Within a renovated and isolated stone-built castle within Ireland are several scientists working on a funded work project for the illustrious Lex Luthor of Lex Corp in Metropolis.
The project was built within the main floor of the castle and the project was a large machine capable of generating large amounts of energy that will be harnessed from an experimental and extremely rare ore that was artificially created by one of the leading scientists of the project.
This scientist is an Ireland native known as Colman O hAiliosa or simply professor O hAiliosa. He didn't like the professor title though since it made him feel old despite his youth and strong built body. He had the mind of a scholar and the body of a Celtic warrior or at least that what his ma always said.
Colman became athletic due to his love of soccer and was quite a soccer star before attending university where he studied chemistry, botany, mythology and engineering. His ma was so proud of him…She passed a few months ago and the pain was still in Colman's heart. Hell until a month ago he was always grabbing a pint in local bars before a businessman from Lex Corp found him and offered him a job.
The job was to produce and find industrial uses for his artificially created ore compound that generated energy but not in the traditional sense.
With his knowledge of chemistry and botany. Colman used the unique materials found in the Celtic Isles to create the ore he called 'Compound Brigid' after the Celtic goddess of fire, healing, agriculture, prophecy and poetry.
When the compound is created through a combination of chemical science and molding in flames comparable to a blacksmith's forge. The compound took form of a crystal-like substance that generates something similar to negative energy.
Similar to solar rays and lunar rays. Compound Brigid generated radiation that didn't mutate cells or cause terminal illness such as other forms of radiation. Instead, the radiation could be harnessed for power and now Colman found the means to make his name known as a great pioneer in the scientific field as well as find true purpose in his life.
"How stable is the Brigid core?" Colman asked as he walked up to the massive containment unit that two other scientists were examining as they saw a large core of compound Brigid in the center of the unit and powering it.
"The core appears to be stable with minimal fluctuations when it generates radiation…It's so fascinating professor. You've managed to create a new form of reusable energy." The scientist Marissa said in amazement.
Brown haired girl from the states, much like the rest of the team, which made Colman stand out as the only Irishman/Celtic here.
"It's not as good as it sounds. It takes time to create it and the materials needed can be a hassle to get as well as grow. The molding process also consumes a great amount of time and patience. I theorize that even with teams all over the world, it will take many years before we can successfully industrialize compound Brigid." Colman said back to the young scientists before he went over to another group.
"How much power is the machine absorbing?"
"The absorption rate of radiation is 70% and seems stable for the moment. Thirty percent of the energy continues to remain inert and untapped within the core, and the energy we do absorb can last for roughly 58 hours before dropping below 25%" Maxwell explained as he wrote in his clipboard while Colman nodded his head.
"Good. The bigger the ore the more energy we can gain. Previous trails only managed to give us 45% energy. Then again, the stableness of the compound isn't the most reliable so keep watch over it and let me know when it drops." Colman advised before he made his way to the control panel of the machine.
"Professor we've run the same tests various times, and each test has come back as a success. Don't you think it's time to inform Luthor about what we've discovered?" Brian asked with concern as Colman looked over at his second in command.
"Brian our benefactor is giving us only one chance and it has to be perfect or else all of this goes down the drain as a waste of time. I'm not going to undersell or overestimate the success or possible failures of my compound. We measure twice and cut once. Understand?"
"Understood sir." Brian said with a bit of disappointment while Colman went back to work unaware of the dirty look that Brian gave him.
"Professor the energy absorption rate is dropping." Maxwell said before Colman started typing on the control panel to try and find out why the energy rate was dropping so quickly.
"This can't be right. The energy readings are dropping but the core is still stable and feeding energy to the machine. This has to be some kind of technical error." Colman said before he suddenly heard a click behind his head.
"Sorry professor but Luthor doesn't like to wait." Brian said while Colman raised his hands slowly to show he wasn't a threat as he found the technical error as soon as he heard the click.
It wasn't an error at all. It was sabotage; seemingly by his own benefactor if Brian is to be believed.
"What is the meaning of this Brian? I thought you wanted the best for the project." Colman said as Brian scoffed.
"I couldn't care less. Luthor simply paid me to make sure your research bares fruit. Now after all these tests we have discovered a way to militarize your compound for Luthor. So, here is what's going to happen. You're going to deactivate the core and we are going to take it and our equipment out of this shithole you call home. If your good, we won't kill you." Brian said as Colman noticed that the other scientists didn't even seem shocked, which meant that they were all in on it.
"Aye." Colman said weakly before he slowly started typing on the controls. They knew that Colman didn't trust anyone enough to share the access code to retrieve the Brigid core, but what they didn't know was that Colman put in a safety measure in case terrorists or some mercenaries tried to steal his project from him.
