Chapter 4

[Next Day]

Batman and Wonder Woman came to the cave to take me somewhere for questioning. Just as I thought, we were brought to the Hall of Justice.

When I stepped out of the Zeta tube, I saw Superman, Flash, Aquaman, Captain Atom, Green Arrow and Black Canary standing and waiting for our arrival. 'They must have been assembled for a meeting' I thought to myself.

Green Arrow and Black Canary stepped forward, with Green Arrow speaking first, "There is a meeting among the League members. We will take you to the Cafeteria. You can stay there until we come back."

"The meeting is about me, huh?" I asked. Green Arrow simply replied, "Yes, kid. But we don't know the contents of the meeting. Only Batman knows."

Then, both Green Arrow and Black Canary led me to the cafeteria. As we walked, I noticed Black Canary occasionally glancing back at me. 'Maybe she's observing me for her psychological profile,' I thought to myself.

"Sir, Mam, Is there a library here?" I questioned. I wasn't going to waste my time sitting around in cafeteria. As the saying goes, 'Knowledge is Power' and that is something i really need to survive in this chaotic world.

They both paused and turned towards me. While Black Canary continued to stare, Green Arrow spoke up, saying, "Son, call me Green Arrow. No need to call me sir."

"I'm Black Canary, but you can call me Dinah if you want," Black Canary added. "Why do you want to go to a library? Most kids hate even going near one."

I scratched my head, feeling a bit awkward. "Most would, um, Black Canary. But I'm not like them. Not to brag, but I was a high scorer back in my school days before I was kidnapped. And I believe in the saying 'knowledge is power.' So, I like to read as many books as I can and expand my knowledge. I did miss three years of school, so I have a lot to catch up on." The last part, I lied.

Black Canary raised her eyebrow while Green Arrow's mouth opened and closed like a fish. "Kid, you're weird," he said, only to receive a smack from Canary. "Oww... I mean a good kind of weird," he corrected himself, laughing.

"But seriously, kid, how are you doing? Are you having any troubles adapting after your long break from the living?" Green Arrow asked, receiving another smack and a glare from Black Canary. He fell silent as a result.

"Honestly, it's tough and weird. But I'm trying to manage. It's been almost a week," I replied, taking a deep breath. The memories of what the previous me had suffered brought out rage and anger in me. I attempted to calm down, but part of me wanted to keep talking. "I just keep distracting myself from the things they did to me. It was a nightmare down there. But as the old saying goes, time helps people heal, not only men," I quickly corrected myself upon realizing Black Canary's presence. To be honest, I felt nervous around them. However, after conversing for a little while, I felt something light slipping off me. "Sorry for ranting like that and taking your time."

"It's okay, talking is good. I wish others were as open as you," Canary reassured me. "It will take time, John. Just like you said, time will indeed help. But the things you do during the healing process will make a difference. We'll talk soon."

They led me to a room filled with books. It was a spacious area solely dedicated to shelves upon shelves of books. On one side of the room, there were tables for studying, while on the other side, high-tech computers were set up. In the center, there was a large monitor, commanding attention.

"Hang tight, kid. We'll talk later after the meeting is over. Don't be nervous around us. We're not going to eat you," Green Arrow laughed, and they both left the room. I roamed around, gathered the books I needed, found a place to sit, and started studying.

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[Hall of Justice, Meeting room]

Batman stood at the lower end of a U-shaped table, with Superman on his left and Wonder Woman on his right. He clicked the remote, and a projector positioned in the open space between the table illuminated. A hologram of a young kid with blue eyes appeared.

"For those who don't know, his name is John Smith, and he was rescued from CADMUS along with Superboy. However, unlike Superboy, he is a metahuman who was subjected to human experimentation."

"With the information he provided us when he was found, I initiated my investigation. Everything he shared with us has proven to be true," Batman stated. "This is the information I have gathered during my investigation."

A holographic screen popped up before everyone seated at the U-table, displaying information about John Smith. He clicked on the console, and the footage from before began to play. The footage depicted John being violently beaten and kidnapped by unknown individuals.

"Then why did you bring him here if all the information has already been verified?" Green Arrow asked, expressing the confusion shared by everyone present at the meeting.

"There has been a roadblock in investigating CADMUS. However, considering he was held captive there for three years and made multiple attempts to escape, we believe he may possess valuable information. We need to find out if he knows anything about those responsible behind this. Additionally, we need to ascertain if any clones were created or if there is any other pertinent information he can provide. He will undergo thorough questioning," Batman explained, aiming to address their confusion and emphasize the importance of obtaining information.

