AN: I don't own DC, Young Justice, Smallville, or any other DC property that appears.
This is a fist but I decided on a certain way of writing toughts and dialogue now
"Young Justice", normal speech
'Young Justice', written speech
'Young Justice', thoughts
"Young Justice" telepathic speech
"Young Justice", Otherworldy or monstrous/demonic
these will be employed in all of the stories moving forward from today, March 25, 2024
Chapter One "Escape"
Aqualad, Robin, and Kid Flash were deep in the sub-levels of Cadmus labs that they were investigating after a report of a fire, to prove themselves to their mentors and the rest of the Justice League.
Aqualad had spotted something on the elevator and they followed it down into these sub-levels. They found out about Cadmus making these artificial beings called Genomorphs, living weapons. Along with running into Guardian, a fellow herow in a blue and black armored suit with a golden belt buckle, helmet and shield on his left arm.
Right now they were on sub-level 52, searching for the Project Kr. Unlike the previous levels they were on, this one looked almost organic with all the pods on the walls.
The trio were chased by Guardian, some blue skinned horned guy, and a series of Genomorphs into the room for Project Kr after they passed a female scientist. Robin had just hacked the door to seal it shut..
"I disabled the door, we're safe", he informs Aqualad.
"We're trapped", Aqualad replies as he is sure the room has no other way out.
"Uh, guys", Kid Flash calls out for the two, gaining their attention, "You'll want to see this", and pushes a button on a console. Lights soon turn on in a more mechanical pod where a young man with black hair laid.
"Whoa", Robin utters as the three young heroes looked stunned at the teen in the pod who wore a white bodysuit with a red S-shield on his chest similar to Superman's.
Kid Flash rounds the console and walks up to the containment unit holding the Superman lookalike, with him also seeing 3 other Genomorphs above Project Kr's head. He them rakes notice of th Kr printed on it.
"Big K, little R", he says aloud to the others, "the atomic symbol for Krypton", before looking to them, "Clone?"
Aqualad looks to the boy wonder, "Robin, hack", he orders the 13 year old.
"Uh, right, right", he responds and gets to work on the console, attaching a wire from his gauntlet/glove. ""Weapon designation Superboy, a clone force-grown in... sixteen weeks?! From Dna acquired from Superman.""
"Stolen from Superman", Aqualad corrects.
"No way the big guy knows about this", Kid Flash states as though it's a fact.
Robin looks at more of the info, "Solar suit allows him to absorb yellow sun radiation 24/7."
"And these creatures?", Aqualad inquires about the three creatures above Superboy.
"Genomorph Gnomes", Robin answers, "Telepathic, force-feeding him an education".
"And we can guess what else", Kid Flash supplies, "They're making a slave out of... well, Superman's son."
It was silent for a moment before Aqualad makes a decision, "Now we contact the League", and he pushes his Aqua-A buckle only for nothing to happen.
"No signal", Robin informs while looking at his holographic screen from his gauntlet.
"We're in too deep... literally", Kid flash vocalizes all their thoughts on the matter.
Just outside the room, Guardian and the scientist, Dr Amanda Spence, were working at getting the door open as the Genomorphs, G-Elves, stood at the ready. Dr Desmond, the lead scientist of Cadmus, runs in on the scene, panting heavily as he doesn't run much.
"They're still in there, with the weapon?", Desmond asks Guardian with a G-Gnome on is shoulder and the more humanoid Genomorph that had chased the teens into the room behind him, he was Dubbilex, a G-Goblin.
"We can't get the door open", Guardian informs the scientist.
Desmond angrily turns to the bluish skinned horned man, "Use your telekinesis", he orders while pointing at the vault-like door.
"I have tried", Dubbilex tells Desmond, "to no avail".
"Useless", Desmond raises his arms in anger before approaching Guardian, "This is a debacle. Get some G-Trolls down here to muscle the door open. Now!"
"Already on there way", Guardian informs the mad scientist, as he had already thought of that.
Desmond briefly looks to the door, "You realise once we get in there we can't ever let them leave."
"Doc, these aren't your typical meddling kids", Guardian shares, "You don't want to get on the wrong side of the Justice League".
"Better than getting on the wrong side of the Cadmus' board of directors, believe me", Desmond responds. Desmond then looks to the G-Gnome on Guardians shoulder, instead of the one on his own, "Contact the G-Gnomes inside of Kr", and it's horned glowed red.
