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Post by Admin on Feb 14, 2006 21:02:57 GMT -5
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Post by Admin on Feb 14, 2006 21:04:46 GMT -5
Action Comics Issue 2: "Black Zero, Part Three: Fearful Symmetry" Written by Charles HoM Cover by Ramon Villalobos Editor: Scott Kruger
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Post by Admin on Feb 14, 2006 21:05:24 GMT -5
“If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being, and who is willing to destroy his own heart?” - Alexander Solzhenitsyn 1918
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Post by Admin on Feb 14, 2006 21:05:50 GMT -5
The sky over Metropolis turns grey as morning comes, the clouds forming a dark shadow over the city, and the threat of rain looms clear. Lois Lane is writing up the events of the night before, and fretting about what had happened. Superman had seemed to be in so much pain, as if his body were ripping itself apart, and she had no damn evidence! No one would believe this without any hard proof. Sure she had his cape, the soft red material lying folded in her bottom draw. At lunch, with no word from Superman or that lazy farm boy Clark, she stood on the roof, watching for any sign of her hero, and she was surprised to see a dark silhouette rush around in the clouds above. With a quiet gasp she stumbled back, and watched as the flying man vanished in a gust of wind. Was it Superman? Was it the red and blue clad hero? Lois shook her head and ignored what she saw. It was probably her imagination.
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Post by Admin on Feb 14, 2006 21:06:18 GMT -5
The fortress in the Antarctica still stands after the battle between good and evil, and the victor floats down, tingling with the glowing power of the sun. His body is clad in black armour of sorts, similar to ancient Kryptonian designs that had been banished to Superman’s subconscious… but now, with his darker side incarnated in the form of man, the evil was unleashed, and his black kryptonite armour radiated with a glowing malevolence that burned the eyes. He stepped into the metal fortress and crushed a small crystal beneath his metallic foot, then proceeded to relax on a throne that had been built for his many days of relaxation, something that he could come to when he was tired from the past. He relaxed and felt the solar strength he had procured with a trip through the sun course through his veins like adrenaline, and thought to how he could make this planet pay for raising an impertinent twerp like Superman.
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Post by Admin on Feb 14, 2006 21:06:46 GMT -5
Jar Kell floats lifelessly in space, his wounds great, and his ring’s power draining down to its last reserves. He didn’t know how long he had been unconscious, but with a flicker of an eye, and a gasp for air, he reached out into the void of space with a broken hand, and summoned his power battery from Oa. He mouthed the words that he had memorised since his inception to the Corps, even as his protective shell gradually became weaker and weaker. With a final gasp of what little air he had, the power battery surged with energy, and he was renewed, ready to face whatever foe he had to. His ring buzzed with life, and he watched as Ganthet’s head popped up in a green flash.
“Jar, you were… Unresponsive for the past 24 hours… We thought that you were dead… yet your ring found no successor… We feared the worse.”
The words spoken were whispered into his mind, and he replied telepathically.
“I was attacked. Something was able to overpower my willpower… Something dark and malevolent… I think it has something to do with Superman.” He shook his head. His life in the Corps was getting worse and worse.
“We advise you to return to Oa straight away for immediate assistance. Kilowog and the rest of the Elite Guard can continue with this mission.”
“No, Master Ganthet. I’m going to continue here. As I always have, I’ve started something, so now I intend to finish it.”
Ganthet paused for a moment, thinking the facts through. “You have 48 hours to assess and contain the situation.” He smiles slightly. “Good luck.”
Jar nodded and the image dissolved, he didn’t know what to do. He smiled, loving that the odds were against him. He scanned Earth with his ring once more, and tracked the descent of his attacker, who was radiating some kind of energy trail that was the same as… The black kryptonite! This man was leaving a trail of one of the most dangerous substances known to the universe! He pointed his beringed fist at the Antarctic, and watched his ring analyse the scene.
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Post by Admin on Feb 14, 2006 21:07:05 GMT -5
The Last Son strolls over into the remnants of his trophy room, and picks up a small device he had been developing in the weeks before Zod arrived. A wry smile spread across his shadowy features, and he nodded.