"And we have another issue," Batman stated, pressing the console to play a video. The clip showed the confrontation between John and the other three members of the team. After the video ended, Batman continued, "I also need to assess his mental health, which is why I have called upon Black Canary, Martian Manhunter, and Wonder Woman. The safety of the team is my first priority."

"I think he will cooperate," Black Canary interjected. "From what I have observed when he spoke, he seems open to sharing. Many kids his age tend to shut down due to their trauma, but he appears different. I suggest taking a gentle approach, and it would be best if Superman spoke with him."

"Or we could just ask Martian Manhunter and wonder woman to question him.I doubt we can expect anything but the truth with a telepath and Wonder Woman's Lasso of Truth." Flash made a suggestion. to which Black Canary just shook her head and spoke, "even if we they are the ones doing the questioning I still suggest we speak with him first."

"Is there any other reason you want to question him?" Green Arrow questioned Batman to which he stared at for a moment and spoke.

"Yes, it was a very high coincidence how he seemed to regain consciousness just before Robin, Aqualad, and Kid Flash saved Superboy. And I don't believe in coincidences until I get the answers," Batman spoke firmly.

Superman sighed and ran his hands over his face, expressing his reluctance. "I would much rather deal with Appellaxians than questioning children. Well, in any case, I will do it. But what should I even ask?" he mumbled, voicing his uncertainty about the line of questioning.

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[Hall of Justice, Library]

After reading the books for some time, I decided to check the computers for any martial arts training videos. Once I found them, I became engrossed in watching the instructional videos. Unfortunately, I was so focused that I didn't notice Black Canary, Green Arrow, and Superman approaching.

They had apparently been trying to get my attention for a while. Startled, I instinctively reacted by grabbing the touch on my shoulders and pulling it forward, preparing to strike. However, before my hand could connect, it was caught firmly by someone.

"Son, calm down," a voice spoke. When I turned, I saw Superman standing beside me, the one who had caught my arm. It turned out that my quick reaction had pulled Green Arrow into a position where he was about to receive an unintended blow to his face.

Quickly regaining my senses, I became nervous and immediately apologized, "I'm so sorry, I truly am. It was unintentional. I didn't mean to react that way. It's just my reflexes, my body's reaction. I was so engrossed in what I was doing that I didn't even realize it was you guys." However, before I could continue, Green Arrow interrupted me, putting a hand up to stop my apology.

"It's okay, kid. It's fine. Don't be nervous. You were startled, so you reacted. Don't sweat it," Green Arrow reassured me before turning to Superman and saying, "And I didn't need your help, you know."

"I know, but let's not dwell on that," Superman replied. Then, turning towards me, he said, "So, John, can we talk?"

"Hmm, you guys are doing the interrogation? I thought it would be Batman, Wonder Woman, and Martian Manhunter," I spoke, genuinely confused.

"Why do you think that?" Black Canary asked, to which I replied, "Hmm, Martian Manhunter has psychic abilities, Wonder Woman has the Lasso of Truth, and Batman... well, I've heard he is a very skilled interrogator."

"Sigh, what you're saying is right. But we're not here to interrogate you. We're here for some answers," Superman spoke, and I could sense a slight hesitation in his words.

"I think it would be better if all of you were present if you need some answers," I replied, suggesting that the others should join the discussion.

They exchanged glances, and Superman said, "Okay, then follow me. Green Arrow, could you do me a favor and call the others?" Green Arrow nodded, saying, "Sure," and he walked away to fetch the rest of the team.

Superman and Black Canary guided me to a room that appeared to be a discussion room. I took a seat at the end of the table, while Black Canary and Superman sat on either side of me.

I turned to Superman and said, "Can I talk with you after the interrogation is over?"

"Sigh, this is not an interrogation, and yeah, sure," Superman replied. "But I may have to leave in case of any emergency. If that happens, I will try to talk with you afterward."

"Okay, fair enough. Thank you, I can deal with that," I replied, sitting quietly as I waited for the others to arrive. Suddenly, I felt someone moving beside me. When I turned, I saw Flash sitting next to me with a bag of nuggets in his hands, happily munching away.

Aquaman, Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter, and Batman soon made their way into the room. My inner fanboy was screaming with excitement to be sitting among the founding members of the League. Here I was, surrounded by a king, a demigod, two aliens, a speedster, the banshee, the archer, and the world's greatest detective. My emotions and heart rate rose to their peak, but I tried my best not to show it on my face. However, it seemed that three of them had noticed my subtle changes: Martian Manhunter, Superman, and Batman.

