Gotham City July 4th
It's a beautiful fourth of July in Gotham City. In the park, many people were enjoying today with grilling, games, and other fun activities.
Mister Freeze has been raising the cold with his new ice gun. He was shooting down a family having a picnic from above. Sliding down the ice, he charged his cannon to fire another round until a Batarang interrupted his shot.
"Batman, I was wondering when…" Freeze turned around but didn't see Batman. Turning around, he saw no one, but looking up, he didn't have time to react to a pair of feet smacking him to the ground.
Robin flipped to the ground, sending him on his feet throwing a few more projectiles at Mister Freeze's glass helmet.
"Oh, Boy Wonder, the Bat sent you to drag me off to prison? Frankly, I'm underwhelmed."
"Great, but I'm kinda in a hurry here." Robin was annoyed.
"Kids, always in such a rush." Freeze smiled.
"Wasn't talking to you." Robin called his mentor Batman to deliver the final punch.
Star City
Over at the City bridge of Star City, the ice villain Icicle Jr. was sowing chaos, creating a wall of ice, and knocking cars off the road. Green Arrow and Speedy were shooting explosive arrows to get rid of the ice. One of them put a nick on Icicle Junior's shoulder.
"Finally, I was wondering what a guy had to do to get a little attention around here." He threw sharp spikes of ice at the two of them.
"Junior's doing this for attention?" Speedy said.
More of the shards of ice are incoming. Green Arrow and Speedy dropped from the bridge and raced down with the wiring.
A few more shots and Icicle Junior threw a big one at Speedy. He gracefully jumped over the ice and flipped out an arrow to knock him out quickly.
"Kid had a glass jaw." Green Arrow laughed.
"Hilarious. Can we go? Today is the day." Speedy said, eager to get to the Hall.
Pearl Harbor
At the bays of Pearl Harbor, the ice villainess Killer Frost was attacking the ships, several were frozen over.
and froze Aquaman still. Behind him flipped over to see his apprentice, Aqualad defending his king and the ships.
Aquaman broke free from the ice, "Don't tell me you're not excited?"
"Right now, my king, I'm more focused on the matter at hand," Aqualad replied as both of them charged Killer Frost while dodging her ice blasts.
Killer Frost fired another ice blast at Aqualad, but he jumped up and forged a pair of maces with his water bearers. Killer Frost fired another ice blast at Aqualad, but he blocked them with his water maces and used the ice to hit her hard in the face. The impact sent her flying a few feet then falling to the ground.
With the fight over, Aqualad sheathed his water bearers and then turned to his king.
Aquaman crossed his arm and then asked. "Well?"
"Yes, I'm excited. Today is the day."
Central City
Outside of a robbed Jewelry store, the perpetrator, Captain Cold, was being circled by Flash and his protege Kid Flash. Captain Cold kept trying to get a hit in from his ice gun, but both were too fast. Trying to hit one of them, he ended up hitting a car instead.
"Stealing ice? Seriously? Isn't that a little cliche even for Captain Cold?" Flash questioned.
"Come on. We don't have time for this." Kid Fash complained, lowering his goggles to finish this fight.
Swiping away his cold gun, Flash gave him a finishing punch.
"Calm down, kid." The Flash assured.
"Oh, please. You'll chat it up with the cops, with bystanders, with Cold even. No, no way. Today is the day." Kid Flash said, very eager to get out of there.
New York
Minister Blizzard is on the verge of wreaking havoc in a cold blanket of snow. The Park Amphitheater is in the center of the havoc, and that's where Wonder Boy is distracting the villain.
Wonder Boy looked around twelve years old, slightly taller than most kids his age, he had a fair skin tone, a head of black hair, and blue eyes. He wore a hoodie with the Themysciran bird symbol, cargo pants, work boots, fingerless gloves, and a pair of amazon bracers, "Oh c'mon, big man, you scared to hurt a boy?"
"Who are you supposed to be, kid?" Minister Blizzard scoffed.
"You can ask her!" Wonder Boy pointed up.
Minister Blizzard looked up to see Wonder Woman flying down. Wonder Woman quickly delivered a kick to his chest. Minister Blizzard went up flying six feet off the ground. Wonder Boy caught him by the collar and pummeled him straight down to the floor, coughing.
