DCU: Blacklist

[Samael61]

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 11 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 11 chapters ahead

Geek's Guide to Thriving in a Low End Fantasy World, a Robert Baratheon OC SI in an AU, is 11 chapters ahead.

and Commander Shepard, The Greatest to Ever Live, a Mass Effect story where Shepard is greater than ever, is 11 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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Central City

The Monarch Hotel

Luke Harris had some interesting fetishes he would rather keep hidden, just like he kept his mistress a secret from his wife.

Mark Mardon had discovered that secret and used it to extort the local businessman.

And Luke Harris wasn't the only one.

Over a dozen different names faced the same treatment from Mark, who was intelligent enough to not demand exorbitant amounts to avoid putting his targets in a desperate situation and risk detection.

The police reports had suspected those names, and they tried to obtain confessions, but risking their secrets wasn't worth getting rid of Mark, so they had kept quiet, especially after he was put in prison by Flash and Superman.

It took them a week to track Luke, and they discovered he was meeting his mistress at the Monarch Hotel for a session of passion.

Far be it from Miles to judge.

"My dove, I am here." Luke opened the door, practically singing in happiness. Dressed in a business suit on a Sunday when it should have been his day off, Luke must have lied about having a business meeting to leave home.

Too bad for him. Miles was here to rain on his parade, at least for a short while.

"Come in, Luke, though 'your dove' is otherwise indisposed." Miles would have found the romance almost sweet if it wasn't for the fact it was an extramarital affair.

"What the?!" Luke backtracked, closing the door to leave, before Claire pushed him from the back, sending him stumbling through the door.

"Sit down, Luke. I am afraid you will have to take the bed, because I only brought one chair. I didn't really want to sit down anywhere else. Who knows what bodily fluids this room was coated in during your countless visits? I mean, did you know even in five-star hotels, pillows and blankets are rarely cleaned? Don't even get me started on the duvets and mattresses. So unhygienic." Miles rambled off while his unwilling hosts had no choice but to listen.

Luke spoke once Miles was done. "What do you want?"

Business it is.

Miles pulled out a photo, showing it to Luke. "Mark Mardon extorted you after he discovered your mistress. I need to know how you delivered him the cash, because using the banking system would have been out of the question." Any bank transaction, and all of Mark's victims would be out in the open, and if the secrets were out, no more payday for the villain.

"You were extorted? Is that why you are so stingy?" Luke's mistress, Anna, rose from where she was sitting with fury. Miles raised an eyebrow, and Claire approached the seething woman, silencing her with a fist covered in flames and forcing her to sit down.

"How do you manage to have a relationship with a woman who has such a shrill voice? I can't imagine. Now, what were you saying, Luke?" Either Luke's wife was worse than his mistress, or his actual taste in women ran wildly different.

Luke shook his head, clamping down in fear. "Look, if I tell you anything and Mark talks, then I am done for."

If his secret got out, his life would be over. His boss was a very family-oriented man, and as soon as it got out Luke was having an affair, he would be fired. Not to mention, his wife would take everything in a divorce, leaving Luke penniless.

"Good point. Let me just call your wife and see if she thinks the same." Miles pulled out his phone, speaking Luke's wife's number out loud as he dialed up the number.

Luke was perspiring now, scared out of his mind that his carefully kept secret would be revealed now.

"Okay, okay, I'll talk, please don't." Luke begged, and Miles was just going to end the call when Meredith decided to pick up.

"Hello?"

"Hello madam, I am calling you regarding your car's extended warranty." There was an annoyed "ugh" on the other end before the call ended.

"Go on." Miles rolled his hand for Luke to continue.

Luke gulped, seeing no choice but to speak now that his affair was one phone call away from being out in the open. "He has a drop point; I make monthly deposits there. If anything happens, Mark calls me from a different number every time, and I make sure to delete it afterwards."

"When is the next deposit?" Hopefully, not that far off; otherwise, he would have to find other leads to follow the Weather Wizard.

"Tonight."

Miles smiled, taking out a pen and his small notebook. "How fortunate for us. Give me the address and time. You will deposit the cash tonight as if nothing happened and forget this conversation. If you are lucky, Mark won't be a problem for you anymore."

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"We should call his wife and let her know." Claire suggested while buckling her seat belt.

Miles turned on the ignition, amused by how much Claire was displeased at the situation. "Feeling solidarity with your fellow women, Claire?"

Betrayed by her own family and then by the institute, his bodyguard despised how easily Luke had broken his vows.

Claire frowned. "You always value loyalty. Why should an asshole like him get away with an affair?"

"Because his wife is having a secret affair too, and I am too busy to bother with the lives of people like Luke and Meredith."

Claire slapped her forehead. "Like husband, like wife."

Miles nodded. "Exactly. Now let's focus on finding Mark. Up for lunch?" It was barely noon, and they still had time before Luke would make his drop.

"As long as you're paying."

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Red Lightning Grill

Sitting in a restaurant themed after Flash, Miles and Claire ordered their dinner, enjoying the cool air inside.

Thank god for people like Willis Carrier.

Ordering steak and several side dishes, the two waited for their food while making small talk.

Cue the DCU effect striking again.

"Everyone on the floor, now!" An idiot kicked the door open, firing his shotgun at the ceiling as two more goons entered. The screaming civilians threw themselves to the ground, though neither Miles nor Claire followed along.

The lead goon pointed his smoking gun at them, and Claire got ready to teach him a lesson. "Didn't you hear me, dumbass? Get on the ground, now."

"The only dumbass," Miles quoted the word with his fingers, "here, is you. It will take Flash mere seconds to get here after the silent alarm, on a bad day, and here you are, trying to rob a restaurant themed after the fastest man alive, in his own turf. You are either desperate or didn't plan this robbery at all."

"You fucking…" The angry robber spat out before he and his buddies were on the floor as a red blur knocked them down and tied them up.

Flash must have put all the competent ones behind bars if these amateurs were the ones left.

"Come on, guys, really? Robbing a restaurant this beautiful? That should be a whole other felony." Flash dusted his hands, mocking the groaning criminals. He turned to Miles, about to ask what he was doing in Central City, but his colleague shook his head, and soon the superhero was swarmed by fans.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Having left the restaurant, they waited in an alley for Flash.

Miles would rather leave the city before Flash even knew they were here, but alas.

In the signature red blur, the fastest man alive was leaning on a wall with a cocky grin. "So, what brings you two to Central City? You know it's common courtesy between heroes to let one another know when you are visiting his city."

Miles shrugged. "It's just a business trip; I thought I would spare you the details."

"Still, it would have been nice of you to say hi."

"I figured we would meet, especially with my penchant for finding myself in the middle of a robbery." First the bank, now the restaurant, but Miles knew it wouldn't be the last one.