Inside the room, the three G-Gnomes horns glowed the same way from above Superboy without notice.
"This is wrong", Kid Flash states after taking a look at the Superboy in question.
"We can't leave him like this", Robin insists to Aqualad, the more stoic of the teens.
After a moment of thinking with his hands to his chin, Aqualad says, "Set him free", he looks to Robin, "Do it".
Robin immediately gets to work on his holographic wrist computer. Soon after, the hexagonal pod opens up, with three wides going down and the other three going up till their was nothing separating his vertical gurney from the rest of the room.
Superboy moves his hand first before it cracks into a fist. Aqualad looks to him, brows furrowed in suspicion. the G-Gnomes' horns glow again and Superboy's eyes snap open. there was a heartbeat moment before he charges forward to the trio and tackles Aqualad. They land on the ground and he begins punching Aqualad in the face.
Kid Flash and Robin rush in to stop him.
"Whoa! Hang on, supey", Kid Flash insists while grabbing onto Superboy's right arm with both of his hands.
"We're.. on.. your.. side", Robin pleads as he headlocks the Genomorph Kryptonian around his eyes.
Superboy slips his arm out of Kid Flash's grasp and backhands him through a glass case that held vials, knocking him out.
He wails on Aqualad again as Robin pulls out a device.
"I don't wanna do this", Robin tells him before shoving it into Superboy's mouth and it releases a greenish gas.
He backs up from the shock of it while Aqualad kicks him away with his right foot into the console, breaking it. Robin pulls out a stun-gun and fires it at Superboy. The wires land on his chest but he is unaffected before superboy grabs the wires and pulls Robin to him, catching by his throat and throwing him to the ground. He steps on the 13 year old's chest and applies some pressure.
Aqualad pulls out one of his Water-bearers and transforms it into a hammer, "Enough", h jumps at Superboy with both hands holding the hammer before whacking him into the metal sheet he woke up on, denting it.
Aqualad takes the opportunity to try and help Robin up. He groans before falling back down though, seemingly knocked out. Aqualad looks tot he approaching Superboy.
He stands to his feet and holds a hand out in a stopping motion, "We are trying to help you", he announces as Superboy stops for a second.
Superboy then lanches forward with a downward punch that Aqualad dodges, denting the ground where he stood. Aqualad then tackles Superboy into a nearby wall with a yell. He goes to punch him, but Superboy catches it before left kicking Aqualad in the gut.
Superboy then rushes with straight punch that Aqualad again dodges before shin kicking the kryptonian and then elbow dropping on his back before then rib punching him. Superboy goes for another hit that Aqualad moves out of the way from for another rib check before getting Superboy in a Full Nelson. His arm markings glowed blue and electrocute Superboy, who yells in anger due to the mysticism in the attack.
Superboy hunches over with Aqualad on his back and jumps into the ceiling. Aqualad stops his attack but still holds onto Sperboy, so the Genomorph Kryptonian jumps into the ceiling again, knocking Aqualad out and causing him to let go.
Soon after, Superboy walks over to the door and jams his hands into it, before pushing it open for Desmond, Guardian, and crew.
Desmond smiles and walks up to see the three teens knocked out.
"Atta boy", he compliments Superboy like he was a dog, who kept a scowl on his face.
Later
Dr Desmond was in his office with his personal G-Gnome, pacing, before the room darkens and seven screens descend from the ceiling to surround him. The screens activate to reveal white silhouetted individuals
"Dr. Desmond, you require an audience with the Light?", one figure asks of the doctor.
"Yes", Desmond answers in a humble tone, "Very sorry to disturb you at this late hour."
"Just make your report", another screen tells him.
"Of course.", Desmond says, "Ahem. Well, 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", taking a shaky breath, Three sidekicks, 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 three are contained and we don't believe the League knows they're here.", he takes a moment, "Uh... what should I do with them?"
"Clone them", one suggests.
"The substitutes will serve the Light and only the Light", another continues.
"And the originals?", Desmonds asks.
"Dispose of them", the same figure on the screen instructs, "Leave no trace", this cause Desmond to smirk.
With the teens in question, just after midnight on July 5th, Superbo stands before the three bound teens to their own tubes, watching over them.
"Time runs short. You must awaken", a male voice sounds in the three cuffed teen's minds, "You must awaken now!"
