Author's Note – I do not own any of the characters, Marvel and DC do.

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Chapter Six

Revelations

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Clark stared at Gambit in horror.

"What?!"

"You 'ave been cloned." Gambit repeated, then glanced at Kara. "Tous les deux vous. Doom 'as le fils et la fille, Magneto 'as un Kryptonian femme."

"Three new Kryptonians." Clark half-whispered. "And we cannot revive any more of ours yet."

"This isn't good." Kara agreed. "The amount of damage that they could do… we may need to authorise the distribution of Kryptonite weaponry."

At Gambit's curious look, Clark decided to explain.

"When we took down Asteroid M, there were several tons of Kryptonite which is lethal to us Kryptonians. SHIELD collected all that they could find with my blessing, knowing that they have it means that they now know I won't be tempted to do something stupid like world domination."

"Tony offered to destroy the Kryptonite for us, but I told him that it wasn't a good idea." Kara chimed in. "Looks like I was more right than I knew."

"This is worrying and unexpected." Xavier mused, steepling his fingers. "Eric believes in mutant superiority above all else… willingly creating and using a Kryptonian clone… I knew that he was many things but I never took him to be a hypocrite…"

"I'll spread the word to the other teams." Clark sighed. "And I'll have to pay a visit to someone, let her know that we may need her to look for other ways to help."

"Oh?"

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Mystique looked around in curiosity as they stepped through the stone portal into a large, domed chamber. On a stepped podium in the center, a dark-skinned man in golden armour nodded to them.

"Superman. Mystique."

"…amazing…" Mystique breathed as she looked round, her eyes wide.

"Heimdall." Clark replied with a nod of respect. "We have come to meet with Lady Eir, if she can spare the time."

"I believe that she was about to seek you out." Heimdall replied with a slight smile. "You know where her chambers are. I shall pass the word to her."

"Thank you." Clark said as he scooped Mystique up, carrying her bridal style.

"Hey, I can walk." She protested and Clark smiled as he lifted himself off the ground.

"It's too far for that." He said as they flew out of the chamber and Mystique saw the long, glowing bridge stretching across the raised ocean towards the distant city.

"I guess that walking all the way along that would take quite some time." She admitted as she wriggled a bit so that she could rest her head against Clark's shoulder. "Quite a view, though."

A whining noise caught her attention and she craned her neck.

"Clark…" She said after a moment. "There's a boat approaching us through the air with four people on it."

Clark glanced round. "Ah, Sif and the Warriors Three. I don't think you've met them before."

"The boat is flying." Mystique pointed out and Clark gave a gentle shrug as the craft drew up beside them.

"And your point is…?"

"The. Boat. Is. Flying." Mystique repeated as Clark touched down lightly on its deck. "Boats don't fly."

"I didn't know that." Sif said as she used the rudder-control to alter course slightly. "Well, you learn something new every day. Welcome to Asgard, Lady Kent of the Noble House of El."

Mystique froze for a moment, then let Clark lower her so that she was standing on the deck.

"Lady Kent of the Noble House of El…" She mused. "You know, I like that."

"Mystique, Be known to Lady Sif, elite warrior of Asgard and the younger sister of Heimdall." Clark said formally "And may I also introduce the valiant fighters known as the Warriors Three, Fandral the Dashing…"

Mystique found her hand being captured and kissed by the sharpest-dressed of the trio.

"Hogun the Grim…"

"Honoured." Nodded the dour-faced one.

"…and Volstag the Valiant."

"Also known as the Volstagg the Enormous and the Lion of Asgard." Laughed the largest (and oldest) of the trio. "I hear that you two are planning on getting married. Once you have kids, bring them over! My kids would love to have some more friends."

"Volstagg has over fifteen children, the majority being orphans who he adopted." Clark whispered into Mystique's ear. "His heart is bigger than his waistline."

"And my waistline is pretty darned big." Volstagg laughed, patting his expansive stomach.

"Heimdall said that you wanted to seeLady Eir." Sif noted. "Since we need to replenish our own healing supplies, we thought we would give you a lift and some company."

"Thank you." Clark said as the towers of Asgard started to pass on either side of them. "So, what happened to you?"

