Hello everyone. I'm back from my crazy month and half known as end of term. I'm not totally in love with this chapter but I want to post something. I'm going to be really brief and thank all those kind people who reviewed the last chapter. Thanks to Guest, Serendox, nightwing-girl, Alice.W01, Vanessa Masters, KarmaHope, arrowgirl, TenchiSaWaDa, speedreader1999, Blonde-Existentialist, SpitfireChick, AngeliqueRox, j9162, Layla, .94, The Keeper of Worlds, CoLoRfUlBoOkWoRm, IronicVeghead, Dextra2, noaverageangel, Irenerb, violingirl56, and Kamil the Awesome. Some of you reviewed twice so thank you so much!
Just to clear up a few things no relationships are not set in stone yet. I do have some events that may change the course of the characters but we'll see what happens. I love hearing your suggestions and ideas but we'll see what happens.
Thank you all for your patience. :)
Thanks to silent reviewers.
Disclaimer: I do not own Young Justice or its characters.
Chapter 6: Fireworks
"It's wrong," stated Kid Flash gesturing towards Superboy. "We can't just leave him like this." Artemis nodded stalking around the containment pod.
"He doesn't seem hostile."
"It's unconscious."
"Thank you captain obvious," she snorted at her brother's comment. "All I'm saying is he seems docile now but there's no telling what will happen once you break his telepathic link with the…Robin what were those things called again?"
"G-Gnomes," Robin responded clicking through the console. "They're force-feeding him an education."
"But in what?" cringed Wally. "I say we get him out of there ASAP. They're essentially making a slave out of Superman's son."
"So we are agreed," asked Aqualad solemnly. Everyone nodded and Kaldur motioned towards Batman's protégée. "Set him free Robin. No weapons Artemis." He gestured for her to lower her armed bow. "He needs to know we are allies." She frowned but did as she was told.
"I'm just being prepared," she huffed.
"Where'd you learn that? The Girl Scouts?" snickered Wally never one to miss an opportunity to tease his sister. Artemis shook her head growing more and more wary as the time to release the clone approached. In all regards they were nothing more then rats trapped in a box with either a potential ally or an enemy with the ability to snap them in two. They didn't even know what sort of abilities he possessed; she was not enamored with the thought of getting up close and personal with heat vision. Superspeed she could handle, super strength no. But regardless she trusted Kaldur's judgment and lowered her bow returning her arrow to her quiver as the pod before them slid open and the boy, no the Superboy, clenched his fists menacingly.
"LOOK OUT!" she screamed as he charged Aqualad to the ground. Kid Flash and Robin quickly rushed across the room grabbing his arms.
"Hang on Supey!" struggled Wally as Robin chimed in, "We're on your side!" But heedless of his words the clone flung her brother away. He crashed through a glass unit before landing on the ground with a sickening smash.
"Wally!" she yelled already aiming an electrified arrow at Superboy who had decided to stamp upon Robin's chest with his foot. "I don't want to do this." But the arrow was barely acknowledged as he swatted it away. Wally was unconscious. Robin was unconscious. Her and Aqualad were left alone to fight mini-Superman.
Perfect.
"Plan!" she yelled continuing to release arrow after arrow. But her shout fell on deaf ears Aqualad attempted to fight Superboy. At least he was fighting him until Superboy power jumped him repeatedly against the ceiling. It wasn't that Artemis was afraid as the sixteen week clone approached her batting her arrows away like flies it was that she didn't understand why he was doing this. Any of this. As far as she could tell he was an intelligent, independent thinker and even if he was under the control of The Light his genetic material would have fought against the programming. It was like she was looking at what she could have been and that scared her more then being hit by him ever could.
"Why are you doing this?" she cried. Not backing down as he advanced towards her, Crocks did not surrender. She had stopped firing arrows long ago, since they clearly had no effect. Besides she'd need them to get out of this mess later. If there was a later. Aqualad, as usual, was right. Fighting him wouldn't help. "We don't want to hurt you." She said attempting to placate him. "I understand. It doesn't matter where you begin," he grabbed her around the throat hoisting her into the air and all she could think as oxygen was choked from her system was he had the most amazing pair of blue eyes, "you can be…a…hero." Artemis's world went black but she swore that somewhere in the foggy haze of her mind she heard, "Atta boy."
