Robin believed he thought of every possibility as he hacked through the entryways defenses. But he wasn't prepared for what he saw as the bright, mechanical, doors slid open.
"Okay.. I'm officially whelmed." He muttered, his eyes widening beneath his mask.
Dozens of firefly-like creatures stood, stacked on top of one another within clear, cylindrical, containers. Electrical pulses burst through their bodies and onto the glass, where the energy was siphoned into a colossal, glowing generator in the center of the room.
"So this is how they hide this massive underground facility from the world." Kid Flash stated in realization, turning to Aqualad, his tone laced with shock and excitement,
"The real Cadmus isn't on the grid. It generates its own power with these… things." He continued, the excitement leaving his voice, "Must be what they're bred for."
"Even the name is a clue," Aqualad said in agreement, "The Cadmus of myth created a new race by sowing dragon's teeth into the Earth."
"And this Cadmus creates new life too," Robin agreed, "Let's find out why." He muttered, before stepping up to a computer between one of the rows of creatures.
The Boy Wonder reached into a compartment into his glove, and pulled out a connector, attaching it to the computer. A HoloScreen appeared, and Robin began typing, searching for information.
"They call them Genomorphs." He stated, capturing the attention of the two other heroes. Robin continued searching, funneling through files and selecting only what was useful.
Suddenly, Robin's eyes widened as he began frantically tapping the holoscreen,
"Whoa!" He muttered, reeling back in surprise, "Look at the stats on these things—super strength, telepathy, razor claws. These are living weapons."
"They're engineering an army." Kid Flash affirmed, his eyes entranced by the descriptions of the genomorphs on the holoscreen. "But for who?.."
"Wait! There's something else.." Robin interrupted, "Project Kr.." He muttered, before rapidly decrypting it.
"Ugh, the file is triple encrypted." Robin informed the other two heroes, "I can't–"
"Don't move!' A harsh voice interrupted, catching the attention of the three heroes.
Guardian burst into the scene with several G-Elves by his side, his bright armor gleamed in the blue light as he rushed towards the three heroes.
Suddenly, Guardian skidded to a halt, the legacy hero's eyes widening as he recognized the sidekicks.
"Wait," Guardian sputtered, "Robin, Aqualad, Kid Flash?"
"At least he got your name right," Robin teased, glancing at Kid Flash.
The Boy Wonder was working on the Kr file behind Aqualad, preventing Guardian from noticing what he was doing.
"I know you," Aqualad said in surprise, "Guardian, a hero."
The hero stood tall. "I do my best."
"Then what are you doing here?" Kid Flash questioned in confusion.
"I'm Chief of Security," Guardian responded. "You're trespassing, but we can call the Justice League, figure this out."
No one said a thing for a tense moment, but everyone heard the beep from Robin's glove that indicated his decryption process on Project Kr was complete.
"You think the Justice League is going to approve of you breeding weapons?" Kid Flash demanded, stepping forward.
"Weapons?" Guardian asked, "What are you–"
The G-gnome on his shoulder emit a slight hiss, and its horns begin glowing a fluorescent red.
"My head.." Guardian groaned, placing a hand on his helmet as his eyes went unfocused.
Suddenly, the G-gnome stopped glowing, and Guardian's eyes focused again, before narrowing at the three young heroes.
"Take them down hard!" He called out to the G-elves, "No mercy."
The young heroes stepped back in surprise as the G-elves charged, but Robin acted quickly and dropped a smoke bomb, shrouding themselves from the genomorphs. Robin swiftly drew a grappling gun and swung onto a support beam overhead.
Kid Flash zipped through the smoke, dodging and weaving attacks from G-elves, before zooming in at sonic speeds, knocking several of the genomorphs out in a single kick. Before tackling another, sending himself back into the smoke.
Aqualad strained as he blocked a barrage of attacks from a G-elf, he parried the attacks from the G-elves with precision, blocking their razor claws and responding with powerful blows that sent them flying.
Suddenly, Guardian swung at Aqualad, his fist connecting with a powerful impact that sent the Atlantean crashing into a metal wall. The clang echoed through the room, but Aqualad was quick to recover, pushing himself to his feet and immediately raising his arms to block a series of rapid blows from Guardian.
Aqualad countered with a punch of his own, which Guardian deftly ducked under, using the momentum to pin Aqualad against the wall. Struggling against the pressure, Aqualad's tattoos began to glow, illuminating the space around him. The Atlantean groaned as he sent a surge of electricity through Guardian's body.
The shock was instantaneous. Guardian's eyes widened in surprise before he was launched onto the floor, unconscious, his armor still crackling with residual energy.
Aqualad stepped back, breathing heavily, but ready for whatever came next.
Suddenly, Kid Flash leapt out from the smoke, gesturing at Aqualad who quickly followed. The two began running through the Cadmus halls with several G-elves trailing behind.
Aqualad and Kid Flash sprinted down the hallway, the growls of the Genomorphs echoing behind them. Kid Flash darted ahead, his speed a blur as he navigated the twisting corridors. Aqualad followed closely, occasionally glancing back to ensure they weren't being overtaken.
As they reached the end of the hallway, they spotted Robin furiously working on an elevator's security system. Kid Flash skidded to a halt beside him, his expression a mix of relief and frustration.
"Way to be a team player, Rob!" The speedster snapped.
"Weren't you right behind me?" Robin replied, looking up innocently as the elevator door slid open with a soft hiss.
Robin and Kid Flash quickly slid in, just as Aqualad caught up and lunged into the elevator, dozens of G-elves right behind him.
The elevator slid shut, and Aqualad let out a sigh of relief before standing up.
The elevator emitted a slight tap, before moving. Aqualad's eyes widened as he noticed the numbers on the elevator screen grow higher.
"We're headed down." He noticed, before meeting Robin with an accusatory glare.
"Dude, out is up." Kid Flash stated in agreement, looking at Robin with tense confusion.
"Excuse me? Project Kr." Robin questioned in offense, stepping towards the speedster, "It's down, on Sub-Level 52."
"This is out of control." Aqualad grumbled, rubbing the back of his neck as he stepped between the two and towards the elevator buttons, "Perhaps- perhaps we should contact the League."
The elevator softly buzzed as it approached the 52nd level. The three young heroes tensed as the elevator slowed, the confined space amplifying the sound of their breathing and the hum of the machinery. When the elevator finally stopped with a soft beep, they braced themselves for a fight. As the doors slid open, they were met not with an immediate onslaught but with an eerie silence.
Before them stretched empty hallways, bathed in a dim, muscle-red glow that gave the space an unsettling, almost organic appearance. The terrain was uneven and pulsating, with strange, blue, pus-like orbs sporadically dotting the walls and floor, casting a faint, eerie light.
