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.
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.
Star Wars and all related concepts created by or based on the universe created by George Lucas. Copyright 20th Century Fox, LucasFilms Ltd. and Lucas Books/Ballantine Books.
I don't know for sure if I will use all the above elements, but just in case, I have myself covered.
This story has taken on a life of its own. From its inception a year ago, I had only thought it would last ten chapters maximum. As you can see, it has grown tremendously. Mostly due to readers emailing me and telling me they've enjoyed it or have received help due to certain issues addressed. I've enjoyed writing this story but it would not have been written without men and women reading it and telling me they've enjoyed it. I do hope that you continue to enjoy each new chapter as our hero lives and grows.
I have received many emails from people who have enjoyed it and some from those who do not. I would enjoy hearing from you. Any emails you send, please tell me what chapter and story you are commenting on. Thanks.
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Chapter 42 Into Space
"This is too unreal!" Lance said as we arrived at the hotel room.
I had relayed the story of what happened once he was taken by the vampires.
"You went through all that? What a honeymoon!"
"I wish it were different," I said. "I wish we could have had a nice, relaxing honeymoon."
"It is okay, Eric. I know you don't plan for these things to happen. They just seem to happen to you. I can hold my own."
"As I noticed. When did you learn how to shoot?"
"Something I have always practiced growing up in Mississippi."
I kissed Lance again on the lips and pulled away. I would have loved for the kiss to linger but there were other matters to attend to. I went into the bedroom and changed into my bat-suit. I came out and attached the red Lightsaber to my belt. I handed Lance the gun belt Kai-El brought and he placed the smaller blaster in the holster. He hefted the rifle-sized blaster and we walked to the balcony. I reached around him and held him close.
"Ready?" I asked.
Lance nodded and smiled.
I pulled out my grappling gun, attached the end to the balcony and jumped. The cord lowered us to the patio and disconnected. We ran into the woods where Kai-El's shuttle crashed. That was the best place to start.
We arrived and found some imprints in the sand that looked like places for landing gear.
"Someone or something landed," Lance pointed out.
"And here it comes," I said tapping his shoulder and pointing.
A small shuttle was gliding down out of the night sky.
"Come on."
Lance and I ran and jumped into the bushes. The shuttle came down and several troopers disembarked.
"This was their destination," one Stormtrooper said to the rest.
"Sir, I found some markings consistent with the landing gear on the shuttle."
"Scan the area for the shuttle. We might have passed them."
One trooper went inside the ship.
I turned to Lance. "I have an idea. Just follow along."
Lance nodded.
In a few moments, I exited the covering with Lance right behind me. The Stormtroopers turned to us and readied their blasters.
"Halt!" one ordered.
"Do you not recognize me?" I said. "I am the one Darth Malice came here for."
"Where is Darth Malice?"
"I don't know. She left me her Lightsaber since they do not have the technology here to make them. She may have left on the shuttle you are looking for."
"Come with us," the Stormtrooper commander said. "Who is this?"
"This is my lover. He will be with me."
The reluctantly looked at Lance then back to me and finally let us board.
The shuttle lifted off and he and I were on our way into outer space.
I leaned over to him and whispered, "Here you are on your way space, just like you wanted."
"I was hoping it wouldn't be as terrifying and dangerous as what we are doing."
"Look on the bright side, I'm with you and it is on our honeymoon."
Lance just shook his head and smiled. I smiled underneath the mask and turned my attention back to the scenery in front of us.
"I think it is coming back," Justin said looking at the confusing image on his small screen.
The three had picked up a second shuttle leaving the main ship a few minutes ago. Kai-El had to turn away and fly out of visual and sensor range of the local craft so as not to be detected. They hid watching for what the shuttle was going to do. It hadn't stayed on the planet too long before it headed back out toward the mother ship.
"What do we do?" Justin asked.
"Join up with the shuttle. They don't know Darth Malice is dead. I could use my influence to make them believe I am her. We'll follow the shuttle into the docking bay and attack, unless there are too many troops. Then, we hide onboard here."
"Great plan," Justin replied, though not sounding very convinced of its actual greatness.
They turned their shuttle and flew into view. Static came over the radio.
"Shuttle One, what is your destination," the communications officer radioed.
"This is Darth Malice," Kai-El said in a very convincing voice. "I was looking for the Jedi but could not find her. I circled back to confer with Darth Grim."
"Understood, my lady. We found the Batman and he is with us. He has your Lightsaber. He will be most satisfied to hear you are well. He was searching for you as were we."
"I am fine. There were a few problems with the shuttles communications array."
A Stormtrooper came back to the cabin Lance and I was occupying and entered. "Darth Malice wishes to speak to you. She was on the earlier shuttle."
"Give me some privacy," I replied and turned on the communications panel. Thank God they were easy to use.
"This is Batman," I said.
"Is your channel secure?"
"I don't know," I replied hesitantly. I thought for sure Darth Malice had been killed.
"Turn the blue knob several clicks to the left."
After I did so I told her.
