Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 18:45:23 -0700 (PDT)
From: Author James <authorjames2002@yahoo.com>
Subject: Tales of a Real Dark Knight Chapter 38

Disclaimer: This story, though maybe not in this chapter but in subsequent
chapters, will have celebrities in it.  I have no knowledge of their
sexuality and this is not intended to imply their sexuality.  This is all
from my own mind.  Scary!!  People actually get a glimpse into my mind!!!

Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, Angel and all related characters created by Joss
Whedon.  Copyright 20th Century Fox.

Batman, and all related characters created by Bob Kane. Copyright DC Comics
and Warner Bros.

X-MEN, and all related characters created by Stan Lee. Copyright Marvel
Comics and 20th Century Fox.

Star Trek and all related characters created by Gene Roddenberry.
Copyright Paramount Studios.

I don't know for sure if I will use all the above elements, but just in
case, I have myself covered.

In this story, which has been floating around in my head most of my life,
you will find many universes merging, as the above copyrights reveal.  I
hope you all enjoy this.  I appreciate any feedback that you may want to
give.  This story doesn't deal so much with sex, sex, sex, but more of my
feelings that I struggled with and am starting to come to terms with.  Part
of his background is mine.  I do hope that you enjoy it!!!

Any emails you send, please tell me what chapter you are commenting on.
Thanks.