Robin was the first to move. He sprinted out of the elevator, his cape billowing behind him, his determined footsteps echoing through the deserted corridors, leaving the other two sidekicks behind. Kid Flash and Aqualad exchanged a quick glance.
"We are already here." Kid Flash stated with a shrug, before dashing off after him.
Aqualad sighed, a mixture of exasperation and resolve crossing his features, before following his teammates into the unknown.
The three young heroes looked around the new area they had entered. It was vast, filled with machinery and consoles, a stark contrast to the organic-like corridors they had just fled through. The room was dimly lit, with strange tanks and screens protruding from the walls.
Ahead of them lay a crossroads of two tunnels. They halted behind some barrels, catching their breath. Aqualad, panting slightly, turned to Robin.
"Which way?" He asked,
"Good question," Robin chuckled, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. "Bizarre-looking hallway one or bizarre-looking hallway two," he said, gesturing to the diverging paths with his birdarang.
The three paused for a moment, contemplating their next choice, until they heard soft footsteps.
"Halt!" A warbled voice called out.
The three heroes turned around, frantically searching for the caller, before spotting them.
A frail genomorph, his body covered in plain, white, clothing akin to that of a hospital patient. His head was adorned by large, curved, horns, and his frame was thin and decrepit.
The genomorph raised a hand, his horns and eyes began glowing, and several canisters hurled off of the ground and towards the young heroes.
The protégés dodged the projectiles, but the canisters detonated against the walls, sending debris onto their backs. Robin retaliated with a birdarang, but the genomorph effortlessly stopped it mid-air before seizing more canisters with telekinesis.
The trio dashed into one of the hallways as the genomorph hurled several canisters, which missed and exploded, obscuring their trail.
The heroes sprinted forward, dashing through the labyrinthine corridors without clear direction. Kid Flash raised his head, looking around, before dashing ahead in a blur. The speedster zipped through the hallways, until he abruptly reached a massive reinforced door at the hallway's end, which slid open as a scientist, the name Amanda Spence on her nametag, emerged.
The speedster's eyes widened as he tried to skid to a stop, but his momentum caused him to tumble right into the scientist. Both went sprawling to the floor in a tangle of limbs and lab coats.
Kid Flash swiftly got up, paying the scientist no heed, and glanced at the colossal metal door. His eyes widened as he read the words etched into the center: "Project Kr."
As the door began to slide shut, he turned around and realized his friends were still far behind. Acting quickly, he heaved a nearby canister off the ground and wedged it into the door, holding it open. The strain on the canister was already apparent, and it groaned under the pressure.
"Hurry!" Kid Flash shouted, his voice echoing through the halls, before leaping through the door just as Robin and Aqualad caught up. Robin lunged in with Aqualad right behind, narrowly squeezing through as the canister began to buckle.
Aqualad turned around just in time to see Guardian running toward the door, the frail genomorph and several G-elves hot on his heels. With a determined kick, Aqualad dislodged the canister, and the door slid shut with a resounding thud, sealing them inside.
Robin tapped his glove, before frantically tapping the keys on his holoscreen. The door in front of them hummed, and Robin let out a slight sigh of relief.
"I disabled the door." Robin stated, "We're safe."
"We're trapped." Aqualad pointed out, looking around the dreary, mechanical room, before turning over to Kid Flash, who seemed occupied with a dimly lit monitor in front of him.
"Uh, guys." The speedster called out, not taking his eyes off the monitor, "You might want to see this." he stated, before tapping a single button.
As he tapped the button, the chamber lights flickered on, illuminating the room.
But the light switch wasn't what they were there for. A clear, glass, pod placed brightly in the center of the room illuminated, and the heroes could only look forward in shock.
"Whoa!" Robin muttered, taking an instinctual step back as he processed what he was seeing.
Inside the pod was a muscular boy with pitch-black hair, pale skin, and a white suit emblazoned with Superman's iconic 'S'. The letters "Kr" were etched onto the glass that kept the teen in stasis.
Kid Flash moved towards the pod, walking almost robotically, his eyes never leaving the glass.
"Big 'K', little 'r', the atomic symbol for Krypton," the speedster muttered, before turning back to the others. "Clone?" He asked, gesturing to the pod.
The two other heroes continued staring, dumbstruck. Aqualad shook his head, gaining his bearings, before turning to the Boy Wonder.
"Robin, hack," Aqualad commanded.
Robin, still caught off guard, took a moment to register the command.
"Oh. Right, right," he said quickly, before pulling a connector from his glove and plugging it into the console. The system prompted for a password, but Robin bypassed it. Kid Flash moved behind him, watching as Robin navigated the interface.
"Weapon Designation: Superboy, a clone force-grown in... sixteen weeks?!" Robin's eyes widened in shock. "From DNA acquired from Superman!"
"Stolen from Superman." Aqualad realized, his tone hard.
"No way the big guy knows about this," Kid Flash agreed.
"He's wearing a Solar Suit, it allows him to absorb yellow-sun radiation 24/7," Robin continued, gesturing to the bright white bodysuit Superboy was wearing.
"And these creatures?" Aqualad asked, pointing at the trio of G-gnomes in stasis above Superboy.
"Genomorph Gnomes," Robin relayed, "telepathy, force-feeding him an education," He listed sourly.
"And we can guess what else," Kid Flash added, capturing the attention of the other two. "They're making a slave out of, well, Superman's son."
"Now we contact the League," Aqualad decided, and there was no objection. The three young heroes reached for their respective communication devices, but all of them got the same result.
"No signal," Robin verified after a few moments of trying.
"We're in too deep, literally," Kid Flash stated, a nervous edge in his tone.
Suddenly, the horns of the three G-gnomes above Superboy started glowing, catching the young heroes' attention.
Kid Flash turned to Robin, his voice tense. "This is wrong."
"We can't leave him like this." Robin agreed.
Both looked to a concentrating Aqualad. He closed his eyes for a moment, before opening them with determination.
"Set him free," he decided, turning to Robin. "Do it."
The Boy Wonder needed no further prodding and immediately began working on the console. All three watched as the pod's containment mechanisms disengaged. The glass casing slid away, revealing the muscular boy inside. Though the pod was gone, Superboy remained still, his eyes closed.
Suddenly, his hand clenched into a fist, causing worry to play on Aqualad's brow. As the G-gnomes began to hiss again, Superboy's bright blue eyes snapped open.
