A/N

Welcome back! Sorry this took so long, but I have been thinking a lot about my future. With the current state of the world, I'm considering joining the army. Just a thought, but it's there. As for now, I haven't made my decision and will continue making these. (I'm also planning to write my own book)

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Reviews

MoustachedCat: You're welcome,friend. I can't wait for the sequel as well!

patattack: -_-

akashadowcat: Awesome name! You are correct! I need to stop putting exclamation marks after everything I do!

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FlyingWolves: My parents did too. Thanks for the compliment and I hope you enjoy this too.(omg, too twic- no, three times)

Chapter 21: By The Power Of Kabam!

Conner Kent's POV- Fifteen minutes prior

That's right, Conner, run to save your friends as always. It's not like they would thank you or it was Superman rescuing them, they wouldn't hesitate to say 'thanks, Superman' or 'you're my hero!' the loud smacking of my boots against the floor provides a soothing melody to think amongst. I'm just a clone that they would discard to the side.

But, a deeper section of my brain tells me otherwise. Whereas the League would throw me to the wolves without a second thought, I know that the others wouldn't do such a thing. All of us have to come too far to abandon the only real friends we have. Including the more amiable members of the group- Wally, Kyle, and Artemis. Recently, Kyle has only been friendly on days he choses to be, other times he pretends to be a raving idiot.

The constant patter of the tough shoes on the solid, spectacularly clean, and abyss black floor sounds out along the seemingly endless corridor. When will this thing end? It's taken me longer than it should be. I have superpowers; this should be quicker. I complain at the sheer vastness of the oddly familiar walls. Everything about them remind me of the place that I was artificially created.

Cadmus- a top facility that aimed to clone the Superman and supplant him. The resemblant surfaces, which are a shiny reflection of the person walking in it's shade. The dull, dry colours that leak no emotion, happiness or otherwise. The feeling that you are constantly being watched and recorded, scanned for particular behaviours. "Come on, your friends need you!"

Refocusing on the tiring task at hand, I scan the looming horizon with my acute vision, searching for any signs of Robin, Kid Flash, and M'gann.

Miss Martian. Up until a short while ago, I never expected to encounter what others usually run into eventually. Love. Maybe it's not to that height as of yet, but I can't deny that my heart wrenches whenever I see her. Normally, I would force these thoughts away in favour of standing against the tide of unwanted emotions. However, something tells me that our small adventure won't end perfectly.

When the moment for sacrifice comes around, I will gladly give my life to preserve theirs. One last act of defiance for the clone that went rogue. Not for Superman; not for Supergirl, but for the team that became my family.

And, I'll be damned forever if I let anyone harm them. Nobody touches my friends and gets away with it unscathed.

Now... where are you, guys? They have to be somewhere close, because it would be easier to put up a guard rotation. I muse whilst continuing on with the eternal journey. Or... they aren't where someone would normally find them. Think, Conner, think.

If I was a robotic brain with full consciousness and holding a team of superpowered heroes, what would I do to prevent an escape attempt from taking them all? Although, something isn't quite right about this hallway. So... maybe I shouldn't go where it wants me to go. "This is going to be fun."

Slamming into the wall to my right with my Kryptonian shoulder first, the structures immediately caves through and I smash a hole to the other side, leaving a gaping gap in my powerful wake. Guess that's one way of making an entrance.

Despite the relatively dire situation the others find themselves in, there is a slight tingle of excitement creeping up my spine. Always, I have wanted to know how it feels to have people rely on you to save the day; wanted to know what it's really like to be the Superman, and it's actually more thrilling than I ever expected. Their prayers are directed at me, hoping that I swoop in and rescue them, with the 'S' emblazoned on my chest.

It doesn't take away the fact that you aren't him, does it? I can't even fly. Even with people looking to me for help, I will never live up to the legacy that he has laid down. I sigh and trudge over the displaced pieces of the metalic-esque material.

Directly in front of my eyes is a plain, but suspicious looking door, as though waiting for me to open it. Generally, I have been on too many missions to know that nothing is ever as elementary as it first appears, especially when inside a place with laser fenced cages.

Apprehensively, I step towards the door, using my infrared vision to survey past the door and only noticing the same blue colour. Either nothing is beyond the ominous door or it has some lining that negates my sight. Both of which reveal nothing beneficial to the current drama.

Wait... out of all the walls that I ran past, I happened to smash through the right one?. The coincidence would have Wally in a frenzy, screaming that there's no such thing as magic. Yet, the indications are that it's there- unexplainable occurrences, no rational explanations, and a weird conclusion.

