(AN: First let me say I don't own Superman, Superman the Animated Series, Overman, or any of the Justice League heroes or villains used in this story. That pleasure belongs to DC comics and of course the estates of those original creators. Second… This is the official second part to my Story Wraiths. I felt that it would be better to combine Wraiths and this story together than it would be to simply build yet another Justice League's universe. That said I hope that everyone enjoys the story and please any suggestions, ideas, or criticisms are welcomed.)
Brave New World
Chapter 1 'Rebuild'
(Alternate Earth - Metropolis - March 17th 2008)
The sun peeks over the horizon, and once again a man who had once been a god among men looks down at the world below him. Even though he lost the trust of the world, of his friends, and of those he had occasionally worked with he still looked at the world as something that needed protecting. His blue eyes sparkled lightly as the memory of the woman he loved flashed through his mind. Seeing her again, even if it wasn't 'his' Lois had made the difference. No one else had been able to touch him in the way she had. Shortly after she had left his world, again, he realized how much he had bastardized the world that his Lois loved. He floated down toward Metropolis and landed on top of the Daily Planet. He didn't know if his counterpart had made the mistake of confessing his hidden identity. He realized the mistake of that now. He had to remain Superman. He couldn't try to blend in as he really was. There was no way of becoming Clark Kent again. He wanted to. He wanted to be Clark Kent. He was Clark Kent. The world knew him as Superman, but Superman was an act, a fake. He heard the soft landing of feet behind him and breathed out an even breath.
"Hello Bruce," he said as he turned around.
"Clark. You've missed your psych evaluation," Bruce said straight to the point.
"I'm not the same person I was Bruce. I'm not 'Overman' anymore. I haven't been since..." He began and felt a hand on his shoulder.
"You haven't been since you got to see her. The moment you saw Lois it changed, and believe me i understand, but the evaluations aren't just to ensure that you're still on this path. It's part of what will eventually get the world to trust you," Bruce said.
"Maybe I don't want their trust. Maybe I just want to be Clark Kent... Not the reporter, but the farm boy," Clark stated.
"Then go and be him, but it won't end. Everyone knows who you are. Luthor talked you into..." Bruce didn't finish before Clark whirled around and glared at him.
"They know since Luthor managed to talk me into releasing my secret identity right? I already know that! Damnit I know!" Clark exclaimed.
He sighed and looked toward the heavens.
"I wonder if there is a world where Superman doesn't exist or died... I wonder if I could step into his shoes and live my life there," Clark said sadly.
"It's a possibility," Bruce said before he stepped back.
"Can it be done?" Clark asked before Bruce began to take off.
"Is that how you want to fix this problem? You want to run from it?" Bruce asked.
"It's not running. I almost destroyed this world because I lost Lois. I let Luthor tell me half-truths and I believed him. Once I let go of the reigns the world began to straighten out. Bruce, you, Wally, J'onn, Diana, Shayera, and John have managed to keep the world safer without me interfering. The only time I helped was when those aliens tried to invade. Diana has strength close to my own and so does Kara. You really didn't need me. You still don't need me," Clark said.
"Just because Wonder Woman, Supergirl, and J'onn have some of your abilities doesn't mean you can give up your responsibilities," Bruce said.
"I already have. Just tell me if it's really possible, please," He begged.
"Yes, it is. I looked into the data from when the other Lois appeared. I've worked with it and I found that it's not only possible; it's almost too easy to do. All that is needed is the proper frequency and opening a gateway can be done. Has for your other question... There is a world where Superman doesn't exist anymore, but it's far from perfect," Bruce said.
"I just need a chance," Clark said.
"Meet us in the founders' hall tonight," Bruce said before he disappeared.
