The Silhouette and The Forge 
Chapter 70

“We have the data?” Queen Bee idly asked.

“We do. No issues, and no heroes intervening.” Sportsmaster said with confidence. He looked well for a man who just had Artemis taken from him. 

I know he was furious both by Jade's defiance and the taking of Artemis when he wouldn’t allow it. Jade and Bruce, in comparison, had their hands full with Artemis fighting them tooth and nail to get out of the Wayne Manor from what my drones and hacked surveillance in the Batcave had shown me. 

Normally I would be against a child being held against their will with people they don’t trust nor want to be around. But this would be an exception to that. She was trained by a cult of assassins, and who knows what she would do when she got out… possibly go back to the assassins or run rampant in Gotham, potentially killing anyone that got on her bad side.

She was held in a cell being given proper meals and water, but the Bat family had to be careful with the utensils she was given since she almost got out using a fork and almost took out one of Jade's eyes with the dinnerware.

“As it should be," Lex Luthor said while glancing at me. Using the knowledge gained from the info drop from the Batman Beyond era had been a boon. 

Several people had been preemptively scouted out when I suggested the idea to use them as a distraction and a means to let us do any business on the streets should we need the extra capital. All of these people like Charles Sundance had a chip on their shoulder or a bone to pick with the world. People who were less likely to be talked down from a fight, as Charles and the others had proven when Superman had to intercede. But at the same time, they weren’t people that would cause mass casualties and death on an absurd scale.

He had nothing to fear about these people compared to Maximum Parasyte and the growing brood of his brothers. Parasyte passed the test, proving he and the rest of his kin for now would remain the vanguard should an invasion occur or we needed someone out in the cosmos handled. 

Superman would prove an interesting adversary. He had as much, if not greater, potential than Wonder Woman. The simulations have proven that time and again, every time I see the newer updated data for them, he is stronger and faster. The guy was a teddy bear that didn’t want to hurt people or destroy things and simply help everyone.

“I will admit the idea to create custom-made villains for the heroes to battle has some merit to it. The only issues I can see are the constant resources to continue doing so and if this will, in some form, come back to haunt us. After all, even Dr. Frankenstein's creation in some stories turned against his creator.” Luthor interjected.

“All monsters eventually turn against their creators, it is the natural course of things. Being angry at any of them over it when it’s as natural as the seasons changing is foolish.” I said back sagely.

Luthor merely nodded before the rest of the business went underway. Varying plans and current resources at our disposal before the big one got dropped. “How have things progressed with Project Match?”

“See for yourself.” I said sending the packet of data to the various supervillains. Some of them read through it, but I think the science jargon went over their heads. By about several miles. Some parts I had dumbed down enough for them to understand what can be created from Superman’s genetic template.

Luthor's eyes widened before he looked at me with laser focus. “Can it truly be done? Can you utilize the Kryptonian DNA?!” 

It was the most emotion I had seen out of the man, he was usually far more in control, and Luthor realized his mistake. He forced himself to calm down, but that determined look in his eyes told me he was interested.

“To create a hybrid clone, yes. My results and simulations showed a pure Kryptonian clone had a high chance of being far too uncontrollable.”

“How uncontrollable?” Ra interjected, showing an interest in the project. 

It wasn’t every day you got to see someone waltz in, showing knowledge and understanding of one of the most busted and broken aliens in all of fiction's genetics when most others who were leagues ahead of others in their fields of research couldn’t do much of anything beyond some watered-down garbage.

“Practically feral. No better than a rabid attack dog. If we go through with that option, we should only hope that if we let it off the chain, it goes after the intended targets and not us.” 

The room fell into silence before the robotic drone of Brain's apparatus broke it with a French accent, something he had to have intentionally built into it. The man couldn’t stand speaking in English, viewing it as a caveman’s form of communication. He enjoyed it when I proved I could speak French, and we had discussed some things at length, but I preferred my native tongue.

“How long would it take to create a stable, pure Kryptonian? What I see from your research suggests it is possible… if you can do it.” Brain noticed the bits in the data that showed it was possible.

I could do it. With some effort, I wouldn’t say it would be easy or a cakewalk even with my knowledge that practically made me a god in the field of biology and genetics. It showed how absurd Kryptonians truly were when even with my knowledge and capabilities, they were still moderately difficult to handle their genetics.

