Chapter Two
Beginning of a Team

The fourth of July was never a liberating celebration for Charlotte. It was just another day. One spent with tests being run, training, and being taught by private tutors so she didn't end up lacking an education. She knew of the festivities around the holiday, that there were firework shows and barbeques. She often imagined herself being at one of those celebrations. Being able to live one day as a normal teen.

She would live vicariously through others, watching the videos they would post on social media. It was pathetic but it was all she had. Hank always told her she was above holidays, that one day there would be one dedicated to her. That wasn't what she wanted. All Charlotte wished for was to have a normal life. Be a kid. Not a hero.

And yet she was spending her Fourth of July exactly how her father wanted. Fighting for justice.

Charlotte's hands were cuffed above her as she hung unconsciously in the pod. She was not dreaming, she did not have the luxury of a colorful slumber. Everything was black and cold, unwelcoming. Voices broke through, ones telling her she needed to wake up, that she mustn't stay in that state for long. She had tried ignoring it in favor of finally being out of any light, however the voice only grew louder and louder.

Her eyes, along with the others, had opened with blurred vision. She blinked once, twice. The sight in front of her became clear. There stood Superboy, the clone who had kicked her ass, which she definitely was not feeling embarrassed over. He was watching them silently, his expression not portraying a single emotion. She had half the mind to yell at him for being creepy but refrained given there was a chance he could kill her with his laser-eyes.

Kid did not share the same discouragement as he asked in a voice octaves louder than his usual tone, "what do you want?!" He huffed while glaring from where he was still stuffed in the pod between Robin and Aqualad. "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 warned.

"We only sought to help you," Aqualad directed towards the clone.

Charlotte, despite the very humbling experience of getting her head bashed, still believed Superboy should be free. Nobody deserves to be caged like an animal, kept away from the world. Being a prisoner to their creators.

"We free you, and you turn on us!" Kid Flash said angrily, "how's that for grat —"

"Kid, please, be quiet now." Aqualad interrupted, ignoring the laughter coming from Charlotte's pod. "I believe our new friend was not in full control of his actions."

"What if I..." Superboy's voice was deep and scratchy, as if he had been deprived of water and was in need of wetting his throat. He swallowed thickly, brows furrowed together as his face twisted together into a deep scowl. "What if I wasn't?"

"Then we have some serious issues," Charlotte whistled lowly.

Aqualad closed his eyes briefly, internally wishing his friends were able to go long periods in silence. Or at least read a room.

"Wait," Kid started with eyes wide. "He can talk?"

Superboy's hands clenched to fists at his sides, his blue eyes that were identical to Superman's narrowed into a heated glare on the ginger boy. "Yes, he can."

"Not like I said, it." Kid tried defending himself as he felt the eyes of his friends burning into him from where they all remained restrained.

"The Genomorphs taught you telepathically." Aqualad empathized, feeling disheartened for the boy who had no experience outside of mind control and telepathy.

"They taught me much." Superboy said, remaining as still as a statue. "I can read, write —"

Charlotte cut in with a brow raised. The curl of her lips as they formed a smirk had Superboy wishing she was knocked out longer. "How do you know you can read and write? I mean you were stuck in the pod when we found you — before you attacked us, not cool by the way. If you can write it's probably sloppy and unreadable. And that's not —"

"That's enough, Pyro." Aqualad scolded impatiently.

Still glaring at Charlotte, Superboy added, "I – I know the names of things."

"But have you seen them?" Robin asked, "have they ever actually let you see the sky? Or the sun?"

"Images are implanted in my mind, but no. I have not seen them."

Charlotte felt bad for the guy. While she would have liked the Gnomes to teach her things telepathically so she wouldn't have to ever pick up another workbook, she knew it had to be damaging. Having someone constantly in your head, feeding you anything and everything. He was an extension of their knowledge. Nothing of himself.

"Do you know what you are, who you are?" Aqualad asked.

Superboy stood up even straighter, if that were possible. "I am the Superboy, a Genomorph. A clone made from the DNA of the Superman, created to replace him should he parish...to destroy him should he turn from the light." He recited like it was a daily affirmation.

