Superman: Red Son
Strangelove
"My boy!" Josef Stalin beamed as he placed both of his hands on the Man of Steel's chiselled cheeks "You are the pride of the Soviet Union!"
Stalin lowered his arms and turned on his heel, the communist leader reached down to the ornate wooden table and poured two glasses of vodka from the bottle that rested on top of it.
"Drink up!" Stalin said as he reached out to Superman with one of the shot glasses
"I don't partake sorry" Superman said respectfully
The communist leader let out a laugh from the bottom of his belly "Very well! More for me!"
"Today was uneventful, I arrested the partisan fascist underground organisation this morning but apart from that the country was-"
"Ha! Those bastards! We got some new intel you might be interested in my son" Stalin then reached down and pressed his big thumb on the intercom button "Sasha! Send him in"
The large door opened and the new head of the KGB; Vasily Fedor walked in. He saluted Stalin and nodded his head at the man of tomorrow.
"Good evening supreme leader" Fedor started "My spies inside the United States have informed us about a new recruit into the highest echelon of their S.T.A.R labs division headed by Lex Luthor. The man's name is Hank Henshaw; the very brain behind the bombs that ended the Japs in '45. My spies are currently finding out why they have recruited essentially a bomb maker. I see this as a major possible threat to the Motherland and her people"
Superman rubbed his chin with his heavy hand "Thank you comrade Fedor"
S.T.A.R Labs
The genius Lex Luthor sat back in his chair and gazed across the lab at Hank Henshaw who was busy fiddling at a work desk. Luthor's eye twitched as the closest feeling to jealously he had ever felt flickered like a broken bulb inside his head. Henshaw turned his head and saw Lex staring at him like a falcon ready to pounce on his prey. Hank then placed his work tools on the desk and strode over to Luthor.
"Luthor I need an answer. The weapon is almost finished-"
"You're like a pestering puppy Henshaw. You will have your Kryptonite by the morning. You better pray that your plan works otherwise you've wasted our last hope of killing Superman"
"I want to do more than just kill Superman Lex. This bomb can raze Moscow to the ground, chop the Medusa's head off the body of the Communist power structure and kill Superman. With Moscow in ruins, the US forces can move in and spread capitalism across the god forsaken land"
"How amusing. I'm still vexed on how you landed this job"
"I got the job because you're taking too long. Now if you'll excuse me I'm a busy man and I don't care much for being incessantly stared at"
Luthor smiled and winked at Henshaw. A vein popped from Hank's forehead as he spun around sharply and stomped back to his work desk.
2 weeks later
The lab was populated with a crowd of military and political officials. At the centre of the room stood Hank Henshaw; next to him sat the large bomb propped up by a metal structure. Lex Luthor stood next to the secretary of defence on the balcony looking down on the killing device.
"I would strongly advise against the usage of the bomb Sir" Lex spoke calmly "There are two scenarios in this situation. The bomb is intercepted by Superman before the B-29 and jet escort reaches the capital and that is assuming of course the Russian MiG-17's don't shoot it down first or Moscow is destroyed alongside millions of civilians. But either way we do not win, at the first inkling of a threat, Stalin will retaliate. Nuclear or Superman; it doesn't make much difference"
The sectary of defence raised an eyebrow "The files said the exploding Kryptonite will create a 60 mile death zone for Superman"
"The alien can fly in space Secretary. The percentage chance of him being inside that radius on detonation is too small a number to even pronounce. The goal is to kill the alien, not Russia"
"Quiet now Luthor, Henshaw is about to speak"
Hank raised his hands up into the air and smiled "Good Morning Gentlemen. I stand here before you with the weapon that will win us the Cold War. The uranium-235 has been fussed with Kryptonite, the only substance known to weaken Superman. We may not have a super human on our side but we now have this to match his power! I have created a mechanised device to be our hero to look at in awe. A cybernetic Superman if you will and Gentlemen I call it the K-Bomb-"
From the front row of the crowd a cold faced man reached into his jacket and pulled out a 9mm Makarov pistol "За державу обидно!" The man pulled the trigger twice and the bullets flew and struck Henshaw in the chest. A spray of blood danced into the air from Henshaw's body as American MP ran over and tackled the man to the floor.
"Good evening American. This is Dwight Robertson for Channel 6 news. A Russian spy was captured today after the brutal assassination of Hank Henshaw; to many of you who know Henshaw was the great mind behind the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombs. Emergency talks between the President and Stalin inside the Kremlin this afternoon broke down into a shouting match and a scuffle. The President is currently being advised by key political figures on what to do next. Updates as they happen only at Channel 6 news"
"The following is a public service announcement. The glorious Motherland cries for justice! The American President behaved like a savage and wild beast inside the sacred Kremlin today following the arrest and torture of a Soviet official in Washington this morning! Right this second the humble and distinguished Stalin works hard to calm down the Capitalist animal! But do not fear; our guardian Superman watches over us!"
