I own nothing of Batman/Superman the Animated Series. They belong to Warner Bros.
Chapter 2
Lois Lane left the break room sipping a cup of coffee. As she walked to her desk, she was stopped by a very angry Perry White. His hands were into fists and his face was redder than a tomato.
"Lois, WHERE is Clark Kent??"
"I don't know, Chief. Last time I saw him was when he left for his lunch break. He was with Jimmy, I think."
"Thanks…OLSEN!!" Mr. White stormed off in search of his next prey. Turning the corner down a hallway, he ran right into Jimmy, who was changing the film in his camera.
"Olsen! What are you doing?"
"Putting in more film. I was about to head out to the streets."
"Not anymore, you're not. You're going to find Kent." Perry White demanded.
"But chief- Angela Chen is on the site of a major story! It's about Superman!"
"I don't care. I want to know where Kent is. Everything these days is about Superman!"
"But it's all over the TVs! I mean-"
"Chief!" said a voice. White turned to see Lois Lane running up clutching her purse. "Chief, can I take Jimmy out to the plaza? There's a story building up."
"Let me guess…it's about Superman."
"This is serious!"
"Fine. Take Olsen with you. And while you're out there, FIND CLARK KENT!!...AND STOP CALLING ME CHIEF, TOO!"
Lois and Jimmy took the elevator to the first floor, and then ran into Lois's car.
"So, what's the news about Superman?"
"He was in another fight with Metallo."
"Corbin?" Lois grimaced as she drove out of the parking lot. "Doesn't he ever take a hint?"
"Apparently not; and Superman is in trouble." Jimmy said. "From what I saw on TV, Metallo rendered him defenseless."
"WHAT?? Where were they?"
Lois's car zoomed down the Metropolis highways, following Jimmy's directions. After rounding another corner, her car came to an abrupt halt in order to avoid hitting the crowd of people at the scene. Lois got out of the car and looked around. Surrounding buildings had cracks or holes in their outer walls; cars were dented, crushed, or on fire; and in the center of the crowd lay the Man of Steel lying on the pavement.
"Superman!" Lois jumped out of her car towards the center of the crowd as Angela Chen's camera cut filming.
"Lois! It's about time you showed up. I thought you would be here earlier."
"Nice to see you too, Angela. Any details you want to share about this?"
"From what I saw myself, Superman almost stopped four men from robbing a bank. One of the men surrendered, walked up to Superman, and then threw off his jacket. Metallo revealed that green rock and weakened Superman in a tough fight. Metallo threw Superman on the ground and ran off. We tried getting a pulse, but couldn't find one. We called an ambulance just before you got here."
"I've seen Superman against Metallo loads of times, but I've never seen the result like this." Lois shook her head in disbelief as an ambulance drove up. Lois turned to Jimmy.
"Jimmy, stay with Superman." Lois said. "I'm gonna get this story."
"Why me?" Jimmy asked.
"Why not? You are Superman's pal, aren't you?" Angela Chen retorted.
Jimmy walked quickly through the halls of the Metropolis Medical Center. Looking from room to room, he finally found the location of Superman, who was surrounded by doctors and nurses.
"He's not responsive," said a nurse as she put an oxygen mask over his nose and mouth.
"Is he gonna be ok?" Jimmy asked.
"I don't know, kid." A doctor said as he ran into the room. "How long has he been out?"
"I don't know, maybe fifteen- twenty minutes tops."
"Get the defibrillator!" ordered the doctors. "We need to act quickly if we're going to save him." The doctor pressed the pads onto Superman's chest. Pressing one of the buttons, Superman jolted on the medical bed. His heart remained silent.
"AGAIN!!" Ordered the doctor. Superman jolted again. A few seconds later, the heart monitor began beeping.
"Thank goodness." The doctor sighed.
"He's alive?" Jimmy asked.
"Barely, kid." The doctor said. "His heart rate is extremely low and he's barely breathing. We're lucky he even came back at all. At the moment, he's in a serious coma. There's nothing we can do but supply him with oxygen."
"Will he ever come out?" Jimmy said.
The doctor patted him on the shoulder. "As long has he keeps breathing, his condition should remain as is and/or improve. My hope is he'll come out of it within a week or two. With him off the streets, there's no telling how many criminals will run loose."
