Smallville

Conner Kent used to hate living here in this hick town in Kansas. Used to hate the fact he had a life in Hawaii as their vigilante, but then Clark made him move in with the Kents to give him roots. The fact of the matter was though that Clark couldn't have been more right. Conner was arrogant before he died, and it was only when he found out he was a chimera of Lex Luthor's DNA as well as Superman's, he knew that he needed to tone down said arrogance. Now that he had accepted himself and come to terms with the fact he was more Superman than Luthor, he couldn't have been happier living in Smallville. One thing he regretted is having missed Pa Kent's death. That old man was a kind and sage figure none could deny a bit of love. And here Conner was heading into town to buy some pig feed for that man's wife, whose kindness outshone Florence Nightingale's lamp. Smallville was not as small as the name suggested; it had a reasonably large population for an agricultural town in the middle of Kansas. It was nowhere near as big as Metropolis or Gotham, but what town is compared to a city? Entering the town square though, Conner found the whole place packed with people. They all seemed to be congregating around some street performer in the town square. Conner was just going about his business with the perfect disguise, a pair of glasses, on. Then a voice rang out from the crowd, shouting "Kon-El, son of Alexander Luthor, come before us." Conner dropped the pig feed in shock as a man in a white robe with a scraggly beard and blonde hair revealed himself from the crowd. All the others seemed to be in awe of him.

The man walked up to Conner who replied with, "I don't know what you're talking about. The only Luthor I know of is Lori Luthor, she's in my school." "Yes," the man said with a husky air, "your cousin, daughter of Pete Ross. She probably doesn't know that, but, oh well, what you don't know can't hurt you, can it, son of Alexander Luthor." "That's not my father's name!" Conner shouted angrily at the man. "Forgive me, Conner, where are my manners? My name is Eddie Thawne." "Thawne?" Conner asked with a genuine curiosity, "Where have I heard that name before?"

"Probably from Barry Allen, I am his nephew after all."

"Listen, guy, I don't know what you're trying to pull but…"

Conner was silenced by the man placing a hand on his chest. "There is death in you…so much death. You bare a guilt for one named…Tana, is it not?" Conner pushed the man away which earned him hostility from the crowd. They were motioned to retreat by their leader. "How do you know that name?!" Conner bellowed at the preacher. "I know many things, Kon-El. Let me into your life and I shall give you that which you most desire…" The man approached Conner as if to hug him while the skies seemed to darken and lightning streaked across the sky. "Get away from me!" Conner shouted and ran away deceptively slowly so as not to give away who he was. "A pity. I could use a Kryptonian on side," the man said as he held a tiny worm in his hands, "and unfortunately this makes you expendable, my dear Tana." A Hawaiian woman in a cultist's robe standing beside him lowered her hood and bowed solemnly.

Ivy University

Sleeping on the job was something Barry Allen had done sometimes working for the Central City police department. These days not so much. A couple of days ago after a drunken binge in Gotham, he had decided to hang up his costume as the Flash. His old friend, Princess Diana, had tried to convince him it was for the best that he stay in the role in Wally's memory but he had decided against it. Iris was finding it hard to speak to him as well after the embarrassment he had caused her there. Still it didn't matter, because Barry was now determined to find this mysterious nephew of his, Eddie Thawne. Instead of sleeping in his office during downtime, Barry had been researching the whereabouts of this young man. He had called up the number he had found in the phone book only to be told Eddie had moved out of Central City. Doing more research, Barry found the boy was a graduate of Ivy University under his old friend, Ray Palmer. So, when work was over, Barry sped over to Ivy Town to have a long chat with the Atom.

