There's the new story where we are doing the whole Young Justice plot with Terry in it! Hope you like it. Please enjoy and review.
The Greatest of These is Love
Chapter 1: Projects Kr and BB
"No! You can't do this! Let go of me! Superboy! Superboy! Stop it! Let me go! Let go! Superboy!"
"Leave him alone! Beyond!"
"Beyond…" the name came softly from his lips as his mind slowly cleared. He remembered what happened before he was put to sleep again. That awful man, Desmond, wanted to erase his memory of Beyond, who he guess he could call his best friend, and their bond. He feared for the worse.
Taking the time, he looked into his telepathic and empathic bond that was shared between Beyond and himself. As much as he hated to be controlled telepathically, the link Cadmus created between them was useful and harmless. The touch of the bond inside his mind was warm, gentle, and sweet.
He could sense Beyond. He was safe but scared. He had to get to him somehow and keep him that way, well… safe, not the scared part. He hated it when Beyond felt helpless. Beyond needed him.
So, if he could still remember Beyond and was awake, what did Desmond want?
Superboy looked down from his pod and spotted three teenagers, instead of the evil middle-aged man.
One of them, the oldest, looked a year or less older than Superboy. He had dark skin, blondish hair, and silvery gray eyes. He wore a black and red suit with a gold arch ornament on his belt. He had a backpack-like thing on his back with two sword handles sticking out. He had webbed hands, fins at the back of his legs, bare feet, and markings on his arms.
The next one was younger than the dark teen by a couple of years. He had pink skin, red hair, and green eyes. He was wearing a yellow and red full body uniform with a red lightning bolt at the center of his chest. With just looking at his costume, you could tell that his power was super speed.
The last one, the youngest, was someone he actually recognized. He was Robin, Batman's sidekick. He had black hair, pale skin, and hid his eyes behind a domino mask. He wore a black and red full-body suit with an 'R' on the left breast bone and had a cape that was black on the outside and yellow on the inside.
Superboy's eyes narrowed in suspicion. What did they want from him? Were they a danger to Beyond and himself? Not that they could really hurt him. He was still taller and more muscular than the oldest one. It was Beyond's safety that worried him.
Before a word could leave Superboy's mouth, the telepathic control Cadmus had on him, using the creatures called genomorphs, like he was built from, took control of him.
Besides the link with Beyond, he hated telepathic abilities.
Superboy now stood before the three sidekicks: Robin, and from what he heard from Desmond, Kid Flash and Aqualad. All three were unconsciousness, trapped in their individual cloning pod.
All of sudden, the three awakened and saw him. They had a bit of staring contest. Superboy wasn't really feeling anything since he was still under the control. Without Beyond, his mind was defenseless against them.
"What! What do you want?" asked Kid Flash angrily. Superboy gave no respond, remaining completely still with his intense look. "Quit staring! You're creeping me out!"
"KF, how about we don't tick off the guy who can fry us with a look?" Robin suggested.
"We only sought to help you," Aqualad tried to explain to Superboy.
"Yeah, we free you, and you turn on us! How's that for gratitude?"
"Kid," Aqualad silence his friend, "Please, be quiet now. I believe our new friend was not in complete control of his actions."
Superboy blinked. Aqualad's deep, wise voice did something that only Beyond could do. The mind control Cadmus had over him seemed to break apart. Superboy's mind was his own again, and he was aware of what had happened.
"What if I… What if I wasn't?" he asked.
"He can talk?" Kid Flash asked shocked.
"Yes, he can," Superboy growled, balling his hand into fists.
"Not like I said 'it'," Kid Flash said.
Superboy hated to be called an 'it' or 'weapon'. Beyond was first one and the only one for a while to see him as a person, someone who lived with emotions and thoughts. He had found out that Guardian (when he wasn't under the control too) and the genomorph android, Dubblilex also saw him as someone more, but it was a recent discovery.
"The genomorphs taught you telepathically?" questioned Aqualad.
"They taught me much. I can read, write. I know the name of things," Superboy answered.
"But have you seen them? Have they actually let see the sky or the Sun?" Robin asked.
"Images are implanted in my mind, but no, I have not seen them."
"Do you know what you are? Who you are?" asked Aqualad.
