Note: This story is pulp inspired with a contemporary and realistic bent.
MAN OF STEEL #1 "Saved"
It came from the heavens. A stark, crystalline ship from a far off galaxy. Inside of it was a baby. A last survivor of the planet Krypton. As the baby slept several of the crystals above his head began to change color and as the ship entered Earth's atmosphere. An energy field expanded lowering itself down through the immense heat of entry toward the state of Kanasas. Driving by Shuster's field was the couple of Jonathan and Martha Kent. Both coming back from finding out that Martha could not have a child due to her damaged ovaries. As Jonathan turned to look at his wife and say some comforting words he saw it through the front windshield. A falling star crossing into Shuster's field.
"My god Martha. Did you see that?"
"I did Jonathan. What do you think it is?"
"I don't know," said Jonathan as he parked their beat up truck along the busted fence. "Let's go have a look.
After getting out and walking to the site where the shooting star landed they found the most amazing sight. A baby boy draped in a blue cloth with a red S symbol on it. Martha picked the boy up and held it.
"How on earth did this boy get way out here?"
Jonathan shook his head and examined the starship which was drained of power. He saw a box in the corner with an S symbol on it and removed it thinking that maybe it held some clue to the baby's origins. But he could not open it.
"Blast! I can't open this damn thing!"
"Stop fiddling with that Jonathan and help me get this baby to the truck."
"Wait, Martha, you're not intending on keeping him are you?"
"Yes I am."
"What if his parents are looking for him," asked Jonathan.
"Well, we will check the orphanage and if no one claims him we will."
Jonathan came over and looked at the boy and found himself unable to disagree. The boy's soulful blue eyes withheld a innocence that needed tempered.
---
Some time passed and when no one claimed the child the Kents took them as his own. And as the years passed they found he was no ordinary child. He seemed to get much stronger and faster and more durable with each season that passed. None of them knew why. As Clark sat on the porch on his sixteenth year. He looked at a wrench that he tried to use to fix the tractor, but he had broken it because he was far too strong. Jonathan came out and sat beside him.
"Still haven't gotten a handle on that strength yet?"
"No, pa. I haven't." Clark looked up at the descending sun. "I don't know why I keep getting stronger."
Jonathan looked at the cup of coffee in his hand and he patted his son on the shoulder.
"Come with me son. There is something I have to show you."
As Clark followed he wondered what it was that his pa had to show him when Jonathan opened up the unused storage room under the barn where a crystalline ship rested. Clark's eyes widened.
"What is this?"
"This is the contraption we found you in son," said Jonathan.
Clark looked at it with keen interest, but he had no recognition of the ship that brought him from Krypton to Earth. Seeing the lost look on Clark's face. Jonathan handed him the box with the S on it.
"I also found this with you. And the cloth that you were wrapped in."
As soon as Clark touched the box his mind made contact with the holographic recording matrix which played the details of his birth. Jonathan watched as Clark mumbled to himself while entranced by the box and he had no idea if it was hurting his boy or not. When the device finished glowing Clark gave it back to his adoptive father.
"What did it say?"
Clark looked at his adoptive father with sullen look, but he then forced a smile.
"I'm an alien."
Jonathan didn't run away from his son in fright nor did try to disavow it as nonsense. He could tell by the look in his son's eyes that he was being honest. And that was all he needed.
"We'll have to tell your mom about this. And -- you're going to have to learn how to control your strength."
"That is true. I don't want to scare my friends"
"You're also going to have to keep this a secret from your friends."
Clark looked at his father not understanding why. But after Jonathan put the box away and closed the doors to the storage room beneath the barn. He turned and explained.
"I know that look Clark. But you have to understand. If the military ever got a whiff that you existed they would try and dissect you or kill you."
"So, they can't hurt me."
"But what about your friends and us?" asked Jonathan.
Clark lowered his head. "I didn't think of that."
"You have to think of the big picture son. You can't go around using your powers in front of people nor can you tell any one of your true heritage. Because it will doom you and all of the ones you love."
Jonathan wrapped his arm around around Clark and lead him out of the barn back toward the house where they had a long talk about personal responsibility and manhood.
