{Batman Pic}
{Flash Pic}
{Wonder Woman Pic}
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The journey to the Watchtower was surprisingly smooth. Or perhaps, more accurately, Oliver Omni made it seem smooth. One moment, we were walking out of the Big Belly Burger with a very serious Superman and a perpetually skeptical Green Lantern; the next, we were there. Not a flash of light, not a boom tube, just… there. The sheer, effortless teleportation of it all sent a fresh wave of existential dizziness through my non-existent being.
Oliver, how did we just… teleport?! I thought, genuinely baffled.
"Oh, that?" Oliver Omni said, looking around the Watchtower's gleaming hangar bay with wide-eyed wonder. "I just thought about being here, and poof! We were! It's like when you think about being in your comfy bed after a super long day, and suddenly you're there! Only, like, realer!"
That's not how teleportation works, Oliver! That's not how anything works! You can't just… think yourself somewhere! That defies all known laws of physics!
"Well, your physics, maybe," Oliver Omni retorted, already scampering off towards a group of maintenance drones, his silver eyes wide with fascination. "But I'm the Omniverse! I make the rules!"
Superman sighed, a sound that conveyed a deep weariness even for the Man of Steel. Green Lantern pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering something about "another Tuesday." It seemed even they, seasoned veterans of the weird and wonderful, were finding Oliver Omni's casual displays of reality-bending power a little… unsettling.
The Watchtower's hangar bay was a marvel of futuristic engineering. Sleek, alien spacecraft rested in various docking bays, their hulls shimmering under the bright, artificial light. Maintenance robots zipped around, humming with quiet efficiency. It was all so incredibly real, so much more detailed and tangible than any comic panel or animated series could ever convey.
"Look, Hart! A robot! Can I pet it?" Oliver Omni asked, reaching a curious finger towards a multi-limbed repair drone.
No, Oliver! Don't touch anything! We're guests here. Probably very unwelcome guests who are about to be interrogated by Batman.
Just as the thought crossed my mind, a stern voice, low and gravelly, cut through the hum of the hangar. "Kal. Hal. Report."
My non-existent heart skipped a beat. Batman.
He emerged from the shadows, of course, because that's what Batman does. He wasn't as overtly muscular as Superman, but his presence was equally imposing, radiating an aura of intense focus and barely contained danger. His cowl obscured most of his face, leaving only a sliver of stern jawline and piercing white eyes visible. He looked like a living, breathing tactical nightmare.
Superman stepped forward, his usual calm demeanor somewhat strained. "Batman. We found… a situation. In Metropolis. This is… Oliver Omni." He gestured to Oliver Omni, who had momentarily abandoned the robot to gaze at Batman with an expression of pure, unadulterated awe.
Batman's gaze, those white slits in his cowl, immediately locked onto Oliver Omni. I could almost feel the intense scrutiny, the analytical mind working overtime, dissecting every detail. His eyes lingered on Oliver Omni's bright white hair and glowing silver eyes, then swept the empty space next to him where I supposedly resided.
"An anomalous energy signature," Batman rumbled, his voice a low growl. "Consistent with Kal's initial reports. No discernible physical form beyond the child. Source unknown. Origin unknown. Intentions… currently unclear."
He's already analyzed us down to our anomalous energy signature! I mentally exclaimed, impressed despite myself. I told you he was smart, Oliver! Dangerously smart!
"Hi, Batman! You're even cooler in real life!" Oliver Omni chirped, completely undaunted by the Dark Knight's intimidating presence. "Can I get a selfie with you? My friend Hart wants one too, but he's kinda shy because you're super famous!"
Batman didn't even blink. His expression remained utterly unreadable. "A selfie is not on the agenda, child. And 'Hart' is not physically present."
"He is too!" Oliver Omni insisted, jabbing a finger towards the empty space beside him. "He's right here! He's just super shy! Say hi, Hart!"
Hi, Batman, I mentally grumbled, feeling utterly ridiculous.
Batman's eyes narrowed slightly, as if he could almost feel my mental response, despite the lack of any physical manifestation. "The energy signature is… responsive. This is highly unusual." He turned to Superman and Green Lantern. "Brief me. Everything."
