DC: DON'T UTTER A WORD - CHAPTER 226

[David Lance POV]

It had been three months since I had successfully enlisted her into my quest for true justice, and while she was now part of my grand end game, her position was one that required observation, one that was on a need-to-know basis. 

Meaning I would only tell her the facts she needed to know at the time she needed to know them, and nothing more.

I didn't trust her.

Not a single bit.

Not to say I trusted any of my subordinates.

I knew very well their faults and strengths. And because of that I knew trusting them was a foolish ideal.

As for Waller, well, she still had to prove her worth, and until that happened, she would only have access to the surface of it all, not more, not less.

"Pudding, do you have a minute?" Harley asked, hopping into my office without knocking.

Was it really that hard to knock?

I glanced up from the computer, my magnifying glasses perching at the end of my nose. "Yes, Harley?" I asked. My eyes met hers and I gave her an expectant look, my mouth in a tight line.

Harley's fingers caressed her lower lip as she spoke, her eyes scanning the room inquisitively. "Well... I was wondering... do we have a name? Ya know, our organization, or group, or that's still in work?" Her voice trailed off, awaiting a response.

Hmph.

Color me impressed, that's actually a good question, as questions go with Harley.

I sighed, forcing a tight-lipped smile to my face, and replied, “Not really.” I tilted my head, my eyebrows raised expectantly. “Why? Do you think we need one?”

Harley grinned from ear to ear, bobbing her head furiously. She then began to jog in a circle and gracefully sprang into the air, flipping her body in a perfect cartwheel until she stopped right in front of my desk. "Yepperoni! We need a good name!" she exclaimed.

I hummed at the thought.

A name.

I suppose I could give us a name.

I don't dislike the idea.

A name that represents my goal.

...

"Genesis," I smiled, that name represented my end goal. The origin of something new.

"Hmm," Harley hummed, index finger pressed upon her lips before beaming at me. "I like it!"

I smiled at her. "I like it too, Harley, I like it too."

Then before I could tell Harley to return to her duties, a crimson light started to blink from one of my computer monitors, revealing that an emergency was occurring in the Hall of Justice.

Intrigued by this sudden notification, I opened my surveillance system, the one I had secretly installed nearby all the League quarters to check what was going on, and what the cameras revealed was a more than welcoming surprise. 

Despero was attacking Earth.

And it seemed like Raven, Shazam, and Zatanna were the ones currently in place to try and stop him.

Though Raven was currently in another room. Reading.

I might have to push a few things ahead of time it seems. If I let the Team defeat him, the Reach would get hold of Despero which would eventually lead to him falling into Vandal's hand.

I couldn't allow that to happen.

I wasn't entirely certain what Vandal's plans were with Despero, but I knew what I needed from him.

His incredibly strong magic resistance.

His body was naturally resistant to magic, and that was something I wanted to understand, and then utilize.

Sighing, I cracked my neck. "I guess it's time to make an appearance."

Harley's jaw dropped and her eyes widened as she clasped her hands against her flushed cheeks. Her cheeks dimpled and a wide grin spread across her face as she breathed an ecstatic, "Ohhhh!"

Having taken a decision, I rose from my desk, my chair creaking as it released me, and turned towards Harley. “Harley, I'll be out for a while. Please prepare a big stasis pod while I'm away, we will have a guest.” I said, before heading towards my changing station.

"Okidoki!" Harley grinned, giving me a military salute.

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[Captain Marvel - POV]

My skin prickled as a red wall grew up around the base, and I heard a faint hum that filled the air. Then, in a flash of brilliant light, two shimmering figures appeared before me - a small metal robot and a towering alien with purple skin.

"Greetings and salutations! Earth champions! I am L-Ron, the majordomo to the great master!" The small robot, which had now identified himself as L-Ron said. "And you are our prisoners!" 

I took a step back, narrowing my eyes at the two in front of me. 

"Know that I hold you here at the behest of my master, who seeks to prove himself against earth's greatest warriors!" L-Ron continued, looking at the big alien beside him, who simply growled in response. "Without further ado! Let the cage match begin!"

"Cage matc-" I had barely started my sentence when the humongous alien leaped at me, sending me hurtling backward with a powerful kick to my chest. In my path, I made a ditch in the concrete as my body collided with a series of things before finally crashing into the statues of the League with a loud crash and shower of shattered pieces. 

Pain radiating from my chest, I looked up to see Zatanna trying to chant a spell only for the monster to fix his gaze on her, turning her body immobile, and her eyes unseeing and blank. It was a strange and eerie sight as if he had switched off her mind with just a glance.

I might have to avoid eye contact with the guy.

"No can't do! Magic is cheating!" L-Ron chastised the immobilized Zatanna, wagging his index finger in a disapproving manner. "Master's more the hands-on type."

Magic is cheating?

Could it be that the big guy is weak against magic?

As I pondered over the information I had, and how to deal with the threat at hand, the alien jumped through the glass doors of the base with a deafening crash that echoed through the place getting my full and undivided attention as shards of glass flew everywhere.

They were leaving Zatanna alone. Good, that solves one problem, not there's just one left. Dealing with the big bully.

Taking a deep breath, I focused my attention back on the alien, who wore a menacing expression as he slowly crept toward me.

Moving faster than him, his robot approached me, showing no signs of aggression.

"Allow me to introduce my master!" L-Ron said, pointing at the big guy with both of his robotic hands. 

The R2-D2 rip-off was going to identify the guy? Good. All the names I had in mind for big purple ugly over there weren't good at all. Mutant Fish, Mr. Nimbus, and Purple Sushi were some of the ones I had come up with in the short time I had come to know and dislike him.

