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The Silhouette and The Forge
Chapter 42
“Thank you so much, Bruce!” Kirk said, furiously shaking his hand.
Bruce awkwardly chuckled, smiling at Kirk’s exuberance at having the funding back and then some. I merely stood off to the side near Pamela. Seeing the good news put smiles on our faces as well.
Pamela was still getting used to the lab but immediately got close to the animals. To be fair, who doesn’t love small furry animals like rabbits?
“Don’t need to thank me, Kirk. As far as I am concerned you have earned it.” Bruce said honestly, glancing over to me before his eyes snapped back onto Kirk’s.
Yeah, he definitely knew I sacrificed my project to keep Kirk from going off the deep end. Now for the bigger question. Does he think Will is connected to Silhouette?
There’s a reason I made that alias, ensuring the company sprang up around the time of a crisis with several other events each leading to Solution Inc coming out ahead if only by coincidence in some cases. My forces obviously won’t attack my company unless a plan requires me to do so.
But for the other powers in the city, they don’t bother attacking it. No idea why. It could be because it’s small in their eyes so it’s not a threat along with much bigger targets in their crosshairs. Or the good work they do cleaning up the city making it nicer than it was reason enough to leave it be.
Not ruining a good thing for the city and themselves… I think it’s more the former than the latter but plenty of people in the city have been complimenting Solution Inc for the wonderful jobs they do.
“I’m just glad you and several of our donors were kind enough to continue funding the university. So many professors here were sweating bullets not knowing how they were going to get by.” Kirk said worried for his coworkers.
Most of the teachers were relieved when word came that several of the donors had changed their minds about pulling out of donations to the university. Both my hunters and the surviving members of the Court under Jaina's leadership had changed the Court for the better.
Starting by reinvesting into the university prioritizing people who could bring significant progress to both arts and sciences. At my suggestion of course. Woodrue was considered… not a worthwhile investment.
Figured the guy could use a few good kicks while he was on the ground. After all, he had no issues doing the same to others.
Woodrue's lab was instead given to Kirk who in turn gave it to whichever professor could use it most. Citing that he didn’t need the extra lab, the one we have was more than enough.
“I was going to give more funding if they pulled out myself but I don’t know if I could have met the needs of the university. It’s why I myself am happy they changed their minds. Far too many gifted people would be denied chances to better humanity like you have managed Kirk.”
Bruce placed his hand on Kirk’s shoulder leading him towards another part of the lab. But not before when Kirk wasn’t looking, sending me a playful wink.
One that Pamela picked up on looking between the two of us with a curious look. Head tilted making her look almost like a puppy trying to figure something out.
“Careful Pamela, you tilt your head anymore and your brain might just slide out,” I say in a teasing tone. Nudging her with my elbow I get a shoulder bump in return.
The smile sent my way was a happy one. “Bruce isn’t as dumb as most people say he is.” She said matter-of-factly like she just realized something that was so heavily believed in was in fact false.
“Whoever thought he was dumb might want to have their IQ tested. The guy runs a multi-billion dollar company and hasn’t run it into the ground like others who inherited things like it.”
“Fair point. Guess even someone like me can fall prey to the gossip of others.” She said acknowledging it and by extension her view on what kind of person Bruce is was wrong.
“Pam I think it’s a good thing you don’t have much to do with those kinds of people. You are far too kind-hearted to hang around people like that.” I earnestly told her.
Not failing to notice her acknowledgment she doesn’t have many friends if any beyond May who is more of a grandmother to her.
Pam coughs into her hand awkwardly turning away with a blush on her face.
“So what do you plan to do with your experiment and hope to accomplish?” I ask Pamela, showing mercy by changing the topic.
She snaps to attention with a far too serious expression on her face.
“Currently I intend to utilize samples from various plants ranging from common to rare to attempt to treat dangerous diseases. With the gathered data if it pans out could lead to different cures that would be better for patients than more common medicines and practices in the medical industry.” She said it all like a machine gun.
Good thing I have a perfect memory otherwise all of that would have gone in one ear and out the other.
“Alright… would you like some help on the project?”
