survived, so representatives of each of the groups were being sent. Nightwing was theirs.
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Harry didn't know what to make of his situation. Professor Dumbledore didn't question the strange man that came out of the portal that started talking about some war. He looked the stranger in the eye and immediately forced him, Harry into the portal in spite of the strange man's half hearten protests. The portal closed violently behind him and the strange man was just left flabbergasted. Harry had the feeling that it was abnormal for him to be in that state.
On the other side of the portal was a far more fantastical world than any of the science fiction movies that Harry had glimpsed from Dudley constant Telly viewing. Everything was shiny metal and glass with advanced computers and thousands of screens.
Strange men and women in even stranger clothes were everywhere. Most of them looked strong and intimidating. Harry knew he wasn't the tallest first year but to only reach waist height to many of them was saying something about how utterly tall some of these people were. And that was just the beginning.
Many of them could fly without brooms, some of them would walk around on Fire or with lightning racing along their bodies and be completely alright. Some of them could clearly lift thousands of Kilos without effort. There were Witches and Wizards, and he was fairly certain that one of them looked exactly like Merlin's chocolate frog card!
It didn't take long for one of these strong and strangely dressed people to take notice of him. It also didn't take long for them to hunt down the original strange man, who happened to be very very busy, and get the information out of him.
The 'superhero' returned and quietly explained to him what was going on.
The world, his friends, his family, the animals, the school, everyone he's ever known was just... gone. The Earth he had been a part of was one of the first to be destroyed.
He at first didn't believe the person but it was impossible to ignore the truth for long. The battle was on going and it only took the sight of one of the other Earths being destroyed for him to realize this was all real. To see the surviving strong and unbreakable 'Heroes' that were on the station crumble into agonized grief. That type of grief wasn't something that people could fake.
This was all real.
After that it wasn't hard for him to connect the sight of Earth after Earth being destroyed with his own... to acknowledge his world's death. His friends deaths...
He couldn't help but watch the Earth be destroyed over and over again... of watching these impossibly strong people fall into complete despair.
It was retching.. the helplessness he felt..
The battle eventually ended and the strange futuristic place was filled with hundreds if not thousands of the strange people, the survivors of the battle.
Then Hermione was there. She was old like Ron's mum. She had the same air about her. She hugged him, it felt like what he thought a mum's hug should feel like. She explained further that some of the different Earths had other Ron's and Hermione's and sometimes other hims. Everyone from her Earth was older like her.
Few of the magic worlds survived.
It was all something he would have known about if he had been allowed to watch Dudley's science fiction programs. They were called alternate dimensions.
Hermione told him that he would now have to find a new world to become a part of. For some Science reason he couldn't go with her and her version of Ron. She promised though that she would find someone for him, that he wouldn't have to be alone.
She had him promise that he would stay where he was before she tore off to search.
Alone again, he tried to hold it back the grief. Overhearing, from a nearby terminal about the death of the 'superhero' that took the time to explain everything was what tipped him over. That made all the pain come to the surface.
Crying into his drawn up knees he didn't immediately notice the nearby machine explode in a shower of accidental magic. He barely noticed the very old man with the cane coming up to him and kneeling in front of him as the nearby heroes took care of the fire.
The old man at first didn't seem like a nice person but after a few minutes of talking to him he could see that he was kinda like Hagrid. He looked and sounded gruff but he was a good person, someone who cared. Harry could tell from the look in his eyes that he really understood this feeling... this helplessness.
The man eventually got up and he talked under his breath to a man in all black, then he took over the one of the computers. Then abruptly they (himself, another kid with a dog and the old man) were moving. One of his conversations over the computer was with adult Hermione. He was joining another group.
"I spy with my little eye something green." Robin was one of the masked heroes that was already part of the group. He was pale and tired. He was also trying to distract himself. Oddly enough he didn't seem much older then Harry. He was also not the only Robin in the group. The other one was grumbling under his breath, ignoring the game.
"Her." Harry wasn't really part of the game and really didn't want to be part of it but he did want to forget for awhile. He was pointing at the red-headed green girl. Did she get into a magical accident?
