Camila sipped her coffee. The comforting ambiance of her home and present company helped her. "I feel much better," she said, her voice soft, as she sat across from John.
"That is good to hear," John said. As he sipped his coffee with ice cubes, he continued, "Camila, I meant what I said—you're doing your best as a parent, and I deeply respect your commitment to your daughter."
Camila's eyes sparkled with genuine curiosity at John's words of encouragement. "You sound like you have some experience in parenting," she replied, her interest piqued by John's background. Her eyes reflected her eagerness to learn more.
John smiled, but it was a sad smile. "I did have some experience," he said softly, his gaze distant. "I had a wife… and a daughter a long time ago. She would have been about your daughter's age now."
Camila's heart went out to John. She could feel the depth of his loss, and it stirred a profound empathy within her. "Oh, I'm so sorry." From the way John carried himself, she never would have guessed that he had gone through the pain of losing a wife and child.
"There's no need to apologize when you didn't know," John said, keeping his voice steady.
"Can I ask what happened to them?" Camila inquired gently. Her voice was filled with deep empathy for John's loss, and her words carried the weight of her understanding.
John hesitated momentarily before replying; his voice tinged with a quiet strength. "It was… circumstances beyond my control. They were taken from me, and I miss them every single day. But I try to focus on the good memories we shared, and I know they would want me to keep moving forward." His resilience in the face of such tragedy was genuinely inspiring.
John's fortitude in the face of such tragedy moved Camila. "They must have been fortunate to have you in their lives," she said softly.
"And Luz is lucky to have you as a mother," John added with a grateful smile, appreciating Camila's kind words.
The two continued to enjoy their coffees in comfortable silence, finding solace in each other's company as they navigated through their shared experiences of love and loss. Their shared experiences and their shared pain created a bond. Something more beautiful was blossoming between them.
Dell was shivering. He had never been this cold in his life. Is this what icy winds felt like on the peak of the Knee? He thought he was immune to stuff like this. Perhaps his body was expelling any of the adverse side effects of being close to those green rocks from last night.
Speaking of those rocks, Dell found the Kryptonian devices that stored Jor-El's memories. His father could answer some of the questions. Dell fiddled with it, though he needed clarification on what he was doing.
"Dell, put that down for now," Baba said, interrupting his thoughts. "The soup is almost ready."
"Th-th-thanks, B-b-bab-b-ba," Dell managed to stutter.
"And Dell's never had a history of being sick?" Luz asked Mom.
"Nope, he's always had a tough immune system, probably because he's a Kryptonian," Mom replied.
"Common molds, chickilisk pox, and even allergies seem to pass him by without a hitch," King said.
"So, it's strange that he's suddenly feeling unwell," Mom concluded.
"I'm n-n-not unw-w-well. J-just-t-t-t c-c-cold," Dell explained, his teeth chattering.
"Here, some griffon eggdrop soup should warm you up," Baba said, handing Dell a bowl. "I spiced it up with some healing herbs to help fight off any symptoms."
Dell nodded and took a spoonful. But before it touched his lips, the soup suddenly froze solid. He turned his spoon upside down, and an ice cube plopped onto the table. Dell's eyes widened with shock. "Wh-wh-what in t-t-the w-w-world-d?" He exclaimed.
"Could he be getting a new power?" Luz wondered. "Back on Earth, I hear news stories about Meta-Humans getting powers out of nowhere all the time."
"Meta-Humans?" Baba asked her, raising an eyebrow.
Luz nodded. "There are a whole bunch of people out there with extraordinary abilities, like super strength, telekinesis, or even the ability to freeze things."
"I've been to the Human Realm; how come I've never seen these Meta-Humans before?" Eda questioned.
Luz shrugged. "Gravesfield is a small town where not much happens. However, Meta-Humans are more common in bigger cities, like Metropolis or Central City. A team called the Justice Society even protects the world. I think Dell would like them if they ever met."
"N-n-not int-t-t-terest-t-ted in a t-t-team up-p," Dell stuttered, then exhaled, unintentionally freezing over the table, and that's when his shivering ceased. "They're gone."
Luz asked, "What is?"
"The shivers. I guess my body needed to adapt to the new power. Now I need to learn how to control it," Dell said with determination. "But that can wait." Dell began fiddling with the Kryptonian device again.
"What do you need your dad for, anyway?" King asked.
"His dad?" Luz asked the little demon.
