Earth 42

End of the Beginning

A/N: This is the end of Part I. I've hardly started on Part II, but I do plan on continuing this story. Let me know what you think. Reviews are the best.

Chilling, artificial light illuminated the cavernous space in a ghastly blue originating from an array of computer monitors. A young woman with rust-colored hair and round spectacles typed on a computer. She studied each screen for a moment and clicked a few readouts with her mouse before typing again.

"How's it coming?"

She nearly jumped before she turned around. She was bound to a wheelchair and easily turned the wheels to look behind her.

Bruce Wayne smiled. "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."

Barbara Gordon returned his smile. "It's alright."

He walked towards the screens and studied them with a furrowed brow. "What do we got?"

She turned back around and clacked away on the keyboard. "There seems to be a numerous amount of these breaches. They keep appearing and reappearing in no seemingly predictable pattern."

"What about the original one?"

"You mean the large interdimensional and temporal breach that hit the Narrows three weeks ago?"

"Yes," Bruce replied. "That was a large explosion."

"That is completely different than these."

"How so?"

"These breaches are just within our universe and don't affect time."

Bruce turned to her. "Our universe?"

"Yes." Barbara clicked on something. An analysis of the large explosion filled the monitors. "This breach was more of an uncontrolled explosion that burst into our dimension from another. It's giving off large amounts of temporal and interdimensional energy."

"So, it's literally a hole in the space-time continuum," Bruce deduced.

"Yes," Barbara confirmed while adjusting her glasses.

"But these other breaches are different?"

"Yes," she repeated. "These small ones are confined to our dimension. It's as if someone is opening portals to make travel from one location to another easier."

"Where are they coming from?"

"I'm not sure, but I've been studying their energy all week." A pause. "I think we can channel one of the portal's energy if need be."

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"I've been able to isolate each of the active portal's readings. As I've said before, they disappear and reappear in random places. Right now, there are five open." Barbara switched the monitors to show the portals with a simple click of her mouse.

Bruce stared in thoughtful consideration. "Channel the energy of the one near the courthouse," he instructed.

Barbara nodded and rapidly typed on her keyboard. She stopped typing and stared at the monitors. "We're channeling the energy now."

A strange feeling began to fill the room. It felt as if lightning was going to strike. Bruce's hair stood on end, and his stomach dropped and his heart pounded as if something big was about to happen.