Disclaimer: DC Comics owns all rights to the characters within. They are used without permission and not meant to infringe on copyrights or meant to generate income.

Also, if you have not read my other stories, it would be helpful to do so before reading this one. The chronology goes: Brothers in Arms, Where Do We Go From Here, Tragedies of the Past, Betrayal From Within, Future Sins, Reestablishing Bonds, Parents and Children, New Allies, Rivals or Friends, Public Enemy Number One, Double Date, Mind Games, Solar Complications, Mentors and Pupils, Brother Against Brother, Calm Before the Storm, Opening Moves, Isolation, The Great Father and Son Contest, Fugue State, Fallout, Holidays, Confidence and Envy, Betrayal, and Mandatory Downtime.

The Apprentice, chapter 1

Location: the JLA Watchtower, the meeting room

Match and Superboy digested the request Superman, Batman, and the Martian Manhunter had given them.

"I don't see this as a suitable use of our time," Match said. "I was hoping that my first mission after coming back to active status would be something else."

"We're not babysitters," Superboy protested.

"Jacob is hardly a baby," J'onn said. "He's thirteen. He'd also be your pupil, not just someone for you to watch."

"Finding a metahuman in the early stage of developing his powers is unusual, but not unheard of," Match pointed out. "What makes this situation different from any of those?"

"Jacob has psionic powers that place him among Earth's most powerful psychics," Batman said. "We believe that they are still developing. He needs to learn how to control them. Both of you have psychic powers and can teach him this control."

"J'onn is a psychic with more powers than us," Superboy pointed out. "It looks to me like he'd be better at it."

"We thought you'd be better because you're closer in age and your appearance isn't as intimidating," Superman said. "His telepathy is ineffective on those of alien origin, so you don't have to worry about him finding out your identities."

Superboy looked at the file for the kid. "Telekinesis, telepathy, pyrokinesis, and a whole lot of other stuff. Match and I are telekinetics; how do you expect us to manage the rest of this?"

"He's already got a fairly good grasp of his powers," Superman admitted. "He needs to learn self-control more than anything, and having big brother figures as role models is the best way according to the child development experts we've consulted."

"What about his family?" Match asked.

"They appear to have abandoned him," Batman said, frowning. "Oracle and I are working on finding them."

"I don't think this is the best course of action," Match said, flatly. "Sending him to counselors would be better. They're trained for this situation."

"We tried that," Batman admitted. "He read their minds and wouldn't have anything to do with them."

"It sounds like we're your last option," Kon said.

"Yes," admitted the Martian Manhunter.

Match sighed. "I have no choice but to accept."

"Me too," Kon said. "Don't worry, it'll be fine. How much trouble could one thirteen-year old be?"

Location: the JLA Watchtower, the training room

"This sucks," Jacob whined. "Why can't I have a cool mentor, like Batman?"

Match's expression remained neutral, and Superboy's smile became a bit strained. This was not the first thing that either of them wanted to hear from their new apprentice.

"Jacob, that isn't very nice," Superman said, embarrassed. "These are your mentors, and they can help you learn about your powers."

"Jacob, these are Superboy and Match," J'onn introduced. "Superboy, Match, this is Jacob Engar."

"Hi, Jake," Kon said, holding out his hand.

"Jacob," Match nodded in greeting.

As Jacob shook Kon's hand, he asked. "Isn't that guy your evil clone?"

Match remained expressionless, but Kon could tell he was getting annoyed; this kid had gotten under his skin pretty quickly.

"He hasn't been bad for a long time," Superboy said. "I think you're bringing out the drill instructor side of him, though."

"I wouldn't deviate from what we've planned out of personal feelings," Match said. "I'm not like that."

"I can't read your minds," Jacob said, tilting his head as if that would improve his mental reception. "I guess that means you're aliens."

"We are Kryptonian-human hybrids," Match corrected.

"Whatever," Jacob said. "What are you guys going to do?"

"I'd like to put you through some tests to determine how skilled you are," Match began.

"That's boring!" Jacob interrupted. "I've already done that."

"We know. We want to see if there are any fluctuations between them."

"Even though you're talking like you're in charge, you use 'we' a lot. That means Superboy's the dominant twin here. I want to hear what he has to say."

Kon blinked. This kid was arrogant and perceptive. He knew that his brother tended to follow his lead in situations other than missions, but this kid picked it up pretty quickly.

Jacob smiled. "I'm an empath too. I may not be able to get into your thoughts, but emotions are easy for me to pick up."

"Jake, why are you acting like this?" Kon asked. "You're acting like a six-year old."

Jacob frowned. "I am not! I've been cooped up here forever, and I'm bored. They send you and this guy here to make me do stuff without even asking me!"

"We've been assigned to mentor you," Match said. "By all accounts, you have good control over your powers, but your self-control is lacking."

Jacob's eyes flashed with anger and a variety of objects in the room flung themselves at Match. Without changing his expression, Match deflected all of them.

"That was childish," he told Jacob.

"Shut up! Do you think you're more powerful than I am?"

Match looked unconcerned. "I don't need to be more powerful if my skill is enough to deflect your attacks."

"Stop it," Kon ordered Jacob. "You really don't want to mess with my brother."

"I thought he was your clone," Jacob said.

"He's become more than that."

"I can teach you to better use your powers," Match offered. "You need to cooperate with me, though. "Will you take these tests?"

Jacob frowned. "Okay."

"Excellent," Match said. "I'll set them up."

Kon could see a faint smile on his brother's face as he went to the control booth. He hoped that the two would learn to get along.

Location: the JLA Watchtower, the monitor room

Match was updating Batman on Jacob's progress.

"He's potentially the strongest of us all," Match reported. "His power levels are high and his current control is impressive for one so young."

"What's your analysis of his personality?" Batman asked.

"He's not sure of how to deal with us, so I don't know how he'd interact with others. He's used to knowing everything that the person he's talking to does, but Kon-El's and my origins don't allow that. I'd characterize him as being arrogant and immature."

"Some might characterize you as being arrogant," Batman noted.

"It's possible that they're correct."

"How are you and Superboy getting along with him?"

"Superboy is gaining his trust. I believe that I'm earning his respect. He wants to know what I can do with my powers."

"Are you saying that he sees you as a rival?"

"It's possible."

"That could be dangerous."

"The situation is in hand. Despite being advanced for his age, Jacob is still a child. His responses can be predicted. Have you had any luck in tracking down his family?"

"Not yet, Oracle and I are still working on it."

"I'll contact you later. I have a reward dinner to make."

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