Disclaimer: This story, though maybe not in this chapter but in subsequent chapters, will have celebrities in it. I have no knowledge of their sexuality and this is not intended to imply their sexuality. This is all from my own mind. Scary!! People actually get a glimpse into my mind!!!
Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, Angel and all related characters created by Joss Whedon. Copyright 20th Century Fox.
Batman, and all related characters created by Bob Kane. Copyright DC Comics and Warner Bros.
X-MEN, and all related characters created by Stan Lee. Copyright Marvel Comics and 20th Century Fox.
The Vampire Chronicles and all related characters created by Anne Rice. Copyright Anne O'Brien Rice.
Harry Potter, Hogwarts, and all related characters created by J.K. Rowling. Copyright Scholastic Press, Inc.
I don't know for sure if I will use all the above elements, but just in case, I have myself covered.
In this story, which has been floating around in my head most of my life, you will find many universes merging, as the above copyrights reveal. I hope you all enjoy this. I appreciate any feedback that you may want to give. This story doesn't deal so much with sex, sex, sex, but more of my feelings that I struggled with and am starting to come to terms with. Part of his background is mine. I do hope that you enjoy it!!!
Any emails you send, please tell me what chapter and story you are commenting on. Thanks.
jmsotc@yahoo.com
Chapter 39 Escape from the Motherhouse
Two Talamascan guards laughed at the homophobic comment one made just a moment ago. The weakness I had felt from a psychic blast was being replaced quickly by my mutation going into effect, making me strong again.
"What the hell?" the guard said.
I could feel the energy pouring from my body. My eyes must have been glowing white. I could sense every molecule in the room, from the oxygen we breathed to the molecular density of the wood in the nearby table.
"What is he?" the second guard asked.
"I'm Batman," I said in a dark, gruff voice, as my powers stretched out and I hurled two small tables at the guards.
The guards flew into the wall with the impact. "Bloody hell!" one exclaimed as he ripped open the door and ran out into the hallway with the other one in close pursuit. I smiled and exited the room. The two guards disappeared around a corner at the end of the hallway. I turned and went the opposite way knowing that if the guards reached anyone that would be the direction I would meet assailants. I did not wish to get hit by another psychic blast, either.
At the end of the corridor a stairway went up. I took it up to a trapdoor, which happened to be locked. Pushing on it did no good, at least with normal strength. Since my mutation was in high gear due to the degrading comments, I felt it wise to take advantage of the situation. With all my strength I let my fist fly. It contacted with the door and the door popped off the hinges and flew into the air. I climbed up to a turret and stepped out of the way as the trapdoor came falling down through the opening.
I was home free, sort of. Pulling myself up I ran across the roof. As I neared the other end of the Motherhouse a white-hairedTalamascan appeared at the last steeple.
"Stop!" he ordered.
"I don't take orders from you."
"You will stop," he replied.
"Or what? You will hit me with another psychic blast? Go ahead and try." I was hoping my goading would keep his concentration off.
"I didn't want to do this."
I felt a pressure hitting me. It was like a tidal wave rushing over me. Thank heaven for my mutation. I could feel my body manipulating the molecules around me, disrupting the psychic wave that was emanating from this Talamascan. I could feel the wave when it was intensified, but my powers would counteract it. I was amazed at what power I had gained from being nearly blown up. My body had worked hard to repair the damage and, in the process, increased its abilities.
Finally the Talamascan stopped his assault having been exhausted from his concentration. He slumped back against the wall, eyes closed. I rushed over and jumped down into the turret to check his pulse. He was alive. I climbed back out onto the roof only to be tackled by a guard. We rolled across the roof and I managed to kick him off of me. We both stood and faced each other.
"That's enough," I heard a voice from behind state. I turned to see several Talamascans facing us. As improved as my powers were, I knew I would not be able to handle psychic attacks from several experienced and well-trained Talamascans. "We don't mean to hurt you unless you give us cause to. Come down with us."
I hesitated for a moment looking from face to face.
"Please," he added.
Reluctantly I agreed. As uneasy as I was, I know that if it is at all possible, come to a peaceful resolution to any disagreement. I followed the men and women down the trapdoor and stairs into a large sitting room. A fire blazed in the fireplace. The Talamascans took seats around the room. I, however, remained standing.
"Please, sit down," the white-haired man invited.
"No thank you, I prefer to stand."
"Fine," he replied with a smile. "Would you like something to drink?"
"No. Just cut to the chase. Why are you being all nicey-nicey after hitting me hard with the headache gun?"
"You threatened our security. It is in the world's best interest that we take any breach of security and meet it with enough force to subdue it. At first we thought you were a vampire until we saw the one with you."
"Marius, you mean."
The name rang a bell with the people in the room. They looked shocked and glanced at one another.
