171/The Speed of Information

The Speed of Information
Date of Scene:	27 April 2017
Location:	Gotham City
Synopsis:	Summary needed.
Cast of Characters:	Batman, Flash

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Batman has posed:
Late afternoon in Gotham.

The sun's just beginning to dip down in the sky--not that there's any indication of that here in the caverns deep beneath Wayne manor.

Seated at a massive array of large widescreen monitors is Batman, who moves back and forth across multiple keyboards, mouses, and NUI devices. On the screens is the digital equivalent of a corkboard filled with clippings and yarn.

The common theme? The murder of Bruce Wayne...and the frames of footage of Batman attacking him.

"Hh," Batman says to himself as he maneuvers through a file on Crime Alley.

Flash has posed:
There is a rush of air as a familiar red and yellow streak rushes into the Batcave via one of the secret passages leading into the sanctum of The Batman. The blur of motion stops behind the bank of computers, coming to a standstill just before the proximity alarm starts to register to announce an unexpected visit to the caverns under Wayne Manor.

The Flash peels back the cowl of his costume and combs his fingers through his hair as he gives a look to the Dark Knight, "So, I hear rumor that you are dead, and that you killed yourself. Neat trick. What's going on, Bruce?"

Batman has posed:
Halfway through the Flash's greeting, when the alarm finally goes off, Batman makes a quick series of keystrokes to reset it. He glances over his shoulder and nods slightly. "Flash," he says before turning his seat around to face his visitor.

"Bruce Wayne's dead. That much is true. But, obviously, he's not dead. I've run a DNA test myself--it matches." Batman reaches back to make another small number of keystrokes, bringing up a screen of quantitative data.

"It seems that Batman killed Bruce Wayne. That much is also true. But I didn't do it." He gestures to one of the screenshots from Wayne Tower's security feeds. "Whoever this was has a different methodology and arsenal than I do."

"I've narrowed things down to one of two hypotheses." Batman tilts his head just slightly, an eyebrow raising under his mask. "Which do you think it is?"

Flash has posed:
Flash reaches up rubbing at his chin, moving forward to look at the computer screens and read the data displayed on the screens.

After reading, Barry hrms softly to himself. "Well, unless you have an identical twin brother nobody knew about, I would have to say that the dead Bruce Wayne is possibly a clone or another you ripped from another Earth or timestream. The later are less likely, so...Occam's razor. I'd have to go with a clone."

The edge of Barry's lip curls up in a small little smirk, "It's sad to think that a clone is the simplest of the answers. Anyway, as far as the other 'Batman' I would go with the same theory, substituting someone impersonating you instead of a clone. But the possibility of an evil alternate you from another timestream is possible."

Batman has posed:
Nodding in response, Batman leans back a degree or two in his seat. "Were this a different world, I would agree with your reasoning. But you're a man who can move fast enough to slip between atoms. One of my best friends is an alien."

He glances back toward the data display. "I've taken a different approach to my rationale: is it more unlikely that someone successfully cloned me? Or is it more unlikely that another 'me' managed to come here? And that yet another 'me' hunted him down for some reason?" Batman purses his lips before continuing. "Arkham's razor: The strangest explanation is generally the correct one."

Flash has posed:
Flash moves again to lean against one of the banks of computers, crossing his arms over his chest in a relaxed pose as he faces Batman, "Strange world that we live in where the thought of not one, but two, alternate reality 'you's can be considered more plausible than a clone."

Barry shakes his head, "Ok then, other than the DNA, what forensic evidence did you find on the dead 'Bruce'? Anything that might give us a clue as to where he came from, in this reality or another? And what about the other 'Batman'? Did he leave any trace evidence behind, or does he seem to be as smart and skilled as you?"

Batman has posed:
The dark knight shakes his head. "Not much yet on the deceased Wayne. As far as I can tell, he's identical to me. I'm sure there's something--I just haven't found it yet."

He slowly stands, letting the folds of his cape drape around him. "The other Batman, though ... that's a different matter. Evidence at the scene suggests he was armed. Not with batarangs, either. Maybe one of Deathstroke's weapons. Or Wolverine's claws. And he was able to use heat vision to burn a hole in Wayne's torso. And super-strength."

Batman looks to Barry. "Whereever he came from, this other Batman has a very, very different set of tools to work with. And I'll need all the help I can in taking him out."

