CADMUS CONSEQUENCES

Summary: - The Cadmus saga takes place differently in this AU. This is just Cadmus facing consequences for their action.

"….. what I mean to say is, its clear to us that no matter what good we do, how many lives we save you will still not trust us. I don't know its because you are so damn cynical or its because you are so selfish that you cannot believe somebody could help you so selflessly. Or whether its some misguided hate against meta-humans, that you were so easily turned against us, while giving multiple chances to dangerous criminals like Joker and Luthor. Anyway, remember what I said before, trust. Trust is a two-way road. There is only so much one side can do. And after the events of last few days, we can not trust you enough, to not stab us in the back. So as of today, the justice league is effectively disbanded." With that superman flied away from the conference, leaving a huge group of reporters shouting question.

To speak the truth this thing was building up for quite a while. And now, there were only two options left. Either go justice lords' route and prove them right or quit. None of which were right, but seeing how easily even the public turned on them. They had enough. It's a bit confusing right. Let me give you some context.

It started with the Justice Lords mess. Even though justice league finally defeated their counter parts. They were still afraid. They did not want to turn like their counter parts, so the league decided to investigate justice lords' journey into the madness. What they found horrified them. They learned about shady government organizations, tragic backstories and finally the effects of dangerous president leaking their identities. However, it also gave them some hope. Superman haven't lost his parents. Themyscira hasn't been destroyed. And lot of things which shape them into who they were fundamentally different among them.

Batman being the paranoid one decided to keep the tabs on the shady government organizations and that's how they learned about Cadmus. The only difference between Cadmus and supervillains was that villains caused havoc and Cadmus didn't do it, at least directly. Doomsday a weapon made using superman DNA to kill him was made by Cadmus. It also experimented on Royal Flush Gang. And various meta-humans.

However, before the league could expose them their reputation took a deep dive after the Thanagarian invasion. Hawkgirl betrayed them and Batman died while crashing watchtower on their ship. The Cadmus got whiff of the league's plan and covered their tracks and president refused to believe league. Then the Cadmus accelerated its plan and created clones of Ultimen, released Doomsday, almost nuked an island and finally, attacked the watchtower and stole Annihilator. And killed quite a few staff members, just because they were in the way.

They tortured Question into insanity after he got too close to them. And when Luthor framed the league, the Cadmus attacked the watchtower, even though core members have already surrendered. They ended up killing some leaguers like vigilante, huntress, canary and crippling up more like green arrow, wild cat, supergirl. Only the stronger and more skilled members survived with minor injuries like Metamorpho and Captain Atom.

It was only due to Luthor's massive ego that he ended up confessing again and while justice league ended up defeating him even in his amazo armor, after learning what happened, all the bridges were burned.

ONE YEAR LATER

"Damn, where are the freaks when you need them?" A cop asked, as he was ducked behind a car. They were supposed to stop a robbery, but what the caller conveniently forgot to tell them was that the robber was a meta. And now being the coward that he was he just hiding from the robbers while complaining about heroes.

His partner cum junior looked at him angrily and said, "Stop calling them freaks, its because of people like you that superheroes haven't been seen for around a year." He tried to shoot the robber but the robber fired a beam and next thing he knew he blacked out.

He walked out of the hospital. Today he was finally discharged. He had gotten frozen by killer frost while trying to stop her. It was only due to luck that he survived. He saw a cab coming his way and stopped it. As the cab was taking him home, he once again began to wonder where the heroes have gone. Since as it has been dubbed 'The Cadmus War.' Heroes' sightings have almost become negligible. They don't stop robberies anymore, nor do they remove cat from trees. That is now left to the cops. They also didn't do any charities, neither do they meet with people or kids like how flash and superman would visit orphanages. The only time the heroes come now is if its some big monster wreaking havoc across city.

The cab stopped at his destination. After paying the driver, he went inside his apartment. It was a literal shrine to the superheroes. There were some posters of batman along with a bat-rang which he nicked from the evidence. Torn piece of superman's cape which was signed by him. Some limited-edition flash merchandises. A photo of him with GL and Hawkgirl. And a wall completely covered with newspaper and magazine clipping of superheroes.

However, there was one wall which was different from others. He looked at some articles with hate and loathing. There were many articles clipping. Like,

President Ellis impeached!

Today, President Ellis was finally impeached, but not before last-ditch attempt at declaring an emergency and seizing power and sources say president also signed pardon for his actions…. President Ellis is believed to be the person who ordered massacre of league at watchtower….

General Lane Commits Suicide

General Lane, once a decorated army officer and recipient of the president medal committed suicide…. Evidence puts him as a founding member and a director of Cadmus…. known for his distrust and hate for superman…. Suicide note claimed his innocence

Cadmus Expose

Cadmus was made to counter justice league…. Illegal human experiments…...was responsible for two attacks on watchtower…. killed dozens of support staff…. contains dangerous criminals as such as captain boomerang, tala…. Secret assassin clones…

Cadmus Researcher sentenced to life imprisonment

Professor Hamilton…. Loses Nobel prize…. kicked out of American Scientific Research Society…. creator of Doomsday…. Cloned Supergirl…. Cloned Ultimen…. Betrayed superman…. Setup superman for lex city.

Amanda Waller Murdered

Amanda Waller was head of Cadmus…. was responsible for watch tower massacre…. Disposed Ultimen…. Blackmailed criminals…. kidnapped civilians…. Suicide squad…. Midway city massacre…. Ordered torture of Question who lost his mind….

General Lane dishonorably discharged

. faked his death…. almost nuked a small island along with league…. Illegal military operations…. dishonorably discharged…. Court martial…. Pending investigation….

Stricter Laws for supervillains

. death on sixth offense…. more leeway to cops…. Joker killed in a police encounter….

Where are the heroes?

Why the world still needs a justice league.

Genetic Research and cloning banned, immediate execution of accused!

He sighed again. Hopefully the heroes will come back to their work in the future. The world has changed quite a lot, for better. Villains are getting stricter sentence. Heroes aren't blamed for collateral damage. Rich villains like Luthor, black mask can't buy their way out. Neither can they get pardon so easily, by simply providing little information or their brawns and brains to organization like Cadmus.

Two Years later

Lois lane looked as superman flied away. She didn't want him to go, but it is necessary. He is the only one who could defeat Darkseid. The world was in danger, from the ruler of Apokolips. Truthfully, she knew one day would come for heroes to step into the light again. She hoped, he would return alive. If not for her, then for their son. Darkseid looked far stronger than before.

They did it the heroes defeated the Darkseid. It was long battle and both sides suffered heavy casualties. Though she was just happy that, he was still alive. Looks like league will be back. Although it looked like a new format. The UN will recognize it as a separate entity. They will have diplomatic immunity. Their help could be requested and league could also refuse it. League would get emergency powers in crisis, etc.

Looks like she would have to write quite an article about it. Hopefully, things will get better this time. She was looking forward to a brighter future.

The end

AN: Hope, you liked it. One thing I really disliked about the whole Cadmus thing was that how easily they distrusted the league, but were happy to help Lex. Also, I also disliked that doomsday part and cloning, it made them just evil, instead of necessary evil. Another thing which I disliked was they never faced any real consequences. I know it's a cartoon and even comics bad guy rarely faces any consequences only good guy does but that's what I actually hate about the medium. Also, about General Lane, well I read some Superman and Lois fanfic where he comes off as a dick. I also didn't like his character in superman rebirth, the only comic I read completely, well that and Supersons. Anyway, I also read on Wikipedia that he committed genocide with lex and later committed suicide, instead of facing consequences for his actions.