Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

THE OPEN FIELD

The giant field of land has a big crater right in the middle of it. A spaceship the cause of it, with a young blonde girl coming out of it. And confusion is the feeling she has right now, what with Superman looking at her welling up with tears.

“Who are you?!” now anger consumes her with this stranger in front of her.

“I’m-I’m…I’m Kal-El. I’m the son of Jor-El and Lara. Jonathan and Martha Kent adopted me when Krypton blew up. I was told I was the last of my race” he gets closer to her “But you’re here now-”

She pushes him “Don’t you dare touch me! You’re a fake! Kal-El is a baby! I saw him before we left!”

“Wh-what?! Kara, please, I need you to stay calm. For what I’m about to tell you will-”

“No!” she pushes him again. This time, the force of it sends Superman hurtling upwards. The Man of Steel is still getting used to flying, so he can’t stop it now, especially with his recently found cousin now using the same powers he has. With the momentum slowing down, he’s able to halt his movement. He flies back down to the field.

“The spaceship remained” his cousin is nowhere to be found “But no Kara” he pinches his nose “Luckily, my super hearing is better than my flying”

Hear good he does. He hears the fast pounding of her heart. The heavy breathing. The grinding of the teeth. And the slowly heating up of her eyes that will soon let out the splicing and dangerous laser beams.

Leaving the woods in a rather fast manner, Kara can’t even remark on her sudden speed as sees the road and cars passing by. The people talking from the cars and away. She has used these powers before. She has been on Earth before when her family visited. When they were planning on moving to Earth for their survival as Krypton was doomed.

“This can’t be happening” Kara knew she was going to be removed from Krypton. But each night she prayed to mighty God, Rao. That he could come and save Krypton. So she could stay home. Now Krypton is gone, her family is gone, and a fake is posing as her baby cousin. And the powers she should be able to control are beginning to be too much.

“Kara!” Superman finds her, quickly going to her to meet face to face “Please come with me! I can explain everything!”

“Stop saying my name!”

PNCH

She decks him in the face, plowing the road. A truck was driving, but with the sudden out of nowhere Superman smashes into the middle of the pavement. Now the driver has to urgently hit the brakes. However, he’s too late, and the truck falls over. It's still moving at a fast rate, sliding the road. The vehicle hits Superman’s head as he was just getting up. And with that truck tipped over, the cars coming from the other side have to stop.

But again, they’re too late. Some hit the truck, bashing their head on the steering wheel. Kara is concerned by all this “I should…no. This has nothing to do with me. Forget this. I have better things to-”

“WWHUUAAAHH” she hears the cries of a baby. She turns back to see and hear clearer that the baby is in one of the cars that is going to hit one of the people standing on the road, whose cars have been wrecked.

The hit is going to be direct and painful and…nothing. To the shock of everyone around, their vehicles have been stopped before impact. Kara has showed up. Putting her arms in front of the last vehicle, stopping it and saving anyone who was going to be hit.

“Are-is anyone okay?” Kara asks. The driver gets out of her seat, quickly attending his baby “Is she okay?” she asks the father. The father quick to dismiss, scoffing at her.

One of the drivers in the ara nudges Kara's shoulder “Ma’am, we have others who are hurt. We can use help”

“We can be of service” Superman, feeling better now, approaches the people.

“Wait, are you two-”

“Doesn’t matter. My…friend and I will take these people to a hospital to make sure they get proper attention. Do me a favor and notify the authorities of what happened and ambulances for those who are only shoken up”

“Aren’t the authorities trying to arrest you?”

“Yes”

Superman leaves him and goes to Kara, who is not too pleased with herself “I didn’t mean to-”

“You did. Now make up for it by helping me with the injured. Just use your speed, for now. Flying will be handled later”

1 HOUR LATER

Back on the field, looking over the crater and spaceship so they don’t have to meet eye to eye. Clark is a bit dismayed while Kara is upset “I’m sorry I punched you. And I’m sorry I caused all that. I didn’t mean to injure the others”

“Kara, right now…” he turns her so they can properly face each other “You are one of the strongest people in the world. I know you've been told by our parents to restrain yourself.”

“I know. I feel like I have the strength of an entire planet with me” she looks at her open palm “I can see my own skeletal structure right now. The molecules that course my very blood. Never have I seen a body so connected with not only ones self, but with the world. How we’re all connected, and yet still apart so we can be our own. It felt great months ago when I first came here. But…it wasn’t months ago, was it?”

“I’m sorry" he takes a very breath "No”

“And you really are Kal-El”

“Yes” he says, despondency leaving his voice.

Kara’s eyes shake, the very ground she stands vibrates. Clark notices it. One would expect tears to stream out, but for Kara Zor-El, only a burst of heat energy is released.

“AAAGGHHHHHH” she screams as the laser beam shoots out.

Clark closes her eyes “Kara, please-”

“I can’t…control it!” she shoots him with her beams, sending him flying into the trees. She closes her eyes, this time using her hands. She groans and winces, feeling the pain in her organ of vision. She takes a step, and one small foot placement in the ground causes a crack “Make it stop! MAKE IT STOP.”

“Only you can, Kara!” Clark arrives again “It’s hard, I know. I’ve been there. But you have the strength to do so. Just remember something pleasant. A good memory from your life. Something you can use as a tether. A reminder of better things.”

It took a couple of minutes, but finally does Supergirl calm down. No more does she have to keep her eyes shut. She can look at her cousin again with clear vision. Yet, the pain doesn’t go away.

“Oh Kal-El” her heart pumps fast again as she tears up once more. She cries and falls on her knees, holding herself with her hands “What’s going on?! What’s happening to me?!”

Clark rushes in to give her comfort, hugging her “It’s scary, I know. But I know a place where we can talk and things won’t have to be new or overbearing”

“Whe-where?!”

THE KENT FARM

On this shinny and blinding day, what with the sun emitting more rays of light than usual, Jonathan Kent walks towards the shed to do another hard day’s work. Luckily, the day begins to improve as the sun is eclipsed a little. But it’s only because of his son.

“Clark” he says, glee being shown as his son has arrived “I’m so glad you’re here…with a girl?”

“Oh my-Mr. Kent?” Kara is surprised

“Little girl, do you…oh my God” Jonathan has realized it. His jaw dropped over this startling development “Kara?! I thought-I thought you didn’t make it!”

Kara lets go of Clark, rushing to Jonathan. Before they can hug it out, Clark gets in the middle of it “What are you doing?!” Kara asks annoyed

“Kara, you were going to crush him. You have to pull your punches. Or in this case, pull the…hug”

“Yo-you make no sense”

“Do the same you would do a bonk. Just be careful”

Kara turns away from him, saddened and angered by what she was told.

“Clark Joseph Kent!” Jonathan lets out, pulling Clark to him “I don’t know what in the name of all that’s holy is going on, but that girl is obviously distressed. She’s in pain and you’re telling her that she’s walking death machine?!”

“What-it’s not like that, Pa! Kara IS in pain, but you know how...": he pinches his nose before sighing "Hugs can be. If she does it now, she’ll break every bone in your body.”

“She can control her powers. Her father and uncle taught her when she came over here before you were born”

“Her home was destroyed and now she finds out that YEARS have passed and I’m no longer in diapers. We have to ease her into everything”

KKRSPH

The Kent boys look to see Martha Kent having dropped her glass drinks. She is surprised by the sudden arrival of Kara. She puts her hands in her mouth, quietly saying her name under her breath. Kara speeds to get closer, happy to see Martha.

“You and Mr. Kent really grew old”

“Oh dear, we’re not that decrepit”

Kara goes to clutch her, but not knowing her strength right now, she stops herself. Once more, Kara is left in sorrow over her ordeal. Martha balks at that, as she hugs Kara tightly, knowing well she needs it. And needs it she did, as a tear streams down Kara’s eye.

WERNER BUILDING

There at night, a wrestling match is being played out. The building may not be big, but the crowd is lively and into it. Letting their cheers be heard loud as the wrestlers are killing it with this barn burner.

Two friends get close “I think this gets 9 stars tomorrow by the Observer guy”

“Come on, don't exaggerate, man. Also, you gotta care more about character work than ring work.”

"I'll enjoy what i want to enjoy. Why you gotta judge?"

“That’s supposed to be my spot”

“What?” both friends asked confused by the man in a cloak next to them.

“The two guys, I trained with them. We were supposed to go big together…and they betrayed me”

“Okay? Sucks.” says the one next to him as he and his friend begin to ignore him, going back to watching the match

“You don’t remember me?” asks the guy

“No! We don’t!” he snaps back at him

“I’m Atomic! The guy who had that great match against The American Dolphin a year ago! In Life Before Dishonor?!”

“Uh, he usually always has great matches, so you gotta narrow it down for us”

“A-a…I’m Atomic! Former Pro Wrestling Monkey Champion?! First guy to beat Owen Steen in ZCW?!”

“Last I heard he disappeared”

He can’t believe what he’s hearing. He’s ignored again as the two guys go back to watching the match, as if it was story is just some nuisance not to be listened to. It's frustrating being dismissed like that. How the public forgot about him despite his accomplishments. How his “friends” have forgotten him. How Luthor. Alexander Luthor experimented on him in 33.1. The endless experiments. The badgering. He didn’t know when day and night started and ended.

“No more” he says, smoke beginning to pour of his very person. Green flame beginning to burn away his hood “NO MORE”

He gets up from his seat, exposing himself to the crowd. They see before them a man in a green suit radiating light as the skin of his face in non-existent. The only facial feature one can see is a green skull of fury. The match is stopped as the wrestlers notice him. Hard to work when THAT is in front of you, literally heating up the place.

Atomic hops out of the barricade, with two security guards quickly grabbing him “You have got to be kidding me” with a touch on their bodies and after 5 seconds, their bodies begin to heat up. Instantly, their bodies are consumed by green flame.

“Wh-WHAT?!” screams one of the guards

“Help me! Someone help MEE!”

Their bodies turn to dust, falling on the floor for all to see. With that, the crowd, the commentators, the crew in the back, shriek with fright.

“AAAAIIIEEEEE”

“A MONSTER!”

“WE GOTTA RUN”

“This is a work, guys”

The wrestlers try to high tail it out of there, getting out of the ring as fast as they tapped knees can take them. But before they reach the ramp, Atomic grabs both of them by the back of their necks, lifting them up “Hey boys, remember me?”

Upon hearing his voice, he already knew who is twas. He can’t believe it “Oh no-Joseph?!”

“The very same Joseph Martin!”

He tosses them into the ring, their landing not too pretty, almost landing on their necks. They did plenty of that when wrestling the Silver Lovers in Japan. They both get up weakly, while Atomic just hops inside with no issue. Like hopping up a step of an escalator, it's that easy for him now.

“I can’t believe you two" his hands form a fist that could crush a nation "We made a pack in the bingo hall near here. That’d we make it in the business together. Nothing could stop us.”

“Joseph, please-”

“You two were always jealous of my abilities. That I was a better wrestler. That bookers wanted me more. And then you sold me out to Luthor when he was finding Guinea pigs to experiment on”

“Look, Joseph, I needed the money. Paul here too. We weren’t getting enough from the bookings. Now look at us, the strings Luthor pulled-we’re in a bigger company! And soon we’ll make it big in Connecticut! We’ll have made it in the industry and can get enough money to make you look normal again! It’s basically a win-win! Hehehe!” he throws his arms to the side, hysterically laughing hoping Joseph would join in.

“You made it in the industry by being carny fucks. And right now, this IS normal to me. There isn’t anything to change cause I’m stuck with this!”

“Please, Joseph, don’t hurt us! We can save you! If Metropolis loves us, they’ll love you when-”

“If Metropolis loves you, then let them be the next to suffer!”

He grabs his former friends by their faces, their screams muffled by his hold on them. Their whole bodies are beginning to radiate with all the chemical fire pouring out of Joseph.

“No more Joseph Martin! Not even Atomic! From this moment on, I think…” he can’t feel his face anymore. His face is only a flaming skeleton head, one he plans on striking terror to anyone near him “I think the name Atomic Skull will truly be remembered. Compared to the footnotes you two will be. That's an outcome the bookers can't change on the fly. What say you?”

They can't. Their bodies a stain on the ring mat now.

THE KENT FARM

With Kara eating dinner in the kitchen, Clark sits down with his parents in the living room “How in the blue hell did she get here?” asks a baffled Jonathan “Your entire family was supposed to come here, Clark. Then only you did, so we just assumed the worst”

“Last thing she remembered before landing here was she was sucked into a blackhole. Given their unpredictability, we don’t what the cause of it is.”

“It’s easy actually” Kara says, coming with her plate of food “A black hole is created when a star, preferably big, collapses in on itself. Bit of a wild theory, but with the planet exploding, perhaps Krypton’s stars were going away as well. Or perhaps other stars around our solar system were shattered. Was it from the Dheron planet? I know there are some jerks there.”

“Ha” laughs Martha, quickly covering her mouth to stop her chortling “I think Clark can fill you in about that Dheron situation later”

“What do you mean? You fought the planet Dheron?” Kara puts her plate on the table near the couch.

“Well...” Clark awkwardly chuckles “Just some renegade soldiers that staged an invasion”

Kara sits down, holding her head “I have…missed so much. I missed your first steps. Your first words. Your first day in Earth school. Now look at you. All grown. A life you made. Some hero to these people. And you saved the planet?! Why-why…why am I even here?! Honestly, why-”

“Kara, no-”

“When our family couldn’t come with us, our fathers asked me to look after you” she wipes tears from her eyes furiously “To make sure you were safe. Turns out you did pretty well. You-you don’t even need me!”

Clark rushes to her, holding her shoulders to keep her calm in her chair “Don’t you ever say that! Kara, when I found out I had another family, my biggest regret was never getting to meet them. The pain of never knowing what they knew about our home or family legacy. Now, you’re here. My cousin. My family. Of course I need you! In ways you couldn’t imagine!”

Kara gets up from the couch, turning away from the Kent’s “You already have a family, Clark. Like I said, you grew up great. I’m just…Krypton’s missing link”

Clark approaches, turning her back to face him “Then be in our family” he smiles. Kara can’t believe the resistance he’s putting up. How can someone truly want her right now?

Jonathan and Martha get up, with the former speaking “We embraced one alien. Heck, we embraced a group of them. What’s one more?”

In disbelief by their acceptance, and how sincere they are, Kara beams with rejoice over this display of embrace and care.

THE PORCH

Right outside the house, Clark dials on his phone, hoping the caller answers “H-h-hi, Mr. White!”

METROPOLIS- DAILY STAR

“Kent” Perry White answers, unamused while rifling through papers in his desk “You were supposed to be here today. You, Lane and Olsen were supposed to be at the hearings of Bruno Manheim. And did you have to call while I’m in my early spring cleaning?”

“I know, Mr. White. Just a…family emergency happened. I’m sorry I didn’t let you know, but it was urgent and I had to be here. I really had to-”

“Say no more, Kent. I get it”

“Look, sir-You do?”

“Let’s just say…” Perry looks over at his desk. A picture of him picking up his son, Richard, back when Richard was just a little boy “I get going to family in times of distress. There’s no one you want to be there more for. Just make sure next time call in with time”

“Ye-yes, Mr. White. Thank you”

“Don’t mention it. Really, don’t. And when you come back, make sure to get a scoop for me. Or else my sympathy will go with your stay in the Daily Star if you take advantage of my kindness; the trash”

Perry hangs up quick, but Clark is still glad over how productive the call was.

“Someone is happy” Martha walks in “Was it that Lois girl?”

“Lo-Lois?! Nooo. Not all! It was my boss, Mr. White. I’ve never heard him sound so…tamed? He sounded calm and forward. I’m so used to seeing him 100% and his eyes on the job.”

“Bosses always end up surprising you whenever they step off their pedestal”

“I don’t think Perry puts himself high up one. The reason why I wanted to work in the Daily Star was because of his work as a journalist. It wasn’t the punctuation in his words or the big stories he covered. But the humanity in what he wrote.

The way a journalist should approach their work, and I’ll be damned if I see someone compare Perry or any of the Daily Star to those rathole news sites and channels that spread hate and lies!” Clark spats out in frustration

“Whoa, calm down there, son. Haven’t seen you this angry since your hormones kicked in. And I’m glad to see you put as much mind to your work in the Star as much as Superman. And I think it’s important you go back there. Wouldn’t want you to be kept out of the byline”

“Ha, thanks for the advice, Ma. But I need to be here for Kara. Make sure she’s as comfortable as a baby’s blanket in her first night here. We have so much to discuss for tomorrow, I’m...i'm so excited”

“Don’t get too excited. You’re in my house and bedtime is soon. Go to your room, I’ve had it tidied up”

“You always do” Clark chuckles, walking to the door

“Oh! And don’t take any of the chocolate cake from the fridge to your room.”

“I-I never took them-”

Martha raises her eyebrow “I knew how many you took for late night snacks. You’re lucky to have that alien physiology or else I’d have to reprimand you with a strict diet”

“Yes, Ma” Clark sulks back inside

THE GUEST ROOM

After all the discussion and having spent hours in a black hole that seemed to have gotten tighter the longer she spent there, Kara can finally relax, Just sleep in peace and see if the next day is better. Of course, the bed is not exactly the most comfortable. Only because she’s not used to earth beds. The ones in Krypton felt like blissful paradise. But it’s a change she has to accept. Now off to dreamland with her eyes wide shut.

Already she's asleep with the surroundings silent, pitch black. Just a cave of nothing. Then...

“GASP” Kara gets up from her chair. Her garb is different. It’s more royal. It’s golden and white, and she finds herself in a palace.

“Hello, Kara Zor-El” she turns around quick to find a flying golden robot “May I assist you? You seem to be disturbed”

“Ke-Kelex?!”

“Yes, I am Kelex. One of the many service robots your uncle created to help the House of El” Kara runs to Kelex, hugging him “Kara Zor-El, you seem to be emotional at this moment”

“Of course I am, you dumb bot! I just…had the worst dream ever. You wouldn’t believe it”

“I have seen many of the inventions of your father and uncle. Believing has become only relative.”

“Where is mother and father? I have to see them”

“They are upstairs looking after Kal-El”

“Kal-El is here? I have to see him! The real him!”

Kara runs out of the room in a sprint before Kelex can say anything else. She reaches the quarters, almost breaking down the entrance to see her parents

“Mom! Dad!” she lets out in a thunderous arrange of feelings. She sees them looking after the cradle of Kal-El “Mom, Dad, i know this is going to sound silly” she chuckles while walking to them. Placing her arms on their shoulders “But I dreamt-”

They turn around, and their face are empty. There are no eyes, or nose, or mouth.

“What?!” she looks at the cradle, and Kal-El is missing “Where’s Kal?! What happened?!”

“Yooouuuuu” Zor-El’s voice slithers despite the no maw “Don’t eeven know couzzin is gonnee! Farrr awaaay”

“This...isn't right!”

“Hooow do youuu knnooow?!” exclaims Lara “Do you trrullyyy remeberr uusss?”

“Of course I do! You’re my parents! I can never forget you!” her holds hair in a tight grip

“Hahahaha” both Jor-El and Lara laugh “Hahahaha!”

The array of light has changed around the room. Kara turns to see the planet has gone red. In the distance a black hole has risen in front of Krypton.

“No. No! Please!” Kara falls to the ground

“HAHAHAHAHA!”

If the loud scream outside from every Kryptonian wasn’t enough. Kara has to hear the loud shrieking laughter of her parents. It’s all too much for the young girl.

“SHUT UP! SHUT UP!”

KENT FARM

“AAAAIIIEEEEEE” Kara smashes the clock next to her as she swings her arms around, smashing anything in her way “AAHHHH”

WHOOSH

Clark dashes into the room in quick haste “Kara! Kara!” he shakes her body “Kara, please!”

Despite her shut eyes, the outline that keeps them closed is beginning to glow red “RRRAAAAHHHHH”

Her scream is heard not just around the house, but almost to everyone living in the state of Kansas. Several people in their homes are woken up by that loud babel. And it won’t stop. First people were caught off guard by it and were only going to ignore it. Now, they have to keep their ears shut if they want to keep their eardrums.

“Kara! KARA” Clark keeps her eyes shut with his arms. The room shakes, and the glass windows break. Jonathan and Martha are in the room holding their ears shut. Suffering in the bed as they can’t hold onto each other for close personal safety

“AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH” with one more loud yell, Kara unleashes a powerful blast of heat vision. With Clark putting his arms in the way and keeping a firm foot in place, the blast only strikes him. And it isn’t only a couple of seconds. Kara lets out a wide load of powerful energy. Clark has fought some powerful forces in his brief time as Superman. But this is the single most painful experience of his life.

Kara’s yell finally gets quieter, and the blast begins to evaporate. The blonde girl falls to her bed, with Clark falling to his knees. He’d hold onto his bleeding ears, the blood of which begins to form a small pool of the floor. But Clark’s hands are burning as of this moment, it's hard to concentrate on anything else.

Kara wakes up, and sees Clark not even having enough power to cry or scream on his own. He’s only looking at his chard hands.

“By Rao, no!” Kara runs to Clark “This-this-this couldn’t have been me! It couldn’t!”

“It…was, Kara” Clark winces when feeling the sting of the blast “Check on…Ma and Pa”

“What about you?! Look at you! Oh Rao, Kal, how could I have done this to you?!”

“Don't worry. Just…check on them, now. I’ll recover”

Kara leaves the room, with Clark alone. He looks at his hands, trembling as he breathes in heavy pants.

ONE HOUR LATER

In the kitchen, Kara looks out in the window, blue in her face over the harm she’s done. The Kent Family is sat down, with Clark having had his hands bandaged up with white tape.

Jonathan taps on the table “Well, Martha, sooner or later you and I had to have gotten our hearing aids”

“Ha" he looks at his father "Good one, Pa” Clark laughs with his dad. The look over to see Martha with her arms crossed.

“Ugh, wrong, son. Bad joke. Very bad one”

“Yeah, you never were a comedian”

Angered by their handlement of the situation, Kara gets up to yell at them “How can you people just sit there and-and do…this! Aren’t you angry with me?! Look at the people I’ve hurt!”

“Kara, relax” says Clark

“No, Clark, you relax! I’m your cousin, and yet look at your hands! I checked with my x-rays, those still aren’t healing.

“They will” Clark waves it off

“Sweetie, you need to sit down” Martha tells Kara

“But-”

“Sit. Down.”

Surprised to see Martha stand her ground, Kara takes a seat on the table.

Clark clears his throat to speak “I did a quick sweep over Smallville. While their hearing is hurting, they’ll be okay. Some people fell down rough, but they’re in the hospital to be checked at. It’s nothing to be afraid of.”

Kara wanted to comment, but it’d be more of the same. So why bother? She remained in her seat, quiet, not even looking at the Kent Family. All of them, looking at one another, worried.

5 DAYS LATER

In the porch, Jonathan Kent is eating the last slice of Martha’s apple pie. He savors the last bite, having enjoyed each piece he ate up “Oh Martha, these one of the many reasons why I love you” he says to himself.

“At least you said ‘one of the many reasons’” says Clark, opening the front door to take a seat next to his Pa “It’d be a shame to know you only married her because of the food”

“The food helped, even if it did reach my thighs. You should have seen me in my 20’s, kiddo. The ladies couldn’t get enough of me”

“Mhm” Clark brushes his eyes

“Okay” Jonathan puts the place on the table next to him “Is this because I took the last slice of your mother’s pie or is it because of Kara?”

“I wish it was the former. Then I’d get over it quickly. I’m trying, Pa. But she doesn’t leave her room. She just blinks, rarely she ever eats. And when she talks, it’s only about Krypton. Which doesn’t bother me, but I don’t get the sense she wants to talk about anything else past it!”

“Clark, given the details we know, to her, she JUST lost her family, her entire race, and is in a world that is not only not common to her, but moved forward in a way she wasn’t expecting. You can’t rush pain.”

“I know, Dad. But she’s either mute or-or angry. Every night, she screams. I have to cover her mouth so she doesn’t deafen the entire town. Hell, the state if we’re not careful. I have to be the shield whenever she uses her laser eyes. My hands haven’t even healed fully!”

Clark reaches his bandaged hands out. They shake as his fingers twitch “We’re lucky we haven’t had the cops arrive here. Yet! God, imagine if the DEO were here! It’s only a matter of time before they show up here! It’s bad enough they want Superman. Now they’ll get Superman’s long-lost cousin to boot.

I…I want to be there for her! I do! She’s family after all and I’m all she has! But she’s...making it so difficult!”

“Hmm” Jonathan looks at Clark with a stink eye “Clark, I remember reading what your…friend Lois Lane wrote about you”

“Pa, this isn’t the time-”

“Boy, when I speak, you’d better zip your mouth shut, you hear me?”

Clark sits still like a statue. His bottom lip quivers when hearing his father’s sudden harsh threat “Lois wrote down perfectly what I hoped for when you decided to be a superhero.

To Metropolis, and to the world; you’re a friend. You’re the best friend the world can ask for. You don’t impose yourself on others, you simply lend your hand and with that, they can move forward the next day, better than they were before.

But this? This is another problem entirely, Clark. It’ll take more than being a friend or a family to help her. You aren’t cut out for this, Clark. Neither is your mother and I. What she needs is a professional she can talk to. A proper therapist she can share what she feels with. Whom she can feel comfortable with cause family ain’t the solution. We can be there for her, help her. But we can’t be the only thing”

“And what therapist can we find? If we do, they’ll reveal to the authorities that she’s from another planet. Then it’s relayed to the government, and-”

“Doctor-Patient confidentiality, son”

“That won’t be enough! What if-” Clark stops, looking to his left. After several seconds of this pause, he hears a disturbance “I’ve been gone long enough from Metropolis”

“What are you talking about?”

“Some guy is causing mayhem near my apartment block. I have to stop him”

“When you stop him, remember what we talked about, Clark. Some problems that seem small are too big even Superman”

“Good thing this is right up my alley”

WHOOSH

METROPOLIS

The Atomic Skull is rampaging through the streets, tossing away cars with only a swat of his hand. A little boy is holding his scraped knee on the sidewalk, crying.

“Cry some more” says Atomic Skull grabbing him by his hurt knee “I wanted to lay low in these corners, but you had to be a **** and rat me out to the cops nearby. Well, they were the first two to die. Let’s see about number 3”

PPPOOWWW

From the shadows or the heavens above for any mortal eye, Superman has arrived. Shoulder checking Atomic Skull into a building and grabbing the boy before he fell.

“Holy crap, it’s you!” the boy wipes the tear from his eye “My brother says you’re a fake”

“Do I look fake?” Superman asks with an assured smile

“Well, he does enter a lot of conspiracy sites on the internet”

“Well, I’m a conspiracy no more. The real deal is here”

Cop cars arrive, with Superman approaching them. The cops immediately point their guns at him “Superman! Get on the ground now!”

“This boy is hurt and so are a lot of people here. I need you to evacuate as many as possible. There’s a madman-”

“FIRE”

The cops begin to shoot, with Superman quickly speeding out of there. He puts the boy down next to the nearest stop sign, before quickly grabbing each cops gun. He shows up before all of them, dropping each firearm.

“Are you insane?! You could have hurt the boy! And others if they were in the way”

“You’re not our boss! Far as we know, you caused all this!”

“You can’t be this dense-”

“SUPERMAN” from above, 3 DEO helicopters are on the way “DOWN ON THE GROUND NOW”

“Why announce themselves?” Superman questions “Unless they-”

SHOOOOM

Superman is blasted by Atomic Skull’s new blasts “Hmm, this is new” Atomic Skull grins “I like it already”

SHOOOM

With a scream he shoots up at the helicopters, destroying one, with it falling onto a building.

“Double tap, man am I good” Atomic Skull comments. He looks over at the cops, who don’t have anything to defend themselves with. And even if they did, they’d do what they do now.

“RUN” shouts a cop as he and his partners leave. Atomic Skull goes to blast them, but he’s shot from above by the helicopters. They’re releasing firepower now, but while they do cause him to kneel down, it only really ticks him off.

It’s only his skull that flames, but with enough channeling from his body, his whole body begins to exude the same amount of atomic energy. The fumes being shown for anyone near by.

“What is he doing?” says the pilot from above

“Any and all teams heading our way! Do not come-”

BBOOOOM

Atomic Skull releases a dangerously dominant detonation from his person. The energy causing the whole block to shake, sending people back. including the helicopters to lose their place in the air.

“First I’ll deal with you, jabronis! Then Luthor!”

Close to the new and menacing villain, Superman plants his feet on the ground to walk towards Skull. Angered over the mere uttering of Alexander Luthor’s name entering his eardrums and this merciless villain who's hurting his home.

Chapter Text

33.1 LABORATORY-YEARS AGO

A video camera is recording from outside the protective glass the horrifying proceedings. Being shown is a man strapped inside a pod inside a rather large room.

“Mr. Luthor, this is Joseph Martin. He’ll be attempt #2 for the Gene Bomb explosion. The particles for this experiment graciously given to us by the military for your services in the Iraq and Markovia Wars.”

“No need to patronize me with the specifics, Doctor Reigns. I know what we have here. Remind me to contact the Secretary of Defense, we’re short on compounds for other such experiments as this, and I don’t intend to call-”

“Please!” shouts Joseph “I’m not supposed to be here! I’m a wrestler!”

“Well then...” Luthor gives out a short chuckle “Professional wrestling and metahuman creation are both carny businesses that eat away the soul of so many. You’ll fit right in. Thank your friends for recommending you to my employees for this immaculate experiment. Couldn’t have done this without them.”

“What?! What do you mean-”

“Start the process”

Doctor Reigns presses the button, the machine now turned on. Joseph Martin, helpless to stop it. He sees the chemicals and particles inside the pod with him. And brightly do they shine. The glorious view now blowing up in his face. The entire pod erupting. As if the man entered the worst level of hell. He can’t even hear his own screams as he’s changed forever.

METROPOLIS

“-s this transmitting?!” frantically asks an impatient woman “Yo, is this transmitting, Jenkins?! Just point the camera at me, you dunce!” with the camera now focused on her and on the battle, the woman can now speak to the millions at home.

“How’s it going, people of Metropolis! This is your fine and ever vibing girl Leslie Willis, and I can’t believe the sight before me! This new metahuman villain numbskull, and I should emphasize the skull part topped off with flaming; Atomic Skull, just appeared out of the blue.

Attacking the streets of Metropolis. He’s killed several law officers and DEO Agents, from what reliable sources have told your girl and the nasty things my own precious eyes have seen. And to make matters worse, the thickheaded Superman is here too. No doubt the fight that’s gonna come will ruin our great home and kill all of us!

Worry not citizens, I’m sure our great heroes of the DEO and always trustworthy police force will stop these bozos! Never forget that things take time, boys and girls, and people like Superman only want to prey on your kids-”

SHUT

KANSAS- KENT HOUSEHOLD

Jonathan Kent has shut his laptop in defiance, grunting in ire over this distasteful show “I will never understand the internet, Martha”

“You were the one who insisted on buying that junk, honey. Also, we have already have a computer-”

“Our son’s editorials show up there on that Daily Star site. A father needs to support his kid and Bernie told me laptops are more comfortable than that big waste of space upstairs.”

“John, even Clark warned about those lying, hateful people who spread propaganda and lies on the internet. Buncha adults who never grew up and want others to hate a single inkling of progress. I can’t believe she has 1 million people watching her on aregular basis. Half of her videos are insulting Clark and other superheroes.”

Jonathan chuckles “How would you know that?”

“I use technology better than you, dear. To my shame I will admit. Anyways, I’m going to check up on, Kara. She has to have the same super hearing as Clark, and I don’t want her disturbed.”

Martha marches upstairs to Kara’s room, carefully knocking on the door “Kara, sweetie, may I come in? I know what’s going on there is a bit hectic, but your cousin is a fighter. He won’t let any villain take him down so easy.”

No answer from the inside.

“Kara, just so you know, I’m going to enter. I think some-”

Martha opens the door, finding Kara absent from the room. The only thing of note to view is the open window “On no. Jonathan!”

“Yeah?!”

“She really has the same super hearing as her cousin!”

“…crap”

METROPOLIS

Superman falls on his knees, having been blasted by Atomic Skull’s atomic blasts from his hands. Skull walks over to him, snickering like a schoolboy “Luthor and his scientists fucks showed me and the other rat subjects so much footage of you. Like you were some sort of God. The ideal meta they wanted.”

“urgh, of course Luthor would do that. To stir you guys up.” weakly says Superman, looking at Skull with one eye open

“Well Supes, I guess with how I look and your positioning, it’s only fair to make me the Devil.”

Skull winds up and goes for a punch, with Superman grabbing his fist with one hand. The hero groaning as his hands are still tapped up and the blasts from Skull doing a bit of a number on him “Time to cast you back to hell.”

With a blast from his heat vision, he strikes Skull’s chest, causing him to back up. Superman lays in two good punches on his flaming skull cheeks. However, the hits hurt Superman as well, as he stops fighting. Skull quickly rushes to him, grabbing Superman’s head. His hands glow a vicious yellow green as Superman’s begins to glow the same color.

“Aaarggghhhh!!!”

“Then I’m dragging you with me!”

PPPOOOWWWW

Superman, and frankly all of Metropolis, is used to him being faster than a speeding bullet. But now he gets to see how the term is applied in action by someone else. A locomotive showed up, shoulder checking Atomic Skull, causing him to go through several buildings.

He finally hits the ground, finding himself in a nice-looking house. The nice-looking family shriek at his sight “It’s the devil! Hurry, we must run! God has forgotten about us!”

They get out of there, with him groaning “urghhh, I definitely should have been given the mortician gimmick.”

Away from Superman and Supergirl, hiding behind the comfort of a tipped over car, Leslie Willis and her cameraman are recording the fight ahead “As you can see, someone who looks a lot like Superman has showed up. More than likely she’s here to bring in more mayhem to our great streets. Don’t worry, I have a feeling a good friend of ours will show up soon”

Back in the field of battle, Superman is helped up by… “Kara?!”

Not only is that a surprise, by he’s surprised by her smiling. For almost 2 weeks she’s been a mute. Now, she’s rather excited. And to top it all off... “What are you wearing?”

She’s wearing a suit similar to his, only she’s wearing a skirt “Traditional kryptonian battle suit. Yours is the same, you should know. Also, I was getting annoyed by your screams and that matchstick calling everyone a “government mcmule””

“To his credit, he goes by Atomic Skull. Read Lois’ paper about this guy. Showed up at a wrestling event days after you appeared and murdered two wrestlers. Before you tackled him, he told me Luthor had given him his powers. He’s from his 33.1 laboratory, and I do remember back when I graduated from college hearing about a wrestler who just disappeared.”

“So that’s him and now he wants revenge.”

“Wrestling’s fake, but sadly that guy isn't. Go back home, I’ll apprehend him”

“Look, Kal, I was the reason you were gone from Metropolis, and left it vulnerable for an attack like this. Also, you’re not exactly in tip top shape right now. Let me make it up by helping you stop this guy”

“It’s not up for debate. You’re not ready for this”

“Not ready?! I was trained in self-defense by some of Krypton’s mightiest warriors. I can surely handle the jolly green skull!”

“SSHHH”

“Don’t you shut me-”

Clark puts his finger on her lips to keep her quiet. He points to his ears, then to the building a few feet away from them. He heard a strange noise from ahead, quickly dashing inside. Kara is left puzzled by the suddenness of his actions.

BBROOOM

The feeling is amplified when the opening of the building is shattered, with Superman flying out alongside the broken bricks, so Kara ducks for cover. She gets up, seeing before her a titan of a woman.

Away from them, Leslie Willis is in awe of the figure “She’s brand new, but she’s friendly. Taking out that punk bitch Superman. This great DEO agent is here to remind these alien freaks that Earth is ours!”

She’s almost 7 feet tall, orange skin, a mohawk jelled up right and the woman herself letting out a tired sigh, as she points to her ear.

“This Agent Kitty Faulkner, I’m dealing with Superman and his apparent new sidekick now. Keep the men posted until my command.”

Not wanting to back down, Kara stands her ground “You look like the Ice-Birds from my planet before their wings spread.”

“Heh, Interesting detail. I take it it’s wildlife from your planet?”

Kara doesn’t respond

“So, what’s your connection to Superman? Thought he was the last of his people.”

Again, Kara remains quiet, though her eyes tell a different story.

“If you come along calmly you can share stories about “Krypton” with my superiors. They’re dying to know more about your home, and how you, and whatever familial connection you and Superman have, work. We do only want peace at the end.”

“Peace? How does an aberration like you bring peace? You’re human and yet you did this to yourself? In Krypton, genetic experimentation is illegal”

“I think you should put “was” in the sentence there, sweetheart” Supergirl narrows her eyes in displeasure “Given your new to this planet that hasn’t died like yours, let me breed information to you. Genetic experimentation is also illegal. Mine, however, was sanctioned by the government. And you’re looking at the doctor responsible for it.”

“How can you test yourself like this? How can you throw away your duties as a professional to act like a meathead”

“Betterment for the country. I can do more than just create antidotes. I can help my kind from ones like yours”

PLAM

She’s had enough. Kara uppercuts the powerful force that towers over her figure, dropping her back onto the steps of the building.

While Leslie Willis continues to bash the kryptonians in her video, nearby her and her cameraman, stand a group of three teenagers watching the fight.

“Uh, Jerry, Margot, how about we throw in Willis in front of them. Her bitching is annoying me.”

“Don’t Ernie, we’ll get in trouble”

“Keep quiet you two, or else we’re all screwed.”

“With that attitude, why not just run away like everyone else”

“I don’t wanna” says a defiant Jerry “I wanna see how Superman saves the day again” he looks, keeping hope that the powerful hero will prevail and now having that same hope for his new sidekick.

Supergirl stands her ground as the orange beast gets up, rubbing her jaw “First time I felt pain”

“Who are you really?”

“Well, Kitty is my real name. But it isn’t really threatening for missions. That’s why I go by: Rampage”

“Well Rampage, meet: Supergirl!”

She jumps to the air, coming down with a powerful strike, with Rampage using her forearm to block it. She grabs Supergirl by the face, planting her to the ground. Supergirl swats the hand away, delivering a punch to Rampage. She goes for another one, but Rampage grabs it, twisting it.

“Gaaah!”

“First time you feel pain?”

“Lady” her eyes glow red “You have no idea the pain inside me”

“Hmm, interesting detail” Rampage raises her leg for a strong kick to Supergirl’s mid-section, taking the breath out of the young woman. Grabbing her and tossing the new hero into a car that was away from them.

As she’s sent to it, Supergirl sees a man inside it. He realizes the situation he’s in and panics. The new hero stops herself, placing her feet on the ground to stop her momentum. Rampage charges on, but Supergirl uses her super breath to send her back.

The car door is opened and Supergirl helps the man out “Everything okay?”

“No it isn’t okay! I think my leg might be busted”

With a quick use of her x rays “It isn’t, you’ll walk fine by the end of the day. Need any place for shelter”

“I have my house- look out!” he warns her

Rampage punches Supergirl, not even paying attention to the man she helped. The DEO agent grabs the car, using it as a weapon against Supergirl. Smashing it on the ground with a terrifying display of power.

The ground quakes and the people watching the fight fall to the ground due to the impact.

2 BLOCKS AWAY

The Atomic Skull’s radiation from before seems to be reseeing, and Superman is almost back to full strength. He rises up, noticing the battle in front. The Man of Steel speed runs to punch Rampage. Quickly does the goliath go to tackle, but Superman flips her over.

He marches on to her to see if the next blow knows her out, but an unwelcome sight is before him. The DEO jets are here, shooting at him. The firing works as Superman drops to his knees. He shields his eyes with his forearm, to get a better view of them.

Before Rampage can attack him, Superman flies up to the jets. With her distracted for a few seconds, Supergirl takes the opportunity to jump out, spearing Rampage to the ground.

As the mayhem goes on, Jerry, Margot and Ernie help the man Supergirl saved from earlier “Thanks, kids”

“Don’t thank us yet” says Margot “Because with what’s going on, we’ll all need saving soon”

Superman soars through the skies as the DEO jets go back to target him. The Man of Steel scoffs at the display “Should be no sinch. I’ve taken down these jets before, I can do it again”

The jets fire, with Superman dodging each hit “I shouldn’t be enjoying this as much as I am. As a matter of fac-”

All except one. It strikes him hard and takes him for a loop. He remains in the air, with the jets firing. As he falls, he takes one look above, a good one, at the logo. Which seems to contain a hawk.

On the ground, Leslie pumps her fist in the air at Superman’s literal downfall while the group of teenagers look on with worry. Supergirl and Rampage continue exchanging blows, with Rampage able to deliver a punch to place Supergirl on her knees.

The orange titan looks up, noticing Superman falling from above. She smiles, placing her finger back on her earpiece “Thank you, soldiers”

She grabs Superman before he could fall, tossing him right at Supergirl. Rampage quickly goes over to the two, ramming her boot on Superman’s back to keep them down “Alright Agent Gaynor, right as I make it out, blast them with everything you got”

The chief commander of this group answers back “Understood, Agent Faulkner.”

PEEW PEEW PEEW PEEW

The group blasts at the two kryptonians, Superman shields Supergirl, taking the brunt of this brutal assault “AAHHH” Superman grabs his cousin, speeding out of there.

Leslie Willis scoffs, but the more she thinks about it, the more she’s amused “So it right there, folks. Aliens really are green.”

The teenagers and the man who Supergirl helped are more confused. Jerry is a bit despondent over the display “This can’t be it. Superman can’t have just...run off like that.”

“Cease fire!” Gaynor tells his men “Where did they skedaddle?”

“Can’t have gotten far. Survey the surroundings” orders Rampage “No more will Superman and his kind escape the might of the most powerful military force in the world!”

BOOOOM

One of the jets above blows up, flying right into one of the shops below, causing even more damage. Even Rampage is surprised by the display, looking ahead to see Atomic Skull the culprit.

The civilians watching this fight take extra steps from Atomic Skull whereas the DEO remain firm.

“Seems you folks forgot about me” says Skull “No worries, having Alexander Luthor’s good friends right in front of me can bring a tear to my eye with all I could do to you.” his cold vacant eyes glow as verdant as his body with the pleasure that now consumes him.

“I can’t stand Luthor with every fiber of my being. What makes you think he and I could ever be friends?”

“He supplies weapons to you people. Surprised he didn’t sell me and the others”

“What others?”

“Don’t play dumb with me! You know what he did!”

“Allegedly”

“Well then, lets confirm these kills!” his hands flame up, his hatred fueling him.

DOWNTOWN

Superman takes Supergirl to an alley, sitting down himself while she lays. Both hurting from before “Why…” Kara tries to get up “Why aren’t we fighting those jerks?”

“We’re to beat up...” his still hurt hands tremble “And you’re too green”

Kara rolls her eyes “Not this again-”

“Kara, those pilots from above? Those are the Blackhawks. The most elite group of pilots ever to exist. They stretch back all the way back to War World II, assisting in the defeat of the Axis Power. And have remained intact since. Sad to see the roster change. They fought oppression before, and now they’ve became another cog in the machine”

Kara throws a can at Clark’s head “I don’t care for your history lecture. Who cares? They’re human. We’re Kryptonians! Our very existence causes them to reconsider their position in the universe!” Kara gets up, scowling at her cousins.

“You’d be surprised by human beings, cuz”

“I’m sure I will. But I’m not gonna let them demean me and punish for me shit I don’t know!”

“We need-” his ears let the Action Ace know what’s going on “We’re going back”

“Finally speaking my language”

“But this time, we use strategy”

MIDTOWN

Rampage and Atomic Skull charge at each other. The adrenaline rush now pumping into whatever veins Atomic Skull has now. The excitement now exuding his body as it smolders with his heat. Even the bullets from above by the Blackhawks aren’t holding Skull back. It’s a light drizzle for him.

Atomic Skull raises his arm, delivering a thunderous clothesline right on Rampage’s neck, dropping her.

Skull quickly grabs both her arms, and before she can react, he stomps her head in multiple times. Caving her head into the ground.

Above where the jets of the Blackhawks are still flying… “Agent Faulkner is taking too much damage, sir”

“You’re right, Agent Knox. Go down, but still keep your distance. I can almost feel the heat melt my control panels.”

Agent Knox does fly down, shooting with what he has left. Skull lets go of Rampage, looking at the jet at a close distance from him. Angered by his intrusion, his entire body shoots a beam of terrible energy, blowing up Knox’s plane. Another jet is nearby, and still radiating with power, Atomic Skull shoots at another plane, causing that one to burst into flames, smolder and no sign of life.

“Dammit!” yells Agent Gaynor “Agent Knox and Blake are down! Agent Faulkner, I can’t get a read on! None of our weapons are making a dent on this thing! You’d think Luthor would reinforce these a little more! I need help right now if we’re gonna contain this bastard!”

“Worry not, Agent Gaynor. This situation will be assessed”

Gaynor gasps, looking up to see the Hero of Metropolis standing on the glass above. With a punch to the reinforced glass, Superman grabs Theodore Gaynor, pulling him out with one hand. With a stomp, the jet begins to go down, aiming right at Atomic Skull.

“Ha” laughs Skull looking up “And here I thought you ran, tucked your legs-um…in between your legs!”

Below where his feet are planted, the cool breezy air of Supergirl’s freeze breath now keep those feet glued to the ground “I don’t know how one tucks their legs in between their legs, but what I do know is the vapors of the heat coming should give someone some satisfaction. I know I’ll be satisfied.”

