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The Silhouette and The Forge Chapter 54
🕑 Added 2025-12-22 15:24:41 +0000 UTCDespite her talking like she was about to turn this fight around she didn’t. I would give her this-- she put up one hell of a fight. Despite the depleted necronium cuffs around her legs preventing her from speed-blitzing me, she was still swift. Strong as well.
She already proved that when she could knock me back in her first attack at least a meter. If I were to compare her now she would be similar to a Halo Spartan. Even with her magic that enhanced her nullified she was still somehow stronger than your everyday regular human.
Despite knowing she would lose she didn’t give up. Even with a broken hand it didn’t stop her from countering and trying to take me down. It went on for a few more minutes before she was struggling to get back up with her back pressed against the wall.
She grunted stubbornly refusing to give up. I let out a suffering sigh. “Just give up already…”
I slumped when she just glared even harder at me putting even more effort into it. Probably just to spite me. I casually walked up when she was almost back up.
Fist cocked back with the shield held at the ready she brought her arms up far too slow but enough to take the brunt of the damage when the metal disc reverberated across the boat slamming into her braced arms. She looked like she wanted to curse or say something but stifled it under a suppressed groan of pain.
Her back was further pressed into the now thoroughly ruined and dented back wall. Her arms after that looked ruined. She breathed in lungfuls of air covered in sweat, bruises, cuts, and a smidge of blood.
She looked exhausted yet somehow undefeated despite me absolutely bodying her in every way.
She stared at me defiantly. “Never.” That was all she said trying to get back up with a grimace.
I looked over towards the river that was still somewhat turbulent. “Do I keep going?” I questioned Poseidon, genuinely confused about what to do now.
I never got an answer so it could mean just keep going. “Well, I guess it’s about time I finish this. It was fun Wonder Woman but this has long since worn out its welcome.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Oh don’t hold a grudge now this is me helping you.” I tutted at her before a barrage of fists slammed into her chest forcing the air out of her lungs.
She was stunned long enough for me to grab her and toss her across the floor. She rolled to a stop in front of a metal seam in the wall with me calmly walking over adjusting my coat collar and sleeves nonchalantly.
“Lord Poseidon, am I to presume I have punished her enough?” I loudly called out, head turned towards the river. The water seemed to calm down with the frothing waves fading away turning back into the calmer waters the river was supposed to be.
Grabbing a rebellious Amazon who was straining to get up and dragging her closer to the seam. Pushing a button for the escape pod doors to open only for the doors to barely open. Looking around I see the problem. The wall taking its fair share of a muscled Amazonian back seemed to shift the frame enough for the doors not to open properly.
“Tsk tsk tsk,” I wagged my finger in her face, slapping her broken hand away when she tried to grab the offending finger. She gritted her teeth, eyes turning bloodshot from what must have been a lot of pain from the rather powerful smack. “Now you mind your manners in front of your uncle. In fact, let me help you get them under control.”
With a flex, my black trench coat wormed its way off of me as if it was alive and to Wonder Woman’s horror leapt at her. She tried to knock it away only for it to wrap around her arms like a boa constrictor. Restraining one arm with the other not far behind it as she tried to pry it off only to get the other wrapped up as well.
“What… Ugh! What sorcery is this?!” She exclaimed before her arms were firmly wrapped across her chest looking like a black leather straight jacket.
“I don’t know? Maybe technology. Could be magic. Like a tootsie pop with how many licks to get to the center. The world may never know.” I responded flippantly and was completely dismissive of her rolling her eyes at my response.
With her now restrained my fingers dug into the metal like it was clay bending and crumpling the metal when an application of chakra further enhanced my strength. The metal shifted and folded groaning before it opened enough for me to toss her into the long narrow hall further into the boat as she grunted and snarled trying to get the jacket off.
She wheezed, shaking from the pain she must have been in. She got on her legs about to charge me. Or she was until a spartan kick with my boot straight into her face sent her flying back into an open waiting chamber.
