After a quick tour of the hall, we found ourselves in the library. Flash told us to make ourselves at home as the league spoke amongst themselves.
The two youngest boys (KF and Robin) ran to take a seat in two of the three arm chairs. Kaldur motioned for me to take the last one but I shook my head, politely denying it as I made a quick flip with my hand and a strong, focused gust of air lifted me off the ground and between Kaldur and Roy. Another flip and I was able to make the current stable enough for me to sit on.
Kaldur smiled before sitting on the seat. I looked over at Roy, silently asking if he was going to sit but he shook his head. I smiled and nodded.
"What do you think they're talking about?" Robin asked in a low mutter.
"With them? Who knows!" KF muttered back.
"Maybe they're talking about the odd coincidence that four ice villians attacked on the same day in approximately the same time?" I guessed.
"No offense Lin', but I seriously doubt that was any kind of coincidence." Roy said. I blushed at my error and looked down at my feet.
"Quick debrief to discuss the coincidence of four ice villians attacking on the same day." Batman said, making me send a look to Roy, who I was expecting to send me smile that said 'you know I'm right but I'm going to let it slide because you're giving me that look', but to my surprise he just looked at the league with an unreadable expression. "We shouldn't be long."
"That's it?" Roy exclaimed as the computer began running security scans on the league members. His ton shocked me, making me almost lose my focus on my air-chair.
"You promised us a real look inside! Not a glorified backstage pass!" Roy continued.
"It's a first step." Aquaman said calmly. "You've been given access few others get."
"Oh really."Said Roy, and he swept his hand to motion to a glass panel I didn't notice before. On the other side of the glass stood tourists, snapping pictures of us.
Well that's unnerving
"Who cares what side of the glass we're on?!" Roy yelled.
"Roy you just need to be patient." Green Arrow said calmly towards his protege. It did the opposite however as the angry fumes seemed to intensify around the ginger archer.
"What I need, is respect." Roy snapped. Next, my friend turned to the remaining four of us and I felt a chill run up my spine. "They're treating us like kids! Worse, like sidekicks. We deserve better then this."
"Roy, please, calm down." I said, reaching out to my friend, but he pulled away like he was disgusted by my touch, which in itself kinda stung.
"You're kidding right?! You're playing their game?!" Roy yelled. "Why? Today was supposed to be theday! Step one in becoming full-fledged members of the League!"
KF shared a look with all the rest of us before responding.
"Well, sure, but I thought step one was a tour of the HQ." The speedster said.
"Except the Hall isn't the league's realHQ." This sent all of us into a state of confusion. "I bet they never even told you it's a false front for tourists, and a pit-stop for catching zeta-beam transporters to the real HQ: an orbiting satellite called the Watchtower."
We all sent looks to our mentors. Flash being the only of whom that held any emotion, which was a mix of 'oh crap' and 'well this is awkward'. Batman, Aquaman, and unsurprisingly, Red Tornado didn't hold any emotion. I, not being one to give into anger, simply fiddled with my long side braid.
"You're not helping your case here son." Aquaman spoke up. "Stand down or-"
"Or what? You'll send me to my room?And I'm not your son, I'm not even his." Roy exclaimed, looking at Green Arrow. "I thought he was his partner...but not any more."
Suddenly, Roy reached up and grabbed his hat before throwing it to the ground.
"Roy!" I spoke up, a little louder then I meant to.
Said archer turned on his heel and began marching through the door.
"I guess they were right about you four." He said to us. "You're not ready."
Ouch
The room fills with awkward silence with tension so thick you could cut ut with a knife.
Roy was one of my best friends. We've paired up a number of times, and he's saved my life more times then I could count, and I the same to him. Sure, we didn't see eye to eye on some things, mainly the way we were considered 'sidekicks' and definitions of law and order, but we were still best friends. To think that he could just...quit the game like that...
After a while, I go look to my comrades/friends, wondering if we should say something. They all looked distraught in their own ways: Wally looked outraged and woeful, Robin showed signs of confusionnand perplexion, and Kal looked downright mournful and shocked. But before anyone can do pr say anything, the big computer screen flashes on with Superman's image on it.
