Summary: Kal Jacobs (Smallville!Clark) meets the League. Superman (JusticeLeague!Clark) is informed of some disturbing truths.

AN: To make a distinction I'm referring Smallville!Clark as Kal and JusticeLeague!Clark as Clark after they meet.

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~ooO Meeting the League Ooo~

The next two hours were a blend of tension and relief for Kal. Tension because he had to face not-strangers, convince them of his veracity, win enough of their trust to support his needs and planned actions. Relief because he would not be the only one trying to figure out a way to get him back home; because he knew these people – they were creative, intelligent, and driven when they were young and he could not see those qualities fading just because they were older since they had continued to 'fight the good fight' as it were.

Bruce, Batman, would be the hardest to convince so Kal had decided to not even bother trying. If he believed he believed. If he won enough of the others over it would not matter. Bruce would follow, if only to keep an eye on Kal. When he saw enough to believe he would add his resources and intelligence towards getting Kal back where he belonged.

Thankfully they had agreed to his insistence on sharing his story with only a limited number of League members: Superman, J'onn, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Batman, Mr Terrific, Doctor Fate, and Zatanna. Kal had been tempted to ask for those he knew better in his world but decided otherwise. It would be too hard to face Green Arrow, Cyborg, and Impulse. The local Aquaman wasn't even the one he knew, Arthur Curry.

As expected they exhibited a blend of reactions; both wary and intrigued by his story. Understandable since their experiences with alternate counterparts and dimensions rarely proved benign. Kal made it a point to stress his presence in their universe was an accident and he had friends and family he was eager to get back to. Mr Terrific was more interested in the similarities and differences of both worlds. Deliberately Kal held back details such as specific names, and tried to describe his experiences in the broadest of strokes; there was no guarantee that events and the people involved had turned out similarly in this world. And it was true. In this world Victor Stone and Bart Allen were teenagers and member of Teen Titans. In his they were adults and his contemporaries.

"Your dimension seems to be operating on an accelerated timeframe," Mr Terrific concluded after Kal had listed several opponents he had fought against: Brainiac, Zod, Doomsday. "How old were you when you first started using your powers to help by-standers?"

"High school. Junior year. After Lex arrived in Smallville and started funding the kryptonite meteor research it just escalated. It seemed like every other week there was some crisis or nutcase to contain," Kal admitted freely.

"And you patrolled and researched by yourself?" Superman was incredulous.

"Of course not."

"But you said you did not meet Oliver Queen and the other League members until you were in your last year of high school."

Kal was visibly amused now. "You presume I was alone, that I did not have anyone to confide in when I was a teenager."

Now Superman was confused. "Well, yes! Ma and Pa always cautioned me to be careful, to avoid using my powers where anyone might see. And Lana was rather flighty. I liked her but I never trusted her with my secret back then. She guessed it years later, after I started wearing the suit and went public."

The amusement faded leaving distress. "You never met Chloe Sullivan." His voice was rich with sorrow and regret.

That confused everyone. "Who is Chloe Sullivan?" J'onn asked carefully.

Kal fell silent. When he finally spoke his words were stilted. "Chloe? She… She is everything. She is kah-lo-wyn."

Batman tapped at his terminal for a translation. "Kryptonian for pair bond, confidant, advisor, partner."

Green Lantern was surprised by the definition. "Not lover?"

Kal smiled fiercely, more of a savage baring of teeth. "Lover? Such an inadequate shallow human word describing only one aspect of what she is to me. Lovers come and go. Kah-lo-wyn is forever." He visibly relaxed his expression. "A world without Chloe is no world I wish to live in."

They could clearly see he meant every word he just said. The conviction coming from one so young was astonishing. But Superman wasn't willing to give up. Lois Lane was the one meant for him. Despite their ups and downs she was the one who he turned to, his North Star, his touchstone. In every dimension he'd been to they had always been together.

"Have you met Lois Lane?" he asked gently.

Kal gave him an odd look. "Chloe is Lois's cousin. General Sam Lane and Gabriel Sullivan's wives were sisters: Ellen and Moira. I'm sure your Lois Lane is a good woman but everything she is came from Chloe."

Everyone froze.

"What do you mean?" Batman demanded.

Kal produced a USB key drive from a pocket and tossed it to the Dark Knight. He caught the storage device and inserted it into an independent reader to verify it was clean before uploading the files so everyone in the conference room could access them. Kal took over the terminal controlling the projector and began going through the numbered files commenting on the contents, scanned images, text and videos.

