A punch impacted the side of my head hitting the dirt and grass. On and on this went and despite my best efforts I couldn’t get them off of me seeing stars and red at the edges of my vision. A hand with a strong grip grabbed my hair and forced me to look up at my attacker.

“Talked all that good shit a second ago. What about my parents?” I opened my mouth to speak but another fist silenced me before I was dragged back up again.

The kid looked like he came from a bad neighborhood. Sun-kissed skin with patchy clothes. Donald “Don” Montero.

“Well what about your parents? Look at them. If they cared about you, why aren’t they stopping me?” He said to me, it made my heart freeze for a moment head slowly turned to face them.

A man and woman that just looked average, easily forgettable faces looked down at me with emotionless expressions. My anger began to boil over when I saw those apathetic expressions. 

Yet despite all my rage it wasn’t enough to get the bastard pinning me off. He laughed and laughed at me, his voice grew distorted. Then his body shifted and changed into someone I had grown to fear.

Moria. She looked down at me, her porcelain white skin gleaming yet the darkness grew around her. Unlike with Donald my rage had given me enough power to get her off. We clashed. Fist met flesh and bone.

Kicks parted the skin and muscle like water against a flood gate. Yet her body reformed, damage undone. She charged at me and I tried to do the same.

That was until chains appeared from nowhere wrapped around my arms and legs. The instant my fist would have made contact with her body it was stopped then pulled back by the restraints despite my best efforts to break free.

Moria took full advantage, beating me to her heart's content. Unlike her, my wounds remained. Everything was stacked against me. 

“Giving up so soon? Have you learned nothing from me?” Miguel’s voice echoed out across the expanse with Moria going to town on me. Kicks impacted my face knocking it side to side before closing in multiple jabs going into my gut.

“Pick and choose your battles. Be smart about it.” Shey’s voice said.

The chains twisted and turned pulled taut across my body. Nothing I could do beyond let Moria crack her knuckles, an evil gleam in her eyes.

Just when her fists raised together I fought the chains keeping me shackled. Her clasped fists came down. Just when they seemed to hit me it all vanished.

Replaced by a mechanical beep with machinery humming. My eyes snapped open. Everything was tinted blue, my body was wet covered in some kind of slime.

I glanced around the room and saw numerous Echani in white outfits reminiscent of doctors and medical practitioners. I was in some kind of container suspended in this fluid. With my thoughts catching up piecing it all together all the pain hits me.

It was nowhere as bad as it was before in my battle against Moria… 

The door across the room opened with a near silent hiss with the fluid in this oversized jar making it harder to make out what was happening around me. Selene walked in followed by several guards armed with staves and pikes.

“Glad to see you are awake Corvo. You had us all wondering if you were going to pull through.” 

My body shifted with a breathing apparatus around my mouth and nose which felt like it was caked in cement. Was she referring to me surviving or to managing to pull off a victory against Moria? I did win, didn't I?

Selene gave a small smile and nodded to me. “You managed to win. Albeit at great cost to yourself.” She looked over my body clad in only form fitting black briefs.

She hummed as one of the workers was pulled over to discuss something with her. She turned back to me. 

“Corvo, do you believe you can heal the rest of the damage to your body?” She asked me, making me question just how much damage Moria did to me.

It depends. How bad is the damage?

“Nearly all your teeth were shattered, you have multiple skull fractures, along with a few broken ribs, and you had some ruptured organs but that was taken care of immediately. Your arms and legs were some of the most damaged parts of your body.”

She listed off several more injuries, many of which made me look at her in shock. I hadn’t realized the extent of the damage taken over the course of that fight. While she explained all of this, the pain began to come in.

A deep dull ache that ran across the entirety of my body. My tongue touched where my teeth should be only to hit small nubs or spaces with no teeth there beyond hardened blood that had scabbed over.

I think long and hard about what she had told me. Most of that I could heal but some of it wouldn’t be pretty. Like the remnants of my teeth had to come out if I was going to grow new ones.

Despite what Skyrim would have you believe Restoration magic required more than just magicka to heal an injury especially one that was far worse than a simple cut or stab wound.

It required knowledge of whatever you're trying to heal using the magicka to force the body back to what it should be like. Almost like looking over a blueprint when someone put something together wrong and you need to go back to correct it. You have to take some parts off to rebuild it properly.

Restoration could do many things that most would consider miracles. It wasn’t just accelerated healing, but outright manipulation of flesh and life itself. The power to guide and direct it into whatever you needed it to be. It’s how flesh sculptors did their art. 

Destruction magic was used to create a blank canvas for them to paint on and Restoration was the paint and brush needed to make what you wanted. It was one of the projects I had been working on before I got sent off on this nightmare of a job.

One that wasn’t fully finished but I had learned my fair share from using the bodies of the gang members to alter their appearances before becoming Death Korp members to make it harder to recognize them in the off chance someone did.

Weighting the pros and cons and right now there were a lot more pros compared to cons. But I needed clarification on some things.

I take it I am in a bacta tank?

She nodded.

“You have been inside of it for about a week and a half. It helped heal a large number of injuries after the emergency surgery was done. It’s the main reason your body isn’t a crippled mess. I owed you that much after what you had gone through.” She said after having read my body to know how long I had been out of it.

Yeah, that reinforced how bad the damage was… I would gesture more for clarification at the mention of the need for emergency surgery but I would rather not set anything off since it felt like one wrong move and the deep ache across my body may become something much worse.

Finally coming to an answer I nod at her and slowly gesture without too much motion. “Very well then. We will have transport for you back to the manor with what you need to fix the damage.”

One of the workers turned around looking alarmed at Selene's response, rushed over to her, and quietly but heatedly discussed something with her. A back and forth with Selene calmly responded to the worker but I couldn’t hear anything, everything was garbled beyond Selene's voice.

“Corvo has knowledge in the medical field and will be capable of handling the rest.” 

On and on they talked until my eyelids grew heavy. It was a restful slumber with no dreams yet the previous one was stuck in the back of my head. 

