Chapter Four
1911 Words
We wake up to find we are still in the same situation, however, the genomorphs and Guardian are no longer hostile.
Guardian: “Feels like… fog…lifting.”
We look at him, warily.
Aqualad: “Guardian?”
Guardian: “Go. I’ll deal with Desmond.”
Desmond: “I think not.”
The genomorphs part and we find Dr Desmond standing behind Guardian.
Desmond: “Project Blockbuster will give me the power to restore order to Cadmus.”
He holds up a vial and drinks all of it before he starts groaning in pain and his body mutates.
Indigo: “We should really start moving guys.”
Dr Desmond looks like an absolute abomination now and he has fixed his beady red eyes on us.
Guardian: “Everyone back!”
He runs at Dr Desmond, but gets slapped into the wall so easily. Superboy jumps into attack mode, punching Desmond right in the face. Desmond barely bats an eye as he smacks Superboy down. The two exchange blows until finally Superboy leaps toward him and Desmond leaps up, bursting through the ceiling, leaving us behind to watch.
Robin: “Okay, that’s one way to bust through the ceiling.”
I make a platform under the four of us, lifting us up to the next floor.
Kid Flash: “You think Lab Coat planned that?”
Aqualad: “I doubt he is planning anything anymore.”
Indigo: “In any case, we should catch up and help Superboy.”
We arrive to find Desmond treating Superboy like a ragdoll, surprising all of us. He throws Superboy at us and the three of them hop off my platform, allowing me to make a giant hand to catch Superboy, placing him beside us. The five of us prepare ourselves and when Desmond roars as he jumps toward us, we launch our counterstrike.
Kid Flash ducks under him, leaving Desmond open for Superboy and Aqualad to land a punch to the face and making him trip over Kid Flash. Robin leaps over Kid Flash, using some bird-arangs to attack. I try to keep my distance as I shoot energy bullets at Desmond to keep his focus on me so the others can do their thing.
Superboy moves in, but Desmond smashes him into a pillar. Aqualad and I try to move in to help him, but Desmond grabs the mace that Aqualad made and throws him into me, knocking us both to the ground. I try to get up, but my head is fuzzy from the knock down and I look up to see Kid Flash being lifted into the air. Aqualad tries to attack, but Desmond hits him with Kid Flash, knocking them through a pillar.
Robin: “KF, Indigo, get over here!”
I fly over with Kid Flash and Robin shows us a holographic diagram of the structural integrity of the ceiling if we knock out the pillars.
Robin: “Got it?”
Kid Flash: “Got it.”
Indigo: “Yup.”
Robin: “Go.”
Kid Flash runs after Desmond, punching him in the face so he drops Superboy and goes after him instead. I make a hammer and knock out a pillar while Robin runs over to Superboy and Aqualad, telling them the plan. Desmond tries to punch Kid Flash, but hits the pillar instead. I was gonna go for the pillar, but Desmond punches Kid Flash in the back, flying him across the room, so I catch him instead. Desmond runs at us and we separate so he breaks part of a pillar instead while Aqualad and Superboy do the same to two others.
Aqualad puts water across the ground where Robin made an X with chalk. Kid Flash leads Desmond to the water, skidding across it and while Desmond is off balance, Superboy punches him in the chin, knocking him to the ground. I make restraints around his limbs so he can’t avoid the electric shock attack from Aqualad. It works long enough for Robin to blow the birdarang bombs he planted on the pillars. We quickly huddle up as they explode, bringing the entire building down, while I make an energy sphere to protect us. Once the ground stops shaking, I shoot the debris away from us. We’re all pretty beat up as we emerge from the rubble, exhausted.
Aqualad: “We…Did it.”
Robin: “Was there…ever any doubt?”
Robin & Kid Flash fist bump before groaning and holding their hands in pain. I float over to them, healing them with my ring.
Indigo: “This should help.”
Robin: “Thanks.”
Kid Flash: “You’re awesome, Indigo.”
I giggle at his excitement, despite being hurt.
Indigo: “Thank you, Kid. I just hope you guys feel better.”
I turn to Aqualad.
Indigo: “Hey, Aqualad, you’re next.”
He nods as I heal him up.
Aqualad: “You have my gratitude, Indigo.”
Indigo: “You’re welcome.”
I walk over to Superboy, who is staring at Desmond’s unconscious form halfway under the rubble.
Indigo: “Superboy, are you hurt at all?”
Superboy: “I’m fine.”
I nod and use my ring to move the rubble off of Desmond and make a sphere around him, putting all of my energy into it so it won’t be so easy to break.
Kid Flash: “See? The moon.”
I watch as Superboy looks up at the moon, so amazed. Even as Superman appears in front of it.
Kid Flash: “Oh, and Superman. Do we keep our promises or what?”
