When the elevator doors slid open on sub-level 52, they were greeted with yet another strange sight that left Raven blinking dumbly and her mouth gaping open like a fish out of water. Tunnels made of maroon sludge lined the pathways and were dotted with mauve egg-shaped splotches. The occasional generator or steel drum lay abandoned amongst the sludge, and Raven couldn't help but feel like they had arrived inside a stomach. If the Cadmus of legend sowed dragon's teeth into the earth, then this certainly seemed like the place to do it.
Of course being the hare-brained detective that he was, Robin wasted no time in sprinting from the elevator and out into the tunnels, at least until he reached the first intersection. "…Well, we are already here?" Kid Flash acquiesced as he raced after his best friend, though it sounded more like a question.
"Do we follow…?" Raven asked of the Atlantean who only sighed heavily, his shoulders slouching down like a great weight had been placed upon them. He nodded only once before taking off after the bird & the speedster and Raven followed soon after, making the conscious decision not to touch the strange substance of the tunnels.
"Which way?" Grumbled Aqualad as he crouched between the two and Raven hovered quietly behind them.
"Yeah" Robin huffed, "Bizarre-looking hallway number one or bizarre-looking hallway number two—?"
"—HOLD!" The creature from the elevator declared as it appeared around the corner in front of them.
"You!" Raven gasped, pointing her finger at the creature she now knew to be a genomorph.
"You know him, Raven?" Questioned Robin.
"That's who I saw in the elevator!"
"DUCK!" Kid Flash called as steel drums started flying as crimson horns ignited. It was out of reflex more than anything that Raven threw her hands up in the air and grasped a hold of the steel drums, swatting them back at the genomorph where they exploded against the walls of the cavern around them.
Okay, so they're not empty then. Raven blinked when an orange cloud blocked the genomorph from view and gave the sidekicks a chance to escape down the only free hallway.
"HURRY!" Called the speedster as he propped the door open just enough for them to slip through.
A gloved hand latched itself around her wrist before she could think twice and dragged her after the boys. When she noticed it was Robin, she returned the gesture, wrapping her own smaller hand around his and sweeping him off of his feet, dragged him after her as she flew down the hallway & threw the small opening. Aqualad was the last one in, kicking away the canister that had been used to prop the door open, which gave them a moment's respite.
"I disabled the door" Robin reported from the control panel where Raven had dropped him. "We're safe"
"We're trapped" Raven amended as she floated over to Kid Flash, to see what had him so transfixed. It was odd see the speedster (any speedster) so still.
"Uh guys? You'll wanna see this" Kid Flash interjected as he pressed a button on the control panel in front of him, which in turn, illuminated the large glass tube previously encased in darkness. Inside lay a sleeping boy in a white bodysuit and baring a very familiar symbol, a symbol of a certain well-known kryptonian.
"Whoa…! Is that…?"
"Big K, little r! The atomic symbol for Krypton!"
"Does that make him a clone? Or a hybrid?" Raven wondered aloud, as she pressed closer to the large test tube.
"Careful!" Kid Flash worried, particularly when the young witch placed her hand against the glass.
"He's asleep, I'll be fine" Raven reassured him, though the triad of genomorphs above his crown gave her pause. If one of those things was enough to brainwash Guardian—a Leaguer—then what about three?
"Robin" Aqualad turned to the detective. "Hack"
"Er, right, right" Robin nodded as he slipped his ejector cable into the USB port to do as instructed. "Weapon designation: Superboy. A clone force-grown in…16 weeks?! From DNA acquired from Superman—"
"—Stolen from Superman" Aqualad corrected.
"No way the big guy knows about this!" Agreed Kid Flash.
"Solar suit allows him to absorb yellow sun radiation 24/7" Robin continued to read out.
"What about these gremlins?" Raven pointed to the three in the tube with him.
"Genomorph Gnomes: telepathic; force-feeding him an education"
"And we can guess what else" Added Kid Flash. "They're making a slave out of, well, Superman's son"
"Now we contact the League" Said Aqualad as he dialled his mentor via the Atlantean-shaped communicator on his belt. The others did the same; Robin via his holographic computer, Kid Flash with his communicate headset and Raven tried to find someone with her empathic range. But to no avail.
"We're in too deep" Raven murmured when all they received back was static.
"Literally" Agreed Kid Flash, "So what do we do then? This is wrong"
"We can't leave him like this" Robin agreed softly.
"Uh guys?" Raven hesitantly interjected when she noticed the clone's eyes were now open and watching them with the sort of intelligence that she had not expected from something grown in 16 weeks. "He's awake"
"What? But that's not possible" Robin's brows furrowed as he double-checked the vitals.
