Metropolis
July 4, 13:00 EDT
It had been just like any ordinary Independence day in Metropolis city park, right up until a nine foot tall, hulking, pale-blue figure began rampaging through the picnic sites and family get-togethers.
The massive beast was running through the park at a surprising speed, using his tree-trunk-thick arms to uproot trees and snap picnic tables, it seemed like nothing would stop it.
Suddenly the creature picked up a large boulder one young couple had been making out on moments before, and hurled it at a little boy not too far away, the boy had no time to even scream before the rock was blasted into dust by four high-pressure heat lasers.
"Of all the days Bergie, you had to pick today to show your ugly mug."
The ice-beast turned it's attention to the pair of figures descending into the park, a dark haired man, and a blonde girl. They both wore matching outfits, with tight-fitting navy blue shirts, with the blonde's midriff visible, and dark red boots. The man wore matching navy blue tights, a golden belt, red underpants over his tights, and had a long, flowing red cape.
The girl, however, kept her legs bare, and instead wore a matching blue skirt that ended just above her knees with her gold belt. She too wore a red cape. The most noticeable feature was the red and yellow 'S' insignia on their chests, which was symbolic of the Super-family.
"Now Kara, we don't want to anger iceberg further" the man chastised. To say it was too late would be understating it.
Iceberg let out a guttural cry that somewhat resembled english and sounded a lot like "Superman die!" before charging at the two heroes, who didn't even flinch at the oncoming enemy.
"Ugh, i've got no time for this" Supergirl flew forward to meet her foe with an outstretched fist, and when the two collided, the girl ended up hovering triumphantly above the downed villain. It was out cold.
"Yeah, that's right sucker, now c'mon Kal, let's go" she whined to her companion, who chuckled at her behaviour.
"Exited, aren't you." he smiled.
"Well duh, today's the day" she grinned, before, taking off in the direction of Washington, Man of Steel in tow.
Washington, D.C.
July 4, 14:00 EDT
The two Kryptonians had been standing at their destination for almost an hour now, waiting for the rest of the group to arrive, so far Aquaman and his protege Aqualad had made it, as had Green Arrow with Speedy, and Batman with his sidekick Robin, the eight stood in a line, their gaze resting on the Hall of Justice before them.
"Today's the day" Batman said, placing his hand on Robin's shoulder "welcome to the Hall of Justice" Green Arrow supplied "Headquarters of the Justice League" Aquaman continued "And one day, you" Superman finished, wrapping an arm around his cousin.
"Aw man!" A voice cried from behind, the eight heroes turing to see the Flash and his sidekick Kid Flash zooming forward to meet them "I knew we'd be the last ones here" he frowned, crossing his arms.
The group began to make their way towards the Hall, passing press and tourists alike, who say things like "is that Batman!?" And "oh my, I see flash and Flash Junior." "his name's Speedy, duh" "no! Speedy is Green Arrow's sidekick" "well that makes no sense" This elicited a giggle from the only female present, followed by "oh my god!, i-it's Superman!" "And Supergirl too!".
"So lil' Supey, I was wondering-" Fid Flash was cut off
"No" she simply stated "you didn't hear me out" he frowned "didn't need to" she smirked, strutting on ahead, not that the speedster minded the view.
"Ready to see the inner sanctum?" GA asked his protege "born that way" he replied.
"Glad we're all here" Aqualad commented.
"Have all five sidekicks ever been in the same pla-" KF's question was cut off by Speedy.
"Don't call us sidekicks, not after today" he growled.
"Sorry, first time at the hall, i'm a little overwhelmed" Kid Flash grinned sheepishly "your overwhelmed, Freeze was underwhelmed, why isn't anybody ever just whelmed" Robin complained "your english teacher must hate you" Supergirl told him.
The group entered the Hall and were immediately met with the sight of giant bronze statues depicting the original seven Leaguers, standing tall and proud in the atrium, Kara's cousin being front and centre. She smiled at the sight.
They all made their way towards a pair of large metal doors which opened up, revealing Martian Manhunter and Red Tornado.
"Robin, Speedy, Aqualad, Kid Flash, Supergirl, welcome." Martian Manhunter greeted, before leading the gathered heroes further into the Hall "you now have unlimited access to the gym, our fully stocked galley, and of course, our library," Manhunter narrated as he gave a brief tour of the inner-hall, ending in the library.
