I know this is pretty soon after the first chapter but I'm really excited about this story. I may post a few chapters every month. -VectorPrime155

Suspicious and Super

Heading off to Cadmus I learned two things. First is that Kid Flash likes to run ahead. The second is that apparently a lot of people are too stupid to get his name right.

If they can't get Kid Flash right it really puts your faith in them to put out a fire, right?

So there he was, hanging from an open window on the second story after he had placed the scientists on the roof. "So smooth."

"Does he always have to run ahead? We need a plan- wait, Robin?" Looking over I noticed Robins place had been vacated. I heard his impish laugh, before seeing him jumping into the window from the fire truck and helping KF in.

"Does he always do that?" Sighing, he nodded. "Well then... I'll get the scientists." I took off to grab the men by the back of their lab coats, dropped them off on the ground, and grabbing Aqualad.

"At least you'll think about things first." We enter the building to see Robin and Kid Flash shuffling through files. "We appreciate the help."

I applaud your sarcasm, Aqualad.

"You handled it. Besides, we're here to investigate. Poetic justice remember?" As I join the other two in raiding the office Aqualad heads out into the hall. Then we hear the ping of an elevator closing.

"There was something on the..."

"Elevators should be locked down."

We all rush forward and Robin pauses. "This is wrong." He pulls up a holographic computer that says something about a silver elevator. "Just as I thought. This is a high speed express elevator. This doesn't belong on a two story building."

"Neither does what I saw."

He starts to pry open the doors, with a little help from a construct. He looks down and looks taken aback. I float over him and see why. "Dang! This is a pretty deep two story building."

"And that's why they need an express elevator."

Entering the shaft, Robin takes out a zip line before I can make a construct and they all start to go down. "You know I could just make a platform to take us down."

"Where's the fun in that?" He eventually runs out of rope. "I'm at the end of my line."

"I believe it's fun when we don't have to stop because we run out of rope." He stares at me for a minute before hacking the doors for sublevel twenty six open. How far does this place go?

Aqualad pried the doors open again and we entered a very large hall. Kid Flash ran forward to check it out. "Kid, wait!"

He didn't listen. And he ran right into the path of giant things. He stumbled, almost getting stepped on. When he came back to our sides one of the monsters looked at us before roaring. Then I noticed a much smaller thing on its back. Two tiny horns glowed red for a second before returning to normal.

"No. Nothing odd going on here."

"Is Batman always right when he's suspicious of something or someone?"

"Pretty much."

We watched as the things proceeded down the hall. Then we start to look around. After a couple of minutes we come across o door that Robin hacks and we enter a room full of lightning bugs in jars. "Ok, I am officially whelmed."

"This is how they hide this massive facility from the world. The real Cadmus isn't on the grid! They generate their own power with these... 'things'. Must be what they're bred for."

"Even the name is a clue. The Cadmus of myth created a new race by sowing dragons teeth into the Earth."

"And this Cadmus creates new life too. Lets find out why." He goes over to a monitor next to the tubes and plugs in his wrist computer. "They call them Genomorphs. Whoa! Look at the stats on these things! Super strength, telepathy, razor claws. These are living weapons!"

"They're engineering an army. But for who?"

Then I realized something. "And with an army comes a war. They might be planning a World War III."

"Wait there's something else. Project Kr. Ugh. The file is triple encrypted. I can't..."

"DON'T MOVE!"

We look over to see a man surrounded by Genomorphs rush in. "Wait. Aqualad, Robin, Kid Flash, Green Lantern?"

"At least he got your name right." Robin turned back to the monitor as we faced the man.

"I know you. Guardian. A hero."

"I do my best."

"Then what're you doing here?"

"I'm chief of security. You're trespassing. But we can call the Justice League. Figure this out."

"You think the Leagues going to approve of you breeding weapons?"

