Ingredients for Revenge
Seven years were plenty of time to understand what revenge was. For a while, he had thought it was a normal part of human nature. This was until he saw what revenge could do to you. It could take so many forms but he had seen it at its worst. He had seen people driven by it, leaving trails of blood and death in their warpath. Then they were only left with an unbalanced fraction of who they used to be. Whatever pain they had felt was still there but now deeply rooted into who they were. After that, he no longer believed it was part of human nature, half of him. Maybe it was denial, but he chose to believe humanity was better than this.
After a few hours of sleep, he was preparing something to eat. He needed to be rested before the mission started. Nightwing said he would be sending a team to help him as soon as possible. The Hollow Men, as Simon Valentine called them, wouldn't come out until nightfall, but that didn't mean they couldn't get some work done.
Though he knew what revenge did, though what was happening in town was because of a curse driven by it, it didn't keep him from wanting it. Still, it evaded him how he would achieve it without getting anyone really hurt. Would it really be revenge in that case? He turned his head and saw the broken window in the living room. Teenagers were cruel, he thought back on his own years in High School. They were some of the most confusing years of his short life. It was always one test after another by people who called themselves your friends. M'gann had to keep him from hurting a few and kept reminding him it was normal. It was a sort of a passing trial. He didn't care they were trying to find out who they were through social acceptance. This was just a dickish thing to do.
After eating, he cleaned the broken glass inside the house and then went outside. It looked even worse than when he got home. The crushed eggs dried up with the heat of the sun, becoming stains on the home that once held one of the greatest heroes of the world. Revenge was starting to sound like a good idea as he got the hose and something to scrub.
888
Superman watched with a frown as Conner cleaned the eggs from the house through the Watchtower's surveillance cameras. He had been surprised when he went to check on him that morning after reading what happened in the brief report. Then he saw that mess. He had kept one camera looking after the house and after checking the last night's recordings he saw the culprits; James Talbot, Nelson Braverman who just as their fathers led the band of troublemakers. Though he found it curious it was a Talbot rather than Braverman who was in charge. He also saw the Davis' girls; Linda and Agustina whose mothers were seniors at the time he was a freshman, and Chris Miller who like his father just followed what everyone else said. It was like looking at a mirror of the past.
A part of him wanted to tell Conner that his life in Smallville was anything but normal. He did hear him the day before, but just like then he didn't know what to tell him. Besides that, he didn't think it would help. Conner was probably more stubborn than him and would claim it was useless to talk about it.
He thought of the times when he and Pete investigated those woods that summer so many years ago. There were good times admittedly. It was a thrill to rummage through the woods at night looking for a mystery, but there was more that summer. There was bullying from Kenneth Braverman and his friends when they caught on to what they were doing. They took advantage that he never fought back. Pete tried fighting for him, but it only made things worse. At the end of that summer, their egos were more bruised than Pete's face.
The last thing he wanted for Conner, especially if he was going to be facing whatever was behind the Hollow Men, was to be dealing with those kids. His teen years were filled with confusion from more than just the natural changes he was going through. There were those of an alien race he belonged to but didn't understand. If it hadn't been for Pete and Lana, he was sure he would not be in the place where he could call himself a protector of Earth.
He cringed when he saw Conner rip some of the roof tiles when he used his powers to increase the pressure on the water hose. He saw him throw his arms into the air, and though the image wasn't close enough he was sure he was shouting. He seemed to calm down after a minute or two before finishing the cleanup. Conner could be patient, but like any other person he had his limits. Besides, he needed to be able to concentrate on using his new powers.
Maybe he should go back to Smallville and talk to the parents of those kids. If he did, maybe they wouldn't get too much in the way of the real threat.
"You are not going back," Batman said a few steps behind him.
"He needs my help," he said.
"You are smothering him. He will deal with this his own way, just as he has done before" Batman said with a sigh and looking at him with annoyance. "Nightwing is deploying members of the Team to back him up. Nothing he hasn't done before."
"He didn't have these abilities before," Superman said watching Conner start the truck to drive into town; probably to get supplies.
"He is not you Clark," Bruce said with a stern voice, "you had no idea where you came from but still grew in a sheltered place. Even before he stepped into the world he has known what he is and in no time became a shield to the rest of the Team."
"Shows what you know, Smallville is not your everyday town," he knew he was being stubborn, but it was more out of irritation. He didn't need to be reminded he would never fully understand Conner.
"His life has always involved situations like this. He knows how to work under pressure," Batman said working on one of the screens before showing him the members of the Team that would be joining Conner in Smallville, "the Team will be deploying shortly."
"He is still learning to use his powers," maybe they should keep him out of the mission altogether, he thought back of an incident when he tried to join the football team when he was just a teen. That other boy had been too hurt to ever try to play again.
"They are not ordinary kids, they can handle themselves," Batman said closing the file.
"I guess," he knew they had gained a lot of experience and each one of them brought something of use to the mission.
"You worry too much," Batman said with a smirk. He knew he had won.
"Said the Bat mother hen," and before the Dark Knight could retort, Superman was gone.
"Touché," Batman couldn't help a brief laugh. In his defense, it wasn't his fault that he understood kids so well and for some reason they always took a liking to him.
