Kid Flash came to with a sharp breath, eyes snapping open as he jerked upright against the restraints. Robin and Aqualad stirred at the same time, blinking fast, shoulders tensing as they took in their surroundings—and the person standing right in front of them.
Superboy. Arms at his sides, fists clenched. He watched them silently.
"What? What do you want?" Kid Flash asked, squinting at him. "Quit staring. You're creeping me out!"
"Uh, KF, how about we not tick off the guy who can fry us with a look?" Robin muttered, not looking away as his right hand twitched once, starting some kind of silent work behind the cuff.
"We only sought to help you," Aqualad said, voice steady. He looked over briefly at the nearby pod where Ren Zu still hadn't moved. His breathing was shallow but steady—out cold, it seemed.
"Yeah. We free you, and you turn on us," Kid Flash added, rolling his head back against the pod's surface. "How's that for grat—"
"Kid, please, be quiet now." Aqualad cut in, sharper this time. "I believe our friend was not in full control of his actions."
Superboy looked away for a second, jaw tight. Then he spoke.
"And what if I was... I am not... weak..."
"He can talk? Also what's he talking about—" Kid Flash leaned slightly toward Aqualad, keeping his voice low.
Superboy's head snapped toward him. His hand curled into a tight fist again as he growled out, "Yes, he can."
Kid Flash blinked at the intensity, then glanced back at Aqualad and Robin like what did I say? "Not like I said, it," he mumbled, trying to defend himself.
Aqualad's gaze stayed on Superboy. "The genomorphs taught you telepathically," he said slowly, putting it together.
"They taught me much," Superboy said. "I can read, write. I— I know the names of things."
Robin tilted his head, frowning. "But have you seen them? Have they actually let you see the sky? Or the Sun?"
Superboy looked down at the floor, shoulders tensing. "Images are implanted in my mind," he said. "But no. I have not seen them."
Aqualad took a slow breath and shifted the topic. "Do you know what you are, who you are?"
Superboy straightened up like someone reciting something drilled into him. "I am the Superboy. A Genomorph. A clone made from the DNA of the Superman. Created to replace him should he perish… to destroy him should he turn from the Light."
That last line landed like a brick. The three teens looked at one another—none of them hiding how much that worried them.
Aqualad kept his voice calm. "To be like Superman is a worthy aspiration, but, like Superman, you deserve a life of your own. Beyond that solar suit. Beyond your pod. Beyond Cadmus."
Superboy flinched like the words stung. His voice rose, full of emotion. "I live because of Cadmus! It is my home!"
"Your home is a test tube," Robin said flatly, "We can show you the Sun," he added, more gently.
"Uh, pretty sure it's after midnight," Kid Flash jumped in, "but we can show you the moon."
"We can show you. Introduce you to Superman," Aqualad added, glancing at the others, then back to Superboy. "You deserve that much."
Superboy's fists loosened slightly. His eyes flicked between them, and for a second, just a second, something shifted in his expression—curiosity, maybe.
"No, they can't," Desmond said flatly as he stepped into the chamber, flanked by Guardian and a woman in a lab coat. His voice carried smugness, like everything was already going his way. He shot a glance at the scientist. "Activate the cloning process."
The two men stopped near the center of the room while the woman peeled off to the side, heels tapping against the floor as she moved to her console.
"Pass!" Robin piped up, casually. "BatCave's crowded enough."
Desmond didn't even look at him.
He turned his attention to the fourth pod, eyes narrowing. "And you! You're not fooling anyone." His voice rose sharply. "The pod monitors your brain activity like an electroencephalogram. You are clearly awake!"
Ren Zu didn't move. His breathing was slow and steady, face relaxed, body slumped in the restraints like someone deeply unconscious.
"Uhmm, who is that?" Kid Flash finally asked, squinting at the fourth figure chained nearby—someone he hadn't noticed until now, dressed in... ugly robes?
"An ally... I think, I'll explain later," Aqualad replied, a trace of hesitation in his voice.
Robin kept working on the hidden lockpick inside his glove, eyes never fully leaving Desmond. "You must've missed the memo on bring-your-own-mystic-day," he muttered.
Desmond didn't respond. His eyes lingered on Ren Zu for another second, but when there was still no reaction, he scoffed. "Fine. Keep on pretending. It's not like it matters. You won't be my problem for much longer."