“Your chariot awaits you, princess. Some advice for you,” I say as the transparent doors sealed with her slamming her head into the viewport glaring at me. Her snarling visage takes me back to my troll days when playing online games. “If you can’t beat little ol’ me then you and your friends have no chance against the threat that is Darkseid.”
She paused the angry look now gone as she processed what I just told her before pressing a button before she could ask any questions. The bait had been set. Now it was up to her and her friends to follow the trail and realize what was coming. Or remain willfully ignorant of the looming shadow creeping across the cosmos.
I know Darkseid was intended to play a bigger part in Young Justice. I just didn’t know how powerful he is in the grand scheme of things. I never watched much beyond the second season so whatever they did with the series after that is up in the air if they ever brought it back.
The pod with a silent hiss launched out of the boat moving at speeds exceeding most craft that regular people would have. Turning away from her retreating form banging against the escape pod's viewport I calmly walked back to the control room of my deck.
“I am happy to see I managed to please you oh great God of the ocean.” I bowed once more before the water construct that was waiting for me staring down at me imperiously yet curious.
“You have served as my punishment for my niece and have done a magnificent job. Even managed to embarrass her. I am very pleased. Name a reward and so long as it is within my power I will see it done.”
I paused, having not expected this…
“I ask that you give Diana a safe and quick journey where she will quickly find her Atlantean friends,” I said back, making the entity pause.
He looked down at me with a searching look. “Very well. Before I leave, know this,” He leaned in, staring down at me, his beard dripping onto me as I was fully under his shadow. “Do not abuse the trident and show respect towards me and you will be safe from my wrath. Do not and…” He leaned away as tendrils of water formed out of thin air around me snapping and coiling around me..
He did this from near nothing. The moisture in the air and the water levels had not dipped when they were formed so he didn’t take it from the surroundings. Yet the laws of the universe mattered not to the God of the ocean as the tendrils wrapped securely around me. My arms and legs were enveloped and after giving a few tests I could feel that even if I used everything in my arsenal to enhance my strength it wouldn’t be enough to break free.
“I don’t quite know what you are. You are similar to my family and me, yet somehow alien in every way. I can feel that spark within you that we all have. But it’s dulled and subdued.” That was all he said before the water lost cohesion falling apart hitting the deck with a wet splat.
After that the construct fell apart, the water having fully calmed down. Beyond the ruined buildings and destroyed shoreline of the river it was almost like nothing had happened. Besides the looming dark clouds with the crackle of lightning interspersed between them.
With that taken care of I quickly left the area not wanting to stay around longer than necessary. I had exhausted a not-so-insubstantial amount of resources just handling Aquaman and Wonder Woman. Staying around for any other heroes to show up is just asking for trouble.
…
Wearing a suit over my dark skinned guise of Will Hardigan while I idly rubbed the bruises on my body. Stepping out of the car I waved off the attendant who was going to open it for me instead shaking their hand thanking them.
Waving amongst the gathered crowd of people who waved and showed their support for what I was bringing to Metropolis. I was originally intending for this to be used over in Gotham but I said screw it since it would probably get attacked or blown up and it would be best not to put all of my eggs in one basket. Not that Gotham wouldn’t get a factory. It was also a good thing to spread out beyond Gotham.
Especially with me now owning a not-so-insignificant amount of mines and other such resources across the globe. Not as Will Hardigan but as Daniel Cunningham. That was a quick shock to my system when Light and the others brought it to my attention after leaving the capital.
But it was quickly taken care of by taking advantage of the incredibly anonymous way it was left in my ownership by leaving more subtle bread crumbs towards my current alter ego. It was annoying as it was useful giving me a means to explain how I managed to acquire the raw resources needed for future business and uplifting endeavors.
I stared up at the factory which was a big part of my plan. Project Get Nuked in Your Mouth. And I see the man who all but owned this city in his pocket walked up with his eye candy and bodyguard. What drew my gaze first was his bald head. A childish part of me wanted to do a little reenactment of the bald scene from the SpongeBob movie.
