Gotham City. July 4th 12:00pm
The sizzling sound of hotdogs grilling fills the air at the park. Fourth of July is a perfect day to spend the day relaxing surrounded with friends and family. This day however, instead an atmosphere of fun it is mess of terror.
Screams fill the air as civilians run is fear when a blast of ice shoots their way, freezing several unfortunate souls.
A family of three back away in fear when they spot a hulking figure walking upon a boulder. Staring down at them with an evil smirk is Dr. Victor Freeze. Pointing a hose-like ice weapon, the nozzle aimed at their direction.
"Enjoying family time?" He asks before blasting them with ice, freezing them instantly. "My family has other plans."
Freeze slides down the makeshift slide of ice, targeting at the retreating civilians ahead of him. The nozzle charged, he takes aim.
Bam!
A batarang wips by and smashes the hose to the side, making Freeze lose his targets. He grits his teeth, he turns to find the Knight. "Batman. I was wondering when-" He stops mid sentence to find no one. Who could have thrown it?
He snaps his head in alert when he hears laughter. He looks around frantically for the source. He looks up in time to see a black boot coming down, smashing the glass around his head and knocking him to the floor.
Robin flips through the air, landing gracefully on the grass before throwing two sharp stars at Freeze damaging the glass even more. "Summer heat getting to you?" The boy asks smirking.
Freeze lifts his head to him with an unimpressed look. "Oh. Boy Wonder. The bat sent you to draft me off to prison.?" He asks standing up, readying up his ice again. "Frankly I'm underwhelmed." He points the nozzle at the boy.
"Hey, Snowcone!"
Freezer never sees it coming when a hard force hits the side of his helmet sending him lying on the ground groaning in pain.
"That's not a very ice thing to say!" A pair of feet come to the villians view following by manic laughter. He looks up at the new comer.
His eyes travel from the black-combat boots to patterned-striped green, black, and purple skinny jeans. A gun holster belt on each thigh. Wrapped around thin narrow hips dangeles a metal chain with hook on the end. A purple dress shirt fitting perfectly to the thin frame. On top of the shirt a grey suit vest makes the waist a little more narrower. He finally looks at the face and stops his tracks.
Towering over him is another young male, taller than Robin, physical traits little feminine than the Boy Wonder but a little hint of muscle. The most striking feature on him however was the teens bleached-white skin. Forest-green hair cut short spikes on the back but short bags falling on the side of his head. A red line smeared on his face creating a smile. Black circles around the the boys eyes, holding the color of emerald-green.
The teen leans on his hip, one hand in his pocket and the other holding a metal baseball bat over his shoulder. He pops his pick bubblegum.
"Didn't anyone teach you to not be a blockhead to the people who will be hauling your frozen behind to jail with minor scrapes?"
"Great, you got him. Now can we go now? Were in a hurry" Robin says tapping his foot impatiently.
Jester looks his way with a wave of his hand and a lazy smile. "Relax Baby Bird, after dropping off the garbage at the dump we'll be on our way. No need to get angsty. Besides he's down."
Smirking the smaller teen points past the the older. "You sure about that?"
Confused, Jester looks back and leaps to the air avoiding a giant fist swinging his way.
Landing a few feet away, looking shocked. "What the heck, man!? Going for me while my back is turned! Thats a low move, even for yo-" Successfully a fist connects to the teens chest, send him sliding on the grond. He flips to a low crouch, frowning at the villian.
"Now that's just rude." He readies his bat.
"Don't break him! Remember, 'minor scrapes!'" He hears the amusement in Robin's voice.
"Forget that! This guys is going as ice chunks!" With a cry the teen charges at Freezer bat held high above his head. He ducks down when a fist is swung before delivering a swing to the villain's head. He skidded on the ground, unconscious.
Jester is upon him, bat ready to strike again.
"Jester" A deep voice interrupts stopping the swing midair.
A tall shadow looms over the green-haired teen. Jester turns to see the dark knight himself. Mouth in a thin line."That's enough." He grins widely.
"Bats! About time you got here. No need to worry about ice bucket here. Got it taken care of"
He shrinks back a little when his mentor closes in, white eyes eyeing him as they narrow. "You were told to not cause serious damage."
Behind him he hears the smaller teen snort in amusement. Jester looks up with a small apologetic smile.
"I know, I know I wasn't supposed to. But he started it! I'm innocent this time!" He points his bat to the fallen villain.
Batman narrows his eyes again before walking past him. With the Bat's back turn Jester swings his bat down Freezers unconscious body before hiding it behind his back when the knight looks back.
"What?" He points down at the villian. "He was getting up!" He gives him his innocent look. Batman doesn't buy it.
