"Red! Red, wake up!"

"W-what-"

"Quit staring. You're creeping me out." Kid Flash said to Superboy as I fully woke up, wincing whenever I moved my neck.

"Uh, KF, how about we not tick off the guy who can fry us with a look?" Robin suggests to the seriously freaked out speedster.

"He can't fry you... but I can fry him once I'm free of these restraints!" I yelled and smirked when Superboy took a step back.

"We only sought to help you." Aqualad tries to tell the clone, calmly.

"Yeah. We free you, and you turn on us." Kid Flash pipes up, clearly still annoyed at the minimum. "How's that for grat-"

"Kid, please, be quiet now." Aqualad firmly says to the younger teen. "I believe our friend was not in full control of his actions."

"Wha- what if I..." he trails with an annoyed huff, his voice never been used so his words don't come out quite right and his tone is slightly scratchy. "What if I wasn't?"

"Oh, he talks. Perfect." I rolled my eyes and leaned back against my pod.

"The Genomorph taught you telepathically." Aqualad realizes.

"They taught me much." Superboy admits. "I can read, write. I- I know the names of things."

"But have you seen them? Have they actually let you see the sky? Or the Sun?" Robin asks.

"Images are implanted in my mind," he admits, then looks down as if ashamed, "but no. I have not seen them."

"Do you know who, or what, you are? Why they created you?" I called out.

"I am the Superboy, a Genomorph, a clone made from the DNA of the Superman, created to replace him should he perish... to destroy him should he turn from the Light."

"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." Aqualad tries to approach it calmly.

"I live because of Cadmus! It is my home!"

"Your home is a test tube." Robin says rather simply. "We can show you the Sun."

"Pretty sure it's after midnight, but we can show you the Moon!" Kid Flash offered and I turned to him with a deadpan expression. "What!?"

"We can show you, introduce you to Superman." Aqualad agrees with the speedster.

"No, they can't." One scientist called out and I narrowed my eyes at him. "Activate the cloning process."

"You don't want to clone me if you value your life. If I have trouble controlling my rage sometimes, imagine what a whole army of me is capable of." I smirked. "Cadmus will burn before the League even gets here."

"Help us." Aqualad pleaded, just as they dragged Superboy away.

Robotic arms started to come out from our pods. The tops of the arms break apart into four fingers, two prongs on the tips of each one. With no hesitation and a slight electrical buzz, they plunge the prongs into our chests. All four of us scream out, which only increases as the fingers begin to pull out a reddish gas which then fills the spheres below the pods.

Hal, where are you!?

*.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.*

"Red, you with us?"

"Never left." I huffed, falling into Kid Flash's arms once Robin loosened my cuffs. "Took you long enough."

"What I don't understand is why you didn't break free of the cuffs." He wondered as I stood up.

"Because somebody over here choked me half to death and then I was electrocuted. I may be an alien, but I have limits, KF." I grumbled, rubbing my neck and wrapped an arm around Robin when I noticed him about to fall.

"I'll have you back in pods before morning!" The scientist yelled from the ground and I rolled my eyes as we all ran out of the room.

"That guy is not whelmed." He mutters then launches four disks back into the room. "Not whelmed at all."

"What is with you and this whelmed thing?" Kid Flash asks as they turn to leave.

"We are still 42 levels below ground." Aqualad says, not even panting as he runs at full tilt. "but if we can make the elevator..."

A G-trolls block their way, first two further away, then more and steadily getting closer to us.

The five of us stop and look back the way we came. The glowing orbs now have pale white figures moving inside them. Genomorph Elves come out in a large group and we all stood back to back, trapped.

"Red? You have enough juice in that thing?" Robin asked. I looked down at the ring and noticed its glow slowly disappearing.

"With blood and rage of crimson red, We fill men's souls with darkest dread, And twist your minds to pain and hate. We'll burn you all—that is your fate." I recited the Red Lantern oath and it started glowing again. "Maybe just enough to get us out, then I have to recharge with my lantern and I'll be good."

"Then let's make it count." He smirked.

I kept reciting the oath in my mind while blasting at the Genomorphs and made it down the hall. However, Superboy is fighting off G-trolls and slamming them into the wall and using his full strength. Despite the fact that it's causing the hallway to begin to fall apart.

"Superboy, the goal is escape. Not to bury ourselves here!"

"You want to escape?" he demands, grabbing an unconscious G-troll's arm and throws it into the two that are coming towards him.

"Ugh, we don't have time to argue about this!" I groaned, blasting the elevator door open. Kid Flash and Robin join me and Aqualad, looking at the twelve-story drop below them, and the seemingly never-ending darkness above us.

