A genomorph sat on Desmonds desk as he walked into the middle of his office. When he stood in the middle the lights dimmed ands seven screens lowered from the ceiling. Indistinct white silhouettes then appeared on the screens. "Dr. Desmond." one of them said. "You require an audience with the light?"
"Yes," Desmond said nervously, "Very sorry to disturb you at this late hour"
"Just get to the point." another of the seven interrupted.
"Of course." Desmond agreed, clearing his throat. "We had a small fire here at Project Cadmus, the origin of the incident is still unclear but it seems to have attracted some... unwanted attention. Four sidekicks Arcane, Robin, Aqualad, and Kid Flash breached security. They found and released the weapon, the superboy. Of course the clone is under our telepathic control and as ordered turned against his would-be liberators. The four are contained and we don't believe the League knows they are here. Uhh," he paused uncertainty showing in his voice for the first time, "what should I do with them?"
"Clone them." One of the seven ordered without hesitation.
"The substitutes will serve the light, and only the light." another agreed.
"And the originals?" Desmond asked.
"Dispose of them." one of them ordered. Leave no trace." A cold smile came to Desmonds lips as he heard those words.
Washington D.C. July 5. 00:01 EDT.
"Time runs short. You must awaken. You must awaken now!" a voice ordered, echoing throughout the minds of the four captive sidekicks. Kid Flash gasped as he was thrust back into consciousness. The superman clone was standing there glaring at him. "What? W-what do you want?" he asked. The clones expression changed but other than that he did not move. "Come on, quit staring! You're creeping me out!" he snapped.
"Shut up! Or do you want him to fry your head by looking at you?" Arcane ordered.
"Prepare the cloning procedure for the new Project Sidekick." Demond ordered the black female doctor who was marking things down on her clipboard as they approached where Guardian was working. "Now." he ordered.
"Almost done here doc." Guardian told him as Desmond walked up. A g-troll was holding the door to Project Kr open while a smaller genome worked on repairing what had been damaged. Looking inside Desmond was shocked to see the clone missing.
"Where's the weapon!" he asked angrily.
"Superboy? He carried the intruders to the cloning chamber." Guardian said, confused by Desmonds anger.
"We have genomorphs for that! Get the weapon back in its pod now!" Desmond ordered.
"I don't see the harm in letting the kid stretch his legs." Guardian said, raising his hands to emphasise his confusion.
"Don't you now?" Desmond asked coldly just before the horns of the g-gnome on his shoulder began to glow.
The horns of the g-gnome on Guardians shoulder began to glow in response and Desmond waited a few seconds for the telepathic orders conveyed by the genomorphs to take hold. "No." Guardian shrugged, shocking Desmond.
"What?" the brown haired doctor asked sharply.
"I said I don't see a problem with letting Superboy have a little time outside his pod." Guardian repeated.
"Just get him back there!" Desmond ordered before storming off.
"We only sought to help you." Aqualad told Superboy. The four were restrained in pods not unlike the one Superboy had been in, except theirs had orbs full of clear liquid at the bottom.
"Yeah, we free you and you turn on us!" Kid Flash raged. "How's that for grati"
"Kid, please." Aqualad said shutting the teen speedster up. "I believe our new friend was not in full control of his action." As he Aqualad spoke Robin flicked a lockpick out of the index finger of his right glove and began fiddling with the restraints on his arms.
"Wh-what if." Superboy began. "What if I wasn't."
"He can talk!" Kid Flash asked in shock.
"Yes, HE can." Superboy said clenching a fist. The other three sidekicks looked at the speedster.
"Not like I said it." he defended himself.
"The genomorphs taught you telepathically didn't they?" Arcane asked.
"They taught me much." Superboy said. "I can read, write, I know the names of things."
"But have you seen them?" Arcane asked, a deep sadness entering his voice. "Have they even let you see the outside world? Let you see the sun?" he asked gently.
"Images have been implanted in my mind, but no." the clone said looking down. "I have not seen them."
"Do you know what you are? Who you are?" Aqualad asked.
"I am the superboy. A genomorph. a clone created from the D.N.A. of the Superman. Created to replace him should he perish. To destroy him should he turn from the light." Superboy said in what was obviously a programed response.