Time runs short you must awaken.
Wally groaned waking up to find himself confined in glass pod and bound at his arms and feet. Not a great way to wake up. Groggily he looked at the adjacent prisons and was relieved to see Artemis and Rob waking up as well. He was incredibly thankful that their masks were still in place but he was not exactly overjoyed at the prospect of being trapped in Cadmus as a lab rat. Then there was Superboy or Project Kr just standing there. Right in front of him. Staring.
He was angry. He couldn't move and it was killing him. He lashed out. He totally had a right to. "What do you want!" The clone just glared inciting his anger more. "Quit staring! You're creeping me out!"
"Uh KF," commented Robin, "how about we not tick off the guy who can fry us with a look?"
"How about we not tick him off period," groaned Artemis wincing. His eyes quickly flew to her; if the freak had done anything to her he'd –
"We only sought to help you," reasoned Aqualad sadly interrupting the young hero's angry line of thought.
"YEAH! We free you and you turn on us! How's that for gratitude."
"Kid, please be quiet now," said Kaldur, "I believe our new friend was not in full control of his actions."
"Friend?" asked Artemis incredulously.
"Artemis," stated Kaldur sternly as the clone began to speak, "we listen."
"What…What if I wasn't?" Superboy rasped quietly as if his voice hadn't been used in a long time. Wally's eyes widened with surprise and he strained against his restraints his inquisitive, scientific nature propelling him forward so that he could listen to the clone before him.
"He can talk?" he asked.
"Yes he can!" Kid Flash felt the intense glares and looks of his partners. He could take a hint.
"Oh come on," he grumbled, "it's not like I said it."
"It's not like you were being polite either," shot back Artemis.
"Thank you peanut gallery!"
Aqualad shook his head addressing the clone. "The genomorphs taught you, telepathically?"
"They taught me much. I can read, write. I know the names of things," he spoke carefully.
"But have you seen them?" questioned Boy Wonder. "Have they ever actually let you see the sky or the sun?"
"Images are implanted in my mind…but no." He paused. "I have not seen them." Wally had to admit that was a little sad. Talk about poor parenting.
"Do you know what you are?" encouraged Kaldur carefully.
"Who you are?" added Artemis. That appeared to get the clone's attention as he straighten his back and spoke head on.
"I am the Superboy. A genomorph. A clone made from the DNA of the Superman. Created to replace him should he perish. To destroy him should he turn from the light." Wally saw Artemis tense at the word "light" and wondered what was getting her so agitated. This entire time Artemis had been on edge, well, more on edge then usual. But clearly this wasn't the time to press the issue – clone, he, it, whatever – had just admitted to having the intent to kill Superman should it be deemed necessary. Wally was dumbstruck. Superman bad? Never. Not ever.
"To be like Superman," said Kaldur, "is a worthy aspiration. But like Superman you deserve a life of your own, beyond that solar suit, beyond a pod, beyond Cadmus." Even Kaldur's poetry seemed to just be agitating the "Superboy."
"Err, Aqualad…" began Wally.
"I LIVE BECAUSE OF CADMUS! IT IS MY HOME!"
"Your home is a test tube," responded Robin honestly. "We can show you the sun."
"Uhhh, pretty sure it's after midnight," he corrected automatically. He heard Artemis scoff. What? There was value in getting facts right. Besides lying to the clone that had just kicked their asses did not seem like a good idea. "But we can show you the moon."
Now Kaldur went in for the salesman's pitch kill. "We can show you, introduce you to Superman." Go Kal! Thought Wally enthusiastically as the clone looked on with awe and curiosity at the offer. Just a little bit more…
"No," stated a confident doctor entering the room accompanied by another doctor and Guardian, "they can't. They'll be otherwise occupied."
"Let us out of here!" yelled Artemis struggling against her bonds. "You can't keep us here! The League will find you!" Continuing as if his sister hadn't said anything at all the doctor said, with an annoying condescending lilt to his voice,
"Activate the cloning process."
