Superboy

Superboy and the rest of the Cadmus staff stood shocked as they surrounded the television set. President Lex Luthor had just announced to the world that the new Cadmus director was Amanda Spence, former henchman of the renegade cloning group known as the Agenda.

“I can’t believe it,” Mickey Cannon said as he slumped into a chair that Dr. Helen D’Angelico quickly slid under him.

“We’re all fired?” Roquette Serling asked.

“Looks like it,” Jim Harper, the Guardian, said. “And even if they haven’t yet, could any of you stand working under Amanda Spence?”

Cannon scowled as he rubbed his eyes. “So much for ethics,” he muttered. He stood. “Maybe we should all start packing.”

Serling smiled. “Maybe we could rig a few goodbye surprises for Ms. Spence.”

Helen frowned. “No. The research being done here is too important. Just because we disagree with the government’s decision, doesn’t mean that we can sabotage experiments that could help all of humanity.”

“I’ll tell you this, though,” Cannon said, jerking a thumb at the TV, where Luthor was continuing his press conference. “That bald-headed bozo just lost my vote next time.”

“So what’s that mean?” Superboy asked. “We’re all heading out together, right?”

Dubbilex sighed. He hated to be in the disaster area that was Superboy’s room for any longer than possible. With unprecedented patience, he began to explain for the fifth time. “We can’t. While Jim and the others can leave, we are technically considered Cadmus property.”

“But Jim’s a clone, too,” Superboy said as he hovered above his bed. Dubbilex fought back a wince as he realized the sheets had probably once been white and now resembled… well…

“The original directors managed to keep the secret of Jim’s resurrection a secret,” he explained. “Outside of the staff here, Superman and you are the only two who know.” Dubbilex closed his eyes.

And besides, it might be best if there were someone here to keep an eye on Ms. Spence, Dubbilex thought.

“Wow!” Superboy yelled, grabbing the sides of his head. “Give me some warning next time!”

Dubbilex closed his eyes and silently counted to twenty. “You weren’t listening,” he said as calmly as he could. “Can’t you keep your mind out of the gutter while I explain this?”

“Come on, Dub!” Superboy said. “You’ve got to admit that Wonder Woman, Power Girl and Triad all together are more interesting than Amanda Spence.”

I hate it when he has a point, Dubbilex thought.

“Oops,” Superboy said. “You just broadcast that.” As Dubbilex’s gray cheeks began to turn a slightly redder hue, Superboy started digging under his bed. He flew over, holding out a bag. “Chee-toh?”

”Nice to see that he’s adjusting so well,” Guardian said. He was in his Jim Harper identity, wearing a suit. He and Dubbilex stood on the hidden train station, awaiting the shuttle that would take him back to Metropolis.

“I wish that you would reconsider,” Dubbilex said. “I would much rather have you here to help keep him in line.”

Harper smiled. “Don’t worry, Dub,” he said as he laid a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “You did fine keeping an eye on him in Hawaii. And this time you don’t have Rex Leech to worry about.”

“I hope you are right,” Dubbilex said as the train arrived.

Harper picked up his knapsack and shook Dubbilex’s hand. “Don’t worry,” he said. “I’m going to be staying in Metropolis if either of you needs anything. I’m just a train ride away.” Harper stepped into the train. The doors closed behind him and he was gone. A concerned Dubbilex stayed at the station for a while, staring after the departed train.

“So everybody else is gone?” Cassie Sandsmark, Wonder Girl, flew through the skies of Metropolis on patrol with Superboy.

“Yep,” he said. “Everybody else left except me and Dubbilex.”

”I don’t know,” Cassie said. “If one of my arch-enemies was running my life, I’d be kind of worried.”

Superboy shrugged. “I’m not saying I’m not going to keep an eye on her,” he said. “I’m just saying that I’m not going to keep on worrying about it.”

”Be careful, Connor,” Wonder Girl said. “I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”

Superboy smiled. “Hey, I can’t get hurt. I’m the guy with the ‘S’ on his chest.”

“I hope you’re right,” Wonder Girl said, but she didn’t sound convinced.

