An audience with the League

I wasn't in the room, but with my super hearing and telepathy, I didn't need to be. Standing just outside the Hall's main conference room, I tuned into the voices inside. Each word, every thought, reached me with crystal clarity. I wasn't sure how much longer I could maintain control over this new telepathic power, but I had to know what they thought of me.

Inside, the Justice League members gathered around the long table. They thought I couldn't hear them, that I was safely tucked away outside, unaware of their conversation. But I could hear them—loud and clear.

Superman was the first to speak, his voice hard and distrustful. "He's a clone. It's obvious. His physiology is too close to Bizarro's—too close to mine."

Red Tornado's mechanical voice joined the discussion, neutral but direct. "There are similarities, but they do not account for all of his abilities. He has demonstrated telepathy, something Bizarro never displayed."

"I agree with Superman," Black Canary added, her tone thoughtful but firm. "Clone or not, he's dangerous. We've seen what happens when power like that falls into the wrong hands. The telepathic incident outside proves he's unstable."

I winced, hearing them refer to me as a threat. They had seen me lose control when my mind had unintentionally reached out, freezing everyone outside in place. I hadn't meant to do it, but the telepathy was too raw, too wild.

"I'm not saying he's evil," Black Canary continued, "but that much power without control is a problem. We need to be prepared."

Martian Manhunter's voice broke through, calm and steady. "He's not dangerous—he's confused. His telepathic abilities are new to him, and I can sense that he's struggling with them. But I do not sense any malevolent intent. He's trying to understand what's happening."

Superman wasn't convinced. "You didn't sense malevolence in Bizarro either, not at first. That doesn't mean he won't become a threat. He looks like a clone of me, or worse, some distorted version of Bizarro. Luthor could be behind this, We can't just ignore that."

Wonder Woman spoke up, her voice more measured. "But he's not unstable like Bizarro. Physically, he's shown control—at least for now."

"That doesn't mean he's safe," Superman said firmly. "We can't afford to wait until he proves otherwise. He's a potential threat, and we can't just hope for the best."

I clenched my fists, leaning against the wall just outside the room. Superman's words hit hard. He didn't trust me. To him, I was another Bizarro—a ticking time bomb.

Black Canary's thoughts leaked through next, filled with concern. What if we're wrong about him? But we can't take any chances... not after what happened outside.

Red Tornado's mechanical precision sliced through the tension. "He has demonstrated extraordinary strength, invulnerability, and now telepathy. His powers extend beyond what we've seen in Bizarro or Kryptonian clones. He could be a new variation."

Batman, who had been silent up until now, finally spoke, his voice cold and analytical. "If he's a clone, someone created him. The question is who—and why. He's too powerful to be left unchecked. We need to know if he's a liability."

That word—liability—hit me harder than I expected. Batman wasn't one to mince words, but hearing it said so plainly made me feel like nothing more than a potential disaster waiting to happen. I wanted to scream that I wasn't a threat, that I didn't even know where my original body came from or how I got here. But I stayed quiet.

"I've been monitoring his mental state," Martian Manhunter said, his voice filled with empathy. "He doesn't seem to know where he came from or why he's here. He's trying to make sense of his abilities, and his telepathy is untrained. That's why it overwhelmed him outside."

Wonder Woman's voice, while calm, still carried a note of wariness. "And what if that changes? What if those memories come back and he turns on us?"

"I don't believe that will happen," Martian Manhunter replied. "He needs guidance, not judgment."

Superman sighed, but I could still hear the tension in his voice. "We can't wait for him to 'figure it out,' J'onn. We saw how quickly he lost control outside—he froze everyone around him, and if it happens again, he could become a real threat. The League can't afford that risk."

I could feel the frustration building inside me. I wasn't trying to hurt anyone—I didn't *want* to be dangerous—but I couldn't deny the truth. I had lost control, and if I didn't get a handle on my powers soon, it could happen again.

Red Tornado spoke next, his voice cold but precise. "We must assess the extent of his abilities. Until we understand what he is capable of, we cannot make assumptions."

Black Canary's tone softened, but there was still an edge of concern. "We've dealt with people like this before. People who don't know how to control their power. And most of the time, it ends badly."

Martian Manhunter was the only one standing firmly in my corner. "He needs training, not containment. We all struggled with control when we first developed our abilities."

Superman, however, wasn't backing down. "And what if we're wrong? What if we train him, guide him, and one day he turns on us? He's already shown how powerful he is—he's stronger than any of us, and now he's got telepathic abilities on top of that. One slip, and we're dealing with a threat worse than Bizarro."

The knot in my stomach tightened. They didn't know that I'd already absorbed powers from some of them. The mimicry worked, but I had no idea how long I could hide it. If they found out, they'd see me as even more of a threat.

Wonder Woman hesitated, her thoughts conflicted. "We can't jump to conclusions, but we also can't ignore the danger he could pose. We have to tread carefully."

The room fell into a heavy silence for a moment. The tension was palpable. They didn't know what to do with me, and they were afraid of what I could become.

