Disclaimer: I hold no ownership of Young Justice.
Fireworks
Washington D.C.
July 5, 00:01 EDT
I woke up in a tube next to Aqualad. Superboy was standing in front of us, staring silently. Aqualad stirred, glancing over at me groggily. Concern crossed his face when he looked at me.
"Wildcat. You're covered in blood." I looked up at the glass door and saw a bloody reflection. I tried to swallow but the taste of blood in my mouth made gag.
"I think Superboy may've broken my jaw. I'm pretty sure he also broke a few of my ribs." I slurred, unable to speak clearly due to the pain in my jaw.
"What? What do you want?" Kid Flash shouted, finally awake. He was glaring at Superboy, who hadn't moved. "Quit staring, you're freaking me out!"
"Uh, Kid. Might not want to tick off the guy who can fry us with a look." Robin interrupted, "Whoa, Wildcat, you're covered in-"
"I know. Broken jaw." I said angrily, cutting him off. Aqualad tore his gaze away from me and focused on Superboy.
"We only sought to help you."
"Yeah, we help you and you turn on us," Kid yelled, "How's that for grat-"
"Kid, please, be quiet now," Aqualad interrupted, "I believe our new friend was not in full control of his actions."
"Wh-what if I, what if I wasn't?" Superboy asked softly.
"You can talk?" I questioned the clone. He looked up at me.
"Yes, I can."
"You were taught by the genomorphs telepathically, right?"
"They taught me much. I can read, write. I know the names of things."
"But have you seen them?" Robin asked, "Have they ever actually let you see the sky or the sun?"
"Images are implanted in my mind, but no. I have not seen them." Superboy replied.
"Do you know what you are? Who you are?" Aqualad asked.
Superboy stiffened and responded, "I am the Superboy, a genomorph, a clone made from the DNA of the Superman. To replace him should he perish, to destroy him should he turn from the Light."
Shock appeared on all of our faces. He was designed to destroy Superman? Damn.
"To be like Superman is a worthy aspiration. But like Superman, you deserve a life of your own. Beyond your solar suit, beyond your pod. Beyond Cadmus." Aqualad said calmly.
"I live because of Cadmus! It is my home!" Superboy shouted.
"Dude, your home is a test tube. We can show you the sun."
"Actually, Rob, it's after midnight." Kid Flash corrected, "But we can show you the moon."
"We can show you, introduce you, to Superman." I offered. Superboy's eyes widened in surprise. As he was about to reply, three figures came from the shadows.
"No, they can't. They'll be otherwise occupied." A middle-aged man in a lab coat and glasses said turning to a younger scientist next to him, "Activate cloning process."
"Pass. Batcave's crowded enough." Robin called out. I rolled my eyes.
"And get the weapon back in its pod!" The man yelled to Guardian. Superboy looked up at Aqualad.
"Help us."
A genomorph leapt onto Superboy's shoulder and its horns started to glow. The scientist stepped in front of him.
"Don't start thinking now. See, you're not a real boy, you're a weapon. And you belong to me! Well, to Cadmus. Same thing! Now get back to your pod!"
When he was done speaking, Superboy turned on his heel and walked away. As soon as he was gone, robotic electrical probes surrounded us and injected themselves into various points on our bodies, sending electrical currents through us. That, combined with the damage Superboy had already done, made my day ten thousand times worse. I tried to scream but nothing came out. After a while, I felt myself go limp and blackness consumed me a second time.
I woke again, this time on the ground level floor of Cadmus. Next to me, Robin was studying the structure of the atrium, while KF, Aqualad and Superboy were fighting a giant monster.
"Wh- how?" I stammered. Robin looked over at me and grinned.
"Long story. I'll tell you later. Right now, I need you to help me plant some charges. Can you stand?"
"Think so."
He helped me up and showed me where to plant charges. I struggled to stay standing, but I was able to cover two stone columns while Robin covered two on the other side of the room. Aqualad and Superboy destroyed the remaining columns as Kid Flash lured the monster over to a water covered 'X' drawn on the floor. Using the tattoos on his arms, Aqualad passed an electrical charge through the water, electrocuting the monster.
"Wildcat! Get down!" Kid shouted. Robin activated the charges as we all regrouped. I slowly looked up to see a slab of concrete descending on us. As I closed my eyes, I felt someone wrap their arms around me and pull me towards them. Then, for the third time, I saw nothing but darkness.
The sound of moving rubble was what caused me to open my eyes. Superboy had lifted the slab of concrete off of us and threw it away. Aqualad had been the one that had covered me, his arms still wrapped around my shoulders and waist. Gently, he released me, not taking his eyes off of mine. I tried to stand, but I was in too much pain to do so. Instead, I pulled my cowl off and leaned against a nearby piece of stone, clutching my side.
"We- we did it." Aqualad said breathily.
"Was there- ever any doubt?" Robin asked nearby, high fiving Kid Flash and instantly regretting it after pain shot through their shoulders. Superboy was staring up at the sky.
"See?" Kid asked him, pointing to the moon, "The moon."
In the distance, a figure appeared in front of the moon, soon turning into Superman himself. Kid Flash spoke with surprise.
"Oh, and Superman. Do we keep our promises our what?"
Superman wasn't alone though. The entire Justice League soon surrounded us. That included each of our mentors, all of them wore upset looks. Superboy approached Superman, lifting the torn part of his solar suit up to reveal the 'S' shield.
"Is that what I think it is?" Batman asked.
"I wouldn't call him an it if I were you." KF stage whispered.
"I'm Superman's clone." Superboy announced. The entire League had a look of shock on their faces, except, of course, Batman.
"Start talking."
