Aside from the rumor of Cadmus being once again operational that Clark had heard from Barry and Kara, he had another important reason for going to see Bruce. Perry White had heard that Wayne Enterprises was opening a new scientific research division later in the year. Perry knew that the Gotham Gazette would be covering the story but he wanted the Daily Planet in on the news as well. Clark’s first stop was Bruce’s office, but he had left Lucius Fox in charge for the day. This left Clark knowing that there was one other place Bruce would be on today of all days. He had undergone a biometric scan that granted him access to the one place Bruce knew no one would bother him, and only his closest allies were allowed.

“Bruce? I saw Lucius. I remember what today is, so I know you’re here.”

“What do you want, Clark? It seems that here lately you only stop by if you need something. I’d hazard a guess that White sent you here to cover Wayne Enterprises newest research division.”

“That is part of why I’m here, but again, Lucius gave me what I needed on that. No, I’m here because I need your help.”

Clark found Bruce in his training ring in the Bat-cave. He had set this new location up just after Jason Todd was murdered by the Joker. Batman used the location for focus as it was in a direct eye-line of the memoriam built for the second Robin. For a moment, Clark offered up his own moment of silence for the young man whose life was cut tragically short. Bruce hadn’t taken it well, once vowing to never take on another Robin, thus causing Batman to embrace a darker aspect of his own personality in his war on crime. Only Dick Grayson and the young prodigy Tim Drake had been able to snap Bruce out his grief when the latter used his own detective skills to discover that Bruce and Dick were in fact Batman and Robin.

“All right Clark, so you’re here for a social call. What can I do for you?”

“Actually it’s much more than that. You remember the article Lois and I wrote thanks to Harper about Cadmus?”

“I remember he risked everything by revealing all of the Project’s illegal experimentation and it cost a lot of scientists their careers.”

“Bruce…”

“I didn’t say I didn’t agree with Cadmus needing to be shut down, just the way it was ultimately handled.”

“I didn’t agree with it either, but there’s a problem.”

“Here’s why you’ve come to me.”

“You remember my cousin Kara.”

Bruce nods, he already knows this was not a question and he really doesn’t want to rehash their twelve year old disagreement over having her go with Diana to train with the Amazons, while Clark vehemently insisted that she be given as normal a life as possible to enjoy her childhood with the Danvers.

“She’s been working with the Flash…”

“An arrogant, hot-tempered smart-ass if I’ve ever seen one.”

“…yes, I heard the rumors as well. But I’ve met the kid, and he’s got guts and a really good heart.”

“Get to the point Clark…”

“Fine, he and Kara have both encountered dead meta-humans in Central City and National City. Their bodies had both suffered from what appear to be severe radiation burns.”

“Unusual, why are you bringing this to me?”

“I’ve read Kara’s article on the murder. There’s been a lot of speculation that it was alien on meta-human. That in itself is very disconcerting. However, what bothered Flash the most is that Central City’s particle accelerator was the primary cause of the influx of meta-humans we’ve been dealing with.”

“So?”

“Neither of the victims have any records, no trace of the dark matter from the explosion, but they’re meta-human all the same.”

“So the Flash and Kara think that someone has found a way to create meta-humans.”

“Yes…”

“And you think Cadmus might have something to do with it. Even though Cadmus has been defunct for nearly five years.”

“I don’t think it’s a coincidence. This may be a wild goose chase. But it does deserve some investigating. I can go search the last known structure that Cadmus operated out of, and I have plans to do just that as soon as I leave here. But we need concrete evidence.”

“Which might be difficult to come by…”

Clark could practically see the wheels turning in Bruce’s brain as he processed this information. Though they haven’t always agreed, they have worked together to get the job done on multiple occasions. As such, Clark knew what Bruce was going to say before he said it.

“I’ll see what I can find out. Tim and I will get to work on this right away.”

“Might need more than just the two of you. What about Dick and…”

“Dick and Barbara are away on their honeymoon. Currently Nightwing and Batgirl are listed as overseas on an undercover mission to infiltrate the League of Shadows.”

