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Chapter Text

When Maxi was younger his mother would tell him bedtime stories of witches that roamed the land telling fortunes and helping the less fortunate with their powerful hexes. Those stories helped shield the young boy as his home country of sokovia was at war around him.

It was a normal night in the Maximoff household when it happened. His father had just come home from work and his mother was in the kitchen making dinner, after dinner his father had suggested they watch some DVDs of old American sitcoms his father sold so they could learn English in hopes of immigrating to America when the first shell hit his building.

Once the smoke cleared Maxi looked around the area and he could see the destruction around him as he heard the sounds of war for what felt like the first time.

Before he could even stand the second shell landed three feet away from his face. In fear, he crawled under some rubble from the floor above in a naive attempt at safety.

So he sat there staring right at the shell as it ticked off spelling his doom, as he sat there under the rubble he could hear people outside yelling 'Maybe they're here to help he thought.

'Or maybe it is the ones who did this' said another part of his mind as the sounds of jets flew overhead. Every effort to save him, every shift in the bricks he thought 'this will set it off. He waited to die for two days.

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Eventually, he was rescued and sent to an orphanage where he sat and watched as the other children gained new families while he was rejected over and over till the age of fourteen when he decided to run away and live on the streets of sokovia.

One day while laying on a bench trying to stay warm in the cold of the night he heard of a program created to engineer the next step in human evolution. When he heard that his mind was filled with thoughts of revenge, a chance to make things right.

So he seized the opportunity and volunteered, while in the program he was subjected to multiple experiments for years. During his time in the program, Maxi got to know the other people that were in the program and became friends with them but as time passed he realized he was losing friends one by one until he was the only survivor. Until one day a fourteen-year-old Maxi was brought into a room with a strange yellow stone floating in the center.

Nervously Maxi slowly walked toward the stone as it suddenly moved towards him. As Maxi reached toward the stone it burst into a bright yellow light that even blinded the scientist watching from behind the glass. As Maxi opened his eyes he was met with the image of a figure floating in the distance,

before Maxi could process what he was looking at the light disappeared as quickly as it had appeared knocking him unconscious. Days later he discovered that the stone had granted him telepathic powers making him what the doctors called a telepath, a person with the ability to communicate through the mind.

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In the following days, his powers continued to grow as he learned how to channel his own psionic and telekinetic energy which allows him to project energy blasts, streams, waves, and bolts of energy allowing him to hit, push/pull or blow away objects. This energy manifests in any shape or form and is visible in a reddish color.

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A year later Maxi was told that he would be transferred to a facility called Cadmus in Washington D.C. and put in the care of a man named Dr. Desmond. During his time at Cadmus, he had read the minds of the scientists and learned that they were working on a project called Project Kr.

Further into his time at Cadmus Maxi was allowed to roam the facility and was introduced to the genomorph named Dubbilex who taught him how to better use his telekinetic abilities and taught many other things including the English language, despite that he still retained a sokovian accent.

Maxi had felt comfortable with the genomorph confiding in him about his past and his reason for joining the program that gave him his powers. During one of their many telepathic lessons, Dubbilex had decided to take him on a trip to a different area of the lab.

"Where are you taking me?" Maxi questioned as he and Dubbilex entered an elevator, "Something you need to see," Dubbilex said as the elevator went deeper and deeper before dinging at a certain floor. "This is sub-level 52 can you guess what is down here?"

"Project Kr, but that doesn't explain why you have brought me down here" Maxi answered as the doors of the elevator opened revealing an area with a strange pinkish texture covering the walls. "Whoa" was all Maxi could say as he looked around the floor stunned by what he was seeing, "This is where they keep the genomorphs but this isn't why we're here," Dubbilex said as he continued to walk down one of the halls with Maxi close behind.

Further down the hallway, they arrived at came a large door that read Project Kr sealed and locked via keypad. "Are we even allowed to down here?" Maxi asked as he looked over Dubbilex's shoulder as they typed in the passcode.

"Who could stop us?" Dubbilex questioned as the door slowly opened revealing the room containing Project Kr "This is why I have brought you here Maxi" Dubbilex said gesturing to the pod containing a boy seemingly the same age as him. " So this is project Kr," Maxi said getting closer to the unconscious boy.

As Maxi gazed at the boy, he noticed three small genomorphs above him with their horns glowing red. "What are they doing to him" Maxi questioned as he touched the pod sensing the telepathic waves from the genomorphs.

"Giving him an education, and preparing him for the day when Superman falls so that he may take his place," Dubbilex explained.

"So what's the problem" Maxi questioned taking his attention off of the clone and back on the genomorph.

"Do you know of Cadmus's true purpose Maxi ?" Dubbilex questioned.

"What do you mean true purpose, I thought Cadmus was just a research lab," Maxi said looking at Dubbilex in confusion.

"The lab above is just a cover-up for what is really going on, they're engineering weapons of mass destruction like you," Dubbilex said as he walked over and stood beside Maxi.

Maxi wanted to disagree but deep down he knew the genomorph was right, the program he had volunteered for in hopes of revenge for his family had turned him into a weapon to use as they saw fit. "But you don't have to be, you can better use your powers to help people"

"D-Do you really believe that?" Maxi asked as he reverted back to the scared little boy that used to be fearful of the future.

"Yes child, but first you need to escape both of you," Dubbilex said grasping Maxis' shoulders in determination.

"What do you mean both of us," Maxi asked looking at the genomorph with a confused expression.

"Both you and Project Kr deserve freedom, to not be prisoners of Cadmus, to be something better, something good," Dubbilex said as he took Maxi back to his room.

"When the time comes you'll know"

Chapter Text

(Thank you so much ImpulseTompling for providing the script for the series you're truly a life saver.)

Maxi isn't in this chapter but he'll definitely return next chapter.

Gotham City; July 4th; 12:00 EDT

Freeze is attacking picnickers in Gotham City park, many of them running in fear only to be frozen. One family stares at the cliff he's standing on in shock.

"Enjoying family time?" the villain questions rhetorically, then freezes the family. "My family has other plans." he then slides down the ramp now going from the cliff. Aiming at the running citizens of Gotham. Only for a Batarang to throw off his aim. "Batman," he says as if he's expecting it. "I was wondering when-"

He turns to find no one there. Only childish laughter echoed around him, which in an open area is impressive. From above, a black shadow is over his head. However what lands on him isn't the Batman, but rather Robin. Decked out in red, yellow, and black tactical gear. Knocking the ice villain down, then throwing two more disks at his helmet, cracking it.

"Oh. Boy Wonder." Freeze drawls. "The Bat sent you to drag me off to prison. Frankly, I'm underwhelmed." as he stands back up, aiming his ice gun at Robin this time.

"Great, but I'm kinda in a hurry here." Robin dismisses, despite the fact that the gun is buzzing to life.

"Kids," Freeze says in annoyance. "Always in such a rush."

"Not talking to you," Robin says in a sing-song tone. Freeze looks confused, so Robin just points behind him. Only to see Batman arrive with a flying punch to Freeze's face, breaking the glass of his helmet.

Star City Main Bridge; July 4th; 9:01 PDT

Icicle Junior lands and ices up the bridge, before using his powers to create a shell of ice. Knocking cars off balance and causing many crashes. He laughs almost maniacally before arrows start raining down.

In two colors, three green-fletched ones and two red-fletched ones. He pauses for a moment only for another green one to hit him in the shoulder. The nock of the arrow blinking red and beeping before blowing up. The small explosion knocks him off balance and towards the other arrows that then blow up and knock him back to where he was.

As the head trauma begins to subside, he turns his head, looking to one of the towers on the bridge. On it stands Green Arrow and his partner Speedy. Both aiming another arrow at the ice-themed villain.

"Finally!" Icicle Junior growls. "I was wondering what a guy had to do to get a little attention around here." his left arm, now the one facing the archers, grows and becomes more mace-like in style. Before he brings it back and begins launching icicles at the archers. Following it up with another volley from his right hand which has mirrored his left.

The two archers begin releasing arrows with ease.

"Junior's doing this for attention?" Speedy asks, surprised. The first batch of icicles explode thanks to their arrows, but the second set still comes through. Forcing them to run across the tower's width and down to the suspender. They continue to launch arrows and dodge the ice that cements to where it hits before growing. "I'm telling you now. This little distraction better not interfere."

The two archers launch a pair of arrows at Junior, who creates a shield in front of himself. However, the arrows are explosive, creating a hole in the shield. Junior uses it to his advantage, launching ice at the younger archer.

Speedy jumps, flipping over them as he grabs and strings another arrow. As he straightens out, he takes aim and fires straight at Junior, hitting him right in the jaw. Knocking him down and out.

"Hahaha!" Green Arrow chuckles, standing mere feet from where Junior ended his slide. "Kid had a glass jaw," he comments as his partner lands gracefully a few feet away.

"Hilarious." Speedy drawls stepping a little closer to Green Arrow. "Can we go?" his patience is clearly wearing thin. "Today's the day."

Pearl Harbor; July 4th; 6:02 HST

The harbor has many large shards of ice sticking out of the water. Many of the ships are frozen in place. Zooming in on one, Killer Frost continues to use her powers. Icing more of the ship and creating even more snowfall. However, who she's throwing it at is Aquaman. Who dodges and comes down from the Open Bridge to the Turret, then to the second Turret before jumping to the deck.

She predicts this and freezes him before he can get more than two feet down the deck.

Behind him and off to his left is Aqualad, jumping from the First Turret and over his mostly frozen mentor who breaks out and follows after him.

"Don't tell me you're not excited." Aquaman begins a conversation with his partner.

"Right now, my King, I am more focused on the matter at hand." the dark-skinned Atlantean tells him in a very formal tone. Dodging under a shot of ice, before faking right and getting Killer Frost to shoot in that direction so he can fake left and get in the opening.

She stops her right strike and aims for the area right before the younger Atlantean, but he jumps, pulling out his WaterBearers that form dual maces, causing the eel tattoos on his arms to begin their bright glow. Again, she aims at the teen. Nearly hitting him, until he puts his WaterBearers in the way of the strike.

Freezing them and freezing his hands to the handles. He lands barefoot right before her, before completing a strong double uppercut. Shattering the ice around his hands and what made up the maces and knocking the ice villain out. As they do his tattoos return to their normal black coloring.

Aquaman stops a few feet behind him, crossing his arms and gaining the teen's attention. "Well?"

"Yes, I'm excited," Aqualad admits. "Today's the day."

Central City; July 4th; 11:03 CDT

Ice covers the edges of a hole in the wall of a Jewelry Story. In the road, Captain Cold is trapped by the Flash, and Kid Flash running circles around the Ice-themed villain. He attempts to shoot them twice but isn't even close to hitting either of them. His third shot is closer, but he misses the Flash and ends up hitting a car. Freezing it solidly into what it would look like if it had gotten in a car crash and went flying.

"Stealing ice? Really? Isn't that a big cliché for even Captain Cold?" Flash asks, still running circles around the villain.

"Come on!" Kid Flash calls out. "We don't have time for this!" with that he slips his red goggles over her malachite green eyes, cutting out of the circle and heading for Cold's turned back. However, his talking gave him away and Cold turns towards the sound of his voice. Cold Gun aimed at the teen.

He dodges, some of the ice hitting his shoulder as he turns away from the stream. Then facing back towards Cold, snagging the Cold Gun and knocking the ice off his shoulder as he skids to a stop in the T intersection.

Cold growls, clenching his empty hand in frustration, but can't get any farther before Flash hits with a hard cross to the face. Knocking him a good five or six feet to the side, and out for the count. "Calm down, Kid," he says nonchalantly.

"Oh, please!" Kid Flash cries out in annoyance. "You'll chat it up with the cops, with bystanders, with Cold even." he gestures to the now unconscious criminal to prove his point. "No. No way!" he steps up to his mentor, despite the height difference Flash seems to actually be taking him seriously. "Today's the day!" his bright green eyes are glowing with excitement.

Washington D.C.; July 4th; 14:00 EDT

The Hall of Justice

Before the Hall of Justice stands Batman and Robin, Green Arrow and Speedy, Aquaman and Aqualad. Batman turns to his sidekick. "Today's the day."

"Welcome to the Hall of Justice." Green Arrow continues.

"Headquarters of the Justice League." Aquaman finishes.

"Oh, man!" Kid Flash's voice cries out, catching all of their attention and causing them to turn away from the Hall for a moment. Flash skids to a stop first, followed closely by his sidekick. "I knew we'd be the last ones here." he gripes crossing his arms, causing Flash to raise an eyebrow behind his cowl.

As they walk down the area opened so that they can get to the Hall the crowd goes insane. One spectator who's particularly far-off questions quite loudly. "Is that Batman?"

"I see Flash and Flash Jr." another calls out, this one female.

"His name is Speedy. Duh." someone objects, clearly having heard her get that sidekick's name wrong.

"No, Speedy is Green Arrow's sidekick." another, younger male, corrects.

"Well, that makes no sense." a fourth spectator quips.

"Ready to see the inner sanctum?" Green Arrow asks Speedy.

"Born that way," Speedy says, with a minute glance back at his mentor.

"I'm glad we're all here," Aqualad says, turning the conversation towards the two boys younger than himself and the one older than him.

"Have all four Sidekicks ever been at the same place at the same time?" Kid Flash questions, looking mostly towards Robin because even though he's the youngest, he would know.

"Don't call us Sidekicks," Speedy commands, practically growling the first words. "not after today."

Kid Flash smiles. "Sorry." he apologizes, seeming rather sincere. "First time at the Hall. I'm a little overwhelmed."

"You're overwhelmed, Freeze was underwhelmed. Why isn't anybody ever just whelmed?" Robin asks as they walk through the doors. "Oh." he manages, staring up at the statues of the founding Justice League members. "Maybe that's why."

They arrive at a large door with AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY written on it. It slides open, revealing Martian Manhunter and Red Tornado, a human-sized red robot. The two Heroes step out of the hallway and into where the Cameras can see them.

"Robin, Speedy, Aqualad, Kid Flash," he lists them off in order, his voice calm but monotonic and formal. "welcome." then he turns around, leading them inside. The two leading protéges, Robin and Kid Flash, fist bump with each other as they begin to follow him. "You now have unlimited access to the gym, our fully stocked gallery, and of course our library." the door opens revealing a massive library with a massive computer and extensive amounts of books.

Flash turns back to the four teens. "Make yourselves at home," he says with a grand gesture and a smile. Robin and Kid Flash jump into their chairs, while Aqualad calmly takes the one across from them. Speedy, however, remains standing. Looking directly at the mentors.

"Quick debrief to discuss the coincidence of four Ice Villains attacking on the same day." Batman then turns to the teens. "We shouldn't be long." Then he turns to another door, and a fisheye camera pops out.

Recognize:

Batman; 0-2,

Aquaman; 0-6,

Flash; 0-4,

Green Arrow; 0-8,

Martian Manhunter; 0-7,

Red Tornado; 1-6.

The door behind the camera illuminates before opening reading out JUSTICE LEAGUE MEMBERS ONLY.

"That's it?" Speedy demands his anger and volume catching all of their attention instantly. "You promised a real look inside, not a glorified backstage pass." he crosses his arms since his eyes can't show his emotions as he has lenses in his mask.

"It's the first step," Aquaman speaks up, though calmly. "You've been granted access few others get."

"Oh, really?" he questions, gesturing up to a group of people taking pictures on the other side of the (presumably) soundproof glass. "Who cares which side of the glass we're on?"

"Roy, you just need to be patient." Green Arrow tries, even using his Sidekick's civilian name to attempt to get through to the teenager.

"What I need is respect," Roy growls, before turning around to take a look at the other three protéges. Who are all still sitting down and not intervening in the conversation they were so obviously listening to. "They're treating us like kids." he tries to speak directly to them. "Worse- like Sidekicks!" his anger is steadily growing but that one word makes it nearly double. "We deserve better than this."

All three exchange looks, Kid Flash looking to Robin, then to Aqualad, who exchanges a small glance to the both of them, then all three turning to Roy, but Robin's eyes have gone wide beneath the lenses of his mask.

Roy's voice drops. "You're kidding right?" the three don't object. "You're playing their game?" his anger is growing again. Worse this time. "Why?! Today was supposed to be the day, step one in becoming full-fledged members of the League."

"Well, sure," Kid Flash speaks up, looking to the other two protéges. "but I thought step one was the tour of the HQ," he says, sitting up straighter and looking at the older teen.

"Except the Hall isn't the League's real HQ." Green Arrow looks mildly surprised, while Aquaman's eyes bug in shock. Not to mention all three protéges' mouths drop open, Kid Flash's in shock, Robin's paired with surprise and Aqualad has his accompanied with confusion.

"I bet they never told you it's just a false front for tourists" Green Arrows have gone wide, but he looks less surprised in a shocked kind of way and more so like he can't believe his protége is telling this in front of the other boys and Leaguers.

However, Aquaman's shock has faded and as he takes one look at Green Arrow he calms entirely. "and a pit stop for catching Zeta-beam teleporter-tubes to the real thing," he gestures up with his right hand in indication for his next words. "an orbiting satellite called the Watchtower."

Green Arrows turns, showing off Batman's glare, which is probably what got him to turn towards the Dark Knight in the first place. "I know, I know, but I thought we could make an exception." Batman continues to glare. "Or not."

Aquaman steps up slightly. "You're not helping your cause here, son. Stand down or..."

"Or what?" he demands. "You'll send me to my room? And I'm not your son!" he snaps then turns to Green Arrow. "I'm not even his." his anger seems to die out as he speaks again. "I thought I was his partner, but not anymore." emphasizing his point by taking off the canary-yellow hat and throwing it to the ground.

All three younger protéges can only watch in wide-eyed shock.

"Guess they were right about you three," Roy comments as he walks between the three who stand up in an attempt to either say something or physically get in his way. "You're not ready." with that they all watch as he leaves the library.

They can't sit on it for long, an alarm begins blaring from the computer. Turning they find Superman on the screen.

"Superman to Justice League." the Kryptonian prefaces. "There has been an explosion at Project Cadmus. It's on fire."

The Justice League members all step up to the computer. "I've had my suspicions about Cadmus. This may present the perfect opportunity to in-" Batman begins but is cut as another alarm comes through.

"Zatara to Justice League." this time the Magician shows up on a small screen in the lower right-hand corner. "The sorcerer Wotan is using the Amulet of Attan to blot out the Sun." now he has their full attention. "Requesting full League response."

"Superman?" Batman questions.

"It's a small fire." the big blue boy scout assures. "Local authorities have it under control."

"Then Cadmus can wait." the Dark Knight states, then presses a key on the massive keyboard below. "All Leaguers rendezvous at Zatara's coordinates. Batman out."

The three protéges step up to their mentors.

"Stay put," Batman states, barely even looking at them before he gives his order.

"What?" Robin questions, shocked. "Why?"

"This is a League mission," Aquaman says.

"You're not trained." Flash continues.

"Since when?" Kid Flash demands mere moments after the last syllable leaves his mentor's mouth.

Flash is prepared to clarify. "I meant you're not trained to work as a part of this team," he says, gesturing to the other two mentors beside him and in extension, the computer with Zatara still showing.

"There will be other missions when you're ready," Aquaman states calmly.

"But for now, stay put." Batman glares at the end to accent his point. The screen turns fully black behind him, making his lenses pop even more.

All three look sad, but as their mentors walk away anger comes over their faces.

"Glad you didn't bring you-know-who?" Green Arrow asks Martian Manhunter with a small tease in his tone.

"Indeed." the alien agrees rapidly.

They walk in behind Aquaman, Batman, and Flash, but Red Tornado looks at them for a moment before following. Then the door closes.

Kid Flash scoffs. "When we're ready?" he questions, looking between the two beside him. "How are we ever supposed to be ready when they treat us like," he's very animated, stepping forward and throwing his hands up, before turning around and glaring up at Aqualad. "like Sidekicks." he too growls out the term that they are typically referred to as.

"My mentor, my King, I thought he trusted me," Aqualad says sadly.

"Trust?" Kid Flash questions sarcastically. "They don't even trust us with the basics!" he points out the obvious. "They've got a secret HQ in Space!"

"What else aren't they telling us?" Aqualad questions, voicing what they're all thinking.

Robin sighs. "I have a better question: Why didn't we leave with Speedy?" Kid Flash crosses his arms and looks down, annoyed, while Aqualad looks down sadly.

"What is Project Cadmus?" Aqualad asks slowly.

"Don't know," Robin admits, then grins/smirks. "but I can find out." he walks over to the computer, instantly typing out codes and searching for information.

The computer buzzes. Access Denied. The automated voice states.

Robin laughs. "Wanna bet?" hitting a few more buttons before he starts looking through codes of the files at near lightspeed.

"Whoa." Kid Flash murmurs surprised. "How are you doing that."

Robin smiles as he hits two more keys. "Same system as the Batcave." with that he hits one last key.

Access Granted. The voice states. Showing a two-story complex and all the data showing up around it.

"Alright. Project Cadmus," he states simply. "Genetics lab here in DC." then he frowns. "That's all there is, but if Batman's suspicious..." he glances at Aqualad, "maybe we should investigate." then turns to Kid Flash.

"Solve their case before they do." Aqualad gives a small smile. "It would be poetic justice."

"Hey." Robin manages through his chuckle. "They're all about justice."

Aqualad sighs. "But they said ＂stay put＂."

"For the blotting out the sun mission, not this," Robin says, smiling and putting his hands on his hips.

"Wait." the speedster starts, grabbing the younger's shoulder and turning him towards him "Are- are you going to Cadmus?" he uses his finger-pointing skills to emphasize. "Because if you're going, I'm going!" both boys turn to Aqualad smiling, Robin utterly beaming, and Kid Flash with a dash of hope in his.

"Just like that?" Aqualad asks. "We're a team on a mission?"

Both their smiles die down, but Robin gains a smirk. "We didn't come for a play date." Aqualad joins his with a look of pure determination.
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"Help! Get us out!" one of two scientists trapped on the second story call out.

"Stay calm, we will get you out." the firefighter calls back, using a megaphone.

An explosion goes off behind them and the force of it pushes the two out the window. Kid Flash zooms onto the scene, running up the wall and getting both to the roof, but he's not fast enough to get there himself. He falls and manages to catch himself on the second-story window ledge that the two scientists just fell from.

"It's what's-his-name, Flashboy!" the same firefighter yells, both glad to see him and proud of himself for seemingly getting it right.

"Kid Flash!" the speedster yells down. "Why is that so hard?" he wonders to himself.

Robin and Aqualad finally arrive. "So smooth." the Boy Wonder says smugly.

"Does he always have to run ahead?" Aqualad murmurs, partially to himself and partially to Robin. "We need a plan. We-" he looks to talk to the younger boy but finds the space beside him now empty. "Robin?" he looks around everywhere.

Robin's laugh echoes through the area, before he flips onto the back of the fire truck, secures his grappling hook to the Tower Ladder, and swings onto the window ledge. Landing with perfect balance, before helping Kid Flash up and into the building.

Aqualad runs up behind the truck, coming to the two men working the hose. "I need to borrow that," he tells them before they see him. Pulling out his Water-bearers, which causes his tattoos to glow, before they begin to redirect the flow of water. Creating a platform underneath his feet. He gets to the roof. "Step aboard. Now," he tells the two scientists sternly.

They do without hesitation but stumble until they both sit down. He steps onto the window ledge that the other two entered through and then directs the water the rest of the way down. Ensuring that both scientists are safe.

As he jumps in, Kid Flash is going through file cabinets, while Robin is hacking the computer.

"Appreciate the help," he says sarcastically.

"You handled it," Robin says, still looking rather smug. "Besides we're here to investigate." Aqualad steps beyond the two, heading further into the building. "Poetic justice remember?" as Aqualad steps beyond the desks, there is a long hallway, with an elevator door closing. The only thing visible is the blue skin and ivory horn protruding from its head.

The clang of the doors meets draws the attention of the other two. Bringing them right behind Aqualad. "There was something in the" he cuts himself off, still not entirely sure of what he's seen.

"Elevators should be locked down." Kid Flash says, standing straight.

Robin grabs his elbow and shoulder before moving past him without a word, then slipping right off Aqualad. Coming to the area of the elevator, looking at it with scrutiny. "This is wrong." He pulls up a HoloScreen on his gauntlet. Giving him the specs of a Sliver Slip Express Elevator.

Which is exactly what's in front of them. "This is a high-speed express elevator. It doesn't belong in a two-story building."

"Neither does what I saw," Aqualad states gravely, before forcing the doors open. As his strength is no longer needed at full capacity, he looks down the elevator shaft, which seems to go on forever.

Robin ducks under his arm, kneeling to try and get a better look. "And that's why they need an express elevator." Then he stands, shooting his grappling hook into the top of the column. Once it sticks, he jumps, letting himself fall. Aqualad and Kid Flash follow with almost no hesitance.

Robin watches as the level numbers run past him. Their eyes widen as he passes SL22, SL23, and SL24, and begins to slow at SL25. Then he comes to a stop at SL26. "I'm at the end of my rope," he tells the two above him. They stop sliding down and let Robin jump to the narrow platform with this level's elevator doors. He makes it with ease, then moves left so Aqualad could make it.

He does, then remains where he is and offers his hand to Kid Flash, who takes it and stands on the large segment of the platform with Aqualad. The Boy Wonder pulls up the system security. "Bypassing security." he waits as his five little robin heads go from red to green. "There. Go."

Aqualad pries the door open. All three of them walking out.

"Welcome to Project Cadmus," Robin announces. Kid Flash smiles before bolting.

"Kid, wait!" Aqualad tries, but the speedster doesn't stop. The sounds of heavy footsteps in the hallway that cuts across the one he's running in force him to skid.

However, he can't stop in time, falling into the hallway as massive creatures that walk on all fours but stand nearly as tall as the hallway walk down in two rows. He barely dodges the hand of the leader. Breathing a sigh of relief, then standing and running back across where both Robin and Aqualad now stand shocked.

One growls at them, but there is also a smaller one on top of its massive trunked head. The smaller one hisses and its horns glow red as the larger one continues to walk away.

"No. Nothing odd going on here," Aqualad says sarcastically.

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In a personal lab...

A scientist with a ponytail works on a pink mixture in a dish. Grabbing an eyedropper beside him. With the genetic markers displayed on his computer screen. Once he has the eyedropper, he uses it to pick up the pink liquid.

Within his room are other creatures, one looking like the one with glowing horns, and the other two seem more insect-like. He allows one drop to fall into the test tube, which has what looks like water and a blue crystal inside it.

As the pink liquid mixes with the clear liquid in the test tube the crystal decomposes and the whole thing turns a glowing blue color. Illuminating the man's glasses-covered eyes and pale face.

The door behind him beeps, opening to reveal a man dressed in blue body armor covering his torso and thighs, silver shin guards and gloves, a gold emblem on his black belt and knees, then topping it all off with a golden helmet. "Dr. Desmond." the man says.

He doesn't go beyond that before Desmond speaks up, annoyed. "Tell me, Guardian, what part of no interruptions did you not understand?" he hits the 13 on a cylinder labeled PROJECT BLOCKBUSTER. Then placing the test tube within, filling the final open spot on the rack of six. It closes back up on its own.

"A G-gnome on Sub-Level 26 reports three intruders," Guardian speaks up anyway.

Desmond sighs through an oh as he steps back from his massive microscope. "Did I miss a perimeter breach alert?" he questions, already knowing the answer, and therefore talking condescendingly to Guardian.

"No," Guardian replies tensely.

"Then the G-gnome's confused," Desmond says, his annoyance showing. "Whatever might occur in our faux lab above ground, the real Cadmus is the most secure facility in DC." then turns back to his microscope.

"My job to keep it that way." Guardian reminds him.

"Fine. Take a squad." Desmond says, unaware of the third person- well, rather a blue-skinned anthropoid with ivory horns and darker blue skin on its elbows.

