Eventually, Jessica, Patch, and Atticus waited on the couch before a certain warlock appeared.
"All right, this better be good," Drell said as he held his crystal ball, high in his hands since he was big and tall. "I had to meet Hilda for... Uh... Emergency support."
"We wanna look through your crystal ball and see if our theory about the Justice League still alive is correct." Jessica said.
"Huh? Oh, sure..." Drell replied as he went to set up his crystal ball. "Just gimme a few seconds."
"So... How's Hilda Spellman?" Jessica asked.
"Oh, she's fine," Drell said as he worked on his crystal ball which took a bit longer than he said it would, but that couldn't be helped. "I feel like the last time we've had that much fun with each other's company was when we met as kids when the Pilgrims arrived on the Mayflower."
Atticus looked surprised that Drell sounded older than he looked.
"All right, that should do it," Drell then said, leaning back with his arms folded. "Thor recommended that I upgrade to the WitchFi since the World Wide Witch Web is old hat," he then looked over at Atticus. "...You better close your mouth before you catch flies."
"I just... You... How old are you?" Atticus asked. "You look at least 35!"
"Children shouldn't ask their elders their age." Drell smirked.
"Anyway, let's focus." Jessica said.
"All right, this should capture what happened with you guys last night," Drell said. "I was watching, but then I had to take a break, so I let my crystal ball film the fight. It was really intense from what I saw."
"Believe me, it was, especially with those Parademons." Atticus sighed.
Eventually, the crystal ball showed them last night during the battle while trying to save President Dale, her husband, and the innocent people of the city they lived in.
"Okay, let's get to the part before the portal collided with the Justice League and the ground." Patch said.
"Be patient," Drell replied. "I have a pretty old system."
"As old as you?" Jessica smirked.
"Not funny, Jessie." Drell glared as Jessica giggled.
Eventually, the older heroes were shown gathering around, except for Cyborg Superman as the portal was coming to crush them.
"Alright, now let's see if the portal actually did crush them or if they were sent to where those Parademons came from." Atticus said.
"Excuse me again." Drell said as he stretched out the image on the crystal ball like expanding an image on an iPhone like kids did nowadays.
Atticus, Jessica, and Patch waited to see what would happen. Luckily, Jessica and Patch were right as the portal seemed to teleport the older members of the Justice League and they were not hurt in any sort of way.
"Whew." Atticus smiled.
"Guess you owe us five bucks." Jessica smirked.
"There was no money involved!" Atticus smirked back.
"Ah, well, I tried." Jessica shrugged innocently.
"But if they did end up where the Parademons are, they must be on Apokalips." Drell said.
"Except for Cyborg Superman of course..." Atticus replied.
"He didn't look too concerned about what happened." Patch commented.
"No, he didn't, but Lex? Oh, boy, he is not happy." Drell smirked.
"You saw him too?" Jessica asked.
"Yeah, the news did not go well with him." Drell chuckled. He soon used his crystal ball to show them what he saw.
Lex just finished watching the recent news on TV before tossing a bottle at the screen as Carolyn stood by, almost looking like a maid. "Couldn't find the remote?" Conner snarked a bit from that.
"That is not Superman," Lex glared as he stood up sharply. "We had a real opportunity here! A real opportunity and you blew it! Come along, son. Mrs. Brody, clean up this mess."
"Right away, Mr. Luthor." Carolyn sighed as she went to do what was asked of her.
"Mo's aunt works for that guy?" Atticus asked.
"Unfortunately, yes." Drell said.
"Does her uncle or her brother and sister know about this?" Atticus asked.
"I'm afraid they're all forced to work for Lex," Drell frowned softly. "Dr. Charles Brody got into serious trouble with Mr. Luthor which forced him and his wife to start working for him and after a grave incident, it forced them to bring their nieces and nephew with them, one of which is your new classmate."
"Gosh..." Atticus whispered, feeling bad for Mo's family to have to work for a man like Lex Luthor.