“It is possible. It will take time and resources. A lot of resources. Did I say resources?” I said, hamming it up with some of the members used to my theatrics rolling their eyes. “In all seriousness, it can be done, I just don’t want to waste time on a project that would be little more than a feral animal and then have to start from scratch again.”

“The Light has all the time it will ever need.” Vandal was as calm as he always has been. More so than Luthor. He and Ra’s, I would go so far as to say they were the stability the group needed. Even if they didn’t have the booksmarts me, Luthor, and Brain had, they made up for it with wisdom and a ruthlessness covered by a gentleman’s guise.

Like a tiger or gorilla among people playing along, acting like they were one of them until they weren’t. Then the slaughter would begin. 

“It also says here the hybrid could potentially not have the weaknesses that Superman has.” Luthor pointed out a part of the document for the others to see, highlighting it in yellow. “Yet it would also lack the powers he has. Lesser strength, speed, everything…”

Luthor trailed off, forcing himself to remain calm, but I could see he was questioning how the hell I managed to get this data. I didn’t even have a living subject to show these results. But it showed he was taking me seriously and believed it instead of scoffing and dismissing me. When you see a random villain like me pull so many resources and technology out of thin air and show an absurd understanding of various fields of research well above even a basic genius, pushing the boundary that he could only hope to dream of.

It wasn’t an insult towards Luthor either, the guy was genuinely intelligent. Above most geniuses in this crazy universe I now call home. Heck, just look at his variant from Justice League, the animated show. Spent millions of dollars on a fake presidential campaign, got himself some superpowers, and was about to transfer his mind into a robotic body copied from Amazo’s blueprints.

Now that doesn't mean they were the same person exactly, but it shows his potential and what he could be capable of when given the proper resources. 

“If it’s rushed. If given time, I could give the clone the whole package and remove the weaknesses.”

Everyone in the room snapped to attention and full alertness when I said that. “That would be ill advised.” Vandal said with the utmost seriousness. “We will need a means to control Project Match should they go rogue. If we cannot control them, then any and all resources used in their creation are pointless.”

I nodded towards him, not agitated at being told what to do without being told what to do. High school taught me rather well about those conversations within the conversation. How someone says one thing, but they mean something else entirely, which is at odds with what they were saying out loud. 

“Good. I was worried one of you would want to create a superweapon in the form of a Kryptonian without any weaknesses beyond magic, which would be a horrible idea. Thank goodness I am not surrounded by mouth-breathing morons.”

They all paused, some blinking as if they were unsure if what they heard was correct. “Can you?” Vandal Savage said, sounding more serious than he already did. 

The guy needs to learn how to chill and relax. I get Darkseid is around the corner, but you had several thousand years, use that time to plan while relaxing.

“As said before, given enough time it can be done.” 

I found myself thankful I kept some samples of Superman for myself. Those were going to be nice to have when the time comes to put them to use.

“While we collectively appreciate your assistance, Silhouette, I think it is time for me and Brain to do our parts.” Luthor said, despite his interest being piqued, I think he was getting a little jealous of how capable I was. Good to see, despite his god complex and belief in his superiority, he wasn’t above petty jealousy.

I shrugged my shoulders. “All good, you do your thing.” 

The meeting came to an end, and my drones put in place in the quickly built secret facility in Cadmus noted that work was now being done in the process of creating Superboy. Unlike the original series, I did give them better notes and data from what I could see for myself and ran the various outcomes through the simulations to give me the best and closest to accurate outcome of what I wanted.

Not the Light. Not Lex Luthor. My own desires. I felt bad for Connor in the original series when he was limited to just super strength and nothing that Superman could do, and some durability. The kid deserved better than that. 

Plus, I figured I could help him, or at least the older Kryptonian out that ended up being little more than an animal. Regardless, I was going to make sure this time it doesn’t get screwed up, and Connor gets what he deserves and should have gotten in this world.

Luthor will put his genes into the batch, courtesy of his weird fixation on Superman, but also leave his own mark showing Connor was as much his kid as he was Superman’s… that is such a messed-up thought, I wish I could just delete it from my memory. The meeting drew to a close, and the two parts of me continued as they had been, getting increasingly better at maintaining the separate parts.

