CHAPTER 1: Today is the day…I hope
Today is the day. The day I've been waiting for 22 days, 15 hours, 12 minutes, and still counting.
Twenty-two days ago mom, or Enchantrix, said I could go to the prestigious "HALL OF JUSTICE". I've been waiting forever to go there, but I wasn't going to be the only one. Robin was going to be there, Aqualad too, Speedy (couldn't wait to see him again), and Kid Flash. So excited to see him again.
I woke up earlier than usual today and ate breakfast as quickly as I possibly could. Afterward, I walked back to my room took out my superhero outfit out of my secretly hidden closet. I stared at my black three inch heel boots, at my short black pleated skirt with a red belt, at my red gloves, and at my corset like black shirt that was over a long sleeved grey shirt that covered the majority of my neck. I personally loved my costume but I felt I needed another one, a more mature one. I put it on and walked, practically flew actually, back to the living room.
"Excited aren't we" Mom said as she entered the room in her outfit.
"Oh no, just super excited that I'm seeing Kid Flash today…" I responded sarcastically.
"Well mom I'm really excited because I've been waiting for this day for 22 days and I ...um... can't remember the other crap. Can we please go, like now mom?" I pleaded and she looked at me with raised eyebrows.
"What have I said about…"
"I know, I know, 'Anna Wayne watch your mouth and watch everything that comes out of it'. But come on mom I'm 14."
She was about to say something when we heard and saw BREAKING NEWS on our TV.
"…as we have said before the escaped villain Icy is terrorizing Lithium City Mall…we will have more information so stay posted…and now we continue our Independence Day cov-…"
"This so not better take a long time Enchantress." I said as we flew towards Lithium City Mall.
I hope this doesn't take long at all…
When we got to the mall, the majority of it was either destroyed or frozen. People were running and trying to hide from the low petty villain with light blue skin and lips and a dark blue leotard.
"Stupid people…trying to hide from little old me...well let me tell you that you wont." She was about to freeze a group of people when I shot a crimson energy blast at her face.
"So Icy… you wanna play with someone your own size." I looked at her with a smirk on my face. She looked pretty pissed at me and my mother.
"Blare. You and your pathetic mom won't stop me today. Got it. I on the other hand will enjoy destroying you both." She threw ice from both hands and aimed at me. I was too quick for her and so was my mom.
I was flying over her and my mom appeared from behind her and took her out.
"I swear Icy if I wasn't in a hurry today I would have taken you out myself." I looked at the frozen clock and saw it was almost going to be two.
"Come on mom we gotta go NOW." I looked at her and we flew to the Hall Of Justice.
Almost there…I hope this day goes well…
We flew over the Hall of Justice, but before we landed I could already see Batman and Robin, Green Arrow and Speedy, and Aquaman and Aqualad.
Hmph… how ironic that the fastest boy alive and his mentor are the last ones to arrive.
"Hey it so nice to see you again Speedy…and Robin and Aqualad too. Haven't seen you in some time, right?" I knew I was blushing but how could I not. Speedy was just so cute and so nice and so…so Speedy. He flashed me a smile which only made me blush even more. Such a cute smile.
"Today is the day." Batman said. I looked at Robin and smiled because it was the day we were waiting for.
"Welcome to the Hall of Justice" Green Arrow said as he stared at his protégé.
"Headquarters of the Justice league." Aquaman said as he stared at the legendary building.
"And now headquarters for you." My mom said as she placed her hand on my shoulder.
"Aw man. I knew we would be the last ones here." We all turned around at the sound of Kid Flash's voice.
Totally forgot about you.
"Such a shocker that the, and I quote, 'fastest boy alive', is the last one to arrive." I smirked at him and all he did was smile a you are so gonna pay for that smile at me.
We started walking towards the Hall and we had to go through all the fans dying to get a picture or autograph of one of the superheroes. I could even hear them arguing about what our names were.
"I'm glad we are here." Aqualad said.
"Have all five sidekicks ever been at the same place and at the same time?" He asked Robin while occasionally sneaking glances in my direction.
"DON'T call us sidekicks, not after today." Speedy told Kid Flash. I have always noticed he hated being called a sidekick, it always made him angry.
"Sorry Speedy, first time at the Hall. I'm a little overwhelmed." Kid Flash told him.
