Chapter 48: Project Titan

"What does Joker want with David Shield, Quinn?"

Harley Quinn was knocked unconscious from the grenade detonated by the man in the red hood. When she finally came to, she was suspended upside down over inside an elevator shaft, face to face with the Batman.

"I ain't talkin', Bat!" Said Quinn.

"Tonight is not a good night to test me, Quinn," Said Batman dangerously. "Do yourself a favor and tell me what I want to know."

"You'll never get nuthin' outta me, B-man!" Said Quinn defiantly.

"The Joker left you for dead," Said Batman. "If I hadn't gotten there in time, The Red Hood would have scattered your brains across the floor, and the Joker would be looking for a new sidekick."

"Shut your face, B-man!" Said Quinn angrily. "He loves me! He would do anything for me!"

"Then where is he now, you little fool?" Said Batman. "You're going back to Arkham, but first you're going to tell me what you know!"

"Shaddup!" She said. "I'll never betray Mistah J! Shield's gonna give him what he wants, and the Titan formula's gonna be perfect, then we'll --" she stopped, her eyes wide. "Uh, I mean . . . uh. . . "

"Thanks, Quinn," Said Batman, turning to leave.

"Hey! You ain't gonna just leave me here!" Said Quinn indignantly.

"The police will be by shortly," Said Batman. "So hang tight."

"Real funny, bat-brain," Said Harley. "You'll see. Mistah J will come for me. You'll see." She added quietly as Batman disappeared.

Izuku watched as David and Melissa embraced one they reached Wayne Manor, tears following freely as they rejoiced in their reunion. The Batmobile had taken them home, but Batman did not accompany them, and had not returned yet. As he stood in the parlor with Melissa, David, All Might and Alfred, Izuku couldn't help but feel nervous. He knew he was in for it this time, and was secretly dreading facing his mentor again. But somehow, seeing Melissa reunited with her father made the inevitable punishment he would receive worth it.

"I was so frightened," Said David. "I was afraid he would kill you." He let her go and walked to Izuku, pulling him into a surprise embrace as well. "Thank you so much for saving my little girl."

"I'm so happy you're safe, Melissa," Said All Might. "Do we have any idea why the Joker took you in the first place."

"A good question."

Everyone turned to see Bruce emerge from the open clock leading to the Batcave. He was still in his batsuit, but his cowl and cape had been discarded. "It's because he's been working with the Joker," Said Bruce.

"What?!" Said All Might. "What's he talking about, David?"

Bruce pulled up a holo-projection on his gauntlet computer. He was projecting some sort of scientific file, named "Project Titan," detailing numerous experiments with quirk-enhancing drugs and technology, including experiments on human test subjects. Izuku watched in horror as he saw an experiment video on the projection. A test subject was administered the drug and the test subject began to grow at an immense pace. His skin began to tear and he shrieked in pain as his muscles grew. The subject continued to grow, and began tearing up the lab. David shouted to have his aids sedate him when the camera was knocked over, screams and loud crashes emanating offscreen.

"You've been conducting illegal quirk-enhancing experiments for the past year and a half," Said Bruce.

"Shut it off," Said David, looking away. His face had drained of color and he looked sick. "Please, shut it off."

"David," Said All Might, shocked. "What is this?"

"It's a quirk-enhancing drug," Said Bruce. "A hundred times more powerful than anything you can get on the market. Most quirk-enhancers only last about an hour at best, but this one seems to be permanent. He's been making it for the Joker."

"I didn't know it was him," Said David. "You have to believe me!"

"I don't have to believe anything, David," Said Bruce. "You better tell me everything. Now!"

David took a few deep breaths, sitting down on one of the arm Chairs. After a moment, he collected himself, sighing deeply. "Can we please not talk about this in front of Melissa?" said David.

"No, papa," Said Melissa. "I want to know too."

"Melissa," David began.

"I think she is entitled to know as well," Said Bruce.

"She's just a child!" Said David indignantly. "She won't understand."

"She was kidnapped tonight due to your mistakes," Bruce shot back. "And from what I have seen of her, she's smart enough and old enough to make her own choices. She deserves to know."

"I agree, David," Said All Might.

David paused for a moment, looking at Melissa. The resolve in her face was unshaken. Izuku took a moment to admire just how strong of a person she was. Not many people her age (not many people at all, for that matter), would be in any reasonable state after surviving an ordeal that she had experienced. After a minute, David nodded in resignation.

