Clark approaches and sees Superboy laying on the pavement. He is still breathing.
"Are you okay?" Clark asks.
Superboy looks up. His vision is foggy. He groans.
"Errrr- Superman?" He asks as he stares up at Clark.
"What?!" Clark asks back.
"Okay, okay, everyone back away." Otis, Lex's head of security, says as he approaches the scene.
"He's hurt!" Lois says.
"Project Kr is property of LexCorp. I'll take him from here." Otis says.
"You won't be taking him anywhere." Clark says.
"Oh yes I will. I gots a job to do sir. Now step outta the way." Otis says.
Clark stands there for a moment more, before backing away. A large crowd begins to gather around the area. They are arguing with Otis over what should be done.
"The kids hurt, he needs a doctor." Someone shouts.
"Mr. Luthor will take care of him." Otis says.
The crowd isn't taking that for an answer. They are becoming restless.
"Look, you's people are on LexCorp property. You need to evacuate the area now." Otis says, with his hand on his holster.
"That'll be quite enough." A voice says from above.
The crowd looks up and sees Superman. They quiet down as he descends from the sky.
"Look Mr. Superman, I've got a job to do. This kid is coming with me." Otis says.
"He needs a doctor." Superman says.
Superboy lays on the ground, groaning in pain.
"Mr. Luthor will take care of him." Otis says.
"Luthor- he… wants to… decommission me." Superboy says.
Superman stares back at Otis.
"The Superboy is property of LexCorp. Mr. Luthor can do with it what he sees fit." Otis says.
This sets the crowd into an uproar again.
Superman walks over to Superboy. Superboy looks up. He still feels rather hazy. But he can see the blue suit with Superman's shield on the chest. The same shield that is on Superboy's T-shirt.
"You, you're really him." Superboy says.
"Let me help you." Superman says, as he extends his hand.
"Can you get up?" He asks.
"Uh- I think so." Superboy says as he winces in pain.
Superman looks back over at the crowd. They are restless.
"Enough!" Another voice says. Superman looks over and sees that Lex has finally arrived.
"Lex, is it true? Where you really going to terminate Superboy?" Lois asks.
"No." Lex says.
"I was merely going to put him on ice. For safe keeping, should the world lose Superman again." He continues.
"How is that your choice?" Lois asks.
"I created him. I felt it would be best." Lex says.
"You can't do this Lex. Look at him, he's a human being. And he's in pain." Superman says.
"He is hurt because of his own rash decision. When I told him what I was going to do he jumped out the window. Do you people really want another super powered being on the streets unchecked?" Lex asks.
The crowd quiets down as they consider what Lex has to say.
"You can't put him on ice." Superman says.
"Then will you take ownership of him?" Lex asks.
Superman pauses for a moment. He wasn't sure what to say. He hadn't expected to make Superboy his responsibility.
"If not, then he will be coming with me." Lex says.
"I don't think so Lex." Superman says.
"Very well Superman. His actions now are on your hand." Lex says as he and Otis walk off.
"You're going to… take care of me now." Superboy asks.
"You're free now, you can go wherever you want." Superman says.
"But I've never been on my own before. I don't know where to go." Superboy says.
Superman thinks for a moment.
"I think I can help with that." Superman says.
Superman takes Superboy to San Francisco. He takes him to Titan Tower. When they arrive, they are greeted by Nightwing and Starfire.
"Supes! Welcome back!" Nightwing says jubilantly.
"Thank you Dick. This is Superboy." Superman says.
Superboy stands there, kind of shy.
"No need to be quiet around here." Nightwing says.
"Oh yes, there is always so much going on around here." Starfire says.
"We've gotten some new recruits since you were last here. Come on let me introduce you." Nightwing says.
Nightwing takes them inside. They see Beast Boy and some sort of robotic man playing video games.
"Superman, you remember Garfield, and this, this is Victor Stone, we call him Cyborg." Nightwing says.
