I reached the main floor just in time to see Superboy get driven through two pillars. Blockbuster's massive hand punched through the foam and snatched him by the ankles, hurling his body straight through the receptionist desk.
The main lobby looked just like I remembered it—grand, with tasteful stone flooring and ceilings, and a bold overhead plaque spelling out CADMUS in silver letters.
Superboy writhed on the floor but didn't get up.
"Kid Flash, Robin, check on him. Artemis, got any more of those foam arrows? I've got a plan."
"I've got five," Artemis replied. No argument, but her eyes burned with something else—anger, maybe. At me. At the threats. The sorcery. She could yell at me later. Right now, we had a monster to slay.
Robin rushed to help Superboy while Aqualad and I stepped forward. Blockbuster came barreling at us, muscles bulging, foam still clinging to his form.
We scattered, dodging a downward strike that shattered the concrete.
I summoned my pistol, cursed energy flaring into Overdrive, and fired at his legs as I gained distance. Blockbuster spun around, just in time to catch a grenade to the face—launched from a compact launcher stored in my Cursed Inventory. It was a holdover from my Gotham days. I'd never really needed it, until now that is.
The blast shredded the foam on his upper body, riddled him with shrapnel, and knocked him on his ass.
Aqualad didn't hesitate—he released water from his pack, let it pool beneath Blockbuster, and thrust his hand into it, channeling raw electricity. The giant spasmed violently.
Artemis fired her foam arrows. He swatted the first, which ironically worked against him—coating his shoulder and arm. The others hit his legs, chest, and stomach. She didn't stop until she was out.
I approached the struggling brute. His eyes burned with hatred just before his body began to shrink—bones snapping, muscle mass collapsing inward, mutation reversing.
He thrashed in the foam, desperate to escape, then began transforming again.
I snorted and jabbed an injector into his neck and squeezed, and he slacked, collapsing into the pink stuff.
Aqualad gave me a questioning look.
"Anesthetic," I said. "Should keep him out until the League shows up."
Artemis gave me a suspicious look. I shrugged. "Never know when it might come in handy."
Superboy limped over, clothes torn, body bruised but standing. Kid Flash and Robin joined him.
"You had a rocket launcher this whole time?" Kid Flash said, incredulous. "And now you use it?"
"Using it underground would've brought the ceiling down," I said with a shrug.
Artemis stepped closer. Her expression was unreadable. "I don't know whether to thank you or hit you."
"You can do both later," I said, already eyeing the exit. "You've got a lunatic to interrogate. And I'm not sticking around to test just how much pull Boy Wonder really has with the Justice League."
I vanished the syringe and patted myself down, in case I was forgetting something, then looked up at the team, standing shoulder to shoulder.
They looked like a junior Justice League. Were these the assholes I'll have to contend with in a decade?
If that's the case, I like my odds.
"Take care of yourself," I nodded at Superboy, then inclined my head at the rest of the team. "It's been a pleasure working with you. But let's not do it again."
"The pleasure has been mine, Julius," Aqualad said. "Thank you for healing us."
His comment earned a tight frown from Robin.
I walked up to Superboy and dumped the hard drives he stole. "That's yours, I believe."
Kid Flash looked up at me, blinking in surprise.
"You've got to tell me how you're doing that," he said.
"Magic?"
He huffed. "Fine. Keep your secrets. I was on the fence about you at first... but you're alright."
I chuckled. "You're not so bad yourself, Kid Flash. Terrible name though."
"Hey!" the kid protested, but I'd already turned to Robin. The last member of the group.
"Negative," Robin gave a terse nod. I suppose that was the best I could ask for, considering our history.
"Until next time."
I took a breath, preparing to throw up a Curtain and vanish—when the air shifted.
A presence.
I turned, instincts prickling.
He floated in, tall and broad-shouldered, dressed in red and blue spandex with a billowing cape and a bold S on his chest.
Superman.
Behind him came Zatara, Red Tornado, Martian Manhunter, Shazam, Captain Atom, Hawkman and Hawkwoman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Green Arrow, Black Canary—
And Batman.
I swallowed hard. My pulse kicked up. But I crushed the nerves. Fear wouldn't help me right now. Confidence might.
Thankfully, Superman's gaze wasn't on me. It locked on Superboy, who straightened and stepped forward. He tugged at the edge of his ruined suit, revealing the unmistakable S crest.
I'd heard it was a family emblem.
Superman's face twisted. It wasn't quite anger or disgust.
Before he could speak, Batman did. "Is that what I think it is?"
"I'm Superman's clone," Superboy proclaimed boldly. A silence fell. Shock rippled through the heroes.
I rolled my eyes. I was warming up to the guy, but subtlety was not his strong suit.
"Start talking," Batman ordered.
Robin and Artemis jumped in—no hesitation. They told them everything. The Genomorphs. Superboy. And especially me. The Binding Vow.
"He did what?" Zatara demanded, voice heated. He floated forward, his waistcoat billowing as he loomed over me.
"You forced them into a soul bind?" he said. "Who taught you such abominable magic?"
"Sorcery," I corrected. "If we're throwing accusations, let's be precise. I didn't ask for anyone's firstborn or demand immunity from the League. I asked for a one-time pass. Pretty cheap considering I saved their lives."
Zatara scowled. "You're the child Batman warned me about. I sensed two signatures that night—yours was one of them."
"I won't deny healing Black Mask," I said. "But I didn't bind him. His enemies did. The same ones you'll be dealing with soon enough."
Zatara narrowed his eyes. "They're your enemies now too. You forcefully broke his vow. If you think invoking them will shield you—"
"I don't need shielding," I cut in. "But if you want to fight blind, be my guest. You don't even know what they're after."
"I'm a master magician. Don't presume to educate me."
"Only if you're sure you don't need my help," I said, flashing him a knowing smile. I turned to Batman. "So. What now?"
"We're not letting a fifteen-year-old strong-arm us, right?" Flash said.
"Zatara, can't you break this vow?" Wonder Woman asked.
The magician's expression darkened. "No. Soul contracts can't be broken—only fulfilled. That's why they're dangerous. Crafted right, they can enslave anyone. Even us."
Gasps. Accusations. Distrust thickened in the air, even from the teens.
I resisted the urge to scoff.
"Jesus Christ, I'm not Lex Luthor," I said, earning me more stiff stares—even one from Superman.
I sighed, eyes still on Batman. "Do I have to threaten you with the information packets I've gathered?"
"Information packets?" Shazam blinked. "What information packets?"
Batman didn't answer. He continued to stare at me.
There was a long stretch of quiet before he finally spoke.
"Let him leave," he said. "He's got what he came to do. This conversation was always the goal."
I didn't argue.
I turned to Artemis, who looked surprised, and gave a wink. "Call ahead next time you drop by, yeah?"
Then I walked toward the exit. The League—the legends, the icons—parted before me.
At the door, I paused.
"Oh, P.S. I left a timed bomb on sublevel four. Ten minutes. You want Desmond's research, you'll have to move fast."
And with that, I was gone.