I of course had to ignore it despite how tempting it would be. “William, it is a pleasure to finally meet you face to face.” Lex Luthor said, holding his hand out for me to shake.
His grip was surprisingly strong for a normal human guy. He wore a crisp black suit with a white undershirt and a black tie tucked in.
“This is Mercy Graves, my assistant.” He gestured towards Mercy when he noticed me looking at her.
She merely watched me like a hawk. Observant as if she was probing me for weaknesses or signs of treachery. I nodded her way as she did the same.
“A pleasure to meet you both.” We walked along the crowd that had gathered here in front of the newly established Nuka Cola factory.
Despite how most cities would have you go through the needed paperwork and other various trials to do something like this, Metropolis had something else that most don’t think about at first glance. Lex Luthor loved to gatekeep in Metropolis.
It wasn’t anything in your face or overly overt. It was more subtle and most of the more wealthy individuals don’t even know or realize that it was him making things difficult to get established in the city. Now that didn’t mean he kept everyone out.
He controlled so much in this city that it was rather surprising and made me ask why he allowed me in it. A once small up and coming business that quickly turned into a growing company that had outgrown some other already established companies but was under Lex Corp and Wayne Enterprises and a few other companies.
Such was the growth of my company. Enough that you would think the guy would be against me setting up shop. Instead, he rolled out the red carpet. I idly mused when some reporters were being kept back taking pictures. I even noticed the Daily Planet logo with Lois Lane in the distance.
No Superman with her but that is to be expected when he and many members of the League were currently handling the mess that was the capital of the country.
“Well as you both know I am William Hardigan, owner and founder of Solutions Incorporated. You can just call me Will. I am thankful you supported my efforts to get the new branch of my company a place in Metropolis, Mr. Luthor.” I said earnestly, sounding grateful while he chuckled.
“Please just call me Lex. I like to help support those with potential and especially help nurture those with… ambitions.” He said vaguely.
He smiled and waved towards the crowd as he subtly along with Mercy both eyed the bruises on my form. The same bruises that had formed after my fight with Wonder Woman.
Interesting… it would seem Bruce wasn’t the only one clued into the bread crumb trail. It made my respect for the guy grow that he might have an inkling of a trail that he shouldn’t have been aware of.
After all, that trail was meant primarily for Bruce to follow along without most others being able to follow it as he could.
“Respectable. Most people would try to act like a cactus out in the desert, poisoning their surroundings to kill off any competition.”
Luther just chuckled, straightening his tie despite it being just fine. “Sometimes a garden needs to be tended to lest certain plants that seem beneficial are merely weeds in disguise.”
“So what am I then? Beneficial or a weed?” I ask quietly enough for the gathered crowd not to hear us.
“Beneficial of course.” He smoothly replied.
“Has your company thought about going into robotics by any chance? I think you would make quite the splash in that industry.” He made small talk but I didn’t fail to understand what he was saying under the seemingly simple topic.
“Maybe sometime down the road in the future, we could begin to lay the groundwork for a branch dedicated to such things. But for now, my company will continue as it has while branching off into other industries.”
Luthor hummed at the comment giving me a calculating look. “ A shame since your company has made impressive growth in such a short time but I will admit to being interested in your ideas for other industries. Should I be worried you might be looking to outgrow my own?” He gave a small playful smile yet I knew he didn’t view me entirely as a threat. It felt more like he saw an opportunity and a potential asset that had caught his interest.
“You have nothing to worry about Lex, I am perfectly content with where my company currently is. Consider it more like I am looking to help uplift humanity. Though I will admit I am a bit surprised you knew of my interest in robotics. How did you know?”
A complicated series of micro expressions that were nearly impossible to notice if not for my lenses and own enhanced senses when mentioning advancing humanity.
