Washington D.C.
May 22, 00:12
The cave looked unusually crowded tonight.
And though it was a stark departure from what I'd come to know these past few weeks, everyone present had a valid reason to be here.
Captain Atom was my mentor so his presence was a given. Superman being here too made since given the fact that he had not just one, but two superpowered and angry clones of himself to deal with.
Supporting him was Martian Manhunter, who I assumed was here in not just solidarity to his Kryptonian friend but also to ascertain the integrity of the team's mind (myself included) and also address the problem of the clones' Cadmus programming.
Red Tornado and Mike lived here so there was nothing notable about them being here.
Zatarra wasn't here when we left. In fact, nothing about this mission originally demanded his presence, but the find at the end had had him summoned here promptly. He currently stood beside Batman while Tala's mirror hovered before them.
From this it was easy to determine a line of intense questioning going on. Behind the two of them, the rest of the team stood and listened in, and I would've joined them immediately if I didn't notice the absence of the Green Arrow and his freshly rescued protégé.
They were nowhere in sight. I had some idea as to why they'd left so soon, and Red Arrow basically confirmed it by breaking off from the group as soon as he noticed I'd arrived. Mask off and in hand, I met him halfway and he relayed the message from his mentor.
"GA said to tell you he's sorry for not staying," the red haired archer said. "He really wanted to thank you but the temp of Speedy's pod was rising. Green Lantern confirmed there'd be no harm and that Speedy would just shift into normal sleep when the cold reduced enough. GA took him to a hospital before that happened so they could monitor him and run tests to make sure he's okay. I hope you understand."
This was surprising because I honestly expected nothing of the sort. Okay, wait I did expect something; seeing Green Arrow upon arrival. The fact that I didn't see him just took me aback a bit.
Guess I was still in mission mode where I was checking off the list of things I expected to happen.
Gently, I placed a hand on Red Arrow's shoulder and said, "It's all cool. I mean, I didn't actually want anything. It just felt weird not to see them. Although, now that you mention it," I paused for a bit, "when do they expect him to wake up? And where is the hospital? I'd like to talk to Speedy when he's awake and offer some help for his… you know."
Arrow grimaced and nodded. "That… I'll send you the details."
My hand left his shoulder and came to my wrist. "Give me your contact," I said and held out my arm to him, the number pad on the holoscreen being self explanatory.
Arrow input his number and when it came to the name, I interjected with a question. "What name are you going by now?"
He looked confused, so I elaborated. "Your real name. Now that Speedy is back, I don't think you also want to go by Roy."
"Ahh, you want to know my real identity," he said and paused. After a while he just sighed and shook his head, peeling the domino mask off his face. "Who am I kidding, you already know all this. I'm going by William now. Will Harper."
Nodding, I retracted my hand and input the name, attaching it to the contact he just provided. "Will H.," I said out loud and looked at him again. "Let me guess, you also intend to retire soon, right?"
At this point, we were past pretenses so his shock lasted a second. "You tell me. What am I going to do next?" he asked while giving me a pointed look.
"Let's just say I'm willing to be an investor in a business I know will be successful," I smiled.
Understanding bloomed on his features before his lips curved into a slight smile. He opened his mouth to say something but stopped and looked to the side. I followed his gaze and saw Batman waiting with the team in tow.
"I'll send you the details when I get to the hospital," Red Arrow said and started walking towards the Zeta-Tube. "We'll talk later, Specialist."
I threw my arms wide at that. "Come on. Call me Elliot. Or Elrath if you think we're that cool."
"See you soon Elrath," he said and activated the teleportation sequence.
While he disappeared, I turned around to face the one who assigned us this mission and made a flash call to the number Will gave me. Dude gave me his number but forgot mine. I attached a short message to do away with any confusion and focused on the subject at hand.
"Elrath huh," Kid said while he and the rest of the team moved to join me, earning a look from the dark knight. Robin laughed at his friend's sheepish expression while Kaldur remained Kaldur.
Guy was so good at being stoic I wouldn't mind giving up team leadership to him.
My stray thoughts got sliced in half by Batman. "Specialist, report."
"Right," I stood at attention, arms going behind my back and said back going straighter. Having had weeks to practice at this, I had no problem rattling off a summary of what we experienced and accomplished tonight, the larger details of which were going to be included in the report I'd forward to Batman.
It didn't take me long to finish. Once I did though, there was another topic Batman wanted me to elaborate on.
"The Genomorphs. Explain."
