To Be a Hero
AN: Just so everyone knows, from this point on I'll be addressing people by their hero names when they're in their costumes and by their real names when they're not.
A special thanks to: creative hahnaa, Kitsune's Den, ADL 1, Maere Mara, KagomeInuDeman, BatmanFanatic123, EternalSouls, Alysx, Jacque' la Kitsune, Misty-Silver-Kitsune-Hanyo1230, MyworldMyImagination, HolyButterBalls, Blackranger96, Inu-Hanyou2016 and everyone for reading, following and favoring this story already. You guys brought sunshine to my week.
To My Reviewers:
Kitsune's Den: Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it.
ADL 1: You're Welcome, and hey I promised I would.
chibi-no-baka: I'm thrilled that you think so.
BatmanFanatic123: *blush* aww thank you so much.
MyworldMyImagination: I hope it does.
Guest: Hopefully this was quick enough and I'm glad you do.
Greatazuredragon: Thanks, I hope you like this one too.
Inu-Hanyou2016: Here you go.
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or Young Justice. Inuyasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi and the Young Justice belongs to Brandon Vietti, Greg Weisman and Cartoon Network. The only character I own is Karin/Moriko. I make no profit off this fanfic. Please don't sue me. (Everybody got that? All righty then.)
Chapter 2: Make Your Own Independence
Washington D.C July 4th 14:00 EDT
Miko and Moriko were the first to arrive outside the Hall of Justice. Kirara was in her true yōkai form next to Moriko, standing proudly next to her charge.
Many reporters and civilians were already waiting in anticipation of the historic event happening today.
Moriko's hands began to shake, from eagerness or nervousness she wasn't truly sure.
"Relax," Miko counseled her daughter.
"Believe it or not, this is relaxed," Moriko replied, glancing to her mother. Kirara nudged at Moriko's elbow, also advising the teenager to calm herself. "No, really I am," she told the neko.
"Guess we aren't the first ones after all," said a young voice behind the two Asian females and yōkai.
Behind them was the Dark Knight of Gotham and his Boy Wonder. Or better known as Batman and Robin.
Even with her mask on, Miko gave Batman a teasing smirk, "Looks like you're losing your touch, Batman-san."
The Dark Knight showed no emotion to the miko's teasing, since there were more pressing matters on his mind. "There was trouble in Gotham," he replied, "Mr. Freeze was attacking at a local park."
All the playfulness left Miko's eyes and were replaced with concern. By the look on Batman's face, there was more to it then that and it didn't look like he wanted to bring it up in front of their wards.
"So, you're Miko's apprentice," said the Boy Wonder, holding his hand out in greeting "I'm Robin."
The female protégé examined the young boy for a minute. He couldn't have been more than thirteen years old, but she could tell that he was strong and very skilled. "Moriko," she introduced herself, and shook his hand in the western style greeting. The sound of a purr made her remember the neko, "And this is my companion, Kirara."
Robin's eyes widened as the yōkai neko walked in front of him, "Big kitty," he said before rubbing the neko's ears, which made Kirara purr in delight.
"Didn't know you were going bring the cat," said another voice approaching the small group. It was Green Arrow who spoke, who was followed by his apprentice Speedy.
"Where Moriko goes, so will Kirara," Miko said simply. If Moriko was going to spend time at the Hall of Justice, Kirara had to get a lay of the place too. 'At least for a little while,' the miko thought to herself. 'Hopefully I can convince the others to change their minds about today.'
"What about the whole…ya know," Green Arrow motioned towards Moriko and the neko.
Robin and Speedy raised a brow at the way Green Arrow gestured to Moriko and Kirara. 'What's he talking about?' thought Speedy suspiciously.
The rest of the League already knew who and what Moriko's father was, and what Kirara was. However, they've yet to mention that to their protégé since the knowledge of yōkai must remain a secret from humans and the rest of the world. But after today, it may be necessary to inform them of demons living among them.
Miko glared at her fellow archer friend, "Yes?" she dared him to say something.
"Never mind," Green Arrow recanted taking the hint, knowing how Miko's legendary temper was not to be provoked.
