MoP

Harry Potter and the Myriad of Possibilities: Prologue

Chapter 34: Rebellion, Part 16.

Disclaimer: This is solely a not-for-profit fan activity and does not intend to infringe on copyrights held by Time Warner, DC Comics, Bloomsbury et al, and JK Rowling. Any characters that are original to this work remain the property of the author.

A/N: The Myriad of Possibilities Series primarily uses the background from the Harry Potter books but some elements and scenes have been borrowed from other sources – including the movies, Pottermore and my own headcanon – that will be covered where they fit into the narrative. The timeline of the DC Comics elements borrows heavily from Young Justice (2011) and may adapt elements and characters from the comics and several additional other media instalments – including but not limited to Smallville (2001) and Superman and Lois (2021) – and relocates events of Young Justice to the Eighties and early Nineties rather than the New Tens as screened and includes several 'legacy' and original characters as a result. Any other recognisable characters belong to their copyright holders.

A/N: Thanks to 6f5e4d for their help on this chapter.

Mount Justice.
December 16, 18:16 EST.

"Recognised, Superman Zero-One," declared the computer as the Man of Steel swept into the Cave.

Most of the Team were away and only the Cave's permanent residents were present. Red Tornado was the first to speak. "Greetings Superman, how can we be of assistance?"

"I'm here to see Su-Conner," his father replied.

Conner stepped away from the training ring where he was referring a spar between M'gann and Zatanna and walked over to him. As he passed Wolf, the massive lupine rose to his feet and followed him as he joined his father. "Is everything ready?"

His father nodded.

"As Superboy's guardian I would ask for some clarity on 'everything'," requested Red Tornado with his usual bland tone.

"Kelex is going to do some medical tests on Conner to see if we can fix his power issues," replied the Man of Steel.

That's not exactly true… thought Conner. But it's as close as I want Zatanna to know about so…

"Understood," replied Red Tornado. "I have no objection. Unless my presence is required I will remain here."The two Kryptonians shared a look, then Conner replied. "We'll be fine, Tornado."

"As you wish."

"Zatanna and I will stay here too," said M'gann. (I assume that you don't want her to come?)

(Not really,) Conner admitted. (I'll tell the whole Team… and Tornado, Canary and Batman eventually… but I need a bit of time.)

(If there's anything I can do to help…)

(I'll ask,) Conner promised as Sphere rolled up and transformed into her trike form. "I guess that Sphere wants to come though…" Wolf barked his agreement and leapt into his usual seat on the sapient vehicle. "… and Wolf."

"They're both welcome to join us," Clark agreed. "Have you got the solar suits handy?"

"I can get them."

"Please," said his father. "And the 'other item' we discussed…"

"Will do." Conner agreed and slipped out of the room.

Antarctica.
December 17, 05:00 UTC-6.

Memories of the disastrous Fa'ehyl'saav Ritual caused Conner to tense as the Super-Cycle approached the massive door of his father's fortress.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Bad memories," Conner replied. "Sort of. The Fa'ehyl'saav Ritual."

"I heard about that," his father agreed. "Black Canary was furious with Batman and Martian Manhunter over that."

Conner smiled a little. "It was here that things started to go wrong," he explained. "We tracked a lone scout-ship… I think it was trying to get in."

"That's been tried before," his father noted. "Without success."

"We disabled the ship and were in the process to salvaging it when Wolf was 'killed' protecting from a secondary blast…"

Hearing his name, the giant lupine howled.

"Then two more ships appeared out of nowhere… and we lost Artemis."

"And that was when M'gann seized control of the scenario and made you to forget."

"She didn't mean to!" Conner snarled.

"I know that," his father agreed. "Will you be alright to continue?"

"They're just memories… nightmares really," Conner replied. "I'll be fine."

"Well, if you're sure…"

"I am," Conner insisted and landed Super-Cycle in front of the doors and got out.

Once he and Wolf were both on solid, Super-Cycle transformed back into her usual form and rolled after the two Kryptonians as they entered the massive edifice.

"Greetings Master Kal-El," said a small golden robot as the two Kryptonians entered the Fortress with Conner's companions in tow. "I assume this is the clone?"

"My name is Conner, Conner Kent!" Conner retorted. "Not 'the clone'."