888
In town, Conner watched as they cut the glass for the window. The shop owner told him he didn't have to wait in while he finished, but he decided to stay sitting on a bench on the side. The buzz filled the air as the owner cut the glass with a machine to the specific size he asked for, with thirty years behind it of experience. It sounded almost like static, he thought as he started to close his eyes captured by the familiar trance. Static was just noise lost in space and without meaning. It was all that he had once believed his existence to be. He had needed this. He was able to think more clearly about what they would be doing next. Besides putting on the new tiles and window, he knew he also would need to stack on food.
The curfew the sheriff had announced would help, but there would always be kids who loved going against the rules.
"You okay son?" the shop owner asked him as he wrapped the glass with brown paper and string. He was extra careful not wanting to hear later Conner cut himself.
"I am fine," he said getting up from the bench to pay.
"You sure? You seem a bit down. Don't let those kids get to you. They always do something like this when they are bored," the man said handing him the glass.
So, the whole town already knew. Mrs. Lang wasn't kidding when she said the news traveled fast in small towns.
"Don't worry about the glass. Clark would never get upset for something like that," the man said when he didn't get a response.
"I said I was fine," Conner snapped at him and then realizing what he had done. He added "sorry."
"Don't sweat it," the man said with an understanding smile. He thought back of when Clark was younger and couldn't recall ever seeing him upset. The sight left an impression, least to say.
"I am okay, I am just still getting used to the place," he said lamely. Of course, he was bothered by what those kids had done, but it wasn't for someone like him.
"The Kent farm is far, so just drop by more often. When summer is close to ending things get livelier," the man said.
"Thanks," he said before leaving.
The owner of the shop went back to his small work table when Conner was gone and noticed a few of the smaller mirrors he had been working on were cracked. He sighed putting the pieces away for scraps but all the while wondering when that happened. He was sure they were in one piece when Conner entered the shop.
After buying the roof tiles and putting them on the truck, he headed to the grocery store. Mrs. Rose, the old lady that owned the place and who loved to give him a hard time only offered him a gentle smile when he came in. She too knew about what happened to the Kent house. With a dejected sigh, he started getting the food. Everyone who he made eye contact with since he arrived seemed to know. It was starting to get on his nerves.
"Connor, such a surprise to see you here," James Talbot said walking up to him followed closely by Nelson Braverman.
"It's Conner," he said before he kept on walking. The universe just hated him.
"What a stupid name," he heard Nelson say not too subtly as they followed him.
"I heard you and Valentine weren't with the rest. What happened?" James asked with a careless smirk.
"I don't remember, and neither does he," he said knowing he didn't really care.
"Yeah, he kept saying that," Nelson said with poison dripping from his words "that little prick was probably the one that called the sheriff. He brags about how he customized his phone and shit."
"Where is Simon?" he said turning around and glaring at him.
"Who knows? Who cares?" James said with a shrug.
He clenched his jaw and walked away from them again. He had to remain in control. He would find Simon, they would deal with the Hollow Men, and then he would-
"Have you seen the eggs?" James asked his friend.
"No man, but I am sure Connor has," Nelson said.
"Do you know where they are? You know, those the chickens lay," James asked behind him.
Some of the cans to his right started the shake. He quickly threw them into the shopping basket.
"If you aren't going to buy anything kids, leave," the kids jumped and they turned to see the owner of the store glaring at them.
"But we are," James said. "I am just going to buy some eggs, ran out of them last night."
"Kids, I want you out, or I am calling your parents," the woman said before they lost their smirks.
"Fine," James said before leaving but not without throwing a glare at him.
"Thank you," he said to the woman as they walked to the register. He wasn't sure he would have been able to remain in control for long.
"They should be thanking me. You looked this close to punching them in the kisser," the woman laughed not knowing how close she was to the truth, then they heard something crash, "oh what in the world. Ruth, go find out what happened."
"Yes, grandma," Mrs. Rose's eldest granddaughter said before rushing to the source of the noise and then coming back, "some of the soda cases exploded."
"Jean, go help Ruth," the elderly woman said to her other granddaughter.
"Yes," Jean responded joining her sister on the cleanup.
"Must be the heat," the woman said before noticing his downcast look, "don't worry about those brats. Since it was their party last night the sheriff is keeping a close eye on them."
He thanked her again and then left the store only to find James and Nelson waiting for him outside. He stepped between them and walked directly to the truck.
"What? Now you are too good to talk to us?" Nelson sneered after he ignored them calling his name.
"You think we are scared of that old hag?" James said with a cruel smile "her windows are nothing special, you know?"
He turned around and glared at the two of them. They were frightened for a moment before they gathered their guts and glared back.
"What? You got a problem with that?" Nelson said poking him in the chest.
"Stop or I won't be responsible for what happens next," he told them in an even voice.
"Right," James laughed though a tad nervous before he and Nelson left.
After he loaded everything into the truck he sat in the driver's seat. His hands were shaking and failing miserably to enter the key into the ignition. This couldn't be bothering him so much, he thought, it was stupid to let what those kids said bother him, but it was. He took deep breaths like Black Canary taught him for when it seemed his temper would get the best of him. He watched the side mirror as the people around went on about their day, and he felt envy. He also felt terrible for what happened in the store and decided he would find a way to make it up to Mrs. Rose.
His hands were still trembling, but not as bad as before. He made another attempt for the ignition before he heard something hit his side window. He swore that if it was an egg he was not holding back anymore. Instead, he met Bart's smiling face smudged against the glass.