"Good," Kai-El's voice said in response. "You haven't turned to the Dark Side, have you?"
"No," I replied. "I'm all Light Side-y."
"Huntress wants to know where Lance is."
"He's with me. And Turic is gone." After Kai-El relayed the message, I asked, "What are we going to do when the shuttle doors open?"
The docking bay doors slid open and the two shuttles landed inside the hangar. I waited as the Stormtroopers let me know what was going on. They exited the shuttle and Lance and I followed. The hatch and ramp to the other shuttle Kai-El, Huntress and Justin were on opened and came down to the floor. The Stormtroopers gathered at the bottom of the ramp and waited. Lance and I exited the shuttle but stayed close by the ramp in case we needed to use it for a barricade.
Lance was nervous, I could tell. I was nervous having him with me. I never planned on him getting involved in my exploits as Batman. I didn't want him in danger. But if anything, the last few days proved it wouldn't matter what we did, we would always be in the thick of danger. And his assault on Turic proved he could hold his own if he had to. Still, I didn't want him to be forced into this life. It wasn't fair.
Kai-El and Huntress leapt out of the hatch with Lightsabers blazing. I jumped forward and turned on my Lightsaber. Yellow, purple, and blue blades swung and cut dismembering the troopers. Two Stormtroopers attempted a run at the alarm system but Justin and Lance cut them down with blaster bolts. Once all the Stormtroopers were taken care of, the five of us gathered on one shuttle to discuss the situation.
"What are your plans?" I asked Kai-El.
"I need to get back to my galaxy. I know where I have to go; I just need to make sure the shuttle has enough fuel to make it."
"So these shuttles can get you home?"
"Yes," she replied. "I only need one but I need it fueled up. I should also like to send a message to Coruscant and alert the Jedi Council."
"Justin, Lance and I can fuel up the shuttle and store any supplies you need. Just show us how to do it. You and Huntress can find a nearby communications port and send your message."
"Good idea," Kai-El replied. "Are you with me, Huntress?"
"Definitely," Huntress replied.
"Then let's get going."
After showing us men how to fuel the shuttle and what supply canisters to load, Huntress and Kai-El headed down a corridor toward the communications array.
"Are you okay?" Justin asked Lance.
"With what?"
"With what happened with Turic. I know it freaked me out when I was held captive by him. I didn't know what was going to happen. But Eric..."
"I know," Lance replied. "I was there. Eric saved you. And I'm grateful to him for that. I don't know we would have done without you, Justin. You are our friend."
"Yeah," Justin replied. "You are a very lucky guy, Lance. You've got someone who cares about you very much. Part of me wishes..."
Justin became silent.
"Wishes what?" Lance asked.
"Part of me wishes I had a chance with Eric. He is a great guy. But, I'm lucky to have who I have, too. Jessica is awesome. In some ways, she's like a female Eric."
"I know," Lance replied. He remembered the time when he dated Jessica, before he realized he was gay and that a relationship with her wouldn't work out. At the same time, he was jealous. He didn't want someone wanting his husband. But he couldn't let jealousy rule him.
I carried a canister back from a pile of containers and noticed the two men appearing to be somber.
"Is something wrong, guys?" I asked.
"Not at all," Justin replied with a smile.
"Nothing," Lance said and he came up to me.
"That's the last of the containers. We just have to wait for Huntress and Kai-El."
The two women headed down the corridor and found the room Kai-El was searching for. The Jedi pressed the door panel and the doors opened. No one was inside.
"This is easy," she said.
"Maybe a little too easy?" Huntress asked.
"Any other time, I would agree. But I don't sense anything. And Darth Malice and Darth Grim don't have many on their side. Hence why Darth Malice was looking for Batman."
"What was she looking for Batman?"
"A Batman from your world somehow traveled to our galaxy and had an encounter with Anakin Skywalker. That encounter was documented as being an event that helped propel the Jedi over the edge and into the abyss of the Dark Side. Darth Malice found the journal entries and sought to find this Batman and bring him with her to help draw others to the Dark Side."
"Are you sure it wasn't a different Batman?"
"From the looks of the Batman from our past, the costumes are different."
Kai-El played the computer keys expertly and an image appeared. "This is what the Batman looked like that came to Anakin. These are only sketches..."
"But I get the idea. Different costume. Younger."
"And he had red hair."
"And Eric, well, doesn't have any at the moment."
The two ladies smiled.
"I have secured a channel and am going to send my message," Kai-El replied. "Please keep watch at the door."
"Of course," Huntress replied and stepped outside the corridor.
The doors closed behind her and she was all alone. Except, she didn't feel all alone. She looked around searching for whatever made her uneasy. Suddenly, a red blade ignited and a black suit was holding the hilt.
"A Shadowtrooper," Huntress said. She ignited her double-bladed Lightsaber and engaged the creature in battle.
The Shadowtrooper swung at her. She blocked and the Shadowtrooper swung around the other way. Huntress blocked a second time and the blade was swung around and brought down toward her head. Huntress blocked and spun around the Shadowtrooper. As the creature turned around, Huntress swung the Lightsaber at its waist. The energy blade swiped clean through the creature severing its body in half.
