Disappearances are statistically common because often they are not disappearances at all, which is true, the person may resurface in hours, days, weeks, months, years, or maybe even decades, but not this time, this time the person is not coming back at all because that person is gone… as in dead gone. There are gaps in STAR Labs records that remain unaccounted for from Superman's rogue incident and for spans of time since then. The questions as usual are ones no one wants to answer likewise Question is certain that Professor Emil Hamilton is a crestfallen scientist with more than just skeletons in his closet, but of course Hamilton plays his part well because he has to or because he believes he is doing the right thing.
What is the right thing or right time?
There are also a number of STAR Labs employees who simply seem to drop out of sight especially in recent weeks. All too convenient and coincidental to transpire at nearly the same time that Supergirl starts to show signs of not sleeping well. There is also the disgraced Hardcastle to keep in mind especially as the League is buying the Z-8 Training Drones in bulk. Another potential issue though Question would pass this note along to someone who could be taken seriously or at least feign an excuse to examine their operating systems just to be safe.
Safe does it exist either?
Plenty of missing employee candidates to seek out yet another unremarkable coincidence is that each missing employee had been working there since about the time Superman had first come to Metropolis or at some point after. The disappearances or transfers begin not long after Superman's rogue incident, which includes the time that Supergirl was there for treatment for the Kryptonite exposure. It is time to confront Supergirl, bring his suspicions to Kara herself because otherwise this will continue without some shot at getting tangible glimpses at the reality of this thread in the tangent involving Cadmus. It is also to uncover some of Cadmus' intentions not only towards the League, but costumes worldwide.
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He adheres to one quirk no matter where he is, leave no trail that can be followed for long, but it is clear that several individuals are aware of his investigations though his lack of headway on any front makes him dismissible for the time being. The commissary crowd is thinning out, but he is not the only one keeping an eye on Kara, Queen is also taking interest in these 'nightmares'. If someone of J'onn J'onzz's abilities cannot decipher the conspiracy that involves her nightmares then it is up to him, but his ego, his motives do not entirely enter the equation. This is about finding out what Cadmus is doing that Supergirl … that Kara is somehow aware of now and stemming the damage it is doing to her to be aware of it.
Hamilton by predisposition alone is not the pliable type so whatever his part in this, he would have to made the decision to involve himself in this conspiracy on his own, but it seems a little early to fully condemn the professor, still it rings true in theory. Most are attributing the gaps in her memory to amnesia or the fact that she is having nightmares, but there is more to it than that as he posits to both of them.
"Your mind is repressing the things you are afraid you did…."
Arrow shakes his head in disbelief before grumbling about Queston's 'conspiracies' mumbo jumbo, but he interrupts the thought by reminding Queen that it is "conspiracy, singular" though of course those behind the conspiracy prefer to diffuse the suspicion to plurality. It serves their agenda better apparently so that if anyone does suspect something is up, there would be no way to potentially nail down the source.
As for they, they are the Illuminati, ancient secret cabal that allegedly predates countless other secret societies and organizations like the one led by Ra's Al-Ghul, one of the few confirmed supernatural enemies of Batman who also knows Batman's secret identity.
It is almost laughable how many actually have made the connection between Batman and Wayne, but more than enough still have no idea, which is more to Wayne's advantage than anyone else because otherwise it is a risk that endangers anyone close to Wayne by association. Professional endangerment by association, one of Batman's 'reasons' for not pursuing a relationship especially with Diana even after their run-in with Circe, which brought Bruce back into contact with Zatanna.
As he found out, Bruce under several aliases had been traveling the world before becoming Batman and during that 'world tour' he met Zatanna's father, an accomplished magician and escape artist. Bruce always seems to be learning from the 'best' and Zatanna had fallen for him without even knowing who he really is or who he would become after that encounter.
Bruce and Batman retain a history of frustrating women, which Vic and Question had not done as far he knew at any rate. Superman by reverse had kept a tenuous courtship with Lois Lane, which usually led to her having the better story than her press rivals, not to say she could not accomplish it on her, but Superman is known for playing favorites with her.
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Supergirl agrees to pay Hamilton a visit in person to assess how he reacts to her stories about her 'nightmares' and naturally Question expects someone will have a reprisal for that visit.
