Disclaimer: I own only this idea not the characters, shame really.

So someone mentioned the ages between the tamers and Superboy. This is to clarify something that I thought I had included. There are two versions of Digimon Tamers, the American and the Japanese. In the American the tamers are thirteen and in the Jap they are ten. I find the older age more realistic then parents letting their ten year old children wonder around after dark. (But that's just me…) On another note, Megan is technically 48 years old pawing at a six month/sixteen year old Superboy…and people find that okay. So who's the real cradle robber I wonder? Food for thought.

Anyway, on with the story…


Chapter 7-Powers Playing…


Hypnos covert HQ. July 16, unknown time...

Mitsuo Yamaki, the blonde haired leader of the secret organization Hypnos, wore his signature black shades as he scanned the information agents had been able to gather on the anomaly that had emerged several days ago. Hypnos was an organization that was originally formed to monitor the world's communication network. This information was kept confidential from the public due to legal issues on privacy. It had done an excellent job of remaining undetected even from the Justice League until they discovered the "Wild Ones" and their bio-emergences. These Wild Ones were really digimon making their way into the real world. After Hypnos encountered these entities its primary focus was prevention, keep them from entering the real world, capture and study when possible and to cover the existence of digimon from the world. So far, they have been successful in the latter but not the former.

Yamaki, had made leaps of progress in eliminating the Wild Ones but the incident with the Juggernaut had set him back. His encounter with Takato and Henry several weeks prior had made them aware that Hypnos existed and by extension Rika and Conner, too. But it wasn't like the tamers would tell anyone without outing their partners and Yamaki couldn't just bring them in or their partners. They had proven to be more effective against the wild ones than any of his programs. For Yamaki and the other workers at Hypnos, the Devas were a whole new kind of Wild Ones. Without the tamers interference, Yamaki was certain the world would have been overrun.

But what had also interested him, was the teen and the Wild One that had emerged after the initial assault at Hypnos Headquarters. The helicopters had managed to get several pictures but just barely. The field emitted by the interloper and the high jacked program, Juggernaut, had disrupted numerous equipment. But what they did get was revealing. The picture of the teen was attached to a slowly growing file. He had dark hair, torn clothing, and a prominent black Superman t-shirt. Yamaki turned to the computer at his side and opened a video file, where the teen was seen dropping from the back of Dorugamon and crashing on Mihiramon's tail. At first, Yamaki had assumed the teen was a fan of the hero but the video, playing on a loop, presented an alternative theory.

"He can't be human."

This was supported by additional data Hypnos had gathered from Cadmus and LexCorp main frame. They all had the same image of the dark haired teen with the S-shield shirt. There were also clips of the teen performing amazing feats. A picture is centered on the screen. The same teen is standing next to an older version of him, wearing tights and a red cape. But it's obvious even in the picture that the older man isn't comfortable with the teen. Yamaki opens another screen, another video.

The same teen and man are there, the same accident, the same bus and the similarities are impossible for the Head of Hypnos to ignore. As the video continues, Yamaki raises an eyebrow, as the Man of Steel practically runs away from the younger version of himself. The camera recording captures the complete hurt on the teen's face.

"So…you must be Superboy."

And there really was nothing else to refute that conclusion. There were no other records of the boy the other children called Conner, existed. Hypnos had checked and dug extensively. It is also how they stumbled across several projects that Yamaki found not in the best interest of Japan or humanity. He made sure to forward that information to the appropriate departments. The Japanese government didn't need to be blindsided in the middle of a war against the Wild Ones.

But the experiments detailing Superboy's creation both disturbed and fascinated him. Having the power to create life was one thing. Creating life for the sole purpose of causing or even instigating war was another thing entire.

Superboy's partner was a massive powerhouse. That wasn't even counting the fact that the pair had torn through the Juggernaut program, in its high jacked state, Hypnos had managed to analyze the strength of the altered program. In short, the power required to break the encryption that the Wild One had utilized would have taken the entire Hypnos team six years to break through. Estimated analysis places the other children's strength as roughly the equivalent of three years. And that was if the other three worked the same spot at the same time every day in perfect harmony.

But now the dynamic changed. The readings Hypnos was getting on any of the three were changing, faster than they could keep up. It led Yamaki to one conclusion: the children's monsters were growing. And he didn't know how or why.


Metropolis. LexCorp July 17…

"Still nothing?"

"No, sir."

Lex Luthor frowned but let no other emotion show on his face. The Justice League were not the only ones to notice Superboy's disappearance. The clone's disappearance had thrown a wrench into the CEO's plans. The red, addicting shields the man was planning to give to the teen sat gathering dust. Luthor had tried to lure the boy from wherever Superman wasn't in atmosphere but recent events make that option unavailable. The Man of Steel would hear the call as well and would know within seconds that Luthor had plans for the clone.

In fact, Luthor's plans for Superboy coincide with plans the other members of the Light had for the rest of the little sidekicks. Plans which were no longer viable. Luthor took two pills from a tray and downed them with water. Even weeks after his release from medical and some of the best treatment money could buy, the business man still suffered from his time under the young justice's care.

"That is the last time I underestimate those brats."

