Mental Link
It's been 2 hours since Bruce was made aware of all the revelations surrounding Conner. If anything, it reconfirms his previous thought that Conner had a lot of adversity. Bruce was sitting in front of the Batcomputer, waiting for Conner's DNA test results. While waiting, he was analyzing the results of the scan of Clark's cousin.
Her results were more concerning to him. Her cellular structure is denser than Clark's and Conner's, indicating that she can metabolize solar energy more efficiently. Overall she could be more powerful than Clark or Conner, for that matter, and could be part of the Light's plans without knowing it.
What disturbed him the most was the possibility of Superman willing to kill Conner over the information his cousin provided. Bruce has known Clark for years, and he yearned for another Kryptonian. His suspicions of both Captain Marvel and Icon were based on powers only. He was saddened when he learned neither were Kryptonian but still had hope.
He understood Clark's initial reaction to Conner. To be fair, everyone's reaction to Conner would be something similar. But to outright refuse a plead of help from him did make him wonder 'why'? Was Clark willing to take any information his cousin provided him simply because she's Kryptonian? Both Clark and Conner are victims of all of this.
Conner never asked for any of this. He's only going along with everything to be a hero because he was programmed and driven to be the person from whom he was cloned. A notification popped up, indicating the DNA test was complete. Bruce began pouring over the information in front of him. It was mostly good news.
Scans confirmed Conner's and Luthor's statements. Luthor is indeed the other genetic template for Conner. There're no lasting effects of using the shields on his DNA at the moment, but that could all change assuming he kept on using the shields. Bruce needed to test another theory. Dick was able to obtain the last shield Conner used.
Despite no longer being active, it still proved helpful in reverse engineering to see the effects on Conner. Tests on the shields combined with Conner's DNA showed that it was not only suppressing Conner's human DNA. But it was also injecting Kryptonian DNA into him. It was a booster for his Kryptonian side. But what happens if kept on using them?
Bruce began to run simulations on prolonged effects on the DNA structure. Simulations showed that if Conner continued to use shields once daily, the outcome would devolve him in three months. Conner's genetic structure would collapse creating multiple gaps in his DNA, thus confirming Conner's theory of his devolving.
Bruce now has to think about what to do with Conner's situation. He needed to find out if Clark would "do whatever is necessary to ensure the safety of everyone.".
Months earlier, Clark did push Conner's responsibility onto him and Tornado. Hopefully, he still has the same sentiment.
"If I may offer my 'two cents', Master Bruce."
"Young Mister Kent is understandably terrified. Before today he had no reason to be. His courage to ask Master Dick and the team for help was from a person and a friend, not a mindless weapon. He has accepted that one of his donors will never accept him, which he is alright with. While the other intends to use for his original purpose: a weapon, which he refuses outright. Either way, he is constantly reminded of his origins every time he wakes up and how everyone attempts to enslave him. He seeks something that all of us already have access to that he doesn't: to have a life and to be able to live."
If there was one thing Alfred Pennyworth has massive regrets for in his life, it would have to be not acting as a father for Bruce after his parents were murdered. Alfred thought it wasn't his place to replace them and maintained the distance of a proper English butler.
It was that reason why when Bruce made Dick his ward, he took a different approach and made sure he, along with Bruce, acted more like a father to Dick Grayson.
To ensure Dick doesn't become like Bruce.
Before Bruce could continue his thoughts over Alfred's words or respond to Alfred's comments, his communicator rang him.
"Robin to Batman, come in."
"What is it, Robin."
"A mass casualty event has taken place at Cadmus. You and the league need to get here now."
"I'm on my way."
Mount Justice
3 Hours ago.
Everyone except for Robin visited Conner, who was comfortably resting in the Med Bay. Kaldur and Wally were expecting him to be a little angry, just lying on the bed with bandages. But as he and Kaldur walked up to him, they, too, noticed that Conner looked afraid, scared, and put down.
"How are you feeling, my friend."
"Fine, I'm just tired, that's all."
Noting the somber tone in the room. Wally quickly ran out of the room and grabbed some strawberry jello.
"Hey Conner, guess what the doctor called for? Jello."
