Chapter 3: Cadmus and Team Assembly
Washington D.C.:
July 4, 14:30 EDT
We took the the Zeta tubes to get to Cadmus and we arrived outside of Genesis Labs. It was only a small building, two stories tall and pretty much looked like a standard office building but we all know that there's more than meets the eye.
The only thing that stood out was the fire that shot out of the second floor of the building.
"Help!" A scientist called out
"Get us down" another scientist screamed out
"Stay put. We will get you down from there as soon as we can" the firefighter said to them.
But as he said that an explosion came behind the scientist. They begin to fall from the shockwave and they scream believing they were going to die. But that's where I come in. I caught them and placed them on the ground next to the firefighters.
"Oh my god, it's Iron Man" claimed one of the firefighters
"Thank you Iron Man for saving us." Said the scientists both appearing glad to be alive.
"No problem" I said to them as I activate my comms and fly off "Aqualad, Kid Flash help the firemen extinguish the fires. Robin and I will look inside and see what Cadmus is hiding."
"Way ahead of you" Kid Flash said as he ran towards the building and spin his arms fast enough to create a vortex to extinguish the flames.
Aqualad then looks at the firefighters
"I need to borrow that" he said as he grabs his weapons and activated them. The water from the firefighters hose came to him and he used it to hit the flames.
Within a few minutes, the fire was out
"Thanks Flash boy" said one of the firefighters.
"It's Kid Flash. Not Flash boy." Kid says annoyingly "How is that diificult to remember?"
Aqualad smiles at Kid Flash's rant.
They, then, both enter the building and found us investigating.
"Find anything?" Asked Aqualad.
"No, nothing yet. Their computer files hold very little information" I told him "Friday, scan the building and see if there's anything different or new about the building."
"On it boss" she said
While I'm waiting, Aqualad sees a creature with horns enter an elevator.
"I think there is indeed more to this place then we realize" he says to himself.
In a few minutes, Friday gave me the schematics of the building and I noticed that there is an elevator that is not apart of the building. I send the schematics to Robin on his gauntlet as we walk towards it.
"Robin, you seeing what I'm seeing?" I asked him as he looks through the schematics.
"Yeah" Robin says "This is a high speed, express elevator. It doesn't belong in a two story building."
"My thoughts exactly" I said to him as Aqualad and I open the elevator doors near us
We all look down the elevator shaft and see that it's so deep that we couldn't see the bottom. I scanned the area to check for hostiles below. Fortunately, there wasn't any.
"And that's why they need an express elevator" Robin says as he uses his grapple gun to hook to the top of the elevator shaft and descend. Aqualad and Kid Flash quickly followed him on the rope while I start flying down slowly
A couple of minutes later Robin stops. Aqualad and Kid Flash then look at him. I already know what happened.
"I'm at the end of my rope." Robin tells them. They soon get off the rope and then jump on the edge of the elevator while I descend to them.
"Bypassing the security" Robin said as he starts to hack the door. I notice that as he is hacking there are pictures of him
"I've been meaning to ask. Why is your face on the hacking screen? You do know thats just a bit narcissistic on your part" I tell him.
"Like you're one to talk" he tells me with a small grin "When we started working together you always had Friday's face on the screen cause you liked what she looked like whenever she get to hack"
I slightly blushed at that but thankful that it was hidden because of the helmet. During the first years of working with Batman and Robin, I figured to create a holographic projection of Friday so that she can be more than a voice to talk to. Took me two weeks to finish. I would've finished sooner but my parents wanted to make sure I was more sociable than locked in a lab. Once I completed my projector, Friday appeared.
She was a pink projection of a pretty girl, roughly my age at the time, with white skin, beautiful, short red hair while wearing a white outfit that looked like she worked as a secretary for a CEO and purple stilettos.
My heart raced when I saw her. She was finally real and gorgeous. We finally got to talk face to face. I asked her why she didn't appear older because that was what I was expecting her to be. She said that she wanted to grow up alongside me because she wanted to learn as much about the world as I do despite her ability her access to the World Wide Web.
I did give her a curious mind after all and I completely encouraged her to decide for herself who she is and who she could become. For an AI, she was something else. My first friend and "daughter" was everything I hoped to create and I couldn't be any more prouder.
There are times where I think that she's more human than the rest of us. Especially me.
Kid Flash was about to ask me about my AI before I cut him off.
"Kid, you say anything about what you just heard and I swear to God I will blast you with my repulsor beams until you can't walk." I threatened. "Understood?"
Kid Flash looks so scared that I think he turned pale but he does nod his head in agreement. I smirk under my helmet as a result.
"Ok I'm in. Let's go" Robin says. I then open the elevator doors in front of us and we were shocked by what we see. It was a bunch of futuristic machinery that doesn't exist. Granted I knew that this would be here but man this is so amazing because I'm actually seeing it.
"Welcome to Project Cadmus" Robin stated.
Kid Flash, then, starts to run ahead of them before any of us could react.
"Kid wait!" I shout at him. I knew he was going to do but I'm incapable of moving at his speeds to stop him.
Sometimes, Wally's body was faster than his mind at times. Which is fine because they are the only people capable of saving more people in time than some of us. Always liked Speedsters but they can be reckless. Always running ahead hoping that everything works out and never completely think it through.
You would think that there minds could move at the same speed as they run, but I guess that requires them to try to stay still for a moment which I think is something they have difficulty doing.
I know in the comics that it's possible but it would seem that neither Wally, and possibly Barry, have developed that skill yet. A pity really.
As Kid approaches the end of the hallway, he hears a thumping sound that startles him, causing him to trip and slide to the middle of the hall.
That sound was caused by a herd of large alien creatures. They had gray skin, elephantine hind legs and ape like arms. They walked on all fours, using their knuckles as support. They had red eyes by were somewhat obscured by the larger risks that emerged from the side of their heads.
Kid Flash barely rolled out of the way of the lead creature, while the rest of us finally caught up to him. All of us were stunned and were left speechless especially me. I mean these guys looked big from the tv screen but in real life they were way bigger.