“Then we’ll just have to make do with what we’ve got. But at some point we need to reopen discussions about our own League. Thanks Bruce.”

Clark flew off to begin his own investigation at Cadmus’ last known headquarters. Bruce watched him go before going to his computer, and calling Tim down to the cave.

“What’s up Bruce?”

“I need you to go to Central City. Clark was just here, and his cousin and the Flash seem to think someone has found a way to create new meta-humans. They all seem to think that Cadmus is behind it, and while possible, I want Central’s Star Labs investigated.”

“Oh I got this…but that’s not the only reason you’re sending me, is it?”

“No. You were able to deduce both mine and Dick’s identities. I need you to…”

“…find out who the Flash is. Won’t be a problem. I’ll leave this afternoon. I’ll report back when I’ve got something.”

As Tim runs back upstairs to pack some clothes for his trip, his tenacity still amazes Bruce. The kid is smarter than he thinks and someday he could very well be the next Batman if Dick turns it down. Bruce knows he won’t be able to do this forever so he’s made a contingency plan for the day that he hangs up the cape and cowl for good.

“Alfred?”

“Yes Master Bruce?”

“I’m sending Tim to Central City for a few days, at most a week. He’s going undercover and we need to make the arrangements.”

“I will see to it personally, Sir.”

Bruce began making calls to his contacts while simultaneously running searches on his computer for the possibility of Cadmus having started research again. Seeing as how Clark had come to him with the matter, he acquiesced, especially since he knew this wasn’t just some random speculation. Cadmus had done everything in their power to attempt to take down Superman and failed. But one other thought invaded his mind at the same time. A league of superheroes, all of their various rogue’s galleries had tried uniting at one point or another. Maybe Clark was right about that too and it was time to do something bigger.

While Bruce was lost in his musing, Clark was flying towards the old abandoned aqueducts outside of Metropolis. This was where Cadmus had once been based back in the days when they were still doing good work for the benefit of mankind. Now the location has since fallen into disarray, and city management has made no attempt to revitalize the location. Plans have been in the works, but have always fallen through. Clark was cautious as he searched the grounds on foot. The Project had once operated multiple forms of weaponry to protect itself from the supervillain community, unaware that their greatest enemy was concealed in their midst. Dabney Donovan was a certified genius and certified madman.

None of the defense systems activated as Clark continued to search. Feeling that it was mostly safe, he found the old grate that the first and only clone of him had escaped from. The kid could have been a great hero someday, but the other half of his D.N.A. that came from Luthor won out and corrupted him, just before the degeneration process began. Clark regretted not being able to save the kid and had him buried under the name Conner Kent. Putting the harsh memories aside, he stepped inside the abandoned facility only to be inundated by multiple lasers and a recorded video playing on a screen in front of him.

“Superman, I must say it took you long enough to return to Cadmus after getting it shut down.”

“Luthor, I should have known you would make a feeble attempt to stop me with ineffective lasers. Even behind bars you still find a way to infuriate me.”

“Oh I knew the lasers wouldn’t affect you. They were merely meant as a distraction so you could hear what I have to say. And no, I can’t exactly hear what you’re saying at the moment. I am just a recording made from before you sent me to prison. You’re just so predictable.”

“Get to the point, Lex.”

“Right, the point. Whatever brought you to Cadmus’ old facility is a dead end. You’re wasting your time chasing ghosts.”

“Like I’m really going to believe anything you say. You made a career out of lying to the people Lex. Pretending to be a benevolent businessman while hiding the true nature of Luthor Corp. Allying yourself with Max Lord, even giving him the secrets of creating Bizarro.”

“Ah yes, Bizarro. Just the first attempt at creating a better version of you. His failure led to that startling revelation that combining my genetic code with yours would yield better results. And I was right when our clone turned into a Luthor rather than a new version of you. It must really burn you that you couldn’t save him.”

