Post by starlord on Jul 8, 2009 21:12:48 GMT -5
Action Comics
Issue #43: "Ring of Fire, pt. 2"
Written by Pat Owen
Cover by Gareth Williams
Edited by Brian Burchette
Issue #43: "Ring of Fire, pt. 2"
Written by Pat Owen
Cover by Gareth Williams
Edited by Brian Burchette
*******
“So what will it be, Ross?”
“Let my wife go you son of a-“
“Now now. Let’s not get too upset here. We’re just chatting.”
Tyler McKnight, former Metropolis detective and now leader of The Freaks stood in front of Pete Ross who remained tightly tied to a chair. Lana Lang, Ross’ wife was being held by two identical men who in actuality was the criminal Gemini, who had the ability to duplicate himself.
“Pete, what’s going on?” Lana said, in a bit of a panic.
“Everything’s going to be fine, Lana.” Pete said.
“Now, Ross, you made quite the mess when you decided to not cooperate. And it kind of made this entire operation a bit more of a pain in the ass than it should have been and…” Tyler paused, raising his index finger. A long narrow shard of glass rose from the ground and levitated above his finger. He held the glass up to Lana’s neck, still looking at Pete. “…you see we can’t just let that slide.”
Sweat poured down Lana’s face as the sharp edge of the glass grazed her neck.
“Wait!” Pete roared in protest.
“We’re done making negotiations, Ross. You either tell us another way to get into your companies’ confidential files or your pretty little wife here dies.”
“Alright! I’ll tell you, just let her go!”
“No. We’re making the deals, Ross. Like I said there are no more negotiations.”
Lana and Pete’s eyes locked, both wide and filled with sorrow.
“O-okay…I’ll tell you.”
***
“Who is he?”
“Greg Arkin. Went by the name of Larva when he was operating with The Freaks.”
Superman watched the man sitting in the interrogation room from behind the hidden window. Maggie Sawyer stood beside him, waiting to be able to go inside. Finally after a few minutes of waiting, they were allowed in.
Superman stepped into the panic room to notice immediately the terrible stench that filled it. His attention darted forward to the man sitting at the table. Greg Arkin, clad in an orange prison jump suit, sat smiling, his eyes blank of any expression. Flies swarmed around his greasy head but he didn’t even seem to notice.
“Ah yes, the great Superman. I didn’t expect someone as high and mighty as you to come down and visit us insects.” Greg said.
“I do not think I’m better than any other law abiding citizen. The reason I’m here, Mr. Arkin, is that you were once affiliated with The Freaks.”
“Yes, indeed I was.”
“And you may have some information I need.”
“Perhaps I do.”
“What do you know about your old chums’ plans for Pete Ross?”
Greg immediately became quiet, his face pale and cold. He looked back up at Superman with a thin smile.
“Ross…oh they wanted him bad…we all did. Luthor may have done this to us but Ross had a chance to help us when he took over…but instead you know what he does? I’ll tell ya exactly what he does. He ‘terminates’ the project, throwing us out into the streets like garbage. We were nothing more than just another Lex Luthor super villain experiment to him.” Arkin explained bitterly.
“So you wanted payback?”
“Of course! But we never had the guts to actually do anything. We just stuck to the usual petty crimes…well we did until he showed up.”
“Who?”
“Tyler McKnight.”
Maggie Sawyer shifted her posture awkwardly where she stood behind the glass, listening with keen interest.
“See, Tyler was quite the strategist. He wasn’t in any of this for revenge he simply wanted the money. Said he needed it to enact his own vengeance. But what you may not know is that they failed in their first attempt. They have Ross, yes, but they did not get him to give them access to the company’s money. Now though, they’re a little aggravated and so they’ve brought his wife into the equation.”
“Lana?” Superman said.
“Mmhm.”
Superman’s jaw tightened, forcing himself to hold back on his anger.
“And how do you know all of this? This happened earlier today.”
“Oh that’s an easy question. They tell me everything.” Greg glanced up at the flies buzzing around his head. “That’s the amazing thing about insects. They hear and see everything but no one even notices them. Everything they know, I know. The ultimate fly on the wall. Beginning to understand yet, farmboy?”
