Tag: batman

Everyone was following a modified, old GMC motorhome, lovingly called the Rust Bucket 2 and belonging to Ben’s grandfather, Max Tennyson. Right now, Life was behind the wheel and the cavalcade was going across the country to Keystone, South Dakota, straight to Mt. Rushmore. Max was driving the Rust Bucket 2 with Xiomara, Sora, and Life as his passengers. They were sitting at the table with Sora looking out the window. “…Mi hijo?” asked Xiomara. “¿Está bien?”

“…No, Mama, I’m not,” mumbled Sora.

“What’s on your mind?”

“…How can I make Dad understand?”

“…No entiendo.”

“I know Dad wants me to be a Kamen Rider. Why else would he ask about me being a hero? I DO want to be one, but I’m not so sure I can specifically be a Kamen Rider.”

“Batman’s not a Kamen Rider,” reminded Life.

“And your father’s not pushing him to be one,” remarked Xiomara.

“But Dad’s always going on about how Kamen Riders are the most varied type of hero!” replied Sora.

“That’s not entirely true, the various Super Sentai teams are rather varied.”

“Sora, was it?” asked Life. “It sounds to me that you fear that you’re failing your father.”

“…I am.”

“Now that’s not true at all!” remarked Xiomara.

“Mama, what if he doesn’t accept that I don’t want to be a Kamen Rider?!”

“He WILL! …If he stupidly doesn’t, I can make him understand.”

“You know, there’s an organization that I think could help you,” mused Life. She then gave Sora a blue ring. Sora picked it up and saw that the ring had the symbol of what looked like an alien lantern on it.

“…The Blue Lantern Corps?” he asked.

“They could give you the serenity your crave and give you the ability to fight without the use of a belt.”

“I’m sure Papa would love to know that his son is a Blue Lantern,” urged Xiomara.

“…I’ll think about it.”

“Here we are!” called Max. “Mt. Rushmore!” The familiar carved faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln loomed over everyone. The cavalcade drove into the mountains and a secret entrance opened to reveal a hidden base. Ben’s Phury was taken to the medical ward and Sky Runner advised the medical staff on treatment. It required Energon to counteract the effects of the Dark Energon in Phury’s bloodstream. The two would cancel each other out and the body’s immune system would naturally purge it. She would be out of action for a few hours. As he waited, Sora looked at the ring Life gave him. Life then approached Sora again.

“…It’s a big decision,” she remarked.

“…Life, do you even WANT to leave this universe?” asked Sora. Life grimaced.

“To be honest, no.”

“Why?”

“Because this universe is one of the most diverse ones when it comes to life-forms. Yes, it has its baddies that want to burn it or control it, but this universe is proof that life finds a way!”

“Then maybe your Source would be safer here.”

“I don’t think I got the full story about why you lot are here.”

“…It’s about the boss of the ones that invaded Plumber HQ. You see, he has something called the Tome-”

“The what?!”

“Th-The Tome.”

“The same Tome that can make something real by writing it down and narrating it?!”

“Y-Yes!” Life’s face was frozen in stark terror.

“…That’s why they’re here! They want my Source!”

“They’re after your sister’s Sources too,” called a voice. It was Rosadera. “Optimus, Megumi, and Arsha’s 3V2R prizes are also needed for the Author’s grand design.”

“…Then it really IS time to go home. …Will they really accept a nine Horseman Sisterhood?”

“It’s ten again,” said Sora. Life looked to him in surprise. “The Horsemen of the Apocalypse found their new Chaos, a lady by the name of Lacey.”

“…40,000 years it took them to do that,” mused Life. She smiled. “Order’s going to like that. …I miss them so much.”

“Then maybe now’s a good chance to reconnect with them,” suggested Sora.

“…Not until we get my Source back.”

“Where is it?”

“In a hidden pocket dimension inside Plumber HQ. We must retake it soon.”

“We better discuss this with everyone, then,” declared Rosadera. “Sora, are you coming with us?”

“I…I still need to decide,” replied Sora.

“Just know this,” said Life, “you don’t need a belt to be a hero.”

---

Sora spent some time to himself. He still couldn’t figure out what he wanted to do when it came to stopping evil. As he looked out of Washington’s eye, his mind still spun with questions. “And they say I brood a lot,” chuckled a voice. A de-Borgified Bruce Wayne then came up.

“…Mr. Wayne, how do you cope?” asked Sora.