“Uh… maybe?” She says her finger tips are poking one another looking bashful. “If it won’t get in the way of your own project.”
I waved my hand dismissively. “Nah it’s not that big of a deal. I will have plenty of time to help you.”
Walking over to my station with Pam being given my old one she followed behind me looking around. Catching her wandering gaze she stayed on the board which had numerous ideas and designs on it of different ideas and projects.
The most notable one at the top of the board was what I intended to be one of the things focused on by both me and the engineers.
Extremis.
Ever since I had the formula shoved into my head I knew it could be a game-changer and get my name out there even more than the stimpacks would have had I not helped Kirk out. He still hasn’t stopped thanking me for doing what I did to the point he almost got us caught by the other staff in the university.
Beyond collaborating with Kirk to get his gene splicing research to work I intend on getting extremis to become more than what it already is. Its current limitations beyond the glaring issue of turning someone into a thermal bomb were the limits to its healing factor.
Like decapitation or major organ damage like the heart would be fatal even with extremis. Alongside things like a subject healing from something being more vulnerable should they be attacked during the process it would be easier to kill them.
But for now, extremis is something that would be accomplished in the long run. Another project just below it is Addictol. To be more specific a rough formula for the chemical concoction that could cure physical addiction.
That would grant me fame, money, and most importantly-- connections. Something like that is both useful to society, and wouldn't step on the toes of big pharmaceutical companies making me enemies.
Not that I minded. It would be satisfying crushing those bloodsuckers beneath my boot but unless I have a means to give proper health care to a lot of people and not cost a lot of people their jobs I currently can’t bring myself to do it.
It’s what has been restraining me from being more proactive. Getting others hurt or killed in the crossfire simply being at the wrong place at the wrong time. I made that mistake with my drugs. If it can be avoided I will do so.
So I restrain myself waiting until the time comes when I can make my move.
“You have high goals, Daniel. I mean really up there.” She said both brows raised when looking at a list of ideas and what they could potentially do.
“My mom always told me to never aim low. So I don’t. The sky's the limit as they say. Plus with the completion of…” I make a show of glancing side to side making her smile grow, “You know what I can now get to work on the next bit of business.”
She leaned back against my table with me getting closer.“The next project is,” Tossing a paper ball over my shoulder hitting the addictol part of the board with Pamela reading it, her brows rising higher and higher, “Curing the physical addictions the population suffers from!”
Her mouth hung open at my bold statement. Not saying. Not questioning. Stating that it was going to happen. Like it was a fact.
Pamela awkwardly laughed in disbelief. “Well… at least you're not lacking in confidence?”
“Ye of little faith,” I said in mock disappointment.
Pamela stopped dead in her tracks, head craning to look at me. “Little faith?” She asked me incredulously. “Have you seen half of what you have written on that board?!”
She exclaimed like I was completely oblivious to the ridiculous lunacy that was on it. For a normal person, it would be warranted. But for me…
Crossing my arms, head held up, and back turned to her, “I see you have much to learn, Miss Isley.”
“… You think you’re being cute don’t you?”
My head was tilted looking at her in amusement, “Pamela please,” A hand waved at her sassily, “I’m adorable.”
“About as adorable as a Chihuahua barking at three in the morning.” She grumbled in good humor making me chuckle.
Her joking humor was replaced with a far more serious expression, “Jokes aside Daniel, those are some seriously high standards you are setting for your goals. Are you sure you're not setting the bar too high?”
Her question and concern weren't fake. She genuinely was worried about me setting myself up for failure. That touched me.
“Don’t worry Pam, just because I set the bar for myself so high doesn’t mean I'm going to be devastated if I never reach it. If anything the journey alone is worth taking and learning from. Who knows, I might make other discoveries along the way.”
Pam’s expression softened when I explained. She was surprised even more by what I said next.
“Plus we have each other. With the two of us and Kirk, there isn’t a thing in this world we can’t discover or solve. I know it.” I placed both hands on her shoulders as she stared into my eyes mesmerized before she realized how close I had gotten and where my hands were currently touching.