"Fair enough. I have to go; crime doesn't rest after all, but it was nice seeing you." Flash patted him on the arm and winked at Claire, who didn't even blink.

"You too."

Flash blitzed away with the farewell, and Miles sighed.

At least he didn't catch Miles in action like Superman almost had.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Waiting outside the Central City Park, Miles watched Luke discreetly secure the cash under an old bench and leave.

Even at night, there were several civilians in the park, each busy with something else, and from the distance it was difficult to see which one was Mark Mardon.

Minutes passed by as they waited for the Weather Wizard to show himself, and voilà, a figure dressed in a black jacket, black pants, and a hat who tried not to draw attention but did the opposite by dressing like that on a summer night sat on the bench.

Acting as if he was tying his laces, Mark took the money from under the bench and quickly left the scene, getting on a bike and pedaling away.

—---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Trailing a biker was much harder than trailing a car, so Miles and Claire had to be careful to not overtake Mark.

Eventually he led them to a sealed-off, decrepit house, an excellent place to hide within this poor urban area.

Parking the car on the end of the street, they observed Mark as he checked the area before opening a window and quickly getting in.

"How are we doing this?" Getting through the window could be risky if Mark had set up any rudimentary alarm systems or traps, so an alternative entry point would be preferable.

Flushing him out would result in detection, leaving stealth as the only option.

—---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Miles gently pried the window open and used a stick to check for any trap wires. After moving the stick around for a bit, he was satisfied enough to climb inside, still using the stick to check for anything.

Claire followed, hands ready in the event she had to neutralize their target. Painstakingly slow, the duo combed the house, coming up empty-handed.

There were wrappers everywhere, from fast food to snacks, as well as takeout boxes, but no sign of Mark.

Which left only one place they could check out.

The basement.

Slowly opening the creaking door to not alert their quarry, a small light source could be seen down the stairs.

Vigilant, they walked into the basement and eventually were close enough to hear Mark's mumblings.

"Can't believe I have to live here like a rat. Damn Superman, and damn Flash to hell."

Miles nodded, and Claire kicked the door open, alerting Mark, who dove for his gun near the bed.

He was too slow, however, as Miles froze him on the spot with his cryo-pistol, leaving the criminal with his hand reaching out to the gun.

Claire quickly went and took the pistol, ignoring Mark's chattering teeth.

"Melt him out of the ice; he can't talk like that." Nodding, Claire handed the pistol to Miles before coating her hands in flames and slowly melting the ice covering Mark.

Miles checked the basement but couldn't see the computer anywhere. "Where is the computer, Mark?"

"What computer? Who the fuck even are you?" Mark screamed, looking like a cornered animal.

Though, seeing as the villain called himself a rat, it was an apt description.

Miles rolled his eyes. Villains and their pride. "Your brother's computer, the one containing his notes on the weather control device."

"Fuck you, I don't have the computer." Mark denied the accusation, and had he not been the person he was, Miles would have believed it.

"Someone broke into his home and stole the computer and nothing else. You're the most likely culprit; speak up now." Miles pointed the gun at the villain, who chose to spit at his shoes.

Blinking at the audacity, Miles put his cryo weapon away, and took the revolver from Claire. "Here I was afraid you would make this easy on yourself.



-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the next chapter:

Aquaman grasped Miles' forearm, a broad smile on his usually serious face. "My friend, you have carried out your end of the bargain, and I couldn't be more grateful to you for it."

Miles squeezed the offered arm back. "We are just beginning, Arthur; you can thank me when it's done."

Arthur shook his head, mirthful. "Nonetheless, there are grumblings from within Atlantis, and your efforts will go a long way to silence them."

"Believe me, it is my pleasure." The fewer antagonists in Atlantis, the better for both worlds.

Another guest approached, and Arthur excused himself to go and talk to some senators. "I must congratulate you again, Miles; your work for the environment is certainly consistent."

"How kind of you, Bruce."

"You must have excellent employees to design and build these robots." Inwardly, Miles sighed. He would have to up the security around the robotics department and keep all names confidential.

Outwardly, he was smiling. "Asking for business secrets? That's just rude."

Bruce shook his head. "Merely a compliment."

"My, the ladies will be jealous at this rate."

"Hopefully not." Anything more he had to say was interrupted when explosions, followed by screams, cut through the atmosphere.

What was it now?



Curious about the next chapter? Please consider supporting me in Patreon.

 

[TFTwink]

Blinking at the audacity, Miles put his cryo weapon away, and took the revolver from Claire. "Here I was afraid you would make this easy on yourself.

Click to shrink...

Here I thought he would start with the fingers, not go straight to feeding the fishes lol

 

[Lillie Jones]

thanks for the chapter

 

[FTR2017]

Here I thought he would start with the fingers, not go straight to feeding the fishes lol

Click to shrink...

There's nothing that a propely applied corkscrew-shaped object cannot solve given enough time and objects to screw over with.

 

[Samael61]

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 12 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 12 chapters ahead

Geek's Guide to Thriving in a Low End Fantasy World, a Robert Baratheon OC SI in an AU, is 11 chapters ahead.

and Commander Shepard, The Greatest to Ever Live, a Mass Effect story where Shepard is greater than ever, is 11 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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Central City

Abandoned House

Miles took the six bullets out, only to put one back into the cylinder and rotate it with his palm.

Pointing the pistol at Mark, Miles asked. "Where is the computer?"

"Fuck you."

Click! Miles pulled the trigger and released the cocked hammer, with the first chamber empty.

"Where is the computer, Mark?" Miles repeated his question, and he could see sweat beginning to gather on Mark's forehead.

"You're lying. I saw that woman on TV; she is a hero."

Claire snorted. "Wrong, dumbass. I am his bodyguard."

Click! Mark jumped in fright, sweating like a pig, as the second chamber didn't have the bullet either.

"That's two. Your chances of survival are decreasing, Mark; speak now. Where is it?"

"I… uh…" The third time wasn't the charm, and the Weather Wizard—though Miles struggled to call the trembling sorry excuse of a human before him that name—survived again.

Suddenly aware of the danger he was in, Mark began to crawl away, eventually leaning back on the wall with nowhere else to run.

Miles pulled the trigger again, and Mark closed his eyes and raised his hands to protect himself.

And pissed his pants in fear.

Miles scrunched his nose. "You know, Mark, with all your willingness to cross Superman and Flash, you could at least afford to die with dignity."

"I'll talk, I'll talk! Please stop." Mark begged, and Miles lowered the pistol.

"See? You only made this matter harder on yourself for no reason. Now, where is the computer?" Miles would look into his enemy's eyes but did not want to subject himself to the stench any longer than he had to.

"There is a hidden compartment in the living room, under the old couch."

"Were you really going to kill him?" Claire asked once they were near the door, ready to go up.