Looks of nervous tension passed over the faces of Robin, Kid Flash, and Aqualad, but Arcane seemed to be getting angry. "Being like Superman is an excellent goal, but you shouldn't be forced into it. You shouldn't be forced to become something by anyone." the spellcaster said vehemently. "You deserve a life, freedom just like everybody else. You deserve the chance at life of your choosing, beyond the expectations of Cadmus."
The look of surprise that had been on Superboy's face during Arcane's short speech quickly turned to anger. "I live because of Cadmus! It is my home!" he shouted.
"Your home is a test tube." Robin said. "We can show you the sun."
"Uhhh, I'm pretty sure it's after midnight. But we can show you the moon." Kid Flash corrected.
"We can show you, introduce you, to Superman." Aqualad added. A look of hope came over Superboy's face when he heard what Aqualad said.
"No, they can't." a cold voice said from the door. Dr. Desmond was walking in, followed by the black doctor and Guardian. "They'll be otherwise occupied. Activate the cloning process." he ordered the woman.
"Pass! The bat cave's crowded enough." Robin called out.
"Wait, cloning process? But these four are heroes." Guardian said confused.
"This is simple so that like with the weapon we have insurance should they or their mentors perish." Desmond said slowly, as if explaining to a small child. "Now get the weapon back in it's pod!" he ordered harshly.
"Hey! How come he gets to call Supey an it?" Kid Flash whined as Guardian walked up and put a hand on Superboy's shoulder.
"Please, help us." Aqualad asked the clone. Superboy shrugged of Guardian's hand and looked at him.
"Don't start thinking now." Desmond sneered. The g-gnome that had been on his shoulder leapt onto Superboy as he walked past, it's horns glowing as it began to assume telepathic control over him. Unnoticed by everyone but Robin, Arcanes eyes began to glow white at the same time as the g-gnome's horns. "You see you're not a real boy, you're a weapon and you belong to me." Desmond sneered. "Well to Cadmus. Same thing." he added as an afterthought. "Now get back to your pod!" Eyes narrowed Superboy turned and walked out of the door. Desmond looked over to the doctor and nodded. She nodded back and began typing in commands at the control panel.
Metallic arms reached up from the bottom of the pods and split into four thin needle armed probes that descended on each of the four heroes. electricity arced around their bodies as the probes began to download digital files of their D.N.A. as well as draw blood that was siphoned into the clear liquid filling the orbs below them. "Where's Dubbilex?" Desmond asked only for the humanoid genomorph with large horns to step out of the shadows behind him. "Oh, grr. Lurking as usual." Desmond growled. "Get the genomes downloading their memories. When that's done, delete the source material." he ordered making very sure that Guardian was out of earshot. "And find out what happened to Guardian. He's suddenly become resistant to the genomorphs telepathic control."
As Desmond gave his orders the red horns of the g-gnome on Superboy's shoulder turned white. "Superboy. You are alive, how that came to be is irrelevant. You do not owe Cadmus your life no matter how much they say you do. You have a right, a responsibility to make your own choices. You get to decide whether you want to be a weapon or a person. And now, you get to make that decision without interference." Arcane's voice, sent through the telepathic link between Superboy and the genomorph vanished and the small creature leapt off of his shoulder and disappeared down another hallway. The teens eyes narrowed as he raised them from the floor to look in front of him.
A large boom surprised everyone in the room. Suddenly the door was ripped out of it's frame and lifted above Superboy's head. The door was apparently linked with an intruder shut off switch for the cloning process for as soon as it was ripped off the electricity stopped and the probes retracted. Tossing the door aside Superboy walked into the room.
"I told you to get back to your pod!" Desmond said as he and Guardian tried to restrain the clone, only to be pushed aside effortlessly. Both of them flew backwards, Guardian hit Dubbilex and all three of them hit the walls before slumping to the ground.
"Don't give me orders!" Superboy growled at the scientists prone body.
"You here to help us or fry us?" Kid Flash asked wryly.
Superboy squinted. "Huh. I don't seem to have heat vision so I guess helping is my only option." he grinned.
At that moment the restraints around Robin's wrist's popped open and the boy wonder leapt to the ground rubbing them to get circulation back. "Ugg. Finally! Lucky Batman isn't here, he'd have my head for taking so long."
