I am a Wilderness lost in Man (LexCorp)

[Deleted]

There was a smell of rotting eggs mixed with the sweet smell of dogwood, the mud clung and sucked downwards, seeking only to keep what came to it. Those who knew better ran along the roots of the trees. Jolie LeDeux ran barefoot along the springy roots, jumping to cling to the branches and swing across. Daddy called her his little monkey, she laughed at the idea when she ran through the swamps before. Now, she wasn't laughing.

Jolie LeDeux ran through the marshy grounds, over the roots of the dogwood trees splashing through the watery remnants of the coastal marshes, laughing as she went. The dark and disjointed shadows of the sun running through the leaves. There was a smell of growth and life here, mildewy and sweet as footsteps splashed. Jolie spared a look over her shoulder for a second, but saw nothing, heard nothing. 

She stopped, her bare feet resting against the trees. A hand clasped over her mouth from behind she tried to scream, but relaxed when she saw who it was. "Rusty, you scared the crap out of me. I thought. . .  " 

"Mon deux, you're runnin around like you seen a ghost, mon amour" Rusty was large, shotgun slung over his back, camo hat and pants keeping him blended into the surroundings, an effect completely overturned by the white tank top he wore, despite the work of the stains to help him blend into the surroundings around him.  

" . . . there's somethin' out there. I seen it, while I was sneakin' near where ya worked. The new LexCorp plant?" She looked nervous, her breathing was hard, she looked out over her shoulder. 

"You ain't got nothin ta be scared of, ain't nothin out there, I jus walk on through and I got me my 12 gauge right here." He smiled as he pressed against her, hot breath on her neck, hand grasping her flesh as he drew her close, lowering the shotgun to point out towards the woods. "Now why dontcha point out where you saw that mean ol whateva." He breathed heavily on her neck looking close as he kissed her neck 

"Rusty. . " she exhaled despite herself, looking up into his eyes. "Not now. Shh, I thought I heard something."

Rusty looked over his shoulder then smiled as he said "Ain't nothin here but the swamp. I ain't see nothin out there." He helped her out of her shirt, kissing down her neck. She resisted, but only slightly, smiling faintly then pushing him away "I'm serious! Can't you hear, shh!"

The swamp had gotten quiet. Rusty blinked, and turned around, lowering the shotgun while Jolie covered her breasts. Rusty shouted "Anyone out there? I'm packin twelve gage, so come on out if ya don' wan me ta use it?"

There was a sound of movement, a gunshot. Birds flew away. . a moment later there was a woman's scream. And then silence over the swamp.

----------------------------

Rocky DuPrez hefted the box out of the boat onto the dock with careful precision, guiding the crane to move the carrier container onto the dock. A distant call of some bird echoed over the landscape as he wiped his forehead off. "Another four loads and we should have everything set up here." He said over the radio. The construction was intense, the roar of heavy machinery in the background as the equipment was unloaded. The LexCorp Lafourche Regional Testing Facility was expanding even now, based on unknown orders and for unknown purposes, the expanding dock was stretching over the waters of the swamp, living facilities had been expanded, and locals hired. Over 5000 people worked here now, and until the automatic systems had been put into place, this new docking facility would serve as the major conduit to the outside world. 

The boat began to move towards the next port of the dock as the crane started to move to unload another large carrier transport. Inside the main building the administrator spoke on the phone. "Yes, the new construction is proceeding at pace. It took some difficulty convincing the parish and state offices to allow the permits, but with a bit of discussion and pressure it was able to get completed, Ms. Graves." The man looked out the window "I'd say within three weeks, we'll be fully operational." 

"No, I don't think it's necessary. While the location is not ideal, it will be adequate once construction is completed, we will have access to the raw biomaterial necessary, and of course the location will reduce the risks." He sat down at his desk, and looked at the name placard on the table, brushing it off. "He wants to talk to me? Now?" He seemed concerned for a moment. . . "I'm sure it's not necessary. . . Mr. Luthor. Yes. . . yes. . . No, I don't know. Yes, in two weeks."

He's silent, staring down, sweating slightly. "No, I wouldn't know about the Holland experiment. I haven't heard from him since the accident. . . You have?" He puts the placard down, Woodrue, stood up and stared out the window. "I wouldn't know about that, Mr. Luthor. But I assure you that once my research is completed, the setback will not even be remembered." he narrowed his eyes "In fact, I'm certain my results will change everything." He's quiet as he speaks "Yes, I'm aware of the situation. And the loss of manpower. Seven hundred to be precise."  

There was a sound of groaning outside, of bending metal, a race and a scream. Woodrue stared out the window "I'm afraid I'll have to call you back. We have a situation."

He turned around for a moment and saw something at the door. "So. . . here you are. You're getting troublesome. . ." He reached into his pocket. There was a blast, then a crash of glass.  

Outside there was a groaning as the platform was squeezed by the vines of the swamp, devoured by the waters, the crane collapsed, people screamed, fires broke out. When emergency cleanup teams came two hours later, there was no remnant of the facility, or the 5000 people there.