<This will do. > He placed a gauntlet onto his hands, and tendrils latched onto his fingers, reacting to the movement of his digits, a control device for what he had developed in the last week or so. He took the red device and flew out of the snowy area, towards America, towards Metropolis.
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Post by Admin on Feb 14, 2006 21:08:00 GMT -5
Superman struggles for breath, the atmosphere slowly being burned up by the close radius to the red sun. His cells had some residual yellow sun charge in them, but that was fading fast. He was going to die, and his evil twin was going to hurt… He was going to hurt Lois. Ma. Pa. Jim and Perry… Lana and Pete and everyone in between. Clark Kent is dying. Superman… Dying. He hears a noise on the edge of the rock, and spins around. Ma?
“Clark… Don’t fret. You always find a way out of these little messes you get yourself into.” She smiles that smile of hers, the one that warms Clark up, and then strokes his black hair. “Ooh. You’ve got some blood on your face. You should really wash your face more often…” She shakes her head, disappointingly.
Clark frowns. “I will Ma… I will.”
Martha Kent smiles once again and then hugs her son. “I know you will honey.” She walks off the edge of the rock, and vanishes into space, leaving Clark reaching out to her, trying to bring her back.
“You just gonna’ sit here, boy?” Superman spins around at the voice of his father, who is flanked by another man, clad in green and red, who looks strangely like Clark. “Sit there and let that half assed copy of you hurt the people you love?”
Jonathan shakes his head. “Your mother and I didn’t raise you to let some evil imposter like that break you. Never. Your mother would be disappointed.” The man behind Jonathan nods and Pa Kent turns and nods back at him. “I have to go now son.” He kneels next to Clark, who weeps quietly on the cold stone surface of the small planetoid. “I know you can do this Clark. I know you can escape from this trap, like you have done every other. Luthor, Zod, even that idiot with a plasma mortar. It’s below you.” Jonathan shakes his head, and taps Clark on the chest. “You are a Superman.” He smiles. “You are the best of both worlds, get me?”
Clark nods.
“Don’t give in. Never give in.” Jonathan nods his head once more, thinking. “I’ve got to go.”
He vanishes in a second, leaving Clark with the strange man in the red and green.
“Father.”
“Son.” The man smiles weakly, as if not used to smiling.
“God, now I know I’m hallucinating. You’re dead… Along with our people… My true people…” Clark shakes his head, wiping a way a tear.
“Don’t you understand, Kal-El? Don’t you understand what this is all about? These Earth beings, these humans… They ARE your people. We created you, they raised you.” His smile dims. “This brings up the question of is it nature or nurture that makes the man, doesn’t it? But by nature, you are a hero. The last son of Krypton. The greatest hero of Earth.” He shakes his head. “You want to give up, don’t you? Want to give in?”
Clark looks up, shaking his head. “Don’t lie to me, Kal. I know that this is you at your weakest. Your lowest ebb.”
“How dare you… How dare you Jor-El? If it wasn’t for you, your rocket… I wouldn’t be here…” Clark struggles to hold back tears. “I sometimes think… If I hadn’t arrived on this world, shown the world a new kind of hero… All these villains… These criminals… would they have shown up in their flashy costumes? Zod wouldn’t have arrived on Earth if not for me. What if I caused Luthor to be what he is? If I hadn’t turned up would he be the way he is?” Clark shakes his head. “Sometimes… It would be better if I was dead.”
Jor-El stands up abruptly, and walks away from Superman. “You are the son of Krypton and the adopted son of Earth. You are the best of two worlds.”
He vanishes in a flash of light, and then Superman shakes his head, feeling his stubbled chin. With a crack of his knuckles, he began to smile, and with a roll of his neck, he prepared himself.