Martian Manhunter spoke again, his tone gentle. "We've all been lost before. He deserves a chance to prove himself, just as we all did."

Superman sighed, clearly frustrated but unwilling to push further. "Then we monitor him closely. One wrong move, and we contain him—for everyone's safety."

The decision was made. I'd be given a chance, but I'd be watched closely, every move scrutinized. Superman's distrust lingered in the air like a cloud, and Batman's analytical coldness made it clear that they saw me as more of a problem to solve than a person.

But Martian Manhunter believed in me. That was something.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves as I heard Wonder Woman's voice call out from inside the room. "Jack, you can come in now."

They knew I'd been waiting outside. My heart pounded as I stepped into the Hall of Justice conference room, the weight of their eyes immediately falling on me. The room was huge, but it felt smaller with the Justice League's presence surrounding me. Superman stood near the head of the table, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter, Black Canary, Red Tornado, and Batman were all seated or standing, their gazes sharp and focused.

I could still hear fragments of their thoughts flickering through my mind, even though I tried to block them out. The telepathy was harder to control than I'd expected.

I stood before them, trying to ignore the knot tightening in my stomach.

Superman was the first to speak. "We've been discussing your situation," he said, his tone firm but not unkind. "We need to know more about you. About what you remember."

I shifted on my feet. "I don't remember much. I don't know how I got here, or why I have these powers."

Batman's eyes narrowed slightly. "No memory of your creation? Of who may have made you?"

I shook my head, my voice steady but unsure. Keep my thoughts clear. "No. I didn't even know I had these powers until recently. I'm not trying to hide anything."

Wonder Woman leaned forward, her gaze still watchful. "Do you understand why we're concerned? Your abilities are powerful—and unstable."

I swallowed hard, nodding. "I do. But I'm trying to learn how to control them. I didn't mean to lose control outside. It just… happened."

Red Tornado spoke next, his voice devoid of emotion, but the question was direct. "Your powers are not limited to base Kryptonian physiology. We have observed telepathy. How extensive is your telepathic ability?"

My heart skipped a beat. I hesitated for a moment, choosing my words carefully. "It's... new to me. I don't really know how to control it yet. Sometimes it just… happens." I can't tell them more...

Superman's expression hardened, and I could feel the distrust radiating from him. "And what if it happens again, but you can't stop it?"

Before I could answer, Martian Manhunter stepped in. "That is why he needs guidance," he said, his calm voice filling the room. "Telepathic abilities, especially those as untrained as his, require time and care. He has not shown aggression—only confusion."

I glanced at Martian Manhunter, and for a brief second, I felt a presence in my mind. His voice, soft and reassuring, spoke directly into my thoughts. "Do not worry. I know you've been listening. You are not in danger here."

I nearly flinched, surprised by the mental connection, but I quickly composed myself. He knew I had been eavesdropping on their conversation, he could know more but he didn't seem angry. If anything, he seemed understanding.

Superman wasn't so easily convinced. "Even if he's confused, he's dangerous. If he loses control again, we'll be dealing with a bigger threat than we can handle."

I tensed, but Martian Manhunter remained calm. "I will work with him," he said. "He needs guidance, not containment."

Red Tornado nodded. "We're repeating ourselves. He requires stability, especially with telepathy. I can assist with the physical aspects, but his telepathic abilities will need further refinement."

Wonder Woman spoke up next, her tone measured but firm. "We can't risk another incident. You'll need to prove that you can handle these abilities, Jack. Martian Manhunter and Red Tornado will take responsibility for your supervision and training."

I let out a small breath of relief, though Superman's distrust still hung in the air.

Black Canary stood, her gaze softer than Superman's but still cautious. "This is your chance to prove yourself, Jack. We're giving you this opportunity because we believe you want to learn control. But if you can't—if we see you losing control again—we'll have no choice but to take more serious measures."

I nodded quickly. "I understand. I'll do everything I can."

Batman, who had been silent for most of the exchange, finally spoke. "You'll be monitored at all times. Even with their guidance, we can't afford any mistakes."

The room fell quiet, and I could feel the tension lingering, but there was also something else—a small thread of hope. Martian Manhunter was willing to help me, to teach me how to control the powers I barely understood. And Red Tornado, though cold and calculating, seemed willing to support me as well.

Superman's gaze lingered on me for a moment longer, but eventually, he stepped back, his jaw tight. "We'll give you a chance. But don't make us regret it."

Martian Manhunter stepped toward me, his hand resting gently on my shoulder. "Come with me. We have much to work on."

As we left the room, his voice echoed in my mind again, gentle and reassuring." I know you're worried, but you are not alone in this. Trust yourself, and we will help you."

I nodded silently, feeling the weight of the League's decision but also a sense of relief. They hadn't locked me away, and I wasn't being treated like a criminal. But I knew this was just the beginning. Batman is probably already thinking up countermeasures, most of the league is weary and Superman still didn't trust me, and I wasn't sure if I even trusted myself. But with Martian Manhunter and Red Tornado guiding me, I had a chance to prove that I wasn't the threat they feared.