He woke up early and reached for the TV's control even though he could have easily just pulled it with his abilities. Some mornings he forgot he was different; well, more different than a few months ago. He sat on the sofa bed and turned on the TV. He listened to the news as he folded the blankets and then went to the kitchen to make something for breakfast. Sensing that his mentor had already left, probably for a mission, he made breakfast only for himself and then left something for him to eat later even though Clark really didn't need to eat. That actually was something he was glad he didn't inherit. After so many years eating M'ganns' food he didn't think he could go without at least one meal a day.
It was still early when he left the pad with his backpack over his shoulder. He had transferred to Metropolis' primary college and that was the end of the first week of the semester. It had taken him no time to get used to life in the big city with his mentor. Not that he saw him often. Most of the time when he was at home it was to work. It was different not seeing any of his friends during classes. He usually shared at least one or two with them. Most of the other students were also close to graduating and knew each other well. Here he was the new kid just like so many years ago. In a break between classes, he went to continue working on his article. After scrapping the original idea and starting anew, he finally felt like he was getting somewhere.
He sat working in one of the cubicles when a small knock made him stop.
"Sorry, do you have a highlighter I could borrow?" the girl, or better said woman in the cubicle next to his asked. He nodded before handing her the highlighter and then going back to work. He tried to concentrate again but could sense her watching him from the corner of her eye. She was pretty, he had to admit. Her eyes were bright blue and her hair a strawberry blond. He could sense she was curious about him, though he couldn't figure out why. He knew that thanks to his inability to age she probably thought he was a freshman.
After noticing the time, he packed his things.
"Thanks," she said handing the highlighter back to him. He just nodded and walked away towards the exit of the library. Here he spotted Jaime looking around awkwardly and in awe.
"Hey," he said with a nervous smile.
"How did you make it all the way here?" he asked wondering if they had access to the Zeta-beams again. It would make things a lot easier.
"Tim sort of hacked into the L's system," Jaime said before Cooner gave him a questioning look. Jaime looked even more awkward before whispering, " You know L, for League."
"Alright," he shook his head in disbelief before walking with the kid outside. He knew no one would think much of two youths walking about. Many came to the city just to check the college, " now why are you here?" he led them through a path seldom used.
"The Machine is almost finished," by machine he meant the one to travel in time.
"And you came all the way here to tell me?"
"Actually, this is also one of the colleges at top of my list," the kid was fast to continue. "Anyways, he said to meet at Star Labs here in Metropolis next Friday."
"Jaime, are you really up for this. I heard-"
"Everything is fine now," Jaime responded fast, " things are not perfect, but my family is safe and so are my friends. I can't ask for more." But, the shadows under his eyes said otherwise, "actually, I am sort of looking forward to this. I have been dealing with too much hocus pocus lately."
"If you can wait until my next class is over I can show you around," he offered hoping this would cheer Jaime.
"Maybe another time. I got to help my dad with some things," Jaime said before they said their goodbyes.
In the middle of class, he realized he was being watched once again by the blond from the library. This time she was even more evident, but he didn't pay her any mind. The teacher was a whole different story.
"Miss Luthor, I am aware this is not likely your favorite subject, but I would appreciate it if you at least kept your eyes in the front of the classroom." The teacher said before going back to his lecture, but y then half the class was looking at the blond. Luthor? It had to be a coincidence.
After class, he went directly to his motorcycle. He was actually invited to visit the headquarters for Clarkcatopolis and had well in mind to take advantage of the offer. He was putting his helmet on when he sensed her watching him again.
"Can I help you?" he asked taking off his helmet, "Miss Luthor?"
"Lori, call me Lori," she said fast and seemed to cringe a little at being called Luthor, which made him guess she was not close to her uncle.
"How can I help you Lori?" he asked keeping his tone even.
"Are you related to Clark Kent?" she said a small red tint coloring her cheeks.
"Maybe, are you related to Lex Luthor?" he sad crossing his arms. Even as Clark Kent his mentor was one of Luthor's more disliked people.
