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The Silhouette and The Forge
Chapter 56
Everything was going well. Sales on Silent Hill 2 were going through the roof, Nuka Cola was becoming a staple of a lot of households when it was tried and shown to be both delicious and affordable.
It helped that I used both tastier and healthier alternatives than the stuff they put in regular pop in the world. Solution Inc was doing even better after being contracted by the government to help with the damage done to Washington. Guess word has spread of our reliability after both the gang war and Klarion's appearance with the subsequent destruction left in his wake.
The country was still going nuts along with the rest of the world. Numerous citizens across America were absolutely fuming at the incompetence of the government constantly pointing out how they haven’t caught me or how they managed to even let me do what I did.
Don’t even get me started on Wonder Woman and the League's fall from grace. The public outcry for them failing time and again alongside me embarrassing them has led to a lot of public resentment. Wonder Woman’s personal life has become far more strained since the UN had all but distanced themselves from her, but now they just ignore the fact she exists and condemned her and her failures when addressing the public.
I could only shake my head at the screen showing a politician that at one point was a staunch defender and supporter of Wonder Woman now using the misfortunes that had happened to build himself up politically.
“Alright Mr. Knotts keep using the padding for your shoes and take these three times a day for the pain. If you need more to kill the pain, take them in halves but don’t go over eight of them. If somehow it gets worse don’t hesitate to contact me or come back to the clinic… and please stop stepping on legos. This is getting ridiculous.” I listed off the details helping out the man who had driven me and Jaina.
He threw his hands up in the air in exasperation. “I’m not trying to! They just keep getting put in my shoes or on the stairs. I don’t know who he keeps doing it or where they even come from. I don’t own any legos!”
Despite the pleasure at my sweet revenge I have to fight from developing a smile at the man rant like a lunatic at the constant assault from legos in his feet.
The clinic was no longer a back alley clinic but an actual medical clinic that could help people. The old building had been quickly renovated from top to bottom when Wayne Enterprises stepped in showing a keen interest in my talents as a doctor.
The place was rebuilt with far better state of the art equipment. Or at least state of the art for most people. When I look at it I see all the flaws and how much better it all could be. Was even given some employees to help out with the patients.
A bunch of nurses the company had hired on to help me with a few other doctors making rounds in the place. Even had Leslie Thompkins working here when she wasn’t at her own clinic. She was the same old sour puss with a big heart and I like to think she developed a soft spot for me that she hid behind her dry demeanor.
The line of patients had grown even more with plenty of people coming to me now with my reputation having grown amongst the people after I had gotten my medical degree and became a certified doctor.
“Doctor Cunningham, your next patient is ready to see you.” Sarah, one of the nurses hired on that had been doing this for over forty years said emotionlessly.
Or that’s how it sounded to anyone who hasn’t been around her for long. She may seem cold and indifferent but that simply comes from seeing it all on the operating tables in this city. I could only imagine the horrors she had seen in her forty years as a nurse.
The others weren’t nearly as jaded as she was but they all had seen their share of things in this city. Sarah, much like the others had warmed up to me when they realized I wasn’t some hotshot doctor thinking I was God's gift to everyone or a sleazebag harvesting organs and taking advantage of my patients.
She may sound distant now but if anyone witnessed my first meeting with her you would realize how kind she is to me now and how much she enjoyed working here.
“Thank you Sarah.”
The clinic was a far cry from what it started out as and if it wasn’t for me being here from the beginning then I doubt I would even know this was one of the worse off neighborhoods. It still has its issues but the people around here understood not to destroy a good thing when the clinic has practically helped everyone here.
Regardless of insurance or not, I am not leaving someone to die when I can help them. Something Wayne Enterprises made a fuss about but soon stopped. I think Bruce stepped in to help me with that.
“Wow you are doing well for yourself.” A familiar voice said as I turned on the spot looking up from my clipboard.
“Jade!” I exclaimed happily all but running to see her. She smiled up at me with that iconic Cheshire grin of hers. “Good to see you. Any news on…” I asked trailing off not sure if I wanted to finish the sentence.
Jade knew who and what I was referring to. Her expression became a little more rigid but she softened up when I pulled her into a hug she reciprocated.
She shook her head, her smile becoming more genuine. “No. But we have a few leads. I see you have been busy with the clinic. I barely even recognized it.” She said looking around in awe at how everything was bright and new.