"I am the Superboy, a genomorph, a clone made from the DNA of the Superman, created to replace him should he parish. To destroy him should he turn from the Light," Superboy recited as if he heard it a thousand times, which he did pretty much. Desmond wouldn't stop saying that so he wouldn't forget his purpose, or rather Cadmus's purpose for him. Not to mentioned, it was programmed into his head. The sidekicks had shared a look with each other from what the clone had said.
Cadmus had used the genomorphs to give Superboy and Beyond knowledge. For Superboy, they wanted a perfect weapon. For Beyond, they wanted his mind to match the one he was meant to replace, to recreate that person like they tried to recreate Superman in Superboy.
"To be like Superman is a worthy goal," Aqualad told him, "But like Superman, you deserve a life of your own. Beyond that source, beyond your pod, beyond Cadmus."
"I live because of Cadmus. It is my home!" Of course, that was lie. Superboy hated it here. He wanted freedom with Beyond. These three sidekicks could give that.
"Your home is a test tube. We can show you the Sun," Robin said.
"Uh, I'm pretty it's after midnight, but we can show you the moon," Kid Flash corrected.
"We can show you, introduce you to Superman," Aqualad finished.
Superboy couldn't believe it. They were offering everything he wanted and looking like they sincerely mean it. Freedom and meeting Superman. For all his time here in Cadmus, Superboy wanted to be able to meet him. He wanted to not to be him, but to be a good son. He viewed Superman as a father that he never met, hoping to be accepted and have a family. Now he had to involve Beyond.
"I… I will agree on one condition. There is another project here, a boy, kidnapped by Cadmus. He is trapped here with me. We are very close. I want freedom for him too. He is known to Cadmus as Project Batman Beyond, BB for short. To me, he is Beyond, my best friend."
"Batman Beyond!" exclaimed Robin as the other two were shocked, "Is he…?"
"He's not a clone. Cadmus interfered with his parents' lives and injected his father with Batman's DNA and then his mother was pregnant with him. The project was cancelled when he was eight for some reason but then revived by different people and was brought here. Please, I refuse to abandon him here!"
Aqualad gave him a understanding, soft look. "We will save your friend and gain the both of you freedom."
"They can't," a male voice intervened. Superboy looked over his shoulder and saw Desmond. He walked in the room with a female scientist and Guardian, each one on had a little creature, a genomorph, on their shoulders.
"They will be otherwise occupied. Activate the cloning process," ordered Desmond.
"Pass! Batcave's crowded enough," Robin said.
"And get the weapon back in its pod!"
Guardian stepped forward, clearly under the control conducted by the genomorph.
"Hey, why does he get to call Supey an 'it'?" Kid Flash asked, probably to try to irritate Desmond like Robin did or hit a nerve to get Superboy to react. Nothing happened though.
Guardian put a hand on Superboy's shoulder to lead out of the room back to his pod. Superboy looked back at the sidekick.
"Help us," Aqualad said to him with calm eyes.
Superboy wanted to. He wanted to be more than just a weapon. He wanted to be what Beyond always saw him to be. These three sidekicks were promising him what he most desired and really meant it too. He wanted to help them.
Superboy shrugged Guardian's hand from his shoulder.
"Don't stare thinking now," Desmond said, forgetting that Superboy had always be thinking still he first woke and met Project Batman Beyond. The little genomorph jumped from Desmond's shoulder to Superboy, and its horns glowed white fire red, succumbing Superboy under the telepathic control again.
"You're not a real boy. You're a weapon, and you belong to me… well, to Cadmus. Same thing. Now get back to your pod!"
Superboy had no choice but follow Desmond's orders. He turn around and left the room, unwillingly left the sidekicks behind.
Once the cloning process was ready, Desmond nodded, signaling it to begin.
Robotic branches were launched and pierced each sidekick. It was shocking them and taking their blood. The blood was gather into three large orbs underneath them. All three were put under a lot of pain, even Aqualad, who as an Atlantean had dense skin.
Desmond gave more orders as he, the female scientist, Guardian, and now Dubblilex watched the hurting teens.
Superboy was not aware of his new friends' pain. He was just walking to his pod with the genomorph on his shoulder.
"Superboy, you… live," Aqualad's voice somehow got into his head. It carried the same tone as earlier but now a little pained. The voice was like the link, harmless and strengthening. Superboy could listen to him.
"That gives you the right to follow your own path. A weapon or a person. The choice is yours. Ask yourself. What would Superman do? At least, do it for your friend."
