"These are the bodies of those who were on the planet," Cyborg said, displaying a floating hologram for everyone to see, showing what the bodies were. Para-demons. "They're all dead, and now things are going to be tougher for us."
"What did they die from?" asked Green Lantern, Hal, I think. I still can't get used to his name.
"An unknown attack on frequencies that came from space," Cyborg explained, pointing to a screen displaying some diagrams and graphs. I understood maybe a tenth of it, while the other superheroes studied it intently. What, does everyone here have a technical degree?
"But we caught them the same day Superboy made headlines worldwide," Black Canary said. Like everyone else except me, she had been part of that hunt. "After locking them up in the Atlantis prison, I thought they'd be safe for Cyborg's plans."
"I thought so too," Cyborg sighed, disappointed. "I was almost able to crack their defenses when they just dropped dead right in front of me."
"So, their own people killed them?" Captain Atom pieced it together, as did everyone else in the room. It was the first time I'd seen him since that operation near Bealia's borders.
"Correct," Batman replied to Atom, switching to another screen. It showed old footage of massive ships across the planet. "We believe this is just the beginning, and these killings were done to ensure we couldn't extract any information from those creatures. An invasion is coming."
"We need to discuss a defense plan and warn the governments of every country on the planet," Green Arrow suggested sensibly.
"They've already been warned," Bruce nodded. "As for the defense plan, there are options that not everyone will like."
"What options?" Barry frowned.
"It involves Superboy," Bruce said, pointing at me. Uh, me again?
"Tell us about your plan," I said, while no one had yet objected to Bruce.
"But Cain…" Allen, sitting next to me, seemed to sense that we were about to hear something not everyone, including him, would like.
"Go on, listen, Barry," I replied. "Maybe it's something worthwhile. You don't want people to get hurt, do you?" Of course, he didn't. Our super-speed conversation took microseconds, and meanwhile, Bruce continued.
"Superboy will stay in Earth's orbit and monitor the outer reaches of our system. His vision allows him to see incredibly far—half a day, maybe a few days. That time he buys us will allow Cyborg and me to calibrate our sensors to detect the threat early."
"Why wasn't this done before?" Hal asked, frowning.
"We didn't have technology advanced enough to create long-range scanners," Batman said, gesturing to Cyborg. "Only recently did Victor manage to invent them. For years after the war, he and I have been trying to adapt Apokoliptian and Kryptonian technologies, provided by Superman, for our planet's defense. The Corps didn't provide the protection they promised, Hal, and that severely disrupted our plans to protect the planet."
"I know," Green Lantern nodded bitterly. "And that's on me. But putting a kid on watch duty…"
"He's a temporary member of the League, Lantern, and you should treat him as such, just like the rest of our community."
Hal shook his head. Barry backed him up, while the others pondered. It was fascinating to watch the heroes wrestle with their choices and emotions about my involvement. But, hey, don't I get to decide what I do?
"I'm in," I said, drawing everyone's attention in the meeting room. "But!" I raised my index finger. "I need a computer or phone that can survive space. And chips."
"You'll have them," Bruce nodded seriously, knowing he'd gotten off cheap for such a task. Sitting in space for half a day, surrounded by emptiness, silence, and cold, was boring. At least I'd have something to watch. The other League members smiled at my demands, and even grumpy Lantern's brows softened. Still, they needed a leader to guide them, but Clark wasn't here. And Bruce isn't a team player.
"You sure?" Allen asked, touching my shoulder.
"Don't worry," I shook my head at his concern. Good guy, Barry, stay that way. I reminded him of his older brother, who died during the incident with his mother and his father's imprisonment. He hadn't shared much, but our relationship was warm, and he worried about me despite knowing me for only a short time. But… "Who, if not me?"
"John could do it too," he said, pointing to the still Martian. At the speed we were talking, no one in the room could react. Flash was already the fastest, and I'd enhanced all my base stats with an active energy boost.
"No need. Besides, Bruce didn't suggest it, so he must need him on the planet."
"But…" Seeing my look, which said I'd already made up my mind, he relented. "Fine, your call."
"And John's not as perfect as me," I winked at him. He deflated, smiling, and we returned to normal time.
