25 Making Moves And Laying Plans

(Sensei POV)

This is absurd.

This kind of progress should not be possible. The amount of chi I just sent into him should have left him in a state of utter and complete agony for the next few hours. 

And while I did see some convulsions, his body seemed to accept the energy and use it to augment his own chi. And other than some sweat and a bleeding hand, due to how hard he was focusing, I saw little in terms of true struggle.

But then something even more impossible happened as the initiate not only managed to stop the chaotic flow of chi but also turned it into something else. 

Or maybe he simply manifested it as something entirely different to throw me off, and as he opened his eyes, I saw a small amount of red and yellow in them that soon disappeared. This was abnormal, but the eye color change was interesting as there are no physical changes when making use of chi.

As he stood up with that bubble-like aura around him, he walked towards me and sat as he waited for further intrusion, as if I did not just try to kill him. Is he blind? Or did he not realize it?

Shaking my head, I then looked to the initiate and began to explain, "I see that you managed to control the energy, good. Even Ra's took days to stabilize himself after that, so color me impressed initiate. But for now, I shall show you ways to use chi to improve yourself further."

He then did a small bow, and as I walked back over to the center of the room, I then stood upon the yin, and he stood upon the yang symbol opposite to me.

"For now, follow my movements and understand the balance as when using chi, one must not overuse it lest he risk punishments from his own form degrading in front of him. It takes focus, will, and control to master this art." He then nodded and began to follow my movements to the letter, and while he was a bit rigid in the beginning, his talent began to show again after only half an hour.

Every foot movement, every movement of the hands and body was in perfect harmony; even his very breath began to stabilize. It was as if I was seeing a copy of myself. 

Years of experience seemed to be absorbed by him in minutes, and I began to relate to the actions of my apprentice, as his talent was truly monstrous and was only growing with time.

And if that wasn't enough, when I saw the individual movements of his body, I saw that his entire form was focused on One Singular task, which should be impossible for one who has only trained for three-quarters of a month. To allow for the body to follow the will of the user so incredibly should not be possible.

Sighing mentally, I stopped as he did, to which he seemed almost expecting, and as he stopped moving and sat back down unphased, I sighed and said, "Your training for today is over; return to your quarters and rest while I report your progress to Ra's."

He then bowed and walked away, and as I saw him leave, I held the detonator for the bomb in my hand as I wanted to blow it up. As with each day his power grows, he may come to threaten the organization, but for now, until he shows signs of betrayal, this shall remain hidden. And I must continue training in order to not be so easily seen through once more.

(Nathan POV)

You know I realize now why so many people were afraid of Kakashi from Naruto as having the ability to copy someone really throws them off the first time they see it. While Sensei showed no emotion, I could sense his hesitation through the force and felt his hand go to the detonator, which may have been funny as if he blew it up, I would simply regenerate.

But I don't want to have all the cards on the table just yet. Soon enough, I will get out of here even if I am a bit hesitant to do so, as while I am under constant threat, none of them can harm me now. The empty threats, the vague riddles, and the allusions to possible fates all mean nothing. Now, I just need to do one last thing.

As I returned to my room and lay down, I looked at the camera, and using one more force ability, mechu-deru, I looped the footage and then activated my camera scrambler ability. As I then left my room, I made my way to Ra's sanctum, and on my way, I transformed into one of the cultists I had devoured earlier.

So, as I made my way through the hallways, one of the initiates saw me and was about to yell out, but I simply reached through the force, broke his neck, and then devoured him and took his memories. But they meant nothing but a possible out as I learned the passwords for his accounts for later.

As I entered the inner sanctum and headed for Ra's room, I disabled the camera scrambler as I did not need it for now. So, as I entered the room, I saw multiple bombs thrown my way, but I simply caught them all mid-air and threw them away using force. But since I stopped the sparks from igniting, they just fell to the floor.

"So it seems that the birds have sent their representative. Reveal yourself, intruder!" He yells out as I shake my head. I grab him through the force. As he is grabbed by me, he tries to resist. I then reach into my pocket, take out the neuralyzer, and turn away. 

He tries to scream, but my blacklight tendril keeps him from moving, and I use my mechu deru ability to manipulate his pacemaker, which is only meant to be used as an alarm if his heart rate gets too high while also changing my voice and using mecha der on the audio bugs.

As his stare goes blank, I take my arm and stab him through the chest, infecting him with the virus, but since I had him like this, I spoke my command for his created memories.