We watch as the rest of the Justice League comes down from the sky along with Superman, surrounding us. The entire League is looking at us, with looks of accusatory questioning. Superboy takes a few steps toward Superman and lifts his ripped outfit to show him the Superman’s emblem of hope. This shocks everyone and who could blame them. The only reason we know is because we investigated CADMUS. Batman stands beside Superman.
Batman: “Is that what I think it is?”
Kid Flash stands beside Superboy and warns Batman.
Kid Flash: “He doesn’t like being called an it.”
Superboy doesn’t look pleased.
Superboy: “I’m Superman’s clone.”
His statement shocks everyone and Batman narrows his eyes at all of us .
Batman: “Start talking.”
Once we’ve told them everything we know, John Stewart takes over holding Desmond in his sphere, before taking off with him in custody and three others along with him. The League is talking over what to do while the five of us stand together, waiting for their response.
Indigo: “You’d think they would know Superboy can hear everything they’re saying.”
Robin nods to my words. At least Superman’s conversation with Martian Manhunter and Wonder Woman is through Martian Manhunter’s telepathic link, although that’s nerve wracking.
Kid Flash: “Do they always have to be like this?”
I try to push out the mayhem of energy I’m feeling all around me.
Indigo: “I hope not. I get the feeling I should’ve gone with John. What if Desmond wakes up?”
Aqualad puts a hand on my shoulder, trying to reassure me.
Aqualad: “It can wait. He went with Captain Atom, Hawkman, and Hawkgirl. They’ve faced a lot tougher than Desmond.”
I nod at his words.
Indigo: “You’re right. If it wasn’t for them I wouldn't even be here.”
Robin was going to say something, but hesitates as Superman approaches Superboy while sighing.
Superman: “We’ll, uh, we’ll figure something out for you. The League will, I mean. For now, I’d better make sure they get that Blockbuster creature squared away.”
We watch as Superman flies away, leaving us with a frustrated Superboy. I’m sure that’s not what he wanted to hear and his emotions are so strong, I’m feeling very overwhelmed from his emotions alone.
Batman, Flash, Aquaman, and Hal Jordan approach us.
Batman: “CADMUS will be investigated, all 52 levels. But let’s make one thing clear--”
Flash interrupts him, getting impatient.
Flash: “You should’ve called.”
That makes me want to roll my eyes, since we did try, but I restrain myself.
Batman: “End result aside, we are not happy. You hacked Justice League systems, disobeyed direct orders, and endangered lives. You will not be doing this again.”
Aqualad stands up for us.
Aqualad: “I am sorry, but we will.”
Aquaman: “Aqualad, stand down.”
Aqualad puts a hand on his chest.
Aqualad: “Apologies, my king, but no. We did good work here tonight. The work you trained us to do. Together on our own we forged something powerful, important.”
Flash: “If this is about your treatment at the hall, the four of you--”
Kid Flash interrupts him.
Kid Flash: “The five of us, and it’s not.”
Robin: “Batman, we’re ready to use what you taught us, or why teach us at all?”
I join in, looking Hal right in the eyes.
Indigo: “We’re not helpless children anymore and you’ve taught us well.”
Superboy: “Why let them tell us what to do? It’s simple. Get on board or get out of the way.”
The five of us stand confidently together.
Hal: “Looks like we have a decision to make.”
The next morning, Hal called me to meet with him and we used a zeta beam to get to Mount Justice, where we meet up with the others from last night's group and a couple members of the League. I join the boys, in our civilian clothes, in front of the League.
Batman: “This cave was the original secret sanctuary of the Justice League. We’re calling it into service again. Since you five are determined to stay together, and fight the good fight, you’ll do it on League terms. Red Tornado volunteered to live here and be your supervisor. Black Canary’s in charge of training. I will deploy you on missions.”
Robin: “Real missions?”
Batman: “Yes, but covert.”
Flash: “The League will still handle the obvious stuff. There’s a reason we have these big targets on our chests.”
Aquaman: “But Cadmus proves the bad guys are getting smarter. Batman needs a team that can operate on the sly.”
Hal: “The six of you will be that team.”
Robin: “Cool! Wait. Six?”
Batman looks at something behind us and we turn around to see a green girl wearing a similar outfit as Martian Manhunter, coming forward with him.
Batman: “This is the Martian Manhunter’s niece, Miss Martian.”
Miss Martian: “Hi.”
She waves to us.
Kid Flash: “Liking this gig more every minute. Uh, welcome aboard. I’m Kid Flash. That’s Robin, Aqualad, Indigo. It’s cool if you forget their names.”
Miss Martian: “I’m honored to be included.”
We walk over to greet her, not realizing Superboy didn’t come with us.
Robin: “Hey, Superboy. Come meet Miss M.”
As he joins us, Miss M changes her shirt from white to black.
Miss Martian: “I like your t-shirt.”
He smiles and I giggle because of how cute the two of them are.
Aqualad: “Today is the day.”
Indigo: “We’re finally an official team.”
- Writer
