[Teen Titans Fic]Cycles of Chaos Cycle Three Chapter One

Disclaimer and notes on master prologue

Cycles of Chaos
Cycle Three
Chapter One of Six

“You look exhausted,” Barbara said as he slumped down on her couch in the clock tower. “I honestly wasn’t expecting you to drop by I could have emailed you the information; there hasn’t been any new sightings of the alternate Kon El and Bart Allen.”

“I know, I just needed a break from everything.” He said closing his eyes. “The last two weeks have been a nightmare.” He could still see the evil Kon and Bart taking off after Lara attacked them out of grief. “I don’t think we’ll be able to find them until bodies start showing up.”

“Are you certain they are that dangerous,” Barbara asked. “I know they attacked you all with a group containing Lex Luthor but isn’t it possible they were under mind control then?” He would have suspected that at first but during the few times he managed to speak with his older counterpart over the past two weeks that notion had been rejected.

“The older me says that’s not possible and that unless the rules have changed they aren’t even a future version of Superboy and Impulse.” He watched Barbara taking in what he’d said. “So far both times the dopplegangers of people who already exist disappear in the reset.” He looked down at one of the many computer screens not seeing what was written on it. “He said they are most likely clones created by that world’s Batman after they died.” He looked over at her. “And even though they have the same genetic make up they aren’t technically the same person.”

“That makes sense I suppose,” She said typing away at the keyboard. “Cloning dead super heroes doesn’t sound like something Bruce would do,” Barbara said zeroing in on what he didn’t want to admit but then again she had also been trained by Batman. “Who was Batman in that future that kid of his and Talia’s?”

“I was that Batman,” He admitted though it would be easy to blame it on Ibin. “Apparently in that future the death of Kon and Bart is enough to push me over the edge and I spend years trying to clone them until I finally succeed.”

“That doesn’t really mean anything Tim,” Barbara said gently. “I’m sure there are worlds were I become a fascist dictator.” He knew she was trying to comfort him and after everything else he’d seen she was probably right there probably was a world where she was a dictator. That didn’t really make him feel any better. “So about those four Super boys any luck on finding a way to put them back together.”

“No,” He said grateful she had changed the topic. “Cassie doesn’t like coming to the hotel anymore since the one with the yellow energy form follows her around begging her to go out with him.” He saw Barbara smile. “All four of them seem to be different portions of Kon’s normal personality.”

“So the yellow one is his romantic side?” Barbara asked still grinning. “What about the Green Blue and Red ones?” He could understand her curiosity but the situation had stopped being interesting and started being disturbing about the time the yellow one started begging for a spy cam to put in Cassie’s bedroom.

“I wouldn’t call the Yellow Kon romantic,” He said. “He’s obsessed with Cassie and I’m worried it might turn dangerous he is lacking what little social understanding the complete Kon El has.” He saw her eyes widen. “The other three aren’t much better the Green Kon is determined to be a hero but completely ignores everything else I only know where he is by keeping track of the media coverage of his exploits.” He supposed that one was probably the least worrying since he was actually doing some good for the world. “The blue one is I think Kon’s seldom used intellect and he’s managed to master his energy powers in two weeks but has almost no drive to do anything that isn’t learning even more about them.”

“And the Red one that is currently causing trouble all over the place with one of the other visitors from another time line?” Barbara asked as she brought up an image of the Red Kon and Barry West laughing surrounded by girls on a beach somewhere.

“The Red one seems to be all of Kon’s irresponsible behaviors rolled into one.” He said looking away from the screen. “We need to find a way to merge them back together as soon as possible the longer they are apart the worse their differences seem to be getting.” As soon as he finished talking an alarm sounded. “Where’s the trouble?”

“At the Young Justice base,” She said pulling up a video feed. “Looks like you were right to be worried about the yellow one.” He frowned as he saw the Yellow and white Energy Kon fighting with the Ray.

“I need you to send me there immediately you have hacked the Justice League teleporter haven’t you?” She nodded. “Good maybe I can do something to calm this situation down before it gets even further out of control.” He walked back a ways. “Send me there now.”

“I don’t think it’s necessary anymore,” She said and he looked at the video feed. Metron had shown up and somehow disabled the Yellow Kon who was lying on the ground in his human form. “Do you still need to go?”

“Yes, Metron hasn’t been seen for two weeks I need answers about what’s going on and he can give them to me.” She nodded and soon enough the transport had begun. He was running threw the possibilities of what could have started the fight as the transport finished and he found himself outside the hotel.

