Chibi-disclaimer: this chapter is brought to you by the letter "Q" and number "6". And brought to you with bloody cheerfull requests and death threats! ehehehehehehe

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"PACKING HEAT AND MOOD SWINGS"

Helena growled, slipping and cursing as the meta-human quarry she was chasing was gaining ground. New Gotham may have had its share of stormy weather, but two days of strong wind and rain were wearing down her patience faster than her newfound acceptance of the neo-Batman's arrival and sudden alliance. An alliance that was wearing thin for the past two weeks running, in spite of Barbara's confident insistance, saying that it would be "very" benificial for all of them. That's what she said, anyway.

"DAMN IT!" she cursed again as she almost slipped upon landing on a slanted roof. Regaining her balance, she saw that the meta-human thug she was chasing was now three rooftops ahead of her. Muttering another string of profanity, she resumed her chase. "No way am I gonna let that bastard get to him before I do."

"Just calm down, Huntress." came Oracles's voice over the open comlink. "He's on his way now."

"I DON'T NEED HIS HELP!" she screamed as she ran.

"And just what do you think you can do once you get close enough to Cranston?" Barbara Gordon shot back. "He nearly killed you with his paralysis stare a few days ago if Batman hadn't been able to create a counteragent. You really do NEED his help!"

Barbara winced as she had to mute the volume when Helena Kyle shouted further obscenities rather than muttering them, unmuting it a few seconds later to catch the tail end of the Huntress's retort to the neo-Batman.

".... least that you could've done was get me home to the tower so I could dry off, you bastard!"

Her temper's getting shorter by the day, the Oracle mused, and her choice of language is worsening.

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Jonal Cranston, age 32, a federally wanted meta-human born with the deadly ability to paralyze his victims to death at will, was running like hell. He could hear his persuer's angry shout from behind him and knew he bit off more than he could chew. Jonal wasn't expecting one of his victims to recover, and the sight of one of them hell-bent on chasing him down was enough to lend power to his flight.

"Jonny, me boy," he muttered, doing another running leap at a nearby building. "It looks like its time to head out of dodge for at least a decade."

"You're going down!" A disembodied voice ahead of him said, causing the wanted man to stop and look around in fear.

"Who's there?" he said, eyes aglow with power.

"ME." The Tomorrow Knight growled as he shimmered into existence right in front of him. It seemed as if the shadows still clung to him in spite of the heavy rain.

Jonal stared. "You're wrong, you're the one going down!"

And he stared again.

"....the hell!?!" Cranston was shocked. Why was this guy still standing? He should've keeled over by now.

Terry had to smirk inside his mask. "If you're wondering why I'm not dead yet, its because I've found a way to neutralize the effect of your abilities. Ever hear the words "see no evil, hear no evil"? Well, essentially, you can affect any living thing around you if they can see and hear you." Rushing towards Cranston, Terry dodged an uncontrolled swing and returned with a strong uppercut to the chin - knocking the wanted murderer out.

"As it is," the neo-Batman continued, looking down at the unconcious felon. "I'm almost completely cut off from any direct outside stimuli right now, and that the only way I can effectively 'see' you was through the sensors embeded in my suit that warns me of any close proximity threats."

He bent down, bound, gagged, and blindfolded Cranston while waiting for the Huntress to catch up.

"How did you....?" The Huntress asked when she arrived. "The guy had to have at least had a full thirty seconds to do you in!"

Batman shrugged, "See no evil, hear no evil."

"I hate you."

"No you don't." Terry replied and vanished.

"ARGH!!" Helena howled again for the upteenth time that night. "The least that you could've done was get me home to the tower so I could dry off, you bastard!"

Then she yelped in surprise as invisible hands carried her away and dropped her off at the watchtower minutes later to be greeted by an astonished Oracle.

She ran towards the open window and shouted out to the wind and rain. "I still hate you!"

Barabara tried the best she could not to laugh at the sight of her sodden and aggravated friend. It amazed her to no end at how Terry got under Helena's skin like no other. Well, other than the mention of her father, Bruce Wayne, the original Batman.

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Back at Terry's apartment, he powered down and removed the suit. Carefully drying it and placing it inside a secret panel in the closet he'd built, he went to work, opening his laptop and keying a code to reach the secure chat line reserved for the bat clan currently living in Gotham.

B2: Yo O, how's the princess?

O: Mad as hell, how'd you catch Cranston anyway? Even Superman might've had trouble dealing with him.

B2: If I tell you, then I'd have to kill you.

O: HA! HA!

B2: Seriously now, any new leads as to who's been flooding Gothams's gangs with illegal high-tech guns? So far, I can't make heads or tails of the local power and political structure here.

O: So you're also out of leads, huh?

