(Interlude) Conner, Part 1; A VERY Brief History.
Conner sighed with relief, as he finally got away from Starfire. He knew she meant well, but she treated him like a freaking toddler. Okay so technically he was only a few months old, but he had the body and mind of a teenager. Not to mention, the education of a college professor.
Well kinda, some stuff, like word problems, gave him a bit of trouble. He was taken out of his tank too early. So the evil corporation, of mad scientists who made him, didn't have time to download how to really apply the things he knew, like math.
However he was learning, thanks to Starfire, and those online courses. Most of it was ridiculously easy, but some of it was actually helpful. Explaining the few things he didn't understand.
Starfire had him start on kindergarten courses, which his new friends explained to him was "super" embarrassing. He quickly realised that the other teens didn't like, when they had to study at their computers. So he pretended to hate it to... although honestly he kinda liked learning, just what all the stuff he knew meant.
He was accelerating quickly thanks to knowing most of it. Working at his own pace meant he was now working on 6th grade material, and it was finally starting to get hard. He'd be starting high school level stuff soon, and finally be caught up with his friends...
He was just trying to focus on anything that wasn't Superman. Unfortunately it wasn't working. He was still depressed and more then a little pissed. Everyone kept telling him that Superman would come to his senses. That he was a good man, and that after he gets over the shock, he'll accept the boy... When the boy finally became aware, in his little test tube, everything about him was defined by Superman.
He remembered the people who made him, building up when he would finally get to meet Superman. Conner knew who superman was, before he was taught of the sun.
The boy was meant to replace him if the man ever fell. To be his heir... his progeny... his peace of mind to know the world would always be safe, and to bring order to it all.
Basically, they were completely insane mad scientists... but Conner didn't know that back then. When they talked he listened. He believed them... he waited his whole life to meet Superman.
The man of steel was his idol, a literal god to him. Guess if Superman was a god, that would make Superboy a demigod, if greek mythology was to be believed... and like all demigods, he was shunned by his father until the man had need of him.
Superman hadn't even been the one to name him, Batman did, after one of his martial arts masters. Batman said the guy was rough with one of the biggest chips on his shoulders he'd ever seen, but it was just to cover up the fact he was a big softy.
A lot of people thought Batman was scary, but he was actually pretty nice, really strict, but still nice.
Conner didn't tell anyone, but he was kinda hoping, if Superman never took him in, then Batman would. Maybe even make him the next Robin?... He didn't tell anyone, because it was purely a selfish thought, that would be insensitive to ask.
Conner had trouble with social norms, given he didn't have much experience interacting with people, but even he knew THAT was too much.
Batman was still grieving from the loss of Tim Drake, and Jason Todd before him. Both of them had their lives destroyed by the Joker.
Todd was beaten to death, years ago... he got off easy. Well Drake... was tortured to the point of insanity, then reprogrammed, to be the Joker's own personal weapon.
The real tragedy was Drake had a moment of self awareness, and killed the Joker... only to become the new Joker. It was all so messed up.
It had been a whole cycle since then, and Batman hadn't taken another Robin since. He used to give, the particularly traumatized orphans, a home. Since he was orphaned at a young age, himself. Through watching his parents murdered in front of him. He gave them a home and a purpose, but he hadn't since Tim Drake.
The thing was... no one knew Conner knew. The scientists, that made him, figured out a few of the heroes secret identities, and uploaded detailed information about their entire lives, in his head.
He knew everything about Batman, billionaire and renown playboy / humanitarian Bruce Wayne, and many others of the Justice League and other hero teams... but not Superman.
It was hard too identify who Superman was. Every picture of him was blurry, on account of him constantly vibrating his body. While his eyes were so hypnotic, and unnaturally blue, people who saw him, in person, couldn't see the rest of his face.
Then there was the fact Superman was always on patrol, no matter what time of day, or where on the planet. The mad Scientist thought, Superman might not have a secret identity. That he was Superman all the time.
They tracked him to a secret alien base, on the north pole, and figured he must live there. Their understanding of Conner suggested Superman didn't need money, for the necessities of life, and likely found entertainment through the base, if he even needed that.
Conner didn't need to eat, surviving on the nutrients found in sun light, like a plant but more efficiently. He didn't need water, or even oxygen.
The only thing he did need was 3 hours of sleep, to be fully rested. And that was only because, the longer he went without sunlight, the more energy he burned without replenishing it.
Sleep offered his body a chance to use less of the solar radiation his cells stored up. The solar radiation, redirected by the Midgard's moons... Really wasn't enough to stimulate him.
The whole reason Camdus, the corporation of mad scientists, physically aged and locked his body at 16. Was because it was the most active period of his species' life, for using Solar radiation. He burned through it faster then superman, but theoretically he could unleash it at greater levels once he mastered his powers.
He would never be as physically strong as superman, but he could manipulate his other powers better... in theory.
In practice, he didn't have any of Superman's powers, outside tactile telekinesis. Superman used it to fly, and catch people / things when they fell, without damaging them.
Starfire had taught Conner how to use it, to unleash a telekinetic blast, how to push people away from him, and even how to mimic Superman's physical powers (his strength, speed, and vulnerability) by layering his body in a force field and guiding it with his mind. He could even pick stuff up, without touching it, so long as it was within a few feet of him. He couldn't fly, yet, but Starfire promised he'd get it.
The reason Conner's other powers hadn't kicked in yet was because he didn't have enough exposure to the sun. He needed to live on Midgard, longer. So his powers would come with time. He might not age in a traditional sense but his powers still needed to grow up.