Amanda Spence seated herself behind the desk in her new office at Cadmus and smiled. “At last,” she murmured. She turned her attention to her already-full inbox. “Well, well, well,” she said. “Look at the pile of resignations.” She skimmed through the names – Cannon, Serling, D’Angelico, Harper… Without bothering to read them, she simply marked each one Approved.

Superboy landed in the Cadmus hangar and looked around. With so many of his friends gone, the Project seemed deserted even as the bustle of normal activity continued. He sighed and walked toward his room. He went inside and threw his jacket on the bed. Superboy stopped as he noticed a message indicator was blinking on his computer. He clicked on it.

The message was an order from Amanda Spence, ordering him to her office for a briefing. Superboy shrugged and erased it.

“Yeah, right,” he muttered as he turned to his mini fridge and started looking for something cold to drink.

Amanda Spence drummed her fingers on her desk. A frown dragged her lips downward as she waited. Superboy had clocked back in, and then ignored her summons. This was unacceptable.

The door to Superboy’s room slid open. A shadowy figure stood in the doorway and coughed, but the sound was drowned out by Superboy’s snores. The figure’s face crumpled in concentration. Superboy simply rolled over and muttered, “Oh, Vanna, spin my letter.”

“Superboy!” Dubbilex shouted.

“Oh, hey, Dub,” Superboy said as he sat up, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. “How long have you been standing there?”

Dubbilex glanced at his watch. “About fifteen minutes,” he said. “And while I find your dreams about game show hostesses disturbing, we need to talk.”

“What about?” Superboy asked, trying to smooth his hair down. He glanced at a clock. “It’s ten AM! What’s so important you come down here in the middle of the night?”

Dubbilex sighed. “I picked up that Amanda Spence is quite upset with you.”

“So what?” Superboy asked as he picked up a Superman t-shirt from a pile on the floor and pulled it on.

“She is the head of the Project,” Dubbilex said as he walked in and began scanning the area for a safe place to sit. Finding none, he decided to simply stand. Behind him, the door hissed shut. “She deserves the same respect you gave to Director Cannon.”

“Forget that!” Superboy yelled. “I’m working with Guardian. That bi-“

Dubbilex quickly interrupted. “And do you think that Guardian would want you getting thrown out? Why did he convince you to stay?”

Superboy looked down sheepishly. “So I could help keep an eye on things here.”

”And if you are not here, how can you do that?” Dubbilex knelt by Superboy and put his hands on Superboy’s shoulders. He dropped his voice. “Connor, you have to understand that we are the only allies Jim has here now. I do not like this any more than you do.”

”Dub, you don’t understand what she did to me,” Superboy said, also keeping his voice low. “The Agenda had her kidnap me and then rip my DNA apart to start mass producing clones of me! I nearly died!”

”Believe it or not, I do understand,” Dubbilex said. “Remember, that madman Dabney Donovan created me.”

“I know, Dub,” Superboy admitted. “She just gives me the heebie-jeebies. Like I don’t know what she’s really up to.”

Dubbilex took a deep breath. “I wish I could tell you not to worry,” he said, “but I cannot. Allow me to give you some advice that Guardian gave me once. We were tracking a genetic anomaly and I was terrified. He told me to let my fear give me an edge – almost a heightened awareness of what was going on – and we would get home safely.” Dubbilex stood. “That is what I think we must both do. I agree that she likely has ulterior motives to taking control of Cadmus and I fear that only time will show us her true plans.”

“Ahem,” a voice said from behind them. They turned and saw Amanda Spence standing in the doorway. “I hate to interrupt this oh-so-charming scene, but I believe you are past due for a meeting in my office.”

Dubbilex placed a hand back on Superboy’s shoulder as he sensed the young man’s anger building.

“Dubbilex, you are dismissed,” Spence said. “Superboy, you are to report to my office immediately after you clean and dress yourself.” She looked around. “I believe that we can add the condition of your quarters to our list of topics for discussion.” She turned and walked out.

“Dub, I really don’t like this,” Superboy said.

“I know,” Dubbilex said as he fought down concern over what could be happening next.

Spence slammed the door to her office. “So our resident hero doesn’t feel cooperative, does he?” she asked the empty air. “Perhaps we can persuade him to do otherwise.”

Next Issue: What does Amanda mean? How can she hope to control Superboy? Find out next issue as her plans begin to unwind!

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