While everyone was stunned, I noticed that each creature had a smaller one sitting on their heads. They were very small to the point that I would argue that they could fit in my hand. They had red eyes and stubby horns and they clung to the larger creatures like frogs.
One of them spots us and it's eyes and horns briefly glowed. I know what this means. They've alerted Dr. Desmond of our entry here. Not good
"No, nothing odd going on here." Aqualad said sarcastically.
"We gotta move quick. I think one of the creatures sent an alert out to whoever is in charge about our presence here." I told them
"How do you know?" Asks Robin
"I saw one of the small aliens look at us and then had their eyes and horns glow for a brief second." I told him "I think they have some type of telepathy to inform the rest. I'm not entirely sure but I don't want to risk it"
I've become a pretty convincing liar. Not sure if that's a good thing
"Understood." Said Aqualad as he shakes off his stunned gaze and gets serious "Let's move out"
We all nod and keep moving inside the current level of Cadmus until we find anothe locked door.
Robin quickly hacked the systems, opening it. Once he did, we were again stunned at what we were looking at.
"Okay, I'm officially whelmed" Robin said making us all agree with on that.
The room had rows of large transparent jars that had those insect-like creatures with arcs of electricity being emitted by its abdomen. The electricity was then absorbed by a device at the bottom of each jar.
"So this is how they were able to hide this facility." Kid Flash said, studying one of the creatures closely "The real Genesis Labs isn't on the grid. It's power is generated by these things. Must be what they are bred for."
"It would seem that Cadmus is living up to the myth." I said to them "Creating a new race by sewing dragon's teeth into the earth but instead of dragons they are creating something else."
"But for what purpose?" Asks Aqualad.
"Let's find out" Robin says as he begins hacking a nearby computer and starts bringing up images of the creatures we had seen before as well as pictures of ones they hadn't "They're called Genomorphs... whoa, you were right Iron Man they do have telepathy along with super strength and razor claws... they are practically living weapons"
"They're engineering an army" Kid Flash said "But for who?"
"Someone preparing for a war" I state cryptically "Robin, you think you can find out who we are dealing with?"
"On it. Wait there's something else." Robin said.
Robin then began tapping at the keyboard, but all he got was a negative-sounding beep.
"No good; the file's triple-encrypted. I can't..."
"Don't move!" a voice ordered. We turned to see a pack of short, gray-skinned creatures with long tails and razor-sharp claws on their hands and feet.
The creatures snarled at us, but didn't attack, as a man with a golden helmet and shield walked into the room.
"Wait..." Guardian said uncertainly, "Robin, Aqualad, Iron Man , Kid Flash?"
"At least he got your name right." Robin joked at Kid Flash.
"Guardian."
"What are you doing here?" Kid Flash asked suspiciously.
"I'm chief of security," Guardian said sternly, "and you're trespassing. Don't worry, though; we'll call the Justice League and figure this out."
"What makes you think that the League's going to approve of you breeding weapons of mass destruction?" I ask him while gesturing to the Genomorphs around Guardian and the ones in the jars.
"Weapons? What are you...? What have I... ? My head..!" Guardian trailed off when the horns of the G-Gnome on his shoulder started to glow.
When they faded, Guardian snarled and pointed at us.
"Take 'em down hard! No mercy!"
The Genomorphs around us charged to attack. Robin disconnected from the computer and threw a smoke pellet on the ground, giving the Genomorphs pause and time for us to get ready.
While smoke was going, I saw Robin take out his grabbing gun and shot it in the air.
"Robin wait!" I try to say to him but he was out of the room before I could stop him. God, he is so reckless.
I start to fly into the air and fire repulsor beams from my hands at two of the creatures. They were sent flying across the room until they hit a wall very hard.
Kid Flash easily dodged his attackers, his super-speed and his agility making their attacks look slow; his own blinding-fast punches took out five Genomorphs in as many seconds.
Aqualad started to pick the genomorph that was trying to climb on him. After punching it, he was then punch into the wall. He grunted at the sight of Guardian that punch him.
Aqualad got up leading him and Guardian started to fight. It soon ended after Aqualad shocked him with electricity. Guardian soon was knocked out.
Kid Flash and myself came in from the smoke, after we took out some of the little creatures, and starts to leave the room. Aqualad soon followed after us.
We stop in the hallway and see Robin hacking the elevators. We soon began to reach him.
"Way to be a team-player, Rob!" Kid Flash stated to him
"Weren't you right behind me?" Robin asked, sounding genuinely confused that we had taken so long to catch up. He really needs to be mindful of others if he is to lead the team in the future.
"No we were not.." I said with a serious tone "While you were busy leaving us behind, we were busy dealing with the Genomorphs."
"Sorry I was busy with this elevator, maybe this will make it up to you guys." Robin said to us. He sounded genuine so I guess I can let this slide.
For now.
A moment later, the elevator opened and the four of us piled in. Aqualad was the last one in just as the Genomorph was about to get him, but the door closed before it reached the elevator.
Aqualad and Kid Flash sigh in relief that we were able to get away.
"Robin were you able to decrypt the data from the computer from earlier?" I asked him.
"Yeah, according to this they were planning something called Project Kr" Robin tells me while the other two listened "Seems to be some kind of ultimate weapon they were working on several levels below us"
As he said that the elevator goes down.
"Were going down?" Aqualad asked.
"Dude, our exit is up" Kid Flash says
"Excuse me?" Robin asked in an insulted tone, "Project Kr, remember? It's on sublevel fifty-two."
"Perhaps..." Aqualad started "Perhaps we should contact the League."
Before they could reach for their communicators, the elevator stopped. As soon as the doors opened, all four of us got ready to fight.
Fortunately there was no one here, but the sublevel itself was disturbing. If I had to compared to something I would say it looked like the inside of an intestine. The area looked like it was made out of a tube of flesh. There were blue, organic pods were attached to the ceiling and walls.
