Disclaimer: This story is fiction. There are two celebrities who will appear from time-to-time. The other characters are fictitious. Any similarities to persons living or dead are completely coincidental.
In this story, I have continued the adventures of Batman, my Batman, which his story first began in "Tales of a Real Dark Knight" in the Boy Band section of this archive. It spanned 250 chapters. You will find many universes merging, as the above copyrights reveal. I hope you all enjoy this.
Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, Angel and all related characters created by Joss Whedon. Copyright 20th Century Fox.
Batman, and all related characters created by Bob Kane. Copyright DC Comics and Warner Bros.
X-MEN, and all related characters created by Stan Lee. Copyright Marvel Comics and 20th Century Fox.
The Vampire Chronicles and all related characters created by Anne Rice. Copyright Anne O'Brien Rice.
I don't know for sure if I will use all the above elements, but just in case, I have myself covered.
I appreciate any feedback that you may want to give. I do hope that you enjoy it!!!
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authorjames2002@yahoo.com
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Chapter 33 Operation: Rescue
I moved silently across the field doing my best to be inconspicuous. The guards moved about on patrol. I would stop moving when one turned my way hoping against hope that they would not see me. When the guard would turn back on his or her patrol, I would move closer. In a short time, I was against the building and moving along slowly until I found the ventilation shaft Fury showed me on the blueprints. Using the lock pick Black Widow gave me; I opened the grating and entered the shaft. After a short crawl, the shaft turned sharply and dropped. I attached the rope to the wall and slid down, descending deep into the area that held the mystery of Hangar 13.
`You're here,' J'onn said into my mind.
`I am,' I thought to him.
`At first, I was concerned you would not come. I thank you.'
`You're welcome. So, tell me, what are you going to do after I free you?'
`I have been hoping for so long to be free of this prison that I never planned anything past being free.'
`We can work on that after we get you out of here.'
`You are not alone?'
`I have a friend who is waiting to get us out of here.'
I felt J'onn moving throughout my mind. `He is part vampire,' he thought with concern.
Yes,' I answered. Is that a problem?'
`I've heard much about vampires since I became strong enough to read thoughts. I do not know if I care for their kind.'
`They aren't all bad. Blade is good. He fights against vampires and other evil beings. I know a few others, as well, who are full vampire. They aren't evil at all.'
Perhaps,' J'onn replied after a moment of silence. How far are you?'
`I'm nearly at the bottom of a ventilation shaft. Blade has a few friends who know the layout of this installation. I should be on the same level you're on in a few minutes.'
`Please forgive me if I do not trust your friends.'
`I understand. Your interactions with humans have been less than stellar. I'm surprised you trust me. By the way, why did you contact me?'
`When I became strong, I searched for strong mental signals. I was able to pick yours and your partners up over the great distance between us.
"I'm on your level right now.'
I felt J'onn nod in my mind and I paid strict attention to my surroundings. I stopped short of the vent, which was over a hallway. I listened for the sound of footsteps. None came up to great my ears, so I used the laser Black Widow gave me and burned out the screws, catching the vent before it fell to the floor below. Flipping upside down, I lowered my head down to make sure the coast was clear. When all was clear, I slid down into the hallway and placed the vent over the opening, wedging it so it wouldn't look like it was tampered with.
Pulling out the infrared goggles Widow gave me, I placed them on my head. The hallway was filled with infrared beams at different heights and locations. Between my legs ran a beam that rode rather high. Had I been a bit shorter, or a big "longer", I might have activated the alarm. Relying on instinct, I flipped and dodged the beams, weaving my way to the end of the hallway. Around the corner, the coast was clear, which meant only one thing. A guard was coming. I ran to the nearest room and entered just as the guard came around the corner. I moved beside the door and listened. He must have heard me as he came to the room and slowly opened the door. He reached around the corner and flipped the switch to the light. I grabbed his wrist and jerked him inside. With a well-placed kick, I knocked him unconscious. Then I took his security card and headed down the hallway in the direction he came.
I can sense you close,' J'onn said. Allow me to look through your eyes.'
I relaxed and allowed him to enter. I could sense a feeling behind my eyes which could have only been him. `The door at the end of the hallway is where I am.'
`I'll be right there,' I said to him.
`Be careful. There is a guard and two scientists.'
`Thanks for the warning.'
I jogged to the end of the hallway and placed the security card in the slot. After a moment, it beeped and the locks slid into the wall allowing access to the room. I hesitated, not knowing where the guard was standing or if the door frame scanned my DNA. Hey, they could have that technology. Not that having the power to manipulate molecules couldn't help, but I was nowhere near that powerful. Taking a few deep breathes, I burst into the room to find the two scientists sitting at their computers.
"Behind you!" J'onn yelled out.
I turned as the butt of a gun headed for my head. Grabbing the wrists of the guard, the attack was prevented. We struggled as she tried to jerk the gun out of my grip. I was able to get the gun pointed away and brought my knee up to connect with her stomach. She hunched over in pain. I then jerked the gun out of her hands and brought it down across her face knocking her unconscious. Turning to the scientists, I pointed the gun at them and ordered them to release J'onn.
"You don't know what you are doing!" one scientist said.
"Maybe I don't. But, maybe I do. Release him."
The scientist typed in a code and the restraints fell away from the Martian. He slumped to the floor. With a quick, fluid movement, I tossed out a gas pellet that, when the gas was released, knocked out the two scientists. I threw the gun to the floor and stated, "I don't like guns."
Rushing over to J'onn, I knelt down. "Are you okay?" I asked.
He nodded. "I will be fine. The restraining field held me in that position causing my blood to not flow as far. My arms tingle."
