Greenhorn Hero
Chapter 4: Superboy Surprise!
Disclaimer: I do not own Young Justice or any of the characters involved except for Guardian F Forest and Guardian N Nature.
"What is it?" Aqualad asked.
"Big K little R, the chemical symbol for Krypton," Kid Flash said as he approached the pod.
Robin had already started hacking the console near the pod. "Seems this is project Kr, a genetic clone of Superman, Superboy, created using his DNA,"
"He's not going to be happy with that," Leaf said as she approached the pod.
A thumping sound echoed on the door.
"Sounds like the genomes are here," Aqualad said.
"Yeah, wonder how long we have until they break in here," Leaf seemed a worried.
"Don't worry, I gotcha," Kid Flash said with a smile.
"Focus KF," Robin retorted.
A sudden crash drew the group's attention as Superboy awoke inside his pod and leapt toward them.
"Look out!" Leaf shouted as he flew toward Aqualad.
He took the charge head on and caught Superboy, but the two slid a good ten feet toward the door. Aqualad freed a hand and punched Superboy who didn't seem fazed, he slugged Aqualad sending him flying into the wall, Kid Flash sped toward Superboy and tried to punch him, but Superboy caught his arm and threw him behind him toward Robin. He turned to Leaf who took a step back and tripped on one of the pipes on the ground sending her toppling down. She looked up at Superboy as he approached her.
She trembled in his shadow before her eyes rolled back and she passed out. He turned toward the door and walked over, slamming it open to reveal Guardian, a group of Genomes, and a scientist.
"Good work, now, take them to the cloning chamber,"
A few genomes entered the room and gathered up Robin, Kid Flash, Aqualad, and Leaf. Taking them to another room they placed them in pods under the watch of Superboy. The Scientist made his way back to the elevator and used it to return to his lab, there he set up a video call and soon was surrounded by a circle of screens.
"Dear, directors of the board. I'm sorry to contact you at this late hour-"
"Get on with it Desmond," one of them retorted.
"Of course, earlier today there was a small fire in the upper levels of Cadmus, nothing that couldn't be handled, and while the source is still being investigated it seems that the event drew some attention. Kid Flash, Robin, Aqualad, and a young green-haired girl infiltrated security and released the weapon, currently they are in our custody and the weapon is under our telepathic control but… I feel their disappearance will rouse the attention of the Justice League… what should I do with them?"
A pause between the screens occurred before one of them spoke, "Clone them,"
Desmond seemed surprised, "And the originals?"
"Dispose of them, the clones will serve the Light,"
"As you wish," he bowed and the screens disappeared. Heading out of the lab he returned to the scene of the fight and found Guardian and a few genomes repairing the door, looking inside he saw that Superboy was missing.
"Where's the weapon?!"
"Superboy? He's watching over the kids," Guardian replied.
"Get the weapon back in its pod!" Desmond shouted.
"Calm down doc, I don't see any harm in letting the kid stretch his legs,"
"Oh, don't you?" Desmond looked to a nearby genome that jumped up on his shoulder, looking back at Guardian the small creature's horns glowed red and the genome riding Guardian's shoulder also began to glow, he groaned in pain before opening his eyes in glare.
"That weapon needs to be put back in its pod!" he shouted angrily before storming off.
Meanwhile, Superboy was watching over the sidekicks. He was staring at Kid Flash who suddenly woke up gasping. Seeing Superboy he glared at him.
"What do you want!?"
No response, "Quit staring at me! It's creepin' me out!"
"Hey, KF, maybe we shouldn't egg on the guy who could fry us with a glance," Robin chimed in.
Aqualad looked from his companions down to Superboy, "You are Superboy, aren't you?"
He nodded, "I'm a genomorph weapon made from the DNA of the Superman, designed to replace him should he perish, or fight him should he turn from the light,"
"A noble aspiration to be like Superman, but I fear you won't be able to do that from in here. Help us Superboy, help us against Cadmus,"
"I'm here because of Cadmus!" he shouted.
Leaf awoke now, looking up she locked eyes with Superboy and immediately lowered her head.
As this happened Guardian, Desmond, the scientist woman from before, and a few genomes entered the room. "There he is, get back to your pod, now," He told Superboy.
He went to say something but a genome jumped on his shoulder and glowed red, quieting down Superboy turned and left the room, leaving Desmond with the sidekicks.
"Now, begin the cloning procedure," he told the scientist that was following him.
She nodded and pushed a few button commands into the console, needles appeared on robotic arms inside the pods and stabbed each of the sidekicks in the chest before beginning to shock them, causing each to scream and groan in pain, Leaf shortly passed out from the process. Aqualad managed to resist it however, long enough to speak to Superboy, hoping he had the super-hearing of his original.
"You are alive, this means you can determine your own path, whether that's to work with or against Cadmus is up to you, but think of this: What would Superman do?"
Superboy stopped as he heard Aqualad's words with his super-hearing, turning back he burst into the room, frying all the circuits that led inside, shutting down the pods.
"What? I told you to get back to your pod… somebody stop him!"
Guardian stepped forward "Alright kid, let's take this nice and ease-" he was cut off as Superboy grabbed him and threw him into the wall. As he walked past Desmond he did the same.
"Don't give me orders," he said.
The woman backed off as Superboy approached the pods, he looked up as Robin finished picking the locks on his cuffs. Dropping down he looked to Superboy.
"Thanks for the assist, I'll get KF if you'll free Aqualad,"
"You don't get to give me orders either,"
He leapt up and broke the cuffs holding Aqualad, "Thank you," he replied as Superboy helped him down.
Aqualad looked up at Leaf and used his handles to break her cuffs and bring her down to him gently, once she was within reach Superboy grabbed her and put her over his shoulders.
"C'mon, we need to get out of here," Robin said as he led the way out of the room.
Desmond recovered as they were making their escape, he looked to the genome that had been sitting on his shoulder, "Alert every genome in Cadmus, we cannot allow them to escape…"