Chapter 16 - Family Dinner

Eight Years Ago. Military Base. Location: Classified.

Waller looked over the list of her assets. "Are you sure about the assessments of these criminals?" She had just finished up getting the criminals she was going to have work for her, psychologically evaluated.

"More than positive, surprisingly your 'Deadshot' is more sane than Colonel Flagg. As for the others, I believe the only ones that will be helpful are those that truly seek redemption. Like this Diablo fellow, but only if he is…. properly motivated." The psychologist explained as he pulled out two more files. "Actually… I have two more personal transfers to Project Cadmus Special Unit. I thought you might like to take a new look at your very talented coworkers."

"Oh?" Waller raised an eyebrow in surprise. She took the files from the psychologist.

"One of them has a remarkable tenacity and strength as well as a combat ability that is overly remarkable for a normal human. Surprisingly enough she has shown a speciality in programming and hacking as well. The other one, I can not really fully assess. But he is especially intelligent. From what I could gather from his school psychological profiles and history, he went against his own parents' wishes by joining the military." The psychologist explained as Waller looked through the files.

"He got several online degrees while he was here? Because he was bored?" Waller asked as she looked at a note in the file.

"Yup, he is a bonafide genius with a PhD in Psychology and several degrees in varying fields of engineering."

"He has even dipped his hands into acrobatics and martial arts? He could have a job in just about any field. How did they get a job in Cadmus?" Waller asked.

The psychologist smiled, "that is actually the weird part. Every area where there was an available position for them was hacked, then they picked some open spots out of Cadmus."

"So they picked us… looks like I have two interesting coworkers."

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Now. At the Thanagarian Ship.

Batman approached just as the Thanagarian ship flew off.

"What did you find Batman?" Wonder Woman asked as they approached.

"I found a paper trail leading to Project Cadmus. As well as this guy," Batman nodded to the man they had following them. He was the guy they found drinking coffee at the diner. "Something happened here?"

"Yes, Doctor Fate was going to use magic to trail where the ship was. But as soon as he set foot on the ship something got triggered. Long story short, it released a bunch of magic which prevented Doctor Fate from tracing the trail. He also says that the magic item used was one of the stolen ones from London." Black Canary quickly explained.

"Meaning… we know Mylo is connected to this but can not prove it. That fits… but now I am thinking he left this paper trail on purpose. Because it gives us an excuse to initiate a search and seizure on the Project Cadmus Facility in Metropolis." Batman explained as he handed the file to Black Canary. He then nodded towards Superman who was unusually quiet, "what's wrong with him?"

"Blown eardrums, magic plus sound makes it a difficult day for him." Hal explained quickly.

"Fine then we-" Wonder Woman stopped mid sentence as a bird screeched from above.

*CAAAWWW*

Wonder Woman raised an eyebrow and held out one of her arms. The hawk flew down and landed on her arm. It was twice the size of any hawk that Batman had seen. Wonder Woman then opened a container that was on its back and pulled out a simple parchment scroll. "Hawkgirl, can you hold her for a minute?"

Hawkgirl accepted holding the bird. A moment later, Wonder Woman was opening the scroll and reading it. "Batman, have you and Question found any record of Mylo and Scarlett operating in Themyscira?"

"Hmmm…no. Something like that would have been immediately worth following up on if we had."

"It appears… that 'a female from a warrior race from legends called the Phoenix and a male demigod son of a moon god' have managed to make their way onto the island about a year ago. Then they managed to escape after stealing something. My mother does not explain further, she only says to come home and to bring a female comrade if need be." Wonder Woman seemed nervous, "but I would say finding their way to the island is already a terrifying feat."

"Hmm… We need to pursue both avenues of investigation. I will have The Question continue looking for answers regarding Mylo and Scarlett. We will take his obviously baited trap and pursue Project Cadmus. Wonder Woman and another Leaguer can go find out what they stole." Batman planned out.

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The Villa.