The first was a birth certificate for Chloe Anne Sullivan, daughter of Gabriel and Moira. What followed were a collection of thought provoking yearbook editorials and articles for various school newspapers all revolving around controversial hot topics. It was clear Chloe Sullivan was not afraid to thumb her nose at the establishment and defend unconventional causes when she believed in them. Just like Lois Lane. The articles she wrote were on individuals belonging to the full strata of social classes and heritages. She made friends and kept in touch with them. She had impressed the editor of the Daily Planet so much he offered a high school junior the chance to intern on the weekends.

There were pictures of a pretty petite blonde-haired green-eyed girl at various ages, from a child to an attractive teen with the promise of adult elegance in her striking but not conventionally beautiful looks. Despite being shorter and curvier than her peers there was a maturity in her poise and confidence. She was smiling at the camera dressed in a navy blue silk prom dress with silver accents and her hair in an elegant updo set off by a mauve orchid.

Then came an article not written by Chloe Sullivan. It was a Daily Planet news piece about a teenager investigating cases of date rapes in certain Metropolis high schools. It turned out to be an illegal sex trade organized by gangs using unsuspecting teenagers as prostitutes. Chloe Sullivan had been killed rescuing three girls, but not before setting off a fire alarm.

Next were pictures of a funeral. An older looking weary couple, clearly grieving. A picture of teenage Lois and Lucy dressed in black standing close-by with Sam and Ellen Lane. A picture of a simple headstone carved with her name and dates of birth and death. There was an inscription below: A seeker of truth and justice, guide us from afar.

Kal's face was grim as he played a video clip. It was an interview of Lois Lane just after she won her first Pulitzer.

"Ms Lane, do you have any words to say about being the youngest reporter to win the Pulitzer since its inception? Any particular person who inspired you?"

On the video a younger looking Lois blinked back tears. "This Pulitzer is for my cousin Chloe. If she were alive she'd probably have at least two on her mantel by now." She inhaled deeply clearly emotionally shaken. "Chloe-bear, wherever you are, this one's for you. You showed me the clarity in truth and justice. For you I will never give up."

"Your cousin?"

"Chloe Sullivan." Lois bared her teeth in a fierce grin. "You know they call me Mad Dog Lane, because I never give up once I fixate on a story. If Chloe were still alive they'd probably give her a worse one. Something along the line of Dragon Slayer." Lois brushed back tears. "She was never one to stand by and watch any sort of injustice happen."

"So she was your inspiration?"

"Hell yeah! Every time I get tired and wonder what good I'm doing when there is so much bad in the world I remember Chloe. She would never give up so I won't give up."

The clip ended. Superman stared shell-shocked at the blank screen.

The rustle of Kal's clothes as he stood was the only sound in the sealed room.

"Chloe Sullivan's death in this world gave Lois Lane the focus to become an investigative reporter, to honour her cousin's quest to report the truth to the public." He smiled wryly. "In my world Lois Lane is a reporter for the Inquisitor and quite happy reporting tabloid news." He tilted his head back. "It is one of the few good things Lex Luthor did, in my world."

"What?" Batman asked sceptically.

"When Lionel exiled him to Smallville Lex hired Gabriel Sullivan to manage the Smallville factory he bought out. And I met Chloe when I was a junior in high school," Kal answered with a wistful smile. "At the time we were only casual friends. I was more interested in chasing Lana. But as time passed she became more and more important to me. She kept me anchored and focused. When I learnt something new or disturbing about myself she would help me work through it. The few times I didn't go to her first ended very badly."

Superman's jaw dropped.

"What do you mean?" Wonder Woman asked.

Kal shook his head and refused to answer. "It does not factor in this universe because Chloe Sullivan is dead." He turned towards Superman and spoke in earnest tones. "I'm not saying she is the only one. That Lois isn't right for you. From what I've read and heard Lois does complement you."

"Only when she's in a good mood," Superman mumbled softly. Not softly enough to be unheard by his younger counterpart.

Kal looked thoughtful. "Lois is not your only possible one. There are other women. You just have to find them."

Superman shifted in his seat feeling uncomfortable at getting romantic advice from this younger and more confident version of himself.

Kal ignored his discomfort and continued. "The first thing you have to do is study up on Kryptonian culture and history. Social mores are designed to either restrain or enhance biological and psychological needs. Some of the rituals are designed to rebalance you more effectively than human tai-chi or meditation. When you are more centred you can evaluate and analyse with more detachment."

