A G-gnome sits on one of the desks in an expansive lab as Desmond paces across the center. Finally slowing as seven screens come down from the ceiling. All seven are active, but instead of pictures, white outlines counteract the blue background.
"Dr. Desmond, you require an audience with the Light?" a man's voice asks, anger clear in his tone.
"Yes. Very sorry to disturb you at this late hour." he says, seeming like a tiny mouse to compared to the lion he acts like to Guardian and the others.
"Just make your report." another man's voice speaks up, annoyance clear in his tone.
"Of course." Desmond says quickly. "Ahem." he clears his throat as he tries to buy himself time. "Well, we had a small fire, here at Project Cadmus. The origin of the incident is still unclear but seems to have attracted some… unwanted attention."
As he continues to speak the scene changes to show Kid Flash, Robin, and Aqualad unconscious in pods as Supergirl watches over them.
"The three sidekicks, Robin, Aqualad, and Kid Flash breached security. They found and released the weapon, the Supergirl. Of course, the clone is under our telepathic control and as ordered turned against her would-be liberators. The three are contained and we don't believe the League knows they're here." With that, he finishes his report then comes to why he really called them. "Uh… what should I do with them?"
"Clone them." the second male's voice says.
"The substitutes will serve the Light and only the Light." the deeper male's voice agrees.
"And the originals?" Desmond asks.
"Dispose of them." the deeper voice commands with no hesitation. "Leave no trace."
Desmond only smiles cruelly in response.
Above ground in Washington DC fireworks are going off. Even though it's now 12:01 in the morning.
"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 Supergirl 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 girl who can fry us with a look?" Robin suggests to the seriously freaked out speedster.
Desmond and the scientist that was in Project Kr walk down the organic-looking hall.
"Prepare the cloning procedure for the new Project Sidekick, now." Desmond instructs. She leaves instantly and Desmond continues to walk until he is side-by-side with Guardian.
"Almost done here Doc." he tells him once he comes to a pause. A G-troll holds the door stable while a worker welds the broken configurations.
Desmond continues forward, then stops short in shock as he seems the pod is empty. "Where's the weapon?" he demands, though there's anger in his voice, there's fear in his eyes.
"Supergirl?" Guardian asks, stepping up as well. "She carried the intruders to the cloning chamber."
"We have Genomorphs for that!" Desmond objects. "Get the weapon back in its pod now!"
"I don't see the harm in letting the kid stretch her legs." Guardian not trying to pick a fight with Desmond because he honestly doesn't understand the problem.
"Don't you now?" Desmond asks, raising a single eyebrow as the G-gnome on his shoulder horns begin to glow.
Guardians eyes go wide, but blank before they harden into an angry glare, "That clone belongs in a cage!" he practically growls before storming off.
"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…" she trails with an annoyed huff, her voice never been used so her words don't come out quite right and her tone is slightly scratchy. "What if I wasn't?" she manages.
"She can talk?" Kid Flash questions shocked.
Supergirl's hand clenched into a fist again as she practically growls her words at Kid Flash. "Yes, she 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." Supergirl admits. "I can read, write. I- I know the names of things."
"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 take those things for granted.
"Images are implanted in my mind," she admits, then looks down as if ashamed. "but no. I have not seen them."
Aqualad turns towards the more pressing matter. "Do you know what you are, who you are?"
Supergirl stands tall. "I am the Supergirl, 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.
"To be like Superman is a worthy aspiration, but, like Superman, you deserve a life of your own beyond that solar suit, beyond your pod, beyond Cadmus." Aqualad tries to approach it calmly.
Once those words leave Aqualad's mouth Supergirl gets angry. "I live because of Cadmus! It is my home!" Then, she thought to herself, "Besides, what would my father think?"
"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." he offered 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. Supergirl's eyes widen slightly at the prospect..
"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."
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 Supergirl's shoulder. Supergirl looks to the three trapped teens.
Aqualad realizes the depths they have gone to. "Help us." he pleads with Supergirl. The clone shrugs off Guardian's hand, looking to the older hero with an angered look.
Desmond walks up behind him. "Don't start thinking now." His Genomorph hops off his shoulder and lands on Supergirl's shoulder. It hisses as it's horns glow red, taking telepathic control over Supergirl. Only physically obvious as her eyes lose focus. "See you're not a real girl. You're a weapon, 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 pod!"