“Mistress Nguyen nearly believed we were on the wrong street.” A calm, posh voice cut in as I turned to see none other than Alfred Pennyworth himself holding a plastic container with what suspiciously looked like cookies inside of it.
Jade froze for a moment before turning and giving Alfred an annoyed side eye. “I did not.”
“Pouting is most unbecoming of you. You wish to be treated as an adult yet you insist on acting like a child.” Alfred deadpanned yet I didn’t fail to notice the twinkle of amusement in his eyes at Jade's expense.
“Alfred, can you stop embarrassing me in front of my friend?” She asked quietly looking between him and me as I tried to not laugh, opting to instead turn away covering my mouth with my hand.
“Well if you are an adult then your friend here can have all the cookies then since children get cookies.” He said with a small smile about to hand me the entire container filled to the brim with what looked like freshly made chocolate chip cookies.
“No!” She yelled out louder than she meant to before schooling her features, “That won’t be necessary.”
She quickly corrected course when the cookies were about to be taken away. Even if I didn’t know Alfred, those cookies looked delicious enough that I would wage a one man war for those things.
I whispered conspiratorially to him despite knowing Jade could still hear me. “Good idea using the cookies as leverage. It’s about the only thing that seems to work on her with how stubborn she is.”
Alfred merely kept a blank face but he gave me a subtle wink when Jade was too busy glaring at me. It was almost like a cat puffing itself up when it was angry.
“I have long since become a master at getting others to do as I ask.” Alfred stated matter of factly with Jade crossing her arms looking between the two of us like she didn’t know who was worse.
“Nothing works on me Daniel. I just do it… because I want to.”
“You say this while taking a moment to figure out what to say.” I pointed out matter of factly as I pointed a finger in her direction that she quickly slapped away. “I see that your temper is still as bad as it ever was.”
“Jade? Jade!” One of the patients that had been coming to my clinic since the beginning of its conception rolled his wheelchair down to us happy to see the girl who had helped many of them alongside me and got them to laugh.
“Mr. Colombino, good to see you.” Jade beamed happily to the older Italian man.
“Ha! You even remembered me. Figured you would have forgotten me.” He said with a happy laugh stopping by us with several patients poking their heads out hearing the commotion before they all started to gather around us when they saw it was Jade visiting.
The nurses tried to get the patients to go back but it may as well have been an attempt in futility. Like getting a bull who decided it didn’t want to listen to you to get back in its pen.
“It’s alright. Seeing Jade and catching up will be good for them.” I waved the nurses off with Sarah giving me an unimpressed look but she let it go with a sigh before she shook her with what seemed to be a smile that quickly vanished.
The people gathered around joking around and catching up with Jade while they also introduced themselves to Alfred and he in turn introduced himself.
“A pleasure to meet you all. I am Alfred Pennyworth.” Alfred said, nodding to the many people and shaking the hands of several of the older folk. “Would anyone like some freshly baked cookies?” He asked the gathered people.
“Heck yeah we would!” One man in the back said enthusiastically.
Soon everyone, even the nurses got a cooky as they ate them up like it was the last meal they ever would have when starving.
“So your Bruce Wayne’s butler… I was honestly expecting some guy that looked down on us. Glad to see you are as kind and as caring as Bruce Wayne is.” I said walking up to him and holding my hand out to him.
He smiled, shaking my hand gently. Jade was catching up with the gathered people asking how she had been and sharing what they all had been up to.
“I doubt the Wayne family would have kept me under their employ all this time if I was that heartless. And you are even kinder than Jade had said you were, Mr. Cunningham.” He said politely.
I waved him off. “No need for that Mister stuff. Please just call me Daniel. Way too young to start dealing with that.”
Alfred nodded sagely before giving me an extra cookie which I immediately went to town on. It was like he laced this thing with cocaine or something! These things were amazing.
“A quant clinic if I ever saw one. The people here seem right at home.” He said looking around at the gathered people joking with Jade smiling and laughing.
I hummed and nodded. “Yeah, it’s a nice place. It was nice finally being able to properly help people and have the resources needed to do it. Just wish my… mom could have seen it.” I said catching myself before I brought up Furgus and Dad.