"If your done we can be on our way."
Both teens grin wide at that statement. Jester dashes away to the direction of the Batmobile parked at the entrance of the park.
"Shotgun!"
"You wish!" Robin says laughing running after him.
Batman just shakes his head. A small, barely noticeable grin forms as he stares at his boys.
/
The hall of justice. A symbol of promised safety from all evil.
Robin grins at it. The day has come where he and Jester would become their own heros. A hand land on his shoulder, Batman looks down at him with a proud smile.
"Today's the day."
Beside the Bat stands Green Arrow, Speedy, Aqualad and Aquaman. "Welcome to the Hall of Justice." Green Arrows says proudly.
"Headquarters of the Justice League." Aquaman Continues.
"I imagined it a little bigger." The six turn to stare at the bleached-white teen who is stuffing his cheeks with a bag of Cheesy Puffs in hand. He stops when he sees their eyes on him "What? Hey don't get me wrong the place looks neat, but I was hoping for a bit more pazazz."
"Aw, man!" The sound of two pairs of fast feet skidding to a stop grabs everyone's attention. Before them are Flash and Kid Flash. "I knew we'd be the last ones here." KF says crossing his arms.
"Well look who it is. If it ain't Dash and Dasher Jr. Love the outfit by the way, Sunshine! Like, seriously, what is with you and yellow? I'm getting a migraine just looking at you!" Jester rubs his dramatically.
KF sticks his tongue out before replying. "You're just jealous that I can rock out bright colors while you hold up the evil dead look."
"Oh, and a Sunflower is much scarier?" Robin hides the 'oooh!' behind his hand at the older teens remark before high-fiving the green-head.
With everyone accounted for they make their way to the Hall.
A hand lands on Jesters shoulder stopping his movements. He looks up to see Batman looking at him with an uneasy look. "Are you sure you want to do this? We can give you the amulet."
Jester looks ahead. The entrance to the hall is filled with reporters. He knew what would happen. But he was tired of hiding. He wanted the world to know who he is despite of his family origin. He wanted to prove to them that we wasn't a monster like his father who many people feared. He wanted to help protect them.
Jester gives the Knight a determined smile. "Positive. I ain't running away from this any longer Bats."
Batman gives him a encouraging grin. Squeezing his shoulder one last time they are on their way again.
Cameras flash as the members make their way to the doors. Journalist bombarding them with praises.
Well, all except one.
Jester holds his head high and looks straight ahead, trying not to look at their direction. He tries to ignore the comments that are about him.
"Who is that?"
"Is that the Joker?"
"No way! He's too small."
"That must be his son."
"A monster in the making no doubt."
"What is he doing here?"
"Is he a member too?"
"No way will they let that thing join."
"Hell stab them in the back for sure."
With every statement the teen hunches his shoulders a bit. Maybe this wasn't a good idea he thinks. However it is all over when they finally make it inside. Immediately the teens green eyes widen with excitement, he runs ahead of everyone, spinning around to see every inch of the place.
"Can you believe it?" He laughs out. "We're actually here!" He looks to the other teen with a wide grin. They smile at his enthusiasm. Knowing that he had been the more eager one for this day to arrive. If anyone deserved to be a hero, it would be Jester.
A metal door slides open to them. Out stepping Martian Manhunter and Red Tornado.
"Robin, Speedy, Aqualad, Kid Flash, and of course Jester." MM begins."Welcome." He walks back to where they came from, signaling them to follow. "You now have unlimited access to the gym, our fully stocked Galley, and of course our library." He says as they enter the library.
Flash looks to them with a grin. "Make yourselves at home."
KF jumps on one the seats while Aqualad sits on the other leaving only one more open for the other three.
Jester and Robin spare a glance to each other before they dive for it, both boys wrestle for the spot. Just as Jester is about to claim his prize he is pushed off by a black boot and lands on his back on the floor. He looks up to see Robin making himself comfortable.
"Looks like being small has its advantages." He smirks down at the older teen.
Jester just huffs before laying sprawled on the floor. "Floors much comfy anyway."
"That's it?" Four heads snap in attention. Speedy with his back to them as the older male faces the superiors with crossed arms.
"You promised us a real look inside, not a glorified Backstage pass." He demanded.
"It's a first step. You've been granted access few others get." Aquaman explains.
"Oh, really?" He points above the room where a giant glass shows civilians taking their pictures to prove his point. " Who cares which side of the glass we're on?"
Jester frowns. What was wrong with Roy? He should be glad that they finally made it in HQ. Sure it was just the tour but it was better than nothing. What more did he want?
"Roy." Green Arrow addresses him softly. "You just need to be patient." Wrong thing to say.
