Feel honoured

(3rs Person POV)

Bruce had returned to the Batgarage and was currently in the middle of creating a curse detector. He had the idea to use the same or a similar one as Rick did. He was also in the middle of creating a new 'Evil Spirit Containment Box', as the one he already made wouldn't be enough this time. But he was more than prepared when he went to meet the black sheep of the Wayne family.

Bruce wasn't in any hurry at the moment. It was the 23. of December and everyone was busy with their preparations for Christmas. At least in any City that isn't Gotham. Batman's presence had cost the crime families a lot of money in the short time since his appearance. They were currently trying to lick their wounds and recuperate to go at it again next year. This short time gave the citizens of Gotham some breathing room and the spirit of Christmas while not strong, was at least somewhat present.

The elevator door opened, and Sebas exited with some food and tea.

"Master Bruce, you are once again overworking yourself. Please take a break now and enjoy some of the tea I prepared."

"I guess I could take a short break. I'll have to finish this project today though. I am unhappy with this curse. I feel like someone thinks he can just use Gotham for their playground. Also now that it's Christmas tomorrow, I am all the more interested in removing the curse."

"You have something planned for tomorrow then?"

"How do you come to this conclusion Sebas?"

"Very simple. There is nothing in this world that can stop you from doing something when you have set your mind to it. So when I came in here and offered you food and a nice tea, you would never stop what you were doing if you were under time pressure. Now that can only mean that you are already finished with the project you are planning today or you have nothing you want to do tomorrow."

"That is a weird thought process Sebas. But I guess you're right."

"Weird is exactly the way that your mind seems to work. Then would you tell me what you have planned for tomorrow?"

"Aha. Well, it is something that I always wanted to do, if I'm being honest."

"You will play Santa Claus."

"..."

"..."

"Would you tell me how you figured that out?"

"Hoho, I just thought about something that is very far-fetched, you would still likely do it and still have fun doing it."

"I feel like you are just stating random facts. How is that the conclusion to something far-fetched?"

"Well no matter how menacing you look in your Batman outfit or the methods you use when dealing with criminals, you love children and want what's best for Gotham. And no matter how much you try, you can't hide that fact from me."

"Well you're right I do like helping those that are in need, but I also enjoy messing with criminals."

"I am aware of your love for science and building new things. You have somehow managed to mix all the things you enjoy into one thing. I have to congratulate you, Master Bruce. So would you now tell me what it is that you have planned?"

"No, that's going to be a surprise. But Santa Claus is correct for the most part."

"Then I will wait for the reveal tomorrow."

.

Sebas was correct in his guess. Bruce was indeed planning to become Santa Claus. But he was a different kind of Santa. Not the fat one with a white beard, but a new one. Just like he was a different Batman, he would be a different Santa Claus. But that was something for tomorrow. Today was the 23. and he had something to do now. Today it was time to deal with the curse of Gotham. And as it turned out, an old Wayne was responsible for the dilemma. But not him alone. There was also someone else who thought he could deal with the Dark Knight.

Bruce donned his Batman outfit and approached the Batmobile.

"BOB drive to the second floor, we have some things to add before we go out.", Batman said.

[Understood.]

The floor of the first floor began to open up and the Batmobile began to descend to the second floor. This was the garage floor, where the Batmobile and any type of construction take place. The Batmobile entered the cube and began to float thanks to the Energy suspenders. Batman sat down at the computer and began to enter commands. His newest creations had to be added to the car before he went on patrol tonight.

Many mechanical arms began to approach the Batmobile with the new devices Batman had created and with BOB's help, they managed to add these creations to the Batmobile without a problem. Bruce had planned to make the mechanical arms out of Galvanic Mechamorphs but he didn't have the time yet. He'll do it later when he finds a way to not make them sentient.

The upgrades were finished and the Batmobile began to rise again. Batman entered the vehicle and then turned it on. He watched the screen and activated the 'Bug Control' to see whether everything was working fine.

"How is it BOB?", Batman asked.

[New additions called: 'Energy Constrictor', 'Anti-Matter Gun' and 'Curse Filter' have been fully integrated into the Batmobile. Weapons 100% functional. New Serum also added and ready for use. Good ride sir.]

"Alright then. Let's go."

The Batmobile activated the Portal Gun and Batman drove the Batmobile through.

.

.

What was Batman's plan?

When he visited Giovanni and Zatanna Zatara, he discovered that there was never a Dr. Gotham or a Warlock who used to live in the area where Gotham lies. But what he did find out was that in 1765, a group of occultists including Jacob Stockman and Thomas Jefferson performed a ritual called the "Ceremony of the Bat". They were trying to summon Barbatos. Whether they succeded or not, is not stated but Batman managed to find another name that he knew about, Dr Thomas Wayne.

The reason why Batman had to plan for many dark and evil things that would normally only concern Batman from Earth 0 is just this revelation. Dr Thomas Wayne turned out to be an occultist and a black sheep to the Wayne family. He was present that day when the group summoned Barbatos. But Batman knows that if the story he read is true, then they didn't summon Barbatos, but something else.

