Day Three
Batman left the hidden base alone.
Finding surgeons wasn't difficult for him—it was about finding the right ones. He searched the world's shadows: doctors who didn't ask questions, who knew how to keep secrets, and who were either motivated by vast amounts of money or by the thrill of attempting surgeries that rewrote the limits of science.
He found both kinds.
To those who needed money, Batman paid more than enough to buy their silence and loyalty. To those who lived for the challenge—surgeons who wanted to be remembered as pioneers standing at the edge of technology and biology—he offered something far more valuable than money: the opportunity to perform a procedure no human had ever survived.
Replacing an entire human spine with advanced cyberware.
Not one of them refused.
Some stared in disbelief when they learned the nature of the surgery. Others smiled, their excitement barely concealed. Whatever their reasons, they all agreed. This was history in the making.
Day Four
Raven decided to return to Titans Tower.
She knew her limits. This project was technology-heavy, and her expertise lay in magic, not cybernetics or neurology. Damian understood and didn't argue—but he made one request.
"When the time comes," he said, "come with me when I tell Rick Flag Sr. about this."
Raven agreed without hesitation.
Before leaving, the heroes began gathering materials for the original, upgraded Sandevistan—not the suit version, but the implanted core that would replace Rick Flag Sr.'s backbone entirely. Everything used had to be biocompatible, capable of remaining inside the human body without rejection or long-term side effects.
Damian opened his dimensional storage space—filled with relics from his past as an assassin of the League of Assassins. Inside were alien alloys, rare Earth metals, and one material that stood out above all others: Gronckle Iron.
A rare substance stronger than iron ore, formed from compressed limestone and sandstone, and incredibly resistant to heat. After careful discussion, the team chose Gronckle Iron as the outer coating of the Sandevistan, ensuring durability and thermal resistance even under extreme neural output.
Days Five and Six
These two days were spent in nonstop collaboration.
Scientists, engineers, and surgeons worked together, refining the upgraded Sandevistan—completely eliminating the risk of cyberpsychosis. When the surgeons fully understood what they were being asked to do—remove a human's entire backbone and replace it with a technological construct—some were shocked.
But most were exhilarated.
This wasn't just surgery.
This was resurrection.
They weren't just restoring function; they were improving it. Replacing biology with something stronger, faster, and more precise.
Day Seven
By the afternoon, all discussions came to an end.
Batman finally revealed the identity of the patient: General Rick Flag Sr. A decorated soldier. A man who had given everything to his country—and lost his body, his career, and his future in return.
His story changed the room.
The surgeons and scientists were no longer just professionals working on an impossible project—they were believers.
Together, they finalized the timetable:
One month of testing and system calibration
One full day for the implantation surgery
Immediate restoration of sensation in the legs post-surgery
Two days of recovery
Eight days to regain full motor control
Remaining time dedicated to training and mastering the Sandevistan
The cyberware would allow Rick Flag Sr. to process information at incredible speeds—slowing time from his perspective and granting superhuman combat reflexes.
Tomorrow, they would offer him a second chance.
Batman turned to Damian.
"You made this choice," he said calmly. "You give him that chance. You tell him."
Raven stepped beside Damian, placing a hand on his arm.
"I'll be with you," she said softly.
Damian nodded.
They left together—Robin and Raven in full costume. No matter how much they trusted the surgeons, their identities would remain secret. Even Rick Flag Sr. would never know who truly gave him this opportunity.
Elsewhere
Rick Flag Sr. was discharged from the hospital.
He returned to his modest three-bedroom home—dining room, kitchen, two bathrooms, a small library, and hidden compartments still holding old weapons he could no longer use.
That night, he drank.
Bottle after bottle surrounded him as he sat slumped at the dining table, the wheelchair beside him like a cruel reminder of everything he'd lost.
By the time he passed out, he still had no idea what to do with the life he had left.
Or that tomorrow, everything would change.