Hey guys, so as promised here is chapter 1. We hope you'll enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed writing it. Chapter 1&2 will mainly be the same as S1E2 Fireworks (since our story starts there) therefore there will be some parts you recognize from that episode.
A special thanks to: creamtherabbit77, anon(guest), Yuu101cutie(guest), XxTheDeadlyBlackxX, Shadow (guest), 2 guests, Greenfeathers88 and RollingUpHigh for their reviews.
And to answer some questions:
XxTheDeadlyBlackxX: Yes, he is going to have some superpowers( but we're not gonna tell you which ones :P)
RollingUpHigh: We're sorry but he probably won't be to good with gadgets since Cadmus had trained him to mainly relay on his powers and strengths. And for the rest, you will have to read to find out.
Disclaimer: We do not own Young Justice nor any DC characters that may appear except for our OC's
Horrifying screaming rippled through the air but none could help them. The scream came from down below, 52 levels under to be exact. Far below the world where experiments are crazed and morals ignored. There you would find three young superheroes screaming as electric shocked riddled their bodies like fire through their veins. These three were the current resident partners (they don't like the term sidekicks) of three well known and well liked heroes. Partners of Batman, Aquaman and the Flash.
The eldest boy had dark skin with pale hair. His fingers were webbed to improve swimming and gills were on his neck allowing him to breathe under water. His name was Aqualad.
The second boy was wearing a bright red and yellow spandex and was younger than Aqualad by a year or two. He had freckled skin and bright red hair with red goggles on his head. His name was Kid Flash
The last person was a young girl barely in her teens. Her dark brown curly hair was in two low pigtails that reached her shoulder blades. Her chocolate brown eyes were covered with a black and white domino mask. Her name was Violet.
The pain spread to their whole body's as each convulsed against the pain as their DNA was forcibly taken from them. In a last attempt Aqualad tried to reach Superboy, a Cadmus clone they had talked to only minutes ago, who was being controlled by one of the Genomorphs. He whispered words through the pain, knowing that he would be able to hear with his super hearing.
Apparently he managed to get through because there was a sudden thumping on the outside of the door. The scientist watched as the door was ripped off its hinges and the cloning process was stopped from the breach. There stood a surprisingly calm Superboy as he tossed the metal door aside as if it were paper.
''I told you to get back to your-" Desmond, the head scientist, didn't even get too finish his demand he jumped to try and force the superteen away. In his attempt himself and his two helpers, Dubbilex and Guardian, were thrown to the side with no effort.
''Don't give me orders.'' Superboy growled to the man as he stared down at his slightly crumpled form. Seemingly finished with the man he walked towards the three imprisoned young heroes.
''Are you here to help us or fry us?'' Kid Flash asked, still not comfortable with the clone staring at him and Violet found herself cursing his runaway mouth. Supes just stared at him with narrowed eyes for a few seconds before he seemed to make up his mind about something.
''Huh… I don't seem to have heat vision, so I suppose helping is my only option.'' He said bluntly with a quirk of his eyebrow to the young speedster.
Violet would have laughed at the statement but she was busy escaping her cuffs. Finally she freed herself and grumbled as she rubbed her sore wrists. ''Finally, Batman's so gonna lecture me about this.''
''Seriously, that's what you're worried about? The whole League is gonna have our heads after tonight !'' The speedster exclaimed at his best friend from within the pod he was still stuck inside.
Violet simply ignored him and walked over to the control panned, pressing a button that opened the pods. ''Free Aqualad, I'll get speedboy over here.'' She said to the superteen who was at the time simply watching her. His blank gaze quickly turned to a slightly bitter one after being addressed in such a way.
''Don't you give me orders either.'' He growled out between clenched teeth as he jumped up removed the cuffs binding the Atlantean. Aqualad slouched down in relief before looking up at Superboy.
"Thank you." He said and Superboy simply nodded in response, not used to being treated as anything but a weapon of mass destruction. The pair looked across to Kid's pod in time to see Violet finish picking the locks of his cuffs. Quickly they jumped off and started running towards the exit.