"They call me… Wonder Boy." He said confidently.
To finalize the defeat, Wonder Boy gave Minister Blizzard a hard punch to the face knocking him out.
"Good work, Wonder Boy." Wonder Woman praised her protege.
"OK. Can we go now? Today is the day!" Wonder Boy said excitedly.
Wonder Woman placed her hands on her hips with a smile, "Let's get going."
Washington D.C - Hall of Justice
Today is a special day for the proteges of Batman, Aquaman, Flash, Green Arrow, and Wonder Woman. For today these five will be granted access to the Hall of Justice and then be inducted into the Justice League. Four of the five sidekicks stood outside the Hall with their mentors to see a large crowd gathered at the main entrance.
Batman looked down at Robin and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Today is the day."
"Welcome to the Hall of Justice." Green Arrow said.
"Headquarters of the Justice League," Aquaman said.
"The next step for you young heroes." Wonder Woman said.
"Oh, man." Everyone turned around to see Flash and his sidekick Kid Flash arriving with their super speed.
"I knew we'd be the last ones here." Kid flash complained, crossing his arms in disappointment.
The group then began walking to the entrance. The people around them were cheering them on and taking pictures of them.
"Is that Wonder Boy? He doesn't look as intimidating as does on TV." One of the fans said.
"I heard a rumor that he's Wonder Woman's son."
"Shut up, that's just nonsense."
"Guys, I can't believe we're actually joining the Justice League!" Wonder Boy said very excitedly.
"I can't believe it either. I am glad we're all here," Aqualad said to his comrades.
"Have all five sidekicks ever been in the same place at the same time?" Kid Flash asked.
Speedy took offense to the name Sidekick. "Don't call us sidekicks, not after today."
"Sorry. First time at the Hall. I'm a little overwhelmed." Kid Flash said, then looked at Wonder Boy. "By the way, I heard about you your new to the crime-fighting gig."
"Umm… not that new I've been fighting alongside Wonder Woman for a year,"
"You're on your way, Wonder Boy." Aqualad patted Wonder Boy's back.
"That you are." Wonder Woman said.
Taking the front entrance, the group walked to a door that reads "Authorized Personnel Only." Just then, the doors opened Martian Manhunter, and Red Tornado were waiting for them. "Robin, Speedy, Aqualad, Kid Flash, and Wonder Boy. Welcome." Martian Manhunter welcomed the young heroes.
Guiding the kids to the main library.
"Make yourselves at home," Flash ordered.
Robin, Kid Flash, Aqualad, and Wonder Boy found great spots to sit. They were at the pinnacle of their lives as soon-to-be members of the Justice League. However, one of them wasn't as hyped as the other four.
The Justice League members then gathered to discuss something. Batman then turned to the sidekicks and said. "We shouldn't be long."
Before the Justice League members could leave, Speedy spoke up. "That's it? You promised us a real look inside, not a glorified backstage pass."
"It's a first step. You've been granted access few others get." Aquaman said.
"Oh really?" Speedy questioned, gesturing to the overhead window above the room showing several people looking at them. "Who cares which side of the glass we're on?"
Green Arrow walked over to Speedy. "Roy, you just need to be patient."
"What I need is respect." Speedy spat, then turned to the others. "They're treating us like kids. Worse, like sidekicks. We deserve better than this."
None of them said anything, just exchanged glances with each other.
Speedy looked at them in disbelief. "Your kidding, right? You're playing their game? Why? Today was supposed to be the day. Step on in becoming full-fledged members of the League."
"Well, sure, but I thought step one was a tour of the HQ." Kid Flash said.
"Except this isn't their real HQ. I bet your mentors never told any of you that the Hall of Justice is 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." Speedy revealed.
The proteges all looked at their mentors in disbelief.
"What?" Wonder Boy looked at his mom.
"What?" Robin asked as he looked at Batman.
Batman glared at Green Arrow, giving him a mean stare. "I know, I know, but I thought maybe we could make an exception." Batman didn't budge, "Or not."
"You are not helping your cause here, son. Stand down or-." Aquaman stood up.
"Or what? You'll send me to my room? And I'm not your son." Speedy spat. Then looked at Green Arrow. "I'm not even his. I thought I was his partner. But not anymore."
