I have Harley Quinn on my side. I knew I wouldn't be invincible when I entered this world, but getting hurt by a gun was something I wasn't expecting. It just proves I need to be stronger, I thought.
"Hey, Mr.I—can I ask if you're a metahuman or some kind of alien?" Harley asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.
Actually, she asked the very good question I had been pondering myself.
I'm basically a metahuman, I supposed. When you think about it, the entire world of My Hero Academia is but would I be classified as an alien since I'm not from this planet? " I'm a metahuman"I said — seeing that she would know what that is. I assumed there must be others like me out there, but I still don't understand much about this world, so I should probably ask her. I thought.
"Before I answer, I want you to tell me a few things," I said, seeking some information.
"Of course, I'll answer all your questions," she replied.
"How many sidekicks has Batman had? Is there a Justice League? And how many superheroes do you know of?" These were my top questions — I needed to know who was active in this world and who wasn't.
"Well, Batman has had at least three sidekicks: Nightwing, a second one who was killed by the Joker, and a new kid who's just started patrolling with him. There was also a bat girl, but the Joker paralyzed her, so she's out of commission. As for the Justice League, they do exist. The members are Batman, Superman, Martian Manhunter, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Green Arrow, and Black Canary.
Regarding other superheroes, there are a few out there. Is there anyone specific you want to know about?" she asked.
"There are a few I want to hear about, but I can wait for now. Do you know if an alien with wet hair, green eyes, and energy bolts — maybe called Starfire — has shown up?" I asked, because I had plans for the future and didn't want to end up fighting the Teen Titans and Justice League at the same time if I could avoid it.
"No, no one fitting your description has appeared," she answered.
Good. She hasn't come to Earth yet. I need to prevent the Teen Titans and other superhero teams from forming.
"One last thing — can you find out if a cat-themed thief, hiding behind the name Catwoman, is active?" I asked, uncertain of the timeline.
"Oh yes, Catwoman is a good thief Lately, she's been acting strangely. Something must have happened because she's targeting Wayne Enterprises and jewelry stores — not like her usual deal. Something's definitely wrong," she said, her face reflecting my thoughts.
Batman must have ended things with her, or he probably did something stupid. I could use that to my advantage and lure her into my trap. I thought.
"So, Mr.I—what's our plan moving forward?" she asked.
That made me think. I've killed the Joker — well, technically, she did. I could travel from city to city, taking out the worst villains. Maybe I should keep doing that to attract the heroes' attention — or create fear.
"I'm not entirely sure. We could be villains, heroes, or something in between. Personally, I think we should walk the line — neither hero nor villain," I said with a smirk.
"That sounds good. How do you plan to do that? Jokes aside,the other villains planning to move in on their territories — Penguin, Two-Face, and so on?" she asked, referencing past conflicts that were quickly resolved.
"That's easy. I'll take as much as I can, then leave Gotham before Batman and the rogues catch on," I replied, noticing her excitement as she looked at me.
"My new man is the best," she said, giving me a kiss on the cheek.
Meanwhile, back at the warehouse, police were hauling bodies out when a shadowy figure dropped down with his new sidekick.
"Took you long enough," said an older officer, with gray hair and a brown coat.
"Jim, do you know who did this?" Batman asked.
"No idea. Someone busted down the front door and started killing Joker's goons one by one. We think they reached the Joker himself. It probably was a grenade he threw, but only the Joker's body was found, twisted and with his head smashed in. I shouldn't have to tell you that Harley Quinn isn't here with the bodies," Jim explained, as Batman and Tim Drake saw the Joker's body being carried out.
"Were there any cameras that caught what happened?" Batman asked.
"The cameras were destroyed when the doors were busted. Whoever did this was smart — but we do have an eyewitness. An gon who was the first to be attacked. He's pretty scarred, but he's alive. The attacker didn't kill him, unlike the others," said Jim.
Jim led Batman and Robin to an ambulance where a wounded man was being treated. He was conscious.
"He really messed him up. This isn't a normal human," Tim said, using his detective skills as he figured out Batman's true identity.
"Who attacked you?" Batman demanded.
"I'll tell you everything I know. Just promise you'll keep me away from that guy," the injured man said, frightened. Batman let him go and listened as he recounted the events.
"It started like any other day until a crash came from the door. We saw an 18-year-old with white hair, red eyes, in a black jumpsuit, and red shoes. He sent out some kind of energy wave that disintegrated our bullets, so they had no effect," the man described.
Batman took notes as Jim documented everything, while the man continued.
"He punched me in the gut — more painful than anything I've felt, even from you, Batman. He was fast, and the red and green lightning around him was intense."
The man explained how he pretended to be unconscious and saw everything unfold — how he killed the others, how he touched them and they turned into blood-spatters before vanishing. Then, the Joker shot him in the shoulder. He added, "He cracked the ground when he was hit."
"We might have his DNA," Gordon said.
"That's a start, but given how unusual he looks, I doubt we'll find much. Still, his DNA will help. We need every detail," Tim said, and Batman nodded.
"I think he was shot, then the Joker threw his joker gas at him. We all thought he was finished. I was about to come out of hiding when he suddenly stood back up, healed instantly — even his wound closed."
Batman and Robin exchanged surprised looks. This guy has super strength and speed, and he's resistant to poison — possibly able to regenerate, too.
Then Harley Quinn attacked him, but he dodged her and slammed her into a wall with ease. The Joker tried to shoot him with a bomb, but the guy simply grabbed it and flew out of the building with it. An explosion followed, and we assumed he died, but Harley was having a mental breakdown.
That's when we heard his voice. He returned, unharmed, and punched the Joker in the back, knocking him to the ground. He was about to finish him when Harley Quinn stepped in. At first, I thought she'd try to save him, but then I realized how wrong I was she'd been working with him — she killed the Joker, and the guy seemed surprised, but he went along with it," the man finished.
"Is there anything else you can tell us? Did he say his name?" Gordon asked.
"Oh, yeah. You won't believe this — he gave his name all in one," the man replied.
Realizing that was all the information they were going to get, Batman and Robin headed for Oracle, also known as Batgirl.
"Did you salvage anything?" Batman asked as he and Robin stood behind Oracle, who was in a wheelchair, a result of an encounter with the Joker. She looked pleased to hear the news that the psychopath was dead.
"I managed to save some footage, but I couldn't get the ending," she said. The images of the fight appeared, confirming the account almost exactly as the man described.
"Looks like we have a new problem," Robin said.
"And that problem's going to be troublesome," Batman muttered, questions swirling in his mind — who was he, why was he doing this, and where did he get those powers?