Veronica Grey's pov
Cadmus
Monday, May 30th, 2011
The plan was made and set in motion. As the bioship approaches Cadmus, Zatanna, Rocket, Kid Flash and I mentally prepare for the mission. Batman allowed me to choose who would go on the mission, the first mission where I would be Team Leader. I chose each based on how useful they would be on the recovery mission of Project Beast. Zatanna's magic will be useful if we happen to run into the Genomorphs as well as getting the Project subdued if it is hostile. Rocket is our best defense since her force fields are strengthened by the kinetic energy used against them. I chose Kid Flash because of his previous experience with Cadmus as well as his speed for recon and scouting ahead. I was careful not to choose couples just in case things got a little hairy and people would put their other half before the mission. We need to be as tactile as we can be for this mission to be successful. I stop the camouflaged Bioship right above the faux front Cadmus and open a hatch in the bottom for us all to drop.
"I made sure the ship was low enough that we didn't need drop cables." I look around at everyone. "Here we go." I say before being the first to drop. I don't even make a sound. The training I've been having with batman included a month of straight stealth. It was intense but it paid off. As soon as I hit the roof, the cameras and security cameras are overridden so they only pick up the current scientists inside. As soon as any of my team move into space, the camera goes on a loop. Zatanna and I head straight for the air duct, and what I see, I don't like.
"Guess they're trying to keep you from breaking in." Wally laughs in a whisper as we look at the reinforced plastic air vent, painted to almost look metal.
"Well, they didn't account for me." Zatanna grins. She presses her hands to the vent cover. "Tnev revoc ot ekoms!" She whispers, the vent cover dissolving away in a swirl of smoke. Rocket gives her a fist bump as I climb in first, taking the lead. I silently maneuver the correct route as one by one the other three follow suit. It's late at night, but only a few scientists are left. I focus and access the security cameras. There are two scientists in the express elevator. I wait until they get off to force it to the second floor. I scoot to the side of the vent.
"Zatanna, I need you to take care of the scientists on this floor." I whisper. She nods and moves past me. She pulls up the vent cover and pops her head down.
"Lla og ot eht moorhtab!" She tries to hold back a giggle as she speaks the incantation. The all get up and leave the area. Zatanna drops and we all follow her. I will the express elevator open and I make sure everyone gets in without being seen before I get in myself. The elevator doors close just before the scientists wander back. The elevator drops down at a speeds slightly more unnerving than the elevator in the Batcave. When it stops, I don't allow the doors to open just yet.
"Alright, Kid and Rocket, you're up. There are six Genomorphs on the other side of the door. Subdue them as quickly as possible, go for the G-Genomes first. There telepathy can expose us but if you blindside them, we still have a chance." I look at the two of them.
"We got this." KF grins like he's got the world at his fingertips.
"Besides, if he screws up, Artemis will probably kick his ass." Rocket jokes, causing Kid to groan.
"On three." I look at the two, then concentrate on the doors. "One…" the security cameras pick up the genomorphs closing in on the corner. "Two" They round the corner and enter our hallway. "Three!" The doors zip open and Kid Flash runs out first while Rocket flies out, trapping three of the G-Gnomes in fields throwing them against the wall to knock them out. KF just zips to the other three, knocking them all out with a single swipe at each. He and Rocket take out the G-Elves, moving in ways to get the G-elves to take each other out, and that's the last of it.
"Mission accomplished." KF puts his hands on his hips, mimicking the standard Superman stance. I swat him as I walk past.
"Not yet, follow me." I tell him and the rest follow suit. I find the first door to accessing the secluded branch of Project Beast. With just a thought, I open the door and we all step inside before I will it to shut again.
"What do you think we're going to find?" I hear Rocket whisper to Zatanna as I override the second door to open for us. We all go past to the next security chamber.
"From the name and based on what you found last time," Zatanna starts, looking at Kid, "Either and animal like person, or something extremely enhanced like Wolf." She infers. I smirk as I will the last door to open. No one is back here, so we all move freely. The lights are off in the containment room, so the Project isn't visible from the shadows engulfing the room.
"Ready to find out?" I look the the rest of the group before pressing the lights button on the control panel, mentally restricting the system from reporting any changes in the Project's facility.
"Is that…?" Rocket goes right up to the glass, amazed at what she's seeing. Zatanna and Kid are silent, following Rocket to the glass.
