Chapter 2 - Fireworks

Thoughts swirled around as I stared at the ceiling of my room. The events from earlier replayed in my mind, of the three sidekicks whom I had encountered. I wondered what was happening to them right now, what was Desmond planning on doing with them. I propped myself up from my bed. Surely he wouldn't harm them? They were with the Justice League. Though I didn't know much, I knew that the Justice League were powerful superheroes who defended the earth, or as the Light said, halted the progress of the Earth.

Still, I didn't fully trust Dr. Desmond not to harm them.

My quarters were thankfully only accessible to me. That is unless one of the genomorphs broke through the thick layer of earth barricading my quarters from the main facility. My ability to shift the earth allowed me to have my little sanctuary. Not that it was much, just a bed, bathroom, and meditation center. Since my powers revolved around my connection to the earth, I meditated frequently to maintain my strong connection. It allowed me to shift the earth to my will, to access and control natural elements, and to hear the vibrations from the earth as to what was going on around me.

I sat down on the white mat in my corner and pressed my palm to the bare floor. Closing my eyes, I scanned through the ground to the chambers where the prisoners were being held. While I couldn't see them, I could hear the conversation that was going on. I detected four lifeforms, the three sidekicks and Project Kr. I guess I should call him by his real name, Superboy.

Their conversation whispered to me and I heard the voice, Aqualad, as he introduced himself, talk to Superboy. He was trying to convince Superboy that there was more to life than Cadmus, the same as they tried with me.

Sadness clung to my chest when I heard him and the others, Robin and Kid Flash as I learned, talk about the earth: the sun and the moon and the beauty of the world. While I was not constrained to a tube as Superboy was, I also considered myself trapped in this underground sanctuary. It had been years since I had been above the ground, moving around to various locations with my father. When he realized my softness of heart, he sent me here in disappointment, hoping that Dr. Desmond and the genomorphs could give me a more vicious attitude.

It didn't work, at least, not that I hoped. I didn't know much about the world, but I knew I didn't want to hurt others. It didn't seem right. My powers allowed me to grow and prosper the earth. While I could use my powers for destruction, it was not what I wanted.

As I listened to the rest of the conversation, I knew that Desmond and his goons were approaching. I pressed both of my palms to the ground to hear the conversation since there was now a larger audience to focus on. Desmond mentioned the cloning process and I heard the three sidekicks cry out in pain.

I gasped, releasing my connection to the earth. This was his plan? Desmond wanted more clones for Cadmus? With a sinking feeling, I realized what it meant for the sidekicks. They would have to be disposed of; Cadmus would not allow the original hosts to survive.

Pulling my knees to my chest, I closed my eyes and tried to ignore the situation. There wasn't anything I could do. It was not my place to interfere with what the Light wanted. They always had a purpose for everything they did.

"Essence."

The voice entered my mind and I knew at once it belonged to Dubbilex. I waited for his message attentively.

"They need your help. Do not allow this process to happen. Stand up for what you believe and protect the innocent."

Dubbilex's words confirmed what I had been feeling. These sidekicks were innocent and didn't deserve what was happening to them. Standing up, I allowed my dark cloak to fall over my bodysuit. I shook the hair from my face and secured it in a loose ponytail behind my ears, allowing it to fall down my back.

I raised my hands, standing perfectly on one foot before spinning, shifting the earth around me as I fell, disappearing from sight.

When I emerged in the cloning chamber, they were already gone and Desmond was on the ground.

"Essence," he growled, wiping the dirt off of his white coat. "About time you showed up. Find them! Make sure they do not escape and I will not tell your father of your insolence."

I frowned at his words but made no reply. Desmond did not need to know my true intentions. I pressed my hand again to the earth and listen for the vibrations in the ground. I heard the loud stomps of the genomorphs launching down the hallways, yet when I closed my eyes and focused harder, I felt the light vibrations coming from the air ducts. They were moving towards the upper levels.

By the time I shifted through the earth to their location, they were out of the air ducts and running up the emergency stairwell towards sub-level 1. I took a shortcut and moved around them until I came to the main floor. The door to the stairway burst open as the four boys raced out to the hallway.

"It's you!" Robin exclaimed defensively. "You need to pick a side right now otherwise we'll have no choice but to fight you."

I raised my hands in surrender. "Please, I did not come to fight. I cannot sit aside and watch as Desmond continues to destroy innocent lives. I want to help you escape."

Kid Flash gave a coy smile and raced towards me, planting a kiss on my cheek. "There's the attractive babe I know and love! Well, not that I know you, but I still find you attractive. We really need to talk when this is all over."

