A/N: So, funny story, I never actually finished S1 of my scripts, I hope to have them done in time for here, so keep an eye out for a new book dropping too.
The Watchtower; November 25th, 06:54 EST
The sun crests over the curvature of the Earth, shining off the waters before bathing the Watchtower in the light as well.
In one of the areas meant to be an extension of Earth on the asteroid, a red bird with white accents flaps its wings rapidly before landing on a branch.
A flock flies behind it, and it takes off to follow.
Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman all watch as the light breaks across the area that looks so out of place when the curvature of the globe also stands before them.
Diana takes her hand off her hip and shifts her weight fully back to both her feet. "Times like these, one feels the very weight of the world upon us."
Footsteps from behind them catch their attention.
They turn and find Aquaman before them. "Everyone is here."
Inside the entirety of the Justice League stands in the room around a large U-shaped table that is about five steps down from where the four of them enter as the door slides closed behind them. The rest of the doors to the room slide closed as well.
"Our agenda is clear." Aquaman starts. "What's at stake should not be underestimated."
"The decisions we make today will reverberate for years to come." Superman continues.
"And influence whether or not the world continues to put their trust in the Justice League." Wonder Woman states plainly.
"Please take your seats." Batman requests. "We have work to do."
(This is why I love YJ Batman… well, ok pre S3 but I will get there when I do that. He's actually a PERSON and understands how people work! I've said it before and I'll say it again Batman is the smartest idiot I've ever seen. His IQ is monstrous, his Detective Skills are nearly unparalleled- even by advanced Beings. But his understanding of how people and emotions work… is, to be frank, lacking doesn't even begin to describe it.)
THEME SONG!
All the members, all sixteen of them, are around the U shaped table in the middle of the room, only Martian Manhunter stands at his place. "Another expansion of the League could generate another escalation hostilities from our enemies." he states. "No one needs or wants another InJustice League."
"Point taken," Superman says from J'onn's left, "but the option remains to vote ＂no＂ on all candidates. So, I nominate Icon for League membership."
The image of Icon, a dark-skinned man with his hair closely shaven, wearing a domino over his eyes, with a red long-sleeve top and black pants and boots, with a golden O in the center of his chest, secured by four black straps, and a dark green cape over it all.
"Why? Because you suspect Icon might be Kryptonian like you did with Captain Marvel?" Green Arrow teases from across the table.
Captain Marvel perks up at Oliver's left. "You thought I was Kryptonian? Cool!"
Clark shoots Billy a nervous look, while Diana only stares at the Marvel for a moment before turning to Kal El, placing a hand on his forearm.
(He doesn't need comforting Diana, he's an ass.)
"Icon interests me also." she assures. "As does his protége, Rocket."
A dark-skinned girl, probably about seventeen, compared to her mentor she is far more Punk in her look. Her hair cut short above her open cowl that negates the need for a mask, meshing perfectly into the bodysuit she wears under her coveralls- with the sleeves pushed up to ¾ length. Paired with knee pads and heavy-duty boots as well as heavy gloves the only splash of color is her wide red belt with bright blue accents.
"Athena knows the league could use more female members." Diana says smugly.
"Agreed." Dinah says.
"Hear, hear." Hawkwoman agrees.
Billy glances down the row of men he's sitting with, Oliver looks a bit worried, Captain Atom's stern face looks the same, and Red Tornado is a faceless android.
Mount Justice; November 25th, 10:25 EST
The entire mountain is covered in a layer of snow, and the Harbor is frozen a fair distance out.
"Gobble, gobble." Wally says before grabbing some of the pitted cranberries and eating them. "Oh, I love Thanksgiving!"
As he reaches for another helping the wooden spoon moves and hits his knuckles.
"Ow!" he yelps.
M'gann stands in front of stove, cooking. "Heh, those are for dinner, Wally." she reprimands good-naturedly.
"Yelsrap egas yramesor dna emyht." Zatanna incants as she grabs some seasoning and the magic takes over and covers the entire turkey in a perfect amount. "There. Seasoned to perfection and ready for the oven." she says, brushing her hands off.
(Nifty little factoid about Zatanna that I'm putting here because I've been DYING to talk about it since Misplaced. She is Rroma and Jewish. So, minor explanation into what I usually see mistaken in this fandom in particular- mainly because this is one of the versions that while Dick being Rroma isn't outright stated, it is a bit more obvious [in this season at least] that he is, in fact, not White; paired with the fact that people actually paid attention to the fact that Bruce is Jewish. [I am NOT Rroma or Jewish so I am staying FAR away from anything involving cultural specifics or religious beliefs, and if I got something wrong or you feel my phrasing is harmful please tell me and I will change it.]
1: Rroma ≠ Romanian. The NUMBER OF TIMES I have seen this get mixed up is honestly a little ridiculous. Romani is another term for Rroma and some of them CAN live in Romania but that does NOT make them the same thing as a Romanian. Just like how you can be American but not a Native American.
2: The use of Google Translate to Romanian I get because Romani is in fact not a typically written and translated language- rather it is a spoken one- that if you don't speak it you have to piece together the words you want to use with ZERO understanding of if the grammar is treated the same as English [my understanding is that it's not] so just know that it is in fact not the same thing.
