Luthor sat at his desk tapping his fingers against the polished surface. For the last month he had been searching for and sign of Superboy's death. Superman had gone off grid little more than a month ago. It wasn't long after which Luthor figure it had to do with Superboy after all Superman disappearance came four months after the incident at LexCorp. His scientist had come to the conclusion that Superboy would suffer from molecular degeneration that would prove fatal. There had been rumors before that Superman had taken Superboy in to live with him. Now after a month there should be some sign the Superboy had passed, but his search had turned up nothing.
"Beep...Mr. Luthor," a voice came through the speaker.
"I said I didn't want to be disturbed," Luthor snapped.
"I'm sorry sir but you have a video conference coming through. They said it was important that they speak with you," the voice said nervously. Luthor glared at the speaker for a moment.
"Put it through," Luthor said making it clear that he was unhappy by the disruption.
"Yes sir," the voice said and a moment later several screens descended from the ceiling. A moment after that he was met with the faces of The Light.
"Luthor," Savage was the first to speak.
"What," Luthor made no attempt to hide his annoyance at the unexpected intrusion.
"We have been searching for four month for Superboy with no results, yet still you keep us searching," Savage said calmly.
"You though they would make it easy," Luthor replied "right now Superboy is at his most vulnerable both physically and mentally. The League will do what ever it take to protect him. Your job is find him and when you do take him. If he is not dead by now he soon will be," as Luthor spoke he made it clear that their only priority at the moment was to find where ever the League had hidden the boy of steel.
"Luthor we can see the importance of and the benefits to finding the boy, but we have used too many resources to find him with no results." This time Ra's al Ghul who spoke.
"If you have a point then I suggest you make it," Luthor snapped obviously growing annoyed.
"The point is this search you have us on is nothing more than a wild goose chase," Savage snapped "we have better thing to do then to look for this child."
"Then I suggest you find him soon," Luthor stated calmly "besides the end results will be well worth it in the end. We'll have Project Kr back and if we cannot turn him into the weapon he was made to be then we will put an end to him. Either way it will be a devastating blow to the League," an evil smirk appeared across Luthor's face that seemed to put an end to any further debate.
"Then how do you suppose that we find him," Queen Bee asked speaking for the first time.
"Vandal," Luthor spoke after considering Queen Bee's question "what does your mole have to say," Luthor asked ignoring the glare that was sent his direction.
"That was not his assignment and you know it," Savage snapped not liking the direction of things.
"Answer the question," Luthor said calmly.
"He has confirmed Superboy survived after a very close call. He was release from The Watchtower's med bay two nights ago. Superman took Superboy home with him back to Metropolis. As to who he is in civilian life only a select few know that. From what I have been told only the mentors and team know. If I have him push for information on the boy it would raise suspicions. That is something I will not do I have worked too long putting him in place to have it all go to waste now." Savage made it clear that he would not endanger the plan he had already set in motion. Silence fell across the room as the two stared at one and other.
"Very well then you can keep him playing the part he has been given on one condition," Luthor said recognizing it would be a lost cause.
"And what would that be," Savage growled.
"Have him keep an ear out for information." Savage gave Luthor an angry glare before nodding and ending his transmission. A moment or two passed in silence before the rest did the same leaving Luthor to his thoughts.
When he was at last alone again Luthor turned his chair and stood. He now knew that Superboy was alive and living in Metropolis. It would now be a matter of time before he would have what he wanted. He would do what ever it took to find him.
"Clark could you come give me a hand in here," Martha called from the kitchen. Clark walks into the kitchen see his mother setting a large array of food on the counter.
"What do you need ma," he asked already knowing what she was going to ask.
"Would you be a dear and start taking the food outside," she said as began to arrange another plate. He nodded and grabbed two large plates of food carrying them outside to the party. By now a good number of the people had arrived. All the mentors and their protegé had been among the first. Megan had brought with her Wolf and Sphere. Under normal circumstances Clark would not have allow it but it had been over a month since they had been able to see Conner. He looked over to see Conner riding on the canine's back. The rest of the team running after them. Clark sat the food on the table and stood to watch the scene play out. It seemed like an eternity had passed since the last time he had been able to watch his son play.
"Its amazing how precious moments like these can be," his father said as he walked up from behind his son.
"Yes they are," Clark said without hesitation.
"He's alright you know," John said knowing what his son was thinking.
"I almost lost him dad," Clark said as he recalled the Watchtower.
"I know son," John put a hand on Clark's shoulder. He remembered when Clark had told him and Martha about Conner. It had been a little less than a week after Conner had been taken to the Watchtower's med bay. When they had been allowed to visit they were horrified by the condition they had found their grandson in. He remembered Martha had started to cry. He waited until he had gotten home before he let his own tears fall. That had been the only time they visited, but the image of Conner lying in that bed still haunted John.