Unlike all the other times she didn’t fidget or get nervous. She just had a slight blush creeping up her cheeks but otherwise she looked fine and comfortable. Her hands slowly wrapped around my waist pulling the two of us together.
We were far closer to one another with Pam pressed against my chest and I looked down at her emerald green eyes. I don’t know how long we stayed like that with our faces creeping closer towards one another.
Just when our mouths were inches away a thump made us pause. Looking around for the source of the noise, Pam having separated herself from me while adjusting her disheveled clothes in case anyone walked in wouldn’t get any ideas of what was going on between us.
Looking over to see our entitled rabbit thumping her enclosure making her displeasure known to all.
Shaking my head we both chuckled. “How about sometime this week we go out?”
My question didn’t catch her off guard for once and she seemed to like the idea. Tucking a stray hair behind her ear she walked closer to me placing her hand on my own that was currently on the lab table.
“I would like that. A lot.” She said, staring up into my eyes.
Cleaning up my table and adjusting my own clothes a little smoothing them out with Pam eyeing me like a piece of steak still.
“Alright. Well, I managed to find out about a new nature park being built on the edge of Gotham. Heard it was supposed to have some rare plants and be far cleaner and better taken care of than the other parks.”
“Really?” Pam perked right up when the word nature was mentioned. “I think I heard something about that. Some person just had funded it and got permission from Gotham city hall since the land wasn’t being used for anything else and not many people frequent that part of Gotham.”
Pamela said, surprising me she had kept up with something random like that. Or random for most people but not for her. Plants and nature meant a lot to Pam. Far more than most other people.
“Yep. Figured you would enjoy it since it would just be me and you there since it should be close to being finished.” I leaned back on the table, arms crossed.
Pamela frowned at what had just been said, “Wouldn’t that mean we would be trespassing ?”
Waving my hand at her nonchalantly, “Nope. Managed to talk to the one who funded it. Said it was fine for me to check it out so long as I don’t damage anything.”
Pam thought it over while helping me finish up the lab while I wrote down more ideas on the board, each of them making her roll her eyes at the absurdity.
“Alright. So long as the one having it built doesn’t mind and we don’t damage anything I would love to go see it.” Pam said with a dreamy look on her face.
Whether it was because she was going to a new nature park that would have rare plants that weren’t endangered or because she was going out with me. Maybe a little of both.
Our time in the college soon came to an end, each of us going our separate ways with Kirk far happier than he had been in quite some time.
Making it back to my apartment as I paused after shutting the door. Looking down at the wood paneling along the floor and wall I noted it looked far cleaner and more… classy. Like the shape of it had been changed and adjusted.
It looked better to me because it was something I would have preferred. That is not good. I don't need people getting their attention drawn to me and my apartment.
Especially if people connected any dots that might exist that lead to me having something in common. Like being in two areas where something suspicious happened on both occasions.
But that wasn’t the only suspicious thing. I could hear someone in my apartment. They were quiet. Very quiet. The kind you gained from long intense training.
Walking like nothing was wrong with a knife sliding right into my hand I turned to walk towards the couch and TV before swiftly turning and tossing the knife towards the intruder.
But it wasn’t just any intruder. It was Batman. He narrowly avoided the knife throw with it lodged firmly into the wall with him prepared to fight with that infamous scowl on his face.
But I didn’t make any move. We stared at one another for several long seconds before I lowered my arm and body relaxing with him following me shortly afterwards.
“You know breaking into someone’s home is illegal right?” I say to him nonchalantly like I hadn’t just tossed a knife at Batman.
A knife that had he not dodged when he did would have pierced his eye socket.
“So is sneaking into a multi-billion dollar company, Daniel.” He said evenly.
Stepping towards him he remained calm showing no sign of aggression, “Can I get you anything? Chocolate milk, orange juice, maybe a sandwich?”
“Why do you help Silhouette?” He said ignoring my questions.
I rummaged around in the fridge getting the things needed for a good sub sandwich.
“Because I owed them. I would be dead if it weren’t for them saving me and that’s why I showed up at the Owls party. That and if I didn’t a lot of people could have died.”