It is a mixed reaction to be right even in this situation because it is like finding a rabbit hole, chasing a minotaur, and at its worst finding that the truth behind the lies carries a much heavier string of consequences than just simply unraveling this particular deception. Supergirl's reaction to the alleged operating apparatus is telling just as Hamilton's psychobabble explanation about why it appears as it does in her 'nightmares' and as for the people she saw they are part of a fighting back 'complex'. A ludicrous fabrication as to what happen as he detects minor fluctuations in Hamilton's body movements and breathing at the description of the man that was killed, Hamilton had known the man clearly.
All seems neatly explained and so they depart though he notes Hamilton picking up the phone just as he heads out the door. It is probable that Hamilton is alerting someone to their visit. Arrow sounds at ease with Hamilton's cover story though Supergirl is hesitant to buy yet not willing to believe that Hamilton would out right lie to her. There is the ability to be true, the capacity to lie, but the concepts of deception and truth are less absolute than people desire them to be especially in this scenario. People still confess things when they lie if one knows what questions to ask, which triggers a very minor grin in the corner of Question's mouth though it fades at the appearance of two military choppers.
The reprisal right on schedule as a Z-8 Battle Drone purposely targets her while the soldiers with it are meant as distractions for Arrow and Question. If not for instincts kicking in at that moment, things could have gone much differently, but the attempt to silence the investigation in this manner only incenses a deeper examination. It would mean going to the source or at the very least the source of the apparently defunct Project Achilles, which is the one that spearheaded the development of the Kryptonite enhanced weaponry used to try to kill Superman and Supergirl during Superman's rogue incident.
It means going after Hardcastle.
Hardcastle as a result of failing to kill Superman and Supergirl as Question had found out is now kept out of sight and out of mind. He is a broken down old man who still distrusts aliens, metahumans, and the like because they are elements beyond his control. Those entities are not the only thing beyond his control, there is much beyond anyone's control, regardless of ability or identity. Question already knowing where Hardcastle's cabin retreat is calls for a teleport to the nearest beam down site to that location.
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"How did you know where to find him anyway?" quips Arrow.
"When people want to disappear, they can, but there is always a trail to follow if you know what to look for," answers Question.
"So why Hardcastle then?" asks Supergirl.
"There is no way to get near Luthor, he is too public to approach about this and besides Cadmus more or less left Hardcastle to rot though they will probably be after him so we have to get to him first."
The door is easy to break through, which is almost unsurprising, but Hardcastle is not defenseless. He grips a prototype weapon that carries an experimental bullet that could kill a Kryptonian thanks to the liquid Kryptonite inside of it. Arrow predictably steps between her and Hardcastle so the former general relents knowing that if he had shot Arrow, he would be dealing with a ticked off Supergirl as the billionaire-in-disguise archer put it. The conversation little by little proves several suspicions that Question had kept to himself for weeks now including the one about Cadmus' files on all the costumes especially those on the expanded Justice League roster.
"I know too much, somebody was bound to come shut me up…"
The former general is no fool, but of course he is older, slower, and indeed if Cadmus sent their newest weapon against him, the man would not survive the encounter. The trio departs and leaves the old man to tend to the fireplace. Once back outside they teleport back to the Watchtower and finally another break comes when the Martian directs their attention to a news broadcast about a missing person's report. The man fits the description of the man Supergirl recalls from her most recent 'nightmare', which means he was real and is now very dead. His killer is probably the Supergirl clone yet there is no way to be absolutely certain.
The uncertainly lasts until Supergirl jerks up from having fallen asleep in Question's quarters of all places, but it had been a long day for her between Hamilton and Hardcastle. Question is not unsympathetic for her fears or worries, but it is not just about her even when the killer looks like her yet what matters is that Supergirl… that Kara is not this Cadmus assassin.
