Kr slowly opened his eyes, the fluorescent light of the medical chamber forcing him to squint. A dull ache throbbed in his head, as if someone had hammered inside. He tried to move a hand, but it was immobilized by tubes and wires. Where was he? What had happened?
Memories began to surface in disconnected fragments: test tubes, scientific voices, a feeling of emptiness, and overwhelming pain. It was as if he had been built piece by piece, like a living jigsaw puzzle. A chill ran down his spine. Was this an experiment?
With little effort, Kr managed to free himself from the restraints. The pain was intense, but adrenaline propelled him forward. He smashed through the glass of the chamber and shot out into a cold, metallic corridor. The alarm blared throughout the complex, activating the emergency lights.
Kr ran aimlessly, bumping into walls and doors. Every step was agony, but he couldn't stop. He needed to get out of there. As he turned a corner, he encountered a group of armed guards. Without hesitation, he took them down with surprising ease. His blows were precise and powerful, as if he'd been training for years.
As he fled, he heard the guards' voices over the loudspeakers: "Halt! Stop Project Kr!"
Suddenly, he heard familiar voices. They were the voices of the young heroes he'd seen on screens: Robin, Kid Flash, and Aqualad. The three of them had entered Cadmus to stop the fire and stumbled upon this entire underground laboratory, and now they were face to face with the biggest project of all.
Kid Flash, with a curious tone, was the first to speak: "Wow... Who are you?"
Kr, still reeling from the adrenaline and confusion, stared at the three young heroes. Robin, in his black and red suit, with a serious yet curious expression, seemed to be the leader of the group. Kid Flash, in his yellow suit and with his mischievous grin, exuded hyperactivity. And Aqualad, in his Atlantean costume and with his serious expression, completed the trio.
"I'm... Project Kr, or that's what they called me," he muttered, clearly disliking the name Cadmus had given him. "I'm a clone made to be the next Superman in case he dies."
Robin frowned. "Kr, huh? The symbol that represents Krypton. We're here to find out about Cadmus's experiments. Do you want to come with us?"
Kr hesitated. Could he trust these strangers? On one hand, they offered him a way out, a chance to escape the horrible life he'd led until now. But on the other hand, he knew nothing about them or what they wanted.
Kr took a step back, as if the mere thought of choosing for himself was too much to bear. He'd never had a choice before. No one had ever asked him what he wanted.
"I don't know..." he murmured, looking down. "I don't know what I'm supposed to do."
Aqualad stepped forward, with that steady calm that seemed to envelop everything.
"You don't have to decide now. You just have to know that you're not alone. Cadmus used you, but that doesn't define who you are," the Atlantean would say.
Kr looked up. There was something in the Atlantean's voice, a sincerity he'd never heard within those metal walls.
Kid Flash, unable to stay still, added, "Besides, if you stay here, those guys are going to try to put you in a jar again. And believe me, you probably don't want that."
Robin watched silently, analyzing every gesture, every breath. Finally, he spoke, in a softer tone than Kr expected. "You don't have to trust us yet. Just... let us help you get out of here. Then you decide what to do."
The emergency lights flickered more intensely. A metallic clang echoed in the corridor, as if something enormous had been activated on the lower levels.
Kr felt a familiar chill: Cadmus wasn't going to let him escape so easily. "They'll come for me," he said, his anger barely contained.
"Then we'd better start moving," Robin replied, already deploying a holographic map from his hologlove. "This place is a labyrinth, but I think I can guide us toward a way out."
"Why... why would you do this for me?" Kr asked, almost in a whisper.
Aqualad answered without hesitation, "Because no one deserves to be treated like a tool."
Kid Flash smiled. "And because it would be great to have someone like you on our side. I mean, if you want—and it's clear you don't like that name—Superboy suits you perfectly."
Kr felt something strange in his chest. It wasn't fear. It wasn't pain. It was... something new. Something warm. Something nameless.