"Barry?" Ray said with genuine surprise as a familiar face entered his lab with two piping hot cups of coffee to go, "It's a pleasure as always…I'm sorry about Wally. I didn't get a chance to talk to you at the funeral." Barry and Ray had a warm hug then as if to say sorry to one another. Barry then decided to vocalise his own condolences. "And I'm sorry about Ryan, he seemed like a fine young man from what Wally said of him. And I hear this is the second partner his girlfriend's lost." Ray frowned, not wanting to remind himself of the recent death of his successor to the mantle of the Atom, Ryan Choi. Ray had been depressed a few years back when his ex-wife Jean Loring had started a killing spree which had taken the life of their friend, Sue Dibny, among others. Ray ran away to Earth-51 where he had started a new life with that reality's Jean, since his counterpart was beyond redemption. That world had succumbed to an epidemic dubbed the Morticoccus Virus and he had had to escape with the help of…believe it or not, the Jason Todd, Donna Troy and Kyle Rayner of his reality. But Ray didn't like to dwell on stupid, nonsensical parts of his life no matter how much they should have impacted him. In his absence, Ryan, his former student had become the Atom. They sort of co-existed for a while in the role after Ray came home. But one day Ryan was murdered in his own home by the assassin known by many names, with the Terminator being a popular one: Slade Wilson. His girlfriend, Amanda had a son named Ichiro with her late husband, Ryan's friend, Panda, whom Ryan had become a surrogate father to.

"Thanks, Barry. For that and the coffee. Yeah, we're all going to miss Ryan, but Amanda and I are looking after Ichiro. I already screwed up one young man's life, maybe now I can make a difference for him."

"Anyway, you usually don't make social calls like this, Barry, especially out of costume. What brings you to campus then? Thinking of doing a PhD in physics under yours truly?"

"I'm looking for an old student of yours."

"Well, generally old students don't tend to hang around in small college towns without a job on campus. I can check my old files."

"I'm looking for an Edward Thawne from Central City came here not long ago. Would have studied under you around the time of Jean…and everything."

"Ah, I know who you're talking about, just let me look at my files." Ray walked over to a filing cabinet and skimmed through the letter T. "Let's see Taggart…Tarantino… Thawne. Edward Thawne. Yes, he came to us then. Exceptional student. Got a first in quantum physics. I was very fond of him. Handsome fella. Pity he never really shaved his beard. He was doing a doctorate here until six months ago when the Blackest Night hit. After that, he got into this religious movement called…the Church of Rao. Some sort of cult obsessed with resurrection going back a couple of years. They were founded with the help of young Cassie Sandsmark to resurrect Superboy after he died fighting Superboy-Prime...This was all after your time, of course. They have an obsession with Kryptonian imagery. Ralph Dibny shut them down and she left, but the group persisted, though in a much smaller form. With the zombie apocalypse happening, it seemed they gained a swell in numbers. Eddie joined a group who travel the country preaching their word. They're a lot more open than they used to be though. Funny, that. Anyway, what's he to you?"

"He's my nephew."

"Your nephew? I thought you were an only child. Is he one of Iris'…"

"My twin brother separated at birth is his father. I went looking for the kid a while back and found nothing. Then I saw some blonde kid leave flowers on my mom's grave in Keystone City for 'his grandmother'. Seemed kinda' weird. I figured it might be him, or another time traveller like Bart. Funny, he kinda' looks like that picture of Don Iris showed me from when he was grown up."

"So, you're trying to find long lost family? Well, that's the first time a physics lecturer has ever been asked for that kind of help."

"Do you know anything about his mother?"

"His life seemed quite tragic. You say your twin brother was his father. All he told me was his mother died in a car crash when he was young. His dad had remarried and he has a little sister from that, but his dad's in solitary confinement in Iron Heights. Sorry, to tell you all that, Barry. You might have a niece back in Central City as well. I know I shouldn't, but since it's you, I can give you contact details…on one condition…"

"What's that, Ray?"

"Be honest with yourself and me. Are you doing this because you lost Wally…your nephew?"

"Yes. But also, because I feel bad about everything with Malcolm, his father. I want this kid to know he has relatives who are good people. Not like…the Thawnes."