The Man of Steel’s expression flared with anger, smashing the table with his fist in fury. Greg remained unfazed though, laughing.
“You think I’m afraid, Superman? You never act like this when you’re wearing those bull rims.”
“Enough!” Superman said. “Tell me where Lana and Pete are now!”
Maggie watched from the other side of the glass, bewildered by Superman’s sudden aggression.
“No. I want to be assured that I get a reward for my services. Say…if I help you and the police catch my old compadres…I walk free, all charges dropped.”
“You really think we’re going to let you go?”
“I don’t really see the choice in the matter. It’s either that or Mr. Ross and his wife well…I’ll probably know the specifics in a few minutes.”
Superman tried to keep his feelings in check. He wanted to force Arkin to reveal what he knew right then and there but he had restrictions he had placed upon himself long ago. Restrictions that were there thanks to the great morals he was raised with. But now, this petty criminal, knew his secret identity. He was far too big a risk to allow to be on the street though if Arkin wasn’t released, he would not give up the information they needed to find Pete and Lana.
“Well what will it be, Superman?”
Superman closed his eyes, in deep thought, trying to make the right decision. After another moment of contemplation, his eyes opened.
“Fine. If you help us, you will be released. I can promise you that.”
***
“What is Clark thinking? I could have helped…I could have!”
Superboy found himself flying back toward Smallville, having been asked to go home by the Man of Steel himself. He passed by a group of petrified crows who narrowly dove out of the way of him as he shot through the sky.
“I mean what’s the point of me being ‘Superboy’ when all I do is hide out in an old dusty farmhouse.”
Conner rolled onto his back, still flying high above the ground. He thought about his options carefully.
I could go back to the farm and let Clark handle this all by himself or…I could do what any real hero would do and go help him out…even if he doesn’t want it my help.
Superboy came to an abrupt halt, floating in place.
He gazed toward his original path and then craned his head around. He repeated this once more before completely turning his entire body around and blasting off through the clouds back towards Metropolis.
***
“We’re not going to let him go.”
For the past five minutes, Maggie had been stubbornly trying to convince Superman that he did not have the right or authority to be able to free Greg Arkin.
“I don’t like the idea of it either but what other choice do we have? Pete Ross and his wife could die if we don’t.” Superman tried to suppress any hint of emotion in his voice. He couldn’t show that this was more than just saving a businessman and his wife.
“But if we let him go just to save two people, there could be more deaths in the long run. We can’t allow a lunatic like Arkin out onto the street. We cannot take that risk.” Maggie said sternly.
“I’m not seeing any other option.”
There was a bitter silence between them until finally Superman spoke.
“You have to trust me, Detective Sawyer. This may be the only way to save them.”
Maggie looked hard at Superman’s face, uncertainty etched into her visage. After another moment of silence that seemed like forever, Maggie reluctantly nodded.
“I really hope you know what you’re doing.”
“How’d the interview with Edge go?”
Lois Lane stormed into the Daily Planet office like a hurricane, brushing past Jimmy Olsen and Edward Lytener who were standing by the door with coffee in their hands. She brushed past them, quickly taking a seat at her desk.
“That well?” Edward chuckled, taking a sip of his drink.
“There wasn’t even an interview. He shot down all of my questions with jokes so I just left as anyone else who didn’t want to waste their time would.” Lois said.
“Well that’s a shame. Maybe I could buy you dinner later to make up for it?” Edward said hopefully, taking a seat at Clark’s desk across from her.
Lois glanced from her login screen on her computer to Edward who was looking rather calm while waiting for an answer.
“That’s sweet, Edward, but not tonight.”
“…not any night as long as Big Blue is around…” Jimmy muttered jokingly from behind his coffee mug.
Lois looked over at Jimmy threateningly who turned his attention to the TV screen.
“Whoah. Take a look at this.”
“Rumors are circulating that Ross Industries CEO, Peter Ross, was abducted from his office. Police are denying to make any comment on the matter. Ross’ wife, Lana Lang also has not come forth to comment.”
“Now that’s a story.” Said Lois, a bit more cheerful.
“Yeah…” Jimmy said.
There was a completely silence pause and only the sounds of voices of reporters on the TV could be heard.