3: G*psy is a REALLY bad fucking word DO NOT USE IT! It is a racial slur so for the LOVE of whatever God you do or don't believe in DO NOT HAVE a Rrom Character use it to describe themself or have them be okay with PEOPLE WHO KNOW BETTER using it.
4: YES, FOR THE LOVE OF FUCK the Rroma were one of the groups of people targeted during H*tler's era!
A: Yes, Jewish is an ethnicity. This is due to the fact that Jewish people have been persecuted for so long- yes, H*lter was NOT the first one to do it, by a LONG SHOT- that they have genetic markers that make them a recognizable ethnicity in your DNA- just like how you can tell that you're white, black, or Latine, or even what section of Europe you came from.
B: NO not all people who are Jewish are from Europe, there are people who are not White who are Jewish, however, based on Zatanna's character history- as well as other DC Timelines- I'm comfortable with saying that her family is from Europe.
C: the idea that your Jewishness is only passed down only through your mother is considered outdated [like I said, not going big into it, but this was a question I had and one of my classmates was willing to answer it for me] so while Giovanni Zatara is her father and the link to Jewish side of her family, Zatanna- nowadays, in more relaxed practices [there are some more stringent practices, just like in any religion]- would count as religious Jew if she chose to, and even if she chose not to she is still Ethnically Jewish and YES that's a thing!
Okay, rant over. Any antisemitic, racist, neo-naz*sesque, or just plain hate-speech commentary on this rant will NOT be tolerated and will be dealt with swiftly and none too kindly.)
M'gann uses her telekinesis to bring it to the oven before turning back to the redhead. "Wally, I thought you were eating with your family."
"Oh, yeah. Dad will kill me if I'm late." then shoves a large handful of cranberries into his mouth before running off. "See ya!"
"Wally!" M'gann shouts after him with chuckle.
She hears sniffling and turns, finding Zatanna with her back to her, rubbing her eye.
Realizing she's been caught Zatanna lets out a small "oh" before dropping her hand. "It's nothing. It's the onions."
M'gann steps up and places her hand on her shoulder.
"These are all the things I used to cook for…" she trails and M'gann pulls her into a hug. "It's my first Thanksgiving without my dad."
"At least she had a dad." Conner mutters to Wolf, leaning forward from where he's sitting on the couch to pet Wolf.
Suddenly a high-pitched whine has him biting back a yell, M'gann and Zatanna are completely unaffected and unaware then it turns to a buzz, and a voice cuts through. Conner takes his hands off his ears, leftover high-pitched whine-buzz under the words doesn't hurt it's just annoying. "*With Superman off-world only one thing alive with less than four legs can hear this frequency, Superboy and that's you. Meet me in Washington, D.C. East Potomac Park. Come alone. I promise, it'll be worth the trip.*"
(Ugh, I feel like this scene needs a warning, that underlying whine when Luthor talks is not only DISTRACTING, just a plainly unpleasant note, but also it makes my teeth hurt.)
He pouts a little, in thought, as it cuts out. Then suddenly standing up and heading out, Wolf on his heels.
M'gann notices this. "Conner?" she asks.
"Figure you don't want my help in the kitchen." Conner says over his shoulder, walking again. "Remember the last time?"
"Uh, yeah." M'gann says awkwardly. "But-"
"I'm just walking Wolf. No big." he assures, not even glancing back as he heads down the hall.
(Uh, big, very big, you're like NEVER this chill.)
She doesn't say anything else, turning back to the food and letting him be.
A hologram of a man, shrunken down, wearing a suit with a blue helmet down his red gloves and where the dark red meets in a triangle at a logo down to his blue boots. Accented by brighter red up to his torso, arms, and at the line of his boots as well as a blue belt with an atom symbol on it.
"Seriously? The Atom?" Captain Marvel asks with a bit of skepticism. "Well, how useful could he be at that size?"
"It's the size that makes him useful." Batman informs from Billy's left.
"Absolutely." Flash agrees. "Still, we could always use more raw power." tapping on his personal HoloScreen. "And Earth has a third Green Lantern," the image of the Atom is taken over by a white man with close-cut brown hair. His Lantern uniform is sleeveless and looks more like a vest and pants than the full-body suit the two present wear. "Guy Gardner."
"No." both Green Lanterns say at the same time.
"But we could really-" Barry tries.
"No." John Stewart and Hal Jordan cut the scientist off. (Having seen S3, I'm with them.)
The room is tensely quiet for a long moment.
Washington D.C.; November 25th, 11:28 EST
Superboy lands the SuperCycle under an interstate bridge, unbothered by the light shower. Releasing the handles as he looks to the white limo that pulls up near him.
The front door opens and a woman- Mercy- walks out and around the car to the rear side door closest to Conner. Revealing Lex Luthor.
Only when Lex stands to get out does Conner get off of the SuperCycle.
Mercy closes the door and Wolf is quick to follow Conner.
"Superboy." Lex greets, offering a hand. "My name is Lex Luthor. I'm the new chairman of the board for Project CADMUS."
Wolf growls and Conner looks down at the hand skeptically.
"I know who you are, Luthor." he finally says, crossing his arm. Wolf's growling increases. "And I want nothing to do with you or Cadmus."
He turns to walk away so Luthor "Cadmus has created a new Super-clone." rather quickly.
