SHATTERED WORLDS | DC (2022)

Year 4: A Paradine Moment

Batman

The night had fallen by the time Batman and Ares reached the Batcave. Despite the urgency of their mission, the cave was still a place of solemn quietude, a fortress that held many secrets and more memories. The only inhabitants of this sanctuary were Cassandra and Adeline, both standing at attention as the figures loomed in the shadowy entrance.

Batman was the first to break the silence. "Cassandra, Adeline," he greeted, his voice echoing through the cavernous space. "This is Ares, the God of War."

Adeline recoiled slightly, a hint of fear flashing in her eyes as she instinctively hid behind Cassandra. Batman, noticing her trepidation, stepped forward and knelt before the young girl. His voice was soft but firm, "There's no need to be afraid."

After a moment's hesitation, Adeline emerged from her safe haven and stepped timidly towards Ares. The god of war, for his part, gave the girl a once-over. His eyes, a fiery blend of gold and red, flickered with an unreadable emotion. "So this is the girl?" he asked, his voice carrying an echo of distant battles.

Batman nodded, "Yes. She's bound to me by a spell."

Ares regarded the girl with a newfound interest, examining the arcane symbols that danced in her eyes. "It's a powerful one, beyond my reach. How much do you want for her?"

"She's not for sale," Batman retorted, his voice dropping an octave. "I only want her to be free from the spell."

The air in the cave seemed to thicken as Ares' eyes met Batman's in a silent standoff. "It'll cost you," the god finally said.

"Is taking down Superman's regime not enough?" Batman retorted, his tone defiant.

Ares was unmoved. "No, I want more. I want the head of Diana."

The statement hung in the air, heavy with implications. Batman didn't miss a beat, "I don't kill."

Ares simply shrugged, "Then find a way to get what I want. Or I'm out." With that, the god of war vanished, leaving Batman, Cassandra and Adeline alone in the cave.

The silence that followed was deafening. Cassandra was the first to speak, "What do we do now, Bruce?"

Batman looked at the two girls standing in front of him, their faces filled with determination and fear in equal parts. "We regroup," he answered, the shadow of a plan forming in his mind. "We call on anyone who's still out there, ready to fight."

Billy/Harley

The hard, grating sound of metal sliding against metal echoed ominously as Billy Batson approached the high-security wing of the prison. The intimidating, armored guards stationed at intervals only added to the austere atmosphere. Billy responded to their gruff nods with a polite, albeit tired, smile.

But at the end of the chilling hallway, a cell that defied the monotone color scheme stood out. Harley Quinn's self-proclaimed 'controlled chaos,' a little pocket of rebellion amidst stringent order. As Billy neared, Harley looked up from her well-worn book, her face lighting up in a mischievous grin.

"Well, if it isn't our caped crusader! Back from a daring escapade of heroism?" she asked, her voice laden with exaggerated admiration.

Billy returned her smile as he took a seat across from her, "More like an escapade through the bureaucratic labyrinth of regime security meetings. Those things could put a stone to sleep."

"Ah, the tyrant's dance!" Harley quipped, rolling her eyes with an overly dramatic sigh. "So, how are you handling the waltz, kiddo?"

Billy's smile faltered, replaced by a troubled expression. "Truth be told, Harley... I don't know. The regime's becoming more ruthless every day, and the things I see happening..."