"Make yourselves at home," Flash said.
Aqualad, Kid Flash and Robin immediately took places on the three chairs, Supergirl unceremoniously collapsed onto the ground, arms linked behind her head, and Speedy remained standing off to the side.
"Quick debrief to discuss the coincidence of five ice villains attacking on the same day, we shouldn't be long" Batman announced. All of the leaguers stood before another pair of metal doors, this time a small device popped out of the wall and began scanning them.
"Recognized: Superman 0-1, Batman 0-2, Aquaman 0-6, Flash 0-4, Green Arrow 0-8, Martian Manhunter 0-7, Red Tornado 1-6" it called out.
"That's it?!" Speedy loudly complained. "You promised us a real tour. Not a glorified backstage pass." He glared at the mentors.
"It's a first step," Aquaman reasoned. "You've been given access on what few others get."
"Oh really?" He frowned, holding an arm out towards a large window were some tourists took pictures from "who cares which side of the glass we're on?"
Supergirl pointedly raised a brow at the angry teen.
"Roy, you just need to be patient," GA tried to calm down his protege.
"What I need, is respect," Speedy growled before turning to his fellow proteges, Supergirl now in a 'Titanic-french-girl-painting-pose' "They're treating us like kids, worse, like sidekicks." He spat "We deserve better than this."
The four sidekicks exchanged looks and turned back to Speedy
"You're kidding, right?" Speedy couldn't believe the others . "Today was supposed to be the day! Step one to becoming full-fledged members of the League!"
"Well, sure," Kid Flash said. "But I thought step one was a tour of the HQ."
"Except the Hall isn't the League's real HQ!" Speedy said, Supergirl swallowing a lump in her throat. "I bet they never told you that it was just a front for tourists and a pit stop to catching Zeta-beam tubes to the real thing! An orbiting satellite called the Watchtower!"
"The other three looked to Supergirl questioningly. She shrugged sheepishly.
"You are not helping your cause here, son," Aquaman stepped forward. "Stand down, or-"
"Or what? You'll send me to my room? And i'm not your son," Speedy growled. "I'm not even his." He he looked at Green Arrow. "I thought I was his partner. But not anymore." Took off his cap, threw it onto the floor, and stormed out of the hall.
"I guess they were right about you four" he said as he passed the other sidekicks "your not ready" were his final words before leaving.
A beep suddenly came from the large monitor that adorned the back wall, before it turned on showing an image of Wonder Woman. "Wonder Woman to Justice League. There's been an explosion at Project Cadmus. It's on fire."
"I've had my suspicions on Cadmus," Batman said. "This will present the perfect opportunity to–"
"Zatara to Justice League." A third voice interrupted "The sorcerer Wotan is using the Amulet of Atem to blot out the sun. Requesting full League response."
"Diana?" Batman asked, looking to the amazon for further information.
"It's a small fire," she said. "The local authorities have it under control."
"Then Cadmus can wait," Batman ultimately decided. He pressing a few keys on the computer. "All Leaguers rendezvous to Zatara's coordinates. Batman out."
Batman turned to the younger heroes "stay put."
"What?" Robin exclaimed. "Why?"
"This is a League mission," Aquaman explained.
"You're not trained–" Flash started.
"Since when?!" Kid Flash cut off.
"I meant you're not trained to work as part of this team," Flash finished.
"Hello? Literally bulletproof" Supergirl offered, but was ignored.
"There will be other missions when you're ready," Aquaman said.
"C'mon, i'm indestructible!" The girl was once again ignored.
"But for now," Batman gave a stern glare. "Stay put." He ordered, him and the others leaving through the metal doors.
"When we're ready?!" KF wasn't happy. "How are we supposed to ever be ready if they treat us like, like."
"Sidekicks?" Supergirl glumly offered.
"Exactly!" Kid Flash angrily cried.
"My mentor… my King… I thought he trusted me." Aqualad dejectedly frowned.
"Trust?" Kid Flash guffawed. "They don't even trust us with the basics! They've got an orbiting secret HQ in space!" This came with a raised eyebrow at Kara who shrugged.
"What else aren't they telling us?"
"I have a better question," Robin spoke up. "Why didn't we leave with Speedy?"
"What is, Project Cadmus?" Asked Aqualad.
