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  -Jon’s P.O.V.-

  ("It's time.")

  The words hung in the air, a quiet decration that carried the weight of everything I’d worked toward.

  ("Finally. I was getting sick of cabbage soup and bread. I'm all set on my end.") Raven’s voice echoed through our mental link, her tone a mix of relief and anticipation.

  ("Good. Let the show commence.")

  Raven’s mind faded to a quiet hum at the edges of my psionic range, which had grown significantly over the past weeks.

  I opened my eyes, floating in my cell, bathed in the green glow of Radiation Ki—my test acquisition, courtesy of Atomic Skull. Five Ki signatures now merged with my own. It was enough. For now.

  The past three weeks had been a blur of training and pnning. Ki manipution, psionic exercises, and the slow, meticulous weaving of a mental network that now spanned the entire prison. Belle Reve was alive to me, its every pulse and shift visible in the intricate mind web I’d created.

  Thousands of rats scurried through the halls, their tiny hearts beating in sync with mine.

  Roaches and flies, newly added to the network, moved unseen, their senses feeding me information.

  Guards patrolled their routes, oblivious to the fact that the prisoners they watched weren’t just waiting—they were listening.

  A grin tugged at my lips.

  Icicle had been a bigger help than I could’ve imagined. My mind-controlling parasite had spread out like wildfire, infecting anyone he came across.

  Now, I was the voice in the Prisoner's ears, whispering commands they couldn’t ignore. Whether they knew it or not, they were mine.

  Waller thought she was setting up a controlled riot—a way to reestablish fear and remind everyone who held the leash.

  But this was 'my' riot.

  And tonight?

  My feet touched the cold floor, the cloak of radiation fading as I switched to Cyface’s Ki signature.

  My body turned to mushy cy, dripping to the ground and flowing out of the cell through the cracks in the door.

  It was a strange sensation—the feel of my viscous form bubbling, detached yet whole, seeping deeper underground, moving through tunnels and holes burrowed by rats.

  The target? The Power Dampener Core and then Task Force X. Waller would be too occupied with the riot to notice his real goal.

  "Belle Reve falls."

  (General P.O.V)

  -Mount Justice-

  "This mission is cancelled."

  Batman’s voice cut through the tension in the briefing room like a bde, as he and Canary entered.

  Powerboy and Kara, who had been preparing to impersonate the Terror Twins to infiltrate Belle Reve, froze mid-motion.

  "What do you mean, cancelled?" Kara growled, her voice low and dangerous.

  "Oh boy... furious Kryptonian in the vicinity. Unarmed but extremely dangerous," Wally joked, earning himself a sharp elbow to the ribs from Artemis.

  "Calm down," Powerboy tried to reason with Kara, but she rounded on him with a gre that could melt steel.

  "Calm down?! It’s been two weeks since they went radio silent. We don’t even know if Jon-El is still alive, and I’m the reason he’s there, Connor! So no! Unless there’s a very good reason, I’m still going—whether that means busting through the front gate or sneaking in, I don’t care!"

  Robin whistled at the intensity in her tone. "You must really bme yourself."

  Kara looked down, her fists clenched.

  "Don’t. Jon is fine, trust me. I’m his best friend," Robin added, not just for Kara’s benefit but for the whole team. Even if Jon was in trouble, Robin could always use the Motherbox to get him out.

  "Look, in the first pce, this mission was never about Superboy," Aquad interjected, trying to diffuse the tension. "All the ice vilins suspiciously ended up in Belle Reve at around the same time. The infiltration was to investigate why. But I’m guessing something’s changed?"

  "Correct." Batman confirmed with a nod before revealing the information.

  A minute ter, the team stared at him, dumbfounded.

  "You’re saying... a rat approached you with a message to cancel the infiltration mission?" Robin questioned, incredulous.

  "Yes," Batman replied.

  "A mental message sent by Jon, who is currently in solitary confinement under Belle Reve?" Miss Martian followed. And that was without asking how he even knew of the mission.