(Metrotower - Metropolis)
Clark walked into the founders' hall and looked to see several faces which still distrusted him. Granted the only ones who had stood against him when he worked with Luthor was Bruce, John, Shayera, and Wally, but both J'onn and Diana had learned of what he had done. They had learned how he had nearly brought the entire world under a strict dictatorship. Diana had tried to give him the benefit of the doubt, but she didn't simply trust him. She measured him on every action, and that measurement had often been aimed far too high. He needed to leave. He needed to find a world where he could start fresh. The entire room seemed focused on him and he swallowed back any hesitation he felt.
"We've went over your request, and because of the current state of your psych evaluations, your performance, and actions we find no reason not to grant your request; however, there are some of us who feel that you could and would be of benefit right here," Bruce's voice stated.
"I can't stay here. The world is never going to trust me. My presence hurts any good the league could ever hope to do, and there is nothing, nothing that I can ever do to remove the black spot I caused. The only thing that can be done is for me to disappear, but I don't just want to leave. I want to start fresh on an Earth that has lost Superman. I want to make a difference again," Clark stated.
"The Earth Batman has found is devoid of a Superman. The entire Justice League there seems to be decimated and there is only a handful of the league that remains," J'onn replied.
"Do we have contact with that Universe?" Clark asked.
"The other Batman and I have spoken. He's not going to trust you, but he is willing to allow you to help. It's the best option you are likely to find," Bruce answered.
"Are you sure you will not reconsider? The people may come to accept you, and trust you eventually," Diana stated.
"It's not likely. You didn't see what he did to the world. You didn't witness the camps, see people being lobotomized because they spoke out against Luthor or Superman, and you didn't see families being slaughtered because they sheltered someone from the resistance. No one is ever going to trust him Diana. No is going to trust him because no one will ever forget," Shayera said with a sense of acidity.
The way Shayera had said it hurt. Naturally it should hurt after all. He had done all of what she said, and what he didn't do he allowed. He believed it was in the best interest of the people to be kept under the heel of the new government he and Luthor had set up. Shayera had personally suffered the camps. her wings had been painfully clamped together inside of the camps and a dog's shock collar had been placed on her when she disobeyed. She had been humiliated, tortured, and treated as though she was subhuman. Not once had she hid the fact that she hated him, and it often seemed that she went out of her way to prove that he was not only not wanted, but that he was going to resort back to being Overman again. Clark watched as John touched her hand and the angry Thanagarian looked toward her husband. The hate and anger in her eyes began to recede back as John studied her face for a moment.
"No matter what we think about Superman we need to keep what's good for the Earth and the people of the Earth. The best thing for everyone of Earth is to move on. I have to agree that it's been hard for anyone to move on. With that in mind I agree with the decision," John said as he looked at Clark.
"At one time you were my hero. I idolized you and I became a hero because of you. When you turned on the world and tried to take it over... I almost lost my faith. I mean it was a slap to the face to know that my idol had become something he fought against. If it wouldn't have been for Bats, GL, and Hawkgirl I don't know what would have happened to me. Instead I worked with them and with the resistance. I learned what it meant to be more than just a showboat. I'm all for second chances, but I think that your second chance is somewhere else," Wally said.
"I can't and I won't defend what I did, but I will promise that I will work toward making the world I'm sent to a better place," Clark stated.
"It is then accepted by the founders that you will be sent to this alternate Earth. Report to the teleportation room in thirty minutes," Bruce said before he stood.
(Outside of the founders' hall)
"It doesn't seem right to me. No one should simply be willing to leave the world behind because of past mistakes. They should attempt to make admins and the world should accept the change," Diana stated as she walked near Bruce.
"The world isn't the black and white Princess. Superman is the reason many of the people are still scared. People that were in the resistance are still afraid of coming forward because they fear his retaliation," Bruce replied.
"Do they not understand that he has changed?" Diana asked.
"Diana, according to what I've read about your homeland there was someone who did unspeakable things to your mother. I believe it was Heracles wasn't it?" Bruce asked.
"Yes... The vile son of Zeus raped my mother, my sisters, and did so for days. He took joy in their torment," she spat the words out as though they were poison.