Miles showed her the cylinder. "No, the gun was empty. A sleight of hand to fool him."

"Nice."

Mark jumped to his feet, pointing an accusatory finger. "I knew it! I knew you heroes wouldn't kill. Just wait till the cops hear this."

Miles sighed and put the bullets back into the revolver.

"No, wait!" Mark screamed, but it was for naught as Miles pulled the trigger, and with a flash, a bullet tore through Mark's head, and after thinking about it for a second, Miles emptied the cylinder on the corpse.

"I am going to have to burn these clothes." Miles took out his glove, dropping it and the weapon on Mark's body. "Burn the corpse to ashes; leave no evidence we were here."

"I think you went a bit overboard." Claire didn't see the need for the extra five bullets.

"I didn't want the bullets to go off when the weapon melted. No need to die a death reserved for people like Mark."

Claire nodded and raised her hands, two searing fire blasts quickly carbonizing the body as the smell of cooked and then burnt meat covered the room.

The duo left the basement, with Claire welding the door shut, and found the computer where Mark said it was. "Time to leave." No one should have heard them in the basement, but this was the DC Universe; who knew what could go wrong?

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"I am surprised you actually did it." Claire was startled by the first shot but had controlled herself quickly.

Miles gave her a dry look. "Why? I couldn't allow Mark to talk to the law enforcement." Not like anyone would investigate the missing villain.

Not like, say, if Joker or Lex Luthor was missing, presumed dead.

"Just a bit unexpected, that's all." He did say their hands would eventually get dirty.

"Now we can give Ben the good news."

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"You guys are back, and you found my computer too." Ben opened the door, fixing his glasses, and reached for his missing life's work.

Miles smiled. "Happy to be of service, Ben."

"Did you see my brother too?" Ben asked, hesitant to actually mention Mark.

Miles shook his head, his smile not even wavering for a second. "No, we found his hideout, but there was no sign of him."

"Oh, okay." Ben didn't have it in his heart to care, not after everything his brother had done.

"Now, let me know when you are ready to pack up, and I'll send over some people to move you to Metropolis." Miles didn't want to rush the genius before him, but the sooner he was working on the device, the better.

"Where will I be staying?" Ben's current house was rented, seeing as his brother destroyed the previous one, so he would appreciate any assistance in that regard.

Miles pulled out a pair of keys out of his inner pocket, dropping them into Ben's palm. "Here are the keys to a brand new house in your name, as a signing bonus." It was a modest, two-story house he had bought for Ben.

Wealth was great; loyalty, however, even more so.

"That's generous, too generous actually."

"I am asking you to leave everything behind for a new start; it's the least I can do."

"Alright, I'll call you as soon as I am ready."

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Metropolis

EnviroCorps

"Am I interrupting you, Mary?" Miles peeked inside, seeing Mary on the phone, who quickly put it down after saying she would call back the person on the other end.

"No, of course not; please come in." Mary called her secretary to bring in refreshments, but Miles stopped her.

"I won't stay long; I just came to inform you of a recent development." He explained, pulling out a device from his pocket, and began to point it around the room.

"What is he doing?" Mary whispered to Claire, who came closer to answer.

"Scanning for bugs."

Miles lifted the desktop phone and pulled a small round device out, crushing it.

Mary scowled. "God damn it. Good thing I don't say anything important here." It was a warning from Miles to not speak anything sensitive on the phone or in her office.

"Take the detector and scan the rest of the building." Miles handed the device to Claire, satisfied that the room was clean.

He had requested it from Thomas Morrow during a personal visit after Central City, because this kind of espionage was to be expected after the Tomorrow Expo.

"Got it." Claire left quickly, since there were several rooms to inspect.

"So what did you want to inform me about? Another genius scientist you recruit? Or more aliens to help us?" Anything would be better than dealing with having a listening device in her office.

"The former, actually. Do you remember the villain, Weather Wizard?" His debut wasn't something people could, or should, forget easily.

"The moron that started a storm in Metropolis? How could I not?"

"His brother, Ben Mordon, was the genius behind the tech. With his weather control device, imagine the problems we can solve." That was one example of how the wondrous device could be useful.

Mary's eyes brightened, the possibilities of controlling the weather and the profit it would bring rushing to her mind. "That is actually a good idea. We can charge countries a yearly subscription based on their needs."

She was already in business mode, and Miles saw no reason to stay anymore. "I'll leave the finer details in your very capable hands. Here is Ben's contact. You can apprise him of how to move forward." He handed her a card with the number on it.

"As for the bugs, I want random but consistent scans, and I will get you in contact with a cyber wizard; she will run background checks and keep our systems secure." His tone was more serious now, and if someone planted a bug, then chances are, their systems would be under cyber assault soon.

"Who would that be?"

"Someone trustworthy and extremely good at her job." Zalika didn't have much to do besides her schoolwork, so this would alleviate her boredom.

"Alright." If Miles wanted to keep this person a secret, she wouldn't ask.

—---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Only Mary's office was bugged, and Miles wasn't even going to bother searching for the source.

This was the DC Universe. Most villains tended to take more direct action when subtler means failed, and those that didn't were numbered.

He would eventually find them.

Another reason was he intended to start his own surveillance network, aside from Zalika, which was the next project he entrusted to Thomas.

Right after the genius roboticist was done with his android and the project for robots to clean the ocean.

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

EnviroCorps Robotics Research Lab

"Thomas, I see you've finished your android," Miles said, noticing the old man beside his creation, which looked like a younger version of himself.

Old Thomas pointed at the robot standing on the table. "Yes, and with his help I have also completed the prototype for a pollutant-cleaning marine bot." It was a six-foot grey metal fish, reminiscent of an eel with wide jaws and a modular body.

"I am listening." Two pairs of hands, especially when one was an advanced synthetic, were infinitely faster than one pair.

It was the android who spoke, while his creator sat down, adjusting his ventilator. "First is the Molecular Dissolution Gills. They break down the polymer chains of plastics, reducing them to base elements—carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen." On command, the jaws of the fish opened and closed.

"Next is the Element Conversion Chambers. Hazardous byproducts, like chlorine gas, are neutralized into harmless salt or stable ions." Miles had no idea what the schematics were showing him and would take the explanation.

"Free carbon becomes carbonate for coral reefs and shellfish, while the robots use the hydrogen to fuel themselves." The android seemed pleased with himself, and Miles smiled.

Arthur would love this.

Thomas, the original one, spoke again. "I have taken your warnings regarding my previous work to ensure these fish don't get out of control and become a swarm capable of devouring everything in the ocean." He could have done exactly that, but neither considered the risk, no matter how slim, worth it.

"Much appreciated, Thomas. I am sure neither of us wants to accidentally end the world while trying to save it." He had known enough self-replicating and adaptive synthetic creations that got out of control to know how dangerous the situation could become.