"He is my uncle, my mother's younger brother." She admitted looking deflated. He could sense she was getting ready to be rejected.
"Clark is my cousin," Conner said.
"I knew you couldn't look so much like him without reason," her chipper tone was back at seeing he wasn't in the defensive with her anymore.
"Is that all?" he said getting ready to leave again.
"Oh, no! I also wanted to ask if you were in the journalist program," she had noticed him in many of her classes. She guessed he had to be.
"Yes," he admitted wondering where she was going with this.
"Do you already have a partner?" she asked her excitement now trying to break free.
"For?" he asked not able to hide his confusion.
"Right, I forgot you are new," she didn't fail to notice his raised eyebrow, "sorry, what I meant is that it's sort of a tradition here. The class with Mr. Global, you have it, right?"
"Yes," though the first class with him wouldn't be until next week.
"Well, he has this final assignment which is to write an article with a partner, but not just any article. It gets sent to the main news publishers in the city for reviews. You need to get at least three out of five of the publishers to give you excellent reviews. Even if you finish the class and get your degree, no news publisher will hire you in metropolis if you don't pass that assignment."
"You are not serious," he thought it was an excellent opportunity to get your name out there. But, it could also mean repeating a whole semester if you had to retake the class and try again.
"Well, I heard things did change a little this year. Instead of five publishers it will be six. So we need to get four out of six."
"That makes things so much better," muttered Conner.
"Aren't you going to ask who is the sixth?" Lori asked ready to burst. She knew a juicy secret he didn't.
"Who?" he asked hoping it was not who he thought it was.
"Clarkcatropolis," she said with a smile.
"No," he said as he finally got on his motorcycle.
"Why not? With my resources and your connections we would have no problem getting that assignment done," she said standing beside him.
He didn't know how to tell her he didn't want anything to do with Lex Luthor, even if she seemed estranged from him.
"C'mon, everyone already has partners."
"So you came to me because I didn't know who you were."
"Well, sort of. Also, I am almost sure you must have as good instincts as your uncle."
"Cousin,"
"Right," she said blushing, "and I swear I don't dwell on any of that bad or strange stuff my uncle does. I rarely even see him during the holidays."
"I will think about it," he said before noting she looked as crestfallen as a kid who lost their pet, "what?" he could even sense her anguish.
"Everyone keeps saying that, and the moment I turn back they already got another partner."
Conner sighed, "fine."
"Huh?" she asked her eyes widening.
"I will be your partner," he said as an idea started to form, "you want to come?" He asked her and before she could ask he said, "I am going to Clarkcatropolis."
"Oh… Oh! Really?" she asked eyes even wider,
"Yeah, Cat Grant told Clark I could drop by any time I wanted so…" he was saying before she jumped on the back of the motorcycle.
"Okay," she wrapping her arms around him, "I am so ready."
A smirk had grown on his face before he drove them to a small building in the news area of the city. It wasn't a grand building like the Daily Plante's but it was nice and the sign of Clarkcatropolis outside was rather flashy.
"Wow," Lori said jumping off the motorcycle and looking up at the four story building. It was indeed a small operation compared to others, but the number of readers was growing every day.
There was a receptionist at a glass desk at the entrance. She was typing on a computer not bother to look up as they stood before her desk. She was a middle age woman with auburn hair and a thick pair of glasses.
"Excuse me," he said before the woman rolled her eyes and looked up.
The moment she spotted Conner her eyes widened, "you must be Conner." She was smiling at him quite excitedly, "my goodness you look just like him."
"Really?" he said before he heard Lori gave a little gasp at his small lie.
"And this is?" the woman turned to Lori lowering what Conner could now see were fake glasses.
"My friend Lori, she is also studying journalism. We are going to be working on a project together-" he started hoping it wasn't much trouble.
"Say no more dear," she said throwing them a wink.
Conner shuddered inside because in some way Lori was actually his cousin.
"Here are your visitor passes, Cat is on the top floor and you cousin is actually with her" she gave the passes which they hung around their necks.