The boy with the cape shakes his head, "Nope, try again." his lips twitch up slightly but there was still a sadness about him.
"Err your pants?" it was the only other thing nearby that seemed to be green, it was an almost black shade of it but it was still green.
"Nope... one more try." the boy gives him a slightly devious look but Harry honestly couldn't find anything green.
"I can't see anything else..." he admits with a slight disappointed pout.
The boy reaches into a pocket of his belt and pulls something out. "Look again."
Harry looks down and is met with his own reflection. His eyes.. of coarse. Snorting he hands the mirror back to the other boy.
"I hate I-Spy." a teen with normal clothes says with a scowl. He was wearing a tee-shirt with an 'S' symbol on it and a pair of blue jeans. He looked like he could easily crush someone like Dudley. He also looked very grumpy. The green girl was under his arm leaning into him. Her eyes were puffy.
The boy with the red hair sticking out of the top of his cowl shrugs, He was wearing red and yellow and for some reason everyone was referring to him as 'kid' or 'KF' even though he was older or as old as most of them. "We don't exactly have a deck of cards here Supes and I really want a distraction."
"Hey! Terry said you have magic!" it was the boy Matt that was with Mr. Wayne before he came along. And Terry? He didn't know most of their names but he hasn't yet heard that one, "Can you show us a trick?"
Before he could answer another voice cuts in, "Don't even think about it kid." It was the Red Helmet wearing man leaning against another of the nearby walls. He seemed kinda twitchy.
"We can't have another accident with the terminals. We need as many as possible right now." Another vigilante cuts in explaining kindly. He had a black cowl kinda like Batman's but underneath the cape he was wearing all red.
"I wasn't planning on it." Harry assures them quietly, "The computer exploded because I was upset not because I was playing with my magic."
"It's not surprising. Accidental magic is quiet common at your age, especially if you're upset." the older Hermione was back but beside her was...
"Dad?!" he remembered the image in the mirror of Erised, he looked just like him.
The man shakes his head, "Nope, look at the eyes. I'm one of your counterparts. Hermione told me about you in the halls and I thought I'd help her find someone to take care of you. We can't co-exist I'm afraid." The man looks him up and down for a moment and turns to the middle aged Hermione with a slightly bewildered look on his face, "Was I really that small in first year?"
It hurt a bit to know he wasn't Dad but seeing what he would actually look like as an adult? Kinda brilliant.
Hermione gives his counterpart a bemused smile, "We all were."
His counterpart scrunches up his nose for a second, looking at nothing clearly in deep thought, he looked like he was working something out. "Did you say Dumbledore shoved him into the portal?... The only time I talked to him that year was when I just woke up after the fight with Quirrel..."
The older Hermione suddenly pales and turns to the younger wizard, he was wearing pajamas. He wouldn't be talking to Dumbledore in his pajamas normally, "Harry were you in the hospital wing before you came here?!?"
Harry backs up a bit, eyeing the piece of wood she was pulling out warily, "Yeah but I feel fine. My head only feels a little heavy.." it didn't really occur to him to lie his friend, even if she was really old compared to the girl he knew.
"That's!... That's beside the point! Madam Pomphrey put you on a week's bed rest after that!! You just woke up from a two week coma!!" She screeches at the boy practically pulling out her hair at the disregard he was showing for his health.
The man with the red helmet chuckles drily, "I have to hand it to you kid. Going to another dimension to get out of bed rest is further then any of us have gone. Kudos!"
A couple of the others stifle chuckles at the comment. Majority of them were listening in. It wasn't like they had much of a choice in the matter.
Hermione steps towards the boy, wand raised, the older Harry moves in front her and puts up his hands in a calming motion. "He didn't exactly have a choice in coming here if you remember. We can just summon up a chair or something."
A throat clears behind them, "Harry? I have my things."
Looking over Hermione's shoulder the older Harry smiles at the newcomer, "Ahh Heather! This group was thinking of taking little Harry with them. Hope that's not a problem?"
"Oh... well I'm not part of a group yet... I'm not picky about it to be honest."
Like both Harrys she had messy black hair, thick glasses and bright unnatural green eyes. That was where the similarities ended.