The only thing that reminded us that this was still a man-made facility was the occasional metal crate on the floor or the computer plugged into the wall. Robin started to run up ahead.
"We are already here" Kid Flash said to me and Aqualad before he too ran to catch up with Robin.
Aqualad just sighs at them and I just pat his shoulder in sympathy. He gives me a small smile and nods at me. We then both ran and catch up with Robin and Kid Flash.
Cautiously, we made our way down the hallway, each of them growing more and more disturbed by what we were walking in.
"This is just horrible" I said in a disgusting tone.
The four of us finally stop when the path forked in two directions. Aqualad looked at Robin.
"Which way?" Aqualad ask.
"Yeah" Robin said, "Bizarre-looking hallway one or bizarre-looking hallway two?"
"Hold!" the four of us turned to see Dubbilex standing at the left hallway. His horns glow and a crate lifted from the ground with the purpose of being hurled at us.
"When in doubt, take number two" I yelled and then flew down the other hallway with the others quickly following behind me
Dubbilex took only a few steps before the doors to another elevator opened, allowing Guardian and a pack of Genomorphs to run out.
"They are headed for Project Kr!" Dubbilex shouted pointing at the direction that we had gone.
Guardian didn't even glance at Dubbilex as he led the pursuit.
After a few seconds, Kid Flash and I were more or less in equal speed. I was a bit faster with my suit. Aqualad and Robin were keeping up as best as they can. The ceiling was starting to become too low for me to fly so I had to go the rest of the way on foot.
Eventually, Kid Flash made it to the end of the hallway first. At the same time a woman scientist came out of the room and saw Kid Flash running to her. They both collided and fell on the floor.
"Oooooooh, that looked like it hurt" Robin said
Kid Flash looked up at the door and noticed it was starting to close. Thinking fast he gave a large long metal object and put it between the doors.
"Hurry!" Kid Flash yelled at us gesturing with a 'come on' wave.
Soon all of us came inside with Aqualad being the last one in. He kick the metal object just before the Genomorph came in the door.
Robin started to bring up his holo-computer and typing furiously. After a few seconds, a loud click could be heard.
"I disabled the door, we're safe"
"We're trapped" Aqualad stated to him.
"Um, guys?" Kid Flash said, pointing at something hidden in shadows, "You might want to see this."
"Would you look at that" I said in astonishment
Soon after Kid Flash found a light-switch, the other two got a good look at what we were talking about.
In the center of the room was a teenage boy, around our age and he appeared to be unconscious while leaning against an upright table inside of a glass pod.
His muscled form was easily seen. He wore a white, skintight jumpsuit that only showed the skin of his hands, wrists and face. His face looked far too serious for someone his age.
The only thing that seemed teenager-like was the spiky mess of black hair on his head. But all of that was secondary to what the four us saw on his chest. A red, triangular shield with a large, red S inside.
The crest of the House of El.
Kid Flash walk over to the the pod and look at a Kr that was printed on the side of the pod
"Big K, little r, the atomic symbol for Krypton! Clone?"
"Robin! Hack!" Aqualad told Robin.
"Right right" Robin said a little bit still shock, he then began hacking into the computer.
"Friday can you assist Robin with the hack?" I ask my AI "Something tells me that we are gonna have company soon."
"You got it Boss" Friday says as she assists the Boy Wonder with hacking through the firewalls of the system.
In just a few short moments, Friday and Robin hacked in and gained the information we needed.
"Here it is. Weapon designation: Superboy, a clone that was force-grown in... sixteen weeks!? Based on the theories used in subject: Galatea-whoever that is-created from DNA acquired from Superman." Robin informed them.
"Stolen from Superman" Aqulad said.
"No way the big guy knows about this," Kid Flash said.
"He doesnt. If he did, there wouldn't be a Cadmus" I said to them.
Superman is definitely not a man to piss off. Especially with his powers.
"The solar-suit he's wearing allows him to absorb yellow-sun radiation twenty-four-seven" Robin continued.
"Any information about these genomorphs?" I ask as I point at the one's over Superboy's head.
Robin pulled up another file. "Genomorph Gnomes; like you said they're telepathic, and force-feeding him an education."
"And we can guess what else?" Kid Flash asked, "They're making a slave out of, well, Superman's... son."
"More like a clone"
"Now we contact the League" Aqualad said while reaching for his communicator around his waist.
But nothing happened and the same lack of function was present for everyone else's comms too.
"No signal." Robin said
"We're in too deep" Kid Flash finish, "literally."
"We are not gonna leave him here" I said to them as I press my hand on the pod where Superboy "He deserves to be free. Regardless of his origins, he's a person too."
"I agree" Said Aqualad
"I'm with you" said Robin
"No arguments here" said Kid Flash
I nod at them and proceed to hack into the system to open up the pod. The glass sides of the pod start to retract into the floor and ceiling.
"I would suggest you guys get ready. There's a strong probability that he will view us as hostiles" I caution them. They nod and prepare for a fight.
For a moment, the clone didn't move but then his hand twitched and his eyes fluttered open. Aqualad narrowed his eyes at him waiting for his reaction
"Friday, activate protocol solar" I said to her with my comms off
"You sure boss? Don't you think that's a bit much?" Friday asks
Superboy's looks at us and his face then turns into a snarl as he lunges forward us with impressive speed.
"Never mind" Friday said
Aqualad was surprised but was able to block the clone's fist with a water shield. Superboy goes for another punch but he gets blasted by a red beam of energy to his side. He yells in pain as he gets pushed back a few feet. He lands face down on the ground and then get on all fours as he looks to the side to see that he was burned. Superboy looks back up and sees that the person who shot him was me as my suit's lights went from blue to red
"Was that?-" Robin asks but gets interrupted
"Red solar radiation" Kid finishes with shock
Superboy slowly gets up from the ground angry but his wound is still there. He won't be able to healed as quickly as he would with other injuries because of this.
"Why do you have red solar energy?" Kid Flash asks
"As a precaution." I simply answered as Superboy charges at me with a roar.
He goes for a punch with his left fist but I catch it to his great surprise.