“I always keep an eye on the competition and what they are interested in. Especially when they have much potential to help humanity rise ever higher. I will admit I love your work. Especially when you unveiled those three prototypes.” He gave me a kind and encouraging smile yet it if anything showed his ambition and how he wanted my androids.
If he hadn’t already gotten his hands on some of the pieces from them. He may have ties to the government or enough leverage to get a look at what was left of them. Each of them had built in contingency plans to have most of the more important pieces destroyed when they were defeated.
Not all of the pieces were destroyed since the ones left behind were of little consequence if someone managed to get them. They were more advanced than what was on the market but they were simple things. Like a car's spark plug, or air filter in the sense that they were common things that wouldn’t make any difference if someone managed to snag them. Nothing groundbreaking that someone could use for a doomsday weapon.
I could have had it all destroyed but the issue with that is the means to destroy everything in their bodies. Wonder Woman was hitting far above what she normally used when she battled the first three androids. If that’s what it took to destroy them then imagine how much it would take to properly ensure nothing was left of them.
I’d rather not place bombs or explosives in them when someone could potentially use that to either defeat them or use them as a means to bomb a city when they are fighting some heroes in a highly populated area. So for now I am content with only scraps being left of them when the alternative was using far more powerful means to keep others from getting their hands on them.
“Interesting how you are aware of that. While I appreciate the interest it will be some time before anything much greater is unveiled to the public.” He knows of Will Hardigan’s connection with Silhouette and is aware of what I can do. It would only be common courtesy to let him know that the public may not see them soon but others most certainly will.
“A shame but I do hope others such as myself can get a peek behind the curtain.” He said trying to sound humble but the hidden conversation we were having to anyone not aware of it told me plenty.
I hummed making a show of thinking it over. “Maybe. But that would be sometime in the future when we both know we can trust each other or at the very least won’t backstab one another immediately.”
He raised a solitary brow in my direction at the mention of backstabbing. I shrugged innocently, “In our line of work that type of thing is rather common Lex. You have been at this potentially longer than I have, so you have seen your fair share of it. Consider me being so blunt as a way of brokering some trust.”
Lex tilted his head before a small smile wormed its way across his mouth. “Understandable and rather refreshing. I have dealt with far too many liars in this business and trust doesn’t come easily for people like us.”
The day went on as we met the press answering some questions while enjoying the newly opened factory for the beverage that I intend to take the country by storm. The kicker was that Nuka Cola was as much for me as it was for the rest of the world.
Got tired of tasting the different pop they had and none of them quite hit the spot. So I said screw it and made Nuka Cola an official thing here while enjoying the closest thing I would have to Coke or Pepsi. It was like a weird mixture of the two with a few differences.
An advertisement had been done for the product and hinting at future variations of the drink in the future. Lex and I schmoozed around making connections and meeting everyone who had come out to this.
“And you're sure it doesn’t have radiation in it?” Louis Lane asked me. I sighed in exasperation already having answered this question three times prior.
“Yes. It’s just a name. Like how bomb pops just has the word bomb in its name to make it sound more appealing doesn’t mean it has an actual explosive in the popsicle. My beverage is no different.”
Lex looked amused seeing her blast with several different questions while the other reporters were more mild and within reason with their questions beyond the radiation question.
The day went by at a moderate pace when I would rather be done and over with it already. It wasn’t too slow but not fast enough for my taste. It eventually came to an end when word spread to the gathered reporters of an upcoming press release they would rather be there for than a newly opened soda factory.
Reclining back in my chair in an office that had been bought for use in my company branch here in Metropolis I relaxed in the dark room before my uninvited guest made himself known.
“Why did you do it?” The deep voice of Batman greeted my ears.
I merely spun the chair lazily reclining in it eyes closed humming at him with a playful smile. “I was wondering when you would show up.”
A strong hand grabbed my suit collar, yanking me up and pulling me close. “Enough games. Why do this Silhouette and where is it?”