A dulled thud snapped me out of my rest when I see I am staring up at a ceiling. Then the pod I was in rose up before with a hiss the doors opened spilling the goop across the floor with gravity embracing me.

Far too clumsy for my liking, my arm tries to grip the sides of the pod but can’t quite reach it. After the fourth attempt, both hands managed to reach and properly grip the side and slowly pulled me forward. 

In my impatience and annoyance at my current state I failed to notice I was pulling too much and falling down to the floor like a fish out of water. 

A grunt escaped me with me slowly looking up to see Selene with several servants by her side. Serleena stood off to the side looking down at me not in pity but in respect. A servant moved forward at Selene's behest with an offered hand.

Taking it before getting hauled to my feet I almost fell back down when the servant had me lean more onto them. 

“Thanks.” I huffed out taking the breathing apparatus off my face. The air felt cold and burned on the way down compared to the mask. Yet it felt like life had returned compared to the stale artificial air being shoved down my throat.

They merely nodded. With a hand wave my stamina that felt like a dry lake returned nearly full force with my shaky weakened limbs now having the power returned to them feeling like they could rip and tear apart durasteel.

The regular spells are enough to fix the minor damage for now but things like my teeth and ribs… those will have to be dealt with immediately.

I turned no longer needing the servant's aid and went inside the bathroom with a subtle green glow to my hand that no one else noticed. 

… 

A floating piece of bone spur covered in blood fell into a sink that had several more like it coating what had to be a bathroom that spared no expense with its luxuries now coated in crimson red. 

My mouth was filled with blood once more with my gums begging me to stop. I could have used a painkiller but I needed to feel what was going on inside my mouth to know if something was wrong.

If this were the old me I couldn’t have done any of this. Telekinetically tugging out bone shards of my teeth or having the mental capacity while under this much pain to know if something was wrong.

Noting each piece is taken care of so the hard part is over. My reserves had regenerated enough for me to start. Hand held up as I used a basic illusion spell to show an image of the inside of my mouth.

Another spell that had been created out of curiosity and experimentation was brought up. Focused on the inside of my mouth with the magicka that fueled the spell directed into my mouth. At first, nothing happened. 

Within a few seconds I could feel it working inside of my gums. Something was filling the empty space of my gums that hurt but compared to what Moria put me through this was nothing.

Then the image in front of me showed blood either clotted or flowing was shoved out of the holes in my gums before pure white bone slowly worked its way out. First molars. Then my canines looked more human than vampire before they elongated without me needing to guide them.

Then the rest slowly and painfully formed until my mouth was crimson red and white with the teeth looking pure as snow. No yellow stains or cavities. The pain in my gums receded the damage mended slowly over time to ensure no complications or issues so I don’t have to do this again.

A huge sigh of relief escaped me before feeling the rest of my body. Everything seemed back in place. The only thing I was struggling with was the phantom pain. That unfortunately Restoration can’t deal with and it will simply go away in time.

I hope.

A quick usage of telekinesis had the blood and bone fragments held into a tight ball in the air before a quick flame spell burned most of it away. Combined with telekinesis it drained me of what was left. 

The remaining bones dropped back into the sink with tiny tinks against the porcelain or whatever this thing was made of with the remnants of the blood all but gone beyond an ash-like substance.

The telekinesis spell was one that much like Skyrim showed it was magicka-intensive and it could lift most things even heavier objects without too much of an increase in magicka to do so. It’s when you get to things like small buildings in their entirety or castle walls that you begin to have too much drain.

Beyond the magicka cost it also couldn’t be used on ‘living’ things. It was some weird metaphysical concept that a soul would have to be absolutely overwhelmed by their own existence to take control of their life physical form with telekinesis. 

It’s why it could be used on the lowest of the low undead yet anything above that wouldn't work. It was because the equivalent of a soul they had was practically a speck of dust with no greater intelligence beyond following what the master ordered. 

Some clothes or items on someone’s person could be manipulated but otherwise it couldn’t directly affect someone. That didn’t mean it couldn’t be used in other ways. It was something I always intended to improve especially if I am going to be dealing with people like Palpatine and the Jedi.

But with this recent incident of me almost dying I need to improve and get some plans rolling faster. I haven’t been resting on my laurels per se but I haven’t been rushing like the devil was right on my tail.

A chuckle escaped me as I processed how close I had come to biting the bullet. I was arrogant to even think that the Matriarch wouldn’t adapt to my trick to fool their body reading. 

Shivers run up my arms with them quaking from the memory of the pain, blood, and just everything awful that happened in that moment. Even through the haze that clouded my mind some memories remained and I remembered them when I would prefer not to.

“It’s done. I finished it and now I can rest easy.” I muttered aloud to myself. More to help calm me down than anything else. It seemed to work with the shivers and shakes slowly easing up before disappearing altogether. 

After several minutes enough magicka was in the tank to clean up the rest of it and dispose of the trash. My hands were now clean from the mess I glanced over at the shower. 

Then back at the mirror showing my bloody face and neck. One long hot shower later I was in heaven. A hot shower was something I never thought I would take for granted but after all this time spent suffering in this hellhole, I am looking forward to Nar Shaddaa.

Once out of the bathroom I saw a clean set of clothes set on the bed with several servants standing at attention. Not paying them any mind I took the clothes back into the bathroom because I am not changing in front of them.

I may be vain and love the way I look but I refused to show my body to strangers. 

“The Matriarch has extended an invitation to you for a feast in your honor for claiming the Second Sister for our House.” One said to me bowing in respect.

“Alright, lead the way then.” 

So she did with me feeling far more comfortable in these clothes that looked pretty expensive. Like absurdly expensive. The kind of expensive that you could throw millions of paggats or credits at a famous tailor and they could turn their nose up at you type of expensive.

We went through the entirety of the manor with many servants stopping what they were doing just to bow in respect to me. Some people would enjoy it. I… I don’t know what I felt about it. On one hand I didn’t like it but on the other a darker part of me enjoyed it.