The bread was placed on the counter with the meat slices layered onto it like a blackjack dealer at a casino.
“They also fund your illegal back-alley clinic,” Batman said right next to me but I paid him no mind adding some different cheeses to the growing sandwich.
“So far they haven’t done anything to try and control me. I will be honest on this,” A couple of sliced tomatoes with some green leaf lettuce were tossed onto the growing pile, “I didn’t like them getting a bunch of people killed during the last gang war. But that same money can help the survivors so I made the best of a bad situation.”
Batman remained silent, simply content to stand by me watching. “Can you hand me the mustard please?”
A black clad hand held the bottle of sauce that the gods had the kindness to bring to us, mere mortals. Taking it and drenching the sandwich in it before setting it off to the side.
“Thank you.”
“Where did you learn to fight and use the skills I witnessed you use against the talons?” He asked me with no ill will or malice. Just a simple question.
“What I had taught myself.”
Batman remained silent after my answer so I continued taking his silence as a gesture of its own to continue.
“I was always smarter than most people. Learned far quicker, and was physically stronger than kids my age should be. Anything I see or hear is forever lodged into my mind crystal clear even years later with no deviation from what I had experienced. So one thing I always enjoyed with such a gift was learning something new.”
Taking a knife and cutting the sandwich in half gesturing to one of them with Batman just staring at it then me before walking back into the living room. Shrugging to myself, I got a plate with both sandwiches loaded up before walking over to my couch.
Reclining back on it, enjoying the meal while Batman stood off to the side.
“All of what you did was from what you had taught yourself with whatever other powers you have?” He said fishing for information.
“Look as far as I can remember I have had these powers just kept them on the down low when my mom was alive. After she passed I had nothing keeping me there and came here figuring I could use my knowledge in medicine to help people .”
Batman stood there, his expression turning a tad gentle. “So you intend to do as you told me back in Wayne Tower?”
Mouth full of food after a big bite both hands raised up in the air nodding at the man. Finally swallowing my food I responded, “Yes. I don’t do the cloak and mask stuff. I can help people a lot more by fixing them when they are hurt or making things that could make their lives easier. The only reason I helped was because Silhouette contacted me telling me help was going to be needed at Wayne Tower.”
“Silhouette is aware of your powers?” Batman asked me but I knew he had already come to his own conclusions.
“Yeah, I think they are. They never outright said it but always seemed like they did. I don’t know much of anything about Silhouette, just like everyone else in Gotham.” I told him, finishing off one sandwich and starting on the other half.
Like I am going to let a glorious sandwich go to waste. Batman in the room or not that thing is getting eaten!
“You trained Jade well… Why did you do it?” I paused halfway to bite into my sandwich.
With a sigh, I set it back down looking up at him with a far more serious expression.
“I did it because if I didn’t she would have gone down a far darker path. She could have used her talent and skills to become a monster… I saw an opportunity to turn her towards a better path. One that she could be proud of once she reached it.”
I told him with far more honesty than I had anything else in this conversation. It wasn’t an interrogation. Yes, Batman was in my apartment without me knowing or at least that‘s what he believed.
But he wasn’t necessarily doing it to spy on me or to truly gather information. He could have done that by bugging my apartment when I wasn’t around without revealing himself to me. Sure there were most definitely listening and surveillance devices planted in the apartment but that’s besides the point.
He revealed himself to me and was asking questions that I am pretty sure he wouldn’t force me to answer. Why he was doing this beyond scoping me out was anyone’s guess.
Even with my intelligence I didn’t know why he was doing this. Either way, it doesn’t matter since he was here in my apartment with me now.
“… You did a good job helping her. Like you did with Kirk Langstrom. Did you help him for the same reason?”
I was silent for a moment playing up the act of the revelation Batman was aware of my sacrifice to ensure Kirk didn’t become yet another supervillain that this city did not need.
“I did it because the guy was being pushed closer and closer to the edge every day. The chancellor and Woodrot both would have caused this city to suffer through another potential supervillain. I couldn't-- I wouldn’t let that happen. My project was nothing compared to helping that kind man. I would do it a thousand times over again without hesitation.”