Aqualad raised his eyebrows in a silent question, but no one dared to speak. Before anyone could react, Superboy launched himself at Aqualad, tackling him to the ground. The two tumbled over each other twice before Superboy ended up on top, his fist coming back to hit Aqualad square in the face. He got three full hits in before Robin and Kid Flash managed to grab his arms and hold him back slightly.
"Whoa! Hang on, Supey," Kid Flash tried, holding the Kryptonian's forearm with all his strength.
"We're on your side!" Robin attempted, grappling the clone's head.
Superboy heaved, causing Kid Flash to lose his grip, before landing an uppercut under the speedster's jaw, knocking him up and back through a display cylinder. Kid Flash landed on the back of his neck and flopped to the ground, unconscious.
Robin grunted as he drew a smoke blaster from his utility belt.
"I don't want to do this." he stated, before placing the smoke blaster on the side of the clone's head, unleashing gas right into his face.
Superboy stepped back, disoriented, allowing Aqualad to seize the moment and land a solid kick. Sending the Kryptonian flying.
Superboy quickly got up, gasping for air. The smoke had disoriented him, but his strength and resilience quickly overcame the effects. Robin didn't stop, and quickly brought out a high-voltage taser from his utility belt and fired. The taser pins struck Superboy's chest, delivering a powerful electric shock. Electricity coursed through the clone's body, but to Robin's dismay, it had no effect.
Superboy's eyes narrowed as he grabbed the wires, yanking them hard. Robin, caught by surprise, was pulled towards him with alarming ease. Superboy caught Robin by the neck, lifting him off the ground effortlessly, before slamming the Boy Wonder onto his back with a force that knocked the wind out of him.
Before Robin could react, Superboy placed his foot on his chest, applying increasing pressure to his solar plexus. Robin's face contorted with pain as he struggled to breathe.
"Enough!" Roared Aqualad, sprinting towards the clone. Superboy looked up, but Aqualad, his tattoos glowing, slammed him in the chest with a massive water mallet faster than he could react.
Superboy was sent flying, slamming into his pod before slumping onto the ground. Aqualad wasted no time and crouched next to Robin, checking on his friend. Robin gasped weakly, before losing consciousness.
Aqualad stood up as he heard Superboy's heavy footfalls coming back towards them. The Atlantean stood tall and put his hand out in the universal sign to stop.
"We are trying to help you." Aqualad stated, his voice stern and his eyes full of anger.
Superboy stopped moving for a moment, but he didn't stop glaring.
In an instant, Superboy lunged in for a punch, but Aqualad swiftly sidestepped him, before tackling the clone into a wall. Aqualad went in for a punch, but Superboy caught it, before unleashing a strong kick to the atlanteans stomach. The force knocked Aqualad away, forcing him to roll to reduce the impact.
Aqualad got up, and dodged another punch from the clone, before countering with a roundhouse kick to the clone's chest, causing Superboy to double over in pain. Aqualad followed up with an elbow strike between the shoulders, turning the clone around, and several punches.
Superboy turned, going in for another punch which Aqualad ducked under. Moving quickly, Aqualad got behind Superboy, putting his hands under his arms and behind his head, Aqualad's tattoos glowed as he used his Atlantean powers to shock the Kryptonian.
Superboy cried out in agony, bucking over, before leaping as high as he could, throwing both himself and Aqualad into the ceiling. However, being on his back and the first to hit, Aqualad took the brunt of the impact. Yet, he didn't let go, so Superboy leapt again. This time, Aqualad's grip broke, and he fell independently to the ground, unconscious.
Superboy continued forward dutifully, paying the unconscious heroes no mind as he approached the room's doors. Superboy didn't stop as he reached the project's doors, and wedged his hands at the end of the steel door, before throwing it off its rails.
Guardian, Dr. Desmond, and the Genomorph turned to the door in shock as Superboy, emanating raw power and determination, stepped through the threshold. His stony gaze met theirs, unwavering and intense. The clone's broad shoulders heaved slightly from the exertion, but his eyes remained focused and cold.
Dr. Desmond, with a cruel smile spreading across his face, took a step forward. He quickly assessed the scene, noting the three unconscious young heroes sprawled across the floor.
"Attaboy," the scientist sneered, his voice dripping with satisfaction.
Dr. Desmond paced nervously in his office, his heart racing in anticipation, when seven large screens descended from the ceiling, each displaying shadowy figures.
"Dr. Desmond, you needed an audience with the Light?" a man's voice reverberated through the screen, clearly irritated.
"Yes. I apologize for the late hour," Desmond replied with much less confidence than he had in front of Guardian and the others.
"Just make your report," another voice said, impatiently.
"Of course," Desmond said quickly. "Ahem." He coughed, gathering his wits.
"We had a small fire at Project Cadmus. The cause is unclear, but it attracted some... unwanted attention." He stated, his leg bouncing slightly.
"The sidekicks—Robin, Aqualad, and Kid Flash—breached our security. They found and released the Superboy. The clone, under our telepathic control, turned against them as ordered. The three are contained, and we don't believe the League knows they're here." Desmond paused before getting to the real point. "What should I do with them?"
"Clone them," a man's voice replied.
"The substitutes will serve the Light and only the Light," a deeper voice agreed.
"And the originals?" Desmond asked.
"Dispose of them," the deep voice commanded without hesitation. "Leave no trace."
The scientist looked forward silently, a hint of a cruel smile on his face.
As Dr. Desmond left the room, he couldn't help but grin. A Speedster, an Atlantean, and the key to unmasking Gotham's greatest hero all stumbling right into his lap. What he initially believed to be nothing but a nuisance turned out to be unlimited potential. His smile became manic as he began thinking about the incorporation of super speed into his projects.
Dr. Desmond's mind raced with possibilities as he walked through the labyrinthine corridors of Project Cadmus, his thoughts fixated on the clones of Robin, Aqualad, and Kid Flash. Each held unique abilities that, once harnessed under his control, could revolutionize his research and enhance his reputation amongst the Light exponentially.
"Dr. Desmond." A feminine voice called out behind him, breaking him out of his thoughts. Desmond turned around, and spotted the owner of the voice.
Dr. Desmond turned at the sound of the voice, spotting a fellow scientist hurrying to catch up with him. She was the one he assigned to document Project Kr, he recalled.
What was her name again? Started with an S. He thought, before shaking his head. It wasn't too important. He could always look her up if necessary; her role was more important than her name.
"Doctor Desmond," she said, slightly breathily after walking briskly to catch up. "What's the conclusion on what will happen with the sidekicks?"
Dr. Desmond's eyes widened, and a slight smirk grew on his face. A mix of anticipation and satisfaction coloring his features. "We're going to start DNA collection immediately. The originals will be disposed of, as per the Board's instructions," he replied with a tone of authority. "We'll study them extensively, pushing their abilities to their limits. Their potential enhancements could revolutionize our other projects."
