Sam was nervously pounding with his feet under the table. Hoping nobody sees it! As everyone was too busy with getting ready for the meeting, no one saw how nervous the general actually was.
It was a restless night. After what happened yesterday at his daughters house, and witnessing Jordan lashing out on his father, Sam was brooding endlessly about everything. About how Jordan became so arrogant and how to go on, now that everyone knows about his existence now.
After leaving the farm, Sam went straight to his office to arrange his men to delete as much as possible from the Internet. Officially to prevent a panic. Then he searched the Internet by himself.
He barely slept last night. And that in his office chair! At some point, someone came to his office and ordered him to come to the conference-room immediately. And now he was here… Still wearing the same civilian clothes he wore yesterday on the farm. With bags under his eyes and looking at least 10 years older than he was. Everyone guessed he was upset about the latest reveal that someone with powers is walking around freely, too. They had no clue that Sam was so upset because it was his grandson, the whole world was talking about now.
The conference-room was pretty crowded. Next to him, there were General Hardcastle with two aides. Two other high decorated generals with each two aides. Two lieutenants. A secretary, two guards, and three stenographers, ready to transcript the whole meeting. One by hand, one with a laptop, and one with an old stenotype machine, Sam didn't even know the DOD still has! And over screen, several people from the ministry of defense in Washington D.C. were joining them. And there was rumor, that the president is listening, too!
After three cups of coffee, Sam felt halfway ready to get through this meeting without any lasting damage for his career or his daughter's family…
"General Lane, thank you for joining us! We have some questions regarding the superpowered individual that helped Superman to stop a Tornado in Rice County yesterday afternoon!" General Hardcastle said.
"Of course!" Sam said. Suddenly he switched back to soldier mode. Cold, sterile, professional, and not concerned.
"General, you are aware that you are as concerned about it as we are." General Hardcastle said, not aware how much her words hit Sam, who put on his best poker face. "You were a direct witness! What can you tell us about this boy?"
"Not as much as you want to hear, I fear! Everything happened very fast!" Sam lied. "I would guess him around 20!"
Hours and hours of brooding needed to be useful now. For the safety of the family-secret! A family secret, he often hoped wouldn't be necessary to keep!
"What did you do yesterday in Rice County, General Lane?" suddenly the minister on the screen asked.
"I visited my daughter in Smallville! My daughter, Lois Lane, was responsible for the imprisonment of Lex Luthor 17 years ago! Yesterday he was released from prison, and my daughter and her family were worried. I went to them to show my support. My daughter was diagnosed with breast-cancer several months ago and had a surgery just two weeks ago. I was worried for her!" Sam told, hiding the real reason for his visit.
"Oh, I hope your daughter feels better by now!" another General said.
"Thank you! She is a Lane! She is strong!" Sam respond before he continued. Of course he left out the part where he, Clark and Lois took away the suit from Jordan which was the actual reason for his visit there. "I got in my car and wanted to drive back home when suddenly the storm came. There was a group of local teens, and I shooed them to a nearby bridge to seek shelter from the storm. I know it's not a good idea to seek shelter under a bridge during a tornado, but the storm was getting close too fast and there was no other possible shelter. And suddenly Superman arrived and tried to stop the storm."
Sam remembered the scene very well. While the teens sat on the ground and screamed, he looked over to the tornado. First it was looking as if Clark was able to handle it alone. Maybe he would have. But with Jordan he neutralized the storm faster. But when he saw Jordan next to his car, he was unsure. Sure, he nodded and therefor allowed his grandson to help his father, but he didn't expect Jordan to use that moment to play celebrity. One of the reasons why he also blamed himself a bit for the reveal!
"I couldn't see where this young man came from. He was suddenly there!" Sam continued lying. "He helped Superman to neutralize the tornado and then he landed in front of us! To show himself to everyone! To pose for photos!"
"Superman never poses for selfies!" another General said.
"Any ideas who this young man could be?" General Hardcastle asked into the round.
