Sylvia Wayne "Lynx"
Gotham City
July 4th, 2010
"Enjoying family time?" Mister Freeze asked as he aimed his cold gun at his next victims. The second he pulled the trigger, the family tried to run, but the last thing I saw was the glassy eyes of the little boy trapped in the ice. "My family has other plans." Freeze was on a roll with his monologue as he always is. Robin and I give Batman a single look, confirming the unspoken plan as the two of us snake around the trees and shrubbery of the park to get in place. Just before freeze fires the cold gun once again, Robin flings a batarang at the barrel, hard enough to knock it out of aim and distract Freeze. "Batman. I was wondering when-" But he was cut off by Robin's signature laughter, completely aiming and looking in the wrong direction. I couldn't help but smirk at the stupidity. Robin and I bolted into action, the two of us leaping high into the air, but staggered by a few seconds. He landed on the dome of Freeze's suit first, knocking the villain into the ground as I sailed through the air, claws first. The impact of my claws against the dome cause fissures all over the thick glass.
"Oh. Both Boy and Girl Wonders." Mister Freeze was grimacing at us as he stood up from the ground with the cold gun. "The Bat sent you to drag me off to prison? Frankly, I'm underwhelmed." Freeze said as Robin and I recieved a look from Batman, confirming he was in position. I put my hands on my hips, feeling the black body suit that clung to my skin. Freeze's look fell to my chest, probably to get a look at the emblem I gained, three golden slash marks, like cat claws.
"Great, but we're kind of in a hurry here." Robin lost his smile as Batman was waiting for the right moment.
"Kids, always in such a rush." Freeze aimed the cold gun at the two of us as I began tapping my foot impatiently with my hands on my hips, glaring at him through the domino mask on my face.
"Not talking to you." I said through my teeth as the gun was resetting. Freeze turned around just enough to see Batman sailing high through the air, just barely blocking the sun before falling right over him, smashing the dome with one punch. It felt good to see him panic and freeze himself to survive.
Washington D.C
"Today is the day." Batman said quietly to Robin and I with a brief hand on each of our shoulders. We were all standing before the Hall of Justice with our mentors. Green Arrow and Speedy, Aquaman and Aqualad, Batman, Robin and I. The only two missing were the Speedsters from Central City.
"Welcome to the Hall of Justice." Green Arrow welcomed the three of us that were present.
"Headquarters of the Justice League." Aquaman seemed to be adding to the fact that today was step on of joining the League. I heard two sets of footsteps come up behind us in a rush, a smirk growing on my face as I turned around before everyone else.
"Oh, man!" Kid Flash exclaimed as he saw all of us. "I knew we'd be the last ones here." He crossed his arms as his angered green eyes met mine. I made a face at him and he returned the gesture as he stood next to me instead of Rob seeing as I was on the end. The group walked together, approaching the hall. We all ignored the fans and press, keeping relaxed faces as we passed the public. Our Mentors slowed down and began walking behind the five of us.
"I'm glad we're all here." Aqualad smiled, looking around as we walked.
"Have all five sidekicks ever been in the same place at the same time?" Kid Flash questioned with excitement, building my own as well. This was day one of playing in the big leagues.
"Don't call us sidekicks, not after today." Speedy snapped at him, but I shot him a look, forcing him to look away. It seems I've inherited my father's glare, and it's helpful in all sorts of situations.
"Sorry, first time at the hall, I'm a little overwhelmed." Kid Flash couldn't help but keep smiling. Sometimes I worry that he's hiding something, but there's a massive chance he's just that happy all the time.
"You're overwhelmed, freeze was underwhelmed. Why isn't anyone ever just whelmed?" Robin asked, his quirk of playing with words pulling my attention.
"Rob, just let it go an enjoy the moment." I flashed a grin, elbowing my little brother in the side. He returned the smile, but it faded as he looked up at the massive bronze statues of the founding Justice League Members.
"Oh, maybe that's why." He was sharing the overwhelming feeling with the rest of us, seeing our mentors immortalized like that as we approached the door to enter the inner sanctum. It opened with Martian Manhunter and Red Tornado greeting us from the other side.