“Jimmy, come with me!” Lois said, rising to her feet, grabbing her purse and running out the door with Jimmy Olsen in tow.
“Hey what about-“
The door slammed shut behind them.
“-me.”
“I still don’t like this.”
“The flying?”
“You know very well what I mean.”
Superman paused before giving an answer.
“He did tell us where they are hiding out. He kept his end of the deal so it is only right that we should do the same for him.” Superman said.
Maggie held onto The Man of Steel tight as he flew her through the darkening skies. She stared down at their destination, a place she far too often visited and what had become known as the worst section of the entire city of Metropolis.
Suicide Slums.
“Hang on.” Superman said, gently descending down to the streets. When his feet touched the pavement, he lowered Maggie down.
They walked through the dark alleyways of Suicide Slums, making their way to 44 Avery Street where a small warehouse stood. Maggie walked up to the door before turning back to Superman.
“Are you sure this is the right place?”
Superman’s eyes narrowed at the wall in front of him, using his X-Ray vision.
“Positive.”
Maggie put her hand on the entrance door’s handle, beckoning for Superman to follow. He stayed where he was, in front of the wall as a smile crept onto his face.
“Sorry. Not my style.”
Superman threw his fist forward, smashing through the wall before him and watching it crumble to pieces. Maggie simply stared in awe while The Man of Steel stepped through the opening he had just made. The detective just stood in the same spot, her hand still on the door knob. Superman poked his head out.
“You coming?”
“Uh…yeah.”
She opened up the door, drawing her pistol from her holster. She walked with Superman through the warehouse cautiously until they came upon a room with only a man tied up on a chair and a woman standing motionlessly in front of him.
“Pete?”
Superman ran up to the man tied up in the chair. It was Pete alright, his eyes closed and with an enormous blood stain on his shirt.
“Pete.” Superman repeated.
“You may want to look at this.” Maggie said suddenly.
Superman looked over at where Maggie was and found Lana standing perfectly still, her body covered in a wax-like substance.
“No.”
Superman turned around to help Lana when Pete’s eyes flashed open.
“Yes!”
Easily throwing the ropes, which were only loosely tied, off of him, Pete lunged for Superman, a chunk of Kryptonite in his grip. He smacked the rock against the hero, knocking him onto his back.
“Pete! What are you doing-ah!”
Pete held the Kryptonite out, dangling it above Superman. Pete’s features quickly changed, taking on the appearance of a young pale brunette woman. Shifter, a member of The Freaks.
“Tina! Don’t you dare!” Maggie Sawyer said sternly, aiming her pistol at the woman.
“What? Drop it?” Shifter let go of the Kryptonite and it landed with a thud beside Superman’s head.
Before Maggie could make a move, her wrist was wrenched away by a strong grip. Gemini, another one of The Freaks, held her arm back, laughing as he did so.
“Sorry, pretty lady. Can’t let you do that.”
Maggie kicked him away but turned around to meet another Gemini, his appearance exactly the same as the other.
“Let me introduce you to my better half.” The first chuckled.
“Mannequin! Get over here!”
A man with a dirty blond mushroom cut ran into the room, hearing Shifter’s call. He looked down at the immobile Superman and rubbed his hands together.
“Oh man, this’ll be a great addition to my collection.”
Mannequin crouched down beside The Man of Steel and put his hands on his cheeks, the waxy substance beginning to spread onto Superman’s face. Maggie took a few steps back from the two Geminis, going back and forth on which she was aiming her gun at. In between them, she saw Superman lying on his back with Mannequin grabbing him.
“Go ahead, shoot.” Both Geminis taunted in unison.
Maggie finally fired her pistol but the bullet whizzed in between her two enemies and collided with the shard of Kryptonite beside Superman. The green rock went sliding across the floor, away from the hero. Mannequin’s eyes widened as Superman’s power came rushing back to him, his hands grabbing hold of Mannequin’s arms, prying them off of him. The wax quickly dissipated from where it had spread on his face.
“Hoo boy.” Mannequin said, stunned.