Wally handed a pack of Jello with a spoon to M'gann, who fed it to Conner. Kaldur and M'gann were curious as to why Wally grabbed the Jello for Conner, who responded.
"It's good for you. It's a source of nutrients that the body needs. Plus, you can't say no, Jello."
Robin reappeared from wherever he was and from the look on Boy Wonder's face. The news wasn't good. Robin and the others grabbed a cup of Jello and started to eat it while engaging in a mental link.
"Good news or Bad News, Rob?"
"Bad news. I hacked the security cameras to find out what Conner said to Batman, and it's not good. When Conner returned to Cadmus and discovered he was half-human, he also found that he wasn't their first attempt at cloning a Kryptonian. Cadmus' first attempt used pure Kryptonian DNA. Luthor wanted Superman to meet his 'match'. The result was Match his half-brother. He's Conner with berserker rage. Luthor said Kryptonian DNA proved too difficult to replicate, and the imperfect sequence made Match uncontrollable. Conner freed him, but he, in-turned, injured him. Conner used Luthor's shields to match Match's powers and repodded him. Conner looks put down because he's afraid his usage of the shields could devolve him into a mindless monster."
"Okay, That explains everything. What do we do now? Conner's life is possibly in danger from either Superman or himself." Artemis responded.
"We can visit Cadmus and find out. They're the ones who created him; more likely or not, they also made the shields he used." Wally said with enthusiasm.
"You guys go. I'll stay here with Conner." M'gann said, throwing one of the jello cups away.
"M'gann, they'll need you if things turn ugly. I'll stay with Conner." Artemis interjected.
M'gann hesitated but agreed with Artemis and left with the rest of the boys. While Artemis was comforting Conner with more Jello.
"Where are they going?"
"Clearing out all the Jello in Happy Harbor for Wally's stomach."
Artemis and Conner looked at each other. Conner still looked distraught while Artemis was deciding on whether or not she wanted to say her comment to him. Now that they are alone, now is a better time than any.
"Conner, I wanted to say thank you."
"For what?"
"For saying that you're half human and your human father was Lex Luthor. If you didn't say anything, I probably wouldn't have said anything about my situation with my parents, and the whole thing on Santa Prisca and the Watchtower could've ended differently."
"No Problem, I guess. Why didn't you tell us about parents after our first encounter with Cheshire?"
"Because I let her go."
"You let her go?"
"Outside the cafe, I had her, but she threatened to tell all of you about my familial connections. She knew my position with the team wasn't rock solid, nor was it guaranteed. I didn't want any of you to judge me. Being the daughter and sister of villains. I wanted out of that life. That's why I hid it so I could escape."
"Artemis, you realize I was grown out of a test tube to replace Superman. Should he die or turn right?"
"I think they would be willing to accept you before they accept me." Artemis said looking down towards the floor. Conner wasn't amused but still was curious.
"Why didn't you tell us? If they were willing to accept me, they surely they'd be willing to accept you."
"I couldn't risk it at the time. When Roy joined, and after the op in Louisiana, they, blamed me. I didn't know if all of you would kick me out since Roy joined or the botched op."
"Artemis"
"That night my dad visited me, he knew they would blame me. He knew that I worked hard to hide my family and that all of you may never trust me again. He told me that I'm not one of you. He told me that I belong with them."
"Artemis, we would understand more than you think."
"Oh, I know. That night before, my mom told me that Green Arrow and Batman confronted her about my activities. She begged them to help me. To keep me on the straight and narrow. I thought I was some kind of pity case. I overreacted, which is why what happened in Louisiana happened. I realized that I have a position on the team despite Roy being on it. I have nothing to prove. I'm on the team to get out of the life my dad wanted to put me in and do something meaningful with it."
"At least you had a choice."
"Speaking of choice. I know the 'relationship', if you can call it that, between you and Superman is nonexistent, but Conner, you don't need to do this just to get Superman's attention or approval or anything from him. To tell you the truth, given everything he has been through, I had respect for him. But all that respect is gone, given how he has treated you. Let me be clear he has the right the react to you the way he did. But simply pushing you off and aside is just wrong. You're both victims in all of this. But I have to ask: Why're doing this other than Superman?"
