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SM/DC Chapter 74 : Final Preparation
🕑 Added 2025-03-30 23:21:40 +0000 UTCThe rich aroma of coffee lingered in the dimly lit study, mixing with the faint scent of old books and burning candle wax. Shadows stretched long against the gothic architecture of the estate, flickering from the soft, eerie glow of Arthur’s ever-present demonic sentinels lurking in the corners. The weight of the impending battle sat heavy in the room, yet the three of them Arthur, Kara, and Jason sat in eerie calm, cups in hand.
Jason took a slow sip, his eyes sharp and calculating. “Cadmus is in D.C.,” he finally said, setting his mug down. “Disguised under some no-name research lab. But the real facility? It’s deep underground.”
Arthur tilted his head slightly, impressed. “Not bad.”
Jason smirked. “I do my homework.” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “So here’s my suggestion: I’ll have Harley sneak in through your brother’s next shipment. She gets inside, creates a distraction, causes chaos, makes noise, whatever the hell she feels like.” He exhaled. “Which, knowing her, she’ll do regardless.”
Arthur narrowed his eyes. “And how exactly did you convince her to tag along?”
Jason leaned back, giving him a deadpan look. “You don’t want to know.”
Arthur and Kara exchanged glances. Neither pushed further.
Arthur exhaled, fingers drumming lightly against the table. “My way inside is more direct. No sneaking, no waiting. I’ll find myself facing Galatea again, head-on.” He nodded toward Kara. “She wants to handle Galatea herself. And that’s fine by me.”
Jason hummed, considering. Then, he gestured toward Kara with his chin. “Brilliant plan. But can we trust her?”
Kara’s expression darkened instantly. Her fingers tightened around her cup. “What is that supposed to mean?”
Jason didn’t blink. “You know what I mean.”
Before the tension could escalate, Arthur cut in. His voice was calm, yet final. “Yes. Either way, we’ll end up in trouble with the League.”
Jason studied him for a moment before scoffing. “Fine.” He took one last sip of his coffee and stood up, stretching his shoulders. As he did, his eyes swept across the room, the ominous demon shadows lurking in the corners, the dark gothic interior, the towering bookshelves filled with ancient texts.
His lips curled slightly. “You know… you’re not so different from the Bat.”
Arthur’s responded calmly. “I’m nothing like him.”
Jason chuckled, shaking his head as he adjusted his jacket. “Whatever you say.” He walked toward the door, then stopped. “Time to get moving. See you there.”
With that, he stepped into the night, leaving Arthur and Kara in the darkened estate.
Kara sat on the edge of a couch, her fingers laced together, eyes staring at nothing in particular.
She had been quiet ever since Jason left.
Arthur leaned back in his chair, sipping his drink, watching her. He knew that look, the storm brewing beneath the surface, the weight of unspoken thoughts pressing down.
Finally, she exhaled.
"She’s… me." Kara’s voice was quiet, but firm. "Or at least, she thinks she is."
Arthur said nothing, letting her speak.
"She has my face, my powers, but she’s… hollow. Twisted. Or maybe…" She hesitated, jaw tightening. "Maybe I’m the flawed one. Maybe she’s what I was meant to be all along, ruthless, unshackled, a perfect warrior."
The words hung in the air.
Arthur scoffed, setting his drink down with a soft clink. "That’s a load of crap."
Kara glanced at him, eyes narrowing slightly.
"If you're having doubts, don’t." Arthur met her gaze, unflinching. "by the end of this, she won’t be a problem anymore."
Kara studied him, the firelight reflecting in her blue eyes. "You sound awfully sure about that."
Arthur smiled, tilting his head. "I just know."
Kara hesitated for only a second before stepping forward, wrapping her arms around Arthur in a firm but warm embrace. The weight of everything—the mission, Galatea, the unspoken doubts—seemed to lift just a little as she rested her head against his shoulder.
Arthur stiffened slightly, caught off guard. His hands hovered for a moment before he slowly, almost awkwardly, placed them at her sides.
"Thanks," she murmured against him.
Arthur blinked. "Thanks? For what?"
Kara didn’t pull away, her voice softer now. "I actually really didn’t want to stay in the Watchtower like that… but I felt like I had no choice."
Arthur said nothing for a moment. He understood. The weight of expectation, the feeling of being boxed in, forced to play a role. He wasn’t the type to say something comforting, so instead, he just stood there, letting her have this moment.
Then, after a beat, he exhaled.
"Well, I’m actually tired. We gotta rest, ’cause I’m not pulling any punches against them."
Kara’s body tensed. Slowly, she pulled back just enough to look at him, her expression shifting from something almost vulnerable to one of sheer disbelief.
She stared at him. "…Seriously?"
Arthur met her gaze, completely unfazed. "What? Did I say something wrong?"
Kara just sighed, shaking her head as she pulled away entirely. She didn’t answer, but the unimpressed look she shot him said everything.