It has the intended result.
Conner panics for a shocked moment before narrowing his eyes as he turns back.
A basic two-story building stands on the corner, the only thing minorly interesting about it is that it is grey and green.
Inside the building two guards charge forward, armed with large guns, and through the double doors to the roof.
Outside is Conner and Wolf, standing beside the SuperCycle. Conner is completely unphased. "Guardian, fast work on the rebuild." he says unphased. A security camera turns towards him as he names the Hero. "Now escort me down the easy way,"
In the main office, Guardian sits in front of the computer, watching Conner on the screen. Dubbilex and a woman stand on the other side of his desk space.
"- or I escort myself down the hard way." Conner threatens.
Guardian presses a button and the screen shuts off.
"You're letting Superboy down here?" she asks worriedly.
"Focus on the matter at hand, Dr. Spence. Another Genomorph has vanished." Guardian says harshly.
"Every disappearance is being investigated." Dubbilex states.
"Not good enough, Dubbilex." Guardian says quickly, his eyes turning to the door as Superboy walks through.
"The new Super-clone. Where are you holding it?" he demands, heading straight to the desk.
"Welcome home, Superboy." Guardian offers pleasantly. "Now, what are you talking about?"
Dubbilex places his hand on Conner's shoulder. "Brother, you are the only Super-clone in Cadmus."
"All cloning projects, human and Kryptonian have been shut down since your escape." Dr. Spence informs.
"Since my liberation." Conner corrects with a glare.
Dr. Spence clams up, looking away. "As you say. Well, now I'm needed back in my lab." she turns to walk out.
Guardian stands up and sighs, taking his helmet off. Revealing close-cut ginger hair and some remarkably familiar features. "Sometimes, I hate this job."
Conner turns with a lifted eyebrow before looking shocked as he recognizes the face before him. "You- you look a lot like Red Arrow." is the only thing Conner can think to say.
"Not all that surprising. Red Arrow is my nephew." Guardian informs with a soft smile.
(And… this is when we all should've known something was SERIOUSLY off about the Harpers. Because if that were true, then Roy wouldn't've been warded by Oliver and become Speedy. [Yes, I'm not kidding or mixing his history up with Dick's… he had a few more steps prior to getting to Oliver, involving an adoptive father on a Reservation who died and running away to Seattle.] But yeah, living BLOOD relatives would've made that pretty close to impossible.] I feel SO dumb for missing that.)
On the screen is large man with blue skin and giant ivory horns coming out his head when Oliver speaks up. "If we're considering Blue Devil, then I nominate Red Arrow." Roy appears in his new uniform on the Holo. "Roy has more experience and he's no kid anymore. He's eighteen, a legal adult. He's ready." Oliver stands to convince his fellow Leaguers of his protége's prowess.
(And I just thought of something… should Oliver have not said Roy's given name? Y'know, secret identity?)
On his left Captain Marvel looks at him with a proud and happy smile.
"Is he?" King Orin questions. "Red Arrow has been uncooperative and disrespectful. If we reward that behavior, what message does that send to the rest of the Team?" Arthur asks seriously.
"Here's the four-one-one." Guardian explains as the elevator doors open. The room is brightly lit, with several scientists working at tables. "This is the new and improved Cadmus." Genomorph Sprites carry small objects from place to place.
(Okay, I'm not even that old but I sure as hell feel it when my SIXTEEN-year-old cousin looks me in the eye and asks why 4-1-1 is a turn of phrase. Information. It's what you dialed for information. Think the White Pages- *sighs* I was just about to reference a phone book, yeah that'll go well. I give up. Someone else try.)
Guardian leads him through the room. "Dr. Spence and her team are doing truly worthwhile genetic medical research now." he waves to woman as they pass by, though Conner pauses for a moment. "The Genomorphs are becoming more independent, more educated. Some even have names."
They pass by a G-dwarf working at a sink to clean dishes.
"Hey, Benny." Guardian greets. A G-elf sweeps the floor and they pause to let it walk past. "Erin."
"Someday, the work being done here will save millions of lives."
"Superboy, you may trust Guardian." Dubbilex's voice says in his head. "He keeps no secrets."
"Unlike you." Conner quips. "Apparently, you still keep your psychic powers a secret."
Dubbilex remains in the office that they left. "Some secrets have their place." Dubbilex dodges the accusation before getting serious. "We were all created to be exploited as living weapons. You were designed to-"
Conner cuts him off. "To replace or destroy Superman. I know. What's your point?"
"That you should understand the plight of those left behind after I helped free you from Cadmus."
Conner stops and looks around. "The League liberated all Genomorphs."
"Are we free to walk the surface as you do?" Dubbilex questions. "Or has our role merely changed from weapons to menial labor?"
"Look, it's complicated. But first things first." Conner finishes the conversation, turning back to where Guardian and Wolf stand at the next door. "Guardian, could a Super-clone exist without you knowing?"
Lex Luthor watches the security camera footage from the back of his limo.
(Eat. The. Rich. Seriously.)
Guardian meets Superboy's anger with calmness, but also understanding his concern and trying not to undermine it. "It's highly unlikely." he states with certainty.
"Tell me, brother. What would you do if you found this Super-Clone?" Dubbilex asks.
