• An addendum to Rule 3 regarding fan-translated works of things such as Web Novels has been made. Please see here for details.
  • We've issued a clarification on our policy on AI-generated work.
  • Our mod selection process has completed. Please welcome our new moderators.
  • Due to issues with external spam filters, QQ is currently unable to send any mail to Microsoft E-mail addresses. This includes any account at live.com, hotmail.com or msn.com. Signing up to the forum with one of these addresses will result in your verification E-mail never arriving. For best results, please use a different E-mail provider for your QQ address.
  • For prospective new members, a word of warning: don't use common names like Dennis, Simon, or Kenny if you decide to create an account. Spammers have used them all before you and gotten those names flagged in the anti-spam databases. Your account registration will be rejected because of it.
  • Since it has happened MULTIPLE times now, I want to be very clear about this. You do not get to abandon an account and create a new one. You do not get to pass an account to someone else and create a new one. If you do so anyway, you will be banned for creating sockpuppets.
  • Due to the actions of particularly persistent spammers and trolls, we will be banning disposable email addresses from today onward.
  • The rules regarding NSFW links have been updated. See here for details.

DCU: Blacklist

Reader mode
1 or 2 easily, the rest aren't nearly as interesting a premise in comparison.

Also, seems like you could have fun writing them based on how you write Blacklist.
 
Loki : The God of Magic was a very fun read. I'm imagining Loki somehow resurrecting Odin and making him retake the throne "because ruling over Asgard is like herding angry drunken tigers while the neighbors burn there own houses down, and I have better things to do"
 
Happy New Year / Merry Christmas New
Good morning / afternoon / evening to you all.

To the readers celebrating Christmas, I wish you all a merry Christmas. I hope you all enjoy your holiday in good health, warmth and plenty of joy.

To the ones that don't, I wish you all a happy new year, and a 2026 with none of the problems of the last few years.

I know that no matter where you are in the world, these last years weren't easy for anyone. Corona, war, scares of nuclear armageddon, the economic hardships, and scandals that shook us all.

I can't do much, except to give you all a couple of minutes away from the troubles of the world with my words, and wish that these trying times be nothing more than bad memories in the near future.

Thank you all for your support, with your likes, comments and suggestions.

Once again, happy new year and merry Christmas.
 
Chapter 39 - Games New
Hello there,

If you enjoy my stories you can read advanced chapters in my patreon page

Her Eternal Excellency, a Genshin Impact and ASOIAF crossover, Raiden Ei Reborn as Argella Durrandon, is 15 chapters ahead

DCU:Blacklist, a Raymond Reddington inspired OC SI using his knowledge for his own advantage, as well as the rest of the world, is 15 chapters ahead,

Geek's Guide to Thriving in a Low End Fantasy World, a Robert Baratheon OC SI in an AU, is 14 chapters ahead,

Commander Shepard, The Greatest to Ever Live, a Mass Effect story where Shepard is greater than ever, is 14 chapters ahead,

and the first chapter of Loki: The God of Magic has been released on my patreon.

By supporting me, you can read advanced and special chapters, as well as vote on how you want the fanfiction to proceed.



Note: Apple store payments will be refunded, because of the company's 75 day hold policy.
—​
Jump City

In the interest of finishing off the cult supporters entirely, Miles and Claire were back in Jump City, on the trail of the wealthy elite, who had gone missing for some reason. But their next steps were obvious.

With arrest warrants on their heads, the millionaires had no choice but to make it to a country that doesn't have an extradition treaty with the USA, and that required fake documents.

Moving between states would pose a risk, so they would have to acquire everything close to home.

It just so happened there was an excellent forger in Jump City.

—​
Markus Koffman froze as he entered his home/workshop, realizing someone was inside.

"No need to be shy, Markus; this is your home after all." The voice called out, and Markus took a deep breath, unnerved that someone would get through all his security measures.

The man in the hat was sitting on his favorite chair, inspecting Markus' latest work in progress. "If you want documents, there are other ways of contacting me."

"I must say, your work is flawless. Truly a master of your craft." The man praised genuinely, taking another passport.

Markus moved away from the doorway, putting his keys on the drawer near the TV. "Is this going to be about a commission, or something else?"

"Fourteen of the fourteen richest citizens of Jump City had a hand in the events at the Arrival. I am sure you saw what happened there." The man would literally have to be living under a rock to not be.

"I did."

"Now, thirteen of them are scrambling to disappear, and they can't do it the legal way." Since Cassius was already in prison, having sold out all his conspirators for a lighter sentence.

"What makes you think they came to me?"

The man just waved one of the passports at Markus. Chuckling, he leaned back on the small drawer, discretely pulling out a gun, and pointed it at the man, who merely removed his hand from his pocket, dropping bullets on the carpet.

"Shit." A hand grabbed Markus by the neck and slammed his head on the same drawer, taking the gun away and pushing him to the ground.

Dizzy, Markus could do nothing but watch as the man got up from the chair, checking the outside through the blinders. "I once had to get into a prison in order to find the location of a stash of diamonds stolen almost a decade ago. It was a dangerous experience, but there was one moment that was unforgettable to me. Peter, this lone, intelligent young man convicted of fraud, was stuck between the inmates and the wardens. The wardens wanted him to snitch on his prison mates and weren't kind in their treatment whenever he refused."

Miles had made arrangements with both sides to be left alone and did not find himself in the middle of any trouble.

"The hardened criminals on the inside, however, did not like snitches, and you know what they say: snitches get stitches." Moving away from the window, the man sat back on the chair, crossing his legs.

"Do you know what Peter did?"

"What?" Both options did not look stellar to the forger, and he understood where the man was going.

He pointed at the bathroom and then his neck. "Couldn't manage the stress and hanged himself in the bathroom."

Markus' throat bobbed, and he got up from the ground, wiping his nose on a handkerchief. "Are you going to hang me if I don't speak?"

The man in the hat looked offended by the suggestion. "Murder a talented person like you in cold blood? I would rather not. On the other hand, do you think you can handle prison if all the people that commissioned your talents are revealed?"

Ah, now the forger understood where his unexpected guest was going.

"Well played. I think they are all in one place, since the delivery is supposed to be done by one person. He will be here tomorrow morning." Far be it from Markus to question how his clients conducted their business, as long as he was paid on time with the agreed amount.

The woman handed him a small rectangular device, barely the size of a penny. "Excellent. May I count on your discretion to slip this in among the documents?"

"May I count on your willingness to keep this a secret?" Prison did not look appealing to him; neither did death.

"Markus, this might just be the start of a beautiful relationship, once my targets are behind the walls."

After the two left, Markus checked on his evidence locker, finding all his safeguards against his clientele turning on him gone.

—​

One day later, Markus handed over the package with the tracker hidden well inside, leaving Miles and Claire nothing to do but trail the SUV. It was truly bizarre for all the fugitives to be hiding in the same place, but then again, they had been supporting a cult for some reason.

The reason he even was tracking them in the first place was because their finances, the ones that weren't seized by the government, were nigh impossible to track with a certain degree of accuracy.

Otherwise, Miles would have just had Zalika empty the accounts, followed by Saul losing the trace and laundering the money back into the system.

