Chapter 3: Suspicion and Trust
[Watchtower – Conference Room]
The Justice League gathered around the central table as images of five new shadow creatures flashed across the holographic screens.
Each one was attacking a different city:
One in Central City,
Two in Metropolis,
One in Atlantis,
And the last... had emerged in Gotham.
Batman stared directly at Ben with a piercing gaze.
"They all appeared minutes after your arrival."
Ben (defensive): "You think I brought them with me?! I was running from them!"
Supergirl stepped forward. "He fought one of them with me—before we even reached the Watchtower."
The Flash tried to ease the tension. "Look, instead of pointing fingers, maybe we should split up and stop these things first."
Cyborg added: "These things aren't stable… It's like someone's upgrading them in real time."
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[The Battles Begin]
The teams formed quickly:
Superman and Wonder Woman to Atlantis
Flash and Cyborg to Central City
Supergirl and Ben to Metropolis
Batman went alone… to Gotham
Before leaving, Batman turned to Ben once more.
"If you are the cause of this… you won't get another chance to lie."
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[Metropolis – Ben and Supergirl's Fight]
The two shadow creatures in Metropolis moved with terrifying precision. Their bodies shifted like liquid shadows, adapting rapidly.
Ben tried activating the Omnitrix, but the transformations still glitched—aliens would appear for mere seconds before fading out.
Supergirl: "Focus, Ben! Cover me while I take the left!"
Ben (panting): "Trying! But the watch is—wait, got it!"
He briefly transformed into XLR8, zipping around one creature, confusing it just long enough for Supergirl to blast it with her heat vision.
It exploded into black dust.
Supergirl (smirking): "Now we're syncing up."
Ben (grinning through sweat): "Please, don't tell me you're impressed already."
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[Gotham – The Shadow of the Mind]
In Gotham's twisted back alleys, Batman hunted the last creature. This one… didn't attack.
It whispered.
The mental-type shadow entity emerged as a shape-shifting mass, its eyes glowing like dying stars.
Suddenly, a voice invaded Batman's mind:
"You failed... just like you did the night your parents died…"
Images flooded his vision—his childhood, the alley, the screams. His hand trembled. He dropped to one knee.
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[Ben Intervenes – A Turning Point]
Cyborg's voice crackled through comms:
"Batman's vital signs are spiking! We need backup in Gotham—now!"
Ben: "Send me."
Moments later, a teleportation beam dropped him into Gotham's cold rain. He found Batman on the ground, disoriented, surrounded by whispering shadows.
The creature turned toward Ben, its voice echoing in his skull.
"You cannot defeat what you fear to understand."
Ben looked down at the flickering Omnitrix.
"Let's see who's got the stronger mind."
He selected a new alien—its symbol pulsing blue.
FWOOSH! A bright flash lit up the alley.
Ben had transformed into Psymind, a sleek, silver-skinned alien with glowing neural veins and pulsing eyes. His mental aura shimmered in the air.
A shockwave of psychic force rippled outward, clearing Batman's thoughts and staggering the shadow creature.
Psymind/Ben (calmly): "You picked the wrong mind to mess with."
He focused his energy, launching a concentrated psychic burst. The creature shrieked before dissolving into black particles.
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[Back at the Watchtower]
Back at the Watchtower, the League reviewed battle footage.
Batman approached Ben slowly.
"…That was effective. Thank you."
Ben: "Told you. I'm not your enemy."
Wonder Woman: "Then what we're facing… is far more intelligent than we thought."
Cyborg: "And they're adapting. Each creature is different. Purpose-built."
Batman (grimly): "It's like something—or someone—is coordinating them."
Suddenly, Ben clutched his head. A surge of pain struck him—followed by a brief, distorted vision:
A ruined planet.
A towering figure cloaked in dark energy.
And a voice like a collapsing star:
"Every step brings you closer to the truth… Ben."
Ben's eyes snapped open, confused and unsettled.
The Omnitrix pulsed once—then went silent.
End of Chapter 3
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I'm sorry for changing the chapter because this is my first story and this might happen with subsequent chapters to improve the story