DC : Architect of Vengeance

The phone rang three times before it was answered, the familiar gruff voice of Agent Jim Crawford coming through the line with his characteristic impatience.

"Crawford here. This better be important, Cho."

FBI Agent Sima Cho adjusted her headset and leaned back in her chair at her field office. This is not the first time she is making this call, but Batman's increasingly urgent warnings had finally convinced her to try one more time.

"Jim, I need you to take Batman's warnings about the Architect seriously. I have checked the Architect's activities and its not something to be dismissed. Federal facilities holding transferred criminals might be targeted."

A dry chuckle came through the phone. "Batman? Christ, Sima, we're federal agents. Not some small time criminals. Even if this Architect comes, he wont get past our security. Also there is no way he will travel this far some some small time criminal."

"Jim, you dont understand. He is a shapeshifter—"

"I dont give a fuck," Crawford cut her off firmly. "Our security protocols are top-notch. Firefly's locked down tight in maximum security. Now if you excuse me, I've got some real work to do unlike someone."

The line went dead, leaving Cho staring at her phone in frustration.

In the quiet kitchen of Crawford's home, Alex Thorne set the phone down gently on the counter and smiled. So Sima Cho is the agent of batman inside FBI huh? Useful information.

The conversation had gone exactly as Alex had hoped. Crawford's impatient and arrogant personality helped. Cho might report back to Batman that Crawford remained dismissive and unwilling to take additional precautions. This would likely prompt Batman to take more direct action, but it wasnothing he couldnt handle.

Alex looked down at his hands, still studying how Crawford's genetic material had fused with his own biology. The federal agent's memories coursed through his mind like a river of intelligence—security protocols, access codes, personnel files, and most importantly, Firefly's precise location within the maximum-security facility.

But there was more. Crawford's mind had been a treasure trove of classified information about the prison's most dangerous inmates. Beyond Firefly, the facility housed a few well connected heinous criminals.

All of them locked away, but still breathing. Still unpunished by the true measure of justice their crimes deserved. So many pending scales to balance.

"Rex," Alex called softly, his voice returning to its normal. "Come here, boy."

The grotesque creature that had been Crawford's dog padded into the kitchen, its elongated skull tilted at an attentively.

"Who's a good boy?" Alex asked, reaching out to scratch behind the creature's malformed ears. "Who's been such a good, quiet boy?"

Rex's tail—now longer and more muscular than before—wagged enthusiastically. The massive tongue lolled out of his mouth, dripping saliva onto the tile floor.

"Such a smart boy," Alex continued, running his fingers along the exposed brain tissue.

The moment his fingers made contact, the biomass that had transformed Rex began to flow backward, retreating from the creature's skull like a receding tide.

The exposed brain tissue was quickly covered by regenerating skin and fur, the elongated snout shortened back to normal size, and the oversized teeth retracted to their original size.

Within seconds, Rex had returned to his natural form—a perfectly ordinary German Shepherd.

Alex smiled as he watched the process complete itself.

"Good boy," he said, scratching behind Rex's now-normal ears.

"You've been so helpful." Rex barked once, his voice sounding nothing like the previous distorted growl.

He nuzzled against Alex's hand with affection, completely unaware of what he had been transformed into or what he had done while under Alex's influence.

Alex stood and turned his attention to Crawford's mangled corpse, which lay sprawled in the corner where Rex had finally finished with him.

"Well, Agent Crawford," Alex said, as if addressing a living person. "I have to admit, you were more useful than I initially anticipated. Your voice, your knowledge of FBI protocols, your security clearances, your knowledge of criminals—all very valuable assets."

He knelt beside the corpse and placed his hand on Crawford's chest. Almost immediately, tendrils of biomass began extending from his palm, burrowing into the dead flesh and beginning the absorption process.

"I'll make very good use of you," Alex murmured as Crawford's biological material began flowing into his own body. "Every memory, every skill, every piece of classified information you've accumulated over your career—it's all going to serve a higher purpose."

The process was complete almost instantly, and when it was complete, nothing remained of Agent Jim Crawford except for the lingering scent of copper in the air.

"Come on, Rex," Alex said, scratching the dog's head once more. "We have work to do. Firefly isn't going to liberate himself."

