The warmth in Dubbilex's words elicited a genuine smile from me, a sight that seemed to both shock Amanda and ease the tension in the G-Goblin's demeanor. Nodding in confirmation at the deeper meaning behind his words, I offered my hand to Dubbilex, who accepted it without much hesitation. However, the coldness of my body forced the friendly handshake to be brief, lest the risk of frostbite increased with each passing second.
"I've heard of your breakout," Dubbilex began, his tone carrying a sense of understanding. "I debated whether to intervene to assist your escape, and ultimately decided to lend a hand. That's why we're meeting now."
Internally elated at his revelation, I nodded, silently acknowledging the support I now had in Dubbilex. "Thank you," I said, my voice carrying a note of gratitude. "I appreciate your assistance."
Dubbilex smiled in response, his eyes conveying a sense of camaraderie. "I'm glad to help," he replied, his voice warm with sincerity.
"I'm here for a reason. To free the one who shares my circumstances from their binds," I stated vaguely, causing a knowing smile to form on Dubbilex's face.
Without another word, Dubbilex turned and began leading us towards the location of a lab. As we moved along, I subtly gestured to my mind, a hint of surprise flickering in Dubbilex's red eyes. His gaze met mine, and the tip of his horns faintly glowed as he initiated a psychic link. However, unlike what I had expected, I realized that I needed to allow the connection to form, as if my mind was resistant to such attacks already.
Telepathically, Dubbilex inquired about my knowledge of his telepathic abilities, which he had kept secret from Cadmus. I responded by stating that everyone has their secrets, reassuring him that he shouldn't feel threatened by me. That we were family, in a sense. Dubbilex didn't exactly respond mentally, but his smile hinted at his understanding.
As the doors to the lab slid open with Dubbilex's expertise, revealing the well-lit interior, my eyes were immediately drawn to an unexpected sight. Within a containment pod, a notably-short girl lay sleeping, her pinkish-red hair draped around her neck. She slumbered peacefully, unaware of our presence. Her bare feet peeked out from beneath the hem of her raggedy makeshift dress, and a length of rope was wrapped around her waist, a stark contrast to the sterile environment of the lab.
As I stared at the girl, a sense of familiarity washed over me, tugging at the edges of my memory. There was something about her, something that stirred a strange resonance within me.
"Dubbilex, who is she?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper as I continued to gaze at the sleeping girl.
The G-Goblin's expression grew somber as he regarded her. "Doesn't have a name," he replied quietly. "She's been here for a few months at this point, constantly scrutinized under a microscope by Cadmus."
A pang of sympathy surged through me as I took in the girl's plight. Despite her circumstances, there was a certain resilience in her features. I really couldn't shake the feeling that I had seen her somewhere before, though the memory continued to remain just beyond my grasp. Not only that, but the wording of the G-Goblin's statement was... odd, to say the least.
There wasn't much time left, however. I'd just have to question Amanda about it later on.
"We have to free her," I said firmly, determination fueling my words as I turned to Dubbilex. "No one deserves to be treated like this."
He nodded in agreement, his eyes reflecting a shared resolve.
"Agreed."
----------
As I ran down the corridor, the girl from the lab now held securely in my arms, her form eerily still, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gripped me. Her eyes were still closed as if locked in a deep slumber. I had hoped that the rush of adrenaline from our escape might jolt her awake, but it seemed she was lost in a world of her own, far removed from the chaos surrounding us.
Turning to Dubbilex as we continued our hurried pace, I finally voiced the question that had been gnawing at me since our encounter in the lab. "What did you mean earlier?" I asked, my voice tense with anticipation. "You told me that she's been here for a few months at this point. Honestly, it sounds like Cadmus just found her or something."
"It's true," he replied, his voice carrying a weight to it. "Cadmus didn't create her. She was discovered by Lex Luthor when he struck a deal with a group of individuals who offered him a certain amount of assets in exchange for his allegiance and funding."
The implications of his words hit me like a ton of bricks, sending a chill down my spine. The idea that this girl had been found, rather than created, raised even more questions than it answered. Who was she? Where did she come from?
As we neared the elevator, the realization settled in, my mind racing with suspicions and doubts. Could it be possible that the deal Luthor had struck was with the Light? It certainly seemed plausible, given their penchant for manipulation and secrecy.
It also confused me as to how Dubbilex even knew this information, but since there were more pressing matters at hand, I decided to simply chalk it up to him and the rest of his kind being quite skilled at extracting important and rather confidential information with their telepathic capabilities for now. Now that I thought about it, how often did the bald arch-nemesis of Superman visit this place?
With the girl being carried in my arms, we stepped into the elevator, the doors closing behind us with a soft hiss. Fortunately, whatever Amanda and Dubbilex had accomplished at those terminals seemed to be giving us at least a little bit more time, considering the alarm that should've gone off when the girl was let out of her containment pod still had yet to start blaring throughout the rest of the building.
----------
Mark Desmond stormed back to his lab, his anger palpable in the air around him. With a furious swipe of his arm, he cleared a nearby desk of its contents, sending papers flying and equipment crashing to the ground. Mumbling incomprehensibly to himself, his words were punctuated by curses directed at Lex Luthor and his precious work.
Finally reaching a cluttered desk off to the side, Mark's eyes fell upon a holder containing several test tubes, one of them filled with a light blue liquid. With a frightening degree of reckless abandon, he snatched up the tube and uncorked it, gulping down its contents in one swift motion.
"Project Blockbuster," he muttered, the words barely escaping his lips before his body convulsed violently. In an instant, his flesh began to tear apart as his muscle mass increased exponentially, his form expanding and contorting in a grotesque display of raw power.
The lab echoed with the sickening sound of bones cracking and flesh stretching as Mark's transformation reached its peak. With a guttural roar, he emerged from the wreckage of his own body, now a hulking mass of muscle and rage.