Shiller was rummaging through the files in the Batcave while Barry seemed to have grown roots in his feet. He simply couldn't stand still. He would loop around the shelves, then wander to the door, making Shiller feel dizzy with his constant movements.
"If you can't stand still, wait for me by the door," Shiller said, opening a drawer and turning his head to speak to Barry.
Barry looked a mix of fear and excitement as he gazed at the switchboard on the wall and rubbed his hands together. "I've known for a while that Batman has a database full of information that includes plans to handle villains from all over the world and even the whole cosmos. It even includes plans for dealing with himself."
"Batman doesn't let anyone near that database, doesn't let anyone get a good look at it. But, to be honest, I'm really curious. My god, this is the first time I've freely roamed the Batcave..."
Barry was like a small-town young man who had just stepped into the big city for the first time, continuously scanning everything in the archives. Meanwhile, Shiller, engrossed in his own files, spoke,
"I bet that when you go back, you'll brag to your world's Batman about how you found a loophole, even with all the careful precautions he takes."
"But I would suggest you not do that. As his friend, there's no need for you to exacerbate his condition," Shiller cautioned, shaking his head mildly.
"But it's the truth," Barry threw up his hands in defense. "I'm here in another Batman's Batcave, all these files exposed to me. Even with all the precautions my world's Batman has put in place, I still got hold of his secrets through other sources."
"I'm not bragging about being strong, I just want to tell him that a lot of his worries are unnecessary. I want to help him relax a little," Barry explained.
"He won't feel relaxed. Instead, he'll feel even more anxious and distressed. He'll realize that there are many versions of him across the cosmos and some of them act in completely contradictory ways to him, which could potentially expose his secrets," Shiller warned, flipping through another file.
"This is a reality he can't change with his abilities, yet it continually affects his life and could even be dangerous. For someone with an anxiety disorder, this kind of constant provocation can be fatal. Don't poke at him any more."
Just as Barry was about to respond, Shiller turned to look him in the eyes and said, "I know you admire Batman and consider yourself his good comrade. All of Batman's friends in your world share this sentiment."
"You all believe that making him accept the realities he can't change will alleviate his needless worries and excessive paranoia, and you think it can help him regain his normalcy."
"Isn't that correct?" Barry retaliated, hands on his hips, looking back into Shiller's eyes. "That's the truth. No matter how strong Batman is, he cannot control everything in every universe. But he insists on trying, which is painful for him and for those around him."
Shiller, facing Barry, seemed to have an extraordinary amount of patience. Replacing the file he had finished reading back onto the shelf, he spoke in an even but assertive tone: "Yes, he suffers from his excessive need for control, which stems from insecurity."
"Repeatedly reminding him of the uncontrollable security risks will not alleviate this insecurity and will not make him feel safe."
"For instance, if someone is drowning, you should throw a lifebuoy out to them, not stand on the shore and yell, 'The tide is rising. If you don't swim up quickly, you'll drown.'"
Barry fell into contemplation at his spot while Shiller picked up a new pile of documents. As he scrutinized them, he commented: "Mental illness is like a heavy rock shackled to one's feet. When on land, it merely makes them feel exhausted, walking slower than others."
"But once they fall into water, it becomes a fatal burden. Yet to you normal people, the water doesn't seem deep, and he can swim. So, he shouldn't be struggling so helplessly on the verge of drowning."
"You think that, logically, he should be able to overcome the situation. Hence, you consider his choice to struggle as voluntary or perhaps just an act. You're mindful of him but think that maybe he has his own plan. So, there's no immediate need for aid."
"But in reality, the rock tied to his feet doesn't disappear. The continuous pain and struggle you feel from him aren't illusions, nor acts. Your instinct is correct; he does need salvation, and urgently. What he needs is a lifebuoy."
Barry's mouth dropped open when, under the dim light, he saw the hint of a sparkle in Shiller's eyes. Like a moth drawn to a flame, he moved two steps closer to Shiller.
"So, how can I give him a lifebuoy?"
"That depends on what kind of lifebuoy you'd want if you were the one drowning."
Without skipping a beat, Shiller tossed a stack of files in Barry's hands, "Alright, that should be all Lex needs. Let's bring these documents back to him."
Almost immediately, the glow of super speed engulfed Shiller's body, and the two of them returned to the underground room in Rodrix Manor where the Ark Reactor was stored.
