It was then they decided to become superheroes. They decided that after watching on TV a man that supposedly came from the ancient lost city of atlantis and called himself Aquaman. He rescued a few people on a fishing boat and got large media attention like the Daily Planet newspaper in nearby Metropolis. They told the idea to their parents who in turn took them to the old barn house they where forbidden to enter. There they revealed to their sons the spaceships they had arrived in and told them everything, also the tail. Now knowing their true origins but not the real answers, they decide to devote their lives to the helping of others no matter who they are like their parents did when they took them in and raised them. From there on their lives changed forever. As a superhero they handled small things like car accidents and bush fires, they where just kids who couldn't handle a robbery or terrorist attack just yet. They kept too the darkness, not showing themselves too long so people couldn't give them a face. Sometimes a kind of flash or piece of cloth would be photographed but no newspaper would want it. At their school and among the young they where extremely popular though, even though nobody knew who they where. When they got older, they got bolder and did a bit more then just community service. Marks abilities didn't let him be as invisible as his brother, so eventually he got a face in the school papers. He was able to deny the claims it was him though.
Clark was another matter. He got stronger and faster and at age 16 the limits too his powers seemed to have been reached. He could run and fly at speeds nearing the speed of light(he didn't dare go faster) and easily lift up a super oil tanker. He did superhero stuff all across the country and even the world. Nobody knew who he was, some of his actions where credited too Mark. Mark also handled his superhero actions differently. As he was less of a indestructable, unstoppable force like his brother and he made fights personal, tested himself and his opponent time and time again. Usually with a good dose of humor to attract the ladies. He didn't like the press though. Eventually he did become able to conceal his identity and thus keep going too school without everybody going over him. Clark of course helped him with that, sometimes showing up as the superhero Mark in front of Mark so everyone could see it wasn't him. Eventually Mark himself learn how to fly as he felt his own energy force increasing in such a way he was able to take control of it. Flying was also a better way to go too his limits and thus increase them, plus join his brother all across the country and beyond. Mark just kept on improving himself, Clark sometimes envied him for that. It seemed more that Mark had earned his strength and thus the cheers of the crowd, while Clark couldn't increase himself no matter how hard he tried(though he didn't really have to). That all changed when they where 20 and moved to the university in Metropolis. They both stuggled greatly with keeping their identity a secret. Especially Mark as he had kept his own face on the news. Clark did it more professionally and introduced himself too the crowds. They coined him Superman. Clark put on glasses and changed his hair during his time as a student, acting a bit dorky. It worked, nobody even suspected him. Mark decided to, when he was going too school and in private to wear a mustache and put cotton cloths in his mouh to deshape his face. It worked, they didn't know on school he was Mark the superhero(not the name used by the media). He was just Mark the agricultural student. The 2 brothers could thus hang out in private and on school as their superhero identities almost never met. Except, when a big threat came along. There was a large fire once, an F5 tornado just outside town and the capsizing of a cruiseship near Italy. Only then they where seen working together, sometimes with other superheroes(including aquaman).
On a rainy Sunday afternoon however something happened in the centre of Pittsburgh. News and police called it a great energy surge that took out a couple of blocks. Later however reports came in of a figure throwing cars at policemen and shoot lightning. Mark and Clark where both early breakfast in Metropolis when hearing this and didn't waste a second. Superman got there in microseconds, Mark a couple of seconds later. They headed for the crisis point and saw a metal android standing in front of them holding a car up. When the robot saw them it threw the car at incredible speed and strength at them. Superman caught it without trouble.
"Stop! Who are you?" Asked Mark.
"I am Metallo, my masters have created me to destroy you, Superman! Finally you are here." It completely ignored Mark and pointed at Superman. It opened its chest, from it a green light came out. Superman suddenly felt weak, he grabbed his head and stumbled back and forward. Mark ran up to him a caught him before he fell. Superman had a nose bleed.
"What did you do to him! Stop it!" Mark gently let his bother sink too the floor.
"No, don't. Mark, he is more powerfull then he looks."
"Don't worry, i got this." Mark smiled and ran towards Metallo. Metallo had been expecting him and punched him hard in the face. Mark was flung into the other direction into a building. He came out a little dazzled.