Conner road on the back of Wolf as his friends tried to catch him.
"Conner wait up," Artemis called as she chased after the toddler and canine. She only received a string of giggles from the fleeing child. Wally laugh to as he easily kept pace. He was enjoying the game of tag that seemed to always be Conner's favorite outside game. If they weren't playing tag then they played hide and seek. Though they all preferred tag compared to hide and seek. Wally smiled at the memory of the first time they had played hide and seek with Conner.
~~~~~~~~~~Flashback Begins~~~~~~~~~~
"KF I'm boawd," Conner said as he tugged on Kid Flashes costume. Wally looked down at the toddler before looking up at the rest of the team.
"Why don't you go play with Wolf," he suggested no sure how to keep the boy occupied. In the last hour they had played with crayons, blocks, play dough, and a number other toys that didn't seem to keep Conner's attention.
"But he's sweeping," Conner said as if it were common knowledge.
"Well then what do you want to do," Kaldur asked lending a helping hand to Wally. Conner looked over at the Atlantian as he thought about the question before a huge smile crossed his face.
"Lets pway hide seek," Conner said with the same bright blue eyes that always seemed to get the team to agree with him. The rest of the team looked at one another before giving in. Superman wouldn't be there to pick Conner up for another hour and a half giving them plenty of time to play a couple of rounds of hide and seek.
Robin was chosen to be it first while the others hide. As Robin counted off to a hundred that others went of to hide throughout the Mountain.
"Ninety-seven, ninety-eight, ninety-nine, one hundred! Ready or not here I come," Robin called as he looked around. He look around the entertainment room with no success before moving to the kitchen where he found Wally.
"Found you," Wally looked up to see Robin standing over him.
"I guess better luck next time," Wally said standing up.
"Yeah well lets go find the others," Robin said as he started to head off to start the rest of his search. They found Artemis next who was hiding in the weapons vault. She was followed by Kaldur who was in the pool room. Next was Megan who hide in the Bioship.
"Ok so Conner is the only one left to find," Wally said when they found Megan. The others nodded.
"Then lets split up that way we can cover more grown." With that they each when their own way. They search each room several times over before finding themselves back where they started.
"Where is he," Wally asked after having searched the mountain twice with absolutely no luck.
"I don't know," Robin admitted.
"Well he couldn't have disappeared," Artemis added a little worried that they could find the toddler.
"Well we have to find him," Wally said look at the time. Superman would be back soon and if they didn't find him soon he did not want to think of what would happen.
The team split up again to search this time adding in the air vents and rafters to there search. An hour passed and still could not find the boy. Wally and Megan had started to call out his name hoping that he would answer. They were still searching and calling out Conner's name when the Zeta beam announced the arrival of not only Batman but Superman as well. They of course were to focused on there search to realize the arrival of the two.
"Where's Conner," Superman asked entering the entertainment room. The team froze realizing that they were in trouble. They each turn to meet a slightly concerned Superman.
"Well...you see...we were playing a game and well..." Wally started trailing off.
"What Wally is trying to say is that we were playing a game of hide and seek with Conner, but we have yet to find him," Kaldur said helping to explain what had happen.
"And how long ago was this," Superman asked trying to stay calm.
"Almost two hours ago," Wally said shyly.
"Two hours," Superman said dragging out each word. They knew that he was not happy that they had lost his son as he turned start his own search. He didn't get very far before they all heard the high pitch giggle coming from somewhere high up in the rafter. Before anyone could blink Superman lifted off into the rafters returning a moment later with the missing toddler.
"Conner!" the team exclaim relieved to see him. After the relief passed they were all left with the same question.
"Conner," Batman asked sensing everyones question.
"Yeah," Conner said as he looked up to the dark knight with the same bright blue eyes.
"How did you get up there," Batman asked curious as to how he had managed to get so high up. It was no wonder it took so long to find him.
"I jump," Conner said to everyone's surprise. They look at each other and then to Conner. As far as they knew Conner had not retained any of his power after being turned into a toddler.
~~~~~~~~~~~~Flashback End~~~~~~~~~~~~
After that game of hide and seek the team thought it best that they never play it again without proper measures. It was also for this reason that they preferred to play tag. The game continued well until it was announced that dinner was ready and they finally were able to catch up with Conner.
Author's Note:
This was an interesting chapter to write. I really wasn't all that sure how to write the part with Luthor and the rest of the Light. Please review and let me know your thoughts about it, and any thoughts on future interactions with the Conner, the team, and the league are welcome.