"Seriously? That's what you're worried about." Kid Flash said disbelievingly. "The whole League will have our heads after tonight!"
Robin didn't respond. Instead he reached over the back of the control panel and hit a button, opening the clear barriers around the other three pods. "You get Arcane, I'll get Kid Mouth and Aqualad." he directed.
"Don't you give me orders either." Superboy snapped but none the less easily broke the restraints around the sorcerers wrists.
"Thank you." Arcane said softly to Superboy who nodded in response.
"Y-you'll never get out of here!" Desmond blustered as the five teens rushed past him. "I'll have you back in pods before morning!"
"That guy is not whelmed. Not whelmed at all." Robin muttered, throwing out some exploding disks.
"What is it with out and this whelmed thing?" asked Kid Flash as they ran. The exploding disks struck each of the orbs that contained the drawn blood and detonated, destroying the lab. Desmonds rage grew as he watched the pods collapse.
"Activate every genomorph in Cadmus." he ordered as a g-gnome leapt onto his shoulder. It bowed its head as its horns once again began glowing red.
The red egg like things embedded in the organic walls began to glow, signaling the activation of the genomorphs contained inside. "We're still a long ways below ground, but if we can get to the elevator..." Arcane told the others as they ran to the elevator. Then a wall of g-trolls emerged from corridors linked to the main passageway. Behind them the eggs hatched into a veritable army of g-elves.
Roaring one of the g-trolls smashed at the heroes but missed. Not willing to give them another free shot the teens rushed forward. Clenching his fist Superboy landed a powerful punch to the attacking g-troll, knocking it out instantly only to be pressed flat to the floor by the punch of another g-troll. The other four however had in various ways gotten past the wall of g-trolls and were waiting for the clone. "Superboy! Let's go!" Arcane called out as Superboy began to pound another g-troll. "We're trying to escape, not fight! We need to move!"
"You want an escape!" Superboy yelled, enraged. Grabbing a fallen g-troll by the arm he flung it into the last two standing.
Aqualad pried the elevator doors open only to realize that the elevator itself was missing. Kid Flash leapt nimbly onto the inside ledge of the shaft, Robin fired a grappling hook, Arcane began to glow white and lifted into the air and Superboy grabbed Aqualad and leapt into the air. But for some reason he didn't stay there like Superman would have. "I-I'm falling" he said in shock. Seeing the two falling Arcane threw out a hand and suddenly they too were surrounded by a white light. "Superman can fly." Superboy said. "Why can't I fly?"
"Don't know." Kid Flash shrugged. "But it looks like you can still leap tall buildings in a single bound. Still cool." Arcane was struggling to keep all three of them aloft and carefully set Aqualad and Superboy down on a ledge next to Kid Flash.
"Thank you." Superboy said quietly to the white haired teen.
"We're even." Arcane nodded.
"Guys! This stop has to be out exit!" Robin called out, pointing at the elevator that was currently speeding down at them. Superboy quickly busted the door open and the five heroes emerged on Sublevel fifteen. A squad of g-elves was already there waiting for them with g-trolls arriving as backup. The teens quickly ran down a hallway to their right.
"Turn left brother." a voice echoed in Superboy's head. He was unsure for a moment of whether or not to listen to the voice but it didn't look like they had many options.
"Go left!" he told the others. "Left!"
"Turn right."
"Right!" he kept running only to find themselves in a dead-end with only a vent in the wall.
"Great directions Supey. Are you trying to get us repodded?" Kid Flash snapped.
"No. I, I don't understand." the clone said confused.
"Don't apologize!" an elated Robin said. "This is perfect!" And so when the g-trolls and g-elves arrived at the dead end all they saw was an open vent whose gate was leaning on one of the walls.
"Gah, at this rate we'll never get out." Kid Flash grumbled as the five crawled along the ventilation shaft.
"Shhh. Listen." Superboy hushed. It was a clicking, and the screech of a genomorph meaning only one thing. The g-elves had followed them.
Desmond, Guardian and Dubbilex raced down one of the many hallways on that sublevel, being directed by a miniature security screen. "Someone, Robin I'd wager, hacked our systems deactivating internal security cameras." the doctor grumbled. "But he neglected the motion sensors." He crowed victoriously. "The genomorphs are closing in." He said as they approached the mens bathroom. "They're all coming out in here. We have them cornered!" he exclaimed happily entering the bathroom and approaching the vent. Then the vent burst open and g-eles came toppling out, landing on top of Desmond. Desmond growled, "He hacked the motion sensors."