  "And apparently Jon is now a telepath like Miss M, which expins how he mind-controlled a rat and made it cross a hundred miles from Belle Reve to Gotham?" Wally sounded as confused as everyone looked.

  "Affirmative," the Dark Knight grunted, a note of impatience leaking into his voice. "I am well aware of how it sounds, but—"

  "So where is it? The rat?" Connor cut in suspiciously, earning himself the patented Batgre. A lesser man would have wilted.

  Then Batman reached into his utility belt and pulled out a rat infused with a golden Ki, a colr around its neck with the name tag:

  "Batrat?" Artemis read aloud, her voice tinged with amusement.

  "He did not have a designation. So I gave him one. Batrat is efficient and easy to memorize," Batman stated defensively.

  "*Focus, Bruce,*" Bck Canary coughed from the side, prompting Batman to finish his expnation.

  Jon’s message was more of a command: ('Stand down guys. I know everything, including your suspicions about the ice vilins—which are warranted. But let me handle it. I have a pn. See you soon.')

  Unsurprisingly, that was enough for the team. No matter what, their trust in Jon remained unshakable.

  (General P.O.V.)

  Across the prison, the first cracks in the dam were forming.

  Icicle Sr. and his crew moved in the shadows, whispering to their most trusted allies, passing messages between cells, signaling select guards.

  They thought they were enacting Hugo Strange’s pn—a carefully maniputed prison break that would fail, allowing Waller to justify a new wave of control.

  But unknown to her, Hugo Strange had a pn of his own to execute in service of the Light. During the chaos, the Riddler was supposed to escape.

  Everyone was scheming, but it was futile.

  (Mess Hall – Prison Block A)

  “Move it, dirtbags!” a guard barked, smming his baton against the table as the evening meal was being served. “You get five minutes. Any longer, and—”

  A rat scurried across the floor.

  The guard barely noticed. Just a vermin problem. Nothing unusual.

  But as he raised his baton to knock over someone’s tray, something happened.

  An invisible pulse of Psionic force rippled outward.

  The rat twitched, its tiny body shimmering with an unnatural blue glow, fur standing on end.

  And then—

  The guard colpsed.

  No sound. No struggle. Just a sudden, boneless fall as his nervous system shut down in an instant.

  The baton cttered against the concrete floor, the echo unnaturally loud in the dead silence that followed.

  "Officer down!" One guard called out, rushing their fallen colleague.

  "On the ground Inmates! Now!" The prisoners were ordered. Those who failed to comply were beaten down with batons.

  On the ground with his hands on his head, Icicle Sr. looked at the unconscious guard being tended to. Then around at the angry faces of his friends.

  He didn’t know what had happened to the Guard, but he knew that they would be bmed for it. And retaliation would be in the form of a teeth clenching electric shock administered to every Inmate.

  Any second now.

  If only he'd asked Hugo for the inhibitor colrs access codes early, he could move the pn up and start the riot before schedule.

  However, they'd still be powerless under the Power Dampener Field around the prison, which was still—

  That’s when he noticed the ck of vibrations under his feet. The Power Dampener field was down. And if that wasn’t all—

  'Click.'

  The colr on his neck deactivated. Same with everyone else in the mess.

  He knew what that meant.

  'It’s time.' A whisper emanated from the recess of his mind.

  "Yes. We’re moving up the schedule, boys!" Icicle Sr. cackled, getting up, a yer of ice covering his face.

  The tiny, near-invisible psionic parasites embedded in the inmates’ minds fred, removing doubt and confusion as to what was happening.

  And now, like an orchestra coming to life, the symptoms of revolution exploded outward!

  "Stop Icicle! You're being warned!" A head guard tried to activate the shock only for nothing to work.

  "Looking for this." Icicle held up his inhibitor colr.

  The guard paled.