I pushed him aside as Superboy and Aqualad joined the group. Making eye contact with Superboy, the silent message was clear, both of us knew we had to help these sidekicks instead of Desmond. Yet the guilt was obvious in our eyes.

"What is your name?" Aqualad asked. I once again observed his attractive qualities as he offered his hand to me.

"I'm Essence."

"Thank you for your help," he said shaking my hand. "I hope that one day we can repay the debt."

I shook my head, the tingles of electricity running up my forearm from his touch. "No need to thank me. I–"

I was cut off when a loud explosion came from the door. Desmond stalked forward with a glowing blue vial in his hands.

"What a surprise," he noted cruelly. "A failed weapon and a traitor helping the merry band of sidekicks. I shall have to deal with you myself it seems."

I stepped forward, placing myself in front of the group. "Stop this, Desmond. They do not need to be harmed."

He raised the vial to his lips. "You always were a weak link. It was why your father hid you away here. He couldn't stand your blatant disobedience."

His words hurt but I refused to show him my pain. I stood my ground as he drank the vial, throwing it aside as he bent over in apparent pain. In a matter of seconds, his body morphed into that of a beast, growing three times its size with grey-blue skin and large glowing red eyes.

Desmond launched himself at the group as we scattered. I barely missed being hit from his sharp claws before reacting. Pulling from the ground, I summoned a large group of vines and rose from the ground as my vines encircled the monster.

"You can fly?" Kid Flash cried out when he saw me.

I gritted my teeth. "It is not something I use often since being in this facility. No use flying when you are trapped in an underground cave."

"True enough," he said casually, though next to him Desmond burst free from my vines and launched himself at Kid Flash, who was unable to stop the large punch that sent him flying across the room.

Aqualad rushed forward and withdrew his hilts, forming large hammers of water. He knocked Desmond against the wall and Robin assisted by throwing his boomerangs which exploded near Desmond.

"I have a plan!" Robin yelled from across the large room, "but we need to get Desmond right here." I turned to see Robin drawing what seemed like a large x mark in the center of the room.

As Superboy went to engage Desmond, I flew over to Robin as he explained the plan. When I knew what I needed to do, I rushed over just as Superboy was knocked aside to distract Desmond.

"Take that, jerk!" Large pieces of rock rose from the earth before launching at Desmond, who cried out in range as the boulders pushed him back.

"You!" He cried, knocking aside a boulder before jumping at me. I felt the force of his grasp as I lost my connection. My head slammed against the ground, sending dark circles in my eyes and I grunted in pain from the force. I felt Desmond's hand tighten around my body, squeezing me as if to suffocate me and I felt the breath leave me body. I heard cries around me but I was prepared as I allowed my body to go lax. The earth opened and swallowed my body, taking Desmond's arm with me. As it closed around his bicep, I was able to pry myself from his grasp and move up back to the floor.

Desmond's arm was buried in the ground as he stood perfectly on the x mark.

"Now!" Robin yelled as Aqualad sprayed water under Desmond's feet and sent a current of electricity through it. As Desmond fell from the shock, Robin launched a series of explosive boomerangs up at the ceiling, causing a large chunk to fall and crush Desmond, silencing the monstrous roars.

The five of us exchanged glances. I grabbed my ribs when I felt the marks Desmond left on my body. My vision was still blurry but I was able to remain standing as I walked closer to the others.

Since the collapse of the ceiling, the entire building crumbled to the ground, leaving us exposed to the crisp air and the glow of the moon.

I looked up, embracing the night sky as I heard Kid Flash exclaim to Superboy that he was already keeping his promise. Noticing a surprise, I see a dark figure emerging from the sky with the familiar logo that Superboy has on his uniform.

I looked to see Superboy's reaction as Superman and the rest of the Justice League descend around us.

A wave of discomfort passed over me when I'm met with the glares of several members of the Justice League. I know they're regarding me with cold curiosity, but I cannot embrace that their stares are welcoming.

I saw who I assumed was Batman approach the sidekicks. He made his disapproval clear, listing the boys' actions of the night and stating how they endangered lives. I watched as the guilt set across the face of the young superheroes but was quickly replaced with pride.

"We are not ashamed of our actions," Robin said loudly. "This is what you trained us for, and tonight, we did good work."

"Ya," Kid Flash stepped forward, "we were able to infiltrate Cadmus and discover something the league didn't know. Without us, you wouldn't have found the underground lab or have known about Superboy."

I wanted to point out that that probably wasn't the best thing to say since both Batman and Superbly sent Kid Flash a warning look, but I held my tongue.

The sidekicks waited in baited silence as the mentors of the Justice League exchanged glances.

"Fine," Batman finally said, "I accept the fact that you want to do work, but you will operate under the League's jurisdiction."