jmsotc@yahoo.com

Chapter 38 More Harm Than Good

	I watched in the shadows as someone who I would never have believed
walked out of the bushes.  It was Hunter.
	"Hi, Nick."
	"Hi, Hunter.  I'm glad you could make it."
	"Me, too.  Is Derrick here?"
	"No.  He couldn't make it.  How was your tests today?"
	"Don't know.  I didn't take them."
	"Why not?"
	"I didn't want to."
	"You need to keep up with your education, Hunter."
	"Why?  We both know what will happen if..."
	"IF what?" a familiar voice said.  I turned and saw Lieutenant
Harrison step out of the shadows.  "What will happen, Hunter?"
	Lieutenant Harrison was not wearing normal clothes or his police
outfit.  He had on this strange outfit.  It looked as if it was wrapped
around him like the rags of a mummy.  But that was not the only thing he
wore.  He had hoses that ran to his wrists and feet.  I couldn't figure out
what they were for.  They couldn't be helping him move, he could already do
that on his own.
	"W-w-w-what are you doing here?"
	"I came to check on two patients.  You know how the good doctor
hates it when you try to reverse your treatments and therapy.  He will have
to give you extra treatments just to make up for the work lost.  Now if you
will come quietly with me, perhaps we can save lost work and get treatment
before it gets completely reversed."
	Hunter shook his head.  He looked as if he feared for his life.
"No.  No, I'm not going back.  I refuse to see him any more!  I refuse to
do any more treatments!"
	"But, Hunter, listen to reason.  Your parents already informed us
that they would cut you off financially if you don't get the treatments.
How will you pay for your college then?"
	"I can get a loan or a grant or something."
	"But if you renege on your promise, they will cut you off
permanently.  Remember 'No son of mine will be gay'."
	Tears fell down Hunter's eyes.  "No!  I won't go back!  I've been
doing the treatments for almost a year now and they haven't worked!
They've only made me hate myself and want to hurt myself for what I am!  I
can't do this any more!  I'll die before I go back!"
	Harrison threw out his arm and a hose shot out of the tubing and
wrapped around Hunter's neck.  "That can be arranged, boy!"  The hose
recoiled pulling Hunter toward Harrison.
	I reached into a pouch on my suit and pulled out a bat-shaped
boomerang.  Throwing it at the hose, it cut it off.  Harrison and Nick both
turned to face my direction.  Hunter lay on the ground clutching his
throat, able to breathe again.
	I leapt out of the brush.  "It's over, Harrison.  I'm stopping this
insanity."
	"Hello, Bats.  Nice to see you here."
	"Why are you doing this, Harrison?  Don't you have any morals or
ethics?"
	"I definitely have morals and ethics.  That is the very foundation
to my reasoning behind this.  And, you may call me Bullwhip."
	Bullwhip threw a hand out and a hose swung out at me.  I dived to
the side as the hose missed.  Rolling to my feet I faced Bullwhip again.
He shot a hose to a tree branch and swung at me, kicking me in the chest
and knocking me to the ground.
	"You see, Batman.  I have a cause, too.  I'm going to make sure
every immoral and unethical gay man, woman and teenager is helped."
	"What about people like Hunter who don't get helped by these
treatments?  What will you do to them?"
	"They will have to die."
	Bullwhip shot out a hose and it wrapped around Hunter.  He jerked
the hose and the hose threw Hunter over the edge of the cliff.
	I wasted no time.  I ran and dived over as well.  I kept my cape
closed hoping that I would have a better chance of catching up to Hunter.
I could not let him die.  As I neared him, my hand reached out to grab him.
At the same time, I shot a line into the cliff side hoping to get a good
grip.  I reached Hunter's hand and grabbed it just as the rope pulled
taught and swung us around.  I pulled with all my strength and pulled
Hunter up so he could get a good grip on me.  The winch reeled us up to the
top.
	When we climbed over the edge, Nick and Bullwhip were gone.  I
couldn't help but fear Bullwhip took Nick hostage.
	"What was going on here?" I asked Hunter doing my best to disguise
my voice.  With him being worked up, he did not realize who I was.
	"I came to meet Nick.  We met at a meeting."
	"What meeting?"
	"A psychologist who specializes in curing homosexuals holds
meetings for his clients.  We usually do some singing and talking.  It's
like group therapy.  Then we have individual appointments for our own
individualized treatments."
	"What goes on at the meetings?"
	"He usually does some hypnosis.  We all come out feeling much
freer."
	"Where are these meetings?  At the same place as your treatments?"
	"Yes."
	"Huntress, come in," I said, placing my hand on my ear.
	"What's up?"
	"I need you to call a cab for me.  Have it pick up..." I looked up
at Hunter.  He gave me his full name, even though I already knew it, and
relayed it to her.  Then I asked her to get here with her motorcycle as
quickly as she could so I could go after Bullwhip, and Nick.
	"How did you know we were meeting here?" Hunter asked me.
	"I've had some concerns about Bullwhip.  I met him before at the
building where he holds the treatments.  It seems my concerns were
justified."
	About ten minutes later, the Huntress arrived with her motorcycle.
	"Thanks for coming."
	"You're welcome.  The cab should be here as well."
	"Could you wait with Hunter until he is safely in the cab?  I need
to do some investigating."
	"Sure."
	"Can I use your motorcycle?"
	"Do you know how to ride one?"
	"I'm a fast learner."
	The Huntress showed me the most basic of her motorcycle operation.
From there, I informed her where I was going and then I left.
	I went as fast as I could to the dilapidated building.  There I
found the lights on and Nick strapped to the table.  Bullwhip was standing
with his arms crossed as the mysterious doctor was checking the straps.
Normally I would go straight to the room and fight, but I didn't do that
this time.  Instead, I went to the basement and took out some fuses to the
