After 3 weeks Mark was still supposed to be in the hospital in Oregon but he had escaped so many times already they had discharged him. He had healed incredibly fast but Mark did not allow them to take blood samples or anything else for them to analyze. Though they thought that strange, they respected his wishes(you don't screw a man that can turn into a gigant ape). They also at first wanted to remove the tail. But Monkey boy refused, saying he feels stronger and healthier with it. Only he knew that it was part of his alien features and lied he got it after fighting against Mr. Mxyzptlk who thought it would be funny to give him a tail. At the front door of the hospital hordes of press stood ready to ask Monkey boy some questions. He however had snuck out of the 10th level window, with Superman.
"Good to have you back." They embraced. "My god you have increased in strength. Its incredible" Mark looked happy, his tail wiggling left and right.
"Its good to be back brother. Uhm, i mean Superman. I have been thinking" They flew off towards the East, back home. Superman looked surprised over his left shoulder.
"Thinking? About what exactly? The tail?"
Monkey boy looked up. "Hm? No, not the tail. The tail is fine, in fact the tail is great. I feel my strength originating from it actually. No, i mean the name."
"What? Monkey boy. I'm sorry Mark but its the only thing that came up. You should have made your own superhero name long ago, then you would have had a proper name for yourself." They where almost home, Superman could already smell their Mom's vegetable soup.
"Oh, yeah sure. Have a secret identity only to have it smashed up by some weirdo in a metal suit and turn into a gigantic ape. Bye bye secret, hello Mark Kent the superhero. I just can't believe i have a name given too me by a villain. I mean he didn't even go for me at first" They touched down onto the ground.
"Oh stop complaining, at least you are not known by your last name or to be my brother or our parents would be in danger. Everyone is safe. Let me worry about why Metallo was there. They analyzed that green stuff at Metropolis."
Mark looked up in surprise. "Really? What is it?" Clark stopped before opening the door and looked at Mark.
"Appearently its a type of crystal. Nowhere else found on earth. They think it might be extraterrestial. Explains why it affected me" Their mother greeted them indoors and they sat down to dinner.
"I'm sorry we didn't visit you more often sweetheart but Salem is quite a long flight and your brother was not always available to take us."
"Its alright mother, the dozens of postcards and flowers did the trick. Besides, i'm out much earlier then they first said." Mark kept scooping up food, Martha had bought an extra large cooking set and large pots to feed Mark alone. He ate for at least 5 people.
"Must be your alien features. The healing." Clark mentioned. "Still, not as fast healing as i do it." He said with a wink too his father who laughed. Martha didn't laugh though.
"You could both have been killed. If you didn't go together who knows what would have happened?"
"Who knew something could harm Clark so much?" Jonathan mentioned. "But you are right, you both where extremely lucky. Going out together was a smart thing. We both watched it all on the news and where terrified when we saw Clark laying there on the ground and you Mark kicked off into the distance." Jonathan stood up to clear the table and do the dishes.
"You where also lucky you where together celebrating passing your degree. If you would have gone solo you would surely be dead right? Maybe you should always team-up." Martha mentioned. Clark and Mark looked at eachother.
"A superhero team." They said in chorus. "Yeah, we could invite Aquaman and the Flash."
Jonathan looked behind the corner. "The Flash? Who is that?" Clark walked into the kitchen too help his father.
"Oh, helped us before. He is from Coast City, he's a speeder. He was the one who saved my ass back in Oregon."
Mark in the mean time helped his mother put the table back and put everything back on it. "Yeah, he might be faster then Clark i have heard."
Clark gave a weird face. "Yeah right, maybe if he could fly and had no resistance from the ground. Running he could beat me but no way when i'm flying."
Martha sat down onto the couch to relax. "Perhaps you can have the batman join too. You know the one from Gotham City who jailed the Joker and Scarecrow."
Mark shook his head. "I heard he was more like an anti-hero then a real one. The police have a warrant out"
Clark came back into the room, the dishes never took long. "Yeah and i don't trust a man who doesn't cooperate with the police."
Mark sat down next to his mother. "Well perhaps we can help him sometimes in Gotham and meet him. Aquaman has helped him before" Mark flicked on the TV.