"If we've settled on Superboy, let's move on to the defense plan and countermeasures against our enemies. Victor."
"Right, guys, look at these planetary schematics. Everyone will take…" The Justice League's discussion lasted several hours, covering strategies proposed by Batman and refined by Cyborg's intellect. Each League superhero was assigned a sector of the planet. In case of an invasion, they'd call on the armies of the countries they were stationed in to defend the planet. Agreements had already been made with the leaders of sensible nations who understood the stakes and agreed to assist the heroes. Of course, some refused the honor.
Flash and I weren't tied to specific locations but rather to the entire planet. We'd help wherever needed, guided by Victor, who'd stay at the Tower as the eye in the sky for all the heroes, directing them where they were most needed.
For now, after the meeting, I flew into space, munching on ice cream I'd found in the Tower's stash. Passing by the International Space Station, I waved to an astronaut in a space suit who'd dropped a wrench into the void.
"Whoops, don't lose it!" I said, patting the stunned thirty-something blond on the shoulder, handing him the drifting wrench, and zooming off. Someone seemed glued to the station's window, watching me fly farther away, but whatever. If they tell anyone, no one will believe them: a kid in a hoodie flying through space, eating ice cream. Strawberry, by the way. They'd think the astronauts were nuts, and I'd get another chuckle out of life. A little mischief warms the heart.
I found I could speak in space, though I didn't quite understand how. Before, trying to talk in the vacuum got me nowhere, but once I channeled energy into my lungs, air and sound appeared somehow. Magic, probably. Just don't overdo the energy to the lungs, or you end up like I did early on, freezing the air around me with icy breath. Kent puzzled over that one for a while.
This must be the spot. Spotting a boulder twice my size, I sat on it, enveloping it with my aura and tactile telekinesis. Now I could lie back and relax. I'd gotten treatment for Tori, Clark would arrive soon, and my time in this world would end. That joke about a spell to travel between worlds had become an intriguing addition to my arsenal. I should find a normal world someday, no aliens or mages, to maybe move Tori and the others there. Whether they'd agree is another question, but finding a world without the risk of dying in a planet-shattering catastrophe would be nice. After seeing injuries from a simple accident, you start wondering: what if that battle behind the Sun had happened near the planet? Not just Tori, but the whole planet would've been in ruins.
Anyway, pulling out the tablet Victor gave me, I played a video of some local game that was surprisingly fun. Occasionally glancing into the distance with my vision, past the far reaches of planets and stars in this galaxy, time would pass quickly. Exciting hours awaited. Where are my chips?
---
Holding a small rock that melted in my hands, I gazed at distant planets, lost in thoughts about the nature of life. My new ability—generating high temperatures not from my eyes but my entire body—was interesting, but the heightened senses, amplified by energy, were even more so. Everything was too vivid, too intense, too overwhelming. Looking at far-off planets, I saw each world living its own life. Back on my planet, I'd hesitated to peer too deeply. Once, I glimpsed an inhabited planet with tall, pale, faceless beings. Some of them sensed they were being watched, so I stopped looking into the depths of space. Fear of the unknown, maybe. That might've been a mistake.
Now, sitting in another world, observing an alien universe, I saw such a variety of life and its development that I felt an indescribable urge to explore it all. I wanted to touch and feel all this life. Around me were hundreds of bright specks calling me to investigate. On one planet, covered in dense jungles, life felt especially intriguing. I zoomed in, and my eyes revealed a civilization of strange beings. They were tall, slender humanoids with vibrant blue skin. Their large, expressive eyes were yellow or green. Their faces were elongated, with high cheekbones and sharp features. Long, pointed ears adorned their heads, and their dark hair was usually tied into long braids. They had tails, which they used to interact with nature. Somehow, they connected to trees, performing what seemed like collective rituals. Their bodies often bore tattoos and patterns, perhaps symbolizing their clan or personal achievements. Overall, they looked both graceful and imposing, and the warriors riding flying reptiles were a fascinating subject to study.
