"You want me to change… this to water?", Captain Atom asked, sounding super confused about the request I just made. He alternated his gaze between the drinking glass on the platform generated by Hal Jordan and my face.
"Yeah. One of your powers is transmutation," I said and looked around at everyone present before coming back to him. "Don't you know?"
"No," he said, very certainly. "My blasts don't change anything. They destroy them."
"Okay? But they're your powers, they respond how you want them to respond. Besides, if the energy you use doesn't change anything, how do you go from this," I gestured at his mundane appearance, "to Captain Atom, silver skin and all?"
He actually looked contemplative at that. "That's just something I learned to do when I first came out."
"Well, that's flesh to metal when you transform. Organic to inorganic. Metal to water should be a walk in the park," I said and inched the glass forward.
"Okay," he accepted. "I need to transform to use my powers, so… shield your eyes."
Batman, GL1 and Red Tornado made no movements. As for me, I was pretty close to him so I did as the captain said but also stretched my hand forward to bring the scanner close so it could pick up whatever waves and emanations his transformation emitted.
I pulled it back when the light began to fade and checked the readings, nodding at the positive results. It just needed to record the phenomenon for a few more minutes and then we'd be good to go.
"Did you get something," he asked and I shot my head up to look at him.
"Yeah, but I need more."
He nodded and held a silver hand over the glass. Pale blue energy—almost white even—wreathed his hand in a bright halo before shooting into the glass.
"Let it cover the metal and seep into every corner…" I said faintly. "Once you have it completely, just think—water. Yes, that's it," I coached, excitement leaking into my tone as the now glowing magazine began to levitate in the glass.
Choosing to stop there, I kept the scanner close to the effect and watched as the captain's silver brows furrowed in concentration. His hand twisted as he titled the captured magazine slightly, and I felt the entire room, not just me hold its breath.
A chuckle and exhale of triumph left my lips as the small rectangular shape melted into a glowing liquid before falling into the glass. He retracted the light and his hand and I brought my face closer to the glass, a wide grin on my face.
"Holy shit," a voice said from behind me before the owner zipped to my side and brought his face close to the glass of water as well.
"You actually did it," KF said, alternating his gaze between me, the water and Captain Atom.
"It was surprisingly easier than I thought it'd be," said my mentor, his own disbelief apparent.
"Dude! Who are you?" Kid Flash damn near screamed in my ear.
"Someone who will tell you who they are if you step back," I said and checked the scanner. "Now please," I gestured for him to give me space.
"Sure thing man."
He moved back and I looked at the heroes present. Batman already had everything I knew—not just about the future—but also about the Leaguers, powers and possible weakness too. Same for the villains. So this was not a surprise to him.
Hal too didn't seem surprised if only a tiny bit impressed. That made sense to me though. The man had a power ring, and those could do damn near anything. I guess being able to make whatever you need at any time makes this impossible feat of science seem like nothing.
"You did it," I looked up at Captain Atom and nodded, moving back and forth between his face and the scanner. "I just need a few more. Try changing the water to other things. I'll tell you when it's enough."
No longer in doubt at my claim, the senior Leaguer started again the whole process I guided him through during the first attempt and took hold of the water. Said water changed colors and consistency for the better part of five minutes, the time between each change growing shorter and shorter.
He was getting better in real time.
Sadly, I would not get to see when he reached his full potential. At least not today. I signaled him with a raised hand followed by a thumbs up and then looked up.
"I've got it."
"What exactly have you got?" Hal asked.
I shook the scanner and said, "The readings should help me make something that can replicate this," I pointed at the glass. "Or at least something close to it," I said, nodding and looking into space absentmindedly.
Miniaturization and Efficiency had latched on to the new gained data like a pack of hungry wolves and was now filling my mind to the brim with designs, tools and a bunch of other ideas.
I quickly activated the candle flame to get things under control and looked at Hal. "Remember the 3D printer? I can make it better now. By the time I'm done, I can make almost anything so long as I have energy and materials."
"Anything," he narrowed his blank white eyes.
"Don't look at me like that. I'm aware of the dangers, that's why I moved my stuff here, remember?"
"Hm. This kind of tech… just be careful."