Shifter barely managed to avoid Mannequin, who had been thrown through the air like a rocket, crashing into one of the warehouse walls. Superman climbed to his feet, standing tall in front of the female shape-shifter. She took a step back from him, fear in her expression. Superman gave a quick exhale and Shifter was hit by an enormous gust of wind, being knocked off her feet and tossed over next to Mannequin.
Maggie’s eyes caught sight of a man watching from the shadows of the next room over. His face immediately registered with her mind.
“Tyler.”
The two Geminis turned around to see what had happened to their partners when Maggie knocked them both out of her way, dashing into a full sprint toward the next room.
“Find the real Ross!” She called, running out of the room.
Superman glanced over at the two Geminis who were getting up from Maggie’s surprise attack. Superman looked over at Lana Lang, who the waxy substance was now disappearing from. Superman craned his head behind him where he noticed that Mannequin was now unconscious on the floor. His powers must have worn off when he was knocked out.
The two Geminis must have seen this two and ran up behind a slightly dazed Lana. One of the Geminis held her while the other pulled out a switchblade from his pocket.
“Ooo. Looks like we’ve gotten into quite the situation, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Completely.” Said the other.
Superman gave a thin smile but kept his focused. The Geminis looked at him with confusion.
“What? Something funny?”
“Yeah. I’ve never met anyone who likes to talk to himself as much as you.”
“Oh so now he’s a super comedian. That’s great!” One of the Geminis pushed the knife closer to Lana’s neck.
Lana stared over at Superman and mouthed his name, Clark.
“Don’t do anything funny, got it?” The Gemini on the left of Lana warned.
Superman raised his hands into the air.
“Okay.”
“Tyler!”
Maggie was running through the halls of the warehouse, seeing Tyler turn the corner at the end of each corridor she entered, almost intentionally drawing her in…or was he? She turned the next corner to find an opened door the parking lot outside. Going outside, her gun at the ready, she found herself standing in the middle of the lot, surrounded by parked cars.
“What’s the matter, Maggie? Afraid?” Tyler McKnight’s cold voice said.
He was leaning against a Chevy, casually, his gray eyes staring her down. Maggie lowered her weapon, looking back at him.
“Tyler…why are you doing this? We worked together…hell we were friends.”
“Were we friends? I wasn’t aware friends destroyed each others’ lives.”
At these words, the glass on the surrounding cars’ windows began to gently rumble. Maggie glanced over at this but chose to ignore it.
“I didn’t mean for that to-“
“But it did!”
The glass shook a bit more violently than before.
“I had that bastard, Mirror Master. I had him and you took my chance to avenge my family from me. You took it!”
Maggie said nothing as the windows of the cars began to crack.
“Tyler-”
“He was jumping through his portal in the bathroom mirror and I was going to follow him, get some payback for him killing my wife and daughter! I was so close! But when I was halfway in, you shot the mirror! You took everything away from me that Mirror Master hadn’t!”
“Tyler, please. Listen-“
“SHUT UP!”
There was a high pitched ringing when suddenly glass exploded through the air; all of the car windshields splattered as the windows blew open in a hailstorm of sharp shards. Maggie ducked, shielding her face with her arms. Tyler began to walk towards, the flying glass mysteriously weaving around him as he approached.
“Look what you did to me, Maggie. By shooting that portal when I was partially through it you put me in a coma and then when I finally woke up, hoping the bad dream was over, I found this!” Tyler raised his hand and the glass in the air began to converge around his fingers, spinning in a cyclone of reflection.
“Tyler, please.”
“No. This ends here, Maggie.”
“You two alright?”
Superman had just untied Pete Ross and now he along with Lana Lang was walking with the Man of Steel to the exit of the warehouse. Lana looked fearfully over at the unconscious body of Gemini, who had now returned to being only one man.
“Just head out through there. Try to get a taxi as quickly as possible. This isn’t exactly the best part of town.” Superman said, but gave the awkward smile that Lana and Pete had known so well from when they were childhood friends back home.
“Thanks.” Pete said.
He seemed a bit embarrassed by the whole situation. Having to have Clark come to the rescue again.
“Your welcome. Now go.”
As they exited the warehouse, Superman sped through the hallways of the warehouse until he finally found the opening into the parking lot outside. He could hear voices shouting from outside.