''You'll never get out of here, I'll have you back in pods before morning.'' Desmond threatened them. As he attempted to get up off the floor. They ignored him and kept running before Violet stopped and turned, Kid Flash waiting for her.
''That guy has some serious issues.'' Violet mumbled as she threw exploding batarangs at the pods that contain their DNA. ''Oh and I suppose you don't?" Kid Flash mumbled. ''Well I'm not sticking around to find out, let's go!'' and they both made a fast exit.
Behind them the pods exploded with a show of glass and fire as they each crumpled into themselves. Desmond had by this time gotten off the floor and now looked at the destruction with growing anger. Slowly he turned around as a small genomorph landed on his shoulder. Desmond was not gonna let a couple of kids get away with his new weapon or so help him he will be dead by morning.
" Activate every genomorph in Cadmus" he told the creature on his shoulder before turning to the woman who was his second in command and had come rushing in the room after the explosion. She had blonde hair with oval glasses framing her blue eyes. He turned to her with a scowl on his face for what he had to do.
''Release defense weapon N.F, now!''
She nodded and ran off ahead to prepare for his re-awakening.
What happened? Where am I? When am I?
His vision was blurry as he slowly woke from his forcibly induced slumber. His mind was foggy as he struggled to remember what happened. Then with a sudden jolt he felt the memories slowly came back.
The training, the training was so harsh and I couldn't handle it. Hurt… everything hurt. I resisted against them and...the shocks, the never ending volts spreading through my body, burning flames flowing through my veins… Hurt…Pain…Screams… and then… nothing.
The thought of the electric shocks made him angry as he realized where he was. He growled as his vision started to clear enough for him to make out some shapes, though it was still too bright for his liking.
''Subject N.F. has awoken.'' A bolding, middle-aged scientist announced as he stepped away from the monitor. He looked over towards a figure that just stepped into his line of view.
''Good, Prof. Desmond is on his way.'' The scientist spoke and although he could only just make out the blond hair he would never forget that voice. That sickly sweet voice belonging to one Dolores, a horrid woman who was his 'handler'.
Desmond, the name alone makes me shiver. He thought to himself as the two continued to talk about his current state. The man was the cause for all his misfortune and all his pain. Not even Dolores as his handler had the ability to shock him as that disgusting man always carried the remote for the shock collar on his person.
Sometime during his thoughts the doors opened with a swish and he could hear clicking of shoes on the floor. Speak of the devil he thought to himself miserably.
''Long time no see….Nightfall.'' The professor greeted him like an old friend, but all he got in return was a death glare. The man rarely referred him as Nightfall. Preferring to just call him project N.F. In return Desmond shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. ''I guess that's what I get for waking you up after six months.''
''S-six months? I've been gone for six months!?'' Richard stuttered somewhat in his surprise. He had been unconscious and podded before but at most it had been a month or so, never this long. What had he missed this time? What crazed plan did they have for breaking him, turning him into their little pet.
''Well that's all in the past, don't you think?' Desmond began as he waved the boys comment off like he was nothing more than a fly. "But for now I need you to go and get an errand for me. Three Meta-humans escaped with our new…project but we need to have them back before they reach the surface.''
The young boy crossed his arms, still with the scowl on his face. So that was why they hadn't bothered with him. They have a new and improved subject to torture and use. No need to get him out when they have a new toy to play with, one that wasn't so broken and hard to use. ''Why the hell should I help you, after everything you put me through!''
Desmond was losing his patience and his time. So he took a remote controller out of his jacket pocket, showed it to him. Even through the goggles the boy wore Desmond could see- no feel- the fear that this tiny machine caused the young boy.
