Hey guys, thanks to those who reviewed last chapter. It helps a lot so please do so again. As you know bold italics is comlink communication and italics is personal thought. I do not own DC Comics or any of their characters. Please excuse any mistakes I may have made. Thanks for reading and enjoy!
Last Time:
"He had Cadmus influences?" Blue Beetle asked as he entered the conversation.
"Yeah." Robin confirmed.
"Wouldn't that mean there's something in the Cadmus database about Nightwing?" Aqualad asked.
Robin almost facepalmed.
"Why didn't I realize that?" He muttered.
"You weren't thinking clearly." Superboy replied.
"Impossible." Robin muttered.
With a huff of a laugh from Superboy, Robin went up to Batman.
"I have an idea." He smirked.
Batman and Martian Manhunter exchanged a look.
"And what might that be?" Batman asked.
Robin explained the Cadmus idea and began planning. Many blueprint examinations, mutters, pointing, and arguing later, they finally had a plan to get into Cadmus and Light databases. They gathered the heroes, called Red Hood and Nightwing, who didn't pick up, and debriefed them on the new plan. Red Hood was placed in charge to get Nightwing on board. That'll be tough. Robin looked at Red Hood and knew Jason was thinking the same. He walked over to his brother.
"Good luck." Robin said.
"Yeah, I'll need it." Red Hood responded.
Red Hood made his way to Richard's hotel. He had no doubt that the detective was brooding in his room, maybe sleeping. Either way the detective must be feeling really depressed. It was going to be hard to convince him to join the League and Team on a mission. Especially now that his stupid "I'm not good enough to be a hero" thought has some support. I really hope he doesn't say that. If he does, I'll smack him. Red Hood approached the hotel and opened the window to Richard's room. The room was dark and there was a lump on the bed. Red Hood took off his helmet and set it on the table. He walked over and turned the lamp on. Richard gave no reaction to the light, but he had a good reason. Jason almost flipped his shit as he saw Richard's eyes, wide open and glowing blue. He waved a hand in Richard's face.
"Golden Boy? That's awfully creepy." He said and placed a hand on Richard's shoulder.
No reaction.
"Hey, Deteeectiiive." Jason sang and shook the covered shoulder.
No reaction.
"Alright…" Jason muttered.
He moved around the went to the foot of the bed and yanked the covers off. Dick didn't even flinch or move. What the hell? Jason decided it was time for drastic measures. He went over, put on his helmet, and picked the detective up bridal style. He grunted as he shifted Richard into a fireman's carry and went out the door. He was aware of the looks he was getting as he walked down the streets of Gotham. Afterall, Gotham was weird, but you didn't see Red Hood walking down the street with a man in only his boxers thrown over his shoulder every night. Red Hood ducked into an alley and placed Richard into a zeta tube and sent him off to the Mountain. After the glowing stopped, Red Hood stepped in and followed Richard. When he materialized in the Mountain, Richard was sprawled on the floor, eyes still glowing. Batman, some members of the team, and some of the League were bent over Richard. Martian Manhunter and Batman were checking vitals.
"What happened?" Batman growled.
"I don't know. I was going to get him for this plan of ours. When I got there, he was like this: eyes glowing and shit. The guy wouldn't even flinch or anything, completely nonreactive." Red Hood answered.
"Well, it's clearly not good." Batman snarled. "Why didn't you bring him immediately?"
"I don't know." Red Hood shouted.
Batman sighed silently.
"Let's get him to the med bay." Martian Manhunter said.
Batman nodded and picked Richard up. Without a word to anyone else, he left the room. Red Hood and Robin followed. They walked in right as Richard was set down onto the bed and hooked up to a heart monitor.
"What if it's not physical?" Robin hypothesized.
"What do you mean?" Red Hood asked.
"If the device sends out signals, maybe it receives them, right?" Robin reasoned.
"We already figured that, but we said the device doesn't receive." Batman replied.
"We could be wrong, but what if this," He motioned to Richard, "is the end of the day report. The part of the day where the information is collected and sent out and more orders are received."