Supergirl doesn't even show that she heard Desmond, only beginning by walking back down the way they came. The Genomorph's horns still glowing red.
Once the door closes with a thud behind Supergirl, 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.
Kid Flash reels back, attempting to maneuver away from them, but he still restrained completely.
The tops of the arms break apart into four fingers, two prongs on the tips of each one. With no hesitation and a slight electrical buzz they plunge the prongs into the boys' chests. All four scream out, which only increases as the fingers begin to pull out a reddish gas which then fills the spheres below their pods.
"Where's Dubbilex?" Desmond asks Guardian and the other scientist. Only to see the Anthropoid shadow coming out of the darkness. "Ooh!" he gasps, taken off guard. "Lurking as usual. Get the G-gnomes downloading their memories. When that's done, delete the source material."
Supergirl walks down the hallway, the G-gnome still on her shoulder. Though it may have the telepathic control she still has Superman's extremely powerful hearing capabilities. she hears Aqualad's words that he manages to whisper despite being tortured. "Supergirl, you live. That gives you the right to follow your own path. A weapon or a person, the choice is yours, but ask yourself, "What would Superman do"?" The clone stops short at those words and her eyebrows crease as she is filled with determination.
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 Supergirl removes it, then holds it over her head with ease. As she does the torture devices on the three teens power down. Then she throws the door away and stalks into the room. Desmond, Guardian, and Dubbilex all make their way towards Supergirl.
"I told you to get back to you-" Desmond begins, but is cut off as Supergirl's right-hand swipes him away and her left takes out both Guardian and Dubbilex. Guardian getting thrown into the wall, while Dubbilex and Desmond hit the ground with a thud.
Supergirl stands tall and glares down at Desmond. "Don't give me orders." she 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 clone will do.
Supergirl glares for a moment, but nothing happens. " I don't have heat vision right now, 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."
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 Supergirl. "Get Aqualad. I'll get Kid Mouth."
"Okay, got it." Supergirl sighs, going to release Aqualad. Ripping the restraints apart with ease.
Weak from the torture Supergirl has to catch his shoulders to keep the Atlantean from falling to the ground below the floor of his pod. "Thank you." Aqualad tells her sincerely.
Supergirl nods but doesn't say anything. While Robin gets Kid Flash's restraints open, letting both of them drop to the ground. 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 and girl 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 in Cadmus." the G-gnome's horns glow red as it makes a telepathic connection to the other Genomorphs.
In the hallway, the four are running down the once cream colored bumps in the wall begin to glow the same red color as the horns on the G-gnome.
We are still 42 levels below ground." Aqualad says, not even panting as he runs at full tilt. "but if we can make the elevator…" he trails as G-trolls block their way, first two further away, then more and steadily getting closer to them.
The four 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.
The lead G-troll strikes from behind and all four jump back to avoid it's crushing blow. Aqualad moves right around it, while Kid Flash and Robin go left. Supergirl glares and jumps to cross it in the jaw. Knocking it down, but she is then surrounded by three more and is brought down as one pins her to the ground with its massive paw.
Another drops low on all fours and swings its head towards Aqualad, attempting to hit him with its large horns. Aqualad jumps into a backflip over the assault, giving Robin the chance to get in front of it and take its attention as he grabs his horn to follow Aqualad over the G-troll's shoulder.
Kid Flash has another tailing him and runs it into the wall, before running along it to end up beside Aqualad and Robin. The three turn as they hear the hallway shake and crumble. Their attention lands on Supergirl who is fighting off G-trolls and slamming them into the wall and using her full strength. Despite the fact that it's causing the hallway to begin to fall apart.
Aqualad speaks up, nearly yelling, but just so he can ensure that he's heard. "Supergirl, the goal is escape. Not to bury ourselves here."
Supergirl turns to the three with a confused look, but also anger and worry playing across her face. "Here I thought you wanted to be trapped forever," she snarks, grabbing an unconscious G-troll's arm and throws it into the two that are coming towards her with a battle cry.
As she does Aqualad pries the elevator doors open, this time taking no care in the fact that he's bending the doors. Kid Flash and Robin join him, looking at the twelve story drop below them, and the seemingly never-ending darkness above them.