Lois walked slowly back to her car when her phone rang. "Hello?"
"Lois? It's Jimmy."
"How is he?"
"The doctors revived him, but he's still in bad shape." Jimmy said.
"How bad is it?"
"Coma?"
"That's bad."
"He's on life support, so he should be ok. The doctor thinks in about two weeks, he should come out."
"Let's hope so." Lois said. "I got the details for my story, so I'm coming to pick you up. We still need to find Smallville."
2 DAYS LATER
Perry White paced his office nervously in front on Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane.
"We looked everywhere, Chief." Jimmy said. "No one can find Clark Kent anywhere."
"It's been two days. He's not the type to not call if he was going to be out." Lois said sadly.
"Do you think he was abducted by some maniac? Metallo maybe? Perhaps he was a witness of the robbery and was abducted to keep things quiet. " Mr. White suggested.
"Smallville? He's the worst kind of person to kidnap! He doesn't have anything of value!" Lois said. "Besides, all he would need to do is tell some "Kansas living" story and his captors would fall asleep in five minutes flat."
"I'm not so sure, Lois." Jimmy said. "Clark left for lunch just before the robbery! It's possible Metallo grabbed him as a hostage."
"It works in theory, but it's not Corbin's style. He would only kidnap someone unless he knew it was his for his advantage…that creep."
WAYNE ENTERPRISES-GOTHAM CITY
Bruce Wayne rubbed the back of his neck as he walked towards his secretary's desk. She wasn't there, but there was a note on her clean desk.
Mr. Wayne:
You've received several calls from a Mr. Lex Luthor. He mentioned something about a new partnership for some new project he's designing. He requests you call him back as soon as possible.
-Sarah
Oh, by the way…a young boy let himself into your office a while ago.
Picking up the note, he walked through the double doors of his office. When he looked towards his desk, he rolled his eyes. In his chair sat Tim Drake playing on his computer.
"Having fun?"
"Just passing the time; besides, its holiday break! You don't expect me to sit around at home, do you? There are even times when Alfred gets to be too much." Bruce remained silent as he picked up some papers off his desk and flipped through them. "Bruce, I'm worried about you."
"Why?"
"You haven't been yourself. You're always distracted, especially on missions. I mean, last night, we were against Riddler's goons, and the puny one knocked you unconscious! You! UNCONSCIOUS!" Tim exclaimed. "This isn't like you at all! What's bothering you? You can tell me."
"It's nothing."
"That's what you said last time." Tim pouted, "AND the time before that."
"Is that a problem?"
"Alfred and I are just concerned. That's all."
Bruce stared long and hard at Tim. Then his eyes moved toward the newspaper on his desk. Curiously, he picked up the paper and looked right at the top headline:
METALLO MANHANDLES MAN OF STEEL
By: Lois Lane
Metropolis Daily Planet Staff
Around noontime in the Metropolis Square, Superman, Metropolis's 'Man of Steel' was defeated by super criminal John Corbin, now known as "Metallo".
It all began in the Metropolis First Bank as four unidentified men walked in and demanded money. The fifth man, Corbin, kept control by holding a small grenade, said female teller Sandy Keller. Keller also called her manager, who sounded the bank alarm when he saw the fifth man punch a hole in the vault wall.
Superman caught up with the robbers soon after their departure from the bank. According to pedestrians, four of the men escaped down a nearby alley as the fifth man stepped towards Superman and surrendered.
According to news reporter Angela Chen, "Superman was about to lead the man to the police when the man threw off his coat and other concealing clothing to show his metal skin. "
Metallo clearly had the advantage in the fight, using his kryptonite heart to strike Superman with radiation beams from his chest cavity and eyes. When he could take the radiation no longer, Superman collapsed lifelessly on the pavement.
Superman was rushed to Metropolis Medical Center where Doctors and nurses restarted his heart. He currently remains on life support while he experiences a severe coma.
If anyone has any information on the whereabouts of Metallo, immediately notify Daniel Turpin from the Special Crimes Unit and/or Inspector Henderson from Metropolis Police Department. He is considered armed and extremely dangerous.
Bruce Wayne looked up from the paper at Tim.
"What's wrong?"
"You remember Superman, right?"