“Tyler, no!”
“I truly am sorry, Maggie but you ruined my life! It’s only fair I ruin yours!” Tyler roared, tears glimmering in his eyes.
Superman couldn’t believe his eyes. Glass had lifted back into the air and now was flying straight at Maggie Sawyer, who braced herself for the worst. The shards caught the reflection of red and blue, the Kryptonian hero darting into the wave of glass, trying to reach Maggie in time to shield her. Unfortunately he saw two shards sink into her back and then a whole half a dozen into her leg. A few more collided into her as Superman leapt into the way, protecting her from the remainder of the attack.
Once the sound of shattering glass stopped, Superman turned to find Tyler McKnight long gone. He looked back at Maggie who lay on her back, shards of glass protruding from her body. Superman’s eyes widened as he held her.
“Detective Sawyer…”
He nudged her, attempting to receive some sort of sign but none came.
“Detective Sawyer!” He said, a bit louder.
But once again…
There was no response.
TO BE CONTINUED!
“We’re not going to let him go.”
For the past five minutes, Maggie had been stubbornly trying to convince Superman that he did not have the right or authority to be able to free Greg Arkin.
“I don’t like the idea of it either but what other choice do we have? Pete Ross and his wife could die if we don’t.” Superman tried to suppress any hint of emotion in his voice. He couldn’t show that this was more than just saving a businessman and his wife.
“But if we let him go just to save two people, there could be more deaths in the long run. We can’t allow a lunatic like Arkin out onto the street. We cannot take that risk.” Maggie said sternly.
“I’m not seeing any other option.”
There was a bitter silence between them until finally Superman spoke.
“You have to trust me, Detective Sawyer. This may be the only way to save them.”
Maggie looked hard at Superman’s face, uncertainty etched into her visage. After another moment of silence that seemed like forever, Maggie reluctantly nodded.
“I really hope you know what you’re doing.”
***
“How’d the interview with Edge go?”
Lois Lane stormed into the Daily Planet office like a hurricane, brushing past Jimmy Olsen and Edward Lytener who were standing by the door with coffee in their hands. She brushed past them, quickly taking a seat at her desk.
“That well?” Edward chuckled, taking a sip of his drink.
“There wasn’t even an interview. He shot down all of my questions with jokes so I just left as anyone else who didn’t want to waste their time would.” Lois said.
“Well that’s a shame. Maybe I could buy you dinner later to make up for it?” Edward said hopefully, taking a seat at Clark’s desk across from her.
Lois glanced from her login screen on her computer to Edward who was looking rather calm while waiting for an answer.
“That’s sweet, Edward, but not tonight.”
“…not any night as long as Big Blue is around…” Jimmy muttered jokingly from behind his coffee mug.
Lois looked over at Jimmy threateningly who turned his attention to the TV screen.
“Whoah. Take a look at this.”
“Rumors are circulating that Ross Industries CEO, Peter Ross, was abducted from his office. Police are denying to make any comment on the matter. Ross’ wife, Lana Lang also has not come forth to comment.”
“Now that’s a story.” Said Lois, a bit more cheerful.
“Yeah…” Jimmy said.
There was a completely silence pause and only the sounds of voices of reporters on the TV could be heard.
“Jimmy, come with me!” Lois said, rising to her feet, grabbing her purse and running out the door with Jimmy Olsen in tow.
“Hey what about-“
The door slammed shut behind them.
“-me.”
***
“I still don’t like this.”
“The flying?”
“You know very well what I mean.”
Superman paused before giving an answer.
“He did tell us where they are hiding out. He kept his end of the deal so it is only right that we should do the same for him.” Superman said.
Maggie held onto The Man of Steel tight as he flew her through the darkening skies. She stared down at their destination, a place she far too often visited and what had become known as the worst section of the entire city of Metropolis.
Suicide Slums.
“Hang on.” Superman said, gently descending down to the streets. When his feet touched the pavement, he lowered Maggie down.
They walked through the dark alleyways of Suicide Slums, making their way to 44 Avery Street where a small warehouse stood. Maggie walked up to the door before turning back to Superman.
“Are you sure this is the right place?”
Superman’s eyes narrowed at the wall in front of him, using his X-Ray vision.