“…With what?”

“With being what Gotham wants you to be?” Bruce chuckled.

“Take it from me, if Gotham found out the connection between me and my night life, they’d want me to give up being Batman.”

“Then how can you really say you’re a hero?!”

“There are enough people that look up to Batman as a symbol of hope. As long as I can inspire someone to fight against evil until the day they die, then I have won. …It’s about your dad, isn’t it?”

“I worry that he can’t see that there are other means of fighting evil without a belt.”

“I don’t think he’s THAT obsessed with the Kamen Rider franchise. I doubt he’d be in the F.N.S if he was that mule-headed. Remember, I fought alongside him in the Vortech Wars. While his preferred method of hero work involves a belt to give him armor, he respects my own methods. He once compared the variety of heroes to ice cream, there are many different flavors and they all taste good to someone.”

“But what about carrying on the legacy? I mean, don’t you want one of your family to be the next Batman?”

“I’d rather they find their own path.” Sora was surprised by that answer. “That’s what any parent wants. When Dick Grayson became Nightwing and got himself out of my shadow as Batman, I couldn’t be prouder of him. And I know Hiroki, he would want you to carve out your own path.”

“…I guess I’m not so hopeful,” admitted Hiroki.

“You know, there’s an organization in my universe that fights for hope,” replied Bruce. “They usually assist the Green Lanterns.”

“…You’re not talking about the Blue Lanterns, are you?”

“You know about them?”

“I’ve done some research on each Lantern Corps. Life gave me a Blue Lantern ring.”

“Well, Kamen Riders fight for hope, why not assist them as a Blue Lantern? Just a suggestion.” Bruce then headed off and Sora took the ring out of his pocket, staring at it.

“…Hope,” he muttered. “…I could do with that myself.” He then looked to the stars. “Imagine that, a monk needing hope.”

---

Bruce met up with Megumi, Optimus, and Arsha. “Something on your mind, Bruce?” asked Megumi.

“Your nephew is a little lacking in hope,” replied Bruce. Megumi grimaced.

“It’s something he’s struggled with for his entire life. He looks up to his father a lot and wants to emulate him, but he’s come face to face with the fact that he’s not his father and he feels like he’s failing himself.”

“That’s a load!” remarked Optimus. “He’s not failing anyone!”

“Unfortunately, I know all too well of children that feel like they’re not living up to their parents’ ideals when they feel that their parents are wrong in some fashion,” sighed Arsha.

“One of your kids?” asked Megumi.

“Both of me and Lardeth’s kids. They wanted to be heroes like us but didn’t like combat. It was a huge relief to them when we told them we didn’t like combat either, especially after the Final War. I think Sora and Hiroki need to talk it out soon.”

“I have a feeling the conversation will be better than Sora realizes. I know Hiroki. He’s a very understanding man. The only thing he’s afraid of is that his son won’t find his own path.”

“Any parent fears that for their kid,” replied Optimus. “I went through that with my daughters. For a moment, I thought that my own kids would want to be a Prime. When I offered them the Matrix, though, they said no, they didn’t want to lead the Autobots. …Now, Glyph, on the other servo, I think she has potential to be a better Prime than me.”

“If Arcee’s okay with it,” remarked Arsha.

Optimus and Nemesis continued their duel, with Optimus striking fast and Nemesis blocking every blow. Optimus then swatted Nemesis’ knife-hand chop and made something fall out of his arm and crash onto the floor. A purple liquid spilled out of the object. “Huh, I’m out of fuel,” muttered Nemesis.

“And I’m out of patience for you!” snarled Optimus as he decked Nemesis. Nemesis ended up sprawled on the floor.

“You REALLY know how to spoil a coming-out party!” he grunted. “How am I supposed to spread the gospel of darkness if you destroy any and all Dark Energon deposits and take away a proper hideout for me and my associates?”

“You’re sick!” hissed Optimus. “You need mental help fast!”

“Well, maybe I DO feel a little…off.” Nemesis then slammed his foot into Optimus’ chest and sent him to the floor. “But being sent to Hell will do that to you! You think it’s all about demons constantly whipping you and pouring lemon juice on the wounds for all eternity?! No! It’s being crammed into a damn cul-de-sac with no privacy, no space to call your own, and constant sharing circles with two dress-wearing Oni that can make multiple copies of themselves, one of them being a damn transvestite! Well, not this time! This time, Khan’s brought us back to life AND with bodies like Megumi’s! Immortal AND invulnerable!”

