Disclaimer: I own jackshit
AN: Ok, first thing is that I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year, since I got to enjoy them.
Second thing is that I had this idea over New Year after being introduced to a new comic series and deciding to read it. The idea came to me and it wouldn't stop bugging me until I wrote something down, which quickly evolved into this monster of a chapter before I knew what the hell I was doing.
The crossover itself is between Worm, Young Justice, and the comic series known as Fathom, by Aspen MLT, with some alterations done to the timeline of the last one to make it fit the way I had planned.
Anyway, hope you enjoy the first chapter of what I hope will be a decent story!
XXX
Chaos. Screaming. Heat. Pain.
The blurred images of figures dressed in a riot of colours filled my mind as things shifted in and out of focus as I staggered around. My ears were ringing, my vision swimming with those same blurred images and nearly impossible to fully understand as I tried shaking my head. I felt hair whip around, blocking my sight for a moment as I felt a hood slip from my head and down, hanging by the collar of my clothes. The hair stuck together in thick lumps; dirt sweat and mud all clinging to my skin while I glanced down at my arm, having felt pain flaring there, and elsewhere.
I saw red, my eyes tracing the blurred outlines of red and black that swam over my exposed arm. Thinking was... Difficult, making me think I had a concussion of some description, or something similar, but actually trying to puzzle things out was well beyond my ability as I forced myself onwards. The clothing I found myself wearing stuck to me with every motion, the feeling of the cold was seeping into my body, making it difficult to move in anything but shuddering movements. Screams and shouts filled the air, echoing even as I moved, forcing myself onwards as a hand pressed into my side to try and apply pressure to a wound I could feel. It hurt, like molten lead in my veins, but it was all I could do as the world spiralled in a blur of colours and blackness.
I had no idea of how much time pasted as I shuddered onwards, but I doubted it was all that much. Smoke seemed to fill the air even as I looked upon the world, sports of red covering sections of the ground as I felt the heat. A part of my mind noted that it was probably fire, not something to go sticking my hand in, but it certainly helped just by being close, the heat being enough to warm me up and given me the motivation I needed to keep moving, as did the sound of shouts getting closer. I moved towards those sounds, hearing them in the distance as they lost their echo-like effect, becoming slightly clearer, but not enough for me to understand them.
At least, not with the way my head was swimming like something being thrown into a blender.
Then I saw it, the impossible happening before me as someone came in for a landing and rushed forwards, looking for survivors. I saw the figure grab someone, pulling them up and grasping them in both arms, carrying them like a bride. I tried moving closer, tried to grab their attention, but I couldn't. My legs failed me, finally giving out as all strength just left them and I fell forwards, collapsing onto my face and rolling slightly. I hissed at the impact, my head getting worse as the rest of my limbs went numb around the same time. Darkness edged into the corners of my vision as I felt what little energy I had leave me. My side felt cold as my hand fell away, the clothing I wore sticking to me and only reinforcing it as I felt the dampness spread, followed by a numbing sensation that started at the end of my limbs and crawled up from there.
I was dying, a part of me realized. I was bleeding out, concussed and out of any strength to try and while... Something danced just at the edge of my perception. Information, facts and figures, but I was too out of it to notice and figure out what it could all mean, my senses growing steadily less clear as my eyes slowly started to roll back, losing the battle to remain conscious for any longer.
My last sight of the waking world were of two things: A strange, yet oddly massive silver figure in the distance, decorated with a half dozen asymmetric wings, and a shimmering pool of blue light high in the sky. The former kicked something in the back of my mind into action, a stray thought coming and going as it escaped my grasp before the latter came to play. The pool of light stood over me, high in the air and caused me to look at it even as I struggled to stay awake, a losing battle, but one I held long enough to notice something that might be very important.
Namely, that the pool of blur light was growing larger.
Or closer.
Within seconds, all I could see was a solid wall of blue, shimmering energy that was almost blinding in intensity. It was probably the last thing I saw as consciousness finally escaped my grasp and I was forced into the realm of Morpheus. An instant later, I felt my body tingle and shift, feeling the energy passing over me in an instant followed by a sensation that could only be described as being pulled through a straw. It only lasted for a moment, but I was still awake enough to feel it and what followed.
The cold, crushing pressure and utter darkness as I finally gave up the ghost and, at long last, fell unconscious.
XXX
"-is she doing?-"
I heard the voice first, somewhat unclear, but understandable. It probably helped that my mind was a bit clearer, lacking the feeling of water sloshing around in it with every movement. However, with that clarity, I found myself noticing a few... Peculiarities...
"-iricle that she's even alive-"
My memories were... Muddled. I could remember my life well enough, I could remember information, locations, places and people easily enough, along with my family and friends, that was not the difficulty. The difficulty came in that I could remember other things. Days I had not lived and people I had never met in person. I could remember having a sister despite knowing for a fact that I had no siblings. I could remember things that shouldn't have been possible, and yet seemed to have been treated like everyday occurrences by those that bore witness to them. Monsters beyond imagining that I knew should not have existed being present and accepted as facts of life even while a part of my mind rebelled in mild hysteria at the very thought. I remembered them, the monsters, in two different ways. One as facts of life and another as works of fiction.