power box.  That cut off the power to the entire building.  Then I ascended
the steps silently and carefully knowing I would meet Bullwhip.
	About the third floor, I heard movement.  I hid and waited as
Bullwhip passed the closet I was hiding in.  He didn't bother looking for
me.  I guess he figured it was just a fuse, which would be right.  But I
don't think he suspected a bat getting into the fuse box.
	Once the hall was quiet, I exited the closet and went to their
treatment room.  There I found Nick alone, strapped to the table.  I locked
the door and moved over to him.  He looked over and his eyes lit up in
surprise.  I held my finger up in the silence sign and he nodded.  I untied
him and helped him up.
	"Thank you," he said to me.  "You saved my life."
	I took him to the door and listened.  Someone was in the office.  I
didn't want to chance Nick getting hurt by a confrontation so we went to
the window and I opened it.
	"Climb onto the ledge," I said.
	He did not hesitate.  He went right out and I followed.  As I
pulled the window shut the door to the room came flying open.
	"What are we going to do?" Nick asked.  "We are awfully high and I
don't see a fire escape around here."
	I shot a grapple into the brick, pulled Nick and jumped.  We fell
toward the ground and it suddenly locked up swinging us around.  It was a
safety feature Huntress put into the suit.  I would have to thank her for
it.
	We were about ten feet from the ground when I decided to cut the
line.  We dropped, but I made sure I impacted more than Nick.  We stood and
ran.  Nick followed me to the Huntresses motorcycle.  As mounted the bike,
I heard the sound of another motorcycle.  I looked and up pulled the
Huntress on another bike.
	"What's going on?" she asked.
	"I just rescued Mr. Carter."
	"Great.  Now what?"
	"We are getting out of here for now.  I don't want him to get
hurt."
	"Okay, let's go."
	Both motorcycles roared down the street leaving Bullwhip and his
boss behind.
	We pulled up to Nick's place and stopped the motorcycles so he
could get off.
	"Thank you, Batman, for what you did for me."
	"You're welcome."
	He leaned in and kissed me.  It didn't seem to matter to him that
my mouth was covered with a mask he kissed me anyway.
	"And, please, call me Nick."
	Nick turned and went inside.
	I started up the motorcycle knowing full well that the Huntress was
looking at me.  She started up her bike and we took off down the street.
	We pulled into an alley and cut the engines.  I dismounted the one
I was riding.
	"These are awesome!  Where do I get mine?"
	"I'm working on it," she said.  She looked at me with a peculiar
look.
	"What is that look for?"
	"You know what the look is for.  'Please, call me Nick'.  Someone
has got the hots for Batman."
	"You're crazy."
	"No I'm not.  Any blind person could see that.  The question is,
what is Eric McCoy going to do about it?"
	"Nothing.  Neither Batman nor Eric McCoy is going to get involved.
I'm not going to get involved with anybody.  I can't right now.  I'm not
ready."
	"Really?"
	"Yes, really."
	The Huntress looked at me narrowly.  "You know, don't you?"
	"Know what?"
	"About Lance."
	"What about Lance?"
	"You know how he feels toward you.  I can tell by that guilty look
in your eyes.  You don't know what to do, especially since you think both
guys are gorgeous.  But looks are not what you should judge someone by, not
entirely.  Look at their personalities and who they are inside."
	"That's kind of unfair because I've known Lance longer than Nick."
	"You can easily judge Nick, as well.  I'm sure you had a chance to
talk to him while you two were in the hospital together.  What's he like?"
	"I...I...I don't want to answer that."
	"Why?  Because you're afraid that you may make a wrong choice?
Because you might hurt someone?  You're human.  That is going to happen.
The only thing you can do is make sure you do it while giving that person
dignity and honesty.
	"It would be unfair to not consider Lance.  He has actually been
there for you when you did not know it."
	"What?  What are you talking about?"
	"When you were in the hospital, he sent you flowers.  He has been
very concerned for you, ever since the warehouse incident with Turic."
	"How do you know all this?"
	"I already told you.  I keep up with my ex-boyfriend."
	"You mean you and Lance were..."
	"Yes.  Lance was my boyfriend who turned out to be gay."
	"My God.  Is that how you knew about Turic?"
	"Yes."
	"Man, can I put two and two together."
	The Huntress laughed.
	"Stop laughing at me," I said with a smile.
	"You have to admit it is kind of funny.  Did you ever think that,
when you moved out here, you would ever have dated Justin Timberlake, and
have both Lance Bass and Nick Carter want to date you?"
	I put my hand to my head.
	"Never."
	"You are one of the most luckiest guys I've met.  How many girls or
guys can say they've had what you have?  How many can say they help people
all the time, both as a job and because that is what they are called to do?
Not many.  You should feel very proud and very lucky."
	"You're right."
	I straddled the motorcycle and started it up.
	"You know," I said turning back to the Huntress, "I would feel even
luckier if I had one of these babies to ride on all the time."
	"Shut up," she said laughing.
	I smiled underneath my mask and we drove out of the alley.
	After driving around and finding nothing else going on, I returned
with the Huntress to her Watcher's house and we parked the bikes.
	"Thanks for your help," I said.
	"You're welcome.  That's what friends are for."
	I took my leave of her and went back to my apartment.  There I saw
the cop the blue mutant morphed into.  I snuck into my apartment and
changed really quick as I heard her knocking on the door.
	"Hold on a minute," I said.
	I pulled my robe tight around me and tied it as I opened the door.
	"Can I help you?"
	"Yes, as a matter of fact, you can."
	"Come in," I said, closing the door behind the mutant.  "What can I
do for you?"
	The cop morphed into the blue woman and she smiled at me with a
conniving grin.

To Be Continued...