SILENCE!
It was the kind of silence that only existed in space.
The Justice League Watchtower floated above the Earth like a gleaming sentinel, its hull reflecting sunlight in cold silver streaks.
The WatchTower was almost empty, as there wasn't any massively threatening enemies to gather the entire league, leading to the only constant sounds being the hum machinery and the soft pulse of holographic projectors.
However, there were some Justice League members currently in the central meeting chamber, with a slight air of tension in the room.
Superman stood at the edge of the circular table, arms crossed, eyes narrowed as he stared down at the swirling, holographic reconstruction of National City displayed before them.
Flickering red markers highlighted the destroyed gang hideouts, six of them, spread across three blocks, all obliterated with terrifying precision, and all telling the same story.
Batman was hunched over the table, browsing through all of the news reports with a serious expression while Martian ManHunter sat peacefully, and Green Lantern ( John Stewart ) looked out the window waiting for someone to say something.
Superman's voice broke the silence first, "Six gang strongholds," he said, voice low but full of that deep, resonant authority only he possessed, "Sixty-three confirmed dead and more to come surely. Zero survivors. No witnesses."
Green Lantern whistled low, "Well… someone's been busy."
Batman's eyes flicked up sharply, "This isn't a joke, Stewart, "
"I didn't say it was," John replied, raising his hands defensively, "Just saying, this is the kind of kill count you see in alien warzones, not city blocks."
Diana stepped forward, "We need to look past the casualties and into the methodology. Mass, targeted killing like this definitely has a reason,"
Batman tapped a control on the table. A new hologram rose, a swirling black mist, thick and oily, lingering in each scene of destruction before dissipating.
It was a small amount of energy residue that was only picked up with the WatchTower's capabilities, or else they'd be lost on what to do.
Martian Manhunter drifted closer, eyes narrowing.
"That," J'onn said, his voice calm but reverberating with unease, "is the same signature found at the CADMUS facility."
The room chilled.
No one needed reminding.
CADMUS.
The facility that had tried to clone, weaponize, and artificially manipulate Kryptonian DNA. The facility that they had been hunting for quite a while, and one where a-lot of their sidekicks had experienced a run in with recently.
"However, when we found that energy residue back at CADMUS, there was also a light energy residue alongside it, meaning there was two persons, so where's the other?" Superman asked as he also watched the news reports.
"It's likely the other person is in more control of their capabilities? Or they have no vendetta against these gangs worthy of carrying out such an attack," John Stewart said, turning away from looking at the endless expanse of space and looking at his fellow heroes.
"If that's true, that means we need to figure out both of their identities, see if we can recruit the light energy user, and judge if this person is controllable," Batman said, bringing up a file on the darkness energy residue they had seen back at the destroyed facility.
"I could only analyze it for an hour before it naturally dissolved," Batman said quietly. "My sensors couldn't penetrate it. My drones failed to record within six feet of it. The material isn't just darkness, it disrupts electromagnetic fields. Kinetic movement. Organic stability."
Wonder Woman's hand gripped the pommel of her sword, "A darkness that devours," she murmured. "A force that leaves nothing behind."
Martian Manhunter nodded, "When I was with Batman analyzing it, I could sense a consciousness within that energy, an echo of suffering, pain and hunger."
Batman's gauntlets tightened.
"We are dealing with a singular threat, potentially aided by a secret partner. Highly mobile. Super-human levels of stealth and strength. It moves through shadows, consumes bodies, and disappears. The police believe the bodies were taken as trophies."
Green Lantern grimaced, "Anybody else getting flashbacks to Eclipso? Or the Shadow Thief?"
"No," Batman said sharply. "This is different."
Superman looked at him, "Bruce. You've been analyzing the nearby footage of what happened, is there anything else you picked up?"
Batman paused, then the lights dimmed automatically as he manually overrode the panel.
A single new image appeared, a black silhouette dissolving into a swirl of shadows. No clear shape. No face. Just a cloak, massive, almost alive, unfurling like a void.
John Steward leaned forward as he saw it, "Okay… that's creepy."
Wonder Woman studied it carefully.
"This thing… looks like a living gateway."
"It is," Batman said. "Based on energy readings, the entity is connected to another dimension, but that's all I could gather currently,"
"This search is turning more difficult by the moment, we need to locate this person, and their potential accomplice before more people die," Superman said.
J'onn closed his eyes, "We know CADMUS capture young kids for their experiments, and whatever power this being holds feeds on negativity, it can become dangerous very quickly."
Wonder Woman's gaze softened, empathy blooming across her features, "A child."
Batman didn't blink, "A weapon."
Diana turned sharply to him, "Bruce."
"You saw the bodies," Batman said, "And what you haven't seen is just as important. The various people who have disappeared to who knows where. This isn't some street-level person lashing out. With CADMUS somehow involved in their creation, it's a catastrophe waiting to happen,"
Superman's gaze lowered to Earth beneath them, "Regardless, we can't approach this like another criminal. If they're young… scared… alone…"
"They are lethal," Batman interrupted, "and getting stronger, the energy residue from today is already more powerful than when we initially found out about them. I suggest we restrict them and keep them in a secure location until we can be assured they're not any more of a danger to society than they are already. They've shown a capability to murder ruthlessly and we have a limited understanding of their current and potential capabilities,"
Hal lifted an eyebrow, "So what's the plan, Bats? You want to swoop in with the League? Break down their door and drag the shadow kid out kicking and screaming?"
"Obviously not, I have my ways of getting them to follow me," Batman said, but before he could continue, Wonder Woman stepped forward, eyes blazing.
"No."
Batman stiffened,"Diana, "
"Your methods won't be useful here, they are a child with a story that somehow intertwined with CADMUS. We need to be careful and understanding about their situation, triggering them can cause even more danger,"
"He's murdered 63 people and counting," Batman said, not wanting to back down.
A strange silence sat on the room until Diana spoke, "John, J'onn, let us talk to Bruce, we'll convince him,"
The two of them raised some eyebrows, but eventually left, and Bruce looked at Diana.
"What are you playing at?" Batman asked.
"Need I remind you that Damien is from the League of Assassins Bruce, I don't see you locking him away," Diana said.
"Gonna use that card against me Diana?" Batman said, but Diana and Clark just looked at him, leading him to sit for a couple moments before sighing, "Okay, you're right. I got a bit blinded by other things, but what do you suggest we do about this?"
"Don't you have that little team you're working on? Send them to investigate, they'll be more sympathetic than you certainly," Diana said.
"They're not ready for something like this," Batman said.
"They'll need to be ready eventually. Contact Kent and let him shadow them. He'll understand what to do with those two beings if things get out of hand, though I think it'll work out somehow," Diana said and after a few moments, Bruce spoke,
"I hope you're right!"