11:09 AM
After Clark opened his eyes, he saw something that confounded him to no degree.
He saw a golden Chocobo standing in front of him, staring at him curiously, chirping. Then, inexplicably, a lean, young man with blood spiky hair sneaked up on the Chocobo, jumping up on its back, strapping a harness around its neck.
The Chocobo squawked and struggled, but eventually gave way, heeding the commands of the spiky haired man as he guided it towards greener pastures. A triumphant, 8 bit tune blared throughout the area, as though it was streaming through invisible speakers.
"Hello There!" a pleasant voice greeted him and the others, and then it waited, breathing calmly.
Superboy rolled his eyes. "General Kenobi?"
A badly CGIed cyborg with six arms burst through the sky, landing in front of them with a lightsaber drawn with each hand.
"I forgot that memes are still a thing in your time," Kal pointed out, chuckling.
The cyborg morphed, turning into an ordinary looking man dressed in extraordinary clothes: he was adorned in purple robes and a black jacket, which was a very odd combination too.
"I know that was random, but I basically came up with that entrance on the spot. I just hope that everyone gets that reference."
"I didn't," Kara raised her hand, dumbfounded.
"That's because you outgrew video games on Argo City, silly. As for introductions, I am Cxyftlzk. A fifth dimensional being who also moonlights as a Monitor. Because there aren't many of them around nowadays.
We really need fix that sooner or later. That way I can go back to doing, like, a real job or something."
Clark looked towards Kal. "Is this who you were looking for?"
"Yes. Not exactly him, but close enough."
"No one really expects me, but hey, here I am. I was almost tempted to use a Spanish Inquisition joke but I doubt the person reading this knows what Monty Python is.
If you do, sorry, my bad."
"The reader?" Conner asked.
Kara groaned audibly, facepalming. "This is one of those metanarrative things."
"I won't keep you guys long. Meta narratives are cool, but they aren't so cool that I can carry a whole chapter like this. Follow me."
Cxyftlzk walked ahead as a path assembling in front of him, leading upwards. As he walked through a door- that also appeared just at that moment- a chorus of Stairway to Heaven played for the briefest moments.
"Isn't it nice, these random references? Whoever says that fanfiction doesn't have its perks?"
Kara patted Conner on the shoulder. "It gets easier if you kinda ignore him most of the time. I remember the time Mxyptlyk lectured me about third wave feminism, and then he started going on about why the fourth wave was even worse."
"That is quite strange,"Cxyftlzk said, tutting. "Poor old Mxy must have quite the pat with his wife. Now that's a dragon lady, I tell you."
Cxyftlzk held the door open, ushering the others inside. It looked like the inside of what you would expect a millennial startup to look like.
"Yes, yes. Bean bags, bean bags everywhere. Thankfully we had the good sense to get a table and a laptop too. Otherwise we would never get any work done."
Another man was waiting by the lone table. He smiled broadly, walking with strong, jubilant strides as he shook Clark's hand vigorously. "My God. I have always wanted to do that."
"He has," Cxyftlzk said, taking a seat by the table. "He wrote that you were a better idea than the nuclear bomb, you know. What are you calling yourself right now, by the way?"
"Do I really need a name? I am more of a special guest than anything else."
"Yes, you need a name. It makes writing about you a lot more easier. Humor the poor man, would you?"
The bald man sighed. "Fine. Call me Wizard, if you will."
"That's a weird first name. But it will do," Cxyftlzk said. "Now let's get down to business. Come, come, take your seats."
The two Supermen sat on two bean bags opposite Cxyftlzk and Wizard, while Conner and Kara sat a bit further away, in an area that looked suspiciously close to a lobby. There was a chalk drawing of a television in the wall opposite to them, and a cardboard remote was lying in front of it.
Conner picked it up, clicking the power button. The wall television turned on, displaying a pristine image of what was going on right now on Oa.
"Hey, at least they are doing alright," Conner said.
"Now then. We get two Supermans for the price of one," Cxyftlzk stated, grinning surreptitiously as he leaned closer. "Think of this like an interview. If you do well, then the older one gets to go on his own merry way. If you don't, well..."
Cxyftlzk snapped his fingers, and a opening appeared on the wall behind him, parting middle way to reveal a gruesome sight. Imperiex was fighting an army of Supermen and Ultramen, and he was winning. Rather soundly too.
"Let's just say this isn't the first interview that we have gone through," Cxyftlzk said.
"I have a question though," Kara said. "Why did Wizard react like he saw Kal for the first time?"
"I am quite theatrical, my dear. I often react in very dramatic ways. You should read some of my writing some time."