"I hacked the motion sensors." a crouching Robin grinned mischievously at his companions while typing a bit more on his holographic keyboard.
"Sweet," A standing Kid Flash said revealing that they were no longer inside the vents. "Still plenty of them between us and out but I've finally got room to move!" the speedster grinned and lowering his goggles opened a door and raced up a staircase next to him. As he ran Kid Flash saw the squad of g-elves running down. Narrowing his eyes the teen sped through them, knocking them against the walls out cold.
"More behind us!" Robin yelled as they ran, looking up from his holoscreen which was still hacked in to the motion sensors. Pausing and turning around Superboy slammed his foot on the top step of the stairs they had just come off of. It separated cleanly under the massive strength of the teen and the g-trolls fell with the staircase.
Inside the elevator Desmond was panicking. "We'll cut them off at sublevel one." Guardian reassured him.
"We'd better. Or the board will have our heads." Desmond snapped. "My head." he said more quietly placing his face in his hands. Reaching out he pressed a button resembling a stop sign with a minus symbol inside it halting the elevator. "I need to get something from Project Blockbuster, just in case." He said exiting the elevator. "I'll meet you at sublevel one!" he said as the door closed on Guardians suspicious face.
Back on the stairs Kid Flash had finally reached the door to sublevel one only to watch as the security doors closed. "Oh crud." he muttered, unable to stop and ran straight into the reinforced steel door alarms blaring everywhere.
"We're cut off from the street." Aqualad said as the four others run up behind the speedster who was rubbing his head.
"Thanks, my head hadn't noticed." Kid Flash muttered sarcastically. Charging forward Superboy attempted to break down this door like he had the others but he didn't even leave a mark. After attempting to pry it open on his own didn't work he was soon joined by Aqualad while Robin tried to hack the doors controls and Arcane erected a barrier in the hallway behind them to slow down the genomorphs.
"Can't hack this fast enough." Robin told the others. Any other conversation was cut off by a g-troll smashing through Arcane's barrier, the backlash sending him stumbling into Aqualad. "This way!" Robin said kicking open a door next to him and leading the others through. The problem was they ran straight into Guardian and a wall of genomorphs. The way back was then filled by another wall of genomorphs, elves, trolls and gnomes.
Getting ready for the fight of their lives each of the heroes entered a battle stance. Then one by one the g-gnome's horns began to glow a bright red. The telepathic protection that Arcane tried to raise was crushed as easily as his physical barrier had been under the assault of so many minds and the five heroes dropped to the floor.
Then the genomorph Dubbilex strode forward as his own horns began to glow. "Perhaps, for the sake of all genomorphs, our brother Superboy should make up his own mind."
Superboy's eyes widened, he knew that voice. "It was you." he thought at the other genomorph.
"Yes brother. I set the fire and lured your new friends down into Cadmus and woke them when they were in danger."
"And guided Superboy." a third voice cut into the telepathic conversation. Arcane had struggled to his knees and was regarding Dubbilex cautiously.
"You were able to listen in on my directions, and place a telepathic shield around Guardians mind, truly impressive feats." Dubbilex responded.
"But why?" Superboy asked silently.
"Because you are out hope." Dubbilex informed him. "The genomorph hero. You will blaze a trail for all our brothers, showing us the way to freedom." as he spoke the g-gnomes horns dimmed and the one on Guardians shoulder leapt down.
"Uhhh, what's going on?" Guardian asked confused, as if waking up from a dream.
Groaning Aqualad was the first to awaken. Superboy stood. "What is your choice brother?" Dubbilex asked.
Superboy closed his eyes for a second. "I...choose...freedom." The glow faded from Dubbilex's horns.
"Feels like, fog, lifting." Guardian murmured. The other three stood.
"Guardian?" Arcane asked.
"Go." Guardian told them, his voice steely. "I'll deal with Desmond."
