DCU: Blacklist

[FTR2017]

Someone was trying to make these five into weapons from a very young age.

Click to shrink...

The government, most likely.

 

[MasterDarkElf]

Glad to see the five on the path to doing better. And wonder if Ace, or Angelica now, may start to see Miles as a father figure, haha. Or even the rest of them as well. Looking forward to more.

 

[Lillie Jones]

Thanks for the chapter

 

[Samael61]

Hello there,

If you enjoy my stories, you can read up to 15 chapters in advance per story on my Patreon page / patreon.com/Samael61.

To the attention of the readers who enjoy reading an intelligent main character like Miles will definitely like my original story, Arrival : Ruptures. Comments, likes and reviews are appreciated. Here are the links for : AO3, Spacebattles, Royal Road and Webnovel.

—
​

Los Angeles

"What's the deal with them?" Michael whispered, reading the results of the scans. A late-night message from Miles and an early-morning arrival at his lab for a full medical checkup were unexpected. He was worried something had happened to the man.

It was worse.

The five metahumans had foreign chemicals and organic agents in their bodies. Most were attempts to increase their power levels. There was more than one sample consistent with chemical brainwashing methods. The data he pulled out suggested they were meant to make the subject more malleable to subliminal suggestions.

Someone was trying to make these five into weapons from a very young age.

"Cadmus kept them as test subjects to transform them into weapons. I intervened," he explained.

"Amanda Waller, right?" he asked. That name was associated with too many reports of government-backed torture painted as experiments.

"Yes. She must be fuming right now."

"Alright," he turned to the patients, "I have four pieces of good news and one possibly bad piece of news. Which one do you guys want to hear first?" he asked. They were tense from the very moment of arriving at the lab. Knowing the kind of people Cadmus employed, he understood why.

They looked at one another. "Who is it?" Timothy asked, his throat bobbing. It was bad if he was the one with a problem and worse if it was one of the others.

Michael tilted her head at Angelica. "The kid. Her DNA is evolving at an alarming rate. Eventually her powers will be too much for her body."

She took a step back, hand rising to her mouth to stifle the gasp. "Am I going to die?"

"No," he shook his head, "and only because we caught it early. She will need gene therapy to neutralize the strand responsible for this evolution," he said. All in all, it was a simple solution. Had they been any late, her fate would be sealed.

"Is it really that bad?" Monica asked, looking down at

"Yes. I can't tell what her powers of altering perception and driving people insane with a mere look will evolve into. By the end of it, just being around her might drive people mad or worse."

"But you can cure her?"

"I just need a sample of her DNA," he said. Angelica took a step back, eyes wide. Her friends weren't delighted either, subtly stopping in front of her. Michael crouched, looking at the teen hiding behind Orlando.

"I," he began, his voice cracking, "can't begin to imagine what you went through under those bastards. What I can do is to help you live long enough so you will have the chance to put all this behind you," he said, offering his hand with a small smile.

This kind of trauma wasn't easy to work through.

She looked down, rubbing her arm up and down. "I don't know if I can do that."

"But you can try."

Ace looked down at her left arm, squeezing her wrist with her other hand. She nodded, holding it out for a blood sample. She had felt the sting of the needle many times, whether to take blood or to inject her with something. It was the first time she was volunteering.

Michael brought the needle closer, being as gentle as possible. Ace winced, tensing her muscles, which caused her more pain. He was quick to pull the syringe back, inspecting the tube filled with blood.

"I'll let you know when it's ready," he said, putting the sample onto the scanner.

"Thank you, Michael; I owe you one," he said, shaking the man's hand.

Michael shook his head. "No, you don't. Not when it comes to this."

—
​

"Are we going to stay in your home? It's a bit cramped for all of us."

"For now, yes," he said, pressing the button to take them all away.

—
​

Metropolis

Beckett Residence

"Wait a second, am I seeing something wrong, or does this place suddenly have another floor?" Timothy said, rubbing his eyes. The two-story house had suddenly become a three-story one. Workers that were not there a couple of hours ago were cleaning the branches trimmed from the tops of the trees surrounding the house.

Something weird was going on here.

Miles furrowed his brows. "What? Of course not. It was always there," he said, waving his hand towards the top.

"But I could swear…" Timothy continued, looking at his friends for an answer.

Jack shrugged. He too could swear that the third floor wasn't there this morning. "We are still tired. Maybe we didn't notice it."

"Where did that come from?" Claire whispered, watching the confused five with a smirk. That floor definitely wasn't there.

"The androids. I had them build another floor for guests," he whispered back, winking.

"In hours?" Baraka coughed into his fist, trying to hide his smile. "That's going to bring in some unwanted attention."

"Thank god for all these tall trees," he said, patting on one of the trunks. He turned his attention to his guests. The four of them had already gone in. Angelica was standing outside with her head hung down.