The beautiful thing about it, as far as I can tell, is it’s like an arm that was severed that you can still control. I can see from both parts that all the other feelings were there, the only thing that made it difficult was multitasking both. After some time, it is a simple thing to do, if a bit difficult with more demanding tasks like highly intense acrobatic movements jumbled with using multiple powers in conjunction with one while the other holds a simple conversation.

The part of me running around as Will Hardigan was busy launching two new branches for Solutions Inc. during a big reveal for another facility on the outskirts of Gotham after the other one was conveniently destroyed by Liberty Prime. All investigations showed I, like a good upstanding citizen, hadn’t known that the bunker and facility were directly under my building that was still being constructed.

Thankfully none of my workers were harmed, and the loss of the building and equipment was paid back through insurance since being filthy stinking rich tends to make stuff like that faster and easier to do. 

The place was only in the beginning stages for construction, the land being leveled out while reporters and various rich people from high society in both Gotham and other cities had come to visit with the venue at a decent distance from the area that it would be built on. 

“Thank you all for coming to the beginning of the first ever company to start a space program!” I said happily, not even needing to hide the excitement in me.

How could I not be excited?! It was space! And I was creating the first company in this world to actually own a branch for the sole purpose of developing technology and leading expeditions into the final frontier. Bruce, Lex, and some others helped fund such things but didn’t actually have anything like that as part of their own company.

The gathered people cheered as they schmoozed and moved about the soirée I had set up for the occasion. Normally I was never one for large gatherings or parties like this. I was more content to stay at home playing some video games or maybe occasionally visiting and playing with the few friends I had in my old life.

But this was my company that I owned that was setting up a space program. Of course, it would have the most advanced technology I could think of that would be available to the public that would raise the tech level by several notches. It was nothing obscenely advanced, but enough to make people go bug-eyed when they heard about it and then trickle down towards other products getting access to it.

Things like gaming consoles, computers, cars, and other modes of transportation… a mental image of flying cars out of the Jetsons just entered the equation. I bring out my phone and write down the idea for flying hover cars because that’s always cool.

Glasses of wine clinked together, everyone was gossiping and talking business, all dressed up for the event. Several people cozy up to me, but a woman clearing her throat had me turn around to see Jaina looking stunning in an emerald green backless sequin dress. 

“Will, glad to see you are for once celebrating your accomplishments.” She said happily, looking around at the party. It was rare for me to get around and attend any. That may change over time as I use my physiology to my advantage and begin becoming more available. Freed up a lot of them on my schedule when I didn’t have to moonlight controlling an organic dummy around.

“I celebrate… in my room when no one is around.” I said with a smirk, getting a chuckle out of her as she just shook her head. She comes closer, enjoying the sight of the area where the new launch center would be.

“You really intend to do this? Make a means to get into space easier and colonize planets?” She sounded unsure. I doubted she didn’t think I could do it, she was more wondering what the angle was.

“Of course. We have been proven time and again that we are not alone in the universe. It was only a matter of time before we realized we needed to ascend to the stars above and stake our own claim. To give ourselves the means we need to protect ourselves from the threats out there.” My hand reached up, swiping across the sky, showing the stars above. It helped that we were further from the city, making the moon and stars more prominent.

She leaned into my side, enjoying the moment with me. One that was soon interrupted as someone came closer, their shoes tapping onto the floor. Both of us had long since gotten used to dealing with people interrupting what few moments we had together in public.

What gave us pause for a second was the person being Bruce Wayne. His companion was none other than Oliver Queen, Green Arrow himself. 

“Will, it’s been a while.” Bruce said walking up calmly and hiding with practiced ease his disdain for me. His hand was taken by mine in a hand shake and then shaking Oliver’s.

“Yeah, it’s been too long, Bruce. Been busy busy busy. I really should take a vacation sometime. And it’s a pleasure to meet you, Oliver.”

“The pleasures all mine.” He said jovially. A hand shake later, we are talking about business with Bruce being a little cagey on stuff on his end, but he played it off like he always had.

“You two heard about Black Mask and Penguin leaving Gotham?” I said to the two businessmen by day and vigilantes by night.

“We have. Rather surprising that both of them chose now to retire and leave the city," Oliver said with skepticism. Couldn’t blame him or Bruce. Those two had remained in this city through some of the worst times it ever had. To see both of them just up and leave when their criminal empires had nearly crumbled from the series of bad events was unlike them.