"-ndeed. For us, going through a Hydroport without protection would be dangerous, but for her-"
For that matter, I could feel a few things off with my surroundings. For one thing, I was being supported on some kind of mattress that felt like a block of foam, not unusual in itself, but the fact that I could tell that it was grown rather than made was deeply disturbing. Likewise, I was currently wearing little, if any, clothing and could feel what felt like water on my skin, along with some kind of bandage wrapped around my side, plus a few others scattered around. Various creams applied to injuries and a few other plasters that seemed to have been applied to seal off wounds and allow them to heal without scaring.
Once more, all organic. Not only that, but I could feel the various organic components that made up each and every item around me, from the mattress, to the bandages, to the bacteria in the water that came up to my shoulders as I lay in some kind of container. I could feel it, feel how it all linked together and trace an outline in my head that followed the general shape of said container, also showing my body by the way a hollow formed in that same water. It was a strange sensation, a mix of seeing and knowing how the organic matter came together, how it functioned and knowing how to apply pressure to incite changes. Already, at the back of my mind, I could pick out a dozen ideas, thoughts and possibilities that lurked just at the edges of perception. The memories told me that this was familiar, of course, I was starting to get used to that feeling of familiarity, even with the sudden introduction of another lifetime of memories. All this, was followed by a rather interesting discovery.
Namely, that I was now a woman.
"-you hadn't intervened, Casque, she would have been crushed by the pressure. Never mind the other injuries-"
"-am aware, Cannon, but she is still healing. Learning the truth of the matter is a priority, yes, but pushing too hard too fast might-"
"-that to the Council. They want to know how a Human managed to come through a Hydroport, not to mention one that had been sealed, and only saved by the intervention of a Black such as you-"
Right, people talking about me. Could be very important, especially since I had not even a single clue as to where I was. Memories said I had been in... Canberra? Yeah, Canberra to act as medical support for anyone injured in the... Oh hell... I was Panacea, Amy Dallon or Amelia Lavere, and I had just been thrown through a fucking portal by the bloody Simurgh... I was getting the distinct feeling that either a BROB was especially board, or I had done some truly evil shit in a past life and this was my karma coming back to bite me in the ass. Either was possible, especially when I had just been thrown through a portal that, from the sound of it, had dropped me in some seriously hot water.
Still, I absently thought about what to do before figuring it was probably better to face the music sooner rather than later. With that in mind, a thought came and went as I reached into the bacterial soup around me. In an instant, I felt the clusters of bacterial life in the water, along with a mixture of dead skin cells and hair that had come from me. I made a note of that, since I could interact with the DNA in those skin cells and hair, an idea already forming in the back of my mind about the potential for the future. Pushing that idea to the back of my mind for the time being, I focused and drew upon years of experience that wasn't my own.
It felt... Weird, to say the least.
The act of reshaping the bacteria was quick and simply, cannibalizing some cells here and there to get the result I wanted, but it was done within moments. Even as I did that, I could hear the ethical remains of Amy's memories screaming at me not to do it, to not cross the line and go from a simple healer to a full Biokinetic. I ignored that voice in the back of my mind, I didn't care to waste a potential advantage, and I sure as hell didn't give a damn about what Carol Dallon thought about me. With Amy's memories, I could see just how much of a right bitch she had been, an outside perceptive really helping in that, and there was the simple fact that I had no clue where the hell I was. Admittedly, I probably could take what I had heard at face value, but I had always been paranoid and that meant that I wanted a Plan B.
As such, I took the bacteria around me and did two things. The first was that I supercharged the bacterial soup, enhancing the bacteria and stem-cells present in the water to even higher levels and directed them as I needed while keeping a little on the side. The second thing I did was take that excess I had set aside, and I used it to create as virulent a plague as I could. DNA from my own dead skin was used to ensure that I wasn't going to be targeted by my own work, while remaining insanely lethal to everyone else. It was crafted and then stored in a small band around a wrist with a quick release mechanism that could be triggered by a muscle twitch. The old Amy's understanding of Human biology really came in handy here, both learned via osmosis and what was granted by the Shard. The end product was an air tight capsule that could be released at will and was just as potent in air as it was in water, with the primarily purpose of it being a flesh-eating plague.
All of that was done inside of five seconds as I felt the new weight on my wrist, followed by my body suddenly regaining some level of energy. My limbs no longer felt like they were encased in concrete as I shifted slightly, regaining energy rapidly, but feeling a tad bit hungry. My eyes fluttered slightly as I looked opened them to look upon the world around me. The first thing I saw being the tube I was apparently in, filled with water and bent to allow me to put me in a reclining position. The next thing I see is the world around me, made from what looks like dull yellow material that I almost guess is Coral, the organic ways that it's been shaped and formed is the reason, but I can't be sure. However, the main thing that catches my attention are the two figures standing nearby, the sources of the two voices that I had heard, if I had to guess.
