Long Past Dawn

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

My eyes widen as the alarm goes off and I stiffen. Cadmus, it seems like that wasn't the last time I would be hearing from it.

Batman and Wonder Woman glance over at me and I give a small nod to show I'm ok, just a bit shocked. Batman turns back to the screen, " I've had my suspicions about Cadmus for a while now."

Oh, you don't say huh? "This may present the perfect opportunity to in-"

Batman starts to say before the alarm goes off again and a different image shows as a middle-aged man dressed as a magician shows on screen. "Zatara to Justice League. The sorcerer Wotan is using the amulet of Attan to blot out the sun. Requesting full League response."

Batman turns to Superman and I'm guessing he heard it too from his response, "It's a small fire, local authorities have it under control."

Somehow I know what Batman is going to say before he even does and it makes my heart sink but I can also understand why some things are more important. "Then Cadmus can wait. All leaguers rendezvous at Zatara's coordinates, Batman out."

Well if he isn't going to do anything about it then maybe I should, but I shoot the thought down, somewhere in me there's a deep fear of that place and I know that one day I'll have to face it but not alone. Batman seems to have guessed my thoughts as he turns back to me and the others, "Stay put."

"What? Why?" Robin says and I can tell he wanted to go along.

"This is a League mission," Aquaman answers his question and stands his ground against them.

"You're not trained," Flash adds from next to Batman and there's a hint of annoyance in his voice, not that I'm surprised that there is.

"Since when?!" Kid Flash cries out at the statement and I do have to agree. But I keep my silence, this isn't my place to interfere.

"I meant you're not trained to work as part of this team," Flash clarifies but it still doesn't help much. They want to go and so do I.

"And how will we ever be without experience," I finally speak up and give my opinion, they all turn to where I've been silently standing, a few surprised faces that I finally spoke up, a sigh from Wonder Woman and a smirk from Robin.

"You know she's right, you have to let us try," He adds on to my argument.

"And we will. There will be other missions and you will join those when you are ready," Aquaman promises but I'm not sure how much to hold to it.

"But for now," Batman starts, "Stay put."

I sigh, fine. Batman, Aquaman, Red Tornado, and Flash turn and start to leave, Wonder Woman, Green Arrow and Martian Manhunter stay for a moment. "Glad you didn't bring you-know-who?" Green Arrow half-jokes to Martian Manhunter.

"Indeed," He replies as they both follow after the first three but Wonder Woman looks at me before she leaves.

"Please don't do anything stupid," Wonder Woman exasperatedly says to me before following the others through the heavy metal doors and leaves the four of us alone as they close behind them.

"When we're ready?" Kid Flash says with a click of his tongue, he's annoyed and rightly so. "How are we ever supposed to be ready when they treat us like... Like sidekick!"

"My mentor, my King, I thought he trusted me," Aqualad says, slightly annoyed and maybe even downcast from being left behind.

"Trust?" Kid Flash mocks slightly, "They don't even trust us with the basics! They've got a secret HQ in space!"

"What else aren't they telling us?" Aqualad says after a second.

"Depends," I say as I grab a seat since it seems like none of them want to sit down again, "What do you want to know?"

They all look over at me. I'm annoyed, sure I'm not a full member of the league but they could at least bring me along. I won't tell them anything dangerous but maybe one or two things.

After a moment of them all both thinking and trying to figure out just who I am, Aqualad speaks up, "Just what is Project Cadmus."

I stiffen, I didn't expect that off the bat. This borders close to dangerous but, I don't care.

"I can't tell you," I start and Kid Flash clicks his tongue, "But... I can show you."

I get up from my chair, "What you need to know is that it's a genetics lab, but it's also so much more and..."

"And?" Kid Flash seems hooked, even Robin and Aqualad are listening intently.

"And I have a past with them too and because of that I want answers, but they're dangerous so we can go but the moment I say turn back we turn back."

