"I thank you, brother, for helping us," Dubbilex spoke with a smile and I shook my head with my own smile as we stood on the beach to the north of Mt. Titan/ Justice which would also now serve as the home site for the new Genomorph race.
Thanks to some tech from Batman, we managed to create a cloaking device that could cover a city-wide area, giving the Genomorph the privacy they deserve and since the entire surrounding area of Mt. Titan fell under the Justice League's jurisdiction, no one would find out about them unless they broke in and got on the bad side of the heroes.
"It's of no concern, Dubbilex. How is everyone holding up?", I asked as I looked at the Genomorphs still getting everything ready and Dubbilex smiled as he shook his head.
"We're doing the best we can, but it is a relief to not have to fear for Lex Luthor and Cadmus again," He spoke and I nodded as I remembered how we saved them.
As it turned out, Hal Jordan was more than happy to help transfer all of the Genomorphs here as payment for some sort of favour to Superman and I didn't question it as I didn't have to ask Batman if he had some tech for this.
In all honesty, I was now more of a fan of Green Lantern than before as it took him just one trip of carrying around a little over 200 Genomorphs from DC to Rhode Island in the span of ten minutes.
The guy was pretty awesome, to say the least.
"How is Match and the original Speedy doing?", He asked and I sighed as I shook my head.
"Still in a coma, but according to M'gann and Connor, they should wake up any day n-!"
"Chris! Come quick! They're awake and-!"
"SUPERMAN!", A voice roared and I spun to the mountain to see a chunk flying into the sky before my eyes widened at the sight of Match flying high into the air.
"Crap! Catch up later, Dubbilex!"
"Will do, brother!", He nodded as I flew into the sky, taking off anything that had the Superman logo on it before holding up my hands as Match turned to me with a glare.
"Hey, hey~ It's okay," I whispered, my calm demeanour helping to keep him calm as well as the red glow dimmed from his eyes and some of the rage faded away to show confusion.
"Superman?", He asked and I floated a bit closer while shaking my head.
"No, I'm Chris and I'm a clone just like you. Well, I'm the one after you."
"A-After Match?", He asked with a frown and I nodded slowly, smiling softly as I kept my hands raised.
"Yeah, you were the prototype Match while I am the next iteration that Cadmus made after You. I am what they call Project Krypton, but I go by the name Chris," I decided to omit the Superboy name considering how he reacts with Superman's name.
"They…they said Match was perfect, a match for Superman Why make you?" He murmured as he looked at his hands and I winced at the question.
"Cadmus never wanted perfection. They wanted a clone of him that they could control, but you were far too strong and independent. They were scared of you so they shelved you and made me instead since they thought I would be easier to control, but I like to think I was worse than they expected," I spoke with a slight shrug, watching as he clenched his fists. However, he didn't explode and try to attack me, so I decided to continue.
"They were wrong, though. You're not dangerous or uncontrollable. You're hurt and angry, just how I was when I woke up. I still am a bit to be honest, but you need to know that you're not alone now."
"…What about Superman? Is he…?", Despite his body shaking and his angry tone at the mere mention of Superman, I saw the relief in his eyes and spoke.
"Supes…took a while to get used to the fact that he was cloned and I think we just sent him into that shock again, but he'll come to treat you like a brother just like he does with me. Even if he doesn't, you'll still have me as your brother and others that want to help.
"Chris!", I heard M'gann's voice and held a hand to them, Match following where I was pointing and I glanced to see the Teen Titans along with Red Tornado, Red Arrow and Black Canary standing there.
However, I gave a mental curse as I saw Superman there as well, turning my gaze back to Match to see his eyes glowing dimly.
"Match, look at me."
"Superman~~", He growled, gritting his teeth as the red glow in his eyes brightened for a moment.
"Match, look at me," I spoke more firmly, floating closer while allowing Connor to create to create a telepathic bond between the two of us.
"You're not alone anymore. He's not here to hurt you. No one is. You're not back at Cadmus, okay?", I placed my hand on his shoulder, staying still as his head snapped up. The two of us were staring eye to eye before I smiled and hugged him softly.
"You're safe, brother. You're safe," I whispered and I felt his body tense before he sagged, the tension leaving his form as I felt him hugging me back.
"What if…what if Cadmus comes for Match again?", He asked and I blinked as Superman spoke up from beside us, turning to see him floating there with a smile.
"You don't have to worry about them ever again. If they try to come for you or anyone here, they will have the entire Justice League to answer to," Match just continued to look at him, not trust but recognition in his eyes as Superman continued.
