The Phantom Danger.
The two squad captains lead Conner to the meeting room. When they opened the doors. Conner could see about half a dozen people there, excluding himself, Retsu, and Kurotsuchi. Soon the two captains took there places. The 8 high ranking officers were standing, lined up in two lines, one line facing the other. Conner took note of the characteristics of each one. Almost half of them stood out by their own.
Okay, Conner thought to himself, The Soul Society has these guys for captains? Seems like a Specter version of the Green Lantern Corps. Kurotsichi is a guy who lives Halloween everyday while Tetsu is nice, she wears a ponytail in the front of her. The rest are a slob, a kid with white hair, a creepy guy that has great hair-gel, a wolf guy, a guy who needs to get some sun, and a major cutie. Hey, wait a second! 1, 2, 3…
"Hey, Retsu," Conner called out. "I have a-"
"Please, refer to me as Captain Unohana."
"Oh… Captain Unohana, aren't we a little short of fourteen here?"
"Commander Captain Yamoto will come to start the meeting shortly. As for the rest," the captain stop to think over a choice of words, "…some of the other captains are preoccupied and can not attend. In their place are the squad lieutenants, they have to fill full both their duty as well as their captains, so they will be here a bit later than the rest."
Conner took another looked around that the squad captains and had another question.
"Captain Unohana, I-"
"All of your questions will be answered during the meeting, Third Seat Superboy."
"Well, yea. I just wanted to know where I'm supposed to stand."
Kurotsuchi choose to answer that one. "To keep the number even, you have stand between the two columns."
Conner took his position and stood there, waiting for the meeting to start. He tried not to make eye contact, not to offend anyone. Preferably the wolf guy, the skeleton, the pale guy, and the slob.
Soon the other lieutenants that Retsu mention early came in. One was a girl who just barely out of her pre-teens. One was a blond guy with bangs that covered half of his face. Another looked like a Goth punk boy. That just left one more besides the big cheese of this place. Conner took note that the captains wore a white overcoat on the robes while the lieutenants had badges wrapped around their left arms.
When does thing start anyway? Conner thought to himself to past the time, Didn't see a clock around here or anything… Hmm 'Third Seat Superboy'… sounds so lame. If I became captain, then I guess I would be called 'Captain Superboy' and THAT makes me sound like a Captain Marvel Jr. wannabe. But still, 'Third Seat Kent?'… NO… 'Third Seat El?'… Maybe… 'Third Seat- Conner's thoughts were interrupted when the doors to the room banged against the walls when someone pushed them open.
"Sorry I was late," said the person in a heavy breath. The sound of scrunched up paper followed. "I had to sign paper work because that new guy's mess in… the… courtyard…"
Conner looked to the right of him and was shocked to see the red haired guy he encountered from earlier, the same expression was apparent on the man's face as well. There was a long awkward silence in the room.
"What the heck is this nut job here?" shouted Neji, pointing a finger at Conner.
"Who are you calling a nut job?!" snapped Conner, not taking to Renji at all.
"The one guy who broke seven walls and took out 37 Soul Reapers, just because he went on little joyride!"
"I was DEAD and found myself strapped to a bed!"
"If you weren't strapped, then you would have panic and ran off."
"Oh! That just makes PERFECT sense!"
"AHEM!" coughed an old man with a long, knotted beard at the other end of room, in the place of the Squad One captain, "If you don't mind,"
Renji and Conner stood with embarrassed faces. Renji took his place in with the other captains while Conner stood uptight, trying to salvage any hope of giving a good first impression.
Though his face told that he was almost ageless, the way the Old Man stood showed that he was still strong and able body.
"This meeting shall now come to order." He said with a great voice, "Commander Captain General Shigenkuni Yamamoto of Squad One residing. Commence with roll call."
"Captain Sofion of Squad Two." Said the cutie.
"Lt. Izuru Kira of Squad Three." Said the blond
"Captain Retsu Unohana of Squad Four."
"Lt. Momo Hinamori of Squad Five." Said the preteen girl nervously.
"Lt. Renji Abarai of Squad Six."
"Captain Sajin Komoamaru of Squad Seven:" said the wolf man with surprising lucidity.
"Captain Shunsuki Kyoraku of Squad Eight." Said the slob.
"Lt. Shuhei Hisagi of Squad Nine." Said the Goth punk.
"Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya of Squad Ten." Said the white hair kid.
"Captain Kenpachi Zaracki of Squad Eleven." Said the psycho with the hear spikes.
"Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi of Squad twelve."