"Why is everything so confusing all the time!?" I furiously huff. "Can't we go one mission where we just fight things!?"

Looking at the door with newfound anger and boredom, I decide the only course of action. Which just so happens to be the most entertaining way.

Brazenly, and with a deafening roar, I charge the door with my fist ready to punch an entrance through the door. As I approach it, it shimmers slightly and disappears, leaving behind a solid wall similar to the one that I previously entered through.

Before I could halt my charge, I collide with the wall and blast a hole straight through it. Surprisingly, there is the exact door from before, waiting to be opened and not broken through.

I knew it was magic! I chastise myself for foolishly going with my reckless instincts, which Black Canary would have my head for. But... how can I open the damn door, then? I've got to find a way through, which doesn't involve being a rash skullhead. But, how?

There are rare times that I do shock myself with my inner intellegence- supposedly inherited from Lex Luthor, my other father- and eventually solve the puzzle before me, usually without much help from other people. However, this is different as it isn't logical or realistic. I have to know what the door wants.

Still, a hard complication considering that I don't know what I want the majority of the time- be Superman here, and be my own hero the other times. So, how can I make a magical door let me enter? Is it even magical, or am I going insane?

"Just open!" I yell at the door. "For once, will something actually listen to me!?"

Unexpectedly, the door slides open and reveals the other incarcerated members of the team. All of their heads swiftly jump up at the noise of the door opening and Wally laughs in relief.

"What took you so long?" Robin asks as I stride through the entryway with my body tensed.

"Uhh... nothing." I quickly answer, not wanting them to find out that I was impeded by a door. "I had to find you first." I force (it's so natural it isn't that forced) a scowl and walk over to the panel at the side of the cages. "That door was enchanted or something." I gradually shut off the lasers and inform them. It was bad of me to try to hide something so small to the team.

"First off: there is nothing like that. And two: there's a little thing called an automated door. You press the button and it opens by itself." Wally shakes his head whilst stretching his way out of the cell. "Magic isn't possible."

"It is." M'gann furrows her brow.

"I know it is, sugarcake." he cheesily smiles back.

"Weird..." I mutter to myself as we head off to rejoin the escapees.

Meanwhile

"Did you do as I asked?"

Bluntness aside, my question was as cordial as our meetings tended to go. Especially since my 'friend'- more of an... accosiate- is to put in better terms, a lunatic to say the least. Most of the other contacts I have worked with has paled in comparison to this person.

"Don't be so anxious. I got it." the shrill and cold voice cackles back. "Your little experiment has encountered his first hiccup. Such a shame really, he failed." he carries on, much to my annoyance. However, I keep it carefully concealed as always.

"That will be all, Klarian." I sternly stamp down my authority, heavily needed when conversing with an unpredictably wild character such as the conveniently named 'Lord of Chaos'. "And remembers always, come forward into the light."

"Sure." was his snorting response before he portals his way out of my building.

Holding the sides of my immensely expensive leather chair, my eyes keenly watch the outside sky via the window. Many a time, I have almost expected Superman to tear his way through that particular window and throttle me for saving mankind from his power. But... sadly, he never gave me the satisfaction.

Superboy on the other hand, is shaping up to a nice distraction for the 'Man of Steel'. Sure, Klarian thought that he failed the test, but I know that he actually succeeded.

Having no doubt that he would break out of the Brain's cells, I had him put a spell on the door. Only when he adored Superman to the point of loyalty would the door open, and since he failed to open it- as we watched from the hidden cameras- I had Klarian remove the spell and open the door.

The Lord of Chaos believed he failed my test because I want him to replace Superman as I originally intended, but I have a plan B in store for my budding son. Of course, I knew that he would be smart enough to reach the door. He is my biological son, after all.

The real reason I want him to be independent is a simple: that it will be easier to sway his confused mind, without the need of further modifications. Although, he will undoubtedly resist my initial attempts to bring him into the light, the lure of everything he has ever wanted will be enough. Ambition is one of my most favoured traits as it got me to where I am. With small pressure, he will grow into what this earth needs.

Or what I need, in the same regard. Humanity needs a strong hand to guide it along, and LexCorp will be that hand, In my leadership or my son's.

"Mr Luther?" my robotic assistant, who also happens to double as a bodyguard at moments, calls for me.

Touching the comm button located on my desk, I respond with "Yes,".

"Someone is waiting for you on the line. It appears to be urgent." she informs me as she is supposed to.