------------------------------------------------------------ 

Lex Luthor was concerned, focused and he had to admit, somewhat worried. The sweltering heat of the place pressed down on him and the team he'd called together. This was beyond the worst case scenario, as far as he was concerned, the unpredictable outcome for which there were no protocols and no response yet enacted. The experiment had failed, that much was certain, but what the experiment was, and what the response meant, or what the followup was. 

The fan worked in overtime in the room to circulate the humid air, Lex Luthor wiped off his forehead with a handkerchief and looked at the team around him. He'd gathered a specific team, and his mind was working in overtime at the moment, fully focused on the problem. While he didn't know the cause, he had some ideas, and while he didn't know what the experiment was. . . he had some clear ideas of its results. And the results had been devastating. 5234 people dead, the destruction of four LexCorp facilities, and a dangerous no man's land in an area that stretched over 7,000 square kilometers where personnel, equipment and answers disappeared. 
 
" Dr. Alec Holland had all the answers... he was an intelligent man... but Alec Holland is dead...and in its place we're left only with a deadly mystery, ladies and gentlemen." The holographic image that popped up showed the extend of the damage. "We're left with an untenable, unpredictable and uniquely new scenario which none of our projections have been able to address. We need answers, and we need options." 

[Deleted]

Dr. Hammond stroked his beard and stared down at the map in front of him. The sight wasn't pretty. Indeed, it appeared to be a widespread disaster of one of the worst case scenarios. Not quite a Helvetica Scenario, but not too far off from it. He looked up, however, at the man who was speaking. Lex Luthor had called S.T.A.R. Labs for consultation on the matter, and of course there was the government observer in the back, Faraday was quiet, concerned, focused. 

Dabney Donnovan straightened his glasses, his black stringy hair filtered down over his face as he dropped his notes, scattered them back together and began to speak. "Near . . . as we can tell. . . this um. . . scenario came potentially as an unforseen consequence to Ground Experiment. . . 1144-Z. . . we um. . . the details of the experiment itself are not well recorded, but they're drawn from samples of LZ1144, and their natural bioregenerative properties. The experiment itself required the um. . . following supplies." He gestures as a holographic projection showing the supply list and structure. "Dr. Holland was somewhat secretive about the procedure, according to LexCorp security guidelines" Dr. Donnovan nodded to Agent Faraday for a moment and cleared his throat.

 Lex Luthor looked over at Ms. Head for a moment, he looked pissed frankly, but she could tell it was not at her. "The experimental guidelines were referred and filed with Dr. Woodrue, Director of Biosciences of LexCorp South. He seems to have failed to file references regarding the experimentation to Dr. Sivana or myself. Or anyone else, it appears. I would have had him here for questioning, but unfortunately he was on the Platform" He refers to the new biotech divisions wetland facility, recently destroyed. 

"However, before he disappeared a message was sent to Dr. Sivana." Lex gestures in the air. The floating database of chemicals, equipment, lasers and light refractors and nuclear material disappears. A face shows up, darkened in flickering lights. 

"Dr. Sivana. The experiment seems to have gone . . . horribly wrong. Dr. Holland. . . I don't know what happened to him, but the substance seems to have transformed him. The plant material itself seems to have consumed him. . . possibly some sort of biological contaminant entering the sample, despite the care we took to sterilize the area. . . but the plants came from the pit. . . and began to destroy everything about it. Dr. Holland was trapped. . . and he was covered, consumed. . . I thought him dead. . . and I reported such. But I can see how with the destruction of the Platform, that this unfortunate side effect of the swamp's growth is guided by an intelligence."

The Camera shows a hulking figure behind him, moving forward, made up of vines that grew throughout the lab. The plants appeared to be growing at an impossibly fast rate. Even for those used to seeing plants grown at accelerated rates, this was . . . abnormally fast. A laboratory becoming consumed and swallowed by the wetlands and the swamp. Trees growing. A loud groaning sound. "WOODRUE" It groaned

"I fear. . . that Dr. Holland did not perish in the incident. . . but in fact was transformed. . . into some sort of Swamp. . . Thing. . . I may not have long. . . Just know it was Dr. Holland!" Static, the message goes to darkness.

Lex Luthor waves his hand. "This was the last message we received from the Platform. . . during its destruction. Security videos recovered from automatic backup." He gestures as there are signs of plants growing over the platform, tearing it down, burying it. Men and women fleeing from the vines and the growing plants, before being dragged into the water.

Donnovan sums up the situation "So, again. . . the scenario as we know it. The swamp is alive, intelligent, and attempting to destroy LexCorp personel and property, and we don't know where it will stop. And there's every possibility that Dr. Holland's fractured mind is behind it all."  

Lex Luthor rubs his eyes "So, any questions? Any options?" 

