Hi there! For anyone who has been following another story of mine, you may have already heard about this new project of mine. So, may I, Written-Ideas1, present the hopefully enjoyable first chapter of The Oracle of Justice! Reviews are much appreciated, folks!
Disclaimer: Remember though, I don't own any of these characters except for Oracle and her relatives.
Chapter 1: Project Cadmus
The world is plunged in darkness and Oracle could only think to hug herself in fear. Her tears are streaming down her face, and she wipes them away. She feels a hand grab her free hand. She refuses to turn around to show anyone her tear-stained face, but she squeezes the hand in response.
She knows that everyone else is thinking the same thing that is going through her mind.
The Justice League has fallen and it has to be their turn to fix everything. The fate of the world is in their hands. She looks at everyone, tightening her grip on the warm hand holding hers. She can't bear to lose them: her best friends and if she has to admit it, they are basically her life. She sees the green-skinned girl with fear evident in her eyes. She gulps looking at the laser-focus look in the raven-haired boy with an 'S' insignia on his t-shirt. Another girl is present in the room with tanned skin and blonde hair secured in a ponytail. Oracle bites her bottom lip at the sight of the young 13-year-old boy in a colorful costume and the 15-year-old ginger-haired boy. Turning to her right, she sees the tense look in the brown-skinned, blonde-haired boy with anger in his eyes. He turns to look at her and nods his head. She feels herself doing the same thing as—
Oracle wakes up from her dream, gasping for breath. She closes her eyes, trying to shake off any of the lingering feelings of fear. It's just a dream, she tells herself, and it won't happen. It will never happen, not with her around. Yes, she's not going to let anything bad happen, ever again.
She forces herself up, knowing that today is finally the day. She pulls her pajamas over her head and grabs a bra, a pair of jeans, and a light blue shirt. Putting the clothes on, she adds the final touches by tying her ginger hair up in a ponytail. She wears a pair of sneakers to complete her semi-formal look—a look that she is always putting on. She makes her way downstairs and is greeted by her aunt's accented voice.
"Good mornin', darlin'! I made your favorites today! It's omelets with bacon and cheese, dearie," her aunt announces as Oracle sees her uncle shaking his head in exasperation.
"Oh, Tilda," her uncle sighs, "you have to stop yelling at people in the morning."
"Yelling?! I don't yell, John! This is my normal speaking voice," Aunt Tilda says, looking crossed with her husband. She turns to look at Oracle, "right, darlin'?"
Oracle shakes her head, "yup, Uncle John, that is…definitely Aunt Tilda's normal speaking voice. So, I'm going to head out now. Can I get the omelet to go, Aunt Tilda?"
"Of course!" Oracle gives her aunt an uncertain smile as she grabs the lunchbox and leaves the house in a hurry. Maybe, just maybe, she won't be as eccentric as Aunt Tilda when she's older. Oracle did read something about how one's environment can change someone's personality too. She shudders at the thought. She makes her way to the Justice League's Hall of Justice. Living in Washington D.C. has its perks, after all. It's easier than having to travel by car, by super-speed, by private jet, or even by swimming. She greets Martian Manhunter once in the building.
"Hi, Martian Manhunter," she greets while walking straight to the computer in the room. The Martian makes his way to the computer as well.
"It is good to see you again, Oracle," the Martian returns the greeting as Oracle begins typing rapidly into the computer. Anyone who has had the chance to see Oracle work her magic at the computer would think that she's one with the computer and it's a true statement. She is one with the computer. She sees several red dots appearing on the digitalized map on the computer screen. She glares at it, pressing the communications button on the keyboard. Martian Manhunter looks over her shoulder, and frowns at what he is seeing.
Without missing a beat, Oracle informs the superheroes of the dangers happening in various cities, "Oracle to the Justice League, we need all hands on deck…or actually, maybe not. We have four ice baddies in Gotham, Star, Central, and Pearl Harbor. I'm sending in the coordinates right now."
"Thanks, gorgeous! You know I'm up for beating the bad guys for you," Kid Flash's voice rings clearly through the computer's speakers.
"Seriously, Oracle! You know today's the day right?" the 13-year-old sidekick of Batman complains. Oracle rolls her eyes at the thought of Robin's obviously exasperated look right now.