"What's taking so long doc? My grip is slipping." Brian said as Colman felt the barrel of the gun on the back of his head.
"I'm unlocking the containment now." Colman said as he hit the final button and instead of opening the device, Colman did something he hoped that he'd never have to do.
"Brian, he didn't unlock it. He increased the energy absorption rate beyond the normal measures. The energy is going to reach critical status and detonate." Maxwell said in shock getting everyone's attention.
"What?" Brian shouted and lowered his gun, which let Colman turn around and kick Brian in the jewels to bring him to his knees as Colman quickly took the gun and looked on at all of his former helpers on the project as the machine started to make whistling noises as the core started glowing with a sickly green light.
"I had hoped that I'd never have to do this, but I guess I don't have a choice. My work isn't going to be stolen from me and used for profit to win wars. I'm the only one here who knows how to create the compound and now the information is going to die with me along with all of you." Colman said back with narrowed eyes to the other scientists.
None of the other scientists thought to bring a gun or weapon. It was insulting since they knew he wasn't your average bookworm with a scrawny body.
"Professor you can't be serious. You'd really die for the sake of a rock that could make you rich?" Marissa asked as she looked at the core as bolts started to fly off of it.
"If you don't understand what this means to me, then you've never questioned your legacy or impact in life. I am more than willing to die for the sake of preventing my work from being twisted into something evil." Colman said before everything went quite after a large explosion emerged from the machine that leveled the entire castle and surrounding area for several meters.
The explosion wasn't of fire and brimstone, instead it was a cloud of green and black colors that sent shivers down the spines of any who saw the explosion in the distance that almost screamed of an ancient curse.
1
3/11/2023
Hall of Justice/Washington DC
Typing away on his massive and state of the art supercomputer that he helped design is the man known as Cyborg. Fit like a football star and more than half his body was biomechanical. Cyborg had no issues keeping the Justice Leagues tech operational and working despite how he would sometimes wish to join in on the action.
At the moment in the tech lab of the building Cyborg was investigating strange anomalies that arose in the Celtic Isles.
"What are you doing?" a familiar voice asked as Supergirl literally flew into the room and hovered next to Cyborg.
"I'm investigating some bizarre readings. Reports from the Celtic Isles are talking about a strange cult on the rise that has metahuman abilities. It's been kept under wraps for so long that nobody even noticed it. Hell, the supercomputer didn't even pick it up until I started following some suspicious readings coming from Ireland." Cyborg replied before he zoomed in on the map of Ireland on the supercomputers screen.
"Should we investigate or wait for the heavy hitters to notice?" Supergirl asked as Cyborg thought about it for a moment.
"Let's get the team together and head out. I'm concerned about these strange readings of radiation. It's like the energy hasn't ever been documented before." Cyborg said as Supergirl nodded her head before she left and gathered her fellow teammates.
Soon enough the group made up of Cyborg, Supergirl, Robin, Kid Flash and Beast Boy had gathered in their secret and untraceable black jet near the limits of Washington. Cyborg took the controls, and the jet took to the air and headed to Ireland.
"So, we're going to investigate a weird cult along with an unknown type of radiation around the Celtic Isles? Shouldn't we have protective suits or something?" Beast Boy asked from his seat.
"The radiation doesn't seem to affect living beings in a similar way that other forms of radiation can. I've scanned it and found out that you would need to be exposed to it for several years before any negative effects would even start to occur." Cyborg explained calmly.
"That still doesn't make me feel better." Beast Boy said back with a blank expression.
Now, after a short ride in the jet the team landed in a secluded area of Ireland before the team made their way to the nearest city…The remnants of a city anyway. Homes and businesses were destroyed, and people were busy rebuilding and the team also noticed just how many people had been injured.
"What happened here?" Robin asked before some military soldiers walked up to them with weapons ready.
It took some explaining and sweet talking, but the officials didn't attack the team and instead took them to the local police office where the soldiers had been stationed along with the remaining police officials.
"Would you kindly explain why you all are here in Ireland during such troubling times?" The military official in charge asked behind the police commissioner's desk.
"I'm sorry we didn't alert you at first sir. But we are trying to investigate the problems that Ireland is facing. The strange cult that has been attacking you are also metahumans and that's where we can come in and help bring them to justice." Supergirl explained as the man simply reached into his pocket and took out a flask before he took a long drink from the silver container.
"These metahumans are mad with power and we have slowly become overwhelmed by the monsters they unleash. Ireland is in no position to turn down help from members of the Justice League, however you still have to follow and obey our laws." The man said in a serious tone of voice.