"Yeah; he dressed up like you when you went missing. Why?"
"He's in a serious coma."
"No way." Tim said in shock. "The Superman? IN A COMA?"
"Read it for yourself." Bruce said, tossing the paper onto his desk. Tim picked it up and skimmed the article. "It doesn't seem possible."
"Everyone has a weakness, and all that needs to happen is someone to exploit it, like Metallo."
"I'd hate to be in Metropolis right now." Tim said.
"You know what? I'm thinking of taking a trip."
"Now? When Christmas is in three weeks?"
"Why not?" Bruce shrugged. "Veronica keeps asking what I'm doing for the holidays, so now I have a good answer."
"Where are you going?"
"Metropolis, of course. I think I'll pay an old friend a visit."
"Is Batman going to make any appearances?"
"Maybe."
"Can I come too?"
"No."
"But Bruce, I wanna get out of Gotham for a few weeks." Tim said. "I never get to go anywhere."
"Commissioner Gordon may need you."
"Come on, that's what Batgirl and Nightwing are for." Tim said. "C'mon…PLEASE?"
"I'll think about it." Bruce said. "In the meantime, call Alfred and tell him to pack. I won't be back until after the holidays end."
"Then where am I supposed to stay?"
"I'll think of something."
"I've heard of that before." Tim grumbled as he left the office. Pulling a cell phone out of his pocket, he dialed the Wayne Manor number, hoping Alfred would pick it up.
"Wayne Manor."
"Alfred, its Tim."
"Oh, good to hear from you, Master Timothy." Alfred said.
"Bruce wants to tell you to pack. He's making another trip to Metropolis."
"For how long is this trip, sir?"
"Umm, he mentioned coming back after the holidays were over. I'd say a few weeks."
"I see. Are you coming along, sir?"
"Bruce won't let me." Tim said. He looked around to be sure Bruce couldn't hear him talking. "Do you know of a way for me to get there without him knowing??"
"I don't know of any, Master Timothy. If you were Mr. Grayson, I would suggest taking his batcycle, but you're far too young to operate a car."
"Alfred, please! I really want to go."
"Perhaps you can convince Master Bruce to change his mind." Alfred replied. "I dare not go against his wishes. He seems to know what's best."
"But I don't want to be stuck in Gotham while he's on vacation somewhere! Please, Alfred…I'm begging here!"
"I'm sorry, Master Timothy. I will have no part in you smuggling yourself to Metropolis. But, since you want to go so badly, I suggest conversing with Dick Grayson. He fooled Master Bruce many times while he stayed here. Of course, you didn't hear that from me."
"Of course not. It's our little secret."
"What's your little secret?" Bruce asked, walking up to his ward.
"Bruce! Oh, umm….nothing. "Tim nervously replied, showing an innocent smile.
"I'm off to find Lucius and give him the news." Bruce said, walking towards the elevator. "By the way, I thought about it."
"I can go?" Tim asked. "Awesome!"
"No, you can't go." Bruce announced. "This is a somewhat personal trip, and I want to handle it alone."
"Fine." Tim pouted.
"I called Dick. He said he'd watch you for the few weeks."
"Fine." Tim grumbled. When Bruce left the room, Tim opened dialed on his phone again.
"Dick? It's Tim. I need your help."
LEXCORP BUILDING-METROPOLIS
An extremely tired Lex Luthor sat at his desk, flipping through Newspapers, legal papers, and construction bills. Ever since The Joker struck a deal with him to kill Superman months ago, the press has been at his throat more and more instead of him being "Mr. Clean", as the psycho clown had promised. After throwing all of the papers onto the floor in frustration, he pressed a comm. button on his desk.
"Mercy!"
"Yes, Lex?"
"Do you have the robot camera yet??"
"Technicians are still fixing it now. It should be ready…" Mercy's voice faded into static.
"Mercy? Mercy!!" Suddenly, the doors to his office were flung open. A ragged figure slowly walked into the room, approaching Luthor's desk.
"Hello Lexie. It's been a LONG time, hasn't it? Aaaaaaaaahahahahaha!"
Ok, I know my typing of a laugh can never compare to the real awesomeness of Mark Hamill's awesome Joker laugh, but that's what imaginations are for! PLEASE REVIEW!!