He turned his head, barking out another command. "Also, get the Weapon back in its pod!"
Guardian stepped forward, moving toward Superboy.
"Hey, how come he gets to call Supey an 'it'?" Kid Flash cut in, his voice was half-joking, but the look in his eyes gave away something a little sad.
Superboy didn't say anything. But his eyes flicked toward the speedster.
Guardian moved first, placing a firm hand on Superboy's shoulder like he was guiding a child rather than a living weapon. Superboy looked past him, gaze locking on the four teens still chained.
Aqualad saw the shift and leaned forward slightly. "Help us," he said—not demanding, not commanding—simply asking.
Superboy didn't answer. He just jerked his shoulder, shrugging Guardian's hand off. His expression twisted, not in confusion—but frustration. His eyes held anger now.
Desmond stepped in close behind him. "Don't start thinking now." His voice came off almost amused, like he was used to things breaking back into place.
The Genomorph on his shoulder sprang forward, landing lightly on Superboy's. Its horns lit up with a red glow, and Superboy's face changed instantly—his eyes unfocused, muscles going slack.
"See? You're not a real boy," Desmond said, tone dripping with mock pity. "You're a weapon. And you belong to me." He paused, tossing in a shrug. "Well, to Cadmus. Same thing."
He waved a hand. "Now get back to your pod."
Superboy didn't argue. Didn't speak. He turned, walking away like a machine rebooted. The red light on the Genomorph's horns kept pulsing faintly.
But then—he stopped.
A tremor ran through his body, shoulders tightening, jaw clenched so hard it looked like it hurt. His fists curled up at his sides. Muscles twitched and spasmed. His head lowered, like he was trying to breathe through molasses.
Then his foot slammed down.
The sound was brutal—metal buckling beneath him with a thud that echoed through the chamber. The whole floor shook. Lights flickered overhead. Desmond flew backward like a leaf in a storm.
"DON'T GIVE ME ORDERS!" Superboy roared, voice deeper and rawer than anything he'd said before.
The Genomorph tumbled from his shoulder and hit the ground with a squeal. Guardian and Dubbilex were also blew away by the air pressure, both skidding across the floor with a heavy crash.
The sidekicks' pods cracked—glass shattering—but somehow, they weren't hurt. Just stunned.
Superboy stood breathing hard, then turned and walked calmly back toward them, feet echoing across the broken floor.
"Soo... you wanna save us or fry us?" Kid Flash asked, lifting an eyebrow. He was only half joking.
Superboy stared at them for a beat longer. His eyes narrowed, but nothing came of it.
"Huh," he muttered. "I don't seem to have heat vision… so I suppose helping is my only option."
Robin finally popped the last lock on his restraint. He leapt from the pod, landing with a grunt, and immediately started rubbing at his wrists. "Ahh. Finally," he muttered, annoyance lacing his voice. "Lucky Batman's not here. He'd have my head for taking so long."
"Seriously? That's what you're worried about?" Kid Flash snapped, wide-eyed. "The whole League's gonna have our heads after tonight!"
Robin didn't bother responding. He was already at the control station, fingers flying across the panel like he knew it by heart. One button press, and the robotic arms holding down the others retracted with a hiss.
He glanced over his shoulder. "Superboy—grab Aqualad. I've got Kid Can't Shut Up. As for our strange friend, uhh… Where the hell did he go?"
Robin trailed off. His eyes locked on the pod Ren Zu had been in.
It was now empty. The unconscious stranger was nowhere to be seen.
Superboy's head jerked in that direction. His expression twisted in confusion.
"After you two fainted earlier, he arrived in a similar fashion when I was fighting Superboy. I couldn't see him until he was right in front of me," Aqualad said quietly. "I didn't hear anything either. No footsteps. No sound. Nothing. It's like…"
"…He just vanished," Robin finished.
Kid Flash gave a weak laugh. "Okay but… are we sure he wasn't Batman in disguise?" He looked around. No one else cracked a smile.
Aqualad stepped down from his pod, stretching out his limbs with effort. "Either way," he said, steady and serious now, "we need to focus on escaping. We can figure the rest out later. Let's move."
Above them, lights buzzed and sparks fell as the facility groaned like something angry was waking up.
But unknown to the sidekicks—and the newly-freed clone—Ren Zu, now tumbling in the chaotic void between worlds...
...was just as confused as they were.