Hey! I'm back! And, yes, this is going to be replacing the story once called Young Justice Scripts. This is the main reason I wrote them, was so I could use them for big expansive AUs. This story picks up towards the late-middle of episode one, just because nothing really changes before that. Please tell me what you think, and unfortunately I can't give a solid date on when this will be updated again, sorry. Please read and review!
Prologue: Cadmus; 3rd Person POV
Robin chuckles, trying to keep it light. "Yeah, bizarre-looking hallway one, or bizarre-hallway two?"
"Halt!" is given out by the Anthropoid from before. His horns glow red and he lifts to cans telekinetically, then launching them at the teens. They dodge and Robin throws a disk at him which he stops. By the time he's prepared to attack them again they're running down the other hallway.
He stops and waits as Guardian and the other Genomorphs run out of the elevator. "They are headed for Project Kr." he tells Guardian. The force doesn't stop and continues down the path.
Further down a scientist opens the door from the inside. Walking out of the chamber. Kid Flash comes around the corner at high speeds and doesn't have a chance to stop before he takes out her feet knocking her to the ground. As he gets to his knees he hears the doors behind him closing and looks at the PROJECT Kr label on it, and how much distance the other two teens have to cross before they get to it. He gets to his feet and picks up a large triangular prism shaped object, dropping it to the floor and between the two flat segments of the door. He can already hear the door straining. "Hurry!"
He and Robin both jump through, but Aqualad takes a moment before he steps inside. Watching as Guardian and the Genomorphs come around the corner, then kicks out the prop. Allowing the door to slam closed.
A few steps in Robin has the hologlove up again and is hacking the door to engage the emergency lock. "I disabled the door. We're safe." he tells the older boys.
"We're trapped." Aqualad says in a dark tone, then looks to Kid Flash who is in front of a large computer system deeper in the dark chamber.
"Uh, guys." he calls to the other two. "You'll want to see this." hitting a single button to turn all the lights on in the chamber and inside the pod in the center of the room.
As it does all three of them can only stare in utter disbelief. "Whoa!" is all that is managed by the Boy Wonder. Inside the pod is a boy with pitch black hair, pale skin and a white suit that has Superman's S on it. The letter's Kr written on the glass that keeps the teen within.
Kid Flash steps around the console, looking at the boy closer. "Big "K", little "r", the atomic symbol for Krypton." he turns back towards the other two. "Clone?"
"Robin, hack." Aqualad commands.
It takes the caught-off-guard youngest a couple seconds to register what he was told to do. "Oh. Right, right." he plugs his connector into the console. As it asks for a password he begins the bypass program, which works and lets him in. Kid Flash walks back as he realizes Robin's got it. "Weapon Designation Superboy, a clone force-grown in… sixteen weeks?!" his eyes popping in shock. "From DNA acquired from Superman."
"Stolen from Superman." Aqualad accuses.
"No way the big guy knows about this." Kid Flash agrees.
"Solar Suit allows him to absorb yellow-sun radiation 24/7." Robin continues to read off.
"And these creatures?" Aqualad questions indicating to the ones on the projection off Robin's gauntlet.
"Genomorph Gnomes, telepathic, force-feeding him an education." Robin relays sourly.
"And we can guess what else." Kid Flash says, capturing the attention of the other two. "They're making a slave out of, well, Superman's son."
"Uhm, guys?" Robin question, his eyes going wide under his mask, which was only distinguishable because his lens grew.
"What is it, Rob?" KF questions, hearing the shock in the younger boy's voice which was very uncommon.
"Apparently, Project Kr isn't the only project down here." He turns towards the other two.
Kaldur looks deep in thought, but clearly just as disturbed like the other two boys. "Who else?"
"Something called Projects Beyond, Winx, Steel, Screech, and Magic." he can feel the other boy's looks on him. "They're minimally triple encrypted, and you wanted to contact the League." he says defensively, directing the last look at Aqualad.
"Based on what Project Kr is, I don't want to think about what those could be." Kid murmurs under his breath.
"Whatever is going on here, they don't want anyone to find out." Kaldur agrees, then reaches for his emblem. Only for nothing to go through.
"We're in too deep." KF mutters, reaching for the small lightning bolts on the side of his head, but getting nothing as well. "Literally."
The horns of all three Genomorphs inside the pod being to hiss lightly and their horns glow red.
"This is wrong." Kid Flash finally says, loud enough to be heard as he continues to look at Superboy. Hoping to see something else.