"Ah, we went on a series of quests for Lady Eir, seeking out new ingredients and potions for her." Volstagg rumbled. "Truly, it was a marvellous journey!"

"He adopted two more children on our second quest." Hogun grunted.

"And one filled with wonderful battles!"

"He got drunk, squared off to a mirror and knocked himself out."

Volstagg glared at the dour warrior. "Do you mind?"

"No."

Mystique couldn't help but burst out laughing.

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Sif halted in the doorway and only Clark's reflexes stopped him from colliding with her. Looking over her shoulder, his eyebrows rose as he saw what had startled her.

"My lord." Sif said with a bow and Odin nodded at her.

"You may as well enter. All of you."

Sif moved to one side, allowing the group ingress, and Clark bowed.

"Your Highness."

"Lord El." Odin said in return. "My agents have told me that three more of your kind now walk Midgard, but on paths that may yet be opposed to yours. It is then perhaps fortunate that Lady Eir has just this day finished re-making the potions needed to awaken your kin."

"Only four of them." Eir said with an apologetic shrug. "The two who are most harmed will need to remain in their timeless sleep until I can get more ingredients."

"However, I have also heard that you have been sending your kinfolk to aid others, other groups that you respect and trust to aid all around them." Odin growled as he stalked forwards. "And so I ask… where is our Kryptonian?"

Clark blinked a few times as he tried to comprehend the question.

"It is quite simple." Odin continued. "Kryptonians are stronger than all but the truly elite Asgardian warriors. With the power granted by the yellow sun, they can fly and have abilities far beyond that of ours, even lifespans beyond ours. I would appreciate having one in My Court."

"If one of them volunteers, I will be happy to introduce him or her to you." Clark managed and Odin gave a sharp nod.

"Excellent. I will look forwards to it."

Eir sighed as Odin strode regally out of the room. "I'm sorry. Thor was talking about his sparring with you and how you are more than worthy of being an Asgardian. Odin would have offered citizenship if it was not for your guardianship of Midgard."

Mystique chuckled. "That's my man, too darned good to even be a god."

"Mystique!"

Eir smiled at the witticism even as she opened a wall cabinet to reveal a quartet of bottles filled with a faintly-glowing blue liquid.

"Are those…" Clark asked with quiet reverence and Eir nodded.

"They are. This is the medicine that will aid in combating the effect of Kryptonite, although it would be most efficacious if that young girl lent her abilities once more."

"Kitty." Clark nodded as Mystique gave him a questioning look. "I'm sure that she'll be happy to help."

"Mayhap we can arrange it that she need not run through the window." Eir said and Clark grinned while Mystique looked at them in confusion. "I will be ready to depart for Xavier's mansion at the turn of the noon hour, but if thou doth require more time to summon those you wish to aid, I will understand."

"I'd better get moving then." Clark said, then paused as Sif tapped him on the shoulder.

"You fly faster unencumbered. I shall bring Healer Eir and Lady Kent when it is time."

Mystique nodded in agreement and Clark gave her a kiss, then blurred out of the door. A second later, a boom echoed.

"He flies faster than sound." Fandral marvelled. "Brethren, I vote that if one of Clark's people chooses to come to Asgard, the Warriors Three should become the Warriors Four."

"Seconded." Hogun muttered.

"Unanimous!" Volstagg agreed, then he frowned. "Although, how should we integrate him? I know! Let us discuss this over a filling repast!"

Mystique shook her head as the trio vanished down the long hallway. "Are they always like that?"

"They don't change." Sif laughed. "They've been like that for centuries and will stay that way for centuries more."

Mystique nodded in agreement, then she paused.

"So," Sif said with a smile. "May I offer you a tour of Asgard?"

"Wait." Mystique said slowly. "…centuries? Odin said something about lifespans…"

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Scott stepped into the Danger Room and ducked as a red-clad boy somersaulted over his head, pursued by a trio of drones. A moment later, a dark-haired teenager wearing the House of El crest on his black T-shirt punched through one of the drones while a red-and-yellow blur knocked a secod out of the air. The third fell victim to a very familiar set of claws, then a voice shouted.

"Pause simulation!"

Scott glanced round, spotting the speaker. "Superboy."