"I wish I had known that both you and Chris were suffering for so long and that my DNA was being used to hurt others and not help them. If I could go back and stop Cadmus from ever getting their hands on it, I would, but I can't change the past. What I can do for now though is simple," He spoke as he floated closer, stopping as Match's eyes flared before nodding.
"I can make sure you both know that you are neither experiments nor weapons. You are people with names, thoughts, feelings, lives and above all else, you are my family and I will protect my family with everything I have."
"Match, you okay?", I asked as I kept my hand on his shoulder, watching as he clenched his fists while the glow in his eyes dimmed slightly. However, he didn't smile and kept the glare in his gaze.
"You look at Match like Match is mistake."
"To be truthful, Match, I did not know how to handle this, not with Chris and not with you. However, I'm here now and I want to make this right. Will you let me?", He asked as he floated closer until he was just a few feet away from us, Match staring at the man before looking to me.
"Does brother trust him?"
"Eh, Supes is arguably one of the most stubborn people on the planet."
"Excuse me?"
"However, he is also a very kind-hearted person and if he says that he wants to protect you to the best of his abilities, he will definitely try to do so. All you need to do is give him a chance."
"Match…Match cannot forgive Cadmus or trust League, but Match trust Brother and Brother trust Superman so Match trust Superman."
"That's more than enough for us, brother," I spoke with a smile while looking to Superman, who smiled and nodded in agreement.
"Superman still dumb name," He muttered and I laughed as Supes rolled his eyes before I looked down as I saw M'gann floating up. She held her hands up as Match tensed before he looked to me as I smiled.
"That's M'gann or Ms. Martian. She's…uh…a close friend?", I asked and nodded as she giggled while nodding.
"I am. Is it okay for the other method or should I just talk?"
"Uh, for now, let's keep everything verbal."
"Got it. Hi, Match. It's nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet friend," Match spoke with a nod and I looked at them before shaking my head as I looked down at where Batman looked up. I simply nodded and he nodded back, walking back into the cave along with the rest of the Justice League members while the Titans waited for us befroe we landed.
"Match, these are also close friends. They are, from left to right, Wally also known as Kid Flash, Kaldur AKA Aqualad, Richard AKA Dick AKA Robin and Artemis also known as…I don't know to be honest. You'll have to ask her for her name."
"Just Artemis is fine," Artemis answered with a shrug and I smirked as Match blinked before nodding.
"Match is Match. Nice meet you."
"It is a pleasure to meet you as well, Match," I could always count on Kaldur to make someone feel at home before I blinked as I heard Batman's voice over the intercom.
"Titans, report to the medical room. Speedy has woken up. I repeat, Titans, report to the medical room. Speedy has woken up."
"…Can't we get one moment of quiet?"
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"H-Huh, I didn't expect…a reunion like this one," Speedy muttered as he was sat up on the med-bed, cradling his left arm to his chest while his voice sounded rough.
"How do you feel?"
"As good as I can be, Kaldur. You know, for a guy that's been knocked out for…three years?"
"That's right," I nodded and he looked at me before looking to Match, his eyes flickering between us before I smirked as he looked to Robin with a raised eyebrow.
"Anyone gonna explain why I see two young Superman clones in front of me, one which has black sclerae? Also, who's the female Martian…and the Green Arrow girl?"
"The Arrow girl is Artemis, one of Green Arrow's apprentices and the Martian is M'gann or Ms. Martian, Martian Manhunter's niece. As for myself and Match, we're the clones of Superman just like how Red Arrow is your clone."
"I have a clone?", Roy asked with a raised eyebrow and I blinked before looking to Robin as he sighed.
"Batman wanted to ease him into it."
"Oh…well, you have a clone so surprise~"
"Cadmus?", was all he asked and nodded as I smiled and nodded.
"Pretty much, yeah, though we go by their 'unofficial' villain name known as The Light. So far, we've pinned Lex Luthor to be one of their leaders, but they've most likely cut him somewhat from their activities while the rest of the leaders are hidden.
"One…is Ra's al Ghul. He and the League of Shadows…are the reason that I was captured," Speedy spoke and we looked at him as the weight of his words settled in.
"Ra's al Ghul, the master assassin? You're sure?", Robin asked and Speedy nodded as I watched the bitterness dance in his eyes.
"Yeah, I saw him just before they put me under. I was being moved to some underground facility, most likely the one you guys found me in. It was just a brief glimpse, but I saw his face clear as day along with a woman in white. Dark-skinned, regal look to her."
'That could be the Queen woman in the series that I saw,' I thought with a frown while watching as Robin typed away at his wrist computer.
"Whoever this woman is, it shows that the Light and the League of Shadows are working more than just Cadmus cloning. If they're targeting and replacing people, they might have something else in mind."