[Jonathan Crane - Scarecrow]

There had never been a time in his life where he had moved this much. Just in the past few weeks he had seen more parts of the world than he’d even cared to. What he desired most brought him to the edge of the world, as it should have but now he could get it wherever he was, as long as he remained with Mr. Luthor. He should have expected this kind of traveling with the kind of man he had watched over the years when he came up in headlines or gossip through the underworld. Exactly which side Mr. Luthor was on was another matter entirely. No one could ever seem to agree, but Dr. Crane reserved his judgment on the matter. From what he had observed the man was out to make his own way through his own fears. He was in it for himself.

His hair had been wind swept by the rush of force from the air around them. The ground moved fast below and the chopping of the blades above pulsed in his ears. He had never been this far south before, they arrived by plane earlier and were now being transported to one of Luthors facilities. Allowing himself to follow Luthor was giving him a deeper insight in exactly how far this man’s hand reached. He had been called to a meeting here with Luthor for whatever reason. The doctor was far too close to the open space on the left side of the helicopter as he looked out, but the drop never crossed his mind. He was standing in between the harsh wind and Heather whom was still strapped in her seat. He had claimed full responsibility for her in this. Mr. Luthor may have not known what she was capable of, but it wasn’t the time to reveal all of that to him.

The helicopter hadn’t touched the platform yet but Dr. Crane escorted himself out. He landed hard on the ground and lifted his hands up to catch heather and he knew she would follow him. When she came he caught her from underneath the arms and sat her down just as it landed. Dr. Crane ducked and walked away from the blades with her until they were guided to the entrance and through a few halls to the meeting room.

Dr. Crane hadn’t ever taken his seat around the hologram. He could see it from where he was in the room. He had taken a corner away from everyone but a guard that seemed to be watching him more closesly than anyone else. He was never the type to sit down and discuss anything with anyone like it was up for opinions and options. The damage was clear, and the solution was simple, it needed to be stopped, or at least that was what Luthor wanted. His mind was already running with how this creature came to be and the chemicals that had to be involved.

A soft sigh left the doctors mouth and he finally walked up to the table and took a look at the footage from a better position, he was really beginning to despise all manner of intelligent plant life, but that was all it was. He knew what his own motivation was to do something but what he would do was up to Luthor. His eyes rose and met with Luthors. “It would depend upon what you want Mr. Luthor, Do you want whatever this is destroyed? Or contained?” He asked with more of a motive for himself behind anything in the question. He hadn’t just chosen to follow Luthor around so that he could assist him clean up messes like this; there was always an exterior motive.

Either option he had answers for, but he wasn’t one to droll on and talk endlessly. Dr. Crane was a man of few words, thus meaning his words were always worth being heeded. If Luthor wanted it destroyed he could do that easily enough without anyone here, but containment for further study was another matter. He already had theories on exactly what happened, but none could be verified without containment.

[Deleted]

Rooster sat, her boots up on the table they sat at, leaning back in her chair. Her usual black eye patch swapped for a red one. Her navy blue western suit complimented her well along with the lupara on her hip. Her long hair was neatly braided and wrapped into a bun at the back of her head. Her offwhite Stetson cast shadow over her eyes until she adjusted the front part of the brim upward. She held toothpick between her teeth.

Her head turned to Crane and then back to Lex.

"Mhmmm...  I'd like to point out that we don't know if we can eliminate him, Luth, so perhaps our energies should be spent on containment, sug."

Mizz Stone had been just west of the Lousiana border when she got word from Lex. She refused to carry a cellphone. She had been on her way to Lousiana, stopping in Beaumont for some boudain and a few other supplies when a man in black approached her telling her he was an employee of LexCorp whom had been assigned to the task of tracking her down on behalf of Lex. She, while happy to hear from Lex, was quite disappointed that her last minute hunting trip was being interrupted. She agreed to help him, citing that whatever the hell he needed her in a swamp for was fine, but nobody better get mad at her when she would inevitably catch herself a few gators along the way. She had been touring her holdings in Texas, a few old friends offered her a spot on a gator hunt, and she took it. She had already lined up the hunting license, had her favorite tools for the job retrieved from home and was on her way.  She got in a vehicle with the LexCorp man and he brought her here.

So here she sat, not doing awesome alligator hunting, but discussing hunting some sort of swamp thing. She could see he was not pleased with the whole situation. She'd even reckon he was a little nervous, or something like that.

"I don't know 'bout chy'all, but by the looks of whatever all that was we just saw, well hell, this ain't like nothin' I ever seen before. What are we dealin' with here? A man? Or a live swamp? Half that swamp already been blown up and burned down, gentlemen."

Rooster plucked the toothpick from her teeth and held it, gesturing about with it as she spoke. She finally smirked a bit.

"Then again, if this Doctor Holland controls this swamp, he's gonna know we're comin. We can head in from the sky, but we gotta blast through the flora and fauna to get down in it. Airboat's best way to get around, but again, he'll know we're comin'."

Rooster gave a long look to the others and her gaze rounded back to Lex.

