Batman's POV - Watch Tower
As I stood over the bio-dome, watching the Earth orbit the sun, it was an apt reminder of how little we all were, in the grand scope of things. Standing next to a literal princess slash demi-god, and a man who had no limit beyond his humanity, made me feel small and yet at the same time it was empowering, the chances of existing were astronomically small and yet we've all lived and thrived.
Aquaman appeared from the hall doors and called us in, bringing me out of my thoughts, "Everyone is here."
Superman smiled at the King of Atlantis and we followed after him. We were all silent as the weight of what was coming was heavy on us all.
The Justice League, no matter how much I tried to distance myself from the group was something we all valued, it was a symbol much like our own personal monikers, and while that symbol inspired hope, it also gave validation to scum to form up, like the Injustice League.
To form another subsidiary group was risky, but much like the days when I was enough for Gotham were far in the past, the Justice League needed something more.
"Our agenda is clear." I told the group as they went silent at our arrival, "What's at stake should not be underestimated."
"The decisions we make today will reverberate for years to come. And influence whether or not the world continues, to put their trust in the Justice League. Please take your seats. We have work to do." Superman backed me with his usual 'I'm your friend, trust me' smile as he gazed out at the group.
We went through a series of dossiers that I compiled, leaving the problematic ones in was intentional on my part, and I got a curious look from Superman and a flat one from Wonder Woman but neither commented on it.
I never stopped testing the group even when they joined the core League and getting their insights and therefore lack of one, was shown to us when they were shuffled through the more questionable dossiers.
"Seriously? The Atom," Captain Marvel exclaimed, and right here is where all of my training acclimated, to stop me from rolling my eyes, Atom was a no-brainer, yet Marvel's age was showing when he disregarded the more subtle hero, "Well, how useful could he be at that size?"
"It's the size that makes him useful." I pointed out.
"Absolutely. Still, we could always use more raw power." Flash said, "And Earth has a third Green Lantern… Guy Gardner. "
Hal and John didn't even glance at each other or the image of Guy, "No."
"But we could really…"
"No." They reiterated yet again, and Hal swiped to the next possible candidate.
Red Arrow. Peppered in we all had suggestions, former protégés, family, friends. Green Arrow had the floor but I knew many of us had already decided on Red Arrow before the man's former mentor could speak.
No. Plain and simple.
Even still we gave Green Arrow the chance to persuade us and moved onto the next one.
And I didn't know who to accuse as I saw the grinning image of Freak… how is his dossier image so… chirpy? God damit Freak.
My eyes flickered to Kent, both he and Wildcat may be retired JLS members by they were owed their dues with a seats in these meetings. Yet Kent looked bewildered and his eyes narrowed on me when he saw Freak being nominated.
"I put up Freak." Superman said.
"Ohh the scary kid, who was designed to kick our asses." Flash said with a faux cheer.
"He was designed to kill us all." Wonder Woman corrected, much to the cringe of the other members.
"Freak is a wonderful young man, who I trust whole heartedly," Kent said with a not so shocking edge to his voice, well not shocking to me, the man's soft spot for our pseudo-shared ward was clear as day, "Yes he's dangerous, but who here isn't?"
"Agreed," Superman said, "and with his abilities and skills he's done a lot of good." The Metropolis incident seemed to have made an impression on Superman. Even enraged Freak was able to keep a level head as he dealt with the beings and tech from New-Genesis.
"What's he like, as a person I mean?" John Stewart asked Black Canary, the former soldier tended to judge those by their actions, by who they were as a person.
"Like Kent said," The blonde shrugged her shoulders, "He's a good young man, but he also has little faith in himself, despite the fact he pretty much dominates any fight he's in," She wasn't wrong, "I wouldn't say he has echoism though."
"Huh?"
"The opposite of narcissism." I told Billy, giving the laymen term.
"Fiercely protective" Black Canary said ignoring the interruption, "of those he cares about or those he deems necessary to defend."
"If I may interject," Kent cleared his throat needlessly, "I have plans for young Freak, plans that may impede his time with a new team."
"Plans?" Superman asked with a cocked eyebrow.