Neither of them would ever give up until they were dead in the ground, and if either had anything to say about it, they wouldn’t stop even then. It’s why they both were eliminated and their bodies discreetly hidden and thoroughly destroyed. Their empires and what’s left of their businesses are now mine and are being used to smooth out any wrinkles in my plans, like the few enterprising criminals who will try to slip any leash or muzzle placed on them. If this city is to know lasting peace, however thin, they need to be kept under control.

“That we can all agree on. Suspicious, but then again everything those two did was suspicious.” I shrugged with Jaina nodding along.

“Miss Hudson, I see the stories people told me did you no justice.” Oliver said, finally turning to look at her. He did his best to be charming, and if it weren't for the fact I knew Jaina was accustomed to people trying such things with her, she might have fallen for it.

Oliver wasn’t a bad looking guy, and that wasn’t me being gay, just honest. The guy was decent looking, had a personality, and had money. Something most women would eat up like candy, even if they were only interested in the money, they would more than likely choose him over one of these other older and out of shape rich guys.

Jaina chuckled, appearing demure. “Thank you, Mr. Queen, I try my best.” 

Oliver chuckled. “Just call me Oliver, being called that makes me feel old.” 

“According to some teenagers, we are.” I snorted. I had seen some of the online forums the engineers sent, finding them amusing whenever a comment was flagged with my name and some teenagers thought it funny to call me old.

Of course, the girls found me attractive but I am not getting involved with some jailbait. Even if the law doesn’t get me, I have standards. One thing the boys made fun of which did get me some good laughs was the creative jokes and names they did with my last name for this alias. Leave it to the kids to be the ones to get creative enough to make some funny jokes out of it.

“Bah, what would kids know about being old? Anything over eighteen is old to them.” Oliver waved it off, not even concerned about what they thought of us. He did seem to take offense at the notion that someone who hasn’t even gotten their own house or car, let alone worrying about bills, had no idea what it means to be old, but at the same time, he just didn’t care.

I could respect it. Compared to someone like Hal Jordan who was bothered by me mocking him in front of the world, Green Arrow was currently the better hero between the two. It didn’t matter if Hal had more power because of his ring, what matters is when you have the will to see something finished no matter how much it may bother or harm you. You need to have thicker skin if you're going to be a hero constantly doing the right thing.

“Apparently they think we sit in our offices all day long getting high and counting our money.” This got a snort out of all four of them.

“If it were only that easy and enjoyable.” Jaina said with a shake of her head.

“So… where’s your adopted kid? Don’t think I have seen her join you for many of these get togethers.” 

Bruce’s hands tightened, even if it was subtle and he played it off where Jaina and the others not in the know didn’t notice. “Jade doesn’t care for things like this. It took a lot to get her to even attend the others in an appropriate dress.”

I nodded. “Girl is tough, but even life can break the toughest. Good on you for helping her out.” 

He nodded. “I try my best, believing everyone deserves a chance.” 

“Something we all believe in.” Jaina said. I noticed an indicator from one of the contact lenses kept in my body showing an intruder.

At one of my bigger dispensaries for the newly made splicing formula from Batman Beyond. Who the hell managed to get in there?! Checking the feed while talking with the two I paused on activating the security features. 

Manbat was in the facility. He was sneaking around and had managed to get past most of the more scientific sensors. He was so far into it I was impressed Kirk hadn’t tipped them off before. The only reason I was aware was from one of the more magical based methods of detection.

One that he couldn’t have known about unless he himself knew magic. My body hovered over the activation prompt for the turrets and other security. After a long moment with him gathering evidence and checking the place over heading towards a terminal I made my decision.

He wasn’t dying. Not if I could help it. But Kirk had overreached and a response needs to be made. The signal was sent. The evening continued as I realized Bruce was trusting Kirk to do this if he was aware and was keeping me occupied here. If I moved he moved with me. It was subtle enough I hadn’t noticed initially.

Well time to see how good Kirk’s splicing formula is compared to the one from the future when he gets a chance to examine it.

…

Kirk was furious when Superman and the rest of the League contacted him. Learning of humans with animal DNA spliced into them nearly made him slam his head through the pipes under his sink he was working on. A brilliant scientist according to other people yet he couldn’t fix one single ding dang darn leak that had been driving him crazy over the past few months. 