"So what exactly happened while I was out?" I asked Robin as the League discussed Superboy and Cadmus.
"Superboy came back and set us free. But the electricity, combined with your blood loss, made you black out. Aqualad carried you the entire time. We made it to sublevel 1 where the scientist drank something called Project Blockbuster. It turned him into that thing over there." He pointed at the creature that was now in League custody, "KF, Aqualad and Superboy kept him busy while I waited for you to wake up and help us take down the building. It was the only way to stop him."
I nodded slowly, lingering on the thought that Aqualad carried me for at least half an hour. I'm not super heavy, but I weigh a solid 135 pounds. Superman walked over to the five of us, taking my thoughts away from the Atlantean.
"Well, uh we'll figure something out for you. The League will, I mean. In the meantime, I- better make sure they get that Blockbuster creature squared away." Superman stammered before flying away. That was when Batman, Black Canary, Green Arrow, Aquaman and Flash all came over to us.
"Cadmus will be investigated. All 52 levels. But let's make one thing clear-" Batman started.
"You should've called." Flash interrupted.
"End results aside, we are not happy. You hacked Justice League systems, disobeyed direct orders and endangered lives. You will not be doing this again." Batman scolded. Aqualad helped me stand up, carefully wrapping his arm around my waist, allowing me to lean on him for support.
"I am sorry, but we will."
"Aqualad, stand down." Aquaman ordered his protégé.
"Apologies, my king, but no." Both Aquaman and I looked at him with surprise.
"We did good work here tonight, the work you trained us to do. Together, on our own, we forged something powerful, important."
"If this is about your treatment at the Hall, the four of you-" Black Canary began.
"The five of us. And it's not." I snapped, the taste of blood still in my mouth.
"Batman, we're ready to use what you taught us. Or why teach us at all?" Robin asked.
"Why let them tell us what to do." Superboy growled, "It's simple. Get on board or get out of the way."
"The League will make a decision within the next 48 hours. Until then, Superboy will be staying in Keystone City with Kid Flash. All of you, get some rest." Batman instructed. Robin quickly joined him and the dynamic duo left for Gotham.
"Thank you." I said quietly as Aqualad and I waited for our mentors. He glanced over at me.
"For what?"
"Everything. Robin told me that you carried me out of Cadmus, not to mention you covered me when the building collapsed."
"We could not leave you behind." He replied. I gave him a small smile before limping over to GA and BC, each of them wrapping their arms around my shoulders and bringing me to the nearest zeta tube.
"I'm sorry I didn't call, Dinah. We couldn't get a signal." I apologized.
"Don't be sorry, Kara. Considering the shape you're in, I'd say you've learned your lesson." Dinah said, clearly upset with me.
"What's the damage, Kara?" Oliver asked.
"Broken jaw. A few cracked ribs. I don't know about anything else." I answered, my gaze falling to the ground as we entered the zeta tube.
"Recognized: Green Arrow, zero-eight, Wildcat, B zero-one, Black Canary, one-three."
Oliver and Dinah wouldn't let me go to a hospital as Wildcat. They didn't want to risk my identity. Luckily, they were able to patch me up enough to change into civvies. As Kara Grant, I was admitted to Royal Memorial, where I discovered that I had 3 broken ribs, a fractured mandible, and a minor concussion.
The next 48 hours were absolute hell. I was stuck in a hospital room with nothing to do, no one to really talk to, and no news on the League's decision. When I finally was released, Dinah refused to tell me anything about the League. Instead, she dragged me to the nearest zeta tube and told me to be patient.
"Recognized: Wildcat, B zero-one, Black Canary, one-three."
"Where are you taking me, Dinah?" I asked anxiously. She smiled at me and nodded toward something in front of us. We were standing in a gigantic cave, filled with Justice League computers and zeta tubes. In front of us, Robin, Kid Flash, Superboy and Aqualad, in civilian clothes, all stood in a line with Batman, Aquaman, Flash and Green Arrow standing across from them. The Green Lanterns were moving things around above us as I fell into line next to Robin.
"Good. You're all here." Batman said, acknowledging my arrival with a nod, which I returned. "This cave is the original secret sanctum of the Justice League. We're calling it into service again, since you five are determined to stay together and fight the good fight, you'll do it on League terms. Red Tornado has volunteered to live here and be your supervisor, Black Canary is in charge of training. I will deploy you on missions."
"Real missions?" The Boy Wonder asked.
"Yes, but covert." His mentor replied. Flash sped over to us.
"We'll still take care of the obvious stuff. There's a reason we wear these big targets on our chests."
"But Cadmus proves that the bad guys are getting smarter," Aquaman continued, "Batman needs a team that can operate on the sly."
"The six of you will be that team." GA finished.
"Six?" I asked with a confused look. The mentors gazed at something behind us, so we all turned to see Martian Manhunter and someone new. A Martian, as indicated by her green skin tone, but much younger than Manhunter.
"This is the Martian Manhunter's niece, Miss Martian." Batman explained. I smiled at her and she smiled back shyly.
"Hi."
"Likin' this gig more every minute." KF stage whispered to Robin, "Uh, welcome, I'm Kid Flash, that's Robin, Wildcat, Aqualad, it's cool if you forget their names."
"I'm honored to be included," she replied quietly. As we huddled around her, I noticed Superboy standing off to the side.
"Hey, Superboy," I called out. He looked over at me. "Come meet Miss M."
He approached us silently. When he joined us, Miss M suddenly changed her shirt from white to black, matching the clone's.
"I like your t-shirt."
And for the first time, I saw Superboy genuinely smile. A half-smirk formed on my face as I looked at the newly-formed team.
Next to me, Aqualad proudly said, "Today is the day."
"I couldn't agree more."