"Weapons? What have you..." The little creature on his shoulder looked at him, horns glowing red. My eyes narrowed. "What have I... Ugh. My head. Take 'em down hard! No mercy!" The Genomorphs he brought with him all charged a us. Robin maneuvered around us throwing down a smoke bomb. Once sight was removed he used another zip line to jump above every ones heads and run out of the room. They squad of monsters continued trying to attack us through the smoke and Guardian joined them, knocking Aqualad down. Aqualad electrocuted him with his tattoos before we all took of to find the Boy Wonder.

We found him hacking the elevator.

"Way to be a team player, Rob!"

"Weren't you right behind me?"

He opened the door as Aqualad and I retreated from the deadly creatures. The Atlantean jumped into the metal box and I shot in after him, bumping into him and ending up on top of him. "Sorry."

"No worries." We stood up, brushing ourselves off. "We're heading down?"

"Dude! Out is UP!"

"I thought we were trying to escape!"

"Excuse me, Project Kr, it's DOWN. On sublevel fifty two."

Aqualad rubbed the back of his neck. "This is out of control. Perhaps... perhaps we should contact the League." We all looked down before the elevator pinged.

And opened to a red and slimy corridor. What, the hell?

Robin jogged down a little ways as KF pointed out, "We are already here."

He followed Robin and Aqualad sighed, I looked at him. "You're the only one with any sense."

"Unfortunately." We all stopped at the diverged path. "Which way?"

"Yeah. Bizarre looking hallway number one, or bizarre looking hallway number two?" Why does he have a birdirang out?

"HOLD!" A human like Genomorph came around the corner and used telekinesis to raise barrels off of the ground and throw them at us. We jumped out of the way, Robin throwing the birdirang at him and we took off down the opposite hallway the thing came from. Turning around the corner I saw Kid place a canister in between closing doors. "Hurry!"

We rushed through the small opening. I heard Aqualad kicking the canister out of the door, letting it shut behind us. "I disabled the door. We're safe."

"We're trapped."

"I could make a drill construct so we can skip doors and elevators."

"Uh, guys. You'll wanna see this."

Kid Flash pushed a button on a console, effectively lighting up the tube behind it. "Whoa." My eyes widened at what I saw. There was a boy, scarily similar to the big S-Man himself, wearing a bright, white suit with the red S shield on it."

Oh. My. God.

KF made his way around the console to the tube. "Big K little r. The atomic symbol for Krypton. Clone?"

"Robin, hack."

"Oh. Right, right." He plugged into the system, bypassing the password and pulling up files. "Weapon designation 'Superboy'. A clone force grown in... SIXTEEN WEEKS?! DNA acquired from Superman."

"Stolen from Superman."

"No way the big guy knows about this."

"How did they even get the DNA? It's kind of hard to just walk up to him and take a vile of blood."

"Solar suit allows him to absorb yellow sun radiation twenty four seven."

"And these creatures?"

"Genomorph Gnomes. Telepathic. Force feeding him an education."

"And we can guess what else. They're making a slave out of Supermans son."

"Now we contact the League."

They each went for their respective forms of communication, each and every one of them receiving static. "No signal."

"We're in too deep. Literally."

I try to contact John with my ring. It doesn't rely on signals. It just needs energy.

John and Jordan come up in two inch glory, back to back fighting an invisible enemy. Jordan looks at me as the others get encouraged faces. "Tanya, now is not the best time!"

The others start talking about Superboy while I try to keep the older Green Lanterns on the line. "I know your probably busy with the whole sun blotting thing. But the others and I need help."

"What did you four do?"

"Well you see..." I'm cut off by my ring beeping about danger and a fist coming in contact with my jaw. I hear my two mentors shouting my name before the line cuts off.

I look up to see Superboy trying to smash my head in. I roll out of the way and create a construct to nail him to the wall. "WHAT THE HECK!?" And then I find out the kid is stronger than I thought because he shattered the construct and nailed me in the back of the head, forcing me into unconsciousness.

Hal Jordan and John Stewart had been worried for quite some time now. It had been hours ago that Tanya Stewart had contacted them, and surprisingly spoke to them. She hadn't had much time to speak because right as she was about to tell them what sort of trouble she and her new found friends had gotten themselves into, a fist appeared out of nowhere, connecting with her jaw.