"Not so strong now, are you?" I taunt which caused Superboy to try to punch me with his other fist but I caught it too.
I then headbutt him with causes him to stagger.
"We need to restrain him before his powers come back" I told the others to which they begin to do just that.
Kid Flash and Aqualad grab both of the clone's arms to prevent him from punching anyone else while Robin fires metal cables that surround Superboy's waist and are attached to the floor so that he couldn't get out of. I helped Dick design these. This should do the trick.
Robin then stands near the clone with a batarang ready at hand should something happen. I land in front of super boy whose eyes just look at me with raw fury and struggling to break free from Aqualad's and Kids grip.
"Listen to me Superboy" Perhaps I can make him see reason to him "I'm sorry for this but you need to calm down and listen. I know what Cadmus has done to you. I know you are aware of your purpose for them. But you don't have to be what they made you to be. You can be so much more."
He looks at me with more rage and snarls
"You know nothing about me."
His ability to talk shocks the rest of the heroes in the room which gave Superboy the advantage of throwing off Kid and Aqualad off of him. He tries to go after me but he is held in place by the cables
"RAAAAAAGGGGHHHH" Superboy roars as he tries to break out of the cables.
"Those cables are made of Depleted Promethium. Indestructible and unbreakable. Not even Superman can break out of those easily" I inform him.
A technical lie which seems to do the trick as Superboy begins to cease struggling and just looks at me with an angry look.
"You're right. I know nothing about you but I have a feeling that you don't know yourself" I see the look in his face turn from rage to shock "I think you are smarter than you believe. I can tell that you are wondering what you are. Questioning if you are either a weapon or a person. These are difficult questions to answer isn't it? Not knowing who you are is something that every sentient being has pondered since the beginning. But it's because of those questions that proves that you are an intelligent being. A being of free will. You think Cadmus cares that you can think for yourself? No, they don't and I think you know that"
As I speak, I see him become a bit calmer and shows off a more pensive and questioning look on his face. Maybe I am getting through to him.
"They only see you as a tool. A convenient replacement for the Man of Steel. That's all you are to them. Nothing but expendable waste. Useful for only the purpose they designed you for." I could see Superboy becoming really angry at this "But we both know that's not true. We can help you figure out your place in the world. All you have to do is join us"
"What makes you any better than them? You used red solar energy without hesitation. Aimed a little higher and you could've killed me. And now you have me trapped like an animal. Just like them. So tell me, why should I trust a man in a metal mask?" Superboy asks while he angrily glares at me.
Everyone was quiet after that. He makes a fair point. I used an energy source that could kill the Man of Steel without any form of hesitation. I believed that it was necessary. Still do think it's necessary. But Superboy is a newborn. I know he's not a threat. Not really.
He's like Frankenstein's monster. A being with a will and mind of his own but consumed by emotions easily. So much passion. So much potential. He could be something truly great. A worthy successor to the House of El. But right now, he's not even close to that.
Perhaps I should've done this differently. I made a mistake. But I think I know how to fix it
"Friday, did you disable to cameras in this room?" I ask her
"Yes boss" she answers
"Did you also get the other thing?" I ask
"Yes" she answers to which I nod my head
I then press a button on my left gauntlet which releases Superboy from his restraints.
"Woah woah woah. What are you doing?" Kid Flash asks in panic
"He's right not to trust me. I wouldn't trust me either if I was in his position. This is just a path in the right direction" I said as I then have my faceplate open up to show my face
Superboy seemed a bit less tense by this act.
"My name is David Stark and I'm just a man in a can trying to help. I doubt this would be enough to have you trust us but I don't do this lightly. I do it because I believe that you are so much more than a clone. We can help you realize that better than any of these so called doctors can."
I then offer him my open hand
"What do you say?" I ask
Everyone was quiet as Superboy looked at me and my open palm. The rest of the guys began to slowly ready themselves for a fight but I slightly gesture them to stop. I consider myself a logical person but I believe in people despite my cynicism. Even if I do know events in the future, doesn't mean it will always happen the way you think.
I can see that Superboy isn't completely convinced yet and so I put my hand down.
"Tell me Superboy, do you dream?" This question shocks him "Do you see yourself in a world where people look up to the sky and see hope? I think you see yourself as a worthy successor to the mantle. But even you have to see that if you stay with Cadmus, that dream will never happen. Even if you did when you wear that symbol in your chest, you will know in your heart that you aren't truly worthy of it. You'll just be a puppet tangled in strings and played with by other powers"
Superboy began to give off an angry glare but it wasn't toward me. No, he was pissed because I was right.
"These people paint the world full of shadows and tell their children to stay close to the light. Their light. Their reasons. Their judgments. Because in the darkness, there'll be dragons. But it isn't true. It simply isn't true. In the dark there is discovery, there is possibility, there is...freedom. Now this is a chance for you to do the one thing that you have been denied to do. Make a choice. You can stay here in their house of shadows and live in their world or you can come with us and see what life really is"
I look at Superboy and he is still. I don't know if I got through him. I can only hope that he agrees.
I raise my hand again as an offering of friendship and hope. He looks down at my hand and raises his own. The guys tense up but I motion them to stay calm. Superboy stares at his own hand. He looks to be thinking about something. Perhaps he's feeling freedom for the first time. He then looks back at me
"Will...I be able to meet him? Superman?" He asks me
"I give you my word." I said to him.
He the nods his head and shakes my hand
"I'll hold you to that. Because if you don't, I'll crush you like the can you are" Superboy threatens to which I could only chuckle
"I'm sure you can, roid rage" I said as we stop shaking hands and my faceplate goes back on
Everyone else was glad to see that they didn't need to fight a clone of one of the strongest beings in the universe.
"Let's get out of here." I said to them. They nodded and we moved to the entrance of this place.
I scanned it to see if their are any hostiles outside. Turns out there were several armed men waiting for us.
"We got company." I then look to my fellow heroes "Everyone ready?"