"They told us to stay put..." Aqualad trails off and I know he's not sold yet.

"That was for the blotting out the sun mission, not this," Robin points out helpfully.

"Wait. Are you guys going to Cadmus? Because if you're going, I'm going." Kid Flash says as he realizes what's going on and I nod.

We all turn to look at Aqualad unless he says he's coming I won't do anything. We're all in this or none of us are.

"Just like that, we're a team on a mission?" He asks but I can tell he's sold on the idea.

We all exchange a glance, we're going to do this. "We didn't come for a play date," Robin says, "So why not?"

***

July 4th, 15:00 EDT, Project Cadmus, DC

I don't know what I expected but somehow the plain, concrete, two-story building wasn't what I had thought of. The only way to get any information on what it would be just by looking would be the plain sign standing outside that helpfully read 'Cadmus' and then in smaller lettering underneath, 'advanced laboratory research'.

Looking at the building I can tell Superman was right, it is a small fire, with flames coming out from only one floor of the building and only a few windows at that.

Water from the three fire trucks parked ready pours into the building in an attempt to tame the dancing flames.

"Help! Get us out!" one of two scientists trapped by the flames screams to the firefighters below.

"Stay calm," The firefighter responds using a megaphone, "We will get you out."

An explosion goes off behind them and the force of it pushes them out of the window. Before I even realize what I'm doing I'm in the air flying towards the two falling men, and on command, the familiar armor forms over me to protect me.

I grab the two by their coat collars and slowly float back down to the ground so I can deliver them to the med crew standing ready by the ambulance.

"Woah..." Kid Flash murmurs as I come back over to them while the firefighters stare at me in awe.

"What?" I smirk at him, "did you think they were just for show?"

"Kinda yeah..." He says still in shock, this time he doesn't seem to have a pickup line.

Aqualad sighs, "We need a plan. We-" He looks towards where Robin was standing but only finds an empty space. We all look around but he's nowhere to be seen.

Robin's laugh echos through the area before I see him flip onto the top of a fire truck. He then secures what I believe to be a grappling hook to the truck and swinging into the open window.

So much for a plan.

We all sigh, now for us to get up there. I take the easy route and just fly up, landing on the window ledge perfectly before slipping into the building.

Aqualad sighs, he seems to do that a lot. He then 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 uses the platform to lift himself up and into the window. We nod at each other before I look back down at Kid Flash, I give a jerk of my head to tell him to speed up.

He steps back slightly before he starts running too fast for me to see him, he just makes it to below the window ledge before his speed wears off and he grabs desperately at the window ledge.

Robin comes up next to me and we each grab one of his hands and pull him up.

"So smooth," Robin says smugly after we safely pull him in.

Robin then goes back to hacking a computer and Aqualad looks through a cabinet.

I look around the room as Kid Flash goes to help Aqualad. We're in an area of the building the fire seems not to have touched so we should be fine. At the opposite end of the room is an elevator with its doors closing.

I furrow my brows and try to see if there's someone in it. The only thing visible in between the closing doors is a silhouette with blue skin and an ivory horn protruding from its head.

I shiver. The clang of the doors draws the attention of the other three. "There was something in the-" I cut myself off, still not entirely sure of what I saw. But whatever it was, it wasn't human...

"Elevators should be locked down." Kid Flash says, straightening up.

Robin walks over to the area of the elevator, looking at with scrutiny. "This is wrong." He pulls up a holographic screen on his gauntlet. Giving him the information on the elevator. Which is exactly what's in front of us. "This is a high-speed express elevator. It doesn't belong in a two-story building."

"Because it's not..." I say after a moment. Somehow I've always known Cadmus goes deeper than just this, and apparently not just in a metaphorical sense.

Aqualad steps up to the elevator doors and forces them open. We all look down the shaft which goes on for a lot longer than just a floor.

"That doesn't look like it just goes down one floor..." Kid Flash says and I look at him wondering if there's anything actually in there.