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Arrow elects to intercept a security guard that works at Nuvo-Gen so that he can gain access to their files with Supergirl's helps naturally. As for Question all he can 'fess up is a lead of his own to follow and the trio parts ways for the time being. Supergirl's revelation that Hardcastle is dead not news for him simply because the former general had the same proven paranoia that Cadmus would silence anyone who could 'rat' them out. Gilbert Halstrom and Hardcastle are not the first to die for Cadmus nor would they be the last. Question's new quarry is the reporter that put out the story on the 'missing' Halstrom and the lead would produce another nearly predictable turn. The reporter is seeing someone that nearly matches Kara's description except the hair is shorter and her physique sounds more like a grown woman than one belonging to a girl verging on adulthood.
Cadmus had not only made another Kryptonian clone, but they aged her to her presumed prime. She has the powers yet she lacks the refinement that Superman had sought to teach Kara since her coming to Earth several years ago. The other commonality is she too is having 'nightmares' so if Kara is seeing whatever the clone is doing then the clone is seeing whatever Supergirl is doing, which there arises a cross purposed morality issue. Supergirl finds this other self's behavior abhorrent while the other self is struggling to adhere to Cadmus' orders except Supergirl's 'conscience' interferes with her performance. It means by going Nuvo-Gen that Supergirl is playing into her doppelganger's hands and so arises the possibility that Cadmus or at very least the clone is using her latest 'assignment' as lure.
He ditches the reporter in the alleyway and speeds off to the Nuvo-Gen facility where Arrow and Supergirl had gone to in order to find out more about the clone. The urgency of the current suspicion means some laws are about to get bent yet not broken, no he would never break laws, it means a deceptively simple compromise to prevent a misunderstood bigger complex threat. The drive takes not nearly as long as he thought yet his suspicions grant him almost supernatural quickness. However he goes the rest of the way on foot and for a moment examines the security lock yet instead of bothering to disable it, he simply throws a plant pot through the transparent glass. The rest of the trip inside consists of spraying cameras to conceal his movements because of course whoever from Cadmus is here is already onto Arrow and Supergirl.
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A computer room off the corridor from the holographic simulator reveals the discoveries that his League cohorts had made so there it is without a shadow of doubt, a Supergirl clone codenamed Galatea of all names to give her. There is always some hidden significance to why or why not a 'hero' or a 'villain' takes an alias. A poem comes to mind as he begins his walk towards the holographic simulation of Metropolis where Kara and Galatea are having it out, but of course now the former knows assuredly of the existence of the latter. Her faith and trust in humanity takes a hit yet not all share the perspective of Cadmus. The poem in mind is Tyger, Tyger by William Blake and he gazes into the false night sky so clear is Galatea manifesting the fearful symmetry that lines exude to be the case in seizing the stolen innocence of one Kara In-Ze, but of course there is a question if anyone still has innocence left to them.
Kara appears to be losing the fight at least until Question places himself between them. If his theory about their 'psychic' link is true than her ability to kill is thrown off by the presence of Supergirl. He contends that Supergirl's typical disposition is making it harder for her to continue following Cadmus' orders so when they order her to kill Supergirl, she is glad to fulfill the order if only to rid herself of Supergirl as a moral impediment. It is clear that this supposition is true as Galatea is unable to kill Question even though her eyes had been glowing red only moments before yet in the cracking of Galatea's resolve; Supergirl attacks Galatea using a holographic construct that resembles a large vehicle.
If anyone is watching it is clear that Galatea is 'compromised' and within moments the chamber begins rupturing from hidden explosives going off. One blast appears to consume Galatea while the others rip through the rest of the facility, which means they will have to flee without any evidence to fully link Nuvo-Gen to Cadmus, to STAR, or even Hamilton. It is clear he is the one who took her DNA during her recovery in the wake of the Superman rogue incident Likewise it is unlikely that this is the last they have seen of this Galatea, Question is certain of that even if there is a way found to block the psychic link between them.
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A search of the facility post blast reveals nothing as Cadmus predictably made a clean sweep leaving what one would expect to find in the aftermath of a gas leak minus any trace of what had been in the sublevels including the training holograph chambers. The incident convinces the League to erase and remake the Z-8 combat drones' operating system just to be 'safe'. Hamilton plays the sympathetic listener again and feigns astonishment at this Galatea business as he seems to be calling it without saying it. His well wishes absolve nothing of his guilt and so Question feels like he is almost back to square one in his search for whatever Cadmus is up to as well as its intentions in the wake of the loss of the Nuvo-Gen facility.