Superman quickly recounted the events in Metropolis, from Oliver Omni's inexplicable appearance at the Big Belly Burger during the Lobo fight to his casual mention of being the "Omniverse." Green Lantern chimed in with his own observations about Oliver Omni's apparent teleportation and the strange energy readings from his ring.
As they spoke, Batman's gaze never left Oliver Omni, who was now attempting to levitate a discarded bolt using only his mind, giggling as it wobbled precariously in the air before clattering to the floor.
"The child's claims are… extraordinary," Batman mused. "The casual manipulation of reality. The apparent omnipresence. It suggests a power level beyond anything we've encountered. Potentially multiversal. Or even… beyond."
See, Oliver? He gets it! You're not just a kid! You're a literal cosmic force! We need to be careful!
"But it's fun!" Oliver Omni interjected, finally getting the bolt to float higher. "Look, Batman! I can make it fly!"
Batman ignored him, his eyes still burning with intense calculation. "We need to contain him. For the safety of this universe. And possibly others."
"Contain him?" Superman frowned. "Batman, he's just a child. And he seems harmless. If anything, he's utterly… naive."
"Naiveté combined with infinite power is a volatile combination, Kal," Batman retorted, his voice chillingly calm. "An unchecked variable. He claims to be the 'Omniverse.' If that claim holds any truth, the ramifications are… catastrophic, should he lose control. Or fall into the wrong hands."
Oh, great. Now he thinks we're a ticking time bomb. Thanks, Oliver.
Suddenly, a streak of crimson and gold zipped into the hangar bay, skidding to a halt with a gust of wind. The Flash, his iconic red suit a blur of motion, stood there, a wide, infectious grin on his face.
"Hey, guys! What's the buzz? Just got back from delivering a pizza to Pluto for some reason, and then saw Lobo got himself a new address! Good work, Supey, GL! You two always clean up nice!" The Flash, radiating an easygoing charm, immediately noticed Oliver Omni. "Whoa, little guy! What's up? You look like you just rolled out of a dream!"
Oliver Omni's eyes lit up even further. "You're The Flash! Wow! You're super fast! Can you race me?!"
The Flash chuckled, ruffling Oliver Omni's white hair. "Race you, huh? You got some speed in those little legs, kid?"
"I'm super fast!" Oliver Omni declared. "Faster than you!"
The Flash laughed even harder. "Oh, really now? That's a bold claim, little man! I'm the fastest man alive, you know!"
As if to prove a point, Oliver Omni suddenly zipped from his spot, appearing instantaneously next to The Flash. He then zipped back, leaving a faint afterimage. "See?!"
The Flash's grin faltered. His eyes, usually full of mirth, widened slightly. "Whoa! What was that?!" He looked at Superman and Green Lantern, then back at Oliver Omni. "Kid, did you just… vibrate at superspeed? Or teleport?"
"Both!" Oliver Omni beamed. "I told you! I'm faster than you!"
Batman's voice cut in, cold and sharp. "He's not vibrating, Flash. He's bending space-time. Or simply manifesting at a new location."
The Flash's eyes bugged out. "Bending space-time?! Kid, you could definitely give me a run for my money! It's hard to believe, but… wow." He looked at Oliver Omni with a new level of bewildered respect.
Just then, a figure of regal bearing and undeniable strength entered the hangar. Wonder Woman, clad in her Amazonian battle attire, strode in, her gaze sweeping over the scene. Her eyes, filled with a deep wisdom and compassion, immediately settled on Oliver Omni.
"What is going on here, brothers?" she asked, her voice calm yet authoritative. Her presence radiated a warmth, a nurturing aura that immediately made the tense atmosphere slightly less suffocating.
Superman quickly explained the situation to Wonder Woman, while Batman added his own analytical observations about Oliver Omni's potential threat level and the need for containment.
Wonder Woman listened patiently, her expression thoughtful. When they finished, she knelt down to Oliver Omni, her eyes soft and understanding. "Hello, little one. You have had quite an adventure, it seems."
"Hi, Wonder Woman!" Oliver Omni said, looking up at her with adoration. "You're so pretty! And strong!"