Metron was in the process of placing the Yellow Kon in a tube like device. “What happened,” He asked as soon as he saw the others. He saw Cassie helping the Ray up while shooting a dark glare at the Yellow Kon. “He didn’t attack you Cassie did he?”

“No, I was just talking with the Ray and he snapped,” She said looking back at him. “He started screaming about how I was his and he wouldn’t let the Ray steal me because I belonged to him.” She turned away. “I never imagined any part of Kon could be like that.”

“Do not judge him too harshly Wonder girl,” Metron said as he finished encasing the Yellow Kon in the tube. “He is made up of the smallest fraction of Kon El and basically only exist as Kon El’s feelings for you without any balancing traits.” The new god turned toward them and looked over at the blue Kon who was standing back watching. “We need to merge you and your three counterparts back together as soon as possible otherwise the complete Kon El’s own mental health could be affected.” Metron then turned away. “I will return to assist in the merging once I have completed one other necessary act.”

“Wait,” He yelled but it was too late Metron faded out again. “We aren’t going to have trouble getting you to agree to be merged with the other three again are we?” He asked the Blue Kon who had lowered himself down to stand with them.

“I will not be the problem, I am looking forward to reintegration,” The Blue Kon said which surprised him. “However, none of my brothers share that desire and I imagine they will have to be forced to reintegrate.”

“Why are you willing then,” Cassie asked before anyone else said anything. “How do we know you aren’t just playing along and planning to take off first chance you get?” He could understand her suspicion but this Kon hadn’t shown much drive to do anything after basically mastering his powers.

“Because I feel unnatural,” The Blue Kon said looking right at her. “I look at all of you and I feel nothing I know from my memories that I am supposed to care about all of you but I don’t.” The blue and white energy being kept staring at Cassie who turned away. “At the very least the reintegration will be a fascinating new experience one of the few things I can look forward to.” He began to lift off the ground. “I will go locate and contact my heroic counterpart to lure him back here.” He disappeared into the electrical wires after saying that.

“I still don’t think we should trust him,” Cassie said and he privately agreed. “Tim can you track down the Green Kon for us?” He nodded and headed inside toward the computer set up. He settled down and was just beginning a search for media reports on the Green Kon’s activities when the Blue Kon returned out of the power socket.

“I have spoken with him and told him that his assistance was needed to restore sanity to the Yellow Kon,” He said looking around. “I told him he could finish his list of emergencies he intends to intervene in before coming since the more he weakens himself the easier he’ll be to force to integrate.”

“How did you find him so quickly,” Cassie said staring at him. “Robin was just beginning a computer search I can’t believe you fond him quicker than he could.” He had a pretty good idea how the Blue Kon had done it but he was curious if his guess was correct.

“Robin was using the internet I was inside it,” The Blue Kon said simply. “I could find any information I wanted at the speed of thought without having to bother typing into a keyboard.” He’d guessed correctly and took a moment to appreciate exactly how powerful that made Kon. He’d never considered how powerful Superman was during his brief stint in a similar form because his power was so much less physically impressive. He would have to remember not to make that mistake in the future.

“That just leaves the Red Kon,” Ray said from where he was standing behind Cassie. “I know last time I saw him he was with that Barry West from another world.” He glanced up at the blue Kon who seemed unconcerned. “Shouldn’t you go find him.”

“I already know where he is,” the Blue Kon said and turned toward the screen. “He’s in the hotel and very busy so I doubt he’ll be going anywhere.” He saw it then a strange sort of detached expression of curiosity on the blue Kon’s face. “See for yourself.” The security feed started before he could stop it.

He heard a gasp as the image of the Red Kon in human form having sex with Barry West appeared on the screen. He managed to kill the feed in seconds but everyone present had seen enough to know what was going on. “That has to be fake,” Cassie said clearly in shock.

“It is not,” The Blue Kon said before anyone else. “There is security footage from several other incidents over the last two weeks if you need to see more to believe it.” He was watching the blue Kon’s face and realized that he was enjoying watching the reaction of everyone else he was treating it like an experiment. “I take it that other than Robin none of you were aware that Kon El is bisexual?”

All eyes turned toward him and he vowed to keep a close watch on the blue Kon until the Kon’s were recombined. There was something disturbingly familiar about the blue Kon’s approach to things.