"What I need is respect." He snaps. He looks at the younger members.
"They're treating us like kids. Worse-like sidekicks! We deserve better than this."
The younger males stare at him, no one saying a word. Not wanting to stand up to their mentors.
"You're kidding, right?" He says in disbelief "You're playing their game? Why? Because you think they play fair? Today was supposed to be the day, step one in becoming Full-fledged members of The League."
"Well, sure, but I thought step one was a tour of the HQ." KF says uneasy.
"Except the hall isn't The League's real hq." Now that got their attention. Not their real HQ?
"I bet they never told you it's just a false front For tourists and a pit stop for catching zeta beam Teleporter tubes to the real thing, an orbiting satellite Called the watchtower." Eyes widen at the information given to them.
Green Arrow feels the eyes of the Knight burning through him as he stares at him with his arms crossed. Someone had let the cat out of the bag.
Jester notices the man in green was caught red-handed before yelling out.
" Ooh! Busted! Green hood just got ratted out!" He yelps when he is swatted on the back of his head by a disapproving Robin.
"I know, I know, but I thought maybe we could make An exception." GA says trying to convince Batman with a nervous smile. His only response is white eyes narrowing.
"Or not."
Aquaman steps in. "You're not helping your cause here, son" He adresses to Roy.
"Stand down or-"
"Or what?" He snaps. "You'll send me to my room? And I'm not your son! I'm not even his. I thought I was his partner, but not anymore." Roy removes his hat throwing it on the floor.
The younger males look at him in shock, eyes wide and mouths open. He couldn't just quit. They just got here! But it looks serious.
Roy turns his attention back to the teens. "Guess they're right about you 4" He says walking past them. "You're not ready."
Jester springs from his spot on the floor in time to stand in front of the redhead blocking his path.
"Roy, wait." It's very rare for Jester to address people of their actual title. Reality he made nicknames in times of fun. However in situations like now it would not be appropriate.
"C'mon man, think this through. We've been waiting for this day for years! And now that it's happening you're just going to quit just because you won't get to see the real HQ?" When he gets no response he continues. "I mean, who cares if this ain't it, this is the first step to getting to it. We'll get there eventually. Together." Jester eyes him with pleading eyes, emerald orbs widening with a soft smile on red lips.
Roy tense stance slowly disappears when he looks at those eyes. He didn't want to hurt him like this. Jester had been through enough abuse and neglect throughout his whole existence until 5 years ago. When he first met him his first thought about him was another madman in the making. Oh how wrong he was. Jester was a sweet kid, in his own crazy way," with a big heart. Despite the bruises and marks on his body from his horrible past he still had a smile that was so contagious that you couldn't help but smile back. He always tried to keep everyone in the best mood when there were at a dark point with his corny jokes and pranks. Everyone loved him.
Roy remeber the times Jester would jump in excitement asking him to teach him how to shoot arrows. That was the first time Roy saw it. The same eyes Jester had to his fathers were not cold and sentencing. Instead he saw adoration. He saw that this was not a monster but a person who wanted friends, a family. A real one. This was person who cared and loved in his own insane way, shielded behind the mask of feared crime lord. He wanted to help others so hopefully they wouldn't suffer the way he did.
Jester did not want others suffer the way he did.
This however, would not change the redhead's mind. He wanted to be on his own. He was tired of being the assistant.
With mind set he puts and gentle hand on the teens shoulder giving him a soft apologetic look.
"Sorry, Jess. But not this time. I'm going on my own, maybe then I'll get a little respect."
Jesters face deflates before determination takes over. "Then I ain't joining either." He states arms crossed. Every soul in that room gasp at this. The other teens looking at him, not beleive what they just heard. Jester not joining the League? This was his dream! He talked about it non-stop for years.
"Jes-" Batman starts only to be cut off by Jesters hard look.
"No way, Bats. Being a member of the League means becoming a team. And that means everyone is included. I don't want to be a part of it if not everyone is in it." He says not backing down until the hand is back on his shoulder drawing his attention back to Roy,
"Jess. You need to join."
"What? No! Not without you."
"Jess listen to me. You worked so hard to get to today. Through all these years I've known you you've always had that determination to help others. Don't let all the years of training and effort go down the drain because of me. You deserve to this."
"But-"
"Do this for me, for everyone, do it for yourself. Let the world know who you are." He ends with a small smile, squeezing his shoulder gently.
Jesters body began to tremble. FIst clenching at his side, knowing that Roy was right. All these years of hard work to make his name known cannot be dumped behind. The greenhead looks at him with a small frown, pointing at him.