Conner thought long and hard at that question. To be fair, he did everything he did to get Superman's attention and approval. But after he was bushed off by the man of steel on the metropolis bridge, he will admit he had no idea why.
"I don't know. I did it only because it was the only thing I could do. What else am I supposed to do? I have someone else's face and body. Sooner or later, someone will recognize me."
"Conner, I'm with you and the team because I chose to get out of the life that my dad wanted to put me in. When my mom got out of prison, she gave an ultimatum to him. Get out of the life or get out. He chooses the latter. I also wanted out of the life, so I decided to rebel and try to make a name out for myself outside of my parent's shadow by stopping petty crimes around Gotham. You need to choose who and what you want to be. You don't have to be Superboy, the teen of steel, the supposed protege of Superman. You can be whatever you want; it is your choice, not Superman's nor Cadmus'. It is yours."
Conner thought long and hard at what Artemis said. The identity and persona of Superboy were given to him. He never had a chance to choose his own identity for himself. When he was on the beach in July around the campfire and listened to how everyone got their start except for Robin. Everyone chose to be what they became.
Ultimately, Conner filed this away for later. For now, he just wants to know whether or not he could devolve.
Meanwhile
Kaldur, M'gann, Robin, and Wally zeta'd to the Hall of Justice and headed to the Cadmus. Their goal was simple. They needed to find out whether or not the shields Conner has been using could devolve him while checking in on the search for Speedy. Batman said that Guardian was searching Cadmus for the real Roy Harper the day before.
It has become apparent that everything has been planned from the beginning. They could only hope whatever waits for them at Cadmus doesn't involve a fight. When the boys and M'gann arrived at the first sub-level at Cadmus, they expected to find genomorphs around the place doing whatever they were doing.
However, that wasn't the case. No, a fight didn't break out of anything. It was worst. Littered across the first sub-level of Cadmus were the bodies of the genomorphs.
"Oh my god!"
"Are they dead?"
Robin used his holo-glove and began scanning the genomorphs that lay on the ground none of them had a pulse.
"They're dead."
"We need to contact Batman and the League."
"Agreed. KF, you and Miss M search the next levels below us. We need to find and rescue any survivors."
Wally and M'gann nodded, and they were off.
"Robin to Batman, come in."
"What is it, Robin."
"A mass casualty event has taken place at Cadmus. You and the league need to get here now."
"I'm on my way."
While Robin and Aqualad were waiting for Batman and the League to arrive, Robin decided to hack into Cadmus' mainframe.
"Robin? Anything?"
"No, nothing. All security camera footage and files were wiped. I can't recover anything."
Their situation worsened because as Robin finished his sentence, Kid Flash came running in with Miss Martian, who collapsed in her arms.
"What happened?"
"I don't know, one minute we were searching level 5; next, she screamed, then collapsed."
"Head to the lobby and wait for the League up there."
Kid Flash nodded and ran Miss Martian up to the lobby, placing her on a sofa while he grabbed some water. Robin and Aqualad finally arrived at the lobby, looking at the two gingers, wondering what had happened to her.
"Robin, Aqualad sitrep."
The two teens turned to see Batman, Flash, and Martian Manhunter.
"What happened to my niece?"
"It's easier to show you."
Aqualad and Robin led the two leaguers, minus Martian Manhunter, down the first sub-level. Upon their arrival, the two leaguers gasped at the sight of the dead that littered the ground.
"We know about your conservation with Superboy regarding his condition. We came to Cadmus to investigate and determine if his theory was true. By the time we arrived, everything was like this."
"All security camera footage and files were wiped and cleaned. Data recovery is impossible. Kid Flash and Miss Martian searched the next 4 levels before she collapsed, and we brought her up."
"Flash search all sub-levels."
"On it"
"Where is Artemis?"
"She watching Superboy while we investigated."
"Have you told her?"
"No, we haven't."
"This stays between the 7 of us until we know more."
"Understood."
Flash returned with a somber look on his face.
"I've searched down to sub-level 52. Everyone is gone. But we have another problem."
Flash guided them to the high-speed elevator and took them to a vault in sub-level 52.