Kid Flash jumps to the side of the column, while Robin uses his grappling hook to get a couple of stories above them and I flew beside him. As a G-troll comes to take out both Superboy and Aqualad with a mighty punch the Boy of Steel grabs Aqualad's waist and jumps into the elevator shaft. Attempting to fly, and getting nearly 30 levels before gravity begins to pull them back down.

I widened my eyes in shock and generated a mattress while Robin threw a Batarang to give Aqualad something to hold onto.

"Superman can fly. Why can't I fly?" He mumbled and I frowned.

"Don't know, but it does look like you can leap tall buildings in a single bound. Still cool." Kid Flash grinned as we stood a floor above them.

"I can't carry all of you out without losing control of the ring. I've been trying to keep it at bay the entire time we've been here." I said sadly and Robin placed a hand on my shoulder.

"We'll find another way out. You keep flying and find the League."

"And let the four of you possibly die here? No way!"

"Aww, Miss Anger Issues cares." Kid Flash teased and I shot a beam next to his head. "Okay, maybe not."

"I just don't want to deal with the League calling me selfish... and if you get out, I'm getting my cut of the praise and glory." I smirked and they all shrugged.

"Works for us."

*.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.*

"We are cut off from the street."

"Thanks. My head hadn't noticed."

Superboy walks past the fallen speedster, punching the door, but not even getting a dent in it. He begins trying to pry it apart, but can't do it. Aqualad takes half and he takes the other, but even their combined strength cannot get the doors open.

"Red Lantern, can you-" I interrupted Aqualad by throwing beams at the door and used the Ring to try and pry it open but it didn't budge.

"Can't hack this fast enough." Robin grumbled.

G-trolls growl and two come around the corner. Robin notices a door to his right.

"This way!" he shouts to us before side-kicking the door open.

The G-trolls can't make it through the door, but in the adjoining hallway is a drove of G-elves, another pair G-troll, and Guardian waiting for them. Not to mention a G-gnome on every creature's shoulder. Behind them, a third G-troll and a half dozen G-elves cut them off.

"Behind me!" I ordered, stepping in front of the boys once their horns started glowing.

However, Guardian stood in front and shielded all of us and the head scientist began to transform.

First, it's just his veins popping under his skin, but as he falls to his knees and his body rips through his lab coat and shirt Kid Flash and Robin's eyes pop in shock. Desmond's head lifts from his arm as growls, some of his skin tearing off as his sclera turns black and his irises go bright red, Aqualad grimaces in hesitation. Finally, he stands back up and growls all his old skin ripping off him and now replaced by thicker grey skin instead of his normal skin in most areas. Superboy tenses as he roars, but doesn't attack, even as the once-scientist turns towards the five heroes and growls, some of his hair and old skin still attached to the left side of his head, breathing heavily.

"What in the name of Oa is this place!?" I yelled, feeling Robin pull me back.

"Help Superboy take down the support beams and let's get out of here." He whispered and pointed at the Kryptonian who was pushing the scientists against the pillars and then back to his Hologlove. "We take down two thirds and the last one will be a cake walk!"

"Smart boy." I nodded impressed and generated a mallet. "Let's do this."

I swung the mallet at one of the support beams, causing it to crack just as Superboy threw Desmond and broke it.

"Two more to go!" Robin yelled, throwing disks to grab the scientist's attention. "Get Desmond to the center!"

"Hey, ugly! I got your nose!" Kid Flash called out while Aqualad threw water to the middle of the room. Superboy and I cracked the remaining support beams and Robin threw disks at them.

Superboy jumps and hits Blockbuster on his way down with a cross that knocks him straight to the ground to the puddle of water. Some water is underneath Aqualad's feet and his tattoos continue to glow brightly as electricity crackles, coming from his hands. Which he then touches to the water. Hitting Blockbuster.

"Move!" Robin calls as Aqualad releases his hold on the electricity.

On the three remaining pillars are Robin's disks, which are now glowing red and green and beeping. Before they explode. As they do the weight of the roof becomes too much and it breaks right over Blockbuster's head dropping the rubble right on his shocked face.

"Everyone come here!" I yelled, grabbing Robin's arm and created a dome around all of us to protect us from the debris.

"Sure that thing's gonna hold!?" Kid Flash desperately asked and I nodded.

"With blood and rage of crimson red, We fill men's souls with darkest dread, And twist your minds to pain and hate. We'll burn you all—that is your fate!" I repeated the oath one last time and we all watched as the dome glowed brighter.

"Yep... it'll hold long enough."

*.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.*

"Okay, I'm officially out of juice. I need my lantern to recharge."