"First question. It's not really a question, but more of a statement. You are both from the doomed planet Krypton, I suppose?"
Both Supermen nodded.
"When did Krypton explode?"
"30 years ago."
"200 million years ago."
Clark looked at Kal, gasping. "How?"
"The vessel I was sent onboard on could only reach subliminal speeds. It took a while for me to get to Earth."
"You were both raised by Ma and Pa Kent?"
"Yes," Clark replied. Kal nodded in agreement.
"How did you feel about Pa Kent dying?"
"I felt powerless," Clark said. "I have all this powers, but I couldn't get there on time. By the time I got to the site of the accident he was already gone."
"He passed away in peace. I was out of the planet, sightseeing. It was the summer after I graduated college. He died when he was gardening. Heart attack. Nothing I could do. Even if I was there."
"Were you there at the funeral?" Wizard asked.
"Yes. I barely got there on time."
"How did you meet Lex Luthor?"
"In Kansas. He was there one summer," Clark said. "He was trying to rediscover his roots. We clicked right away. But even then, I could tell there was a darkness in him. A mean streak that he just couldn't let go."
"We met in Harvard," Kal said. "Lex was the only one who could keep up with me. He wanted to save the world, and he was one of the few people I could talk to about that stuff, at that age. We have been friends ever since."
Conner whistled. "Look at that, Clark. You could have gone to Harvard too, if you wanted it."
"That's the thing though. I don't think he wanted it," Kara noted.
"How was the Justice League formed?"
"After Brainiac attacked, the last remnants of the Justice Society were dead or retired," Clark explained. "Me, Batman and Wonder Woman got the others together, and just like that, we were fighting Starro one evening. We didn't look back after that."
"J'onn warned us about the Martians," Kal said. "We fought them, and beat them. Pretty handily too. It occurred to us afterwards that such attacks might happen again. And they did. So we got together a couple of months later."
"When did you get married?"
"Five years ago. In the Schuster Chapel. Happiest day of my life."
"It was in...2009, I think?" Kal said, massaging his temple. "I was thirty then. A good age. Lois looked happy that day."
"How many children do you have?"
"None, as of now."
"Three. Jon, Kara and Mary."
Clark stared at Kal, smiling widely. But inside, his heart was wrenching.
"What happened to your children, Kal?" Wizard asked, scratching his chin.
"They died. Like everyone else."
"Did they die all at once?"
"No. Jon died because he was shot with a Kryptonite bullet. Damian did it."
"Damian isn't the most well behaved kid, but he would never murder anyone. He isn't like that anymore," Clark insisted.
"Maybe in your timeline. He was the Batman in my world. He took over after Bruce and Dick died.
Getting back to the question. Kara died fighting against Solaris, the Sentient Sun. Mary died during the Meta Plague. That was...painful. The skin peeled off her hands."
"When did your wife die, Kal?"
"She wasted away. Liver cancer. Lex did everything he could. At the end, it didn't matter."
"When did you stop being Clark Kent, Kal?" Cxyftlzk asked, his voice solemn and raspy.
"I don't remember. Over time, I forgot who Clark Kent was. And he wasn't... important anymore."
"Did that make things easier?" Wizard asked.
"Sometimes. But the truth is, it was never that easy. There were just good days and bad days.
I watched everything fall apart. It didn't matter how many times we put things back together, or how fast we did it. Humans... outgrew us. They outgrew the world we grew up in. They left Earth in search of better futures. But things never changed."
"Was it easy, though, when you took charge of things?"
"No. I never wanted to take charge. But things were pretty bad out there in space. The Rann-Thanagarian war. Brainiac's harvests. Darkseid looking for the anti-life equation.
They asked me to do it, one day. And at that point, I was too tired to say no."
"How many people did you kill, Kal?"
"57. Only the ones who wouldn't give up."
Clark grabbed hard on to the edge of the table, denting it.
"Don't be so quick to judge, Clark," Wizard admonished him. "I am sure the man had his reasons."
"I did. But there's never a good reason for killing someone."
"Well, at least he's got your morals, Kal, so that's that," Kara added dejectedly.
"Why are you here, Kal?" Cxyftlzk said, his expressions fraught with graveness.
"I am here to save my world."
"And what has happened to your world?"
"It's being wiped out of existence. By an ancient weapon from the Fourth World."
"Close, but no cigar," Wizard said. "Do you know what has actually happened to your world, Kal?"
"I suppose you are going to tell me."