---

Three hundred miles away in her office, Agent Sima Cho stared at her phone for several long minutes before finally reaching for it again. She scrolled through her contacts until she found the encrypted number Batman had provided her, then hesitated.

The conversation with Crawford had gone exactly as she'd expected, his arrogant character dismissing everything she told him.

She dialed the number.

Batman answered on the first ring, as he always did. "What did Crawford say?"

"Same as before, he dismissed everything," Cho replied, not bothering with pleasantries. She knew Batman preferred direct communication. "Wouldn't listen to any of it. He's convinced the security arrangements are foolproof and that you're just a 'costumed freak' chasing shadows."

There was a long pause on the other end of the line.

"He's going to get himself killed. And probably take a lot of people with him."

"What do you want me to do? I don't have the authority to override this federal order, and my superiors think I'm already too invested in Gotham's vigilante activities."

"Nothing," Batman said. "I'll handle this personally."

"Batman," Cho asked. "What are you planning?"

"Something I should have done days ago. Thank you for trying, Agent Cho. Stay safe."

The line went dead, leaving Cho with the uncomfortable feeling that she'd just set something irreversible in motion.

---

The Batcave hummed with its usual array of electronic activity as Bruce Wayne descended the stone steps, his cape billowing behind him.

The massive space was illuminated by the blue glow of multiple computer screens, each displaying different parts of gotham as well as his ongoing investigation into the Architect.

Tim Drake looked up from the main console, "Any luck with the federal contact?"

"Crawford won't listen," Bruce replied curtly, moving to his weapons locker and beginning to select specific pieces of equipment. "Which means I'm going to Pennsylvania."

Stephanie Brown emerged from the training area, toweling sweat from her face after her evening workout. "Pennsylvania? That's where they're holding Firefly right?"

"Yes," Bruce corrected. "The Architect has been three steps ahead of us this entire time. I'm not going to let him claim another victim because federal bureaucracy got in the way."

Tim frowned, studying the equipment Bruce was selecting. "This looks like more than just a reconnaissance mission. You're packing heavy."

Bruce paused in his preparations, considering his options. The Architect had proven to be unlike any opponent he'd faced before—his intelligence and his abilities made him a formidable threat.

"The Architect isn't a normal criminal," Bruce said finally. "Standard containment protocols won't work. I need to be prepared for anything."

"Let me come with you," Tim said, standing up from the console. "Two of us would have a better chance of—"

"Absolutely not."

"Bruce, be reasonable. You're talking about facing someone superhuman—someone who can shapeshift, turn people into living bombs, and who knows what else. This isn't the time for solo heroics."

Stephanie nodded in agreement. "Tim's right. And if you're both gone, Dick and I can handle Gotham. The city's been relatively quiet since the Architect started targeting criminals anyway."

Bruce turned to face them both, his expression hidden behind the cowl but his body language radiating tension. "This isn't a discussion. The Architect is too dangerous, and we still don't understand the full extent of his capabilities. I'm not risking either of your lives on this."

"With respect," Tim said, his voice taking on the stubborn edge that reminded Bruce so much of himself at that age, "you trained me to be your partner, not your sidekick. I've faced meta-humans before. I've dealt with serial killers, terrorist organizations, and interdimensional threats. Even if I cant handle Architect solo, I can help you from far."

Bruce's jaw tightened beneath the cowl. He wanted to argue, to lean on the protective instincts that had shaped so many of his choices over the years. But he couldn't deny the truth in Tim's words—he had trained him to be a capable partner, not a subordinate to be shielded at all costs.

"You shouldn't go alone," Stephanie interjected. "If something happens to you, Gotham loses Batman, and the Architect continues his killing spree unchecked."

Bruce considered this for several long moments, his analytical mind weighing risks and probabilities. Finally, he nodded reluctantly.

"Tim comes with me. Stephanie, you coordinate with Nightwing to maintain coverage in Gotham. If we're off comms for more than 24 hours, contact the Justice League."

Tim's face broke into a grin. "Finally. When do we leave?"

"One hour," Bruce replied, returning to his equipment selection.

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DC : Architect of Vengeance

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