My mind immediately went to the herb field… as nice as it would be to get another upgrade I’m not ready to face Dad. Not after what I’ve done.
Alfred’s expression became softer as we watched Jade enjoy catching up with everyone.
“I am sure she would have been quite proud of you. You have helped save many lives, even managing to turn people down a better path that led them out of the darkness that was drowning them like it does so many in this city. Any parent would be proud of that alone.” He said softly but firmly.
“T-thanks Alfred. That means a lot. Even if I feel like I made too many mistakes in life for what I have done here to make up for it.” I said while thinking back on the lives lost in the beginning from my greed getting the better of me.
That blood will never truly leave my hands. The only thing I can do is try to do better while giving those they left behind a better life in this city. Which seems to be happening more often these days now. The city itself seems to be becoming less dreary. The clouds and dark atmosphere remained but it felt like moments of light could break apart the ever present darkness for brief moments.
Some buildings' appearance and even the streets had become far better. The kicker was none of them had been touched by my crews. Oddly enough it was just areas that I owned. Like my apartment slowly changing. It wasn’t anything major, just more subtle than anything. No one noticed because of how slow the change was.
The only reason I even knew about it was because of my perfect memory showing what it’s supposed to look like and the engineers tipping me off on what was happening.
“Whatever mistakes you made are in the past. You will trip up moving forward if you only dwell on what was.” He said sagely.
“You’re a pretty wise guy, Alfred.” He side eyed me with kindness in his eyes with the patients finally heading back to their rooms.
“When you live as long as I have and live a fulfilling life you could say that.” He looked down at the empty container, setting it aside, “I am also quite happy everyone liked the cookies.”
“Alfred’s cooking is the best.” Jade said smugly as she walked up to us. “So how have things been for you and… Pamela.” Jade said it like she was swallowing something she didn’t like the taste of but swallowed it anyways.
“Things have been going well. We got a couple of projects going on at the university and,” I see a mane of wild red hair and an older woman right beside her coming into the clinic, “Speak of the devil.”
All three of us turned to see them come in as Pam noticed Jade. “Jade, sorry to hear about your sister…” Jade tensed up but relaxed after what was said next, “If you ever need help or just someone to talk to my door will always be open to a friend of Daniel’s.”
Jade went through a series of complex emotions before she surprised me when she settled on gratitude. “Thank you Pamela. That means a lot.” She looked over to Alfred whom his sole attention was on May and the older woman was not taking her eyes off the man. “And I wanted to apologize for how I acted when I first met you.” Jade said, looking away towards the ground.
“You don’t have to apologize. You were going through something.” Pamela said scooping her up into a hug that Jade hesitated to reciprocate but she ultimately did awkwardly still not knowing what to feel towards Pamela.
While those two were doing their thing to bond, my attention was on Alfred and May. Both looked like they had seen a ghost.
May tentatively stepped forward. “It’s been a long time Alfred.” May said walking forward.
“That it has, May. How have you been doing? Last I heard after the expedition things… didn’t go well.” Alfred trailed off.
May snorted at that, before letting out a tired sigh. “That’s putting it lightly. After it all went wrong when Benton pulled his stunt they blamed what they could on me.” She shrugged.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t be there for you when you were going through that.” He said looking like he was about to get angry.
Or he was until May waved him off a happy smile on her face. “Enough of that Alfred, it’s ancient history and there wasn’t a thing you could do when the Brazilian government decided to have you locked up. If anything I should have been there for you. They… didn’t hurt you much did they?”
“No May. I didn’t stay long and when I tried to find you I couldn’t. What happened?” Alfred asked her with concern on his face.
“I… I’ll explain later when we have some privacy.” She noticed me watching along with the other two.
“You two know each other?” I asked them not expecting this.
“I didn’t know you had been to Brazil, Alfred.” Jade said now looking interested.
“You know Bruce Wayne’s butler May?” Pamela asked her.
There was a juicy story here alright.
Alfred and May both cleared their throats before turning to the three of us. “This is Alfred Pennyworth, Pamela. We had a brief history together on my last expedition to South America.” May looked like she wanted to say more but withheld it.
At Jade's questioning look Alfred rolled his eyes. “Don’t you three have some catching up to do and reconciliation? And last I checked Daniel you still had patients that needed attending. You may have other doctors and nurses here but the patients wish to see you.”