She looked like she was in her late teens. Her hair was long and done into a low ponytail, her lashes were thick and her eyes were angler. Her face wasn't quite heart shaped, it was a little too sharp for that but there was a soft quality it. It didn't seem to be exactly physical in nature. There was something calming about her.
"You look like.." little Harry starts..
The witch nods, "... like mum, yes. Well except for dad's raven nest. If I had a knut for every time I've heard that.." she smiles slightly at him, "And you look exactly like dad except.."
"..Mum's eyes." he finishes for her.
"The meeting is almost over," the old man at the terminal interrupts them. "Get ready to be briefed by Nightwing." he turns to the cowl wearing vigilante leaning against the wall. "Shouldn't you be checking something?"
"Oh right!" Red Robin walks over to Heather and holds out his hand, "We have to double check to make sure you can go with us." he informs her unnecessarily.
"Oh of coarse... We shouldn't get attached before that's confirmed." her 'things', that she obviously went to get, consisted of odd trunk with multiple locks and a large picnic basket. She pulls the little pad out of the basket and closes the top, quickly handing it to the younger man.
Looking at the group's readings and hers in turn he nods, "Looks like you can join us." He looks up from the pads, "Will you?"
She doesn't hesitate to nod, "Yes." she leaves her pad with him.
"That's a relief." Hermione sighs out, "I have to head back soon. Heather he's suppose to have another week bed rest, he just woke up from that coma after fighting Quirrel! Please be sensible and makes sure he gets it." she then goes up to the younger Harry and without hesitation gives him a big hug. "I want you to remember that Ron and I love you and want you to have a happy life... I'm sure my counterpart is exactly the same."
Harry sinks into the hug and unable to speak for fear of crying out, he nods.
The middle-aged witch gives him one last squeeze, "Be good for your new sister, do what she says. And I know it's near impossible with it being you, but try to stay out of trouble for a change." she gives him one last smile, turns and leaves with a bounce to her bushy hair.
"I thought she was going to grow out of the 'always follow the rules' thing." Little Harry says with a quiet sigh.
Older Harry barks out a laugh, "Don't let her fool you. Hermione has broken a lot of rules, some of them were actual laws. Ron and I were really bad influences on her." he smiles down at his smaller counterpart a kind of sad air about him, "If you're good maybe Heather will tell you some stories." he chuckles as he claps a hand onto the boy's shoulder and nods to Heather before leaving. He needed to search for a group for himself.
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The meeting at the primary terminal wrapped up quickly. It was fortunate that the majority of the people involved were highly organized and used to dealing with massive amounts of details on a tight schedule. This was something they had to rush...
"Because of the number of people that need to be moved, each group will be allowed to send out a scouting party into the new dimension. They already assigned dimensional designation for our group." Nightwing informs everyone at the smaller terminal.
"Assigned?" Aqualad asks incredulously. Shouldn't they have the right to chose?
Nightwing shrugs, "Each world is pretty much the same with minor differences. They were able to pick out the ones that had met some unnatural disaster and are unsuitable for life. No-one's going to those. We don't have time to pick and choose beyond that."
"We only have thirty hours, wouldn't it be easier to just send everyone through to the new universes in complete groups?" Red Robin asks confused.
It was a good question, "An hour in this pocket dimension is about twenty days over on the other side of the portal. We don't have currency or any food source, we don't know the language and we don't have shelter there. It would be a lot easier if we can establish that before all of us go through," The older acrobat answers.
"We also don't know what threats there are on the other side. A smaller group wouldn't draw as much attention." The old Mr. Wayne points out from the computer.
The green clad archer, Artemis nods, "So basically we need to figure out who would be best for a scouting party.."
"We can pretty much eliminate Superboy and Kid Flash right away. Superboy's powers are not subtle and since food is a concern Kid Flash being there early would be counter productive." Aqualad reasons quietly, looking back at his team.
"You going wouldn't be the best idea either," Nightwing informs him, "The main terminal was able to get some pictures from the other side. We didn't see anyone with gills. We could hide them but..."