The four went silent, all that could be heard was their breathing. It was a lot to take in but Aqualad seemed to have more to say, "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."

"Beyond the beyond." Charlotte nodded while biting the inside of her cheek to keep herself from laughing at the overuse of the word.

"I live because of Cadmus!" Superboy yelled at them in misplaced anger. "It is my home!"

Charlotte could relate to some extent. He felt defensive over his home, his creators, just as she had.

"Your home is a test tube. We can show you the sun." Robin tried persuading him to let them go and it seemed to have some effect as the glare in Superboy's eyes softened.

Kid cut in, "uh, pretty sure it's after midnight but we can show you the moon."

"We can show you, introduce you to Superman." Aqualad assured.

Dr. Desmond, who stood at the entryway overhearing the entire conversation, interrupted their attempts of turning Superboy to aid them. "No, they can't." He fully entered the room with Guardian, another doctor, and Gnomes attached to their shoulders following close behind. "They'll be otherwise occupied. Activate the cloning process." He barked the order.

"Pass," Robin rolled his eyes behind the mask. "Batcave's crowded enough."

Dr. Desmond turned to Guardian with a harsh glare that could rival Superboy's. "And get the weapon back in its pod!"

"He doesn't like that word."

"Hey, how come he gets to call Supey an it?"

Guardian placed a hand on Superboy's shoulder, trying to lead him out as Aqualad spoke a faint, "help us." Superboy frowned while shaking Guardian's hand off him. He stood there silently while Dr. Desmond chastised him. "Don't start thinking now." A Gnome jumped on the opposite shoulder of where Guardian had touched the clone. Its horns glowed as Superboy's eyes widened. "See, you're not a real boy. You're a weapon." His words hit Charlotte in a place she'd rather not acknowledge. "And you belong to me! Well, to Cadmus. Same thing. Now get back to your pod!"

Still with the Gnome perched on his shoulder, Superboy walked out, taking his chances of the teens' survival with him.

Electrical probes protruded from the bottom of the pods, connecting to the four captives. There was nowhere to escape to as waves of static shock currents rattled their bones. Charlotte's jaw clenched as her teeth ground together, trying to keep herself composed. It proved futile as a blood curdling scream erupted through her throat. It reminded her of the shock-therapy Hank would put her through everytime she decided to act out, claiming she was hysterical.

  Time slowed as the door was busted off its hinges by Superboy minutes later, appearing to have broken through the trance. The probes were removed from the four teens, giving Charlotte the reprieve she needed to catch her breath.

  "I told you to get back to your..." Dr. Desmond, Guardian, and one of the Genomorphs went to take him back to his designated room, only to be thrown into the walls by Superboy.

  "Don't give me orders," the clone grounded out with a flare of agitation in his eyes. He stepped in front of the pods, hands hovering over the control panel, barely grazing the buttons.

  "You here to help us or fry us?" Kid asked.

  Superboy's eyes narrowed into a heated glare but they softened, not having the same ability as Superman. "Huh," he hummed. "I don't seem to have heat vision, so I suppose helping is my only option." He pressed down on a button, opening the pods but not unable to unlock the shackles around their wrists.

  That didn't appear to be a problem for Robin because he was already jumping down, free and rubbing his wrists. "Finally, lucky Batman isn't here." He sighed. "He'd have my head for taking so long."

  "Seriously, that's what you're worried about?" Kid huffed. "The whole League will have our heads after tonight!"

  "I'm not too worried about it," Charlotte shrugged while taking on a pyroplasmic form to melt the shackles off of her, now that she could focus. Her body took the shape of a burning flame, emitting heat all around her as she levitated herself to the ground, and returned to her biological form. "Fire will give me a lecture about safety and using my head but what's the worst they can do?"

  "Uh, bench us?" Robin threw his arms up with a deepening frown, clearly unhappy with the idea.

  "That wouldn't be so bad." Charlotte considered aloud.

  Robin shook his head at her words, not agreeing. He turned to Superboy, "free Aqualad. I'll get Kid Mouth."