Guardian goes to attention for a moment and the anthropoid steps next to him. Revealing red eyes, pointed ears, and two blue feelers falling from the jawline to its clavicle. "Might I recommend Guardian leave his G-gnome behind?" both it and Guardian turn to look at the creature resting on his shoulder. "If violence should occur..."

"The little guy would be in my way." Guardian finishes for the anthropoid.

"No." Desmond snaps, stepping away from his microscope. Revealed a G-gnome on the table beside him. "The advantage of instant telepathic communication outweighs other concerns." he takes the creature's face in his hand, massaging it with his thumb and forefinger just behind the jaw, but before its pointed ears. As he releases it, the horns glow red, in response, the one on Guardian's shoulder's horns glows.

Guardian turns in the direction of the anthropoid but doesn't look at it. His gaze far off. "I need my G-gnome with me at all times." his voice has gone monotonic, then he turns, bowing in Desmond's and putting his fisted hand over his heart. Then both walk out of Desmond's Lab.

The door's center before them goes from red to yellow to green before it fully unlocks. Kid Flash is waiting, while Robin is hacking, and Aqualad covers their six. As the door opens both Robin and Kid Flash look surprised. "Okay, I'm officially whelmed." catching Aqualad's attention.

-------------------------------------

Within the room are towering rows of bug-like creatures, giving off electrical pulses that seem to then go through a generator in the wall before them, but nearly 20 feet off the ground.

"This is how they hide this massive underground facility from the world." Kid Flash realizes as they walk between the towering rows. "The real Cadmus isn't on the grid. It generates its own power with these... things." any excitement has left his tone. "Must be what they're bred for."

"Even the name is a clue." Aqualad agrees. "The Cadmus of myth created a new race by sowing dragon's teeth into the Earth."

"And this Cadmus creates new life too." Robin agrees stepping up to the computer nearest one of the rows of creatures. "Let's find out why." then pulls out a connector from his gauntlet to connect him to the computer. A HoloScreen appears and he begins funneling the information. "They call them Genomorphs." Now he has Kid Flash and Aqualad's full attention. As one appears on the entirety of the HoloGlove his eyes widen. "Whoa! Look at the stats on these things- super-strength, telepathy, razor claws. These are living weapons." Robin reels back in shock.

"They're engineering an army, but for who?" Kid Flash questions.

"Wait. There's something else." Robin says as another batch of information comes through to his gauntlet. Aqualad now steps up behind Robin, looking over his shoulder. "Project Kr." he tries to start decrypting it. "Ugh! The file's triple-encrypted. I- I can't-"

"Don't move!" Guardian calls now having a golden shield on his left forearm a squad of smaller, Genomorphs growling around him. These are longer, skinnier, and tailed and their four digits on their front paws, and the three on their back are finished off with razor-sharp claws. The Genomorph 077s that Robin pulls stats on. Guardian stops short. "Wait, Robin, Aqualad, Kid Flash?"

"At least he got your name right." Robin teases, working on the Kr file behind Aqualad so Guardian can't see him.

"I know you," Aqualad speaks, momentarily catching Robin's attention. "Guardian, a hero."

The hero stands tall. "I do my best."

"Then what are you doing here?" Kid Flash questions, confused.

"I'm Chief of Security," Guardian responds. "You're trespassing, but we can call the Justice League, figure this out."

No one says anything for a tense moment, but everyone hears the beep from Robin's gauntlet that indicates his decryption process on Project Kr is complete.

"You think the League's gonna approve of you breeding weapons?" Kid Flash demands.

"Weapons?" Guardian questions, confused. "What are you-" Guardian's eyes go wide just before his G-gnome's horns begin to glow. "What have I-" he brings his head to his temple as it falls to his chest. "Ugh, my head." Finally, he brings his hand away, but he glares hard at the protéges. "Take them down hard!" he tells the Genomorphs. Then points directly at the three teenagers. "No mercy."

With a growl, the Genomorphs jump into action. Robin does so at the same time, getting in front of Kid Flash and Aqualad and dropping a smoke bomb. He shoots a grappling hook to the bottom of one of the support beams.

Kid Flash backs up as Genomorph slashes at his face. Dodging, but just barely, before he walks on the wall and dives at the two with dual punches, then pushing off the opposite vertical support, executing an inverted flip and pushing off to kick on in the chest and back through the smoke.

Aqualad has one on his shoulders slicing at his chest and gripping his head. He gets ahold of its arm and throws it off, combating the next one coming at him with a front kick to the chest as well.

However, at his open and unguarded shoulder, Guardian body-checks him. Knocking him off his feet and into a crashing barrel roll, then into the plating under the insectoid Genomorphs. Guardian charges at him again.

He stands and attempts a triple cross combo, but Guardian backs out of his range and when he's following through due to the power he puts behind the punch, once again leaving his left shoulder open to Guardian.

The older hero gets a punch in on his face, then turns into an elbow that Aqualad barely manages to duck under. Then catch the attempted downward elbow after the dodged uppercut thanks to the shield on his left forearm.

Aqualad's tattoos glow before electricity travels through the shield and into the hero, giving Aqualad the advantage and making him able to throw Guardian to the ground. The G-gnome falling off his shoulder.

Kid Flash runs through the smoke and the two make their escape.

------------------------------

Outside the room, where the alarm is blaring, Robin is hacking into one of the ports. Aqualad and Kid Flash make it down the hallway from the growl Genomorphs, the younger speeding towards their fellow protége. Aqualad chances a glance back, then follows as well.

Kid Flash skids to a stop and turns accusingly to the younger teen. "Way to be a team player, Rob!"

"Weren't you right behind me?" he questions, surprised, but not stalling in his hacking of the elevator. It opens and the two dive in, turning and facing back down the hall as Aqualad continues to run from the Genomorphs, diving into the elevator and the door closes right behind him.

The numbers are going up, which means they're going deeper underground. Aqualad is the first to voice not only his concern but also his dislike which is obvious in his harsh tone. "We're headed down?"

"Dude out is up." Kid Flash makes his point by gesturing in that direction. Both older boys look at the Boy Wonder in tensed confusion.

"Excuse me?" Robin questions, offended. "Project Kr, it's down on Sub-Level 52."

Aqualad puts his arm between the two physically cutting off the conversation. "This is out of control." then moves it to rub the back of his neck as he moves to the far side of the expansive elevator. "Perhaps- perhaps we should contact the League."

The elevator slows and finally comes to a stop with a ding at Sub-Level 52. All three get in front of the door tensed for battle, but there's nothing there. Only hallways that look almost organic.

Robin sprints out, colorful cape flying behind him, leaving Kid Flash to turn to Aqualad. "We are already here."

The eldest sighs in an effort to not get mad at the younger protéges. As he comes to be next to them his voice is tense. "Which way?"

Robin chuckles, trying to keep it light. "Yeah, bizarre-looking hallway one, or bizarre-hallway two?"

"Halt!" is given out by the Anthropoid from before. His horns glow red and he lifts two cans telekinetically, then launching them at the teens. They dodge and Robin throws a disk at him which he stops. By the time he's prepared to attack them again, they're running down the other hallway.

He stops and waits as Guardian and the other Genomorphs run out of the elevator. "They are headed for Project Kr," he tells Guardian. The force doesn't stop and continues down the path.

Further down a scientist opens the door from the inside. Walking out of the chamber. Kid Flash comes around the corner at high speed and doesn't have a chance to stop before he takes out her feet knocking her to the ground.

As he gets to his knees, he hears the doors behind him closing and looks at the PROJECT Kr label on it, and how much distance the other two teens have to cross before they get to it. He gets to his feet and picks up a large triangular prism-shaped object, dropping it to the floor and between the two flat segments of the door. He can already hear the door straining. "Hurry!"

He and Robin both jump through, but Aqualad takes a moment before he steps inside. Watching as Guardian and the Genomorphs come around the corner, then kicks out the prop. Allowing the door to slam closed.

A few steps in Robin has the HoloGlove up again and is hacking the door to engage the emergency lock. "I disabled the door. We're safe," he tells the older boys.

"We're trapped," Aqualad says in a dark tone, then looks to Kid Flash who is in front of a large computer system deeper in the dark chamber.

"Uh, guys," he calls to the other two. "You'll want to see this." hitting a single button to turn all the lights on in the chamber and inside the pod in the center of the room.

As it does all three of them can only stare in utter disbelief. "Whoa!" is all that is managed by the Boy Wonder. Inside the pod is a boy with pitch-black hair, pale skin, and a white suit that has Superman's S on it. The letter's Kr written on the glass that keeps the teen within.

Kid Flash steps around the console, looking at the boy closer. "Big "K", little "r", the atomic symbol for Krypton." he turns back towards the other two. "Clone?"

"Robin, hack," Aqualad commands.

It takes the caught-off-guard youngest a couple of seconds to register what he was told to do. "Oh. Right, right." he plugs his connector into the console. As it asks for a password, he begins the bypass program, which works and lets him in. Kid Flash walks back as he realizes Robin's got it.

"Weapon Designation Superboy, a clone force-grown in... sixteen weeks?!" his eyes popping in shock. "From DNA acquired from Superman."

"Stolen from Superman." Aqualad accuses.

"No way the big guy knows about this." Kid Flash agrees.

"Solar Suit allows him to absorb yellow-sun radiation 24/7." Robin continues to read off.

"And these creatures?" Aqualad questions indicating to the ones on the projection off of Robin's gauntlet.

"Genomorph Gnomes, telepathic, force-feeding him an education." Robin relays sourly.

"And we can guess what else." Kid Flash says, capturing the attention of the other two. "They're making a slave out of, well, Superman's son."

"Now we contact the League," Aqualad says, and there's no objection. In fact, as Aqualad reaches for his emblem, Kid Flash goes to his lightning bolts and Robin attempts it from his HoloGlove. All of them get nothing.

"No signal." Robin verifies.

"We're in too deep literally." Kid Flash says, knowing it's true in both senses.

-------------------------------

On the other side of the door, Guardian and the Genomorph squad stand ready, while the scientist attempts to manually cross the wires to force the door open. A panting Doctor Desmond and the Anthropoid approach, gaining Guardian's attention. "They're still in there with the weapon?" Desmond sounds accusatory in his words to Guardian.

"We can't get the door open," Guardian explains, not attempting to pin the blame on the female scientist who's working on the door.

"Use your telekinesis!" Desmond commands the Anthropoid.

"I have tried to no avail," he responds simply.

"Useless! This is a debacle." he seems to calm down as he approaches Guardian. "Get some G-trolls down and muscle the door open now!"

Guardian puts his hands on his hips. "Already on their way," he says rightfully defensive.

"You realize once we get in there, we can't ever let them leave," Desmond says darkly.

"Doc, these aren't your typical meddling kids." Guardian tries to make the man see sense. "You don't want to get on the wrong side of the Justice League."

"Better than getting on the wrong side of the Cadmus Directors, believe me," he says darkly, then transfers the look to the G-gnome on Guardian's shoulder. "Contact the G-gnomes inside Kr. We can't let them get to Project M"

Its horns glow and it seems to concentrate strongly on getting through to them.

-------------------------------

With success, the horns of all three Genomorphs inside the pod begin to hiss lightly and their horns glow red.

"This is wrong." Kid Flash finally says.

Robin needs no convincing. "We can't leave him like this."

Both are now looking to a concentrating Aqualad. "Set him free." he decides, then turns to Robin. "Do it."

The Boy Wonder needs no further prodding and begins work on it immediately. All three watch as the pod falls away from the boy who looks physically 16. Though the pod is gone he remains calm.

Then his hand clenches, causing worry to play on Aqualad's brow.

As the G-gnomes begin to hiss again his bright blue eyes snap open. Aqualad raises his eyebrows in a silent question, but no one dares to speak. Before anyone can blink Superboy launches himself at Aqualad. Tackling him to the ground and leaving the other two to watch the movement in shock.

They tumble over each other twice, before Superboy ends up on top of Aqualad his fist coming back to hit him square in the face. He gets three full hits in before Kid Flash and Robin manage to grab his arms and hold him back slightly.

"Whoa! Hang on, Supey." Kid Flash tries, holding the Kryptonian's forearm with all his strength.

"We're on your side!" Robin also attempts to talk to the raging maniac. Kid Flash loses his fight against Superboy and gives the clone enough time to land an uppercut under the speedster's jaw. Knocking him up and back and through a display cylinder.

Then on the back of his neck and flopping to the ground, unconscious. Robin now has his arm around Superboy's neck and the other in his utility belt. "I don't want to do this," he tells him then places a smoke blaster on the clone's clavicle.

Unleashing gas right into his face. Finally getting him to stumble back and off of Aqualad. Which the Atlantean pairs with a solid sidekick to the stomach, which sends him into the console and to the ground before his pod.

Robin keeps going and pulls out a high-voltage taser. They pin to his chest and send high amounts of electricity, but they have no effect. He grabs the wires and yanks on them. Catching the young teen by surprise and pulling him towards him with ease. Catching him on the front of his cape then slamming him to the ground. As a final point, he steps onto the smaller raven's chest. Beginning to force more weight onto his solar plexus.

Getting his head back on straight, and realizing the immediate danger the one non-powered member of their group is in. Aqualad pulls out his WaterBearers, creating a massive hammer, swinging back and only catching the clone's attention with his cry of "Enough!"

which gave him no warning and let Aqualad hit him solidly and knocking him back through the support of his pod. Aqualad helps Robin up to his knees, but he's groaning and clutching his chest in pain. Until he finally falls onto his back, unconscious.

Aqualad stands up as he hears Superboy's heavy footfalls coming back towards them. He stands tall and puts his hand out in the universal sign to stop. "We are trying to help you."

The boy does stop moving but doesn't stop glaring. In an instant, he tries to punch Aqualad, but he sidesteps and tackles the clone into the wall. While over him he tries a right-handed cross, but Superboy catches it, then unleashes a strong push front kick to his stomach. Knocking him away and forcing the Atlantean to roll to reduce the distance.

Aqualad dodges the obvious punch, countering with a roundhouse to the stomach, which causes his body to instinctively curl in on itself, then elbow him between the shoulders. He gets an uppercut to Superboy's chest before the clone tries for a hook punch, which he ducks under and gets a solid strike to the kidneys.

Then Aqualad gets behind his turned back and puts his hands under his arms and behind his head. Using his Atlantean powers to shock Superboy.

It clearly hurts this time, and as he looks like he's about to go down the clone uses his super strength to throw both him and Aqualad into the ceiling. However, being on his back and the first to hit Aqualad takes the brunt of the hit. Yet, he doesn't let go so Superboy does it again. This time the Atlantean's grip breaks and he falls independently to the ground. Unconscious.

Superboy walks past his unconscious form and to the door. His hands break through the metal and he gets the door open with a slam, knocking it off its rail. Gaining the full attention, albeit shocked, of Guardian, Desmond, and the Anthropoid.

Desmond smirks but says nothing as he walks past the clone. Observing the unconscious teen heroes within. "Attaboy." he finally says.

Chapter Text

(Thank you so much ImpulseTompling for providing the script for the series you're truly a life saver.)

A G-gnome sits on one of the desks in an expansive lab as Desmond paces across the center. Finally slowing as seven screens come down from the ceiling. All seven are active, but instead of pictures, white outlines counteract the blue background.

"Dr. Desmond, you require an audience with the Light?" a man's voice asks, anger clear in his tone. (Savage)

"Yes. Very sorry to disturb you at this late hour," he says, seeming like a tiny mouse compared to the lion he acts like to Guardian and the others.

"Just make your report." another man's voice speaks up, annoyance clear in his tone. (Ocean Master)

"Of course," Desmond says quickly. "Ahem." he clears his throat as he tries to buy himself time. "Well, we had a small fire, here at Project Cadmus. The origin of the incident is still unclear but seems to have attracted some... unwanted attention."

As he continues to speak the scene changes to show Kid Flash, Robin, and Aqualad unconscious in pods as Superboy watches over them.

"The three sidekicks, Robin, Aqualad, and Kid Flash breached security. They found and released the weapon, the Superboy. Of course, the clone is under our telepathic control and as ordered turned against his would-be liberators. The three are contained and we don't believe the League knows they're here." With that, he finishes his report then comes to why he really called them. "Uh... what should I do with them?"

"Clone them." the second male's voice says.

"The substitutes will serve the Light and only the Light." the deeper male's voice agrees.

"And the originals?" Desmond asks.

"Dispose of them." the deeper voice commands with no hesitation. "Leave no trace."

Desmond only smiles cruelly in response. Unaware a certain sokovian was lurking in the shadows.

———————————————
'I guess this is the sign Dubbilex was talking about' Maxi thought as he recalled the message from a few hours ago.

——————————————

'This is proving to be more difficult than I originally thought'  Maxi thought as he got in an elevator to make his way down to sub-level 52.  "I can't believe I got to rescue a couple of superheroes, It should be the other way around" Maxi mumbled to himself just as the elevator dinged with the floor number reading 52.
———————————————
"Time runs short." a male's voice says. "You must awaken, help is on the way." none of the teens even flinch. "You must awaken NOW!"

Kid Flash comes to, gasping for air and his green eyes flying open. The other two are just as alert now too. Their attention trained on the glaring Superboy before them. "What? What do you want?" the speedster asks, his annoyance fighting his fear. "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 suggests to the seriously freaked-out speedster.

———————————————
Desmond and the scientist that was in Project Kr walk down the organic-looking hall.

"Prepare the cloning procedure for the new Project Sidekick, now," Desmond instructs. She leaves instantly and Desmond continues to walk until he is side-by-side with Guardian.

"Almost done here Doc," he tells him once he comes to a pause. A G-troll holds the door stable while a worker welds the broken configurations.

Desmond continues forward, then stops short in shock as he seems the pod is empty. "Where's the weapon?" he demands, though there's anger in his voice, there's fear in his eyes.

"Superboy"?" Guardian asks, stepping up as well. "He carried the intruders to the cloning chamber."

"We have Genomorphs for that!" Desmond objects. "Get the weapon back in its pod now!"

"I don't see the harm in letting the kid stretch his legs," Guardian said not trying to pick a fight with Desmond because he honestly doesn't understand the problem.

"Don't you now?" Desmond asks, raising a single eyebrow as the G-gnome on his shoulder horns begin to glow.

Guardians eyes go wide, but blank before they harden into an angry glare, "That clone belongs in a cage!" he practically growls before storming off.
———————————————
Meanwhile, Maxi was sneaking through by the genomorphs that were patrolling the area he got a telepathic message from Dubbilex 'They are preparing to clone them you must hurry child.' 'I'm trying but they have genomorphs patrolling the area it's gonna take me a while to get there' Maxi telepathically responded as he continued to make his way towards the captive heroes.———————————————

"We only sought to help you." Aqualad tries to tell the clone, calmly.

"Yeah. We free you, and you turn on us." Kid Flash pipes up, clearly still annoyed at the minimum. "How's that for grat-"

"Kid, please, be quiet now." Aqualad firmly says to the younger teen. "I believe our friend was not in full control of his actions."

With the conversation gaining ground Robin activates a lockpick in the pointer finger of his glove and begins to work on his restraint.

"Wha- what if I..." he trails with an annoyed huff, his voice never been used so his words don't come out quite right and his tone is slightly scratchy. "What if I wasn't?" he manages.

"He can talk?" Kid Flash questions shocked.

Superboy's hand clenches into a fist again as he practically growls his words at Kid Flash. "Yes, he can."

The two look at Kid Flash who looks rather confused back at them. "Not like I said, ＂it＂."

"The Genomorph taught you telepathically." Aqualad realizes.

"They taught me much," Superboy admits. "I can read, write. I- I know the names of things."

"But have you seen them? Have they actually let you see the sky? Or the Sun?" Robin asks, knowing how much all three of them take those things for granted.

"Images are implanted in my mind," he admits, then looks down as if ashamed, "but no. I have not seen them."

Aqualad turns towards the more pressing matter. "Do you know what you are, who you are?"

Superboy stands tall. "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." the last bit gets worried looks from all three of them.

"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." Aqualad tries to approach it calmly.

Once those words leave Aqualad's mouth Superboy gets angry. "I live because of Cadmus! It is my home!"

"Your home is a test tube," Robin says rather simply. "We can show you the Sun."

"Uh, pretty sure it's after midnight, but we can show you the moon." he offered as a substitute.

"We can show you, introduce you to Superman." Aqualad agrees with the young speedster, knowing how much that would mean to the teenage clone before them. Superboy's eyes widen slightly at the prospect.

"No, they can't," Desmond says resolutely as he, Guardian, and the female scientist walk into the chamber. "They'll be otherwise occupied." his tone is almost smug now, then he turns to the female scientist. "Activate the cloning process." the two men stop and she walks off to the left to do as he instructs.

"Pass!" Robin speaks up. "Batcave's crowded enough."

"And get the Weapon back in its pod." Desmond commands of Guardian.

"Hey, how come he gets to call Supey an＂it＂?" Kid Flash questions, seeming partially annoyed and partially saddened by the prospect.

Guardian steps up, placing a hand on Superboy's shoulder. Superboy looks to the three trapped teens.

Aqualad realizes the depths they have gone to. "Help us." he pleads with Superboy. The clone shrugs off Guardian's hand, looking at the older Hero with an angered look.

Desmond walks up behind him. "Don't start thinking now." His Genomorph hops off his shoulder and lands on Superboy's shoulder. It hisses as its horns glow red, taking telepathic control over Superboy. Only physically obvious as his eyes lose focus. "See you're not a real boy. You're a weapon, and you belong to me!" he pauses for a moment, realizing his mistake. "Well, to Cadmus. Same thing." he corrects, huffy. "Now get back to your pod, and will somebody check on project M!"

Superboy doesn't even show that he heard Desmond, only beginning by walking back down the way they came. The Genomorph's horns still glowing red.

Once the door closes with a thud behind Superboy, Desmond nods to the scientists at the control station. She hits two more buttons on the control station, causing robotic arms to come out of the base of the three protéges' pods.

Kid Flash reels back, attempting to maneuver away from them, but he is still restrained completely.

The tops of the arms break apart into four fingers, two prongs on the tips of each one. With no hesitation and a slight electrical buzz, they plunge the prongs into the boys' chests. All three scream out, which only increases as the fingers begin to pull out a reddish gas which then fills the spheres below their pods.

"Where's Dubbilex?" Desmond asks Guardian and the other scientist. Only to see the Anthropoid shadow coming out of the darkness. "Ooh!" he gasps, taken off-guard. "Lurking as usual. Get the G-gnomes downloading their memories. When that's done, delete the source material."

———————————————

Superboy walks down the hallway, the G-gnome still on his shoulder. Though it may have telepathic control he still has Superman's extremely powerful hearing capabilities. He hears Aqualad's words that he manages to whisper despite being tortured.

"Superboy, you live. That gives you the right to follow your own path. A weapon or a person, the choice is yours, but ask yourself, ＂What would Superman do＂?" the clone stops short at those words, and his eyebrows crease as he fills with determination.

———————————————

There's a boom that echoes through the containment room. Catching Desmond's and Guardian's attention and turning it back to the door. Which is being crinkled as Superboy removes it, then holds it over his head with ease.

As he does the torture devices on the three teens power down. Then he throws the door away and stalks into the room. Desmond, Guardian, and Dubbilex all make their way toward Superboy.

"I told you to get back to you-" Desmond begins but is cut off as Superboy's right-hand swipes him away and his left takes out both Guardian and Dubbilex. Guardian gets thrown into the wall, while Dubbilex and Desmond hit the ground with a thud.

Superboy stands tall and glares down at Desmond. "Don't give me orders." he nearly growls, then steps up to be back in front of the teen heroes.

"You here to save us or fry us?" Kid Flash questions, seeming actually sincere in the question. Honestly unsure what the clone will do.

Superboy glares for a moment, but nothing happens. "Huh. I don't seem to have Heat Vision, so I suppose helping is my only option."

Robin manages to get his wrist restraints open, then jumps from his pod. "Ahh. Finally!" he says, annoyance in his tone as he rubs his wrists. "Lucky Batman isn't here. He'd have my head for taking so long."

"Seriously, that's what you're worried about?" Kid Flash deadpans. "The whole League will have our heads after tonight." he snaps angrily.

Robin ignores him and goes to the control station. Hitting one of the buttons, which retracts the arms from Kid Flash and Aqualad and opens their pod doors. He turns to Superboy. "Get Aqualad. I'll get Kid Mouth."

"Don't you give me orders either," Superboy growls but does go to release Aqualad anyway. Ripping the restraints apart with ease.

Weak from the torture Superboy has to catch his shoulders to keep the Atlantean from falling to the ground below the floor of his pod. "Thank you," Aqualad tells him sincerely.

Superboy nods but doesn't say anything. While Robin gets Kid Flash's restraints open, letting both of them drop to the ground. The two ravens follow close behind, even as Desmond begins to come to and the scientist tries to wake Guardian.

"You- you'll never get out of here!" Desmond shouts, but the boys don't listen, they only continue to run. "I'll have you back in pods before morning."

Robin turns at the doorway and pauses, causing Kid Flash to do the same. "That guy is not whelmed," he mutters then launches three disks back into the room. "Not whelmed at all."

"What is with you and this whelmed thing?" Kid Flash asks as they turn to leave.

The three disks hit all three of their DNA containers and begin to beep, then explode, destroying the material they would've used for cloning and the pods themselves.

Desmond stands before the destroyed lab, anger clear in his grimace. A G-gnome jumps onto his shoulder. "Activate every Genomorph in Cadmus." the G-gnome's horns glow red as it makes a telepathic connection to the other Genomorphs.
———————————————
In the hallway, the four are running down the hall as the once cream-colored bumps in the wall begin to glow the same red color as the horns on the G-gnome.

"We are still 42 levels below ground." Aqualad says, not even panting as he runs at full tilt. "but if we can make it to the elevator..." he trails a G-trolls block their way, first two further away, then more and steadily getting closer to them.

The four stop and look back the way they came. The glowing orbs now have pale white figures moving inside them. Genomorph Elves come out in a large group. The four are trapped.  Before the lead G-troll could attack however a boy leaps from behind the G-troll landing in front of the boys casting a force field around them.

"You guys looked like you could use some help," Maxi said as the G-troll began to pound on the force field. " Who the heck are you?" Kid flash said wondering where this random guy came from. "Let's save the introductions for later, I can't hold this forever," Maxi said grunting in exertion as the G-troll continued to pound the force field.

With one particularly strong hit, the G-troll breaks the field making the boy fall over not being able to hold the field any longer. Another G-troll strikes from behind and Superboy, Robin, and Aqualad jump out the way while Kid Flash uses his speed to grab Maxi and move him out of the way of the G-troll's crushing blow.

"Are you okay?" Kid Flash said concerned about the stranger's well-being "I'll be okay don't worry about me" Maxi said as he got off the ground, his hands glowing red with energy. Quickly nodding Kid Flash went to help his friends.

Superboy glares at the G-troll and jumps to cross it in the jaw. Knocking it down, he is then surrounded by three more and is brought down as one pins him to the ground with its massive paw. Before Superboy could do anything the G-troll on top of him is telekinetically lifted off of him and thrown into the other G-trolls.

Looking behind him, he sees Maxi with his hands glowing red and a serious look on his face "Your welcome" said Maxi before continuing to fight off the horde of G-trolls.

Another drops low on all fours and swings its head towards Aqualad, attempting to hit him with its large horns. Aqualad jumps into a backflip over the assault, giving Robin the chance to get in front of it and take its attention as he grabs his horn to follow Aqualad over the G-troll's shoulder.

Kid Flash has another tailing him and runs it into the wall, before running along it to end up beside Aqualad, Robin, and Maxi. The four turn as they hear the hallway shake and crumble. Their attention lands on Superboy who is fighting off G-trolls and slamming them into the wall and using his full strength. Despite the fact that it's causing the hallway to begin to fall apart.