Miguel always talked about how despite what some people who made it to the big time would think they are better than everyone else, we are all equal at the end of the day. We all bleed red, and we will all die eventually. Death especially being the great equalizer as he liked to call it. Something that of my two other lives one would scoff at.

I shook my head to rid myself of such thoughts. Those were when he was close to the end.

Eventually we reached a grand room with all kinds of alien yet delicious looking foods. From some kind of massive bird the size of an ostrich with a delectable smell mixed with spices to sweets like some kind of orange and blue colored cinnamon rolls.

“There is the man of the hour himself. I am pleased to see you hale and healthy Corvo.” Selene said, getting everyone’s attention. 

Many of her children were here along with plenty of guards and servants. The place looked like a beehive with everyone doing something in the room.

“Appreciate the bacta you got for me. I know it wasn’t cheap.” 

I am genuinely thankful she was willing to invest in something like that for me. She could have just turned her back on me after I fulfilled my end of the deal and left me to die if she wanted to.

“No need Corvo. If anyone should be thanking someone it should be me thanking you. Against all odds, you have overcome a great trial. Hold your head high for you have done something not many have accomplished in a long time. You managed to fight and defeat an Echani Matriarch!” She threw her hands up in a grand gesture with the numerous servants and family members clapping their hands with enthusiastic applause.

I merely watched them as my face felt like it was carved out of stone. It wasn’t that I didn’t enjoy the appreciation and respect being shown, it was more because I didn’t win in my eyes. When you have to use a desperate move when you are at your limit and your adversary has you dead to rights, that isn’t a win to me.

A gamble that paid off when you otherwise had lost felt like a loss all the same. For me, victory should be achieved through skill and holding your own, and not out of desperation. It’s something that I even believed when playing online games. 

If you barely win and that win is through the universe taking pity on you it’s not a true win. Selene read me like an open book, her expression warm yet she looked puzzled like a mother trying to understand her child’s reasoning.

“Now let everyone enjoy themselves this evening. This is a night to celebrate!” With that, everyone began to dig in enjoying themselves with some classy music playing in the background.

I walked forward, grabbed a plate, and sat down using the silverware like a gentleman with the memories of dining with the elite before I had to assassinate someone coming to the surface.

It was like an old hat for me. Some of the servants and family members of House Solorok even looked mildly surprised that I knew how to use them. 

Enjoying the alien feast with the succulent meat all but melting within my mouth. A seat being taken beside me had me glance over to see Selene with her own plate.

I’ll give her that. She enjoyed her meat since there was nearly nothing but meat on her plate. “You can think what you want Corvo but you cannot argue you had come out as the victor in the end.”

“That wasn’t a true victory. Sure I am alive and… is she dead?” I was about to explain until the sudden realization that I didn’t know if Moria was dead or not.

Daintily biting down on a piece that looked suspiciously like roast beef before she responded. “I have been keeping tabs on her and her family. She is currently in a coma and is no longer in critical condition.”

My fork paused halfway to my mouth as I processed that. A coma. Not dead. A coma is all I managed to give her after multiple headbutts that would have shattered a normal person's head right open like a coconut. And she was in a coma.

“A victory is a victory, Corvo. Most fights are won with skill but there is always something else that can decide who wins and loses. Luck. Moria grew arrogant and wanted to make an example out of you when she should have gone for the kill.”

“While I understand your perspective on such things Selene, I disagree. A true victory is achieved when everyone can universally agree the better fighter has won and no one can argue otherwise.”

She tilted her head back and forth while chewing on her food. “Not necessarily a wrong belief but not a correct one either. As far as I am concerned you are the better fighter. You just lacked experience and given the time that had been cut short you could have been vastly better than her.”

Selene shook her head at that with me savoring the tangy fruit and vegetables along with the meat on my plate. It was an exotic combination yet it all meshed so well with nothing overpowering anything else as all of it could be tasted at once.

“Selene if we had done it your way from the beginning I doubt Corvo would have lasted. He has made it abundantly clear he is incredibly talented in our arts but yet cares little for them in the end.” Serleena's voice comes from behind me taking a seat beside Selene.

“Had we done it like I wanted to Serleena, we wouldn't have needed to worry about the outcome.” 

“Well, it didn’t matter in the end since Corvo had won the battle.” She raised her glass filled with what smelled like powerful spirits. “Magnificent fight by the way Corvo. I didn’t expect what you did in the end. And I doubt Moria ever saw it coming if we didn’t.”

A smile and nod before raising my own glass when a servant came to pour wine into it for me. “Appreciate the praise Serleena and Selene. Once this feast is done I will have to leave by tonight since my job here is done.” 

Taking a long sip savoring the bitter yet sweet wine and taking a few bites of my meal. Both women glanced at one another with a long look shared before them. Before I could decipher what they were talking about another person plopped down across from the three of us.

“Corvo you can’t just leave!” Celeste said showing the most emotion I have seen to date. Not that she was against showing some emotion like her being a battle junky. But she was more reserved where this was just openly on display with no need for the Echani body reading when anyone could see she was unhappy.

And apparently drunk if the smell of alcohol on her was any indication.

“I have to. My job here is finished and once this is done I need to get back to Hutt space.”

All three turned to look at one another with me looking up from my wonderful meal to see them sharing a look yet hiding whatever it is.

“Corvo, we also have another gift for you. One that you cannot pass up.” Selene said with a knowing smile. 

A few hours go by with the evening winding down with everyone getting their fill of the food. No matter how many times I asked the three of them nor the servants would tell me what the other surprise was.

Despite the need to leave and get back in contact with Jabba about the job being done I don’t leave just yet. Simply because they have my curiosity on what they intended to use to keep me around. It had to be something they knew I would care enough to stick around for.

Plus it’s not like Jabba will hear about what happened anytime soon. And if he does as far as I am concerned I have earned this much for getting treated like a punching bag.