"We... we did it." Aqualad realized and I smiled, slowly dropping to my knees to try and catch my breath. "Red Lantern, are you-"

"I'll be fine... I have enough to keep me alive and get home." I assured.

"Sure about that, Little Red? Because you're looking pale... and it's not the moon." I heard Hal say and I looked up to see him landing in front of me.

"I have never been more happy to see you right now." I grinned and stood up with his help. "Got my call?"

"Sure did... but next time I tell you to stay put, I mean at the Hall, not break into a genetics lab."

"Hey, at least I played nice and made friends!"

"At least one of us had fun tonight, but I'm more concerned over the bruise on your neck but you'll tell me after this is over and recharge." He sighed and pulled me into a side hug as we watched Robin argue with Batman. "If I ever get like that with you, take that Ring and you kill me. Got it?"

I let out a small hum when Batman turned and pointed a finger to the both of us.

"Cadmus will be investigated," Batman says once we joined the group, Flash, and Aquaman walking towards us. "all 52 levels but let's make one thing clear-"

"You should have called." Flash pipes up, even catching Batman's attention.

"We tried." I defended and narrowed my eyes at Batman while Flash widened his and took a step back beside Hal. "Mine was the only one that got through, but your Boy Wonder was the first who tried and called."

"End results aside, we're not happy." Batman continued, completely ignoring me. "You hacked Justice League systems, disobeyed direct orders, and endangered lives. You will not be doing this again."

"I am sorry, but we will." Aqualad states strongly, even Robin steps up slightly.

"Aqualad, stand down." Aquaman attempts to command the older teen.

"Apologies, my King," he even makes reverence as he speaks, then his voice goes firm once more. "but no... We did good work here tonight, the work you trained us to do. Together on our own we forged something powerful, important."

"We get that. But we cannot disregard the fact that-"

"That we did the work all of you fail to do sometimes?" I interrupted Hal and he widened his eyes. "We did all of this in a few hours while it would've taken you months to even get inside the lab! Face it, we're able to do things none of you can't because of the League... but we're not tied down to it and the UN, are we?"

"Batman, we're ready to do what you taught us, or why teach us at all?" Robin speaks, the quietest out of the group in slight fear.

"Why let them tell us what to do?" Superboy questions, his arms uncrossing as he too steps up. "It's simple. Get on board or get out of the way."

"Or we do what the Kryptonian says." Kid Flash shrugged and ai fought back a smile.

"You guys really feel strongly about this, don't you?" Hal asked, but it was mostly directed at me.

"We do." I answered for all of us.

"Then that's something we can talk about."

*.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.*

"This cave was the original secret sanctuary of the Justice League... 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's in charge of training... Green Lantern will stop by from time to time to further Red Lantern's training and control of her Ring. I will deploy you on missions."

"Real missions?" Robin challenged.

"Yes, but covert." Batman confirms stepping back.

"The League will still handle the obvious stuff." Flash speaks up from behind Kid Flash's right shoulder. "There's a reason we have these big targets on our chest."

"But Cadmus proves the bad guys are getting smarter. Batman needs a team that can operate on the sly." Aquaman continues, then turns his head towards Hal to continue the flow of conversation.

"The six of you will be that team." Hal states.

"Six?" I questioned and he pointed at somebody behind us. We all turned to see Martian Manhunter stepping out of the shadows with a green-skinned, red-haired teenaged girl.

"This is the Martian Manhunter's niece. Miss Martian."

I took off my glasses and threw them to Robin while flying over to Miss Martian with a big smile.

"You're from Tamaran!" She realized and I nodded.

"I'm not the only alien here anymore." I said and she grinned. "I'm Zaria."

"M'gann."

"If you have 20/20 vision, why the glasses?" Kid Flash called out.

"Glamour charm to conceal my eyes and make them look human. Can't go to school with red eyes, y'know?" I pointed out and walked back to the group with M'gann. "That's Kid Flash, Aqualad, Robin and Superboy."

"It's cool if you forget their names." Kid Flash smirked and pushed me away.

"Red! Come here for a sec!" Hal called out and I took back the glasses, making my way to the kitchen. "You're gonna be alright, Zar?"

"I think so... why?"

"Just checking. Y'know I won't be around as much to make sure you're not doing something stupid." He teased.

"That's all you, Green." I laughed, leaning back against a counter. "And I'll be okay... I think I finally made some friends here on Earth after almost three years."

"Don't tell Spooky, but I'm proud that you broke into Cadmus and rescued Superboy. I knew you had it in you to do some good all by yourself."

"I think I'm getting good control over my Ring now, too! It barely consumed me back in Cadmus." I shrugged and he smiled big. "I have a good feeling about this, Hal."

"You'll do great here, Zar. I know it."

"I sure hope so."