Robin ducks under Aqualad's arm, kneeling down 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.

"Allons-y," I mutter to myself as I, too, follow them down the shaft.

I grab the rope as I fall and watch the numbers on the inside of the elevator flash past. Eyes widening as I pass SL18, SL19, SL20 and still continue on down.

Questions whizz through my mind but the main one is, which one of these floors was I kept on?

"I'm at the end of my rope," Robin yells up to us. I stop sliding down the rope when Kid Flash and Aqualad come into view. We then let Robin jump to the narrow platform with this level's elevator doors.

He makes it with ease, then moves left so the rest of us could make it.

Aqualad then Kid Flash both make it and I really hope for the best as I lunge towards them. I just make it but knock a spare metal nut off the edge and it falls into the pitch darkness. I gulp at the long fall and small platform we're on.

Robin pulls up the system security on the holographic screen. "Bypassing security." he curtly tells us as he waits for his five little robin heads go from red to green. "There. Go."

Aqualad pries open the door and we all walk out. "Welcome to Cadmus," I murmur as we step out and into the hallway, my stomach sinking as memories come back. Kid Flash smiles at me before bolting.

"Kid, wait!" Aqualad tries, but he doesn't stop. The sounds of heavy footsteps fill the hallway and I realize I'm slightly shaking. Kid Flash skids as he hears the sound, however, he can't stop in time. He falls onto the ground of the hallway as two massive creatures that walk on all fours enter. My eyes widen at the sight of them. They stand nearly as tall as the hallway walk down in two rows.

Kid Flash barely dodges the hand of the leader. Breathing a sigh of relief as he does, then he stands up and runs back across to where we are and we all stand in shock.

One growls at us, but there is also a smaller one on top of its massive 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 sarcastically and I just nod, I really wish I hadn't come.

Wait, no that's wrong, I do need to come here because I need answers. My determination hardens. I will not waver again.

***

Elsewhere in Cadmus

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 are seemingly 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 t.h.i.g.hs, 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 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 sublevel 26 report four 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.

"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.

The man's attention leaves Guardian for a moment and changes to the anthropoid next to him. "Might I recommend Guardian leave his G-gnome behind?" both it and Guardian turn to look at the creature resting on his shoulder, a small red-eyed creature with pointed ears. "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. Revealing a G-gnome on his table beside him. "The advantage of instant telepathic communication outweighs other concerns." he takes the creature's face in his hand, massaging with his thumb and forefinger just behind its jaw, but before its own pointed ears. As he releases it, the horns glow red, and in response, the one on Guardian's shoulder horns glow.

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

***

Cadmus, SL26

Robin is busy hacking a door so we can get in while the rest of us stand guard. The door opens and Robin and Kid Flash are the first to enter. "Okay, I'm officially whelmed." catching Aqualad's and my 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 they're 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 and I say at the same time and glance at each other but I look away first, letting him tell the rest of it since I only know what Jikan told me.

"The Cadmus of myth created a new race by sowing dragon's teeth into the Earth," he finishes.

"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 holographic screen appears and he begins funneling the information. "They call them Genomorphs."

Now he has my attention. As one appears on the entirety of the screen his eyes widen. "Whoa! Look at the stats on these things- super-strength, telepathy, razor claws. These are living weapons." Robin literally reels back in shock, not that I blame him.

"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 and Project Godslayer?" he tries to start decrypting it. "Ugh! The files are triple-encrypted. I-I can't-"

My heart stops short for a second. Godslayer... Was that what Jikan was? I only seem to have more questions but I want the answers to these questions. But I have none.

Kid Flash seems to notice how pale I've become, "Hey you-"

But he's cut off, "Don't move!" A man I recognize as Guardian calls. He has a golden shield on his left forearm a squad of smaller, Genomorphs growling around him. These are longer, skinnier, tailed and their four claws on their front paws and the three on their back are finished off with razor-sharp points. Guardian stops short when he sees us, "Wait, Robin, Aqualad, Kid Flash?"