Celeste had managed to sober up enough after Selene made sure she couldn’t have any more alcohol to her annoyance but she stopped pouting when her mom had whispered something into her ear.

She smiled ear to ear like she just got promised the thing she had been asking for all year round and Santa had delivered. 

The system's star had gone beneath the horizon with the night sky looking beautiful as I lounged on an outside balcony watching the stars above with the occasional ship passing by in the distance.

“Corvo I am happy you decided to stick around instead of just leaving,” Celeste said, walking closer.  

There was a sway to her steps where it would seem she was still under the effects of the liquor if not as much. She had more control over herself compared to before but still open enough to make it far easier to read her.

She wanted me to come with her. “Time for you to see your gift!” She grabbed my arm leading me along while I allowed it.

She was kind of cute when drunk. Like a clumsy puppy rather than a battle-hungry maniac. We moved further into the manor moving across familiar territory when I realized where we were going.  

The living room had a few of Selene's other children amongst the chairs and couches all with a few snacks and beverages. Selene sat in an oversized yet incredibly comfortable-looking chair that looked more cushion than furniture.

“Welcome Corvo. Our gift to you and for everyone to enjoy it together for this will be the last night Corvo will be with us.” 

Intrigued, I stepped forward taking a seat beside Serleena who gave me a wane smile that screamed I know what’s coming but you don’t. 

Sitting back and relaxing before the hologram began bathing the dim room with some light.

“To all of our wonderful viewers out there who watch this channel on the galactic holonet we wish to throw out a big thank you to a patron and donor to our channel who wishes to remain anonymous. Without them, what would have been the final season of Starro and Hoop before its cancellation has now managed to continue for another three seasons.”

I merely turned to look at Selene, a knowing look on my face. Selene merely smiled at me before we all sat back relaxed and enjoyed the show one last time together. I may not miss the grueling training but I will miss moments like this.

“This is absurd!” Wonder Woman roared across the room fist slamming down onto the table rattling it. 

The gathered heroes of the Justice League all silently agreed with her even if they didn’t agree with the outburst. 

“I have helped save so many lives, and it was even proven that the thing I battled against was a machine. Yet the media continues to spout more and more lies.” 

“As they will continue to do. The United Nations is already in talks about adjusting the charter they have with us.” Batman’s projection said from one of many seats at the table. 

“Just give them time and they will see reason. They will come to understand as they always have before.” Superman said calmly trying to ease the tension in the room. 

“This time maybe not. With Luthor having a hand in this the UN could lean in favor of what he might suggest.” Batman said, silencing the room with everyone, especially Superman knowing that unlike other incidents Luthor had not made a move quite like this before.

“Maybe so but we need to have faith that they will see reason. Luthor can try all he likes to manipulate them but he won’t succeed.” 

“And if he does?” Batman challenged Superman, always looking at the worst-case scenario unlike the majority of the League.

“Then we will do as we always have. It won’t stop any of us from doing the right thing.” Superman said with such conviction that everyone in the room knew he meant every word he said.

Pushing some buttons Superman brought up the images of the androids that Wonder Woman had battled and dismantled wanting to move past the subject of Lex Luthor since they had already at length discussed the man.

“Each of these machines had unique abilities. Super speed, geokinetic powers, and super strength and durability. But of the three only this one,” Superman pointed out the hulking behemoth that would stand out in any crowd, “Had actual blood in its system. Did Silhouette intend to use it as a means to incriminate Wonder Woman and make it appear like she killed someone to the public?” 

Superman's question got the rest of the gathered League members thinking it over.

“Possibly. Tests have shown the blood was from an unknown large mammal. The tests showed the blood had some oddities to it.” Batman said with many members now even more interested, “Giovanni Zatara had helped in further understanding what the blood had come from and what its purpose was.” 

Everyone's gaze snapped to the publicly known stage magician. He was known for his shows but ironically enough had dealt with magic since he himself was a practitioner. 

Giovanni wasn’t intimidated by the many heroes of Earth looking to him for information since he was consulted by Batman himself for information. 

“The blood had come from an ancient creature called a Re’em.” Giovanni got straight to the point.

Some members of the League just looked at him not understanding what a Re’em even was. 

“A Re’em is a mythical animal that was some type of bovine known for being untamable and incredibly powerful. It and its blood are mentioned several times in the bible.” Batman clarified getting several members' interests now.

Giovanni nodded a thankful look on his face directed at Batman before he continued, “How this Silhouette got hold of Re’ems blood is beyond me considering the creatures are considered long since extinct. Even among the magical community most believed them to be a myth given how rare it is to find anything originating from these creatures.” 

This made everyone sit up straighter. “Why would Silhouette use something like that and put it inside a machine?” Flash spoke up, not understanding the reasoning.

Especially if the blood was so rare according to Giovanni.

“Re’em blood when used by someone usually through ingesting it can grant one incredible strength. It would explain how Silhouette managed to catch you off guard Wonder Woman.” Giovanni explained further while speaking politely.

He meant no disrespect and Wonder Woman knew this. But it didn’t help being yet another reminder of how she should have taken Silhouette far more seriously than she had.

“Is it possible a machine like that android could use the blood to enhance itself?” Red Tornado asked in his emotionless mechanical voice.

“I… I don’t know. It could be possible but hard to say since not much is known of what could be done with Re’em blood.” Giovanni said, sounding uncertain himself.

“Do you think Silhouette was using it to test if it was possible?” Superman asked both Zatara and Batman his gaze divided between the two.

“It’s a possibility,” Batman said not giving any answers seemingly like the rest of them. It’s why Silhouette had grown to be a far greater threat in each member's eyes.

The growing drug business which somehow despite the damage that had been done in Gotham was like stepping on an ant hill. What would seem like significant damage and a massive setback turned out to be a minor inconvenience when the ants showed in little time that the ant hill was fully repaired.

It was no different for Silhouette no less. A seemingly endless amount of connections and resources ranging from raw materials to money and manpower if they were capable of taking such a loss showing no sign that it was even an inconvenience.