Aqualad speaks up, nearly yelling, but just so he can ensure that he's heard. "Superboy, the goal is to escape. Not to bury ourselves here."

Superboy turns to the four with an insane look, but also anger playing across his face. "You want to escape?" he demands, grabbing an unconscious G-troll's arm and throws it into the two that are coming towards him with a battle cry. "Well he seems nice," said Maxi sarcastically as he watched Superboy continue to pummel the G-trolls.

As he does Aqualad pries the elevator doors open, this time taking no care in the fact that he's bending the doors. Kid Flash and Robin join him, looking at the twelve-story drop below them, and the seemingly never-ending darkness above them.

Kid Flash jumps to the side of the elevator shaft, while Robin uses his grappling hook to get a couple of stories above them. Using his psionic energy Maxi shoots himself up to the same level as Robin landing on the side.

As a G-troll comes to take out both Superboy and Aqualad with a mighty punch the Boy of Steel grabs Aqualad's waist and jumps into the elevator shaft. Attempting to fly, and getting to SL-9 before gravity begins to pull them back down.

Shock shows in Superboy's eyes, while confusion shows in Aqualad's. "I- I'm falling." he realizes numbly. Using his psionic energy Maxi stops them from plummeting down the shaft levitating them to the side of the elevator shaft.

Superboy's eyes have sadness and confusion filling them. "Superman can fly. Why can't I fly?"

"Don't know," Kid Flash says, drawing the Boy of Steel's attention to him and Robin who are standing on the level just below them. "but it does look like you can leap tall buildings in a single bound. Still cool." Then he helps Superboy down to the small ledge. Aqualad follows shortly thereafter.

"Ah, thank you," Superboy murmurs, "Where's my thanks, I'm the one that stopped you from falling," Maxi thought rolling his eyes

A whir from above them catches Robin's attention. "Guys, this will have to be our exit." above them, the high-speed express elevator is coming down.

Aqualad and Superboy take out the doors, now showing that they are on SL-15. All five of them just making it out of the shaft in time. G-elves are attracted to the sound and make their way toward the five teens in a squad of five, followed closely by a G-troll.

"Turn left, brother." a voice says in Superboy's mind.

His eyes widen, slightly confused, but after a few seconds, his mind's made up. "Go left! Left!" he relays.

They all follow him, as he follows the directions.

"Turn right."

"Right." all five make the tight turn, only to lead them to a dead end. The only thing available is an air vent a few feet below the ceiling.

"Great directions, Supey." Kid Flash says sarcastically. "Are you trying to get us repodded?"

"No. I- I don't understand," Superboy confesses as Aqualad, Robin, and Maxi finally catch up to the two faster teens.

"Don't apologize. This is perfect!" Robin says excitedly.
———————————————
By the time the G-elves and the G-troll get to the dead-end, the four teens are gone, and the air vent cover is the only indication of where they went.

In the vents, Robin leads the way, followed by Aqualad, Maxi, Kid Flash, then Superboy bringing up the rear. "Ugh, at this rate we'll never get out." Kid Flash complains.

"Shh." Superboy shushes, coming to a stop and so do the other boys. "Listen."

Within the vent system are the G-elves, coming after the four attempting escapees.

———————————————

Desmond, Guardian, and Dubbilex run down a hallway. Desmond holds a tablet with the building schematics on it. "Someone, Robin, I'd wager, hacked our systems deactivating internal security cameras," his voice turns smug, "but he neglected the motion sensors." a group of four dots in the vents is following their path, and two groups of three are coming to a T that converges on them. "The Genomorphs are closing in.

They're all coming out in here." he opens the door to a bathroom. "We have them cornered." they stand before the vents, now it's a matter of waiting.

Instead of the teen heroes, four G-elves tumble out of the vent. Onto to Desmond and the four G-elves beside him. "He hacked the motion sensors."

———————————————

"I hacked the motion sensors," Robin says as he continues advanced keystrokes on his HoloGlove.

"Sweet." Kid Flash says brightly, though probably just happy to be out of the vents and in the hallways again.

"I'm impressed, " Maxi says with a small smile on his face.

"Thanks but there's still plenty of them between us and out," Robin grumbles, but they are also right by the emergency staircase.

Kid Flash brings his goggles down over his eyes. "But I've finally got room to move." then opens the door and starts running up levels at super-speeds. Coming down the same staircase from a level above him are droves of G-elves. He doesn't stop, in fact, he smirks and increases his speed. Taking them all out and clearing the way for Aqualad, Maxi, Robin- who is still hacking- and Superboy.

"More behind us," Robin calls out to Superboy. As Superboy gets to the platform he stops and slams his foot down on the connecting stair. Knocking the whole staircase down and all the G-elves on it.

———————————————

In the elevator Guardian, Dubbilex, Desmond, three G-dwarves, and a G-sprite. "We'll cut them off at Sub-Level One," Guardian assures as they boost past Sub-Levels 15 and 14.

"We'd better or the board will have our heads- my head." he realizes nervously, then presses the stop button on the elevator. The door opens and he walks out briskly. "I need to get something from Project Blockbuster, just in case. I'll meet you at Sub-Level One."

———————————————

Kid Flash continues up the staircase at super-speed, making out the door that indicates that he is at Sub-Level 1. As he does an alarm begins to blare, and massive doors in front of him close. His eyes widen as he realizes he won't be able to stop in time. "Oh, crud." Hitting the doors hard, and his head hitting first, then falling back to the ground a few feet away from the barrier then tumbling over twice before coming to a stop on his butt.

"We are cut off from the street," Aqualad grumbles annoyed as he, Superboy, Maxi, and Robin run to catch up with him.

Kid Flash rubs the back of his head with a grimace. "Thanks. My head hadn't noticed."

Superboy walks past the fallen speedster, punching the door, but not even getting a dent in it. He begins trying to pry it apart, but can't do it. Aqualad takes half and he takes the other, but even their combined strength cannot get the doors open.

Robin is typing at high speeds on his gauntlet, grumbling annoyed. "Can't hack this fast enough."

G-trolls growl and two come around the corner. Robin notices a door to his right.

"This way!" he shouts to the other four, completing a 270° rotation before side-kicking the door open.

The G-trolls can't make it through the door, but in the adjoining hallway is a drove of G-elves, another pair of G-trolls, and Guardian waiting for them. Not to mention a G-gnome on every creature's shoulder. Behind them, a third G-troll and a half dozen G-elves cut them off.

Aqualad removes his WaterBearers, forming dual swords as the others drop into fighting stances.

One of the G-gnomes' horns begins to glow, setting off a chain reaction as all the other G-gnomes do the same. Linking everyone against the heroes telepathically. As the other teens drop out of their stances with Superboy dropping to his knees, Maxi stands firm defending himself from the psychic attack.

"Perhaps for the sake of all Genomorphs our brother Superboy should make up his own mind," Dubbilex says to all the Genomorphs telepathically.

Superboy's eyes widen in realization "It was you."

"Yes, brother. I set the fire and lured your new friends into Cadmus, woke them when they were in danger, I even guided Maxi in his journey to help you" Dubbilex lists connecting Maxi to the psychic link.

"And guided me." Superboy finishes. "Why?"

"Because you two are our hope, the Genomorph hero. You will blaze a trail for all our brothers, showing us the way to freedom." Dubbilex tells Superboy.

Guardian groans and grips his head, then the G-gnome jumps from his shoulder. "What's going on?" he questions, stirring Aqualad back into consciousness.

"What is your choice, brother?" Dubbilex asks Superboy as he stands tall.

"I... choose... freedom." Superboy states with conviction aloud so everyone can hear him.

"Feels... like fog... lifting." Guardian manages as the other three teen boys get back to their own two feet as well.

"Guardian?" Aqualad asks since right now his head is clearer than Robin and Kid Flash's.

"Go," he tells them with conviction. "I'll deal with Desmond."

"I think not." Desmond growls, all Genomorphs behind Guardian part ways to allow Desmond to be visible. "Project Blockbuster will give me the power to restore order to Cadmus," he says then downs one of the blue vials that he was working on in his lab.

Guardian backs up, standing protectively in front of the four teenagers as Desmond begins to transform. First, it's just his veins popping under his skin, but as he falls to his knees and his body rips through his lab coat and shirt Kid Flash and Robin's eyes pop in shock as Maxi's began to glow red.

Desmond's head lifts from his arm as he growls, some of his skin tearing off as his sclera turns black and his irises go bright red, Aqualad grimaces in hesitation. Finally, he stands back up and growls all his old skin ripping off him and now replaced by thicker grey skin instead of his normal skin in most areas.

Superboy tenses as he roars, but doesn't attack, even as the once-Desmond turns towards the five heroes and growls, some of his hair and old skin still attached to the left side of his head, breathing heavily.

Guardian puts his hands out to the sides, but the palms turn towards the teens behind him. "Everyone back!" before he runs at Blockbuster, only to be swept aside like he was nothing and into a wall a good three or feet off the ground.

Superboy glares harder before charging at Blockbuster with a hard cross hitting the mutated scientist in the jaw. However, he's hardly affected and refutes by punching downwards on Superboy's shoulder and upper back. Superboy plants his feet and turns a tight 180 to hit an uppercut on Blockbuster's underjaw.

Then jumping to do a double-cross combo while he's still off-balance. Blockbuster finds an opening and unleashes his own hard cross to Superboy's face, knocking him back a good ten feet.

As Superboy lands on his shoulder, he keeps his momentum going and rolls back to his feet. Standing up and charging, but this time jumping into the air with his hands over his head. Blockbuster jumps at Superboy, catching the teen's core and throwing both of them through the ceiling.

"Okay," Robin murmurs, amazement in his voice as he, Aqualad, and Kid Flash stand under the hole. "That's one way to bust through the ceiling." releasing his grappling hook through the same hole.

"You think LabCoat planned that?" Kid Flash questions as he grabs onto Robin's utility belt and the two zip up and out.

"I doubt he is planning anything anymore," Aqualad says darkly, before jumping through the hole himself with Maxi close behind.

All six are now standing on the main floor of the building. An expansive room that only has floors on the sides to separate the two stories. All four heroes watch as Blockbuster attempts to confine Superboy by holding his arms to his sides.

The Boy of Steel is stronger than the mutant, though, and breaks the hold. Ready to strike at Blockbuster, if he hadn't grabbed his shins and thrown the taller teen at the other four heroes. Kid Flash, Maxi, and Robin are just barely missed, but Aqualad gets slammed into hard.

Kid Flash uses his speed to keep a closer step on the two entangled older boys, who then separate and he positions himself between their heads as Robin runs to join him.

Blockbuster roars as Robin helps Superboy back to his feet and Kid Flash helps Aqualad. It's tense, but unmoving for a few moments before Blockbuster charges at the four boys. Kid Flash reacts first, then Aqualad, then Maxi, then Robin, then Superboy.

Kid Flash uses his speed to run right at Blockbuster, before sliding underneath him and dodging a crippling downward punch, he remains crouched and low to the ground.

Gaining Blockbuster's attention, before he turns back and finds Superboy and Aqualad both jumping at him with twin punches. The two hit him right in the face, and knock him back, Kid Flash helps the process along by straightening his legs slightly and causing Blockbuster to trip backward over him.

"Learned that one in kindergarten." the redhead says smugly, standing up and blocking Robin from view before he jumps and rotates over Kid Flash before releasing two of his signature disks.

Blockbuster swings his arm and deflects them as he staggers so he's facing away from the two teens. Only to find Superboy waiting for him. Superboy stands ready, but Blockbuster, being as large as he is, catches Superboy around the core with both his hands, before standing up and ramming the Boy of Steel into the nearby pillar.

However before Blockbuster could attack again he was pulled away from Superboy by a red aura and thrown at the ceiling before falling back to the ground "Your welcome" Maxi said as he conjured two orbs of psionic energy and threw them at Blockbuster. As Blockbuster was distracted a water whip wrapped around his upper arm.

Turning he finds Aqualad on the end of it coming at him and hitting the villain in the face with his knee before planting his feet on the pillar above Superboy's head as his WaterBearer turns into a mace. Which, unfortunately, Blockbuster catches with one hand and throws the stunned Atlantean to the side while his other hand holds Superboy.

Before Aqualad hits the ground however he is caught by Maxi using his powers and gently put on the ground, as Blockbuster grips Superboy tighter and then throws him into the second story segment of another pillar. Superboy falls and hits with his own gasp, before a slab of the pillar he fell into falls on top of his left arm and shoulder.

Kid Flash speeds in, as Maxi manages to get out of the way of Blockbuster attempting to crush him with a ground slam.

"We're wasting our time going back and forth with him, we need to end this," Maxi said to Robin as he blasted Blockbuster with another energy bolt. Before Robin can respond however Kid Flash speeds in again, as Aqualad manages to get out of the way of Blockbuster attempting to step on his head.

Grabbing Blockbuster's massive wrist and allowing momentum to turn the villain's back to Aqualad. Blockbuster opens his monstrous hand, causing Kid Flash to lose his grip and catch the speedster's smaller wrist in it. Aqualad stands, his tattoos glowing as his WaterBearer turns to a mace once more, prepared to hit Blockbuster's turned back.

Though Blockbuster swings Kid Flash like an extension of his arm, throwing the two into each other. Knocking Aqualad into a pillar across the room, and Kid Flash into the front of the building.

Kid Flash hits the ground hard, while Aqualad falls but slumps against the pillar just managing to look up before Blockbuster hits him with an uppercut to the Atlantean's stomach. The move destroys the pillar and Blockbuster continues his move until he has Aqualad pinned against another pillar and a hand around his throat.

The whole building shakes and the pillar cracks where the floors meet at one of the corners. Blockbuster hits Aqualad again as Maxi watches from a safe distance. "I have an idea, I just need you guys to get me some time," Maxi said as he began to focus his psionic energy. "Whatever it is do it fast," Robin said as he ran toward Blockbuster throwing his explosive disks.

Closing his eyes Maxi began to focus his psionic energy causing the ground to begin to shake and his body to levitate as the surrounding pillars began to break under his control.

With a loud roar, Blockbuster began to charge at the defenseless Maxi only to be stopped by an uppercut to the jaw by Superboy that sent him flying backward. "You're gonna bring the whole building down on top of us" Kid Flash yelled as the cracks in the pillars grew larger.

"That's the point" Maki grunted focusing even more power into the pillars causing them to be reduced to rubble. As they do the weight of the roof becomes too much and it breaks right over Blockbuster's head dropping the rubble right on his shocked face.

All five boys are running to make it out of the debris field, but can't make it far enough. Using his last bit of energy Maxi manages to generate a force field around the group as the entire building fell on top of them.
———————————————

Superboy punches a small piece of rubble so he can stick his hand through and push the larger piece covering the five of them up with his shoulder. All five now have evidence of their injuries in their torn suits with Maxi being the least damaged, but they're okay.

Breathing heavily Aqualad turns to Robin and Kid Flash. "We... did it."

"Was there... ever any doubt?" Robin questions, barely exchanging a look with Kid Flash before they high-five, but are forced to drop it as they aggravate their injuries on their sides and stomachs.

Superboy steps fully out of the rubble they were covered in and looks to the still pinned Blockbuster.

"See?" Kid Flash questions, drawing Superboy's attention away from the villain and using his thumb to gesture. "The Moon."

Superboy and Maxi both stared at the moon in awe with it being so long since Maxi had seen it and it being Superboy's first time seeing it with his own eyes.

but then a figure appears in its light, cloaking them in shadows. Superboy squints slightly, trying to see who it is. As he slows and turns perpendicular to the ground it's obviously Superman.

"Oh. And Superman." Kid Flash comments, surprised. "Do we keep our promises, or what?"

Martian Manhunter, Zatara, Captain Marvel, and Red Tornado fly behind the Big Blue Boyscout. Followed by Captain Atom, Hawkman, Wonder Woman, Hawkwoman, and the first Green Lantern (Hal Jordan). The second Green Lantern (John Stewart) brings a platform for the Leaguers who can't fly; Black Canary, Aquaman, Batman, and Green Arrow.

As Batman steps up to Superman, Flash zooms in, standing to Batman's left.

Superboy steps up first, gaining scrutiny in Superman's eyes, but not stopping as he lifts the torn front of his suit, revealing the same S that is mirrored on his own costume. Superman's eyes widen in shock, while Superboy's features soften. Only for Superman's gaze to turn hard and cold, bringing on an annoyed look of confusion on Superboy's face.

"Is that what I think it is?" Batman questions.

"He doesn't like being called an, ＂it," Kid Flash says stepping up and putting his left hand to face towards Superboy as speaks.

"I'm Superman's clone!" Superboy speaks up, gaining a shocked look from Kid Flash. While Martian Manhunter looks to Captain Marvel, Flash looks to Green Arrow, and Aquaman and Black Canary can only look on in shock.

Batman's eyes zero in on his protége. "Start talking."

Both Green Lanterns have Blockbuster trapped inside a sphere, while Hawkman, Hawkwoman, and Captain Atom fly alongside them.

Superman is having a conversation with Wonder Woman and Martian Manhunter. Nothing is said for a moment, then Manhunter places a hand on Superman's shoulder, causing Superman to meet Superboy's gaze.

The clone's look is curious, while Superman's is hard. The clone looks away, then glances back, seeing Superman look down and away from him before finally turning and walking towards him.

Superman sighs as he meets his cross-armed clone. "We'll, uh, we'll figure something out for you. The League will, I mean." he corrects himself quickly. "For now I better make sure they get the Blockbuster creature squared away." then he flies away with a swish of his cape. Leaving Superboy following him with shocked, hurt, and confused eyes.

All four of them are following him with Maxi standing back not sure of what to do.

"Cadmus will be investigated," Batman says, drawing the teens' attention to him, Flash, and Aquaman as they walk towards them. "all 52 levels but let's make one thing clear-"

"You should have called." Flash pipes up, even catching Batman's attention.

"End results aside, we're not happy." the Dark Knight growls. "You hacked Justice League systems, disobeyed direct orders, and endangered lives. You will not be doing this again."

"I am sorry, but we will." Aqualad states strongly, even Robin steps up slightly.

"Aqualad, stand down." Aquaman attempts to command the older teen.

"Apologies, my King," he even makes reverence as he speaks, then his voice goes firm once more. "but no." this catches an eyebrow raise from the King of Atlantis. "We did good work here tonight, the work you trained us to do. Together on our own, we forged something powerful, important."

"If this is about your treatment at the Hall, the three of you-" Flash tries to understand where they're coming from but is completely off.

Kid Flash doesn't hesitate to correct him. "The five of us, and it's not."

Hearing this Maxi perked up at the mention of him as Robin went and ushered him forward. "This is the guy who helped us out of a pickle and he's just as big a part of this team as anybody," Robin declared putting his hand on Maxi's shoulder.

"Batman, we're ready to do what you taught us, or why teach us at all?" he speaks the quietest out of the group, but as he steps up to speak to his mentor it's obvious that he feels just as strongly about it as they do.

"Why let them tell us what to do?" Superboy questions, his arms uncrossing as he too steps up. "It's simple. Get on board or get out of the way." all three protéges were watching him, but they all turn back towards their mentors. Standing tall, proud, and defiant.

———————————————

Mount Justice; July 8th, 8:04 EDT

Green Lantern and Captain Atom are flying large pieces of equipment around the Mountain, but in the Center stands all five teens, now dressed in civilian clothes, Batman, Aquaman, Flash, Hawkman, Black Canary, Red Tornado, and Captain Marvel.

"This cave was the original secret sanctuary of the Justice League," Batman tells the five boys. "We're calling it into service again. Since you five are determined to stay together and fight the good fight you'll do it on League terms."

All five watch as Batman walks slightly away from the center of the room. "Red Tornado volunteered to live here and be your supervisor. Black Canary's in charge of training. I will deploy you on missions."

A pair of sunglasses covers Robin's eyes, clearly there to protect his identity, speaks up. "Real missions?" he checks.

"Yes, but covert," Batman confirms stepping back to be closer to the boys before him.

"The League will still handle the obvious stuff," Flash speaks up from behind Kid Flash's right shoulder. "There's a reason we have these big targets on our chest."

"But Cadmus proves the bad guys are getting smarter. Batman needs a team that can operate on the sly." Aquaman continues, then turns his head towards Batman to continue the flow of conversation.

"The six of you will be that team." Batman states.

"Cool! Wait." Robin does the very simple math and realizes the problem. "six?"

Batman only looks over his protége's shoulder and all five teens turn to see Martian Manhunter stepping out of the shadows with a green-skinned, red-haired teenage girl. "This is the Martian Manhunter's niece. Miss Martian."

She raises her left hand, giving them a small wave and smile, then a shy "Hi."

Kid Flash looks down at Robin as he puts one hand on his hip, Robin, in turn, looks up at Kid Flash. "Liking this gig more every minute." he steps up, minorly blocking her view of Robin and Superboy.

"Uh welcome aboard, I'm Kid Flash." using his thumb to point at himself. "That's Robin," the smaller raven steps to the side and gives a Rock 'n' Roll sign. "Aqualad." the Atlantean gives a small nod but says nothing more. "It's cool if you forget their names."

"I'm honored to be included." Miss Martian says sincerely, clasping her hands in front of her to enunciate her point.

Aqualad, Robin, and Kid Flash all walk to talk to her with fewer of their mentors listening in. However, Superboy and Maxi stay behind, something Robin notices is paired with a downcast expression. "Hey Superboy, Maxi come meet Miss M!" he calls out.

Superboy walks over to the rest of the team with Maxi right behind him; Miss Martian uses her shape-shifting ability to change her shirt color from white with a red X to black with the same red X, even going so far as to remove her cape. She looks down before speaking.

"I like your t-shirt," she admits to Superboy, who gives her a small smile, which causes Robin to nudge his elbow into his chest with a smirk on his features. While Kid Flash zips to his other side with a bright smile.

Robin inclines his head slightly to Aqualad.

"Today is the day." the Atlantean says proudly. They all know it's true.

———————————————

Below an under-reconstruction Cadmus Guardian speaks to Dubbilex and the scientist from the endeavor. "Cadmus changes today. With Desmond out of the picture the Board's placed me in charge." he turns to the scientist. "Dr. Spence, you're acting Chief Scientist. No more G-gnomes suppressing our wills, no more secret breeding projects. This is a kinder, gentler Cadmus."

"Then I will of course help in any way I can, brother." Dubbilex ensures Guardian.

The entire conversation is being watched by the Light.

"Can the Light afford to leave Guardian in charge without the G-gnomes?" a male asks. (Ocean Master)

"We have subtler means of control." a second assures. "What concerns me is the children. We now know the League is employing young Heroes to do their dirty work, I'm especially worried about Project M being freed who knows what could happen if his power continues to grow at such rapid speeds." (Luthor)

"Yes, but one that can be played to our advantage. Even the temporary loss of the weapon may prove useful. Eventually, everyone sees the Light." a final voice says. (Savage)

Chapter Text

Mount Justice; July 18th, 11:16 EDT

The Mount Justice Computer picks up the Zeta Tube usage, routing the users from North Carolina to the Mountain which the map shows in Rhode Island.

Recognize:

Robin; B-0-1,

Kid Flash; B-0-3.

Both boys appear in their civilian clothes. Smiling brightly, then running out of the Zeta Tube to the room they're connected to. Finding Miss Martian, Maxi, Aqualad, and Superboy standing before a HoloScreen.

"Did you ask him?" Robin asks.

"What did he say?" Kid Flash follows up.

"He is arriving now," Aqualad tells the two of them as calmly as always.

Kid Flash friendly punches Robin in the chest. "Then what are we waiting for?" before running off, Robin follows close behind, and finally Aqualad. Leaving Miss Martian, Maxi, and Superboy, the redhead smiles at the duo as she puts her hands on her hips.

Superboy turns, crossing his arms over his t-shirt before walking off with Maxi silently following. Miss Martian smiles and takes flight to follow the boys. They arrive at one of the entrances which is a ramp that falls into the cave from the ground above them. All six walk up the ramp, as Red Tornado, lands before them.

"Red Tornado!" Kid Flash calls out with a wave as the heroic android lands.

"Greeting." he offers. "Is there a reason you intercept me outside the cave?" his monotone voice makes it rather hard to discern the question portion of his sentence.

"We hoped you had a mission for us." Aqualad conveys to the hero.

"Mission assignments are the Batman's responsibility." Red Tornado states simply.

"But it's been over a week and nothing-" Robin tries, but is cut off.

"You'll be tested soon enough." the android states firmly. "For the time being, simply enjoy each other's company."

"This team is not a social club." Aqualad objects strongly.

"No," Red Tornado agrees. "but I am told social interaction is an important team-building exercise. Perhaps you can keep busy by familiarizing yourselves with the cave." Tornado says, walking past the six teens and into the cave.

All six can only watch as he does.

Kid Flash turns to Robin, punching him in the shoulder again. "Keep busy＂." the speedster nearly growls.

"Does he really think we're falling for this?" Robin questions angrily, catching Superboy's attention in his anger.

"Oh, I'll find out." Miss Martian says excitedly, then turns towards Red Tornado and her expression relaxes slightly.

Recognize:

Red Tornado; 1-6.

Miss Martian sighs. "I'm sorry, I forgot he's a machine, inorganic. I... cannot read his mind."

"Nice try, though." Kid Flash offers. "So, uh, you know what I'm thinkin' right now?" he looks up at her with a flirtatious smile.

"We all know what you're thinkin' now." Robin grumbles and elbows the speedster's turned back.

"Ow," he complains, but only seeming half-hearted about it.

"And now we tour the clubhouse," Aqualad says sourly.

"Well, Superboy, Maxi, and I live here. We can play tour guides." Miss Martian offers, looking to Superboy.

Robin and Kid Flash instantly turn to Superboy. "Don't look at me," he tells them seriously.

"We won't. A private tour sounds so much better." Kid Flash says, looking at Miss Martian again.

"Sh-she never said private." Robin objects.

"Team building. We'll all go." Aqualad says, breaking up the argument before it can even start.

They all turn to go back down the ramp, but Robin grabs Kid Flash's arm and yanks him back.

"So, this would be our front door..." Miss Martian begins.

———————————————

"And this would be the back." Miss Martian continues as they come out on the other side of the mountain. "The cave is actually the entire mountain."

———————————————

"It was hollowed out and reinforced by Superman and Green Lantern in the early days of the League," Wally explains what he knows about the history of the mountain.

"Then why abandon it for the Hall of Justice?" Superboy questions.

"The cave's secret location was... compromised," Aqualad explains.

"So they traded it in for a tourist trap?" Superboy questions, confused. "Yeah. That makes sense."

"If the Bad Guys know of the cave, then we must be on constant alert." she raises her hand in accentuation, thinking she's figured it out.

"The Bad Guys know we know they know about the place," Robin assures, grabbing her hand and turning her towards him, then putting his other hand on top of hers. "so they'd never think to look here."

"Uh," Kid Flash interrupts and removes Robin's hand from Miss Martian's. "he means we're hiding in plain sight."

"Ah, that's much clearer." Miss Martian still scratches her head, clearly still confused.

Superboy sniffs twice. "I smell smoke."

Miss Martian gasps. "My cookies." then flies down the hallway. Making it to the kitchen and removing said cookies, with telekinesis, before the boys can make it into the room. As she sets them down the boys enter the room, looking at the burnt-black cookies on the tray.

I was trying Grammy Jones' recipe from episode 17 of-" she cuts herself off with an awkward chuckle. "Nevermind."

"I bet they'd tasted great," Robin assures then looks back to the other five boys. "He doesn't seem to mind."

Surprised Miss Martian looks back up, finding Kid Flash eating her cookies.

With his mouth still half full and a burnt cookie in each hand, Aqualad, Maxi, and Superboy can only watch in stunned silence. "I have a serious metabolism." he offers weakly.

"I'll... make more?" Miss Martian seems unsure how to take that comment.

