"Help! Get us out!" One of two scientists trapped on the second story call out.
"Stay calm, we will get you out." The fireman calls back using a megaphone.
An explosion goes off behind them and the force of it pushes the two out the window. Kid Flash zooms onto the scene, running up the wall getting both to the roof, but he's not fast enough to get there himself. He falls and manges to catch himself on the second story window ledge that the two scientists just fell from. It's what's-his-name, Flashboy!" The same firefighter yells, both glad to see him and proud at himself for seemingly getting it right.
"Kid Flash!" The speedster yells down. "Why is that so hard?" He wonders to himself
Robin and Aqualad finally arrive. "So smooth." The Boy Wonder says smugly.
"Does he always have to run ahead?" Aqualad murmurs, partially to himself and partially to Robin. "We need a plan. We-" he looks to talk to the younger boy, but finds the space beside him now empty. "Robin?" He looks around everywhere.
Robin's laugh echoes through the area, before he flips onto the back of the fire truck secured his grappling hook to the Tower Ladder and swinging onto the window ledge.
Landing with perfect balance, before helping Kid Flash up and into the building.
Aqualad runs up behind the truck, coming to the two men working the hose. "I need to borrow that." He tells them before they see him. Pulling out his Water-bearers, which causes his tattoos to glow, before they begin to redirect the flow of water. Creating a platform underneath his feet. He gets to the roof. "Step aboard Now." He tells the two scientists sternly.
They do without hesitation, but stumble until they both sit down. He steps onto the window ledge that the other two entered through then directs the water the rest of the way down. Ensuring that both scientists are safe.
As he jumps in, Kid Flash is going through file cabinets, while Robin is hacking the computer.
"Appreciate the help." He says sarcastically.
"You handled it." Robin says, still looking rather smug. "Besides we're here to investigate." Aqualad steps beyond the two, heading further into the building. "Poetic justice, remember?" As Aqualad steps beyond the desks, there is long hallway, with an elevator door closing. The only thing visible is the blue skin and ivory horn protruding from it's head.
The clang of the doors meets draws the attention of the other two. Bringing them right behind Aqualad. "There was something in the-" he cuts himself off, still not entirely sure of what he's seen.
"Elevators should be locked down." Kid Flash says, standing straight.
Robin grabs his elbow and shoulder before moving past him without a word, then slipping right of Aqualad. Coming to the area of the elevator, looking at with scrutiny. "This is wrong." He pulls up a holoscreen on his gauntlet. Giving him the specs of a Sliver Slip Express Elevator. Which is exactly what's in front of them. "This is a high-speed express elevator. It doesn't belong in a two-story building."
"Neither does what I saw." Aqualad states gravely, before forcing the doors open. As his strength is no longer need at full capacity he looks down the elevator shaft, which seems to go on forever.
Robin ducks under his arm, Keeling down to try and get a better look. "And that's why they need an express elevator." Then he stands, shooting his grappling hook into the top of the column. Once it sticks he jumps, letting himself fall. Aqualad and Kid Flash follow with almost no hesitance.
Robin watches as the level numbers run past him. Eyes widening as he pass SL22, SL23, SL34, and beginning to slow at SL25. Then he comes to a stop at SL26. "I'm at the end of the rope." He tells the two above him. They stop sliding down and let Robin jump to the narrow platform with this level's elevator doors. He makes it with ease, then moves left so Aqualad could make it. He does, then remains where he is and offers his hand to Kid Flash, who takes it and stands one the large segment of the platform with Aqualad. The Boy Wonder pulls up the system security. "Bypassing security." He waits as his five little Robin heads go from red to green. "There. Go."
Aqualad pries the door open. All three of them walking out.
"Welcome to Project Cadmus." Robin announces. Kid Flash smiles before bolting.
"Kid, wait!" Aqualad tries, but the speedster doesn't stop. The sounds of heavy footsteps in the hallway that cuts across the one he's running in forces him to skid. However, he can't stop in time, falling into the hallway as massive creatures that walk on all fours, but stand nearly as tall as the hallway walk down in two rows. He barely dodges the hand of the leader. Breathing a sigh of relief, then standing and running back arias where both Robin and Aqualad now stand shocked.
One growls at them, but there is also a smaller one on top of it's massive trunked head. The smaller one hisses and it's horns glow red as the larder one continues to walk away.