''After all we have done for you. All the training and the new home we gave you when your family died. If it hadn't been for us you would've ended up dead in that forest and no one would even know you were there.'' He said with mock hurt as he continues to wave the remote in front of the teen
Nightfall bit his lower lip nervously. He knew Desmond was right, if it hadn't been for Dolores who found him he would've probably ended up dead somewhere with nobody ever knowing he was there…like he never existed. But the anger was still there as his mind was conflicted between appreciation and what was right. They may have saved him but everything that happened after…
''That doesn't give you the right to treat me this way, taking away my freedom, for turning me into this!'' Richard yelled as he gestured to his persona. They had changed his DNA, morphing him into something no one could call human. His eyes, his hands, his voice and even those horrible things sticking out from his back. Everything was changed for their own sinister reasons.
Desmond growled in frustration as he was losing time to capture those sidekicks that stole his weapon. He needed to act fast so he held out his hand and pushed the button.
Nightfall Screamed and grabbed the collar around his neck, pain spreading throughout his body. Though, soon as it started it stopped as Desmond didn't need a twitchy nervous wreck at the moment.
''How about we make you a deal. If you get the weapon back I will consider releasing you.''
Now that drew the boy's attention. Is he being serious? Would he really free me? Would he really consider it? It shouldn't be so hard getting them back. Just this one little thing and I'll be free. But can I really trust him? The boy thought before he eventually made eye contact with his long time tormentor.
''How can I be sure you will think about it.'' He asked quietly with a slight shake in is voice as if he can hardly dare to have his hopes up and crushed once again.
Desmond gave him a crooked smirk. God he was so easy to play. ''You don't. You'll just have to trust me.''
Nightfall sighted heavily. On one hand he couldn't trust him as far as he could throw him but on the other this may be his only chance to ever get out of here, and he would do anything to get away from this.
''I'll do it.''
After Desmond opened the pod and the boy had left his right hand, Dolores, came up to him, A frown decorating her features.
''Professor, are you certain that giving the boy his freedom is the best thing to do? After all the effort we put in to him, for making him this way?'' She asked concerned as if the professor had just lost his mind. For the past five years project N.F was her domain. Her life's work. She was his handler and care taker and though she had no love for the boy she didn't want all her effort to go to waste.
''My dear Dolores.'' Desmond said, holding her face with one hand. ''I would never do that. You know the best motivation isn't pain but hope, hope that I will use to break him.'' He let her go, a smug grin plastered across his face. A look of understanding crossed her face before she looked at him with that fake warm smile of hers. Now that she understood he turned to the door and started walking out. ''I need to get something from project Blockbuster, just in case.'' He said smirking and left.
Her smile dropped a bit. She knew about project blockbuster. At the moment they were looking for a candidate for the experiment, similar to what they had done with project N.F. If he is getting the serum without a proper test subject that would mean… Well she just hoped he knew what he was doing.
Aqualad, Superboy and Kid Flash were waiting for Violet who was typing away on her holographic computer, doing things they would never understand.
She smiled. ''I hacked the motion sensors.'' She explained proudly and she put her computer back in her belt. ''They won't be able to follow us now.''
"Sweet" Kid Flash said as Violet got up from her crouching position and stretched her muscles.
"But there's still plenty of them between us and out." She said as Kid Flash got prepared to run. He opened his mouth to talk but he was interrupted by a dark voice.
"Including me" the voice said seemingly echoing through the hall they were in.
They turned to where the voice had come from and were shocked to see a boy, who looked slightly younger than fourteen year old Violet, standing opposite to them. He was wearing a black version of Superboys suit with more layers and a Cadmus logo on his right shoulder pad. But the young heroes didn't need to see that to know that the boy was clearly a Cadmus project.
''Who are y- '' Aqualad didn't even get to finish his question as he and his friends were send flying to the wall by what seemed to be some sort of power clap?!
Kid Flash was the first to recover as he got up and speed towards the boy, trying to hit him. He missed however when the boy jumped up and revealed something no one had noticed before. ''Dude are those batwings?''
''What if they are?'' the boy said, cocking an eyebrow under his goggles. This seemed to pause the fight as Nightfall watched them, curiosity getting the better of him. The tallest boy in a white suit similar to his own stepped forward and for some reason had a sympathetic expression on his face. This must be the Project they wanted him to get back.