"Hey, I did what you told me to do," Conner told Lex as they began to leave Carolyn as she cleaned up the mess in the room. "Everything I'm capable of doing."
"And you still lost." Lex told him coldly before the elevator doors closed.
The elevator then took off with them in it.
"There's a difference between you and Conner, Atticus; that's that you have more experience being a hero," Drell told Atticus. "But also you gained more experience because of Superman, the actual Superman."
"I gave you every advantage Superman had and more." Lex told Conner firmly.
Atticus took note of what was said to him.
"And I appreciate-" Conner replied until he realized what was said. "Wait, more?"
The elevator doors soon opened up.
"Wait here." Lex told Conner as he walked out first.
Dr. Brody was shown to be behind a capsule which had something inside, waiting for Lex.
"I remember this place..." Conner said softly as he explored.
"There you are." A familiar voice called to the boy.
"Dr. Donovan?" Conner asked before he saw Donovan with his arm in a cast. "What happened to you?"
"Your father is a... Hard man." Donovan told him softly.
Lex soon pressed a button and soon was shown a green substance in an injection needle. Atticus went wide-eyed as he saw the words "Termination Caution".
"My father? You mean Superman?" Conner asked Donovan.
"Drell, this... Is this happening right now?" Atticus asked, looking ready to change into Superboy.
"Uh, lemme see..." Drell said as he paused briefly before answering. "Yeah, it's live."
"Then I gotta go." Atticus replied as he got ready.
"Oh, Atticus, I'm not sure about this..." Jessica frowned worriedly.
Atticus soon changed into Superboy before flying off at his full super-speed.
"Gah!" Jessica yelped.
"Well, I guess I better let that play out if he can get there in time." Drell said as he patted his hair down as that made his hair fly a bit.
"I'm coming, Conner!" Atticus called out as he memorized where to go for LexCorp.
"I don't work for Superman," Donovan said before realizing. "I-I thought he would have told you, I-I didn't mean to I-"
"Well, look who's talking. Again!" Lex glared a bit.
"Mr. Luthor, please!" Dr. Brody cried out as he came beside Donovan.
"What's going on?" Conner soon asked.
"It's all right, Dabney," Lex told his scientist. "Tell him. What difference could it make now?"
"I don't think he-" Dr. Brody spoke up.
"This doesn't concern you, Brody... Tell him!" Lex demanded to Donovan.
Donovan sighed before he told the truth to Conner. "The DNA, your DNA, its-"
"Superman's." Conner simply stated.
"Yes, but also-" Donovan began.
"I told you I gave you more," Lex replied as he brought out the needle. "All of Superman's strength, plus all the Luthor intellect. Supposedly."
They soon heard a crash as Superboy flew in.
"Oh, great," Lex glared. "Just what we need. I thought maybe you died too."
"In your dreams maybe!" Superboy glared back.
"So all this time you've also been alive," Lex glared back. "What made you come back?"
"Scum like you, especially in going after a good friend of mine." Superboy huffed.
Conner smiled after hearing Superboy call him his friend since he had a feeling he knew who it was.
"So then, you're here to save this clone?" Lex asked Superboy.
"Yeah, because unlike you, I care about other people." Superboy glared.
"Those are not the best words to say to Lex Luthor." Dr. Brody said nervously.
"Yes, especially when I have this." Lex said, still holding onto the injection needle.
"If you were smart, you would put that down." Superboy glared.
"Do you even know what it does?" Lex replied.
"I don't care," Superboy glared. "I refuse to let you hurt one of my friends."
Conner had a bad feeling what was inside, the injector needle could do him harm. Superboy narrowed his eyes.
"Maybe you're right... Maybe you're not..." Lex rolled his eyes a bit as he seemed to put the needle away for now. "I don't know what I was thinking."
'Huh. Well, that was easy.' Superboy thought to himself.
"Let's go." Lex decided as he walked towards the elevator.
Conner soon followed Lex before looking back one last time before continuing to follow Lex. Superboy soon flew down and touched the floor.
