ABANDONED OBSERVATORY — JULY 5, 09:17 EDT
Raj woke with a start, his mouth dry and his head pounding. For one disorienting moment, he expected to see the bunk bed above him and the cheap fluorescent lights of his hostel dorm—the ones that always buzzed like a mosquito when the AC kicked in.
Instead, he found himself staring at a curved dome where early morning light filtered through gaps in the rusted metal framework.
"Not a dream then," he croaked, wincing as he pushed himself up. "Definitely not Kansas anymore, Toto."
Every muscle in his body protested. The magical burn on his side had faded into a sullen red welt, but the real damage was deeper—cellular exhaustion from keeping three separate consciousnesses running for hours during the CADMUS operation.
"At least I didn't wake up as three separate people," he muttered, grabbing the water bottle he'd left nearby. "That's one sitcom the world is not ready for."
His eyes drifted to the two stasis pods humming across the room. The real Roy Harper floated peacefully in one; Match, Superman's unstable clone with the perpetual scowl, in the other. Two lives on ice, waiting for him to figure out what came next. He'd rescued them both during his infiltration of CADMUS, knowing the ripple effects it would create in the timeline.
"No pressure," he whispered.
With painful slowness, Raj shuffled to the makeshift command center he'd cobbled together—six scavenged monitors patched together like a bad group project. He'd managed to set up basic surveillance systems before collapsing yesterday, but there was so much more to do.
He tapped open a blank document titled, half-jokingly, THE PLAN.
"Step one: don't die," he typed. "Step two: see step one."
After a moment, he sighed and deleted it. Humor was his defense mechanism, but it wouldn't help right now. He needed structure.
He started again:
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[THE NEXUS PROTOCOL]
IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES:
-Recover fully (est. 3-5 days)
-Secure the base
-Set up a stable identity
-Train and refine powers (especially cloning)
MEDIUM-TERM GOALS:
-Help Roy Harper recover
-Stabilize Match
-Watch for Young Justice forming
-Prepare for future threats
LONG-TERM:
-Careful, targeted timeline interventions
-Build trustworthy alliances
-Prevent worst-case disasters
-Maybe find a way home... maybe
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He lingered over the last line. Did he want to go back? Back to endless assignments, bland cafeteria food, and wondering if he could pay rent next month?
Here, even with the danger, he had a chance to actually matter.
"Focus, Raj," he muttered. "Existential crisis later. Breakfast first."
He pulled up another screen showing security feeds from around the observatory. So far, his presence had gone undetected, but that wouldn't last. Someone would notice the power signatures eventually. Batman was probably already investigating the "glitches" at CADMUS.
ABANDONED OBSERVATORY — JULY 6, 16:42 EDT
"Testing integration circuit alpha," Raj announced to the empty dome, his voice echoing slightly.
He'd spent the day scavenging gear from junkyards and forgotten warehouses around D.C., teleporting the loot back with his pocket storage power. Old servers, busted solar panels, backup generators—every broken thing now had a second life here.
Cables crisscrossed the floor in organized chaos, each one meticulously taped down because he knew he'd trip otherwise. His technomancy abilities made the integration easier, but nothing replaced good old-fashioned elbow grease.
He closed his eyes, reaching out with his technomancy. The systems around him lit up in his mind like stars in a constellation—loose, janky stars, but stars nonetheless.
"Activate grid."
Lights flickered on around the dome, not the harsh fluorescents he'd slapped up on day one, but a softer, golden glow he'd jury-rigged from reclaimed smart lighting.
The air systems shuddered into motion with a satisfying hum. The temperature shifted from swampy to almost livable.
Raj grinned. "Not bad for a guy who once blew out the whole dorm wing trying to modify a coffee machine," he said.
A rough 3D model of the observatory spun lazily on one monitor. Raj gestured at the east wing. "Add a meditation room over there. Need somewhere to pretend I'm zen when everything hits the fan."
The plan updated, carving out a simple, quiet space.
"And a proper kitchen," he added. If he had to eat another bland, joyless plate of steamed vegetables, he was going to start carrying hot sauce like a survival item.
He shook his head, amused. Not exactly the superhero lair he imagined as a kid. But it was his now.
A notification pinged on one of his monitors. Batman's encrypted channel had been active, discussing anomalies at CADMUS. Raj frowned. He needed to move faster than expected.
ABANDONED OBSERVATORY — JULY 8, 07:30 EDT
Raj stood in front of a cracked department store mirror, critically eyeing his reflection. Three days of decent food and sleep had helped, though he still looked like he owed his body an apology.
