Disclaimer: This story is fiction. There are two celebrities who will appear from time-to-time. The other characters are fictitious. Any similarities to persons living or dead are completely coincidental.
In this story, I have continued the adventures of Batman, my Batman, which his story first began in "Tales of a Real Dark Knight" in the Boy Band section of this archive. It spanned 250 chapters. You will find many universes merging, as the below copyrights reveal. I hope you all enjoy this.
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. Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Wonder Woman created by William Moulton Marston. Copyright DC Comics.
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.
I don't know for sure if I will use all the above elements, but just in case, I have myself covered.
I appreciate any feedback that you may want to give. I do hope that you enjoy it!!!
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authorjames2002@gmail.com
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Chapter 1 Rising Storm
"Tropical storm Cire is building up pressure as wind currents feed the strength of the storm," the weather announcer stated. "Residents are warned to take precautions in case the storm moves to land and it turns into a hurricane."
A gloved hand turned the radio off and grinned underneath his hood. "And so it begins."
Deep below the city of Orlando, in a secret cave underneath an inconspicuous building, several figures moved about the pools of light and shadow cast by the lights hanging from the cavern ceiling.
"You know, we're really gonna' have to get a bigger...something. Cave, lair, hideout, whatever you want to call it," Barry said as he walked up to the computer.
"We're working on it," I said as I sat down at the computer. "The Watchers' Council is doing what they can to help us get a bigger place. When the cave was established as a hideout, the Council didn't think there would be more than one person utilizing its resources. No one counted on having ten or so heroes working together like we are."
"It isn't quite so bad," Diana stated. "Sarah, Dinah, and Preston are in England training with the Council and other Slayers. We have some room to breathe."
"It must be nice," Clark added. "To be with people who are like you so you don't feel quite so alone in the world."
"I understand your position," J'onn said as he faded into visibility. "It is sad to be alone in the world."
I turned in my seat feeling saddened by what they said. I could empathize with their plight. Both J'onn and Clark were orphans of their people, their planet. No others of their races existed. Even though they could fit in this world through appearance, knowing who and what they are alienated them.
Clark was blessed with two Earth parents who love and care for him like their own. It wasn't until recently that his abilities manifested and he figured out who he was. It scared him and made him angry that he was different from everyone else. His parents, the Kents, called me and I flew out to Smallville to meet him. I realized that he needed someone to guide him with his new-found powers as well as come to terms with who he was. We've been making progress over the last few weeks. He's gotten control of his powers and he has taken on a new identity in order to use them. This will keep his family and friends safe as he fights forces that are beyond those of mortal men.
J'onn is a more tragic story in that he never had an upbringing as an Earthling. His family and friends have all been destroyed by invaders to his home planet, a planet that is neighbor to Earth, Mars. And his first encounter with humanity left much to be desired. He was taken captive by military personal for study. He was able to telepathically reach out to me from Dayton, Ohio. I went and rescued him. He was surprised at first to find out that he was communicating with more humans, especially ones that were willing to befriend him. But he's been learning, too, about people.
Diana was sent to me specifically to teach her about man's world. She was not the least bit surprised by the fact I was married to another man. In her world, women married women all the time. Same-sex relationships weren't new to her. Just men in general were. Her mother warned that men were violent creatures, prone to greed, with lust for power. But there were some men who could be trusted. She knew of only a few, yours truly included. Diana is a very intelligent young woman with a thirst for truth, whether it is spiritual truth, cultural truth, or personal truth. I admire her greatly for that thirst. But no one should be fooled by her mild, compassionate curiosity. If someone were to piss her off, her Amazonian warrior upbringing would kick in and her fury would be unleashed. I've made it a rule never to make her mad unless it is to teach her something she needs to know.
"You don't have to be from another planet to be alone in this world," Barry stated. "I've been surviving on the streets since I was seven years old. I don't know what happened to my mother or father. Who knows if I have any brothers or sisters? People on the street take care of you the best they can, but when the going gets tough, they get going and take care of themselves. I've made a few connections with people that have helped me get along in life. Dinah is one of them. She cared about me regardless of my skin color or economic status. She cared about me for who I was.
"My point is that people from all walks of life are alone. We decide who are families are and who aren't. Clark, you might be from another world, but you have parents who love and care for you. All you've ever known is them. The fact that you aren't from around here doesn't change their love for you. J'onn, you are an orphan from your world. But Sarah and Preston and Joseph are also orphans. Lance and Eric took them in as their own. And they are doing that with all of us, taking us in and making us a family. We're all family here. Yeah, we put on those costumes and use our powers for the good of everyone else in the world, but regardless of those costumes, we are important and we are family. Eric has taught me that."
I wiped a tear from my eye and the others noticed. Clark's eyes were full of tears as well, they just didn't pour down his face.
Barry looked over at me and rolled his eyes. "I didn't say all that so you would get weepy, Eric."
Everyone laughed.
"I said it because it needed to be said. Otherwise some of you would get on a `pity me' kick and I ain't into dealing with that."
