Disclaimer: DC Comics owns all rights to the characters within. They are used without permission and not meant to infringe on copyrights or meant to generate income.

There are some parts where there is internal dialog, but the identity of the person speaking should become apparent.

Edited on 23 Feb to include breaks between sections.

Brothers in Arms, chapter 1

By my nature, I'm a pessimist.

It's difficult not to be with what I've experienced. Being cloned by an organization that's out to rule the world does not leave you with much time or energy to dream about what you'd like to become. Instead, I was forced to deal with whatever crisis of the moment was happening. When groups like the JLA opposed them, the Agenda couldn't hope to compete. Being on the eternally losing side makes you plan for everything to go wrong.

Conner was walking home when he saw a familiar figure headed down Smallville's main street. He recognized him instantly because they shared the same face. Match, his white-haired clone, was headed into an alley. Conner shadowed him and saw him enter a building. He changed into costume and tried to hear what was happening. His super-hearing wasn't entirely reliable yet and this was a time when it wasn't working. He could make out multiple voices but not what they were saying. It looked like he was going to have to go in to find out what Match was doing.

He flung the door open (which his tactile telekinesis helpfully unlocked) to see Match and three people in dark suits. Two of them pulled guns and aimed them at him.

Match looked up in shock and growled, "You!"

The unarmed man raised his hand in restraint. "Hold your fire, men. We have no quarrel with Superboy."

"What are you up to, Match?" Superboy demanded. "What's going on here?"

"It's none of your concern," he replied, the barest hint of anger in his eyes.

"Please restrain yourself, Match," the leader of the group said, taking out an identification card. "Superboy, I am Thames. I'm with the government."

Superboy took a look at the card. It looked authentic to him.

"What branch are you with?" he asked.

"We're part of an off-shoot of Checkmate. I'm afraid that you're not cleared for the name."

"Then, clear me."

Thames started at him a moment before shrugging. "Fine. We're with Group I."

"What's Group I's purpose?"

"We're involved with the internal security of the country among other things."

"I thought the FBI was responsible for that."

"We offer deniability."

Superboy pointed at Match. "What's he doing here?"

"Match is an operative," Thames replied. "He's working with us to atone for his past deeds."

Superboy turned to Match. "Who do you think you're fooling?"

Match icily replied, "I don't expect you to understand."

"Try me."

"It never was my desire to oppose you. I don't want to be the 'evil clone' anymore. Here, I've done some good."

"Like what?" Superboy looked skeptical.

"Match was instrumental in the breakup of some weapon smuggling rings," Thames said.

"No way," Superboy said. "Really?"

"He's quite skilled. He's currently working on bringing down a kidnapping ring."

"Who are they kidnapping?"

"Teenagers," Match replied curtly.

"Then how," Superboy began. "Oh. You're going to get yourself kidnapped."

"That's the plan."

"Look, I'll help. Kidnappers need to be stopped."

Match's eyes flashed. "You're not qualified."

Thames intervened. "Don't be so hasty, Match. This could be an excellent opportunity. We could have a better chance of getting them if there are two of you out there."

I couldn't believe that I was being partnered with him. He's the one I've spent my life running away from. It appeared that my life was going to continue to suck.

Superboy looked at his reflection with a critical eye. He was dressed in a shocking manner with his "shirt" showing more flesh than it covered. He looked like he was looking for a good time and wouldn't stop until he found it. He hoped no one he knew saw him.

As embarrassed as he was, he felt better when he saw Match. Not only was he immodestly dressed as well, but he was wearing goth makeup.

"Nice look," he said, straight-faced.

Match gave him a scathing look. "Are you ready?"

"Let me review the plan one last time. We use these fake IDs to get into this club and have a good time until someone kidnaps us?"

"That's correct. We pretend to be kidnapped and after we're taken to their base of operations, we subdue them and call in a team to bring everyone in and scrub the area for other information."

"What are these guys doing with their abductees?"

"Nothing pleasant. Harvesting organs from some of them, selling others."

"Charming. Let's take 'em down."

I wasn't going to let him know that those clothes made me as uncomfortable as he was. In this job, some...unpleasant things had happened.

Superboy had no problem getting in the club even though someone his age should have been stopped. It probably had something to do with the 50 he slipped the bouncer.

As "Karl," he hit the dance floor and flirted with the ladies. He noticed that "Ron" was working on the goth crowd. The two managed to make it clear that they were alone and weren't interested in a long-term relationship.

Finally, a woman approached him with a drink. She handed it to him.

"Here you go, stud," she purred. "You don't come around here often, do you?"

He took a sip. It tasted a bit funny.

"It's my first time here," he admitted. "What about you?"

"I'm a regular here," she replied watching him as he finished the drink. "I keep an eye out for talent."

He smiled rakishly at her. "You think I've got talent?"

She ran her hands through his hair. "I know it."

"So, you wanna dance?" His head was getting muddled.

"How about we go back to my place to party?" she suggested with a smile.

"Sure," he said, his words a bit slurred.

He went out with her and was shoved into the back of a van where he lost consciousness.

Superboy woke up with a headache, a foul taste in his mouth, and with his hands tied behind his back. He noticed Match similarly bound but looking much more alert.

"Are you okay?" he asked. "You were out for more than half an hour longer than I was."

"I feel like crap," Kon-El complained. "What was in that drink?"

"Probably gamma-hydroxybutyrate. Do you need more time to recover?"

"Give me five minutes. Are we the only captives?"

"The only ones in this room. I'd guess that other would be in different rooms."

After a few more minutes, Superboy nodded. Match snapped his bindings easily, but it took Kon-El some effort.

"My powers are a bit on the fritz," he admitted. "I don't think I'm at full power."

Match replied, "We'll just have to be careful then."

As the two left their room, an alarm sounded. Guards with machine guns appeared, but they were unprepared for two of their captives having superpowers. They dispatched them easily, but more came.

Unfortunately, Superboy's powers cut out and he leaned against the wall, a bit disoriented. One of the guards took this opportunity to aim at him and fire.

"Superboy!" Match cried out, throwing his power out to shield him.

I saved you.

I can't believe that. I thought that I hated you and would be happier without you.

It took for you to be about to be killed for me to realize how I really felt about you.

You're my brother. A brother I fight with and disagree with, but a brother nonetheless.

I have family. A brother.

Wow.

Superboy recovered his powers, and the two of them quickly took care of the rest of the guards and kidnapping ring. They had half a dozen other captives and records on what happened to dozens of others. Match called in to get Group I to do a thorough search of the area.

While waiting for them to come, Superboy approached him. "Hey, for that time back when my powers cut out..."

"Yes?"

"Thanks."

"Anytime."

Superboy gave Match a look to see if he was mocking him or gloating. He looked genuinely glad to be of help.

"You know, we make a good team," Match said.

"Yeah, I guess we do. Funny that we always fought before."

Match shrugged. "I'm not the same person I was before. If you need my help, give me a call, okay? You can reach me through Group I."

Superboy smiled. "I'll do that."

He left then. I had my debriefing, but it seemed to go faster.

Maybe things were finally starting to turn around for me. I was doing good work. I was patching up my relationship with my brother.

I was starting to feel good about things.

"Match, I have your next assignment," Thames said.

"What's the mission?"

"We have a security leak. You're the best one suited to take care of it."

Thames handed him a file. Match opened it to see who the target was.

It was Superboy. His orders were to kill him.

I knew things were too good to be true.

Any and all comments are welcome!