Chapter Three
Tomorrow was his first day at Wayne Tower and the startup web news site, The Reporter. Clark had convinced Perry to leave the Planet, as well as Jimmy and Miko Ogawa as staff photographers with a promise that they also could do film work as the site expanded. His meeting with Vicky Vale even went well. He knew that Bruce trusted her with his Batman identity. Considering his trust issues, this meant someone he could trust completely, though he had no intention of letting her know he was Superman.
The only bump in the road was Lois. Once everyone handed in their resignation letters, she started to give Clark the cold shoulder. She blamed him for losing some important personnel but friends. He tried to approach her a few times, but she made up excuses to either keep the meeting under two minutes or to cancel it outright. Clark didn't want to hurt her, but he didn't want to work for Edge any longer, either.
Settling down in front of the TV with a bottle of orange soda and a pizza, he wanted to watch an old western movie on cable. He turned on the TV, grabbed a slice, and started to relax. After the movie he intended to make a quick patrol of the city then it was bed time. The opening credits began and Clark finished his first slice. Just then there was a knock on his door. Using his x-ray vision, he checked to see who it was. A pissed off looking Lois, dressed in jeans and leather coat, was on the other side of the door.
Putting on his glasses and mussing up his hair, Clark stood up and headed for the door. He opened it and was less than surprised to have Lois push him aside and enter his apartment. Clark turned to face her.
"I don't believe you are doing this to me," she snapped. "I thought we were friends."
She lost her temper and her right hand came up to slap him in the face. Clark knew that if allowed this she'd more than likely break her hand on his face, so his left hand shot up and caught her right hand gentle by the wrist. Immediately, she calmed down and pulled her hand away.
"Sorry," she mumbled. "I lost my temper."
"I know, Lois. I'd still think of you as a friend," he said, as he shut the door in order to give them privacy.
"This is bullshit, Clark," she snapped. "This is total bullshit."
"Lois, calm down and let's discuss this rationally," he said.
"Okay, Clark, explain to me how someone I thought as a friend could steal the editor in chief of the newspaper, who was my mentor, and two of the best photographers from the Daily Planet, not to mention you are bailing from the ship," she said.
"You know I'm not happy working for Edge," Clark reminded her.
"You were working for me not him," she said with a hint of sadness in her voice.
"It is his company and things are done his way. Lois, I'm choosing not to work for Edge," Clark told her. "I don't agree with him on how he does business or who some of his associates are."
"Bruce Wayne is better in your eyes?" asked Lois.
"Yes, Bruce Wayne is better."
"I'm disappointed, Clark, very disappointed," she said.
"I hope we can remain friends," Clark replied. "It wasn't personal Lois. This is about Morgan Edge not you."
Lois turned and headed for his front door. She stopped at the door before opened and spoke without turning around.
"I'm not sure if we can still be friends. It feels personal, Clark. I need time."
She opened the door and left. Clark sighed.
JLJLJL
It was a gray day with rain clouds in the sky, though as of yet no rain had fallen as of yet. A boom tube opened over Central City and battalion of 500 parademons exited followed by Steppenwolf flying a hoverbike. The sky above the city was darkened by their mass. Darkseid had tasked him with coming to this dismal planet looking for Darkseid's daughter. They descended on the city.
Barry Allen proceeded with a speed burst and changed into his Flash uniform. Again he glanced up into the air at the coming force. He was facing overwhelming odds, so he knew what needed to be dome. His first action was to activate his emergency signal letting the Justice League that he needed assistance.
JLJLJL
Clark was in his office on the 40th floor of Wayne Tower. The offices were better than he had envisioned. Bruce overspent if someone would ask him. They had tablets, laptops, and more. With the door closed Clark finished up his blog at super speed. He reread it. Checking for errors. The blog was in many ways a declaration of war against Edge, as it was title Metropolis Business Tycoon's Friends have him on Edge. Clark wrote about some of the rumors he could substantiate about Edge's associates. He was happy with it, so he sent it on to Perry to read before he posted it. His hearing picked up a murmur of excitement coming from the news room. He opened up his hearing and zero in on Jimmy's voice.
"Those creatures look like green gargoyles with red goggles and wings," said Jimmy.
"There hundreds of them," said Miko. "I wish I was there with a camera."
"Someone, treat this like a damned important story. Central City is invaded by aliens. Get me a freelancer in Central City," growled Perry White, who burst out of his office.
Clark got up and exited his office. He looked at the large screen plasma TV. Central City was under attack. Jimmy was right that the majority were these green things flying about and causing damage and havoc. From the looks of it Hawkman, Hawkwoman, Simon Baz, Shazam, Stargirl, J'onn, and Wonder Woman were the air, while Batman, Flash, Green Arrow, Black Canary, Red Tornado, and Zatanna handled the ground. He especially noticed that Wonder Woman was fighting the man on the hoverbike. It appeared that she and the man were going blow to blow with swords.