At least in fiction, but he had no intention of trying it.

"Indeed."

"How soon can you start mass production?" Time was of the essence, and there were funds from governments and organizations all over the world waiting for EnviroCorps to collect.

"I avoided the idea of self-replication for the aforementioned reasons, so I will need to set up an automated production facility, not to mention the materials." The real Thomas explained as his android displayed a chart that outlined the overall costs.

"Funding isn't an issue with me, Thomas; I'll wire the necessary amount. How soon can it be done?" He had promises to keep, and the oceans wouldn't clean themselves.

"If I have the money now? Two weeks."

Miles was impressed. That was a lot sooner than his expectations. "That fast?"

"With the assistance of my creations, yes."

"Sublime news, Thomas. The world will be forever grateful to you."

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

True to his word, with his tireless creations working alongside him, Thomas had finished the production line in two weeks, bringing another model to clean the buried macroplastics in the seabed and mesh systems to be installed on rivers.

His highly advanced technology allowed less than ten thousand robots to clean the oceans in five years, with upstream tech and river interception, which were critical to prevent further plastic from reaching the oceans.

Studies showed that 80%-90% of marine plastic came from a few hundred heavily polluted rivers, especially in Asia and Africa, which also required policy changes.

Where there was a flow of money, there was influence, which would be used to enact those changes.

Mary had already applied for the multinational grants and regional, national, and local programs to fund the project, which, with what they had already achieved, mostly meant profit to stay in their coffers.

A demonstration was slated to be held in Gotham Harbor, which made it the perfect target with how polluted it was.

—---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gotham

Gotham Harbor

There were several important people in attendance, so the security was high.

Bruce Wayne, billionaire playboy; Mayor Hamilton Hill; several visitors from the World Bank and Global Environment Facility, the UN Environment Program, the EU, China, India, several African leaders and, of course, King Arthur of Atlantis.

Miles had personally invited Arthur to show that he had kept his promise, and the King of Atlantis was all too eager to be there in person.

Since Mary was busy, she had sent the new head of the robotics department, Dr. Josiah Engelby, a man who had worked in the field for decades, eventually settling with EnviroCorps due to what they stood for. "Good afternoon, Gotham! Take a look around—this is our reality. Plastics, waste, debris—our harbor is suffocating."

"But today, that changes." He pressed the button on the podium, and the giant screen behind him came to life.

At the same time, a school of fish suddenly broke through the surface of the Gotham harbor, swimming in unison before diving again.

The live video feed showed the fish carrying out their program, targeting floating debris, plastics, and any other pollutant they found, while another group worked on the seabed.

"Meet the newest product from the EnviroCorps, the Recyclus—six-foot autonomous guardians that hunt pollution like a predator hunts prey. Plastics are collected, neutralized, and safely returned to the ecosystem."

"No more floating islands of trash. No more microplastics poisoning our waters. Just clean water, thriving wildlife, and a city that takes responsibility."

"Gotham, the future is here—and it swims beneath your feet." Engelby finished his speech with a grand line, and the crowd applauded, some actually hopeful, others more interested in other applications.

Following the speech and the demonstration, it was time for questions while Miles entertained his guests.

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Aquaman grasped Miles' forearm, a broad smile on his usually serious face. "My friend, you have carried out your end of the bargain, and I couldn't be more grateful to you for it."

Miles squeezed the offered arm back. "We are just beginning, Arthur; you can thank me when it's done."

Arthur shook his head, mirthful. "Nonetheless, there are grumblings from within Atlantis, and your efforts will go a long way to silence them."

"Believe me, it is my pleasure." The fewer antagonists in Atlantis, the better for both worlds.

Another guest approached, and Arthur excused himself to go and talk to some senators. "I must congratulate you again, Miles; your work for the environment is certainly consistent."

"How kind of you, Bruce."

"You must have excellent employees to design and build these robots." Inwardly, Miles sighed. He would have to up the security around the robotics department and keep all names confidential.

Outwardly, he was smiling. "Asking for business secrets? That's just rude."

Bruce shook his head. "Merely a compliment."

"My, the ladies will be jealous at this rate."

"Hopefully not." Anything more he had to say was interrupted when explosions, followed by screams, cut through the atmosphere.

What was it now?


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the next chapter:

"Good afternoon, Gotham! Imagine my heartbreak when I heard all these important people gathered here, and you didn't even send an invitation to the good ol' me." Dressed in a purple suit, the most insane and dangerous criminal in Gotham stood on top of the van that just dove into the crowd.

"But worry not; now that I am here, this party will be a blast!" Joker's maniacal laughter was cut by the colorful explosives spewing toxic fumes that were slowly moving over the crowd gathered to watch the demonstration.



Curious about the next chapter? Please consider supporting me in Patreon.

 

[Petrox]

Time to burn a clown as self-defense and look for whatever medium to make him stay dead. I would say hell, but they would just make a hell joker and it would be worst.

 

[FTR2017]

Welp, to trap the clown in a limbless, tongueless, life support equipment forever kept alive to prevent the memetic hazard that he is from jumping to another madman.

 

[Harbinger98]

Oooh, Miles vs the Joker. Can't wait.

 

[Vanreis]

I don't think killing or trapping Joker would ever actually stick, Batman too.

The city mythos has accepted them into it's decaying embrace, it will not let itself be deprived of them for long.

 

[Lillie Jones]

thanks for the chapter

 

[TFTwink]

Hmm, this reminds me of that Luthor's son Tinker of Fiction fic that used the 'make hard choices' line to demonstrate the various obscene tech he rolled

 

[TerribleReadingProblem]

Hmm, this reminds me of that Luthor's son Tinker of Fiction fic that used the 'make hard choices' line to demonstrate the various obscene tech he rolled

Click to shrink...

Which one is that

 

[TFTwink]

Which one is that

Click to shrink...

The Brave and the Bald, I believe

 

[Samael61]

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 12 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 12 chapters ahead

Geek's Guide to Thriving in a Low End Fantasy World, a Robert Baratheon OC SI in an AU, is 12 chapters ahead.

and Commander Shepard, The Greatest to Ever Live, a Mass Effect story where Shepard is greater than ever, is 12 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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gotham Harbor

"Good afternoon, Gotham! Imagine my heartbreak when I heard all these important people gathered here, and you didn't even send an invitation to the good ol' me." Dressed in a purple suit, the most insane and dangerous criminal in Gotham stood on top of the van that just dove into the crowd.

"But worry not; now that I am here, this party will be a blast!" Joker's maniacal laughter was cut by the colorful explosives spewing toxic fumes that were slowly moving over the crowd gathered to watch the demonstration.

"Hey circus freak." Joker stopped laughing, looking down at the person who just insulted him, and jumped down to the back of the car to shield himself from the raging flames.