"Pass. The Bat Cave's crowded enough."
"Fuck off!" swore Artemis for good measure. Wally just couldn't understand what was going on as he stared down Guardian, okay, yeah he got that they were very, very screwed. But what was Guardian even doing there? As head of security? It made no sense. Not only that why was a mere doctor allowed to chew out one of the most recognized Justice Leaguer's of all time. But the four sidekicks were mute as they watched with rapt fascination the exchange happening between the doctor, Superboy and Guardian.
"You're not a real boy," mocked the man. If only Wally could vibrate through solid objects then he could totally show this asshole what he was made of. He may not totally like Superboy but Wally hated bullies way more then bad attitude clones. "You're a weapon and you belong to me – well to Cadmus. Same thing. Now get back to your pod!"
Wally watched with a mounting dread as their only salvation walked out. Guess we really couldn't trust him. He thought bitterly before his entire body spasmed with pain as needle laced probes jabbed into his and his friends' skin. Wally glared at the doctor trying in vain to not only ignore the pained groans coming from the other protégées but also to listen to what the asshole had to say. He barely caught snippets of memories and delete the source material before the voltage went up a notch and he was no longer able to concentrate.
The pain was excruciating – at least until it stopped all together and there was Supey. Just standing there everyone unconscious around him. Talk about déjà vu.
"You here to help us or fry us?"
"I swear to God when I get out of this pod!" began Artemis dangerously, "I will hurt you Kid Flash. I believe the words you are looking for are thank you."
"It's a legitimate question!" He squawked. This was after all the same person who had beaten them up, placed them in pods and then abandoned them.
Superboy squinted before chuckling, "I don't seem to have heat vision so I suppose helping is my only option."
"That totally makes me feel better," said Wally sarcastically.
But before the clone could even move towards the console Robin landed on the ground having picked the cuffs. "Finally. Lucky Batman isn't here. He'd have my head for taking so long."
"Seriously," Wally snarked as the needles shifted uncomfortably beneath his suit, "that's what you're worried about? The whole League will have our heads after tonight!"
"Whose fault is that?" snapped Artemis.
"You were totally for this too."
"You two can fight later," interrupted Robin opening the pod doors before giving orders to Superboy. "Free Aqualad and Artemis. I'll get Kid Mouth."
"Don't you give me orders either," growled Superboy before he assisted the two teens, breaking the cuffs as if they were tissue.
"Thank you."
"Thanks." Wally rolled his eyes at his sister's puppy dog expression. This was so not the time for her to be developing some childish crush. She needed to keep her head in the game if they were going to make it out of Cadmus alive.
"You're staring," chuckled Robin beside his ear as he picked his cuffs.
"I'm sorry a person with the strength of Superman is manhandling my sister."
"He seems nice."
"Seems." Then he was on the ground and they were running away. He barely caught the doctor's threat.
"You'll never get out of here! I'll have you back in pods before morning."
"That guy is not whelmed," said Robin throwing some exploding birdarangs at the vessels containing their DNA samples. "Not whelmed at all."
Wally shook his head exasperated. "What is it with you and this whelmed thing?"
Falling into pace beside him Artemis asked worriedly, "You okay?" At least he still had her sisterly concern.
"Totally. Just a little blunt force trauma, but I'll bounce back." He grinned to reassure her.
"His head is as hard as a rock." Robin mocked. "It doesn't feel anything."
"Thank you Rob. You are such a pal."
Artemis breathed a little easier after Wally told her he was okay. She doubted he felt much better then she did having just been jabbed, electrocuted and beaten up but hearing his assurances was enough to quell her nervousness slightly. Things were clearly not going according to plan for Cadmus. The Light was involved in this little scientific operation and that meant her father was involved too. She needed to get out of here and fast. Before they met one of the big guns or worse, someone recognized her. There was no way. No way she was leaving the Wests and the life she had built.
But she couldn't help but wonder how the Light fit into this sci-fi thriller. Why did they even want a clone of Superman? Their goal was to tear down the Justice League and the fabric of society created around their protection not to create artificial duplicates of the power they were trying to destroy. A contingency plan Superman just made no sense especially one that had independent thought.