Once he had learned of this and compared what he saw to his own formula, it was both more advanced in some ways and in others less so. It used a more gentle method of applying the changes to the host without causing them bodily harm and giving notable physical changes.

The Rhino, Sabretooth, and Serperior… that last name was such a dumb narcissistic one it made his own hero name not as cringey as the kids put it these days. All of them were modified and enhanced, each capable and dangerous to most normal people, even some heroes would have struggled with what they were capable of. 

So far, it was only Metropolis hit with them, but the League had consulted him for help in figuring it out and helping with any information or questions they had. He did his best, and had made his own decision after contacting Batman to see if he could find a sample of these things to get a better understanding of what he is looking at. 

Potentially develop a means to undo what had been spliced. He moved silently evading the various forms of surveillance from far too many advanced security measures that made him question how valuable this place was. He idly thought of destroying it to try and set back Silhouette. He might do just that while twisting and contorting mid air, trusting his newly gained senses and evading several nearly invisible laser walls that swept across the room.

Kirk’s senses had become far more, his strength and speed reaching unheard of levels, his balance and proprioception becoming superhuman. His hand snatched out and quickly ascended to the beams above.

He noticed something off about this place when on patrol trying his luck to find one of the places Batman had told him about. He had apparently found a supply closet a janitor would use in an old warehouse and found a chamber far bigger in there than the actual warehouse itself. It made no physical sense yet he knew Batman wouldn’t lie about something like that.

Now he knew he was telling the truth. Leaping from several buildings his hearing picked up everything around him, long since used to it and not overwhelmed when he took the concoction to help when Black Gate and Arkham Asylum were having breakouts.

He heard the oddness of the air flow coming from the door in an alley that was locked. All the other buildings didn’t have any air flow, even the ones that had the AC on didn’t do it the way this door did. He carefully opened it and found himself entering the very place he was in now.

He paused when he reached a few vials, and placed them in a fanny pack he brought with him. He hoped no one saw him with this, for he knew despite him praising the power and utility of the fanny pack, people still made fun of it.

The vials were scarce, only a few in each section of the room, organized away from the numerous plants and the bottles of glowing liquid. All of them made his hair across his body stand on end. He even winced when he past some weird trinkets dangling from what looked like an attempt at a dream catcher. 

He had already messaged Batman he was inside the facility and had managed to avoid tripping the systems giving updates on what he had seen so far and what to expect. It was an attempt to gather information as much as it was him letting someone know where he was and what was happening in case things went wrong.

It seemed like after passing those weird items everything went wrong. The various security systems shut off to his confusion. He took it as a sign to hurry up and get out after leaping over multiple tables and grabbing a few more vials and heading towards the only way in.

He slid to a stop when a figure stood in the doorway, covered in shadows yet it didn’t stop Kirk from making out details on them. “Smith was your name, right?”

Manbat had quickly gotten accustomed to the lesser stuff in being a caped vigilante, but he was still new to it. But he knew to be on his guard when this guy went toe to toe with Superman.

Whatever he was, he knew he wasn’t human. His internals from both sound and other methods of detection Kirk had couldn’t get too much information but it was enough to know he may not be alive. At least in the traditional meaning of what that word means.

The thing appearing like an agent adjusted the tie despite it looking perfectly fine stepped forward slowly with two others behind him staying put near the door. “I am, Dr. Langstrom.” 

Kirk’s blood went ice cold at what he just called him. “I think… you may have me mistaken for someone else.” He said with no small amount of trepidation. 

He may have gotten himself into something he shouldn’t have. Too late now, and it wasn’t like it was going to stop him from doing the right thing, like when he went into the hospital to save his former student, assistant, and closest thing to both a friend and family.

“No. I don’t think we are. Your formula has proven to be quite the boon. Powerful, full of potential.” He looked around the room past Kirk but he knew better than to believe his guard was down. Not that it was going to stop Kirk. He had already sent out the signal for trouble. The one that would bring backup.

“A shame it hasn’t reached the masses for the world, it could change so much.” His hand touched a few vials as Kirk backed further into the room. Both out of an attempt to keep his distance and not get close with Smith, but to also create a gap so he could at least attempt to clear the doorway.