"Nice to meet you. This is Superboy, he's going to be staying with you." Superman says.
"What up Superboy." Beast Boy says.
"Nice to meet you, want to play some Gamestation with us?" Cyborg asks.
"I've never played a Gamestation before." Superboy says.
"WHAT?! You've got to check it out. It's the coolest thing ever." Beast Boy says.
"Perhaps in a little bit." Nightwing says.
Superman notices another girl peering over behind the kitchen counter.
"It's okay, you can come out." Nightwing says.
A young girl approaches.
"Superman, Superboy, this is Terra." Nightwing says.
"Terra, eh?" Superman asks.
"Uh hi." Terra says.
"Superboy why don't you two get acquainted." Nightwing says as he pulls Superman aside.
"I trust you know about the Toyman situation from earlier this year." Nightwing says.
"Of course." Superman says.
"This was the other girl, the one that survived. She was taken by a mercenary, code name Deathstroke. We were able to free her from him and brought her here." Nightwing says.
Superman takes another look at her.
"What can she do?" He asks.
"She can move the earth." Nightwing says.
Superman cocks an eyebrow.
"You know rocks and stuff. Big rocks. But she doesn't have the best control over her powers." Nightwing says.
"Well it sounds like she's in the right place." Superman says.
Superman looks around. It seems like Superboy is getting acquainted.
"Where's Raven?" He then asks.
Nightwing sighs.
Superman opens the door to Ravens room.
"Raven." Superman calls out.
It's dark, and quiet for a moment.
"You were gone." Raven says.
"Yes, but I'm here now." Superman says.
Tears begin to fall down Raven's cheeks. She rushes over and hugs Superman.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you." Superman says.
Raven looks up at Superman. He notices some sort of jewel in her forehead.
"This is new." Superman says, as he puts a finger in it.
"Let's just say while you were off facing your demons, I had a demon to face of my own." Raven says.
"Did you conquer it?" Superman asks.
"I don't think he has control over me anymore." Raven says.
Everyone meets at the entrance to Titan Tower. As they are all talking, J'onn Jonzz, The Martian Manhunter, shows up.
"Yah! Alien!" Beast Boy yells.
Superman and Starfire both give him an intense stare.
"Right, uh sorry." Beast Boy says.
"Everybody, this is J'onn J'onzz. Nightwing has also invited his niece to stay here with all of you." Superman says.
"Come on do not be shy." J'onn says.
J'onn's niece, M'gann M'orzz, appears. She is wearing a white T-shirt and blue skirt. He skin was green with long red hair.
"Hi everyone. I'm M'gann, or you can call me Miss Martian." She says.
Superboy looks at Superman.
"Why does everyone have two names?" He asks.
"In crime fighting it is common to use an alias so as to safe guard your secret identity." Superman says.
"I go by the name of John Jones, and the public calls me Martian Manhunter when I fight crime." J'onn says.
"I'm Victor Stone, but everybody calls me Cyborg." Cyborg says.
"Superboy is already a crime fighting name, so what should my real name be?" Superboy asks.
"I- uh I've always liked the name Connor." Miss Martian says.
Superboy looks over as Miss Martian morphs her white T-shirt to black, matching Superboy's shirt. He smiles back at her, subtly.
"Wouldn't you also need a last name?" Beast Boy asks.
"Perhaps the name Kent." Superman says.
"So I'm Connor Kent now?" Superboy asks.
"I like it." Miss Martian says.
"Yeah, I do too. I am Connor Kent." Superboy says.
"Welcome to the team Connor. And you too M'gann. It is always nice to have new friend around." Starfire says.
Superman pulls Nightwing aside.
"Have you spoke to Bruce recently." He asks.
"Don't even start. I thought he was coming around, but then Jason." Nightwing says.
"A lot has changed in a year." Superman says as he lets out a big sigh.
"He needs to come back to the world." He continues.
"I don't think I can help you there." Nightwing says.
"Then I guess this is a job for Superman." Superman says.