DJ's pov. May 27
I watched as another man in white passed by my holding cell. It had been like this for as long as I can remember. Which, however is only four years.
My name is DJ and I'm seventeen years old. I got shoulder length dirty blonde hair and hazel eyes. I'm six foot with a medium build.
Aaaannndd that's all I can tell you, no last name, no parents, siblings nothing. I don't even know outside Cadmus too much.
Cadmus was a laboratory as far as I knew. I've heard them discussing other ones spread out over the country. Most of the time they ran experiments on me, tests to make sure that I could do what they made me for.
But they did show me videos of stuff every week or so, so I'm not stupid. I can read, write, I know the names of things, what they're for. I can also drive manual, any air, land or sea vehicle. But I've never seen the outside world.
'But not for much longer' I thought pacing my cell. I watched as a man in white came to the glass and wrote somethings down on a clipboard.
He then turned his back to me and continued to write. I walked over to the wall and felt around. I guess when the engineers were building this place they missed a spot where they were supposed to reinforce.
It was a small spot but it would work. I found the spot and made sure the scientist was still distracted before I got to work.
Now normally, I would be able to break out of this place. But like I said the walls were reinforced and were about fourteen feet thick. And not even me with my 'condition' could dig through that without drawing attention.
And the glass in the front of my cell had a paralyzing gel in between the layers. If I broke the glass or tried in anyway to smash it, it would stop me dead in my tracks.
I pulled the panel off and looked at the inside. There were a bunch of wires and fuses inside. I smiled. Perfect.
I grabbed a handful of them and pulled with all my might. This would either do something so that I would have to be transfered or it would open the glass. either way I was getting out.
I quickly put the panel back on just incase nothing happened. But the red alarm next to my cell started flashing as the glass began to rise.
I smiled and walked to the glass, waiting patiently for it to get high enough. The scientist panicked and tried to stop it by hitting the button that would normally do that. But it did nothing.
Once the glass was high enough, I walked out as he tried to get out of the room. I quickly grabbed him by the collar and lifted him off the ground.
"Remember all those times you poked and prodded at me while I was tied up and not able to move?" I asked putting a fist next to his head.
SSSSHHHIIINNKK
Three long claws came out from in between my knuckles, just grazing the scientist's cheek. They were chrome in colour and had a slight curve to them. Another thing, they were about twelve inches long and razor sharp.
"Well I remember" I said inching my claws into his face. Suddenly a dozen armed guards came in, armed with shotguns and shock sticks.
"Oh for the... Can you guys give me like five minutes?" I asked as one guys shot me in the back with a rubber bullet. Really?
"Rubber bullets, big mistake" I said throwing the scientist to the side and charging at the guards.
I grabbed one and spun around, throwing him into another guard. I turned on my heel and slicing at the gut armor of one more. But before I could react, one of them hit me in the back of the head with the butt of his shotgun.
I smiled before turning on my heel again and slicing the shotgun in half I then grabbed his head and threw him across the room. After that they seemed to get the message because the rest of them ran out of the room, tails between their legs.
"Now where- Shit" I said seeing that the scientist had escaped in the chaos. I didn't have time to look for him today though, I was free.
"Well, free-ish" I said slicing the hinges off the door and running down the halls. The occasional guard came tried to stop me but that either ended with him getting maimed or thrown through the wall or ceiling. I didn't like to kill, but I will if I have too.
I finally got to two large metal doors. I smiled before I dug both of my claws in the crack between them. I then began to pry in different directions. Though I didn't have super strength, my claws were indestructible and given enough leverage, I could get even the strongest doors open.
I heard an army of footsteps approaching. I pried even harder and finally the doors opened. I seen the blue sky and the street full of cars.
I smiled and ran out of the abandoned building and into the streets weaving in between cars. Though I do probably stand out just being in a white tank top and boxers.
I turned right and hid inside one of those big green dumpsters in the alleyways. I closed the lid and started looking around my right forearm. Five years ago, the scientist did surgery on me and put a tracking chip inside my arm.
They thought I was out cold and wouldn't remember. But I did. I found the spot and unsheathed one of my claws. I cut open my forearm until I could get my fingers inside without my skin healing.
I grabbed the chip and opened the top of the bin. I grabbed a zip lock plastic bag and threw the chip inside. I then blew some air into it and found a manhole cover.
I lifted it up enough and I tossed it down into the sewers. I then turned and ran away. I knew that would throw them off my trail for a little while but I need some clothes.
Suddenly I stopped. I seen a large red salvation army clothes bin. I smiled before going behind it and using my claws to cut a hole on it.