"By the way, how did your application at the University go? Did you get the job Mark?" Mark zapped between a few channels. "They will call me back but i'm confident they will accept me as new assistant researcher. Oh look, People's Court is on." Jonathan and Clark joined in front of the TV. "Did you hear Clark has been employed by the Daily Planet as a reporter? I'm so proud of both of you. Good jobs, good homes in Metropolis, and how about dating? Well, as long as you 2 are safe." "Lois Lane works at the Daily Planet doesn't she Clark? You always had an eye for her in highschool i can remember. I bet she want to know all about your red and blue tights." Mark sniggered. "Yeah, i can tell her all about my brother the 70 foot chimpanzee." They all laughed.
To start their superhero team they first went too the UN and explain their intentions. The Flash and Aquaman immediately agreed to join. The batman refused the invitation however and the 2 brothers had a hard time gaining more recruits. 4 members for the time was enough though and they called themselves the Justice League of America, or JLA. The JLA booked immediate succes in their first week and defeated Clayman(in Gotham) and Zoom(an evil counterpart of The Flash). The JLA was feared by all criminals, especially their strongest member Superman. Eventually the batman soffened up to them, providing funding and intelligence only. Aquaman was the main source for intelligence as he could talk too the sea animals. The Flash was always on time at events, and yes he was faster then Superman. Monkey man(changed by Mark's request) was the second strongest by far as he was also incredibly fast, strong and capable of flying. He also detected energy sources, a new feature for him that Superman lacked. Superman on the other hand could look and hear from great distances. These skills where put into good use on earth but outside of earth their powers worked as well. Superman even was capable of interstellar travel and could hold his breath in outerspace for a very long time. Monkey man couldn't be in space though. He tried, but the energy field he produced simply wasn't strong enough. Superman was even stronger in outerspace as the sun rays directly on his body made him absorb it even faster. Monkey man's energy detection did work in outerspace though and one day he felt a huge power coming closer too earth. He didn't alert the other members of the team though as he felt a sort of familiarity in this power. As it got past the moon he identified the energy source, it was same as his, only stronger. He decided to go too the place where he thought the object was going to land, in Japan. When he got there the rest of the JLA was there as well however.
"You really think we let you have all the fun alone? Our satellites saw the object arrive by the time it passed Jupiter. We have been able to take a picture, thats why we are here." Superman showed the picture too Monkey man. Too his shock the picture showed a spherical object, white with the same symbol on it as his own spacecraft had... This ship carried a man the same race as Mark.
"This power is like mine, yet it isn't. This is evil, pure evil and very strong. I don't want the others to get hurt when fighting this person." Their conversation was interrupted as the spaceship entered the atmosphere. It came down directly in a straight line and on impact made a huge crater in the landscape of Shikoku island. The spaceship opened up and a man came out. He slowely flew higher then the crater and stared down upon the JLA. Monkey man saw his tail wrapped around his waist, he had an even bigger bush of black hair all the way too his behind. He had some sort of armor on with on it the same symbol as on the ship and wore an eye piece over his left eye that bleeped. The man pressed on the device. He then moved closer and touched down on the ground before them. He looked around. Then he looked angry and turn his head back too the party.
"What is this Kakarot? Why are these people still alive, why haven't you carried out your mission?"
Mark walked towards him. "I'm sorry, but my name is not Kakarot. I grew up on earth and i have a family here. My name is Mark."
The man looked confused. "What? What are you talking about? You where given exact instructions from your vessel. Have you forgotten everything? What about your tail? Our readings show this planet has a moon, as soon as you looked into it you should have turned into an oozaru and killed everyone on this planet!" Mark looked at the man's tail and then his own.
"Yes, i have been transformed into what you call an Oozaru but my brother behind me there stopped me from going on a rampage" The man looked behind Mark and saw Superman standing there. He smiled a little and coughed into his hand
"He's not your brother. He is not your family. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Raditz. Your real family. You are right about having a brother, I am he." Mark fell to the ground, his feet in the air... Superman was stunned beyond believe. So where the Flash and Aquaman.
"What is all this nonsense anyway did you hit your head or something when you where little?"