"Robin, Wildcat, Speedy, Aqualad, Kid Flash, welcome." Martian Manhunter spoke as he turned back, all of us following him through the metal hallway. "You now have unlimited access to the gym, our fully stocked Galley, and of course our library." He led the way into the massive library. The walls were lined with books, but I still preferred the library back at the Manor.
"Make yourselves at home." The Flash welcomed casualty with a smile. Aqualad, Robin and Kid Flash seized the three of the nearest chairs without a problem, leaving Speedy and I to stand.
"You can sit on my lap, Kit-Kat." KF offered me, patting his thighs, but I just laughed at him.
"In your dreams, Flash Jr." I laughed as I sat on the arm of Robin's chair, the name forcing him to groan. He's still irritated that he's been around for just about two years and no one really knows his name, not even in Central City. But at least people aren't confusing him with a retired hero that gave him permission to use his mantle. I had issues in the field with that.
"We shouldn't be long." I heard Batman say as a module came out of the ceiling and scanned the Leaguers.
Recognized:
Batman, 0-2; Aquaman, 0-6; Flash, 0-4; Green Arrow, 0-8; Martian Manhunter, 0-7; Red Tornado, 1-6.
"That's it? You promised us a real look inside, not a glorified Backstage pass." Speedy snapped as our mentors tried to make their exit. I pinched the bridge of my nose, knowing exactly how this next moment was going to go down.
"It's a first step. You've been granted access few others get." Aquaman responded, furrowing his brow as the apprentice archer approached the six of them with his arms crossed, glowering at all of them.
"Oh, really?" He snapped, gesturing to the tourists above. "Who cares which side of the glass we're on?" He was raising his voice, making everyone on edge. Today is supposed to be the day and Speedy couldn't go even a few minutes without causing problems.
"Roy, you just need to be patient." Green Arrow tried to step forward and calm his protege down.
"What I need is respect." The red archer snapped, turning to the rest of us. "They're treating us like kids. Worse… like sidekicks! We deserve better than this." He tried to rally us but the boys just looked at eachother. I sighed and realized I was going to have to handle this one since no one else will.
"You know what? There is absolutely nothing wrong with being a sidekick. News flash, we actually still are kids, so being a sidekick is part of the gig. Don't like it? Keep your mouth shut and go throw your little bitch fit in private." I snapped, completely done with his temper tantrums and angry attitude every time I have to be in the same room with him.
"You're kidding, right? You're playing their game? Why? Today was supposed to be the day, step one in becoming Full-fledged members of The League." Speedy approached me, making an attempt to make me feel small as he looked down upon me. It took everything I had not to give into the instinct to punch him right in the mouth.
"Well, sure, but I thought step one was a tour of the HQ." Kid shrugged as he leaned forward in his chair.
"Except the hall isn't The League's real HQ." Speedy dropped the bomb and everyone was either shocked or angry in the room. "I bet they never told you it's just a false front for tourists and a pit stop for catching Zeta Beam Teleporter Tubes to the real thing, an orbiting satellite called the Watchtower." This wasn't news for me. I accidentally connected to the satellite's computer from the Batcave a while back and didn't tell anyone.
"I know, I know, but I thought maybe we could make an exception…? Or not." Green Arrow tried to defend his protege, but the sharing of a major League secret was boding well for him either. Batman crossed his arms, not even needing to convey his aggravation and disappointment with words.
"You're not helping your cause here, son. Stand down or-" Aquaman tried to calm the situation, but Speedy was relentless.
"Or what? You'll send me to my room? And I'm not your son! I'm not even his. I thought I was his partner, but not anymore." Speedy disgraced his mentor by removing his yellow hat and throwing it to the ground. Everyone looked in shock at the little display as he walked past us. Guess they're right about you four. You're not ready." He stepped out, crushing the three around me, but I just wanted you yell at him. Batman gave me a look and I immediately kept my mouth shut as an alarm blared and the computer recieved an incoming transition.
"Superman to Justice League. There's been an explosion at project Cadmus. It's on fire." The report came in but none of us knew exactly what he was talking about.
