Location - Cadmus Lab
Third Person
The night's cold air was soothing, the city humming with distant sirens and neon flickers, but atop the towering Cadmus Labs facility, four figures moved in silence. Clad in black, their forms melded into the night as they scaled the concrete and glass facade. Among them, the smallest of the four figures paused, retrieving a small handheld device that pulsed in his palm. A soft blue glow highlighted his masked features as the screen displayed a lack of heat signatures within the building. Raising his arm, he signaled to the others before pressing forward.
They reached a large, reinforced window. One of the figures pressed his palm against the glass, his skin briefly illuminating with an ethereal blue light. A thin, near-invisible line of energy cut through the surface, the glass parting noiselessly as if surrendering to his touch. Without a word, the four figures slipped inside, landing in a low crouch, weapons at the ready.
Moonlight streamed in through the jagged opening behind them, finally revealing their identities—Robin, Kid Flash, Aqualad, and Invincible. Their suits, void of their usual colors, were tailored for stealth. With two out of the four moving with feline grace, they moved across the sterile environment toward an elevator, their footsteps muffled by the sleek, metallic floor.
Robin took point, his eyes flicking between the panel and the team. "We all should split up here and cover more ground," he suggested in a hushed voice.
Aqualad stopped and countered, "No, we split into pairs. One team stays topside, the other heads below."
Robin sighed, irritation flashing across his face. "Who made you the leader?" he muttered.
Kid Flash grinned. "Yeah, Aqualad. No offense, but last time I checked, democracy was still a thing."
Before the tension could rise further, Invincible interjected, "Save it. We can argue later. Right now, we go down together."
No one objected further. Robin worked his magic on the security panel, his fingers dancing over the buttons as he retrieved another device from his pocket and began to upload a virus into the system. With a soft chime, the elevator doors slid open. A flickering fluorescent light revealed the sterile interior. The group stepped inside before descending into the unknown.
The doors parted with a hiss. Instead of the expected laboratory, they were greeted by an unfinished, industrial space. Exposed pipes weaved through skeletal support beams, and the walls were littered with cryptic symbols and scrawled equations.
"Uh… did we get off on the wrong floor?" Kid Flash quipped, eyeing the desolate surroundings.
Robin smirked, pulling out another device. "Nope." He pressed a button, sending out a pulse. The walls flickered, the illusion shattering. The grimy basement was gone, replaced by a pristine, white laboratory stretching far beyond what should have been possible.
The sight sent a cold shiver down Invincible's spine as they stepped forward. The space reminds him of Cecil's more questionable projects that he had bare witness to.
As they ventured deeper, Kid Flash broke the silence. "So, uh… why are we even here? Batman wasn't exactly generous with the details."
Aqualad replied calmly but firmly, "The League wouldn't send us on missions without reason. If they deemed this place worth investigating, then we must see it through."
Kid Flash rolled his eyes. "God, you are such a suck-up."
Invincible, sensing the rising irritation, placed a firm hand on Aqualad's shoulder. "Ignore him. Let's just get this over with."
His mind drifted for a moment, recalling how quickly he had been thrown into this world, how just the day before, he had met these people for the first time.
Flashback - 24 Hours Earlier
Robin and Kid Flash lounged in the meeting room within Mount Justice, their postures casual as they speculated about their upcoming assignment. Shazam had escorted them in, flashing a wide grin before excusing himself. "Sorry, guys. This is as far as I go. Doctor Fate's waiting on me."
As the doors closed behind him, Robin turned to Kid Flash. "So, who do you think we're waiting for?"
Kid Flash smirked. "Hopefully, someone cool. Maybe Speedy or ...?"
Before Robin could respond, the doors slid open, revealing Black Canary. Her presence commanded attention, her sharp blue eyes scanning the room as she stepped inside. Kid Flash wasted no time, his mouth moving faster than his brain. "Canary, you get hotter every time I see you."
She ignored him, her focus shifting to the figure behind her. "This is Aqualad," she introduced. "Protégé of Aquaman. He'll be joining you."
Aqualad inclined his head respectfully. "It is an honor."
Kid Flash and Robin exchanged glances before their minds finally connected something together before nodding. "Welcome to the team, Fish Boy," Kid Flash said with a grin.
Before the conversation could continue, another presence entered the room—Batman. The Dark Knight's arrival instantly shifted the atmosphere. But what caught Robin's attention was the person standing beside him.
Having trained under the Dark Knight himself, he could identify almost anyone by their posture, physique, and even voice. So, when the person behind Batman entered, his mind immediately recognized him.
The air grew tense as Robin's eyes narrowed. "You—" His finger shot out accusingly. "I know you. You're the guy that killed Cinderblock!"
Kid Flash tensed beside him, shifting uneasily as Robin's accusation hung in the air.
Batman, as always, remained unreadable. His voice was even. "His name is Invincible, and he's has been pardoned. For now. He has agreed to assist with League operations while we work on returning him to his own universe."
Robin's jaw tightened, but he didn't push further. Batman's stare alone was enough to make him reconsider. Instead, he crossed his arms, his eyes flicking back to Invincible. "Fine. But I don't trust him."
Kid Flash, however, seemed far less concerned. "Alternate universe, huh? Cool. You got, like, flying cars and robot butlers over there?"
Invincible smirked slightly. "More like homicidal aliens and planetary wars."
"Yikes."
Aqualad pressed forward, taking the initiative. "Your past does not concern me. All I see is someone willing to help. That is enough." He extended his hand.
For a moment, Invincible hesitated before grasping Aqualad's forearm. "I'm here to try my best."
Present
The memories faded as Invincible refocused on the mission. The team navigated deeper into the lab, stopping every so often when it seemed someone might discover them or when voices were heard.
Around the corner, voices echoed, causing the heroes to tense up. They decided it would be safer to use a nearby room to either ambush anyone approaching or to allow them to pass by unnoticed.
Misshapen figures floating in viscous liquid were present when they entered the room, their limbs twisted, their faces frozen in silent agony. Aqualad's expression darkened.
"This place…" he murmured.
Robin moved quickly, not giving himself time to digest what was before him. He approached the closest computer, going through files and recorded data, and his eyes widened slightly.
Robin's fingers danced over his wrist computer, pulling up data. His eyes widened. "Guys… these aren't just experiments. They're—"
Footsteps paused just outside the door. Invincible's enhanced senses detected them, prompting him to raise his hand and signal for everyone in the room to be silent. A large silhouette stood behind the door. Invincible tensed up, and then his body relaxed slightly as he began to float slowly toward the door.
A sudden alarm blared. The overhead lights flashed red as steel shutters slammed down over the door. A voice that sounded robotic echoed through the facility:
"Unauthorized personnel detected. Security protocolsengaged."
"Oh, we are are so Fuc-"