Three miles later, the car stopped before a nightclub, and the courier quickly made his way inside. The bouncer at the door allowed him inside, but Miles and Claire needed to employ other means to pass.

Such as threatening the bouncer with a cryo-gun to enter the club before Claire knocked him out.

Which caused the several workers inside to panic and take cover, thinking it was a gang attack.

"Gentlemen, ladies, may I have your attention?" He calmly requested, and some of the workers raised their heads hesitantly, seeing no hostile action from the man.

Moving aside, he gestured to the door. "Please exit through the door behind me in an orderly fashion, now."

Not questioning their goodwill, the workers quickly ran out. "Thank you, and my apologies for the scare."

Down the stairs, the rich boys were gathered in a VIP room, discussing the way forward, when the courier barged in, screaming there was an intruder, before Claire kicked him down.

"Oh shit, it's him." One of the rich boys screamed, scrambling to his feet, but a cryo beam near his feet stopped him.

Someone told them Miles was coming?

That did not bode well.

"Gentlemen, you are under arrest. If you could kindly put your hands behind your neck and get down while I call law enforcement, that would be appreciated."

"We are changing the script?" Claire whispered, keeping her hands ready to attack in case anyone got smart.

"They knew I was coming; there is a chance we are under surveillance." Question must have an inkling about what Miles did to Cassius to plan this, unless there was a third party.

"You heard the man; get down before I turn you into naked moles." Claire threatened the panicked fugitives non-lethally, knowing to play along.

Several bottles were knocked over, covering the carpets in expensive alcohol, and some of them had to lie really close.

Walking over to the terrified fugitives who knew they were done, Miles prodded one with his feet. "Anyone care to reveal just who told you I was coming here?" His plans to take their remaining assets had gone up in the blink of an eye.

He wanted to be sure of the one responsible.

"We just got an anonymous tip, that's all, and moved here instead."

Most likely, Question was trying to see what Miles would do while also helping him catch all the fugitives at once, and if it was the faceless detective, they were definitely being watched.

He definitely had to give this one up.

The room was dark, but he still checked the possible places, coming up empty-handed. Quentin was paranoid to the end, so it must be in the least place he would think to look.

Taking the briefcase from the courier, Miles opened it, rummaging through the documents, only finding his tracker, before he smashed the briefcase itself, revealing a listening device hidden inside the hollowed-out handle.

"Not bad. Question, not bad." Miles muttered, crushing the device. "Where did you get this briefcase?" He asked the courier.

"I had it for a while; I just used it today."

"Any break-ins? Someone suspicious around your house?" Not that Question would be caught unless he didn't want to, but there was no harm in asking.

"No, I swear."

"Hey, is that the cops?" Claire asked as the sound of sirens and running came really close.

"Seems someone saved us the trouble of calling them."

"Shouldn't we escape?"

"Why? We are heroes with the Justice League, helping the law enforcement catch these fugitives."

The door was already open, and several SWAT units pointed their weapons inside, ready to use lethal force. "Officers, I was just about to call you."

"Hands in the air, don't move." The law enforcement ordered, and Miles raised his hands without a protest, followed by Claire.

"Of course."

"Who are you?" The SWAT demanded as he cuffed Miles.

"I am with the Justice League, tracking these criminals responsible for the tragedy a week ago." Miles said with a straight face.

"Uhhuh, do you know how many people claim that? We are going to have to solve this in the station."

—​

"Miles Beckett, residency: Metropolis. What brings you to this side of the country?" The chief of police, seeing as Miles was a high-profile individual owing to his previous accomplishments, came to ask the questions himself.

Miles leaned forward on the desk, his cuffs stopping him from moving any further. "As I said to the officers at the scene tracking the fugitives, though, it appears one of my colleagues had already tipped you off."

"Who would that be?" They did indeed get an anonymous tip with plenty of evidence, but not the person behind it.

"The world's most paranoid detective. Even if I gave you a name, you would never find him unless he wished to be." The chief seemed to be considering the information before reaching to his belt to uncuff Miles.

"I see. At any rate, there is no suspicion of you working with these bastards, so you and your friend are free to go."

"Thank you."

—​

Outside the police station, the first thing that greeted Miles and Claire was an older model dark blue Pontiac GTO driving away.

"So it was him in the end." Miles chuckled. If Victor Sage wanted to play, Miles could play.

Claire narrowed her eyes, considering whether it was worth the trouble to go after him. "What the hell was that faceless guy doing?"

"Playing with us."

"We are going to get him back, right?" She just got arrested by the cops and wasn't about to let Question slip off that easily.

"Yes, and I have a splendid idea." If Question was suspicious of Miles having ulterior motives, then he would give the detective the opposite.

"Let's just go; I've had enough of this city for a lifetime."

—​

Metropolis

"Welcome back." Zalika greeted them as she got up from the TV, noticing their lackluster mood. "Things did not go well over there?"

Miles smiled, but it did not reach his eyes. "Nature of business. How are you three doing?"

"Good, though Raven has been stuck in her room, meditating."

—​

His plan to get back at Question was simple and brilliant at the same time. If the detective wanted to see what Miles was planning behind the scenes, he would conduct his business in the open.

"Hey Miles." Mary answered her phone quickly, and Miles was already wiring the money to the accounting.

"Mary, I want you to find the immediate families of all the deceased in the Jump City disaster and the women kidnapped by the cult. Cover their entire health bill, give scholarships to siblings and children for their entire educational life, and assist the rebuilding efforts; spare no expenses." He ordered, skipping the niceties. Mary was busy enough; he didn't want to keep her occupied any longer.

The CEO was silent for a couple of seconds as the sound of pen on paper was heard. "Alright. Anything else?" At this point, Mary knew better than to ask why.

"And make PR campaigns. "If the good citizens of Jump City need help, we are here, no questions asked, no matter how many miles away." That would definitely get Question's attention.

"Got it."

"That's your plan?" Claire asked. She would have preferred to rough that bastard up for a bit over a PR campaign.

"Question is seeking our ulterior moves; we are giving him the complete opposite." And the more he dug into Miles' business in search of any shady business, the more philanthropic acts he would show the detective.

—​

In a city far away, a ginger-headed individual sitting in his house chuckled at the advertisement on the TV.

Not bad.

—​

EnviroCorps

Robotics Research Lab

"What do you need this time?" Thomas grumbled. His androids had joined the Justice League, leaving only him and his duplicate in the lab.

"A satellite connected to a supercomputer to monitor the world's communication grid." This one was for the next step of his plan. Zalika, with her technopathic abilities advancing each day, could use a supercomputer to hack into the satellite network without the need to infiltrate the vendors.

Their satellite would act as a relay, and as she could simply access any digital device by merely being in range, the usual protocols and measures against tampering would not work.

"I'll start the work."

"How are you doing healthwise?" The exact date of Morrow falling into a coma wasn't clear, but it was obviously soon.

"Not long left in me now, but my android won't let you down." Thomas turned to his younger, synthetic version, imbued with all the knowledge he had, who was working on some new conduits.

He gently patted the old man on the shoulder. "Remember, Thomas, it's not for me, but for the world."