Robin needs no convincing. "We can't leave him like this."
Both are now looking to a concentrating Aqualad. "Set him free." he decides, then turns to Robin. "Do it."
The Boy Wonder needs no further prodding and begins work on it immediately. All three watch as the pod falls away from the boy who looks physically 16. Though the pod is gone he remains calm.
Then his hand clenches, causing worry to play on Aqualad's brow.
As the G-gnomes begin to hiss again his bright blue eyes snap open. Aqualad raises his eyebrows in a silent question, but no one dares to actually speak. Before anyone can blink Superboy launches himself at Aqualad. Tackling him to the ground and leaving the other two to watch the movement in shock.
They tumble over each other twice, before Superboy ends up on top of Aqualad his fist coming back to hit him square in the face. He gets three full hits in before Kid Flash and Robin manage to grab his arms and hold him back slightly.
"Whoa! Hang on, Supey." Kid Flash tries, holding the Kryptonian's forearm with all his strength.
"We're on your side!" Robin also attempts to talk to the raging maniac. Kid Flash ditches the second he realizes he's losing the strength fight and that he's only getting in Robin's way. Robin now has his arm around Superboy's neck and the other in his utility belt. "I don't want to do this." he tells him then places a smoke blaster to the clone's clavicle. Unleashing gas right into his face. Finally getting him to stumble back and off of Aqualad. Which the Atlantean pairs with a solid sidekick to the stomach, which sends him into the console and to the ground before his pod.
Something moves behind Kid Flash. He barely dodges the hook that would've been to the base of his skull had he not ducked. "Who's this?" KF shouts angrily as he sees a black suit with a red bat emblem charge at him. The ears are a little longer than the ones he's used to seeing. Telling him this guy isn't Batman. The lack of a cape helped give that away as well. If Kid had to guess he probably stands at about 5'11", maybe 6'. Though, unlike Superboy his face was completely covered by his mask.
"Project Beyond, I didn't realize they were both in here." Robin growls, trying to avoid another combo from Superboy. Robin keeps fighting as he pulls out a high-voltage taser. They pin to the Superboy's chest and send high amounts electricity, but they have no effect. He grabs the wires and yanks on them. Catching the young teen by surprise and pulling him towards him with ease. Catching him on the front of his cape then slamming him to the ground. As a final point, he steps onto the smaller raven's chest. Beginning to force more weight onto his solar plexus.
Kid narrowly dodges the second set of hand-to-hand combat fighting from Project Beyond. Though, seeing Robin in distress gave Beyond the advantage he needed to get close enough to Kid Flash. Throwing two very strong punches stun the speedster, before Beyond grips his shoulder tightly and his hand zaps Kid Flash, then he picks the ginger up and throws him into the stone-flesh wall of the lab.
Getting his head back on straight, and realizing the immediate danger the one non-powered member of their group is in. Aqualad pulls out his water-bearers, creating a massive hammer, swinging back and only catching the clone's attention with his cry of "Enough!" which gave him no warning and let Aqualad hit him solidly and knocking him back through the support of his pod. Aqualad helps Robin up to his, knees, but he's groaning and clutching his chest in pain. Until he finally falls onto his back, unconscious.
Aqualad stands up as he hears Superboy's heavy footfalls coming back towards them. He stands tall and puts his hand out in the universal sign to stop. "We are trying to help you."
The boy does stop moving but doesn't stop glaring. In an instant, he tries to punch Aqualad, but he sidesteps and tackles the clone into the wall. While over him he tries a righthanded cross, but Superboy catches it, then unleashes a strong push front kick to his stomach. Knocking him away and forcing the Atlantean to roll to reduce the distance.
Aqualad dodges the obvious punch, countering with a roundhouse to the stomach, which causes his body to instinctively curl in on itself, then elbow him between the shoulders. He gets an uppercut to Superboy's chest before the clone tries for a hook punch, which he ducks under and gets a solid strike to the kidneys. Then Aqualad gets behind his turned back and puts his hands under his arms and behind his head. Using his Atlantean powers to shock Superboy.
It clearly hurts this time, and as he looks like he's about to go down the clone uses his super strength to throw both him and Aqualad into the ceiling. However, being on his back and the first to hit Aqualad takes the brunt of the hit. Yet, he doesn't let go so Superboy does it again. This time the Atlantean's grip breaks and he falls independently to the ground. Unconscious.
