The Campbell Chronicles Part Two

Chapter 18

Nicholas glanced at Thomas, "You haven't physically gone anywhere, we have just pulled your minds to a shared space."

Thomas's eyes widened, and he slowly sat down, unsure how to respond.

Matthew Thorne leaned forward, "That Voice, you are the ones that offered the metahumans of Earth a place on the planet called Cradle."

Anthony Ivo leaned up to look at Matthew Thorne, "How do you know that?"

Matthew looked at him with a bored expression, "Isn't it obvious? I'm a metahuman."

Dabney Donovan, Anthony Ivo, and Thomas Oscar Morrow stared at Matthew, "Why didn't you tell us?" Thomas asked.

Matthew shrugged, "Why would I? It's not like we're friends; we all went our separate ways after I removed the bombs from our necks, and Amanda Waller wasn't the most stable of employers."

Dabney Donovan looked down. "I thought we were friends."

Ignoring the drama playing out before him, Nicholas focused on Matthew, "The offer still stands. I believe we can help you with your hunger. When this is done, if you want to try it, reach out and accept the invitation. You will disappear from Earth and reappear on Cradle in the city that can most help you with your powers."

Anthony Ivo glared at Nicholas while Batman stepped forward, "What about the rest of us?" He asked as the Dark Knight exclaimed, "You can't do that."

Nicholas answered Anthony first, "I suggest you stay hidden." He turned to Batman, "Why can't I?"

Batman pointed at Matthew, "He's a criminal, he deserves to be in prison."

"His mutation drives him to understand biology, like an insatiable hunger. On Cradle, we will teach him to control those abilities, If he hurts someone, he will die."

"Isn't that a little harsh?" Superman asked, moving up beside Batman.

"No, it's not. The laws of Cradle are shown to a metahuman before they appear on our world, and everyone who appears on our world agrees to follow those laws."

"What are those laws?" Wonder Woman asked, moving to Batman's other side.

Nicholas's lips thinned as he stared at the Trinity, "If you kill outside of self-defense or protecting another, you die. If you steal, you will be forced to pay back four times the equivalent of what you stole; if you can't, you will be sold into indentured servitude until you do. Unless the stolen item was for survival, then you will need to pay it back times four."

Wonder Woman leaned forward, her blue eyes flashing, "Slavery is wrong."

"I agree, which is why it's being used as a punishment for someone stealing from another. Besides, it's better than what they do in some countries on earth. At least on Cradle, they get to keep all their limbs. It's also not forever, only until they pay back what they stole times four or seven years have passed."

"But why increase the value four times?" Superman asked.

"As a deterrent for stealing."

"What about prisons?" Batman growled.

"Have prisons helped people like Joker, Scarecrow, Lex Luther, and Maxwell Lord?"

Nicholas held up a hand, "Don't bother answering, now, we're not here to talk about my world's laws." he turned back to the four scientists, "We are here to discover the ins and outs of the cybernetic body Amanda Waller now inhabits."

Thomas Oscar Morrow snorted, his Brown eyes flicking around the room to take in the pale white walls, concrete floor, and the single light bulb swinging back and forth over the metal table, "That's why you called us here?"

Nicholas's eyes glowed, "Yes, she recently absorbed the powers of some influential individuals. We need to know what else she is capable of."

Anthony Ivo smiled, his melted skin twisting into a grimace as his gaze flicked between Nicholas and the Justice League. "Which one of them was it, which one of the so-called heroes lost their powers?"

"It doesn't matter; the parties involved have already had their powers restored."

Anthony's lips twisted in a frown, "That's disappointing," he cocked his head to the side, "but I am curious what other secrets your world holds."

Nicholas's eyes flared like two small stars, "If you come to my world with malicious intent, I will reduce you to less than ash."

Nicholas and Anthony stared at each other for a long moment before Anthony looked away.

"We really can't help you," Matthew began, "While we did create the cybernetics, and used DNA from Kryptonian, Martian, and some others that Amanda Waller was able to get hold of. All our expectations went out the window when Amanda Waller tried to perform the final step."

Wonder Woman moved to stand beside Nicholas. "What was this final step?"

Thomas Oscar Morrow sighed, "She tried to use mind control technology we developed to force some being to create a mind for the android it failed, and she exploded in a shower of gore. We thought she was dead."

"If only," Anthony muttered.

"It was glorious," Dabney giggled.

Batman stomped forward, slamming his hand on the metal table, making Thomas and Anthony jump. "If she exploded, how is she alive now?"

Matthew spoke up. "Her liquefied body merged with the android."

Dabney leaned forward, drumming his fingers together, "We watched her bones merge with the metal, as her nerves, muscle, and fat regenerated." His face twisted, "It was both disgusting and glorious," his voice became breathy at the end.

"First of all," Nicholas pointed at Dabney, "you need to be in a psych ward."

Dabney leaned back in his chair. "Everyone always says that when I talk for too long."

"Second of all, what type of powers did the original android have?"

"Technology control, shapeshifting, superhuman strength, durability, flying, and power absorption. It could also track metahumans ' DNA and see the differences in metahumans and normal humans."