"How exactly is hacking into the planet's comm network for its good?" It was an obvious attempt at spying across the world, and Thomas wasn't going to believe it without a good reason.

"Because the governments of the world are not to be trusted, and I have reasonable suspicion that the United States government is experimenting on an alien life form to develop mind control capabilities to be used on any enhanced individual not under their thumb." Miles explained, revealing just one of the highly unethical projects run by the USA.

He wasn't even going to mention Amanda Waller, and her crimes in the name of national security.

Thomas blinked, definitely not expecting it, though his previous run-ins with the government were proof enough that they would dabble in mind control. "Huh, you know what, forget I asked. I'll let you know when it's ready."

Miles thanked the old man before leaving.

Now, to prepare a base.



—​
In the next chapter:

"What happened?" He asked, and Superman pointed to a screen where Batman, covered in bruises with both arms in a cast and a neck brace, was being tended to by the Martian Manhunter.

"Batman is in a coma. He has been severely wounded. The witnesses report a blond woman who overpowered Batman quite easily." The Kryptonian pressed several buttons, and the pictures of five villains popped up. "Also, Copperhead, Shade, Solomon Grundy, Star Sapphire, and Tsukuri were seen with her."

Green Lantern looked furious at the state one of his teammates had been reduced to. "Heard anything about this?"

"No, definitely not." What the hell was Aresia doing? She should have just knocked Batman out, not sent him to the ICU.



Curious about the next chapter? Please consider supporting me in Patreon.
 
Last edited:
Question is a troll, no questions asked.

Sad emoticon for Miles, who was not allowed to empty the coffers of the cultists thanks to Question's interference.

Now, to see what Galatea is doing with these chucklefucks that left Batman in a coma in ICU.
 
FTR2017 said:
Question is a troll, no questions asked.

Sad emoticon for Miles, who was not allowed to empty the coffers of the cultists thanks to Question's interference.

Now, to see what Galatea is doing with these chucklefucks that left Batman in a coma in ICU.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Wrong Blonde. End implies it's Aresia, the Amazon who wanted to cull the male population if I remember correctly.
 
I'm sad that the Question anticipated Miles perfectly and ended up getting his way.

But at least Miles doesn't seem to have any idea he's reacting exactly as planned, so there's that.

I do like the way that Miles is tiptoeing around DCU's nonsense re: removing actors from the stage, but it's sad that he hasn't yet realized that if the narrative is strong enough, villains can die. At least, until they're needed again.
 
Chapter 40 - Fallen Knight New
Hello there,

If you enjoy my stories you can read advanced chapters in my patreon page

Her Eternal Excellency, a Genshin Impact and ASOIAF crossover, Raiden Ei Reborn as Argella Durrandon, is 15 chapters ahead

DCU:Blacklist, a Raymond Reddington inspired OC SI using his knowledge for his own advantage, as well as the rest of the world, is 15 chapters ahead,

Geek's Guide to Thriving in a Low End Fantasy World, a Robert Baratheon OC SI in an AU, is 15 chapters ahead,

Commander Shepard, The Greatest to Ever Live, a Mass Effect story where Shepard is greater than ever, is 15 chapters ahead,

Loki: The God of Magic , an OC-SI into Loki who is not aware of the MCU, is 3 chapters ahead.

By supporting me, you can read advanced and special chapters, as well as vote on how you want the fanfiction to proceed.


Note: Apple store payments will be refunded, because of the company's 75 day hold policy.
—​

Metropolis

Having nothing to do while waiting for Thomas to deliver the satellite and the supercomputer, Miles was working on expanding his network when a call came, urgently summoning him to the Watchtower.

—​

Watchtower

"What happened?" He asked, and Superman pointed to a screen where Batman, covered in bruises with both arms in a cast and a neck brace, was being tended to by the Martian Manhunter.

"Batman is in a coma. He has been severely wounded. The witnesses report a blond woman who overpowered Batman quite easily." The Kryptonian pressed several buttons, and the pictures of five villains popped up. "Also, Copperhead, Shade, Solomon Grundy, Star Sapphire, and Tsukuri were seen with her."

Green Lantern looked furious at the state one of his teammates had been reduced to. "Heard anything about this?"

"No, definitely not." What the hell was Aresia doing? She should have just knocked Batman out, not sent him to the ICU.

"I'll go and get Yrra Cynril." Miles made to turn around, but John stopped him, shaking his head.

"I called the Star Sapphire Lanterns several times; they were busy fighting someone and did not answer."

Miles ran the famous and lesser-known healers in his mind, but the ones easy to locate were not likely to be helpful, while the rest were difficult to locate.

There was Raven, but he would not let the young girl take Batman's pain to heal him unless no alternative could be devised.

Doctor Fate was his best option.

"Doctor Fate, he should be able to heal Batman." If not, he would get Raven.

Superman's eyes widened, remembering the mystical hero. "I know where he is; I'll go talk to him." He quickly left the tower to bring the Lord of Order, as every second mattered to Batman.

"In the meantime, I'll look into who that woman is." And make sure her plan failed, utterly and completely.

—​

Metropolis

"How do we find her?" A blonde woman in a white dress with super strength didn't exactly narrow it down.

"I just sent out a message for everyone to keep an eye out for the blonde woman and her accomplices. Even if she isn't well known, the rest of the villains are." But Miles knew their next target and would be there before them.

"Shouldn't we go to Gotham?" That was where the woman was located, and chances are, she was still there after Batman was gone.

"No use, she can't afford to stay in Gotham, and I can coordinate things better from Metropolis." He was actually going to Metropolis because Aresia's next target was a gem vault in the city, and he needed to find and secure it quickly.

He made sure to inform Charles of that while checking the locations of the banks to find the location from the show. Finding the branch of the Metropolis Gem Repository, a subsidiary of the Metropolis Gold Exchange, was enough for Charles to find the owner and send his number to Miles.

—​

The gem's owner was an elderly man who was keeping it as a family heirloom and who dragged his feet in selling it, trying to raise the price.

Miles wasn't in the mood to negotiate and offered a million dollars, far more than what the gem was worth, and even had the man picked up to immediately sign the deal.

Minutes after they left the bank with the gem in tow, Aresia and her gang attacked, unaware they were already beaten to the punch.

The most secure place to hide it was the Watchtower, and he immediately called for a pickup.

—​

Watchtower

"How is he?" Miles asked, carrying a briefcase with the gem inside. Doctor Fate was inside the med room, legs crossed and floating as a golden glow covered the Dark Knight.

"Fate says it will be a while before Batman wakes up, even longer to be ready to fight; his wounds were quite severe." Superman

"The woman, an Amazonian named Aresia, was after this, though I don't know why. She did not seem to be intent on sharing her plans with her team." He remembered how the Amazonian crushed and spread the gem into her bioweapon, but its effects were not clear, perhaps to add a magical side to the virus.

"That can't be." Diana gasped as she watched the video recording he had Zalika extract while boarding the Javelin.

The Amazonian was raging through the vault, searching for a gem that was already gone.

"More importantly, where is she?" Green Lantern cracked his knuckles, ready to dish out some punishment to the Amazonian, regardless of her connection to Wonder Woman.