I walked out from behind the bin and gave my new, slightly big, jacket a few tugs. I was now dressed in blue jeans and a black AC/DC shirt. I also had a black leather jacket with a hoodie.
I didn't find any shoes so that may make me stand out a little. But I know the recovery team, they ain't that smart. I walked onto the sidewalk and in amongst the crowd just as three armored cars drove by.
I had the hood up, but also followed them with my head like every other person did. I smiled as they kept going. This was it, freedom.
Now I know what you're wondering about. the claws. See I have a mutation where my body heals rapidly faster than a normal person's. And because of that, Cadmus was able to do some surgery on me.
They surgically grafted a type of metal to my entire skeleton. And then they made the claws that come out whenever I want.
I can't remember what the scientist called the metal, but I know three things. It's strong, almost indestructible and it makes my claws incredibly sharp.
It also makes my punches and kicks incredibly strong. And it hurts when someone who doesn't have super strength hits me.
Apparently from what I've pieced together over the years, I was made to be a weapon against the Justice League. Growing up in the cell I had a TV, the Justice League were heroes.
So that only made me cringed at what I was. I began to walk again into the town. I didn't know a lot about what was gonna happen but I knew one thing. I wasn't going back to Cadmus.
One week later. June 3rd
I groaned as I bumped into a guy. I quickly apologize and he, with a little attitude, walked away. I smiled to myself before turning away.
"Good luck catching a cab, buddy" I said looking at the wallet in my hand. This was how I was surviving for the last week. I didn't like it, but what am I gonna do get a job?
I walked into the restaurant that I went to often. I sat down in a booth as a cute blonde haired waitress came over. I smiled and accepted the menu she gave me.
"Let me guess. One pound of mild chicken wings, a side of fries and a regular coke?" she said smiling. I nodded.
"Do I come here too much?" I asked handing the menu back. She chuckled and walked away, swaying her hips as she went. Not that I was looking.
I sat back in my seat as I heard the people behind me playing a fight video on their phone. I would've told them to shut it off, but it sounded like a good fight.
"Man that's awesome. Where was that again?" One of them said as my advanced senses picked up their low talking.
"That new meta-human fighting club down on Second Ave. Only the toughest guys in there. You wanna come tonight? Opens at eight. My uncle works there, so I can bring whoever I want" a second said. I sat up, now intrigued. Getting paid to fight? It would mean no more ripping people off. And I'd be doing what I was meant to do.
"There you go" the waitress said setting down my food. I raised a hand to get her attention.
"Yeah, uh can I get a to-go container? I forgot I need to be somewhere soon" I said. Even though it didn't open for a few hours, I still wanted to scope the place out. She nodded and walked away.
I smiled and sat back in my seat drinking my coke.
Third person view
Unknown to DJ, someone else was listening in on the conversation between the two boys. She walked into the women's bathroom and pressed a communicator hidden in her left ear once she seen she was alone.
"Bruce, it's Dinha. I found the location of that new place you wanted" she said making sure not to use her super hero name or his just incase someone over heard.
"You know you're not supposed to be working on your day off, Canary" she heard the voice of her husband come over the com. She rolled her eyes before once again pressing it.
"Yeah well, sue me Ollie" she said turning off the com and walking out of the washroom. She still had a few hours until the ring was open anyway.
Back at Cadmus.
The scientist shook in fear as Dr Desmond led him into a room with several large televisions. The recovery teams have had no luck tracking down Experiment X. He was able to ditch his tracking chip and he evaded surveillance cameras.
He stood in the middle of the room as Dr Desmond sat at the side. He wasn't in trouble, his experiment hadn't escaped.
Suddenly the screens went static, but Dr Smith could see outlines of heads in the static.
"Dr Smith, your experiment escaped into the real world. If the Justice League finds him, he could tell them the location of the main Cadmus location. Plus we've now lost one of our weapons against the Justice League" one of the screens said.
"D-Dont worry sir, the experiment knew nothing of the main Cadmus building or project KR. I assure you of that" Smith said.
"Never the less you must be held accountable for your actions" another said. Okay maybe he was just getting off with a warning.
"Yes, yes I'll do what ever you want" he said thinking that the footsteps behind him were Desmond's.
"You misunderstood us, Mr Smith. We don't want you to do anything, but you must be held accountable" the first screen said.
Suddenly a thin, but strong cord wrapped around Smith's neck and he was lifted off the ground. He gagged and thrashed for a minute until his body went limp. Sportsmater then dropped the lifeless body on the ground before disappearing back into the shadows. All the while, Desmond watched in horror.
