-Chapter Ten-

First Encounters

John Corben felt amazing, he had never felt like this before, he felt strong. Like he could do anything and he was going to do. This world was now his playground and he was going to have some fun. He'd been trapped in a hole for months, sure he'd had the pleasures, but he had still felt caged. He still had months of his life taken away, unable to go anywhere, unable to do anything except sit in a cell with his good food and good television. As he walked across the monorail platform, his face covered by glasses and the collars of his jacket.

He stepped at the edge of the platform looking up and down the empty tracks; he could see a train coming in the distance. He smiled as he saw it coming. This should bring out that big blue Boy Scout, John thought. He leapt on to the tracks basking in the cries of panic from the onlookers. He smiled standing up straight as the train thundered towards him.

"Ladies and gentlemen, let's hear it to the real Man of Steel!" Corben cackled manically holding out his hand towards the train as it suddenly slammed into him.

BOOM! The train slammed to a stop, some of the trams shooting upwards as Corben pushed into it, flipping over each and slamming on to the platform crashing down on the men and women stood there. They recoiled, running, fleeing for their lives. They expected to be crushed. They screamed in terror expecting it to be the last sound they ever made. But it wasn't. They turned to see Superman holding up the falling train. He glared at Corben as he smiled broadly at the Man of Steel.

Superman placed the train down flying up on to the train upturned side ripping open the doors of the train. To see cut, battered, bloodied people all injured. There were at least ten dead, fifteen injured; five fatal, others would live though this. He looked up x-raying the entire train, he could most of the people were okay just concussed, but there were still dead.

The Man of Steel looked up at Corben glaring at him. "Are you ready to fight me, Superman?" Corben cackled.

"I don't know why you want to fight me, but these people are hurt let me get them to safety," Superman replied glaring at Corben, "and then I shall fight you."

"No," Corben said stubbornly leaping at Superman, "we fight now!"

The Man of Tomorrow leapt to the right as Corben came in for a punch. He grabbed Corben's arm throwing him across the platform across from the train. Supes dropped to the ground walking towards Corben.

"You can't win, friend," Superman said coldly, "no matter how strong you are."

"Don't be so smug, Superman," Corben chuckled smugly standing up straight unharmed by Superman's attack. He ran at Superman head butting him. The Man of Steel stumbling. He shook it off blocking his other blow. Supes went to punch him with all his strength, but an excruciating pain filled his very bones causing him to fall to his knees. "See, I told you not to be smug," Corben jeered looking down at his chest to see a green glow coming through his skin. Kryptonite.

Corben punched Superman slamming his face down into the ground. "You see Superman! I know your weakness!" Corben cackled manically. "one little rock and my fists shall end you," he kicked Superman in the jaw sending him rolling towards the broken train, "I have to say... I'm going to enjoy this."

"Please," Superman said weakly, "the people..."

"Who cares?" Corben shrugged stopping at least seven feet away from Superman, "I'm going to be remembered as the man who killed the Superman."

"Don't count on it," Supes growled weakly, his eyes flashes red as he focused hard ignoring the pain of the kryptonite it wasn't close enough to effect him all that much. A red blast of heat shot from his eyes, so powerful hit blasted Corben away sending him crashing into a building ten miles away. Superman got to his feet weakly. He hoped that will keep him down long enough to help the people.

He turned flying over to the train as rescue teams surrounded it ignoring the fight and trying to get the men and women out. "Have you got everyone out?" Superman asked urgently.

"Not yet," said one of the rescue team, "we can't move some of them, in case we do anymore damage."

"How long till an ambulance comes?" Superman asked firmly x-raying the carts, there was seven wounded. Bleeding badly.

"Ten minutes," the man replied anxiously, "some of the guys are trying to stop the bleeding but they need medical attention fast."

"Wait here," Superman said firmly shooting off into the air as fast he could it was now or never; hero time. Make or break. No one dies on his watch. He rocketed across Metropolis in to the General hospital. "Can someone help me?" he shouted as he stood in the middle of the reception area. He spotted a Doctor. "I need your help, there's been a train crash, people are hurt and I can't move them."

"Where?" said the Doctor.

"I'll take you," Superman said, "take anything you might need and I'll come back if we need anything else."

The Doctor nodded grabbing his bag throwing as much stuff as he could inside. Superman grabbed him shooting off again leaving a confused and dazed ward behind them.

He flew through the air at great speed, trying not to go to fast; the Doctor wouldn't be able to take it if he went to fast. It took him literally a minute to reach the train station again. "I brought a doctor," Superman said the rescuer. Superman placed the doctor inside, "these people have deep bleeding and other injuries."

"I can't treat them here," the Doctor stammered.

"Doctor, what is your name?" Superman said sharply.

"Emil," the doctor stammered, "Emil Hamilton."

"Dr. Hamilton," Superman said kindly placing a hand on his shoulder, "I know you're scared. I'm scared too. Despite all my great powers I can't help these people. I have some medical knowledge but I lack the experience. But you can do this. I know it. I'll help as much as I can."

"Okay," Emil replied nodding, taking off his coat, he pulled open his bag, "damn I forgot bandages."

"Here use this," Superman said taking his cape off and holding it to Emil. Emil took it reluctantly but knowing he had no other option.

"Right," he said kneeling down Superman following his lead. Emil mumbled medical jargon that Superman understood to the extent. "Press down on the wound," Emil said to Superman, "lucky you've got super strength, will make the bleed stop a lot easier. Too bad I don't have super speed; I'd be able to get to these people quicker."

"Take your time doctor," Superman replied, "human life shouldn't be rushed."

Emil nodded continuing with his work, he didn't know what it was about this man, but he made him feel like he could do anything. Like he could do anything. He could save these people.