"If it exists, I'm freeing it. Just like Aqualad, Robin and Kid Flash freed me." Conner informs, clenching his fist, accidentally forgetting to do so telepathically and Guardian can only look on with serious confusion.
"Then I will question our brothers. Nothing happens at Cadmus without a Genomorph knowing. If a Super-clone exists, we will find him." Dubbilex promises.
"Look," Guardian cuts in, pulling Conner's anger down and his attention back. "I have my own missing Genomorphs to locate. But you've got the run of the place." he heads through the open doorway. "I just doubt you'll find what you're looking for."
The door to Project Kr is still lit up and in place when Conner and Wolf walk past it. Inside there is only a reconstructed Pod in the center, but nothing is in it.
Conner walks up to the front, looking into the Pod with a wariness that turns to annoyance the longer he looks.
Off to the side, Wolf sniff at the wall, catching Conner's attention. Especially when he starts pawing at it and growling lightly.
With a determined frown, Conner heads to the wall, leaning against it. When he does, he hears a dull buzz behind it.
Ripping the synthetically organic wall off, Conner finds another door. This one unlabeled, but shaped similarly.
He jams a hand between the hands of the door, making just enough of a gap to get his fingers in and pull them apart with a groan.
When the door opens Conner's breath is now visible, the chill permeates the room to such an extent that the door is frosted on the inside.
Worriedly, Conner walks in, his eyes go wide as he sees he's in a far large chamber, on a platform to overlook it, with rows of pods, stacked two high that go back as far as he can see into the ill-lit cavern.
At the first break in the lines of pods is a larger one that snags his attention.
Conner jumps the guardrail and into the rows of pods, surrounded by what looks like parts of creatures, but his focus is only forwards.
Barely glancing back as Wolf joins him.
The larger pod is more frosted over than anything else in the room, but Conner steps up and wipes it away.
He jolts as he sees what looks like his own face looking back at him. Though asleep.
He wipes more frost off until he can see the S.
He staggers back to the control panel before pushing the button to defrost him.
The Pod open and Project Match is written at the bottom of the front-facing panel.
Everything is still for a moment before his fingers twitch. Forming a fist.
His eyes snap open and in an instant, the most noticeable thing is that his sclera are pitch black.
Yet, he doesn't move.
"It's okay. You're free now." Conner promises.
Match's eyes focus in on the S on Conner's chest.
His gaze changes to a determined glare and that's enough to have Conner twitch back.
At that same moment, Match lets out a yell, his face morphing into something dark with unbridled rage. Charging forward.
Match gets grip around Conner's and knocks both of them to the ground, roll over each other, and land with a thud with Conner still under him.
As Match goes for a punch to Conner's face, Conner gets his legs up and kicks Match off of him, and through one of the other pods.
Match barely stays still for a moment after that hit, charging back at Conner and pushing him through a Pod on the opposite side of the aisle.
Crashing him against the base of one another aisle over.
Conner looks up at the still seething Match before he lifts him by the shirt off the ground.
"Stop! I'm on your side!" Conner shouts at him as he raises his hands in surrender.
( I already feel bad for Conner/Match's VA because my throat hurts just THINKING about all the screaming that happening in this episode.)
Match stares for a long moment at the S that is now slightly distorted due to him holding the shirt before pulling Conner away from the Pod and throwing him.
Conner crashes through several pods on the second stack near the front of the cavern, then over the outlook, hitting the right door with a harsh clang that knocks it off the hinges before he crashes into the wall of the main area for Project Kr. Slumping down.
Wolf snarls at Match, charging at him, Match catches him by the front quarters before throwing him just as hard as he threw Conner.
Conner looks up just in time to see Wolf flying towards him. He catches the large Canis, ensuring he won't slam as hard into the wall before guiding him down.
Match follows, but his feet don't touch the ground. In fact, they barely skim it, and he files higher once he's outside the broken doorway.
Conner stares dumbly. "You can fly. Why can you fly?" he asks painfully.
Rather than responding Match swoops down and socks Conner in the jaw. Knocking him away from Wolf.
Gritting his teeth Conner gets back to his feet, blocking the punches that Match is throwing wildly.
Until an uppercut slams into Conner's chin, knocking him back several feet and crashing to the floor shoulder's first.
It takes him a few moments to groan and push himself back up. "I don't wanna do this!" he shouts.
Match catches him by the shirt and hits him in the face again, this time, there's the distinct sound of ripping.
Conner slams into the outside wall of the Project Kr complex, Match's Suit's S in his hand, falling to the ground.
Wolf snarls as he charges forward again, but Match spins tight and fast, delivering a brutal backfist with a grunt that is almost more of a yell.
Wolf whimpers at the hit, as he goes flying back and skidding off the ground three times before coming to a stop.
"Enough!" Conner yells at Match's turned back, catching him in a headlock before he can turn around. "I'm trying to help you." he grits out.
Match yells wordlessly as he tries to fight against the hold. Before kicking off the ground and slamming Conner into the ceiling to make him let go.
While he's stunned Match catches him by the neck and the right knee to slam him into it again. Hard enough to break the synthetically organic covering.
Then throwing him to the ground directly below them.