Kent Nelson placed a hand on his cane that he propped against the table, a melancholic smile on his face, all the while the more youthful looking Ted Grant grimaced, "I'm an old man and fortunately or unfortunately, depending on who you ask, I don't have long for this world,"
No one dared to comment, most knew Kent wished to be at rest with his wife, but duty kept the man from his desire.
"And the price for Nabu is not one I will ask of any."
"You plan for Freak to replace you, to be the new you." Not as Doctor Fate but as the Sorcerer Supreme, the Guardian of the Tower. I wasn't sure how to feel about that.
Freak was steadfast, reliable and most importantly… good. Yes he was clearly damaged, and wild, no, wilful, he wasn't like Jason or Damien, he'd take any punch aimed at himself with a smile and a thank you, but he'd willingly go to war for anyone but himself. I worry about him but I rest easy knowing he's in Gotham protecting the city and backing the others when I couldn't be there.
"No," Kent beamed, "He'll be better."
Ammon's POV - On route to the Cadmus Facility
Conner sent me a withering stare as he heard me snicker under my breath all the while I continued to hum, 'I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves'.
"Yeah, bud?" I grinned as I watched the half'n'half clone in the sidecar let out a sigh, the giant wolf in his lap happily lolling his tongue as we flew to Cadmus facility, he pinged me a message to pick him up from DC, but he was silent for the most part, just playing with a steel box in one hand while he stroked Wolf's white fur.
"Nothing," He grunted.
"Dude," I gave him a flat look as I got Baby to hover over our destination, "I ain't an Uber and you sure as hell wouldn't have asked for a ride for no reason. What are we doing here?"
Conner let out a long breath before he hopped off the sidecar with Wolf in his arms, he looked up at me, "I'll appreciate some help, Freak." He gritted out.
I gave him a nod and bade Baby to make a move away, we had plenty of protocols, but most of the time I told her to simply circle up in the air, far from anyone's reach.
"Guardian. Fast work on the rebuild. Now escort us down the easy way. Or we'll escort ourselves down the hard way." Superboy said to a camera with a warning scowl on his face as a couple of armed guards ran out of the building, but they quickly stowed them away as they were given orders to let us in.
Superboy explained to me on the way down that he was informed that Cadmus created another clone of Superman, yet he went all tight lipped when I questioned where he could've possibly gotten that information from.
"The new super-clone. Where are you holding it?"
"Welcome home, Superboy. Now, what are you talking about?" Guardian said with a bemused tone yet when it finally registered with him what was said he turned a tad bit more serious.
"Brother, you are the only super-clone in Cadmus." A more coherent genomorph said before turning to me with a peculiar smile on his face.
'Hello, cousin.' I gave the genomorph a nod, impulse control was something pretty important, so of course I wasn't going to act like a rube and react at the telepath communicating with me, 'It's good to meet you,'
Brother? Cousin? Jeeze, it's like bad dialogue written by siblingless writers.
"All cloning projects, human and Kryptonian," Some lady said, "have been shut down since your escape."
She flinched when she saw me glaring at her, "Escape?" My voice was low but the anger in it was clear.
"Liberated." Conner corrected with a cool smirk.
The woman backed away, "As you say. Now, I'm needed back in my lab." Good riddance.
"Sometimes, I hate this job." Guardian sighed and took off his helmet revealing his face and red hair.
"You... You look a lot like Red Arrow."
"Not all that surprising. Red Arrow is my nephew." Guardian said with a smile and then motioned for us to follow him.
"Here's the 411. This is the new and improved Cadmus." Guardian said as he gave us the tour, "Dr. Spence and her team are doing truly worthwhile genetic medical research now. The genomorphs are becoming more independent, more educated. Some even have names. Hey, Benny. Erin." He waved at a couple as we passed them, "The work being done here will save millions of lives."
"The path to hell is paved with good intentions." I grumbled.
"You know that saying is talking about good intentions not being followed up by actions, right?" Guardian inquired.
"Then what actions are being taken then?" I fired back.
He let out a soft chuckle, "Considering who's your mentor I would think you'd understand the importance of secrets."
'Superboy, Freak. You may trust Guardian. He keeps no secrets.' Dubbilex spoke to us in tandem.
'But you do,' I returned as I glanced at Conner who gave me a small nod to say he could hear me also.
'Freak's right, you still keep your psychic powers a secret.'
