The Lost Son

by Heliosion

In a world where Superboy escaped before the team found him, a young Conner Luthor changes the world. He puts out the flames of one man's ambition to kill his rival, travels the world and sees in his own eyes the world long before he starts upon the path of the hero. Now in the world's greatest crisis he must do as he agreed when the time came and save the world. This is my AU.

13. Chapter 13 Cracks

"Young Justice New World Chronicles"

"The Lost Son"

By Heliosion

Chapter 13: Cracks

Disclaimer: I obviously don't own the DC universe or its affiliates for if I did I wouldn't have grown men flying around with their underwear on the outside of their spandex pants. Or make a superhero whose special power is driving a taxi.

Oh yeah this is based in an original multiverse world. In this case Earth X for this is a fanfiction and I haven't had the opportunity to read every single comic produced by DC hence continuity will suffer so I will create my own in the spirit of Young Justice.

Constructive reviews only people

XreviewX

"And they just kicked the kid out on his ass Clark?"

"Yes Lois they did."

"And you just stood there and said nothing while the kid left. Meanwhile Kara quit your kids club and Karen looks ready to start an international incident with Themyscira because Diana's new protégé couldn't keep her mouth shut?"

"That sounds about right Lois."

Lois patted his arm sympathetically with her wet hand from her location, the bath overflowing with bubbles. Clark was sitting with his hands in his head on the toilet slowly desiring this day to end faster. In thirty minutes there was going to be a meeting in the nearby Metro Tower to discuss the already in jeopardy Young Justice and how they planned to deal with the unknown variable otherwise known as his child… well sort of who he couldn't even bond with or try to make connections with without informing the kid of his secret identity… which was problematic because Lex flipping (you couldn't say Superman didn't try to avoid swearing when possible) Luthor, his greatest enemy was the other father in the equation.

God his life really, really sucked right now.

"I would've loved to have been the fly on the wall for that conversation," Lois said, trying to dispel the tension with her signature humour, lifting a flexible leg out of the water for her loafer to scrub clean, "But jokes aside Smallville what do you plan to do with this now? Luthor is bound to exploit this situation in some way Clark." The woman put her limb back into the warm soapy water and then raised an eyebrow at her beau. "You aren't planning to let him turn the kid into a weapon?"

"I don't know! That's the thing Lois," Superman blurted out helplessly, flailing his arms around dangerously quickly, his erupting frustration causing yet another tiny crack on the bathroom mirror with the powerful force behind the simple gesture, "I know I should do something but Lex won't budge on this. Its full disclosure or nothing Lois, Kara and Karen already told Conner everything and that's fine I respect that they trust Conner. But I can't help thinking if Lex has just planned this all along."

Lois splashed the foamy bath water as she climbed out onto the wooden floor and wrapped a towel around her middle. Then taking another lemon scented towel from the rack above the radiator she wrapped it around her black hair deep in thought.

He wasn't surprised Lois was being careful in how she spoke. It hadn't been easy to confess everything to his spouse but Clark had been raised to never keep secrets if they could hurt someone more in the long run. A lot of arguments early on in their relationship had been about Lois's reservations on how close Wonder Woman was to her husband. Then years later after Diana made the effort to make peace and reassure the now two friends that she had no desire to take Clark from her this came up. Worse of all it had to be the younger equally gorgeous sister and younger… Yeah he had thought that part twice.

Clark was never more grateful Lois was a normal human in that moment. Life would've been unbearable with super hearing or telepathy with the type of woman she was. He was sure that observation about Donna's age had been whispered involuntarily as if he was still hoping this was all a nightmare and the firestorm that was the emotional state of Lois Kent was not one for the faint of heart. He was really off his game to forget his wife's ability to capitalise on any sign of weakness that benefitted her three times Pulitzer winning career to jump down the throat of any story in her sights.

"You know you have no proof about that," she said at last, opening her eyes to stare into his intently. Superman never got bored of seeing his beautiful lithe wife no matter what she was wearing. "Eyes up here Smallville," she japed and the country boy side of the alien born demi-god flushed ever so slightly to her delight. "He hasn't committed a crime in nearly two years which was about the same time Conner was found. Besides you told me yourself that all the records found in the ruins of Cadmus had nothing in them at all saying Lex had anything to do with the project."

"But I know Lex," Clark said gravely, "He's done more convoluted things like this and still managed to walk away without even a slap on the wrist from a judge. It isn't impossible that he somehow manipulated someone else to be his go between."

