Independence Day. Samuel sat on the couch, his eyes fixed on the television. The news was showing teenage heroes emerging from the rubble of Cadmus Labs. There were four of them: Robin, whom Samuel recognized; a kid in a yellow costume similar to the Flash's; another in red, with gills and an Atlantean physique; and finally, one who looked a lot like Superman.

M'gann sat nearby, also watching the broadcast. They hadn't spoken much since they met. Though Samuel occasionally served her meals, he kept things distant, making it hard for M'gann to strike up a conversation. She stayed in her corner, but the silence was starting to feel heavier. She knew she had to say something.

"So... maybe they're the ones who'll be working with us!" M'gann said, trying to sound upbeat. She pointed at the screen, where the young heroes were now standing with the Justice League. Samuel turned to her, his expression unreadable.

Realizing she might've jumped the gun, M'gann quickly corrected herself. "I mean, with me. They might work with me."

Samuel's gaze lingered on her for a moment before he gave a small nod, acknowledging her words but saying nothing more.

M'gann bit her lip, feeling the tension. She needed to find a way to connect, to repay his kindness in some way. She took a breath and decided to try again.

"So, um... is there anything you're curious about? Anything you want to know about me? Or maybe something I should know about you?" she asked, her voice softer, hoping to open a dialogue.

Samuel remained silent for a few seconds, as if weighing whether to respond. Finally, he looked at her and asked, his voice calm and direct, "Why do you take that specific form? A teenage human female. You're a Martian, a shapeshifter. Isn't your true form something else? Is there a reason you need to look like this specific person? Even down to the freckles? Who is that person in the first place?"

M'gann blinked, taken aback by the question. She hadn't expected him to ask that specific question she wanted to avoid. A bit of embarrassment crept into her expression as she struggled to find the right words.

"Oh, um..." M'gann stammered, clearly flustered. "Maybe... maybe we can talk about something else?"

Samuel didn't press further, simply nodding and returning his gaze to the television. M'gann glanced at him, her mind racing with thoughts and emotions she hadn't expected to confront.

Once again, the two sat in the cold silence of the cave. M'gann kept trying to engage Samuel in conversation, but no matter what she tried, he cut her off with a simple nod or a curt answer. And the few questions he did ask were challenging, leaving her unsure how to respond.

The uncomfortable quiet was suddenly broken when a holographic screen materialized in the middle of the living room, displaying Batman's stern face.

"...I see you two have been watching the news," Batman said, his voice low and steady.

"Batman!" M'gann exclaimed, relief washing over her. She was surprisingly grateful to see the Dark Knight, even though he wasn't exactly the social type. Right now, she would have welcomed any distraction to avoid the awkward situation with Samuel.

Samuel acknowledged Batman with a glance but remained silent, his attention still on the screen.

"Those four," Batman continued, referring to the young heroes on the news, "and Miss Martian will join together to form a team. A covert team that will handle the missions the League can't publicly focus on."

M'gann immediately transformed her clothes into her uniform, excitement evident in her demeanor. Samuel, however, remained unmoved, returning to watching the news as if Batman's words didn't concern him.

"And Samuel," Batman added, turning his gaze to him, "you'll be the spectator of the team."

"...?" Samuel stared at Batman, his eyes filled with questions.

"Since you're here to learn to control your powers and for protection," Batman explained, "you'll observe how others use their abilities and learn how to protect yourself. You're not officially part of the team, and you don't have to participate in any missions. All you need to do is watch. Any questions?"

Samuel's eyes narrowed slightly. "So, you're planning to use kids as your pawns."

Batman paused, his expression unreadable. "...This is about giving them a chance to grow, to learn how to handle their abilities responsibly. They're not pawns, Samuel. They're here to be guided, just as you are."

Samuel's gaze remained fixed on Batman, unflinching. He didn't argue further, but his silence spoke volumes. After a moment, he simply nodded, signaling the end of the conversation.

Batman's hologram faded, leaving the room in its familiar quiet. M'gann looked at Samuel, unsure what to say, but Samuel had already turned back to the news. After all, there was nothing he could do.

Four days later, the cave was bustling with activity. The young heroes Batman had spoken of finally arrived, accompanied by several members of the Justice League. Green Lantern, Black Canary, and Red Tornado were there, helping to organize and upgrade the cave's facilities. The atmosphere was charged with anticipation, but Samuel did his best to stay out of sight, keeping to the shadows.