The leader of the younger team nods. "..Except for fighting, I wouldn't be adding anything needed to the scouting team." he finishes the thought.
"Miss Martian would be the best addition from the 'Young Justice' team. She's able to shape shift, can read minds and she's not as strong as Super-boy but she's far beyond human strength." The old Bruce Wayne points out, almost everyone's abilities were fully listed in the computers for those behind the scene people coordinating the recent battle, "Shape-shifting for stealth, mind reading would greatly assist in learning the language and she's a heavy hitter if the scouting party runs into trouble." he summarizes for them.
"Artemis and I are both trained in stealth and infiltration," the young Justice Robin points out helpfully.
"Almost everyone in this group has that exact same skill set...." Red Hood snorts at him. "Dickhead, has the most experience." he says as he points his thumb at Night-wing behind him.
"Master Hood, language please. There are children present." Alfred reprimands him evenly as he enters the Terminal's bay. He was pushing a cart in front of him. It had a half dozen boxes on it. It was the supplies being provided for the refugees.
He grunts and lets out an annoyed breath, "Sorry Al... sorry kids."
"...Alfred?.." the Young Justice Robin questions, his voice sounding tentative and a little broken.
Alfred pauses and looks at him thoughtfully, "I beg your pardon, young sir. I'm afraid I am not the Alfred Pennyworth that you are acquainted with. I am merely his counterpart. It is however a pleasure to meet you young sir."
"...it's... It's good to see... errr meet you Alfred. Even if you're his counterpart." Robin shifts uneasily but one corner of his mouth lifts in a half timid smile. It didn't hide the slight wobble his mouth was making however.
Kid Flash was beside Robin a split second later, his hand on the younger vigilante's shoulder, clearly trying to comfort him.
Nightwing clears his throat, he knew how loosing Alfred would affect him. It would be magnified a dozen fold at that age. They didn't have time to deal with that type of grief however, "So myself and M'gann so far. Any other suggestions?"
Mr. Wayne grunts and points his cane at the young Batman, "The suit can analyze the environment. It has a significant amount of the equipment of the Bat-cave built into it. It's also good for Stealth. The boy knows how to operate it."
"Down side?" Dick asks knowing there was a hidden 'but' in the sentence.
"He relies on it too much and he's green." Bruce growls out.
The younger Batman, used to being talked about like this just lets out a long sigh, "Yeah... nice to know I'm just the stick figure filling the suit old man."
Bruce ignores him and continues, a small quirk to the side of his mouth, showing he was amused, "He still has potential, in spite of his lack of experience." the others who knew Bruce's alternate self were slightly surprised at these words. Batman usually didn't take the time to say things like that. It was a sign that he really did like the kid.
Suddenly outside the terminal bay another sound reaches the group. It sounded like wailing? It wasn't a surprise but it was very very loud and was coming from a man.
Harry, hearing the noise doesn't hesitate and dashes out of the room. Heather sighs, she recognized the crying as well.
"Hagrid?!?" Harry cries out in the hall. The crying dies down to a more normal level and someone with a growling like voice seemed to be talking to the young wizard. Someone other then the one crying.
A moment later a version of Batman practically stomps into the room. The eyes of his cowl were red and there were strange spike like extensions on the shoulders of his cape. The symbol in the middle of his chest was red and black on a dark grey background. He had a half empty bottle of whiskey in his left hand. There was an air around him that made it clear to everyone that he was very annoyed.
"Whose in charge of your readings?" he growls out.
Kid Flash, the closest one to him, flinches back and automatically points at Red Robin, his eyes wide.
The cowl covered man goes over and takes the pads, looking them over. A moment later he thrusts them back in Red Robin's hands.
At the door a giant of a man practically squats as he enters the room sideways, being lead by little Harry. Straightening on entering, the man's head brushes the ceiling even as his presence fills the room. He had a big brown bushy beard and small black eyes. There were tears falling from them.
It was almost comical how the extremely small boy was leading the overgrown giant of a man, it was almost like a building sized puppy being lead around.
It was clear to everyone in the room that the giant man was a bleeding heart.
"Can he?" Harry asks the gruff Batman, innocent hope shining in his magnified green eyes.