"Well, as the kids say, it's cool to see you." Dr. Brody said to Superboy.
"Huh? Oh, thank you, um, sir." Superboy replied bashfully.
"And we better get out of here before Mr. Luthor decides to let the other clones loose." Dr. Brody whispered to him.
"Uh... Yes, sir." Superboy replied, not sure how to take that, but nodded at him.
"And Dabney? You're fired." Lex then told the man as he took out the remote to close the elevator doors, but the remote did something else, rather dangerously.
"Uh-oh." Dr. Brody gulped from that.
The other clones were soon seen coming out.
"We gotta get out of here!" Dr. Brody told Superboy.
"But we can't let him suffer on his own!" Superboy then said, referring to Donovan's situation.
The clones were about to attack Donovan before getting blocked off by crystal spikes. Dr. Brody stepped back a bit.
"Okay, I've had enough of you ugly mugs!" Superboy glared. "You wanna get through Donovan, you're gonna have to get past me!"
The clones glared and growled at Superboy and decided to go after him next.
"Stay safe, Dr. Brody." Superboy smirked as he decided to fly out and fight the clones which seemed dangerous.
Dr. Brody and Donovan both looked surprised as Superboy fought the clones without getting free. Superboy glared as he fought easily before coming back and wiping off some slime that got onto him from the clones for trying to hurt him before he locked them all up in a crystal spiked cage.
"Still can't keep his mouth shut." Lex muttered as he rode up the elevator with Conner, unaware of what actually happened.
"Alright, let's get out of here." Superboy told Dr. Brody and Donovan.
"You gonna help us out?" Donovan asked.
"Of course I am," Superboy replied as he helped them out to safety with his powers. "What kinda hero would I be if I didn't?"
"I think I like this kid." Dr. Brody smirked.
"Conner could really learn a thing or two from him." Donovan said.
Superboy smiled a bit from that as he helped them out.
Meanwhile...
"Well, I better get going," Drell told Jessica and Patch. "I'm a very busy man, ya know..." he then said as he took his crystal ball away as he began to walk away. "Paperwork to sign... Meetings to attend... Making sure that young witches and warlocks obey the rules and not using their magic around mortals."
"Drell, did you know Sombra was behind the upcoming invasion by starting by sending some Parademons to attack?" Jessica asked.
Drell sighed as he stopped in his tracks.
"That's a yes." Patch said to Jessica.
"I'm sorry," Drell said before looking back. "But yes... I did."
"And yet you didn't stop Atticus from going to live here with him?" Jessica asked. "Along with me and Patch included?
"I'm sorry..." Drell replied. "It had to be done."
"That was horrible!" Patch growled. "You could've said something!"
"And what?" Drell glared a bit. "You guys end up going to Kansas and get separated after Superman got killed?"
"...That's fair." Patch had to admit.
"Not my fault..." Drell grumbled. "I try to help out, but it just blows up in my face."
"Anyway, we should inform Lionel." Patch said.
"If he'll even listen..." Drell rolled his eyes.
Jessica and Patch glanced at him, but decided to let him get going.
"Okay, so, uh, where does Lionel live?" Jessica asked.
"I think he's at Bruce Wayne's place if I had to guess," Patch replied. "Considering that Atticus won't be back anytime too soon."
"Yeah, let's do that." Jessica nodded.
"Well, find a way to get there, I'm done with you two." Drell grumbled.
"Is he always this cheerful?" Patch deadpanned to Jessica.
"He really hates his personal schedule interfered with." Jessica said as she took out a leash for Patch.
"That makes sense." Patch said.
Jessica soon opened the front door and they began to make their way outside. Drell walked out with them as he decided to get going.
"C'mon, boy," Jessica smiled as she took Patch for a walk. "Let's go find Wayne Manor."
"Right." Patch nodded.
The two soon walked off together. Patch frowned a bit from the leash as he didn't like it, but it was the law.