"Captain Jushiro Ukiake of Squad Thirteen." Said the pale looking man.
"Third Seat Conner Kent of Squad Fourteen." Said the boy steel. He then thought to himself, MAN, these guys have some REAL tongue twisters for names!
"As all of you know, Captain Byakuya Kuchiki of Squad Six has been sent out to investigate the strange anomaly from the outstrips of the Rukongai, The Land of Savages."
"The ruined slums that existed since before the more modern times." Said Captain Zaracki. "It's the decaying ruins of old districts that makes District 80 looks like a gleaming beacon of hope."
"We have received his Message today and it just as I feared. Due the resent events known as the 'Infinite Crisis' the realities of the world has been drastically changed. What once was dead is alive. What didn't exist is now real. What were once kept separate, are now neighbors.
"What is now in the world of the Soul Society is a piece of the Phantom Zone."
"The PHANTOM ZONE!!!" shouted Conner, "The Inter-Dimensional Kryptonian Prison!?!" Conner then noticed that everyone was tarring at him.
"Indeed," said the old man, showing no anger for Conner's outburst. "Due to the end of the Crisis, a small fraction of the Phantom Zone, along with its prisoners as well as other who exist out of reality, has landed in the Savage Land.
"Due to the unpredictable threats that these Phantoms and Warps will bring, it was decided to create a Fourteenth Squad, based on Metahuman and aliens to deal with this threat."
"Though, at this moment, Squad Fourteen has no captain or a lieutenant, and the only member is Third Seat Kent, while being the best candidate for his services as hero in his world, he has no experience in the ways of the Soul Reaper or the release of his Zanpakuto."
My 'Something-toe?' Thought Conner, he then spoke.
"Until he has earned a higher rank, Kent will receive training from the squad captains and lieutenants. Any questions?"
"Uh, I have-" Conner started but was interrupted by Captain Kyoraku.
"Captain Yamamoto, does Third Seat Kent has any powers?"
"Yes. He possesses the ability of Tactile Telekinesis as well as the basic Kryptonian powers under yellow sun radiation. Unfortunately, they will be useless against Hollows. Hollows can only be defeated by spiritual powers. Physical powers will do little to faze them."
'Hollows?' What the heck are Hollows? Thought Conner
"Any more questions?" asked the head captain, "Good, meeting-"
"WAIT!" shouted Conner, no longer caring about his appearance, "I have some personal questions to ask."
"Yes, Third Seat Kent?" said the old man.
"I saw houses on the way up here. So these Hollows, as well as the Phantoms and Warps, they're going to be threats to innocent people?"
"Yes," said Captain Yamamoto, "In fact, Hollows are the reason why most of the people are here in the Soul Society in the first place."
"And we're going to help those people, right?"
"For Soul Reapers, yes. But certain Reapers, such as yourself, will attend more important issuses. You will be called into action when you are needed. If you act out of line, you will be disciplined."
Conner reprise some rage he was feeling. "I was under the impression that this organization was something I used to work for."
"Oh," said the old man, "Like what?"
"Like an organization that puts the people first." Said Conner with impudence. "I can understand that government is needed for order, but people with great gifts and skills to protect people who can't help themselves. I've once been told, It doesn't matter who you are or where you're from, a hero is defined by his actions."
Conner knew he just talked out of line, but it who he was and he was proud to make the statement. Yamamto's partly shut eyes open enough to his the iris as he said to Conner.
"You're impute is greatly accepted, Third Seat Kent." He said with a calm voice. "Meeting Adjourned."
Conner just turned his back to everyone else, knowing he offended them all.
Well Conner, you just ticked off a Society that took you in. First in Hawaii, Second in that Metropolis Apartment, and now in the world of death… You're such a loser.
As soon as Conner exited the door, he feared that he would be jump by the others. But, fortunately, some of the Reapers, namely Shuhei Hisagi and Toshiro Hitsugaya, just gave the genetically created super hero a not to pleasant look and went on their way. Some just studied Conner and went on their way too. Captain Jushiro Ukitake was the only one to walked up to Conner. He placed his hand on the boy's shoulder and said to him.
"Conner, I'm Captain Ukitake of the Thirteenth Squad. Until your squa dbase is finished, you will be staying at the Squad 13 compound, we have a room ready for you. Please, come this way."
And the strong boy followed the sickly looking man. The two began a long hike through the compound.
000
"Captain Kenny! Captain Kenny!" shouted a little pink hair 5 year-old girl as she ran right for the frightful Captain Kenpachi Zaracki. She was quite small in height and had the lieutenant badge tide to her arm. She then jump seven feet into the air and landed right on Zaracki's back. "How did the meeting go? Did you meet Superboy?"