'Some secrets have their place. We were all created to be exploited as living weapons. The both of you were designed to…'
'To kill the Justice League,' I finished as I put it in the back of my mind what link these genomorphs had with the ones the League of Assassin's have, and how much they knew about them, enough considering they call me cousin.
'To replace or destroy Superman.' Conner grouched, 'We know. What's your point?'
'That you should understand the plight of those left behind, after I helped free you from Cadmus, Superboy.'
'The League liberated all genomorphs here.' Conner stopped walking and turned to the genomorphs that were in the room, and they all turned towards us as they did they day-to-day jobs.
'Are we free to walk the surface as you do? Or has our role merely changed from weapons to menial labor?'
'You know full well that's not what's going on here,' I sighed internally, there was a reason why the likes the Martian's disguised themselves as human.
'It's complicated.' Superboy agreed with a sigh before turning back to our guide, "Guardian. Could a super-clone exist without you knowing?"
"It's highly unlikely."
'Tell me, brother. What would you do if you found this super-clone?'
"If it exists, I'm freeing it. Just like Aqualad, Robin and Kid Flash freed me."
'Then I will question our brothers. Nothing happens at Cadmus without a genomorph knowing. If a super-clone exists, we will find him.'
"Look," Guardian said with a sigh as he motioned at the room, " I have my own missing genomorphs to locate. But you've got the run of the place. I just doubt you'll find what you're looking for."
It didn't take us long to get to Conner's pod, the half kryptonian stared blankly at his reflection, all the while Wolf sniffed and pawed at the gelatinous substance covering a wall.
"What the hell is that?"
Superboy shrugs his shoulders and walks to it, ripping away the crap to reveal a rusted over door, with little effort Conner pried it open to unveil a large room filled to the brim with pods similar to Conner's own one.
"Well fuck."
Wolf let out a whine of agreement.
Jumping down from the top of the staircase we walked towards the centre of the room, where laid a cryo-pod larger than the others, the glass was frosted over, but we could still see the words 'Project Match' on it.
Wiping away the frost we saw the face of a sleeping girl around Conner's age, black hair that ended at her shoulders, and the symbol of House El on the chest of her white jumpsuit.
'Well this doesn't seem right,' Being distracted usually costs me, and now wasn't an exception as Conner walked towards the console and released the clone.
"Superboy, wait!"
I was too late as the pod receded its case and the clone was left on the medical bed, her restraints no longer there, the ice thawed, and her brow twitched as she awoke.
"It's okay, you're free now."
Her eyes were blue like Conner's but they were set like his usual expression of pissed off also, in a beat they narrowed onto Conner's symbol, and she shot off the slate with a charge, body slamming him.
Conner flipped them over, only for the girl to overpower him and slam him against a pod, "Stop, I'm on your side!"
She wavered for a moment but when Wolf clamped his fangs down on the clone's leg, she threw Superboy back at the entrance, and his four-legged pal joined him soon after as the girl shook slash kicked him off.
The girl then turned her attention to me, and I felt the surge of power wash through me as I morphed into my demon form.
Not a moment too soon as it allowed me to see an impressively fast punch sent my way, why block when you can dodge?
She was fast and strong which was obvious but her endurance was shite, so after a few dozen missed hits, her form fluttered and I took my opening.
Hooking my knee to the back of hers, caused her to topple ungracefully, fighting folk stronger than you, you learn quickly to never waste an opportunity, so I quickly spelled a ice mist in my hands and let out a jet down on her.
The magic-infused ice was enough to slow her and do some damage at the same time, which is why I wavered myself, I didn't want to harm her needlessly but she was still rampaging.
"Freak, you're hurting her!"
"Superboy!" Distractions!
In the snapshot I turned away from my foe, I saw two red dots in the mist of ice, before a concussive heat slammed into my face, lurching me back and destroying my mask.
Paying no mind to my landing on the ground in a heap, I ripped off the mask, there were safeguards in mind when it was designed much like the other's and their gear so that the things didn't melt on our faces, but even still I winced in pain and flex my jaw as a part of the melted mask seared a burn the left side of my lower jaw.