"She was seen in the Metropolis industrial district." Now that Aresia was out in the open, Miles was having Zalika keep an eye on her through the CCTV.

"Someone must go to Themyscira to find any possible leads on what she is after." Hawkgirl suggested. The Amazonian may have beaten Batman, but neither she nor the villains following her stood a chance against the League.

Even if she was caught, there wasn't a guarantee her plans would be discovered, and they could afford to spare a member.

"Aresia always had a hatred for men, more so than any other Amazonian. Whatever she is after, it must be related to it." Diana had hoped her time in isolation would have helped Aresia give up her unnecessary hatred, but it had apparently not worked.

J'onn's eyes widened slightly, and he used the computer to show the first sight of the break-in. "Her first target was Gotham Biotech. Could she be trying to wage a biological war against the male populace?"

It was a reasonable hypothesis, especially since Wonder Woman could not refute it.

"That's not good. If she is actually doing it and has the weapon ready, even in a non-complete form, any male could be infected and taken out of the fight." Green Lantern frowned. That knocked out most of their remaining fighting force.

John wasn't sure of Superman's idea to recruit the androids, but it turned out to be a good decision now.

"Wonder Woman or Hawkgirl can't go to Themyscira; they are our only chance. I suggest Claire. The Amazonians will be less hostile towards a female." Miles wasn't really willing to send her to Themyscira, but the sooner they had the notes, the better.

There was a quick, nonverbal agreement among the superheroes before John agreed. "Alright, get her here and up to speed."

"We know where she is, and it's time to bring her to justice. Wonder Woman, Hawkgirl, and the androids will go. The rest of us will watch from outside." Superman laid out the plan.

"Green Lantern should be able to quarantine the entire area to prevent the attack from spreading if there is an outbreak." J'onn suggested, pointing at the location.

"Let's go, people. Batman will be fine, and it's up to us to stop Aresia." John wasn't happy to be out of the fight, but he would at least get to watch Aresia being demolished.

—​

Metropolis

Claire was sent to Themyscira with a javelin to request the Amazons' assistance in figuring out what exactly their rogue member was after, while the rest of the team went to confront Aresia.

Miles was situated far away from the building covered by a green dome as John kept the place secure while the five-person team was fighting Aresia and the Injustice Gang. Torpedo, Tornado, and Inferno were able to easily subdue the gang except Grundy, who soon began to weaken due to the exposure.

"I think she released the virus." Green Lantern informed him over the comms, which meant taking the gem must have slowed Aresia down.

"We can't let the girls and the androids out. Even if they are not affected, they are carriers now." Unknown to the Kryptonian, that was how the Martian had gotten infected, by touching his cape.

"Everyone inside has to be decontaminated along with the building. I'll call someone; keep them there." Good thing they were in Metropolis; otherwise, the matter would have to be left to the authorities. And who knows just what kind of a problem that would lead to?

"Victor, no time for small talk. We need equipment to decontaminate a three-story building and twelve people. Three androids, two Amazonians, and the rest are enhanced individuals. I am texting you the address." Miles shut the phone, waiting for news from the Green Lantern.

"Ouch!" Green Lantern called out, "That's going to leave a mark. Aresia is down; they are now subduing them." Miles sighed in relief. The rogue Amazon made several escapes in the show, but not in this universe.

"I called in medical support for decontamination. Ladies and synthetics, you'll have to stay inside for some time."

"This dome does allow oxygen in, right?" Shayera groaned.

"Yeah, don't worry."

—​

Viktor came in with three trucks, each carrying the latest tech of the Medical Branch, a decontamination ray.

Miles was too busy to keep an eye on the details, but he would take what he could get.

"The dome is secure, and the villains are neutralized. Green Lantern will let you in." Miles pointed at the dome, and Victor nodded in his hazmat suit. John created an extension to cover the scientist's team before merging both, allowing the operations to proceed smoothly.

—​

After three excruciating hours, when Green Lantern's power ring charge began to run out, Victor gave the all clear. The city hazmat units, however, weren't willing to let anyone go unless they ran their tests first, which took another hour.

The dome was finally lifted, and the citizens of Metropolis cheered the heroes while the villains were led away.

Wonder Woman, dragging her sister by the arm as both her arms and legs were cuffed, stopped before the remaining members of the League. "I'll take Aresia to Themyscira so she can be judged for her crimes against the world of men."

Miles allowed a small smile as he noticed the bruise on Aresia's face, courtesy of Shayera's mace.

Apparently, the rogue Amazon wasn't happy about it and struggled to escape before Superman stood in front of Aresia, daring her to try anything.

Unable to fight, Aresia resorted to words. "You should have let me finish it. The men are the real enemy; you have spent too much time in their company to see it."

"It was a man who informed us of Felix Faust's attack on Themyscira." Diana spoke to her sister, trying to make the younger, bitter woman see that her path wasn't right, but it did nothing.

Aresia sneered, the idea that a man had saved them only further infuriating the Amazon. "I know. Which one of you was it that had been watching us, keeping an eye on our paradise?"

Miles blinked, understanding that if the Amazons knew it was a man who helped them, then Aresia must have learned it, and rather than changing her mind, it only fueled her flames of vengeance.

Hence, Batman's current condition.

Stepping forward with his face carefully masked, Miles revealed the identity of the man she was seeking. "None, I keep tabs on individuals like Felix Faust; I simply caught wind of his actions and informed Diana."

"Pity, I had thought it was Batman." Aresia grinned cruelly. "How is he, by the way? Dead yet?"

His hand lashed out, and Miles grabbed the Amazon by the mouth and cheeks, leaning forward to speak.

The suddenness of the movement had caught Aresia off guard, and cuffed as she was, there was nothing for her to do but glare. "Had he died, I would have stuck you in a coffin half your size and kept you locked up in some deep, dark hole no one would ever find. No one to hear your screams as you go insane from the isolation, no one to come to your rescue as you drown in your own filth. Don't test me, little girl; it won't end well for you." He whispered to the woman, shocking his colleagues with enhanced hearing.

That erased Aresia's smirk, and she was taken away by Diana with a sullen expression.

"What did he say?" Green Lantern whispered to Superman, since it was too loud for him to hear anything.

Superman shook his head, hoping it was just to scare the Amazon, and it told John all he needed to know.

Thankfully, this situation had resolved without half the population of the world dying.

—​

Watchtower

Claire had returned to the space station several hours after she had left for Themyscira with Queen Hippolyta in tow and Aresia's notes on her bioweapon. Now that the threat of a viral outbreak was gone, the notes weren't useful, but the League had decided to develop a cure anyway to have it in hand.

Queen Hippolyta had gone to see her imprisoned adopted daughter, telling her how it was a man who had saved Aresia from drowning after their ship had been attacked by pirates. She had not mentioned the man, who was the first male to be buried in Themyscira, believing he wasn't important.

The Queen of the Amazons admitted that it was a mistake, but Aresia was still bitter and angry, unwilling to change her mind.

She was escorted back to the island by Diana, Hawkgirl, and Queen Hippolyta to stand trial and be imprisoned, though not before the ruler of Themyscira apologized for Aresia.

