"I can't believe what I'm hearing," Debbie said, her voice filled with surprise as she rubs her temple of her head.
From my explanations.
I shared all the information I retrieved from the Belfry computer, even the full video of what Omni-man and Invincible did. I told her I would use this to confront the League and get my answers even from Cecil.
A full day had passed since everything went down at my house. Were still in my kitchen, but now the space was filled with more than just me and Debbie.
Dick leaned against the counter, drinking a cup of coffee, already thinking of a plan. "I know this a lot to take in Ms. Grayson, but I think Caius might be right."
Barbara sat beside Debbie, her eyes soft as she was taking in my plan as well. Her posture was straight, I could tell she was already dissecting my plan. "It's not just that Dick," she said. "Caius will have a lot of push back not just from the League but from a lot of people in the hero community, and let's not even talk about the fact that Omni-man is still out there somewhere."
Diana sat across from Barbra her calm presence, seemed to be the grounding force in the room. "That is a issue Barbara, but it still doesn't change the fact that Caius must receive answers, and get the community to trust him, or at least get his freedom back. Not that I think the government or Batman will stop keeping tabs on him."
Miss Martian sat quietly, her eyes moving between everyone as they talked, feeling the tension in the room. "I agree with Diana, but simply confront Batman and Superman, along with whoever else knows will not simply change anything. Proof will be need a show of good faith. Like Mark whereabout and status with the GDA."
Debbie looked down and couldn't say anything. It was clear to see she was conflicted. She clearly still loved her son, but after what he did, and what he said, she just didn't know what to do if she saw him again.
Ted sat back in his chair, arms folded, looking like he'd was use to these kind of situation before. Knowing him probably too many times. " Either way the kid is right to confront the league about this. I can't believe they would do something like this. They haven't learned keeping secret like this will only hurt the people around you, if it doesn't bite you in the ass first."
I looked around taking in everyone's comments, and then I looked back at Debbie again.
"I know it's hard," I said. "But you have to think about it. Cecil showed you what Mark and Nolan said. He's the one closest to the people pulling the strings behind the scenes. I don't know why he hid this from you but, I can believe he didn't want to give you false hope if there was no way of reaching your Mark."
Debbie clenched her jaw.
"That bastard still hid my son from me," she said. "For years. He didn't let me see or talk to him. Nothing. He stopped answering my calls and restricted my access to the GDA headquarters."
Ted spoke next, voice grounded and blunt. "Debbie… that might've been for the best."
Debbie looked at him with a shocked expression. "Your saying I have no say in the matter regarding my son?"
"No, and I'm not excusing how he went about it, but I've trained people like Mark," Ted continued. "People so deep in their own beliefs and views, there's no talking them out of their actions. They believe their so right, and because their strength backs it up. They only way that changes is if you show them a different path , but that requires a lot of time and patients."
"Otherwise you only would have see something that would break your heart even more."
Dick nodded slightly. "That is true, but you forgot to mention it only works if the person wants to change," he added.
A heavy silence followed after that. I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the table.
"We can deal with Mark later, We will have to either way since we need to know if he will be a future ally or threat. But for right now, the League has been hiding things for too long. And They need to be held accountable."
I then looked at Diana, and she met my gaze without hesitation.
"You're right, Caius," she said. "Batman and Superman both kept this from us, and from me. And even after five years… we cannot say that we've truly recovered from what happened until what was done to you is addressed."
Hearing that was the confirmation I needed. I'm going to settled this one and for all no matter what.
Caius then stood up. " It seems like we are all on the same page then, so let's do this today then."
Everyone looked up at me. " We will call for all hands meeting. We will find out who else knows about what happened and we will get the truth."
Dick nodded immediately. "Right. I'll call the senior Titan members," he said. "But Raven and Kori are still missing, and they've disabled their trackers and won't respond to any messages or alerts we send them."
I frowned slightly. " That's fine then we find them later, I've got questions for Kori anyway. I just hope their both alive and okay."
My mind drifted for a second. Mark said she was important to the Empire… but why?
That's when M'gann spoke up. "Caius… can I ask you something?"
I nodded. " Of course M'gann. Go ahead."
She hesitated for a moment. Then.... "What are you going to do… if you find out your parents are dead?"
The room went still again, and everyone's eyes were focused on me. Even Ted straightened slightly.
Diana's voice followed up the question. "That is a good question M'gann. What will you do Caius should that be the case."
I didn't answer right away. My fingers interlocked in front of me as I stared at the table, and I thought about my parents.