He then sees me, "And who are you?"

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

Glad to know we're going to ignore me not being known.

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

Guardian stands a bit taller "I do my best."

"Then what are you doing here?" Kid Flash questions, confused, and to be honest, so am I. Why is a hero here? These people... These are not people who should have heroes on their side.

"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 at least 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 hand to his temple as if it hurts. "Ugh, my head." Finally, he brings his hand away, but he glares hard at the protogés. "Take them down hard!" he tells the Genomorphs. Then points directly at us. "No mercy."

Somehow, even though he just told them to take us down a sense of relief flows through me, he's being controlled, he doesn't know. A part of him knows this is wrong. It's ok, I was right this isn't a place heroes would help.

My relief is not shared.

With a growl, the Genomorphs jump into action. Robin does so at the same time, getting in front of us and dropping a smoke bomb. He shoots a grappling hook to the bottom of one of the support beams and flies out of the scene with his signature laugh.

Great guy, really great guy.

I get ready to bring out a weapon if I need to. Kid Flash backs up as a 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 c.h.e.s.t and back through the smoke.

I ball my hands into fists and swallow, getting ready to fight as three of the creatures come after me. I throw a couple punches at them before jumping into the air but they just lunge off the ground to get to me. F.u.c.k.

Aqualad has on his shoulders slicing at his c.h.e.s.t 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 c.h.e.s.t as well.

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

Shit! I say to myself but with not enough time to see if he's ok, I have my own ones to fight off. I kick one that's sticking to my leg like glue off and it flies into the wall, leaving an indent in the metal. I smirk slightly as I fight tooth and claw against the other two.

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 put behind the punch, once again leaving his left shoulder open to Guardian. Guardian gets a punch in the face, which looks pretty painful, 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. He and Kid Flash then run after Robin, good, they're safe now.

I quickly return my attention to the last one of the Genomorphs and elbow it as it charges at me. I beat my wings hard in the stiff air to quickly catch up to them.

I turn down a corridor as the alarm blares and images of last time flash in my mind's eye. At the end of it, Robin is hacking the computer frame next to the elevator door while Kid Flash tells him off for leaving us behind and Aqualad stands guard.

"How nice of you to stay and help me," I say as I land near them.

"I knew you could handle them," Robin says passively, but not stopping as he hacks his way into the elevator. It opens and we all dive in, we watch as the Genomorphs run to catch us but the doors ding shut right in front of them.

"That the closest thing to a compliment I'm going to get from you?" I say as we watch the floor counter continue to rise as we continue to descend.

"Maybe," He smirks at me.

Aqualad and Kid Flash seem to realize that the numbers keep going down and not up, from the looks on their faces they don't seem to like the fact we're not leaving, but I'm not ready to.

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 upwards. The two of them look at us with anything but amus.e.m.e.nt on their faces.

"Yeah and?" I bark back, "You said you wanted to know what Cadmus was, so here we are."

Silence fills the elevator before Aqualad speaks again, "Do you even know what you're doing?"

"What?" I snap, but I'm slightly taken aback.

"Yeah!" Kid Flash agrees after Aqualad voices the opinion, "You didn't seem to know what those Genomorphs were or anything else about this lab from except where it was! How do we know that you're not like Guardian and working for these people?!"

Part of me snaps, it snaps at the idea I could ever work with these people, for these people? I grab Kid Flash by the collar and lift him up before smashing him into the wall. When I speak my voice a deep growl that even to me almost sounds demonic, "Listen here, I don't care what you say but don't ever, ever, say that I work for Cadmus."

I let him go and his feet thud as they hit the floor, I stand back and pant slightly as if that took something out of me. Something in me feels broken as if I opened something I shouldn't have but I push the feeling away. It was his fault.

The silence in the elevator is deafening.