'Bruce Wayne, you are the father!'
Maury's voice echoed in my mind as I watched the Dark Knight stare at me in shock. Even through the mask, I could see it on his face.
His colleagues looked equally stunned.
"Yep. I'm your kid with Talia. Don't worry, I'm not here for child support, but I do need your help—and the League's as well. Bring up the file labeled Light, please."
I sat down and casually swung my legs onto the table.
Dubbilex taking a seat right next to me
Batman studied me for a few moments before selecting the file. A hologram sprang to life in the center of the room.
"These are The Light," I said, gesturing toward the display. "The secret cabal of powerful people you've all been fighting—and losing to—without even realizing it."
The hologram displayed several familiar faces.
Lex Luthor. Queen Bee. Black Manta. Ocean Master. Ra's al Ghul.
I could practically hear the gears turning in everyone's heads.
"These assholes got together and decided they wanted to roleplay as the Illuminati. The problem is, they succeeded. They're basically running the world and orchestrating more events than you can imagine. Roy's kidnapping and cloning? Superboy's creation? Those Ice Villains attacking all at once? All of it."
"God..." Superman muttered, rubbing his forehead.
"Not quite, Superman. They're led by Vandal Savage—an immortal caveman who's been around since before the Bronze Age. He's responsible for a ridiculous amount of history's worst moments. He's Nabu's father, the guy inside Doctor Fate's helmet, and he's partially responsible for Atlantis's fall."
I pointed toward Aquaman.
"He is also your many-times-over grandfather."
Aquaman's horrified expression was priceless.
"And here's the really messed-up part: he's doing all of this because he made a deal with an evil alien god over a future cosmic dick measuring contest."
I couldn't quite keep the disgust out of my voice.
"Oh, and Aquaman? Ocean Master is your brother Orm in disguise. He hates you and wants you dead."
I almost felt bad for the guy. He was basically living through The Lion King, except underwater.
"T-That's impossible," Aquaman protested. "Orm would never—"
The words died in his throat as reality began to sink in.
I kinda pity him, kinda.
"If this is true..." Batman said slowly. "Then the Roy kidnapping, Superboy and Genomorphs creation. Their influence. Their actions. The scope of this is staggering."
"Yep. And here's another fun fact: they know your secret identities. Clark. Diana. Barry. Dinah. Oliver. Billy. Hal."
I pointed at each hero in turn, thoroughly enjoying their increasingly horrified expressions.
"...How?" Flash asked.
"Hidden cameras. DNA samples. Financial records. Satellite surveillance. X-ray technology. Anyone with enough money and patience can figure out who you are. Specially when CSI who get hit by a lighting and a shower of chemicals and a few months later a man in red tight running at the speed of sound, no one would make the connection right? "
The room fell silent.
Then Batman spoke.
"How do you know all this?"
Fair question.
Meta-knowledge wasn't exactly an acceptable answer here.
I stood and straightened my jacket.
"When I was five months old, I was handed over to the Light for experimentation. They wanted me as the foundation for future genetic soldiers because of my lineage."
I glanced toward Superman.
"Years later, they found a Kryptonian ship."
Superman visibly stiffened.
"Inside was a warning and a vial. The vial contained a biological weapon. Krypton's ruling council considered it too dangerous to exist and ordered it destroyed. Its creator disagreed and launched it into space instead."
I spread my hands.
"It landed here, on our little blue planet."
The room grew very quiet.
"The Light did what they always do. They experimented with it. A lot of people died. Eventually, they used me as a test subject. I don't know if it was because my DNA had already been altered so extensively, but the weapon bonded with me."
My right arm shifted.
Claws erupted from my fingers.
Then the claws melted into a blade.
"Every cell in my body became viral biomass, until a yesterday I was nothing but black goo on a airtight cilinder."
Several League members visibly recoiled.
"Because of that, I can consume biological matter and absorb its properties."
My form shifted again.
Different faces.
Different bodies.
People I had consumed.
"Their memories. Their abilities. Their powers, I can use them all."
Flash looked sick.
"S-So you..."
"Ate them?" I finished. "Yeah. Thirty-four so far."
I sat back down.
"You killed thirty-four people and you don't feel guilty about it?" Batman demanded, rising from his chair.
Superman stood beside him.
"No."
The answer came easily.
"If it makes you feel any better, three-quarters of them were clones. Deathstroke clones. Cadmus clones. Disposable lab-grown soldiers. Some hadn't even been alive for a week. The others were even less humans and didn't deserved the gift of living."
That did not improve the mood.
"You can't make those decisions," Superman said firmly. "Every life is precious. We don't get to decide who lives and dies—"
I cut him off.
"And they do?"
The room shook slightly as I stood. Moving too fast in a closed space.
"They decide who gets raped. Who gets murdered. Who gets tortured. Who gets mutilated. They make those decisions every day."
Part of the chair bent beneath my grip.
"If I can stop them, I will."
I stared directly at Superman.
"Mercy toward monsters is cruelty toward their victims."
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then I sighed.
"Fine. I didn't come here to debate morality. I came here to see if I could get you guys help, but I see that I can't so I need make sure that you all don't interfere."
I looked at Batman.
"Would you mind typing in www.BabelTowerSuck ? Time's ticking and is in your guys best interest to see that."
Batman held my gaze for several seconds before complying.
The page loaded.
A red countdown appeared.
00:05:55
"What is that?" Hal Jordan asked.
"My insurance policy."
The room suddenly felt much colder.
"That countdown leads to a complete dossier on every one of you."
Nobody moved.
"Strengths. Weaknesses. Powers. Secret identities."
I smiled slightly.
"And a complete list of everyone you care about."
The silence became absolute.
"Alfred Pennyworth. Jonathan and Martha Kent. Lois Lane. Iris West. Carol Ferris. Mera. Thea Queen. Dinah Drake."
One by one, their expressions darkened.
"In less than six minutes, that information becomes public."
Even Superman's eyes began glowing red.
He still didn't move.
"Every criminal, assassin, psychopath, and wannabe supervillain on the planet will know exactly where your loved ones live."
I folded my arms.
"So tell me."
My smile widened.
"Do you really want to stop me?"
Nobody answered.
"Good choice."
I pushed myself to my feet.
"This has been fun. While I take no joy in blackmailing you all, is unfornatly necessary "
I adjusted my jacket.
"Don't worry. Dubbilex will give you the password after I've left the station, specially after you guys agree to the little guy demands for his people, can't let Light get their hands on them again"
I turned toward the exit.
"See you around."
Then I vanished.
I blitzed through the Watchtower, raced down a corridor, and found a docking hatch.
One punch.
The hatch gave way.
Space swallowed me.
I floated there for a moment, staring down at Earth.
Sunlight washed over me.
My biomass drank it greedily.
The Kryptonian genes I'd absorbed from Match strengthened with every second under the yellow sun.
Below me, the planet turned silently.
Waiting.
I smiled.
"Light."
My eyes narrowed.
"Ready or not..."
I launched myself toward Earth.
"...here I come."
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End of Chapter
new chapter guys, hope you guys liked
I am Back!
Word Count: 1206