Supergirl grabs Rampage, jumping to the air as the jet hits Atomic Skull “Come on! Bring it to me! I can take anything you can di-”

KBOOOM

Atomic Skull is laying on his back as the smoke clears, groaning “ow”

Leslie Willis groans at the sight of Superman and Supergirl’s return. The young kids and the adult nearby tell a different story “Knew they’d be back” comments Jerry.

“Suuuure” teases Margot

Supergirl is in the air, holding out Rampage as Superman flies to her. Superman grabs Rampage and tosses Agent Gaynor to Supergirl. Supergirl descends to the ground “When am I gonna fly?!” she screams as she descends.

“Give it a few years!” shouts back Superman

Supergirl scoffs “I’m gonna learn quick, and call you an amateur”

In the air, the last remaining jet of the Blackhawks still soars, heading straight to Superman. Agent Cavanaugh is ready to blast, but his attack is halted when he sees Rampage being the one flying to him. Superman is using her as a shield, using her head to crack open the glass.

“GASP” Rampage regains her senses, now growing great anger over being toyed around. She back elbows Superman to his nose and delivers a punch to him. They’re both now fighting on the jet, with Agent Cavanaugh panicking over these two powerful beings fighting as such a close distance to him.

“The jet’s not stable anymore! Agent Kautner-”

Rampage grabs Superman by the face, ramming his face on the nose radome of the jet. With that sending the pilot flying out, and now causing all of them to fall.

“SIGH” Superman lets out. Quickly grabbing Rampage and Cavanaugh. He goes to an alleyway, where Agent Gaynor has been tied with a pipe “Hmm, she can listen to orders” remarks Superman. Quickly grabbing two pipes, each one used to tie up Agent Cavanaugh and Rampage.

“Hell no!” Rampage busts out. The pipes flying out to the air, and she goes to attack the Man of Tomorrow. Superman dodges her punch, and grabs, quickly speeding out of the alley, leaving the pilots alone.

“So…” begins Cavanaugh “This is uncomfortable and it’s hard to breath”

“Our friends are dead”

“That too”

MIDTOWN

Supergirl grabs the barely moving Atomic Skull “I must say, your creation is astonishing. How were human beings able to create…whatever you are”

“What I am is a guy who can sell good”

He dropkicks her, sending her a few feet back. He rushes to her, jumping to deliver a flying elbow shot. He hits her and they both fall on their backs. It only takes 2 seconds for Atomic Skull to raise his legs, doing a kip up and landing perfectly on his feet.

“Where’s my ‘you still got it’ chant?”

PLAM

Superman smashes Rampage onto Atomic Skull, the flamed menace spinning on the ground.

“Don’t take your eyes off him” says Supergirl standing up “Guy plays possum”

“Well he was a wrestler so he would know”

PPOW

Rampage elbows Superman on the stomach, grabbing him and tossing him to Atomic Skull steely “There, that should keep him down. Plus, we weren’t finished.”

“You’re hurt, lady. You can’t win this” says Supergirl

“Probably not. Only need to delay you. While you and your cousin ran off, I called my superiors. Another squadron of DEO agents will be coming. This time, armed from head to itty bitty toe. These will be the ones to finally arrest the supposed “Man of Steel”. Just imagine what we could do with two aliens like yourselves”

“What are you saying?”

“Do I need to state the obvious? We’ll find ways for the two of you to cooperate. You can be heroes, just ones who will serve under the US government. And if you don’t, well, we’ll find ways that can make you. I know people.

People who can look into your mind in ways you won’t feel comfortable. Do you want that? Do you want to be mindless for all eternity? Any way you slice it, you lose today. At least if you join properly, you won’t be half a mind”

“You-you can’t do that?! How can your government allow it?!”

“Girl, you’re a walking talking nuclear bomb. You’re too much of a specimen to toss in jail or set free like an animal in the wild. You’ll work for us. Your choice in the matter is fictional. Now to start before my coworkers arrive, politely kneel. It’ll make me good when they show up”

“No” Kara says silently. She’s seen behavior like this before.

KRYPTON- YEARS AGO

In her own home, Kara sees the war out there in Krypton. One that escalates the destruction of her race. The door is softly opened, and Kara expects to see her parents. But it’s only the dreaded hellion; General Zod.

“Hello, Kara Zor-El. Where are your parents?”

Kara refuses the answer, even if she’s fighting back tears over this man and his army now swarming her room.

“Kara please…” Zod approaches her, and she’s runs to the corner. He chuckles and rushes to her, grabbing her face “Your safety is a priority. I will make sure you have a place for me and my men, if you swear loyalty to me. And you can start, by Kneeling Before Zod!”

METROPOLIS- PRESENT

“No more!”

Her eyes glow red, she curls up her fist so tight she might bleed from it. The rage seething from her causes a moment of pause for Rampage. Before she can plan out anything else, Kara decks her across the jaw, almost breaking it.

Rampage goes to strike back, but Supergirl wallops her with a knee to the face. Rampage falls on her hip, with Supergirl following up with a kick right square in the nose. Blood flying just a few feet above them. Rampage goes to get up, but Kara boots her in the head to keep her down.

“No more! You hear me! No more!”

With her head in the ground, Kara lowers down to deliver a series of punches to her opponent. Each louder than the last. Each punch causes the block to shake louder. Anyone in Metropolis can hear and even feel the hits. Some citizens are believing this to be an earthquake.

“You people will never own me! You hear me?! I will not be your soldier!” Kara’s eyes glow red

She expects a response from Rampage. Another cold comment to make her feel less than. Instead, Kara sees Rampage’s face swollen up. None of her eyes can open and speech is only burbles than proper words. She can barely move any other part of her body.

“You feel big now, huh?!” red now permeates her entire eye “Do you?!”

The heat now being too much. She can’t control it any further. She thought she was done with blast outrages, but she can’t hold it anymore.

VVVHOOOOOSHHH

She blasts hot red lasers onto Rampage. The color of red almost consumes half of Metropolis. The length of it being long enough that Atomic Skull got to get back up, approaching Supergirl.

Supergirl stops, gasping in shock. She quickly looks at Rampage, now worried. Supergirl quickly covers her eyes, holding her breath over what she did. What she was looked like a charred corpse “By Rao, no. I couldn’t. I couldn’t-”

Atomic Skull wraps his hands on her head. With that, he places his touch of death onto her “You did, girlie. Thanks for that. One less nag to handle. And who the fuck is "Rao"?”

VVVWHOOSHH

“GAAH” Atomic Skull howls, looking to see Superman have been the one to blast him. He’s prepared to fight Superman again. He can see his hands twitching like before, he'll just target his hands like he should have planned before. Yet any movement he planned is stopped when a shadow suddenly appears behind him. On add occurrence to happen at a moment and daytime like this.

He turns to see Supergirl holding up the somewhat decent looking remains of the Blackhawks jet. The man has been 100% this entire time, but the cold shadow anger that this teenager has even causes him to pause. He himself was once a boy who was fueled by rage, but this Supergirl...it's different. It's unlike anything he's seen in his life.

"The one true deity" comments Supergirl "Pray to your fake one if you want to live tomorrow!"

KKRAAMMMM

She RAMS it into to the ground, finally keeping Atomic Skull down. Or so they hope. This man’s strength has been a sight to behold. It feels like nothing can keep him down. Both kryptonians guard are up, expecting the worst. Yet, nothing seems to pop out.

Superman checks for any heartbeat, but it's hard to tell with the way the Atomic Skull's structure. It's different from any living being he's met. Given what he's absorbed today, the Man of Tomorrow knows he could still be alive.

Kara smiles “A Rao miracle” Supergirl looks across to her cousin, his stance loose and attention elsewhere “I can hear them coming too, Kal. We need to run.”

“I thought you weren’t one for running”

“Live to fight another day”

“Hmm, i guess you can fit it on Earth”

Before they can speed out of there, behind a dumpster, Lois and Jimmy see the duo. Jimmy motions for Lois to go in, but she waves it off. She doesn’t want them disturbed or let the DEO get their hands on them “Just take the picture”

“Don’t mind me. I’m two for two with aliens here”

SNAP

1 HOUR LATER

The DEO has now taken into custody Atomic Skull, with Rampage having to be flown out of the premises by the medical staff.

Leslie Willis made sure her cameraman got a good view of her while in the background, the DEO are working “As you all saw, Superman and his tramp just took down a proud soldier for our country. Leaving her with scars that will-HEY”

Leslie is pushed away by Ernie and Margot while the camera is now focused on Jerry “Piss off, you hate mongerer! What I saw was the truth. There was this flaming guy, and he was hurting everyone, and it wasn’t the DEO that stopped him, it was Superman and this- this Supergirl. They saved the day, not-”

“Get away you brats!” Leslie comes back into focus, pushing away Jerry.

More people begin to appear, booing Leslie.

“Yeah, Superman saved the day!” yells out a young man

“If it wasn’t for him and his friend, we’d all be dead!” exclaims the adult man, hopping on one leg.

“Superman! Superman!” begins to chant Jerry

Now everyone begins to chant “SUPERMAN! SUPERMAN! SUPERMAN!”

DEO agents and available cop units swarm the mob, pushing them away. Half of them were disgusted to see them cheer for Superman.

The leader of this squadron, Sam Lane, saw the aircraft with Ramage being taken away. An agent goes to Sam “Don’t worry, sir. She’ll receive the best medical aid.”

“I know it, kid. A shame because I wanted Faulkner in my team”

“You mean-”

“Excuse me, sport, I’m going to have to leave right now. Said team is what I’m going to be discussing with the Mayor now”

“What about your daughter?” he points at Lois, who’s away from the taped area, but she’s outside of it interviewing the residents of this area “She does to many fluff pieces about the aliens”

“What my daughter does in her job is none of my concern. She can write about Superman saving kittens from a burning skyscraper and it does no damage to us. We have the true Americans on our side. And soon, Superman will be of no problem to the future generations.”

THE KENT FARM

In the dining table, Jonathan and Martha sit across from Clark and Kara, the elder couple concerned “Clark, are you sure this is the right choice?” asks Martha

“I’ve talked it over with Kara, and we both agree she should stay in Metropolis”

“Don’t you think it’s too much too soon?” John asks to his son

“Umm, I’m here too” Kara gains attention “And I enjoyed Metropolis. It’s so…extensive. The construction of the city reminded me of home. Not exactly, but Kal’s city’s architecture is to be admired. And the monsters there? I’m more than happy to fight them! Especially with how corrupt Earth’s government is.”

Clark chuckles “Well, we need to have a chat about that”

Jonathan interjects before his son can speak “Kara, is fighting really the best solution right now?”

“It’s not fighting. Just problem solving. Earth could use some, and Metropolis is a good place to start. You two should come with us!”

“We’re better off here, sweetie. We’re comfortable with what we know”

“Well I don’t know much of Earth, so I might as well learn well from the guy who learned best. And…I can use the family” Kara gives a nod of assurance to Clark. Clark himself beamed with pride.

10 MINUTES LATER

Kara sits outside, looking up at the stars of the heavens, while Clark is in the living room with Ma and Pa. The latter of whom is still unsure “Clark, she’s still a kid and you’re just going to let her fight metas?”

“Kara knows how to defend herself. You should have seen her today, guys.”

“Not without her powers. You had years to master yours”

“Pa, please, I’m the only one she has left in her life. And being in Metropolis was the first time she felt...expressive! Even in danger, she was full of life.”

“That can have another meaning, son" Clark takes a light gulp in his throat. What his father said does have merit. He himself saw the fury of Kara when fighting Rampage and Atomic Skull "She could be signing her-”

“John, please” Martha enters, now staring at her son “Clark, we trust to take care of Kara. She might only be responsive to you, and I think time with her cousin can be therapeutic.”

“Yes! Thanks Ma-”

“However! The moment you see her behavior declining and her mood change? You send her here quick! And you make sure she gets proper attention from a professional!”

“If I keep her here, what would change?”

“Big city can feel like swimming in the middle of the ocean. And while Kara is a big fish, even those of great size can feel consumed.”

“Guys, I know you’re worried. But I’ve got this. Kara gets to spend time with a fellow Kryptonian. And I…well, I won’t get to feel…alone anymore. I have my family”

Clark and Kara wave goodbye to Jonathan and Martha, and they exit, with Clark flying while Kara having to wrap herself around his back. Jonathan sighs in displeasure “Alone? You always had us Clark. I hope you hear that”

CITY HALL- METROPOLIS

Sam Lane has arrived in the meeting room with no one inside of it, sighing. He goes to take a seat, but the door is quickly opened, with a man in the standard black and dark blue color scheme suit most of the DEO agents have. But the man has a star symbol on his chest, one Sam Lane knows too well.

“Why the glum look, Major Lane? Thought the Mayor would be here?”

“That was what I was told. However, why would I be so crestfallen when Starman is here?”

Ted Knight scoffs, folding his arms while holding some pieces of paper “It’s Captain Knight, Sam. Starman is just for show now”

“Not when you still have that costume. Different colors be damned. And the reason why I’m rather peeved is because, well, look around you. The table is placed slightly to the side, chairs are disorganized, one is missing even, and whenever General Bones and Major Graves are here, they offer me a glass of water. So do the other Council members. Manners, Starman.”

“I’m surprised you haven’t asked over getting to the chase”

“That’s because I’m wondering why you’re here. Aren’t you and your Starmen supposed to be off in dimension A.22 to stop another threat?”

“We’re in between missions. And I guess I’ll get to the chase because you’re unusually chatty. General Bones wants you to take on the Superman mission. Big blue is getting too much love from the public.

That’s not even considering the podcasts and videos that are gaining views. Each day we have wealthy folk calling our networks of communications about their anger over Superman “harassing them”. We’ve let those slide and give Superman the win because they were playing around with metahuman splicing.

But a few of them supply us with great donations that we use to spread our reach and the President is furious over the new “heroes” popping out all over the place. Superman started it all, and we start the end-”

“You can stop, I can connect the dots well enough already. You have my word, from the General to the Mayor to even the President of the United States that Superman and this new “Supergirl” will be stopped. Shame Rampage had to be beaten with an inch of her life. I wanted her to join my team.”

“Make the calls to bring them in, Lane.”

“Oh please, Knight” Sam Lane has on the biggest smile he’s had in years “I already did. They’re on the way.”

DEO AIRPLANE

They’re coming in hot and ready. Already in their gear, just centimeters away from having their finger on the trigger or lighting up the plane with their powers, Freedom’s Ring can’t wait to achieve a victory for America; defeating Superman.

Chapter Text

METROPOLIS- 2 YEARS AGO

Finishing up his hard task of tying up a group of disfigured lizard people is Commander Steel, who is accompanied by fellow DEO Agents as they oversee the lizard crew. First one to show up to greet them is “Lois Lane! Investigative reporter!”

She shows up in front of them. A smirk glued too tight for others to see and no sense of trepidation in the slightest whereas others in the public are too nervous to bask in the grace of the DEO.

“Hello, Ms. Lane” replies Commander Steel “I’ve read your papers a while back. Very impressed how fast you’re moving up in the journalism ranks”

“Whether this moves me up or not is superfluous. I think it’s important for a DEO Agent and former JSA member of your caliber to share with me and the people about this Lizard attack”

“That information is important for my superior officers to know and you to find out later”

“Don’t be like that, Agent. It’s not like this was a citywide invasion, they only made it a few blocks away. Plus, they’re experimentation, not underground creatures like some wackos theorized. This is illegal metahuman splicing. It’s a crime America is all too familiar with.

And surely you can talk to this journalist you seem to respect a little bit about the battle. Good PR could be for your image. You have been silent the past two years”

Commander Steel sighs, pinching his nose. He looks to his fellow agents, motioning them to move along “You get five minutes, Lane”

“That’s a lot for someone like me”

Plastered in every newspaper stand in Metropolis is Lois’ interview with Commander Steel. How the Lizard crew were renegade agents from the DEO who tried to sell themselves to some billionaires as mercenaries.

THE DAILY STAR

Sitting in her desk, Lois is calmly drinking her tea as Perry White walks along “Good work, Lane. Finally giving the people what they want. Keep it up”

She puts her cup down “If you say so” she utters those words while looking at the rising shine of the sun.

1 YEAR LATER

Brand new to the public is Firebrand, a DEO Agent making his debut stopping a shipment of illegal weapons manufacturing in Suicide Slum. Before even the residents of some of the neighborhoods can react to the fallout, there is Lois Lane showing up. Holding up her recorder as she moves past some agents to go to Firebrand.

“Heh” remarks Firebrand “Here for an autograph or something…more?” he extends his arms

“Ew, no” she says repulsed “Cool it down, turbo. What I’m here for is your valuable time. Care to let people know who you are?”

Firebrand brushes his chin, intrigued by the offer.

LOGAMBA

A near destitute country around West Africa, it was ravaged once more when a group of soldiers from its corrupt government stole tech from the DEO to attack a group of rebels. Later on, a squadron of DEO Agents came in to attack and take their tech back. In the middle of driving them to the plane, Lois Lane pops up to surprise Major Trey Graves, the Americommando.

“Sam Lane’s daughter, I see. The online sphere was right. You have quite the eyes and precision”

“I’ll ignore the weird comment and how it’s shocking not seeing you beside Robert Bones, and ONLY bring up what happened here”

“Let me bring up how YOU are here, Lane”

“I have friends here back when my dad was stationed in Logamba for almost a year as a kid. I made friends in plenty places around the world and these friends got me a flight here to get a front row seat in the battle. Plenty of statements from them but could use one from you”

“I’m busy”

“No you aren’t. They’ve already been subdued and I think you want to get something off your chest. Given how it’s happened off America and doesn’t seem tied to anything specific, just robbers of your stuff, I think your Director can see this as a pseudo puff piece”

“Didn’t take you for doing “soft” interviews, Lane”

“Are you a softspoken individual, Major Graves?” Lois pulls out her notepad, smirking at the Major.

Once she returns to America, only her piece about Americommando coming into action received heavy notice around the city. Again her boss is impressed and more people remember the name of Lois Lane.

6 MONTHS LATER

Superman saved the world from an alien invasion, and so many saw firsthand the battle on the streets. Nobody moved around that day more than Lois Lane, who interviewed as many people as possible and was given details of many of the weapons the Dheron Army used before it became classified by the DEO. Nobody could have gotten that piece out. Nobody but Lois Lane.

THE PRESENT

Lois and Jimmy are inside City Court as Bruno’s hearings are today. Clark and Lois had investigated Bruno a year ago during his schemes using the Miracle 2000 Suit that ended in catastrophe “Is Clark ever gonna show up?” asks Jimmy looking at the entrance door.

“Just the two of us, partner. Make sure to get a good shot of him. The people need to eat up to cold downfall of Bruno Manheim”

It’s only been 20 minutes into the hearings, but Manheim’s endless blabber is cut short when a loud boom is heard outside of the Court. Lois grabs Jimmy by the collar of his shirt, pulling him with her as she walks out of the room “Ms. Lane, i feel staying here is the wiser choice. What would Perry say?”

“This wasn’t going anywhere, Jimbo. Perry would want us to be go getters, even if we were trapped 50 feet under the earth. You want to be on the front page as the photographer of the day? Follow me into danger.”

Whereas the people ran to safety, Lois and Jimmy charged ahead. Hiding behind a car, Lois sees first “Big blue Superman, flame brain, and…” Lois is surprised by the girl helping Superman “A Supergirl?”

“Supergirl?! Superman has a sister?!”

“Could be, I don’t know. Why is she here now? Anyways, get a shot, Olsen. The world needs to know of Supergirl.”

1 HOUR LATER

With the fight between Superman and Supergirl against the Atomic Skull, Rampage and the Blackhawks over, the damage is done. And there is plenty of damage around for many in the district of Midvale. Atomic Skull has been arrested, 2 of the Blackhawks murdered and Rampage, Agent Kitty Faulkner, injured to the point she’s unresponsive.

While the area is taped to keep people out, there are still those around Midvale who see the carnage that the Eagle block has been victim to. Lois approaches a woman looking at the broken-down building “Ma’am, excuse me, Lois Lane, investigative journalist. Can I spare a moment of your time?”

“Umm sure” she rubs her head

“I noticed you were one of people who remained and saw the battle. At least what one could see. Are there any details you can share from what the people said to the mysterious appearance from this apparent “Supergirl”?”

“What? Ms. Lane, why would-how dare you?”

“Excuse me?”

“You want me to provide you commentary? Look around you! My home is ruined! Destroyed! I don’t know where I’m supposed to go now! The landlord will just as likely raise the prices from my rent, and from the others here to drive us out. But no one will ever know what’s going on because people like you divert attention away from things like this. The small stuff!”

“Ma’am, I’m sorry what happened. Truly I am, but this feels like-”

“Lois Lane, I remember you. You aren’t just Superman’s girlfriend, what with the interview weeks ago, but you’re Sam Lane’s daughter. The Colonel of the DEO. You’re a privileged girl. You don’t have to sweat the small stuff. Your bank account, living situation, it’s all assured”

“I cut myself off from my father years ago. Miss, if you need-”

“Don’t bring your fake concerns to me, Lane. While you’re off galivanting, finding stories about super equipment’s and interviews with metahumans, a friend of mine lost her teaching job because she brought up police corruption in Social Studies.

Or my father not being able to receive the heart surgery he needed because the DA paid off the hospital to give it to him first. Neighborhoods are being displaced by real estate deals. Public property being damaged by government workers. Hate crimes are growing each year.

Those problems affect people here, Lane. But it doesn’t matter. Time really is a cycle. So go spin in it, we all have our places”

The lady walks away from Lois, leaving the journalist stunned by what was said. Lois drops her notepad, never feeling as vulnerable as she had.

“Ms. Lane? Ms. Lane? Lois!” her arm is nudged by Jimmy “Everything okay? You’ve been standing there for almost a minute”

“I’m not okay, Jimmy. I’m not”

DAILY STAR

In her desk, Lois searches through the computer. Headlines from each news site around the country only bring up whatever DEO Agent, celebrity or business tycoon is doing. Lois has to specifically find certain news. The news the women from before told her. She reclines on her chair, blowing wind in the air, perplexed by the ordeal.

Walking passed her is Jimmy Olsen, who is looking at his camera to make sure none of the photos appear distorted “Hey, Olsen!” she grabs his jacket “Remember when you told me about how we could do more? Actually use our resources to good use?”

“Yeah?”

“We’re heading out again”

THE STREETS

In Lois’ car, both her and Jimmy wait for the light to turn green, and while stuck here, Jimmy can’t help but talk “So…was it the lady from before?”

“Huh?”

“It’s just I saw it from afar. Saw her chewing you out. Felt like intervening but thought better of it. Is this what motivated you?”

“Well, yeah. But it’s a reminder more than anything, Jimmy. The problems she talked about; those were what I delt with even before you showed up. It’s how I got started.”

OAK TOWN - 3 YEARS AGO

Entering his apartment building in a happy stroll is a cop holding a box of fresh baked goods and smile on his face. Once he opens the front door, he’s met by Lois Lane, wiggling her fingers as a gesture to say hello “How do you do Lt. Daniel Hayes? Lois Lane, investigative journalist” the brunette pulls out her reporter badge.

“Thanks for the name because I have no idea who you are”

“But I know you. You own this building don’t you. You’re even a name here in this block. A well known name”

“Ah, and you want a story with me. Good because I’ve meaning to share it for quite some time”

“Right? Plenty of stories to tell, such as the severe lack of minorities here. How anyone ranging from Chinese heritage to black is not allowed here. Care to elaborate?”

“What?” he laughs “Coincidence, lady. Plus, this is the United States of America. Those people can go to their homes. They’re already accepted there”

“Except this apartment used to be homes to plenty of them a couple of years ago. Once you were promoted and received a sizable raise in your bank account, many people were driven out. You know Tommy Parker?”

“Yeah, some guy here”

“Well, he’s actually your next-door neighbor. And he has a friend named Thomas Seely. Months back, he brought his family over for dinner. Yet when it was the end of night and they left, the entire family found themselves in the hospital with extreme bruises and contusions. Luckily no one died because Tommy found them bleeding in alleyway and called the ambulance right away”

“Group of attackers. Shame they were never found”

“True. One of the attackers is called Philip Masters. Who is seen here-” Lois pulls out a photo of Hayes with Masters in a bar, with the background displaying a confederacy flag “Doesn’t Masters have a record of past hate crime?”

“Lady, you’re reaching at this point”

“Or how about the time you shot at a protestor from a rally advocating for Japanese American rights?”

The Lieutenant bumps Lois's shoulder while walking away, annoyed by her comments. Lois shrugs “This isn’t going to look good in the pages”

METROPOLIS PLAZA- 2 YEARS AGO

Billionaire industrialist Milton Houser taps on the glass of his wine with his fork to get the attention of everyone attending this gala.

“Glad everyone could make it here tonight! I know it’s hard to ask of you to take time off your precious day to be here. But no matter where we stand, we can all agree it’s important for us to unite to spread awareness of Brain Cancer. And to help discuss with us about disease, supermodel and actress, Kim Kathleen”

The audience applauds as she enters the stage and hugs Houser. Some people laugh as she has glasses on, something they’re not used to seeing from her “I’m so happy to be here tonight! Now, despite my success, i’m disappointed my father couldn’t live to see it as he died from Brain Cancer when I was little.

It’s why Milton reached out to me, and we’ve been in contact ever since. He shared with me how he too lost his father when he was a child to brain cancer…or was it your mother? Oh I can’t remember!”

The audience laughs, however many of them do so uncomfortably, given what was said. Houser himself was a bit annoyed by it.

“And can we talk about the amazing donations given to hospitals all over the globe thanks the Houser Foundation? Each of those hospitals received a total of $100 to help them fight Brain Cancer. Isn’t that amazing?!”

The crowd looks at each other baffled “Only 100?”

“Just 100? Isn’t that too small?”

“What is she doing?” Houser asks to his assistant who is just as confused. Houser marches to her as Kim keeps talking “I can never forget how Houser shared in his tell all book about the little boy he visited in the United Kingdom who couldn’t make it to a baseball game he hosted” Houser tries to snatch the mic away, but Kim won’t stop “Yet if you check up online, Houser never went to the UK-”

“Oh Kim! Once you step on set you never stop, do you? Okay, everyone, I think I-”

Kim pulls out an earpiece, allowing for her voice to be heard loud again. Her tone is changed into a more assertive and poised voice. She places her hand on her hair, pulling it out to reveal a wig “Not only was the hair fake, so where the glasses” she gets rid of the glasses to reveal “Lois Lane! Investigative Reporter for the Daily Star!”

Some in the audience are amused while others are annoyed, not fans of Lois or journalists in general. Two men however lean close to discuss… “Man this twist was better than one of Kim Kathleen’s movies”

“I can’t believe a pair of glasses fooled us. Who else would use it to hide themselves?”

On stage, Lois lets her voice be heard “Ladies and Gentlemen, if you’re going to give money to a man that claims to raise money for finding the cure for Brain Cancer, make sure to check your facts because you’re aiding a scam”

Houser motions for security to come in while Lois keeps talking “Kim Kathleen was very eager to share details with me over all this. How Houser tricked her aging mother into giving him money for his company. Making employees pay him after pretending the company was struggling-”

Security comes in, each guard grabbing Lois by her hand. One goes to get rid of her earpiece but Lois is quick to the punch “How he’s considering downsizing on hired help. Especially from those he promised to help the families of. Right guys?”

The guards look at each other a bit perturbed. Then grow in anger when they look at Houser. Houser himself looks at the audience, as his shareholders and investors stare a hole in him in this massive PR hit. Lois catches sight of it, smirking over this pleasurable display.

CITY HALL- 1 YEAR AGO

Leaving the grand edifice, Councilman Dustin Williams exits to go to lunch, only to be interrupted by Lois Lane “Ms. Lane” the Councilman sighs into the air “Always great seeing you and your beauty. It’s the one positive in our conversations”

“Come now, Councilman, surely, we can mix things up. Like discuss your secret dealings with Mob Boss Pedro Galfini-”

“Ohohoho! This is gonna be one of those days, isn’t it?”

“Yes- how he and his men were following your orders in the apparent murder of Councilwoman Aubrey for her attempts to invest funding for those in Midvale who were pushed out of their homes for the new LuthorCorp Mart. You and Alexander Luthor seem to be connected to the hip I must say”

“He’s an amazing man who helps all in Metropolis. If only you journalists caught whiff of it and realized that people like Councilwoman Aubrey only got in the way. Now I must bid you goodbye”

“Then say hello to them” Lois points to the street, as a series of cop cars appear, with Detective Maggie Sawyer in front, taking in the Councilman.

Once he’s taken, Maggie approaches Lois behind City Hall “Thanks for stalling him. I’ve keep tracking him for months now. How did you get the information on him?”

“The mob guys chosen were sloppy and left clues that led to the tapes from the convenience store near here. Councilwoman Aubrey went there a lot and all I did was just ask for tapes. The owner was threatened to deleted it. But he told me it was nothing new, so he only made it look like he deleted footage and kept it just in case. Lucky me. Care to give in your two cents, Detective Sawyer?”

THE PRESENT

“Some were arrested, others sadly kept their jobs. But the point wasn’t winning. It was to send a message. That if you have the ability to help people, no matter what way, you could do it. Then I was sent on assignments that involved military and metahuman activity and I... remained there ever since”

“Jeez, Lois, it’s not your fault. You were just doing your job”

“Journalists aren’t blind soldiers, Jimmy. I kept at it because it was easy. It was quick. It got me a bigger paycheck and social clout in the city. I did kind of lose my way.”

“And what are we going to specifically do?”

“A bill is being passed to allow same sex marriage to be legalized in Metropolis, and there are those who are against it. If that wasn’t enough, some couples were found beaten and even some dead. The trail ends there and we’re here to find out. Welcome back to…”

SUICIDE SLUM

In the most impoverished side of Metropolis. Just entering the district can cause one’s stomach to churn. Lois has no issue with it. Jimmy almost lost his lunch. Lois and Jimmy enter the bar…

DEATHS HOLD

Where they reunite with “Turkey!” Lois exclaims. The eyepatch ex-convict seethes looking at Lois and Jimmy “Been a snail’s pace since last time” she stops her track to be closer to him. Jimmy wishes she wasn’t.

“I should throw you out! You made me look stupid last time!”

“Is that anyway to talk to a friend?”

“We’re not friends”

“You’re right. But I am an admirer. You’ve been on good behavior recently”

“Prison sucks, lady. Being here is the closest to being in the slammer though. Christ, this sucks.”

“Could be worse, and you can do right here by helping me. A few days ago, were there two men named Jeff and Angelo who were very close and spent an afternoon here?”

“Yeah, they were caught dead by the end of da night”

“And there’s been more situations like that recently. Any idea on the killers?”

“Why should I care? Just a buncha homos is all”

“Is that so?” Lois sits down next to Turkey “You’re not a good guy, Turk, but homophobia? Any disposition of anyone different? That’s never been your wrap. I checked your prison documents a while back. When you were in prison, you stopped a gang named the Red States from assaulting your cellmate. Said cellmate is gay”

“Just one story”

“There’s more like it. I can even show you it if you’re interested. There’s some goodness in you, Turkey. You want to avoid a criminal life? Help me and I’ll make sure the job agencies don’t rebuke you just because you’re an ex-convict”

Turkey looks away, contemplating the offer. Scratching his nails on the table before looking back at Lois “I ain’t getting no job, but…I heard around here that it’s a group called “The Untouchables”. Three white boys who recruit some pigs from around here who just wanna hurt”

“So, they’re getting paid?”

“That’s what I’ve heard and is all I know”

“Intriguing. Thanks, Turkey”

Lois and Jimmy exit from the booth, approaching the door. Seeing them leave so hastily causes Turkey to spit out “Hey Lane! You mean it about the job agencies crap?”

“Of course I did. I’m a woman of my word, Turkey. Sometimes, all people need to do is listen”

Jimmy gives Turkey a supportive thumbs up as he exits. Turkey is not the least bit amused by it, but when he slinks on his seat, a little bit of enthusiasm crosses his face over the prospect.

LOIS’ CAR

As they sit in silence, Lois taps on the wheel “Okay…I’m stumped”

Jimmy’s eyes go bug eyed, and swivels his head “St-stumped? Stumped? What do you mean stumped?!” asks a baffled Jimmy “Why didn’t you ask him more questions?”

“I got lost in the moment. Happens to the best of us, Olsen”

“Okay okay” Jimmy shakes his head to clear it and think clearly “He specifically said three white dudes, oh God it feels wrong saying it, who are paying plenty other dudes. So they have to be of decent wealth, even moderately so given they’ve been attacking different neighborhoods around different parts of the city”

Lois smiles, thoughts are now rushing through “Jimmy, pull out your phone. The internet will be our savior today”

For the next hour, Lois and Jimmy search through the web through different websites and platforms. Finding any video from people invading rallies for the LGBT community to human rights protests. They go back to the Daily Star to go search through past papers about activities from before with people shouting about nationalism and “protecting the kids”.

They go to the mail room where they take with them a chalkboard. Printing out the papers they used that they deem useful. In the end, they clip on the pictures in the middle of three specific men. The only consistent people that showed up during their research. One of them is bald but possesses a goatee. The middle one has long hair and a clean babyface. The last one has short hair and scraggly beard.

“Alright, Lois” says Jimmy “Now for the million-dollar question…who are these people?”

“I’d say “beats me”, but beardy in the left I actually know of. He’s Randy Samuels, the son of Michael Samuels. The CEO of TAS Publications. One of the largest media companies in the country. I interviewed his dad years ago during a gala. Guy is a real piece of work”

“Which translates to-”

“Oh, big time”

“Not what i had in mind”

“But i did. Before I could ask harsher questions, his son interrupted. Raging about how I attended a gay wedding and “tried to make news of it”. How “their kind” in an insult to the bible and used some slurs I won’t repeat. When I left the party, I could see him yelling at a black couple before his father pulled him away. Not much is known about him, what with Samuels keeping his life private”

“With a son who blows up like that in public, who could blame him?”

“We can’t exactly question Samuels or anyone in his family, but we can ask questions to the right people”

“The victims from the attacks?”

Lois smiles, giving a hard pat on Jimmy’s back “Right on, Olsen!” he stumbles a bit, almost falling on the floor.

Traveling through various boroughs and neighborhoods, the amazing duo interviews the people affected by the attacks. Many of whom share their tragic experiences. How they want to be amongst others who understand them and just live their lives in peace. And then there comes people who not only protest them but reject them for simply existing.

Whenever they’re in the car, on to the next person, or simply walking, both Lois and Jimmy grimace about the situation.

“You could see it in their eyes, Lois. The shock of it all. How could so many people have that much hate inside of them?

“It can come down to many things, Jimmy. Either because they’re miserable in their own right or they go by old rules that make them that way. I don’t think we’ll ever understand, but this has to be made known for the public.”

“You know Perry’s given some of your assignments to the others, right?”

“I don’t care. We’re publishing this. Even if I’m demoted to the communal bathroom, I don’t care. Perry likes any story we give him, this will either way be published. And, Jimmy?”

Jimmy is a bit taken aback by the calmness uttered from his name.

“Thanks. These past couple of weeks have been fun. You’re a good sidekick”

“Hey, stuff like this I’ve been wanting to get more involved in. Plus, you get tired after a while from chasing monster attacks and meta invasions” they look ahead as Lois drives. Some posivity has made its way inside. Then Jimmy stops smiling “And what do you mean sidekick?”

Lois smirks as she continues to drive

SAMUELS ESTATE

In the hills from the St. Martin’s Island district of the city. The most high profiled region of Metropolis, where the most well-off and protected members of the city’s society live in. Coming out of the pool is Randy Samuels, grabbing a drink his butler was handing out.

“Thanks, Georgie. And a cool one for my friends as well”

“Yes, sir”

“And do it fast. A couple of seconds too late and you’ll be fired like half the staff from TAS Publications last week”

“Yes, sir”

Randy chuckles alongside his friends, high fiving each other. In the table near them lays a box. Randy walks towards it, grabbing it and tapping on it excitedly as his friends are curious about it.

“You’re giddier than when you talked to Dolores Winters, what gives, Ran?”

“I think it’s about time our little “adventures” we showed up in more than just black clothes and a few pickets signs. It’s time we embraced our symbol, and-”

“RANDY”

The lad looks ahead to see his father walking towards, furious as he grips a newspaper “Okay” sighs, rolling his eyes “I swear I didn’t sleep with the competitor’s wife. It’s a nasty rumor made by Cat Grant and-”

“It’s not that, you idiot! Have you looked at the newspaper?!” Michael shows it and Randy’s jaw almost drops to the ground as his box he held onto did.

BILLIONAIRE SON AND FRIENDS REVEALED TO BE INVOLVED IN HATE CRIME ATTACKS

“It’s-it’s not front page. No one will notice”

“My rivals will, you incompetent sponge! I’ve cleaned up your past crap, but they never made it to paper, you miserable-”

Michael looks down, seeing the box Randy dropped. And how the box contained clothes. Clothes that have a symbol that wants to think it evokes power. An insignia simply called; the swastika.

Michaels looks to his son, steaming at a great degree his face might go red “You and those jokers stay here, while I try to save my reputation!” Randy takes a few steps back again, terrified to see his father this way.

THE DAILY STAR

In the newsroom, Lois calmly reads a newspaper, before having her chair slowly spun by someone. She looks to see it was Clark Kent who did it “I see your reading today’s glorious paper. While everyone is reading the front page, I can’t help but notice Page 5 of the story discussing homophobic attacks, general hate crimes and the people responsible for it”

“At least someone noticed. Even if people will forget about this the next day or just freaking not read. It’s all about a matter of principles. About aiding those who can’t get their stories out. We joined for a reason” Lois gets up from her chair “Let’s not lose sight of it”

“I’ll be sure to keep that in mind. What happens if Superman approaches you for another interview?”

“Then whatever. He’s better off being interviewed by others. I’ve let him and metahumans consume my life recently. I can’t just deal with that forever. Anyways, what happened to you? You haven’t been around as of late and-” one quick peek at his bandaged hands and Lois is caught off guard from it “WHOA, Smallville, what happened to your hands?!”

Clark shrugs “I have been gone for a reason. But it’s more than that. There’s someone I want you to meet who I can’t believe is in my life now, but I would very happy if you-”

RING RING

Lois’ phone rings off “Sorry, Kent” Lois picks it up “Lois Lane, Daily Star…oh, hi, ma’am…yes, I remember our talk a while back…you want…yes! Of course we can talk, and I’ll have this story published even if my boss fires me…that’s a joke. Anyways, see you later”

Lois hangs up “I’m gonna have to put a pin on that, Clark. Duty calls”

Lois exits from her desk, but Clark still pursues her “That’s another thing I’ve been meaning to discuss. With the others here already covering Superman as fast as possible, I wanted to see if you wanted if you wanted to share the byline”

“Share a story? How do I know you won’t take it for yourself?”

“Scouts honor”

“Hmm, you do seem like someone who earned their merit badge. And I do need the help. Sure. Plus, we can have that coffee we haven’t gotten yet”

Clark stops walking, smiling from ear to ear as a rainbow crosses his eyes.

“Come on, cow wrangler!” Lois motions for him to come “You’re the one driving!”

“Right right! Wait, isn’t it your car?”

“While you do that, I have some calls to make”

SUICIDE SLUM

Outside one of its many bars, Turkey talks to a couple people before sneezing loudly. Before he can reply to his acquaintances, he’s interrupted by a man in a suit who looks like he doesn’t want to be anywhere near here “Are you “Turkey”?”

“That’s the name my aunt Turkey gave me”

“Yeah yeah, I owed someone a favor so here!”

Turkey is given a folder rather forcefully to his chest. The man in a suit quickly enters his car, driving off just as fast “What’s up his flat a**?” Turkey pulls out the papers from the folder “Did I have rabies or-” Turkey couldn’t believe. It’s a paper for job applications. Before he couldn’t get one to save his life. Now, there seems to be some levels of progress.

Turkey can only chuckle as an immediate response “Lois Lane, I’ll be a son of *****”

Chapter Text

CENTENNIAL PARK- YEARS AGO

In the middle of this beautiful widespread attraction of innumerable acres lays a table that possesses a chess board. Paul Carlsen, one of the best chess players in the world, leaves his seat in a huff. Leaving alone the ginger kid who crosses his arms in repulsion “Disgusting ginger bitch!” shouts Paul

“Only a loser resorts to shouting like a drunk sailor. That and an idiot! I hope you heard that!”

“What was that all about?” asks a girl

“One of the supposed “best” chess players of all time proved that calling someone the best is as legitimate as a child deeming talking fruits a gripping story”

“Do you have to sound like an adult?”

“I can speak however I want to. and I don’t like your tone, girlie. I should have taken the trip to Smallville with my father if my company would be this simple.”

“And that’s why you’re not the popular kid in school”

“School is meant for learning, not to form bonds that slow you down when you’re supposed to keep your eye on the prize”

“Or distract you because the educational system is as useful as fire during a flood”

The boy finally looks at the girl “Who are you?”

“The girl next to you in class; Alexandra Perske” she wiggles her hands to wave at him “You’re Lex”

“It’s Alexander Luthor. Nobody calls me Lex.”

Alexa shrugs while smirking “Just think it sounds nice. Wanna play chess? Nobody here wants to play against “Luthor””

“It’s because they know they will lose”

Alexandra takes a seat “Or because the company is misunderstood” she properly sets up the board

“Something…we can agree on. You know will lose.”

“It’s a game. The activity of fun is the only victory to be had” she makes her first move “Now hurry up. You’re telegraphing your first move, what with eyes only focused on one chip”

“Hmm” Alexander pulls his lips up for a smirk “I must speak to Mrs. Wilson about having you as my lab partner”

“Not much into science, but at least the smartest boy in school can teach me better than any teacher”

Alexander actually lets out a chuckle, something Alexandra didn’t think he was capable of “Another thing we can agree on”

LUTHOR MANSION- PRESENT DAY

The household that has held the Luthor name for almost 100 years is the largest and most treasured home in all of Metropolis. It’s always been grand without many to live in, but now, it’s a lot emptier.

Alone in the living room is Alexander Luthor, looking at the chess board in front of him. It’s all he’s done the past hour except quickly eat his dinner. No one dare say anything except one who works closely with him. Walking towards his boss is…

“Otis” says Alexander, still staring at the board “You’ve been staring for 10 minutes”

“5 minutes, sir. Heheh” Alexander still does not talk “Ri-right. Sir, can I just say we at Luthor Corp appreciate your consistent work ethic. How you only took the one day off after Mrs. Luthor’s tragic passing and-”

“Otis, I don’t need you kissing up in my own home. You do it enough at work and when Alexandra was still alive. So stop”

“Sorry, sir…is that-”

“The last game she and I played. It ended months ago, and she beat me. She finally did. I always beat her. I truly was the smarter one yet she finally caught me the last time. Then she died. There is some poetic irony, don’t you think?”

“I…yes”

“Hmm” Alexander rolls his eyes. “I don’t think I’m ready yet to reorganize the board. To make this drastic move. It’s too soon, don’t you think?”

“I think you only do it when you’re ready to move on, sir”

“Otis…” Alexander gets up from his seat. He walks towards Otis who is only now noticing how tall his boss is. Especially with his now bald head. The towering presence he displays each step. Alexander puts his hands on his shoulders, giving an almost firm grip “That is the smartest thing that has left your lips. And nothing will ever top it”

“Th-thanks?”

“For your benefit and as my thanks to you, do you need me to remind you what you need to bring?”

“Already have the car scheduled to come here, sir. I’ll be there by night”

“Good” Alexander pats him on his shoulders, exiting leaving Otis a bit stunned.

THE STREETS

Alexander is sitting behind while his bodyguard and chauffeur, Mercy Graves, drives him. Luthor looks at what passes by, unamused by the drivel before him of the small businesses like used clothes for sales or hot dog carts.

Throughout the entire ride Alexander has been forced to hear a strange noise from ahead but he didn’t care much to sound off on it. After having been forced to see another hot dog cart on the street, he voices his ire “Mercy, could that pestilent tumult that’s flummoxing my senses be coming from you?”

Mercy sniffs “Ye-yes, sir. Sorry” she wipes something away from her eyes

“What could be bothering you so?”

“It’s-it’s just that since Alexa’s funeral-”

“You know what? I don’t care. I pay you handsomely every week. Surely you can babble on to a therapist who overpays their client for an hour, can’t you not?”

“Yes, sir” she says downheartedly

LUTHOR CORP

Anytime Alexander Luthor enters the main Luthor Corp building, every employee, from the measly security guard to the high-ranking COO has to stop what they’re doing to give a nod of hello to Luthor. In his own way Alexander doesn’t ask for much. Just a simple acknowledgment to let him know they will do their job accordingly.

Even as they do what they’re told, Alexander can’t help but look at their faces for that one second and overthink once he moves along.

He passed by his receptionist, Elaine McDougal, sighing under his breath. Over how cheap her perfume is and how often she spends time looking through different websites when she should be focused on more important things. The only reason he hasn’t fired her is because the last receptionist was looking through porn sites.

“And the current one slacks appropriately” Alexander says out loud, confusing Mercy as he suddenly talked to himself.

One elevator ride later and Alexander can see away from him is Sydney Happersen, one of premiere scientists. Alexander scowls at him as Sydney is supposed to be in the Luthor Corp R&D Facility preparing an electromagnetic blaster. A device that has taken too long to make. Once they cross paths, Alexander looks at him with dismay and Sydney can only say “I’ll be going to my post, sir”

“Good, man” Luthor comments with a smug smirk

He sees to his left Hope Taya, a new security force he’s hired for the building after the shooting of John Corben from the Toyman invasion. She’s looking over the reconstruction from one of the rooms from this floor after Toyman’s attack.