"Maybe now I can get some relaxation done and spend some time with Hilda," Drell smirked to himself as he disguised himself in a normal mortal outfit as he went to the coffeehouse. "Hopefully those new transfer students from Japan won't be coming for a while." He soon made his way back to Hilda.
Hilda was at work, but she looked a bit bored and unhappy as it was a slow day at work with not a lot of customers as she sighed a bit. She soon saw Drell coming down the street and beamed in excitement, but then began to play with the cash register, acting like she didn't care with an innocent whistle. Drell could tell Hilda was acting, but decided to play along.
"Oh, my... A new customer?" Hilda smirked innocently. "This is a lovely surprise."
"Where is everybody anyway?" Drell asked as he came over. "It's the weekend."
"I'm not sure," Hilda frowned. "I think that it's probably everybody trying to cope with the loss of the Justice League... They feel a bit helpless. Zelda and I saw the news."
"Well, then you should know they're not dead, they're still alive." Drell said.
"They're alive...?" Hilda asked softly.
"Oh, yes," Drell smiled. "They got pretty lucky."
"Oh, I felt worried about them too," Hilda then said softly. "We have enough to worry about back home as it is with taking care of Sabrina."
"Well, luckily we have the Supermen and Black Adam and other heroes to help keep this place safe." Drell said.
"Yes..." Hilda replied. "All of this crime and drama though... Has made me feel... Vulnerable..." she then pouted innocently. "Even whenever Zelda, Salem, and Sabrina are doing other things... Sure feels lonely at the house sometimes."
"Maybe I should come visit more often..." Drell replied as he came by her side. "I'd protect you and always be there for you."
"Aw, thank you, Drell." Hilda smiled.
Drell simply smiled back.
Meanwhile at Wayne Manor...
Alfred came to leave some food for Lionel at his room, knocking on the door so he would know that it was ready before he walked off, so not to disturb Lionel. Lionel soon poked his hand out the door and carried the tray of food inside and quickly slammed the door shut. Ace let out a very sad whimper from where he sat. Alfred sighed as he knew how Ace felt before they both heard someone knock at the front door.
"I shall get that..." Alfred decided as he came to the door and opened it to see Jessica with Patch. "May I help you?"
"Um, yes," Jessica replied. "I'm here to see a Lionel Schwartz."
Ace came up to Patch and sniffed him a bit as they waited at the door. Patch simply barked with a smile.
"You may come inside, but I don't think Lionel will be very chatty today," Alfred told Jessica and Patch as he let them inside of the mansion. "Miss Cherry and that boy Thornton are quite worried about him and he's even turned them away since Master Bruce's... Erm... Sudden disappearance."
"We actually have news about Bruce's and the others' disappearance; they didn't actually die, the portal was still operational, especially when they were in the middle of the portal." Jessica said.
"...Is that so?" Alfred asked with wide eyes. "How can you be so sure?"
"Special research," Jessica smiled. "Trust me."
"...It would mean so much to me to see that Master Bruce is well," Alfred said softly. "He was always like a son to me after the unfortunate demise of his parents."
Out of nowhere, Lionel soon appeared, looking happy as if he had overheard the others talking.
"Lionel... You look well..." Jessica said.
"Did I just hear that Batman survived the impact?" Lionel grinned with a huge smile on his face that nearly went over his eyes.
"...Yes...?" Jessica blinked. "...Were you eavesdropping?"
"I might've heard you a bit while I ate my sandwich." Lionel smirked a bit.
Patch simply rolled his eyes with a smirk.
"Oh, this means so much to me," Lionel sighed happily. "Thank you for sharing the news with me. If you see Cherry and Storm Cloud, tell them that they're welcome to come back."
"Storm Cloud?" Jessica asked.
"You have a pet name for Thor?" Patch guessed knowingly.
"...Maybe." Lionel blinked bashfully.
"Okay, spill it; what's going on?" Patch asked.
"Don't you guys have to go now?" Lionel replied slyly.
"You seem close with Thor and Cherry..." Jessica said.