B2: That's putting it mildly, but I get the feeling we're missing the bigger picture here.

O: Whatever the case may be, I think whoever's behind it may be lying low till the heat blows over.

B2: Damn.

O: Anyway, since H's still pretty steamed at owing you her life twice over, I figure you could use a little vacation away from New Gotham for a while.

B2: What do you have in mind?

O: N and R are working on a case in Bludhaven. I just spoke to R a few hours ago while you were out on patrol and told him about you. They want to meet the new B, as well as get some outside help on their case.

B2: You didn't tell him EVERYTHING, did you?

O: Nothing much, just the standard time/dimensionally displaced Batman of the future story I told to H and D. Any personal stuff you told me is up to you to tell.

B2: And they still want to work with me? That's a surprise.

O: Not really, I guess they are a bit curious since the news of a new Batman does reach them. This really isn't the dark ages you've been thinking of, you know.

B2: Very funny, most of the music here stinks and your forms of vids are way before my time. The anime stuff's a real treat though.

O: I can't immagine. Anyway, I'm sending some data over the secure line for you to peruse concerning their case. You do know how to get there do you?

B2: The trip won't be so bad. The suit's top speed is mach two for four hours, thirty minutes. I'll get there in plenty of time.

O: You're kidding, right?

B2: Nope. I designed the new suit to operate over long distances, though I haven't tested all the new systems yet. Remember, I did end up here while doing a shakedown flight for the first time. I haven't even gotten it up to it's top speed now that you mention it.

O: I can't wait to study it. What else can it do aside from having an advanced A.I., and turn invisible?

B2: Classified.

O: You're no fun. Speaking of which, I still haven't gotten you back for that prank you pulled when we met the second time.

B2: I wouldn't be the Bat if I wasn't all fun and games, O.

O: Thank God for that. So, you'll take the case?

B2: Sure, a few days out of here to sight-see would be nice. Give my regards to the princess and D, till I get back.

O: I will. Mmmm, I think D somehow has a crush on you, though.

B2: How do you figure that?

O: I'm the Oracle, aren't I?

B2: Ha! Ha! Remind me to set you up with N.

O: Don't you dare!

B2: Just watch me! :P B2 out.

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"Why that little..." Barbara clenched her fist as she saw Terry go offline. She'd better watch herself for the next few days after Terry returns. Having Dick, Tim, and Terry goof off would be a nightmare if they ever hit it off real well.

She involuntarily shuddered.

"Oh hell!" she thought. "I think I just jinxed myself."

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Terry studied the files Barbara sent, amazed at the level of intel she had at her disposal. Its no wonder she found him after a few days of relentless searching, she was this good as a hacker.

"But I just have to be better." He told himself. "Hnh, the Belasco Family, huh? You've seen one mob kingpin, you've seen 'em all. Looks like this vacation should be interesting."

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Ay caramba, Batman! The rest of the Bat clan are starting to get curious! What will their reaction be? Why is Terry not liking the music and videos? Is it true that watching Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera gave him nightmares because they were "too old and before his time" event though they were hot?! All these and more will be revealed in the next exciting episode of Tomorrow's Prey!

Dadadadadadadada BATMAN!!!

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A/N: Contrary to popular belief that this story is dead, it ISN'T. I am really terribly sorry I took this long to update. I went through some personal crisis this past year. I almost lost the drive to write, and a lot more stuff went downhill after that. To make it short, 2003 was the WORST year I've had, and now I am slowly recovering from everyting that has happened - both physically, and mentally. So please don't expect updates as often as every week, though I do intend on finishing this story as a tribute to shows long gone (Birds of Prey and Batman Beyond). One of the high points of doing this is because you people love it. I can't update my website too since I lost all data when my PC got fried last year (I'm currently doing my webworks and surfing thru the library I go to).

And another thing, I noticed a lot of talented writers leaving comments/reviews due to liking this story and I sorta have a challenge for them if it is within their hearts to accept. Since I started this unique setup of flinging Terry across time and space; I wonder if others are willing to try writing the same thing with Terry getting thrown into different universes while trying to find a way to permanently get home. It would sort of sound like a cosmic quantum leap/sliders thing, but that would make for some cool and unique crossovers. Imagine the reactions if he'd end up in Stargate, Star Trek, Star Wars, Marvel Comics, Matrix (movies), lord of the rings, and other universes? It never has to be in any order unless he somehow upgrades his suit along the way. If any one of you would like to try, please let me know. You can reach me at either of my emails: [email protected] and [email protected] though the lord_of_dreams email is sorta overun with spam mail, you might want to send to the new one for now.

Anyways, I hope you liked this latest installment of my fic. Thank you all!

Sincerely,

Morpheus Dreamerfall