Emergence 2.13a

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"When your mission relies on subterfuge, that's the time to go on the offensive. Last thing you want is to risk exposing yourself and the team..."

At Mount Justice, Captain Atom stood before the team in the mission room, his metallic form illuminated by the holographic display that hung in the air behind him. The cave's hard light projector was putting in work, displaying crucial stealth tactics and infiltration techniques, but despite the advanced technology, the lesson was struggling to capture the undivided attention of the young heroes.

Zeke sat at the center of the group, closest to his mentor, his eyes focused on the holographic display as he diligently took notes. Unlike the majority of his teammates, he was actively engaged, his pen scribbling across the page as he tried to absorb every bit of information Captain Atom was imparting. It wasn't just about making a good impression on the superhero who had chosen him, though that certainly played a part. No, for Zeke, this was an opportunity to learn, to grow, to become a better hero.

To Zeke's left, Dick Grayson, the Boy Wonder himself leaned back in his seat, his expression one of undisguised boredom. He rolled his eyes behind his sunglasses, clearly feeling that this was all old hat for him. Of course, Zeke thought, a wry smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. Batman's probably drilled this stuff into his head a million times over.

"...Because a covert operation means keeping to the shadows," Captain Atom droned on, his voice taking on a lecturing tone as it echoed through the cavernous space. "Concealing your identities, infiltrating your targets..."

Artemis, seated a few chairs down from Robin, looked just as bored as the Boy Wonder. She had pulled out a compact mirror and was applying lipstick, her eyes drifting upwards in a distracted manner as she half-listened to the lesson.

"And that means advance research, hours on long, quiet stakeouts..."

Wally West, better known as Kid Flash, was fiddling with his goggles, his freckled face a mixture of disinterest and impatience. In his other hand, he held a half-eaten banana, which he chewed on absently as he let his mind wander.

Come on, guys, Zeke thought, a twinge of frustration running through him as he glanced at his teammates. This stuff is important. We need to know this if we're going to be effective in the field.

But even as the thought crossed his mind, he couldn't help but feel a little envious of their apparent nonchalance. They'd been at this hero thing a lot longer than he had, after all. They'd probably heard this like a dozen times over.

"...And, of course, you must always remain alert..."

At the far end of the group, Conner Kent, the Kryptonian powerhouse known as Superboy, let out a loud, bold yawn. His arms stretched above his head, the red S on his chest expanding with the motion. M'gann M'orzz, seated next to him, rested her cheek in her hand, her gaze fixed on the tired Kryptonian with a look of wistfulness on her face.

And then there was Kaldur'ahm, Aqualad, seated to Zeke's right. Unlike the others, he seemed to be paying attention, his pen moving across his notebook as he scribbled down notes. But there was a distant look in his pale green eyes, as if his mind was only half in the room.

Zeke shook his head slightly, turning his attention back to the holographic display. He knew he was the new guy here, the rookie among veterans. He had a lot to learn, a lot of catching up to do.

> Stealth Lv Up!

>

> Lv 3 —> 4

A translucent blue window suddenly appeared in Zeke's field of vision, the text hovering in the air in front of him. A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth as he read the words, a surge of satisfaction running through him.

I love my power, man, he thought, the words tinged with a hint of smug pride. Leveling up skills just by sitting in class? Literal cheat code.

He glanced around at his teammates again, taking in their varied expressions of boredom and distraction. Maybe they don't need this stuff as much as I do, he mused, his stylus tapping against the screen of his tablet. But me? I'm gonna soak up every bit of knowledge I can get. Never know when it might come in handy.

With that thought, he turned his full attention back to Captain Atom, his pen poised over the page as he prepared to take more notes. The holographic display continued to flicker and shift, illustrating various stealth tactics and infiltration techniques, and Zeke watched with rapt attention, his mind whirring as he tried to commit it all to memory.

Captain Atom stood at the front of the circular mission briefing area, his metallic form a stark contrast to the holographic display behind him. The words 'Covert, Conceal, Infiltrate, Research, Alert' glowed in bright, bold letters, each one highlighted as the Captain pointed to them in succession.

"This is boring, isn't it?" he finally asked, his voice trailing off as he surveyed the room, taking in the varied expressions of the young heroes seated before him.

Zeke sat up straighter in his chair, his pen poised over his notebook as he waited for his teammates to respond. He could practically feel their restlessness, the way they shifted in their seats and exchanged glances.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Miss Martian was the first to speak up, her green skin flushing a slightly darker shade as she waved her hands defensively. "Oh no, Captain, it's quite-"

"Yeah, boring," Superboy interrupted, his candid words cutting through the Martian's nervous rambling like a knife. The Kryptonian leaned back in his chair, his muscular arms crossed over his chest as he fixed Captain Atom with a challenging stare.

Robin and Artemis nodded in agreement, their expressions mirroring Superboy's boredom. Wally, seated next to them, was a blur of motion as he nodded his head in super-speed, his red hair flopping against his forehead.

