Greenhorn Hero
Chapter 5: Make a Break for it!
Disclaimer: I do not own Young Justice or any of the characters involved except for Guardian F Forest and Guardian N Nature.
The group made their way through the halls of Cadmus, Robin had his display up as he guided them left and right through the labyrinth of twisting tunnels.
"How much farther?" Kid Flash asked.
"Well, besides the 52 floors to go up, we should be coming up on the elevator-"
He stopped in the hallway as large genomes blocked their path ahead.
"Turn around," Aqualad ordered.
The group turned but found they were blocked as small, razor-claw genomes broke free of bulges in the wall.
"We're trapped," Kid Flash said.
"No, we're not, here," Superboy tossed Leaf to Kid Flash who caught her and barely managed to stop himself from falling.
Superboy turned toward the large Genomes and leapt toward one, smashing it in the jaw with his fist, as he landed he watched to see if it would get up only to be stomped underfoot by another. He yelled as he lifted the foot up and threw it into another pair of the genomes. The others took the window of opportunity to make it past the large creatures while they continued to engage Superboy, when they realized he wasn't following Aqualad turned back.
"Superboy! Our objective is to escape, not bury ourselves,"
Superboy yelled again as he threw one of the large genomes into the wall, sending a tremor through the whole structure. "You want to see escape?!"
He grabbed the down Genome and threw it into the advancing army of smaller ones, blocking the path. He then took off toward the rest of the group. They made it to the elevator shaft and Aqualad ripped open the doors. Robin fired a grappling hook and grabbed onto Kid Flash who handed Leaf off to Aqualad. They followed the rope up as Superboy grabbed Aqualad and Leaf before leaping into the air. As they flew upward Leaf stirred, her eyes fluttered open and she saw she was being carried by Aqualad and Superboy. She frozen as she recognized Superboy. He didn't seem to notice as he started to slow in ascent.
"Wait… what?" The trio began to fall, "I can't fly?"
Robin saw what was happening and fired a grappling line into the opposing wall, Aqualad freed an arm and grabbed hold, stopping the trio from plummeting down the shaft.
"You may not be able to fly, but you can still leap tall buildings in a single bound. Super cool," Kid Flash gave him a grin and a thumbs up.
Robin looked up and spotted the elevator coming down.
"This is gonna have to be our exit," He said pointing at the door. Aqualad set Leaf down next to Superboy and she slowly siddled away from him as Aqualad ripped the door open. The group exited and Superboy grabbed Leaf before leaping through the doorway. Once they were outside the shaft he set her down and she quickly fled to be beside Aqualad.
"Are you ok?" Kid Flash asked her.
"I'm… fine," She said hesitantly.
Aqualad put a hand on her shoulder, "I understand you are afraid, but there's no need to worry, we must remain strong in order to escape,"
She looked into his eyes and after a moment, her gaze hardened and she nodded. Robin took off down the hallway, leading the group, but Superboy called out a direction soon after and the group followed his instruction until they arrived at what appeared to be a dead end.
"Great, thanks Supes, are you trying to get us podded?"
"No, but, I don't understand,"
"Don't me so upset KF, he actually just saved us," Robin said as he pointed up at a ventilator shaft. The group managed to all squeeze inside and turn a corner before the pursuing Genomes even found the dead end. A few minutes later the group broke out of the vents and Robin started hacking a way into an exit door.
"Hurry up, they're gonna be on us soon," Kid Flash insisted.
"Nah, I hacked the motion sensors, bought us some time,"
"Sweet,"
The door clicked and Robin stood up, "All clear,"
"Alright, now I've got some room to run," Kid Flash said as he put his goggles on and took off, dashing up the stairs inside the tower-like room the rest followed in his wake as he knocked out a small army of genomes with his super speed. Eventually the group arrived on the first sublevel. They turned a corner and stopped as they saw an army of Genomes with Guardian at the head. A psychic pulse went out which caused most of the group to faint, save for Superboy and Leaf, who collapsed in pain again.
"Brother," The telekinetic Genome said as he approached.
"You," Superboy responded.
"Yes brother, I am the one who set the fire to lure your friends here, I am the one who gave you directions and told you to free them,"
"But why?"
"You are a hope and salvation for our people brother. The Genome race can finally be recognized and advanced through you, if you so choose,"
Superboy looked around as his friends began to come to and Leaf finished healing her head.
"I'll do it," he told the genome.
It nodded and the rest of them stepped aside, "Then you are free to go,"
"I don't think so!" Desmond said as he stepped into the path made by the genomes.
"I think this farce has gone on long enough, project blockbuster will give me the power I need to restore this place back to working order!" he produced a vial containing a blue liquid and downed it.
With grunts, groans, and snaps, Desmond's body began to shift and change.
"His life-force it's-" Leaf began, but was interrupted as Desmond, now transformed into a gray-skinned, hulking, behemoth of a monster let out a roar.
"Changed, got it," Robin said as he looked around.
Superboy shouted a battle cry as he leapt toward Desmond, the transformed man seemed to grin as he took two hits from Superboy with barely a stagger, he then grabbed him and leapt upward, tearing through the ceiling.
"That's one way to escape," Robin said as he fired a grappling line upward and grabbed Kid Flash.
"You think the doc planned that?" Kid Flash asked as they ascended.
Leaf walked over to Aqualad who grabbed her hand "I don't think he's planning much of anything anymore," he leapt up into the hole.