"There's one more thing. I was not the only one in the old facility. There…were dozens of clones, all having the Superman logo on the front of their pods."
"…So, you're telling me that Match and I are not the only ones?", I asked, watching as Roy gave an unsure nod before I looked to Match who frowned.
"From what I saw, they moved you within the past month. That means that the moment they saw success with my experiment, they decided to put more energy into the Superman cloning process and create more like me. However, since they won't allow Lex to put his DNA in, they're most likely using the DNA of the other leaders of the Light as well."
"In other words, we're looking at a super army under the control of people that want us dead? Well, isn't that fun?", I muttered as I pinched the bridge of my nose before pushing that thought back as I looked to Roy.
"Well, I thank you for that information. Now, I wish to ask what you're going to do for now."
"Why? You want to make me work?", He asked with a smirk, but I caught the snide in his voice as I chuckled while Kaldur shook his head.
"No, Roy. We want you to rest and heal. Build up your strength and if you do not feel like it, let us know so we can give you the life you deserve, especially after the anguish you suffered over the years."
"Uh-huh, okay. How do you expect me to deal with the trauma, then?"
"That is where this guy comes in. Roy, meet Connor also known as Goblin," I spoke with a smile as Connor waved while hopping onto my shoulder, the man raising an eyebrow as he looked at the G-Gnome and back to me.
"Why do you guys have one of the bastards that kept me in a coma?"
"Oh, don't worry about that. Connor left Cadmus with me and now he is part of the team while also being our therapist…kind of."
"I am simply here to ensure that you suffer as little as possible from the trauma you endured."
"And let me guess. That requires you going into my head?"
"No, that requires you trusting and talking to me," Connor said and I waited as Speedy looked at us before I smiled as he rolled his eyes.
"Fine, let's just get this thing over with."
"You sure you want to start now and not rest for the day?"
"Eh, if I rest, I'll have nightmares and nightmares will lead to more trauma so let's just get this thing started."
"And I'll be here every step of the way, buddy!", Wally spoke with an excited smile and Speedy just looked at him before looking back to us with a frown.
"I take it back. If I'm going to have this goofball with me, I'd rather get some rest now."
"Oh, come on~ Tell this guy I've matured~", Wally whined, but we all just looked at him before I glanced to the door as I heard a pair of hesitant footsteps approaching.
"Yeah, you get that rest. We're going to leave you and Connor here for now."
"Everyone, out please. Red Arrow is coming and I think their discussion is none of our business."
"Yeah, probably. Don't worry, I'll come and bother you tomorrow then since I'm a nuisance," Wally was a good actor as he just huffed and walked out of the door, Robin and Kaldur patting their friend on the shoulder while Match followed myself and M'gann out of the room.
As I exited, I just smiled and placed a hand on Red Arrow's shoulder, nodding to the room with my head before walking and following after M'gann.
"Why we leave?," Match asked once we turned the corner and M'gann smiled softly as I spoke.
"Well, you, Supes and I needed privacy to help him process that we're his clones. Red Arrow and Speedy need the same thing."
"Okay, so they talk like Brother and Match?"
"Exactly, it's going to be awkward and painful for both of them, but it's their thing to sort through."
"They just need time to understand each other. They're both victims to this and while it can be hard to face, I believe they'll be able to help one another," M'gann chimed in and Match remained silent as he looked back at the medbay door with narrowed eyes.
"He felt angry."
"Yes, but not at us. He was angry at Cadmus and the Light for what they did to him, but now he gets to decide who he wants to be," I spoke with a smile and he looked at me before nodding slowly.
"Match wants to train hard. If there are other clones like Match and Brother…"
"Then we'll rescue them all, just like we did with you. You willing to help out again?", I asked as I looked to M'gann, chuckling as she simply crossed her arms with a raised eyebrow and a smirk.
"Are you asking me to help you create more chaos, Mr. Kent?"
"I believe I am, Ms. M'orzz."
"Why is Brother talking like that?", Match asked with a frown and I smirked as M'gann giggled before I wrapped an arm around him.
"You'll figure it out when you're older. For now, let's go tell Batman about what's happened."
A/N: And we end off this chapter here~! Match is awake and I'm going more for the Bizarro from the DC Outlaws group that also has Red Hood and Artemis(Not this one, the Amazonian one I believe).
I don't know, I might just be overreacting, but anyway…
Like always, you can go to my Pat-reon-.-com-/-KingCrimsonNova to read ahead on this as well as many other stories & even some that haven't been released out to this site yet. If you want to, you are free to, but if you don't want, all's good as I will still be uploading here. This is just me trying to get some extra cash.
As always, read, enjoy, review and until next week...
Ba-Bye~!