The doors to the communications room opened and Kai-El exited. She saw the body of the Shadowtrooper on the ground and looked at Huntress.
"The message has been sent and it appears that they know we are here."
"Then let's move," Huntress said and the two women took off down the corridor.
The doors parted at one end of the bay and I recognized the creature on the other end. It was a Rodian, if memory served. It looked like Greedo from Star Wars: A New Hope. However, this one looked meaner.
"Greetings," the creature said as it walked toward me. "I am Darth Grim. At last we meet, Batman. Darth Malice was speaking highly of you. Have you seen Darth Malice?"
"I believe she is off somewhere. She asked me to stay here and load up the shuttle for her."
"Excellent," the Sith said as it neared.
Darth Grim held back his black robe and pulled out his curved Lightsaber hilt and ignited it. He swung at my head and I had just enough time to roll away from him. Justin and Lance open fire on the Sith Lord but Grim managed to deflect the bullets back at the two singers. They dived out of the way as the blasts came at them.
I rolled up to my feet and ignited the red Lightsaber turning to face Darth Grim.
"Who killed Darth Malice?" he asked.
"Kai-El Ski did," I replied.
"Then I will need an apprentice to continue her work. Do you know why we were coming for you?"
"Malice told me. I helped send Anakin Skywalker to the Dark Side."
"Yes, you did," Grim replied.
We circled each other blades ready in case the other struck.
"Do you know how you did it?"
"No," I replied.
"But not loving him. You made him believe you loved him and he fell in love with you. You slept with him, giving him hours upon hours of physical pleasure, and then tore his heart from him. You used the best way of turning someone dark. You scorned him. It is recorded that you used such finesse and grace. Darth Malice wants you to help us by using your abilities."
Lance and Justin both couldn't believe Darth Grim's words. They cut deep into Lance's heart and Justin knew what Lance was feeling, because part of him felt the same way.
"There is one problem with that scenario," I replied to Darth Grim's words.
"And what is that?" Grim asked.
"I don't belong to the Dark Side."
I swung my blade at the Sith Lord. He blocked it and pushed me away. Then he flipped backwards into the air and landed on a crate.
"Nice attack," the Sith Lord complimented.
Darth Grim jumped from the crate and flipped in the air. He landed on me, knocking me to the floor and flipped away. He landed between Justin and Lance and me. He turned to the two young men.
"Which of you does he love most? That is the one who will die last."
Justin and Lance held up their guns. Darth Grim swung his blade around and cut the guns in half before either could get off a shot.
"Want to try this again?"
"Grim," I called out.
The Rodian turned and my fist met his jaw. He spun away under the impact. He ignited his saber and swung it back at me. I blocked and flipped over him. As I landed, I grabbed him by the back of his shirt collar and yanked him backwards. He stumbled away from Lance and Justin, which was my immediate goal. I didn't want him anywhere near the two.
His blade flashed out and I met his attacks trying to keep up with his speed. Strike after strike, blow after blow our blades collided until finally he knocked my blade from my hand. Using the Force, Darth Grim picked me up in the choking power and I hovered in the air.
"You cannot defeat me," he said. "You are not the one we are searching for. No one who could turn one of the most powerful Jedi to the Dark Side could resist the Dark Side himself."
"I...nearly...didn't, Grim. And you....can be free...of the Dark Side yourself...if you want to be free."
"How noble of you to offer me hope. But that is a moot point. I do not want to be free of the Dark Side. I have embraced it. It gives me such power. I will show you that power. Your boyfriends will die."
My eyes must have shown the surprise on my face. I couldn't believe he called them both my boyfriends. Didn't anyone in any galaxy believe in monogamy?
"You care for them both deeply. They will be made to suffer, as will all who get in my way."
I saw Huntress and Kai-El enter through the doors. I had to keep him from looking, though. I had to distract him. Mustering all the energy I had left, I pulled the hilt of the Lightsaber through the air. It hit him in the back and he dropped me to the ground. My Lightsaber hilt spun away as I released my grip on it.
Kai-El and Huntress came around the crates with Lightsaber going. Darth Grim ignited his blade and swung at them. He blocked an attack by Huntress and swung his blade back to block Kai-El. Using the Force, he pushed the Jedi away. He brought his blade around and Huntress blocked. She turned, ignited the other side of her blade and swung it around cutting off the head of the Rodian Sith Lord. His body fell to the ground.
I gasped for breath as Lance and Justin came over to me. Huntress helped Kai-El up and I climbed to my feet.
"I thought he was going to kill you," Justin thought.
"Me, too," Lance replied.
"I thought so, too. I was lucky to have Kai-El and Huntress come in when they did."
"Is everything loaded?" Kai-El asked.
"Yes," Justin replied.
"Get onboard. We have to get going."
We climbed onto the shuttle. The hatch closed and the shuttle lifted off. Kai-El turned off the forcefield in the hangar bay and the shuttle flew out of the mother ship.
To Be Continued...