Where there's doom there's also salvation

Finding purpous

Salvation's gaze darted around the Hall of Justice, taking in its vast, polished walls, the looming statues, and the sense of reverence that hung in the air. Everything about this place felt different from Cadmus—less clinical, maybe, but still imposing. He was free of the sterile confinement of a pod, yet he knew he wasn't truly free.

Connor stood by his side, a silent but steady presence. To Salvation, Connor was the closest thing he had to a brother, a bond forged in captivity, one clone to another. He drew comfort from Connor's calm demeanor, even as the attention of the Justice League weighed on him.

Green Lantern and Hawkgirl stood nearby, watching Salvation with wary eyes. Though they'd agreed not to confine him, their presence felt like a leash, holding him in place. Salvation could feel their uncertainty and mistrust, as if they were waiting for him to prove himself dangerous. He clenched his fists, fighting the urge to shrink under their scrutiny. Connor had told him to trust them, but it wasn't easy to trust the people who might just as easily put him back in a cage.

The tension in the room heightened as Batman entered, his movements calculated and purposeful. Batman's gaze was sharp, dissecting Salvation with every glance. Salvation had been trained to sense danger, and Batman radiated it, though he held himself still, a coiled threat that seemed to measure Salvation's every move.

Martian Manhunter stood beside Batman, his expression unreadable but somehow softer. Salvation could feel a faint pressure at the edge of his mind, and his jaw tightened instinctively. The Martian's mental presence was subtle but unmistakable, brushing against painful memories—images of Cadmus scientists, needles, electric shocks, and experiments that seemed endless. Manhunter's expression flickered with empathy as he pulled back, the surface of Salvation's mind revealing more than words ever could.

"Why did they create you?" Batman's voice cut through the silence, commanding but calm. "What was Cadmus's purpose for you?"

Salvation tried to find the words. His thoughts were tangled, his mind still fractured from the years of conditioning and experimentation. He took a breath, searching for a way to explain. "They... make me strong. Fight. Destroy... maybe for war," he managed, each word slow, like they were struggling to surface.

Batman's eyes narrowed. "A weapon, then."

"Yes. Weapon." Salvation's voice was laced with a bitter edge. The word felt hollow, just a piece of what they'd made him into. He had no sense of why, no understanding of what they'd hoped he would destroy. "Me... no ask. No know."

Martian Manhunter leaned forward, his tone calm, almost kind. "And now that you're free, what do you want for yourself?"

Salvation's brows knitted as he tried to grasp the question. Wanting something for himself felt foreign, an idea just out of reach. At Cadmus, he hadn't been given choices—just orders, each one designed to test him, to push him, to ensure he was controllable and obedient. Now, faced with a question that should have been simple, he found himself lost.

His gaze drifted to Connor, who gave him an encouraging nod. Salvation straightened a bit, a spark of determination igniting in his chest. He wanted to prove he was more than just a weapon. "Me... no want be weapon," he said, voice halting but resolute. "Want... be something. Maybe... have choice."

Connor's hand landed reassuringly on Salvation's shoulder. "He deserves a chance," he said, his voice steady as he addressed the League. "He's been through more than any of you could imagine. He didn't ask to be made this way."

Batman's expression didn't soften, but there was a shift—a flicker of recognition. "A chance." He looked at Salvation, scrutinizing every line of his face. "If we let you stay feee, it means you'll follow our rules. Training, discipline, control. Can you handle that?"

Salvation met Batman's gaze, holding his head high. Even if he didn't fully understand what that would mean, he wanted to prove he could handle it. This was his opportunity to show he was more than the sum of Cadmus's experiments. "Me... try. Do what... must," he replied, each word carrying a quiet intensity.

Green Lantern folded his arms, his expression skeptical. "And if we find out you're a danger? What then?"

Salvation's fists clenched as he struggled to explain. "No... want hurt. Only if... if must," he answered, his voice low but resolute. He couldn't deny that he was capable of violence—Cadmus had made sure of that. But the thought of being forced to hurt again, to lose himself to that darkness, filled him with a quiet dread.

Connor stepped forward, his voice unwavering. "He deserves the chance. Just like I did."

The League members exchanged glances, a silent debate passing among them. Martian Manhunter finally spoke, his tone thoughtful. "If we help him control his abilities, guide him, he could become more than Cadmus intended."

Batman grunted, a reluctant acceptance. "Under close supervision. We'll watch you—both of you," he added, giving Connor a pointed look.

Connor nodded without hesitation. "I'll make sure he's safe. You have my word."

Salvation felt a strange warmth rising within him, something he didn't quite understand. He wasn't free, not fully, but this was something. A chance to prove he was more than just a weapon, more than Cadmus's failed experiment.

The meeting drew to a close, and the League members began to disperse. Connor gave Salvation a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Guess you're stuck with me for now," he said, his tone light.

Salvation managed a small, hesitant smile. "Stuck... is good. Better... than Cadmus." His voice was rough, the words simple, but they carried the weight of his gratitude.

They walked down the hall together, side by side. The silence between them felt comfortable now, the unspoken understanding forming a bond stronger than words. Salvation's thoughts drifted as they made their way through the Hall of Justice, his gaze lingering on the statues of heroes that lined the corridors. Each one of them stood for something, a purpose that was etched in stone.

He looked down at his own hands, scarred and rough from countless trials. Cadmus had trained him to fight, to destroy, but he wanted something more. He didn't yet know what he could be, or if he even belonged here, but for the first time, he felt like he had a choice.

Connor broke the silence as they passed through the wide hallway. "You don't have to prove anything to anyone," he said quietly, glancing at Salvation. "Just... be yourself. They'll see who you really are."

Salvation nodded, taking in Connor's words. "Me... try. Not easy."

Connor's smile was small but encouraging. "I know it's not. But you don't have to do it alone."

Salvation's gaze shifted to the path ahead. He still felt the weight of his past, of Cadmus and everything they had done to him, but now it felt a little lighter. He had no answers yet, no real plan, but he knew one thing—he wasn't just a weapon anymore. He was something more, even if he didn't quite know what that meant yet.

As they reached the end of the hallway, Salvation took one last look at the statues around him. He didn't know if he could ever be like them, if he could ever truly belong, but for now, it was enough to have a chance to find out.