Superman resisted the urge to blush at the words, and the knowing looks on those around the table. "How do you know this?" he wanted to know.

The answer was simple for Kal. "Chloe." Seeing their confusion he explained. "Chloe pushed me to learn Kryptonian ways, to honour my biological parents. After a while I found it helped better than meditation or running so I adopted several of the practices in my private life."

Fate stirred. "You said she was kah-lo-wyn."

Kal inclined his head politely. "Yes."

"Do you know of your destiny?"

Kal grinned fiercely. "Destiny? Such a fragile concept… one life, one death, to change everything." Seeing Fate's non-reaction Kal sighed and turned away. "I saw my future once; in a vision. It was filled with tombstones of everyone I knew and loved. Everyone but one."

"Chloe Sullivan." Fate guessed.

"Correct."

Fate sagged back in his seat with a sigh. "It was a disaster when she died. The Lords of Order and Chaos were not pleased." All the League members present stiffened at that bit of information from one of their own.

"You know something about her?" Superman's tone was both incredulous and uncharacteristically demanding.

"Chloe Sullivan was a nexus, a pivot around which the world moved… much like yourself Superman. Her presence, her very existence was a catalyst. Events unfolded and shaped around her, like they do around you… Together you would have been unstoppable. When she died several prophecies were invalidated."

Superman sagged back in his seat, stunned by the information. "So I'm not supposed to be with Lois?" He sounded weak and confused. Kal could not bear it.

"No!" The younger Kryptonian glared at the elder. "Don't you dare think like that! Destiny isn't as you imagine it. It is not fixed and rigid. It flows and shapes around the choices made in your present. The Fates strive for one outcome but they don't always control the tapestry. You may have been intended for Chloe but it doesn't mean there aren't other women who can inspire and complement you; if Lois doesn't then find one who does."

Kal glanced around the room, surrounded by pensive thoughtful faces. He felt the urge to change the subject from Chloe. It was bad enough to spend nights yearning for her… he didn't want to think too much about their current separation. Thankfully for him Mr. Terrific changed the topic.

"Do you have any ideas on how to get back?"

The young Kryptonian did not have to consider the question for too long before responding. "An Einstein-Rosen bridge."

Mr Terrific opened his mouth to protest then shut it to re-think his argument. "Such a bridge needs to be constructed from both ends, with anchors in both realities to be traversed safely."

"If we set-up the anchor on this end all I have to do is wait. Chloe and Ollie will set things up on their end. Chloe has access to the Fortress. Emil and his team can build whatever is needed to anchor the bridge there."

"And just how do you plan on letting them know where you are?"

"I can modify a subspace beacon so the signal is recognizable as inter-dimensional." He made a face. "I did it before; so Chloe could get me out of the Phantom Zone."

Mr. Terrific clearly wanted to know more but he was professional enough to focus on the issue at hand. "Where do you want to set-up the signal? It has to be in a place with enough sensors to detect it."

Kal grinned. "That's easy: the Fortress or the Caves." He frowned slightly. "I think the Caves are a better bet. It's easier to transport tech and people to Smallville than to the Arctic."

"What about a Plan B?" Green Lantern inquired.

Kal looked faintly amused. "I don't think a Plan B is necessary at this point. Chloe has never let me down."

Green Lantern was sceptical. "And if she does this one time?"

Kal was quiet for a moment. "I'll wait and see before worrying about that."

After some discussion it was agreed on: the League would assist Kal in setting up a subspace beacon and provide the necessary tech to generate an energy anchor for an Einstein-Rosen bridge. Kal was impatient enough to ask to be transported to Smallville as soon as possible. Due to the short notice and pre-existing commitments only Superman and J'onn could accompany him to the site.

~ooOoo~ooOoo~ooOoo~

Once they were transported to the co-ordinates Kal had provided the two older males set off following the speeding dimensional traveller. Both Kryptonians were carrying bulky titanium cases containing the devices Mr. Terrific built for anchoring a dimensional bridge. Despite that it took less than a minute to reach the entrance to the cave system. The senior League members saw evidence of recent activity around a hundred and fifty meters in: fallen rubble cleared away, walls reinforced with timbers and scrap metal beams welded in spots by heat-vision, tunnels widened in more interior sections. Superman was surprised and a little wary to realize he couldn't scan or x-ray the deeper interior sections.

Then Kal's voice floated back to them. "In case you're wondering why you can't see, the House of El selected this cave for precisely those properties. And a friendship with the local tribe, the Kawatche Indians."