"And then again he might have not. When has a reporter like you worked on what if? Until you see the evidence in front of you no matter how outlandish it sounds it might be the case that Lex has given up his criminal career. Maybe he feels he can get his agenda across better these days by using Conner as his mascot? You're rivalry all started from his beliefs that you saving the world all the time was stagnating mankind. But maybe, perhaps you're right Clark. It's what you think and Conner, a being equally powerful as you Superman," she said, rolling her eyes while he took that last line in. Clark was starting to see what her point was. "Is part of some long term plan to get you to drop your guard and tell him your secret identity? Oh yes that sounds plausible, piss off the super powered hormonal teenager who wouldn't hesitate to jump into a battle with a monster powerful enough to nearly kill his arch nemesis on his command?"

"Lois it isn't impossible…"

"I know Smallville but it doesn't fit the facts we have in front of us," Lois retorted sternly then with her eyes softening she sat down soaking his costumed lap and kissed him. Cupping his cheeks she added sagely, "You need to think about this. You can't just ignore it the way you have been about this whole thing. Kara and Karen are starting to get impatient waiting for you to make your mind up and I bet Diana and the boy's mother…" Lois stopped and tensed obviously informing the man of steel that she still had issues with that. His mother hadn't been too thrilled either that a grandchild had popped out of nowhere but it was most likely because it wasn't in wedlock and the prospective mother's age more than anything.

"I just need some more time and this meeting isn't helping things. I keep feeling like the situation is just slipping through my fingers Lois. That the longer I hold this off the worse it'll be but I can't bring myself to deal with it."

"Is it because he's your son?"

"No," Superman said weakly, "Yes, no, Rao I'm not sure anymore what to think Lois. I figured one day we'd have children when the time came and then wham a fully grown teenager comes out of the heavens and helps me save the whole city from destruction. A teenager who…" Clark stopped for a heartbeat then steered it away from the Amazon situation back to a safer topic. He just hoped Lois hadn't noticed. "A father like Lex Luthor, my worst enemy…"

"You've already said that Clark," Lois whispered, aware of his super hearing, "But it's going to take time for me too you know. You aren't the only one rattled by all this. I mean who would've seen Diana not being the Amazon who beat me to it but instead her little sister?" Her joke came off rather hollow as neither could manage even a fake smile. "I remember her from the Christmas party last year. She's a nice girl just like her sister."

"Lois…" This had been the first time his wife had tried really talking about it without first him having to bring it up.

"Not right now Clark," Lois stated icier than a glacier before it warmed up almost reluctantly like a fire that had the fight kicked out of it, "I'm not ready to discuss that when you need to get your game face on. Do they know where Conner is now?"

"Kon is… Oh Kon-El is his Kryptonian name apparently. Kara picked it for him." His attempt at lightening the mood was treated with that same passive look that promised an eruption or argument if he strayed too far from the topic at hand. She now had that face when her fiery personality was being reined in, a signal it was better for now to submit and allow her time to ponder this. "He's gone off the grid," Clark sighed, "We've got satellite surveillance searching for him but we decided to hold out contacting Luthor until after the meeting before we ask him to help in the search. Conner's headquarters are shielded from surveillance and the real time imagers aren't capable at this time of seeing something moving above Mach nine because they're being upgraded."

"Isn't that dangerous? What if he goes on a rampage?" Lois asked curiously.

"If he did the league would know. In fact it would be easier if Conner did."

"What are Kara and Karen doing meantime?"

"Kara isn't answering her coms but J'onn assured me that she knows about the meeting and Karen was being dealt with by Diana the last I heard. That was two hours ago when I left Batman to fix the problem with the YJ."

"And how do you think Batman will deal with the Young Justice?"

"I shudder at how Bruce will deal with it," Clark said, "He's been like John about this whole thing. They want to have Conner in their sight at all times where they can keep a close eye on him. They acted this way with Kara and Karen."

"They fear a teenager with the power to turn the Watchtower into a pretzel from space and isn't associated with the league. It's natural for them to be wary Clark. I'm a bit apprehensive about this boy too and I'm sitting on your lap which arguably is the safest place in the entire world."

"At least somebody understands why this all looks…"

"But why haven't they thought about the fact he hasn't sought you out?" Lois interrupted with an acute observation. Clark's sharp mind spluttered at how that minor detail hadn't crossed it. Secretly he wondered if he was being a bit self-centred. "It's a fact of control for them and paranoia because its child's play for him to find out whom you or anybody else for that matter with enough effort. Anyone's secret identity would be simple to find out with his wonderful gifts. He has the power to watch you from Australia and find out what he wants to know in the blink of an eye. Yet he hasn't tried to bulldoze his way into your life Clark or force his way into the league and by god he could without much effort. Try to remember that in the meeting today. Even if you can't bring yourself to get closer to the boy try to at least back his corner. Wait and see if you must but keep up to date with Kara and Karen too. It might cool their heads to know you're not against Conner. With the way you've been acting and how defensive they are I wouldn't be surprised if they thought you were on the league's side. They really seem to care about him."

