(is the title an homage to my favorite anime? Yes, yes it is)
"Leap, bend, double pirouette, high kick...and grande finalé." My mother said in French, snapping to the beats of the modern song playing in the studio as I ended in a double handspring landing in a vertical split.
As I panted for air and my thirteen year old lungs burned, my mother smiled. From the side, my older brothers: Calvin and Leo, applauded.
"You're doing excellent my darling." My mother said as she walked over to me and passed me a soft towel to wipe the sweat from my face, which made my light brown hair stick to my face. Her similar hair swept perfectly around her head as her blue eyes met mine, her dimples showing cutely as she smiled.
"Thanks mama." I said, kissing her cheek.
"Great job little sister." Calvin said, ruffling the hair that had fallen out of the bun on my head. His dirty blonde hair was held back in a man-bun as his blue eyes, like mine and mamas, smiled mischievously down at me. At 18, he was the oldest of the three of us.
"You'll be a professional modern dancer in no time at this rate." Leo said, helping me up. He had brown hair, which held itself in a clear crew-cut, and hazel eyes that smiled kindly. He was the youngest of the trio, aged ten.
"But only if you want to." Said another voice and we all turned to see a man with dirty blonde hair and hazel eyes, standing there with a bag of what smelt like fresh bread.
"Papa!" Leo and I said happily as we ran to greet our father.
"How was town?" Mama asked with a smile.
"Fine, I bought biscuits to share." He said, holding up the bag. I reached for it, but mama told me I could only have some once I changed from my dance clothes. SO I ran into the change room and changed into my sun dress and high-tops.
When we left, the blazing heat met my skin and I felt my body temperature rise a good twenty degrees.
"Let's go home little ones." Mother said as we all piled into our family car.
Ten minuets later, we reached the city when we were met by traffic. Our old car was very much like the odd man out compared to the hundreds of modern-age-technology cars zooming past us.
None of us, except me, suspected the car driving recklessly, quickly advancing to the place its street and the one we were on met.
"Dad look out!" I scream.
But it's too late as the car came ramming into the passenger side.
Everything goes black.
***
Time runs short
You must awaken
YOU MUST AWAKEN NOW
Suddenly, I felt my body come to life as I opened my eyes. I gasped for air, but after calming down, I realised that I was in a glass pod similar to the one that held Superboy, and Kaldur, KF, and Rob were around me. Kaldur to my left, KF and Rob to my right. Our arms were shackled above our heads, and our legs bolted below us.
We were trapped.
And Superboy right in front of us, starring.
"What do you want?!" KF screamed at the clone.
"Uh...KF, maybe we try not ticking off the guy that can fry us with a look?" Rob said.
"We only sought to help you." Kaldur began.
"Ya, we help you and you turn on us how's that for-""Kid, breathe. Just let Aqualad do the talking." I cut the speedster off as I spoke as quietly as possible.
"I believe our new friend, was not in control of his actions." Kaldur explained.
"W-what if I wasn't?" Superboy asked, grabbing all our attentions.
"He can talk?!" KF exclaimed, making Superboy tense.
"Yes, hecan." Superboy spat back. We all looked at KF.
"What? It's not like I said 'it'." KF said and I couldn't help but roll my eyes.
"The Genomorphs taught you, telepathically?" Kaldur asked.
"They taught me much. I can read, write, I know the names of things." Superboy said.
"Have you ever seen them? The sun, the sky? Have they ever actually let you see them?" Robin asked.
"Images are implanted in my mind but...no, I haven't seen them." Superboy said, looking down.
"I'm sorry." I said, looking straight at Superboy. "But...do you know who you are?"
"I am the Superman." He answered automatically. "A Genomorph, a clone created from DNA of the Superman. To replace him should he vanish, to destroy him shall he turn from the light."
The four of us looked at each other.
"To be like Superman is...a worthy aspiration." Kaldur said. "But 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!" Superboy yelled.
"Your home is a test tube." Robin said. "We can show you the sun."
"Pretty sure it's after midnight." KF said. "But we could show you the moon."
"We can show you, introduce you, to Superman." Aqualad said.
"Home isn't where you were born Superboy. It's where the ones closest to you are, the people you care about, people who care about you. Home is where your family is, and if you want: we can be that family."
"No, they can't." A voice said as the doors opened suddenly. Out came a man with brown and white hair, mod to late thirties, in a white label coat. "They'll be...otherwise occupied. Begin the cloning process"
That doesnt sound good
"Pass: Batcave's crowded enough." Robin quipped.
"And get the weapon back in it's pod!" The man said.
"His name is Superboy!" I said venomously. I'm not usually one to show violence, but I hated the way this man treated Superboy like an item instead of a human being.
I mean, have some decency and respect people!
"Help us." Kaldur said quietly while looking at Superboy as Guardian laid his hand on Superboy's shoulder.