"-nderstand, Cannon. The Council is worried and fearful about what this could mean, especially after the last time that the Humans attacked. However, they should temper such fear and worry with caution and patience. We know very little about the current... Hum... Interesting..." One of the figures stated. I glanced at him and couldn't help my eyes widening when I saw the guy in question. From the neck down, he looked like an old man with long, slightly spiky white hair that fell down the back of his neck. Wrinkles were apparent, but didn't detract from the sharp edges and hardness in his features, now the energy which I could see in his eyes that told me that he was not someone to fuck with. Of course, that wasn't the end of it, since he was decked out in a dark purple and dark green suit of armor, combined with a cape that draped down from the collar of the armor. The plates of said armor were thick, and looked like they could take a beating, I was no blacksmith or armorsmith, but I could guess that it had been crafted by a master. All helping the 'Do not cross me' vibe that seemed to surround the older man. Mind you, the fact that he was probably around six foot eight, or a solid two metres tall, didn't hurt things either.
"... What...? What's interesting, Casque?" Came the question of the other man. This one was younger looking, I'd have guessed late twenties to early thirties, but I honestly couldn't have guessed one way or another. Dark hair that was in a similar style, slicked back slightly but slightly shorter than what the first figure had to go along with a more tanned complexion and softer features. They still had an edge to them, but it was just less apparent unless you were paying enough attention. I saw it mostly because I was looking for anything out of the ordinary, and having memories of being around PRT soldiers and Protectorate Heroes certainly helped. I recognized the military-like bearing of the man, a Commander of some kind, if I had to guess. However, in contrast to the first figure, 'Casque', the being I guessed was Cannon was wearing a green, turtle-necked T-shirt under an open black jacket and a pair of jeans. They looked well made, that was for certain, but gave him an air of normality when compared to the giant beside him, but being no less dangerous given the clearly visible muscle and the six foot three, or one point nine five metre, height.
However, as I looked them over, I noticed that Casque had turned and was now looking at me, vibrant green eyes looking at me in turn and almost searing into me to search for answers. I will happily admit that I froze at seeing that, a primitive part of my instincts flaring, telling me to run like hell from what was, quite possibly, the biggest Alpha Predator on the planet.
"...What is interesting, Cannon, is the fact that our guest appears to be awake." Casque stated simply as Cannon stopped, suddenly turning around to look at me, his own eyes wide with shock as he looked me over quickly and seemed genuinely confused and amazed about something.
All I could think to do was wave.
XXX
It took five minutes to get me out of the tube, along with getting a pair of clothes for me besides a set of pants and a bra for me to wear. Apparently, they were some of Cannon's spare clothes that were kept in his quarters for when he needed to 'do work on the surface'. I tried not to think about the implications of that as I absently tightened a belt around my waist, mostly to hold the Jeans up when they were easily a size too big for me to fit in. Still, it was better than nothing when compared to walking around in just my pants and a bra.
Then again, I thought, I doubted that any of the other people here would give a damn. Besides Cannon, none of the other people that I had seen had been wearing anything as modest. Most of the men just went around bare-chested and showing off abs and a six pack, their only clothing being a pair of trunks. The women were probably worse, since a lot of them only seemed to wear a sports bra and booty shorts, or a bikini, not to mention all of them had bodies like supermodels. Admittedly, I did see a few people scattered around that were wearing different clothing. A few were wearing what looked like a skin-tight wetsuit made from armored segments and with a light gray ocean camouflage. Others, who I guessed were guards, simply wore a series plates and straps that could loosely be called armor, their weapons giving them away as guards, but I wondered about the protective properties of said 'armor'.
Mind you, it did offer a fairly nice view for the women, even if I felt some small part of me boiling with envy at the figures of some of them, let alone the fact that I had yet to see an adult that wasn't over six foot tall. Though, if they noticed me looking, they didn't show it and didn't seem to give a damn either, just going about their days as I glanced around and took in my surroundings in turn, Cannon beside me and Casque behind the both of us and moving like a towering monolith of armored plate.
"Sorry about the heavy security, your sudden appearance through a Hydroport was quite a shock, especially given recent events. The Council decided that it was probably for the best if you were placed under heavy guard, at least, until such a time that we can sort this mess out." Cannon stated as I glanced around. It was true, but I honestly thought it was seemed a tad on the side of excessive since there was a guard practically every few metres, all of them having a massive gun of one kind or another in one hand while the other held a melee weapon, a staff or spear, with a sword handle at their sides. I couldn't help but let an eyebrow rise at what was said after my moment of inspection, both at what had been said and what hadn't been said.
"So... Does that make me a prisoner or a guest?" I asked, slightly curious about the answer as I absently altered the composition of the plague I was carrying. I was wearing sandals, so that meant that I could feel the, as it turned out, Coral surface below me if I pushed my toes far enough. A scrap was enough for me, as I used the information to add to the plague, allowing it to bypass the material by burrowing through it. A quick look was enough to confirm the changes as I tightened the skin-toned band for an instant.
Moving onwards, my question had an effect, causing Cannon to pause for a nearly invisible moment. He picked himself back up quickly enough, but the slip had been visible and he cast a glance at me even as we kept moving. I did my best to keep my face neutral at that, but my question still remained unanswered for a second before Cannon finally replied.
"Recent events have been hard on everyone, especially some of the people being treated in this facility. The guard detachment is here to keep both sides safe. So no, not you are not a prisoner, you are a guest, if only one that is restricted to stay within this Treatment centre until such a time that everyone is sure you aren't a security risk." Cannon remarked as we kept going, passing more guards and taking another corner before following the man down another, much less busy, corridor that let me have a view out into the open, causing my eyes to shoot wide as I saw the city beyond.