"Karen was complaining not so long ago about the favour I called in," Clark said, remembering that meeting was no picnic. Her company was starting to pick up and the blonde was trying to build a life for herself. Finding time to mentor a teenager was the last thing she needed on her plate but now with such little time passed it looked certain she was planning to have a grudge match with Wonder Girl to protect someone she initially was reluctant to mentor. "But now I feel it was the best idea I ever had to ask Karen to mentor him. It seems to help ground her but Kara's reaction to having Conner with us I'm not surprised about. She was old enough to remember Krypton; this planet is like the Stone Age to someone like her after living on a world with technology centuries ahead of anything on Earth. All her family apart from me was killed and I feel she missed that despite how well we get on. To her Conner must have been something Rao had given her for her trials adapting to life here on Earth and if I choose to take a step back from this I know Conner will be looked after by Kara. She really has formed a bond with him, I watched the kid hold himself together until Kara… One touch and they were on the floor consoling each other."

"I was surprised when you told me she quit. Kara was telling me last week at lunch just how much she was looking forward to passing on some advice to the next generation of leaguers and wondering if this means she was getting old."

Clark laughed genuinely for the first time and kissed his wife on the neck. "Thinking back on it I'm not all that surprised really. Something somehow makes me think she wouldn't stop for anything until he was safe. She's very family orientated and while she might grumble about Ma making her call her twice a week to ask how she is doing, you can tell she loves telling her how her week that didn't make it into the mass media went."

"And gossiping about you," Lois added helpfully, flushing the pearly white toilet. "There we've flushed away our problems for now Clark. We can come back later to this. Now get to your meeting Smallville. I have to get my hair dried for the meeting with the governor at four and you have five minutes mister to get there or risk being late. It wouldn't look good if Superman wasn't punctual."

"Thanks Lois," Clark said, picking her up and floating out of the cramped bathroom. Lois banged her arms on his chest to no effect squealing at how cold she was from the updraft. Inside their large open planned living room/kitchen the Kryptonian put her down and gave her a lingering kiss on the cheek. Then in a flash of speed to avoid the neighbours working out a superhero lived there Clark was out the window over the balcony and on route for the short distance to the Metro Tower.

Superman's burden had been lightened for now at least temporarily. His mind clearer and he felt ready to tackle the problem head on with courage given to him by his life partner. The leaguer on duty in his city, Steel's distinctive hammer was smashing off something to the west of town from the sound of it but the man of steel didn't hear he was in any distress and took off for the second largest building in the city. It had been the best decision to talk this out with his wife.

Metro Tower was built where the first skyscraper of the city had been built nearly fifty years ago. After an incident involving ironically Lex Luthor the land had been left untouched, a vacant lot in other words despite its premier location for ten years until the exposure of the now decommissioned energy cannon they had on the Watchtower orbiting the planet a few years back created a xenophobic backlash. To combat it they purchased the land and constructed a visible presence on the surface to help them understand the people they were serving.

This Metro Tower as it came to be called was situated around a large open plot of well-tended green land left aside as a park. It let the locals feel closer to the men and women (or the odd alien) that protected them, twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. The tower itself was a needle shaped structure rising up to the top where a clam shell shaped structure protruded on top that could see the top of every building in Metropolis. At the front door opportunistic paparazzi lingered like a bad smell at the front entrance digging for treasure as the man of steel landed gently onto the marble floor and stepped inside after a security scan confirmed his identity.

Inside he strolled through the hall of Justice that was an enormous cavern like structure with immaculate white tiles on every wall and floor. Trophies of older adventures lay around like disarmed weapons and equipment that was supposed to destroy or hold the world to ransom to exotic items like physical husks left behind from enemies made of energy. It was a monument to their accomplishments and a reminder of the daily perils they'd had to endure over the years.

It helped lift his bolstered spirit to even greater heights reliving his duty to mankind. Even in the direst of situations when it seemed all was lost reminders of his ability to defy adversity the patriotic alien was refreshed absolutely. He could see the future where Conner Luthor or Kon El could be part of the great mission the league embodied.

He passed the sixteen foot bronze statues of the original seven that were situated around the supporting pillar of the Metro Tower. Superman accepted another genetic scanner at a reinforced doorway that only appeared when the man of steel pressed down on a secret panel. The scan went blue to allow the kryptonite to penetrate his flesh for the sensors and then admitted him announcing to the hall of Justice main meeting room he was teleported into onto the top floor. He had arrived.