Kid Flash then wakes with a panicked gasp of air, along with the other two young heroes, all three of them looking to Superboy.
"What? What-What do you want?", Kid Flash demands of him, to which only stares at him with an unimpressed look in his eyes. "Quite staring at me. You're creeping me out", he tells the clone.
"Oh, KF", Robin sighs at him, "how about we not tick off the guy who can fry us with a look".
Elsewhere, in a hall, "Prepare the cloning procedure for the new Project Sidekick, now", Desmond orders Dr Spence. She leaves as he meets up with Guardian.
"Almost done here, doc", Guardian tells Desmond as a G-Dwarf and G-Troll fix up the door that
Superboy broke. Desmond approaches it to see Superboy nowhere inside the room.
"Where's the weapon?", he demands to know.
"Superboy?", Guardian clarifies, "He carried the intruders to the cloning chamber."
"We have Genomorphs for that!", Desmond exclaims, "Get the weapon back in its pod now!"
"I don't see the harm in letting the kid stretch his legs", Guardian expresses his opinion.
"Don't you now?", Desmond critically states before the G-Gnome on his shoulder has its horns glow. The one on Guardian's shoulder also glowed and he gained a blank look on his face before becoming angry.
"That clone belongs in a cage!", he yells out before heading for the cloning chamber.
In the chamber in question
"We only sought to help you", Aqualad tells Superboy.
"Yeah. We free you and you turn on us", Kid Flash complains, "How's that for grat--"
"Kid, please be quiet now", Aqualad cuts him off in his gentle tone, "I believe our new friend was not in full control of his actions".
Stealthy, Robin activates a special pick from his right index finger.
"Oh, I was", Superboy states.
"He can talk?", Kid Flash says in shock.
"Yes, he can", Superboy flippantly replies.
Robin and Aqualad look to Kid Flash in disapproval.
"Not like I said, it", he tells them.
"What do you mean you were in control? Why attack us when we wished to free you?", Aqualad asks of Superboy.
"I wanted to see how well I would fair against real people instead of mental implants. Outside of you, I wasn't impressed, had to hold back a lot.", Superboy shares.
"Not impressed? Me and Robin were able to hold you back", Kid Flash complains, to which Superboy raises an eyebrow, "Alright, it was only for a second, but still".
"You're all about speed, not muscle. Did you really think you could have physically held me back unless I wanted you to?", Superboy tells him, as Kid Flash remains silent at that.
"Implanted? As in the Genomorphs taught you telepathically", Aqualad inquires as to his earlier statement.
"They taught me much. I can read, write. I know the names of things. Even experienced a normal childhood.", Superboy informs, "But they can't control me like they can for others for some reason.".
"But have you ever seen the things they taught you?", Robin asks him, "Have they ever let you see they sky? Or the sun?".
"I know what they look like, but no. I've never actually seen them", Superboy replies.
"Do you know what you are, who you are?", Aqualad asks him.
"I am Superboy, a Genomorph, a clone made from the DNA of Superman. Created to replace him should he perish... to destroy him should he turn from the light", he explains.
Kid Flash and Robin looked to each other, shakened by the information, while Aqualad continued his inquires.
"To be like Superman is a worthy aspiration", Aqualad commends, "But like Superman, you deserve a life of your own, beyond that suit, beyond your pod, beyond Cadmus".
"And I agree", he responds, leaving the trio stunned, "I've been planning to escape this place for awhile now. I just wanted back up in case of kryptonite weapons to stop me", with his care free attitude showing.
"Well, I can't wait to show you the sun", Robin tells him.
"Uh, pretty sure it's after midnight", Kid Flash supplies, "But we can show you the moon".
"We can introduce you to Superman", Aqualad adds.
"No, they can't", Desmond says as he, Guardian, and Dr Spence enter the room, "They'll be otherwise occupied", he then turns to Dr Spence, "Activate the cloning process".
"Pass!", Robin states, "Batcave is crowded enough", if only he knew.
"And get the weapon pack in its pod!", Desmond angrily demands of Guardian. Guardian then stalks to Superboy.
"Hey, how come he gets to call Supey an it?", Kid Flash asks aloud.
Guardian goes to put his hand on Superboy's shoulder to lead him out but he shrugs it off.
"Don't start thinking now", Desmond states as he approaches the boy to have a G-Gnome control him.