"Oh yes. Injustice happened. Your story, while interesting, isn't really that unique. Good Supermen go wrong all the time. Why should we humor your request more than any of the others? Why should we help you save your world? I mean, Henry Cavill couldn't keep your franchise afloat. What are you going to do, really?"
"And don't say you are going to punch things really, really hard," Cxyftlzk added.
"I have been punching things very hard for the last forty years. That hasn't gotten me anywhere. But I am here right now. And that means, somehow, someway, I can get out of here, and get back to my home."
"Look, can I speak for him?" Clark asked. "Seeing as, technically, we are the same person."
"Well, you are here for a reason. So yes."
"I have been able to track him whole day, because I know how we thinks. I know what he feels. I know that he feels it's hard, but it doesn't have to be."
Clark looked at Kal sincerely, smiling. "I know that Lois is going to die. Every day I am with her is a blessing. But it can't be about Lois. It can't be about Jon, Kara and Mary. Superman has to be more than that. Superman is more that.
That shield on our chest, it stands for hope. The kind of hope that exists even in the darkest of places. We can't give up. And not because of the Dream, or Truth, Justice and the American Way. Superman doesn't exist because he was raised by Ma and Pa Kent. I am sure there are versions of us who grew up in gulags or somewhere in the Middle East.
Superman exists, because he needs to. And he will be there, as long as he is needed. You will win, Kal, because you are needed by your world. That's why you are still here, after all these years. Your world needs you, Kal, and you need to get there before long. And I will help you get there."
"Do you take it upon yourself, then?" Cxyftlzk asked. "The burden of his failures? The burden that he might fail, even after today, at the very end?"
"Yes. It's no added weight. I live with that burden everyday."
"Hmm. The plot thickens," Cxyftlzk said. He summoned a white paper and a stamp pad. "Here. You both need to sign this with your thumbs. I want to get this in writing. Superboy, Supergirl you need to sign too, as witnesses."
"What happens if we don't?" Kara asked, rising from her bean bag.
"You don't want to find out what happens."
"It's a fifth dimensional being, Kara," Conner said, rising as well. "Humor him."
Kara glowered for a moment before giving in. "Let's get this over with."
The four Kryptonians signed the paper, one by one. Cxyftlzk took the paper in his hands, grimacing, a hint of a devilish smile sitting patiently on the edge of his lips. "It's done then. Congrats."
Cxyftlzk shook the two Superman's hands vigorously. Wizard did the shame, grinning from ear to ear.
"That was great. Not as good as the classic Dream speech, but it's still pretty good. Oh look at me, getting carried away."
"This has been a fruitful partnership, Cxy," Wizard said, making a motion of tipping his hat. "Let's grab some coffee when this is over, what do you say?"
"Sure. I would have to change out of these clothes though. Too funky for a Starbucks."
Cxyftlzk looked at the four Kryptonians. Oh, you guys are still here? Off with you now. Away!"
Cxyftlzk waved his hands, and the Kryptonians found themselves disintegrating, their molecules breaking away as they teleported.
"Please don't take too long," Kara said. "I don't want to vomit with half a stomach."
Kal stared at Clark for one last time, smiling. And for once, it seemed as though the years had fallen away from his eyes. "Thank you, Clark. I will remember what you said."
Kal offered his hand, and Clark took it.
"I will, too, Kal. I will too."
It was almost 9 PM. And no one else was there.
Sinead glanced at her reflection in the mirror. Her tears were almost dried, but the pain from her wrists was making it hard not to cry.
She slit her wrists thirty seconds ago. All she had to do was wait. It would all be over soon.
"Miss, I am sorry, but I have to come in."
A firm hand grabbed the door lock and twisted it, breaking it clean off. Superman walked in, understanding and remorse washing over his eyes.
He cauterized the cuts on Sineads wrists, who struggled weakly as he held her. "I am so tired. Please let me go."
"I am tired too. I can understand. What's your name, miss?"
"Sinead. Sinead Walsh."
"Miss Walsh, hang tight. We will be right there at John Hopkins in a few minutes."
Sinead felt woozy as Superman scooped her up, taking flight. He flew gingerly, speeding only in light bursts, cradling Sinead like she was a porcelain figurine.
"It's beautiful today? Isn't it?"
"It is. Especially the skies."
"Do you feel better now? I have slightly altered the dopamine and cortisone in your system. Things should feel lighter."
Sinead nodded weakly. She just wanted this to be over. She had fought hard enough, and she had enough of this world. There had to be a better place.
She did feel lighter though. Perhaps, that would be enough. For now.
"Doctors, this is Sinead Walsh," Superman said as he flew in through an open window. "I will get back to you in a minute with her ID and health insurance, if possible. Please help her."
