The bruises throbbed under my skin like war drums, but I couldn't focus on the pain. Not when Conner and Eve were both in my face, concern written all over theirs faces. "You okay?" Eve asked, kneeling beside me, her palm gently on my shoulder.
Conner added, "Cain… You looked like you were about to kill him. Like, really kill him." "I'm fine," I said, more sharply than I intended. I rolled my shoulder, feeling the muscles tense under the weight of a lie. My body was buzzing, still on the edge of fight-or-flight. But something deeper than adrenaline was crawling under my skin. I could feel it, that Viltrumite blood humming. To be violent and I was hungry for more.
Neither of them looked convinced. Conner furrowed his brow. "You sure? 'Cause I've seen guys lose control before. "I said I'm fine." I turned away, wiping blood from my mouth, willing myself to calm down.
Across the ruined pavement, Kara was with Superman and Bumblebee, giving a full rundown of the mission. Kara's posture was rigid, but her words were professional, controlled. She glanced at me once, her expression unreadable.
Then they arrived—Power Girl and Martian Manhunter, floating down like goddamn judgment personified. "Cain Dawn," J'onn greeted with his ever-calm voice, nodding I still felt on edge seeing him after last time. "We need your version of what transpired."
I gave it everything I'd seen Psimon, the attack, Amazo and whoever chrome dome was and the way he moved. My eyes fixed on J'onn, I wished I noticed the ticking time bomb standing behind him sooner. Because it felt Power Girl was staring at me like I was prey.
Her normally composed face was flushed, lips parted slightly. Her breath quickened, and there it was Blood, It dripped slowly from her nostril. She didn't even seem to notice.
My gut twisted. Oh… shit.
I backed up in the air, just a few feet. Enough to create space I forgot who Power Girl was in the comics and it seemed like it was the same here. She was Kara( Supergirl) a older version of her from a alternate timeline. How could I forget that key detail I can feel my body responding to her already.
Martian Manhunter tilted his head at her, concern in his voice. "Power Girl? Are you alright?"
I spoke up quickly. "She's fine. Probably just… took some internal psychic feedback from Psimon's field. We all felt something." I gave Power Girl a nervous glance. "Right?" Her eyes flicked to mine, and for a moment I saw the fire behind them. She nodded slowly. "Yeah. I'm fine. Just… pressure."
Shit cover but I needed to say something to not expose who she truly is so stick to it. "I need to check something," I said aloud, already lifting into the air. "Conner, with me." He blinked but followed. "Uh… sure. You alright?"
I didn't answer until we were high above the city skyline. The clouds were dark, but the sky was clear enough to breathe easy. Only then did I speak. "Do you know what happened to Mark? After the Tower?"
Conner frowned. "No reports I believe the league said something about putting him into a special prison that could hold him trying rehabilitate him why? ."
"Somethings not right especially whoever that guy was he knew where we gonna be and he hit harder than any meta I know is capable of especially with two Kryptonians being there. When the league showed up he bolted carrying Psimon and what looked like a black box from the amazo ."
Conner asked "You think someone's pulling strings like Waller or Cadmus?."
"Yeah." I nodded slowly, my thoughts shifting like puzzle pieces coming together in real time. "Or something worse. Which is why…"
I opened my communicator and sent a direct encrypted ping to Batman. I didn't trust him at all. But if there was one bastard who had eyes on every shadow and backup plans for his backup plans it was him.
I looked over at Conner. "I need you there. Just in case. Because if I'm right this goes deeper than the League, or even the Titans know." Conner clenched his fists and said, "I got your back."
We both turned south toward Gotham.
And as we flew, I glanced one last time toward the destroyed area, where Power Girl still stood with J'onn. She hadn't moved. But her eyes were still locked on where I'd been.
The aftermath of the battle hung over the street like smoke—thick, heavy, and unwilling to disperse.
Eve floated down beside Power Girl, a slight frown on her face. "Power Girl, are you ok? You've got a nosebleed." Power Girl blinked. She wiped her upper lip, her fingers coming away red. For a second, she looked confused and unsettled. Then her expression hardened and her lips tighten
"I'm fine," she said stiffly, not looking anyone in the eye. Supergirl floated closer. "That's… not normal, Karen. Not for you." She glanced at M'gann, who floated nearby, hovering just off the cracked pavement, arms crossed. They shared a knowing look.
Kara's voice softened. "He was just here, wasn't he?"