An image popped up with various pieces of information on Silhouette with most of it being educated guesses that none of them could rely on. Having strength and speed well above a baseline human. 

That was before using Re’em blood or some other means when he managed to knock Wonder Woman through several floors and out of an office building's roof. Every physical category already marked him as a far greater threat than anyone would have guessed. Even Batman wouldn’t have assumed he was that powerful.

“I have to agree with Batman. Despite my history with the magical community this is something I doubt anyone beyond the oldest magic users or creatures could answer. Which I doubt since as you all know magic and technology tend not to get along.” Zatara said helplessly. He was like the rest of them frustrated.

“We need to go back into Gotham,” Superman said with finality, his arms crossed.

“It will have to wait.” Batman countered. Everyone in the room turned to stare the man down.

Where most people, even heroes, would be hard-pressed not to flinch at some of the strongest beings on Earth staring them down. Batman didn’t even bat an eye.

“Care to explain?” Wonder Woman said calmly yet anyone could tell the steel hidden in each word.

“Have you all forgotten what Silhouette did last time you all appeared and has continued to do when you were about to head back to Gotham?” Batman reminded them of the means by which Silhouette had forced them to stay away.

Using people who were in deep debt or were desperate for money and had them cause chaos in each of their cities. It was far from a minor inconvenience when you had hundreds to even thousands of people destroying public property.

“Then what do you suggest? The longer we wait the more power this guy is going to accumulate. We need to strike now while we still can. He has already begun to spread normal drugs into our cities.” Flash said, standing up out of his seat pointing his finger at Batman.

“I suggest we make a plan and we wait. If we act now without organizing ourselves we will just have the same issue repeat itself. We need to have some League members placed in reserve to keep the peace in the rest of the country.” Batman calmly explained to them.

The gathered members settled down once Batman showed he wasn’t outright against going after Silhouette. He just wanted to be smart about how they go about it.

“Well, I for one look forward to apprehending this Silhouette and bringing them to justice.” Arthur Curry said looking pleased that they were finally going to do something.

Like Batman he couldn’t meet them all personally on the Watchtower since he had an upcoming UN meeting between representatives of several countries and Atlantis he was preparing for. With him being king he felt it would be best to help with surface world relations by coming to a UN event.

Much like Wonder Woman who would be there as well to represent her home of Themyscira. But unlike Arthur, she had been to many UN gatherings so it required no preparation on her part beyond figuring out what to wear for the occasion.

“As do I, Aquaman. It is rather disheartening that it has taken this for you to finally allow us to lend you aid Batman.” Wonder Woman said with a smile before the corners of her lips went down when addressing Gotham's dark knight.

“We have been over this before Wonder Woman. I am not repeating myself.” 

With that, the meeting came to an end with Batman’s hologram disappearing along with Aquaman's. 

…

Things were going great! Even better now with how my stimpacks somehow turned out to be what was needed to get his project over the finish line. Who knew how long it would have taken Kirk otherwise?

And things were about to go from great to amazing. It was finally time. A firm nod to Light who held a look of great concentration his tentacle held over the confirm button and when the tension hit a crescendo he pressed the button.

The screen on the Batcomputer showed that Silent Hill 2 had finally launched. It was available for purchase online on our secure online gaming site. Taking a page out of Gabe Newell’s playbook and creating our very own gaming site called Assembly Required.

It showed a game's player base and its stats over time, how many active players were on it, reviews, and even allowed indie developers to upload their games to the site for a small cut of their profits. 

Advertising had been used both free and paid and so far the game, despite just launching, had currently over twenty thousand people purchasing it and growing quickly.

It was one of many legitimate businesses I intended to create to both generate income while cleaning my dirty money but also to generate jobs. Assembly Required wouldn’t be one such business that would make jobs for much of anyone.

Its purpose for now was to help generate revenue in a market others had yet to stake a claim in. At least not like I am. Right now Light and the other engineers were working on developing virtual intelligences that you could have a conversation with and believe they were actual people.

The VIs would act as customer support and other roles to make it seem like a legitimate business. Assembly Required would be the flagship at the beginning acting as the catalyst that would herald the new wave that would usher in Gotham's brighter future.

“Light, keep tabs on how well the game is doing, and even if I doubt any bugs pop up, be prepared to patch them out over time and not instantly. We don’t want people getting suspicious. Have the next stage of our plans prepped for operation Get Nuked In Your Mouth.”

Light nodded like a soldier given the most important mission by his general. 

After that, I got busy training, tinkering, and setting up for future businesses. Days go by and before I knew it two weeks had passed.

My arms and legs stretched making a series of satisfying pops echo across the room before the doors to the test room opened. A sigh escaped me knowing I aced the test. 

Walking away with the test examiners feeding my results into their machine and going over my written portions.

The written part would be the easiest. The hard part would be the practical exam. Following the hallway with the door opening for me. The room lit up with a spotlight above an operating table. What looked like a man currently under anesthesia was on it. The body only had a thin white sheet covering it.

“The last part of your test will be a practical exam to see if you have the qualified experience to be given your medical degree. You will be judged over your capabilities, skills, and how well you handle the pressure of a randomly selected operation you must conduct on the lifelike test dummy you see. This will be more difficult than a normal test since you are being considered more intelligent than the average person and as such certain rules will be applied accordingly.” 

The voice over the intercom sounded emotionless. Almost like the intercom had nothing to do with it but the person on the other end was more machine than the intercom. A light flickered over to my side showing my medical garb and mask with gloves. Guess this is why they said not to eat anything before taking the test.

“The last but biggest criterion for passing that makes up the most of your test score will be keeping the patient alive and ensuring a successful operation.” The voice continued with the room still mostly shrouded in darkness beyond the light that illuminated the operating room and table.

A vague reflection in the upper corner of the room made me give it the side eye seeing the glass of what must be the examiners watching me through the tinted window.