"Hurry up. I've got some anger I need to let out" Superboy growled with anticipation
"I am totally ready to leave this creepy place" Kid Flash said with Aqualad and Robin nodding.
I look back to the door and raise my left arm to which then a mini missile launcher is release from my arm chamber. I aim directly center to the door and fire.
The force of the explosion scatters the Genomorphs, Guardian and Dr. Desmond to the ground unconscious. We instantly leave without looking back. At some point, Desmond must've woken up from his explosion induced nap and screams out "You-you'll never get out of here! I'll have you in pods before morning!"
"That guy is not whelmed," Robin said digging into his utility belt and drawing four explosive disks and throws them on calculated targets of the level, one of them being the good doctors lab "Not whelmed at all."
"What is it with you and this 'whelmed' thing?" Kid Flash asks Robin
"Let's focus on getting out of here before answering that question" I told Kid Flash as he continue to focus on our escape
Desmond rose to his feet just as we left. After briefly glowering at the burning remains of the lab, he snapped his fingers, and a G-Gnome jumped onto his shoulder.
"Activate every Genomorph in Cadmus." He told the G-Gnome.
The G-Gnome's horns began to glow.
Soon every pod in Cadmus started to glow and Genomorphs coming out of there.
"We are still fourty-two levels below ground. But if we make the elevator..." Aqualad told us.
Before I could respond, our path was blocked by a dozen of them and there were hundreds of the clawed Genomorphs that had begun awakening from their stasis.
The first G-Troll tried to crush us with its massive fists, but we all dodged its attack. I flew over the Genomorphs' reach, while Robin's acrobatics and Kid Flash's speed allowed them to get around easily enough. Meanwhile, Aqualad just ran up the G-Trolls dodging being hit.
The only one who chose to fight was Superboy who roared a feral roar as he lunged at the first G-Troll and knocked it flat on its back.
Before the clone could follow up on his offensive, another G-Troll smacked him to the floor. Thankfully, Superboy was back on his feet seconds later and slammed his attacker into the wall.
To us, it looked like Superboy would rather fight than flee. To which I always figured to be the case.
"Superboy! The goal is escape, not burry ourselves here!" Aqualad shouted as the impacts from the clone's blows began shaking the entire sublevel.
"You want escape?!" Superboy shouted, then grabbed one of the fallen G-Trolls and threw it, knocking the others down.
The five of us ran to the elevator where I pried open the doors to allow us through. Robin pulled out his grappling gun and shot up the shaft.
Kid followed. Superboy grabbed onto Aqualad and leapt into the air while I activated my repulsor rockets and flew. Unfortunately, gravity seemed to take its toll on Superboy.
"I... I'm falling," Superboy said as if he couldn't believe it.
Seeing them fall, I began to catch them right at the fifteenth sublevel. When the others caught up to Superboy and Aqualad, the clone was looking confused and disappointed.
"Superman can fly," he said, "Why can't I fly?"
"Don't know," Kid Flash said trying to reassure him, "But it looks like you can leap tall buildings in a single bound; still cool."
Superboy and I punch the door open, and the five of us dove through while the elevator barely missed us.
Before we could decide on where to go next, swarms of Genomorphs appeared to their right and their front. With nowhere else to go, we headed left.
"Turn left, brother" Superboy heard in his mind.
With no time to question what had just happened, Superboy shouted "Go left! Left!"
We turned at the first left we saw.
"Turn right"The voice said again
"Right!" Superboy says to use
We then stopped at a dead end.
"Great directions, Supey," Kid Flash said sarcasticall, "You trying to get us repodded?"
"No, I..." Superboy scratched his head, "I don't understand."
"Don't apologize," Robin said.
"It's not your fault" I said with a reassuring nod to which he nodded back.
A few seconds later, when the Genomorphs reached the same dead end, they found nothing but the vent's gate on the floor.
"At this rate, we'll never get out," Kid Flash groaned as we crawled through the vents. It's very hard to do so with a armored suit especially since we are trying to be stealthy. Got to work on that
"Shh! Do you guys hear that?"" Superboy asks.
"No, wait is this a Superhearing thing?" Kid Flash ask.
Superboy could hear the sound of dozens of the smaller Genomorphs inside the vent with them.
Desmond, Guardian, and Dubbilex all ran down the hallway, a squad of Genomorphs in behind them while Desmond was tracking the our progress.
"Robin or Iron Man , I'd wager hacked our systems, deactivating internal security cameras," his face lit up as he realized something, "But they neglected the motion sensors!"
The sensors indicated that we would end up on the men's restroom so the three of them waited under a vent.
"The Genomorphs are closing in, they are all coming out here." Desmond said excitedly, "We have them cornered!"
A few seconds later, the vent popped open, but it wasn't five teenagers who flew out but instead, the pursuing Genomorphs fell on top of Desmond and the others.
Angrily, Desmond pushed away a Genomorph that had fallen on him.
"They hacked the motion sensors." He stated angrily.
"We hacked the motion sensors" Robin said as me and high fived each other.
"Sweet" Kid Flash said,
Robin began to tell them more. "But there's still plenty between us and out."
"But what's important is that Iron Man and I finally have room to move!" Kid Flash said before dashing off. I grin and begin flying after the speedster.
As Aqualad, Robin and Superboy ran after us.
Kid Flash ran up a dozen flights of stairs, while I flew straight up. However, several squads of Genomorphs blocked Kid Flash's way while the speedster simply barreled through them.
"More behind us!" Robin shouted, pointing backwards, where dozens of Genomorphs hissed and snarled as they chased us.
Superboy solved that problem by stomping down on the stairs behind us, shattering them and preventing any further pursuit.
"Well done." I said to Superboy. He nods and we keep moving.
Inside of the high-speed elevator, Desmond and his group were waiting for the elevator to hurry up.
"We can cut them off on sublevel one" Guardian said to Desmond reassuring him.
"We'd better, or the board will have our heads," Desmond then placed his hand over his face "My head."
Then without warning, he hit the emergency stop at sublevel two.
