7 A Chat With Batman

I kept my guard up as I looked across at the Dark Knight. I knew I was stronger than him. He was only human after all. But this man...he'd stood toe-to-toe with aliens that could destroy the Earth. I remember when I was younger, no older than 9, he'd gone toe-to-toe with Superman and come out alive.

A human with no superpowers, had come out of a fight with an alien who seems to have limitless strength, alive.

This man...he was beyond me. He'd seen things I probably couldn't even imagine.

"I know you may not trust me, or the League after what Superman did," Batman spoke up suddenly, bringing my attention back to him, "But you need to know that if you're against the people coming, you're our ally. At the very least, you're my ally. If you find any semblance of truth in what I just said, you need to speak to me about the weaknesses of the Viltrumites. Superman would no doubt tell me, but I'm sure you have a much more in-depth view on your own biology than he does."

He said, his gravelly voice sounding more and more sincere as the seconds passed. Even then I still kept my guard up as I answered, "The biggest weakness would be our Inner Ear. That's how Superman...subdued me," I spat, feeling annoyed and embarrassed with my earlier display against the man of steel.

Seemingly sensing this annoyance and embarrassment, Batman spoke up, "If it's any consolation, I'm sure Superman is regretful about his action. I'd even go as far as to say he tried to follow me to apologize to you but was stopped by Wonder Woman."

But hearing what he said, I shook my head, "Unfortunately, it...it really isn't," I sighed as I leaned over the table, running a hand through my hair before looking up at the hero who defended Gotham for so long. Being face to face with someone I feel like I could talk to, and have understand me, I spoke up about what was bugging me, "I've spent most of my life...invincible. I've never been injured. I've never been ill. Hell, I've never really had to exert myself physically or mentally but when I came up against Superman...I felt like a child in front of an adult," I felt my voice shake as I thought about what was to come, "If I can't even fight off Superman, how will I do anything against the Viltrumites who are going to no doubt come for my mom?" my voice dropped off, cracking up as I finished my rhetorical question.

As soon as I said it, all of my panic and fear that I'd been staving off came flooding back into my head. All the terror I felt when I thought about how the Viltrumites are going to be coming for my mom. How they'll kill her just to punish me for going against them.

I didn't want to lose my mom. She's all I've ever had.

I brought a hand to my eyes and covered them as I felt them sting with the familiar weakness brought on by the self-mocking and self-pitying thoughts pouring into my head.

Everything went quiet for a few seconds, with me trying to not to break down at the thought of what was to come, and Batman sitting opposite to me giving me the time to digest my own thoughts.

But a hand on my shoulder brought me out of my thoughts. Moving my hand I saw the near-emotionless face of Batman, or at least the bottom half of his face, as started to speak, "I know what you feel like. Feeling like you're not able to protect what you love...is a haunting feeling. I think that everyone in the League is feeling the same way, but the thing you have to do with such a feeling is use it as determination. Determination to not let what you fear is going to happen, to actually happen. Which is why we need all the information you can provide."

Hearing what he said, I felt an epiphany occur in my head as I thought about something:

If I don't want to lose my mom, than all I need to do is make sure that I won't lose her. No matter what. I need...I just need to get stronger.

Smiling in thanks for Batman, he nodded as he leaned back into his chair, taking his armored hand from my shoulder. "There are around 50 Viltrumites on their way. You could take out the majority of them with a device that can affect their Inner Ear. But for the much older Viltrumites...well, they might have either built up a resistance or wear special equipment that cancels out the frequency. The best way to take out the Viltrumites is to separate them into small groups - probably around 2-4 Viltrumites - and then attack them. If you try to take them all on, head-on...you'll lose," I declared, knowing full well that Elite Viltrumite Adults can destroy large planets, planets larger and harder than Earth, with a full-powered attack.

Luckily, they want Earth to act as their repopulation planet. They also need the Human race to help breed the next generation. So they won't destroy Earth or massacre it's people. But humanity will live a life of servitude and a life in chains, used only to make more Viltrumites.

It's not a life I'd wish upon anyone.

Meanwhile, as I was thinking, Batman was leaning his chin on his hand as his expression turned into one of utmost concentration. Though it didn't take him very long to finish his thought process as he turned his intense gaze back to me, "Thank you for this information, Jacob," he stood up and put out a hand for me to shake, "This will help the league immensely."