Superboy stopped walking and remembered: "Superboy, you may be a clone, a weapon, to Cadmus, but to me, you are real, and you are a person, even if you're not human. I know that you are meant for so much more. You are not a weapon. You are not a monster. You are not a THING! You will always have me to be there for you, no matter what, because I know you and I believe in your heart and soul."
Beyond… Aqualad…. They believed he could be something more. They knew he had a will, thoughts, and feelings. He had a right to choose how he wanted to live.
And Cadmus's idea of life was not it…
Superboy narrowed his eyes and raised a hand to a chain around his neck. He pulled on it lightly to reveal a dog tag with a symbol. It was suppose to be an identification tag, but this was Beyond's. Instead of it having a S-shield symbol like the one he had given Beyond, this one had a red, spiking bat symbol.
Inside the cloning room, they were still extracting DNA from Robin, Kid Flash, and Aqualad. Suddenly, they heard a loud noise at the door.
They all turn to see Superboy (with the dog tag visible) having pulled it right off its hinges, tossing it aside, and entering the room. By now, the cloning process had finally stopped taking blood from the sidekicks. They were relieved that the pain stopped and that Superboy was here again.
"I told you to get to your…" Desmond was interrupted as he, Guardian, and Dubblilex tried to grab Superboy, but he toss all of them aside like they were nothing.
"Don't give me orders," Superboy growled. He left and went over to the sidekicks. He felt good. He always wanted to that… well, to Desmond mostly. Now he could choose whether or not to listen to an adult and if they deserve respect.
"You're here to help us or fry us?" asked Kid Flash.
Superboy narrowed his eyes for a minute, then stopped, "Huh, I don't seem to have heat vision. So I suppose helping is my only option."
Robin, who had been picking at his restrains the whole time, finally broke free from his chamber.
"Finally," Robin grumbled as he jumped down and rubbed his sore wrists, "Good thing Batman isn't here. He'll have my head for taking so long."
"Seriously? That's what you're worried about? The whole league will have our heads after tonight," Kid Flash said.
Robin pushed a button on the controls to open Aqualad and Kid Flash's pod, but the restrains still held them.
"Free Aqualad. I'll get Kid Mouth."
"Don't you get me orders either," Superboy growled but more gently. Robin was small and even cute. He didn't want to do anything to hurt him. According to the rumors, that was a bad idea anyway with a protective Batman (aka Daddy Bats). Let's just hope Batman would be open to Beyond too as he is with Robin.
Superboy jumped onto Aqualad's pod and crushed the shackle with his bare hands. Of course, Aqualad felt a little weak from what he had gone through. Superboy had to make sure he could still stand.
"Thank you," Aqualad said. Superboy nodded to him.
"So where's your friend?" Robin asked as he freed Kid Flash. All four of them jumped onto the ground.
"Hang on, Cadmus created a link between us. I can sense where he is," Superboy answered and concentrated on his best friend. Suddenly, "No!"
"Supey, what's wrong?" asked Kid Flash.
"I can't sense him! Either something is blocking our link or… he's been killed."
"Calm down, we will escape now and then we will find out what happened to him. I am sure your friend would want you to be free without him," Aqualad said. Superboy nodded. He was right. In the topic of leaving Cadmus, Beyond's top priority was for Superboy to have his freedom at all costs, no matter what happened to himself.
The four started to run to get out of this place when Desmond woke-up and saw them.
"You'll never get out of here. I'll have you back in pods before morning."
"That guy is not whelmed, not whelmed at all," Robin mumbled, throwing bladed disks at the orbs where their blood was gathered.
"What is with you and this 'whelm' thing?" asked Kid Flash as all continued to run. The blades exploded, destroying the orbs and the garnered blood.
Desmond growled at the destruction. A genomorph had fallen in the commotion jumped back on his shoulder. "Activate every genomorph in Cadmus," he ordered.
The horns turned red.
"We are still forty-two levels below ground," Aqualad said while they were running, "If we make the elevator…"
Before he could finished, larger and bulkier genomorphs walked out, block their path. Behind them, pouches in the wall were glowing red, and more genomorphs (running types by the look of them) came out of them.
The larger genomorph began to attack. Aqualad, Kid Flash, and Robin fought to get around them. Superboy just fought them with his fists and super strength.
"Superboy, the goal is to escape, not to bury ourselves here!" Aqualad told him.
"You want escape!" yelled Superboy filled in rage. He took one of the knocked out giant genomorph and tossed it at the other standing ones, buying time for them.
