Chapter 3: Chapter 2
Washington D.C.; July 4th 2010.
Project Cadmus
"We're trapped" says Aqualad to the three teenagers in front of him.
"Maybe I should've just waited for the Justice League instead of you guys. You don't seem particularly reliable" complained Golden Boy while looking at Kid Flash
"Hey! What kind of attitude is that from someone we just rescued and who are you? This is like the fifth time I'm asking" replied Kid Flash with indignation
"His name is Luke Riordan, age 16, born and lives in Gotham Heights, goes to Gotham North High, was reported missing in an accident a year ago." Robin interrupts before Golden Boy could reply.
Golden Boy scowls at Robin but he continues "Cadmus files indicate he was given the name Project Golden Boy after surviving an experimental serum that gave him powers; super strength, durability, healing and thermonuclear emission."
"So, you are a metahuman experimented on by Cadmus?" Aqualad asks with a hint of pity as he looks at Golden Boy's impassive expression.
Golden Boy shrugs noncommittedly "Although, I was captured Cadmus and experimented on, they still gave me powers which I'm somewhat thankful for. Plus, you get used to the experiments"
"You're really cool as a cucumber for someone who has been experimented for a year" Kid Flash bewilderedly looks at Golden Boy.
"I live in Gotham" Golden Boy promptly replies to which Robin smirks.
Aqualad sighs "We will help you leave Cadmus but first we must figure out where we are"
"That's easy, we're in Kr's chamber" says Golden Boy as he points at the in front of him.
Kid Flash clicks a button on the keyboard of the computer and the chamber lights up, at the center of the chamber is a pod and in that pod is a black-haired teenager in a suit similar to Golden Boy's with the exception of it having an 'S' symbol in the center.
"Big 'K' little 'r', the atomic symbol for Krypton" exclaims Kid Flash as he turns to the "Clone?"
"Of course he's a clone sherlock, unless Superman had a secret love child in the last six months" Golden Boy sarcastically replies to Kid Flash.
"Hey!" Kid Flash glares at Golden Boy
"Robin hack" Aqualad tells Robin who was still dumbfounded. Robin jolts into action and begins; "Weapon Designation; Supeboy, a clone force grown in sixteen weeks" his eyes popping from shock.
"From DNA acquired from Superman" Golden Boy concludes Robin's statement
"Stolen from Superman you mean" Aqualad intones
"Yep, he's the main weapon of Cadmus and its biggest investment. I'm just a side project they managed to acquire. You see those genomorphs by his pod, they are G-Gnomes; telepathic, force feeding him education and they were also used to keep me docile during experiments." Golden Boy says before anyone could answer.
"So, I think you guys should contact your superiors and get me out of here because Dr. Desmond is going to pissed if he finds us here"
"There's no signal" Robin says to which Kid Flash and Aqualad nod having just tried.
"They're making a slave out of Superman's son; we need to help him" Kid Flash exclaims.
"I don't recommend it is better to leave him, get out then contact the league" Golden Boy replies as the three sidekicks turn to face him
"I thought you would have some empathy for him given you and he are in same situation" Aqualad glares at Golden Boy to which he ignores his irritation
"We're different. All Kr has ever known is Cadmus, plus there's a high chance of him attacking us despite me being his acquaintance"
"We still have to free him; we can't leave him like this" Robin turns to Golden Boy
"You don't understa- "before Golden Boy could reply with terrific a force, he was knocked into ground by Superboy.
Superboy begins to rain down punches on his face to which the sidekicks react by Aqualad putting him in a full nelson but Superboy reacts quickly and throws him overhead into the wall.
Golden Boy catches Superboy off guard by blasting him backwards as he destroys the computer in his path
As Superboy is dazed, Kid Flash and Robin grab his arms and try to calm "Hang on Supey" says Kid Flash.
"We're on your side!" Robin exclaims trying to reason with Superboy to which he escapes Kid Flash's grip and punches him through the display cylinder.
Robin throws a small smoke grenade at Superboy's clavicle which releases gas that to his face that staggers the kryptonian.
Aqualad immediately gives him a shoulder bash that sends him crashing to the stand of his pod.