Superboy walks past his unconscious form and to the door. His hands break through the metal and he gets the door open with a slam, knocking it off its rail. Gaining the full attention, albeit shocked, of Guardian, Desmond and the Anthropoid.
Desmond smirks but says nothing as he walks past the clones who stand shoulder to shoulder. Though Beyond is a good two or three inches shorter than Project Kr. Desmond is only observing the unconscious teen heroes within. "Attaboy." he finally says.
"Time runs short." a male's voice says. "You must awaken." none of the teens even flinch. "You must awaken NOW!"
Kid Flash comes to, gasping for air and his green eyes flying open. The other two are just as alert now too. Their attention trained on the glaring Superboy before them. "What? What do you want?" the speedster asks, his annoyance fighting his fear. "Quit staring. You're creeping me out."
"Uh, KF, how about we not tick off the guy who can fry us with a look?" Robin suggests to the seriously freaked out speedster.
"We only sought to help you." Aqualad tries to tell the clone, calmly.
"Yeah. We free you, and you turn on us." Kid Flash pipes up, clearly still annoyed at the minimum. "How's that for grat-"
"Kid, please, be quiet now." Aqualad firmly says to the younger teen. "I believe our friend was not in full control of his actions."
With the conversation gaining ground Robin activates a lockpick in the pointer finger of his glove and begins to work on his restraint.
"Wha-what if I…" he trails with an annoyed huff, his voice never been used so his words don't come out quite right and his tone is slightly scratchy. "What if I wasn't?" he manages.
"He can talk?" Kid Flash questions shocked.
Superboy's hand clenches into a fist again as he practically growls his words at Kid Flash. "Yes, he can."
The two look at Kid Flash who looks rather confused back at them. "Not like I said, "it"."
"The Genomorph taught you telepathically." Aqualad realizes.
"They taught me much." Superboy admits. "I can read, write-"
"We know the names of things." Beyond stepped out of the shadows, much like the man he was created to model- clearly- was known for. The three trapped sidekicks instantly include him in their attempt at unintrusive questioning.
"But have you seen them? Have they actually let you see the sky? Or the sun?" Robin asks, knowing how much all three of them takes those things for granted.
"Images are implanted in our minds," he admits, glancing at Beyond for the smallest moment, before looking down as if he's ashamed. "but no. We have not seen them."
Aqualad turns towards the more pressing matter. "Do you know what you are, who you are?"
Superboy stands tall, this he knows, this he can answer. "I am the Superboy, a Genomorph, a clone made from the DNA of the Superman, created to replace him should he perish… to destroy him should he turn from the light." the last bit gets worried looks from all three of them.
"While I am Batman Beyond, a clone made from the DNA of Batman, created to replace when he reaches beyond his limits." somehow his admission sounded far more mal intended for the DNA donor.
"To be like Superman, and Batman, is a worthy aspiration, but, like your name sakes, you deserve a life of your own beyond those suits, beyond your pods, beyond Cadmus." Aqualad tries to approach it calmly.
Once those words leave Aqualad's mouth both get angry. "We live because of Cadmus! It is our home!" they shout together
"Your home is a test tube." Robin says rather simply. "We can show you the sun."
"Uh, pretty sure it's after midnight, but we can show you the moon." Kid offers as a substitute.
"We can show you, introduce you to Superman." Aqualad agrees with the young speedster, knowing how much that would mean to the teenaged clone before them. Superboy's eyes widen slightly at the prospect.
"I promise I will introduce you to Batman." Robin said looking directly at Beyond.
"No they can't." Desmond says resolutely as he, Guardian, and the female scientist walk into the chamber. "They'll be otherwise occupied." his tone is almost smug now, then he turns to the female scientist. "Activate the cloning process." the two men stop and she walks off to the left to do as he instructs.
"Pass!" Robin speaks up. "BatCave's crowded enough!" though he gives a distinct look to Beyond that proved he didn't mean it in a bad way, but also meant to include him in his assessment of the BatCave's occupancy.
"And get the Weapon back in its pod." Desmond commands of Guardian.
"Hey, how come he gets to call Supey an "it"?" Kid Flash questions, seeming partially annoyed and partially saddened by the prospect.
Guardian steps up, placing a hand on Superboy's shoulder. Superboy looks to the three trapped teens.
Aqualad realizes the depths they have gone to. "Help us." he pleads with Superboy. The clone shrugs off Guardian's hand, looking to the older hero with an angered look.