Aqualad prided the elevator doors open. Since they were stress on time, they had to work their way up themselves with the elevator itself. Kid Flash jumped, hanging onto the sides. Robin shot a grabbling hook up. Superboy grabbed Aqualad and jumped, intending to fly up. Superboy had jumped up stories, but…
"I-I'm falling…" Superboy was in shock as he and Aqualad descended down. He couldn't go any higher. He couldn't fly. Robin's eyes widen when he saw his friends were falling and threw a gadget at the side, allowing Aqualad to grab hold of it and keeping himself and Superboy from going any further down.
"Superman can fly. Why can't I fly?" Superboy asked. He felt devastated. He was imperfect. No heat vision. No flight. All those dreams of flying away with Beyond were useless now. How will Superman see him now?
"Don't know, but it looks like you can still jump over tall buildings in a single bound. Still cool," Kid Flash answered, helping Superboy onto the side of the elevator shaft as Aqualad jumped down next to him.
"Thank you," Superboy said softly. Though he appreciated the optimism, it did little to make him feel better.
"Guys, this level will have to be our exit!" Robin called as the elevator was running down. There were at sub-level fifteen. They had that many levels to go to get to the surface.
Superboy and Aqualad busted the doors opened. The four jumped out and started running. They were being chased again by the large genomorphs and the running genomorphs.
"Turn left, brother," a voice told him gently in his head. It sounded familiar. It wasn't Beyond. The link was still gone. It felt like the genomorph telepathic power but softer. It felt like the pleasant images of the sky, the sun, and other thing in the outside. He decided to trust it.
"Go left!" Superboy told his new friends, "Left!" The four turned the corner when it came up as Superboy said.
"Turn right."
"Right!" They turn the other corner and hit a dead end.
"Great direction, Supey! Are you trying to get us repodded," Kid Flash asked, angrily.
"No," Superboy told him confused, "I don't understand." He thought he could trust the voice.
"Don't apologize! This is perfect," Robin said, point to the air vent in the wall.
They understood what he had in mind. The next thing they knew, they were crawl through the vents.
"At this rate, we'll never get out," Kid Flash grumbled.
Superboy hushed him, "Listen." They could hear sounds inside of the vents that they weren't making. The genomorphs were in there with them. They managed to get out and Robin got to working on the computer in his glove again.
Afterwards, he smirked and looked up to his friends, "I hacked the motion sensors."
"Sweet," Kid Flash commented.
"There's still plenty of them between us and out," Robin told them.
"But I finally have room to move," Kid Flash said, taking off in super speed up the stairs. The other three ran behind him.
Kid Flash use his super speed to knock the genomorphs out of the way. Superboy, Robin, and Aqualad could easily run pass the fallen genomorphs.
"Four behind us!" Robin announced.
Superboy stopped and turned to the genomorphs that were chasing them. He stomped his foot with super strength on the stairs, making it collapsed with them. He then caught up with the other sidekicks.
At sub-level one, Kid Flash ran down the hall. Alarms were going off as fire doors closed.
"Oh crud," Kid Flash said as he tried to stop. He skidded. He couldn't stop himself. He ran into the door.
"We're cut off from the street," Aqualad said. He, Robin, and Superboy caught up to him.
"Thanks, my head hadn't noticed," Kid Flash said sarcastically, rubbing his head.
Superboy went up to the door. He punched and tried to pulled to doors apart. Aqualad tried to help him, but it wouldn't budge.
"I can't hacked this fast enough," Robin said from his glove computer. He noticed that the large genomorphs were coming. "This way."
He led them on a different root but was cornered by genomorphs of all shapes. Guardian was there too.
The heroes were ready to fight, but the small imp-like genomorphs used their psychic power with their horns turning red. The power knock outed Kid Flash, Robin, and Aqualad. Superboy was weakened and fell to his knees.
Dubblilex walked up with his own horns turning red, "Perhaps for the sake of all genomorphs, our brother, Superboy, should make up his own mind."
Superboy opened his eyes, recognizing the voice that was speaking to him. "It was you."
"Yes, brother, I lured your new friends down to Cadmus by setting the fire, all according to Project Batman Beyond's plan."
"Beyond? The fire is his idea? Is he still alive? Please, tell me where he is," Superboy begged, speaking on the telepathic link. He gasped as warmth spread throughout his body. He welcomed it. It was the bond. Beyond was still alive.
