Dark Knight

When Batman showed Jay the temporary Batcave he had hidden beneath Metropolis, Jay was not the least bit surprised. If this world's Batman was even half as similar to the comic-book version Jay remembered, he probably had at least eight or ten top-secret hideouts stashed around Metropolis.

That did not stop him from marveling when he entered the cave. Batman had carved out a space more than twenty meters high underground, divided into three sections: the main operations room filled with computer equipment, an armory for portable light weapons, and a hangar housing the Batwing, Batmobile, and more.

How on earth had he managed to build a place like this beneath Metropolis?

Batman had barely spoken the entire time. Once they arrived, he immediately disappeared into one of the inner rooms, leaving Jay and Helena in the operations room. Jay curiously looked over the Batcave's various facilities and equipment, then sheepishly withdrew his gaze when he realized he was acting like a country bumpkin visiting the city for the first time.

He smiled at Helena. "This place is pretty impressive."

Helena smiled faintly as well. "You should visit the Batcave in Gotham when you get the chance. Compared to that one, this place is practically shabby."

Seeing that Batman was still busy inside with who knew what, Jay finally asked Helena the question he had been holding in. "So all of this was just a test you set up for me? There wasn't actually some powerful organization that discovered I existed?"

"More or less. I should apologize for that, though I wasn't exactly lying—I really didn't report you to my superiors. I only told Batman. Batman insisted that he needed to know where your limits were." Helena spoke with a hint of apology. "You have to understand, he wasn't always like this."

"What do you mean? This suspicious?"

"No, he has been extremely suspicious ever since I could remember." Helena shook her head. "But ever since Apocalypse Invasion ended, he seems to have taken another step closer to a line he never used to cross. His methods became harsher, and after Commissioner Gordon stepped down, he cut off all cooperation with the Gotham police. For six years, he barely left Gotham and paid no attention at all to anything outside it. Not until I told him about you. I think I can understand it, too. After all, he has been through so much. Superman died, the Justice League fell apart, and Mom died..."

Jay froze when she said that. He suddenly remembered that there seemed to be a parallel universe like this in the comics. In it, Batman had married Selina Kyle and had a daughter. When the girl grew up, she put on a cape like her father and became a superhero called Huntress.

Her name was Helena Wayne.

Jay's mouth fell open. "Y-you're his daughter?"

"Yes, I am." Helena made no effort to hide it. "And I can tell you this: my name is Helena Wayne, Helena Wayne from Gotham. I don't need to tell you who Old Bat is now, do I?"

Gotham and Wayne were two names that naturally went together. Helena had practically told Jay outright that Batman was Bruce Wayne. Though he had known that already, it at least showed that she was willing to be frank with him.

Jay felt like the sheer amount of information he had received in an instant was overwhelming, enough that even his super-brain struggled to process it. He raised a hand in a stopping gesture. "Wait, wait. You said your mom died. What happened?"

"It was during the invasion six years ago, too." A trace of sorrow appeared on Helena's face. "Parademons from Apocalypse Star spread across almost the entire world, and Gotham was nearly overrun as well. A group of civilians were trapped in Gotham's poor district, surrounded by swarms of Parademons. My mom wanted to save them, and then..."

She stopped there and gently closed her eyes, as though the scene from that day still lay before her. Jay said softly, "I'm sorry."

"Father had a chance to save her. He knew Mom had gone into the slums." Helena's voice was low. "But it was the most critical moment of the Justice League's counterattack plan, and he chose to remain with the League and fulfill his duty. In the end, as everyone knows, the League failed. He failed to save the world, and Mom died in the darkest corner of Gotham."

"Helena." Batman's grim voice suddenly rang through the room. "You've said too much."

"We've checked his background. He can be trusted," Helena said. "Besides, you always seem to forget that trust goes both ways. Considering you set a trap for him the first time you met him, I think showing some sincerity is necessary."

"I will decide that," Batman said coldly.

He walked over to Jay. Jay noticed that he had changed into his usual Batman combat suit. Most of his body was nearly wrapped in the broad cape, and the line of his jaw beneath the cowl was sharply defined. He stood almost face-to-face with Jay. Jay could feel an enormous sense of authority and pressure radiating from him, but compared to the Batman Jay remembered, he did seem older. Perhaps it was the cruelty of reality, the merciless passage of time, or more likely both.

Without a word, he took a badge bearing an "S" from beneath his cape and handed it to Jay. It looked exactly like the one Superman had once worn on his chest. Jay accepted it, somewhat bewildered and unsure what he was supposed to do with it.