“Positive.”
Maggie put her hand on the entrance door’s handle, beckoning for Superman to follow. He stayed where he was, in front of the wall as a smile crept onto his face.
“Sorry. Not my style.”
Superman threw his fist forward, smashing through the wall before him and watching it crumble to pieces. Maggie simply stared in awe while The Man of Steel stepped through the opening he had just made. The detective just stood in the same spot, her hand still on the door knob. Superman poked his head out.
“You coming?”
“Uh…yeah.”
She opened up the door, drawing her pistol from her holster. She walked with Superman through the warehouse cautiously until they came upon a room with only a man tied up on a chair and a woman standing motionlessly in front of him.
“Pete?”
Superman ran up to the man tied up in the chair. It was Pete alright, his eyes closed and with an enormous blood stain on his shirt.
“Pete.” Superman repeated.
“You may want to look at this.” Maggie said suddenly.
Superman looked over at where Maggie was and found Lana standing perfectly still, her body covered in a wax-like substance.
“No.”
Superman turned around to help Lana when Pete’s eyes flashed open.
“Yes!”
Easily throwing the ropes, which were only loosely tied, off of him, Pete lunged for Superman, a chunk of Kryptonite in his grip. He smacked the rock against the hero, knocking him onto his back.
“Pete! What are you doing-ah!”
Pete held the Kryptonite out, dangling it above Superman. Pete’s features quickly changed, taking on the appearance of a young pale brunette woman. Shifter, a member of The Freaks.
“Tina! Don’t you dare!” Maggie Sawyer said sternly, aiming her pistol at the woman.
“What? Drop it?” Shifter let go of the Kryptonite and it landed with a thud beside Superman’s head.
Before Maggie could make a move, her wrist was wrenched away by a strong grip. Gemini, another one of The Freaks, held her arm back, laughing as he did so.
“Sorry, pretty lady. Can’t let you do that.”
Maggie kicked him away but turned around to meet another Gemini, his appearance exactly the same as the other.
“Let me introduce you to my better half.” The first chuckled.
“Mannequin! Get over here!”
A man with a dirty blond mushroom cut ran into the room, hearing Shifter’s call. He looked down at the immobile Superman and rubbed his hands together.
“Oh man, this’ll be a great addition to my collection.”
Mannequin crouched down beside The Man of Steel and put his hands on his cheeks, the waxy substance beginning to spread onto Superman’s face. Maggie took a few steps back from the two Geminis, going back and forth on which she was aiming her gun at. In between them, she saw Superman lying on his back with Mannequin grabbing him.
“Go ahead, shoot.” Both Geminis taunted in unison.
Maggie finally fired her pistol but the bullet whizzed in between her two enemies and collided with the shard of Kryptonite beside Superman. The green rock went sliding across the floor, away from the hero. Mannequin’s eyes widened as Superman’s power came rushing back to him, his hands grabbing hold of Mannequin’s arms, prying them off of him. The wax quickly dissipated from where it had spread on his face.
“Hoo boy.” Mannequin said, stunned.
Shifter barely managed to avoid Mannequin, who had been thrown through the air like a rocket, crashing into one of the warehouse walls. Superman climbed to his feet, standing tall in front of the female shape-shifter. She took a step back from him, fear in her expression. Superman gave a quick exhale and Shifter was hit by an enormous gust of wind, being knocked off her feet and tossed over next to Mannequin.
Maggie’s eyes caught sight of a man watching from the shadows of the next room over. His face immediately registered with her mind.
“Tyler.”
The two Geminis turned around to see what had happened to their partners when Maggie knocked them both out of her way, dashing into a full sprint toward the next room.
“Find the real Ross!” She called, running out of the room.
Superman glanced over at the two Geminis who were getting up from Maggie’s surprise attack. Superman looked over at Lana Lang, who the waxy substance was now disappearing from. Superman craned his head behind him where he noticed that Mannequin was now unconscious on the floor. His powers must have worn off when he was knocked out.
The two Geminis must have seen this two and ran up behind a slightly dazed Lana. One of the Geminis held her while the other pulled out a switchblade from his pocket.