"Yes Master Conner Kent," agreed the robot. "My name is Kelex, I am Master Kal-El's assistant in all matters Kryptonian."

"Hi," replied Conner shortly.

"Kelex, I'd like you to run some scans on Conner," said his father. "Normally, he only has some of my powers, but Luthor was able produce some dermal patches that were to 'suppress his human DNA' and allow his powers to fully manifest."

"Fascinating," observed the robot. "I believe you mentioned side effects?"

"It made me angry," injected Conner. "Well, angrier. According to Luthor is a natural result of Kryptonian genetics."

"Unlikely," countered the robot. "Hu-Em's First Principle would seem to apply."

"Hu-Im?"

"A Kryptonian philosopher," his father replied. "I believe he cautioned against making assumptions based on a single or limited datapoints."

"A simplistic but essentially correct summary, Master Kal-El," Kelex agreed. "Do you have any samples I can analyse?"

"I've only got a couple left," Conner said, reaching into a pocket for the case.

"One will be sufficient," said the diminutive automaton and accept the patch when it was passed to him. "Master Kal-El, please show Master Conner to the bio-bed while I start the analysis of this compound."

His father nodded and steered Conner away from the entrance.

"What's the verdict, Kelex?" asked his father.

"I have yet to complete my analysis," replied the robot. "However, I have some initial conclusions."

"Go on."

"Lex Luthor's conclusions were not entirely groundless," replied Kelex. "The genetic suppression effect of the Shield patches that he created is… inelegant but inspired… however his conclusion that Master Conner Kent's increased rage is linked to his 'purified' genetics is not entirely correct."

"But partly?" asked Conner.

"Indeed, Master Conner Kent," confirmed the robot. "He is correct about the connection, but it is due to flaws in the biochemical formulation conflicting with elements of the base personality engineered into both yourself and Project: Match not your Kryptonian genetics."

"Can you fix it?"

"Affirmative, at least in the short-term."

"Why not permanently?"

"Regular brute force modification of the genetic structure will result in significant degradation over time," replied the robot. "I am currently reformulating the biochemistry of the Shields taking account information from Justice League files and my databases that Lex Luthor would not have access to."

"How long will that take?"

"I estimate one lorakh, sixty-five zentiahr, two wol…"

"What?!" exclaimed Conner, confused and angry.

"The Fortress runs on Kryptonian time units," his father explained. "Kelex is saying that it'll be about a hundred and sixty hours."

"Okay," sighed Conner, relaxing a little. "That's fine. Can I go home now?"

"Of course," agreed his father. "If that's what you want."

"It is."

"Then let's go," agreed his father. "I'll fly down on the twenty-third, pick up the new Shields and bring them to you so you don't have to come down here again so soon."

Mount Justice.
December 20, 17:16 EDT.

"Thanks for coming," Robin said as Conner and M'gann joined him and Wally in the training ring.

"Where are the others?" M'gann asked.

"Personal business," Robin replied quickly. "We don't need the whole Team for this anyway."

"What is 'this'?" Artemis demanded.

"Advanced weapons tech has been stolen at manufacturing plants throughout Europe…" Robin replied, then summoned a holo-screen between them showing a map of Europe. Three logos – stylized red buildings – appeared on the map. "… and each theft coincides with tour stops made by the Haly International Travelling Circus. Batman's sending us undercover to catch the thieves."

"Does this clown car have room for one more?" asked Red Arrow as he walked up to them.

Where did he come from? Conner wondered. He didn't Zeta in…

"Uh, we've got this covered…" replied Robin hesitantly.

Red Arrow bent in close to the Boy Wonder, but Conner could still just make out him say. "You've got the mission covered... but who's covering the three potential mole suspects you're bringing along?"

"When do we leave?"

"Because we could be away for several days, Batman doesn't want us to take Bio-Ship," Robin replied. "We're booked on a flight to Brussels that leaves in just under an hour. Batman has already had the four of us pre-cleared through Customs but..."

"I'll be fine," Red Arrow assured him. "I've been overseas a few times recently."

"Then let's go."

Bruges.
December 22, 20:08 CET.