****
The following day -
The golden light of dawn seeped through the grand windows of the estate, casting a soft glow over the lavish interior. The silence of the morning remained undisturbed, until the measured footsteps of George approached the sitting room.
With his usual impeccable posture, he cleared his throat. “Sir, a shipment has arrived bearing your name...well, mine, for discretion’s sake, but before I proceed...”
He paused.
For perhaps the first time in years, George found himself momentarily at a loss for words.
Arthur Blackwynd, was sprawled most ungracefully across the estate’s fine leather couch. One arm hung limply over the side, his shirt slightly unkempt, and, most curiously a blanket, clearly not his own, had been lazily thrown over him. But the most intriguing sight was Kara, sleeping soundly beside him in the same ungracful way.
Her golden hair was a tousled mess, her breathing slow and steady as she lay nestled far too comfortably against him.
George, taking in this rather intersting sight, arched a refined brow.
“Forgive my intrusion, sir, but… am I to assume that I have stumbled upon something rather, unexpected this morning?”
Arthur stirred at the sound of George’s voice, blinking groggily. His mind still fogged with sleep, he mumbled, "George… what’s wrong? If this is about breakfast, let me sleep a bit more."
Another blink.
Then another.
And then, realization hit.
‘Wait.’
‘Why was Kara—?’
‘How the hell did we end up like this?’
Arthur’s body tensed as his brain caught up to reality. With newfound urgency, he immediately sat up, running a hand through his already-messy hair as if that would somehow fix the situation.
Kara, on the other hand, remained blissfully asleep, sighing softly as she curled into the couch.
George, ever the portrait of restraint, clasped his hands behind his back and continued, “Shall I take your silence as an indication that you, too, are uncertain as to how this arrangement came to be?”
Arthur exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. "George. The shipment?"
George inclined his head, though there was the faintest hint of amusement in his eyes. “Ah, yes, quite so. A most urgent delivery, though I must admit, I am beginning to wonder if it is truly the most pressing matter at hand.”
Arthur ignored that.
Standing swiftly, he stretched, shaking off the lingering traces of sleep before walking toward the door.
Behind him, Kara shifted slightly but did not wake.
George, ever the composed observer, followed at a measured pace. “Shall I prepare coffee, sir? You appear to have had… an eventful evening.”
Arthur shot him a look.
George merely smiled, ever the refined gentleman, as they proceeded.
****
Arthur and George walked towards a different room, and it became momentarily brighter as the box was placed upon the polished table. Arthur Blackwynd, with his piercing blue eyes and cool demeanor, stared down at the package before him. Its label read ‘Blackwynd Science Group’, the mark of his family’s most private enterprise, a name that always seemed to carry with it secrets and intrigue.
George, ever the observant butler, stood silently beside him, though his eyes were fixed on the box, clearly recognizing its significance.
Arthur’s fingers traced the edges of the box before lifting the lid.
The air seemed to shudder as a faint green glow illuminated the room, reflecting off Arthur’s face, casting ominous shadows and adding an eerie radiance to his features.
“My...” George’s voice trailed off, a mix of awe and caution.
Inside the box lay a sword, its blade pure, gleaming Kryptonite, with a steel so foreign and meticulously forged that it hummed with a silent power. The sword seemed to pulse with an energy all its own, reflecting a foreboding green light that made even the bravest shiver.
Arthur raised an eyebrow, studying the weapon carefully, his mind already turning. “This is rather impressive work... Not bad, Adam.”
[Kryptonite Sword - Rank ???]
His voice was laced with quiet admiration, but underneath it, there was a simmering coldness.
Before George could respond, a voice drifted into the room, light but tinged with curiosity.
“I Felt like I slept for days... Arthur?”
Kara entered, stepping into the room with that same confident, graceful stride, her brow furrowed in slight confusion as she looked around. Her eyes soon landed on Arthur, who instinctively hid the Kryptonite sword behind him with a quick motion.
Kara’s eyes, sharp as ever, narrowed. “You know I can still see that, right?”
Arthur gave a half-hearted shrug, his tone casual yet purposeful. “It’s Kryptonite. Best not to get too close.” His hand tightened slightly around the hilt of the sword, a silent warning for anyone who dared approach it.
Kara, unimpressed, stepped closer, giving him a sideways glance. “Nice sword.” There was a hint of admiration in her voice, though her curiosity was evident.
Arthur, with a sly smile, leaned against the table, eyes glinting with a dark humor. “Well, it’s for your cousin’s potential clones... that I might find.” His lips curled into a knowing smirk as he met her gaze.
Kara looked at him for a moment, eyes flickering between the sword and his face. “It will definitely be useful then”
He straightened, his expression darkening as his voice grew more resolute. “Get ready. I’m waiting for Jason to be in D.C. Once I get his signal, we move. No more time to waste.”
Arthur exhaled slowly, his eyes lingering on the weapon once more. he turned to Kara. “You ready?”
Kara’s gaze was unflinching as she nodded, her fists tightening at her sides. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”