"Yeah, his dad's brain kinda lives in that device."
"My father's consciousness is stored in this device," Dell clarified. "I have some questions for him about those green rocks that weaken me."
"The fact that there is something here that can hurt you is concerning," Baba commented. "And the fact that the Emperor's Coven is even commissioning weapons designed to harm you is even more troubling."
"It also proves Belos is scared of what you can do," Mom added.
"That's why Superboy is so important," Dell said with a strong sense of justice. "I can show him I am not a threat, and we don't need to be enemies. We can work together for the good of the Isles."
"Your optimism is admirable, but…" Before Mom could finish her thought, Dell managed to get the device to work, and the projection of Jor-El appeared before the Whispers family once more.
"Hello, Kal-El; it has been some time since we last spoke," Jor-El said.
"Woah!" Luz exclaimed, her eyes widening in surprise.
"Hello, Father," Dell greeted. "I need your help."
"Of course, my son," Jor-El replied. "What do you need assistance with?"
"Last night, I was near a green rock that caused me great pain and weakness. Do you know what it is?"
Jor-El's expression turned grave as he responded, "Kryptonite. The poison from our home planet. Our planet's destruction must have scattered it across the galaxy."
"What is it?"
"It is a mineral that our ancestors found beneath the surface of Krypton. The energy it emitted was used to power our cities and technology, but… It was not until later that they discovered that prolonged exposure to it could be lethal to us."
"But I was only near it briefly, yet I felt sick."
Jor-El pondered for a moment. "Perhaps, similar to how the yellow sun has enhanced your abilities, the same could apply to Kryptonite—making it stronger and more potent in its effects on you."
"So, what should I do?"
"Avoid it at all costs, my son. I do not know if your adopted homeworld possesses any means of protection against it."
Dell nodded solemnly. "I understand. Thank you, father. That's all I needed to know."
Jor-El placed a reassuring hand on Dell's shoulder, flickering slightly. "Stay vigilant, my son." With that, the projection faded away.
"Well, your dad seems cool," Luz commented, breaking the tense atmosphere.
Before Dell could respond, Hooty slinked into the kitchen and announced, "Ding-dong! Ding! Hoot! Hoot! Eda, Raine, you got a package!" Hoot slinked out of the room as quickly as he had entered, then returned with a basket in his beak.
"It looks like a gift basket," Luz guessed.
"It's probably an offering," Mom confidently stated. Being the most powerful witch in the Boiling Isles has perks."
"One of which isn't humility," Baba added with a smirk. Eda rolled her eyes and gestured for Luz to open the basket. She pulls the blanket off the top of the basket, revealing a snoring baby bat.
"Mm. Fresh meat," King said, rubbing his paws together.
"Nope. I'm not eating that," Luz said firmly, shaking her head. We'll have to find a way to return it to its family," Eda decided, looking at the baby bat with concern.
"Is this a prank?" Mom asked, raising an eyebrow. "Witches eating babies is so 1693."
"There's a note," Dell pointed out, reaching for the paper tucked under the baby bat. "It says, 'Take care of my child till morning. Yi Yi.' You will be handsomely rewarded. X-O-X-O-X-O-X. The Bat Queen.' I think I've heard of her."
"Who's the Bat Queen?" Luz asked, her curiosity piqued.
"She's the wealthiest demon on the Boiling Isles," Mom explained. "Her wealth alone is enough to make even Odalia Blight cry herself to sleep at night. Get in with her, and you're set for life."
"I don't know, Eda," Baba said skeptically.
"C'mon, Rainestorm, we raised King and Dell just all right, and one has superpowers. How hard could it be to care for a baby bat for one night? It'll be easy money."
"This is our greatest adventure yet!" Luz exclaimed. We'll learn about love and life through a child's eyes."
"Not you," Mom traced a spell circle, and a pile of books flew into Luz's hands, nearly knocking her over. "I need you to return these books I checked out of the library. They're long overdue."
Luz looked at the books and saw they were about caring for a baby. "How long overdue?"
"About seventeen years. Baby books are expensive, okay."
"I'll accompany her," Baba offered. "I have tutoring lessons today for Amber and a new student, Derwin."
"Sure, sure. Dell, King, and I got it. Now, let's take a look at this little darling." Mom took the blanket off entirely, waking the baby up.
SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
"Argh!" Dell fell to his knees, clenching his ears. The baby bat's screech was already loud, but with his super hearing, it was unbearable for him.