"I've had my suspicions about Cadmus. This may present the perfect opportunity to in-" I knew Batman was about to say investigate, but there was another incoming transmission.
"Zatara to Justice League. The sorcerer Wotan is using the amulet of aten to blot out the sun. Requesting full League response." The italian magician seemed on edge, Wotan was not easily out matched, even by someone as accomplished as Zatara.
"Superman?" Batman looked to the former transmission to aid in his decision.
"It's a small fire. Local authorities have it under control." Superman relinquished the information and everything about it seemed to drop.
"Then Cadmus can wait. All leaguers rendezvous at Zatara's coordinates. Batman out." He sent out his own transmission on the League wide radio frequency. "Stay put." He ordered.
"What?" I exclaimed, knowing what today was supposed to mean.
"Why?" Robin was right on my tail with the irritation of being left out when today was supposed to be the day.
"This is a League mission." Aquaman put his hands on his hips, trying to be stern after what just happened with Speedy. I felt a low growl rise in my throat as we were being sidelined.
"You're not trained." Flash decided to add but all four of us were collectively growing angrier by the second.
"Since when?" Kid Flash's voice cracked as he snapped at his own mentor.
"I meant you're not trained to work as part of this team." Flash gestured to Batman and Aquaman. I had half a mind to make a remark about the other Leaguers beside the three of them.
"There will be other missions when you're ready." Aquaman tried to defuse the situation, but they were all just making us sound incapable.
"But for now, stay put." Batman ordered more harshly this time, giving everyone the famous Bat-glare, but I just snorted, giving him the look right back. The second the Leaguers were gone, the conversation about what just happened ensued.
"When we're ready? How are we ever supposed to be ready when they treat us like sidekicks?" Kid Flash raised his voice, his aggravation visible on his face as he threw his arms.
"My mentor, my king, I thought he trusted me." Aqualad stayed composed, he just looked down to the floor.
"Trust? They don't even trust us with the basics! They've got a secret HQ in space!" KF raised his voice again, going all out with his arm motions.
"You gotta let it go. They need to be absolutely sure that all five of us were ready before we were going to learn that." I tried to defend them on keeping secrets, seeing as we aren't apart of the League, therefore we didn't actually have the clearance for that.
"What else aren't they telling us?" Aqualad raised his eyebrows, looking at the rest of us.
"Oh just things like stealth missions and recon." I grumbled under the breath.
"I have a better question." Robin sighed. "Why didn't we leave with Speedy?" With that, everyone looked down, ashamed. But I knew what I stood for. After everything I've been through, you have to know your place or else you get hurt.
"What is project Cadmus?" Aqualad asked after a few moments of empty silence.
"Don't know, but we can find out." Robin and I shared a smirk before the two of us race to the computer, our fingers flying across the control panel.
"Access denied." The computer laughed but just smirked.
"Wanna bet?" I chuckled at the computer, sharing another look with my little brother. The two of us knew exactly what to do as with decoded different packets simultaneously to break into the mainframe.
"Whoa! How are you doing that?" Kid Flash was confused at the speed we were going.
"Same system as the batcave." Robin smiled, giving me a fist bump the second we finished.
"Access granted." The computer finally complied to us, revealing files and an image of Cadmus.
"All right. Project Cadmus. Genetics lab here in D.C. That's all there is, but if Batman's suspicious, maybe we should investigate." Robin's little thought brought the excitement of today back.
"Solve their case before they do. It would be poetic justice." Aqualad was beginning to catch our drift.
"They're all about justice." I remarked, resting my gloved hands on my gold utility belt.
"But they said stay put." The atlantean was having second thought, being so obedient to his king, he must not be used to this kind of thing. It even got to Kid Flash, but Robin and my hearts were set.
"For the blotting out the sun mission, not this." Robin persuaded the two boys.
"Wait. Are you going to Cadmus? Because if you're going, I'm going." Kid Flash put a hand on Rob's shoulder, looking at me. The three of us grew mischievous smiles, looking at Aqualad, hoping he would come along with us.
"Just like that we're a team on a mission?" The Atlantean seemed to be coming around.
"We didn't come for a playdate." I lost my smile, seriousness crossing my face. It was game time.