"It was sweet of you to make any," Aqualad tells her.

"Thanks, Aqualad." Miss Martian says, ducking her head slightly.

"We're off duty. Call me Kaldur'ahm." he insists. "Actually, my friends call me Kaldur." he clarifies with very little hesitance.

"I'm Wally." Kid Flash speaks up, leaning on the island. "See? I already trust you with my secret ID, unlike Mr. Dark Glasses over here." Robin frowns and glares at Wally as he puts his hands on his hips, annoyed by the speedster's slightly accusatory tone. "Batman's forbidden Boy Wonder from telling anyone his real name."

"I don't have a codename, I'm just Maxi," Maxi says looking at Megan with a small smile on his face.

"Mine's no secret." Miss Martian admits brightly. "It's M'gann M'orzz. But you can call me Megan. It's an Earth name, I'm on Earth now." she seems really excited about that fact.

Superboy remains slouched against the counter, then turns to leave, catching M'gann's attention. "Don't worry, Superboy," she tells him telepathically.

The clone grunts in shock and his posture tenses, looking at the green-skinned redhead in shock and possibly a tiny bit of fear.

"We'll find you an Earth name, too." she continues, smiling kindly and totally unaware of what she's doing.

Superboy grips his head for a moment. "Get out of my head!" he shouts, gaining Kaldur, Wally, and Robin's attention in an instant. They all know what he does when he's angry, they look back to M'gann, a curious expression on their features.

"What's wrong? I don't understand," she says, expanding her telepathic range to include Kaldur, Maxi, Wally, and Robin.

Three of them react negatively to it with Maxi not being fazed by the telepathic message. Robin physically grips his head with both hands, Kaldur turns away from M'gann closing his eyes and grimacing before finally putting his own hand to his head.

While Wally brings his own hand to his forehead threading his fingers through his bright red hair, and Superboy's fists clench at his sides as he looks almost ready to pounce.

"Everyone on Mars communicates telepathically."

"M'gann stop," Kaldur commands anger clear in his voice. M'gann closes the link and looks confused and hurt, but listens to Kaldur continue. "Things are different on Earth. Here, your powers are an extreme invasion of privacy."

Attempting to lighten the mood Wally adds in his two cents. "Besides, Cadmus' creepy little psychic G-gnomes left a bad taste in his brain." saying the last part behind his hand as if that will stop Superboy from hearing him and as if it is some big secret.

"I- I didn't mean to-" M'gann tries.

"Just stay out!" The clone growled before walking away and sitting on the couch facing away from the group.

"It's fine." Maxi quickly caught her attention, "It's not easy adjusting to a new culture, I speak from experience." He assured, " I had gone from my home country to a lab and now I'm in a whole new world almost, It takes some getting used to " He explained.

"Yes, it has been a challenge." She replied before falling silent, "Hello Megan! I know what we can do!" She exclaimed before flying down the hall.

They exchanged looks before going to follow but Maxi stood still. He looked at the clone and walked around the couch to stand in front of him. Superboy glares up at him.

"Get up we're going," Maxi ordered.

"Why?" He snapped, "After what she-"

"Superboy she didn't know-" Maxi tried.

"You said it yourself!" Superboy shot up from the couch and looked down at the shorter boy, "I was stripped of my ability to choose! We fought our way out of Cadmus so I can have that choice so I can have my freedom and she-"

"She wasn't trying to do that!" Maxi replied raising his voice. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, "She doesn't understand that it's different here. Just like how I used to be but instead of leaving a country she left her planet."

He explained, "She was just trying to communicate the best way she can." He sighed and looked up to meet Superboy's eyes, "She's new to this world as you so please help her feel welcome." He pleaded to look into the blue of the clone.

Maxi runs his hand through his hair in thought when an idea comes to mind.

His smaller hands take hold of each side of the clone's face and lifts it up. He leans in until their foreheads are touching, noses barely rubbing together, and closes his eyes with a smile.

Blue eyes widen at the new sudden action. He sits completely still. Unsure of what to do. "What is this?"

Maxi doesn't open his eyes. "I don't know, but I have a feeling it will calm you down. So close your eyes and breathe." Maxi said as he continued to take deep breathes

Superboy doesn't look so sure but compiles anyway. He closes his eyes and starts to breathe as red energy flowed from Maxi to Superboy.

Instantly, a cooling wave wisps throughout his body, dying the flames. His body relaxes and lets out a pleasing hum. This was just what he needed.

Smiling, Maxi pulls away, eyeing him. "Better?" The clone nods.

The sokovian stands to full length, arms crossed. "I had a feeling it would. Now, why don't we go see what M'gann has in store for us, hm?"

Superboy is unsure about that idea, He may feel a little better but he still holds a little grudge, against Megan. Not angry but more of an annoying feeling.

Before Superboy could say something M'gann appeared from the corridor, "Superboy, please?" Superboy looked into Maxi's stern eyes before glancing back at her and sighing. The clone walked away from Maxi and passed M'gann. The martian smiled before turning to the sokovian. "Thank you."

"We're a team we should all be included." He shrugged before they both walked down the hallway following the others.

They caught up with the other as they entered the elevator. They all stood in silence as the elevator ascended. When the elevator opened they were met with the sight of a floating red circular object.

"It's my martian bioship." She presents walking out with the other close behind.

The other looked at it skeptically, "Cute." Wally commented, "Not very aerodynamic but cute."

"It's at rest silly. I'll wake it." She waved her hand and the sphere formed into a more sleek-looking jet. It's shaped like an arrowhead, the wings are in a crescent shape and the cockpit is towards the back.

She waved her hand and the ship levitates and turns around facing away from the teens. The ship's rear opened, and M'gann walked towards it before he turned to look at the boys. The other looked shocked at the ship. "Well, are you coming?"

They broke out of their stupor and followed her. The interior had a dark violet glow. They made it to the cockpit and chairs grew from the floor.

"Strap in for launch." She said awkwardly.

Robin and Wally grinned at each other and ran to two chairs on opposite sides of each other.

"Whoa!" Robin exclaimed as the chair strapped him in automatically.

"This is so cool!" Wally beamed as his chair strapped him on.

Maxi took the seat at the very front. Kaldur and Superboy sat down at either side of him. When the chair strapped him in he felt uneasy at first but got used to it when it adjusted. He looked around the ship and leaned back on the chair.

M'gann took her seat at the control chair. "Red Tornado please open the bay doors." She held out her hands and two blue spheres rose from the floor.

The ship flew out of the cave and out towards the ocean. The ship flew just above the water before jetting upwards towards the sky. Maxi leaned forward to see the town of Happy Harbor below.

"Incredible," Robin commented as he too looked down below.

Wally sighed looking at M'gann, "She sure is." He says dreamily as he watched the martian with starry eyes until she turned to look at him. "I mean the ship which like all ships is a she." He stuttered out.

Maxi had to resist rolling his eyes.

"Fast with his feet not so much with his mouth," Robin said jokingly.

"Dude!" Wally snapped.

Maxi only paid attention to the view below. This was the first time he had ever seen a body of water this big before. Back in sokovia, there were rivers but as the war grew he visited less and less. He missed his old life.

From over Maxi's shoulder, Kaldur leaned towards Superboy. "I may not have psychic power but I can guess what you're thinking." He began, "You overreacted and you don't know how to apologize. Just say sorry." He suggested.

Superboy stayed silent before he glanced at Maxi who stayed silent. The Sokovian seemed distracted by something, the clone wondered what was on his mind.

M'gann overheard the conversation and looked down guiltily.

"He'll come around," Robin whispered assuringly.

"He doesn't seem to like me much." She replied.

"You guys remember he has super hearing right?" Wally pointed out and they all turned to the clone who only looked ahead.

"Hey how about showing us some martian shapeshifting?" Robin suggested.

Maxi snapped out of his thoughts when he heard the question. He turned his chair around, "Yes, that sounds like fun." He smiled.

Everyone looked at her and M'gann couldn't say no. She stood up from her seat before she changed her appearance to resemble Robin but a female version of him. Next, she changed into Kid Flash and posed. Maxi ignored the crude comment, Wally made. She then formed into Maxi causing him to smile.

"Impressive." Robin comments, "But not very convincing."

"Mimicking boys is a lot harder." She stated before sitting back down.

"And your clothes?" Kaldur wondered.

"They're organic like the ship." She pulled up her collar, "They respond to my mental commands."

"As long as they're the only ones." Superboy sneered making Maxi sigh.

"Can you do that ghosting through walls thing that Manhunter does?" Wally quickly asked.

"Density shifting?" She turned to him, "No. It's a really advanced technique." She explained.

"Flash can vibrate his molecules right through a wall." He chuckled and pointed at Wally, "When he does it, bloody nose."

"Dude!" Wally whined in embarrassment.

"Here's something I can do." She offered before the two sphered began to glow. The exterior of the ship began to fade before it went invisible, "Camouflage mode."

Red Tornado to Miss Martian. An emergency alert has been triggered at the Happy Harbor Power Plant." He informed, "I suggest you investigate covertly. I am sending coordinates."

M'gann quickly replied, "Received adjusting course." The ship turned around towards the outskirts of the small town.

Robin scoffed, "Tornado's keeping us busy again."

The power plant came into view. The ship descended down towards the building.

"Well, a simple fire led you to Superboy." M'gann said brightly, "We should find out what caused the alert."

"Finally an optimist," Maxi commented as they flew down.

Superboy glanced out, "I think I know the cause." The others turned to see what he was looking at.

They all froze in shock as a raging twister raced towards them.

"Maybe we should take evasive action." Maxi turned to the martian.

M'gann quickly steered the ship away. The suction of the twister was too great and they were pulled into the vortex of air. The ship was being thrown around in circles. The force of the spinning caused them to groan.

M'gann took control and began to even out the ship. She used the momentum of the spinning to slingshot out of the twister. She flew them far enough away so that they could land safely.

A large circular bay door opened on the floor and the team jumped down to the floor. They saw the twister tear through the power plant. The workers all ran out and yelled.

"Robin, are tornadoes common in Happy Harbor?" Kaldur asked.

They all turned to see the boy wonder has disappeared. They hear his chuckles echo.

"He was just here," M'gann said confused.

" Does he do this often?" Maxi questioned facepalming at his teammates' antics. "You learn to get used to it eventually," Wally said shrugging his shoulders.

———————————————

The strong force of wind causes the young teen to crash onto the support beam and fall to the ground, groaning.

The rest of the teens make it inside the building to see the Boy Wonder on the ground. Maxi is at his side in an instant.

"You ok?" The sokovian teen kneels before him, his eye searching the other for injuries.

Robin waves off his hands and sits up, clutching his side. " I'm fine. Just a little bruised on the side but nothing serious." He reassures him

Maxi sighs in relief. "Oh, good." Before delivering a hard slap to the back of the boy's head making the other yelp in surprise rather than pain.

"What was that for?" Robin said accusingly, rubbing his head.

"Run off like that again and I will end you." The teen said, showing off his protective, instincts.

Superboy leaps and lands beside them. Looking at the being responsible for the alert.

"Who's your new friend?" He nods his head,

"Didn't catch his name, but he plays kinda rough," Robin replies.

"My apologies." Before the team is a giant figure in red with black stripes. Wearing a scarf around its neck. Tubes aligned his back and giant metal fists. "You may address me as Mr. Twister."

"Let's cut to the chase, stand down and we won't have to hurt you," Maxi said his irises already glowing a menacing red.

Mr. T narrows his eyes at that statement. "We shall see about that."

Superboy doesn't back down from the challenge and charges.

MT aims his fist at the clone before a gust of wind emerges from them creating mini twisters. Superboy tries to fight through the wind but it's too strong. He is thrown to the other side of the building crashing onto the wall.

The others stand in attack mode, ready to strike on the next move.

Wally pulls down his goggles and speeds towards the villain. He leaps mid-air to deliver a kick to the other's chest but is sideswiped by Twister that sends him flying outside the building.

MT turns in time to see Aqualad and MM before sending twisters in their direction. They are also flung away from the wind force. The only two left standing are Robin and Maxi. The younger teen pulls out an exploding device from behind his back.

"I was prepared to be challenged by a superhero," MT said, looking down at the teens with pity. "I was not, however, expecting children."

That infuriates Robin. "We're not children!" Having enough he throws the devices, one is knocked away from a mini twister while the other implants on the villain's chest. He looks unimpressed by the attack.

"Objectively, you are." He says flicking the disc with a simple flick of his finger, not intimidated one bit. "Have you no adult supervision? I find your presence here quite disturbing."

"I'll show you disturbing," Maxi thought as he uses his telekinesis to throw large pieces of machinery at Mr. Twister.  He simply uses his strong winds to move them just before they can hit him.

"We hate to see you disturbed," Robin says. Everyone who had been thrown down stands before the villain, ready to take action. "Let's see if you're more turbed once we kick your can."

Miss Martain raises her arm and aims at the giant pipe above Mr. Twister's head. Using her telekinesis she yanks it open. A stream of smoke engulfs him, blinding his view of the team.

Using the opportunity Maxi generated two orbs of psionic energy and blasted them at Mr. Twister through the smoke causing him to stumble from the force.

He looks up in time to see Superboy leaping at him. He aims his fists at the clone and launches out gusts of wind causing the other to fly back crashing into Miss Martian and Maxi and sending them both to the ground.

He releases two mini twisters when Aqualad and Robin are at him. The two get caught in their grips, causing both teens to slam into each other before they too hit the floor, groaning.

MT looks down upon the fallen teens, unimpressed by their heroic actions. "Indeed. That was quite turbing." He turns to fly outside. "Thank you."

———————————————

Outside Wally got up from the ground he saw Mr. Twister leaving the power plant and ran after him. He made a U-turn around Twister catching his attention, "What have you done to my team?"

"Embarrassed them largely." The villain replied before blasting a large twister at Wally.

The twister consumed the speedster. The twister began to grow in size and speed. The cyclone of wind moved towards the building. The twister crashed into the building causing a dust cloud.

When the dust settled Wally was floating in the fetal position. The redhead looked down at himself unharmed. The rest of the team walked through the fading dust

"I got you, Wally," M'gann assured holding her hand up.

"Thanks." Wally landed on his feet when M'gann put him down carefully.

"I would've thought you had all learned your limitations by now." Twister mocked.

"What do you want?!" Kaldur demanded.

Twister flew up into the air, "Isn't it obvious? I'm waiting for a real hero." He declared.

"Read his mind," Aqualad tells Megan. "Find a weakness."

The Martian looks taken back at the command. "I thought I wasn't supposed to do that."

"It's ok with the bad guys." Robin cries out.

With that said, she closes her eyes, hands to her head to get inside the villain's mind. She can't find anything. "Nothing. I'm getting nothing."

There was only one way she would be unable to find anything from someone's mind, and that was...

Then it hits her!

"Hello, Megan. Mr. Twister is Red Tornado in disguise." She tells everyone which all their eyes, minus one, widen at what she was saying. "He's inorganic, an android. And how many androids do you know that can generate tornados?"

Realization comes to their faces at the explanation. It made sense. Except for Maxi. His eyes narrowed suspiciously at the villain. Something was not right, but he didn't question it and instead listen to Red.

"Red Tornado sent us here," Aqualad said.

"After saying we'd be tested soon enough. This is his test, something to keep us busy." Robin frustratedly said. They had been playing all along.

"Speedy called it. We're a joke." Wally said dejectedly. Roy was right. They were never going to be taken seriously.

The teens walk toward the still floating villain.

"This game, so over," Wally says.

"We know who you are and what you want," Robin calls out to MT.

Aqualad says his turn. "So let's end this."

"Consider it ended." MT raises both hands to the air. Instantly the winds pick up, and all around them the clouds become darker. A storm is transforming around them.

"An impressive show, But we will not indulge you. We will not engage." Aqualad calls out.

Suddenly the storm shoots streaks of light all around them. The others suddenly begin to feel uneasy at the display.

"Uh, can Red Tornado do that?" The redhead questioned.

"You think I'm Tornado?" Mt said. He scoffs at them. "Ironic." Without warning he blasts them with a wave of lighting, sending everyone flying back from the impact.

Maxi rolls until finally stops, laying on his side. He turns to see Megan laying in front of him. He struggles to sit up but manages, he places a hand on the girl's shoulder. "You okay?" He grits out.

The martian rubs her head before looking at the other, offering him a nod when she looks to the sky and gasps. Both teens look up to see MT descending upon them ready to strike again, the others still laying face down on the ground.

"I had a feeling that wasn't Red Tornado," Maxi says to himself. Mentally, Megan Agrees. She had made a mistake.

Suddenly, a shadow is cast over them, however, they can still see MT.

"Fine, then." He says. Maxi was about to respond but stops when he sees Megan signaling him not to make a sound. "I won't deny you children have power, But playing hide-and-seek with you Would not help me achieve my objectives, So stay concealed. If you confront me again, I will show no mercy."

He floats away, heading straight to the harbor, not sparing them a second glance.

"What just happened?" Maxi asked looking for the martian for answers. By this time the other male regains consciousness and starts to get up. He and Megan stay kneeling on the ground.

"I placed the bioship between us," Megan said. So that was why he didn't see them.

The sound of rocks breaking behind the manic teen causes them both to whip their head to find Superboy smashing the giant rock into pieces. He did not look happy.

"And that's supposed to make it right?" He grunts out making his way to them, eyes blazing at Megan. "You tricked us into thinking Twister was Red Tornado." The poor girl cowers at the clone's words.

"Superboy calm down," Maxi says as he stands in front of the still seething clone, blocking his view of Megan. He pushes Superboy back, keeping him away from the martain. "It was a mistake. She didn't know."

Aqualad speaks up in her defense too. "She didn't do it on purpose."

"I-it was a rookie mistake. We shouldn't have listened." Robin says trying to calm the other.

"She shouldn't have been here in the first place. If it wasn't for her this wouldn't have happened. She has no place on this team!"

"Enough" Maxi yelled cutting off Superboy, his irises flashing red for a split second before returning to normal. "I-I don't have time for this, I'm going back to the ship," Maxi said before rushing back towards the bioship leaving the team behind.

———————————————

Back on the ship M'gann and Maxi sat in silence while the others went to try and stop Mr. Twister. M'gann wanted to ask Maxi what caused his outburst but she could tell he wasn't in the mood to talk. It's quiet for a few minutes before M'gann makes the first move.

"Thank you," M'gann says breaking the silence between the two. "For sticking up for me back there, about my mistake. I appreciate it." M'gann says smiling. Maxi turns back to her smiling back. "Don't worry about it. Making mistakes is a part of living. If we didn't, we wouldn't be human or martain." he points out.

M'gann looks down in thought. "I'm sorry too. Invading your minds without permission. For making everyone uncomfortable."

The male cuts her off. "Hey, don't worry about it, it was a part of your culture back home after all. It takes time to get used to a new place. Especially a new planet." Maxi said with a reassuring smile.

"Thanks, Maxi," M'gann says before pulling up a holographic screen in front of her. "So what now?" Maxi questioned as he watched M'gann type in a few keys.

"Getting a little help." She responds before a second screen pops up and incomes Red Tornado. "What seems to be the problem, Miss Martian? the android asks.

"The team really needs your help. We've come across a new enemy we thought at first was you in disguise. He is able to form twisters as well. I am unable to read his mind." She replies

"If I intervened, it would not be to help." He thinks for a moment. "Still, it is an odd coincidence that this Twister shares my elemental abilities And my immunity to telepathy."

And that's when it hits her. Of course! How could she not have seen this before?

"Hello, Megan." She says out loud.

Maxi looks at her. "What. What's wrong?"

Her eyes look at him in excitement. "I figured it out. I know how to help!" She maneuvers the ship around to head back.

Maxi smiles widely at her enthusiasm. "That's great! How do we do it?" That's when her smile suddenly fades. She forgot about the team.

"But for this to work I have to let the others know beforehand. And for that, I have to speak in their minds."

"Do it."

She whips her head to him in surprise " Are you sure Super-"

"It'll be fine. If using your telepathy can help the team. Do it"

"But the others said I'm not supposed to-"

"Prove them wrong. Show them you are a valued member of this team." He encourages her.

It was then she realizes that he was right. With a determined nod, she closes her eyes and focuses to get into their minds. She finds them and speaks.

'Listen to me' She can hear them all grunt but continues. 'All of you.'

"What did we tell you?" Superboy yells out.

'Shut up and listen to what she has to say' Maxi interrupts.

'I know, and I know I messed up, But now I'm very clear on what we need to do. Please trust me.' She pleads to them.

With no way for them to beat Mr. Twister, they decide to take the chance.

———————————————

"Get back! Everyone clear the area!"

As the battle between MT and the other teens continues, many citizens run to get out of harm's way.

A humming in the air stops everyone mid-fight and looks up to see Red Tornado descending on them, landing in front of the males.

"Hit the showers, boys." He orders them. " I was hoping you could handle this. Clearly, you cannot."

"But we've got a plan now." Robin protests.

"The subject is not up for debate." RT cuts him off leaving no room to argue.

The two machines face together, head-to-head.

"I was beginning to believe you'd never show up." MT narrows his eyes. Finally, a challenge.

"I'm here now." Is all the android says before forming his own twister and launching it at the villain.

MT easily dodges it and sends one of his own, much bigger and powerful straight to the android but disappears instantly when it is touched by the other.

"We are evenly matched, Twister." He creates another one, large stone shoot from it from the powerful wind it gave. MT blocks them by punching the ground, creating a huge gust of wind that blows upwards, crushing the stones by the force.

"No, Tornado, we are not." He aims and fires electric beams from his fists which the other ways to not get hit. The beam hits a speed boat causing it to burst into flames. The explosion sends RT to the ground. He doesn't get up.

The villain talks to him and towers over him. "Remain still, android." Cable wires emerging from his fingertips and snake their way to the androids head, attaching to it. "The reprogramming won't take long."

What happens next catches him off guard when RT yanks the cables off and his head morphs to a familiar female martian.

"Longer than you might think." She says with a smirk.

"No." He's been tricked!

Megan uses her force to push the villain into the twister created by Wally using his super-speed. He is spun around before being flung out into the waiting arms of Superboy. The clone smashes his fist repeatedly into the villain's middle before one final blow sends him into the water.

He barely has time to think before Aqualad plunges a metal beam to his chest, electricity charges from the dark-skinned teen, traveling through the beam and into MT causing to explode him out of the water and landing on his back.

Megan levitates him into the air and in one powerful movement, a strong force erupts from her causing his arms to tear apart.

"Having fun without me boys?" All teens whip their heads to see the sokovian teen floating down to them. He circles the still floating villain before firing psionic blasts. The explosions from them cause him to fly hard into the ground.

The teens crowd around the fallen machine who stands. His chest opens up to reveal a man in a green suit seated inside the machine, he falls to the ground and looks at them with a nervous face.

"Foul. I-I call foul." The man stutters out.

Maxi lifts the giant rock with his telekinesis and looks back at the man, rock above his head.

Aqualad realizes his intentions and tries to stop him.

"Maxi, no!" He shouts to him but it's too late as the rock smashes the man into the ground.

No one says a word, all in shock at what just happened.

Robin is the first to respond and rounds up at the sokovian with fiery eyes.

"Don't know how things are done where your from but here we don't execute our captives" he yells trying to knock some sense into him.

But the boy doesn't seem fazed, instead, he smirks at the younger male. "And here I thought we were beginning to trust each other," he says before moving the rock to reveal the man, or should we say machine. Wires and metal pieces scattered on the ground.

"This is why M'gann and I couldn't read his mind" he points out.

"Wait you're a telepath too?" M'gann says her eyes widening in surprise. "Oh, did I forget to mention that? Maxi responds with an innocent head tilt.

Wally picks up one of the robotic eyeballs. "Cool. Souvenir." He smiles excitedly. pocketing it in his pants.

Aqualad rests a hand on the martian shoulder, "We should have had more faith in you." The girl smiles at that.

"Yea, you should have. You all had your doubts about her but look what she did, she showed you guys a thing or two. I knew she could do it."The sokovian teen says looking straight at the girl with a smile.

M'gann looks back with adoration to the other. Touched at his words. She can't help but smile back.

———————————————

"It was clearly created to sabotage or destroy you," Aqualad says, eyeing the broken pieces of the machine scattered on the table.

"Agreed." Red Tornado confirms

It's nighttime when they all make it back to Mount Justice. Trying to figure out the motives behind the attack. Robin, wally, and Superboy study the images on the holographic screen beside the table, seeing what equipment was used in building it.

Maxi stands in the back leaning against the cave wall and running his hand through his long hair. 'It's brighter than normal' he thought. It used to be a dark brown but lately, it has started to lighten up.

M'gann looks up at their supervisor. " Is that why you wouldn't help us?" She questions.

"No." He says. "This was your battle. I do not believe it is my role to solve your problems for you. Nor should you solve mine for me."

"But if you're in danger-" She begins to protest but is cut off.

"Consider this matter closed." With that said he walks away.

"Batman, Aquaman, and Flash, They'd have jumped right in to fix things," Wally said.

"Guess if we're gonna have a babysitter, A heartless machine is exactly what we need," Robin grumbled under his breath, annoyed by the lack of help from the android.

The redhead looks at him. "Dude! Harsh."

"And inaccurate." The android's voice catches their attention. "I have a heart, Carbon-steel alloy. I also have excellent hearing."

Maxi chuckles at his friend's error. "He got you there"

Robin fidgets nervously. "Right. Sorry. I'll strive to be more accurate."

"And more respectful." Aqualad pipes in.

RT resumes his exit. The other teens, minus Megan, Superboy, and Maxi, make their way out of the room too.

"Speedy was so wrong," Wally said.

"This team thing" Robin continues.

"Might just work out." Aqualad finishes.

Superboy goes to follow but stops when he spots the martian looking at him. He looks away and clenched his jaw before looking at her with a calming look. "Sorry." He tells her. Meaning it.

M'gann's eyes widen at the sudden word but smiles, indicating that he was forgiven.

M'gann lightly chuckles at the other's behavior, before bidding him goodnight and flying out of the room. Leaving the two males alone.

"In that case, if you'll excuse me I'm going to bed it's been a long day," Maxi says before leaving to go to his room.

"Maxi wait" Superboy calls out causing the sokovian to stop in his tracks.

"Yes, Superboy?" the other responds

Superboy hesitates before responding, "Goodnight"

Maxi looks at the clone with a smile. "Goodnight Superboy," he says before making his way towards his room.

Chapter Text

Caribbean Sea

June 22, 8:08 pm

The moon shines full upon the rushing waves of the sea. Not a sound in the air except for the low humming of the Bioships engine soaring through the night sky.

Inside the ship, six teens remained silent and still, Maxi stared out of the window his eyes not leaving the dark sea below, his mind clearly elsewhere.

"We're approaching Santa Prisca," Miss Martain announces looking ahead to the screen, showing an island coming into view.

Everyone straightens in attention, awaiting their next move.

All except Robin who is in deep thought of the events earlier that day.

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"Isla Santa Prisca," Batman says, indicating the image of the said island on the holographic screen.

The teens stand before him and Red Tornado, absorbing the information of their first mission being assigned to them.

"This island nation is the primary source Of a dangerous and illegal neurosteroid; a strength-enhancing drug sold under the street name "Venom."

The screen switches its images to a factory.

"Infrared heat signatures indicate their factory Is still operating at full capacity, But all shipments of Venom have been inexplicably cut off." He turns to face them. "That's where this team comes in."

"This is a covert recon mission only." The knight says sternly. "Observe and report.

If the Justice League needs to intervene, it will. The plan requires two drop zones."

"So who's in charge?" The youngest member suddenly asked

Batman and Red Tornado look at each other before answering. "Work that out between you."

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The thought of them talking about the choice of who would be taking charge makes him grin. He will gladly take the leading role.

"Drop zone "A" in 30." MM's voice snaps him back to reality.

