“You must have come down here before I first put on my costume,” said Superboy, “I’m Superboy, and I’m from the surface too, although originally from another planet. This is my dog, Krypto.”

They all turned to see that Krypto and Gertrude were flying around playfully together.

“So how did you find your way down here?” asked Cindy.

Superboy explained.

“And Krypto and I can fly all of you back, if you like,” said Superboy, “The tunnel I carved is in a spot where nobody on the surface is likely to find it.”

“Not me,” growled the modern Count, “I’m not leaving until I find treasure.”

“Suit yourself,” said Professor Lindenbrook, “We’re going with Superboy. When you’re ready to return, you can always find your way back through all those lands and … can he get up the tunnel you made?”

“Sure he can,” said Superboy, “I went in at a sloping angle. Those two can easily crawl up, once their greed has been worn out … or satisfied.”

Alec and Cindy climbed onto Krypto’s back, while Superboy carried Lars and Lindenbrook, one in each arm. They flew at normal speed, so that Gertrude could keep up with them, and eventually reached the surface.

“You’ll have quite a story to write at your college, Professor,” said Alec.

“And you’ll be part of it,” said the Professor.

“But please, leave me out,” said Superboy, “I don’t want a certain girl named Lana Lang or hundreds of other people asking me to take them on treasure hunting trips under the earth’s surface.”

“You have our word,” said Lars.

“Then we’ll be off then,” said Superboy, bending his legs a little and then springing into a take-off, as his arms swung skyward, “Up, up, and away!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Superboy grew into Superman. Although Krypto couldn’t share his life in Metropolis, without giving away Daily Planet reporter Clark Kent’s secret identity, the Man of Steel was soon a member and in fact the leader of the Justice League of America. Aquaman, the Atom, the Flash, Hawkman and Green Lantern were soon a team whose efforts were often concentrated on dealing with alien invaders. After they’d been active for a year or so, Batman became a part time member. It had taken a while to persuade Batman to join the team, as his (Bruce Wayne’s) business administrator Lucius Fox had a brother with a very persuasive argument.

During a casual discussion over a Wayne Foundation dinner, Brother Fox had convinced Bruce (without even knowing that Bruce was Batman), that Gotham had exclusive rights to Batman and Robin. Bruce continued to believe that until the beginning of 1970, which resulting in Robin’s joining of the Teen Titans being delayed too. In the meantime, that quartet of towering talent had been well staffed by the Flash’s sidekick Kid Flash, a young archer named Speedy, Aquaman’s young ally Aqualad, and a swift and powerful super lass named Wondergirl, who had absolutely no connection to Superman, despite being able to fly and having super strength of her own.