Sinead was barely conscious then, but she saw Superman look at her with utmost sincerity before he left through the window. "I will be back, Sinead. I promise."
When Clark came back, however, he found someone else standing by Sinead's ward.
"You had a pretty long day, didn't you?" Luthor asked. His sleeves were rolled up, and he was drinking coffee.
"Yes, Lex. I suppose you are here to help, too?"
"In a manner of speaking. She made a rather public post on r/suicidewatch. It was easy to track her, especially when she lives in a house with so many screens and recorders. I figured you would stop by."
"You knew she was going to do that, and you did nothing. What else is new."
"What can I say, Kal El? I live to please. Enough about her though. She will be okay. I am here to talk about us."
"Haven't we talked enough about that?"
"Yes, we did. Didn't we? It's a pity that things always fall out between us. In my defense, I did try. But even when I was on the Justice League, we weren't close. Not really."
"Was there anything left to say? You were only really there for your own ends. Or for your own vanity. I don't know which is worse."
"Don't do that. Don't talk down to me as though I were some worm that you pity. That you choose not to crush. I am more than that. So much more."
Lex sighed, craning his neck away. "Look. I am not here to argue. We have been doing this for almost a decade. Today was... different. The other you, he actually trusted me for once. And that felt..."
"Nice?"
"It felt different. Perhaps, we can explore different paths as well. If not friendship, then at least better acquaintances."
"And how do you propose that?"
"Back me, Superman. Be my running mate. I am going to win the primaries anyways. But if we were together, we could do even more. We can change the world."
"I am not interested in politics, Luthor."
"Neither was I. But things change. Think over it. I can get some freshly grounded coffee in here too, if you want that."
Clark looked deep into Luthor's eyes. He wondered if this was another of his ploys. If so, then this was a very public way of going about it.
"I will get back to you in a few days. Let me know what coffee place you like. You aren't a Starbucks guy, that much I know."
"Yes, that much is obvious. I will send you a email," Lex said dryly. "By the way, you should have gotten a card or something. It looks more sincere."
"I know what I am doing, Lex," Superman said, walking past him. "I have known it for a long while."
"Yeah. I know. At least, you believe you do. That's what makes you so dangerous."
Clark smirked before walking away. This day was almost over, but it still had tricks up its sleeves.
"You okay there, Smallville?"
Clark looked at Lois, smiling warmly. They were at the airport, standing by the boarding area. Jimmy was there too.
"Yeah. Just tired."
"Rough day, huh Clark?" Jimmy said.
"I want to say yes, but I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy some of it."
"Enjoyed it, huh?" Lois shoved her elbow at Clark's sides, who winced at her jibe.
"Yeah. Well, day's almost done now. So not much use, dwelling on it."
"Hmm. You should get going too. Almost time for boarding."
"Yeah," Clark brought out his smartphone, opening the camera app. "Jimmy, could you take a photo of us? For me?"
"Sure, Clark."
"You can't take a selfie like the rest of us mortals, Smallville?" Lois asked, jeering.
"I guess I am just old fashioned."
Clark smiled widely, placing his hand around Lois, who smiled too, dimpling as she looked up into his eyes. Clark looked at her, taking in every aspect, every last bit of detail.
"This is it, huh? A month in Colombia. Don't pick too many fights with drug lords, alright?"
"I will try not to. You stay safe too."
"You know me. Safe is my middle name."
"Right, if that's true, then Queen of England's my middle name too," Jimmy said, ducking the glare Lois shot him. He returned Clark's phone, shaking his hand afterwards. "I will see you around, Clark. Bring some classy souvenirs this time, eh? None of that tacky, dollar store stuff."
"Will do."
Clark picked up his carry-on bag, heading towards the boarding queue. He waved at Lois and Jimmy, who waved back in return.
"Is your trip for business or pleasure?" the air hostess asked, smiling widely.
Clark smiled too. "It's a little bit of both."
5:06 AM
The sun was peeking out of the horizon. Time for Clark to get to work too.
He changed out of his clothes, taking only a moment to note the weather forecast. It was going to be cloudy, with small showers later in the day.
That worked for him.
He checked his surrounding rooms with x-ray vision, ensuring that everyone else was sleeping. Once he was convinced, he opened the windows and slipped past, floating a few hundred feet above ground, before leaping high into the air, a sonic boom sounding as he sped past the clouds.
Up, up and away.
He whistled Hall and Oates again as he ascended past the ionosphere. It was an old song, but what then again, he was old fashioned too.
Time to start a new day.
