Chapter 50: Heartwarming Father and Daughter Reunion
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Batman wasn't pretending anymore.
The moment he confirmed his suspicions, he acted.
Inside Dean's room and the police car, he had installed double-digit monitors, tracking every movement, every interaction, and every anomaly. There was no longer any need for secrecy. Based on multiple signs, it wasn't difficult for Batman to deduce that Dean had already figured out his identity beneath the mask.
So, he stopped hiding it.
Rather than playing a game of deception, Batman made the first move. As soon as he saw Dean casually pull out two objects from nothing, he contacted him directly.
"Come to Wayne Tower."
There was no hesitation in his tone. No room for refusal.
Wayne Tower—one of Gotham City's most iconic landmarks—stood tall in the heart of the city, dominating the skyline like a silent guardian. From above, it almost felt like Gotham itself had been built around it, as if the tower had always been the center of everything.
Dean didn't waste time.
Wearing a straw hat and holding Manaphy securely in his arms, he walked through the massive entrance doors of Wayne Tower. His peculiar attire, combined with the standard-issue police uniform he still had on, immediately drew attention.
Some passersby glanced at him with thinly veiled disdain, while others eyed him with curiosity, their gazes lingering on the small blue creature in his arms. However, despite the odd looks, no one stopped him.
The security personnel stationed throughout the building didn't bat an eye.
No guards stepped forward to question him.
Wayne Tower was a place of business, and the people within it had their own affairs to handle. No one had the time to belittle someone they didn't know.
As Dean made his way deeper into the lobby, a sleek, black drone descended from above, landing smoothly in front of him.
A soft beep echoed as the drone's scanners activated, swiftly analyzing Dean's face and irises with precision.
Then, a cold, synthetic female voice spoke through the device:
"Welcome, Officer Dean. Mr. Fox is waiting for you on the 27th floor."
Dean's brows furrowed slightly at the sound of the AI's voice. It felt… familiar.
After a brief moment of thought, he realized why.
The Batcomputer.
So, Batman wasn't just using her to fight crime—he was also using her to run his company.
Dean scoffed inwardly.
"This guy really doesn't waste a single bit of efficiency."
He couldn't even begin to imagine how much money Batman had saved in labor costs by using an artificial intelligence to handle Wayne Enterprises' operations.
But that wasn't his problem to deal with.
The drone's small propellers whirred softly as it hovered beside him, acting as a silent guide. Following its lead, Dean stepped into a private elevator located at the far end of the lobby.
The moment the doors slid shut, he noticed something peculiar.
There were only three floor buttons on the panel:
- The top floor.
- The 27th floor.
- The ground floor.
Nothing else.
Dean didn't even need to press anything—the elevator moved on its own, smoothly ascending toward its destination.
When the doors finally opened, he was greeted by the sight of a spacious office, dimly lit yet still exuding an air of power.
A large wooden desk sat directly across from the elevator, and behind it stood two men engaged in conversation.
Batman, clad in his usual dark attire, spoke in his low, authoritative tone, directing his words at an older man with graying temples.
Dean's eyes immediately recognized him.
Lucius Fox.
"Take advantage of Gotham's reconstruction efforts," Batman instructed, his voice unwavering, "and double the number of safe houses. Also, coat all remaining underground drainage facilities with lead."
Lucius stood calmly, listening intently. This wasn't the first time Batman had assigned him a near-impossible task.
Safe houses.
Dean knew exactly what those were.
The room where he and Batman usually met—that was one of them.
Batman had dozens of these rooms spread throughout Gotham, each one strategically placed and equipped with supplies, weapons, and reinforced protection.
And now, he wanted twice as many.
Lucius remained composed as he responded, his tone even.
"The sewer project is quite extensive. It will take at least three months to complete." He adjusted his glasses, pausing before adding, "This isn't something that can be done with machines alone, Mr. Wayne."
Batman didn't hesitate.
"Leave it to you, Lucius."
Lucius simply nodded. He was used to handling Batman's impossible requests.
In many ways, he was just like Alfred—one of the few men Batman trusted unconditionally.
Just as Lucius was about to continue, Dean finally made his presence known.
He took a step forward, adjusting the straw hat on his head, and spoke with a casual smirk.
"I'm here, Batman."
Lucius turned his gaze toward Dean, his eyebrows lifting slightly in surprise.
His eyes flickered toward the odd hat, then back to Dean's police uniform.
Lucius had kept tabs on Gotham's rising young officer, and from what he remembered, Dean never used to dress like this.
Still, the surprise didn't last long. Lucius had seen stranger things in Gotham and this was just another addition to the list.
Batman's expression was unreadable, his usual stoic demeanor making it impossible to tell what he was thinking.