Wonder Woman smiled, a genuine, gentle smile that warmed the entire room. She placed a hand on Oliver Omni's shoulder, a gesture that was both comforting and subtly reassuring. "Thank you, child. My brothers here are concerned. They fear your… unique abilities. But I sense no malice in you. Only innocence."
Batman cleared his throat. "Innocence does not negate potential danger, Diana. We have to consider all variables."
"Indeed, Bruce," Wonder Woman replied, her voice firm. "But we must also consider compassion. This is a child, however powerful. He is lost and appears to be without guidance." She looked at Oliver Omni. "You say you are 'Oliver Omni,' and that you carry another within you?"
"Yeah!" Oliver Omni nodded eagerly. "Hart's in my head! He's the grumpy one who keeps telling me not to do stuff! But he's also super smart! He knows all the comic book stuff!"
Wonder Woman's eyes, for a fleeting moment, seemed to pierce through the veil of reality, as if she could sense my presence within Oliver Omni's mindscape. Her gaze was not accusatory, but rather, one of deep empathy.
"So there is a consciousness within you," she mused, her voice low. "A guardian, perhaps? A guiding voice?"
Yes! Yes, exactly! I'm trying to keep him from accidentally destroying the universe! I mentally pleaded, hoping she could somehow hear me.
"He is trying to help me!" Oliver Omni confirmed, much to my relief. "He just worries too much!"
Wonder Woman nodded, her hand gently stroking Oliver Omni's white hair. "It seems this 'Hart' cares for you deeply. And you, little one, you have stumbled into a world you do not fully comprehend. Tell me, what is your greatest desire?"
Oliver Omni thought for a moment, then his eyes lit up. "To meet Batman and get a selfie! And race The Flash! And eat more Big Belly Burgers!"
Wonder Woman chuckled softly, a warm, melodic sound. "Such simple desires for one so powerful. Bruce, perhaps we can indulge him. Under close supervision, of course."
Batman narrowed his eyes, a glint of paranoia in their white depths. "Indulge him? Diana, this is reckless. We know nothing of his true nature. What if this is a Trojan horse? A subtle invasion? What if he's a precursor to something far more dangerous?"
"Bruce, your cynicism serves us well in battle, but it blinds you to the purity of a child's heart," Wonder Woman countered, her voice gentle but firm. "He is not a threat. He is an anomaly, yes, but one that perhaps we can guide. We do not imprison children for their potential, only for their proven malice."
The Flash, who had been listening with an uncharacteristically serious expression, suddenly perked up. "Hey, if he wants to race, I'm game! Could be fun! And it's not every day you meet a kid who can bend space-time just by thinking about it! Maybe he can teach me a new trick!"
Batman stared at The Flash, then at Wonder Woman, then back at Oliver Omni, who was now excitedly trying to mimic The Flash's vibrating trick, making his entire body shimmer briefly before he stumbled.
"This is insanity," Batman growled, though there was a hint of resignation in his tone. He knew when he was outvoted. "Very well. But he remains under constant observation. And no unsupervised excursions. Not one."
Wonder Woman smiled, a victorious glint in her eyes. "Agreed, Bruce. Now, little one," she turned to Oliver Omni, her smile gentle. "Let's get you something proper to eat. And perhaps, after a thorough debriefing, we can consider your requests."
Oliver Omni cheered, already imagining his selfie with Batman. As Wonder Woman led him away, his boundless optimism and simple desires seemed to cut through the Watchtower's usual air of grim seriousness.
See, Hart? I told you everything would be fine! Wonder Woman is super nice! And The Flash is awesome! This is going to be the best!
Best, my ass, I thought, as Batman's suspicious gaze lingered on the empty space beside Oliver Omni. This is going to be a complete and utter mess. And I'm stuck here for the ride. The paranoia in Batman's eyes was clear: he was already planning a thousand contingencies, a thousand ways to neutralize a childlike cosmic entity. And knowing Batman, some of those contingencies probably involved me.
My only hope was that Oliver Omni's pure, unadulterated naiveté, and Wonder Woman's nurturing wisdom, would somehow prevent Batman from developing a giant kryptonite-laced baby bottle.