DC: Crystalizing

The Justice League Watchtower hung silently in orbit, a sleek sentinel above Earth's surface. Its central tower rose high, surrounded by curved rings housing command centers, observation decks, and living quarters. Smaller satellites hovered nearby, blinking faintly like distant stars. Once a Green Lantern base, it had been transformed into the heart of the Justice League's operations, its technology surpassing anything humanity alone could have created.

At its core stood the Zeta-Beam tunnel.

The cylindrical structure hummed with energy, its metallic surface gleaming faintly as a golden glow pulsed from within. The mechanical iris at its back opened with a soft hiss, revealing the shimmering projector at its heart.

Batman waited, his imposing figure silhouetted against the tunnel's light. His cape hung still, his gaze sharp beneath the shadows of his cowl. The tunnel activated with a resonant hum, the light intensifying as Batgirl materialized before him in a swirl of golden energy.

Barbara Gordon stepped forward, rolling her shoulders as the glow faded. Her movements were precise, calculated—like everything she did. Her auburn hair was tucked neatly beneath her cowl, and though her posture was serious, there was always a flicker of humor in her blue eyes.

"Batgirl," Batman said. "Report."

Barbara nodded, stepping closer. "I've been monitoring Gotham's usual rogues. The ice villains—Freeze, Icicle Jr., Captain Cold—have been unusually coordinated. My leads suggest they're either working together or have been recruited by someone bigger."

"Send me the reports."

Barbara tapped a few buttons on her gauntlet, transferring the data. "Done," she said, watching as Batman immediately began scanning the files.

Her lips quirked into a faint smile. "So, what's this I hear about the sidekicks? There's been talk."

Batman glanced up briefly, his expression unreadable. "The League has decided to form a team."

"A team of sidekicks?" Barbara raised an eyebrow, folding her arms. "What, like a junior varsity League?"

Batman ignored the teasing. "They'll operate out of the Secret Sanctuary. It'll serve as their base, provided they follow League protocols. Red Tornado will supervise. Black Canary will train them. Their missions will be covert. The League will continue to handle high-profile cases."

"A covert ops team of teenagers. What could possibly go wrong?"

"They'll have to be ready," Batman said.

"You're worried."

Batman's hand stilled. "They have potential. Potential isn't enough. They need discipline."

"They're going to make mistakes, Bruce. That's how they grow. You of all people should know that."

His silence spoke volumes.

Deciding to change the subject, Barbara straightened. "What about the ice villains? You think this has something to do with Cadmus?"

"It's likely. Cadmus has been on the League's radar for years—human and clone experiments, genetic tampering, weapons development. Their ties to LexCorp and the U.S. government make them a high-priority target."

"Lex Luthor," Barbara muttered.

Batman didn't reply. He didn't need to. Luthor's name hung heavy in the air, a reminder of the man's calculated shift from villain to public benefactor. For years, Lex had hidden behind charity work and clean energy projects, rebuilding his image while keeping his true ambitions out of sight.

"Lex has been careful," Batman said. "But Cadmus' activity suggests he's still pulling strings."

"So what's my part in this?"

Batman turned to the console, bringing up a holographic dossier. The image of Adrian Wells appeared—a lean, sharp-eyed man with a hardened expression. "Adrian Wells," Batman said. "Cadmus experimented on him. Crystal manipulation. He's a fugitive, and Cadmus is hunting him. That makes him dangerous."

Barbara studied the image. "What do you want me to do?"

"Find him," Batman said. "Assess the situation. If he's a threat, neutralize him. If not, ensure he stays out of Cadmus' hands."

Barbara's jaw tightened, but she nodded. "Understood."

Batman activated the Zeta-Beam tunnel, its golden light swirling to life. "Be careful," he said softly.

Barbara glanced over her shoulder, offering a faint smile. "Always am."

The light engulfed her, whisking her away to Washington, D.C.

-----

Barbara moved through the shadows of the city, her gray suit blending seamlessly into the dimly lit alleys. The hum of traffic and distant conversations were muted in her mind as she focused on the holographic interface on her wrist, synced to the Justice League's surveillance systems.

She crouched atop a rooftop near Cadmus' last known facility, her fingers flying across the interface as she scanned nearby CCTV cameras. The feeds were unremarkable at first—civilians coming and going, delivery trucks pulling into alleys. But the closer she got to the time of Adrian's escape, the more peculiar the footage became.

She frowned. One camera feed skipped forward abruptly, the timestamp jumping several minutes. She checked another, then another, finding the same gap in all of them.

"Someone's been busy," she muttered.

Barbara accessed the system logs, her frown deepening. The footage hadn't simply been erased—it had been wiped clean, leaving no trace of who or what was responsible.

Her comms crackled as she sent an update. "Batman, you were right. The footage near Cadmus is gone. Erased. Whoever's after Adrian isn't just hunting him—they're covering their tracks."

"Cadmus," Batman replied. His voice was steady but laced with tension. "Keep looking."

Barbara closed the comms, leaning back on her heels. Adrian couldn't have pulled off something this precise. This had Cadmus written all over it.

The sharp crack of gunfire broke through the quiet night, followed by panicked screams. Barbara's head snapped up, her body tensing as she scanned the streets below. The sound had come from a few blocks away.

She grappled to the next rooftop, her cape catching the wind as she leapt between buildings. By the time she reached the scene, chaos had already erupted.

A crowd of civilians spilled into the streets, their faces pale with fear. Cars honked as drivers struggled to navigate the commotion. Barbara dropped into the alley where the shots had originated, her sharp blue eyes scanning for clues.

No bodies. No blood. No sign of an attacker.

She crouched near a pile of shell casings, running her fingers over the cold metal. "No target," she murmured. "No assailant. Someone was sending a message."

Pulling out a small device, Barbara accessed the nearby public network. Within seconds, she hacked into the local surveillance grid, rewinding the footage until she found what she was looking for.

The feed showed a woman firing into the air, her movements deliberate as she melted into the crowd. Barbara's frown deepened as more figures appeared: white-skinned, horned creatures moving with unnatural grace.

"G-Elves," she muttered.

And behind them, towering in his gold-and-blue armor, was Guardian.

Barbara straightened, her jaw tightening. The creatures weren't just chasing the woman—they were hunting her.

"If Cadmus is involved," she said quietly, "then she's connected to Adrian."

She closed the feed, her focus shifting. For now, the woman's safety came first.

Barbara pulled her grappling gun, firing it toward the next rooftop. The chase was on.

[ Justice League "Watchtower" ]

Author's Note:

If you're enjoying the story and want to read ahead or support my work, you can check out my P@treon at [email protected]/LordCampione. But don't worry—all chapters will eventually be public. Just being here and reading means the world to me. Thank you for your time and support