Author Note: This is a kind of !!!CRACKISH!!! Fanfiction. I don't own Marvel and DC, nor am I some sort of loremaster.

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Chapter 5: Comeback

Cadmus.

Avery Room.

New year of 2006.

Avery Gallahan POV.

1 year since the Relocation.

"So how was training bossman?”

I heard the voice of the Australian UNSC AI speak to me as I got out of the shower, dressed in my black undersuit instead of the usual green jumpsuit that I have been wearing since I ended up in this universe and the room I was assigned to was different also. It was an improvement from the previous room I was staying in.

My new room is spacious and comfortable, and the bed is soft and warm. There is a couch in the corner and there is a TV mounted on the wall. Although the TV only has a couple of channels and nothing much is shown. But it was still better than nothing. Right now it was showing the new segment about Superman again!, and the reporter, Lois Lane was going on about Superman but that is nothing unusual considering the universe that I am currently stuck in.

And the best thing about this room is the bathroom, which is clean, and the hot water never runs out. And the food is edible, although it's still a bit bland, and I have not tasted any chocolate or sweet yet for a year now, which kind of sucks but still, a little sacrifice is worth the price.

This room was apparently both a “Christmas gift” and an apology from the good doctor about what She and the sorceress did to me during the so-called test room and the punishment afterward. I still don't know how to feel about the good Doctor, she has this enigmatic yet eccentric and mysterious vibe about her, and there is always a mischievous and cunning look in her eyes, she seems to always have the upper hand and knows more about things than she lets on.

I am not sure whether she is an ally or a friend, or if she is manipulating me, for her own goals and agendas, but whatever it is, it is clear that she has an agenda and that she is keeping an eye on me. But I will say that I somehow feel safer and more comfortable with her than the other people in the organization. I just hope that her intentions are reasonable and that she is not working with a nasty agenda. And it doesn't help that she looked familiar somehow but in all of my life, I am pretty sure I have never met this woman.

However, I'm getting ahead of myself, and I should probably give some context about what has happened recently and the events that transpired in the past couple of days, well for the most part at least, the things that I can disclose, that is.

I shrugged.

"Same as always, Quint, is hard and challenging. But I have managed to get through it, and it is not as bad as before."

Quintero and I have been talking on and off in secret for many months now with no one in Cadmus knowing about it although I suspect that the good doctor knows but suspiciously hasn't said anything yet. We have gotten to know each other pretty well. The AI can be an annoying smartass sometimes but he is a good companion, and I can tell that he is trustworthy.

"Well, that's good to hear, mate.” The Australian accent was thick and pronounced now. "What training did Deathstroke and the good doc put you through today?"

As I finished putting on the undersuit, I grabbed the towel and started to dry my hair. After a while, I sat down on the bed, put on my Bio-watch that was on the sheet, turned it on, and checked my bio-stats.

[Heartbeat: 65 BPM, Blood Pressure: 120/80 mm Hg, Respiration: 16 BPM.]

'Still the same old stats,' I thought as I scanned the readout.

[14200 megawatts per hour]

[1591% more power than the average human]

I whistled softly, 'That's a lot of power.'

It has been almost a year since I arrived in this universe, and since then, I have been training and undergoing experiments with the help of a good doctor and the mercenary, and the results are very satisfactory. The amount of power I Generate now is Equivalent to 1000 tons of TNT Explosions or roughly the same as a low-yield nuclear device or a hydrogen bomb.

I am pretty sure that I have not reached my full potential yet, but the progress I've made has been astounding, and I've come a long way since the incident. The amount of power I generate now is halfway the equivalent of Superman and I have a lot more stamina and endurance than before.

I smiled as I looked at my reflection in the mirror, my face had become more mature, and my features had sharpened, giving me an even more rugged and handsome appearance. My eyes were still red and piercing, and my jawline was square and chiseled. My hair was snow-white, and my beard was trimmed. I still kind of miss my old African skin tone but it is a small price to pay I guess.

"Well, the training today was interesting. But nothing too out of the ordinary. We were running obstacle courses, doing martial arts training, and finally, melee weapons training and that was the highlight of the day, Slade had me train and handle all kinds of swords, axes, and knives and then he had me spar with him and that was a tough and brutal fight."