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Post by Admin on Feb 14, 2006 21:08:17 GMT -5
Jar Kell shakes his head as he watches the impostor Superman fly towards America. This guy was powerful, even more so than Superman himself. A quick body analysis revealed that his cells were supercharged with a passage through the yellow sun, and that the armour he wore exuded some kind of fear… Something that slowed down Jar’s reflexes to that of a child’s, to that of someone untrained in the ways of the Corps. He couldn’t face him straight on, because he might not survive another beating like the one he received earlier… What to do? What to do…
He shakes his head and looks down at the green lantern in his hand, and then looks at it, thinking. With a flick of his wrist he throws it in front of him, and then points his ring at the centre, creating a massive ray of green light that illuminated the darkness of space. The green waves pick up a massive purple trail of energy that came from the sun…Jar nods his head and analyses the energy trail, matching it to the black Kryptonite that he encountered days ago. This purple trail seems to shoot off in two directions… One from the orbit of Earth, where metallic wreckage is strewn, and one that seems to originate from the Antarctic and then shoots up out to space… What does this mean? He wills the lantern to return to Oa, and then follows the dark trail of energy.
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Post by Admin on Feb 14, 2006 21:08:38 GMT -5
Metropolis buzzed with the traffic of rush hour. Cars from the outlying suburbs were funnelling through the downtown area, and the rumble of thunder filled the air.
Lois Lane looked up from her computer and rubbed tired eyes with her sleeve, then watched as rain began to pour down onto the city. She smiled, knowing that at this time of the year, these sudden showers were common throughout the state, then rubbed her eyes once more as the pouring rain abruptly stopped, surprising everyone on the streets below. Lois shudders as a cold air fills the room, and she notices her breath grow cold… as does everyone’s in the city. A shimmer of blue fills the sky, and everything goes dark…
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Post by Admin on Feb 14, 2006 21:09:12 GMT -5
Lex Luthor screams at his staff, the instruments throughout his many labs going off at once, a piercing squeal reverberating throughout the large citadel that resides in the centre of Metropolis.
“What’s going on?” He frantically types at his computer, and a schematic of his building pops up, showing that… The top of the building has vanished.
“What the hell… What does this mean?” He searches for satellite footage of the building but no signal reaches them.
“Sir…” A small woman hurries into the office, and Lex spins around, red in the face.
“Marlene, what is it that can’t wait? Can’t you see that something is wrong?”
She nods slowly, and then grimaces.
“You better go out on the balcony sir, there’s something you should see.”
He looks at her with suspicion, and then hurries out of the balcony, to see a black layer of energy cover the sky.
“What in God’s name is that…?”
He hurries back in, and then tries to access the city grid, trying to access the cameras that are placed around the city, but somehow, there is no footage.
“Why is nothing working?!”
Happerson hurries into the room, his skin clammy, and his glasses tilting down the edge of his nose. “There seems to be a total power outage sir! Water too… The only reason we have working computers in the building is because of the back up generator!”
Lex nods, taking in the information.
“I bet this has something to do with the alien. Anything else?”
“We’ve lost the top of the building sir… The force field seems to cut straight through the building…”
“MY BUILDING?!” Lex hits his desk with his fist, and turns to his quivering chief scientist. “Tell the team to suit up. Metropolis needs its heroes.”
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Post by Admin on Feb 14, 2006 21:09:35 GMT -5
Perry White grumbles in anger at his computer screen. The servers were down, unable to be accessed because of the lack of electricity, the TVs too were off, everything they needed to put out the paper in time was useless, just a pile of powerless machines. He stares out of his window, watching as the city goes to hell. Shops are wrecked and looted, and the only building alight is the Luthor Towers. He sees the building reach the dome of dark light that keeps in the city, and wonders… Did Lex do this?
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Post by Admin on Feb 14, 2006 21:09:55 GMT -5
John Henry Irons stares out from his home, the old Suicide Slum steel mill, watching as the sky crackles with purple energy. He shakes his head, confused at what is happening… And where was Superman? Where was Superman when his city needed him? He looks back up, and the sky fractures slightly, bright light leaking through. Was the strange phenomenon ending? He hurries into his workshop in the next room, and grabs his hammer, then falls to the ground as everything in the city quivers and quakes. He covers his head, as everything falls on top of him, his terrors, his hidden horrors, and the fears that keep him up at night. Everything falls in.
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Post by Admin on Feb 14, 2006 21:10:22 GMT -5
In Washington, the mood is dark, and the president is worried.
“What do you mean, we’ve lost Metropolis?” Maxwell Lord shakes his head, confused at the statement. “How is that even possible? We’re talking about a city! How the hell can we lose a city?”