Zeke frowned, a twinge of annoyance running through him. Come on, guys, he thought, his grip tightening on his pen. Can’t get mad at me being dead weight if you’re gonna interrupt my learning time.

But he couldn't deny that the lecture had been dragging on, even for him. And judging by the looks on his teammates' faces, they were more than ready for a change of pace.

"I'm not bored," he chimed in, his voice cutting through the silence that had fallen over the room. He could feel the weight of his teammates' gazes on him, the way they stared at him in disbelief.

"Apologies, Ezekiel," Captain Atom said, raising a hand to silence the young hero. "But we do live in a democracy, and it seems like the majority are, in fact, bored. Let's go learn in the field."

The holographic display behind him flickered and shifted, the whiteboard replaced by a file marked 'CONFIDENTIAL' in glaring red letters. Zeke leaned forward in his seat, his curiosity piqued.

"This is a cold case, Vietnam era," Captain Atom disclosed, his voice taking on a serious tone. The hologram changed again, this time displaying the image of a stoic blond man in a green U.S. Air Force dress uniform. He materialized out of light and data, his features sharp and clear.

"Captain Nathaniel Adams, United States Air Force."

Zeke's eyes widened, his mouth falling open slightly as he stared at the image. Holy... He glanced from the man on the screen to the silver-skinned hero standing before them, well aware they were one and the same.

Captain Atom met Zeke's gaze, his eyes narrowing slightly in a silent warning. Keep this to yourself, the look seemed to say, and Zeke nodded imperceptibly. Got it, Cap.

"Convicted in 1968 of murdering Air Force General Clement Lemar," Captain Atom continued, shoulders squared and voice heavy. "Adams died in prison. But I've received a reliable tip he was framed."

He turned to face the team fully, his metallic features set in a determined expression. "Your assignment: Investigate. Prove Adams' innocence or reconfirm his guilt and report back to me."

A translucent blue window appeared in Zeke's field of vision, the text hovering in the air before him.

Mission Gained!

Shadows of Doubt

Nathaniel Adams has once again become the center of attention. Captain Atom, trusting in your unique skill set, tasks you with a mission of grave importance: dive deep into the shadows, sift through the labyrinth of lies and evidence, and uncover the truth behind Adams' story to clear his name.

Objective:

Investigate the case of Nathaniel Adams and determine his innocence or guilt.

Success: 10000 XP, + 5 to [Stealth], Highly Increased Reputation with Captain Atom, Severely Reduced Reputation with General Wade Eiling.

Failure: Misinformation, Decreased reputation with the Justice League.

Bonus Objective:

Complete the investigation without engaging in any combat yourself.

Bonus Objective:

Prevent General Eiling from destroying any evidence linking him to the crime.

Zeke read through the mission parameters quickly, his mind already racing with possibilities.

But not everyone seemed as enthusiastic. Superboy, his brow furrowed in skepticism, tilted his head to the side. "Really? You need super-powered operatives for this?"

Captain Atom, unfazed by the challenge, simply shrugged. "Alright then, so we're good to continue the lecture?"

The response was immediate and unanimous, a resounding "NO!" that filled the room and echoed off the cave walls. Even Zeke found himself joining in, his voice mixing with those of his teammates.

Captain Atom nodded, a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his metallic mouth. "Thought so. Alright then, let's get to work."

He waved a hand, and the holographic display shifted once more, this time displaying a map of the United States. Red pins marked various locations, each one connected by thin, glowing lines.

"These are the key locations related to the case," Captain Atom explained, gesturing to the map. "The Pentagon, the military base where he was stationed, his family, and other key individuals related to the case. Your job is to visit each one, gather what evidence you can, and piece together the truth."

Zeke leaned forward, his eyes scanning the map intently. Breaking into the Pentagon. Isn’t that like… treason? He glanced around at his teammates, taking in their expressions.

Robin looked intrigued, his masked eyes narrowed in thought. Wally was practically vibrating with excitement, his knee bouncing rapidly under the table. Artemis had a determined set to her jaw, her fingers drumming against her bow. Kaldur looked pensive, his pale green eyes distant as he considered the task before them. M'gann's face was a mix of nervousness and anticipation, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. And Superboy...

Well, Superboy just looked bored, his expression one of barely concealed impatience.

The thirteen-year old simply shrugged. Treason it is, then.

“Except you, Ezekiel,” Captain Atom’s voice cut through his excitement.

The teenager’s head snapped back to face his mentor, eyes wide. “Huh?”

“You don’t have the stealth training for this quite yet,” the captain gave him a look that told him he’d brook no insubordination. “You’ll be doing some extra study with me.”

“What?” When has that mattered?

“Haha!” Kid Flash’s laugh rang out. “That’s what you get for saying no!”

Zeke’s mouth hung open. This can’t be happening…

His gaze flicked up as the mission screen flickered back up at his mental command, receiving no notification that he had failed at all. It literally can’t.