Without a word, he pulled out a device resembling a thermometer gun and aimed it directly at Dean's straw hat.
A soft beep sounded as the scanner analyzed the material composition.
The results appeared instantly.
96% plant fiber. 4% pigment.
It was exactly the same as the data collected earlier by the drone's initial scan.
Batman didn't react outwardly, but Dean could already tell what was going through his mind.
The obsessive level of caution was just so typical of Batman.
Dean sighed inwardly, his tone carrying a hint of exasperation.
He had already spotted at least two surveillance devices placed around him. Yet, despite all of that, Batman still insisted on scanning his hat himself.
It was like he didn't even trust his own tech.
Dean couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "Seriously, Batman? How many more times do you need to scan it before you're satisfied?"
Batman ignored him. Without missing a beat, he put away the scanner and turned toward the others.
"We wait until everyone is here before we begin."
Dean frowned slightly.
Everyone?
He had assumed that only Batman and Lucius would be involved in repairing the Omnitrix, but now it was clear that more people were needed.
He didn't have to wait long for his answer.
Before he could ask anything, a bright, shimmering portal appeared out of thin air, twinkling like a sky full of stars.
A second later, a familiar figure leaped through the glowing doorway.
Dressed in her signature magician's outfit, Zatanna emerged, flipping her dark hair over her shoulder.
"Oops, am I late?" she said with a playful smirk, striking a pose as if she were on stage.
Then, without missing a beat, she turned toward Batman and shrugged.
"You know, magic takes time to create miracles."
Her voice was lighthearted, but Dean could tell she wasn't as carefree as she was pretending to be.
There was a heaviness in her expression, something subtle but unmistakable.
Over the past few days, she had been dealing with her father's situation, and it was clear that the weight of that responsibility was still pressing down on her.
But even so, Zatanna was still Zatanna—she always found a way to keep up appearances.
Batman, of course, wasn't fooled by her usual theatrics.
He simply folded his arms across his chest and asked, "Is Doctor Fate still unconscious?"
Zatanna's smirk faded slightly, and she nodded.
"Yeah… the worst part is over, but Trigon's magic still infected the Helmet of Fate. If my father's soul doesn't stay in deep sleep with Nabu, it might get corrupted."
Her tone turned slightly bitter.
"So, for now, he won't be waking up anytime soon."
A brief silence followed.
Zatanna exhaled, shaking off the tension before flashing Batman another smirk.
"But don't worry, I didn't come empty-handed!"
She stepped aside dramatically, twirling her staff in one hand.
Then, with a flourish, she gestured toward the portal.
"I brought someone who can help! Prepare to be amazed!"
A second figure emerged from the glowing doorway, moving with silent precision.
The moment the hooded figure stepped forward, Dean could sense a powerful presence radiating from them.
The air around them seemed to grow noticeably heavier, filled with an unspoken intensity.
Then, as the figure reached the center of the room, they pulled back their hood, revealing a strikingly delicate face with piercing violet eyes.
There was no mistaking her identity.
Raven.
The half-demon daughter of Trigon, former member of the Teen Titans, and one of the most mysterious magic-users in the world.
She looked… reluctant to be here.
Her expression was unreadable, but there was an unmistakable hint of reluctance in her eyes, as if she had been dragged into this rather than coming willingly.
Zatanna grinned and gestured toward her.
"Batman, meet Raven. She's got firsthand experience fighting Trigon, and trust me, no one knows his magic better than she does."
Raven didn't respond.
She simply gave a slow nod, her violet eyes flickering toward Batman for a brief moment.
Meanwhile, Dean watched the exchange with interest.
He had seen Zatanna perform magic before, but this?
This wasn't just some random sleight-of-hand trick—this was the real thing.
And Raven?
Raven was something else entirely.
But even as he observed, he still played along.
With an amused smile, he raised his hands and gave a slow, deliberate clap.
"Bravo, Zatanna. That was one hell of an introduction."
The magician winked at him, clearly pleased with herself.
But the moment Dean raised his right arm, exposing the Omnitrix on his wrist, something changed.
In an instant, Raven's entire demeanor shifted.
Her eyes widened in shock, and before anyone could react, she snapped her hands up, summoning a dark, glowing magic circle in front of her.
The energy crackled violently, aimed directly at Dean's wrist—or rather, at the Omnitrix itself.
Her reaction was immediate.
Like a frightened bird, she moved instinctively, as if the mere sight of the Omnitrix triggered a deeply ingrained response.
Batman immediately noticed.
His muscles tensed, his sharp eyes locking onto Raven's every movement.
Without hesitation, he reached toward his utility belt, his fingers hovering over his weapons.