“A shame indeed. But in time, it will. Now if you don’t mind I have places to be and-- whoa!” He yelled out when a hand nearly gripped his throat. 

Instead the hand that could crush steel like paper missed as he leaped then pushed off of his shoulders with his hands then caught one of the rafters above with a leg and flipped upright looking down below.

“Impressive. It would seem you modified yourself beyond using bats. I wonder what animals you chose…” Smith said before leaping up and forcing Kirk onto the defensive. The funny thing about Smith's comment was Kirk only used a formula for a bat and no other animals. He was currently to this day trying to figure out how and why it enhanced him in so many ways. 

They played a cat and mouse game where Kirk evaded several strikes with Smith attempting to knock him down. A fist impacted the part of the ceiling Kirk had clung to and didn’t bend it so much as it folded under the punch tearing the metal to shreds. The part of the ceiling became unstable falling from above with Kirk leaping to the next like he was gliding through the air.

That danger sense warned him before he even heard it. He twisted mid air evading the kick aimed for his side. The follow up kick managed to get a glancing blow that made Kirk want to hiss when it tapped the side of his shoulder. He spun out of control almost crashing into a table full of vials but he reoriented and flipped off the table landing on the other side of the room with Smith slamming into a bunch of plants, uncaring of the damage he had just caused.

“You know, for an agent of Silhouette, I’d figured you would be more concerned about his stuff.” Kirk said, trying to buy time.

“Silhouette won’t mind. Not when we have you here.” Kirk sidestepped a punch that had the air itself coiled around it like water before it cracked the air and sent a gust blasting into the wall, pivoting on his foot while leaning back avoiding another punch that would have broken bones.

The realization hit him that he couldn’t stay on the defensive. Flipping over a kick that sent a table careening into the far wall spilling all of its contents before slamming both of his knees into his face shattering those glasses. The brief glimpse of his uncaring and indifferent emotionless face Kirk quickly leapt up and over him.

He slid under a table and got out from under it in time when a crack not unlike that of thunder smashed into it turning both the table and everything on it into shreds as he glanced back seeing he avoided the axe kick that managed to do that. His mouth hung open and his eyes widened. Smith had an arrogant smile on his face, the kind he had seen on all the bullies in his life.

It made Kirk angry. A bitterness he always felt at his own powerlessness when faced with someone he could nothing against, no matter the injustices he was forced to endure. Not just for him, but everyone that had to suffer and he could only watch on. He thought that when he managed to achieve his formula it would change that. 

The agent surged forward pushing and destroying anything in his path, taking the quickest route through it all because why would he care about any of this stuff? 

Kirk instead of running knew he couldn’t outrun him. So he didn’t. He charged in sliding under a punch, and aimed a kick for the side of his knee. It didn’t bring him down since he wasn’t a human. The blow was enough it would have turned a person's knee into meaty chunks, but it made Smith's foot slide back across the dirt and liquids that stained it.

Enough so that Kirk’s next strike regardless of how strong Smith was, and even if the attack couldn’t hurt him, he wasn’t like Superman capable of shrugging off kinetic force and so he slid back from a leaping drop kick that Kirk used to propel him outside of the doorway.

Smith slammed into the wall his expression showing how displeased he was by what Kirk had done. The two agents attacked him as he blocked one strike with his forearm and the other he kicked at the fist. His forearm burned and he felt pain shoot up it with his foot losing out on the contest of strength before he was sent spinning through the air.

A black blur slammed into him pinning him to the wall, cracking the bricks against his back. “Doctor, you should not have done that.” Smith hissed holding him by his suit, his other hand forcing his head further into the brick. It felt like his fingers would dig under his skin at any moment like parasitic worms.

Kirk may not be capable of winning this or getting away. But he wasn’t going down without a fight. His suit given to him by Batman had some gadgets built into it. His suit had retractable claws extend from the hands of it with him slashing out. Smith grabbed one of the metal edges with his hand and with a light squeeze followed by minor vibrations the metal ends deformed and fell to the ground clinking against it.

Smith gave him a condescending look before his fist cocked back and was ready to punch only for him to let go with Kirk leaping up and Smith backing away, dodging the sound wave that tore apart the concrete ground, and the wall cracking and crumbling to pieces kicking up dust.