"An intruder made his way to your quarters from the court of owls. You managed to subdue him, but he then disappeared after you grievously injured him. But in the fighting, he managed to stab you in the side. You are going to order a further investigation into the court from now on, and you will not think that Nathan was a part of this as he was in his room. But you may suspect him." I then stopped and stabbed them in the side, non-fatally, of course, before throwing him onto his table.

I then began to hear forces massing outside the room, but I reenabled my camera scrambler and disappeared for camera view. 

Then, using my mastery over the virus, I went over to one of the vents yet in the room and turned myself into a writhing mass of flesh. While it was not the ideal form, I hurried through the vents, using the force to levitate my mass so as not to touch the vents themselves so as not to trigger motion alarms or make noise.

Now, all I need to do is wait as my virus infects him and Shiva, and while it may not be strong enough to control them completely, they will be playing out of my hand soon enough. So, as I lower myself into my room, I reform my original looks and stop the camera looping before turning to bed. 

A small smile forms on my face as it feels nice to simply let loose for a bit, as the dark side is practically jumping for joy at the display of cunning and power. Because regardless of their strength and skill, if one can simply outpower them, it means nothing, and the force is truly a great power.

Luckily, though, this is a time before they prepared for too many out-of-context powers like telekinesis, among many other powers. 

Now I just play the waiting game while the "attack" is discovered. I have an air-tight alibi, thanks to Sensei and the cameras. Blacklight is also satisfied since I devoured that initiate, and thankfully, I devoured him out of sight of the cameras.

And since there was no blood, they will think that he was the traitor if they ever find out which one, of course, as there are many of us here.

(Ra's POV)

My eyes open, and my body springs into action like a bow always prepared to fire at any point, but an aching pain forms as I turn on the alarm. As they blare, the men outside enter, and I yell out in pain, "The assassin is still here. Find him!" I then point towards the vents, and they begin to comb them for the assassin.

Talia rushes to my side as she asks, "Father, do you require medical attention?" I nod as she then begins to apply first aid. Luckily, the injury is not fatal as she bandages the wound, but the fact that there was no poison is odd as the fighter was very skilled. Perhaps they were not meant to kill me but simply use this as a warning.

"Talia, I want all available cells looking for the court immediately. This insolence cannot stand. Where is the new initiate?" The question makes her raise her brow at me as she then speaks over the walkie-talkie to the man in the security room.

"Where is the initiate zeta 2?"

"Lady Al Ghul, the initiate, was sleeping in his room after being dismissed by the Sensei but was heading to your position after hearing the alarms."

I nod at this as Talia looks at me with suspicion, and I do so as well. But the fact that he could have done this should be impossible as he can't be in multiple places at once. Maybe this was also the court's plan to weaken the shadows as they sought to turn us against the other.

"Daughter, I need you to watch over our new recruit, as while the possibility that he may have done this is low, it may not be impossible." Talia nods as she walks me to the medical center.

Regardless of the possibility, the court may have been involved in this, so they shall be dealt with. No one makes a fool of the Shadows.

(Nathan POV)

As I "woke" up after hearing the alarms go off, I made my way back to the inner sanctum and lined up with the rest of the recruits. I see Talia walk through the doors with Ra. I do not move my gaze as she sees me, but I can feel her suspicion of me. Good.

I want to be at the back of their minds so that they seek to understand me but play right into my hands. Shiva and Ra's will be the start, and while I will have to infect Talia, I will not use this option lightly as the virus may be discovered somehow. Even with all of the defenses I have in place, this is the DC Universe, after all, and anything can go wrong. 

Sensei then appears in front of us and says, "We have been infiltrated. One of us was a spy working for the enemy, and because you all seem so lax in your duties, your training will be increased tenfold, and any more mistakes will lead to immediate execution. Fan out and find the traitor. Do not return to me unless you find something of value. Dismissed."

With that, we all leave the room, and I mentally pat myself on the back for this charade of mine as they will be looking for a traitor, and while suspicion will fall on me, it will soon return to normal, and worst comes to worst if I am found out I go nuclear and take over the league much fatter than I would like.

Duels exist for a reason, after all.

(I hope this was somewhat satisfying, as I want to get out of this arc anyway. I apologize if this seems out of the left field. Also, again, sorry for not chap yesterday as my power only came on today at noon, and it went off at seven o'clock yesterday.)