I clicked my teeth at the superficial burn on my better half, and someone prodding brought me back to now as Wolf poked me with his snout with a worried whine, "Shit sorry, Wolf, where's Angry Boy-Scout?"
Wolf unneededly rushed towards the massive hole in the wall that wasn't there before, "Right, stupid question."
I grumbled and rushed through all the while hearing the loud banging of Conner getting his butt kicked.
When the newly made tunnel ended I saw what appeared to be a city made up of genomorphs, "Looks like Superboy found the missing genomorphs,"
'Cousin, please you've got to stop Superboy and the clone.' Dubbilex pleaded with me.
'I'm guessing this place is your doing.' I accused with no real heat to my thoughts, I didn't blame the dude, the genomorphs were given a raw deal no matter how you looked at it, he was about to speak but I ignored what he said as I spotted the now flying clone.
I jumped down and rushed towards Conner who looked like hammered shit, a slew of plans running through my head, many of them involved ways of killing her, a couple would lead to her being crippled, and one, just one involved being a bleeding heart like Dick.
Therapy is gonna have to explain why the devil and angel on my shoulders sound like Todd and Grayson.
The clone snarled when I appeared between her and Conner who was haggardly standing up as he fumbled with whatever that steel box was.
I placed a hand on Conner's chest, covering part of the symbol, and her face eased off from angry to confused.
"What the...?"
"Chill bud," I told Conner as I kept my eyes on the girl, she stepped forward into striking distance, and I decided to do something very stupid… I placed my hand on her chest… we all ignored the bad touch for the moment.
"We get it," I said softly and before she went off I continued, "We, the three of us, we're tools, made for destruction," I felt Conner move but for good measure I kept my hand firmly where it was, "but we don't have to be what they made us." I beamed at her with a soft and understanding smile, "We can be so much more."
Suddenly her face turned into a snarl and then we heard the rapid sounds of footsteps rushing towards us, Guardian alongside some armed guards appeared, with Doctor Spence and Wolf in tow, the latter of whom leapt forward bounding towards Conner.
Before she could react Superboy stepped forward almost protectively in front of the girl, I stepped in beside him, and thank fuck the girl didn't attack.
"You know when this place was discovered, you'd think the likes of Batman and Superman would use everything in their arsenal to gut this place." Guardian let out a snort but everything about him screamed pissed off.
"Believe me, they gave us the all clear, though I'm going to hazard a guess and suppose this place was shielded from Big Blue's x-ray because its lined with lead." He said as he gazed at Dubbilex.
Letting out a wince as I knew this would just get the genomorphs locked down under a tighter watch, I wanted to help out the genomorphs but what appeared to be the female clone of Superman took precedence.
"Help…?" Her voice was rough, probably from the lack of use beyond roaring.
"So she can talk." Conner said with a sigh, one that I matched. I talk a big game about being more, but here I am taking the easy road.
"Let's go." I told the two Kryptonians.
"You can't!" The doctor said as she kept a fearful gaze at the girl, "She's-"
"Coming with us," Conner grounded out.
"And who the fuck is going to stop us?"
I kept my gaze on Guardian, I knew next to nothing about the man other than he was tasked with being this facilities overseer, I didn't want to fight the man nonetheless and he knew he stood no chance against one of us let alone the three of us together, so he did the smart thing and told his men to stand down.
I leaned against the railing, watching the sun set, the amusement of Superman wearing an oversized hoodie with the bat-symbol on it quickly wore off as the Boy-Scout looked beyond rattled at the now-revealed full Kryptonian clone.
Baby and I gave Superboy and Wolf a lift away as the girl followed close, and I fired off a message to Batman, he and I haven't been talking but even still we had a means of communication if needed be, and this was as sure as hell one of those times.
Thankfully, girl-clone had some degree of control on her impulses as she didn't go ape shit when Big Blue and Batman touched down.
"You look well considering what you just fought?" Batman said as he stood next to me watching the scene play out, his pupiless eyes not showing the hundred miles per minute his mind is currently going at the discovery of girl-Conner, or is it girl-Clark?
"Eh, I had her on the ropes, but I got distracted." I admitted.
"You need to work on that, that's when you usually get hurt." He said without it sounding like he was chiding me, "So how did you pacify her?"
"Pulled a Nightwing."
"Punched her in the face?"