As they continued down the hall, Desmond outlined the next steps. "Contact your colleagues when you can. Speed is of the essence." He stated, looking forward as they approached Guardian and the doors for Project Kr.
"Prepare the cloning procedure for the new Project Sidekick," He demanded. "Now!"
The scientist hurried away, and Dr. Desmond continued forward.
"Almost done here doc." Guardian states as Desmond passes him.
Dr. Desmond continued forward, nearing the door until he was side by side with the genomorphs repairing it.
The scientist began moving forward, but stopped short in shock.
"Where's the weapon?" He demanded in anger, looking at the empty pod in front of him.
"You mean Superboy?" Guardian asked, "He carried the intruders back to the cloning chamber."
"We have genomorphs for that." Dr. Desmond hissed in fury, "Get the weapon back into its pod now."
"I don't see the harm in letting the kid stretch his legs." Guardian stated calmly.
"Don't you now?" Dr. Desmond stated with a glare as the genomorph on his shoulder began glowing.
Guardian's eyes went wide, and then blanked, before hardening into an angry glare.
"That clone belongs in a cage!" Guardian cried out in rage, before storming off.
Superboy stood dutifully as he watched the unconscious protégés in his pod. His gaze was harsh and cold.
Suddenly, Kid Flash awoke, his green eyes flying open and his head rushing forward with a gasp.
The other two heroes awoke quickly after, and they all trained their gazes onto Superboy, who was glaring right back.
"What, what do you want?" Kid Flash called out, glaring at the Superboy. The clone met his gaze, but remained silent.
"Quit staring. You're creeping me out." The speedster stated, his annoyance fighting his fear.
"Uh, KF, how about we not tick off the guy who can fry us with a look." Robin suggested to the ticked off redhead.
"We only sought to help you." Aqualad stated to the clone, ignoring the other two heroes.
"Yeah. We free you, and you turn on us." Kid Flash piped up in anger, "how's that for grat-"
"Kid, please, be quiet now." Aqualad interrupted, his voice firm, "I believe our friend was not in full control of his actions."
"What if I–" the clone started, his voice scratchy, "What if I wasn't?"
"He can talk?" Kid Flash exclaimed in surprise,
Superboy's head wrenched upwards towards Kid Flash, his hands balling up into fists.
"Yes, he can." The Kryptonian stated, anger dripping from his voice.
"It's not like I said 'it'." Kid Flash muttered defensively.
"The genomorphs taught you telepathically." Aqualad realized.
"They taught me much." Superboy divulged, "I can read, write. I- I know the names of things."
"But have you seen them? Have they actually let you see the sky? Or the Sun?" Robin asked,
"Images are implanted in my mind," the clone admitted, before looking down as if ashamed, "but no. I have not seen them."
"Do you know what you are?" Aqualad questioned, "Who you are?"
"I am Superboy." He started, standing tall, "a Genomorph, a clone made from the DNA of the Superman, created to replace him should he perish… to destroy him should he turn from the Light." The last bit got worried looks from all three of them.
"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." Aqualad tried.
Superboy's gaze quickly hardened at the Atlanteans words. "I live because of Cadmus! It is my home!"
"Your home is a test tube." Robin stated simply. "We can show you the Sun."
"Ah- pretty sure it's after midnight," Kid Flash corrected, "but we can show you the moon!"
"We can show you- introduce you to Superman." Aqualad finished.
"No they can't." A voice interrupted as the doors behind them snapped open.
Doctor Desmond, flanked by Guardian and Dr. Spence, stepped into the room, a smug smile on his face.
"They'll be otherwise occupied." He stated, before turning to the female scientist. "Activate the cloning process."
Dr. Spence approached the chamber as the two men glanced at the Superboy.
"Pass!" Robin called out, "Batcaves crowded enough."
"And get the Weapon back in its pod." Desmond commanded, ignoring the Boy Wonder's statement.
"Hey, how come he gets to call Supey an 'it'?" Kid Flash questioned, annoyed, as Guardian stepped up towards Superboy.
Guardian placed a hand on Superboy's shoulder as Superboy gazed at the three trapped teens.
"Help us." Aqualad pleaded.
The clone watched the teen for a moment longer, before shrugging off Guardian's hand.
"Oh don't start thinking now." Desmond stated in irritation as he stood to the side of Superboy, allowing his G-gnome to perch on the clone's shoulder.
The G-gnome hissed, and its horns began glowing. Superboy's body went rigid and his eyes lost focus.
"See you're not a real boy, you're a weapon, and you belong to me!" Desmond explained, meeting the Superboy's eyes. "Well– to Cadmus. Same thing really." the scientist corrected with a huff. "Now get back to your pod!"
Superboy turned around robotically as he marched back the way he came.
As Superboy marched back towards his pod under the control of Dr. Desmond's G-gnome, the three captured heroes exchanged worried glances. They had glimpsed a spark of humanity in Superboy's eyes, a desire for freedom and understanding that resonated with their own struggles against being mere tools of others' designs.
As the heavy doors slipped shut behind Superboy, Dr. Desmond nodded to the scientist at the control station. She swiftly pressed a sequence of buttons, activating the robotic arms stationed at the base of the three protégés' pods. The arms extended smoothly, their mechanical fingers splitting open into four prongs each, tipped with glowing electrodes.
Kid Flash, still disoriented from awakening moments ago, attempted to dodge the approaching arms, but he was tightly restrained within his pod. Aqualad and Robin struggled as well, their efforts futile against the relentless advance of the robotic appendages..
Without hesitation, the prongs pierced through the boys' uniforms and into their chests with a subtle electrical buzz. Instantly, cries of pain echoed through the chamber as the devices extracted a reddish gas from their bodies, funneling it into sealed spheres below each pod. The room filled with the acrid scent of the gas, a grim reminder of the invasive procedures underway.
"Where's Dubbilex?" Dr. Desmond demanded, turning to Guardian and the other scientist. His question hung in the air momentarily before a shadowy figure emerged from the darkness—the frail genomorph, appearing right behind Dr. Desmond, surprising him.
"Lurking as usual," Desmond muttered under his breath, caught off-guard by the sudden appearance. "Get the G-gnomes to start downloading their memories," he ordered sharply. "Once that's completed, delete the source material."
The young heroes continued to cry out in agony as the pain only increased.
"Superboy.." Aqualad murmured, straining under the pain, "you live. That gives you the right to follow your own path. A weapon or a person, the choice is yours, but ask yourself, 'What would Superman do?'" He finished, praying Superboy could hear him with his super hearing.