The main meeting room encompassed the entire top floor of the Metro tower. Outside the tower appeared to be stationary but unbeknownst to the general population optical cameras projected the illusion of such when in fact the Metro tower moved to generate a self-perpetuating force field that worked in tandem with the obviously reinforced windows. Its interior was breathtakingly beautiful doubling as the monitor station for Earth side on a balcony sub level accessible by stairs and robotic platform. The shiny metallic walls shone as they absorbed the sun rays to prevent sun glare matching their meeting table that never ever seem to get hot in the intense rays of the beautiful yellow sun outside. Each of the original seven had their own chair, Mr Terrific the current one on monitor duty was able to listen in like the others when the time came for the meeting via holographic monitors fitted to the floor and ceiling.

Normally there would be just seven chairs at the table. For the purpose of today's meeting two more had been added made of the same malleable liquid state metal used on the Lunar Watchtower for Supergirl and Powergirl. Already sitting were the convened original seven including another chair added to sit Donna, the mother of his teenager (that never stopped sounding strange) who he'd missed sitting next to her sister talking in low tones.

What caught his eye specifically was the ceiling where the projector was showing a real time model of the satellites the league maintained scanning the planet with the appropriate images for the missing teenaged Kryptonian. Batman was sitting down ignoring everyone while using his ear piece to discuss something with Mr Terrific on closer examination was about the continued search for the teen.

That stole some of the 'can do' spirit. How the hell couldn't alien cobbled together satellites get through maintenance cycles faster? The slowdown of the sensors weren't exactly that bad. Was Superboy really moving beyond Mach nine for this much time? Batman liked the theory because Bruce was urging the technological genius on duty to speed up the job.

"Scan for anomalies in the weather patterns across the globe. Moving at that sort of speed would cause unusual weather phenomena."

"I already checked Batman or did you forget I'm the third smartest person in the world?"

"If you were as smart as you…"

Superman was curious to listen to more of Batman's uncharacteristic frustration with his super hearing it wasn't helping him to focus on the meeting ahead. Wonder Woman, Diana his oldest and probably his best friend besides Bruce was still shooting little icy glares that sent shivers down his spine when there was a break in the conversation with her sister. Donna was refusing to meet his eyes looking ashamed but if it was her or aimed at him was impossible to tell.

"It's time to begin the meeting," J'onn called, sitting in his chair near the window. Flash finished a conversation and in one heartbeat was in his chair looking attentive. Everybody else followed suit if they hadn't taken to their chairs and the Martian activated a holo-monitor to turn on the other cameras. At the same time Kara and Karen came into the meeting room showing a united front. It was eerie how they'd perfected what Superman thought should be named the 'Ma Kent Stare'. Lois had mastered it too which made Clark Kent wonder if it was contagious to every important woman in his life because Wonder Woman was not doing a half bad job of imitating it.

Superman suddenly felt four years old again and had just lifted up and thrown the tractor across the corn field. An omen perhaps about how this meeting was going to go?

Batman stood up and took the stand as the standby screen on every single monitor floating around the room revealed the faces of every single leaguer on their rota. Be it part-time or full time. From magic users such as Doctor Fate to the king of Atlantis in his throne room Aquaman. Old school boys fighting during the Second World War like Wildcat and Doctor Midnight there was something covering everything. The league was an enormous international organisation catering to all walks of life and the only people not a party to this important session which everyone was called in to take part in were the ones on duty.

Kara and Karen strutted like angry predators down the small walkway and didn't break their stride until they claimed their chairs. Superman sweated a little when the duo almost if they had rehearsed it crossed one leg over the other in eerie sync. It would take an idiot to see that as anything else other than feminine fury.

"Sorry we're late," Kara apologised less than convincingly, "I was looking for Kon-El." His blonde cousin stared at Superman heatedly trying to telegraph her displeasure and succeeding quite proudly. "I didn't find him."

"I was helping her after my discussion with Diana," Karen piped in pouting angrily and folding her arms over her generous cleavage. Wonder Woman might as well have ranted at him because she didn't betray her own displeasure with the male Kryptonian but (and he later felt that was weak of him) Wonder Woman did huff when Powergirl reminded her of their little chat. Superman was never gladder to have bailed out of that one. "Has the league done any better at locating him?"

"Not as yet…"

"J'onn, Powergirl please keep all comments relevant to the meeting. If you feel the need to add further comments you know the procedure is to write a report," Batman interrupted, unimpressed at Powergirl's attempts to intimidate him with her glower. That was why everyone in the league respected the bat. He had the balls to stare down an angry woman who could melt his balls from a hundred yards away.

"Thank you Batman, I give you the chair," J'onn deferred sitting down.