Quickly donning the surgery uniform to ensure it fit well without too much slack to prevent it from distracting me. Not that it would distract me but the examiners might find it unprofessional on my part.

Walking over to the operating table I see the dummy up close. For most people, it would seem indistinguishable from a person's real body. But tiny signs I could pick out showed it was a dummy that was well-made. 

The chest rose up and down simulating breathing with the body slightly warm to the touch but getting colder gradually over time. Each hair on the arm felt nearly life-like. 

But I could tell how it was just a little off. The hairs were slightly stiffer than normal hair, with the feeling of them more like brushing up against plastic fibers than something organic.

I guess it was set up in such a way that if someone who wanted to get their degree earlier had the difficulty level dialed up on them by several notches. It made sense. 

I am doing something that only someone who was a legitimate genius could do. It helped find out if someone was truly what they said they were filtering through the rank and file to find the hidden gems.

If someone is going to abuse the system and try to pull a fast one without the experience or knowledge necessary to pass then they were just wasting resources that could have gone to someone else.

Standing ready already familiarized with the layout of the operating room with the tools necessary for the operation. A hiss followed by metal latches coming undone on a container had me check out what was inside.

A refrigerated replica heart. Lots of respect for whoever designed this test. They could make a living in Hollywood as a prop and set designer. It could make an awesome horror movie if the attention to detail was anything to judge by.

“You may begin when ready. Once you do you will have seven hours to complete the test. Failure to properly transplant the heart will be automatically considered a failure for the test.”

Not wasting any time I quickly got to work. The heart was kept in its storage container with me making quick surgical incisions along the chest cavity. The time went by fast with me going through the different procedures to slowly gain access to the inner workings of the chest cavity.

None of it was difficult. What took so long was having to be patient and not use too much force on the patient while delving deeper into their body. The heart monitor has remained stable so far.

Eventually, the dummy's heart was slowly beating in my eyes. My gloves and apron were covered in synthetic fluid meant to replicate blood. My lenses confirmed as such looking at the fluid noting the incredibly minor details that let it pick out how it wasn’t the real thing.

Most people couldn’t stomach looking at something like this. But for me it was fascinating. Not in a morbid way about the human body or anything like that. More out of respect for how much effort had to go into making this as life-like as possible to immerse test takers.

Made me wonder what other operations they have on the randomizer to choose what the applicant would have to perform. 

Getting to work carefully removing the heart while picking up the pace with the heart monitor beeping before it turned into a long drawn-out wail. Taking the prepared heart inserting it inside the cavity reattaching each valve to the appropriate parts. 

The wail from the monitor turned into a slow beat with the newly placed heart beating with that familiar sound.

Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. 

Each beat corresponded with the monitor. The beating heart was at first fast but gradually calmed down to a nice calm pace. Now piecing the body back together making quick efficient work of it with the last of the skin pieced back together.

Placing the last of the tools on the side tray standing at attention now finished. The rest of the lights turned on now displaying the room. Larger than what most people would have assumed it to be. 

“Your test is finished. You may remove the surgical uniform and leave the test room. You will be notified later on if you have passed the test.” The intercom crackled to life.

Taking off the outfit and gloves then tossed them into a contaminant disposal can then simply walked through the doors I had come in through. No fanfare, applause, or anything really. I know I passed the test. It took me around two hours to finish it and I could have moved even faster had the dummy been more durable.

Stepping out with the sun shining above I idly wondered how Pam was doing.

 She was in another building around the university taking her own test. I could only imagine what they had her doing to pass hers since mine for anyone with no experience beyond just reading the books would struggle under that kind of test.

Especially when dealing with that much fake blood and fake internal organs made in such a way that they almost seemed like the real thing. Fairly warm at the right temperature a body should be at. The positions of the organs and where they were placed and what they were connected to were also incredibly accurate and detailed. 

All of it was a surprisingly immersive experience. Yet I passed with flying colors as far as I was concerned. 

Taking a seat on the steps making a show of checking the time on my phone while enjoying the peacefulness of the university with the students having returned now after Gotham got its utilities back on.

A few students whom I had taught waved at me. Waving back I got up and walked down to the biology building since that would be where Pam would be taking her test. Figured I could wait outside until she got done.

I used the time to relax since my training had been nonstop with any time I could spare for it. My chakra reserves had grown by leaps and bounds, control growing to higher levels. I even managed to test to see what chakra natures were naturally suited to me.

That was fun. Nothing quite like shooting random elemental jutsu off seeing which ones packed more of a punch, didn’t use up as much chakra, having used the low rank jutsu to test it.

Time well spent since I seemed to have a natural inclination towards water and to a lesser extent lightning jutsu. The other elements wouldn’t be abandoned since there were jutsu in those other elements that were still useful to have at my disposal.

A pair of steps had me lazily turn to see Jade with Bruce Wayne by her side walking over to me.

“Surprised to see you here Jade. Finally, change your mind on college?” I asked her genuinely curious what she was doing here with Bruce.

“Nope. I intend on going but not to Gotham. I figured I’d come and see you.” She said casually looking around at the surroundings. Despite how aloof she tried to appear to be I could tell she was happy for me.

My smile was a knowing one and she gave me a mild glare with Bruce just smiling looking between the two of us.

“Well it’s rather funny timing you visit me at Gotham University on the day I had an important test. Interesting coincidence ain’t it?” My tone was playful and teasing.

Her glare intensified as she frowned at me. “Yeah. Just a coincidence.” 

“Thanks, Jade. I know this isn’t your thing,” My arm waved at the surroundings, “But I appreciate you being here. I take it the time is drawing close?” 

My change of topics had her go through a series of emotions. To anyone who didn’t know her would just think she was being an edgy teenager not wanting to be here.

But for someone like myself who knew her far better knew she was here to support and congratulate me. She just had a funny way of showing it. The fact that she was here in a place of learning which for someone of her background was anathema to her on today of all days showed she did care.

Her facial expressions and posture showed happiness at first before they shifted to both sadness and guilt. 

