And so, everybody went back home after hearing and seeing about why they were told to go to the Spellman house as Atticus had a lot on his mind once he came back to his bed, lying down on it and staring at the ceiling. 'Why did I have that vision of me fighting Dad?' Atticus thought to himself.
"Atticus?" Sombra's voice called.
"Uh, yes, Uncle Sombra?" Atticus replied as he sat up in his bed.
"I have to run out for a little while," Sombra's voice told him. "You stay out of trouble now."
"Yeah, okay," Atticus said. "But, um, where exactly are you going?"
"Don't worry about it," Sombra replied as he came to the door briefly to see him. "I just have to run some errands."
"Um, okay." Atticus said.
"There's some money for pizza and for renting videos." Sombra then said as he went out the door.
"I'll tell Jessica." Atticus replied.
"That's a good boy..." Sombra nodded as he left his home as he hid a smirk. "Very good boy."
Atticus glared as he knew his uncle was hiding his smirk. Sombra then walked off as the door closed. Atticus shook his fists as he soon flopped onto his stomach and punched his pillow.
"Angry about something?" Patch asked his master.
"I'm not sure how to explain to you, but... Yeah, a little bit..." Atticus replied.
"Is it about Sombra?" Patch asked. "I could tell from when you punched your pillow after he left."
"It's complicated, but yes," Atticus replied as he hugged his pillow. "I'm starting to lose my faith in trust in Uncle Sombra... For all I know too, he could be using me, I mean... He used me with giving me the powers of Black Adam and Shazam."
Patch frowned after hearing that.
"Patch, I just don't know what to do anymore," Atticus sighed softly. "I feel so lost... Especially since I had to lose Superman to Doomsday like the rest of the town."
"Well, what does your heart tell you?" Patch asked.
"To do the right thing of course." Atticus replied.
"And what is that?" Patch prompted.
"...I can't listen to Uncle Sombra anymore." Atticus said softly.
"Well, if that's what your heart is telling you, then listen." Patch said.
"Where would I go though?" Atticus frowned. "I had nowhere else to go until Uncle Sombra brought me a way to find him and stay with him."
"Too bad we don't know where your parents are," Patch said. "And if only Doomsday hadn't, um, you know... Then we'd still be able to live with Clark." The young Dalmatian soon saw a white Labrador at the window.
Atticus sighed as he fell flat on his back on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
"Excuse me a moment." Patch said as he came to the window to see his fellow dog.
Once he was at the door, the white Labrador looked at Patch before looking at Atticus and seemed to want to fly in, but knew that the shattered glass would catch some unnecessary attention.
"I'll show you a way in through the back." Patch said to the white Labrador.
The other dog nodded from that. Patch soon pushed over a chair in the kitchen over to the back door and hopped onto it before reaching out to the kitchen counter the best that he could and pushed the lock on the door and as the door cracked slightly open and pulled on it to open the door with his paw as he moved the chair out of the way to let in the other dog. The white Labrador walked in to show that he was strong and was about the same size as Ace.
"You must be a super dog," Patch said as he backed up. "Like Thunderbolt."
"In more ways than ya think." The white Labrador smirked at the Dalmatian.
"So, do you have an owner?" Patch asked began to sniff the white Labrador.
"Yes, I do," The white Labrador replied. "I live with a boy named Kevin Whitney."
"Ah, so you're Kevin's dog," Patch said. "Atticus told me about you."
"Yeah, Atticus tutors Kevin most of the time after school," The white Labrador told him. "Also, my name is Krypto."
"It's nice to meet you," Patch smiled. "So what brings you here?"
"I had a sense that was telling me to come here," Krypto replied. "It seemed like you and Atticus were having some kind of trouble."
"Yeah." Patch nodded before telling Krypto everything.
Krypto nodded back as he listened, though he looked curious about most parts.
"I just wish I could help him out," Patch pouted. "But what can I do? I'm just a dog."
"Hmm... Well, maybe I can change that," Krypto said. "Luckily I have something in my dog tag."
"You'd do something for me?" Patch asked curiously.
"Maybe I could help you become a Superdog too." Krypto smiled.
"Really?" Patch smiled back.
"Yep, now, it should be in my dog tag." Krypto said before chasing his tail at super-speed before appearing as Superdog.
