The team found themselves in the entertainment room watching as the young Conner played with a teddy bear they had found somewhere. The young boy seemed quite content with the stuffed toy. They were so content with watching the boy that they failed to heard the computer announce the arrival of the Batman.
"What is so important that I had to come see for myself," Batman asked as he entered into the room only to stop short when he notice Conner playing with the bear "who is the child," he asked not taking into the shocked expressions of the teens.
"Superboy," Wally answered finally breaking the silence that had been created among the friends.
"How is that possible Superboy is sixteen," Batman asked somehow managing to keep the surprise from his voice.
"You tell us," Robin asked not bothering to look at him "he seemed fine last night for the most part. This morning when he didn't get up we when to check on him and found him like this," he added as motion to where Conner played in the floor. Batman looked at them as if was about to speak.
"Batan?" Conner seemed to ask when he noticed him standing behind the teens. After a moment Batman nodded causing Conner to let out high pitch laugh and a string of giggles. After a few moments the giggles died down and the look of complete happiness was replace by one of confusion.
"Batan?" Conner asked again.
"Yes," Batman responded still keep his voice flat.
"Where daddy?" The question caused everyone in the room to freeze.
Batman stood staring at the halo display. The results from the DNA analysis compared to Superboy and child were a hundred percent match. There was no longer any doubt that the child that the team had found in Superboy's room was in fact Superboy.
"You want to see me," a voice called from behind him.
"Took you long enough," Batman almost growled.
"Well considering you called me at work. You're lucky I was able to get here now," the voice said as it drew closer "besides you said it was important." Batman turned to see Superman was now standing beside him.
"Remember when I told you that I was sending the team into LexCorp labs to gather intel," Batman asked not giving any hint to where he was taking the conversation.
"Yes, and as I recall that mission had been a success. Despite the fact that the security system was triggered the team got out with a few cuts and bruises but otherwise okay," Superman said recalling they meeting among a few nights ago "what about it," the man of steel asked not quite sure he like the direction of the conversation.
"Well apparently the team didn't come out as unscathed as we first thought..." Batman said as he trailed off.
"What, are they alright," Superman all but demanded.
"They're fine, well most of them," Batman answered calmly.
"Then what is so important that you called me down here," Superman asked starting to get a little annoyed.
"Superboy," at the mention of the clone Superman froze. He wasn't quite sure how to react.
"Is he alright," the man of steel asked at a lost for what else to say.
"More or less," the dark knight said turning to the man of steel "at one point during the mission Superboy was hit with a so sort of laser. Afterwards he had appeared to be alright so no one gave much though about it. That is until the next morning when the team went to check on him. What they found was rather of a shock," he paused for a moment to allow what he had just said sink in "what they found was a dramatically younger Superboy." Superman remained silent for a moment not really sure if he was believing what he was hearing.
"What do you mean younger," was all the man of steel could ask.
"At the moment instead of a being a sixteen years of age both physically and mentally he is about three. Meaning not only does he have the physical and mental capabilities of a three year old but all the vulnerabilities as well." As the dark knight spoke Superman was starting to get the reason Batman had called him there.
"What is it you want me to do about him," though he already knew what was about to be asked of him.
"To watch him while we try to find away to reverse this. In his currant state he is extremely vulnerable. He has know power in which to protect himself, nor do I believe he would know how to use them if he did. If the light were to get their hands on him at the moment there is no telling what they would do to him." Superman let out a heavy sigh as he took in the information. He knew that Batman had a point, and as things stood if the light found out that Superboy had been transformed into a toddler. Then there would be no telling what they would do to him if they could ever get there hands on him. The fact that he was wanting to take Superboy out of the mountain and put him into a civilian identity was starting to make more and more since. They ere more likely to find him if he stayed with the league than with their civilian counter parts. However, despite how much sense it was all starting to make another question seemed to pop into his head.
"Why me," Superman asked remembering how bad his relationship to the clone was.
"Because he asked for you Clark," Batman said in a way the was more like Bruce than batmen as he place a hand on his shoulder "when I first arrived here to find Superboy as a toddler one of the first things he asked was where you were." Bruce's voice was soft and gentle. If he didn't already know who he was outside of the cape then he might have though Batman was going soft.
"Why," Clark asked after a moment.
"To be honest I am not quite sure. Despite how thing were between you two before he still sees you as his father. I not entirely sure he remembers much more than faces and names and whether they are good or bad. He remembers the team and league but beyond that I'm not sure. As far as we can tell he doesn't have very many specific memories." A silence once again fill the room as Clark carefully took in the information he was being given. At last he turned his head to look at Bruce still dressed as Batman.