Unfortunately they couldn't go looking for her. And none of the other mentors could go looking for them. They were in the middle of trying to make sure the sun shined for another couple thousand of years. They knew that their apprentices would agree that millions of lives were more important than four.

At the moment they wanted to throw that out the window and go look for their partners. Even stoic Batman.

They didn't. They kept fighting for several hours and they were now heading back to the Hall of Justice for clues to where they might have gone.

"Someone hacked the League computer and pulled up the file on Project Cadmus. Robin no doubt."

"I can't believe they would do something so stupid!"

"I can." Everyone looked at Red Tornado, and the entire League was packed into the room (They all care about the young ones), shocked. "I saw their faces when we left. They were all resentful, and upset with their mentors. I knew they would do something. It would seem Investigating Cadmus before the League can would be that something."

The computer beeped. "Well it looks like they managed to do some damage. The Cadmus building just collapsed."

With that the entire Justice League took off to retrieve the young heroes who had just dug their own graves.

Hours earlier...

'You must awaken, NOW!'

We all gasped, being startled awake. I looked Down to see I was in civilian clothing instead of my GL uniform. Great.

There standing in front of the tubes we were in, was Superboy. "What, what do you want?" Nice Kid. Superboy narrowed his eyes. "Quit staring! You're creeping me out!"

"Uh, KF? How about we not tick off the guy who can fry us with a look?"

"We only sought to help you."

"Yeah! We free you, and you turn on us! How's that for gratitude?!"

"Kid, please be quiet now. I believe our new friend was not in control of his actions."

"I'm pretty sure he wasn't. I've seen mind control when I was helping a friend of mine from the Corp on his home planet of Xudar."

"Well what if I... what if I wasn't."

"He can talk?!"

Supey narrowed his eyes even more. "Yes. HE can!"

Robin, Aqualad, and I looked at Kid Mouth. "It's not like I said 'It'." He then looked at me and his face brightened. "Mini GL! Can't you get us out of here with your ring?"

"Do you notice anything different about me, Kid?"

"Umm..."

"I'm wearing civilian attire. The only reason it would do that if I didn't make it is if my power ring is OUT OF POWER!" He flinched.

"Oh. Right. Sorry."

"The Genomorphs taught you? Telepathically?"

"They taught me much. I can read, write, I know the names of things."

"But have you ever seen them? Have they ever let you see the sky, or the sun?"

"Images are implanted into my mind. But no. I have not seen them."

"Do you know what you are? Who you are?"

" I am the Superboy. A Genomorph. A clone created from the Superman. Created to replace him should he perish. To destroy him should he turn from the light."

That was something to be worried about. And did he mean the good side when he said the light? Or did he mean something else?

"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!"

"Your home, is a test tube. We can show you the sun."

"Uh, pretty sure it's after midnight. But we can show you the moon."

"Face it SB. You'll have freedom with us. With them, you're an experiment."

"We can show you, introduce you to Superman."

His eyes widened. "No they can't. They'll be otherwise occupied." A creep with glasses, a scientist, and Guardian walked into the very strange looking room. "Activate the cloning process."

"Pass! Bat caves crowded enough!"

"And get the weapon back in its pod!"

"Hey! How come he gets to call Supey an it?"

Guardian came up and put a hand on SB's shoulder. He looked at us.

"Help us."

He shrugged Guardians hand off with a glare that gave me hope. The creep destroyed that hope. "Don't start thinking now." A Genomorph jumped onto the boys shoulder, putting him under telepathic control. "You see, you're not a real boy. You're a weapon, and you belong to me... well, Cadmus. Same thing. Now get back to your pod!"

Superboy turned around and left the room. As the door closed the creep nodded at the scientist who typed away at the computer. Several metal arms came out of each pod and jabbed us in the chests. We all screamed in pain. I felt like I was going through a blood draw at the doctors office. Except there were multiple needles and they were in my chest.

A few moments later there was a crushing sound and the pain stopped. Opening my eyes I saw Superboy tossing the destroyed door to the side. The others in the room ran at him, creep saying something, only to be tossed to the side. "Don't give me orders."