Speedy removed his hat and threw it on the floor, the other sidekicks looked at him, surprised. Speedy then left in anger. "Guess he was right about you four. You're not ready."
Suddenly an alarm started blaring. Behind them, the computer activated, showing Super-Man on the screen. "Super-Man to Justice League, there's been an explosion at Project Cadmus. It's on fire."
"I've had my suspicions about Cadmus. This may present the perfect opportunity to -" Suddenly, another screen opened up on the computer with Zatara.
"Zatara to Justice League, the sorcerer, Wotan, is using the amulet of Attan to blot out the sun. Requesting full league response." Zatara called.
"Superman?" Batman asked if Cadmus required more attention.
"It's a small fire. Local authorities have it under control." Superman addressed.
"Then Cadmus can wait," Batman said, then pressed a button to contact other League members. "All Leaguers rendezvous at Zatara's coordinates."
The four sidekicks walked up to Batman, wanting to help, but Batman said. "Stay put."
"What, why?" Robin asked.
"This is a league mission." Aquaman addressed.
"You're not trained-" the Flash was interrupted by Kid Flash. "Since when?"
"I meant you're not trained to work as part of this team." The Flash corrected.
"How do you expect us to fight beside you if you don't give us the chance to?" Wonder Boy asked.
"There will be other missions when you're ready," Aquaman said.
"But the four of you will stay put here." Wonder Woman ordered.
Green Arrow glanced at Martian Manhunter and then asked. "Glad you didn't bring you know who?"
"Indeed," Manhunter said, then left with the others.
Red Tornado gave one last glance at the sidekick before departing with the others to battle Wotan leaving the sidekicks alone in disappointment.
Wonder Boy kicked a chair in frustration. "I can't believe it after everything we've done, they don't trust us."
"How are we ever supposed to be ready when they treat us like, like sidekicks?" Kid Flash threw his arms up, frustrated that he has to stay put.
"My mentor, my king, I thought he trusted me." Aqualad looked down.
"Trust us, they don't even trust us with the basics. They've got a secret HQ in space." Kid Flash boasted in anger.
"What else aren't they telling us?" Aqualad asked.
"I have a better question, why didn't we leave with Speedy?" Robin asked.
The four stood silent, sulking, until something occurred to Aqualad.
"What is… Project Cadmus?" Aqualad asked curiously.
"Yeah, I'm curious about that too." Wonder Boy said.
"I don't know, but I can find out," Robin said, then walked over to a nearby computer, attempting to access the system.
'Access denied,' the automated voice said.
Robin chuckled. "Wanna bet."
Robin didn't back down, working his magic on the computer.
Wonder Boy, Kid Flash looked at Robin in surprise. "Whoa! How are you doing that?"
"Same system as the Batcave," Robin said, and then finally succeeded in hacking into the computer. He made it look so easy, but then again, he was trained by Batman.
'Access granted' the automated voice.
Now that he was in, he pulled up all available information the Justice League had on Cadmus. "Alright, Project Cadmus, genetics lab here in DC. That's all there is, but if Batman's suspicious, maybe we should investigate."
"Solve their case before they do. It would be poetic justice." Aqualad agreed.
"Hey, they're all about justice," Robin replied.
Aqualad then sighed. "But they told us to stay put."
"For the blotting-out-the-sun mission, not this," Robin stated.
Kid Flash grabbed Robin and pulled him to him. "Wait. A-are you going to Cadmus? Because if you're going, I'm going."
"Same here. No way I'm gonna sit this out." Wonder Boy said.
The three then looked at Aqualad, waiting for his response.
"Just like that, we're a team on a mission?" Aqualad questioned.
"We didn't come for a playdate." Robin said proudly.
"We are heroes, and it's time to prove to our mentors that we are ready." Wonder Boy said with confidence.
Aqualad smiled.
Cadmus
The four of them arrived at the Cadmus facility to see the building on fire, two employees hanging from the second-story window. The fire behind them exploded, launching them both out the window. Seeing the two falling to their deaths, Kid Flash ran and caught them, placing them on the roof. Kid Flash then entered through the broken window.
"We need a plan." Aqualad looked over to Robin, but he was already gone trying to help Kid Flash into the window.
"Wonder Boy?" Aqualad turned to Wonder Boy.