That was Aqualad's queue. He stands and presses the symbol on his belt, and his uniform begins to exchange its color from red to midnight black.

He looks to the martian with a nod. "Ready."

She nods back and hits a few keys. "Putting bioship in camouflage mode."

The outside of the ship disappears to blend in around its environment. It lowers until it is above the level of the sea and the doors at bottom of the boat open and out dives Aqualad into the water below.

Hearing the splash below shakes Maxi out of his thoughts as he looks at his teammate's costumes. He was beginning to feel a little self-conscious about his own 'costume' if you could even call it that.

His costume consisted of a red leather trench coat, a red top, a pair of fingerless gloves, black leather pants, and a pair of black boots.

(Wanda’s infinity war suit)

All things considered, he felt a little underdressed. At least he wasn't the only one not wearing a practical suit Superboy was still wearing his casual clothes. 'I guess when your Supermans clone you don't need armor'  Maxi thought

"Drop-zone B," M'gann stated and the rest of them stood up. She waved her hand and zip lines grew out of the ceiling.

Robin and Kid Flash attached the lines to their belts. Wally tapped his logo and his colorful uniform turned black. Personally, Maxi preferred the black instead of yellow. The speedster turned to M'gann, "How cool is this." He boasted.

"Very impressive." She replied before she mentally turned the suit into a full-bodied black suit with a red 'X'.

"Now that's impressive." Maxi retorted.

Wally looked at her with dreamy eyes before glancing at Superboy, "Hey, Supey, not too late to put on the new stealth tech."

Superboy crossed his arms, "No capes, no tights no offense."

"Agreed" Maxi added getting a small smile from Superboy.

M'gann pulled up her hood and activated her camouflage. A new hole opened up on the floor and Miss Martian and Maxi flew down quietly. Kid Flash and Robin used the zip lines to follow close behind.

They all landed and noticed Superboy falling towards them. All of them dived out of the way when Superboy landed making a crater.

"Knew I didn't need a line." He declared standing up with a smirk. He then looked at Maxi who gave him an unimpressed look, "What?"

"Dude, you created a seismic event which isn't exactly helping with the covert." Robin scolded.

"Aqualad Drop-B is a go," M'gann informed through the coms.

Robin activated his holographic computer and they all gathered around him to look at the map.

"Head for the factory, I'll track your GPS and rendezvous A.S.A.P." He replied.

"Roger that," Robin confirmed and they all moved out.

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They walk on the path that would lead them to the factory when Superboy suddenly stops.

The clone's ears pick up the sound of a stick snapping in half somewhere deep in the jungle. "Did you hear that?"

The others look at him in confusion.

"Uh, no," Kid Flash said. "Wait. Is this a super hearing thing?"

"You do have great ears," Miss Martian tells the clone with a shy smile.

"Ok, Rob, now what?" But when the redhead turns to find his teammate for the next move he finds him nowhere in sight."

"Man, I hate it when he does that."

That next moment Aqualad's voice comes through their communicators. "Superboy, Kid, switch to infrared. See if you're being tracked."

Kid Flash pulls down his goggles. The glass switches to infrared and stares ahead. It's not long until he tracks movements. "Got a squad of armed bozos incoming."

Superboy ducks behind a fallen tree. He squints his eyes. His vision is switched to infrared too, he finds a group. "Two squads. But they'll meet each other before they find us."

Suddenly the sounds of bullets firing fill the air.

"Swing wide, steer clear." They hear Aqualad say.

"Yeah, as soon as I find Rob," Kid Flash said and dashed down a muddy path.

The redhead comes to a muddy slope, causing him to fall and roll down the slope. He continues to roll until he flies and lands in the middle of gunfire.

Groaning, he gets up, rubbing his head when he realizes where he is. He looks up and comes face to face with a giant, bulky man with his face painted and a gun in hand. Bane.

"So much for the stealthy," Kid Flash says with wide eyes like a deer caught in the headlight.

The man says nothing but aims and fires at the teen. He flips and runs, dodging the shower of bullets from both groups.

As the group of men continue firing one of them tries to reload his gun. Maxi creeps behind one of them.

With his irises faintly glowing red, he places his hands near the unsuspecting gunman's head. With a wave of his fingers, he shoots a wave of psychic energy into the man's head.

Once the energy reached his mind the gunman's eyes widened in fear. With a scream, the man ran away into the dark jungle. Distracted by their comrade's scream the gunman stopped shooting at Kid Flash.

Bane spots Maxi through the shadows with his back turned and aims when he catches movement out of the corner of his eye. He turns to see Superboy charging at him.

The force of the clone's punches causes them both to stumble to the ground. Bane manages to pin the teen to the ground one had crushed his head and the other with a tight grip on his arm. The clone struggles to get out.

Maxi appears and glares at the man. Using his telekinesis Maxi grabs Bane and throws him sending the other crashing against a tree.

He holds his hand out for the clone to take and helps him to his feet, receiving a thankful nod from the other.

Meanwhile, Kid Flash continues to not get hit as the gunfire starts to increase. Two goons aim at him, getting a clear shot when a sound from above causes them to look to see the Boy Wonder falling to them. He knocks one out in landing the punches and kicks the other to the ground.

"What is wrong with you guys?" He said railing up at them. "Remember covert? Why didn't you follow my lead, and vanish into the jungle?" Didn't they know to follow his commands?

"Wait, that's what you were doing?" He kicks the chest of one of the goons he's fighting with a flip before glancing at the younger teen with an irritated look. "Way to fill us in. We're not mind readers, you know." Kid Flash retorts

He looks back at the sound of one of the goons slamming against a tree by the force of Miss Martian's power. Before seeing Maxi doing the same.

"Er, I'm not anyway." He said.

Miss Martian puts a hand on her hip before saying. "You told me I could only read the bad guys' minds." She reminds them.

Aqualad finally makes his appearance when one of the men with the red hood comes charging at the teens. He places his hand on the other chest and sends a shock of electricity through the man's body, falling to unconsciousness.

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"I recognize those uniforms," Robin observes the men who were tied up leaning against a tree. Bane and his men also tied a few trees away. "They belong to the cult of the Kobra."

"I am certain Batman would have mentioned it If he knew a dangerous extremist as running Santa Prisca's Venom operation." Aqualad points out.

"Agreed. And since there's clearly no love lost Between the cultists and those goons, I'm betting Kobra came in and tossed them out. That's why normal supply lines have been cut off."

"We get it." Kid Flash cuts in. "Kobra wanted super cultists. Mystery solved. Radio Bats, and we'll be home in time- "

"These cultists aren't on Venom." The younger teen cuts him off. "Kobra's hoarding the stuff. We don't leave. Not until I know why."

That catches Kid Flash's attention.

"Until you know why?" He presses on the word.

"This team needs a leader," Robin says with his chin held high and chest up.

"And it's you?" The redhead couldn't believe what he was saying. "Dude, you're a 13-year-old Kid, who ducked out on us without a word." He reminds him.

But the boy just laughs at his face. "And you're a mature 15? You blew our cover first chance you got."

The others just stare as they argue.

Maxi just facepalms.

Miss Martian turns to Superboy. "Don't you want to lead?"

The clone responds with a shake of the head and a scoff. "You?"

"After the mister Twister fiasco?"

"You did all right," Superboy said, smiling at her, causing her to blush at the compliment.

"More than alright," Maxi adds in. "Personally, I believe you would be a great leader. At least with you in charge, you would be able to keep those two in check" He nods his head to the still fighting teens.

The martian giggles at that before looking at her fellow telepath." What about you, Maxi? Do you wanna take charge?"

"Absolutely not" Maxi responds shaking his head. "I wouldn't be able to handle the pressure."

Yeah? You don't even have superpowers!" They hear Kid Flash shoot at Robin.

The sokovian teen groans. "These two." He grumbles under his breath.

"Neither does Batman!" He argued.

"Duh, you're not Batman."

"Duh, the closest thing we've got."

"Duh, shut it!" The two yelps, neither boy is prepared for the smack delivered to the back of their heads by the sokovian male. "With the two of you bickering like this, neither of you will ever be in charge."

They then hear laughter coming from one of their prisoners.

"Such clever Ninos," Bane says to them. But you only know half the story. Let me show you the rest. Get you into the factory via my secret entrance."

"There is a secret entrance, But he's also hiding something." Miss Martain kneels at eye level with the man and enters his mind. However, she doesn't get very far in.

"Ah, ah, ah, chica." The man smirks at her. "Bane is not that easy."

The martian grunts in frustration when she is cut off. "He's mentally reciting futbol scores en Espanol. This could take a while." She tells the others.

"Let me give it ago." Maxi steps in, his irises glowing red. "I'm sure I can do some damage," Maxi said tilting his head.

"It's not complicated." That statement catches all their attention. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend."

They all catch on to what he was talking about. They think it over when Aqualad nods to listen to the villain.

Maxi mentally groans at this new plan. 'Why do I have a bad feeling about this?'

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The muscular man leads them to a cliffside, below them a clearing can be seen, and they spot the factory alive with activity.

Robin looks through his binoculars. He zooms in to find a group of cultists loading up crates. "Look at all that product. A buy is going down. But if Kobra's not selling to the usual suspects, then-"

"We need to identify that buyer." Aqualad Finishes for him.

"Just what I was thinking," Kid Flash says.

The Boy Wonder scoffs at that. "Yeah, you're the thinker."

"Sarcasm? Dude. A real leader would focus on getting answers." The redhead tells him in disapproval of his attitude.

Maxi studies his teammate from afar. Just what was his problem? If this was his way to try and become the leader of the team it was not going great.

The sound of grunting makes them all turn their attention to find Bane lifting a boulder leaning against a rocked wall with his bare hands, revealing a secret passage. "Answers are this way." He gestures for them to follow.

"So, now el luchador is our leader," Kid Flash says, trying to lighten up the mood. He grunts when he is smacked on the shoulder by Robin passing him.

"And now we follow the known supervillain into a dark cave. Perfect." Maxi grumbled as he walked inside.

They followed Bane in silence. Maxi took the rear of the group in case of any sort of ambush. They stopped when they reached a bronze door. Bane used his thumbprint to unlock it revealing a small room.

Bane walked ahead and quietly opened the only door. Robin crouched under the villain and looked around for any of the cultists but found none, "All clear." He walked out ahead of the group.

They walked out after him but found no sight of the boy wonder, "Has that little fool already been caught?" Bane asked.

"No, he just does that," Aqualad replies.

"Stay put I'll get our intel and be back before the boy wonder." Kid says quickly before zooming away.

"Great chain of command," Bane commented sarcastically.

Maxi sighed, "Let's cross that bridge when we get to it."

Aqualad nodded, "We should see where they are taking the venom. Miss Martian fly ahead in camouflage and check if the coast is clear."

She nodded before becoming transparent. M'gann flew ahead looking around for any guards and luckily saw none. She landed behind a crate and was visible again. She peeked out and spotted the rest and gave a thumbs up.

The three of them quickly caught up to her and ducked behind a conveyor belt. They had a perfect view of the main entrance of the factory. The cult is moving multiple crates of venom outside with forklifts.

"It's a massive shipment," Aqualad observed.

"Yea, but they're only taking the new product off the line, they're not touching this venom," Superboy replied.

"Maybe freshness counts?" M'gann guessed.

"Or maybe that isn't venom," Maxi stated.

"Helicopter's coming," Superboy informed.

Maxi just now heard the helicopter, he was too focused on the sound of the forklifts. "I think the buyer just arrived. We need a vantage point." He looked up and saw a steel catwalk.

He telepathically grabbed Superboy and Bane and looked to M'gann, "I got these two." She nodded before doing the same to Aqualad.

They both flew up and dropped off their passengers on the catwalk above them. From here they could see who the buyer was without being found.

"Miss Martian, fly ahead again and identify the buyer," Aqualad ordered and she nodded before going camouflage and flying away.

M'gann flew right over their heads. When she made it above Lord Kobra the helicopter opened. A blonde man in a hockey mask and sportswear walked out.

"Lord Kobra." The man greeted.

"Sportsmaster." The cult leader greeted, "The shipment is ready." He stated and the girl next to him walked up and opened a small box full of vials with purple liquid in them.

Sportsmaster picked up a vile and inspected it, "The new Kobra Venom?"

"Complete, success." Kobra gestured to the large behemoth of a man next to him. "Our friends will not be disappointed."

"This is a game-changer." The blonde replied, "Finally we can go mano a mano with the Justice League."

M'gann telepathically contacted Aqualad, 'Aqualad sending you a telepathic image of the buyer now.'

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Back inside the factory the four of them still waited on the catwalk. When Aqualad received the image of the villain he immediately recognized him. "Sportsmaster, he is the buyer?"

He quickly reached for his com, "Aqualad to Red Tornado, do you read?" He only got static, "Can't reach the League, Robin or Kid. Coms jammed, we need a plan. Now."

"Have any suggestions?" Maxi asked.

"I do," Bane smirked before jumping off the platform.

The drug lord immediately began to fight the cultists and fired their guns at him. Before any of the heroes could do anything they heard a growl before the window behind them broke.

They all turned to see a large man. The catwalk broke in two when he landed on it. The three heroes easily landed and looked up at the beast of a man who roared at them.

Lord Kobra walked into the factory and saw them, "Destroy them." He ordered.

The man charged at them and Superboy intercepted him and picked him up. Aqualad used his water barriers to make a shield to block the incoming fire while simultaneously firing water bullets at them.

Using his psionic energy Maxi fired energy balls at the gunman knocking them over.

M'gann flew over the cultists and began to throw them around with her mind. Sportsmaster saw her and reached for a retractable javelin holstered on his leg and took aim. Maxi saw this and quickly used his telepathy to stop the javelin in midair.

Before he could throw it back, however, the javelin exploded. When the smoke cleared Maxi stood unfazed his irises glowing red and psionic energy forming in his hands.

Before Maxi could engage the villain, the man on Kobra's venom pounced on him. Grabbing Maxi by his legs the man threw him into the wall of the factory. Before he could pounce on him again however Superboy tackled him from the side away from the sokovian.

Maxi quickly stood up and charged toward the man."Hey!" he yelled catching his attention. The man turns around just in time to see Maxi shoot a ball of psionic energy at him.

Superboy took the opportunity and punched the man across the face making him stumble back.

Aqualad dived behind a boiler as the men continued to fire at him. Two more men rounded the boiler to fire at him but Kid Flash dropkicked the both of them down. Three more men fired at the speedster from the catwalk above making Wally hide behind a metal beam.

"Miss Martian, radio is jammed link us up!" Aqualad yelled.

M'gann stopped throwing men around and connected their minds, "Everyone online?"

'Yea,' Superboy answered taking a punch.

'Here.' Maxi answered using his powers to telepathically pull a man into Superboy allowing the clone to perform a close line.

'You know it beautiful,' Wally replied with a smirk.

'Good we need to regroup-' Aqualad began.

'Busy now.' Robin cut in.

Maxi groaned blocking a flurry of bullets with his energy field, 'He is going to get us all killed.' He states flying forward and shooting another psionic blast.

Aqualad was inclined to agree but didn't say so, 'Robin now!' He ordered before whipping down three men, 'We need to retreat, Kid clear a path, Maxi cover us!'

The two quickly did as commanded. Wally ran ahead and knocked men down with his speed while Maxi stayed back and used his energy field to block and deflected any incoming fire. The group retreated back to the cave they came in.

Superboy was grappling with the muscled man before he tightened his grip and threw him into the group of armed men. Maxi waited for the clone to run back into the cave to fly in himself and Superboy closed the door behind him.

They all sprinted down the cave as the door behind them was broken down. Men flooded in and fired at them. "Superboy, the support beams!" Aqualad ordered and he nodded.

Delivering a strong punch to each beam the cave began to collapse above them. They all narrowly made it away from the falling rocks and stood in the darkness for a moment until Maxi conjured an orb of psionic energy illuminating the cave in red light.

Robin stared at the blocked-off end of the cave, "How can my first mission as a leader go so wrong?"

"We're all alive at least. Could've has been worse." Maxi shrugged.

"You are the most experienced." Aqualad spoke up, "But perhaps that is exactly what has left you unprepared." He stated, "Fighting alongside Batman your roles are defined, you two do not need to talk but this team is new and a leader must be clear, explicit. You cannot just vanish and expect others to play parts in an unknown plan."

"Oh, so I'm supposed to hold everybody's hands." Robin snapped before groaning, "Who am I kidding? You should lead us Kaldur, you're the only one who can."

Wally scoffed, "Please, I can run circles-"

"Wally, come on, you know he's the one we all do." Robin cut in.

"Hello, Megan! It's so obvious." M'gann exclaimed.

"You do have the traits of a great leader," Maxi added.

"Coulda told ya," Superboy stated.

They all stared at Wally who shrugged, "Ok."

Kaldur walked up to Robin, "Then I accept the burden. Until you are ready to lift it from my shoulders." He placed his hand on Robin's shoulder, "You were born to lead this team maybe not now but soon."

Robin nodded. Aqualad turned to the rest of them. "Alright, our first priority is preventing that shipment from leaving this island."

"Funny, I had the same thought," Robin spoke up.

After Robin informed them that he sabotaged the helicopter they ran. They didn't have much time before they fixed the chopper.

While they ran Robin pulled up all the information the League had on Sportsmaster, "Sportsmaster is the supplier slash buyer but it still doesn't track. He doesn't have enough juice to require the Blockbuster formula or to get Kobra to do his dirty work."

"And neither of them have the chops to bond Blockbuster to Venom, that took some major nerdeige," Wally replied.

"Perhaps an unknown third party is in play." Maxi assumed

"I believe the expression is 'tip of the iceberg," Kaldur replied before stopping abruptly.

They all saw Bane stand at the mouth of the cave. His muscles were larger than before. Syringes with Venom littered the floor. He held some sort of trigger in his hand, "Halt, niños, I'm feeling explosive."

They all looked up to see bombs strapped to the support beams. "You betrayed us, why?" Aqualad asked feigning ignorance.

"I want my factory back." The drug lord answered simply.

'Kid, you'll need a running start.' He ordered and Wally discreetly took a step back.

Bane smirked at them, "So I forced you into a situation where you would either take down my enemies or die trying. If the ladder, I'm sure the Justice League would certainly have come to avenge their sidekicks, and when the smoke cleared Santa Prisca would be mine once more.

Blowing the tunnel with you inside should have the same effect." He raised the trigger and went to activate the bombs but the trigger vanished.

"With what?" Wally asked from behind him leaning on a tree, "This trigger thingy?" He asked sarcastically.

Bane launched his fist at the speedster but he was lifted off the ground by Maxi. Superboy smirked and walked up to the villain

Maxi let go of his hold on him. When Bane fell down Superboy quickly threw his fist forward connecting with Bane's face.

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With the blades of the chopper spinning and the shipment loaded in it was time for Sportsmaster to leave.

"The helicopter is an operational exalted one." The cultists bowed.

Without a word, Sportsmaster walked to leave. Before he could make it a black and red streak rammed down two cultists. Kid Flash made a U-turn and dodged fire and kicked the man who was shooting at him down.

"Take the shipment!" Lord Kobra yelled and Sportsmaster ran towards the chopper but Superboy jumped in the way shaking the ground.

He stared down at the man with Kobra Venom, "Go again?" He teased and the man ran at him before a blast of water knocked him over. "Sorry, not the plan." He turned to the chopper and was about to wreck but Sportsmaster walked out and fired a grenade launcher at the clone making him stumble back.

When the blonde fired again the projectile was blocked by an energy shield. A pair of green eyes glared at him from behind the shield.

Sportsmaster didn't hesitate to fire again but with zero effect. He saw Maxi smirk and immediately knew that someone was behind him. He ducked and grabbed the Martain by the neck.

"Stand down," Sportsmaster ordered.

Maxi did as ordered and dropped his energy field. However, Maxi quickly used his telekinesis and removed the gun from Sportsmaster's hand. The villain quickly shoved the martain forward who was caught by Superboy. He ran inside the chopper.

The chopper left the ground and began to fly away. "He didn't even say goodbye." Maxi crossed his arms, "But we at least gave him a parting gift."

He smirked at M'gann who held the trigger to the bombs. She pressed it and the rear of the chopper exploded. They watched as the flaming chopped fell from the sky and into the factory causing another explosion.

"Killing two birds with one stone." He turned his gaze to see Robin struggling against Kobra. "I'll make it three." He flew across the clearing and delivered a blast of energy down on Kobra before telepathically throwing him to the tree line.

The team all gathered and faced down Kobra. The man stood up with blood running down his face from a broken nose. He glared at the sokovian who smiled back at him, "Another time them." He says before disappearing into the jungle.

Robing quickly followed but he was already gone.

Maxi scoffed, "The man calls himself a god." He crossed his arms, "Then runs away like a coward. Hubris at its finest."

Robin walked back to the group and smiled, "We picked the right guy to lead." His smile turned to a smirk, "Automatically making you the right guy to explain this mess to Batman."

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Mount Justice, August 4, 1:06 PM

After they returned they all took showers to get the smell of the jungle off of them. They changed into their street clothes. They barely had a chance to breathe when Batman called them in for debriefing.

"A simple recon mission. Observe and report." Batman scolded in Kaldur's face. "You'll each receive a written evaluation detailing your many mistakes." He states walking down the lined-up team, "Until then, good job."

They all looked up at the Dark Knight confused, "No battle plan survives first contact with the enemy. How you adjust to the unforeseen is what determines success and how you choose who leads determines character."

They all watched as Batman made his exit. Maxi broke the silence, "He's an enigma of a person."

"You don't know the half of it." Robin piped in.

"I thought were goners," Wally added.

"Well since our mission was a success, should we celebrate?" M'gann asked unsurely.

Wally zoomed to her side, "You read my mind, you, me candle-"

Maxi cuts in, "Shut up Wally."

Chapter Text

Happy Harbor, August 3

After the mission in Santa, Prisca Maxi spent his downtime in his room to have some much-needed alone time.

Batman had assigned the team a mission to oversee the transfer of a robot that proved difficult for even the Justice League. He didn't see the need to be a part of it so he came up with a convincing enough lie to stay back.

"Are you sure you don't wanna join us?" M'gann asked just as the team was about to leave.

"Yeah, I'm still a little tired after the last mission but don't worry about me," Maxi said before leaving to return to his room. Closing his bedroom door behind him Maxi flopped onto his bed. 'These dreams are getting out of hand' Maxi thought burying his face into his pillow.

Ever since escaping Cadmus Maxi's been having recurring dreams where he'd find himself in a dark tomb with strange markings covering the walls. Recently his dreams would lead him to a room with a giant statue in the center.

Maxi would always find himself drawn to the giant statue but he didn't know why.  Every time he would touch the statue he could feel the magic energy emitting from it and feel a sense of familiarity.

Every morning when Maxi woke up, he would grab his journal and try to draw what he saw in his dreams. This allowed him to research what he saw, unfortunately, this left him with more and more questions.

"Red Tornado do you have a minute?" Maxi asked walking in on the android typing on the holographic screen.

"Yes, child?"

"Is there anyone on the Justice League I can talk to about magic?" Maxi asked holding his journal.

"Giovanni Zatara, he is a magician and a member of the league I can try and call him for you."

"Thank you."

After a short period, the holographic screen changed to reveal the magician who was stationed in another city.

"Red Tornado, I'm surprised you called I haven't heard anything that required my expertise," Zatara said with his signature Italian accent.

"I have someone who would like to speak with you," Red Tornado said moving from in front of the teen.

Taking a deep breath Maxi introduced himself to the magician and began to explain his situation.

"I've been having these strange dreams since the Cadmus incident where I find myself wondering a tomb with markings on the walls." After saying that Maxi brought out his journal and showed the magician his drawing of the statue.

"But this is what I wanted to ask you about, do you know anything about this?" Maxi asked with a serious look on his face.

For a split second, a look of pure shock ran across the older man's face before returning to a neutral look. "I'm sorry but I have no idea what that is, you'll have to excuse me I'm with my daughter and I have to cut this call short Goodbye," Zatara said before abruptly ending the video call.

"I'm sorry your search yielded no results"

"It's ok probably wasn't important anyway, If you'll excuse me." And with that Maxi slowly walked back to his room leaving the android to return to what he was previously doing.

As the door to his room closed Maxi threw his journal against the wall in anger before breaking out into tears on his bed. While the tears rolled down his face he could hear the sounds of the others returning from their mission.

Quickly wiping the tears off his face Maxi ran to his bathroom mirror to check his appearance before leaving to welcome back his friends.

Chapter Text

Mount Justice, August 8, 09:58 AM

The sun shined brightly in the sky, the ocean breeze cooled the hot air and the waves crashed against the sand. The team, save for Wally, walked out of the cave. M'gann ran out of the cave with the boys behind her.

"Hello, Megan! We should hit the beach every day." She said gleefully.

"I agree," Maxi said setting up his beach chair.

They decided to have a beach day given that summer was near its end. Maxi had worn a T-shirt and a pair of shorts seeing as he didn't plan on getting in the water.

M'gann wore a simple two-piece bikini while the boys wore regular swim trunks.

"First a moment of silence for our absent comrade," Robin said morosely.

"Poor, Wally," M'gann said full of pity.

"Wally wouldn't want us to sulk over his absence so let's enjoy it while we can"

"Maxi's right let's have some fun!" M'gann said with a bright smile.

After everyone had put on sunblock they all entered the water. Robin and M'gann would splash each other with water while Maxi would sit under his umbrella and watch from a distance.

Superboy leaped higher than the tip of Mount Justice before he dived down. This caused a large shockwave sending everyone to drift back to shore. Superboy went to apologize but everyone else laughed it off.

While Maxi was distracted by his book Robin and Superboy snuck up on him and grabbed him from his chair.

M'gann could hear the sounds of a struggle before Maxi's voice reached her ears. Followed by a scream then a splash while the sound of laughter followed.

Before the sunset, they were called in by Red Tornado, "What do you suppose our mission would be?" M'gann asked.

"I don't know but I doubt it would put a damper on the day we had." Kaldur smiled.

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When they gathered in the mission room in full gear they were met with some familiar faces such as Batman, Red Tornado, and Green Arrow. However, they were also met with a new person.

It turned out that they had a new teammate. Artemis, Green Arrow's new apprentice. At first glance, Maxi could already tell that she was capable of handling herself and her eyes suggested that she's seen combat. Maxi knew that he already liked her.

"Welcome, Artemis." He greeted shaking her hand, "A new team member is always a welcome sight. You didn't hear it from me but I'm glad we have a new female on the team."

"Uh, why?"

Maxi gave her the only answer he could, "When you meet Wally you'll know why."

Just then the zeta-tube flashed on.

RECOGNIZED

KID FLASH B-O3

"The Wall-Man is here so let's get this party star-" Everyone watched as Wally ran in with a bunch of beach supplies and tripped over an umbrella. He looked up to see everyone already suited up,"-ted. . ."

"Wall-Man, huh?" Aqualad stepped aside to reveal their new teammate, "Love the costume, what exactly are your powers?"

"Ok, I really like her," Maxi whispered to M'gann.

Wally got up, "Uh, who is this?" He looked to the others for an answer.

"Artemis, your new teammate." She greeted them before they can.

"Kid Flash. Never heard of you."

"Um, she's my new protege." Green Arrow stated.

"What happened to your old one?"

Once again the zeta-tube flashed on.

RECOGNIZED

SPEEDY B-07

Speedy walked in, in a brand new attire, "Well for starters he doesn't go by Speedy anymore. Call me Red Arrow." He said sternly.

Green Arrow spoke first, "Roy you look-"

"Replaceable." Roy snapped walking towards the group.

"Great another moody teen." Maxi chimed in.

"It's not like that. You said you were going solo." Green Arrow replied with a frown.

"So why waste time finding a sub? Can she even use that bow?" He asked skeptically eyeing Artemis.