Patching the call through to my desk speaker- I have no need to make calls private due to the soundproofing- and prepare to talk with the kindness and politeness of the Lex Luther the world sees. However, I am taken aback by the identity of the caller.

"Hello, Lex." the unmistakable tone of the playboy Bruce Wayne cordially greets me. Interesting... I muse.

"It's been so long since we last spoke, Mr Wayne. How are things in Gotham?" I return the greeting in 'kind'. Although I inwardly despise the man for his infamous partying and attitude, there always comes a need for subtlety.

"Frantic," was his one word response. "how about you, Lex? How are things going in Metropolis?"

"Busy." was my inappropriately curt reply, practically telling him to get to whatever he called me for. "Is there something in particular that you want to talk about, Bruce?" I direct the conversation to the reason why he is talking to me after so long of a time.

"You know, you should relax more. It helps with the stress of work." Bruce carries on with the small talk. Get on with it, fool! I don't have time for this! is what I wanted to scream down the line. But, I soon came to a conclusion and suddenly held a lot more respect for the CEO of WayneTech, and... caution. He's pushing my buttons. Okay... I'll play his little game.

"Although it would be a pleasure to stay here and talk, I have a meeting in one hour. So, what do you need?" I ask, revealing no emotion or intention.

"It has to do with the fundraiser you are throwing on friday." my rival accepts the directions without a second thought. "I wanted to know if I could invite someone along."

"Now you have me intrigued, Bruce. Who?" my fingers impatiently tap the mahogany desk rapidly.

"An old friend of mine. He's from Coast City." Bruce answers.

"I don't know what is more surprising- the fact you have a friend or that you know a city other than Gotham." I tease him in a friendly manner, not reflecting my inner annoyance.

"Very funny, Lex." the caller chuckles. "That's all; happy meeting." and the line goes dead.

"Imbecele."

Gotham

"How did the call go, Master Bruce?" Alfred asks once I place the phone down on the tabletop.

"He did a good job of hiding his frustration, but it was there. As for my backup, it's been secured." I respond to my elderly caretaker. "Now, I have to get him a suit. What's his measurements?"

"Pardon the boldness, Master Bruce, but don't you usually prefer to go it alone? So to speak." Alfred asks another question, this time aimed at my decision to bring in another Senior Leaguer to provide support. "And... well... he isn't that... discreet." he adds on as an afterthought.

"Yes, Alfred, however I need him on this one. More his lantern ring than him." I pick up a pen and write down a memo of his size.

"What about Mr Stewart, then? He seems to be more professional." Alfred suggest nothing that I haven't already carefully considered.

"Too professional- he'll stick out more than Hal. And, he has shown to be lacking in social abilities, whereas Hal can handle a few conversations with corrupt officials wanting to bolster their image." I refuse the suggestion and walk round the table, seating myself in the chair facing Alfred.

"If you are absolutely sure, then I will trust your judgement. Is there anything else?" the person that I thought of as a second father for all these years puts his hands behind his back.

"One thing: make sure that Dick is alright when he gets back. Apart from that, get some rest." I implore the man with my eyes as well as words, despite knowing that he will certainly refuse. "I mean it, Alfred."

"Master Bruce, in all my years serving your family, I have never rested whilst there was work to be done. Before you comment on my age, Master Bruce, I will have you know that I am as spry as ever. Well... after a cup of tea, anyways."

Even with his many years, Alfred can still bring a smile to my face. It appears that the troubling times haven't affected all of us, yet. "You should do that more often, Master Bruce. Smile."

"When there's something to smile about, I will. Go on, Alfred."

"Good day, Master Bruce." the wise butler trudges off out of the room.

Pickping up the phone to call once more, I dial in Hal Jordan's personal number. "Hi, it's Hal." was the Green Lantern's initial greeting.

"It's Bruce." I state and patiently wait for his reply as I could hear him scrambling around in the distance, no doubt getting his ring out.

"Hi... what do ya- what do you need?" he nervously laughs to himself.

"Lex has agreed to allow me a friend to the gala. Be ready on friday, six pm sharp." I speak into the phone. "I'll arrange for a suit to be delivered to your home. Don't get it dirty."

"How uhhh... how expensive is the suit?" Hal gulps.

"Very. As I said, be ready. Meet me at Metropolis station." I can imagine the frantic rush for Hal to get dressed on friday. With that, I place the phone down and cross my arms over the desk at Wayne Manor. Dickwill be okay. He can handle himself. I assure the deep wrenching within me.

A/N

I'm very sorry that this chapter took so long to be put up. However, I will make it up to you by uploading another by Wednesday.