"My professional opinion says to send in a small, group, equip 'em, and let 'em do a little research.  My personal opinion dictates that you find a someone that knows this swamp like their momma as a guide and a few select individuals with heavy weapons and air support."

[Nina Stenet]

Honestly, Nina has absolutely no idea why she's even here. She's a medical researcher, not some expert in handling major disasters! But Lex seems to believe that she'll be of some use, and if she can be then perhaps her participation will be worth it. As the situation is more fully explained, she looks rather restless. Partly because she knew that experimenting with that substance was a terrible idea, and look she was right!

And the other part is because she can't believe that Crane of all people is here - in fact, she can't help but periodically cast rather hard looks in his direction. After all, given what happened the last time she saw the man... There is no love lost here. He'd better pray that she doesn't get the opportunity to ask him some rather pointed questions about her missing assistant...

Fortunately, the end of the explanation is more than enough to capture her attention. In fact, by the end of it she's looking absolutely horrified by the situation. A Swamp... Thing...? Now she's feeling like she's in over her head. Plants are most certainly not her specialty! Let alone on this scale, intelligent, trying to destroy everything... Fortunately, in spite of how disturbing that news is to her, she's able to maintain her composure.

Especially when the others start making their own comments about the situation. Really? Glancing from one to the other, she's quite calm as she says, "I think that our first consideration should be for Dr. Holland. As... profoundly destructive as it is, if we're dealing with a human intelligence, that ought to matter a great deal. Some attempt should be made to discover what exactly we're dealing with - to communicate, perhaps. Not at the expense of anyone else, of course, but to jump too quickly to the mindset of 'how do we kill it?' is barbaric, frankly. ...Though that's a good question for the backburner - we may need it."

Even though she's quite sure that she's not going to be getting involved if it comes to that! She certainly doesn't want to be responsible for the death of something that may have some human part to it, even if it's very dangerous. If she hadn't seen for herself just how dangerous, then she wouldn't even have allowed that as an option. But though she has a pacifistic nature, it doesn't run deeply enough for her to go to the extreme of saying that they shouldn't kill something that kills people.

[Deleted]

The call had been secondary. She had already taken her
plane to flight and was looking over several holdings, and
the updates on the faculty when it had come, her dismissing
the request stating she'd be there in mere hours. The swap
of outfit for Talia Head had been effortless. The boardroom
garb of a shift dress, heels and suitcoat for something
more hearkening to her childhood, with a twist. If you could
take the acrid air of her home and pump it with moisture, a
clear difference, one would get the joke.

Setting the tablet aside she gently fondled the heavy boots
she was not wearing. She'd instead gone with a rather
peculiar pair of footwear to the uneducated eye; a pair of
climber's shoes. Formfitting, grips, and barely there. It
was all she needed. A tanktop covered by a formfitted full
length shirt, a pair of modified khaki cargo trousers. A
belt with necessities. Knowing LexCorp, and knowing the
enormity of the situation, she had to be prepared.

Especially as one of it's share-holders. A deep breath was
inhaled, exhaled as she leaned across the cushions to watch
the landscape blend and bleed below her. This was time
wasted, as she'd already formulated which area she would
address first, especially considering her innate skill.
Hariq would not argue her methods, and if he did, she had
suitable reasoning to back her choices. It was sad the man
had tempered in his maturation. He'd once been a flame
burning so hot she may have contemplated a step back. He had focused his religion so tightly he was ensnared by it. And yet he had not forgotten her. She should be grateful for that. But gratitude was something saved for far and few between actions in her own life. Emotion was a tactic. And action and precision were much more admirable.

Her pilot notified her of landing times and she re-secured herself into her seat as they landed. Gathering her sole bag and tying the heavy boots to it with a skilled knot she was deposited into a warm dewy atmosphere. It reminded her of her youth in ways. The abundance of moisture. The heat. The tension and expectation in the air that crackled like the object she'd come to know as 'electricity.' As she had made her way to where Lex was holding his conference for his specially selected team she had barely inclined her head as he referenced her by name. A name, but not her name. Even as she took in the other's he had assembled here, she held her tongue. If he was pissed, she was livid. She'd never liked Holland. He had been a loose canon. And if her father had been aware of what Luthor was trying to do, well, that would be another interesting circumstance to ponder another time. As he glanced her way she barely raised a brow.

It is when the rest of the team is assembled, she takes in each as they speak in turn. Of course this needs to be contained. But can it. Doctor Crane has a good point. But not quite the right one. The Texan has a good point as well. Lex was smart to bring her in. A world-class tracker is what he needs now. As well as Crane. And Nina. Another Doctor. The interplay between her and Crane is not lost on her observances, and she's curious as to what sort of animosity is between the two professionals. A question for later as Ms. Stenet voices her opinions. Yes, Holland is a concern. But Talia never liked him in the first instance and had made sure to vocalize this concern to Hariq as soon as she had seen the tentative plans. But she is more readily keen on Nina's options. Killing would not prove the hypothesis. Communication is always a boon.