“Ha!” I merely laughed at him saying the name. “You think I am Silhouette? Pffft please like I am some comic villain. That would be too cliche.” I said jokingly not intimidated in the slightest just having a grand ol’ time with Bruce.
He wasn’t having any of what I was saying and if anything it seemed to anger him even further. “I know your Silhouette. Everything leads back to you.”
A hand raised with Batman letting go of me ready to punch me but stopped when he realized I wasn’t attacking. My hand gestured towards me and the rest of the room. “As they say, all roads lead to Rome. Or in this case, all roads lead to shadows. Case in point.” I looked him up and down.
“What did you do with the trident?” He demanded stalking up to me.
“Why whatever are you talking about Batman? Me and the symbol of Aquaman's rulership over the oceans? How could a simple businessman like myself do anything to a Justice League member, let alone two?” I hammed it up, almost like a comedy actor in a parody movie. A bad one at that.
Something Batman was not too happy to see or hear. He glared and with gritted teeth he responded, “You're going to tell me where it is. And going into custody after what you did to Wonder Woman.”
My smile went from someone having a blast to the kind you wear when a buzzkillington ruins the mood and takes a dump in your cereal bowl.
“Custody? I haven’t done anything.” I shrugged my shoulders with him looking down at my bruises. “I think you're overstepping by doing this, you know?”
“Does Daniel know who you are?” He asked me, completely ignoring how he is breaking the law himself right now.
To be fair he is doing the right thing and I am the bad guy.
My smile developed an edge to it. My posture stiffened as I stood taller and got up in his face. “You leave him out of this. The boy is of no concern to you, especially considering your own relationship with Bruce,” He hid it well but I still noticed the small signs of him reacting to me bringing up his public identity, “And Alfred. I don’t exactly know your exact relationship with them but considering your equipment and how advanced it is Bruce has been hooking you up.”
I smugly smiled in his face, his hands tightening enough that his knuckles popped, even as dulled as it was by the suit. “Daniel is every bit of my concern when you are using your own son.”
I laughed. A sharp bark of laughter that grew before I had both of my hands on my desk turned back to him. “Ha! That was-- ha ha ha-- a good one. Using my son. That’s the first time I heard that.”
I shook my head wiping away a fake tear. “Even if I were using my own flesh and blood, what are you going to do about it? I haven’t broken any laws, you have no proof of anything. Hell, even if you recorded this conversation it would be likely to be dismissed in the court of law since you yourself are a vigilante acting outside of the law.”
My emphasis on breaking the law to him had him tense up but he stayed where he was. “You hurt Wonder Woman.”
“Really? You're not even going to address your doing things illegally… like a criminal.” I said quietly just pressing the milder buttons I could on the man.
Despite it being what I viewed as something mild he took offense to it. His posture stiffened, his jaw tightening.
“I am not a criminal. Not like you.” His cloak draped around him hid his body from view. How the hell does he not fall over stepping on that thing?
“Cute. You're just a few steps away from being just like me.” I said aloud, rolling my eyes at the display. “The problem with you is that you only see black and white. I, on the other hand, see shades of gray.”
“I am nothing like you.” His voice got a little louder, far more firm with the anger simmering beneath the surface.
“You say that like it’s a bad thing…” I picked up a pencil spinning it between my fingers as Batman's eyes narrowed even more. “And I know not what you speak of with whatever happened to Wonder Woman. We all know your guy's line of work comes with plenty of inherent dangers. It would seem the danger finally caught up with her. Thank goodness whoever the villain was that harmed her was decent enough not to go too far.”
“You killed innocent--”
“We both know they weren’t innocent. There is no such thing in Gotham.” My humor-filled voice was swiftly replaced with a stern emotionless tone of voice that for most people would catch them off guard.
But Batman showed no surprise, just his frown deepening even further. It would seem his patience was being tested even more than I expected right now. “They were people and didn’t deserve to die. You did that to them so why would Wonder Woman be any different?”