Nicholas's eyes glazed over as he thought, "So there's like an advanced version of the sentinels from my ancestors' original worlds. Ironic that this universe created something like that."

"Where did you get the technology?" Superman asked, "We looked at the coordinates Amanda Waller took you to, but we were only able to see a large square hole in the Amazon jungle."

"Ivo grinned. Why don't you ask him?" he nodded to Nicholas.

The Justice League turned to Nicholas, but the green-haired man focused on Matthew. "Think about our offer," his eyes glowed. "Here are the laws. If you can't follow them and want to live, I suggest not coming to Cradle."

Nicholas made a fist, and the world around him dissolved.

–XX –

Batman stomped forward, as Nicholas stepped out of the circle created by Wonder Woman's Lasso, "What are you hiding?"

Nicholas raised his hand, "I'm not hiding anything, Amanda Waller found a Kryptonian city in the Amazon jungle, she took the scientists there and used the technology to create the android body she was going to use to hunt down metahumans."

"Jinks traveled to Earth to tell us about the survivors of Brigadoon, but was captured by the government. Amanda Waller used her connections to move her to the city and was going to use her powers to create a mind for the android, but it backfired when Jinks merged Amanda Waller with the android in an attempt to make the woman rethink her current course of action."

Superman crossed his arms over his chest. "How is merging Amanda Waller with the android supposed to make her reconsider her actions?"

Nicholas sighed and lowered his hands. "Jinks thought that by turning Amanda Waller into the thing she hated, it would force her to look at things in a new way. She also bound the spirit of Amanda Waller's husband to act as a conscience."

"You've created a monster," Batman growled.

"They can judge me," Nicholas gestured to Martian Manhunter, Superman, Wonder Woman, and Cyborg, "you cannot."

Wonder Woman scowled, "Disturbing a man's eternal rest is despicable.".

"I had no hand in Jink's actions, but I will say she was more merciful."

"What happened to the Kryptonian city?" Superman asked.

"My people studied the technology for the betterment of Cradle."

"You had no right!"

Nicholas narrowed his eyes. "Just because you're Kryptonian doesn't mean the city belongs to you. Besides, we were planning on giving it to you once we were done with it."

"We have more important problems," Hazel interrupted, stepping out of the circle.

"What?" Batman asked

"I couldn't tell if they left it out intentionally," Martian Manhunter began, "but the scientist didn't tell us about one of the android's abilities."

"What ability would that be?"

Martian man Hunter and Hazel shared a look before Hazel spoke. G"iven enough material, the android can make subordinate copies of itself. With it having merged with Amanda Waller, I'm not sure what the power could have been transformed into."

Nicholas ran a hand down his face, "One thing is for sure, it's definitely nothing good."

–XX –

The death row wing of Iron Heights prison in Central City was a three-story building. Housing over 650 inmates waiting for justice to be served for some of the most heinous crimes.

It was a cold place made of concrete.

Doors made of black metal sat in front of each cell, a small rectangular window allowing the prisoners to look out.

A skylight sat in the ceiling, creating intricate designs as it shone through the facility's three levels.

Guards in black uniforms strode along each balcony, periodically glancing inside each cell.

Suddenly, a guard stumbled in mid-step and slumped to the floor. One by one, others soon followed.

Some lost equipment, sending it to the floor below with a clatter as Amanda Waller strode through the wing, her form invisible to those around her.

She leaned against the back wall, somehow not falling through it in her intangible state.

"Amanda, what are we doing here?"

Amanda glanced over at her husband; her heart ached as she saw the fear hiding in his eyes. She knew he didn't like what she had become, but it was what was needed to survive in this world. If she was going to make the world a better place, hard choices had to be made.

"If I am going to take on Apocalypse, I need soldiers."

Joseph shook his head, "Do not go to Apocalypse; do not do that creature's bidding."

"I need the power of Darkseid to bring the Earth to heel."

"You've already got the powers of some of the most powerful members of the Justice League. Why do you need more?"

"Because power by itself is not enough, with the resources of Apocalypse, I can turn the Milky Way galaxy into a paradise."

"What about the people who don't want to live in your paradise?"

"They will be dealt with."

"That's not paradise, that's tyranny."

Amanda's face twisted in anger, "Enough of this!" Standing straight, she smoothed the black blazer and skirt she wore before taking a deep breath. As she exhaled, silver specs flew from her mouth.

Joseph watched as the specs flew into each cell and the prisoner within collapsed, writhing on the ground as silver veins spread throughout their bodies.

Everything within the cell began to melt away, leaving behind an empty concrete room as materials were converted for their transformations.

In a little over half an hour, silence reigned in the ward as sleek metal humanoids moved to stand in the doorway of the cells, their metal feet echoing off the stone.

Amanda looked over her soldiers, "Not enough, but I'm sure I can find some willing participants on Apocalypse."

Amanda flicked her wrist, and a white portal appeared stretching into the distance. "Move through the portal and secure the perimeter." One by one, her soldiers marched through the portal. As the last Soldier made its way through, Joseph glanced back, eyeing the guards lying across the floor.

"At least she didn't kill the guards."