Kid Flash jumps to the side of the column, while Robin uses his grappling hook to get a couple stories above them. As a G-troll comes to take out both Supergirl and Aqualad with a mighty punch the Girl of Steel grabs Aqualad's waist and jumps into the elevator shaft. Attempting to fly, and getting nearly 30 levels before gravity begins to pull them back down.
Shock shows on Supergirl's eyes, while confusion shows in Aqualad's. "That's right. I-I can't fly." she realizes numbly. Robin's eyes widen as he realizes what's happening, using his birdarang he gives Aqualad something to hold onto. He strains but doesn't let go. Still holding onto him, Supergirl's eyes have sadness and confusion filling them. Kid Flash questions, "Why can't you fly? You're the clone of Superman, right?"
"I just can't, all right. I don't have that power yet," Supergirl snarked at the young hero.
"Really?" Kid Flash says, drawing the Girl of Steel's attention to him and Robin who are standing on the level just below them. "but it does look like you can leap tall buildings in a single bound. Still cool." Then he helps Supergirl down to the small ledge. Aqualad follows shortly thereafter.
"Ah, thank you." Supergirl murmurs.
A whir from above them catches Robin's attention. "Guys, this will have to be our exit." above them, the high-speed express elevator is coming down.
Aqualad and Supergirl take out the doors, now showing that they are on SL-15. All four of them just made it out of the column in time. G-elves are attracted to the sound and make their way towards the four teens in a squad of five, followed closely by a G-troll
"Turn left, sister." a voice says in Supergirl's mind.
Her eyes widen, slightly confused, but after a few seconds, her mind's made up. "Go left! Left!" she relays.
They all follow her, as she follows the directions.
"Turn right."
"Right." all four make the tight turn, only to lead them to a dead end. The only thing available is an air vent a few feet below the ceiling.
"Great directions, Supey." Kid Flash says sarcastically. "Are you trying to get us repodded?"
"No. I, I don't understand." Supergirl confesses as Aqualad and Robin finally catch up to the two faster teens.
"Don't apologize. This is perfect!" Robin says excitedly.
By the time the G-elves and the g-troll get to the dead end the four teens are gone, and the air vent cover is the only indication of where they went.
In the vents Robin leads the way, followed by Aqualad, Kid Flash, then Supergirl bringing up the rear "Ugh, at this rate we'll never get out." Kid Flash complains.
"Shh." Supergirl shushes, coming to a stop and so do the other boys. "Listen."
Within the vent system are the G-elves, coming after the four attempting-escapees.
Desmond, Guardian, and Dubbilex run down a hallway. Desmond holds a tablet with the building schematics on it. "Someone, Robin, I'd wager, hacked our systems deactivating internal security cameras," his voice turns smug. "but he neglected the motion sensors." a group of four dots in the vents is following their path, and two groups of three are coming to a T that converges on them. "The Genomorphs are closing in. They're all coming out in here." he opens the door to bathroom. "We have them cornered." they stand before the vents, now it's a matter of waiting.
Instead of the teen heroes, four G-elves tumble out of the vent. Onto to Desmond and the four G-elves beside him. "He hacked the motion sensors."
"I hacked the motion sensors." Robin says as he continues advanced keystrokes on his hologlove.
"Sweet." Kid Flash says brightly, though probably just happy to be out of the vents and in the hallways again.
"Still plenty of them between us and out." Robin grumbles, but they are also right by the emergency staircase.
Kid Flash brings his goggles down over his eyes. "But I've finally got room to move." then opens the door and starts running up levels at super-speeds. Coming down the same staircase from a level above him are droves of G-elves. He doesn't stop, in fact, he smirks and increases speed. Taking them all out and clearing the way for Aqualad, Robin- who is still hacking- and Supergirl.
"More behind us." Robin calls out to Supergirl. As Supergirl gets to the platform she stops and slams her foot down on the connecting stair. Knocking the whole staircase down and all the G-elves on it.
In the elevator Guardian, Dubbilex, Desmond, three G-dwarves, and a G-sprite. "We'll cut them off at sub-level one." Guardian assures as they fly past Sublevels 15 and 14.
We'd better or the board will have our heads - my head." he realizes nervously, then presses the stop button on the elevator. The door opens and he walks out briskly. "I need to get something from Project Blockbuster, just in case. I'll meet you at sub-level one."