“Yet she could still fell pain!” Optimus then got back up and went on the offensive.

“You know,” Nemesis quipped as he blocked the blows, “I think Plumber HQ would be a great set of digs! Our current hideout’s a shanty in Under-town, right below Bellwood!” Optimus then drove an uppercut into Nemesis’ jaw. Nemesis rubbed his chin. “All right, you win this fight, but not the base! Mark my words! Bellwood’s gonna be shrouded in darkness for eternity unless Life comes with us!” Nemesis pulled his gun out and fired. Optimus dodged the shot and Nemesis took that opportunity to transform and get away. Optimus briefly considered pursuing him, then he recalled that his friends were fighting the Lords. He then made a call.

“Megumi, this is Optimus. My evil twin, Nemesis Prime, is escaping. Be advised, he’s unhinged.”

---

“Roger that,” replied Megumi. She ended the call. “Suit up! Arcee, have you met Optimus’ evil twin?”

“No, but I know about him,” replied Arcee. “He’s actually two evil doubles in one Unicron-worshipping package. The Optimus Repaint exterior is piloted by an evil cyborg version of Tails.”

“Tails’ smarts, Optimus’ powers, and a wicked streak the size of a single universe. Lovely,” grunted Megumi.

“Vortex Driver!”

“Crysta Driver!”

“Hen-!” Disruptor shots then hit the pavement near them. The Lords then surrounded them.

“What in-?!” spluttered Xiomara. A few Lords then appeared with a woman in their grasp. The woman had obsidian skin and wore white.

“One false move and Life gets it!” warned a Lord.

“She CAN’T get it,” remarked Kaede. “She’s an immortal.”

“Oh, she doesn’t need to die, but she’s gonna wish she can!”

“Y…You can’t!” gasped the woman, Life.

“Oh, but we can!”

“What did the Author say about them?” snapped a voice. Everyone turned to an alleyway to see a woman come out. The appearance of the woman made Arsha freeze in terror. The woman was cyan-skinned, had moth antennae sprouting from her hair, insect wings on her back, cybernetic legs, a cybernetic arm, and a prosthetic right eye. The talons of her feet created holes in the pavement as she came out of the alley. Arsha’s terror was palpable.

“…Borg!” she whispered.

“DOCTOR Borg, Arsha,” corrected the woman, the cyborg Sprite, Dr. C. Y. Borg. “Then again, for you, it’s been 15,000 years, so you’re bound to forget things about enemies you’ve killed. I take it you’re ruling the Realms?” Arsha said nothing. Dr. Borg then turned to the Lords. They all had their disruptors pointed at Life. “Only the ones holding her need to keep their weapons on her,” she said. “The rest of you, keep your disruptors trained on our adversaries. If they even blink in a fashion that indicates they’re going to do something, open fire. Oh, and avoid the Transformer’s chest. Yes, that’s where their Spark is, but that also means that’s where their armor is the strongest. Aim for the metal that matches the face’s color, then coordinate fire at the points where the armor overlaps the skin.”

“Don’t do this!” warned Life.

“Did you say something?” asked Dr. Borg.

“Leave her out of this, Borg!” snarled Arsha, coming to her senses. Dr. Borg smirked.

“Not even questioning why I’m here before you! You guessed who brought me back and how by virtue of learning about my colleagues’ return. That’s what I like about you, Arsha, you make decisions based on the facts. It’s because of that that you’re predictable! That’s why victory is assured for us! We’ve read up on you and your activities! We know your every move! We know how you think!”

“Do you know what I’m thinking right now?” Dr. Borg chuckled at Arsha’s question.

“Yes. You’re thinking ‘What’s my arch nemesis’ grand design this time?’”

“Something along those lines. I’m also thinking about who to take out first.”

“Take them out? What would your family say, dating one of the Lords behind their back?” Dr. Borg laughed at her crass joke. “Just so we’re clear, I fully intend to present your corpse to the Realms, but you need to suffer first!” Kaede looked at one of the Lords holding Life down, then her eyes widened.

“…Mr. Wayne?” she said. Dr. Borg smirked again. Megumi saw who Kaede was talking about.

“Bruce, what happened to you?! When did you get assimilated?!”

