Summary: Superboy finds himself envying a certain Boy Wonder.
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Alpha-Omega Protocol
By Syl Francis
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Gotham River Gorge
Day 2/0600 EDT
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The black shadow flew nap-of-the-earth at a good old-fashioned, terrain-masking altitude and made its final approach from just below the sheer canyon walls that hugged the Gotham River. Its flight pattern used the heavy trees and underbrush that covered the Bristol Hills to help camouflage the aircraft's presence. The pilot's noteworthy skill at the controls was somewhat assisted by the plane's latest stealth technology from Ferris-Wayne Aeronautics, which included a non-metallic, invisible-to-radar airframe, coupled with a propulsion system that had the latest in sound reduction and low infrared signature.
From inside the mini-Batwing's cockpit, Robin checked the real-time live feed from the security cameras just outside the hidden entrance to the Lair. It was all clear, meaning no spies were skulking around. Better yet, there was no Batman to second-guess or undermine him. "Guess I must've really pulled the wool over him, after all," he muttered. The very next minute, guilt washed over Dick like a tsunami.
Of course, it was a good thing that the currently mind-controlled Dark Knight was otherwise occupied. But remembering how Batman attacked him and deliberately hurt him in the New Mexico desert sent a shiver up and down his spine. Still, Bruce had fought through the mind control long enough to warn him. Dick straightened his shoulders and vowed that he wouldn't let his guardian and mentor down.
Robin thought of the explosives that he had placed in Robinson Park. Before he'd set them off, he and Kid Flash had first ensured that the blast zone was completely empty of bystanders. It had mostly been a controlled explosion—much like the special effects in a Hollywood movie—with just enough bang-for-the-buck to look impressive. During the night, he and Kid Flash had set the explosives in a total of three municipal parks along the East Coast—Robinson Park in Gotham City, Centennial Park in Metropolis, and the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
All of the explosives went off like clockwork. They had been set to go off simultaneously, to simulate a well-timed and coordinated terrorist attack. The Justice League had arrived in small teams, just as predicted. Dick brought the mini-Batwing to its final approach to the Lair's entrance, as he ran over the steps for the next phase of the mission: Storm the Bastille…
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The Lair
Day 2/0610 EDT
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Superboy and Alfred monitored as the mini-Batwing came to a soft landing in its designated space. Indecipherable coded information scrolled rapidly up and down the computer monitor. He gave Alfred a questioning look.
"Master Robin is running quickly through the post-flight checks." No sooner had Alfred explained, than Robin exited the aircraft. He casually flipped out of the cockpit and somersaulted down to the cave floor. As the Boy Wonder headed toward their location in the Lair's main area, Alfred shook his head in exasperation. "Why simply climb down a perfectly good ladder, when one was born to fly?"
"He can fly?" Superboy asked, surprised. At Alfred's raised eyebrow, Superboy sighed. "That was what my lit instructor calls a metaphor. Wasn't it?" He shook his head. Sometimes it was difficult to infer what people meant, when they spoke figuratively. He felt a warm hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry. I guess that's just one more thing the G-gnomes must've left out."
"Master Conner, do not despair. You are young, yet. You'll have many more years to learn the nuances of not only language, but also human interaction. That's what growing up is all about. Look at me… I'm practically in my dotage, and I'm still learning new things each day."
Superboy smiled. His eyes, the same unusual color as Superman's, lit up with the inner light of a supernova. The infamous Superman curl, which Superboy made a point of always combing back, even chose that precise instant to fall over his forehead. There was no doubt just who the boy's "father" was at that moment. Which was when Robin suddenly walked in.
Robin looked at them expectantly. "Did you monitor the news feeds?" he asked. At Alfred's nod, he said, "Then, you know it went like clockwork. It's time for Phase Two. We ready to go?"
Superboy simply nodded. He often wondered how a relatively normal human boy—and a young one at that—could have the confidence that Robin exuded during the normal course of a mission. Not to mention, how could Robin have reached the level of training that he had achieved at his age? From overhearing Black Canary and Batman talk (having super-hearing could have its advantages, at times), the Boy Wonder was a skilled fighter in several of the martial arts. And while he did not actually understand the reference, he had once overheard Batman mention that Robin's acrobatics made his fighting style unique.
He watched as Alfred held out the specialized nth belts and other equipment needed for the mission. Both Robin and Superboy took one of the belts. As Superboy began to put his on, he became aware that Robin was standing awkwardly in front of Alfred.
Superboy suddenly became very interested in the nth belt and its controls. He walked far enough away to give Alfred and Robin some semblance of privacy. Although he didn't mean to eavesdrop, his super-hearing easily let him hear what they were saying.
"Master Richard," Alfred said, placing his hand on the boy's shoulder, "we shall get through this. You will find Master Bruce, and you will bring him home to us."
Robin removed his mask and looked beseechingly at the man who had so easily stepped into the role of indulgent grandfather in his life. "But what if something goes wrong? What if Bruce—?"
"Now there will be none of that, young sir. You will succeed in doing this, because you must."
"But what if—?"
"No buts! Master Bruce trained you as his partner because he has faith in you, as have I. You must have faith in yourself, as well."