"Yeah. I will," I said, as seriously I could. If The Light or anyone willing to cross every line imaginable like them got a hold of this printer or the science behind it, the consequences would be catastrophic.
I had already begun work on quantum encryption for all my devices, but there were some other avenues of protection we had to explore.
"Batman, Red Tornado. What I said about magically warding this place…"
"Zatarra will send word when he's ready," said Batman.
"Kent Nelson hasn't put on the helmet in 65 years, it'll be hard to convince him to do so just for this," added the wind-controlling android.
"Well, did you tell him about…" I pointed to my head.
"Yes I did, and he said he'll meet you when he's ready."
I nodded. "Oh.. okay then."
"Elliot," Hal called out to me. "Your glass."
"Oh, sorry," I rushed forward and grabbed it, freeing his construct. The green energy got sucked back into his ring and I turned to my mentor. I looked down at my occupied hands and then back at him.
"I'd shake your hand but… thank you. For doing this."
He placed a firm but not bruising hand on my shoulder. "No. Thank you."
We shared a nod and he let go, turning around to leave, Batman and Hal following him.
"You kids play nice," the Green Lantern said.
"I'll be in touch," Atom added.
When the light of the Zeta beam consumed them and the computer called out their designations, I turned around and nearly had a fright when I found the three teenage members of my team looking at me with varying but intense looks of curiosity.
"You've got a lot of explaining to do," Robin said.
"I'll have to agree," Kaldur supported him.
"Start spilling dude," Kid Flash said.
"You know I'm older than all of you right?" I said and looked out the corner of my vision at Red Tornado, the android tapping away at a hologram. He must've volunteered to be the supervisor just like in the show.
I gave the sight a subtle nod and brought my attention back to the unimpressed kids. "Let's go back. I'll tell you everything on the way."
The journey back was silent save for my voice. I reiterated everything I told the League, leaving out the part about the notifications and the perk gain. It was quite a lengthy tale, so I wasn't even done by the time we arrived at my chosen spot.
While they listened, I went to work cleaning and preparing what would become my workshop, leaving the room on occasion for water, cleaning materials, and to toss out trash, the enraptured kids following me all the while.
Things came to a close when I arranged some tables I'd found in a manner I preferred and started to unpack the box.
"So we're… cartoons?" Robin asked first, giving me the sense that he didn't know whether to be confused or horrified.
Leave it to Kid Flash though to lighten things up. "That's what you're worried about? He just confirmed the multiverse theory!"
I needed to nip the cartoon thing in the bud though.
"You're not cartoons," I looked at the Boy Wonder and said, "you're real. Flesh and blood. It's just that where I come from, there's no super stuff anywhere so you can only exist in imagination. And like Kid said, multiverse. Right now, I bet there's a universe where you're not a hero, or one where you're Batman, or–
Kid Flash laughed and threw his arm around the mini Batman's neck. "One where you're a girl."
"Shut up KF," Robin chuckled and pushed his friend off of him. "So Batman knows all of this. That's what you wrote in the letter right?"
Let's go with yes. "Yeah. That and a lot more."
Kaldur, who'd been silent this whole time, spoke up. "Did you include anything about Speedy?"
"Batman didn't tell you guys?" I blinked and looked at their faces, the mention of their friend having hardened their expressions.
"Tell us what?" asked Robin.
~Sigh.
If I could tell them I came from a world where they only existed as cartoons and comic books, then I sure as hell could tell them that their friend had been kidnapped, cloned and replaced.
Of course this necessitated telling them about The Light and telling them to seek their own mentors for confirmation. We hadn't reached the level of confidence where they could flat out trust whatever I said.
"Finding Speedy and bringing him home will be our first mission. Guaranteed," I said, giving them hope after dropping the worst possible news about their friend on them.
"When? And what are we waiting for?" Kid Flash said. They looked towards me for an explanation and I said, "I don't know, but I told Batman I can make tech that will help us on the mission. He said to get everything together and get back to him."
"What kind of tech?," Robin asked.
"You know," I said, "Stuff that will let us get in and out of the location easily."
"The location? You know where he is!"