"Yes I did, Yachiru." He answered with a voce that could chill bones, "And he already shows great levels of impudence. It won't be long till the order is given to haunt him down when he starts acting up, and then I can face an opponent as legendary as Superman."
"But isn't he only half Superman, Kenny?"
"True, but a hybrid of one strong animal can be as strong as pure breed. Just like a liger."
"Well, before he does rebel against the Soul Society and you can hunt him down in cold blood, can it happen after he introduces me to Batgirl and Supergirl?"
000
After about an hour of walking, Conner decided to start a conversation with Ukitake.
"I'm sorry if offended you guys back at the meeting. It just… this seems to be like working back at Cadmus for me. I didn't really hate working for the government, but it is a step-down from being a Titan for me."
"Although you did spoke out of turn, Conner, it is nothing short we expect from you."
"And you would expect from me… how?"
"All the squad captains and lieutenants were briefed of you're personal life before today."
"So you guys know that I subscribe to Play-"
"Not remotely what I meant!" Answered the Captain quickly, "I meant that we know about your battles, your victories, your failures, and your losses. From your first days from your beginnings in the 'Reign of Supermen' to the time you were stranded on Apocalypse with Young Justice during the 'Imperix Wars' to your ultimate sacrifice in 'Infinite Crisis.'"
"The Daily Planet
sure knows how to give interesting names to cataclysmic events."
"It is because you I attended today's meeting. I'm usually to
sick to go, but today I made an exception. But still, most of the
high ranking officers are skeptical of you, Conner. You still yet to
gain their trust."
"And the reverse is pretty the same, too. No offense, but I trust this whole Soul Society as much as I trust King Shark back when I was in the Suicide Squad."
"Of course, trust is earned by act, not by words."
"So how can I really trust you guys, how do I know that you'll not abuse my super power powers? You know, treat me like a soulless weapon and not a human being."
"To be frank, you'll be the one who has to decide that. The Soul Society isn't as grand as we make it, but it the closest thing we have."
"I kinda learned that when I was alive."
"I admit, I am surprise to the fact that you seem to be taking in all of this quite well. Most people are overwhelmed by this even as civilians."
"Well, you know about life. So you should know this kinda thing is just normal for me."
"Hmph, touché."
"By the way, are most of the lieutenants and captains are stiff in real life as they put on during the meeting?"
"Some are, being the higher ranking officers of the Soul Society, we don't socialize with non-Soul Reapers on the outside. Although some us from the Rukongi ditricts, the place were the civilians live, we forget that we were once human."
000
The young Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya walked down the hall way, with his arms folded in the oversize sleeves of his robes. He had a 'I am not amused' look on his face. Soon joining him was a older blonde with hardly any moderation for her upper torso. She also bared the lieutenant badge, only on the end of her robe's sash instead of on her arm.
"Good morning captain," she said with a perky tune, "I misplace that big pile of paper work that you did last night, so not only do you have redo them again, you also have to do some more explaining how you were late. Can you hook me up that Superboy? You know I always date the new members to the Higher Ranks."
"Rangiku," he said in serious tone, "What do you think if I start a Young Soul Reaper Squad?"
The blonde lieutenant blinked widely, overcome by her commander's unexpected question. "Er… what?"
"A Young Soul Reaper Squad. You know, for younger Soul Reapers with great spiritual powers to practice and train. Superboy did it with Robin and Kid Flash."
"I believe it he was known as Impulse back then."
"Does it really matter? it was the same person."
"OH, I get it. You want to be friends with Superboy so you can start your own Young Justice. And you will be like Robin, his best friend!"
"What!?!" shouted that captain at the trivial accusation, "It wouldn't be anything like Young Justice! We will have rules and regulations! We would have training sessions everyday!"
Rangiku then said in a mocking tune, "I think Momo would be a perfect 'Spoiler,' Captain Boy Wonder."
"DON'T CALL ME BOY WONDER! I HATE THE COLORS RED, YELLOW, AND GREEN!" Toshiro shouted, almost acting like the child he is.
Rangukia just remained silent until she asked her captain, "… by the way, can you have Superboy introduce me to Starfire or Powergirl?"
000
"So why are you being so nice to me, did you draw the short straw?" asked Conner, question the intents of Captain Ukitake. There was a pause. "Well?"
Captain Ukitake stop walking. He turned around and gave Conner a serious face.
"Your genes might be in their late teens, but you're really thirteen years old in life. And since then, you've endure more heart break than anyone should.
