Chapter 29: Team Up
The metal hatch of the Batcave was still warm, and the cold light from the control panel illuminated Batman's profile.
Data streams scrolled rapidly across the screen.
"Compared to Bruce Wayne's previous records, his overall capabilities have increased approximately 3.7 times."
Hal Jordan leaned against the stone wall, turning his head to gaze at the computer screen before Batman, his eyes wide with shock.
"So this race actually exists... I need to send this comparative data report to Oa immediately. Otherwise, they might not fully grasp the urgency of the threat posed by Viltrum."
Batman nodded slightly, stepping aside to give Hal room. Hal immediately raised his Lantern Ring and briefly scanned the information on the Batcomputer.
The Green Lantern Ring began transmitting signals, emitting a faint, almost imperceptible glow.
After completing the transmission, Hal seemed to recall something even more urgent. A crease formed between his brows.
"Moreover, that kid's compatibility signal has likely been recorded by the Yellow Lantern Ring. Sinestro will never let such a promising recruit slip through his fingers."
"The entire Yellow Lantern Corps is currently hiding in the antimatter universe. It's hard for us to even take preventive measures."
His voice took on a somber tone, a stark contrast to his usual carefree demeanor.
Hal Jordan glanced down at his Green Lantern Ring, its blinking frequency accelerating slightly, and his expression relaxed a fraction.
"Oa Headquarters will dispatch several more Green Lanterns. They'll arrive in the galactic sector by tomorrow morning at the latest and lie in wait near the Solar System. If any Yellow Lantern Corps signals are detected, they'll provide immediate support."
Batman didn't look up, his fingertips tapping lightly on the console's touchscreen. He pulled up a holographic projection of the Solar System, crisscrossed by red warning lines.
"The Justice League will handle Earth's internal defenses."
His voice remained low and devoid of emotion.
"Luka's immediate danger has decreased. I just gave him a communicator. If there's any sign of a Yellow Lantern assault on his end, we'll coordinate immediately."
"Don't worry. If they dare tear a hole in the antimatter universe, I'll intercept them instantly."
Hal raised his hand, the Green Lantern Ring's light surged, enveloping him in a green aura. He shot through the Batcave's concealed exit and vanished into the night sky.
Silence returned to the cave. Batman continued to stare at the console until Nightwing's voice reached his ear.
Nightwing, holding an empty plate, looked around before sweeping aside the clutter on the table and placing the plate down.
He glanced at the empty corridor, his voice tinged with helplessness.
"I tried to strike up a conversation with her, but she's even more guarded than I expected."
He rubbed his temples, adding, "All she did was eat her steak in silence. She wouldn't answer any questions about her origins or plans."
Batman listened quietly, well aware of Nightwing's personality. If Nightwing had truly gotten nothing out of her, he wouldn't be wasting time with idle chatter. He'd usually just slink away, perhaps reporting briefly via encrypted channels later.
Watching the man who had raised him remain as stubborn and unyielding as a rock, Nightwing made a few strange faces behind Batman's back before resuming his report in a more casual tone.
"The only time she reacted was when I mentioned Luka. She told me she helped him accept everything he did on Viltrum."
Nightwing shrugged, grabbed a stool, and sat down.
"That's all. Nothing more."
Batman finally looked up. He switched to the Batcave main hall surveillance feed. In the corner, a faint trace of purple magic still lingered.
"Activate 24-hour full-spectrum surveillance. Monitor her every move without fail."
He dismissed the surveillance footage and star chart projections, then opened an anomalous energy alert program, his voice grave.
"Before leaving, Luka hinted that the girl's situation was similar to his own, with even more troublesome hidden dangers than those surrounding Viltrum."
Nightwing's expression instantly turned serious. He sprang to his feet and leaned over the console, staring at the blurred energy trail Batman had highlighted.
"More troublesome than Viltrum? What exactly is her background?"
"Luka said she came to Earth seeking help, but refused to reveal the core secrets to us."
Batman's eyes remained sharp, as if the man never tired. Even as cosmic-level problems piled up, his judgment remained unwavering.
But this time, Batman finally reopened the encrypted channel.
He contacted another person.
"Oracle, monitor their interactions closely. Record any unusual behavior and report immediately."
Meanwhile, in the deep alleys of Gotham City, Luka and Rachel walked side by side.
The streetlights at the alley entrance, long overdue for maintenance, flickered erratically, casting distorted shadows of the pair across the ground.
"Are you full?" Luka asked, turning his head. He couldn't help but smile, remembering Nightwing's repeated trips with the food trays.