"Yeah," I said to Kid Flash and the rest, looking at them in succession. "And I'm not telling. Don't want Batman on my ass. Though, your mentors know so you can ask them. While you're at it, let them know that you know, you know… everything, to avoid any confusion."
They took in my words with seriousness and gave me a bit of respite, allowing me to focus on setting up.
"I can't believe they did this to Speedy," Kid Flash said, breaking the tenuous silence.
I shook my head. "Hm, imagine how Speedy 2 feels."
"Speedy 2?" Robin asked, voicing his and his fellow teens' confusion.
"Yeah. I don't wanna call him clone, or it, or something more degrading. I haven't met the guy and I don't know what he's going by, so Speedy 2 will have to do. If you see him around though, do find out for me please."
"No way," Kid Flash rebutted. "I'm not talking to him. He's not Speedy."
It took everything to not roll my eyes. "He has all his memories. You may not be friends anymore, but do not alienate or treat him weird when he comes to you. It's not his fault. He didn't do this to himself."
"But—"
"Specialist is right," Kaldur said and put his hand on KF's shoulder. "I imagine that our cloned friend feels worse than we do right now."
I nodded and looked up from the monitor screen I'd just plugged in and turned on. "You can call me Elliot. Specialist is my code name."
"Elliot. I'll remember that," Kaldur nodded. "Welcome to the team, and… thank you."
"You got it."
Things settled into a calm rhythm after that, with the kids asking the occasional question and me finally getting the workshop completely set up.
It was already evening when Captain Atom and GL1 picked me up. So by the time we were done with the boys, it was getting close to 8:00 PM, and Robin and KF needed to leave. Kaldur and I bid them goodbye and soon, just the both of us were left in the mission room.
"You know how to fight right?" I said and tapped my boots on the platform beneath us.
"I served a full year in the Atlantean military, so yes," he responded. "I take it you want to spar?"
"More like see how you fight and then learn from you but yeah, let's go with sparring."
He smiled, nodded and took off his jacket, revealing his red-orange vest, eel tattoos and the handles of his water bearers peeking just over his shoulder. "Rules of engagement?" he asked.
"Just martial arts."
"Noted," he said and took position opposite me at the edge of the platform. He summoned a hologram, moved his fingers across it and then the platform lit up beneath us. He dismissed and lowered his upper body slightly, arms held out toward me.
"If you're ready."
"Ready," I said and advanced towards him, mimicking his movements the best I could, the replication being damn near perfect due to the candle flame.
We circled each other with raised fists for a bit before closing the gap, Kaldur throwing two punches in quick succession once we reached striking distance.
Two sharp head tilts rendered his attacks useless.
He jumped and spun, lashing out with both legs one after the other. Again, I dodged easily, a simple lean back making his bare feet sail past harmlessly.
As soon as he landed, I jumped and did a perfect rendition of his double kick, the first one missing but the second one catching in the forearm he raised hastily to protect his face.
He skidded back a bit and smiled before blurring toward me, flowing into a jump that turned into a descending sideways kick. I veered out of the way and grabbed a hold of his leg with the intent to pull and slam him down.
Easily reading my intentions, he turned around at the last second and stopped himself with both arms pressed against the ground. He then spun, twisting his whole body to face me, or rather up.
The leg in my grip came alive and turned with sudden strength and speed that it flung me off my feet and out of bounds.
I could've used wallcrawling to maintain my grip, but this was just a training session, a martial arts session focused on skill and strength. There would be other times where exotic powers would be allowed into the mix.
"You're good," I said and threw both legs forward, launching myself up from the ground. I landed on my feet and walked back onto the platform, nodding at Kaldur.
"You learn quickly, and your reflexes are nothing to scoff at," he said.
"All part of the spider package. Again?"
He nodded and another round started. We went a total of fifteen, and I won the last one, that victory secured by the unfairness of Spider Sense.
Using it kinda defeated the point when I wanted to get better at fighting, but the last round showed me just how being able to predict your opponent's moves combined with enhanced speed was an absolute cheat.
Kaldur didn't touch me once, and the boy obviously had questions. I gave him a vague explanation and ended things there. He bid me goodbye and went back to Atlantis—it felt insane to even say that—and I returned to my workshop.
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1-10 advanced chapters on: https://patreon.com/MasterReigen