_____

He emerged from the tank feeling wet and dizzy. He tried to remember how he got here but couldn’t. “Easy,” Tim’s voice said as the other man approached and began to dry him off with a towel. “Your lucky to be alive that bullet should have killed you.”

“Then how did I survive?” He asked as he looked around and realized he was at the Fortress he thought it looked a bit different than the fortress he remembered. He could tell by how methodical Tim was being that he was in full Red Robin mode to deal with the stress.

“This is how you survived sir,” One of the Fortress Robots said as it approached carrying his uniform and the mother box. “This piece of New god technology placed you into a state of stasis that maintained your life force during treatment.”

“Thanks MB,” he said and the thing pinged almost happily in response. “How long was I out?” He asked Tim hoping to coax him back to being Tim and not Red Robin. He could tell it was going to be difficult as Tim looked up at him with the mask firmly in place.

“About two weeks,” Tim said after a moment as he stepped back to allow him to pull on his repaired costume. “Once you are back on your feet we need to rejoin the others at the hotel the situation has changed for the worse.”

“Tim, relax a little I’m okay,” He said as he finished pulling on his costume. “Don’t turn into Bruce the second on me now.” Tim turned back toward him and he thought he saw a bit of emotion but before anything could happen Metron appeared.

“Where have you been for the last two weeks,” Tim said snapping back into Red Robin mode and glaring up at Metron. He suppressed a sigh and grabbed MB to strap her back on his arm. He could tell Tim was getting ready to lose it at Metron.

“There was no need for me to return until I found a way to safely reintegrate the divided younger Kon El,” Metron said and he glanced Tim who gave him a nod clearly meant to say I’ll tell you later. “There is also a potential problem I did not foresee until now.” Metron looked down at them. “Red Robin your shield will begin to fail within the next three weeks and a few days later Night wing’s will also begin to fail.” Metron looked worried. “There is no way to predict what will happen with both of you generating temporal shock waves at the same time, especially after the damage caused by Wonder woman’s actions.”

“What do you mean by that,” He snapped before Tim could say anything. “Are you saying what happened with those evil time traveling Titans was somehow Cassie’s fault?” He felt Tim’s arm on his shoulder and did his best to calm down.

“No but she didn’t heed my warnings and confronted them,” Metron said gravely. “The result was her shield failed prematurely but reality did not completely reset the past Kon El was split into four separate energy beings, Doomsboy vanished, Bart Allen remains missing and two of the dangerous Titans remain loose on this world.”

He really needed someone to catch him up. “All right so how do we fix things?” Tim asked and then suddenly they weren’t in the Fortress anymore. They were standing outside the hotel where a blue and white verison of his younger self had two others trapped in a cage of electricity.

“Metron, can you supply containment for my brothers?” The blue and white energy being asked and two tubes appeared. “Thank you.” He watched as the red and white energy being along with the green and white one were dropped into the tubes. “May I ask how you intend to merge us Metron?”

“With this machine,” Metron said as a floating cube appeared. “It will recombine your energies and reconstitute the original Kon El.” He looked around and saw there was a yellow and white energy Kon also in a tube. “Now if you will consent to being put in a tube the reintegration can begin.”


“That won’t be happening,” The Blue Kon said and then lashed out with a blast of electric energy clearly aimed at the machine. The only one who didn’t appear shocked was the young Tim who was already moving throwing one of his many toys at the energy Kon. It never made it as the device instead of being destroyed simply sucked up the blue Kon before moving to an empty tube that appeared and somehow depositing the blue Kon inside it.

“Now we can begin,” Metron said completely unfazed by what had happened. “It will take some time to set up the proper apparatus and make the final calculations.” Metron casually began to summon equipment form where ever he had been getting it all along.

“You knew he was going to double cross you,” the younger Tim said staring at Metron with suspicious glare. “How did you know he would do that?” He was just as curious himself and he knew his Tim had to be as well.

“Because I knew which parts of Kon El he was made from,” Metron said looking around. “He was not Kon El’s intellect as you surmised but instead his arrogance.” Metron smiled slightly. “Free from other distractions and emotions the blue Kon could easily make use of his innate intelligence to it’s full and dangerous potential.”

To Be continued...