"That…" I muttered and cast my gaze over to the various feeds of Cadmus' bowels that Mike and Red Tornado were monitoring. That had been all Robin, something I suggested to Batman as a way for us to obtain evidence we could use to tie the bald megalomaniac to the cloning program.
Incorporating Zeta-Tech into bugs had been stupidly easy, and considering M and E was all about shrinking stuff, the little spy devices were near impossible to detect. In the off chance they were found though, the failsafes I put in place would vaporise them.
One, or multiple of said bugs must've captured my conversation with him. Of course, Batman and the team were also curious as to why I'd left behind tech we'd discussed just a day ago how dangerous it would be for the enemy to have it.
"Sir, the Genomorph I spoke to was Dubbilex. He's their leader, and he wants them out of Cadmus and out of Luthor's reach. Considering how their current arrangement is just slavery without the abduction part, I decided to offer my help in getting them free. In the information packet I sent earlier, I also detailed a possible solution on where to house them. Has the presence of Providence been confirmed?"
"Yes," Batman said. "It was exactly where you said it would be. Providence?"
"That's what I'm calling it."
"Noted. I hope you understand the risks with what you did."
"Yes sir. That's why in addition to the failsafes in the device, I left behind insurance," I said and called out to Mike. "Analyst, please bring up the feeds of DWARFs 1 to 10."
Everyone joined me in turning around to look at the ten large holoscreens Mike summoned by spreading both arms wide. Each showed a crystal clear stream of Genomorph city from multiple angles, angles which would ensure the platform would always remain in sight.
"Good work," Batman said. "Offering help to those who need it is why the League exists. How you're able to do that without endangering innocents and the rest of your team is one of the hallmarks of a good hero and leader."
"The same goes for the rest of you," he said to the others and crossed his arms behind his back and his cape, walking by slowly as he continued. "You kept to your roles and adjusted when it was needed. You exhibited solid teamwork and accomplished every objective without major complications.
For a first mission, your performance was excellent. However, there will be written evaluations for each of you on the many mistakes you made," he paused, a small but noticeable smile curving his lips, "but for now. Good work."
Say what will you about the man, but he knew how to play with our emotions like a master. The frowns and looks of displeasure at the mention of "many mistakes" had changed to surprised joy on everyone's faces, myself included.
Batman saying you did good, excellent work would do that to a person. His smile helped a great deal too. That's when you knew he really meant what he said.
"Sir," I called out and interrupted the excitement. "I know I'm cutting into your feedback here, but I wanted to ask, what'll happen to her?" I asked and pointed at the pair of Zatara and the mirror hovering before him.
Batman, who was headed in the direction I pointed, stopped and answered. "We'll get her out of the mirror and continue our interrogation. Dismissed."
He resumed walking and soon we were left one.
"Excellent. He called our performance excellent." Robin sounded like he couldn't believe what he'd heard.
"It was our first mission, and we completed every objective and more," Kaldur said. "That is a rare thing. Believe me."
"I guess we have you to thank for that," KF, who went arms akimbo and said. "I'll admit, the way you made yourself leader rubbed me the wrong way. Just a little bit, but seeing the results," he threw up his arms in surrender. "I can't complain."
Kaldur didn't wait and added his own two scents. "I concur. The plan was well thought out."
I nodded at their praise and said, "As far as missions go, this was pretty tame. I also had a lot of advantages. If I'm being honest, I'm experiencing a bit of imposter syndrome, but I'll take you guys' and Batman's word for it."
I clapped my gloved hands after that and made eye contact with everyone. "Now, your evaluations. Do you still want me as leader, or do I step down?"
"Hey man, like I already said, you're good. I'm cool with you leading us," said KF.
Kaldur didn't hesitate to add. "What Kid said."
All eyes fell on Robin, who had his arms crossed and a face that said 'not in the mood.'
"Jury's still out. As you said yourself, this mission was pretty tame. I'm going to observe you for a few more before I say or agree to anything," he said and walked away.
"Wouldn't have it any other way," came my response.
"Give him time," Kaldur placed his hand on my shoulder and said.
"I know."
After this, the cave made a rapid shift back to normalcy. Superman came over to thank me for not just getting his clones from under Luthor's thumb but for my advice on not pushing them away.
Superboy and Match would be going with him and Martian Manhunter to the Fortress of Solitude. I assumed the martian was going to deal with the mental aspect of things while Big Blue would address the genetics.
