Chapter 49: Keeping The Promise.

More Advanced chapters on P@treon.com/Saintbarbido.

-0-

(Jon's P.O.V)

-Mount Justice-

-Lounge-

I was lost in thought for a short while, processing everything that had happened in my absence.

My friends thankfully left me alone, busying themselves playing pool, though I could feel their concern for me.

After a while, I got up to go talk to my brother, only for Kara to pull me aside her expression unreadable.

Before we could get a word in, the base's alarms blared to life.

"INTRUDERS ALERT! INTRUDERS ALERT!"

The cave's system informed.

I looked around as the air grew charged with static and a low mechanical whirring filled the chamber.

"Get down!" I shouted just as the walls exploded inward, sending debris through the lounge.

With heat vision, I destroyed a rock headed for Artemis' head before turning my blazing eyes towards the enemy.

A wave of telekinesis from M'gann pushed away dust to reveal the red Metal bodies and limbs. White glowing eye lenses, followed by a cold, female robotic voice from one of them,

"Target 'Tornado' unconfirmed. Eliminate."

Instantly, my memories of the show came rushing back.

They were Cyborgs.

Not just any, but Red Tornado's family, created by T.O Morrow, a mad scientist that was Ivo's arch-rival.

This wasn't going to be a fair fight. Not for them. Not when they were intending to kill my friends.

"Anyone got a plan?" Kid asked.

"One. Everyone subceptible to devastating fire and water attacks back away. They have elemental powers like Tornado. I'll hold them off while you guys come up with a plan." I answered, standing between the team and the Cyborgs.

Red Torpedo and Red Inferno stormed in, their mechanical forms gleaming under the emergency lights, water and fire surging around them like they were the masters of the elements.

But as I stood there, I felt… calm. Too calm. Like this was just another day, another training session.

The team scrambled for cover, their movements frantic. After Mister Twister, they knew to take cyborgs seriously.

But I didn't need to. And neither did Kara, who hovered beside me to even the odds. I appreciated the gesture even if it wasn't required.

Red Torpedo's hydrokinetic wave crashed toward me, a wall of water that could've crushed anyone else.

I raised my hand, almost lazily, and the water stopped mid-air, covered by a psionic aura. I could feel every droplet, every current, as if it were an extension of myself.

With a flick of my wrist, I sent the wave spiraling back at and through him.

The cyborg staggered, his systems sparking as the water disrupted his internal mechanisms.

He tried to recover, but I didn't give him the chance. A mental switch from the water manipulation model to the Ice manipulation model, allowed me to freeze the water around him, encasing him in a block of frigid cold ice before he could even react.

Red Inferno didn't wait. Her flames roared to life, a fiery inferno that threatened to engulf the entire room and pushed the attacking Kara back.

I didn't flinch and switched to a wind model to cushion Kara momentum before she hit the far wall.

The heat was intense, but it didn't touch me.

I raised my other hand, and the wave of flames split, swirling around me harmlessly before I absorbed them into my palm.

My body glowed with Radiation Ki that ate the fire, absorbing it into my body where it was converted into more Ki, enhancing everything to the point I felt invincible.

Red Inferno's red eyes widened—or at least, they would have if she had actual eyes—and I smirked.

"You're not the only one who can play with fire," I said, unleashing the absorbed flames in a hot green concentrated blast.

The flames engulfed her, melting the outer carapace of her body, forcing her to retreat, but I wasn't done.

My chest inflated and I exhaled a powerful gust of freeze breath, the air around me growing cold as the scalding steam from the water and fire froze instantly.

Red Inferno's flames flickered and died, unable to withstand the sudden drop in temperature.

The cyborg's internal systems whirled, struggling to adapt to the encroaching cold.

I didn't rush. I didn't need to. I walked toward them, my movements deliberate, almost casual.

With a single punch, I shattered Red Torpedo's chest plate, exposing the intricate circuitry beneath.

Red Inferno melted her way out of the ice and lunged at me, but I sidestepped her attack, grabbing her arm and using her momentum to slam her into the frozen wall.

The impact dented her chest, and her systems sparked as she collapsed to the ground.

I stood over them, my breath visible in the frigid air.

I stared at the reflection on the ice around Red Torpedo. My eyes glowed a bright green with a mixture of determination and power.

Letting go of the radiation Ki, I turned to face my stunned team, watching me in silence.

The tension in the room palpable. Even Kara, who rarely showed emotion other than frustration or annoyance, looked impressed.

"Jon…" she muttered, her voice awed but filled with pride.

I didn't respond, refocusing my attention on the cyborgs.

I knelt beside them, my expression blank and cold.

"T.O. Morrow, I know you're watching." I spoke, my voice low and deadly, "My good friend Ivo told me a lot about you. That you're brash, arrogant and prideful. Most of all, you hate losing. Well so do I. So here's what we're gonna do. I'll give you a day to prepare your army and then I'm coming for you. And if you choose the Coward's way and move on with your plan to destroy the planet, I know where you are and I can be there in an instant before you even think of pressing the button. Fight and stand a chance or lose without even trying."

