19th July

13:12 GMT-4

I should probably eat this before it gets cold. M'gann and I both focus on eating. Superboy's finished, and is glaring moodily at some of the other diners. Or maybe it's a Jason Bourne thing and he's working out potential attack vectors and escape routes?

There is one thing I've been thinking about.

"I must admit, I was surprised that Mr J'onzz was prepared to take you in. I didn't think that him and his brother got on."

She looks at me in surprise.

"You know uncle Ma'al?"

"By reputation only."

"No, they… wow, theyreallydon't get on. My mom is their sister."

"That makes more sense. Any other family?"

"There's my mom and my dad, my brothers and sisters."

"Brothersandsisters? You come from a large family?"

"Not really. Only seventeen boys and thirteen girls. I mean, I've got about three hundred cousins, but it's not really… What?"

I'm gaping.

"How many!"

"Why is… oh! I suppose by Human standards that is quite big."

"Just a bit, yes."

"What about you? Um, if you don't mind?"

"Both parents still with us, and one sister.Fourcousins, if you're wondering."

"I suppose that could be nice. You must be able to remember all their names and birthdays."

One out of two isn't bad.

"About the after school thing. Unless you want a normal job for the sake of it, you'd probably be better off finding a unique service you can offer, and charging people for it."

She chews for a moment.

"I know there aren't many Human telepaths or shape shifters."

"There you go. Now, what can you do with those things that people will pay you for?"

"Most Humans I've met haven't been very keen on mind reading."

"I used to watch a television series where telepaths were routinely used in business negotiations to ensure that neither party was trying to deceive the other. There isn't a market now, but it's worth thinking about."

"What series was that?"

"Babylon 5. Don't bother looking it up, it doesn't exist here."

She thinks for a moment.

"I suppose… counselling services? I'm not sure I like the idea of going inside damaged minds."

"Not much money in it anyway. But if you can create telepathic suggestions you could offer your services to people trying to stop smoking. Or to stop using harder drugs."

"Mind control?"

"Very limited mind control that they ask for and pay you to perform, and that you can undo whenever they ask."

"I suppose… I don't think I like the idea of doing that sort of thing."

I shrug.

"No problem. Just an idea. How about telepathic illusions?"

"I've been practising, but I'm not that good yet. How about shape shifting instead?"

"There's modelling. Don't really have any suggestions about that. Acting, but that will require a lot of time. Could work. I think Animal Man works as a stunt double. Money won't be all that great for a while if you're just looking for something to fund your superheroing."

"Well, it isn't as if I have to decide right now."

"True."

New topic time.

"Why is it that you're choosing to live in the mountain rather than with your uncle?"

"Uncle J'onn isn't around all that much. It was kinda lonely. Plus, I think he prefers being on his own."

"You think us living in a known superhero base is a good idea?"

M'gann looks at Superboy, intentionally giving him a chance to respond, before giving up with a small sigh.

"Kid Flash said that we're hiding in plain sight."

"How so?"

"Because… the bad guys know it's a secret superhero base, so they won't look for us there?"

Eh?

"That… thatreallyisn't howhiding in plain sightworks. A disused base suddenly showing activity draws attention. It would only be hiding in plain sight if there was some other more obvious explanation for it going live again that meant they ignored us."

She smiles.

"You think you'll be attacked in your sleep?"

"I'm not worried about that; I sleep wearing a personal forcefield generator. I'm more worried about what happens if the mountain becoming a tourist attraction, like the Hall of Justice. Even if we can cope with an aggressor, random holiday makers would just be hostage fodder."

"Our missions aren't usually going to happennearthe mountain. And the Hall of Justice is hardly ever attacked."

"Umm, suppose. Oh, know what I've noticed?"

"What?"

"There's three people here but only two of them are talking. So! Superboy. Had any thoughts on a first name yet?"

He actually seems to think about that one.

"No."

But the result is the same. M'gann looks concerned.

"You do want one, right?"

He fidgets a little.

"Well… yeah…"

"Given any thought to the sort of name you want? Something Human, something Kryptonian, something that works in both?"

He think about it for a moment.

"What… Kryptonian names do you know?"

"Sorry, not many. The male Kryptonian names I remember were all short. Kal, Jor, Dru. I can't even remember what Jor-El's brother was called. I suppose… er… one of the Greenies might have better records."

Notsuggesting he ask Superman. Now, do I try to convince him to go for Kon-El/Conner Kent, or just let him do his own thing? Could be awkward if I forget his choice.

"How about Conner?"

And M'gann out of absolutely nowhere. She seems strangely enthusiastic. Superboy looks at me. Why? Oh. Kryptonian authenticity checking.

"It works for a Human name, but it's a bit long for Krypton. Maybe if you just used the first syllable?"

Might as well…

"Maybe if you spelt the Kryptonian version with a kay rather than a cee?"

He avoids eye contact as he thinks about it.

"Kon. El."

I'm not sure that helikesit, but he doesn't seem able to come up with a reason to dislike it. And it sounds a bit like Superman's name.

"Kon-El. Okay."

He actually sounded calm when he said that, without his usual angry or confused tinge.It sounds better. Looks like M'gann's still in to bat for 'Conner'.

"Maybe Conner could be your Earth name. Like I'm using Megan Morse."

"I don't need one."

He'd probably take one if I demonstrated that Superman had a secret identity, but I think that would be tipping my hand a bit much. Another reason, then.

"You might want to pretend to be Human at some point. For a reconnaissance mission, or something. It would probably work better if you were used to responding to a Human style name."

He thinks about it, then shrugs.

"I suppose."

Continuity preserved, or something like it. Time to get back to work.

Ring, display list of names.

There are no Abigail Arcanes, but there are seven Abigail Cables and two Abigail Hollands. The ring creates a hologram-like screen for M'gann and Superb-. Kon-El. Time to relearn what I already know. The display also has their addresses.

"We'll check out the list, then head home. Remember, mid twenties to mid thirties, and she should have white hair with a black streak. If we see her and she starts freaking out, just back away and record the address."

I smile.

"Kon-El, anything to add?"

He looks blank for a moment, then…did he just nearly smile?

"Maybe… maybe we shouldn't crowd her. It'll be less intimidating if only one of us speaks to her at a time."

"Good point. And well volunteered."

"What?"

"Abigail Jane Cable is closest."

I stand up and turn to the bioship. The crowd looks bigger than when we arrived, but fortunately they leave a clear space around us. I wave my right hand and an orange staircase appears from the ground to the bioship's rear hatch. M'gann and Kon follow me up.