"In simpler terms, Genetically modified and enhanced Feline. They took a lion embryo, and grafted the genes they were able to identify from Superman, Black Canary, and Batman. The literally, increased capability of muscle mass, heightened all of it's senses with Superman's dna. They altered his roar to be as powerful as Black Canary's cry. His brain capacity and level of intelligence came from Batman. Cadmus created the perfect hunter. If only it obeyed orders." I open a door and head down to the Project.
"Wait! What are you doing!" Kid nearly screams, but I go anyway. It's not like this thing can do any real damage to me. I walk right up to the snowy white, massive lion. He opens his unnerving violet eyes and looks right at me. He lurches forward and growls at me, completely coiled and ready to pounce. I keep myself completely calm.
"I'm sure you understand me because of what they've done, so I want you to know that I'm not here to hurt you." I put a hand out, palm facing him as I slowly step forward. "I'm going to set you free, but in order to do that, I need you to not leave my side, alright?" I feel sort of absurd talking to a lion, but the creature calms down and it's pupils go from agitated slits to wide, engulfing pupils. He steps forward and pressed his head into my palm. I scratch the side of his face and he looks at me expectantly. I smile at the Big cat and lead him up to the others.
"A lot scarier in person." KF comments with his eyes wide. The lion snarls at Wally, but I run my fingers through his mane.
"Let's go. I open door after door as we run with Project Beast trailing behind. "Kid, scout ahead, security cameras are picking up movement." I order him, and he runs ahead of us. When he comes back, he's freaking out a little more than earlier.
"They know we're here." Is all he says before I see none other than Lex Luthor himself with his arsenal of scientists and Genomorphs standing between us and the express elevator.
"No where to run." Lex smiles, not looking at anyone else but me. As unnerved as I am, I just grab gas bombs out of my utility belt and chuck them all. Some genomorphs go down, but others are swift to get out of the fog of gas. Kid and Rocket go ahead and take them out, but the gas creeps closer. Rocket runs back, ready to put a field around us, but something happens that none of us were expecting. The Project runs ahead of us and roars, holding back slightly so he doesn't collapse the hallway on us. The gas clears and the genomorphs are on the ground, either covering their ears or passed out.
"Run!" I yell and we all bolt. I stare down Luthor as we run past. He smirks at me and I begin to feel like my insides are screaming, that need for revenge. But I just look away and keep running. We get into the elevator and I force the doors closed. I override all security measures and force the elevator up. I command the Bioship to fly over to the street. We get out at ground floor, board the ship, and get the hell out of D.C.
Batcave
"I could have done better." I tell Batman as the two of us enter our respective changing areas, divided by a curtain.
"You reached the objective, Project Beast is secure in the Watchtower garden." He tries to sway my opinion. But I just let out a sigh.
"I'm thinking of naming him Steve." I joke, making a face.. He gives me a look.
"You are not naming a genetically modified lion Steve." He is completely silent but I know the look that is on his face right now on the other side of the curtain. I can't help but laugh at him.
"So serious, but I am naming him. I rescued him." I defend myself.
"Fine." He is quiet. I hear the water dripping in the cave. I keep reminding myself that I need to explore this place. I start thinking about the mission again.
"But they knew we were there. I must have slipped up in my security override along the way." I admit as I step out of my changing area in a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. I go straight to the Batcomputer and pull up the reports from the mission.
"But you adapted to the situation, succeeded in completing the mission. No one is perfect." He assures me, his hand rests on my shoulder. "Let's go upstairs, get something to eat." I look up at him and let out one last sight as I stand up from his chair and the two of us get to the express elevator and go up. When we enter the kitchen, Dick is looking in the fridge for something to eat. I go straight for the pre-made waffle mix.
"You want some?" I look to Dick and he smiles.
"Yeah I want some, I'll get the syrup and chocolate sauce." He says as I pour the first bit of batter into the waffle iron.
"Don't forget the whipped cream." I laugh, pulling the top down on the waffle iron. I start thinking about music and all of the sudden, my playlist begins to play over the PA system of the house. Dick immediately pauses and looks at me.
"Soul Sister by Train? Really?" He grins like an idiot at me. I put my hands up/
"What, it's not like I listen to Avatar all the time." I say in my defense. Bruce chuckles to himself from the table as he eats a sandwich. I see Alfred come in and he pulls some things out of the fridge.
"At least allow me to make something healthy to go on the side of your inevitable sugar binge." He says as he starts preparing eggs and dicing up fruit. Dick starts singing along to the music and dancing around the kitchen.