The alcove was quiet, a safe perch among the humming machinery and blinking consoles. For hours, I had watched. Every gesture, every slight change in posture, every microexpression, every hesitation or overreaction—I cataloged it all. Knowledge was power. Influence was leverage. Patience was the ultimate weapon.
I had learned early that observation alone was not enough. The moment you step into the wrong place, the wrong time, or the wrong eye line, you can change everything. But observation plus calculated interaction? That was where power truly started.
A flicker of movement caught their attention. Miss Martian paused mid-override, her expression tensing as she scanned the room. Kid Flash blinked in surprise, his energy pulses momentarily faltering. Artemis' bow twitched instinctively; Robin's eyes narrowed to sharp slits. Aqualad remained calm, his eyes sweeping the environment like a predator analyzing prey.
Perfect.
I stepped from the shadows, posture relaxed. Hands in pockets. Head tilted lightly. Lips curved into the faintest smirk. Everything calculated. Nothing wasted.
"Who's there?" Robin demanded, voice sharp, commanding.
I leaned casually against a console, letting my gaze sweep the team slowly, deliberately. "Names are complicated," I said, voice calm, smooth. "But for tonight… you can call me a friend. Or… an experiment."
System pinged: CHA influence +5%, curiosity +7%, Observation EXP +3%. Probability of tension spike: medium. Probability of curiosity spike: high. Outcome: favorable.
Miss Martian's telepathy extended, probing carefully, searching for inconsistencies, lies, anything that could tip her off. "You weren't in Cadmus' logs… who built you?"
I let a casual, almost amused smile form. "I just… got activated," I said smoothly, voice low, deliberate. "That's why there aren't any logs of me yet."
Artemis' bow remained taut, nocked. "You're hiding something."
"Perhaps," I replied, letting my eyes sweep over her face, "or perhaps I'm here to see how capable you all really are."
Kid Flash let out a nervous laugh, his energy jittering. "Uh… okay. You're weird. But… cool?"
Robin's eyes narrowed. "This isn't a game. Cadmus could be testing something—or someone."
"Or maybe," I said, tilting my head with a faint smirk, "I'm testing you."
System pinged: CHA +6%, INT +2%, Observation EXP +4%.
I stepped closer to a nearby console, letting my fingers brush lightly over its edges. Sparks danced harmlessly along the surface. Kid Flash's head jerked instinctively toward it. "Whoa," he said, eyebrows raised. "You just—stopped it?"
"Observation is key," I said smoothly. "Knowing what to touch—and when—is… useful."
System pinged: TEC +3%, CHA +2%, MAG potential +0.5%. Observation EXP +3%.
Artemis' bow relaxed slightly, suspicion mixing with curiosity. Robin's posture softened just a fraction, analytical rather than reactive. Aqualad's calm gaze never wavered, but I noted the subtle shifts in his breathing pattern. Miss Martian continued scanning, hesitant yet intrigued, sensing the gap between my body's template and my mind's signature.
All patterns logged.
I allowed a pause, letting tension mingle with curiosity. "Look," I said softly, voice smooth, "I don't know your names, your rules, or your missions. But I know one thing: I don't play by your rules."
System pinged: CHA +5%, INT +2%, Observation EXP +4%. Probability of trust spike: moderate. Probability of fear spike: low. Outcome: favorable.
Time stretched as I experimented with subtle influence. A console sparked, drawing Kid Flash's attention. I let a faint pulse of energy from the pod interact with the circuitry, stabilizing it before he could reach it. Sparks danced harmlessly along the metal. His eyes widened.
"Okay… how did you—?" he started.
"Simple observation," I said casually. "And knowing where not to step."
System pinged: TEC +2%, CHA +1%, Observation EXP +2%.
I studied them quietly, thinking, calculating:
Kid Flash was impulsive, confident but misjudging spatial awareness under distraction.
Artemis was cautious, emotionally reactive when unsure.
Robin was analytical, slow to act but precise.
Aqualad remained calm and predictable.
Miss Martian scanned and probed, aware of inconsistencies but hesitant to act on incomplete information.
System logged: INT +3%, TEC +3%, CHA +3%, Observation EXP +5%. MAG potential remained cataloged but inaccessible: MAG +1%, sensed.
Then the system pinged differently—Cadmus logs. My interface pulled them in like a magnet.
SYSTEM ALERT: CLONE PROFILE DETECTED
Host ID: Clone-Batman-Prototype-03
Genetic Template: BatMen and ???
Previous Activation: None (stored in Cadmus)
Behavioral Logs: N/A – clone unactivated
Threat Assessment: High – intelligence noted, behavior unpredictable
Notes: Current consciousness is new occupant, distinct from original clone. Observation recommended.
I processed it instantly. Cadmus had a record of this body, yes—but I was new. Fresh. A consciousness unbound by Bruce Wayne's or even the clone's preprogrammed tendencies. That made me unpredictable… a variable Cadmus could not control.
Opportunity. Influence. Knowledge. Power.
For the next hour, I continued subtle experimentation. Small environmental manipulations, minor tech tests, and calculated pauses. I let them observe me without confrontation, allowing my presence to shape their reactions without revealing my full capabilities.
Miss Martian's curiosity increased with every minor anomaly.
Kid Flash's confidence faltered slightly when timing was off.
Robin analyzed patterns faster than normal, but still had gaps.
Artemis' suspicion grew, but so did engagement.
Aqualad noted subtle changes but remained outwardly calm.
I cataloged everything. System pinged every micro-detail: reaction times, patterns, energy usage, emotional response, predicted behavior. Every glance, twitch, hesitation recorded.
And all the while, I remained aware of the future. Observation first. Influence second. Action third. Weak-to-strong begins with knowledge, and influence accelerates growth.
I was unnamed. Dangerous. And awake
++++++++
SYSTEM- stats
INTELLIGENCE: SSS+ (4500 / 5000) – predictive modeling, tactical analysis, observation optimized
MAGIC POTENTIAL: SSS (50 / 1000) – sensed, cataloged, inaccessible
PHYSICALITY: B (200 / 1000) – human baseline
TECHNOLOGY: A+ (1200 / 1500) – lab systems manipulation improving
CHARISMA: A (900 / 1000) – influence over Young Justice rising
DURABILITY: B+ (250 / 1000) – slightly above human
EXPERIENCE GAINS THIS CHAPTER:
Observation EXP: +250
Influence/Charisma EXP: +150
Technical EXP: +120
Magical Awareness: +50 (cataloged only)
Survival Instinct: +70