"So," said Speedy looking at Moriko, "Too good for arrows?" he gestured to her lack of bow and arrow like her mentor.
Moriko shook her head, "More like I'm horrible at arrows," she replied, "I'm guessing from yours that you're Speedy."
They young adult nodded, not bothering to greet the young woman or ask her name. Speedy had been waiting for far too long for this day to come, 'Hurry it up already.'
"Well then," said Moriko, only somewhat provoked by the young archer's coldness, "Nice to meet you, Speedy."
"My friend, you should remember your manners when meeting new people," said a new young voice, "Especially, someone who you will be fighting alongside with." The young man who spoke was Aquaman's protégé, Aqualad.
"Shut up, Kaldur," mumbled Speedy.
Moriko chuckled at the young archer's sudden embracement.
"I've heard a lot about you, Moriko," the young Atlantean continued, "I am Aqualad."
"Pleased to meet you Aqualad," Moriko bowed in greeting, feeling comfortable to do so. By the way Aqualad spoke and behaved, soft spoken and respectful, it would have been impolite not to do so in return.
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While the teenagers were talking to one another, Miko got close to the other heroes, "What happened?" she asked lowly to them.
"We ran into some trouble with Icicle Jr," Green Arrow informed her.
"Aqualad and I also had ran into trouble near the docks," said Aquaman, "Killer Frost was attacking a merchant ship."
The miko glanced over at Batman and could tell he was contemplating the situation.
Three ice villains attacking on the same day.
'This isn't good,' Miko thought to herself.
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Not wanting to alarm the teenagers, the adults shook off their concerns and prepared for their true purpose of coming today.
"Today's the day," Batman said to Robin, giving a rare smile to show how proud he was of his ward.
Green Arrow walked up to Speedy, "The Hall of Justice."
"Headquarters to the Justice League," Aquaman said next to Aqualad.
Miko looked down to Moriko and smiled with her eyes on how proud she was her daughter. Any doubts that Moriko had earlier must have subsided after meeting the other protégés.
"Ah man," said a young voice behind everyone.
They all turned and saw two of the world's famous speedsters stop before them, Flash and Kid Flash.
"I knew we'd be the last one's here," complained Kid Flash when he saw his friends standing next to their mentors. That's when he noticed a new person standing next to Miko, a young girl with amber colored eyes. "Well hello," Kid Flash flirted, using his super speed to stand in front of Moriko and gripping her hand in his, "The name's Kid Flash. What's your name, Pretty Eyes?"
The female protégé did her absolute best not to laugh in the speedster's face, so instead she pulled her hand back, "Moriko, I'm very flattered but uninterested."
Robin wasn't as modest as Moriko and laughed at his friends expense, "Too bad, KF. She's immune to your charms."
"Dude," Kid Flash screeched to his best friend.
"Come on, Kid," Flash advised his young protégé, "We better go, before she sicks that cat on you."
Kid Flash took a big step away from the giant neko that he somehow overlooked when he arrived. He'd seen the thing on the news with Miko and Moriko and knew it could probably rip him to shreds if he wasn't nice to her master.
As Flash's suggested, everyone headed towards the inside of the Hall of Justice.
The young heroes walked proudly next to their mentors as the paparazzi and civilians took photos of them entering. All talking about their favorite heroes and their sidekicks.
"Is that Batman?"
"Oh I see Flash and Flash Jr."
"His name's Speedy, duh."
"No, Speedy is Green Arrow's side kick."
"…well that makes no sense."
"Hey cool, Miko and her sidekick are here too."
Meanwhile, all the protégés looked around at the building a head of them.
Aqualad was one of the first to speak, "I'm glad we are all here."
They all nodded in agreement, "Have all five sidekicks ever been in the same place at once?" Kid Flash asked a rhetorical question.
"Don't call us sidekicks," Speedy said harshly, "Not after today."
Moriko cringed at the label as well.
They weren't sidekicks, they were protégés.
Protégés training to be heroes.
"Sorry," Kid Flash told his friend, "First time at the Hall. I'm a little overwhelmed."