The cyborgs' systems whirred weakly before shutting down, their bodies going still. Not dead, just in sleep mode. They were afterall Tornado's family.

When he got back from Console duty at the Watchtower, the decision would be his on what to do with them

I stood, my shoulders relaxing as the adrenaline began to fade.

I turned to face the team, my expression softening as I met their gazes. "Ah, sorry about that guys. I didn't mean to get so pissed off. Just hate it when someone tries to kill my family."

My friends shared looks and Wally teased me a lot for 'caring' but the tension drained away.

There were a few questions about the Cyborgs and how I knew who T.O Morrow was. To which I used Ivo as an excuse for my metaknowledge and told them about Morrow's plan. How he would destroy the Earth by causing cataclysmic volcanic eruptions below the Yellowstone Park.

Aqualad went off to talk to Batman about sanctioning a mission while the others begun cleaning up the lounge.

"Welcome back, Kent." Robin patted my back, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

I chuckled, rubbing the back of my neck. "Yeah… it's good to be back Dick."

-0-

Later, after the team had secured the cyborgs and the base was back in order, I found myself on the roof of base.

The afternoon air was cool, autumn leaves dancing in the breeze.

I wasn't alone for long. Connor joined me, his expression unreadable as he leaned against the railing.

"You've gotten stronger. Much much stronger." he said after a moment, his voice quiet.

I glanced at him, noting the tension in his shoulders. "Yeah, I guess I have."

He didn't say anything for a while, just stared out at the horizon. I could tell something was bothering him, but I didn't push. Connor wasn't the type to open up easily.

"I've been training," he finally said, his voice tinged with frustration. "Every day since you left. I thought… I thought I'd catch up. But seeing you today, it's like I'm still miles behind."

I frowned, turning to face him fully. "Connor, you're not—"

"I know," he interrupted, his voice sharp. "I know I'm not a talented genius like you. I'm not Clark. I'm not even Kara. I'm just… half. A cheap copy of the real deal. And no matter how much and how hard I train, I'll never be more than that."

His words hung in the air, heavy and raw. I didn't know what to say at first. Connor was always so stoic, so composed. Seeing him like this—vulnerable, frustrated—was rare. It reminded of those first few days after Cadmus.

"I'm sorry," I said after a moment. "I promised I'd help you awaken your Kryptonian abilities, and I haven't kept that promise."

Connor shook his head, his expression softening. "Don't apologize. You've done more for me than anyone else. I'm just… I'm grateful you came back. That's enough."

I studied him for a moment, then smirked. "So, does that mean you don't want to learn how to fly?"

He blinked, caught off guard. "What?"

I held up my hand, a bright yellow energy glowing in my palm. "This is my Kryptonian Ki signature. Using it, I can add to your lifeforce and give you the basic set of Kryptonian powers. Which...Includes flight."

Connor stared at me, his eyes wide with disbelief. "You… you can do that?"

I nodded. "It was only an idea at first, but I figured it out while I was at Belle Reve. You're important to me, Kon. I wanted to keep my promise to you."

For a moment, he didn't say anything. Then, his expression shifted, a mix of hope and hesitation. "I… I don't know if I deserve it."

I chuckled, shaking my head while patting his shoulder. "Screw deserving it. You've more than earned it. I know how hard it must have been to shoulder my responsibilities along with your own. Helping Kara, protecting Ma and enduring Pa, not to mention all the hard training. You've been a Superman without the Super and it's time to finally rectify that. Besides, I know the real reason you want to fly."

He frowned. "What do you mean?"

I smirked. "It's M'gann, isn't it? You want to go flying with her."

Connor's face turned red, and he looked away, but I could see the truth in his eyes. "I… I don't know what you're talking about."

I laughed, clapping him on the shoulder. "It's okay, man. I get it. And this way, I can repay M'gann for the favor I owe her."

Before Connor could respond, a soft voice interrupted us. "You don't owe me anything, Jon."

We turned to see M'gann standing there, her green eyes glistening with tears. She stepped forward, her gaze locked on Connor. "You… you really want to fly with me?"

Connor's eyes widened, and for a moment, he looked like he wanted to disappear. But then, he nodded, his voice barely above a whisper. "Yeah. I do."

M'gann didn't say anything. She just closed the distance between them and pulled him into a tight hug, tears streaming down her face. Connor hesitated for a moment, then wrapped his arms around her, his own eyes wet with emotion.

I watched them with a smile, feeling a sense of satisfaction. This was what it was all about—helping each other, lifting each other up. And no matter what came next, we'd face it together.

"So," I said, breaking the moment. "Ready to learn how to fly?"

Connor pulled back from the hug, wiping his eyes, and nodded. "Yeah. Let's do it."