The Batcave had always been a pce of wonder—no matter the universe—but to Ultimate Bruce Wayne, this version of it was like stepping back in time and into a dream. As he followed the older Batman down the steps, he took in the cavernous expanse: stactites hung above them like gothic chandeliers, while spotlights cast dramatic shadows on stone walls and steel consoles.

  Towering in the center of the cave was the legendary Batcomputer—complete with fshing lights, spinning reels, cttering punch cards, and massive panels of blinking buttons. Ultimate Bruce Wayne blinked. *"How did we ever solve crimes with this thing?"* he wondered with a smirk.

  He turned his gaze toward the older Batman, who had settled on a leather stool and was carefully rubbing **Bat-BenGay** into his left knee. The packaging matched the decor—bright blue and yellow with an exaggerated cartoon bat. The sight would've made Ultimate Bruce Wayne chuckle, if not for the genuine weariness behind the cowl.

  But something else caught his eye. In the shadows near the Bat-Radar stood a **mechanical suit**—sleek, metallic, and reinforced at the joints. It was gray with dark-blue pting and bore a stylized bat emblem across the chest.

  "What's up with the suit?" Ultimate Bruce Wayne asked, nodding toward the exo-frame.

  The older Batman looked up mid-application. "Ah, that thing? Since I'm not quite the spring bat I used to be, chum, I've been developing a mechanical enhancement suit. Prototype, of course. Still working out the bugs."

  Ultimate Bruce Wayne stepped closer, studying the suit with a practiced eye. *"Not bad,"* he thought. *"For this timeline's tech level, it's actually impressive."* He tapped lightly on the arm pting. "It's got potential."

  "Whatever happened to Robin?" Ultimate Bruce Wayne asked, gncing back as Batman capped the Bat-BenGay.

  "He left the nest, as they say. He needed to spread his wings." Batman stood, stretching his shoulder with a wince. "He's in Bludhaven now. Right next door to Gotham. Goes by Nightwing."

  "And Alfred?" Ultimate Bruce Wayne asked more softly.

  Batman's expression dimmed. "Alfred passed a few years back. He was a great man. A better friend. But time, old chum... it waits for no man."

  Ultimate Bruce Wayne lowered his gaze respectfully. "I'm sorry."

  "Thank you," Batman replied, adjusting his glove. "So... ever consider becoming Batman again? This old city could use a repcement."

  Ultimate Bruce Wayne shook his head. "I appreciate the offer, but I've left the Bat behind. I have my own mission now."

  "A shame," Batman said with a shrug. "You'd have made a great fill-in. One Batman to another."

  Ultimate Bruce Wayne paused, a thought forming. "What if... we didn't stop at me?" he said. "I could put out a *Batman Wanted* ad across the multiverse."

  Batman blinked. "You can do that?"

  "Yes," Ultimate Bruce Wayne said. "My systems are integrated across multiversal channels. If I ask BC—my onboard AI—we can ping other Batmen and see who answers."

  "Fascinating. How do you do it?"

  "Simple. Computers are smaller now." He tapped the side of his head and smirked. "Some of us have them integrated into us."

  Ultimate Bruce Wayne closed his eyes briefly. *"BC, did you catch that conversation?"*

  "Yes, Mr. Wayne," BC's voice replied smoothly in his mind. "Posting Batman wanted job."

  He opened his eyes and looked at Batman, who was now sipping from a Bat-thermos beled *"Bat Cocoa."*

  "Would you care for a cup, old chum?"

  "Thank you, Batman, but I'll pass. The job ads are posted," Ultimate Bruce Wayne said. "Now we wait to see who's interested."

  Batman nodded. "Then I suggest we sit down and figure out what this job interview for a multiversal Batman should look like."

  *Quite an interesting piece of information, dear viewers! It seems that a Bruce Wayne from another universe—with his dazzling technology and futuristic fir—has just pced a Batman Wanted ad... across the multiverse! What sort of candidates shall respond to this extraordinary call? Stay tuned!*

  Ultimate Bruce Wayne's brow furrowed. He turned sharply, looking around the Batcave's stone walls. "Did you just hear that voice?"

  Batman paused mid-sip. "No, chum. I didn't hear anything."

  "I swear I just heard someone narrating everything I did."

  *"BC,"* he said aloud. *"Did you hear a voice talking about the Batman Wanted ad?"*

  "Yes, Mr. Wayne. I did."

  Ultimate Bruce Wayne's voice dropped. "Was it external or internal?"

  "Still scanning," BC responded. "It is not a known multiversal communication channel."

  *Well, well, well! It seems our multiversal job posting has attracted some very interesting candidates! What manner of Batmen shall answer this call to duty? The suspense is absolutely thrilling!*

  Ultimate Bruce Wayne's head snapped up again. "There it is again—that voice!"

  Batman looked around the cave, adjusting his utility belt. "I'm afraid I still don't hear anything, old chum. Perhaps it's a side effect of interdimensional travel?"

  "Mr. Wayne," BC's voice chimed in Ultimate Bruce Wayne's mind, "I just got a response from a couple of Batmen who are interested in the job."

  "Okay, that sounds good," Ultimate Bruce Wayne replied aloud, then turned to Batman. "BC has some job applicants. Do you mind if I link up with your Batcomputer so you can see who responded?"

  Batman enthusiastically agreed. "Impressive technological marvels! A computer that can link with other computers across dimensions? That sounds fascinating, chum!"