"If Heracles came back claiming he had changed, and he did works to prove he had changed, would the amazons forgive him for his actions?" Bruce asked.
She shook her head and looked at the floor.
"I see. Superman's actions could be considered the same as the actions of Heracles. I thought of this before, but I refused to believe it. I refused because I have gotten to know him. He does not seem like someone who would do the terrible things I have heard he has done," she answered as she walked near the Dark Knight.
(Teleportation room - Thirty minutes later)
Bruce looked at the formula he had entered into the controls. The complex equation had been designed by himself and the other Batman after a great amount of time and stress. The both of them worked tirelessly on it knowing that it would teleport Clark one way to the other world. Bruce had stated to his other self that it would be the best idea to send Clark somewhere he would recognize and at the same time be in contact with Bruce directly. The decision came down to the Watchtower. The moment he materialized on the Watchtower the notification would hit the Batcave. From there it would be fairly simple for the Dark Knight to keep track of the Man of Steel.
"Goodluck Clark," Bruce said as he pressed the button to complete the teleportation. The sound of chirping birds filled the air and surrounded him for a moment before he simply disappeared completely.
(Watchtower - Justice Lords/Wraiths Universe)
The sound of the activation of the Teleporter activating startled John. He hadn't told Lois about the dark magic he attempted to take into himself. Of course the reaction was similar to getting completely shitfaced. He looked up to see a form starting to materialize before him. His eyes adjusted to the light as he watched the form of Superman take shape.
"Bloody hell!" John said as he fell backward.
(Batcave - Justice Lords/Wraiths Universe)
Bruce watched as the teleporters picked up the DNA of Kal-El. He wondered if this was really a good idea. It wasn't that he didn't want to give Clark another chance, but he had to worry anyway. This Clark had lost his Lois and it drove him to become a dictator. This universe Lois Lane was a vampire, one turned by Clark himself, and currently dating John Constantine of all people. Not only that she had a two year old son. The son of Clark's which was a final gift to her before he left her to die on the roof of their apartment. Still he wasn't blind to the need the world had. Kara was doing her part with the League, but even with the presence of Supergirl there was simply too much going on. Between the openings of the Dark Realm, Darkseid's attempted invasions, and the recent Kryptonian invasion there was a serious need for the Man of Steel.
Bruce stood and looked to see his wife and current goddess of Life and Truth. He knew that Diana would never be with Clark again. She had betrayed herself when she believed that he was what she wanted. Still he wouldn't be human if he didn't feel the slightest hint of jealously. He watched as Diana walked toward him and touched his shoulder. A calming feeling flooded through him and he felt her touch his very soul.
"He is not the same Kal my αγάπη. Besides even if he was the same I would not feel any attraction to him. I belong to you as you belong to me," she said before she leaned down and caught him in a kiss.
"I know this is going to be a mistake," Bruce said simply.
"It is no mistake to give someone a second chance. It may be a mistake to not inform Lois about it though," Diana said with a smile.
"I already know how she's going to respond to this," Bruce said with a smirk.
"Yes, she's going to be upset, and she will demand answers from you. I fear that Constantine may feel the same," Diana stated.
"I know, and that's the reason I'm heading up to the Watchtower right now. I've got to contain this," Bruce said as he walked toward the teleporter in the cave and soon disappeared.
(Teleporter room - Watchtower - Justice Lords/Wraiths Universe)
Clark stumbled back as he looked at Lois. She was dressed in a tight black outfit which seemed to show a generous amount of cleavage. Her dark hair seemed the same, but her skin was snow white and her eyes had become crimson red.
"What the hell is this?" Lois exclaimed as she looked at Clark.
"L... Lois?" Clark asked obviously confused.
A second later and the teleporter activated again this time producing Bruce.
"Everyone we're going to the meeting room right now," Bruce said as he started to walk past them.