I give the man a knowing smirk. “Nice deflection and redirection, Alfred.” I gave him a few claps, “Performed like a pro I might add.”
He nodded towards me, not even denying it. “Come on Jade, Pam, let’s go help some patients.”
Both of them looked like they wanted to stick around but realized that the two older people with a shared history wanted to catch up with one another. They grudgingly did the right thing and followed me.
“I never would have expected those two to know one another. May never did tell me what happened on her last expedition. That’s the only story she never told me.” Pamela said a wondering expression on her face.
“Alfred has done a lot despite being a butler for the Wayne family. He may not look it but he has done some pretty cool things. I shouldn’t be surprised he knew someone like May…” Jade said then paused when I nudged her with my elbow.
“Please Jade,” I rolled my eyes ignoring the slug she gave my arm which did absolutely nothing which further annoyed her, “We all know you didn’t expect him to know what was at face value a florist.”
She gave me some major stink eye while pouting with Pamela trying to not laugh. “How would you know?”
“Because I didn’t expect anything beyond that. If she knows Alfred from an expedition then she has done some pretty cool stuff in her life just like Alfred.”
“You really think so?” Pam asked me.
“Yeah? I mean Alfred seems to have been a man that lived one heck of a life and done who knows how much awesome stuff. If May is as badass as you say she is Pam then that means Alfred had to have been quite the guy to get her interest.”
“So you think they might have been…” She trailed off.
“Lovers? Or at least interested in one another? Possibly.” I said checking over some documents for the next couple of patients.
Pamela took on a dreamy look before I flicked her forehead making her sputter cheeks reddening while Jade tried to not laugh at her. She gives Jade a betrayed look.
“Careful there Pam, you're looking a little lost in the clouds.”
“I am not!” She harrumphed.
“Oh really? Then why are you blushing--”
“So how have things been in the clinic? Any major surgeries?” She cuts me off changing the topic while smiling sweetly. It would have been more convincing if her smile wasn’t so strained.
“… Good. No surgeries. Kind of surprised by that.” Waving nonchalantly around the clinic, “You would think I would have had over a dozen by now. It's like whiplash for me compared to when I first set this place up.”
“Yeah I know what you mean. It feels like Gotham is slowly becoming a completely different city.” Jade said, looking around the place. It may as well be a different building altogether for her since the last time she was here to help me it was just a few steps removed from being condemned.
“I’ve noticed it as well. Areas I once would have hesitated to go to are now much safer. Safe enough that families and kids can be seen walking there at night.” Pamela chimed in.
Walking in a bad area was one thing, but doing it at night in Gotham was just asking for something to go horribly wrong. Gotham back then was just that bad. Now through my efforts it has changed. Slowly at first but once the ball got rolling it picked up steam.
The Alliance itself has helped bare the brunt of the change going from a group of gangs looking out for one another to a group that looks out for the best interests of the various communities in Gotham. With the other gangs having suffered losses they are still trying to recoup from the Alliance had stepped in absorbing the bulk of the lesser gangs and reforming them.
That didn’t mean the other gangs were gone. People like Penguin and Blackmask would have to be dealt with to ensure this city could truly prosper and move past the darkness that permeates it. Give it a couple of years, maybe even a decade and the darkness would be a thing of the past that would eventually become a bad memory that will be forgotten by everyone in time.
“Shows that despite how much destruction and all the other bad stuff that happened since the gang war and everything in between that some good could come from it.”
Both of them looked saddened yet also hopeful for the future. “Hopefully it doesn’t take things like that happening for any more good to happen.” Jade said aloud, more musing to herself than talking to us.
“I think that’s something we can all hope for.” A new voice chimed in. One that was familiar. Bruce walked around the corner dressed in a suit but was more casual than business wear.
A smile broke out on my face. “Bruce, it's good to see you!” I said walking up shaking his hand as he smiled back at me.
“I see you have been doing well for yourself Daniel. How has being one of Gotham's newest and brightest doctor felt?” Bruce patted my shoulder.
I just chuckled. “Not much different.” I said thinking about how the only change was the make over for the building, more equipment that could be used for surgery, and that I was officially a doctor. “It’s about the same as it always was. Though I wouldn’t say I am the brightest. Leslie has me beat on that.”
Bruce laughed and shook his head. “You are far too modest.”