I could understand the 2 aliens since one being a telepath and one being a god among men but Batman, maybe he is Batman for a reason.

Superman seemed to have noticed my increased heart rate and turned to me with concern, saying, "Kid, no need to be nervous." Before I could reply, Martian Manhunter chimed in, "No, Superman, our guest isn't nervous. He seems to be excited." Everyone, except Batman, wore expressions that seemed to question why I was so excited.

"Oh, please, don't give me that look. You guys are the founding members of the Justice League. Of course, I would be excited," I replied to them.

They chuckled at my response, and Wonder Woman proceeded to ask the question, "So, tell us, John, what do you know about CADMUS? We've been facing some difficulties in investigating CADMUS since it is a government facility."

I reached out my hand, gesturing for Wonder Woman to give me the Lasso of Truth. She took it from her hip and handed it to me. Taking a moment to gather my thoughts, I began speaking, "Lady, CADMUS is not a government facility, as far as I know. They conducted various types of experiments there. Cloning, serums, human experimentation, bio enhancements, and even exploring new power sources. The floors I was predominantly kept in were focused on human experimentation, but during the time I was there, they only had humans as captives. However, their main focus seemed to be on creating new beings or clones. When Robin, Kid Flash, and Aqualad infiltrated CADMUS, they would have encountered these experiments on the floors above as they made their way down to rescue Superboy."

"Are there any projects similar to Superboy?" Batman asked the question this time.

I gulped, feeling intimidated by Batman's presence. "Yes, sir. There were a few projects, but not many were successful," I replied. "There was one named Dubbilex. He acted as a caretaker for the beings in CADMUS. He possessed telekinetic powers and psychic abilities. I believe he was created using Martian Manhunter's DNA, possibly an attempt to clone him and recreate a more powerful version without the vulnerability to fire. Another project was called Project Track, aimed at creating speedsters. However, that project didn't yield significant results. The clones could run exceptionally fast, but they were not on par with true speedsters. As for myself, I was known as Project X. Desmond's idea was to make me the ultimate weapon, but it resulted in the loss of my sanity."

I paused, allowing the weight of my words to settle in the room. The silence remained unbroken, and no further questions or interruptions came. "There was also a project called Project Sorcerer, which aimed to create the ultimate magical weapon. However, that project ultimately failed, leaving no successful outcome. Basically, most of the projects ended in failure. Or so I thought at first. But after some time, I came to a conclusion that they were collecting the clones, controlling them using gnomes as if they were commanding an army."

"At first, I believed Superboy to be a failure because the last time I saw him, he wasn't in his right mind. However, it seems they made some genetic modifications to him. He's still as grumpy as usual, but at least now he can talk," I added, dropping the Lasso on the table.

After I finished speaking, I could sense a souring of the mood in the room. I could tell that Superman was visibly upset when I mentioned Superboy, and the others exchanged glances. However, Batman immediately interjected, cutting through the tension. "What do you mean by Superboy not being in the right mind?" he asked, drawing the attention of everyone in the room towards me.

"Oh, please give me a break," I muttered to myself, feeling frustrated. I took the Lasso of Truth back into my hand and continued to speak, "When my sanity was put to the test, I was determined to break out of the facility. I was extremely scared. During my last attempt to escape, I encountered Superboy. He was sent to either subdue me or bring me back, but he was not in control. When we fought, or at least I tried to fight back, he was like a savage beast, growling and shouting while shooting laser beams from his eyes. It was a completely one-sided beating, but Dubbilex intervened and knocked both of us unconscious."

I continued, "But now he seems to be back to normal and able to speak like everyone else." I finished speaking and put down the Lasso of Truth. Inside, I couldn't help but hope that they would understand my point about there possibly being another clone of Superboy.

Unfortunately, the mood in the room didn't seem to improve. It appeared that they had caught onto something. Flash spoke up, "John, you said you were not nearly sane for nearly a year, but you are claiming to have fought Superboy a year ago. However, Superboy was only created 16 weeks ago. Are you absolutely certain that you encountered him before you lost your sanity?"

I laughed, finding the situation somewhat amusing. "Hahaha, very funny. There's no way I would forget something like that. I have a photographic memory, so once I see something, it's etched into my mind. Besides, there's no way Superboy was created in just 16 weeks, right?" I turned to look at the others in the room, hoping for some confirmation or answers. However, I received no immediate response.