Dr. Desmond and the others continued watching the young heroes strain in agony, when suddenly a loud boom shook the room. Catching Desmond's and Guardian's attention and turning it back to the door.
Superboy stood at the doorway, the metal door crinkled above the Kryptonian's head.
"I told you to get back to—" Dr. Desmond's command was abruptly cut off as Superboy's right hand swung through the air, striking him with enough force to send him flying. Desmond crashed into the far wall with a sickening thud. In the same fluid motion, Superboy's left hand took out both Guardian and Dubbilex. Guardian was thrown into another wall, while Dubbilex hit the ground hard.
Superboy stood tall, his chest heaving with barely restrained fury, and glared down at Desmond. "Don't give me orders," he growled, his voice filled with a menace that sent chills through the room. He then stepped forward, positioning himself protectively in front of the teen heroes.
Kid Flash, still reeling from the events, eyed Superboy warily. "You here to save us or fry us?" he questioned, his sincerity evident. For a moment, he genuinely seemed unsure of what the clone's intentions were.
Superboy's glare softened slightly, but his stance remained firm. "Huh. I don't seem to have Heat Vision, so I suppose helping is my only option," he said, a hint of dry humor in his voice.
Aqualad and Kid Flash exchanged quick, hopeful glances. The situation had taken an unexpected turn, but they could see that Superboy was on their side.
Suddenly, Robin popped out of his cuffs and jumped out of his pod.
"Ahh finally," Robin muttered breathily as he rubbed his wrists. "I'm lucky Batman isn't here, he'd have my head for taking so long."
"Seriously, that's what you're worried about?" Kid Flash deadpanned. "The whole League will have our heads after tonight." he snapped.
Robin ignored the exchange and dashed to the control station. His fingers danced over the buttons, retracting the robotic arms from Kid Flash and Aqualad and opening their pod doors. He turned to Superboy. "Get Aqualad. I'll get Kid Mouth."
"Don't you give me orders either," Superboy growled, but he moved to release Aqualad anyway. With ease, he ripped the restraints apart.
Aqualad, weakened from the torture, nearly collapsed, but Superboy caught him by the shoulders, keeping him from falling. "Thank you," Aqualad said sincerely.
Superboy nodded but remained silent. Meanwhile, Robin worked swiftly to release Kid Flash's restraints, allowing both heroes to drop to the ground. They quickly regrouped, the two other heroes sticking close behind.
Desmond began to regain consciousness and the scientist tried to rouse Guardian. "You—you'll never get out of here!" Desmond shouted. "I'll have you back in pods before morning."
Robin paused at the doorway, causing Kid Flash to stop as well. "That guy is not whelmed," he muttered, then launched three birdarangs back into the room. "Not whelmed at all."
"What is with you and this whelmed thing?" Kid Flash asked as they resumed their escape.
The three birdarangs hit their targets—the DNA containers—and began to beep before exploding, destroying the cloning material and the pods.
Desmond stood before the destroyed lab, anger etched into his grimace. A G-gnome leaped onto his shoulder, its horns glowing red as it established a telepathic connection to the other Genomorphs. "Activate every Genomorph in Cadmus," Desmond commanded.
The heroes continued their desperate escape, unaware of the swarm of Genomorphs now mobilizing against them.
"We are still 42 levels below ground." Aqualad stated as they ran, "but if we can make the elevator…"
The Atlantean trailed off as they notice several mammoth-sized G-trolls blocking the path to the elevator.
The four stopped and looked back the way they came. The glowing orbs now held pale white figures moving inside them—Genomorph Elves emerging in a large group. They were trapped.
The lead G-troll struck from behind, forcing all four to jump back to avoid its crushing blow. Aqualad moved to the right around it, while Kid Flash and Robin went left. Superboy glared and leapt, connecting a punch to the troll's jaw and knocking it down. But three more surrounded him, and one pinned him to the ground with its massive paw.
Another G-troll dropped low on all fours and swung its head toward Aqualad, attempting to hit him with its large horns. Aqualad backflipped over the assault, allowing Robin to take advantage by getting in front of the troll and grabbing its horn, using it to vault over its shoulder.
Kid Flash had another G-troll tailing him. He ran it into the wall, then sprinted along the wall to end up beside Aqualad and Robin. The three turned as they heard the hallway shake and crumble. Their attention landed on Superboy, who was fighting off G-trolls, slamming them into the walls with full strength. The hallway began to fall apart under the strain.
Aqualad shouted to be heard over the chaos. "Superboy, the goal is escape! Not to bury ourselves here!"
Superboy turned to the three, a mix of insanity and anger on his face. "You want to escape?" he demanded. He grabbed the arm of an unconscious G-troll and hurled it into the two approaching him with a battle cry, clearing the path to the elevator.
Aqualad pried the elevator doors open, bending the doors with little care. Kid Flash and Robin joined him, peering at the twelve-story drop below them and the seemingly endless darkness above.
Kid Flash jumped to the side of the column, while Robin used his grappling hook to ascend a couple of stories. As a G-troll came to take out both Superboy and Aqualad with a mighty punch, the Boy of Steel grabbed Aqualad's waist and jumped into the elevator shaft. He lunged upwards in a burst of strength, getting nearly 30 stories higher before gravity began to pull them back down.
"I-I'm falling." Superboy realized numbly as they began to plummet.
Robin quickly threw a birdarang that connected to the wall. Aqualad snatched onto it as he fell, grabbing on to stop their descent.
"Superman can fly.. Why can't I fly?" Superboy muttered, confusion covering his features.
"Don't know," Kid Flash said, drawing the Boy of Steel's attention to him and Robin who are standing on the level just below them. "but it does look like you can leap tall buildings in a single bound. Still cool.", he states, before helping Superboy and Aqualad onto the small ledge they're on.
"Thanks." Superboy murmured.
A whir from above caught Robin's attention. "Guys, this will have to be our exit." Above them, the high-speed express elevator descended rapidly.
As the elevator came to a slow halt, Aqualad and Superboy forced open the doors, revealing they were on SL-15. They all managed to escape the shaft just in time. The noise attracted a squad of five G-elves, closely followed by a G-troll, who made their way toward the teens.
Turn left, brother, a voice said in Superboy's mind.
His eyes widened, momentarily confused, but he quickly made up his mind. "Go left! Left!" he relayed.
They all followed him as he followed the directions.
Turn right.
"Right." All four made the tight turn, only to find themselves at a dead end. The only thing available was an air vent a few feet below the ceiling.
"Great directions, Supey," Kid Flash said sarcastically. "Are you trying to get us repodded?"