"Too bad we don't have a Gotham correspondent," remarked Vicky Vale, as she entered the newsroom.
Vicky watched as several parademons attacked Batman. He used a combination of stun Batarangs and gas bombs. She looked over her shoulder at Clark. The expression was almost pleading asking him to do something. Does she know who I am? Did Bruce tell her or did she guess because she knows he's Batman? It didn't matter what she thought or not. He needed to slip away and go to Central City.
JLJLJL
Diana and Steppenwolf fought to a standstill. She was surprised at his skill with a weapon. He had switch from a laser sword to an electro-axe. Her sword, which had forged by Hephaestus, had no problem with the sword. Now she would see if her weapon forged by a god of Olympus could handle this axe. Steppenwolf stood up in the stirrups of the hoverbike and swung the axe at Diana with all his might. She stopped it and countered with a graceful pirouette kick knocking him off of his bike.
Steppenwolf fell thirty feet before the bike caught up with him and he grabbed hold of it and mounted it again. He laughed and then spoke to Diana.
"You are a worthy important. If I was here on this planet for another reason, you would make a great slave for my lord Darkseid," he told her.
"I am no man's slave, even a man who thinks himself a god by the sound of it," she replied.
"Darkseid is a god."
Before she could attack Steppenwolf, a red and blue blur flew into him and driving him into the pavement of Main Street and into parked cars. Slowly, Steppenwolf got up. With a grimace of pain on his face, Steppenwolf tossed the wrecked cars away from him. Superman floated just above Main Street. He effortlessly caught the car and dropped it to the ground.
"Who are you?" demanded Steppenwolf.
"I am called Superman."
Superman. There was a story, a myth, about a last Kryptonian being raised on this planet and becoming its champion. The myth was true.
"You're a Kryptonian," he said. "You are supposed to be extinct."
"I know," replied Clark.
Clark noticed that above him Diana just took out fifteen parademon with ease and now was headed towards him and Steppenwolf. He had to admit that she was a beautiful and graceful woman.
"If I had more troops and the time, you would make a glorious prize for Darkseid," said Steppenwolf.
"A prize? Who is this Darkseid?"
"A god and conqueror of worlds."
"Not this one," said Superman. "This planet is under my protection and I will defend it."
"We shall see, Kryptonian. I may be back," said Steppenwolf.
Diana landed beside Clark. Steppenwolf activated his mother box and a boom tube. His hoverbike came to retrieve him. He got on his bike and called for a retreat. They retreated through the boom tube.
"That was interesting," said Clark.
He turned to speak to Diana, but was surprised when her fist connected with his jaw sending him into a parked car and demolished it. Clark pried himself out of the car and stood up. He glared at Diana.
"What was that for?" he asked.
"I didn't ask for your help," she said growled still angry with him.
Bruce inserted himself between the two. Wonder Woman turned and walked away then Bruce offered his hand to Clark.
"Good timing. Those flying creatures were starting to overwhelm us," said Bruce. "We weren't properly prepared for them. We have no strategy and bad tactics."
"She's strong," said Clark.
"Amazon," replied Bruce.
The Green Arrow walked over to the duo. His hood was down and he had his bow in his left hand.
"Do we know who that was?" Batman asked him.
"J'onn does," answered Oliver. "He'll give us a debrief on the Watchtower."
"Why don't you come with us, Superman? You seem to be involved now," said Bruce to Clark.
"I'd like to know who the guy with the axe was," said Clark.
"I'll let the other members know he's coming up for a visit," said Oliver.
JLJLJL
Amanda Waller walked into Steve Trevor's office. The abandoned camp had been transformed into part training ground and part prison. She had just watched the Suicide Squad run through their paces. Trevor had them working as a team, which was half the battle. Discipline was something she didn't expect from Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, Cheetah, and an ADD Savant.
"Director," he said.
"Trevor, I'm impressed by what you've accomplished so far," said Waller.
"Thank you, ma'am," he said.
Waller sat down on the small sofa in the office. Trevor knew she was there for a reason and now all he had to do was wait and she would fill him in.
"How much longer until they are ready for a mission?"
"Ready for a mission," he repeated. "I have just got the idea of team work into their dense skulls. They are still undisciplined and tend to freelance rather than follow a well design operational plan. I think we are looking at months."
"You have two weeks," said Waller.
"Two weeks, that's insane," he protested.
"Starlabs has a sample of Superman's blood. I want it and you and your team are going to get it for me," said Waller.
"But…"
Waller stopped him with a cold stare. He didn't think brown eyes could be so cold, but she disproved him.
"Two weeks, Starlabs. You'll get me the sample of Superman's blood," said Waller.
"Yes, ma'am."
JLJLJL
Superman stepped off the teleport pad and started scanning the Watchtower. Some of the technology was alien and some was cutting edge Human. It was an impressive space station. Bruce stepped down beside him.