"Ah, now I get it. You're trying to change history, aren't you? Stop Eobard Thawne from ever coming into being by instilling his ancestors with your sense of right and wrong. Clever, but fruitless. Still, who am I to judge…history is shaped by our actions in the present. Here you go."

"Thanks, Ray."

"I'll give you one word of advice before you go, Barry. If you're looking for a young, impressionable lad to replace Wally…that grandson of yours is a fine fellow." Barry just sped away without saying goodbye back to Central City, as Ray got back to looking into a microscope. "He really doesn't know what he's getting himself into, does he?" a new voice said. "No," Ray replied, "evidently he—who the heck said that?"

"Me," Michael Jon Carter said as he walked from the shadows nearby, "Hello, Ray. It's been a while. Remember me?" Ray couldn't quite discern this older man's appearance from his bearded visage. He had the cut of a man much younger than his years, but the serious demeanour of an old-style military officer. Still, even without a boyish smile and a dumb pair of sunglasses, Ray could distinguish who this man really was. "Booster Gold? It's…been a while. For you too, clearly." Michael sat down in a chair beside Ray. "Yeah, it's been about thirty odd years since I lived in this time. My younger self is probably out there somewhere with Skeets. God, I miss that little feller. I'm here to talk to you about what Barry Allen was asking about."

"He was asking for a young man I used to teach. Edward Thawne. I think Barry thinks he's an ancestor of the Reverse-Flash…"

"Well, he can't be. Edward Thawne died in a car crash with his mother when he was six months old." Using a device on his wrist, Michael brought up an article from the Central City Citizen years before. It read of how Janine Thawne and her six-month-old son were killed in a vehicular collision. "Janine? He told me his mother had died, but this can't be right, Michael, he survived. I know the lad." "You know someone who stole his identity, maybe," Michael coldly answered him. "And that's why I'm here. We've got to ascertain how much damage has been done to the timeline by whoever's behind this." "Damage to the timeline?" Ray said incredulously, "What are you talking about? He's a young man from Central City who's never done anything remarkable in his life. Sure, he seems bright but he hasn't cured cancer or developed time travel yet. Nothing exactly historic."

"Historic like being able to shrink yourself, Professor Palmer?"

"Well…I mean, yes. Like I said he can't leave that much of an impact."

"Well, he's alive when he died as a baby, isn't that remarkable?" Michael snapped back. Ray stammered before staring at his shoes and not answering. "I recommend you take a look at the news, Ray." Michael went to Ray's television and turned Gotham Central News on. "This is Maria Amardosa with GCN coming to you live from Smallville, Kansas. Here a crowd of members of the Church of Rao have gathered to publicly greet the man they see as their Messiah. A wandering preacher by the name of Eddie Thawne has been travelling the towns and cities of America for the last six months, healing all he comes into contact with. At this hour, he seems to be preparing a small ceremony to demonstrate his abilities." The camera panned to a young girl with blonde hair pushing her mother in a wheelchair towards a crowd gathered round a man with the same hair colour and a scraggly beard. "Come forth, child of Sol. Tell me…what is your name?" "My name's Lori…Lori Luthor. This is my mom, Lena. She's very sick. Can you help her?"

"Lena…daughter of Lionel…you ask me to heal the sister of the great monster, Lex Luthor? Could that so-called genius not heal his own family?"

"He-he could…but…he won't."

"Well then, child. Will you serve the Church of Rao until all are healed by the Light of Life?"

