|
Self-Doubt
Aug 12, 2019 17:48:19 GMT -8
via mobile
Post by Pianah Person on Aug 12, 2019 17:48:19 GMT -8
Professor Stein was driving around the streets. He was looking for Ronald. He just couldn't find him anywhere.
"He really hates being a superhero... I can't say I blame him... with all the criticism he has been getting ever since he joined." thought Professor Stein as he drove, understanding his young friend's plight.
He parked his car near a dock. He sat there and looked into the distance.
"Sometimes I wonder if I am to blame for Firestorm's actions as well." thought Stein. "After all, I'm part of him."
He then shook his head.
"Darn... Ronald's insecurity must be contagious." muttered Stein.
|
|
|
Post by Master Of Magnet on Aug 12, 2019 19:11:24 GMT -8
"We're fine Doc."
Power Girl hovered over him, arms crossed. "Can't be mad at you. You were not at the wheel, But you guys leaving almost got people killed. I am really trying to be calm because I get it. I really do. But we got really lucky, and I say that given that Shilandra was stabbed in her leg."
"Some of the others were mad that you guys stopped holding back the troops. Cobra got their second wind and...we got lucky that Dr. Fate and a few others showed up when they did. Fire and Ice are saved but...well there are reasons we came looking for answers and not...*ahem*...Lobo and Guy." M'Gann said. "Also...there are other matters to attend to. Hal, Superman, Lois and I aren't the only ones with Future Kids."
"You left out Bruce." Power Girl said.
"Because Future Bruce came with him...eventually." M'Gann remarked. "Hello Karen."
Karen touched down. "Look, I just want to see if he is ok, and yes...sorry, but I have to chew him out a bit. It has to be me...because if it is the others...it'll make me want to hit them and I don't want that."
|
|
|
Post by Pianah Person on Aug 13, 2019 3:14:52 GMT -8
"We're fine Doc." Power Girl hovered over him, arms crossed. "Can't be mad at you. You were not at the wheel, But you guys leaving almost got people killed. I am really trying to be calm because I get it. I really do. But we got really lucky, and I say that given that Shilandra was stabbed in her leg." "Some of the others were mad that you guys stopped holding back the troops. Cobra got their second wind and...we got lucky that Dr. Fate and a few others showed up when they did. Fire and Ice are saved but...well there are reasons we came looking for answers and not...*ahem*...Lobo and Guy." M'Gann said. "Also...there are other matters to attend to. Hal, Superman, Lois and I aren't the only ones with Future Kids." "You left out Bruce." Power Girl said. "Because Future Bruce came with him...eventually." M'Gann remarked. "Hello Karen." Karen touched down. "Look, I just want to see if he is ok, and yes...sorry, but I have to chew him out a bit. It has to be me...because if it is the others...it'll make me want to hit them and I don't want that." "Yeah, Prof. We need to find him." said Hal. "I... I don't know where he is. And with all the criticism he is still getting over Superman's death, I don't think he would want to show his face again." said Stein. "Damn... the people are still giving him a hard time with that incident." asked Hal. "Yeah... even after he sacrificed his life in my time, he got trashed by the press thanks to that, for letting Wonder Woman be captured by Darkseid when he first joined and the death of the female civilian." said Luana. "He must think that death and misfortune follow him whenever he goes." "Well... I guess we're lucky I'm here. If the guy who fucked up worse than him doesn't convince him to come back, I dunno what will." said Hal, still showing regret over his actions as Parallax. "Only difference is that he is still young, so criticism affects him more than it affects me."
|
|
|
Post by Master Of Magnet on Aug 13, 2019 4:07:05 GMT -8
"I don't think he's a bad hero, far from it. But we are lucky Shilandra spotted the charge when she did and warned us all. Besides...if it follows him, then it follows me. Kinda got the hint here we're in this together." Karen uncrossed her arms. "Stein..please. This was dereliction of duty, they go to jail for this in the military, so what do you think will happen if like...Captain Atom finds out or something and no one talks to him about this? We're the softened blow, like I said...LOBO was ready to come bust his head in for leaving. That's is how serious this is. I don't want to leave it up to some hack cocked jackass I am going to have to shitkick for trying. Besides...maybe I can help him work on that? Show that he is not alone."
