The Justice League Watchtower -
Holographic displays floated in the air, projecting streams of data that would have overwhelmed a lesser mind. Equations danced across the walls, their numbers shifting and reforming as Shadow Lex worked through calculations that spanned the boundaries of known physics.
Shadow Lex Luthor, the shadow of the man who had once been Earth's greatest villain, now serving a purpose far greater than his living counterpart had ever imagined. His mind was a weapon, honed by decades of obsession, now turned toward the protection of the universe.
He turned as Arthur emerged from a swirl of shadows, his form materializing with the silent grace that had become his trademark. Arthur's expression was grim, something had shaken him.
Arthur's voice was urgent. "Lex. I need your help."
Shadow Lex straightened, his hands pausing over the holographic interface. His eyes narrowed, reading his Monarch's expression, he had served Arthur long enough to recognize when something was wrong, and this was something far beyond the usual.
"My King," he said, his voice measured, respectful. "What do you require?"
Arthur stepped closer, his eyes fixed on the displays, "I need you to try and detect if there have been any weird anomalies on Earth recently." He paused, his voice dropping. "Anything related to the use of the Speed Force."
Shadow Lex's brow furrowed, his fingers already moving across the interface, pulling up new data streams, cross-referencing known signatures. He said in genuine curiosity. "The Speed Force? May I ask why, my King? That is not a request I receive often.. or ever, if I am being candid."
Arthur was silent for a moment, his eyes fixed on the data flowing across the displays.
Then he spoke, almost reluctant. "Because I think Barry Allen from the future just appeared to me. In a frozen moment of time." He paused. "He was trying to warn me about something."
Shadow Lex's eyes widened, his hands paused over the interface.
"A temporal anomaly," he said slowly, savoring the words as if tasting a complex wine. "A message from a future iteration of the Flash. That is..." He paused, searching for the right word. "Troubling. Deeply troubling."
Arthur's jaw tightened. "I need to know if there have been any other anomalies. Any signs that the timestream is being disrupted. Anything that could tell me what he was trying to say."
Shadow Lex was silent for a long moment, his mind workingthrough the problem.
Then he spoke with a calm voice. "My King, give me a bit of time, please. The Speed Force is not so simple, it is not a river, but an ocean, vast and deep and filled with currents that defy conventional understanding." He paused, his fingers moving across the interface. "To detect something that has already happened is quite difficult. The temporal signature would have faded, dissolved into the background noise of the universe."
He paused, his eyes narrowing.
"But naturally, everything always leaves a trail. Especially one of the Seven Forces of the Universe. The Speed Force is not merely a phenomenon.. it is a fundamental aspect of reality itself. And anything that touches it leaves echoes."
Arthur's shoulders relaxed just slightly. "I'll be grateful."
He turned to leave, but paused as the door to the chamber slid open.
Batman stepped through, his cowl in place, his eyes fixed on Arthur.
"You've returned from Oa," Batman said, his voice flat, "Did you learn anything?"
Arthur shook his head slowly, his expression shifting. "I did. But I'm not here because of Mobius."
Batman's eyebrow rose, a subtle shift that conveyed volumes. "Then why are you here?"
Arthur met his gaze, his voice dropping. "I saw Barry."
Batman's eyes narrowed, "You don't mean our Barry, do you?"
Arthur's laugh was dry and humorless. "Yeah. Clearly not ours, this one was someone from the future." He paused. "He tried to warn me about something... but I couldn't understand anything he was trying to say. His words were fragmented, distorted, as if they were being transmitted through layers of static and chaos... And that would be the Speed Force.."
Batman's jaw tightened. "So, you met a Barry that used the Speed Force to go back in time and meet you." He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a low murmur. "We need to find out the reason. Barry wouldn't do that casually. The last time he did it, it created chaos. It nearly tore the timestream apart.."
He paused, his eyes fixed on Arthur's.
"There is a big thing coming. And we don't know what it is.." His tone was filled with frustration. "This will bother me for days."
