Meanwhile, back in the Cave...

[http://users.livejournal.com/_darkknight_/]

Dawn has come and gone, midmorning approaches, and Bruce is still reviewing what he might have missed during his visit to Metropolis, City of Tomorrow and Too Many Damned Glowing Things, to investigate the real estate that local business man/tycoon/slimebag Max Shreck is considering purchasing.

Yes, he should be in bed by now. He should be getting food. He should be doing something other than what he is doing now, which is going over data he recorded in Metropolis and reviewing an eye on the police reports as well. Price of taking time away from his patrols to try to contain Gotham scum within the city limits.

And his coffee's cold. Damn it.

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_alfred_/]

"Welcome home, Master Bruce."

The scent of impeccably brewed coffee heralds the arrival of his impeccable butler.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_darkknight_/]

Four minutes pass as Bruce soaks in as much information as he can glean from the news and from computer feeds, then, rising, he activates the JLA comm channel and says, "Batman to Flash," while drawing his cowl back over his features.

A moment later, on the Watchtower...

[http://users.livejournal.com/_darkknight_/]

"...ter."

Hrm. He miscalculated the timing by a half-second. Interesting.

The vast computer banks are what Batman needs; the Batcave is wired into almost everything he need but lacks the full resources that the Watchtower - and Oracle - can provide. He also has better access to communications and immediate access to personnel. As soon as he is standing in front of the massive array of computer and video displays on the main deck, he opens a channel to the full Justice League and patches through to the Titans, Bat family and JSA channels as well.

Oracle is just that good.

"Justice League. Justice Society. Titans." No, he doesn't identify himself. He's an ass that way. "Sitrep as follows. We have a multi-pronged assault in the following cities: New York, Philadelphia, Keystone City, San Francisco. Each attack involves replicants of Earth heroes. So far replicants are reported for these heroes: Huntress, Red Hood, Flamebird, Dr. Mid-Nite, Jesse Quick. You five, find something different and distinctive to wear ASAP.

"Priorities as follows. One, secure safety of civilian populations. Attacks are focusing on widescale injury and death. Two, Lobo, Parasite and Metallo have been spotted on the ground with the replicants. Take them out first; good chance they're coordinating the attacks. Three, someone bring me a damned replicant. I don't care of who.

"Oracle's keeping comm lines open across team channels. Superman, keep an eye on Metropolis in case this is a large-scale diversion, and contact me on a secure channel. Now. Watchtower out."

[spirit-of-truth.livejournal.com]

Steps behind him.

"Tell me where I am needed the most."

She scans the computer banks, the pictures coming in fast and furious of the destruction being visited upon the cities.

Aww Yeah Secure Channel

[metromarvel.livejournal.com]

"Batman." Is all that comes out. Superman's voice is indistinct, as he manages to make some impact in Keystone, San Francisco, Philadelphia, and New York all at once. "Each attack has a 'general', as far as I can tell, leading the replicants. I haven't been able to get further information out of them, even though their self destruct function seems to be broken."

"Lobo's in New York, Metallo's in Frisco, Parasite in Philly, and I haven't been able to identify anyone for Keystone." Superman adds, panting a little. "Out of all of them, I think Lobo's the most likely to give the name of whoever's orchestrating this."

"They took Lois, Bruce."

[azure-avenger.livejournal.com]

Ted's on the Watchtower now, in person - the robotic surrogate staying stowed away for the moment.

"I've got all my latest data on these things and the chips we recovered from the Opal City lab. A lot of them have actual biological material - some of them actually contain human brain matter. We need to let everyone know to be careful out there.."

His arms are filled with disks and printouts in a disordered jumble as he makes his way to a console.