DC: Crystalizing

The dim room buzzed with the glow of flickering screens. Each monitor displayed blurred silhouettes—a faceless collection of power and authority, known only as the board of directors of Cadmus. Their distorted shapes pulsed against the white background, but their voices were sharp, cutting through the room like blades. 

Standing in the center, Dr. Emil Hamilton tugged at the collar of his lab coat, his composure fraying under the weight of their collective judgment. He could feel the presence of power, suffocating and heavy, and the only thing keeping him tethered to the moment was the G-Gnome perched on his shoulder, its claws gently digging into him as it transferred memories directly to his mind. 

The memories came in sharp flashes—the failure of Guardian to subdue Adrian Wells, the unexpected intervention of Batgirl, the destruction at the docks, and most unsettling of all, Adrian's sudden display of power. 

"The board of directors has summoned you for answers, Dr. Hamilton."

"Of course, sir," Emil replied, his voice steady despite the churn of anxiety building within him. 

The memories settled, but the sting of failure remained sharp. 

"Dr. Hamilton," another voice said. "Your decision to send only a retrieval team consisting of G-Elves and Guardian has resulted in catastrophic failure. Not only is Adrian Wells missing, but the Justice League has now captured both Guardian and the G-Elves. Their interference is inevitable." 

Emil flinched at that final statement. It confirmed his worst fear—the League was aware of what had happened, and they'd soon be breathing down Cadmus's neck. 

"You had one task, Dr. Hamilton," the voice continued, unforgiving. "And because of your failure, Adrian Wells's location is unknown. Explain yourself." 

He could. He could easily shift the blame to Lex Luthor. After all, Lex had been the one to approve this mission, bypassing certain levels of authorization. Emil had thought Lex had coordinated with the board, but now it was clear: Lex had been operating on his own agenda. 

Did Lex plan this? Was Adrian supposed to slip through our fingers and end up in his hands?

The thought made his throat tighten. There was no point trying to outmaneuver Lex—not here, not in this room. If Lex had a plan, Emil knew better than to get in the way of it. 

He straightened his posture. "Esteemed members of the board," he said with a respectful nod, "I take full responsibility for the failure." 

There was a long pause, and Emil felt sweat gather at the back of his neck. 

"And what does that responsibility entail, Dr. Hamilton?" 

"I will immediately assemble a new retrieval—" 

"No," a different voice interrupted, cutting through Emil's words. "I'll handle it. Your direct involvement will only draw further attention from the League, and we cannot afford that right now. I'll ensure it is dealt with before the League can investigate Guardian and the G-Elves." 

Emil bit his tongue and nodded. Let them handle it. The less I'm involved, the better.

"Very well," said the figure seated at the head of the table. "Now, Dr. Hamilton, the board requires an explanation for subject KR-2's unexpected power levels. Your reports suggested nothing of this magnitude." 

Emil hesitated, feeling the weight of the question pressing down on him. His hands tightened into fists at his sides. He had dreaded this. 

"Based on the memories transferred from Guardian's mission," he began carefully, "I can confirm that Adrian Wells's powers stem from his ability to absorb and manipulate crystalline structures. For example, human bone is composed of hydroxyapatite—a naturally occurring mineral crystal—while silica sand consists of crystalline silicon dioxide." 

He glanced at the screens, hoping that the technical explanation would buy him time. It didn't. 

"Dr. Hamilton," the leader pressed, their patience wearing thin. "We've read the reports. What we want to know is why Adrian's powers far exceed your original projections." 

Emil's heart raced. He had run countless simulations through Cadmus's most advanced quantum computers. Every model, every test had pointed to the same conclusion: the artifact would allow Adrian to generate and control crystals, but only within manageable limits. Enough to make him a valuable asset, a living resource mine—but not this. Not what they'd seen at the docks. 

And yet, he created weapons from bone. Controlled waves of silica sand like they were extensions of his body. 

The truth was harsh, but there was no avoiding it. Emil exhaled, his voice quieter now. "I don't know why his powers are this strong." 

The silence that followed was suffocating. 

"You don't know?" 

"No," Emil admitted, the word bitter on his tongue. "The artifact shouldn't be capable of this. Not based on any data we've collected." 

The board shifted slightly, their movements causing the screens to flicker ominously. 

"Then perhaps," the leader said, "your data is incomplete." 

Emil clenched his fists, swallowing the urge to snap back. "I'll double my efforts," he said. "We'll dissect every piece of information we have on the artifact. We'll isolate what's causing the anomaly." 

"See that you do," the leader said. "And remember, Dr. Hamilton, failure is not something this board takes lightly. Adrian Wells cannot be allowed to slip further from our grasp." 

"Yes, sir," Emil replied, bowing his head slightly. "I understand." 

As the screens dimmed and the silhouettes disappeared, Emil exhaled a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. But the tension didn't leave him. 

In the back of his mind, one thought lingered like a shadow he couldn't shake: 

What the hell did we really unleash inside Adrian Wells?

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.