While walking home Conner thought about what has happened since Superboy-Prime attacked him.
One year earlier:
Conner lay dying in Cassie's arms as she talks to him, " You did it Conner. You saved the world." " I know Cass," he replied weakly. " Isn't cool?" He closes his eyes for the last time, so it seemed.
Unaware to everybody else, Conner wan't dead yet, he was saving his solar reserves to heal him self and it hurt him to see Cassie thinking he was dead, but at the moment it was best. Because if he could fool JLA and the Titans, he could fool Superboy-Prime.
Present:
It was getting very difficult for Conner to stay in hiding when everyone needed him, yet it was best for now. " Superboy-Prime forgot about your ability to heal," a voice jeers at him. Kon peers through the alley, activating his x-ray vision, then replies, " How did you know that?" " Simple. I've been watching you since he and young Alex Luthor attacked you," came the answer. Conner's eyes widen when he saw who it was. " Joker," he growled. " You're supposed to be at Arkham." The Joker came out of the shadows and shrugged, " So I escaped. You can't do anyhting about it, you're supposedly dead." Conner laughed sarcastically," So if you wanted you could do something incredibly stupid because I'm dead. Ha! News flash Joker, you're in for a big surprise 'cause I CAN do something about it." He advances towards the insane criminal backing the Joker into the wall. " Guess what," says Kon as a Battarang cable wound itself around Joker's legs causing him to trip. " You weren't the only who knew about my reserves." Conner looks up to see Nightwing give him a salute, then jump down from the roof.
After Nightwing hands the Joker back to the police, he finds Conner sitting on the roof of the Dailey Planet. " You surely are risking a lot being out in the open, Kon," Dick tells the young Kryptonian. "What if the Joker wasn't the only villian who knew you were alive? What about the others?" " I know Dick," the teen rolls his eyes. "But I had Clark contact Match and ask him to tand in for me as Conner Kent and Superboy, hoping to throw Superboy-Prime off guard." Conner stares at the starry night thinking about how he missed Cassie and his friends. " I don't think I can handle being in hiding anymore Dick." He wipes his face with the back of his hand not wanting the older hero to see him cry. Nightwing watches the Teen of Steel struggle with his inner conflict, then replies, " I guess when you feel you're ready to come back you will show yourself. But until then be careful." Hoping his advice would reach the young boy's heart, Dick Grayson goes home.