"I think not!" Desmonds voice hissed. The genomorphs behind Guardian stepped aside to reveal Desmond holding a glowing blue vial. "Project Blockbuster will give me the power to restore order to Cadmus." he said coldly before downing the vials contents. Snaps and grunts escaped Desmond's now convulsing body. The doctor fell to his hands and knees as the full effects of the concoction began to transform his body. His muscle mass increased so drastically it tore apart his shirt and lab coat. His eyes snapped open to reveal that they had turned red and black. The the most disturbing change, his skin was torn off revealing a grey skinned monster underneath. The transformation complete the new Desmond stood to his full ten foot height and roared. Superboy gritted his teeth and Desmond turned and grinned menacingly.
"Everyone back!" Guardian ordered charging at the monster only to get smacked aside contemptuously.
"Raagh!" Superboy shouted charging forward and punching the monster in it's face. Surprisingly the new Desmond didn't seem to take any real damage from the blow and responded with an equally powerful punch. Gritting his teeth Superboy leapt up and landed a barrage of blows to the creatures face only to be forced back by another powerful punch. Leaping into the air Superboy was tackled by Desmond. The force of the monster's leap took them clear through the reinforced floor and up into the commonly known Cadmus.
"Okay, that's one way to bust through the ceiling." Robin said as he fired his grapple line through the hole.
"You think labcoat planned that?" Kid Flash asked, grabbing hold of Robin and letting him pull him up.
"Somehow I don't think he planning anything anymore." Arcane muttered glowing white and floating up through the hole. Aqualad leap up after him in time to see Superboy held in the air by Desmond. The clone swiftly broke the monsters hold only for it to grab him by the legs and throw him bodily into Aqualad. Robin, Kid Flash and Arcane raced over to help them up. Together the five of them stood facing the creature. It roared challengingly. The obliged, charging the monster together.
Kid Flash rushed forward and slid between the monster's legs. The creature paused looking back at the speedster who was on his hands and knees right behind it. Turning back to the others the monster had no time to react as both Superboy and Aqualad slammed their fists into its face sending it tumbling over Kid Flash. "Learned that one in kindergarten." he quipped.
Robin leapt over his friend and hurled two exploding disks at the monster but it swatted them aside. Rolling onto its hands and knees the creature looked up to see Superboy standing above it. Superboy was about to grab it but the monster reacted faster than he expected and grabbed him bodily and slammed him into one of the support pillars around the room, snapping it in half. Superboy landed two punches to the monster but was slammed into the pillar again by the creature's fist. A bolt of white light slammed into the monster's side, blasting it away from Superboy and into a mace made of water that sent it tumbling into another pillar, cracking it, courtesy of Aqualad. Enraged the monster grabbed Aqualad by the throat and slammed him straight through a pillar and into another. The room began to shake and small rocks to fall as one of the supports was taken out. "Of course!" Robin realized, pulling up a hologram of the rooms supports. "KF get over here!" he ordered the speedster who was at his side instantly. Meanwhile Aqualad was getting repeatedly punched in the face by the creature but finally managed to pull out one of his hits and fashioned a shield out of water. Superboy ran over behind it and punched it twice in the back then leapt onto it, wrapping his arms around it's neck just as Aqualad's shield broke. Growling the monster threw Aqualad aside, grabbed Superboy off his back and slammed him through the pillar it had had Aqualad against. On Robin's hologram the bottom of one of the pillars blinked red and read 'Damage. Structural Compromise.' and disappeared. "Got it?" Robin asked.
"Got it." Kid Flash confirmed.
"Go!" Robin ordered. Just as the monster was getting ready to slam Superboy, who it held above its head Kid Flash leapt in with a superspeed powered punch to the jaw, ripping off what human skin had clung to the creatures face.
"Got your nose!" he taunted after realizing what had happened. Growling the beast threw Superboy aside and charged after Kid Flash.
Superboy stood angrily only to be stopped by Robin. "Superboy, Aqualad, Arcane!" the boy wonder shouted showing them his hologram.
"Come and get me you incredible bulk!" Kid Flash taunted. dodging to the side the creature's fist smashed through the pillar, but unfortunately as Kid Flash was running to another pillar a piece of the one he was just at flew into his back sending him tumbling to the floor. Rolling aside just as the monster came down where his body was. Kid Flash tried to build up traction to start running again but before he could he was punched in the back by the monster, sending him flying.