  "Don't you give me orders either." Yet he did as told, crushing the metal around Aqualad's wrists and helping him down while Charlotte stood in the doorway, looking into the hall for any sign of trouble.

  With them all free the team began running out, hearing the voice of Dr. Desmond yelling after them, "you'll never get out of here!" from where he remained on the floor. "I'll have you back in pods before morning!"

  "That guy is not whelmed, not whelmed at all." Robin tsked while throwing four of his exploding bird-a-rangs at the domes storing their DNA, not waiting to watch it go up in flames. Though Charlotte would have liked to do the honors.

  "We are still 42 levels below ground," Aqualad tells them as they run down the halls, avoiding the glowing red balls attached to the odd looking walls. "But if we can make the elevator..." his words fell short and four of the giant Genomorphs took station in front of them, blocking their exit with a growl.

  The group looked behind them, seeing they were closed in by more climbing out of the circles which must have been their eggs. Charlotte took on a defensive stance, hands clenched into fists. "Give me the 'go ahead' and I'll bring this place to the ground." She told Aqualad, looking to him as the leader in this situation.

  "No," he finalized. "Not yet."

  A giant Genomorph tried pummeling down on them but the group dodged to the left and all but Superboy pushed themselves against the wall. The sidekicks nodded to each other before each taking on their own set of Genomorphs to make a break for their escape.

  Charlotte avoided a hit directed at her head as she tried to will the pyroplasmic form to take shape but it flickered in and out of place. "Damnit," she cursed while crouching down and crawling between their legs to reach her friends while Superboy continued to fight the Genomorphs, forgetting about the objective.

  "Superboy, the goal is escape not to bury ourselves here!" Aqualad yelled at him.

  "You want escape?" He threw one last giant Genomorph at another and ran to the group. Looking irritable, but Charlotte was assuming that was just his face.

  Aqualad pried open the elevator shaft, looking up at how far down they were. Kid jumped onto one of the panels while Robin shot his grappling gun to the very top, pulling himself up. Charlotte did not bother waiting for Superboy or Aqualad to follow, she flew above watching as the clone leapt with Aqualad in his arms. Not flying but falling till Aqualad caught them on a bird-a-rang Robin threw into the wall.

  "Superman can fly," Superboy frowned. "Why can't I fly?"

  "I don't know but it looks like you can leap tall buildings in a single bound. Still cool." Kid complimented.

  Charlotte nodded along with her arms crossed over her chest. "Yeah it's totally cool that you're barely like Superman."

  "Dude!" Kid scoffed but only received a shrug in response. Superboy all but glared at the girl hovering behind him.

  His glare dispersed when he looked down, thanking the speedster as he was helped down to stand on the panel beside him, Aqualad following.

"Guys, this will have to be our exit." Robin pointed to where the elevator was coming down, and fast.

Superboy punched open one of the doors, allowing the sidekicks to jump into one of the main halls of Cadmus. There were more Genomorphs waiting for them, not giving them time to breathe. The teens turned left and ran down another hall, avoiding the artificial life. "Go left," Superboy directed as they continued to run. They followed his lead, "Right!" They stopped at a deadend.

"Great directions, Supey" Kid complimented sarcastically. "You trying to get us re-podded?"

"No. I – I don't understand."

"Don't apologize." Robin grinned while taking the covering of the air vent off, "this is perfect."

They followed after him as he climbed in and began crawling through. "At this rate, we'll never get out." Kid complained in a hushed voice.

"Listen," Superboy shushed him, using his super-hearing to identify Gnomes following after them.

They crawled quicker, finding an exit and silently piled out of the tight vent. Robin got to quick work in hacking the motion sensors with a giddy smirk. "Still plenty of them between us and out."

Kid pulled down his goggles to cover his eyes. "But I've finally got room to move." He sped up the stairs and away from his friends.

"See if I were a speedster I'd be phasing out of here."

Charlotte and the others ran in the same direction as Kid. Robin pulled up his computer and hit keys at a fast pace, not missing a single step in front of him. "More behind us," he told them. Charlotte watched Superboy harshly slam his foot down, breaking the staircase and making it impossible for the Genomorphs to follow the teens as they attempted to escape.