Batman interrupts the two boys, "you did good, Oracle. I want Aquaman and Aqualad to take out Killer Frost at Pearl Harbor. Flash and Kid Flash will handle Captain Cold,"
"And we're already on our way to beat Icicle Jr, Bats," Green Arrow announces.
"Good. Robin and I will take out Mr. Freeze. Oracle, alert the po-"
Oracle grins, "they're already on their way. Just waiting on you guys to defeat the villains. Oracle, over and out."
Oracle switches the communication device off and leans back into her chair while stretching her arms above her head. Martian Manhunter density shifts to avoid having Oracle's hands smacking him in the face. Sighing, he takes a couple of steps back and wondering how did the girl, who is so alert while on the computer, can be so oblivious everywhere else. The young 15-year-old girl continues to meddle with the computer after that. It's what she does best: find the villains, send the coordinates to heroes, and just sit back and relax.
"So, how's Miss Martian doing?" Oracle asks, chewing on a piece of gum.
"How did you-?"
"I'm the Coordinator, remember? Trying to hide things from me is a big no-no," Oracle explains, grinning at the older superhero. She doesn't know why, but she needs to know stuff. Keeping secrets from Oracle is like keeping a hungry dog from food. But, as she glances at Martian Manhunter from the corner of her eye, she tries to figure out why are four ice villains attacking on the same day. Something isn't right here, and she's not about to leave it alone until she figures it out. She sighs, realizing that she has a couple of hours before the boys get there. She can't wait to see them, especially him.
"You now have unlimited access to the gym, our fully stocked Galley, and of course our library," Martian Manhunter announces to the sidekicks as they walk into the library. Oracle stands up to wave at her friends. In fact, she actually makes her way to them and away from the computer. Robin and Kid Flash exchange looks at that, knowing full well that Oracle loves being near a computer more than anything.
"Make yourselves at home," Flash tells the teenagers. Robin, Kid Flash, and Aqualad take a seat while Speedy remains standing. Oracle grins at all of them.
"How are you boys? Not too frozen, I hope," she says, fist bumping with Robin and high-fiving with Kid Flash. She turns around to nod at Aqualad, who returns it without hesitation. She looks at Speedy, giving him a shy smile as he turns his gaze to look at her.
Oracle ignores Boy Wonder and the speedster who are both nudging her. Aqualad looks confused at what's going on between them. The computer genius makes her way to the red-clad sidekick and stops right in front of him.
"H-hey, Speedy!" she greets as her voice goes an octave higher than usual, "I'm sure you kicked Icicle Jr's butt today!"
"Quick debrief to discuss the coincidence of 4 ice villains attacking on the same day. We shouldn't be long," Batman announces as the female robotic voice announces each of the superheroes.
"Recognized: Batman, 0-2; Aquaman, 0-6; Flash, 0-4; Green Arrow, 0-8; Martian Manhunter, 0-7; Red Tornado, 1-6."
Speedy narrows his eyes and pushes Oracle out of the way, making the girl stagger a little before regaining her balance. She frowns at that. She understands that he'll be upset. Looking down, she takes a seat on the armrest of Kid Flash's arm chair. The 15-year-old speedster gives her an encouraging smile and places a comforting hand on her knee. Everyone turns their attention to Speedy as the sidekick starts talking, "that's it? You promised us a real look inside, not a glorified backstage pass."
"It's a first step. You've been granted access few others get," Aquaman says.
"Oh, really?" Speedy gestures at the glass above with several cameras flashing. "Who cares which side of the glass we're on?"
"Roy, you just need to be patient," Green Arrow interrupts.
"What I need is respect," Speedy begins, turning around to face the other sidekicks, "they're treating us like kids. Worse-like sidekicks! We deserve better than this," he pauses, looking at the other sidekicks unperturbed by the apparently bad treatment, "you're kidding, right? You're playing their game? Why? Today was supposed to be the day, step one in becoming Full-fledged members of The League."
"Well, sure," Kid Flash replies with an uncertain expression, "but I thought step one was a tour of the HQ." Oracle winces, knowing that something bad is about to happen. She can feel it.
"Except the Hall isn't The League's real HQ," Speedy interjects, narrowing his eyes. Oracle stares at Speedy in shock. Nobody is supposed to know that, except members of the Justice League. She winces again as Green Arrow's protégé continues, "I bet they never told you it's just a false front for tourists and a pit stop for catching zeta beam Teleporter tubes to the real thing, an orbiting satellite called the watchtower."