"Yes, she can." The blonde walked up to Roy, sizing him up.

"Who are you?" Wally asked.

"She's/I'm my/his niece." Both blondes replied.

"Another niece," Robin smirked.

"But she is not your replacement." Aqualad announces stepping forward, "We have always wanted you on the team, and we have no quota on archers." Kaldur said.

"And if we did you know who we'd pick." Wally pipes in.

Artemis rolled her eyes, "Whatever Baywatch, I'm here to stay."

"You came to us for a reason," Aqualad said breaking up the tension.

"Yea, a reason named Dr. Serling Rouqette." He says.

Robin recognized the name. He pulled his wrist computer out and searched her up. Her image showed up on the holo screens for everyone to see.

"Nanorobotics genius and claytronics expert at Royal University in Star City vanished two weeks ago." He read as the information came up on the big screens.

"Abducted two weeks ago by the League of Shadows." He corrected.

"Whoa. You want us to rescue her from the shadows?" Robin asked.

"Hard-core," Wally said.

"I already rescued her." Roy stepped forward, "Only one problem the shadows coerced her into creating a weapon." A new screen appeared showing a canister and a robotic insect, "Doc calls or the fog, comprised of millions of microscopic robots, nanotech infiltrators. Capable of disintegrating anything in their path.

Concrete, steel, flesh, bone. Its true purpose isn't mere destruction. It's theft. The infiltrators eat and store raw data from any computer system and deliver the stolen Intel to the shadows. Providing them access to weapons, strategic defense, cutting edge science, and tech." He explained.

"Perfect for extortion, manipulation, power broking. Yeah. Sounds like the shadows." Artemis says.

Wally scoffs "Like you know anything about the shadows." Artemis only smirks in reply, "Who are you?!" He snapped irritated.

"Roquette's working on a virus to render the fog inert," Roy stated.

"And if the shadows know she can do that-" Robin said.

"They'll target her." Red Arrow finished, "Right now she's off the grid. I stashed her at the local high school computer lab." He said as another screen appeared of the local high school.

"You left her alone?' Green Arrow asked.

"She's safe enough for now." He said calmly.

"Then lets you and I keep her that way." The elder man offered.

"You and I? Don't you wanna take your new protege?" Roy asked disgruntled.

Batman silently put a hand on Green Arrows' shoulder.

Green Arrow sighed "You brought this mission to the team it's their mission which means it's hers now too."

"Then my job's done." The ginger scoffed walking away.

"Never seen denial so irritated," Maxi muttered to himself.

RECOGNIZED

SPEEDY

"That's Red Arrow B-07. Update." He said right before he left the flash of the zeta-tube.

Wally glared at Artemis who glared right back.

"See what I mean?" Maxi asked the archer.

Artemis scoffed before looking away from the speedster, "Oh definitely."
———————————————

Happy Harbor, August 8, 9:59 PM

The stars twinkled in the clear night sky above as a cool nightly ocean breeze blew. Dawned in his costume, Maxi was posted on the roof with Superboy and Miss Martian. He had decided to be outside to get some fresh air to calm his mind. Everyone else went to the computer lab to protect the doctor.

"Even from here I can feel the tension between Kid Flash and Artemis," Maxi whispered.

"Give it time they'll get used to each other," M'gann replied.

"Can anyone truly get used to him?" Maxi asked skeptically.

Kladur spoke telepathically to the martian, "Miss Martian, link us up. We do not want the shadows intercepting our com."

She nods "Everyone online?" She asks.

"Ohh. This is weird." Artemis says as she felt her mind linked.

"And distracting." The doctor adds "Coding a disturbing algorithm virus on a kiddie computer with less ram than a wristwatch is hard enough. Now, I have to hear teen think in my skull." The professor says dropping her head into her hands.

"I don't disagree, I'd be mad too if I had to hear Kid Flash's thoughts," Maxi said.

"Lady, do you always complain when someone tries to help you?" Wally asked.

"Pot, kettle. Have you met?" Artemis sassed.

Maxi chuckled but quickly silenced himself.

"Hey, hey. I do not need attitude from the newbie who drove Red Arrow off the team." He shot back.

"That is so not on me." She snaps.

"He wasn't even on the team, to begin with," Maxi says, defending Artemis.

"Fate of the world at stake." The professor reminds the arguing pair of teens.

"She started it." The speedster said.

"How bout I help Miss Martian, Superboy and Maxi patrol the perimeter," Artemis says.

"Good idea," Aqualad says.

"You might cut her some slack. It was her arrow saved your butt against Amazo." Robin said.

"What? No, it was Speedy's I mean Red Arrows Arrow, right?" Kid Flash stammered.

"Not so much." He said

"You should just admit it," Maxi added.

"Hmmph. Still not giving her the satisfaction." Wally said stubbornly.

"You know I can still hear you." She says from a different room.

Maxi can hear Wally groan. He smiled, 'Those two are so attracted to each other." He said offhandedly.

"Excuse me!?"

"Dude!"

Maxi slapped his hands over his mouth, "I forgot you can hear me."

"I couldn't get the Justice League." The professor groaned.

"The virus won't be of much use if we cannot find the weapon. Can you track it?" Aqualad asked.

"My utility fog is not a weapon. It's science, brilliant science and of course, I can track it, but if have to go online. Might as well right a billboard with this address on it and 'assassinate me' written in neon." She says.

"We will protect you." Kaldur said assuredly, "Maxi did you get that?"

"Loud and clear." Maxi stood up stretching his arms, "It's only a matter of time before they arrive. I'll be ready to take them down."

"Tracking fog now." The doctor said.

"I'll circle the perimeter," Maxi said before he projected a blast of psionic energy from his hands propelling him from the ground.

Before he could look around he saw someone out of the corner of his eye. Acting on instinct he quickly used an energy blast to knock the person into a tree. Calming down he quickly realized it was Superboy. He quickly ran to help the clone up.

"I am so sorry Superboy!" Maxi quickly apologized dusting off the clone's shirt. He kept dusting off the black shirt until Superboy caught his wrists. Maxi slowly looked up and met the clone's eyes.

"It was my fault, I didn't notify anyone I was changing  my position." The clone said.

Maxi felt his face go hot, "It was an honest mistake."

"Maxi, how's the sky view of the perimeter?" Aqualad asked.

The sokovian looked away from Superboy, "I didn't see anybody." He quickly replied.

He gave Superboy a small smile before walking toward the building "I'm gonna check inside just in case."  Maxi said leaving Superboy to continue searching the perimeter.

"Mmm, that boy."

Maxi almost fell on his face when Artemis' voice rang in his head. Artemis is outside and the only other boy manning the perimeter is Superboy.

"He can hear you, we all can hear you." Miss Martain scolded.

"Oh, I know"

Maxi decided he didn't like her all that much, "Perimeter clear" Superboy said.

"Good" Aqualad replied, "Miss Martain, Dr. Roquette has located the fog. Reconfigure the bioship so that Robin and Superboy can pursue."

Maxi watched the bioship fly above the building from a window. He watched as the ship landed by the school's side entrance, "Ready."

The ship's ramp slid out and Robin ran out of the school and joined Superboy. The sokovian watched as the two entered the ship and flew away.

Maxi kept his gaze on the ship until it was no longer in view, "Stay safe." He whispered before he continued through the school.

He wandered the halls looking at the various lockers and classrooms for a couple of minutes until he saw a shadow move around a corner. On high alert Maxi quickly ran to catch the shadow. Just as he turned the corner Maxi could see a blade headed for his head.

Luckily Maxi dodged the attack just in time to see a blade collide with the side of the wall.  "So close." The masked assassin said pulling her blade out of the wall. Before Maxi could respond the assassin quickly began her attack.

Using his powers Maxi managed to move the blade just before it could hit him. Closing the space the assassin continued her barrage of deadly strikes.

Being on the defense Maxi was unable to counter-attack as he was focused on parrying the assassin's attacks as he continuously had to back up to try and make space. He wasn't equipped to handle close-quarter combat as his powers worked better at a distance.

After a minute of the assassin being unable to land a hit on Maxi, she decided to leave and continue her mission. as Maxi was focused on her blade the assassin reached behind her back and pulled out a small smoke bomb.

Flipping back the assassin used the smoke bomb to disappear from Maxi's line of sight.

While Maxi took a minute to rest due to overexerting himself the assassin quickly made her way to the computer lab.

While Maxi was resting he could he the clang of metal and the grunts of Aqualad. "M'gann, Maxi, Artemis, Kid we are under attack in the computer lab!" Aqualad said as he continued his battle with the masked assassin.

"On our way!" Artemis replied.

Taking a deep breath Maxi took off running toward the computer lab.

He showed up just in time to stop a flying sai from killing the doctor with his telekinesis. He saw the masked assassin fighting Aqualad and quickly acted as a wall between the doctor and the fight. Ready to attack if the assassin gains the upper hand.

"Almost." The assassin said locking blades with Aqualad, "Poison slowing you down?"

"Jellyfish toxin, I'm largely immune." Aqualad replied before the masked woman headbutted him knocking him to the ground, "Largely." She raised her blade for the final strike but an arrow knocked the blade from her hand. She grabbed her wrist with a yelp.

Maxi looked to the entrance to see Artemis with another arrow ready to fly, "Don't move."

Aqualad got up with his blades in hand. She glanced back at him, "This gig's getting interesting." She said before pulling out a collapsible short sword.

Without hesitation, Artemis shot a barrage of arrows at the assassin. The masked woman easily deflected the arrows with her blade. Maxi used a force field to block the broken arrows from getting near the doctor.

Just then M'gann and Wally burst into the room. The assassin took immediate notice of them, "Maybe a little too interesting." She said before deflecting one last arrow and dropping a flash bang grenade. Kid Flash ran at her only to run through smoke and collide with Artemis.

Noticing how close they were the two recoiled back. Everyone looked to where the assassin once stood to see nothing but air.

Kid Flash began to lay in on the archer, "This is all your fault, you were on the perimeter how did that shadow get in!?"

M'gann stepped forward, "That's not really fair, I was outside too."

"I left my position outside, If anyone's to blame it'd be me," Maxi said looking down in shame.

"Outside being distracted by her!" The speedster stammered, "Besides I can't be mad at you."

"You gave me mouth to mouth." He added mentally.

"We heard that!" Everyone scolded.

Maxi just facepalmed.

"Dang it!" Wally groaned walking away.

"I didn't do half as well during my first battle and I know you couldn't have been Green Arrow's sidekick for long," M'gann assured putting a soft hand on Artemis' shoulder.

"Focus everyone, the shadows will be back." Aqualad reminded.

"Robin to Aqualad." The Boy Wonder said through the earpiece, "We're over Philadelphia, we've located the shadow's next target. Star Labs. We're too late.

It's destroyed. Totally destroyed. The Fog decimated it." A somber mood befell everyone, "Star Labs is cutting edge science and now it's in the hands of the enemy, what's our next move?"

"Rescan for the fog." Aqualad looked to the doctor, "We're moving the doctor."

---------------------------------------------

Maxi stood off to the far corner of the gift shop on the docks. Even from where he stood he felt like he was caught between a rock and a hard place. Wally and Artemis would always glare at each other whenever they would even make eye contact.

The sokovian eyed the two as they once again glared at each other. The tension was so thick he could cut it with a knife.

"Stop it, both of you." Aqualad reprimands.

"What?" The two reply innocently.

"I can hear you glaring." The Atlantian replied.

After a moment Maxi heard Aqualad being attacked. His first instinct was to go and help his friend but his place is here. The whole plan depended on detaining the assassin here away from Dr. Roquette.

The double entrance doors burst open and a man in a dark purple suit stuck to the wall above. Maxi began to make a ball of psionic energy only to be stopped by another villain who used a large hook to distract the sokovian.

The teen quickly rolled out of the way of the large hook flying toward him. Responding with a blast of psionic energy Maxi managed to push the man away.

He ran to cover the doctor but the hook grabbed his shoulder and threw him into the wooden wall. Maxi quickly stood up with his irises glowing red.

Using his psionic energy Maxi lifted the man off the ground and ripped the hook away from him and used it to knock the man out.

He telekinetically picked the man up and returned to the gift shop to find Kid Flash and M'gann with the other villain strung up in his own webs.

He placed the assassin on the floor next to his cohort.

"Where's the other one, where's Artemis?" He asked.

"She went after the third one," M'gann informed.

"Let's go and help her." Maxi proposed.

The other two nodded before M'gann telekinetically lifted the two prisoners from the ground. They flew quickly down the street where they held the real Dr. Rouqette. When they arrived they found Aqualad, Artemis, and the doctor outside of the shop.

"She got away," Artemis said.

Kid Flash dashed next to her, "Oh from you? Oh, big surprise." He asked sarcastically, "Notice we got ours." He gestured to the two captured villains.

Maxi landed, "Kid Flash, shut up."

The redhead rolled his eyes before he saw a cat mask on the floor, "Cool, souvenir." He picked it up.

"Her mask." Aqualad observed, "Did you see her, her face?"

Artemis didn't face them, "It was dark."

"It's alright." The team leader replies, "Superboy and Robin neutralized the Fog, and Dr. Rouqette is safe. Thanks in no small part to you."

Maxi approached Artemis and held out his hand, "Welcome to the team."

The blonde looked down at the hand before taking it. The two shook hands as Miss Martian landed next to them, "I've always wanted a sister. Here on Earth, I mean." She rambled, "I have twelve back on Mars but trust me it's not the same."

"I wouldn't know but thanks." The archer replied.

Maxi and M'gann nudged Kid Flash who stood off to the side, "Ow." He looked hesitant before he conceded, "Yeah. Welcome." He said reluctantly before shaking hands with her.

Maxi looked down at the mask in Wally's hand. He has a feeling that won't be the last time they will see that assassin.

Chapter Text

Mount Justice, August 19, 7:39 PM

Maxi stood to the side as he watched Superboy and Kaldur about to spar. He was excited for everyone else to see how far Superboy had come. The clone had come a long way from simple punches and brute force. The Sokovian was proud of the clone's progress.

Being off duty everyone was in their civilian clothing. Maxi was in a red long sleeve shirt, a pair of black jeans, and a pair of black sneakers.

INITIATE COMBAT TRAINING

Superboy and Kaldur circled each other on the circle. The clone had forgone a shirt leaving his toned body for all to see, not that Maxi mined.

3

2

1

Just like that, they sprang into action. Maxi watched closely as Superboy quickly blocked and dodged Kaldur's attacks. Eventually, they locked arms and wrestled before Superboy put his foot behind Kaldur's and knocked him down.

"Black Canary taught me that."

"Do you know who else would make the cutest couple?"  Artemis asked.

"Who?" M'gann asked.

"Maxi and Superboy."

Maxi immediately went stiff as well as Superboy.

"I agree, they fit together so well as it is." M'gann replied, "Maxi is kind, understanding, and compassionate while Superboy is brooding, stern and protective. It's like one of those romance novels I read back home."

The two looked in opposite directions from each other and avoided eye contact.

Wally zipped in between them, mouth full of burrito, "You two do know that they can hear you right?"

The two girls looked over to see Maxi and Superboy standing uncomfortably.

"Oops," Artemis said awkwardly.

Before the situation could be any more awkward Red Tornado descended from his room at the top of the cave. When he landed he began to walk away until Wally got in his way in a blur.

"You got a new mission for us?" He asked excitedly.

"Mission assignments are the Batman's responsibility." The android replied.

"Well, the Batman is out with the Robin doing the dynamic duo thing in Gotham." The redhead replied, "But you're headed somewhere huh? Hot date or a mission?"

"If we can be of help." Kaldur offered.

Wordlessly Red Tornado turned around and the holo screens appeared. Everyone watched as a sharply dressed elderly man appeared on screen, "This is Kent Nelson, a friend. He is 106 years old."

"The guy doesn't a look a day over ninety." Wally joked but got a nudge from Maxi.

"And he has been missing for 23 days, Nelson was a charter member of the Justice Society, the precursor of your mentors' Justice League." The image changed to a man dawning a golden helmet, a blue suit and a golden came.

"Of course, Nelson was earth's Sorcerer Supreme he was Dr. Fate," Kaldur stated.

"Fate was a Lord of Order, his mission: to root out any chaos across the planet." Robin added, "He may be one of the most powerful beings on Earth if not the universe."

"Kent may simply be on one of his walkabouts. But Kent he is caretaker to the Helmet of Fate, the source to the Doctor's mystic might and it is unwise to leave such power unguarded." The android explained.

"He's like the great sorcerer priest and priestesses of Mars. I would be honored to help find him." M'gann said.

"Me too," Wally said raising his hand with super speed.

The android raised his hand revealing a key"Take this. It is the key to the Tower of Fate." Red Tornado said handing the key to Kaldur.

"What are the chances we both admire the mystic arts?" Wally asked M'gann causing Maxi to groan.

"This is going to be a long trip." The Sokovian said.

---------------------------------------------

Salem, August 19, 8:22 PM

The bioship flew over the town of Salem in stealth mode. Aboard the ship, Maxi and Superboy sat on the opposite sides of the bridge. Occasionally the two would lock eyes before quickly looking away. On the other hand, Artemis wanted to take Wally down a peg.

"So, Wally when do you realize your honest affinity for sorcery?" Artemis probed.

"Well, I uh don't like to brag but. Before I became, Kid Flash I seriously considered becoming a wizard myself." The speedster replied smoothly.

The blonde only glared at him before looking ahead.

"We've reached Tornado's coordinates, but..." Miss Martian said.

"Nothing's there." Superboy cut her off.

"Take us down," Aqualad said.

M'gann landed the ship in the middle of the road, keeping it in stealth mode. They all walked out of the ship and began to inspect the clearing where the Tower of Fate should be. Wally zoomed forward and began to examine the area.

"It could be some sort of cloaking spell," Maxi observed, "I wouldn't put it past a man like Dr. Fate."

"Nothing. This isn't simple camouflage." He said to Artemis.

"So what do you think, adaptive micro optoelectronics combined with phase shifting?" She asked.

The redhead smiled, "Absolutely. . .not." He quickly corrected himself when M'gann came next to him, "Clearly, mystic powers are at work here."

"Oh, God." Maxi groaned.

The sokovian noticed Kaldur looking at the key, "What is it Kaldur?"

"A test of faith." He looked at the key, "Stand behind me."

He walked forward and inserted the key into an invisible keyhole and turned the key. Where once was nothing now stood a tall stone tower. Before them, a large wooden door stood. Kaldur pushed the door open revealing only darkness.

Everyone has a shocked look on their faces before walking in after their leader. The door shut behind them. They all looked back to see the door gone. They found themselves in a stone room with no way out.

"Uh, where'd the door go?" Superboy asked.

A golden apparition in the form of Kent Nelson stood, "Greetings you have entered with a key but the tower does not recognize you. Please state your purpose and intent." He requested.

Wally glanced back at M'gann before walking forward, "We are true believers here to find Dr. Fate." The speedster declared.

Wordlessly the apparition faded away.

"Oh no," Maxi said feeling that something terrible is about to happen.

Not a moment later the floor they stood on began to break open. Before they could react they were falling toward a pool of lava. M'gann caught wally and used her telekinesis to keep them both in the air.

Artemis grabbed Kaldur, pulled out a hidden crossbow, and fired an arrow into the wall, keeping the duo from falling. Being caught off guard Maxi was unable to react quickly enough resulting in him falling.

Before Maxi could fall deeper a strong arm wrapped around his waist. Superboy managed to grab Maxi just before he fell into the lava pit.

Above them, M'gann slowly began to descend. The martian began to sweat at a rapid pace, "Having trouble maintaining altitude. I'm so hot." She panted.

"Yes, you certainly are." Wally agreed flirtatiously.

"Wally!" Artemis groaned

"Seriously right now?!" Maxi snapped.

"Hey! Inches above sizzling death, I'm allowed to speak my mind." He shot back.

"My biology and M'gann's are susceptible to extreme heat, we must climb out quickly!" Kaldur informed, sweating himself.

Still held in Superboy's arms Maxi looked up to see the way out was sealed, "There's no way out."

"Hello, Megan!" M'gann explained, "We never truly answered the question. Red Tornado sent us to see if Mr. Nelson and the helmet were safe!" She called out.

Below a new floor slid out covering the boiling lava.

Superboy landed on the floor with Maxi still in his arms as everyone landed beside him. Kaldur crouched down and touched the floor, "This platform it should be red hot but it is cool to the touch."

"Don't worry, Megalicious. I got you." Wally said putting his arm around her.

"Enough!" Artemis pushed wally away from M'gann and against the wall, "You're little 'impress M'gann at all cost' game nearly got us all barbecued!" Artemis yelled.

"When did this become my fault?" He asked.

"When you lied to that whatever it was and called yourself a true believer." She said.

"Wally, you don't believe?" M'gann asked.

"Fine, fine! I lied about believing in magic. But magic is the real lie, a major load." He said.

"Wally, I studied for a year at the conservatory of sorcery in Atlantis. The mystic arts created the skin icons that power my water bearers." Aqualad said from his crouching position.

"You're pretty close-minded for a guy who can break the sound barrier in his sneakers." Artemis countered.

"That's science. I recreated Flash's laboratory experiment and here I am." He said.

Maxi was going to challenge the speedster on his beliefs but he decided against it and just kept quiet as he watched the speedster continue to argue with Artemis.

"Let us test that theory," Kaldur said finding a handle on the floor.

When Kaldur opened it snow blew into the room. Inside was a frozen tundra.

"It's snow," M'gann said.

"How's science treating you now?" Maxi mocked.

"Do you ever get tired of being wrong?" Artemis asked.

They jumped in and gravity shifted making them fall in as if they were thrown. Wally looked back at the disappearing entrance and turned around to see everyone staring at him.

"Well?" Artemis asked.

"Everything here is string theory, we're in a pocket dimension," Wally replied smoothly.

The blonde only grunted in annoyance. Maxi shook his head.

"What's that?" M'gann asked making everyone look at a floating cane as Artemis walked forward.

"Ohh. Maybe it's Nelson's magic wand." Wally said sarcastically before speeding ahead.

Artemis and Wally grabbed the cane at the same time

"I got it." They glared at each other as the cane began to glow. "Ahh, I can't let go!" They said at the same time.

The cane flew them into the air and disappeared in a flash of light. Everyone else stood in silence.

"That's unfortunate," Maxi said breaking the silence.

"Come on we need to find a way out of here," Kaldur said before he began to walk away.

Everyone else followed the leader. Maxi crossed his arms, back in Sokovia it got really cold in the winter and he always dreaded that first drop of snow.

Superboy noticed this but was unsure of what to do, "Thank you" Maxi said catching the clone's attention before rubbing his arms trying to say warm "For saving me"

"Don't mention it, what are teammates for," Superboy replied with a small smile.

The two then fell into an awkward silence.

Noticing this the martian decided to break the tension, "I don't understand, Wally. It's almost like he needs to believe the impossible can't happen." M'gann said.

"Wally uses his understanding of science to control what he can't comprehend. Acknowledging the existence of magic would be to relinquish the last vestige of that control." He said.

"In other words, he's a know it all." The sokovian summarized.

They heard a creaking noise in the distance and saw a door in the distance atop a snowy hill. The team walked to it cautiously. Kaldur and Superboy entered first and the other two did as well.

The moment the door closed behind them they were enveloped in a blinding light and began to fall. Below them, a square doorway appeared and Maxi and Megan quickly slowed their descent.

Through the portal, they landed in a stairway maze. Superboy and Kaldur landed face-first while Maxi and M'gann landed softly on their feet. They all looked around to see Artemis and Wally standing a few feet in front of them and with them Kent Nelson.

"Friends of yours?" The elder man asked.

Wally pushed the old man down before a blast of electricity could hit him.

"Friends of yours?!" The teen asked before pushing Kent out of the way of a second blast. A third blast was directed at the team who quickly disbursed out of the way.

Maxi shot a blast of psionic energy propelling himself to a different platform. Looking up Maxi could see who attacked them. A villain he had heard of called Abra Kadabra, a man who used technology to imitate magic.

The other one he did not recognize, but just from looking at him, he could tell he was a dangerous threat. The presence that boy gave off shook Maxi to his core and he did not want to go up against him.

Maxi saw Kent Nelson hit a large golden bell with his cane causing the bell to glow a brilliant shining gold. Kent and Wally quickly entered the bell with Klarion flying in behind them. While Maxi was distracted he was blasted by Abra Kadabra. Maxi fell from the platform landing with a loud thud.

Superboy saw the Sokovian fall and glared at the villain. The clone leaped into the air ready to ready to knock his head off. Abra Kadabra saw him coming and shot a net of electricity from his wand. The Kryptonian got caught in the web and fell to the floor.

Kaldur pulled out his aqua sword and went to free Superboy but a second electro net caught the Atlantean. Artemis fired an arrow at the villain who easily deflected it with his wand before ensnaring the archer.

Getting off the floor Maxi saw his friends being trapped and writhing in pain. Struggling to stand on his feet Maxi groaned as he could feel the pain in his arm. He must've landed on it during his fall. Maxi turned his attention to Abra Kadabra as he pointed his wand at M'gann ready to attack her.

Just as Abra Kadabra prepared to fire his wand it exploded in his hand. The blast caused the villain to be hit by his own lightning knocking him unconscious and causing the electric nets holding the team to disappear.

This shocked Maxi as the only two left standing were himself and M'gann but he didn't dwell on it as he rushed to check on his team.

Artemis, Kaldur, and Superboy all groaned in relief. Maxi ran to Superboy while M'gann checked on the other two.

Maxi went down and placed a gentle hand on Superboy's face, "You ok?"

Blue eyes looked up at the sokovian, "Nice hit." The clone smiled.

Maxi smiled in return before a golden light filled the room. Everyone turned to look at the bell anxiously, waiting to see who won.

When a single silhouette broke through the light they assumed the worst. Their panic subsided when Wally came into view with the helmet in his hands.

"Did we win?" Kaldur asked.

Wally nodded with a somber look on his face.

"And Mr. Nelson?" Artemis asked.

Wally only shook his head before he looked down at the helmet.

---------------------------------------------

Mount Justice

After the team debriefed Batman on what happened they all retired to rest with Artemis and Wally taking a zeta tube together. Maxi was exhausted from the mission and was eager to go to his room and relax.

With a sigh, Maxi shut his door and flopped onto his bed, burying his face into his pillow. Just as Maxi was about to fall asleep he heard the distinct sound of a cat's meow beside his bed.

Chapter Text

Mount Justice

When Maxi heard the sound of a cat meowing he thought he was already dreaming but something inside told him to open his eyes.

Once Maxi opened his eyes he was face to face with a ginger cat with black stripes and piercing red eyes. For a minute Maxi just stared at the ginger cat unsure of how it even got into his room.

After a second Maxi thought back to a few hours earlier when the team had gone to the tower of fate to rescue Kent Nelson, They had encountered the villain called Abra Kadabra.

However, he wasn't alone the other person with Kadabra was the young boy with black hair shaped like devil horns. He had remembered seeing the cat in the boy's arms.

Once Maxi recalled that he shot out of his bed getting as far away from the cat as possible. With a meow, the cat jumped off Maxi's bed and walked over to the boy before brushing up against his leg.

" I think she likes you" Spoke a voice from behind him. Spinning around Maxi turned to see the boy from earlier standing in front of him. Jumping back Maxi raised his hands to defend himself only for his powers not to work.

"Ah ah ah, I only came to talk," the boy said picking up the orange cat in his arms and petting it resulting in the cat purring. "You know one Witch boy to another" The boy continued with a menacing grin on his face.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Maxi said not taking his eyes off the strange boy and his feline companion.

"Really? you have no idea what you're capable of do you?" the boy said taking a step closer to Maxi and backing him into his bookshelf. "This is gonna be fun," the boy said before a dark portal opened behind him.