"Wow, only my brother has hit me like that before. Feels good." He cracked his neck and fingers and shook off the rubble. Then he again charged Metallo head-on. He moved incredibly fast but not for Metallo who blocked his first punch. He kicked him on his side, that one hit. But the robot's body was very tough and Mark hurt his leg on the metal outerlayer. Thats not ordinary steel or titanium. Metallo grabbed Mark's leg and flung him into the air.
"Bye bye, monkey boy". Mark stopped himself in mid-air, that surprised Metallo and obviously Metallo didn't know about Mark's abilities. "No way, thats not what people are calling me. Are you kidding?"
Metallo smiled and pointed a little below Mark. "I was referring too something else"
Mark looked down and saw a long, brown tail hanging behind him. He felt at his rear... "Oh my god! A tail! My tail... It... it grew back? How? Why now?" Being distracted Metallo punched him on his cheek. He then kicked him towards the ground. Metallo obviously couldn't fly as he landed hard onto the ground. Mark got up but metallo was already at him and kicked him numberous times in the stomach. He then picked Mark up and punched him in the face into another building.
"Man, he is too strong!" Mark realized this robot was build to battle his brother, who was way stronger then him. They still relied upon the strange green radiation from its chest to weaken Superman or Metallo could never beat him. It must have a weak spot. Mark got up several times but each attack he performed was blocked and countered by Metallo. Mark lay on the ground in the rubble of the streets. He looked over too his brother. Still unconcious. Somehow Mark felt his brother's energy fading more and more, he was dying. Gotta keep this Metallo away from him he thought. Metallo was walking over too Clark, probably to finish him off. With all the strength he could muster Mark got up once more. Metallo turned around and looked surprised. He ran towards Mark and kicked him again, hard in his stomach. Mark fell down again.
"And stay down". Metallo walked over too Superman again. Mark got angry. He felt his strength fading though, he might be able to stand up only one more time. Better make it count. He stood up, slowely so Metallo didn't hear him. He then concentrated his strength too the palm of his hands for one big punch. He then felt the energy leave his body and form up in the palm of his hands. Metallo turned around again.
"You just don't know when to stop do you?" As Metallo ran up to him again Mark stretched out his arms and tried to push the energy he saved up towards Metallo. A thin beam of while energy shot out of Mark's hands and hit Metallo. It did surprise Metallo and knocked him off his feet. Metallo struggled up.
"Well, that was surprising. Now i'm angry." Metallo grabbed Mark by his head and gave him a few knees into the face before dropping him down again. He then grabbed Mark by his tail and rotated him above his head. He then swung him upwards. He jumped after Mark and in mid-air kicked him really hard that made Mark go flying towards the West. Metallo jumped after him and eventually, after a few jumps to catch up he jumped up high above Mark and elbowed him downward into the ground. It was still nighttime here(somewhere in Oregon, between Portland and Salem). Mark had landed somewhere in an open countryside, he felt like every bone in his body was broken(probably true) and he was bleeding from his mouth, nose and ears. Metallo landed right on top of him with incredible force and stomped on him with his feet a couple of times. He laughed as Mark screamed in pain.
"I might enjoy killing you more then your brother." Metallo kicked him towards a small hill and slowely walked over. With his last strength Mark lifted his head. He saw Metallo come over.
"If only i could move, i can beat you." Metallo laughed. "You have to be joking monkey boy. What on earth could you possibly do now?" Metallo bended over towards Mark's face. Behind Metallo in the sky Mark saw the full moon coming from behind the clouds. It was magnificent, in fact Mark didn't think he ever saw the moon so beautifull. He couldn't stop looking at it. Even when Metallo picked him up to finish him off he couldn't stop looking at the moon. Then, suddenly Mark felt something in his new tail, a jolt of adrenaline. Another a scond later. Mark felt his muscles tense and his heart pound. Whatever was happening, Metallo didn't notice and punched Mark in the face. Mark didn't feel anything though. In fact, he couldn't feel his entire body anymore. Instead Mark saw Metallo only vaguely. then he slowely seemed to move away and Mark saw himself starting too rise, except he couldn't feel it. He didn't hear anything either. He figured maybe Clark was there and carried him away. He just kept on rising and rising while seeing Metallo look in horror up towards him, slowely stepping back. Then it all went black for Mark.