"Identity establishment," he muttered, checking the next item off his list.
On the workbench beside him lay scraps of fabric and armor plating he'd been stitching together with his powers for days. This would be his public face—if and when he needed one.
"Time to suit up."
"Green's subtle enough... and it's not like I can just ghost on the thing that saved my life. Eidolon gets the color tribute. Quiet, like it should be."
With a focused breath, Raj activated his Suit Forging ability, one of the many powers he'd mysteriously gained upon arrival in this world. Materials shimmered and fused, folding over each other with precise, almost meditative movements.
Raj's suit emerged as a tactical blend of muted gunmetal gray and neon-green highlights, the seams pulsing faintly with energy. The jacket's reinforced fabric carried subtle geometric patterns, marked with small glowing "X" symbols at the shoulders and wrists. Underneath, a matte-black compression shirt and deep black cargo pants offered flexibility without sacrificing protection. Fingerless gloves with reinforced knuckles and silent, heavy-soled boots completed the look—built for stealth and speed.
Tech modules stitched into his gear synced seamlessly with his neural commands, making the whole ensemble feel less like clothing and more like an extension of himself.
No cape. He wasn't about to tempt fate.
No Masks,
"With my luck, the mask would just make people more curious. Better to stay low-key and hope nobody notices the nerd with dimensional PTSD."
He slipped into the suit. It was lighter than it looked, moving with him like a second skin.
"Alright," Raj said to the empty dome. "Let's see if I can pull off 'mysterious vigilante' without falling on my face."
As he adjusted the collar, he tapped the chest where a logo had formed—a stylized X, bold and simple, interlocking in a way that hinted at multiple paths crossing. Nexus.
"Could be worse," he mused. "Could've gone with something cheesy like... 'Captain Crossover.'"
He smirked, checking himself once more in the mirror. The suit wasn't flashy. It was practical, functional, and most importantly—it felt like him.
His monitors flashed with a news alert—something about Justice League members in a closed meeting. Things were moving according to the timeline he remembered. Young Justice would be forming soon, if it hadn't already.
ABANDONED OBSERVATORY — JULY 9, 13:12 EDT
"Attempt seventeen," Raj muttered, standing in the center of the dome's freshly cleared training floor.
He was suited up as Nexus, sweat already prickling under the collar. This power—controlled cloning—had nearly killed him during the CADMUS mission. He needed to master it.
"Controlled Cloning Protocol—go."
Breath steady. Focus sharpened. He reached for the cloning ability—not with panic, but with deliberate control, like threading a needle.
His form shimmered—and split.
Two Nexuses now faced each other across the circle.
"Vitals stable," said the clone, tapping his own wrist scanner.
Raj nodded, feeling the doubled awareness. It was weird—like knowing what your own echo was going to say before you said it—but manageable.
They moved through tests: sparring forms, tech activation, basic power maneuvers. Each second stressed his mind and body a little more. But it was a manageable strain now, like holding a heavy weight rather than being crushed.
By five minutes, both were breathing hard but steady.
Raj gave a sharp nod. Reintegration came smoothly—a shimmer and a rush of memories slotting back into place.
He sagged slightly against a workbench but stayed upright.
"Progress," he muttered, recording the results. "Almost starting to look professional."
On a monitor nearby, muted news feeds flashed footage of government officials meeting in closed sessions—no official announcement, but whispers of a new "covert team initiative" by the Justice League.
Raj smiled faintly. Young Justice. Right on time.
His eyes flicked to the stasis pods—still holding Roy and Match. So much work left to do. Roy would need psychological support after years of being replaced by a clone. Match would need specialized treatment to stabilize his degrading DNA and mental conditioning.
One window showed a simple calendar. Scrolling past meetings and alerts, Raj's gaze landed on a reminder: a covert operation window opening soon. Perfect timing for his first real intervention as Nexus.
"Low profile, just the way they like it," he murmured.
It was the kind of mission that would slip under the radar. His kind of mission.
BATMAN'S INVESTIGATION — THE BATCAVE, 21:47 EDT
The Batcave's ambient hum was the only sound as Batman scrolled through CADMUS data, his cowl pulled back to reveal Bruce Wayne's focused expression. Anomalies had been appearing ever since the team's unauthorized mission—unexplained system failures, security breaches that left no trace, and power fluctuations that defied explanation.
"The energy signature is unlike anything in our database," Batman murmured, enhancing a corrupted section of security footage. For just a frame, there was something—a blur of movement where nothing should have been.