"Come on, don't you wanna find out what you are?" The boy said beckoning Maxi to the portal with a dark smile on his face. Deep down Maxi knew following the boy into the portal was a bad idea but with his strange dreams plaguing him, every night he was desperate for answers.

"Fine" Maxi said walking into the portal. Once the duo entered the portal Maxi looked back one last time before the portal closed behind them. 'No turning back now,' Maxi thought to himself before following the strange boy.

While Maxi followed the boy he couldn't help but think of what his friends would say if they knew about what he was doing. While Maxi was preoccupied with his thoughts a sudden shiver went through his body.

With the sudden chill interrupting Maxi's train of thought he finally realized where the witch boy had taken him.

It only took a second for Maxi to recognize the temple from his dreams only it wasn't a temple but somewhere on top of a mountain with fog covering the surrounding area making the mountain feel isolated.

"Must be nice having a whole mountain built in your honor don't you think?"

Hearing this Maxi turned his attention back to the witch boy "What do you mean my honor?" Maxi said unknowingly getting closer to the boy. "You have no idea do you?" the boy said as he began to circle Maxi.

"You have no idea just how dangerous you are. You're supposed to be a myth, a being of spontaneous creation," the boy said before gesturing to the giant statue behind him.

This information was too much to process for the sokovian teen. He had learned so much yet so little at the same time.

However, he had another question for the witch boy "Why are you telling me all this aren't we on opposing sides?" Hearing this the boy let out a loud laugh nearly falling over. "Sides I'm on nobody's side, I just wanna see what happens" the boy responded with a grin.

Maxi was beginning to think it was a bad idea to follow the crazy witch boy to a mountain in the middle of nowhere. "Why me, I don't think I'm capable of something like that" Maxi muttered.

"Oh please stop acting so modest you've always been able to. How else do you think you stopped that shell from exploding?"

Maxi's eyes widened in shock. "Opps too soon?" The witch boy joked with a cheeky smile "One of the many applications of chaos magic is probability manipulation, which you used to stop the bomb."

The boy finished as he started to pet the orange cat once more. "Chaos magic, probability manipulation, this is all too much" Maxi groaned as he could already feel his head start to hurt.

While Maxi was distracted the orange cat turned to the witch boy before letting out a quiet meow. "You're right Teekl he does have a long way to go, but I know just how to get him started" the witch boy muttered.

"If you want to learn more about your powers then I know how to help" the witch boy announced.

"How?" Maxi questioned, his curiosity getting the best of him once again. "It's really simple all you have to do is follow my lead" The witch boy declared setting the orange cat on the ground. "Fine, but after this, I want to go back to my room."

"Yeah yeah, let's get started." The witch boy announced. "All you have to do is channel your power and do this." The witch boy continued as he started to make a simple motion with his hands.

Maxi followed the boy's instructions closing his eyes as he began to focus his power. "Did anything happen?" he asked with his eyes still shut.

With Maxi's eyes shut he couldn't see the dark smile on the witch boy's face. "Open your eyes and see" the boy called out to the teen.

With a deep breath, Maxi opened his eyes to see a book floating in the air before placing itself in Maxi's hands. "What is this?" Maxi questioned running his hand across the book cover and feeling the detail.

"Think of it as witchcraft for dummies, now let's get you back home," the boy said before snapping his finger and transporting them back to Maxi's room.

"Wait, you didn't tell me your name" Maxi began to say only for the boy and his cat to disappear in the blink of an eye leaving Maxi alone in his room.

With a sigh, Maxi sat down on his bed with the book still in his hands. "This is supposed to help me understand my powers" Maxi said to himself questioning the whole situation.

With a reluctant sigh, Maxi opened the book.
———————————————
Back on the mountain, the witch boy sat in the air petting his cat. "Is it done?" a dark voice spoke echoing throughout the mountain. "Of course, you'll have what you need in due time" the witch boy replied still petting his cat.

"Excellent work Klarion"

Chapter Text

After his encounter with the Witch boy Klarion, Maxi had spent most of his time inside his room reading the book gifted to him. He had spent days learning its secrets and even finding a chapter dedicated to a being called The Scarlet Witch.

Maxi had learned many things after reading the book including things about himself he didn't even know, after the witch boy had told Maxi about his ability to affect probability Maxi began to practice this power daily.

However, even days after practicing his new power, Maxi was still unsure just how far he could take it, which excited him.

After another day inside his room Maxi decided what better way to test his new power than getting out in the field.
---------------------------------------------

The day started as any other, M'gann was in the kitchen trying out a new chocolate recipe she had found with Wally being her designated taste tester.

Robin had convinced Kaldur to spar with him and they were going back in forth, Artemis practices her aim with her crossbow by shooting various soda cans, And Superboy sitting alone with his mind elsewhere.

The whole team was startled when Red Tornado's voice echoed throughout the mountain "There has been a break-in at star labs led by Doctor light, Batman has ordered you to take him down."

After Red Tornado's announcement, the team rushed to get into their costumes. While still in his room Maxi reached into his closet and pulled out his red coat 'Well what are the odds' he thought to himself before he continued to get ready.

Soon after the team got into their costumes they all met at M'gann's bioship about to take off. "You think Maxi is gonna come this time?" Wally questioned looking around to see that they were a member short.

"Oh please I bet he's still cooped up in his room doing god knows what" Artemis replied already stepping into the ship.

As Artemis entered the ship she turned to see Maxi sitting comfortably in the seat he would usually sit in. "Did you miss me?" Maxi questioned sitting crosslegged with a smile on his face.

Everyone was shocked as Maxi casually sat in his seat as if he hadn't been in his room for days. "Dude, we haven't seen you in days and that's the first thing you say!?" Wally yelled after speeding in front of Maxi and pointing his finger in his face.

"Look, I'm sorry for being gone for so long but after our last mission I've just been really tired and I needed a couple of days to relax" Maxi apologized not looking anyone in the eye.

Stepping forward Kaldur placed his hand on Maxi's shoulder gaining the other boy's attention. "We're all just glad to have you back, it was not the same without you, we are stronger when we are together," Kaldur said before walking over to his seat. Maxi mouthed the words thank you before glancing over at Superboy who was doing the same.

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Star City, August 25, 9:20 AM

After a short ride in the bioship Maxi and the others arrived at Star City, home of Green Arrow and home to The Science and Technology Advanced Research Laboratories aka Star Labs.

As the bioship flew in camouflage high above the city Maxi couldn't help but peer over the city in curiosity. Seeing a new location was always the highlight of going on missions for Maxi he just loved being able to see parts of the world he didn't even know existed not too long ago.

"Approaching Star Labs" M'gann announced bringing Maxi out of his thoughts. "Are you sure you're not gonna be rusty?" Wally questioned unhooking his seat belt to get out of his chair to get his stretches in.

With a smile on his face, Maxi shook his head before responding. "I'm ready as I'll ever be," Maxi said as the bioship landed on the roof of the laboratory. "M'gann once we get inside be sure to link us up" Aqualad ordered as the team began their infiltration into the laboratory.

Dr. Light had gathered a group of villains to take over the lab for an unknown agenda. It was unclear whether or not hostages were involved but no one was gonna take any chances. "Kid Flash, Superboy survey the area with your infra vision to get a read on where Dr. Light is,"

Aqualad ordered through the link while Maxi kept watch from behind. "I don't see any hostages but I do see five people in the room behind those doors," Superboy announced just as Robin noticed the terminal next to the door.

"Don't mind if I do" Robin murmured to himself before cracking his knuckles and getting to work on hacking the terminal. However, just as Robin began to hack the terminal the screen turned red displaying an error message.

In the corner of the room, a security camera turned toward the team. "Ah ah ah, I don't think so boy wonder, you didn't think i'd let you get in that easy did you" Dr.Light spoke over the intercom taunting the group of young heroes.

Just then the team turned towards the sound of a loud bang as they saw Superboy attempting to bust the door down. "You poor fool, that door is pure steel and can only be opened from the inside!" Dr. Light declared as he continued to mock the heroes.

"Now what?" Kid Flash asked as Aqualad began to aid Superboy in trying to bust the door down. Just then Maxi walked forward and made a gesture toward the door. Suddenly the door flew open allowing the team to continue forward.

Everyone watched in silence as Maxi continued to walk further down the hall. Just as Maxi took another step a tile that he had stepped on turned bright red.

Just then a pair of laser guns opened from a hidden compartment on the ceiling and aimed straight at Maxi who simply tilted his head.

With his hand, glowing pink Maxi made another gesture at the laser guns causing them to explode. The team could only watch in shock as Maxi continued his walk toward the final door.

"Y-you w-won't be able to get through that door, for it is pure omnium" Dr.Light stuttered as he could only watch from the security camera that was still intact. "We'll just see about that, the odds tend to be in my favor doctor" Maxi responded raising his hand.

Suddenly the once shiny omnium door began to slowly turn brown "Wait! it's turning brown!"

"IT'S RUSTING!?" Dr.Light cried over the intercom before quickly spinning around to see his last wall of defense had fallen.

Watching everything transpire over the security camera Dr. Light and the other small villains he had somehow convinced to break in dropped to their knees.

"We Surrender!"

Chapter Text

Star City, August 25, 10:48 AM

"Well I had fun," Maxi said breaking the silence since the showcase of his new power. The team had returned to the rooftop adjacent to Star Labs as they watched as the police escorted the villains out of the building.

Each of them shook in fear as they were put into the back of the cop cars, "So are we going to acknowledge what the hell just happened?" Artemis announced unceremoniously.

"What do you mean?" Maxi questioned as he turned his attention away from the lab and back to his teammates behind him.

"Oh, I don't know the fact that you went and singlehandedly broke into Star Labs, your new powers, stop me when I'm getting close," Artemis answered sarcastically resulting in Maxi simply rolling his eyes.

"I really don't know what you're talking my powers are still the same, psionic energy has a lot of applications as long as you know what you're doing," Maxi responded before walking back toward the bioship.

Before Artemis could confront Maxi again she was stopped by Robin placing his hand on her shoulder.

"He's lying," Robin said through the telepathic link. Artemis quickly turned to see if Maxi noticed only for him to seemingly not.

"I opened a telepathic link between just the six of us," M'gann said before Robin continued what he was about to say.

"Something is definitely different with Maxi, he doesn't speak to us for days then seemingly comes back with whole new powers. Something doesn't add up," Robin deduced.

"What if Maxi's right, we don't know the extent of his powers," Superboy said trying to defend Maxi. "We've all seen Maxi use his powers before and every time he does his hands and eyes glow red." Robin glanced at the bioship to check to see if the coast was clear before he continued.

"This time his hands glowed a pinkish color and he managed to make an omnium steel door rust. That's not psionic energy it's gotta be something else entirely," Robin explained.

"What do you suggest we do?" Aqualad asked.

---------------------------------------------

Mount Justice, August 26, 12:00 AM

The next day the team decided they would spy on Maxi for a while before getting the league involved. They each took shifts watching him to see if anything irregular happened.

Superboy had volunteered to be the first shift and was currently pretending to watch tv as Maxi was reading a book in the armchair next to him.

Superboy would occasionally glance at Maxi for a couple of seconds before quickly going back to watching tv.

This would go on for a few minutes until their eyes met, Superboy tried to act like Maxi didn't just catch him looking at him but Maxi knew something was up.

"Did you need something?" Maxi asked shutting his book and giving Superboy his full attention. As Superboy stared into Maxi's eyes his mind couldn't help but short-circuit before giving the boy his hastily put-together excuse.

"I...I was just wondering if you wanted to go on a ride with me, you know just to get out for a bit." Superboy responded saying the first thing that came to mind.

Maxi's eyes widened in shock before quickly responding. " I-I would love to" Maxi stuttered before running back to his room.

"Just give me a few minutes!" Maxi yelled as he left a stunned Superboy still sitting on the couch. Not too long after Wally entered the kitchen to get a snack to see a frozen Superboy who hadn't moved since Maxi left to get ready.

Walking in front of the stunned clone Wally waved his hand in front of Superboy's eyes to check on him. "Dude are you alright?" Wally asked as he continued to try and get a response from the clone.

"I think I just accidentally asked Maxi on a date"

"What!?"

---------------------------------------------

When Maxi had said to give him a few minutes, he meant to give him an hour. While Maxi was trying to figure out what he wanted to wear he glanced at the book sitting on his bed, he hadn't read it in a while.

"I started reading that thing weeks ago and I still feel like I've only just begun," Maxi thought as he went over to his mirror to check his hair.

Just as Maxi was doing his finishing touches he heard a knock at his door. "Coming!" Maxi yelled as he ran to his door, pausing he took a deep breath before opening it.

Once Maxi opened the door he was met with Superboy holding a bouquet of red roses. Seeing the clone standing there awkwardly holding a bouquet of roses brought a smile to his face and his cheeks to glow red.

"Are these for me?" Maxi asked reaching for the bouquet of roses, his fingers brushing against the clones causing his cheeks to turn even redder.

"Y-yeah" the clone responded quickly shoving the flowers into Maxi's hand before stuffing his hands in his pants pockets.

"Thank you Superboy," Maxi said before sniffing the roses. "So where do you plan on taking me?" he asked with a smile on his face.

"There's a traveling fair in town, we can take Sphere if you want," Superboy said nervously rubbing the back of his neck.

While Maxi's door was open Superboy managed to get a look inside his room. Nothing was out of the ordinary.

A black bookshelf stood in the corner of his room filled to the brim with books, a desk placed just next to the bookshelf, a door seemingly leading to Maxi's bathroom, and a bed covered in red blanket pushed up against the wall.

However, placed on the bed sat a single book different from the others on the bookshelf. From the looks of it, this book had no title only a strange symbol on the cover.

Before Superboy could get a better look Maxi shut his door "We better head out now, wouldn't wanna miss the fair" Maxi said before going to the mountains garage.

Glancing back towards the door Superboy let out a reluctant sigh before following Maxi.

---------------------------------------------

With the sound of Spheres engine roaring in the distance and the garage doors closing the rest of the team began their part of the plan.

Flashback:

"What do you mean you accidentally asked him out on a date!? Wally yelled at the clone. The sound of the speedster's yell drew the others into the living room. Before Superboy could defend himself Wally interrupted him.

"Lover boy over here decided to ask our target out on a date" Wally yelled raising his hand in the air. In the background, Artemis and M'gann quietly gave each other a high five while Kaldur and Robin turned away so superbly wouldn't see them chuckle.

After he finished chuckling at Superboy Kaldur turned back around "While I am glad you have finally admitted your feelings for him, I fear you have chosen a bad time." Kaldur said as he gave Superboy a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

"I don't have feelings for Maxi !" Superboy yelled as he shot up to his feet. "Oh please," Artemis interjected "You look at Maxi the same way Wally looks at a cheeseburger" Artemis not missing the opportunity to throw a jab at the young speedster.

"Hey!" Wally gasped before Robin put his hand on his shoulder and shook his head. "So where are you guys going?" M'gann asked excited to see her ship sail. "What do you mean?" Superboy asked.

"Well, you gotta go somewhere, especially since it's your guys' first date it has to be special." The martain said her eyes shining bright. Hearing this the clone looked down at his feet in thought "What do I even do on a date?" Superboy asked quietly.

"I have just the plan" M'gann squealed in excitement. "Wally run down to the flower shop and get me a bouquet of red roses, Kaldur I need you and Robin to help Superboy get dressed up while Artemis and I get everything ready," M'gann ordered.

"You got it, babe," Wally said before he speeded out of the mountain. Before Superboy could say anything Kaldur and Robin grabbed him by the arms and dragged him out of the living room.

"So what do I do?" Artemis asked eager to be a part of the plan. "We need to find a place for our boys to go" M'gann.

Artemis entered a deep thought before quickly snapping her fingers once she had an idea. "Isn't there gonna be a fair in town?" she asked with a smirk on her face.

If it were possible M'gann's eye grew even brighter "Just like episode 24" She said to herself. "Artemis you're a genius," she said before enveloping the archer in a tight hug.

"I coulda told you that" Artemis responded "I'll go put the info into Spheres GPS," M'gann said before flying off toward the garage.

END~

Chapter Text

Happy Harbor, August 26, 2:00 PM

As Superboy and Maxi exited the mountain Superboy glanced at Maxi through his helmet noticing Maxi had a tight grip on the back of Sphere.

When the two of them had gone to get their mode of transportation they noticed Sphere had transformed into a simple motorcycle.

Superboy had attempted to get the machine to transform back Maxi but had said it was fine. Now, however, he was seemingly nervous about riding.

" You can hold on to me if you want" Superboy suggested looking forward so that Maxi wouldn't be able to see his cheeks turn red.

"Are you sure?" Maxi asked as he wrapped his arms around Superboy. "I'll be fine" Superboy responded as he revved up the engine and began to drive to their destination.

While Superboy was driving Maxi couldn't help but feel the tight muscle of Superboy's stomach. Maxi knew the clone was in shape, but actually feeling his muscles still made the sokovian blush underneath his helmet.

As the duo drove down the road they both sat in a comfortable silence as they let the sound of a motorcycle fill the silence between them.

Over the time since the team had started Maxi realized he and Superboy barely interacted by themselves, they've always interacted while the others were in the room.

Both of them weren't as talkative as Wally or as outgoing as M'gann so they rarely could carry on a conversation for too long.

Maxi would try to talk to him but he would get cold feet and run off. Like Superboy, he would try to speak to Maxi while Maxi would read in the living room but he'd always awkwardly end the conversation and walk out of the room.

They both wanted to get to know each other but they couldn't carry on a conversation between them without finding a way to exit the situation.

It infuriated everyone on the team to watch their friends beat around the bush so much. Robin and Kaldur tried to get the clone to ask Maxi out, but they could only push him so far down the hallway before the clone would dig his feet in and become practically unmovable.

Artemis and M'gann also tried to get Maxi to speak more but they'd always be met with the same results. At one point Artemis wanted to just kill both of them only for M'gann to have to hold her back.

While the two continued their drive Maxi subconsciously tightened his arms around Superboy's waist. "Are you ok?" Superboy asked taking a glance at Maxi. "Yeah, why do you ask?" Maxi responded.

"Nothing, forget I said anything," Superboy said before he revved up the engine and drove faster. Before Maxi could say anything a large armored truck came up behind them nearly running them off the road followed by a swarm of cop cars blaring their sirens.

"So much for a quiet night out," Maxi said as Superboy sped up even more. Picking up speed Superboy drove in front of the truck, turning around Maxi's hand glowed brightly in the night. With a simple motion of his fingers, the tires on the truck turned into butterflies.

'That's not what I wanted' Maxi thought as he watched the butterflies fly off into the night sky. Slowing down Superboy parked the bike a small distance from the now stationary armored truck. Walking up to the truck he grabbed the door and ripped it off scaring the driver half to death.

"We surrender!" the man yelled as he fell out of the truck and got on his hands and knees along with the other masked men in the truck. With a simple glare, Superboy left the men for the cops to handle and went back to the bike where he had left Maxi.

"Nice job shooting out their tires," Superboy said hopping back on the bike and speeding off before the cops could question them. Maxi didn't respond, he was still thinking about how he managed to turn rubber tires into butterflies of all things.

'My powers must be acting up' Maxi thought as he and Superboy continued their drive. After driving in silence for a little longer they finally came upon the bright lights of the city. after weaving through the city streets Superboy and Maxi finally reached the fair and pulled into the parking lot.

After parking the bike and paying for both their tickets the first thing Superboy wanted to do is get them some food. M'gann had told Superboy a good way to get the ball rolling was to start with food so that's what he was gonna do.

"Thanks again for bringing me here Superboy," Maxi said before taking a bite out of his funnel cake.

"Don't mention it" Superboy said looking away so that Maxi wouldn't see his cheeks turn red. After that, the two super-powered teens stood in an awkward silence both of them unsure of who should speak first.

"Oh for fucks sake talk to him!" A voice echoed in Superboy's head. Wincing at the loud voice inside his head Superboy quickly looked around the busy fair for the source. Looking back toward the food stand Superboy noticed a pair of girls wearing sunglasses and trench coats.

One of them kept glancing at him before the other one hit her in the back of the head. "Is something wrong?" Maxi asked taking Superboy's attention away from the strange girls.

"Nothing, just thought I saw something" Superboy responded before taking a sip of his soda, "Hey how about we check out some games" Maxi suggested pointing in the direction of a carnival game.

Nodding his head Superboy allowed himself to be pulled towards the game. "Step right up for your chance to win a prize!" The man working the game said as the duo approached the game. "All you gotta do is shoot the moving targets to win a prize".

Looking at the prizes Superboy noticed a large plush of a cat hanging in the air. Superboy turned and saw Maxi looking at the toy and had an idea.

"I'll give it a try," Superboy said determined to win the toy for Maxi. "Good choice my friend," the man said handing Superboy a toy rifle.

With the ring of a bell the game started, looking ahead Superboy aimed the gun at the moving targets. Taking a deep breath Superboy aimed the rifle and fired...

He missed.

END~

Chapter Text

Happy Harbor, August 26, 7:00 PM

After missing the first shot Superboy could hear Maxi chuckle beside him. "You still got a few shots left buddy," the man said as the game continued.

With a deep breath, Superboy tried again and again missing each time. "So close, sorry buddy," the man said as he stopped the game. While the man's back was turned, Maxi made a motion with his fingers shooting a pink beam of energy at the gun.

"I'd like to try" Maxi announced getting the man's attention, "Ah a new challenger approaches let's hope you're better than the last guy,"  The man said pretending he didn't want Superboy to hear him.

"I can assure you I am" Maxi responded giggling as he could hear Superboy growl beside him. As the game, restarted Maxi picked up the toy gun confidently. Staring down the gun sights Maxi's finger brushed against the trigger.

Taking a deep breath Maxi fired the gun, hitting the target dead in the center letting out a ping noise. Keeping momentum Maxi began to fire the firearm each bullet finding its Mark rapidly, much to the surprise of the man working the game and Superboy.

"I didn't know you had aim like that!" Superboy said as he looked at all the knocked-down targets.

"Might even give Artemis a run for her money" Maxi chuckled as he was handed the giant plushie he wanted. After they won the game the duo decided to try out the Ferris wheel so they could get a view of the city lights, "Thank you again for taking me here Superboy" Maxi said while looking away from the clone so he couldn't see the smile on his face.

"D-don't mention it I figured we both were stuck in the mountain and we could use the night off," Superboy said as he was also looking away from Maxi so the telepath couldn't see his blushing face. As the Ferris wheel finally reached the top both Maxi and Superboy looked over at the glowing city in awe of the bright lights.

While Maxi was distracted Superboy took the time to appreciate just how beautiful Maxi looked tonight. His brown skin seemingly glowing in the moonlight complimented by the thick curls of hair that cascaded down his shoulders.

Superboy hadn't been alive for a long time but he already knew that Maxi was the most beautiful person he had ever seen. "Superboy?" Maxi said waving his hand in front of the clone's face to get his attention.

"Huh, what's wrong?" Superboy asked coming out of his head. Looking down he noticed that he had subconsciously moved closer to Maxi. "You looked like you were lost in thought," Maxi said running his hand through his hair,  Looking at Superboy Maxi felt the feeling he'd been harboring for a while now grow even stronger. As the pair continued to stare at each other Maxi could feel his heart beating out of his chest.

"Hey Maxi" Superboy called out grabbing the telepath's attention. "Ye-" but before Maxi could respond Superboy did something that surprised the both of them, Superboy had done the one thing he had been wanting to do for a long time now the one thing he hadn't dared to do but tonight was different. He finally got the courage to kiss Maxi.

The kiss was awkward at first but after a while, they quickly got the hang of it. As the pair of young heroes continued to make out Superboy wrapped his arms around Maxi's waist and pulled him closer.

After what felt like forever they both pulled away completely out of breath, neither of them knew exactly what to say to the other but they both knew they felt something even if they couldn't say exactly what that feeling was.

"So...what now?" Maxi muttered breaking the silence between them, "What do you want to happen" Superboy asked as he gently caressed Maxi's face.

"Oh for the love of god just fuck already!" yelled a voice from below them. Just then they both realized they were still on the Ferris wheel and not alone in their little bubble, looking down they both spotted Artemis holding a bag of popcorn while M'gann tried to hide behind her.

"Artemis what are you doing here?!" Maxi yelled back embarrassed that their friends and probably the rest of the fair saw them kiss.

"I guess I have some explaining to do," Superboy said awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck. Once the pair got off the wheel and grouped up with Artemis and M'gann Superboy explained how the other had helped him get ready earlier.

"I'm sorry for following you guys" M'gann apologized bowing her head in shame. "I'm not" Artemis interjected grabbing a handful of her popcorn "I wasn't gonna miss for the world," she said before stuffing her face with popcorn.

"It's getting late we should probably head back" Superboy announced grabbing everyone's attention. "I agree wouldn't want Red Tornado worrying about us," Maxi said still holding the giant plushie.

"You guys can back ride with us, the ship can fit sphere as well," M'gann said as she and Artemis led the way back to where they parked the spacecraft. Before Maxi could catch up to the others Superboy grabbed his arm and held him back.

"What are we?" Superboy taking the straightforward approach he was famous for. "It depends, I really like you but I don't want to get my hopes up" Maxi responded looking down and holding the giant plushie closer to his body.

"I feel the same way, have since Cadmus" Superboy whispered using his fingers to tilt Maxi's head upwards so that he could meet his gaze. Maxi didn't need to be a mind reader to tell Superboy meant what he was saying.

"Will you be my boyfriend?" Superboy asked his breath brushing up against Maxi's lips. Answering his question this time Maxi initiated the kiss between them with Superboy being more than happy to reciprocate.

Pulling away Maxi smiled brightly "We should probably catch up with M'gann and Artemis before we get left behind," Maxi said before grabbing Superboy's hand.

"lead the way" Superboy responded with a smile of his own. As the two walked past the fair games they walked past the fair game they had first visited now holding hands. "Awww, young love," the game worker said before his eyes glowed red "Right Teekl?"

Back at the mountain

Once the crew got off the ship they were meant by Robin and the others waiting on them "How'd it go?" Robin asked as M'gann and Artemis stepped off the ship "See for yourself, I'm heading off to bed, spy takes a lot out of you" Artemis responded after letting out a yawn.

Looking behind her Robin spotted Maxi and Superboy walking off the ship hand in hand. Speeding next to him Wally wrapped an arm around Superboy's shoulder "Dude nice work getting the guy!" Wally said congratulating the new couple.

"I'm gonna head to my room..goodnight you guys," Maxi said as he left the hangar. Once Maxi made it to his room he plopped onto his bed exhausted.

It didn't take long for Maxi to get into his sleepwear and once he got in his bed and pulled the covers over his head he was out like a light with a smile finding its way onto his face even in his dreams.

End~

Chapter Text

It is your destiny to destroy the world.

Mount Justice, October 5th, 8:00 am

Much time had passed since the night of the fair yet hardly anything had changed. The team had gained two new members, Raquel Ervin aka Rocket Icon's sidekick whose powers come from her inertia belt. By using her belt, she can manipulate kinetic energy, granting some super strength, and a kinetic force field.

Alongside her was Zatanna the daughter of Zatara she joined after her father became the new Doctor Fate. Maxi knew what it was to lose a parent so he and Zatanna quickly became good friends.

The team had just come back from a mission that lasted till the late hours of the evening and they were ready to head in. Once they made it back to the mountain each of them went to their respective rooms for the evening.

Maxi was especially tired since his powers had begun to go awry again causing him to once again end up on the boy wonder's watch list.

Once Maxi had returned to his room he did his nightly routine before he finally went to sleep. The minute his head hit the pillow Maxi was out like a light, since Maxi had his meeting with Klarion his dreams have gotten worse. Every time he went to bed he'd wake up back at Mount Wundagore forced to traverse the dark caves until he awoke the next day.

Tonight however was different, Once Maxi went to sleep he immediately realized he wasn't in his room anymore. Looking around he noticed he was lying on the ground surrounded by flowers with the sun shining on him. This would've been a nice change of scenery if he didn't still feel a chill run down his spine.