"Somebody's angry." The Clown Prince of Crime cackled, pulling out a cigar from his pocket. Holding it up, he let the flames ignite the tip of the cigar before tossing it over the van in the direction of the woman.

The flames ceased after the explosion, but the woman was nowhere in sight.

Opening the back of the van, the clown pulled out a box of grenades and began to launch them towards the fleeing crowd.

Only for an interloper to freeze the grenades before detonation.

Joker's grin turned into a frown. He didn't like party poopers.

"If it isn't the savior of Gotham Harbor! Tell me, can your fish clean up blood and corpses, too?"

"Tell me, aren't you tired of losing to Batman?" Even if the jab infuriated Joker, the clown did not show it, still grinning.

"Ah, Batsy. I am sure he will be here. In the meantime, why don't we have some fun, hmm? You are so serious; why don't we put a smile on that face?" Joker's laughter was interrupted when Batman came swinging down and planted both feet on the clown's face, sending him flying away, right into the arms of Aquaman, who clotheslined the madman to the asphalt.

Coughing and spluttering, Joker still laughed. "Batsy, you didn't mention you had friends besides me. I'm hurt."

"Surrender, now." Batman warned, ready to beat the clown within an inch of his life.

"If you had, I would bring some friends too. Oh wait, I already did." The sick grin on Joker's face had all four of them alert, and it wasn't for nothing, as Killer Croc came tearing through a warehouse, followed by Bane, who calmly strutted out with a grin on his face, ready to fight.

"BATMAN! Croc appeared more deranged than usual, his eyes glowing with a sickly green hue.

Joker must have done something to draw Waylon to the Harbor.

"Aquaman, you deal with Bane; Croc is too focused on Batman. We'll deal with Joker and then assist you." Miles suggested as he watched more vans and pickups ride to the harbor at full speed, all graffitied in various clown themes.

Arthur nodded. "Very well."

"Claire, get ready, and don't hold back. I am calling in reinforcements." It was time to see if Morrow's androids were willing to play the hero once again.

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Batman was parkouring and grappling through the harbor, drawing Killer Croc away from the citizens, while Aquaman and Bane were in a fistfight.

Venom in Bane's veins was doing a good job of standing against Aquaman, but Miles was sure the King of Atlantis would pull through.

"What is it now?" Morrow, the android one, answered the phone with an irritated tone.

Miles was going to do something about the synthetic's attitude. "I need the siblings at Gotham Harbor. Joker staged an attack, and his goons are swarming the place."

"They aren't exactly feeling the desire to be heroes again."

"Tell them they have a choice to either be useless tin cans waiting to rust or heroes following the beliefs they once carried. Just because they are not flesh and blood does not mean they aren't a part of humanity." Miles snapped the phone shut.

"Come out, come out, wherever you are." Joker sang, strutting around with a revolver in his hand. His henchmen were searching the area while causing as much destruction as possible.

Peeking out of the cover, Claire's flames sent several goons flying away and out of action, while Miles targeted Joker, but the clown dodged.

Miles could finally hear the police sirens as the GCPD came in with force, though Joker's little army was spread out and had good cover, so any firefight was bound to be costly.

"Look at this, boys, Gordon's late to the party, as always." Joker chuckled. "Kill them."

The goons ran, taking cover and firing at the approaching police cars.

Miles pulled Claire back. "Forget the goons; they will be too busy with the GCPD. We are taking down Joker."

"Let's go." Claire leaped out of the cover again, but Joker was ready.

"Two on one? That's not fair." The Clown Prince of Crime dropped canisters, covering the whole area in purple smoke, and Miles only hoped the clown wasn't crazy enough to poison himself in the attempt too.

Standing back-to-back, Miles and Claire waited for Joker to show himself. "Can you fly us out of here?"

Claire shook her head, hands aflame and ready. "Not without burning you. We could just run out of this smoke."

"The clown's watching; he'd probably hit us in the back." With how many canisters the pale villain had dropped, he must have planned for Miles and Claire to run while leaving their backs unguarded.

If the clown wasn't coming out, Miles would find him. "Tell me something, why are you targeting us and not Batman?"

"Why? Because unlike him, you're actually helping Gotham, and I can't have that now, can I?" Joker's voice echoed, making it difficult to pinpoint his location.

Not to mention the echo made the crazy villain's laughter more grating.

Shadows danced around them in the fog, accompanied by Joker's vile cackling, and Miles didn't have a plan.

Running out would leave them open to the clown, and staying in wasn't an option either.

Claire tackled Miles to the ground as something flew towards them, exploding as it slammed into the podium.

Miles pointed to where the RPG round had flown from and fired, but missed, causing Joker to laugh even louder. Claire got up, snarling, and held out her hands to the sides, releasing two deadly bouts of flame, and began to twirl around.

There was a scream of indignation and pain, indicating Claire must have nailed Joker.

"Do you have any idea how expensive this suit is? I am going to take it out of your hide." The first shot of the machine gun missed, and Claire set herself on fire, quickly flying up and firing towards where the shots were coming from to draw Joker's attention.

The clown kept firing, somehow dodging Claire's attacks, while Miles lay down, waiting for an opening to take out the clown.

Permanently, if possible.

"Hey, you pale bastard." Green vines surged forth like a tidal wave, flowing around Miles. There was an "omph," and the two quickly ran out of the smoke, seeing Joker entangled within vines.

"If it isn't Harly's bestie. She will be so heartbroken when I get out of here and clip your branches with an axe." Joker's grin never faded, but it turned to a murderous one even as he struggled to free himself from the vines.

Ivy scoffed. "Dream on, clown." She could kill the clown now but didn't want any trouble from the heroes or the police.

Miles picked up the machine gun and slammed the stock to Joker's temple, knocking the clown out.

He would have loved to finish the job here, but there were too many witnesses for him to kill a restrained man, even if it was Joker.

Even if it was self-defense, someone would use it against him, and the clown's time would come.

"Get them." Joker's henchmen came to the rescue and were swatted away like flies by vines thick as tree trunks.

"Ivy, what a pleasant surprise. Didn't think you'd be interested in playing the hero." Miles greeted the green woman, half wondering what she was even doing here when her accommodations were on the other side of the city.

Ivy looked insulted by the insinuation. "I am not, but who is supposed to help me save nature if this clown kills you?"

Miles smirked. "Your concern over my well-being is duly noted."

"How the hell did he find so many goons?" There was literally a small-scale battle going on between the GCPD and Joker's little army.

"Good question." Unless Joker robbed a bank and got away without anyone knowing, which was impossible because the clown was an attention seeker, unless it was a long con.

Or someone could be financing the Clown Prince of Crime.

—---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Aquaman ducked Bane's punch, responding with a quick strike to the liver and an uppercut when the drug lord bent in half.

