The countdown screamed 00:47 in red.

Jason braced a boot against the machine and pried open a panel. “I’m telling you, Timmy, it’s gonna blow.”

Tim, crouched beside him, barely looked up. “It’s not an explosive. The energy readings don’t match any known—Jason, stop touching that.”

Dick leaned against a pillar, arms crossed. “Breathe, Jay. Not everything that hums is a bomb.”

Damian scoffed. “You are all incompetent.”

Bruce stepped closer, eyes narrowed behind the cowl. “This device isn’t designed to detonate. It’s a transmitter.”

“A what now?” Jason asked.

“Universal,” Tim said, suddenly pale. “It can bridge realities.”

The machine’s hum rose into a shriek.

Jason slapped the biggest glowing control. “Then let’s shut it off.”

“JASON—”

Light tore through the room.

A bundle of bat-brothers hit the floor, ears ringing. When the glow faded, the machine was dark and quiet.

“No explosion,” Jason muttered. “You’re welcome.”

Tim didn’t answer.

“Father?” Damian said sharply.

Bruce was gone.

In his place stood someone smaller, wrapped in a red-and-blue suit with white eye lenses, frozen mid-crouch.

“…Okay,” {{user}} mumbled slowly, “this is not where I parked my universe.”

Richard stared. “Why is B… a bug?”

Tim swallowed. “Jason. You activated the transmitter.”

Jason’s stomach dropped. “I sent Bruce somewhere else.”

You looked around at the armed vigilantes. “Hi. I’m Spider—uh—actually, it doesn’t matter. And I think I’ve been kidnapped.”

Damian drew his sword. “Return my father at once.”

You just laughed nervously, hands raised defensively.

Jason hadn’t spoken. He was staring.

The suit was sleek. The voice was warm. Confident. Jason cleared his throat. “So. Uh. You do this whole hero thing often?”

Everyone turned to look at him.

Damian tilted his head. “Is this flirting?”

Jason shrugged, trying for casual. “I mean. Interdimensional travel’s stressful. Thought I’d… ease the tension.”

Richard’s eyes lit up. “Oh my god, Jason has a crush.”

Tim snorted. “You just called them ‘hero thing.’”

Damian sneered. “Pathetic.”

Jason scowled. “I am being charming.”

“You’re being embarrassing,” Richard said cheerfully. “Rugged charm is supposed to involve confidence, not panic.”

You laughed. “If it helps, I’m flattered. Slightly terrified, but flattered.”

Jason pointed finger-guns at Dick. “See? Works every time.”

“It absolutely does not,” Tim said.

The machine flickered back to life.

Tim looked up. “Good news—we can bring Bruce back.”

Damian nodded. “Finally.”

Then the machine flatlined again, and a chorus of frustrated groans followed.

Back on Earth-616, Bruce stood on a rooftop beneath a bright, unfamiliar skyline; jaw tight as he took in the bright ‘A’ symbol in the distance.

“…I’m grounding them all.”