"Tell him that" Raven replied nervously as she backed away from the kryptonian who cracked his knuckles like bubblewrap and stretched out as much as possible within the limited space. She barely had time to blink before the kryptonian launched himself through the double-glazed glass and towards the young witch with his hands outstretched.
As glass rained down around them like snow, Raven had a brief moment to notice how the veins on the clone's forearms twitched just so, before she was slammed back against the earth with the air violently knocked from her lungs. Her eyes bulged out of her skull, to the point that her field of vision doubled when her four demonic eyes briefly flickered to life as she scrabbled for some air. Absently, she noted how the shadows in the room surged in reaction to her panic, though that could've just been the dots dancing in the edges of her vision as the other three sidekicks tried to pry the kryptonian clone off of her. "Whoa! What's…going on…Supey?" Kid Flash grunted as he & Robin grabbed a hold of the arm strangling Raven and yanked it back with as much force as they could manage.
"We're on…your…side" Added Robin as Aqualad did the same to the other. It wasn't much, but it was enough for Raven to retreat into the safety of the shadows as she coughed & hacked for breath.
Outside, the battle raged on as her breath came in wheezing gasps that, over time, eventually eased into hoarse rasps. Raven knew that she couldn't hide in the dark forever, no matter how safe she felt there, particularly as a rather large blast that rattled her safe haven reminded her that Doctor Fate was not here to take on the heavy hitter. Of course, she knew that the other sidekicks could handle themselves in a fair fight, but this wasn't a fair fight. Unbidden, her hand traced the large bruise already forming around her throat as the shadows swaddled her tight. Superboy's hand had felt monstrous around her small throat, like if he had tightened his grip even a smidge, her head would've popped right off. It was frightening, and yet at the same time she felt this…kinship with the clone. She & him, two hybrids that weren't human enough to be considered normal; he, too kryptonian and she, too demonic.
Swallowing down her fears, Raven waited for a lull in the laboratory before she flung herself from the shadows in much the same manner the clone had done to her only minutes previous. Caught off guard, Superboy stumbled forward a pace or two, nearly tripping over the bodies of her fallen comrades as she scaled him like a tree. Slim legs wrapped themselves tight around his neck in a pettily vindictive move even as he thrashed about, trying to remove her. "AZARATH METRION ZINTHOS!" She rasped, hands slapped against his temples as she tried to project the image of calmness across his mind. His mind was a mess, that much she could discern. A flurry of emotions bombarded the witch when she tried to calm him down. Confusion from being woken so early, fury brought on by the G-Gnomes running around in his head and the need to be stronger—better—than Superman, showered over it all. All this noise, it made her head ache.
Raven grunted in pain, legs loosening when he slammed her up against the cavern walls as he tried to fight her off. But she persisted. She recalled the trance-like feeling that the gremlin-like G-Gnomes had placed on them when they first arrived, recalled how it felt like a large heavy blanket had been placed over her mind, how lethargic she felt, how heavy-limbed she was. She recalled it all and pushed it towards Superboy's mind, making him feel what she felt and it worked, for the most part. But the G-Gnomes who'd taken up residence in the clone's mind for those 16 weeks had a strong grip on his mind, and even as the clone grew still beneath her touch, she could only hold on for so long.
Eventually, their control far outweighed her own and she was pushed from the clone's mind without much fanfare. Exhaustion easily slipped into her bones and the command to sleep fled from the kryptonian's mind into her own, pulling her heavy lids shut against her own will. Raven slumped forward over his crown before she slowly slid from her perch upon Superboy's shoulders, to the floor where she laid in a puddle of limbs & surging shadows. The last thing she saw was the laboratory door hiss open and the flutter of a white coat flash across her vision before the darkness claimed her.
5 July 2010
Project Cadmus Laboratories, Washington DC
"Time runs short" The smooth tones ran through Raven's head, not unlike those of her father. But this one was different; it sounded kind, caring even, in a way her father's had never been. "You must awaken! You must awaken, NOW!"
"Eurgh!" Raven groaned as she came too, throat sore and arms aching. It took her a moment or two to realise where she was; the deep pits of Cadmus. Maroon sludge walls, integrated tech, domed glass covering her vision and beyond that all, stood Superboy with a glare that could curdle milk. A quick glance up showed metallic cuffs glued above her head—likely the reason her arms hurt—and kept her bound to the pod she was in. How long had they been there? To her right in a similar position, lay Robin. To her left, Aqualad & Kid Flash appeared to be in larger pods, but still chained just as they were, and all them were stripped of their equipment (save for the things hidden on their body, because how could Batman let one of his protégées leave the house unarmed?).