Robin sighed at the word, "You're overwhelmed. Freeze said he was underwhelmed. Why isn't anybody ever just whelmed?"
Moriko raised a brow, "Is that even a real word?"
"You can look it up?" the Boy Wonder replied
The conversation was cut off as they went through the doors and were face to face with tall statues, honoring the founding members of the Justice League.
Moriko smiled at the statues of her parents standing next to each other.
"Oh…that's why," said Robin staring at the statues.
The door in front of the group was authorized for members only, where J`onn and Red Tornado emerged to greet them.
J`onn glanced at his step-daughter and smiled, as she held a respectful demeanor on the outside but was completely giddy in her mind. "Robin, Speedy, Aqualad, Moriko, Kid Flash," he greeted each young individual, "Welcome." The Martian turned and gestured for the protégés to follow, "You five now have unlimited access to the facility. Including the gym, our fully-stocked galley, and of course our library."
The young hero's eyes widened at the size of the library and sitting area that they just entered.
To satisfy her curiosity, Moriko ran immediately to find a dictionary. A few moments later she found her answer, "Huh, 'whelmed' is in the dictionary." (AN: Seriously, it's in there.)
"Told ya," Robin replied triumphantly.
Moriko chuckled as she took in the rest of the room. As overwhelming, errr whelming, as the Hall of Justice was, something kept nagging at Moriko. 'I thought that the Justice League headquarters would be more…I don't know, Headquarter looking,' she said to herself.
J`onn heard his step-daughters thoughts and sighed. He should have known that she'd notice.
"Of course," Miko replied in J`onn's mind, knowing why he had sighed. "She notices everything."
Batman turned to the protégés, "We're going to do a quick debrief of the coincidence of four ice villains attacking on the same day," Flash had informed the others that Captain Cold was the reason why they were late today, bring the total to four ice villains, "We won't be long."
"Make yourselves at home," said the Flash.
The heroes were scanned by the computer, to check identification.
"That's it!" yelled Speedy, grabbing the attention of everyone in the room. "You said you were going to give us a real look inside H.Q! Not a glorified backstage pass!"
"It's a first step," Aquaman explained, "You've been given access that only a few others get."
"Really!" Speedy said gesturing to the windows above. Tourist were watching them and were taking pictures with their cameras and phones. "Who cares if we're on the other side of the glass!"
Green Arrow stepped forward to his protégé, "Roy," he said trying to calm his partner down by using his real name, "Just have some patience."
"What we need is respect," Speedy corrected before turning to the other young heroes, "They're treating us like kids…No worse than that, like sidekicks. We deserve better." Moriko, Robin, Kid Flash and Aqualad looked at one another, not sure what Speedy was talking about. "You're kidding, right? You're playing their game! Why?" yelled Speedy. "Today was 'The' day. The day we became full-fledged members of the League!"
"Well," Kid Flash spoke first, "I thought the first step of that was a tour of H.Q."
"This isn't the real H.Q!" Speedy yelled, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
The young protégé's eyes widened.
That couldn't be true. Their mentors said that they the Hall of Justice was the headquarters of the Justice League. They wouldn't lie to them.
Would they?
"What? They never told you that the Hall is just a false front for tourists and a pit stop for catching Zeta Beam teleporter tubes to the real H.Q. An orbiting satellite called the 'Watchtower," Speedy informed them.
Green Arrow could feel all the glares he was receiving from the other heroes, minus Miko who was mad at herself for not doing what he did. "I know," the archer told his team mates, "I thought we could make an exception."
"No, not just for Speedy," Miko interjected. "They all deserve to see the Watchtower. We promised them."
Batman gave both of them a deadly Bat-glare.
"Or not," said Green Arrow in slight terror by the Dark Knights gaze.
"Is it true?" Moriko asked in her father's mind. A slight nod was her answer from the Martian, "Were you even going to tell me?"
"Your mother wanted to but," Martian Manhunter tried to explain.
Moriko turned her head, not wanting to hear her father's excuses. She thought her parents never lied to her, 'What else have they been keeping from me?'
"You're not helping your case here, son," Aquaman exclaimed to the young archer.