"I know, I know, but I thought maybe we could make an exception," Green Arrow says, giving an uncertain smile to Batman, but the Dark Knight narrows his eyes. "Or not," Green Arrow continues.
"You're not helping your cause here, son," Aquaman begins, "stand down — "
"Or what? You'll send me to my room? And I'm not your son! I'm not even his. I thought I was his partner, but not anymore," Speedy throws his hat to the ground and turns to leave, "guess they're right about you three. You're not ready," he comments as the other teens stare at him in shock. The said three stand up at that comment.
Oracle slams her hands down on her knees, glaring at Speedy for his hurtful comments. Sure, Speedy is upset right now, but that gives him no right to insult the other sidekicks. This causes Speedy to stop walking and turn around to face her. She walks right up to him and wonders how on earth could she even like this hothead.
"Hey, jerk-face, the hell you think you're doing?!" she raises her hand, wanting to smack the older teen but Speedy catches her wrist. She continues to glare at him.
"I should be asking you that! All of you are just puppets in their hands. But I'm not, not anymore," Speedy spits out as he lets go of her wrist and leaves the Hall of Justice.
Oracle clenches her fist and looks down. She stomps her way over to the computer and types away furiously on the keyboard. The sidekicks and superheroes stare at the young girl who continues typing several mean insults directed at Speedy in her fit of anger. Then, her fingers stop typing and she takes a deep breath.
"Okay, I feel much better now," she announces, although her eyes are showing that she's still upset. Her lips are quivering, but she crosses her arms to look tougher than she is. She sees a blinking light coming from the computer. She begins clicking several buttons and then, Superman's face appears on the screen.
"Superman to Justice League," Superman announces, looking at them with a determined look.
Everyone else walks closer to the screen as Oracle begins typing furiously on the keyboard to see what's going on. "We're receiving you loud and clear, Superman. What's the problem?" Oracle asks.
"There's been an explosion at Project Cadmus. It's on fire," Superman explains.
"I've had my suspicions about Cadmus," Batman starts to say, "this may present the perfect opportunity to in-"
"Hold that thought, Batman. I'm receiving another incoming call from League member, Zatara," Oracle announces, tucking a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. The sidekicks look at her, impressed at her ability to maintain a professional stance despite what just happened.
Batman frowns, "alright, send him through."
Oracle replies with a "roger" as the familiar magician's face appears on the screen in a smaller icon. She continues typing a few keys to locate Zatara's coordinates. She's currently connecting to several of the satellites orbiting around the earth. If the government ever figures this out, they'll be pissed. Using the satellites, she pinpoints Zatara's location and manages to pull an image of the current situation that Zatara's facing. They can see the familiar sorcerer, Wotan, smirking in the background.
"The sorcerer Wotan is using the amulet of Attan to blot out the sun," Zatara says in his heavily-accented voice, "requesting full League response."
"Superman?" Batman and everyone else turns to look at the Kryptonian, which is not hard with his larger-than-life image on the big screen.
"It's a small fire," Superman reassures them, "local authorities have it under control."
"Then Cadmus can wait," Batman confirms as Superman and Zatara disappears from the screen, "Oracle, send out the message and the coordinates to all leaguers now."
"Yes, sir!" she responds, typing on the keyboard again in rapid speed, "every leaguer has been sent the coordinates and they are heading there as we speak."
The hero of Gotham nods his head before turning to look at the sidekicks, "stay put."
"What? Why?" Robin asks, looking surprised. Oracle turns to look at the confrontation between mentors and sidekicks.
"This is a League mission," Aquaman states.
"You're not trained," Flash begins.
"Since when?" Kid Flash interrupts, looking insulted much like Robin and Aqualad. Oracle bites her bottom lip, wondering if the day could get any worse.
"I meant you're not trained to work as part of this team," Flash explains, gesturing Batman, Aquaman, and himself to prove his point.
"There will be other missions when you're ready," Aquaman continues, giving a look to Aqualad. The Atlantean sidekick frowns, but doesn't say anything much about it.
"But for now, stay put," Batman finishes, his stern look lingering on Robin longer than the other two sidekicks.
"When we're ready? How are we ever supposed to be ready when they treat us like…like sidekicks?" Kid Flash asks, pacing the room. Oracle ignores them and begins typing on the keyboard again. She needs to ensure that every League member has received a full mission briefing about Wotan. It wouldn't do if they aren't prepared.