"You're overwhelmed, Freeze was underwhelmed. Why can't anyone just be whelmed?" It was so like Robin to make up words out of already existing words.
"Oh I don't know Rob…here's a crazy idea: maybe cause it's not a word and or an actual emotion."I whispered the last part before the doors of the Hall of Justice opened to reveal huge statues of the Justice League members.
"Oh wow, maybe that's why."Robin whispered so softly I could barely hear it.
We walked to the doors that had a sign that said Justice League Members only.
The doors opened and the Martian Manhunter and Red Tornado came out. The Martian was the first to speak.
"Robin, Speedy, Kid Flash, Blare, Aqualad, welcome. You now have access to the gym, our fully stocked gallery, and also our library."
We walked into the library and I could see all sorts of books on the shelves.
The Flash turned around and said," Make your selves at home."
We all looked at each other before Robin, Kid Flash, and Aqualad sat down.
"Wow. Some of these books are from before I was born." I said before I sat down on the arm of Robin's chair. I looked at Speedy and saw he was just staring at our mentors as if he was waiting for them to say something else. They were just talking about the coincidence of five ice villains attacking on the same day.
"We shouldn't take long." They were about to walk inside another room when Speedy finally spoke.
"That's it? You promised us a real look inside, not some glorified backstage pass." Speedy was glaring at them. Robin, Aqualad, Kid Flash, and I were just silent.
"It's a first step, you five have been granted access others don't get." Aquaman replied.
"Oh really." Speedy pointed to the window above the bookshelves," Who cares which side of the glass we're on." He had a point because people were there taking pictures of us.
"Roy you just need to be patient…" Green Arrow said as he took a step towards Speedy.
"No what I need is respect." He turned and looked at us. "They're treating us like kids, or worse sidekicks. We deserve better than this." He looked at us but we said nothing and just looked at each other.
"You're kidding right. You're playing their game, WHY? Because you think they play fair. Today was supposed to be the day. The day we have been waiting for to take step one on becoming full members of the league." We exchanged glances before Kid Flash spoke.
"Well sure…but I thought step one was getting a tour of their HQ."He told Speedy.
"Except the hall isn't the league's real HQ. I bet they never told you it's just a false front for tourists and a pit stop to catch teleporter tubes to their real HQ in space called the Watchtower."We all looked at each other before looking at our mentors who were looking at each other as well.
"You are not helping your cause here son. Stand down or-"Aquaman said.
"Or what? You'll send me to my room and I'm not your son. I'm not even his. But I thought I was his partner, well not anymore." He took of his yellow hat and threw it on the floor in front of Green Arrow before walking towards us.
"I guess they're right about you four. You're not ready. I doubt you ever will be." He walked past us and towards the door without looking at us.
"But Roy…"I whispered but he left. Just like that without another word to us or a second glance at his mentor.
We were all silent. No one had anything to say. Roy was so mad at us; you could easily tell he wanted to be backed up. But none of us did. We stayed frozen in place. I couldn't believe he just quit.
An alarm broke us of our thinking and we turned around to see Superman appear in the huge computer monitor.
"Superman to Justice League, there's been an explosion at Cadmus. It's on fire as we speak."
"I've had my suspicions on Cadmus. Perhaps this may be the perfect opportunity to-." Batman was interrupted by another transmission.
"Zatara to Justice League, an enemy of ours is planning to use the amulet of Vaten to block out the sun. I'm requesting full league assistance."
"Superman you're call." Batman and the rest of us looked at the man of steel, awaiting an answer.
"It's a small fire; the authorities have got it under control."
"Then Cadmus can wait. All justice league members report to Zatara's quardinates. Batman out."
Batman, Enchantrix, Aquaman, and the Flash turned to face us.
"Stay put." Batman told us.
"What? Why?"Robin said.
"Because this is a League Mission." Aquaman answered.
"You're not trained-."The Flash told us.
"Since when?" Kid Flash asked his mentor.
"I meant you're not trained to work as part of this team." He replied after pointing to himself and our other mentors.
"There will be other missions, but only when you're ready." Enchantrix looked at each of us.
"But for now…stay put."Batman said before he and the rest of them followed him out leaving us confused and angry.
After about three minutes of complete silence, Kid Flash decided to speak.
"When we're ready, how are we supposed to ever be ready if they treat us like… like sidekicks."
