On The Darkest Night [2]

You Can't Save Them All

19
You Can't Save Them All
Season Two: Episode 10/11

Alister couldn't believe his eyes. His father, the almighty General Hro Talak, lived. His original tormentor, the man responsible for the earliest of his scars, stood before him.

"Alister," Hro gasped. His eyes bulged out of his head in disbelief. "My son, you're alive, but how..."

He made his way across the room. His arms were outstretched, reaching for Alister.

Alister froze. His entire body locked up, refusing to move. Whether it was from shock or fear, he couldn't tell.

Dick stepped in front of Alister. "Back up. I don't know who you are, but you're not going anywhere near him." Dick warned, hand out as a barrier.

The General slowed to a stop. "I.. What is the meaning of this? Grayson, I thought we were growing to like one another."

"Like you? I don't even know you. All I know is that you used to torture my b... you used to treat Alister like shit. Stay the fuck back." Dick growled.

"What? I-I would never hurt my son, Grayson! Alister and I had been close since he helped Thanagar and Earth reach an interplanetary allegiance. You know me, Grayson, we mourned his death together. How could you not tell me he survived?"

Dick opened his mouth to argue once more. Alister grabbed his arm. He gave it a tug and pulled Dick's gaze to him.

"Dick, I think he's telling the truth." He whispered.

Dick's brows weaved together. "What do you mean? Al, he beat you for fun, you really trust this guy?"

"No, Dick, this isn't my dad. Don't you see? He said I helped Thanagar and Earth reach an interplanetary solstice, but that's the case. He said you two mourned me together, but I'm not dead." Alister said.

"So he's a nut, what does that mean for us?"

Alister sighed. "He's not crazy. He's just not from this dimension."

The General made a noise. "Ah, that makes sense. On this Earth, you're alive, but on mine you... you passed."

"Wait, you're saying there's another Earth? How the-"

"You don't know about the multiverse on this Earth, I see. It's a fairly simple explanation..."

"One we don't have time for right now. We need to figure out what Savage is planning. Pyg didn't come all the way from Gotham for nothing. There has to be a bigger picture." Dick said, giving Hro the cold shoulder.

Dick and Alister walked over to a large computer. As Dick typed away, Alister kept glancing over his shoulder. He looked at his father more over and over.

It was strange to see him. The last time they were together, his father was beating him. Telling him how worthless he was.

This version of Hro was different. He had all the placards and esteems as Alister's father. Yet none of the malice, the evil. This man was nice, even. He was happy to see Alister. That never happened before.

Hro caught Alister looking and flashed a nervous smile.

Alister shook his head and turned away. He cleared his throat.

"Scandal and Kay, they told me Pyg was going to extract the Nth Metal from my system to build some kind of inter dimensional bridge to Thanagar and conquer it. That's why Carter and Sheyara died, that's why he needed me too." Alister explained.