Her lidded eyes turn back to the Holograph as she peruses it. Another toy in the swamp. Will he ever learn.

[Deleted]

The message is news to everyone else in the room. Dr. Thaddeus Sivana has already seen it... And he has already made his way through most of the suggestions the others are making. So while he is paying attention to who says what, his mind is occupied.

What stuck for him this time was the way the... Romantically titled Swamp Thing had called out Woodrue's name.

Dr. Sivana has seen this before. And he has suspicions as to what happened.

He doesn't share that fact. Secrets in secrets, boxes in boxes... And things stay in boxes because they're compartmentalized. It's when the secrets start compartmentalizing themselves that things lead to trouble... Which is why you keep them a secret.

Sivana wipes his brow under the thick pith helmet. The handkerchief stays pinned to his palm by his thumb as his fingers lace together.

When the others speak, they give suggestions. He, on the other hand, speaks with a measure of authority over the room.

"To be perfectly frank, Doctor Stenet, while we certainly feel for Doctor Holland in this situation... Our observations thus far have been that the danger he presents to human life is quite extensive. Furthermore..." He looks to each person in turn. "The issue of containment, as opposed to extermination of a threat, is likely a moot point at this stage. If, as we suspect, the consciousness of the Swamp Thing does indeed expand to the point where we can consider it a... living swamp, so to speak.... Our options for containment are likely limited to means by which we can destroy the active swamp material."

He leans forward over a small table in the center of the room, drawing quickly with a laser pen.
He then flicks the laser up, showing a set of squiggly lines in the air, which he then shortly stretches into a three-dimensional model. It is remarkably indistinct and scribble-y. This may amuse Lex; the Doctor's drawing ability has been limited since he was a professor at the university.

"Consider the following," Sivana begins. "The swampland in question is classified as a peat swamp forest... The typical such swamp consists of a heavy and meaningful layer of brackish water which both rises above and permeates the soil below." He scribbles a line to indicate a "water zone." "In order for any plantlife the size of trees to maintain a meaningful foothold, the root-structure must be thick and varied. Two options exist for a tree to maintain stability... It can either engage in a heavily knotted root structure on the surface..." Scribbling ensues to indicate the space where such a root structure might develop. "Or it must bypass the loose-packed watery soil here-" At this, he draws a line to indicate passing through the water zone and down below it. "And move down here, to heavier and more solid ground. Still wet, mind you, but more tightly packed. Places where a more traditionally understood root structure can take hold."

He scribbles over this area a little, then continues. "Of course, the majority of the roots, due to oxygen concerns, are in fact aboveground in fairly thick, knotted structures. This is how plants tend to maintain stability in peat swamps. However..." He licks his lips. "We are presuming from the outset that the phenomenon we are describing can direct plant growth. Direct it away from its normal growth pattern, which is typically movement into the most advantageous position for the obtainment of resources. If resources were not a factor... root structures on these trees can extend several hundred meters below the surface of the water."

He draws a semicircle around the edges of the hologram swamp drawing, and then three-dees it. "By my initial calculations- Making many assumptions about ground density, water level, tree species distribution, of course- I would presume that we can reliably sink a protective layer of pure stainless steel into the edges of the swampland... To a depth of one hundred meters. Possibly, with proper drilling material, to two hundred, if we are willing to risk the lives of drill teams. There is no meaningful way for us to prevent plant growth from simply passing underneath it, given enough time."

He dismisses the drawing entirely, and it fades away. "Any security countermeasure that is static in nature is doomed to failure if the Swamp Thing is versatile enough. If we are to attempt containment... We will need to engage in a course of action that kills the active swamp areas... And which can be triggered dynamically as we track the movement of the swamp." He turns his attention to Nina. "Which means, regrettably, that any discussion of containment is necessarily a simultaneous discussion of how to quickly and effectively kill the active samples."

He looks around through the others. "It bears noting that one further member of our party, who has yet to arrive... in my opinion may present the most effective option for limiting the growth of the plants. Without, that is, the application of... higher energy-cost materials. However...I do, of course, welcome other perspectives on the matter. If any of you can see a way to decouple the killing discussion and the containment discussion, the floor is yours."

The assembled may need to resist the urge to raise their hands before speaking. Dr. Sivana may have left academia years ago, but his Lecturing Voice appears not to have changed.

[Deleted]

David was silent as everyone spoke. He was trying to take in what was going on. He was used to smaller mysticism and in some cases, the science gone wrong aspects of this rapidly changing world of his. But a living swamp? That was something new.

His trip here had been nice, at least. Anyone can say what they will about Luthor, he took care of his own at least. Officially, David is head of security, but more often than not, he's recruited to evaluate tactical situations like this. To be honest, he hated the swamp land. Too much humidity. Shit seemed to stick on you and a person could never get comfortable. But, you go where the money leads you, right?