"What?!" Spat Kid Flash when he locked eyes with Superboy, his panic barely concealed by the irritation. "What do you want?! Quit staring! You're creepin' me out!"
"Uh, KF?" Robin interjected. "How 'bout we not tick off the guy who can fry us with a look?"
'We only sought to help you" Implored Aqualad, feet prodding against the glass as he tested the give.
"Yeah! We free you & you turn on us!" Kid Flash agreed.
"Actually, he freed himself…" Amended Raven as she pulled at her cuffs, struggling to get free.
"Not the time, Raven!" He hissed back, through gritted teeth.
"Sides, those gremlins were dancing 'round in his head. It's so messy in there"
"What?"
"I believe what Raven is trying to say" Aqualad translated. "Is that our new friend here, was not in full control of his actions"
"W-what if I—ahem!—what if I wasn't?" Superboy replied, surprising them all.
"He can talk?!" Kid Flash exclaimed, wide eyes snapping to the clone.
"Yes, he can!" Superboy snarled, hands clenching up into fists at the obvious disbelief in the speedster's tone.
"…What? It's not like I said 'it" Kid Flash defended in the face of so many deadpanned stares.
"The gremlins—uh, genomorphs—taught you, telepathically?" Raven asked of the kryptonian as she wondered if the dim lights illuminating them were strong enough to negate her teleportation via the shadows.
"They taught me much" Superboy nodded, "I can read, write, I know the names of things"
"But have you seen them? Have they ever actually let you see the—they sky? Or the sun?" Robin asked, aghast.
"Images are implanted in my mind, but…no, I have not seen them"
"Do you know what you are?" Aqualad pursued. "Who you are?"
"I am the Superboy" The clone squared his shoulders & stood up straight, speaking factually as if reading from a textbook. "A genomorph, a clone made from DNA of the Superman. Created to replace him should he perish, to destroy him should he turn from the Light"
Uh… Raven blinked dumbly as she was reminded of her own family and the fate that awaited her when she came of age. That sounds familiar.
"…To be like Superman is…a worthy aspiration. And like Superman you deserve a life of your own, beyond that solar suit, beyond your pod, beyond Cadmus—"
"—I LIVE BECAUSE OF CADMUS! IT IS MY HOME!"
"Your 'home' is a test tube" Robin rebuked, completely calm in the face of the furious clone. "But we can show you the sun!"
"Uh, pretty sure it's after midnight" Kid Flash interjected, "But we can show you the moon?"
"We can show you—introduce you—to Superman" Added Aqualad. This final argument seemed to hit home with the blue-eyed teen, as the once stern gaze was replaced with something turned more towards awe and hope. All he needed was a little more of a push & Raven was sure that the clone would set them free.
"We—"
"—No, they can't" Doctor Desmond chose that moment to emerge from the shadows, with another scientists, Guardian and a horde of genomorphs at his side. "They'll be otherwise…occupied. Activate the cloning process"
"Pass! Batcave's crowded enough!" Robin snarked.
"And get the weapon back in its pod!"
"Hey!" Kid Flash whined, "How come he gets to call Supey an 'it'?"
"Help us" Aqualad implored as Superboy shook off the hand on his shoulder.
"Don't start thinking now!" Desmond snarled as a G-gnome was placed upon the clone's shoulder, ridding him of any personal thought. "See, you're not a real boy, you're a weapon and you belong to me!—Well, to Cadmus, but same thing! NOW GET BACK TO YOUR POD!"
Father of the year, over here! Raven sassed as she allowed her demonic eyes to come out, her vision doubling as she captured the clone's mind once more. Communicating with another being like this—without the use of physical contact—was difficult because so many things could go wrong. For one, since she wasn't a telepath (speaking more in emotions & pictures than words) then there was a high chance of a misunderstanding. For another, she could get lost in their memories forever, drown in a sea of emotions or worse, she could destroy their minds (hers too) if her powers went haywire. But right now, that boy was their only way out because none of the League knew they were down here and with no way to contact them, they might never find out. She didn't particularly feel like becoming a pin cushion either.
So, with mantras of Azar running through her head, the young witch took a deep breath and blocked everything else out. She ignored Robin's snarky comments ("You are one underwhelmed dude"), Kid Flash's pestering questions (Uh, Rae? What's with the four-eyes?), and even the scientific mumbo jumbo that was probably pretty important ("Her vitals are spiking" / "Doesn't matter, just take the needed samples"); everything fell away until it was only her & the G-Gnome battling for dominance over the clone's mind.