Robin nodded solemnly. At last, he raised his chin and looked Alfred steadily in the eye. "You're right, Alfred. I was trained by the very best and I won't fail." He gave Alfred a grateful smile. "I guess I already knew that, but thanks for reminding me." With that, the young teen straightened to his full height, a look of grim determination in his boyish features as he reapplied his mask.
After handing Robin the equipment he needed for the mission, Alfred took a step back. "Godspeed, Master Richard… Master Conner."
Superboy looked up from where he had been trying, with great difficulty, not to eavesdrop. The teenaged clone could not help envying his younger teammate. Robin had not just one, but two people in his life who cared for him. Batman might not be himself right now, but even Superboy, who still had very poor people skills and had trouble reading the subtleties of body language, could see that Batman and Robin's relationship was more than just one of mentor and partner.
Having been rejected by the Man of Steel, Superboy had definite father-figure issues; however, in all fairness, he had seen that despite the Dark Knight's somewhat intimidating outward appearance, Batman had shown, on more than one occasion, that he actually cared about each member of the team—not only on a professional level, but also as individuals. Still, there was only one junior hero to whom Batman showed anything more, and that, of course, was Robin. It was never overt or obvious. If one did not know to look for it, then it was easy to miss.
Kid Flash often made snarky comments about not envying Robin's being the partner of such a scary boss. Robin's only response to date had been, "Don't knock it till you try it, Fleet Feet." This usually led to some inane argument over who was the better mentor and partner, the Flash or Batman. Neither junior hero had ever reached an agreement, leaving Superboy to wonder at the pointlessness of quarrelling over it.
Instead, Superboy elected to simply stand back and observe those around him. By doing so, he had begun to catch subtle patterns in the Dynamic Duo's behavior. He had seen how Robin seemed to sparkle whenever Batman gave him the slightest bit of attention—from a hand on the shoulder to the barest lift of an eyebrow. Robin's happy response invariably drew the minutest softening in the Dark Knight's demeanor. Superboy might have been created only a few months ago, but he wasn't blind. He had come to realize that Batman was Robin's father, long before the Boy Wonder had revealed his secret identity.
Superboy thought of Superman's rejection all those months ago, and the Man of Steel's continued inability to so much as look him in the eye. He thought it ironic that his other DNA donor, Lex Luthor, had done more to reach out to him than had the hero. Of course, Superboy had known from the beginning that Luthor was not to be trusted, and that anything he received from the billionaire would come at a high price.
Still, it had been nice for a time to pretend that, perhaps, Luthor might not have had any ulterior motives when he had reached out to him initially. That fantasy had been shredded with Luthor's utterance of the two words, "Red sun." The post-hypnotic command had basically shut Superboy down, rendering him unconscious, immobile, and totally helpless. Thankfully, M'Gann had removed the post-hypnotic suggestion from his mind. Now, Superboy really was 100 percent in control of his own destiny.
Curiously, Luthor's selfish manipulations and Superman's selfish refusal to acknowledge him had left a deep ache in his chest every time he thought of his two "fathers." Superboy did not really understand what the strange, confusing sensation meant. He also did not understand why it felt all the keener whenever he saw the Dynamic Duo standing side-by-side at the computer console, Batman unconsciously running his hand through Robin's hair or placing it momentarily on the boy's shoulder.
Even the Flash and Kid Flash together made him feel a deep emptiness. He would watch as the two speedsters spoke in that funny speed-talk that only they could understand. He would stand back as they zipped into the kitchen and gobbled their way through the leftovers in the refrigerator, leaving small cyclones in their wake, as they sped from point A to point B.
While Superboy had not known then what this empty feeling in his chest was, watching Robin's demeanor since Batman's attack had given him new insight. Whereas, during a mission, Robin could generally be counted on to keep the team dynamic somewhat light, with his constant banter and chatter, now, he had become much more serious and withdrawn. Robin still smiled and even joked at times, but one could tell that the Boy Wonder's heart was simply not in it. Superboy knew that Robin now suffered from the same, achy emptiness in his chest as he did.
It was up to Superboy to help Robin rectify the problem. If Superboy understood Robin's background correctly, then the younger boy had already lost both parents to a deliberate act of sabotage. Now, the man who had been raising him since then, the same man to whom Robin looked up for much more than training, had tried to kill him. Superboy thought he understood what the younger boy was going through at the moment.
He had only caught the barest glimpses of Robin's demeanor in the ship after he escaped from Batman. But in that brief instant, Superboy had understood. And he was determined to help Robin return to his former, happier self.
"Hey! Ready to go?" Robin asked, his cheerful façade fooling no one. At Superboy's nod, the Boy Wonder activated the nth belt he wore diagonally across his chest and, smirking, said, "Then, beam me up, Scotty!"
The two boys disappeared in a sudden white flash.
End of Part 7
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Author's Note: I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who has been sticking with the story so far and reviewing. I really do appreciate the encouragement. Also, a special thanks to Ellen—beta-reader extraordinaire!
Disclaimer: All characters belong to DC, Time Warner, and CN; this is an original story that doesn't intend to infringe on their copyright. Feedback is welcome.
Copyright: December 2012