---
It was the twenty first of June some eight years later when Clark had moved out of Kanasas after graduating high school to attend college in Metropolis. He had spent his four years in college dabbling around until he decided to take Journalism as his major. For whatever reason Clark was very smart. Smarter than most of his classmates. And he never had problems thinking clearly. But he was not a genius. He's merely gifted at applying his intelligence and learning. While walking through the Planet Square he gazed up at the Daily Planet. The leading newspaper for Metropolis. Clark adjusted his hat and walked inside hoping for his big break by getting a job. But once Clark walked inside he heard a scream and he stepped back outside. An airplane's engine had gone out and was heading toward Centennial Park. Not knowing what to do Clark ditched his jacket and flew up there and got under the plane so fast that no one saw him. And by applying his strength he slowly lowered the plane to the ground as people and the press gathered around. Keeping to the shadows provided by the sun and the bulk of the plane Clark disappeared using his super-speed.
---
At his parents home in Kansas. Clark sat his jacket on the back of the chair and took a seat as his ma made a glass of orange juice for him. She smiled and sat beside him. His pa was reading the paper, but put it down when he noticed how disturbed Clark was.
"What happened Clark?"
"I...had no other choice."
"What do you mean?" asked Jonathan.
"A plane's engine gave out. It was sudden and out of nowhere. I didn't know what to do. So, I saved the people on the plane."
Martha and Jonathan's eyes widened.
"Did anyone see you?"
"No," Clark said. "I used the shadows and my speed to make sure that no one could get a good picture of me."
"What'll we do Jonathan?" asked Martha.
"I have no idea," said Jonathan as he stood up.
"It wasn't just a compulsion pa. You always talked to me about personal responsibility and family values. Well, with all of these powers I cou--"
"--No!"
"Why not?"
"What happens if you get caught or killed? I couldn't bear that and neither could your mother."
"We could make a disguise for him Jonathan. A costume. Something to give him a surreal appearance like those sci-fi movies they made when we were young."
Jonathan thought about it and Clark stood up and put his hand on his pa's shoulder.
"I could also use my speed to vibrate my features so cameras won't be able to get a good look at me. That way I'll be safe and so will everyone I care about."
Reluctantly Jonathan nodded. And after some adjustments to the cloth that Clark was draped in when he came to Earth a new guise was created for him with which to help people in the only way he could. Though, the depths of his powers were largely unexplored. He looked to the stars that night and vowed that he would protect his adopted home. And he would never forget where came from. But he also would never forget the kindness and grounding that his adoptive parents have given him. The next day he left and returned to Metropolis wearing glasses figuring there was little harm in adding a little of his adoptive parents traits to his looks.
As soon as he made it to the top floor where the press room was he walked around looking for the Editor in Chief and he kept trying to get the attention of anyone who knew where the EIC's office was. One red haired teen walked by and Clark got his attention.
"Excuse me," said Clark.
"Yes?"
"Do you know where Perry White's office is?"
"Yes. It's that big office over there in the corner."
"Thanks. And what's your name?"
"Jimmy. Jimmy Olsen."
"Thanks Jimmy."
"Your welcome," said Jimmy as he rolled his eyes.
Clark walked toward the office and he could hear a woman arguing with the Editor.
"I'm telling you Perry. This ghost or whatever it is that saved that plane is big news!"
"Ghosts, Flying men! Bah!" said Perry. "Give me a break Lois. No one can confirm what they saw. For all we know the pilot managed to right plane, which jibes with what Lexcorp had to say."
Lois bite her lip and grabbed her notes as she stormed out. Perry saw Clark and called him in.
When Clark walked in he saw that Perry had a variety of pictures dating through the years of various celebrities and important Metropolitan scandals. Clark took a seat and sat down his resume on Perry's desk and started to speak when Perry raised his hand.
"So, you come from Kansas and you went to Metropolis University eh?"
"Yes," said Clark.
"I used to know a few people from Kansas. Doubt they are living anymore."
Clark just nodded not understanding the relevance of Perry's reminiscing. He coughed and motioned toward his resume.
"I brought along my list of work I have done for the Smallville Herald and the Metropolis University Independent."
"I'll have a look at it later. But I want to know something kid. Do you really think you have what to takes to be a journalist?"
"Yes, I do."
"That's what they all say. For now I want you to familiarize yourself with the staff. And have a look around."
"Doesn't that seem imprudent?"
"You want a job don't you," said Perry with a raised tone.
"Yes sir."
"Then go. I will give you your first assignment when you are done."
Once Clark left Perry marked off the job listing that he was going to place in the paper .
Pulp Fiction: This is my first issue of Man Of Steel. I choose it because it sounded less super heroic and more Pulp inspired than Superman. I doubt I'll have anyone ever call Clark Superman. But I haven't really decided yet. Anyways, I hope you enjoy this issue. I'm not sure how many issues of this I will be doing.
-Mimick