Dubblilex motioned to one of the large genomorphs as it stepped over. It lowered its large arm before Superboy and opened its loose fist. There in the palm of its hand was a very thin and frail-looking sleeping teenage boy. He had ebony black hair that was a bit long, his lips were a light pink color, his skin was very pale due to the lack of nourishment and sun (usually it was a pretty, healthy pale if you would believe it), and the shrubs he wore were hanging off of his form. He looked a little feminine and unfortunately unhealthy. His body was sporting healing bruises and a few fresh ones. He was still wearing the dog tag with the s-shield around his neck.
"Beyond!" Superboy cried in relief. Carefully, he took the boy into his arms. He held him close and buried his face in his neck, feeling Beyond's breath and hearing his heartbeat. His best friend was alive and safe.
"I saved him from a beating and kept him safe as I had the bond between you two blocked, so you could escape. I woke up your friends when they were in danger," Dubblilex continued.
"And guided me. Why?" Superboy asked.
"Because you are our hope. The genomorph hero. You will blaze a trail for all our brothers, showing us the way to freedom."
It was then the little genomorphs lifted their powers. The control over Guardian was gone. His mind cleared as the sidekicks woke-up.
Aqualad, Robin, and Kid Flash watched Superboy stand with the boy, they assumed, was Project Batman Beyond, still held securely in his arms, like a precious treasure.
"What is your choice, brother?"
That wasn't hard. It was something both he and Beyond wanted. "I chose freedom."
"It feels like a fog… lifting…" Guardian mumbled, getting his head straight.
Superboy's friends stood up now that they were weakened by the genomorphs' powers. Robin managed to take a look at the boy who was suppose to be his mentor's biological son. The boy did look like him. He was older than himself and was in need of medical attention. It didn't look that serious though.
"Guardian?" Aqualad called.
"Go, I'll take care of Desmond," he told them.
"I think not." The genomorphs cleared out of the way so Desmond could be seen. In his hand, there was a test tube of a neon blue substance.
"Project Blockbuster will restore order to Cadmus," Desmond said. He then drank the substance.
Superboy moved Beyond over to hold him with one arm while shielding him with the other. Robin, Kid Flash, and Aqualad watched in horrid amazement at the doctor's transformation. He had begun twitching and whimpering as his muscles grew bigger. His voice deepen. His eyes became black with red pupils and irises. His skin torn off like fabric as his body grew and harden. Mark Desmond had physically became a monster that he was on inside.
"Everyone, back!" Guardian ordered. He attacked the monster to protect the genomorphs and the heroes. He was just slapped aside to the wall like an annoying fly.
Superboy couldn't resist. He passed Beyond over to Aqualad's arms, who accepted without complaint, and attacked. Superboy throw the punches at the monster. Desmond punched him away. The clone skidded on the floor but popped right back up. He jumped and went to pound on the creature that was once the cruel man who called him a 'weapon' and abused his best friend. The once human gave a super leap, taking Superboy with him, and crash to the level above them, the ground level.
"Okay. That's one way to bust through the ceil," Robin commented, shooting a grabbling hook up so he could be pull up to where the attack was.
"You think Lab Coat planned that?" Kid Flash asked as he grabbed on to his friend and went with him.
"I don't think he is planning anyway anymore," Aqualad said, stealing a glance at the unconscious person in his arms. This person meant so much to Superboy. They had to keep him safe and made sure that he and Superboy get their freedom. Aqualad jumped up onto the ground floor, the lobby of Project Cadmus.
He instantly met up with Robin and Kid Flash. Superboy had just escaped from Desmond's hold but was grabbed by his leg and tossed towards the other sidekicks, mainly Aqualad.
Aqualad had quickly tossed his cargo over to Kid Flash and caught Superboy. He was thrown by to the floor from the force.
Using his super speed, Kid Flash ran over to the office desk and put Beyond securely underneath it for safe shelter. He went back over to his friends. He helped Aqualad up as Robin helped up Superboy. They all stood to face Desmond.
They attacked. Kid Flash ran between Desmond's legs and stopped just behind him. Aqualad and Superboy jumped, both punching the monster in the face. The force sent Desmond back. He tumbled over Kid Flash just as they planned. Robin jumped up to throw two of his blades, but Desmond knocked them away.
Superboy stepped up to Desmond, ready to fight. The clone was slammed into a pillar. He tried to fight, but he was punched hard. Desmond was going to punch again when Aqualad's water sword wrapped around his arm to stop it. He pulled himself above to attack and free Superboy, but he was slammed down to the ground. Then Desmond tossed Superboy aside. Kid Flash ran over to help. Both he and Aqualad were thrown at more pillars.