"The one and only! The Warlord Despero! The gladiatorial champion of 92 star systems!" L-Ron announced, before chuckling. "Working on 93 now."

A Warlord.

I clenched my jaw, as I narrowed my eyes at the guy. Then, I slowly rose from the ground, my clothing and skin speckled with dirt, as I dust my suit off.

"He has come to this backwater planet! Seeking a challenge to prove his superiority! To all life forms!" L-Ron continued as... Despero stopped his advance as if allowing his robot to finish his introduction. "It's quite the compliment. You really should feel honored!" 

Honored?

I will show him how honored I am!

"Oh, I am! Here let me show him!" I replied, before flying towards Despero at full speed, tackling him into a wall. 

However, before I could continue my attack, his iron grip caught me around the waist before effortlessly throwing me against the ceiling with enough force to leave an indentation of my body on the concrete of the ceiling before gravity dropped me back to the ground.

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[David Lance POV]

I arrived at the Hall of Justice shortly after my departure, finding myself face to face with Despero's force field covering the entire place in a dome of red lines, each line crackling with energy.

Based on the sounds I could hear from outside, Despero was still facing Shazam Marvel.

I would've loved to confirm that, but sadly I hadn't been able to install that many hidden cameras in the place to begin with. Not that I needed them, I had installed the right amount I needed to keep an eye on things.

But that was neither here nor there.

Right now I had an alien to fetch and a force field to breach.

Now, what to do... 

If I had to take a guess, I had around five minutes or so before the battle concluded, if everything went according to canon that is. Maybe more if the show had been generous with the events.

For a brief moment, I stared at the shimmering, translucent wall of red that blocked my path, before reaching out to touch it, gently pressing my palm against the surface, feeling the static crackle of the wall against my skin.

I could feel how the energy moved through the entire thing and its intervals.

I heaved a deep sigh through my helmet, a wry smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. Already knowing what to do, I brought my hand up and clenched my fist tightly, before thrusting it forward, sending a shockwave through the air that shattered part of the force field in one powerful punch.

I had no doubts that the force field was well made, all things considered. Be that as it may, it paled in comparison to what Brainiac had shown me all those years ago.

Brainiac would've realized the energy intervals powering the field made it vulnerable every 0.01 seconds, and that all someone had to do to breach the field was to punch it at the right moment with the right amount of strength. 

Even Superboy could have accomplished the same thing if he knew when to punch. 

Oh well, that's about enough reminiscence about the past. 

It's time to say hi.

Finally within the confines of the force field, I started to make my way to the Hall of Justice, watching from a side glance in appreciation as the broken particles of the force field coalesced once again, sealing off my entrance. 

Not bad.

I might just give Despero's ship a look if time allows, that is.

Pushing those thoughts aside, for now, I walked towards the Hall of Justice, reaching a position where I could better see what was going on without being seen.

It seemed I had been right earlier, Despero was fighting Shazam earlier, and still is.

Taking a seat to watch the fight, I watched as Despero delivered a barrage of powerful attacks at the young hero, with each one sending Shazam flying through the air and walls of the building, with the latter finding no way to effectively counter his opponent's advance. 

The battle was pretty much one-sided.

Unlike Shazam's attacks, Despero's movements were effortless, as if the fight was an afterthought.

"Ok, you got stuff, I'll admit it," Shazam muttered, his voice strained with effort as Despero held him against high a wall with one hand. "But I've still got one last trick up my sleeve." At this, Shazam drove both fists forward into Despero's hand with all of his might. The purple giant was forced to release him and the superhero used the momentum to spin around, getting the giant in a choke hold before shouting. "Shazaam!" 

Bad move, Billy, bad move.

Immediately after Shazam had shouted, the unmistakable crack of thunder roared as a jagged streak of energy shot from the skies barreling into Despero and Shazam together in the blink of an eye. 

The powerful thunder illuminated the room in an electric blue hue, shaking the very ground around the place in a violent manner, alas when the smoke cleared and the thunder died out, it was revealed much to Billy's dismay that Despero was unaffected. 

"Oh, man, I really thought that would work," Billy muttered, comically hanging from Despero's neck.

"Flagrant foulism! My master has no interest in fighting a child!" The robot whose name I didn't remember nor care to, spoke in an indigitated tone as Despero grabbed Billy putting him in a trance with his third eye.

I smiled, jumping out of my hiding spot, wondering where Raven was? And for that matter, where are the rest of the heroes present?

"Um, yes, master. You will require a new opponent!"

"I would be more than happy to oblige," I replied, making my presence known to the two. 

"You... The Krolotean database doesn't have anything about you," Mr. Robot replied, eyeing me in confusion just as the heroes in the base decided to make their appearance.

Raven, Miss Martian, Superboy, and... a random guy?

"A-ha! Look! That one wears the symbolism of Superman! one of earth's mightiest champions!" Mr. Robot said, taking Despero's attention from me.

Well, that's just rude.

Ignoring me just because the big S appeared.

Blurring out of sight, I moved in front of Despero landing a clear hit on his face, my fist colliding with his jaw with a loud crunch, sending the purple giant flying through several walls, leaving a gaping hole in each one, before he came to a stop outside the building, creating a crater where he lay.

"I waited my turn," I said, patting the little robot on the head. "Is that a way to treat a contestant?"

Miss Martian narrowed her eyes at me. "Who are you?"

"Who knows?" I replied, walking towards Despero who was already standing up from my attack, a feral grin on his face. 

I could feel as I walked towards Despero to face him, that everyone was staring at me. Raven, Superboy, Miss Martian, and everyone else.

It was a good thing that I had learned how to control my emotions a long time ago, otherwise, my cover would've been blown the moment Raven arrived. 

I can see in her eyes the same question that everyone in the room has, who is that guy?