"We call that sensation being asleep."
"I do not understand that reference."
"It's one of those crazy Earth things that even we don't understand completely. Come on, let's get out of here."
Reaching down, I helped J'onn up by placing his arm over my neck and lifting him to his feet. It was amazing to see this alien, to feel his skin, to know I was touching a being that wasn't from this world. His head was elongated and the shape of his body did not resemble a human's even though he had two legs and two arms.
"Your costume is strange compared with everything else Earth people wear. Why do you wear it?"
"I don't consider myself just like everyone else. I have abilities that most do not have. I want to use those abilities to make a difference, to make lives better, but many in power may disagree with what I do. Wearing a mask protects my identity and the identity of my loved ones."
"What about those who can read minds?"
"There are very few on the planet who can read minds. The ones that I know who can are trustworthy enough not to tell others. Besides, most Earthlings aren't fond of people who can read minds. They feel threatened by it."
"Do you feel threatened by me and what I did?"
"I could if your reasons were more than seeking help. We can talk more later. Right now we need to get out of here."
I opened the door and found the hallway was full of guards. Quickly I slammed the door and used the pass card to lock the doors. Then I punched the device to keep the guards on the other side from opening it.
"It looks like we are stuck here until I can find a way out." I looked around trying to find a ventilation shaft, another door, something that wasn't littered with guards on the other side. "Do you have any suggestions?"
"I do," J'onn replied as he moved his arm, stepped back, and seemed to fade a bit from my vision.
I realized what he was doing. He had the ability to become intangible. He was phasing.
"I'll be right back," he said as he went through the floor beneath us.
`Kind of like Shadowcat,' I thought.
I leaned against the wall and heard some scuffling. After a few moments of I-don't-know-what happening, all was quiet.
I guess I shouldn't have blasted the locking mechanism,' I thought. How will I get out?'
As if in answer, the door created. The sides folded in and then the door was ripped off its hinges. Then it disappeared into the corridor. When I turned the corner, I saw J'onn had shape-shifted into a more humanlike shape. He was bald but his head was rounder. He had clothes on this time, though not much. He wore blue boots, blue shorts and a red harness that connected to a blue cape.
"I took a cue from those of you who wear costumes. I would like to help others as well. I do not need to wear a mask, though." He shape-shifted and appeared completely human. "I believe I will take the name John Johns when I appear like this. But for now..." he changed back into his superhero appearance. "This is the way to go."
The two of us exited the room and I saw all the military officers unconscious and laying on the floor.
"They are alive," J'onn stated as the two of us ran down the corridor and back to the ventilation shaft I descended moments before. "This is where you came in?"
"I climbed down a rope."
The sound of boots stomping came around the corner. Then an alarm went off.
"Soldiers are coming," I said. "You better get up there. I don't want anything else to happen to you."
"I am nearly fully recovered. You go. I can handle this."
"Are you sure?"
"Go. I will be right behind you."
"Are you sure?"
I noticed a red glow forming around his eyes and he said, "Definitely."
Jumping into the shaft, I grabbed the rope and climbed hand-over-hand to reach the top. Beneath me, red light flashed and I hoped and prayed he wasn't killing them. If there is one sure way to get on a government's shit list, it's to kill a bunch of their soldiers.
I got to the top and crawled to the opening only to hear guards outside. I was going to have to make this swift and certain so they wouldn't be able to shot me. Crouching as much as I could, I launched myself out of the shaft and rolled to my feet. I stood and swung a leg up connecting with a guard's rifle. The gun went off but, thankfully, was pointed to the sky. I pulled out a bolo and threw it at the other guard. It wrapped him up and kept him from firing his gun. Spinning around after throwing the bolo, I punched the guard in the jaw and watched as he slumped to the ground.
The ground appeared to shift, visually any way, and J'onn floated up from the grass.
"Neat trick," I replied.
"You will soon discover I am full of surprises."
"Let's get out of here."
The two of us ran to the fence.
"It's electrified," I told him.
"No problem," he replied and, grabbing me, flew us over the fence. We landed on the other side and ran to Blade, who stood by the car with a gun.
"I've never known you to use guns," I stated as I climbed in the backseat of the car. "J'onn, you may wish to change into your human disguise."
"Good idea," he stated as he shape-shifted into the John persona. He climbed in the passenger side and closed the door as Blade climbed in the driver's seat.
"This isn't your normal gun. It shoots out plasma spheres. When they come in contact with something, a large amount of electricity is expelled. Depending on how long I charge the blast, it could either jolt a human being or overload a circuit. It's great for cutting power to large buildings."
Blade turned his key and the car came to life. In a few moments, we were speeding away from the military installation and heading north to Columbus.
We arrived at the mansion and pulled into the lair. Climbing out, we were met with Fury and Widow.
"Everything must have gone well," Fury stated. "You are all here and still alive."
"It was a little dicey," I replied. "But we're okay."
After introducing J'onn to the agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Vampire Slayer, I headed to the locker room for a shower. As the warm water cascaded over my body, I leaned against the wall and thought about all I had been through the last few days. The more I thought about it, the more I hurt at what happened. Did I completely immerse myself in my life as Batman? I couldn't have. I helped raise two children with him. Sure, I was busy. I had the Center, patrolling, and I had my family, which I considered most important. Going into our marriage, Lance knew what my life was. Batman was no mystery.
The hurt swelled. `God, Lance. Why didn't you talk to me about it? Didn't you think I would understand? I'm not a horrible, selfish person. Now, look what has happened. The trust was broken. Is there any way that this can be fixed?'
To Be Continued...