"Yes?"/"Yeah?"

Chris and the T-shirt-wearing teen glanced at each other as the red-clad boy laughed.

"What's going on?" Scott asked curiously. "The professor didn't mention any new recruits."

"We're Young Justice, from Kal's dimension." A dark-skinned teenager said as he approached. "We've been briefed on all of you X-Men, Cyclops. My name's Aqualad. These are Robin, Martian Girl, Superboy, Kid Flash and Artemis."

Each named person nodded or waved as they were being introduced.

"We were curious about the people that Superman had met, so we applied for permission to pay a visit." Aqualad continued. "Generation X accepted our offer of a team spar and showed us this training salle… we don't have anything like it back in our reality. Solid holograms… wow. We just have hologram-cloaked drones."

"Yeah, but I can't download the plans." Robin sulked. "The A.I. here keeps blocking me."

"We're inviting the Teen Titans next week." Ray added with a wide grin. "Their leader, Static, has some major electrical powers."

Scott nodded, then turned to the older of the two Superboys. "Are you a Kryptonian like Chris is?"

Superboy shook his head. "Half-Kryptonian. I was created to be a weapon by Cadmus but was freed by my team-mates a few weeks ago."

Scott raised his eyebrows. "Do you have the full set of powers?"

"Boosted strength, invulnerability and enhanced senses." Aqualad provided as Superboy glowered. "His human DNA suppresses some of his powers. Superman is working on a way around it."

"Better package than I have." Scott said in an attempt to raise the teenager's spirits. "All I have is optic blasts and for years, I couldn't turn the damned things off."

Several of Young Justice winced.

"So," Scott asked, who was winning?"

"We were." Sunspot grinned.

"Yeah, but there's more of you." Kid Flash protested.

Scott sighed.

"Is this sort of thing going to happen often?"

"Well, we have an invitation to visit the Watchtower next month." Ray shrugged. "And Robin said something about a mountain hideout…"

"Why you here?" Laura asked curiously and Scott turned to face one of the Generation-X members who had been keeping silent.

"Clark is going to try and revive four of the remaining six and he wants your help, Kitty."

The Young Justice group looked at each other in confusion as everyone else's eyes widened.

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"Lady Eir." Charles Xavier said with a slight bow. "You honour us with your presence."

"I am honoured to be here once again."Eir said with a slight smile as she looked round. Behind her, Mystique and Sif emerged from the Portal, followed by a floating pallet stacked with equipment. "I assume that we will be using the same theatre as before?"

"That is the plan." Xavier agreed, then he frowned slightly. "If you will pardon me, Lady Eir."

Eir nodded and Xavier floated round to drop into position beside Mystique. Sif gave him a measuring look, then nodded before increasing her pace to catch up to Eir.

"Mystique," He said gently, "I cannot read your thoughts, but I can sense your emotions. Something happened which has upset you."

Mystique nodded slowly. "I found out… Charles, did you know that as a shape-shifter, I can expect to live several centuries, perhaps even a half millenium?"

"I… was unaware of that." Charles admitted.

"I will outlive my children." Mystique whispered. "Kurt, Rogue… Their lifespans aren't extended like mine. I will outlive them, their children and their children… but Clark will outlive me."

Xavier looked at her and she met his gaze.

"Lady Eir has researched Kryptonians, Charles." She said quietly. "As long as they are empowered by a yellow sun, they will be able to live almost forever. Their aging will slow as they reach their prime and effectively halt before age can slow them down. Even with my increased lifespan, it'll be less than a tithe of his. As I'll lose my chidren, he'll lose me…"

"But what matters is the time we have together." A new voice said and Mystique found herself swept up in Clark's arms. "Never doubt my love for you, beloved."

Charles smiled and backed away, leaving the pair standing together in the corridor.

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Author's Afternote – Yes, I took the Young Justice concept and had the team visit from the Dark Knights universe. In this team, though, Robin is Tim Drake.

Regarding the Teen Titans, Static Shock leads this incarnation of them with Gear in Cyborg's place.

As for the aging thing, check out the Lois&Clark Home series by Nan Smith. The first story ID is 24130. Yes,only 5 digits, it was published in 2000 but is still very readable.