  "BC, make a connection to this universe's Batcomputer," Ultimate Bruce Wayne instructed.

  "Establishing connection now, Mr. Wayne," BC responded.

  The massive Batcomputer suddenly came alive with a flurry of activity. Punch cards began feeding through mechanical slots, lights blinked in rapid succession, and the rge viewing screen flickered to life. Three profiles materialized on the screen, each dispying a different Batman.

  "Great Caesar's ghost!" Batman excimed, leaning forward on his stool. "Look at these candidates!"

  Ultimate Bruce Wayne studied the screen alongside his older counterpart. "Let's see what we've got here..."

  The first profile showed a tall, brooding figure in a bck suit with an angur, armored appearance. The cape was long and dramatic, and the cowl had distinctive pointed ears.

  "This one's interesting," Ultimate Bruce Wayne noted. "Dark, gothic aesthetic. Definitely takes the intimidation factor seriously."

  Batman nodded approvingly. "He certainly looks the part of striking fear into the hearts of criminals!"

  The second profile dispyed a Batman in what appeared to be more tactical gear—armored pting, a shorter cape, and a more militaristic design to the suit.

  "Now this fellow looks like he means business," Batman observed. "Very practical approach to crime-fighting attire."

  "Definitely more of a realistic, grounded approach," Ultimate Bruce Wayne agreed. "Probably has extensive training in martial arts and detective work."

  The third profile showed a Batman with a more cssic, clean-cut appearance—blue and gray costume, simpler design, but with an unmistakable air of heroic nobility.

  "Cssic heroic archetype!" Batman excimed. "This one reminds me of my youth when heroes were... well, heroic!"

  "He's got that cssic superhero look down," Ultimate Bruce Wayne said with a slight smile. "Probably works well with a team."

  *What an absolutely delightful selection of candidates! Each bringing their own unique brand of justice to the table! But which of these caped crusaders will prove worthy of protecting Gotham City?*

  Ultimate Bruce Wayne gnced around again for the omnipresent voice, then refocused on the screen. "I think these three are our best bets. They each bring something different to the table."

  "Agreed, old chum! A fine selection indeed," Batman said, csping his hands together. "Shall we invite them for interviews?"

  "BC, send them a response. Tell them they're being invited for job interviews," Ultimate Bruce Wayne instructed.

  "Message sent, Mr. Wayne. Interview invitations have been dispatched across the multiverse," BC confirmed.

  Batman rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I must say, this is quite exciting! I haven't conducted a job interview since I hired that fellow to polish the Batmobile. How do you suppose we should structure these interviews?"

  *And so the stage is set for the most extraordinary job interviews in the history of crime-fighting! Will our candidates prove worthy of the mantle? Stay tuned, viewers, for what promises to be an absolutely thrilling evaluation process!*

  "Mr. Wayne," BC's voice chimed in Ultimate Bruce Wayne's mind, "the Batman of Universe 47-X is ready for his interview. Portal opening now."

  A shimmering dimensional gateway materialized in the center of the Batcave. Through it stepped the first candidate—tall, imposing, draped in a long bck cape that seemed to absorb the cave's lighting. His cowl cast deep shadows over his face, and every movement radiated calcuted menace.

  Ultimate Bruce Wayne and the older Batman sat at a simple table they'd set up near the Batcomputer. The older Batman gestured welcomingly. "Please, have a seat, chum. We'd like to ask you a few questions about your crime-fighting methods."

  Universe 47-X Batman remained standing, arms crossed. "Ask away."

  "Well," the older Batman began cheerfully, "how would you handle a situation where the Joker has taken hostages in a crowded museum?"

  "Neutralize all threats. Extract civilians. End the Joker permanently if necessary."

  Ultimate Bruce Wayne scribbled notes, raising an eyebrow at the blunt response.

  "And what about—" the older Batman started.

  "Hey Batman," Ultimate Bruce Wayne interrupted, "instead of just asking questions, why don't we see what he can actually do?"

  *As the Batman interviews continued in the depths of the Batcave, little did they know that Louis the Lic and his flower-themed henchmen were attempting to take over the Botanical Gardens of Gotham, holding innocent citizens hostage with his army of man-eating lics! What dastardly scheme will unfold?*

  Ultimate Bruce Wayne's head snapped up. "There it is again—that voice!"

  Before he could expin, the red Bat-phone began beeping. The older Batman hurried over and lifted the receiver.

  "Batman here," he said in his formal tone.

  "Batman, thank goodness!" Commissioner Gordon's voice crackled through the speaker. "We need your help! Louis the Lic is holding people hostage in the Botanical Gardens with some kind of carnivorous pnt creatures. We need you down here immediately!"

  "I'll be there soon, Commissioner. On my way."

  Batman hung up and turned to the group. "Well, gentlemen, it looks like we have a chance to see you in action," he said, addressing Universe 47-X Batman. "Louis the Lic is at the Gotham Botanical Gardens. Think you can handle it?"

  The dark Batman's lips curved into what might have been a smile. "Consider it done."

  As Universe 47-X Batman departed through the cave exit, Ultimate Bruce Wayne turned to his older counterpart. "How about we watch him work?"

  "Splendid idea, chum! BC, can you patch us into the drone surveilnce system?"

  "Already connected, Mr. Wayne," BC replied as the massive Batcomputer screen flickered to life.