"Of course, sir. We understand perfectly. So, can you tell us more about the cult and the monsters you're talking about?" Kid Flash asked before the man spoke again.
"They appeared shortly after the bizarre explosion near the heart of Ireland's wilderness. The cult of a forgotten goddess Embryes. Or at least that is what they are claiming. They claim that the god has granted them power and will use it to conquer the Celtic Isles and rule in her name. The monsters are things fresh out of nightmares…This truly must be the start of the end times."
"Sir I promise you that we will help stop whatever is going on." Supergirl said as the man took another drink.
"If you can fair better then us lass, I'll buy you a dozen pints before you leave. The cult is hiding within the wilderness and moves often, so best of luck in trying to find them. However, your first stop can be the ruins of castle of god's. That was where the mysterious explosion took place and folks talk about a monster calling it home. I'd say its another metahuman, but folks around here are getting mighty superstitious these days." The man explained before giving the group a map of Ireland in its entirety.
The group soon left and headed out towards the forgotten castle with Supergirl and Kid Flash taking the lead with their superior speed. Beast Boy, however, wasn't far behind as he took the form of a green cheetah while Robin and Cyborg moved on foot.
"Hey guys I think I found the place and it's hella creepy." Kid Flash said over the communicators they had.
"On our way, but keep your distance, Wally." Robin replied via the earpiece before the group soon converged on Kid Flash's location and saw the ruins of an old castle. It was mostly destroyed but partially put back together with wooden support beams and stone bricks being melded in place.
The creepy thing was that the front of the castle was that the ground was scorched with a sickly green color and was smooth like glass. There are also graves off to the side, no tombstones. Just sticks tied together in the form of a cross.
"Someone here was busy?" Cyborg said as the team was put on high alert from what they saw as they made their way to the castle's entrance. "Wait." Cyborg said before stopping in place along with Supergirl who heard noise coming from the castle while Cyborg picked up on something with his scanners.
Then emerging from the castle in front of the group of heroes is a man covered in a large floor length coat of animal furs sewn together with a gas mask covering his face and leaving his shoulder length and dirty brown hair on display.
"Begone from this place." The man said loudly to the heroes.
"We can't leave. We need to ask you some questions. Starting with why you have so many graves." Kid Flash said to the man who glanced over at the graves.
"Those graves are a symbol of my foolishness, and the people in them at least deserved the respect of a proper burial." The man said as he walked over and kneeled down to one of the graves.
"Did you cause these deaths?" Kid Flash asked in agitation as the man was silent for a moment.
"Yes. I did." The man replied sadly before Kid Flash zoomed over to the man and gripped his chest of animal furs.
"Kid Flash stop!" Robin said as he and Beast Boy rushed over.
"You bastard! You killed all these people!" Kid Flash said in anger to the man whose face was hidden behind the mask.
"I did. I make no excuse for it, and I took no pleasure in it. I have spent my time here begging the gods for forgiveness and redemption. But a monster like me deserves neither of those things. If you wish to kill me, then be done with it." The man said before Robin and Beast Boy pulled Kid Flash off the man who simply looked on at the trio.
"What are you?" Cyborg asked as he walked up to the man but kept his guard up in case the man attacked. "Your biological readings aren't normal in any sense of the word. Even with the weirdest metahuman powers, their bodies are still relatively normal and explainable, but your body isn't. Are you an alien? Or are you from a different dimension?"
"I am…I was normal once. I was a scientist, but I threw it all away to stop my work from being used for the wrong reasons. My resolve killed these people and turned me into a monster…I don't know what I am anymore." The man said before he started to walk away.
"Where are you going? You need to answer for what you've done." Kid Flash said to the man making him stop in place for a moment.
"I am answering for what I've done. I'm responsible for everything wrong in Ireland now. The innocent deaths are on my hands. Each soul is like a banshee's wail that I constantly hear. The questions of why they died always and who's responsible is my torment…Please for your sakes. Leave me here to suffer in silence. It's all I ask and it's what I deserve." The man said before he entered the run-down castle.
"Are we really going to just let him go? He said it himself; he caused these deaths, and he needs to be punished for it." Kid Flash said to his teammates.
"Wally take it easy. He isn't getting away with any murder, but from the way he talked I don't think it's as black and white as you're making it out to be. He seemed genuinely troubled by his actions and whatever he did." Supergirl said to the speedster who looked back at the graves with narrowed eyes before he took a deep breath to try and calm down a bit.
"What's the plan? We can't just ignore this." Robin said back.