"Thank you," Batman said, "As some of you might know three hours ago Superboy applied for entry into the Young Justice program. He was denied entry by a majority vote."

A beep from a futuristic hero named Booster Gold interrupted the Batman. Very few had the courage or in Booster's case the brainpower to interrupt him and it still amused the man of steel when the cocky self-publicising hero wondered why he kept getting crowd control duty.

"Look I just want to make sure I heard this correctly," the hero said incredulously. Superman swept the room and found many sharing that sentiment with Booster Gold floating behind a skyscraper. "Superboy wasn't allowed to join the kiddie squad? And you let them do that?"

"Yes," Batman answered succinctly, "That is the gist of the situation and why I called this emergency meeting."

Another buzz was from a window above the Flash occupied by Giovanni Zatara, a master magician whose daughter was part of the new teen team and vocally was proud of her as any father would be. It crossed Superman's mind what his own thoughts as a 'father' should be and remembered how this man dealt with his rebellious daughter. The man in his top hat and classic suit of a stage magician was stern and very direct in how the teenager was raised.

"May I ask who initiated this vote?" Superman could feel the raw intensity of the homo-magi's ire. With his allergy to magic it made Superman anytime that man was angry have him take note of what the stage magician was saying.

Batman was skilled at hiding the resignation in his voice and Superman was lucky with his super hearing to pick up on it. If he knew Bruce as well as Clark thought the meticulous crime fighter was bound to be disappointed with his former protégé. "Red Robin, the current leader raised the motion and five others seconded it. By their bylaws they held a vote and Superboy was denied entry."

"And this is why my nephew is goddess knows where doing who knows what!" Diana barked and Donna matched her with Amazon spirit. Some of the screens could clearly see the scowls of disgruntled members whom had been among the first to vote to introduce the YJ Initiative. Some the man of steel thought of as the dreamers, the idealists much like he was if only the situation wasn't personal. Other more clear-headed types like Bruce were more neutral or in Plastic Man's case drinking a milkshake with a straw made by his own lips.

Yeah that crazy guy's opinion wasn't relevant here but hey what could you do? The league was a democracy.

"Diana," Batman admonished, "You have to wait your turn before speaking." Diana was not pleased at the dressing down but returned to her seat. "As stated previously Superboy was rejected for membership of the Young Justice program. However minor this might seem on the surface really we must consider the ramifications and how this might affect how we deal with the YJ from now on in regards to the selection of their members." Batman's cowl billowed as another hard-light monitor appeared so he could engage a projector showing all the information currently gathered on the teen of steel. The headshot and the body shot displaying his vital statistics was based on photographs taken during his medical examination on the Lunar Watchtower and the relevant information had nearly every leaguer on screens buzzing in.

"Please one at a time," J'onn asked, the usual voice of reason very much so louder than he usually raised it. Two seconds later the deafening sound of over a hundred buzzers going off again was enough to give Superman a headache and raise an eyebrow. It was rare for the Manhunter to ask for anything but it was even rarer to see so many impatient members of the Justice League outright be rude to the Martian immigrant.

"Order," Batman commanded in the end in his usual low tones. It was a tough crowd not unlike the gangs of Gotham and only the words of the dark knight could make them heel like good puppies. The nice guy that Superman projected would be taken advantage of easily in this heated discussion. "Now we'll take five people then we can discuss any relevant action we might take to monitor Superboy's activities." Batman pressed five keys and five random lucky people's window borders were lit in green and given a number. One of them was missing indicating one of the lucky questioners was among the founding members sitting at the table. The first lucky speaker was the Norwegian ice creating meta-human named Ice.

"I've heard that after he was rejected the Superboy fled. Have we found him yet? Do you want me to alert my government to keep a look out?"

Batman tilted his head in that pose Superman called 'Batman cool pose number three' where the light was angled to shine off the Kevlar mask. "His current location is still unknown. He zeta-tubed to Gotham and that's when we lost him. The satellites we use for tracking are in the middle of an upgrade and yes anyone with connections to their government it would be very helpful if you contacted them after this meeting. Next question please."

"What do you plan to do with him once we track him down?" Captain Atom, a shiny metallic man made of energy asked. Behind him that made him a controversial member was an active United States airbase. Members were not meant to work directly for any government organisations to avoid bias but his name came with connections in places normally were hard to find. It still didn't make Captain Atom his best friend for their opposing ideologies and the harshness the man made of energy was thinking regarding a teenager. Superman wanted to talk out of turn but didn't want to get drawn into or accused of having a conflict of interests. Besides Diana and the Krypton girls were looking ready to blow. "Are there any contingency plans in case he goes rogue?"

