C R A S H! T H O K! K R R R S S H! An absolute onslaught quickly begins out in the streets just outside the bar. The lonesome Kryptonian hasn’t a drop of patience left to give and all of the so-called ’heroes’ have a bone to pick with authority figures, even if the connection is vague as can be. Though Kon-EL doesn’t seem to be struggling much at all. Left, right, up, and down - he lays all who have the gull to actually step up to his fury. Unconscious bodies are crashing through windows, lying on the street, falling onto cars, and even catching onto lamp posts in broad daylight.

  “Come on, then! I’m just looking for any excuse to lay any of you out at this point!” The young man barks, floating 10-feet above solid ground as he clenches his hands into fists. It’s an unwavering display of anger and power that takes the countless gangs and teams by surprise, but their numbers keep them mentally confident for the time being.

  “C’mon, fellas. Can we PLEASE GET OUR SHIT TOGETHER AND BRING DOWN THIS PRETTY-BOY SCUMBAG ALREADY!!!??”, is the rallying call that gets another dozen in motion. In the next moment, Kon-EL is swaying in mid-air to dodge a couple energy projectiles, then swooping down to land near the bunch to confront them up close. The manner in which he deals with them to dispatch their numbers is mesmerizingly orderly and effectively quick. The Kryptonian neutralizes every aggressor before too long and leaves anyone who’s still conscious regretting their decision writhing on the ground.

  “The n e r v e of you people… Tch! That wasn’t even a good warm-up!” Kon-EL remarks disappointingly as he crosses his arms across his chest.

  “So you’re NOT wearing that jacket in protest?” A masculine voice – a familiar one at that – questions from above. The young man turns his body partially and looks up toward the source.

  “Huh… Superman? And the Justice League?” Kon-EL squints his eyes a bit as the group descends to land five feet away from him.

  “In the flesh, youngster.” The Hal Jordan and green lantern among them affirms.

  “And YOU are?” The Superman of this Earth asks the stranger in leather.

  “Oh. I’m Kon-EL. And you guys…. Are Sooooo ooooold.” The clone remarks while placing his hands at his own hips.

  “Jeeze, man… Was retirement not a part of the superhero package or something? I almost feel like a nursing home aid just standing near you guys.” He adds while looking upon the elders with concern.

  “Hey, we’re seasoned, okay? Not out of commission.” Hal Jordan retorts while pointing a finger at the young man.

  “And there’s still a lot more work to be done.” Superman adds.

  “It’s why we can’t give up our roles as heroes just yet.” Wonder Woman chimes in.

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  “Jeeze… You’re all having a midlife crisis, aren’t you? Just hang it up, bro… You’ve aged out. Where are your kids? Do you guys not have younger heroes around? Sidekicks? Anything?” Kon-EL prods while arching a skeptical brow.

  “Son, if you think age has slowed us down even a little, then you’re in for a world of surprise. That aside, we’re here because we HAVE TO be. Look around you for a moment - all of these rowdy bunch are what the world were forced to rely on until we made our return. Petty squabbles, destructiveness, and little care for the innocents caught up in their fights for territory. We can’t leave until we sculpt something better for the world. We won’t be around forever, but we can still help while we’re still up and kicking.” Superman explains. Kon-EL does indeed spare a moment to look around at the hostile bunch he took care of earlier.

  “...Ever think somewhere along the way… Something went wrong?” Kon-EL questions as he sets his eyes back onto the far older kryptonian.

  “Something did go wrong… Against my better judgment, I turned my back and allowed this to become the new norm. It’s a mistake that I have to help fix. It’s all I can do.” Is the Man of Steel’s answer. With the same unpredictable timing, the watch stirs up and envelops the young man in a brilliant white light to send him off one last time.

  The light fades and Kon-EL comes to realize that he’s now inside another building, and one with a VERY familiar interior. Scanning his surroundings, he confirms that he is indeed back inside the lounging area inside the Hall of Justice.

  “Is it really the Earth I know this time?”, he questions while giving the watch a look over. As if on cue, Shazam suddenly emerges from around the corner to greet him.

  “ Oh, there you are, Kon-EL! I kinda’ forgot to ask before, but did you want me to introduce you to the Justice League or the Titans? Being alone with no home to go back to sounds rough. Maybe Superman or Nightwing might be able to find you a more comfy place to sleep.” Shazam offers sympathetically. However, something else entirely is at the forefront of the kryptonian’s mind.

  “Wait! You know me?” Kon-EL inquires while arching a brow.

  “Huh?... Y-yeah? Dude, we hung out not too long ago. We were checking out all of the cool stuff the J.L. has in storage together.” Shazam reminds his companion.

  “THANK….GOD.” Kon-EL exhales a sigh of relief and proceeds to unfasten and slip the watch off his wrist before tossing it aside onto the floor.

  “Never again…” He asserts with a look of defeat, plopping down onto the sofa nearby to rest from his mental exhaustion.

  “You okay? Did something happen?” The wizard’s chosen hero asks.

  “Yeah, man… Everything is much better and fine now. Just had a long ’walk’, is all.“ The Kryptonian answers.

  “Oh, okay. By the way, what did you just take off your wrist? A busted watch or something?” Shazam prods as he points to the device in question laying on the floor. Kon-EL turns his sights toward the dimension hopping watch and extends a hand to encase it within a crimson ball of telekinesis with low opacity, lifting it up to Shazam’s eye level.

  “This thing? It’s–” Just as he’s about to share a complete thought, the watch activates again and teleports away with its trademark brief flash of light, leaving that floating sphere empty. A sight that takes both of them by surprise.

  “Someone else’s problem now…” Kon-EL concludes with a deadpan expression and tone.

  [ Some Time Later… ]

  “Ah, Kon-EL, there you are. Would you spare a moment to follow me? It’s of the utmost importance.” Red Tornado requests upon spotting the Kryptonian watching TV in the lounging area.

  “Oh. Of course, man.” The young man obliges and rises out of his seat to approach, then eventually follows behind the crimson android.

  “By the way… You spent a good amount of time around Superman, right?”

  “Indeed. Years worth of time.” Red Tornado answers.

  “Then tell me… What kind of guy is he really? Is he really as astonishing as he’s talked up to be? Is he super serious? Or maybe egotistical?” Kon-EL prods further.

  “He possesses neither of those traits as far as I’ve personally observed of him. It seems you’re quite skeptical of him. Such is fair, given you have no history with him. You should simply meet him and see what kind of man he is yourself.” Red Tornado advises.

  “Ah, c’mon… You can just tell me. It’s not like I’ll get to meet him any time soon, anyway.” Kon-EL argues.

  “Funny you should say that…” Is the android’s vague response.

  “Huh? Why’d you say that?” Kon-EL questions with a raising brow. Soon enough, his answer comes forth in the form of shifting his sights from Red Tornado, and toward the three individuals awaiting near the entrance. The stoic Gotham-born vigilante in black & gray, the Amazon warrior from an island hidden away from the rest of the world, and finally - Metropolis City’s very own symbol of hope and prosperity, as well as America’s #1 favorite Hero - S u p e r m a n.