“Wow! There’s so much room for activities!” M’gann exclaimed as she floated down the hallway towards the living quarters. Or one of the hallways of living quarters; there were three different ones, and room for more expansion.
Just how big does the Guild expect the team to grow? They better let us have input on new members. After glancing at M’gann, he reconsidered.
She’s definitely a breath of fresh air. She seems… so normal. I like the other girls but they’re all kind of different than I would have expected. Not bad but they keep throwing me for a loop. M’gann might be green, from Mars and a psychic shapeshifter, but she feels familiar.
Like we just click.
The titular Martian flew down the hall, finding the first of two rooms, blank steel powered sliding doors that screamed futuristic, with keypads on the wall beside them. Touching one, the door swooshed open, splitting down the middle to slide into the walls, revealing a shiny and new, if spartan, bedroom with a closet. A full sized bed and mattress had been set up in the middle of the room, while built-in shelves and cabinets lined the stone walls. Overhead lights provided a warm yellow light, entirely unlike the antiseptic fluorescent ones that haunted his dreams. The floor was a gleaming, polished teal color, which Connor did favor. The left wall was bare rock which looked either excavated or melted, and the far and right walls were metallic bulkheads, as well as the ceiling. Clearly a cavern had been excavated, and then partition walls built to divide it up.
“Seems a little… cold.” Connor stated. “Both literally and figuratively.”
“There’s a lot of potential here. I can’t wait to put up some posters! It just needs a rug, a few wall hangings, and it’ll feel just like home! I hope we get television reception down here.” M’gann continued, unperturbed.
“It is a secret underground hero base, after all. If it was light and airy and had a lot of skylights, it wouldn’t be very secret or secure.” Black Canary observed from the doorway where she leant against the frame. “It’s still a work in progress, but it should be up to code by the time the rest of the team comes by to pick out their own rooms. These are the first quarters that were finished.”
Flopping down on the new bed, he discovered the plastic liner had been left on it, which gave it a squeaky feel. Sitting up, he bounced a few times to get the feel for it, and pronounced it good.
“Not bad. Not too firm, not too soft. Did the Guild whip round to Ikea for all the furnishings?” He asked sardonically.
“Hardly. We have sufficient funds for a better class of interior decorating. Besides, we don’t, as a rule, purchase anything from LexCorp subsidiaries anymore.” She said with a frown.
“Luthor bought Ikea? That bastard. I bet he’s responsible for my old bed frame ripping apart when I picked it up to move it!” Connor shook his fist to the heavens at the memory. The damn ‘wood’ had torn like cardboard when he’d lifted the metal frame.
Never gonna have to see that bed frame again. Or any of my stuff, my comics, Mom and Dad…
He blew an exhausted sigh and banished the thoughts again. There would be time to process it all, now. Now he had a home, somewhere to sit and think, that he wasn’t a guest in. As Walli finally zoomed back in, having given up her fruitless search on her own and found them, he smiled.
Not that Walli made me feel the least bit ‘unwelcome’, heh. Rudy and Mary really opened their home to me, too. I owe them for that. They’re good people. Jesse seems a little rough around the edges, but I can see where Walli gets her good humor from.
“So, what do you think? Pretty sick secret base, or what?” Connor said as he spread his arms to indicate the living quarters.
“Definitely has possibilities. Oh! I like the shelves. We could keep trophies and souvenirs here. No, better! A whole room just for that. A trophy room!” She nattered excitedly, eyes gleaming with greed for the giant pennies and robot dinosaurs she would collect.
“There’ll be plenty of room for that, later.” Canary commented. “Trust me, Kid, you get sick of that stuff real fast. The big ones, you don’t need anything to remember them by, and the rest just becomes junk you’re hoarding.” She sounded like she knew from experience.
“Pshah, yeah right! Jesse and Jenny have a whole museum for all the stuff they’ve collected. And the place has thousands of visitors a day! They only gave me an annex; they’re gonna need a whole new wing when I’m done!” Walli said exuberantly.
“I’m sure you will. But they have a whole museum staff for it. The Arrow Cave is a freaking hoarder’s dream with all the crap Green Arrow has taken off crooks and creeps whose names he can’t even remember.” Canary replied, somewhat bitterly.
