People got out of their cars as fast as they could, and they ran away from the metallic monstrosity which advanced down the long bridge. The creature though at first seemed to be a simply a robot it turned out to be something else. As it advanced it ate more of the vehicles and grew with them until it was as tall as a ten floors building. Superboy landed on the head of the giant robot created out of scraps of metal and gripped the head tightly and then pulled it, but the creature was still moving. He crushed the head with his TK, but the creature still moved, and it seemed ready to regenerate a new head.
"HELP!" a family was trapped in their car be the other two cars by their sides. They were unable to get out of the terrifying path of the creature. Superboy extended his senses and ripped the top off the car before the family scrambled away.
Okay, besides the giant metallic monster, everything seemed to be okay. It was the first time he was handling something like this on his own. Car chases, robberies, accidents he had gained enough experienced with since he arrived at Metropolis. A super-powered being was new to him in this scene. Still he didn't think he was doing half bad as he used his powers to rip out one of its metallic legs and made it fall, stopping effectively its advances until it re-grew a new leg. After hitting it on the back, he placed his hands on his armored back and used his senses to get an idea of the makings of the creature.
It was not of Earth, and it was considerably young. He immediately felt bad for what he was to do next, but there was no other choice. He peeled layer after layer of the metal until he reached the center of its chest. Inside he found a creature made out of mercury like substance. He created a spherical barrier around it and pulled it out of the scrap. The immense metallic body stopped moving immediately.
"Superboy to Watchtower" he called as he brought the creature out of reach of any more metal, "I have a creature from another planet that feeds on metal."
"We are sending one of the lanterns over," Kaldur responded back, "good job Superboy."
After giving what seemed to be a runaway toddler to the lanterns to return to its planet Conner, went back to the city and the scene of the fight. Authorities were already at the scene and trying to remove the robot out of the way to get the traffic moving again but were having trouble. He had tried to evade as many interactions with civilians and authorities as possible, but he knew he had to face them at some point. He landed next to the creature surprising everyone.
"Need some help?" he asked with a friendly smile as he placed his hand on the broken machine.
"Y-yes," said one of the officers before he levitated the machine up.
"Where would you like it?" he asked.
"We were going to bring it to STAR labs," one of the workers at charge of taking the creature away said.
"STAR labs it is," he said retaining his smile, "Thank you all for your work" and then he flew off before they could see his reddening face. Superman said always to make sure to thank them, but it felt so awkward.
It seemed STAR Labs was too used to this, or were already informed of his arrival because by then a large platform was already waiting for him to deposit the remains of the creature.
"You must be Superboy," one of the scientists said stretching her hand, "Dr. Valerie Perez. I guess you will also be bringing us a few gifts now and then."
"Nice to meet you Dr. Perez, I hope not too often. This guy was just lost" and he went ahead to explain what type of creature it was and what it had left behind. There wasn't much they could discover from the shell, but maybe the idea of how living beings could connect better to metal, if made of a metallic substance themselves. Still, STAR Labs never missed a chance to investigate something new, so they went ahead to dissect the metallic body.
"Your friends have brought all their materials for tomorrow. I am curious to see if it will work. Time travel has been a dream in the scientific community for so long; we were no longer consider it possible until Kid Flash brought his theories to us."
"I hope we don't disappoint, this also very important to us," Superboy said.
"I bet, will see you tomorrow Superboy," and then the doctor left him to his thoughts. The next day they would finally make the dreaded trip to Bart's future. He was excited about time traveling, but nonetheless he knew the future timeline they were visiting was not going to be a good one.
Only after they had pulled the shell into the building did he leave.
"Five minutes late Mr. Kent," one of his teachers said as he tried to sneak into the classroom, "don't make this a habit because next time I am locking the door."
Conner apologized before going to his usual place next to Lori. It was almost the end of that week where everyone spoke of Superboy. He hoped a new topic would sprout soon. After class, he and Lori went to the library to finally speak about their topic for Mr. Global's class. He had been so busy that week as if every delinquent wanted to get captured by the new kid that he barely had time to speak to her.