"Every contingency has been anticipated in advance. I can assure all of you that Superboy while extremely powerful and wields tactile telekinetic powers still as far as we know has the same weaknesses as any other Kryptonian. Besides we have several members including you Atom capable of hurting him on staff. Now can we have the next question?"

"Is the rumour about Lex Luthor adopting him the reason they rejected him?" Hawkgirl with her folded wings and mace sitting on the smooth table was the lucky woman asking this question. Superman thought she had a killer front row seat to see the majority of the other members' faces for the whole circus. Democratic process wasn't the most efficient method but it worked for this team. "Everyone that was at the scene has either been ordered home or refuses to talk."

"Yes it's true," Batman confirmed, "As you all know after the events of the Doomsday encounter." Superman still winced at the memories of that battle as did others who looked uncomfortable including Batman though it was hard to see beneath that stiff mask if you didn't know what to look for in the lead lined garment. If his son hadn't there to aid him… He was still doing his best to kiss his wife goodbye before each shift and it didn't seem like that the reminder even a solar powered Kryptonian wasn't immortal would stop him anytime soon. "Superboy was brought to the Watchtower as a John Doe badly injured. He panicked upon awakening in the solar chamber used to treat his injuries and damaged the base's super structure. After Green Lantern, Superman and I retrieved him as Superboy was on route back to earth the situation led to the boy encountering Wonder Girl, one of our new Young Justice members. She just so happened to know Red Robin from years back and of course knew of his reputation for keeping secrets."

"Trust me if I can get my hands on him bird boy will be getting remedial lessons in confidentiality," Powergirl muttered which Clark's cousin Kara nodded to emphatically and of course Superman only heard because of his super hearing. Clark Kent wondered just how much he would need to interfere there to resolve the situation without violating the rules on Conner Luthor that flipping step father of his made.

Still you had to admire their restraint. Their tops (not those tops as Clark was a gentleman plus family members) he expected to pop by now were still just simmering.

Of course Kal El didn't have any doubts of Diana's ability to subdue Powergirl or Kara if either took a swing at the blonde youngster that started this whole mess but action on his end might be required to save the embarrassment of a cat fight. The subject of Conner Luthor seemed to set off the craziness known as 'overly protective girl power' and Clark could just see the cogs turning in Kara's mind picking her optimum moment to show her support. It was safe to say Wonder Girl wasn't on either Kara or Karen's Christmas card lists anymore or anybody else's on the YJ which Superman felt was a waste especially what his cousin could contribute to that team if she'd stayed.

Clark allowed his mind to wander of course letting his distracted personal issues that he'd usually kept tethered in official meetings wander from its cage. He ignored the fourth question posed by Atom Smasher dwelling on how his family unit was coping with all this. Supergirl and Powergirl had benefitted forming an alliance that seemingly overlooked their differences from the past few years overnight. Superboy, Kon El or Conner Luthor had done more without lifting a finger than what Clark had been trying to accomplish for years.

His deep contemplations made Kal El almost miss the sound of the communicator to the Watchtower chime four times halfway through the last question that again Superman had not been paying attention to. Batman pressed a button on the holographic control system and every screen of league members apart from Mr Terrific with his famous T shaped mask on his face was given priority disappearing to make way.

"What do you have?" Batman asked stoic as a brick.

"We got a hit from a reservist just outside Star City." People on the main table jumped to their feet in haste. Powergirl and Supergirl were so tense the sudden movement did a very rare miscalculation of force with their feet that made everyone wobble and the table jump five inches. Wonder Woman had one hand in support to her sister Donna on the shoulder that according to his telescopic vision was tearing up in relief. "Red Arrow decided to investigate the Cadmus ruins there when we sent out the alert and he found Superboy right on top of what's left of the main entrance hovering. He attempted to make contact but Superboy is ignoring him. I've got a visual."

"Display it on the main monitor."

Mr Terrific vanished as his screen grew to encompass one wall. A large red connecting slogan was spread across it for three seconds rather than instantaneously due to the upgrades still going on. Then overlooking the former Cadmus lab where Conner was said to have been created Superman clenched his fists from the tension of finding Superboy with his hood on floating over the burnt out entrance. He made quite the imposing figure as the sunset contrasting with the scarlet uniform fluttering in the gentle breeze. A small window in the corner was set aside to detail the location of the Red Arrow, Roy Harper armed with his bow and an arrow ready for use.

"We're going," Kara declared. Karen mirrored her counterpart and the white clad woman with her red and blue partner was already heading to the main door. Superman felt this was his moment to say something, do as Lois suggested and try to keep his options open.