"Do you happen to know what his project name was?" I directed my question to Flash, who replied, "Project Kr."

"Nope, he was known as Project Match when I fought him. That's how I heard that despicable bastard Desmond refer to him," I said, my anger flaring up at the thought of Desmond and what he had done to the previous version of myself. Taking a deep breath to calm myself, I picked up the Lasso of Truth again and spoke with conviction, "I'm sure of it. He was called Match. It seems either they changed the name or the current Superboy I know is another clone of the one I fought."

The tension in the room grew even more palpable, especially with a visibly furious Superman seated beside me. He leaned forward and asked, "Do you know who is behind CADMUS?"

Keeping a steady grip on the Lasso, I replied promptly, albeit nervously, "No, I don't know. But based on what Desmond mentioned, he seemed terrified of the board members of CADMUS."

"Why did you accept the proposal to join the team when our proteges asked? Are you a spy or infiltrator sent by the board members of CADMUS?" Batman questioned, his tone sharp and probing.

"Of course not, Batman. I am not a spy, and I never will be," I replied earnestly, my voice tinged with a mix of sadness and frustration. "It was purely coincidental that they were there when the fire broke out. I had nowhere else to go except the orphanage. But I couldn't bring myself to return there. There were too many broken promises, too much pain. I couldn't face those who once cared for me, and I know it's not my fault, but the emotions were overwhelming."

As I finished speaking, the weight of those emotions finally overwhelmed me, and I broke down. Superman gently placed his hands on my shoulders, providing a comforting presence that helped me calm down and settle the tumultuous storm within me.

"That is precisely why I accepted the proposal to join the team. I needed a place to stay, food to eat, and a place where I could grow in many possible ways," I explained, my voice filled with determination. "I saw an opportunity, and I seized it. Now that I have powers, I can help people so that they don't have to suffer like I did. When I walked out of CADMUS with all of you, I made a vow to defend the innocent, to protect the common people from ever experiencing what I went through or getting caught in the crossfires of any disastrous situations."

Unbeknownst to me, my voice had grown louder, and my grip on the Lasso of Truth had tightened. When I finished speaking, I noticed everyone smiling, except for Batman. It made me wonder if he even knew how to smile.

"It is a noble aspiration to have, John," Superman spoke, his voice filled with genuine warmth and a smile adorning his face.

"Is that all?" Batman asked, his voice carrying a hint of skepticism. I contemplated placing the Lasso of Truth on the table before answering, but Batman stopped me, saying, "Answer while holding it."

Nodding, I took hold of the lasso and replied, "That is the main reason, sir, but I must admit I had an ulterior motive as well. Wonder Woman. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to interact with such a remarkable woman. Being on the team meant being close to the Justice League, which meant being close to Wonder Woman." As I spoke, I could hear snickers from Flash and Green Arrow, while Black Canary sported a smirk. Aquaman raised an eyebrow, and Superman looked surprised with his mouth slightly agape. Realizing what I had just said, I quickly threw the lasso onto the table. Turning towards Wonder Woman, I apologized, "That was my hormones speaking, not me. I'm truly sorry for my inappropriate comment."

Flash and Green Arrow laughed, adding to my embarrassment, while I attempted to recover from my awkward comment. Wonder Woman, however, simply smirked and replied, "Maybe in a few years, kid, but not right now." Her response caught me by surprise, and before I could react or respond, a cough drew my attention elsewhere in the room.

It was Aquaman who spoke this time, and he asked, "Son, please explain yourself. Why did you react that way?" He proceeded to play a video of my confrontation with Kid Flash, Robin, and Aqualad.

I took a deep breath and replied, "I don't need to explain myself. If you all had seen the full video and knew about the side mission they embarked on without proper planning, and how they miserably failed to protect a single person, you would understand my honest reaction to the attitude that Kid Flash displayed. It was frustration and disappointment that led to my outburst." I replied and before anyone replied i spoke to flash.

"Flash, you really need to talk some sense into him," I said, addressing Flash directly. "He seems to let his impulses guide him, and it's affecting his behavior. I understand they are young, even younger than me, but that doesn't excuse his actions. Trust me, his first impression with Megan was not a good one. If he continues to carry himself with the same attitude during our missions, there will be distractions and consequences that the entire team may have to face."

"The display I showed earlier should serve as a reminder for them. They should not slack on their duty," I added firmly, emphasizing the importance of maintaining professionalism and focus during missions.