"We have to do something hero related," She told him, "we can't miss the mark with that one."
"I would rather not," Conner said with a frown.
"Says the guy that is going to get an article published either at the Daily Planet or Clarkcatropolis. C'mon Conner, you probably know some of those guys. If we could just get one interview, we will have it made."
Of course, he knew quite a few, but most of them preferred to have their privacy remain private.
"If we could only get an interview with Superboy," she sighed longingly. "I could become the next Lois Lane," and then she realized what she said, "sorry, did I really say that aloud."
"I heard nothing," he said trying to hold his laughter. He had found over the past few days that Lori had the tendency always to say what she thought, which was good for a honest reporter but it could be awkward from time to time.
"Or maybe another young hero," she continued giving Conner a thankful smile for ignoring her slip. "The Blue Beetle, Robin, and Kid Flash haven't been seen near the League as of late. I think something might be going on with them."
She said she depended on his instincts, but he wished he could tell her she was probably as good as Lois Lane on sniffing a juicy story.
"That's it!" She shouted before everyone in the library glared their way, "sorry…" she sat back down, "I mean, we could do something related to the young heroes. Do they also go to school? Do they hang out together when they are not saving the day? Do they have a rite of passage in the League, so they are no longer considered apprentices? And how does one of them go from the title 'kid' 'boy' or 'robin' to something more adult-like? Oh! Do they have inside love quarrels?"
Conner could answer many of those questions but of course, he didn't say a word. Instead, he wrote down all that she said. He was starting to see a good article in the making, but the question remained if any of his friends would go ahead with the interview.
"Give me the weekend to see what I can do," he said after a moment of silence. When Lori didn't answer, he turned to see her almost to the point of shedding tears. "Are you okay?" he asked worried, since he had no idea of how to console women when they cried.
"Yeah," she said breaking a smile, "I am just very happy you accepted to be my partner on this."
"No problem," he said standing before offering her a hand, "let's get going, class will start soon." He feared their teacher would indeed start locking the doors if they didn't make it in time.
By the time the last class was over he could no longer concentrate on what was being said. The next day he would be leaving on a trip across time. He had asked Clark that if they didn't come back by the beginning of next week to give the teachers some excuse. He hoped it didn't take long. Lori was also counting on him.
"Please tell me you don't have plans for tonight," he stopped walking towards his motorcycle when he noticed Lori was walking just behind him. "I was hoping we could celebrate the end of another week."
His expression must have said it all because she looked crestfallen a few moment later.
"You probably got plans of your own already, sorry,"
"I don't," he was fast to say. Well, he did have plans for the next day, "is just that I don't know this city so well."
"Is nowhere dangerous," she said, her smile returning, "is a club, just some dancing and if you want I can buy you a drink or two."
In actuality, he had been to a few clubs with his teammates back in the old days when he still dated M'gann. He was the kind just to sit and watch while everyone had fun.
"Only for a while," he said, "and I don't drink."
"Didn't think so," she said with a smile, "let me go home get changed, and I will meet you here in thirty. You are driving us since I don't plan to be the designated driver tonight."
"I think I am starting to see your true colors Ms. Luthor," he said with a smirk before Lori punched him playfully on the arm.
"Ouch," she said rubbing her knuckled, "get going Kent, we have to make this night last."
He went home to drop his backpack and get changed. Now, what should he wear? He hadn't gone out in a very long time and wasn't sure what those his age-group wore when going out. He was still thinking over his available wardrobe when he opened the door to the flat and met with an interesting sight.
"Conner!" Cat Grant threw her arms around him as soon as he stepped in, "you are just in time!" and then she promptly shoved a cool beer on his hands.
" For what?" he recognized a few faces from Clarkcatropolis.
"To celebrate we are the best news blog out there of course! Let's toast for Supey-boy!" shouted Cat before everyone shouted in agreement.
"We are so going to get kicked out of the building," he muttered as the music was turned up.
