Chapter 2 : Independence day Pt. 2
Time is running short…You must wake up…YOU MUST AWAKEN…NOW!...
"Umph!" I yelled once I woke. I looked to my left and saw Kid Flash and Aqualad. To my right was Robin.
They woke up startled at the same time and did the same thing I did: looked at my surroundings until spotting Superboy glaring directly at us. He was just staring at us, without blinking or looking away.
"What…WHAT DO YOU WANT?"Kid Flash yelled after what seemed like hours of silence and glaring between us.
All he did was raise his eyebrows in confusion before Kid Flash continued, "Quit staring, you're creeping me out!"
"Uh, KF, how about we not tick of the guy that can fry us with a look."Robin suggested to the angry speedster.
"We only sought to help you."Aqualad said breaking the silence.
"Yeah we rescue you and you turn on us…how's that for grat-"
"Kid, please be quite now. I don't think our new friend was in control of his actions."Aqualad said.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Robin trying to pick the lock of the things that were binding our hands.
"You weren't were you…"I whispered softly causing everyone to look at me because of my calm tone towards the clone.
"What if…what if I wasn't."He murmured just loud enough for us to hear.
"He can talk?"Kid Flash exclaimed in surprise.
Superboy closed his fist before answering offended, "Yes, HE can."
Robin, Aqualad, and I just stared at Kid Flash.
"What? It's not like I said it."Kid Flash told us.
I turned my head and faced Superboy.
"The genomorphs taught you…telepathically right?"I asked him in order to draw his attention to me and not the angry Kid Flash.
"They taught me much, I can read… write… I know the names of things…"He answered simply.
"But have you seen them, have they ever actually let you see the sky or the sun?"Robin asked.
"Images are planted in my mind… so no, I have not seen them." He said a bit disappointed.
"Do you know what you are, who you are?"Aqualad asked him.
"I am the Superboy, a genomorph, a clone made from DNA from the Superman, created should he perish, to destroy him should he turn from The Light." We looked at each other in confusion before Aqualad continue.
"To be like Superman is a worthy aspiration, 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!"He yelled back.
"No offense, but your home is a test tube and not an actual home."I told him.
"We could show you the Sun."Robin offered.
"Um…I'm pretty sure it's after midnight…"Kid Flash whispered.
"Fine, we could show him the moon and the stars Mr. Negativity." I retorted.
"We could show you, introduce you to Superman."Aqualad said.
"No they can't…they'll be otherwise, occupied." A voice called from behind Superboy. We all looked up to see Guardian and two "scientists" walking towards us, all with Genomorphs on their shoulders.
"Activate the cloning process." He ordered the female scientist.
"Pass, Batcave is crowded enough."Robin shouted.
"Me too, like being only one."I shouted as well.
"And get the weapon back in its pod!" He ordered Guardian.
That is so harsh….
"Hey! Why does he get to call Supey an it?" Kid Flash questioned as Guardian walked towards Superboy.
"Not the right time Kid-I-never-think-before-I-speak…."I told him and he just gave me a look. There's a reason I've never liked being in the same room as him.
Guardian placed a hand on Superboy's shoulder but Superboy shook it off and stared at us.
"Please help us." Aqualad whispered, soft enough for us to hear but loud enough for Superboy to hesitate.
"Don't start thinking now." The scientist with the stupid pony tail said to Superboy. The genomorph on his shoulder jumped over to Superboy's shoulder and its ears started glowing red. "See you're not a real boy, you're a weapon and you belong to me…well to Cadmus…same thing. Now get back to your POD!" He yelled at Superboy, who then proceeded to walk to out the…well door.
I glared at the scientist and then I felt a surge of pain on my chest. I felt like I was being electrocuted and stabbed at the same time. I knew what they were doing. They were trying to clone us and probably afterward we would be disposed of. I wished I could use my powers, but the pain wouldn't let me concentrate. I looked around and noticed that everyone was wincing in pain and screaming. We couldn't fight back, we were defenseless. Maybe we weren't cut out to be part of the League. Maybe we'll never be. I looked at Robin and wished I could see those beautiful blue eyes one last time…
A load THUD made me look up to see Superboy tear of the door and throw it to the side. He started walking towards our direction and he pushed aside everyone that tried to stop him.
"Don't give me orders."Superboy told the fallen scientist. He turned and walked in front of us.
"So, you here to help us or fry us?" Kid Flash asked we all turned to stare at him. I looked back at Superboy and noticed he was squinting just a bit, as if trying to use heat vision.
"Huh, I don't seem to have heat vision so I suppose helping is my only option." Superboy said calmly.
Robin then jumped of his pod-like thing and rubbed his wrists.
"Ugh, finally. Lucky Batman isn't here; he'd have my head for taking so long."