They share a glance and Luthor gives her a nod of approval while she remains stoic. She’s not as expressive as Mercy and Corben can be. It’s why he hired her quickly, not only because Mercy already knew her from college. But the fact she keeps to herself is what Alexander already likes about her.

Once he enters his office, Alexander takes a seat, quickly looking at a photo of himself with Alexandra. It’s them in their honeymoon from the sunny and pleasant beach of Navagio. He was able to keep people off of it for a couple of days while he and Alexandra got to enjoy the warm view.

“You know, I don’t enjoy the beach, what with the aggravating sand always making into my shoes and pants and the overrated view of blue clear skies. But this…was an exception”

Again with the sudden talk, and Mercy looks at him from her seat with confusion.

RING RING

“Hmm” Alexander remarks in some slight mirth when he sees the name before picking up “Greetings, Major Lane, it’s been too long since the Christmas party from 3 years ago…I’ll be stopping you there. I have nothing going on today as it’s slow day in the office, so I would appreciate you coming over because if the matter is so important, then it’s better told in person. I’ll accept nothing less, goodbye”

He hangs up, resting his forearms on the table, awaiting for a Major of the DEO.

2 HOURS LATER

Major Sam Lane enters the main office, with Alexander standing up “You arrived an hour late”

“Didn’t know I was on the clock. By the way, tell your receptionist she has cheap cologne”

“That she does, Captain. Now explain why I’m needed for the DEO. I already supply enough weaponry to last you 5 years. So what is so commanding that you need my help?”

“This is about Superman, Mr. Luthor” Sam stops, letting Alexander take a couple of seconds for a quick breather despite his calm exterior “Good, i need you to be grim. I know Superman-”

“Played in the role of my wife’s death, I know, Major. If want me to carry a gun and wave it willy nilly because of revenge, I suggest you get someone else”

“You know better we don’t want you in the field. We need your brains. My team may be powerful and my intelligence in combat a great help, but Superman already defeated Commander Steel and an immense squadron. Even after he was bruised up battling a freaking dinosaur.

And with this new “Supergirl” jumping around, we need more than just Sam Lane and Freedom’s Ring to save the country from these aliens. We need you, Alexander Luthor”

Alexander pinches his nose, holding in a snicker “You know…I always found Alexander too formal a name. I’ve gone my entire life having to be prim and proper to honor the Luthor name. the same is expected with the powerful might of military force. Yet you DEO Agents gimmick yourselves up with these names to make it seem you’re superheroes. Why can’t I have some…fun of my own?

Mercy, do me a favor and let the public know, from this day forth Alexander Luthor will now be a relic of the past. Right now, I expect to be addressed as; Lex Luthor! And yes, Major Lane, I will help your little stable take down the alien.”

Lane gives a nod of approval “For our country, Lex. And for your wife”

“Yes” Lex lightly shakes his head “Of course”

THE NEW 33.1 FACILITY

After the previous one had been wrecked during the Toyman Invasion, along with the DEO condemning it given Luthor’s illegal metahuman experimentation. An old Wayne Enterprises building on the east side of Metropolis was remade as the new 33.1 Facility.

Lex met Thomas and Martha Wayne when he was a boy, and from the get-go, despised them. Their attempts at generosity and their idealic goal to help their doomed city of Gotham. When the news reported of their deaths, Lex couldn’t help but stop smiling for the rest of the night. Building the new facility in old Wayne Enterprises domain was his idea. One he's proud of.

It’s still being constructed as the newly christened Lex Luthor sees construction workers from Berlin are still working on it. They stop working to give him a quick acknowledgment, as one does with Lex Luthor.

Lex and Mercy enter the place, with Lex a bit angered, though building it here was his idea, having to have a new facility made at all is still insulting. Looking at the rough rooms yet to be properly designed after the old ones took years to perfect. However, Lex knows beggars can’t be choosers and he’s forced to play with the cards dealt to him.

When he reaches the second floor, he’s met by… “Otis” comments Lex, taking off his coat to pass it on to Mercy as Lex walks with Otis to the “healing” room.

“Mr. Luthor, or should I say…Lex! Haha!”

Even Lex lets out a scrap of a chuckle “Good one, I almost couldn’t leave the building with reporters asking me the purpose of the name change” Lex stops Otis before they enter “Indulge me here, Otis, as if I were a 7-year-old asking his parents what he’s getting for Christmas, but was the name change the #1 news around the city?”

“Heh, well” Otis scratches his head, already a sign for Lex that it’s not good “That’s what I wanted to discuss. As I went to get the item you requested from the Luthor Foundation building, my car was attacked. A group calling themselves the “Futuremen” killed the driver and demanded they take me to you as revenge”

“The teleporters” Lex says with a sigh, wiping his face“They were from 33.1. Bradley Bashford, Philip Master and Horace Rikker. They went insane after a year of experimentation and believed themselves to be from the coming times”

“Well that explains their team name” Otis jokes, but Lex and Mercy don’t laugh, with Lex giving a stare that demands a continuation of his tale “Riiight. Before they could kill me…”

LUTHOR FOUNDATION

Otis hides inside the car, seeing Superman floating above the Futuremen, his arms crossed in a showcase of firmness. Master snickers while Rikker twitches, however Bashford remains stoic “Out of our way, Superman. That fat man holds the secrets of the future. How can you stand aside as what lies ahead is threatened?”

“I can tell all of you have experienced pain by that man’s boss, but this is no way to handle it. I need you to take a moment of pause-”

“One we can afford. Futuremen, attack!”

Bashford and Rikker teleport up, able to tackle Superman and push him to the ground. Master teleports in, having grabbed a piece of rock and smashing it on Superman’s head. The Man of Steel felt nothing, able to push Bashford and Rikker away and standing up, even when Master is kicking him.

“Rikker, Master, go down under!”

Both men nod to each other, teleporting to Superman to grab a shoulder of his, teleporting away, and teleporting back to Bashford. The man himself pleased “Thank you, my good men. Keeping him under this soil should stop…him”

The ground begins to rumble, as if an earthquake is starting.

KRRACHOM

Superman has erupted from the ground, looking down at the startled Futuremen. Bashford and Rikker teleport away, ready to strike again. Using his amazing super speed, Superman slows down, able to see particles of both men teleporting in. Back to regular motion, he grabs Bashford and Rikker by their collars, slamming them to ground.

“Dammit, civilization is in more danger than we thought” comments Philip Master. He teleports away, the farthest he has yet, able to leave the district and making it to the next. Once he arrives, finds Superman’s chest right in his visage. He looks up to see the towering figure giving him a nod of disapproval.

33.1 FACILITY- THE PRESENT

“He tried to reason with them some more, but they were still crazy. They tried to escape but he stopped them again! People arrived, took pictures, rooted for the big guy before the police showed up. It was honestly pretty cool all things considered”

“Cool?” Lex questions “How dare you insult my intelligence with such a meager term?” he pokes Otis’ chest “You have any idea what that alien has done to me?!”

“Yes, sir, yes! I know what he did to Alexa-”

“He mocks me every day. He mocks YOU every day. Every one of us, little man! Showing his “superiority” over us all, escaping the law, and thinking he’s above it all. He only stopped 3 nutjobs who most likely escaped once in police custody, right?”

“Yes, sir, they did escape, and Superman stopped them again-”

“Of course they did” Lex rubs his face in anger “Big muscles but small brain. Yet the “people” will hail him a hero. I made history today and yet he gets the attention. Next to him, I’m deemed a participation trophy? Doesn’t that eat away your own soul, Otis?!”

Otis was going to agree, but the fear of Lex’s sudden anger, mixed with Otis in his own heart not concurring with him just keeps the lowly worker silent.

Lex stops moving around, looking at Otis eye to eye again. His demeanor calm and collected as expected from a Luthor “Do me a favor, Otis. If you use Superman’s name again while standing in a land I own, extoling his virtues, pretending he’s one of us, know that I will find a way to keep you forever locked up in the worst prison I can find in the South Sudan, understood?”

“But sir, you practically own all land in Metropolis”

“Precisely” Lex opens the door, passing by a distraught Otis, who makes way for Mercy who also scowls at him. He is in a position even she fears deep down.

THE HEALING ROOM

Inside, Lex meets with Sydney Happersen, who clears his throat before speaking “Hello, Mr. Luthor”

“Glad to see you finally working. Care to state why you were in the main offices of Luthor Corp?”

“Just making sure my paycheck came in on time. Didn’t the last time”

“You get paid when you get results, Mr. Happersen. The electromagnetic gun?”

“Ready for you to check up tomorrow, sir”

“I expect results with that as with now. Is he ready?”

“Yes, sir. You’ll be glad how intact he is after everything that had happened. And with Otis giving us the green rock that weakens Superman, life finally came back to him”

“Show me”

Space is made by the scientists, and Lex gets to see, strapped to a table, with his eyes groggy and voice not yet heard for the room, John Corben is seen.

“Good to see you, my friend. After how Winslow shot you, I contemplated that you had finally met your demise. But I knew better than to think that”

“wins…winslow?” questions Corben, still hurting “i want…I want…to kill him”

“That time will come; I’ll make sure of it. But I need you for a more important mission. The man truly behind your current state of being”

“w-who-who, Alexander?” Corben says looking at Lex’s eyes

“We’ll need to talk about that name. But more importantly, I need you to remember, Superman”

“Su-Superman?”

“Yes, it’s time to take him down. Like we discussed months ago. And you’ll get to deliver the finishing blow”

“how?” he tries to sit up “with my fists?”

“No. With your heart of course. Well, new heart is the more apt term”

“New heart?”

Lex points at it with his eyes, Corben looking down at his chest. Releasing the small blanket covering it. Corben gasps, unable to comprehend what is inside of him. Seeing the green rock now placed on him. The color radiating the room. Corben lies down, breathing erratically at this startling development. The doctors go to attend him, but Mercy gets in their way, letting Lex talk.

“I know this is harrowing”

“You-you think?! What the hell, Alexander! I’m not-”

“You’re still human, John. Don’t begin to grow dense. You’re John Corben, a soldier. A man who would give his life for his country. And a reward for services rendered, the man who will get his revenge on everyone who wronged him. Starting with-”

“Superman” Corben says, the wording seething from his mouth as even his own eyes grow green.

“Now, we can begin” Lex says with a dark smile crossing his lips

Chapter Text

KRYPTON - YEARS AGO

In the home of Jor-El and Laura, deemed by many as the grand pride of the House of El, they went away for the evening to spend it with family members Zor-El and Alura. Leaving the young Kara Zor-El with her baby cousin…

“Kal-El!” Laying on the couch, Kara lifts Kal-El with her feet. Keeping him dangling as he giggles “You’re the perfect tool for me to forgo my assignments. I already did the report of ‘The Last War’ between our people. Why do I have to talk about Krypton’s insignificant battle against the Planet Kandor from the year 8945? Kandor has nothing to do with Krypton”

“bllrrpp!” Kal-El blubbers

“Okay, maybe they do. But our communications with them have been nonexistent for decades now”

“Brrpp”

“I’d rather talk about the Daxamites. Or the Dheron’s. By Rao’s sake, I’d rather discuss about the fake planet that I know our cousin Don-El made up. It’s named “Mars”. Whatever that is”

“Baaw” Kal wiggles his cute, adorable arms of adorableness

“Don’t speak about Don-El, Kal” Kara looks disgusted “He’s a flake. Unlike me. I’m here to take care of you” she lowers Kal so he eyes can be closer to her" Always”

“Bah!”

“He would not do better!”

“Bah!” Kal wiggles his arms to the right

Kara looks where he’s attempting to point and sees the table of which she is supposed to stay and work. Kara looks back at her cousin, lowering him down to hold him in his arms “Please, Kal-El. We’re children. Our time is devoted for more…personable joyous matters. Do you have to force me to work?”

“Baah!”

“Ugh, fine. When you cry, don’t say I didn’t try to spend time with you”

METROPOLIS - THE PRESENT

In the rooftop at night of the apartment building where Clark Kent lives, he and his cousin Kara are laying down on a blanket they’ve placed down to look up at the stars.

“Question, did I cry?” asks Clark, looking over to his cousin who is strictly looking up at the sky

“Yes, you did. I ignored you as much as I could but that can only work for long. You were a loud baby.”

“Guess I had a head start for my career right now. Have to be the one the interviewees notice the most from the rest of the rabble”

“I don’t get it, Kal. You’re the most powerful being on this speck of dust-”

“Most powerful is debatable”

“Don’t debate me on this. I may have been a procrastinator, but I am still sharp as crystals”

“Hold the presses, cuz” he sits, curious more than before "Was that your attempt at a saying? Is that a Krypton saying? Are there sayings on other planets?”

“Yes, why wouldn’t there be?” she looks at him now “Have you not yet traveled abroad?”

“I have. Around the world-”

“No, gone out into the universe. Explored the stars. Entered planets that don’t have as many toxic smoke and air as this one. You have the power to do so”

“Kara, I could die from oxygen deprivation in the cold dark touches of space”

“I don’t need a laboratory to know you can survive out there in space”

“Hooow?! On what basis?”

“Well, our God Rao could survive in space!”

“Did you read that in the Krypton Bible?”

“The fuck is a Bible?” now she sits up

“Language!”

“Oh fuck that! This planet rightfully deserves my respect for its curse words. They feel right to say, helps me let off steam and are much better than Krypton’s. That and this planet’s metal music are the only thing this planet has over our home”

“Excuse the bluntness, but this is our home now. You need to adapt, Kara. You can’t just go pining on for the good ol days”

“I know I know” Kara rolls her eyes “Our father’s told me the same any time we came here. Fat load of good the visits did. The most vital time to come here, and they get stranded there to die while we’re forever solus” she mutters the last part to herself

Clark caught wind of that, and shook her arm “Kara, I understand the feeling of being alone. But with you here, it’s exciting. It’s thrilling!”

Kara looks at her cousin, seeing the joy in his face.

“I’m gonna teach you everything there is to be being an earthling. Or most of it because everything is quite impossible. Anyways you’ll love it here”

“Hmm” she looks dismissive

Clark sighs lowly “And when you can and want to, you can share with me everything Krypton” now Kara looks at him again, this time with a lot more attention “I am still Kryptonian by blood, and I’d like to get to know what I missed. Our family, the history, simply anything you can dish out”

Kara finally gives a smile “That, I can do. Anytime”

“Good, because I wanted to ask about Don-El. Why speak so ill of him?”

“It’s not ill!” her face looks as if it’ll turn red with rage “It’s just sometimes he wasn’t around as much, and I wanted to be the favorite cousin!”

TOMORROW- HISTORY MUSEUM

Kara and Clark walk outside the building, Kara having been amused by some of Earth’s history. But she knew they couldn’t compare to Krypton’s history which she’s telling Clark. As they walked, Kara wiggled her fingers into the air for dramatic effect while Clark adjusted his glasses while chuckling.

“The year was 9846-”

“Definitely not here on Earth”

“Shut it! The capital city of Argo was laid siege by rogue soldiers of the continent Urrika. The leader Lok-Nor led his troops to attack the council of Argo-”

DINER

“-and that’s how Pir-El, and by and large, the House of El saved Krypton during its most devastating war”

“What about Jes-Mo. If it wasn’t for him, Pir-El wouldn’t have used the Lasik Quark blaster to stop the Thought Beast”

“Okay, he helped too. No doubt. Come on, Kal, you must put your family first”

“There is also the truth” he shrugged contently

“Truth” she says annoyed “Let me tell you about the truth-”

The waitress arrives with their burgers and fries. Kara picks hers up, waiving it around “You want to preach it, while you-”

She takes a bite out of her burger, and…she takes a moment of pause. Her eyes glow melting stars. She couldn’t move and was stunned with what moved past her teeth and uvula. Kara devours her burger, not feeling any of the heat or spicy ketchup used on it.

“And Lana said I was a dog when eating” Clark goes to eat his burger, but Kara snatches it “Hey!”

“Shut it, dog!” Kara exclaims as she holds the two burgers “You don’t even need to eat!”

“Neither do you!” he looks at her pessimistically

“Not listening, num num num!” she spurns him as she keeps eating the delicious meal. Once she finishes with the burgers and fries, she is still craving “There has to be more, Kal. Fetch us more”

“I can’t. I work on a reporter's salary. Money is tight”

“Oh Rao, when your father was your age. He could afford all the meals possible”

Clark points his finger at her “Don’t you say the “when I was your age” crud!”

She brushes him off “Bored now! Next place!”

Kara gets up from her seat, leaving Clark a bit miffed given her lack of patience.

THE DAILY STAR

Before the elevator doors could properly open, Kara forces the doors open, causing some electrical spark to sputter out. Kara exits first, with Clark scolding her “Dammit, Kara. I already told you this before. All you have to do is wait for it to open. You don’t know how costly elevator repairs can be”

“Another money problem? What is it with Earth and money?”

“That…is a valid criticism. But money does make the world go round, for better or worse”

“No it can’t. We can if we spin around the globe fast enough”

“Actually, if we do, we end up tilting the world off its axis, sending it to a new ecological nightmare”

“…Kal, don’t spin around the planet. Even if it means you can time travel”

“Question time, did Jor-El or any scientist invent a time machine?”

Excited by that answer, Kara quickly answers “Funny you should say that. He was in talks with the Science Council about it-”

“Hey Clark!”

Walking in front of the cousins is Jimmy Olsen, waving at the two “Jimmy, good to see you” Clark and Jimmy high five “How’s the story with Bernard Chip?”

“Lois and I talked to him. Guy is trying to tell his bosses about the unsafe working conditions in the mines, but they won’t listen. Also, apparently some Nazi insignias are popping up in neighborhoods throughout Suicide Slum”

“That has to be dealt with, but we’ll deal with that in a second. I also came here to introduce you to-”

“Kara” the blonde kryptonian girl pushes her cousin away, extending her hand out to the slightly confused photographer. Her smile is a bit too sordid, and her eyes too closed down

“Hi Kara, I’m Jimmy. Are you a family member of Clark?”

“His cousin, yes. Tell me a bit about yourself. Like where you live-”

Clark steps in “Thank you, Jimmy. We’ll talk more later” Clark shoos him away, with Jimmy walking away confused.

“What gives, Kal? I finally meet a nice good looking human boy and you drive him away?”

“Jimmy is a great friend of mine and he’s too old for you”

Rather than listening to him, Kara is still looking at Jimmy, who is talking to the other workers of the Daily Star. She really is too focused on him.

“wha-” Clark grabs Kara and takes her away.

As they leave, Steve Lombard sees them, shaking his head “Kent has no idea how to speak to kids”

Next to the sports reporter is a little boy “Are you gonna take me to soccer practice, Uncle Lombard?”

“When you shut up, let me finish my story and finally score a goal I’ll take you!”

“I can’t score a goal if I’m still here”

“Then who’s fault is that?”

In the hallways, Kara slaps Clark’s hand away. Clark isn’t looking too happy himself “Don’t ever use your x rays on someone! It’s a violation of privacy and very indecent!”

“Oh, please, like you haven’t done it before on that woman you keep talking about”

“That’s beside the point. You only use x rays when it’s very very important”

“And when is it important? To find who has the missing kitten from neighbor Lucy?” she says in a mocking tone that annoys her cousin

“Hey, a missing kitten was my first story” says the approaching Lois Lane “Published it myself in the newspaper me and my sister made when we were kids. We could never make a buck out of it”

“What is it with this planet and money!” yells Kara

“Planet?” questions Lois, raising her eyebrow

Clark puts his arms in Kara’s shoulder, waving it off “Don’t mind her, that’s how Kara can be”

“And who is Kara?” Lois asked with curiosity

“His cousin” Kara speaks up

“Cousin!” exclaims Lois in surprise. Lois slaps Clark in the shoulder “How have you never told me about her?”

“I’m still here” Kara let out

“Right, right. Hi, Kara” Lois extends her hand “Name is-”

“Lois Lane, yeah” Kara shakes her hand “Clark has told me a lot about you”

“You got a grip there, blondie. Wait, he has talked about me?” she raises her eyebrow at him, smirking. Clark rubs the back of his head, nervously chuckling

“Yeah, how you’re smart, eager, tenacious, a great journalist and how you have a nice-”

“Okay!” exclaims Clark, rushing to Kara “Lois, nice seeing you today. I’ll call you later so we can work on the miner’s story. Bye” Clark forces out a chuckle as he takes Kara away again. As they leave through the stair’s door, Lois can’t help but wonder what she just saw. And just what has Clark said of her?

“I can’t believe what I saw either”

“Yap!” Lois yelps when Jimmy is suddenly next to her “How much you saw?”

“Enough. I know it’s not my place to say, but they don’t seem to see eye to eye. Which can be a family thing, but it seems more than that”

“Yeah” Lois looks at where they left, a bit concerned “I can relate”

Once away from everyone, Kara, having had enough of Clark’s attitude, pushes his hands off her. Before he can speak, Kara pushes him away with force. Clark is able to stop himself before hitting the wall and going through it.

“Kara, you have any idea what you could have done there?!”

“Enough with the lectures, Kal. I’m getting sick of them. It’s all you’ve done since I’ve gotten here”

“I do them, not because you’re new here, but because it’s clear as day you’re not mature. How dare you tell Lois what I told you in confidence?”

“Smart move telling the young girl about your hopeless crush” Kara crosses her arms, looking away from him

“Turns out I can’t rely on family with keeping a secret”

She stares back at him inflamed over his comment “Don’t speak about family when all you do ignore your heritage”

“What are you talking about? I told you before I want to learn about Krypton and our family!”

“But you keep dismissing them! You don’t appreciate where you came from, Kal-El! Why keep your real life as Superman a secret? Why use the attire of your planet for only your heroics? Why play being human to these people? We’re above them!”

“Being Clark Kent IS my real life! I may not be human, but I have always lived like one. I was raised like one. Earth has been my home my entire life, and I love it-”

“Well it isn’t mine! Krypton was my home and it’s dead!!!” she spouts out in a fit of rage and passion

The volume of her voice causes the entire building to shake. Lois and Jimmy look at each other with worry, wondering what could be going on in their city.

“EVERYONE FOR THEMSELVES” shouts Steve Lombard, hiding under his desk. His nephew remains in his chair, shaking his head in shame.

“Kara, keep your voice-”

“You know what, Kal?! Fine! No more arguments, no more lectures. Superman is just an act to you. It’s a hobby for you. But the only real worthwhile thing that I can do on this measly planet instead of wasting time is to be a real hero. Goodbye!”

Kara super speeds out of there. Clark wants to chase after her, but he stops. He wants to punch the wall and everything that comes after it.

“No. No no no” he calms himself “It would expose me, and generally, it’s a horrible coping mechanism. Instead, I'll just-AAAGGHHHHHH!”

It resolves nothing, because he had to keep the yell as low a volume as he could. He marches on upstairs, ignoring everyone that passes him by. His coworkers have never seen him so displeased. It’s the oddest sight they’ve seen all week.

“Hey, Kansas!” Lois shouts, going after him

“Not in the mood, Lois!” he informs her with bile coming out of his mouth

“Which is an excuse to keep being a hostile schmuck. What gives with you and your cousin?”

“She-she-” Clark stomps the floor “She’s a pain in the you know what! She doesn’t listen! She keeps harping about her home! How we all suck! And-”

“Okay, okay, in the name of goodness, take a breather, Kent”

“I just-i’m glad she’s around, but I didn’t think it’d be this difficult” Clark grips his hair in frustration. The pressure is getting to him.

Lois places her hand on his shoulder. He tilts his head to look at her “What happened to her home?”

“It-it…her family died in a car crash and I’m her only living relative. I didn’t even know she was around, but I still took her in. I don’t know much about my biological family life and she’s the only one who knows about them. But- but she’s so angry about the world. All of it. I know she’s scared. And-”

“Okay, Clark." she calms him down "It’s okay to vent, but you also need a reality check”

“Excuse me?” he asks in befuddlement

“My sister Lucy and I had problems. What with my mom leaving and dad almost never being around. It was just us and it was never easy. I wanted life to move faster, whereas she was static. So I saw her as lazy. And because she wasn’t getting opportunities that she thought should be handed to her, she was angry. That and, you know, the stuff from before.

Heck, from what I saw of Kara, she reminds me of her. But the only way Lucy and I got better was we stopped getting in each other’s way. Family isn’t just about expecting others to comply, no questions asked. It’s about hearing the other one out and helping them when it counts. We saw each other halfway and we’re better now”

“…I will still call her out on stuff”

“That’s always needed and expected, especially with family. Family is never a bed of roses after all. That's what makes it absurdly perfect.”

“…you know what? I’ll tell her that. Thanks, Lois”

“No problem" Clark goes to walk away, but Lois' voice makes him stop "You can make it up the lost time we'll have now with that coffee, right?”

Clark gasps loudly. If he was drinking now he'd spit it out “Right right right” Clark begins to run away “We’ll make time soon. I promise. That and the story and the-”

“Just leave!” she exclaims, laughing a bit. Clark exits and Lois goes back to work as she types on her computer. In the first seconds she caught on to her mistake. She wrote “Clark Kent”.

“Everything okay, Lois?” asks Jimmy passing by

“YES” she says quickly erasing his name

MIDVALE

Inside a store with the closed sign out front, a young man is pushed to the floor. His front teeth chipped away and left eye almost swollen shut “Come on, please, Anthony!” he shouts “I swear I only did the hit on Vinny because he smacked your daughter. I wouldn’t purposefully piss off the mob king of Metro-”

“Quit it with the flowery statements, kid. I was gonna deal with Vinny my way and now me and the boys are under suspicion. We’ll handle the cops, much like…” he looks at his capo on the right “Eduardo?”

The tallest man in the room who looms over the injured kid pulls out his gun, aiming straight for the head.

SWOOSH PAAAM

The impossible was seen before all these men, as Supergirl came in like a comet and pushed Eduardo across the room, into a wall, knocking him out.

“What the-who’s the *****?”

Anthony steps in “It’s a Super. The new one. Tell your pimp daddy he’s gonna pay for my man’s hospital bill”

Supergirl is not the least bit interested in talking to these people, just staring a hole in each of them.

While everyone is perturbed to see the powerfully awesome might of the Kryptonian before them, Anthony just chomps down on his cigar “Was it the pimp daddy comment? I don’t know your relationship with Superman, okay?”

“You people are finished”

“Is that how legal process works? Given how the law works, you’re more of a criminal than me. Now run along to your master. Send him my thanks. Because of him, some of my competitors are in jail” her outward form just now catches his eyes. He grins "Now that I think about it, you can join-”

Supergirl speeds her way to Anthony, grabbing him by the neck, choking him. The cigar drops and now Anthony is startled like the rest. Though he has it the worst. The capos and soldiers pull their guns out, aiming it at the Girl of Steel.

“Are you serious?” she asks in aggravation

BAM BAM BAM

They still shoot anyways. All of the bullets having no effect on her. In fact, they ricochet, back to them. Hitting their shoulders, arms and legs. Supergirl looks back at Anthony, now realizing he’s bleeding from the ankle.

He too catches sight of it. His eyes trembled for a bit, but he looks at her callously “You no good little-”

Supergirl drops him without a care. She realizes that the kid who was going to be killed is not here. With the use of her x rays, she sees him trying to get out from the front door, but it’s locked. She rushes to him, spooking him.

“Please don’t kill me! I honestly have no beef with aliens! I accept your conque-”

“Shut it! I need you to call your police or whatever this planet has for protection. Stay here and report these men!”

“But they have connections to people from the inside. They’ll say you were here. They’ll get out with no problem”

Supergirl still stares at him with great contempt, not caring for anything he’s saying “Ye-yeah, I’ll call. But i might get in trouble too since I'm a criminal to-”

She again stairs at him coldly “I’m-I'm gonna do it”

Supergirl turns back to see some of them getting back on their feet. Once again superspeed is a great help, as she passes all of them to carefully knock them out. Anthony tries to grab his gun, but…

ZZSSHHH

Supergirl fries it with her heat vision. The mob boss looks at Supergirl, more angry than terrified “You will confess whatever crimes you’ve done. And if you’re out again, you won’t like where my heat vision lands that time”

“This ain’t the end, girlie. I don’t care how old you are. You’re gonna regret ever being born!”

“You’ll feel the same if I see you”

Once the kid makes the call, Supergirl speeds out of there. Having felt the absolute sensation of nix. For all she knows, they will make it out again. She grits her teeth in annoyance for knowing people like that get away with crimes easy. How they can continue to roam free while someone like her is judged and persecuted. That’s something she’ll rectify.

TRAIN SPOT

In an abandoned train tunnel, two men push a girl to the ground. Each having a disgusting laugh as she tries to run away, but they stop her. Before the worst could happen, Supergirl arrives. Pushing the two away with force.

“Are you okay?” she asks to the girl in distress

“I just wanna go home” she says with tears in her eyes

Supergirl looks back at the men, clearly ready to deal out the worst to them. Before they can say any derogatory, sexist or even pedophilic remarks, Supergirl comes after them. Supergirl takes the girl away, leaving the men knocked out on the ground, with almost all their teeth missing and no sensation to be felt.

Across the entire city, and even parts of its neighboring cities, Supergirl runs around, stopping any assault to be had. Any attempt at someone’s life or simply people abusing another one for no good reason.

CENTENNIAL PARK

“Why did I stop here?” she asks to the dog staring at her, sitting down below a tree. Not caring who sees her, even if she’s a fugitive “Maybe I stopped here because it looks better than Metropolis Park. Or because a cutie like you is here” she scratches the dog’s ear, making him quite happy ”Though I am more of a cat person.

Or because it has a quietness to it that the rest of the city doesn’t. And yet I can still hear so much. I’ve shut it off before, but it’s still SO much! So much! Is this how Kal has lived his entire life? Hearing a little girl, a hundred miles away crying under her bed sheets for her parents to stop fighting? A guy yelling to the skies to help him while someone chases after him? It’s the fucking worst!”

“ROOF”

“…yeah…yeah it sucks. Fucking sucks!”

“The feeling will continue, alien pig!”

The kryptonian girl looks up, too tired to even care about the epitome before her. The man is wearing a sleek white formal suit. With a swastika badge on his pec. He pulls out a blaster, pointing it at Supergirl’s head. She’s more angered over the dog leaving than this.

“I have kept a close eye on those who threatened this great country! My eye is everywhere in Metropolis! My eye is everywhere when does like you prey on America! This is why I am ...“The Eye”!”

“Look, guy. I’ve dealt with enough crap today. Just 5 blocks from here I stopped a guy preaching about Metropolis Superiority and how this city should invade Central City or Hub City or-forget it, I don’t give a shit anymore.”

“The real superiority is here, alien girl! The Eye is the force of change the world desperately needs! And if you lay there like a dullard whose home is forever extinguished, then there’s no home you’ll ever have again”

“That last part…I fear it’s true”

“Nonsense, cousin”

“GAH” The Eye falls to the ground, surprised to see Superman next to him as if he was always there.

“I know transitioning to a new home is-should I deal with him first?” Superman points to The Eye, who is pointing his blaster on him now

“Sure, he’s more annoying than 10 newborn babies crying at once”

“I’m not a baby! I am The Eye! I am-”

BLONK

With a soft hit on the head, Superman knocks out The Eye, letting him fall “It’s a good thing I found him actually. He’s the guy who’s been putting the swastika symbols over several neighborhoods. I’ll take him to the cops soon, but first…”

Superman sits down with Supergirl, who is not too happy to see her cousin.

“I know things have been hectic, Kara. But I won’t apologize for some of what I said”

“Hmm”

“I’m family, Kara. Sometimes family will tell it like it is because we want the people close to us to improve. But other times…family don’t have the right answers or approach. I’ve been trying to force you to live like an Earthling that I forget that what happened to our home…it’s too recent. Heck, no matter how recent it is-”

“It’ll always sting” Kara says, her tone more sorrow “I don’t think I’ll ever get over it, Kal. Any second I keep expecting my old friends to pop up. Or our cousin surprising us with a prank. Then it doesn’t happen and I just wanna scream. And I can’t because if I let loose, I’ll break every eardrum from a 20-mile radius”

“You’ve shown great restraint already, Kara. But it took me years to have control over my body. Tomorrow, how about instead of showing you around the city, why don’t we train?”

“For what?”

“I can teach you some control over your powers, and maybe you can show some...Kryptonian fighting moves”

“I only know some self-defense and basic moves. My mother didn’t teach more than that”

“...”

“…the control of powers is nice I’ll admit. And to be honest, I am liking the superhero stuff. It’s fun, and wearing our people’s sacred battle uniforms...is what helps me keep going. Despite our people gone, i feel the honor and weight of it.”

“I know. I saw it when you were in action. You were pretty busy”

“Yo-you spied on me?!”

“I was going to sugarcoat it, but yes, I did. The two guys you beat to a pulp, I took them to a hospital”

“They deserved it. I don’t wanna kill them, but they should still feel pain!”

“That doesn’t make it better”

“Whatever! I still want them to be afraid. Don’t you ever want to make these assholes scared?”

“Heh, I do. I’ve done it myself to some”

“Really?”

“Yep. Felt good.” Superman brushes his head, unable to contain his smile “Honestly, I wish I could do it all the time. But certain problems require different solutions. I want to help make change, Kara. To Metropolis. There are people here with power even greater than mine. I can’t just scare them to defeat. I have to find a better way. But…that doesn’t mean what you did today was wrong. You were amazing.”

“You think so?”

“Why do you think I never interrupted? These were your problems, and you found a solution”

“There’s so many fu-” Kara composes herself, knowing her cousin doesn’t like swear words “So many scourges here, Kal. I lived a healthy life on Krypton. I won’t pretend I know how awful people work. But when Zod came into my home, threatened my life and knowing how he hurt so many people who were far less defenseless as me?”

Kara gets up, more determined “I can’t allow that. Never again. I don’t want any Zod’s in this world, even if the number of them is astronomical”

“Yeah…” Clark looks to the ground, knowing the hard fact “There are. And that’s why I want to stop them. No matter how arduous the journey. How long it takes-”

“We’ll stop them” she finally looks at him with a spring of glee

Superman gets up, also glad “For Truth and Justice”

“And Speed, because I see and hear jerks making calls”

“I also see…” Superman sees a brother and sister waving at him. He waves back “some good people”

“The Eye seems to be waking up. I got an idea, but we have to take him with us”

EDGE ENTERPRISES

In the rooftop of it, next to a billboard promoting the brand-new team: the Doom Patrol, appear the Kryptonian cousins putting down The Eye. Supergirl stands over him, the white supremacist groaning and moaning. Barely able to grasp his surroundings.

“Who-”

“You caught the alien scum. You caught them good”

“I did? I-I-I did!” The Eye smiles

“Now what lair are we in? So I can bring in the devices to dissect them”

“We’re in the corner of 4th avenue. Below Rutgers Apartment”

“Thanks. Screw the different!”

Superman approaches her, snickering “You’re laying it on too thick”

“Who is that?” asks The Eye

One anonymous call to Detective Maggie Sawyer later, and The Eye is arrested. The Eye’s apartment is being confiscated, with the cops surprised to see so many devices in here. Weapons, torture tools, blasters and photos of Hitler, Mussolini, Reagan and Nixon.

Superman and Supergirl see from afar The Eye being taken in. Supergirl especially seemed proud of herself. The same kind of pride Superman has for her.

Superman pats her on the back "Keep up the good work and your future will be as good as it is today."

“Hey” Supergirl alerts him, waving her hand to get his attention “Wipe that dopey twinkle off your punchable face." Clark rolls his eyes amusedly "You told your hot crush about some miner’s story. What was that about? Another villain we need to punch? Are the miners the villains?”

“No. And a task like this requires a type of..." he taps his chin "Necessary force” Superman grins. Supergirl caught on and smiled wickedly.

KENNEDY INC.

On the phone is the chairman of this big company; Sam Kennedy, on the phone in a most unpleasant call.

“Rich, my friend, I’ve told you this before. If we want to build a new casino, we have to know what’s below so ancient beings don’t come back to bite us. You know how our world is. So tell the others to start digging fast. Me, the board, our associates, we all agreed that additional pay will come in the form of acknowledgment -”

BEEEEEP

The line is cut, confusing Kenny. He looks behind him and sees Superman and Supergirl standing before him. Both not looking to happy to see him. Superman steps in “Can you tell us about this board and associates?”

1 DAY LATER

In the mining site, Superman and Supergirl force Sam Kenny, along with his partners and board members, to dig in the mines. Sweating profusely and all over the floor. So much they might cause a flood if this goes on any longer.

Supergirl goes to her cousin’s ear “It’s nice to see bullies being taken down a peg, wouldn’t you agree?”

“This solution can’t be the go-to every time”

“Seriously, Kal? You have to be a downer?

“Others are more untouchable and making them work like the underworked employees won’t sway them. But on this occasion, I see them cracking soon. Plus, i can't help it, it's just really fun”

Kara smiles back at her cousin. The first she's beamed like a warm child to her cousin "It most certainly is."

Sam Kennedy yells “This is abuse I say!”

“Your personnel would agree!" exclaims Superman "Make them work under safer and just conditions and this could end”

Kennedy groans, he goes ahead with the digging. The others scowling at him, hoping he hurries up and agrees to Superman’s demands. The Last Children of Krypton, look on ahead, enjoying this once in a lifetime show.

Chapter Text

THE R3 MOUNTAIN

Superman stands on top of the grand massif, as this is considered one of the tallest mountains in the entire world. His shoulders crossed as he looks down below “I’m waiting for a budge”. He says this with a smirk on his face. His arms crossed as he waits for anything as a response.

A normal person can’t hear what lies under, but the Man of Tomorrow hears without issue given his superhuman hearing. He catches on the call that some may consider themselves lucky to hear given the extraordinary power. Superman hears…

“THE FUCK DO YOU WANT FROM ME?!? I’M BENCH PRESSING OVER SHIT TON POUNDS OF ROCK!!!” screams the brand new superhero to Earth, Supergirl! Having arrived a couple of weeks ago to stop the Atomic Skull. She ended up putting the DEO Agent; Rampage, in a temporary coma, given her trying to manage her powers after dealing with the loss of her homeworld.

At least she stopped The Eye last chapter.

“If I can bench press a mountain, so can you”

“WHEN DID YOU DO THIS?!?”

“In my dream when I was 15. Then I went on a date with Black Canary and Hawkwoman before being gifted the key to city”

“WHAT?!”

A slight weight has been lifted from the mountain, as Supergirl jumps up. Her arms drooped down as she almost can’t feel them but her legs still work good enough as she rushes to her older cousin “YOU MADE ME LIFT THIS IMPOSSIBLE SHIT JUST FOR GIGGLES?!?”

“It was to build character and see how great your strength is. The factor of my laughter did admittedly play into things.”

Superman shrugs, doing his best to cover his laughter. Annoyed by this, Supergirl flails her arms, slapping Superman’s shoulder.

“Okay okay, joke time is over. Hazing will not be allowed, and training must resume. That was a test of strength, now how about speed?”

“My knees are a bit wobbly, when are we going to do-”

“Four laps around the world for the both of us. Go!”

WHOOSH

Superman races off, leaving Supergirl alone is disbelief “Gah!” Supergirl blurts out. She races off too, but not the way she wants to.

Despite the early hazing, Superman does properly teach Supergirl the ropes. In an island away, Supergirl is able to toss a boulder at a great distance. She looks at her cousin, awaiting a response.

“Come on, you have to be impressed”

“Five degrees off the target spot. Not quite good enough”

“How about I throw it at you, then it’ll be good enough?”

“It always depends how much force and momentum you pull in and release. That is what will make the biggest impact”

Supergirl dashes to Superman, quickly grabbing him and tosses him into the ocean. Making an even bigger splash than the boulder. Superman’s head pops up from the water, spitting some of the liquid and even a very tiny fish.

“How’s that for impact?” asks Supergirl. Her fists on her waist and a confident smile.

“Makes us even”

The rest of the day smooths by nicely without any more hazing. Clark is impressed by how quickly Kara is accommodating to her powers. She’s fast enough to run across water, able to lift hefty objects (the mountain from before notwithstanding) and her super hearing able to be kept in check.

Also, they saved people from burning buildings by a madman named Fire Horse. Definitely one of the escapees from Lex Luthor’s 33.1 Facility. The super cousins were able to keep a train in its tracks after parts of the railway were ruptured. And most importantly, saved a bunch of animals from a deranged man named: Ballser!

APARTMENT BUILDING

Back in their residence, Clark goes to the couch to hand her a cup of coffee. Kara herself slouching with her eyes closed “I can still hear so much. No wonder our family wanted to live on a farm. It’s too much.”

“Even in Kansas, I could hear New York businessmen yell about the stock falling down in Wall Street. After a while, sometimes it all goes away like a blur, and you can focus what’s around you”

Kara knows he means well, but she knew he was hiding some additional information. Once she gave him a look, Clark knew he had to share more.

“...But even now it’s still a pain”

“All in due time, I guess?” she asks, drinking from her cup now.

“I guess. Now, we need to discuss your civilian guise”

“Ugh” she rolls her eyes

“Come on, Kara, you agreed to this”

“Fine. And if you were scared about having to create a fake ID, don’t worry-” WHOOSH “I have it here”

She hands him her ID “Kara Lee?”

“My parents were going to use that as their Earth surname. And I quite frankly like it.”

“They never showed me these. I only had stories to be my way to know of you and our family.”

“Well then, my cousin, you have me now. Gonna be hard to get rid of me given all we’ve endured.” She actually pulls out a warm smile. Something rare for her.

The biggest benefit to having these powers that the sun gives us is it truly makes us invincible, Kal. It’s pleasant the way I can look at our surroundings different from everyone. How beautiful every molecule and particle are and how they’re connected to us. And-”

She notices him staring at her, pleased. Those freaking dopey eyes and big smile he always carries. Makes her want to smack him across the head.

“Why stop?” he asks “I was enjoying your tale. I might even steal some of these words for a story I have to write down tomorrow.”

OAK TOWN

In the comfort of the suburbs, having picked up enough food to last her the month is Officer Lucinda Radama. Her shift lasted longer than it was supposed to, having dealt with some fire based metahuman who robbed a store. After that fiery exchange, she drops to her couch, finally able to relax.

“You show love to the couch before me?”

Lucinda looks up to see... “Joshua, hey” she warmly greets him.

“Come, baby, show me some sugar?” he smirks while motioning with his fingers for her to stand.

“Too much. Get down here, you cutie”

Joshua follows the cops instructions and gives his lady a nice loving kiss. Once they release, Joshua speaks first “So, another metahuman?”

“That it was. A hot one”

“Oh?”

“Stuff it”

“Heheh!”

“I know Metropolis wasn’t perfect before, but these metahumans are popping up by the hour now.”

“If only Superman hurried up and took them down”

“Not this again. Joshua, baby, Superman is just as bad as the others” she says sitting up

“Come on, Lucinda, you were there when the Dheron’s invaded” Joshua sits down next to Lucinda “Your day off ruined because of some white freaky colored dickheads. Then Superman comes in, gives us the weapons and determination to fight back. It was incredible!”

“Just for show. Sooner than later, Superman will show his true colors”

“Is it really that difficult that a guy just wants to help?”

“You’ve been hanging around that bum, Bibbo Bibowski, too much. And I’m a cop. I help. I helped when Toyman attacked”

“But…not all cops did”

Lucinda scoffs, getting up from the couch

“Look, I’m sorry!” he rushes to her, placing his arms around her “I didn’t mean to phrase it like that. I know you do good, Lucinda. It’s why I chased after you for so long. Because you stand by your code of ethics. You’re one of a kind.”

She now perks up, giving him the smile he wanted.

PRAK KRASH

From outside their home, some vases and objects are tossed and broken. They hold each other, now worried over what’s inside “Get upstairs” says Lucinda, letting him go. She pulls her gun out, going to the corner of the door.

“But-”

“Go!”

Joshua runs up, leaving Lucinda alone to deal with what’s outside. Without hesitation, she marches on outside, having no fear opening the door and pointing her gun out “MPD! I say freeze-”

She was ready to fight a mugger or someone she arrested months ago. Lucinda isn’t ready for the purple, almost glob like creature before her “he-he-help me” a voice comes out of the thing. A male voice.

“What in the-”

“lucindaaa…please”

She points her gun again “I demand you-”

“lucinda the buster. nobody like her. Re-remember that?”

She gasps, shocked to hear that again in her lifetime “Rudy?! Holy-”

She looks around, hoping nobody is watching. Feeling as though they’re saved from the suspicions of the uninformed, she helps the purpled man up and takes him to her home. They sit down in the couch, with the purple man putting his hands on his head, mewling as Lucinda looks on worried.

“By-by God, Rudy. I was so worried after you went missing. Trust me, I spent so long trying to find you. Tr-tried to convince my superiors not to cancel the search. I’m…I’m so sorry I didn’t keep at it” her voice so down, yet trying not to let out years of bottled up pain over her best friend being gone.

Since sitting down, Rudy has not laid eyes on Lucinda, simply shaking his head as his fingers slowly scratch at his brains.

“Were you kept at that damn Luthor Laboratory?”

Rudy’s body shivers as if he was sent to the North Pole without any garments to keep him warm.

“I’m so sorry I mentioned that--but Rudy, what happened to you. How you look now, it was that damn Luthor, wasn’t it?”

Rudy still doesn’t look at Lucinda

“Rudy, we can-we can stop that bastard. I never once trusted him, even if my Captain and Commissioner completely suck up to him and bow to his every demand. But even this can’t be ignored. The good people of Metropolis, we know Luthor is no good.