"Burning the midnight oil again, sir?" Alfred appeared silently at his side, setting down a tray with coffee.
"There was an unknown player at CADMUS during the team's mission," Batman said, not looking up. "Someone who manipulated the facility's systems with remarkable precision. They left virtually no trace except for these anomalous energy readings."
Alfred leaned closer to examine the screen. "A meta-human ability, perhaps?"
"Something more complex. The readings suggest sophisticated light manipulation and spatial distortion." Batman pulled up another screen showing his analysis. "Whoever they are, they didn't trip a single meaningful alarm, yet managed to interact with multiple systems simultaneously."
"A new player on the board," Alfred observed. "Friend or foe?"
"There's also the matter of Raj Bansal," he said, bringing up a blurry image captured from a security camera near a D.C. electronics store. "No birth records, no passport entries, no digital footprint beyond the last week. He appeared out of nowhere."
"You believe this Raj person is connected to the CADMUS anomalies?" Alfred asked.
Batman frowned, studying both sets of data side by side. "I'm not convinced. The timing aligns, but the energy signatures at CADMUS suggest abilities beyond what we've observed from Bansal. They could be connected, or we could be dealing with two separate unknowns."
"A concerning prospect either way," Alfred noted.
"Unknown. But I'm not taking chances." Batman's fingers moved rapidly across the keyboard, pulling up a secure file labelled 'CONTINGENCY: UNKNOWN ENTITY Θ-7.'
The screen displayed a series of protocols Batman had been developing—countermeasures designed specifically for an entity with light manipulation and spatial distortion abilities:
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PROTOCOL ALPHA: Anti-Teleportation Defenses
-Electromagnetic field generators calibrated to disrupt spatial manipulation.
-Quantum stabilizers to prevent teleportation and dimensional phase shifts.
-Gravitational anchor points throughout critical facilities to prevent instant relocation
PROTOCOL BETA: Optical Countermeasures
-Multi-spectrum visual filters to counter light manipulation
-Automated targeting systems with predictive trajectory tracking
-Non-visual detection grid (sonar, infrared, pressure sensors)
PROTOCOL GAMMA: Containment Parameters
-Energy-dampening field generators
-Neural disruptors calibrated to meta-human brainwave patterns
-Argus-designed power suppression technology (pending acquisition)
PROTOCOL DELTA: Engagement Strategy
-Maintain minimum 15-meter distance
-Deploy area effect tactics rather than direct confrontation
-Utilize EMP bursts at first sign of technopathic abilities
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"Quite thorough, sir," Alfred noted. "Though I do hope these countermeasures won't be necessary."
"So do I, Alfred." Batman closed the file and returned to the security footage. "But until we know their intentions, we prepare for worst-case scenarios."
He opened a separate file labelled 'PERSON OF INTEREST: RAJ BANSAL.'
"As for Bansal, I'm keeping separate protocols. For now, observation is the priority. If he is connected to the CADMUS incident, I need to understand how and why before making any moves."
"Should the Team be informed? They were at CADMUS when this... entity appeared."
Batman shook his head firmly. "Not yet. They're still adjusting to working together. This information would only complicate matters." He paused, considering. "I'll brief the League on a need-to-know basis. For now, we observe and gather data."
"Very good, sir." Alfred paused. "And what of the anomalous energy signatures detected in the abandoned sectors of D.C.?"
"I'm sending in surveillance drones tonight," Batman replied. "If our mystery player is setting up shop nearby, we'll find them."
LEXCORP TOWER — LUTHOR'S OFFICE, 22:13 EDT
Across town in Lex Corp Tower, Lex Luthor reviewed the same CADMUS data, his expression a mask of controlled irritation.
"Explain to me again," he said coolly to the scientist on the video call, "how our security systems failed so spectacularly during the breach."
"Sir, the systems were... it's as if they were speaking to someone. The security protocols didn't just fail—they were convinced nothing was wrong."
Luthor's eyes narrowed. "Technopathy?"
"Possibly, but at a level we've never documented."
Luthor ended the call and swiveled his chair to face the Metropolis skyline. Someone new was playing in his sandbox, someone with abilities that could threaten his operations.
A thin smile crossed his face. This wasn't just an intrusion—it was an invitation. A new player had entered the game, and Luthor intended to find out who they were.
"Mercy," he called to his assistant, "initiate Protocol Watchman. I want eyes on any unusual metahuman activity, particularly around D.C. And conduct a full inventory of all CADMUS projects. I want to know if anything else has been... disturbed."