Desmond went at Aqualad, destroying the pillar and shaking the whole building.
"Of course," Robin said, formulating a plan with the computer in his glove, "KF, get over here!"
While Superboy and Aqualad were fighting, Robin told Kid Flash his plan. Once he got it, Kid Flash went to work getting Desmond's attention.
"Superboy, Aqualad!" Robin called them and told them the plan.
Kid Flash was doing his part of the plan. Superboy and Aqualad knocked down some of the pillars. Robin set things up.
A white 'x' was draw on the floor with chalk. Aqualad poured water there, allowing a chased Kid Flash to skid across. Superboy punched Desmond to stop him. Aqualad then used his power and sent a electric current through the water and electrocuted Desmond.
"Move!" Robin yelled. The blades that were set to explode did so and destroy the rest of the pillars, sending the building to cave.
The plan worked. A large of the ceil broke off and fell upon Desmond. Now they had to get out.
With the lack of time they had to get out, Superboy raced over to the desk and gathered Beyond. He went back over to his friends, knowing what to do. Aqualad (with his tough Altantean skin) used his body to shield Kid Flash, while Superboy grabbed Robin to shield him and Beyond.
The whole building came down.
Once everything was settled, Superboy lifted the rubble off of them. All of them were all right. Their clothes were torn, but they were all right.
"We… did it," Aqualad said, smiling. They had successfully complete a mission without their mentors.
"Was there ever any doubt?" asked Robin, high-fiving Kid Flash, but then having to regret it when pain shot in their arms.
Superboy checked on Beyond, who was still in his arms. His shrubs were in the same condition as his own, and he had a few new small scratches. All in all, he was all right.
Superboy looked over to Desmond. The monster was stuck under the rubble but was still alive. He took a deep breath, taking in the fresh air. He was free. He and Beyond were free.
Kneeling down, Superboy supported Beyond on his legs and gently patted the soft pale cheek.
"Beyond, wake-up. We're free. Cadmus has no hold of us anymore," Superboy said as his new friends watched him try to wake the boy who was unconscious during the whole fight.
Beyond's eyes lids flickered and a soft moan left his pink lips. His eyes opened. Robin gasped.
The boy had ice blue eyes. He had Batman's eyes. He looked like a soft, pale version of him. He was no less good-looking though.
"Superboy?" he whispered.
"Hey, I'm here," Superboy told him.
"You remember me?" he asked. Superboy got a vision through the bond. Before he was put in the pod again, what he remembered was the same as Beyond before he was knocked out. He was scared that he was forgotten by his best friend and protector.
"Don't worry. I remember. My friends found me before they took my memories," Superboy said through the bond as he nodded.
"Superboy!" Beyond wrapped his arms around the taller boy's neck.
"We're free," Superboy said, helping him stand up. Beyond was a little weak, due to his not-so-good health, but with some rest and proper treatment, he would be all right. "Beyond, these are my new friends and our rescuers, Aqualad, Kid Flash, and Robin."
"Thank you," said Beyond gratefully, "I'm Project Batman Beyond, or Beyond as Superboy calls me… but my real name is Terry, Terry McGinnis."
Beyond, or rather Terry, looked over at Superboy. He had promised Superboy if they were freed, he would tell him his real name, the name he had before Cadmus took everything from him.
Kid Flash looked up at the sky and smiled, "Hey Supey, look, the moon."
Superboy and Terry looked up. It was the full moon. To Superboy, it was so beautiful. It wasn't just visions shown to be him by the genomorphs. It was real.
Superboy stared in awe, completely enchanted, at the moon, when he saw a small drop emerged. As the dot grew bigger and bigger, taking a familiar shape. It was Superman.
"Wow, and Superman. Do we keep our promises or what?" Kid Flash said.
As Superman was landing, the rest of the league were coming. All of them: Red Tornado, Captain Marvel, Martian Manhunter, Zantarra, Captain Atom, Hawkman, Hawkwoman, Wonder Woman, the two Green Lantern, Black Canary, Green Arrow, Aquaman, Flash, and Batman.
Robin stepped over to Terry and took over supporting him so Superboy can let go. Superboy took the hint and walked up to Superman under the said man's gaze.