—​

After Aresia was gone, Miles did the next thing on his list, calling Alfred back to let him know Bruce was fine.

The loyal butler had called him over a dozen times, a sign of just how worried he was, but calmed down as Miles assured him that their favorite detective would make a full recovery.

"Sheesh, you said they would be welcoming of a female, but I might as well have come there to kidnap them or something." Claire groaned, remembering how the first reaction of the Amazons was to knock her out.

"Believe me, if there was another choice, I wouldn't have sent you." It was his fault that Aresia got this close to her plans without facing intervention, and Batman's situation.

He needed to be better next time.

She shrugged, evidently not that displeased. "It's fine; the island was nice. If I ever get rich enough, I'll definitely buy one for myself."

Miles chuckled. Perhaps he would gift his bodyguard an island sometime down the line.

"Still, to kill all the males in the world? She must have had some serious trauma." Hell, even as angry as Claire was at her parents and the government, she didn't just want to go and kill them all but to live her life.

She wondered what it would be like if she had never met Miles.

"Understanding your enemy is key to ensuring they are not your enemy anymore, one way or another." Whether dead or friends, Miles preferred his fight against each villain to be unrepeated.

"Another lesson from my wise boss. I'll take that into consideration." Claire nudged him with her elbow, and Miles nodded sagely.

"An excellent pupil. For that, dinner is on me."


—​
In the next chapter:

"We are patrolling Gotham in a rotation in your absence." Superman showed him the live stream of Green Lantern intervening in a bank robbery.

"That's not enough." Gotham's most dangerous criminals did not conduct their business out in the open, but in the darkness of the night, and that is where Batman needed to be.

Miles had enough of Batman and intervened. "Batman, stop being so illogical. If you are not in a condition to fight and the villains see you, it will only embolden them. For now, rest; we have things under control."

The Dark Knight glared at Miles for several seconds before relenting.



Curious about the next chapter? Please consider supporting me in Patreon.
 
Chapter 41 - Dakota City New
Hello there,

If you enjoy my stories you can read advanced chapters in my patreon page

Her Eternal Excellency, a Genshin Impact and ASOIAF crossover, Raiden Ei Reborn as Argella Durrandon, is 15 chapters ahead

DCU:Blacklist, a Raymond Reddington inspired OC SI using his knowledge for his own advantage, as well as the rest of the world, is 15 chapters ahead,

Geek's Guide to Thriving in a Low End Fantasy World, a Robert Baratheon OC SI in an AU, is 15 chapters ahead,

Commander Shepard, The Greatest to Ever Live, a Mass Effect story where Shepard is greater than ever, is 15 chapters ahead,

Loki: The God of Magic , an OC-SI into Loki who is not aware of the MCU, is 4 chapters ahead.

By supporting me, you can read advanced and special chapters, as well as vote on how you want the fanfiction to proceed.


Note: Apple store payments will be refunded, because of the company's 75 day hold policy.

—
​

Watchtower

It was three days after Aresia was arrested that Batman woke up. Doctor Fate had kept him in a coma to accelerate his healing, as the Dark Knight wasn't known for taking time to rest.

"Hey there, sunshine. Good morning." Flash grinned at Batman, who quickly tried to rise from the bed, only for several hands to stop him.

"What happened?" Bruce asked, laying back down. His mask was on, but the rest of the costume had been taken off, and he wore a hospital gown, cutting a strange figure.

Superman pulled out a tablet, showing Batman the visuals of a wrecked building. "You were at Gotham Biotech."

Memories came unbidden, and the Dark Knight remembered the fight through his hazy mind. "Yes, that woman; I think she is an Amazonian." He looked at Wonder Woman for confirmation.

"Don't worry, Batman, we have solved the issue. She has been arrested and sent to Themyscira to be judged." Diana nodded, still feeling guilty over how her sister hospitalized Batman.

If everything was resolved and the culprit was set to be judged, then a considerable amount of time must have passed. "How long have I been out?"

"Three days now, how are you feeling?" Superman asked the overdue question since Batman was too busy interrogating them.

The Dark Knight went rigid, not pleased to be out of action for so long. Gotham's worst would not let this opportunity pass. "Fine. What was her plan?"

Miles, Superman, and Wonder Woman explained Aresia's plan to release a virus to eradicate all men and her eventual arrest in Metropolis, along with the villains following her.

The Dark Knight looked at the ceiling, remembering the fight. The woman's strength had caught him off guard, and he had been knocked out easily before another hit brought him back to consciousness. "When we were fighting, she screamed something about men interfering with Themyscira, and her attacks became more vicious."

"I slipped info to Wonder Woman about a possible attack on Themyscira. Aresia did not take it well." It was inevitable for his meta knowledge to change the events, but Batman getting critically wounded was unexpected.

"I need to go back to Gotham." Ever the vigilant crime fighter, Batman tried to rise again, but his teammates surrounded him, and after a short battle of wills, Bruce laid back down.

"You need to rest. Your wounds have not healed, and going out to the field in this state will only make things difficult for you." Martian Manhunter implored Batman. J'onn knew that the Dark Knight would be looking to return to Gotham from the very second he woke up and had considered keeping the wounded hero sedated for longer.

"Criminals of Gotham won't stop because I am resting." Batman grunted, knowing even a small absence would lead to a visible increase in crime.

"We are patrolling Gotham in a rotation in your absence." Superman showed him the live stream of Green Lantern intervening in a bank robbery.

"That's not enough." Gotham's most dangerous criminals did not conduct their business out in the open, but in the darkness of the night, and that is where Batman needed to be.

Miles had enough of Batman and intervened. "Batman, stop being so illogical. If you are not in a condition to fight and the villains see you, it will only embolden them. For now, rest; we have things under control."

The Dark Knight glared at Miles for several seconds before relenting.


—
​

Dakota City

"I can't believe the whole Big Bang event. Fucking government." Claire grumbled, adding another reason to hate the government to the pile. For fuck's sake, storing a biohazardous material out in the open? What the fuck were they thinking?

They had not followed up on the Bang Babies, the metahumans created due to the exposure to the chemical explosion, leaving many violent gangsters with superpowers out there.

"Are we going to recruit someone again? You were in deep thoughts, and I didn't want to disturb you." Claire thought it was about what happened to Batman but had not pried into it.

"No, we are just here to meet a young hero."

"That Static kid?" He was the only hero fighting the criminal Bang Babies, and he was a creative guy with his electromagnetic powers.

"Yes."


—
​

Tracking Virgil Hawkins was as easy as tracking any other civilian. He had decided to set up an early rapport with Static after he made his debut during his school's homecoming preparations.

Having this opportunity, Miles knew he could easily find the young hero, as there were few abandoned gas stations in Dakota City.

Breaking in was child's play, and Miles had timed it so the wait would be a short one.

"I have to say, as far as operation bases go, this is not a particularly impressive one." Miles, who was just waiting for the distracted friends to notice him, finally decided to interrupt.

"What the heck?!" Virgil and Richie shouted at the same time as the intruder stopped their argument.

