Chapter 22: Cadmus ii

Robin, Kid Flash, and Aqualad had reached a large, secure door deep within the Cadmus Labs.Kid Flash examined the door skeptically. "How are we gonna get through this? It looks locked with biometrics or something."

Robin smirked. "You mean like explosives?"

Aqualad interjected, "No, we're here to investigate, not blow things up."

"Besides, we don't need to blow this door up." Robin activated his holographic computer gloves, typing quickly. "I should be able to open it right about… now."

True to his word, the door slid open, and they got a glimpse inside. When they did, they were shocked at what they found. "Okay, I am officially whelmed."

CTōneri, concealed with his Meisagakure no Jutsu (Hiding with Camouflage Technique), arched an eyebrow. "Whelmed?" he whispered in confusion.

The room had rows of large, transparent tubes; inside each one was an insect-like creature generating volts of electricity.

Kid Flash stared in amazement. "That explains why the real Cadmus isn't on the grid. These things are generating new amounts of energy to power this place while hiding it underneath our feet."

Aqualad nodded in agreement. "Even the name is a clue. The Cadmus of myth created an army by sowing dragons' teeth into the earth."

Robin began typing on his holographic computer gloves, checking out their files for their experiments. "They're called Genomorphs. Whoa, look at the stats on these things! Telepathy, super-strength, razor claws... These people are making living weapons."

CTōneri walked up to one of the tubes and placed his hand on it. He turned his Byakugan on, seeing the electrical current running through the insect-like creatures and outward into a storing unit, feeling the energy run through the entire building.'These… things, whatever they are, they're powering this entire building. Somehow they are generating a new source of energy. '

Kid Flash then walked up to Aqualad, saying the same thing. "That explains why the real Cadmus isn't on the grid. These things were created and bred to create new amounts of energy to power this place while hiding it underneath our feet."

"Of course," Aqualad said. "Even the name is a clue. The Cadmus of myth created an army by sowing dragons' teeth into the earth."

"And this Cadmus creates new life too," Robin said. "Only one way to find out why."

Robin began trying to hack into one of the computers and began checking out their files for their experiments. Robin's holographic screen showed the stats and pictures of creatures they have or haven't seen yet in the facility.

"They're called Genomorphs," Robin said. "Whoa, look at the stats on these things! Telepathy, super-strength, razor claws… These people are making living weapons."

'They're trying to create an army. Well, not trying, but they seem to have succeeded up to a point,' CTōneri thought.

"Yeah, but for who?" Kid Flash asked.

"Wait, there's something else: Project Kr," Robin said. "The file is triple encrypted. I can't hack it."

"Don't move!" The young heroes turned to see Guardian with a pack of short, gray-skinned creatures with long tails, sharp claws on both their hands and feet.

"Wait a minute," Guardian said. "Robin? Kid Flash? Aqualad?"

"At least he got your name right," Robin joked while Kid Flash glared at him. "I know you," Aqualad said. "You're Guardian, a hero."

"I do my best," Guardian replied. "Then what are you doing here?" Kid Flash asked.

"I'm chief of security, and you four are trespassing," Guardian said. "Don't worry though; we can call the Justice League to figure this all out."

"Do you think your Justice League will really approve of all this?" CTōneri asked impassively after revealing himself. "Creating an army of living weapons."

Seeing him, Aqualad narrowed his eyes, while Kid Flash and Robin were shocked. "Where did you go dude you just disappeared on us?" Kid Flash asked, but Tōneri didn't answer, looking at Guardian, waiting for a response.

"Weapons?" Guardian said in confusion. "What are you… what have I… My head…" The horns of the G-Gnome on his shoulder glowed, and Guardian winced in pain, then looked at the young heroes with hardened eyes. "Take them down hard! No mercy!" he ordered the Genomorphs, and they jumped right at them.

CTōneri narrowed his eyes, swiftly moving to intercept the Genomorph reinforcements. Robin threw a smoke bomb on the ground, and a cloud of smoke surrounded them. Robin fired his grappling cable at a steel beam and swung himself over to the door, trying to hack it open.