Superboy was remaining calm on the outside, but in the inside, his heart was racing. The man he admired, who he saw as possible family was right before him. Terry had warned him that Superman wouldn't take him well, but he couldn't stop the hope.
Once stopped before the Man of Steel, Superboy pulled back the worn flap of his solar suit, revealing the red s-shield. He looked up at Superman's shocked eyes with hopeful ones. But Superman's eyes turn stern. Those eyes made his heart drop.
"Is that what I think it is?" asked Green Arrow.
"He doesn't like being called an 'it'," Kid Flash told them.
"I'm Superman's clone," Superboy blurted out.
Everything got quiet. The league looked each other. The air was tense.
Terry couldn't take it. This wasn't a good sign. Superboy didn't do anything wrong. He moved away from Robin to walked quickly and carefully to Superboy and hugged his arm. His blue eyes narrowed to an almost perfect bat glare, startling the league.
"And you are?" asked Flash uncomfortable. Batman's eyes were actually widen when he realize the resemblance with himself and the boy.
"Project Batman Beyond. I'm Batman's biological offspring and a born citizen of the United States," Terry answered, not lifting his glare, "Are you going to call me an 'it' too?"
"Terry…" Superboy said.
"No, I watched these people all my life. They are heroes. I know I warned you, but their behavior is unacceptable. You have done nothing wrong. You are a victim, not a bad guy," Terry explained. He was going to fight for Superboy to his last breath, even against the great Justice League, even against the heroes he had admired since he was a little boy. Superboy may have been created as a weapon, but he wasn't one. He proved it.
"Start talking," Batman ordered. This was going to be quite a story.
After telling Terry's tale about how Cadmus killed his parents and possibly his younger brother, how they experimented on him, how they paired him with Superboy, and how they became friends, they explained how Superboy came to be, his purpose, and their breakout. Now the league was talking amongst themselves about what to do. Desmond, now dubbed the Blockbuster Monster, was taken away.
Robin, Aqualad, Kid Flash, Superboy, and Terry were waiting together. Terry was actually sitting on a piece of rubble, being watched over by Superboy.
Superboy was looking over to where Superman was. He was talking to Wonder Woman and Martian Manhunter. The martian noticed and got Superman's attention.
Superboy got tense when Superman looked him. Terry took his hand to help him.
Superman walked up to him.
"We'll… we'll figure something out for you… the league, I mean," Superman said awkwardly, cringed when he saw he was under the bat glare again by the young Terry McGinnis, "I better make sure the Blockbuster creature gets squared away.
Superman flew away, but winced again when he heard the whisper from a protective Terry, "Narrow minded coward."
Terry was disappointed in Superman. He knew that the man felt violated. It's just it didn't mean that he couldn't give Superboy a chance. He gave many to criminals for goodness' sake. If that man dared hurt his clone, he will be sorry. Right now, he needed to tend to the crush feelings coming through the bond.
"Cadmus will be investigated, all 52 levels. Now, let's make one thing clear," Batman said.
"You should've called," Flash interrupted, getting a look from Batman.
"Despite a success, we are not happy. You hacked Justice League's systems, disobeyed direct orders, and endangered live. You will not be doing this again."
"I'm sorry, but we will," Aqualad said for the rest of them.
"Aqualad, stand down," Aquaman ordered.
"Apologies, my king, but no. We did good work here tonight. Doing what you train us to do. All of us together, on our own. We forged something power."
"Is this about how you were treated back at the hall? The three of you…"
"The four of us, and it's not," Kid Flash corrected. Superboy looked up when Kid Flash had included him. He was their friend. Like Terry, they weren't going to just abandon him, even if the league would reject his existence.
"Batman, we're ready to use what you taught us. Or why teach us at all?" Robin asked.
"Why let them tell us what to do? It's simple. Get on board or get out of the way," Superboy said.
Batman's eyes narrowed. To Robin, he knew what it meant.
"Give me time. Robin, Superboy, Beyond, come with me."
Batman had taken the three back home, to Wayne Manor in Gotham City. There, he had to revealed his identity, Bruce Wayne, to Terry and even Superboy. Then he sent Terry to his butler, Alfred, to be tended to, and he told Superboy what would become of him. Which is, he can stay in Wayne Manor since it was obviously that Terry wasn't going to separate from him anytime soon.
Bruce Wayne was going to adopted his son and find the said son's missing younger brother, Matthew McGinnis. He understood the story while the two projects, Kr and Batman Beyond, were in Cadmus. Superboy was more than just a weapon. Terry wasn't going let anyone think otherwise.