You’re proof that he did abduct people for experiments. We can put him down, and I’ll fight tooth and nails to make sure you’re back to how you were. Completely sink any money on my bank account for all the operations. You don’t have to live like this.”

“I need...”

“Yes? Anything”

“I need…”

“Take your time”

“I need…” his body shifts to her as his hands reach out “YOU!”

He clutches his hands onto her shoulders “Ru-RUDY?” before she can even ask why, she feels her body begin to melt from the inside “ruudy!!!”

“The power! I need the power!” Rudy yells as he sucks Lucinda up dry.

“Lucinda?!” Joshua can’t handle the waiting anymore in their bedroom. He has to know if his wife is safe. He storms downstairs, unprepared for the grizzly sight that’ll send any man into a shock frenzy “O-oh my…oh my God!!!”

He sees Lucinda’s body on the floor. Completely barren from head to tie. Even a zombie isn’t as repulsive a sight as she’s been reduced to.

“LUCINDA!”

It takes Joshua seconds to even realize the twitching figure of trepidation that is standing inches away from Lucinda. The purpled man looks Joshua eye to eye. His eyes glow yellow as he breaths the way you’d think a dinosaur would.

APARTMENT BUILDING

Clark and Kara were enthralled watching a movie together. An action thriller starring acclaimed actors Adam Sandler and Kevin James. But Kara knew what many miles was away from them.

“Umm, Kal? Is it me or can you-”

Clark gets up from his seat, taking off his glasses “No, your assumption is fact. Follow me”

WHOOOSH

OAK TOWN

The front window is broken in pieces as Joshua Allen is put through it. Coming out of the house is the purple behemoth who stalks his prey.

“Why Lucinda?!” even as he’s bleeding, Joshua can’t help but ask “WHY?”

“I needed the power! It’s what keeps me alive! Lucinda…Lucinda” saying her name a second time finally causes Rudy to stop. Everything around him, all he sees are life forms. The people that can sustain him. The people that he needs to suck the energies from in order to live. But with the memories coming in, all he can think of is him and Lucinda as kids. Playing in the backyard a game of tag. His vision finally clear, and now…

WHOOSH

Right in front of Rudy is Superman and Supergirl, and they are not looking too friendly to him. Superman crosses his arms as him and Rudy lock eyes “I’m giving you a minute to explain yourself. What have you done?”

Supergirl, with her x rays, could see the dead body of Lucinda Radama. The putrid horrifying state her body is in “Enough with the pleasantries” Supergirl pushes Superman aside “This guy murdered someone!”

Supergirl decks Rudy before he can even say something. The hit sending Rudy back into the house and breaking a wall on top of it.

“And he deserves us at our full strength”

Superman stops his younger cousin “Try not to break stuff on purpose!”

“Wasn’t collateral damage expected in these super fights?”

“We try to avoid the fighting, Kara. Not allow it in all its destructive tendencies”

Having had enough of their bickering, Joshua marches up to them “Will you two stop fighting and kill that freak?!”

Given how powerful kryptonians are, Rudy is inside the house, expecting to have felt as a train ran over. He expects to not feel his legs or much of anything. However...he gets up like nothing. He touches his jaw and it’s good as new “I remember” he speaks.

He remembers in the 33.1 Laboratory all the tests on him. How nothing could scathe him. How nothing could stop him. And having only seen the Kryptonians for a few seconds, he saw their essences and it’s a buffet. Life forms that can keep him alive for millions of years.

“Power!” he snarls

Outside, Superman approaches Joshua “Sir, you have lacerations on your shoulder and back. Supergirl, take him to the hospital, quick.”

“Not when that ugly piece of-”

She stops when they all see Rudy running up to her. She scoffs, giving out a smirk and a punch to him. This one, Rudy only staggers with his chin raised. He lowers his head and whatever transpires for a mouth with him smiles.

“That was incredible. More!” he yells

“What in the- screw it” Supergirl punches him in the gut. The reverberations making it a meal for Rudy

“Time for me to have a turn”

He places his hands on Supergirl tight. She’s ready to push him out, but he quickly makes his move, the shock setting in. He’s now absorbing her essence for his person. She gags as she feels pain unlike anything she’s ever endured.

Superman goes behind Rudy, dolling out a barrage of punches on him, and while his body moves some inches, Rudy’s grip doesn’t wane the least.

“Let her go!” demands The Man of Steel

“I won’t. I need the power!”

With the hits not working, Superman simply tackles Rudy, and tackles him upwards as he takes him to the air. The method worked as with that, Rudy’s grip on Supergirl is let go, with the Girl of Steel falling to the floor. In the air, Superman can finally ask the questions he’s seeking “You’re from 33.1. You’re a Luthor creation”

“I am no Luthor creation!” upon his name, various images of hate pop back into his brain. All the times Luthor watched over him as he prodded and probed. All without even an emotion in his face. Rudy clutches on Superman’s shoulders, now absorbing him.

Feeling the pain from Rudy, Superman falls, but Rudy’s hold is still strong. In fact, it’s even stronger even as they crash. Supergirl is helped up by Joshua, and the two see Superman struggling as Rudy’s body glows.

“I’ve never felt so much! It’s paradise with you aliens!”

“U-urgh-urgh!” Superman punches him but to no avail

“How is he this strong?!” yells out Joshua in surprise “I thought you guys were planet buster level strong”

It isn’t just that Kara felt it, she could see how different his body was with her x ray vision. How different his structure was from others. His hands look to be more composed of a mouth than his actually mouth.

“This creature is absorbing everything we dish out. His power is shock and power absorption. Any energy and force hitting him only amplifies his body. And giving how he looked at me and my cousin pervertedly, I think we’re the ones who can feed his hunger the most”

“So you can’t do anything?! You have to! He killed-”

“I know. I’m sorry. And I’m sorry over what will happen”

Supergirl removes herself from Joshua, walking up to a car. With the x rays still good, she quickly examines herself. Seeing her blood cells still moving swiftly and her bones are recuperating. She grabs the car and tosses it at Rudy.

“Hey, Parasite! Over here!”

Rudy turns to see Supergirl, letting Superman go “He was appetizing. Now let me try you again”

“You like little girls, is that right, Parasite?”

“Keep talking”

With him having moved away from Superman, Supergirl moves out of there quickly with her superspeed. Next thing Rudy, Joshua and everyone in the neighborhood who is peeking through the curtains of their windows see Supergirl grabbing Superman, and…

WHOOSH

Gone are the new duo “WHAT?” yells Joshua. In disbelief over the two just leaving him alone with that monster. Joshua should count himself lucky that Rudy hasn’t noticed him. He’s too busy standing still as a statue.

“The power. It’s gone. I need those two! I need them so I can live! Just like…” he was close to forgetting her forever, but again, Rudy remembers Lucinda.

CENTENNIAL PARK- YEARS AGO

In the park as teenagers, tossing a football, Lucinda blushes “I mean it. Torval Freeman is the one”

“He hasn’t given you the time of the day”

“He will tonight!”

“Find someone else who’s better”

“I’ll think about...tonight”

“Disgusting. Just be safe, okay? And be home by 8”

“Okay, dad”

OAK TOWN- THE PRESENT

“Just be safe” says Rudy under his breath

WHOOSH

Once more this neighborhood is given the gift of surprise. The monster has vanished quickly like the Kryptonians before. And just right on time as police arrive, and even some DEO choppers. Joshua looks at them all, and despite his injuries, he feels fury more than hurt. His wife is gone, the man who killed her is away free and Superman did nothing.

APARTMENT BUILDING

Though his body isn’t left parched from head to toe, Clark’s skin is still unhealthy. Kara places him on his bed, quickly putting in his nightstand a glass of water “You were spared the worst, Kal. If only we had the ray of rejuvenation back at Krypton. It’d have taken a day to cure you from your condition, but you’d feel better. But you have no one with that level of technology, don’t you?”

“The-the-the-” Clark can’t properly get his words out. Kara awaits his answer “The people. Why…why take us away?”

“Are-ARE YOU KIDDING ME!” her yells breaking the glass of water, cracking every piece of glass around and waking anyone in his district who was sleeping “You can’t be this near sighted, Kal! You were dying. I saved you! If those people have to suffer so you can survive and fight another day so you can live to save a million lives, then so be it! It’s the hard choice YOU’RE going to have to face one day!”

“It’s the wrong choice” his head plumps fully down on the pillow. He’s asleep, much to Kara’s chagrin.

“...” she looks at him angered. How can respond to her like that after she saved him? “This planet made you soft”

THE NEXT DAY

“Yeah, he can’t make it” says Kara on the phone to Perry White “He came down with the flu, what else do I have to tell you?... Look, he’s an idiot, but he’ll show up to it when he feels like it. Back where I’m from, we respect the healing process… It makes total sense. It’s just you’re too dense to realize it…hello? Hello? Oh yeah? THEN FUCK YOU”

She crushes the phone with her hand, tossing it aside. Kara goes to punch a hole through the wall, but… “I can’t. Not because of Kal’s stupid rules, but misplaced anger.” she remembers the animal she fought yesterday "It’s that parasitic aberration. He deserves my anger!”

Kara sits down on the table, taking with her a notepad, writing down anything she can think of to stop the one she named…

CENTRAL CITY

“Parasite” says Rudy as he stands in the back of Big Belly Burger restaurant “She called me that. Parasite”

Rudy takes a few steps, looking down on a puddle of water. His reflection laid out before him. It’s the first time he can see what he’s become “Parasite. That’s what I am. All I can be. After…no. don’t think about. Think about the next day. You need it. You need the power” his eyes glow, and bellow is heard inside of him “You need THEIR power!”

APARTMENT BUILDING

Dozens of notes are tossed to the floor. You might even swim in them at the rate of Kara is hurling them.

VOOOSH

She burns the notes “Nothing worked! All those “plans” just give him more power! If only that idiot woke up and helped, then we can brainstorm something. Instead, it’s just me…alone. Like how it’ll always be”

KNOCK KNOCK

Kara opens the door “If you’re looking for Clark Kent, he’s not feeling well, so-” she goes to close the door, but Lois Lane says otherwise.

“If you think about closing that door in my face, I’ll make sure Clark goes back to having no living relatives”

“Is threat of death the only thing you people can say to one another?”

“Nonsense. We talk about cheeseburgers and guns. Though I did do a column about a reform on the latter. Not something my dad would like.”

“What do you want, Lois?”

“Well, you for instance”

“Excuse me?”

“We should talk. I’ll buy coffee. You have to be tired being cooped up here all day”

Kara takes quick look behind her, with Clark still recovering from the night before “I’ll take you up on that offer”

MIRACLE VALLEY

A trendy block that has attracted so many here to hang out or enjoy their vacation, has now become the sight of abject horror. Those lucky enough to run away where to spared the sight as the people sucked up by Parasite are on the floor, barely able to wheeze as their lives slowly fade from their eyes.

Parasite grips his hands to feel the sensation. Having ran back to Metropolis, using up what he had left of superspeed, now, he feels…

“So energized. I feel myself replenished. It felt so amazing sucking up those aliens. Like I could live forever. But they haven’t shown up, which means I’m shit out of luck. Why aren’t they here? I’m gonna keep doing this until those cowards show up and feed papa! They’re all I need. They’re all I ever need! Nothing else matters!”

TULLOCH CAFÉ

“This has to be nice” comments Lois while Kara takes a sip from her coffee “Getting out with someone not the farm boy. Sharing time with a “girlfriend””

“I never had a girlfriend. Though I thought about it once. I did have a boyfriend once. He-”

“Whoa, slow your role, blondie. I wanted to get to know you, but at this rate, you might spill deeds that were meant to be kept hidden. Trust me, you do not want to know stuff I posted in the computer when I was your age”

“You’d be surprised what I can say. Do you want to talk about Kal? I know his heart skipped a beat when he saw you in your workplace”

“He did?-Wait, Kal?”

Kara yells at herself in her brain “I mean Clark”

Lois could see the worry Kara exhibited right now, and generally the bottled-up emotions she carries any time she’s seen her “Kara…” she touches the knuckles of Kara with her fingertips, her face with worry “Are you okay?”

Kara has been annoyed by Lois’ constant sarcastic remarks. She doesn’t see what Clark sees in her. Sure, she’s beautiful and one of most stunning women she’s seen on Earth. But that’s it. Finally, Kara sees some genuineness in her voice and face. She finally looks like someone she can talk to “No. I’m not okay, Lois. I don’t think I’ll ever be” her voice cracks at the end.

“I’m not going to force you to say anything else if you don’t want to-”

“I just…” her head tilts down “I just miss my family. My friends. My home. Everyone-” Kara bites her bottom lip, not wanting to say more at the risk of exposing her and Clark’s Kryptonian heritage “You know-I really am not ready to talk about this”

“Of course. Let me take you home-”

“SOMEBODY HELP!”

“It’s a freaking monster!”

“CALL THE DEO!”

Kara and Lois turn to see Parasite on the attack, as he’s feeding off two people. They fall to the ground, lucky to have their skin intact and not left in a husk like the others “SUPERMAN! SUPERGIRL! GIVE ME YOUR POWER OR THE BLOOD OF THESE PEOPLE WILL BE ON YOUR HANDS”

“dammit” says Kara under her breath

“Okay, let’s get you out of here” Lois gets up, helping Kara out of her seat

“What about you?”

“Gonna cover this for the Daily Star. Plus, someone needs to distract big purple and ugly until our alien friends make the save”

“Friends?”

“Yeah. Why wouldn’t I call Superman and his sidekick that? Superman’s used his powers for the greater good, and I’m sure Supergirl will do the same. She has already. Now come on, Clark will kill me if he finds you in danger.”

“I think you’d kill him”

“Maybe once, but he’s so cute” Kara finds it odd when she notices a bit of blush growing on Lois’ cheeks “…And pleasant to talk to. And strong, and so nic-I’ll stop”

Kara sighs in amusement having learned that. They share a quick glance to keep it between themselves. Both run out of there, yet Kara still looks back at Parasite. If Lois thinks she can do good, then she’ll prove her right.

“Wait, let's go here” Kara points to an open space between two apartment buildings. Lois walks a bit forward, confused.

“Kara, this is a dead end. Just follow my lead-”

Kara raises her hand, making sure she doesn’t apply too much force as it goes to Lois’ neck.

CHOP

With it, it knocks Lois out. Kara grabs her, carefully placing her down on the ground “I am” Kara tells Lois, hoping one day she can tell her how much she helped her today.

Police have arrived, but no bullets are working on Parasite. They’re only energizing him, and even tickling him as he giggles a bit.

“Good, the beast laughs. Here, let me give you my punchline” Supergirl picks up a cop car, ramming it on Parasite. Caving him to the ground, almost breaking the street, hoping he remains there for a few seconds. She turns to the cops “Get out of here! Your bullets only make him stronger”

“We don’t take orders from kids. In fact…” they all point their firearms at her “You’re under arrest for-”

“Save it” she seethes, using her heat vision to melt each of their guns.

KKRPPO

Parasite powers out from the wreckage, slapping Supergirl across the cheek, sending flying into a breakfast store “So apt, cause I’m hungry” he smacks his belly, running into the store.

He expected to find Supergirl, perhaps under the rubble of some tables. But instead, he’s surprised to find Superman before him, holding some papers. With that dumbfounding sight, Parasite paused, a precious few seconds Supergirl aimed to take advantage as she flew right in to attack Parasite. But Superman stopped her, extending his arm out.

“Oh great” sarcastically says Kara “You finally get out of bed, only to be a windbag on your feet”

“You would have kept feeding him with your punches. We really can’t beat him, which is why I brought this to help him” Superman waves the papers in his hands “I had help from a friend, Mr. Jones. Or should I say; Rudy Jones?” the first paper being Rudy’s birth certificate and a photo of him. Young and relaxed. A far cry from now.

“No, no. It’s Parasite now. She gave me the name” he points to Supergirl “It’s what I deserve to be called!”

“That can have different meanings, Mr. Jones. Do you want it to be a villain so it can fit your gimmick. Or do you want the name because, and excuse me for bringing this up, for what happened to Lucinda?”

“Do-don’t say her name”

“You had a rough household, and your mother disappeared. Says here her family took you in at a young age. You two spent years looking after each other. You dropped out of college to get a job so she could afford HER tuition”

“Shut it!” his arms twitch as he closes his eyes

“I’m sorry what happened, Rudy. I truly am. I won’t stray away from the truth. You’ve done questionable things with the power, you have. There are people who see you as a monster. Do you truly want to be one for the rest of your existence?”

Though his movement is slow, Rudy shakes his head in disagreement.

“I don’t know how we’ll fix it, but we can try” Superman extends his hand to him. It’s a big risk of him to do such a thing.

“If I do that-”

“It’s up to you, Rudy. What will you do?”

All he’s done is suck people’s life energy for his own. He’s killed and injured people with only a touch. Can he really touch someone and not be a harm to them? To him, it could be the first step to recovery. But the power. The essence of these aliens is too big a fix for him to toss aside. Yet this man has been cordial with him right after fighting his own family?

Rudy wants to yell. Over everything transpiring and everything that will. Whatever he wants to do…is irrelevant.

BANG

Searing right through the Man of Steel’s own hand was a bullet. One Superman notices is now covered not only in his blood, but green. The radiation of it now coursing his body right now.

“Not…this…”

He falls to his knees, all measures of agony now coming in as Kara tends to him. Clark doesn’t have to use his x rays or super hearing to know what’s coming.

Coming in hot to where people powered like Gods are standing, a DEO jet is flying in without fear. In fact, some excitement is circling around. Lex Luthor stands alongside Sam Lane, watching over the computers, seeing Superman bleeding. Lane walks away from him to join his team. Major Victory, Firebrand, Lady Liberty and Silent Majority are ready for the fight of a lifetime.

Chapter Text

2 MONTHS AGO- DEO BASE IN WASHINGTON

In the meeting chambers, Director Bones and Americommando are sat down for the information given to them by their lead scientists. An artifact is kept airtight in a protective device “What exactly are we looking at, Dr. Lytener?”

“This only appears to be a green rock, but after a discussion with Agent Henshaw, he told me that after his interrogation with the assassin known as Bloodsport who aided Toyman in the attack of Metropolis, that this green rock is much more. It is the weakness of Superman”

“Just a green rock?” asks Americommando

“I know it’s hard to believe, Major, but this green rock was able to put Superman down long enough for Toyman to keep him under wraps. We could have gotten more in Toyman’s safehouse but it was destroyed. This green rock is all that was left to salvage. This green rock that Bloodsport dubbed “kryptonite” may be the key to stopping Superman once and for all”

“Think you can weaponize it?” asks Bones

“We can, but it’ll take months. We still need to conduct further stud-” Lytener stops talking when Americommando gets near to Bones’ skull. Whispering to him.

Bones looks back at his scientist “Thank you for this information, Lytener. But Superman needs to be dealt with sooner than later. And we know just the man to help us”

1 MONTH AGO

Sam Lane and Freedom’s Ring arrive in front of Director Bones and Americommando. While the latter two are relaxed, with Bones as usual enjoying his cigar, Lane marches up on the two. Major Victory stood next to his leader, hoping Sam Lane doesn’t do anything brash.

“Robert, we’ve known each other for years” says Lane “We’ve fought side by side in wars. So you should know how much I don’t like dealing with Luthor’s”

“If it wasn’t for Luthor, we wouldn’t have won the wars we fought together. I don’t care that much for him either, but he’s given us results. Go to Metropolis to brief him in the mission.”

“But--”

“We’ll do it, Director” says Major Victory “You know how we like a challenge”

“Dismissed”

Leaving Bones’ office, Sam Lane pinches his nose as he and his team walk “Don’t ever get in my way again, Vickers. You hear me?”

“Sir, you were going to attack the Director. That would have resulted in you being court-martialed. Probably sent to Blackgate where you’ll never be free again”

“Come on, Bill” Lady Liberty pats him on the back “The Captain won’t let solitary confinement keep him down. He’ll escape and convince half the inmates to join his new crusade”

“You know I don’t like a suck up, Sharon” Sam smirks

“Talk to the accountants and get my raise up so I can stop. Freedom’s Ring merchandise have been rising and I haven’t received one bit of residuals”

“I have” Silent Majority says, raising his hand. A cute dopey smile crosses his face as he looks at his teammates

“Him?” Lady Liberty points to Majority, baffled by what she was told “He barely did anything when we stopped the Uncle Sam impersonator in Florida last month!”

“His mother needed money for her surgery. What can I say?” Lane shrugs, as he pulls out a carton of cigars from his pocket.

“See?” Major Victory wraps his arm around Lane’s neck. Using his index finger to poke at his cheeks “That’s what we want from our fearless leader. A great smile to remind us of why we’re doing this”

“We’re doing this because our country and its people need our help” Lane takes a puff of his cigar “We’re not in it for the money. Right?”

Victory, Liberty and Majority nod. Firebrand however can only snicker.

“Is this stand-up night and you the audience, Firebrand?” asks Lane as he removes the cigar from his mouth

“Nope, sir. Just your stone-cold attitude keeps me humble before the mission. I mean, we get to fight Superman. That just steams my knees.”

“There he goes with the puns” Liberty comments as they all walk “Not even a good one”

“I have a niece who has a book of them” says Victory

“I don’t have niece” says Majority

Sam Lane smirks seeing his crew talk without a care in the world. It’s why he chose them. Reminds him how strong each generation needs to be. And strong is the apt term for the task to come.

METROPOLIS- PRESENT

“What is happening?” Parasite howls

“I knew this shouldn’t have been done in front of the city-” Superman says before grunting. Getting up, prepared for the worst.

“What’s coming?” Parasite asks Superman

“You see yourself as a monster? The people that are here? They’ll give you a run for your money.”

He only came here to calm down Rudy Jones. The one who calls himself Parasite. Now, Superman finds himself fighting against the US government. The DEO sponsored team: Sam Lane and Freedom’s Ring. The green radiation from the kryptonite from before may still leave lingers of sting in his body. But he’s the Man of Steel. He’ll power through it.

“Are you gonna fight them?”

“No. Just gonna force the plane down. Do me a favor and grab Supergirl-”

BANG

“GAARRGH”

Superman screams once more. He falls to the ground, this time chest first. A kryptonite bullet has protruded from his shoulder. He still has enough strength to tilt his body around. Now suddenly a body morphs in. Using an invincibility belt, now pops in Silent Majority. Holding up a rifle and smiling at Superman.

“Hi. Kind of a fan. Don’t tell the others. Gonna need to shoot you again though. Sad to know your blood isn’t green or alien goo”

Tired of doing nothing at all, Parasite makes his move towards Silent Majority. The hunger now returning, and who better to suck the energy off of it from than the enemy? Even if Majority’s essence seems almost foreign. Different from most humans. He’s super powered sure but this is different.

“Superman uses words to talk to you” finally speaks the member from Freedom’s Ring “Lex Luthor?”

“Luthor?!” Parasite yelps out in shock to hear that name. And also anger as he grips his fists.

“He only needs a button”

KKRRSSHHH

Now Parasite screams in pain, as he falls to the ground next to Superman. The pain coming in from the neck.

DEO JET

Inside it, the billionaire industrialist who shed the Alexander moniker of his designation to shorten it to only ‘Lex’ stands behind a crew who are overseeing the fight with state-of-the-art computers.

“I’m the luckiest man alive” he mutters to himself. Once his 33.1 Laboratory was revealed, he was arrested. But all charges were quickly dropped given his influence on Metropolis and to several senator and congresspeople in Washington. He didn’t even need to blackmail them to get out.

The fine he paid, not even counting the amount, he simply picked out the money from his wallet. Throwing it to the floor like used tissue. It’s not often someone who indulges in metahuman experimentation gets let off the hook. He’s become too powerful. So much so they won’t even question how he can take down Parasite so easily.

Lex was stunned when he found out the DEO had kryptonite of their own. He was sure he was the only one to have it around him once Toyman was defeated. Thankfully for the bald arrogant man, they only had a rock. One he used to quickly develop bullets for Freedom’s Ring. That was all the kryptonite they had “Make it work, fools” he whispers to himself “Or don’t. Anyways, it’s not often I’m treated to a show”

THE BATTLEFIELD

Freedom’s Ring is flying down, with Sam Lane motioning for Firebrand to get near him “Firebrand, need you to light up what you got. Let’s see how fireworks on him after he’s weakened”

“I say he’ll retain his pretty skin”

“The job we do isn’t pretty, so why should he? Get to work, Agent”

With his hands bathing the surrounding area with a tinge yellow/orange, Firebrand blasts from his hands a powerful bang of flame.

“AAAAGHHH” yells Superman at the top of his lungs. The fire would hurt enough already but having a kryptonite bullet on his shoulder was not doing any favors.

Freedom’s Ring flies down, still on guard even as Firebrand is still blasting at Superman. The Silent Majority from before walks up to the Silent Majority who arrived. The two linking up as one. And one head is better than two as Firebrand stops shooting at Superman.

The fire dissipates and the group and those in the DEO jet see Superman on his knees. A good chunk of his costume burned off and parts of his skin have been charred off. Superman stares at them, a look of hurt crosses his face. As if the pain in his body wasn’t enough, his facial featured made sure of it.

“Had enough?” questions Sam Lane

“Stop this” says Superman, the volume of his voice not heard quite well.

“We will when you pay a visit to your living quarters in Blackgate”

Lane points his rifle at Superman. The point of it near enough that Superman considers grabbing it and chucking it aside. But his whole body is betraying him. He’s too slow now and any second now, that bullet wash the pavement in red if he makes any sudden movement.

KKSSS-BOOM

Suddenly the rifle is heated up by rays of laser beam and explodes. Major Victory, Lady Liberty and Silent Majority point their guns at where they think the sudden beam came from. Speaking of sudden, their rifles are taken from them. And the culprit is…

“Supergirl!” exclaims Lane

The new heroine has possession of each rifle. Her look to them is with utter detest. Not even because of their attack on her cousin. But given what Clark has told of the DEO to Kara, she sees them as practically no different to General Zod and his army.

“That’s what I am. And if you think you can take that away from me?” she tosses the guns upwards. With another shot of her heat vision, she blows up the guns, leaving them without the best bet to take out the Kryptonians “Your plans have already gone up in flames”

“No” Firebrand pushes aside his teammates, approaching Supergirl “That’s my prerogative”

Once more does he shoot fire from his hands. It only lasts 2 seconds as Supergirl, with dazzling speed, grips his forearm. Putting in a slight pinch of power, Firebrand stops. Grunting as even a small sample of her strength causes him to wince. Supergirl tosses him aside like nothing, focusing her efforts on the rest.

“Double team?” asks Major Victory to Lady Liberty

“Always”

They dash at Supergirl, who scoffs at their attempts to tackle. They do just that, planting her on the ground. With a simple push she tosses them away from her. The blonde tank gets back up, ready to continue to be disappointed.

Not when she sees the sudden appearance of extra Silent Majority’s. A squad of them arrived. One is in a fighting stance. Another puts his fists up. The one next to him waves at her.

“You seem like a smart and tough girl!” speaks up the Silent Majority who is way in the back. With a use of her x rays, Supergirl sees all of these are only clones. Duplications of the real deal who is the farthest away “But I have orders that I gotta kick your ass. So all my hands are tied. Well loose cause again, gotta kick girl ass”

All the Silent Majority’s howl like they’re warriors from Alexander the Great’s army. They all converge at Supergirl, dogpiling her to make sure she stays on the ground. Supergirl is pushed down, but…

“I feel absolutely nothing. Your efforts feel like a smack of paper. Annoying but nothing. But it’s still annoying. And you wanna know something interesting from the planet Krypton?”

“Sure!” says a Silent Majority who is 2 feet away from her

“We abhor genetic cloning” her eyes begin to emit a dangerous glow of dark red

“This isn’t cloning, I was born with this. I found when I was 5-GGAAAIIIIEEEE”

So too screams the other dozens. The real Silent Majority covers his eyes at the blinding light of the heat vision. He looks back again to see all his duplicates have been incinerated. Left in complete ash. Majority drops to his knees, in horror of the situation.

Supergirl approaches him, scowling at him “Why are you crying? They weren’t even real”

“They were to me” he says without looking at her

PNCH

Suddenly Supergirl gets delt a literal fiery punch from Firebrand. She goes to deliver another one. One she’s ready for, aiming to plant him with a good sock across his jaw for good measures. However, she’s stopped when her fist is grabbed by Major Victory, who wags his finger in displeasure.

PNCH

Lady Liberty now punches Supergirl “Sorry, girlfriend. At least you can say it took 3 people to beat you”

Major Victory knees her in the stomach and Firebrand curb stomps her to the floor, leaving a good human shaped hole on the pavement. Supergirl tries to get up, but the three Freedom’s Ring members begin to stomp a mudhole on her to keep down.

“okay, now feeling it” she whispers to herself

“no, kara” Superman mutters to himself. Without a thought, he marches on up, even his legs are groggy to help her.

POW KOMP THMP

Sam Lane kneed him in the stomach, elbowed him in the face and dropped him with a hip toss to the floor. He places his foot on his chest to keep him down “I actually felt that. You don’t feel pain as often, do you, alien?”

Superman glares at him. The first he’s felt anger in this fight. He didn’t want to do this, but now he truly wants to fight.

Having had enough of riving on the floor, Parasite places his knees on the ground. Steadily getting up even as the shock still causes him pain. He charges to Sam Lane. The latter turns around, surprised to see him up. Parasite shoulder checks him, driving him away from Superman.

DEO JET

Lex silently groans “This is what happens when you take your time, Lane. Let me see how my test subject fries”

With a press of his button, Lex amplifies the shock in the chip inside Parasite’s neck. Precise shockwaves are being discharged from the blue creature’s body. It’s supposed to hurt in ways any being in the universe can’t imagine. To Parasite? It begins to feel like lunch. What once was a weakness is now a great vigor.

“Impossible” Lex says to himself “He can’t possibly be feeding off the energy. That means anything inside that could stop him is null and void”

THE BATTLEFIELD

“HAHAHA” laughs Parasite. The joy of freedom and power has never felt so good for him. The other members of Freedom’s Ring have spotted him.

“We weren’t ready for this” says Lady Liberty

“Lets improvise. Plus, Luthor might pull a rabbit out a hat to stop this guy”

“We look like rabbit stew to this guy the way he’s looking at us”

Firebrand blasts at Parasite, who continues to be stimulated in the best way a man like him can.

“Stop it!” Sam Lane exclaims approaching the group “You’re only making him stronger!”

“At least this might distract him. We got nothing else to fight him with”

“Stop worrying about the mutant…” Silent Majority is tossed right on Firebrand. Lane, Victory and Liberty see Supergirl standing again, not looking too kind “and start worrying about the 5 feet of fury you think you can pick on”

Parasite thinks of helping Supergirl in that fight, or just leaving altogether to find Lex Luthor. But then…

“Urgh”

He hears Superman groaning in pain. Lines on his body can be seen and even his eyes seem to display some sections of green. Parasite approaches him, placing one hand on Superman. Suddenly forcing him back down.

“Rudy, what-”

“Keep screaming” he plunges two fingers right on Superman’s wound that still has the kryptonite bullet inside.

“AAAIIEEEE”

With one little touch of the green rock that weakens the Man of Steel, Parasite begins to absorb the radiation of it. Superman feels pain as part of his essence is still being taken, yet it’s not as bad as the others time Parasite has grabbed him. As soon as Parasite lets go and finishes the job, Superman feels better.

“I don’t feel sick anymore. I feel…not new, but I can stand and walk” Superman pulls himself up “And my powers are coming back”

“I saw the power in it. It was incredible. Even more than your own life form.”

“Why help me?”

“It’s about stopping these DEO mooks. Once it’s over, we go our separate ways. Get in my way again and there won’t be a corpse for the morgue to dissect you with.

Superman aims to respond but can’t when he notices Supergirl having a hard time. She’s dodging the hits from the DEO Agent, however she’s caught by surprise when Sam Lane slashes her shoulder with a knife. She holds her wound, feeling the bloody line from shoulder as blood is now on her hand.

“Your knife…” she questions “It contains traces from-a star?”

“Thank the Starmen for that with their travels. In addition, it contains traces of magic which helps with the sharp edges”

Supergirl is grabbed my Major Victory and Lady Liberty, with the former saying “Thank Zatara for that”

Sam Lane firmly walks to the young hero, holding firmly his knife. A quick slash on her stomach to keep her weak at the moment. While Supergirl winces, her fury at Sam Lane burns brighter “You’ve fought well today, Supergirl. You remind me of my daughters with your firm attitude on a fight, even if the numbers game outweighs you. So sad to see such determination go to waste”

“Oh blow me” the remark causes a quick confused glance by Lane before he goes back to looking serious “You don’t want determination. You and your government want subservience from those you think you protect. I’ve seen people like you before. I saw my planet fall because of it, and I’ll be dead before I let the likes of you think you can control me again”

“How can you stop us when you couldn’t save your planet?”

Upon hearing that, a thousand stick of dynamite blows up in Kara’s brain. She grits her teeth and arms shake in anger.

“How dare you?! How dare you sick ******* bastard?! You have any idea what-”

Lane goes to slash her with his powered knife again. Without issue Supergirl releases her hold from the DEO Agent and tackles Sam Lane to the ground. Before she can carve him into a million pieces, Firebrand does his own tackle. Placing his hands on her face, with the temperature now rising.

“I’d say you need to chill, but that’d be lie on many different accounts”

“AAAHHHH” he begins to sear her face. Which works well enough to cause her to scream.

“Come on, dear. I’ll stop if you promise to stop”

“I say otherwise”

Parasite places his arms on Firebrand’s own face, beginning to suck up the agent’s energy. The other Freedom’s Ring members go to help, but Superman blasts on the ground near them with his heat vision, causing them to scurry off.

The Man of Steel flies down to help his cousin up “Your face still looks fine. Wish I’d look better”

“no…no joking” says a seething Kara “I want to kill that bastard”

“You won’t. Parasite told me he’ll distract them while we get out”

“I’m not a coward like you, Kal. I know when it’s time to fight”

“If you want a fight, there will be one. Just not here”

Superman takes her with him, with Lane noticing them exiting. Not even superspeeding out of here, just running off.

“Vickers!” Lane shouts at Victory “Get Liberty and Majority! We’re not done with the aliens”

“What about Firebrand?”

The latter of whom is still being sucked dry by Parasite. Lane dispatches from his com link from the jet “Luthor, got any bright ideas?”

DEO JET

“I brought with me my prototype of the Seal X1987. But I’m not sure-”

THE BATTLEFIELD

“You were brought in to aid us. Now do so. Agent Howard, I’m sorry but I’m bringing the enemy to you. Open the doors” Lane shouts right at Parasite “Hey, big and stupid! You hate Luthor?”

“Huh” Parasite drops Firebrand once he hears that cursed name

“He’s up there” he points right at the jet. Parasite can only see the essence of what’s inside people. They all tend to blend in together. But once he will forever remember from even the most minute detail is…

“LUTHOR” he shouts, jumping at the DEO Jet “YOU WILL NEVER HURT ME AGAIN”

33.1 LABORATORY-YEARS AGO

Thrown inside a padded cell, Rudy Jones rushes up to his feet before his captors can close the door. Despite his best efforts, it’s shut, and he’s left inside, pounding “I’m not supposed to be here! Let me go, man!”

“Sorry, “man”, but you’re needed for important requirements” in front of Rudy steps in Alexander Luthor, still with his full head of hair, giving a smug smirtle to his captor “Requirements that serve my greater good”

“Who the hell are you?!”

“How long have you lived in Metropolis?”

“All my life! What’s it to you?!”

“Same as your life, Mr. Jones. And more. But what I find peculiar is you not knowing this city’s champion”

“Unless you’re Atomic or Owen Steen, I don’t care what champion you are!”

“You’ll learn soon enough. Testing begins tomorrow. Enjoy the room in any way you can. As they say, things will get better”

Surely for the results Luthor wanted. He had his scientists experiment on Rudy for time Rudy wasn’t able to keep count of after a couple of days. Sprayed and injected with biohazard material from toxic wastes from nuclear plants and even from space that landed on their planet.

By the time Rudy was given a mirror by one of the scientists to look at himself, he was left stunned by what came in front. He was strapped to a table, unable to even touch his skin to know if he even felt human

“Mr. Jones, are you still with us?”

“I…what’ve you done?” he couldn’t even scream

“What I requested” Alexander Luthor arrives in front of him. Hands on the pockets of his jackets as he looks down on the now purple abomination.

“Why make me this? I never cared how I looked but-”

“Then this shouldn’t really be a problem. Look at the bright side, Rudy. When it’s time for a fight, all you have to do is let them be and you’ll get stronger. They’ll virtually run away from your awesome presence”

DEO JET- THE PRESENT

The pilots turn around, opening the entrance. Lex stands before it, holding up his prototype blaster. Seeing Parasite practically fly towards them in bloodlust “YOU DID THIS TO ME, LUTHOR. I’LL SUCK YOU DRY THE BONE”

As his person gets near “Only in your wildest dreams. Which is a shame because you only have nightmares”

POOOOW

He blasts at Parasite head on. The canon releases a round glob that forms around the man who was once Rudy Jones. Parasite falls to the streets, forming a small crater.

ABANDONED BUIDLING

Superman and Supergirl have gone into hiding here, with Superman holding his head as Supergirl glares at him “You won’t let me kill that atrocious piece of garbage yet you’ll the freak attack them? He’ll do worse to all of them than me”

“I realize…it wasn’t the best option. But I know that Rudy-”

“Is a killer. It’s what he is. You know that?”

“He needs help. Even someone like him”

“Does this Freedom’s Ring group need help?”

“…No” he stands up straight again. His chest ever forward and a scowl that anyone that knew would say was unbefitting of him. Even surprising Kara with how serious he looks “We take them down”

THE BATTLEFIELD

Taking a stroll to the crater, such as when a kid goes to school, Lex Luthor sees Parasite in a rectangle shield. The purple powerhouse pounds on this new prison, with no escape being achieved. Parasite puts the palm of his hands on the front, trying to try the vigor, the energy from it.

“I would suggest not to do, Rudy” Lex hops down to meet him one on one, his hands in the pockets of his jacket “Not because you’d escaped, but because you can’t. Sure, your absorption works through not only people but the essence of matter and substances.

Materials too can be a great generator for your soul, but it depends on which one you touch. Products such as the green rock from before is great for you since it dispenses raw energy that can exude into one’s person. Not so much when it’s wrapped in a bubble. In a cocoon I should say.

Energized materials can be tampered with and played with as if it was a document on a computer. Put your hands on this and all you’ll feel is solid lead, a great deal of objects you can’t draw power from”

PNCH

Rudy punches his glass cocoon and for the first time in years outside of debilitating hunger, he feels pain. His touches his bare knuckles, in shock of seeing it twitch.

“Look at the bright side, it means you’re still human. Too bad Lucinda couldn’t see it in her final moments. Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to attend the funeral. I am the one who’s paying for it”

He winks at Rudy, who drops to his knees. Horrified at everything that has happened. To himself, to Lucinda, to what he’s heard. He’s trapped in a prison, with Lex Luthor looking down on him. The cycle repeats.

Chapter Text

THE OTHER SIDE

Freedom’s Ring weren’t that far behind, with each lieutenant having their fearless leader Sam Lane in front. While they were hurt a bit, it’s nothing they can’t shrug off. And why not? What’s behind them has shocked many of the people they’ve defeated in the past. It’s a full-on army behind them with Silent Majority multiplying himself to an incalculable degree. Each of them wanting especially their hands on Supergirl for killing so many of them previously.

"Dibs on Supergirl's head"

“Lets take these aliens down!”

“I bet we can do it in less than thirty!”

“You’re stepping on my foot”

“Sorry”

Major Victory catches up to Sam Lane “We’d be a lot more intimidating if they all shut up”

“Nonsense, son. What’s humor in the wake of victory?”

Victory has to swivel his head upon hearing that “...was that--”

“Comment on my father humor later. We’re here.”

They approach the block where Superman and Supergirl hid, and Silent Majority taps on his leader’s shoulder “Sir, I’m up there too”

Looking at the abandoned building, standing on a small platform in the edifice’s second floor is a Silent Majority copy, waving at his group. He jumps down, saluting at Sam Lane “Sir, I saw them hiding inside. Though there is a possibility they escaped; we should still search just in case”

“Took the words out of my mouth, Agent. Victory, Liberty and Firebrand, take yourselves some Majority’s and search for one. The rest? Follow me”

"Sir" steps in Firebrand "I'm not feeling too good right now. That purple people eater thing got me good and--"

"You got this far, Firebrand. Now use turning back. Now move."

"Ye--yes, Captain."

Major Victory led his group upstairs, each one on guard. So much so that Firebrand already lit his hands on fire to blast on instinct. Victory put his finger on his communicator “Still a negative on the aliens, Captain. Will notify when a sighting is made-”

SNATCH

Not a feeling of skin or touch did Victory feel when his earpiece was taken. Only a gust of wind as everyone sees Supergirl holding out his device. She smirks sinisterly, staring at everyone in her sight “You got your sighting. So will your overlord. And negative really is the pejorative term here”

CRSH

With a locking of her hand, she crushes the earpiece “You people wanna have fun? Let me join in the festivities”

The group already knows about the heat vision that comes from their eyes. But Supergirl’s eyes smoldered like a volcano with dark red aura. Each of them to unlatch their jaws in surprise, and many of them, with terror.

Downstairs, Sam Lane tries to contact his people “Victory? Victory! Vickers!” he looks to Silent Majority “He isn’t responding. Get two of your duplicates to head above. I want confirmation on--”

BMM

The Majority he spoke was hit by a freight train where he was standing. Flying him several feet away, leaving him down for the count.

BMM BMM BMM BMM BMM BMM

By the time Sam Lane looked around the room, all the Silent Majority’s have been laid out. Without even a whiff of problem. The room didn’t carry in a fair amount of gleam, but where Sam Lane stood, a shadow had cover over him.

“Captain, I request you end this. We can find better uses of our times.”

Not allowing himself to panic, Sam Lane twists his body, using the gauntlet on his hand to deliver a deafening punch. Superman grabbed it like paperweight. Though there was struggle, Superman only needed to pull away to break off the weapon from Lane.

The Captain fell to the ground, again quick on his feet, he goes in to deliver an uppercut. However, the Man of Tomorrow is quicker, simply moving a few inches, before reaching his hand out to grab the other gauntlet. Superman grabs it, hosting Lane from the ground. To the Captain’s own humiliation, he looked like a baby.

Still, he won’t allow Superman to make a mockery of him, reaching to his pocket to grab the magic/star knife. It worked before on Superman and his cousin, surely it’ll work again. It would if he could find it. It’s not in his pocket and he never gave it to his people.

“I’d say finders keepers” he sees Superman has it “But I don’t intend to use it”

“Then give it back”

“No. This stops now, Captain Lane.”

“On whose orders? You have no jurisdiction in this city. No power. The only thing you are is a bomb waiting to go off”

“I’ve pondered that question my whole life. Wondering what would happen if I took the wrong step or got over excited. Because even in those moments I needed to calm myself down. That is real power. You?” he pulls Lane closer “What do you have?”

“Humanity”

“I want you to think about the people you’ve hurt. Good or bad. Everyone who has ever laid their eyes upon you when you made your so called “tough” decision. Can you really say they saw humanity in their eyes?”

Lane scoffs at Superman’s call, looking away from him. Barely able to stand the sight of him. It was his mistake as it begins to flood in. Superman’s words now burrowing deep beneath the caverns of his mind. It’s not what he wants yet why is he doing this to himself? How can he let this alien plunge his own brain?

MARKOVIA- YEARS AGO

All around anyone who still has functioning eyes open, hellfire has consumed the battlelines. Sam Lane looks down on the man on the ground. His own eyes permanently opened after the horrors he saw today.

“my son…your people-killed him”

Lane looks at him with no remorse or emotion “He tried to bomb our camp. Fair about is fair play. Has your country had enough? Will you end this petty war?”

“we both know it ends on your country’s term. you want us to beg. to grovel. to suffer. you want our property and our servitude when it counts. I see how you look at the world. you fight for lies”

Sam looks at him with bitterness in his face “I fight for security. Isn’t that enough?”

“then your people are doomed by their saviors”

Having had enough of him, Sam Lane pulls out his pistol, not even flinching when--

METROPOLIS- THE PRESENT

Sam Lane snaps out of it, staring back at Superman. Having to look up after just now realizing that Superman dropped him.

“You--you’re wrong, alien. You are. In my book, you always will be”

“Have you told yourself that enough times in the mirror? To your family?”

“Don’t you dare bring in my family. Especially after the way you court my daughter. You have her spread your propaganda.”

“That was Lo--Ms. Lane’s choice. I never forced it on her. You think you make a difference? Follow your daughter’s example”

Sam Lane had nothing left to say. He was left with an abyss of rebuttals. He wanted to say more, but not a lot was coming up. But something was, when Supergirl crashed in.

BAATHROOOM

The ceiling has been ruptured. Above their heads, the debris is going to crash down in the most dreadful way. Superman grabs Sam Lane, taking him away from being crushed. The Man of Steel looks ahead, seeing a ghastly viewing that he’s feared before could happen, but ignored.

Supergirl has Major Victory pinned down on the ground. He tries to lift his arm up, but Supergirl puts her foot down on his arm in the most excruciating way possible.

“AAAHHHHHH” screams Victory

The blonde powerhouse looking down with satisfaction crossing her lips “You assured your team you had this. Do you?”