Whoever this new player was, they would slip up eventually. And when they did, Lex Luthor would be waiting.
TASK FORCE X HEADQUARTERS — JULY 9, 20:30 EDT
Amanda Waller stared at the satellite images spread across her desk, lips pressed into a thin line. The CADMUS breach had become a tangled mess of jurisdiction and finger-pointing—exactly the kind of chaos she despised.
"Director Waller," her aide announced from the doorway. "The anomalous energy readings report."
She took the tablet without looking up. "And?"
"It matches nothing in any government database. Not metahuman, alien, or magical signatures we've catalogued."
Waller scrolled through the data, eyes narrowing at the unusual pattern spikes. Something new. Something unpredictable. Something dangerous.
"This isn't Justice League," she muttered. "Too subtle. Too controlled."
She pulled up the corrupted security footage, freezing on a frame that showed nothing but a blurred shadow where the camera feed had glitched. The timing aligned perfectly with the disappearance of two high-value CADMUS assets—the original Roy Harper and the unstable Superman clone.
"Whoever took them knew exactly what they were looking for," she said. "This wasn't opportunistic. It was targeted."
Waller tapped her security clearance into the system, accessing a file few knew existed: "DIMENSIONAL ANOMALIES—CLASSIFICATION ULTRA VIOLET."
"Cross-reference these energy signatures with the Belle Reve incident from 2009."
The computer processed for only seconds before returning a partial match.
Waller leaned back, a cold calculation settling behind her eyes. "So, it's happening again."
She pressed the intercom. "Activate Task Force X recon team. I want surveillance on all abandoned structures within fifty miles of CADMUS. And put Flag on standby—we may need to move quickly."
Whatever—whoever—this was, Amanda Waller intended to contain it before Batman or the Justice League could interfere. Some weapons were too valuable to leave in self-righteous hands.
Robin's Perspective
MOUNT JUSTICE — JULY 10, 07:15 EDT
Dick Grayson had been reviewing the CADMUS mission logs for the fifth time when he spotted it—a millisecond where the security camera feed skipped, then resumed as if nothing happened.
He enhanced the section, isolating the frames where the time code jumped by exactly 3.7 seconds.
"That doesn't make sense," he muttered, fingers flying across the keyboard. "The system should have flagged missing footage."
But it hadn't. The security system itself believed nothing was wrong—which meant someone had convinced it otherwise.
Dick glanced over his shoulder to ensure he was alone. Batman hadn't shared everything about the CADMUS anomalies with the team, but Robin had his ways of accessing information.
"Computer, cross-reference these temporal anomalies with the Batcave database, keyword 'technopathy.'"
The search returned several files, including one labelled "CONTINGENCY: UNKNOWN ENTITY Θ-7."
"Why am I not surprised?" Dick whispered, quickly scanning Batman's careful analysis and counter-measures. Bruce was already three steps ahead, preparing for a threat the team didn't even know existed.
Robin's communicator buzzed with Wally's third message about hanging out later, but he ignored it. Something about this mysterious player at CADMUS felt personal—like whoever it was had been watching them, waiting for the perfect moment to act.
"Computer, search for any similar energy signatures in the last week."
The results made him sit up straight. Six minor blips across D.C., all radiating from the same general area.
"Got you," Dick whispered, downloading the coordinates to his wrist computer. Batman would want him to report this immediately.
Instead, he closed the files and headed for his motorcycle. Sometimes asking forgiveness was easier than permission—especially when dealing with shadows that shouldn't exist.
ABANDONED OBSERVATORY — JULY 10, 01:22 EDT
Raj jolted awake at his console, a cold cup of coffee beside him. The monitors showed multiple alert flags—increased surveillance activity in the D.C. area.
"They're looking for me sooner than expected," he muttered, rubbing his eyes.
One screen showed a Batman-tagged drone passing within two miles of the observatory. Raj quickly activated his counter-surveillance measures—systems designed to make the old building appear abandoned and unremarkable.
On another monitor, Roy Harper's vitals showed improvement. He'd be ready for revival within days. Match was another story—his genetic degradation required more specialized treatment.
" Batman doesn't know I have you two," Raj said quietly, glancing at the stasis pods. "Let's keep it that way for now."
He pulled up his calendar, eyeing the date of the upcoming covert operation. It would be the perfect moment to establish himself—carefully, from the shadows. Not as a hero or villain, but as something else entirely.
"The Nexus Effect begins," he whispered, his suited reflection staring back from a darkened monitor. "Let's see if I can keep this timeline from burning down around us."
The game had begun.
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