A city submerged underwater.
Instantly, I knew that I wasn't in Worm any more. Leviathan would have utterly crushed the entire place if this existed on Earth Bet, not to mention the little inconsistencies were starting to pile up and a picture was starting to form. The names 'Cannon' and 'Casque' were definitely familiar, as was the use of a few other terms. 'Hydroport' stuck out the most, but I could feel the strings of familiarity starting to pull as I stopped for a moment to take in the city beyond the glass, or whatever it was. I heard Cannon stop walking, and a glance confirmed that Casque had stopped just behind me, enough for both of them to see me looking at the vast city hidden deep beneath the waves.
Neither of them said anything, just waiting for me to take it in. A part of me recognized that it was probably deliberate, but I didn't feel like calling them out on it, if only because I saw no point in it. That, however, didn't stop me feeling relief at the fact that I wasn't dead, and probably would never have to worry about the Endbringers, even if 'I' hadn't dealt with the victims of such battles.
XXX
Two minutes after seeing the view, we were alone in a single room with a few chairs, a decent view and four heavily armed and armored guards standing just a door away. I was about half way convinced that all of them were armed with Anti-armor weapons that could kill a tank from a mile away, if only because the barrels of some of them weapons were just under a metre long and as wide as their biceps. Cannon was the first one into the room, followed by me and then Casque. One of the guards outside the room closed the door behind us, giving me the distinct impression that they probably locked it behind them as I didn't see a visible handle or method of opening it without a hell of a lot of force behind it.
"Here, have a seat." Cannon stated as he walked ahead of me, grabbing a chair and pulling it out for me before I did so. I saw no reason to not be polite about things, especially when he was making the effort of not treating this like an interrogation session. I offered a weak smile, but nodded and took the seat, allowing him to push the seat in behind me before he took his seat at the other side of the table. Casque stayed quiet off to one side, looking out the window, but clearly listening to everything that was about to be said.
"Well, first I'd like to apologize for all of this. The Council wants answers and they want them sooner rather than later. It's probably a good thing you recovered as quickly as you did, otherwise, things could have gotten... Chaotic." The man stated as a way of explaining why things had been rushed around. Mind you, I could understand it. From what I had heard, they had, supposedly, been attacked by a Human force and tension was still running high. My sudden appearance was probably just adding fuel to the fire, meaning that he was under pressure to find out what was going on and present it to this 'Council'. The train of thought made sense, but the one thing that stood out to me was him; Namely, why him?
Along with that, it also raised the question of just how high up the military chain of command he must have been to be pressured by, what I assumed, was the main governing body of this place. I suppressed a grimace at that, more questions but not enough answers, even with my memories slowly coming back together from the fog they had been hiding in, the feeling of familiarity only growing a bit stronger as things went on.
"I... Understand. I don't know how much help I can offer since I've got next to no clue as to how I ended twenty thousand Leagues under the sea, not unless you can find a squid hiding around here, somewhere." I joked slightly, drawing a snort from Cannon as he shook his head and leaned forwards in his seat.
"Fair enough, but can you tell me what you remember leading up to waking up here...?" He started, trailing off as he seemed to look questioningly at me. I absently wondered if that was purposeful or not, since they probably had whatever items I had on me in a locker somewhere. Admittedly, all the old Amy had on her at Canberra had been the communication band and a few bits and pieces, some money in a pocket, but no ID or another due to having been teleported directly to the staging point for the Endbringer attack. I still answered him, if only because I didn't see any advantage in lying to the man trying to, at least, appear to be on my side.
"Amy Dallon." I stated simply with a nod of the head as Cannon smiled and extended a hand across the table.
"Cannon Hawke, a pleasure to meet you, Ms Dallon. I just wish it had been under better circumstances." Cannon remarked slightly as I shrugged in a 'What can you do' manner. Grasping the hand, I held it firmly as I got a firm grip in return, giving me a chance to look at the biology of the man opposite me, letting me discover that the man in question was most definitely not a Human. The old Amy had worked on normal Humans enough to be able to recognize a Human DNA strand in her sleep. That same skill had crossed over to me and I remembered it just as well. As such, I could see that there was probably a common ancestor somewhere along the line, but it must have been a long, long time ago.
"True enough, I suppose. Then again, there is a reason that there are sayings like 'Man plans, God laughs'." I shot back, drawing another chuckle from Cannon as Casque offered a snort of amusement in turn as we let go of each other's hands. I pulled my hand back and suppressed a smirk as a few skin cells remained hidden on my skin, allowing me to transport them into the hidden band and alter it a bit more, enhancing my Plan B for if it every came to that. Honestly, I hoped it didn't, since it seemed that they were at least trying to be level with me.
"Very true, now then, care to enlighten us as to what happened to cause your sudden appearance?" Cannon questioned slightly as I nodded with a half-shrug.
