Chapter 1 - The Death Of Superman
The rain bulleted down from the storm clouds above, onto the ruined remains of Metropolis. The earth was cracked, the skyscrapers twisted, their windows shattered, and cars were littered everywhere, as if they had been thrown.
The citizens of this once great city walked through the remains, seemingly trying to reach a single point. However, their access was barred by police cars, tape and barricades.
Within the barricades was an area of 20 feet, the centre of which was caved in. The source of this destruction seemed to be a man, lying within the crater. He was dressed in a costume of red and blue, with an emblem containing the letter S upon his muscled chest.
This man's name was Kal-El, and he was the Last Son of the alien world Krypton. However, upon Earth, he was known by another name – Superman, the Man of Steel. This name was due to this alien man's strange and vast array of superpowers – super strength, invulnerability, flight, heat vision, super speed, ice breath ...
These powers made Superman both feared and adored, but he always strived to use his powers to help those in need, and to protect not only the city of Metropolis, but the world. This was a mammoth task, and a heavy burden, but it was one that Superman was always willing to take on ... until today.
As he lay still in the crater, his costume torn, his skin pale and bruised, the civilians who managed to get a look at him knew the truth of the situation. They knew that the great battle that had occurred minutes before would be Superman's last.
They knew ... that Superman was dead.
Overhead, news station helicopters tried to get a proper view of the scene, of not only the crude, tomb-like crater in which Superman lay, but also of the woman knelt by his side, silent in her mourning.
This woman, too, was not like the civilians around her. She wore enchanted armour, with metallic bracelets, a tiara and knee high boots. Her raven hair clung to her face in the rain, which mingled with her tears.
This woman was one of Superman's closest friends, and one whom with he had fought alongside many times. This was because she too was blessed with the powers of super strength, invulnerability and flight.
Her name was Princess Diana of Themyscira, and she was the Champion of the Amazons. However, she was known by the public by another name – Wonder Woman.
"How ...?"
Her voice was soft and broken, as her eyes focused themselves onto the body of her fallen friend.
"How could this happen, Kal? How could you do this?"
"Let me through! LET ME THROUGH!"
Diana was distracted by the screams of a woman in the crowd of civilians. It was a voice she instantly recognised.
"Let her through!" she yelled out to the police officers surrounding the barricades.
Moments later, a woman dressed in a suit jacket and skirt made her way past the barricades. She ran towards the crater, but stopped a few feet away. Her eyes widened in shock, and she gasped softly as she stared down at the body.
"No ... no, it can't be ..."
"I'm sorry, Miss Lane ..." said Diana solemnly.
Lois Lane collapsed beside the crater, shaking her head as she stared down at the body. It was as if she was trying to tell herself that her eyes were lying, that Superman couldn't possibly be dead.
"He ... he can't be dead ... it's Superman, for God's sake ... he can't be dead ..."
"Lois ..."
"NO!" said Lois loudly, looking up at Diana, "Don't say anything! Don't you say ANYTHING! He is NOT dead, do you hear me? HE IS NOT DEAD!"
Diana stared into Lois' eyes, and Lois could see the tears running down Diana's face. All of a sudden, she could feel the tears forming in her eyes, and, as she looked back down at the body, she began to sob.
"No ... not him ... not my Superman ..."
She then collapsed onto Superman's chest, burying her face in her arms as she sobbed uncontrollably. Diana wanted to place a hand upon her arm, to help console her, but believing it a pointless action, she crossed her arms and bowed her head.
"I had to see it for myself ..."
Diana looked up as she heard another familiar voice. However, while she held some form of affection for Lois, this voice filled her with nothing but hatred and contempt. Seeing the bald, sneering man to which the voice belonged only intensified these emotions.
"You!"
She rose to her feet, still staring at the man.
"You have the audacity to come here and ..."
"Audacity?" said Lex Luthor, still smirking, "I know he was your friend, Wonder Woman, but the only audacity here is that there are still those who would mourn the passing of this monster."
"How DARE you!"
Diana turned to see Lois march towards Luthor. As she reached him, she slapped him across the face with all of her strength, causing Luthor to stumble back slightly.
"How DARE you stand there and preach, when it's YOUR fault he's dead! YOU killed him!"
"I don't deny that, Lois, but I was only acting for the good of this city," said Luthor calmly, rubbing his face.
"You pretentious, arrogant, son of a ...!"
She made to smack him again, but Wonder Woman threw her arm out to stop her.
"That won't help, Miss Lane," she said.
"Yes, you should listen to your friend, Miss Lane," said Luthor, "After all, you wouldn't want the Daily Planet to run a story about you supporting Public Enemy Number 1."
"Superman is NO monster!" exclaimed Lois.
"Is? Don't you mean was?"
Again, Diana had to restrain Lois from striking Luthor, who laughed heartedly. He then threw his arms out, as he raised his voice for all to hear.
"Look around you, Lois! Look at all these people! They were all here, they all saw their beloved superhero attempt to tear this great city apart! Had I and my friends not intervened, we would all surely be dead!"
"And I'm sure it was so difficult for you to intervene, wasn't it?"
"I would be lying if I said I didn't take great pleasure in seeing him die, but the point is ... he was the enemy here, Lois, not me!"
"I don't care what you say, Luthor," said Lois, her voice breaking, "I know that you had to something to do with why Superman went rogue, and I won't rest until you pay for what you've done!"
"I believe Miss Lane is getting hysterical," yelled Lex, "Would someone please care to escort her somewhere more comfortable?"
At his word, two police officers crossed the barricade and began to approach the others.
"This isn't over, Lex!" said Lois, "I will expose you ... one way or another!"
"I'm sure ..." said Leo, raising an eyebrow.
Just then, the officers reached them, but before Lois conceded, she turned to Diana.
"You know he's innocent, don't you, Wonder Woman? You agree with me?"
Diana looked at her sliently, unsure of what to say.
"You ... you do believe he's innocent ... right?"
"I think you should go with these officers, get some rest," said Diana.
"No ..."
"C'mon, Miss Lane, let's go."
The officers gently led Lois away, but she turned back to face Diana.
"You can't side with him!" she yelled, "It wasn't Superman's fault!"
"C'mon, Miss Lane!" said one of the officers, "We need to clear the crime scene!"
"He was your friend, Diana!" called Lois angrily, "HE WAS YOUR FRIEND!"
Eventually, the officers managed to force Lois past the barricades and through the crowd.
"I didn't expect her to understand," said Luthor, "She and Superman were always close ... but one day, she'll understand that it had to be done."
He turned back to face Diana, with a smile that she did not return.
"Thank you, by the way, for restraining her before. She's always been more trouble than she's worth."
"Just be thankful that it was her that needing restraining and not me," said Diana, "If it were, not only would no-one be able to stop me, but I'd most likely break your jaw."
"I take it from that, that you do agree with her? That, somehow, I'm to blame for Superman's one man rampage?"
"I know you're to blame for this, Lex, and trust me, I plan on using every resource and contact at my disposal to prove it."
She stepped towards him, until they were both standing face to face.
"Enjoy the praise and adoration while it lasts, Lex Luthor, because I swear to you, here and now, that the death of Superman will also be the end of you!"
"Well, good luck with that, Princess ..."
Smirking once again, Luthor turned and walked away from her towards the barricades. Diana glared at his retreating figure, before she turned back to Superman's body.
"We'll get him, Kal-El ... I promise ..."