The silence after the League's departure lingered longer than expected.
Peter folded his arms and leaned against the wall, watching the three teens exchange glances. Kid Flash fidgeted, Robin tapped on his wrist computer, and Aqualad stood still, trying to remain composed.
They were frustrated—Peter could feel it—and it reminded him a little too much of himself at their age. Eager. Undervalued. Tired of waiting.
"So… we're just supposed to sit here?" Wally said, breaking the tension. "After all that buildup? I was expecting confetti. A parade. Maybe a cool handshake ceremony."
"You're free to explore," Peter said, tone light. "As long as no one sets the kitchen on fire. Again."
Wally opened his mouth to protest, then paused. "Wait… 'again'?"
Peter pointed at Robin. "Ask your friend. He has a history."
Robin just grinned. "Allegedly."
Kaldur stepped forward, ever the voice of reason. "We must remain focused. Something about today feels… wrong."
Robin turned toward the monitor. "The League didn't show us those ice attacks just to tease us. There's more going on."
Peter raised an eyebrow. "You're not wrong."
Robin tapped on the controls, pulling up the security feeds the League had accessed earlier. "Look at this," he said, enhancing a still image. "Cadmus. Their fire suppression system activated an hour before the ice villains struck. Total lockdown initiated. But no League response."
Aqualad tilted his head. "That is… odd."
"Exactly." Robin was already moving, energy buzzing around him. "Why lock down a facility known for genetic experiments and not tell anyone? Either it's internal security, or someone's hiding something."
Kid Flash leaned over his shoulder. "So... field trip?"
"Unofficial," Robin said.
Peter tilted his head. "You three sneaking off to investigate a top-secret genetic lab that might be compromised by supervillains and not telling the League?" He paused. "I'm supposed to say no, right?"
The three looked at him expectantly.
Peter sighed. "Fine. But I'm coming with you."
Wally pumped a fist. "Yes!"
"But," Peter continued, pointing a finger at Wally, "if anything explodes, I'm blaming you."
"No promises."
They made their way to the zeta tube chamber. As Robin typed in the coordinates, Peter stood behind him, debating internally whether he should call Diana. She would tell him to trust his instincts. Which was exactly what terrified him.
The zeta beam flared.
"Recognized: Robin. B-01. Kid Flash. B-02. Aqualad. B-03. Spider-Man. A-15."
In a swirl of energy, they arrived outside the towering Cadmus building. It loomed above them, all black metal and glass, cold against the night sky.
"No alarms," Peter said, scanning the front. "Either they don't know we're here... or they very much do."
Robin hacked the door panel in seconds, and they slipped inside, navigating dark corridors lit only by flickering lights.
"Creepy," Wally muttered. "Ten bucks says this ends in a mutated monster fight."
"Twenty if it's more than one," Peter said.
They descended deeper into the building, finding it oddly abandoned. No security guards. No scientists. Just silence and the occasional hum of machinery.
Finally, Robin led them to a sealed sub-level. "This is where it gets weird."
He bypassed the lock, and the doors hissed open to reveal… people. Dozens of them. But their eyes were vacant, movements robotic. Scientists working under duress. Fear lingered in the air.
"They're not acting normal," Aqualad said, stepping forward. "Almost like they're under control."
Peter noticed a figure watching from above — a man in a suit with glowing eyes. "We're not alone."
The figure vanished behind the glass before Peter could web him. "He's running."
Robin spotted the stairs. "Let's follow."
They moved quickly, pushing deeper into the lab. The hallways narrowed, the light dimmed, and the air turned colder. Then they heard it — the distant sound of a growl.
"Tell me that's a dog," Wally said.
"No dog I've met," Peter answered, drawing into a crouch.
The door at the end of the corridor opened, revealing a large containment room. In its center was a glass pod, filled with mist.
And inside — floated a girl.
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