Mom covered her ears. "ON SECOND THOUGHT, MAY BE COULD USE YOUR HELP!"
But Luz and Baba were halfway out the door. "WELL, WE BETTER GET TO THE LIBRARY! GOTTA GO! BYE!" They got out of there as fast as they could.
"OH NO, THERE'S A CAT IN A TREE!" Dell made up on the spot. "I BETTER GO RESCUE IT!" He quickly ran out of the house with his super speed, leaving Mom and King to babysit.
SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
"We got this, right?" Eda asked, her voice drowned out by the baby's continuous screeching. The baby then flew out of the basket and into Eda's face, knocking her over into pots and pans.
"Thanks again for staying later to help me with the paper, Jeanne," Loisse said as she gathered her things and prepared to leave the library with Jeanne Loring from St. Epiderm's Plant Track. Jean's bluish-green hair and eyes perfectly complement her Plant Track uniform, giving her an air of natural elegance.
"It's no trouble, Loisse. I'm always happy to help a friend in need," Jeanne replied warmly, shouldering her backpack as they exited the library together. "You seem to be a bit bored with your schoolwork lately."
"Probably because I feel like I'm going stir crazy with being suspended from doing actual journalism," Loisse confessed, her frustration evident in her voice. "I know Mr. Porter is doing everything he can to get me back out there, but it's hard to be patient when I feel like I'm missing out on so much."
"I get what you mean," Jeanne nodded sympathetically. "Just hang in there, Loisse. You have, what, five days left of your suspension? You'll be back at it before you know it. And if it makes you feel better, your article proves how little the Emperor's Coven cares about the truth."
"Excuse me! Pardon me! I'm coming through! I have many books here!" Luz announced as she made her way through the crowd, trying to balance the stack of books in her arms. "Sorry! Sorry! I need to get these back to the library!"
"Luz?" Loisse called out.
"Hey, Loisse! Can't talk now!" Luz walked past Loisse without stopping.
"Hold on, you're gonna hurt yourself." Loisse reached out and took about half the pile of books.
"Dios mío, gracias!" Luz exclaimed gratefully as she adjusted the remaining books in her arms. "I owe you one."
"You must be the human," Jeanne said, approaching Luz with a smile. "I'm Jeanne Loring; Loisse told me all about you."
"Nice to meet you, Jeanne," Luz replied. "I'd shake your hand, but I'm a little preoccupied now." Luz's eyes gestured to the books.
Loisse and Jeanne helped Luz carry the books to her destination. The front desk attendant, a grumpy man with a long gray beard, listed how overdue the books were and said they came from Eda, the Owl Lady. He recognized the apple blood stains on some of the pages.
"Thank you, both of you," Luz said gratefully. "I appreciate the help."
"No problem at all, Luz," Loisse said with a smile.
"So, Luz, is it true that the wanted criminal, Eda, the Owl Lady, is teaching you magic?" Jeanne asked curiously.
"Yes, it's true," Luz confirmed. "She's been helping me study to become a witch."
"Loisse says you have a unique way of learning magic. She saw it at the Covention," Jeanne continued, her curiosity piqued.
"Yes, I have a different approach to magic." Luz takes out a pen and paper and draws a glyph to demonstrate. "Tada," she said as a ball of light appeared in her hand.
"Amazing. I've never seen magic like that before." Jeanne said in awe, which made Luz smile proudly.
Brinng!
"Oh, that's my scroll," Jeanne said, taking out the device. "I gotta go; my parents are wondering where I am."
"I better head home, too, before Viney and Uncle Bjorn start to worry," Loisse added.
Luz nodded understandingly. "I'm gonna hang out here, try and learn more about the Boiling Isles, maybe even try to learn a new spell."
"Just try not to blow yourself up, okay," Loisse joked, earning a chuckle from Luz.
"I'll do my best," she replied with a grin.
The friends waved goodbye and left. Luz began exploring the library, eager to unlock more of the mysteries of the Boiling Isles. But unbeknownst to any of them, trouble was brewing just around the corner as they were being watched.
Through a scrying spell, she was made stable with help from Coven Head Lilith and her apprentice Lex, Lionel, and the Blights, who spied on Loisse Laine from a Blight Industries factory.
"Tell me again, how do you know she knows Superboy?" Odalia asked, her eyes narrowing suspiciously.