Patch stepped back a bit with wide eyes.
"Call me Krypto the Superdog!" Krypto grinned before looking bashful. "As long as the public doesn't find out about it... They might take me away from Kevin and his family... And I like being with Kevin."
"I'm sure," Patch nodded. "I like being with Atticus."
"Now, it should be in here." Krypto said as he pressed on his dog tag and as it opened up a crystal came out.
"Pretty crystal." Patch smiled.
Krypto soon pushed the crystal over to Patch. "Okay, now touch that crystal." he then told the younger dog.
Patch nodded as he soon reached out and touched the crystal at that. And as he touched the crystal, it soon glowed and so did Patch as he felt empowered.
"This oughta help you out." Krypto smiled at Patch.
"Well, I feel bigger and stronger." Patch smiled back as he changed a bit in appearance.
"Yep, now you're as big and strong as me." Krypto smiled back.
Patch soon came to a mirror and looked at himself, flexing his paws a bit with a laugh. Atticus soon came down to get a drink of water for himself, not realizing he had company. Once he reached downstairs, he saw Krypto with Patch.
"Atticus." Krypto greeted.
"Oh... Hey, Krypto..." Atticus said softly. "Is this about tutoring Kevin? I'm so sorry... I just have a lot going on right now."
"It's okay, Atticus," Krypto replied. "Kevin's mom just would've liked a phone call."
"Right," Atticus said. "I'll call right now."
"Hey, Atticus, check me out," Patch smiled. "I'm a Superdog too."
Atticus dialed the number before taking a look and chuckling a little from that. "Someone wanna explain to me how that happened?" he asked playfully before he got an answer. "Hello, Mrs. Whitney? ...Yes, my school dismissed early today, I'm so sorry, I'm not sure if I'll come tutor Kevin today, there's... Uh... A family emergency."
Patch gave Atticus a long look, telling him that the family emergency could wait.
"Hang on," Atticus said before looking back at Patch. "You know what happened with Uncle Sombra. I can't go out in public with all of this on my mind."
"We can handle what Sombra's up to while you handle tutoring Kevin." Patch told him.
"Guh..." Atticus sighed.
"Trust us, okay?" Patch replied. "Have I ever let you down? I always follow the rules you set for me as your pet."
"...Yeah, you have..." Atticus admitted before going back on the phone. "Uh, I'll be over as soon as I can, Mrs. Whitney."
Patch was soon seen looking for something to wear as his superhero alter ego. Atticus brought over a spare blanket with a sheepish smile. Patch glanced at Atticus for that suggestion. Atticus shrugged before taking out a black mask to go with the blanket. Patch smiled before he saw a superhero suit to go with the mask and blanket cape.
"I know it's not much, but you could probably get something better later on." Atticus smiled back at Patch.
Patch soon took the blanket cape, mask, and superhero suit and decided to put them together.
"Thank you for understanding, Mrs. Whitney," Atticus soon said on the phone. "We just had... Uh... A lot of crazy stuff going on at my house... Uh, you know... Teenager stuff."
Patch began to put on the superhero suit, blanket cape, and mask on all at once with his super-speed. Atticus soon hung up his cell phone before flinching from a bright light. Patch smirked as he struck a heroic pose.
"Not bad," Krypto smiled at Patch. "Now you just need a new name."
"Hmm... How about Thunder Mutt?" Patch smiled back.
"Thunder Mutt..." Krypto repeated. "It'll do for now."
"Then Thunder Mutt it is!" Patch beamed.
"You can meet the Dog Stars with me." Krypto smiled.
"Sounds great for you, Patch," Atticus remarked. "I just hope I can solve my little problem soon."
"I'm sure you will." Patch nodded.
"I sure hope so." Atticus said before he grabbed his backpack and decided to go to the Whitney house for some tutoring. He soon rushed to the Whitney house.
"You wanna show me some pointers as a superhero pet?" Patch asked Krypto.
"Sure, let's do it." Krypto nodded as that sounded like a good idea.
Patch smiled, looking excited. Krypto smiled back as they went to practice in Sombra's yard.
"Oh, this should be good..." Drell muttered to himself, watching through his crystal ball. "Also, Atticus, little do you know, there's a lot more going on in your own little journey... Especially regarding Superman."