Lex had already disassembled the necessary parts. He spread out the files Shiller brought on the floor, starting to adjust the interface specifications according to the blueprints.
While waiting for Lex to make adjustments, Shiller drifted to the side of the bookcase in the room and, seated, started perusing a scholarly journal. Suddenly, he felt a shadow cast over the floor near him.
Shiller did not lift his head but continued to concentrate on the text in the book. A voice reached his ear, "You know how to help Batman, don't you?"
"You must be very close to him, perhaps someone he trusts deeply. Unfortunately, in my world, Batman doesn't have such a figure of authority. I can feel him sinking deeper and deeper," expressed Barry's voice, tinged with helplessness and sadness.
"So, can you tell me how you managed to do it? How did you create a life buoy and throw it to him?"
Shiller adjusted his glasses, glanced at Barry, and, leaning toward the armrest in Barry's direction, looked up at him and said, "Of course, I'd be happy to tell you. But right now I'm facing a problem. Are you willing to help me solve it?"
"...Sure, The Flash is at your service."
Soon, the trio found themselves again standing before the immense Ark Reactor. Lex made a gesture and then stated:
"This huge reaction device was originally designed for energy supply, like now, where it is providing power for all the buildings in Gotham's renovation project."
"But at the same time, it also serves as an energy reaction device capable of storing massive amounts of energy, compressing these energies, changing their characteristics and concentrating them to a point of explosion. This is exactly what I want to leverage."
"After a lengthy investigation, I've found that the dark clouds over Gotham have nothing to do with natural phenomena. They seem more like artifacts of some special rule, in essence, still energy, but the nature of the energy is beyond the current understanding of the human race."
"But whether we understand it or not isn't important. Humans have never truly grasped the world they live in, but we are adept at destroying it with violence, with the only solution being once there's enough force."
"I believe the mysterious energy that hovers over Gotham is something current human science can't decode. Even if it could, it would take a long time. Hence, instead of decoding, it's better to simply blow it up."
"The Ark Reactor, in essence, is still a bomb, but the energy output is too stable, making it excellent for power generation, but not for demolition."
"So, I've been looking for a detonator for the bomb. In simple terms, I need some energy with enough attack power and breakthrough capability to serve as the spark to ignite the Ark Reactor's energy."
"Originally, I was considering the Green Lantern energy..." Lex turned to look at Shiller and then slowly shook his head, "Yet, Green Lantern energy is more conducive to shaping and does not belong to explosion-type energy."
"Yet fortunately, we have a new friend." Lex turned his gaze back to Barry, who frowned and asked, "So, you think the Divine Speed is the kind of energy you're looking for?"
Lex nodded while saying, "Although previously there were issues with the interface and the two types of energy did not merge well, it was still apparent that the Divine Speed you output could induce a change in the energy of the Ark Reactor."
Barry nodded, and at this point, Shiller asked, "Are you planning to blow up the dark clouds over Gotham with the Ark Reactor? I can't comprehend the principle, but I have two questions. Firstly, how will you ensure the safety of the city? Secondly, how will you maintain the effects for an extended period after a short-lived explosion?"
"These two questions are actually intertwined," responded Lex, "Which is exactly why I need your help. I need a medium."
"A medium?"
"The halo on your head."
Shiller widened his eyes slightly looking at Lex. Lex, retrieving a document from behind him, said, "I saw it before in the data Bruce provided. He conducted in-depth research on the halo on your head, and the findings show that this is an excellent material for energy storage and transmission."
"Moreover, given it can be expanded or reduced at will, it is large enough to cover all of Gotham City and can maintain a certain height without any effort. Also, the material is robust enough to withstand attacks and has built-in brightness that can provide illumination."
"Simply put, after the initial explosion, I will transfer a large amount of energy onto the halo, creating a new energy layer at the center of the halo to replace the original dark cloud energy layer. Then, I'll let it maintain an appropriate height above Gotham, keeping the dark clouds from invading here."
Shiller thought for a while and then nodded, saying, "It sounds feasible, so let's give it a try."
Barry was utterly puzzled while listening. Just as he was trying to decipher whether the "halo" Lex was referring to was some sort of code, he saw a halo of light emerge around Shiller's head.
To Barry's astonishment, Shiller snatched the halo from his head and threw it to Lex.