"Is there any way to check that?" Red Hood asked.
"Only to find the center database or whoever's his handler." Robin said with a disappointed tone.
"When can we go to Cadmus?" Red Hood asked.
"We haven't debriefed all the plan members." Martian Manhunter said.
"Do it now, J'onn." Batman ordered.
Martian Manhunter hesitated before his eyes glowed, and he went still. Batman gave a small sign of approval and went back to Richard. He leaned in close as he examined Dick's abnormal eyes. Richard's eyes were a bright blue. It was obvious that it wasn't normal, but Batman couldn't decide if he wanted to believe the phenomenon was caused by the device in his back. He did though, and he desperately wanted to relief Richard of this peculiar burden. Martian Manhunter returned to them.
"It's done. We can start moving out now." He said.
"Batman nodded to Red Hood and Robin. Together, the three left the Mountain. Batman climbed into the cockpit of the batwing.
"Shouldn't me and the fast travelers go to the Cadmus base across the world?" Superman's voice came through the comlink.
"No, the Batwing is perfectly capable of traveling that far, and, as alien as you are, flying that far will tire you out." Batman argued.
"Alright." Superman sighed.
"Prepare for the flight, we're going to Australia." Batman said to his two passengers.
The League had located various major Cadmus bases around the world. Since the device's signal was bouncing off various towers around the world, the specific location couldn't be identified. With this information, the League decided to split up and search or storm the major Cadmus bases. The labs were easy to locate and identify. Which lab had illegal activity, now that was the million dollar question. Which lab had the activity for Richard, now that was the billion dollar question and the whole reason for this mission. The Batwing took off. They flew around thirty minutes before someone broke the comfortable silence.
"Who's staying with Nightwing?" Robin asked.
"Alfred as Agent A." Batman responded.
Red Hood laughed.
"He's in good and capable hands." He said.
"So, we're just sneaking in and getting the information and leaving, right? Nothing like the first Cadmus 'investigation' with Desmon, right?" Robin asked.
"We can't control that. Expect anything." Batman advised.
"I know that. Be prepared for anything and everything." Robin sighed.
"So what does Waller want?" Red Hood asked.
Batman looked at Red Hood from the pilot seat. Robin looked between the bats.
"Waller?" Robin asked. "Amanda Waller? As in government secret top dog?"
The two older bats looked at the youngest.
"I did my own digging." Robin said with a shrug.
"So did I." Red Hood said.
Batman sighed. They are bats.
"I have a suspension that Amanda Waller supports Cadmus. She might be running that whole show. Either way, it's not good. Cadmus had some serious research that could be a serious threat to the human race. On top of that, Amanda Waller has influence in the government, mainly the army. She also knows our identities and has a Task Force X, aka Suicide Squad. Needless to say, she's dangerous." Batman said.
"She know identities?" Red Hood exclaimed.
"Yes." Batman replied calmly.
They could see Australia in the distance.
"Batman to all units. We're coming up on Australia. Is everyone in position?" He said.
"That's a fast plane. Flash unit in position."
There were various other 'In Positions' in response to Batman. Everyone was either in position or almost there like themselves. Batman decided to contact Agent A.
"A?" Batman said.
"I'm here Master Batman." The butler answered.
"How's our patient?" Batman asked.
"He's fine. Still...asleep." Alfred updated.
"Are his eyes still…?" Batman asked.
"Yes. I'll give you an update if anything of note happens." Alfred replied.
"Thanks, A!" Red Hood entered.
They ended the link. Batman guided the Batwing towards the major Cadmus base. He contacted the others to tell them they were getting into position. Once the bats were on top of the Cadmus building and the Batwing was safely tucked away, the plan commenced. The three bats made their way into the Cadmus building through the vents. The two older bats trusted the younger to guide them through Cadmus. They made their way through Cadmus. Batman in front, Robin in the middle, and Red Hood taking up the back. Batgirl was with Wonder Woman and Supergirl. Robin led them to the database room. When they opened the door, what greeted them inside was shocking.