Saturn Girl smirked as Superboy fell to the ground. "I would have thought that would have been more difficult."
Lightning Lad grabbed Saturn Girl around the waist. "I know," he said. "Now we just have to deliver him."
One of Triplicate Girl's bodies started clapping her hands together in glee. "The master will reward us for this!"
Invisible Kid smiled. "Yes."
Another Triplicate Girl knelt beside the fallen Superboy. "You know, there's no time limit on us getting him back, is there?"
"Why?" Saturn Girl asked suspiciously.
"I'm just wondering if I've got time for a quick ride," Triplicate Girl said as she started kissing and licking Superboy's face. She smiled as she lightly tugged on the gold hoop in Superboy's ear with her teeth.
"Can't you control yourself?" Mon-El asked. "We do have a job to do."
"Don't worry," Triplicate Girl said with a smirk as she knelt over his thighs. "I don't think this'll take long." She quickly grabbed the waistband of Superboy's pants...
...and screamed as she was thrown backward into some rubble. She let out a soft groan and her eyes rolled back into her head.
"Lady, you have some cold hands!" Superboy yelled as he streaked upward. "I don't know what's going on around here, but we're not doing anything until I get some answers!"
"Take him!" Saturn Girl yelled.
"No prob, Babe," Lightning Lad said with a grin. He instantly fired lightning bolts at Superboy. "Let's see how long it takes you to get well done."
Superboy smiled. "Didn't you pay attention in school? Lightning won't do anything to me if I'm not grounded. On the other hand, I don't have to be grounded to do this." Superboy flew forward and slammed his fists into Lightning Lad's chin. He fell to the ground unconscious.
Superboy fell forward as he felt a massive blow hit him from behind. Superboy looked up into the angry eyes of Ultra Boy. "The master didn't say you had to be alive," he said.
Superboy grinned. "Thanks. You see, if you're using your super-strength..." He threw a piece of rubble that slammed into Ultra Boy's head, knocking him out.
"That means that your invulnerability is off," he finished as Ultra Boy crashed to the ground.
"Enough's enough!" Chuck Taine yelled as he ran forward.
"Yeah? Bring it, Obesity Lad!"
Taine began inhaling deeply and squeezing his eyes shut. "Who are you?" Superboy asked. "Eats-too-much-cheese Boy?" Superboy's eyes widened as Taine inflated.
"I'm Bouncing Boy!" Taine yelled as he bounced up and slammed back down onto Superboy. "Got him!" Taine announced a moment later. "Squashed him like a bug!" Taine let out a yell as Superboy lifted him up, then started dribbling him like a basketball.
"Gotta love my tactile t.k.," Superboy said. A second later he pulled his foot back and punted Taine out of the museum.
Saturn Girl looked around. "We've taken too many losses," she decided. "Return to base!" The remaining Legionnaires leaped up into the air and began flying away.
Invisible Kid was flying toward a hole in the ceiling when he felt a hand grab him around the ankle. "You're not going anywhere," Superboy said as he pulled the Kid back downward. Saturn Girl, Mon-El, and the two remaining Triplicate Girls never even looked back.
Superboy looked behind him as a door burst open and the Metropolis PD ran in. Their faces were horrified as, an instant later, the fallen Legionnaires burst into flames and evaporated. "Silver Sword's over there," Superboy said to the officer in charge. "I'm taking this guy back to Cadmus for some answers." Grabbing Invisible Kid by the collar, Superboy launched into the sky.
Roy Harper was waiting in the Cadmus hangar bay when Superboy landed. "What's going on?" he asked. "We got word you had somebody you were bringing in." His eyes narrowed as he recognized Invisible Kid. "Why don't you start from the top."
"Easy," Superboy said, dragging Invisible Kid down the hall with him. Harper followed. "The Legion jumped me after they nearly killed Silver Sword. I'm getting a funny feeling that they might be clones."
"And why do you say that?" Harper asked.
"Because they turned into fireballs after I knocked 'em out." Superboy stopped in front of a shielded lab and threw Invisible Kid in. "He can wait there until Serling gets down here and she can start trying to figure out where he came from."
Harper studied the closed door. "I'll have some guards sent down to watch him. Don't worry. He's not going anywhere."
"Good," Superboy said. "I want some answers on this." He stormed out of the room, looking for Roquette Serling.
Saturn Girl, the now-reformed Triplicate Girl, and Mon-El landed in front of their master. "Where is my prize?" he asked.
Saturn Girl delicately stepped forward. "He defeated the others," she said. "I felt that it would be better to withdraw and plan another attack at a later time."
"I know," the master said. "I monitored the others. When they were knocked out, I decided to flip their little self-destruct switch. Why let Cadmus get any answers out of them?" He paused a moment and studied the three. "Where is Invisible Kid?"
Saturn Girl swallowed hard. "He was captured by Superboy," she said finally.
"Conscious and alive?" the master bellowed. "Unacceptable!" He pressed a button on the arm of his chair and a screaming Saturn Girl fell to the ground with pain ripping through her brain.
"Now I'll have to use the other plan," the master said as a horrified Mon-El and Triplicate Girl backed away from the convulsing Saturn Girl. Triplicate Girl was already pressed tightly against Mon-El. "Still, maybe I'll take out a nice hunk of Cadmus in the doing."