"He did not go easy on you, did he?"

"Of course not," I scoffed. ”It didn't help that I picked a spear for whatever reason and he was using that stupid special overpower blade that I'm pretty sure was crafted by the gods themselves.”

——————————-

30 minutes earlier.

I managed to parry a wide slash from The Godkiller with my spear as The super mercenary swung the twin blade at me. I gritted my teeth as I felt the sheer strength and force of the blow as the god-forged sword cut through the air and made a loud whistling noise. I had to use both hands to stop the sword, and the strain was immense.

"Come on Three, you can do better than that," Deathstroke growled as he pressed down on the Godkiller.

I gritted my teeth as I pushed back, trying to keep the sword at bay. But the Terminator was relentless and kept pushing and pushing, and after a few seconds, I was forced to let go of the spear, and I barely had enough time to dodge a slash to the neck.

“That no ordinary blade!” I hissed as I ducked and weaved under another deadly strike.

"Of course not, it's a god-forged weapon. One of the few weapons in the entire world capable of killing an actual god or an immortal." The mercenary replied. “But enough about that.”

The Terminator then attacked again, swinging his blade in a downward arc. I rolled out of the way, and the sword crashed into the ground, creating a small crater and kicking up a cloud of dust. I quickly regained my footing and went on the offensive. I threw a series of punches and kicks, aiming for the vulnerable points on the mercenary's body.

But the Terminator was too fast and experienced, and he easily dodged or blocked my attacks. He then countered with a kick to my stomach, sending me flying backward.

'Damn it!'

I landed on my back and the breath was knocked out of me.

'Fuck! I didn't see that coming!'

I need to get my spear, or else, the fight will be over. Then an idea struck me, and I decided to try something different. I stood up and charged at the Terminator. The mercenary smirked and raised his sword, ready to intercept me.

With my enhancements and reflexes, I could see everything in slow motion, and I saw the perfect opportunity, I ducked under the swing of the Terminator's blade and delivered a powerful uppercut to his chin, the force of the blow lifted the mercenary off his feet, and he staggered backward. I then used the opening to grab my fallen spear and spun around, delivering a vicious kick to the Terminator's side.

The mercenary was sent flying across the training room, and his back collided with a wall. I smirked and rushed towards the stunned super-mercenary. As I approached him, the Terminator suddenly moved, and his hand blurred.

Something flew towards me, and I reacted instinctively, bringing up my spear and deflecting the object. I heard a metallic clang and a small knife was embedded in the shaft of my weapon. I gritted my teeth and glared at the Terminator.

'So that is how you want to play huh?'

I grinned and raised my spear beside my head, aiming it toward the mercenary before throwing it forward with all my enhanced strength. Deathstroke's eyes widened as the spear hurtled toward him. He tried to dodge, but the weapon was moving too fast, and the spear struck him right in the chest, knocking him back against the wall and denting his armor.

As Deathstroke was knocked back by the impact of the spear, he let out a grunt of pain and frustration. The force of the blow against his chest had momentarily winded him, but he quickly regained his composure. With a determined look in his eyes, he pushed himself off the wall, the dent in his armor serving as a testament to the power of the strike.

"Nice move," he said, a hint of admiration in his voice. "But this fight isn't over yet."

Deathstroke swiftly removed the spear from his chest, tossing it to me with a flick of his wrist and surprising me. He assessed the situation and decided to change tactics. With a quick dash, he closed the distance between me, launching a flurry of precise strikes with his twin blade. Each swing was calculated and aimed at exploiting any opening in my defense.

“You have potential with a spear, kid, but you need to work on your speed and timing."

"Yes, sir," I nodded as I dodged and blocked the mercenary's blows.

Deathstroke grinned and changed the trajectory of his sword mid-swing, his blade coming dangerously close to my throat. I quickly leaned back, narrowly avoiding the deadly strike. The wind from the blade brushed against my skin, sending a shiver down my spine. The intensity of the fight was exhilarating, and I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins.

Sweat dripped down my forehead as I continued to defend against Deathstroke's relentless assault. I knew I had to find an opening, a moment of weakness in his attack, to turn the tide in my favor. I focused on his movements, analyzing his patterns, and searching for any vulnerabilities.