The uppercut sent him flying off, but the luchador villain shook his head, returning to the fight.

This Bane was unknown to the king of Atlantis, but he was a durable opponent, and the rabble brought by the clown did not make this fight easier.

Bullets pinged off his skin, making Aquaman more annoyed than anything, so he took a large piece of wooden debris and threw it at the gunmen.

The improvised projectile knocked them about, and Bane took the opportunity to nail Aquaman in the face, barely causing the Atlantean to turn his head.

Grabbing the wrist, Aquaman twisted it, headbutted Bane, and kicked the back of his knee to force the villain down before drop-kicking him to the ground face first.

Not down yet, Arthur took the luchador by the ankles and twirled around, sending the villain flying to the murky waters of the harbor.

Dusting his hands, the victorious hero turned his attention to the goons.

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Batman backflipped, and Killer Croc's punch left a small hole on the ground where he just stood a second ago.

Pulling out a respirator, the Dark Knight threw a ball containing anesthetic gas to Waylon's face, followed by more to force the rampaging meta-human to sleep.

Croc just shook his head and charged, razor-sharp claws trying to shred Batman to confetti, but the nimble hero dodged each and every attack and took out a pair of brass shock knuckles and nailed the metahuman right in the forehead.

Killer Croc couldn't even scream as the voltage ran through his body and paralyzed him. Not done yet, Batman kept raining a flurry of punches, slowly but steadily beating Killer Croc to submission.

Eventually, Croc slowed down, his nervous system too stressed, and one last punch from the shock knuckles sent him down.

Batman left the meta-human where he was lying and jumped between several goons, dismantling them in a heartbeat, leaving behind broken bones and guns.

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GCPD was moving slowly to neutralize the armed gunmen Joker had brought, in part because they had dug in and were heavily armed.

Miles and Claire were assisting, having left Ivy to contain Joker since the former villainess wasn't interested in anything more than saving Miles.

Fortunately, reinforcements were here.

Red Tornado, Red Torpedo, and Red Inferno came to the harbor, each using their respective elements to fly, and began to help the GCPD mop up the goons.

Red Tornado grouped the gunmen together, dropping them down from high enough to knock them out. His brother, Red Torpedo, flooded buildings and anywhere else the goons had taken cover, while Red Inferno targeted vehicles and heavy weapons.

Three siblings working in unison made quick work of the goons.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Aquaman hauled Bane to where Poison Ivy kept the Joker entangled in her vines, while a special unit from the GCPD restrained Killer Croc and took him away, and the henchmen were marched to prison buses to be moved to a detention center to await trial.

"This was a disaster." Miles commented as the emergency teams rushed to put out fires and render medical aid to any injured civilians.

Arthur raised an eyebrow. "I had thought your job was to know these things?" Surely, if Miles knew so much about Atlantis and its plans, then this attack should have been expected as well.

"I tend to keep out of Gotham since Batman is too territorial."

"Who are the synthetics?" The said hero approached, turning to the androids as they landed near him.

"I am Red Tornado." Tornado introduced himself, and Miles wanted to ask when they had found him, because the aerokinetic had not been at the lab last time he visited.

"That name sounds familiar." Leave it to Batman to remember a robot from around sixty years ago.

Tornado nodded. "I was a member of the Justice Society of America."

"And your companions?" The other androids stood to the side, seemingly disinterested.

"My siblings. These are Red Torpedo and Red Inferno." Tornado introduced his siblings.

"What brought you here?" Batman asked, and Miles decided it was time to intervene.

"Common courtesy dictates that you thank them for the assistance, rather than starting an interrogation. I am sure someone has taught you these manners." At least he hoped Alfred had, because if it was Ra's Al Ghul, then they had a long way to go.

Batman just gave a small nod and left.

"In his place, allow me to relay to you the gratitude of the people you had just saved." Miles thanked the androids, shaking hands with Tornado.

"We are pleased to be of service. Would you require assistance with the cleanup operations?" The synthetic offered, and Miles gestured to James Gordon, who was organizing the GCPD forces.

"You should ask the GCPD; tell the Commissioner you're with me."

"I shall do that." Tornado turned to his siblings. "Would you two like to stay or return?"

Red Inferno and Red Torpedo looked at each other before agreeing. "We came all this way; we might as well do more."

"Thank you."

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The androids had the clear from James Gordon and began to assist the emergency teams as best as they could.

They cleared debris and patrolled the perimeter for any escapees, and Miles had given them a card to go and get food and drinks.

Beyond lending a helping hand, it was a good debut, or rather, re-debut for the androids, and some people had even asked for autographs, while the reporters were vying for an interview.

Miles had quickly made himself scarce, taking Ivy with them so the reforming villainess could avoid publicity and not cause a panic.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Miles had dropped Ivy at her little corner of heaven in Gotham while chatting along the way.

Pamela had seen the news of the demonstration and had come in to see it with her own eyes, intending to quietly leave before anyone could see her.

Good thing too; her timely assistance had saved them the headache of fighting Joker on the clown's terms.

The demo was left in the background following Joker's attack, but the organizations had promised their support, and Miles had directed them to finalize the deals with Mary-Anne.

Overall, it was a productive affair, if a bit more adrenaline-filled than expected.



-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the next chapter:
"Why are you telling me this?" Miles stopped smiling and jabbed the shock baton to Trent's stomach, causing him to seize up.

Pulling the baton back, Miles leaned in to whisper to Trent's ear. "Because you are about to suffer in agony, Trent, unless you speak, and I wager you don't have the same condition as my classmate."

"Do your worst."

"Very well." Miles ordered the guards to waterboard Trent, but they had to stop.

"Sir, we caught him crossing the perimeter." Two men came in, dragging a very curious-looking man they had cuffed.

A man dressed in a dark blue suit with a yellow shirt, a black tie, a blue coat, and a hat.

A man that didn't have a face.




Curious about the next chapter? Please consider supporting me in Patreon.

 

[TFTwink]

A man that didn't have a face.

Click to shrink...

ohohoho, the third best detective arrives on the scene!

 

[FTR2017]

He'd be a potential first if not for his 'charming' attitude.

 

[Mesa_Ex_Machina]

Why are you telling me this?" Miles stopped smiling and jabbed the shock baton to Trent's stomach, causing him to seize up.

Click to shrink...

Wait Trent is that the gray ghost is he torturing the Great Ghost?

 

[Lillie Jones]

Thanks for the chapter

 

[Samael61]

Wait Trent is that the gray ghost is he torturing the Great Ghost?

Click to shrink...

No, just another criminal.

 

[Samael61]

Hello there,

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

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-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The next several weeks were spent with the usual business of setting up a network, dealing with company-related issues, such as more demos, and assisting the Justice League wherever it was necessary.