Kid Flash continues up the staircase at super-speed, making out the door that indicates that he is at Sublevel 1. As he does an alarm begins to blare, and massive doors in front of him close. His eyes widen as he realizes he won't be able to stop in time. "Oh, crud." Hitting the doors hard, and his head hitting first, then falling back to the ground a few feet away from the barrier then tumbling over twice before coming to a stop on his butt.
"We are cut off from the street." Aqualad grumbles annoyed as he, Supergirl and Robin run to catch up with him.
Kid Flash rubs the back of his head with a grimace. "Thanks. My head hadn't noticed."
Supergirl walks past the fallen speedster, punching the door, but not even getting a dent in it. She begins trying to pry it apart, but can't do it. Aqualad takes half and he takes the other, but even their combined strength cannot get the doors open.
Robin is typing at high speeds on his gauntlet, grumbling annoyed. "Can't hack this fast enough."
G-trolls growl and two come around the corner. Robin notices a door to his right.
"This way!" he shouts to the other four, completing a 270 rotation before side-kicking the door open.
The G-trolls can't make it through the door, but in the adjoining hallway is a drove of G-elves, another pair G-troll, and Guardian waiting for them. Not to mention a G-gnome on every creature's shoulder. Behind them, a third G-troll and a half dozen G-elves cut them off.
Aqualad removes his water-bearers, forming dual swords as the other drop into fighting stances.
One of the G-gnome's horns begin to glow, setting off a chain reaction as all the other G-gnomes do the same. Linking everyone against the heroes telepathically.
All four teens straighten out of their dropped stances before falling to the ground. Only Supergirl falls to her knees.
"Perhaps for the sake of all Genomorphs our sister Supergirl should make up her own mind." Dubbilex says to all the Genomorphs telepathically.
Supergirl's eyes widen in realization " It was you."
"Yes, sister. I set the fire and lured your new friends into Cadmus, woke them when they were in danger-" Dubbilex lists.
"And guided me." Supergirl finishes. "Why?"
"Because you are our hope, the Genomorph hero. You will blaze a trail for all our brothers, showing us the way to freedom." Dubbilex tells Supergirl.
Guardian groans and grips his head, then the G-gnome jumps from his shoulder. "What's going on?" he questions, stirring Aqualad back into consciousness.
"What is your choice, sister?" Dubbilex asks Supergirl as he stands tall.
"I don't know," Supergirl was uncertain. She didn't want to disappoint her father, but at the same time he didn't keep his promise to see her on the Fourth of July. It didn't paint the best picture of him at the moment. Besides, maybe she could do more good outside of Cadmus than being trapped in a tube. After a minute of thinking, Supergirl finally decided, "I... choose... freedom." Supergirl states with conviction aloud so everyone can hear her.
"Feels... like fog... lifting." Guardian manages as the other three teen boys get back to their own two feet as well.
"Guardian?" Aqualad asks since right now his head is clearer than Robin and Kid Flash's.
"Go." he tells them with conviction. "I'll deal with Desmond."
"I think not." Desmond growls, all Genomorphs behind Guardian part ways to allow Desmond to be visible. "Project Blockbuster will give me the power to restore order to Cadmus." he says then downs one of the blue vials that he was working on in his lab.
Guardian backs up, standing protectively in front of the four teenagers as Desmond begins to transform. First, it's just his veins popping under his skin, but as he falls to his knees and his body rips through his lab coat and shirt Kid Flash and Robin's eyes pop in shock. Desmond's head lifts from his arm as growls, some of his skin tearing off as his sclera turns black and his irises go bright red, Aqualad grimaces in hesitation. Finally, he stands back up and growls all his old skin ripping off him and now replaced by thicker grey skin instead of his normal skin in most areas. Supergirl tenses as he roars, but doesn't attack, even as the once-Desmond turns towards the five heroes and growls, some his hair and old skin still attached to the left side of his head, breathing heavily.
Guardian puts his hands out to the sides, but the palms turned towards the teens behind him. "Everyone back!" before he runs at Blockbuster, only to be swept aside like he's nothing and into a wall a good three or feet off the ground.