"I will," Lori said bowing her head before the man, "if you heal my mom." "Of course, my child," the man said as he produced a knife and drew some blood from the palm of his hand. He then traced an upside-down version of the House of El's symbol. In Kryptonian, the symbol meant hope, but apparently it meant resurrection when reversed. Lori bowed her head once the blessing was complete and then the man turned to her mother. Placing his hands on her legs he intoned a prayer in Kryptonian as thunder and lightning seemed to hit Smallville. "We appear to be getting some unique weather patterns," Maria Amardosa tried to reassure her viewers, "but we don't know what's causing them. It appears as if…they're coming from this young man." The weather abated as the man raised his hands from the woman's legs, and she in turn rose to hug him. Lori then rushed in to hug the pair of them crying "Mom!" "Well, there you have it, people," Maria continued, "Either this Eddie Thawne just pulled a massive publicity stunt or he genuinely just performed a miracle. When we live in a world where we've seen people fly and alien invasions every few years, should this really come as a surprise. But then again, maybe his message is true. For GCN, I'm Maria Amardosa."

Michael flicked the television off almost aggressively once the report was over. "Is that the young man you knew, Ray?" Ray Palmer was in shock from seeing Eddie Thawne perform that level of miracle and even affect the town's weather just by his actions. "That's…that's a trick." "No, it's not," Michael said in response, "We don't know if it's the Speed Force he's using to do it or some kind of new creature altogether. All we know is that that man can't be Edward Thawne." "But, Booster, he's just another crackpot," Ray said his arms flailing madly in disbelief, "Us heroes deal with them every day. Why on Earth would you want to handle him as if he's some sort of damage to the timestream?" "Because he's connected to Eobard Thawne, and we know he's been hurting the timeline. We don't know how far back or why…but he's doing it. And it's killing my future. Ray Palmer, I would like to recruit you to our mission to save the timeline." Michael outstretched his hand, awaiting a replying grasp from his old comrade, and Ray reluctantly grabbed it. "You're right, there's something fishy about all this. And I suppose a time traveller is the best person to get to the bottom of it."

Metropolis

Linda Lang was watching GCN in the apartment of her aunt, Lana Lang having seen the recent incident in Smallville and knowing exactly who the women on the television were. Linda was in fact Kara Zor-El of Astro City on Krypton, last of her people from that blessed city and her parents' adopted home of Kandor which was annihilated not long after it became New Krypton less than a year ago. Watching that man restore the elder Lena Luthor's ability to walk startled Kara and with that she flew all the way over to her cousin Clark and his wife Lois' apartment downtown. Lois was sitting reading the Gotham Gazette and circling a load of articles and scribbling notes in the margins. Clark was doing the dishes after their dinner. "Did you see what was on GCN?" Lois looked up from her notes. "Oh, hi, Kara, come on in why don't you? Why can't you Kryptonians learn boundaries?" "Lois, have you seen the news?" Kara asked far more aggressively.

"No, I've been doing research," Lois asked, "What's on TV that's not better in print?" Clark walked out. "Kara, what's up?" "Clark, it's Smallville. It was on the news…There's some kind of cultist there." Lois then moved her eyes upward. "Cultist? Oh, you mean those Church of Rao guys?" "Yes!" Kara shouted, "That's what the reporter called them. But…what would humans know of Rao, Clark?" Clark turned his eyes to his feet in that awkward way he could only do when he had his glasses on. "They were founded with the purpose of resurrecting Conner. After he…died fighting Superboy-Prime, they saw him as the saviour of our universe. Which he was. Cassie ended up joining them…it wasn't pretty. Ralph Dibny of all people had to stop her." Kara was disgusted that Cassie had never mentioned this to her before, when she had thought they were friends, especially when their bonding had been in mourning Conner. "Is that why they're in Smallville, then? Because of Conner?" "No, not at all," Lois interjected, "they've been travelling the country since the Blackest Night. Going from town to town recruiting followers. They've got this new leader. A young guy by the name of…"

"Eddie Thawne," Kara interrupted, "The reporter said his name was Eddie Thawne. Is he…" "Connected to the Reverse-Flash?" Clark interrupted, "I doubt it, but he has been acting suspiciously ever since then. Some say he's added a dollop of Christianity into the beliefs of the Raoists. Lois did some research into his college days; said he was big in the Gideon Society and other evangelical groups. Joining a pagan space cult didn't seem like it was in vogue for him…but when confronted about it by one of his old associates he merely quoted Hamlet at him."