"No. Nothing odd going on here." Aqualad says sarcastically.
In a personal lab...
A scientist with a ponytail works on a pink mixture in a dish. Grabbing an eyedropper beside him. With the genetic markers displayed on his computer screen. Once he has the eyedropper he uses it to pick up the pink liquid. Within his room are other creatures, one looking like the one with glowing horns, and the other two seeming more insect-like. He allows one drop to fall into the test tube, that has what looks like water and a blue crystal inside it. As the pink liquid mixes with the clear liquid in the test tube the whole thing turns a glowing blue colour. Illuminating the man's glasses covered eyes and pale face.
The door behind him beeps, opening to reveal a man dressed in blue body armor covering his torso and thighs, silver shin guards and gloves, a gold emblem on his black belt and knees, then topping it all off with a golden helmet. "Dr Desmond." The man says.
He doesn't beyond that before Desmond speaks up, annoyed. "Tell me, Guardian, what part of no interruptions did you not understand?" He hits the 13 on a cylinder labeled PROJECT BLOCKBUSTER. Then placing the test tube within, filling the final open shot on the rack of six. It closes back up on it's own.
"A G-gnome on sublevel 26 report three intruders." Guardians speaks up anyway.
Desmond sighs through an oh as he steps back from his massive microscope. "Did I miss a perimeter breach alert?" He questions, already knowing the answer, and therefore talking condescendingly to Guardian.
"No." Guardian replies tensely.
"Then the G-gnome's confused." Desmond says his annoyance showing. "Whatever might occur in our faux lab above ground, the real Cadmus is most secure facility in DC." Then turns back to his microscope.
"My job to keep it that way." Guardian reminds him.
"Fine. Take a squad." Desmond says, unaware of the third person- well, rather a blue skinned anthropoid with ivory horns and darker blue skin on it's elbows. Guardians goes to attention for a moment and the anthropoid steps next to him. Revealing red eyes. Pointed ears, and two blue feelers falling from the jawline to its clavicle. "Might I recommend Guardian leave his G-gnome behind?" Both it and Guardian turn to look at the creature resting in his shoulder. "If violence should occur..."
"The little guy would be in my way." Guardian finishes for the anthropoid.
"No." Desmond snaps, stepping away from his microscope. Revealing a G-gnome on his table beside him. "The advantage of instant telepathic communication outweighs other concerns." He takes the creature's face in his hand. Massaging with his thumb and forefinger just behind the jaw, but before it's own pointed ears. As he releases it, the horns glow red, in response the one on Guardian's shoulder's own horns glow. Guardian turns in the direction of the anthropoid but doesn't look at it. His gaze far off. "I need my G-gnome with me at all times." His voice has gone monotonic, then he turns, bowing in Desmond's and putting his fisted hand over his heart. Then both walk out of Desmond's Lab.
The door's center before them goes from red to yellow to green before it fully unlocks. Kid Flash us waiting, while Robin is hacking, and Aqualad covers their six. As the door opens both Robin and Kid Flash look surprised. "Okay, I'm officially whelmed." Catching Aqualad's attention.
Within the room are towering rows of bug-like creatures, giving off electrical pulses that seem to then go through a generator in the wall before them, but nearly 20 feet off the ground.
"This is how they hide this massive underground facility from the world." Kid Flash realizes as they walk between the towering rows. "The real Cadmus isn't on the grid. It generates it's own power with these... things." Any excitement has left his tone. "Must be what they're bred for."
"Even the name is a clue." Aqualad agrees. "The Cadmus of myth created a new race by sowing dragon's teeth into the Earth."
"And this Cadmus creates new life too." Robin agrees stepping up to the computer nearest one of the rows of creatures. "Let's find out why." Then pulls out a connector from his gauntlet to connect him to the computer. A holoscreen appears and begins funneling the information. "They call them Genomorphs." Now he had Kid Flash and Aqualad's full attentions. As one appears on the entirety of the hologlove his eyes widen. "Whoa! Look at the stats on these things-super-strength, telepathy, razor claws. These are living weapons." Robin literally reels back in shock.
"They're engineering an army, but for who?" Kid Flash questions.