"Oh, I could always think, four-eyes", Superboy says as his anger rises before grabbing Desmond by his collar and throwing him away into a wall, "And G-Gnomes could never control me to follow your orders".
Guardian goes to detain him, but Superboy simply pushes him away into a wall.
"So you're going to help us?", Kid Flash asks, "Or fry us?"
"Well, I don't have heat vision yet, so I suppose I'll help you", Superboy jests.
At this time, Robin had finally picked his retrainsts to free himself from his pod, "Aah.. Finally!", as he jumps down to the floor, "Lucky Batman isn't here. He'd have my head for taking so long."
"Seriously? That's what you're worried about?", Kid Flash asks from his po, "The whole League will have our heads after tonight".
Robin presses a button on the nearby console and both Aqualad and Kid Flash's pods were opened.
"You free Aqualad. I'll get Kid Mouth", Robin directs him to do.
"Don't go giving me orders either, shortstack", Superboy says but goes and ripps the retrainst off to free Aqualad anyway.
"Thank you', Aqualad thanks Superboy, who nods back.
Robin had picked Kid Flash's restraints much faster than his own and soon the quartet were on the ground and running out.
Desmond was conscious on the ground and yells out, "You, You'll never get our of here! I'll have you back in pods before morning!".
"That guy is not whelmed, not whelmed at all", Robin stops and some birdarangs
"What is it with you and this "whelmed" thing?", Kid Flash asks as they leave, as Robin has been talking about it all day. About how people always use overwhelm and underwhelm, but no one is just whelm.
The birdarangs land on the three pods before they explode, destroying the pods and causing the room to catch on fire. Desmond angrily stands before the wreckage while Dr Spence cares for Guardian.
He looks to where the teens had run off, "Activate every Genomorph in Cadmus", he orders and his G-Gnome sends out the message.
The more organic pods that lined the halls on this floor glowed red, similar to a G-Gnome's horns.
"We are still 42 levels below ground", Aqualad shares with the others, as the cloning pods were revealed to be 10 levels over Project Kr, "but if we can make the elevator...", only for a series of G-Trolls appear in their path, maybe five or six of them.
The heroes looked behind them to see the glowing red pods spawn out G-Elves and more Genomorphs to fight them.
One G-Troll goes for an overhead strike that the four dodge. Superboy immediately jumps at it and gives it a left hook to knock it down. Another G-Troll comes in with another downward punch, hitting Superboy into the ground.
Aqualad jumps over another one that was rushing them, which Robin follows and Kid Flash runs around it on the wall. The trio look over to see Superboy just boxing with them but the ceiling was now collapsing from the damage.
"Superboy, the goal is escape, not to bury ourselves here", Aqualad tells him.
"I know!", he yells back and grabs a down G-Troll by the arm and tossed him onto the other two, temporarily blocking the path back.
Aqualad went to the elevator and pried open the doors, Robin grapples up while Kid Flash hops onto the side bars. Superboy arrives and grabs Aqualad by his waist and flew up as well. Wait, not flew...
"Crap", as he then grabs onto a side bar with Aqualad, "Sorry", he tells Aqualad, "I don't know how to fly yet".
"Well, it looks like you can leap tall buildings in a single bound", Kid Flash notes, "Still cool.
"Guys, this will have to be our exit!", Robin yells out as the elevator descends upon them.
Superboy punches the doors to sub-level 15, causing them to fly down the hall and the four rush in just before the elevator passes them. This floor had much nicer halls then the lower flowers.
G-Elves come from down the hall that Superboy sent the doors and the heroes rush to the hall to their left, with Kid Flash keeping pace with the others in case.
As they ran, Superboy felt a probe in his mind
"Turn left, brother", the voice tells him.
It didn't feel threatening so Superboy listens to it.
"Go left! Left!", he yells to the others.
Kid Flash, Superboy, Aqualad, and Robin curve the corner as instructed.
"Turn right", the voice speaks again.
"Right!", Superboy yells out and the four head into a dead end.
"Great directions, Supey. You trying to get us re-podded?", Kid Flash complains.
"No. I, I don't understand", Superboy thinks back, did he mishear the voice or was it lying.
"Don't apologize", Robin tells him, "This is perfect!", referring to the vent on the wall near the ceiling.
The G-Elves and G-Trolls son arrive to see the for gone from the dead end, the four were now in.
