- Project Titan -
Asset Designation: [̶R̶e̶d̶a̶c̶t̶e̶d̶] Mercer, Dean
Status: Subject in Cryo-Stasis / Metahuman Containment Level 7
Codename: Subject M
Objective: Analyze long-term effects of unauthorized Compound T exposure
Classification: Off-Books / Need-to-Know Only
Risk Rating: Unquantified (Waller Override)
Notes:
·Subject displays physical growth in height, muscle mass and bone structure.
·Subject displays enhanced durability — standard Cadmus-grade titanium needles unable to pierce dermal layer.
·Energy signature reads within normal human range. No psionic, arcane, or radiation anomalies detected.
·Cellular regeneration accelerated but unstable. Fracture self-healed in 14 seconds.
·Subject displays no overt aggression.
·Psychological profile suggests submissive tendencies, high compliance potential. Recommend soft-control reprogramming (see Protocol Theta).
---
"Where is he now?"
Looking up from the report, I met the eyes of the woman waiting in front of my desk.
"He was taken to one of the rooms you requested."
Nodding, I stood and walked around the desk, heading out of the room with the woman quickly falling into step behind me.
"Madam Waller?"
Without looking over my shoulder, I gestured for her to speak.
"Why Level 7? Isn't that too high, considering Superman—"
Turning my head slightly, I cut her off.
"In less than two days, he's undergone a change not even Deathstroke displayed… and all of it while unconscious."
I turned back as we rounded a corner.
'And if Mirakuru was able to give Slade such strength… then what about someone who was given Compound T?'
Suppressing a sigh, we reached the final hallway. At the end was the room he was in.
"You can leave now."
She gave a quick nod and walked away, the sound of her heels echoing behind me. I approached the room and nodded to the two men standing guard.
"You two can leave. You won't be needed."
They started to object, but I waved them off. They nodded silently and left.
Now it was just me, and a door.
Taking a deep breath, I stepped inside and was greeted by soft, warm lighting and a spotless white room. A bed sat near the center, with a small table beside it.
I focused on the figure sleeping on the bed.
'Former junkie.'
He had grown. From a wiry 5'7 frame to at least 6'5, his body now carried a fair amount of muscle mass.
'Now for him to wake up.'
Sighing, I pulled a table from the corner over to his bedside and sat, staring.
-
Ever had a headache from sleeping too much?
That's how I felt as I opened my eyes, greeted by blinding lights.
"Dean, try and get up slowly."
I jolted at the firm yet soft voice—and immediately winced at the motion. Turning to face it, my eyes settled on a Black woman standing beside me.
My throat, already dry, somehow got worse.
"Who… who are you?"
She gave me a smile—the kind I used to see on my dad's face when he'd promise we'd go fishing.
"I'm Amanda Waller. An agent of the U.S. Government."
My heart dropped.
I crawled back until I hit the wall behind me.
"I… I didn't steal anything!"
She chuckled. That didn't help.
But her next words—and the calm look in her eyes—did.
"You're not in any trouble."
My shoulders slumped slightly, but I didn't move from the wall.
"Even if you did steal a drug from the government."
She raised a hand gently, cutting me off before I could panic again.
"While what happened isn't ideal, I believe it may have been fate."
I blinked, confused. Her smile grew just a bit.
"There was only a one percent chance of the drug working—or of it not reacting at all. As of this moment, there is only one person it has worked on."
"…Me."
She nodded.
And I felt like I should've passed out.
'I've seriously messed up.'
"There's no need to worry, sweetie."
My focus snapped back to her as she stood up and sat beside me on the bed.
"Dean, do you want to be seen?"
"S-seen?"
She hummed softly. I froze as her hand gently cupped my cheek.
Just like Mom.
"To be seen as more than just another face in the crowd. To show people that you are here."
I opened my mouth to answer, but she was already standing, withdrawing her hand.
"Think about what I said. There are clothes on the table—"
She gestured and my eyes followed. A folded bundle of clothes and boots sat neatly on the table nearby.
"Once you're dressed, I want you to give me an answer. Okay?"
