DC: Vessel

Ding

Stepping out from the elevator, I made my way down past the cells before arriving at another elevator where a guard was waiting.

"When did he wake up?"

The elevator doors opened, and we stepped inside as I was handed a folder.

"Two hours ago, Ma'am. We tried to question him again—with a bit more force this time—but he still wouldn't talk."

I sighed at that. The elevator jolted slightly before stopping at another hallway.

"And what of Subject M?"

Flipping through the folder, I glanced at the most recent photos capturing Titan's actions.

'Need to push him a little more.'

"He's fallen asleep, Ma'am."

I nodded, and we continued through the hallway in silence until we reached the end, where a lone steel door stood.

"Wait here."

The guard gave a nod, and I stepped inside, closing the door behind me.

Turning toward the pathetic sight of a former ally, I felt no pity.

"W-Waller... come to ask for the formula? I... I told you, I—"

I ignored his babbling and walked closer, getting a better look at the once-respected scientist. Sitting in the chair in front of him, I crossed my legs and spoke with a smirk.

"We already injected it into someone. And they survived."

The delirium on his face vanished, his head lolling forward as the weight of my words hit him.

"Are you insane?" he hissed.

I only hummed in response.

"It was quite fortunate for me, really. Someone completely alone, who drank a vial and had no one to turn to but me..."

I stopped mid-sentence as he spat at my shoes.

"Compound T wasn't just a physical enhancer, you dumb bitch! How many times have I said that?!"

Uncrossing my legs, I leaned back in the cold metal chair as he ranted.

"The serum doesn't create new traits. It intensifies what's already there!"

Another hum escaped me. Then I leaned forward slightly, letting the silence settle before speaking slowly and clearly.

"If that's the case... I take it that applies to his mental state, too?"

He opened his mouth to speak, then shut it again.

I stood. I already had my answer—he didn't need to say a word.

"It's a good thing." I said, walking toward the door. "that I became the one thing he relies on most."

-

"Dean?"

Turning around from the bench covered with drafts of my costume, I saw Waller walking up to me.

"I thought you were sleeping?"

I blinked, then shook my head.

"I did—for a bit."

She hummed and rested her hand gently on my upper arm, her eyes scanning the sketches in front of me. I answered the unspoken question.

"I was... thinking that maybe all black is too intimidating?"

She hummed again, this time in slight confusion.

"Well... if I'm going to be a Hero, shouldn't I bring comfort to people too—not just scare the bad ones?"

She chuckled and shook her head.

"You don't want lighter colors, Dean. You want to make it so that criminals don't even think about showing themselves."

I blinked at her words before slowly nodding and glancing back at the drafts.

"I guess you're right... Umm, Waller?"

She hummed again before snapping her fingers at someone nearby, who gave a nod.

"Yes, Dean?"

I looked up at one of the side monitors. It showed an image—of Titan.

"Can I go back out? Help more people?"

She chuckled, accepting a coffee handed to her. Letting go of my arm, she nodded softly.

"Of course, Dean. You've done so well already. Go put on your suit."

My hands clenched as my heart thudded against my ribs. I nodded and walked off toward a hidden door tucked into the corner. Opening it, I stepped inside and found my suit hanging there, waiting.

Walking up to it, I rested my palm against the heavy, textured material and closed my eyes.

Rain poured down, hiding the crimes committed in Gotham.

"Sweetie, dinner's almost ready. Can you get your father for me? He should be in his study!"

Small feet padded across wooden floors that creaked softly under each step.

He entered the hallway and peeked into a dim room lit only by candlelight.

"Dad? Mom said dinner's ready."

A familiar hum—calm and comforting met him as he turned the corner and saw the back of a man, his father, sitting in an old wooden chair, staring at a photograph.

"Dad? Are you okay?"

His father turned, offering that same smile that always meant he shouldn't speak.

"Dean, do you remember that game you wanted to play?"

The boy lit up, nodding eagerly. His father laughed.

"How about we play it with your mother?"

More nodding. Another chuckle from the man before he stood and motioned for the boy to follow.

"There's a spot I know that'll be perfect for you, Dean. Just wait there until your mother finds you."

Dean giggled as his father led him to a section of the wall. He watched with awe as something was pressed and a hidden panel slid open.

"Hide in there, and I'll find a good spot."

A warmth bloomed in my chest and crawled up my neck. I frowned and turned toward where my helmet rested, catching my reflection in the visor.

'Dumb laser vision.'

I rubbed at my eyes until the heat faded and shook my head.

"Mom and Dad aren't here. I'm an adult now—a Hero, at that."

Squaring my shoulders, I started suiting up.

-

I had been flying around Louisiana for about an hour. For the first half, there was no sound other than my breathing and the wind rushing across my body. That changed when Waller started playing some kind of melody through the radio.

'She's smart.'

I did a loop in the air before shooting upward, higher and higher. Once I broke through the clouds, I let gravity take over and dropped like a missile.

*"We've got smoke rising from the 7th floor, Titan—I repeat, explosion confirmed inside the building!"*

As soon as the words came through, the GPS flickered to life, a marker blinking toward Metropolis. I rocketed forward from my descent with a loud boom.

*"Titan, we've got reports of multiple people trapped inside."*

I didn't know how fast I was going, but within moments I could see the skyline—and the rising column of smoke.

"I'm here! What now?!"

Again, I realized—I had no idea what I was doing.

But Waller did.

*"Make sure everyone is evacuated from the building first."*

Nodding to myself, I flew straight into the fire, breaching through the side of the building. The room I landed in was hazy and thick with smoke.

"Anyone here?! I'm here to get you out!"

No response.

The fire didn't bother me, but my palms were sweating.

'Of course that's not going to work, Dean. Think. Think better!'

Clenching my teeth, I felt that familiar heat rise in my chest and up my neck. I shook my head, forcing myself to focus.

'Come on...'

I listened. Really listened.

The crackle of fire. The groaning structure. A soft hiss of gas. And then—

Thump.

Thump.

Thump-thump.

Thump.

My eyes snapped open.

I shot down through a broken floor in the room I'd just been in and landed in what looked like a bathroom. In the tub were a man and woman—both mostly naked.

"H-help us!"

I nodded quickly, scanning the area. My eyes landed on the tub... then a wall near me.

Walking over to it, I heard them yell something, but I raised my arm and smashed a clean hole through the wall.

"Stay low!"

They ducked into the tub, and I ripped it free from the floor. Holding it carefully, I flew the entire thing out of the burning building and landed them gently on the solid pavement.

"Thank you!"

I stared at them for a second, heart pounding, before giving a small nod and flying back up toward the flames.

'I know I heard more.'

I crashed through another window, breaking through a hallway wall and stumbled into a room where a figure was pinned under a burning beam.

I didn't hesitate.

Hands out, I grabbed the burning steel and hurled it aside before kneeling next to the person and pulling them into my arms.

'Are they... dead?'

A quick check—then a sigh of relief. Their chest was rising, slow but steady.

'Good.'

Scooping them up properly, I flew down again and passed them off to emergency responders waiting near the building.

Then something large blocked the sun above me.

A shadow engulfed everything.

I looked up—and froze.

Descending from above, holding two people in his arms, was someone I had only ever seen on TV.