"Don't start thinking now!" The scientist said before the Genomorph that had been sitting on his shoulder jumped onto Superboy's. Immediately the Clone straightened and headed to the door.
Just after the door shut, metal probes appeared before shooting into our bodies, and electrifying us as it took our blood. I let out a shrill scream of pain and felt my wrists and ankles fight against the metal constraints.
The pain continued for what seemed like ages, and just as I felt my conciseness begin to leave me, the pain stopped.
Thank God
As I attempted to even out my breathing, I looked up to see Superboy throw Guardian and the scientists into the walls. I smiled.
"Don't give me orders." Superboy growled.
"Are you here to help us...or fry us?" KF asked. Superboy squinted for a moment before shrugging.
"I don't seem to have heat vision, so I guess helping's the option I've got." Superboy said and I giggled, although it stung a little.
Suddenly, Rob jumped out of his pod.
"Finally. Lucky Batman isn'there: he'd have my head for taking this long." Robin said.
"Dude, that's what you're worried about? The whole League will have our heads after tonight." KF exclaimed.
"Let's just focus on getting out of here." I sighed.
As Robin freed Kid Mouth, Superboy helped Aqualad and I.
"I had a feeling you were a softie at heart." I quipped as Superboy helped my down from my pod and let me lean on him as I got my strength back. Surprisingly, he smiled at me, which I returned.
"How are you feeling?" Kaldur asked as he rubbed his arms.
"Little sore, I'll be okay." I smiled as I pushed off of Superboy and stood on my own.
"You'll never leave here alive!" The scientist yelled. "I'll have you all back in pods before morning!"
"That guy is not whelmed, not whelmed at all." Robin muttered as he threw exploding birdarangs, destroying our DNA samples.
"What is this 'whelmed' word you keep bringing up?" I asked.
After a few minutes of running (or in my case flying), sections of the organ-like walls began glowing red.
"We're still 42 levels below ground, but if we can make the elevator-" Kaldur was cut off by some of the larger Genomorphs walking into our way. We were surrounded.
That was, until Superboy attacked one of the larger Genomorphs, making space for the rest of us to advance forward but as we looked back, we saw Superboy fighting the creatures for no real reason.
"Superboy." Kaldur called. "Our goal is escape, not to bury ourselves here!"
"You want escape?" Superboy screamed before grabbing onto one of the larger creatures and throwing it at the other two remaining ones, knocking them down. After that, we continued running until we made the elevator shaft and Kaldur opened it.
"Hold on." I said, and I summoned a wind to carry Robin and KF, leaving Kaldur to Superboy since, with Superman's powers, he could probably fly.
We made it fairly high up before I saw Superboy and Kaldur falling.
I guess I was wrong about him being able to fly.
I quickly threw a wind at them, catching the boys and, with a few nonattractive grunts, was able to bring them up to our level.
"Superman can fly, why can't I fly?" Superboy asked.
"Don't know." KF said. "But it looks like you can still leap tall buildings in a single leap. Still cool."
"...thank you." Superboy says to Wally and I. I smile at him in return before I hear something coming down and I look up to see the elevator crashing down.
"Looks like this is our stop." I say as I place the boys closer to the door. Superboy smashes the door with a single blow and we all continue running again.
As more Genomorphs advance on us, we frantically go down the nearest hallway.
"Left!" Superboy suddenly says and we go the way we are told.
"Right."
We all come to a stop as we meet a dead end.
"Great directions Supey, you trying to get us repodded?" KF exclaims.
"Calm down Kid." I say.
"No, sorry, I just-""Don't apologise." Robin cuts Superboy off. "This is perfect." We all turn to see the raven-haired boy smirking at the air duct.
As we finally come out from the air ducts, Robin goes straight to hacking from an oulet in the wall.
"I hacked the motion sensors." The preteen smirks.
"Nice." KF Exclaims.
"Still plenty of them between us and out though." Robin says, standing up.
"But I finally have room to move." KF says, before sliding down his goggles and running up a staircase. We all follow after him.
Once climbing a few flights, Robin calls that there are some behind us and I go to push them back with some air, but Superboy beats me to it by stomping on the stairs, causing them to completely break off.
"Wow." I mutter, before shaking my head and continue flying-litterally-up the stairs.
KF exits the stairwell at sublevel 1, only to be met by a large metal wall.
"We're cut off by the street." Kaldur exclaims.
"Thanks, my head hadn't noticed." Kid groans as he rub his head, standing up.
Superboy and Kaldur attempt to force the door open while Robin tries to hack, but its to late at the Genomorphs catch up to us. Thankfully, I spot a door and blow it open.
"Through here!" I say, but as we enter the door we're only met by more Genomorphs andGuardian.
But before anyone can do anything, everything goes black and I feel myself falling.