Clark screamed in raw fury at Lex’s words. This is one of the few times he has let himself express this emotion. The last time was when Lois and Jimmy nearly died in the earthquake in California. Despite the lasers still being used on him, he let loose with an intense barrage of heat vision that destroyed the screen. Unfortunately, this didn’t stop Lex’s voice from still taunting him.

“So much anger, Superman. Have you figured it out now? I’m not a recording, I can see and hear everything you’ve said and done. Cadmus may be gone, but there’s more than one way to kill a Kryptonian. I wonder who they’ll start with. How about your cousin? And you won’t be able to do a thing to save her. Especially since you won’t leave this facility alive.”

Lex’s voice cut out at the same time as the lasers did. Clark was confused thinking Luthor had once again underestimated him, until he felt ultraviolet light on his skin. He knew instantly what the red glow was as it began weakening him. Cadmus had found a way to harness the power of a red sun and only Lex or Max could have been responsible. Clark made an effort to fly towards the exit, but lead doors slammed down as he fell to his knees. He was now trapped as Lex spoke once more.

“Red sunlight really hurts, doesn’t it? Like I said, you were predictable. Here you are at my mercy, as the fifteen bombs Max and I planted in the aqueducts activated when the doors closed around you. Each is equipped with enough explosives to level eight city blocks in Metropolis. Think about what that will do to you when all of that comes crashing down. Good-bye Superman.”

Across the country in Central City, Barry and Kara were relaxing in his apartment watching Empire Strikes Back. They had made a plan to trade off watching each movie between her apartment and his over the course of eight weeks. Currently she had fallen asleep with her head in his lap as he lazily ran his fingers through her hair. The movie was almost over when she suddenly sat up, her eyes filled with terror. She didn’t know how she knew, but she could feel it in her heart that something had happened to Clark.

“Kara…Kara, are you okay?”

“Turn on the news Barry!”

“What?”

“Just do it! Something has happened…I don’t know what just…”

Barry quickly wrapped an arm around her shoulders as he switched over to the first news report he could find. What they saw had both of them in shock as the story was being replayed.

“If you’re just joining us, there was a massive explosion in the old aqueducts outside of Metropolis earlier this afternoon. At this point reports are sketchy as to what caused the explosion, and we will keep you updated as we receive more from our reporters in the field. Until that time, the Mayor of Metropolis has asked everyone to remain calm as the city is far enough away from ground zero. We…”

Kara grabbed the remote from Barry’s hand and flung it at the television. She missed and he could tell she was emotionally distraught. She screamed in rage, and he could only do his best to massage her shoulders before she forcefully pulled away.

“Kara?”

“Barry…I…I have to go…”

“Kara, tell me what’s wrong, you know I can help.”

“How can you help?! You have no idea what I’m feeling right now! Just…!”

Barry pulled back, he knew that whatever happened had hurt Kara deeply and he cared to much about her to even push the subject. She immediately turned towards him and saw the look in his eyes and she knew what she had said hurt him as well. Of all the people in the world, he was probably the only one who could really understand what she was feeling.

“Barry…I…I didn’t mean what I just…I’m so sorry. Clark’s in trouble. I know it. I have to go find him.”

“You’re not going alone.”

“I can’t ask you to come, Barry. It’s going to be dangerous. I couldn’t stand it if something happened to you too.”

“Kara, listen to me. You wouldn’t let me face Godspeed alone, and I’m not letting you face whatever happened to Clark alone. Barry Allen and Kara Danvers or the Flash and Supergirl, we’re a team. Nothing will change that.”

Kara let a smile appear on her lips as Barry dashed off to Star Labs and returned completely suited up. She followed suit and was in her Supergirl uniform just seconds after he was back. She had felt when they both agreed on their Star Wars plan, that he could be the one. In that moment, she had no more reservations or questions. Without another word, they took off for the outskirts of Metropolis as fast as their powers would take them. The devastation they found had Kara on her knees as she attempted to use her x-ray vision to scour the rubble.

“Lead…”

“What?”

“I can’t see through the damage Barry, whatever’s down there is encased in lead.”