"My mentor, my king, I thought he trusted me." Aqualad looked disappointed because he has always thought he was trusted with everything.
"Trust? They don't even trust us with the basics. They have an HQ in SPACE that they never mentioned to us. Why? Because they don't trust us." Kid Flash was mad, not as mad as Roy, but mad.
"What else aren't they telling us?" Robin asked us.
"I have a better question," I finally said,"why didn't we leave with Speedy." I said it faintly but I knew they heard. They were all thinking it. Why didn't we leave with him? He spoke the truth and yet we didn't back him up.
After another minute of complete silence, Aqualad decided to speak.
"What is Project Cadmus?" He asked.
We all shrugged.
"I don't know… but I can find out." Robin said with a smile as he started walking towards the computer monitor.
He started typing on the computer and all he got was an ACCESS DENIED. But that didn't stop him. He started hacking it and started typing even more things, even faster.
"Whoa, what are you doing?" Kid Flash asked.
"It's the same system as the batcave Kid Flash." I answered for Robin.
Then we heard an ACCESS GRANTED.
"I'm in. Let's see, Project Cadmus, genetics lab in D.C. That's all it says."
"But if Batman's suspicious, there has to be something else going on. Other than genetic testing."I said,
"Well maybe we should investigate." Robin looked at us with a smile.
"Solve their case before they do. It would be poetic justice." Aqualad added with a hint of excitement in his voice.
"Yeah, their all about justice right." Robin said with a smile.
"Rob you going to Cadmus? Cause if you go I want to go too." Kid Flash told Robin.
"But they said stay put." Aqualad told both of them.
"Yeah on the blocking out the sun mission, not this. You in Aqualad?" Robin asked.
"You're right. I'm in." Aqualad walked towards them leaving me the only one that hasn't said anything.
"You in Blare?" Robin asked me.
"So just like that we're some team on a mission?" I asked.
"We didn't come for a play date. I know you didn't either." Robin was right. I didn't just come to hang with the boys.
"You in?" Kid Flash asked.
I only nodded.
When we got there the fire department was already there trying to save two men. But the building blew up causing them to fall out the window. I flew to rescue them but KF got there faster and carried them to the roof before falling. However, he managed to hold on to the window.
"Hold on Flash boy" One of the fire men yelled. I stood on the window and looked down at Kid Flash.
"It's Kid Flash! Why is that so hard to remember?" He asked that to me. I just shrugged.
"Don't know." I saw that Robin was on his way so I decided to go through the window and into the room. A couple of seconds later, Robin and kid Flash came in through the window.
"Why didn't you pull me up Blare?" Kid Flash asked me as he started looking through files.
"You didn't ask." I responded and heard Robin chuckle.
"I appreciate the help." Aqualad told us as soon as he came in.
"You handled it. Besides we came to investigate." Robin told him.
Aqualad walked out of the room we soon followed.
"I thought I saw something in the elevator. Something that wasn't supposed to be there." Aqualad informed us.
"But the elevator is supposed to be locked down." Kid Flash said.
Robin ran until he was only a few feet from the elevator.
"This is wrong." He looked at his virtual computer in his left hand until he found the answer. "I thought so. This is a high speed express elevator. It doesn't belong in a two story building."
"Neither does what I saw." Aqualad said with a serious look on his face.
"Blare can you…"Robin asked.
"Sure." I went to the elevator and my gloved hands started glowing crimson. I placed them in between the doors and then opened them forcefully.
We looked and saw more than two stories. Project Cadmus must be hiding something big.
"That's why they need an express elevator." Robin said.
"You want me to go ahead Rob?" I asked him.
"No. We don't know what we're dealing with, so I think we should stay together." He responded. He motioned for me to go first. I dived into the empty elevator shaft and I could hear Robin, Kid Flash, and Aqualad behind me.
After 26 levels, Robin ran out of rope. Robin started hacking the security system and Green Robin faces replaced Red ones.
"That is so cute."He blushed and then motioned me to open the elevator door.
"Welcome to Project Cadmus." Robin said in awe. I couldn't believe this place was hidden, all its levels with no one on the outside knowing.
"Kid!" Aqualad didn't yell at him but said it loud enough for him to hear it.
Kid Flash rushed forward and fell when he saw something, something that not only shocked him but shocked us all.
