Washington. President's Office. 3:00 PM.
The large floor-to-ceiling windows reflected eyes as ice-blue as an Arctic storm and a man's handsome face. He slightly pursed his lips, solemn as if he were a statue. His lowered eyelids concealed the complexity in his gaze, and his whole being exuded a cold, stern aura. The God of the World, who was usually compassionate and kind, revealed another aspect of divinity that was unaware and indifferent, more like the cold God of the Old Testament than Jesus of the New Testament.
This was the scene that Primary Universe Batman encountered upon entering the office. He didn't know much about Injustice Superman, but at this moment, the stark difference in temperament from the Superman he knew still astonished him.
On the way here, he had already come to understand: in the universe where the Injustice League existed, after experiencing Brainiac's invasion, Injustice Superman abandoned his previous strategy of military rule over Earth and instead became the supreme ruler of the Federation through legal means, his consolidation of power happening even faster than Arkham Batman's.
Compared to his actions, Arkham Batman seemed like a moderate reformist. In just one day, democracy was completely erased from the vast continent: Congress was directly dissolved, the military mutinied and was violently suppressed, and public protests were futile. Henceforth, the Stars and Stripes bore only one star, representing the great President Kent.
No one could have imagined that on the day the Kent Bill was issued, Clark Kent would become the greatest president in American history among millions of people. In reality, he achieved it.
Primary Universe Batman, upon seeing the increasingly stringent tax policies targeting the wealthy in the bill, realized that Superman had become a "superman" in another sense. Thanks to Lao, who bestowed upon him a Man of Steel that would never succumb to assassination, he used this body to shield countless downtrodden from a barrage of gunfire. Greatness rightfully deserved.
Therefore, the feelings of Primary Universe Batman were very conflicted. He knew how many would die under a violent regime, how many would fall from grace, and how many would rise from the mire.
He also knew how much disaster this Superman and his Injustice League had brought to Earth: how many innocents died by his hand, and how many evil ones evaded justice due to his tyranny.
Yet, regardless, he liberated countless people on the American Continent and even the entire world trapped in poverty, eliminating the original sin—exploitation—that ensnared 90% of the human race on this planet.
For this reason alone, Primary Universe Batman found it impossible to stand from a moral high ground to speak with him and could only climb from the base of the Pyramid, witnessing Saints on either side, with him standing central.
"Hello, Mr. President," Primary Universe Batman said, lowering his eyes, "Forgive this unannounced visit."
"It's alright." Primary Universe Batman heard him say in a light tone, "Come, I think we can talk."
Primary Universe Batman's inner alarm bells sounded off. Before coming here, he had prepared for everything: being unwelcome, receiving harsh words, or even being outright expelled—he had even considered the possibility of courteous yet hollow greetings resulting in no substantial outcome, but never encountering such a courteous Superman.
Primary Universe Batman looked up, and when he met those extremely pale blue eyes, he was momentarily stunned; he looked nothing like Clark Kent.
Every Batman has once had a fleeting thought: if Krypton had not perished, if Superman's spacecraft never arrived on Earth, and he did not meet him on this blue planet, but instead caught a glimpse of him in the depths of the cosmos one day, amidst countless celestial bodies, Primary Universe Batman believed it would be eyes like these, like the silent currents beneath the Arctic ice cap.
Main Universe Superman found it hard to imagine feeling so alienated by a Superman. Even facing the real Carl Ai'er would not be like this. It's as if the Earth's winds sculpted this universe's orphan in a different way, or perhaps not the wind, but suffering.
Primary Universe Batman's hand slightly tightened. He sat down on the couch following Injustice Superman's motion, but he avoided looking into his eyes again, instead fixing his gaze on the reflective glass coffee table until Injustice Superman's face suddenly appeared in it.
As they sat opposite each other, an unexpected silence fell. Primary Universe Batman decided to pick a safe topic.
"How does it feel to be president?" Primary Universe Batman leaned forward slightly, "There's a Batman who's become a president too. He's swamped right now. Is my visit interrupting your work?"
"Not at all," Injustice Superman replied succinctly, "My work isn't too busy, thanks to having a great assistant. I'm quite interested in that President Batman, how is he doing?"
"Very well indeed. But recently we've run into a bit of trouble: an unknown electronic lifeform invading the Multiverse. Any movement on your end?"
"Perhaps a bit. But what could I not handle?" Injustice Superman showed a very faint smile, "Handling an electronic bug isn't that much harder than dealing with other pests."
"He hasn't caused trouble on Earth?"
"He won't have that chance. Do you know why?"