Superboy for his part just stepped closer to the hovering boy. He wasn't a scientist or a guard and he definitely wasn't one of those Genomorphs. ''Are…are you a clone too?"
The boys head snapped over to him with a glare to rival Batman's, not that Supey knew Batman…yet. ''A clone?'' Nightfall answered bitterly. ''No I'm not a clone. I was one of their first experiments. They took my life, turned me in to…this and you think that I'm a freaking clone! They tortured me, changed me, and all for their stupid tests! I probably would have died several times over but oh no, you're too valuable to die. We'll just stick you in a pod until your better and then send you on another one of our crazy experiments! No, I didn't have the luxury of a clone!''
The others could feel the hate rolling off of him in waves by this point and an angry enemy isn't one you want to mess with, especially one that you didn't know. Violet and Aqualad quickly exchanged looks. This needed to end.
After his rant Nightfall's curiosity was diminished by the need to get out of this place. Remembering Desmond's promise he charged once again, focusing on Superboy. Supey caught his forearm and threw him towards Aqualad and Violet. Violet threw two exploding batarangs to distract him. ''NOW!''
Aqualad charged and hocked onto the boys shoulders, giving him a powerful electric shock. Nightfall let out a cry of pain before he fell on his knees. He hated being electrocuted. After having it as a punishment for so many years you would think he would get used to it. But no. Each time he is electrocuted it feels like the first. The Atlantean let go of him after what felt like a lifetime and allowed Superboy to pick him up, pinning the boys arms and wings to his side leaving no hope of escape.
''We are not here to harm you, we are trying to help you.'' Aqualad spoke up, trying to maintain eye contact but failing as the boy continued to struggle. Nightfall hated being defenseless, usually he could get out of situations like these with the help of his wings but whenever he tried to break the hold, clone boy grips tighter. After about a minute of struggling Nightfall came to the conclusion that he wasn't escaping any time soon. Sighing in defeat he relaxed in the hold and stared at his feet.
Violet noticed this and took the opportunity to try and get him to talk. ''We are not the enemy here, so why are you even after us?'' she said as she tilted her head, hoping to get a better look at his face.
He sighed again but did not raise his head. ''I have to get you back in exchange for my freedom. He said that if I get back project Kr he will let me go.''
Superboy narrowed his eyes. He was probably Desmond. Knowing the man he would never let one of his experiments go free, no matter how big or small. Plus Superboy felt a connection with the boy. They were both victims of Cadmus and both would do anything to escape. ''I wouldn't count on it. You can't trust anything that comes from Desmond's mouth. They would probably use G-Gnomes to keep you under control if you wouldn't cooperate, just like they did with me.''
''What are G-Gnomes?''
"Oh there just some telepathically mind controlling genetically-engineered life forms created by Cadmus." Kid Flash explained nonchalantly.
''But just because they won't let you go doesn't mean you can't fight for your freedom.'' Superboy continued. ''You have the right to choose what you want to do with your life and you can't let anyone take that away from you. So fight alongside with us and we'll promise you that we will get you out of here and you will live your own life.'' Supes then put him down on the floor, almost certain he would come with them.
Nightfall looked up as his feet made contact with the floor. He wanted to deny everything that they said but he knew it was true. Somewhere in the back of his mind he always knew. He just got desperate and took what he could. But now he had the opportunity to be free. Nightfall then looked around at the other four, wondering whether this was some cruel trick as well. Each had a look of pure honesty and compassion on their face that he had never seen before. The most moving was Superboy's face. A look of sympathy and companionship that only had true feelings conveyed. They were telling the truth.
''So, what do you say?'' KF asked optimistically with his hands on his hips. Behind him Violet face palmed, wondering if he will ever say something smart in his life.
Nightfall hid a small smile at that before letting out a long breath. He straightened his posture and looked them all in the eye before talking.
"Ok, let's do this."
What was your first impression of Nightfall? Review! We would really appreciate it :D