"Sigh, okay, I will talk with him, but that doesn't make what you did right, John," Flash replied, expressing his disapproval.

"I know, and I'm sorry, truly. I will apologize to him when I see him again. But he also needs to grow and understand the importance of his actions," I replied, acknowledging my mistake and taking responsibility for it.

After I finished speaking Batman then approached me, narrowing his eyes and closing the distance until we were just centimeters apart. It was an intense moment, made slightly amusing by the fact that I was taller than him.

"Think you can make the calls on how to punish your team again?" Batman's voice carried a firm tone. "You'll have to deal with me."

I felt a surge of anger within me, no longer willing to back down. Leaning in closer, I confronted Batman, my voice filled with defiance. "Really? What will you or can you do that CADMUS hadn't already done enough?" He remained silent, prompting me to continue. "They wanted me on that team. It was your decision to place me there, so don't act all upset about it now."

I backed up, and spoke, "I was really fine before this but Now i want every microphone and cams in my room in the cave taken out. It would good if got rid of it or i will smash every piece of it and flush it through the toilet."

Batman without any change in expression asked, "How did you find them?" to which I replied "X - Ray Vision."

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[Hall of Justice, Near Zeta Tube]

I stood among Black Canary, Green Arrow, Flash, and Superman, facing Superman as I prepared to discuss Superboy.

"So, what do you want to talk about, John?" Superman asked.

"It's about Superboy. I just want to share my thoughts, and you can do as you wish with them. The boy needs you," I replied earnestly.

"No," Superman snapped back instantly. "He has Batman and Red Tornado." His tone wavered slightly, and he averted his gaze from me. "I'm just a constant reminder of what he's not."

"Superman, you're wrong," I asserted firmly, catching his attention. "Look, I understand he troubles you, but he's here. You have to let go of the how and why. Some might say that the boy needs his father."

Superman tried to interject, "I'm not his--" but I interrupted him. "Of course, you're not his biological father. But that's not what matters. What matters is how you accept him. You can be a mentor, an older brother figure, or someone guiding a lost Kryptonian kid. He's not going anywhere. Just try to accept him, show him the ropes of wearing that symbol on his chest," I said, pointing to his chest emblem. "Don't ignore him. Even I have some of your powers, but you don't seem to have any problems conversing with me."

"No, you and he are not the same," Superman replied. "It's incredibly troubling to see a clone of oneself."

"We don't yet know the full extent of his powers. You, being Superman, could help him navigate and understand his abilities. He is half Kryptonian and half Human. I see him as a miracle of two worlds. He will need you, because he needs to know who he is, and you would be the best to show him that. You can't delegate that responsibility to others. He needs Superman. He needs hope," I insisted. Superman's eyes widened at my words.

"All I'm asking is for you to try talking to him. Just give him a chance before he veers down the wrong path or finds himself in troubled situations," I pleaded.

Superman sighed and responded, "You know, kid, you speak like an old man." After a moment, he relented, saying, "Fine, I will think about it."

Before I could reply, a loud beep emanated from a small device mounted on Superman's wrist. "I need to go. There's a significant seismic activity in the Pacific," he informed us, his voice urgent. Without further delay, he activated a Boom Tube and disappeared through it.

I turned towards the others who were standing with me and said, "I need a favor." I took out thin notebooks from my pocket and gave one to Flash and Green Arrow. Black Canary, who was standing between them, looked at what I was showing them. First, she looked towards me, her eyes widened, and then quickly turned towards Flash and Green Arrow. They were dumbfounded as they exchanged the notebooks and saw what was inside.

After some time, Green Arrow spoke, "Why 2?"

"The question you should be asking is why not 2?" I replied, to which he just laughed.

I turned to walk towards the zeta tube, but then I stopped and turned towards Black Canary. "You told us you would be the trainer for our team. I have some requests," I said, to which she nodded and said, "Go on."

"I need every martial training video that is available," I replied. "Also, try to start our training as soon as possible. As three new members on the team, you could help us train in the basic areas, especially Megan. She is very new to our world and really needs to know the basics. I don't want the three of us to drag the others down when we are on a mission. We have great powers, and we could use your guidance."

"Hey kid, you seem to be more concerned about Miss Martian than Superboy," Flash asked, grinning.

I just laughed off my embarrassment and replied, "It's not like that. Connor has more anger and confusion within him, and unless Superman talks to him properly, he would need a target to focus on so that he can let everything out. I'll spar with him. Fights can help to let off some steam."

After speaking for some time, I made my way to the zeta tube to reach Mount Justice.