Superman glanced at J'onn who gave a tiny nod. The Martian Manhunter was prepared to phase in case Kal was leading them into a trap. The Kryptonian relaxed and followed his counterpart and was surprised when he led them into a large barren cavern with high vaulted natural ceilings and exposed stone walls. He scanned the room and frowned. His vision could not penetrate the walls. But they were not lead impregnated… but Superman could not quite pinpoint exactly what was blocking his x-ray vision.

Kal stepped off the edge of the platform overlooking the cavern. In his world Luthor had installed a set of scaffolding and stairs into the lower levels of the cavern and the excavated pits. Mentally he counted the steps until he stood before a particular wall and placed both palms flat against the rock as though he were doing a push-up against the wall.

"AI, verify my identity."

A cool passionless voice echoed from everywhere. "Local DNA records confirm you are Kal-El, son of Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van. Fortress records indicate you are Kal-El from an alternate universe and an earlier point in time."

"Activate subspace beacon 0.00457 out of variance with Strange and 0.00892 with Charm. Define terms using Metropolis University Department of Quantum Physics databases."

The AI paused. "Local subspace beacon is damaged beyond auto-repair capabilities."

Kal frowned slightly. "Transport to this chamber the damaged beacon and unit 354 with a work surface."

"Storage Unit 354 is buried and the seals have been cracked due to the damage. Contents have been determined as unrecoverable."

"What about unit 318?"

"Storage Unit 318 is intact. Transporting."

The space in front of him shimmered and faded to reveal a waist high block of white translucent crystal and a smaller silvery metal box the size of a toaster resting on top.

They watched the young Kryptonian tap one finger on top of the silver box causing the facets to fall apart like a flower blooming, to reveal a hunk of pulsating pink-purple crystal surrounded by smaller chunks set on a flat white surface. He rested both hands on the surface and leaned down until he was almost at eye-level with the crystalline device. He mumbled something softly to himself in an unfamiliar musical dialect, in Kryptonian. Then with a pleased expression he straightened up and used a finger to trace glyphs on the flat surface. His fingertip left a glowing line illustrating lines of text in Kryptonian. The surface shimmered and vanished, to reveal hollows built into the solid seeming waist-high crystal cuboid.

Superman flew down to land beside the younger not-him. "What are you doing?"

"Repairing the beacon," Kal mumbled as he pulled some odd tools from the hollows and used them to manipulate the crystals. With each small adjustment Superman could sense the minute energy fluctuation, see the small shifts in the colour tint of the crystals.

Superman felt slightly uneasy. He was at least a decade older than Kal but he had no idea that this existed: a Kryptonian storage facilities with repair tools in Smallville. He did not even know how to repair a subspace beacon! Oh he could have ordered it activated (it seemed to be DNA locked to the members of the House of El) but he would not have had the slightest clue as to how to go about fixing it. He would have taken it to the techs and engineers who worked with the Justice League, someone like Mr. Terrific or even Batman.

Kal made a soft satisfied sound, making one final adjustment that caused the crystals to shift colours into red-yellow hues. "Done."

"How do you know so much about Kryptonian technology?" Superman wanted to know. Even after all these years and the lessons he wasn't completely comfortable with it. The discomfort only increased after meeting Brainiac, a genocidal AI created by Kryptonians.

Kal blinked. "Didn't the ship and the Fortress teach you?"

"Yes, but they didn't teach me how to Fix things, just to use it. Or how to speak the language fluently. Mostly how to read and write it."

"Huh. I guess she was right."

Superman's ears perked up. "She?"

Kal looked troubled. "I don't understand. When did you begin your training?" Then he looked faintly horrified. "You were trained weren't you?"

The older male was affronted. "Of course." At Kal's sceptical expression he added, "After I graduated from college, before I started working for the Daily Planet. I took a year off."

Kal looked confused. "You didn't start when you were in high school?"

"No. Did you?"

"Yes." He tugged his t-shirt out of the waistband of his jeans and up to expose scarred tissue on his chest, burns that mimed the famous yellow shield Superman wore on his outfit. "The AI in my world was a little nuts and had no issues with using corporeal punishment to make me toe the rules, to learn everything it had to teach. If it wasn't for Chloe I would have gone a little—no a lot nuts," he admitted.

Both J'onn and Superman looked horrified. Kal looked faintly amused as he pulled the knit fabric down, covering his torso.