The Genomorphs began their attack on CTōneri and Kid Flash. One of them tried to attack Kid Flash, but he managed to dodge its attack. He bounced off the wall and kicked one of them away. Several Genomorphs attacked CTōneri, but he fended them off using taijutsu, moving through them punching and kicking them away effortlessly.'Zero combat experience. They're just like fodder, ' he thought.

Guardian tried to attack CTōneri from behind, but CTōneri dodged without looking and, as Guardian stumbled past him, kicked him away while making sure not to break the hero. He backflipped away, avoiding further conflict. Aqualad then began fighting Guardian next, exchanging and blocking blows. When Guardian pinned him to the wall, Aqualad used his Atlantean magic to generate electricity, zapping him and breaking free from his grip.

They then proceeded to head toward the door, where Robin was still trying to hack it open. As Kid Flash and Aqualad reached him, CTōneri saw more Genomorph reinforcements heading their way. He quickly performed hand signs.

"Doton Kekkai: Dorō Dōmu" (Earth Release Barrier: Earth Prison Dome). The earth beneath their feet ripped and came together, imprisoning the Genomorphs in a dome. CTōneri then moved back to the others, ready to continue their investigation.

"Way to be a team player, Rob," Kid Flash said sarcastically. "Weren't you right behind me?" Robin replied as the doors opened and they stepped inside.

They all made it into the elevator. Ctoneri and Aqualad rushed over, turning backwards to the horde behind them. "Doton: Yomi Numa" (Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld), he called out, making the ground swampy and slowing down the horde by making them get stuck. However, new Genomorphs climbed atop the trapped ones. Seeing this, Ctoneri and Aqualad quickly moved into the elevator, and the doors shut just before the Genomorphs could attack again. Kid Flash noticed the elevator was heading down.

"We're heading down?" Aqualad asked. "Dude, out is up!" Kid Flash pointed out.

"But, Project Kr is down on sub-level 52," Robin said. "Hmm, it would be productive to go down and see Cadmus's big and highly protected science project, don't you agree?" Ctoneri said.

"This is out of control. Perhaps we should contact the League," Aqualad suggested.

Ctoneri looked at him impassively and asked, "And how long will you keep depending on them for everything? If you can't even handle this much, tell me what makes you think you can stand by their side?"

They all went silent after he said that, with Robin nodding and agreeing. After making that suggestion, they made it to the sub-level. When the doors opened, the sub-level itself was very disturbing.

The hallway looked like the inside of an intestine. The walls appeared to be made of flesh with pale blue, organic pods attached to the ceiling and walls.

"Too little, too late to go back now," Ctoneri said before he and the others moved through the hallway. There were two hallways that led to Project Kr, but they didn't know which one might lead them into a trap.

"Which way do we go?" Aqualad asked.

"We're gonna have to pick one," Ctoneri said, his eyes turning on to scan and sense for Project Kr. If this experiment was really alive, it should have a chakra or life signature. But before he could sense it fully, he heard another voice.

Dubbilex's Perspective

Dubbilex watched the young intruders navigate the eerie hallways of Cadmus. His telepathic senses tingled with the presence of intruders, each of them filled with resolve. He had to stop them, but something about the white-haired one intrigued and unnerved him, he couldn't read him and his presence felt somewhat heavy.

He moved with a fluidity and confidence that suggested he was not just an ordinary hero.

"Halt!" Dubbilex commanded, using his telekinesis to throw barrels at them. He watched as the white-haired one—Ctoneri—manifested chakra rods and hurled them towards him. Dubbilex concentrated, sweat beading on his brow as he barely managed to stop the rods mid-air. 'Who is this boy? He possesses an unusual and formidable power.'

He quickly rolled out of the way as the rods embedded themselves in the wall behind him with a thud. 'That was close. If those rods had hit me...' He looked back at the team, his eyes narrowing. He threw more barrels at them, but the young heroes evaded his attacks, running through one of the hallways.

Dubbilex took a few steps before the doors to another elevator opened, allowing Guardian and a pack of Genomorphs to run out. "They are heading to Project Kr!" he informed Guardian before heading to the hallway the protégés went through.