"You better call. Every Week. If I don't hear from you 3 days after your supposed to I will track you down and drag you back with your stupid red hood tied around you and gagged. When Jester spoke to you like this it was a sign of his concern for other. Roy smiled ruffling his green locks hair.
"You bet I will. Take care Jess." With a final look to the other he walks out.
SIlence fills the room. Until a beeping sound from the giant computer goes off. Everyone turns their attention to the screen when Superman appears.
"Superman to Justice League. There's been an explosion at project Cadmus. It's on fire."
"I've had my suspicions about Cadmus." Batman starts. "This may present the perfect opportunity to in-" He is cut off when another transmission comes online. This time Zatara appears.
"Zatara to Justice League. The sorcerer wotan is using the amulet of attan to blot Out the sun. Requesting full League response."
Batman looks back to the other. "Superman?"
"It's a small fire. Local authorities have it under control." He reassures them.
"Then Cadmus can wait. All leaguers rendezvous at Zatara's coordinates. Batman out." He looks back to the 4 remaining eager teens.
"Stay put."
That stops them. "What? Why?" Robin demanded.
"This is a League mission." Aquaman answers him.
"You're not trained." Flash also buts in.
"Uh, Exsqueeze me?" The three part to make room for the pale teen eyeing at the heros with narrow eyes and hands on hips. "What do you mean by 'not trained'? We literally train for a living! I get chills just by saying it!" He shivers to prove his point. "What more do you want you cruel, cruel men." He hisses out.
"I meant you're not trained to work as part of this team." Jester opens his mouth to sass back but shuts it when he realizes he has them their.
"You can't be serious. Common Bats, give us a chance" He protests instead.
"There will be other missions when you're ready." Aqualad reassures him
"But for now" He narrows his eyes at them. "Stay put." Leaving no room for argument Jester huffs and crosses his arms and pouts like a kid not getting his way. With that said the hero's are on their way leaving the younger ones behind.
"'Uh, stay put! Uh, You're not not trained. Uh, Not part of this team' Blah, blah, blah. How about I sock you guys in the head with my hammer? Will that knock some sense into you that we are trained!?" Jester yells riled up to the door they disappeared to.
"And what do they mean 'when we're ready'? How are we ever supposed to be ready when they treat us like- Like sidekicks?" KF breathed out frustrated.
Aqualad looks down. Feeling dejected at the thought of his king not telling his secrets. " My mentor, my king, I thought he trusted me."
"Trust? They don't even trust us with the basics! They've got a secret HQ in space!"
"What else aren't they telling us?"
"I have a better question." Robin says snatching everyone's attention. "Why didn't we leave with Speedy?" No answer.
"What is project Cadmus?" Aqualad suddenly asked.
Robin squints his eyes, also curious. "Don't know." He smirks when looks at the computer " but I can find out." He starts to work the keys to get accesses when a giant 'Acess denied" Flashes on the monitor. "Heh, wanna bet?" He types in more key opening files after files.
"Whoa" KF eyes widen of what was taking place. "How are you doing that?"
"Same system as the Batcave. That and Jester taught me. Caught him trying to get into the security tapes. Told him I sell him out if he didn't." He says grinning as the memory replayed in his head.
"Hey, I had to! Bats has no respect of others people's privacy!"
"Access granted" the computer announced opening a file linked to Cadmus. "All right. Project Cadmus. Genetics lab here in D.C." Robin reads off. The white-skinned teen walks to his side staring up at the screen with one brow raised and a bored expression.
"So it's a rat lab, so what? They creating a mutated army of mice or something?" Jester says standing beside the Boy Wonder.
"That's all there is, but if Batman's suspicious, maybe we should investigate." He grinned. All eyes widen at his statement. Was he suggesting what they thought he was suggesting.
"Solve their case before they do. It would be poetic justice." Realized Aqualad. If they can help with this, it may win their mentors trusts. "But they said stay put."
"Hey, for the blotting out the sun mission, not this."
"Wait." KF grps Robin's shoulder excitedly. " Are you going to Cadmus? Because if you're going, I'm going." Both boys look to Aqualad for his answer.
"Just like that we're a team on a mission?"
"We didn't come for a play date." That got him. He was in.
The only one left was Jester. The green-head blinks when all eyes are on him. Waiting.
The teen rubs his head with closed eyes. Drawing out a breath."Let me get this straight. You want to disobey The Boss man by investigating this case on our own which will probably result in us being locked away in the Batcave for the next year or so when he finds out just to prove we're ready to take on the big guns?" When he gets no answer he grabs his bat, the metal transforming it to a giant mallet, lips grinning wide. "I knew I was a great Influence!"