Aqualad didn't get the chance to say anything before Wonder Boy flew straight to the roof to help the two scientists. He was able to help them both get back on solid ground by flying them down. When they were safe, Wonder Boy flew back up into the broken window, following behind Robin and Kid Flash.
"I need to borrow this." Aqualad pulled out his water bearers, absorbing the water from the fireman's hose.
Using the water he's gathered, Aqualad created a twister below him, hauling himself up to the window and entering behind the others. Making it inside, he found Robin accessing a computer, Kid Flash going through a file cabinet while Wonder Boy just looked around.
"Appreciate the help," Aqualad said sarcastically.
"You handled it, besides we're here to investigate. Poetic Justice, remember?" Robin replied.
Wonder Boy and Aqualad walked down the hall and heard an elevator ding. They looked to see a creature leaving in the elevator.
"What was that?" Wonder Boy asked.
"Elevators should be locked down." Kid Flash stated as he and Robin
"This is wrong." Robin scanned the elevator and saw something unusual. "Thought so, this is a high-speed express elevator. It doesn't belong in a two-story building."
"Neither is what we saw," Aqualad said.
"Agreed." Wonder Boy went to the elevator doors and pried them open with his super strength. Prying open the doors, the team looked down to see a dark abyss, "Wow, this is deep."
"And that's why they need an express elevator." Grappled for the group, Robin led down while Wonder Boy floated beside them.
"I'm out of rope." Robin reached the end of his rope at sub-level twenty-six, so this will be their stop.
"Should I go deeper?" Wonder Boy asked.
"No, we stick together," Aqualad said.
"Okay." Wonder Boy pouted.
"Man, why I can't fly like you?" Kid Flash whined.
"Why can't I run super fast like you?" Wonder Boy turned his friends, whining.
"I'm bypassing the system, gimme a moment… Alright, we're good, let's open it." Robin told Aqualad and Wonder Boy.
Aqualad and Wonder Boy grabbed a door slide and pried them open, revealing a massive hallway.
"Definitely a different room." Wonder Boy said in shock.
"Welcome to Project Cadmus," Robin said.
The team walked into the hallway, but Kid Flash ran ahead. "Kid, wait," Aqualad said.
Kid Flash ran ahead but was almost trampled by a herd of giant alien monsters.
"Kid Flash!" Wonder Boy flew fast to catch his friend.
One of the big creatures huffed a big breath. The kids saw a tiny alien on top of one of them, and his horns were glowing.
"No, definitely nothing strange here." Aqualad sarcastically said to the group.
Searching through the lab, the group walked into a room where they found electrical-based creatures in pods. "Okay, I'm officially whelmed," Robin said.
"This is how they hide this massive underground facility from the world. The real Kadmus isn't on the grid. It generates its own power with these… Things. Must be what they're bred for." Kid Flash realized.
"Even the name is a clue. The Cadmus of myth created a new race by sowing dragon's teeth into the earth." Aqualad referenced.
"And this Cadmus creates new life too. Let's find out why," As Robin hacked his way through the computer for information, Wonder Boy noticed one of the bug creatures was looking at him, but luckily it couldn't do anything while in that pod… hopefully.
"Creepy." Wonder Boy murmured.
"They call'em Genomorphs. Whoa, look at the stats on these things. Super Strength, telepathy, razor claws. These are living weapons." Robin realized.
"They're engineering an army, but for who?" Kid Flash wondered.
"Wait, there's something else. Project Kr." Robin noticed.
"Kr? Isn't that the atomic symbol for Krypton?" Wonder Boy said.
"Maybe but… Ugh! The file's triple-encrypted. I can't-"
"Don't move!" Someone said from behind running into the room with a squad of genomorphs, however, the man stopped in surprise when he looked at them. "Wait. Wonder Boy, Robin, Aqualad, Kid Flash?"
"At least he got your name right." Robin said humorously to Kid Flash.
Aqualad recognized the squad leader. "I know you. Guardian, a hero."
"I do my best."
"Then what are you doing here?" Kid Flash asked.
"I'm chief of security. You're trespassing. But we can call the Justice League, figure this out." Guardian said.
"You think the Justice League's gonna approve of Cadmus breeding weapons?" Wonder Boy questioned.
