Chapter 20: Superboy

"It just doesn't make any sense. I know the people of New York have a hard time following instructions, but this was pretty clear. Superman was pretty clear." Conner said as he looked at the screen which showed where the robberies and the murders had taken place. "What are we missing?" He wanted to solve this without asking Clark to get involved. His brother had enough on his plate already, adding New York-which was Conner's town- to the mix would be a mess.

"It could just be that they're too far gone." Raven said. "Maybe we need to institute a curfew."

"And implement it how?" Conner asked looking at his friend. "There's like five of us here, and occasionally Speedy, but that's it. We can't implement a curfew successfully, and besides, we don't run the city. Mayor Bloomberg does."

"And yet we're the ones who are cleaning up the mess. The NYPD is broken, it's either riddled with corruption or the officers are incompetent. We had to deal with the police chief again this week." Raven said.

"We're not rulers." Conner said banging his hand on the table.

"Well then what good are we?" Raven snapped back. "How many more girls are we going to have to pick up who've been raped, how many more boys need to die from gang violence before we take control? Bloomberg doesn't want a solution, Conner, he just wants to win more power."

Before he could say anything Kori spoke. "There is another way we can solve this."

"How?" Conner asked looking at her.

"We find the source of the problem." Kori replied.

"You think this isn't a natural phenomenon?" Conner asked.

Kori shook her head then pointed to the screen. "Look at what's happening and look at where it's happening. It's all around the ley lines that go through the city. You remember when Brother Blood was around?"

"Yes." Conner said. "He took control of the Ley Lines and used his disciples' blood to fuel his power. But it can't be him, can it? He's dead."

"It's not him." Raven said. "I'd know if it was."

Conner nodded, he'd always found her connection to Trigon somewhat worrying, but for now put it to one side. "So, what could it be?"

The door opened and Victor walked in, accompanied by Tim and Cassie. Conner smiled at Cassie and tried to ignore the butterflies floating around in his stomach at her presence. "What did you find?" Conner asked.

"We got some information out of the commissioner. It seems he's been taking pay offs from a company located in New Jersey." Victor said.

"Again?" Raven exclaimed.

"Yep." Victor said, he went to the computer screens and imprinted his data into them, soon enough they came up with the tape.

"I'd get a phone call, three times a week, no name, just a location. I'd go to the bay, sit in my car, then there'd be a knock on the door, I'd open it, and there'd be a letter and a bag of money. I never saw the person's face. But the instructions were clear. I was to allow as many murderers and rapists out as I could to create fear."

"Why?"

"To undermine Superman."

The tape stopped then, Conner looked at Victor who said. "After that he started begging for mercy and well, Bloomberg wanted to speak with him so I cut the tape."

"I think it's got to be Phobia." Conner said.

"Why?" Kori asked.

"Because if murderers and rapists are being let out people are afraid right? And she feeds off of fear. It's the only thing that makes sense." Conner said.

"But would she be able to do that from Rykkers? It's quite the distance from where all the crimes have been happening." Tim asked.

"If she's even in Rykkers." Conner said. "Who knows someone could've bailed her out, like they did the Joker." He still couldn't believe someone had gotten passed the Shining Knight, or had tricked him and allowed the Joker to get out. Whoever they were, he wanted to find them and deal with them.

Victor was back at the computers doing a quick search, a video appeared on the screen showing Phobia sat in her cell reading. "Is this live?" Conner asked.

"Yes. She's not moved from there in months." Victor said.

Conner banged his fist on the table again, seeing red. "Then who the fuck is responsible for all of this?!"

A new video appeared on the screen then, Conner looked up and it seemed to be of people in a dilapidated church.

"You know, these superheroes. They think they're so high and mighty with their abilities and their morals. I'll tell you something, they're false. They're truly false. Superman killed a man without a trial. The Joker was a monster, but he needed and deserved a trial. Superman has taken it upon himself to play policeman of the world. Who gave him that right? Does he not recognise borders, or sovereignty?"

"He's an alien, he doesn't belong here!" Someone shouted.

"Exactly!" The man said. Conner looked at him closely and saw that he had blonde hair and blue eyes, and there was something vaguely familiar about him. "You know what we need? We need to take our planet back from these freaks. We need to make them understand that we're the ones in charge not them. Look at what's happening outside. The people are losing hope, losing faith. Why? Because these people refuse to do anything about murderers and rapists. It's time we did something."

"Where is this?" Conner asked. "Is this live?"

"Yes." Victor said. He started typing something into the computer. "It's in the church where Blood used to work."

"Shit." Conner said. "Who's this guy?" He asked pointing to the screen.

Victor did a quick search and then he said. "Gordon Godfrey. A pastor from Mississippi."

Conner got up then and said. "We're going to go pay him a visit."