Dressed in a red and yellow shirt with red pants and a wild mop of hair, Virgil Ovid Hawkins was the young hero of Dakota, fighting his fellow bang babies, along with his blond friend Richie, who made devices for Static to use.

"Some cleaning, a fresh coat of paint, and at least covering the windows would do for a start." Miles pointed at the broken windows. If someone had decided to come to this abandoned place for any reason, Static would find his identity quickly exposed.

"Who are you?" Virgil looked ready to fight but did not show his powers yet.

The man was not worried, though the woman with him was ready to strike. "Miles Beckett, I am with the Justice League. I thought it would be a good idea to meet Static."

"You got the wrong person. Neither of us is Static." Richie sweated, knowing it would open a whole can of worms if Virgil's identity was known to the world.

His family and friends would become targets overnight.

Miles looked sheepish, as if he had just made a fool out of himself. "Really? Oh dear, I seem to have made a monumental mistake. My apologies. It appears I'll have to track Static down to offer my support."

Virgil and Richie looked at each other, thinking that the man was actually sincere and believed that he had the wrong person.

However, claiming to be with the Justice League while offering to support Static? That had their interest.

"Your support?" Virgil wasn't sure what that would entail, even less if he wanted to be involved with League business yet. Static had just started his hero career, while the members of the Justice League were pros, responding to crime and disaster all over the world.

"Yes, I am the founder of EnviroCorps. I am sure you saw our demonstrations?" Richie looked excited, remembering watching the Tomorrow Expo battle and the Gotham Harbor attack on live TV.

Whether Miles was actually the founder of EnviroCorps or not, he was a true hero.

"Yeah, the android fishes to clean the ocean and the Cryo Towers."

"Indeed. I intended to give Static technological and financial support, but I'll have to go and find him now." Miles headed for the door, and the woman followed, coughing lightly on the way out.

Virgil stopped them before they opened the door. "Wait, wait. How do we know you are telling the truth?"

He could use help with the whole hero business but needed to be sure they weren't being deceived by a criminal.

"I have the deed to this station here and supplies to clean this place up in addition to an enhanced suit capable of ensuring Static does not run out of charge during a fight, all without sacrificing any mobility." Miles pulled out a deed, which did actually show the location of the station, and the woman opened the briefcase, pulling out a brand new suit.

Virgil could feel the electricity coursing through the suit and knew it was the real deal.

"Well, you came to the right place then. I am Static." He took a risk, revealing his identity like that, but

"First you denied it, and now you claim to be Static? Why, I don't think I believe you, young man." Miles looked unconvinced.

"You want proof?" Virgil offered. He did deny being Static after all.

"Impress me."

Looking outside to see if the coast was clear, Virgil stepped onto the circular metal plate, using his powers to fly inside the station before landing gracefully.

"Proof enough?" Virgil asked as electricity danced between his fingers.

Claire chuckled. "He knows you are Static; he was just jerking your chain."

Miles was just smiling innocently.

"Not cool," Virgil grumbled, though he had to admit the man had played them well.

"Theatrics aside, it's a pleasure to meet a young aspiring hero like you." Miles extended his hand, and Static took it, albeit with some hesitation.

"Yeah, I remember now; you were at the Tomorrow Expo, fighting Metallo alongside Superman and Supergirl." Richie snapped his fingers, finally recalling where he had seen the red-haired woman.

"But why haven't we ever seen you with the League?" Every member of the League, even Batman, made public appearances, yet Miles remained out of the spotlight.

"I work behind the scenes, keeping an eye on threats to the world without anyone being the wiser."

So he was like a spy? "Cool."

After the introductions were out of the way, Miles presented his gifts. The suit was effectively the same but had nano converters that transformed light, heat, and kinetic energy to sustain themselves and their wearer.

Supplies to restore the station to serviceable levels were left inside, along with a communicator for Static in case he ever came across something out of his league and needed help.

"One last thing, this young man, I believe he calls himself Slipstream, is being a nuisance. Why don't you take your new suit for a test-drive?"


—
​

Focused and itching to test his new suit, Static did not allow Slipstream to escape, using the boost the nano converters gave him to easily knock out the chubby villain, handing him over to the cops.

"Man, this suit is awesome. How much did it cost?" Virgil knew the suit couldn't be cheap, because as long as he didn't overdo it, he would never run out of juice.

"Just some loose change, nothing more." By his standards, of course, because Virgil would not accept it if he knew how much it actually cost.

The visit was intended to be a short one since he had other business to conduct, so Miles decided to bring it to an end. "Now, you are doing a splendid job already, and I prefer not to intervene in how a hero protects his city. However, if you need help or advice, don't hesitate to call me. If I can't help you, I'll get one of the League members to do so."

"Thanks, that's really generous." To know that the big guys at the top were willing to help out was a load off their back.

"It's the camaraderie between people in our line of work."

"Could you help me meet Green Lantern, please?" Maybe Virgil was pushing his luck, but Green Lantern was his favorite hero, and no person would want to lose the chance to meet their heroes.

Miles nodded. It shouldn't be hard to convince John to visit a fan, especially one that is on the path of a hero. "He is not on Earth right now, but I'll ask him to pay a visit."

"Before I leave, one last piece of advice."

"I may be one of the good guys, but don't be so willing to trust an unknown, no matter who, but especially if they are the government." The future was not set in stone, and his intervention was akin to throwing a boulder into a still lake.

His knowledge had led to Batman being beaten halfway to death; who knew what could happen to young heroes like Static?

"Wait, aren't you supposed to tell us the opposite?" Richie asked.

"Virgil, Richie, you both are intelligent, more so than your peers, and I am sure you know better than that." Miles, with that final advice, left the heroes. Static and Gear would carry on with their heroics, and now they had a line of communication in the event of something unforeseen.


—
​

"Any government agencies we should worry about?" Kurt had died months ago, but Claire did not doubt for a second that he was just one of many, a cog in a machine that could spawn thousands like him.

"Where do I even start?" The United States government was the greatest when it came to running top secret projects to acquire extremely advanced technology and weaponize metahumans, but it was not the sole power to do so.

"Damn it."

His communicator rang, and Superman's voice came, worried. "Hey Miles, I need advice on something."

"I am listening."

"Do you know Queen Maxima?"

Miles took a deep breath. "She is hunting you as a husband, isn't she?"

This timeline was a mess. Maxima was supposed to arrive near the end of season two, not years later.

"Yes. How can I get rid of her? Should I tell her I already have someone?" Ah, Clark, living the dream of many a man.

"No need to invite trouble by giving her a target. If you want to get rid of her, just lose, horribly so." He didn't think Maxima would actually go after Lois Lane, but she was a spoiled member of royalty.

Caution was warranted.

"Won't she know I am throwing it off?"

That was a valid concern, but Queen Maxima wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed.

"Then I suggest you give an Oscar-worthy performance, because if you defeat her, she will be that much harder to dissuade." Maybe he could find a husband for Maxima, gaining a valuable ally?

If nothing else, it was worth considering.

"Thanks, I'll see what I can do."

"One more thing. Tell her that if she seeks a worthy husband, one will present itself as Almerac prospers. Hopefully, she will see to her kingdom's affairs rather than spend her entire time seeking a husband." Because if she does not kidnap Superman, there would be no one to help Maxima take back her throne, provided there is a coup in the first place.