“I think that’s a good thing. Way too many people in this city that get a big head from things like that.” I shook my head thinking of the various members of the old and new Court of Owls. Repairs for the city were nearly done with infrastructure that was long overdue for replacements getting taken care of with the remaining members fitting the bill.
They had their grievances from what Jaina had told me… I glanced at Pam who was occasionally looking at us while talking about things with Jade. A bit of guilt formed knowing I had done what I did with Jaina and Raina. Just another reason for me to now avoid the herbs if Dad knew.
It was a heat of the moment and a mix of lust between each other. Pam noticed my gaze smiling at me as I smiled and nodded back at her. Bruce just watched me and her nodding in approval.
“You're a lucky young man Daniel.” Bruce said, nudging me subtly as I looked at him.
“I couldn’t agree more.”
“Doctor Cunningham?” Both of us turned to look at one of the nurses looking like she didn’t quite know what to do.
“Yes Cassandra?”
She opened and closed her mouth several times before speaking, “You have a call about some things. They sound very important. They need you to finalize details.”
I froze on the spot then slowly turned my head blinking a few times. “Come again?”
“They said you owned a lot of mines and needed some details taken care of and what you wanted them to do about their… operations.”
“Didn’t know you were getting into the mining industry Daniel.” Bruce said jovially but I knew the act was working and his mind was whirring away trying to figure out what was happening.
“I’ll be right back.” I said walking off to talk with whoever was on the phone. Everything had already been taken care of, bread crumbs placed where they needed to be.
Now it was just the actors doing their parts on the stage for the audience to get engrossed. Or for Bruce to take an interest in why a random genius doctor who would still be considered a kid in others eyes now has access to a large network of mines and other associated industries across the world through underhanded but legal means of acquisition. The same mines that will be used for future plans that involved the final frontier.
Minutes went by before I came back to see Alfred and May now back standing close by chatting with the others with Bruce first noticing me then Jade.
“Must have been one heck of a crank call.” Bruce made a light joke but I knew he didn’t think it was a prank.
“I wished it was.” I remarked tiredly.
“Daniel what’s going on?” Pam asked me in concern, taking my hands into hers. May had a light smile watching Pam care for me so much.
“Somehow, someway, I became the owner of a not so insubstantial number of mines and associated operations across the globe.” I said, sounding absolutely confused.
Pam just blinked owlishly. Alfred looked utterly dumbfounded along with May who just raised her eyebrows. Jade had her mouth hanging open while Bruce had a stern but gentle look on his face.
“So you took ownership?” Pam asked after a long moment of silence not knowing what to say for a time before breaking it.
“Yes.”
“Daniel, that is a lot of businesses to manage when you already work as a doctor and a lab assistant. Don’t you think you should have refused? Or thought more about it?” Bruce asked me sounding concerned.
“It is a lot. But as things stand they would manage themselves for a time. The issue is everything was all in my name somehow. There was even an account set up to pay for the employees wages for a time. I couldn’t refuse.”
“Couldn’t or wouldn’t?” Bruce countered back.
“The former. Because if I refused the mines would have been shut down with the many people across the globe without work. Entire industries for countries would slow down if not come to a stop with the amount of mines and other places shut down.” I said back sternly, getting angrier the more I spoke.
Bruce’s eyes widened before his expression softened seeing my reasoning. “Was it really that many? It couldn’t be.” Jade said looking concerned when I snapped at Bruce.
“It was a lot. How this happened I don’t know but I can’t walk away when those places need to remain functioning. I’ll figure something out to delegate orders and ensure they are treating the workers properly with proper safety.” I turned to Bruce, “Sorry for snapping at you Bruce and the rest of you seeing me like this. I need to have some time to myself and do some digging to find whoever did this.”
I said before walking away forced to hide a wince and thankful my control didn’t slip so I didn’t melt into a puddle. That would have been difficult to explain as Pamela and Jade looked at me concerned while Bruce and Alfred shared a look that May didn't fail to notice. She walked up and placed her hand gently on Pamela’s shoulder.
“Give him some time Pamela. He’ll be the bright and kind hearted man you know but he needs time to think and sort things out.”
…
“We need to go back to Gotham and finish what we started.” Flash said to everyone at the meeting. “I don’t care what you say or do, we are going there and it’s final.” His red clad finger pointed and jabbed towards Batman.