"Again, not sure I can tell you much, mostly because I don't know the details myself. What I do know is that an Endbringer was attacking in Canberra, I and a number of others had volunteered to try fighting the thing off. Mind you, given which Endbringer it was, none of us expected to succeed. At best, most of us figured that another city would be domed off and quarantined to prevent those affected by the Endbringer from escaping and causing chaos elsewhere. I was there as a Healer, at the staging point outside the city and, as we had hoped, was outside of the Endbringer's range. Anyone that was injured during the battle, and if they were free of influence, then my job was to heal them as quickly as possible so they could throw themselves back into the fight. As a Healer, I didn't have a play-by-play of everything going on in the Command tent at the staging area, but we all knew when everything went to hell. An explosion rocked the entire area, I must have hit my head at some point and got a concussion, plus a few other injuries, because the rest gets blurry from there. However, what I do remember after that point was a bright blue... Portal, I guess, appearing and rapidly lowering itself from the sky. That was the last thing I saw before I work up in that tube you had me sitting in." My explanation was straightforward and simple, mainly presenting the facts as I saw them. Looking over at Cannon, I could see he had questions on his mind, as did Casque, but they held their pieces until after I finished talking. The room lapsed into silence for a moment, no one talking as I remained still, my hands on the table and waiting for the next questions that might come. I knew they had questions, probably wondering about the credibility of the story I just told them. Admittedly, it was just the highlights, but it was what it was.
"... These... 'Endbringers'... What were they, exactly?" Cannon asked after a moment of thought, having cupped his chin in thought as he leaned back in his chair. I considered the question, wondering what to reveal and what not to reveal before deciding to stick with the basics that anyone else would probably know. With that in mind, I shrugged.
"No one knows, all that is known about them is that they show up and destroy cities whenever they damn well please. The first one, Behemoth, showed up back in 1992 in Iran, right in the middle of the second largest oil field in the country. After destroying the field, Behemoth retreated and started a cycle of attacking at least one city at any point during the year, usually leaving it as little more than an irradiated hole in the ground. The reason for that is that Behemoth is a Dynamokinestic, a being capable of manipulating any kind of energy you could care to name. As such it's common to see him throwing around lightning bolts strong enough to vaporize entire apartment blocks in a single hit. However, he's best known for the fact that he is literally cloaked in a field of radiation field and what is called a 'Kill Aura' causes anyone that comes within about thirty two foot of him to combust from the inside out." I explained as I leaned forwards, slightly shifting my weight to make myself comfortable for a second before continuing as Cannon absorbed this, but I could see his mouth slightly agape, clearly not expecting some of the things I saw, especially that little point about the Kill Aura. Then again, I doubted that many people would expect that kind of shit to come from nowhere.
"Behemoth continued as the only Endbringer in the world until Leviathan appeared in the city of Oslo in Norway in 1996. He was the second Endbringer, a Marco-Hydrokinetic with the ability to move so fast outside of water that he practically turns into a blur. In water? Leviathan moves so fast that I've heard more than one person claim that he teleports from place to place. Still, for all that, his ability to control water has made him something to be feared, especially after he created Tsunamis strong enough to sink the entirety of both Newfoundland and Kyushu. I know for a fact that during the attack on Kyushu, almost nine and a half million people were killed as a result, when the Tsunami that was created rolled into inland Japan and devastated the country. Japan, as a result, went from one of the most technologically advanced nations, to a third world country practically overnight. Not only that, but the shipping industry pretty much died as a business after Leviathan showed up. Too much risk involved considering that for every five ships that go to sea, maybe two of them might come back in one piece." As I explained about Leviathan, I noted something shift in the room, Cannon grimacing and Casque actually turning to regard me, a frown as he seemed saddened by something. For a moment, nothing happened between the two of them, so I took that as a sign to continue speaking, but was cut off just as I began to open my mouth by Casque.
"That is why you were so surprised when you saw the city beyond, isn't it? Not just surprised, but fearful as well. Almost as though you fully expected some great beast to come and crush this place as soon as you looked upon it. However, after hearing about these 'Endbringers' thus far, I can understand the relief that you felt... Especially since you never need fear their attacks again, correct?" Casque stated as I glanced over at his location and saw him turning around to face me fully. I wondered for a second what had given that away before I benched that thought. It was something I could think of at a later time, depending on whether or not I got the chance to do so, assuming I was among the living, of course.
"It... Confirmed a potential theory that I had about where I am, but that doesn't really help me beyond telling me that I'm unlikely to ever see my friends and family again, especially since I'm sure the event that brought me here were probably a one-in-a-million event." I carefully worded my response at that, Cannon gazing at us thoughtfully as he tried to gather the pieces together. I could practically see the gears turning and turning in his head, trying to figure out what I and Casque were saying, without speaking it aloud. The light bulb moment was easily visible as he turned back to regard me with a curious look.
"You're from another reality, aren't you?" I heard him question lowly, making me question how he might have come to that conclusion so rapidly, causing me to raise an eyebrow.
"Interesting conclusion, not that you're wrong, but how did you come to that conclusion in particular?" Cannon crossed his arms and shrugged his large shoulders at the question.