“Deserve has nothing to do with it. You want a drink?” I asked him as I got out of my chair and walked over towards a counter with a few drinks ranging from alcohol to Nuka Cola and some simple water. “Also Silhouettes’ actions should speak for themselves. They don’t go out of their way to harm civilians and besides what happened during that gang war Silhouette has seemingly done everything in their power to ensure the people were fine.”
I poured myself some Nuka Cola with ice in the glass while sipping away. “Ah, that’s some good stuff. Hard to believe no one else could make it this good until now. Now where was I? Oh yeah! We don’t deserve anything in life Batman. At any moment we could lose everything. Just look at the man who supplies you with your equipment. Bruce didn’t deserve to lose his parents. Did he?”
Batman was like a blank page, I couldn’t read a thing from him. But his sensors built into the suit told me a different story. Outwardly he was angry but the calm kind just before you cut loose. The type of anger that doesn’t blind you but the opposite. You're far more aware than you would have normally been.
But Bruce’s suit told me all that I needed to know. He was indeed angry but he was also now listening to me. More so now than before. “Well? Do you think he deserved to lose them? Did he deserve to have all the wealth he has? Did he deserve to have both good and bad things happen to him? No! It just happens. Life giveth and taketh away. Or God if you believe in such a thing. I know I do.”
“Then you should know better than to do what you have done. You know you're not going to a good place on the other side.” He calmly said it like he was just making a deadpan observation of the weather.
I chuckled as I walked past him towards my desk. “Correct you are. But sacrifices must be made. Something you somewhat understand but don’t fully comprehend what that means. Oh yes, I am likely going to hell for what I have done for the greater good.”
Batman closed the distance between us in an instant, fists slamming into the desk rattling everything on it and even knocking over my half-empty glass of Nuka Cola. “Don’t you dare try and tell me what you unleashed in Gotham was for the greater good! You have sacrificed nothing and used the lives of so many people to build a throne of blood and gold for yourself!”
I merely stared up into the angry white eyes of his cowl before scoffing, shaking my head in mock disappointment. “Several things you seem to have the wrong idea about or just straight up don’t understand. For starters, I almost sacrificed a lot for Gotham's sake. Just as God himself offered up his own son for all of our sakes, so too did I nearly give up my only son.”
“Daniel’s life wasn’t yours to decide. Neither was everyone else’s.” Batman leaned down getting into my personal space looming over me like the black shadow of death itself.
“No. They weren’t. When it came to Daniel I did all that I could to ensure he survived. It was the least I could do for him since I was never a part of his life and the reason he was in Gotham in the first place. The other people… while I still mourn their losses they were necessary sacrifices.”
“Their lives were not for you to choose nor was Daniel’s… to do that to your own son and to compare yourself to God.”
I glanced at the spilled drink lamenting the loss but it can be replaced once this conversation is over. He noticed my gaze then looked like he wanted to strangle me when I was more worried about my Nuka Cola.
“I am merely noting a similarity and countering your point of how I hadn’t put myself or something I cared about at risk. Yet as much as you condemn me you cannot deny my methods worked where as yours… failed.” I looked up from his hands which looked like they were about five seconds away from crushing the wooden table under his grip.
His lower face all but screamed violence yet there was hesitation. Or there was until he broke the silence.
“My methods saved lives and helped Gotham. Yours brought death and ruin.” He growled out.
I just shook my head like I was amused by a particularly slow child. “Of course they did, and look what happened. A shiny new Gotham with the slate wiped clean for the new man to rebuild. Every act of creation is at first an act of destruction.”
“Why?” He moved to get into my face but froze with a grunt escaping him as he slowly inched his suit forward but was slowing down before fully stopping. Like he had become a statue.
Giving him a playful smile wagging a finger in front of his face. “While impressive you managed to have a gel built into this particular suit to dampen trauma and impact it wasn’t a good idea to give it an automated means to activate. Especially when your suit is so easily compromised.”