"Where is he now," was all that he asked.
Batman led Superman down the corridor to the med bay where Conner and the rest of the team were. Clark wasn't quite sure what he would do once he got there. The only thing that he knew for sure was that he needed to see for himself what had happened to the boy. Clark seemed to be lost in his thoughts as he entered the med bay when he heard to sound of a child.
"Daddy," a cheerful childish voice called out. He looked up to see a boy no older than three in the arms of the teams archer reaching out to him. Upon seeing the child Clark froze. Everything he had been told about Superboy who he now knew to be Conner was true. He stood there staring at the child taking in every feature, and if he didn't know any better he could have sworn he was looking at his baby photos. It was apparent that they had gone a bought him some cloths that fit because he was now dressed in toddler size cloths. Instead of the black t-shirt he was accustom to seeing, the boy now wore a blue one along with a pair of jeans and Superman themed sneakers. Clark was once again interrupted from his thoughts by the you calling out to him once more.
"Daddy," the boy called out again though this time he sounded close to tears. He look up to see Conner's eyes had started to water. Apparently he had been standing there a little too long. Not wanting him to start crying Clark rushed over and took him from Artemis's arms. It was made clear that was what he had wanted calming just as soon as Clark took him into his arms. Within moments Conner was snuggled into his shoulder and started to fall asleep.
Everyone watch with amazement as how fast Conner took to Superman. They couldn't recall for the life of them a time when he was a teenager taking to anyone that fast, nor had he taken to them as fast even at this age. It was clear that he felt safe in Superman's arms.
"So does this mean Supes is take Conner," Wally whispered so not to disturbed the now sleeping toddler. There was a moment of hesitation before Clark finally looked that them and nodded before turning his attention back to Conner. Now that he held Conner in his arm and saw how innocent he looked how could he say no. He felt his heart melt for the boy. When he looked up again he noticed everyone had a smile on their face. Even Batman had a small smirk of his own at the sight before them.
The pair stayed for a while longer for the fact in the days since Conner had been turned into a toddler the team had gown fonder of their teammate. Conner had slept for about a hour after falling asleep in Superman's arms. When he finally did wake Megan took him so that she and the rest of the team could play with him a little more before Superman took him back to Metropolis. Both Batman and Superman watch them play for a few moments.
"Do you think you'll be able to turn him back," Superman asked being the first break the silence between them.
"Most likely," Batman said thinking on what he was about to say "Robin manage to recover the research data on the device that turned Conner into a child. From what I've been able to tell so far is that in most cases the effects wear off anywhere between a few weeks to a couple of months..." Batman added before trailing off.
"What is it," Superman asked hearing the uncertainty in his voice.
"The notes that I've been able to decrypt so far have dealt with people not clones. We try not to treat him like a clone, and for the most part that is what we are able to do. However when ever he is exposed to something that messes with his molecular structure we have to take into account that he is a clone and this has the potential to destabilize it..." Batman once again trailed off though this time was more for the fact he didn't want to finish the thought. He didn't need to as Superman picked up on where his train of thought.
"What do you think we should do about it then," he asked not even wanting to consider what would happen if that were to happen.
"There's not much we can do. At this point all we can do is monitor him and hope he remains stable," though he kept his voice emotionless as every Superman could still hear the worry in his words.
They turned there attention back to the team who were still playing with the toddler. Now though they were in the middle of play london bridges with Wally stuck in the middle. This had caused a string of giggles to come from Conner at seeing his friend being the one caught in between Kaldur and Artemis. They stood watching for what seemed like hours as they played game after game until at last they heard a yawn escape from Conner. Looking at the time Superman discovered just how late it was.
"Alright I think it is time that we leave," Superman said as he walk over to pick up Conner. The toddler didn't resist as he was gathered up into the man of steel's arms.
"Do you have to go," Megan asked wanting to play some more with the small boy. Superman nodded noting the effort it was taking Conner to stay awake.
"Its getting late and I still need to get Conner settled back at my place," without really thinking about it Superman had used Conner's name. Which came as a shock to the team hearing the name come from the man of steel. They knew sooner or later he would start calling him by his name, but still it was strange to hear. Never the less they reluctantly agreed it was time to say good bye for the time being, and after promising to allow them to babysit they two finally left through the zeta tube.