General Sam Lane shakes his head.
“I have no idea, Mr President, but one minute it was there, and now, our satellites just detect a black void.”
“Could this have something to do with Zod? Those two Kryptonian criminals…I knew we should have just killed them…”
Lord looks up and moves his gaze from Lane to the other members of his cabinet.
“What?”
Lane shakes his head, and then looks up, his eyes slightly red.
“Mr President. My daughter was in that city, and I’m betting right now she’s in that void. I want your permission to go down there and find out what the hell happened.”
Lord looks up in surprise, his eyes bright at his General’s commitment to his family.
“Of course, Sam.”
“Thank you sir.” General Sam Lane hurries out of the room, leaving Maxwell Lord smiling.
“What now then people?”
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Post by Admin on Feb 14, 2006 21:10:52 GMT -5
Lois Lane shakes in a corner, the darkness overwhelming her, her terrors manifesting in front of her very eyes. She sees her father, her sister, and her mother… all dead, coming towards her… Their shambling corpses slowly reaching for her flesh.
“You did this.” And then silence, nothingness, pure white and one person standing in front of her, smiling slightly, her short blonder hair covering one side of her face, her blue eyes shining through.
“Lois. Get the hell up! This isn’t the Lane way… Get up now…”
Lois looks up through her hands, and her tears start to slow.
“What would your dad say?”
“C-Chloe?” Lois tries to stand up, but her limbs are like jelly, and she falls to the ground instantly. “I can’t…”
“Oh come on, Lois. This is stupid. You were always the best, always the strongest. You get up now. Else.”
“E-Else what?”
Chloe looks down at Lois in surprise, and then flicks her nose, causing Lois to stumble back in surprise.
“Aow!”
“Get up.” Chloe taps her foot impatiently and then watches as Lois struggles up.
“Good girl. Now in five seconds something very bad is going to happen. Good luck.”
She vanishes, and Lois looks around in a panic, counting down the seconds. At her fifth, everything flashes back to normal, the newsroom comes into view, and the reporters and photographers are all on the floor, writhing in terror. Lois looks around, and sees Perry stumble out of his office, tears streaming down his face.
“Eurgh… That was… Ow…” he looks around the floor, and sees his friends and colleagues struggling with invisible terrors. “Lane! What the hell has happened?”
They hurry to the window, and watch as a massive creature approaches from outside the city boundaries, a patchwork of horrors unlike anything from Earth. They turn around, and see three more approaching from a strange dark purple landscape, massive claws digging into soft grey dirt and then lifting up again, taking mounds of dust and ash with it. These massive monstrosities were twice as big as Metropolis, and the tops of their bodies reaching black clouds that crackle with lightning as the duo watch.
“Superman, where are you?”
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Post by Admin on Feb 14, 2006 21:11:16 GMT -5
“KILL YOU! GET OFF ME YOU… KILL YOU!”
Lex Luthor strangles Superman with green and purple-gloved hands, emerald diamonds glowing in encrusted knuckles, the wet sound of bones shattering and muscle tearing as he strengthens his grip. As Superman finally spits out black blood and his last breath, Lex Luthor tightens his manic hold on him, then waits, until no more fight is left in the Man of Steel’s body. Nothing. Superman collapses onto the ground, his body beaten, his skull shattered and his heart exhausted. The alien’s skin glows green, a side effect from exposure to the Green Kryptonite.
Lex Luthor smiles, at last conquering the object of all his fears, killing the so-called superhero Superman, and then spins around in wonderment as the grey landscape of the moon vanishes.
He looks down at his bloodied gauntlets and sees the body of one of his Team Luthor, his body crushed and beaten, blood pouring from gashes in his armour. Lex stumbles back in his own armour, his servo-assisted joints whirring as he moves. The rest of the team lay shaking, caught up in their own little nightmares.
“Damn it… Team Luthor B through E, close visors.”
The armour of his employees reacts to his words, and the visors that allow them to see shut with a bang. He looks down at the man he murdered and shakes his head, pointing his armoured hand at him, a small canon slowly unfolding from a hidden compartment, then he presses a button on his palm, and the man vanishes in a blast of green light. The lights still flicker on and off in his home, but the generator still stands, and he knows what he has to do.