David wore combat style camo pants and a tight black shirt, a pair of pistols hung from his chest pistol holsters. Sweat clung to his beard making him wish he would've shaved up before arrival.

"My thoughts?" Cain started, "The Swamp is pissed you're movin in on it's turf, that's obvious. We focus our efforts to one area, rather than a rapid expansion, draw Holland to it. Then nab him. Freeze him or gas him, whatever it takes. Separate Holland from the Swamp. Get some distance from the swamp so the Thing is out of it's environment. Hell, put it in a desert lab. Learn what we can, then go to the pit that the sample came from and extract whatever it is we're looking for."

[Deleted]

Remaining unusually quiet, the redhead literally had to bite her lip at some of the opinions and comments that had surfaced. Positioning herself close to Luthor, but enabling herself to keep a close eye on Crane, Babs ran her fingers though her thick red waves as she took a brief moment to examine the group once again. With a brilliant, photographic memory, she could identify many off the back without having to formally introduce herself. While her masked personality wouldn’t’ have gotten along with man that composed of such a crew, she had to leave the past behind for the sake of her future. This internship with Lex Luthor could do marvelous things for an already promising future.

Feeling a bit out of place, she was literally biting her lips at some of the comments that had been made. Once again sticking close to Luthor as though she was his pet kitten, she wasn’t sure if it was really her place to make any comments on the matter. After all, each member before her had earned their titles and rights to speak at one point of time. Who was she? The Commissioner’s brainy daughter who managed to land the internship of a life time with a wealthy, brilliant man who many would kill to work for.

Clearing her throat and putting her hair into high pony-tail in order to provide her some comfort considering the humidity of the location. Thankfully, she was prepared in her clothing option, her knee-high boots providing useful considering the terrain. While Babs felt obligated to remain quite, Batgirl was hard to smoother with each opinion that was provided. Disagreeing instantly with those who insisted on destruction, she grew obviously uncomfortable. Despite the odds, she was trained never to kill. That was rule number one: we don’t kill.

Babs wasn’t sure she could continue to stay with a company that opposed such rules, but then again maybe it was just one of the things that Bruce insisted on that she had installed in her pretty little head. After all, she had never exactly explored any other options other than the methods that Batman had taught her. She cleared her throat once more, though refrained from commenting, though she couldn’t help but agree with the outlandish, but to-the-point statement Mr. Cain had made.

outfit: Babs is wearing this!

[Deleted]

Farraday stared impassively, silent. Lex Luthor glanced at the man, as if expecting a statement, before turning his head and then staring at the projections hovering in midair. This was his brain trust, these were some of the most brilliant minds on the planet contributing to this problem. The people in this room, and those crunching the numbers in Metropolis.



He's silent for a moment, the others in the room look at him as he thinks for a moment. It's said that Lex Luthor was one of the smartest men on the planet, One of the smartest men in the history of the planet, a leader of men, inventor, adventurer, billionare, philanthropist. . . shaper of the age.



"To answer the questions presented. What's to be done with Dr. Holland, what's my preference with how to handle it. The humanitarian considerations might need to be placed aside for now. Whatever may be said, he has killed over 4000 people in one day. . . and as for what I want to be done." He turns to look at the room again. "I don't even know what can be done. I don't know if Holland is a man, a beast, or the entire swamp given intellect. I don't know if it's just limited to the swamp, for all we know right now he's able to control all plant matter in the entire biome. And I don't see any reason he's limited to this area. . . we have here a full blown Helvetica Scenario. A truly unanticipated, paradigm crushing event has come, beyond all of our understanding and previously laid protocols. As for now, it's limited in scope to a very large, but limited area. This, however, does have a significant potential to elevate to full Ragnarok Scenario . . . beyond our capability to contain or address."



He rubs his face for a moment, then traces a hand over his bald head. "Do we kill him, do we contain him, do we cure him? Can we even effect him? Does the entire might and resources that we can apply even catch his interest? With little more than willpower, it appears he's destroyed an entire multimillion dollar laboratory in minutes. . . snuffing out the lives of over four thousand individuals, plus untold others we have yet to discover. Humanitarian considerations are worthwhile, but can they even be applied to this situation? We lack information to make that consideration as of yet. We need further information."



He turns to look at the hologram again, the spread is considerable, small red dots popping up in the screen, incidents, satellite telemetry of unusual movement and shifts in the plantlife, one of LexCorp's communication satellites in geosyncronous orbit was modified to allow for this, foresight or paranoia had been paying off. The Government agent in the back of the room started speaking. King Faraday was representing a vague yet menacing government agency, often silent, his words had an odd weight to them for the moment. For the moment, Faraday represented that rope tying together the industrial and the military in this complex. "For further research and consideration, this incident will receive a new classification, taken . Code: NIGHTMARE GREEN. You each have security clearance to address the situation, and I remind you of the nondisclosure agreements you've all signed. Everyone in this room for the duration of this incident have been cleared with Security Clearance: Green."