He bent down, ruffling her hair. "Don't worry. Michael's one of the smartest men on the planet. You'll be alright in no time."

She closed her eyes and walked in.

—
​

The Watchtower

"Doctor Fate, thank you for coming in," Superman said, gesturing at a chair.

The golden helmeted magician nodded, taking his place. "Your warning was not unfounded. I detected several incursions into Earth. The Old Ones are stirring up again," he explained. The sudden warning by the Man of Tomorrow that Icthultu might be returning to Earth had concerned him.

Realizing they were right worried him greatly.

"Our plan is to strike first and kill Icthultu," Batman said in his blunt tone. There were rituals that could banish the Old Ones for a long time, but they were not a permanent solution. Sacrificing anyone, even if it was an undead, didn't sit right with most of them.

Fate looked around the room. "It will not be an easy task," he said, though the League was obviously ready.

"We have made preparations. Miles also suggested that we bring Solomon Grundy along. Since he has no soul, he might be particularly effective against Icthultu," Hawkgirl said.

Miles' request was unexpected, but he promised to explain when they were ready.

Fate tilted his head. A soulless creature would certainly be effective against the Old Ones. However, since there were four robots in the meeting, bringing Grundy along was unnecessary. "An interesting idea."

"Atlantis has history with Ichtulthu as well," Aquaman joined, remembering the ancient stories. "Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't risk an operation like this. However, if Miles is in, then I will bring the most elite unit of Atlantis against the Old Ones," he said with a steady tone. He had already organized a team for this attack. The rest of Atlantis' army would be on alert against any incursions.

He owed Miles once again.

"Thank you, Aquaman," Manhunter said with a small downward tilt of his head.

"Miles is sending support too. A small army of androids. With all of us together, I believe this mission is more than doable," Hawkgirl said. She had already brought everything Thanagar had on the Old Ones. It didn't amount to much, but Fate could perhaps make use of them.

"Superman and I will handle Grundy," Aquaman said, pushing his seat back.

Fate rose as well. "I will make preparations for a portal into Icthultu's dimension."

"Then let's get to it," Flash said, cracking his knuckles.

—
​

New York City

Last intel on the giant zombie pointed out he was around New York, specifically the docks. A more precise location could not be detected. Aquaman employed the sea creatures to seek Grundy while Superman was scanning the docks from the skies.

Since he hadn't attacked anyone, Grundy was either hiding or hibernating.

"I don't see anything from up here," Superman said. Since Grundy was nowhere on the surface, it left the possibility that he might be in the sewers. Sewers that were lined up with lead.

"The creatures say there was an unnatural source of decay and death that passed through recently. He couldn't have gone far."

"Wait, I think I see something," he said, squinting.

"Where?"

"A section of the sewers is broken. Seems to have happened from the outside." Superman pressed a button on his communicator, sending the location to Aquaman.

"Worth a look. I'll go in first," Aquaman said, swimming to the indicated location. He pushed all the filth away, reaching the sewer in seconds. True to Superman's words, something had violently torn apart the grate along with several feet of walls.

The size of the punch matched with the usual destruction a disgruntled Grundy left behind.

"Superman, I think he is in here. I am going further inside," he said, wrinkling his nose in disgust.

"Got it. I'll be there in a mind," Superman replied, searching for an alternative entrance.

He tracked the destroyed path to the end. Grundy hadn't gone far. He had punched a section of the wall in, using it as a bed.

Even he needed rest, it seemed.

"Solomon Grundy," he called out. The zombie's eyes snapped open. He sprung to his feet, his massive frame casting a shadow that covered him entirely. "I have an offer for you."

The undead lowered his arms, tilting his head. "Offer?" he asked, a stench of decay wafting from his mouth.

"Do you want gold?" he asked, ignoring the stench.

"Grundy likes gold."

"Come with me and I'll give you a chest full of gold," he said, holding out a handful of coins as proof.

Grundy took the coins, grinning, and followed Aquaman.

"Superman, don't bother coming here. I have Grundy; I'll take him to the Tower of Fate."

"Alright, see you there."

—
​

Tower of Fate

"Why do you insist we bring Grundy? We have plenty of firepower," Hawkgirl asked, too impatient to wait.

Miles turned to her, taking his hat off. "Grundy never dies. But why?" he asked.

Shayera crossed her arms. "Enlighten me."

"He was born Cyrus Gold, a wanted gangster in the nineteen twenties, obsessed with wealth. A deal with his associates turned sour. They killed him, cursed his corpse with a gris-gris, and dumped him in a swamp, which has mystical properties. Combine these ingredients and voila, you have Solomon Grundy," he said.

Her eyes widened but she continued to listen.

"All he wants is gold even though he doesn't know why. I think that if he finds something he wants more, such as his soul, and dies believing he will have it, he might finally find peace," he said. Since it was never confirmed that Icthultu had Grundy's soul, then it was most likely a matter of belief.