"Clark Kent is here?" Lori said a little too loud before covering her mouth, "sorry, big fan."
"Big fans are a waste with the guy. He is more humble than an Amish" the woman said without a care before pointing at the stairs, right next to the out of service elevator.
As they climbed up and other down he started to believe, he wouldn't be visiting the place often. People would gawk at him, and even some women would stare at him as if he was a piece of meat. It was disturbing since he didn't look older than eighteen or nineteen, and that was pushing it.
"So is it true? Clark Kent is really like the traditional countryside nice guy?" Lori asked as they neared the top.
"I am no answering that" mainly because he could already hear them.
"Sorry, is just that when he writes he is so passionate about it, and I have never heard of him getting involve in some scandal so…" she didn't need to finish the sentence. It was well known Clark Kent was a honest to a good man, though Conner knew he was not perfect. Which actually seemed to be fine with his mentor. It made him feel more human.
They made it to the top floor which was covered with desk with no walls in between them. Most of those writing were young and seemed to be in a high mood. They only gave them small glances before they went back to chatting and writing. As they passed, Conner realized that even though the ambient was friendly, the news they wrote about were just like he imagined. Though young, they were purposeful. They wrote about politics, events in the city, events around the world that were not pretty, and how things really were.
"Conner!" he turned to see his mentor standing by a glass door to an office. Inside there were at least seven people, "Uhm, hi, Clark Kent" he said when he noticed Lori, who shook his hand back timidly.
"She is a friend from school," he said before his mentor could ask, "she is also going for journalism."
"Bring them in already Kent, we are not over" a woman behind a small glass desk said. Conner knew from a few pictures this was Cat Grant.
Clark shushed them in and had them sit on the side, "we are having an editorial meeting for some significant releases tomorrow. I believe it would be good for you to listen to it."
Conner and Lori had nodded before they watched the havoc that was Cat Grant and her editorial team. Everyone seemed to be all over the place with their sections. They office which was made of glass walls was covered in pieces and photos as they arranged the layout of the releases. Where people couldn't agree, Conner noted Clark would step in a find a way for them to come to some arrangements. Cat made them move by shouting and ordering them to speak. Clark made sure they didn't get stuck on disagreements for too long. It was an unusual team.
"Like good cop and bad cop," he heard Lori whisper before both laughed quietly.
"I had enough!" Cat Grant said standing, "we are taking a break so everyone get something to eat, but not you Kent. I want to meet those two" her demanding tone changed to that of purring cat.
"Thank you for the invitation Ms. Grant. So far, it has been very informative."
"Kent's cousin indeed," she chuckled. The office was almost empty as Cat walked up to them, "Clark tells me you and I image your friend here want to be journalists. How far are you?"
"Is our last semester," Lori said fast, "we are taking Mr. Global's course this semester."
"That old bastard is still teaching?" Cat grimaced before turning to Clark. "Can you believe that fossil is still- Oh I forgot, you actually did well in his class," Then she turned back to them, "I am glad you two came in. We are always up to hearing the voice of the younger generation. Not that we are old, right Clark? Yeah, just nod your lovely face and take me for granted. Anyways, how do you feel about the new layout. Does it grab your attention or what?" she asked rather proud.
They didn't trust their voice before the hyperactive woman, so they nooded. But, it was a sincere nod because the new layout was indeed excellent, even though it just glued to the glass wall.
"This is a sign," sang Cat with glee before turning to Clark, "Kent, go get us something to eat. I want to talk to these two a little more before the rest came back."
"I think not Cat," his mentor said not moving an inch.
"Oh c'mon! I am not going to corrupt them. They are college students. They could probably teach me a thing or two" she said giving them a curious look.
"Cat," Clark said in a warning tone.
"Fine, I will filter like you told me," she said rolling her eyes.
"Is called thinking before speaking," his mentor gave them a 'good luck' smile before leaving them.
"He is such a stick in the mud," Cat sighed sitting across from them, "so, are you two like going out?"
"No," Conner said keeping his calm. He knew Cat as a reporter just wanted to get a reaction from him, "we will be working together on the project for Mr. Global's class."