  The alarms were blaring as a door shut between the hall, cutting Kid Flash off as he ran straight into the door and fell onto the floor, spread out in front of the others with a groan.

  "We're cut off from the street." Aqualad said.

  Kid rubbed the back of his head with a grimace. "Thanks," his lips tugged downward. "My head hadn't noticed."

  Superboy began throwing punch after punch at the door, even tried prying it open but to no avail. They were trapped. And Aqualad still refused to let her blow up the building, claiming now was not the time. He assisted Superboy in trying to pry the door open while Robin typed away on his computer.

  "Can't hack this fast enough." Robin complained as the giant Genomorphs gained on them from behind. "This way," he kicked open a wooden side door with the team following close.

  They were met by more Genomorphs and Guardian, acting as a wall to their exit. The teens got in a fighting stance, those with powers showcasing them. Charlotte was mid-flicker when the horns of the Gnomes glowed in sync. Her legs felt heavy and black spots clouded her vision till she and her friends fell unconscious on the floor.

When she awoke, Charlotte had a headache. One that felt like she had been drilled in the head after getting hit by a bus. She looked up from where she laid on the ground, Superboy stood in front of her while facing the Genomorph who looked more like a man than a creature. "I choose freedom," he said.

  The horns glowed once more, one final time as Guardian brought a hand to the side of his head. "Feels like a fog lifting," he sighed.

  The Gnomes had released the man from their control. Giving Superboy the freedom he chose for himself and the others. "Guardian?" Aqualad asked hesitantly.

  "Go," he nodded. "I'll deal with Desmond."

  "I think not," Dr. Desmond's voice boomed as the Genomorphs parted to reveal the man, all looking at him. "Project Blockbuster will give me the power to restore Cadmus." He held up a vile of a blue liquid before downing the whole thing before anyone could stop him.

  He groaned in pain as his body expanded, gaining far more muscle than he originally had. Shredding his clothes in the process. His skin turned gray as it stretched, revealing minor nerves. He looked absolutely disgusting to Charlotte as she gagged. Desmond roared as the teens stood up straighter, prepared to fight for their lives and Superboy's.

  "Everyone back!" Guardian yelled as he charged at Desmond but was thrown to the side and into a wall with a single punch.

  Charlotte took a step back, "again I'm saying we're gonna die here."

  Superboy went after him next and was holding his own for awhile till Desmond got tired and hit him hard, knocking him out of the game and to the opposite wall as Guardian. Superboy wasn't done yet. He charged at him again, leaping into the air the same time as Desmond. They collide with the ceiling, forming a giant hole.

  "Okay. That's one way to bust through the ceiling," Robin shot his grappling gun while Charlotte flew through.

  "You think Lab-Coat planned that?" Kid asked, following Robin up.

  "I doubt he is planning anything anymore."

  The teens stood in the lobby of Cadmus, watching Desmond grab Superboy by the shoulders and try to throw him before the clone broke free with his super-strength and kicked him in the face. Desmond threw him back and into the group of sidekicks.

  Superboy landed right on top of Charlotte who glared at him as a result. "Get off me you knock-off!" She shoved him to the side while pulling herself to stand.

  Desmond roared again, feeling powerful and stronger than the teens in front of him. They ran at each other. Kid skidding behind his legs to him as Superboy and Aqualad teamed up to punch Desmond in the face, knocking him over. "Learned that one in kindergarten," Kid smirked.

  Robin threw exploding bird-a-rangs at the man — or monster, but he rolled out of the way. Superboy went to hit him again but Desmond grabbed him by the arms and slammed him into one of the support beams.

  The fight went on for a while with the teens each taking turns. Charlotte was able to leave a burning hand print over his left eye, which angered him further till he eventually threw her down on the floor and over to Robin who was looking at the floor plans on his computer.

  One of the support beams gave out during the fight between Desmond and Aqualad. Causing the building to shake and debris to fall over them. It had given Robin an idea as he turned to Charlotte who was rubbing at a sore spot on her back.