Even though his voice and demeanor spoke of malice, there was a touch of fear sliding itself underneath his skin. The kind of fear that leeches onto a person's psyche, making shadows move out of the corner of the eye and that creates phantom touches, feather light.

Luthor plucks a hand sandwich from the same tray and props it in his mouth. He eats, leisurely, trying to get a measure of control back. Unaware that the control that he seeks won't come to him. In front of him, sits a computer with the best software on the market with a few extra touches here and there that were currently not open to the public or the military.

The man takes another sandwich and harshly bites into it, to hide his trembling. He's looking over a record of the sidekick team's progress since Superboy's impromptu leave of absence. What he finds, does not make him happy. What he finds makes the shaking worse.

"And, here, we all thought the Justice League were the real threat…"

Indeed, the league's protégés were operating on a whole other level. A level that was reached when one of their own was taken. Because there is no question the boy had to have been taken. Only no one knows how or why or by who. No one's talking. No one's taking credit. And that is a cause for massive concern. Taking down Superboy, while not impossible, is not an easy task easier. Project Kr was growing, evolving past the projected analysis. With no subject to analysis, it is impossible to tell the clone current skill level. It was also impossible to control the League and their younger counterparts. It was imperative that Luthor find the teen before the others.

"It seems it time to get to work."


Classified Location. Unknown time, unknown date…

"They wish access."

"Someone always wishes access."

"It's supposed to be different this time. Looking for a lost child."

"Or a stolen one…"

There is silence. There are no distinguishing features on any of the faces of the individuals here. For candles illuminate only a fraction of the room. In all actuality, the candles are not needed. All of those present can see clear in the dark. To attest to this, a faint glow can be seen coming from everyone's eyes, inhuman eyes.

"He was not lying."

"This one is familiar…"

"He was the one who refused Ra's al Ghul hand."

"Ahh…that one."

No one speaks. There is no rush. They do not hurry. They are not pressed by time like humans are.

"Do we let them?"

"Why? What has kept them?"

"And why now?

"No doubt the means by which they search has…been delayed."

Discontent and dissatisfaction permeates the room.

"Has anyone encountered any disturbances such as what is in question?" For a moment, everything is still.

"One."

Everyone turns and focuses on amber glowing eyes.

"Just one. Information regarding cloning and other such filth was forwarded. Amongst them was Project Kr, the one in question. The illegal acquiring of samples is a cause for concern. Security of such things has been handled poorly, it seems."

"It will be handled."

"We concur."

"That leaves the boy."

"He is here."

"We do not know where and have heard nothing in regards to him. The symbol he wears has not been seen."

"Perhaps…perhaps he no longer wishes to be found?"

"Possible. He did not tell of the circumstances surrounding the boy prior."

"Do we interfere? Or do we let things be?"

"Do we deny or approve?"

A quiet descends upon them. They do not move. Still as statues, they consider, they convene. They predict and contemplate.

"This one will not interfere..." speaks one, "but this one also cannot let things be. Others will come for him. It must be resolved."

"The Dark One…is not opposed to negotiation…"

"They may come…"

"…but not as the world sees them…"

"They must appear as a part of the world…"

"…rather than separated from it."

"Agreed."

"This one approves."

"Again, I concur."

"Then we are done here."

The candles die and they are gone.


Shinjuku Park, Japan. After dark, July 20…

"You're sure you guys are okay?"

Conner stares the two boys in front of him, intently. He uses his vision to check for broken bones and fractures. He's done this several times. Henry and Takato had fought another Deva on their own. It was a frightening experience for Conner, to realize that danger was so close, while he was so far away. Anything could have happened to the two. They could have fallen in the dame or the charge from the Deva could have electrocuted them.

"Hey," Henry places a hand on Conner's bicep, "It's okay. We're okay. If you worry every time we separate, you might miss something important."

"At least, we stopped him before he got any bigger." Takato smiles a little. "And now we know to be double sure before leaving a digimon like that alone."

"Definitely," Henry agrees.

"Well," Conner isn't happy but they were safe and that's all that matter. "Rika's going to chew you both out."

Henry and Takato wince at the truth. They knew they couldn't keep the fight from the red head but they also weren't looking forward to hearing her yell at them either. Henry removed his hand and picked up Terriormon. Conner follows his hand and can't explain why he misses having it there or why his chest feels light when Henry glances at him, and quickly looks away. He was changing and he wasn't sure how he felt about that. He knew it was a good thing but when it came to certain things, he was just so confused that he almost hated trying to understand them. Some days he felt good just seeing the blue haired boy and other times he just felt heavy, like he was carrying more than he could handle.

"The lights are pretty." Dorumon draws his tamer out of his thoughts.

"Hmm?" Takato turns to see what the rookie was referring to. "You mean the city? Oh, yeah. They do look nice this close too."

Conner doesn't answer. He knows Dorumon is talking about something else. It makes his insides churn. He's nervous and anxious. His partner looks him in the eye and the hybrid nods his head. He understands. There was a change coming. It might be the League or another Deva. Whatever it was, it was coming to them. And if it was coming for him, well, Conner had no plans on going anywhere and he was going to make sure they took, "no" for an answer.


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