"No!" Sam instinctively said. All others denied, too.
"Our technicians work endlessly to analyze every frame of that video to look for clues!" the other General now said. "We can say he is young! Maybe a teenager!"
"Why this boy has powers?" the other minister on the screen asked.
"Could it be someone who has access to X-Kryptonite?" the other General asked. "This incident happened in Smallville. A place full of that stuff!"
"The mines are so strongly controlled, that it is impossible for the civilians there to sneak in to get anything of it!"
"Is there a chance that there are more Kryptonians on Earth? Ever since Morgan Edge we can't be sure that Superman is the only one!"
"He came here as a baby! It could be possible that he grew up as one of us? Went to school with normal kids?" Sam suggested, trying to sound neutral. "This boy is too young for it!"
"That would explain some things! But anyway we can be sure that he and the young man have a connection!" suddenly another lieutenant said.
"What do you mean with that?" Hardcastle asked harshly, while Sam tried to suppress his shocked expression.
"If you allow, I asked Dr. Mercer to join our meeting! I send her the video yesterday right after we received it to give us her opinion on it!" the lieutenant said and lift from his chair. "I just get her!"
Sam watched the Lieutenant walking to the other entrance and was nervous. Dr. Mercer was a renowned child- and youth-psychologist. The DOD worked with her in their Metahuman-School sometimes. And if Sam was honest, he thought about hiring her for Jordan before he got his powers to help him with his anxiety. He was curious what she was going to say about his grandson.
The lieutenant opened the door, put his head out to call her, and just a few seconds later, a slender attractive woman in a grey pant suit entered the room. She was holding a blue folder in her hand and wore a DOD-visitor-badge.
"Doctor Mercer, thank you for coming!" the lieutenant said.
"Thank you for having me here!"
"Coffee?"
"Oh, yes! Please!" she said. Just like everyone in the room, she looked like someone who had a very short night. Which was no surprise, considering it was around 5 or 6 o'clock in the morning. She joined them on the table and opened the folder, where Sam was able to see various handwritten notes and screenshots from the video. "Just like you wanted, I studied the video. The young man in the video and Superman definitely know each other. You can see it in the way Superman looks at him!"
"Could you explain that?" Sam asked curious.
Dr. Mercer lift one of the screenshots to explain it to everyone. It was a screenshot where Superman was visible in the background while Superboy was still making selfies with others.
"Look at Superman's expression! He is looking on this boy first shocked, but then angry. If Superman wouldn't know this boy, he would be surprised. But he seemed to be aware of his existence! According to what I saw in the video and the way Superman and, let's call him 'Superboy', were interacting with each other, I would assume a close connection. Maybe even father and son!"
Sam could feel his stomach lurch. He knew sooner or later they would have revealed the existence of a Superboy anyway. With the suit and Jordan's previous heroics, he guessed that it was time. But yesterday, after witnessing Jordan lashing out on his father, made it clear that Jordan was not ready to be a public hero. Dr. Mercer meanwhile continued…
"My first impression on this young man is, that he is a very self-confident and open person, who looks for attention! Unlike his father, if he is truly Superman's son, he seemed to have stopped the tornado only to use it as a chance to show the world that he is existing!"
Sam closed his eyes and began to pray. Since when is Jordan so reckless? Were all the lections about how important it is to keep his powers a secret for nothing? If they had decided to reveal him to the world by themselves, they wouldn't have this meeting here, talking about how to 'capture' and 'contain' him. They would have been able to prepare the DOD!
"General Lane, are you all right?" Hardcastle asked loudly forcing Sam out of his brooding.
"I'm sorry… I was just thinking!" Sam said before he turned to the psychologist again. He couldn't allow himself to act suspicious. "Dr. Mercer, Superman's supposed son… what do you think we can expect from him?"
Sam had to use this meeting as a chance to figure out how to help Jordan. Or maybe he figures out why he is behaving so arrogant lately.