Superman now stepped forward to pick his brother up. "Yes, i hit him once on the head. He was heavily concussed but when he woke up he was less of a violent type, more kind too others." Raditz looked furious. Mark grabbed the arm of Superman and stood up again. They looked at eachother. Mark said without using words: "I already have a brother". They smiled.
Raditz power suddenly increased. "You fool! You have forgotten who you truly are! This planet was supposed to be ripe for selling, but you have let these people live. Fine, lets take care of it now, together. Then come with me Kakarot and i will refresh your memory." Superman now looked back at Raditz again angry.
"You are not going to harm the people of this planet. We are its guardians, sworn to protect them from any evil." Raditz calmed down. He grinned again.
"Oh, is that so? Well, i'll guess i will have to go through you then won't i? Best if you to step aside though. You have no idea who you have standing in front of you." He clicked on the button on his device. He walked slowely too the left and looked aquaman straight in the eyes. The device over his eye started bleeping again and figures nobody could figure out started showing on it.
"Hm, powerlevel of 200 huh? Impressive. And you, in the red tights. Powerlevel of 15, Pathetic. Kakarot's power is 18,000. Thats good but never as high as mine. And you, Kakarot's 'brother'... Hm, your powerlevel doesn't show. My scouter can't lock a figure. Bah, these things always keep breaking on me. It doesn't matter. None is as strong as i am on this planet, you humans are fragile and weak. Only few in the whole universe can say that. This has taken long enough. What do you say now kakarot? Will you join me again? Will you join your real family and people and learn of your heritage? Or are you going to stay with these weaklings?" Mark looked for a moment at Superman. He winked. He then turned back too Raditz again.
"Yes, big brother. I think i'm beginning to understand. Tell me first though. If i was send here to destroy this planet, why are you here now? Couldn't you have come to destroy it?"
Raditz grinned under his breath. "Haha, i see there is some explaining to do. You are part of a warrior race. The saiyans. We are what you call space pirates. Long time ago our empire was enormous and our planets numberous. We conquered planet after planet. However in our war with the Green Lantern Corps we overlooked an astroid approaching our home planet Vegeta and it got destroyed. The saiyan race itself was nearly whiped into extinction by the Corps shortly after that and our allies surrendered or scattered. We had to change our methods. Now we keep in the background and send small infants, like yourself too distant planet that has potential buyers. Though these planets are deep within Green Lantern territory a single small pod usually goes unnoticed in all the space traffic. Same goes for my own pod, we have several techniques to cover our trail. Anyway, as soon as the infant is landed and old enough too transform he will be strong enough to destroy any type of civilization that live on that planet and make it ripe for the sale. Eventually someone will go over there and check on the planet to see if its ready and take back the infant, now a young man, back home. So, now you see where you truly belong Kakarot?" Mark now was the one smiling. He walked back too his friends.
"Oh yes, Raditz. Thank you for that history lesson. I now know enough. Listen, you might be my bioliogical brother, but i would never join the likes of you. Pirates. You would actually slaughter an entire population just so you can get paid. You disgust me and i don't want you as my family. I already have a family right here as i told you. Leave now and we will do you no harm."
The flash looked over at Monkey man. "You really think it would be wise too let such a criminal go, Mark?"
Mark look back at the flash. "Don't worry Barry, i have heard of the green lanterns. They're a sort of galactic police force. We can contact them and they could arrest him." The Flash nodded in approval.
"Okay, now you have done it Kakarot. Time to teach you a lesson." Raditz power suddenly increased. An aura of blue energy surrounded him, Mark was nailed too the ground when he felt the amount of power coming from Raditz.
"Its overwhelming, i can't believe how mcuh this is affecting me. I feel it going straight through me." The earth shook around them, rocks started to lift up from the ground. Barry took a step back. Aquaman and the others stayed put though.
"Say your prayers!" Raditz shouted and swooped with his hand towards Aqauman's direction. Aquaman never saw it coming, but Superman did and took the full blast of energy coming from Raditz's handpalm.
"Impossible! How could a mere human block such an attack? Or even see it coming?" Raditz looked in amazement at Superman.