"Desmond you seen what happens to those who fail us. Do not" the first screen said. Desmond nodded and quickly exited the room.
DJ's pov/later that night
I watched as two more people went into the abandoned warehouse. This had to be it, over twenty people went inside in the last five minutes. Plus this was the only building around big enough to support a fighting ring.
I dropped down to street level and walked to the doors. Hopefully it was enter free and the owner just expected you to bet money on fights and drink.
I opened the door and was instantly greeted by the sounds of punches and kicks. I walked through the crowd of drunk people, mostly guys until I got to the ring.
It was just a platform surrounded by wire and chain link fencing. I watched as a large guy battered away at a smaller guy.
Suddenly the smaller guy's arms expanded like those stretchy toys and wrapped around the guy's throat squeezing. The guy struggled and finally passed out. The referee rung the homemade bell as the crowd booed and cheered.
"Ladies and Gentlemen!" the referee said walking into the cage. "This round's winner and still King of the cage. Stretch!" he yelled as everyone cheered.
"Can no one defeat him?" he asked looking around. I raised my hand and the Ref seen me. He looked skeptical, but didn't say no.
"I'll fight him!" I yelled as most of the crowd laughed at me. Probably because of my age. I took off my jacket, throwing it over a chair and entered the ring. I stood on the other side of the guy as the Ref came over to me.
"What's your name, kid?" he asked. I thought for a moment, thinking about a good name.
"Razor" I said in a low voice. The Ref nodded before walking back to the side.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, Razor vs Stretch. Place your bets!" he yelled as we both stretched and got ready. We both waited for a few minutes, staring at each other.
The sudden ring of the bell caught me off guard and I was slow on the reaction. The guy stretched his arm and backhanded me across the face. But he instantly yelled in pain and retraced his hand. He then nursed his hand which was now probably fractured.
I smiled and walked forwards. I threw a hard right at him sending him into the cage. When he came back at me, I head butted him, knocking him out.
Now the area filled with more boos than cheers. Probably because they bet against me. As I looked around however one pair of people caught my eye. They weren't booing, nor were they cheering.
The guy was dressed in a grey suit with matching pants. He had blonde hair and wore a scowl on his face, but there was something about his eyes. The girl was also blonde, but had longer hair. She was in a black tights with a tank top and high boots.
I watched them until they looked away from me. I heard the ring door open I turned and watched a mutant guy came in. He had pinkish skin and a spear shaped head. As he did with me the Ref walked over to him and the two whispered.
"Okay, Razor vs The Squid!" he yelled. Okay buddy, way to make your name a dead giveaway. The bell rung and I ran at the guy and threw a punch at him.
He dodged it and slid underneath my arm trying to get me in a choke hold. I grabbed his arms and launched myself forwards doing half a front flip.
I landed on top of him, stunning him for a moment. I stood up and raised my ear to the crowd, like I seen the wrestlers on TV do.
Now most of them cheered as I readied my elbow. Just as I was about to end this match, The guy opened his mouth and shot a black liquid on my face, blinding me.
It burned my eyes bad, very bad. I stumbled back as I felt the guy punch me repeatedly in both the head and body. I knew it was hurting him, but it was starting to get annoying for me. But every time I tried to wipe away, it wouldn't and just smear.
I heard the clinking of ice in someone's drink. I found the source and reached through the wire and grabbed the drink, despite the protest of the guy. I dumped the drink on my face and wiped away most of the ink.
Finally able to see I barely caught an incoming fist and threw him to the side, slamming him into the cage. He fell on the ground and I was on him in an instant.
I punched with all my might a few times as he spit out more black ink. But instead of going on my face, it went somewhere onto the crowd.
I heard a yell and seen that the ink had hit the guy who I had been staring at earlier. Seeing that the guy was down, I got off him and went to the side of the cage. I think he was able to close his eyes before it made impact.
"Sorry 'bout that. You good?" I yelled through the cage. He nodded before trying to wipe the ink from his face. He succeeded in wiping it away from his eyes but still missed around them. He looked up at me and opened his eyes. He looked funny, like he was wearing a mask.
Suddenly the guard by the cage door looked at him and raised his semiautomatic gun at him.
"It's Green Arrow!" he yelled before a loud scream erupted around us, almost making me go deaf. The scream ripped the cage off the ground and made it slam into the place where people place the bets.
When it finally stopped I seen that the guy had ripped the suit off and was now dressed like... Robin Hood?