He likely had something to map Superboy's genome and solve Match's unstable DNA problem.
Before they left, I rushed to my lab and returned a communicator watch for Superboy, preloaded with not just mine but the contacts of the other team members as well.
With their departure, Captain Atom and I finally had the chance to talk.
"Hey boss," I greeted. "What's up? Am I gonna get an evaluation from you too?"
Arms crossed and with a twinkle in his yellow eyes, my mentor asked. "Do you want one?"
"Sure. I want to get better at this, so whatever you think needs improving, please, let me know."
"Okay," he nodded. "However, Batman said everything that needed saying. You did a good job. Not many leaders can say their first mission was a success. Trust me."
"Thanks."
"You're welcome," he said, taking a noticeable amount of time before continuing. "I've been thinking about our… mentor–student relationship, and I decided it's time I actually taught you something."
First, praise from Batman and now this? What was happening.
Keeping the excitedness in my voice measured, I asked, "What… something?"
"What branch of the military was I part of?" he answered with a question of his own.
A subtle frown came upon my face as I wracked my brain. I knew this.
"Aviation. The Airforce," I said in seconds. "Wait, are you going to teach me how to fly a plane?"
This couldn't be a coincidence right?
He smiled. "Yeah."
"That's great. I'm actually planning to build one soon. Please promise you'll accelerate my training if I grasp things quickly."
"I thought you said you weren't a genius."
"For this, I am."
"Hmm, we'll see when we're on the airfield. I'll send you the things you need to learn tomorrow. Call me when you're ready for the test. If you pass, things will become hands on."
A test? Like a driver's one?
"Got it. I'll be ready," I said and nodded. "Thank you for this."
"No need. It's what I'm supposed to do."
We bid our goodbyes after that, and I bid farewell to the rest of the team before retreating to my workshop. Seated behind my desk, I thought of the many, many things I wanted to and needed to do.
"So much to do and so little time. The next few days are gonna be packed," I said to no one and reclined in my chair. I slapped my forehead and cursed when I remembered that I'd forgotten to tell the team about the plan I had.
Now that we'd gotten our, well, my feet wet, I wanted to take things to the next step with the team. We needed a team transport.
With M'gann not coming for three to four months—not that I wouldn't have gone ahead and done this anyway—I wanted to build my own jet. Kid Flash would definitely be interested, and I could see the others helping.
How many months had it been since I arrived here? I did a quick mental check and found that it would be three next week on this very day. There was no need to rush then. I had time. I could take things slow, tackle one major project at a time.
The jet would come first though, and for that I needed a buttload of materials and money. Captain Atom's scans and Cyberpunk's breakthroughs in large scale fabrication and aerospace engineering meant I was set on the "making" side of things.
To solve the monetary and resource side of the problem though, I needed to look elsewhere.
Quickly, going to my watch, I sent Felicity a message. We'd been chatting on and off for the past few weeks and we'd finally gone past the awkwardness of me asking her mom out.
Now we just played games and shared coding tidbits with each other, her finding my surface level quantum encryptions irresistible, like a cat with catnip. Her attempts to crack them were a good whetstone to grind against.
Message sent, I started work on my report for Batman and drafted a proposal alongside it. I was willing to give away some of my inventions and others from the Cyberpunk universe for a generous sum.
Thankfully, Bruce Wayne was a rich and reasonable man.
Action: Become the leader of your first team and lead a successful first mission.
Reward: 200 CP. Hands Off! (100 CP), XJ-6 Airspeeder (100 CP)
Well what do we have here?
[spoiler]
Name: Hands Off!
Description: When one is at the forefront of technological development, one sometimes has to watch out for espionage. Why bother developing a revolutionary new weapon system when a Ghost with sticky fingers walks in and takes it? You are able to design, and seamlessly implement security protocols into any technology or equipment you have access to that would limit use to only authorized personnel. You don't even have to go to the extreme of half-breaking it either, that's for neanderthals and inferior scientists.
Cost: 100 CP
Source: Celestial Forge
Name: XJ-6 Airspeeder
Description: This custom-built airspeeder uses exotic materials and incorporated advanced systems into its design, it was fashioned for quick and comfortable movements. The vehicle includes an inertial compensator normally reserved for spacecrafts, two oversized turbofan engines, an electrogravitic gyro flywheel that allows the craft to make abrupt turns without traction.
Cost: 100 CP
Source: Celestial Holocron
[/spoiler]
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1-10 advanced chapters on: https://patreon.com/MasterReigen