"Weapons? What are you… What have I.." the tiny genomorph's horns glowed red and looked at Guardian, "Ugh. My head." Guardian looked back at the kids with a different look, "Take them down hard. No mercy."
With that, the genomorphs charged at them, and the team quickly readied themselves for the fight. Robin threw a smoke bomb and grappled up in the air. Two genomorphs lunged at Wonder Boy but he quickly delivered a hard kick to the first one and a punch directly to the other's face.
A genomorph tried to attack Kid Flash but he quickly dodged its attacks then zipped through two of them, then delivered a hard kick to another one. Emerging from the smoke revealed Aqualad struggling to remove a Genomorph from his back. After throwing off the Genomorph, Guardian lunged his shoulder at him, sending him hard into the metal plates. Leaving a huge dent as well.
Guardian came charging at Aqualad, but he quickly got his feet back and deflected his punches. Sending a left jab to be smacked away by Guardian, and a hard hook to be ducked. Guardian had him where he wanted him and locked him to the wall. Little did he know that Aqualad charged his power to emit electricity through his fingertips and sent him down to the floor.
Guardian being dazed gave Wonderboy, Aqualad, and Kid Flash the moment they need to split from the room.
Everyone met up with Robin who's already at the exit and was currently hacking through the door. The Genomorphs were closing in on them, Aqualad and Kid Flash could see.
"Way to be a team player, Rob." Kid Flash said displease that Robin left them.
"Weren't you right behind me?" Robin asked.
"Are you serious?" Wonder Boy said.
The door opened up with Aqualad just barely behind with the Genomorphs on his tail. Taking a dive roll into the elevator, the doors closed with many thumps and crashes from the Genomorphs.
"We're headed down?" Aqualad asked.
"Dude, out is up." Kid Flash stated.
"Guys, Project Kr. It's down on sub-level 52." Robin explained.
"Guess the only way out is forward." Wonder Boy suggested.
"This is getting out of control. Perhaps… Perhaps we should contact the league." Aqualad suggested.
However, as soon as the Elevator reached the fifty-second level everyone except Aqualad rushed out of the elevator. None of them were eager to contact their mentors for assistance. This is their mission, their opportunity to prove themselves. But the deeper they put themselves the harder this mission becomes.
Robin ran first, then Wonder Boy, and then Kid Flash.
"We are already here." Kid Flash mentioned, then followed them.
Aqualad sighed out his disbelief, but he went forward just like the rest.
"Which way?" Aqualad said in defeat.
"Yeah. Bizarre-looking hallway one, or bizarre-looking hallway two?" Robin asked rather humorously.
"Halt!" Says some creature with the shape of the thing Aqualad and Wonder Boy saw.
"Definitely not that hallway." Wonder Boy answered.
The creature began lifting explosive barrels and launching them over to them. They dodged the attack and Robin threw one of his projectiles only for it to be stopped mid-air. He brought more barrels, but the group were already making their way down the hall.
Running down the halls, they saw a door opening with the logo Project Kr. Just then a woman was stepping outside the door until she saw Kid Flash coming in her direction, she didn't have time to react before he accidentally tripped her knocking them both on the floor. Kid Flash quickly turned around to see the Blast door for Project Kr. closing with the team coming.
Wasting no time Kid Flash got back up and grabbed a metal barrel propping it against the door to allow himself and the others to get through. Aqualad looked back to see the Genomorphs and Guardian gaining on them, so he kicked the barrel holding the door locking themselves in.
"I disabled the door, we're safe." Robin explained.
"We're trapped." Aqualad was right.
"But we're not dead yet." Wonder Boy was right too.
"Uh guys. You'll wanna see this." Kid Flash switched on the lights to reveal a guy in stasis wearing a solar suit with Superman's symbol.
"You were right, Wonder Boy, big K little r. Clone?" Kid Flash asked.
"Robin hack." Aqualad instructed.
"Uh right, right." Robin stuttered, plugging into the computer.
"Weapon designation Superboy. A clone grown in… Sixteen weeks? From DNA acquired from Superman." Robin was shocked as much as everyone else.
"Stolen from Superman." Aqualad corrected.
"No way the big guy knows about this." Kid Flash preached the obvious.
"What about the suit?" Wonder Boy asked.
"Solar suit allows him to absorb yellow sun twenty four-seven." Robin answered.