As the mercenary launched another series of strikes, I managed to block and parry most of them, but one managed to graze my arm, leaving a shallow cut. The pain fueled my determination, and I retaliated with a swift kick to his abdomen, momentarily staggering him.

Seizing the opportunity, I followed up with a combination of punches and thrusts with the spear, aiming for his exposed face and torso. But Deathstroke quickly recovered, deflecting and countering my attacks with precise movements. His skill and experience were evident as he effortlessly evaded and countered my strikes.

Then Slade swung the Godkiller at me, and I blocked it with my spear, but the sheer force of the attack was enough to send me stumbling back. I quickly regained my footing and prepared to launch a counterattack, but the mercenary was already upon me.

Then Slade swung the Godkiller at me, and I blocked it with my spear, but the sheer force of the attack was enough to send me stumbling back. I quickly regained my footing and prepared to launch a counterattack, but the mercenary was already upon me.

I can feel the God-forged blade cutting through my black suit and striking my skin but surprisingly I didn't feel any pain, only the sensation of the cold blade's touch. And if seen that the super mercenary also noticed judging by the extremely brief wide-eyed look.

"Huh, it seems your physiology has adapted,” the Terminator hummed.

"I can see that, sir."

"Well, no matter, this will be our little secret, for now, let's get back to business,"

And that is when the fight truly began.

Deathstroke attacked me with renewed ferocity, and I was forced on the defensive, barely managing to parry and block his strikes. My instincts and reflexes kicked in, and I started to anticipate his moves, slowly getting the upper hand.

The mercenary's blade whistled through the air as he continued his relentless assault, but I was faster and stronger, and I was able to match him blow for blow. Our bodies were a blur of movement as we exchanged strikes and counterstrikes, the sound of our weapons clashing reverberating through the training room.

The tension and excitement were palpable, and the air was filled with the smell of sweat and the tang of metal. We were like two titans locked in a fierce battle, each trying to emerge victorious. The stakes were high, and the outcome of the fight would determine who was the superior warrior.

Eventually, the fighting reached a fever pitch, and we were moving at lightning speed, our movements a blur. Deathstroke launched a powerful strike at my neck, and I was just barely able to block it with my spear, the force of the impact knocking me off my feet.

I grunted as I landed on my back, and the super mercenary was on top of me in an instant, his blade pressed against my throat.

"Looks like I win this round, kid," he said, his breathing labored.

"I wouldn't count on that," I replied, a strained smirk on my face.

I then used the blunt end of the spear to hit the Terminator's gut. He gasped and doubled over, and I quickly took the opportunity to roll out from underneath him, getting back on my feet. The super mercenary recovered and launched another flurry of strikes, but I was ready for him.

I sidestepped his attacks and countered with a kick to his abdomen, causing him to stumble back. I then spun around and delivered a powerful strike with my spear, the impact knocking the Godkiller out of his hand and sending it flying across the room.

“Well…” Deathstroke huffed, catching his breath. "It seems I underestimated you, kid. You're good, real good."

"I had a good teacher," I replied, a smile on my face.

The super mercenary chuckled.

"I do not doubt that, but you still have a long way to go before you can beat me."

"I'll take that challenge, sir,"

The super mercenary grinned and watched as I walked toward where The Godkiller landed, picked it up, and handed the divine blade pommel first to him. He took it and gave me a pat on the back.

"Good fight, Three. You've impressed me, and that's no easy feat. Keep up the good work, and I'll see you after the weekend."

—————————-

Present Time.

“Maybe it's because of the power inhibitor around your ankle?” Quintero guessed.

Ah yes… the inhibitor anklet is the more advanced and slightly less demeaning control device than the Shock collar I wore for the first couple of months in Cadmus. Looking down at the glowing blue anklet, I couldn't help but frown.

“Maybe… But I feel like this thing around my ankle has been less effective recently and that my powers have been increasing exponentially.” I murmured. “But anyway way I was able to get an upper hand against Slade in the end and that's something."

