The New Justice League: The Rise Of Cadmus

Chapter 10: The Truth Is Out There

"Another meeting?" Flash groaned. "This had better be good. My boss is getting really tired of me disappearing in the middle of a case."

"It's not," Batman informed him. "It turns out that Shazam is really a little kid."

"I'm sorry but can you repeat that? It sounded an awful lot like 'Shazam is really a little kid.'" Green Lantern didn't look very happy but neither did the rest of them at the unwelcome news.

"That's exactly what I said," Batman confirmed. "I did a DNA test of some of the boy's hair and not only did it match ours but it was one hundred percent identical to Shazam's. I suspect he uses magic to alter his physical appearance."

"Is that rare?" Wonder Woman asked. Her fellow League members had concentrated more on trying to teach her annoying little things such as knocking and asking politely instead of using her sword to threaten people who didn't give her what she wanted. Far more interesting subjects such as biology and the history of weaponry and ferocious battles had not been on the list of things that she needed to learn in order to blend in with the regular civilians. She had no use for the majority of their rules and rarely (if ever) followed them much to their frustration.

"It only happens in identical twins," Flash explained. "And that's only because they both came from the same egg which split in half after it was fertilized."

"Ah," Wonder Woman nodded in understanding. "So my half-siblings would not have the same DNA as me but my twin sister Donna would."

"Exactly," Superman then looked at her in surprise. "You have a twin?"

"Technically," Diana confessed with a shrug. "However, she was cursed when she was little by Circe and no longer ages."

"Unless the curse altered her DNA then yes they should still be the same," Flash assured her. "Your half-siblings would have similar DNA but not exact."

"I would like to suggest that we return to Cadmus and take the child by force if necessary," J'onn stated, knowing how Batman felt about conversations that went off-topic especially when he was trying to discuss serious topics such as now. "Especially since the doctor did tell us that he was abused physically and sexually. Surely we have enough evidence now to justify such an action."

Batman nodded in approval. "That's an excellent idea, J'onn. Any objections?"

It was a very somber and angry group of superheroes that stormed past the scared security guards and into Waller's office. Once again she didn't look overly surprised to see them although she shot an annoyed glare at Luthor who merely grinned. "I should have known that you would figure out the truth," she sighed.

"You've crossed too many lines, Waller," Batman growled, slamming a fist on her desk. "Torturing an adult is bad enough but little kids? That's sick; even for you."

"I couldn't agree more," Luthor crossed his arms as he leaned against the wall nonchalantly.

"I am fully aware of your feelings on the subject," Waller snapped. "You and your…assistant have made it perfectly clear that you don't agree with my methods on more than one occasion."

"And yet you continue to work with her," Superman scowled at his rival. As much as he wanted to believe that a part of Luthor was still good he was having trouble finding it. While Luthor's father could take a good deal of the blame for his son's behavior ultimately Lex had made his own choices and now everyone else had to deal with the consequences. The news of his father's death had not been much of a surprise although Batman's theory that Mercy had committed the murder and not Lex had been a little bit of a shock.

Luthor shrugged. "I did arrange for him to escape and for you to find his DNA at the hospital."

"What?!" Waller stood up, fury written all over her face. "The goal of this endeavor was to create a weapon to wipe out the Justice League so we could have a weapon of mass destruction under our control!"

"It was," Luthor admitted. "Or at least it was until you became more interested in asserting your dominance over him then taking down the Justice League."

"I had to prove that I'm in charge and that if he disobeys there are consequences," she argued. "I only did what was necessary to further our goals."

Luthor rolled his eyes. "Mercy was correct-you are very short-sighted for such an ambitious woman." Waller gaped at him, too furious to even speak. Batman would have enjoyed the sight more if it wasn't for the knock on the door. "That should be her now. We have a surprise for all of you." He opened the door and more than one member of the Justice League let out horrified gasps at the sight greeting them.

In the doorway stood a little boy with messy black hair covering his forehead and shielding one of his blue eyes. His jeans and sweater were stained with blood due to the numerous cuts and bruises covering his face. The anti-magic cuffs on his ankles were attached to the ones on his wrists by a long chain. An intricate metal gag covered the lower half of his face which had a lock on it.

"What is the meaning of this?" Waller demanded as she stormed out from behind her desk. "Put the experiment back in his cell now."

"I already told you," Mercy unlocked the gag, letting it fall to the floor. "I only take orders from Mr. Luthor."

"Kill Amanda Waller and the Justice League," Luthor patted Billy on the shoulder then left the room, closing the door behind him.

"No," Waller backed up. "I order you to return to your cell."

Billy didn't even bother glancing at her before he opened his mouth and shouted, "Shazam!"

A/N: This story has officially been finished. All I have left to do is type up the last chapters and then I can start on the next part of this saga. Please read and review!