Indigo Lantern

Some jerk decided today was the day he just had to pick a fight with Green Lantern. Icicle Sr can be very ridiculous. Why today of all days? I am distracting Icicle while Hal goes behind him, knocking him out and we hand him over to the cops. Hal: “Are you ready for today?” Indigo: “I’ve been waiting so long for this. I’m so nervicited.” I can’t help but be a bit bouncy, making Hal chuckle. Hal: “Let’s go meet the others then.” Indigo: “Finally!” We fly off to the Hall of Justice where we find many people waiting for us. We land beside the group of heroes that are involved with today; Batman, Robin, Green Arrow, Speedy, Aquaman, and Aqualad. Indigo: “We finally made it.” Hal: “It’s exciting right.” Indigo: “Totally nerviciting. Don’t you feel it?” Hal: “I did, a long time ago.” Batman: “Today is the day.” Green Arrow: “Welcome to the Hall of Justice.” Aquaman: “Headquarters of the Justice League.” Kid Flash: “Aw, man. I knew we’d be the last ones here.” We all turn around to see Flash and Kid Flash arrive. Indigo: “At least it hasn’t started yet.” The ten of us make our way into the building, walking through the path between the crowd that is so excited to witness this moment. Green Arrow: “Ready to see the inner sanctum?” Speedy: “Born that way.” Aqualad: “I’m glad we’re all here.” Kid Flash: “Have all five sidekicks ever been in the same place at the same time?” Speedy: “Don’t call us sidekicks, not after today.” Kid Flash: “Sorry. First time at the Hall. I’m a little overwhelmed.” Robin: “You’re overwhelmed, Freeze was underwhelmed. Why isn’t anyone ever just whelmed?” Indigo: “It’s too big of a moment to be just whelmed.” We stop at the sight of the statues of the founding members of the Justice League. Robin: “Oh, maybe that’s why.” As we approach the door, it opens to reveal Martian Manhunter and Red Tornado. Manhunter: “Robin, Speedy, Aqualad, Kid Flash, Indigo Lantern. Welcome.” He turns around and leads us into the inner sanctum while Robin and Kid Flash fist bump. Manhunter: “You now have unlimited access to the gym, our fully stocked galley, and of course, our library.” Flash: “Make yourselves at home.” Robin, Aqualad, and Kid Flash sit in the chairs while I sit in the air beside Speedy who chose to stand as our partners stand in a circle to talk to each other in front of us. Batman: “Quick debrief to discuss the coincidence of five ice villains attacking on the same day. We shouldn’t be long.” They stand before the zeta-beam scanner as it scans each of them. Zeta-Beam: “Recognized. Batman, 02. Aquaman, 06. Flash, 04. Green Arrow, 08. Green Lantern, 05. Martian Manhunter, 07. Red Tornado, 16.” The other door opens, allowing them to enter, leaving me confused along with the others. Speedy storms toward them while we stay back. Speedy: “That’s it? You promised us a real look inside, not a glorified backstage pass.” Aquaman: “It’s a first step. You’ve been granted access few others get.” Speedy: “Oh, really?” He points at the glass where civilians are taking pictures of all of us. Speedy: “Who cares which side of the glass we’re on?” Green Arrow: “Roy, you just need to be patient.” Speedy: “What I need is respect.” He turns to the four of us and I’m starting to shake from the rage I can feel radiating from him. Speedy: “They’re treating us like kids. Worse, like sidekicks. We deserve better than this.” Robin, Kid Flash, and Aqualad look confused between each other and back at him while I’m trying to keep my powers under control, taking deep breaths. Speedy: “You’re kidding, right? You’re playing their game? Why? Today was supposed to be the day. Step one in becoming full-fledged members of the League.” Kid Flash: “Well, sure, but I thought step one was a tour of the HQ.” Speedy: “Except the Hall isn’t the League’s real HQ.” The three of them are shocked while I already knew and completely understand Roy’s rage. I’m just struggling to keep myself from shaking too much. Speedy: “I bet they never told you, it’s just a false front for tourists and a pit stop for catching Zeta-Beam teleporter tubes to the real thing, an orbiting satellite called the Watchtower.” I timidly respond. Indigo: “I knew already. I’ve seen the