  "Okay," he started while still looking over the blueprint. "I need you to blow this up."

  Charlotte's eyes went wide with excitement but she hesitated. "Aqualad said not too."

  "It'll stop Blockbuster." Robin tried persuading her. Though she didn't really need much convincing. "Either way the building is going down. Whether you blow —"

  "Nuke."

  "Fine, nuke this place or we get Blockbuster to take out the other beams."

  Charlotte nodded in agreement, stepping forward to do just that but Robin grabbed her arm. "Not yet, we need a safe zone so nobody dies." He told her. "I'll tell the others the plan but when I say go, go nuclear. Got it?"

  "Got it."

  The plan was in motion. Robin drew a line for the safe-zone for Desmond, got Aqualad to make a long line of water to make him slim and slide into place. Even got Kid to act as a bait to lead him where he needed to go. Just as Robin glanced in Charlotte's direction who was hiding behind a beam, Aqualad electrocuted Desmond till he fell on his back right where X marks the spot.

  Once the boys were huddled together Robin yelled, "go!"

  Charlotte grinned as she willed all the heat inside her to rest in the palms of her hand. She forced them together above her head where a large ball of plasmic energy was gaining in size. It felt like all that harsh training with Hank was about to pay off. With a groan of exertion, the place went up with a big BOOM.

  Rumble scattered and formed domes over the teens. Charlotte coughed as smoke and dust filled her lungs but other than that she was perfectly fine. The soot covering her suit had her frowning but she ignored it in favor of finding her friends in the chaos she had caused.

  It didn't take her long to find them with Superboy throwing a piece of the ceiling off of them with his super-strength. Charlotte practically threw herself at Robin, hugging him tight to her chest while he patted her back. "We're alive!" She cheered as she pulled away.

  Robin and Kid Flash high fived, both breathing heavily before grimacing at the ache in their bones.

  Superboy stepped in front of Desmond who was trapped under pieces of the wall, keeping him trapped but he was alive. "See?" Kid pointed to the night sky, "the moon."

  In the distance, the man responsible for half of the clone's DNA came flying down. Looking at the teens with his lips set in a straight line and brows furrowed as he took in the sight of Superboy. "Oh, and Superman." Kid said casually. "Do we keep our promises or what?"

  Behind Superman the League followed, showing themselves to the sidekicks who had caused mass destruction — or at least Charlotte had caused. Superboy stepped forward with Superman looking at him with narrowed eyes, till the clone fixed the torn piece of his suit to show the S in the middle of his chest.

  Superman had been shocked yet the clone had a soft smile, one that had Charlotte feeling sympathetic. She knew this big man would not react well to this. Who would? "Is that what I think it is?" Batman asked from beside him.

  Kid stepped up to stand with Superboy as the clone frowned. Charlotte followed close behind with her eyes shooting daggers at the Leaguers. They couldn't have shown up earlier, when they actually needed help? "He doesn't like being called an it."

  "I'm Superman's clone."

  "Start talking," Batman ordered.

  Charlotte blocked out everything that was being said as Fire walked up in front of her, taking her face in her hands. It was the gentle touch the young teen would never get used to. It felt foreign but not unwelcome. "I'm okay," she told her mentor in a low whisper. Afraid speaking any louder would draw the attention of others to her.

  "Did you do all this?" Fire asked, still holding Charlotte as she looked at the destruction. A hint of pride in her eyes, though she tried masking it with her worry.

  "It was Robin's idea." She was quick to throw her friend under the metaphorical bus.

  "Cadmus will be investigated," Batman said from behind them, addressing the teens. "All 52 levels but let's make one thing clear —"

  "You should have called," Flash cut him off while crossing his arms over his chest while Batman glared.

  "End results aside, we are not happy." He continued. "You hacked Justice League systems, disobeyed direct orders, and endangered lives." His eyes then found Charlotte. "You could have killed somebody."

  Charlotte looked down at the ground, kicking a rock with her foot. Robin had a plan, nobody would have died. She had trust in herself and him. But, even so, Batman had been right. What if she had accidentally killed someone? She would have been a murderer, even if unintentional.