“Of course we are.” Batman said calmly.
“You can say no all you want-- wait did you just give the go ahead for us to storm into Gotham?” Flash said, unsure if he heard him right. He looked around at the various Justice League members all looking at Batman.
“Yes. Silhouette having access to the trident has further reinforced my and the rest of your beliefs that he is a far greater threat. He has to be stopped and right now what’s left of his drug operation needs to be finished off.”
A few buttons pressed had an image showing a dark skinned man that some of them were familiar with. “Some of you may be familiar with William Hardigan Beauregard. A businessman who owns Solutions Inc and recently the Nuka Cola branch of his company.”
“Oh yeah, some of my family absolutely love his drink. It’s pretty good, have any of you tried it?” Flash said with a smile.
“From what I have managed to gather, Will is Silhouette and the father of a young man by the name of Daniel Cunningham.”
Flash’s smile was quickly wiped away now replaced with a deep frown. He tried not to fidget or show how embarrassed he felt at that moment.
“So why are we not going after him right now?” Wonder Woman asked the room. She had recovered quickly once those metal cuffs had been taken off of her ankles and she was given proper medical treatment. That medicine Batman had given her from those shots had helped in repairing the damage done to her hand.
Yet it didn’t stop her from flexing and gripping her hand so tightly under the table when she was reminded of yet another failure against Silhouette. But another part of her held some gratitude however small that he was willing to show mercy to her and help her when Lord Poseidon had grown angry at her.
After she had recovered she had spent time to figure out her new powers and regain control over her now greater strength after she accidentally ripped a door off of its hinges. She still needed more time to train and when she had some she would be going back to her home of Themyscira to get a better grasp and understanding of what she is now. Time that would be spent at length with her mother. She needed her help to get this under control and maybe have a talk with her… father.
“Because he has access to both the trident, a means to cause chaos in cities across the US and large bodies of water, and the most important reason,” Batman said calmly but firmly, “We can’t go after him because we have no proof he is Silhouette.”
Everyone blinked at the last reason, digesting what Batman had just said. Batman knew who he was yet he didn’t believe they had enough proof to prove who he is?
“You know who he is and are confident that Will is Silhouette. How do you not have enough evidence?” Superman asked, not talking down to his closest friend.
If anything it was out of curiosity and what his friend's reasoning was. He trusted Batman with his life, if he is saying they don’t have enough proof then they don’t. That was the strength in his faith he had for his friend.
“A trail led me to come to the conclusion Will is Silhouette. I was skeptical about it because the trail while thin and for most people would be nothing more than coincidence in some cases with how parts of it were too blatantly obvious.” A screen was pulled up showing the information Batman spoke of.
It had his own personal notes added onto it helping explain it to the others who weren’t as well versed in detective or forensic work like Batman was.
“It was only after confronting him that it all but confirmed he is Silhouette,” He said without missing a beat walking across the room drawing all of their attention onto him. Something Batman did purposefully ensuring they understood the reasoning and everyone was on the same page. “But just because we know he is doesn’t mean it will work in a court. If we are to bring this to an end then we need evidence beyond just our word and vague trails that wouldn’t do anything in the court of law.”
“You don’t have anything else? Nothing that could prove he is Silhouette?” Hal Jordan asked, sounding displeased at the notion Will was currently untouchable. It made some of the gathered heroes think of their own rogues and how some of them manipulate the public and the system itself to their advantage.
Superman himself was already thinking about Lex Luthor. He knew the man was a villain, manipulating and orchestrating numerous conflicts and selling weapons to those willing to pay for them. But he was like Will in that he did it through various other means that kept his hands clean of it all. Superman had learned to be patient. Even when his patience was tested time and again he would wait for Lex to make a mistake and behind bars he would go.
It helped that he hadn’t gotten any innocents killed or harmed from his stunts so far. Superman didn’t know what he would do. He knew himself well enough he wouldn’t go too far, but he also wouldn’t be gentle about it either.
“Nothing. Whatever was left behind was done so intentionally but in such a way that I couldn’t prove anything. Why he did it is up in the air.”
Batman moved around the table in the meeting room in the watchtower. After what happened at Happy Harbor the League felt it would be best to have their new headquarters placed somewhere most people can’t easily gain access to.