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Post by Admin on Feb 14, 2006 21:11:43 GMT -5
Superman watches as his little meteorite island begins to head for the red sun at increasing speed. He shakes his head, strengthening his resolve, and waits, waiting for the crimson furnace to take his life, or waiting for some opportunity to escape.
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Post by Admin on Feb 14, 2006 21:12:02 GMT -5
Jar Kell hurtles through space-time, pushing his ring to the outer fringes of its limits, to the edge of his willpower and imagination, speeding towards the end of the energy trail. Everything seems to stretch backwards as he flies forward, and when he comes into range of a massive red giant, everything snaps back into focus, a small rock heads into the sun, the red tentacles of flame licking forward, trying to grope the rock into its body.
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Post by Admin on Feb 14, 2006 21:12:26 GMT -5
Superman clambers to the back of the rock, the oxygen burning off as the intense heat from the sun begins to melt the solid stone. He prays that he can survive, that his body can still survive in the darkness of space and then leaps, jumps forward into the dark void, his body suddenly feeling very, very cold…
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Post by Admin on Feb 14, 2006 21:12:51 GMT -5
There! Jar shoots forwards, reaches out to grab the Man of Steel with green hands, hoping to save him before he… Jar looks down at the man he has rescued, looks down at his grey skin and deathly pale features. He points his ring up, his protective aura wrapping itself around the Kryptonian, and fires a beam of light out of the sector, and back to earth, where the green beam of energy funnels yellow solar power into this dark sector of space. When the yellow beams of light hit Superman he jerks up, revived at the touch of Earth’s sun. He looks at the man who has his hand on his shoulder, and then looks at the red sun behind him.
“I knew something good would happen.”
And with that he faints, the trauma of what happened getting to him at last. Jar nods, and then flies back to Earth, and back to the twisted mirror reflection of Superman.
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Post by Admin on Feb 14, 2006 21:13:09 GMT -5
Perry and Lois leave the Daily Planet building, unable to assist the employees that were still under the sway of whatever had trapped them. The large globe was still present around the city, and the large creatures had yet to reach the edge of the city, but they were approaching steadily, and would arrive soon…
“What are we going to do, Perry?” Lois grips onto her editor’s arm, as she looks up at the monstrosities approaching.
“Lois… All we can do… Is pray… Where is Superman?”
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Post by Admin on Feb 14, 2006 21:13:39 GMT -5
“Who are you?”
Superman flies unaided as they enter the solar system containing the yellow sun, communicating with Jar Kell through the ring’s telepathy.
“I’m Jar. From the Green Lantern Corps.”
Superman nods slightly, and his brow furrows in confusion.
“Wasn’t there a Green Lantern in the 40s? Fought crime in the Justice Society alongside Captain Marvel?”
“He was… unaffiliated with the Corps. Not through official channels anyway.”
“Interesting…”
Jar nods at the man’s words, and they enter the atmosphere of Earth, approaching America and Metropolis.
“What the?!”
A large military cordon surrounds a large black globe where Metropolis once stood. Superman lands slowly, then looks over to Jar, who quickly changes his blue and grey appearance into something more humanoid, gaining blonde hair and tanned skin, like that of a surfer. Superman is immediately surrounded by a large group of military men, who create a tunnel as General Sam Lane approaches the hero.
“Superman, glad to see you’re still alive. I just got here myself, and I was wondering… If you… Or your new friend… Had any idea what the hell is going on?”
“General, this is Green Lantern. A military man like yourself… From space.”
A rumble moves around the crowd of soldiers, and Green Lantern gives a slight salute to the gathered.
“I’ve just had the worst day of my life… and this might be the result of said day…” Superman rubs the top of his nose, painfully.
“I can tell from your costume that you’ve been through hell son…” He motions to the torn remnants of the once proud blue and red uniform, then shakes his head. “But my daughter is in there… And I want to find out what’s going on!”
Superman smile slightly, impressed at Lane’s adamant attitude, then looks over to Jar.
“Can you do anything about that?” He points to the large black shield, and then to his ring.
“Sure, sure… Let me just run some analysis… It may take a while.”