"Wear it on your chest," Batman said flatly.

All right, wear it on his chest. Jay did as instructed, pressing the "S" symbol against his chest in imitation of how he remembered Superman wearing it. The badge immediately reacted. It gave off a faint glow, and deep blue particles spread outward from it like a tide, instantly covering Jay's entire body and forming a complete skintight suit. A bright red cape naturally fell from behind him, identical in style to Superman's old one.

"At least one thing is certain now," Batman said. "You're a Kryptonian."

"Huh?"

Helena explained, "The suit you're wearing was left behind by Superman. It's a Kryptonian biological nanosuit. It can identify Kryptonian genes, and it will only activate if it detects that its wearer has the Kryptonian Gene."

"Thanks. It does look pretty cool." Jay asked, "So you're giving this to me because...?"

"The world needs Superman, and you will take his place." Batman still spoke in that uniquely cold tone of his, as though he were issuing an order that allowed no argument.

Become Superman? This was not the first time Jay had heard something like that, but every time, the words felt very far removed from him. Superman was not Superman merely because of his incredible abilities. Not just anyone could replace him.

No, it should be said that no one could replace him.

Superman was dead. That vacancy had been left in this world forever, and no one could fill it.

"All right, I really do want to use my abilities to help people and save lives, but..." Jay considered his words for a moment, then shook his head. "I don't think I'm ready."

"No," Batman said. "I've observed you. You are indeed still immature and need more experience. But you have heart. You have the same genuine humanity he had. You haven't let that omnipotent power change your nature. That is what matters most." After a pause, he added, "Besides, I'll keep watching you. If one day in the future you choose the wrong path, I'll be prepared."

If anyone else had said that, it might have been reassuring. But Jay understood what Batman meant by "be prepared." He tried imagining the consequences, and even the mildest possibility sent a chill down his spine.

Jay fell silent. He stared absently at the seams in the metal wall, lost in thought.

"Is there a problem?"

"No, I..." Jay hesitated. He had a feeling that saying this would end badly. He glanced at Batman, then finally gathered his courage and spoke. "I just think... maybe Lex Luthor was right? Maybe that era is over. Maybe the world doesn't need Superman anymore. I mean, look around. There used to be so many superheroes. How many are even left now?"

He noticed Batman narrow his eyes. That was probably a sign that he was in a bad mood. Maybe Jay really should not have said it.

"The reason you say that is because you've been hiding in your own little world and have never understood what is happening outside," Batman said in a deep voice. "That monster that appeared in the Metropolis Underground Mall—have you ever considered where it came from? Have you ever considered how many things like it might exist in the world outside, the world you know nothing about?"

Jay was speechless. He truly did not know, and he had never even tried to find out, because deep down, he still thought of himself as just a high school student. It was not his responsibility.

"Do you really think this world is as peaceful as those politicians who talk nonsense claim? Do you think that just because the newspapers don't report it, supervillains aren't running rampant? Every day they say the world is getting better. Bullshit! Use your telescopic vision and take a good look. You'll find that the world is only getting worse, every single day."

Jay did not know what to say. He wanted to argue, but found himself without a response. Batman was right. All this time, Jay had only stayed within his tiny circle of life and had never understood what the world was like today. But instinctively, he felt that it could not be as bad as Batman claimed. Batman was simply too pessimistic. Considering everything life had put him through, no one could blame him for that.

A communication request came through at that very moment. Batman frowned and connected it. "Penny-One?"

Penny-One was the operational codename of his butler, Alfred Pennyworth. To Batman, Alfred was the person closest to a father in the world, and an indispensable part of what had shaped the legend of Batman.

The line connected, and the elderly man's voice came through the channel. "I suggest you turn on the television and watch the local news in Metropolis."

"Not now, Penny-One," Batman said with a frown.

"Now, sir. If you wait until the plane lands on your head, it may be too late."

"What plane?"

Before he could say more, Helena had already pulled up the local news on the computer screen. It was not difficult, because nearly every channel in Metropolis was reporting the same story.

"A flight from Metropolis to Chicago began rapidly descending shortly after takeoff. Following an apparent engine malfunction, the plane is circling over the city and is in danger of crashing at any moment."

"To Chicago?!" Jay cried out in alarm. "My dad is on that plane!"

"Go do what you need to do." Batman produced a pair of yellow goggles from somewhere and handed them over. "Put these on."

"Uh, you know my eyes don't need goggles."

"Put them on. You'll discover what they're for," Batman said flatly. "Then think carefully, and make the right choice."