"At this rate, we'll never get out", Kid Flash again complains as he crawls with the others through the vents.
"Shh", Superboy quiets him and rgw four stop, "Listen", in the distance was the scratching and shrieking of the G-Elves crawling through the vents in the distance behind them.
Guardian, Dubbilex, and Dr Desmond were running through the halls in search of the heroes, with Desmond looking at a tablet.
"Someone, Robin, I'd wager, hacked our systems," Desmond mutters in anger, "deactivating internal security cameras, but he neglected the motion sensors.". They soon arrive outside a men's restroom. "The Genomorphs are closing in. They're all coming out in here", he informs them with their posse of G-Elves and G-Trolls, "We have them cornered" as he enters the rest room.
They wait by the vent in the room only for more G-Elves to burst out onto them instead of the heroes they were chasing.
"Uh! Ohh!", Desmond cries out as they fall on him before he pushes them off and growls, "He hacked the motion sensors".
Robin had his holographic computer open with it reading he had access to the motion sensors.
"I hacked the motion sensors", he shows off to the others.
"Sweet", Kid Flash compliments as they were now in the halls in a different part of the sub-level, right next to stairs that lead upwards.
"Still plenty of them between us and out", Roin reminds him though.
"But I finally got room to move", Kid Flash smiles, placing his goggles over his eyes before running up the stairs.
He soon sees G-Elves and rushes them down, knocking them out and allowing the others to follow behind.
Robin brings his holograph computer up as he yells out to Superboy behind him, "More behind us!".
Superboy stops and stomps at the top of the stairs, causing them to fall down, along with the G-Elves
Desmond, along with Guardian, Dubbilex, a G-Sprite, and some G-Dwarves were rising up through the elevator.
"We'll cut them off at sub-level one", Guardian states
"We'd better", Desmond turns to him, "or the board will have our heads", before correcting himself, "My head". He stops the elevator prematurally, "I need to get something from Project Blockbuster, just in case", as he exits the elevator, "I'll meet you at sub-level one", and the elevator doors shut again.
Kid Flash was still racing up the stairs till he reaches sub-level one, since the sub-levels needed to remain hidden. He rushes into the halls and races for a distance stairway upwards that were now closing with blast doors as the alarm rang out and the lights turn red.
"Ah, crud", he mutters as it closes before he can reach it and he crashes into the steel door, falling over a spittle falls from his mouth.
"We're cut off from the street", Aqualad notes as he, along with Robin and Superboy, arrive to meet Kid Flash soon after.
"Thanks. My head hadn't noticed", Kid Flash sarcastically says as he rubs his head in pain.
Superboy punches the door, only for it not to budge at all, so he begins to pry it open at the seam along with Aqualad but it wasn't moving.
"Can't hack this fast enough", Robin says as he worked on his holographic computer before deactivating it as G-trolls arrive. "This way!", he calls to the others before kicking open a door off to the side and the four rush through, only to come across Guardian with a gang of G-Elves and G-Trolls, along with G-Gnomes on many of them.
Aqualad brought out his two Water-Bearers as the four prepared for combat while the other Genomorphs brought up their rear. The G-Gnomes' horns glowed and all the heroes but Superboy collapsed.
Dubbilex soon appears among them and telepathically spoke, "Perhaps for the sake of all Genomorphs. Our brother, Superboy, should make up his own mind."
"It was you", Superboy notices that he was the voice directing him earlier.
"Yes, brother", Dubblix telepathically agrees, "I set the fire and lured your new friends down into Cadmus. Woke them when they were in danger--".
"And guided me", Superboy finishes before asking, "Why?'.
"Because you are our hope", Dubblix replies, "the Genomorph hero. You will blaze a trail for all our brothers, showing us the way to freedom".
Soon after, Guardian mind begins to clear as the G-Gnome that was on his shoulder jumps off him.
"Huh", he whoosily says, "What's going on?", as the three intruders also begin to come to their senses.
"What is your choice, brother?", Dubbilex asks Superboy.
"Freedom, of course", Superboy answers him aloud.
Guardian was holding his head, "Feels like... fog lifting".
The other teens rise to their feet before Aqualad asks, "Guardian?", wondering what has happened to him.
"Go", Guardian says in resolution, "I'll deal with Desmond", with an army of Genomorphs surrounding him in the red tinted halls.