  “Do it. Smash the bastards!” Icicle Sr. ordered, unleashing a pilr of ice that shattered the walkway above the mess, felling the incoming squad of guards.

  Brick and Mammoth roared, blowing through the squad of guards as the riled prisoners moved in a furious tide of payback toward their aggressors.

  "Get them!"

  Fists flew. Powers triumphed against batons and tasers. Arms bred. Furniture shattered and burned under elemental energies. Metal melted...

  The guards barely had time to react before the chaos had swept through the whole cellblock.

  The prison break was underway.

  (Control Room)

  Amanda Waller stared at the monitors, her face a mask of fury and disbelief.

  Someone had shut down the Power Dampening field and removed her sves' colrs, returning their powers.

  As a result, the male cell blocks were in full riot, the inmates overpowering the guards with terrifying efficiency.

  The female cell blocks were worse—completely sealed off, their security feeds showing nothing but static.

  “What the hell is going on?” she snarled, smming her fist on the console.

  Hugo Strange, standing beside her, adjusted his gsses nervously. “This... this wasn’t part of the pn. The female blocks—they’ve been taken over by a mind controller. I can’t access them.”

  Waller’s eyes narrowed. “Mind controller? Who?!”

  Before Strange could answer, the comms crackled to life.

  “Waller,” a cheerful, familiar voice said.

  Her blood ran cold as a figure appeared on screen.

  “Dagger,” she hissed. Behind Jon was the A.R.G.U.S logo, meaning he was contacting her from within Task Force, 4 floors down.

  Jon’s voice was calm, almost mocking. “Don't bother activating Task Force X, because as you can see...my rats have already seized control."

  True enough, around Jon were Argus agents buried under hundreds of rats. "Oh, and the Creature Commandos? Atomic Skull, The Bride...those guys? Yeah, I removed the bombs you had installed on their bodies. They’re not your puppets anymore. Thanks for that by the way, now they owe me.”

  Waller’s hands clenched into fists. “You little—”

  “Save it,” Jon interrupted. “You’ve got bigger problems. Ask Hugo who he’s really working for. Oh, wait—you won’t have time. You’ll be getting some visitors soon.”

  The connection cut off and the screen went dead.

  Waller turned to Strange, her eyes bzing. “What is he talking about?”

  Strange paled, his usual composure cracking. “I—I don’t know what he’s—”

  “Don’t lie to me, Strange!” Waller roared. “Who are you working for?!”

  Before he could answer, the control room doors burst open. A squad of guards stumbled in, bloodied and battered.

  “Director Waller!” one of them gasped. “The lower levels—the creatures are loose! We can’t contain them!”

  Waller’s mind raced. The male blocks were rioting. The female blocks were sealed off. Task Force X was compromised. The Creature Commandos were free. And now the most dangerous beings in Belle Reve were breaking out of the lower levels, no doubt coming for her.

  Waller felt the icy grip of fear.

  She was no longer in control. Staying here meant death.

  Waller grabbed Strange by the arm, her grip like iron. “We’re leaving. Now.”

  “What? Where—”

  “The rooftop. There’s a helicopter on standby. Move!”

  There was no way she was leaving him behind without getting answers.

  The two of them rushed out of the control room, fnked by a handful of loyal guards.

  The halls were chaos—inmates breaking free, guards being overwhelmed, and the distant roar of the creatures from the lower levels growing louder.

  "That's her! Waller!" Some of them saw her and rushed forward. Waller allowed Lethal measures and her guards mercilessly dispatched anyone that got too close with their Argus issued advanced weapons.

  As they reached the stairwell leading to the roof, Colonel Rick Fg, second in command of Task Force X appeared, his face grim but determined.

  “Ma'am,” he said, nodding at her. “I’m here to escort you to safety.”

  “About damn time Fg,” Waller snapped. “Let’s go.”

  The group hurried up the stairs, the sounds of the riot echoing behind them.

