Gotchard in DC Ch 26

Before the Commander could even register Superman’s words, a Boom Tube shimmered into existence beside the farmhouse. Wonder Woman, Batman, Flash, Cyborg, Green Lantern, and several other Justice League members stepped through, forming a united front behind Superman. The sudden arrival of so many heroes was impressive.

Flash surveyed the unconscious Cadmus soldiers scattered on the lawn. Then, he looked at Superman's stern expression. After a moment, he vanished in a blur of motion.

In a heartbeat, he reappeared. The Cadmus soldiers were gone, and the rear doors of their armored transport were open. The soldiers were piled inside like discarded ragdolls.

The Commander, seeing the super-powered rescue, tossed aside his energy weapon and hurried toward the transport.

"Are you… Superman?" Conner's gaze stayed on the figure in blue and red as the armored transport sped away into the night. His hands clenched and unclenched at his sides, and his voice was thick with emotion.

"I am." Superman had been about to address the Justice League, but he paused, hearing the sincerity in Conner's voice. He turned, his expression a mix of concern and curiosity as he studied the young man before him. His gaze lingered on the black t-shirt emblazoned with a familiar red 'S' shield.

"Hey, does this kid look like Superman to you?" Green Lantern Hal Jordan nudged Flash Barry Allen, grinning.

Barry stroked his chin, studying Superman and Conner side-by-side. "Now that you mention it, yeah, he kinda does."

Although Hal and Barry had tried to whisper, the other metahumans, including Batman, heard them clearly.

"Kid," Superman's gaze flicked to the two jokers, then returned to Conner. His tone softened. "It seems we need to talk."

On the third morning after Isaac and his two companions left the charred remains of the monastery, a different trio arrived in the quiet town. This group of young heroes, one male and two females, wasted no time making their way to the devastated site, their intentions clear in their determined strides.

"Tim, with this place so destroyed, can we still find any clues?" Stephanie Brown, her blonde hair pulled back into a practical ponytail, asked, her blue eyes scanning the devastation. She glanced at her silent companion, Cassandra Cain, before turning back to her boyfriend, Tim Drake, who was crouched low, examining the scorched earth.

Stephanie, tonight operating as Spoiler, was clad in her usual purple suit, reinforced with strategic armor plating. The familiar lavender domino mask covered her eyes, and her utility belt was laden with batarangs and smoke pellets.

Cassandra Cain, ever the picture of stealth and efficiency, stood motionless beside Stephanie. Her black Orphan suit was form-fitting and silent, allowing for maximum agility. The gold accents on her hooded cowl gleamed faintly in the morning sun, and her hands were bare, ready to strike at a moment's notice.

Tim Drake, currently working as Red Robin, rose from his crouch. His short, black hair was slightly disheveled, and his blue eyes were focused. His red and black suit, augmented with yellow highlights, was a familiar sight, as was the bird-shaped insignia on his chest. The suit was designed for both protection and agility, and his utility belt held an array of gadgets.

The three of them were there on a mission assigned by Dick, relayed through the ever-resourceful Barbara, to investigate the monastery ruins in his stead.

Tim, ever the efficient detective, had initially planned to tackle the mission solo, but Barbara, with her unparalleled ability to assess risk, shut that idea down immediately. Having heard the full story from Dick, she was acutely aware of the danger posed by the demon-men.

And so, with Barbara's insistence ringing in his ears, Tim dutifully followed her instructions, bringing along special weapons and two other members of the Bat-Family to act as backup, lest he be caught off guard by the demon-men, as Dick had been.

"There should be some; no matter how much destruction there is, some traces will always be left behind," Tim replied, standing up and gently brushing the ash from his hands. His gaze settled on the area where the nuns' quarters had once stood, his expression thoughtful.

As Batman's third Robin, Tim, while perhaps not as naturally gifted as his older brother Dick, had surpassed him in terms of investigative prowess, inheriting the true legacy of the World's Greatest Detective.

Meanwhile, Isaac and his companions, back in National City, had gone their separate ways for the time being.

Dick was out trying to find someone who could analyze the genetic samples he had managed to grab from the former demon-men. Since Isaac had lost his sparring partner for the moment, he could only go back to his usual routine.

Huh, it’s only been two days since we were out of town, but National City feels way quieter than usual. I wonder if Dick and I have been hitting the bad guys too hard recently?

Wearing his blue and silver Steamhopper armor, Isaac stood on the rooftop of the tallest building in National City, overlooking the skyline under the night sky. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

Ever since they had returned from the monastery, Isaac, who had resumed his role as a zealous protector of National City, was surprised to find that no trucks carrying illicit cargo had entered the city, at least none that his Alchemy creatures could spot.

Moreover, gang activity had plummeted, and even petty crimes had all but vanished, which made him wonder if he and Dick had gotten a little too enthusiastic, scaring all the criminals into hiding.

"Ah, forget it. If they're not causing trouble, I can use the break. A hero's gotta recharge, too."

After thinking about it for a moment, Isaac shrugged, deciding not to dwell on it. After all, with the alchemical creatures and the cops around, he didn’t need to get involved in every little thing.

Standing on the rooftop, taking in the National City skyline, Isaac’s thoughts began to drift. He couldn't help but notice that Rachel had been in a funk ever since they’d returned from the monastery; she seemed distant and distracted.

I bet she's still thinking about what happened at the monastery. After all, Rachel wasn't dumb; the monastery being destroyed and the demon-men specifically targeting her had to mean something big.

"I know what to do. Tomorrow, I'll take her to the amusement park."

The thought struck Isaac suddenly. He decided to take Rachel out the following day to clear her head, hoping to distract her from her worries. It's not good for a kid to be frowning all the time.

After standing on the rooftop for a while longer, still without any new insights, Isaac finally decided to call it a night. Time to head home, rest up, and get ready to take Rachel out tomorrow. He turned and headed for home, determined to be in good spirits when he took Rachel out for some fun.