"What did he say?"

"That 'there are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy'. That same associate is now a prominent member of his group. Lois asked him why, and he simply said it was because his mother's cancer was alleviated after Eddie visited her. Now, we try not to put any stock in faith healers. The young man's father claims his wife's prognosis was positive, but that she was quite poorly from post-operative stress the day that Eddie visited. We don't have any evidence he has true healing powers."

"But what about what Bruce said? About that guy in Star City who brought Lian Harper back."

"He was in Oklahoma then. We know this because three hundred people left their families to join him in one town alone. The Planet seem to be the only ones reporting on it, everyone else is dismissing it as en masse youthful rebellion. Lois and I suspect he's the next Jim Jones. That and he's never been observed performing full on resurrection. Just healing hopeless cases, but even then, like I said it seems dubious."

"Did Conner tell you about his cousin?"

"His cousin? You mean the Luthor girl in Smallville. Yeah, he's mentioned her a few times, said her mom's quite sick. Which is a shame, Lena was always a nice girl."

"It was on the news, Clark. He healed Lena…she can walk again."

"That's impossible."

"Listen in to Smallville." Clark tuned his super hearing back to his hometown, cancelling out the din of Metropolis and all the peoples and machines in between. In Smallville, he could distinctly hear a crowd of thousands gathered around a young man with a scraggly beard. He proclaimed before them all a speech which seemed to shake the foundations of the Earth; "In Christ and through Rao is found our salvation, my children. I see the future and it is one belonging to His light. To the light of the red sun, Rao, which was lit by Christ to keep the people of Krypton warm and restrict those who denied their destiny as angels! That light will raise those who once died into life once more, so that they can fulfil His will. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory! The Seven Seals of Revelations will open! The first opened when Kon-El fell against the false Kryptonian! The second was opened by the coming of the false gods of Apokolips to subject us to their slavery! The third was opened by the coming of the dead to take our hearts in the Blackest Night! The fall of the Justice League Watchtower is the opening of the fourth seal! The heroes have strayed from God and lost one of the noblest of their number. The Flash, who once gave his life to save all universes! Soon, we shall all be judged, including our impious President, the foolish liberal, Suarez! He and his degenerate followers are but carrion for the hordes of Satan! We must have a new President! An emergency President! The sixth seal will be opened when a God-fearing man takes the throne of the world! It will be a young man, true in his deed, and pure in his thought. This man will be Randall Eiling, a young general currently in a relationship with beloved Christian actress, Eliza Day! I do not know this young man, but he will follow the word of the Lord and do all that has been said and done! Then we must seek to destroy the new Babylon, the city of inequity and depravity whose whores parade virtue in the form of monsters! Then, my children, will the Kingdom of Heaven begin again! Then, we shall live in Eden once more!"

Clark stopped listening. "He sounds…incoherent. He's preaching doomsday but treating it like it's some kind of good thing. I think we need to bring him in." Lois shook her head. "With all these revelations about Suarez and arms dealing to Iran, it doesn't seem like the government's in any position to arrest him without inciting a riot. And that could lead to thousands of people dying, Clark." "He's preaching hate, Lois," he said with venom and fury she had not heard in a long time, "we need to save the world from this fool. He's going to get all those young people killed. Or worse, innocents. You heard what he said about a new Babylon." Kara pursed her lips then. "Kal, he hasn't killed anyone. In fact, he seems to be saving lives. Maybe his methods aren't well…violent. I know you and Lois don't agree with him on Suarez, but that doesn't mean he's evil. And even if he is, he's one fanatic. We can take him if he does turn bad. Have you heard from Kon or Aunt Martha?" Clark shook his head and then suddenly the phone rang. Clark went to answer it. "Clark? Lois? It's me, Conner. Listen, these freaks accosted me earlier today in town. Their leader called me Luthor's son...how could he have known? They were all so obsessed with me…" "Listen to me, Conner. You and Ma need to get out of Smallville for a while. Come here, Lois can get you in a good school with her connections. We'll tell everyone you're my kid brother."