"And these creatures?" Aqualad asked.
"Genomorph gnomes. Telepathic, force-feeding him an education." Robin explained.
"More like feeding him lies most likely." Wonder Boy stated.
"Now we contact the league." Aqualad pressed his belt to contact the Aquaman. Robin, Wonder Boy, and Kid Flash all tried to contact the League with their communicators as well but were all unsuccessful.
"No signal." Robin shared.
"We're in too deep… Literally." Kid Flash spoke.
"And figuratively." Wonder Boy added.
Kid Flash looked at the clone and said, "This is wrong."
"We can't leave him like this." Robin stated.
"Even a clone has a right to choose their fate." Wonder Boy supported.
"Then we set him free, do it." Aqualad ordered Robin.
Robin unlocked the pod through his computer.
Silence filled the room until Superboy's hand started to twitch and pop in tension. His eyes opened to reveal eyes with a bright blue hue. The same man tackled Aqualad as fast as Superman.
Superboy repeatedly hammered Aqualad like two pickup trucks.
"Hang on Supey." Kid Flash locked his right arm.
"We're on your side." Locked his left fist.
"We're trying to help you." Wonder Boy said, holding him by the neck.
Superboy pulled out of Kid Flash and punched him into a glass case. Superboy then grabbed Wonder Boy slamming him onto the floor then threw him into the nearby wall.
"I don't want to do this." Robin gave Superboy a gas bomb which gave Aqualad a chance to kick him back toward his pod.
Wonder Boy quickly recovered and flew over to give some punches of his own. The first few landed but then the Superboy caught his hand as he tried to punch him again and then punched him across the room.
Robin pulled out a taser, but as the chords made contact the flowing jolts of power did nothing to him so he just pulled robin over to him and then slammed him to the floor. Superboy then placed his foot on Robin's chest, preparing to crush his ribs.
Aqualad pulled one of his water bearers and forged a hammer to smack him in the face, "Enough!"
The impact sent Superboy flying back into his pod, Aquald quickly ran to check on his teammate with Wonder Boy behind him. Robin was okay, but he was too hurt to move. However, Superboy quickly recovered and walked towards the sidekicks who were still standing.
Aqualad got up and confronted him, leaving Wonder Boy to tend to Robin.
"We are trying to help you." Aqualad said, trying to reason with the clone.
Superboy didn't seem to understand so lunged straight for Aqualad but he evaded his punch. Aqualad tackled him straight for the wall. He gave Superboy a punch but he caught it to give Aqualad a hard kick out of the way. Catching himself in the tumble, Superboy went in for another punch, only to be evaded. Aqualad kicked him in the stomach and shouldered his back. Superboy dodged his next punch, and Aqualad did the same. Locking his arms, Aqualad sent a jolt of electricity in Superboy. In response he sent Aqualad straight with a jump in the wall, crushing his resistance. Superboy had to jump in the roof a second time. Aqualad was down for the count.
Superboy then turned to the last one still standing. "Listen to me, we don't want to fight you. But, you're not leaving us much choice here." Wonder Boy said, raising his fists, he was still in bad shape from the previous beating Superboy just gave him but he wasn't gonna just give up.
Superboy leaped toward the kid only for him to dodge and then deliver a hard punch to the back of his head. Wonder Boy then got in a few good punches into his chest and sides. His final move was a hard kick in the groin.
Superboy fell to his knees clutching his groin and grunting in pain.
"Glad my mom taught me that move. Comes in real handy." Wonder Boy said.
Superboy sat on the ground for a few seconds then picked himself up slowly.
"Look, just stop trying to attack us so we can talk this out, huh?" Wonder Boy reasoned.
The Superboy said nothing, he quickly grabbed Wonder Boy by the arm slamming him onto the floor again knocking him out for good this time.
With the last team member down Superboy went over to the blast door, prying it open where he saw Cadmus workers on the other side. The head scientist of Cadmus Dr. Desmond walked in to see all the sidekicks unconscious. Seeing this made him smile.
"Atta boy." The head scientist praised.
I hope you all enjoyed the first chapter of my Young Justice story, please leave your reviews and tell me what you think. I will be introducing a few more OC's into the team some new ones and some that are rememberable to the DC universe.
I would also love to give a shoutout to Dr. Archangel for helping me with this story.