"Hold on right there! We're coming too!" Of course the outspoken ambassador to 'Man's World' on behalf of Themyscira Diana Prince got there first. She was on her feet and waving a sword around. Where had she hidden that? Donna had her arms at her side tensely like she was prepping herself. It was reassuring in a cruel way that the mother, a younger inexperienced woman was just as unsure of her feelings.

"All of you sit down," Batman ordered, "This meeting hasn't been adjourned and its obvious Superboy is going nowhere."

"Bruce," Wonder Woman growled without thinking. It was lucky every member not in the know was on standby.

"He isn't going to get away from us again that easily. Our problem before was we had no reference to where Conner was for us to track him while the satellites were functioning on reduced efficiency. Now we can use laser probes to keep him in our sights no matter how fast he moves. Every satellite we have now will cover six thousand miles in every direction and in an hour the entire network will be back to normal."

Superman relaxed as the Batman took control in the way only the caped crusader knew how. His intervention didn't seem necessary but of course when it came to his 'child' dropping his guard gave whatever force playing with him (Superman had called out Mr Mxyzptlk in case all this misfortune was his doing) an opportunity to strike.

"What in blazes?!" growled Green Lantern John Stewart. Superman's head whipped around faster than a cracking whip as portals out of nothing opened up around the teenager. Roy Harper's training had the teenager pull out another two arrows with explosive tips to add to his red bow. Batman had ordered the vocal recognition software to open text bubbles in case anybody said a word.

Four people came out of these wormholes just to the side of the ruined underground entrance. Superboy had responded cautiously and had elevated himself higher. Then out of the blue, the teen of steel flipped upside down causing his hood to fall down like a curtain to inspect the newcomers.

"By the goddess," Diana exclaimed and Superman was quite ready to copy her only exclaiming his native world's gods when he figured out just what was surrounding Conner Luthor. This could turn out to be very good or equally just as bad.

It'd been a while since the Greek pantheon had come out of their hidey holes. He first recognised Apollo, god of a lot of things including god of the light and the sun, truth and prophecy, healing, plague, music and poetry. He was easily recognised because of his onyx skin as if from a marble statue and tall stature showing no sign that Athena, his twin sister, wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, law and justice, just warfare, mathematics, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, and skill were related at all in her beautiful pearly white toga. Her graceful and demure presence was contrasted by the arrival of the ugly but skilled craftsman who made the sword and lasso Diana owned by the name of Hephaestus. Last but not by all means least the breath taking former wife of said craftsman, Aphrodite whom was the pure embodiment of love, pleasure, beauty and procreation.

Every alarm on the Metro Tower went online dimming the lights. Superman heard every silent blast door snap shut and the hum of defence systems going online. It wasn't an overreaction with gods involved. Above on the roof the antennae for the communications array was repositioning and the sound of the zeta tubes on the bottom floors announced the efficient movement of the troops.

Meanwhile on the grassy fields of Cadmus with the back drop of the city nothing had happened at all. Roy's text rectangular text bubble had him confirming that he was given the order to retreat further back. Superboy was still upside down in the air and very calm about the situation. The stand-off seemed to stay there until Apollo of all people looked up to stare at the camera in orbit. A lazy gesture of his hand seemed to cause a blinding flash then the camera shorted out.

"Great another satellite we have to pay for," Flash whispered and Superman sighed at the reminder. He was trying to save someone's life that time! But the red clad speedster was the one in charge of the committee overseeing the budget this year. Clark Kent was unable to blame him for the paperwork this would create.

"Terrific, get us another one over them as soon as possible," Bruce ordered.

"I've already diverted a Javelin returning from maintenance to act as a relay. Give me a moment."

The screen of static was replaced with another two second time delayed view of the Cadmus grounds. Superboy had landed in the centre of the gods and had pulled back his hood. Aphrodite, the blonde sex bomb clad in a very provocative chiton was holding his hand rather eagerly and tracing her fingers over his. Superman would've snorted at how uncomfortable the boy was with the ageless one if Powergirl's teeth grinding didn't remind him that some of the people around him weren't angry with him still. Any talking was negated by the limitations of the Javelin's sensors compared to the satellite but luckily both Batman and he could lip read.

Superman created a smaller monitor and split it with a twist of his hand in the middle four times to make an extra four smaller screens in mid-air. Without missing a beat he focused them on each person's face as did the Batman.

"Aphrodite is asking if Conner likes to sunbathe on the beach," Superman translated, neglecting to say the part where the word 'naked' was involved. The women were already close to exploding.

"Apollo is speaking in a language I don't understand," Batman said, touching up his screen of the black sun god to link with the Justice League mainframe to do as best as it could. "He's as far as I can tell with this translation program making his thoughts known about Superboy to the others without the boy knowing what they are saying. Most of these thoughts appear to be positive ones."