Everything I said wasn’t rehearsed drivel. It was all
from the heart. Every word was meant with sincerity. I cared about Kirk because the guy meant well and didn’t want to screw me over. He wanted to help the world be a better place. Not turn it into a dark twisted nightmare of itself.
Batman turned away from me heading towards a window. But before he fully left he gave me some parting words.
“Good. It’s never easy doing the right thing, but you understand that Daniel. Stay out of trouble and don’t let me catch you doing any criminal activity.”
With that Batman was gone, having left through one of my apartment windows. I downed the rest of my sandwich before getting up.
Hours later after finding all the hidden devices Batman hid in my apartment courtesy of both my enhanced senses and the technology of the engineers made it was far easier to find the things.
Musing to myself about how I would give Batman this even with my enhanced senses the guy knows how to hide stuff pretty good. Would make one heck of a game master for an Easter egg hunt.
Not all of the listening devices were taken out of the room. If anything they could be used to aid in making me look innocent. That and if all were found he would try even harder to find a way to eavesdrop. I wouldn’t put it past Batman to find a way to do that even with me.
With some of the devices being left alone, I left my apartment heading for one of the buildings around Gotham that I used for training but usually with Jade. Checking the place over seeing how there was no surveillance the workshop was opened.
Time was of the essence as I went over designs and had the engineers help build them.
Before me, the engineers were assembling a power generator that with my newly gained knowledge of Doctor Gero should provide a limitless supply of energy.
Even the engineers were caught off guard by the idea of what the generator could do. Like anything they got their tentacles on they tried to improve and make it more efficient despite what it could do.
They also added safety measures to ensure that if the generator ever became unstable, it wouldn't blow up the planet or in case the workshop was closed wouldn’t outright annihilate everything within it.
But my current favorite project I was looking at had me excited. Three humanoid figures are suspended above with the engineers putting some of their finishing touches on my creations.
Androids 1, 2, and 3. After my clash with Wonder Woman and the Justice League cracking down on my illegal businesses made me realize I needed minions capable of going against them.
Sure I could get strong enough to one day handle them myself but any good supervillain has capable competent minions to do their bidding. It makes me look bad when my own forces can’t handle them and I have to personally deal with every problem that comes along.
Looking over their sleek forms with Android 1 is female in design with her appearance looking like an adult version of Raggity Ann with farm girl clothes. Daisy Dukes with suspenders over a brown plaid t-shirt. Her skin was chalk white with a red nose.
Android 2 looked like Fonzy had a love child with a gremlin. Slicked back black greaser hair, black leather jacket with jean pants. His skin was scaly-looking in parts with a slight green tint that was only noticeable once you got up close to him. Of the three he was by far the shortest standing at a whopping four feet tall.
Android 3 in contrast to 2 was a behemoth. He was seven feet tall, looked like he was a freight train given life. His appearance was a mixture of Arnold Schwarzenegger meeting the Hulk. Muscles upon muscles.
Numerous tubes ran the length of his body with red liquid draining from several coconut-looking fruits. Time to see how well that Re’em blood is when used for pure power.
Android 3’s thigh alone was easily twice as thick as my body with him making an imposing sight. A strong thick highly pronounced jaw that would make Sylvester Stallone green with envy with black sunglasses adding to his denim biker aesthetic.
Each of them was designed to have unique powers and abilities tailored to each of them. I didn’t expect any of them to be capable of handling the major hitters of the Justice League, but they would be a good starting point to gather data and information.
Each of them had large tubes of wires connected to the back of their heads with the cords attached to machines that had monitors on them showing recordings of all publicly available fights the Justice League had been in.
They would use that data to get a better understanding of how to properly fight against them and beat them. The last was a big stretch since the engineers and I firmly doubted that alone would give them an edge to win.
It would give them experience and a good starting point but nothing more than that. Their bodies still had exposed metal and components from parts that were not finished with the engineers and various machines using robotic limbs working to finish them.
Looking over a report on what could be salvaged from the lost product that Flash and the rest of the League members had destroyed wasn’t much.