"Damen un Herren, madames et monsieurs, Ladies and gentleman…" began Jack Haley, as he appeared in the middle of the main ring in a burst of smoke and light. "Welcome to the Haly International Traveling Circus... where the world of the centre ring is your oyster, and these are our latest pearls…" He pointed his baton upwards, and a spotlight followed him to highlight a slight, black-haired boy. "The Daring Dangers: Dan Danger…"

Robin grasped the flybar and swung off his perch across the tent. When he reached the top of his swing, he released the bar and somersaulted through the air, crossing M'gann's mirrored somersault with only inches to spare.

"Dawn Danger…"

Both acrobats caught their catchbars and swung back towards their podiums.

"Diane Danger, Dane Danger…"

Artemis and Red Arrow raised their bows and loosed a triplet of arrows each into the air.

"… and Dean Danger!"

Conner picked up a pair of massive barrels, juggled them briefly and then tossed them into the air as M'gann and Robin made their next leaps, passing smoothly between the barrels and the barrage of arrows to furious applause from the crowd.

"You'll never see another trapeze act like this, folks…" promised the elderly ringmaster. "And all performed without a net!"

Mid-swing, M'gann shifted so that she was hanging with her legs hooked through her catchbar and then reached towards Robin as his flipped towards her. "Robin!" she screamed as his fingers missed her outstretched hands.

"Don't blow our cover," ordered Robin as he fell and the crowd's cheers turned to screams of horror.

"But saving your life's okay?" Conner asked, tossing another barrel towards his team-mate.

Robin grunted in pain as he flew upwards again, barely catching M'gann's hands on her return swing, turning the crowd's screams back to cheers.

"What did I just say?"

"The crowd can't see me use telekinesis from below," countered M'gann. "Besides, I've been using it all night. I'm not exactly the acrobat you are."

"Yeah, neither am I right now," Robin admitted as they landed on one of the podiums and raised their hands in salute. "I think I caught that twenty-four-hour bug that's been going around the circus. But the show must go on."

M'gann nodded and followed him down to the floor of the ring.

"Put your hands together for the Daring Dangers!" said Haly as the Team lined up under the floodlights of the arena.

"Didn't think you'd make it through," said M'gann.

"Neither did I," admitted the Boy Wonder. "Help me backstage."

M'gann nodded in agreement and they headed out of the ring as a tightrope-walking act began.

"Ray, have you seen my other torch?" asked the firebreather as they walked through the crew area.

"Here," replied the other man, holding it out for him to take. "You dropped it outside the train."

"Thanks, you're a lifesaver," said the demonically-costumed man as he accepted the proffered tool.

"Break a leg," said Ray as the firebreather entered the tunnel to the main ring.

"Bear witness, ladies and gentlemen, to the Dragon's Breath!".

The Team were lingering by the makeup tables when Haly left the ring a short while later. He was immediately accosted by two of the troupe, a pair of African-American acrobats. "Haly, what's the deal?" demanded one of the acrobats. "Giving the top slot to those Danger kids? That's our slot!"

"Was your slot," Haly countered. "Until you missed that performance in Paris."

"Carlo was sick, he's better now," claimed the acrobat.

"Plus, those Dangers are a sham," added Carlo. "They say they're brothers and sisters but they don't even look alike."

"Nah," agreed his brother.

"You just don't like the competition," retorted the ringmaster and pushed past them only to be blocked again by a prematurely white-haired official-looking man in a navy suit.

"Oh, for crying out loud!" exclaimed Haly. "Not you again! We're in the middle of a show!"

"Then we'll talk after," threatened the other man. "But we will talk. Another city last week, another tech firm robbed, another stop on your tour… If I prove you're responsible, I will shut you down."

"I've got three minutes to gather props and get back to the centre ring," said Haly and walked away.

The new arrival silently glanced around the crew area and spotted the Team. He walked over and drew a set of credentials from an inside pocket of his jacket. "Faraday, Interpol," he said. "New act?"

"Yeah," confirmed Robin. "Just joined the tour."

"Probably clears you," admitted Faraday as he returned his credentials to his jacket. "But don't get too comfortable, Haly's going down for this."

December 23, 00:16 CET.

"If Interpol's already on this... why are we bothering?" asked Conner, as usual impatient with surveillance detail.

"Because Batman said so," countered Robin. "Why? You had something better to do?"

"How do we know the thieves will hit here?" asked Artemis.