However Galatea is not the only science experiment that Cadmus is eager to conceal from the public and the League. The failed clone Bizarro is not the only Kryptonian clone that was made yet Galatea so far is the only existing cloning success they have had where past efforts only seem to center around pliable metahumans such as the ones that had become the Royal Flush Gang. Question possessing the kind of memory that he does recalls a handful of names from a cursory search of Nuvo-Gen's files before going into the holographic chamber. There are names such as Maxwell Lord and some aberrant partial files about creating a super powered team rather than working with existing DNA to forge psychologically trained duplicates or clones.
Cadmus is obviously 'playing for keeps' in this 'cold war' against the League and it appears Question will have to do the same if he wants to keep pace with them without compromising what he is trying to uphold in defense of the costumes. It almost sounds preachy yet even in cold wars or unsung wars everyone belongs to one side or the other. The absolutes in this case are not meant to rigorously link one to one, rather it is meant to exude this idea that one had to make up their mind about their beliefs and their purpose sooner or later. At least one cardinal rule for Question is never compromise or regret what it takes to retain what he believes to be his purpose, his role in this waltz above the abyss for like Nietzsche once wrote "And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you."
The abyss can be above, about, around, below, or even within yet it dwells where the entity that gazes into it like one's own reflection in a mirror, in one's own eyes, in one's dreams, in one's nightmares, and further still from within one's mind. Nietzsche also said "Do whatever you will, but first be such as are able to will." Another glaring insight perhaps for one's will is vital as any of one's senses. The encounter with Galatea had given him a personal glimpse into what it might have been like to meet the ones who masqueraded as the Founders prior to Luthor getting that Presidential pardon. In fact it is too coincidental that his pardon had come in the wake of that event. The tangent there is who were the impostors and how much impact did that event have on the current Cadmus agenda and policies plus who is the source of that entity those impostors fought that night. Too much leads back to Cadmus, to Luthor, to things the Founders would decidedly not tell him, so he would either leave the fixation with that incident aside or probe the tangent until something arises to fill in some of the blanks.
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At the same time, Huntress' or rather Helena's off-the-grid search for Mandragora continues yet Question is aware that the government is building a case against the enemies of her parents' killer so for the moment the government needs the 'fat man' alive. As for what would happen when she does track him down is not much of a mystery as part of her has wanted him to suffer, to die ever since the night he killed her parents, but later… after… if she did kill him… it would not make her feel better in the long run.
"What is my fixation with what Helena will do when she confronts Mandragora doing by mixing in with my thoughts about this overshadowing problem with Cadmus? It is does not make any sense, no of course it would not, the two while seemingly unrelated do have a connection through me."
As Dostoevsky wrote at one point….
"We sometimes encounter people, even perfect strangers, who begin to interest us at first sight, somehow suddenly, all at once, before a word has been spoken."
The dead always manage to encapsulate his thinking so well and she still manages to preoccupy his thoughts intermittently. Vic Sage did not foresee an attraction to Helena Bertinelli yet now there is no escaping it as for what happens because of it… that is a question for another time.
A/N 1: The tidbit of disappearances relates to something I read about disappearances in a crime novel once and something along those lines seem to fit how Question might view potential disappearances that seem to have a connection to Cadmus.
A/N 2: The exact name of the missing scientist lists him as Halstrom and as Hale, I went with Halstrom since in the episode Fearful Symmetry he appears to be referred to as Halstrom. As for what happens with Hamilton, my initial reaction mirrors Kara's except since then I have seen it more though Question's view of things even it still retains moral qualms for me.
A/N 3: The Cadmus Arc poses several Watchmen concepts though I had not read it until after I had seen the Cadmus Arc, but Bruce Timm's mention of it piqued my interest so when it was adapted to film I saw it then read the omnibus publication of it and I have to say in either examination as a film or a publication it is engrossing especially for the questions it poses... no pun intended due to the central character of this story being Question.
A/N 4: Question's/Vic's interest in Huntress/Helena deepens as of course some part of his latest tangent turns toward what Helena through Huntress will do when she finds Mandragora, there is no if in mind here, he knows she'll find a way to get to her parents' killer.