James stood on the roof of his factory three months after arriving in Gotham.
The city sprawled before him, lights cutting through the darkness. Somewhere out there, Batman was on patrol. Stopping crimes. Saving lives. Making a difference.
James was still here. Still preparing. Still not ready.
He took inventory of his progress.
Wealth: six hundred and seventy-three thousand dollars. Financial security achieved. Could focus on training without worrying about money.
Territory: Factory base owned outright. Laboratory operational. Living quarters functional. Private space where he could work without observation.
Training: Martial arts improving rapidly through Neural Interface. Currently at intermediate level in Judo, Boxing, and basic grappling. Not expert yet, but competent enough to handle untrained opponents.
Technology: Neural Interface version 1.0 working and proven. Version 2.0 planned with better hardware. Learning acceleration rate of four times normal speed demonstrated.
Network: Initial contact established with Timothy Drake and Gotham's elite social circles. More work needed but foundation laid.
The gaps were still obvious though.
Combat skill: Intermediate level. Could beat average people. Would lose badly to trained fighters. Nowhere near Batman's mastery.
Physical capabilities: Slightly above average human. Stronger and faster than before starting training, but still fundamentally normal. Not enhanced at all yet.
Powers: None. No superhuman abilities. No metahuman enhancements. Completely baseline.
Allies: None beyond casual acquaintances. No one he could rely on in a crisis.
Threats: Everywhere. Gotham was a war zone. Criminals controlled entire neighborhoods. Arkham's inmates escaped regularly. Batman was the only thing holding back complete chaos.
James saw the Bat-signal projected on clouds across the city. Commissioner Gordon calling for help.
'He's out there right now doing the work,' James thought. 'And I'm standing on a roof, watching.'
Doubt crept in. The same doubt that had nagged at him since arriving here.
Could someone like him actually matter in this world?
In a universe with Superman and Wonder Woman and gods walking among men, what difference could one enhanced human make?
But then he remembered.
Batman was human.
Lex Luthor was human.
Amanda Waller would eventually prove human intelligence and ruthlessness could compete with godlike power.
The key was preparation. Planning. Being smarter and more thorough than everyone else.
'Eighteen months,' James reminded himself. 'I have eighteen months to become someone who can survive what's coming. Not a hero. Not yet. Just someone who won't be collateral damage.'
'I may not be Batman but I do know that prep time can be a cheat code... especially when you have meta-knowledge like me.'
His phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out. Text message from an unknown number.
"Impressive stock play with Helix Genomics. Shows intelligence and nerve. We should talk. Call me when convenient."
The message included a phone number. No name.
James stared at it. Who would text him about the stock trade? He'd been careful.
Used online trading. Paid cash for everything. Avoided attracting attention.
Someone had noticed anyway. Someone was tracking him.
His first instinct was paranoia.
Batman maybe? Checking out the new money in Gotham? Or someone more dangerous.
Lex Luthor had fingers in Gotham's economy. Could be his people.
James decided to wait. Let them make the next move. If it was important, they'd contact him again.
He pocketed his phone and headed back downstairs to his laboratory. Still had work to do.
Neural Interface version 2.0 wouldn't build itself.
---
The next morning, James woke at five and went through his routine.
Cardio first. Running on the treadmill he'd installed in the factory's office section.
Six miles in forty-two minutes.
His time had improved steadily over the past months. Not superhuman, but respectable.
Strength training after. Bench press, squats, deadlifts, overhead press. His numbers were climbing.
Bench was up to one ninety-five for reps. Still human-level, but the upper end of human.
Shower. Breakfast. Protein shake and eggs.
Then into the laboratory.
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