Like two tidal waves crashing against each other, they fought, neither willing to give any ground. It, the gremlin creature born for service, and her, the young witch who was still learning the ways. Raven narrowed her eyes as she forced the creature back, teeth grit in determination and a slight growl rumbled deep in her throat with the effort of it all. To the others it must've seemed a strange sight, her engaged in a staring contest with the G-Gnome, but the only reaction that they would've seen (besides Raven's determined expression) was that of Superboy who halted his retreat, foot hovering over the door's threshold as his face contorted into a face of pain.
CRACK!
A large crack had ripped itself across the facades of the containments pods holding them, spiderwebbing dangerously to the point of almost collapse, but the glass held strong. With that, Superboy disappeared behind the closing door as Raven slumped back with a low groan, seemingly defeated. The attack had tired her more than she would care to admit, but as she lay panting, a secretive grin spread across her face knowing that she had won that battle, granting her access to Superboy's chaotic mind.
'Superboy?' Raven prodded his mind, though received no answer, 'Superboy? I know you're there. Super—It's kinda weird calling your Superboy all the time. Can I call you something else? Like a normal name—a human name?'
'…' Confusion was flung back at her, but no words were spoken. Nevertheless, Raven continued to ramble.
'What about…Conner? Y'know, like Kr? Conner? Does that work? I think that works—'
'…' The chaos in his mind threatened to push her out again.
'—Hey! Hey, hey, hey! Don't push me out! Just listen! If you listen to nothing else, listen to this: You live because of Cadmus, yes, but you LIVE. That gives you the right to follow your own path; be that weapon or person, the choice is YOURS. But you have to ask yourself, what would Superman do—?'
"—AAAHHH!" Raven's concentration was quickly cut short when a sharp needles latched themselves onto her torso and her blood was drained. She didn't know what was worse, the electricity that danced along the limbs of the prongs or the large needle which had embedded itself into her torso. Her shrieks climbed high & loud in the cavernous room, easily outshining those of her compatriots as she wept for help from anyone who would listen.
With eyes clenched shut in pain, she had no way of knowing that the shadows which had surged in reaction to her loss of control, launched themselves skywards. Laden with her magic, they soared up through the many layers of Cadmus, far beyond the normal reach of a shadow. Wings formed from the darkness, four beady red eyes shone like the twinkling stars above and sharp talons clung to the broken building's roof as the shadow-made raven cawed high into the heavens and anyone who would listen.
BOOM!
"Wha—?" Raven blinked blearily as the pain stopped suddenly. Glancing upwards, she was happy to note that Superboy—Conner—had returned, knocking aside their would-be captors with ease.
"Don't give me orders" He snarled, staring down at Desmond like he was pondering if he should stomp his head in.
"You here to help us or fry us?" Kid Flash sassed, his speed-healing kicking in as soon as the electrified prongs had disappeared.
"…Huh, I don't seem to have heat vision, so I s'pose helping is my only option" He replied in kind just as Robin disengaged the cuffs holding him in place before he kicked down the glass door.
"Ugh! Finally! Lucky Batman isn't here!" Robin complained as he rubbed at his sore wrists as he trotted over to the table where their equipment lay and collected their things. "He'd have my head for taking so long"
"Seriously? That's what you're worried about?" Kid Flash exclaimed, "The whole League'll have our heads after tonight!"
"Free Aqualad & Raven" Robin instructed the clone as he released them from their prisons, "I'll get Kid Mouth"
"Don't you give me orders, either" He snarled in reply.
'Conner?' Raven tried empathically. 'Can we get out please? I can't feel my arms'
That seemed to be enough of a persuasion as the kryptonian over to the two assigned pods and easily smashed through the restraints. Aqualad thanked the boy as he was settled on his feet, whilst Raven more or less slumped forward into the clone's arms. "You all right there, Rae?" Kid Flash worried, when he noticed the young witch slung over Superboy's shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
"Ye~ah!" Raven yawned, cracking her jaw slightly as her four eyes blinked back down to two. Unlike her human/Atlantean counterparts, her cambion physiology made her a little more durable than your average human. It also meant that dire injuries that might befall them, appeared less to her, but that didn't mean she didn't tire like they did.
With everyone freed, the sidekicks quickly made their retreat as the Cadmus employees slowly regained consciousness. Superboy could sure pack a punch, it seemed. "You—you'll never get out of here!" Desmond threatened, pushing himself up onto his elbows as Robin handed out their stolen items. "I'll have you back in pods before morning!"
"That guy is not whelmed, not whelmed at all" Robin sighed as he flung several batarangs back at the containers which held their extracted DNA samples, blowing them to pieces.
"What is it with you and this 'whelmed' thing?" Kid Flash puzzled as he retrieved his goggles from Robin, pulled them on and followed the others back out into the tunnels.