Mylo's car pulled into the garage and landed on the ground. As he turned off the engine it lowered to the ground until there was a sudden jolt. As Mylo climbed out of his car he glanced out of the open garage door. Outside he saw the snowy mountain ranges that were peppered with square protrusions. These protrusions were part of the large facility that made up 'The Villa'. Which was a large, mostly underground, facility that existed inside and under two snowy mountain ranges. Then around the mountain ranges and in the valley in between were forests with unnaturally large and sturdy trees of various types.

Then as the door started closing with its heavy duty doors he turned his attention to his trunk. He had only just opened it when-

*Boom* *Crash*

The door flew off its hinges and a small giggling black haired rocket with purple fire flew in. "Daddy!"

"Ellie! How is my mini rocket!" Mylo caught his daughter in a big bear hug.

The little girl snuggled into his chest, "great! Mom made some veal and vodka sauce pasta. She even made a portion for you. Then she said we could have caramel popcorn and watch one of those new movies."

"Hmmm… oh really. Then help Daddy move his homework inside. I have some things to work on while I am here. I want you to help me with my homework." Mylo walked over to his open trunk and pulled out two heavy cases. He set one down on the ground along with his daughter then picked the other one up.

He walked into the house and could hear the sound of the other case being dragged. As he went up the stairs he saw Blake in the kitchen. "Hey, our daughter has yet to set up the table. Once you put your stuff down, can you help her?"

Mylo smiled and nodded as he walked towards his workshop. As he stood outside the sliding plexiglass doors a red light passed over him as he was scanned. "Administrator Moonlight Identified. Opening door." A female robotic voice spoke as the doors slid open.

As Mylo walked in he looked toward an empty table, then moved to it and set the container he had down. He then left his lab and arrived back by the stairs in time to see his daughter heaving the container up.

"Hahaha! Come help me with setting up the table when you are done." Mylo walked in while the little girl nodded and continued to drag the container.

Walking into the kitchen he saw his Ex-wife was draining the pasta, while he could hear the sizzle of meat. He walked up and hugged her from behind and kissed her on the neck, and rubbed his head against hers.

"Yeah yeah, hurry up and set the table." Mylo sighed as he parted and moved towards the utensil drawer. "Uh…uh, dinner mats first! Then the plates, utensils, and cups are last!" Blake reminded him.

Mylo chuckled as he moved to another part of the kitchen and pulled out three dinner mats and two heat pads. "Heat pads too?"

"You know it!"

Mylo moved to the dining room. It was a spacious room with a full floor to ceiling windows that showed off the snow capped and coated mountain ranges and the valley. He smiled as he set down the dinner mats, one in front of three of the seats. The heat pads were set in the middle of the table.

As he moved back into the kitchen he saw his daughter pulling forks out of the utensil drawer. He then moved to one of the cabinets and pulled out three plates.

"Hey, can you put the salad on the table? The pasta is almost done, I am also keeping the veal warm in the oven."

"Yeah, I got it. What do you want to drink?" Mylo opened the fridge with one hand and pulled out the covered salad. Then he walked back into the dining room in time to see his daughter setting down the forks. He set the salad down in the middle of the table and then set the plates down on the dinner mats.

"I will have a beer." Mylo heard from the kitchen.

Then as he was walking back he heard another person, "Daddy! Can I have a beer too!"

"Hahaha! No, how about… some tea?" Mylo responded as he opened the fridge and pulled out a beer can and a cold tea liter bottle. He then opened the freezer and pulled out a chilled glass with two round ice balls. He then moved into the dining room and set the chilled glass and beer down then he set the tea bottle down as well.

"Mhmmm… how about… a tea and lemonade mix!"

"Okay-okay. Give me a moment. I suppose I can do that." Moving back into the kitchen he pulled a lemonade bottle out of the fridge. Then opened a cabinet and pulled out two glasses. He then moved back to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of green liquid and a few ice cubes. He put the ice cubes in the glasses and moved it all into the dining room.

Sitting at the table he got to work on pouring drinks as his daughter brought out the steak knives.