Conner hits with a harsh thud before Match drops down on his chest. Shattering the ground underneath them and kicking up enough dust to make seeing impossible without enhanced vision.
When the dust settles, Conner is unconscious and Match lets out a loud, though not seemingly victorious, yell.
His eyes once again narrow in on Conner's S.
Still breathing heavily, he turns to the reflective surface of the door.
Activating his HeatVision and burning a more basic form of the image into his chest. Though, due to the fact that it was done in a reflection, the S is now backwards.
Suddenly he clutches his head and screams in pain.
(Okay, so IS Match this world's version of Bizarro? Where do we stand on this, guys? I think it'd be neat, but I'll be the first to admit that my exposure to Bizarro is VERY limited [literally limited to Red Hood and the Outlaws Vol. 2, which while I LOVED that entire series, I'm honestly not even sure if it's even canon to DC Comics anymore and am 99% sure it's not canon in YJ because the Artemis that exists here and the Artemis that exists in RHatO are not remotely the same person] so I don't have that much of a stake in it going one way or the other. Thoughts?)
The video very suddenly turns to static on the screen in Luthor's limo.
Luthor is tense and glares at the now blank screen.
"No, Red Arrow may be eighteen, but the rest of the Team is too young." Clark states plainly.
Billy frowns his words, tugging on his corded collar.
"We're not inducting children into the League." Clark continues.
"That seems myopic." Doctor Fate opposes. "I have been one with Kid Flash and Aqualad." the two are now in the Hologram together. "Both are ready."
"And what of Zatanna?" Wonder Woman asks curiously, as the image flips.
"Absolutely not!" Fate snaps.
"That sounded almost protective, doctor." Diana muses. "At least we know Zatara is still in that helmet somewhere."
Billy pushes himself up, standing from his chair. "Why is Dr. Fate a member?" he asks seriously. "You coerced Zatara into giving up his life to you, or else lose his daughter instead. Not cool."
The Hologram changes to Doctor Fate's newest visage. "Should such behavior be condoned?"
"Zatara desires Dr. Fate to remain with the League." Nabu informs.
"Oh, please." Green Arrow huffs.
"It is true." Fate assures, though he crosses his arms and looks only straight ahead. "Zatara's trust in Nabu is… measured. He desires the League to maintain a close watch upon us."
(See and commentary like this makes me think they/them all the time should be a thing, not because gender is a question, but because Doctor Fate is literally two people being conscious in one body at the same time.)
Conner groans as his eyes open slowly. The bright light making it hard, but when his eyes open fully, they snap wide realizing where he is. A Pod. "No, no, no!" he panics, not realizing he's now wearing another Solar Suit. Smashing his fists into the front glass of the Pod, causing it to shatter.
As he continues to rip the Pod's entire side off, Wolf howls and an alarm sounds.
Stumbling out of the Pod before falling to his knees on the ground.
(Okay, but genuinely, where does this Suit go? Conner doesn't wear it when he fights Match so we know it's not wrecked from a fight. And I really doubt Conner would just destroy it. So, he either still has it, or he gave it back to Spence/Guardian, both of which sound massively unlikely.)
The Project Kr door flashes red before turning green as it opens, Doctor Spence, Guardian, and Dubbilex run in.
"It's alright!" Spence shouts over the alarm as she doesn't even slow down before she's close to Conner.
"It's not alright." Conner growls, Spence comes to a stop and he pushes himself to his feet. "You put me in a pod." he snaps pointing at her.
"It was the fastest way to heal your injuries." she informs plainly.
"She's another Cadmus mad scientist, picking up where Desmond left off." Conner shouts, stalking towards her. "Project Match is yours. Admit it!" he snarls, pointing his finger at her again.
"Believe what you want." she refutes, but still walks away from the angry teen quickly.
"Superboy, please." Guardian nearly begs, placing a hand on his shoulder. "She was as shocked to see the security camera footage of this… Match as I was."
"Where's he now?" Conner demands.
"We don't know." Guardian admits. "He disappeared."
"What?" Conner shouts.
"All cameras went offline after your battle. By the time we arrived, Match was gone." Dubbilex informs.
"And he isn't the only Genomorph to disappear." Guardian then turns to head out. "We need to get to the bottom of this." Dubbilex follows him out. The door closing behind them.
Conner turns back around to grab his clothes that are sitting on the console when Luthor suddenly appears on the screen. "So the truth wasn't that hard to find after all. I assume you suffered no permanent damage?"
"Like you care." Conner snaps. (Sounding unnervingly like Red Arrow in that line. Brain boggled.) "Tell me what you know about Project Match." he demands.
"Very little. I know more about you." Luthor admits. "Kryptonian DNA is notoriously difficult for human science to read. When you were created, the gaps in the sequences were bridged with human DNA robbing you of your full Kryptonian powers. No flight, no HeatVision, et cetera."
It takes a couple of seconds to settle in, what he's just been told, and he can only look down in shock. "I'm part human?" he asks.
"Yes. Obviously, your twin was created with pure Kryptonian DNA. The missing sequences have apparently left Match unstable, insane. I'd advise you to get him back on-ice as soon as possible." Luthor instructs.
"Not gonna happen." Conner snaps darkly.