“Ooo. Looks like we’ve gotten into quite the situation, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Completely.” Said the other.
Superman gave a thin smile but kept his focused. The Geminis looked at him with confusion.
“What? Something funny?”
“Yeah. I’ve never met anyone who likes to talk to himself as much as you.”
“Oh so now he’s a super comedian. That’s great!” One of the Geminis pushed the knife closer to Lana’s neck.
Lana stared over at Superman and mouthed his name, Clark.
“Don’t do anything funny, got it?” The Gemini on the left of Lana warned.
Superman raised his hands into the air.
“Okay.”
***
“Tyler!”
Maggie was running through the halls of the warehouse, seeing Tyler turn the corner at the end of each corridor she entered, almost intentionally drawing her in…or was he? She turned the next corner to find an opened door the parking lot outside. Going outside, her gun at the ready, she found herself standing in the middle of the lot, surrounded by parked cars.
“What’s the matter, Maggie? Afraid?” Tyler McKnight’s cold voice said.
He was leaning against a Chevy, casually, his gray eyes staring her down. Maggie lowered her weapon, looking back at him.
“Tyler…why are you doing this? We worked together…hell we were friends.”
“Were we friends? I wasn’t aware friends destroyed each others’ lives.”
At these words, the glass on the surrounding cars’ windows began to gently rumble. Maggie glanced over at this but chose to ignore it.
“I didn’t mean for that to-“
“But it did!”
The glass shook a bit more violently than before.
“I had that bastard, Mirror Master. I had him and you took my chance to avenge my family from me. You took it!”
Maggie said nothing as the windows of the cars began to crack.
“Tyler-”
“He was jumping through his portal in the bathroom mirror and I was going to follow him, get some payback for him killing my wife and daughter! I was so close! But when I was halfway in, you shot the mirror! You took everything away from me that Mirror Master hadn’t!”
“Tyler, please. Listen-“
“SHUT UP!”
There was a high pitched ringing when suddenly glass exploded through the air; all of the car windshields splattered as the windows blew open in a hailstorm of sharp shards. Maggie ducked, shielding her face with her arms. Tyler began to walk towards, the flying glass mysteriously weaving around him as he approached.
“Look what you did to me, Maggie. By shooting that portal when I was partially through it you put me in a coma and then when I finally woke up, hoping the bad dream was over, I found this!” Tyler raised his hand and the glass in the air began to converge around his fingers, spinning in a cyclone of reflection.
“Tyler, please.”
“No. This ends here, Maggie.”
***
“You two alright?”
Superman had just untied Pete Ross and now he along with Lana Lang was walking with the Man of Steel to the exit of the warehouse. Lana looked fearfully over at the unconscious body of Gemini, who had now returned to being only one man.
“Just head out through there. Try to get a taxi as quickly as possible. This isn’t exactly the best part of town.” Superman said, but gave the awkward smile that Lana and Pete had known so well from when they were childhood friends back home.
“Thanks.” Pete said.
He seemed a bit embarrassed by the whole situation. Having to have Clark come to the rescue again.
“Your welcome. Now go.”
As they exited the warehouse, Superman sped through the hallways of the warehouse until he finally found the opening into the parking lot outside. He could hear voices shouting from outside.
“Tyler, no!”
“I truly am sorry, Maggie but you ruined my life! It’s only fair I ruin yours!” Tyler roared, tears glimmering in his eyes.
Superman couldn’t believe his eyes. Glass had lifted back into the air and now was flying straight at Maggie Sawyer, who braced herself for the worst. The shards caught the reflection of red and blue, the Kryptonian hero darting into the wave of glass, trying to reach Maggie in time to shield her. Unfortunately he saw two shards sink into her back and then a whole half a dozen into her leg. A few more collided into her as Superman leapt into the way, protecting her from the remainder of the attack.
Once the sound of shattering glass stopped, Superman turned to find Tyler McKnight long gone. He looked back at Maggie who lay on her back, shards of glass protruding from her body. Superman’s eyes widened as he held her.
“Detective Sawyer…”
He nudged her, attempting to receive some sort of sign but none came.
“Detective Sawyer!” He said, a bit louder.
But once again…
There was no response.
TO BE CONTINUED!