"Superman to Justice League. There's been an explosion at Cadmus, it's on fire." The blue boy-scout said.
"I've had my suspicions about Cadmus...this could be a good opportunity to-" Batman was cut off by a message from Zatara coming in.
"Zatara to Justice League. The sorcerer Wotan using the Amulet of Attan to blot out the sun. Requesting full league response." Zatara said.
"Superman?" Batman asked.
At the feeling of a mission, the three boy protégés moved forward. Not wanting to be the odd one out, I followed suit
"It's a small fire. Local authorities have it uder control." Superman explained.
Then why call the League in the first place? I thought to myself.
"Then Cadmus can wait." Batman decided before pressing a button on the computer board. "All Leaguers rendezvous at Zatara's coordinates. Batman out."
When the Dark Knight ended the call, we all stepped forward, awaiting orders for the mission. I had to admit, it was exciting to be able to work side-by-side with the league, with our mentors.
"Stay put." Batman's words instantly deflated all of our positive energy.
"This is a league mission." Aquaman explained."
"You're not trained." Flash added.
"Since when?" KF exclaimed angrily.
"I meant youre not trained as a part of thisteam." Flash explained.
"Um... Z-zatara seemed pretty worried. D-don't you think you could, you know, use all the help you can get?" I said, avoiding the eyes of Flash, Aquaman and Batman and looking at my mentor for help.
"There will be other missions." Red said, causing a stream of anger to course through me but I simply redirected my eyes to my feet.
"When you're ready." Aquaman added.
"But for now." Batman spoke firmly. "Stay. Put."
And with that they left. RT was the last to leave, throwing us a glance over his shoulder. Somehow, I felt like he was trying to apologize, but I simply brushed him off.
"When we're ready?" KF scoffed, anger flooding his voice. "How are we supposed to be ready if they treat us like...sidekicks?"
"My mentor...my king. I thought he trusted me." Kaldur said mournfully and I couldn't help but place a hand on his shoulder.
"Trust?" KF exclaimed. "They don't even trust us with the basics. They have a secret HQ: in space!"
"I'm...sure their's a nicer reason they didn't want us to go...maybe they were worried we'd be hurt? Or..."
My optimistic veiw was getting blurred out of the thin strands of anger in my heart.
"Face it Z, they flat out ditched us." Robin said, causing my body to slump as I fiddled with my hair again.
"What else aren't they telling us?" I muttered.
"I've got a better question." Robin countered. "Why didnt we leave with Speedy?"
All of us fell silent.
"What is..." The silence was broken by Kaldur's question. "Project Cadmus?"
All of us looked dumbfounded, and looked at each other for answers, which didn't come.
"Don't know." Robin concluded. "But I can find out."
Within the blink of an eye, Robin turned to the computer and began typing quickly at the keyboard.
"...what are you doing?" I asked. I didn't get an answer.
A moment later, the screen lit up red and read 'access denied'. Rob let out a chuckle and went back to typing.
After another second, he was given access.
"Alright... Project Cadmus: a genetics lab here in DC. That's all there is." Robin said before turning around. "But if Batman's suspicious...maybe we should investigate."
This isn't going to end well for us...
"Solve their case before they do." Aqualad hummed. "It would be poetic justice."
"Hey, they're all about justice." Robin smirked.
"Is this really a good idea?" I asked quietly, chewing my lip.
"They didsay to stay put." Kaldur agreed.
"For the blotting out the sun mission, not this." Robin countered.
This is a bad idea...
"Wait are you going?" KF asked. "Cause if you're going, I'm going."
The two of them looked at Kal and I. After a moment, Kal looked over at me.
This is such a bad idea...
"Fine..." I muttered and the two younger boys whooped in excitement.
"Just like that; we're a team on a mission?" Aqualad asked, curious.
"We didn't come for a play date." Rob smirked excitedly.
"If we don't die doing this." I said nervously. "The league's gonna kill us."