"I like Superboy anymore. No more Kr. Now I am Superboy," Superboy would say now with conviction and a feeling he didn't know.
A new crash shook the floor. Robin turned off the hologram. "Make up your mind quickly, Sups." "Either you come with us... or you stay with them."
Superboy looked down the dark corridor he'd escaped through. Then he looked at the three young heroes in front of him. Three strangers. Three possibilities.
He took a deep breath. "Fine," he finally said. "I'll go with you."
Kid Flash gave a thumbs-up.
"I knew you'd say that!"
Aqualad nodded, satisfied.
Robin smiled. "Perfect." "So let's go. This is just the beginning."
And together, the four of them ventured deeper into Cadmus's subterranean labyrinth as alarms blared.
They hadn't gone twenty meters when a metallic clang echoed behind them. Robin raised his hand in a signal to halt, and the four stopped. The corridor was illuminated with a red flash, followed by the unmistakable sound of boots hitting the floorboards.
"We've got company," Robin murmured.
A squad of Cadmus guards rounded the corner, armed and ready to fire. Behind them, emerging from the shadows, a group of battle genomorphs—enormous creatures with thick skin and glowing eyes—growled impatiently.
Kid Flash whistled. "Great... and I thought today would be a quiet day, and look at this."
Robin stepped forward, his extendable staff already in hand. "Impromptu formation." "I'm going first."
Robin springs into action. The guards opened fire, but Robin was already on the move. He leaped toward the wall, rebounded with precision, showcasing his acrobatic skills, and landed in the middle of the enemy group. His staff spun in a precise arc, striking weapons, helmets, and weak points with a speed and accuracy that demonstrated his training under Batman's watchful eye.
"Guys, nothing personal," he joked as he threw a smoke bomb that enveloped the guards in a thick gray cloud.
In the confusion, Robin slipped through them like a shadow, disarming one, taking down another with a leg lock, and leaping across using a pair of stun discs to knock out a third and fourth.
"Two down," he said, twirling his baton in his hands.
Kid Flash takes over. "My turn!" Kid exclaimed before turning into a yellow blur.
He darted through the remaining guards, dodging bullets with movements so fast they left a trail of lightning. He'd slip on the metal floor, but he made up for it with sheer speed.
"Oops! Sorry, buddy," he said as he snatched a gun from a guard and disarmed him. "Safety first," he joked, swinging his weapon.
Then he whirled around another guard, creating a small whirlwind that hurled him against the wall.
"Two down!" he called, stopping beside Robin with a proud grin.
Aqualad takes control. The remaining guards advanced, but Aqualad was ready. His tattoos glowed a bluish hue as he activated his Atlantean weapons. Water surged from them as if responding to his will.
"Back off," he ordered calmly.
A wall of water rose before him, solid as a shield. Shots ricocheted off the liquid surface, deflecting without touching any of the boys.
With a fluid motion, Aqualad transformed the water into a crystalline mace. He advanced with purposeful steps, striking the remaining guards with controlled precision, not cruel, but with force.
"Three down," he announced, breathing calmly.
Superboy faces the Genomorphs. But the battle genomorphs hadn't stood still. Three of them, enormous and muscular, charged at the group. Superboy stepped forward, his eyes blazing with a mixture of rage and determination.
"I'll take care of it," he said.
The first one leaped at him, but Superboy caught it in mid-air and slammed it to the ground with a force that shook the entire hallway. The second tried to circle around him, but Superboy punched it squarely in the chest, sending it flying several meters.
The third one, larger than the others, charged at him. Superboy stumbled back a little, but planted his feet and pushed hard, stopping the creature. His hands dug into the genomorph's shoulders, and with a growl, he lifted it up and hurled it against the wall.
The impact left a deep crack in the metal.
Robin whistled. "Good thing we've got a heavy hitter on us."
Superboy took a deep breath to calm himself, but his eyes shone with something new: purpose and excitement.
"The elevator's close," Robin said, checking his hologlove. "If we move now, we can get there before they send reinforcements."