/
KF dashes to catch the falling lab scientists from the explosion that send the flying out the window. With both men in his grip he flings them on the roof of the Cadmus building before losing his footing. He grabs onto a window pane before he fall all the way down.
"Ohh, ohh! - It's what's his name-Flash boy!" One of the firefighters on the ground point out.
"Kid Flash!" He calls out to them annoyed. Every time! " Why is that so hard?" Grumbling under his breath.
"Oh, Cheer up, Sunshine!" KF looks over his shoulder to spot both Robin and Jester jumping on top firetruck, sprinting to the edge Robin pulls out his hook, aiming it on the propped up ladder before swinging and landing beside him on the right. Jester, not far behind untangles the metal chain around his hips, following Robins action which lands him on the other side of the redhead.
"With cheeks as cute as yours, they can't help but think otherwise!" He says pinching KF's left cheek laughing when his hand is swatted away.
Once inside the office Robin immediately hacks the computer while KF and Jester work the drawers. So far, they don't seem to find anything interesting or threatening that would make Cadmus dangerous or worth investigating.
"Boring, also boring, uber boring. Not worth it. Nope. Not." Jester says throwing flies over his shoulder. He groans throwing his head back. "If we don't find anything soon I'm going to shoot myself."
Jester begins to open another drawer when he sees movement out of the corner of his eye. He turns to the directions of the door of the office just in time to see a silhouette rush by. He glances his back to the other two to see if they saw but unfortunately they didn't. With that he makes his way to the hallway.
He peeks around the door frame, eyes widening when he catches whatever the thing is inside an elevator and disappearing after the doors shut. The most bizarre thing was the being had a deformed head with horns at the top of it head. "What the…"
"You saw that too, correct?"
"EEK!" Jester shrinks out, jumping a foot of the ground, startled to death he breathes out heavy pants. He whips his head to meet pale eyes of Aqualad. "Gills!" He pants leaning forward with a hand to his rapid beating heart. "Don't ever do that again! My nerves can't take it! Next time that happens I will not be held responsible for the damage of that fine jaw of yours."
Robin and KF come around the corner, altered by Jesters heavy breathing. "What happened?"
Jester waves them off, breathing returning to normal. "Oh, nothing, had a mild heart attack, but I'll live."
"There was something in the elevator. We both saw." Aqualad informed.
"Yea, what he said. And don't it seem suspicious to you that they should be locked down when there's a fire going on?"
The four approach the elevators trying the buttons. But the doors remain close. "This is wrong." Robin produces as holographic screen from the device on his arm. The images show the elevator having several floors below the building. "Thought so. This is a high-speed express elevator. It doesn't belong in a two-story building."
"Neither does what we saw." Aqualad grunts prying the doors open. They look down bottomless like fall.
"And that's why we need an express elevator."
An idea forms on the mentally ill teen. "Anybody want to test how far this thing goes?" He asked with a growing grin. Before anyone had the chance to process what he said he runs to the edge of the elevator and jumps down into the abyss, laughing out of his mind. Leaving the rest to catch up what just happened.
Robin was the first to break the spell. "Jess, you idiot!" The Boy Wonder shoots his hook to the ceiling before jumping and falling after his teammate. The others follow.
Robins hand reach out to grab the back of the green-heads vest, halting him from his decent Jester hangs as they continue to go down still giggling. "You're crazy, you know that?"
Jester looks up to the Boy Wonder with a grin. "You just figured that out?"
Level after level pass on their way down. Just how far did this go? Unfortunately they would be able to find out due for the hook reaching the end of its rope,leaving them no choice but to explore level 26. Robin hacks into the system to unlock the door.
Once in, they walk through the long corridor. Jester dashes ahead to scout the place followed by KF who passes him.
He doesn't get far due to a giant foot appearing out of nowhere causing him to lose his footing and land on the floor. He looks up to see a herd of monstrous beast looming over him and not stopping, He is too shocked to move. Just as another foot is about to crush him a metal chain wrapps around the redheads middle and is jerked away from the stampede.
"Careful there, Sunshine. Don't want to be into banana puddin do ya?" Jester untangles him and helps him up. The teens stare with wide eyes at the creatures continuing to pass by. "Doesn't look like they're just experimenting on rats here." The others nod in agreement.
Just what was this place hiding?
/
The locked doors allow the four males access after Robin disabled them. What greets them leaves them stunned. "Ok, Im officially whelmed."
Rows upon rows are glowing blue capsules. Inside are unidentified creature that seem to be not moving.
Jester does a double take."You guys seeing this too right? Because I know I'm not hallucinating. I specifically remember taking my meds this morning!"