"Don't know" Robin stated "but I can find out" he smirked, walking over to a computer terminal.
"Access denied." The terminal announced.
"Wanna bet?" Chuckled Robin, pressing some more keys and buttons.
"Whoa," Kid Flash was in awe. "How are you doing that?"
"Same system as the Batcave" Robin replied, still smirking.
"Access granted."
Robin opened up a file on Cadmus. "Alright, Project Cadmus… genetics lab… here in D.C…. That's all there is."
"But if Batman's suspicious, maybe we should investigate," he suggested, smirking.
"Solve their case before they do," Aqualad smiled. "It would be poetic justice."
"And they're all about justice," Supergirl grinned, slamming one fist into an open hand.
Aqualad sighed. "But they said stay put."
"For the blotting out the sun mission, not this," Robin said.
"I am so in" the kryptonian wrapped an arm around the Boy Wonder.
"Wait, are you going to Cadmus?" Kid Flash asked. "because if you're goin' I'm goin'." The two males and alien girl grinned up at Aqualad.
"Just like that?" Aqualad questioned. "Were a team on a mission?"
"We didn't come to for a play date" Robin smiled.
Robin told the others were Cadmus was located, and they sprang into action, Kid Flash and Supergirl zoomed ahead with their super-speed.
As the two approached at near sonic speeds, they saw two scientists waving frantically for help, while the firemen put out the blaze. Thinking quick, they each made their way up the outside wall, KF literally running on the wall, and pulled the scientists to safety, but Kid Flash skipped and ended up clinging to the ledge for dear life.
"It's what's-his-name! Flash Boy!" Yelled on the the fire fighters.
"It's Kid Flash, why is that so hard to remember?" Asked the boy in question to nobody in particular
"Beats me, and no, you dangling there is too much of a laugh" Supergirl said when the speedster looked at here hopefully, understanding at least that if he fell, she would still catch him anyway.
Robin, meanwhile, fired a grappling hook and acrobatically made his way into the building pulling KF with him.
Aqualad, still on the ground, requested the water from the fire hose so he could make a platform to lower the scientists down from the roof with.
"It's cool, I got it" yelled Sulergirl as she used her freeze-breath to put out the last of the fire.
"I appreciate the help," Aqualad said sarcastically, as he and the female hero leapt through the window, into the room.
"You handled it," Robin said. "'besides, we're here to investigate, poetic justice remember?" He smirked.
As the team began searching through cabinets and hacking computers, Supergirl heard the sound of elevator doors closing. Her head spun left, she glimpsed a strange looking being inside the elevator, "guys?" She called out "something totally not human just got in that elevator" this caught the boy's attention, and all four made their way towards the elevator.
"Elevators should be locked down" commented Kid Flash. Robin ran over to the elevator "this is wrong" pulled up a holographic plan of the building from his glove, "thought so, this is a high-speed express elevator, it doesn't belong in a two story building."
"Hey, supey?" Kid Flash asked "couldn't you just use your X-ray vision?"
Supergirl shook her head "no, they must have lined the walls with lead to prevent me or Superman from taking a sneaky peek."
"Anyway, lets investigate" she cracked her knuckles, jammed her slim fingers between the doors, and easily pushed them apart, revealing the elevator shaft to go very, very far below ground.
"Maybe more than two stories Rob" the blonde frowned, staring down the shaft.
Robin fired his grappling gun at the roof of the shaft, and began lowering himself down, Supergirl followed suit by flying down after him, and the other two males slid down the rope to follow.
As they descended, Supergirl internally questioned how wise this truly was, and what Cadmus was hiding below the earth.
"I'm at the end of my rope," Robin said as he came to a stop by level 26.
Robin swung on his rope, and let go to land on the ledge by the shaft door, Kid Flash and Aqualad following, before Supergirl pried open the doors while hovering in air.
The boys stepped out into the dim hallway, and Supergirl touched down.
"Welcome to Project Cadmus," Robin said.
Kid Flash sprinted ahead, "Kid!" Supergirl called out, using her own super speed to catch up, stopping just as a horde of giant, mammoth-like creatures with red eyes, grey skin, and fists for front feet lumbered by. They had tiny horned creatures squatting on their shoulders.
"No" Aqualad began "nothing odd going on here."