"Wait. There's something else." Robin says, as another batch of information comes through to his gauntlet. Aqualad now steps up behind Robin, looking over his shoulder. "Project Kr." He tries to start decrypting it.
"Ugh! The files triple encrypted. I-I can't-"
"Don't move!" Guardian calls now having a golden shield on his left forearm a squad of smaller. Genomorphs growling around him. These are longer Skinner, tailed and their four digits on their front paws and the three on their back are finished off with razor sharp claws. The Genomorphs 077s that Robin pulls stats on. Guardian stops short. "Wait, Robin, Aqualad, Kid Flash?"
"At least he got your name right." Robin teases, working on the Jr file behind Aqualad si Guardian can't see him.
"I know you." Aquaman speaks momentarily catching Robin's attention. "Guardian, a hero."
The hero stands tall. "I do my best."
"Then what are you doing here?" Kid Flash questions confused.
"I'm Chief of Security." Guardian responds. "You're trespassing, but we can call the Justice League, figure this out."
No one says anything for a tense moment, but everyone hears the beep from Robin's gauntlet that indicates his decryption process on Project Jr is complete.
"You think the League's gonna approve of you breeding weapons?" Kid Flash demands.
"Weapons?" Guardian questions, confused. "What are you-" Guardian's eyes go wide just before his G-gnome's horns begin to glow. "What have I-" He brings his head to his temple as it falls to his chest. "Ugh my hand." Finally he brings his hand away, but he glared hard at the protogés. "Take them down hard!" He tells the Genomorphs. Then points directly at the three teenagers. "No mercy."
With a growl the Genomorphs jump into action. Robin does so at the same time, getting in front of Kid Flash and Aqualad and dropping a smoke bomb. He shoots a grappling hook to the bottom of one of the support beams.
Kid Flash backs up as a Genomorphs slashes at his face. Dodging but just barely, before he walks on the wall and dived at the two with dual punches, then pushing off the opposite vertical support, executing an inverted flip and pushing off to kick on in the chest and back through the smoke.
Aqualad had on his shoulders slicing at his chest and gripping his head. He gets ahold of its arm and throws it off, combating the next one coming at him with a front kick to the chest as well. However, at his open and upguarded shoulder Guardian checks hum. Knocking him off his feet and into a crashing barrel roll, then into the plating under the insectoid Genomorphs. Guardian charges at him again. He stands and attempts a triple cross combo, but Guardian backs out of his range and when he's following through due to the power he put behind the punch, once again leaving his left shoulder open to Guardian. The older hero get a punch in on his face, then turns into an elbow that Aqualad barely manages to duck under. Then catch the attempted downward elbow after the dodged uppercut thanks to the shield on his left forearm. Aqualad's tattoos glow before electricity travels through the shield and into the hero, giving Aqualad the advantage and making him able to throw Guardian to the ground. The G-gnome falling off his shoulder. Kid Flash runs through the smoke and the two make their escape.
Outside the room, where the alarm is blaring, Robin is hacking into one of the ports. Aqualad and Kid Flash make it down the hallway from the growl Genomorphs, the younger speeding towards their fellow protogé. Aqualad chances a glance back, then follows as well.
Kid Flash skids to a stop and turns accusingly to the younger teen. "Way to be a teen player, Rob!"
"Weren't you right behind me?" He questions, surprised, but not stalling in his hacking of the elevator. It opens and the two dive in, turning and facing back down the hall as Aqualad continues to run from the Genomorphs, diving into the elevator and the door closes right behind him.
The numbers are going up, which means they're going deeper Underground. Aqualad is the first to voice not only concern. But also his dislike which is obvious in his harsh tone. "We're headed down?"
"Dude, out us up." Kid Flash makes his point by gesturing in that direction. Both older boys look at the Boy Wonder in tensed confusion.
"Excuse me?" Robin questions offended. "Project Kr, It's down on Sub-level 52."
Aqualad puts his arm between the two physically cutting off the conversation. "This is out of control." Then moves it to rub the back of his neck as he moved to the far side of the expansive elevator." Perhaps- perhaps we should contact the League
The elevator slows and finally comes to a stop with a ding at Sub-level 53. All three get in front of the door tensed for battle, but there's nothing there. Only hallways that look almost organic.
Robin sprints out, colourful Cape flying behind him, leaving Kid Flash to turn to Aqualad. "We are already here."