"There are more obvious targets," agreed Red Arrow.

"And Faraday'll have them covered," countered Robin. "I've analysed the tech already stolen and the pattern suggests this is the place."

"How are you feeling?" asked M'gann.

"Lousy, actually," Robin admitted reluctantly. "But I'll manage."

"Contact, northeast quadrant," said Conner as he spotted a hooded figure walking towards the factory's boundary fence and flipped over it. "Looks like we know why Carlo missed a performance."

"Could be Carlo, could be his brother," countered Robin. "Keep an open mind, and move in."

Conner slipped his tin of Shields out of his pocket and slapped one on, then dropped down to street level.

"Did you see where he went?" asked Robin as he joined the rest of the Team.

Conner scanned the area with his x-ray vision. "The warehouse."

"Let's go get him," said Robin.

The Team walked out on the central gantry of the factory in time to see the thief break open a crate. Robin let out a cackle and declared. "Caught red-handed. Red-faced too, I'll bet."

"Acrobatics won't get you out of this," said Artemis as she and Red Arrow covered the thief with their bows, while he removed a box of electronics from the crate.

Conner spotted a road flare in the man's other hand. "Look out!" he yelled as the thief used the flare to spend a stream of fire in their direction.

The Team scattered.

"Those crates are full of live ammo…" said Red Arrow a moment later. "Move!"

Seconds later, the crates exploded and the warehouse was enveloped in flame and the Team was buried in burning rubble.

"That guy's dead meat!" growled Conner as he broke out of the rubble and started to run after the thief.

"Superboy, no," said Robin, who was trying to hold up the weakened and semi-conscious M'gann. "You need to get her out!"

"He's getting away!"

"And that matters more than Miss M?!" demanded Robin. "The fire's killing her!"

A groan from M'gann brought him out of his Shield Rage. "Right, right," he agreed and moved to M'gann's side and scooped her up into his arms and hurried her out of the building.

08:16 CET.

"Another weapons plant is hit, and once again the circus is in town," said Faraday. "I don't believe in coincidences."

"I don't care what you believe," said Haley irritably. "My people are not responsible. I did a bed check last night and every single member of my troupe was asleep in their bunks."

"Well, we sure weren't," pointed out M'gann. "And if he's lying about us..."

Conner glanced at Robin. The Boy Wonder was not pleased by that line of thinking.

"So, two thieves, right?" continued Artemis once they were back on the train. "The fire breather and one of the acrobats."

"Dressed in identical clothes," agreed M'gann.

"Maybe not just two," Dick admitted reluctantly as he summoned a holo-window from his glove. "Here's the Madrid security footage, and now Paris."

"So, the strongman and the clown are in on it too," observed Roy. "If the entire circus is involved, Haly himself may be the mastermind."

"You don't know that," retorted Robin.

"It would explain his lies," M'gann pointed out.

"I told you to keep an open mind!" yelled Robin as he surged to his feet, then headed to the door, slamming it behind him.

"'Hello, Megan!'" quoted M'gann and slapped herself on the forehead. "I'll read Haly's mind."

"I'm not sure we can trust you to do that without tipping him off," said Red Arrow.

"Or maybe you don't trust her, period?" asked Conner, stalking across the compartment until he was well inside the redhead's personal space. "I heard you talking to Robin back at the Cave. You're only here to spy on the three of us."

"There's a mole on this team and good reasons to suspect all three of you," Red Arrow replied. "Both Artemis and Miss Martian have already been caught in lies. You could be programmed by Cadmus without even knowing."

How did he know about that? Conner thought. "Or maybe I take your head off without even trying."

"Okay…" said M'gann as she walked up to Conner and put a supportive hand on her boyfriend's shoulder. "Let's all take a time out before we do something we regret."

"Speak for yourself," said Conner, but followed her out of the room anyway.

December 23, 22:16 CET.

Conner threw a sandbag into the boxcar that he and M'gann were loading and then jumped onboard as she added one herself, then turned to pick-up a heavy metal case.

At that moment, Ray the Roustabout walked up to her and leaned down. "Need a hand?"

"I'm good, thanks," M'gann replied lightly, then released a hand from the box and indicated behind herself. "Maybe one of the others could use some help?" she suggested, indicating Dragon's Breath and one of the other performers who had collapsed into semi-consciousness while trying to do their part. "A lot of them seem to have that flu." "Yeah, it's going around."