"He's alive, isn't he?" Hilda asked as she came in with two cups of tea.
"...What gave it away?" Drell asked.
"I assumed you would know..." Hilda replied before she sat down with him. "After all, you know everything and what goes on... Especially where Atticus and Jessica's parents are."
"Well, Superman is alive and he's at the Fortress of Solitude." Drell told her.
"I should've guessed that," Hilda replied as she held out a cup of tea for him. "Zelda called it, I just thought maybe he went to space or something."
"You didn't bet Krypton, did you?" Drell asked as he took the cup for himself as he sipped it a bit. "It was destroyed after all."
"Yes, Drell, I know," Hilda sighed. "And I suppose you'll tell Atticus about where Superman is the next time you see the kids." she then guessed while sipping her own tea.
"Nope," Drell said. "I'll just send him a hint."
"I hope he takes it well," Hilda replied. "I'm sure Atticus would feel hurt about this Superman reveal."
"He will feel hurt and will most likely need to let out all of his anger and sadness." Drell said.
"I'm sure you felt that way too when we were about to get married..." Hilda said softly. "...But you didn't come to the wedding."
"Hilda, I'm sorry, but my job is very demanding," Drell frowned out of guilt. "I really did love you and wanna be with you, but my job nearly kills me half the time with work loads and busy schedules."
"Yeah, I suppose." Hilda replied softly.
Meanwhile at the Whitney house...
Atticus soon went to the door and knocked on it as a brown-haired woman got the door.
"Oh, there you are, Atticus." Mary said softly.
"Hi, Mrs. Whitney," Atticus smiled. "I hope Kevin's ready to learn."
"Oh, he sure is." Mary smiled back.
Atticus smiled as he came inside and sat at the kitchen table, taking out some paper and pencils. A toddler girl giggled at Atticus, reaching out to him from her highchair.
"Hi, Melanie." Atticus smiled at the girl who was Kevin's little sister before tickling under her chin.
Melanie giggled even more from that. Atticus smiled as he knew one family he might be able to stay with since he couldn't trust Sombra anymore.
"So you got out of school early today?" Kevin asked as he came to see Atticus in the kitchen. "Lucky... I had to stay in school."
"Heh... Sorry about that..." Atticus smiled bashfully. "Anyway, let's get onto tutoring."
"It's time for you to take a bath anyway." Mary told Melanie as she picked up her daughter and took her out of the room.
Kevin soon brought out the homework he needed help with.
"All right, let's see what we got here," Atticus smiled as he helped out. "Fractions, huh? I used to hate those too when I was your age."
"I never wanna see them again." Kevin groaned.
"Well, sorry, but fractions are everywhere; just like math," Atticus smiled. "You just have to find a fun way to learn it."
Kevin didn't know why, but he felt like Atticus was a big brother to him. Atticus smiled as he began to feel the same way with Kevin being like his little brother. The two of them began the tutoring lesson and where Atticus was able to find a fun way to tutor Kevin.
Meanwhile, Thunder Mutt and Superdog were practicing superhero techniques together.
"You should always be alert whenever there's a call to danger," Krypto told Thunder Mutt. "It could happen at any time, even if you're at home, relaxing with a bone after a long day of playing with your human friend."
"Right." Thunder Mutt nodded.
"I'll also tell Brainy Barker about you." Krypto said.
"Is she, like, uh, your boss?" Thunder Mutt asked.
"You could say that," Krypto replied. "I'm sure there'll be a spot for you to be in The Dog Stars like with the heroes in The Justice League."
"Cool." Thunder Mutt smiled before his super-hearing caught something.
"Ya hear a call to danger, huh?" Krypto guessed. "I'd guess so around this time."
"It's Sombra." Thunder Mutt said.
"Atticus's uncle, right?" Krypto asked.
"Yeah, it's a long story." Thunder Mutt nodded before he began to listen closely.
And where what he listened was the exact same words Atticus heard in his vision that had Sombra and Steppenwolf. Krypto waited to see what Thunder Mutt would say or do from that.
"No... The vision!" Thunder Mutt gasped. "It's coming true!"
"The vision?" Krypto asked.
"Yes, my master's vision." Thunder Mutt nodded.
"Your master has visions?" Krypto asked.
"It's a long story," Thunder Mutt said. "I should probably tell him about this."