As it was the theme of this particular episode.

"Might?" she asked, a smirk on her face.

He shrugged. "Or it might do nothing at all. I am not an expert on curses."

Further banter was put aside as Superman and Aquaman returned with Grundy in tow.

"There you guys are," he said, scrunching his nose at the smell. That part wasn't in the show.

The zombie grunted, looking around. "Where is Grundy's gold?"

"Here," Aquaman said, dropping the chest in front of the undead. Grundy grinned, kneeling down to take a handful of gold coins, necklaces, and other trinkets.

He looked up, rising to his feet. "What do you want from Grundy?"

"Just stay still," Fate said, laying his fingers on the undead's head. Grundy's eyes widened as the life he had forgotten passed through his mind.

"Grundy remembers now," he said, his tone heavy and grim. It made him understand why he wanted gold in the first place.

"So you do," Fate said, glancing at Miles.

He shook his head. "Grundy wants what men took from him. Will the magician help?" he asked, almost pleading.

"Yes, I will do everything I can to help you reclaim your soul," Fate promised. He had heard of the undead but never encountered him. Had he, much could have been avoided.

"If you help Grundy, then Grundy will help you," he promised, smiling.

"Then we found you at the perfect time. You see, creatures that eat the souls of the living are trying to invade Earth. Since your soul is missing, their dimension might be an excellent place to search for it."

"What do you say, Grundy? Are you in?"

His crooked grin told them all they needed to know.

—
​

There was no reason for a ceremony.

One by one, the assembled force left through the portal. Superman was the vanguard, followed by Wonder Woman and an excited Grundy. The rest of the League were quick to follow. King Arthur went in last, leading the two dozen warriors he had brought. Doctor Fate, after exchanging a couple of words with his wife, ventured forth.

Miles gave the command to the android army. Fifty of the most advanced synthetics on Earth moved as one. As they left, the portal closed, leaving him alone in the room with Inza.

"I don't believe we had the opportunity to meet before. Inza Nelson," she said, giving a slight bow. "Welcome to the Tower of Fate, belated as it is."

"Miles Beckett, at your service," he replied, taking his hat off to salute her. "I am sure we can waive any issues with hospitality due to the current circumstances."

"How have you managed to learn so much about Grundy?" she asked, pulling up a table and two chairs.

"By chance," he said, sitting down. Fate seems to prefer letting his wife handle the interrogation part. "I was going through GCPD's records for a different case. One file led to another, and I found a lead about the unsolved case of Cyrus Gold. I questioned a retired gangster, who confessed to having killed Cyrus with two of his cohorts. The rest was a matter of locating the body. He just happened to be going around searching for gold."

Vermont Mancell, one of the gangsters that had killed Cyrus, was actually alive until last year. Tracking him took time, but it was necessary for his cover story.

"Impressive. May I ask what case you were researching in the first place?"

"The murder of Martha and Thomas Wayne. I suspected it might be the work of the criminal underworld at first. Turns out it was simply Gotham being Gotham," he said. Vermont's crime family had eventually dwindled out to nothing. Some members were still alive, working in the same field.

Unless Fate wanted to speak to Vermont himself, he wouldn't find anything out of the ordinary.

"Look at me, asking all those questions, and I didn't even get you a cup of tea," she said, shaking her head. She summoned a teapot, cups, cookies, and another assortment of snacks.

He thanked her, reaching for the chocolate cookies. It would be rude to turn away such masterfully baked goods.

—
​

In the next chapter:


"Diana," he greeted the Amazon, seeing her watch the Earth from the comfort of the station.

"Miles," she said without even turning.

"What has you so down in spirits?" he asked.

She looked down, shoulders slouched. "It's nothing."

"Really?" A hunch told him it was not.

"It's personal."

"Is it Batman?" He knew they had a thing for each other. Only, Bruce was too afraid of loss to consider romance.



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[FTR2017]

Icthulhu won't know what hit him.

More likely that he won't know who did him in from the army marching through his domain to punt his tentacled ass.

 

[Lillie Jones]

thanks for the chapter

 

[MasterDarkElf]

Miles, somehow charming Wonder Woman next chapter: How'd I do this?!
Haha, looking forward to more.

 

[ChickenZero]

Icthulhu won't know what hit him.

More likely that he won't know who did him in from the army marching through his domain to punt his tentacled ass.

Click to shrink...

He gets hit so hard he becomes an American citizen and runs for mayor of New York

 

[Faraway-R]

"Is it Batman?" He knew they had a thing for each other. Only, Bruce was too afraid of loss to consider romance.

Click to shrink...

For a man allegedly afraid of loss, Bruce certainly accepts a lot of clingy underage sidekicks in his life, who grab onto him and refuse to leave.

That's probably how this should be solved - grab onto Bruce and refuse to leave.