That was it, now came the difficult task of reversing the damage and addressing the situation. Lex Luthor spoke again. "To review the suggestions. We'll maintain air observation of the area while a ground team attempts to find the site of the experiment, classified now Site Zero. Unless I hear significant objection, Dr. Sivana will take the lead of the Air Science team, which will focus on analyzing information gathered by the Ground Team. I'm personally authorizing the use of a prototype we've been developing for the United States Military, known as the Direct Operational Observation Module, it's a mobile operations facility meant to operate in a variety of environments. Most importantly, it's sealed so that plant matter can't enter once quarantine is established."

He gestures and says "Access HDOOM Schematics Clearance 2." the schematics of the DOOM appears on the screen. Dome shaped, airtight with air recyclers, armored with classified defenses not shown immediately, external devices and lit arrays that center around the entrance gate gives a vague skull like appearance from the correct angle, but of course, that's a trick of perspective. The module appears to be able to fly and submerge underwater as well. What this device's primary purpose is, well, it's anyone's guess. 



" If we're to combine the suggestions given here, I believe the Ground team should consist of those with more experience in fieldwork, survival and more applied sciences. I personally would be joining the Ground team. I welcome volunteers for either team, or suggestions for a different course of action or different division. There's no question that if we were to follow this plan, it would be dangerous."



"Once the ground team has established contact from Site Zero, and after initial investigation, the air support team will land at the site and both teams will attempt to develop and apply techniques to counteract Nightmare Green. The floor is now open to feedback and suggestions.”

[Deleted]

There's the faintest, most distant sign of a smile on Dr. Sivana's face. The DOOMship is one of the projects he's quite proud of. Some of LexCorp's brightest minds came together to design it... He himself had finally got to put into practice some of the "Omnibot" designs he hadn't touched since he was an idealistic young man of fifty. The design rotates enough for him to look her in the "eye," and he gives the ship a little wink, admiring the arches, the consummate Vs along her face, the three circular air vents on the 'forehead'... She's a lovely piece of work. Likely to be safe even in these dire circumstances.

It's around then that Lex mentions he won't be aboard it.

This comes as a clear shock to Sivana. He turns jerkily and looks to Lex... But despite his sharp gaze, furrowed brow and pursed lips, he says nothing. Concerns about Luthor's safety are not to be made in front of a room full of subordinates. That kind of talk would breed uncertainty, and Luthor's plans so often rely on not being doubted.

Still. It's a puzzling decision. "... And of course, the team aboard the mobile center would be in visual contact at all times," he ventures. "We shouldn't risk leaving our team on the ground for the whole of the time it would take to decode Dr. Holland's most recent research. That's what cameras are for, eh?" His tone is kept amiable. Charming. But serious. There's a firmness there that Alexander might well recognize. This isn't a question.

Sivana will be kept apprised of what his old student finds on the ground, and there will not be any opportunity to hide data. If that's what Lex had in mind. 

[Jonathan Crane - Scarecrow]

The doctor had fallen silent as others began to give their opinions one what should be done. He had never seen the first woman that spoke before, but the moment she started speaking he didn’t care to see her again. He had gotten the general idea out of what she was saying, but after a display like that he didn’t understand why anyone would take her seriously. He had a feeling that most of the opinions in the room were about to be this way, empty and thoughtless observations that were not needed to do the task at hand. The actual reason as to why they were charged to remove it in the first place was in question. Why would Luthor use his own hands to remove the object and not another’s?

But then a familiar voice rang into his ears and his attention fell on her, away from the rest of the group. Dr. Stener had somehow been wrapped into this, and after she had just been a part of such an experiment of his. As he stared at her he partially listened to what she had to say but it faded as he continued to stare. The other’s voices had begun to fade in the background one by one, noted but put on the back burner as he stared. It wasn’t as if they were giving useful information, it was nothing but the same observations and nothing that will get to the actual point of the matter.

It wasn’t until Luthor spoke again that his attention finally was raised and he turned to look at him. Since the first moment he had run into Luthor he had remained the same kind of man he had analyzed him to be before. A man that was so driven by his own fears that it would bring him to this to contain them. But there was something far more about him, something that he had studied in patient's, something that he'd seen in his research. There was more too him then he had let on that day in the asylum and he would find out what it was. He had already created insurance for himself in the matter, but Luthor didn't need to know about that, and even if he already knew it would just confirm what he thought of him more.

The doctor mind was suddenly distracted again by the image that appeared on the screen. He observed the dome and the different properties it possessed. It looked as if its capabilities were multifunctional, but Dr. Crane was never good at working with groups. It wasn’t that he couldn’t, it was that most people were incompetent. He worked better alone, but wasn’t given the option. Instead he had a choice between one team or the other. Whatever he could predict would be made up of the ground team seemed unbearable already, but the science team wasn’t much better. At least there he might have the option of being left to work alone. He would get more done that way.

