บท 232: CHAPTER 216
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[David Lance POV]
And like the wind in a summer breeze, time passed. It has already been a few years since I came back to my earth, and things have been going well.
To name one of the few things that have happened, I got the telepathic speaker J'onn J'onzz had been working on, which allows me to speak and appear normal thanks to a symbiotic relationship with something I had to install in my throat.
I also finished my bachelor's degree in two years thanks to online accelerated degree programs, transfer credits, and other degree completion methods.
As of right now, I'm working on my specialization in metahuman studies.
On another note, I've been dating Raven for a little over two years, officially speaking. Even though we see each other very little thanks to our complicated schedules, we make it work.
But despite all the positive changes in my life, there were still signs of trouble on the horizon, as I still had to play a part in the upcoming war.
And I intended to break the stupid game all heroes and villains play.
The signs of the war nobody seemed to notice had been increasing lately, I could tell by the way the pieces were moving across the board. Meaning the stakes were getting higher as well, and the risks greater.
So, in my free time, I began to research every single thing I could find about metahumans, from public records to secret archives that had been hidden from the world for as long as they have been there.
But as I kept digging, I started to uncover more questions than answers, proving my knowledge of the future wasn't entirely accurate.
It seemed like there was an even deeper darkness hiding beneath the surface of what I thought I knew, something that threatened to rip apart everything.
I had to admit, Vandal was a genius. Most of the things I had uncovered had been there for decades, meaning he had been planning this before most of the current heroes even existed.
Unfortunately for him, I knew enough about his plans, and in time, I would know it all.
"How was school today?" Raven asked, snapping me out of my long reverie as she entered my apartment with a portal.
I smiled at her, pushing all of the thoughts I had to the back of my mind, and said, "It was great, I've been making a lot of progress with my research project. What about you?"
Raven smiled, leaning forward for a kiss. Her lips were warm and soft, like a poem set ablaze. They fit together perfectly, with a sacred geometry that gave form to some greater and more perfect thing.
I smiled, kissing her back, taking in the scent coming from her cloak, which I found very pleasant, like a wafting of cinnamon and warm vanilla.
"Any plans for today?" Raven asked, to which I sadly nodded.
"I actually have two classes later today, one of which starts in an hour," I replied. "But hopefully, I'll be able to wrap up my research project soon. After that, it won't be long before I'm done with my metahuman studies specialization."
Raven sighed sadly, but with understanding. And instead of giving me the puppy eyes in order to get me to stay, she gave me another kiss and said, "We can do something another day then."
I smiled back at her and nodded in agreement before grabbing my backpack and heading out the door. "Feel free to stay if you're free for the day though. I'll be back before dinner time."
"I would but I have a few reports to fill, sometimes I have Nightwing, and by sometimes, I mean... all the time," Raven replied as I left.
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[Later at the school cafe.]
"Thanks again for helping me out with my research, Mr. Donaldson," I said, stepping into the private room of the privately owned cafe that Ivy University had.
The room had a view of the city, while also being hidden from sight, which I found interesting.
Mr. Donaldson chuckled, smiling at me, and said, "Always happy to help a diligent student. Especially if they have a perfect record like yours, Mr. Lance."
I laughed, ordering a pot of tea for both of us, which arrived only a few minutes later.
"Do you know much about metahumans?" Mr. Donaldson asked.
I shook my head, taking a sip from my cup, "I could say yes, and I suppose I do compared to most people, but the truth is, I don't know as much as I would like, which is why I keep researching."
He chuckled again, "That's good. Very good. That's exactly the answer I wanted."
I raised an eyebrow, "Excuse me?"
He leaned forward, taking a sip from his cup, and said, "You see. You're not the only one looking for help, I'm also looking for just the right person to help me with a project."
I sat back, "You mean an intern, right?"
"Indeed, normally I don't hire students unless they graduated in their specialization, but you have shown promise" he replied, causing me to smirk slightly. "And before you worry, the internship is paid."
Not that I need the money, but it's good to be offered.
"So, what would I be doing exactly?" I asked.
He beamed at my question and said, "I want to create my own metahuman database, with everything about all known metahumans. My work is still in its infancy, but I have no doubts together we can make it work. I mean, not to get you an ego, but your research about Metahuman Variants is simply brilliant!"
The metahuman variant, wow, I hadn't given that research much thought for about a year, "Well I have to say I'm flattered. So what kind of data are we looking for exactly?"
"Biometric data, special abilities and weaknesses, family ties and affiliations, anything and everything you can find on them. If we can collect enough data we could predict metahuman abilities before they even begin to appear!"
I raised an eyebrow at this. This sounded like a terrible project if someone with less than good intentions found it, "Aren't you concerned about possible leaks, and what it could do to the metahumans in question?"
"I have thought about that, which is why this project is being funded and protected not only by the university but by S.T.A.R. Labs as well."
I suppose that's as secure as it gets. And now I have a reason to actually participate in this project. "Well, in that case, count me in."
Mr. Donaldson smiled at me and said, "Excellent. I look forward to working with you. Now, what were your questions, you know the ones you wanted to ask?"
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[Back home.]
I entered my apartment, finding a note from Raven that said she had been called on a mission to help and stop Clayface, and that she could call me once it was all over.
I smiled, putting the note inside one of my pockets before turning around saying. "I know you're here Slade, come out."
Soon after I had said that Slade stepped out from the shadows, wearing a long trench coat, his face shrouded by a dark hood. "What made you think I was here?"
"The window, you didn't cover your tracks there, on purpose I assume," I said, gesturing to the one near the kitchen.
"Ah, so you noticed." He said, fully stepping out of the shadows, "Not bad kid, you're getting better. Much better. I expect nothing less from my boss."
"Any updates on the whereabouts of project Mach?" I asked.
Slade nodded, "I have narrowed its location down to the east coast. It's only a matter of time before I find it."
I nodded, that was good news, "And what about the other projects, are they all moving along?"
Again Slade nodded, "Yes, though some of them will take longer than others. They require more resources, and that takes time."
"I see, so when do you expect to have everything in order?"
Slade thought for a moment before answering, "I'd say we should have everything ready by the end of the year, depending on how much information you can get from S.T.A.R. Labs."
I nodded, that worked. "Good, I'll admit it was pure luck that Mr. Donaldson recruited me, it saved me months in my timeline and the tedious process of applying for a job in S.T.A.R. Labs. Anything else I should know?"
Slade shook his head, "No that'll be all for now. I'll be in touch if anything else comes up. Oh, and by the way, Rose sends her regards."
With that, Slade vanished back into the shadows, leaving me alone in my apartment. Rose Wilson, the girl who took it as a challenge to woo me after I had said I wasn't interested.
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