"The Justice League has had plenty of run-ins with beings from outside our own reality, most of them hostile in one form or another, but a few friendly ones have been noted to exist. Given the fact that you've been able to layout an entire timeline, complete with details on death tolls and the reaction to these events, I can only come to the conclusion that either this is the most elaborate and unbelievable lie I have ever heard, or that you really are telling the truth and that you came from somewhere else." Nodding at that, I could understand the logic and even agree with it, even with the mention of a 'Justice League' that made me question just where the hell I had turned up, mostly because I could remember some of those timelines, only the generalities, and I knew that a few of them were just bad. Prime Earth was probably the best example, given how things went to shit.
Something to look into at a later time.
"Earth Bet, to be specific. Multiverse Theory was already proven to be a fact of life for us when a Villain punched a hole between two realities, allowing for limited throughput between worlds. Though, that was mostly in the form of information since I'm pretty sure that physical objects probably can't get through it. Or, at least, as far as I'm aware, given the number of rumors floating around about that kind of thing." My dry tone seemed to get a nod from Cannon at that before it settled back into a thoughtful frown.
"Fair enough, though, that still leaves the question of what to do with you, Ms Dallon." Leaning back, I considered that for a moment before wondering about the damage that was done earlier, remembering the mentions of a Human attack on these beings. I could understand it happening, what with Human nature being what it is, but I could actually help a bit and try and reduce the tension, hopefully to ensure that nothing too drastic might happen. Looking back at Hawke, I shrugged in indifference.
"Honestly, I've not got any plans at the moment besides try and stay alive as best I can. Admittedly, that would probably be difficult as anything other than a Hermit since, officially, I don't exist in this world, but it would be doable. Though, I still owe you for saving me from a rather unpleasant death at the bottom of the ocean... " I thought aloud, not really needing to, but feeling like doing as such.
"Mind you, I don't really have anything to pay you back with aside from my knowledge and my abilities as a Healer." I noted as Cannon tapped his chin, clearly considering the option before glancing at Casque, who seemed to pause for a moment before nodding heavily. I felt as though something was passing between the two of them, something that was probably rather important, but not something I could simply call them out on.
"You say that you're a 'Healer', but what does that actually mean?" Cannon questioned bluntly after the nod as I raised an eyebrow.
"It means being a Cape, or a powered individual, capable of repairing damage caused by injury and harm. The actual method generally depends on the Cape in question, an example being for a Cape called Othala, who could gift others with a form of regeneration that could let others heal from injuries very rapidly. Others like Scapegoat, could transfer injuries around, through infinite versions of himself across other dimensions to potentially heal others... Not sure about the ethics of that, but no one questioned it. Probably not wanting to draw attention to the goat in the room." I noted as I considered the ethical implications of literally giving someone cancer to save another person's life. Dooming one life to save another...
Cannon nodded at that, before gesturing to me.
"And you? What is your method?"
"Mostly, I can do a number of things that let me heal someone. In most cases, I can accelerate and direct the body of another to heal itself more efficiently of minor wounds. However, I can also do other things, such as directly manipulating the healing process to speed up recovery. I can purge a person's body of toxins, drugs, infections or poisons, either neutralizing them or forcing them out of the body if I can't. Lost limbs are something I can do, usually by mirroring the design of the other limb, though, if I can't do that, then I can copy the basic layout from another individual of the same gender. Either that, or work from the DNA of the specific individual to ensure that it's a full replacement. Admittedly, I don't use that last method often, mostly because it's not really needed. Of course, if you want me to replace lost limbs, then I'd need to have a source of organic matter to draw upon as a kind of raw material, for lack of a better term." I explained as I could see Cannon taking down mental notes while keeping his face blank of serious expressions as I explained the range of my abilities. Pausing for a second, I licked my lips, feeling them drying from all the talking for an instant before I got ready to continue, only to be stalled by Cannon's raised hand.
"A quick question, but what do you mean by organic matter, exactly?" I shrugged at that, not really sure how to explain it any further than that, but considering the question for a second.
"Anything made from organic matter, anything made through organic means. Generally, the hospital that I worked at used chunks of meat that had been bought from a local Butcher's shop, but I don't need to work with that if you don't have it. Plants work just as well, as would anything that is, or has been, alive at one point or another. Now that I think about it, I could probably use a corpse for those kinds of purposes, but I can't say I'd want to, given how disrespectful it would be to them." I considered aloud as Cannon nodded again, sending another glance at Casque. I pretended not to notice that one, since I figured something was clearly there. Hell, I could feel something in the back of my mind trying to say something, but it remained just out of reach for the moment.
"What about genetic disorders, or atrophied muscles?" I paused at that, noting the very specific mention of those types of ailments. Admittedly, I was planning to mention them, but the intentional statement that he wanted to know about them clearly pointed to something. I visibly looked over to Casque before looking back to Cannon, my head tilted questioningly for a moment as I considered it, before nodding.
"... Yeah, for the former, I would either need an idea of what a healthy DNA strand would look like, or time to study the DNA in depth to work out a potential fix for it. For the latter, I could do more or less the same; Either work from the DNA of the individual or copy the layout from a healthy individual of the same gender." The man in front of my nodded once, thoughtful frown slipping back into place for a second before looking back at me.