Lionel smirked, "Bloodsport told me of her involvement with Superboy in thwarting his hunt last night."
"And you're going to take the word of a poacher?" Odalia scoffed. "That hardly seems like a reliable source."
"Bloodsport may be a poacher, but he has no reason to keep anything from me," Lionel replied with unwavering confidence. "Besides, we need a reliable way to bring Superboy out into the open, and she seems to be our best bet to execute our plan."
"And what exactly is this grand plan of yours, Luthor?" Lilith questioned as she and Lex canceled their spell.
"Emperor Belos wanted a weapon that could take down Superboy, and my father's here to provide that," Lex answered in his father's stead.
"Well, our emperor came to Blight Industries first to get his weapons," Odalia reminded him in her signature condescending tone, not so different from how she spoke to her children. "Luthor Corp. was brought in to assist us."
"And how much progress have you been able to make before I came into the picture?" Lionel asked, a hint of annoyance in his voice. "I bet it was not much. However, we've made some significant headway between our companies." Lionel observed as Blight Industries and Luthor Corp. employees collaborated to create something that included the former's most recent inventions. As much as Lionel hated to admit it, Alador Blight and his team knew how to push the boundaries of innovation in ways that even Lionel himself had not considered.
"What exactly are you creating here?" Lilith inquired, her interest piqued.
"It's a prototype armor designed for killing Superboy," Lionel explained, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "The rocks that I have recovered will power it." He watched as one of the green rocks, about the size of a fist, was inserted into the suit's chest plate. "They emit a unique radiation unlike any other element on the Isles, one that can power the suit's weapons and enhance its capabilities."
"And who will be operating this contraption?" Lilith asked, her curiosity growing. "I doubt it will be anyone in this room."
Lionel smirked, "I have the perfect candidate in mind. He should be arriving any moment." Just in time, a Conformatorium prison cart pulled up outside the workshop, near docking, with two guards ready to escort the chosen operator. As he stepped out of the cart, he revealed himself as a deathly pale, bald witch with black eyes that seemed to lack a soul.
"You're using a prisoner?" Lilith questioned Lionel.
"Why not? It's better than letting his potential go to waste in a cell," Lionel replied. "Meet Benjamin Krullen, a magicless witch who, earlier today, had been sentenced to petrification following an incident that involved… a disagreement with the authorities in Latissa—a very violent disagreement."
"And how do you know this?"
"I'm a Luthor, Ms. Clawthorne; I have my sources," Lionel replied with a sly smile, his cunning evident. "But I believe Mr. Krullen can be of great use to us."
Lilith raised an eyebrow in interest at Lionel's unconventional decision. "If he's magicless, how can he be useful to us?"
"I discovered he has unique DNA, far different from your run-of-the-mill witch or demon, which has given him certain abilities. Such as being able to absorb radiation and channel it into powerful energy blasts," Lionel explained. "It's no different from casting a fireball but more dangerous."
"And what does he get in return for helping us?" Lilith inquired.
"He won't spend the rest of his existence collecting moss, for one," Lionel replied confidently. "And if he successfully kills Superboy, I'm sure the emperor will reward him handsomely for his services." Lionel looked down at the prisoner and shouted, "Mr. Krullen, are you ready to make history?"
"I ain't got a choice," Krullen replied resignedly. "However, I'm willing to accept the offer of eliminating Superboy if it means a life of luxury." Lionel smiled, satisfied with Krullen's response, and turned to Lilith, who looked unsure.
"There we go, little fella," Dell said as he helped the cat out of the tall tree.
Meow.
The cat purred and rubbed her head against Dell's pec, clearly grateful for the rescue.
"Here you go, Miss." Dell handed the cat back to her owner, Skara.
"Thank you, Superboy," Skara said with a smile, relieved to have her beloved pet back safe and sound.
Dell did not notice at first, as he was preoccupied with saving the cat, but he saw that Skara was wearing a blue shirt with the iconic "S" on the front. "I see you're a fan," he said with a grin.
Skara looked down at her shirt, blushing and chuckling, "I guess you could say that. But who wouldn't be a fan of someone who always saves the day like you?"
Dell chuckled modestly. He must admit that she was pretty sweet and endearing when Skara wasn't hanging out with Boscha. Perhaps her "mean girl" facade at school was just that—a facade to fit in with her friends. Dell knew better than most about putting up facades just to fit in.