"We need a bigger place," Clark said walking up to him, "they were all waiting on the door by the time I got here, and now you know how Cat can be."
"I can't stay. Lori and I… as friends of course, we are going to a club."
"Bring her here!" Cat, somehow was able to hear him, "this is going to be much better than any stinking club with cheap liquor and promises of false love." She seemed lost in memories for a moment, but it was a short one, "c'mon Conner, don't tell me you wouldn't prefer to be with us?"
"You can choose not to answer," Clark said before Cat placed her cold beer against his face, "Hey!"
"Not so gentlemanly after a few drinks, are you?" she said before she glared at Conner, "I am not playing nice anymore Conner, you and Lori are joining us."
"O-okay," he said before leaving the flat to call her. This was not how he imagined he would spend his evening.
When he went to pick her up, Lori seemed more than okay to spend their night out at his place with the rest of the Clarkcatropolis crew.
"Oh my gosh! Is Lois Lane!" Lori all but fainted when she spotted Lois standing next to Clark, "what should I do? Conner?"
"Say hi?" he said before towards them. Lori followed with a big grin and ready to burst in flames.
"Conner and you must be Lori" Lois tried not to shout over the loud music, "nice to meet you."
"Sa-same here!" but Lori didn't care. She was meeting one of her idols, "Oh my gosh, I don't even know where to start. I mean you are Lois Lane!"
"Well-" she started before Lori saw someone else.
"Jonathan Carroll?" she asked the blond man standing next to Lois.
"Glad I am not outshined by these two," the handsome man said.
Conner hadn't recognized him for a moment, but there was no doubt about it. This was the top tv news reported for Galaxy. But there was more to it. He didn't miss how Carroll wrapped an arm around Lois's hip.
"I will bring us some more drinks," Clark said before leaving the painful scene.
"You kids know already what you will be doing for Mr. Global's class?" Lois asked them.
"Global's?" Jonathan looked worried for a moment before remembering he was no longer a student.
"Well, we have been talking about-" Lori started readily to show them their worth.
"Is a secret," Conner interfered, "you know how it is Ms. Lane."
"Of course," she said with a smirk, "good thinking Conner. Couldn't have expected else from a Kent"
"Oh," Lori realized what she had almost done. A reporter also had to be careful about not losing the story. It didn't matter if it was a classmate or someone you admired, you had to keep a lid on things.
"Don't worry," Conner whispered to her as Clark returned with a few bottles and Cat Grant.
"Lois," Cat said as if she was facing her rival, which was sort of true. She knew Lois wouldn't miss the chance to pull Clark back to the Daily Planet, which would take their blog down a good notch.
"Cat," Lois said carelessly to get under Cat's nerves.
Cat had glared at her for a moment before the DJ changed the tune.
"Oh Clark! I love that song! Dance with me, please. I know you can move," but she was already pulling him away before he could decline.
"That I have to see," Lois said with a not very friendly smirk.
Conner and Lori looked at each other surprised at what they had stumbled upon before they started laughing.
"So I am not the only one who saw that," Jonathan said a little baffled, "let's go. This should be interesting."
When they got to what used to be their living room, now turned dance floor, Conner scrambled to get his phone out. He couldn't believe what he was seeing and neither could those around them.
"Wow," was all Lori could say for a moment, "you better send me that."
"Well, who knew? He can move," Jonathan said before Lois took hold of his wrist, "I am not the dan-"
But it was too late; Lois had already pulled him to the dance floor.
"Please, tell me you don't want to dance," Conner said taking one step away from Lori.
"Not the dancing type actually," unless I had a few more drinks, "and this is interesting. You think we could write a paper on this?"
"The Secret Life of Reporters?" Conner asked taking a sip from the beer Clark had given him, not that alcohol could affect him, "nah, I think we can do better than that."
When they realized they wouldn't be leaving the dance floor anytime soon the two of them decided to leave the party turned rave.
"Are you okay to drive?" Lori asked him, but she was already putting the helmet on.