Despite his efforts, Martian Manhunter inevitably found him. Samuel knew it was pointless to hide from someone with telepathic abilities, so he reluctantly followed, standing silently beside Batman as the Dark Knight addressed the four new arrivals. M'gann stood nearby, practically vibrating with excitement, though she kept herself hidden from view, waiting for her introduction.

Batman addressed the young heroes in his usual commanding tone. "This cave was the original secret sanctuary of the Justice League. We're calling it into service again. Since you four are determined to stay together and fight the good fight, you'll do it on League terms."

He paused, then walked over to where Black Canary and Red Tornado stood. "Red Tornado has volunteered to live here and be your supervisor. Black Canary is in charge of training. I will deploy you on missions."

Robin, whom Samuel recognized from previous encounters, eagerly asked, "Real missions?"

"Yes," Batman confirmed. "But covert."

Before anyone could react, Flash appeared in a blur, zipping into the cave with his usual energy. He quickly explained that the Justice League would handle the public-facing battles since they had "big targets on their chests," or something along those lines. Samuel tuned out the rest, finding the entire situation tedious. His mind began to wander, pondering his own philosophical questions, until Batman's voice brought him back to the present.

"This is Martian Manhunter's niece," Batman said, gesturing to M'gann, who stepped forward with a broad smile. "And this is... Samuel. Your spectator. He won't be a main part of the team, but he will stay here at the cave and observe your activities."

Samuel stood still as the four young heroes turned to look at him and M'gann—though their attention was mostly on M'gann.

"Liking this gig more every minute," the one in the yellow costume quipped, nudging Robin with a grin. In a flash, he zoomed right in front of M'gann, his eyes wide with admiration. "Uh, welcome aboard. I'm Kid Flash. That's Robin and Aqualad. It's cool if you forget their names."

"I'm honored to be included," M'gann responded, her smile warm and genuine.

Samuel, seeing that the focus had shifted to M'gann, began to quietly back away, hoping to slip off and retrieve one of his books. Before he could make his escape, he felt a firm hand on his shoulder. He turned to see the Atlantean, Aqualad, looking at him with a calm, kind expression.

"You're also part of this team, right? My name is Aqualad," he said, his voice steady and inviting.

Samuel paused, meeting Aqualad's gaze with an emotionless stare. Then, in his usual terse manner, he replied, "...No."

Aqualad raised an eyebrow, slightly taken aback, but didn't push further. Samuel took the opportunity to step back, distancing himself from the group. He wasn't here to be part of their team, and he had no intention of becoming involved in their dynamics. Observing was one thing; participating was another matter entirely.

As the others continued their introductions and excited chatter, Samuel quietly slipped away, heading toward the corner of the cave where he had left his books. He wasn't sure how long he'd have to endure this situation, but for now, he could at least find solace in the pages of his reading.

In the days that followed, new residents were added to the cave. One was Red Tornado, an android hero with the ability to create tornadoes and control air. Samuel found him to be an ideal housemate—quiet, apathetic, and only interacting with Samuel when absolutely necessary.

The other new resident was equally silent. Superboy, a clone of Superman, had been rescued from Cadmus Labs by the young heroes.

"..."

"..."

Samuel was aware of Superboy's identity, confirmed by the status screen that appeared whenever he focused on someone. The screen showed his name as Superboy, along with his stats, which were notably impressive—especially his attack stats, which were far higher than anyone else's on the team.

Name: Superboy
Type: Normal, Fighting
Level: 25
Ability: Pure Power - The person doubles his attack stats.

The ability caught Samuel's interest; it was one of the most powerful he'd seen. Yet, what intrigued him more was Superboy's low special attack stat. Given Superman's ability to shoot laser beams from his eyes, Samuel found it curious that Superboy didn't have a higher special attack.

"...You got business with me?" Superboy asked gruffly, noticing Samuel had been staring at him for a while.

"...No," Samuel replied, his tone flat.

Superboy's eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn't push further. Samuel, sensing the conversation was over, turned and walked away. Their interactions were minimal, with both preferring silence over small talk. This only added to M'gann's discomfort, as none of the three residents showed much interest in social activities.