"But I can't just leave this place, Clark. I've got friends here, a cousin—"

"Conner, your cousin has joined the cult. He healed her mother. It was on the news, just there. If you don't feel safe coming to Metropolis, get to San Francisco. There's plenty of powerhouses on the Titans who can help you out. Just bring Ma here. I don't know about that Thawne guy, but his followers seem like they could do anything."

"Okay, okay. I'll see you soon, Kal."

Clark placed the phone down gravely and looked sternly at Lois. "That was Conner. He's very worried these people are going to attack him and Ma. They mobbed him in the street earlier today. It seems Smallville's erupted into a massive riot, everyone congregating around Thawne. There's no knowing what will happen if they stay there."

"Shit. What did he say about the Thawne guy?"

"Not much. Just…just that he knew who he was. Even with the glasses."

"Well, no offence, Smallville. Glasses are not exactly the perfect disguise."

"They fooled star reporter, Lois Lane, for years."

"Touché."

Conner and Martha then flew through the window and the latter ran into her son's embrace. "Clark? What's happening? Conner was followed home. They were burning bonfires in the street. Said this was the end of the world." "I don't know Ma," Clark said as he held the woman who had found his infant self in a rocket four decades ago tightly as if he would lose her to a stray wisp of air, "We reckon it's something to do with this preacher, Thawne. He's stirring people up. But he's not guilty of anything except demagoguery. Kara, fetch Ma a drink." Kara escorted her surrogate aunt out to the kitchen as Clark and Lois turned their attention to Conner. "What exactly happened earlier?" "I was going to buy some pig feed for Ma, but there was this huge crowd and he was at the head of them. He called me by my name, and said I was Luthor's son. It was…surreal." Lois put her hand on his shoulder. "Conner…did he say anything else?" Conner was now visibly upset. "He mentioned Tana…said he could bring her back to me if I joined him." Lois held her brother-in-law to her as he began crying into her chest thinking about the Hawaiian girl, he had loved all those years ago who had died because he didn't have an alter-ego. Her death had been part of the reason why he left Hawaii and went to Smallville, and became Conner Kent instead of Kon-El, the Metropolis Kid.

"Any suggestions now as to who he is, Miss Lane?"

"Well…he's either a telepath, a time traveller…or what he says he is."

"A prophet railing against the sins of mankind at the end of days. I think I need to talk to him."

"As Superman or as yourself?"

"He'll be able to discern, I think. I'll go as myself. And if he speaks the truth…I don't know what I'm going to do."

Central City

A few days after what became known to the general public as the "Kansas Epiphany," the forces of Eddie Thawne and the Church of Rao made their way to Central City, home of the Flash. Hundreds of people lined the street to watch this unkempt young man in tattered clothes walk the streets barefoot. The police held the crowds back as they genuinely seemed excited by this young man who had caused great amazement in his wake. His prophecy at Smallville of the current administration collapsing had proven true within an hour of him saying it. Suarez was now in jail, and his Vice-President had stood down. The military had seized control of the Houses of Congress as riots spread throughout Washington D.C. from the far right calling for Suarez's execution. They quelled the riots and declared an emergency with a military tribunal taking charge with the intention of naming Randy Eiling as Emergency President when it was over to appease those who were following Thawne's gospel. For the time being, he was chairman of the tribunal which was dubbed the Committee of Public Safety. Superheroes had officially declared themselves neutral as D.C. ripped itself apart. It was only two nights after the coup that Batman sent non-lethal drones to disperse the crowds and protect innocent bystanders from the army and the demonstrators. Superman got involved not long after that in rebuilding burning buildings and clearing collapsed rubble. The whole of the south of the USA had turned their eyes towards Central City. Every major news channel when not covering the Washington riots had moved to see Thawne's progress through the city. Counter demonstrations were quickly suppressed by his violent supporters.