"Hey Conner!" the kid said with a cheerful tone before he flew back "ahh!"
"I told you it was a terrible idea," Jaime said helping a shocked and smiling Bart get back on his feet.
"Man, that was crash," Bart said looking at him curiously, "I knew something was different about you."
"What are you doing here?" he asked them checking his communicator was on. He also checked no one had noticed what happened.
"Tim sent us, we arrived at the meeting point but we didn't find you," Jaime explained.
"Tim?" he was about to ask who else had come and why he wasn't informed but then saw a few people were starting to take notice of them. "Get in the back of the truck," he said getting back in. He waited until the two of them got on before starting the truck. As he drove back to the farm he realized he had a slight smile. He was listening to Bart laugh and point at small things on the way as Jaime tried to keep him from falling from the truck. He turned on the radio and rolled down the window. He didn't miss their surprised expressions before he turned the volume up.
"Whoooo!" Bart shouted as he leaned into the truck's cabin, "this is so crash!" The kid could outrun the truck easily but seemed to be sincerely enjoying the small trip.
He saw Jaime mouth the words of the song but never raised his voice. Still, he laughed when Bart made a silly comment about things he had never seen before.
All the anger and anxiety he had been feeling before faded away like a bad dream as he kept listening to them, and tapping his fingers on the steering wheel to the beat of the song. All too soon he pulled into the farm and saw Sphere and Tim waiting at the front. Sphere rushed to him right away and he petted her.
"I still can't believe the League has a farm," Jaime said as he jumped off the back of the truck.
"Oh no no no my friend, this is just not any farm," Bart started to say before he sent him flying again, "okay, now that was on purpose."
"It belongs to a friend of the League," Conner said ignoring Bart's glare, "someone who would prefer to remain anonymous."
"Got it," Jaime said with a nod and without question while Bart seemed ready to burst with the need to tell someone what he knew.
He was glad at least one of them was willing to cooperate. There were some secrets only he and Superman shared. That secret was close to the top of the list.
"Where is Zatanna?" he asked Tim when he realized he couldn't sense anyone else.
"An emergency came up," Tim said opening a small wooden box. Inside, he saw charms, "but she sent these with us. It will protect us from Tannarak's curse."
"Tannarak?" he asked looking at the necklaces shaped like red tears
"It's a long story," Tim said before they went inside the house.
888
It happened so long ago no one could tell anymore the real reason why Tannarak is still trying; only that he has the power and patience to try again and again. It just takes one time of someone failing for him to win. The most ancient record of his appearance goes back to the time when Atlantis rested above the waters. One day in the horizon the sentries spotted what they believed was an endless army marching towards their gates. King Atlan knew this was no ordinary army so he went to face them on his own.
The closer he got to the army the more he worried he was right. All the soldiers looked exactly the same and had the scent of sea and sand on them. There was no light in their eyes and they had no voices. They were no better than puppets. In the center of the army, he met with their creator. He was a necromancer of whom he had heard only rumors until then, Tannarak.
The necromancer demanded his kingdom which at the time expanded to every corner of the world, or he would slay every single child and woman to make more of his mindless puppets. The King of Atlantis didn't give in, not because he didn't care for his people, but quite the opposite. He saw an inhuman darkness in Tannarak's eyes. He knew he would still kill every one of his subjects to make more of his abominations, probably until not a living being remained.
The wise king declined and left to defend his city, all the while listening to Tannarak's mocking laughter. When the king returned, his armies were prepared to give their lives to protect their city but King Atlan told them to go home and enjoy the rest of the day in the company of their families and friends. The King waited outside the gates, trident in hand and the wind of the sea pecking at his skin from the north. When Tannarak didn't see a single soldier guarding the gates he headed to the front of his army to ask Atlan if he had decided to give in. The king said he hadn't before raising his trident and thus the waves rose before crashing down on the immense army, taking it apart and returning their sand bodies to the sea; along with them, Tannarak who cursed King Atlan.
"Your mighty city will fall at your own hands Atlan! Mark my words!" the necromancer shouted as the water dragged him deeper into the sea where King Atlan believed him dead. Years later, when Atlan sank his own city, he recalled those words.
Since then the necromancer resurged through history all over the world; always trying to take over the major powers with armies fueled by trapped souls. Though, as the centuries passed and his humanity became something of a legend, the necromancer started to use servants to do his work; be it taking children from their homes at night, or slaughtering the innocent, they always did it with the promise of something impossible.
888
For Tannarak to raise his army of Hollow Men he needed the earth from a place where the ley lines were strong; a place with strong natural magic uncorrupted and free. Such places had the tendency to attract strange things and Smallville happened to be in one of those places. As they sat for a brief lunch in the kitchen he wondered if this was the reason of Clark's arrival to the small town.
"Not to be a pessimist, but none of us can do much against magic, talismans or not," Jaime said looking worried as he fiddled with his as it hung from his neck.
"We only need to take his army down, and he will flee again. That's the best we can do," Tim said with a frown, he didn't like the plan they were given by Nightwing since Zatanna was not available to help.
"But c'mon, he will appear again at some point. Why risk it? We should capture him," Bart said wolfing down half of the food on the table before Jaime pulled it away from him.
"Again, we know squat about magic," Jaime said taking one of the sandwiches.
"We will see when we get to that point," Tim said as he showed them a map of the town and surroundings on his portable computer, "we are going to scout this section of the woods and make sure everything is clear before nightfall."