I quickly stood up as well and took his hand and shook it, "Anything to help, Batman," I said, feeling the entire situation to be slightly surreal - I was speaking to one of the Earth's greatest defenders. A few days ago I was worrying about college life, even with my immense power.

Just as Batman let go of my hand, I went to speak which brought his attention back to me. Finding myself with the urge to ask something but lacking the ability to do so, I took a deep breath before speaking, "Is there anyway I can help in a more...I don't know, hands on kind of way?" I asked, hoping there was some kind of way.

For a second I could swear I saw a smirk on Batman's face but by the time I realized what I saw he spoke up, "You have college 2 weeks, right, Jacob?" he asked and I nodded in affirmative, so he carried on, "I'll have someone your age get in contact with you. He'll show you a place where you can train. People you can spar with. Most of the Young Justice team are going to College in Metropolis, just like you. Quite a coincidence, isn't it?" he asked and I laughed before answering him with a helpless smile.

"Will you people, you know, be able to properly spar with me?" I asked and he raised an eyebrow at me, his mask somehow showing off his facial expressions perfectly but seeing his confusion, I clarified what I meant, "Are you sure they're strong enough? Only Supergirl springs to mind when I think about people who can fight me toe-to-toe, blow-for-blow, you know?" I said, feeling the familiar sting from how we left things off.

I wanted to speak to her, you know? Make sure she knows I'm not like the other members of my species.

Again, I saw a second-long smirk from the Dark Knight before his face returned to it's more neutral look, "There are a few who could definitely give you a run for your money, Mr. Fletcher. I assure you that," he said before carrying on, "Please, show them what it's like to fight a Viltrumite. It will help them when the time comes."

I nodded, knowing they needed experience for what was to come, and even if I'm not up to par with the Elites that were on the way, I had the same instincts and the same brutal physical power. Plus, I'd no doubt learn the Viltrumite Martial Arts at a fast enough pace to give them a taste of what to expect.

"Now, if that's all you have to tell me, I need to relay this to the rest of the League," Batman said before going to leave but I quickly stopped him with a raised hand, "Hm?" he turned to me and I once again felt that lump in my throat.

"Supergirl--Kara...how is she?" I asked, wanting to know so I could prepare myself for the next time I met her. I feel that Batman mentioning how many of us are attending the same College...was a hint that Kara will be there.

Batman didn't smirk this time but looked away for a second before sighing, "I won't lie to you - she wasn't in a brilliant mood when she came back to the Satellite. She's...very confused at the moment. Give her some time before you speak to her," he said, less of a request and more of a demand, and all I did was nod.

Then he left and I sat back down in the chair.

"Haah...Truly, there's way too much stuff going on at the minute," I sighed as I leaned back into the chair I was sitting on, "I miss the days when all I had to worry about was homework or making my mom mad."

Just as soon as I sat down, I stood up and made my way to the fridge - I needed food. Then I'm gonna go to sleep.

God I need some sleep right about now.

. . .

Two weeks. 14 days. 336 hours. Etc, etc. That's how long it had been since I had my first kiss, had my first real fight, AND found out I'm from a race of aliens who commit genocide as a part of their daily routine.

And today? I'm going to my first college lecture. Also the day I meet whoever Batman has sent to get me for that training or whatever they can offer me.

I'd spent these two weeks rather productively. I'd worked myself to the bone on the moon, practicing the martial arts in my mind and I'd gained quite a lot of proficiency in them while also increasing my physical strength and durability. Not too much though. Not enough to defeat Superman, at least.

But it was a welcomed increase. Put it together with the increase I got from fighting Superman and I felt many times stronger than I was. Instead of only partially lifting a cruise ship...I felt like I could lift a whole one. I even gave it a go - got it a few feet out of the water before I had to put it down before it fell in on itself.

Anyway, what am I doing now? Sitting in a lecture hall with no one else in it...

You see, I'm about 30 minutes early because, well, I flew a bit too quickly to the college. Note to self, you don't need to fly at supersonic speeds to get to a college that's only a few dozen miles away.

Just as I was thinking this, a group of people walked in and looked straight at me. Sensing a few stares at me, I returned them and saw that the group I was looking at, had some...weird people in it. At the head of the group was a guy the same age as me, with black hair and blue eyes. He was a few inches shorter than me and overall much more lean but he still had an athletic physique.

Seeing how he was coming over to me, I'd assume that...well, he's the guy Batman was talking about.