"Your call. Either way, you'll need help." a compartment opens up on the console, revealing a small case with Superman's S on it. "Consider these a gift." Conner takes it cautiously and clicks it open. Revealing the outline of Superman's S in solid red, and there are three currently visible. "I call them Shields. Stick one on your arm and it'll suppress your human DNA for about an hour allowing your Kryptonian powers to bloom. You will be as powerful as Match, as Superman."
Conner's eyes snap up the second he hears that. "I don't want anything from you." he snaps.
"Keep them anyway. You never know." Luthor muses, then the screen shuts off.
Conner stares at the screen for a moment before looking back down at the Shields in his hand.
"Plastic Man." Batman offers.
Captain Marvel barely covers his mouth fast enough to cover up his laugh.
"I don't know." Flash says slowly from the end of the row. "The guy's got a pretty substantial criminal record."
(Okay, I don't read Flash comics and my only exposure to this guy is through the CW Show, so same mojo? Or…? I mean he's not great in that show, but he had a good character arc, I enjoyed it. How's that relate to what's actually canon in the comics?)
Billy finally loses it and flat out laughs, not bothering to cover it up. "I'm sorry, sorry. The- the guy just cracks me up." he wipes a tear from his eye, then winces when he realizes at least half of them are looking at him with uneasy or judgmental looks.
Flash sighs, and when Billy looks, everyone on his side of the table is looking down at his as well. "Maybe it's time we all talked about the elephant in the room. Should Captain Marvel stay a member now that we know he's really only ten years old?" his Hero image appears on the Holo.
"He does possess an adult body and the Wisdom of Solomon." Red Tornado points out.
"Wisdom does not equal maturity." Arthur states plainly.
"Hey, I'm sitting right here." Billy points out, offended.
"Then, Billy, maybe you should leave until we've hashed this out." Dinah offers, leaning forward on her elbows, as gently as she can.
"No," Bruce nips that one out at the bud, "Captain Marvel is a member and is entitled to participate until or unless he's voted out."
Billy looks at him with a worried but surprised look.
"It's not just his age." Diana speaks up, catching both of their attentions. "It's the fact that he lied about it."
"I didn't lie, exactly." Billy defends, realizing how poor of an excuse that is only as it's leaving his mouth. "I just left out the part about being a kid." he offers with a shrug and smile.
"A lie of omission is still a lie." Wonder Woman states. "You kept an important secret from us. No one in the League knew the truth."
Billy half pouts, half frowns at her, but doesn't speak.
"I did." Batman interjects, Billy jumps and looks at the Dark Knight with shock.
Wonder Woman tenses. "I shouldn't be surprised since you indoctrinated Robin into crime-fighting at the ripe old age of nine."
Robin's image is on the Holo as Batman speaks "Robin needed to help bring the men who murdered his family to justice."
"So he could turn out like you?" she questions.
"So that he wouldn't." Bruce intones slowly.
Conner, back in his normal clothes, sighs as he looks at the three capsules that are all knocked over, the fronts' glass broken out, and the spheres at the bottom broken as well. "Well, at least these are empty."
"Okay, Dubbilex, spill." Conner projects. "When I accused Spence, I could hear your heart rate increase. Stress. You're hiding something."
"From them, not you." Dubbilex states. "I have questioned the oldest Genomorphs. They tell me Match is not your younger brother. He was Cadmus' first attempt to clone Superman. His Kryptonian DNA rendered him uncontrollable so they froze him and tried again."
Conner's eyes narrow. "Who are ＂they＂? Desmond? Spence?"
"Desmond, yes. And his superior and Cadmus' founder, Lex Luthor." Conner's eyes go wide in shock.
He yells out a harsh "No!" as he delivers a harsh punch to one of the Pod's containment bases. "So Luthor took Match." he growls.
"Actually, brother, I did that." Dubbilex informs.
Conner's eyes go wide again.
The doors slide open, and a security camera watches as Conner and Wolf bolt out of the room and down the hall.
Luthor watches with annoyance as the video feed cuts out again, from his limo.
Conner runs down unfamiliar halls as Dubbilex gives him directions. "Turn left, brother."
He and Wolf make the turn, but skid to a stop as the hall comes to a sudden end.
Yet, as they stop, the hall opens up, the large stone lifting up and revealing a stone staircase.
They make their way down the stairs, through a doorway, and into a larger space.
As Conner lifts his gaze, he can only stare, stunned.
At the top of the massive cavern, some G-sprites hand from stalactites, glowing and casting light.
A G-troll carries a large stone across the massive space before setting it overtop the G-elves who mingle in what looks like a doorway but now is recognizably a house, and G-gnomes dig into small dirt piles.
"Welcome, brother, to Genomorph City." Dubbilex says behind him.
Genomorph City; November 25th, 14:41 EST
Dubbilex, Conner, and Wolf walk through the city, G-trolls are building houses that are about G-elf sized. "So you're responsible for the missing Genomorphs?" Conner asks.
"I am. One by one, I have liberated them brought them here to a new life where all our brothers can be free." Dubbilex says. "Of course, I have a dream that one day the world you live in will accept us. But for now, no one must know Genomorph City exists." they come to a T intersection and stop. "Which is why I brought our brother here." he gestures to the right where a column with three G-gnomes with glowing horns sit atop.