"For an exact analysis I would have to talk to him in person. Everything I have is a shaky 15 second smartphone-video. But these 15 seconds have been very interesting."
"How?" Sam asked. He had watched the video countless of times, too. But just to keep sure that nobody could find a clue that it is Jordan.
"It is the way this boy is acting! How he is presenting himself! We all know Superman is never posing for photos! He simply stays visible for a moment to show that the danger is over, and that people can be sure that they are save. This boy definitely is seeking for attention. The way he is stealing it from Superman makes it clear that he didn't stop the tornado to save these kids. He wanted to be cheered on. And obviously he is used to it!"
Sam thought about it. Did he didn't play enough attention to Jordan? Why? He trained him, gave him a suit, they spent time together… Even if he had some ulterior motives…
"We don't know in what kind of environment this boy grew up! Or in which relationship he stands to Superman! There are too many possible scenarios!" Dr. Mercer continued.
"For example?" Hardcastle asked.
"I don't even know where to start!"
"Doctor, do you think this boy could be a thread?" another general asked.
This was something, Sam was always afraid of. He loved his grandsons. But he was happier when it was 'unlikely' that they will ever have powers. When Jordan got powers and they were unstable, Sam feared they could do harm. But then he got stronger and had better control over them.
"It really depends on so many factors. We don't know enough about this boy, his motives, his parents and his past." The Doctor said before showing another screenshot of Jordan. This time posing with the other teens. "Look at this. This boy is doing something, Superman never does. This can either mean he feels lonely and seeks for recognition. Or that he is spoiled and wants to show everyone that he is superior."
"Spoiled?" Sam asked loudly. He couldn't believe it.
"I would assume that!" the doctor said. "We don't know how Superman was raised. But these powers can have negative side-effects on young people's minds. I have seen it with some of the young metahumans in the DOD school. Wrong decisions or even a preferred treatment can cause people to feel superior. And this is honestly what I see."
Sam thought about her words, while pretending to make notes. Did Jordan get preferred treatment? He always needed more attention. Even before the powers. But they gave him self-confidence? Or did he actually spoil him?
"What do you advice, doctor?" the minister asked.
"To keep a close eye on that boy. Such a behavior could indicate a troubled personality. And if he really thinks he is superior to us powerless humans, he could be a thread."
Sam let these thoughts play in his head. That's what he tried to prevent. That his grandson is seen as a thread. That he thinks he is better than others. When Jonathan took X-K he saw that the boy was trying to show that he is better than his brother. That's why he banished Jon from the training and happy that he doesn't have powers…
Otherwise… a weird feeling overcame Sam when he thought about Jonathan's words in the storm-cellar that day: 'You're training the wrong guy!' For some reason he had to think about the Training he gave to Jordan and that Jonathan might had only wanted to prove himself.
"Thank you, Dr. Mercer!" General Hardcastle said and turned to Sam. "General Lane, you are working with Superman for years. Did he ever mentioned a son?"
"No!" Sam answered quickly. Now came the questions he was prepared for.
"Did he give you any information about yesterday's incident?"
"Not yet! But while I was on the way back he briefly flew by my car. I opened the window and he apologized. Promising to explain everything to the DOD and to the press later." Sam lied.
"How much later? It's everywhere in the news and in the social media! People get upset!"
"Maybe today, maybe tomorrow! Superman usually never lets the people wait too long in such important matters!" Sam respond.
"Another question…" suddenly the lieutenant next to Hardcastle asked. "… this suit the boy is wearing. Some of our scientists recognized it as the prototype of a special fighting-suit developed by our Department. You asked for this suit! Do you have an explanation for this, General Lane?"
Luckily it was a question, Sam was prepared for, too!
"Several months ago, Superman asked me for a protection jacket for private purpose. Since he is an reliable ally, and he never really asked for anything in return for his help, I accepted. I gave him the suit and asked for who it is. And he said it is for a friend! He didn't tell me who, but now I guess we all know who was meant."
Sam was surprised how well that lie came off his lips. In truth, the suit was part of his agenda to get Jordan on his side.