"I don't think we would ever get into that. We have each other," Clark said and smiled at the others.
"Speaking of each other, where are Ella and Arthur?"
"Arthur returned to Atlantis to see if the Atlanteans could help in any way with the storm. Being ocean dwellers gives them the heads up on issues in the ocean. They might be able to tell us how powerful the storm might become, what direction it is heading, where it may go, and so forth.
"Ella is on Oa for the time being. She is training with the other Green Lanterns. Apparently something is going on for which she is needed."
"Where is Oa?" Clark asked.
"Honestly, I don't know. Are you wondering if it is where Krypton used to be?"
Clark nodded affirmatively.
"I can have Ella ask them when she gets back."
The sound of the trap door echoed and then footfalls came down the ladder. "Ask who what?" Lance asked as he stepped down onto the hard, stone floor.
"Ask Ella if the Guardians of Oa know where Krypton used to be," Clark answered.
Lance nodded and patted Clark on the shoulder as he walked past. "They might know seeing as they are the Guardians of the Universe." Lance walked up behind me and put his hands on my shoulders, bent slightly and kissed the top of my bald head. "What are you looking at?"
"The storm. Oracle is hooked up to several satellites and is monitoring the increasing strength. The way meteorologists are talking, this is one powerful storm. It's behaving unnaturally. The strength it has accumulated since it started is way beyond what is normal. They aren't sure if the high and low pressure winds creating this are acting together purely by coincidence or if something more is going on."
"At this rate, what kind of damage would it do?"
"The usual damage a hurricane causes provided it doesn't increase in speed and strength. If it does, we are talking about tsunami weather. And that, as we know from what happened in December of 2004, can be catastrophic."
"Do you want us to do anything about this?" Clark asked.
"There's really nothing you can do right now, as far as the storm is concerned. If you could, go upstairs and check on the children."
"Sure thing. Come on." The teens left leaving Lance and I alone.
"How are you?" Lance asked me as he kneaded my shoulders.
"Worried about the kids," I answered.
"You don't have anything to worry about. They are on the other side of the globe safe from the storm."
"I know."
"And they are training, learning how to use their abilities."
"I know that, too," I said with a bit more sarcasm to it. "They were supposed to be training with Jessica and me."
"They are with others who are learning. We can't shelter them from the world."
"I have a terrible feeling that something horrible is going to happen soon. And I don't think that I can stop it."
"It's the storm. There is this powerful storm coming and you can't do anything to prevent it from happening."
"I could if my powers were at their full potential, instead of winking out on me when I need them most."
"Have you talked to Professor Xavier about it? He and Jean might be able to do something about it."
"Not yet. I've been too busy. After what happened a few weeks ago with Joseph and the others. Worrying about me is the last thing on my mind."
The National Weather Service satellites scanned the tropical storm which had the potential to develop into a full-blown hurricane. They watched for any change in speed and strength. However, if they had looked a little closer, they would have seen four strange figures on one of the waves. One wore all black, face shrouded in a cloak. He hovered over the waves oblivious to what was going on around him. Two were young women wearing string bikinis and standing on a surfboard. The third, a white-skinned man with green hair and a large smile, wore a thong and balanced his self on a tie-dyed surfboard. He sported sunglasses and tried his best to keep balance. If one had super hearing, one could hear the maniacal laugh which emanated from his grin.
"Surf's up!" he shouted as he rode the wave.
"Good idea," the man under the hood said.
Suddenly, the waves surged forward with a burst of speed and strength.
The National Weather Service satellites picked up the change in speed and sent signals to the station in Florida. Alarms went off and meteorologists scrambled. The tropical storm which might have developed into a hard hitting hurricane, one similar to what had been seen before in this country, became something this country could not possible handle.
The man in charge of the evening shift picked up the telephone and called his supervisor. "Sir, we have a situation. The governor needs to be alerted."
"What is it?" the supervisor asked. "What's going on?"
"Sir, the storm has just turned into a tsunami."
"What's the strength and bearing?"
"It's heading right toward Florida. The satellites are picking up massive surges. When this thing hits, it will flood Florida. The strength may carry the tsunami to the other side of the state."
"The Gulf of Mexico?"
"Yes, sir. And possible wipe out the southern coastal states and the eastern coast of Texas."
"My God."
Immediately, Oracle began flickering drawing my attention away from Lance. My eyes widened when I saw the data filling the screen.
"Oh, shit," Lance whispered.
I jumped at the computer and pressed the call button. The button sent out a signal to all the members of the Justice League who were in the area. The signal meant for them to come to the cave.
Within seconds, Clark, Diana, J'onn, and Barry were in the cave.
"What is it?" Diana asked.
"We've got a serious problem."
To Be Continued...
What do you think of the first chapter of "Fall of a Real Dark Knight"? This is a chapter I've been planning for some time as well. I promise it won't nearly be as crazy as the last chapter. I don't have as many character introductions to make. In fact, I don't think I have much of any, just the return of some old, familiar faces. Sit back, relax, and enjoy!