“Supergirl!” Superman speeds by her “That’s enough” he reaches his hand to grab her.

She’s had enough of his stubborn, annoying attitude. She hasn’t been with her cousin for that long but with the time she’s spent, she grown tired of his orders. Always telling her what to do. Not realizing that people like these people will never be talked down to.

His hope to her? Only an illusion. With a hefty shove, Kara pushes Clark out of her way. The power she used causing him to crash into another building.

Supergirl notices Sam Lane on the ground, getting up. She smirks, now able to get her hands on him for his insult from before. In a microsecond, she grabs him, pushing him against the wall. Once she saw him cringe, she did again and again. His eyes now barely open to be kept open.

“Don’t sleep now. We just started”

BRRROOSSSH

Behind her, Supergirl is now getting torched by Firebrand. The man’s costume is almost ripped to shreds. His goggles are no longer there and mask in half condition. Pants and bodysuit torn and his hands grow weaker. At this point, the flame was only being a bother to her than actually causing pain.

She speeds by to deck out another blow at him, but as she runs, she sees a familial presence. One who’s annoyed. Superman shoulder checks her, sending her to crash through a wall. Superman looks over to Firebrand, who has stopped shooting fire. He drops to his knees, his mask now fully off. Once it drops, the hero of Metropolis gasps as he sees someone he thought he’d never see again.

“Andre?”

Superman gets close to him, getting a better look at him. It is Andre Twist, an old college acquaintance. Back in college, Clark saw him get arrested by Agent Hank Henshaw for having fire powers. Though the two were never close, Clark always found his obsession with fire odd. They spoke often and saw each other frequently on campus.

Clark’s heard rumors that the prisoners in Blackgate can be released if they join the DEO as agents. Given Firebrand only joined the group last year, it seems Andre couldn’t handle prison life anymore and fed into his worst traits.

He looks up at Superman, squinting his eyes “Do I know?” asks Firebrand, actually confused by that question.

Clark sees Kara reentering, quite peeved as she passes by the broken bricks. Superman dashes to her, staring her down with his own scowl as she looks like she wants to punch him into space.

“It was a mistake letting you in this fast”

She grits her teeth, maddened by his dismissal of her. And despite finding her cousin an irritation, his comment still hurts. Made worse once she sees a beaten-up Lady Liberty attending to Major Victory, who can’t move his arm. The arm Kara broke.

With no intention to argue back, Kara just pushes her head. The adrenaline and thirst for fighting now having left. She’s still angry. At everyone. But also, to herself.

KANSAS- THE KENT HOUSE

Sat down on the family dinner table, total unease is what’s felt all around. Jonathan and Martha are side by side, appearing concerned while their son looks down in defeat. Kara’s face almost can’t be seen. So much of hair covering her whole face, yet her expression they can see is complete misery.

“Kara?” Martha says to her, trying to be as comforting under this situation.

“I heard it the first time. I’ll stay here”

Clark looks at his cousin, saddened to see how things turned out.

THE KENT FARM

Inside, Clark helps his father fix up the tractor. He lifts up the device while Jonathan does the necessary fixing from below.

“I’ve been in some jams in my short time as Superman, Pa. But this…I don’t know what went wrong-okay, okay. I do know. I just-”

“Son” Jonathan peeks his head so Clark can see him “It just didn’t work out. Plain and simple. And if you want me to say more, to lay wisdom on you cause I can see it in your eyes. Fine” he gets up from the ground, with Clark putting the tractor down. He puts his tools on the table before looking at his son eye to eye “You’re not a mentor or a teacher” Jon says wiping the black smudge from his hands with a towel.

“I know-”

“You don’t know, Clark. If you did, you wouldn’t have asked me. My boy, what that girl needs is someone she can talk to. Not family or even one who really understands what she’s going through. But a person who listens and can help deal with her trauma”

“A therapist? Pa, if I do that, they’ll report her to the authorities. It’ll link back to me and we’ll both be arrested. You and Ma, you’ll-”

“Even in my old age I know about patient-doctor confidentiality. Sure, secrets will be spilled and the experience for her will be rough, but Clark, think of the poor girl. You want to speed up the process in helping her? This one step to reach that goal”

Clark takes off his glasses, pinching his nose. He uses both his hands to rub his face, worried of the worst outcome that could come. But there is an alternative “I think…I think I know someone.”

DEO BASE- WASHINGTON

In the medical bay, Major Victory is being looked after some of Washington’s best doctors. Something Sam Lane and Lady Liberty have to remind themselves as they look on outside from his room. Hoping he pulls through.

“This is why Superman needs to be stopped. If he allows his cousin to be--”

“Captain, with all due respect, leave the anger at work or to your superiors. Now, let’s just focus on our team.”

“R--right. Victory is strong, he’ll pull through. I was given an update on Firebrand and he’ll be good as new in a couple of weeks. Silent Majority on the other hand...”

Liberty looks to him “Captain?”

“He won’t be fine for a while. All of him.”

In the living chambers of the facility, wearing a black shirt with the DEO logo on it and gray pants, sitting on a chair, Firebrand looks at his gear on the floor. He’s rather despondent, holding his head.

“He called me Andre. Did...did I know...Superman? Did...he called me Andre...”

He rubs his head, looking down on the floor. Never figuring out the answer.

In the room next to his, Silent Majority is cradled on the floor, next to his bed. He’s shaking profusely. His eyes won’t close and teeth won’t stop clattering. And he can’t seem to get rid of the wretched, fuel raging vision that’s seared in his brain for maybe the rest of his life...of Supergirl.

“My brothers...she took you...my brothers...”

METROPOLIS- THE HEYWOOD RESIDENCE

Alone at night in the kitchen, the famed Commander Steel, Hank Heywood, drinks from a cup of water as he looks over a scrapbook of his family. His wedding day, the day his son was born, his son’s birthday where he had Green Lantern be the surprised guest.

WHOOSH

Having learned that sound meant a speedster, Heywood turns to his right to see Superman now in his home “Could have knocked” he sees before drinking more from his cup.

“Would have attracted attention” Superman looks ahead of Heywood, noticing the suitcases and backpacks “What’s with…”

“Told by Director Bones to take a vacation”

“You’re being moved” Superman sighs under his breath “I’m sorry, Mr. Heywood, I didn’t mean-”

“Let’s put a pin on you needlessly putting the blame on yourself for later. You came here for a reason. Spill”

“It’s about…Supergirl. She’s my cousin and--”

“She’s too young. I check the internet. Not a smart move. How long has she been around?”

“It’s complicated” Superman puts his hand on the side of his side. His eyes closed as he takes a breath “She needs help--and it’s help I can’t give. I tried to help--I still want to help. But she needs better help. A--a therapist she can talk to. I--I wanted to see if…if you know someone who can help--Someone who won’t rat her out. Someone whocanreallykeepsecretsand-”

“Take a seat, son”

Big blue walks away from the kitchen, looking at the ground “I just--I just--just--”

“The family is sound asleep upstairs. You can stay if you want. For a limited time of course”

Seeing Heywood so relaxed is surprising given all he’s dealt with the DEO and even himself. But the man was once a superhero and a member of the JSA. He’s shown Clark a great amount of respect in their brief time knowing each other. Despite his paranoia of Kara talking to a therapist and more, right now, he’s starting to get control of himself.

Superman sits down next to Heywood, taking another deep breath. Silence and understanding, it’s what’s needed for now between the two. While Superman rests his forearms and places his chin on top of them in the countertop, Heywood exits from his seat.

“I do know someone. Superheroes as well need someone professional to talk to. It’s how we kept going in this hard line of work. I actually have her phone number. Should be in my office. You’ll be surprised to see who it is.”

“Given what I’m sure I’ll have to face soon, how exactly will a therapist be a bombshell revelation?”

THE NEXT DAY- CAPITAL CITY

In the front offices of this doctor, Superman has his jaw opened to this whammy of a reveal “Harlequin?!”

She adjusts her glasses, giving the hero an unamused look “I also accept being called Dr. Molly Mayne, thank you”

“Sorry, ma’am--doctor. Just, I remember seeing your tape of you fighting Green Lantern”

“Was not in a good headspace during that time. He actually was the reason why I went out to seek help. Managed to regain my PHD and have happily remained here ever since, helping out one patient at a time. Now, Hank told me of your situation.”

“It’s not mine. It’s a family member”

“I see. I’ll make sure to let the DEO know”

“Wh--what?!”

“Ha! I’m just yanking your chain. Your secrets are safe, big blue. Now, just where is she?”

THE KENT HOUSEHOLD

In her room, Kara remains in her bed, turning her body away from Clark who looks at her with concern. She wishes to tune him out, but her powers won’t allow it “-nd she said she can come here, if that’s okay with you”

“Sure” she says, venom still coming out with only a single word being uttered

He’s taken a back “Yeah…” Clark looks away to the corner, again hitting a roadblock with her “Kara, I know it looks like I’m abandoning you. But I’ll be sure to visit as often as I can. We can train. Even better here on the farm-”

“Just go to Metropolis and be Superman. At least you’re good at that”

Her words hit like daggers to the heart. Kara is his only living family member, and now any relationship they can have looks damaged. He wants to reply, he doesn’t want to leave like this. Clark wants to shout at her, he wants to plead at her. He wants to do so much, yet nothing can come out. He can only leave through the door, say his goodbyes to his parents and go back to Metropolis. Alone. Again.

Chapter Text

WGBS NEWS STATION

“Welcome one and all, I am Roy Raymond. Today, another attack from an unknown beast, seemingly from underground--”

METROPOLIS SQUARE

“Hello again, Metropolis. I am Angela Chen, bringing you the scoop of today. A man claiming to be from the future, calling himself “Nylor Truggs”, attacked the big parade on the West Side with extraordinary plasma blasts--”

METROPOLIS BROADCAST NETWORK

“Hey yo, this is Leslie Willis popping off. Today, Metropolis was hit with the same old, same old. New skyscrapers for next year being signed off. Protests over in LexCorp facilities. And wacky steroid beasts attacking us because I guess we’re all just irresistible. This one being the formerly missing scientist, Dr. Robert Altus Jr, injecting himself with shit I don’t wanna know --”

WGBS NEWS STATION

“--attack was halted once Superman stepped in. The fight lasted an hour, but the Man of Steel was able to take it back from whence it came.”

METROPOLIS SQUARE

“--once all the attendees were kept save, Superman dealt with the madman in an impressive display of skill and speed--”

METROPOLIS BROADCAST NETWORK

“--of course “Big Blue” had to make things worse and wreck the guy's stuff. I’m telling ya, the DEO or Lex Luthor, they would have handled this guy in the speed of light. But Superman HAD to make a show--”

THE STREETS

“EXTRA! EXTRA!” yells a little girl, reaching out her papers into the air while her friends do the same “READ ALL ABOUT IT! SUPERMAN SAVES THE SOUTH FROM BLACK HOLE! NEWSKID LEGION SPECIAL!”

“I’d like to take a peek at that” voices out a woman behind the girl. They look up to see it’s someone they’re familiar with.

“Lane. Lois Lane!” the girl says, narrowing her eyes

“Johnson. Flip Johnson.” Lois sarcastically replies. She snatches the paper from her, and with Flip’s hand still out, Lois passes her some money “What have you Kids got in here?”

“’Newskid Legion’, Lane. You know this.”

“I’m surprised you were able to get interviews from people about this.”

“All of two, but it’s a start”

“And does your father know about your little trip to Suicide Slum yesterday? How about the rest of you? Scrapper? Big Words? Gabby?”

“My dad won’t care once she sees the money I'll be bringing her”

“And how much have you made?”

“The amount you’ve given me” Flip says, lowering her down in defeat. Big Words pats her in the back, but she slaps his hand away.

“We should just take it online” Gabby says, folding her arms, looking to the side with a pout.

“But we put so much effort on the paper!”

“Flip, there’s money to be made on the internet!”

Lois steps away a little “I see you guys need to iron out how you handle your business. I’m gonna go to work.”

“Yes yes yes” Flip waves her off without looking at her “Remember you have to help study for my Spanish exam this Sunday”

“I wouldn’t miss it” Lois replies, walking away from them while opening the newspaper. She’s quite impressed actually with what they have crafted. They have crossword puzzles, opinion pages, advertisements for small businesses and comics. The comics are weird, with the protagonist being this guy called Henry Cavill, professional detective. Nevertheless, it’s creative.

But Lois grabbed the newspaper to read about Superman’s exploits. He’s been flying around a lot more than usual. The newspaper even addresses, though briefly, his exploits outside of the city. He’s becoming almost a little too active. Or maybe it’s just her mind playing tricks on her.

DAILY STAR

“What do you think, Smallville?” she asks to Clark, sitting on his desk. The man himself looks away to the distance, lost in his own mind “Earth to Kent!” she knocks on his hard head

“Hmm?”

“Did you listen to a word I said?”

Clark listens to a lot of things. He listened to Steve Lombard discussing about the new Basketball team led by this guy called Michael Jordan; The Monstars. He listened to this new reporter joining the Star called Cat Grant and how she’s already working on the gossip column. He listened to the folk's downstairs talking about a DEO Agent called Janine canceling an interview meant for today.

With all of that, he still made sure to listen to a small bit of what Lois said. Sometimes for him, it’s hard to listen when he’s paying more attention to her appearance than her words “It’s hard not to, Lois” he says to her “And yes, your mind is playing tricks on you.”

“You okay, Kent? I know things haven’t been easy since Kara...left.”

“It was...better this way. Believe me. And I can still call her.”

“It’s nothing like it is in person, Clark. It’s fine to be angry over her not being here. I had my sister Lucy live with me for a bit and when she had to leave, I was angry over being alone for a yea--”

“I’m not alone!” he spats at her. The volume of his voice and seeing him stand up to tower over her and even the entire bullpen was cause enough for her to stand back. Lois being worried was enough for him to realize his mistake. But seeing everyone else surprised over his outburst was enough for him to feel truly embarrassed “I’m...sorry, everyone.”

Before someone can sound off on him being ‘weird’ Jimmy steps in “What? You never see a journalist raise his voice? Dude, Jason, you did it twice last week.”

Everyone goes back about their business and Clark slinks back at his chair “When you want to talk like an adult, you can come find me.” Lois tells him, leaving in a rather sour mood.

“Oh God” Clark facepalms

“Buddy, let her stew, I've pissed her off a lot in my time here.”

“But you know she’s the last person I want to anger.”

“Speaking of anger--”

“Ah, Olsen” the editor in chief steps in “You got the pics from Manheim’s hearing?”

“Yes, Chief, I think you’ll quite like them. It’s--”

“You know, Olsen, I think I'll like them a lot. It’s nice when an employee does their job!” he says his last sentence with anger to Clark, who holds in his pain over that comment.

Once Perry walks off, Jimmy slaps Clark in the shoulder “Clark, you gotta do something!”

“Do what? Lois and others have been beating me on the byline and--”

“Then be faster! You’ve been fast before! Grab that story like a burger and eat bit by bit. Take it out of your stomach and put it on the plate. Reach deep inside--”

“Okay, Jimmy, okay” Clark gets up and stops him “I get the message” he grabs his coat and departs “Tell Perry I’ll be getting him one heck of a scoop!”

Jimmy looks on proud of his friend, nodding at his determined pathway forward “...wait, why am I here? This was my day off.”

THE STREETS

Though his mind drifts to what happened with Kara. How she lost in the fight against Freedom’s Ring. How she almost killed a member. Now she’s in Smallville and angrier at him than before. Still, he can hear and remember well some discussions throughout the building filtered through his ear.

“Volcana...” he says under his breath. He turns his head, seeing news reports on the TVs behind the glass window of a shop. What he sees is video of this villainess in action. And they made sure to capture her face. The sick glee in her face was enough to freeze a person for a lifetime.

The news reporter comments... “Once more, Volcana eludes capture in New York City. She fought against DEO Agent Magno and dealt him a heavy blow. He’s currently under medical care. Other Agents were not as lucky as him. The powerful and dangerous criminal has been on the run for 2 years now. And nobody knows what her next destination is.”

Clark sighs under his breath, now having a pensive feeling bubbling under his stomach. He walks away, rubbing the top of his head. Her moves, her powers and the pleasure she got out of combat. It’s something he remembers quite well. He’s had a prior run in with her before.

It’s something from his early days as Superman. While Metropolis is his home, he makes the occasional exit to help other cities around the world. And in Cleveland, Ohio, he ran into quite a display. Of all things, a frost giant came from the great beyond and began tearing a DEO Base bit by bit.

Superman battled it for almost an hour, relying on a heavy use of his heat vision. Perhaps he could have beaten it sooner had several DEO Agents not continuously sent missiles in his way. The orders came from a Lieutenant by the name of Donald Selton. An old man who Superman could hear cursing his name throughout the entire battle.

Half an hour into the fight, a woman from out of nowhere showed and actually lent a hand to Superman. He didn’t question it and together, they stopped the Frost Giant. But after the fight, she blasted at him and focused on the DEO Agents. Superman was already left too weak from the fight, and the blast was surprisingly powerful that he was left paralyzed for a bit.

It was enough for Volcana to kill each man in her way, one by one. Clark was left with nightmares for an entire week seeing those men slowly burn to death. Their screams burrowing into his ears. And worse yet, she took pleasure killing Lieutenant Selton. Breaking every bone in his body.

Clark can’t quite remember every word, but he can remember him begging to her “Please! Don’t do it! We’re--”

HONK HONK

Clark is snapped back at the present, with a man in his car cursing him out “Get off the road, asshole! I’ll run you over if you--”

Not liking his tone, Clark gets out of the way and walks up to the man. He quickly bolts it once he sees how big Clark truly was up close. The journalist ignores the man and goes back to his stroll. He thinks about that night. And remembers a couple of other stories about Volcana. He’s never been able to catch her. Why WAS she in a DEO Facility? Why kill a Lieutenant?

And with the way he begged, he was going to mention something to her “We’re--”. That simple word. It’s on Clark’s mind now. Surely, he could have gone on a diatribe over how powerful the DEO is and how they’ll stop her. Maybe bring up money into this and pay her off. There’s more to it than that and the average joe walking by could see the man passing them by with razor sharp focus.

METROPOLIS LIBRARY

With the trusty use of a computer here and a book detailing powerful military families, Clark’s investigation was in full swing. And it’s a good thing he didn’t have to use the computer over at work because he’d rather not return to the Daily Star and have Perry stare daggers at him, or deal with Lois giving him the cold shoulder or wonder why Jimmy entered in his day off.

“There’s more to you, isn’t it, Selton?” he says to himself, adjusting his glasses.

The Selton Family Tree book, one made 3 years ago, lists out a stellar lineup of family members. Particularly of soldiers for the military and government. The family business seems to be service the country. Donald Selton’s grandfather served in World War I. His father served in World War II. Donald himself served in Vietnam, Iraq and Markovia.

In that time, he had a total of 4 kids with 4 different wives “Note to self, make sure not to get divorced more than once” Clark mutters to himself before continuing to read.

Each kid followed in their father’s footsteps and joined different government agencies. The oldest, Erik, joined the FBI. Elijah joined the military and is currently a Lieutenant. Janine parlayed her talent into joining the DEO. And following her and her father there was the youngest one “Claire Selton” Clark comments.

The book didn’t say much of what happened next, so Clark went directly to the computer. Sifting through different news sites, many of which wasn’t giving him information he didn’t already know. Eventually, he stumbled onto the Ross Report and there, Clark found intriguing information.

Both Selton daughters didn’t just become agents but partook in experiments meant to give them powers. Janine didn’t get much of anything, however, Claire? The report reads that the experiment didn’t go well for her, and Claire hasn’t been seen since.

But how can that be? If they went through the experiment, surely, they had to have the same fail rate. Perhaps it just was never told to the public for a reason. The report doesn’t point out what kind of experiment it was. The DEO experiments with plenty of genetic splicing, it could be anything. Like volcanic fire.

Volcana killed Donald with malicious intent. Clark goes through different news articles about Volcana and how she’s either robbed a bank or murdered... “A Selton” Clark says, shocked to read how Volcana had killed several different family members of her family.

From siblings to cousins to uncles. There’s no leaving anyone out. And wait a minute...she’s going after every member of her family, and her sister is called Janine...and a DEO Agent called Janine canceled an interview from a Daily Star reporter earlier in the day...

WHOOSH

He returned the books he used and left the place, flying through the city in search of a...

MPD PRECINCT

On lunch break, Dan Turpin enjoys himself a salad his wife made for him today. And with no one to interrupt him, leaving him alone in the break room, Dan just might be in store for the most relaxing half hour he’s had in years.

WHOOSH

“Detective Turpin” Superman arrives, standing across from him

Turpin throws his fork down and sighs angrily “What do you want, Big Blue?”

“I need to know where a DEO Agent named ‘Janine Selton’ is staying at this time. The DEO facility is absent of her, and I can’t find her anywhere.”

“The DEO doesn’t clue us in for these kinds of stuff. And frankly, why do you care?”

“Her life is at stake”

“Of course it is”

“Detective Turpin, please take this seriously. The metahuman Volcana is going to attack and do God knows what to her. They’re sisters--”

“Sibling rivalry got it” Turpin stops him, getting up from his seat now “If you want a small hand of information, rumor has it she does have some small connection to some people in government. Probably as a way for her not to burn them at the stake. And if she’s a Selton as you say, her reach may be big.”

A loud explosion catches Clark’s ear “I’m too late. She’s on the--”

“Attack, yeah yeah yeah. I’ll alert Maggie and the others. You get out now and kick ass!”

Both men run their ways, with Superman reaching the...

FBI FACILITY

Designed to be a front for a secret DEO Base in the city, Volcana knew what it really was. The hot villainess has busted her way through. The front? Melted. Several Agents? Either hurt or smoldering. The weapons aren’t doing much to stop her, only push her back a little.

A man inside a mechanical suit walks up to the fiery redhead “With all you’ve done today alone, you’ve assured yourself life in prison. And the shit you’ve done throughout the years? Hot DAMN life sentences can’t even begin to cover it.”

Volcana chuckles “I assume the asshole inside is Hank Henshaw?”

“My reputation proceeds me”

“Let this be a personification of it. A footnote.”

Her hands bubble with power which blinds the room with red. Once she extends her hands towards Henshaw, she blasts at him, forcing him to crash through a wall. The suit is still working, but already Henshaw is wincing. As Henshaw prepares to get up, Volcana places her foot at him.

“Now, now, now. Don’t want you getting up. Let’s see how much this tin-can can take.”

PLAM

Volcana is driven back by a powerful shot by Agent John Henry Irons. He hit her with a big hammer, and she’s driven a few feet away from him “Let’s apply it to you too.” John Henry says, running up to her. Just when he’s about to take her head off with his steel weapon, she grabs the hammer with almost no effort.

“You were saying?” she says to him. Her eyes light up with fire, as does her hands. She takes great pleasure reaching out to him, aiming to burn him as she’s done to many others.

PEW PEW PEW PEW

Her movement is halted as several Agents shoot at her with their blasters “Don’t let up!” screams an Agent “Henshaw, get up now! We can beat her!”

Despite all the sounds and yelling, Volcana knew what that voice was. It’s reason she’s here “Ah! Sister Janine!” Volcana lets her voice be heard “I was just looking for you” she covers her head as the blasts continue to be directed at her.

Janine doesn’t comment, continuing to blast at her. Henshaw gets up, shooting a small missile at Volcana. The room lights up and everyone gets out.

BOOOOM

Smoke surrounds the area and the DEO Agents, minus Henshaw, cough “Don’t thank me yet” Henshaw comments “It was a team effort. But I did get the last hit.”

VOOOM

Once more fire is shot at and Henshaw is hit with it. Volcana flies at him, spearing him to the ground. She decks several punches at the suit, cracking it. The Agents get ready to blast her again, but Volcana is quick to blast them, setting many of them ablaze. Janine looks on in horror seeing her partners burn before her. Her hands tremble and vision loses focus.

“You okay, sis?” Volcana goes up to her, touching her forehead “You seem to have a fever. Me? I'm warm, fuzzy and very healthy.”

“Claire” Janine says, shaking “We’re family”

“Ha. Erik said the same. Tell him that I stole his wallet after I burned him, will ya babe?”

She grips her sister’s forehead and when Janine lets out a small tear, that’s when Volcana knew when to make it slow and painful.

“URRK”

Her grip on Janine is over and Volcana begins to grunt “Time to cool you off” Superman has arrived, sending her flying through several walls. The Man of Steel looks at Janine, who is still paralyzed with fear “I need you to run as far as possible, ma’am.”

“I’ll be sure to see she makes it out okay” John Henry says, as he helps her up “Think you can handle her, Superman?”

“We’ll have to see”

“Good luck”

“Thanks” Superman nods to him “Be well, Agent Irons”

“Call me John Henry” he winks at him before leaving with Janine, who is just now refocusing.

Superman is ready to find her, but stops when he sees her flying in. Volcana is fueled with fire and fury. He uses his freeze breath on her. Volcana’s whole body kept in stasis, with the fire put out.

“Hmm, that was a lot easier than I thought.”

Once he finishes that sentence, the icey orb she’s been put in begins to show some droplets of liquid pouring down. Silence replaced with her yell as she quickly flies out and grabs Superman, sending him several feet up. In the top floor, Volcana stops flying and slams him through a table. Superman tries to sit up but Volcana plants both her feet on his skull, caving him to the ground.

The force of the move powerful enough the crack the foundation of the ground. The 7th floor isn’t the top floor anymore. The debris crashes on both of them. Volcana is the first to get up, brushing her hair and wiping the dust on her jacket.

“I’m good. How about you, tall, blue and sexy?”

Superman groans, holding his face as a small dose of blood leaves his nose.

“Mmm, maybe not sexy now. Or ever with this.”

Her incredible speed takes her to him, using one arm to choke him while using the other for the top of his head.

“I wonder about you, Superman. Just how powerful are you really? What’s your limit? Wanna see me at mine?”

“...no” he headbutts her. Her hold on him released. Superman grabs Volcana, driving her headfirst through the floor and onto the next one. She quickly gets up but immediately is on wobbly legs. One eye isn’t doing too good, and she has to cling her back to the wall to keep a stance. Nevertheless, she powers up her hands as Superman approaches her.

“I have to admit, “Man of Steel”, you actually look intimidating up close. Especially when you drop the hokey smile.”

“Give up now, Claire.”

“Claire? Huh, not often I hear that name outside of family.”

“How could you? What could they have done to possibly deserve their fate? Or anyone you’ve hurt?”

“They were in my way. And hey, my family were assholes. You HAD to have known that, right? I mean, dear old dad tried to arrest you.”

“Doesn’t mean he should have died”

“Wow, you really are as powdered toast as they say”

“I’d rather be as “black and white” as people like you claim me to be, rather than the shallow broken woman with no future before me.”

“Heh, broken?” she looks at him with a cold snigger “Honey, i know how broken i really am. Want to know WHY i kill my own family? Is it because I was abused or the redheaded stepchild? Is there a genetic defect or a supervillain is controlling my brain? Nah. I hated them because they weren’t me. They were boring and pathetic.

The Selton Family has been looked on as this illustrious and proud family. Bullshit. And the fact that I was expected to continue bringing some crap stain honor to them and this country was the biggest insult of all.

When I got these powers? I was lit up with excitement. What I had reflected who I was. Look at me, Superman! I’m hot in a figurative and literal sense! What is the Selton family name to me now that I got these?”

“A disappointment”

“Like how you were with that sidekick of yours?”

Superman gasps under his breath

“What was she? Sister? Niece? Cousin? Girlfriend? Doesn’t matter. Guess you’re just as alone as those you fight, huh?” the palm of her hands burn as her power returns to her in full “Here, let me give you some company!”

She blasts at him, fully intent in ending him in one powerful array of fire. With a powerful inhale and exhale, Superman puts out the fire. The blow from it causing her to move back and land painfully on her spine.

The Man of Tomorrow walks towards Volcana as she moans “You can meet your warden over in--”

A strange noise is heard near them. With the use of his x rays, he sees five floating orbs surrounding the building. Superman flies out of there, grabbing each orb and crushing them. He grabs the last and biggest one, getting a better view of it “Is this...a camera? Who is this?!”

“YOUR jailer, Superman! Or soon to be ones. Anyways, I need you to get your ass handed first.” the voice on the end answers, with the device now electrocuting Superman. The sphere pulls out of Superman’s grasp, shooting lasers at him that force him back inside the building.

Volcana sees this, confused as to why some small orb just helped her now “Oh fuck that noise. Come to me, you beautiful bastard!”

Feeling better than before, her whole-body courses in red hot fire. When Superman gets back up, Volcana slams her first onto his chest, his face, his stomach. She grabs hold of his head, driving it through the wall. Volcana holds him again and tosses him through the elevator door. She quickly made it to the edge to see him falling to the very end down bottom.

“hmm, i wonder...” she looks up to see the elevator platform above her. She floats below, getting a good firm grip on it. After some struggle, her fingers twitched a little after hitting Superman multiple times, she forces the elevator down. Superman didn’t even see what hit him so hard.

VRAVOOOM

Volcan flies down, admiring her hard work “You know, my old man always loved a challenge. I never understood it...” she approaches Superman’s hurt body “Thought he was looking for his death wish. But meeting you? Holy hell, I think I'm starting to get it.”

She gets closer to him “If you’re listening to me, Supes, just know, I think I'm gonna make this city my home residence for the time being. I love all the monsters and powered assholes running around. And surely, my sister couldn’t have gotten far. Once I’m done with her, who knows what I'll do? Isn’t that exciting?

He doesn’t respond, still hurt over her attack.

“I get the feeling you don’t agree. And that’s the best part. I gotta head out. Ciao.”

Volcana exits and Superman remains. He opens his eyes, seeing her escape DEO capture. The same DEO with workers that are coming to him. The day he knew could come but never truly prepared for. Is this really how it ends for him?

PARTS UNKNOWN

It was either a blur or darkness for the next couple of hours. Superman would open his eyes and see people dragging him around. Then we would see darkness as unconsciousness met him again and again. After a while, he snapped out of it. But it was too late. He found himself strapped in a stretcher.

“What is going—“

“Ah! You’re awake finally.”

Superman peers his head over the left, seeing two men approaching him. Two men he remembers quite well. One in a suit and the other with a colorful suit and coat on with wacky glasses for his eyes.

“Mannheim! Toyman!”

“Just the same!” Toyman says, adjusting his bow tie “and don’t forget your cell mate, Superman”

He points to the left. Superman swings his head next to him, seeing another familiar face, strapped against his will like he is “Lex?”

Chapter Text

MONTHS AGO – MANHEIM ESTATE

Bruno pours himself a glass of wine, then pouring onto another one, passing it to Winslow “Got it in China. Best tasting one in the entire country. Been saving it for a special day.”

“I appreciate the offer, Mr. Manheim, but I'm not much of a drinker.”

“First time for everything.” he plays around with his glass “Loved your whole show. Glad I caught all of it live. Killing Alexander’s wife? Just chef’s kiss.”

“Spur of the moment actually. But still proud of it.”

“As you should. But Luthor is still around. And that alien is only going to make things more complicated.”

“What are you suggesting?"

“A team up obviously. This one, being more lowkey. I want it to be away from the public eye because I NEED to torture these assholes before I end them and parade their corpses around the city. I don’t want to share it with no noisy punk across the street or any reports recording it. I want it for me! And for you, let me not forget.”

“Hmm, do I get to choose the torture?”

“Obviously!”

“How much is the budget?”

“Frankly, I'm open to being sent to jail. No more spending it on legal matters or to those who work in my offices. So long as the alien and ginger are gone forever, I would happily drop the soap every day of my life.”

“Bruno...” Toyman picks up the glass, raising it “I think you’re my greatest business partner yet”

“Didn’t think you’d drink”

He grins “First time for everything”

THE DAILY STAR – THE PRESENT

Lois presses the space bar in her keyboard. In front of her, there’s not a single proper word in front of her. Jimmy passes by and sees her most likely lost in her thoughts. He gets close to her, getting a clearer view of the screen.

“Going straight for that Pulitzer, aren’t you?”

“Hrmph” she grumbles, narrowing her eyes to him.

“Use your words more clearly, Ms. Lane. It’s unbecoming of you.” he sarcastically comments

“You’re in a chipper mood than most” Lois changes the windows from her computer. Showing Jimmy her report the other days of Volcana defeating Superman. Then of people who have not been found. Then of Lex Luthor’s absence “A list of people have gone missing for what? Two? Three days? One of which is Superman, and you aren’t the least bit worried?”

“I thought you wanted to focus on smaller stories”

“I can’t ignore the big stuff, Jimmy. And some of the people missing are probably people Volcana killed. There are families who are worried sick, thinking someone they know and care is out when in reality--”

“Hey, I get it” Jimmy lowers his tone to be more understanding “I’m sorry to say this, i don’t want to downplay their importance, but are you also worried that our big friend from across the room is missing too?”

They look over to see Clark’s empty desk. Barely anyone here cares to comment on it. Nevertheless, the two of them care. Even Perry raised a concern over it yesterday. While Lois looks on with a sad look, Jimmy changes his attention over to her.

“I didn’t think you’d care that much about him”

“What?”

“I mean, you’re both competing a lot. You tease him. Last talk you had didn’t seem all that pleas--”

“What are you implying?!” she stands up from her desk

Jimmy throws his hands up defense “What I mean is that...do you happen to feel something more for Clark--”

She walks away from him “Stop pretending this is a romance novel, kid”

Lois leaves the bullpen, heading straight for the elevator. Right when it’s about to close, a hand sticks out to prevent the elevator door from closing. Joining Lois on this ride, standing next to her...

“Oh, Cat” Lois dismissively says

“Cat Grant, darling!” she exclaims, striking a pose “Star coverer of the gossip column. Do you know how much attention it’s gotten since I arrived? Talk about reviving a dead brand!”

Lois lowers her eyes “Big time”

“Come now, sweetie” she puts her hands on Lois’ shoulders “You can share with your new friend. After all, it’s a bit of sausage fest up there--I know what’s got your skirt in a twist!”

“Do tell” she fakes her smile

“Jimmy talked about it, sweetie”

“Oh God”

“Yes...” she turns Lois to meet her at the eye level “Superman!”

“What?”

“Our big strong hunky hero, unchained, unbound, unbeatable. Suddenly we find out he’s as beatable as the Metropolis Metros! Now we got this Volcana character somewhere. Probably starting another fire. And then Superman gets--”

“Cat, what the hell are you talking about?”

“Ask yourself...What force on Earth can take away Superman AND our prized billionaire, Lex Luthor? What resources could they have? AND, does revenge play a factor in it?”

Lois hasn’t given Cat Grant much play in her mind since meeting. Grant thinks too highly of herself, is louder than Lois herself, and tends to run the most annoying stories in the paper. But for once, she was actually onto something.

DING

The elevator doors open “I think I know who!” Lois says

“Yes...the DEO” Cat raises her finger in pride

Lois facepalms, Cat not yet registering Lois’ embarrassment as the people outside look on confused.

PARTS UNKNOWN

Bound and kept on a stretcher, Superman and Lex Luthor find themselves held against their will by two men who despise them with a passion. Superman looks across to Lex, who glances back at the Man of Steel, immediately groaning and looking away.

“Come now, Lex...” Toyman slaps the thigh of the billionaire, causing him to wince “You’ll be forced to look at him quite a lot.”

“You’re crazy, Winslow” Superman says to him

“Oh really? What gave you that idea?!” Toyman’s left eye twitches as he sneers with delight, getting up close to the hero.

Bruno Mannheim laughs, putting his arm over Toyman’s shoulder “Super on the strength. Not on the brains.”

“On that, we can agree” Lex comments

“So he speaks!” Winslow jumps to Lex “Let’s see how you scream!” he grits his teeth for a disgusting smile that’s only matched by Bruno’s putrid twinkle.

THE MANNHEIM ESTATE – THE PRESENT

The sun has dimmed and simply looking at the imposing gothic mansion before them, Lois expects a thunderbolt to give it moody accompaniment “Jesus” Lane remarks “I’ve gone here so many times before and it’ll only took me breaking up with him to realize how straight up evil this place looks.”

"Honey, we all make mistakes. He is not a fun man.”

“Wait, you dated him too?”

“For about a week. You?”

“...” Lois throws her hands back, looking away

“...Don’t say years”

“It was A year! One singular year! I was young and stupid!”

“We’re all young and stupid. Now let’s get a move on!” Cat walks past Lois, leaving her slightly miffed as Cat walks past the unlocked gates. She knocks on the door furiously. Her incessant banging results in the butler opening it quickly.

“What do you want?!”

“Jeeves, can you Bruno come out to play?”

“Ms. Grant, you remember what Mr. Mannheim said the last time. You were not to step foot on his property so long as he breathes.”

“Then what about me?” Lois steps in, smirking with her hands on her waist.

“You are not to step foot anywhere near him”

“That’s a shame, cause we’re curious in his whereabouts. I mean, is he not under house arrest. That was what the judge said in the last hearing after all. Wasn’t it, Cat?”

“I think it was. You can read it on the paper.”

“I care not for your cheap plug of your mediocre newspaper. Mr. Mannheim must be attended to right now.”

He goes to shut the door, but Lois puts her foot in. She pulls out papers of Bruno outside the mansion. From being at several of his headquarters, to parking lots where he’s talking with rather untrustworthy looking criminals.

Cat tilts the door slightly open to the butler could get a better look at the two “Technology has grown so much over the years. The way cameras are plastered over a city or any Joe Schmoe with a phone could take a pic.”

“Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt, Cat. Does he have a brother I don’t know about? Because these are pictures that the judge would find most fascinating. Now tell us, just where is he?”

5 minutes later and they exit the Estate with a total of zero information “He went the long way to tell us to go fuck ourselves” Cat comments, throwing her jacket at the back of the car while Lois gets in the driver's seat “What were you even thinking, Lane?! I mean, he has safehouses all around the city most likely. He could be there right as we--”

“This is what investigative journalism is, Grant” Lois interrupts her, tuning on the car “Sometimes, you don’t go to them. You let them come to you.” she winks at her, leaving Cat confused.

PARTS UNKNOWN

For hours, from night to day to back to night, Superman and Lex are put through the ringer. From Superman being punched across the face by a life-sized boxer with boxing gloves laced with kryptonite. To Lex being electrocuted in areas he’d rather not speak out loud. Bruno and Winslow cackled while he yelled, playing operation on him.

Both are bathed, with their clothes still on, by a toy soldier spraying water from its mouth to their beat-up bodies. Superman and Lex are thrown inside a chamber, with the only illumination from above being a small bulb of kryptonite to keep Superman down. The door is locked shut and while Superman groans on the ground, Lex approaches the door...

“What happened to our rooms?”

“We just toyed around with you in your rooms, Alex. My buddy here says it’s good to change the scenery once in a while. Plus, I feel it’s time you two spend more time together.”

“There are no beds”

“The ground is your friend, Alexander.” Toyman says to him “You would know, I've seen you tell employees to remain awake at 3am so they could bring us another item for the next invention that will “help the world”.”

“I paid them overtime”

“Barely”

“I will say this...” Mannheim approaches with a smirk “You pay more than me, I'll give you that. But maybe that’s because you’ve ruined me, Luthor!” his smirk changes to a bitter frown “We could have made billions, and you betrayed me”

“You were exposed, Bruno. The world doesn’t need to know what I have. Simply what I tell them.”

“Tch” Superman lets out a loud enough laugh for the group to hear. Lex glares at him before going back to his captors.

“And what of any bathrooms?”

“You got a bucket” Toyman removes his colorful glasses “Share for once, Lex.” he winks at him

“I’ve done it with him, and it’s been a ride”

The two men exit, leaving Lex alone with Superman, who appears to be struggling with even sitting up. Toyman and Bruno go back to their offices, both admiring the work they’ve put into this location.

CENTENNIAL PARK

Lois and Cat go for a quick bite to eat, walking up to a hot dog vendor. While Lois happily picks up her meal, Cat grimaces “How do you eat this slop?”

“Do you mind saying it away from the car?” Lois tells her before going in another munch

Cat looks at the hot dog vendor, as he glares a hole through her skull. Cat waves him goodbye as she walks alongside Lois. She throws her hot dog in the trash, wiping her hands clean “You know, what I eat for dinner is a high price meal at Andre’s. A 5 Star restaurant if ever I've seen one.”

“And that’s how quickly you lose your money. Newspapers are a dying business, and you need to save up what you can."

“You’re saying that because you’re a cheap”

"Not as cheap as the surgery you got” she remarks quickly

Before Cat can speak up, a man in a tracksuit pulls up in front of them “Stop right there, gals. What are two good looking ladies like you doing at outside at this hour?”

“The night is young” Lois cleans her hands with a napkin, not even looking at the man.

“I’ll say. That gives us the time to talk. Like just what are you doing going up to people’s home and demanding respectable businessmen come outside like they’re children?”

“Ah, so the butler called you?”

“I think you two need to step off”

“Was that a threat?”

“Not if you don’t make it”

“Then what are you going to do?”

“Lane...” Cat warns

Lois puts her hand up to Cat, paying attention to the man “What if we keep looking for Mr. Mannheim?”

“Well then, i guess he’d deal with you personally.”

Before the two could respond, black bags are put over their heads by two burly men. They pick the two up as a van pulls up by the side. Lois and Cat are forced in with the men, the van driving off quickly.

THE CHAMBER

Superman and Lex are sat down, both in different sides of their room, not appearing too pleased.

“I can’t believe I've been dragged to such a lowly state of debasement. As if I were a monkey in a cage.”

“Well, you evolved from one”

“Monkeys are not apes, stupid! You really aren’t super on the brains.”

“The green rock might be having that effect. Want me to use my brain? Look for any small opening in this place that you can use to escape.”

“And what if I do and simply leave you to die?”

“Then you’ll have to deal with two angry men who are willing to rip you apart, limb from limb. And don’t forget all the booby traps that are more than likely hidden around this place. Do you want to get your entire body punctured in a bed of spikes because you didn’t know the floor you were standing on a fake?”

Lex sighs, pinching his nose “They prepared well for this. This doesn’t seem to have any property from my company. I know because I've seen other people steal from me to use for themselves.”

“Quit talking about yourself and get to the point.”

“There’s no technology I can use or flaw in the walls that even you could puncture in your weak state. They prepared well for this.”

“Hmm, so it would appear Winslow Schott is smarter than Lex Luthor.”

The famous billionaire looks at Superman, having formed an expression of anger that would terrify any of his employees for life. The Man of Steel looked at his opposite, smirking as he adjusts his position.

20 MINUTES LATER

POUND POUND POUND

Sitting on the floor, Toyman was building a rocket made from Legos while Bruno read the Wallstreet Journal with earmuffs on. The businessman sees his partner annoyed, tossing his Legos aside.

"What’s with you?!”

“It’s that pounding sound. I’ve been hearing it for 3 minutes now! It’s the two most likely attempting to bargain.”

“Then send some of your bots to them. What’s the worst that could happen?”

After a minute pass by, a life-sized play dough figure strolls along to the door, looking through the small window allowing anyone from one side to see the other. He sees Superman, struggling to remind upwards, looking back at it.

“Hmm, I used to play with you back as a kid”

He looks around to see the room and Lex isn’t in one bit of the room. “Superman is here but not Alexander Luthor!”

“You’re right. What are the odds, right? I must know what’s become of him. Perhaps you can open the door, and we can survey together?”

“This is wrong! If I do what Superman says, once I come in, it will be revealed to me and those I serve that it was a trap.”

“But if you don’t, then Lex really has escaped and it’s plotting against your masters. Meaning you failed in your one objective.”

“Wrong! This is a trap!”

“Fine. It’s not like I can do anything. I’m just dying here until your masters continue to torture me. All the while Luthor continues his reign of terror. And your masters continue to showcase their foolishness.”

“Nonsense! My masters are the greatest! They are the smartest for they made me and will rule metropolis!”

The Toy opens the door, pushing Superman to the floor right from the get-go. He looks around, still no sign of Lex. He looks up where the light is and sees Lex having kept himself positioned between small walls. The billionaire businessman drops on top of the toy bot, holding onto him with the little strength he has left.

The play dough toy grabs Lex, keeping him in the air only to toss him aside like garbage. He goes the door only to see Superman having made his way out. The kryptonian breathing far better now and feeling his heart beating at a steady pace. The play dough toy walks up to the hero, reaching its hand out to grab him.

“Forget about me already?” Lex belts out, spearing it into the ground. Superman helps Lex keep it down while the evil genius quickly puts his hand onto the robot toy’s neck. He pulls out some wires, rearranging its circuits.

“Hurry up, Lex!”

“This is far harder than you think, alien! And it was your idea of the escape. Let me work on my part of the plan!”

The play dough robot moves its body at a forceful way. Swiveling and throwing its hands up that a still not fully powerful Superman has to keep down. Once Lex ties the blue wire with the green wire…

“Hmm?” Superman questions, realizing the play dough bot has stopped.

“Let go. Now, it’s a force for good.”

The two men get up and after 5 seconds, the bot rises up “what is my purpose?”

“To help me escape…” he sees Superman, disgusted “and him too, but only for a time being. You work for me permanently.”

“Yes”

“Call me Mr. Luthor”

“Yes, Mr. Luthor”

The three exit the room, walking the dank halls of this location. Superman looks at the play dough bot, as it protects Lex, even keeping him at a safe distance from the superhero.

“I have to say, it creeps me out.”

“He’s useful for the time being. You’re still not fully powerful, remember?”

“Point taken”

“It’s nice to see you surprised. You’re in for quite the surprise of what humans can do. All without the assistance from gods.”