15 miles off the Metropolis coast
Lex Luthor stood on the bow of his luxurious yacht and watched as the heavy anchor splashed against the sea water. Inside the cabin, Luthor's homing beacon device flashed as it tapped into the most secret of secure lines. His face was pelted by rain and gusty winds as the clouds turned black above him. Then the dark streak flashed across the turbulent skies and low across the sea kicking up a spray of salty water. As it settled it revealed the Man of Steel, the pride of the Soviet Union hovering above the yacht and staring down at Lex with no hint of a smile.
"I should have known you'd have something to do with it Luthor"
"Why who else could possibly hack the main communication line behind the iron curtain using a private signal?" Luthor answered with his usual smugness
"What do you want?"
"I called to warn you Superman, together we can prevent World War 3. After the killing of Henshaw the President has agreed to attempt to drop a K-Bomb on Moscow; with the partial intend of killing you of course"
"A K-Bomb?"
"An atomic bomb fused with Kryptonite. You most stop the plane even getting half way across the Atlantic before Stalin can retaliate and help create a nuclear holocaust"
"How can I know that this isn't any other one of your schemes?"
"Superman the fate of humanity currently rests on your willingness to trust me. Put aside political ideology and save lives. If I could stop this by myself I would"
"Do you have the flight path and co-ordinates?"
Luthor smiled "Certainly"
The roar of the four 18 cylinder air-cooled engines thundered as the B-29 housing the K-Bomb left US airspace on his gargantuan journey. The shorter range fighter escort would launch from airbases in Britain when it passed by. Large globules of rain cannoned into the aircraft as the storm clouds opened to their full capacity. Inside the cockpit the two pilots were rocked forward violently in their seats.
"Damn turbulence" The pilot said as he readjusted his USAF peaked cap.
His co-pilot turned to him as his face turned pale "The airspeed dial is down, it says we are not moving?"
The pilot sat up from his seat and gazed downwards out of the cockpit window to his left. His eyes turned into saucers at the sight of Superman clamping the wing of his plane with his bare hands.
"Holy s-"
Meanwhile
Lex Luthor sat inside the cabin of his yacht over a small device on the tableside. He slipped the warm glove off his hand and rested his finger on its solo red button.
"Superman dead, War prevented for the cost of just eleven brave servicemen" Lex smiled as he dressed the button down. "Boom"
Telegram FROM
METROPOLIS USAF BASE
Air MARSHELL CHRISTOPHER HUMMELS
14TH FEBURARY, 1956
Dear Mr. President, I regret to inform you that we have lost contact with the B-29. It was lost at 9:39AM EST. We also regret to inform you that the payload was detonated from an unknown cause. Search and rescue is currently on sight. Current wind trajectory is carrying the radioactive fallout in a northern direction. You will be updated on events in the next 6hours.
Мама…..Papa. The weak body of Superman floated across the now calm sea. His suit was torn and ripped and his skin was heavily cut and bruised. No aircraft debris had been left after it was totally vaporized in the explosion. The sea all around was a vibrant shade of green that seemed to glow slightly. The green water stabbed into Superman's skin like razor sharp daggers, the pain was unbelievable. The man of steel started to cough and splutter blood as the water began to drain into his pores. Then the hand grabbed his cape and pulled him from the water and into the air.
Superman's eye gazed upwards in disarray at his saviour "Diana…"
The Kremlin
Superman sat by the window with Diana of Paradise Island overlooking the Moskva River. The man of steel had finished explaining what had happened and Luthor's deception.
"Perhaps it is wise not to tell the government about the intended strike, I can only imagine Stalin's wrath. His ignorance will have lives" Diana said thoughtfully as she rested her hand on Superman's shoulder
"Yes I think you are right but Luthor will still stand for his crimes. I am uncertain if the entire thing was a scheme to kill me or whether Luthor double crossed his own country. Either scenario he tried to kill me again"
"Luthor and the entire United States will stand for their crimes. Why does he hate you so much?"
Superman rubbed his chin "I don't know but he is merely a puppet for the entire corrupt government. The sooner they adopt the socialist ideals that have given our country so much, the sooner they will prosper"
Diana smiled "I guess your right"
"Munitions factory explosion 50 miles south of Pskov. I won't be long" Superman said as he opened the window and flew out.
Славься, славься, родина-Россия! Be glorious, be glorious, motherland-Russia!
Сквозь века и грозы ты прошла You passed through the centuries and the thunderstorms
И сияет солнце над тобою And the sun shines above you
И судьба твоя светла. And your destiny is bright.
Над старинным московским Кремлём Above the ancient Moscow Kremlin
Вьётся знамя с двуглавым орлом Waves the banner with the two-headed eagle
И звучат священные слова: And the sacred words resound:
Славься, Русь – Отчизна моя! Be glorious Russia- My Motherland!
End.