Karen's shoulders tensed. M'gann didn't speak, but her thoughts were loud in the psychic link. She's affected, like you were. Kara closed the distance, her voice quiet. "You don't have to say it. I know what it's like. The smell, the rush. Like your blood's boiling and you're not sure if it's attraction or instinct but you don't care you just want him."
Power Girl didn't respond didn't respond, but her clenched fists trembled at her sides. Neither Kara nor M'gann knew who Power Girl really was not in full. They didn't know she was Kara Zor-L, a Kryptonian from another Earth, another timeline. One where things were… different.
Martian Manhunter broke the silence, stepping forward, his eyes scanning the area. "We should secure this zone and get the cleanup teams here before local law enforcement or media catch wind of the scale."
Superman nodded, already tapping into his communicator. "Flash's rapid-response team is en route. WayneTech's cleanup crew will follow. Government contractors are moving in to quarantine any Amazo tech."
Aqualad stood nearby, arms folded across his chest. His eyes scanned the team, then narrowed. "Where's Robin?" Bumblebee turned, frowning. "He was just here. He was coordinating with M'gann."
"Kid Flash?" Aqualad asked, now sounding more concerned. Bumblebee's brow furrowed. "Gone too." M'gann closed her eyes, focusing through the mental link. "I don't feel either of them nearby…"
Miles away.
A golden-red blur streaked across the countryside, kicking up long wakes of displaced wind and blurred trees. On his back, Robin was holding on like a back pack. They were following Conner and Cain. "Closing in," Robin said into the communicator. "I'm not sure what Cain's up to, but if he and Conner are flying off without calling it in, it has to be serious."
Wally glanced over his shoulder mid-stride, never breaking pace. "You sure we're not overstepping?" "Cain doesn't do impulsive," Robin muttered. "He calculates and plans. If he's bypassing command, it means he doesn't want the League hearing about this until he has answers."
Wally sighed. "You know, I did just get knocked out by a psychic nuke. Maybe I could've used a nap." Robin gave him a tight smirk. "You'll sleep when we're dead." "Morbid," Wally grunted. "I'm into it."
Wayne Manor – Perimeter Cliffs
The roar of cascading water was deafening. White mist rose from the rocks below, catching in the pale moonlight as Cain and Conner hovered in the air above the hidden back entrance of the Batcave—a narrow rocky alcove masked by a heavy layer of ivy and sound-dampening illusions.
Cain touched down first, his boots hitting the stone with a dull thud. Conner followed, eyes still scanning the sky behind them.
"Still no sign of Robin?" Cain asked, eyes narrowing. Conner shook his head. "He'll catch up. Or maybe he's already here why didn't you just tell them to follow us anyway?"
"I new they wouldn't agree to whatever I said but I know they would back you up and you would back me up." "Yeah that doesn't sound manipulative at all." Conner said crossing his arms.
Cain said nothing for a moment. He reached forward, pressing his palm against the sensor embedded in the rock wall. It scanned his hand and eyes, then beeped with recognition. Bruce had added his biometrics two weeks ago. It was part of Cain's rule that he should be able to come and go as he pleased part of the whole trust thing Cain needed from Batman.
The false wall retracted, stone folding in on itself to reveal the entrance to the Batcave—a dark, cold mouth gaping into the earth. "I hate this place," Conner muttered. "Always feels like someone's watching you."
Cain stepped forward, the low hum of ancient tech echoing around them. "That's because someone is."
They walked side-by-side into the shadows as automated lights activated in succession, illuminating the rocky interior. High above, the familiar silhouette of the Batmobile, the trophy cases, the massive computer bank, and the faint flapping of bats gave the cave its trademark gothic weight.
The same seat Bruce always occupied was empty—for now. Cain looked around and took a deep breath.
"You wanna tell me why I'm fighting a guy in a chrome helmet and when I get a peak at his face I could tell in that instant that it was Mark?"
Conner's eyes would widen. "Your saying that was Mark?"
"Yeah I recognize that face anywhere I been seeing it in my dreams for the past 5 years"
Batman Turn his chair around. "What are you try to say Cain." I balled my fists. "I know about project Guardian and now seeing him it makes sense."
Conner still confused. "What's Project Guardian?". In the back of the Batcave on a different level Kid Flash and Robin hide over hearing the conversation. Robin focusing in on the conversation "What's project Guardian?