They had been rather thorough to make sure there wasn’t much of anything left to salvage ranging from the defenses like the turrets and robots to my drugs. The latter is either manual labor or defensive measures to protect the small mini factories churning out the product.
Those were dismantled and damaged to the point that the engineers may as well just make another robot from scratch. Not because they couldn’t repair them but because it would be time better spent making more superior units than wasting on the ones that had been demolished so easily.
Despite the massive setback they had suffered with the help of the engineers working to rebuild what was lost we were recovering ahead of schedule. An alert popped up on my contact lenses. My eye goes to the red exclamation point showing an image of Superman who was flying out of Metropolis and heading for Gotham.
A quick search on the dark web with some hired help had the man of steel immediately stop and look back at Metropolis despite being miles from the city as he knew what was happening. One last look over his shoulder towards Gotham a frown on his face before flying back to handle the new crimes causing chaos in Metropolis by yours truly.
The other League members much like Superman get any ideas about coming back to this city for round two were swiftly stopped by hiring down-on-their-luck people to wreak havoc on their cities by causing chaos without hurting other people.
Most of them didn’t have an issue when not only would the debts they owed like student loans get paid off but if they got busted I would post bail for them. So all they have to do is be a public nuisance and they get all of their debts waved away and don’t have to spend much time in a jail cell.
It was rather obvious what most of these people would do. So they each took the deal. Once word got around I kept my end of the deal by paying off their debts and posting bail for them they immediately got to work destroying public property and just making life miserable in the cities.
It was a contingency I had made and had on standby ever since I had acquired the first million from my illegal business. It was just in case the League ever popped up when I had no means to directly fight them.
Looking at the other screens the various heroes have calmed the chaos of each city down but so far they would go back to them when they started coming back for Gotham.
I did not believe for a second this would last forever. They would find a way to handle and bypass my contingency. It would be stupid of me to think they wouldn’t try and eventually find a way.
It’s why I was currently looking for something that would make them back off. A deterrent. Something that would force them to back off and leave me be or at least make it so if they attacked me or my business again they would think twice about doing it.
It would make me a greater threat to them but they already would view me as such when I managed to hold my own and overcome a holding back Wonder Woman.
Batman popping up in my apartment didn’t help matters. I don’t think he believes my public identity is Silhouette. Especially after the coincidences with the new company popping up in Gotham that prospered from every single tragedy that acted like bread crumbs to him.
An attempt to get him to come to his own conclusions even if it may have been a bit obvious for anyone with knowledge of the bigger picture and things that the public wouldn’t know about.
All done to throw any trail that could lead to Daniel off course using bait and switch obfuscating the truth. Glancing down when another prompt appeared on my lens HUD.
A sly smile slid onto my face. About time that loose and dangerous end was snipped. Activating the prompt when an image of an armored vehicle holding a cuffed Samantha Vanaver in several casts and bandages on a gurney.
She looked miserable. That pained down downcast look changed when something got her attention making her look up. Her expression changed from one of shock then horror when she looked like she was staring into my eyes.
The image had a brief flash before the feed was cut. Glad to see that Jaina's helper managed to sneak the explosive onto Samantha’s transport. If only I could make that last look on her face into a screensaver…
Note to self make a screen saver for the Batcomputer the last look on her face before the end.
With that old problem solved the future was looking brighter and brighter for the city. What was left of the Court was firmly on Jaina's side. The few who had believed this was an opportunity to take over for themselves were quickly replaced by hunters with the others not noticing a thing.
The vast wealth even if diminished when the civil war had broken out was still something most people couldn’t turn their nose up at. That money was being put to use rebuilding and repairing the damage, creating jobs for everyday people to no longer rely on crime.
Or at least not entirely. I will admit to being an occasional wishful thinker but even I knew that everyone can’t break an old habit like that. May as well be so heavily ingrained into the average Gothamite that it was genetic for many of them.
Nature of the beast and all that. But that didn’t mean it couldn't be corralled and controlled. Sure the beast might make a mess or start causing problems, but that’s why I am here to get down in the thick of it and restrain the thing until it calms down.
One last look back at the androids knowing the test was soon.
Managed to convince Batman +50