“I’m not a god, Lex”

“That’s not how you parade yourself”

“Is that it or is it because you’ve already made your assumptions about me?”

“I knew what you were the moment you came into the picture. You think you’re better than everyone and feel the need to treat us as if we were toddlers in need of care.”

“I have incredible powers, Lex. And with them, I use them to help people, anywhere and anytime. You’ve used your power, money and position, to cause harm onto others.”

“Do you have any idea how many people work for me in Metropolis alone? I’m not even counting all over the world. My company helps make the city appear as a utopia. The closest we as a species have reached to the future.”

“And how many have died because of the weapons you made? The wars you profited from the same humans you say are in danger of me? And can we discuss 33.1? I’m still cleaning up the mess you made.”

“And what of that sidekick of yours?”

Superman glares at his opposite

“Because of her, Major Glory is still in recovery and may never wake up. All of Freedoms Ring are hurt. All because you had to bring another wretched creature—“

As quickly as one can blink, Superman dashed towards Lex, shoving him into the wall while holding him by the collar of his shirt. The bot tries to pull Superman off but the hero isn’t budging “Keep your mouth shut, Luthor!”

“Heh. You’ll only prove me right, alien. I know what you’re capable of. That and failure to save anyone.”

Superman drops him “I’m sorry about Alexandra, Lex”

Lex is helped up by his new robot servant. Luthor adjusts his suit, not even looking at Superman “Is that why it took you months to tell me that?”

“She was a good woman and—“

“Focus on ahead”

“Lex if we don’t talk about this—“

“No, I mean look ahead. We have a problem!” More life-sized toy soldiers are coming in. From one that looks like a surfer to another who appears as an astronaut. One has the appearance of a bat while the other is just modeled after world famous actor and director, Tommy Wiseau.

This wide variety of them walked slowly and in unison. Now with their target near them, the group runs at them with deadly precision. Lex looks to his play dough servant… “Minion, keep me protected!”

He shields Lex, keeping Superman alone with the rest “Don’t worry, Luthor. I have this handled.” he rolls his eyes but wonders if he actually can. The effect of the green rock is still influencing him. Normally this toy bots would be destroyed by him as easily as he blinks. Now, he must go in with a slight disadvantage.

The crew of toy bots tackle Superman into the ground. All their eyes light up in a red glow. Two bots keep Superman down, the surfer and astronaut ones, while the others release their weapons. Each armed with plasma cannons, rotating buzzsaws, reinforced alloy limbs.

“Hmm, mighty big problem our daring superhero has found himself in” Lex jokes to his new servant

Superman heard him and just with wanting to prove Lex wrong does Superman find motivation. He may not be as powerful as before, yet he still carries impressive vigor inside him. The Man of Steel blurs forward.

The first robot, the Tommy Wiseau one, lunges with a blade arm. Superman ducks, grabs its legs, and swings it like a club into the Rambonator bot, smashing both into the wall. The impact tearing both bots into several pieces.

The robot designed after a troll from the critically beloved movie, Troll 2, fires plasma rounds at Superman. Superman strides through them, heat vision igniting from his eyes. The beam slices clean through its torso, melting it in half. It collapses in a shower of sparks.

Superman blinks in surprise, reaching his fingers close to his eyes. He lets out a little chuckle, feeling better than he has in quite a while.

Distracted, the robot who appears as Rush Limbaugh, a very low selling toy, Winslow Schott will admit, leaps onto Superman’s back, jamming an electric prod into his neck. Superman snarls, reaching his arms upwards to grab hold of his attacker. Holding it by the shoulder and hurls it through the ceiling. Concrete and cables rain down.

Two more advance in sync, opening fire with rapid pulses. Superman is hit by them, grimacing at the pain. His eyes are closed, and he falls to his knees. He can hear Luthor chuckling under his breath. Is yet another defeat coming his way?

Volcana already put the screws on him. Humiliating him for failing to be a guardian for his cousin and his inability to handle the new situations laid before him. He’s heard DEO supports mock him. People in the media like Leslie Willis demand his arrest and even death. Is this how it is for him now?

No, it can’t be. There are still people that need to be stopped and put away. Toyman and Bruno Mannheim must answer for their crimes. Volcana has to be stopped. Luthor must be stopped. And there are people who still support him. From family to friends. And right now, he’s thought of a good story for the Daily Star that can sure knock Perry’s socks off. And maybe even impress Lois.

The dashing man of action rushes to his robotic opponents, faster than their sensors can track, grabbing their heads and slamming them together. Cracks are in full view for him but still do they move and beep

“I see you’re still operational. No worries, the scrap yard is still open.”

He smashes them together again and the impact tears their heads apart. The hallway goes quiet. Even Lex is left stumped with his words. Superman turns around just in time to see him befuddled, and that look on his face was enough to make this event almost worth it for the Man of Tomorrow. Only the hiss of steam and flickering of sparking wires was given out a pang of noise.

“Like what you see, Luthor? One of my finest works. Maybe the next batch you can deal with them.”

“I think you can use the combat experience. Never hurts to learn.”

“Hm, then let’s find a compromise. We’ll find different escape routes.”

“what--”

He turns, cape swirling, and speeds deeper into the facility. Lex again is left with his lip hanging out in confusion. He growls like a beast “Minion! Beware of traps!”

“Yes, master.”

With the use of his trusty x-rays, Superman could see the top of the building is filled with led, but the walls surrounding the rooms inside it is not. Superman views over the floors and walls and there are plenty of creative death traps all around. From inferno floors to chainsaw rooms and even a room of bear traps.

“I don’t think so”

LABORATORY

Toyman rushes inside, with heavy breaths and adjusting his glasses. Before he can begin his next plan-

VRASHOOM

Superman bursts inside, looking down at the pudgy man with thinning hair “This ends now, Schott.”

“For toy Jesus’ sake, use codenames, man!”

Superman dashes towards Schott, grabbing him by the neck, pushing him against the wall “Think I would forget about what you did to me?”

Schott has never seen Superman so angry before. It’s terrifying and it takes Schott a few seconds to respond “No--I expect the worst from you right now. But I know you wouldn’t forget to save an innocent, right? OPEN.”

Upon voice command, a wall from the left would turn, revealing Lois and Cat tied up, with life sized gangsters pointing firearms at them. Superman’s grip on Schott wanes, as the hero is surprised to see his Daily Star coworkers here.

That gives Schott the time to quickly reached for his pocket and immediately a cavalcade of mini airplanes is released from the ceiling. They fly over to shoot plasma fires at Superman, with the hero putting his hand up to protect himself.

MANNHEIM’S OFFICE

The play dough robot minion breaks through a door. Lex keeps his distance from his servant. An idea that paid off, with his henchbot immediately being on the receiving end of an attack by other toy robot servants.

“Don’t let them keep you down, my new friend” Lex voices out “When you work for a Luthor, victory by any means is how you prove yourself”

“Yes, master”

Lex rests his shoulders on the wall, admiring the strange but captivating spectacle of Toy Robot violence. He sees his minion destroy his fellow toy brethren piece by piece. No complaining coming from him. Only action. If only his employees followed his example. When the dust settles and his minion secured its victory, Lex gives a small applause to the aftermath.

“My favorite artificial figures during my childhood were models of ancient warriors. You have proven yourself as a solid #2, minion”

BAM BAM BAM

The play dough bot is hammered by power blasts from the inside of the room. Lex knows it’s from the man he wanted to be done away with before he escaped this hellhole. The blasts stop and Bruno groans at the disappointing end.

“I was gonna use it on you.”

“I know you always keep your 1940’s revolver with you, Bruno. Perchance you can use it against me?”

“Come to think. First, I'll throttle your neck, Alexander, just to see your eyes go red.”

Lex enters the room, arms behind his back “Have you not heard the name change, Bruno? It’s LEX Luthor.”

“New name, same history, forever bullshit. Now get closer so I can put in the ground next to your wife.”

“Come now, Bruno. Brain beat brawn every time.”

The first punch comes fast. Bruno launches forward like a freight train. Lex sidesteps, barely avoiding the blow. The smartest man in Metropolis pulls out an odd device from his pocket. With force, he slaps it to Bruno’s chest.

KKRRRRSSSHHHH

Sparks erupt as the device electrocutes Bruno. He snarls like a wild animal. Reaching to his chest to rip it off, throwing it to a wall.

“H--how?!”

“Took it from the broken toys. It’s easy to make a useful weapon, even when they’re made by a lesser visionary than myself.”

“You think that hurts me?” he growls, swinging again.

“Regardless of our history, Bruno, I have always respected you. For a normal man, you dedicated your life to reaching the peak of your condition.” Lex dodges another one of Bruno’s punches “In fact I should take that back. You can even become greater. You’re certainly a notch above the alien.” Lex escapes another strike attempt and rests his back on the glass window of the room.

“Yet you sided with him over me!”

“What can I say? It made sense at the time.”

“Sense THIS”

Bruno tackles Lex like he once did during his time as a football player back in High School. The movement causes them to break through the glass window, onto a small warehouse.

Quickly seeing his new surroundings, Lex pushes Bruno off him. Quickly moving to where the crates are, using the terrain, climbing over metal scaffolding.

“You can’t hide, Alex! You...really can’t!”

“Then follow me, you jabbering oaf!”

With that, Bruno follows Luthor into tighter quarters. Bruno charges, smashing through box structures and some crates like they’re paper.

Lex waits for the opening, then turns, landing a straight kick to Bruno’s shoulder.

“AAGGHHH”

“You’re still human, Bruno. Not smart to run into heavy objects--”

Bruno catches Lex by the collar, surprising the bald billionaire. Before can say anything, Bruno wallops him with a hefty blow to his jaw “You always had a glass jaw, Alex.”

“And you” Lex coughs, wiping blood from his lip “Always forget I don’t fight fair.”

BAM BAM

From the back, Bruno is shot. With his own gun, by of all things, Lex’s own robot servant. Though it’s malfunctioning, it was still operational enough to grab the firearm from Bruno’s desk.

“You should have aimed for the head” Lex approaches his bleeding opponent

Bruno can’t get words to come out of his mouth. Only spats of blood are making their way.

“For old time sake, i won’t kill you. Much like Winslow, let us play a game. ‘Can you survive?’”

Bruno weakly extends his hands towards Lex’s legs. Even as he bleeds, Mannheim still wants his revenge.

Lex leaves from Bruno’s peripheral vision, joining his robot minion “Oh Bruno. You never learned. You don’t get to run Metropolis, Mannheim.” Lex comments, walking off with his servant “You get to be a footnote.”

THE LABORATORY

With Superman distracted, using his heat vision and strength to destroy each airplane, Toyman rushes to area of the laboratory where he keeps Lois and Cat tied. Next to them is quite the equipment.

Toyman has with him a kaleidoscope of neon lights and other such chaotic machinery. Half-finished toy prototypes hang from mechanical arms. Giant jack-in-the-boxes twitch beside conveyor belts lined with robotic teddy bears.

“I probably should throw this useless junk at him. After all, he’s making the air rain of bunt ash and destroyed equipment. Months of working, ladies. Can you believe it?”

They mouth off, but the tape in their mouths saves Toyman from hearing a profanity laced tirade. He presses on his glasses and the lights snap to red.

A platform opens from the floor. Dozens of mechanical toys; soldiers, clowns and Randy Savage for some reason, all armed to the teeth. A giant marionette spider drops from the ceiling; its legs tipped with acid.

Superman’s eyes flash red, he slices the spider in half with heat vision, then blurs forward, fists smashing through waves of sentry-toys.

Walls split open to reveal toy mechs, eight-foot automatons shaped like twisted cartoon mascots. One lunges with a chainsaw arm. Superman sidesteps, grabs it by the throat, and smashes it into the others like a bat. Still, they don’t break. They move back upwards and march onto Superman.

“All those months allowed Bruno to bring in the strongest metal for these puppies”

“But where can i find the lethal injection?” Superman mutters onto himself. Could he deactivate it through Winslow’s glasses? Given its beeping at the same time as the control console, he figures out it’s connected.

Superman grabs a mech, holding onto it for dear life. With great pressure, he grips it harder than anything he’s ever held. Restraint is the greatest power he’s ever learned. A lesson taught him by his loving parents back in Smallville, Kansas. Here, with this mech that is seconds away from grabbing him like a butterfly so it could clip his wings with the other mechs?

It’s full power for the Last of Krypton “aaaaAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!”

In a powerful shove that can move mountains, he slams the mech into the control console. Toyman had a front row view of his panel that took him a month to create, sparkle into oblivion. He gets rid of his glasses to see all his mechs and toys begin to deactivate. If only they said ‘daddy’ before going away, it would have been extra salt to the wound.

Superman descends next to the villain, who can’t even bring himself to scream at him. Toyman slowly lifts his hand up, ready to give him the mightiest of middle fingers. Superman quickly wraps his hand over Toyman’s finger.

“Let me just put a censor bar over it” the hero comments

CRACK

“AAAAIIIIEEEEEEE! FUCK! FUCK!”

Toyman falls to the ground, holding his finger, rolling around the floor as if he was burned.

Superman looks at him with disgust. This man at one point dedicated his life to bring kid's joy. Then he spent his time creating of mass destruction and has killed who knows how many people “That was for all the lives taken from you. I hope you remember this, Winslow.”

Superman attends to Lois and Cat, removing them for their captivity “Ms. Lane. Ms. Grant, could I ask what you’re doing here?”

“Oh, us?” Lois playfully comments “We’re here to rescue you!”

“Hmm. Good job.”

“Well i answered your question. How about you answer ours?”

Lois pulls out her notepad from her jeans that she had tucked away. Superman is left stupefied by her quickness there.

“Tell us, what was Winslow Schott’s plan here?”

Cat catches on quickly to what Lois is doing “And what did he do to you and Lex Luthor?”

THE ENTRANCE

Lex leaves through the front door with his servant. He looks at the surrounding area, finding himself in one of the barren spots of Metropolis. Luthor walks further, finding out that they were all along in an old factory of owned by Morgan Edge.

“Ugh, need I be reminded of his hideous overlook. Still, an apt location for these simpletons.” Lex looks at his servant one more time, appearing rather dismayed “We will change how you look for the better once we find a landline phone. I’ve made sure those items remained in this city.”

“Thank you, master”

“I wonder if the alien ran into Winslow. Maybe they killed each other. A shame. I wanted to see either of them just one last time.”

“Oh, you will, Luthor”

From above, Lex could see Superman staring down at him “I take it you had a pleasant time?”

“I did. I took down, Toyman and made sure the authorities came this way. In the meantime, I think you could use the company...”

He points to Lois Lane and Cat Grant who stand behind Lex. The billionaire groans at seeing them. Lois gets closer to him “We got time Lex. Tell us your side of the story. I can fact check certain details just in case.”

DAILY STAR

The door of Perry White’s office is opened by a visitor who has not been here for the last few days “Kent! What have brought us today? Nothing? Sorry, it’s just I'm so used to it at this point.”

“Hello, Mr. White” Clark Kent suddenly finds himself near his boss “Sorry for not being here lately. I’ve been gone looking for the perfect story. Of Superman’s disappearance.”

He hands Perry the papers and Perry snatches the papers off of Clark’s hands, quickly reading through it. The rest of the bullpen watch in silence at Perry’s reading. It’s like a lion eating the steak given to him by the hunter who avoided being eaten first.

Perry snatches the papers on Clark’s hands, quickly reading through it. The rest of the bullpen watch in silence at Perry’s reading. It’s like a lion eating the steak given to him by the hunter who avoided being eaten first.

Perry’s eyes go back to darting Clark’s. He tosses the papers into the trash “Lane and Grant already a report of Superman and Lex’s captivity. You provide nothing new…”

The beam from Clark’s eyes is shut out. He thought he could get here quick, but Los and Cat beat him to it. Now he’s definitely lost his job.

“But you still showed initiative. So you’re not a complete screw up. And what you said about Luthor? I’ll make sure to give it its own spot in tomorrows paper.

Perry continues with his work, a sign for Clark to leave with the knowledge he still has a job. Clark releases a big sigh of relief, holding his chest. The rest of the bullpen ignores him, rather dismayed that Clark took the story.

Jimmy approaches him, patting him on the back “How’d it feel like entering the lion’s den?”

“I have done it more than once, Jimmy. I’m used to it.”

“Think you’re out of your funk?”

"I hope so. Can’t keep complaining about what’s happened before. We are in the here and now. Nothing else we can do about it.”

“Well said, my big friend...random question, that cousin of yours, Kara? Was she checking me out? She looked at me weird. What was that about?”

In the break room, Lois and Cat toast to water in dixie cups. Their names will be on the front page tomorrow reporting over Bruno Mannheim aiding a known anarchist in Winslow Schott.

Cat finishes her drink first “You’re crazy, you know that, Lois? All that trouble and risk of murder, ALL of it so you can score a story?”

Lois shrugs “What else can I say? A young girl always wanted her name on the paper. I’m just completing her dream.”

“Would you throw yourself off a roof in the hope Superman or anyone saves you just for an exclusive?”

Lois smirks at her, Chesire like.

“Ha! You might get yourself killed one day, if you’re not too careful.”

“I just keep a positive attitude and let my resolve carry me”

“If I swung the other way, I'd jump at you”

“You can still try”

The two share a laugh, with Cat playfully punching her arm “Are you back with the major stories? I know you were doing smaller ones again.”

“No problem is too big or too small for me. You can join me if you want to.”

“Can’t. Have other assignments on the desk, and others that, to put it bluntly, interest me more. But we can do brunch over the weekends.”

Lois waves her finger at her “I’ll hold you to that”

LEXCORP

Lex remained seated in his office, holding his pen and tapping it on the desk. He told the news reporters what he did in the factory and yet, the focus of the story was on Superman. Even the newspapers he owns that extoled his actions were drowned out. Truly, a waste.

With his pen, he taps on the newspaper of the Daily Star. Particularly about the page where his behavior is called out. That story written by Clark Kent “How could that farm boy criticize me? Call me a coward?! He wasn’t even there when everyone else showed up. Kent even was the one who wrote Superman’s first story on the newspapers.

The Daily Star especially has a stranglehold on Superman. What connection do they have on the alien? What do Kent and Superman have in common?”

Lex rubs his chin, thinking over several stories that could attach all these people. Especially the two on his head

“Could...” Lex gets up from his seat, sighing “I need sleep. It’s a stupid idea. Superman is and will never be human. Why would he roam amongst us? It’s all a game to him. He’s playing checkers. Well, I play chess, and that’s how i win.” He grips his pen, close to breaking it in two.

THE DAILY STAR – THE ELEVATOR

Clark whistles as he waits for the elevator door to close. Just when it does, a hand pops out to open it. It’s Lois Lane, who stands next to him.

A beat is felt with the two. Not wanting to make eye contact, yet they couldn’t help but blush a little. Clark coughs “You know, I read somewhere that elevators are where most awkward conversations happen.

"Well, good thing we’re professionals at avoiding awkwardness.

Clark adjusts his glasses “I’m just going to say what needs to be said. Do you want to grab dinner sometime? Something without deadlines, phone calls, or people yelling "Perry’s gonna kill me"?

“Are you asking me on a date, Smallville?

Clark shrugs “Only if you say yes”

Lois pretends to think, tapping her chin dramatically “Wellllll, I AM free this Saturday. Surprise me. Add a movie to the event too. It’s been a while since I've gone to the theater.”

“It’s a date, then”

The elevator door stops and Lois heads out first, winking at him “Don’t be late to pick me up”

“I’ll get there early if I have to”

They walk out together, quickly looking at the other and trying to hold in a big smile. The city lights waiting beyond the glass doors as they walk out together.

Chapter Text

LOIS’ APARTMENT

Tonight is the night! Lois is finally going to go on a date with the man from Kansas. The kind big man journalist who also keeps to himself a lot. So many have a mixed opinion on Clark. Others say he’s polite and rather good looking. Others say he’s an anti-social geek with no real friends. Lois thinks it’s all true in a sense. Especially the part of him being nice and good looking.

Though she’ll never say it to his face.

Still, she wonders about him. It’s clear there’s more to him than meets the eye. He’s very quick for a guy his size. Although, she’s pretty fast herself. Clark can be pretty messy, with him never gelling his hair and sometimes his suits not being primmed. Yet he still conducts himself as a professional, good looking and may just be the second-best journalist in the city. Behind her of course.

He somehow scored the first interview with Superman. And yet she’s never seen him side by side with him. It makes one question--

KNOCK KNOCK

She happily hums to herself, quickly going to door and opening it to reveal “Hi, Clark” as he holds a banquette of flowers.

“Hi, flowers--Wait!”

She snatches them “They look nice” she takes whiff “They smell nice”

“Good, because I got it all the way in the 10th district”

“That’s on the other side of the city”

“I’ve...had a busy day”

“I’m sure you have. So, where to now?”

“Where else? Are you a fan of reboots of classic movies?”

“Absolutely not”

“Are you a fan of reboots that surprisingly turn out fine?”

“Hmm, well I did say ‘surprise me’. Lead the way, Kent.”

She wraps her arm around his and the two walk off. Clark tugs on his collar, making sure he breaths right. Even Lois herself is screaming to herself not to quake. She didn’t get the reputation she’s earned by getting flustered, so why is she squeeing on the inside over some farm boy from Kansas she didn’t put much stock in when she first met him?

SUICIDE SLUM

The city’s most impoverished district, one of the few places in the whole region that looks more than decent is of all things; a nightclub. Or it would be if several areas inside weren’t being hit with fire. Workers and clients run off screaming. One person in particular, one of Metropolis’ top mob bosses, Ceasar Carlini, is still trapped inside. And it’s all because...

“Volcana, darling--”

“Ugh, you know I hate being called darling!”

“You said you liked it months ago!”

“Yeah, but that was months ago. Opinions can change. So does someone’s purpose to me.”

“I’m honest, if I knew anything about your sister still running around, I would know! She’s gone from Metropolis!”

“Well, that’s a shame” she drops him on the floor, brushing her hair “But i can occupy myself with other things.”

“That’s--that’s--that’s great!”

“Don’t suck up, Carlini” she glowers at him, causing him to back off “I promised I'd make this city my home and I'm going to follow up on that.” she turns from him to exit through the door. The surrounding fire does nothing to her.

“No--no offense, but you beat Superman already. That in it of itself is an accomplishment! You really think it’s smart to go after him a second time?!”

She stops her pace. Volcana looks at him again “Do you think of me as a weakling?”

“N--no—no! Not at all! It’s just--”

“Oh, Carlini. Next time; don’t play with fire, darling.”

She leaves him alone in the flames. Carlini reaches out in desperation “Please! Volcana! I'm sorry! I did—didn't mean it! I swea--AAAIIIIIEEEEEEEE"

MAX THEATERS

After watching a remake of ‘Remembering to Forget’, a classic movie starring Dolores Winters, Clark and Lois stroll out of the theater, with Clark picking through what’s left of his popcorn. Lois herself isn’t too pleased walking out, dramatically sighing to get Clark’s attention.

“Okay, Lois...” Clark playfully comments “What didn’t you like about it?”

“A review?” she says in a verbose manner “But that’s Jack Milner’s job in the Daily Star.”

“You’ll replace him for one night. Now tell me, what didn’t you like?” he throws his bag in the trash as they continue to walk

“I mean...it wasn’t bad. Just middle of the road.”

“You’re not saying much”

“Ugh, fine” she rolls her eyes “Like the actors did good and the movie looked great. But just feels like style, no substance. Plus, they forgot the core of what made the original great to begin with.”

“Well, Lois, we can’t just do exactly what the old version did. A new approach has to be done in order for it to stand out. So it can leave its own mark.”

“Eh, sounds like nonsense to me, Kent. You can do your own thing, but when you’re bringing back an established classic, there’s like...rules! Rules that you have to understand--”

Clark places his arm on her shoulder, stopping her on the sidewalk “Like the rules of the road?” a car ran by on the road with ludicrous speed.

Lois lightly chuckles “Thanks, you’re my hero.”

“Not the first time”

“What’s next? I’m feeling rather peckish this evening. What about you?”

“Fancy you ask. Have you heard of Brad’s?”

BRAD’S

Owned by famous chef; Brad Pitt, this is quite the gem that has been gaining attention in the last few months. The atmosphere was warm and intimate. Deep mahogany wood, soft cream linens on the tables, and flickering candlelight reflected in ornate mirrors along the walls.

“The table for Kent?” Clark asks the waiter

“Oh, Mr. Kent, yes. Your table is right over there by the window. I hope it is your liking.”

Clark and Lois sat at a cozy corner table by a window, where the city lights twinkled just beyond the velvet curtains. Lois admired the look of the place, yet there was still an uneasiness she felt inside.

“Are you okay, Lois?”

“Yeah, it’s just, maybe it’s my report intuition, but I must ask; how were you able to afford this place? Or even reserve a spot?”

Clark coughs a little. He knows what he did. A few days ago, he stopped a disgusting blob monster from destroying Rome, Italy. During the skirmish, Clark was sent down below some caverns. Where to his surprise, he found decorated priceless jewels. After defeating the monster, he grabbed the diamonds and pawned it off to score delicious money.

“I have a very big piggy bank” he responds with a beaming smile

“Why am I not surprised?” She coyly raises her eyebrow “Also, we’re a bit underdressed I feel.”

“Baloney, you look amazing. Plus, we already wear these for work, so I don’t see the issue.”

“Let’s remind ourselves to go out shopping. We could use a new spare of clothes.”

Clark raises his eyebrow now, resting his elbows on the table “And you want to do it together?”

Lois clears his throat, suppressing her surprise over his comment with chuckling “Where’s water when you need it?”

BOOOOM

Outside the restaurant, yet close enough to hear the explosion ring their ears, Clark and Lois look out the window to see what’s occurred. As if that wasn’t enough, more sounds of eruption are heard, and the top of one of the buildings is hit with a fireball. Those inside the restaurant join them to see the aftermath of the fiery discharge and the flames only seem to be growing.

Coming out of the flames was a horrid sight for sore eyes. Lois has only seen her in newspaper clippings and videos online, but now she saw in the flesh; Volcana!

“We REALLY need water” she says, expecting a reply from Clark. The same Clark who seemingly has vanished from thin air “Dammit, Kent!”

A couple shakes their heads over Lois comment. They know her date did the right thing in running like a coward.

CITY SQUARE

The city square is chaos as people scurry to whatever location is absent of fire. Smoke curls into the sky. The glass from nearby office towers is shattered. The concrete scorched black. Fires rage from overturned cars and broken gas lines.

Volcana floats just above the cracked pavement, her body surrounded by a corona of flame. She brushes her hair and adjusts her shirt “Gotta look good for him” Her eyes blaze like coals as she prepares to unleash a massive wave of fire at an approaching police car. Just when she’s ready to blast them off--

“UFFF” she lets out as she’s tackled through a wall, taken inside one of the office towers she attacked. She pushes aside the debris covering her and sees who just attacked her “Well by the crimson flames of myself, I'm glad you showed up.”

Superman glares at her, his fists gripped as he holds in his anger.

“What?” she asks almost laughing “Is it because I beat you like a bitch last time we fought?

“...”

She snaps her fingers, wondering “Or--or—or is it because you’re nothing more than a--”

CHOP

Right to the neck. She gasps, falling to the floor. Superman looks down on her “That’s enough of you.”

Her present smirk from this night ebbs as Volcana turns her head quickly “Like hell it is!”

Lois rushes to the city square, a bit out of breath “You know what to do, Lois. Use this opportunity to grab the story, write it down, have it published and then KNOCK Clark out for--”

Her words are stopped when she sees Superman flung out of a building and into a car. The dent he makes on it looked worse than any car crash it could have been involved in. Volcana floats over to him, the two now sharing equal looks of annoyance.

“You’re putting lives at risk, Claire”

“Use your super eyes, dummy. I AM the risk!”

She throws rays of fire his way. Superman streaks through the sky like a comet, intercepting the flames mid-air. The hero strikes at them, sending them high up the air to dissipate.

“Enough warm up...” Volcana says “Let’s turn up the heat!”

Her own eyes burn as does her hands. She raises them both, slamming them down Superman’s skull. Superman was going to land body first, but he quickly regained proper thought. With focus, he stops himself from a painful landing. Lois sighs in relaxation, wiping away the sweat on her forehead.

Then she spots a peculiar sight below Superman’s person “Superman, look ou--”

A wave of flame erupts beneath Superman, engulfing him in a geyser of molten heat. A police officer rushes to Lois “Ma’am you have to run!”

“But he’s--”

“I don’t care!”

He grabs her and quickly takes her away as the fire is almost blinding. The very ground cracks and a crater is formed from where Superman almost touched. Smoke swirls, Volcana pats herself on the back… and then clears to reveal Superman floating in the air. Parts of his clothing burned off but his skin still perfect.

“Look at the positive...” she crosses her arms “You could use the new suit. And you’re more powerful now.”

“No” WHOOOSH. With incredible speed, he’s nose to nose with her now. For once, Volcana is startled, backing up from him “I’ve always had to pull my punches. Make sure to dial it down at the risk of an innocent being hurt if I wasn’t careful. But you? You can only push around someone for so long” He narrows his eyes at her “I’m not holding back against you.”

Volcana snarls, flying upwards to the dark skies. Superman rockets forward, getting in her way “You wanted a fight? Well here I am! Don’t run away from something you yourself started!”

She grits teeth and grins “You know what? You’re right. Let me throw the first punch!”

Fists ablaze, she swings at him. Superman raises his own fist. With it, they collide in the air. The force felt by those down below. Lois forgot she was here to cover the story and now was basking in the glow of the fight between two behemoths.

Volcana holds her hand, for once feeling true hurt this evening. Superman however felt no such pain. He grabs her wrist, gripping it hard.

“AAHHH” she yells

“Had enough?”

“We’re just getting started!”

She twists and scorches his side with a fiery punch. He grits his teeth and responds with a quick right cross, sending her tumbling through the side of a parking garage.

BOOM

Concrete collapses and dust bellows in the vicinity. Superman approaches the site, expecting the worst.

VOOM VOOM

Fireballs rocket out of the wreckage, straight to him. The hero sighs “Same old you know what, Claire!”

With his super breath, the balls of fire vanish into the ether. The immediate second Superman finishes up with that attack, Volcana pops up behind him “Still works from time to time!”

She places her arms around his chest, blasting him with violent force. Superman is hurled backward through a sculpture in the city square, landing in a shower of steel and sparks. Superman shakes his head, trying to regain a clear head. He sees three kids running up to him

“Superman, dude, you okay?”

“Of course he’s not, dumbass!”

“Kids...” Superman says “Get out of here!”

“But--”

Volcana forms a javelin of fire with her hands. She admires her work yet quickly launches to where Superman is. The Man of Steel grabs the kids, shielding them from the blast. Superman screams, with now more of his clothes torn. He lets the kids go and drops to his knees.

“Run!”

He belts, forcing them to go. Volcana sees their little legs rush to where their parents are. She’s amused by them screaming at them for doing something so stupid “I think that’d be a fitting final moment. Screaming and then--”

Her words are stopped when she feels a cushion hit her in the leg. Volcana turns around and sees Lois Lane actually throwing pebbles at her “Focus on someone your own size!”

The villainess lands on the ground with a forceful stomp. Lois almost trips while Volcana feels as graceful as ever “Actually, I'm focusing on someone my own power. But I do love it when people put on a fight. Especially those who can’t do shit.”

Lois gets up close her “He can”

Volcana finds her comment odd but quickly connects the dots. Superman has risen and he’s not looking too happy. She crunches her knuckles and spits on the ground “How many rounds have there been already?”

“Doesn’t matter. This is the last one.”

They fly to the skies, clashing again in mid-air, trading blows. Volcana surrounds herself in a swirling inferno, forcing Superman back with the sheer heat. He counters with super-breath, freezing the flames mid-spin. The sudden temperature shift causes a shockwave that knocks them both back.

VOOOOM

Volcana lands hard on her back, cracking the pavement, letting out a guttural gasp. Superman landed feet first, but he still buckles, as the effects of the fight are now coming down on him. Still, he rises, exhaling loudly as he rubs his knuckles.

Superman approaches her as she begins to stand on her two feet “I gotta admit, handsome. You’ve been the only one who’s ever given me a fight. Everyone either just screams or pleads “no, spare me!”. But you? You bring it! Bravo! I don’t think I'm ever going to meet someone like you ever again. You can take comfort in that.”

“...”

“Oh come on, I'm complimenting you. You still sour?”

“Perhaps. But you’re wet.”

“What do you mean I'm wet--”

Nearby Volcana, there was a fire hydrant. Superman super speeds to it, breaking it apart. He directs the water right to her. It hits her hard, and still, that wasn’t enough for the hero. Superman uses his super speed again, this time to create a small tornado. One that encircles the water inside of it.

Lois and the civilians were in for quite a sight as after 20 seconds, and the use of his freeze breath, Superman has wrapped Volcana in a statue like prison of ice. Volcana was left in a pose of shouting and slight worry.

Superman gets near her frozen interior “For this one time, you and I are cool, Claire.”

He winks at her, flying off, making sure to greet the people down below as he departs. There were people who were injured by Volcana’s attack, so it’s best to use his time to help them get to a hospital. His fans cheered for him while his detractors yelled at him and gave him the bird. And as for Lois Lane? She now has a scoop for Perry tomorrow.

DEO BASE

Volcana’s last attack left the base damaged, but thankfully, holding cells were functional enough to keep her before she’s taken to Blackgate. John Henry Irons approaches his commanding officer “Janine?”

“Hmm?” she turns to him “Oh, hey Agent Irons”

“You okay?”

“I’m fine. Just...” she looks over to Volcana, whose head has been thawed out, yet the rest of her body is still contained. And Volcana’s expression is rather emotionless, staring back at her sister “I’ve seen my sister angry, psychotic, happy. But never like this. Almost as if...she’s planning something or knows something we don’t.”

Volcana herself has to contain the sensation of smiling. She doesn’t know how she’ll get out of Blackgate. She just knows she will. Nothing will contain Volcana for long.

LOIS’ APARTMENT

The ace reporter stripped herself from her clothes and put on comfortable jammies for the night. Lois prepared herself for bed, until...

KNOCK KNOCK

She didn’t have to see over the little hole on the door to know who it was. She opens the door and sees “oh hey, Clark!” she almost grinds her teeth “Tell me, how was your night?”

“Hot?”

“Mine too! Just a shame someone wasn’t there to share it with me!”

“Lois, I'm sorry I left. I had to--”

“Save it! I’m just glad to know you care more about a story than you do about--”

“It’s not like that!"

“Then what is it?”

“It’s...it’s complicated”

“Many things are with you. You're gone from hours at a time. You somehow pop in with a story. You’re the one who broke the Superman story and the explanation--”

“Please let me talk!” Lois puts her fists on her hips, expecting an answer from him “Yes, I left to get the story. But I knew as I ran, it wasn’t fair to you. I’m letting you take the byline.”

“I already have my story written on the phone. What you did was irrelevant.”

“Look, Lois, I'm sorry--”

“Sorry doesn’t cut it, Clark! You say sorry so much you could make trading cards off of it.”

“You know, you would have done the same!” he yells back at her. Straight away he knows that was a mistake. Clark bites his lips and grips his fists. How stupid can he be to say that to her? He stands there, expecting the worst. It’s the least he can do for her.

“Hahahaha!” she laughs.

Clark has fought many unique threats in his brief career so far. But this is what caught him off guard. Lois clears her throat...

“You’re right. I would have dropped your ass and gotten there before you did. I guess I can be too in love with the job sometimes...all the time...you know, these pajamas? First time I've worn them in months. I usually sleep with my work clothes. Or butt naked.”

Clark hides his face from her. She does the same to him. How can she say something so stupid?

Lois lets out a forced chuckle “Look, let’s forget what happened tonight and--”

“For Christ sakes, go on another date with this sexy man, Lois!” a man in his 30’s leaves his apartment room to scold her

“Go back inside, Mr. Towers!” Lois yells

Once he exits, the two journalists look at each other, with Clark commenting “He’s...got a point.”

“hmmm...sure. But I'm planning it! And no running and leaving the other behind. Okay?”

“Okay” he says with a smile.

Once he departs, Lois quickly goes to her couch, grabbing a cushion and screaming into it “Sleep butt naked?! Stupid Lois!” she sighs angrily “Still, another date wouldn’t hurt...and he is...pretty sexy...”

She laughs to herself, rubbing her face. He is quite the attractive man. With his broad shoulders, big strong farm boy arms and that...face. That face that looked just...different from her doorway than it did during their date.

Lois is used to seeing his adorable baby face most mornings. But there are days where Clark looks a bit worse for wear. It looks like he has a black eye, and it recovers quickly in a matter of hours. He says he tripped halfway through the stairs and that’s why he’s wobbling right now. Yet by the next day, he’s walking better than most people.

And when he visited her again tonight, once more, his face looked like it went through a fight. One eye of his was almost pitch black and a mini scar was on his left cheek and above his chin. And that smell. His body reeked of...smoke? It’d be hilarious to her if he smoked, but that’s less likely than if the moon had eyes and teeth.

Could it be from the fight he tried to cover between Superman and Volcana? He was nowhere near her when the fight occurred. Lois leaves her bed, pacing around her home “Could it be he’s just very sneaky? I guess as a journalist you have to be. But...”

Lois rushes to her computer, looking up on social media sites over what transpired tonight with Superman. Nobody looks quite like him. He’s like a circus performer turned crime fighter. Truly one of a kind...right? The more she looks at him, the more it reminds her of...

Lois turns to her wall of framed pictures, one of the pictures being a group photo of the Daily Star staff. In it, she’s side by side with Clark. The farmer who looks like he could do very well in a circus. She looks pairs up photos of the two, seeing the similarities in their physiques and features.

“So what? People look familiar to one another all the time. This can’t be...” Then it dawns on her. From bringing her flowers from another part of the city. To...

(“Thanks, you’re my hero.”

“Not the first time”)

She’s never seen him next to Superman. He somehow was the one who broke the Superman story. “A yokel from Smallville, Kansas breaks the biggest story of the last decade to get himself a job. How?”

DING

A lightbulb turns on in her brain. And now, she remembers. During her teenage years, she was entering forums and was a part of a group discussing stories that were never going to make the papers. Plenty of them were conspiracy theories, but then there were stories like the one from Kansas.

“The Superboy of Smallville” she tells herself beneath her breath

A young lad who protected the small town from extraordinary threats and beyond. Superboy was the talk of these forum pages, with one member saying he possessed incredible speed, strength and heat vision. Such abilities that Superman uses now. And who does she know that is from Smallville, Kansas?

“Holy fucking shit...” she places her hands on the table for leverage to keep herself upright. All the images flashing before her eyes “Clark Kent...is fucking Superman!”

Chapter Text

LOIS’ APARTMENT

It's 5am and the beloved by some and hated by others journalist Lois Lane hasn’t slept a wink all night. How can she? The story of the century is right in her lap. Clark Kent is Superman! This could bring her to superstardom. She’s known all around the city. But with this? She could be known all around the world! Win a Pulitzer! Lord knows what else!

Just the thought of it briefly brings her to a smile. That way she can stick it to all the mean girls from her time in middle school. Who bullied her relentlessly. That no good bitch Mindy Storm will forever regret what she did to her!

But then the aftermath sets in. Can she do this to Clark Kent? Sure, he’s a rival to her in this journalism business but they’ve become friends too. And they went on a date. And she can’t help but think about him a lot and it’s clear he’s thought of her plenty.

“FUCK”

She pounds her fists in the bed. What becomes of him after the reveal? The DEO’s hunt for him would turn from a hundred to a million. He would never know a moment’s peace. What about his parents in Smallville? They seem like nice people given the stories Clark has told. And what of Kara...who she just now pieces together is Supergirl.

“Dammit, Lane! One thing at a time!”

She sits up in her bed, running her fingers in her skull. Never before has she dealt with a problem like this before. Lois has always cared about the truth. But with what it could mean for Clark, is the truth really worth it?

OAK TOWN

Denny and Benjamin, high school kids who were able to leave their chores behind at home, meet up in a grocery store, drinking up some nice smoothies.

“Dude, you hear about this crazy shit last night?” questions Denny

“Bro, I wish I coulda seen it! Veronica told me it was the best fight since the one Superman had with that...giant thing from a year ago.” Ben says before taking a sip of his drink

“That shit was nuts. Hey, I heard this Volcana chick was pretty sexy.”

“I know she’s evil and crap, but if I had it my way...”

As they leave the place, they spot near where the dumpster is some odd noises. Noises that are hard to ignore.

“You think it’s poor bums?”

"I guess? Dude, do you hear that?”

“Yeah, i am. That’s what we’re talking about!”

“No, the guy there. He sounds...weird.”

Denny looks at his friend eye to eye “YOU’RE weird, bro”

Denny walks to the dumpster area, drinking from his smoothie. He’s expecting a bum unable to open the bags properly. Instead, he sees the exact opposite of a bum.

“What the--”

A shriek pierces Benjamin’s ears, as well as anyone in the vicinity. Ben drops his drink and holds his ears. His eyes are closed as the loud shriek continues. It won’t stop! After 20 seconds, it finally ends. But what comes after isn’t any better. Ben looks ahead where Denny was and...

“holy...holy shit...” Ben’s knees wobble yet he can’t move an inch from where he stands. Denny, his best friend, looks like he’s been through a car crash. Marks and scars all over his face. Blood splattered across the pavement. His limbs are mangled. And walking over Denny’s body is...

“A--a fucking monkey?”

The monkey groans, looking at Ben with red eyes “I used...I used to be like you...until...”

The monkey holds his head, as if its skull is being punctured from the inside in. The monkey looks at the store and some memories are coming in. He remembers coming here when he was younger. It had the freshest food he can eat, and prices were exceptionally fair. He looks upwards and sees it’s gone by a new name; LexMart.

“Lex? Lex?!”

“Yeah--yeah—yeah--” Ben stutters “Lex Luthor. The billionaire guy.”

“Luthor!!!”

As if a talking monkey wasn’t a strange enough site for the teenager. Upon saying the name of ‘Luthor’. The shape of this animal increases.

The manager comes out “Hey, what’s going?!”

He was expecting to scold rowdy teenagers. He was not expecting an ape that was bigger than the store itself.

“RAAAAAAHHHHHHH!”

The ape lifts his arms up and smashes it on LexMart. The manager can’t even scream as his gargled words consume his mouth. He runs as far as his legs can take him while the Ape shrieks into the air.

THE DAILY STAR

In all her days coming into this place, everyone can see the confidence that radiates from Lois Lane’s person. Her high heels that tack on the floor, the confident smirk plastered on her face, the walk that catches the eye of anyone watching. If this was school, she’d be too cool for it.

Everyone expects the same today. In fact, they want it after some of Volcana’s attacks so the assuring confidence from Lois Lane will lift up spirits. Not today. Lois’ coworkers see an unsure woman, whose hair is a bit disheveled, her every step is taken carefully and can barely look at anyone in the eye level. It’s concerning. It certainly is for the man who walks up to her. Clark Kent!

“Lois, jeez, are you okay?” he asks her as she takes her seat by her desk

“I’m...fine”

“I know our date didn’t go as planned. But...we talked in your place. You were fine. I’m sorry for intruding, but did anything else happen?”

“No...it’s...” she brushes her hair, taking a breath “It’s nothing.”

“You can talk to me--”

“I said it’s nothing, Clark!” her voice was loud enough for everyone to hear. She turns to see their faces and they’re either worried or confused “What are you looking at?!” she stands from her chair “If you want to say something, spit it out already! Huh? If you think--”

“Lois Lane, in my office now” so says the chief, Perry White. His arms crossed and that’s enough to make everyone go back to work. Lest they want to make him angrier than he is now. Lois sighs and walks past Clark to enter his office.

PERRY’S OFFICE

She sits across from him as he taps on his desk “You look well”

“Thanks, it’s a new conditioner”

“Good to know your smart mouth isn’t gone today. What’s with you?”

“It’s--”

“Nothing. Yeah.” Perry leans back on his chair “Now, perhaps you’re going through a personal dilemma and you’re certainly within your right to keep it to yourself. I myself have gotten through a rough patch or two.”

He stands up from his chair and Lois is now fully realizing how serious the Chief truly is “If you have something to say, particularly if it affects those in a large scale. Then as your boss, I am telling you to do your job and write it down.”

If Lois could hold something now, she’d break it. Could she go through with it? Expose Clark’s identity as Superman?

“But if you think this affects a particular person. A particular group of people. If this does more harm than good...” He sits once more

“As your boss, I want you to make me money. But as someone who values the code every proud and great journalist takes, best keep it to yourself. Or at least discuss it with those who it might affect. With that, you might get the best sense over what you want to do”

“You--you’re right, Chief...” she brushes her hair again, taking an easy and cool breath "Thanks.” she gives out a small smile.

She turns from him and walks towards the door, until...

“Uh, Lane?”

“Yes, Perry?”

“If you’re looking for another story? Look out the window.” Lois turns back to him, and she’s stunted as he is “Good to know I'm not the only one seeing it”

Out in the streets is a growing, 10 story high Ape stomping the streets of Metropolis. And anyone watching him could see this is one clearly angry gorilla.

“RRRRRAAAAAHHHHHHHH!”

Lois bolts out the door to see her coworkers looking out the window with shock and terror. She looks around to see if anyone’s missing. Especially a certain someone.

“Of course...” she rubs her eyes

“Uh, Lois?” Jimmy approaches her “Are we doing this?”

She gives out a little chuckle “Good to see you know the routine. Now follow me, kid.”