Superman nods.
“This man has at his disposal one of the most powerful instruments known to man or other, limited only by his imagination…”
Sam nods. “Nice toy.”
Jar laughs loudly, and then continues with his analysis.
“I suggest you go find yourself something less… revealing to wear, Superman. We won’t go anywhere… And you look quite pale.”
Superman feels his chin and nods.
“I’ll be back within the hour.” Superman lifts off, and flies north, to his home.
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Post by Admin on Feb 14, 2006 21:14:06 GMT -5
“Clark?”
Martha Kent hurries out of the small house in Smallville, Kansas, and welcomes her son with open arms.
“I heard on the radio what happened to Metropolis… What happened? What’s wrong?”
Clark looks down at the woman he calls Ma and then bursts into tears, hugging her.
“Clark? It’ll be ok… It’ll be ok…”
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Post by Admin on Feb 14, 2006 21:14:39 GMT -5
Jonathan Kent walks out from the old red barn that houses all the old tools and the tractor, and then sees his adopted son walking into the house, his superhero costume in tatters, his skin tinged grey, obviously weak from a battle of some sorts. Jon hurries back into the barn, rummages through the bottom of a large box and pulls out an old lead box, then carries it beneath his arm into the house.
“Jonathan, is that you?”
Ma hugs her husband as he enters the room, Clark having changed into some old clothes he keeps in his room.
“Clark needs to tell us something.”
Jon places the box on the side and sits next to his son, awaiting whatever news he has. Clark then tells the story of what happened on the roof in Metropolis, and the discovery of his duplicate in the fortress… Martha abruptly brings up Zod, but Clark shakes his head, bringing up his first utterance when he saw his mirror image, but then telling her it was impossible. Zod knows not to return to Earth, knowing the full capabilities of the planet… The capabilities of one man. Lex Luthor and his kryptonite arsenal… Superman shakes his head and continues the story, telling of his imprisonment on that small rock… the hallucinations and his near death… The feeling of doom he suffered when his powers depleted… Jonathan stands up at this, and walks over to the counter, shaking his head, sweat trickling down his forehead. Ma nods her head slowly and leaves the room, nodding to herself, leaving Jonathan shaking his head and Clark looking down at his hands.
“You just gonna’ sit here, boy?”
Clark looks up at his father, who is facing his son with his fists clenched, anger etched across his features.
“Sit there and let that half assed copy of you hurt the people you love?”
He rolls his eyes sarcastically, never taking his eyes off his son.
“Your mother and I didn’t raise you to let some evil imposter like that break you. Never. Your mother would be disappointed.”
Clark slowly feels a smile creep over his face and he nods to himself. Jonathan opens up the small lead box and takes out the contents. Clark nods and takes the red and blue uniform.
“We’re always here for you, Clark. No matter what. Now you do what you have to do, take back your city, and kick that villain’s butt, right?”
At that, Clark super speed changes into the freshly sowed costume and nods to his adopted father.
“Right.”
He hugs his Pa and flies away, leaving the Kent farm behind for the next battle.
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Post by Admin on Feb 14, 2006 21:15:07 GMT -5
“General Lane! I think I know what that shield is…”
Jar wanders over to the man in charge of the military operation and creates a small computer screen for the General to look at.
“It’s a void in reality… It goes all the way under the city too, so no chance in burrowing up… This void… It seems to be in constant shift… Meaning nothing is going to penetrate it… Nothing I can think of…”
“I think I can.” Superman slowly floats down to the cordon, and looks at the two men.
“What do you mean, Superman?” General Lane leans in close, listening to the Kryptonian.
“I think I know how to get through. I can gain enough momentum by shooting around the sun and back… The sudden shift in my molecular charge from the solar energy will keep my body fluctuating, meaning I can pop right through it…”
“You don’t sound so sure of yourself there, son… But you spin a mean yarn…”
“It could work… It might even… No. It’ll weaken the shell, you may get through, but only you. You’ll be trapped in there with whatever has encased the city. And Superman… I can’t detect the culprit anywhere in the solar system… He’s in there for sure.”