"I'm not your son," Speedy argued, "I'm not even his," he gestured to his mentor, "I thought I was his partner…but not anymore." Speedy took off his hat and tossed it to the ground before heading out the door. As he passed the other protégés he gave a half chuckle, "Guess they're right about you four…you're not ready." The former protégé slammed the doors behind him.
Before another word could be spoken on the matter, an alert sounded on the monitors of the library. Superman appeared on the screen, "Superman, to Justice League. There's been an explosion at Project Cadmus and is now on fire."
Batman contemplated this, "I've had my suspicions about Cadmus. This might be the perfect opportunity to."
Another alert sounded and the hero Zatara appeared on a small screen below Superman, "Zatara to Justice League. The sorcerer Wotan is using the Amulet of Aten to blot out the sun. Requesting full League response."
The heroes turned to Superman for his orders.
"It's a small fire," Superman said, deciding that Cadmus can wait. "The local authorities have it under control."
Batman nodded and pressed a button on the monitor, "All Leaguers rendezvous at Zatara's coordinates. Batman out."
The protégés walked up behind the group of heroes, hoping that they'd take them along.
Instead, Batman turned to them and said, "Stay put."
"What!" yelled Robin.
Moriko looked just as upset, "We can help."
Miko looked at Martian Manhunter and the others desperately for them to agree to let the young heroes go with them. Unfortunately, the other heroes shook their heads no. Honestly, most of them were contemplating if it was even a good idea for the protégés to even join them anymore, after what Speedy had done. The miko looked at her daughter in regret, "I'm sorry, Moriko."
"You're not trained," said Flash.
"Since when?" Kid Flash retorted.
"I mean, you're not trained to work as a part of this team," Flash corrected.
Aquaman nodded in agreement, "There will be other missions. When you're ready."
Moriko rolled her eyes at the last part the Atlanten king had said, 'We can prove that we are, if they'd just let us.'
"For now, stay put," Batman ordered with a Batglare.
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"When we're ready?" yelled Kid Flash after the adult heroes left, "How are we supposed to show them, if they keep treating us like like."
"Sidekicks," Moriko said knocking over a chair in anger. "I can't believe Miko, of all people, would keep this secret from me." Kirara rubbed her head on Moriko's arm. Moriko rubbed the neko's ears as a reflex.
Aqualad looked down in distraught, "At least your mentor attempted to let us join…My mentor…my king…I thought he trusted me."
"They don't even trust 'us' with the basics," Kid Flash argued, "Like an H.Q. In. Space."
Aqualad sighed, "It makes me wonder, what else they are not telling us?"
"Here's a better question," said Robin, "Why didn't we leave with Speedy?"
None of them answered.
They were silent for a few moments before Aqualad spoke again, "What is…Project Cadmus?"
"I don't know," said Robin before he looked at the computer, "But I can find out."
Robin walked over to the computer and began to hack into the system.
"Access Denied," said the computer.
"Want a bet," taunted the Boy Wonder.
"I like the way you think Robin-chan," Moriko said impressed.
"Hey," Robin warned her with a glare, knowing that '–chan' was used for kids in Japan.
"Sorry," she said in mock worry, "Robin-kun."
"Better," the Boy Wonder said satisfied, as he continued to work the system, "Ah ha, the same system as the Batcave."
"Access Granted," said the computer.
"Let's see," said Robin looking though the files, "Project Cadmus. It's a genetics lab here in D.C…that's all there is."
Moriko raised a brow, "That can't be all that's going on. Not if the League bothered putting a file on the place"
"Well," said Robin, "If Batman's suspicious, then we," he emphasized on all of them, "Should investigate."
Aqualad smirked, "Solving the case before the League does. It would be poetic justice," but the responsible part of his personality made him frown, "But they told us to stay put."
"For the blotting-out-the-sun mission," Robin clarified, "Not this."
Kid Flash understood where Robin was getting at, "Wait, are you going to Cadmus? Cause if you're going, I'm going."
Robin nodded before looking to Moriko, "You in?"
Moriko looked over at Aqualad, and saw the torn look on his face, "They told us to stay put," she said before giving a mischievous smile that would have made her big brother Shippo proud, "But they didn't say for how long."