Just as he was doing now.

"Miles, do you know anything about a speaking gorilla?" Since it was Flash asking the question, Miles guessed Grodd had made his debut.

"I have a feeling it does not communicate with sign language." Miles asked dryly. Even if he didn't have his meta knowledge, Flash wouldn't call for something simple, so Miles could afford to be

"Nope, words, just like humans do."

"Could be from Gorilla City in Africa."

"The what?" Even Flash, with his superior capability of disseminating knowledge, was taken aback.

"There is a hidden city of hyperintelligent gorillas in Africa. Unless it is a genetically modified specimen that escaped from a lab, it could be a fugitive from Gorilla City." Miles explained. Honestly, Wakanda itself was a better thought-out premise than sapient gorillas, but whatever.

Flash snorted, not in disbelief, but at the ridiculousness of the idea. "Right, hyperintelligent gorillas, great. Anything about mind control in there, or Dr. Sarah Corwin from River Bluffs Research Labs?"

"Give me a moment." Miles quickly messaged Zalika to gather all available information on the doctor and send it to Flash.

"She has been in a romantic relationship with someone over the internet, and, well, you won't believe this, but her partner is actually a gorilla, your target, I assume."

Flash was exasperated now. "You've got to be kidding me."

"I wish I was. It would have been preferable to witnessing something so morally questionable. And the photos, my god, some people are deplorable." Miles would have to bleach his eyes, because seeing Dr. Corwin's photos, where she had worn revealing lingerie that had been sent to Gorilla Grodd, was disturbing.

Good thing it was a show aimed at children, and this part wasn't included on the TV.

"Well, damn. Thanks, man."

"You're welcome." Flash would handle Grodd, so there was no need for Miles to intervene.

—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Following two rather explosive demos, interest in EnviroCorps had grown considerably, resulting in several offers of investment, which were being reviewed, but Miles wouldn't have anyone tell him how to direct his company or the projects, and requests of cooperation from several non-profit organizations, as well as other tech companies.

In a grand ceremony, thousands of Recyclus had been released to the Atlantic as well as the Pacific Ocean to clean the Great Garbage Patch, with the King of Atlantis once again in attendance, as well as several ambassadors.

Fortunately, this time it was a more peaceful affair.

Zalika's call, on the other hand, was wrought with worry.

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Beckett Residence

"What did you discover that stresses you so much?" Miles asked, having made his way home straight after receiving his charges call.

"So, I was just surfing on the net and came across news about a missing woman…." Zalika began, explaining how she had stumbled on a possible sex trafficking ring while trying to see if she could help by tracking how the woman had gone missing.

The technopath had first investigated the missing woman's browser and call histories and found a number she had received from the internet. The number wasn't in the woman's phone contacts or call history, most likely deleted, but following the trail had led her to the owner of the number, Trent Blackwell, who was dating another woman.

Just to be sure, Zalika had trailed the man, both in cyberspace and through CCTV, only to see him go on a date with the said woman, who had just been declared missing.

Zalika had called 911 and kept her eyes and ears on the situation, only for nothing to come out of it. She had hacked the call center and discovered her call was deleted, with no record of it anywhere.

More suspicious now, the young woman had delved deeper, finding several figures, including police officers, tied together in a network, which Trent Blackwell had been a part of.

Distrustful of the law enforcement, she had called Miles.

"Hmm, what you say might be correct. Give me names, addresses, and descriptions, and I'll investigate. In the meantime, stay on your computer; I might need your help." A fictional universe or not, this Earth was plagued by the very same atrocities that his Earth had been, and Miles would do something about it.

"Got it. You'll stop them, right?" Zalika looked hopeful.

Miles patted her on the shoulder. "They'll regret ever committing these crimes in the first place."

—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Metropolis

EnviroCorps

Zalika wasn't the last one to call him that day, though Mary's tone was calmer. Whatever it was, it wasn't something to be spoken on the phone, and here the trio was in her office, and Mary explained her reason for calling right after the room was scanned again.

"Miles, there is a situation."

Miles took his hat off and sat down. "I am all ears."

Typing on her computer, she turned the screen to Miles. "Several military figures approached me, off the record of course, on developing androids for military purposes."

On the screen, there were several photos of Mary speaking to different men, all with the rigidity that came from being a part of the military.

"Turn them away." He had no intention of selling weapons.

For now, anyway.

"I have, but they made some rather threatening remarks." Miles could guess what they were.

"The government can't afford an outright seizure; we are becoming too beloved by the population for it, and they can't afford a fallout with Atlantis. They will resort to more covert operations to acquire the tech. Have Thomas set up androids disguised as humans to aid the security, and my associate will keep tabs on any possible cyber attack, as well as a raid. In addition, start lobbying the relevant parties, and tell the law firm to be ready to sue the government to hell and back."

Any move from the government would include cyber attacks and black ops, most likely through Cadmus, to steal the necessary tech and research.

"Understood. What if we catch someone?"

"There will be no evidence left of an intruder." Any assets sent for espionage and theft would be deniable assets, and if they didn't exist for the US government, then they didn't exist for Miles.

Mary nodded, understanding that they were slowly swimming into dangerous waters. "Got it. I'll start working, and before I forget, that new researcher you brought has started working, and I put out feelers. There is interest in artificial rains and the manipulation of other weather events, but not without a demo."

It was expected, and Miles had no doubt the creator of the weather control device could deliver, perhaps an even better product this time.

"Ben did mention the need for ionic energy. Do our friends from afar have anything for it?"

"They did share with us the schematics for a device capable of generating ionic energy; as soon as a prototype is ready, we'll inform him."

"Good, anything else?"

"Administrations from several cities all over the world reached out to us for the Cryo Towers, and for cooling down data centers."

"What about Gotham? I made a promise to Bruce Wayne." Once you give your word, you have to keep it.

"I'll put them at the top of the list, but it's Gotham. Are you sure about it? There is a good chance one of those nutcases from Arkham will just wreck the tower out of spite, or for some grand reason." Joker alone might decide to blow the tower up, just because he lost to Miles.

"Cryo Tower's security is the business of the city, not yours." If the city couldn't protect it, it meant more work and more income for them.

"Works for me." If the villains damaged the structure, EnviroCorps would charge Gotham for the repairs.

"I won't be available for some time; in case of an emergency, you are the one in charge."

"I am not even going to ask, but alright."

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Going after criminals was fine, but their new target wasn't some rabble like Anton, so preparations were required.

Miles had gathered his operations unit and visited Thomas to get some much-needed upgrades.

"Your bodyguard is already a pyrokinetic, and it makes my job easier. This suit will give her increased firepower and offer protection against weapons fire up to .50 cal, and even that is limited due to the time constraints. So don't push your luck."