Desmond walks up behind him, eyeing Beyond with a threatening glare. Despite the fact that the masked clone hasn't done anything yet, this wouldn't be good. "Don't start thinking now." His Genomorph hops off his shoulder and lands on Superboy's shoulder. It hisses as it's horns glow red, taking telepathic control over Superboy. Only physically obvious as his eyes lose focus. In an instant Beyond tenses, but then he relaxes, the Genomorph having taking telepathic control of him as well. "See you're not real boys. You are weapons, and you belong to me!" he pauses for a moment, realizing his mistake. "Well, to Cadmus. Same thing." he defends. "Now get back to your pods!"
Superboy doesn't even show that he heard Desmond, only beginning by walking back down the way they came. Beyond follows behind him without even the slightest bit of hesitation. The Genomorph's horns still glowing red.
Once the door closes with a thud behind the two clones, Desmond nods to the scientists at the control station. She hits two more buttons on the control station, causing robotic arms to come out of the base of the three protogés' pods.
There's a boom that echoes through the containment room. Catching Desmond's and Guardian's attention and turning it back to the door. Which is being crinkled as Superboy removes it, then holds it over his head with ease. As he does the torture devices on the three teens power down. Then he throws the door away and stalks into the room. Desmond, Guardian, and Dubbilex all make their way towards Superboy.
"I told you to get back to you-" Desmond begins, but is cut off as Superboy's right-hand swipes him away and his left takes out both Guardian and Dubbilex. Guardian getting shoved to the side by Beyond, while Dubbilex and Desmond hit the ground with a thud.
Superboy stands tall and glares down at Desmond. "Don't give me orders." he nearly growls, then steps up to be back in front of the teen heroes.
"You here to save us or fry us?" Kid Flash questions, seeming actually sincere in the question. Honestly unsure what the clones will do. He's none too eager to be on the other end of Beyond's electroshock gloves any time soon.
Superboy glares for a moment, but nothing happens. "Huh. I don't seem to have heat vision, so I suppose helping is my only option."
Robin manages to get his wrist restraints open, then jumps from his pod. "Ahh. Finally!" he says, annoyance in his tone as he rubs his wrists. "Lucky Batman isn't here. He'd have my head for taking so long." he laughs as Beyond tilts his head, showing that he's joking.
"Seriously, that's what you're worried about?" Kid Flash deadpans. "The whole League will have our heads after tonight!" he snaps angrily.
Robin ignores him and goes to the control station. Hitting one of the buttons, which retracts the arms from Kid Flash and Aqualad and opening their pod doors. He turns to Superboy. "Get Aqualad. I'll get Kid Mouth."
"Don't you give me orders either." Superboy growls but does go to release Aqualad anyway. Ripping the restraints apart with ease.
Weak from the torture Superboy has to catch his shoulders to keep the Atlantean from falling to the ground below the floor of his pod. "Thank you." Aqualad tells him sincerely.
Superboy nods but doesn't say anything. While Robin gets Kid Flash's restraints open, letting both of them drop to the ground. Beyond supporting both boys for a moment, letting them stand when they're ready. Once all three captured teens are standing on their own, Kid runs off at high speeds, Aqualad following shortly after, then the two raven following close behind, even as Desmond begins to come to and the scientist tries to wake Guardian.
"You- you'll never get out of here!" Desmond shouts, but the boys don't listen, they only continue to run. "I'll have you back in pods before morning."
Robin turns at the doorway and pauses, causing Kid Flash to do the same. "That guy is not whelmed." he mutters then launches three disks back into the room. "Not whelmed at all."
"What is with you and this whelmed thing?" Kid Flash asks as they turn to leave.
The three disks hit all three of their DNA containers and begin to beep, then explode, destroying the material they would've used for cloning and the pods themselves.
Desmond stands before the destroyed lab, anger clear in his grimace. A G-gnome jumps onto his shoulder. "Activate every Genomorph-" but he's cut off as Beyond grips him tightly around the neck before electrocuting him.
"Don't think so dreg." he snarls, kicking off the ground, rockets coming out of his boots and a small pair of red wings show as he heads after the four other runners.
"I thought we'd meet more resistance." Kid muses aloud.
"I knocked Desmond out." Beyond speaks up, dropping into a quick run with no stumble. "Should buy us five minutes."
"Thank god." Kid mutters.
Four G-trolls stop and look back the way they came the glowing orbs now have pale white figures moving inside them. Genomorph Elves come out in a large group. The four are trapped.
Beyond sighs. "Slag it."