SUPER DOC AND SUPERMAN SAVE TRAIN VICTIMS

By Clark Kent

Later today, a truly devastating attack occurred resulting in at least a hundred people nearly losing their lives, many fatally wounded. The cause of this attack is thought to be John Corben, the man whom was responsible for the murder of Lionel Luthor two years ago. Possessing strength beyond that of humans matching that of Superman's, police are at loss as to how Corben has come to have such amazing powers.

Onlookers were saved by Corben and then train crash by Superman's timely arrival. Corben, crazed and ready for a fight with the man of steel, escaped before he could pit his wits against the man of steel leaving a trail of wounded passengers on the half 2 train.

But it wasn't an alien superhero that saved these people it was Metropolis' own Dr. Emil Hamilton of Metropolis General Hospital, aiding by the Man of Steel, who saved these people from near death.

"I just did what I had to do," Emil Hamilton, 45, said, "if Superman hadn't got me there in the first place I don't know what could have happened. I don't know what it was but I knew I could save those people because of him. He gave me the strength of ten men to save these people. I thank him for that."

The whereabouts of Corben is still unknown his body is yet to be found but authorities and Superman have both commented that they believe Corben to still be alive.

"Nice story, Mr Kent," Jimmy said excitedly as he put paper into Clark's printer. "Did you meet him?"

"Well he was busy," Clark said evasively, "I only saw him for the briefly."

"Nice scoop, Kent," Perry said coming over from his desk. "I want you on this Corben story. If this schmuck is hoping for a showdown with Superman I want it to be as big as Ali and Foreman."

"Whatever you say, Mr White," Clark said pleasantly.

Perry looked at Clark curiously, he didn't know how to put his finger on the man, he was shy, a little clumsy and well meaning and yet he had a this assertive nature when dealing with a story and about his views, despite his arguments sometimes coming of as stuttering a lot of the time he stands for what he believed. It was weird. He was weird. He couldn't help but smile as he was reminded of that weird boy from Smallville he knew from so long ago.

Suddenly, the newsroom and his train of thought was interrupted by the sudden wolf whistles coming from around the room. Perry turning his eyes focused on a petite blond walking into the bullpen. The entire room stopped male reporters turning and checking her out as she walked through the newsroom.

"Wow," Perry said looking her over as she walked over to him, "check out this cutie."

"Golly," Jimmy gasped his eyes widening at the sight of him.

"Excuse me," Buffy said to Steve Lombard, who looked at her leturisly as he looked her over.

"Hey," he said raising a suggestive eyebrow to her.

"Cool it, Mr-seventies-moustache," Buffy said holding up a hand to stop his advances, "can someone tell me where Clark Kent is?"

"Kent?" Lombard exclaimed with shock looking this girl over.

"Err... excuse Steve," said Ron Troupe standing up from his desk, "he still thinks that moustache works."

"Well, he is sooo wrong," Buffy said rolling her eyes at Lombard, "can you tell me where Clark Kent is, please?"

"Err... yeah, he's over there," Ron said also a little stunned that this beautiful petite girl was looking for Clark Kent. She nodded walking over to Clark's cubicle.

Perry fixed his collar and tie. "Must be a fan," he mumbled to Jimmy and Clark. Clark opened his mouth to correct Perry who walked over to her swaggering over. "Hello miss, don't worry," he said cutting her off as she went to open her mouth, "I know, you want some advice about what it takes to work in a place like this. Well, like I told Elvis, it takes a lot of gumshin and a lot of work..."

"Excuse me," Buffy interrupted him mid-anecdote, "I'm actually looking for Clark Kent."

"Kent?" Perry boggled turning to Clark who waved at Buffy shyly. Buffy smiled walking over to Clark kissing him on the lips lightly, though having to get up on her tippy-toes to do so. All around them, Perry, Jimmy, Ron and Steve looked on open mouthed.

"Chief, is it okay if I take an early lunch?" Clark said placing an arm around Buffy.

"Err... yeah go for it," Perry stuttered trying to sound casual despite looking unbelievably at Clark and Buffy. Clark nodded walking away with Buffy grabbing his coat as he went.

"Great Caesar's ghost," The four men said at once as Buffy and Clark disappeared in the elevator unable to believe what they had seen.

"It's all fake," John Corben said devastated as he looked at the cuts in his skin, his hardened skin, chipped away by his small battle with Superman. He had had him and that boy scout had burnt away his skin revealing the truth to him. He fake, he wasn't real. He was metal. Metal cybernetics churned inside him his fleshy substance hanging around his burn and charred clothes. He looked at his face angrily, touching his skin pulling at it. It didn't even feel like skin. It didn't feel like anything. It felt fake, "A fraud!"

He grabbed the skin ripping his half face angrily revealing the metal skull from underneath. He pulled at the rest of the skin, his arms, trying t get rid of it. "This is fake, this is truth, real, the reality hidden in lies. The Metal behind the man!"

He looked in the mirror angrily, his metallic teeth baring at him as he smiled insanely, his skin ripped n half revealing a metallic skeleton underneath, his kryptonite heart shown more prominently no longer hidden behind fake skin. His clothes torn from the battle, his skin the same, he had no need for them. He breathed heavily glaring at his reflection. "This is who I am now!" He snarled punched the mirror cracking it in half the same as his face, "Metallo."

Author Note

Okay so most of you know this story will be based as Buffy Season eight but it will also be a Superman: Year One and will deal with Supes meeting some of his Rogues Gallery, it will have filler adventures for both Buffy and Supes as well as dealing with the big story and will probably be the longest one I've done. Right so you know by now Metallo is next so I'll leave a clue in every chapter or so that will tell you what will happen in the next chapter or sometime soon or maybe later on.

Here's your first one:

What kind of a man has bats on the brain?