"I need to get something from Project Blockbuster, just in case" he said, hurrying out, "I'll meet you at sublevel one!"
Then the elevator doors began to close.
Kid Flash arrived at sublevel one first, but when he reached the door that would take him to the surface, it closed.
"Oh, crud" he managed to say before he accidently ran into the door.
"We're cut off from the street." Said Robin
"Thanks, my head didn't noticed" Kid Flash said, rubbing his sore head.
Aqualad, Superboy and myself begin trying to open the door by hand, but it was no use it was too heavy for all of us combined. What's worse was that there were more Genomorphs were right on our tail. I turn around and see them coming so I began firing repulsor beams as they come. It won't stop them but it will buy us some time
Robin shut down his holo-computer with a frustrated huff.
"Can't hack this fast enough," he said, then he saw the incoming mob of Genomorphs and kicked open a side-door. "This way!"
The five of us soon ran through, only to find ourselves trapped between our pursuers and a waiting mob of creatures, led by Guardian.
Robin drew his Bat-a-rangs, I flew up a little bit and with my hands raised preparing to fire my weapons, Aqualad activated his water weapons into swords, while Superboy and Kid Flash took fighting stances.
Just before we made the first move, the stubby horns of the dozens of G-Gnomes present began to glow.
With a massive telepathic assault, our mind were overwhelmed. Aqualad, Kid Flash and Robin all go down to the ground unconscious. I'm still standing but the pressure in my mind was becoming hard to manage. It's taking all of my willpower to keep me from going to the ground.
I have to stay strong.
"You are indeed strong, Mr. Stark. But this is not our time to talk" the voice in my head said to me.
Before I could even react, I was telekinetically pushed to the wall near me with enough force to put me unconscious.
Superboy felt something brush against his mind and he weakly opened his eyes to see Dubbilex standing in front of him, his horns glowing.
"It would seem that our brother Superboy has made up his own mind." Dubbliex told them.
Superboy's eyes widened. "It was you..."
"Yes, brother" Dubbilex answered "I set the fire and lured your new friends down into Cadmus to investigate."
"And guided me" Superboy finished "Why?"
"Because you are our hope, the Genomorph hero." Dubbilex gestured to the other Genomorphs. "You will blaze a trail for all our brothers, showing us the way to freedom. This boy..."
He gestures to Iron Man
"was correct. You have the power to choose who you are. With their help, you'll achieve wonders"
Guardian, who had also been incapacitated by the G-Gnome on his shoulder, shook his head when the little creature hopped away.
"Uhh... what's going on?" Guardian ask.
On the ground, Aqualad, Robin, Kid Flash and I began to regain consciousness.
Superboy stood up looking at Dubbilex in the eyes.
"What is your choice, brother?" He asks
Superboy closes his eyes for a second before he looks at Dubbilex with his answer.
"I... choose... freedom." He told him
Dubbilex smiled and nodded while the other Genomorphs made various sounds of approval. Kid, Aqualad and Robin looked confused while Guardian still looked extremely confused. But I knew what just happened
"Feels like... fog... lifting." the hero muttered.
"Guardian?" Aqualad asks
Guardian looked at us. "Go! I'll deal with Desmond."
"I think not." Desmond said
All the Genomorphs began to move away from Desmond. He was holding up a small vial filled with a bright blue liquid.
"Project Blockbuster will give me the power to restore order to Cadmus!" before anyone could stop him, he drank the contents of the vial.
Almost immediately, he began to change. His muscles bulged to the point that most of his clothes practically exploded, and then he began to grow to nearly ten feet tall.
His eyes turned black with red pupils, while his skin fell away, save for a few patches that remained on his face, revealing a gray hide.
With an animalistic roar, Desmond ceased to be; in his place was Blockbuster.
"This isn't going to go well" I muttered
"Everyone back!" Guardian charged, but Blockbuster merely backhanded him into a wall, denting it, and knocking the hero out.
Superboy began trying to punch Blockbuster and unlike Guardian, he was actually able to land a few hits, but while that did some damage, Blockbuster was more than tough enough to take it.
Not only that, he was able to dish it out. One blow sent Superboy flying, but when the clone jumped and tried to slam the monster, Blockbuster countered by jumping up, tackling Superboy and crashing up onto the ground floor of Cadmus
"Ok, that's one way to bust through the ceiling," Robin said using a grapple-gun to climb through the new hole.
"Think lab-coat planned that?" Kid Flash asked as he hang on to Robin.
"I don't think he planned anything anymore," Aqualad answered as he jump after them.
I just sigh and flew after them.
When we reached the fight, we found Superboy and Blockbuster still slugging it out. The monster, however, got an advantage when he grabbed Superboy's leg and hurled him at the other heroes.
Aqualad was soon hit my Superboy. They were thrown back a couple feet from us.
So the rest of us ran back to help our teammates up. We looked at each other and nodded in a wordless agreement that it's time to actually work together.
"Alright guys, time to work for a living" I said to them
Blockbuster only roared, then charged.
Kid Flash quickly pulled ahead and slid between and behind Blockbuster's legs, distracted by the speedster.
Blockbuster wasn't able to defend against Superboy and myself with a surprise attack. Both of used our combined strength to punch him straight in the face.
Unbalanced, Blockbuster stumbled back, only to trip and fall over the crouched Kid Flash.
"Learned that one in kindergarten" he said smugly.
Robin tried to follow up the attack with several bat-a-rangs, but Blockbuster easily batted them away.
Then it kicked Aqualad in the chin and into the ceiling when the atlantian hero tried to smash him with his fist.
Blockbuster stood up and saw Superboy in a ready stance. Despite that, Blockbuster slammed the clone into a pillar and viciously punched him in the face.
Superboy was stunned for a moment, and Blockbuster readied his fist for another blow. This time, though, his attack was stopped when I flew tackled him into a wall causing a bit of a crater. Using this moment, I right uppercuted his face and gave a left haymaker to his face. I kept punching him as hard and as fast as I can so as to make sure Superboy recovers.