“Yeah.” She said softly.

“Also surprised to see you here with her, Bruce,” I said to the man who seemed to be worming his way into either of our lives. 

Probably to keep an eye on us to make sure we weren’t up to no good. That and he seemed to take a shine towards Jade. Curious if she was in the know of who he is since she had been fighting by his side during the final clash with the old Court.

“Well, I just happened to be in the area to make sure everything at the university is on the up and up after seeing how far things were left unchecked here.” He said hands in his pockets looking around at the people wandering around the campus grounds. 

“Also congratulations on taking the test. How do you think you did?” He asked me, sounding interested.

 

Adopting a pondering expression acting it up like I was seriously thinking it over before giving my answer shrugging to the two of them. “I aced it.”

Jade snorted at that rolling her eyes but she had a smile that told me she was proud of what I did.

“C‘mon now Jade, none of that sad stuff. This is a day to be happy. I passed my test and we should enjoy ourselves since Gotham is brighter and better than it has been in a long time.”

Both of them perked up but Bruce was not as happy as Jade. Rubbing my arm awkwardly realizing what the reason may be.

“Sorry, Bruce for your loss with Samantha,” I said to the man. 

I wasn’t sorry for having to kill Samantha. She was crazy and too dangerous to allow her continued existence. That and what she did to Jaina and her family as far as I was concerned she wasn’t allowed to walk away from that. On principle alone, she was going to die for what she had done. 

But I was sorry for Bruce having to find out about her and how she destroyed Jaina's family and life.

She had informed me of all that had happened once the dust had settled. Even managed to salvage some of the scientists who worked for them with the data and research that allowed the talons to retain the potion's effects long after they should have worn off. 

I know I shouldn’t wish death upon others let alone kill other people but Samantha had brought it upon herself. To think she killed not only her own parents who from the sounds of it were not bad people but killed Jaina's parents out of petty spite and made her into her slave. All because Jaina punched her when they were kids and she deserved it no less…

Bruce’s smile turned into a frown with a far-off look in his eyes. I could only imagine how that revelation hit him in the gut when he lost his own parents. To find out his girlfriend had done what she had to both her and Jaina's parents. 

“You're fine Daniel… and thank you. You do not need to apologize. So you're going to be leaving Gotham Jade?” 

Jade looked up at Bruce nodding, “Yeah. I need to leave Gotham with my younger sister Artemis. After what happened and now that we can safely leave the city it would be best for both of us to leave while we can.” 

Jade had truly grown up. If it were the Jade I had first met what felt like a lifetime ago when I got here she wouldn’t have told Bruce a thing and told him to butt out. Now she was willing to open up to some people and was more level-headed.

Bruce gave a small smile nodding, “Not a bad idea, and understandable with everything that has happened recently in Gotham. I wish you and your younger sister the best. Here,” He handed a card to Jade who gingerly took it looking surprised, “In case you need help call that number and I will see what I can do if you ever find yourself needing work or anything.”

Jade held it like it was fragile. She looked up at Bruce then me like I had any answers to give her. I did but from the looks of things, she doesn’t know about Bruce’s double life.

Unless she found herself in trouble I’d rather not spread around Bruce’s secret especially if it gets out. Rather not have that on my conscience. Everything else was bad enough.

Shrugging my shoulders to her she looked back down at the card pocketing it. “Thanks, Bruce.” She didn’t know exactly what to think.

Despite having changed so much she still had some of her old traits. Like someone doing something out of the kindness of their heart that involved a lot like what Bruce just did seemed suspicious to her.

I had to fight not to laugh at how the two of them were like peas in a pod when it came to that. We chatted for about half an hour with Bruce asking me questions about some of my ideas for upcoming projects.

We had a back and forth as I explained my ideas and Bruce asked simple yet intelligent questions about the ideas, how they could work, what lives they could save, and how they might impact the various industries.

Jade was capable of keeping up albeit with great effort. It was like someone who knew the bare bones of Spanish listening to people around them speak in nothing but Spanish. You could pick out certain words and have an idea of what they were discussing but other words would go over your head.

Jade wasn’t struggling as much as most other people would since she piped in adding her own questions remembering her lessons on human anatomy. Something Bruce looked surprised to see.

Jade noticed and had a proud expression on her face. Just you wait Jade, you’ll get to college and make a name for yourself yet. To think she said college wasn’t her thing. If she can keep up with me and Bruce you can do anything as far as I am concerned.

Eventually, we just got to talking about life and everything we have been up to since she was busy with Batman and getting everything ready to leave then train with me. Her absence was even felt at the clinic when many of the patients would ask if she was alright.

Some were concerned whether she had made it after the old Court of Owls had its farewell song. There were still missing people they hadn’t found so the concern they showed was appreciated and warranted.

“I’m just thankful both my company and all the others had managed to organize ourselves enough to get utilities and power back to the city,” Bruce said, sounding relieved. 

Couldn’t blame the guy. The amount of work it took to organize my own workers was staggering, never mind the rest of the companies in the city. The new Court helped rebuild, making it easier to organize by using those within Gotham's government to smooth things over.

Beyond my hunters and drones, I had Jaina to thank for that bit of info. She herself like me and Bruce had been a busy bee. Ensuring the remaining Court members were both loyal and willing to go in a better direction to help everyone-- themselves included.

Some were not too thrilled but didn’t go against the current path they were taking and remembering what Samantha had done and planned to do they fell in line like the rest.

Before our conversation could continue the doors behind us opened. Out came Pamela who looked like a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders. The instant she saw me she perked right up.

“Daniel, you didn’t have to wait on me.” She said sweetly appreciative of me being here. Whatever she was about to say fell silent when she realized who was with me. “Oh! Mr. Wayne and… it’s Jade right?” 

Pamela said thinking for a moment looking at Jade who looked back at her quizzically. It took Pamela a moment but she remembered me describing Jade to her when we talked about our private lives. 