Supergirl glares harder before charging at Blockbuster with a hard cross hitting the mutated scientist in the jaw. However, he's hardly affected and refutes by punching downwards on Supergirl's shoulder/back. Supergirl plants her feet and turns a tight 180 to hit an uppercut on Blockbuster's underjaw. Then jumping to do a double cross combo while he's still off balance. Blockbuster finds an opening and unleashes his own hard cross to Supergirl's face, knocking her back a good ten feet. As Supergirl lands on her shoulder she keeps her momentum going and rolls back to her feet. Standing up and charging, but this time jumping into the air with her hands over her head. Blockbuster jumps at Supergirl, catching the teen's core and throwing both of them through the ceiling.
"Okay." Robin murmurs, amazement in his voice as he, Aqualad, and Kid Flash stand under the hole. "That's one way to bust through the ceiling." releasing his grappling hook through the same hole.
You think Labcoat planned that?" Kid Flash questions as he grabs onto Robin's utility belt and the two zip up and out.
I doubt he is planning anything anymore." Aqualad says darkly, before jumping through the hole himself.
All five now standing on the main floor of the building. An expansive room that only has floors on the sides to separate the two stories. All three protogés watch as Blockbuster attempts to confine Superboy by holding her arms to her sides. The Girl of Steel is stronger than the mutant, though, and breaks the hold. Ready to strike at Blockbuster, if he hadn't grabbed her shins and thrown the taller raven at the other three heroes. Kid Flash and Robin are just barely missed, but Aqualad gets slammed into hard.
Kid Flash uses his speed to keep a closer step on the two entangled older boys, who then separate and he positions himself between their heads as Robin runs to join him.
Blockbuster roars as Robin helps Supergirl back to her feet and Kid Flash helps Aqualad. It's tense, but unmoving for a few moments before Blockbuster charges at the four teens. Kid Flash reacts first, then Aqualad, then Robin, then Supergirl.
Kid Flash uses his speed to run right at Blockbuster, before sliding underneath him and dodging a crippling downward punch, he remains crouched and low to the ground. Gaining Blockbuster's attention, before he turns back and finds Supergirl and Aqualad both jumping at him with twin punches. The two hit him right in the face, and knock him back, Kid Flash helps the process along by straightening his legs slightly and causing Blockbuster to trip backward over him.
"Learned that one in kindergarten." the redhead says smugly, standing up and blocking Robin from view before he jumps and rotates over Kid Flash before releasing two of his signature disks.
Blockbuster swings his arm and deflects them as he staggers so he's facing away from the two teens. Only to find Supergirl waiting for him. Supergirl stands ready, but Blockbuster, being as large as he is, he catches Supergirl around the core with both his hands, before standing up and ramming the Girl of Steel into the nearby pillar.
Supergirl doesn't seem to feel it, as Blockbuster pulls away she unleashes a one-two combo on the large mutant. Blockbuster pulled away so he could muster a devastating cross to Supergirl's head. Hitting Supergirl right in the face, but also crushing him into the pillar behind him.
As Blockbuster goes for a second, a water whip wraps around his upper arm. Turning he finds Aqualad on the end of it coming at him and hitting the villain in the face with his knee before planting his feet on the pillar above Supergirl's head as his water-bearer turns into a mace. Which, unfortunately Blockbuster catches with one hand and throws the stunned Atlantean to the side while his other hand holds Supergirl. Aqualad hits with a cry, the floor even cracking under the force, as Blockbuster grips Supergirl tighter and then throws to the second story segment of another pillar. Supergirl falls and hits with her own gasp, before a slab of the pillar she fell into falls on top of her left arm and shoulder.
Kid Flash speeds in, as Aqualad manages to get out of the way of Blockbuster attempting to step on his head. Grabbing Blockbuster massive wrist and allowing momentum to turn the villain's back to Aqualad. Blockbuster opens his monstrous hand, causing Kid Flash to lose his grip and catch the speedster's smaller wrist in it. Aqualad stands, his tattoos glowing as his water-bearer turns to a mace once more, prepared to hit Blockbuster's turned back. Though Blockbuster swings Kid Flash like an extension of his arm, throwing the two into each other. Knocking Aqualad into a pillar across the room, and Kid Flash into the front of the building.
Kid Flash hits the ground hard, while Aqualad falls but slumps against the pillar just managing to look up before Blockbuster hits him with an uppercut to the Atlantean's stomach. The move destroying the pillar and Blockbuster continues his move until he has Aqualad pinned against another pillar and a hand around his throat.
