The water thrust SB's body into the back of the air vent with a mighty blow. Fortunately, for Lutwidge, he was able to turn the corner fast enough to avoid the powerful blast. He watched as the boy of steel was pressed by a tremendous wall of continuous rushing water against the back of the air vent.


Superboy was being pushed hard against the metal surface with barely enough time to think. The pressure increased and he was beginning to feel the world go black. He tried to break out the metal wall he was being pressed up against with his ttk. But he couldn't concentrate with the water enveloping him in a watery prison. Kon's last breath escaped his throat and the water no longer seemed that painful. Just as it appeared as though the young hero was done for, the back of the vent busted open from the immense pressure sending Superboy flying into a line of white cabinets.


"Superboy?!" Red Tornado question almost shocked (well, as shocked as an android could get). Superboy fell to the ground weakly but climbed to his hands and knees. He coughed up a little water before responding.


"R…Reddy?" He questioned eyes focused on the ground. Before Red Tornado had a chance to respond Lutwidge flew out of the dark air vent SB had recently emerged from. Red Tornado quickly reacted, catching him before he hit the already broken cabinets.


"You should've let him hit." A dark voice came from within the vent. Marina slowly slid out of the darkened vent down to the white floor of the laboratory. It seemed that the exact passage of the vents Superboy was traveling through connected directly to the laboratory. Marina's tiny feet reformed upon contact with the white tiled floor. "Now, you die as well." She aimed her slender arm toward the three. The water from the vents rejoined and began to rush into the room. The water started to fill up the room.


"Not this again." Superboy murmured as he climbed to his feet. Marina just laughed evilly.


"There's nothing you can do…but die!" She began to laugh again but her laugh slowly faded and her eyes closed slightly. She began to tip backward and the water cease to flow. Marina closed her eyes and fell backward. In the blink of an eye, Superboy "appeared" behind her and caught the falling girl.


"Thank God. I thought I was going to have to make another hole in the wall." SB smiled as he walked over to Red knee deep in water. Marina curled up slightly in Superboy's arms, almost as if she were sleeping.


Lutwidge, stood up and began to dust himself off. He glanced up at the ones who had saved him. He growled a bit under his breath and then noticed that Superboy was holding Marina in his arms. He was enraged but then he suddenly thought of what a good opportunity it was. Confidently, he walked over to SB.


"Now son," Lutwidge began, "I think it's best after this sort of calamity to hand her over to the people who understand how to deal with her correctly. If you'll just-"


"Deal with her correctly?!" Kon yelled angrily, "By doing what? Putting her in the wabe? By doing all sorts of painful tests for 'science sake'?! Well let me tell you something Lutwidge: She..she's…n-not…she…" Superboy trailed off and grabbed his head with one hand, "Ah…my…my head!" He said clenching his teeth. SB closed his eyes tightly and held onto Marina who was resting peacefully.


At first, Lutwidge was confused. He had no idea what was going on. Suddenly, it hit him, Superboy must've also been infected with the disease! Of course! Why hadn't it hit him sooner? He smirked and walked closer to the pained Kon-el.


"Turns out this is a better deal than I had expected. Hurts bad doesn't it?" Lutwidge asked smugly, "You'd really like for that pain to stop wouldn't ya?" Superboy gave out a yelp. His head hurt so badly, like someone had started a fire in the back of his skull. SB was shaking all over and he couldn't hold on any longer. He dropped Marina and fell unconscious into the water. Lutwidge took this opportunity and grabbed her quickly. "I knew you'd make the right decision." Lutwidge almost laughed when Red Tornado came up from behind him.


"It would be in your best interests to give her back and leave peacefully, Lutwidge." Red Tornado glared down at Lutwidge.


"What are you going to do about it? You touch me and she'll get hurt. I wouldn't take that chance if I were you." While Lutwidge said this he held a small device in his hand that looked something similar to a prod.


"I was more motioning toward the fact that when Superboy wakes up, he will be quite angry. And I believe he is going to destroy anything that happens to be in this room. That includes you."


Lutwidge stopped for a moment. He completely forgot about that part of the disease. He slowly looked over toward where Superboy lay face up in the water. Lutwidge felt like a complete idiot. He then turned back toward Red Tornado.


"Then both of us should get out of here before he wakes up." Lutwidge yelled and started to slosh through the water to the door. Red Tornado spoke again.


"There is something else, Lutwidge. There is a very familiar person waiting out there. I don't think she'll be too happy to see you. Especially after what you tried to threaten her with." Red Tornado said in his monotone voice. Lutwidge stopped again. Why did there have to be so many complications?


At that moment Secret's voice was heard through the door, "What's going on? Are you okay Red Tornado?" She asked with concern.


"Secret don't come in!" Red Tornado looked toward Lutwidge and said, "Although I may be needing you real soon."


"All the better," He said trying to cover up his nervousness, "then I can have both of them and you can be on your way." Lutwidge turned back toward the door.


"What about the antidote, Lutwidge?"


"You fool!" Lutwidge cried in anger still holding Marina, "He could wake up at any second! We're only wasting time. I thought I had mentioned that there is no antidote!" Lutwidge picked up his pace and was just about to open the door when he heard Red Tornado coming closer toward him.


"I hope for your sake, there is."


"What do you mean?"


"Of course you know that you are infected with the disease yourself." John said nonchalantly.


"What in the blazes are you talking about?!" Lutwidge yelled, his face growing red.


"You know that this certain ailment is carried through touch, especially through water. Marina is made out of water and she can probably not keep her form very well. She's probably seeping through your suit as I speak." Lutwidge looked at his jacket to see it was soaking wet. "Not to mention," Red Tornado added, "that all the water in this room has in one way been in contact with someone infected with the disease. That means that the water you are currently standing in is filled with your biological weapon, Lutwidge." Lutwidge froze in place; he hadn't even taken those factors into consideration. He looked toward a white case resting on one of the counters.


"In there." Lutwidge nodded toward the container as if he'd been defeated. "It's in that white container. Let's get out of here now before he wakes up!"


Red Tornado grabbed the case and walked toward the door when suddenly his ankle was grabbed. Red Tornado took a look to see a red glove was holding onto his ankle. He quickly looked back to see Superboy's eyes were still closed but his hand had somehow grabbed onto his ankle. Red Tornado began to unlatch his hand (balancing the container in his other arm) when suddenly, Superboy's eyes opened.