REVIEW HERE

[Teen Titans Fic]Cycles of Chaos Cycle Three Chapter Two

Disclaimer and notes on master prologue

Cycles of Chaos
Cycle Three
Chapter Two of Six

“Okay enough of the Batman the second act,” the older Kon said loudly causing everyone to turn to where he was arguing with the future Tim. She was glad for the distraction because the pleading looks from the yellow Kon were getting on her nerves. She wondered what they were arguing about. “Look Tim, in a little over three weeks you are disappearing so screw keeping it a secret.” She had no idea what it was but she watched as the two stared at each other for a moment before the older Tim nodded. She was then shocked to see the older Kon pull him into a kiss.

She turned away and looked around for her Tim. She wasn’t surprised to see he was ignoring what was going on and working quietly on the task Metron had given him. “You all ready knew,” she said hoping she didn’t sound like she was accusing him of something. “That’s why the Red Kon with Barry West didn’t surprise you?” She had to know one thing. “Is this one of the things I forgot about?”

“No you never knew,” He said and she was glad about that. “I think they were originally keeping it quiet to avoid making things awkward for all of us.” He sounded odd. “I think the older Kon is tired of keeping it quiet since they only have a limited amount of time left together and no idea what will happen to the older me when things restart again.”

“It is time to reintegrate Kon El,” Metron said loudly before she could reply. “Nightwing, I need the four energy Kon’s to be placed into the machine now.” She watched as the older Kon moved them all at once without touching them. He didn’t seem even a bit self conscious while she was fighting not to blush in embarrassment while seeing him. She felt torn, she’d like to go off alone and think through everything she’d learned in the last few hours but she wanted to be here for her Kon in case things went wrong. She was still torn when the machine activated and the four Kon’s dissolved into morphing balls of energy.

“The process is proceeding well in ten hours Kon El will be completely re-integrated,” Metron said and she saw a small multicolored ball of energy forming in the large tube on top of the machine. “I am more than capable of supervising the process from here on out all of you should get some rest.”

She took the opportunity to leave still feeling somewhat guilty that she wasn’t staying to watch but the fact she couldn’t do anything even if something went wrong helped a bit. “Hey Cassie, wait up,” someone called and she looked back to see one of their guest from other timelines. She thought for a moment and then remembered he was Superman’s son.

“Can I help you?” She asked wondering why he’d bothered to follow after her. She saw him give her a strange look and then a look of understanding came over his face followed by what looked like real sadness.

“Never mind,” He said sadly. “I forgot for a moment that you don’t remember us becoming friends.” She wondered again about everything she’d forgotten. “With everything going on with the multiple Kon El’s we hadn’t had a chance to talk yet so it didn’t really dawn on me that you didn’t remember me anymore.” She got the impression he wasn’t being fully honest but she didn’t call him on it. “I’ll leave you alone now.”

She watched him go wondering why he’d followed after her for a moment before turning back toward home. She needed some time alone to work through everything and staying at the hotel would make that impossible.

______

He landed on the roof of the hotel and settled down feeling really stupid for not realizing that Cassie wouldn’t be his friend any more. He sat himself down and did his best to push the disappointment aside. It was for the best anyway as it dealt with the awkwardness surrounding her attempt to ask him out. He had been incredibly tempted especially by the fact neither of them would remember it but he’d managed to stay faithful to his girlfriend despite how attractive he found Cassie.

He was startled from his thoughts when Nightstar landed on the roof top with him. “I hope you don’t mind but I needed to get away from the latest fight Barry and Iris are getting into.” She looked depressed. “I can’t deal with another fight about how irresponsible he is right now.”

“I imagine it would get old,” He said wondering if the Flash’s kids in his world would ever take up super heroing. “How are you holding up since the reset?” He knew that was a terrible way to ask about her missing dad, lover and team mate.

“As well as I can I guess,” Nightstar said and looked as if she was going to say more but suddenly there was a bright flash of light and a large shape impacted the area around the Tennis court. He dived off the roof behind her and they were quickly joined by several others.

“What the hell this isn’t how things restarted last time,” Doomsboy said as he climbed out of a large crater. “What are you all staring at?” Doomsboy said angrily. He glanced around quickly to see he and Nightstar had been joined by many others.

“Interesting it appears that Doomsboy has joined us in this cycle,” Metron said from above. “I will need you to come with me Doomsboy I must run some test to determine why you appeared so much later than everyone else.”

“Shouldn’t you be working on fixing Kon,” Cassie said drawing his attention to her as she glared at Metron. He glanced back toward the hotel where the machine currently reassembling Kon El was apparantly sitting un attended.