"This one and those two!" Robin told the others. Superboy ran up to one of the ones pointed out by the boy wonder and punched through what remained of it. Aqualad raced to the one beside it and smashed it with his water mace. Arcane ran over to his and placed his palm gently on the smooth surface whispering to himself, the a blast from his hand tore through the stone. Meanwhile Kid Flash had continued using the creature to destroy the support beams, moving so fast it could only hit what was behind him.
"Sorry, try again." he taunted. While all of this was going on Robin had taken out a piece of chalk and marked an X on the floor. Aqualad the sprayed out a torrent of water that Kid Flash in turn slid along. Charging after Kid Flash the monster was knocked on its back by a well placed punch from Superboy. Aqualad placed his hands on the water the creature was no laying on and charged it with electricity, shocking it badly.
"Move!" Robin called out. Looking up Aqualad saw that he had placed exploding disks all along the supports that his teammates hadn't gotten. The disks detonated, blowing away the last remaining vestiges of support the stone ceiling had. Before it could move the center of the ceiling landed directly on the creature. Sadly though the rest of the building came down with it. Superboy grabbed Kid Flash and Aqualad grabbed Robin planning on using their more powerful bodies to protect them but it wasn't necessary.
Arcane stood over them all his hands raised, and his eyes glowing a solid white. A shining dome of energy had been erected around them blocking the stones and protecting the teens. "Uunhh." He grunted as he lowered the field and stumbled back a few steps.
"Huh huh, we, huh, did it." Aqualad panted, sounding surprised.
"Was there, ever any doubt?" Robin grinned back. Kid flash grinned at him, and the two hi-fived the wincing as they aggravated their injuries.
Walking over Superboy looked down on the unconscious remains of what used to be Dr. Desmond. "See?" Kid Flash said walking up behind him, "the moon." he jabbed his thumb at the full moon which hung clear and large in the sky. Superboy looked at the moon in wonder, until a small shape, getting larger by the second entered his sight. Narrowing his eyes as he tried to see what or who it was he soon realized just what it was. "Oh, and Superman. Do we keep our promises or what?" Kid Flash grinned.
The expression on Superboy's face, Arcane noted, became one of a strange mix between awe and hope as the man of steel, followed by other members of the League, Martian Manhunter, Red Tornado, Captain Marvel and much to his chagrin Zatara landed in the rubble in front of them. Captain Atom, Hawkman, Wonder Woman, Hawkgirl and Green Lantern Hal Jordan descended from the sky as well. Another Green Lantern, John Stewart landed as well, bringing with him Batman, Aquaman, Green Arrow and Black Canary. Batman walked up behind Superman and the Flash arrived behind him as well. It was a rather intimidating sight, the spellcaster mused, standing before some of the big guns of the Justice League.
Superboy strode forward. Superman's eyes narrowed as he noticed the similarities between the young man and himself, the widened with shock when he saw the S-shield on his chest. Superboy's face morphed into a hopeful expression, but then Superman squared his shoulders and glared at the teen with a steely expression. Superboy saw the signs of rejection and his face morphed into a mixture of anger and sorrow.
"Is that what I think it is?" Batman asked the group of sidekicks.
"He doesn't like being called an it." Kid Flash warned out of the corner of his mouth walking up next to Superboy.
"I'm Superman's clone." Superboy snapped. This statement caused many members of the league to look at each other in shock or trepidation.
"Start talking." Batman ordered narrowing his eyes into the famous bat-glare.
After the teens had finished their tale Hawkman, Hawkgirl, Captain Atom and both Green Lanterns flew off with what Arcane had started calling Blockbuster the League broke into groups to debate. Looking over at where Martian Manhunter, Wonder Woman and Superman stood talking the green skinned alien noticed the clone's attention and placed a hand on Superman's shoulder and nodded in his direction. Superman looked over causing Superboy to glare away then look back slightly hopefully. Superman sighed, then squared his shoulders and walked over to where Superboy stood with his arms crossed over his chest.
"We'll ah, we'll figure something out for you." the man of steel said clearly uncomfortable. "The League will I mean. For now I, better make sure they get that Blockbuster creature squared away." he said turning around and taking off after the group that had already left. Superboy and Arcane glared after him until Batman's voice broke them out of their thoughts.