Robin follows up with a high voltage taser gun but Superboy shrugs it off and yanks it sending him into the wall.
"Enough!" Golden Boy visibly irritated as he charges at Superboy landing a punch coated with flames on his jaw, the two begin exchanging punches but Golden Boy falls behind as Superboy has the edge in strength.
Aqualad comes in and delivers a hit with his WaterBearers shaped like a mallet that sends Supeboy into the wall.
"We're trying to help you!" Aqualad yells trying to reason with Superboy but the clone keeps attacking. Golden Boy reinforces Aqualad landing a jab to Superboy's gut while Aqualad follows with an uppercut.
Superboy dazed can't react as Golden Boy blasts him with a stream of fire into the wall, "Let's knock him out and carry him out of here" Golden Boy says to Aqualad who nods.
Superboy looking more enraged spears Aqualad with terrifying force into the wall on the other end of the chamber, instantly knocking him out.
"Hmm, I really wish the Justice League came instead of the rugrats "sighs Golden Boy as Superboy dodges the fireball sent his way and delivers a vicious uppercut to Golden Boy that sends him crashing into the wall, knocking him out.
Golden Boy POV
I have to say, I've come to understand Lex Luthor's obsession with Superman, given that an inferior copy could take us down. Although the three sidekicks held back but still Kr is as impressive as ever.
"Project Golden Boy it seems that Cadmus has been too lenient on you. We had delayed resetting you because it would take quite some time to do that and reprogram you but it looks like we should begin the process after dealing with your would-be Liberators" Dr. Desmond rants angrily as I'm strapped in reinforced shackles in Kr's chamber.
"Prepare the cloning chamber for Project Sidekick and have some genomorphs watch Project Golden Boy" he continues as he steps out of the chamber.
Dubbilex remains and stares at me indifferently to which I just wink at. After a few seconds of eye contact, I talk to him
"Are you angry I killed one of your brothers? If so, I apologize."
'I am not angry at you Project Golden Boy, or rather, Luke Riordan, I am simply ashamed of myself' Dubbilex replies telepathically which surprises me.
Noticing my confusion he intones 'I don't know nor care how you discerned my true nature but you are right in the thought that I dislike the human race after all Cadmus has done to us, Genomorphs'
'Yet despite that I behaved no better than humans at Cadmus and gave you the same apathy that was given to us. You, a human child who has done nothing wrong'
'I wouldn't say I haven't done anything wrong; I killed that Black Mask goon and enjoyed it. Plus, if we are talking about apathy, I didn't really care about you genomorphs either'
'You may project cynicism and nonchalance Luke Riordan but we both know that is not how you felt'
This silenced me as I furrowed my brow.
'You enjoyed killing the thug true but later in the day you kept having nightmares about it and despite saying you never cared about us genomorphs you were still fascinated by our nature and lamented how Cadmus used us as slaves'
Turns out it's hard to kill people and not feel bad about it; I'm not a sociopath and although I never cared about the genomorphs initially, I've been with them and Guardian for a year, so it's hard not to develop some form of emotion for them but it's surprising that Dubbilex saw through me.
'I have been reading through human minds since my conception, your mind isn't particularly outstanding Luke Riordan' Dubbilex snarked with sarcasm.
And he still has his salty attitude.
'I would also like to ask a personal favor from you Luke Riordan. Watch after our younger brother'
'Wait, our brother?' Is he implying what I think he means.
'Yes, about fifteen percent of your DNA was used in manufacturing Superboy, Dr. Desmond had hoped he could gain your abilities due to the fact Kryptonian DNA is notoriously hard to splice. Although he didn't inherit your thermonuclear abilities, he became physically stronger than was originally planned' Dubbilex explains.
I am still shell shocked by the revelation, this feels so awkward, it would also explain why Superboy is stronger than I remember form the first episode of Young Justice; he's nearly twice as strong.
'It seems our discussion has come to an end Luke Riordan; Dr. Desmond summons me.'
'Thank you for your help even though it was mainly planned for Superboy'
'You underestimate yourself too much Luke Riordan. An average person couldn't have survived this long in Cadmus. You would have found another way'
With that he left the chamber and a few seconds later another person enters.
"Why hello cousin"
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