"You blamed yourself for Tana Moon's death when Amanda Spence killed her. You blamed yourself for The Guardian's death when you were not at Cadmus when the call was made. You blamed yourself for Impulse's near death experience during the Imperix Wars. You blamed yourself for Copper's death when you doubted his intentions after you found out that he was part of the Run Riot. You blamed yourself when Lex Luthor had you under mind control and had you hurt your friends.
"What do all those events have in coming?"
"I hurt the ones I love," was Conner's blunt reply from being reminded of his major follies.
"You blamed yourself. You never role as executioner to any them, but due the fact you were artificially created, you blamed yourself as important factor to their demises, you constantly tell yourself with 'If I wasn't born, they would be best.' That is what really hinders you. Because of that, you need someone who can help you get back on your feet."
000
The lieutenant Goth punk, Shuei Hisagi, was walking down the stairs on the mountain side with the humanoid-canine, Captain Sajin Komoamaru.
"Captain Komoamaru," said Shuei in deep thought, "What do you think of Third Seat Kent?"
"It is too earlier to say," said the Captain, "He is quite rebellious but has a high moral beliefs at the same time."
"I actually believed that he would go against orders given by Commander Captain Yamamoto himself if it is to help people in danger. Do you think he will be punished just like Rukia Kuchiki?"
"If it were up to me, such defiance would be tolerated. But, I'm one who can never go against the Commander Captain's orders. What concerns me more to trust this Superboy. He easily overpowered the guards and the managed to tear down the Deathstone walls. He was once under other influences, according to his report, and nearly destroyed his teammates. I'm not holding it against it him, but it could be a problem if it happens again."
"I doubt it could happen. Someone like Conner would never let something like that happen again. Never again. But I sort of trust him already."
"Really?" ask the captain, "Why?"
"I think it's mostly because he can introduce me to Huntress or Raven."
Komoamaru gave his Goth friend a disappointed look.
000
It was already night fall by the time Captain Ukiake showed Conner to the door to his room on the Squad Thirteen's grounds.
"Don't be afraid to help yourself to the wash rooms and the cafeteria." He said as he open the door for Conner.
"Thanks. I appreciate it." Conner said half heartily. It just hit him that he is dead and he might never meet his friends again… ever.
With a sigh he entered his room. Earlier today, back when he was with Kurotsuchi and Retsu today, he was told that it has been about 51 weeks since Infinite Crisis. He was told about the Cassie and 'Cult of Conner.' As well as Robin's new look. He was also told about how the Commander Captain Yamamoto was the one who brought him to the Soul Society right about after the Crisis and that he was asleep up until now.
Conner then lifted his head from shame and looked at his surroundings. To his surprise, pictures of him with Young Justice, Teen Titans, Superman, and even the private pictures with the Kents and Cassie. Conner turned to Ukiake for answers.
"I have resources." Was he answer with a warm smile, "Good Night, Conner Kent. You have a busy day tomorrow."
"Good Night," was Conner's reply."
000
"Stupid, ugly jerk," Renji mumbled to himself as he walked back to his quarters for the night. He was still fuming about Conner. "If I had the chance I would break that chump into a pile of-"
Ka-boom
The noise of someone fainting in from Squad Six's captain's quarters. Renji was concern, the captain, Byakuya Kuchiki was like cat, he always lands on his feet no matter how battle injured he was. The lieutenant rushed to the door, finding it locked. Renji began to bang on the door.
"Captain Kuchiki! Is everything alright?!" He shouted, but then he mumbled to himself, "Of course not, otherwise this wouldn't be happening."
Renji then broke down the door and to his horror. He found his captain laying face up on the floor, covering a bloody wound. Renji was shocked to the amount of blood was on the floor, but was more surprise to see his captain's overly fancy styled hair totally out of place.
"Renji," gasp the captain in pain, "The threat is more dangerous than… we imagined."
000
Kon: American comic are nothing compared to manage.
Conner: What!? That not true!
Kon: Is so. Manga has cooler stuff and have a real plot.
Conner: SO!?! With comics, they leave more things open for continuity, like movies and spin-offs! And comics DO have plots in story arc; just take a look at Reign of Supermen!
Kon: Oh yea, with manga, there are more original stories.
Conner: You obviously never read anything done by Jake Kirby, have you short stuff! And what originality? Almost all the Manga I read have giant energy blasts that are overly dramatic!
Ichigo: Will you two stop! You're wasting time for the preview!
Conner: Now who the hell are YOU!?!