"No. I—I don't understand," Superboy confessed as Aqualad and Robin caught up to the two faster teens.
"Don't apologize. This is perfect!" Robin said excitedly.
"Perfect?" Kid Flash echoed incredulously. "How is this perfect?"
Robin pointed to the air vent. "We can use the vent to escape. It's small enough to keep the G-troll out, and we can navigate through it to another part of the building."
Aqualad nodded, understanding Robin's plan. "Superboy, can you give us a boost?"
Superboy, still slightly disoriented from the telepathic instructions, nodded and lifted Robin to the vent. Robin quickly unscrewed the grate and slipped inside. Superboy then boosted Kid Flash and Aqualad up before jumping and pulling himself in last.
As they crawled through the tight space, Robin took the lead. "We need to move quickly. These vents should lead us to the upper levels. We just have to stay ahead of the G-elves."
"What's the plan once we get out of here?" Aqualad asked, his voice echoing slightly in the confined space.
"The plan," Robin started, "Is to get the hell out of here." he stated, before crawling through the vents.
The group continued moving, listening for the clatter of genomorphs through the vents and avoiding them, until suddenly the Boy Wonder stopped ahead of them. Robin began frantically typing on the holoscreen emitted from his glove. The holoscreen beeped, and Robin continued moving.
"Disabled the cameras." Robin informed the others, before moving forward.
The group continued onwards, navigating through the vents. Suddenly, Robin began speeding up, as did the group. The Boy Wonder stopped, and unscrewed a vent grate, gesturing towards the others before hopping down.
The heroes landed onto the floor, but instead of continuing, Robin opted to crouch and began typing on his holoscreen once again. The holoscreen beeped, and the walls around them began to whir.
"Uh, what did you just do?" Kid Flash questioned.
"I hacked the motion sensors." Robin stated smugly.
"Sweet." Kid Flash said brightly.
"There's still plenty of them between us and out." Robin pointed out.
"But I've finally got room to move!" Kid Flash exclaimed as he put on his goggles. He swept the staircase doors open and began sprinting at impossible speeds.
As he ascended, droves of G-elves came down the staircase from a level above. He didn't slow down; instead, he smirked and increased his speed, taking them all out and clearing the way for Aqualad, Robin, and Superboy.
"More behind us!" Robin called out to Superboy. Reaching the platform, Superboy stopped and slammed his foot down on the connecting stair, knocking the whole staircase down and all the G-elves on it.
Kid Flash continued up the staircase at super-speed, reaching the door that indicated Sub-Level 1. As he did, an alarm began to blare, and massive doors in front of him started to close. His eyes widened, realizing he wouldn't be able to stop in time.
"Oh, crud," he muttered, hitting the doors hard and falling back to the ground a few feet away from the barrier, tumbling over twice before coming to a stop on his butt.
"We are cut off from the street," Aqualad grumbled, annoyed, as he, Superboy, and Robin ran to catch up with him.
Kid Flash rubbed the back of his head with a grimace. "Thanks. My head hadn't noticed."
Superboy walked past the fallen speedster, punching the door but not even making a dent. He began trying to pry it apart but couldn't do it. Aqualad took one half, and Superboy took the other, but even their combined strength couldn't get the doors open.
Robin typed at high speeds on his gauntlet, grumbling in annoyance. "Can't hack this fast enough."
G-trolls growled as two came around the corner. Robin noticed a door to his right.
"This way!" he shouted to the others, completing a 270° rotation before side-kicking the door open.
The G-trolls couldn't make it through the door, but in the adjoining hallway, a drove of G-elves, another pair of G-trolls, and Guardian were waiting for them. G-gnomes perched on every creature's shoulder. Behind them, a third G-troll and half a dozen G-elves cut them off.
Aqualad removed his WaterBearers, forming dual swords as the others dropped into fighting stances.
One of the G-gnome's horns began to glow, setting off a chain reaction as all the other G-gnomes did the same, linking everyone against the heroes telepathically.
All four teens straightened out of their stances before falling to the ground. Only Superboy managed to stay on his knees, struggling against the telepathic assault.
Suddenly, Dubbilex walked in. The frail anthropoid's horns began glowing, and all the other genomorph turned to him.
Perhaps, for the sake of all Genomorphs, our brother Superboy should make up his own mind, Dubbilex stated telepathically to every genomorph in the room.
Superboy's eyes widened in realization. "It was you," he breathed.
Yes, brother. I set the fire and lured your new friends into Cadmus, woke them when they were in danger, Dubbilex listed.
And guided me, Superboy finished. Why?
Because you are our hope, the Genomorph hero. You will blaze a trail for all our brothers, showing us the way to freedom, Dubbilex told Superboy.
Guardian groaned, gripping his head as the G-gnome jumped from his shoulder. "What's going on?" he questioned, stirring Aqualad back into consciousness.
What is your choice, brother? Dubbilex asked Superboy as he stood tall.
"I... choose... freedom," Superboy stated with conviction, his voice clear and resolute for all to hear.
"Feels... like fog... lifting," Guardian managed as the other three teen boys got back to their feet.
"Guardian?" Aqualad asked, his head clearer than Robin's and Kid Flash's.
"Go," Guardian told them with conviction. "I'll deal with Desmond."
"I think not," Desmond growled, stepping forward as all the Genomorphs behind Guardian parted to allow him to be visible.
"Project Blockbuster will give me the power to restore order to Cadmus," he declared, producing a sea green vial from his coat pocket. The vial glowed with a faint, otherworldly gold hue, pulsing with an eerie light. The liquid inside seemed to swirl with a life of its own, reflecting the dim lighting of the underground lab. The vial itself was vibrating, literally humming with energy.
Desmond's hand trembled slightly as he uncorked the vial, the potent scent of the liquid filling the air. The scent was different, otherworldly, and yet somehow familiar to everyone. He hesitated for a moment, his eyes flickering with both fear and anticipation. Then, with a determined grimace, he downed the contents of the vial in one gulp.
The room was filled with a tense silence, as Desmond stood for a moment unaffected.
Suddenly, a golden hue began to spread across his body, starting from his chest and radiating outward. His veins glowed with the same eerie light, his muscles twitching and expanding grotesquely. His hair began growing rapidly, his eyes began glowing a bright sea-blue. Dr. Desmond's bones audibly popped and cracked as he grew with a cackle.
Desmond stood in front of them, his muscles rippling, and his height increased to a towering eight feet. His eyes were sharp, and still had intelligence behind them. His grin grew as he began glowing a gold so bright that it hurt to look at..
And then he burnt.