"I think not", Desmond announces from behind, with the Genomorphs parting away to reveal him to the five heroes. The doctor holds up a light blue liquid filled vial, "Project Blockbuster will give me the power to restore order to Cadmus", and he downs it.
He groans as his bone crack, his glasses falling off his head as he twists around. He falls to his knees as his clothes begin to tear away. The other watch in wide eye horror as even Desmond's skin begins to tear to reveal new greyish skin. His eyes glowed red with black sclera. He roars as he reveals his more bulky physique with grey skin having red accents along his his body. His old skin and hair still hanging around his head, with only his torn pants remaining from his old attire. He was now Blockbuster
"Everyone back!", Guardian orders the younger ones before rushing into to fight the new behemoth, only to get back handed away, "Ah!", and into a wall.
Superboy rushes in with a clock to the jaw of Blockbuster, who retaliates with a downward right to his back. Superboy replies in kind and gives him a 3 piece combo to Blockbuster's face before he punches the hero to the ground. SUperboy then jumps up for a double fist drop, but Blackbuster jump tackles him through the ceiling up t ground level.
"Okay. That's one way to bust through the ceiling", Robin comments as he and the other two look through the hole before he grapples up on through it.
"You think lab coat planned that?", Kid Flash asks as Robin drags him up with him.
"I doubt he is planning anything anymore", Aqualad says to himself before jumping up through the hole. Soon realizing they were now in the darkened lobby of Cadmus
The trio watch as Superboy breaks Blockbusters grip on him before the big monster grabs him by his legs and throws him at the trio. He passes Robin and Kid Flash but Aqualad catches him.
Blockbuster roars as the four stand against him. The five soon rush at each other. Kid Flash arrives first and slides under the brute as Blockbuster throws a punch that hits the ground. Kid Flash kneels behind him while Superboy and Aqualad. The brute tilts back over Kid Flash and falls onto his back.
"Learned that one in kindergarten", Kid Flash gloats as he gets to his feet.
Robin soon jumps over Kid Flash with a flip while throwing some birdarangs at Blockbuster, who punches them away and gets to his feet again.
Superboy goes to grab him, but Blockbuster tackles him into a nearby pillar. Superboy replies with some more hits to the brute's face before Blockbuster punches him into the breaking pillar.
Aqualad soon uses his Water-Bearers to whip around Blockbusters punching arm. Blockbuster looks back to him, only to receive a knee to the face from the atlantean. Aqualad then jumps off the pillar and forms the Water-Bearers into a mace and brings it down in blockbuster, only for him to catch it and throw the teen away from him and into the ground. He then throws Superboy into another pillar.
Kid Flash runs in as Blockbuster goes to stomp Aqualad, who dodges. Kid Flash slips his arms around the Blockbusters punch for Aqualad but is soon grabbed onto by the brute. Aqualad goes to swing again with a mace only for Blockbuster to use Kid Flash as a weapon to hit him and the two are sent flying away from Blockbuster.
Aqualad stays on his feet against another pillar before Blockbuster rushes him and utterly destroys the pillar as he chike punches Aqualad through and chokes him on another pillar. He punches Aqualad as the pillars crack and the roof becomes unstable, which Robin notices.
"Of course", he utters before bringing up a holographic image of the room for him to look at, "KF, get over here!", and he rushes on over to the young detective in training.
Aqualad brings out a water-bearer to make a water shield to block Blockbuster's punches as Superboy gets to his feet again. He rushes and hits the brute in the back around the ribs and kidney areas before jumping up and wrapping his arms around Blockbuster's neck. The brute tosses Aqualad away to then grab onto Superboy and throw him into the pillar they were fighting against.
"Got it?", Robin asks Kid Flash as he had finished explaining his plan to the speedster.
"Got it", Kid Flash says before running around to then punch Blockbuster, taking his old face with him, "Got your nose", he taunts the monstrous brute, who then abandons Superboy to chase Kid Flash. He dodges the attacks and runs around the room.
"Superboy, Aqualad", Robin calls out to the recovered duo to explain the plan.
"Come and get me, you incredible bulk", Kid Flash yells at Blockbuster before dodging as Blockbuster destroys another pillar, thought he debri hits Kid Flash and he falls to the ground.
Blockbuster jumps up to try and smash the fast talking teenbut Kid Flash flips up to his feet to try and run again but his spine checked by the brute.
"This one and that one", Robin points to the pillars for the stronger duo to smash as he then prepares some more birdarangs.