"You here to help us, or fry us?" Why can't he keep his mouth shut?

SB narrowed his eyes. "Huh. I don't seem to have heat vision so I guess helping is my only option."

Just then I hear a clicking sound and a hissing and look over to see the Boy Wonder dropping down from his test tube, rubbing his wrists. "Ugh! Finally! Lucky Batman ISN'T here. He'd have my head for taking so long." He's only worried about Batman? What about he rest of the League?!

"Seriously? That's what you're worried about? THE WHOLE LEAGUE WILL HAVE OUR HEADS AFTER TONIGHT!"

He pressed a button, opening the pods and removing the needles. "Free Aqualad and GL. I'll get Kid Mouth."

"Don't you give me orders either." He jumped up and broke off the cuffs keeping Aqualad against the back of the pod, catching him as he fell.

"Thank you."

Then they released me and we took off to find our way out.

"You'll never escape! I'll have you back in pods before morning!"

Robin and Kid Flash stopped to destroy the DNA samples taken. "That guy in not whelmed. Not whelmed at all."

"What is it with you and this whelmed thing?"

As we ran Aqualad looked over the situation. "We are still forty two levels below ground. But if we can make the elevator..."

He trailed off as Genomorphs cut off our path in both directions.

"Oh, my."

We started to outmaneuver them but SB started to throw them around, almost bringing the ceiling down. "Superboy! Our goal is escape! Not to bury ourselves here!"

"YOU WANT ESCAPE!?" He knocked down the remaining Genomorphs and we all got to the elevator. Kid jumped to the side of the shaft, Robin pulled out a zip line, and Superboy started to fly up, grabbing Aqualad while I clung to the Atlantean. Then we started to fall. "I'm, falling?" Robin threw a birdirang that Aqualad grabbed once it was lodged into the wall. "Superman can fly. Why can't I fly?"

"Don't know. But it looks like you can leap over tall buildings in a single bound. Still cool." Kid helped Supey down and Aqualad let himself drop with me to the ledge.

"Thank you."

"Guys! This'll have to be our exit!" The elevator was coming. Superboy knocked the door down, allowing us to avoid getting killed. And there were Geomorphs on this level too.

We took off running. "Go left. Left!" We followed SB's directions. "Right!"

It was a dead end.

"Great directions Supey! Are you trying to get us re-podded?"

"No. I don't understand."

"Don't apologize! This is perfect!" He then removed the grate from an air duct I didn't even notice. We crawl through the air ducts an come out I don't know where. Then Robin goes, "I hacked the motion sensors." I'm really starting to like his skills.

"Sweet!"

"Still plenty of them between us and them."

"But I finally got room to move!" He puts his goggles down over his eyes and took off through a door. He zooms up the stairs, body checking a group of Genomorphs.

"More behind us!" I look back and see SB using his foot to destroy the stairs behind us.

When we exit the stairwell we see Kid on the ground. "We're cut off from the street."

"Thanks. My head hadn't noticed."

Superboy and Aqualad both went forward to try and pry it open but it must have had thirty tons of pressure keeping it closed. "Ugh, can't hack this fast enough." A bunch of Genomorphs came around the corner so Robin kicked a door open leading us out... right to more Genomorphs and Guardian. They surrounded us and I felt a presence in my mind making me go black.

I wake up to hear Aqualad say, "Guardian?" Lifting my head up I see the others standing up so I join them.

"Go. I'll deal with Desmond."

"I think not." The Genomorphs all parted so we could see the lone creep standing behind them. "Project Blockbuster will give me the power to restore order to Cadmus." He held up a test tube with a crystal blue liquid. Then the idiom DRANK it!

He groaned and I'm pretty sure I heard bones cracking. He tore through his clothes, becoming a giant purple beast with his old skin and hair hanging off his body. Yes. That will totally NOT restore order.

Guardian charged him, immediately being hit to the side. Then Superboy charged at him. They got into this big fist fight until Desmond rammed him through the ceiling. "Well, that's one way to bust through the ceiling." Robin took out another zip line, (How many does this dude carry?) and took Kid Flash with him.