|
|
|
Post by Pianah Person on Aug 13, 2019 4:15:58 GMT -8
"I don't think he's a bad hero, far from it. But we are lucky Shilandra spotted the charge when she did and warned us all. Besides...if it follows him, then it follows me. Kinda got the hint here we're in this together." Karen uncrossed her arms. "Stein..please. This was dereliction of duty, they go to jail for this in the military, so what do you think will happen if like...Captain Atom finds out or something and no one talks to him about this? We're the softened blow, like I said...LOBO was ready to come bust his head in for leaving. That's is how serious this is. I don't want to leave it up to some hack cocked jackass I am going to have to shitkick for trying. Besides...maybe I can help him work on that? Show that he is not alone." "Then there's only one place where we can go. The docks. Ronald has been hanging around there ever since that woman was killed." said Stein. "Depression is a real pain." "You're telling me." said Hal with a bit of sadness, remembering when he first came back to life.
|
|
|
Post by Master Of Magnet on Aug 13, 2019 4:29:15 GMT -8
"It is." Power Girl turned. "Let's get going then, before someone DOES get stupid." She said as she began to walk.
"She is more worried for him than she shows, she's just forcing herself to look composed." M'Gann said as they followed.
|
|
|
Post by Pianah Person on Aug 13, 2019 4:40:55 GMT -8
"It is." Power Girl turned. "Let's get going then, before someone DOES get stupid." She said as she began to walk. "She is more worried for him than she shows, she's just forcing herself to look composed." M'Gann said as they followed. "I don't blame her... especially considering... what's gonna happen." said Hal, glancing at Luana as he said that last sentence. Professor Stein got out of his car and followed. "He really must feel insignificant when he's in a room with all of you." said Stein.
|
|
|
Post by Master Of Magnet on Aug 13, 2019 5:16:46 GMT -8
"He shouldn't, he's an equal." Power Girl said. "Ollie is an equal, Batman is an equal, don't ever requote me but fucking Guy is an equal. I have never seen him as anything but."
"None of us do, for either of you. Do you know that you could beat me in a fight? Trying to fight a man with two minds and fire powers...not a good spot for any martian." M'Gann said to him. "And I often get compared to Supergirl as much as J'onn is to Superman."
|
|
|
Post by Pianah Person on Aug 13, 2019 6:38:16 GMT -8
"He shouldn't, he's an equal." Power Girl said. "Ollie is an equal, Batman is an equal, don't ever requote me but fucking Guy is an equal. I have never seen him as anything but." "None of us do, for either of you. Do you know that you could beat me in a fight? Trying to fight a man with two minds and fire powers...not a good spot for any martian." M'Gann said to him. "And I often get compared to Supergirl as much as J'onn is to Superman." "I just hope that we can make Ronald see that. When I last saw him, he was furious and full of anguish." said Stein. "Well, it happens when you are under this much pressure." said Hal.
|
|
|
Post by Master Of Magnet on Aug 14, 2019 5:02:07 GMT -8
"Can you give us any hints as to what is going on in his head? Speaking as a girl who respects mental boundaries enough not to probe his mind." M'Gann asked Professor Stein.
A limo pulled up slowly beside them and a window rolled down. "It's doubt. Simple as that. Get in." Everyone was surprised to see the older Bruce Wayne pull up.
"How do you..." Karen stared.
"Young Me lets me have access to the family's belongings. We are both Bruce Wayne after all, he says. Plus...I help babysit the company when he is busy. Now get in. You want help in telling him about the man he can be, well there are many incarnations of him. Mine was pretty successful too. Plus, I want to assess the new arrival." He looked at Luana. "I want light shed on her variant future. So we can stop the bad and keep the good."
Karen looked at the others. "Well, you know we can't win arguing with him. He is Bruce after all."