Both looked over to see Black Canary, hip cocked out a playful smile on her face. “Hope you don’t mind me cutting in.” 

“Not at all I could use the help.” He yelped when a fist from one of the other agents slammed into and carved through the wall like it wasn’t even there. His ears picked up that high frequency whine again. Just like back in that facility. If they can do that with what he is realizing is a high frequency to help break or cut through nearly anything, why haven’t they used it on him?

Canary was already in the thick of it when the other agent with Smith moved to attack her instead of moving out of the way or even trying to dodge them she just stood there smiling. He now realized why.

“Knis otni eht dnuorg!” A voice speaking gibberish to his ears yet it made his senses tingle similar to how that weird charm set his senses off. 

The ground around the three began to bubble before their suit clad forms began to quickly get consumed by it like it had become quick sand. He turned to see a man wearing a suit not unlike that of a stage magician. 

Before he could question what he did the sound of concrete cracking and breaking apart had him turn in time to see a hand about to grab his throat. He leaned out of the way in time and braced his arms for a follow up strike that made his bones ring. 

Wincing he slid back leaping over a wild haymaker giving Smith a round house kick to the temple. The look he gave him was of utter disdain and contempt. He looked furious. His speed picked up and even with his senses telling him all that would happen he was too slow to keep up with it. 

The fists became after images, the air cracking with each punch slamming into his arms and torso. He coughed and grunted but it didn’t stop him from trying to fight back. He had dealt with being put down and beaten with no way of fighting back before. For once in his life, he was going to fight.

He wasn’t alone. Black Canary was leaping off of walls, sliding under legs, using her scream that made him want to cover his ears when she could, but a hand slamming into her diaphragm had her silenced. The magician wasn’t fairing any better than they were. Any time he tried to say anything the man almost got his head crushed. The only reason he hadn’t was he was saying one word that he realized was backwards for some reason that bought him just enough time.

Kirk got an idea, he slipped through Smith’s guard having predicted where and when he would attack. Instead of dealing with Smith he leapt over and made the agent stumble when he kicked off of his back making the concrete crater under him.

“Can you force the buildings to slam into each other?!” He yelled out to the stage magician doing his best to keep the agent and Smith off of him once his idea was out in the open.

Canary looked at him as if he had lost his mind. The magician hesitated for a moment but he went with it seeing the dire situation. The others should get here but as things stood Kirk didn’t know if they could hold out long enough.

The air cracked, the ground splintered, and the sides of the buildings looked like they had been hit by meteor showers. Kirk grunted when a fist impacted his gut as he was sent sliding back. He used his momentum from the blow and jumped up and off the wall flying towards Canary and grabbed her. The wind whipped at her hair with her staring at him wide eyed. 

Now clear of the buildings the magician did his thing. “Sgnidliub mals rehtegot. Ylf evoba.” His hands raised with a bead of sweat dropping from his face, the buildings did as commanded.

Smith and the two agents looked at one another nodding and walked calmly back uncaring of the two massive buildings sliding together as if the ground and their foundations didn’t exist. It was like roller skates on an oil slicked road with how fast they slammed into each other. 

A plume of dust rose into the air followed by the cracking and crumbling with the bone deep rumbling of the force behind the buildings. Then the rumbling that followed into the ground.

Kirk landed on a nearby buildings roof holding Black Canary in a bridal carry. The stage magician landed beside them. “Do you… do you think that was enough to defeat them?”

He looked unsure if he even wanted to know. Let it never be said Kirk was a liar, he didn’t have it in him to even lie right now to make them feel better. “I doubt it. If the one with the glasses I broke could fight Superman I doubt several ton buildings are going to do anything.”

“I am afraid Manbat is correct… you can also put me down now.” Black Canary said unwrapping her arms from his neck and giving him a sultry smile that made his heart pick up.

“Oh- uh- my bad!” He quickly and gently put her down as she stepped away, a slight limp in her leg.

“Good idea, though a little more warning would have been appreciated… I can let it slide this time considering our circumstances.” She said to him with a tired smile.

The three heroes quickly left the area and making sure they were not being followed. Kirk had a lot of work to do. Especially examining the vials that oddly enough hadn’t been damaged at all.

Create two new branches of your company +50
Begin the plan to get humanity to ascend to the stars +50