"Well, Raditz it would be kind of a surprise too you that only 1 of us here is actually human. And he is not what you would call 'regular'." The Flash suddenly disappeared and came up behind Raditz and punched him. However Raditz didn't seem to feel it.
"Stop guys! I have to do this alone. It is my responsibility" Flash was distracted and got punched by Raditz, really hard. He flew backwards against a rock a few miles away and was out cold. Superman saw this and charged Raditz head on.
"Stop Superman!"
Superman stopped right before he could punch Raditz. He looked over his shoulder too Mark who was miles away checking out the Flash.
"I must do this myself. Please step aside." He said. Superman could hear him as if he stood right next to him. Superman saw Monkey Man trembling. He was mad, furious. His power must be much larger as he has never really gotten this angry before. Superman decided to allow his brother to fight this man alone. As he stepped aside Raditz was about to punch Superman but as he read the situation with his eyes he knew what was going on.
"Ah, finally my dear brother decides to intervene. You going to save your friends from certain death? Well then, come on!" Monkey man started to walk slowely, from just watching Raditz he now too was able to fuel his energy with rage. Around him appeared the same form of blue aura of energy that Raditz had.
"Yes, thats right little brother. Get angry, show me the true power of the saiyan within. Give in too your rage." Superman meanwhile helped The Flash up, who had awoken.
"Is he gonna fight him or is he gonna try to bring him over too the dark side of the force?" He asked as Aquaman joined them. "He must do this himself. Don't worry, he knows what he is doing."
Suddenly Raditz stormed at Monkey man. He blocked but was kicked back by the force. Raditz came on strong, throwing blows each to kill. Monkey man had a hard time blocking them. Eventually they took the fight into the air. They where so quick Aquaman had trouble following it. "What speed! Is this what an average alien species is capable of? What else is out there?" Aquaman wondered and then looked at Superman. "You are an alien yourself right? What if there are more of your species flying around the galaxy right now? As evil as this guy?"
Superman looked over at Aquaman in surprise. "You don't think i thought of that? It is one of the reasons why we created the JLA, for when we would leave Earth, in search of galactical threats too earth like the Saiyans and my own species."
The flash looked up. "Leave? You mean abandon Earth and rejoin your own?"
Superman looked back at Barry. "We will never abandon earth, but our ancestory links us too other worlds. We can't ignore that link. Sooner or later we will have to find and make peace with that heritage. Perhaps that day has come for Mark. I will help him in any way i can to get the questions he has answered. He would do the same for me." Meanwhile Mark was beaten into the ground by Raditz. He stood up again, coughing blood. He smirked at Raditz. He put his hands behind his back and tensed his muscles. He was putting out so much energy he started screaming and the ground shook. He then shot his arms forward and a quite thick beam of energy came from his arms off that shot straight at Raditz.
"What?" Raditz was surprised by the rapidly approaching beam of light and got knocked out of the air by the blast. He got up, his tail was wiggling and he wrapped it around his waist again. "Well, could have told me you could shoot KI blasts." He stretched his right arm out and instantly an energy beam twice as thick and twice as fast as Mark's shot out of his hand. Mark was just in time to push with his hands at the beam. He was forced back by the blast, grinding through at least 20 yards of earth before being able to deflect the beam into the air where it blew up.
"Holy cow! That was a little too close for comfort."
The Flash rushed up too him. "Look man, this is getting too dangerous. You have to end this now before someone gets hurt. That explosion in the air was heard for miles. Its geting too close to the civilians." Monkey man had to catch his breath, but he still had some power left. He got angry again thinking of all the lives in danger and he felt his adrenaline rising.
"Don't worry, i got this." He lifted up into the air towards the battlefield again. He looked down upon Raditz. "He Raditz! Try blocking this then!" He stretched his arms out too his side and started to concentrate. Raditz looked up. His scouter is bleeping. "What? Ha, you can't be serious Kakarot. Your power is way too low. A KI blast won't even scratch me" Superman and the rest of the JLA all looked up as well, they saw Monkey man light up like a christmas tree with all that energy gathering around him. He started to scream again, he was really pushing it too his limits.