"I know." M'Gann smiled.
|
|
|
Post by Pianah Person on Aug 14, 2019 5:20:03 GMT -8
"Can you give us any hints as to what is going on in his head? Speaking as a girl who respects mental boundaries enough not to probe his mind." M'Gann asked Professor Stein. A limo pulled up slowly beside them and a window rolled down. "It's doubt. Simple as that. Get in." Everyone was surprised to see the older Bruce Wayne pull up. "How do you..." Karen stared. "Young Me lets me have access to the family's belongings. We are both Bruce Wayne after all, he says. Plus...I help babysit the company when he is busy. Now get in. You want help in telling him about the man he can be, well there are many incarnations of him. Mine was pretty successful too. Plus, I want to assess the new arrival." He looked at Luana. "I want light shed on her variant future. So we can stop the bad and keep the good." Karen looked at the others. "Well, you know we can't win arguing with him. He is Bruce after all." "I know." M'Gann smiled. Stein got into the limo. "It's more than that... it's guilt as well. Guilt over the death of the female innocent... and the guilt that all the criticism he has been getting has given him." said Stein. "Wonder Woman's capture, Superman's death... the press has been laying it hard on him. I've even overheard students at Fairmont badmouthing Firestorm." "It's the same in my time... he... never found redemption, even after sacrificing his life." said Luana with sadness. "Well... I guess he and I are on the same boat." said Hal as he looked outside, also feeling that there was no redemption for him no matter how hard he tried.
|
|
|
Post by Master Of Magnet on Aug 14, 2019 6:31:10 GMT -8
"That isn't like you Hal." Bruce looked at him. "Both you and him inspire in my time. The Justice League is as strong as ever, and that foundation exists because of everyone, including you two. And yes, Hell might have frozen over with me saying something nice to you." Bruce reached over and patted the head of Ace, who sat beside him, loyally. "So as you can see, the future is not set in stone. It is what you make of it. What you can do is learn from us and make it better. After all...if you want to talk failure...I had a heart attack, and in desperation...I reached for a gun and almost used it on someone." He sat there. "He was beating on me, a kidnapper. I took his gun, aimed it at him...and I almost pulled. So...if you want to talk failure...you sit before the King."
"Holy Shit...Bruce." Karen said in shock.
"And yet, I made a suit so I can still fight and help...the son I never knew I had fight off his foes...and each time I do it could kill me." Bruce looked at Hal. "Hal, how can an old man like me fight for redemption harder than a young buck like you? And don't say because I'm Batman. Because...I betrayed the ideals of Batman the moment I grabbed that gun."
|
|
|
Post by Pianah Person on Aug 14, 2019 7:09:59 GMT -8
"That isn't like you Hal." Bruce looked at him. "Both you and him inspire in my time. The Justice League is as strong as ever, and that foundation exists because of everyone, including you two. And yes, Hell might have frozen over with me saying something nice to you." Bruce reached over and patted the head of Ace, who sat beside him, loyally. "So as you can see, the future is not set in stone. It is what you make of it. What you can do is learn from us and make it better. After all...if you want to talk failure...I had a heart attack, and in desperation...I reached for a gun and almost used it on someone." He sat there. "He was beating on me, a kidnapper. I took his gun, aimed it at him...and I almost pulled. So...if you want to talk failure...you sit before the King." "Holy Shit...Bruce." Karen said in shock. "And yet, I made a suit so I can still fight and help...the son I never knew I had fight off his foes...and each time I do it could kill me." Bruce looked at Hal. "Hal, how can an old man like me fight for redemption harder than a young buck like you? And don't say because I'm Batman. Because...I betrayed the ideals of Batman the moment I grabbed that gun." "You just pulled a gun and hesitated to fire... I... I killed billions of people... I gave in to pure insanity... I let my people down... even after I came back, everyone only remembered the Parallax incident... they always look at me with fear because of what I did. Nothing I've done so far has changed the outlook of the public. To them... I'm still a murderous, psychopathic maniac who would snap again at any time... they don't even give me a chance to prove myself." admitted Hal. "I've been scared ever since I came back to life... sometimes, I feel the public may be right... even my future daughter suffered for that. She has Parallax inside her thanks to me."
|
|
|
Post by Master Of Magnet on Aug 14, 2019 8:31:31 GMT -8
"I didn't just pull a gun Hal. I gave up. I am not Batman anymore. I thrust that on someone else. My own son." Bruce looked at him. "You are still a Green Lantern. So bullshit. I give you all the chances you need. I won't stop...because you can't be allowed to become me. Hal Jordan, you are an obstinate bastard...sometimes too stubborn for your own good...but you are also a hero, and not a quitter. If you say otherwise, I'll kck your ass to remind you. If someone else says it, I'll kick their ass...and I can. I am spry as Hell for a man my age." Bruce grinned. "Besides, Guy is right for once in his life. Like Hell I'm wasting that miracle."