"I'll try to talk with him again. If he tries anything I'll let you guys know, but right now I think that what he really needs is someone to listen to him before he gets taken into custody." Supergirl said back as Cyborg agreed.
"It's the best thing we can do for now. Besides my scanners are telling me that there are more energy spikes nearby that could possibly be metahumans. The rest of us need to go and take a look." Cyborg said before the team agreed to the plan, despite how intensely Wally wanted to try and just lock up the man already.
So, the group walked off and Supergirl was left alone as she slowly flew into the castle and saw just how messy and semi-destroyed it was.
"Hello. I'm not here to fight you or anything. I just came here to talk." Supergirl said as she heard an echo though the ruined halls.
"Please leave me alone." The man replied in a low tone of voice which let the superhero clad in a blue body suit to one of the rooms in the back where she saw the man on his knees and praying to a cross made from stone.
"I can't do that. I need to know what happened here and why you're isolating yourself." Supergirl said as the man didn't stand up and remained on his knees.
"You wouldn't understand. You didn't cause so much destruction of your home and unleash a monster into the world. You're not a monster like me." The man said back as Supergirl could hear the man's voice shake as he had tears falling from his eyes behind his mask.
Supergirl walked over towards the man and placed a hand on his shoulder as the man remained in place begging the gods for any sort of forgiveness, they could offer him.
"I have seen a lot of monsters since I came to earth, and right now I don't see a monster. I see a person in pain…Right now the only thing I want to do is listen to your story. So, please. Tell me what happened and what's eating away at your soul so much." Supergirl said before the man slowly stood up to his feet.
"My name…My name is Colman O hAiliosa…I was going to help people with my creation and was funded by Lex Corp…But everything changed in an instant." Colman said as he slowly raised his hands and removed his mask to show his face.
His eyes were once brown but now they are an emerald green, he has veins lining his face that pulsed like the veins in a person's arms or hands, his ears are sharp and pointed. Not long enough to be considered elf ears but pointed enough to show that the ears didn't belong to a human. The most identifiable feature, however, is the burn mark around his left eye that reached past his forehead and into his scalp.
Colman proceeded to tell Supergirl everything that happened the day of the explosion.
2
Flashback
"Where am I?" Colman asked as he opened his eyes and saw that he was in a lush grassland type of space similar to a fantasy kingdom as he also saw a pristine castle in the distance.
"You're in my domain young man." A voice said as Colman turned around and saw a woman wearing a white and almost transparent gown with long dark hair and an almost regal kind of beauty. "I'm afraid that you've committed a grave crime in the eyes of the gods."
"What?" Colman asked before his mind bombarded him with memories of the explosion he created and how he caught a glimpse of a monster-like figure emerging from some kind of portal before he blacked out.
"When you created a mystical ore, you fused it with science and detonated it in the form of a bomb, which itself would have killed you and many others, but your location is something known as a Ley Line or a point where dimensional borders overlap. The mystical explosion released an evil god into your world, and for that the gods took a vote and decided to punish you for this transgression." The woman said before Colman again found his mind attacking him.
However, this time he was given information about the Celtic god's and just how many where there in the pantheon. Over 300 and not all of them were exceedingly powerful but they all served a purpose and the god's have voted that Colman becomes cursed.
Colman felt tree roots form under his feet and grow around his body to keep him in place as the woman touched his chest.
"The curse of the Void will be placed upon you. Until you've proven yourself worthy of forgiveness, the curse will remain attached to your soul." The goddess explained while Colman felt immense pain from the woman's touch making him scream out in pain and horror as his body was being changed beyond his control.
End of Flashback
Colman woke up again in the ruins of the castle and saw the corpses of his former lab mates as well as seeing a few dozen animal corpses nearby.
When he stood up Colman felt the change of his body as an odd sensation of emptiness filled his chest and he saw a sickly green energy emerging from his hands. When he moved and fell to the ground, he saw his hands burn through the ground as if the ground was made of paper.
Hours passed before Colman learned how to shut off the curses touch and went to work burying the dead bodies around him with a shovel stored away in a backroom of the castle.
After that Colman secluded himself from others and remained in the castle that he deemed his new home where he would repent and earn forgiveness for what he had done…When the dark god was freed, Colman could sense each soul that the god took and hear the person's screams in agony.
Colman hunted for food like a survivalist while constantly praying to the gods to forgive him and end the torment he was suffering from.
Sadly, the gods didn't deem him worthy of their forgiveness yet.
END!
A/N: Okay another DC story. Sue me but I love comics and this story may or may not be inspired by certain factors that will remain a secret. Anyway, this character isn't my usual OC, because this character is hunted by a curse and his own guilt.
I'm interested to see how things develop.