The group continued down the dimly lit hallway until they reached another set of doors, Robin using a program on his glove to hack the doors open.
"I'm officially whelmed," he said.
The room was big, giant even, and stacked roof to floor with blue tubes holding strange creatures emitting some kind of electricity.
"This must be how they keep the facility hidden" Supergirl pondered, staring around at the tubes "the real Cadmus isn't on the grid" Kid Flash agreed "it generates it's own power with these... things, must be what they're bred for."
"Of course, even the name is a clue" Aqualad said "the Cadmus of myth created a new race by sewing dragon's teeth into the earth."
"These things are even weirder than anything i've seen before, and, y'know, space" Supergirl said, flying up to get a closer look at one of the creatures.
"This Cadmus is creating new life too" Robin walked over to a computer monitor "let's find out why."
"They call 'em Genomorphs," Robin read. "woah! Look at the stats on these things! Super strength, telepathy, razor claws, they're breeding weapons!"
"They're engineering an army, but for who?" Kid Flash inquired.
"There's something else," Robin changed topics. "Project Kr. The files triple encrypted, I can't–"
"Don't move!" Someone ordered, and in ran a man in a black outfit, with a grey metal chestpeice, one large yellow gauntlet, and a yellow helmet. He was surrounded by more Genomorphs, but these looked built for combat.
"Wait, Robin? Aqualad? Kid Flash? Supergirl?" He said.
"At least he got your name right," Robin teased at KF before turning back to the project Kr files.
"I know you, Guardian, a hero" stated Aqualad.
"I try my best" he replied, how modest.
"Then what are you doing here?" Asked Kid Flash.
"I think that's my question kids, i'm chief of security, and your trespassing" he was all business "but don't worry, we can call the Justice League, figure this out."
"You think the League's gonna approve of you breeding weapons!?" Kid Flash questioned.
"Weapons?" Guardian was confused "wha-" he trailed off when the small Genomorph turned to look at him, it's horns glowing red
"What have I- ugh- my head" he stuttered before looking dead on at the teens, the genomorph's horns no longer glowing "take 'em down hard! no mercy!" He ordered, the larger Genomorphs charging.
Robin threw down a smoke pellet and disappeared, just as four Genomorphs leapt at Supergirl, who dodged one and grabbed it by the legs, swinging the thing around like a club at the others.
When the others were out cold, she swung around and threw her impromptu weapon like a rag doll, and letting go to run down the hallway she thought Robin ran down.
The three heroes found the Boy Wonder hacking an elevator monitor.
"Way to be a team player, Rob!" Kid Flash glared.
"Weren't you right behind me?" Robin asked.
The doors opened up and they ran in, Aqualad still trying to outrun the Genomorphs until Supergirl tackled him though the open doors, and to safety.
"Thanks" Aqualad smiled at the blonde as he got up.
"Dude, out is up!" Kid Flash yelled at Robin, the other two just noticed they were descending.
"Excuse me? Project Kr is down on sublevel fifty-two." The smallest boy argued.
"This is getting out of control," Aqualad sighed. "Perhaps… perhaps we should contact the League." They all stood silent until the doors opened.
When the doors first opened, Supergirl's first thought was... gag. They had stepped into what looked like the inside of a human heart, minus the blood, and further down, it split into two other halls. Robin and Kara ran forward to stand by the fork in the path, the others following.
Aqualad sighed "Which way?"
"Yeah, bizarre-looking hallway one or bizarre-looking hallway two?" Quipped Robin.
"Halt!" Came a voice, it was another Genomorph, but it looked smarter, had clothing on, and Supergirl recognised it as the person from the elevator earlier.
The Genomorph, lifted it's had, it's horns glowing red, and lifted two small barrels with some kind of telekinesis, before sending them flying at the heroes.
"Two, two, two, two" chanted Supergirl as they sped down the hall, coming to a stop by Kid Flash, who had jammed a tank in the closing blast doors when he sped ahead.
"Hurry!" He shouted, the boys jumping through, and Supergirl followed, before she kicked the barrel out.
"I disabled the door," called Robin from the umpteenth hacked terminal. "We're safe."
"We're trapped," Aqualad dryly corrected.
"Uh… guys," called KF. "You'll wanna see this... 'specially Supey" he pressed a button on the control panel he was at, and the room lit up.
But not for the better...