Watchtower on my return from the Indigo Tribe. I haven’t been inside it, though. I thought you guys knew about it.” Green Arrow and Green Lantern look back at Batman who seems very unhappy with them. Green Arrow: “I know, I know, but I thought maybe we could make an exception. [Batman gives him a glare.] Or not.” Hal: “I couldn’t exactly not tell her about it when she has to fly right past it.” Aquaman: “You are not helping your cause here, son. Stand down or-” Speedy: “Or what? You’ll send me to my room? And I’m not your son. I’m not even his. I thought I was his partner. But not anymore.” He throws his hat onto the floor, shocking all of us. He turns and starts to leave, only looking at the four of us. Speedy: “Guess they’re right about you four. You’re not ready.” The three boys stand up and I quickly fly in front of him, blocking his path, making him glare at me. Indigo: “Wait, Roy, I know you’re upset, but can’t you just-” Speedy: “Get out of my way, Erica.” His response shocks me to my very core and I let him move around me to leave. Once he is out of the room, an alert sounds through the hall and Superman appears on a big screen. Superman: “Superman to Justice League, there’s been an explosion at Project Cadmus. It’s on fire.” Batman: “I’ve had my suspicions about Cadmus. This may present the perfect opportunity to--” Another alert cuts him off. Zatara: “Zatara to Justice League, the sorcerer, Wotan, is using the amulet of Attan to blot out the sun. Requesting full League response.” Batman: “Superman?” Superman: “It’s a small fire. Local authorities have it under control.” Batman: “Then Cadmus can wait. [he presses a button on the panel] All Leaguers rendezvous at Zatara’s coordinates.” The four of us walk up behind them. Batman turns to us. Batman: “Stay put.” Robin: “What? Why?” Aquaman: “This is a League mission.” Flash: “You’re not trained.” Kid Flash: “Since when?” Flash: “I meant you’re not trained to work as part of this team.” Aquaman: “There will be other missions, when you’re ready.” Batman: “But for now, stay put.” I make eye contact with Hal Jordan and he mouths ‘sorry’ at me before leaving with the Justice League. Green Arrow: “Glad you didn’t bring you know who?” Martian Manhunter: “Indeed.” They all leave, leaving the four of us frustrated. Kid Flash: “Uh, when we’re ready? How are we ever supposed to be ready when they treat us like, like sidekicks?” He angrily paces. Aqualad: “My mentor, my king. I thought he trusted me.” Kid Flash: “Trust? They don’t even trust us with the basics. They’ve got a secret HQ in space.” He’s angry while Aqualad and I are clearly upset about our own mentors. Indigo: “I thought they were bringing us up to the Watchtower through the Zeta-beam here for the public. I had no idea we weren’t actually going up.” Aqualad: “What else aren’t they telling us?” Robin sighs. Robin: “I have a better question. Why didn’t we leave with Speedy?” I look at the ground, upset I let Speedy leave and didn’t go with him. Aqualad: “What is Project Cadmus?” Robin: “I don’t know, but I can find out.” Robin smirks and walks over to the computer. We follow him, watching what he does. Automated: “Access Denied.” Robin chuckles. Robin: “Wanna bet?” Some coding appears on the screen as he types on the keyboard. Kid Flash: “Whoa. How are you doing that?” Indigo: “It looks so complicated.” Robin: “Same system as the Batcave.” Automated: “Access granted.” Robin: “Alright, Project Cadmus, genetics lab here in DC. That’s all there is, but if Batman’s suspicious maybe we should investigate.” Aqualad: “Solve their case before they do. It would be poetic justice.” Robin: “Hey, they’re all about justice.” Indigo: “I’d love to know what kind of genetics they are working with to make Batman so suspicious.” Aqualad sighs. Aqualad: “But they said stay put.” Robin: “For the blotting out the sun mission, not for this.” Indigo: “Technically we wouldn’t be breaking their rules.” Kid Flash: “Wait, a-are you going to Cadmus? Because if you’re going, I’m going.” The three of us smile and look at Aqualad. Aqualad: “Just like that we’re a team on a mission?” Robin: “We didn’t come for a play date.” Indigo: “We came to be part of a team.”