I looked at her shoulder and gave a small nod.
"Good. Now, Dean?"
Another nod.
"You are safe."
With that, she turned and walked out, closing the door behind her.
Leaving me alone with my thoughts.
'What did I do?'
I knew—just knew—that one day my actions would catch up to me. I was just another junkie in Gotham. Not special.
Hell, maybe I was special in the worst way compared to the others.
"Yet here I am... Am I going to be a lab experiment?"
I shivered at the thought—then froze.
"How did I even get here?"
The last thing I remembered was running… and then waking up here.
Do you want to be seen and heard, Dean?
My head snapped toward the empty chair where Amanda Waller had been.
To show the world you are here.
My hands clenched the sheets as I slumped forward, staring down at them.
They were bigger than I remembered.
'From the drug?'
I curled further inward.
'Why me?'
'Why did Uncle fire me? What did I do that was so wrong?!'
Sure, I did drugs—but did that mean I deserved to lose everything?
Be seen and heard, Dean.
My chest felt tight.
I stared at my hands for a long moment, then slowly took a breath and stood up.
"Maybe... maybe Ms. Waller can tell me more?"
I didn't know where to go. Or what to do.
But I had that small hope—
That she'd explain what I'd done. What had happened to me.
Turning to the clothes, I grabbed the white shirt sitting on top. Laying it aside, I removed the hospital gown and stared at my reflection in confusion.
Muscles. Broad shoulders. A frame I didn't recognize.
'What happened to me?'
Trying not to dwell on it, I slipped on the underwear—it fit just right, snug and unfamiliar.
Then the heavy black pants.
The white shirt.
Socks.
And finally the boots—sturdy and heavier than anything I'd worn before.
'Am I—'
I shook the thought from my head before it could finish.
Moving back to the bed, I sat in front of the mirror.
And stared at the stranger looking back at me.
If Mom or Dad saw me now...
They wouldn't recognize me at all.
(pic)
Staring at myself for a moment longer, I took a deep breath, then stood with a slow exhale and walked to the door.
'Maybe I can go home after hearing what Ms. Waller has to say.'
Turning the knob, I was surprised to see her already waiting.
Something in me felt a little lighter—but I kept my shoulders low and my gaze on her neck.
"The clothes fit properly. Good." she said.
I nodded and walked up to her, not even realizing how much I now towered over her.
"Um… Ms. Waller—"
She cut me off with a gentle pat on the arm.
"Dean, just Waller is fine. Is everything okay?"
I blinked, thrown off by the kind smile she gave me.
"Well… you said there was a low chance…"
She chuckled softly, then gestured for me to follow her.
"Did you know, during World War II, every nation was desperately trying to get an edge in the war?"
I gave a slight nod.
"Well, Japan created a drug—one that could turn a decent soldier into someone like Batman."
My body flinched at that name. I remembered the moment I saw him—how he moved.
"There were side effects, of course." she continued. "But decades later, a doctor got his hands on the formula. Inspired by Superheroes, he tried to improve it. To enhance what the Japanese started."
My hands started to feel clammy again—until Waller gently patted my arm, grounding me.
"Unlike them, he didn't test it on humans. Only on animals—rats, mice and the like. After countless failed trials, he eventually gave up."
She looked back at me, voice steady.
"That brings us to now. The day he gave up, he gave the last few vials to us—the U.S. government."
My mouth opened, but no words came.
'I destroyed them…'
"What was meant to create stronger soldiers—to fight what ordinary people couldn't—was, unfortunately, lost."
Then she smiled again, this time more warmly.
"But in that loss, we gained something the doctor never could."
She pointed gently toward my chest.
"Yes. You."
We stopped walking. She turned to stand directly in front of me, placing her hands softly on my upper arms.
"There are people out there who live in fear—fear that not even the heroes can erase. There is a darkness that people are forced to survive in, a fear you know well."
I gulped, spine instinctively straightening beneath her gaze.
"Dean." she said firmly, her eyes never leaving mine.
"Will you be the Titan who can aid others?"