"You will probably come across a boy named Simon. He has been investigating this for a while," he said hoping James and Nelson were lying when they insinuated they had done something to Simon.
He stood outside as they changed into their uniforms. He stuck to his civilian clothing in case they ran across the sheriff. For a while, he thought about calling Nightwing to ask him why he had not sent another member with more experience or someone else who had abilities with magic. He finally decided against. It was possible that the rest of the Team and League were already in assignments. Besides, it wasn't the first time the rookies had a mission of their own and they had done well with them. A bit messy but he should be able to keep them from getting into any major problems.
Sphere rolled to him after having a small tour of the farm. She was curious and he could tell she had also been worried about him. He couldn't recall ever being away from her or Wolf for so long.
"Everything will be okay," he told her before she rolled towards Robin who had come out in his uniform.
As the sun started to set he could sense the life around becoming restless, as if they knew of what was coming.
"You okay?" Robin asked him standing next to him.
"I am still getting used to this," he said with a frown.
"But you are okay for the mission?" Robin asked him with a serious expression.
"Yes," he said with a brief nod. Robin had been in command of a few missions up to that point and he was more serious about it than the previous Robins. He knew it was probably because his training was more intense than Dick's and Jason's.
"Then let's start," he said as Kid Flash and Blue Beetle joined them.
Blue and Kid Flash went to patrol over the woods while he and Robin used the Super-Cycle for a brief stop in town and listen for any hint of civilians going into the woods that night. They landed at the top of a building and listened in to the sheriff's radio. He concentrated his hearing around town picking on bits of conversations. There were a few kids who were daring each other, but each one of them went home when the sun started to set. There were some grown men in the pub that wanted to try it out but didn't get past the sheriff who waited for them outside. The sheriff locked them up for the night for their own safety.
"We found some kids," Blue reported, "Kid Flash is scaring them out of the woods and I think he is enjoying it too much."
"You should have seen their faces," they heard Kid Flash laugh.
"Did you really have to pull the kid's pants down?" Blue asked with an exasperated sigh.
"What can I say? I am a comic ghost," Kid Flash said before they heard Blue sigh, but with a slight chuckle slipped in between.
"They are both enjoying it," Robin said with a slight smile.
As the last traces of the sun left they got ready to leave. The town was very different from the previous nights. There were almost no people around when the night before the streets had been flooded.
"What happened to him?" Robin asked with a frown. He spotted Simon, bruised and covered with dirt as he walked with a scowl.
"That would be Simon," he told Robin who nodded.
He was ready to go down and check on him when he saw Pete invite the kid into the Talon. He knew Pete would try to keep him busy and out of trouble.
"It's hard to believe anything strange happens here," Robin said as they boarded the Super-Cycle.
"It's always the quiet ones," he said looking at the town with curiosity. If he hadn't known better he would have thought the place was a ghost town. He wasn't sure if it was Tannarak's doing, but there was a different feeling to the town; eerie and unsettling. As if behind every closed door there was a secret, something terrifying and better kept in the dark.
"Zatanna outdid herself," Robin said before he saw the gem hanging around his neck give off an unearthly glow. They landed on the field where the door would appear any moment. Kid Flash and Blue were already there. Kid Flash couldn't stop looking with wonder at the red gem while Blue looked like he wished to be anywhere else.
"I really don't like magic," Blue said looking at the gem with a frown.
"You or the scarab?" Kid Flash asked with a grin.
"Both," Blue said.
"This way," he said leading them to the place he saw the door appear.
"Blue, you are staying outside to keep civilians back, and help us out," Robin told Blue.
"Thank you," Blue said with a shaky breath.
"When we make it inside, I need you to do a recon as fast as possible," Robin said to Kid Flash
"No problemo," Kid Flash said with a nervous smile. They had no idea of what they would find.
"Are you sure you are up to this?" Robin asked him as they walked out of earshot for a moment. He gave him a brief nod "alright."
"It appeared!" Kid Flash shouted as they hurried back. The earth shook in a jerk like motion and they actually fell. He was about to get up when something took hold of his foot. He turned back and saw a gray claw-like hand holding it.
"Zombies!" Blue shouted blasting the ones that had been holding at him before taking into the air. Kid Flash had already vibrated through his, and Robin had been able to evade them all together. He got up hearing the fake flesh rip as it was no match for his strength. They created a perimeter not far from the door as the Hollow Men dug themselves out of the ground glaring and hissing at them.
"I will hold them back, go!" Blue shouted as he used his sonic cannon to blast them into dirt and clearing a path for them.
They rushed to the trap door only to see more of the Hollow Men start climbing up.
"This better work," Robin said before he threw something into the climbing mob, "cover your eyes!" he shouted before they did just that. Even though his eyes were close he saw behind his eyelids a burning light. He heard the moans of the Hollow Men before he opened his eyes slowly and saw they had turned to dust.
"How many more of those you have?" he asked as Kid Flash left to do the recon and they continued their way down.
"Only a few, they are prototypes," Robin said with a frown. Then they heard a scream. The hairs on the back of his neck tensed and he felt short of breath. It was Blue. There was a brief silence before he sensed Blue going their way.
"Blue!" he barely caught Kid Flash on his way back up, "we got to help him!"
"Something is wrong," he told the struggling kid.