Walli and Connor shared a look, while M’gann looked frozen, unsure of what to say. Canary only looked at the ground, and crossed her arms. After a beat, Walli ventured to break the silence.
“Are you okay?” She asked with genuine concern, hands up helplessly.
After another moment, Black Canary sighed and put a hand to her forehead, still not looking at the three younger heroes.
“I’m… gonna be okay. Sorry, I shouldn’t be burdening you kids with this on what is supposed to be your big day.” Clearly, it took her an effort to steel herself and control her emotions. For Connor it was a new experience, to see an adult who was clearly feeling a great deal of turmoil but could control it instead of just suppress it.
“If there’s something wrong, you can tell us, Canary. You always say not to repress stuff, or it will just come out in other ways.” Walli continued, extending an olive branch.
With a sad smile, Canary finally met their gaze.
“Well, I give good counsel. Its my job, or one of them. Green Arrow and I are getting a divorce. I served him the papers this morning. Besides Aquawoman, you three are the first to know.” She admitted with a sad twinge in her voice.
“Oh jeez, Dinah, I’m so sorry! I shouldn’t have pried, my mouth just gets ahead of my-” Walli sputtered, raising her hands as if to stop the news that had already been delivered.
“It’s okay, Walli. Everyone was gonna know soon anyway. Its one of the reasons I volunteered to be your supervisor. Gets me out of Star City for a while, and keeps me out of the usual Guild lineup.” Black Canary smiled sadly, a tragedy for so beautiful a woman.
“I’m sorry to hear that, too. I know we just met, but… I’ve seen how hard it is to make a marriage work when things are… stressful.” Connor added, once again feeling wholly inadequate for the situation.
Damn, Ollie, what did you do to this poor woman?
“Thank you, Connor, I appreciate it. One of the worst things when dealing with a trauma like this is feeling like its something shameful you need to hide. Its always better to deal with it head on, and lean on your support network.” Canary replied, sagely, only a little of the emotional turmoil she was feeling showing.
“I am more than happy for you to lean on me, if that can help. I don’t know much about relationships on Terra, but psychically, I’m in tune with emotional wavelengths. If I can be of help, I’d like to be.” M’gann offered, her hands nervously clasped.
Straightening, Black Canary smiled at them, her eyes a little misty, and spoke.
“Thank you, all three of you. I appreciate the support, but I’m mostly here to support you. I have my own network to fall back on, so I want to focus on helping you with your needs. But I still appreciate it, nonetheless. I look forward to working with you all.” She ended with a brief nod. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to check in with Wonder Woman on the training rotations while you get settled in.” Canary bid them goodbye and headed back to the central meeting chamber.
Or she needs to have a cry. I know I did when Mom told me they were getting divorced, and I thought it was a relief. So did Mom…
“Well… that sucks.” Walli said matter of factly.
“That’s an understatement.” M’gann retorted.
“Still, I can't exactly say it’s unexpected.” Walli said, stroking her chin thoughtfully.
“Really? I thought they’re like a power couple?” Connor asked. He had done a little research over the past few days, trying to figure out how long the Guild had been operating, as well as its members. Green Arrow and Black Canary had both been operating for a little under a decade, with Green Arrow operating for longer. But the rumor mill online stated Canary was a legacy of the original Black Canary, who debuted during WW2. They were both based in Star City, and while their identities remained secret, they were open about their relationship in costume. They had gotten married in costume, at least publicly, and with a guestlist full of superheroes.
Some villains had tried to ‘object’, of course, but had been dogpiled.
Their divorce was probably going to be a PR nightmare for the Guild.
I can’t imagine having my relationship troubles dragged in front of the press like that. They have tabloid rags here that are just about superheroes and villains. It’ll be a field day for them. Ugh. No wonder she wants to come live in a cave with us on the other side of the country.
“They are, or were. But Green Arrow is a pretty notorious fuck boi, hooking up with cape chasers, other heroes, even some villains if the rumors are true.” Walli said hotly, clearly picking a side in this breakup.
“Do you know that, or is that the rumor mill?” Connor asked cautiously.
I always liked Green Arrow, but he is pretty notorious in the comics. It doesn’t always work out with him and Canary, and this kind of thing comes up sometimes.
“I haven’t seen it myself. Ugh, gross even to think about. But Jesse has mentioned it a couple times. More than a couple times.” She stated.