Superboy punches a damaged pillar while Aqualad mace smashes different one. Kid Flash dodges another punch for it to break another pillar.
"Sorry. Try again", he taunts as he speeds before Blockbuster could hit him
Robin chalks a giant X on the floor and runs to the others. Aqualad uses his water-bearers to slick the floor which Kid Flash surfs on before getting out of it. Superboy comes up and sucker punches Blockbuster, laying him out over the water. Aqualad's arm marks glow light blue with electricity before he charges the water and electrocutes Blockbuster.
"Move!", Robin yells to Aqualad as he had planted his explosive birdarangs into some more pillars and they blow up.
Soon after, the ceiling of the two-story lobby begins to break and collapse. Blockbuster roars as he is soon crushed as the building around them begins to fall. Superboy and Aqualad pulled Kid Flash and Robin under them since they were more durable to handle the damage.
Soon after, the area settles after the collapse of this section of Cadmus.
Superboy then punches and pushes debri off of him, his Solar Suit torn ar his knees, his sleves, and his collar, covering the mark of El
The others also get up with him with their suits also torn in various places, but they were otherwise all right.
"We... did it", Aqualad states while breathing heavily as he was tired.
"Was there.. ever any doubt?", Robin asks in a similar state but with a youthful smile that Kid Flash shares. the duo high-five before also wincing in pain.
Superboy walks over to where he sees a downed Blockbuster, everything below the arms and shoulders were still buried under rubble. Supernoy can confirm that he'll stay down.
"See?", Kid Flash calls out to him, drawing his attention to the three teens, "The moon", pointing his thumb to the sky for Superboy to see the celestial body in the night among the stars.
Superboy then soon notices a figure flying overhead, shadowed by the moon. Before the figure closes in to reveal himself as Superman.
"Oh", Kid Flash breaths out, "And Superman. Do we keep our promises or what?", he cockily crosses his arms as he smiles.
Martian Manhunter, Zatara Zatanna, Captain Marvel / Shazam, and Red Tornado also fly in behind the blue boy scout. The teens looka round as Captain Atom, Hawkman, Wonder Woman, Hawkwoman, and Hal Jordan / Green Lantern 1 also land in the Cadmus ruins. John Stewart / Green Lantern 2 flies in with a platform housing Green Arrow, Black Canary, Aquaman, and Batman on it. batman walks forward to meet Superman as Flash speeds onto the scene. All the Justice League (at the time) now surrounded the four young heroes.
Superboy decided it was best not to wait and approaches Superman. Standing before the Man of Steel, Superboy lifts his torn collar to reveal his own matching emblem. Superman eyes go wide but both remain silent.
"Is that what I think it is?", Batman asks aloud
"He doesn't like being called an it", Kid Flash shares with his hand by his mouth as though to be secretive.
"I'm Superman's clone", Superboy reveals, causing the Justice League to look amongst themselves in shock.
After a moment of silence, "Start talking", Batman orders the proteges.
Not long after, both Green Lanterns leave with Blockbuster in a bubble, along with Captain Atom, Hawkman and Hawkwoman acting as guard duty. The rest of the Justice League along with Guardian were talking amongst themselves in groups while the younger heroes stood together in silence.
Superboy briefly looks back to Superman, who was talking with Wonder Woman and Martian Manhunter, before the latter notices his gaze. Martian Manhunter taps Superman into looking to Superboy, with Wonder Woman giving the Man of Steel a look to go talk to the techincal teen.
Superman then walks over with a stiff expression and sighs as he stands before the more chill super.
"We'll, uh, we'll figure something out for you", he tells him, "The League will, I mean. For now, I'd better make sure they get that Blockbuster creature squared away", and he awkwardly flies away.
"Dude needs to chill", Superboy says to himself, "It's not like I want him to be my dad or anything".
Batman comes up to the young heroes, "Cadmus will be investigated, all 52 levels", as he walks up to them with Flash and Aquaman, all three mentors for the protege heroes, "but let's make one thing clear--".
"You should have called", Flash cuts in, annoying Batman.
"End results aside", Batman says, "we are not happy. You hacked Justice League systems, disobeyed direct orders and endangered lives", the young heroes remained silent while Kid Flash sheepishly rubs the back of his neck. "You will not be doing this again", Batman commands.
"I am sorry, but we will", Aqualad states with determination.