“The process is largely automated and Doomsboy’s appearance could point to potential dangers caused by how the last cycle ended.” Metron said calmly. He could tell Cassie wasn’t satisfied with that answer but she quieted down. “If you would come with me Doomsboy?”


He glanced over at the clone who looked mutinous. He was sure he was going to object to being studied when suddenly his face changed and he agreed quickly. He glanced behind him to see the Nightwing from the future walking towards them. He turned back to see Metron and Doomsboy were both gone and he wondered how they vanished so quickly. “Is there anything wrong?” Nightstar said to the future Nightwing when he arrived.

“No, I just need to speak to Robin,” The other man said. He watched Robin nod and the two walk away. He glanced around and saw the group who had showed up when Doomsboy arrived begin to disperse.

He took the opportunity to take back off toward the roof. He was just settling back down when Nightstar landed behind him. “I was wondering if you would be willing to continue our talk.” She said looking uncomfortable.

“Sure,” He said as calmly as he could. He hadn’t really considered that awkward exchange earlier a talk but if she needed to talk he’d listen. He felt extremely awkward as an uncomfortable silence fell and he almost wished there would be another interruption like before. “Anytime your ready to start.” He felt his cheek’s flushing with embarrassment.

____

He stood outside the room where his older counterpart was staying with the older version of Kon. Since they’d dropped the pretext they weren’t even pretending to sleep in separate rooms anymore. “Bruce, is nearly here,” He said quietly just like he’d been asked to do by the older Kon.

He heard a slight shuffling and soon enough the door opened and the older Kon stepped out just in a pair of black boxer briefs. He was carrying a pair of jeans but hadn’t put them on yet. He looked past the older Kon to see his older counterpart still asleep on the bed. “He hasn’t slept much the last two weeks.” The Older Kon said quietly as he shut the door. “You know how deep one of you bats can sleep when you finally let yourself relax.”

He did know it was something he had experience with. After pushing himself for several nights with little sleep he’d sometimes sleep the whole day away. He was a bit disappointed that he was still doing it thirteen years later. He glanced back at the older Kon who had lifted off the ground to pull his jeans on finally. He wasn’t surprised that the older Kon was just as unshy about his body as the one from his time. He was glad though that Kon wasn’t going to confront Bruce in just underwear that would make this entire experience even more surreal. He kind of wished the older Kon had grabbed a shirt as well. “By the way I want you to join us instead of just listening in through the bugs you’ve planted all over the roof.” The older Kon said shaking him out of his thoughts.

“Why,” he asked already aware this was going to be awkward as hell without him there. “My being there won’t help matters Batman isn’t happy about finding out about you and the older me.” He already knew that sooner or later he’d face an interrogation from Bruce about his relationship with his Kon over these revelations.

“You’d be surprised,” The older Kon said shaking his head. “Trust me you being there will help, he won’t be as big a jack ass if your there trust me.” The older Kon was smiling as he said it and then turned toward the roof access that opened before they got there.

Standing on the roof with the older Kon in silence waiting for Batman to arrive was slightly unnerving. He wasn’t used to a version of Kon who seemed completely at ease with the prospect of being around Batman. His Kon was never able to fully hide how nervous he was around Batman with his bravado. When the bat plane finally arrived and settled onto the landing pad they’d built on the roof it seemed even more strange because the older Kon was still standing there completely nonchalant as Batman disembarked and walked toward them. “We need to talk,” Batman said striding past them heading for the open roof door. However, before Batman could get there it closed slightly harder than necessary.

“We’ll talk here,” the older Kon said calmly from beside him. “You can ask whatever questions you want and then you will get back in your plane and go.” He found himself staring at the older Kon in shock at that matter of fact statement. “I’m going to be blunt Bruce, I don’t like you and I only put up with your crap in my time because your Tim’s dad and Clark’s best friend.” He could hear an edge of anger in the older Kon’s voice. “As a courtesy I am willing to answer a few of your questions,” Kon’s face turned incredibly hard as he continued, “but I am not spending what is probably the last few weeks I will have together with my Tim reliving what a jack ass you can be about our relationship.”

He glanced at Batman who was glaring at the older Kon as if he wanted to pull out a chunk of kryptonite then and there. He realized then this is why Kon asked him here Batman wouldn’t pick a fight with him standing right beside the other Kon. He had been manipulated into being a human shield so Batman wouldn’t start a fight. “How long,” Batman asked after a moment and he realized Batman had obviously decided to accept the older Kon’s terms.