There is obviously something bigger going on here.
I didn't know what they were but they were huge and boarding them were these small, alien looking things.
We were all in shock and so we only stared at them as they passed by.
"No...nothing odd going on here."Aqualad said sarcastically.
We were all still in shock and we only moved until they left us.
Something very, very big is going on here…
We started walking again until we reached a door Robin needed to hack in order to open. And we actually thought we wouldn't be shocked again.
"Okay…I'm officially whelmed." Robin stated as he stared in awe.
"You are so not the only one." I agreed.
"This is how they hide this massive underground facility from the rest of the world." We started following Kid Flash before he turned around and continued. "The real Cadmus isn't on the grid; it generates its own power with these… these things. It must be what they're bred for." Kid Flash said as he pointed to the things that were generating energy.
"Even the name is a clue, the Cadmus of myth created a new race by sewing dragon's teeth into the earth." Aqualad informed us.
"And this Cadmus creates life too." I added.
"Yeah, well lets find out why." Robin started walking to the computer and started hacking for information.
"Um…they call them Genomorphs. Whoa, look at the stats of these guys: super strength, telepathy, razor claws…these are living weapons!"Robin explained as he finished looking through the files.
"They're engineering an army."Kid Flash said.
"But for who? Or what for that manner." I added.
"Wait, there's something else… Project Kr. Ugh, the files pretty encrypted I cant- "
"DON'T MOVE!"
We turned around and saw a man with a couple of Genomorphs.
"Wait, Robin, Kid Flash, Blare, Aqualad, what are you doing here?" The man asked as soon as he recognized us.
"Hmph, at least he got your name right KF." Robin said with a chuckle as he turned and continued trying to hack.
"Who is he?" I asked Kid Flash quietly. He just shrugged and took a step in front of me so he was next to Aqualad.
"I know you, Guardian, you're a hero." Aqualad told him.
"I do my best." He replied while eyeing us carefully.
"Then what are you doing here?"Kid Flash questioned him angrily.
"I think that's my question boys…and girl."He replied. "I'm chief of security here, and you guys are trespassing. Though we could call the Justice League and figure this out." He continued.
"You think the league is going to approve of you breeding weapons?" Kid Flash retorted while taking another step so he was directly in front me. I decided to take a step closer to Robin because if what I thought was going to happen, and he was still hacking, I needed to keep him unoccupied.
"Weapons? What are you… what am I...?" He started shaking his head and the horns on the Genomorph resting on his shoulder started glowing.
"Take them down hard, no mercy!" He commanded the rest of the Genomorohs after the horns stopped glowing red.
They growled and started charging towards us. Robin jumped in front of us and threw a smoke bomb in front of the Genomorphs before grabbing me by the waist and pulling me up with him to the side away from the attacking Genomes. One of the Genomorphs, however, grabbed a hold of my ankle.
"Hey let me go you little freak!" He climbed to my arm and scratched me with its claws. Instinctively, and because of the minor pain on my arm, I shot my crimson energy beam out of my eyes causing it to fall.
"Hey you okay Blare?" Robin asked as soon as we landed our feet directly on the ground.
"Yeah I'm fine it was just a scratch, but that thing totally ripped my outfit." I answered as I examined the ripped fabric on my shoulder.
"Come on." He grabbed my left hand and led my away from the Genomes that caught up with us. With my right hand I used my shield and forcefully crashed them against the wall to the left.
When we got to the elevator the intruder alarm had gone off and the elevator wouldn't open. Robin let go of my hand and started hacking.
"Way to be a team player ROB." Kid Flash said sarcastically to the boy that was still hacking.
I gave Kid Flash a look because he didn't include me in his sarcastic statement.
"You're never the team player, so from you it's expected Blare." Kid Flash stated with a smile.
"I thought you were behind us KF." Robin responded as soon as he finished hacking.
As soon as the elevator doors opened we got in quickly and saw Aqualad was fighting off some Genomes.
"Come on Aqualad."I said as he ran to the elevator when the door closed behind him and in front of the Genomes.
"Oh Blare, you okay?" Kid Flash asked when he realized I was holding my shoulder.
"Yeah, I'm fine. One of the little freaks just scratched me." I replied. He came closer to me and removed my hand and examined my scratch.
"Um…we are headed down?"Aqualad said interrupting our very minor moment.