"Here, Alfred wants you to drink this," Richard 'Dick' Grayson-Wayne, Bruce's adopted son and Terry's new brother, said as he handed Terry a cup of hot sleepy tea. In the room with them, were his two older brothers, Jason (age 14) and Damien (age 16, and is Terry's half-brother). They had mixed feelings about the fact that Terry was Bruce's son, but they found nothing bad in either Terry or Superboy either way.
"Thank you," Terry said, accepting the cup. He was out of the shrubs and into some soft pajamas. Tomorrow, they were going to taken shopping for new clothing. Terry had protested for himself, but Bruce wouldn't hear of it.
"Once you're better, Batman will see what you can do and maybe you join the new team," Dick told him, "According to Alfred, that shouldn't take long. A few days at most. Luckily, you weren't in that bad in health."
"Thanks to Superboy scaring the scientists," Terry said. The door to the sitting room opened and Superboy and Bruce walked in.
"Huh, like him already," Jason said to Damien, having yet to meet Superboy.
Superboy walked over to Terry and sat down next to him. He was no longer wearing the solar suit. He was dressed in some pajamas too and will be getting new clothes.
Though Superman's rejection hurt, he was happy for acceptance of some kind, especially if it's his best friend's biological father. He was happy that at least Terry was being accepted too. Bruce even promised that he was going to come up with a list of names for him.
"Are you okay?" Superboy asked concerned.
Terry smiled, "I'll be fine. Everything's okay now."
Superboy, Bruce, Damien, Jason, and Dick couldn't resist smiling too.
A few days later, with Terry just about recoveried, the sidekicks were called to Happy Harbor, Rhode Island, where Mt. Justice resided.
Within the mountain, Aqualad, Kid Flash, Robin, Superboy, and even Terry, all dressed in civilian clothes, were lined up before Batman with most of the league members.
"This cave was the original secret sanctuary of the Justice League. We're calling to service, since you are determine to stay together and fight the good fight. You'll do it on league terms," Batman said, "Red Tornado volunteer to live here as a supervisor. Black Canary's in charge of training. I will deploy you on missions."
"Real missions?" asked Robin.
"Yes, but covert," Batman answered.
"The league will still deal with the obvious stuff. There's a reason we have these big targets on our chests," Flash said.
"Cadmus proves the bad guys are getting smarter. Batman needs a team to operate at the side," Aqualad told them.
"The six of you will be that team."
"Cool! Wait… six?" Robin questioned. There was Aqualad, Kid Flash, and himself, of course. There was Superboy going to take on the hero business. And then there's his brother, Terry, who was taking on 'Beyond', the name Superboy had call him in Cadmus, as his hero name. That was five members. Who was the sixth?
Batman looked passed them, causing the young heroes to turn around. Entering the cave was Martian Manhunter and a teenage girl who was literally green. She was wearing a white top with a big red 'x' with navy blue heels, skirt, cape, and gloves. She was actually very pretty.
"This is Martian Manhunter's niece, Miss Martian," Batman introduced.
"Hi," she greeted shyly.
"I like this gig more every minute," Kid Flash said to Robin, then turned to Miss Martian, "Welcome aboard, I'm Kid Flash. That's Robin, Aqualad. It's cool if you don't remember their name."
"I'm honored to be included," said Miss Martian sweetly.
Aqualad, Robin, and Kid Flash gathered around her to welcome her. Superboy stood out of the way. Terry stayed with him.
"I feel out of place," Superboy thought.
"Give it time. You still need to use to the outside world, but you're not alone," Beyond told him. He stood close to his best friend. It was going to be hard, but Superboy will find a place to belong. And he would be right beside him.
"Hey, Superboy, Beyond, come meet Miss M," Robin called the two over.
Superboy and Terry met up with their new team. Miss Martian's white top suddenly turned black and her cape disappeared.
"I like your t-shirt," she said to Superboy, trying to make friends. A grin came on Terry's face, while Superboy gave a small one in return.
Robin and Kid Flash drew them into the group, enlargement Superboy's smile and pulling Terry to his side.
Aqualad was smiling too proudly, "Today is the day."
They were now Young Justice.
"words" is the bond between Beyond and Superboy or when genomorphs talking to Superboy.
"words" is the link between the team.
Have any questions?
Hope you enjoyed.