"You think lab coat planned that?"

"I doubt he is planning anything anymore." Aqualad grabbed me by the waist to help me through the hole since I couldn't fly at the moment. Once we were on ground level a huge fight broke out. I felt so helpless on the sidelines. I wish I could do something.

Then I noticed something.

"Robin!" He glanced at me and flipped over. "The pillars. We can bring the roof down on top of him. And for good measure we can use Aqualads glowing tattoos to electrocute him before hand." He nodded, a grin plastered across his face.

While he went to explain the plan to the others I decided to try and distract him. Probably not a good idea since I couldn't fight at the moment. Oh well.

I threw a piece of ruble at him. It was the best I could do. Next thing I know I'm being crushed by his vice grip. Then I see yellow and red and KF says, "Got your noes. The beast drops me to chase Kid. Aqualad stops briefly to make sure I'm ok before going to fulfill the plan. I see the monster fall over water and Aqualad sending electricity into it. Then Robin makes the roof come down with some of his many explosive birdirangs. Aqualad jumps on top of Robin and me while Superboy covers Kid Flash.

When we finally get out from underneath the rubble we're all injured and our clothes are torn but we're grinning victoriously. "We... Did it."

"Was there ever any doubt?" Robin and KF high fived only to wince and grab their ribs.

Superboy went over to Blockbuster "See?" He turned to Kid. "The moon." He stared up at it before we saw the outline of a figure flying to our location. "Oh, and Superman. Do we keep our promises or what?"

"Guys aren't we suppose to be in trouble?"

Then all of the other League members came out of no where. Including a very ticked off John and Jordan.

If they're ticked of wait until the rest of the Corp finds out.

Superboy walks up to Superman and lifts the fabric with the S shield on it. The big guys eyes widened before narrowing in suspicion. Batman speaks up from behind him. "Is that what I think it is?"

"He doesn't like being called an it."

"I'm Supermans clone." The rest of the League exchanged shocked glances.

"Start talking." So we went through the entire story. Hacking, fire, Genomorphs, more hacking, clone, hacking again, Desmond going all monster face. You Get the idea. So the two hawks took creep to some other place to wait for the GLs. Usually they would take the prisoner right away, but they were staying for the lecture. Superman said something to Superboy before flying off with an angry gaze following him.

"Cadmus will be investigated. All fifty two levels. But lets make one thing clear..."

"You should've called!"

"End results aside, we are not happy. You hacked Justice League systems (Robin), disobeyed direct orders (all of us), and endangered lives (again... all of us). You will not be doing this again."

"I am sorry, but we will."

"Aqualad, stand down."

"Apologies, my king, but no." Go Aqualad. I can tell this is the first time you've stood up to him from the look on his face. "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. And it's not."

"Batman we're ready to use what you taught us. Or why teach us at all?"

"We do this because we want to. We want to help people, protect the innocent, stop bad guys. If we hadn't come here, Superboy would still be in a test tube, and Cadmus would still be preforming experiments."

"Why let them tell us what to do? It's simple. Get on board or get out of the way."

We all stood tall ready for anything our mentors might throw at us in retaliation. Batman narrowed his eyes before telling us to go home.

A couple days later on July eighth, we all met up at Mount Justice near Happy Harbor. Apparently what we said got through our teachers thick skulls. They were stationing us at the base inside the mountain as a covert ops team. We had Red Tornado to watch us, Black Canary to train us, and Batman to deploy us. And we had a new team member. Miss Martian. Martian Manhunters niece. She already liked everyone and moved into the mountain with Superboy and I. She's very energetic.

Oh yeah I got a transmission from Oa. It was Kilowag, Tomar Re, and several other Lanterns chewing me out. The next time I go is going to be a pain.

We were all in civilian clothing at an ice cream parlor in town to celebrate. KF with his arms around M'gann and me, Aqualad trying to make him back off, Superboy enjoying his first ice cream, and Robin laughing. Everyone is happy. This is the start of something great.

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