Aqualad was still a little unconvinced, "Just like that, we're a team?"
"Why not? It worked for them," Moriko gestured to where the Justice League left.
Robin nodded in agreement, "We didn't come today for a play date."
That was good enough for Aqualad, who smirked.
"So, I have no problem getting to Cadmus on my own, but what about the rest of you?" Kid Flash asked.
"Oh we got a way," Moriko said before looking at Kirara. The neko gave her charge a scornful look. "Come on Kirara, please," she begged while putting her hands together pleading. The neko shook her head no. Kirara's job was to guard Moriko, and she wouldn't go against her master's wishes. "I'll give you two fresh fish when we get home," Moriko bribed, which made the neko's eyes widen with temptation but still hesitantly shook her head. "Alright, three," Moriko gave in.
The neko yōkai's eyes widened in delight and finally nodded.
"Arigato, Kirara," Moriko said patting her head and getting on her back, "Okay, you two can get on."
Aqualad didn't hesitate and got on the neko behind Moriko, he was used to riding animals all the time in Atlantis.
Robin was a little more skeptical, "Uh, are you sure she can take all of us."
"Yes," Moriko said not seeing what was wrong. Until she realized the real reason for his reluctance, "You're not scared are you?"
"No," Robin said in offence and waited a few moments before he worked up the nerve to get on Kirara, in front of Moriko.
Kid Flash put on his goggles and gave his friends two thumbs up, "Alright see you there," he said before speeding off.
"Let's go Kirara," Moriko ordered her guardian. The fire neko, roared and took off out the Hall of Justice. The moment yōkai reached outside she flew into the sky, startling a few of her 'passengers'.
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Project Cadmus
The building was surrounded by flames, and the fire department did their best to control the flames.
"Help us," yelled one of the workers trapped inside, on the top floor of the facility.
"Remain calm," said one of the fire fighters, "We'll get you out."
Suddenly, an explosion from behind the workers forced them out the window and down to the ground.
Kid Flash ran to the falling victims. With enough speed he ran up the building and grabbed both men before throwing them on to the roof and out of harm's way. Before Kid Flash could fall himself, he grabbed the window seal that the men were in moments ago, the flames already died down from the blast.
"Hey, it's Flash Boy," cheered one of the firefighters.
"It's Kid Flash," corrected the speedster a little annoyed, "What's so hard to remember about that?"
"Smooth move KF," Robin laughed from above as Kirara lowered to the window.
"Get inside," said Moriko, "We'll take the workers to safety," she told the boys. They all nodded and made their way in.
Kirara got close to the edge to allow the workers to get on her, with Moriko's encouragement they jumped on the neko and were safely lowered to the ground.
"Thank you," one of the workers said in gratitude.
Moriko nodded and flew back up to meet up with the boys.
After her charge jumped inside, Kirara transformed into her smaller form to fit inside the window and hoped onto Moriko's shoulder.
"Where are you?" Moriko called.
"Over here," called Robin, already hacking the computer.
Kid Flash was looking through cabinet files.
Aqualad was searching the premises, before he looked down the hallway. That's when he saw an open elevator with someone inside.
No not someone…something.
The doors shut and announced it was going down.
"What is it, Aqualad?" Moriko asked the Atlantean.
"There was something there," he informed pointing to the elevator.
Kid Flash came up behind them, "Elevators should be locked down," the speedster said, as Robin followed the group.
The Boy Wonder looked at the elevator and noticed something amiss, "This isn't right," he activated his wrist computer on his glove and did a scan of the elevator. "This is a high-speed express elevator. It shouldn't be in a two story building."
"Neither is what I saw," said Aqualad as he walked up and pushed the elevator doors open with his super strength.
The rest of the protégés looked down and saw the elevator shaft went much farther down then one floor.
"And that's why they need the express elevator," said Robin. Without thinking twice, the Boy Wonder shot his grappling gun to the ceiling and jumped down the shaft.
"Batman always gives the cool tools," said Moriko as she jumped on to the line from the grappling gun, and slid down to follow Robin. Aqualad and Kid Flash followed behind her.