Aqualad nodded. Kid Flash was already ready to run. Superboy looked at the unconscious bodies of the genomorphs, then at his new companions.
"Let's go," he said seriously.
And together, the four of them ran toward the elevator, while the alarms continued to blare and Cadmus prepared for its next move.
Just as they turned the last corner before the elevator, an imposing figure emerged from a hallway with a clang of metal.
A golden helmet. A triangular shield. A rigid, authoritative posture.
Guardian.
"Halt right there," he ordered, his voice amplified by the helmet. "No one leaves Cadmus without authorization."
Kid Flash stopped dead in his tracks. "Seriously? Guardian, aren't you supposed to be one of us?"
Robin gripped his staff. "Guys... this one's mine."
Guardian strode forward, accompanied by another group of armed guards who appeared from the side corridors. The four young men braced themselves, but Robin was already leaping forward.
Robin vs. Guardian
The masked hero threw a direct blow with his staff, but Guardian blocked it with his shield, deflecting the attack with force. Robin spun in midair, landing behind him, attempting a low blow. Guardian stepped back and countered with a punch that Robin barely dodged.
"You're good," Guardian grunted. "But not good enough."
Robin grinned. "That's what everyone says."
With a swift movement, he launched a barrage of explosive discs that blasted around the shield, forcing Guardian to take cover. Robin seized the opening: he leaped onto the shield, spun around, and struck Guardian's helmet with his outstretched staff.
Guardian staggered.
Robin landed behind him and, using the momentum, applied a hold that knocked him to the ground. Before he could get up, Robin placed an electric disc on the edge of the helmet. "Goodnight." The disc activated, and Guardian was knocked unconscious.
Kid Flash clapped. "That was epic, bro!"
The remaining guards opened fire. Aqualad raised a water barrier to shield Robin as Kid Flash darted through the gunfire, disarming two guards in the blink of an eye.
Superboy advanced fearlessly, blocking a punch with his forearm and shoving a guard against the wall in one swift motion.
In seconds, the corridor was clear.
"Elevator," Robin remembered. "Now!"
They reached the metal doors of the elevator, but they were sealed.
Superboy stepped forward. "Let me in."
He jammed his fingers into the gap between the doors. The muscles in his arms tensed. He grunted. The doors gave way.
"Good job, bro," Kid Flash encouraged him.
Superboy nodded. The doors opened, revealing the empty space without the elevator.
Robin pressed the panel, but the elevator didn't move.
"What's going on?" Aqualad asked.
Robin activated his hologlove and began hacking the elevator system. "It's locked. Let me unlock it so we can go up."
Superboy stared at the empty space, hoping he could fly like Superman.
For a brief moment, he felt absolute freedom... but it wouldn't last. As he began to fall, Aqualad quickly caught him with a water whip and pulled him up to where they were.
"I couldn't... why? I couldn't fly. I'm supposed to have all of Superman's powers," Superboy muttered, frustrated.
Robin placed a hand on his shoulder. "That's enough. You probably haven't fully developed yet. Give it time."
The elevator finally activated and began to ascend. But upon reaching the next level, the doors opened, revealing a senior scientist from Cadmus.
Desmont trembled, a vial in his hand. "No... I won't let them ruin our work," he stammered.
Before they could stop him, he injected himself with the contents of the vial.
The Blockbuster serum.
His body began to deform, muscles swelling, bones creaking, skin turning bluish and thick. In seconds, a gigantic monster roared before them.
Kid Flash backed away.
"Great! A real final boss! Just what we needed," he said sarcastically.
Superboy didn't wait for orders. He ran straight toward the monster, crashing into it with an impact that shook the floor. Blockbuster grabbed him by the torso and threw him against a column, shattering it.
Aqualad and Robin looked at each other, moving in unison.
"Take down the columns!" "We can use the ceiling!" Robin ordered.
Aqualad slammed his hardened water mallet into a column, cracking it. Kid Flash ran around another, creating vibrations that weakened it. Robin threw explosives at the base of a third.