"It all started when you told me that you were losing your powers, All Might," Said David. "I couldn't accept it. The thought frightened me to my core. You are the number one hero, the Symbol of Peace. If it wasn't for you, Japan would still be infested with villains and criminals as it was in the old days. For you to lose your power would bring untold catastrophe. A vacuum of power that would devastate the country."

"There are other heroes, other generations that would fill the gap, David," Said All Might.

"But none like you," said David. "The world needs you, All Might. So I worked tirelessly, obsessively, trying to find a cure for your condition, to enhance your powers so you could continue as the Symbol of Peace indefinitely. But even with the technology available to me at I-Island, I hit a wall. Nothing was working, and I had exhausted every . . legal avenue I could think of." David looked away ashamedly.

"That's when he contacted me," David continued. "Six months ago, I was contacted by Jack White, a supposed angel investor who was interested in furthering my research."

"One of Joker's oldest aliases," Said Bruce.

"I didn't know it at the time," said David. "He said that he believed in what I was trying to do, that the world needed All Might now more than ever. He had deep pockets, and said he would fund my project, that he had access to technology unavailable to the current market. I was desperate, so I didn't ask questions. I figured the end justifies the means, if it meant getting you back to your full strength, All Might."

"Those funds and technology were all stolen," said Bruce. "Commissioner Gordon provided me with a damaged laptop from the fire at Sionas' building. Black Mask was supplying Joker with illegal technology, and sending it directly to you for your experiments."

"Oh my god," Said David, shocked. "I had no idea."

"How could you do this?" Said All Might. "What's more, you experiment on human test subjects. That's horrible, David."

"They were volunteers," Said David. "It was supposed to be safe. But then," he paused, wiping away tears from his eyes. "The experiments started to go awry. The formula increased the subject's quirk, strength and durability immensely, but at a severe cost, as you saw. Most of them were hospitalized, and others . . . became monsters."

"You mean that thing at the warehouse," said Izuku. "That was created by you?!"

"How could you do this, papa?" Said Melissa angrily. "The monster could have killed Izuku!"

"What? What are you talking about?" Said David, confused.

"The Joker unleashed a monstrous creature on Izuku and the Red Hood," said Bruce.

"Who is the Red Hood?" Asked All Might.

"When I interrogated Harley Quinn, she mentioned the Titan formula," Said Bruce, ignoring All Might's question. "I hacked into your personal files on your computer on I-Island remotely, and managed to uncover your research notes. The monster from the warehouse matched the description of the monsters that were created in your experiments."

"My God," said David, a horrified expression breaking across his face. "He's already using the formula."

"What was the device that he wanted?" Said Bruce.

"The formula is still unstable," Said David. "I created a device that was meant to stabilize the transformation process. If the device is not used, and the antiserum is not administered, the formula will destroy the host's body."

"So there is a cure," Said All Might.

"Yes," Said David. "In case the serum ever got out of control."

"Where is the device now?" Said Batman.

"As soon as Melissa was taken, I contacted my lab aids at I-Island to send it here," Said David. "It'll be here by morning."

"We can't let Joker get his hands on it," Said All Might.

"Bruce, All Might," Said David somberly. "Melissa, I'm so sorry. I never meant for this to happen. I just wanted to help."

"Your intentions aside, what you did is inexcusable," Said Bruce, standing.

"Bruce!" Said All Might.

"He's right, All Might," Said David. "I caused all of this."

"When this is over, you're to make a full confession to the proper authorities," Said Bruce.

"But that will mean an end to everything he's worked for," Said Melissa. "We'll have to leave the I-Island!"

"It's okay, Melissa," Said David. "I understand, Bruce. I want to make this right."

"What do we do?" Asked All Might.

"When the device gets here, you need to destroy it," Said Bruce. "David, you need to make as much of that antiserum as possible. Use the laboratory in the Batcave. I'll provide you with everything you need."

"Right," Said David.

"What about us?" Said Izuku.

"We want to help," said Melissa.

"You are going to stay with your father," Said Bruce. "In the Batcave, where it's safe. As for you." He pointed to Izuku, giving him a glare that sent a chill down his spine. "You're under house arrest."

"What?" Said Izuku. "What does that mean?"