The scientist cried out in agony as the golden light began to sear his flesh. The transformation, instead of granting him unstoppable power, seemed to be consuming him from the inside out. Desmond's skin cracked and blistered, and the once-glowing veins now burned like molten lava coursing through his body. He staggered, his monstrous frame trembling as he clutched at his chest.
The teens watched in horror, unable to look away from the horrifying spectacle. Desmond's cackles turned to screams, his eyes wide with panic and pain as the light intensified. His body convulsed violently, and the golden glow started to flicker erratically, like a dying flame.
Aqualad snapped out of his stupor, quickly drawing water from his WaterBearers. With a swift motion, he directed a powerful stream of water at Desmond, aiming to soothe his burning flesh and heal his wounds. The water surged forward, its cool touch initially seeming to calm the raging inferno consuming Desmond. The mad scientist's skin began knitting together, his wounds began healing.
But as the water made prolonged contact, it only fueled the flames, causing them to flare brighter and hotter. The golden light intensified, spreading more rapidly across Desmond's body. Instead of extinguishing the fire, the water acted like oil, making the flames more volatile and fierce.
Robin acted next, he chucked several birdarangs on the ground next to Desmond, which exploded into fire-suppressing foam.
For a moment, it seemed like the flames might be smothered, the golden light dimming as the foam did its work.
But the fire was relentless, burning through the foam with an almost sentient fury. Desmond's screams grew louder, his eyes wild with desperation as the foam melted away, revealing the glowing, burning skin beneath.
Despite the flames, Desmond struggled onto his feet, to everyone's surprise, and charged at Superboy.
The clone's eyes widened as he leapt out of the way of the reckless charge.
"This is your fault!" Desmond cried out in rage, his voice deep and raspy.
Superboy clenched his fists, his eyes narrowing in anger. "We need to stop this now," he growled, charging forward. He tackled Desmond with all his might, aiming to subdue him through sheer force.
Desmond roared, his strength augmented by the Project Blockbuster serum, and the two clashed in a titanic struggle. The earth around them shook from the force of their battle, debris flying in all directions.
"We need to get out of here before this tunnel collapses." Kid Flash noted, his eyes widening.
"I got this." Aqualad stated with confidence as he gathered more water from his water-bearers, and infused it with electricity. He aimed at a weakness in the ceiling, an area with many cracks, and forced the water through. The section of the roof exploded into sparks and debris.
Superboy took notice of the hole, and grabbed Desmond by his legs, before chucking the burning scientist out.
Desmond flew through the hole in the ceiling, crashing into the ground above with a thunderous impact. His burning form skidded across the floor, leaving a trail of smoke and embers, as he hit a pillar. Superboy followed swiftly, landing beside him with a resounding thud.
The pillar took flame, which quickly began to spread across the rest of this building
The rest of the team emerged from the tunnel, Kid Flash speeding ahead to assess the surroundings. "We're clear for now," he reported back, his voice tinged with urgency. "But we've got to move. The whole place might collapse at any moment."
Aqualad nodded, his gaze steady as he looked at Superboy. "Can you take him down?" he asked, gesturing towards Desmond, who was struggling to rise amidst the flames that still licked his body.
Superboy nodded grimly, stepping forward with purpose. He grabbed Desmond by the shoulders, pinning him down with an iron grip. The scientist thrashed and roared, but Superboy held firm, his muscles bulging with effort.
"Desmond, it's over," Superboy said firmly, his voice cutting through the chaos. "You've lost."
"NO!" He shrieked inhumanly, and the earth around him shook, sending Superboy off balance. Desmond turned to Superboy, and sent him flying with a solid punch to the chest.
Superboy staggered backward from the force of Desmond's blow, crashing into a pile of debris with a grunt. The impact sent shards of concrete flying around him as he struggled to regain his footing. Desmond, his body still wreathed in flickering flames, stood tall amidst the chaos, his eyes blazing with rage and determination.
Aqualad and Robin moved swiftly to Superboy's aid, shielding him as he struggled to stand. Aqualad summoned a torrent of water from his WaterBearers, ready to strike again, while Robin prepared another set of birdarangs, each loaded with specialized tools for combat.
Kid Flash darted around the battlefield, assessing the situation with lightning speed. "We've got to take him down fast," he shouted over the roar of flames and crumbling debris. "Before this whole place comes down on us!"
Desmond's transformation had unleashed powers beyond anything they had anticipated. The Project Blockbuster serum had not only augmented his physical strength but seemed to have imbued him with elemental abilities, harnessing the very earth around him. He raised his hands, and the ground trembled beneath their feet, cracks spider webbing outward as if responding to his command.
All the heroes save for Robin tumbled to the floor. The Boy Wonder, however, leapt through the upturned terrain and lunged at Desmond, birdarang in hand. The mad scientist slapped the birdarang out of the air, and sent Robin flying with a punch to the chest, leaving his suit smoldering.
"We need a plan," Aqualad shouted, his voice urgent. "Superboy, can you distract him? Kid Flash, find a way to neutralize him!"
Superboy nodded grimly, pushing himself up from the rubble. His chest ached from the impact, but he couldn't afford to falter now. With a determined glare, he charged at Desmond once more, his fists clenched in readiness.
Desmond's glare at Superboy was hardly visible through the flames.
Superboy lunged forward, aiming a powerful punch at Desmond's jaw. The scientist countered with surprising agility, dodging the blow and retaliating with a vicious kick to Superboy's midsection. The force sent Superboy reeling backward, crashing into a support beam with a grunt of pain.
Meanwhile, Kid Flash raced around the battlefield, his mind racing as fast as his feet. He scanned the area for any weaknesses in Desmond's new form, looking for vulnerabilities to exploit. The ground beneath him shook with each step, making it challenging to maintain his balance.
The Speedster sped across, and his eyes widened as he noticed something. The flames flared with each blow Desmond attempted, and with each flare he got weaker.
"We need to put him out!" Kid Flash called out.
"On it!" Robin and Aqualad called out in unison.
Aqualad and Robin exchanged a quick glance, then moved to support Superboy. Kid Flash sped around the room, using his super-speed to create a vortex of air, attempting to suffocate the flames with the rapid movement of air.
The combined efforts of the teen heroes seemed to have an effect. The flames began to falter, the golden light dimming. Desmond's roars of pain turned to groans of exhaustion as his strength waned.
Finally, with a last desperate effort, Superboy pinned Desmond to the ground. Aqualad directed another stream of water, and Robin deployed more foam, working in tandem to douse the remaining golden flames.
Desmond lay still, his body charred and broken, the golden light extinguished. The lab fell silent, save for the crackling of fire and the heavy breathing of the exhausted heroes.
Aqualad crouched near the burnt husk of Desmond, placing two fingers on the scientist's cartoid, and breathed a sigh of relief.