"All aboard, everyone," barked Haly as he suited words to actions. "Now!"

"Someone's in a hurry," remarked Red Arrow.

"You look better," Artemis told Robin when the Team met in the girl's compartment a few minutes later.

"I feel better," agreed the Boy Wonder, then they both looked down at M'gann. "I'm sorry, M... Dawn. I hope you didn't catch it from me."

"I feel so silly," she replied. "Who knew a Martian could be vulnerable to a human virus?"

"Uh… HG Wells," quipped Robin. "Look, when did you first feel sick?"

"Just after boarding the train, it came on suddenly."

"Same with me the other night," Robin agreed. "I remember Ray rubbed my head for good luck right before we went on."

"Ray? That roustabout?" asked Conner. "He touched her before we boarded. Guy must be a walking Petri dish."

"Yeah… yeah, maybe," said Robin, not sounding particularly convinced as he left the compartment and almost bumped into the ringmaster.

"Dan, you look refreshed."

"Thanks," replied Robin. "Jack, how long has Ray worked for you?"

"Picked him up at the start of the European tour," Haly replied. "Poor lad's down with the same flu as the rest of them."

"We'll check on him," said Artemis as she, Conner and Red Arrow joined them in the corridor. "It's the least we can do."

"If you insist," agreed Haly as the trio headed down the corridor.

Robin and M'gann caught up with them a few moments later.

"Shouldn't you be resting?" Conner asked.

"I already told Robin I'll be fine," M'gann replied as they entered the main berthing and gathered around Ray's empty bunk.

"Guess he wasn't that sick," Conner observed.

"Does this circus have an elephant I don't know about?" asked Red Arrow, indicating a box stamped with the legend 'Elephant Food'.

"Not on foreign tours," Robin confirmed as the redhead opened it up so they could look in.

"Empty," reported Red Arrow, then paused and reached in, coming out with a stained forefinger "Ash."

"From the warehouse fire in Bruges," concluded Robin.

"Uh... guys, I found Ray," Artemis reported, and when the Team turned to face her, she held up a realistic-looking rubber mask.

"Split up," barked Robin. "Search the whole train."

"We're chasing someone who's stolen Dawn's act," reported Robin. "Her whole shtick, if you catch my drift."

Conner ducked behind a bulkhead and retrieved one of his Shields as the clown entered the dining car wheeling a large case on a sack truck. Not many left now, he thought as the surge of power rushed over him. Once the initial rush was over, he stood up and scanned the box. There was some sort of device inside, possibly a bomb. The clown frowned, and telekinetically threw most of the car's furniture at him.

Conner was easy able to deflect the attack, but it cost him valuable time. "I got him… but he's onto me," he reported as the clown ran back the way he came. "Exiting the dining car now… he's gone topside."

The clown attempted to knock him off the top of the car telekinetically, but thanks to the Shield, he was able to fly back up before he hit the ground. "That won't work on me, clown!"

"That's no clown," reported Robin. "He's the Parasite! The guy who once stole Superman's powers."

"As if you kids are who you claim to be," retorted the villain as he revealed his natural face. "Please…"

"Stay out of his reach," Robin ordered Conner. "There's no flu going around… the weakness comes when he makes contact and feeds off the powers of others."

"I have been a bit of a glutton today," admitted Parasite. "Chowed down on the skills of nearly every loser in this troupe. But, oh my, the pièce de résistance was Dawn Danger... or whatever her real name is."

At that moment, M'gann clambered up on to the roof to stand with Robin.

"Thought I'd munch on her trapeze skills. Imagine my surprise when she tasted like Martian Manhunter instead."

Conner could hear Artemis and Red Arrow climbing up behind him and drawing their weapons.

"Mm… she made a lovely appetizer. But guess who I want for my entrée?" he asked, then reached out telekinetically and caught Conner, pulling him within arms' reach before he could react. "Mm… Now that's the full-bodied Kryptonian flavour I love!"

"Everyone, stay whelmed!" ordered Robin. "Subdue but keep your distance!"

Before any of the others could act, Parasite lashed with his heat-vision and both archers let out cries of pain.

No! thought Conner, but he was helpless.