The boys exchanged a glance, Superboy included, before nodding begrudgingly. As they relayed further words, I turned to look at the destroyed building that I had called my home for the past several years. A feeling of dread came to me, but I took a step forward to return underground.

"Wait." Batman's voice cut to my direction. "I'm not done with you yet."

I turned to view the masked man, whose cold eyes attempted to see my potential as a threat.

"Batman, this is Essence," Robin said proudly. "She helped us escape tonight. Without her help, we wouldn't have made it out alive."

"Ya," Kid Flash stepped forward. "She totally kicked butt against Blockbuster and sacrificed her safety to trap him."

I met Batman's glare and we faced each other down for several seconds, neither yielding to one another.

"Well," Batman said, "what is your thought on this?"

I turned my body so I was fully facing him. "I am tired of being a pawn to Cadmus," My voice rang out clearly to the group. "They preyed upon the weak and innocent and that is something I will no longer tolerate."

I saw the glares softened from several of the league members and I knew I had said the right words. Yet, Batman's expression was still unreadable.

"Fine," he said, "you will be allowed to join the covert team."

I was unable to hide my surprise from his statement. "Me? Join the team?"

Kid Flash rushed to my side before I could protest. "Ya, come on Essence. You totally kicked butt in there! We are going to need you on the team if we want to continue fighting villains like we did tonight."

"I–" I paused, looking around at Aqualad's, Robin's, and Superboy's face. There were no traces of disapproval in any of their faces. "I accept."

Murmurs spread through the crowd as the league members noted my appearance. My joy was quickly replaced with fear when I thought of my father. If he knew what I was doing, there would be no mercy for me. No, I thought to myself, I couldn't allow myself to think about him.

As I stepped forward to join the group, a hand was placed on my shoulder.

"You will be debriefed before you are able to join," Batman's voice was back to threatening. "And if I find anything that suggests you are a traitor or a spy, your position will be revoked and you will be sent to prison."

I set my lip as I matched his gaze. "I understand." Thankfully, that seemed to appease him for the moment and he left us alone.

"Alright," Kid Flash exclaimed. "Watch out, villains, there's a new team on the radar."

I cracked a tiny smile at his excitement. We all stepped closer in a group hug and for once, I didn't shy away from the physicality of others. It felt…nice, having a team to support.

The next day we were able to see our new location, the old Justice League headquarters, as Batman explained. It was hidden under a volcano in Happy Harbor and was large enough to house us and act as our training field and mission headquarters. I was astonished as we got the tour, being used to the dark caves at Cadmus.

"What do you think, gorgeous," Kid Flash said, nudging me playfully with his elbow. "Pretty great, right?"

I rolled my eyes at his forwardness and flicked my wrist, causing him to trip from the slab of rock I pulled up from the ground.

"Hey!" He whined as the rest of the team laughed.

"Red Tornado has volunteered to be your supervisor and Black Canary will train you for missions." Batman introduced the two members of the league. "I will remind you again that this is a covert team, as the League will still handle the more serious cases."

He turned to face us. "But I'm sure the six of you will be able to handle it."

We exchanged glances. "The six of us?" Aqualad questioned.

The AI voice announced the arrival of Martian Manhunter and a guest. We turned to see a young girl with green skin and soft red hair step forward.

"This is my niece, Miss Martian," Martian Manhunter explained. "She will be joining the team as well."

"Sweet," Kid Flash was the first to announce. Rushing forward, he grinned cockily. "Hello, gorgeous. The name's Kid Flash, but you can call me Wally. I'm sure we are going to get along great."

She regarded him with a polite smile before greeting the rest of the team.

"I like your shirt," she pointed at Superboy and we watched in surprise as her white shirt morphed to the black and red colors that matched his. He grinned at the sight and I couldn't help but notice that they made a cute couple.

"Why don't you guys explore the sanctuary while we talk with Essence," Batman ordered. I received looks of support from the team before they raced off, leaving me alone with the league.

"Now," Batman started, "Why don't you explain why you were at Cadmus."

"Will this be a problem for us? The league sending a group of children on missions?"

The voices all gathered around a large monitor displaying scenes from last night.

"No," the main voice spoke. "We will leave the weapon where it is. It might prove useful for us in the future."

"And what about Cadmus being under Guardian's authority without the g-gnomes?"

"We will continue to monitor Cadmus until it proves useful for us," the voice decided. "It will not be difficult to regain control should need be."

"And the girl?" A silence broke out from the voices. "What shall we do about Essence?"

"We leave her," the main voice decided as the monitor queued a picture of her fighting alongside the sidekicks. "She is right where she needs to be."

I hope you like the chapter! Please leave a review to let me know what you think:P