"My head…" they heard Blue's tired voice before they saw him floating towards them, his expression twitching and his eye shifting from yellow to black. Then he saw he didn't have the charm anymore.
"I got a spare-" Robin said pulling one from his belt with the intent of reaching Blue. By then, his eyes had turned completely black and pointed his sonic cannon at Robin before shooting. Kid Flash tackled Robin out of the way and received the full blast. He clearly heard the fracture of bones.
"Blue! Snap out of it!" he shouted intending to tackle him and making him swallow the charm if he had to. But he wasn't as fast as Robin who jumped and held on Blue's back trying to place the charm on him. However, whatever was controlling Blue wouldn't have it and had him fly past them into the unknown dark passages below, "Robin!"
They were surrounded once more by the eerie silence, lost and scared. He hadn't felt like this in a long time, he thought as he approached Kid Flash who was sitting up.
"What do we do?" the kid asked him trying to stand up. He had always been thankful for the speedsters' accelerated healing.
"We go after them," he said lending him a shoulder as they went down the stairs. There were no more Hollow Men on their way down. The descent felt eternal and he wondered just how deep it went. It wouldn't surprise him that it was just far enough so that Clark couldn't see it with his x-ray vision. When they reached the end of the tunnel before them lay an immense cave with the laying of an old town.
There were small wooden houses, croplands, and other buildings around. It all seemed too normal with the exception that it was underground and the immense factory like building towering in the middle of it.
"I checked the whole town with the exception of that place. They have to be there," Kid Flash said after going to look for Blue and Robin. He couldn't detect them with his powers. He guessed the magic was interfering with them. As they snuck in, he saw the inhabitants were only Hollow Men; all wearing the same straw hats and grey-blue overalls. On carriages, they carried big pods which varied in magnitude.
"What are they growing?" he asked Kid Flash who looked slightly sick as they passed some of the fenced fields.
"Let's just say that is not a toy factory," Kid Flash said before he did a double take on the pods and concentrated on some of them. Tongues… lots of eyes… fingers… He took a shaky breath and shook his head to get the feeling outside of his mind.
Then they heard an explosion and they saw Blue holding Robin's arm as he flew them out of the factory through the whole they made.
"Crash!" Kid Flash shouted before the surrounding Hollow Men spotted them. "Sorry," the kid said to him with an apologetic look.
"Make sure they are okay. I will take care of them," he said looking in the direction Robin and Blue had last been. Kid Flash nodded before taking off. He cracked his knuckles. There were quite a few of them, but no more than he could handle. He launched at the first mob before the earth shook again but this time instead of hand and earth in front of him exploded throwing him back against one of the carts and dropping some of the pods on him. He scrambled out of them when he felt them beat no different than hearts.
He looked up at a giant snake-like creature glaring and hissing down at him. It opened its mouth revealing long fangs and an endless darkness. It could easily swallow a grown man whole. Like the Hollow Men, the skin looked like sand and the eyes were completely black, but this thing wouldn't go down as easily.
"Kent…" it hissed launching at him. He jumped to the side before grabbing one of the carts and throwing it at it landing a direct hit on the head. The creature shook its head before hissing at him again. He went to grab another cart before the earth exploded below him and another giant snake emerged, throwing him into the air before it swallowing him whole.
"You made a great mistake!" he shouted ready to punch his way out. Then a sweet smell reached him, draining all strength from him. The darkness wrapped him and pulled him deeper. His mind became numb as he tried to remember what he was supposed to do. Then he was dreaming.
In his dream, he recalled another memory that was buried a long time ago.
He was awake, the first time he really woke up, eyes wide and searching. The G-Gnomes helped him make sense of what he was seeing and feeling. He was young, about eleven weeks old and physically eleven of age. Dr. Spence stood before him with a nervous but friendly smile. She believed in him, they whispered, she believed he was meant for something greater than what Desmond had in mind. He trusted her, and the G-Gnomes told him he did well in doing so. She opened his pot and he stared at her in confusion. He wasn't sure what he was supposed to do. He had always been in this place.
She extended her hand towards him and without the need of instruction he took hers. Her eyes widened as he didn't step out. Instead, he floated out of the pot. He believed he saw fear in her eyes. He didn't want her to fear him so he floated down until his feet touched the earth for the first time. Slowly, and carefully she led him to a chair she had brought close to his pot. She sat him there and then knelt before him, searching his eyes with her own. She smiled when she saw the intelligence in his eyes. He was glad to see a real face for the first time.
"We don't have much time," she said looking for a second towards the door. He could feel her fear. If Desmond caught them she would be kicked out of the project and then she would not be able to protect him. He was not meant to be a weapon and she sincerely believed that. He wondered what he was meant to be.
"I am not what he wants," he said slowly to her. To himself at that time, he sounded so strange and different as he had spent all his existence listening to adults. To his current mind, his voice sounded so soft and small. It was how he sounded as a child.
"I know, I know but that doesn't mean you are wrong" she felt fear and elation. He had been listening to them and had the sense to remain quiet, "it means you are special, but we must keep this a secret. I have an idea but it's going to hurt and when you wake up again you are going to be really scared" and she passed her small fingers through his hair as her eyes filled with unshed tears, "I know you can do it but-"
"I will seal myself," he said before she felt a gentle touch under her cheek. His hands were still on his sides but she was sure she could feel a gentle touch. She felt a warm feeling of pride and happiness as the chair moved from under him but he remained seated in the air, "I will until I am strong and wise enough to protect myself" and he placed his small hand on hers before standing.