“Seven years,” The older Kon said his face softening slightly. “Tim and I have been together for seven years.” He saw Batman nod and waited for the next question. The fact it had taken six years for the older him and Kon together made them slightly easier to take. It would have been well after the world change Metron had mentioned. “Anymore questions?”

To be continued...

REVIEW HERE

[Teen Titans Fic]Cycles of Chaos Cycle Three Chapter Three

Disclaimer and notes on master prologue

Cycles of Chaos
Cycle Three
Chapter Three of Six

“Welcome back,” Metron said as he opened his eyes inside a transparent metal tube. “Are you aware of what has taken place over the last two weeks since you were divided into four separate bodies?”

“I can remember sort of, it’s like four different dreams I had so it’s pretty jumbled,” he said and Metron nodded. He was relieved about one thing though his powers seemed to be back to normal no more freakish energy powers to deal with. “Can I get out of this tube now?”

“I would prefer to observe you for a longer time to make sure you are suffering no side effects from the integration,” Metron said and then produced a small band full of glowing lights. “However, I doubt you would enjoy such a precaution so as long as you wear this monitoring device I will allow you to leave the tube.”

“Sure, I’ll wear it,” He quickly consented. He just wanted out of that tube he needed to find Cassie and apologize for the actions of the yellow and blue versions of himself. As soon as the device was strapped to his wrist he took off relieved to fly normally again. He was about to take off and search for Cassie when he heard Secret calling his name. “Yeah what is it Secret?”

“Cassie, asked me to give you this when you got fixed,” She said holding a letter out towards him. He took it and skimmed it and found himself frowning. “What’s the matter?” She asked concern clear in her voice.

“She’s asked me to stay away from her for a few days so she can think about everything.” He couldn’t blame her but it still hurt not to get to speak with her. “I should go ask Rob if I should stay away or not.”

“No, he’s too busy you should go ask someone else.” Secret said way too quickly. “In fact why don’t you just go see Cassie I’m sure she’s over it now.” She was basically pushing him toward the direction he’d have to fly to reach Cassie’s house.

“Greta, can I borrow my younger self for a moment,” The older him said dropping out of the sky behind them. He saw Secret give his older self a dark glare and then fly off leaving him confused. “She really isn’t taking the revelation of the true nature of me and my Tim’s relationship well.” His older counterpart said watching her go.

“Is that what that was about?” He glanced at his future self. “Is she afraid if I go talk to Rob the two of us will start making our or something?” His future self nodded and he felt embarrassed. “No way that would just be weird.” He then remembered who he was talking to when the other man laughed. “So what did you want to talk about?”


“Nothing really, I just figured you needed rescuing from Secret before she freaked out on you out of jealousy.” His older self started to drift away and then turned back. “Also if you want to talk about how to deal with your outing to everyone before they all forget I’m available.”

“How did Cassie take it in your time?” He asked as it was the first question that came to him. He was sure things would be okay with the others but he wasn’t sure Cassie was going to get over it. “I mean it must have surprised her when you started dating Robin.”

“Not really she’d seen me with guys before that,” His older counterpart Connor he reminded himself said. “The first time she ever saw me with a guy was a different story though she didn’t take it well.” Connor looked thoughtful. “Though to be fair we hadn’t really got our friendship back on track from our break up yet.” His older self smiled then, “Tim’s former fiancee took it so much better.”

“So what should I do just avoid her until things reset again?” He asked and saw his future self frown. “What it would take care of the problem I mean only me and the folks from other worlds would remember and I can ask them not to say something.”

“I think you should take the time to talk things out with her in a few days,” Connor said giving him a hard look. “You should find a way to be honest with her because it could only help your odds of working out this time around.”

“Shouldn’t you be trying to set me up with Tim instead of helping me fix things with Cassie,” He asked and flinched at the dark look Connor gave him. He was getting really self conscious as Connor didn’t speak just kept glaring at him.

“That isn’t funny,” His older self said after an agonizing silence. “Regardless of who you end up with rather it’s Cassie, Tim or someone else you won’t turn into me,” he paused obviously thinking, “unless you forget everything with the final reset then maybe you’ll turn into me.” His older self began to lift off again. “I suggest you go think about things and decide what you are going to do.”

He nodded and Connor took off flying away. He took off back toward Hawaii he’d go visit Tana’s grave and think about things. He wished she was around to talk to at times like this because even after they’d broken up she’d always been a good friend.

