Chapter 1: Independence Day

Washington, D.C.

July 4, 14:00 EDT

After taking Icicle Sr. to Belle Reve, Hal and I are flying our way to Washington now. I try to go faster and faster every second, wanting to get to the Hall now. Hal takes notice of my picked up speed and does the same. "Think you can get there before me?", Hal yells at me while flying at high speeds.

"I don't think I can - I know I can Hal!" I yell back to him ever so confidently while I pick up more speed.

Hal laughs at my comeback, making him go faster and not want be shown up by me. With how fast we're flying right now, we might be able to match up against the Flash and Kid Flash in a race. I bet I would take on Kid Flash in a race.

Before I even knew it, I made it to Washington, and soon after, I see the Hall of Justice as well. I look behind me to see Hal a little behind. Yes, I'm actually faster than Hal Jordan! Wait til Carol hears this.

Down below on the ground, I see three pairs of men and teenagers. Though I can't tell who they are exactly, I know for sure it's definitely some of the others.

I do my best to slow down and make it to the ground as safe as I could. I've seen Hal crash some of Carol's test planes, I did not want to end up like one of his planes, splattered and scrapped all over the ground.

I touch ground safely behind the others. Now being able to see them clearly and not as blurs, I see the heroes in front of me are Batman and Robin, Green Arrow and Speedy, Aquaman and Aqualad.

I notice that the Flash and Kid Flash aren't here either. Wally's gonna hate being late to this, and knowing that I beat him to it.

I turn around to see Hal slowing down and landing on solid ground just after. As soon as he catches his breath, I go off. "Whoooo! Yes! Told you I could beat you to the Hall!" My elated screams of joy were taken notice by the pairs in front of them, as they all turned around to see me taunting my victory over Hal.

"Looks like you beat me Kyle", Hal still catching his breath. "I'm usually the best flyer around here, hope I'm not losing my edge." He then looked up to see his fellow Leaguers and their protégés looking our way, with me turning around to see them too. "Well, hello everyone."

While Batman kept his face as still as ever, Robin laughed as I kept smiling over my victory against Hal Jordan in a race. Green Arrow and Aquaman showed their gladness at seeing us more than Batman did. Speedy waved off my noise, while Aqualad smiled towards me.

"GL!", Robin called out to me, as I turn and return the favor as we slap our hands together. "Boy Wonder!"

"It is good to see you my friend", said Aqualad, bringing out his hand towards me. I bring out my hand towards his, shaking it with a tight grip. "It's good to see you too Kaldur."

Speedy comes forward finally, saying "About time you got here. I were wondering if you were gonna make it at all."

"Are you kidding? There's no way I'd miss this, just like I know any of you wouldn't miss it either."

Throughout my three years as a Green Lantern, I've met Robin, Speedy, Aqualad and Kid Flash at different places and different times. But I'd still been good friends with all them. They've all known each other longer than I have, but I know that my friendship with them is as strong as theirs are with each other.

I looked around to double check for any speedsters. "I see Wally hasn't gotten here yet. He calls himself Kid Flash and yet he's the last one to make it."

Robin laughed at my comment, adding "Yeah I don't think KF is gonna like that you made it before him."

The Leaguers called to their protégés at their side, as I stand proud next to Hal and I look towards the Hall of Justice.

"Today is the day", Batman says.

"Welcome to the Hall of Justice", says Green Arrow.

"Headquarters for the Justice League", Aquaman adds.

"And you're first step into the Justice League", Green Lantern finishes. "You've guys have really earned this." I can feel Hal's pride filling, his hand placed on my shoulder so proudly.

"Aww man!", someone said not far behind them, making everyone turn around. Well it's about time.

Flash and Kid Flash come running in from Central City, with KF looking agitated. "I knew we'd be the last ones here", he told his mentor angrily.

"Now we can finally get started", Batman says as everyone is here now.