"How do you like the taste of iron, Sasquatch?" I taunt while I punch
It wasn't long that Blockbuster then stops and grabs me while glaring
"I'm sorry" I said as he smashes me to the ground repeatedly.
He was really putting his strength behind it because I could feel my armor being pushed to its limits on its durability.
Blockbuster soon threw me to a wall really hard
"Multiple rib fractures boss" said Friday
"Yep, I can feel it" I responded as I get up ignoring the pain.
Kid Flash saw Blockbuster throw me to the wall and dashes to fight this beast. Aqualad, having recovered, saw the same thing and charged at him as well.
Blockbuster merely backhanded Kid Flash into Aqualad, and the two flew into a wall.
Blockbuster then gets thrown onto a pillar by Superboy but then quickly got up and went tackle him to a wall.
Fortunately, he saw that coming and Superboy dodged at the last moment. The only thing Blockbuster hit was the wall itself.
I see Robin who had been hanging back trying to form a plan of attack and then realized a way to defeat him.
I scan the area for weak points to use against him. I notice the pillars and I send the information to Robin's gauntlet.
"Robin, the pillars" I say to him before I head back to the fight.
"Of course." Robin said as he brings up his hologram computer with a structure of the pillars I sent him.
"KF, get over here!" he shouted. The speedster shook off his daze and hurried over to the Boy Wonder.
Blockbuster began punching Superboy repeatedly, but I was able to shoot him with my unibeam from my chest pushing him away from the Kryptonian. Superboy shakes off the hits and we both charge at Blockbuster.
I go high and punch him in the face with a right hook, finishing off with a left uppercut to the jaw while Superboy went low and punched him hard in the stomach as well as doing a right uppercut to the jaw along with me.
Our combined strength sent Blockbuster back a few feet but he barely looked hurt at all. Blockbuster now charges at me while I fire my repulsor beams that have little effect on him. Before Blockbuster could tackle me, Superboy tackles him to one of the pillars.
"Got it?" Robin asked Kid Flash after explaining the plan.
"Got it" the speedster replied and dashed off. He dove at Blockbuster, just as he was going to break Superboy's back over his knee.
His punch hit the monster in the face, but the remaining human skin on Blockbuster's face stuck to his glove.
"Got your nose!" Kid Flash taunted at him.
Enraged, Blockbuster dropped Superboy and attacked Kid Flash, though the hero used his speed to stay just out of reach.
This gave Superboy, Aqualad and myself some time to rest for a second.
"Iron Man! Superboy! Aqualad!" Robin waved the three over to us.
While Kid Flash continued being the distraction.
"Come and get me, you Incredible Bulk!" Kid Flash dodged another blow that shattered another pillar, only stumbling when a piece of debris hit him in the back.
Robin pointed at three of the remaining pillars. "This one, this one and that one!"
We did as Robin said, smashing apart the pillars, while Robin began deploying several explosives. And mark an 'X' spot on the center of the room.
Once that was done, Aqualad pored lots of water in the center of the room. Kid Flash lured Blockbuster into position, when Superboy tackled the monster's legs, while I punched him in the face.
Blockbuster fell backwards onto the large puddle. When he fell, Aqualad shot a bolt of lightning at the soaked monster, doing a lot of damage, as well as stunning him too.
"Move!" Robin yelled as the explosive he strategically placed on the remaining pillars went off.
The explosion was set off in a way that made the building implode on itself, right at the very center, where Blockbuster stood.
I dove on top of Robin, while Superboy covered Aqualad and Kid Flash. In a few seconds, the entire aboveground section of Cadmus collapsed to the ground.
A few moments later, the debris was liftedup, then thrown away by Superboy and myself, in the debris it revealed us.
Robin, Aqualad, and Kid Flash's costumes were torn in several places, andSuperboy's solar-suit was ripped. My suit was dented and scratched all of the place but somehow still functional. Guess I'm lucky
"We did it." Aqualad said while panting.
Robin panted heavily for a moment before replying. "Was there... ever any doubt that we'd win?"
He and Kid Flash high-fived, but quickly winced and held their bruised ribs.
I laugh at that but I winced when I remembered that my ribs are hurt just as bad.
Superboy's attention was soon caught by the bright white sphere in the sky. Kid Flash followed his gaze and gestured upwards.
"I guess this is your first time seeing the Moon huh?" Kid Flash asked him.
Superboy smiled a little and nodded, but that soon turned to awe when he sees someone flying to them.
A familiar face, wearing a blue bodysuit with red boots, gold belt and a red cape; on his chest was a diamond shield with a red "S" on it.
"Oh,... and Superman," Kid Flash said, "Do we keep our promises, or what?"
Behind Superman, other figures arrived, all of whom were recognizable; there was Wonder Woman, Batman, Green Lantern, The Flash, Martian Manhunter, Captain Marvel, Zatara, and so many more famous heroes.
Soon the Justice League landed in front of them, Superman in the lead; while Superboy met him halfway between the two groups.
Superman looked down at the clone, his head tilted in confusion.
Superboy lifted the ripped front of his solar-suit, showing the crest of the House of El; several Justice Leaguers gasped.
Superman face from a gasp turn into a angry face. Superboy saw this and his face turns into a sad one.
"Is that what I think it is?" Batman asked.
Kid Flash ran up to stand next to Superboy, the others right behind him. "He doesn't like being called an 'it'."
"I'm Superman's clone," Superboy announced at them. Nearly every Leaguer was shocked.
Batman gave the hard stare.
"Start talking." He told us with his glare.
An hour later, after going over every little detail, the Leaguers began talking amongst themselves, no doubt discussing what was to be done with the protégés.
During that time, Wonder Woman caught Superboy staring at his 'father' and tapped Superman on the shoulder.
The Man of Steel glanced back at the clone, took a breath and then walked up to him.
Batman approached them with the Flash, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman by his sides. "Cadmus will be investigated. All 52 levels. But let's make one thing clear-"
"You should have called!" The Flash interjected.