Unfortunately, Robin's grappling hook line didn't go all the way down. It stopped on the door labeled SL 25. 'Good a place as any,' thought Robin as he jumped to the edge of the elevator shaft wall and began to bypass security.
Moriko, Aqualad and Kid Flash managed to find a place next to the elevator shaft wall.
"Bypassing…bypassing," Robin mumbled before he hacked the security, "Okay, we're good."
Aqualad used his strength to open the door once again.
All the teenaged heroes exited the elevator and saw the real Project Cadmus.
With her inu yōkai nose, Moriko felt a foreign scent hit her nose. "What the hell is that smell?" she complained and covered her nose with her hand.
"What smell?" Robin asked confused, not smelling anything.
On an impulse, Kid Flash ran out down the hallway with his super-speed.
"Kid don't," warned Aqualad.
Kid Flash was looking left and right seeing what he could find. He had no idea that he would actually run in the way of something.
Strange giant creatures began to make their way down the hallway, and the speedster barely managed to slow down enough to not be stumbled by their gigantic feet.
Aqualad, Robin and Moriko all finally caught up to see what was causing the ruckus when creatures walked by them, unaffected by their presents.
"Oh…that's what it was," Moriko said to the group. Kirara meowed in agreement, having smelt them too.
As the creatures walked by, another, smaller being was riding the giant creatures looked down at the teenaged heroes. Its eyes glowed red as it looked into their eyes.
"Nothing odd here," said Aqualad sarcastically, entranced by the creatures in front of them.
As the creatures marched out of the hallway and into another room. A door slammed behind them.
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The young heroes opened the door that the creatures entered, that Robin used his glove computer to unlock.
Inside the room made their jaws drop.
"Okay, I'm officially whelmed," said Robin.
Hundreds of giant pods were stacked over the room. Inside the pods were small unidentifiable creatures, sparking electricity out of their bodies.
"That's how they're hiding the real Cadmus," Kid Flash said in realization, "Its generating power from these…things. Cadmus must have created them."
"Indeed," said Aqualad in agreement, "Even in myth, the Cadmus created a new race by sowing dragon's teeth into the earth."
"So Cadmus is creating new life too," said Robin as he hooked his glove up into a computer nearby, "Let's find out why." It only took a few moments for him to hack into the system, "Their called Genomorphs. Man, they got a whole lot of states on these things. Super-strength, telepathy, razor claws…they're living weapons."
Moriko pressed her hand against the glass of one of the pods. The Genomorph's eyes opened slightly and then closed as if in pain. "This is barbaric," Moriko said saddened for these poor beings.
"Their making an army," Kid Flash hypothesized Cadmus's plan.
"But for what?" questioned Moriko.
Robin continued to search, "Hold on, I've got something else. It's called Project K-r…Damn it, it's triple-encrypted. I can't get in."
"Don't move!" yelled someone at the end of the hall, startling the young heroes. A man ran down the hall with at least a dozen different Genomorphs, and one was sitting on the man's shoulder. They were ready to attack when the man stopped, "Wait a second…Robin? Aqualad? Kid Flash? And Moriko?"
Aqualad recognized the man, "I know you. You're Guardian, a hero."
"I try," said Guardian.
"Wait, what are you doing at Cadmus?" asked Kid Flash.
"I'm Chief of Security," answered Guardian. "And you're trespassing. I'm going to have to call the Justice League."
"Oh, great," mumbled Moriko, 'I'm probably going to be grounded for a year for this,' she dreaded in her mind.
Kid Flash wasn't so worried about getting in trouble, "You think the League is going to approve of you working for a place that breeds weapons."
"Weapons?" said Guardian confused, "What are you?...Wait…what am I doing?" Guardian suddenly groaned as he tried to make sense of what was going on. The Genomorph, on the hero's shoulder, horns glowed as it used his telepathy to manipulate the hero's thoughts. Guardian's eyes changed to anger, "Take them down hard," he ordered the Genomorphs, "No mercy."
The Genomorphs began to charge at the heroes.