"My mentor, my king, I thought he trusted me," Aqualad exclaims, looking upset.
"Trust? They don't even trust us with the basics! They've got a secret HQ in space!" Kid Flash waves his arms around in the air with an exasperated look.
"What else aren't they telling us?" Aqualad asks. Oracle smiles as all League members have made it to the location. Thank goodness for zeta tubes and the Green Lanterns' rings. She glances behind to look at the gloomy trio. Sighing to herself, she begins typing again on the computer. She knows what will cheer them up. Although, Batman will have her head when he gets back.
"I have a better question. Why didn't we leave with Speedy?" Robin asks.
"What is project Cadmus?" The 16-year-old of the group asks.
Oracle stares at the computer screen, "Project Cadmus is a genetics lab here in D.C." the boys gather around her to look at the screen, "that's all there is, but if Batman's suspicious, maybe you guys should investigate."
"Solve their case before they do," Aqualad smiles, "it would be poetic justice."
"Hey, they're all about justice."
"But they said stay put."
"They did, but they told you guys to stay put for the blotting out the sun mission, not this," Oracle interrupts, grinning at them.
"Wait. Are you going to Cadmus? Because if you're going, I'm going," Kid Flash says, turning to Robin. Robin grins at that, giving the speedster a thumbs up. Oracle, Robin, and Kid Flash turn to look at Aqualad.
"Just like that we're a team on a mission?" Aqualad asks, but a smile is already spreading on his face.
"We didn't come for a play date," Robin states.
Oracle rubs her temples, wondering how on earth are the boys going to investigate if they can't even work as a team. Either way, she knows she should do her best to help them. If anything, she's going to shove it in Speedy's face that he shouldn't have left them. That damn hothead! She begins hacking into Cadmus' systems, loving the fact that satellites are her new best friends. Of course, Robin and Kid Flash wouldn't like to hear that statement.
"Hey, guys, something's coming up on the computer!" Oracle yells into her communication device as her eyes widened in surprise. "There's a high-speed express elevator and you wouldn't believe it, but I see hundreds, maybe even thousands of heat signals down there…"
"What are you talking about, Oracle?"
"There's lifeforms down there, and you three have to investigate this. Something big is happening below," Oracle explains, smashing at her keyboard even more now. Her heart's thumping in her chest as she realizes that maybe she should call Batman or somebody for help.
Aqualad pulls open the doors of the elevator while the others look down. The three of them find themselves at sub-level 26, while Oracle bypasses the security for them. Aqualad pulls apart the doors again. "Welcome to project Cadmus," Robin announces as Kid Flash runs ahead of the group.
"Wait!" Aqualad shouts, but it doesn't stop the speedster. Oracle hears Kid Flash's shout and then there's silence. She begins to panic, wondering what on earth is going on down there. Her hands start shaking, wanting nothing more than to call the Justice League for help.
"No, nothing odd going on here," Aqualad says, but he sounds like he is in a daze.
Oracle frowns, working hard to bypass the security that Cadmus has. She wonders why Project Cadmus has such tough security for a supposed-two-story building. How was Project Cadmus able to go under the radar for such a long time? Oracle feels a headache coming on, but continues to direct the boys around Cadmus with the map she manages to steal from hacking. Something doesn't feel right about this place at all.
"Okay," Robin exclaims," I'm officially whelmed."
The sidekicks find themselves in a room with strange lifeforms in tubes of glass. They look as though they are still sleeping, but it doesn't seem to matter as these creatures can creep anyone out.
"This is how they hid this massive underground facility from the world. The real Cadmus isn't on the grid. It generates its own power with these things. Must be what they're bred for," Kid Flash explains, letting Oracle hear what's going on.
"Even the name is a clue. The Cadmus of myth created a new race by sowing dragons' teeth into the earth," Aqualad says.
"And this Cadmus creates new life, too. Let's find out why," Robin agrees, before working on hacking into Project Cadmus' systems. "They call them genomorphs. Whoa! Look at the stats on these things-superstrength, telepathy, razor claws. These are living weapons! Oracle, are you getting these?"
"Receiving it loud and clear, Robin. They're engineering an army, but for who?" Oracle asks, wondering if maybe she could triple her efforts to overrun Cadmus' systems, but it isn't so easy from the distance. If only she is there with the boys… But she can't do that, it's not likely.