It was an armor that looked similar to Red Inferno but was tailored to Claire's size and meant to boost her considerable metahuman powers.

"Got it." Claire nodded, and the android Thomas took her away to further explain the armor's functions.

"As for your other request, I have prepared laser rifles with both stun and lethal mods, as well as grenades." Synthetics, meant to be simple workers to keep everything inside the lab a secret, brought four crates full of rifles and grenades.

"That was quick." Miles took one of the rifles out, inspecting the red, sleek weapon. Its barrel was split in the middle, with red glowing panels covering the insides, and its battery was located at the top.

"I made use of the production line for the Recyclus." With several thousand of the androids already out in the oceans carrying out the task they were programmed to, modifying the production line to make rifles and grenades was a simple matter for a genius like Thomas Morrow.

"Excellent work, Thomas, both of you, and as you know, none of this happened." There was no need to give the government more ammunition, and if the laser weaponry were discovered, it would do exactly that.

"Now if you're done, I need to get back to my work. Your CEO certainly keeps me busy." The old man grumbled.

Miles nodded and waved his hand to Captain Neumann, and his men began to load the crates into the trucks before driving away in the dead of the night.

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kidnapping Trent Blackwell was laughably easy. After Zalika had led him on the internet, he had agreed to meet the persona created by the technopath, only for armed men to stuff him inside a van and drive him to the abandoned warehouse they were using.

This world had a serious problem when it came to abandoned places the villains could make use of.

Trent was tied to a chair with a gag and a blindfold, waiting to be questioned to see which dark hole this trail led them down to. He was mumbling something, and Miles waved his hand to the men standing on both sides of him.

"Who the fuck are you?!" Miles was getting tired of all the little dirtbags he encountered swearing.

Couldn't he have a more distinguished enemy for once?

"Good evening, Trent. Though, seeing your current state, perhaps not a good one? Especially since your latest target isn't in sight." Only people around the room were men armed to the teeth.

"Shit." Trent swore, seeing as he was surrounded with no way of escaping.

"Now, I know you go on secret dates with women, and they end up being kidnapped. I want to know why, how, and all your contacts." Miles listed his demands, and of course, Trent had to refuse, because god forbid a crook ever have a shred of common sense.

"I'm not telling you anything."

Miles smiled, looking at the broken window at the top of the wall. "A classmate of mine had congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis. The condition itself was a dangerous one, especially as a child. He had at least a dozen major scars and constantly had to check his body for swelling, bruises, cuts, and whatnot. He had to monitor his temperature round the clock to avoid dying from cold or heat, as he couldn't sweat. Do you want to know what happened to him?" Miles asked after finishing his little tale, while the room listened attentively.

"What?" Trent was confused as to why the man suddenly started monologuing.

"He died from an infection caused by a splinter. Such a bright person, gone so early." Miles lamented.

Trent's pupils dilated as he began to sweat, having an inkling as to where the man was going.

"Why are you telling me this?" Miles stopped smiling and jabbed the shock baton to Trent's stomach, causing him to seize up.

Pulling the baton back, Miles leaned in to whisper to Trent's ear. "Because you are about to suffer in agony, Trent, unless you speak, and I wager you don't have the same condition as my classmate."

"Do your worst."

"Very well." Miles ordered the guards to waterboard Trent, but they had to stop.

"Sir, we caught him crossing the perimeter." Two men came in, dragging a very curious-looking man they had cuffed.

A man dressed in a dark blue suit with a yellow shirt, a black tie, a blue coat, and a hat.

A man that didn't have a face.

Wonderful. Now he had to deal with one of the most talented detectives in the world, and the most paranoid by far. "You didn't capture him; he let you. Uncuff him and stand back." The men were confused but attempted to do as they were ordered, only for Question to get up and dangle the cuffs before handing them to the guards, who stepped out of the room.

"Question, what a pleasant surprise to see you in Metropolis of all places. Tell me, what brings you to the city of tomorrow?" Seeing as he chose to be let in rather than fight his way through, Victor Sage must have been after the same target as him.

"He does. I've been tracking the organization he works for, and the trail led me here." So it was an organization and not some small-time criminal enterprise.

"Then we are fighting for the same cause." Not that Victor would buy it. The man inhaled paranoia and exhaled conspiracy theories.

Well trained and with the fleshy mask covering his face, reading the question was impossible. "We'll see. What have you found out so far?"

"He convinces women to meet him for secret dates, citing the need for anonymity, and takes them to expensive places. The rest is evident. Whoever he works for may also have moles in law enforcement." If the trail led Question down to Metropolis from Hub City, then the detective vigilante must have been investigating them for a long time.

"This isn't just happening in Metropolis. They are quickly expanding all over the East Coast, and I already linked more than thirty missing women to them. Has he talked yet?"

Quickly expanding, organized, and clearly had ties to law enforcement. Whoever the enemy was, they weren't amateurs.

"No, Trent is insistent on being a tough little walnut, but we'll crack him open to reveal the rot inside. Care to join us?" Question used subtler methods of interrogation, through psychological pressure and obsession, to disturb his target into confessing the truth.

"Why not?"




-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the next chapter:

Jump City

Jump City was a major urban hub, but not the powerhouse Metropolis was. Beaches, suburbs, and industrial areas dotted the city, and it possessed a much brighter and more colorful aesthetic compared to Gotham.

There was no Titan Tower yet, of course, but the city itself rarely saw any villain attacks, for now.

Zalika had discovered only a name before she was repelled: Arrival.

Miles was inclined to believe the enemy utilized arcane means to protect themselves and their systems.

What "Arrival" meant, whether it was a location or a date, was unknown to them, but no secret could stay buried forever.



Curious about the next chapter? Please consider supporting me in Patreon.

 

[Spearow]

hm, starfire might never appear on this fanfic, now that i think about it, the people that were at war with the bird people were the same ones that enslaved starfire, now she is probably having a normal life as a princess, shame that the titans will be missing a member.

 

[FTR2017]

hm, starfire might never appear on this fanfic, now that i think about it, the people that were at war with the bird people were the same ones that enslaved starfire, now she is probably having a normal life as a princess, shame that the titans will be missing a member.

Click to shrink...

Nothing stops Blackfire from fucking things up in that place in a different manner than canon.

Alternatively, Starfire going on a royal equivalent of spring break to bag herself a good husband instead of the local choices vying for power, and ends up on Earth, and gets Miles instead.

Besides, the whole energy blasting thing? It was a result of experimentation done by the unethical mad scientist lizards, not native to Tamaraneans as a species.

 

[Doc Sithicus]

Question used subtler methods of interrogation, through psychological pressure and obsession, to disturb his target into confessing the truth.

Click to shrink...

Call me old-fashioned, but discrete flaying and a Taser to the balls tend to work much faster.

 

[Lillie Jones]

thanks for the chapter