The Batman grunts, "He's outside range. You'll have to ask them."
Nightwing who was watching the two with a slight bit of amusement puts in his two cents, "If he's actually outside the range, he can join." he pointedly looks at the bottle in the Batman's hand and turns to the gruff Batman, "Are you outside range?"
"No idea." He really didn't care where he ended up at this point. All he wanted was to forget. One of the boy-scouts were bound to grab him before they ditched the pocket dimension. He wasn't lucky enough not to be 'saved'.
He was still next to Red Robin and in turn the computer terminal. "You're outside the range." The old Bruce Wayne informs him from his chair, a pick-pocketed data pad in his hand. "....Dad.." Bruce says quietly gruffly.
The gruff Batman looks down at the elderly man for a moment, searching his features and grimaces. The other was definitely a version of his son.
"Will you be joining?" Night-wing asks, the room completely quiet, echoing the question.
"We have quite a few children here. In this new world they might not have doctors. It would be very convenient to have one along." Alfred informs him while going through the boxes of supplies, not even looking up at this alternate version of the man he knew.
The man pauses, looking at the dozen or so costumed vigilante children and teenagers. He grimaces moodily, Alfred was a manipulative bastard but he was right, "Fine" he tightens his hold on his bottle. He moves off to find some quiet corner of the place to finish his drink.
Nightwing watches the old Batman walk off with his bottle and sighs, "Alright lets get back to the scouting party. Miss Martian, newbie Batman," he says this with a bit of humor, "and myself so far... Redhood your experience being on the streets will probably be useful, considering that's where we're starting, that and having someone else good at infiltration wouldn't be bad either."
The Red helmet wearing man snorts, "Yeah.. sure whatever."
Nightwing nods, "... Miss Potter what can you do with your magic? Can you just do attacks or is it a diverse ability?"
She was over by the giant man patting him on the shoulder, he was sitting on a large patch of the floor now hugging little Harry who was trying to calm him down, the giant was crying quietly now at least. "Highly diverse. It's not a question of what I can do, it's a question of what I can't do."
"Food? Water?" Nightwing asks all business, listing two of the most urgent needs.
"I can't create Food from nothing, my magic doesn't work that way, it would have all the nutrients of Air. I can however multiply what food you do find. I can also preserve food magically in a type of stasis. The water issue is easier, I can produce it with a quick and easy spell." she informs him. "It would only take a moment to teach Harry the spell but doing that here wouldn't exactly be a good idea."
"Any other needs you can fill with your ability?" Night-wing asks.
"I don't know any translation spells. As for infiltration, spying, observing other people... well there is so many things I CAN do to help in that regard, I can't even begin to list them all."
"...and the down side?" the old Mr. Wayne asks waiting for the other shoe to drop.
The young woman shifts a little uneasily, "Well... my magic has a negative effect on electronic systems and equipment... especially high level circuitry." she was looking pointedly at the young Batman in the advanced fighting suit. ".. I also have to rely on my wand quite a bit. It's required for everything but the most practiced of spell work. Magic, if miscast somehow, can also cause permanent effects. It's rare and usually happens to the inexperienced but I'm not immune to causing it, noone with my type of magic is."
The elderly man nods and turns to Nightwing and Terry, "Keep her away from the suit and keep her out of combat if you can." he growls out already knowing their choice. "Try to find ways where we don't have to depend on her abilities."
Nightwing nods, "I think that's enough people for now. Lets get some supplies and get ready."
-------------------
"Are you the group going into number eighty eight?" it was one of the technicians working on the portals to the other multiverse.
Each separate universe they were settling into had an assigned number.
"Yep that's us." They were gathered in the main chamber. Each one of them had a large backpack with food, sleeping bags, and other misc. supplies. Not all of them had luggage from their own world so the Earths that survived sent provisions.
"Your scheduled departure time is almost here. Does your party have any questions or do you need anything more?" the tech asks professionally.
"No I don't think.." Nightwing starts.
"Yeah we do need something..." growls out a voice.
The older gruff Batman was suddenly there looming over the tech. "We need our long term medical supplies." he growls out.
