A Future Sooner than Tomorrow

A Touch of the Past

Nightwing looks up at Batman and his face splits into an affectionate grin. Before Batman realises it, he has an armful of his son buried into his chest plate.

"It really is you."

"I'm correct then?"

"Obviously, B. I'm so glad... If you all really were lackeys of Luthor, things would have gotten ugly," Nightwing's grip tightens slightly and then releases as he pulls himself away. "Time to get back to the mission, huh?"

"Of course."

"Wait! Give me a moment, it's time to check in over comms," Nightwing presses a finger to his left ear and starts speaking. "Robin, Red Hood?" There's a moment of silence. "They're legit, B's just proven it... Yeah, me and B got a little sidetracked but we're close to where we need to be, I think... Uh-huh, bye and love you both!"

"I take it they're doing well."

"Yep, those two are like a well-oiled machine out in the field. They have some schematics and files that don't look like they've been touched very recently."

"Makes sense. Once something is made, there's be no use for its schematics anymore unless it's broken or needs frequent repairs," Batman flexes his gauntlets and looks around. "And the fact that it was the Justice League that was transported instead of one of the Lex Luthors tells me this was meant to be a one-way trip."

"Your Luthor may be here, B. Just because no one has gone running around screaming that they're from an alternate universe doesn't mean no one else had been transported," Nightwing begins climbing a ladder to get to a grate above him.

"You know how to undo the screws?" Batman asks.

"Psh, I could do this in my sleep. These aren't even the good screws," Nightwing pulls out a gadget from his belt (third pocket to the left, Batman thinks, must be the bat multi-tool) and makes quick work of the grate.

"Luthor, of my world, at least, knows I can get past average screws and attachments in seconds. If he really were trying to properly guard this place, he would have at least had custom screws made."

"Another point to whatever is here being intended as a one-use only item, huh, B?"

Batman hums affirmatively.

The grate slides to the side with ease once Nightwing gets the screws out. They both pull themselves out. They are in a corridor with a large metal door. There's a keypad beside it. Nightwing looks at it in disbelief.

"Seriously? Was Luthor even trying with this one?" Nightwing pulls out a different gadget, this one seemingly a new addition, and attaches it to the keypad. "At this point, he may as well be using child safety locks."

Batman can't help but agree. Most children can short-circuit an average keypad with two double A batteries, some chicken wire and eleven minutes by age ten. Although upon reflection, that may strictly be Gothamites - when any possible public area is at risk of being filled with fear-gas or whatever new concoction Ivy has come up with, people tend to learn how to escape being locked inside enclosed spaces.

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Wonder Woman and Martian Manhunter walk through the deserted halls of their own building, looking at the white-grey walls for any sign of what may have happened. Wonder Woman is the first to speak.

"This place doesn't look like it's been used very recently, does it? There is dust building up and there are the beginnings of cobwebs."

"I think you're right. The question is why? Why would this building be so unkempt after such a recent use? We've only been here for three days so far," J'ohn runs a hand down the wall. It comes back with dust covering it. He wipes it off quickly.