We all make our way to the Hall, with fans at our sides, taking pictures of us and being in awe of us all being there. I kept hearing people confusing some of our names, some thinking that Kid Flash was Speedy and I was called Green Lantern, Jr. Me and the guys are not fans of people not recognizing us like they do with the Leaguers, not truly knowing who we are and only seeing us as sidekicks.

I also have to be careful not to use the word sidekick around Speedy. Roy has always had a temper, but it really came out when people called him a sidekick or a junior hero. I hasn't a fan of it either, but he didn't let it get to him like Roy did.

"I'm glad we're all here", Kaldur said.

"Same here, couldn't imagine doing this with anyone else", I told my friends.

Kid Flash added, "Have all five sidekicks ever been in the same place at the same time?"

"Don't call us sidekicks", Speedy angrily retorted. "Not after today."

"Sorry. First time at the Hall. I'm a little overwhelmed."

"You're overwhelmed, Freeze was under whelmed. Why isn't anyone just whelmed?", Robin went on to make a point about being whelmed. And when we all stepped inside the Hall, seeing the giant statues of the seven founding members of the Justice League, he didn't need to say anymore about it. "Oh, maybe that's why."

He walk our way to the inter sanctum, and the doors open with Martian Manhunter and Red Tornado ready to greet us. J'onn came forward, greeting us teens. "Robin, Speedy, Aqualad, Kid Flash, Green Lantern. Welcome."

We all then walked into the inner sanctum, as J'onn continued on to say, "You know have unlimited access to the gym, our fully stocked galley, and of course, our library."

"Make yourselves at home", Flash tells us, which I agree to happily. "Don't mind if I do." Robin, Aqualad, Kid and I sit down while Speedy stays standing, looking cross with the Leaguers.

I overhear Batman saying something about how five ice villains attacked on the same day. Five ice villains? First Icicle Sr. in Coast City, then Mr. Freeze in Gotham and Icicle Jr. in Star. Who did Aqualad and Kid Flash have to deal with? Now this can't be a coincidence for sure.

Knowing the Dark Knight, he probably thought what I think, that these attacks were not a coincidence. Something bigger is at play for sure, but how big I'm not sure really.

All the Leaguers were being scanned by their computer system and about to leave for the next room, until we all hear, "That's it?" The Leaguers and all of us turn our attention to Speedy, who looks angrier than I've ever seen him.

"You promised us a real look inside, not a glorified backstage pass.

"This is a first step", as Aquaman interjects. "You've been granted access few others get."

"Oh really?" Speedy raises his hand, pointing to the tourists. "Who cares what side of the glass we're on."

Green Arrow steps in, telling him "Roy, you just need to be patient."

"What I need is respect." Speedy then turns to his friends for support. "They're treating us like kids, worse - like sidekicks. We deserve better than this."

Me, Robin, Kaldur and Wally all look at each other, not wanting to speak against our mentors. I decide to stand up and speak my mind. "We deserve what we earn, and we've all worked hard to earn this. You say you want respect? You have to earn that too and you're outburst right now, it's not going to earn that respect. And you say they're treating us like kids, but right now you're the only one acting like a little kid, hoping to get what he wants with his baby tantrum."

Roy looks at me in shock as does Robin, Aqualad and Kid. I've wanted this just as much as Roy has, but just because it's not what I wanted it to be I'm gonna turn around and make a fuss about it. I've always tried my best to stay calm and prevent a fight from happening, especially between friends. As much as Roy is my friend, I can't let him show such disrespect to our mentors, and to us.

Roy shakes his head and moves forward, pushing me to the side and looking towards the others, probably hoping they'll stand with him. But they just look at each other and stay in silence. Can't say I don't blame them.

"You're kidding right? You're playing their game? Why?! Today was supposed to be the day. Step one into becoming full fledged members of the Justice League."

"Yeah sure, but I thought step one was a tour of the HQ?", Wally questions his friend.

"Except the Hall is the League's real HQ!" I turn towards him in surprise, as does the others. I turn to the Leaguers to see they are as shocked as well.

"I bet they never told you it's 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."