"Are you sure you aren't his clone or something like that?" she said going back to her wall and moving a few things that Conner was sure people were going to fight over.
"Excuse me?" he asked trying to keep his tone calm.
"You Kents are so reserved," sighed Cat, "you know that can be quite the turn off."
"Good," Conner said without thinking before Cat looked at him surprised.
"Well, aren't you something else. Serious but with a temper" she closed on him like a jungle feline to his prey.
"We all have tempers," Conner told her, "I am sure you have seen Clark's."
"Oh, I have," she said smiling at them, and then at Lori, "it is quite a sight. It was because of him that I quit The Daily Planet. You should have seen the way he spoke to Morgan Edge. Look at my skin! I get goosebumps just thinking about it." And she told them what he said to no other than Mr. Edge, the new owner of the now Planet Global Network and owner of Galaxy Broadcasting Systems
"…Sanctimonious, insignificant the truth? You want to have a conversation about the truth, Mr. Edge? The Truth is that somewhere along the way, the business of news became the news. Growing up in Smallville, I believed that journalism was an ideal, as worthy and important as being a cop, a fireman- a teacher or a doctor. I was taught to believe you could use words to change the course of rivers—that even the darkest secrets would fall under harsh light of the sun. But facts have been replaced by opinions. Information has been replaced by entertainment. Reporters have become stenographers. I can't be the only one who is sick at the thought of what passes for the news today. I am not the only one who believes in the power of the press—the fact that we need to stand up for the truth. For justice. And yeah—I am not ashamed to say- the American way!"
"He said that Morgan Edge," Lori said in awe, "the Morgan Edge."
"The only and only," Cat said with a smile, "then he asked who was leaving with him and guess who was the only one to follow him out that building."
Conner had been aware of this. He saw Cat Grant in a new light. She might have been a gossip columnist, and still sort of was, but she had more heart than many of the people still in the Daily Planet.
"It was much more embarrassing than how she makes it sound" Clark returned with some food from the restaurant across the street, "and how many times are you going to tell that story?"
"As many times as I like so deal with it Mr. Kent," she said with a smirk, "I will even put that in my memoirs so it will be carved forever in history."
Clark shook his head with a smile before handing the youths some Tai food. After eating the team returned and they finished the last touches on the new layout of the website. The sun was setting by the time they handed everything to the members who managed the site.
"Not so fast Kent, we need to talk about something else," Cat said as they were getting ready to leave. She pointed the Conner and Lori, "you two won't say a word from you hear here, got it?"
the cheerful and hyperactive woman was replaced by a harsh and severe newswoman,
"Your friend with the cape, has he told you anything about this?" She used turned the monitor of her laptop around to show a not so good picture of Superman flying at night time with another figure.
"What is that supposed to be?" Clark asked though he and Conner already knew.
"You tell me," Cat said crossing her arms, "the Daily Planet beat us to Supergirl. We can't let that happen again. This is clearly another one."
"Wait, you mean to say there is another like Superman?" Lori asked before remembering they were only guest and then covering her mouth again.
"It could another Leaguer," Clark told her, "one we haven't seen before. It isn't rare for the League to take in young heroes to teach them."
"True, but look at this," she said switching the image on the computer. A much clearer pictured showed and they saw the red S, "definitely one of his. Clark, this could be just the beginning. What if Superman is actually a Superdad? Superdog, Supergirl, Superlad"
"Wouldn't Superboy be better?" Conner peeped.
"Conner," his mentor gave him a warning look. They were treading on dangerous waters.
"Sorry," he said before closing his mouth.
"Superboy does sound better," Cat said before writing it on a sticky note and then placing it on her small board. Then, she turned to Clark "okay, maybe not a Superdad, but at least someone related to him. Has he said anything?"
"No," Clark sighed, mostly in defeat, "but I will ask next time I see him."
"Great!" she said with a big smile, " but make sure is soon. We don't want Lane beating us to this one."
"Of course," Clark actually agreed on that point.