"Don't worry. Chloe theorized the AI was damaged during the journey. The system had to workaround the compromised subroutines including the ones on ethics and morality. As much as I hated it I did learn a lot. It saved my life plenty of times."

"You mentioned her a lot. She was really important to you, huh."

"Is," Kal corrected in mild but steely tones. "Is important."

Superman was simultaneously confused and disturbed. He was so used to being linked to Lois Lane. In every alternate reality incident he (or at least his heroic public persona) had always been romantically linked with Lois Lane.

"Is Lois Lane alive in your world?" he asked hesitantly.

"Yes. She writes for the Inquisitor." Kal made a face. "We get along as well as cats and dogs. That is to say not at all."

"Why?" Superman asked.

"She didn't find out about the Justice League until recently. She did not take it well. And she's never approved my relationship with her cousin."

"Chloe Sullivan."

"You said she is a friend. Is she more? A girlfriend? A lover?"

Kal looked startled. "Lover? What a shallow one-dimensional inadequate word to describe a fulfilling relationship."

Superman lost patience. "Do you love her?"

The younger male smiled softly. "The word love is inadequate to describe my feelings for her. It is like comparing a candle flame to a forest fire. She is the sun and the stars and everything in the heavens. She is kah-lo-wyn."

Superman frowned. Batman had translated the term as pair bond/confidant/advisor/partner but he had a feeling there was a subtle cultural meaning; but from Kal's closed expression there would be no forthcoming explanation. Perhaps Kara would know. Then it struck Superman: he was asking those much younger than him for knowledge. Kara he could understand since she had been raised on Argos and much older when she came to Earth, but Kal? He was raised on Earth, like himself, and yet Kal knew so much more. True Clark Kent had been older when he began travelling and training but still Kal was so much younger and yet much more qualified. Clark mostly learned new things out of necessity. What events could have driven Kal to study his Kryptonian legacy in so much depth?

"You didn't tell us everything."

"Of course not. Why should I?" Kal asked faintly amused. "It is not relevant to you. You have followed a different path, experienced events very differently. My way is not your way."

"You follow Kryptonian traditions."

Kal inclined his head. "Yes. I have an apartment in Metropolis but I spend most of my time in the Cave and the Fortress. I try to use Kryptonian tech in my daily life. I have worked with Emil Hamilton to develop hybrid tech that I hold patent rights to. The royalties from Queen Industries provide a good cover for my absences since I can clearly afford to write freelance."

Superman frowned. "You are taking advantage—"

"Am I? If I don't own the tech my people created then who does? Bruce Wayne and Lex Luthor who can afford the excavations to uncover the remnants of my legacy? Or the farmer who stumbles onto something dangerous while tilling his fields? Or the government who appropriates private research initiatives and weaponizes it in the name of National Security? No, it is my responsibility and my burden to control and police. Money and its influence are tools and I will not ignore any tool. Not when people like Morgan Edge and Lex Luthor exist. Besides, I'm generous in sponsoring many worthy causes and research facilities while being careful to release tech that will not cause a huge geo-political power imbalance."

Superman glanced at J'onn who gave a tiny shrug. The Martian Manhunter had been of a similar opinion for years. Releasing pure Kryptonian tech was impossible but hybrids and analogues based on Kryptonian science and methods was not.

Deciding it was not a point he could competently argue against (he did not have all the facts) he changed the topic. "What do you do in the Fortress?" he asked.

Kal shrugged his shoulders. "Research mostly. I have a private lab. I compose music for Terran and Kryptonian instruments. I holopaint. In-between missions I write articles that are picked up by several international newspapers in Europe and Asia."

"And Chloe?" J'onn asked.

"She writes for the Daily Planet when she's not on League business. She also sits on the board on three philanthropic organizations as a voice for metas: a Metropolis hospital, the Metropolis University, and a non-profit social services agency. A few days before I landed here she was short-listed for potentially her third Pulitzer."

"And she's your age?" The older Kryptonian wasn't sure to believe or disbelieve his dimensional counterpart.

"Yes." Kal looked away with a hard expression. "There were several… incidents that endangered the populations of cities— no… entire states and countries. Chloe was in the forefront, to report the news, and as an advocate to bring change. The risks she took… Perry White was the first to nominate her for the piece she wrote as a freelancer before he hired her. The closest contenders fell far behind. Afterwards many powerful and influential people recognize her as a positive force and clear voice." He turned to face them with a knowing expression. "She's never let them down."