"You know, I almost never say this…" observed the villain. "But I'm sated."

He dropped Conner to the roof. "Hate to eat and run," he said, but snared the case and took off.

Robin tried to jump after him, but the villain backhanded him away. "Sorry. No hitchhikers."

The Boy Wonder fell back, missing the side of the car.

Conner tried to get up and save him, but even with the effect of the Shield, he was still too weak and Red Arrow and the girls were able to beat him to it.

"Conner!" yelled M'gann as soon as Robin was safe and hurried over to him, helping him to his feet. "Are you all right?"

"Fine, I'm fine," he assured her, wishing that he could link with her and tell her the truth.

"You're drained," retorted Robin as he and the archers joined the couple. "Parasite took more power than you even have. Heat vision."

That's not entirely true, Conner thought. "Heat-vision… I have the genetic potential for it. Must have been enough for him?"

Robin let out of grunt of frustration and headed back towards the roof ladder.

"Go," Conner told M'gann, shaking off her supporting hand. "I'll manage."

His girlfriend said nothing but followed the others down to the ladder.

Once the roof was clear, Conner opened his waistcoat and checked the Shield. As he suspected, it was burnt out, despite only a few moments use. He tore it off and discarded it, then retrieved another and slapped it on.

"It's not a complete debacle," admitted Robin once they had changed into their uniforms and reconvened in one of the sleeper cabins. "I picked Parasite's pocket and got this flash-drive," he reported, then plugged it into his holo-glove, which automatically hacked into the device and threw up a screen with the results. "It looks like Parasite's working for Intergang. Everything he's stolen, they're all pieces of something. A weapon that generates… black holes!"

"Oh, come on!" countered Red Arrow sceptically. "To build that you'd need a particle accelerator."

"Like the Large Boson Collider in Geneva?" Robin pointed out.

"The circus' next stop," agreed the redhead. "But now that Parasite can fly, he's got a big head start on us."

"Sorry," said M'gann, who had managed to reset her bio-suit back to her uniform, but still wore 'Dawn Danger's' face.

"Not your fault," Robin assured her briskly. "But this thing could wipe out entire cities… we need to hurry."

"You and I need to hurry," corrected Red Arrow, as he reached into the overhead and drew out a longbow. "Without powers, the others would hold us back."

"Hey, you're not the only one with a back-up bow," Artemis pointed out, raising her crossbow into view.

"And my powers are back!" Conner announced, backhanding the bulkhead and making a hole to prove his point.

"How?" asked Robin, confused.

"I'm still..." reported M'gann and then trailed off.

"I guess Kryptonians recover faster than humans or Martians," Conner lied.

"Don't even think about leaving me behind," said M'gann.

Geneva.
December 24, 00:37 CET.

"Trail of destruction… this way," concluded Robin as Artemis moved to check over the injured security guards.

"They'll be fine," she reported a minute later. "If we can stop Parasite."

"Then let's get a move on," said Robin, then lead the Team into the building.

Conner paused to apply his last Shield and then followed.

The weapon had already started to power up by the time they reached the main lab.

"We need to take him down," said Robin urgently. "Or at least lure him away so we can safely disengage the..."

One distraction coming up, Conner thought, and charged out of cover towards the villain with a roar.

"No, wait!" yelled Robin.

But even if Conner had been inclined to obey, the choice was taken away from him seconds later as Parasite had spotted him and snared him telekinetically. "Seconds… no, I couldn't," he crowed. "Oh, what a rush… How do you do it, kid? Even Superman never recharged this fast!"

Conner groaned in pain, and then passed out.

When he regained consciousness, Faraday and his flunkies had arrived. "We'll take it from here," declared the Interpol agent, as another agent slipped an inhibitor collar on the villain. "Thanks for the tip, by the way… it definitely helps to prep the inhibitor collar in advance."

"Glad to be of service," replied Robin as M'gann helped Conner to his feet and supported him as they joined the group.

"Wow, he deigns to touch the hand of a suspected traitor," observed Artemis as she helped Red Arrow to rise.

"Mind open," declared the other archer. "I guess I never really saw you three in the thick of it before. Superboy's a hothead, but I know I'm not one to talk. You could each have betrayed us here. You didn't. I'm sorry I doubted any of you. There is no mole."