"Cadmus will be investigated, all fifty-two levels." he said walking over to them with the Flash and Aquaman in tow. "But let's make one thing clear,"
"You should have called." the Flash cut in.
"End results aside we are not happy." Batman continued. "You hacked Justice League systems, disobeyed direct orders and endangered lives. You will not be doing this again."
"Actually," Arcane said narrowing his eyes at Batman "I think we will." Walking over Aqualad placed a hand on his friends shoulder and nodded in confirmation.
"Aqualad, stand down." Aquaman ordered.
"Apologies my king, but no." the atlantean said with steel in his voice. Aquaman raised an eyebrow.
"We did good here tonight." Arcane said. "On our own, we did something not even the League, not even our mentors thought we were capable of. We forged something powerful tonight and did the work we were trained to do."
"What happened here made something powerful, important." Aqualad agreed.
"If this is about your treatment at the hall, the four of you," Flash began but Kid Flash cut him off.
"The five of us, and it's not."
"Batman, we're ready to use what you taught us, or why teach us at all?" Robin said stepping forward.
"Why let them tell us what to do?" Superboy asked stepping forward. "It's simple. Get on board or get out of the way." All five of them turned to face the remaining League members. Batman's eyes narrowed.
Mount Justice. July 8. 08:04 EDT.
Heroes like Green Lantern flew around an enormous cave moving massive pieces of high-tech machinery around, getting everything set up. The group in civilian clothes along with their mentors, Red Tornado, Black Canary and Captain Marvel stood in the center of the cave. "This cave was the original secret sanctuary of the Justice League. We are calling it into service again." Batman walked in front of the teens as he spoke. "Since you five are determined to stay together and fight the good fight you'll do it on League terms. Red Tornado has agreed to live here and be your supervisor, Black Canary is in charge of training. I will deploy you on missions."
"Real missions?" Robin asked.
"Yes, but covert." Batman replied.
"The League will still handle the obvious stuff." the Flash chimed in. "There's a reason we have these big targets on our chests." he said tapping his lightning bolt insignia.
"But Cadmus proves the bad guys are getting smarter." Aquaman told them. "Batman needs a team that can operate on the sly."
"The six of you will be that team." Batman finished.
"Cool. Wait, six?" Robin asked confused. Batman in response raised his gaze to the not yet operational zeta tubes. Walking out of the shadows next to the Martian Manhunter was a very pretty red-haired girl dressed in a white shirt with a red X going from both shoulders to her opposite hip. She also wore a blue skirt with a red belt and yellow center, blue boots, blue gloves and a short blue cape with a yellow clasp.
"This is the Martian Manhunter's niece, Miss Martian." Batman informed them.
"Hi." she waved a little nervously.
"Likin this gig more every minute." Kid Flash said to Robin. "Oh, welcome aboard. I'm Kid Flash, that's Robin, Aqualad. It's cool if you forget their names." he flirted.
"I'm honored to be included." Miss Martian said clasping her hands in front of her chest. Walking forward Kid Flash, Robin, Aqualad and Arcane all stepped forward to greet their new teammate.
"Hey Superboy. Come meet Miss M." Robin called out waving him over. As he walked over Miss Martians clothes changed. The white of her shirt turned black and the cape disappeared.
"I like your t-shirt." She said shyly earning a small smile from Superboy. Robin elbowed the clone and Kid Flash sped over and placed an arm around his shoulder.
"Today is the day." Arcane nodded to Aqualad.
Underneath the collapsed building that the team had used to defeat Blockbuster Guardian was taking command of the real Cadmus. "Cadmus changes today." he told Dubbilex and the female doctor. "With Desmond out of the picture the board's placed me in charge. Dr. Spense, you're acting chief scientist. No more g-gnomes suppressing our wills, no more secret breeding projects. This is a kinder gentler Cadmus."
"Then I will of course help in any way I can, brother." Dubbilex said, unaware that they were being watched.
"Can the light afford to leave Guardian in control without the g-gnomes?" one member of the light asked.
"We have subtler means of control." another said. "But what concerns me... is the children." An image of the five Cadmus veterans appeared on another screen, captured from on of the security cameras. Pfft. That's a dark twist."
"Yes," another agreed. "but one that can be played to our advantage. Even the temporary loss of the weapon may prove useful. Eventually, everyone see's the light."