"Noted."

The entire conversation went over Claire's head. "Who the heck is Queen Maxima?"

"The ruler of planet Almerac. She must have decided our boy scout is the perfect husband to come all the way here." If only Lois Lane knew the advances Superman refused for her.

Claire chuckled at Superman's misfortune, or fortune, depending on whom you asked.

"Wait till Kara hears this."

"It is good to see that you have a friend." Every now and then, he would broach the subject of her parents, and while Claire revealed a little more each time, she still was not ready to confront them.

"I hate the world; she is a stranger to it. We hit it off pretty easily." That would not endear Earth to Supergirl, but the chances of her turning villain were nonexistent.

Better friends than foes, at any rate.


—
​

In the next chapter:

"A what?" Mary wasn't sure she heard her boss correctly.

"A meta human recruitment drive." Miles repeated himself.

His ideas so far had worked wonders, and Mary wanted to see where he would go with this. "How do you believe that will help the company?"



Curious about the next chapter? Please consider supporting me in Patreon.
 
Last edited:
Chapter 42 - Crime Alley Business New
Hello there,

If you enjoy my stories you can read advanced chapters in my patreon page

Her Eternal Excellency, a Genshin Impact and ASOIAF crossover, Raiden Ei Reborn as Argella Durrandon, is 15 chapters ahead

DCU:Blacklist, a Raymond Reddington inspired OC SI using his knowledge for his own advantage, as well as the rest of the world, is 15 chapters ahead,

Geek's Guide to Thriving in a Low End Fantasy World, a Robert Baratheon OC SI in an AU, is 15 chapters ahead,

Commander Shepard, The Greatest to Ever Live, a Mass Effect story where Shepard is greater than ever, is 15 chapters ahead,

Loki: The God of Magic , an OC-SI into Loki who is not aware of the MCU, is 5 chapters ahead.

By supporting me, you can read advanced and special chapters, as well as vote on how you want the fanfiction to proceed.


Note: Apple store payments will be refunded, because of the company's 75 day hold policy.

—
​

"Resurgence in metahumans, individuals with superpowers acquired through either genetic mutations or exposure to chemical, biological, and radioactive contaminants, has the government and the citizens worried. Most metahumans are ostracized due to their unique looks and abilities, leading to an increase in crime. Experts warn that this could overwhelm the local law enforcement due to the sheer numbers."


—
​

"A what?" Mary wasn't sure she heard her boss correctly.

"A meta human recruitment drive." Miles repeated himself.

His ideas so far had worked wonders, and Mary wanted to see where he would go with this. "How do you believe that will help the company?"

"Metahuman powers are too economically valuable to not hire. Take Claire, for example." He pointed at his bodyguard, who was leaning on the door. "She is a pyrokinetic that could burn down an entire city block and doesn't require any more energy than the average woman."

Mary did not know the finer details of Claire's powers, but if that was true, she was beginning to see why Miles pitched the idea.

"Find a geokinetic, and you have a one-man digging crew and can save tens of thousands of dollars on heavy machines. Find a hydrokinetic, one-person water treatment facility. It's not about finding the right person for the right work, but finding the right work for each power." Metahumans were varied, and most had no choice but to lean to crime, while several were just enabled by their power.

"This might just be an untapped market that the people are too afraid to see." Humans tended to shun or kill what they did not understand, and metahumans were just the latest in that trend.

"My thinking as well. Pay them the worth of their job, and we'll have the most cost-efficient work power in the world."

"It does present security problems, but if we can gain their loyalty, then it opens a new world of possibilities for us. I'll task someone to start the process, the security evaluations, and the orientation." It would be tough work, but there were few problems money could not solve, and Mary was glad to work for someone like Miles, whose resources did not seem to have an end.

"Keep me informed if any issues arise."


—
​

Gotham

"Pamela." Miles decided to visit Poison Ivy to see how her project was going and could not be more delighted at the results.

The change in air quality itself was worth getting Pamela out of prison.

"Miles."

"How do you feel?"

"Good enough." The green woman shrugged, tending to her small garden of roses.

"I meant about this patch of land?"

Now, Pamela smiled, caressing the flowers as they all leaned to her hand. "It does feel like I am making a difference, even if it's a small one."

"Then let's change that." Miles brought out photos out of the briefcase, showing a place in Gotham that all its citizens would recognize in a heartbeat.

Pamela did a double take. "Crime Alley? Are you serious?" She had considered the idea of flooding the whole neighborhood with plants mutated for accelerated growth, but there weren't enough nutrients in the soil for long-term viability.

One more thing the humans had destroyed in their greed.

"Why? Is the challenge too much for you?" Wiping that smug grin off Miles' face would be well worth going to prison.

"No, it's just those wealthy bastards will just keep poisoning the area." What she wouldn't give to wreck all those factories, mostly belonging to the same company.

"Leave that to me. I just need to know if you are up for it."

"What the heck are we waiting for?" This was what Pamela was fighting for, and it was time to take things up a notch.


—
​

Crime Alley was once part of Gotham's working-class neighborhood, now abandoned, filled with derelict buildings and toxic runoff.

Exploited to the brink of total collapse by the industrial elite, with Roland Daggett at the helm, Crime Alley was now nothing but a dead land.

Which reduced its value to dirt cheap because no one wanted to spend the capital necessary to clean the area without any returns in the short term.

Daggett's shell corporations, under the guise of demolition and redevelopment, were further working to displace the population and exploit the land, as if there was anything left in it.

Just because it was cheap and worthless, Daggett wasn't going to sell the land he intended to build luxury developments on.

Miles was going to send Daggett to prison for life and buy whatever remained to clean up the mess.

Ferris Boyle was already out of the board, and the rest of Wayne Corporation's rivals could not present a danger once EnviroCorps bought everything Daggett had and decided to work with Bruce Wayne.


—
​

"How do we send this guy to prison? If he hasn't been convicted of anything so far, he must have strong connections."

"By catching him red-handed, of course." Miles stabbed the knife on Roland Dagget's photo, nailing it to the board that connected the businessman to a litany of crimes.

Taking out another photo, Miles pinned it to the board with question marks around it. "We need to find Clayface first, though."

"I get it. Clayface impersonates him and confesses to everything, right?"

Miles just smiled without revealing anything.


—
​

Finding a metahuman that could take the shape of anyone and was a decent actor meant finding Clayface was like searching for a needle in a haystack, with the added difficulty that the needle itself looked like a straw.

With the latest breakout in Arkham, Clayface was at large.

Searching for him was a waste of time, and with Batman slated to return to the field soon, every second mattered.

But if there were rumors of something that might cure him, Clayface would come slithering.

Spreading them among the criminal underground was simple and quick, as long as one could supply proper motivation.


—
​

A tentacle reached out, his sludge-like form pouring inside, and Matt forced the window open, climbing inside under the cover of the night.

News that a new metahuman research center had discovered a universal cure was too enticing for Clayface to not investigate.

He would do anything to be back to his old, human self.