Next, a world with two suns. I probed its atmosphere, and after a few minutes, I got a picture of the planet. After a long search, I found ruins. The system was destroyed, but traces of life lingered. Fallen, elongated spaceships and cities full of devastation. I'd seen this before, but every time I witnessed the end of an entire planet, I felt gratitude for life. A life that everyone and their mother seems eager to take away.
Another planet was cold, covered in ice. My vision struggled here, something interfered, but I found a small base. Autonomous machines, still operational, little wheeled boxes that moved and, judging by their actions, dug. They'd been digging for centuries, likely to one day deliver mountains of resources to their masters. But there was no life on this planet, and those masters were long dead.
In a nearby system, I found a planet shrouded in thick smoke. All I could see was haze. No living, no dead. Just smoke, moving like a living creature, slowly consuming the planet's surface, which vanished as if swallowed by a giant air-born monster.
Each planet was something new. Each glance was a chance to find something important. Every patch of living space was like a new, terrifying creation. A gentle touch on my shoulder interrupted me. Shift change already?
"Hey, John," I nodded to the green being. "Time's up?"
He nodded, unable to speak. The strange power of my voice carrying through the vacuum had surprised my relief yesterday when he first arrived to take over my watch.
"Alright, I'm off to rest. Catch you later."
Waving to him, I flew at high speed, dodging space debris, toward the Watchtower. Wonder what's for lunch today.
The doors slid open, and I stepped into a long corridor lined with countless doors. The Watchtower's structure was packed with defensive and support systems. Its internal layout included several key components. The command center, a central hub where League members could monitor Earth events, discuss plans, and receive intel, was filled with screens, navigation panels, and high-tech devices.
Locker rooms and living quarters were private zones for each hero to rest, change, and store their gear. These were equipped with tech to ensure personal safety and comfort. Training halls were specially designed for practice, fitted with simulators and dummies for zero-gravity and combat exercises. Laboratories were scientific and research zones where minds like Bruce Wayne or Cyborg conducted experiments and developed new tech. The dock and hangar stored and launched spacecraft, like Hawkman's ship. The communication and control system—a network of satellites and devices—kept constant contact with Earth and beyond. Of course, if Superman or I wanted, we could blast through at cruising speed, and no defenses would stop us, except maybe kryptonite or magic.
After about five minutes of scans and checks, I entered a large hall. It was a hub leading to residential, technical, and training blocks. The Tower was self-sufficient, with its own reactor—non-nuclear, probably Kryptonian. Between Superman's contribution of fallen Kryptonian tech and Batman's massive financial and intellectual investment, every hero had given something to this Tower. It felt less like a base for staging or hiding and more like a second home. A colossal space structure nearing completion, it would one day house many worthy heroes.
Heading down the left corridor, I reached doors that slid open after scanning my face. The cafeteria greeted me with a couple of winged heroes and Black Canary.
I raised a hand, waving, and grabbed a tray. Let's see… meat, veggies, and rice. Tasty and nutritious, though I didn't need food much. Still, I loved eating.
Sitting with the heroes, I jumped into their conversation.
"I keep telling Oliver his nephew needs guidance so he doesn't end up a mercenary or killer," Black Canary was scolding her boyfriend, while Hawkwoman nodded along. Hawkman just ate quietly, staying out of the couple's talk.
"Arrow has a nephew?" I asked, trying the meat.
"Yup," Canary waved a hand. "Adopted, found. Roy's taken too much after his father."
"He's adopted?"
"Mhm," she nodded, sipping soup. "Proud kid. But kind and smart. If only Oliver paid attention to the little things that shape a boy's life, maybe…"
"He'll come around, Dinah, and Oliver will too," Shayera gently supported Canary, holding her hand.
"Ugh…" Dinah exhaled. "Oliver's just too careless with his responsibilities, and he can't balance heroism with guardianship. But Bruce manages somehow."
She looked sad, almost on the verge of tears.
"It'll work out," I said, nudging her shoulder.
"Hey, easy, strong boy," she ruffled my hair and smiled. Good, her gloomy face brightened a bit. "You're right. I should…"
She stood, leaving her soup unfinished, and hurried off. We watched her go, and when I turned to Hawkwoman with a questioning look, she just shrugged.