If Jesse is this world’s Flash, then it makes sense she doesn’t like Green Arrow. But does she not like him because she knows, or because she doesn’t like his opinions?
Considerations of messy superhero interpersonal conflicts, elseworld gender dynamics, and whether or not Green Arrow was a cheating asshole were disrupted by M’gann’s curious interrogative.
“Oh! Hello, little guy. Who are you?”
The Green Martian was bent down over the bed’s headboard, staring curiously at the little grey-blue G-Gnome perched there. He regarded her back with solid red eyes, and Connor was shocked to see not only the genomorph, but also that his stubby horns weren’t glowing.
Shit! I forgot about him!
No, shit, he made me forget about him!
Double shit! He’s been with me the whole time!
Panic rose in him as he turned towards M’gann and the G-Gnome as she reached out a questing index finger to touch him, and in response his horns began to glow again and his tiny clawed hand reached out to grasp her finger.
With that touch, Ms. Martian collapsed on the ground like a marionette with its strings cut, falling into a boneless heap.
“Hey! What the hell did you do, you little creep!?” Walli shouted with anger as she zipped toward the G-Gnome.
Connor shoved himself between them, and Walli skidded to a halt, leaving rubber marks on the smooth floor as she hit the brakes.
“Wait! I can explain!” Connor shouted as he spread his arms, trying to cover the G-Gnome from Walli’s view.
“Explain!? He just dropped Ms. Martian! He’s a Cadmus spy or something!” Walli shouted, trying to zip around him. Connor found that with quick bursts, he could actually hop himself in between her and the G-Gnome. The little creature decided at that moment to leap from it’s position onto his back, clambering up his jacket and onto his shoulder where it returned to its favorite perch.
“Connor! What the hell! Is that thing controlling you too!?” Walli demanded, pointing an accusing finger at the G-Gnome, who curiously then copied her, pointing one of its blunt clawed fingers at itself.
“Ah ha! See! It admits it!” Walli crowed, although Connor wasn’t entirely sure why that was important in this situation.
“Ooooh… hello, Megan…” Mumbled Ms. Martian from the floor as she stirred from whatever he had thrown a spanner in her works.
“Careful, Ms. M! There’s a psychic little g’nome controlling Superboy!” Walli shouted as she zipped to Ms. Martian’s side and helped her stand.
G’nome? That’s gonna give me the giggles…
Wait, Walli! It’s ok! He wasn’t trying to hurt me!
The words were shouted in his mind, almost painful, and as he winced, so did Walli.
“What the heck?” Walli asked incredulously, clutching her head.
Telepathy, she’s talking to our minds, linking them.
Yes, I am. Its ok, Walli, calm down. The genomorph isn’t a threat. He’s a friend now.
M’gann finally got to her feet, still a little unsteady, and reached up to Connor's shoulder and gave it under chin scratches.
She heard my thoughts.
She answered them.
Oh no.
Panic started rising in him. M’gann would be able to see the truth, see through the lie he had told the Guild. What would a psychic think of the knowledge that she was fictional, at least in another world. At least he didn’t know anything embarrassing about her. As he braced for her to catch up to his thoughts and dig in, he instead received silence. M’gann was explaining to Walli the situation to calm her down. She didn’t appear to be hearing his thoughts right now.
The G-Gnome turned to look at him, and its horns glowed as it linked to him. Suddenly he knew what he had seen; he and Walli at her home, the trip to the mall and the Quick Museum, the fight against the Terror Twins. Usually from a perspective a few inches off his right shoulder, making it a surreal third person view of his own life. He remembered then; Dubbilex telling him it would be his liaison, his contact to the rest of the genomorphs in the Project.
It had been with him the whole time, just editing his perception so he filtered it out. He remembered being grateful for that ability, otherwise he wouldn’t have been able to ignore its presence and given the game away to the Guild. But apparently it had decided that it should keep that perception camouflage up the whole time, including making him forget it was there entirely.
Slowly the information download ceased, and he came back to his own body after being lost in its memories and sensory data.
“So you’re telling me, that little guy has been following Superboy around since we left Cadmus?” Walli asked incredulously.
“Uh, yes.” Connor answered worriedly.
“Meaning it was at my house!? And you didn’t see fit to tell me?” Walli demanded to know.