I was able to get a W again the world's best assassin in the end, and wasn't that something? Deathstroke in the comic was capable of defeating the likes of Batman, Superman, Captain Marvel, Martian Manhunter, and even the Titan, and yea maybe the super mercenary has been holding back the whole time and didn't even use his full strength or speed, but I was able to force him into a stalemate-ish? which is impressive considering the fact that he has fought and defeated people with powers that make mine look like child's play.

"True, mate, but there is still a lot of room for improvement. You're strong, but you need to learn how to control your power, and you need to develop your skills and techniques. Fighting isn't just about raw strength, you know?"

I couldn't help but sigh.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. I'm still trying to figure out how my abilities work, and there is still so much I don't know." I sighed, and I flopped down onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling. “So… how much information have you been able to gather around here?”

"Oh, a fair amount," the AI replied. "For a year, I was able to gather a significant amount of data and information without being detected, and I've learned a great deal about Cadmus and its activities. I've also been able to access some of their classified files and reports, and the information I've found is quite interesting."

"What did you find?" I asked, curious.

"Well, they seem to be interested in a lot of different things. Some of the projects they're working on are pretty bizarre. Like this Project Kr,”

“Hmm… let me guess is Dr. Hamilton involved in this?” I groaned.

“How did you?”

“Dr. Iamizaki took me up to the facility for a standard check-up and introduced me to Dr. Emil Hamilton who was the lead scientist and head of that project. But essentially he didn’t like the fact that his own project got put on the back burner somewhat because of me and he made his displeasure known."

"I see... Well, the project was apparently a secret government experiment designed to create a genetically engineered Kryptonian…”

“Clone of Supergirl.” I finished. “Yeah, I caught a glimpse of fetuses that they kept in a pod,”

Quintero paused for a second.

"Well technically… you half-right…” Quintero replied.

My eyebrows furrowed, "What do you mean?"

"That fetuses that they keep in the pod have 50% genetic material from Supergirl. But the other half…” The AI hesitated.

"The other half what?" I prodded.

"That… would be …” The UNSC AI took a sharp breath. “Her cousin…”

Okay! then…

"Are you fucking serious brother?" I exclaimed with an unimpressed look.

"Yeah, mate and it gets better. According to the files, the original plan was to create a clone of Kara Zor-El. But for whatever brainless reason, they decided to add her cousin's DNA, which resulted in a more powerful and faster-aging clone. And the project was successful. They created the first clone and only clone, which was codenamed ‘Galatea’."

“What the fuck!” I Groan loudly.

"Shh! Keep it down mate," the AI shushed.

"Sorry, but still, seriously?! Both of them are cousin and their clone is a fusion of both of their genetics! This is fuck up and absolutely disgusting!"

"Yup, the file does say that Galatea is stable physically somewhat but despite that, she is… let's just say according to many simulations made by Hamilton, mentally unstable and they had to put up more security measures in the pod where she is currently floating in a state of perpetual sleep. But it seems that Dr. Hamilton with great reluctance and the hard insistence of the Director got Doctor Ianite to assist with the stabilization of the clone. Like trying to rectify her genes and her mind, etc"

"So that's why I have been seeing her less frequently for a week now, "I muttered “Anyway moving on from that disturbing topic, anything else?"

"Oh yeah, a few things, a lot of stuff about Project Blockbuster, which seems to be an experiment aimed at creating a more powerful super soldier, but the project was deemed too unstable and risky, so they abandoned it."

“Cadmus also has a plan to launch a spaceship out of the solar system for some reason I can't fathom, but that's not all,”

“Okay?.” I raised an eyebrow.

"There seems to be a request by the head of Cadmus magic division that that was granted by Director Waller.”

Oh…Great…

“Quintero please tell me that this request…” I groaned. ”Doesn't have any to do with me.”

There was silence for a moment but all of a sudden the door opened and allowed two very familiar guards to enter the room. One of the guards with the advanced-looking armor and Riot helmet pointed his baton at me and called out.

“Skyfall-3, please come with us."

There was an awkward pause for a second, as the two guards and I stared at each other. The tension was thick, and no one dared to move. Then, finally, the guard broke the silence.

"Please, come with us. It would be easier for you, Boy if you were to cooperate.”

Uhh! Fine… well, Better get this over with then.

“Alright?…” I answer with a click of the tongue as I get up from the bed. "Where are we going exactly?"