"...I'm not sure if I wanna say right now..." Lionel replied. "It might be too soon."
"We understand." Jessica said.
"Yeah." Patch nodded.
Lionel chuckled bashfully to himself.
"It's good to see you in a better mood though," Jessica beamed. "I was a bit worried about you and the Batman thing, I'd probably feel the same way if anything horrible happened to Wonder Woman."
"Well, we better get going." Patch said.
"Come back again anytime, just remember my special message for Cherry and Thor." Lionel replied.
"We will, Lionel," Jessica smiled as she left with Patch. "Good to see you."
Jessica and Patch soon began to make their way back to Sombra's place.
"Well, I'm glad he got cheered up." Patch smiled.
"Me too," Jessica replied. "And I hope that Atticus is alright."
"I'm sure he is." Patch smiled.
Jessica smiled back as they got back. Sombra was soon washing up some dishes as they came back as he had a lot on his mind.
"Hey, Sombra." Patch said.
"Oh! Hello, there," Sombra greeted. "Thought I'd take care of these dishes and see about dinner."
"Hmm... Yes, that sounds good..." Jessica nodded as she unhooked the leash for Patch. "We were just going for a walk. Atticus had to, uh... Step out for a few minutes."
"That's good." Sombra said.
"Yeah, he should be back really soon." Jessica replied.
"That sounds good," Sombra said. "As long as you don't go out too late, it's very dark outside now."
"Yeah... It is... Curfew, huh?" Jessica replied. "My school had a curfew, but some other students didn't really listen to it... Like they were trying to rebel against Hexton."
"Some teenagers just think of rebelling." Sombra said.
"You're telling me," Jessica rolled her eyes. "I was never like that though."
"No?" Patch asked. "Not once in your life?"
"Nope, I was the perfect little angel." Jessica smiled innocently.
"Wow." Patch said.
"Yep, start taking notes." Jessica kept her smirk.
Meanwhile with Superboy...
"All right, you guys should be safe now." Superboy smiled as he helped out Donovan and Dr. Brody.
"Thank you for saving our lives." Donovan said.
"No problem." Superboy smiled.
"You didn't need to do this." Dr. Brody said.
"I wanted to," Superboy replied. "Now I think it might be a good time for me to head back home before it gets too dark."
"Right." Donovan nodded.
Superboy soon left them to safety as he went to go back home. Dr. Brody helped Donovan out due to the other man's severe injuries once they were safe from the horrible fate that Lex left for them. Superboy smiled as he flew off, passing by the cemetery, though he glanced down as he saw a familiar figure there.
'What's Cyborg Superman doing at the cemetery?' Superboy thought to himself before flying down to find out.
Cyborg Superman stood in front of a grave and took out a rose to put on the grave as a sign of respect.
"Well, that's nice... I guess..." Superboy said to himself.
Suddenly, Cyborg Superman felt a sharp pain somehow and held his head as he grunted and cried out. Superboy soon looked concerned and was about to find out why.
"If you're through indulging in this emotional nonsense, we have work to do, Superman." A dark voice told the cyborg who sounded very unfriendly.
"Yes, Master." Cyborg Superman bowed his head from that.
"Master?" Superboy asked out of confusion.
Cyborg Superman glanced over as he thought he heard something.
"I better do some more research and homework outside of school... Speaking of school, I better go back." Superboy said before he went back to Sombra's place as it was late enough as it was. And at super-speed, he soon arrived back at Sombra's place.
There was a leftover plate of dinner left at the table with a glass of water. Superboy soon changed from his superhero form back into plain old Atticus as he went to get his dinner and ate it before he would go to bed as he had school in the morning. After eating dinner, he soon went straight to bed.
Sombra checked on Atticus's room to see that the boy was sound asleep and soon shut the door and walked off. "Good, he's asleep," he then said to himself. "Maybe I could work on some more plans while he'll be in school tomorrow." Unknown to him, Atticus had heard him with his super-hearing.