Crawling through the corridor, he followed the sign to the research wing, avoided cameras, and squeezed himself through the opening under the door.

Scanning the room, he was momentarily blinded by the lights shining on his face, thinking he was discovered.

"Matt, how is your night going so far?" The man in the hat asked as if they were two old friends, sitting in a chair while a red-haired woman stood behind him.

Turning around the run, the exit was blocked as a door came down from the ceiling, blocking his escape. "Now, now, we are not here to arrest you. I just want to offer you a commission."

"A commission? I came here for a cure, not for money." Matt retorted. He should have known it was too good to be true.

"Even better, because I am the only person in this world who can offer you that."

Cautious and weary, Clayface could not contain his curiosity on a matter that might cure him. "Why is that?"

"Simple. I understand you, Matt. You did not want to become Clayface, nor a villain. You just wanted to heal your face, and look at what Daggett did to you." The name itself caused Clayface to shudder in fury, his form rippling like the surface of a lake with a stone thrown in it.

"Can you offer me a cure?" He got straight to the point, and the man in the hat nodded.

"Not yet, but I have some of the best scientists in the world working for me. If they can't cure you, I know more esoteric means to do so." Clayface did not know what the man meant by esoteric means, but there were few boundaries he wouldn't cross to be a human again.

"What will that cost me?" Nothing in this world was free, of course; Matt knew this was no exception.

"How would you like to get revenge on Daggett?"

That alone could be worth taking this commission, but he still couldn't be sure. "Your offer is good and all that, but why should I believe you? I've been burned before."

The man responded by pulling out a communicator, one that he had seen Batman use once before. "I work with the Justice League."

"So you are a hero too?" That had Clayface seek an exit again, but the room was too well barred.

He might have to fight his way out.

"I am an individual trying to fix the world. The Justice League can beat criminals and villains all they want, but as long as avaricious and arrogant people like Daggett cause destitution among the general populace, crime will never go away. I intend to solve the problem at the root, not just manage the symptoms."


—
​

Once Clayface was in, the next step was to create a diversion and have him impersonate Daggett, gather information on his illegal activities, and live stream him to the world, appearing to unwittingly confess his crimes.

If he still did not go to prison for life, Miles would just put a bullet in his head.

Tracking Daggett was not difficult, because he was so assured of his power and control over his part of Gotham; Daggett did not think anyone would assault him.

That did not mean his security was lax, far from it, but they did not think to do more than just secure his office, limo, and house.

Creating a legit competition to send Daggett's driver to a cruise, they stopped the man from contacting anyone while Clayface took his place.

His acting career came in handy, because Matt's hatred was palpable, and Daggett was observant enough to notice it.

Now, it was time to give Clayface the opportunity to switch places with Roland.


—
​

For Daggett's convoy, it was just another business day. Surrounded by two cars in the front and two in the back, his armored limousine made its way to Crime Alley so Daggett could see the coming of his empire.

What he couldn't see coming was two front cars getting hit with two devices that crackled like a thousand birds, electrocuting the jeeps and everyone in them to unconsciousness.

"Turn back! Turn back now!" Ronal screamed to his driver, whose head did a one eighty, and a grin impossibly wide for a human was the last thing he saw.


—
​

The security following the limo leaped into action to secure their boss, but Roland Daggett himself came out running with a terrified look.

"Sir, this way." The security surrounded him immediately, escorting Daggett to the car at the back, ready to get him away from the scene.

"What about the driver?" A member of the security team screamed, approaching the front of the car to pull the driver out.


—
​

Claire watched Miles raise the rocket launcher to his shoulder, lock the guided explosive right at the front of the limo, and pull the trigger. Daggett, or Clayface if he had succeeded, had just left the car, with the real Roland Daggett knocked out in the back seat.

The explosive itself was carefully tailored to ensure Daggett survived while convincing everyone that the driver was dead.

The rocket cut through the air, too fast for anyone to react, and the front half of the limo turned to a wreck, but the rear half was still in good condition.


—
​

"Forget the driver, get me the hell out of here, now." Daggett screamed out his orders, and within seconds the security team was driving away for security.

Miles' mercenaries moved out of the derelict buildings, quickly securing Ronal Daggett before the flames reached him, and the members of his electrocuted security team out of the jeeps.

The fewer casualties, the better.


—
​

Crime Alley was not a place where GCPD could afford to patrol regularly, but an industrialist elite like Roland Daggett getting attacked by rocket launchers and high-tech weapons?

That got their attention.

Officers and SWAT rolled into the scene, searching for any sign of the attackers, finding nothing except the wounded but alive security of Roland Daggett, the limo with the front half and the driver gone, and the sole casualty of the attack.

"What do we have?" Jim asked the officers on the scene, who shook their heads in the negative.

Meaning nothing good.

"It happened too fast. The front cars were hit with a device that electrocuted the security and knocked them out, while a rocket took out the front half of the limo. Daggett got away with no wounds. Whoever it was, they were well armed but amateurs. The time between the attack on the jeeps and the limo is too long, and they only fired seconds after Daggett left the limo." Jim frowned at the explanation. If this was an assassination attempt, it did sound amateurish.

"Could it be a message?" Someone else asked, which could also be a possible reason for this attack.

"Why kill the driver and not Daggett then? Any sign of the attackers?" Could Daggett have had a fallout or a disagreement with someone, and they decided to warn him to change his mind?

"Nothing. There are no cameras around here and no witnesses. Forensics is combing the scene, but it was a clean getaway."

Jim considered the situation. His gut told him that something was wrong with the situation, but there simply wasn't enough to know what. "I don't think this was the work of amateurs. You don't just do all this without leaving any evidence behind, all the while missing your shot at killing Roland Daggett and making him alert for any future attempts."

"So it could be a message, and the driver was just the unlucky medium."


—
​

It was for the best that Roland Daggett was out of commission while his empire came crashing down, and he was kept in a medically induced coma.

The imposter, on the other hand, was busy raining orders on real Roland's men.

"I want those bastards found, now."

"Yes, boss. What about the plans for the Crime Alley?"

"Can't you idiots do things right? I wanted those people out of there yesterday. Do whatever you have to do. Cut their water and electricity, and keep pouring our waste near their houses. Hell, make an example out of someone, break a head or two."

"Understood, sir."


—
​

The meeting was secretly recorded via the surveillance devices brought inside by Clayface, but he had one more thing to do before continuing to act and incriminate Roland Daggett.

Connecting the access module he was given to Roland's personal computer to access all the data and knowledge kept in air-gapped servers.

This was his greatest performance to date, with no one the wiser.




—
​

In the next chapter:
"Sir, there is a problem. Someone just live-streamed the whole meeting to all of Gotham." The security barged in, quickly slamming everyone except Roland to the table for a search.

"What?! Which one of you traitors did it?!" Roland screamed, and his highest-ranking employees looked terrified. There was no way out of this if all of Gotham watched them.

"We need to go now; there is a crowd heading here, and we need to secure you immediately."

"Damn it."


Curious about the next chapter? Please consider supporting me in Patreon.
 
Reader mode
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

  • ... and 2 more.
    • Total: 8 (members: 6, guests: 2)
    Back
    Top