"You will be incomplete," her lip trembled after saying those words, "but not at a loss. I will find a way" her words filled him with a feeling that even to that point made him gasp. It was the first time he felt hope and dare he believe something more for that woman who didn't see him as a weapon.
As he started to wake up, his mind filled with fog he realized she probably made an agreement with Dubbilex, a very risky one. When time started to run out and the heavier programming was close to a start she took the risk probably knowing there wouldn't be any other way. If they had placed the heavier programming he would have been no better than a puppet. Dubbilex started the fire that led his friends to find him. He thought on the time he went to her for answers. She had been really upset at him for returning after it was so difficult to get him freed, especially since most of his memories and abilities were still sealed.
"He is here!" he heard someone shout before someone took his hand and pulled him out of the pile of dirt and ash. He saw Robin, Kid Flash and Blue all staring at him with worried eyes.
"Are you okay?" Robin asked him as Blue helped him to sit against one of the buildings.
His head hurt as the memories settled in and he started to recall where they were. He saw each one of them wore the charms and looked worse for wear. They were covered in dirt and fretful. He noticed there were no Hollow Men or other creatures nearby.
"Just dizzy," he said after a moment but somehow holding tightly to the dream.
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OLD CHAPTER VERSION
Becoming Superboy 4
He believed until then that he had grown enough (in his seven years of life) to understand that vengeance was not the way to deal with things. As he prepared himself breakfast he reflected on this belief that didn't really match with the way he felt about the day's plan. He had spoken with Nightwing until late before he agreed to send some help his way for what was to be done that night. He wished he could teach them a lesson on his own, but he didn't believe breaking a few bones would be justified because of some broken eggs. He sat and ate all the while looking at the glassless window in the kitchen. He knew that outside was a mess and would have to clean it before going to town to get a new glass.
Once he got outside, he flinched at the sight of the front. Kids, especially teenagers had no mercy. He should have cleaned before breakfast. The sun had hardened some of the remains and he was pretty sure water would not be enough to remove the mess. The idea of revenge was starting to sound good.
In the Watchtower, Clark watched with a frown as Conner took out a few scrubbing brushes and the long hose from the shed and connected it to the faucet outside before trying to clean the smashed eggs from his childhood home. He had revised the recording from the night before and saw the kids he was sure belonged to the Thompsons (which always led any trouble since his father's time), the Davis girls who looked exactly like their mothers who were seniors at the time he started high school, some of the Miller's red freckled kids, and even some of the Walker kids.
He watched as Conner cleaned the front as best as he could before trying to use his new powers to lift the hose to clean the roof. It was all going well until he tried to make the water pressure increase, now he would also need to get a few roof tiles, but hey; he got rid of the egg remains. Finally he watched him swipe the remains of the broken glass before going inside. He imagined using his new powers still tired him. Maybe he should go see him and maybe call the parents of some of those kids. Conner was patient but knew that he needed peace and quiet to learn how to control his powers.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you" said Batman a few steps behind him.
Was he losing his super hearing? He was pretty sure he wasn't there a moment ago.
"I don't know what you mean"
"You were going to smother the kid. He is dealing with things his own way" he said wanting to sigh when he saw that stubborn look on the man of steel "Nightwing is sending some of the younger members to give him some company" hopefully that would appease him, "only until tomorrow since he can't be distracted for long from his training"
"But he still has trouble with his powers" he knew Conner felt as terrified as he had been at one point of hurting someone without meaning to.
"They are not ordinary kids, I am sure they can handle themselves"
"I guess," he said turning back to the screen to see Conner get into the truck and then drive towards town.
"Stop worrying so much," Batman said turning around and starting to walk towards the hall, "you are worse than a parent sending their kid to childcare for the first time"
"Said the Bat mother hen" and before the Dark Knight could reply to that Superman was already gone.
"Touché" well, it wasn't his fault he understood kids so well. He wondered if Richard and Conner had a counter plan for whatever they had planned. He was pretty sure Clark wouldn't agree with their plan if he knew about it.
Back in the town of Smallville, Conner watched as they cut the glass to the size he requested at the window shop. The small buzz of the cutter rang like static and he found himself in a small trance of tranquility. It helped him think of what he would be doing next. He had already bought the roof tiles he would need to change and the material needed to glue the window and tiles. He also needed to buy some extra food or those guys would eat him out the house.
"You okay son?" the shop owner asked him as he wrapped the glass with brown paper and string. He was extra careful not wanting to hear later the kid had cut himself with it.
"I am fine," he said before paying the agreed price.
"You sure? You seem a bit down. Afraid Clark will get upset for a broken window? Because if that is the case then you don't know your cousin that well" now that he thought about it he had never seen Clark angry. He bet it was a scary sight since the boy had grown to be even taller than Jonathan, and that guy had been the best quarterback they had back in the day.
"I am fine," he snapped stressing the words with finality before his eyes widened, "sorry," though the shop owner didn't think much of the stressed words, "I am really okay, just getting used to the place"
The shop owner nodded wondering why the kid was fretting so much. He had heard he was a few years ahead in college. He imagined one couldn't get to do that without fretting every once in a while.
"Don't sweat it. The Kent farm is pretty far so if you need to see people just come around every other night. This place can also get lively"
"Thanks," he said picking the wrapped glass before leaving.