"We try to get Superman on our side for years now! And even if he supports us, he is not officially part of the DOD! He also never asks for anything in return! So, I thought this suit is a good way to show, that he can rely on the DOD. I couldn't know that it was actually to hide the identity of his 'supposed son'." Sam continued.
The suit was really meant to hide Jordan's identity when he is flying around. And Lois and Clark were not happy that Sam gave it to Jordan without talking to them before. But Jordan was so happy. And he used his powers for heroic events. But was it really too early?
"What does your daughter know about Superman's supposed son? It's no secret that she knows him in person!" Hardcastle continued. Another question, Sam already expected and prepared for.
"She was as surprised as I was!" Sam lied. "She called me, and I even had to drive back to Smallville to calm her down!"
"How is your daughter's relationship to Superman?" the minister asked.
"They are friends! Superman trusts her integrity as a reporter and my daughter trusts him! I think this is why they get along so well! But anyway, my daughter won two Pulitzers with articles about Superman. Of course, she sees him as a friend."
That sentence caused a lot of people to smile amused.
"But she has no 'very-close' relationship to him?" the minister asked again.
"Her husband would divorce her in that case!" Sam said, trying to murmur it abashed to sound believable. "Even if I don't like this slowpoke!"
"You haven't seen my son-in-law!" suddenly another general murmured, causing some people to smile again.
Sam realized that it was working! All he had to do was getting the suspicion away from the Kents and from Jordan. But Jordan and this thought he had didn't get out of his head. Is Dr. Mercer right? Is Jordan maybe feeling superior to others? Is this the reason he is acting so arrogant lately?
"That incident happened in Smallville! This place seems to be in the epicenter of every mayor Superman-related event lately!" the minister said.
"Well, Superman confessed that a meteor made of X-Kryptonite impacted there when he arrived on Earth. When Morgan Edge discovered it he tried to use it for his plans. The inhabitants of Smallville have been exposed to its radiation for decades and are therefore adjusted to it." Sam explained. But that was already known. "The X-Kryptonite might be responsible for the opening of the portal to the Inverse-World?"
"This stuff is a real trouble magnet. Is there any chance to get rid of it for good!" the minister asked.
"We are working on it!" General Hardcastle said. "We got out as much as possible from the mines in Smallville and look for a way to destroy it."
"It was difficult enough to stop it from getting into public!" another General said.
"There was a distribution center in Smallville. My daughter and I were able to uncover it!" Sam told.
"Wasn't one of your grandsons once caught with it?" suddenly another general asked.
Sam start to moan. Jonathan's X-K abuse was a matter he doesn't like to talk about. But otherwise, he sometimes asked himself if the boy was maybe jealous on Jordan.
"He made a stupid mistake! Some of his teammates were taking it and he took it, too and got caught."
"We investigated the incident back then!" a lieutenant said. "Everyone, including the Coach scapegoated your grandson even if they knew that one of the cheerleaders was selling it. Must had been hard for him to be used as the scapegoat?"
"Was it?" suddenly Sam became pale.
He knew Jonathan had a rough time after it. And he heard that some people didn't even forgave him after his innocence was proven and he took affords to make amends for it.
"Sorry, to hear that, General!" Hardcastle said. "You always praised your grandson in the highest notes! I hope he feels better!"
Sam became pale again… but hid it.
Sam had no clue how long they were sitting in the dark conference room. A few hours at least. When he left the room, he was greeted by the bright unpleasant sunlight that shined in through the windows. It was so bright that it hurt in his eyes.
He was about to leave to go back to Smallville and talk to Lois and Clark when his phone start to beep. He received some really nasty messages from Clark and Lois about, him telling to apologize to Jonathan and spending more time with him. Before he could write something back, he saw Dr. Mercer leaving the conference room, too.
"Dr. Mercer, you have a minute?" Sam asked and walked with the psychologist. "I have a question?"
"Of course, General! How can I help you?"