Arthur's voice was quiet, "It's already bothering me, and I don't even know if we have days... it could be an immediate danger, could be not." He looked at Batman, "I assume it has to do with the Anti-Monitor.. Barry said, 'Don't engage with him.Focus on..' And then his words cut off."
Batman's eyes narrowed, his mind already dissecting the fragment. "It could mean anything and anyone. Darkseid. The Dragon Monarch. Mobius." He paused, his voice dropping lower. "Or even someone else entirely, someone we haven't encountered yet."
Arthur's jaw tightened. "I know.." He ran a hand through his hair, a rare gesture of frustration. "If only his words were more clear. If only he had been able to complete his message."
He looked at Batman, his expression hardening with resolve.
"I suggest we keep this a secret from everyone. Until we understand more about what we're dealing with."
Batman nodded slowly, his strategic mind already aligning with Arthur's assessment. "Agreed. Especially Barry, it will only confuse him, and confusion is a luxury we cannot afford." He paused. "And every League member is already burdened with many responsibilities. We cannot afford to add uncertainty to their already heavy loads."
Arthur said in gratitude. "Thank you."
He turned to leave, but paused at the threshold, his form silhouetted against the distant stars visible through the Watchtower's windows.
"I have to go now and clear my mind." His voice was quiet, almost to himself. "See what I should do."
Batman's voice followed him, "Proceed carefully. I think we all need to be careful now, with every step we take." His voice hardened. "We are walking through a minefield, and we do not have a map."
Arthur glanced back over his shoulder, a small, tired smile on his face. "I'll be taking Shadow Lex and Owl with me back to my base, under my estate."
"I mean, they are your shadows." Batman replied.
Arthur's smile widened, a flicker of warmth in his tired eyes, then he raised his hand, and the shadows rose to meet him.
Shadow Lex and Shadow Owl materialized at his side, their forms glowing with violet light.
"Let's go, we have work to do." Arthur said.
And they disappeared in a gust of shadows.
Batman stood alone, his eyes fixed on the space where Arthur had stood. His mind was still working to solve the problems at hand.
His voice was quiet, almost to himself.
"Stay safe, Arthur... we... the world needs you more than you can imagine."
And then suddenly a voice cut through Batman's mind.
"I heard that."
Batman's shoulders stiffened, in surprise, he turned slowly, his eyes narrowing as they found the green form of Martian Manhunter standing in the doorway.
J'onn J'onzz's expression was unreadable, his red eyes glowing softly, his hands clasped behind his back, he had been nearby listning all along.
Batman asked. "The entire thing?"
Martian Manhunter smiled. "The praising part, or..."
Batman's jaw tightened.
Martian Manhunter's smile faded, his expression shifting to something more serious. "Yes. I've heard the entire thing." He stepped into the chamber, "You have concerns about Arthur, I understand."
Batman was silent for a long moment.
Then he spoke, "He's going to confront the Anti-Monitor. In the anti-matter universe. Alone." He paused. "And now there's a message from a future version of Barry telling him not to engage. But we don't know what that means... it could be talking about Mobius, or it could be talking about a different threat."
Martian Manhunter nodded slowly. "Indeed." He paused, his eyes studying Batman. "You are worried about him, that's rare."
Batman's jaw tightened. "I was already worried about what he's about to face." He paused. "And now I'm worried about this future Barry situation."
Martian Manhunter was silent for a long moment, his mind reaching out, touching the edges of Batman's thoughts, sensing the fear beneath the steel.
Martian Manhunter's eyes glowed softly. "You believe he is wrong in his decision to try to confront Mobius alone?"
Batman was silent for a moment, his mind turning over the question.
"I believe he's human," he finally said. "Despite everything. Despite the power, the shadows, the army. He's still human. And humans need help sometimes." He paused. "Even if they don't want to admit it."
Martian Manhunter stepped closer, "We already had a serious problem at hand. And another one joins the list..."
Batman smiled. "That's the story of our lives, isn't it?"
Martian Manhunter's lips curved again. "It does seem that way, yes."
/-\
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