"You can trust me on that," he said before they drove away from the flats and towards the club Lori wanted them initially to visit.
They somehow, on a Friday night, managed to get a small boot by the dance floor. Neither one felt like dancing but just talked and watched the people around them. They played a game where they had to make up a story of every person they saw around them.
"Okay, that girl there," Lori said trying not to be too obvious.
"Hmm," Conner noted the girl didn't fit with most of those in the club. The place was bright and colorful with electronic music. The girl was more of a Goth with long black hair, pale skin, and dark makeup and clothes.
"She is the princess of a colorful kingdom in another dimension where all mystical creatures still live and coexist with each other. But a dark overload came along and tricked her into handing her kingdom to him and then banished her to our world. She doesn't feel she deserves to wear the same colors as she used to, but loves places where colors are extreme."
"Wow," Lori said taking another gulp of her drink, "so is she like magic?"
"A little, she is now more of a warrior looking to strengthen herself before she tries to go home and take her kingdom back," he said before looking for their next victim. "That guy," he said looking at a young man at the bar on his own.
"Oh my," Lori said blushing a little from the drink and from looking at the handsome young man, "you are terrible."
"You are the one with the dirty thoughts,"
"Alright, so… he is on his own, so he doesn't like to have company."
"Yet he is here,"
"Because he wants to feel human, because he is not human or from Earth."
"No copying"
"I am not copying," she said with a pout, "Okay, let me start again. He just broke up with his girlfriend and came here to look for someone to make the pain go away, but all he found was more pain because his saw his ex here with another guy. When he saw her, he realized he still cared for her and now doesn't know what to do because she is still here. If he leaves, he looks like he is running away, and he is too proud for that. So, he is waiting for someone to approach him, a girl that will make the pain go away."
And she was close. Conner could sense it. The guy was sad but also anxious.
"Has anyone ever hurt you like that?" Lori asked him still watching the back of the man.
"Once," he admitted, "but we worked things later, but only to remain as friends."
"I can't believe you are younger than me; you are so mature."
"Only by a few years, and believe me, I didn't handle it so well when I realized it, what about you?"
"Usually guys run away when they realized who my uncle is, and those who stay I soon realize they usually do it out of interest."
"Have you thought of telling them right from the beginning?"
"I would do that more out of fun to see their expressions,"
They watched the guy stand looking defeated. Conner didn't miss the sadness that Lori felt when he started to pay his tab.
"You want to invite him over?" Conner asked her taking her by surprise.
"I am really easy to read, aren't I?"
"Go for it,"
And she did, though at first she looked very flustered when she came face to face with him. She sent him an apologetic smile as she sat at the bar with him again. Conner only shrugged. He didn't mind at all. He preferred that she got close to someone else. They were related, and he had the feeling Lori was starting to see something that wasn't there. After a while, he got a message from her.
'Is getting late, would you like to go back on your own?'
Conner replied, 'Make sure to contact me if you get into trouble.'
'Will do, have a good night Conner.'
And then he left back to the flat that thankfully was now silent and almost empty. There were a few people sleeping around.
"I was wondering where you disappeared to" Clark came out of his bedroom with a trash bag in hand.
"Sorry, it was crowded,"
"Tell me about it," Clark said looking back to his bedroom.
Conner saw Cat, Lois and Jonathan sleeping on Clark's bed, thankfully still dressed.
"How did that happen?"
"You don't want to know," Clark said fast before he continued picking up trash.
"Leave it to me," Conner said swearing he saw his mentor blush. A few moments later the trash was in bags and sorted. He also made sure to cover with some of their spare blankets their crashed guests.
It was close to dawn, and both of them felt too wired to try even to go to sleep. Conner started packing what he thought they would need on his trip while Clark prepared some coffee for the guests he guessed would be waking up soon.
"I will try to be back as soon as possible," Conner told him as he got ready to leave.
"I don't doubt it little brother," Clark told him with a trusting smile as he ruffled his hair.