"We see it as well." Aqualad reassure him. Jester slumps his shoulder, relaxed. "Oh thank god, thought I was losing it."
"So this how they did it. This is how they hid this massive underground facility From the world. The real Cadmus isn't on the grid. It generates its own power with these things." KF said gesturing to the capsules. "Must be what they're bred for."
Aqualad heads snapped in realization "Of course. Even the name is a Cadmus of myth created a new race by sowing dragon's' Teeth into the earth."
"So basically like Frankenstein to the extreme." Jester leans close to one of the tubes to get a better look. "You are one ugly, son of a biscuit." He extends a finger to trace the glass despite the bolts of electricity that flow around the tube.
When his finger makes contact a big shock wave fires weirdly in his body making his body shake uncontrollably, sparks of lights flash around his frame before he is flung to the ground by the force. Groaning he struggles to sit up.
KF and Aqualad rush to his aid. Each holding an arm they hoist him to his feet. Jester lifts his head with a wide manic grin. His extremely pale face is now covered with black smoke marks, green hair sticking up in odd directions, small streaks of electricity flowing to the tips.
"Whoa! Now that's a way to boost your energy!" He laughs out hysterically.
KF groans. "Oh, great. He's loosing it." Knowing full well when Jester tends to laugh like this it's almost impossible to get him to stop.
"Aqualad, see if you can get him to calm down. I think a got a hint of what these things are." Robin said looking at a holographic computer containing the beings information.
Aqualads give a nod before gather the still laughing teen, arms wrapping below the other's armpits. "Gills, while I have absolutely no problem being carried by hunk like you, sweetheart, you could have at least bought me dinner first!" He whizzes out.
The teen gives a grin before closing his eyes. "Remember the exercise, Jester. Close your eyes. Imagine the ocean. The waves gently flowing, the sound of the wind. Picture you are there. Deep breath in. Hold. Then out. Excellent, again." He instructs.
Slowly Jesters begins to calm with each breath. Aqualad finally sets him on the ground when he hears the other's breath had returned to normal. "Better?'
The green-head groan rubbing his face. The adrenaline fading away he begins to feel the aftershocks. "Ugg, If this is what a hangover feels like then I am never drinking." That was the sign he was back to normal.
"You guys might want to take a look at this." Robin calls to them. Showing them images and charts of the creatures. "They call them genomorphs." He scrolls down the screen. "Whoa! Look at the stats on these things-super strength, Telepathy, razor claws. These are living weapons!"
Jester stands besides him to get a glance. "More like monkeys injected with a huge dose of meth."
"They're engineering an army, but for who?" KF questions. Robin shrugs before scrolling down some more when something catches his eye. "Wait. There's something else. Project Kr." He tries to open the file but fails. "Ugh! The file's triple-encrypted. I can't-"
"Don't move!" A voice barks out.
Instantly, Jester whips out his gun from his holster in record time pointing in the direction of the voice, eyes wide looking frantic. Causing the rest of the team to look where he was aiming.
Running towards them is a small army of genomorphs followed by a man with a helmet covering his face. A mini genomorph sat perched on his shoulder. "Wait." He stops to look at them."Robin, Aqualad, Kid Flash." His gaze then turns to the teen with the gun still pointed at him."Joker!?" He cries in disbelief.
Glowing green eyes narrow. "The names Jester." He growls out. He hated being compared to that monster.
"I know you." Aqualad speaks out. "Guardian, a hero." The boys seem to relax a little, except for Jester who is still tensed, gun still aimed.
Guardian gives a grin. "I do my best."
"Jess, lower the gun, it's fine." Robin whispers to him. The pale teen shakes head. "No, Something's not right. I don't like it." At this Robin is easily on alert. Through the years Jester had worked with him and Batman the Older teens instincts are never wrong. Jester could read auras of people, he can feel the flow of their emotions and body language. If something was not right it would be best to listen.
Robin looks back to Guardian a suspicious look. "Then what are you doing here?" He demanded
"I think that's my question, boys." He says taking steps towards them. "I'm chief of 're trespassing, but we can call the Justice League, Figure this out."
"You think The League's gonna approve of you Breeding weapons?"
"Weapons? What are you" He stops mid sentence when the horns of the genomorph begin to glow red. Guardians eyes widen. "-what have I-ugh. My head." He holds his head and eyes shut trying to fight off whatever was going on.
Jesters eyes widen. "I knew it." He whispers to himself. "Its mind control!" That had to be it. A wide grin forms. "Ingenious!"
Guardian eyes snap open, eyes locked hard on them. "Take them down hard! No mercy!" The genomorphs charged at the teen.
Robin leaps in front of the group, throwing smoke bombs to the ground causing smoke to shield them from view.