"Wait," Robin interrupts, "there's something else. Project Kr. Ugh! The file's triple-encrypted. I can't-"
"Don't move!" A muscular looking man in a blue uniform and a yellow helmet halts to a stop with several genomorphs by his side, "wait. Robin, Aqualad, Kid Flash?"
"At least he got your name right," Robin teases with a smirk on his face. Then, in a softer voice, "Oracle, I'm sending the files and information to you right now. Try to get Project Kr decoded."
She rolls her eyes, "roger that, Robin. I'm pretty sure I'll get it solved faster that you can say 'hot potatoes'."
"I know you," Aqualad says, "Guardian, a hero."
"I do my best," Guardian replies, sounding proud. Oracle begins pulling out Guardian's information in the League database. There has to be some information about this hero. She frowns, noticing that the information doesn't say much about why Guardian disappeared from League duties.
"Then what are you doing here?" Kid Flash asks, glaring at Guardian.
"I'm chief of security," the superhero replies, "you're trespassing, but we can call the Justice League, figure this out."
"You think The League's gonna approve of you breeding weapons?" Kid Flash counters.
"Weapons? What are you-what have I—ugh, my head," Guardian looks as though he is struggling with his hand on his head for a few seconds, "take them down hard! No mercy!"
Oracle begins giving them directions to the elevator, "hurry and turn right before those genomorphs get to you!" She can hear the growls of the genomorphs chasing after the boys. She continues cracking the Project Kr code when her headache worsens. She sees flashes of images in her mind. Groaning, she clutches her head in her hands. She sees a boy in a white body suit with the "S" insignia in the middle of it. She watches as he is in a tube filled with fluid with weird alien-like creatures by his head. They look to be brainwashing him. She sees her friends releasing the boy in the tube, and then seeing them get attacked by the boy. But she recognizes the boy from somewhere else as well. She frowns, not being able to remember where she's seen him. As the images flash through her mind, a conversation is going on in the elevator.
"We're headed down?" Aqualad asks, looking surprised and perhaps even annoyed.
Kid Flash states, "dude, out is up."
"Excuse me? Project Kr, it's down on sub-level 52," Robin says.
"This is out of control," Aqualad begins, "perhaps...perhaps we should contact the League."
"We are already here," Kid Flash says, as he runs after Robin. Aqualad sighs and follows after the two younger teens. In the meantime, Oracle clenches her fist as she recognizes reality once more. Her head still hurts, but now's not the time to be whining about it. She hears static from the communication device before she starts typing again to keep the connection going. If she has to move the satellites closer to earth without permission from the Justice League and the government, then so be it. She's not about to leave the boys to face that….
Oracle jumps up in her seat as recognition occurs to her. Now she knows what Project Kr is, and that she has to get them out of there.
"Which way?" Aqualad asks Kid Flash and Robin, though mostly he wants to hear Oracle's opinions. The girl has been quiet for a while and he's worried that the communication signals aren't reaching them.
"Yeah. Bizarre-looking hallway one or bizarre-looking hallway two?" Robin asks, gesturing at their options.
"Halt!" A voice calls out as various steel barrels are being thrown at them. The teenagers begin running off in one of the directions when Oracle's voice rings out in bits of pieces, before static surrounds them.
"Guys, Project Kr is a genomorph that's created using Superman's DNA!" she yells into her communication device, "you have to get out of there right now!" But all she can hear is static. She has lost the communication signal to the boys. She slams her hands on the side of the keyboard in frustration. She realizes that they are in way too deep and there's no way she can get to them at this rate. If they manage to escape to the higher levels, she may be able to connect to them, but for now, it's time for Plan B.
She's not going to like Plan B, but she has no choice at this moment. She just hopes that she'll live to see the next day. She runs her fingers across the keyboard, and a clear, deep voice answers.
"What is it, Oracle?" the dark knight of Gotham asks.
Oracle takes a deep breath before explaining the situation to Batman. In the meantime, her fingers are still meddling with the keyboard to try to regain the signal between her and Robin, Kid Flash, and Aqualad. Please be safe, she thinks to herself, I need you guys.
So, this is the first chapter and I know I stopped it at a weird place. Anyway, I do hope that everyone who has made it this far do enjoy reading this! Don't forget to leave a review to help me out with this. Also, I'll be revealing more about Oracle in future chapters because I know that it may be so confusing right now to know what her exact role is in this group. Now, I'll get back to my second identity as...a college student!