"We are still forty-two levels before the surface if we can make the elevator," directed Kaldur before a herd of genomorphs blocked their path.
"Option two?" She said pulling her bow, the blood pumped through her veins with the fiery promise of finally inflicting some pain.
"The plan is escape. Do what you must to get through," said Aqualad evenly dodging the creatures and ducking between limbs. "Nothing more."
"Someone mind telling that to him," stated Kid Flash jabbing a thumb at Superboy as he attacked what to most would be considered his own brethren. "Subtlety thy name is Hulk."
"Superboy! Leave them." Kaldur instructed. The order only seemed to incite the clone's rage as he ruthlessly threw the genomorphs aside before following them to the elevator shaft. Ripping the doors open Aqualad looked up into the darkness as she, Kid Flash and Robin crawled onto the ledge and began climbing up. Grabbing Aqualad around the middle Superboy began to fly upwards but Artemis watched with mounting dread as just as quickly the two boys began a rapid downward descent. He couldn't fly. He fucking couldn't fly!
"Grab on!" instructed Robin tossing a birdarang into the wall which Aqualad gratefully grabbed onto.
"Superman can fly," said the clone staring at them. "Why can't I fly?"
"Don't know," said Wally beside her, "but it looks like you can leap tall buildings in a single bound. Still cool."
"Uh guys," gulped Robin looking up as the speed elevator plummeted towards them, "This will have to be our exit."
"This day just gets better and better," sighed Artemis jumping out onto the floor as the elevator zoomed past. Now they had a defunct Superman clone – which made even less sense. No heat vision, no flight – why create him at all?
"Now what?" squawked Wally taking off down a seemingly deserted hallway. "Rob, what is the fastest way out of here?"
"Up Kid Idiot."
"Why Artemis thank you for that insightful comment. When none of us can fly." Wally deadpanned but whatever snide remark he was going to make next was interrupted as Superboy, the delicious body of hotness that he was, took a sudden executive position yelling,
"Go left!" Left!" Followed by, "right!"
"Great directions Supey," grumbled Wally moments later as they met with a dead end. "Are you trying to get us repoded?" Artemis tightened her grip on her bow, if Superboy was trying to get them recaptured she'd take him out before she let that happen.
"No," he muttered looking around confused, "I don't understand."
"Don't apologize," congratulated Boy Wonder finally catching up. "This is perfect. Artemis use an arrow to grapple the vent off the wall." Finally, noticing the air conditioning shaft above them Artemis let a grin slip onto her face as she fired her arrow.
"On it."
"Good job Superboy," said Aqualad as they climbed into the vents.
"Thank you."
"That's great and all," hissed Wally as they crawled. Robin leading, followed by Aqualad and Kid Flash with her and Superboy at the rear. Wally had not looked pleased when she had positioned herself distinctly in front of Superboy. "But at this rate we'll never get out!"
"Shhh," whispered Superboy, "listen. They're coming."
"Well that's just perfect."
"Oh shut up Kid Mouth," she groaned poking her brother with her bow as Robin worked on his wrist computer leading them towards another grate. "I think Boy Wonder has a plan." At least she was hoping he had a plan because they were not in a position to make a single wrong move.
Cackling Robin turned to them eyes sparkling with mirth, "I hacked the motion sensors."
"That is good news," sighed Aqualad relieved.
"That's the best news I've heard all day."
"Sweet!" Dropping to the floor she scanned the area for any hostiles. At least the hallway was clear she was in no mood for anymore surprises.
"Don't get too thrilled there's still plenty of them between us and out." Boy Wonder mumbled tapping desperately at his keyboard and frowning.
"Uh uh uh," tutted Wally shaking his finger and pointing to the emergency stairs behind him theatrically as he pulled on his goggles, "I finally have room to move." Before any of them could blink he was zooming up the stairs punching out the approaching genomorphs.
"Does he always do that?" asked Superboy.
"Run off?" asked Robin as they raced through the door after the escaping speedster.
"Use corny lines."
Artemis chuckled as she fired a grenade arrow to the lower floors, "you'll get used to it but don't spend too much time with him. He's a carrier."
"Of what?" The clone asked confused.