"Take care of yourself and your cat," Dell told Skara before flying off. Skara watched him depart with an admiring smile.
"Stop! Thief!" Dell's super-hearing picked up a woman shouting for help. Without hesitation, he flew towards the source of the distress. He observed a man fleeing while holding a purse as a Coven Scout riding a staff tried to catch up.
The thief ran through the streets, knocking over a lanky merchant and pushing a cart full of green vegetables—and the cart itself. The vegetables sprouted crab-like legs and hurried away in all directions. "MY CRABBAGES!" The merchant screamed.
Dell landed right before him, and the thief ran right into him. "Oomp!" He grunted as he was knocked to the ground.
Before he could get up, the Coven Scout cast a binding spell with his palisman, immobilizing the thief. "Thanks, Superboy," he said gratefully. Though he wore his mask, Dell recognized the voice as belonging to Steve, a Coven Scout with a reputation for being friendly with everyone.
"Oh, thank Titan. You got my purse," the woman cried out in relief as she approached Dell and Steve. It was Katya. Thanks, Superboy."
"I was just flying by," Dell replied modestly, then pointed at Steve. "He and his palisman did the legwork to catch the thief."
"Oh, no. This is my Coven Head's palisman, Mike Socks. I'm just watching him while she's away."
Caw!
The palisman came to life and cawed at Dell. "Mike says, 'Hi.' I'm only doing my part to keep the streets safe." Dell watched as Katya hugged Steve in gratitude. It didn't take x-ray vision to see that he was blushing underneath his mask. "Well, better drop this guy off at a precinct." He used a levitation spell to lift the thief. "Thanks for the help, Superboy. No matter what the Emperor's Coven says, I'm glad to have you watching over us."
Dell nodded and said, "I'll let you do your job." Dell said before flying off. Aside from the thief, Bonesborough has been quiet today regarding crime. He may check on Luz to see if she kept out of trouble, then return to the Owl House and see how Mom is doing with the Bat Queen's baby.
Loisse and Jeanne waited by the bus stop, checking their scrolls as the minutes ticked. Loisse didn't need to take the bus because she was used to walking back to her uncle's farm at the end of each day. On the other hand, Jeanne relied on the bus to get home before dark since she lived on the other side of town.
"My parents are probably starting to worry," Jeanne said, glancing at her scroll again.
"Don't worry, I'll stay with you until the bus arrives," Loisse replied, smiling reassuringly. They heard what sounded like music coming from around the corner.
Curious, they both went over to investigate. Dell's parent, Raine, played the violin, with a silver-haired girl with bat ears and wings playing a recorder and a dark-skinned young man with glasses playing the bassoon. The trio was so absorbed in their music that they overlooked Jeanne and Loisse. The two friends decided to remain and take in the impromptu concert.
Their song eventually concluded. "Nice work, you two," Raine complimented the young musicians.
"Thank you, Mx. Whispers," the silver-haired girl replied with a smile.
"Though, I have some constructive feedback for both of you," Raine continued. "Amber, your recorder playing was lovely but a bit too sharp sometimes. Try to focus on your breathing for smoother transitions. And Derwin, your bassoon playing was impressive, but there were a few moments where your notes were slightly off-key. Stay focused on your fingerings and practice those difficult passages more consistently."
"Thank you for the feedback, Mx. Whispers. We will work on those areas," Derwin responded earnestly. Raine nodded in approval, pleased with their willingness to improve. "Oh, it looks like we have an audience." Derwin pointed out Loisse and Jeanne.
"Could they be from a rival school?" Amber noticed the two girls from across the room. "Do you want me to take 'em out?"
"What? No! No, no, no." Raine shook their head.
"Sorry for eavesdropping, but we couldn't help but notice your performance," Loisse said with a smile.
"You're my son's friend, Loisse, right?" Raine asked. "I remember seeing you at the Covention."
"Yes, that's right. And this is my friend Jeanne," Loisse replied.
"Hi," Jeanne waved. "What are you three up to here?"
"Mx. Whispers is our teacher," Derwin answered. "Amber and I are homeschooled, so our parents must hire a tutor."
"It pays the bills when you're raising three kids and one wife," Raine explained, then chuckled nervously. "Don't tell Eda, I said that."
"I thought homeschooling was made illegal on the Isles," Loisse commented, raising an eyebrow.