Relying on his enhanced stamina these past few days in Gotham, he hadn't been eating on a regular schedule either. Now, he was starting to feel mentally unaccustomed to it.
Rachel rolled her eyes, making no attempt to hide her disdain.
"Frozen steak, not even heated properly. The bread I picked up myself tasted better."
She paused, a thin edge of mockery slipping into her voice.
"Is this what you meant by 'mooching off the rich'?"
Luka stared in surprise for a few seconds before bursting into awkward laughter.
"You can't blame him," he said, gesturing behind them toward the direction of the Batcave.
"Think about it. A hidden base tucked away in a cliffside sewer would prioritize canned and frozen foods. Easy to store and long-lasting. Flavor's the last thing on their minds."
As they reached the alley entrance, Luka stopped, his casual demeanor fading into a more serious expression.
"Rachel, if you're tired of wandering, why not team up with me?" he asked, his voice sincere.
"At least you wouldn't have to steal to eat or sleep in abandoned corners anymore."
Rachel's eyes turned cold, and she instinctively took a half-step back. A faint purple magical aura shimmered around her as she glared warily at Luka.
"You've seen my memories. You should know how terrifying He truly is."
"That demon could breach the dimensional barriers at any moment and come for me. Anyone who gets close will be dragged into endless darkness. Why walk into your own grave?"
Luka was silent for a moment, then raised a finger and shook it.
"You say this entity wants to devour Earth, but the Viltrumite fleet could also descend upon us any day. For this world, both threats are existential catastrophes."
Rachel paused.
She remembered the civilizations in Luka's memories, worlds annihilated under banners of conquest and glory.
To be honest, an individual Viltrumite's combat power might not surpass Superman's, but a group of their warriors could easily spare a few to pin down Superman and occupy the Justice League.
The remaining Viltrumites would be more than enough to wipe out the rest of Earth's ordinary population in an extremely short time.
That kind of overwhelming destructive force was far more direct and swift than Trigon's dark corruption.
She couldn't say for certain which calamity would strike first.
In other words, she and Luka were standing in much the same position.
Each of them carried a fatal shadow. If the public ever learned the truth, what awaited them would be fear and rejection.
The loneliness of having no one to rely on, nowhere to belong, was something she understood too well.
Rachel's tense shoulders relaxed slightly, her eyes now filled with a complex mix of emotions. She no longer resisted Luka's proximity.
"So, what's your plan now?" she asked, tacitly agreeing to their partnership.
Luka looked up at the night sky.
"Before getting your help, I only wanted to hide on Earth and scrape by. The nightmare of Viltrum never let me breathe."
He wasn't driven by any heroic ideals. Thirty years of ordinary, working-class life had forged an indelible stamp of resignation onto his middle-aged soul.
His past achievements on Viltrum couldn't shake the ingrained reality that he had repeatedly bowed his head to life's hardships, accepting his fate time and again.
It wasn't until Raven stitched the other half of his blood-stained soul into his brain that Luka rediscovered a mindset he had subconsciously scorned.
"...I want to become stronger than Superman," he said, turning to Rachel, his expression finally free of the weariness of the past.
"To prepare for the day Viltrum might come."
Rachel's deadpan eyes showed no reaction, but she instinctively asked, "What if they never come?"
"Then I'll scour the universe to find them. If they're not in this universe, I'll search other universes. I'll crush anyone who opposes me until Viltrum exists in a different way."
As his words faded, Luka added, "Of course, I'll need to become strong enough first, or at least be fully prepared."
Eager to hear Rachel's thoughts, Luka turned to her, only to find her staring at him with an expression that bordered on pity, a hint of speechless disdain curling her lips.
"Who asked you about these pie-in-the-sky fantasies?" Rachel rolled her eyes, her tone blunt and unforgiving. "I was asking where we're going to live next. When I was alone, I didn't mind living in warehouses or hiding in sewers. But you said we can't keep living like that..."
She paused, then threw out a more practical concern. "And what about food? We can't keep relying on me stealing it or mooching frozen steaks from Batman every few days, can we?"
The determination on Luka's face froze instantly. He coughed awkwardly.
"Well... I have an escape pod. It's not very spacious, but if we tidy it up, it should be enough for two people to settle in."
"As for food, don't worry. I can catch fish. You won't starve."
Rachel sighed and fell silent, seemingly resigned to this bleak and unappealing arrangement.
The two walked a little further, then Rachel suddenly added, "I really regret helping you. Your soul isn't fragrant at all now. It's so young it makes me want to vomit."