"Less chat more attack. There are more behind us!" called Robin as she and Superboy took out the stairs the creatures were clamoring up.
"Not anymore!" She sent a wink at Superboy who just looked confused at the action. Clearly those G-Gnomes had not given him a complete education in all things sarcastic and teen. It was actually kind of refreshing. Regardless by the time they caught up to Wally he was, as usual, sprawled out on the ground rubbing his head in pain – it didn't take a genius to figure out what had happened to him. Closed door, speeding mass and yet he still called himself genius.
"We're cut off from the street," grumbled Aqualad stopping short and frowning.
"Thanks. My head hadn't noticed," snapped Wally sarcastically.
"You need me to kiss your boo-boo," she said puckering her lips exaggeratedly.
"Funny," grumbled Wally glaring, "the only thing you're going to be kissing is my ass." Ignoring his childish quip she watched worriedly as Aqualad and Superboy tried fruitlessly to pry the door open while the alarms blared around them. Robin attempted to hack he door but clearly he was having no success.
"My acid arrows aren't strong enough to eat through the door."
"I can't hack this fast enough either. Batman is really going to kill me."
"Is there an alternative exit?" queried Aqualad turning to Robin. The younger boy's eyes quickly scanned the map spotting a hallway to their right.
"This way," he cried kicking it open as they raced after the masked hero only to be met with four intersecting corridors of genomorphs and one pissed off Guardian.
"Totally not whelmed," muttered Robin under his breath as the crew of angry creatures stared them down. Artemis could not see a way out of the situation they had found themselves in as she stared at the malicious hoard around them. Five teenagers did not stand a snowball's chance in hell against creatures the size of houses and minivans.
However, she didn't have long to worry about tactics as a pressure was applied to her mind by the creatures' telepathic powers which forced her painfully to the ground. She wasn't sure what occurred but moments later Superboy was saying with implicit purpose that he chose freedom, Guardian all of a sudden was on their side and Doctor Desmond, because apparently the psychopath had a name, had turned himself into a massive, bulky creature using a substance called Project Blockbuster.
"Everyone back," yelled Guardian stepping in front of them only to get flicked away like a fly by – well Wally wasn't sure what the thing in front of him was only that it was big. Superboy didn't fare much better as the two engaged in a fist and grunt match which cumulated with the – creature – catapulting them through the ceiling to the floor above.
The four of them had simply spent most of the battle trying to regain their bearings and as Artemis stood beside him looking up at the hole above he couldn't help but wonder if they were going to make it out of this.
"Okay…" said Robin pointing a grapple upwards. Artemis followed suit, gesturing for Aqualad to grab onto her bow. "That's one way to bust through the ceiling."
Snatching onto Robin's glove as they rocketed upwards Wally couldn't help but ask, "do you think lab coat planned that?"
Kaldur looked at him seriously, "I doubt he is planning anything anymore." Kid Flash gulped. That was so not what he wanted to hear as he watched Superboy get flung towards them before skidding across the ground.
"We need a plan," said Kaldur.
"We need," commented Artemis, "a sledgehammer. A big one."
"You may be right Artemis," said Aqualad, "Kid Flash. Trip him."
"On it." Zipping towards the beast and sliding between his legs at the last minute Wally took up a crouched position. Moments later Kaldur and Supes punched the monster in the face causing it to topple over his form. "Timber," he smirked grinning down at the doctor victoriously, "learned that one in kindergarten."
"Kid, duck!" yelled Artemis firing some polyurethane foam arrows which barely encased the Blockbuster creature before he tore the hardened substance away – it didn't seem very likely that any of her other arrows would be effective either. He'd have to make a note for them to develop more elaborate ones. Even Aqualad's electricity and water bearers had no effect on the beast as he flicked each of their attacks away. In fact, they were being treated like human battering rams as he was tossed into Artemis flinging them both across room.
"Oww…" Blearily blinking his eyes opened Wally found himself nose to nose with his adopted sister. "Er, hi." She sent him a deadpan look and Wally felt his cheeks heating up as he tried to ignore the parts of her anatomy that were pressing against him.
"You're kidding right?"