“I’ll take that chance, Lantern.” Superman shakes the General and Green Lantern’s hands, and then lifts off into the air, saluting the gathered men. “I’ll bring back the city Sir. And your daughter.”
Lane nods, and Superman heads for the sun.
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Post by Admin on Feb 14, 2006 21:15:37 GMT -5
“This is my domain!”
The evil Superman stands atop the Daily Planet building, surveying the city he had stolen. His armour seems to wash over him, always shifting, like a sea of darkness reinforcing his body. He looks down at his grey hand and smiles, then feels the fear and terror of the fleshlings swarm over him, and he welcomes it with open arms, the fear feeding his own desires. He watches as the creatures approach, sensing the dread and horror the humans exude, and he laughs, and then goes to work, hovering to the centre of the city, to Lex Luthor’s home, the Lexcorp Towers.
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Post by Admin on Feb 14, 2006 21:15:58 GMT -5
Lex watches as the strange being floats slowly towards his home. The man is clad in black armour, with a blank silver shield adorning his chest… Lex half expected him to be Superman, finally revealing his true colours, but there was something different about this man… A feeling of power that Luthor never felt in his presence. He opens a secret, lead lined compartment in his office and shuffles in, hiding in the lead lined panic room he built for when Superman eventually cracked. He shuts down all power in the tiny room apart from a small monitor, and watches as the man approaches.
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Post by Admin on Feb 14, 2006 21:16:21 GMT -5
The evil Superman’s skin absorbs the black kryptonite armour, his body seemingly growing as the metal is absorbed. He smiles and cracks his every joint as he moves, readjusting to the sudden rush of power. His costume is the same as Superman but stained totally black, and his once long cape is in tatters, black pieces of material floating off his back at his neck. The symbol on his chest glows brightly, and he smiles as he melts his way into Lex’s office. His eyes glow red and he turns in a complete circle and watches as the room explodes in a cacophony of fire and noise.
His eyes slowly dim, but a dim glow remains as he stares through the walls of the room.
“Mr Luthor…” He looks around and focuses on the blank spot in the office, and smiles. “Lex…”
He steps forward, and Lex raises his gauntlet, ready for action. The shade of the Man of Tomorrow pauses and looks down at the leather chair behind him, and sits down, seemingly knowing of Lex’s armaments.
“I’ve always respected you Luthor, deep down, ever since we first… Met.” He smiles and looks at his grey hands. “You’re a great man who’s overcome great misfortune to become the master of all this.” He motions his arms around the room, pointing out of the windows, still smiling. “But you must understand this. I may not be the Superman you know, but I’m the only Superman you’re gonna’ get. I could rip off the door to your little hidey-hole, rip off your arm and shove it down your mouth before you even have to say ‘Alien filth’ so don’t test me. Lower the gauntlet. I won’t kill you yet.”
Luthor looks down at his arm and slowly lowers the weapon.
“Good. Now… I want you to do something for me…”
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Post by Admin on Feb 14, 2006 21:16:45 GMT -5
Reality warps behind Superman as he bursts through the atmosphere with a pop. He thinks back to what has happened these past days and clenches his fist, pointing his arm forward as he heads for the sun. His speed increases as he gets in range of the sphere of fire that is Earth’s Sun, his cells becoming super charged as the radiation is absorbed through his skin. With much effort he orbits the massive sun and swings back towards Earth, heading straight for Metropolis and his evil double.
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Post by Admin on Feb 14, 2006 21:17:10 GMT -5
Jar Kell sits behind a dark green tent and thinks things through. He goes through a checklist in his head of all the things he should have… Would have done, knowing that he may have made a big mistake.
1. Should’ve called for back up. 2. Should’ve given back up to Superman. 3. Shouldn’t have let his own bad feelings hold him back.
He needs to help Superman! He needs to give help to the greatest hero on Earth! And if he’s already streaking towards Earth, his Kryptonian cells absorbing more and more solar power as he shoots towards his target, how the hell is he going to do it? How is he going to help this man? In the corner of his eye he sees a red fiery blur head towards the massive black sphere, not stopping, not relenting… Jar points up his ring, latches onto Superman’s energy trail, and feels himself getting whipped through the darkness and evil of whatever contains Metropolis.
4. Should have thought this through…
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