"Seriously? That's what you're worried about? The WHOLE League will have our heads after tonight." Kid Flash exclaimed.
Robin rushed to the controls and pushed the button that opened our pods.
"Free Aqualad. I'll get Kid Mouth and Blare."He told Superboy.
"Don't you give me orders either." Superboy responded then went to do what Robin told him.
Robin then climbed my pod and used his laser to open them.
"That took longer than usual." I told him with a smile. He just shrugged and went to work on freeing Kid Flash.
"Why'd you free her first?" Kid Flash asked once he was freed. Robin just rolled his eyes and jumped off the pod and onto the floor.
"Not the time Kid." I said as I jumped down next to Robin.
We started running to the hole that used to have a door, when the scientist said, "You'll never get out of here! I'll have you back in pods before morning!"
"That guy is not whelmed, not whelmed at all." Robin said as he threw birdarang explosives at the pods that contained us moments before.
"What is it with you and this whelmed thing?" Kid Flash asked him.
"It's his word of the day apparently." I whispered loud enough for them to hear.
We started running in no specific direction, but away from all the genomorphs that started chasing after us.
"We are still 42 levels bellow ground, but if we can make the elevator…" Aqualad didn't have time to finish because in front of our way were the 15 foot tall genomorphs from when we first arrived, blocking our way to the elevator.
We stopped and turned around to see we were surrounded by different types of genomorphs, all different shapes and sizes.
Aqualad, Robin, Kid Flash, and I knew we didn't have time to fight them so we sneaked behind them and then realized that we were missing Superboy. He was fighting them and causing rocks to fall from the force of his punches.
"Superboy the goal is to escape not to bury ourselves!" Aqualad yelled.
"YOU WANT TO ESCAPE!" He yelled back and threw a 15 foot genomorph to the others that were approaching.
"Well, no need to be rude." I whispered. We continued running until we reached the elevator and Aqualad pried it open. Kid Flash climbed onto the ledge and Robin used his grappling hook whilst I flew. Superboy grabbed Aqualad and flew, but he lost altitude and started falling. I flew down and grabbed his hand while he looked down disappointed.
"Superman can fly, why cant I?" he silently asked himself.
"Don't know, but I looks likes you can leap tall buildings in a single bound. Still cool." Kid Flash offered with thumbs up. Aqualad and Superboy jumped onto the ledge with Kid Flash and I remained flying next to them.
"Thanks." Superboy said softly.
"Um, guys this will have to be our stop." Robin interrupted and pointed up to the elevator that was heading down.
Superboy punched open the elevator door and we all hurried inside before the elevator came down behind us. We saw genomorphs and we turned and ran through the left hallway.
"Go left. Left!" Superboy yelled at us.
"Now right."
We turned right and came to a dead end with only an air vent.
"Great sense of direction Supey." Kid Flash said sarcastically. "Are you trying to get us re-podded?"
"No I don't understand…" Superboy said quietly.
"Don't apologize, this is perfect." Robin said with a huge smile.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Simple, we go through the air vents." Robin replied while using his holographic computer.
Aqualad went forward and opened the vent and waited for Robin to finish.
After Robin was finished, he climbed in and Aqualad climbed in after him followed by Superboy.
"Well ladies first." Kid Flash asked. I just stared at the small vent that we could easily get trapped in, with all of us crammed together in a small space…
"I don't think I can." I said softly.
"Why not?" Kid Flash asked.
"I'm…kinda claustrophobic." I replied.
"Take a deep breath and get in, I'll go in after you." He said calmly.
"I'm claustrophobic, not stupid." I said back annoyed.
"I don't know what you mean," He replied. I pointed to my skirt and he blushed. "I didn't even realize that."
"Will you two hurry up!" Robin yelled through the vent.
"Yeah right, just get in. I'll go after you." He did as I said and then I took a deep breath and climbed in after him.
"At this rate we'll never get out." Kid Flash complained. He turned back and saw the look on my face, then added "I mean we'll get out soon." He smiled a reassuring smile and turned to look forward.
"Shh, listen." Superboy said as he turned to look behind me. We all followed his move and did the same. I could hear noises coming from the vents behind us.
"What now?" I asked.
"I have an idea." Robin said with a mischievous smile.
"Ugh, thank god we're out of there." I said as we stood waiting for Robin to finish hacking.
"So you okay?" Kid Flash asked me for no apparent reason.
"Yeah, I just want to get out of here." I replied.
"I hacked the motion sensors." Robin said with a smile I knew all to well.
"Sweet." Kid Flash threw his arms in the air.
"Still plenty of them between us and out." Robin added as he stood up.
"But I finally got room to move." Kid Flash exclaimed before putting his goggles over his eyes and running up the stairs.