Serling studied a cellular sample under a microscope in the lab. "This does look familiar," she finally said. "I'm definitely seeing some familiar signs on this makeup." She turned as Invisible Kid's eyes snapped open. "Has his sedation worn off?" she asked.
"Termination imminent," Invisible Kid said in a dead, robotic voice. "Countdown commencing in ten seconds."
Superboy snapped to full wakefulness in the observation room as alarms started to sound throughout the Cadmus complex. "Serl!" he screamed as he shattered the observation window.
As he dropped to the floor, various scenarios ran through his mind. He didn't have enough time to get the bed and the Kid out. He finally decided on one. He grabbed Serling and ran to the door. He used his t.k. to override the door's lock and opened it. He immediately closed it once they were through. He pulled Serling to another lab across the hall, opened the blast door, and dragged her inside. "Don't worry, Serl," he said as he closed the door. "I think I can hold this." He placed his hands against the door and began focusing on keeping the door and wall intact. Serling wrapped her arms around Superboy, laid her head on his back, and closed her eyes.
"So long, Doctor Rocket," were Invisible Kid's last words.
The blast ripped through the blast-proof door, vaporizing the Kid's body. Superboy grunted as the force of the blast hit the door. Sweat began running down his face as he strained to keep Serling and himself protected.
"Fire suppression system activated," came a calm voice over the intercom. Outside, suppressive foam began spraying down from the ceiling, dousing the fire.
As the last alarm stopped, Superboy fell to his knees. "Are you all right?" Serling asked with concern in her voice.
"I will be," he said, breathing heavily. "Just a lotta bang there."
Serling knelt and pulled one of Superboy's arms over her shoulders. "Come on," she said. "I'll help you to your room and you can sleep this off."
"Not fair," Superboy said. "If I'm gonna feel like this, I should at least be able to enjoy something beforehand."
The door slid open and Roy Harper was exposed in the doorway. He grabbed Superboy's other arm and the two began to help him down the hall.
"What happened in there, Dr. Serling?" Cannon asked as he walked up in front of them.
"Apparently the subject had a bomb wired inside of him," Serling replied. "Superboy was right. I believe they are clones."
Cannon scowled. "The fire must have wiped out your notes. Anything you can remember?"
Serling swallowed hard. "Yes, sir. I was studying some cell samples when the clone gave us its warning. I recognized some of the handiwork."
Serling took a deep breath. "It's Dabney Donovan, sir."
"Are you sure?" Cannon asked.
"Positive."
"So he's not dead after all." Cannon walked over and relieved Roy on Superboy's left side. "Harper, I want us in lockdown immediately. No one in, no one out. Whatever Donovan's up to, he'll try again."
"Right," Harper said. He pulled a walkie-talkie out of his jacket pocket and started barking orders.
"S'okay, Mick," Superboy slurred. "I'll get him."
"I know you will, Kid," Cannon said. "But first you're getting some sleep. You're not any good to anybody right now."
In Donovan's lair, the mad geneticist scowled. "Piffle!" he yelled. "I set off a blast like that in Cadmus and nothing on the news!" He drummed his fingers on the arm of his chair. "Ah, well. I'll just have to use #842-B. That should take care of this problem!" Donovan burst into mad laughter as Saturn Girl, Triplicate Girl, and Mon-El shuddered in front of him. All around the room, more capsules started to open, emitting reinforcements for Donovan's Legion.
INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM
TO: ROY HARPER, DIRECTOR OF SECURITY
FROM: MICKEY CANNON, PROJECT SUPERVISOR
RE: REQUESTED FILES
Roy, I hope this helps you. We've got to do something to defend against this nutball. - Cannon
CADMUS PERSONNEL FILE
TOP SECRET
Donovan, Dabney
HISTORY
Dr. Dabney Donovan joined the Cadmus Project soon after its creation. Dr. Donovan was responsible for many stunning creations. Among his creations are the so-called DNAliens, such as Agent Dubbilex, and the Hairies. The Hairies departed Cadmus several years ago, and now ride in a massive vehicle called the Mountain of Judgment along subterranean highways.
Despite Dr. Donovan's stellar beginning, the doctor soon began to create stranger and stranger creations. (See files on Mokkari and Simyan for more information.) The doctor was beginning to focus on creating creatures simply to see how odd they would be as opposed to their usefulness. Dr. Donovan was soon dismissed from the Project.
Dr. Donovan has vowed revenge against the Cadmus Project, and hopes to destroy it. I personally believe that Dr. Donovan has gone mad, and recommend extreme caution whenever encountering him or one of his creations.
Thomas Thompkins
Cadmus Project Director
ADDENDUM
Dr. Donovan returned to work with the Project shortly after I assumed control. He was to be placed in a secure cell on the premises and under armed guard at all times. Unfortunately, Dr. Donovan escaped during the recent demon invasion and was killed.
Mickey Cannon
Cadmus Project Supervisor
Next Issue: Who is #842-B? What other Legionnaires has Donovan cooked up? Be here next time for the showdown between Superboy and Dabney Donovan!
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