"It is, but some families still do it under the radar," Raine admitted. "It would be best if you had a public school education to get a job, but not many families can afford it. If the Emperor's Coven focused more on education reform than hunting down Wild Witches, maybe things would be different."
"Man, there's such a good story here for the press, but I'm still under that stupid suspension," Loisse muttered, shaking her head in frustration.
"I heard about that from Dell," Raine said sympathetically. "Maybe once your suspension is over, you can interview me, and we can shed some light on the education issues."
"That would be great," Loisse said, a spark of excitement in her eyes.
"Yeah, stick it to the man!" Amber cheered, raising her fist.
"Amber, you need to calm down," Derwin said, rolling his eyes.
"But seriously, Loisse, I think it could make a difference in the community," Raine concluded.
"I'll keep you in mind for sure," Loisse replied gratefully.
BLOOOOT! BLOOOOT! BLOOOOT!
"Oh, the bus is here," Jeanne announced. "I gotta go!" Jeanne waved goodbye to Loisse and the other bards as she ran off.
"Yeah, I gotta get going, too," Loisse said. "Good luck with your training!" She waved goodbye to Raine, Amber, and Derwin as she returned to her uncle's farm.
Back at the Owl House, the baby bat sits on the living room couch, still crying and screaming.
SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
It has gotten so bad that King and Eda have to tie pillows to their heads to muffle the noise.
"It's been hours! How can it keep screaming?" King whined, throwing his hands up in frustration.
"Ugh. I hate it too, pipsqueak," Eda responded. "But think about the money."
SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
As the crying continued, glass bottles containing Eda's vintage apple blood collection began to rattle on the shelves until they eventually shattered into pieces, spilling the alcohol everywhere.
"No, my apple blood!" Eda cried out in dismay.
"No amount of snails is worth this torture! Make it stop!" King pleaded.
"Fine!" Eda sighed. "I can't believe I'm about to do this to someone other than you or Dell." She picked the baby up, and it immediately stopped crying. King and Eda both look at it in disbelief. "Rock, rock. Maternal gesture." Eda whispered as she gently rocked the baby, eventually causing it to fall asleep.
Luz and Dell entered the house together. "Hi, Mom, we're back," Dell announced. "I saved a cat and stopped a thief; it was a pretty uneventful day."
"Well, I just had the best day," Luz exclaimed. "Cool teens like me. Call me a library book because they were checking me out." She and Dell looked over at the couch where Eda was sitting with the baby. "Aw, Eda, you look so motherly."
"Say that again, and I'll steal your tongue," Eda threatened.
Luz walks over to them. "Aw. How can you say that around this cute baby?" She repeatedly pokes the baby bat.
"I'll show you some of King's baby pictures later," Dell said.
"Oh my gosh, yes," Luz responded excitedly.
Suddenly, the baby woke up and barfed out a smaller version of itself, as does that version. They all chirped and flapped their wings.
"What the…" King began as he, Eda, Luz, and Dell were at a loss for words.
SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
The trio of babies screeched in unison. One of them even breathes fire. Eda, King, and Luz all scream and run away from the couch, which is the unfortunate target. Luz runs for the door. "Parenting sure looks rewarding! Enjoy your life lessons! Bye!" With that, Luz was out of the door, leaving Eda, Dell, and King to deal with the chaos.
Dell used his newly acquired super-breath to extinguish the flames on the couch, which unintentionally caused frost to form on the walls.
Eda rolled her eyes and muttered, "This is why we can't have nice things." The bats fly around, knocking things off shelves and causing mayhem. Eda holds King as they hide under the table for cover.
"For the money?" King asked.
"For the money!" A green liquid then hit Eda, who attempted to maintain her composure. "I hope that wasn't barf," she groaned, wiping the liquid off her face.
The Owl House remained like this for the next few hours, their chaos reigning. Dell was doing his best to catch the naughty babies. "Put that down!" Dell yelled at a bat baby holding a mace in its claws as it flew, swinging it wildly. Dell made an effort to avoid the weapon's impact even though he knew it wouldn't hurt him. Another baby pours a green potion out on the floor, which eats away at the wood. "That's going to leave a mark," Dell muttered, trying to clean up the mess before it caused any permanent damage. The third baby jumped on the couch, shattering the glass, and threw Eda's shoes at the window. "Mom, help!"
Eda and King were still hiding under the table, and they peeked out to see the chaos unfolding. "Eda, you're the parent; you should know what silences children," King said.