Jester retracts his bat, transforming it into a giant hammer, a manic smile on his face.
"You wanna go geno-dorks?, all right, let's go!" He yells then running to them. He swings his hammer into two genomorphs launching to him, sending them crashing on the ground.
A another lands behind and lashes his claws at him, he dodges to the side and turns to deliver a hard fist to the creature's face. He is knocked down on his back when another tackles him sending them both to the ground. The teen's hands push against the creature's chest when its claws try to cut the boys face.
"You're a feisty one aren't you?" Jester says, struggling to keep the creature away from him as possible. He manages to tuck his feet under the monster and send him flying over with one push. Jester flips to a low crouch and reaches into the breatspockt of his vest taking out sharp metal playing card, flicking his wrist the card is impaled to the creature's skull, killing it intently.
"Jess, come on, we gotta go!" Jester stands in time to see KF and Aqualad running past him and follows them. The three run through the hallways to make it back to the elevators. A commotions makes Jester look behind him to see a herd of genomorphs gaining close behind.
"Coming back for round two, fellas!?" Jester whips his gun, aiming it at them before firing fireballs of plasma. He continues to run and fire when he catches sight of the rest of the team already packed in the elevator, the door beging to close shut. He gains speed before jumping through the narrow gap, he rolls before he hits the wall of the elevator. He lays on his back, panting, staring the other males looking down at him.
"Well!" He exhales shooting up and dusting himself. "That was fun! Almost got slashes into pieces, but hey, I'm not complaining!." He stops when he feels the motion of the elevator going down rather than up. "Um, Baby Bird, where are we going?"
KF also notices. "Dude. Out is up." He points out to Robin.
"Excuse me? Project Kr, it's down on sub-level 52." The smaller teen reminds them. Oh, yes. There was still that to find what it was.
Aqualad sighs out shaking his head. "This is getting out of hand. Perhaps-perhaps we should contact the League." But before a decision is made, the elevator stops, signalling that they have arrived at their destination. The doors allow them entry and Robin rushes out with Jester close behind. "Common guys. Let's explore a little!" He calls back.
KF looks back to Aqualad. "Were already here." He says before they both follow the other two. The darker teen had ha feeling that this was not going to end well. His suspicious rose when they entered an area with walls covered in pinkish lumps.
They soon come across two hallways leading to who knows where. "Which way?" Aqualad asked looking between the two.
"Yeah. Bizarre-looking hallway one or bizarre-looking hallway two?" The smaller teen also looks unsure. Just where do they lead to?
"Well that one." The crazed teen said pointing to the one on the left with his bat. "Looks like it promises pain and suffering for all eternity. While the other." He points to the other."Looks like to promise unexploitable death. Question is, which is the most logic?" He said to himself, a finger on his chin.
"Halt!" The four teens stand on alert when a creature with gray skin wearing a lab coat and sharp horns at the top of its head walks around the corner from the entryway from the left hallway. Its horns glow red before lifting a hand and levitating two barrels and throwing them. They dodge the flying objects before they crash near them on the ground exploding.
Jester whips his head to the team and the other hallway. "Hallway of unexploitable death it is then!" With that he and the other sprint down the hall avoiding another explosion. KF dashes ahead of them and rounds the corner but barely skids to a stop when he sees a female lab worker emerging from a door. He slips and crushes under her feet sending her the ground.
Seeing that the doors are beginning to close he picks up a beam nearby and wedges it before they fully close. "Hurry!" He calls to the others.
One by one, they each make it in safe. Aqualad kicks out the beam and the doors automatically shut close. Robin works on the computer to lock them from the outside. "I disabled the door. Were safe."
"Were trapped." Aqualad corrects him.
"Eh, could be worse." Jester says casually poping a stick of pink bubblegum in his mouth, chewing it frantically.
"Uh, guys." KF voice catches their attention. The redhead is standing in front of a control panel staring ahead a giant capsule. "You'll want to see this." He presses a button which resulted a light shining inside the capsule to reveal what was inside. As the other three aproach to get a closer look their eyes go wide.
Jester's jaw hangs open to stare at the fine form of another young male with his eyes closed in the tube. smooth hair black as night, sun kissed tanned skin, a defined muscular form, well toned biceps, the white bodysuit he wears clearly show well formed abs and pecks. He seem to be around the crazed teens age, maybe a year older. He was a god
"My god." Jester mumbles. The three look at him in confusion. "Does he need CPR? Because I can totally give him CPR." Looking at the male with a grin.
"Down boy, don't get any ideas." Robin says.
"Guys check it." KF points at the symbols printed on the glass of the tube. "Big K, little R, the atomic symbol for Krypton. You think he's a clone?"
