A Future Sooner than Tomorrow

A Distant Today

Silence reigned after Batman spoke. The Justice League began to look amongst each other in the hope someone would speak up and deny Batman's theory. None of them did.

Eventually, Batman gazes upon his teammates and, taking pity on them, guides each of them to sit on the ground. With no resistance, everyone is sat cross-legged in no time. None of them complain about sitting on the cold concrete, too concerned with their predicament. Batman finally sits down, completing the circle of Justice League members. Sat on the ground in a circle, they look like overgrown children; slumping forward like dejected toddlers.

"There has to be another explanation," Flash whipers.

"I'm afraid not," Batman, in a rare show of emotion, sounds sympathetic.

"But! But there was no sign of time travel, no big bang or flashing lights... Nothing," clutching at the material on his thighs, Flash stares hopelessly at the floor.

"There isn't always a sign that something has happened. Not all cameras flash, not every driver uses turn signals... Sometimes, these things happen without warning and all we can do is pick up the pieces," Batman's hand twitches towards Flash. For a second, Superman thinks the man is about to put his hand on Flash's shoulder like Lantern sometimes does and then remembers it's Batman he's thinking of. Superman isn't surprised when Batman retracts it and clasps those black gauntlet covered hands back together in his lap uselessly; just disappointed. Batman continues: "We'll figure this out. One step at a time if we have to."

"Okay... Okay, we can do this. We can do this!" Flash rises to his feet, putting both hands on his hips. His lips pull apart in a shaky grin.

Wonder Woman stands up next, declaring,"Both Batman and Flash are right, we are fully capable of fixing whatever this is."

Green Lantern and Hawkgirl get to their feet simultaneously. "Giving up won't get us anywhere," Hawkgirl runs a hand through her red hair. Green Lantern nods.

"She's right. You never succeed if you don't try," he says.

Batman stands up next. He gives a hum of approval and turns his head toward Superman and Martian Manhunter. "And you two?"

"I don't believe that our sudden displacement had no warning," Martain Manhunter says suddenly. Batman's white lenses narrow.

"What do you mean?"

"I felt something, a small something before we appeared here. Like a pull at the back of my consciousness," Martian Manhunter turns to Superman. "You felt something too, didn't you, Kal?" Superman glances away from Manhunter's knowing gaze and nods.

"For a moment, it was like gravity didn't exist except for the heavy feeling behind my eyes and temples... It was similar to when people describe sitting up too fast," Superman picks at the sleeve of his costume, all too aware of the one similarity between Martian Manhunter and himself that the the others would think of as the reason behind their shared experience. Both are 'openly' alien. If he is lucky (and didn't have enhanced senses), none of them will mention it in earshot of him.

Batman glances between Superman and Martian Manhunter. "Makes sense," he says.

"Pardon?" Batman couldn't possibly lack that much tact, could he? Superman thinks.

"Martians and kryptonians both have an innate psychic ability. Both of your feelings could be explained by transition between time periods either causing an overload or lack of input," Batman offers a hand up to both his teammates. They take them gratefully.

If Superman lets out a relieved sigh, nobody notices.

"Can someone translate that to Not-Batman, please?" Green Lantern grumbles.