"Right," Krypto nodded. "I'll show you the way."
"Thanks, Krypto," Thunder Mutt smiled. "This is gonna be the start of a great friendship, I just know it."
"I know the feeling." Krypto smiled back before leading him to his master's home.
Thunder Mutt smiled as they walked off together, though he was worried about the situation.
"So, Kevin, does that make sense now?" Atticus asked.
"Yeah, I think I like Fractions better when they have pizza or pie involved." Kevin replied.
Atticus smiled, happy to know that Kevin got to understand Fractions now.
"I still don't like them." Kevin stuck his tongue out.
"Try doing my homework," Atticus smirked. "You'll learn to appreciate this stuff once you get older."
"If you say so." Kevin shrugged.
"You did great though," Atticus said. "You should do great for your upcoming test."
"I sure hope so," Kevin replied. "If I fail this next test, I'm gonna have to stay inside for a while during the weekend and hitting the books."
"Well, I'm sure you won't have to stay inside this time." Atticus smiled.
"I really hope so," Kevin said. "Thanks, Atticus."
"Sure thing, Kevin," Atticus smiled. "Tell me how your test goes when you have it. I should probably head back home."
"All right," Kevin said. "Guess I'll go play with Krypto now."
Atticus was about to leave when he saw both Krypto and Thunder Mutt coming. He looked around the house just to make sure before seeing Mary going to take Melanie to her room for a nap, so he shut the door and decided to take that time to leave to see the two dogs. Krypto and Thunder Mutt then landed in front of Atticus.
"Hey, guys," Atticus said to the dogs. "I just finished my tutoring."
"Atticus, your vision, it came true." Thunder Mutt told him.
"What?!" Atticus gasped.
"It's true," Thunder Mutt frowned. "I heard Sombra and Steppenwolf myself."
"This is not good," Atticus groaned. "I'll have to work harder to stop Uncle Sombra before something terrible happens."
"You won't do it alone." Thunder Mutt said.
"Let me guess; I have two canine compadres to help me?" Atticus smirked.
Krypto and Thunder Mutt blinked from that.
"That means you two are gonna help me?" Atticus then explained. "Sorry, guess I've been hanging around Lionel too long."
"Yes, we are," Thunder Mutt promised. "But I'm thinking this will need more than just our help."
"Shall I round up my good friends?" Atticus suggested.
"Yep, and maybe include Mo; something tells me there's more to her that we don't know about and something that she doesn't know yet." Thunder Mutt said.
"Hmm... All right..." Atticus replied. "Let's just give everybody time to get ready, but I'll send a group text."
"Perfect." Thunder Mutt smiled.
Atticus smiled back as he decided to contact his friends for back-up.
Krypto soon changed from his Superdog insignia and cape. Thunder Mutt decided to do the same and went back to being Patch.
"Nice work!" Krypto smiled. "So, uh, you ever miss your brothers and sisters?" he then asked.
"Oh, of course I do," Patch replied. "But I feel a bit happier with Atticus. I just imagine that Lucky, Rolly, Cadpig, and Spot are having their own crazy adventures... They were always so close like the best of friends... Sometimes I'd go with them with my sister Penny though."
"That's good." Krypto smiled.
Atticus soon contacted everyone with a group message on his phone. "Hey, guys, sorry to make you come back over again," he then said through the voice messenger app. "But I really need your help. Uncle Sombra is getting too out of hand for me to handle by myself and I trust you all with my heart and life. Please come over, I hope none of you are too busy."
Patch knew that the others would be more than willing to help.
"Now we just gotta wait," Atticus smiled at Krypto and Patch. "I'm glad to see you two getting along."
"Yep," Krypto smiled back. "Just like you and Kevin."
"Yeah, he's like the little brother I never had." Atticus smiled back.
"He always wanted a brother too," Krypto said. "He told me especially when it was about time for Melanie to be born."
"Melanie's a little cutie," Atticus replied. "Must be nice having a little sister, but I have my own big sister."
"She's so cool." Patch smiled about Jessica.
"You can always visit whenever you want," Krypto smiled at Atticus. "The Whitneys already consider you family."
"Aww... That makes my day." Atticus beamed.
They soon waited in the kitchen for the time being as Sombra was luckily still out.