"He's still alive." Aqualad declared.
One of the pillars behind him collapsed as the flames finally ate through it.
"We should probably get out of here." Kid Flash pointed out.
"Let's get moving!" Robin called out, taking off in a sprint.
Kid Flash zipped out behind him, along with Superboy. Aqualad scooped up the burnt Desmond, and followed behind. They all narrowly make it out of the building as it collapses behind them.
Breathing heavily, Aqualad turned to Robin and Kid Flash amidst the smoky aftermath of their battle. The once pristine uniforms of all four heroes were now marred with burns and tears, testament to the fierce struggle they had just gone through.
"We... did it," Aqualad managed to say, his voice strained with exhaustion and relief.
"Was there ever any doubt?" Robin retorted, though his smirk was tempered by a wince as he shifted, feeling the ache of his injuries. Kid Flash mirrored the sentiment with a nod, their high five cut short by the reminder of their wounds.
Superboy was silent as he looked up, his gaze drawn to the sky overhead.
"See?" Kid Flash remarked, "The Moon."
Superboy followed the gesture, his eyes narrowing as he took in the serene sight above them. A figure materialized within the smoke and moonlight, casting a shadow that enveloped Superboy momentarily. He squinted, trying to discern the identity of the newcomer.
As the figure descended gracefully, it became unmistakably clear — Superman.
"Oh. And Superman," Kid Flash exclaimed, surprise evident in his voice. "Do we keep our promises, or what?"
Superboy stood silently, absorbing the presence of the legendary hero. Superman's arrival was both a reassurance and a reminder of their duty as heroes. The gravity of their recent battle weighed heavily on them, but in that moment, they found solace in the presence of one of the greatest champions of justice.
Martian Manhunter, Zatara, Captain Marvel, and Red Tornado soared through the sky in the wake of the Big Blue Boyscout himself, Superman. Behind them, Captain Atom, Hawkman, Wonder Woman, Hawkwoman, and the first Green Lantern, whose brown hair billowed, followed in disciplined formation.
Bringing up the rear, the second Green Lantern conjured a sturdy platform. Upon it stood the Leaguers who lacked the power of flight: Black Canary, Batman, and Green Arrow.
As they flew towards their destination, a unified force of justice and power, their presence resonated with determination and readiness to face whatever challenges awaited them. Each hero brought their unique skills and abilities to the League's mission, embodying the spirit of unity and strength that defined the Justice League.
As Batman approached Superman, the Flash appeared in a blur beside Batman, standing ready at his side.
Superboy stepped forward, meeting Superman's scrutinizing gaze head-on. Without hesitation, he lifted the torn front of his suit, revealing the iconic S emblem that mirrored Superman's own costume. At first, Superman's eyes widened in shock, a fleeting moment of recognition crossing his features. Superboy's expression softened briefly, hopeful for acknowledgment or connection.
However, Superman's countenance swiftly hardened, his gaze turning cold and distant. The shift brought a look of confusion and slight hurt to Superboy's face, his hopes deflating under the weight of Superman's unspoken disappointment.
Batman, ever observant, directed his attention from the poignant exchange to the burnt husk of Desmond in Aqualad's arms being collected by a Green Lantern.
"What happened here?" Batman's voice was calm yet probing, his gaze piercing as he focused on Superboy.
Robin stepped forward, rubbing the back of his neck nervously, and meeting Batman's penetrating gaze head on.
"It's.. a long story actually."
In the heart of the cavernous sanctuary within Mount Justice, Batman stood surrounded by the four determined teens, now clad in civilian attire. Joining them were esteemed members of the Justice League— Flash, Hawkman, Black Canary, Red Tornado, and Captain Marvel—each a pillar of strength and experience in their own right.
"This cave was the original secret sanctuary of the Justice League," Batman's voice echoed with authority. "We're calling it back into service. Since you four are intent on staying together and fighting for justice, it will be on League terms."
The teens listened intently as Batman continued, his demeanor grave yet resolute. "Red Tornado has volunteered to oversee your operations here. Black Canary will handle your training. And I will deploy you on missions."
Robin, concealed behind dark sunglasses that shielded his identity, spoke up with a hint of skepticism. "Real missions?"
Batman nodded once, stepping closer to the center of the group. "Yes, but covert. The League will handle the overt threats. But we need a team that can operate under the radar. That's where you come in."
"There's a reason we have those big targets on our chests. We draw attention, but you'll slip through unnoticed." The Flash piped up, standing just behind Kid Flash, reinforcing Batman's point.
"Cadmus has proven that villains are becoming more sophisticated. Batman needs a team that can adapt and outmaneuver them in the shadows." Hawkman stated.
Batman's gaze swept over the four teens. "The five of you will be that team."
Robin, always quick on the uptake, took notice of the discrepancy. "Five?"
Batman glanced over Robin's shoulder, prompting all four teens to turn and see Martian Manhunter stepping forward, accompanied by a young green-skinned girl with fiery red hair—Miss Martian.
Martian Manhunter introduced her with a quiet pride. "This is my niece, Miss Martian."
Miss Martian waved shyly.
"Hi." She offered timidly.
Kid Flash, ever the enthusiastic ambassador, stepped forward with a welcoming grin. "Welcome aboard! I'm Kid Flash," he pointed to himself, then gestured to each of his teammates. "That's Robin," he indicated the masked vigilante who gave a playful salute, "Aqualad," the Atlantean nodded in acknowledgment, "It's cool if you forget their names."
"I'm honored to be included," Miss Martian said sincerely, her hands clasped in front of her.
As Aqualad, Robin, and Kid Flash moved closer to Miss Martian, Superboy lingered behind, his expression betraying a hint of apprehension. Robin noticed and called out cheerfully, "Hey Superboy, come meet Miss M!"
Reluctantly, Superboy joined the group. Miss Martian used her shape-shifting abilities to change her attire slightly, showing her adaptability and fitting in with the team. "I like your t-shirt," she complimented Superboy warmly, earning a small smile from him.
Robin playfully nudged Superboy's arm. "See? She's cool."
Kid Flash chimed in with contagious enthusiasm. "Yeah, welcome to the team!"
Robin exchanged a knowing look with Aqualad, acknowledging the significance of this moment.
"Today is the day," Aqualad affirmed with quiet pride, his gaze reflecting the unity and determination of their newly formed team.
A/N
Thank you all for the positive reviews! I really appreciate that, and they inspire me to write more.
In response to Wolfric, don't worry. Now that the pilot episode is out of the way, things are going to change up.
Yell at me in my dorm in the Emerald Library discord server.
The invite is .gg/elibrary