I spent so much time with them and accepted them, and they truly loved and cared for me. It's a feeling I wasn't use to in my past life. They were everything to me, even if there was a possibility my dad was going to try and conquer the world.
But then I lost them before I got a chance to find out. But I know deep down he would have protect Earth. I knew it in my soul.
But the though of them being dead, I never truly contemplated it, because I refused to believe it without seeing a body.
If they were dead… The League wouldn't walk away from this clean. Not this time ,and neither will Batman and Superman.
Caius exhaled slowly. "I will have my justice."
Diana's eyes narrowed slightly. "And what does that justice look like?"
I looked up at her. "Evolution."
The word hung in the air.
She studied me for a moment. "Evolution huh?… Well you'll have to show me what that looks," she said.
I nodded once. "I will, and if we're done talking… let's go get the truth."
Diana nodded. "I am making the call now."
Wonder Woman pulled out her league communicator. A small compact and sleek device.
"This is Wonder Woman to all senior Justice League members active and retired. I calling a priority one all hands on meeting. We shall meet at the Hall of Justice ASAP. For to long we have hidden the truth and today that truth will finally come to light. Ask that when you come that you bring a open heart and mind. This Wonder Woman signing out."
She closed then communicator.
Then Dick pulled out a small round device with a T logo on the back.
"This is Nightwing to Senior Titan members. I am asking for your attendance at the Hall of Justice ASAP. Titans its time we make a old wound right. One of own needs our help, and we never leave a friend behind. Remember Titans Together."
In several locations all around the world, the messages reached multiple ears. The Cave of Justice (Happy Harbor). Conservatory of Sorcery (Atlantis). The Fortress of Solitude. The Batcave, and so many more locations.
Dick smirked. "Now the message is out there, I just hope everyone makes it in time." He then placed a hand on my shoulder. " It's your show now, we follow your lead."
I looked back at everyone seeing the trust in their eyes, and I felt like I wasn't alone. I then stepped to the door. " Alright let's head out."
Hall of Justice — Washington, D.C.
As we made our way to the Hall of Justice, I decided to fly there, while everyone decided to take Miss Martians Bioship.
I could tell I was flying differently then before. I wasn't using my TTK at all and I was more fast and my maneuvering felt cleaner, and more… natural. My body moved without needing to force it the same way I did before.
It felt like switching from driving stick shift to driving a motorcycle. I smirked slightly mid-flight."…Yeah. This is definitely different."
I pushed a little harder, and felt my speed jumped instantly. I felt like if I focused and wrapped my TTK wrapped around me instinctively, I cut the wind resistance even further.
I feel like I could go faster, a whole lot faster.
I wonder if I went to space and launched myself from the moon or Sun could penetrate through through the planet? Probably
I chuckled. "…Yeah, let's not test that here."
Maybe Viltrum. Or Apokolips.
That thought alone made me grin slightly but shook those thoughts away and focused on the the mission in front of me. By the time I landed outside the Hall of Justice, the others were already arriving behind after a few minutes.
And waiting by the entrance I saw alot of familiar faces. Superboy stood near the entrance, his arms crossed. He was no longer rocking the sunglasses, and just kept his simple jeans and black t-shirt, with the Red "S" Superman crest on it.
Cyborg stood beside him. Victor didn't look like a cyborg this time but more human, but I'd recognize Victor Stone anywhere. Gotham city former football star with a huge future ahead of him, and was bright and smart way before he got that tech put in him.
I then saw two Martian Manhunter, and Black Canary. Both were silent and observing like always. Seeing them made my blood run cold.
I then saw her. Donna Troy.
The moment my feet touched the ground. She ran up to me. "Cai!" She hit me like a truck, wrapping me in a tight hug. I caught her easily, laughing slightly.
"It's good to see you too, Donna."
She pulled back just enough to look at me, then immediately pulled me into another hug. "You have no idea how long it's been."
I smiled. "Pretty sure I do."
She laughed, brushing her long black hair from her face. "You wouldn't believe what it's like being an emissary between Amazon tribes," she said. "Bana-Mighdall in Egypt, Themyscira, the Forgotten tribes in Brazil, and The tribe War Woman is from...."
"Yeah," I said. "You're definitely telling me about that later. I will even help you with all that if you want."
Donna raised an eyebrow in surprise. "I'm holding you to that Cai."
Diana stepped forward. "He will be visiting Themyscira soon anyway," she said.
I blinked. "…Wait. What?"
" Sorry I didn't say this earlier, but my mother wishes to meet you. I wanted to wait until we've settled this business with the League, before I added more to your plate." "
I stared at her. "… Why does Queen Hippolyta wants to meet me?"