"Raine did most of the work with you kids," Eda replied. "I'm open to suggestions!"
"Oh, what if we invented a show for children ages six to eleven that teaches kids how to clean up after themselves while being fun and engaging?"
"Sounds good to me!" Dell voiced.
"There's no way that'll work!" Eda said. "Kids these days only want to watch mindless cartoons. No, there's only one way out of this." She reached into her hair and pulled out a knife, making both King and Dell gasp. She then pulled out an apple and cut it into small, equal pieces. "Apple slices and story time!"
Suddenly, the bat babies ceased their reign of terror and gathered around Eda eagerly. King was in disbelief as he said, "I can't believe that worked."
"Dell, Raine should have a copy of 'Otabin' upstairs in our room," Eda told him.
"On it," Dell said as he ran upstairs with his superspeed and returned a second later with the book in hand. "Found it."
"All right, brats." Eda fixed the couch and sat down with the book open. "Let's do this." The baby bats sit on the floor, and Dell and King join them, the latter holding the plate of apple slices. Eda began reading, "Otabin spent his days alone amongst the many books he'd sewn. With needle and thread, the pages he'd mend. But all the while, he longed for a friend."
Metal clashing against metal filled the air as Luthor Corp. and Blight Industries' engineers placed the prototype armor onto Benjamin Krullen. Lionel watched with Lilith, Lex, and Odalia as their joint venture reached its most critical moment. The final pieces were put into place, and the armor hummed to life as Benjamin took first steps, each a thud of power.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
"How do you feel, Mr. Krullen?" Lionel asked.
Benjamin turned to him, his face hidden behind the sleek, intimidating skull-like helmet. "I feel invincible." His voice sounded mechanical and distorted.
Everyone in the room exchanged satisfied glances, with Lionel saying, "Good to hear."
"I think our newest investment is ready for its first field test," Odalia said.
"But I think something's missing," Lex added.
"And what would you know? You're just a child," Odalia teased.
"If you want to sell Mr. Krullen as a weapon against Superboy, he should have a name that strikes fear," Lex suggested. His abilities are radiation-based, like a living reactor, so how about calling him… Reactron?"
"Reactron, I like it," Lionel said, nodding at his son. "And what do you think of it, Mr. Krullen?"
Benjamin nodded in agreement. "I think it suits me perfectly," he replied confidently. The veins of the armor glowed with a menacing green light. "Reactron it is."
"You're treating this like a game," Lilith interrupted, her tone serious. "Once you unleash Reactron, there's no turning back."
"Don't worry, Ms. Clawthorne," Lionel assured her. "We have everything under control. Superboy won't know what hit him."
"About that, where am I supposed to find Superboy?" Benjamin asked. "I doubt he has a specific address listed."
"You won't need to find Superboy; he'll come to you," Lionel replied with a smirk.
Lilith gave Lionel a worried glance. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Lionel ignored her and handed Benjamin a piece of paper. "Here is the address where one Loisse Laine resides with her family."
"What's so special about this Loisse Laine?" Benjamin inquired.
"The exact details of her relationship with Superboy are unclear, but we believe she may be a key to finding him," Lionel explained. "He came to her rescue once, and he may feel obligated to protect her again if she's in danger."
Benjamin nodded as he walked out of the building. "Then I'll go pay her a visit," he said.
"Luthor, you can't be seriously considering putting a child's life in danger for your ends, are you?" Lilith interjected.
"Pot, meet kettle," Lionel replied, causing Lilith's face to turn red with anger as she clenched her fists. "Oh, Mr. Krullen. One more thing before you leave." Benjamin stopped in his tracks. "After you kill Superboy, I want you to bring me his cape to prove his demise. Emperor Belos will be very pleased with that as a trophy." Benjamin nodded. The palms of his suit glowed bright green as he fired a blast of radioactive energy at the ground, launching him into the air and disappearing into the darkening sky.
Next Chapter: Superboy vs. Reactron!
While writing this chapter, I was torn between making Dell's first official Meta-Human/Meta-Witch opponent Metallo or Atomic Skull. I decided to split the difference and use a character who incorporated elements of both villains.
If you enjoyed the chapter, please favorite, follow, and leave a review; feedback is appreciated.
I forgot to mention: The Jeanne Loring character is based on Ray Palmer's love interest, and the idea to make her a witch came from Ker Varela.