Pretty soon every guard in the building was taking shots at the two as they beat them back and dodged bullets. The guy was also shooting arrows that did all kinds of things.
'Okay, I'm not staying around for that, time to find a way out' I thought looking around. Then I seen that the betting area was now unguarded. All that money.
I smiled and ran at the place, grabbing my jacket off the fallen chair. Okay, maybe one more time for ripping people off.
Third person view
Black Canary and Green Arrow watched as the teenage boy ran to the money. They were both surprised that a teenager had managed to take down two meta-humans with seemingly no strength. And yet he knocked them both out like it was nothing.
But he wasn't who they were here for, he was probably just a homeless teen needing money. They were here for the ring leader, a side boss to The Penguin.
DJ quickly grabbed as much as money as he could and stuffed them into his pockets. Once he got enough he got up and tried to run out the door, but some of the guards seen him taking the cash and didn't like that.
'So plan B' he thought jumping up to a vent. He unsheathed his claws and sliced the cover off. He then forced his way into the vents with about a five grand. All the while the guards fired at him.
"Forget him!! Let's got outta here!" the ring leader said running out the door, his guards following him.
However he was captured by a green net and bodyguards were taken out by Canary.
"Plan B!" he yelled through the net. A stray guard nodded before opening a trash can and getting out a molotov cocktail. He then lit it and threw it towards an apartment building next to the warehouse.
"You got a choice now esè. Play hero and capture me or play Firefighter and save them. 'Cause once those tanks blow, ain't no way outta that building" the ring leader said struggling against the net. Green Arrow looked and seen several propane tanks that were almost on fire, so he knew he was right.
"Watch him till the cops get here" Green Arrow said before running to the building with his foam arrows. However as soon as he got there the tanks exploded.
Timeskip ten minutes later
DJ kicked off the grate of the vent and finally pulled his way out and into the alleyway. But he was instantly met with heat and flames. The entire building next to him was engulfed in flames.
He quickly ran out to street level and away from the burning building. There was cops and firefighters there trying to put out the flames and arresting guys, who were in the ring. Not wanting a hot meal and a roof that way he took off running.
"Mama!!" a scream yelled echoing throughout the street. DJ stopped and turned back to the burning building. He seen a little girl at the top window of the four story building. She was only five or six years old.
Firefighters were trying to get the ladder truck to her. But the flames were too hot and there was bricks and all that falling off from the upper levels.
DJ tried to leave, but the kid's screams made him stop. He looked back at the building before looking down at the street, then back at the building.
"God damnit!" he yelled before running back at the building, now not caring about the money that was flying out of his jacket.
He ran at the ladder truck where those two people were. Green Arrow and Black Canary were trying to figure out how to get the kid down, but with little success with the condition of the building.
The apartment was where the strippers and escort girls left their kids while they worked at the ring. They were considering calling Superman or Wonder Women, but they were dealing with a meteor in space right now.
They seen DJ running at them and assumed he was going to attack them or try and get his friends out. Black Canary got into a stance, ready for an offense.
He unsheathed his claws as Green Arrow loaded an arrow, ready to assist his wife. Suddenly he veered off to the left, surprising the two heroes. He jumped up onto the roof of a parked car and then onto the ladder truck.
DJ ran up the ladder as firefighters leaned to the side to get out of his way. He quickly approached the end of the ladder.
'Okay there's the end and... Jump!' DJ thought. He jumped and time seemed to go inside slow motion for a few seconds while he was in the air until he dug his right claws into the side of the building.
He hanged for a moment before reaching up and digging his left into the wall. He then pulled himself up, climbing up towards the window. All the while the fire burned his skin. But he knew it would heal later.
Meanwhile Black Canary used her watch and started recording the guy. She then pressed her earpiece.
"J'onn, I'm going to send you a video. Do you know this guy?" she said.
DJ got the the window and seen it wasn't just the little girl. There was about six kids in there, all looking scared.
"Hey there" he said giving them a reassuring smile. "I think you guys have been firewood long enough, how about we get you down?" He then turned to the ladder truck and pointed around him.
"I need some water around me for a few seconds. And I need you guys to get as close as you can!" he yelled. The firefighter in charge nodded before passing the orders down the ladder. DJ looked back at the kids before reaching inside.
However, they all jumped back in fear. He looked at my hand to see he still had his claws out. DJ smiled before retracting them, the three cuts healing quickly. He still kept the ones in the wall tracted because without them, he'd fall.