Thinking fast, Robin threw a smoke pellet to the ground, surprising the Genomorphs and his friends.
With the distraction, the young heroes had an upper hand fighting against the Genomorphs.
Moriko summoned her yōkai claws and began to slice the Genomorphs who tried to attack her. She may have felt sorry for these creatures, but she wasn't going to let them take her down that easily.
Kirara returned to her large yōkai form and attacked the Genomorphs as well.
As soon as they could manage, the young heroes made their way to an elevator door, where Robin was busy trying to hack open, labeled SL- 26.
"A little warning would have been nice," Moriko criticized to Robin, regarding the sudden smoke pellet.
"Yeah, way to be a team player," said Kid Flash.
"Weren't you behind me?" asked Robin as if they were supposed to follow him.
Aqualad came running down the hall being chased by the remaining Genomorphs.
"Got it," said Robin opening the elevator door.
Kid Flash, Moriko, the smaller formed Kirara, and Robin ran inside waiting for their friend.
Aqualad managed to tuck and roll inside the elevator before the doors closed and the Genomorphs caught up to him.
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"We're going down?" questioned Aqualad as he saw the elevators number indicating that they were going down.
Kid Flash looked at Robin as if he were crazy, "Dude, out is up."
"Yes, but Project K-r is down. On S-Level 52," replied Robin.
Moriko sighed and banged the back of her head lightly against the wall, "We're in way over our heads already."
Aqualad rubbed the back of his neck, "Perhaps…we should call in the League."
Before anyone could respond, the elevator stopped at S-Level 52 and opened its doors.
The young heroes braced themselves for anything.
But they were still surprised to see the hallways walls to be covered in some type of pink flesh that resembled the back of someone's throat.
"Eww," was all Moriko could say, by the sight and smell.
Getting over the shock, Robin ran out the elevator.
Kid Flash shrugged, "We're already here," he told the others before following his friend.
Aqualad and Moriko looked at each other and sighed at the fact that they were now the sensible ones in the group. Moriko went out first and followed the younger protégés with Aqualad behind her.
They all ran until they came to a fork in the hallway.
"So, which bizarre hallway should we take?" asked Robin.
"Halt," ordered a Genomorph that came out of the shadows. It was the exact one that was in the elevator that led them down here. This Genomorph was different than the ones the young heroes saw before. This one was wearing cloths, as if he were a scientist or doctor. The Genomorph's eyes and horns glowed red, as he used his psychic powers to throw barrels and equipment at the young heroes.
The heroes dodged the assaults and ran down the hallway that wasn't occupied by the Genomorph.
The very hallway that the Genomorph wanted them to go down.
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Kid Flash used his super speed to scout ahead to make sure the hallway was safe.
Unfortunately, a scientist was leaving her post and was in the path of the speedster.
Kid Flash ran into the woman causing them both to fall to the ground. The speedster was the first to recover and noticed the doors that were closing before him was labeled Project Kr. In order to block the door the speedster used a heavy metal object nearby to stall them.
Robin, Moriko and Aqualad came around the corner being chased by some Genomorphs.
"Hurry," yelled Kid Flash to his friends before he jumped inside.
Moriko jumped in first, followed by Robin and Aqualad who knocked the object out of the ways and make the doors shut.
Finally, the heroes could catch their breath. Robin used his glove computer to lock and disable the door. "We're safe."
"We're trapped," Aqualad corrected.
"Remind me again, why I thought this was a good idea?" Moriko asked the boys.
"Uhh guys," Kid Flash said getting their attention. The speedster was face to face with something he couldn't believe existed. "You'll wanna see this."
'What now?' Moriko mentally whined, hoping that it wasn't another Genomorph.
Kid Flash pressed a button on the control panel in front of him, which made the lights go brighter.
In front of the young heroes was another pod, only it didn't a Genomoprh. It was a young person wearing a white outfit with a symbol on its chest that the protégés knew very well.
Superman's symbol.
This was Project K-r.
Dun dun duuuuun. This may not be my best chapter but better ones are on the way. So what do you guys think? Next time: Meeting Superboy and a new team is formed.
Till Then My Readers