“It was during a Parent Teacher conference with Damian’s boarding school headmaster,” explained Dr. Borg. “He’s remained silent since his assimilation. Through that, we’ve learned about his Agamemno Contingencies. Did you know he was so paranoid that he made one for himself if he turned rogue? I remember how it goes, the file was called ‘Detective’ and it read ‘While Batman is a master strategist and combatant, he is only human. The best way to disable his strategic abilities would be to distract him, his parents are an excellent blind spot as is his endless crusade to protect the innocent, taking hostages is a good distraction, particularly if they’re friends or family.’” Megumi smirked this time.

“You didn’t read it all!” she said. Dr. Borg looked offended.

“What’s THAT supposed to mean?!” she snarled. “I recited it word for word!”

“You missed a sentence in that one.”

“Oh, really? And how does that sentence go?”

“Bruce, wanna explain or should I?” The Bruce Wayne Lord glared at Dr. Borg.

“‘Think carefully before you do this’!” he said. He then decked his fellow Lords and tore the disruptor off his arm. The armor on his head then lowered to give the illusion of his usual appearance as Batman.

“The Bat’s betrayed us!” called a Lord.

“Get rid of him!” ordered Dr. Borg. She then shrunk to the size of an insect and flew off.

“Stop them!” ordered Megumi. This time, the transformation was uninterrupted.

“Henshin!” called the Riders. They then adopted their Rider personas as everyone, even Life, got ready to fight. Sora was alarmed.

“Ma’am, please get to safety!” he urged.

“I appreciate the concern,” replied Life, “but I wear flats for a reason.”

“TATAKAE!” called Royal. Everyone went on the offensive, with Batman taking out the most Lords. It became a source of light contention.

“Batman!” protested Seeker. “That was mine!”

“You were about to kill him!” snarled Batman.

“They’re too far gone, unlike you!”

“Not what you think! We do! Not! Kill!”

“Batman’s right!” called Shade. “The Lord Collective is nowhere near as oppressive as the original Borg Collective. Just knocking them out for a bit is enough to bring them to their senses.” To prove her point, the Lords she already knocked out woke up and looked around.

“What the?” stammered one. “Downtown? I was in the financial district!”

“Wait a minute, these are Bellwood citizens?!” yelped Sora.

“Thanks for the tip, Batman!” called Life. Everyone dialed it back and knocked their enemies out. Once the fight was over, everyone was panting. Royal turned to Batman.

“I’m immortal, yet I’m getting too old for this,” she joked.

“You’re out of practice,” remarked Batman.

“You’re no spring chicken yourself, Bats,” observed Shade. “Your kicks weren’t getting high enough, even with all that Borg kit.”

“I’m aware. It’s why my new daughter’s taking up the cowl and modifying her batsuit.”

“…Daughter?” asked Royal.

“Diana and I married and had a kid,” explained Batman. “Damian constantly reminds me I have two blood children now.”

“And he approves of Wonder Woman as a mom?”

“He and the rest of the…‘Batfam’ insisted I marry her. I was surprised she gave up her own immortality for me.”

“I guess she figured a life without you would be empty.”

“…That’s the most plausible theory.” Royal and the rest of the Riders then ended their transformations.

“Good to see you again, Batman,” she said as she shook his hand.

“And you, Megumi. Thanks for giving me an opening to betray the Lords.”

“Glad I could help. Come on, Bats. We better get that Borg junk off of and out of you.”

“The only place that could do that safely would be Plumber HQ. It’s currently occupied by the enemy, even when Nemesis Prime got away from Optimus.”

“What about the rest of the team?” asked Arsha.

“They’re safe. Magister Max Tennyson got them out of there and this world’s Phury is being taken care of.”

“That still leaves our Phury,” muttered Arcee.

“Batman,” said Megumi, “do you know who else the Author brought back? We know Hiro and Nemesis Prime are with Dr. Borg.”

“He’s brought back Dr. Borg’s spouses and councilors, a former wraith known as Intrag, Nemesis Prime’s fellow Terrorcons, and Hiro’s wife and daughter.”

“His daughter? I thought she was still in Igura’s womb.”

“She was born in Hell and made to suffer like the rest of the damned.”

“Hold on, she was punished for sins she didn’t have a chance to commit?!”

“You can guess that the experience made her insane.”

“No kidding. We better regroup somewhere.” Megumi activated her communicator. “Minna, we gotta meet up elsewhere. Guess who’s back?”