“Yeah? You're Pamela right?” Jade said sounding unsure knowing who Pamela was but she seemed to be on guard. For what I don’t know.

“Yep! Pamela Isley, assistant along with Daniel here to Kirk Langstrom and his girlfriend.” She beamed happily before smooching my cheek pressing herself into my side.

Pamela didn’t notice Jade tense up. She was too preoccupied relaxing into me where Bruce and I saw it all. A look of anger shifted to one of pain. Her expression scrunched up her eyes looking between her and me. 

One moment she looked like she wanted to fight Pamela, then her gaze shifted to me. Her breathing was erratic. I looked to Bruce who was looking at Jade with a sympathetic look like a father would have seeing his kid go through some rite of passage all kids go through not capable of consoling them from the experience.

He looked at me but instead of getting a glare like I expected he instead gave me a sympathetic nod. I let out a sigh knowing Jade still must have had feelings for me despite my rejecting her advances. I had assumed she had gotten over it since then with the time that had passed.

Instead, it seemed she still held onto some hope that she might turn me around to the idea and end up with her. 

Pamela finally realized something was wrong looking at me then what I was looking at.

“Oh, are you alright?” She asked clearly concerned about Jade who had tears forming in the corners of her eyes. 

“Y-yeah… I will be.” She said quietly, turning away from us walking away.

I let out a long tired sigh looking between Pamela and Bruce. “Sorry, but I need to talk with her. Pamela congratulations on passing the test. We will talk more later. Bruce, it was nice chatting with you but drama has found me yet again.” 

Pamela awkwardly stood there not knowing what to say now with the mood ruined. “Alright… talk to you later.” 

“Daniel,” Bruce said my name, his tone serious compared to how he spoke before. I turned back to look at him, “You didn’t do anything wrong so don’t blame yourself. Jade's young, it’s something we all eventually go through in life.”

I nodded to the man for the advice he just gave. Jade by this point had made quite some distance from us but I easily caught up to her. 

“So you want to talk about it?” I asked her. She froze before looking up at me, tears streaming down. 

“No.” She said bitterly looking down at the ground. We walked like this for some distance. 

“Jade, we have already discussed this,” I told her gently. 

She whirled on me, finger pointing at me. “What does she have that I don’t?” She couldn’t hide the hurt. The emotional pain she was in. Like I had betrayed her in some way. 

“Jade,” I said her name in a warning tone when she tensed up like she was ready to strike. It almost reminded me of a cobra, warning me not to get any closer lest it lash out.

Pinching the bridge of my nose I found myself thankful that not as many people were around us. 

“Don’t Jade me.” She said quietly. 

She tried getting away from me but a hand on her shoulder stopped her in her tracks. Or it did until she decided to snap out a punch. It was caught in my palm before my arms snaked around wrapping her in a hug. One that she initially fought to get out of my grasp.

“Get off! Let me… go! Daniel. Daniel…” She slowly stopped fighting breaking down in my grasp holding her in a gentle yet firm hug. 

We stayed like this for a few minutes, her face buried in my chest crying until she had nothing left to give. I would like to say I understood where she was coming from or what she was feeling. But I didn’t. 

I have never been in a situation like Jade's harboring a crush that would have been mistaken as love. I loved my Dad and uncle Furgus but it wasn’t the same type of love Jade was going through. 

Gently patting her back as she sobbed, “Let it all out Jade.”

She mumbled something into my chest. “What?” 

She pulled just enough for me to properly hear her this time. “You never answered me. Why?” 

I know what she meant when asked that last word. I’ve already told her no I am not interested in a relationship with her. But I guess I need to rehash it with her.

“Because I view you as a younger sister.”

Her gaze snapped up to mine looking long and hard trying to find something. What it was, I had no idea. But Jade looked and looked. After a long while seemingly finding what she was after her expression softened but the pain remained.

“Jade I have viewed you as the younger sibling I had always wanted. We didn’t always get along, not agreeing on everything, but you are family to me. I can’t see you as anything other than a sister to me. Could you view Artemis as anything beyond a sister?”

She slowly regained control of herself with each word even if she didn’t like it. When Artemis was brought up her face scrunched up in disgust. 

“No. I abandoned her once but I could never do that again Daniel. She will always be my little sister.” She said finding some common ground with me. Something she could understand. Even if it wasn’t entirely the same thing.

We both got up cleaning ourselves off with me and Jade giving pointed looks to anyone who had decided to watch us have that emotional moment. I know Jade still held feelings for me. A few words weren’t exactly going to cure that nor make the pain go away.

My hand was held out to her which she gingerly took, “Well I think it’s high time you introduced me to Artemis especially since this will be goodbye.” 

Jade gave me a big smile with more tears threatening to come out. I sent a quick message to Pam that we would talk later tonight as we got to my car. I almost stumbled and fell over when something dropped onto my soul.

Jade gave me a worried look but I waved her off unsure of what to feel about what I just got. On one hand more power. On the other hand… the potential discussion with Dad, possibly Furgus, and whoever else exists on my family tree.

Perks gained: Field of Heart-Shaped Herbs (Marvel Cinematic Universe Vol. 2) (300CP)

 Out of all the Wakandan secrets that lie within the borders of the reclusive city, this one is the most potent secret of them all. It is also the most dangerous. It is a small but potent field, its soil infused with radiation from the ancient Vibranium meteor when it fell to such an extent that it would affect any plant life growing within it, like these herbs. The herbs are taken and ground up so that it may be imbibed, and when the imbiber is buried under a light covering they will find themselves on a spiritual journey to talk with their ancestors... and then rise a greater warrior. Strength and speed that reaches the lower levels of superhuman, durability to survive explosions with minor injuries. Perfect coordination and balance with agility that far outstrips Olympic athletes. It would not be too farfetched to say that the results of this herb match even the ones derived from the Super Soldier formula that made Captain America... and now you have a small field of these plants. Be very careful. After you leave, this can either be a property or a Warehouse Attachment.