DOWNTOWN

Superman flies to where the Gorilla is making his very large presence known “Okay, Clark. He just seems to be throwing a temper tantrum. This seems manageable. It’s not like he can surprise me.”

The Gorilla bent down to grab a car from a parking garage. Then a pump hit his heart. He stands up straight only to stumble. Before he can clutch his heart, his head feels as if it’s being stabbed with thin needle repeatedly. His knees quake and stomach bleeds from the inside.

“AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!”

The yell was loud enough to crack several mirrors from 5-mile radius, and it almost burst Superman’s eardrums. The hero holds his almost bleeding ears as he slowly descends to the sidewalk. He looks up just in time to see a harrowing sight. The Gorilla grows even larger, up to 20 feet.

“I always knew I'd be my own worst enemy”

His hearing may not be the best right now, but it doesn’t matter as the Man of Steel still marches on. Or in this case, flies on, right in front of the Ape.

“I may not speak gorilla, but I am hoping you understand what I will try to get across. I'll start out simple; please stand down.”

The Ape snarls as Superman crosses his arms before him. The hero remains in his position in the air and the Ape knows he won’t move any further.

“It’s a fight you want?”

Superman silently gasps “You can talk?”

“Then it’s a fight you’ll get!”

As Superman registers the stunning display of a giant ape speaking, said Ape uses his head to batter Superman’s whole person. Superman swivels in the air, landing painfully onto a construction site.

Most who were around the vicinity did the natural thing; they ran as far as they could. Others stayed around to watch. And two more joined their ranks as Lois and Jimmy arrived.

Jimmy takes a quick photo of Superman buried in the steel rubble. Lois herself looks on worried, twiddling with her thumbs. The mere sound of a footstep right behind him forces Jimmy to look back. Lois herself didn’t even feel it. She’s hoping Clark or Superman, or both, make it out and deal with the Gorilla.

“Lo--Lo—Lo—Lo--” Jimmy stutters

“Spit it out, Olsen!” She moves her head to his side

“You ever wish shows you watched as a kid would come back bigger than ever?”

“Ummm--”

“This is not what I meant!”

The gigantic Gorilla looks at them both, his fury in plain view, paralyzing those who lay their eyes on him. Inside his sudden prison, Superman regains consciousness, shaking his head to regain sense. After hearing his growling, the Man of Tomorrow is quick to use his x-rays.

The Gorilla lifts his fist, ready to slam it down where Lois and Jimmy stand. While everyone looks up in terror, Lois turns to where Superman is buried, almost ready to scream whatever his name may be.

Before the Gorilla can lower his rageful grip, Superman powers out of the rubble with his extraordinary and awesome flight. With both fists extended out, Superman crashes against the Gorilla’s skull. The shockwave felt through the street. Light poles snap, cars flip, and alarms scream in every direction.

The civilians stumble and many fall on their rear ends. Jimmy is the only one to find it amusing “And I thought the water park could provide such sweet waves.”

He’s expecting a response from Lois. Probably a roll in the eyes or annoyed sight. Nope. Lois simply stares upwards where Superman is, pensive in her thoughts.

In the air, Superman remains in place, watching the Gorilla struggle with his balance. The hero flies below, once more using his heavy fists. He clips the left knee of the Gorilla, forcing him down in the middle of the street. Before he can get up, Superman places his person on his belly, keeping him down.

“You can talk. Were you an experiment from Luthor’s 33.1 facility?”

“What’s it to you?!”

“Because Luthor should be locked up, and you’re one of many victims from him who uses their power to hurt the innocent people in the city.”

“What? You want me to kill Luthor?”

“No, I want you to let your rage go. We have time Tell me your story.”

“Do I have a choice?”

“You do. Now use it well.”

The Gorilla sighs, laying his head on the pavement. His eyes dart back to Superman and his head lifted “The name is Curtis Binder”

“Curtis...Binder?”

“Name rings a bell? Good to know I'm not completely forgotten. I’ll help jog your memory; I’m Titano, The Super Ape.”

Watching from the safety from behind one of buildings are Jimmy and Lois. Jimmy when hearing that name, opens his jaws. He’s about to squeal with a high pitch screech. Lois covers his mouth, not wanting to miss out on what the Gorilla will say.

But Superman is the first speak “I take it the ape transformation was a come to full circle moment?”

“It was irony on Luthor’s part. And when I was Titano, I wasn’t a literal ape. Just a colorful nickname.”

Curtis Binder lightly chuckles, remembering his garish outfit. A polka dot suit with a green bow tie. His hair gelled upwards like a troll. Big red boots and a big blue belt. And of course, all the adoring screaming kids, many of whom dressed like him. Boy was his toy a best seller for Christmas. Parents fought for it.

“Not to toot my own horn, but when I was younger, I had a talent no one around my circles could compare.

“With all due respect, get to the point”

“Let me continue. I always starred in every school play. Made it to the best film college in the country. Couple of years later, I’m offered a spot for a kid's educational program. Didn’t want it but the pay was better than any acting gig I was getting so why not? With my panache for the theatrics and unbelievable charisma, I became an icon for the little rugrats.

I was getting awards for the next six years. Kids all over the country loved me. I was the new Mr. Rogers. In fact, I was better.”

From afar, Jimmy shakes his head in disapproval “You can’t be insulting Mr. Rogers like that.”

Superman narrows his eyes at the giant ape “If you were better, than why did your 15 minutes of fame ran out?”

He looks away from the Man of Steel “BS politics”

Lois and Jimmy look at each other, rolling their eyes. They know what Titano doesn’t want to tell Superman. How he started showing up late to shows because he was drinking. How he started mistreating the set workers. How he was caught pleasuring himself in public outside a porno theater. And how he yelled at a group of kids, full on swearing during a taping of his show.

Superman snaps his fingers to make the ape look at him again. Superman didn’t need to say anything to make Titano speak again...

“I reached the point in my career where I was down on my luck. Got drunk on the regular with Jonathan Lord and Jack Kovacs. Then one night, out came Luthor. He paid my tab and offered to revive my career, so long as I went with him for some experiments he was running.

Five years. I was gone FIVE years. Imagine coming back after five years and seeing articles and videos talking about your downfall. Do you have any idea what it does to a man?! All I wanted was my career back!”

“You want to be famous again? Be in the limelight? Have all your fans back? Help me expose Lex Luthor.”

“Oh please, you’d have a better chance moving the sun!”

“Police are coming. The DEO are coming. You can deal with them, or you can come with me.”

“How about a third option?”

He swings his arm over to Superman in an attempt to slap him. Superman gets out of the way, but the ape counted on it, moving his leg upwards and kicking the hero. Titano kips up, roaring into the air.

“I’ll kill you and force Luthor follow through on his promise. I WILL be a star again! Titano: The Man that killed Superman!”

DEO BASE – WASHINGTON

Director Bones watches through the screen in the Control Room Titano’s rampage. His second, Americommando approaches him “Guy’s two crayons short of a box. I’ll give him this, I can’t tell if he thinks he’s hero or villain.”

“Well, he WAS an actor” Bones replies “How far is the team?”

“We’re a bit spread thin in Metropolis after Volcana’s assaults. But Special Agent Danvers is leading the team against Titano. They’ve just entered the city.”

“Tell them to be on standby, Major Graves. Tell Metropolis PD the same.”

“General?!”

“They get in, they get stomped. Literally. Superman will handle this.”

“But General, he’s a vigilante! Outside of Wonder Woman, the President wants that guy arrested more than any criminal!”

“The President can keep his panties on. I’m going to spare my people from being a carpet. Superman will do what he usually does and stop the bad guy.” Bones leaves Americommando stunned and confused. The Director approaches one of the people on the computers “And Agent Harris?”

“Yes, Director?”

“Patch me Starman. I need him to deliver a message for me”

METROPOLIS

Lois and Jimmy run as far as they can, with the latter still making sure to take enough photographs of Titano slamming his foot to where Superman lays. The ground quakes and he releases his foot from the large imprint on the street.

“Man of Steel? HA. False advertisement.”

He’s expecting a flat pancake. And yet, nothing is there. Superman is gone.

“Actually, the nickname is based on fact” he replies, delivering a flying punch to Titano’s jaw. The impact snaps the ape’s head to the side and sends cracks rippling through a nearby building’s glass façade.

Titano growls, grabbing a city bus. Before Superman can take another swing, Titano hits him with it. Superman takes the hit full force, smashing through a wall and landing in a pile of rubble.

Coughing dust, Superman wipes it off his eyes. He flies up fast, grapples Titano mid-swing, and hauls him into the air.

“Ugh, Jimmy?” Lois questions

“This better win me awards!” yells the redhead as he snaps the photo of Superman lifting Titano into the air

But Titano writhes, snarling, and reaching his hands out to grab the Man of Tomorrow “I don’t think so!”

Superman throws him up and as Titano falls, the Man of Steel gets in a barrage of punches. All the while taking him upwards in the air. The soundwave of the hits heard loudly for the city to hear. Especially to Lex Luthor who looks at the battle from his tower with annoyance.

Superman begins breathing hard, as he can only do this for so long. He looks forward and realizes Hob’s Bay isn’t far away. With that, he doesn’t give out another hit with his fist. Superman uses his heat vision to blast Titano up front.

“AAAAAIIIIIIIEEEEEE”

The Man of Steel drops him, and the ape crashes into the bay like a meteor right in the middle of it. The surrounding area got a taste of what Sea World is like. While Titano remains in the water, Superman flies in, using his freeze breath on the bay to keep Titano in stasis.

The gorilla however rises up, roaring “You think you can keep me on ice?! I’ve dealt with directors who—“

His words are halted when he realizes he only got one arm out. The other as well as his body from the chest down has been kept frozen.

“Time for curtain call” Superman comments, flying down to deliver a double stomp to the head. He goes in for another blow but Titano grabs him, gripping him hard.

“Only I determine when we wrap up. And it’s about time we get to the death scene!”

Titano slams Superman down, using him to smash the ice. The vision of the hero blurs after every hit. Words aren’t coming in properly in thoughts while Titano is already memorizing his victory speech.

Titano tosses Superman aside, raising his arm up in freedom. He hops on the ice ring, staring down on the hurt superhero. Superman is running out of ideas and the villain’s strength hasn’t wavered.

“Think, Clark. You just have to—“

“Come on, Clark” he hears a faint voice from far away “Come on, Superman” it’s Lois. He can hear her heartbeat and how worried she is. And she said Clark. But that could only mean…

THUN

Titano slams his foot down on Superman, putting all force into it. Once more, Superman won’t allow himself to be an imprint as he put his arms up. His eyes glow red and with it, he blasts Titano’s foot with with powerful lasers.

“RAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!”

Superman does his own stomp on the ground, with this one cracking the floor beneath them.

“Not agai—“ Titano’s words are stopped as he falls into the ocean. Superman can see through the water. He knows Titano is not going to let himself be kept there like the last time. The villain rises up, arms outstretched, preparing to drown Superman.

“Hmm” Superman smirks

VABOOOOM

The hero plants him with a punch heard around the city. One of Titano’s teeth is chipped and the other completely lodged out of his mouth. A blow so powerful it knocked him out. As he falls back down the water, the Champion of Oppressed once more uses his freeze breath. This one finally keeping the entire body of Titano under a prison.

Lois and Jimmy expected Superman to be gone by now, as now the authorities are showing and will likely try to arrest him. Superman continues standing there on the platform, taking easy breathes.

WHOOOSH

In a matter of seconds, Superman left and returned, with a fruit in his hand. A banana in fact. He tosses the delicious banana to where Titano’s head is placed “Here’s your treat” Superman tells him before leaving.

Jimmy snaps one last photo “Hmm, didn’t think Supes would go for the cliche”

SHUSTER AVENUE

Superman heads to where his apartment is at, wanting to take a quick breath of relaxation before going back to work. No rest for the weary, although a long night’s sleep would do him good. It’s now at this time that the attack from Titano is finally setting it “I’ll be feeling that for a week” he rubs his arms.

“Then what of this?”

VABOOOOM

In the blink of an eye, Superman gets planted with a punch that sends him straight to a small park. The sound of his body making contact with the land was heard through several blocks. Two women nearby rush to the crater where his body lays. Before they can say anything or even fully see him as dust is still in the air, a man hovers before them “I request you exit the premises”

One look at his person and the two quickly depart. Only in their thoughts can they wish Superman luck. The man himself looks up to see a starling sight. A man he expected to meet someday but definitely not today.

“I’m Captain Ted Knight of the DEO. And I bring to you an important message, Superman”

“Sta--sta—Starman?!” Superman has to take a double take

“That I am as well”

“You...really want to do this now?”

“As a matter of fact, no. Stand up, Director Robert Bones has something he wants to share with you.”

The Man of Steel rises, looking to his surroundings, expecting an assault. Waiting for jets, helicopters and even ships from space to mount on him. Yet, only Starman is around “Is it he has the warrant for my arrests?”

"Nonsense, we don’t need warrants to arrest vigilantes. He just wants to say...good job”

“Ex--excuse me?”

“He likes your style. Says you’re...sunny. Whatever that means. Bones appreciates the way you’ve helped Metropolis and the world with all the invasions and monster popping off. He also wants to let you know that architect Dale Gunn will be showing up in the affected areas that Titano attacked. Says you can help him.”

“I’m not sure what that has--”

“And most important of all, because of your actions, he’s offering you an opportunity many people grow up wish they can accept —a spot in the DEO.”

“Huh?!”

“This could be once in a lifetime, Superman. You could help the world in ways you couldn’t even begin to imagine. It isn’t just Bones who wants you. President Callaway wants you in our ranks. He wants your reach extended.

With you, we could even expand outside of our borders, starting with Mexico and Canada. A world where Superman could help like never before and the DEO and the United States of America stronger than ever before. No one could stop us!”

Superman crosses his arms, scowling at Starman.

“Do I have something on my face? Are you mute? Explain yourself.”

“You summarized why I won’t join you. It’s bad enough what the DEO already has done. Locking people up without due process. Disregard for people’s safety. You expect me to be a lap dog? Your hired gun? Another stooge in your ranks?!”

Knight approaches the hero “With that kind of statement, are you calling all agents, including myself, a stooge?”

Superman gets up close to Starman “That’s exactly what I'm saying. I don’t represent America, Captain Knight. I represent the people. I refuse to dominate other people’s territory for the sake of this country. It’s the type of planning that criminals do. Supervillains. The type of people you used to stop.”

Knight takes a step back, mouth left agape ever so slightly “...how...how dare--”

“Tell Bones I won’t accept. And tell the President to stuff it.” with his flight, Superman begins to exit from the area “I didn’t even vote for him.”

Starman sneers, clenching his fist, ready to attack “Stop, Captain”

“Di--director?!’

DEO BASE - WASHINGTON

Bones replies to Starman “He said no, and that’s that.”

“Sir! We have to arrest him! Orders are orders!”

“I’m the one who makes the orders, and you do as I say. Now what did I say?”

“...to not arrest Superman”

“What a guy, you are. And Ted, before I leave, just one thing?”

“Yes, Director?”

“When offering membership, maybe don’t tell the ethical boy scout from Pleasantville that the President wants to use him to dominate countries, okay?”

“I’m...sorry, sir, it’s just I received a call from the President an hour before--”

“I’ll be dealing with an earful from Callaway in an hour or two. Just get back to base.”

THE DAILY STAR

Clark arrives at the bullpen, seeing a close view of everyone running around and working overdrive. That’s what a giant gorilla attacking the streets does. He also peeks over to Lois, who is at work writing her story, even wiping sweat over her forehead. He goes over to desk, accepting he won’t be able to make the deadline for the story.

Everyone is unaware of Clark walking around. All except Lois, who quickly tilts her head to see him walking to his desk. The moment he presses himself on the seat, Lois materializes in front of him.

“Gah!” Clark exclaims “I need to put a bell on you, Lois”

“It’d shatter in a week. Where’ve you been, Smallville?”

“Oh you know, making my rounds, paying the doctor a visit and seeing monkey madness.”

“You look a bit...rough on the edges.”

Clark touches his chin, remembering the tiny scar was still there.

“And is your hand okay?”

It jerks around for a bit. He quickly holds it with his other hand “What can I say? I trip a lot.”

“Through a flight of stairs?”

“Happened once when I was younger. But what does it matter?” he tries to pass it off with a laugh “Don’t you have a story to finish?”

“You know, you can tell me anything, right?”

“Oh, heh, I know. There is...one thing I have been meaning to bring up to you.”

"Oh you are?!” she asks a bit too loudly. She lowers her voice before people make looks “Do you want to do it in...another place?”

“No, I'm fine here. It’s about some man attacking several neighborhoods in Oak Town.” her curiosity took a plunge “I wanted to get your opinion since I know you’ve been invested in smaller stories as of late. Think you can help me? A second opinion”

“Uh...yeah...yeah”

“Oh, I'm sorry! I didnt--"

“It’s fine, Smallville.” she covers up with a small smile “Let me finish my story and we can talk.”

She exits, leaving him by himself. Her expression lowering to one of dejectedness. Once she sits on her chair, Lois looks at him again as he’s working. She won’t force him to tell her. He’ll tell her when he’s ready. And she’ll keep that story with her. The truth matters to her, but not if it means ruining his life. After all, Clark is still someone she wants to get know on a personal level up and close.

LEXCORP

The rays of the sun, though slowly as it goes down, streaks the tall glass windows from Lex Luthor’s office. Luthor looks through his computer, with it displaying that LexCorp stock has gone up today. The rebuilding effort has begun after Titano’s attack, and Lex’s company oversees the reparations “And people say today was a bad day.”

His phone buzzes. Lex glances at the caller and sees it’s Director Robert Bones from the DEO. He answers it quickly.

“How can I help--”

“Zip it, Alexander” Bones says on the other end

“Oh Robert, you must remember the change in name I made--”

“What did I JUST say, Alex?” Bones takes a seat in his desk “Call me, Director, or even ‘sir’. Now let your bald oversized head hear this. While Washington worships the ground you walk on, and some of my people even value your existence. YOU still have to follow certain rules.

You failed to bring in Superman a while back. You experimented behind my back. And now we have a gaggle of superpowered douchebags who have a bone to pick with you because you screwed them over in ways I won’t even get into. Bottom line, I know you’re behind something, Luthor.

There is much about you I don’t know, and out of respect over your past work with us, I’ll be letting you know I’ll be keeping an eye on you. Kind of like what I like to think Superman does over you. So, listen here. Cross another line, and I’ll bury LexCorp so deep in litigation, you’ll be in charge of a broom closet if you’re lucky.”

“How dare you threaten--”

“Consider it a warning, Alex. Superman has proved himself to be a better hero in one day than you can any day. So starting now, be a good boy, okay?”

“...”

“Okay?!” he raises his voice

Lex takes the phone away from his ear. Letting out a heavy sigh. The one he lets out to best hold in his rage "Yes...Director”

“Also, look outside your window. Adios.”

Bones hangs up, leaving Lex flabbergasted by that last comment.

DING

His computer sounds off a notification. Once he opens his inbox, he’s taken to an article online. There Superman moves several steel beams to the upper right corner, being given instructions by an architect. The article itself reads ‘Superman helps affected areas! People have shelter again! Luthor too slow!’

Lex grips his phone quite hard. Too hard he crushes it in two. The only good thing happening in the LexCorp building is that someone hasn’t walked in his office. If they had, they’d be a victim of Lex’s unyielding rage. Ss for the next few minutes, he lets out a bellow that everyone inside this building could hear.

He grabs his phone, quickly calling... “Mercy!” his eye burn with pure rage “How is John Corben at this rate?! I need him soon!”

Chapter Text

33.1 FACILITY

Almost a year ago, John Corben, a bodyguard for Lex Luthor, almost died in the Toyman invasion. His heart replaced with that of a green rock, simply titled; Kryptonite. In addition, he was given super strength to aid him. Aid him in his eventual battle...against Superman! The man who Luthor and his group tell him was responsible for his near death.

Corben has been trained to home on his newfound strength and durability. He was already a great fighter, what with his past as a soldier for the army. His time in the Markovia War netted him the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Now, his skills have only improved. Faster than any normal human in Metropolis. More powerful any android or cyborg in existence. Able to crush tall buildings in only a step. Lex seems impressed the times he’s visited. The scientists of the facility? They’ve been most pleased at the results, patting themselves on the back.

“What do you think?” asks Mercy Graves, once Corben’s ally as she too is Lex’s bodyguard.

“Hmm?” Corben asks, sitting on a bench, without even looking at her

“What do you think, John? I mean, what you’ve gone through is nothing short of a miracle. Surely you have to--”

“That’s...that’s the thing...” Corben looks to the distance. He hasn’t even once looked at Mercy since she arrived today at the facility “I hardly think”

“Come on, John. Everyone thinks--”

“I can’t. I hardly sleep. Anytime i lay in my bed, it feels like I'm sleeping in a bed of concrete. I don’t dream, Mercy...” his eyes slowly tilt towards hers “I don’t dream...I--I can’t even feel the food I eat. My tastes? Completely shot.”

“John...” Mercy gets closer to him “I can’t imagine how it feels. But you have to give Lex time--”

“Alexander doesn’t even let me see my sister or even call her. What time do I--”

Mercy’s phone buzzes, both already know it’s Lex on the other end. Mercy doesn’t even check to see if it’s him. She picks it up and surely enough it’s... “Mr. Luthor--” she closes her eyes, already being yelled at “Well, he’s in amazing condition as I've been told. The test results...sir, I think I know what to do. Just give me a few seconds” Mercy takes the phone away from her ear

“What? Has he realized how ridiculous he looks bald?”

“Hmm. Your first joke in months. That’s an improvement. Anyways, you want to see your sister? Your friends? Well, to make a long explanation short; we need you to cause a fuss.”

CAFE SHOP

A warm amber glows through the store and the city block. The hum of soft jazz plays in the background, which pleases many inside and outside. Outside though, Clark and Lois barely notice any of it. They sit at a small booth in the corner. Two cups of coffee sit on the table, hers untouched, whereas Clark’s half-full.

Clark reaches to pick up his cup, but stops halfway, noticing Lois looking away “Umm, Lois?” Clark asks her to get her attention “Are you going to drink that or should I ask for a refund?”

“Hmm?” she looks at her cup “Oh--it’s just my mind’s been racing a lot”

“More than usual?”

“Hmm” she lightly chuckles

“Lois, if you have a lot on your plate and can’t help, just so say.”

“No, no. It’s fine...” Lois has wanted to talk about him before. But it seems small compared to the big story in front of her.

‘Clark Kent is Superman’ and she has to keep it to herself. She thought it’d be easy, but seeing her colleague and friend disappear during different points of the day. Out to fight some mutated lizard or electric powered foe, coming back as if nothing ever happened, pretending to be someone else. It’s getting harder to bare this secret within without sharing it with someone.

“Lois!” he raises his voice

“Right right right” she shakes her head “What caught your attention to this...guy, again?”

“Actually, this time I'm referring your phone.” he points to her left

Lois peers over to her side of the table, seeing her father is calling “Oh God”

“Not on the best terms?”

“For years I have to admit” she continues letting it ring

“I’m sorry to hear that”

“You shouldn’t. You’ve read the reports on him, I assume.”

“I have. And clips as well. Sam Lane has been labeled a great soldier and hero for his country. Yet, when I look at his actions...he's been cutthroat and ruthless. He doesn’t care about the people; he only cares about the mission and what his superiors want.”

“Tch” she lightly chuckles “What, are you preparing to write his obituary?”

“No.” he shrugs “Although with the fight he gets in, I might one day. I just have a lot of spare time in some nights”

“With your schedule, how?”

“What?” he raises his eyebrow

“Oh--uh--Never mind! I can give you more details, if you’re interested.”

“Are you sure? It just seems personal--”

“Clark please!” she puts her hands on his. The touch of her is enough to make him blush a little “I could stand to let some stuff out. Sometimes I can’t always keep certain details with me. I need to just...say it to someone. Please?”

Clark relaxes on his chair, giving her a warm smile “Okay, shoot.”

“Thanks...” she coughs a little “It all started...when I was a kid...”

OAK TOWN

A small crowd has gathered along the upscale main street of Oak Town, a district nestled in the heart of Metropolis. Before the common people is the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Swan Fine Jewels. Local press cameras flash as the providers of these objects smile for the photographers.

In the middle of the crowd stands gossip columnist for the Daily Star; Cat Grant! Fashionably dressed, mic in hand, accompanied by a small camera crew provided thanks to Perry White, her boss.

The only reason why Cat even is here is because she convinced him to give her this job, as it might help provide material and attention for the Daily Star website Perry’s been trying to get more eyeballs on. Cat begged him for an hour before he relented.

“This is Cat Grant, reporting live from Oak Town!” she raises her glass of wine up “Where Metropolis’ elite are flocking to the grand opening of Swan Fine Jewels. The diamonds are dazzling, the fashion is fierce, and the champagne is...”

She takes a sip. It only takes one for her eyes to pop open “Disappointing, I must say.” Cat drops her glass to the floor, regaining her suave composure “Nevertheless, this shall be a most memorable and STRIKING event.”

“AAAAHHHHHH”

Screams out a woman across the street. Even her yell was enough to grab Cat’s attention as she looks out. The camera whirls and sees other running for their lives. Not far away, a deep, mechanical whine echoes from the distance. A few bystanders pause, confused. As does Cat, as she looks at the camera, unsure what to do.

BOOM

A car explodes half a block down. Screams erupt as people duck and scatter. Cat remains in her place, as does her crew. The cameraman grabs the presence of a man once thought to be dead to the public...

“John Corben!” Cat yells out. She looks back at the camera, forcing a smile “Well, I did say this would be memorable.”

As she continues to report, Corben grabs a bystander, lifting her up like if she was a simple blank sheet of paper. Without a second thought, Corben chucks her at Cat and her crew, dropping them down.

While her cameraman is down for the count, Cat holds her back, wincing in pain “Next time, let Lombard or Olsen take the assignment. People won’t miss them like they will me.” She grabs her phone, going straight to the text messaging.

CAFE SHOP

“By the time I was 18, my mom had enough, and she finally filed for the divorce. Lucy thought it was going to happen sooner. I was in college, but when I was there, it felt like he hardly cared”

“Maybe it was façade”

“Mhmph, like so much of what he does. It was never that he wasn’t there, Kent. My mom knew the risks. It was the secrets. The constant secrets. The ones that changes someone and those around them. Lucy thought he had an affair and maybe he did. I don’t fucking know. But through the stoicism and headstrong demeanor, there was something…broken.”

“Maybe it was the missions he went on”

Lois scratches her head “Maybe the people he surrounded himself with. Or how he treated people worse than he intended. As if he accidentally corrupted himself, if that makes sense.” Lois slams her hand on the table “It’s all speculation. No answers and probably there never will be.”

“Never say never, Lo. The truth always comes when we least expect it.”

“Yeah...” she looks away from him, still does the thought of him being Superman rings in her ears “Yeah...” she looks back at him “Wait, Lo? Seriously?”

“You call me, Smallville all the time. I need to find SOME nickname for you. Can’t keep it one sided.”

She smiles at him “I’ll think about that...”

“Nope. It’s decided. No going backsies.”

Lois’ smile diminishes when her father crosses her mind again “You know, i actually consider myself lucky all the problems that my family went through didn’t happen when I was younger. Sure, my sister and I were sad whenever he left but I thought we were a happy family growing up.

For birthdays and Christmas, he would bring the best gifts! The ones you as a kid would want...except for a pony. Honestly, he’d be anyone’s favorite Secret Santa. I guess...he didn’t know when to turn it off.” she looks dead set on Clark “Can you imagine holding so much inside you? Wouldn’t you want to let it all out?”

“I...guess. It’s mostly up to the person if they’re comfortable in sharing certain details of their life.”

“I know...it’s just...” she angrily sighs, putting her hands over her head

“Lois...is this about something else?”

“N--No!”

“Is this about...” Lois’ heart is beating so fast, it’s close to coming out of her chest “Your mom?”

“Wh--what?!”

“I mean, she was barely mentioned. Did something happen with her?”

“Oh! Her? No. She’s a story for another chapter--” before she speak again, her and Clark notice people lining up together in the shop. They spot them looking up at the TV. The people are watching John Corben’s attack on the jewelry store.

“Oh no” Clark remarks “Wasn’t Cat doing a report on there?”

“Yeah” Lois replies, showing her phone to Clark. Messages from Cat with capitalized letters such as ‘OMFG! SMFH! BIG METAL GUY KILL! LOL’ “We should--"

“I’ll call from a phone to see if she’s okay!” he blurts out “There’s a phonebooth nearby!” he’s already on the run

“But don’t you have a phone?!” she yells at him

“Out of charge!”

Lois grunts in anger. He’s escaped her peripheral vision, which is code that he’s gone off to...

OAK TOWN

John Corben grips a lamppost from its place with all his strength. With one heavy breath, he pulls out the object. For the first time since waking up, he smiles. Even now he’s impressed by his own strength. He chugs the post right inside the store. Those who locked themselves inside scurry away in terror.

With her cameraman still unconscious, Cat films the event, holding the camera. She records it behind a toppled over car. Her fingers tremble and her loud breathing is heard alongside the video.

“This Cat Grant of the Daily Star, bringing to you Ground Zero as...that guy continues his toppling of Oak Town. Does he seek power? Is he planning to become the greatest supervillain of the modern era? Does he want--”

Cat’s cover of the car is picked up behind. She turns around with the camera, with the upfront display of John Corben holding up the vehicle high above his head.

“Actually Ms. Grant, what I want...is Superman! And since he only shows up when people are in danger, let’s see what’s faster. Him or a car making contact with a human being?”

“I don’t consent to this!”

“Your compliance is irrelevant!”

He shifts his hold on the vehicle, wanting the front of the car to trample Cat. Corben pushes the car down, Cat closes her eyes, wincing “This is Cat Grant signing--”

“Huh?” Corben is left standing dumbfounded, as the car he held was taken from him. He turns around, seeing Superman putting the vehicle down. The hero himself isn’t too pleased with Corben’s actions.

“My death has been postponed, people!” Cat yells “Here we have Superman making the daring rescue!”

Her commentary is unheard by Superman and Corben, as the former is now starting to realize who this familiar face is “Is...is that--”

“Come on, Superman. You know who I am”

“Corben. John Corben!” Superman had to hold his head to make sure what he was seeing was correct “But I thought you died! When Winslow--”

“I’m alive and breathing, Supes. You have no idea how long I've waited for this moment.”

“John, you’re not well. Let me take you--”

Corben rips his shirt off, the act of it confusing Superman “Believe me. This ain’t no strip show.”

It wasn’t just months of training testing the power inside him or his durability with pain and endurance. John Corben knew the additional feature of what was inside of him. The ticket to defeating Superman. How kryptonite could weaken the powerful Kryptonian. His chest opens like a door, with his new heart being displayed for Superman to see.

“But I'm definitely pleased right now”

“What?” Superman steps back, already feeling the effect “How--”

Corben doesn’t let him finish. He goes in for a punch across the jaw. Corben grabs his head, planting his knee right on his nose. And as Superman staggers, Corben clasps his arm over him, locking him in a bearhug.

“I was never a hugger. And you haven’t put down permanently. A day of firsts, can we agree?”

Superman can only groan in pain, as even the light of kryptonite is enough to make him look away.

“I think we’ve got a good while. Surely you can think of better final words.”

THE STREETS

VVVWWOOOOM

Lois Lane is driving with heavy velocity, not once considering the fines she’ll be given over her reckless driving. Doesn’t matter, as Clark is dealing with a threat that’s impossible for him to defeat under normal circumstances. She tried to call Jimmy but he’s not answering his phone. Doesn’t matter, as all that matters is she help, whichever way possible, Clark at this moment.

OAK TOWN

Superman’s groans are getting weaker as the effects of the green rock are getting to him “I’m glad to see this.” Corben smiles. He smiles and even he can’t believe it “For the first time in a while, I'm actually happy. You took my heart, Superman. You nearly took my life a year ago. But now? I’m stronger than ever while you are--”

DING

Corben is hit across the back with a pipe. He turns his head slightly to see it was a little kid doing it. Specifically Flip Johnson of the Newskids Legion.

“Do you mind?” he asks her

“No. Drop him before I drop you.”

“Kid, what are you doing?!” Cat yells at Flip “Run!”

Corben drops Superman, leaving him a mess. Corben gets near Flip “Tell me, little girl. How do you plan on doing that? You probably can’t even get a decent allowance from your parents. What makes you think--”

She hits him with a pipe again, this time on his skull.

“You stupid little brat”

Corben grabs her by the collar of her shirt, sneering at her. Flip kicks at his stomach but nothing is working “Let go, you hunk of junk!”

“How dare--”

KRSH

Cat Grant smashes the camera behind the back of Corben’s skull. The camera breaks apart in tiny pieces, but Corben remains standing. He tosses Flip aside, turning his attention at Cat “What is it with you people and attacking me from behind?”

VWWWOOOM

Lois Lane pops in, riding her car and not stopping. Cat gets out dodge while Corben remains in his place. Lois rams her car on him, driving Corben back several feet, crashing into the jewelry store. Lois gets out of her car, being immediately hugged by Cat.

“Oh thank God, Lane! I didn’t know what I was going to do! I was this close to shitting my pants with fear!”

The adult women notice the kid in Flip walking up to them.

“Umm, ignore what I was said, kid. Never swear.”

“Who cares about that crap. Superman!” she points at the hero, who is struggling with the basic task of moving his own body.

They all go toward him, helping him up “it...was...that rock...” Superman utters weakly “the one lightning master...and schott used...”

“Don’t talk” Lois says “We’ll take you to Star Labs and--”

The footsteps from Corben could be heard, as he marches loudly. His anger now leading him to not just attack Superman, but the women stopping him from his revenge.

“You defend an outlaw, girls. A criminal!”

“You’re the one wrecking stuff and hurting people!” Flip yells “You’re the criminal!”

“Plus, you tried to kill a kid. That’s straight up evil, you metal ass!” Cat adds

“Evil? I was in the army. Killing a kid for my country gave me a medal. Stopping Superman? That will make me a legend.”

“So that’s what this is?” Lois step sin, shielding the others behind her. Including Superman, who is analyzing Corben with what little x-rays he can use at this time, given his powers are slowly coming back “You want to beat Superman so you can be all over on TV, be on talk shows and get the DEO seal of approval?”

“If you think this is about popularity, you are sorely mistaken, Ms. Lane. What I want is far simpler. I want to get back at the one who did this to me. Made me rely on an alien...THING for a functioning heart! Took a year from me!”

“Then why not go after Toyman? Superman didn’t do anything to you!”

“Toyman? What does Schott have to do with anything? It was Superman who blasted me with his damn lasers!”

Lois is almost flabbergasted by what she’s wearing, as are Cat and Flip “Corben, whoever is feeding you this information has stored the truth from you. It was Toyman who was responsible for your condition. Superman had nothing to do with it.”

“I was warned you’d lie to me”

“John...” Lois tries to calm her voice for him “I think you were led astray. Tell me who did this to you and I promise I can--”

“To hell with this shit!”

Corben stops her, marching on with anger. He pushes aside Lois, Cat and Flip, going straight after Superman. With all that free time he had hiding behind the women, Superman used it to channel his power of heat vision. One which comes in handy right now.

VVVSSSHHHH

“AAAIIEEEE”

Yells Corben, staggering away from the Man of Steel, holding his face. The hero himself struggles himself, dropping to one knee. Cat and Lois have to help him maintain his balance. The three of them look at Corben once more. No words, just a stun gasp from them all when Corben’s appearance becomes clear.

“What are you people looking a--”

Corben touches his face, as it’s still affected by that previous blast. He was expecting to touch charred skin or burned skin. What he touched was what Flip felt when she kicked him minutes ago. Corben feels the hard material known as; metal.

“Wh--wh—what is the meaning of this? Superman, what have you done?!”

“John...” Superman stands up on his own two feet “Whoever did to you took away more than just your heart. Your bones, your skin. All of it. What you are underneath is...is...” he lets out a small sad sigh “Is just a man of metal.”

“No...no! I—I can still feel! I can feel emotion! I remember my sister! I remember friends! I’m still me!”

Superman takes a small step forward “Whoever did this to you messed with you, John. Took away what makes you human.”

“No. Lies. Lies! You’re just saying that so you can--”

Superman quickly speeds over to Corben, grabbing the pipe Flip used before. He wraps it around where Corben’s heart is, allowing the exposure of Kryptonite to be halted.

“I’m here to help, John...even someone like you deserves justice. Who experimented on you--”

Corben punches Superman right in the stomach, the hero coughing out some saliva as Corben seethes with rage. The man of metal raises his leg, delivering a kick to Superman to send him a few feet back.

“I don’t need you, i just need to get away! I know I'm still human!”

Corben goes to a manhole, opening in and dropping into the sewers. Upon landing, the putrid stench of the disgusting water doesn’t affect him one bit. He can’t dwell on it for too long, surely it has to be his newfound durability. He runs away as a little bit of his flesh falls into the water.

“i’m still human...i’m still human...”

Above the sewers, Superman rises with his own power, shaking his head. Lois attends to him “How are you feeling now?”

“Still need some time but I'm getting better”

“Good. Did they seriously replace all of Corben’s skin with metal. That’s...that’s diabolical.”

Cat shoves a tape recorder right to Superman’s face “And how does that make you feel, Superman?”

“Uhhhh”

“Cat, not now...and where’d you get that” Lois tells her

“This is an interview, Lois. You’d do the same.” Cat replies

“You kind of would” Superman quietly remarks

Lois scoffs “Excuse you--”

“What brought upon this mad change to John Corben? Lunacy or something deep.” Cat asks Superman

“Can’t say much. All I do know is that as flawed a man as Corben is, even he deserves answers. But if he plans on hurting more people? I’ll be there to stop him.”

“Such the man you are” she stops her recorder “You know, I came in with a van, I can help you out track Corben. Then when he’s stopped perhaps a more...exclusive interview?”

“Hehe, sorry, Ms. Grant. Thanks for the help though. Maybe for another time.” he gives her a warm yet confident smile

She gets closer to him “Does that include the exclusive interview?”

“I mean--” Clark has to admit, Cat herself is a beautiful woman. But even with her up close, he looks to Lois, who is not too happy to see this interaction “Maybe another time? I have to run off. You understand, right?”

“Of course” he speeds off, leaving her in a pleased state “Goodbye, our great vigilante hero.” Cat tries to find Lois, but she’s vanished too. All she’s left with is Flip and the Newskid Legion “Where’s Lane?”

“She...didn’t look too happy”

“Oh please, she better not be angry cause of the competition. It should motivate her.”

“Yeah...so you wouldn’t happen to have time for an interview, would you? It’s for MY newspaper.”

“...Sure, I'm game.”

Away from the two, Lois furiously stomps the sidewalk, holding herself in her anger “Flirting with Cat Grant? Are you shitting me?” she’s so close to punching a wall as a way to suppress her anger “And he keeps lying to me! Just ran off with his crappy excuse and--” she stops herself, letting out a heavy sigh, pinching her nose

“Focus, Lois. Focus. Focus on Corben. Who made him this way? And where is he going? Where would he go? The person who made him the way he is or--” it hits her “The one who can make him feel human again!”

THE SEWERS

John Corben hasn’t stop running. He's been running for how long he doesn’t know. And throughout it all, he’s touched his face. The part where his skin was taken “I have to be human. I can’t just be...this! Soon, Luthor. We are going to have a TALK.”

MIDVALE

When Corben passed away during the Toyman invasion, Lois wrote Corben’s obituary for the Daily Star. The article landed great praise from soldiers who worked alongside Corben. Even her father commended her over it. And with writing his obituary, she learned of his past.

A troubled childhood, where his mother left him at a young age. No explanation or prior problems with his father that led up to the decision. She just walked away and never looked back. His father however had a short fuse and that’s where John and his sister Tracy suffered.

The two protected each other from him. The nights where he got drunk and passed out on the couch where the best nights for the two. And by the time they were teenagers, John had enough. One night, he found Tracy crying on outside the house. When he got a closer look, there was scar across her cheek.

One hour later, the police were called in. John Corben shot his own father. Using the revolver his old man kept under his drawer. Tracy herself commented how that day forever changed John. From there on, a new sterner more rugged man took the place of a once calm and centered teenager. Nevertheless, he still cared and loved his sister. That was the key to finding where John will be.

Lois knocks on the door, tapping on the floor, wanting to process to be sped up. The door is opened and out walks “Tracy Corben?” questions Lois

“Yes? Who--”

“Journalist Lois Lane of the Daily Star, we met a year ago? For your--”

“John’s obituary, right! How are you?”

“I’m fine. But i feel it’s better if someone tells you rather than finding out in the worst way.”

“Ms. Lane, is everything alright? What’s happened?”

“Your brother...he’s not dead...He’s--”

“TRACY”

The two turn, Tracy gasps at what’s near her. She covers her mouth quickly. Lois herself is terrified by his appearance. John Corben is walking up to them, a demented pleasure on his face. His skin from his left arm has shed and even the right part of his leg showcases a metallic display.

“It’s...been too long, Tracy!”

“My God, John?”

“You remember” a decaying smile crosses his fake skin

“John...” Lois shields Tracy from Corben “Don’t do this here. Please. Think about--”

"Lane, this is a family affair. How about you step out of the way while I greet my sister. Or should I do it personally?”

“John, please” Tracy speaks up “You’re scaring me. Who—who did this to you?”

“hehehe” he puts his hand over his face “Even if I did, nothing would work. He’s too powerful.”

Lois steps in again “John, I promise you, i will do everything I can to help you.”

“You’ve helped enough. Like when you rammed your car against me!” he spots her car in the driveway “How about I return the favor?!”

He walks towards Lois’ vehicle; a sadistic glare crosses his mechanical facial feature. Before he can grab hold of it...

WHOOOSH

Superman interjects right in front of him “I’d suggest you listen to the lady”

“I suggest you go fuck yourself to hell!”

Corben reaches up to his chest, planning on being rid of the pipe Superman puts over his chest to prevent the Kryptonite from leaking into the air. Superman holds onto his hand, gripping them.

“Alien, I still have a good ample of strength without the kryptonite” He headbutts Superman square in the nose “And you still aren’t strong enough as before. I love a fair fight.”

Corben grabs Superman by his head, ramming into the back part of the car. Anyone watching outside their houses are left flummoxed by the show before them. How Superman is taking a beating by this new deranged villain.

Corben tosses Superman in the middle of the street. As the hero quickly rises, the villain lunges at him, slamming him on the ground. Corben places his thumbs over Superman’s eyes, applying the necessary pressure to make the Man of Steel howl.

“Maybe the heart being tied was a sign” Corben comments “It’s good to get your hands dirty”

Despite his thumbs covering his eyes, Corben could still see red consuming where Superman’s eyes should be.

VSSHHH

Heat vision shoots directly up, causing Corben to release his hold. Superman slaps Luthor’s former bodyguard away, getting him off of his person. Corben boils with anger, with Superman himself is not too pleased. Corben barrels into Superman with the force of a runaway train.

They crash through a backyard fence, toppling a swing set and landing in someone’s pool. Said pool had a party going on, specifically with teenagers. They’re already snapping pictures, not catching wind of Corben trying to drown Superman.

Superman grunts under water, landing a heavy right hook that sends Corben into a garden shed a house away. Tools and planks rain down on him as Superman gets out of the pool.

“Fuck you, bitch!” one teenager gets in front of the hero, flipping him off “You’re corny and lame! BATMAN is better than you! I hope you get--”

Superman grabs this boy by his head and tosses him into the pool. He turns to the water cooler which has all the beer these kids were drinking, blasting it.

“What the--”

“So unfair!”

“Batman would never--”

“Go home!” Superman raising his voice is enough to make them all quiet “Or I can keep you in that pool until your parents return.”

It wasn’t much, but many are already scurrying. Superman couldn’t stay to see if they all left, as he grabs Corben by the torso and slamming him into a LexCorp delivery truck, which crumples like a soda can.

Superman approaches Corben, the hero feels his arms “Hmm, good to see i'm coming back to full strength”

“Oh really?”

A green glow lightens up Superman’s visage. Corben has dislodged the pipe from his chest and the kryptonite is flowing through Superman’s body.

“And here I was thinking this was going to be a fair fight” he gets close to Superman who tries to get away “You shouldn’t have stayed with those kids. For once, don’t be a “hero”. Just be a victim. Maybe it’ll do you wonders. Look what it did for me!”

Before he can wrap his arms around Superman’s throat, peeling away his life as each second of air trickles down, Lois and Tracy arrive.

Tracy walks up to her brother “John, I know you were...you were never perfect. I know taking away life isn’t new to you. Sometimes, i fear you reveled in it. But please, think about what you’re doing now. Lois Lane, she told me the truth. Superman didn’t kill you”

“He--he did, Tracy!” Corben exclaims “I remember it!”

“Do you? You’ve been played!”

“No! He’s why I'm like this! And if he isn’t--then...then who do I blame?!”

Superman places his hands over Corben’s chest. With all the reserve strength he still has, the hero forces the panels of Corben’s chest to shut close, keeping the kryptonite away “You blame the one who lied to you.”

Corben steps away from Superman, still looking at him with disgust, despite knowing in his green heart the Man of Tomorrow isn’t responsible for his condition. Corben looks at his sister, who still looks at with pity. Pity he doesn’t want. Corben stomps on the street, the force of it creating a manhole for himself. He drops inside of it, once more entering the sewers.

Superman goes to chase him, but a hand is placed over his shoulder. The hero is surprised to see who halted his movement. It’s someone who he hasn’t seen for months.