"I was searching around this vault and found this."
Flash found a hidden vault inside one of the project vaults. Inside, multiple G-Gnomes and G-Elves were scattered all over the ground. Flash led them to one area where they found Dubbilex, Doctor Spence, and Guardian all lying on the ground, dead.
"This explains why Guardian hasn't been returning our calls recently. But this, I think, is more concerning."
Flash directed everyone to two destroyed pods. The first contained the original Roy Harper. His arm was missing, but with a bullet to the head. Kaldur and Robin knew Roy will be devastated. They didn't expect to see a body that looked like Conner without clothing and one green bullet in its head and another in its chest, respectively.
"I don't understand. I thought Superboy was with you guys in the Mountain?"
Batman kneeled over the body and opened the lids of the deceased. The eyes have black sclera, light blue irises, and black pupils. Bruce knew it was Match, not Conner.
"This isn't Superboy. It's his half-brother Match."
"What do we do now?" Robin and Aqualad asked.
"The league will quarantine the site for now. In the mean, we need to know what affected Miss Martian."
Everyone nodded and went back on the elevator to the lobby.
While Batman, Flash, Aqualad, and Robin were searching through Cadmus. Wally was comforting M'gann and J'onn. A couple of minutes after, they left. J'onn woke M'gann up mentally. She looked at Wally, then turned to her uncle and began crying and speaking Martian out loud. J'onn hugged M'gann and began soothing her as Wally felt like the 3rd wheel. He wanted to figure out what had happened and more, but Robin and the others returned before he could.
"Anything?"
"Speedy and Match are dead. As well as Guardian and the other scientist." Robin whispered.
"Who… who could do all of this?" Wally whispered.
"It was the Light."
"What?"
"The Light did all of this. While searching through the 5th sub-level, one of the genomorphs was still alive. It recognized me and decided to show me what happened before it died."
"What happened then?"
"It's easier to show you."
"Flash, you're on the lookout."
Flash nodded, and in an instant, everyone in the room was transported into M'gann's mind. They each saw what had happened after Savage and Klarion fled from the WatchTower. The Light overpowered everyone at Cadmus. They now have a picture of who was part of the Light. Everyone saw Ra's al Ghul, Lex Luthor, The Brain, Ocean Master, and Queen Bee. Inside the sub-level 52 cold storage vault, they were discussing something.
"The League will arrive shortly. Leave nothing behind." Ra's al Ghul said.
"What of Match and the original Harper?" Queen Bee asked.
"Luthor?"
"While many of you consider Match a failure. It was a very valuable learning experience, in my opinion. However, he and the original Harper is too much of a liability for us."
"Kill them all. Make sure to strip Match of his solar suit and use Kryptonite bullets on him." Ra's al Ghul ordered.
Every League of Shadow soldier inside Cadmus loaded their weapons and fired at everyone killing everyone.
M'gann ended the mental link. Everyone in the room, minus Flash, was horrified by what they saw. They needed to call the league in. Batman signaled both Flash and Martian Manhunter for a private conversation.
"Call the League and S.T.A.R Labs in, except for Superman. Quarantine everything and work with the team. We need to know as much as we can about everything."
"What does this have to do with Superboy's condition, and when did he get a half-brother?" Flash questioned.
Batman didn't say anything and walked past the two leaguers. He now had to decide to tell Conner news about Cadmus.
By the time Batman arrived at Med Bay, Conner was fast asleep while Artemis was just watching. Batman and Artemis made eye contact.
"Go stretch your legs." The Dark Knight whispered.
Artemis nodded and left. She went to the kitchen and grabbed something to eat and drink. Truth be told after the conservation Conner and Artemis had, they didn't do much, and he just fell asleep.
Batman walked up to the bed, and Wolf raised his head and stared at the Dark Knight for a couple of seconds before laying his head down again.
Bruce nudged Conner.
"Batman?"
"Conner. How are you feeling?
"Fine. Do you have the results?