"Uhh sir... I... " he quickly looks down at the pad scanning the information, "It says here that the ... medications are to be given to a member of your group that isn't... obvious about their ummm substance abuse, sir! I'm only following orders!"
Thomas Wayne glares at the tech, "I'm an alcoholic not a drug addict. Not to mention a doctor. I'm not going to pump myself full of anti-biotics idiot."
Nightwing puts an arm between the poor tech and the old Batman, cutting in pointedly, looking at the tech, "Hey he's with us. How about you give us the provisions. We can deal with any issues that crop up."
The tech nods quickly and speeds away presumptuously to get the medications for the medical kit.
"Damn it Dick! I wanted to see Grampa make that guy piss himself." Redhood says with a bit of humor in his voice.
Nightwing shakes his head, "Don't you get enough of that on patrol? Besides we're leaving soon. We don't have time."
"Don't call me Grampa, Punk." The old Batman growls out ignoring Nightwing.
"Sure, Gramps." Redhood snorts and turns to Nightwing, "This is SO going to be fun..."
Dick turns to the older Batman before Jason could antagonize him further, "You didn't stay for the meeting. We're going on a scouting mission before we settle on the other side. The main group isn't joining us until later. There's a time difference. An hour here is a couple weeks there."
"So what about you rest up, Gramps. I'm sure Timmy can find another chair so you can sit with the other old man." Dick groans as the older Batman steps towards Redhood. "...wouldn't want you to throw out a hip." he adds a little to gleefully.
It happened lightning fast, one second the older man was glaring down at Hood the next a balled up armored gauntlet was buried in Hood's ribs. There was a distinctive snap.
The older vigilante steps back a sinister smile on his face. "Respect your elders punk."
Hood lets out a slightly pained laugh and turns to Nightwing, "Grampa is nastier then our Batman. I like him." Hood's hand lashes out and lands a hit in the old man's jaw before he can blink, staggering the old Batman backwards.
Nightwing grabs Hood before he can go any further. The younger Batman grabs ahold of the older Batman.
M'gann turns to Heather, "Is this some sort of Earth bonding ritual I don't know about?"
"It's a pissing contest." the witch answers with a sigh.
"Is there a problem?" it was one of the Supermen. The four struggling vigilantes pause at the voice, their heads turning in unison.
"Uhh no.. not really. We're just ...bonding with the grandfather we never met. Well if you count him as our grandfather, his alternate son adopted us," Nightwing tells him conversationally, "These two haven't shot each other... so it's going pretty well." he says honestly and perhaps alittle too optimistically.
The Superman lets out a sigh, "Save the bonding for planet side please. We don't need to accidentally destroy anything."
Redhood snorts as Nightwing slowly lets him go as the young newbie Batman eases away from the doctor. "Boy-scout." the old Batman says with a sneer and Hood barks out another laugh.
The Superman pauses but pointedly keeps walking away.
"Mr. Nightwing, sir!" It was the tech he saved from years of therapy, "I have the provisions. Just in time too... you're scheduled to enter the portal in just under" he looks down at his data pad, "five minutes?"
The provisions were in a large steel crate on a push cart. It was too large for them to carry... maybe? "Miss Martian do you think you can..." he vaguely points to the cart. It was obvious the tech expected them to take the crate with the cart. He didn't have any experience with portals it seems.
"If you have some rope or something. It shouldn't be too heavy but I need something to grab onto. Otherwise it'll be awkward to hold." the girl reasons.
The younger Batman pulls something out of a hidden pocket, "I have a harness that can go around it, if you want to carry it.... or I can carry it if you don't want to. The suit's strength is enhanced."
"They're almost ready for us. Get it done." Nightwing orders them pointedly and turns to Thomas, "We're going ahead. Is there anything that you want us to keep an eye out for over there?"
"Don't bother, I'm going." he says in a tone that Nightwing knew far to well. There wasn't going to be any arguing with him.
The acrobat rubs his temple. "Fine." he says, sending a quick message to the others, mentioning the new addition of the older Batman.
"Number eighty-eight. The portal is ready." Time to go to a new world...