"Baby Bird, Hack." Jester tells the younger teen. Robin snaps in realization. "Oh. Right, right." He begins his work and opens up a file. "Weapon designation Superboy, a clone force-grown In16 weeks? From DNA acquired from Superman."
"Stolen from Superman." Aqualad corrects. There was no way that Superman would give away his DNA to a place like this.
"Huh, I was wondering why he looked like a pretty boy version of Spandex." Jester mumbles moving closer to the glass until he is right in front of it. He places a fingerless gloved hand on the glass still staring at the unconscious teen. He looks above his head to see three mini creature perched. "What the heck are those things?" He points at them.
"Genomorph gnomes, telepathic, force-feeding him an education." Robin says scrolling down the file. "And we can guess what else."
"They're making a slave out of, well, Superman's son." KF says. At that statement Jester Freezes.
"They're manipulating his mind." He whispers. His eyes begin to narrow and a snarl forms on his lips. His thoughts cloud his mind that it blocks out the conversation the others are having about contacting the League. His mind goes back to when he was younger. The electro shock treatments his father often gave him to forget anything that wasn't related to mayhem. The beating to the head would also be included until he had no choice but to think chaos, filling his mind with false information. Making him believe that there was no good in this world and no one would save him. He would have no one to turn to. Manipulation is what damaged his mind in the first place. He will not let this guy end up like him. "Set him free." he finally finds his voice. He turns to the rest with determination. "This is wrong. We need to let him go."
Everyone looks to Aqualad for his final word. He give a nod. "Set him free." He tells Robin who easily obligns. After a few keys typed the capsule open with a stream of smoke.
They don't wait long before one of the clones hands move, closing into a fist. Jester decides to take a chance and reaches a hand to him, he fails to notice the genomorphs horns glowing red. In an instant, a large hand wraps around the thin delicate wrist in an iron grip causing the green-head to look up startled when closed eyes snap open revealing ocean blue orbs staring a green ones with a frown.
They lock eyes, both not saying a word or moving for what felt like hours before the clone looks to the rest of the of the team, eyes glaring daggers at them. Without warning, he flings the thinner teen to the side before charging towards them. Jester crashes the side of the wall, hard. He slides to the ground, rubbing the back of his head. "Not gonna lie. That one hurt." He grits out.
"Whoa, hang on Supey."
"Were on your side!"
His head shoots up to see the clone on top of Aqualad beating the tar out of his face. Robin and KF each holding his arm, struggling to stop him. Superboy manages to slip out of KFs grip before punching him, sending the readhead crashing to the wall and landing hard on the ground.
Jester runs to his side to check on him. He's out cold. A crash alerts him to see the clone crashing to the ground just away from him coughing from the green smoke around him. Robin shoots a wire of electricity to the clones chest tazing him but with no effect. Superboy grabs the wires and yanks them, pulling the Boy Wonder to him. He grabs the small neck before throwing the smaller teen to the ground, he puts a foot on his chest and presses all his weight, crushing him Robin struggles to get the foot off.
"Baby Bird!" Jester cries before rushing to them. He grabs his bat and delivers a blow to the clone's head causing him to stubble of of Robin. He tires to help him to his feet but fails when the younger one falls back, unconscious. He looks to see the clone coming to his senses and starts stalking towards him. Jester stands slowly, he looks at his bat then back at the clone before dropping it on the floor, signaling he's not going to strike back.
"I'm not going to fight you."
Aqualad comes to his side also addressing to the still walking clone. "We are trying to help you." He hardly gets another say when he is tackled by said clone, sending them both flying to the wall. Aqualad manages to get behind him looping his arms under his and hands on his head. With The clone trapped, the dark-toned teen releases bolts of electricity from his body to try and knock him out cold. However, the clone is not fazed. He leaps to the air and crashes into the ceiling, crushing Aqualad behind him. He does it again before the other teen lets his grip go and falls to the ground unconscious too.
The blue-eyed clone stares down at the knocked out teen when he sensed movement behind him. As fast as a whip he turns to grab the metal chain that was aimed to wrap him and gives it a harsh yank. Jesters eyes widen when he finds himself thrust forward at the other end of the chain. The clone grabs at his thin neck when he gets close enough and then starts to squeeze, blocking the pales teens windpipes.
Jester squirms and claws at the clones arm as he struggles to get loose. Its getting difficult to breath. He gasps hard and soon black dots start to appear in his vision. Green orbs stare into blue as he himself starts to slip into darkness. "We just want to help." He barely croaks out.
The last thing he sees is an arm raised with a closed fist and a sharp pain on his left boney cheek before everything goes black.