"Yeah dude out is up not down."Kid Flash said as he turned to Robin.
"Excuse me, Project Kr is down on sub-level 52."Robin replied.
"This is getting out of control, perhaps…perhaps we should contact the League." Aqualad suggested.
Before any of us could produce an excuse, the elevator doors opened on sub-level 52. We cautiously looked around before we got out of the elevator.
"Well we are already here." Kid Flash told Aqualad.
"And our mentors will kill us before any of these freaks capture us." I added as we ran after Robin.
We ran until we caught up to Robin, who had stopped in front of two hallways.
"Which way Robby?"I asked when we got there.
"Yeah bizarre hallway number one or bizarre hallway number two." Robin said.
"HALT." We turned around and saw another Genome that used his telepathy to throw metal cylinders at us.
We all ducked and moved out of the way before the things exploded behind us. Robin through a birdarang at him but he caught it with his telepathy. We decided running towards one of the creepy hallways would be better than staying here and probably dying.
Kid Flash ran ahead of us and put a small metal machine between the closing door that led to project Kr.
"Hurry!"He yelled at us as he went through the door. We followed and I heard Aqualad kick the machine out of the way so the doors could close.
"I disabled the door, we're safe."Robin informed us after he finished hacking.
"No Rob we're trapped."I replied as I walked away from Robin.
"Ah guys, you might want to see this…"We turned around and started walking to where kid flash was. He pressed a button and we saw what we didn't expect to see when we woke this morning.
"Big K little r, the atomic symbol for Krypton." Kid Flash said as he moved closer to the Superman look alike.
"Robin, hack." Aqualad commanded the still stunned Robin.
"Oh what…right…right." Robin started hacking the computer in front of him.
"Weapon designation Superboy, a clone force grown in…16 WEEKS… from DNA aquirred from Superman." He exclaimed.
"Acquired? More like stolen from Superman." I said.
"No way the big guy knows about this."Kid Flash added.
Robin continued reading, "solar suit lets him absorb yellow sun radiation 24/7."
"And these creatures?"Aqualad said while pointing at the three Genomes that were over Superboy.
"Genomorph gnomes, telepathic, force feeding him education…"Robin answered.
"And we could guess what else, their making a slave out of Superman's ,well, son." Kid Flash said.
"I think now would be a good time to contact the League."I stated.
We all used our com-links but we couldn't get through to our mentors.
"We're in too deep, literally." Kid Flash said as he looked at us.
We were on our own when we needed help.
"This is wrong, we can't just …leave him like this." I said as I started at them and then at Superboy.
"Set him free."Aqualad told Robin.
Robin did and then the test tube opened. We were waiting for even the slightest movement for what seemed like a long time.
Something was wrong. The horns of the G gnomes stopped glowing and Superboy's hand moved. And then…
Kid Flash moved me out of the way as he charged and tackled down Aqualad. He then started punching him and Robin, Kid Flash, and I raced to them and tried to hold Superboy from attacking Aqualad again.
"Whoa…hang on to your side…"Robin said as he and I were trying to hold Superboy's left arm. Kid Flash wasn't so lucky. Superboy slipped out of his grip and punched right on his jaw, sending him flying and crashing through a glass tube.
"No! Kid Flash."I screamed as I heard him hit the ground with a loud thud.
"I don't want to do this." Robin said as he threw a gas bomb at Superboy's face, causing him to fall back away from Aqualad, who took this as an opportunity to kick him in the chest.
He crashed and destroyed the computer at the same time, before getting up.
Robin used his taser but it didn't do anything except give Superboy the chance to pull Robin and crush his chest with his foot.
"Hey let go of him!" I yelled as I flew and punched him hard enough to send him crash through his own test tube.
I sat down and put Robin's head on my lap after he collapsed. I looked up and saw Superboy walking towards me.
"We are trying to help you."I told him. He grabbed me by my neck and slammed me against a wall. He was about to do it again but Aqualad grabbed him from behind and electrocuted him. However, Superboy jumped and slammed him against the rock ceiling, making him unconscious.
I stood up slowly and clutched my sore neck. My hand was grabbed and used to spin me around before I was thrown hard against the floor. I heard rock breaking and saw I was in a small hole, made with the force of me being thrown. I looked around and saw my fallen friends before I blacked out.
Well done Superboy, well done…