Batman’s jaw rolled as he ground his teeth. Before he could say anything his suit released as he looked at me now wary. Yet I made no move to harm him. “I could have hurt you. Potentially even done what so many supervillains in Gotham have tried for years to accomplish. I won’t.”
My expression softened towards the man who had spent a not-so-insignificant amount of time trying to help Gotham. “To answer your previous questions after proving how easily I can handle you, I do so because I do not know how much longer I will be alive. Because I saw a city in desperate need of help. Because I wanted to leave something for my son since I could never give him anything before. Because I want peace in our time. I have many reasons for doing what I did, but know this!” I held my finger up like a professor lecturing a college class.
“Not a single reason was for power or to become a petty warlord. Now if you don’t mind I would like to rest and enjoy what little free time I have until I must get back to work. This interview is over you can leave through the ceiling where you came in from. And remember to stay out of trouble little fella’.” Batman’s softened expression hardened back up as he turned away from me, his cape made him look like a dark shadow had come to life.
“You're not getting away with this, Will. Regardless of your reasons you will be brought to justice, especially after what you did to Wonder Woman.” With that, he left the room and the building while leaving a few listening devices behind.
Rolling my eyes and letting out a huff before looking down at the spilled glass and back at the cabinet. “At least I have you all to myself.” In a rare moment, I got to enjoy a small luxury of some good pop while watching Metropolis through my office window.
Got to admit as nice as it is to watch this city filled with hope and sunshine, I miss Gotham's more gothic vibe. It grows on you like a fungus but no one can deny Gotham lacks style.
Taking a sip of my new favorite drink only to pause when something was dropped in me. And it wasn’t just mental or spiritual. Cup dropped from my hands spilling across my desk as I mentally scrambled to take out Batman’s gadgets and anything else observing me.
Stumbling over to the blinds blocking out the window before relinquishing my control over the body, eyes going wide as Heli stared down at me in utter fascination. Raising a hand watching my skin form bubbles like it was boiling water. All across it they formed with my skin shifting like tides on an ocean before it began to melt, falling apart before our eyes.
“What the fuck now…”
…
“Washington D.C. is currently experiencing a never-before-seen tragedy today. A supervillain known as Silhouette had attacked the capital of our country targeting a United Nations gala.”
“The extent of the damage is currently unknown with it currently unknown if any have perished from this tragedy. So far after the anomalous weather and sudden flood only those with injuries have been discovered. The Justice League's help has mitigated any potential deaths...”
“The video you are seeing shows the superhero Wonder Woman being taken in for medical treatment after she engaged Silhouette. No comment from the Justice League on what happened and what they intend to do to right this attack on our country.”
On and on the various news stations with reporters droned on about the newest interesting thing to happen in some time. The last time he could think of something that got his interest was when he bore witness to that conflict all that time ago in what was now known as Mongolia.
Sipping the aged vintage wine while delicately dabbing at his face from the tender steak he had enjoyed. “What do you make of this one?” His quiet yet powerful voice held an intensity which few could match. The kind that came with living through all of humanity’s eras and bearing witness to it all from the very beginning.
“Silhouette shows much potential. My shadows have been keeping an eye on Gotham since his first appearance. Seeing what he has managed to accomplish is most impressive.” The man spoke calmly yet his green eyes couldn’t hide the calculating look he had when he gazed at the image of the black clad figure.
“I must agree with you Ra’s, it is not every day we see someone so brazenly attack a meeting between various governments to steal a powerful magical weapon and artifact. He even managed to get the better of Aquaman and Wonder Woman.” Vandal Savage mused aloud.
“Not something anyone could do. I am curious what he intends to do with the trident.” Ra’s said his curiosity piqued.
“You still have not given me an answer Ra’s. Do we have an accord?” Savage asked his younger compatriot. The man had lived a long time through the usage of his Lazarus pits but nowhere near enough like Savage.
But it was enough for him to view things from his perspective and see the bigger picture that most couldn’t hope to. Whether it was from attachments or being so short-lived they couldn’t see so far ahead into the future like how the two sitting at the table could see the results of choices made far into the past.