“Dr. Hamilton?” the head director of Star Labs

“You’re weak, Superman. And it’s only a matter of time before the DEO and police come here. Come with me.”

Superman looks over to Lois, who gives him a reassuring nod.

“I can’t go” Superman tells Emil Hamilton

“Superman, you heard him.” Lois tells him “It’s only a matter of time--”

“You’re not getting it. Dr. Hamilton, I’ll go with you as long as Ms. Corben and Ms. Lane come with me. There’s something all of you should know.”

33.1 FACILITY

The door of the building is kicked open by a thunderous man of metal. John Corben grabs the nearest scientist he could grab, pulling him close “Superman didn’t do this to me! It was Toyman! It was that fat bitch Schott who shot me! And it was YOU assholes who made me—“

“Oh John, resorting to low hanging insults?” Lex Luthor walks in, removing his trench coat, passing it to Mercy Graves “You were a meathead, but one with standards”

“Alexander, you have a lot of explaining to do!” Corben goes forward to Lex. Each stomp on the floor cracks the pavement.

“I quite do. Especially as Plan A was, as the kids say, a bust”

Corben doesn’t hear him, planning on tossing Lex around for making him the way he did. For removing so much of his humanity. For making him an abomination that made his sister frighten of him. And Corben…can’t do anything. He tries to place his hands over Lex’s jaw so he rip it off. But he can’t.

“Ho—how?! Why can’t I—“

“Because I made it so. You see John…” Lex strolls near John, getting up close to his ears “I did make you this way. Not just to fight Superman, but a warrior for me, like old times. Believe it or not, I can be a nice guy. I value those around me. And in your case, I perhaps respected your loyalty to me a bit too much.

Perhaps I wanted the appearance of an old friend to keep me company after my wives passing and how Schott thought he could humiliate me. Perhaps, I let this house of ideas get the better of me. Kryptonite mixed with…hmm, now just what was that title?” Lex plays with Corben who looks at him with bated breath

STAR LABS

In the checkup room, Superman sits down with Dr. Hamilton, Lois and Tracy, gathering his thoughts and exhaling out a deep breath “I was going to tell him, but I let my cowardice get the better of me. I fought him instead of telling him”

“Tell US right now, Superman” Lois says

“I have the power of x-rays, and with it, I could see through a person. I could see John…or whoever it was before us.”

“Excuse you?” Tracy asks confused

“Ms. Corbin, I’m sorry…” Superman grimaces “that man was not you brother”

33.1 FACILITY

“You’re an AI” Lex remembers, playfully smacking his own forehead

“Wha—what?!”

“Always asking questions because you didn’t get it the first time. You’re so close to being John Corben, you really are.”

STAR LABS

“There would at least be a brain. Maybe even a few organs. But nothing of the sort was there. It was only metal and the kryptonite. Whoever did this to him--”

33.1 FACILITY

“Made you so you wouldn’t rat us out. Or hurt me. I have to say it was smart of me to create that fail safe. Still, I made sure to have humanity in your tin can so rage would be your primary factor. I hate to say that wasn’t enough. It’s clear we need more tests, but soon, perfection will reach you, John”

Lex walks away from John, leaving his crew to approach Corben, taking him away from Lex’s vicinity.

“Wait!” Lex shoots his arm up “I’m sorry…you’re not John. You’re just Model 3.0. 4.0 will hopefully be the achievement we’re looking for.”

Corben can barely hear anything by this point, as his hearing has been replaced with a high frequency pitch. Lex’s words are slowly beginning to escape his hearing. Yet, something is loud enough to catch Corben’s attention. Joining Lex by his side is a most puzzling sight; a walking android. Not just any regular kind of one...

“Oh, you haven’t been introduced. John, this here is a creation of Winslow Schott. An android made to kill me. I changed a few of its wires and now it works for me. This will be your replacement. He will be far better at following through my commands than you were. Take care.” Lex winks at him. The android 18, coldly staring at Corben as he remains in his paralyzed state.

Corben tries to speak, but even speech has been taken away from him at this point. He can only see Lex walking away, without a care in the world as his own life is taken from him. Or rather, it’s programming is changed. Never to remember this day as it did others.

STAR LABS

After being given a clean bill of health by Dr. Hamilton, Superman exits the building, finding Lois still comforting Tracy Corben.

“Ms. Corben...” Superman approaches her “I’m...sorry over what occurred. I can’t even begin to imagine what--”

“It’s--it’s fine, Superman” Tracy tells him “Honestly, I'm relived my brother just simply...crossed the next threshold. That what I'm seeing isn’t just a walking corpse.”

“You’re handling it better than i ever could” Lois tells her, with the two exchanging smiles

“It’s the truth that matters, Lois. When people say the truth sets you free, it’s a fact. Still, I want whoever that robot is to find....whatever peace it can. It’s sad what it’s going through.”

“I’ll find a way. I promise.” Superman assures her

Tracy walks away, taking a cab, leaving Lois and Superman alone. Once the vehicle exits, Lois turns to the hero “So...the truth.”

“Um, yeah. The truth.”

“Isn’t there something...you’d like to share?”

“Ms. Lane, I'm quite confused what you’re suggesting.”

“Oh come on! I know you aren’t just Superman! I know you’re...you’re!...”

She wants him to reveal himself. That he’s Clark Kent. But Superman isn’t budging. He’s just looking at her perturbed. That’s when she knew she wouldn’t get her answer.

“Fine. Do it at your own fucking time.”

“Ms. Lane—Lois!” he reaches out, but Lois continues walking away. Before he could approach, the Last Son of Krypton could hear a distant shriek from miles away. An attack on a shop from some mad group. Superman sighs, flying away. Leaving Lois alone to stew.

33.1 FACILITY

The elevator door pings, and Lex and Mercy exit through it. Mercy spots a rare smirk from Lex’s face, surprising her “Sir, you’re in a rather merry mood.”

“It’s ideas, Mercy. Ideas for the future. Ones that will convince Director Bones and the DEO that I'm still an ally. And this idea? Nay, this experiment, will forever change the field of science forever.”

They approach a pod that emits a green radiance. Mercy has to stop her tracks in order to grasp what is before her. Lex walks up to the pod, still with his smug smirk.

“Superman may represent humanity’s downfall. But his blood was of help for once. Corben may have failed, but Project S01 will be the spark of Metropolis’ Light.”

Lex touches the pod of a body that looks exactly like Superman. Head to toe, one would think the person inside truly is The Man of Steel. And soon, he’ll be unleashed into the city.

Chapter Text

THE GARDEN

In a dimension away from those you read on here and unlike any you’ll see in your lifetime, a man clad with a sleek dark robe reads a book comfortably in his chair. He flips a page, reading every letter carefully. He brushes his chin, close to finishing the current page he’s--

“Halt! I shall take over my own words and actions on these matters. For I am Destiny. Not a man, creature or God. I simply am a personification of what is to come of events and tales yet to be told.

And the one I read is of a man who is well on his way to become the greatest hero of his generation. Today, I present to you four different battles he will participate in, with unorthodox aid from four different allies. Some stranger than others. And first, Kal-El, Clark Kent, Superman, shall deal with a threat from the stars in...

WARWORLD COMES CALLING

THE DAILY STAR

“Jimmy!” Clark exclaims to his redheaded friend. Jimmy had his legs placed on his table, but Clark’s voice caused him to shoot them down and almost drop the paper he was holding “What do you think you’re doing?!”

“Dude, Clark, keep your voice down!” Jimmy looks around, keeping the newspaper in his chest

“You know how Perry feels about having rival newspapers in the building. Remember J.E. Curtis?”

“First things off, he’s on sabbatical to take care of his wife. Second, you’re just peeved you didn’t catch the latest print of the Newskid Legion!”

He presents it to Clark, who adjusts his glasses to get a better view of it. With the front-page reading ‘Superman defeats the Mad Metallo! Special interview with Cat Grant’.

“Looks good actually” Clark comments “Clever name too for the guy Superman fought.”

“Fantastic, cause me and Lois have been their only buyers.”

“They should consider going online” Clark remarks with a little chuckle

“They have. I’ll send you the link later. Personally, I tend to enjoy a lot more the comics section of the papers. Look at the character they invented: The Guardian! Nate Hardy may be your regular average joe at day! But at night, he fights crime in the name of righteousness and justice!"

“Heh. Doesn’t roll of the tongue well like ‘Truth and Justice’.”

“Eh, give it time. It’ll grow on you. In just this last issue, he fought an alien that invaded the place where he works. Wouldn’t THAT make your day more eventful?”

“Jimmy, every day in Metropolis is eventful in its own way. How much of a difference would that make?”

The door is slammed opened, and a man is out of breath, holding his stomach “You gotta run! There’s this orange creature thing attacking and--”

He’s grabbed by his shirt and tossed aside. Entering the offices of the Daily Star is a rather brutish looking woman who’s definitely from outer space. Bright orange, muscular from all parts of the body, taller than anyone in the room, and maybe even the city. Her red hair slicked back and a battle armor that resembles a gladiator.

“I am Mongal! I speak for the glory of my brother! My king! Mongul! He has sent me away as a test! I have come to this backwater planet to find one who is strong like our bloodline and deliver their head on a silver platter to my brother! To prove myself to be his right hand for Warworld!”

Steve Lombard approaches her “Lady, why come to us? We’re freaking newspaper people. Not Superman!”

Mongal grabs him and draws him near to her “He is who I seek to find, human! Your alliance has written about him in the past! It’s clear you know him deeply. So find him!”

“What did I say, Clark?” Jimmy leans on his direction “Alien invasion makes things more eventful--” Jimmy has just realized Clark is not there anymore “Clark?”

Mongal’s saliva hits Steve’s face “If the Superman isn’t here in a minute. This is what will happen to each one of you.”

Mongal looks at Steve with a sadistic smile, pulling him upwards to toss him out of the building with one swing. Before she can get the full rotation, Steve is grabbed by Superman. The hero placing him near the huddled group.

While the hero walks towards the invader, Steve gets close to Cat Grant “I handled that like a pro, eh Grant?” he says while his entire body quivers

“You pissed your pants, Steve. Just drop it.”

Superman gets up close to Mongal “I would welcome one who visits Earth, but it’s clear you don’t respond nicely to a parlay, don’t you?”

“We don’t know the meaning of the word” Mongal crosses her arms

“Why am i not surprised? Let’s take this affair away from these people. Just you and me.”

“I’d would rather not. I love an audience!”

She wraps her arms around his throat. The force of it alone was loud for those watching. Already Superman struggles with breathing while Mongal looks at his strain with delight. She’s like a kid in the candy store. Mongal hasn’t smiled this big in months.

“The pleasure of an opponent whose defeat is written in their eyes is what makes victory sweeter. Their eyes close to popping out while their last breaths wasted. I’ve read of your exploits, Superman. Such a glorious disappointment.”

Superman’s oxygen levels are depleting, and this woman’s grip is only getting stronger by the second. He has to think fast and NOW. He spots that her neck is exposed. It’s the one vital area he can focus on as his lungs crush into one another. With that, a quick precision strike...

BLAM

Will do the trick. Mongal holds her throat, dropping Superman to the floor. He’s helped up by Perry White and Jimmy Olsen while Mongal recollects herself.

“How’s those lungs, Big Blue?” Jimmy asks him

“Well, I'm not bleeding from the mouth, so I'll take my victories where I can get them.”

“The fight isn’t over yet. Show her how we do things Metropolis style.”

Superman laughs “I’m not going to make that my catchphrase”-

Before Jimmy could make a clever crack, Superman is on the receiving end of a powerful blow to his ribcage “I’ll give you one we use on Warworld. Strike your opponent down when you have them beneath your heel. This world makes you soft, Superman. You would make a pathetic warrior on the field of battle.”

Mongal reaches to grab him, still aiming to take his head with her. She does need evidence for her brother. Jimmy remembers her past words and rushes in, much to his coworkers worry and bafflement. He gets in her way, shielding Superman.

“Ha” Mongal scoffs “Is there more to you than meets the eye, human?” she pokes him in the chest, making him stagger for a little “Perhaps a vigor that can make Superman appear to be an animal to be put down by comparison?”

“Actually, he and I have something special in common. A vigor that powers the best of us: Heart!”

“...hahaha. hahaha. HAHAHAHA!” Mongal holds her belly. She knew human were dense, but not even to this extent “Hahah--hurk--” she holds her throat, stopping her laughter.

“Blew out your laugh box?” Jimmy asks her, fists on his hips

Mongal looks at him with great fury. She goes to grab him by the head, hoping to squeeze it until it pops. All that encounter between human and orange alien did was give Superman time to recover. Time Jimmy supplied him greatly.

The hero peers over to Perry... “Sorry about the window, Mr. White.”

Superman spears Mongal, breaking the mirror and taking her away from the building. Perry himself sighs, his annoyance and anger in clear view for everyone, making them step back “He better pay me back!”

“I’ll pay YOU back with sharp pics, Chief!” Jimmy exclaims to his boss, running off and grabbing his camera.

Perry adjusts his tie “He better.” Perry turns to his employees “Now get to work! Someone, follow Olsen and get me a story!”

CONSTRUCTION SITE

Discarded, abandoned, left behind, the once planned casino for the city remains in full view of the public. Untouched and perhaps a sign of things that are not meant to be...

CHOOOOOM

Metropolis shook as Mongal landed hard on the cracked concrete, sending dust and metal fragments flying. Her crimson eyes locked on Superman, who hovered above with a stern expression.

“You think Earth’s your kingdom?” she snarled “It’s ripe for conquest!”

Superman touched down lightly "Earth will never be yours. And I'm no King” he grins “Just a friend”

“Well, I'll be—Just your killer!”

Mongal lunged like a cannonball, rearing her punch over to his face. Superman dodges without much effort. He leans on her ear “Let’s change our roles. I’ll be your warden.”

Superman smacks her across the back of her head. The hit causing Mogal to flip forward a few feet away from him. She holds her head, her eyes begin to see clearly again “No one...no one humiliates me like that.”

“Too late” he says walking up to her.

Mongal grabs some grains of sand from the floor, throwing it Superman’s way. He puts his hands up and looks away. But the few seconds were enough for Mongal to elevate her fist upwards, colliding with Superman’s chest, sending him skidding through a half-finished wall of steel girders.

Rebar bent like twigs as he smashed through it. Mongal grinned proudly, thankful her blows against him from before weren’t a fluke. Superman on the other hand wasn’t too pleased. He runs towards with impressive pace, elbowing her to the mid-section. Both were now angry, scowling at the other.

The two traded blows amidst towering cranes and skeletal scaffolding. Superman’s heat vision sliced through a concrete mixer behind Mongal, forcing her to dodge, only to be met with a boot to the jaw.

Mongal is forced back, almost tripping as she attempts to regain her footing. As Superman approaches her, with one hand on her jaw, she uses to other to retaliate by grabbing a steel beam from the side. Like a club, she slams it across Superman’s ribs. She presses in the assault, bashing him in the back repeatedly.

People watch and record the battle as best they can from afar. Jimmy finally arrives, pushing people away to get closer “Hey, buddy, you’ll get yourself killed!” yells a bystander

“Pull a Lois Lane and ignore common sense, Olsen” Jimmy says to himself. He climbs up an old catwalk, camera still slung around his neck. With a closer view, he peeks out from behind a support column "Oh boy...” he sees Mongal beating down on Superman “Come on, Supes. Don’t let this be your Alamo. It'd be so underwhelming.”

As Mongal pinned Superman under a pile of crushed debris, preparing a final blow, Jimmy spots a hanging steel cable connected to a rusted cement drum above her.

“Olsen, you glorious man, you. Time to bring the pain.”

He picks up a loose wrench and hurled it at the cable's winch. Sparks flew, the cable snapped, and the drum crashed down, bursting beside Mongal and knocking her off balance in a cloud of powdered concrete.

Superman rises, quickly stretching his back “Thanks, Jimmy.” he winks at his pal

He delivers a final, thunderous uppercut that sent Mongal flying through the half-built structure. Steel beams and scaffolding piling on Mongal’s person as each part lands on her at agonizing rate.

Jimmy climbs down, ready to take a picture. Superman puts his arm out, stopping him “I’ve been meaning to try this on someone who can take it. And believe, she won’t go down that easily. I do need to be more inventive with powers.”

With a quick and easy breath, Superman closes his eyes. As Mongal extends her hands out, wanting to get up and rip Superman heart, as well as the human who keeps interrupting her. She stammers and growls whereas the hero remains in his place.

Mongal sits up, Superman opens his eyes. And with his eyes opened, he releases his heat vision. So far, he’s only shot out a straight-line beam of power. Here, he lets out a shower of concentrated power. Mongal’s entire body is bathed in his heat vision. Her plans of picking apart his body, limb from limb, replaced with screams of “AAAIIIEEEEEE!!!”

Jimmy is left near dumbfounded by the display The Man of Steel is showcasing. He quickly takes a picture. Superman stops his blasts, leaving Mongal is an almost paralyzed position. She gags on her words, smoke covers most of her body and she’s in no shape to continue fighting. Mongal falls back first, Superman sighing with relief.

“I haven’t had a fight like that since...well, the last one with Metallo. But I'll give her credit nonetheless.”

Jimmy snaps another picture “Better not to give her that big a compliment. Her head is big enough as it is.”

The sirens of approaching authorities echoed in the distance as the Man of Steel stood over the fallen warlord. Superman extends his fist to Jimmy, who doesn’t miss a beat as he fist bumps the Man of Steel.

“Thanks, Jimmy. You’re a real, pal.”

Once the cops arrive, Superman has already left, his cape fluttering in the wind as he soars through the skies. The cops see before them Mongal encased in ice, meaning one of them has to call the DEO. Jimmy himself exited before the cop cars arrived, leaving with a big smile on his face as he hopefully earned himself a raise this week.

THE GARDEN

“Though many in the outer rims plan on conquering the Earth for their own, Superman shows humanity that even one with the greatest power can use it for a greater purpose. Leaving Mongal, Superman must deal with a problem that is truly new to him in...

CIRCUS DU SOLEIL

Haley’s Circus has made it to Metropolis! Or it was until the Mayor passed up on it in favor of promoting the big game! Over in the world of football, the Metropolis Spartans vs the Central City Cougars is being promoted as the biggest game of the year.

Many are excited. Others are rather glum over the circus event being canceled. Clark Kent frowns, seeing the canceled report on his computer at work. Jimmy nudges him “Cheer up, buddy. There’s always next time”

“Will there be a next time?”

“I...don’t know”

“I really wanted to see The Flying Graysons. I’ve heard they’re amazing.”

“Not as amazing as today!” Steve Lombard huddles over the two. He places his arms over them, already putting them in an annoyed position “Before the big game, I, yes, your friend forever, Steve, gets to interview the star coach and the star player! Fitting the star journalist gets to have an in!”

“Steve, you and ‘star’, do not mix well together” Clark comments

Steve rubs Clark’s forehead forcefully “Ah, what do you know, Kent? You can’t even score with a total babe like Lois Lane while she’s presenting herself to you! Now don’t wait up for me, because I wouldn’t do the same for you!"

Steve exits, happily strolling out the door. Clark and Jimmy groan at the same time. Clark rests on his chair “There are few things in the world that get under my nerves quite like Steve Lombard.”

“I mean I think i can mention a few things that annoy me--”

PLACK

A geese flew right directly into the window, slamming into it, scaring the two men “Okay, i swear I did not time that” Jimmy points out

Clark leaves his seat, quickly making out the door. Jimmy follows him, but as soon as he passes the door, there is no sign of Clark anywhere.

THE STREETS

Clark and other observe over the geese, seeing firsthand it’s a graylag goose. The sight of one confusing Clark. How could one of these be in Metropolis? They’re rare enough to find in North America in general. While a veterinarian takes the animal with her, Clark’s ears perk as the discussion near him...

“I hear this little fox was found dead over in Midvale. In the doorstep of one the players house--”

From a block away “This penguin, I found it dead over in Lafayette--”

On top of that one “Poor little parrot, strung up. I think it was Shuster Park--”

“CLARK” Jimmy nudges him “You okay? You look like a zombie”

“Jimmy, I’ll be needing your help”

THE DAILY STAR

Clark and Jimmy sift through records and internet posts to find information about the animals being found injured and killed. Clark adjusts his glasses “From the looks of things, they’re being found in areas where a player from the Metropolis Spartans either resides or is spending their day at.”

“I guess someone really isn’t into sports. But why do it? To send a message?”

“Precisely that” Clark swivels his chair “But who? Who gains from it?”

“Not the opposite team, that’s for sure. It’d be a PR nightmare.”

“But it would be someone who actually has proper beef with the team. And it would be--”

That’s where it hits Clark. The circus was canceled in favor of a game. Could it be someone from Haley’s Circus? “I think I figured it out”

Clark asks Jimmy to go to the M.E. Hotel to check up on the players, just in case. As the farm boy walks off... “Sorry to send you on a pointless endeavor, Jimmy. But I need you away from the Tomorrow Stadium. For this looks like a job for--SUPERMAN.”

TOMORROW STADIUM

Superman flies over the open roof stadium, and from his vantage point, he could see from afar a rare yet deadly sight. A man in a ringmaster outfit one wears for their circus show. He has a crew of people huddled together, Steve Lombard being one of them, as they are trapped within a circle made up of lions, elephants, rhinos, even venomous snakes.

“Hmm, and people say Pre-Shows are useless” Superman comments, flying down.

Upon landing, the one whose organized this stadium invasion turns around. Placing his cane on the ground and bending over to truly admire the presence of Superman.

“You know, I was expecting one such as yourself, Superman. Big fan. The name is...The Ringmaster!” he extends his hand toward the hero. Superman is not receptive to it, crossing his arms “Come on now, don’t let this be a “never meet your heroes” ordeal” he wiggles his arm

“If you were a fan of mine, you would know I don’t encourage baneful actions”

“So I put a corpse here and there in front of those assholes homes. So what? What is a game filled with a bunch of douchebags who pump their veins with chemicals compared to a glorious array of truly authentic performances, packed to the brim with people with natural abilities? People who didn’t cheat to win their incredible physiques and talent?”

“And that means these people must suffer?”

“Well yes, were you not listening?!” he taps his cane on Superman’s ear “Hello! Are you hard of hearing as you are hard at--”

Superman snatches the cane and bomps at Ringmaster’s skull “You should get yourself checked, Ringmaster. CTE is a serious thing.”

“So are the risks we take every time under the tent. Just like the strongman years ago who died fighting a bear. Let’s see how well you fair against her and the rest!

Ringmaster’s eyes glow a disturbingly rare dragon’s blood. With that, the animals begin to walk over Superman. The bear is the first to step up, aiming to swing at Superman. The hero almost casually puts his arms up to stop her.

“Taking it easy, are we?” Ringmaster questions “Even someone like you shouldn’t fall to be overconfidence”

A lion pulls up, slashing at Superman’s back “AAAHHHH”

The bear strikes at Superman’s head, while the snakes curl up on Superman’s leg, biting him. The Man of Steel falls, with all the animals stacking top of him.

“Look at him now!” Ringmaster tells the group before him “When I was given these helpful powers thanks to Lex Luthor and his facility, I knew I shouldn’t be angry at him. I must thank him!”

“RRAAAHHHH” Superman powers through these creatures, pushing all the animals out

Ringmaster hasn’t quite yet noticed “When I bring what’s left of the hero to him, I’ll have this disgusting display of human brainwashing destroyed”

The beasts charge at him. With a look thanks to his x-rays, The Man of Tomorrow can see Ringmaster’s power of controlling animals also amplifies their strength. Knowing better, Superman moves like a blur.

“My friends at work may call me crazy! Telling me not to pursue such horrible actions! Well what do they know?!”

A lion leaps, jaws wide, but he catches it by the teeth and headbutts it. A rhino barrels toward him, he sidesteps and guides it to crash right into a concrete wall. Snakes coil around his legs, fangs flashing, he heat-visions them their tail with surgical precision. The little critters run away in pain and terror.

“Harley’s Circus can bite me! I’ll make a whole new circus! One where I get to be the ONLY Ringmaster! Where the animals are the star attractions!” as he talks, everyone is paying attention to Superman’s battle. One of them wants to speak up, but Steve slaps their hand.

An elephant trumpets and heads towards Superman, even using its tail as a weapon. Superman grabs and flips the whole body of the elephant upwards, slamming the animal into the ground.

“What’s left of you people will forever mark this day as the day The Ringmaster stood still, even to a God like--”

He turns around, seeing Superman having dealt with the animals.

“Hmm, perhaps I under prepared for this. Well then, improv is always told to us just in case the audience gets rowdy”

Ringmaster pulls out his whip, directing it towards Superman’s cheek. Superman grabs it, holding it firm.

“Can’t say I was shocked” Ringmaster shrugs

Electricity courses through the whip,, instantly hitting his whole person. With Superman weakened, Ringmaster pulls back the whip, this time aiming for the neck. Superman opens his eyes, shooting a beam to the whip, destroying the whip. It explodes right in Ringmaster’s face.

“AAHH. FUUUUUUCK!”

The glow in the animals' eyes fades, replaced by confusion and calm. The Ringmaster rolls around on the ground, his face and arm hurting as he kicks the ground. Superman attends to the lion, petting its head. The lion, now calm, actually licks Superman’s face.

“I think I speak for all, human and animal, that we don’t need an encore.”

Steve runs up to the hero, putting his arm over him “Boy I’ll say. We make a great team, Supes! I distract him and you put ‘em down!”

Superman bits his upper lip but then resorts to a forced smile “Glad we came together, Steve!” Superman exclaims, putting his hand over the top of Steve’s hand “I hope we can do this again” he rubs his head with enough that when he stops, Steve almost falls over.

He didn’t learn about later that night, but tomorrow, but Clark would be told that the Metropolis Monarchs would pay respect to him during their entrances for the game. A little factoid that was interesting to learn the next day that helped him skate by during the day.

THE GARDEN

“Though his impact was beginning to be felt worldwide...” so says Destiny “Superman is a hero who concerns himself with small problems as well. Such as when a fans’ own business almost met an early and forceful end...”

ACID TRIP

METROPOLIS – ACE O CLUBS

The sign at the front in a few hours will say “Open”. Bibbo Bibbowski has spent his entire adult life as a sailor. Feeling he’s done all he could with that job, he decided to open up his own establishment in the Hob’s Bay area.

That’s where he opened the Ace O’ Clubs, a fun establishment where you can get the best drinks on the city and some delicious meals. The day has gone so well, surely nothing weird can happen to--

KRRSHHH

Through the window, Bibbo could see someone landed near the front of the establishment. He gets of the place, with a bat in hand just in case “I don’ know who youse are, but t’day ‘s the worse you can--” Bibbo stops himself. Realizing the man in front of him is “Sooperman?!”

He drops the bat, quickly attending to him. The hero himself isn’t in the best of shape as Bibbo sees.

“’Ey, what happened to you? Whose de mook who thinks that—Oh Jesus!” Bibbo screams when he gets a better look at his face “Yer eyes!”

“he--he—hey...” Superman greets weakly

“Don’t speak, big guy”

“bibbo, right?”

“Youse remember me?”

“of course...I do...we fought against the dherons last...year”

“I’d be happy, Sooperman. But we re’ly should get ya che--”

“no chance”

“Why?!”

“Cause the one who did this to me? Is here”

Looking up, Bibbo sees one responsible for the current state of the Man of Steel. He’s hovering in the air, clad in a pressurized hazard suit where only his yellow green doted eyes can be seen. He descends, walking slowly yet fiercely towards the hurt hero.

“I’m packing more of a punch every day with these powers, eh Supes?”

Superman sits up “I think it’s more you’re starting to understand them. You will never get stronger, “Philip””

“Ugh, don’t say that. How ever will I tell the city that I beat its hero by having such an ordinary name?”

“Go away, Acid Master” Bibbo gets in front of Superman, shielding him “You wanna be a villain? Go to Gotham! I hears de Bat-Man is looking far more punks!”

“I don’t give a sh—wait” he puts his hand up “’Acid...Master?’...fat man, that’s about the best codename I can get!” he says so happily “For that, I won’t kill you!” if it was possible, Bibbo would see him smile “Can’t say the same for your friend”

“Too bad!” Bibbo raises his dukes up “If you want him, youse gotta fight me!”

“...you’re kidding?”

“Hey, I was a pretty good boxer years ago! Bet I can spank you from here to New York!”

“You know, it’s a shame.” he puts his hand up “I really didn’t want to kill you.”

Acid Master shoots the chemical substance he’s named after directly at Bibbo. Superman hears the hiss of liquid through the air. He stands back up, grabbing Bibbo and sidesteps, just barely, the acid heading their way. Sadly, it hits the bar. Right in the front door!

“Not my bar!” Bibbo yells

“That trash heap is the least of your worries” Acid Master tells him

“Trash heap?!” Bibbo yells “Sooperman! Kick his ass!”

“Blinding my eyes was one thing. Insulting this man’s business? You clearly deserve what’s coming your way.”

Superman runs to where the new villain is. Acid Master sighs in annoyance, flying upwards to get away. Through his mask, he smiles. He thought these powers he received from Luthor’s 33.1 Facility was a mistake, but he’ll admit, he’s loved having these.

No more will he be forced to work minimum wage at a bakery! No more will he be forced to live with a roommate that scores all the nice women! No more will he let his brother help him out with paying rent! And no more will he let life spit on him by keeping him away from the nice things he wants!!! Like respect! And power!!!

And what he holds in his hands is a power he most certainly loves. The bums he’s found on the streets and the rats in the sewers made for perfect target practice. And the respect from Lex Luthor and other supervillains will bring him great joy.

He shoots at Superman on the ground, the hero forced to use his super hearing to get around for now.

“Soopes, get out!” Bibbo yells

Superman gets out of dodge, with the acid eating away at the pavement. Acid Master throws a ball of acid Superman’s way to counter.

“Roll forward!” Bibbo screams

Superman does just that, avoiding again another hit.

“You, piss off!” Acid Master yells

“Come on, youse gots to have a better comeback than that!”

“As a matter of fact I do--”

“What was dat? I can’t hear losers!”

“Why you little piece of--”

With Bibbo egging him on, Superman can hear Acid Master’s voice better. The hero smirks, jumping upwards to the north, grabbing the villains’ legs. With a pull downwards, Superman smashes Acid Master on the pavement.

Acid Master hits Superman across the face, forcing him off his person. Both men get up, with Acid Master lighting up his hands. The villain goes forward, wanting to feel Superman’s skin burn on his hands “Let him swing!” Bibbo yells “Then go for a bop!”

“Will you--”

Superman charges forward, fist-first directly to Acid Master’s jaw. He falls on the ground, feeling as though his own jaw may have broken in that moment.

“Oh believe me...” Superman comments “I heard a crack too. Now give up.”

“When the fight is getting good? Nonsense. And let’s keep it one on one, eh?”

Acid Master continues by unleashing a wide arc of acid mist, trying to create a curtain between them.

Bibbo reenters his bar, but Superman stays. The acid scorching his suit and skin. His cape near burned to a asunder. His eyes still hurting. His fingers ache and his knee joints close to shutting down. But will that be how his story ends? Slowly reduced to a skeleton? By a newbie supervillain?

Why should it? Superman refuses it. Especially got a deadline to meet tomorrow and it’s going to be Wacky Tie Day the day after that at the Daily Star, and he’ll be damned if he misses that day. He pushes through with sheer will. The acid’s effect slowly going away.

“But--but how?! Even you should have—ghork!”

A fist directly to the mid-section. Acid Master struggle to remain standing. Bibbo peeks out the window “Good shoot. Get two punches to his face, make sure he really stays down.”

Superman follows through on it and Acid Master staggers. He tries to power up for another blast from his hands, but there’s a problem. He’s seeing 10 different Superman’s! Acid Master falls, moaning as one eyes remain opens while the other is shut.

Superman stands still, chest heaving, still blind, but proud. Bibbo walks out, handing him a glass of water “We make a good team!”

“You can say that again, partner”

“Good, cause i was thinkin’ being de dynamic sidekick: “Sooperdude! Catchy, right?”

“Hmm” Superman chuckles “Put THAT on a shirt!” Bibbo pats him on the back while he continues to drink

THE GARDEN

Destiny brushes the page “Few get to meet to meet their heroes and have their expectations met. And few get to be the hero alongside them. Perchance this exhibition displays that you yourself can be Super without relying on powers or vision.

Though Bibbo gives Superman a friend he can trust and rely, what happens when a seeming ally has his past come back in an unpleasant way? Continue reading as it’s up to Superman to deal with a problem in more ways than one. "

FAMILY BUSINESS

STAR LABS

When you have super speed, sometimes you don’t admire what’s around you. Clark for once decides to use a cab to get around. His destination being STAR Labs, the brightest organization built for research and medicine when it comes to super powered individuals and meta humans.

Lois Lane was supposed to have been the one to do this interview it’s Head Director of the Metropolis branch, Doctor Emil Hamilton. But since she’s on a brief leave, Perry assigned Clark for this.

Clark feels delight over this assignment, given he’s admired Emil’s past work. And as Superman, it was Emil that saved his life when he was infected with Kryptonite during Toyman’s invasion. Clark doesn’t like puff pieces, but he’s willing to do it for STAR Labs and Dr. Hamilton for their help to him and the world.

With a flash of his reporter badge, he’s allowed entry and upon passing through the door, he’s greeted by the man himself “Thank you for coming, Mr. Kent” Dr. Hamilton greets him, extending his hand “It’s pleasure to have you here”

“The pleasure is all mine, Professor” he shakes his hand “Really”

The next hour is a day brightener for the journalist as he’s taken through so many different rooms and sections of the building. Hamilton showcases various equipment they’ve built to impressively made exo-skeletons and cybernetics.

“And there’s actually more!” Hamilton says before he chuckles

“I feel a little like the kid who entered the candy store, Professor. When will the rest of the world see this on, for a lack of a better term, the market?”

“It takes time to perfect it, but I have faith, believe it or not, that in a month or two we’ll share these inventions--”

Through these walls, Clark could hear a strange commotion. One that was going ugly and reaching his way. He rushes towards Professor Hamilton, tackling him to the ground “There’s something going--”

PRRRSSHHH

The wall is rendered in rubble as two staggering forces walk through the hole they did. The woman in a black jumpsuit yellow trench coat while the man is in a simple dark blue bodysuit. Both holding hands while looking sadistically at Hamilton who still has Clark over him.

“Hmm. I see you’re busy” the woman comments “Old man needs to find some entertainment in his life.”

Clark gets off the Professor “What are you doing here?!” Clark questions her “How many people have you hurt?!”

“YOU” she points a finger at him, getting closer “Don’t get a say in the matter. You’re so concerned, how about you check up on them?”

She grabs Clark by his tie, throwing him into the hole and away from her person. Not even looking at where she threw him and not a care crosses her mind.

“Mr. Kent!” Hamilton shouts in concern

“So you say his name before you say mine?!” she questions “What kind of daddy are you?” she pouts

“Ma--ma—mar--Marci?!” Hamilton exclaims in disbelief “My God--it’s been so long! You’ve--you’ve--”

“Grown? In more ways than one. A girl has to when her father leaves her high and dry.”

“Marci, please...” Hamilton gets up "Your powers were out of control. You didn’t know your own strength!”

“Mom certainly found out the hard way” Marci smirks “Tell me, have you been able to bag another woman since?”

Hamilton has to hold his anger in. His disgust over his daughter’s lack of compassion “Who is that?” he points out her accomplice

“This man? Well this my boyfriend and future husband; Wes. YOUR future son in law, I might add. We’ll get something sorted out. I just wanted you to finally meet him before we take you to a one-way trip to meet mom again.”

“Wh--what?!”

“Oh that’s right, you’re a scientist, so i imagine you don’t believe in all that spiritual crap and afterlife. Good, forever darkness suits you the best.”

“Marci, please!” Hamilton throws his hands up

“The name ain’t Marci, daddy! He’s Sodom! I’m Gomorrah and we’ve got a reservation over in Andre’s so let’s wrap this up quick, okay?!”

The two villains approach the Professor, who is paralyzed with fright. Before they can grab him...

POP

Superman appears “I agree” he shoulder checks Sodom, sending him crashing through the next wall. Gomorrah groans, taking a step back as Superman turns his attention towards her.

“So much for Andre’s” Gomorrah shakes her head in annoyance

“Don’t worry, I hear prison food isn’t as bad as they say” Superman comments

“I’ve been in one all my life thanks to that jackass!” she points her finger at Hamilton “I’ve suffered enough. Don’t I deserve better?”

“You crossed a line the moment you hurt innocent people. Did the Star Labs workers you hurt deserve to have broken arms and legs?”

“They were in my way. Just like you are. Sick em, boy!” Gomorrah yells to her man

The burly and rugged Sodom rushes at Superman. He ducks a haymaker from the villain and uppercuts him quite hard he sends Sodom up, crashing through the floor above. Gomorrah moves quickly, radiating a strange, volatile energy. She goes where Superman stands. He quickly turns, expecting her assault.

Suddenly, Gomorrah pulls out claw from her hands. The suddenness of that power display forces Superman to pause for a second. And one second is all Gomorrah needs to slash at Superman’s mid-section. It doesn’t cause him to bleed but it’s enough to force him on his knees.

He grits his teeth, momentarily weakened. Made worse when above, he’s hit with a chunk of machinery as a weapon. Courtesy of Sodom who jumps back to the floor. He kisses Gomorrah, grunting like an ape while Gomorrah’s sinister grin only gives him pleasure. The two approach Superman, holding hands.

“Little lesson we learned while away. With our powers combined, we can create magic.”

Their hands palpitate with power. They stick their hands out, pointing it at Superman. With enough concentrated force, they blast at the hero. Superman is smashed through a steel door and makes a painful contact with a machine. It sparks and lights up. Exploding and sending Superman back a few feet.

“Mini fireworks!” Gomorrah comments “See, babe? I told I'd give you a show.”

Sodom nods happily, while Gomorrah points to him to follow her. The enter the lab and strangely, they don’t find Superman there.

“Bah! Coward!” Gomorrah yells

Elsewhere, Superman holds his stomach and head as he paces down the hall, looking for quick breathing room. He lays his back on the wall, exhaling quickly while his vision clears up.

“Tell me you’re not giving up” Professor Hamilton appears. He eyes up Superman from head to toe, seeing him in rough shape “Oh no, you’re not looking too good. Come with me, I--”

“No” Superman puts his hand up “I’ve been through worse. So...she’s your daughter?”

“Ye--yes” Hamilton looks down in shame

“I’m sorry to put you in this position, but do you have anything here that can stop her?”

“Are you asking me--”

“No! I would never ask you to kill her! I mean do you happen to have something that can weaken her?”

Professor Hamilton sighs, quickly taking off his glasses to rub his eyes. He looks at Superman with sorrow “I have a portable neural scrambler. If Marci links her power with someone as she’s doing with her boyfriend now, that means if you take one down, the other falters. I just need to get to my lab to grab it.”

“And that’s...” the two men looks upwards, as it’s two floors up “I can fight them. Just get the device, Professor.

Hamilton nods subtly, quickly making it away as Sodom and Gomorrah find Superman

“You find time for Superman but not me?! I’m standing right here!” Gomorrah yells at Hamilton as he leaves.

Not allowing her to speak again or make a move, Superman jets forward, tackling Gomorrah at superspeed and slamming her into the ground. Sodom bellows and charges, but Superman pivots, hurling him into the broom closet. Sodom’s head lands on a mop bucket that still has water in it.

“About time you cleaned up your act, “Wes--AHHH””

Gomorrah slashes at the back of Superman’s knee “That’s SODOM, to you, Metropolis Man!”

Before she can strike him again, Superman grabs her approaching hand “That’s SUPERMAN, to you, Marci.”

“Oh you motherf--”

With use of his freeze breath, he shuts her up before pushing her up against the wall. Sodom gets back up, hitting Superman and forcing him back while he attends to Sodom. He rubs Gomorrah’s head as she tries to regain her footing.

“He’s a lot more powerful than we thought, babe” Gomorrah comments “Wanna give the energy blast another try”

Sodom frantically nods his head, the two locking hands. Superman sees them in the act, immediately rising to his feet. He knows it takes them a few seconds to charge up a blast. That’s all he needs.

Once they blast, Superman uses his heat vision to counteract. With both blasts making contact...

BOOOM

The entire building shakes. Even those outside looking at STAR Labs from a distance could swear they saw a building move. All electricity is cut off, including that off the elevator where Hamilton is at, holding the device. The generators kick in, but the elevator isn’t moving.

The Professor looks up “First time for everything”

Through the hatch above, Hamilton throws the device up. He jumps upwards, only to end up falling on his rear end “I’m getting too old for this”

Away from the elevator, the first floor is left in smoke. Smelling like it too. Superman stands up, rubbing his still sensitive eyes “Damn Acid Master” the hero comments

SLSH

Superman is stricken from behind, with Gomorrah’s claws making a reappearance “Superman swearing?! Let that be reported by the Daily Star”

Just when Superman is going to respond to Gomorrah’s attack, Sodom appears, wrapping his big arms around The Man of Steel, applying pressure to this bear hug.

After 30 seconds, Hamilton finally makes it up. He looks upwards, realizing he has to climb now if he wants to make it down. ‘Sigh’ he utters.

Gomorrah’s powers up her claws, making them bigger and pointier “I wonder if I can sell your eyes on the black market, Supes. Let’s see!”

She approaches him confidently. Superman is still being bear hugged by the large Sodom. Though his size be grand, there’s a reason why he’s needed help to make the fight equal. Superman flexes his chest out, pushing his arms out and throwing his back out.

Sodom’s gleeful grunts are replaced with confused and slightly worried groans. Sodom shakes the hero around, practically spinning around. Gomorrah now has to stop her pace, unable to cut out Superman’s eyes.

Professor Hamilton arrives back to the first floor. Quietly opening the door. He shuts it closed, but the click noise is a bit too loud no matter how soft your approach is. Gomorrah spots him nearby.

“Oh no” Hamilton comments

She rushes at him, claws out. Without missing a beat, Hamilton activates the device. A high-pitched pulse vibrates through the hallway. It strikes Gomorrah directly. She clutches her head, disorienting her on the instant. Sodom lets Superman go, as now his own head begins to ebb.

Seizing the moment, Superman flies at Gomorrah and delivers a thunderous punch that knocks her unconscious. Sodom sees this, bellowing out a yell that is the closest thing to words that he can utter. He rushes towards Superman, arms stretched out.

The Man of Tomorrow remains in his place while Sodom rushes. Each step he takes gets weaker and slower. Just when he’s close to Superman...he falls flat on his face!

Superman turns to Hamilton, big smile on his face “Teamwork does make the dream work”

In another scenario, Hamilton would take the compliment. Not now. He kneels over, getting a closer look at his daughter while she’s unconscious. It’s the only he’ll ever get so close to her without a giant plate of glass in between them.

30 MINUTES LATER:

Outside STAR Labs, Hamilton stands out, dejected while his daughter is carted off to Blackgate for the rest of her life. Clark Kent approaches the Professor, favoring his arm “Professor?”

“Hey, Mr. Kent” he says without an ounce of emotion “I take it you want a story so you can get a big promotion?” he looks at him angrily “Fine, sure, I'm a deadbeat dad! My daughter killed my wife and I kept her in a facility all the way in New Mexico that deals with kids like her! Not because she was unstable, but because I couldn’t stand the sight of her! You hap--”

“Professor...” Clark approaches carefully

“I couldn’t stand the sight of what was taken from me! I couldn’t--”

“Professor!” Clark raises his voice “I came here to tell you...”

THE DAILY STAR – PERRY’S OFFICE

“You’re not running the story?!” Perry questions Clark

“The story is about STAR Labs. Not Hamilton’s personal life.”

“Stories change, Kent. Hamilton is the talk of the town. His 15 minutes of fame have changed up to 60. And you just want to run a puff piece about devices and doohickey’s that at this point don’t function because of the recent supervillain attack?”

“It’s unethical to pry into a man’s personal life, Mr. White”

“Circumstances are different. Especially when he’s shared his story on the news. WE are the ones behind covering this, Kent.”

“I must respectfully decline it, Chief”

Perry rubs his face, baffled by this “First Lois goes on sabbatical and then you’re being you. I’m giving this to someone else. Maybe to the new guy, Ron Troupe. Get out, Kent. We’ll publish your little story. Page 7 or 8, I don’t care.”

Clark leaves, sighing in disappointment. Jimmy’s not even here to cheer him up or give him a pep talk. It took a while for him to remember what days off are. But Clark does know someone who could use company.

STAR LABS

It’s lunchtime, and Emil Hamilton decides to eat his in his office. He’s barely even munched on his sandwich.

WOOSH

“Are you going to eat that?” Superman appears out of nowhere

“You!” Hamilton says “Superman, I'd rather you not be here to--”

“It’s not anything serious, Professor.” he takes a seat across Hamilton’s “I just felt...well, I needed company, and I think you could use some as well. I’m not here to bring up what happened yesterday. Simply, I want to get to know a brilliant and interesting man”

Hamilton takes off his glasses, taking a deep breath “You want me to go to the cafeteria and get you something?”

“I’m good”

“Hmm, very well.” Hamilton lightly chuckles “Where should we even start?”

THE GARDEN

Destiny closes the book “That will be up to them to decide. While their friendship begins, this story closes. But heed these words carefully, reader. For these next few months will only be harsher. As Superman will have to comprehend a foe that even I dare not speak the name of. One that might even make my very presence seem like a joke in the facet of life. You’ll learn it yourself. Next time...”