At the bottom, Match is chained to the bottom of the pillar, his body slack, but his eyes open and distant.
"What have you done to him?" Conner demands, moving towards the other Clone.
"He is safe." Dubbilex assures, placing a hand on Conner's shoulder. "The G-gnomes keep him docile with their psychic abilities."
"And the chains?" he snarls.
"Should he escape in his current condition he could set back the Genomorph cause by decades." Dubbilex points out.
"So you hold him prisoner like Cadmus held me? You might as well put him in a pod!" Conner snaps, catching Match's attention with his loud voice, crossing his arms.
"Our goal is rehabilitation." Dubbilex's voice is foggy and Match's vision has trouble settling under the G-gnomes. "We will release him when he is ready."
Conner uncrosses his arms. "That's not your call!" he snaps.
Match's eyes settle on the familiar S, his focus returning.
Match yells as he strains against the chains before they suddenly give way and he charges at the surprised Conner.
Catching him off-guard gives Match the chance to get Conner around the chest and fly him into one of the large mountain-sized stalagmite.
Nearly burying Conner in large rocks, as the dust settles, he stands and screams.
(I removed SO many lines that were just "yell" or "Grunt" and stuff like that from the remaining minutes of this episode it's a little crazy.)
Wolf snarls and charges at Match, catching his arm in his jaws.
Match delivers a devastating cross to Wolf's face, sending the Canis careening into another monstrous stalagmite.
Dubbilex approaches carefully, his horns glowing.
Match charges forward with a cry, but Dubbilex simply says "Be calm."
It doesn't even slow him down, Dubbilex backing up only makes sure that Match hits the ground in front of him instead of him directly.
Knocking the Genomorph back towards the growing group of other Genomorphs, as he hits hard twice, landing on his stomach and not moving.
Conner pushes one of the larger pieces of rubble off of him, clutching his head, but getting hit by Match's Heat Vision right in the chest before he could get reorientated.
The shot leaves no visible mark on Conner, though it does destroy his shirt, and Match flies in knocking Conner back into the crack of the stalagmite with a harsh cry and a devastating thud.
Form the large plume of dust, Conner gets thrown from it, hitting the ground and rolling with several grunts.
He comes to a stop, on his knees and elbows, but Match is already flying in to deliver another devastating punch right to Conner's face. Throwing him into a large column that snaps clean and topples over.
Leaving Conner on his back, only just opening his eyes when Match drops onto his chest feet first. Kicking up another massive dust plume.
Match grabs Conner by the neck, with a grunt before delivering an uppercut that knocks Conner into the high open space over the cavern.
Match takes flight and follows an unconscious Conner, slamming a double fist to knock him back into the stone floor.
The hit sends G-elves scattering and the ground cracks and kicks up dust.
Conner pushes the rubble off of himself, pulling Luthor's case of Shields, debating.
Martian Manhunter stands up from beside Superman. "You seem to have reached a consensus that eighteen years is a suitable minimum age for joining the League, yet what of Miss Martian?" his niece's Hero image shows up on the Holo. "Though she is a biological adolescent by Martian standards she was born forty-eight Earth years ago." he points out.
"So, what is the deciding factor, chronology or biology?" Red Tornado asks. The Holo Image changes from M'gann to Conner. "Take Superboy."
"Exactly." Black Canary agrees. "He's less than a year old. Does he have to wait seventeen more to stand beside us?"
Diana sends a look towards Clark out of the corner of her eye. Superman, with his arms still crossed, looks away from her.
Conner opens the case, pulling out a Shield and placing it on his arm. Where it almost seems to glow red into his skin.
Conner's heart beats in his ears as he waits. Then he cringes in what looks like pain before his pupils shrink as his eyes go far wider than normal and his fist clenches.
Match flies in, pushing Conner back into one of the low walls, rearing back for a punch. As he goes to deliver, though, it gets caught and joints crack under the pressure.
He looks surprised.
Conner moves the fist out of the way of his face. "My turn." he snarls.
With a harsh yell, he delivers an uppercut to Match's chin, throwing him back and high.
He catches himself with his Flight ability. Looking down at Conner before rocketing back towards Conner.
Conner charges at him too.
The two end up crashing into each other and knocking the other away.
Conner tumbles back, catching himself from crashing into the floor with his now unlocked Flight.
His unsureness with the ability is obvious as he tries to figure out his balance as Match shakes off the hit.
Match turns his Heat Vision to one of the stalactites, taking it off with ease and catching it against his chest as it falls.
Conner takes flight and tries to use his own Heat Vision but knocks himself (and his aim) off course with a groan.
He manages to hit the rock Match is holding but his Heat Vision persists, cutting to the ceiling.
He awkwardly catches himself with his Flight, looking towards Match.
Who once he's balanced takes off again immediately.
Conner flies at him, arm pulled back, with a cry.
The two crash and circle each other in the air twice before Match manages to send Conner closer to the ground.
Coming in to deliver a hook punch to his face.
It has less effect than it used to, but it gives Match the chance to send a small blip of his lasers into Conner's eyes.
Sending him reeling back with a pained cry, pressing his hands to his eyelids.
As Match tries to use this to his advantage, Conner squeezes his eyes closed. Grabbing Match by the suit, flying up higher and spinning Match around to build enough momentum to slam the elder into the ground.
