章 9: Trapped and Desperate

The Three sidekicks, sturred only to find each other restrained with straps and locked within a containment pod, similar to the one that had once contained Superboy.

Said Superman clone, was quietly standing before them, a scowl on his face as he eyed them suspiciously.

After a few moments of futile wriggling, Kid Flash finally broke the silence, noticing Superboy's gaze fixed on him, "What! What do you want?! Stop staring, it's making me uncomfortable!"

Robin rolled his hidden eyes, "KF, how about we not tick off the guy who could quite literally fry us with just a look." Robin replied nervously, even as he vainly fought against the restraints binding him for a brief moment, before allowing himself to simply hang limp. An act that disguised the fact that he was still expertly attempting to escape, using the skills Batman had engraved into his very being for years.

Aqualad spoke up, his expression stoic and his tone calm as he gazed toward the Superman Clone, We only sought to help you."

"Yeah, we rescue you and you betray us. How's that for gratitude…" Kid Flash began, only to be interrupted before he could complete his thought.

"Kid, that's enough," Aqualad stated calmly, his focus still on Superboy. "Ignore him. I don't believe it was Superboy's doing. He doesn't seem to have control over his actions."

"What… What if I… What if I didn't?" Superboy questioned a moment later, his attention fixed solely on Aqualad.

"He can speak?" Kid suddenly exclaimed in astonishment, even as Superboy tightened his fists and shot a glare at the red-haired teen.

"Yes, he can," Superboy responded sharply, his blue eyes piercing into Kid Flash.

"Not that I said it." Kid Flash mumbled, noticing the level looks from the other two.

"Kid, enough," Aqualad interjected again, once more serving as the voice of reason, his eyes still on Superboy as he attempted to establish some kind of connection with the clone. "You weren't in charge of your actions; the genomorphs were. They were controlling you. I assume they taught you things while you were in the pod, right?"

"Yes, they taught me a lot. I can read, and write, I know the names of things." Superboy murmured slowly.

"But have you actually seen them? Have they ever allowed you to experience things like the sky or the sun?" Robin asked, pausing in his efforts to glance at the clone as well.

"Images have been implanted in my mind… but no. I have not seen them." Superboy answered slowly.

"Do you understand what you are? Or who you are?" Aqualad inquired, trying to keep the dialogue going.

"I am the Superboy. A genomorph. A clone created from the DNA of Superman. Made to replace him if he falls, to eliminate him if he strays from the light." Superboy stated almost mechanically, surprising all three sidekicks, who stared at him in astonishment until Aqualad broke the silence.

"To aspire to be like Superman is admirable, but like him, you deserve a life of your own, beyond that solar suit, beyond your pod, beyond Cadmus," Aqualad said sincerely.

"I exist because of Cadmus. It is my home." Superboy responded bluntly, his expression twisting into a scowl.

"Your home is a test tube. We can show you the sun." Robin declared loudly, returning to his efforts to free himself. "You deserve a life of your own. You may be a clone, but that doesn't mean you have to be the original. You can be your own person. And we can assist you. Introduce you to the outside world, provide you with a home, even introduce you to Superman if you wish."

Superboy looked up at this, a flicker of something different in his eyes, an emotion that hadn't been there before. However, it quickly vanished when a new voice interrupted the discussion.

"No, they can't," Desmond stated as he, Guardian, and some genomorphs entered the room. "They'll be otherwise occupied. Activate the cloning process."