"Always runs before he thinks." I whispered to Robin. We started running up the flights of stairs when we passed fallen genomorphs that Kid Flash must've pushed aside.
"More behind us!" Robin informed us. I turned around and created a crimson force field wall that they smashed right into. Superboy came up behind me and stomped on the stairs hard enough for them to fall with the genomorphs.
"Nice." I complimented and he only nodded back.
I flew passed everyone until only Kid Flash was in front of me. I flew through the broken door and saw Kid Flash on the floor, rubbing his head.
"We're cut of on the street." Aqualad said as he ran towards us with Robin and Superboy behind him.
"Thanks, my head hadn't noticed." Kid Flash said sarcastically.
I looked and saw Aqualad and Superboy punching and kicking the door that had us trapped.
"Robin…?" I asked impatiently. I could already hear them quickly approaching.
"Can't hack this fast enough." Robin replied.
We all turned around to see genomorphs heading our way.
Robin jumped up and kicked a door down. "This way!" he yelled at us. Aqualad, Superboy, Kid Flash, and I ran behind him only to stop and see that we were completely surrounded by genomorphs of various shapes and sizes. I could also so Guardian standing in front of them.
"Well this is bad." I whispered. We all took our fighting positions. Me with my hands in fists, while they glowed a crimson ears of all the genomorphs started glowing red and we all fell on to the floor….
"What is your choice brother?"
I opened my eyes and saw Superboy staring at a genomorph. I think he might have been pondering his response.
Robin, Aqualad, Kid Flash, and I were slowly getting up from the floor when Superboy answered.
"I…choose…freedom." Superboy said slowly to the genomorph.
What conversation did I miss?
"It feels like fog lifting…" Guardian said while touching his head. Something in his voice made me think that he was relieved?
"Guardian…"Aqualad said.
"Go…I'll deal with Desmond."Guardian replied.
"I think not." The genomorphs moved aside to reveal Desmond holding a vile with blue liquid. "Project Blockbuster will give me the power to restore power to Cadmus." After saying that, he drank the vile.
We all looked in shock as Desmond's skin expanded and ripped and in its place was a monstrous thing. He…it…growled at us and evilly smiled.
"Hello hideous…" I whispered and it growled in my direction.
"Everyone back." Guardian said as he charged towards the used to be Desmond. The thing hit Guardian once, hard enough to knock him out.
Superboy and the Desmond monster started fighting and it seemed like they were equally matched. Superboy jumped up and was tackled through the ceiling by the thing, leaving only a hole.
"Okay, that's one way to bust through the ceiling." Robin commented.
"If those are the effects of Project Blockbuster I'd hate to see the effects of Project Netflix." I said with a small laugh.
"That was so bad it should've come from K.F." Robin said before using his grappling gun.
"Hey!" Kid Flash exclaimed.
"Come on." I said as I grabbed his hand and flew up through the hole.
When we got up there, I let go of Kid Flash and saw that the Desmond and Superboy were still fighting, but neither winning. That is until Desmond grabbed Superboy's legs and threw him in our direction. I quickly ducked and he flew over me and crashed on to Aqualad. Robin, Kid Flash, and I ran over to help them up.
We turned to face Desmond and he only growled at us.
"Five against one, we have good odds." I yelled at him while he laughed and grinned.
Aqualad, Superboy, Robin, Kid Flash, and I looked at each other before we each ran, I flew, to attack Desmond from all sides. Kid Flash ran under him and waited for Superboy and Aqualad to punch Desmond, causing him to trip over Wally. Robin jumped up and threw a couple of birdarangs that only caused Desmond to stumble, but not fall. He set his eyes back on Superboy and he tackled him on to a piller, and then proceeded to punch him. I flew over and punched Desmond. I put my hand up and created a shield when Desmond grabbed my feet and threw me on the ground hard. He was about to step on me with his foot when Kid Flash ran in front of him and diverted his attention from me. I stood up, ready to attack Desmond, when he grabbed Wally and slammed him against me. I fell to the floor and had no time to recover because then Desmond grabbed me and punched me hard enough to break a pillar. He was about to do it again but I produced a force field in front of me, giving Aqualad and Superboy a chance to attack Desmond and get him away from me.
"Blare, they can handle him. I need you here now!" Robin yelled when he saw I was about to fly over to them and help.
I looked and saw they were holding their own so I flew to Robin.
"What do you need me to do?" I asked.
"Help KF destroy the pillars." I nodded and started destroying the pillars that would compromise the building's structure.
After the third pillar, I noticed Kid Flash was getting beat by Desmond so I stopped and turned to Robin.