As he walked down the streets of Central City, he dismissed any and all followers who came to him and instead made his way towards the home of a relatively private couple. A forensic scientist named Barry Allen and his wife, journalist Iris West, resided in this home. Barry was watching on the news as this man made his way through the city with people throwing flowers at him and police holding back the crowds. Suddenly, he came to Barry and Iris' street. He turned around and raised his hand as if to call a halt and bellowed "The parade is over, my children. I am here to do the Lord's work. And the Lord believes that every man has a castle in his own home. I intend to enter the castle of a righteous man before Him. I would prefer if the privacy of the righteous were defended in this instance." And like that, his followers turned on all the newspeople and even anyone with a camera phone and began forcibly turning them off. The police tried to stop them but most of the journalists acquiesced before violence could ensue. Barry was disturbed. This man he had been searching for a few days ago had raised a paraplegic, dejected woman into a state of physical and mental wellbeing on live television. How Clark or anyone hadn't confronted him yet was anyone's guess. He supposed that was why Clark was here. He had popped over to Central City knowing it was the next place on Eddie's itinerary and had decided to lay low during the parade and confront him later. "Palace of a righteous man?" Barry asked Iris, "What do you think he means by that?"

Then three raps struck the door of Barry and Iris' house. Clark went up to get it as Barry and Iris hesitated in fear at the thought that this young man with extraordinary powers was at their door. Indeed, it was Eddie Thawne. Completely alone. Not a soul in the street but him, barefoot and bedraggled. "Hello, Kal-El, son of Lara Lor-Van. I was wondering when we could finally meet." Barry didn't understand, Clark was wearing his civvies, glasses and all. This young man had never met him before but he knew he was the Last Son of Krypton. "Don't look so surprised. I have raised the dead and healed the lame with the Light of Life. Does it surprise you then that I know your name, Kal? I have already rewarded you with life, but I shall grant an additional boon if it will sate your curiosity." He snapped his fingers. "What did you just do?" Clark said, aggressively grabbing the man by the lapels. "Less violence, please. Neither Jor-El nor Jonathan Kent would tolerate this treatment of a guest. Especially by another guest. Please, release me. I could force you, Man of Tomorrow, but I think I will not."

"And why is that?"

"Because you are a good man, and I would never wish to harm you."

"First tell me what the hell kind of 'boon' you've granted me?"

"No more a boon than I granted to Roy Harper and Joey Wilson."

"Roy Harper?"

"Well, more to Oliver Queen. He wasn't very grateful."

"What have you done with him?"

"Nothing. I am not the archer's keeper. I gave his granddaughter back to him."

"Bruce was right?"

"No, Batman is delusional. You know this. Don't you, Kal?" The young man put his hands soothingly and with softness upon Clark's temples and he released him. Blinking briefly, Clark replied, "Yes…yes, Bruce is delusional. Where are my manners, young man? I wanted to talk to you about this boon?"

"I gave your cousin life again years ago. Well, not I, but the creature who uses me as its vessel. The Entity, embodiment of life."

"You said your powers come from God?"

"What is God if not the epitome of living? He who gave us all life. I have become a vessel for His power no more than anyone else in the world."

"I…I don't know should I believe you."

"Doubt is but a symptom of the rational mind, Kal-El. You will join me when the time is right."

"You still haven't told me what this boon of yours is."

"You wouldn't appreciate it. The light of life doesn't always take the right universe into account. Do you not remember your cousin dying?"

"Kara dying? No. She's never died before."