"The fact that you still have your teeth for just a gun is amazing. That's like Clark killing. You didn't become as fallen as Sinestro, and your mistake was undone. Yes people are pissed, they have to be." Power Girl looked at him. "But Hal, they're not pissed for that. It's because you won't let it go. You are still Parallax's prisoner because you trap yourself in your grief. You are not some maniac. Fuck off with that. You're Earth's first Green Lantern for Fuck's sake. The hero of Coast City. You came back, that's what a hero does. If they fall, they get up again. I mean, if you can't come back, what's the point in trying? Why do we keep putting the same idiots way and hope that maybe this is the time they reform? Why don't we just start killing them?"
"Because there are those that do reform. And...it wasn't just me doing that which caused me to fail. Add in seeing Barbara when she was on a break with Dick, getting her pregnant, being so wrong that i not only handled the miscarriage wrong, but i defied her wish and told Dick about it before she could...losing Dick for what seems for good and Barbara until Terry came into our lives. Then there is Tim, kidnapped, tortured and mutilated into a Mini Joker, lost to his madness tot he point where he shot Joker dead with one of his guns...only to later become him due to Cadmus Tech joker implanted on him." Bruce looked at him. "Hal, you are not the only man here who burned everyone he loved. We are both on the mend. Terry saved Tim...and Barbara found strength in herself to forgive me for being a bastard." He looked down. "And i pray Mom and Dad forgive me for even thinking about shooting my attacker..." He gripped his cane tight. "But...we have to beleive in forgiveness. We must."
|
|
|
Post by Pianah Person on Aug 14, 2019 8:53:54 GMT -8
"I didn't just pull a gun Hal. I gave up. I am not Batman anymore. I thrust that on someone else. My own son." Bruce looked at him. "You are still a Green Lantern. So bullshit. I give you all the chances you need. I won't stop...because you can't be allowed to become me. Hal Jordan, you are an obstinate bastard...sometimes too stubborn for your own good...but you are also a hero, and not a quitter. If you say otherwise, I'll kck your ass to remind you. If someone else says it, I'll kick their ass...and I can. I am spry as Hell for a man my age." Bruce grinned. "Besides, Guy is right for once in his life. Like Hell I'm wasting that miracle." "The fact that you still have your teeth for just a gun is amazing. That's like Clark killing. You didn't become as fallen as Sinestro, and your mistake was undone. Yes people are pissed, they have to be." Power Girl looked at him. "But Hal, they're not pissed for that. It's because you won't let it go. You are still Parallax's prisoner because you trap yourself in your grief. You are not some maniac. Fuck off with that. You're Earth's first Green Lantern for Fuck's sake. The hero of Coast City. You came back, that's what a hero does. If they fall, they get up again. I mean, if you can't come back, what's the point in trying? Why do we keep putting the same idiots way and hope that maybe this is the time they reform? Why don't we just start killing them?" "Because there are those that do reform. And...it wasn't just me doing that which caused me to fail. Add in seeing Barbara when she was on a break with Dick, getting her pregnant, being so wrong that i not only handled the miscarriage wrong, but i defied her wish and told Dick about it before she could...losing Dick for what seems for good and Barbara until Terry came into our lives. Then there is Tim, kidnapped, tortured and mutilated into a Mini Joker, lost to his madness tot he point where he shot Joker dead with one of his guns...only to later become him due to Cadmus Tech joker implanted on him." Bruce looked at him. "Hal, you are not the only man here who burned everyone he loved. We are both on the mend. Terry saved Tim...and Barbara found strength in herself to forgive me for being a bastard." He looked down. "And i pray Mom and Dad forgive me for even thinking about shooting my attacker..." He gripped his cane tight. "But...we have to beleive in forgiveness. We must." "If only it was as simple as that... Carla's state... that is why I feel I have no redemption." said Hal. "And I paid with my life in her time." He sighed. "I disgraced my father... I disgraced everything he lived for... which is why I have Ray Henderson, Jennie Hayden and Jessica Cruz as my successors... Ray and Jennie have proven themselves to be worthy of the mantle... but Jessica... she suffers too much... I don't want to impose that responsibility on her... but if I don't... she'll never know that she truly is worthy." said Hal. "I've tried hard to keep my head on the mission, but I can't help it... these doubts and decisions haunt me."
|
|