  Fire glared at Batman while holding Charlotte to her side.

  "You will not be doing this again." He waited for confirmation but Aqualad spoke up from where he stood with Superboy, Robin, Kid Flash, and Charlotte — Pyro.

  "I am sorry, but we will."

  "Aqualad, stand down." Aquaman demanded but the teen, nor his friends were having it.

  "Apologies, my king, but no. We did good work here tonight."

  Charlotte nodded and pulled away from Fire to stand with her friends. "You trained us for this."

  "Together," Aqualad took a step forward. Glancing back at Charlotte who gave him an encouraging twitch of her lips. "On our own we forged something powerful, important."

  Flash sighed, "if this is about your treatment at the hall the four of you —"

  "Five." Charlotte challenged while peering over at Superboy who stood with his arms crossed and a glare in place.

  "And it's not," Kid added.

  "Batman," Robin started with a pleading tone in his voice, begging his mentor to listen. "We're ready to use what you taught us or why teach us at all?"

  Superboy looked down at the ground, still glaring as he asked, "why let them tell us what to do?" He looked Batman right in the eye. "It's simple." He took three steps forward till he stood side to side with Aqualad. "Get on board or get out of the way."

Three days later, Hank let Charlotte out of her prison under the pretense of seeing her new headquarters as she would officially be working with a team. And not the Justice League but a younger version, one that would work on covert teams. Putting Charlotte in the shadows she so desperately wanted. The Young Justice.

  Dressed in a pair of jeans and an ACDC shirt, Charlotte stood in the center of Mount Justice with her teammates. Aqualad, Kid Flash, Robin, and Superboy. She sported a carefree grin as she analyzed the room. While she was excited to be working in the dark, she still wished to be out of the life of capes and heroes. If she had it her way she would be sleeping in but Hank thought this was a good idea. One where he could still control Charlotte, force her into the image he wanted.

  "This cave was the original secret sanctuary of the Justice League." Batman informed the teens who were dressed in their every-day attire. "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."

  "Red Tornado volunteered to live here and be your supervisor. Black Canary is in charge of training, I will deploy you on missions."

  "Real missions?" Robin asked from beside Charlotte.

  "Yes, but covert."

  Flash nudged his protege, Kid Flash, "the League will still handle the obvious stuff. There's a reason we have these big targets on our chests." He gestured to the emblem of his suit.

  "But Cadmus proves the bad guys are getting smarter," Aquaman said. "Batman needs a team that can operate on the sly."

  Batman remained stoic behind his mask but took back the attention of the teens. "The six of you will be that team."

  "Cool, wait, six?"

  Walking through the zeta-tube two new figures captured the attention of the room. Martian Manhunter and an unnamed girl who looked similarly to him. "This is the Martian Manhunter's niece, Miss Martian." Batman informed them.

  "Hi," she said in a soft and friendly tone. Charlotte greeted her with a two-finger salute.

  "Liking this gig more every minute," Kid grinned while Charlotte slapped him on the arm, looking disgusted with his comment. He ignored her by swatting his hand in her direction. "Welcome aboard," he greeted the Martian. "I'm Kid Flash." He practically ran over to her.

  "That's Robin," he pointed to the boy behind him. "Aqualad. It's cool if you forget their names." Kid gestured to the other redhead in the room. "And that's Pyro —"

  "I know her name," Miss Martian said shyly, a blush coating her cheeks. "She's almost as well known as Superman. Pyro or Charlotte. Oh, or Lotte" she rambled while Charlotte began looking out of place.

  "Welcome to the team." She gave a terse smile, hoping to not make things awkward.

  The Martian, not feeling deterred by Charlotte, said "I'm happy to be included."

  While everyone walked up to Miss Martian, Charlotte stayed behind to explore the mountain on her own. Needing a minute to herself, she had a feeling she wouldn't get many of those now that she was on a team.



















NOTE!

I love Lotte so much, people of the Watchtower know this. She has been on my mind since I made her, also her bullying Conner will never not be funny to me. She's his biggest op at this point.