"Hephaestus is staying quiet but Athena is speaking about propriety and trying to reassure the teenager that Aphrodite means no harm or is any threat to his... chastity."

"And Conner?" Kara piped in dangerously.

"He's a bit flustered to say the least. The gods just appeared in front of him," Superman added, hoping his joke wasn't going to be seen as inappropriate. It was impossible to tell what was going on in her mind right now. "Most of it is babble but he has already agreed to do something for Athena."

"Athena is the champion of heroes of ages past," Donna commented. "And is the goddess of heroic endeavours."

"Hold up," Batman stated bluntly, "Another satellite has moved into position."

As one the man of steel and the dark knight switched to the new view and read the fully up to date live text bubbles.

"We must depart soon for your quest," Athena, the brunette virgin said. Hephaestus was showing he was impatient too and the troll like man was the one opening a gate to god knows where.

"Where are the nearest leaguers?" Hawkgirl barked.

"They're all being held back by an energy barrier giving off enormous amounts of heat," Mr Terrific's audio answered, "And the portal itself is giving off massive amounts of energy."

"Let's go now lady Athena," Conner said, bowing his head and throwing his hood back up.

"You heard our new plaything…"

"Aphrodite!" Athena seemed to say sternly from her expression. Even if it was all text Superman could sense the feminine fury laced in the rebuke. He'd been getting enough practice of late identifying it with the girls in his life. "I warned you not to make him uncomfortable. He needs his wits about him now for his quest."

"Yeah, yeah I know," Aphrodite laughed off, giggling like a school girl with sparkling eyes and an 'innocent' twirl of her shining hair. She was holding onto Conner's muscled arm and running her finger down his bicep, "Let's…" Aphrodite looked up and motioned to Apollo. The man in a white toga looked up again and with his inhuman eyes blinked. Again more static as another one was taken offline.

"What's going on down there? Status report!" the Batman ordered.

"He's gone," Terrific said changing back to the Javelin feed to find an empty plain. "Harper says he went through the portal and left with them."

"Hera!" Diana's cry sent shivers down Superman's spine. He was still afraid of her temper but glad this time it wasn't aimed at him. "We need to head to Themyscira and ask my mother to speak to the gods on our behalf," Diana said, "Come on Donna," she added then almost off hand she addressed the Kryptonian relations. Well arguably speaking Diana and he were now… Rao… "You two as well if you want."

"Like you could stop us," Kara said wildly throwing out her arms exaggeratedly. Karen repeated the zealous confirmation of her desire to follow them to Themyscira but in more dulcet tones. Batman didn't say anything and let them leave probably thinking on how to approach this. Greek gods turning up to snatch Conner away was likely not on his first line of contingency plans. Not long after Green Lantern left leading the exodus of the other members to their posts.

Then they were left alone. Superman was conflicted once again. Now the teenager was missing. What if this was a permanent thing? The whole conversation they'd had was missing from the record and all the blue and red clad leader of freedom could find out was Superboy had agreed to help them with something. But what? In Conner's state they could've taken advantage of the boy for all he knew. The affairs of the gods were complex matters and not all the time benevolent but they weren't necessary malevolent either judging from Clark's own experiences in dealing with them.

What to do? What to do? How did he handle this one? By Rao this was getting more and more obscene in its complexity. Nothing had been resolved hell this travesty of an emergency session proved what an uphill battle this was all going to be. If only those damn kids…

No it wasn't their fault… Not really… Damn his polite Kansas raised ass! Those brats were to blame for this…

His anger was spiking when Terrific returned onto the monitor. His face looked ashen.

"What is it Terrific?" Batman asked, distracted. He rarely showed this side of him to anyone but close friends. Terrific was an intellectual equal so afforded the honour.

"We have a call on the president's emergency line for you Superman."

Why did the way Terrific say that feel so ominous? Or was it more like déjà vu?

"Put it through."

Instead of the president of the United States sitting on his chair it was again Lex flipping Luthor, the man that lit the match on this entire explosive situation. Never mind what Lois thought before, this sort of convoluted death trap of increasingly distorted situations piling on top of him was something the bald industrialist was capable of. Crime or no crime Superman just wanted to blame him for everything when in fact his own faults and paranoia wasn't helping the deteriorating situation.

"Hello Superman," Lex said, swirling around on the swivel chair of the president, "The president was kind enough to again let me use this channel to ask you this question." He stopped swivelling and stood up abrasively, slamming both hands on the hardwood desk. "Where the hell is my son?"

Yes it was officially another crap day in the glamorous life of Superman.

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