Night's Shadow || Dick Grayson x Ariana Wayne

Chapter 7

The four were captured and placed into pods. A voice called out inside their heads and forced them awake. They all saw Superboy standing there watching them. All four of them started to struggle while trying to convince Superboy that he was a living being and deserved freedom.

A man in a lab coat entered inside the room along with Guardian and the creature from before that had chased them to the room in the first place. "Take the weapon back to its pod then begin the cloning process."

Robin scoffed as he worked to free himself. "Pass. Batcave's crowded enough."

Shadow Hawk glared at Robin. "Gee, thanks Boy Wonder." Her tone was sarcastic and held an undertone of hurt. As they bickered, small extractors appeared inside their pods. Shadow knew that she had to leave and immediately. Anyone having her DNA was a dangerous thing and so she looked about and saw what she was looking for. A large enough shadow to step through and so she did. All anyone saw was her just vanish. Aqualad and Robin knew what had happened, but they weren't going to say anything.

"Find her! And get the weapon back in its pod already!" A G-gnome jumped onto Superboy's shoulder and mentally gave the command to return to the pod.

On the way, Superboy paused, looking like he was having a mental conversation. After a few moments Superboy cast aside the G-gnome and shook his head. "Come out, I know you're there."

Shadow Hawk stepped out of her hiding spot. "I know a little about being trained to be a weapon. My mother and I have the training to be elite assassins but we don't kill anyone. We save them instead using the abilities we've learned." She held out her hand with a soft smile. "Will you help me save my friends Superboy? And in turn we'll help you get your freedom as well."

He looked a little unsure but then took her hand. The two turned and walked to the room where the three were struggling against the DNA collectors. Robin was trying to pick the locks on the manacles that held him though he stopped briefly when he saw Shadow and Superboy walk into the room holding hands then remaining close even after letting go. He felt a familiar tightness building in his chest then worked harder to free himself. "Took you long enough Robin," Shadow teased and went to make sure he was alright while Superboy knocked out the doctor for trying to order him about.

Robin looked to Superboy. "Free Aqualad and I'll get Kid Mouth."

"Don't you give me orders either!" Superboy snapped back.

Shadow groaned and rolled her eyes before putting her hands on her hips. "Boys! Can we please work together to get out of here and then we can play 'who's alpha male'?" Neither of them said anything, just nodded and hurried to free the two captive teens. Once they were free and all five of them running to the exit, Robin turned and threw some bombs at the DNA collected and blew them up.

They fought their way to escape from the Genomorphs chasing them and made it to sub-level 1 before being stopped by Guardian, Dubilex (the creature from before) and several other Genomorph creatures. A wave of psychic power washed over the group and sent all of them but Shadow Hawk and Superboy to the ground unconscious. "Interesting" said a voice in Shadow's mind. "Your mind is unlike any human's I've seen."

"That would be because I am not human. I'm Grigori, natural psychic attack resistance." She looked the others over and saw that no one was hurt and they could have easily been. "I'll not fight as you and the others don't appear to mean us harm. Well aside form knocking out my friends."

"They will be fine, I promise," Dubilex said then turned his attention to Superboy and the two of them had a mental conversation. When they were done a few minutes later, Guardian was freed from the telepathic mind control he'd been under. Things began to make sense and he told the group of youngsters that he'd take care of Dr. Desmond while they escaped.

Sadly it didn't go as smoothly as everyone hoped. Desmond drank a vial from Project Blockbuster and transformed into a massive creature. The five took him on while the Genomorphs ran to safety.

The battle took them to the street level. After a few pillars holding up the ceiling were knocked out, Robin got the idea to collapse it all and called over the other four to tell them his idea. The plan worked since Desmond was in purely rage mode. At the last moment Shadow Hawk ran over to her friends and covered them with her wings to protect them from the falling debris.

After the dust settled, Shadow used a final burst of strength to fling the rubble off of them before collapsing onto her knees. Robin and Kid Flash gave each other a high five before holding their sides and groaning. Superboy reached down and picked Shadow Hawk up. She wrapped an arm around his neck and retracted her wings.

It was at this point that the entire Justice League showed up. Superboy handed Shadow to Aqualad then went to go stand in front of Superman and declared himself a clone. Batman pinched the bridge of his nose and ordered the group to start talking. While they were discussing what had happened, half of the League took Desmond away leaving the rest with the group of five.

"Cadmus will be investigated. All 52 levels." Batman stated as he, Flash, Ebon Angel, and Aquaman walked over after discussing things with the remaining League members. "But let's make one thing clear..."

"You should have called." Flash spoke up, cutting Batman off and earning a Batglare.

He turned back to the group of teens. "End results aside we are not happy. You hacked Justice League systems, disobeyed direct orders and endangered lives. You will not be doing this again!"

Aqualad lowered Shadow Hawk to the ground and she leaned against Robin to help stand. He then addressed the heroes. "I am sorry, but we will."

"Aqualad. Stand down" commanded Aquaman.

Aqualad bowed his head and brought his fist up to his chest. "Apologies My King, but no. We did good work tonight. The work you trained us to do."

Next was Shadow Hawk who spoke up. "Aqualad's right. Together, on our own, we forged something powerful, important."

"If this is about the treatment the four of you got at the Hall-"

Flash was cut off by his own protege. "The five of us and its not."

Robin took a deep breath and looked at Batman. "Batman, we're ready to use what you taught us. Or else, why bother to teach us at all?"

Superboy stepped forward and crossed his arms. "It's simple." He looked to the others who straightened up and pushed aside their own pain to stand strong and more importantly stand together. "Get on board or get out of the way." All five of them stared down the mentors who glared back.

Neither side was going to give in it seemed. It was Ebon Angel who stepped up and broke the tense silence. "The young ones need medical attention and while they are getting is we and the rest of the League will discuss this matter. It won't be pushed aside, I promise you this. But focus on taking the next few days to heal up." Batman opened his mouth to argue, but Ebon Angel shot him a look that had him slamming his mouth shut and caused Flash to flinch. Both groups then returned to the Hall of Justice to carry out what she'd said.