Cadmus 5
Kid Flash steps around the console, looking at the boy closer. "Big 'K,' little 'r,' the atomic symbol for Krypton," he turns back towards the other two. "Clone?"
"Robin, hack," Aqualad commands.
It takes the caught-off-guard youngest a couple of 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 lets 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 the ones on the projection off of Robin's gauntlet.
"Genomorph 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 a slave out of, well, Superman's son."
"Now we contact the League," Aqualad says, and there's no objection. In fact, as Aqualad reaches for his emblem, Kid Flash goes to his lightning 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 towards Guardian.
"We can't get the door open," Guardian explains, not attempting to blame the female scientist who's working on the door.
"Use your telekinesis!" Desmond commands the Anthropoid.
"I have tried to no avail," he responds simply.
"Useless! This is a debacle," Desmond remarks, seeming 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 on their way," he says defensively.
"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 his gaze to the G-gnome on Guardian's shoulder. "Contact the G-gnomes inside Kr."
Its horns glow, and it seems to concentrate intensely on getting through to them. With success, the horns of all three Genomorphs inside the pod begin to hiss 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 of them now turn to a focused Aqualad. "Set him free," he decides, then turns to Robin. "Do it."
The Boy Wonder needs no further prodding and immediately begins working on it. All three watch as the pod falls away from the boy, who appears to be 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 hiss 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 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, gripping 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, giving the clone enough time to land an uppercut under the speedster's jaw, knocking him back and sending him crashing through a display cylinder. Then Superboy strikes the back of Kid Flash's neck, causing him to flop to the ground, unconscious.
Robin now has his arm around Superboy's neck and the other hand 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 directly into his face. Finally, Superboy stumbles back and releases Aqualad, who pairs the moment with a solid sidekick to the stomach, sending him into the console and to the ground near his pod.
Robin doesn't let up and pulls out a high-voltage taser. They pin it to Superboy's chest and deliver a high amount of electricity, but it has no effect. Robin grabs the wires and yanks on them, catching the young teen by surprise and pulling him towards him effortlessly. He catches him on the front of his cape and slams him to the ground. As a final measure, Robin steps onto Superboy's chest, applying more weight to his solar plexus.
Realizing the immediate danger the one non-powered member of their group is in, Aqualad gets his head back on straight. He pulls out his WaterBearers, creating a massive hammer, swings back, and catches Superboy's attention with his cry of "Enough!" Without warning, Aqualad hits Superboy solidly, 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. Eventually, Robin falls onto his back, unconscious.
Aqualad stands up as he hears Superboy's heavy footfalls approaching them again. He stands tall and puts his hand out in the universal sign to stop. "We are trying to help you."
The boy stops moving but continues glaring at Aqualad. In an instant, he tries to punch Aqualad, but the Atlantean sidesteps and tackles the clone into the wall. While positioned over him, Aqualad attempts a right-handed cross, but Superboy catches his arm and counters with a strong push front kick to Aqualad's stomach. The impact knocks Aqualad away, and he rolls to reduce the distance between them.
Aqualad dodges an obvious punch from Superboy and counters with a roundhouse kick to the clone's stomach, causing his body to instinctively curl in on itself. Aqualad then follows up with an elbow strike between Superboy's shoulders, delivering an uppercut to his chest. As Superboy attempts a hook punch, Aqualad ducks under and lands a solid strike to the clone's kidneys. Aqualad seizes the opportunity and gets behind Superboy, putting his hands under his arms and behind his head, using his Atlantean powers to shock him.
This time, the shock clearly hurts Superboy, and he appears on the verge of going down. However, the clone uses his super strength to throw both Aqualad and himself into the ceiling. Aqualad, being on top, takes the brunt of the impact. Despite the hit, Aqualad refuses to let go. Superboy repeats the action, this time causing Aqualad's grip to break, and he falls to the ground independently, unconscious.
Superboy walks past Aqualad's unconscious form and heads towards the door. He forcefully breaks through the metal, causing the door to open with a slam, knocking it off its rail. His actions grab the full attention of Guardian, Desmond, and the Anthropoid, leaving them shocked.
Desmond smirks but remains silent as he walks past the clone, observing the unconscious teen heroes within. "Attaboy," he finally says.