In the events of 'Final Crisis' Batman mortally wounded Darkseid, by firing a radion bullet Darkseid had used to kill Orion. Darkseid was hit with the radion bullet, but not before he unleashed the Omega Sanction, the "death that is life", upon Batman. Batman however wasn't killed but sent to the past. Darkseid then released this creature from his Ancestor Box, allowing it to travel across time and torment Batman, with the ultimate goal of destroying creation.

But what was this creature?

The name was the Hyper-Adapter. And it was sent through time to torment Batman on his journey through time back to the present. So when the occultists tried to summon Barbatos, they actually summoned the Hyper-Adapter who had taken the form of a bat. Dr Thomas Wayne then fused with the Hyper-Adapter and became immortal through that. He then took on the name of Dr Hurt.

.

The Batmobile raced through the streets of Gotham. Snow had begun to fall but it was a cold and unfriendly type of snow. The one that promised starvation and hypothermia. Not the nice and happy kind where children made snowmen. The curse was like pollution and turned everything into something bad. And Batman wouldn't deal with that. Unlike the OG Batman, he didn't need the Batman persona to keep himself from falling into despair. So he would not watch as all his work turned out to be useless.

It's just like he already said. 'I invent, transform, create and destroy for a living and when I don't like something about the world, I change it...' That was what he lived by and reality was his playground now. Darkseid, Doomsday, Perpetua, Barbatos, the f*cking Presence. Who were they?

.

Batman arrived at a remote location in Gotham. It was an abandoned construction site that housed many different criminals and had a very bloody and violent history. Batman walked in. He had his curse locator in his hand and walked in the direction from where he measured the highest concentration. He came to a particularly dark and eerie room that would have made anyone stop from going further, but not Batman. He was the Batman. He was the one that struck fear into the hearts of the most evil of beings.

He found a hidden door that led him deeper underground. After walking along the dark and fungi-infested corridor, Batman arrived at an ancient-looking door with strange symbols that he recognised from the books he read in the Zatara household.

He clicked a button on his utility belt and took his X-ray device out. He held it in front of him and analysed the stone door. When nothing conclusive came back, Batman activated a button on the side of the device. Another mode was used. This small thing was Batman's 'Multipurpose X-ray'. It could see through anything he had already analysed. So even if this door was sealed by magic, it wouldn't matter, he could see through it.

And that was indeed the case. He located the mechanisms in the spell on the stone doors and approached the specific place he had seen. He took a small Batgranade and pressed it to that specific place. He then activated it and an explosion was heard.

*Booom*

The Batsuit absorbed any form of damage he might have suffered. He had never stopped upgrading it. And in the near future, he would add Nth metal and Element X to the Batsuit as well.

.

Batman placed a small needle on the floor and then pressed the head of the needle. Instantly an energy field was created and stopped anything from flying away. Batman was also inside this field and walked into the dark room. He activated his night vision and saw that the darkness seemed to be ... alive and a silhouette was sitting on a throne of some kind. Batman took another device from his utility belt and threw it around the room.

All of the small devices began to blink and then flashed in bright light. The entire room was lit up.

*Clap Clap Clap*

"Well well well. If it isn't Batman. I've been expecting you.", a voice said. The voice came from the person who sat on the throne just a moment ago. He stood up and began to walk towards Batman, who was only looking at him.

"..."

"You aren't going to talk? How disappointing. And here I was thinking that you would be happy to see someone ... from your family."

"..."

"Still nothing? Are you just going to ignore me ... Bruce?", the man said with a big grin on his face.

"Seems like you really hoped to get a reaction out of me with that revelation ... Dr. Thomas Wayne.", the deep voice of Batman was finally heard. The voice sounded eerie ... even to the man and that was strange. It should be the other way around but for some reason, this Batman was threatening for him.

"Impressive. I admit that I am a bit disappointed that I didn't manage to get a bigger reaction out of you. But let us move on from the pleasantries, shall we? Why are you here?"

"Why are you asking questions, yoiu know the answer to?"

"Because otherwise it wouldn't be a conversation now would it?"

"And what makes you think I want to have a conversation with you?"

"Because you are not attacking or moving your hands in any way ot prepare a move against me. We are just communicating right now are we not?"

"And that is relevant how?"

"Why are you answering every question with another question?"

"What do you think?"

"What is this? A therapy session?"

"I don't know. Is it?"

"..."

"..."

"Ok, enough of this. I know that you're here because of Darkseid and now you believe that you-"

"Not really."

"What?!"

"I said, not really."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm not here because of the big, grey, narcissistic baldy. I'm here for you two."

"Don't call him that."

"And why not?"

"Because he is Lord Darkseid and he is magnificent. Nothing that your pathetic mind could ever hope to understand."

"And what makes you say that?"

"... This again? Can't you do anything else but annoy me?"

"I don't know, can I?", Batman said, "The truth is I am actually interested in trying several drugs on you and your fused companion. It is of scientific value that you offer yourself to me in that regard. Be honoured you are my first test subject."

A cold shiver ran down the century-old man who had become 'immortal'.