As the shop owner turned he noticed something peculiar. Some of the mirrors he had been working lay broken on his work station. He wondered when that happened.
Conner decided he needed plenty of junk food. He had seen how much those guys could eat. The old clerk smiled at him as she ran his items. He appreciated that there was no chat this time. After almost breaking more glasses at the window shop he knew he needed to calm his nerves a bit.
"Well, if it is Connor" a mocking still developing voice said behind him.
The universe just hated him, didn't it?
"It's Conner," he said not turning around to face the kid he remembering leading the rest to egg the house.
"What a stupid name," he could hear the smirk on the words.
"If you are not going to buy anything kid you better leave," said the old clerk as she stared menacingly at the kid.
"I am," he almost whined before walking behind Conner and towards the fresh product section of the store, "I am just going to buy some eggs, ran out of them last night"
Conner felt his jaw tense as he tried to keep calm.
"You know, the same kind chickens lay" and that was the last straw.
"What in the world are you talking about Nel-" the old lady was starting to say when at the back of the store the bottled soda started to explode, "what in the name of-" but the old woman had already rushed towards the shouts of surprised customers.
Conner picked the bag of the groceries he had already paid before turning to the surprised kid who watched as a river of soda ran towards them. He realized Conner was now staring at him. He did his best to remain calm as the older boy stared down at him. Okay, he did not look this big last night, or as threatening.
"What-what do you want?" he spat more than asked.
"Stay away or I will not be responsible for what happens next" he said as some of the jarred and canned goods started to crack, and then he turned and left before the kid could say anything that would really make him lose it.
After he had loaded everything to the truck he sat on the driver's seat. His hands were shaking slightly. He didn't think the matter was bothering him so much but it seemed he was wrong. He took deep breaths just like Black Canary had taught him to control his temper. He watched from the side mirror as a few people rushed towards the store before resting his head on the steering wheel. He felt terrible the produce had been ruined, but at least it wasn't the people he ruined. He hoped he would find a way to make it up to the old lady before leaving Smallville.
Just as he was turning on the engine he heard something hit the side window. He had expected eggs but instead he met Kid-Flash's smiling smudged face against the glass.
"Ahh!" and then said kid was flying a few feet back.
"Told you it was a terrible idea," Jaime said helping the shocked but smiling kid stand.
"What are you guys doing here?" Conner got out of the truck and looked around to make sure no one had seen them. Thankfully everyone was still distracted with the mess at the store.
"We decided to get here early to help around," Bart said with a grin, not the least bothered he had been thrown back a few seconds ago.
"You decided to come early, I am here trying to keep you out of trouble" Jaime said crossing his arms.
"I knew I could count with you hermano, so what's next?" he said the last to Conner who was giving them a skeptic look. He trusted them in missions and as friends but he wasn't sure they could cope with the normality of Smallville.
"Get on the back of the truck" he said getting to the driver's seat again as he pointed to the box of the truck. He felt more than heard the truck move as they climbed on the back before he started driving back towards the farm. He realized he was smiling halfway of the trip as he heard Bart laugh and point at small things on the way as Jaime tried to keep him from falling from the truck. He turned on the radio after rolling down the windows.
"Woooh!" shouted Bart as he leaned on the cabin of the truck, "This is so crash!"
He forgot all about his anger and frustration as he heard them laugh and shout. Too soon they were pulling into the farm.
"I can't believe the League has a farm," Jaime said making a whole turn to look at the place.
"Oh no no no my friend, this is just not any other farm," Bart started to say before he was flying again, "okay, now you are doing that on purpose"
"It belongs to a friend of the League," Conner said ignoring Bart's glare, "someone who would prefer to remain anonymous"
"Got it," Jaime said with a nod and without question while Bart seemed ready to burst with need to tell someone what he knew.
He was glad at least one of them was willing to cooperate. Like many mentors and apprentices he and Superman shared secrets. That secret was close to the top of the list. He was fast to assign them task to drive their minds away from the matter. He had Jaime bring the groceries inside (he knew better than to trust Bart with that), the speedster was put at charge of getting new tiles set while he worked on the window. He finished just in time to keep Bart from what would be their dinner. He gave him the junk food he had prepared for this reason and watched as the kid happily left for the living room with his jumbo size bag of Chicken Whizees.
"You know that will only keep him away for five minutes, right?" Jaime said as he leaned on the counter looking at the rest of the food.
It was a while after that they saw Tim Drake, better known to the hero community as Robin enter the house to find every cabinet, door, and drawer in sight open. Then boy wonder then saw Bart trying to get through Conner and Jaime towards the kitchen.
"I don't like your new powers!" shouted Kid Flash as he kept running against an invisible force.
Tim froze at the door looking bewildered as this kept going for a few seconds before Superboy could no longer hold Bart back. Soon enough every cabinet in the kitchen was open, yet there was no food.
"That was not fair!" Bart said checking the house again looking for the food.
"Oh right!" Tim said before pulling out of his pocket a small container, "Nightwing said to bring you this"
"Aww," whined Bart going to take the calorie pills that prevented him from starving because of his fast metabolism. They did the job but didn't have any flavor. They were also a most at the League's New Year party to keep the speedsters from getting away with the whole dinner.
Conner didn't realize he had collapsed on a chair until Tim turned to him with a worried look.