"Alright, thank you for explaining that, though, I'm afraid that we got a little bit off of our original topic. Can you continue from where you left off?" The older man asked, causing me to pause for a second in thought. Admittedly, I could since I remembered finishing off with Leviathan, but I also could see the fact that something was still bugging me about this situation. An underwater city in another reality with the Justice League, plus the fact that I'd already been dropped into the body of Amy Dallon. It was almost surreal, but it didn't stop me from seeing that something was going on that I wasn't privy to. Again, that pang of familiarity was playing in the back of my mind, but even as my mind came back together, slowly untangling itself so that I could actually think with all the facts. It still wasn't fast enough for my liking, but it was better than nothing, and talking some more probably worked in my favor, since it gave me more time to try and remember something critical.
And so, I took a deep breath before continuing from where I left off; Introducing the Simurgh and the effect she had on Earth Bet...
XXX
Cannon Hawke, Elite Commander of the Council Defense Strike Force, walked out of the room he had just left his guest in with a lot on his mind. Casque followed behind him as the guards made way for the member of the Black, but remained on alert in case the young woman in the room tried anything. Cannon had his doubts about that, given that she lacked anything close to the muscular definition required to be a trained soldier of any kind, let alone she had freely admitted to being a 'Healer', a powered individual that had the ability to heal the injuries of others.
Of course, Cannon had long learned from hard experience that just because something didn't look dangerous, didn't make it any less dangerous. This probably wasn't helped by the simple fact that, throughout the 'discussion', she had not only caught several implications and unspoken statements, but also expected several such things. Cannon had seen her catch several of them, especially when he asked about her ability to heal some rather specific types of injuries. She hadn't voiced them, and had continued to answer his questions in a polite and cooperative manner, but it spoke of someone who was both observant and paranoid enough to not take anything for face value.
Given what she had described as her ability to heal, Cannon could easily see the amount of effort people might go through to get Ms Dallon to 'owe them one' to heal them or others. As such, the Commander could easily understand that natural distrust and search for an alternative motivation.
Even if it wasn't present.
Walking through the corridors of the Treatment Centre of Dor, the Garrison of the Blue Capital City of Muria, Cannon and Casque quickly turned a corner and walked along the next corridor, heading deeper into the building before pausing at a door that opened a moment later and admitted them into the chamber beyond. Inside the chamber, Cannon saw members of Council Defense running around, looking over monitors and scanning through documents, clearly looking for details while the large monitors on the side of the chamber displayed the very room that he and Casque had just come from. Multiple angles of the room were being displayed, along with a three dimensional map that displayed the air voids caused by the presence of physical objects, such as bodies.
Standing in front of the screens, Cannon could see the form of High Councilor Siphon, wearing his formal robes and looking at the screen in question, arms crossed over while he cupped his chin. Siphon glanced both the Commander and the member of the Black as they approached, easily being given passage through the surge of people that were moving around the room. Taking a position next to the Councilor, Cannon waited in silence as Siphon took a second to observe their guest a bit more.
"... What do you think about this, Cannon?" Siphon asked after a moment, sounding thoughtful as he kept an eye on the screen. Mentally reviewing what he had just heard, the full explanation of Earth Bet, the history of the place, and the Endbringers, the answer came surprisingly easily.
"I think she's telling the truth, or, at least what she believes to be the truth. She's been cooperative and polite throughout the entire discussion we had. Not only that, but if she was going to lie, then I have little doubt she would have come up with something far more believable." Cannon commented without difficulty as Siphon nodded.
"Agreed. The technicians have already confirmed it through half a dozen different methods, along with checking the registry for anyone named 'Amy Dallon' that might match her description. They came back with no matches, even with a good idea of what to look for medically and no signs of any kind of physical alterations." Siphon remarked in turn, picking up a tablet-like device and passing it to Cannon from a nearby table, letting the Elite Commander look over the information in it. It was a report that basically said exactly the same thing in as many words, that Amy Dallon didn't exist in this world and was probably telling the truth.
As Cannon read the tablet, Siphon turned to look at the member of the Black that stood among them, like an immovable monolith in dark purple and emerald armor. Looking the older man over, Siphon noticed that the Black had yet to look away from the various screens that doted the room, specifically, the one that looked directly at the Healer that they had. He looked to be in deep thought for a moment as Siphon took a step closer to the former combat instructor.
"What about you, Casque, what do you think?" What the question was referring to was rather obvious, even as Siphon gestured towards the screens in a redundant gesture. Casque glanced at the younger man for an instant before refocusing his gaze at the screens again. Nothing was said for a moment before the Black spoke once more, seemingly considering every word.
"... While her story may seem impossible, it does not change the fact that it is the truth. Her conviction in this matter never wavered once, and her sense of relief at no longer needing to fear the wraith of these 'Endbringers' was self-evident. That kind of unconscious, emotional reaction is not something that can be faked, at least, not without great difficult to ensure that it was convincing, but such methods leave evidence, traces that can be spotted by those who know what to look for." The Black responded in a thoughtful tone, his eyes still locked on the screen before them as Siphon sighed at that.
"I know that; You know that; Cannon knows that, but I've still got to try and explain this to the Council sooner or later." Cannon snorted at that, turning back to his friend with a frown in place over his lips.
