6- The Shaft

Running through the halls, five kids rushed towards the elevators. Jackson led the way through the halls, lost in thought about their situation.

'When that genomorph gave me directions, they neglected to leave out the rest of the floor's plans so now I know where to go.' He thought, taking a right, then a left. 'But how to get up...'

Thinking of this, Jackson glanced behind him at the other escapees. 'Robin has his grapple, so me and Conner can grab one each. We can't fly, but we can definitely carry one up the elevator shaft by jumping.'

The more the thought it over, the more it seemed like the most obvious thing to do. 'We'll just have to watch out for the elevators themselves.'

Turning to Connor, he explained the plan he made up on the fly. "You grab the one in yellow, I'll grab Waterboy. We can fly, so we'll have to jump from wall to wall."

Connnor being Connor, was of course angry and confused at this. "What do you mean jump? Why can't we fly?! Superman can!"

Sighing at hearing the not-so-subtle emotional problems start to form in his little brother, Jackson sighed and explained how he had been tested the day before.

"We were made in nearly identically the same way, so it makes sense we have similar powers. Flight and heat vision: those are the two we lack." Connor looked like he was about to say something, but Robin interrupted him.

"We're here! I'll open the doors." Boy Wonder sighed, kneeling at the control panel.

Without saying a word, Jackson stepped forward and began wrenching the door open. Connor, not wanting to be left behind, stepped up beside him. Though the help wasn't needed as Jackson easily bent the metal door on the left back, folding it up against the wall.

Now that the door wasn't blocking their way, Robin immediately went to grapple up to the top but was grabbed out of the air by Jackson.

Grabbing the wire before it could go into the shaft, Jackson smiled at him. "Unless you wanna get squashed, I'd wait till the coast is clear."

And just as he finished his sentence, the elevator came crashing down inches from Robin's outstretched hand. Reacting far too late, Boy Wonder snatched his hand back instinctually.

Joining in on the tease, mostly to copy Jackson, Connor grinned at the recoiling kid. "Yeah, patience is key."

Hearing this, Jackson just gave Connor a look that said, 'Are you really the one to be talking about patience?'

Ignoring his older brother, Connor quickly grabbed Kid Flash and began his ascent Jackson following not too far behind him with a panicking Aqualad.

"Sorry, just don't squirm or I might drop you," Jackson said, knowing exactly what he was doing. 'He has a fear of heights in this version, doesn't he?'

Robin, bringing the last to enter the shaft, merely sighed. "It's not my fault I'm stuck in some evil cloning lab..." But grappling up just the same.

Jumping from wall to wall, leaving dents in their wake, the newly born brothers ascended the elevator shaft with remarkable speed. Even Jackson was finding it strangely easy.

'In the show, they were nearly caught again because of that elevator earlier. Now that that didn't happen, they essentially had a straight shot up to the ground floor. Though it seemed like the world didn't want it to be that easy.

Without warning, all of the vents towards the top of the shaft blew open with sudden force, creatures spilling out of them. Little bat-like genomorphs with leathery wings and sharp dagger-like teeth flooded into any space available.

"Oh come on!" Kid Flash groaned, and Jackson couldn't help but agree.

'Of course, they made genomorphs that can fly, what's next- Invisibility?' He thought, before immediately backtracking. 'Forget I even said anything. Flying bloodthirsty creatures are just fine!'

Jackson didn't notice it but, time seemed to slow to a crawl for a moment as Jackson weighed their options. 'Plan 1, the easiest and most likely to succeed: Exit the shafts and fight the horde on even footing. It seemed like the best way, until you consider that we would quickly be overwhelmed by the other genomorphs on that floor.'

'Option 2, the hardest and most likely to fail: Take your chances and fight through them. That would leave Aqualad and Kid Flash unable to fight, but they could work around that. Aqualad can fight with his powers, and Kid could try and run along the walls. While he would quickly tire out by multitasking fighting countless enemies and running, they would be able to both fight and still advance.'

As the horde of genomorphs drew closer, Jackson knew he had to come to a decision. "Ah fuck it, Connor!"

His brother's head snapped to him. "Have Speedy there run on the walls! We have to push through!"