"You okay?" Tim asked with worry showing through his dark glasses. The shades brought Superboy old memories of the previous Robin.
"Yeah, still getting used to… this" he didn't know how to explain it. Before he knew it Jaime had already brought him a glass with water and he thanked him for it.
"Are you sure you are up to this? I am sure we can find another way to deal with them" the plan had sounded ridiculous when Richard told him, fun but still ridiculous and he wasn't sure Conner had yet enough control to make it happen.
"I am sure," though tired as if he had swam across the Atlantic Ocean, he said it with resolution.
"Alright, then let's get started" he said before assigning tasks. Though Conner was his senior in the Team, he allowed Tim to give the orders. After that year it had become a sort of second nature to Tim to take this role.
He had noticed Nightwing had made a great effort to get Tim to take more of a leadership role. Not because he favored him because of the Robin mantle that was once his, but because he could see Tim's dedication to helping others. He was only thirteen years old he had found about Batman and Nightwing's civilian identities and pretty much forced Batman into taking him as the next Robin even after what happened to Jason. He knew the risks and though he only started with a brilliant mind, he did his best to improve in all other departments to become a great Robin.
He had grown up a lot. Actually, he realized, all of them had done a lot of growing up that year.
Bart had become an excellent Kid Flash as he did his best to honor Wally. He was still reckless at times but not to the point where he would endanger his teammates. He still tried too hard sometimes to be that loud and happy kid when they well knew that he had come from a time where happiness was rare. At times he hoped he was indeed as happy as he portrayed to be. Being a hero in their time, having a purpose seemed to be helping in the matter.
Jaime had made a great leap in the confidence department. He had all the tools from the beginning but feared failing too much which gave him a handicap. As he approached other heroes who had powers similar to his for coaching this handicap had started to dissolve. They still heard him discuss with the scarab, but not as often or upsetting as before. There was more decisiveness in his voice when he said 'no' to the rather violent AI.
The rest of the young heroes had changed too; in skill, maturity and of course physically. The three boys before him had all grown a little taller, and broader. He remained the same for exception of his new powers.
"Earth to Conner," Bart waived his hand in front of his face.
"Sorry, what?" he couldn't believe he had spaced out.
"I think is better if you rest" Tim said and before he could protest he added "you will need to be well rested if we want this to work" and he crossed his arms to let him know he wouldn't accept any buts. Yeah, Nightwing had made the right choice.
He didn't protest as he dragged his feet upstairs. Every muscle in his body ached. One would think this type of strain would be more mental, but every time he used them he felt as if his muscles would turn into jelly. At least he wasn't passing out anymore. He collapsed as gently as he could on the bed and not too soon he was in a deep slumber.
He dreamt again and just as last time he knew it was no ordinary dream.
In his dream he recalled another memory that was buried a long time ago by the G-Gnomes.
He was awake, the first time he really woke up. The G-Gnomes helped him make sense of what he was seeing and feeling. He was young, about eleven weeks old and physically eleven of age. Dr. Spencer stood before him with a nervous but friendly smile. She believed in him, the G-Gnomes told him, that he was meant for something greater than what Desmond believed.
She extended her hand towards him and without need of instruction he took it. Her eyes widened as he didn't step but floated out of the pot. He mistook her widened eyes for fear and floated down to touch the earth with his feet for the first time. She led him to a chair not far from his pot. She sat him there and then knelt before him so that he could see her face.
"We don't have much time" she said looking for a second towards the door. He could feel her fear. If Desmond caught them she would be kicked out of the project and then she would not be able to protect him. He was not meant to be a weapon and she sincerely believed that. He wondered what he was meant to be then.
"I am not what he wants" he found himself saying. To himself at that time he sounded so strange and different as he had spent all his existence listening to adults. To his current mind his voice sounded so soft and innocent. He had been a child even though it was for a very short time.
"I know, I know but that doesn't mean you are wrong" she felt fear and elation. He had been listening to them and had the sense to remain quiet, "it means you are special, but we must keep this a secret. I have an idea but it's going to hurt and when you wake up again you are going to be really scared" and she passed her small fingers through his hair as her eyes filled with unshed tears, "I know you can do it but-"
"I will seal myself," he said before she felt a gentle touch under her cheek. His hands were still on his sides but she was sure she could feel a gentle touch. He had just proved her theories to be correct, she felt a warm feeling of pride and happiness as the chair moved from under him but he remained seated in the air, "I will until I am strong enough to protect myself" and he placed his small hand on hers before standing.
"You will be incomplete," her lip trembled after saying those words, "but not at loss. I will find a way" her words filled him with a feeling that even to that point made him gasp. It was the first time he felt hope and dare he believe something more for that woman who didn't see him as a weapon.
She eventually did find a way, he thought as he started to wake up. She had an agreement with Dubbilex, a very risky one. She hadn't known at the time if it was safe to trust him but time was running out. The heavier programming of his mind was soon to start and when that happened it would be impossible to get him back. Dubbilex started the fire and led his friends to him. She had been delighted when she found he left with the League. He realized that was also the reason she didn't want him in Cadmus when they went to check on Project Match. She knew he wasn't back to his full self.
When he sat on the bed he saw the sun was already setting. He didn't know if he had really been that tired or it was just the memories trying to push back as he regained his abilities which he now understood were not new. A peaceful feeling passed through him as he felt more familiar with the sensation of feeling everything.