Sam led her down the hall and to his office where he closed the door after them to talk to her undisturbed.
"I was thinking about your analysis! Do you really think this boy is spoiled?"
"Well he has powers. Powers no one else in this world has. Some people are not able to handle such a responsibility. Of course, we don't know if he is Superman's son or some boy from Smallville. Or how his parents raised him. Nobody knows what it means to raise a child with powers, but I can imagine it is a huge responsibility. One wrong choice could accidentally create a monster."
Sam thought about his own choices with Jordan.
"I didn't want to ask that question with so many people listening, but I made some private research and developed scenarios." Sam lied. This was his chance to figure out something without causing too much trouble or suspicion. "Let's assume, this boy is Superman's son! He has a human mother and a human brother and lives a normal childhood until his powers kick in! What can let this boy become arrogant and bragging with his powers, like he did yesterday?"
"What do you mean with human brother?" Dr. Mercer asked confused.
"Well… a brother without powers?!" Sam asked with a shrug.
"Hmm… this is an interesting scenario! It depends on how this family deals with their life. We don't know what kind of father Superman is, but if he is preferring the powered one over the unpowered one, it could have a huge impact."
"How?" now Sam became even more curious.
"Well, lets say Superman, or someone else tells the powered one that he is something special while the powerless one receives less appreciation. This can cause severe issues that can let to superiority of the powered one and jealousy from the unpowered one."
Jealousy?! Sam shuddered at that thought. Suddenly he thought back to that day in the storm cellar, when he said Jonathan that his brother is something special. Jonathan made a face as if he got slapped. Considering that he told Jonathan to be scared of him several months before, he could guess that he had a huge part in Jordan's bad behavior and maybe Jonathan took the X-Kryptonite really out of jealousy.
"This is an interesting scenario, General Lane! How did you come for it?"
Sam became pale.
"Was just a thought!" he lied. "I have countless of others, too!"
"This is interesting! I hope Superman is better than that. I am sure, the unpowered one would feel so bad if nobody appreciate his being, just for having no powers. I mean it is not his fault!"
Dr. Mercer's words rang in his eyes. A cold shiver ran down his back when he realized that Jordan really thinks he is better than everyone else because of his powers. Dr. Mercer meanwhile prepared to leave again.
"You should ask Superman as soon as possible. I don't like what I saw in that Video. This boy is not helping other because he can or wants. He is doing it to brag! In that case he could be more a problem than a hero."
Dr. Mercer left after that sentence and Sam thought about how Jonathan must feel and how he kind of supported this. But he had barely time for it. Because just a few seconds later, suddenly Clark appeared in his office, in full Superman-attire, and put his hands on his hips.
"SAM…" Clark's voice was upset and rude. Not caring for a formal 'General' or Mr. Lane this time. "Did you tell Jonathan that he is useless?"
"What?" Sam was shocked. "I mean… not on purpose…"
Clark told Sam how Jordan behaved and how he offended Jonathan just a few minutes ago. He also told him how Jonathan feels and how everyone keeps leaving him out just because of his powerlessness. And Sam was shocked. Suddenly realizing that he spent a lot of time with Jordan and Natalie but didn't ask Jonathan if he wants to spend time with him, too. But if he was honest, he only spent time with Jordan and Natalie to recruit them. For Jonathan he saw no place in his possible team.
"Listen Sam, Jordan is as less your weapon to recruit than I was. And you will apologize to Jonathan, too for letting him feel left out, and less worth! If he ever talks to anyone of us!" Clark told upset. Sam could see that his son-in-law was worried. "I have one son who thinks he is superior to everyone else, one who be thinks that his own family doesn't loves him because he has no powers, all my friends are mad on me for Jordan's behavior and the pills the doctor described for Lois are turning her into a crybaby. All while the whole world is more worried about my son's potential danger than about Luthor being free. What did I do wrong?"
Sam shrugged.
"Forget it Sam… I know the answer: A lot… A lot!" Clark wailed.