"Why was he here?" the white-haired man continued.
"He was helping me retrieve a file for the Watchers' Council that you would not give away freely."
"He knows we have strict policy concerning our records. We do not give them out so easily."
"If he knows then perhaps he had a just reason in helping me get them. Did you think of that?"
The white-haired man sighed. "It is just like many mainstream-thinking people to assume it is in good intentions for retrieving very powerful ancient texts. You have no idea what was in the volume you've stolen."
"But I do know what it will mean to this world if it is used. Countless lives will survive."
"What are you talking about?" the man asked. He seemed sincerely intrigued.
"As if you didn't know. Quentin Travers told us he asked you for the book. He told you the demon Macai has been released from his prison. You know what he did to the Slayer named Christine. And you know what he did to me. He has the sword now and is probably preparing to use it to conquer all of England."
"Please understand why we do what we do. If we handed out information to every person who felt there was a need, this world would be plummeted into chaos."
"Oh, I understand perfectly. The Talamasca and the Watchers' Council have grudges against each other. One group watches and records without interfering, taking a passive role in the spiritual forces in this world. The other group takes an active role of interfering when the spiritual forces in this world threaten humanity. Ideology against ideology. And because of pride, you will let the world go to hell in a hand basket. You are not as wise as you believe you are."
I turned and walked toward the window. The white-haired man shifted in his seat. "No, I suppose we are not. At least, some of us are not. You see, we had several members who became active in the darker community of this world. They snuck off and interacted with vampires and both were turned. And one had actually switched bodies before hand. Long ago we allowed certain pieces of information to go out to those who requested it, those who were vampires. Marius is one of them. But after what happened, the Talamasca has been reviewing policy and wondering if it is prudent to change our tactics."
I turned to face the Talamascan. "Change them to what? No longer give information out to people who can change history?"
"That is awfully arrogant of you. Who is to say that you will change what is to come?"
"I don't know if I will be successful or not. But at least I'm trying instead of sitting on my ass like some people are doing." I was infuriated at the apathy being shown by this supposed wise man. How could anybody allow a horrendous act to occur when the power to change things was within reach? It was beyond me.
"I understand your point of view," the elder Talamascan replied. "That is why we will not hold you here. But understand this, if you fail, it will rest solely on you as being the cause of the world's destruction."
"I'm well aware of that," I replied.
"Very well." The Talamascan waved his hand and one of the guards came up to him. "Please show Batman out."
"Yes, sir," the guard replied rubbing his jaw and looking upon me narrowly. "This way," he said to me.
I followed him out of the room and down the corridor.
"You have an awful lot of nerve showing up here, you know. If you ask me, they should have wiped your mind."
"If you ask me," I replied, "it seems they've already wiped yours."
The guard turned to me. "What was that?"
"I said it seems they've wiped your mind. You are no longer a free moral agent the way you were born. You allow the dictates of the Talamasca to direct your actions, your very thoughts."
"The Talamasca has done much good..."
"They've recorded much useful information. But they do not engage in protecting humanity against the forces of darkness. That is left up to people like me, people who have sacrificed their lives for the sake of humanity. The Talamasca will go on, I'm sure, recording the events of supernatural significance, making headway in understanding all aspects of the world in which we live. Good for them. But they better never interfere in my work or the work of any other person willing to die for the sake of this world."
I walked past the guard and out the door not looking back. I headed into the grove of trees in the direction of the Watchers' Council.
The Talamasca was a rather interesting organization. Like I had said earlier, it was good they recorded the supernatural instances of the past. It was a great help to what the future may hold in store for humanity. But they were taking free thinking out of its members. That is wrong no matter the organization. Organized religion was just as guilty of corrupting people, making them think their way is the only way. I have news for them: God works on an individual basis. It is amazing how some religions will say God works individually and yet with their belief system, God has to work a certain way. That is limiting God. Who are we to limit God in what he can and cannot do? Who are we to say what God determines to be right or wrong? People are willing to take up a cause, any cause, to make them feel righteous. I wonder how that makes God
The sun was soon coming and I was exhausted. I had such a busy day and a busier night and the workout was catching up to me. Oh how I wished I were arriving at the house with Lance waiting for me. I wish I could take comfort in his arms this soon coming morning. But that wasn't going to happen. Not for a while yet. I had work to do here.
I had to pass through downtown London to get to the Watchers' Council, which was on the other side of the city. As I neared an intersection, I heard someone cry out. I ran to the intersection and looked. A young man was being mugged. This looked like a job for Batman.
The young man was about eighteen or so with sandy blonde hair. There were two muggers: one was holding him while the other went through is wallet. This was all the further they were going to get with him.