  The rooftop door burst open, and Waller stepped out, expecting to see the helicopter waiting to whisk her to safety.

  Instead, she was met with three figures standing in the evening light: Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman.

  She allowed herself a breath of relief. With League backup, she would quell the rebellion and then make those sorry excuses pay. Starting with Dagger.

  “Where the hell were you when Belle Reve was being taken?” Waller demanded, her voice sharp with accusation.

  Superman stepped forward, his expression stern. “We’re here now, Waller. And you’re under arrest.”

  Waller blinked then scoffed, her arrogance fring. “Under arrest? Even if that was true, you don’t have the authority, Alien.”

  “You’re right,” Superman said calmly. “This isn’t about authority. It’s a citizen’s arrest.”

  Waller’s eyes narrowed. “A citizen’s arrest? Don’t make me ugh.”

  Batman stepped forward, holding up a document. “This is a presidential mandate suspending your duties as head of Belle Reve. Effective immediately.”

  Waller’s jaw tightened, but before she could respond, Hugo Strange spoke up.

  “What’s going on? What is this? What right do you have to arrest the Warden? Shouldn't you be dealing with the riot?!”

  Colonel Fg, who had been standing silently, suddenly shifted. His form melted away, revealing Jon—Dagger—standing in his pce.

  “It's something called karma,” Jon said with a smirk. “Someone leaked the Task Force X files and evidence of your mistreatment of inmates. Your entire operation has been exposed, Waller. Also, I've just stopped the riot which you pnned. You're welcome.”

  Waller’s eyes bzed with fury.

  “You! You’re the one who undid everything! You sabotaged me!” She accused, pointing at Jon.

  “Wrong,” a voice called out from behind them.

  The rooftop door creaked open, and Dr. Harleen Quinzel stepped through, her eyes locked on Waller.

  “It was me,” Harleen said, her voice steady but ced with venom. “I leaked everything. I’ve had enough of your cruelty, Waller. Enough of your games.”

  Waller stared at her, stunned. “You? You—”

  "Incredibly smart Woman who managed to hack into Argus encrypted servers and reveal all your dirty secrets?" Jon defended Harleen. "I doubt that's what you were going to say but Dr.Quinzel only shined the light. You sowed the seeds yourself Waller, now reap the consequences."

  Dr.Quinzel stared at him in gratitude.

  Hugo, sensing an opportunity, quickly changed sides. “This is all her fault!” he said, pointing at Waller. “I’m just a victim here! She forced me to do everything!”

  No one believed a word coming out of his mouth.

  "Wow dude. The betrayal is artistic, but so not cool." Jon shook his head in disapproval.

  Harleen walked over to Hugo, her expression cold. “You’re no victim, Hugo,” she said before delivering a sharp kick between his legs. “You’re a creep who’s always staring at my ass when you think no one’s looking.”

  Hugo doubled over in pain, groaning.

  Jon chuckled, stepping forward. “Oh, and by the way, we also know you’re working for the Light. So don’t think you’re off the hook.”

  Waller’s gaze shifted back to Jon, her eyes narrowing. “Who are you, really? I see through your act, 'Dagger.' You pyed the fool and orchestrated all this from the time you set foot in Belle Reve. Perhaps even before that.”

  Jon smiled, his blue eyes glinting in the setting sunlight. “Like I said, Waller... I’m just a humble artist.”

  Waller simply stood there, surrounded by enemies, her empire crumbling around her.

  For the first time, the unshakable Amanda Waller looked... defeated.

  Superman stepped forward, his voice firm. “Amanda Waller, you’re under arrest for abuse of power, illegal experimentation, unsanctioned military operations using metahumans, and viotion of human rights. Come quietly.”

  Waller’s lips curled into a sneer, but she said nothing. There was nothing left to say.

  As Batman moved to cuff her, Jon gnced at Harleen, who gave him a small nod.

  “It’s over,” Jon said softly, looking out over the fortress that was Belle Reve. “The prison is mine.”