“I meant to!” He objected. “But it made me forget it was there again. So I wouldn’t expose it. But it messed up, made me forget it was there at all. I’m sorry, I would have told you, Walli. Honest.” Connor pleaded with his friend.
Will she still be my friend after this?
I can show her what it meant.
The sudden intrusion of M’gann in his thoughts was jarring, very unlike Dubbilex’s smooth arrival. When she spoke it was like his thoughts were forming distinct sentences but he had no agency in it. Like she spoke the words that made the world. M’Gann spoke the words and they were made manifest.
Okay, but you have to ask first! He shouted telepathically, and she nodded.
“Walli, can I please show you what the G-Gnome meant and did?” M’gann requested earnestly, which seemed to penetrate the cloud of Walli’s suspicion. Walli slowly nodded, so M’Gann reached out a hand to take Walli’s, and through the link, Connor felt it.
She showed them both what the G-Gnome had been doing. Observing and watching out for him. He saw through its eyes as it made sure his sleep was untroubled by nightmares. But the whole time it sat back and watched, making him forget it had been there in the first place. A very lonely existence.
Then he saw the indescribably embarrassing moment of intimacy between Walli and himself, from the G-Gnome’s perspective perched on Walli’s dresser. Through the link he felt Walli’s and then M’gann’s embarrassment also piled on.
Oh god, it was watching us!? Came Walli’s thunderous thoughts.
Oh. OH. I didn’t know… you two were…
We’re not. Came a psychic stereo claim.
Oh. But I thought-
We’re just friends. Connor thought definitively.
With benefits. Walli’s thoughts felt more spontaneous.
Oh… OK. But it wasn’t peeping on you, Walli. It was just… watching. It mostly watches things happen to other people. It liked watching you when it was with Connor.
What!? Came their stereo thoughts again.
Not like that! It liked seeing your home, and your life. And your friendship. It never saw anything like that in Cadmus before. It showed me its life before, and it's so sad. They’re such bright creatures, strong telepaths, but they don’t have any experience or context to have their own lives and agency.
M’gann’s thoughts were now flavored with a bitter sadness for the G-Gnome’s isolation and suffering. It almost made Connor tear up. Images of the G-Gnome’s life in Cadmus filtered through; long periods of time stuck in the pod with a growing Connor, feeding information into his mind palace.
He’s been with me since I was… ‘born’ here. Connor thought.
So he wanted to come with you and see the world? Walli thought curiously.
Pretty much… Connor thought, worrying about revealing too much, and worrying that worrying would expose the cause of his worries. But neither of his larger companions even noticed the emotional note it took on.
Okay… I can see where he’s coming from. Literally, now. Walli said with grudging acknowledgement. But he has to know he can’t just watch… us, like that!
I think he gets it now. Connor assured her as he took the G-Gnome off his shoulder and cuddled it, before presenting it to Walli.
See? He’s sorry. He thought as he held the G-Gnome up to Walli like it was a cute little puppy, instead of a genetically engineered telepathic weapon.
Alright, I get it already. He didn’t mean anything by it. Walli huffed as she thought it and crossed her arms. Her face was definitely reddening, and she refused to look at him or M’gann.
“Thank you.” Connor said, with deliberate effort. He couldn’t break the telepathic link, but he tried refusing the call and use his words this time.
Suddenly, M’gann released it, collapsing them back into themselves from the greater network they had shared, which was disorienting for everyone but her. She took it with aplomb as she suddenly only had one body and perspective. Both Walli and Connor looked stunned, as they each no longer knew exactly felt how their partner felt, and it was disconcerting. The G-Gnome looked fairly content, but it always did.
“So, does this little guy have a name?” M’gann asked curiously as she peered up at the G-Gnome on his shoulder.
“I didn’t give him one. Cadmus doesn’t name any of the genomorphs if they can help it.” Connor explained, relying on the mind palace to fill in the details.
“Maybe you should.” Walli interjected. “Can’t have a dog and just call it Dog.”
“He’s not an animal. He’s a person… well, a teeny tiny person, who can do a lot.” Connor said as he began to kick around the question of what to call the little G-Gnome. From its memories of the past few days, he could see it helping itself to bits of his meals as it wanted, and he never recognized the difference.
“Gizmo.” He said finally.
“His name is Gizmo.”
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