"But she did. You held her in your arms." Barry and Iris had been staring at this interaction for a while now. "Um, excuse me," Iris piped in towards the strange youth, and he looked back, taking the journalist aback at his resemblance to her husband and late son. "Oh, where are my manners? It is good to finally meet you, Uncle Barry. I didn't want to disturb you in your grief. What is it you want, dear aunt?"

"Well, actually I wanted to point out to Clark that Kara did die."

"That's right, Iris. I saw it from the Speed Force. She seemed older than she does now…but she was killed the same time I was. By the Anti-Monitor. You held her in your arms, you wept."

"That's…not possible."

"Oh, but it is, Kal-El. Remember…" Clark received flashing visions of Kara's death at the hands of the Anti-Monitor and him holding the body of his cousin. "Thanks to this being a new universe, we were able to delay her arrival on Earth until a point after the Anti-Monitor's defeat. Now she can lead the full life she was meant to lead. We did this for you, Kal-El. For your righteous service to the universe, twinned with hers." Clark started crying tears of joy and seemed to fall to the floor almost prostrating himself before this young man. Eddie placed his hand on Clark's head. "There, there, Kal-El. We only did what we thought was right by you. And now when you speak with your wife this evening, you will know the gift of life again." Barry moved to get Clark away from this demagogue, but before he could his old friend had already flown up, up and away.

"Listen, kid. Not that we disagree with this…but this all looks a little shady to me. I was surprised as anyone to find out Kara never died when I got back. I mean this whole universe is just bizarre."

"Indeed. You remember your mother and father knowing you as the Flash, don't you, uncle?"

"I…yes. They were at our wedding. But that can't be. My mother was murdered when I was a child and my dad died in jail for that same crime."

"Absolutely, and yet they also did not. Do you remember, Barry Allen? You have lost so much despite your service to the cause of life, uncle. I have come to reward you. You miss your parents, don't you?"

"Yes. But I know that if my mother hadn't died…this planet would shatter."

"Mmm hmm. But yet you still want her by your side?"

"Yes. Very much."

"Well, let us take into consideration what your wife desires first."

"Iris? What does he mean?"

Iris had been staring wistfully with tears in her eyes at this man since he had made his speech about Kara's return being on his shoulders. Like Barry, she remembered that once their world had been different to the one they lived in now. Simpler. Kinder. And her twins had been part of that universe. Their children. She looked the man she loved dead in the eye, and said, "Barry…we had children. I told you. Twins. They died young. Their children never really knew them." She turned towards Eddie, some pleading still in her eyes. "Could you really..."

"Of course, Aunt Iris. You desire that my cousins should live again. Come here." Eddie walked towards Iris and held her in a massive hug. The Earth seemed to shake slightly as this occurred and Barry fell on the floor. Eddie's eyes opened wide and he began to speak, almost chanting. "He shall reward the righteous for their service! The defenders of the Earth will know happiness again." The quake seemed to stop then, as the door was knocked on three times. "I think there's somebody you want to see at the door." Eddie released Iris as she ran to her husband and helped him from the floor. They looked at the young man with a strong sense of apprehension as he continued to smile with the warmth of the Sun.

Husband and wife made their way to the door with great trepidation. They opened the latch to find two people in their twenties standing before them. A man and a woman. They both wore clothes that denoted they had just been rushed through some form of wardrobe before coming here. They both had strawberry blonde hair. The man seemed taller and more serious, while the girl was shorter and seemed to have a genuine warmth about her that wasn't masked like it was with his intensity. Barry and Iris were stunned. The girl spoke first. "Mom, Dad. It's so good to see you." She hugged them both but Barry and Iris barely reacted, still in shock. The man spoke then. "It's us. Don and Dawn. Your little Tornado Twins. We're home." Barry and Iris began crying into the shoulders of both their children as they wrapped them in an enormous bear hug. As Don held them close, he looked over his shoulder at his supposed cousin, Eddie Thawne with a sense of familiarity. Eddie smirked and quietly said to himself beyond earshot "All shall follow me or burn with the sinners of Babylon."