His voice was cold and controlled.
"Zatanna."
It wasn't a question. It was a warning.
"I called you here to help solve problems that may arise during the repair process—"
His eyes flickered toward Raven.
"—not to create more."
The atmosphere in the room instantly became tense.
As a former member of the Teen Titans, Raven was someone Batman was well aware of. He knew her abilities, her origins, and—most importantly—her connection to Trigon. Yet, despite all this, he had chosen to seek Zatanna's help rather than Raven's, and there was a clear reason why.
To Batman, Raven was just as much of an unstable factor as the Omnitrix itself. She was powerful, but she was also the daughter of one of the most dangerous entities in existence, and that made her a potential liability.
The room remained tense, the air thick with unspoken tension as Raven kept her magic at the ready, unwilling to lower her guard. Sensing that things could escalate further, Dean decided to step in before the situation got worse. He turned to Lucius Fox, his tone even but firm.
"Mr. Fox, everyone's here now. Can we begin?"
Lucius glanced at Batman as if waiting for his approval. Batman gave a subtle nod, signaling for him to proceed. Without hesitation, Lucius pressed a hidden fingerprint scanner on the side of his desk, triggering a sudden transformation in the office.
The walls on both sides shifted, folding upward like a complex mechanical puzzle. From a hidden compartment, a large, futuristic-looking capsule extended outward, its sleek metallic surface gleaming under the dim lighting. It resembled something pulled straight out of a cutting-edge laboratory, designed with precise engineering for delicate work.
Lucius turned back to Dean, his expression calm yet serious. "Lie down inside," he instructed.
Dean hesitated for only a moment before stepping forward and settling himself inside the capsule-like structure. As he adjusted to the confined space, Lucius activated the control panel, his fingers gliding across the holographic interface with practiced ease. A series of data streams appeared on the floating display, revealing intricate diagrams of the Omnitrix—or at least what little Lucius had managed to decipher.
Dean studied the projections, and even though he wasn't an expert, he could tell that the analysis was far from complete. Lucius confirmed his suspicion as he began speaking again.
"The technology inside this device is unlike anything I've ever seen. It surpasses even the most advanced scientific developments on Earth." He expanded the holographic display, zooming in on the Omnitrix's outer casing, revealing a network of microscopic engravings. "Even the casing itself isn't just for protection. It's a genetic storage system, containing… something beyond our understanding."
Lucius adjusted his glasses, narrowing his gaze as he studied the intricate lines glowing with faint green energy.
"The Omnitrix's self-regenerative function has been critically damaged. Normally, it would repair itself over time, but most of the restorative energy has already leaked out. However, its protective mechanisms are still functioning, which means I can't scan its internal structure. The only way to proceed is by working on the outer shell first."
He tapped a few commands, bringing up another holographic projection—this time displaying a laser engraving system. He gestured toward the image before continuing.
"I'll be using a high-precision laser to retrace and reconstruct the patterns on the casing, essentially restoring its integrity from the outside. However, this process demands extreme accuracy. A single mistake could disrupt the genetic data stored within."
Lucius turned to Dean, his expression unwavering. "Because of that, I need to completely anesthetize your right arm during the procedure. You won't be able to move or feel anything until it's done."
Dean nodded without hesitation. He had already prepared himself for this.
A mechanical arm extended from the capsule, injecting a precise dose of anesthesia into his right arm. Within seconds, his entire limb went numb, completely unresponsive to any movement. As the laser system activated, the delicate repair process began.
But the moment the first beam of light touched the Omnitrix, something went wrong.
A sudden burst of red energy erupted from the device, illuminating the entire capsule in an ominous glow. It wasn't just a harmless flash—it was something alive, something sinister. At the same time, an unearthly whispering filled the room, echoing like a chorus of voices from beyond reality.
It didn't speak any human language, yet its meaning was terrifyingly clear. It was calling out, whispering in Dean's mind, urging him to break free from the capsule and take something from Raven.
Power.
Magic.
The Omnitrix was reacting to her presence, and the presence of something else—something dark.
Raven's eyes flared white, her entire body going rigid as she immediately recognized the source of the energy.
"It's him."
Her voice was barely above a whisper, but the weight behind it was undeniable. Her hands curled into tight fists, and shadows writhed around her fingers, responding to her rising fear. "It's my father."
Trigon.
Dean could feel the pressure building in his skull, the whispers growing louder, more insistent, trying to sway him. But instead of giving in, he merely smirked.
He turned his head slightly, looking at Raven with an almost amused expression. His voice was calm, steady, and tinged with a teasing edge.
"Shh," he murmured.
Then, with a slight chuckle, he added—
"Your dad is just telling me how much he loves you."
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