Chapter 2: Unlikely Allies

The Batcave was a place of solitude and secrecy, a fortress of shadows where Bruce Wayne transformed into the Dark Knight. But tonight, it felt different. The presence of Garth from The Boys universe had introduced an element of the unknown, a wrinkle in the fabric of reality that Bruce had yet to understand.

As the Batwing descended into the cave, its engines humming softly, Alfred was waiting, his expression a mix of concern and curiosity.

"Welcome back, Master Wayne," Alfred greeted, his eyes shifting to the young boy beside Bruce. "And who might this be?"

"This is Garth," Bruce explained as he guided the boy out of the Batwing. "He's from another universe. Somehow, he was transported here."

Alfred's eyebrows raised slightly. "Another universe, you say? Well, that certainly explains the unusual signal. Welcome to the Batcave, young man. Can I get you anything? Tea, perhaps?"

Garth looked around, his eyes wide with amazement and fear. "No, thank you," he said softly. "I just want to understand what's happening."

Bruce nodded. "We all do. Alfred, I need you to run a full diagnostic on the Batcomputer. Look for any anomalies in the signal that might give us a clue about how Garth got here."

"Right away, sir," Alfred replied, moving to the computer console with practiced efficiency.

Bruce turned to Garth, his gaze intense. "Tell me everything you remember before you arrived here. Every detail could be important."

Garth took a deep breath, trying to recall the events that had led to his sudden appearance in Gotham. "I was with my team, The Boys. We were investigating a new supe who was causing trouble in New York. There was a fight, and then… I don't know. There was a flash of light, and the next thing I knew, I was in that warehouse."

Bruce listened carefully, his mind working to piece together the puzzle. "A flash of light. It sounds like some kind of dimensional rift. But why would it target you specifically?"

"I don't know," Garth admitted. "But it felt… deliberate. Like someone or something wanted me to come here."

"Deliberate or not, we need to find out who's behind this," Bruce said, his resolve hardening. "And to do that, we need more information."

As Alfred worked on the Batcomputer, Bruce began to formulate a plan. "Garth, I need you to think. Did you see anyone or anything unusual before the flash of light? Anything that might help us identify the source?"

Garth shook his head, frustration evident on his face. "No, it all happened so fast. One moment we were fighting, and the next… I was here."

Bruce frowned, considering the possibilities. "If this is a deliberate act, then we need to be prepared for the worst. Whoever or whatever brought you here might have a larger plan in motion."

Alfred interrupted, his voice calm but urgent. "Master Wayne, I've found something. The signal contains a series of coordinates. They seem to correspond to various locations around Gotham."

Bruce studied the coordinates on the screen. "Interesting. It looks like someone is leaving us a trail."

Garth stepped closer, curiosity overcoming his fear. "What do we do now?"

"We follow the trail," Bruce replied. "But we do it carefully. Alfred, prepare the Batmobile. Garth, you're coming with me."

The boy nodded, his resolve strengthening. "I'll do whatever it takes to get back home."

Bruce placed a reassuring hand on Garth's shoulder. "We'll find a way. But we need to be ready for anything."

Minutes later, the Batmobile roared to life, its sleek, armored frame a testament to Bruce's meticulous design. As they sped through the dark streets of Gotham, Bruce briefed Garth on what to expect.

"Gotham is a dangerous place," Bruce warned. "Stay close and follow my lead. We don't know who or what we're dealing with, and we can't afford to make any mistakes."

Garth nodded, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. "I understand."

The coordinates led them to an old industrial district, a labyrinth of abandoned factories and warehouses. The area was desolate, save for the occasional flicker of streetlights and the distant hum of machinery.

Batman parked the Batmobile in a shadowy alley, and they continued on foot, their movements silent and deliberate. The first set of coordinates pointed to a dilapidated warehouse, its exterior covered in graffiti and rust.

Bruce signaled for Garth to stay back as he approached the entrance. With a swift kick, the door gave way, revealing a dark interior. The air was thick with the scent of decay and neglect.

As they ventured deeper into the warehouse, they found themselves in a large, open space. In the center of the room stood a device unlike anything Bruce had ever seen. It hummed with an eerie energy, its surface covered in strange symbols that glowed faintly.

Garth's eyes widened. "That looks like… something from my world."

Bruce examined the device closely, his mind racing. "It must be a dimensional transporter. But who built it? And why?"

Before he could ponder further, a voice echoed through the warehouse, cold and mocking. "Welcome, Batman. I've been expecting you."

Bruce's eyes narrowed as a figure emerged from the shadows. It was a man, tall and imposing, dressed in dark, futuristic armor. His eyes glowed with an unnatural light, and his smile was one of pure malice.

"Who are you?" Batman demanded, his voice a low growl.

The man chuckled. "I am Tempus. A traveler of dimensions, a master of time and space. And you, Batman, are about to become my greatest conquest."

Garth stepped forward, his fists clenched. "What do you want with us?"

Tempus's smile widened. "Oh, it's not just you I want. I seek to control all dimensions, to bend reality to my will. And with you two out of the way, nothing will stop me."

Bruce's mind raced. Tempus was a formidable foe, and his technology was beyond anything he had encountered before. But Batman had faced impossible odds before and emerged victorious.

"We won't let you succeed," Bruce said, his voice filled with determination.

Tempus laughed, the sound echoing through the warehouse. "You can try, Batman. But know this: I am not alone. There are forces at play here that you cannot begin to comprehend. And by the time you do, it will be too late."

With that, Tempus vanished, leaving Bruce and Garth standing in the dimly lit warehouse, the hum of the dimensional transporter filling the silence.

Bruce turned to Garth, his eyes steely with resolve. "We need to stop him. But we can't do it alone."

Garth nodded, his fear replaced by determination. "What do we do?"

"We find allies," Bruce said, his mind already formulating a plan. "We gather those who can help us fight this threat. And we take the fight to Tempus before he can unleash his full power."

As they exited the warehouse, the night seemed darker, more foreboding. The arrival of Tempus marked the beginning of a new battle, one that would test Batman's resolve and force him to confront the very fabric of reality itself. But with Garth by his side and the promise of allies to come, Bruce Wayne knew that they stood a chance.

The fight was just beginning, and Batman was ready.