Match hits with a harsh thud and rolls high enough that he doesn't skid but rather bounces to a stop.
As Match pushes himself to his feet, Conner flies in, grabs Match by the chest, and slams him back to the ground. This time, he stays on top of him.
Delivering punch after punch to the other's face, not even looking as he does it.
"Superboy, enough!" Guardian yells panicked.
Conner's eyes snap open and he looks towards the source. Finding Guardian, Mercy, and several SWAT members charging into the Genomorph City. "He's down. You won." Guardian states, looking around.
Dubbilex closes his eyes and sadly drops his head.
Conner looks at Guardian for a moment before he drops his fist and looks at Match.
Match is a bit scuffed up- and with his self-inflicted burn still in the center of his chest- as they seal his Pod, but otherwise simply unconscious. The freezing process on the large Project Kr pod is fast and only takes mere moments.
Conner stands before him, while Spence stands at the console and Guardian stands at Conner's side.
"It has to be this way." he tells the teen, but Conner only narrows his eyes before looking away.
Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman stand at the split head of the table. "No other ideas?" Superman checks when no one responds he continues.
"Then here are our candidates for new or continued membership." the raised level of the room fills with life-sized Holos of several members of the Team, and the Justice League, as well the new Heroes discussed.
"We've debated origin, gender, size, experience age, temperament, and background." some of the League looks around the room, checking the Heroes available to them. "But what is the fundamental criterion for membership? "
"When all is said and done," Wonder Woman picks up where the Dark Knight left off, stepping forward "the question must be: Whom do we trust? Trust to fight beside us. Trust to have our backs. Trust to uphold the high standard and ideals of the Justice League." before every member of the League still at the table, their HoloScreens reappear one by one.
"Time to vote." Batman says.
Conner jumps out of the SuperCycle, now on a frontage road next to the underpass he met Luthor at. The setting sun turning the sky's blues into purples and the clouds from earlier having broken apart.
"There was a tracker in that tin box you gave me." Conner snarls.
"Yes." Luthor confirms easily. "I assume you discovered it with your X-ray Vision?"
"You initiated the cloning projects." Conner accuses.
"I wanted Superman to meet his Match." Luthor offers easily, still leaning against the Limo.
"And you used both of us to locate the missing Genomorphs." Conner continues, just as angry.
"A good businessman has to keep track of his assets." Finally, he stands up straight. "But none of that is what really bothers you. Half your DNA is human. Haven't you wondered who the donor was? Or have you just been afraid to acknowledge the obvious?" Conner says nothing, only continues glaring. "Face it, son, you have much more in common with me than Superman."
(Okay, not gonna lie it is actually pretty obvious, and DAMN am I mad I missed that one! It's the eyebrows, the chin, and the face shape, and in certain lighting, his eyes are paler like Luthor's [not this one, but the underpass scene from earlier and that's brilliant now that I know why they did that]. It's NOT the nose, you NEVER convince me it's the nose, that's Clarks.)
"That's a lie!" Conner snaps, getting his face.
"What has he given you? Nothing." Luthor huffs and crosses his arms, uncaring of the saddened look on Conner's face. "Not even affection. And why? Because Big Boy Blue lives in a world of black and white." Conner turns away from Luthor, but the man keeps talking. "You were created by the bad guys, so there must be something wrong with you." Luthor tries to get in Conner's line of sight again, but Conner simply turns away again. "But we both know life isn't that clear-cut. The real world is full of grays. Weren't you determined to free Match at all costs? Yet, ultimately, you wisely agreed to my suggestion to refreeze him for the greater good of all." Luthor reaches forward and rips the Shield off of Conner's arm. "And though you think me a villain, you still accepted my Shields." Conner glares in Luthor's direction out of the corner of his eye. "We're more alike than you care to admit."
Conner straightens up, stiff, at that, rounding Luthor. Pulling the case out of his pocket. "Take them back."
Luthor raises an easy hand, in a readable "stop" motion but doesn't touch Conner. "They're a gift," then gestures to himself, from a father to his son." to Conner.
Enraged Conner marches forward and grabs Lex by the tie. "I won't need 'em for this."
Luthor narrows his gaze. "Red Sun."
Conner's eyes go wide, yet dull, by the time he's back to himself the sun has completely set, the stars out and all he's holding is Luthor's undone tie.
(Okay, not that I don't love a good starry night as much as the next, but Light Pollution in DC makes it pretty close to impossible to see that many stars.)
It slips from his hand as he comes back to himself and his hand eases out of the fist he'd been holding. Looking around, confused. Before bringing his hand to his forehead.
"Two words and he shut me down." he groans. "What else can he make me do?" he looks down at the Shields still in his hand. Worried before his anger comes to the surface again.
He readies to throw them into the river, but can't make himself do it, instead he slides them back into his pocket. Walking back towards the SuperCycle and Wolf.
(I've said it once and I'll say it again: Conner in this show is the PERFECT example that every kid deserves parents but not every parent should have kids.)
"All those in favor of ratifying the results?" Batman asks, standing at the round head of the U-shaped table once again.
"Aye." every member agrees, a few even raising their hands.
"All opposed?" Batman checks.
No one speaks up, everyone is still as he checks them over.
"Then we are adjourned."