"Aqualad, stand down", Aquaman orders.
"Apologies, my king", Aqualad places his hand to his chest before lowering it, "but no", he disobeys, to which Aquaman raises a brow.
"We did good work tonight", Aqualad explains to the adults, "the work you trained us to do", except for Superboy, "together on our own, we forged something powerful, important."
"If this is about your treatment at the hall, the three of you--", Flash says before Kid FLash cuts him off.
"The four of us", he refers to Superboy, "and it's not".
"Batman", Robin speaks to his mentor, "we're ready to use what you taught us, or why teach us at all?"
"Why let them tell us what to do?", Superboy asks his friends, "It's simple. Get on board or get out of the way."
Batman narrows his eyes in thought
3 Days Later, July 8th, 08:04 EDT, Mount Justice.
The four young heroes were now in an hold cave in a mountain with some of the Justice league.
"This cave was the original secret sanctuary of the Justice League", Batman tells the quartet, who are in civilian clothes.
With Robin wearing sunglasses to still hide his identity. Aqualad wore a high-collar jacket to hide his gills. While Superboy wearing Superman merch for the hell of it.
"We're calling into service again", Batman informs, "Since you four are determined to stay together and fight the good fight, you'll do it on League terms. Red Tornado volunteered to live here and be your supervisor. Black Canary's in charge of training. I will deploy you on your missions".
"Real Missions?", Robin asks him.
"Yes, but covert", Batman shares,
Then, Flash spoke, "the League will still handle the obvious stuff", he pokes a thumb to his chest symbol "There's a reason we have these big targets on our chests."
"But Cadmus proves the bad guys are getting smarter", Aquaman points out, "Batman needs a tem that can operate on the sly."
"The five of you will be that team", Batman tells them.
"Cool", Robin says before realising, "Wait. Five?".
Batman looks behind them to the cave teleporter, the Zeta-Tube, as Martian Manhunter and a teen looking girl with green skin and red hair walks alongside him
"This is the Martian Manhunter's niece", Batman introduces, "Miss Martian".
She nervously rubs her right elbow before waving, "Hi".
"Liking this gig more every minute", Kid Flash quietly says to Robin before walking up to Miss Martian, "Uh, Welcome aboard. I'm Kid Flash", before gesturing to his friends, "That;s Robin, Aqualad. it's cool if you forget their names".
Miss Martian clasps her hands before her chest, "I'm honored to be included", and the three introduced walk up to meet her, with Superboy staying to himself in thought, which Robin notices.
"Hey, Superboy", he calls out to him, "Come meet Miss M"
Superboy walks over to greet her, however her top transforms from white tight short sleeve and blue cape to a black t-shirt not unlike his own save for the Martian X.
"I like you t-shirt", she tells him.
"Well, it looks better you", Superboy replies with a smile, with Robin nudging him in his ribs and Kid Flash speeding around to clasp a hand on his shoulder.
"Today is the day", Aqualad states as the beginning of their independence.
Back at Cadmus, who were in the process of reconstruction.
"Cadmus changes today", Guardian tells Dubbilex and Dr Spence, "With Desmond out of the picture, the board's placed me in charge", he informs before focusing on Dr Spence, "Dr Spence, you're acting chief scientist. No more G-Gnomes suppressing our wills, no more secret breeding projects. This is a kinder, gentler Cadmus.", He was unaware they were being watched by a camera to the hidden figures that were behind Dr Desmond.
"Then I will, of course, help in any way I can, brother", Dubbilex tells Guardian.
The screen then shuts off before this hidden council.
"Can the Light afford to leave Guardian in charge without the G-Gnomes?", one asks the others.
"We hae sutler means of control", another shares with them, "What concerns me is the children.", a image of the four boys running appears on the screen, "We now know the League is willing to employ young heroes to do their dirty work."
"Tch, that's a dark twist.", one says.
"Yes", another speaks, "but one that can be played to our advantage. Even the temporary loss of the weapon may prove useful, Eventually, everyone sees the Light".
Chapter End
AN: this chapter is based on the end of YJ S1ep1 and all of ep2.
Superboy is based more on his comic self and will change more as he gets his powers. He will also have an actual super suit instead of casual or militia looking gear.
This is not part of my Jason Todd Multiverse, as you can tell from it not having an Earth-number designation in the title, though it may share some elements from them.