Superboy stood up, wobbly but determined. Blockbuster charged at him, but this time Superboy dodged and shoved him into the center of the room.
"Now!" Robin shouted.
The three young heroes struck the weakened columns simultaneously. The ceiling creaked, shook… and collapsed right on top of Blockbuster.
The monster roared as tons of concrete buried him.
The final crash left a heavy silence.
Superboy took a deep breath. "Is this… over?"
Robin nodded. "For now."
Kid Flash smiled, exhausted. "Can we go now?" "Before another monster appears, please."
Aqualad pointed to the corridor that had been cleared by the collapse. "The exit is near. Let's go."
And together, covered in dust, sweat, and adrenaline, the four of them moved toward the next level, unaware that what awaited them above would change their lives forever.
The final corridor led to a metal hatch marked with security symbols. Robin examined it for barely a second before placing an explosive disc.
"Take cover."
The explosion was brief, contained, but enough to rip the hatch off its hinges. A blast of fresh air hit the four young men. After hours underground, the night air felt like a breath of freedom.
Superboy blinked, confused.
The sky. He'd never really seen it. Not like this. Not without glass between him and the world.
Kid Flash took a deep breath. "Ah... air without the chemical smell. I missed this."
Aqualad was the first to move toward the exit. "Don't let your guard down. Cadmus won't give up that easily."
But it wasn't Cadmus who appeared.
A shadow crossed the sky. Then another. And another.
Superboy felt a shiver run through his chest.
The Justice League.
Superman descended first, his cape billowing like a living flag. Batman landed beside him, silent as a sentence. Martian Manhunter, Hawkman, Wonder Woman, and other heroes landed in an imposing semicircle.
Robin stepped forward, confident.
"Good evening, gentlemen."
Batman looked at him with a mixture of frustration and relief.
"This wasn't part of the plan."
Kid Flash threw up his hands. "Hey! Technically, we saved the day. And we found a Superman clone. That should give us bonus points."
Superboy felt everyone's eyes on him. But only one mattered.
Superman.
The Kryptonian watched him as if he didn't know what to say. As if he didn't know what to feel. Superboy stepped forward, his heart pounding.
"I... I'm like you."
Superman stepped back slightly, uncomfortable.
"No. You're not like me. I didn't ask for this."
The words were a harder blow than any genomorph.
Superboy clenched his fists, his jaw trembling.
"I didn't ask to be born."
A tense silence fell over them all.
Aqualad stepped forward, firm.
"Superboy has shown courage. He's not a threat. He's an ally."
Batman intervened, his voice sharp.
"That remains to be seen. What you did today was reckless. You disobeyed direct orders."
Robin didn't back down.
"Because the orders were wrong."
Kid Flash nodded.
"If we hadn't acted, Cadmus would still be creating living weapons."
Wonder Woman crossed her arms.
"And you could have died."
Aqualad spoke calmly.
"We preferred to risk our lives rather than ignore an injustice."
Superboy looked at the three young people.
They had chosen him.
They had defended him.
They had treated him as an equal.
Superman looked away, unable to hold his gaze.
Batman sighed.
"This can't happen again."
But then, something changed.
Red Tornado stepped forward.
"Perhaps... they should have some space to operate without compromising the League."
Black Canary added:
"And proper training."
The three young people looked at each other.
Superboy felt a strange warmth in his chest.
Was this... belonging?
Batman finally spoke.
"Very well. From today onward, you will have your own team. Under supervision. With assigned missions. And with clear rules."
Robin smiled.
Kid Flash gave a thumbs-up.
Aqualad bowed his head, satisfied.
Superboy took a deep breath.
"And me... can I be a part of that?"
Aqualad answered without hesitation.
"You've been part of it since you decided to walk with us."
Superboy felt something inside him finally click.
He wasn't an experiment.
He wasn't a weapon.
He wasn't a replacement.
He was Superboy.
And his story was just beginning.