Welcome to Gaia! ::

((NOOOOO!!!!!))

It was very odd to be talking to a female HIM... and with Alex's voice. This was going to be the delicate bit; there were several features that he definitely didn't want her to find out about. Like the navigation computer. "The strength is a passive function, and we'll handle the flying when it comes," he told her evenly, getting to his feet. She was very tall. He walked over to the door, unlocked it, and passed through, holding it open for her once again. It was a bit odd to have doors weren't automatic, but he was getting used to it.

Terry, using his trusty pin, locked the door again, then turned to Alex. "Alright, I'm going to get on your back. Once I'm on, just jump and... think about continuing to go up. It's hard to explain, but the suit should pick up on it. It might be a bit..." He paused at grinned reluctantly as he remembered his first time in the suit. "Temperamental at first, but I'm betting that you'll get the hang of it pretty fast. Just in case, though, head up as quickly as possible; we don't want you running into any buildings." He paused, looking up into her face with those large, eerily serious eyes. "Okay?"

He got up onto her back with little to no trouble; just one jump and he was there. He quickly got himself as secure as he could, wrapping his legs around her waist and his arms around her shoulders. He didn't want to choke her, after all. "I'm ready... Don't overthink it," he added soothingly, "You'll be fine. The suit reads you, not the other way around."

((edit: COOL outfit, Sapphire!))

((Actually, that's when the rocket boots are supposed to kick in, but whatever. Gets the idea.))

"Perfect," he told her as he moved his arms out of the way for the suit's red wings, then cast about for a landmark that would tell him where Wayne Manor was. It was difficult; everything looked so different... After a moment, he spotted the sea, and smiled. "Alright. Head in that direction," he told her, pointing past her face so that she could see what he was talking about.

"Alright..." Terry said quietly as they swooped along next to a set of sheer cliffs. He hoped that Wayne had already built the access tunnel he was thinking about using... And there it was. Partially hidden by trees, over a mile away from the Manor, and practically invisible to anyone who wasn't looking for it. "Okay, head in there," he said, pointing again, "The suit's computer should be homing in on it."

As they flew into the tunnel, Terry couldn't help but relax. Finally, he was going to be somewhere familiar. Sad as it was, the Batcave was sort of home; he certainly spent more time there than he did at his house. God, that sounded lame.

{Exit Future Batman, Alex, and Warp to the Batcave}

{Enter from the Batcave}

As reluctant as he was, Terry explained, well, everything. Where, or rather WHEN he came from, how he'd encountered Bruce Wayne, and how he'd become Batman. When he concluded, Alfred was just staring at his interlocked fingers. "Could you please say something?" Terry asked desperately after several long, painfully silent moments.

Alfred glanced up at him. "I am sorry, Master Terry; it's a bit much to take in all at once." He thought for another second or two, and then got to his feet. "I should contact Master Wayne. He--"

"No, no, nononono," Terry said immediately, jumping to his feet as well, which was somewhat difficult, as they were hanging several inches off the floor. He ended up having to slide off. "You can't tell him! He can't EVER know about me, okay?"

"Why ever not?" Alfred asked, looking a little affronted.

Why not? Because I really don't want to know if BATMAN Batman would approve of the way I handle things. Because he's almost gotten to be like a father figure, and in this time he has NO idea who I am. Because... "Because he wouldn't want to know," Terry said finally, in a somewhat flat voice, "I'm from his future, or one of his possible futures, and I assume that you know how he is about that kind of thing."

Alfred stared at him, then sighed. "I suppose I do." There was another long pause. "I am very sorry to hear that he ends up all alone... I had hoped..." He trailed off and shook his head.

Terry looked down at the floor. This was just too painful to watch. "One of MANY possible futures," he added pointedly, without looking up.

Alfred looked over at him, then nodded. "I see. ...You should probably be getting back to your guests," he added, "Would you all care for some refreshments?"

Terry shook his head. "I might need some help with Warp, though. I still need to do a damage assessment. If I need you, I guess I'll call."

"Very good, Master Terry," Alfred said nodding, and moved back toward the kitchen.

Unable to suppress a small grin, Terry walked back toward the entrance of the cave. He almost felt as though he'd passed some bizarre sort of test.

{Exit to the Batcave}