"It means that if you leave this house again, then I will send your ass back to Japan, and when you get there, I will withdraw my sponsorship of you, and see to it that you are expelled from UA High," Said Bruce.

"Master Bruce!" Said Alfred.

"You can't be serious!" Said Izuku incredulously.

"Dead serious," Said Bruce.

"Bruce, isn't that a little -" All Might began, but Bruce shot him a look that would make statues crumble, and he fell silent. Bruce turned back to Izuku.

"Make sure Melissa stays safe," Said Bruce dangerously. "And don't leave this house again." Without another word, Bruce put his cape and cowl back on, walking back down to the Batcave. A moment later, the Batmobile roared to life before fading into the distance as it drove off.

The Batmobile roared as it sped down the deserted streets of Gotham city. It was still several hours before morning, but Batman did not want to waste time. For every second that passed, the Joker's trail grew colder. He was going to search some of his known hideouts, to see if there was any clue to where he was now. The phone connecting to the Batcave back at the manor began to ring.

"What is it, Alfred?" Said Bruce, answering it.

"Master Bruce, I just wanted to let you know that Master Shield has begun work on manufacturing the antiserum," Said Alfred. "He should have a viable solution in a matter of hours."

"Very good, Alfred," Said Bruce.

"And. . ."

"And?"

"I feel that you were too hard on Master Midoriya," Said Alfred.

"Not now, Alfred," Said Bruce.

"Sir, I know that he disobeyed you," said Alfred. "But expelling him from UA will not -"

"He more than disobeyed me," Said Bruce. "He ran headlong into danger against the Joker without a plan, and nearly got himself killed."

"Sir, I know that this isn't about Midoriya," Said Alfred. "This is about Jason."

"I don't have time for this, Alfred," Said Bruce, annoyed.

"I mean it, Bruce," Said Alfred sternly. "You cannot blame yourself for what happened. It wasn't your fault."

"I did this to him," said Bruce. "I was the one who brought him into this life. I was the one who trained him. I was the one who got him killed. My plan. My mission. My fault."

"You cannot account for everything," Said Alfred. "You are just one man."

"Jason is now the Red Hood because of me," Said Bruce. "I won't let the same thing happen to Midoriya."

"Izuku is not Jason," Said Alfred.

"Don't give me that, Alfred," Said Bruce. "You yourself have seen the similarities. Don't deny it."

Alfred paused. "Yes," he said. "When Izuku came into our lives, it was as if Jason had never died."

"The more I think about it, the more I realize that I took him in to fill the void that was left by Jason," Said Bruce. "I selfishly pulled him into a life of danger so I could have my son back."

"There is nothing wrong with that," said Alfred. "He views you as a father as well."

"And that's the problem."

"What?"

"I've been treating him more like a father would a son, than a mentor would a student," said Bruce. "Just as I did with Dick. As I did with Jason. I hoped that by training Midoriya, I could erase where I failed them."

"You did the best you could," Said Alfred.

"Jason died because of me," Said Bruce. "He was stolen out from under me, resurrected without my knowledge, and living god knows what kind of a life for three years. Now, he's a criminal. A murderer." Bruce grimaced at the word.

"Master Bruce," Alfred began, but was interrupted by Bruce.

"Jason was alive all this time, and I wasn't there to help him," Said Bruce. "I should have been there."

"That is not your fault," Said Alfred again.

"But it is, Alfred," Said Bruce. "And so is what has happened to Midoriya. His mother was right. I promised him he would become a hero, but for all my work I have only painted a target on his back, and led him down a path of blood."

"Bruce, please," said Alfred.

"Let me know when the antiserum is ready," Said Bruce, disconnecting the call.

Alfred leaned back in the chair in front of the Batcomputer, his hand covering his eyes. Behind him, unbeknownst to him, stood the sickly thin personage of All Might, hiding behind one of the support pillars of the Batcave. His heart was beating quickly and he was struggling to control his breathing, shaken to his core over what he had just heard. He had come to speak with Alfred, and had not intended to overhear his conversation with Bruce.

But now it was all becoming clear: Why Bruce was so upset, Young Midoriya's behavior, this mysterious "Red Hood" that he had mentioned, and why he was so quick to dodge his question during their conversation. He still could scarcely believe it was possible.

Jason Todd is alive!

It was clear to All Might in that moment what he had been denying ever since his fight with All For One. He had never felt as lost, so helpless, as he did in that very moment.