Not bothering to argue about getting orders or something, Connor quickly helped Kid get his footing the next time he landed.

"What?! But he could fall!" Aqualad protested but Robin came to support Jackson's plan, having come to the same conclusion.

"Either that or we get mauled by a bigger horde in the halls! This is our best chance at reaching the League!"

Unfortunately, they didn't have any more time to argue before the creatures reached them, trying to bite holes in them. Jackson and Connor were fine as they couldn't pierce their skin, but the other three weren't as durable.

Robin was managing just fine thanks to his training and the various weapons on his person, also having attached the grapple to his hips to fight with both hands. Aqualad was doing as expected, throwing walls of water and lighting at anything near him and Jackson. Kid Flash was doing fine for now, as he mostly managed to avoid any stray attacks.

Knowing that they couldn't keep this up for long, Jackson put more strength into his legs, to the point of pain. 'Damn my broken Genes!' He cursed, enduring the pain as the extra strength pushed him to rise even faster.

Nearing the top of the shaft, Jackson called out to Connor. "Hit the door right when I do!" Having caught up to him, even nearly surpassing his little brother.

Connor merely grunted, grabbing Kid off the wall to make sure he made it through. Making a few more bounds, the brothers synchronized their jumps, reaching the wall opposite from the ground floor's door at the same time.

Planting both feet on the wall, Jackson and Connor burst off of it, turning halfway through to protect their live luggage. Hitting the door with the combined strength of two Kryptonian hybrids, it relented without resistance.

Floating in the air for a moment, the boys skidded to a stop in the middle of the room, Robin just behind them. Throwing explosives into the shaft and door, he quickly blocked off their pursuers with a wall of rubble and ash.

Lying on the floor, panting, the boys collected themselves. "Well, that was a wild ride." Kid Flash said in a cheery voice.

Hearing this, Jackson let out a soft chuckle. Then he heard two other things, one good and one very ominous.

First off he heard a ding from the system, a window popping in front of his eyes.

[Blinded by the Light!: User is trapped underground in a secret cloning facility along crawling with security. Bide your time and escape when the opportunity arises!]

[Conditions- Escape successfully + ???(Hidden Condition)]

[Rewards- 10,000 Shop Points + Healed Kryptonian Genes + Kryptonian House Crystal]

[Conditions acomplished!: Escape Cadmus + hidden condition- Escape by using your knowledge of events to change the story!]

[Accept rewards now?]

[Y/N]

[Caution, the healing of the user's damaged genes will result in pain.]

Seeing the mission be completed, Jackson was elated. Though he was curious about the hidden condition. 'Does the system want to reward me for changing the story?'

Though he couldn't think about it for long and the sounds he was hearing below him were quickly nearing their positions. 'Fuck it. By what I'm hearing it's more than just Blockhead, and considering my other mission, I'll need the upgrade.'

Quickly tapping Yes before he could regret it, Jackson immediately felt pain erupt across his body. It felt like ants crawling through his insides looking for a meal.

Rolling on the ground, the heat began to spread off of his body, quickly becoming uncomfortable for the boys near him. "Woah, what's wrong with him?" Kid Flash asked, stumbling back. It seemed that he had sprained his ankle in the shaft before.

"I don't know, but it's already dying down," Robin noted, seeing the heat die down just as soon as it started.

Groaning from the pain that was quickly dying pain and heat shrouding his body. "That hurt like a bitch." He muttered, climbing to his feet.

However it seemed that his strength had increased more than he thought as his movements left cracks in the floor. As the pain completely faded, Jackson could feel newfound strength flood every inch of his body.

"Hah, this feels awesome." He muttered to himself, flexing his hands in front of him.

Unfortunately, he didn't get to revel in it for long as a part of the floor across the room burst open, two figures rushing out of the new hole.

A hulking mass of muscle and armor turned to face the young heroes, panting with barely contained rage, a smaller figure standing near him. A young man in a similar suit to Jackson and Connor, looks incredibly similar to them. Only it was obvious that he had none of their sanity.

"Blockhead and Match." Jackson slid down into a stance, preparing to fight for his newfound freedom in earnest.