As shocked as I am about this, it does make sense know that I think about it. Sometimes after fighting a super villain in Coast City or a mission from the Corps, Hal would go off back into space, telling me the Guardians of the Universe needed to speak to him. But sometimes I would follow him, tracking his ring coordinates. The coordinates never led to Oa, but on some asteroid near Earth's atmosphere.

I look my way towards Jordan, who's expression has guilt written all over it. He must feel terrible for not telling me about this Watchtower. I've trusted Hal ever since I met him, and even after finding this out, I still do.

"You're not helping your cause, son", Aquaman tells Roy. "Stand down, or -"

"Or what? You'll send me to my room?", Roy replies angrily. "And I'm not your son! I'm not even his. I thought I was his partner, but not anymore." Roy finishes his rant with him throwing his yellow hat to the ground at Green Arrow's feet.

Me, Robin, Kaldur and Kid Flash all stare in disbelief as Roy walks out, leaving everything he's worked for behind. "Roy wait", as I yell at him trying to make him stop, but he just keeps heading for the door, turning his back on us all.

"I guess they're right about you four. You're not ready."

Before anyone can speak about what just happened, the Hall gets an alarm and message from Superman, telling us about a fire at Project Cadmus. Then right after the Hall gets another alert from Giovanni Zatara asking for the entire League to help stop Wotan from blotting the sun. Batman decides that Cadmus can wait and calls the League to coordinate with each other to stop Wotan.

Me, Kid, Robin and Aqualad walk towards our mentors, who all stop us from going anywhere. "Stay put", Batman tells us.

"What? Why?", Robin asks.

"This is a League mission", Aquaman answers. Flash adds "You're not trained."

"Since when?", Kid interjects.

"I mean you're not trained to work as part of this team", Flash answers.

"There will be other missions, when you're ready", Hal adds on.

"But until then, stay put", Batman reiterates.

As they take their leave, Hal looks my way with an expression of agreement with his companions. For some reason I could tell what I wanted to say but didn't for some reason. Stay with you friends, do not leave their side. No matter what.

With all of the Leaguers gone, that just leaves the four of us to think about this situation. "When we're ready?", Kid Flash continues on. "How are ever supposed to be ready when they treat us like - like sidekicks?"

"My mentor, my king, I thought he trusted me?", Kaldur goes on as he sounds disappointed.

"Trust? They don't even trust us with the basics. They've got a secret HQ in space!"

"What else aren't they telling us?"

"I have a better question", Robin asks. "Why didn't we leave with Speedy?"

Everyone stays in silent until I speak. "Because we're not as hot headed as he is and one secret like the Watchtower should not mean we leave the people we put our trust in. They had there reasons for keeping this Watchtower from us, I have to believe that."

They all look onto me with surprise, as I try to stay calm, rational and hopefully after this revelation. Only I'm not entirely sure myself as how much I can trust the League. I will always trust Hal Jordan no matter what, but with this, I hope I can trust the Justice League as well.

Kaldur decides to change the subject, asking "What is Project Cadmus?"

"Don't know, but I can find out", Robin states confidentely.

Robin then moves to the Hall's computer, trying to access the files in it. At first it denies him access, but then begins hacking into the League's computer system.

I look in astonishment as the Boy Wonder does this, with Kid Flash asking "How are you doing that?"

"Same system as the Batcave", Robin answers just as he's given access. "Alright, Project Cadmus. Genetics lab here in D.C. 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."

"They are all about justice", I say myself.

"But they said to stay put."

"For the plotting out the sun mission, not this", Robin so cleverly points out.

"Wait, are you going to Cadmus?", Kid Flash asks. "Because if you're going, I'm going."

"Not alone that's for sure", I add on. "Someone's gotta make sure you two stay out of trouble and come back alive." Plus Hal wants me to stay with them. Course, he knew they'd do something like this so he wants me to go with them.

Robin, Kid Flash and I are all ready to go, just leaving Aqualad to join us on our epic adventure.

"Just like that. We're a team on a mission?"

"We didn't come for a play date."