"Better?" he said as the boys did a series of whoas. The little girl who screamed came up to him and grabbed his hand. DJ lifted her up and he got himself onto the crumbling ledge of the window. While he was doing that, firefighters did a light mist around them, just enough to dull the flames.
As soon as they stopped, he leapt with all my might. The little girl screamed and buried her head into his shoulder. He reached up and barley grabbed the extended ladder. The two swung for a moment before DJ pulled himself and the girl up with one arm.
"There you go. Go to the nice firefighter" he said lifting the girl as the firefighter reached down and grabbed the girl. Now free of the extra weight he got himself up on the ladder, ready to jump again. Before he could however, a hand was placed on his shoulder. DJ turned to see the firefighter who had the girl.
"Good job" she said before carrying the girl down. He nodded before jumping back onto the building and clawing his way up again.
While he was doing that, Black Canary and Green Arrow's earpieces buzzed.
"Green Arrow, Black Canary, it's J'onn. I check in with Batman, Flash, Superman. No one knows anything" Manhunter said through the earpiece.
"Okay, we'll talk with him after he's finished" Canary said as DJ jumped onto the ladder with the six kid. He passed the kid and the firefighter ran down.
His clothes were burnt to hell and some of his more serious burns weren't healed yet. He was about to make his way down, but a women's scream echoed throughout the area.
"Wait, my baby!" a women yelled from the bottom of the truck. DJ focused all of his skills into listening. Over the sounds of truck engines and people he heard it. A baby's crying.
"Shit!" he swore before getting ready to jump back. Suddenly the ledge he used to jump to the truck collapsed as well as some of the building, nearly falling on the first responders. The female firefighter gripped his shoulder again.
"Hey, we gotta move back. Building's coming down!" she said. He nodded, but still jumped anyway.
He entered the room and looked around. Inside the fire, it was harder to find the screams. But he eventually did find the baby inside a cradle that was almost on fire. He sheathed his claws and quickly took the cradle out of harm's way.
"Hey buddy, hey. Don't worry we're getting out of this" he said picking the baby up. The cries died down, but not all the way.
He ran back to the window and looked down, only to see the flames were once again raging. So much he was forced back. Although it was probably a good thing because the the wall around the window collapsed sealing him off from any help.
"Okay, okay. Plan B" he said unzipping his jacket and placing the baby inside. "This is just a plan B kinda day" he added. He then grabbed a juice box and soaked the jacket around the baby. He took a deep breath backing up. He closed his eyes before snapping them open and running towards the collapsed window.
He unsheathed his claws on his right hand and used them to slash through the thick stuff while he turned around and used his back on the lighter stuff.
He couldn't land on his legs because his knees could buckle and hurt the kid. And anything around the building was either on fire or not sturdy enough.
So all he could do was hold the baby's head and body tight and land on his back. He came down and landed on the roof of a parked car crushing it.
For a few seconds no one moved, unsure of if they wanted to see what was on the roof. That was until the sound of glass hitting the ground caught everyone's attention.
With amazement in their eyes, everyone watched as the very wounded teenage boy got up and unzipped his jacket. He then pulled the unharmed baby out and handed it to the mother.
"Oh thank God Zackary! Thank God for sending you" she said crying as she held her baby close. DJ nodded once before his eyes rolled into the back of his head and he collapsed.
The mother and baby were taken away by a paramedic while another went to DJ's side.
"I need a neck brace and-" "That won't be necessary" Green Arrow said interrupting the EMT. He looked up and seen the two heroes standing there.
"We'll take him from here" Green Arrow said. The paramedic's face went into shock before gesturing to the unconscious kid in front of him.
"This man just fell four stories and has serious Third degree burns. He needs-" "He obviously has a healing power" Black Canary said interrupting the EMT once again.
"If he didn't, he would've been able to do what he did. The Justice League will handle the rest" she said before Green Arrow picked the boy up bridal style. While he did that the paramedic turned and walked away. Black Canary then turned to the firefighter captain.
"You got this under control?" she asked. The firefighter nodded.
"Yeah, now that we have all the civilians out of harm's way, we'll control the flames from here and let the building fall" She then looked at the boy. "You know his name? Everyone's going to want to know who saved them" she asked. Thinking quickly, Canary answered.
"Razor, he's my protégé" Black Canary said thinking back to his cage name, now it made sense. Plus she knew that no one would believe the League would allow someone this young on their own. She then pressed her earpiece
"Watchtower, bring us up... And prep a medic" she said as the three were absorbed in a blue light and they were gone before the first responders eyes.
"Razor" the captain repeated to herself before nodding and walking back to the firetrucks.