The eldest sighs in an effort to not get mad at the younger protogés. As he comes to be next to them his voice is tense. "Which way?"
Robin chuckles, trying to keep it light. "Yeah, bizarre-looking hallway one, or bizarre-hallway two?"
"Halt !" Is given out by the Anthropoid from before. His horns glow red and he lifts to cans telekinetically, then launching them at the teens. They dodge and Robin throws an disk at him which he stops. By the time he's prepared to attack them again they're running down the other hallway.
He stops and waits as Guardian and the other Genomorphs run out of the elevator. "They are headed for Project Kr." He tells Guardian. The force doesn't stop and continues down the path.
Further down a scientist opens the door from the inside. Walking out of the chamber. Kid Flash comes around the corner at high speeds and doesn't have a chance to stop before he takes out her feet knocking her to the ground. As he gets to his knees he hears the door s behind him closing and looks at the PROJECT KR label on it, and how much distance the other two teens have to cross before they get to it. He gets to his feet and picks up a large triangular prism shaped object. Dropping it to the floor and between the two flat segments of the door. He can already hear the door straining. "Hurry!"
He and Robin both jump through, but Aqualad takes a moment before he steps inside. Watching as Guardian and Genomorphs come around the corner, then kicks out the prop. Allowing the door to slam closed.
A few steps in Robin has the hologlove up again, and is hacking the door to engage the emergency lock." I disabled the door. We're safe." He tells the older boys.
"We're trapped." Aqualad says in a dark tone, then looks to Kid Flash who is in front of a large computer system deeper in the dark chamber.
"Uh, guys." He calls to the other two. "You'll want to see this." Hitting a single button to turn all the lights on the chamber and inside the pod in the center of the room. As it does all three of them can only stare in utter disbelief. "Whoa!" Is all that is managed by the Boy Wonder. Inside the pod is a boy with pitch black hair, pale skin and a white suit that had Superman's S on it. The letter's Kr written on the glass that keeps the teen within.
Kid Flash steps around the console, looking at the boy closer. "Big "K", little "r", the turns back towards the other two. "Clone?"
"Robin, hack." Aqualad commands.
It takes the caught-off-guard youngest a couple seconds to register what he was told to do. "Oh. Right, right." He plugs his connector into the console. As it asks for a password he begins the bypass program, which works and let's him in. Kid Flash walks back as he realizes Robin's got it. "Weapon Designation Superboy, a clone force-grown in... Sixteen weeks?!" His eyes popping in shock. "From DNA acquired from Superman.
"Stolen from Superman." Aqualad accuses.
"No way the big guy knows about this." Kid Flash agrees.
"Solar suit allows him to absorb yellow-sun radiation 24/7." Robin continues to read off.
"And these creatures?" Aqualad questions indicating to the ones on the projection off Robin's gauntlet.
"Genomorphs Gnomes, telepathic, force-feeding him an education." Robin relays sourly.
"And we can guess what else." Kid Flash says, capturing the attention of the other two.
"They're making slave out of well, Superman's son."
"Now we contact League." Aqualad says, and there's no objection, in fact as Aqualad reaches for his emblem, Kid Flash goes to his lighting bolts and Robin attempts it from his hologlove. All of them get nothing.
"No signal." Robin verifies.
"We're in too deep literally." Kid Flash says, knowing it's true in both senses.
On the other side of the door Guardian and the Genomorph squad stand ready, while the scientist attempts to manually cross the wires to force the door open. A panting Doctor Desmond and the Anthropoid approach, gaining Guardian's attention. "They're still in there with the weapon?" Desmond sounds accusatory in his words to Guardian.
"We can't get the door open." Guardian explains, not attempting to pin the blame on the female scientist who's working on the door.
"Use your telekinesis!" Desmond commands of the Anthropoid.
"I have tried to no avail." He responds simply.
"Useless! This is debacle." He seems to calm as he approaches Guardian. "Get some G-trolls down and muscle the door open now!"
Guardian puts his hands on his hips. "Already in their way." He says rightfully defensive.
"You realize once we get in there, we can't ever let them leave." Desmond says darkly.
"Doc, these aren't your typical meddling kids." Guardian tries to make the man see sense. "You don't want to get on the wrong side of the Justice League."