Not only that but Ra’s was open-minded enough to hear him out without his ego getting in the way. Ra’s like himself was capable of seeing his goals through to the bitter end regardless of how much death and destruction they created in the process. The ends justified the means after all.
A few hundred or even thousands of lives compared to the entirety of humanity and the rest of the universe. A simple choice if there ever was one. The modern person would be incapable of making such a choice whereas he and Ra’s were more than capable of making such a choice. It’s what made them fit for what must be done.
Ra’s stared into Vandal's eyes, weighing the benefits whilst also thinking of any treachery or downsides that come of this. Eventually, his decision was made. Ra’s slowly nodded towards him, “We have an agreement, Vandal. Your organization the Light has potential.”
Ra’s extended his hand when Vandal returned it. The two shook on it for a brief moment before their third companion made himself known.
“Finally! I didn’t think you two old geezers were going to agree and this would have been a colossal waste of time.” Klarion whined with his anchor meowing at him.
“I know it’s important Teekl! But all that chaos and we had to miss out on it…” He slumped over watching the magical image replay of Silhouettes and Black Mantas plan in action.
“With Klarion and me a part of this Light, who are the other members you have your eyes on?” Ra’s said while side-eyeing the Lord of Chaos.
“Currently the businessman Lex Luthor, and the aquatic terrorist Ocean Master. A potential candidate is the one who has garnered all of our interests and attention as of late.” Vandal said, holding his arms behind his back watching the various screens that showed the devastation brought upon Washington D.C.
Silhouette had made a name for himself but also managed to make many enemies in the process. Many countries would not forget this, especially the United States. Nothing quite like having a mysterious figure embarrass your entire nation within the very place where every decision made for the country was made while they had guests of other powerful nations attending.
Vandal idly wondered if this was also a part of his plan or simply a consequence he had come to accept as the price for what he was after.
“The first makes some sense, the second I am unsure of. As for Silhouette, that is someone I would like to meet. A rather hard man to find if there ever was one.” Ra’s commented watching the waters surge along the river and flood the capital of America.
“If you have ideas for candidates I am willing to hear you out. Especially if you have reservations about Ocean Master.” Vandal said casually while looking towards Klarion who whooped and hollered when according to him Poseidon was the cause of the devastation.
“Black Manta had aided Silhouette and from the looks of things his master is not aware of what he was a part of. He is capable, cunning, and has shown intelligence beyond what a simple mercenary would have. Why not him instead of Ocean Master?”
Vandal hummed before he gave his answer. “We have time to make a decision. I do see your points. Any suggestions you could think of for other candidates?”
Ra’s gave a knowing smile as if he had just the people for the Light.
Batman confronted you +50
Get Lex Luthor's interest +50
Bring Nuka Cola to another world +50
Perks gained: Slime (Overlord - The Series) (200CP) There are many types of slimes and oozes. All of them are uniformly next to impossible to hurt with physical attacks, but are incredibly vulnerable to one type of elemental damage (fire for a regular slime, ice/cold for a lava slime, etc) and also possess a slight weakness to magic in general. You possess the ability to take on a human form that will pass even close inspection, while losing none of the benefits that come with being made up of an amorphous slime-like substance, and possess physical abilities at least twenty times that of a human. Including speed, despite how odd that may seem. You can naturally fit through tight spaces, shape your body into unnatural forms, and can make as many 'feelers' or 'manipulator arms' as you like. In truth you're more like a uniformly colored Shoggoth than you are anything else, except without all the eyes and body parts. Slimes are also powerfully acidic and can inflict grievous acid damage on anything they touch; you naturally possess the ability to determine whether or not your acid will damage the things you are in contact with. All Slimes are naturally good at alchemy and can create alchemical substances and magical potions, if they possess the knowledge of their creation, directly out of their own body. Slimes, due to their nature, are ageless.