"Once I can find him, that is," he adds. "He's still Batman."

Flash has posed:
Barry's eyebrow raises and he emits a low whistle as Bruce gives a rundown of the other Batman's supposed capabilities. "Heat vision and super strength? Are we sure this isn't a Kryptonian? Have you talked to Clark yet?"

The Scarlet Speedster looks back to the monitor, "If this was in Central City I could take a look at the forensics and talk to the medical examiner, but I don't think GCPD is going to let me have a look at the collected evidence let alone run any tests on them."

He turns back to look at Bruce, "You know you can count on me, Bruce, I am sure I can speak for the others as well, we will have your back."

Batman has posed:
Batman allows himself a faint shrug. "It could be. Statistically, it's probably not, if we're accepting the premise of alternate dimensions or universes. Still, it can't hurt to see what Clark has to say."

He gestures to the keyboard. "I have copies of the GCPD data. If you think you can look through it without shorting out the mainframe, you're welcome to do so. I trust your input, Barry."

Batman takes a step away from his seat. "As soon as I have enough of an advantage to locate his whereabouts, I'm moving in. I've already told Gordon to save the Bat-signal for this confrontation. It'll be a beacon for everyone--because this is going to be all-out war."

Flash has posed:
Flash offers a light little chuckle as he moves to take a seat in front of the Batcomputer's keyboards and terminals. "I didn't want to assume you had them, but I figured you did. I'll go slow, Bruce. I promise."

Even moving at what he considers a slow pace, Barry is still typing fast enough that he moves between keyboards as he has to wait for the input lag to catch up on the various terminals before he can hit return. He scans the displayed documents on the multiple monitors quickly, taking it all in.

As he contemplates the gathered information, he says "You don't happen to have any of the physical evidence do you? Something I could run tests on?"

Batman has posed:
Batman walks over toward a small workspace set up like a laboratory bench and holds up a small vial and a plastic bag with some sort of shavings in it. "A bit of blood. A bit of concrete from the sidewalk. There's only so much that can be removed from GCPD for an extended period."

He folds his arms across his chest. "I suppose I need to build a better computer system," he says, watching the Flash in action.

Flash has posed:
Rising from the chair, Barry zips over to the lab table and takes a look at the collected evidence. "Yeah, this isn't much to go on. I can zip over the crime scene and see if there is anything I can recover myself, but I am not going to hold my breath. It's been long enough that most things would have degraded by now."

He takes a look at the blood sample and DNA reports before focusing on the bit of concrete. "You computer system is fine, Bruce. I don't think even you have the resources to build a system that can keep up with my typing speed."

Barry sighs, leaning back and crossing his arms over his chest, "Unfortunately I don't see anything that might have been missed. It's almost like it is too clean with the lack of forensics on the body."

Batman has posed:
The caped crusader stares at his colleague. "Would you expect anything less of me--any version of me?" He frowns and continues. "A tricky, if necessary, consequence is that ... until we have a sighting of my other-self, Bruce Wayne will need to stay dead. And I'll need to stay perceived as his murderer."

Batman reaches out to put a hand on the Flash's shoulder. "I know you'll be at hand as soon as you hear you're needed, Barry. I appreciate that."

Flash has posed:
"That wasn't a slight on you, Bruce, and you know it." says Barry as he looks back to Batman. "It never hurts to double or triple check our facts."

There is a pause, before he continues "Have you given any thought to how you plan on being resurrected?"

He nods, clasping Bruce's shoulder in return, "Of course I will. I'll be there before you even finish the sentence. You would do the same for any of us."

Batman has posed:
"Hh," Batman says. "You ask that like I didn't develop plans for this sort of thing years ago." He walks back toward his computer. "Honestly, Barry. Weren't you a boy scout?"

Batman sits back down and returns his attention to the screens. "I hope to be in contact with you--and everyone else--very shortly to take care of this situation."

Flash has posed:
Flash smirks, shaking his head with a slight chuckle emanating from his lips. "Of course you did, what was I thinking. I'll have to bring up the lack of a 'plan your own resurrection' badge at the next scout meeting."

As little trails of lightning start to zip across Barry's form, he reaches up and slips the cowl back over his face, "Just don't make it a habit, or people might start mistaking you for Lazarus. See you later, Bruce."

With that, Barry takes off the way he came, the proximity alarm once again starring to blink long after The Flash has left the cave.