"Yes, I do. Your DNA tests indicate you're a Kryptonian human hybrid. The Human DNA is indeed from Lex Luthor. As of now, there're no lasting effects of using the shields, but it will change assuming you were given more or kept using them. I tested the shields. Luthor was correct. They suppress your human DNA but inject Kryptonian DNA into you as a booster to your Kryptonian side. If you continued to use the shields once every day, the effect would devolve you in 3 months. Your genetic structure would collapse creating multiple gaps in your DNA"
"So I won't devolve?"
"No, you won't, but Conner, I need to tell you two things."
Bruce waited to ensure he had Conner's full attention after telling him he won't devolve. His mood was better.
"First, I'm guessing you told me about Match because of Superman's cousin?"
"Yes, when she attacked me after Superman introduced me as his clone. I knew it was because I was a clone."
"Krypton had experimented with cloning. The clones would devolve into mindless killing machines. But Conner, you should know Kara was able to convince Superman to see you as a threat and that you need to be killed."
The face that showed relief and joy turned into pure fear and terror. Conner tried to reach out to Superman, and now he wants to kill him. For once in his life, Conner was afraid of the man of steel. But Batman needed to tell him the more bad news.
"Conner, while I was analyzing your DNA. Robin, Wally, Kaldur, and M'gann found out about our conservation. They went to Cadmus to find out if your theory was true. When they arrived, they found all of the genomorphs were killed."
"No… I don't believe you. They... they can't be dead!"
Conner was now screaming, rejecting what Batman told, but he was telling the truth. Yeah, Bruce was pretty blunt at telling him, but at this point, it's better, to tell the truth than a lie.
"Conner, listen to me. Calm down. Everything I've just said is true. All of the genomorphs were killed, including Match."
"I don't believe you. I... I want to go to Cadmus."
Batman nodded and went back to the mission room to wait for Conner. Conner walked to his room to grab a T-shirt and met up with Batman and Artemis at Zeta-tube's mission the time all three of them arrived at Cadmus. The entire building was surrounded by Star Labs technicians and Justice League members.
Conner walked to the first sub-level and saw all the dead genomorphs. He still didn't believe it and walked through every sub-level and saw the bodies of all the dead genomorphs inside the former Project Kr vault in deep freeze where the bodies of Dubbilex, Doctor Spence, and Guardian all were killed.
One of the bodies was covered in a black blanket. As Conner went up to take it to confirm his suspicions Batman placed his hand on his shoulder, and stopped him.
"It's Match. He was killed with Kryptonite bullets. If you remove the lead-lined cover, you would be exposed to kryptonite, and given your injuries."
Conner nodded. He took Batman at his words and walked back to the elevator. By the time he got to the first sub-level, the rest of the team was waiting for him offering their sympathies. He looked up and asked.
"Who… who did all of this?"
The team, minus Artemis, was hesitant to tell him. Batman, on the other hand, wasn't. He knew it was best, to tell the truth and get everything over with.
"Luthor and the light did all of this."
Conner collapsed to his knees on the ground. The team surrounded him and took him back to the cave while Batman, the league, and S.T.A.R. Labs dealt with Cadmus.
At the cave, Conner was in sorrow and disbelief but also filled with anger and rage. Luthor founded Cadmus and created him. He manipulated him to locate genomorph city. Luthor used Conner for his means. Conner can now honestly answer Artemis' question from earlier. He's on the team to avenge the loss of his brothers.
Superman represents many things. One of them was hope. Conner was supposed to be the hope for the genomorph kind. Instead, he abandoned them. He doesn't represent hope. He represents failure.
I hope everyone has so far enjoyed this. I wrote everything like this to find out, 'What if Clark was still ignoring Conner after New Year?'. The reason why I chose to kill all the genomorphs was simple. At the end of season 1, the genomorphs are shown lying on the ground at Cadmus. It took seven years to inform the audience that the genomorphs didn't die; instead were subdued, and Season 2 never addressed what happened to them. But what if all the genomorphs were killed in the aftermath of the season? How would this affect Conner? On another note, I've read the Young Justice Targets series and know Match's Fate. But this is my version of events. Also, (if you haven't figured it out by now) I've decided not to include Zatanna or Rocket because they lack background. I was hoping for season 4 to provide more context to Rocket and Zatanna. However, with a lack of background and focus throughout most of the series. I felt it was best not to involve them.