“What concerns me is this,” A press of a button showed the image of the now infamous ankle cuffs that had been found on Wonder Woman. Her eyes narrowed at the sight of them as her grip tightened to the point it could tear steel asunder and grind diamonds into dust.
“The metal is normal steel. Beyond radiation coming from them nothing seemingly unique or special about the cuffs. Yet the metal is capable of countering magic.” Batman’s words made the various League members including Zatarra who had come at the request of the League.
He sputtered and looked intrigued yet horrified at what Batman had said. “What?! Counter magic?” He questioned him hoping that this was a farce. Something like this getting out with its existence would cause no end of troubles and headaches. Both for Silhouette and various organizations across the globe, regardless if they were more mundane or magically inclined.
“He speaks the truth. When they were placed around my ankles it felt like the greatest weight I had ever felt was placed upon me. It sapped me of my power. Silhouette even had a shield I believe was made from the same metal. It’s what I broke my hand on.” She said calmly yet everyone could feel an intensity to the air around them.
As if lightning was about to strike. Then it vanished when Superman placed a hand on her shoulder making her look away from the hand that had been broken to look into his kind sympathetic eyes.
She calmed herself down looking towards Zatarra. “Whatever this metal is, Silhouette outright told me he had made it specifically to deal with magic users. It works and is incredibly dangerous to go against it.”
“Have you tested its limits?” Zatarra asked looking towards Batman.
He nodded, turning towards Aquaman who was far quieter than normal. The man was looking at the image of Will, a hard to read expression of intense concentration on his face.
He blinked, not so focused that he hadn’t been paying attention. “It was tested extensively by some of our best mages in Atlantis. Whatever magic makes contact with it is nullified.”
Zatarra's eyes widened in disbelief with Aquaman continuing, “Water constructs were turned into inactive puddles of water once they made contact. Electricity manipulated through magic grew wild and uncontrollable the instant it touched the cuffs. If the element was completely made from magic it is dispersed as if it was never cast and ceased to exist.”
As Aquaman was about to continue Batman beat him to it, “If the element already existed and was controlled by magic the element acts as it normally should.”
Zatarra couldn’t believe all that he was hearing. He trusted and knew none of these people would lie to him nor bring him here for his own expertise in the magical side of the world for something simple. It was just hard to stomach that such a thing could exist.
No one at the table noticed both Hawk Girl and Hawk Man look at one another at the mention of nullifying magic. Both had knowing looks before Hawk Girl gestured to her husband who nodded.
“Do you think it’s the same as my mace?” Hawk Girl asked, getting the attention of the other heroes.
“No.” This got her interest alongside her husbands. “While the metal can nullify magic, it is still simple steel.”
“What about the radiation? Is there anything abnormal about it?” Superman inquired thinking that maybe the radiation used in its creation was something exotic. If it was, maybe they could trace it to various areas so that they could at least either catch Silhouette if they were lucky or at least hinder his plans.
“It’s normal radiation. No abnormalities, nothing to even suggest it would have the effect it does on magic.” Batman said, further confusing them all.
“You mean to tell me this guy managed to create a special metal that somehow can counter magic and the metal in question isn’t from some alien race, or some weird experiment or test to create and it just has mundane radiation coming from it and we have no idea how it even works?” Flash asked, getting exasperated and annoyed.
“We don’t know if he did create it. Despite being simple radiation, it was enough to leave radiation burns on Wonder Woman’s ankles which have healed since then with no noticeable side effects.” Batman ever the stoic said.
“Then we have these three.” Another image appeared beside the one of Silhouette and Will. “The three Wonder Woman battled were leagues above the first three.”
Images showed slowed down footage that still caught blurs with brief moments the three appearing. Each of them were like the first three in how strange they looked. “Of all things Silhouette could have done he had chosen to record and post the fight online. Numerous websites ranging from entertainment sites to the news have been playing it like it was a wrestling match.”
Various videos appeared around them each of the League members staring intently at what they assumed to be machines engaging Wonder Woman initially having the advantage. Their teamwork is nearly seamless, each covering the other’s weaknesses and fighting Wonder Woman as if they had already battled her thousands of times knowing all of her moves.
“The blue one named Salza had mentioned simulations once I got the better of them.” Wonder Woman said as a few eyed her stripe of white hair.