The whole building shakes and the pillar cracks where the floors meet at one of the corners. Blockbuster hits Aqualad again and Robin watches from a safe distance.
"Of course." the Boy Wonder realizes, pulling up the floor plan of this room. "KF, get over here!"
Kid Flash gets to his feet and follows the Boy Wonder's call as Blockbuster grips Aqualad's face, ready to uppercut him again, but barely being stopped by Aqualad's water-bearer turning into a small circular shield.
Seeing this as she stumbles to her feet, Supergirl charges at Blockbuster. Hitting him in the kidneys just as Aqualad's shield breaks. Seeing the affect it has, Supergirl hook punches the same spot before jumping and grabbing Blockbuster's neck in a chokehold from behind. Angered, Blockbuster throws Aqualad to the side and reaches over his head to grab Supergirl by the armpits and throw her into the pillar, which crumbles.
"Got it?" Robin asks Kid Flash as the damage is being shown in real time on his hologlove.
"Got it." Kid Flash confirms.
"Go!" Robin commands as the speedster zips off towards Supergirl and Blockbuster.
Zooming around so that he is just off to right of Blockbuster does Kid Flash come to a stop, before changing direction and hitting Blockbuster with a high speed cross. Nothing happens, but on his knuckles is some of his old skin. "Got your nose." he teases.
Blockbuster throws Supergirl down and goes after Kid Flash. Just missing the speedster with two downward strikes from over his head. Giving Supergirl enough time to get her grip again and force herself to her feet.
"Supergirl, Aqualad." Robin calls pulling up the hologlove again.
This goes unheard as Kid Flash comes to a stop before one of the pillars, taunting the massive villain. "Come and get me, you incredible bulk!" The speedster gets out of the way of the punch that destroys the pillar, but some of the debris hits him in the shoulder. Knocking off his feet.
Just barely managing to dodge the double fist combo and dive across the room to keep Blockbuster following him as Robin finishes explaining the plan to Aqualad and Supergirl.
"This one and that one." he point to the one he wants, the two stronger teens nod and run to it as Robin pulls out three more disks.
Supergirl hits an already damaged pillar breaking it with ease, while behind him Aqualad's tattoos glow as his water-bearer forms a mace as he destroys a second one.
Kid Flash drops under a cross by Blockbuster and stays just to his right, another pillar now weakened. Blockbuster attempts to hit the speedster again, only to miss. Kid Flash chuckles. "Sorry. Try again." then bolts again.
Robin uses chalk to draw a white X on the floor and Aqualad uses his water-bearers to create a puddle that Kid Flash skids through covering up to said X .
Supergirl jumps and hits Blockbuster on his way down with a cross that knocks him straight to the ground. Now right on the X .
Some water is underneath Aqualad's feet and his tattoos continue to glow brightly as electricity crackles, coming from his hands. Which he then touches to the water. Hitting Blockbuster.
"Move!" Robin calls as Aqualad releases his hold on the electricity.
On the three remaining pillars are Robin's disks, which are now glowing red and green and beeping. Before they explode. As they do the weight of the roof becomes too much and it breaks right over Blockbuster's head dropping the rubble right on his shocked face.
All four teens are running to make it out of the debris field, but can't make it far enough, Supergirl jumps over Kid Flash, while Aqualad covers Robin. The entire building now having crumbled.
Supergirl punches a small piece of rubble so she can stick her hand through and push the larger piece covering the four of them up with her shoulder. All four now have evidence of their injuries in their torn suits, but they're okay.
Breathing heavily Aqualad turns to Robin and Kid Flash. "We… did it."
"Was there… ever any doubt?" Robin questions, barely exchanging a look with Kid Flash before they high five, but are forced to drop it as they aggravate their injuries on their sides/stomachs.
Supergirl steps fully out of the rubble they were covered in and looks to the still pinned Blockbuster.
"See?" Kid Flash questions, drawing Supergirl's attention away from the villain and using his thumb to gesture. "The Moon."
Supergirl can only stand and take it all in, but then a figure appears in its light, cloaking him in shadows. Supergirl squints slightly, trying to see who it is. As he slows and turns perpendicular to the ground it's obviously Superman.
"Oh. And Superman." Kid Flash comments, surprised. "Do we keep our promises, or what?"