_____

“So how many times did you have to insist you weren’t involved with your world’s Kon before Bruce believed you?” His older counterpart asked surprising him. He glanced back at him before turning back to the computer where he was still trying to locate the clone Kon and Bart. “Connor, told me all about Batman’s visit so I know he had to interrogate you just before he left.”

“He took my word for it after only one question,” He said not that he thought Bruce totally believed him. “It is weird that he never bothered to ask me if I ever was attracted to men or if it is a change brought about by that future event Metron mentioned.”

“Bruce, never cared if I dated a guy or a girl,” his older self said with a weak smile. “He didn’t particularly care for anyone I dated but he never really objected until Kon.” His older self shook his head. “Even seven years later the two really only get along for mine and Clark’s sake.”

“So Batman and Superman still have their unique relationship in your time?” He asked not really surprised though he occasionally wondered if it was ever going to collapse under the weight of their respective issues.

“Yes, they are still best friends and each other’s worst critic,” his older self said with a hint of a smile. “I don’t think the next generation is going to be as friendly though,” his older self was frowning. “Damian and Connor hate each other so I doubt the tradition will continue when Bruce and Clark step down even if Connor and I do somehow end up back home.”

“How do we get along with Bruce’s son I only saw the older version for a short time before the last restart?” He was curious how they would get along. He found the idea of Bruce having a kid out there slightly unnerving.

“We have learned to tolerate each other,” his older self said with a guarded look. He knew himself well enough to guess that his older self didn’t care for Bruce’s son much. “Our relationship got off to a rocky start.”

“That’s an understatement,” Connor said as he entered the room. “For a while I thought it was only a matter of time before you were going to snap and put the little creep in traction.” He saw his older self frown at Connor’s words. “Believe me if he’d stayed on the Titans any longer I’d have given into temptation and done so.”

“We have a problem,” Metron announced appearing before either he or his future self could react to Connor’s statement. He could tell that Metron was speaking primarily to Connor and he wondered why he seemed to be singling him out so much.

“What kind of problem,” his older self asked quickly. He noticed that the older version of himself also seemed to have noticed that Metron was speaking primarily to Connor. He thought back and noticed that Metron had payed more attention to Connor than anyone else since this whole thing began.

“I have learned that the two clones come from a level of hypertime between the one you and Nightwing come from and this one,” Metron said a hint of excitement in his voice. “I believe they found their way here by journeying through the hole the four of you made on your initial journey.”

“How is that a problem?” Connor asked before anyone else could. “Are they going to start causing problems like we do?” He wondered if Metron even heard Connor because he still had a look of excitement on his face. He wondered again not for the first time if they could even trust the new god.

“No they will not cause those types of problems,” Metron said finally. “The problem is they will attempt to return home soon and it will cause a shock wave that will affect everyone and everything on this Earth.”

“So we need to stop them,” Connor said as if it was that simple. He saw Metron shaking his head and a confused Connor asked, “Is there a reason we can’t stop them?” Metron seemed to stare off into space for a moment before he finally answered.

“If they don’t go through with this then the shockwave will be even worse than the one they will cause,” Metron said grimly. “I am informing you of this event because once again I must take my leave of this reality or risk losing everything I have gained.” Metron then looked straight at Connor. “Also my instruments predict that something alien to our sphere of existence will emerge into our hypertime as a result of this event and it must be contained.”

“What exactly will be coming through,” His older counterpart said, “and how can we contain it.” He noticed Metron was glancing at something on one of his screens and seemed to be ignoring his older counterpart’s question.

“It is a small chunk of unknown matter that will be contained by the Motherbox Nightwing is wearing,” Metron said finally. “He simply needs to be present when it emerges into this world.” He then turned toward them. “The motherbox will transport you to the location where the event is to occur a few seconds before it happens.” Metron then looked somber. “I will return after this drama has concluded.” Seconds later Metron was gone.

He turned toward his older counterpart and Connor only to see Connor vanishing into a boom tube. “It appears to be happening now,” His older counterpart said grimly. “We should try to warn the others.”

They had both just turned towards the door when a blast of white light enveloped everything. He felt himself shifting and changing and his mind flooded with images of strange worlds. He realized he was flashing back through every weird transformation he’d experienced in the previous two cycles but now their memories were coming with them. He tried to focus on his own memories but eventually the strain became too much and he lost himself in the confusion.

To be continued..

REVIEW HERE