"The Council is just running scared after their last mistake during Maylander's attack. They don't want to be seen as doing nothing in the face of a potential future attack by the Humans, especially after the attempt Maylander made to nuke Muria already... Not that I can really blame them for that, but the fact remains, tensions are running high and her sudden appearance after that mess in Istanbul probably didn't help matters all that much. Certainly, I know a number of Councilors weren't happy with that deal you two worked out." Siphon sighed at that, as Casque glanced to the two members of the Blue as they, in turn, passed a conversation between them through eye contact alone. The member of the Black clearly understood the message, as he shifted his gaze away from the monitors and looked to the High Councilor with a neutral expression.
"After the actions taken by my kind, under the leadership of Rahger, I can understand their... dissatisfaction, in wishing grant aid. Progress is still being made on the terms of our agreement, and we shall keep with both the letter and spirit of it until the end of our days, but taken out their dissatisfaction on someone uninvolved with the current situation is not something that should be allowed by those of such high office." Casque pointed out, underlining the issue that the Council was not happy with the situation and were looking for a scapegoat to unleash the very real tension upon. It wasn't fare, but it was politics and the only way that some of them saw to gaining the public's trust again. Siphon knew he had less to worry about, especially after making the, at the time, unpopular move to parley with the Black to prevent them from attacking Istanbul and talking down Kiani from her madness. Still, the other Councilors had found ways of making their displeasure known, through various means...
"I know, Casque, believe me. I've been trying to get more resources sent to the research a possible way of solving the Black's infertility, but the other Councilors have been delaying, undermining or just preventing me from allocating the needed resources. I had to fight tooth and nail to even get the current resources allocated to them, and the Council is doing everything they can to make sure I keep fighting for it to remain like that." Casque placed a hand on the shoulder of the younger man, offering his understanding with a nod as the High Councilor seemed to almost slump in minor defeat. Cannon frowned slightly at that, making a mental not to have a few of the subtler members of the Strike Force look into matters and see what they could do to help. The Commander hadn't even known that was the case, only that little progress was being made even though the file had stated that 'sufficient resources had been granted' to the project.
"I understand, Siphon, and I do not blame you. However, you must understand that the Black is dying a slow death as time marches onwards. We live long lives, but we still die in the end, and with no children to replace our lost numbers, many of us were resigned to die alone in the depths. Your offer to assist in trying to find a solution was a thin hope from the beginning, but a hope that many of us grasp with both hands and refuse to let go of. Many have started losing that hope due to the apparent lack of progress, while others are... Resigned to yet another failure..." Casque explained simply with a hint of sadness leaking into his normally calm tone. Siphon nodded at that, glancing over at Cannon and absently wondering just how much the two had shared, or puzzled out, between them.
"And... You think this girl... This, Amy Dallon, can do what we have been unable to do thus far?" Siphon inquired as Casque nodded simply, turning his gaze back to monitor and stood up, seeming to stand taller. An accomplishment for the already tall member of the Black, given he already stood head and shoulders above every other person standing in the room.
"I do not doubt her abilities, for she has no doubt in her own abilities and, even though she seems to have omitted some aspect of her powers, she has not lied about the length and breadth of her capabilities." At that, Cannon interjected into the conversation from his place at the side, looking over notes and trying to understand some of the details before looking back at his friend, an eyebrow raised questioningly.
"Oh? So your saying that she can probably do a lot more than what she said she could as a Healer?" Casque nodded at that without hesitation.
"It is definitely possible, especially with what she has already said about her abilities allowing her to do. The comments about needing to study a given subject's DNA implies that she has a method of viewing it without advanced equipment, the implications of which also potentially include the general biology of a patient, in order to discover what they are suffering from. Whether or not she can manipulate organic matter in ways other than healing is something I believe is within her capabilities, especially given the addition she was wearing around her left wrist after coming out of the Medical Bath." Cannon narrowed his eyes in thought, glancing at the monitor and trying to remember his encounter with the young woman. Off the top of his head, he couldn't remember seeing anything aside from normal skin, nor could he see anything on the monitor either. A glance over at Siphon showed that he, likewise, didn't see anything as Casque smiled slightly at that, answering the implied question he saw on their faces.
"It is well hidden, for certain. In fact, I only noticed it due to feeling the way that some of the Water seemed to... Cling to her after she left the Bath. What it is, I do not know for certain, but I believe it is her backup plan in case things turn for the worst." Casque notes as Siphon nods, understanding what it could mean and certainly hoping that such a possibility does not come to pass.
"Let's hope we can avoid that, especially if she's as good as we all believe her to be." Siphon notes with a nod at Casque, who nodded back in gratitude, all three of them knowing that this was a chance to save the Black from a potential extinction, and none of them wanted to fuck it up.
"Well then, I think it's time to see if she really earned that name of hers, don't you think?" Cannon quipped, taking an ID card out from his pocket. The card itself was simple, with a magnetic strip and what looked like a series of account numbers, but the name of it pointed to its otherworldly origins. However, the two pieces of information that stood out for those present were the picture on the card, and the name by its side, the former being a picture of the very girl they had in a modified, ad-hoc interrogation room, while the latter was clearly her 'Cape' name.
Panacea.
XXX
AN: Ok, so there you have the first chapter of my latest fit of madness. Hope you enjoyed it, and feel free to comment about the story so far.