"Looks like he has been saving some power for this. Better ready yourself Saiyan." Superman said. Raditz looked over at Superman and then back up again. "Alright, i'll play that game. You just exhaust that last bit of power you got. Then i can finally take my time at killing your friends, and then you. Come on then, i'm ready." Raditz took position to block the shot. Monkey man just kept building up and building up. Raditz saw his scouter go crazy, his eyes then widened. Monkey man then released. The energy wave was much stronger then Raditz anticipated. But it didn't have any speed behind it.
"Ha, thats very powerfull indeed Kakarot. Well done, unfortunately i could evade it a million times before it reaches anyone. But i said i would block and i will. Raditz prepared to block it. Monkey man suddenly disappeared(he moved so fast only Superman and The Flash could see him move) from behind the wave, cutting it short. He then reappeared right besides Raditz who was caught blind-sided. Monkey man quickly grabbed Raditz's tail. Raditz was stunned and seemed paralyzed. "wh... how?" Raditz trembled on his feet and looked at Monkey man.
"Feels terrible right? Yeah, i know. Say bye bye." He kicked Raditz right into his back and it send him flying towards the energy beam. It hit him full, Raditz's armor crumbled apart and Raditz screamed in agony. His scouter flew away and fell in pieces on the ground. The beam exploded in mid-air. Monkey man had to duck and cover for the explosion, he was still very close. After the smoke cleared they where sure Raditz was a goner. The Flash rushed over too Monkey man to see if he was alright. He was exhausted and pretty messed up but he had been in worse shape he remembers.
"Haha, bet he wasn't expecting that. His ass is toast for sure" Aquaman mentioned too Superman who stood there cooly. "You knew didn't you? You guys have some sort of telepathy going on there. You knew exactly what he was planning that why you helped convince Raditz to block the shot instead of evade it. Thats what killed him, his own pride."
Superman smiled. "Its true. We always thought it was just a brother thing, but since we are not even the same species i think it really is some form of telepathy. Anyway i don't like killing people. I could never. Nor could Mark, ever." Superman looked back at Aquaman who looked puzzled. Then Superman pointed at the dust clouds. Aquaman looked over. From the dust a figure appeared. Raditz wasn't dead. He stumbled towards the JLA. After a few steps he collapsed.
"Got... to reach... my pod. Need to... regenerate. Activate the... healing... procedure." Superman heard from behind him the pod activate and confirm the command. He heard the pod opening up.
"He is not going to make it. I have to help him."
Aquaman grabbed Superman's arm before he could take off. "Help him? Are you mad? He is a mass murdering space pirate. He would have given this planet no remorse. He would have killed eveyone if it was up to him and now you want him to live?"
Superman looked at Aquaman. He looked sad. "I can't let him die Aquaman. I couldn't live with myself. Everybody has the right to live, even people like Raditz. Besides, i'm not going to let him go. He will pay for a lifetime of crimes. I'll hand him over too the Green Lantern corps." Superman moved over too Raditz who was moaning. "Look. You are under arrest. Let me get you too you pod. You can heal then, the Green Lantern Corps can have you after that." He kneeled down and put his arm under that of Raditz. Raditz slapped his arm away(Superman allowed him to).
"Never, i would rather die then give myself up too the likes of you. I am a Saiyan warrior. The strongest of all species. How can such a weakling like my little brother beat me? And you. You're just as alien as we are. You don't belong here, where is your pride? Where are your people? Why mingle with these weak pathetic humans when you could rule them with your power?"
Superman looked at him in surprise. "This is my home, i was raised here. These humans took us in, respected us and never judged us because of who we are. I could never betray that trust." Raditz looked disgusted. He smirked then and suddenly jumped up.
"Ha, you didn't think that attack would kill me right? I might be hurt but i'm still more powerfull then anyone. Now you, get down." He punched Superman with all he got. His hand broke on Superman's face though. Superman didn't even flinch. Raditz looked in shock and then screamed in pain. "Ah, my arm. I broke it. How? What are you? Take this then." Raditz build up his energy and got ready to blast a huge amount of energy at Superman.
"No wait. Stop. Not that close!" Superman yelled and held his hand up towards Raditz. Raditz fired his blast with both hands. Too late he noticed a wall of energy right in front of his nose where the energy blast bumped up against. The blast almost immediately blew up, killing Raditz. When the smoke cleared Superman was standing there and dusted himself off. He looked very sad.