"Let me guess, it cost you a bundle," said Clark.
"Wayne Enterprise is making a profit on some of the tech developed for the station. It's paying off," said Bruce. "Follow me. The board and J'onn want to meet with you alone."
Superman smiled, "I feel like I'm going to the principal's office."
Batman started to stride down a corridor. Superman floated behind, as some of the heroes who just arrived to the station because the heard about the crisis too late stared at him. Hawk and Dove, Fire, Ice, Elemental Women, Firestorm, Dr. Midnite, Mister Terrific, Vixen, and Dr. Fate were there along with those who fought. Superman followed Bruce into a conference room where Hawkman, Hawkwoman, Black Canary, Green Arrow, J'onn, Wonder Woman, Simon Baz, and now Batman were in the room. Aquaman and Mera were absent.
"Sit down," Batman said sitting down.
Clark sat down beside Bruce. He noticed that Wonder Woman was glaring at him. He listened closer and her breathing was quicker than normal. She was still angry with him.
Hawkman spoke up, "J'onn, tell us about what we faced today."
"They come from an offshoot of the New Gods, a race of highly evolved immortals," said J'onn.
"Gods," Clark said with distaste. "They are not Gods."
"You don't believe in Gods?" asked Diana with annoyance in her voice.
"I come from a people who were evolving in that direction. They never considered themselves gods," he told her.
"I agree, Kal-El," said J'onn.
Clark looked at J'onn in surprise.
"You know my Kryptonian name."
"Yes, Kal-El. I knew your father Jor-El and mother Lara."
Clark's head swam for a moment. This was someone who actually knew his parents. He'd never met anyone who actually knew his birth parents.
"I can read your confusion and need to ask questions," said J'onn. "Now is not the time. We will speak later."
Diana looked from Clark to J'onn and back again. She could see the pain in Superman's face. Her angry disappeared.
"Can we get back to the business at hand," demanded Simon.
Bruce noticed that Clark was now no longer listening. His mind was racing on about learning about his birth parent.
"Darkseid reigns over a planet called Apokolips. Those flying creatures are called parademons and the humanoid who led them is called Steppenwolf. He is one of Darkseid best soldiers and hunters," he told them.
"What does this Darkseid do?" asked Hawkwoman.
"He subjugates worlds and enslaves people," said J'onn. "He also collects beings he thinks can make him more powerful."
"Beings like Superman," growled Simon Baz.
"And Wonder Woman," added Batman, who glared at Baz.
"Yeah, but this Steppenwolf seemed real interested in the last Kryptonian," said Simon.
"What do you think about this, Superman?" asked Hawkman.
Clark's mind was on his birth parents not Darkseid. He couldn't seem to stop thinking about the idea of hearing what they were like from someone who knew them.
"Silence. I guess you don't feel like you have to answer. You think you're too powerful to have to care about Darkseid, too," said Simon. "Arrogance. I've seen the way you destroy property and out bystanders at risk. Your being on this planet has put us on this Darkseid's radar."
Clark's mind had refocused. There was no reason to rebuke the Green Lantern. He knew the Guardians feared Kryptonians. He stood up then he looked J'onn.
"Someday I hope to talk to you about my parents," he said then he turned and his eyes caught Diana for a moment. She seemed interested in his response, as if he confused her somehow. It didn't matter, he thought, because he didn't belong here. He turned to Bruce. "Is there a hatch that can be opened?"
"I'll teleport you."
"No need. I don't belong here. It's obvious. Anyways, I feel like flying," he said calmly and coolly.
"I'll show you to our shuttle bay," said Batman.
"Superman, before you leave," Hawkman spoke up.
Superman stopped and looked at him.
"I don't agree with the Green Lantern. If you have need of assistance, please, call on me. I'm also an alien to this world, as is my wife. We are exiled here because we didn't believe that this planet should be invaded and we warned this planet. Now it is our home. I'm always willing to make another friend," said Hawkman.
"I'll remember that, Hawkman," said Superman.
Batman and Superman left the conference room.
"Why don't you like me?" asked Hawkman.
"He works alone and he is too powerful," said Simon.
"Am I too powerful, Simon?" asked Diana.
"You are one of us," he answered.
"That is not an answer," said Diana.
"He's unique. He is alone. His planet is gone and he was raised on a planet he could easily dominant and chooses not to do so," said Hawkman. "I think he is extraordinary. I wish he was a member of this League."
JLJLJL
They stood in the shuttle bay. Bruce turned to his friend.
"Except for Jordan, the Green Lanterns tend to be a little rigid," said Bruce. "They tend to act like cops."
"I thought you liked cops," said Clark.
"I do," smiled Bruce. "I'll open the bay doors from the ops room."
"Thanks, Batman," said Superman.
"How long can you survive in the void of space?"
"An hour, maybe more," answered Clark.
"Interesting," Bruce said softly to himself. He'd have to upgrade his file on Superman.