"End results aside, we're not happy." Batman glared. "You hacked Justice League systems, disobeyed direct orders, and endangered lives. You will not be doing this again."
We all shared a look.
"I am sorry." Aqualad stated. "But we will."
"Aqualad, stand down." Aquaman ordered.
"Apologies, my king, but no." Aqualad respectfully said.
This shocked Aquaman a little.
"We did good work here tonight." Aqualad noted. "The work you trained us to do. Together, on our own, we forged something powerful. Important."
"This is about your treatment at the hall?" Flash questioned. "The four of you-"
"Five." Aqualad glanced at Superboy. "The five of us. And it is not."
"Batman, we're ready to use what you taught us." Robin interjected. "Or why teach us at all?"
"Why let them tell us what to do?!" Superboy looked up. "It's simple, get on board, or get out of the way."
"I told you so Batman." I told him while my future teammates look to me in confusion but didn't ask any questions when I told them I'll explain it later
All five of us stared forward at the Justice League. There was silence as they waited for the answer.
Finally, in a moment, Batman spoke. "Give me three days."
Mount Justice:
July 8, 08:04 EDT
Mount Justice was a hollowed-out mountain, and was in fact a secret base that belonged to the Justice League. The cave was filled with advanced technology. Much of it rivaled what was on the Watchtower. I was now wearing casual clothes. A red polo shirt with khaki pants and white and red adidas sneakers.
The five of us watched as various Leaguers brought in equipment and supplies, before Batman caught out attention.
"This cave was the original Secret Sanctuary of the Justice League" Batman stated as all five us were joined in the center of the hall with them also in their civilian clothes.
"We're calling it into service again, since you five are determined to stay together and fight the good fight... You'll do it on League terms." He told them
He then gestured Red Tornado and Black Canary.
"Red Tornado has volunteered to live here and be your supervisor and Black Canary is in charge of training. I will deploy you on missions" Batman continued.
"Real missions?" Robin asked skeptically.
"Yes but, covert." He replied
"The League will still handle the obvious stuff, there's a reason we have these giant targets on our chest." Flash said
"But Cadmus proves the bad guys are getting smarter." Aquaman said.
"A while back, Iron man and Batman pitched an idea to the league about a group of young heroes to operate on the sly and, if necessary, be a response should the league be unavailable for some reason." Wonder Woman says to the group of teens.
They look at me in shock especially Dick since he had no idea I had talked to the league before while also explaining how I knew about the Watchtower.
I internally chuckle at there surprise but was cut off of my amusement due to Batman having more to say.
"The six of you will be that team" he said
"Cool! Wait six?" Robin ask
Batman looked up towards the teleporters two figures walked towards them.
One of them is Martian Manhunter and another Martian but a smaller and girl one.
"This is the Martian Manhunter's niece: Miss Martian." Batman told the teens.
"Hi" she waved to the others.
"I like this gig more every minute" Kid Flash stated as he zoomed next to her "Uh.. welcome aboard. I'm Kid Flash, that's Robin, Iron Man, Aqualad. It's cool if you forget their names"
"I'm honored to be included" the girl stated as everyone walked towards her except me and Superboy.
"Hey, Superboy, come meet Miss M!" Robin called back to Superboy.
As Superboy approached her, Miss Martian's white blouse turned black. "I like your tee-shirt..."
Superboy smiled as Robin elbowed him playfully and Kid Flash put his arm around the clone.
I then walk over to Batman
"Did you get the files I sent you?" I ask
"I did. It will take sometime to break the encryption. Though I imagine that you already started to" Batman said
"I have but it's not much for now. Soon I'll have more information on what Cadmus was planning but it does suggest that they were following orders from someone" I said
"Any idea who?" He asks
"Nothing without more proof" I said "But I will send you a list of suspects until I know more"
"Good" he says
We stay silent for a moment as we look at the young heroes communicate with each other.
"You sure it was wise to have Superboy as a member of this team?" Batman asks
"You have reservations" I stated
"He is a clone of the worlds strongest man and if he's half as capable as you all mentioned then the world is in danger of him. Whose to say that he isn't a unwitting spy" Batman answered
"He isn't" I told him.
"How are you sure?" He asks
"Because I believe that Superboy can be so much more than what he's designed to be. I think, in time, he will be worthy of the symbol on his chest and the blood in his veins. Besides even on the chance that he was, you know what I'm capable of" I answer him
"I know" Batman said with a tone that sounded remorseful
"You should have more faith in people. You'll be amazed how far that kind of trust gets people" I said with a smirk
"That's why we have Superman on the team" Batman said sardonically which made me chuckle
"Speaking of the Big Blue Boy Scout, what's he think about this whole clone situation?" I ask
"He's avoiding the subject entirely. This is shaking him to his core since he's the last of his kind. He also doesn't like the fact that he can be cloned. Especially with such ease" Batman answered.
"I doubt it was easy but whoever supplied Cadmus with such advanced alien technology is definitely planning something big. Superboy is just the beginning" I said
"I'm afraid you're right" he says
"In any case, try to convince the big guy to at least talk to the boy. Regardless of what he might think, Superboy is as much of a person as him. A little guidance could go a long way" I tell him
"You think I can convince Superman to do anything?" Batman asks
"I think that if anyone can convince one of most powerful beings in the world, it's the man who everyone is terrified of" I answer as I leave his side and back to the others
As I walk, I couldn't help but think about Dubbilex entering my mind. I was taught by Batman and Martian Manhunter on how to mentally fortify my mind to ensure that no telepath could do that. So either I have forgotten how to do it or Dubbilex was more powerful than I initially thought.
In either case, his message was clear. We will be seeing each other again.
I need to be ready.
I eventually arrive to the others
"It's good to see you again, M'gann" I said to her with a smile
Miss Martian looked at me with a massive blush on her green face.
"Good to see you too, David" she said and gave me a hug to which I reciprocate.
I couldn't help but think that the team has been assembled but has room to grow. Still can't believe that this is real sometimes but I'm very happy to be here. Because I'll make sure everyone is ready for what comes next