"Ah, so you noticed my illusion, you're coming along quite nicely" a deep voice echoed in Maxi's head.

"Enough games Klarion show yourself!" Maxi yelled trying to sound confident even though he was still very much afraid. As he continued to search for the witch boy Maxi sensed something as the air around him grew cold. "I'm afraid you are mistaken, I am not Klarion," said the same voice only this time coming from directly behind Maxi.

Quickly turning around Maxi came face to face with a six-foot-tall man with long slicked-back silver hair. He appeared to be wearing a red suit of armor with a long red cape that flowed in the wind adding to his mystique.

"W-who are you?" Maxi stuttered as the chill down his spine increased tenfold due to the arrival of the strange man. "My story is one too long to tell in the short time we have together, so let's focus not on me but on you," the man said before taking Maxi's chin between his fingers.

"I believe you're wondering about why your powers have seemed to drastically evolve since Cadmus yes?" The man said as he gazed into Maxi's eyes.

"H-how do you know that?" Maxi said as he couldn't help but stare back into the man's red eyes. Too many thoughts were running around in Maxi's head but he knew one thing for certain, this man was bad news.

"I've been watching you for a long time now, I believe you've come across Klarion he's given you my book, hasn't he?" the man said as he let go of Maxi and turned his back to him so he could observe the flowery plains.

"The book...It's yours?" Maxi questioned as his mind shot back to the time Klarion had taken him to Mount Wundagore and had given him the strange book. "Why of course it's mine, you don't believe that a mere child could create something as powerful as my Darkhold do you?" the man said as a cool breeze swept through the field.

"I understand you have questions that the Justice League won't or can't answer but I assure you, I can help you understand your powers far better than the members of the league," he said piquing Maxi's interest.

Maxi knew deep down not to trust this man but he also knew this was his best option seeing as the league had brushed him off. With his curiosity getting the best of him Maxi decided to give this man a chance.

"Alright, if you are going to answer my questions then answer this first what is your name?" Maxi said his voice finally steady.

"Getting right to the point I see very well, Chthon at your service," he said before giving a bow. After Chthon introduced himself, Maxi immediately went to his next set of questions.

"What is happening to my powers?" Maxi asked as Chthon continued to bask in the warm breeze. "It's simple Maxi you're finally tapping into your innate ability to use Chaos Magic," Chthon said turning back around to face Maxi as the blue skies darkened into a scarlet red.

As the sky darkened the flowers in the field began to slowly lose their lives causing them to rot and decay beneath their feet. "Since the day you were born, you were blessed with the unique ability to control chaos magic, interacting with the Darkhold must have unlocked your true potential," Chthon went on as red lighting flashed in the distance.

"Blessed by what?," Maxi said uttered as the chill made a return not taking his eyes off of Chthon despite the drastic change in his surroundings.

"By the elder god of chaos" Chthon replied as if it was nothing. As the two conversed more red lighting began striking in the distance. "The elder god of chaos? Like what Klarion is?" Maxi asked trying to keep up with Chthon

"Hmph, Klarion is a lord of chaos one of several but even they do not compare to the elder gods," Chthon said looking up toward the scarlet atmosphere "I believe you will be waking up soon," Chthon said turning back towards the field.

"Wait, I wasn't done yet! Maxi called out as the field was engulfed in darkness.

Awakening with a gasp Maxi looked around his room before his eyes landed on the alarm clock on his nightstand. "7:00 AM, at least I woke up on time I guess," Maxi thought as he slowly got out of bed and headed to his bathroom.

While in the shower Maxi's thoughts drifted to his encounter with Chthon, meeting that strange man answered some of the questions Maxi had but unfortunately, it only left him with even more.

After Maxi finished his morning routine he heard a knock at his door. Answering the door Maxi was met by Connor who had a concerned look on his face. "Hey, are you ok?" he asked as his blue eyes glanced over Maxi and into his room.

"Of course, why?" Maxi responded leaning against his door unknowingly blocking Connor's view. "I heard you talking in your sleep last night, and I just wanted to check on you first thing in the morning" Connor replied rubbing the back of his neck with his face turning red.

"I'm sorry for making you worry but I assure you it was just a nightmare," Maxi said before standing on the tip of his toes to kiss Connor on the cheek. "D-do you wanna talk about it?" Connor stammered.

"Maybe later" Maxi answered back "Let's go see if the others are awake," Maxi said before heading to the kitchen with Connor following behind him.

Once the two of them reached the kitchen they were greeted by Kaldur and the others. "Good morning you two" Kaldur said making a welcoming gesture with his cup of coffee. "Morning," Wally said with his mouth full of cereal, "Don't talk with your mouth full," Artemis said smacking the speedster in the back of his head.

"I made French toast!" M'gann said gaining Maxi's attention. "I helped so you don't have to worry" Artemis whispered in Maxi's ear earning a chuckle. "Thank you" Maxi whispered back before grabbing a piece and taking a bite

"Mmmm, thank you," Maxi said with his mouth full of french toast. "Hey, how come he doesn't get smacked in the head?! Wally said still rubbing the spot where Artemis struck him.

"Because I like him more" Artemis replied with a smirk on her face. While the others were chatting in the kitchen Robin pulled Kaldur to the side. "I hope just because Maxi and Connor are together you guys haven't forgotten what we're supposed to be doing," Robin declared keeping his voice low.

Looking over the young detective Kaldur around the corner and watched Maxi as he and M'gann discussed the next time the two of them could have another Hello Megan viewing party. "Nothing out of the ordinary has happened since Star Lab, and I chose to have faith in my friend," Kaldur said before leaving Robin by himself.

"They've left me no choice," Robin thought before taking out his cell phone to make a call. While he did that the others finished their breakfast and got ready for their morning training. "We need to talk, now in person," Robin said over the phone as he watched the others do their morning exercise.

"I'll send you a location" Batman responded before hanging up the phone.

Chapter Text

Gotham City, October 6th, 9:00 am

As the bright sun shined over Gotham Batman stood tall watching over his city from a rooftop waiting for Robin to meet him. "What did you want to talk about?" Batman questioned not even turning around to face the boy wonder who appeared from the shadows.

"It's about Maxi" Robin answered his mask expressing the scowl on his face. As Robin explained his suspicions, Batman's face remained stoic as ever. "I already know," Batman said after a moment of silence. "What?!" Robin exclaimed the white of his mask enhancing his surprised expression.

"Doctor Light wasn't the only one watching you on the security cameras," Batman stated as he continued to watch over the city "I've been conducting my own investigation for a while now" he continued.

"Since Cadmus, I've kept my eye on him, his powers are extremely dangerous and appear to be evolving," Batman explained. "Zatara had happened to see the footage and left the room immediately after" Batman went on.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Robin exclaimed "we're supposed to be partners" he muttered to himself but Batman heard him.

Finally, turning to face the boy wonder Batman walked over to him and placed his hand on the teen's shoulder. "I wanted to be sure he wouldn't be a detriment to the team or you" Batman explained sincerely. Taking a deep breath Robin nodded his head " I understand, so what do I do?" he asked his mentor.

"Do nothing"

Mount Justice, October 6th, 11:00 am

Back at the mountain, Maxi was currently lounging around in his room when he heard strange whispers begin to fill the room. "What the hell?" Maxi thought as his head started to ring, as the voices grew louder Maxi stumbled around his room before he collided with his bookshelf knocking over some books.

One of those books happened to be The Darkhold which was glowing a faint red, before Maxi could question it the voices grew too much for him causing him to fall unconscious. As The Darkhold's red glow grew brighter Conner began knocking on Maxi's door as he heard his groans of agony.

"Maxi, are you alright? " Conner asked as he continued to knock harder on the door. Looking at the ground Conner noticed the bright red light coming from Maxi's room.

Not hesitating for a second he knocked down the door only to see Maxi on the ground unconscious. However, before he could reach him the light grew to a blinding magnitude.

"MAXI!" Conner yelled as he had to cover his eyes to avoid the blinding light. After a few seconds, the light began to fade allowing Conner to see again. As his eyes adjusted Conner frantically looked around the room only to find that Maxi had disappeared along with The Darkhold.

Mount Wundagore

As Maxi lay unconscious on the stone altar Klarion stood over him petting Teekl with The Darkhold floating in front of him. "It's about time we get started don't you think Teekl?" Klarion said as the book of the damned glowed a dark red.

After setting Teekl on his shoulder Klarion began to recite a spell from the book causing Maxi to slowly start levitating off of the altar. While the ritual was going on a dark red beam of energy shot up into the sky causing the clouds to darken.

Justice League Watchtower

Soon after Batman and Robin finished their meeting Batman zeta-tubed to the watchtower where Zatara happened to be waiting for him. "It's time I come clean about something Batman," Zatara said with a grim expression.

During their conversation, an alarm sounded off throughout the tower. While the alarm continued Batman pulled up a holographic satellite scan of the earth. "These readings are nothing like I've seen before," Batman said before being interrupted by a call.

With the press of a button, Batman answered the call as he continued to look for more information. "Batman!" Conner yelled getting the dark knight's full attention. "What is it Superboy?" he responded noticing the frantic expression on the teen's face.

As Zatara gazed upon the earth he dropped to his knees. As he was on his knees his ears began to ring drowning out the conversation between Batman and Superboy. With his gaze frozen on the red dot growing on the earth, his mind flashed back to that fateful day.

He should've done something he thought, he should've stepped in maybe he could have prevented this he thought. It was too late now though as all over the world users of the mystic arts got the same feeling.

Something was wrong

Mount Wundagore

As the ritual progressed the writings on the walls of Wundagore began to glow red as well. After Klarion said the last part of his spell he poured some of his Magic directly into Maxi. With the culmination of dark magic and a spell from the book of the damned Maxi awoke with his eyes glowing a dark red.

Once his eyes opened a massive surge of chaos magic surged throughout the mountaintop. During this, his clothes began to change from the comfy clothes he wore before into a dark red suit complete with a long red cape, and a red headpiece.

"Wakey wakey Maxi" Klarion sang as Teekl leaped back into his arms. As Maxi scanned his surroundings he slowly walked toward the stone walls, his eyes began to scan the dark magic etched into the walls as they began to glow the same red color.

As he was doing that Klarion opened a portal behind him. "Let's get into some trouble, shall we?" he questioned gaining Maxi's attention. Maxi paused for a second before his eyes turned red.

Star City, October 6th, 2:00 PM

During the afternoon the peaceful sounds of car horns and people going about their day-to-day lives filled Star City blissfully unaware of the pair of Witches floating above them. "This seems like the perfect place for you to let loose," Klarion said with his signature evil grin on his face.

As Maxi overlooked the city below him chaos magic poured out from his hands causing the skies to darken. With a wave of his hand rays of chaos magic rained down on the unsuspecting citizens of star city.

When the first set of strikes landed a multitude of villains all from Killer Moth to The Joker suddenly appeared immediately wreaking havoc on the city. Within seconds the cops arrived on the scene to try and get a hold of the situation only to quickly be killed.

Not long after Members of The Justice League and other heroes in the area showed up to handle their respective rogue's galleries. Back at the mountain, the younger heroes watched the news broadcast showing their mentors in battle. As they continued to follow the news their minds couldn't help but drift to their missing friend.

Mount Justice

After Maxi had disappeared Conner frantically ran to call the league. M'gann had managed to calm him down enough to get an explanation out of him before he went back to trying to get an answer from the watchtower.

While he did that M'gann hurried to tell the others what had happened. "What do you mean he vanished?!" Artemis questioned with a concerned look on her face. "I don't know but Conner's hasn't calmed down since. I've never seen him this worried before so it must be bad"

While the others were talking, Robin stood off to the side thinking back to his earlier conversation with Batman. His thought process was interrupted when Red Tornado had to be called out to Star City to deal with a random Super villain attack.

They wouldn't have paid it any mind if Zatanna hadn't pulled up a news broadcast that showed multiple villains attacking the city at the same time. "I don't get it," Wally said scratching his head, "Why are the likes of Captain cold and Black Adam working together?" he said as he looked at the holo-screen in confusion.

"Something isn't right," Kaldur muttered to himself as he began thinking of why these random villains began attacking the city especially out in the open and for seemingly no reason. "Shouldn't we be out there helping them?" Artemis asked as the broadcast went on.

Just then the feed switched to a reporter on the streets. "It appears the Justice League has managed to stop the attack on Star City, the day is saved!" She reported as the cameraman showed the exhausted Justice League.

Suddenly a blast hit the ground in front of them sending the heroes backward. While the league looked toward their attacker Superman quickly grabbed the reporter and her cameraman and took them to a safe distance. "Did you get that Mikey?!" the reporter asked frantically, with the nodding of the camera he agreed.

"Look!" the reporter yelled as she pointed somewhere off-camera. Doing just that he turned the camera to focus on what appeared to be Superman talking to someone who was floating in the sky.

After a minute the figure blasted Superman into the ground making a huge crater. As the camera was still on the floating person their head turned to the camera and in In the blink of an eye, the feed was cut.

Chapter Text

Star City, October 6th two minutes before the last broadcast

After the last punch was landed the members of the Justice League breathed a sigh of victory. The Flash flashed a smile to the camera as he threw up a peace sign as Batman turned to leave.

While Superman gave a triumphant smile his superhuman hearing picked up something toward them. Abruptly a blast landed in from of the league knocking them back, being the first one to recover Superman quickly grabbed the reporter and her cameraman and took them to safety.

Immediately after he flew back to the battle and found the cause of the blast. Floating in front of him was Maxi his hand holding a sphere of energy. "Maxi listen I don't want to hurt you stand down and we can talk," Superman ordered trying not to hurt the teen.

"Hurt me?" Maxi questioned as his curly hair lightly blew in the wind. For a split second his eyes softened before turning into a glare "You will never hurt me again!" he screamed as he blasted Superman into the ground knocking out the man of steel.

Right after Maxi turned his attention to the news workers who had a camera pointed at him. With one hand Maxi used his magic to destroy the camera, and with the other, he used his hand to proceed to push them off the building.

Using her quick reflexes Wonder Woman flew and caught the news workers just before they hit the ground. Immediately after she shot forward and charged at Maxi with an Amazonian battle cry.

Surprised by her speed Maxi attempted to shield himself only for him to get punched in the face sending him into a nearby building. "We're not gonna win this fight head on we need to leave now!" Batman ordered as he carried an unconscious Superman on his back.

Once Maxi made his way out of the rubble he searched for the heroes only for them to be gone. "Looks like you had fun," Klarion said coming out of a portal behind Maxi. "But it's time we get serious don't you think?" He asked as his grin grew sinister.

Mount Justice, current time

"What the hell just happened?!" Raquel asked breaking the silence. "Someone just blasted the hell out of Superman" she continued before Robin began typing away on the holographic keyboard.

"Just a little more annnnd boom!" Robin said pulling up a zoomed-in frame of the news broadcast. As the image cleared up M'gann gasped as she saw who had attacked Superman. "This doesn't make any sense why would Maxi attack Star City?" Wally asked utterly confused.

"That isn't him" Conner spoke up from behind everyone. "That's not him" he stuttered before he left the room.

With the Justice League

After fleeing Star City the Justice League hurried to the Watchtower to figure out a course of action. "What the hell just happened" questioned Black Canary as she helped Batman place an injured Superman on a medical table.

"He shouldn't have gone down that easy," They all thought as they looked toward the unconscious man of steel. Superman only has a few weaknesses Kryptonite or "Magic" Batman said finishing everyone's thought.

"You have some explaining to do" Batman declared turning his attention to Zatara who was by the door of the medical room. "Follow me," Zatara said with a grim expression, with one last look at the fallen Superman the rest of the league followed the magician.

Once they left the medical hall Zatara to them to the main hub of the Watchtower. "What's all this about Giovanni?" The Flash asked as the magician stopped in his tracks.

"I fear the world is in grave danger," Zatara said as he turned his back toward the league. "The Scarlet Witch is a being of unfathomable magic." Zatara began as he turned to face the league "he can rewrite reality as he chooses...And is prophesied to either rule...or annihilate the cosmos."

"I fear Maxi Maximoff is gone and it's all my fault," he said as a single tear ran down his face. "What do you mean Zatara?" Wonder Woman asked as she tried to comfort the magician.

"On the third of August, the boy had come to me about a dream he had the night before. He said he dreamt of being on a strange mountain with a large statue on the wall. He had drawn a picture of it on a piece of paper and when I saw that image I froze and made an excuse to leave"

"If I had done something...said something I could have saved him. I failed him and now he's gone" Zatara finished as more tears streamed down his face. "It's too late The Scarlet Witch is far too powerful for us to defeat" he continued taking off his hat in shame.

"I've heard that before" a voice spoke from behind everyone. "And it's never stopped me before," Superman said as stood tall with his signature smile on his face.

"Glad to see you on your feet buddy?" Flash said as he placed a kind hand on Superman's shoulder. Even though Superman was standing tall Batman could see he hadn't fully recovered from the blast from Scarlet Witch.

"We don't give up on anyone," Superman said as he stood tall in front of the Justice League. "Especially those in need, we are not giving up on him," Superman ordered with a determined look on his face.

After Superman's speech, The others tried to get in contact with the mountain only to be met with static. "Somethings blocking us from contacting the mountain," Batman said as he continued typing away on the keyboard.

"We'll have to zeta tube over," Wonder Woman said from beside Batman. While the rest of the league members agreed Batman couldn't shake the strange feeling he had in his gut.

Unfortunately, he didn't have time to dwell on it as he spotted the other waiting for him. "Take any longer and you're gonna be left behind" Green Arrow called out before being elbowed in the stomach by Black Canary.

Silently Batman got on the zeta platform with the others as the process of teleporting to Earth started.

Mount Wundagore

"Nothing gets the blood pumping like wreaking havoc doesn't it Teekl?" Klarion said as he rubbed his face against the demon cats. "If you're going to sit around and do nothing you can leave" a deep voice echoed throughout the mountaintop.

"I've waited centuries for this opportunity and I'm not going to have you get in my way understand?" the voice questioned making Klarion shake in fear. Too scared to speak he quickly nodded his head as the wind around him grew colder by the minute.

"The last pieces of the puzzle should be arriving soon" the voice continued "make sure everything is ready, now" it ordered as a pair of red eyes gazed at the witch boy through the shadows. With a quick snap of his fingers, Klarion disappeared.

Chapter Text

Mount Justice, October 6th midnight

A few hours had passed since the young heroes watched the news on Star city about the attack. None of them knew how to deal with the sight of seeing one of their close friends harming others.

After the broadcast, each of them retreated to their rooms to be alone. Connor was held up in Maxi's room with the door locked when he heard a knock on the door. "Conner, can we come in?" M'gann asked from the other side of the door.

After a minute of silence, the door slid open revealing a disheveled Conner. "Man, you look like crap" Wally spoke impulsively before being elbowed in the stomach by Artemis.

"We just wanted to check on you," Kaldur said placing a compassionate hand on the clone's shoulder. "Look, I've contacted the league, and we decided to meet at the Watchtower to discuss our next move, and we wanted to pick you up before suiting up," Robin said fixing his sunglasses.

After contemplating for a second Conner nodded his head before leaving to head to his room to get ready. It was sad to see the shell left behind after Maxi's reappearance at Star City.

Conner had grown the closest to Maxi but they all felt the hole left behind by Maxi's disappearance. Even Raquel who had just met Maxi not too long ago still felt the same as everyone else. Being new to the team Raquel felt out of place but Maxi made it his mission to welcome her to the team.

After a couple of minutes, Conner entered the mission room where the others were already suited up and waiting for him. M'gann attempted to greet him but decided against it at the last minute.

After everyone was accounted for they all took the zeta tubes to the Watchtower.

Mount Wundagore

In the cold distant mountain of Wundagore, the sound of a zeta tube shot through the cold air. "Brrrr, I don't think this is the Watchtower" Kid Flash stuttered as the cold air brushed against him.

"Something's wrong we should've zeta tubed right to the Watchtower," Artemis said as she shivered from the cold. Looking around them the group of young heroes was met with the sight of a mountain in the distance.

"Guys, I'm getting a bad feeling from that mountain" Zatanna announced as the rest of the team set their sights on the mountain. "Then that's where we're headed" Robin declared.

With a quick nod, Rocket formed a bubble around the group and flew toward the mountain. "I still don't get why the zeta tube sent us here instead of the Watchtower," M'gann said as she flew to the mountain on her own.

"I have a feeling we're about to find out, look!" Aqualad said exclaimed pointing toward the flashes of red coming from the mountain.

Earlier with Justice League

As the Justice League arrived on earth they immediately noticed the snow beneath their feet. "Somethings off," Batman said as the snow crunched beneath his feet. As the League searched around them, Green Arrow spotted a mysterious mountain in the distance.

"Creepy ass mountain at ten o'clock," Arrow said pointing out the mountain to the others. "I'm sensing chaotic mystic energy coming from that mountain," Zatara said as his gaze sharpened.

"What should we do?" Black Canary asked as the league looked at each other for an answer. "Lantern take us over" Batman ordered. "Sure thing boss," Green Lantern said sarcastically as he formed a platform to take the non-flying members of the team over to the mountain.

After the quick flight, the league landed on the mountain and surveyed their surroundings. "Ah, I'm glad you've arrived" a deep voice rumbled through the mountain. From the shadows, a pair of glowing red eyes stared at the league almost looking into their very souls.

From the shadows walked out what appeared to be Maxi only his once green eyes were replaced by pure white devoid of soul. "Maxi" Zatara muttered as he stared in horror. "No, you old fool! For I have purged this vessel of its last taint of humanity, its last wisp of soul!"

As he spoke dark magic began to manifest from his hands. "There is no Maxi Maximoff, now there is only CHTHON" the demon yelled before firing a wave of magic at the Justice League.

Using her bracelets of submission Wonder Woman blocked the incoming attack while the others leaped out of the way. "Ah, the amazon I'll be sure to deal with you personally," Chthon said as he used his dark magic to bring the tall stone statues surrounding them to life.

"Kill them," Chthon said as he turned his attention back to Wonder Woman. "Come at me demon," Wonder Woman said as she summoned her sword and shield. "What about Maxi" Black Canary asked as she dodged another strike from the stone monsters.

"If what he says is true we have to assume Maxi is gone" Wonder Woman replied as she blocked a strike from another monster. "No, weren't giving up on him," Superman said as he punched through a monster.

"Ezeerf meth ni ecalp!" a voice rang out making the stone monsters be encased in ice. "What!?" Chthon muttered in confusion. With his guard down a flurry of arrows landed at his feet before exploding sending him backward.

Turning their heads the Justice League notices the team of young team of heroes arriving on the scene. "Zatanna what are you doing here?!" Zatara questioned before he began to scold his daughter.

"We said we were going to meet you guys at the Watchtower remember?" Robin said interrupting the father and daughter.

"What are you talking about, communication was down at the Watchtower so we decided to meet you guys at Mount Justice," Green Lantern said as the smoke cleared.

"Ah, what a beautiful reunion," Chthon said as he began to float off the ground. Seeing the twisted version of his boyfriend Conner clenched his fist trying to calm his anger.

"Now then let the show begin!" Chthon announced as the scriptures etched in the mountain began to glow. As the heroes began to converge on the elder god time began to slow down. "You poor fools, you never stood a chance against me" Chthon gloated as he used his magic to force everyone upside down.

"But rest assured I'll put your souls to good use," he said as he began to perform another spell. In a last-ditch effort to stop the monster known as Chthon M'gann launched a psychic blast in hopes of reaching out to Maxi.

Maxi

Open her eyes M'gann looked around Maxi's mindscape searching aimlessly in hopes of finding her friend. "There's nothing here, just emptiness," M'gann said to herself.

"I don't have much time, I have to find him," M'gann said as she let out a frustrated sigh. Just then she came across a single door standing alone in the center of the room. As she approached the door suddenly began to creak open by itself.

As she slowly walked toward the debris letM'gann could Make out a body stuck underneath. "Maxi!" M'gann exclaimed happy to finally find her friend. Unbeknownst to her a red mist began to fill the room.

Using her telekinesis she pulled Maxi from the rubble and tried to wake him up. "Maxi wake up, please, please I can't lose you too" she cried as she desperately tried to wake him up. "You poor child" a sinister voice echoed through the fog.

As her cries continued Maxi began to slowly wake from his slumber. "M'gann?" Maxi groaned as his eyes began to open. "Oh my god!" M'gann exclaimed tightly wrapping her arms around his neck.

Looking behind her Maxi spotted the red fog that haunted his dreams for months making an appearance. "I won't let you escape" voices whispered through the fog.

As the fog loomed over them, Maxi froze in fear. "You have to fight him!" M'gann yelled as she tried holding the fog back with her telekinesis. "You can't let this monster control you" she continued trying to rally her friend.

As M'gann was fighting against the fog images of Maxi's life began to flash before his eyes. Memories of being alone on the streets, his time at Cadmus being used as a lab rat, meeting his friends, and finally forming a new family before stopping at a memory of his family.

Flashback

"Good night Maxi," his mother said as she tucked him into bed for the night. "Can you tell me the story of the scarlet witch again?" a younger Maxi asked as he curled up in his bed.

"Of course, fiul meu," she said kissing his forehead. "The Scarlet Witch was a powerful sorceress who used her hexes to help the less fortunate and fight for those who couldn't fight for themselves." she continued before noticing Maxi had already fallen asleep.

Wiping the tear that fell from his face Maxi knew he had to fight Chthon on his own. Using his magic Maxi purged the fog from his mind effectively forcing Chthon out of him.

From the outside perspective, Maxi dropped to his releasing everyone from his hold. As he released everyone his eyes began to glow red blinding everyone.

As the light faded Chthon began to be purged out of Maxi's body. "No!" Chthon yelled as he exorcised from Maxi.

"I'm done letting you control me!" Maxi exclaimed as he turned to face the elder god.

The Scarlet Witch concentrates, bearing down with all his will. And he feels the energy of everyone around him and he uses it in conjunction with his own.

Tapping into the energy around him he casts a hex powerful enough to banish the elder god of chaos along with his twisted book.

Exhausted Maxi turned to acknowledge the other only to be engulfed in a group hug. "We thought we lost you," Kaldur said as his eyes began to water. "The team didn't feel the same without you," Wally said as he also began to cry.

While the team was having their reunion the Justice League stood on the sidelines and talked amongst themselves. "I can't believe it, he managed to defeat Chthon," Zatara said as he watched in amazement.

While the heroes rejoiced the sun finally rose over the cold mountains basking them in sunlight. Feeling a tap on his shoulder Maxi turned to see Conner behind him. "Con-" before Maxi could say anything, Conner pulled him close and kissed him as the sun shined on them.

Breaking for air the two simply looked into each other's eyes before saying anything. "I'm not letting out of my sight ever again," Conner said as he held Maxi tight. Maxi didn't respond he just embraced him in a hug.

The End...For now

Chapter Text

Mount Justice, November 1st, 8:00 am

The days after the fight on Wundagore were a strange one. The team tried to go back to normal but they noticed Maxi's extreme mood change. He stayed in his room for days and barely talked to anyone they all tried to get him to come out but nothing worked.

"Any ideas?" Wally asked as everyone was sitting in the living room discussing how to get their friend back. "He's been through a lot, we can't force him to come out," Kaldur said being the voice of reason.

"He's right," Conner said as he leaned against the wall. "When he's ready he'll come to us".

Nighttime

In the dark of night, Maxi was still in his room only this time he was packing a suitcase. While he packed he made sure to write a letter explaining why he left but he made a special one for Conner apologizing for leaving for a second time.

He just couldn't be around anyone after what happened in Star City. He needed time to understand his new powers and figure out his next stage in life.

So in the dead of night, Maxi Maximoff left Mount Justice and began his journey to discover himself.

To be continued...