In The Web Of Gotham

Cadmus

"Cadmus... what's Cadmus?" Peter asked as he went over to the computer.

"Hmm... let's see if this works," Peter muttered to himself before looking back at the computer.

"Batcomputer, show all files on the Cadmus Organization," Peter instructed, not expecting anything to happen. However, when the computer began displaying files that seemed to correspond to what he asked Peter had to do a double take.

"Holy shit, he actually did give me voice command over this thing!" Peter exclaimed as he looked over the many screens of the Batcomputer that began showing countless files and news articles about the organization.

"Cadmus, a government organization formed with the purpose of keeping tabs on and neutralizing threats involving those of...metahumans?" Peter read off, looking towards some other reports, seeing various forms. He saw reports about multiple sets of genetic experiments, countless tabs on a "Project Galatea" whatever the hell that is. Peter was getting overwhelmed by all of what he was seeing. He had to focus though, before he got sucked down the rabbit hole Batman's made bout Cadmus.

"Focus, Pete. You're on a mission," Peter scolded while rubbing his temples. Before he started getting overwhelmed, he saw that the leader...or rather the public face at least was a woman named Amanda Waller. Remembering that Deashot used a bullet from Cadmus, Peter thought he should investigate the connection between these two.

"Batcomputer, only show files about Cadmus that include Amanda Waller and Floyd Lawton," Peter instructed the supercomputer. Immediately, a number of files substantially smaller than the initial volume of files. The files all held the same header "Concerning the Suicide Squad"

"Well that's a very unfortunate name for a team," Peter quipped before scrolling through the files. He had immediately noticed a large amount of the information was redacted. Stricken from the documents with blacked out text. Which conveniently leaves every actual name out, presumably because this is all information gathered through trickle up hierarchies of information. Backups and copies of backups and copies of an already heavily edited and redacted document.

"Batcomputer, locate a stetted version of these Suicide Squad files," Peter instructed. The Batcomputer pulled up a pop up that said Decrypting Access Keys

"This is weird, why would Cadmus keep all of this under this tight of wraps?" Peter asked as he leaned against the computer chair in front of the Batcomputer. The computer chimed as the original files pulled themselves to the screen, unredacted for me to fully read through. These were mission files involving a slew of international incidents handled behind closed doors. Diplomats missing, formerly unknown benefactors to dictators found mutilated in their homes. Entire military bases torn asunder and ransacked like it was attacked by an army.

"A black ops squad for missions not meant to be seen by the light of day," Peter muttered under his breath as he kept looking through the files. His thoughts however were suddenly interrupted by-

"On a research trip?" Batman suddenly asked from behind Peter. The young detective jumped from the sudden voice.

"Oh God! Damn it, Batman don't do that!" Peter demanded, holding his chest from the sudden scare. Looking up at the Batcomputer, Batman approached next to Peter and observed what he was looking at.

"Why are you researching Cadmus? Did something happen?" Batman asked.

"I had an encounter with Deadshot. He fired one of these special bullets that has a tracking signal in it. These rounds are utilized for tagging Metahumans by Cadmus. Which lead me down this rabbit hole of the Suicide Squad," Peter explained.

"Lawton's back in Gotham? Wonder why he would take a shot at a new upstart?" Batman questioned.

"My guess? Not acting on his own, might be an order from Waller? The why though...is still bugging me," Peter suggested.

"Maybe because you're a Metahuman that even she didn't know existed? Your existence skirting under her radar must've riled her up," Batman proposed.

"So...what should I expect now that I've apparently popped into the scope of awareness of Cadmus?" Peter asked Batman, looking up at home.

"A lot of rogue elements suddenly being introduced into Gotham's usual insanity, although under further scrutiny-"

"Those rogue elements won't seem so rogue elements, will they?" Peter finished for Batman.

"You're catching on," Batman complimented.

"So should I keep digging into this? Or is this something I should leave for you to dig into?" Peter asked.

"You know enough about Cadmus to be prepared for what's to come. You'll learn more through experiencing it firsthand than reading it in files," Batman explained further.

"Good to know," Peter said as he got up and went to a drawer and pulling out a circular double bladed throwing disk.

"What are these?" Peter asked, holding it up for Batman to see.

"Those were older Birdarangs that the Robins of the past utilized," Batman replied.

"Can I use them? You know...since Robin isn't using them...?" Peter asked shyly. Batman gave a simple thumbs up. Peter got internally excited as he started tinkering with a few of them. It was then that Peter remembered a critical piece of information about the tracker round he intercepted from Deadshot.

"The bullet has a built in transmitter, to help someone track with the corresponding frequency receiver," Peter rattled off. Batman chuckled at the bit of information, which....well it scared Peter to hear Batman chuckle.

"That's not something you should worry about," Batman replied.

"You don't think we should destroy it? Or neutralize it? You know...so no one is lead directly to the Batcave?" Peter said, still concerned about the issues having this tracker poses. Peter was also equally concerned about how dismissive Batman was to this list of issues.

"I have precautionary measures to safeguard against this exact sort of situation. Aside from a choice list of whitelisted frequencies, the Batcave acts as a faraday cage. No frequencies in, no frequencies out. That's what the Oracle Link transmitter I gave you is for. It encrypts your phone's transmission, reroutes it to one of the Batcomputer's whitelisted signals and let's it directly go to Oracle," Batman explained.

"Ohhh. Wow, that is impressive," Peter nodded with a stunned look on his face.

"It's useful to have countermeasures for the unpredictable threats," Batman said.

"By the way, how are you following the leads on Crane's drug trafficking?" Batman asked, bringing up Peter's task he was given to strengthen his detective skills.

"I bugged one of Crane's delivery trucks. Got one of his runners taken in by the GCPD. That was all last week. Best case, the GCPD also took the truck and are doing a full investigation and background check into who the legal owner is," Peter explained, looking at his remote receiver and watching the red dot of his Spider-Tracer.

"What's the worst case?" Batman asked.

"A fringe theory I have is confirmed...and this gets a lot more complicated than I initially thought," Peter replied.

"Could you put me at the entrance to the Precinct with the Manhole Elevators?" Peter asked Batman, putting the bladed disks into a different compartment in his utility belt. Batman typed in coordines for the pneumatic tunnel network as the elevator opens again.

"Get to work, detective. You have a case to solve," Batman instructed as Peter got into the elevator, putting his mask back in.

"Sir, yes sir," Spider-Man quipped as the door hissed closed and rose up into the Batcave Ceiling. Sending Spider-Man back into Gotham City.