What feels like only a moment later though, I already feel myself coming too and I stand up along with Kaldur, Kid and Robin. For some reason, Superboy is already standing.
"Guardian?" Kaldur asked.
"Go, I'll deal wit Desmond." The man says.
Who's Desmond?
"I don't think so." The doctors voice says and the Genomorphs move to reveal the male doctor .
Oh that's Desmond.
"Project Blockbuster will give me the power to restore order to Cadmus!" The guy, Desmond, screams before dumping a vile of glowing blue stuff down his throat. Suddenly, he begin to keel over in pain and screams, his screams slowly becoming more low and monster-like. Finally, he stands up to reveal he is now a large, hulking grey monster, with DOctor Desmond's skin still laying on his body in shreds.
I curse in French.
Guardian goes at the new Desmond, but is only flung away. Superboy the attacks him, and although he can continue to keep attacking, he's always met with a strong bat into a wall before Desmond suddenly latches onto the boy and jumps through the ceiling, casing a huge hole to form.
"That's one way to bust through the roof." Robin says.
"You think lab-coat planned that?" KF asks as he and Robin grapple up to the next level.
"I doubt he is planning anything anymore." Kaldur says grimmly.
"Then that means we have to take him down." I smile, turning to Kaldur who smiles back at me. He then latches on, grasping my upper arms as I fly us both up.
As we land, we're met by Superboy being flung at us and the three of us fall to the ground. Robin and Kid run to help us up, and after regaining our balance we attack Desmond with the hardest we could. Superboy and Kaldur punch his face, causing him to lose balance and I add with the biggest air attack I could conjure, causing him to back away clumsily, leaving the opening Kid needed to dash over and crouch at his feet, causing the monster to fall on his back.
"Learned that one in kindergarten." KF smirks.
Robin throws birdarangs at Desmond, but he deflects them, giving him the time he needs to get up and begin pounding Superboy into a column, destroying said column.
Kaldur attempts to stop Desmond's assault, but only succeeds in being thrown on the ground roughly and getting Superboy thrown into another column. I go to throw another strong air attack at Desmond, but he grabs me and throws me into, you guessed it, another column.
Ouch
I look up to see KF go to attack Desmond, but the monster manages to catch his arm and use him to bat down a newly risen Kaldur. Next, Desmond takes Kaldur and shoves him by the face into a column and begin punching him. The Atlantean barely has enough time to form a water shield to absorb the attacks.
I try to help by running over to Desmond and flipping onto his shoulders, before locking my ankles around his neck. I then form a round sphere of vacuuming air around Desmond's head to void his body of oxygen. He stumbles away from Kaldur, letting my friend go, but then reaches up and grabs me by the arm, dangling me over his face. I let out a short grunt of pain as I feel my arm dislocate from the socket but I hold it in; I've had worse. I feel him about to throw me when Kid comes out o nowhere and side-speed punches the monster in the face. Catching some of the old Desmond's skin along the way.
"Got your nose!" The speedster calls.
Having lost interest in me, the monster drops me and makes his way to KF.
"Guys!" Robin calls.
"Please tell me you have a plan." I hiss as I stand up, swinging my arm. I hear a gross 'crack'and feel the sharp burn as my arm relocates itself.
"Take out the columns, it'll make the building fall right on him." Robin explains.
"Which ones?" Kaldur asks, sounding in pain.
"That one and that on." The boy wonder says, pointing out the columns we needed to take out.
As the boys destroy the columns, and Kaldur pours water on the floor where Kid is leading Desmond to, I begin to summon all the air I can. Suddenly, Desmond gets to the water and Kaldur electrocutes it as the building begings to collapse.
"Everybody move!" Robin calls, and everyone runs over to me. As the building's roof falls, I stretch all the wind I can into creating a large force-field around us. I groan as the building falls on top of us, and I strain the wind to continue to keep us safe.
Finally, the rummage stops falling and I use my remaining strength to push all the rubble off of us, revealing the night sky. I finally let my knees give out and I fall forward. Luckily. Kaldur catches me.
"We...did it." Kaldur panted, as all of our adrenaline begins to vanish and I find that instead of Kaldur holding me, we're combining what was left of our strength to hold each other up.
"Was there...any doubt?" Robin quips, and he and Kid high-five, only for their ribs to crack at the gesture.
"Not...at all." I hum, closing my eyes briefly.
"See." Kid says after a minute, causing me to open my eyes. "The moon."
Kid gestures to the moon for Superboy and the clone gazes at it in wonder. Suddenly, a black dot appears and slowly, Superman appears, followed by the rest of the Justice League.
"And Superman. Do we keep our promises or what?" KF says.
"So much for being alive..." I muttered as Kaldur and I stood up, but I still found myself partially leaning on the Atlantian boy beside me.
As the League finally landed, all of us stood nervously awaiting the first words.
"Explain." Batman grunted.