"Rob should I-"
"No, finish. Take down the one behind you and then make sure Demond stays down okay." Robin instructed while drawing an X on the floor with chalk. I did as he said and saw a fallen Desmond, over a puddle of water, trying to get up. My hand glowed and I punched him so he would stay down.
I flew next to Robin and saw Aqualad project electricity through his tattoos in order to electrocute Desmond.
"Move!" Robin yelled at everyone.
His birdarang bombs exploded and the building started falling apart. We ran but Kid Flash and I were brought down by Superboy, who used his body to protect us. I rose up my left hand and created a force field, but the force was too much. My force field fell and I heard I crack from my wrist.
That's just great.
After everything settled down, Superboy pushed the rubble that was over us. I looked up and saw clear night sky.
Aqualad stood up next to Superboy and looked around.
"We….did it." He said.
Robin, Kid Flash, and I were on our knees breathing heavily, when Robin smiled and said, "Was there ever any doubt?"
He and Kid Flash gave each other a high five, but winced in pain when they heard a crack from their chests.
"You….guys…are…idiots…" I told them with a smile. I looked and saw that our uniforms were in tatters and I also realized that there was pain coming from my left wrist and right ankle.
"That's just great." I complained to myself. I looked up and saw a hand, green eyes, and a smile offering to help me up.
"Let me guess…sprained ankle?" Kid Flash asked me as he helped me up. Kid Flash put my right hand over his neck and he put his hand on my waist, supporting me so my sprained ankle wouldn't touch the ground.
I looked up at him and smiled. "And broken wrist. Thanks."
He gave me a small smile and then turned to Superboy. "See, the moon." He pointed up with his head.
Superboy looked up as he saw the moon for the very first time. His eyes were filled with happiness, just like a child eyes would be. Then, his eyes began squinting because Superman appeared above us.
"And Superman. Do we keep our promises or what?" Kid Flash said with a smile.
Superboy looked up with admiration in his eyes and my smile began fading when I saw the League appear behind Superman.
"Ugh, we are so screwed." I whispered softly.
Kid Flash gave a small laugh but quieted down when he saw the Flash.
I took my hand off of Kid Flash's neck and supported myself because Enchantrix and Batman had both arrived and were standing behind Superman.
After moments of silence, Superboy stepped forward until he was in front of Superman, and showed him the 'S' on his solar suit.
Superman's expression changed from shock to anger and Batman stepped forward.
"Is that what I think it is?" He asked the man of steel.
Kid Flash stepped next to Superboy and said, "He doesn't like to be called an it…"
"I'm Superman's clone." Superboy said. The whole League looked at each other in confusion and shock.
Batman's expression did not change.
"Start talking…"
After explaining everything that had occurred in Cadmus, our mentors walked away from us and started talking amongst themselves. We did the same.
Superboy finally decided to go talk to Superman, but the man of steel avoided conversation and flew to make sure Desmond would be escorted away.
We all looked as Superboy was left alone, but we turned around when we heard footsteps behind us.
"Cadmus will be investigated, all 52 levels. But lets make one thing clear-" Batman informed us as he Aquaman, Flash, and Enchantrix made their way closer to us.
"You should've called." The Flash interrupted and received a glare from the Dark Knight.
"And results aside, we are not happy. You hacked Justice League systems, disobeyed direct orders, and endangered lives. You will not be doing this again." Batman continued.
We all looked at each other and Aqualad stepped forward.
"I am sorry, but we will." We all stepped forward so we could be next to Aqualad.
"Aqualad, stand down." Aquaman said.
"Apologies my king, but no. We did good work here tonight, the work you trained us to do. Together, on our own, we forged something powerful, important." Aqualad continued.
"If this is about your treatment in the hall, the four of you-" Flash tried to add.
"The five of us. And it's not." Kid Flash stepped forward and told his mentor.
"Batman we're ready to use what you taught us, or why teach us at all?" Robin asked as he stepped closer to Batman.
"We're not untrained children. You can't keep us from doing what we're destined to do. It's not your choice, it's ours." I added as I stepped next to Robin.
Our mentors looked at each other before turning back at us.
"Why let them tell us what to do. Get onboard or get out of the way." Superboy said as he stepped forward with us.
Our mentors all looked at Batman, but he said nothing.
"Batman, aren't you going to say anything?" Robin asked.
He looked at Robin and then at the rest of us. "Three days."
"What does that mean?" I asked him. He looked directly at me before he looked at the others as well.
"Three days. In three days I will inform you of my decision. The decision of either disbanding or keeping together this 'team' of yours. In the meantime, stay out of trouble. I suggest you all go home, tend to your injuries, and rest. Robin, Blare, let's go." Batman finished and walked away.
I looked at Robin and nodded. I turned around and gave a small smile to the others.
"See you guys in three days.." I only hoped I would…