A few minutes later, Blake walked in with a bowl of pasta and a plate of veal cuts.

Mylo almost immediately plated his plate with food.

"So, did you get the message from Scarlett?" Blake asked in between bites of her food.

"Umm… yeah she mentioned hockey games and leaving 'The Villa', we are already season ticket holders for the Gotham City Knights. You only have to go to the games, if you want I can buy the out of town tickets as well. As for leaving 'The Villa'. Hmmm… I will let you leave on two conditions. One, you will live at the Vacation House with me." Mylo explained.

"Okay, that is easy enough. What is the other condition?"

"When our daughter turns five, let her enroll in the Advanced Intelligence and Talent Academy for the Future." Mylo flinched when Blake flicked her gaze toward him and stared at him.

"What's that!?" Elenor asked from across the table.

"Umm…" Mylo looked over and saw Blake grunt as she stopped staring at him. "It is a school that will be created in about a year. Its purpose will be to nurture talented youths from K to 12th grade. Your mother opposes the idea because it means you won't be able to grow up like a normal human child."

"Huh?... But I am not human. I am part Tamaranean royalty and part demigod. But with all the best parts!"

"What!" Elenor's statement caught them both off guard. "How do you know that?" Blake asked. She had made sure to always conceal information pertaining to her past as Blackfire, while Mylo had made it a point to hide his godly lineage. Which was not that hard considering that not even his own mother knew that she had cucked her husband with Mylo's true father.

"Umm…" Elenor slicked back in her seat as she glanced off to the side. "I… Auntie Scar taught me how to hack so I have been trying it out on mom's private files."

Blake looked exasperated for a second before she became resigned, "okay, I am sure you have some questions about what you saw in there. Feel free to ask away, since you already saw it we might as well explain it completely."

"Okay! Mommy, why didn't you and Daddy go back to beat up your family? Don't you want payback for them mistreating, abandoning, and experimenting on you?" Elenor asked while trying to cut her veal.

Mylo chuckled at the sight and then swapped plates with his daughter because he had cut up his veal cut into pieces already. While Blake gave her daughter a sad smile, "because, there is no point. Instead of spending my life contemplating revenge and hurting others in the process, I decided to start anew." Blake then looked over at Mylo and smiled, "your father and you are the reasons I live happily now."

Elenor nodded in understanding, but from her glossy eyes it was clear that she had only partially understood Blake's response. "Okay… then why did you change your name? I think the name Blackfire is a lot cooler than Blake."

That got a chuckle out of Mylo, while Blake blushed. "I changed my name as part of my healing process and to help me forget my past life as Komand'r or rather Blackfire who was hated. While Blake means dark or black but it lacks the fire part which my former family has in common." Blake explained.

"Oh… then what does my name mean?" Elenor asked as she stopped eating to fully pay attention.

"Your name means 'shining light', which is fitting because you are the reason your father and I can trudge through any darkness." Blake explained which caused their daughter to blush and look bashfully down at her food.

There was a few minutes of quiet while they ate until Elenor asked her next question, "then what about that hero called Starfire? Do you hate her?"

Blake shook her head, "no, Starfire was my little sister that everyone adored and is incredibly talented. She never realized until I was already sent as a war hostage. Besides, she was the only one of my family members that ever treated me kindly. Maybe you will meet her one day."

Elenor looked excited, "cool! I saw on TV that she and her friends are like some of those Superheroes that Dad thinks are stupid." Blake looked at Mylo and gave him a sly look. "Hey Dad, what does cuck mean?" Mylo was in the middle of drinking and had some of the drink come out of his nose. "Mom had that word in her notes when she wrote about your father and mother."

Mylo looked at Blake who was now bellowing with laughter, "sweetie…. Ask me again when you are much much older, because it is a bad thing you do not know about yet."

"How much older?"

"Hmm… when you are as tall as mommy and as strong as daddy." Mylo gave his daughter a smile while Blake continued to laugh in the background.