"What? No. I gave her a heartfelt talk," Not mentioning the touching, especially to B, "That's a Nightwing special."
Batman hummed in response, "I suppose now, yes."
"What does that mean?" I inquired as I leaned off the railing and gave Batman my full attention.
"Well back when they were Robin's, Nightwing was the renegade, and Red Hood was the stickler, sure there were times when they acted as they respectively do now but before they were quite the inverse."
The image of a dark and brooding Dick and a happy-go-lucky Jason popped into my head, and I did the only thing I could in response to such an image, I laughed till I nearly keeled over, and I swear when I got control over my breathing, I spotted a ghost of a smile on Batman's face.
"Fuck, I needed that… thanks."
Well, he's back to normal as Batman just grunted as he kept his gaze on the Kryptonians, "He's going to take her to his mother. Help her get situated" I'm guessing he read his lips or maybe they discussed the ramifications of two less-than-stable Kryptonians being in one place before they got here.
"He needs to stop being a bitch and take Superboy also." No one needed to remind me that they had great hearing, but nonetheless, we were treated by the sight of the three power-houses pausing mid-convo as soon as I finished speaking.
"I get it, and so do you." Batman accused with a soft tone, "You know Superman feels violated by this, not one, but two beings created under these circumstances."
"I do," I gritted out, "but it's not their fault," Not Conner's was the unspoken part.
Superman and the girl flew off, leaving Superboy behind.
"I'll give him a ride," Walking towards him I called for Baby, "I'll see you in Gotham." I said to the space where Batman was.
A/N - Published 2024/03/19
Yo, thanks to all for the support shown to this story.
My spin to the episode Agendas. I felt it would've ruined the flow of the chapter if I showed the whole Superboy meeting Luthor, and then Luthor somehow video calling or whatever he does in that episode to tell Superboy about the 'shields' and Match is a full blood opposed to Conner's half human mix.
In here, it went over before Superboy contacted Freak, though he wasn't given anytime to use it before Freak stopped the fight.
Bit of flight of fancy changing Match, to what essentially amounts to Kara, but hey this is fanfic, so in the end; ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
We see a bit of an insight to Batman at the beginning of this chapter. I cannot state it enough, different Batman from the Young Justice show. I mean don't get it wrong, still keeping secrets and whatnot but at the same time he cares, just crap at showing it to any of the clan.
Cut out of chapter below.
After Conner Confronts Luthor;
Connor stared out at the sinking horizon with an angry snarl on his face. So, nothing out of the norm for the half-Kyptonian.
I didn't say anything as I leaned against the railing beside him, "I'm his spawn." Connor spat in a low voice, a hint of self-pity in his voice.
"A shame." I said as I replied to Pam's message about dinner, hoping that my message came of more romantic as I tried to convince her to let me cook as her skills in the kitchen were… well it turns out that she really lived up to the poison in her name, "I hear that preventive treatments that would help with hair-loss though, I wonder if caffeine shampoo is a jip?"
Blue eyes focused on me with a glare.
"Dude." I said in a bland voice and cut off whatever his angry retort was going to be, "I'm me." I motioned to my whole body to drive in the point, "A half'n'half tank-bred weapon." His anger simmered as he nodded at what I was angling at, "One of my mothers is a literal demon from hell, and she's the more pleasant one."
"You've met the demon?" He inquired.
I shrugged my shoulders, it's not like Connor is the type to gab and gossip, and even if it let's slip that I've met Maze, so what?
"It's different for you," He grunted out.
What the… "How do you figure?"
He let out a sigh, "Do you remember when the training went wrong and Megan caused the Team to see things if the League were killed?" I gave him a flat look, so he continued without a verbal answer from me, "We saw you in the dream or whatever it was." He shook his head.
"So?" I shrugged.
"You were a symbol. A symbol of hope, all the while the team struggled."
Scoffing was the wrong thing to do apparently as Conner glared my way, "I'm not a symbol, certainly not for that, I'm a fuck up."
"To yourself maybe, but even to the team, trained by the best, designed to replace the best, we still see you as something more."
I didn't know what to say, so I just open my maw let out whatever what was coming out without thought, "I'm just trying to be me."
"Like I said, it's different for you," Conner said before walking off.