"Better than getting on the wrong side of the Cadmus Directors, believe me." He says darkly, then transfers the look to the G-gnome on Guardian's shoulder. "Contact the G-gnome inside Kr."
It's horns glow and it's seems to concentrate strongly to get through to them.
With success the horns of all three Genomorphs inside the pod being to hidden lightly and their horns glow red.
"This is wrong." Kid Flash finally says.
Robin needs no convincing. "We can't leave him like this." Both are now looking to a concentrating Aqualad. "Set him free." He decides, then turns to Robin. "Do it."
The Boy Wonder needs no further prodding and begins work on it immediately. All three watch as the pod falls away from the boy who looks physically 16. Though the pod is gone he remains calm.
Then his hand clenches causing worry to play on Aqualad's brow. As the G-gnomes begin to hidden again his bright blue eyes snap open. Aqualad raises his eyebrows in a silent question, but no one dares to actually speak. Before anyone can blink Superboy launches himself at Aqualad. Tackling him to the ground and leaving the other two to watch the movement in shock.
They tumble over each other twice, before Superboy ends up on top of Aqualad his fist coming back to hit him square in the face. He gets three full hits in before Kid Flash and Robin manage to grab his arms and hold him back slightly.
"Whoa! Hang on, Supey." Kid Flash tries, holding the Kryptonian's forearm with all his strength.
"We're on your side!" Robin also attempts to talk to the raging maniac. Kid Flash loses his fight against Superboy and gives the clone enough time to land an uppercut under the speedster's jaw. Knocking him up and back and through a display cylinder. Then on the back of his neck and flopping to the ground. Unconscious.
Robin now has his arms around Superboy's neck and the other in his Utility belt. "I don't want to do this." He tells him then places a smoke blaster to the clone's clavicle. Unleashing gas right into his face. Finally getting him to stumble back off of Aqualad. Which the Atlantean pairs with a solid sidekick to the stomach, which sends him into the console and to the ground before his pod.
Robin keeps going and pulls out a high-voltage taser. They pin to his chest and send high amounts electricity, but they have no effect. He grabs the wires and yanks on them. Catching the young teen by surprise and pulling him towards him with ease. Catching him on the front of his Cape then slamming him to the ground. As a final point he steps onto the smaller raven's chest. Beginning to force more weight onto his solar plexus.
Getting his head back on straight, and realising the immediate danger the one non-powered member of their group is in. Aqualad pulls out his Water-bearers, creating a massive hammer, swinging back and only catching the clone's attention with his cry of "Enough!" Which gave him no warning and let Aqualad hit him solidly and Knocking him back through the support of his pod. Aqualad helps Robin up to his, knees, but he's groaning and clutching his chest in pain. Until he finally falls into his back, unconscious.
Aqualad stands up as he hears Superboy's heavy footfalls coming back towards them. He stands tall and puts his hand out in the universal sigh to stop. "We are trying to help you."
The boy does stop moving, but doesn't stop glaring. In an instant, tries to punch Aqualad, buy he sidesteps and tackles the clone into the wall. While over him he tries a right-handed cross, but Superboy catches it, then unleashes a strong push front kick to his stomach. Knocking him away and forcing the Atlantean to roll to reduce the distance.
Aqualad dodges the obvious punch, countering with a roundhouse to the stomach, which causes his body to instinctively curl in on himself, then elbow him between the shoulders. He gets an uppercut to Superboy's chest before the clone tried for a hook punch, which he ducks under and gets s solid strike to the kidneys. Then Aqualad gets behind his turned under his arms and behind his head. Using his Atlantean powers to shock Superboy. It clearly hurts this time, and as he looks like he's about to go down the clone uses his super strength to throw both him and Aqualad into the ceiling. However, being on his back and the first to hit Aqualad takes the brunt of the hit. Yet, he doesn't let go so Superboy does it again. This time the Atlantean's grip breaks and he falls independently to the ground. Unconscious.
Superboy walks past his unconscious form and to the door. His hands break through the metal and he gets the door open with a slam, knocking it off it's rail. Gaining the full attention, albeit shocked, of Guardian, Desmond and the Anthropoid.
Desmond smirks, but days nothing as he walks past the clone. Observing the unconscious teen heroes within. "Attaboy." He finally says.