Martian Manhunter, Zatara, Captain Marvel, and Red Tornado fly behind the Big Blue Boyscout. Followed by Captain Atom, Hawkman, Wonder Woman, Hawkwoman, and the first Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) . The second Green Lantern (John Stewart) brings a platform for the Leaguers who can't fly; Black Canary, Aquaman, Batman, and Green Arrow.
Superman, the one person her father told her about. She didn't know what his reaction to her will be. Will he hate her? Accept her? Dad always said that Superman saw things in black and white. And what will these other heroes think of her.
"Who are they?" Supergirl asked in a whispered nervous tone.
"The justice league," answered Robin.
Oh man the whole league is here, says Kid Flash.
As Batman steps up to Superman, Flash zooms in, standing to Batman's left.
Supergirl steps up first, gaining scrutiny in Superman's eyes, but not stopping as he lifts the torn front of his suit, revealing the same S that is mirrored on his own costume. Superman's eyes widen in shock, while Supergirl's features soften. Only for Superman's gaze to turn hard and cold, bringing on an annoyed look of confusion on Supergirl's face.
"Is that what I think it is?" Batman questions.
"She doesn't like being called an "it"." Kid Flash says stepping up and putting his left hand to face towards Supergirl as he speaks.
"I'm….. I'm Superman's clone!" Supergirl speaks up nervously due to the pressure of all the people surrounding her, gaining a shocked look from Kid Flash. While Martian Manhunter looks to Captain Marvel, Flash looks to Green Arrow, and Aquaman and Black Canary can only look on in shock.
Batman's eyes zero in on his protogé's. "Start talking."
Both Green Lanterns have Blockbuster trapped inside a sphere, while Hawkman, Hawkwoman, and Captain Atom fly alongside them.
Supergirl couldn't help look over at Superman. She also couldn't help but notice that a lot of the league members were staring at her. She could hear some of what they were saying, the things she heard were whispers of clone, trouble, unknown, and dangerous. Was her father right about heroes only seeing things in black and white?
Meanwhile, Superman is having a conversation with Wonder Woman and Martian Manhunter. Nothing is said for a moment, then Manhunter places a hand on Superman's shoulder, causing Superman to meet Supergirl's gaze. The clone's look is curious, while Superman's is hard. The clone looks away, then glances back, seeing Superman look down and away from her before finally turning and walking towards her.
Superman sighs as he meets his cross-armed clone. "We'll, uh, we'll figure something out for you. The League will, I mean." he corrects himself quickly. "For now I better make sure they get the Blockbuster creature squared away." then he flies away with a swish of his cape. Leaving Supergirl following him with shocked, hurt, sadness, and confused eyes.
All four of them are following him.
"Cadmus will be investigated," Batman says drawing the teens' attention to him, Flash, and Aquaman as they walk towards them. "all 52 levels but let's make one thing clear-"
"You should have called." Flash pipes up, even catching Batman's attention.
"End results aside, we're not happy." the Dark Knight growls. "You hacked Justice League systems, disobeyed direct orders, and endangered lives. You will not be doing this again."
"I am sorry, but we will." Aqualad states strongly, even Robin steps up slightly.
"Aqualad, stand down." Aquaman attempts to command the older teen.
"Apologies, my king," he even makes reverence as he speaks, then his voice goes firm once more. "but no." this catches an eyebrow raise from the King of Atlantis. "We did good work here tonight, the work you trained us to do. Together on our own we forged something powerful, important."
"If this is about your treatment at the Hall, the three of you-" Flash tries to understand where they're coming from, but is completely off.
Kid Flash doesn't hesitate to correct him. "The four of us, and it's not."
"Batman, we're ready to do what you taught us, or why teach us at all?" he speaks the quietest out of the group, but as he steps up to speak to his mentor it's obvious that he feels just as strongly about it as they do.
"Why let them tell us what to do?" Supergirl questions, her arms uncrossing as she too steps up. "It's simple. Get on board or get out of the way." all three protogés were watching her, but they all turned back towards their mentors. Standing tall, proud, and defiant.
She didn't know what overtook her to say that, but she just knew that she had to stand up for Robin, Aqualad, and Kid Flash. It was the least she could do for them. The boys stood by her in full agreement with what she said. Even if the league didn't approve, they would go out on their own. The three league members were staring at Robin, Kid Flash, Aqualad, and Supergirl. Finally, Batman spoke.
"Give me three days."