M'gann often found herself alone in her efforts to foster some sense of camaraderie. But between Samuel's apathy, Superboy's stoic demeanor, and Red Tornado's literal lack of emotion, the cave remained a quiet and solitary place—a far cry from the bustling team environment she had imagined.

The other teammates usually didn't stay long. They were eager for a mission from Batman, but he had yet to assign any. Growing restless, they often left the cave to engage in vigilante work on their own, without permission.

Recognize. Robin: B-0-1, Kid Flash: B-0-3.

Today, however, was different. All team members were scheduled to be in the cave at once. With little choice, Samuel sat on a metallic chair near the holoscreen. While the others—like Miss Martian and Aqualad—welcomed their teammates as they arrived through the Zeta Tube, Samuel and Superboy maintained their usual silence.

"Did you ask him?" Robin said as he approached Aqualad, while Kid Flash immediately zipped over to greet M'gann.

"He is arriving now," Aqualad replied with a nod. Samuel recalled Aqualad requesting Red Tornado to meet them at the base entrance, likely in an attempt to secure a mission since Batman seemed to be paying little attention to this team at the moment.

"Then what are we waiting for?" Kid Flash said, his excitement evident as he ran straight toward the base entrance. Aqualad and Robin quickly followed, with M'gann smiling at Superboy and Samuel before flying after them. Superboy, arms crossed, reluctantly headed toward the entrance as well.

Samuel watched them for a moment. He had little interest in whatever the young heroes were up to, but he knew that not following might cause friction. While he didn't particularly care about their approval, the potential annoyance of being excluded or questioned was enough to make him decide to go along.

Outside was sunny and calm, without a strand of cloud in the sky. And soon, with a large sound of a whirlwind, the Red Tornado appeared from the sky.

Name: Red Tornado
Type: Flying, Metal
Level: 53
Ability: Wind Rider

Red Tornado had the most interesting status screen Samuel had ever seen. While most people only had Normal and Fighting types, Red Tornado's android nature granted him completely different types.

When the android landed on the ground, his demeanor was as direct as always. "Greetings. Is there a reason you intercepted me outside the cave?" he asked, getting straight to the point.

"We were hoping you had a mission for us," Aqualad replied, his tone reflecting the collective impatience of the group. But Red Tornado didn't seem to grasp the young sidekick's eagerness to prove themselves.

"Mission assignments are Batman's responsibility," he stated matter-of-factly.

"It's been over a week and..." Robin began, frustration evident in his voice, but Red Tornado quickly cut him off.

"You will be tested soon enough. For now, focus on enjoying each other's company."

"This team is not a social club," Aqualad responded, his tone disapproving.

"No. But I have been informed that social interaction is an important team-building exercise. Perhaps you can keep busy by familiarizing yourselves with the cave," Red Tornado suggested, his voice calm and unyielding, offering no room for further argument.

Red Tornado, after delivering his pragmatic advice, turned and headed back into the cave, leaving the young team members standing in mild frustration.

Kid Flash was the first to break the silence, his voice laced with annoyance. "This is ridiculous! We've been here for over a week, and we still haven't gotten a real mission. What are we supposed to do? Just sit around and twiddle our thumbs?"

Robin nodded in agreement, his expression reflecting the same impatience. "Yeah, we're ready. We've trained for this. But it feels like they're just keeping us on the sidelines."

Aqualad, ever the voice of reason, sighed and added, "It does feel like we're not being taken seriously. We want to prove ourselves, but it seems the League isn't ready to let us."

Miss Martian, trying to lift the mood, suggested with a hopeful smile, "Since Superboy, Samuel, and I have been living here, we can show you guys around the cave. It'll help us get more familiar with the place as a team."

Samuel, who had been silently enduring the conversation, felt a wave of exhaustion at the mere thought of leading a tour. He turned to leave, hoping to slip away unnoticed and avoid the impending group activity.

But before he could escape, Aqualad caught him by the shoulder. "Team building, Samuel," he said firmly. "We all go."

Samuel paused, his shoulders sagging slightly in resignation. He glanced at Aqualad, recognizing the determined look in his eyes. It was clear there was no getting out of this. With a resigned sigh, he nodded, signaling his reluctant acceptance.

The group, now all together, began their tour of the cave, with Samuel trailing behind, quietly hoping the experience would be over soon.