I pulled out a Bat and threw it at the one holding the wallet. It hit him in the back and he fell, clutching and clawing at where the Bat impacted.
"Bloody hell!" he exclaimed.
"What the hell was that?" the one holding the young man asked.
"I don't know."
The one on the ground leaned up to his knees and looked in my direction, as did the other mugger and the victim. I walked down the middle of the foggy street no doubt appearing as a massive black silhouette to them.
"Stop right there," I said. "Leave the boy alone."
The mugger on the ground reached inside his jacket. I reached out and, as he pulled the gun from its hiding place, I pulled the gun away with my powers and hurled it across the street.
"Oh god," the second mugger said. "It's a demon from hell."
I neared them and replied, "not quite."
The mugger on the ground ran at me to tackle me. The second mugger released the boy and tackled my upper body and I fell. They pinned me down.
"You are not going to win, demon," the mugger on top of my chest stated. "We're going to send you back to hell."
"My life is hell," I replied. I swung my head forward and head-butted him. I felt his nose crack under the pressure. He grabbed at his nose and rolled off me.
"My nose," he cried out. "The bastard broke my nose!"
The mugger clutching my feet looked up at me and smiled an innocent smile. I knew there was no innocence within him. I swung my fist and punched him in the face. He released his grip on me and I stood up.
The mugger with the broken nose staggered over to a nearby building and grabbed a metal pipe. He turned and swung it at me. I stepped back. He swung it backwards and I leaned back. The mugger brought it over his head and brought it down. I reached up and grabbed it in mid-air. With my free hand, I punched him in the gut. He hunched down. I brought my hand over my head and brought it down on his back. The mugger fell to the ground.
I turned to face the other mugger and hurled the pipe away from us.
"Oh god, don't kill me," he begged as I stepped closer and closer to him. "I'm sorry for what I did. I didn't mean to harm the young pup. Please, we'll give back his wallet and all his money."
I looked to the young boy and saw him cowering in the corner. He was terrified and my heart went out to him. I couldn't stand to see anyone afraid. My eyes went back to the mugger, fury running through me.
"You terrorize people like him and all you do is apologize? You expect that will make the fear go away? It never goes away. What you have done is put something in him that only years of therapy can help him overcome. Some of his life will be wasted in fearing going out at night, all because some piss ant like you wanted to exercise some power over him and take his money.
"Do you know what thieves are? Thieves are good-for-nothing losers who don't want to work and make an honest buck. Thieves are power hungry bastards who did not earn a corporate executive job. Thieves are cowards of life. You are a coward.
"The question that remains with me is: what do I do with you? Do I beat the crap out of you, terrorizing you like you did to this young man? Do I release you so you will do this again? Or do I tie you up and have him call the Bobbies to take you to jail?
"Taking you to jail will only cure you, or dull the experience of tonight so that one day you will do this again. The only solution is to terrorize you and release you to tell all your friends about me."
"What are you?" the mugger whimpered.
I grabbed him by the collar and pulled him to my face. "I'm Batman."
I turned and threw him against the wall. The impact knocked him unconscious and he slid to the ground. I turned to the young man still curled up against the wall, tears running down his face. His eyes were closed and his body shook with fear.
I stepped up to him and knelt beside him. "Are you okay?" I asked.
I reached up with a gloved hand and wiped a tear from his face. He opened his eyes and looked up at me. I smiled to him under my mask but the effects on my eyes were the only things visible.
"It's okay. I won't hurt you."
I reached my hand out to the boy. He reached up and took it, then grabbed me and embraced me. His tears let loose and he sobbed and cried.
"I know. It was scary. But it's over. They won't hurt you."
I patted and rubbed his back until he calmed down.
"What's your name?" I asked him.
"Craig."
"Let's go home, Craig."
I walked him back to his flat and then headed back to the Watchers' castle. The sun came up as I entered the building. Jayce rushed over to meet me.
"Eric, thank heaven you are safe. Marius returned with the book and told us what happened. He wanted to return but there was no guarantee that he would have returned before sunrise."
"It is okay, Jayce. I'm fine."
"How did you escape from the Talamasca?"
"They released me. I explained to them what the information was for and they released me."
"Interesting," Jayce replied.
"Quite," I answered.
"You better get some rest. There is nothing anyone can do right now until after Professor Dumbledore, Quentin, and young Harry study the book and practice the ritual."
I nodded and went up to my room, where I stripped down and climbed into bed.
"Why is the world like it is?" I asked myself. "Why do people not care about anyone else? It is horrible."
To Be Continued...
I still haven't come up with any vehicle designs for a Bat-mobile and a Bat-cycle. I would appreciate any help from anyone. If you want to see the new Bat-suit to help or just to see it, please, let me know. I would be happy to send it your way.
Questions and comments are always welcome. All emails will be answered.