"Probably off to give Oliver a piece of her mind," Carter said in a low voice, chuckling. Hawkman had been listening the whole time, apparently.
"Oh, my husband, when are we going to 'fix' you?" Shayera leaned into her massive husband's shoulder, sighing into his ear. Hey, no romance here, there's a kid nearby.
"Cain's right there," Carter pointed out the obvious.
"Well, we'll step away. He won't peek, will he?" she teased, not seriously, glancing at me with her beautiful eyes.
I wasn't born yesterday. Nodding seriously, I said, "I will."
Before they could react, I scarfed down my food at super-speed and vanished from the cafeteria.
"Brat," Hawkwoman exhaled, laughing, as I grinned and headed to my room. Time to sleep. I hadn't slept in a while without my mind racing with thoughts about Tori and my planet. It was all too heavy…
---
To keep the enemy from seizing the initiative, I used my speed. I rushed at him like a flash, throwing a powerful punch. But then I realized he could predict movements—he dodged with unmatched grace, practically phasing through me. For a moment, I lost my balance, and he was already behind me. I felt him strike my back with incredible force. I felt it, but it wasn't critical. I'm too tough.
I used the hit as a chance to think. Martian Manhunter had his own tactics: he played on my emotions, trying to throw me off balance. And it was working. For five minutes, I'd been trying to land a hit without using energy, but I couldn't. Fine.
I calmed down, channeling all my emotions to use in the fight. Every move had to be deliberate and calculated. I watched his every motion; even my instincts told me when he was about to attack or dodge. Moment by moment, I gathered data on his behavior. A strike, a step, a bad feint.
My new tactic worked. I made a few fake moves, forcing him to waste energy on defense. He swung his arms to protect his head. Mistake. Seeing him relax slightly, I charged forward with a kick aimed at his chest. He was surprised and couldn't dodge. I flew straight at him, landing a powerful blow, and he flew backward. I knew it was over.
"Stop," Black Canary said, walking over to John and offering him a hand. "You okay?"
Rubbing his chest, he stood with her help.
"Fine. If Superboy, who was holding back, hadn't, I'd have a hole in my chest as the least of my injuries."
I smirked. Holding back was tough, especially against an opponent who frustrated me by being untouchable, but the alternative—laser vision that could kill or an energy-charged punch—wasn't ideal. I'd have killed the Martian outright.
"Thanks for the spar," I nodded and headed to the shower. Hot water, no soap or shampoo, was the best. At least my nose didn't suffer from chemical smells on my skin.
After washing up, I spoke to Carter, who also wanted to spar with me. They had little experience against someone as strong as me.
"I've got to head to the planet. Can we spar tomorrow?"
"Sur—"
He didn't finish as the entire Tower shook. What the…
Glancing at Martian Manhunter and Black Canary, who were also trying to figure out what was happening, I realized this wasn't a scheduled tremor. Scanning the surroundings, I entered super-speed and saw Boom Tubes opening. All at once. Slowly, but I could already see the leg of a massive creature stepping through first, leading the charge. Just the tip, but I knew what it meant.
"We're under attack! Get ready to fight!" I shouted, exiting super-speed.
What's going on? Batman and Cyborg had set up those scanners to warn us of approaching enemies. Now there was chaos, and the Boom Tubes had been hacked to attack the superhero hub. Cyborg and Lantern were in the Tower, while the others were on the planet.
"Batman! Batman, come in!" Black Canary tried to reach Bruce, but no luck. "We're being jammed…"
She didn't finish as she nearly met her end. My hand stopped the blade of a blue-haired woman on sharp rollerblades. A fast attack, but at the last moment, entering super-speed, I spotted her.
"Ooh, someone kept up with the Queen of Speed. Impressive."
The woman casually pulled her narrow blade from my grip, which was meant to pierce Dinah's left eye, and darted to the other end of the massive training hall. Blue hair, human appearance, but her internals were different—larger, more advanced than human. Her brain sent impulses at incredible speed, and her attack revealed her true nature. A speedster. A cunning foe targeting the most vulnerable person in the room.
"But you'll still fall."
With those words, the fight began.
---