Superman was wary. "Isn't that a conflict of interest?"

Kal snorted. "Allowing Lois who knows your secret first dibs on Superman and League stories is a conflict of interest. The organizations back home know Chloe is a reporter and that she has agreed to confidentiality rules: she does not write about what she discovers in the boardroom."

"But she reports it to the League if it needs to be exposed," J'onn extrapolated.

"Yes. And whichever reporter happens to be around, or investigating the matter, he or she gets the story." Kal's voice was smug and challenging.

Superman fell silent. It was often a strong point of contention between Lois and himself, especially after she knew his secret. He considered the casual off-hand remarks Kal had made: he composed music for Kryptonian instruments and could be considered an advanced holopainter. The Fortress had a good collection of entrancing and provoking pieces but there would be no new ones because it required sophisticated Kryptonian tech and acute senses. He himself had never been interested in even learning the techniques. Kara was young and more interested in having fun. In fact she had recently asked him about arranging financing for a line of clothing based on Kryptonian styles. He had put his foot down firmly. Now he wondered if he hadn't been too harsh. Kara was only trying to remember, to recreate what she knew. It was the personally profiting part of it that had made the Kryptonian shy away. But the money could easily be redirected to suitable charities. Just like the toy makers and other companies holding Supermans endorsements. He then realized he had no real clue what Kryptonians wore everyday. He'd seen the outfits in the formal portraits and videos of Council meetings, but the average family? He had no clue. He was ashamed to realize he had no issues with using Kryptonian tech but he had neglected the traditions that had shaped his heritage. He had looked for his people but he had not bothered to actively follow their ways, to observe their rituals. Even immigrants in America celebrated local holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving and their own holidays. There was no reason why he couldn't have followed Kryptonian traditions on Earth. Except he hadn't thought of it. No one had. Except Chloe Sullivan.

Resolutely he pushed the dismayed feeling aside and focused on Kal. "Do you have any plans? On what you want to do while you wait? You could join the League as a temporary member," he offered as an after thought.

Kal made a face. "No thanks. I want to focus on my research." He hesitated. "If the beacon doesn't get a response in one month I'll re-evaluate. Until then I will help out in a real emergency."

"And how do you define a real emergency?" Superman demanded to know.

"Earth is in danger of being destroyed, the entire human race is about to be wiped out due to some extinction-level threat, aliens are invading intent on enslaving or killing humans," Kal responded promptly ticking off each qualification on a finger.

That set Superman aback. He had not undergone those experiences until well into his twenties.

"How do you plan on paying for your expenses?" J'onn asked curious.

"Diamonds." Both J'onn and Superman looked aghast. Kal made an impatient sound. "I accessed unclaimed coal fields in Antarctica for carbon."

And it was true. As soon as he had the opportunity to compress several tons of coal into diamonds and sold them he repaid the thousand dollars he had 'borrowed' from the ATM with an anonymous apologetic note to the bank manager. Jonathan Kent would have frowned on it but Chloe had made him see otherwise. Kal had borrowed money from Ollie to buy coal mines that were shut down because it was too dangerous to continue mining them. He repaid the loan and initially financed his R&D and charities with the diamonds he created from coal he personally dug out of those closed mines.

"And the WatchTower scanners didn't catch you?" Superman was surprised.

"The Fortress transported me there directly. I stayed below five-hundred meters of ice. Besides from what I understand the scanners would be more focused on populous areas."

"True," Superman allowed. Then he turned to stare at the crystal device alternating between glowing red and gold. "J'onn, help me set up a security net around the cave."

Kal coughed discreetly. Both older males turned to him. "I would suggest setting up two discrete security nets: One to detect breaches from outside, the second to detect intruders inside. If the second is tripped and the first is not, it's most likely my friends."

J'onn nodded. "That is a good suggestion." Then he smiled. "I'm sure there are supplies in storage that can set up a suitable alarm system."

Kal laughed. "AI, transport Storage Units 250 through 264 to this cavern."

It did not take long to set up the Einstein-Rosen bridge anchoring system and two separate alarm systems with two super fast Kryptonians on the job. Kal knew he had disappointed his older self by not offering to help out the League but from his perspective he had to work from the premise he had limited time before he could return back home. Some of the local knowledge –history, politics, economics, and technology– was intriguing with real potential benefit for when he got back home. Besides he had offered to help out in emergencies; world-ending human-extinction events only.

~ooOoo~ooOoo~ooOoo~

TBC…

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