Superboy

Superboy walked down the corridor and into Mickey Cannon's office. "What's up, Mickster?" he asked.

Cannon frowned. "Serling's been digging through some of the notes she recovered from Donovan's computers. She's found a few referring to a `Project X.' She's wanting to go back to the lab complex and do some exploring - see if she can figure out what Donovan was up to."

"Cool. Serl's got a field trip," Superboy said.

"Since Knockout was there during her last visit, I'd like you to go along and make sure she gets back alive. No telling what that lunatic's got hidden in there."

"Got it. Anything else?"

Cannon thought a moment. "Yeah. Harper's already on-site, but I'd like you to take Tenzil along as well. Maybe he'll spot something that the rest of us would miss."

"No prob."

"Good," Cannon said. "Whiz Wagon's waiting for you down in the hangar. Now get moving."

A few minutes later, the Whiz Wagon zipped across the landscape. "You ready for this, Tenzil?" Serling asked.

Tenzil brushed his hair back from his forehead. "I suppose so," he said. "But I'm still not sure if I can be of any help."

Serling smiled. A moment later, Tenzil sheepishly met her eyes with his own and smiled sheepishly as well.

"Here we are!" Superboy announced. The Whiz Wagon slowly lowered to the ground. Roy Harper strode toward it as it settled.

"Hey, Roy!" Superboy said. "Whatcha got?"

Roy adjusted his sunglasses. "Come on in and I'll show you." Harper led the team into the lab. Finally they stopped before a door. Crudely painted on it in neon green paint were the words "Project X."

"Very discreet," Serling said sarcastically.

Harper nodded in agreement. "Tenzil, do you recognize this?"

Tenzil shook his head, his eyes wide. "No. The doctor never mentioned anything about this to us."

"Well, let's see what it is," Superboy said, pushing the door open. Before them was a silver device that filled most of the room. In the center of it was a silver frame about the size of a doorway.

"This is remarkable," Serling said, looking around in wonder.

"Any ideas on what it does?" Harper asked.

Serling shook her head. "No. I don't even recognize some of these components. I don't believe that it's related to cloning."

"I got an idea," Superboy said. "Let's try this!" He pressed a button and the frame hummed to life.

"Superboy!" Serling yelled with alarm. "What are you doing?"

"Trying to get you some answers, doc," he replied. Tenzil slowly backed out of the room. "Let's see what happens when I do this." Superboy picked up a small rock and threw it through the frame. It flashed with light and vanished.

"Some sort of teleporter?" Serling asked, leaning close toward the frame, but not too close. "Interesting." Suddenly Serling screamed as a gray hand reached out of the frame and started grabbing at her hair.

"Not on my watch!" Superboy yelled as he streaked past, punching the creature back into the frame. Serling fell backwards as Superboy vanished.

"Doc!" Harper yelled. "What's going on?" He pointed at a panel with smoke rising from it.

"Some sort of power surge!" Serling yelled back, quickly scanning status panels. "I've got to try to shut it down!"

"No! If you do, the kid won't be able to make it back!"

"If I don't there won't be anything left to bring him back!" Serling yelled angrily. She quickly pressed the power button Superboy had hit earlier and the machine slowly went silent.

Serling fell to her knees, crying. "I'm sorry, Kon," she whispered. "We'll get you back." She looked up as Harper gently laid a hand on her shoulder.

"This is Harper," Roy was saying into a radio. "I want this lab completely sealed off. No one in without written permission from Cannon, and I want that triple-checked before they get in, too. I want to know exactly what we've got in here, and I want to know yesterday!"

Superboy opened his eyes and looked around. "Now where'd I get sent?" he asked. Looking around, he spotted the Daily Planet globe. "Metropolis?" he asked. "Why would he need a transporter that only goes such a short distance?" He looked down and saw devastation in the city. Quickly, Superboy landed.

"Superhero! You a superhero?" a man asked, running up.

"Yeah," Superboy said.

"You gotta help `im! They're heading toward midtown!" A second later, Superboy was airborne.

"At least there's a clear trail," Superboy remarked, following the line of destruction. He stopped above the Daily Planet building. "Oh no," he whispered.

Below, Superman and Doomsday both threw their all into one final punch. Lois Lane screamed as Superman and Doomsday, both dying, fell in opposite directions.

"Oh no," Superboy whispered again with tears running down his face. "It's not a transporter. It's a time machine."

Lois Lane knelt beside Superman. She raised her head and wailed as Superman's head fell back for the final time.

Superboy didn't even open his eyes as he vanished in a burst of light.

Superboy finally opened his eyes and looked around. He dodged a Fokker fighter and vanished. Hans Von Hammer, the Enemy Ace known as the Hammer of Hell, simply shook his head and flew on.

Superboy saw a myriad of scenes flash by him almost too quickly to comprehend.

Frank Rock leading Easy Company on an assault on a Nazi stronghold.

A caveboy named Anthro hunting for food.

A cab driver in the 25th century taking two passengers to a deserted sector in search of a cosmic staff.

The Justice Society split up to raise 100,000 dollars each for war orphans.

In the 30th century, Star Boy, Umbra, and the Amazers arrive to battle a dark colossus that threatens the planet of Xanthu.

A man holds his wife close as a rocket containing his unborn son is launched en route to Earth.

A mugger murders two parents in a Gotham City alley. Their son is left unharmed.

Five heroes assemble in the Gotham headquarters of the Justice Society, announcing to the world that they are the Justice League of America.

One of those Justice Leaguers, running inside a cannon meant to destroy everything, sacrifices his life to save all that is.

"Feels like a bad tilt-a-whirl ride," Superboy said. "Feels like I'm gonna puke. At least it seems to be slowing down."

Saturn Girl stepped into the shower and started washing her hair. Suddenly a strange mental pattern entered her mind. She opened her eyes and saw Superboy standing in front of her.

"Hi," Superboy said sheepishly. Still, the grin on his face showed that he hadn't missed the view. He was gone before she could scream.

Superboy finally crumpled to the ground. "God, I hope that's over," he said.

"Are you all right?" someone asked.

Superboy rolled over and looked up. Robin and Wonder Girl stood there. A young speedster and archer stepped into sight a moment later.

"Oh, no," Superboy said. "I know where I am." His eyes closed and he surrendered to unconsciousness. His last thought was that he had recognized Robin, Wonder Girl, Kid Flash, and Speedy. He was surrounded by the original Teen Titans.

Next Issue: Superboy's trapped in the Swinging Sixties! How will he work with the original Teen Titans? They'd better be careful, because the deadly Captain Tiger is back!

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