"Mm..."
When the Prime Universe Batman woke from his sleep, he saw the Golden Pioneer sitting in front of him.
"You're awake!" he said.
"The surgery was a success."
The Prime Universe old Batman looked down and saw that his chest, which had been caved in by a single wave of attacks, was now completely unharmed.
"We used the ship's rapid-treatment chamber to repair your injuries. You had four broken ribs, and your heart stopped for two minutes. We had to give you a blood transfusion."
The Golden Pioneer said, "But you're alive, and you're doing just fine. That's all thanks to the great bond between the Golden Pioneer and the superhero Batman!"
The Golden Pioneer said smugly, "And now, if you want to thank your savior—"
He pulled out a photo of himself and Batman that had apparently already been printed. In the picture, Batman had rolled his eyes and was unconscious, while the Golden Pioneer stood beside him flashing a V sign, looking exactly like an elementary school student posing for a photo in front of a museum during a spring outing.
Then he flipped the photo over, revealing the blank side, and said:
"I want you to sign our picture together..."
Before he could finish, the Prime Universe old Batman sat bolt upright, like an emotionless corpse.
"Huh?" the Golden Pioneer said blankly.
The Prime Universe old Batman frowned and stood up from the hospital bed.
"Ah, although the treatment chamber healed most of your injuries, you'd better—"
The Golden Pioneer's words were completely useless against the old Batman. He yanked out some of the IV lines and walked out of the treatment room—
Only to see the Time Master sitting in the seats in the hall outside, his fingers interlaced.
"So..."
He said, "I hope you