"KF, Art get over here!" yelled Robin gesturing them over. Wally didn't need to be told twice as he immediately scrambled off Artemis and ran across the room. "Look," said his best friend pointing at his holographic map.
Artemis whistled as they both caught onto the plan. "Pretty good."
"Got it?"
"Got it." The siblings chorused.
"Go." Wally could hear Artemis firing bomb laced arrows behind him as he charged at the ex-doctor managing to give him a nasty punch to the face. Glaring at him and growling Wally wondered briefly if running distraction was a smart move on his part as the creature tossed Superboy away and chased after him.
"Come and get me you incredible bulk!" He yelled as he barely dodged the fist aimed at him.
"Need some back up?" asked the archer falling into pace beside him as she released a string of arrows at the creature.
"From you, sis? Anytime." He grinned as they led the monster towards the centre of the room where Aqualad had coated the floor with water that, as Robin had so cleverly devised, could be used to conduct enough electricity to stun the creature.
"How long?" asked the clone once the blockbuster infused beast was down.
"Move," commanded Artemis staring at her timer. Realizing that they wouldn't clear the area Aqualad and Superboy covered them with their bodies taking most of the damage as the building collapsed around them.
"Talk about bringing the roof down," joked Wally once the rumble had settled and Superboy punched a way out. Artemis rolled her eyes jabbing him with her bow. Again.
"We did it," panted Aqualad.
"Was there ever any doubt," snickered Robin before sharing a painful high five with him. "Ugh."
"Idiots."
"Come on, Arty. Celebrate we totally kicked mutant monster ass we basically defeated the ninja turtles."
"That analogy makes no sense," she wheezed gripping her ribs before stiffening her eyes fixed on a moving point in the sky. "Shit. It's Superman."
Wally grinned at Supes who looked up at the idol expectantly, "do we keep our promises or what?"
"It is the whole League," said Kaldur gravely swallowing, "our mentors."
"They are so not whelmed," said Robin as the League assembled around them and Superboy and Superman had the most awkward parent-clone meeting in recorded history. This was followed by a very long-winded and dramatized explanation of their experience in Cadmus cumulating in the destruction of an entire building.
"We are so grounded." Wally moaned as their mentors talked following their conversation.
"You think?" snapped Artemis defensively fiddling with her bow. Wally's retort died in his throat as Batman, Flash and Aquaman approached them.
"Cadmus will be investigated. All 52 levels but let's make one thing clear –"
"You should have called!" interrupted Barry.
"End results aside we are not happy." As the bat glare intensified, "you hacked Justice League systems, disobeyed direct orders and endangered lives. You will not be doing this again." Wally's shoulders slumped, how short a lease were their mentors going to place them on? He was sick and tired of playing sidekick and being treated like one.
"I am sorry," intoned Aqualad stepping forward, "but we will."
"Aqualad," ordered the king of the sea, "stand down."
"My apologies my king, but no." Kaldur continued stepping forward. "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-"
"The five of us," corrected Wally.
"And it's not," added Artemis arms crossed.
Robin stepped forward, "Batman we're ready to use what you taught us. Or why teach us at all?"
"Why let them tell us what to do?" questioned Superboy stepping forward. "It's simple. Get on board or get out of the way."
Batman brooded for a moment before stating, "give me three days."
"Three days isn't so long," said Artemis.
"Uh guys?" said Robin glancing at Superboy. It took Wally a millisecond to consider the fact that there really was no place for the clone to go. Aqualad lived under the sea and the Bat Cave wasn't the most inviting place to go. Bats aside. It hardly seemed fair that he was being treated like a charity case. He sent Artemis a look and she just groaned covering her face with a still gloved hand. That was about as close to consent as a verbal confirmation.
"Hey Supey."
"Don't call me Supey."
"How about you come home with us?"
"Why?" asked Artemis looking heavenward but not resisting as he tugged her towards an impatient Barry.
"He's a souvenir," Wally grinned.
Superboy grunted.
Artemis groaned. "Mary's going to love this."
Not totally happy with this chapter but the next one will be an awesome side episode based on the comic book 0 for YJ. Review, comment and critique. Always happy for feedback and thoughts.