But his sight rolled over to Dr. Stenets again, wondering what she would choose. This time he caught her sight. He leaned back in the chair and almost gave way to a smile at Dr. Stenet. “No. he spoke up loud enough for her to hear. He knew that she would understand what he was talking about, and that she wasn’t going to get her back, or even get an acknowledgment of how her current status was.

[Heather Glass - VerMillion]

Listening as the situation is explained and the various gathered people voice their opinions, Heather remains totally silent - she's only here because Jon wanted her here and not because she has any insight into the problem, after all. In fact she's pretty sure that she's a liability...

Not wanting to draw any attention to herself - or at least not any more attention than flaming red hair naturally draws - and especially not wanting to be mistaken for anyone important, she's remained in the dark corner that Jon vacated when he sat down at the table. She can see and hear fine from there, after all, and unlike him she doubts anyone cares where she wants to spectate from.

Glancing around the room, she glances over each person as they state their opinion. Most she doesn't know, but she remembers Jon's recent run-in with Dr. Stenet far too well, and isn't that Commissioner Gordon's daughter standing near Mr. Luthor? As everyone speaks in turn, all that Heather really gathers from it is that this swamp thing they're talking about is really, really dangerous and she certainly doesn't want to be involved. Nor Jon, for that matter, but she's guessing that it's far more likely that this is yet another situation that VerMillion will help her through. Oh, joy...

But she isn't so lost in that unhappy thought that she misses the exchange of looks between Jon and Dr. Stenet. She's still not exactly sure what's up with the two of them - as distracting as everything else that happened that day was, she does remember the conversation that the two had. What she doesn't know is what to make of it, since she seemed to have missed a lot of the context. But she's pretty sure that she has more to be worried about than the swamp thing here, especially since she suspects that she knows what that 'No' was about, so she shifts uncomfortably when Jon says it. If you ask her the doctor's assistant is completely useless and, even worse, she can't say that she likes that Jon's decided to hang onto someone besides herself.

[Post Order as follows: Lex, Jon, Heather, Rooster, Nina, Talia, Sivana, Babs!]

[Deleted]

Rooster was a more a ground girl. She could go for fighting a swamp. It sounded like a monster from one of those 1950s science fiction movies. It was only bound to be a load of fun. She felt like Christmas came early. She'd finally get to wear her alligator skins, this was going to be the best thing ever.

"I'd like'ta volunteer for the ground team. I already came ready to hunt, I intend to hunt."

Rooster folded her arms and was looking to Lex. She gave him a single nod of respect. She wasn't happy about four thousand people dead, so her outward expression was a bit grim. Stopping a monster, avenging the dead, unexpected and strange things- it was all part of a cocktail that Rooster couldn't help but enjoy the taste of. She was going to eat frog legs tonight, she had already decided this. Though, she preferred farm raised, they tasted a little less swampy.

She thought about all the things she had with her already. It was so exciting to think such an adventure was ahead. She maintained a somber appearance, but she teemed with excitement. She looked so cool and so calm. She looked at everything they had pulled up. It was an interesting idea, Lex and his people were creative, she'd give them that.

"I think a good amount of underwater wear and gear is in order, but you already know that. I can do wonders in the murky depths."

She was a gifted swimmer and hunter, she vigorously enjoyed a combination of the two.

[Nina Stenet]

There's a reason why Nina didn't even mention the idea of containing the creature in spite of some of the others mentioning the idea, and her mouth shifts into a grim line as Dr. Sivana explains what she suspected: whatever it is, it's not something likely to be containable. Hence why she was so quick to mention communicating with it - as far as she's concerned, destroying it should still be the last option. Not that she honestly has too much hope that the other ideas will succeed at this point, but you don't not try them and she just doesn't like how so many in the room seem to think that destruction is option one.

As Lex speaks of the need for more information, Nina is very quick to nod - finding out more ought to help them better understand their prospects and may lead to unforeseen options. Still, she can't help but roll her eyes at the acronym as Lex explains the craft they'll be using. "DOOM", really? "I volunteer for the Air Science team," she says quietly, not having to think about the choice for more than an instant. She's a scientist, not an action-adventure heroine, never mind the route her life has taken lately. While her power might help her defend herself, she really isn't used to plants and her ability to do lab work quickly ought to be more useful than another body on the ground team anyway.

Having said that, she sees Crane now looking in her direction and there's a flicker of anger in her eyes at the one word he says to her. Her lips purse before she quietly states, "You've seen how I settle my accounts, but you say that anyway? But as this isn't the time or place to talk about it, we'll be even shortly..." She idly glances back at Heather before turning to face the holograms being displayed. "Do let me know if you want to renegotiate later," she adds, feeling sorry for the poor young woman, but she has absolutely no reason to show any kind of restraint for Crane - he's literally asking for it.

After saying that, she begins to seemingly ignore Crane in favor of putting her attention back on the group discussion. But there's a certain distant, distracted quality to her expression as if she's pondering something quite deeply.