Wonder Woman didn’t fidget under their gaze however brief, she didn’t shrink in on herself. She simply ignored it as the members who stared at her looked away realizing what they had been doing and had the decency to at least look ashamed.
“They all knew how to counter me and compensate for when I managed to do something they couldn’t predict. Each of them had augmentations. Dore the big one had enhanced strength and an impressive healing factor…”
Diana listed off each of their capabilities as she was reminded of the three dying before her eyes. She looked at Batman and Superman giving voice to her question that had been stuck with her after everything was said and done. “Were they alive?”
“When all three detonated there wasn’t much left to examine beyond what appeared to be blood in the gala. After examining it at first glance seemed normal but under intense observation it was discovered to be partially synthetic. The three were highly advanced machines that could pass as organic. Yet the three had something that the previous ones didn’t have. An unknown contagion.”
Everyone tensed up at the mention of a possible biohazard. “It’s currently inert and kept in containment. From what could be gathered from it, it was the source of the three’s powers.”
Those that had been there to witness first hand what those three machines could do realized the implication of just how powerful a weapon that contagion had to be to accomplish what had been done. When it took Diana awakening to her heritage, not entirely divine just yet to win, it showed just how powerful it was.
“So you’re telling me that we have nothing on the guy who has been sending machines to harass Wonder Woman,” Hal Jordan said, waving a hand in her direction. “And has ruined our reputation turning everyone against us even when the machines were proven to be machines, and how we can’t seem to do a thing against him.”
“We have to be patient.” Superman cut in.
“Try telling that to the rest of the world!” Hal Jordan exclaimed angrily while wearing a scowl at Superman who didn’t take it personally. He knew how Hal felt.
“Enough. Put your emotions aside because we need to focus and understand what we are dealing with. We have a villain that has constantly proven to us that he is more than what we have initially assumed him to be. He has proven he is a far greater threat than any of us could have imagined. Resources and capabilities pulled out of seemingly nowhere and he is only growing stronger as we speak.” Batman said gathering everyone's attention.
He moved around the table, everyone giving him their full attention and whatever misgivings Hal Jordan had about the entire situation and how the rest of the world now viewed them along with various countries and their leaders was set aside knowing Batman was right.
Yet even more images appeared showing several mining companies taken over legally but underhandedly with no one even having a clue of who did it. Not even Batman with all of his time and resources could pinpoint the culprit with the trail being used through various proxies and shell companies that all led nowhere. The only thing that told them all who likely had a hand in it was the current owner happened to be Daniel, Will’s son.
The various members of the Justice League quickly realized how big of a deal this is. A substantial number of mining companies and various companies with ties to the mining industry taken over so quickly and then handed over to Daniel was worrying. It showed how far Silhouette’s influence and reach went.
“If we are to make another attempt we need to make sure it is something that can not only leave a lasting impact on Silhouette but to apprehend him and prove who he is. Right now his drug operations are still around but he has made no attempt to expand it again. Now we know why.” His hand directed everyone towards an image of a glass bottle with a blue liquid inside of it before signaling for Zatarra to take over.
Zatarra straightened his tie and smoothed out his suit out of habit when faced with the various League members giving him their undivided attention. “Through various magical vendors they are called mana potions--”
“Like in video games?” Flash interrupted but winced realizing he cut him off on the important information. “Sorry.” He said sheepishly.
Zatarra didn’t mind as he nodded towards the fastest man alive. “Yes. Like some… video games. They have caused quite the stir in the magical community since they now have a means to cast spells more often and recover from it just by drinking this concoction.”
Yet another headache caused by the growing shadow that the League now began to realize just how much of a threat Silhouette truly was.
Successfully pull off a convincing act to own the mines in your own name +50
Manage to run a successful clinic that has Leslie Thompkins approval +50
Perks gained: Traps and Gizmos (Kingdom Hearts) (400CP)
What do an ice cream machine, a present wrapping contraption, and a pair of gloves have in common? They're all powerful weapons! That is to say, with a bit of elbow grease and this perk you can make them into weapons. Not only can you weaponize rather unusual things, you also excel at creating traps and robots to ensure riff-raff leave you, your store, and your customers alone. You could make electrically charged gauntlets, toy dispensers that can take out Heartless, and candy makers that launch their delicious payload with enough force to knock grown men around.