Primary Universe Batman felt those eyes staring at him, heart alarms blaring again. Yet before he could react, he felt his neck being grabbed, his whole body lifted. Instinctively he looked down, feeling his spine frozen by a pale blue storm.
Then he suddenly realized, Injustice Superman wasn't holding him; he was floated by some invisible force. This shouldn't be Superman's strength.
Primary Universe Batman had to look into Injustice Superman's eyes, and upon seeing the blinking Magic Glow within them, he suddenly understood.
Primary Universe Batman was released. He fell back onto the couch, supporting his body with his arm, just in time to see Injustice Superman slowly lower his arm. He couldn't help but frown slightly.
He stood up from the sofa, looked directly into Injustice Superman's eyes and asked, "Where's Batman?"
"He's fine. What's wrong?"
Primary Universe Batman took a deep breath and said, "I want to see him. Let me see him."
"I'm afraid that's not possible right now." Injustice Superman slowly shook his head.
Primary Universe Batman didn't ask, "When can I," because he knew this answer meant "never." So he directly asked, "What is he doing?"
"He's busy with a lot of things to handle. What do you need him for?"
"There's some stuff regarding the Multiverse that needs his help to resolve. Please understand, in the Multiverse disaster, no universe can remain unaffected. So we must contact him immediately."
"I don't think he can be of any help in the Multiverse. Besides, didn't you already contact him through the Battleworld System?"
Primary Universe Batman's heart sank. How did Injustice Superman know he had contacted Injustice Batman? No Batman would ever disclose their private communications.
They might inform Superman about the situation within the Multiverse so that if anything happens, they can mobilize Superman; they might mention having had such communication, but they would never specify who contacted him, and most Supermen don't care about that detail.
But Injustice Superman's attitude was very certain, as if he was sure it was Primary Universe Batman who reached out to Injustice Batman. What made him so certain?
"I think you're mistaken, it wasn't me who contacted him earlier." Primary Universe Batman decided to probe further.
"Really? I thought you were in a hurry to find me... Anyway, he's too busy to see you now, and I don't care about the Multiverse disasters. You may leave."
Previously, it was just a feeling that something was amiss; now Primary Universe Batman was certain: something must have happened to Injustice Batman.
He continued to look into Injustice Superman's eyes and said, "You might not be interested in the events of the Multiverse, but I fear you wouldn't like the constant intrusion from Batmans across the Multiverse. If I'm not allowed to see him, more Batmans will come looking for him."
"Is he really that important?" Injustice Superman suddenly smiled before saying, "In that case, I can let you see him briefly, just like communicating with you all."
"Where is he?"
"Follow me."
Primary Universe Batman followed Injustice Superman outside the door. They arrived at the underground safe house of the White House, passing through steel doors, reaching the deepest unoccupied room, but there was no sign of Injustice Batman. At the end of the room was a portal flickering with Magic Light.
Injustice Superman passed through the portal, Primary Universe Batman hesitated a bit. But he kept in touch with Arkham Batman, ready to alert them if needed; and he carried the suspension ring for escape through the portal, Injustice Superman couldn't keep him here easily. Figuring out Injustice Batman's situation was the priority now.
Primary Universe Batman stepped into the portal. He suddenly faced darkness, as he heightened his senses, he heard a faint sound from the left. Instinctively turning his head to look, he stopped breathing for a moment.
Inside a huge tank filled with luminous liquid, lay a familiar figure. Injustice Superman stood in the darkness, his voice echoed as if from afar:
"Say hello to your good friend, Bruce. He seems worried about you." Injustice Superman's eyes glowed white in the dark, appearing so cold and evil, causing chills.
"You came after all." Injustice Batman's voice echoed, carrying the teasing tone that Primary Universe Batman had heard before in communication, light and matching Injustice Superman's tone perfectly. At that moment, Primary Universe Batman felt a little nauseous.
"Is this amusing to you?" He heard Injustice Superman ask, "Did you come here just to hear me speak using another mouth?"
Primary Universe Batman suppressed the shiver crawling up his spine and walked slowly towards the large tank, seeing Injustice Batman's head connected with many thin wires, a giant machine above with a subtle humming sound.
"You're insane, Clark." Primary Universe Batman looked at the massive machine and said, "...you killed Batman."
"I did no such thing." Injustice Superman's voice came again, "His wisdom is Earth's treasure, it shouldn't be used to stop me. I merely restructured him adaptively for a more suitable role. Everything's progressing so smoothly."
Primary Universe Batman really felt his arm trembling. He took a deep breath, retreated a step, and said, "You'll regret this, Carl... you'll regret this."