Diana stared. "It concerns your mother, and your lineage that is all she would tell me."
I exhaled slowly. "…Ok, another side quest great. Well being invited to Themyscira is a honor. Well as long as Donna comes with me."
"Relax Cai, of course I coming." she said softly.
"Thanks Donna."
Then Canary and Manhunter approached. Dinah looked… uneasy, and J'onn looked like always, calm and unreadable.
"Caius," Dinah started. "It's good to see you. After… everything… we tried to reach out,"
I raised a hand cutting her off.
My body trembled slightly. Not from fear, but from the memory of that day. I said flatly. "I'm here for information, about my parents. If your coming to me to try and bury the hatchet and get my forgiveness," I continued, "don't look for it because you won't get it."
Her expression tightened.
Debbie's hand rested on my shoulder. "Caius… Is this really what you want to do? Carry around the pain of that to the point it affects you like this." She said looking at Caius's trembling hand. "Look I' not asking you to forgive them, that is your right , not mine. Just give them a chance."
I turned slightly toward her. "Is that an order?"
She shook her head. "No. I cannot make you do something you don't want to do. It's your choice. I'm asking you to try, for your sake, and for theirs."
I paused for a moment looking at Debbie. She wasn't wrong, I just think I'm so angry I would rather be stuck in my aner. It was the only sense of power and control I had left. Something they helped take away from me, but unlike the others they did try to reach out to me over the years and make things right. I was the one that chose to ignore them.
I exhaled slowly. "Ok…Fine."
I looked back at Dinah and J'onn. "We'll talk this later after this. But know a ' I'm sorry' won't fix anything."
Dinah nodded. "We understand that, we just want the chance to make things right."
I didn't respond. I just turned and walked inside.
Inside the Hall, I looked around. "So," I said, "are we doing this here, or in the new Watchtower?"
A voice answered behind me. "We'll do it here."
I turned as several members of The Justice League walked in.
Batman
Superman
Hawkgirl
Shazam
Icon
Green Lantern (John Stewart)
The Flash ( Barry Allen)
Aquaman
And Donald Ferguson?
Wait what was Cecil's assistant doing here. This interesting, I might be able to get some information on Mark since he's here.
That's when John Stewart stepped forward towards me. And for a second… I was a kid again.
Growing up in my past life I was a fan of his. One of the first black heroes in the DC comics and a Green Lantern to. Not to mention he was a Marine too. Which was one of my inspirations for joining in my past life.
He's one of the few men I respected even if he did fumble a bombshell like Vixen. I just wondered why he was walking up to me?
As soon as John got close to me he extended his hand. "For what it's worth," he said, "I respected your father. We did a lot of missions together when I was on Earth. I still like to believe he saw the good in Earth and wanted to protect it."
I was surprised to hear to hear that, but coming from him filled me with a small sense of hope. I shook his hand firmly. "Thank you, sir. It's an honor hearing that from you."
Then that when the Titans entered.
Wally. Conner. Jackson. Garth. Tula.
They all approached with warm smiles.
Jackson was the first to speak." We got you message Nightwing. Conner told us we just made."
Wally was the next to speak. "It's been a while, Cai—"
I crossed my arms. "Only my friends call me Cai.…And I haven't seen you in five years."
They froze. I could tell my words hit hard. Good
"…We know," Wally said quietly. "I'm sorry."
I smirked slightly. "Yeah. I figured that out."
They looked confused.
"I noticed things over the years, I couldn't tell at first until I replayed the surveillance videos of my home" I continued. " My favorite Candy showing up at my place when I was having some bad days." I glanced at Wally.
"My backyard pool was cleaned. The Lawn was maintained and the flowers were watered." I looked at the three Atlanteans. " Even Olympic-level equipment kept showing up at Ted's gym specifically for me." I looked at Conner.
"I know it was all you, and I appreciate it," I said. "But that's not a substitute for showing up. "It felt like bribes like you guys were to scared to face me in person."
Their expressions dropped. Good. They needed to hear it.
I exhaled slowly. "…But."
They looked up.
"If I'm giving Barbara a chance… I might as well give you all one too. At least you all did something in your own way, over nothing."
Jackson stepped forward slightly. " Caius, We'd like that."
I nodded once. "We'll see."
Then, Batman spoke. "I think we've had enough catching up." His voice cut through everything. "Let's get to the reason we're here."
The room shifted as the League members sat down and The Titans along with Debbie, Donald, and me stood up
I stepped forward, and for the first time in five years, I felt like I was right at the cusp of the truth.