"Superman? What the hell happened?" Aquaman came up to him.
"He fired a blast of energy at me, but my body is protected by a shield of energy. It stopped it, i raised my hand which caused the wall of energy to come even closer too him. He basically was killed by his own blast." Superman kneeled down, he picked up a piece of cloth. "I'm sorry" He whispered. He then stood up again and hovered over too his brother. Mark was being held up by the Flash.
"Come on brother, i'll help you get better faster. No more hospitals for you." He lifted his brother up from Flash's arms.
"Thanks Barry." Flash nodded. Superman moved over too the alien pod with his borther under his arms. The pod looked exactly like the one Mark was brought to earth in. Same strange symbol which must mean it is a Saiyan pod. He gently put Mark into the pod. Mark woke up.
"Oh, hé man. Whats going on?" He looked around at the pod, he recognized it.
"Is this mine?"
Superman shook his head. "I'm sorry, but i am afraid your brother Raditz is dead. You are in his pod right now, Raditz started a regeneration sequence which i guess will work on you too."
Mark smiled. "Hé, my brother isn't dead. He is standing right in front of me." He winked at Superman. Suddenly the pod began to bleep and a voice came out.
"Saiyan DNA recognized. Family of Raditz. Raditz presence not detected. Calculating... Recommended action to continue mission. Brother of Raditz on board, setting course for Planet Namek to rejoin group." The pod closed. Superman stopped it from closing.
"No wait. This thing will take me too other Saiyans like me. Maybe they can help me get some more answers. They are probably space pirates too and are currently on a mission. I must stop them. Let it go, you should follow me. I could use the back-up" Superman let the door go.
"Alright then, i'll go talk with the rest of the JLA. I'll catch up." He winked. The door closed and the pod started to rise slowely. From a compartment above Mark an oxygen mask appeared and the pod started filling with water. It was at pleasant warmth. The pod spoke again.
"Estimated time for regeneration 10 hours. ETA on planet Namek in 11 hours. Have a nice day." Mark wondered if that where Earth hours. Suddenly the pod shot into space. This thing was fast. Superman in the mean time walked over too the Flash and Aquaman. On his way over there he looked at the place where the device on Raditz's head had dropped. He quickly rushed towards it and grabbed all the pieces. While walking towards the Flash and Aquaman again he reassembled the device with his superhuman sight and memory. Once it was fully functional again he gave it too the Flash.
"Here, bring this too the Batman. I have converted it for the English language. This will help you detect incoming energy sources, as well as locate strong energy signatures on Earth. Maybe he can make some more and improve it somehow. I am going to follow my brother. His ship is set course for a planet called Namek. I do not know where that planet is just yet, only when i fly next to the pod can i interpret its course exactly. Seems like we will be on our own on this one. You two talk to the press about this, be completely honest. Mark and I don't have to worry about any secret identity from now on. Things are changing rapidly." Aquaman looked confused. "Everything down here seemed to go rapidly. I understand why Monkey Man had to go but why you too? Don't you think villains will have a field day when they find out the strongest heroes of the planet have left?"
"I'm confident in your abilities to keep order. I'll suggest you try getting some new recruits. Someone being called Wonder Woman appeared near Boston a few days ago. She might join us. I will also attempt to contact the Green Lantern Corps and see if they have someone watching over this planet. We will come back. I promise"
Flash put the device on his head and looked at Aquaman. "Yep, 200. kinda low don't think? Don't worry Superman we have everything under control. We shall await your return. Just come back in one piece okay?" Superman tapped the 2 on the shoulder and smiled. He then took off into the air. "yeah, we can handle the threats being posed now. But imagine if Mr. Mxyzptlk returns or a saiyan arrives here?" "Well i hear this Wonder Woman is strong. She'll be able to take on a Saiyan i guess. Mr. Mxyzptlk can be easily banished if we are lucky. Besides, he appears only for teasing Superman, who is not here. Come on, we'll return too the tower and contact Bruce. You address the press." The Flash grabbed Aquaman and sped away.