Achilles

I waited for a few days after the Toyman incident. Well, I patrolled Metropolis and the rest of the world, then came back. To my disgust, Lex Luthor had declared that Winslow's confession had been nothing but slander coming from a lunatic. The authorities would not touch him at all.

I went to the police station and told them Winslow told the truth. Thanks to my hearing and vision powers, I could tell his biometrics had checked out. Despite being intimidated by me, Dan Turpin and a few others declared that such ridiculous evidence would not stand up in any court of law, and to stop wasting their time and get out.

Fuming, I left. I figured trying to press this issue further would be a dead end.

Suddenly, I hear a commotion. I look down and see the people running from a tall and extremely buff man going on a rampage in the streets. Punching holes in walls, the concrete, and the asphalt. Must be on steroids.

I dive at him, but as I approach, I feel fatigue and a sharp pain all over my body. I flinch for a split second, then punch him in the jaw. He flies through a brick wall. What was that pain? Oh well, it's gone now. Stranger still is that impact didn't feel like flesh, it felt like metal!

The man steps out of the rubble, unscratched. The people scream and continue running and hiding.

He laughs, "You wimp, that didn't even hurt! Ha!"

He charges and I stagger as I feel the pain again. Before I can recover, he tackles me and proceeds to punch me repeatedly.

"Ugh!" It actually hurts! With all my strength, I kick him away, but he doesn't fly back as far as I expected. Again, when he is far away, I feel better, but my energy reserve is a bit low.

The police arrive. They order the man to give himself up, but he throws a piece of the street at them. I catch it, but the effort knocks the wind out of me.

One of the cops shoots him in the leg, but the bullet bounces off! Shocked, they empty their magazines, but all the bullets bounce off as well.

This is no ordinary foe! I scan him with X-Ray vision. The image I see resembles The Terminator without his flesh. Where his heart would be, is a large rock, glowing green and connected to the machinery by wires. The glow extends to a radius of about 20 feet. Could this be why I feel weak when I try to get near him?

"Everyone!" I shout. "He's a robot!"

The man, "So you figured it out. Big deal. I, John Corben, will kick all your asses!"

He charges, but I throw the street section back at him, knocking him over. I blast him with my heat vision, but it merely burns off some of his false skin, exposing the metal beneath. I try again, but the metal is unaffected.

"Why you!" Corben roars. "Look what you did to my face!"

He strikes the ground, puncturing a gas main! At super speed, I gather everyone and move them away, just before it explodes, taking half the street with it.

We look around, but he's gone.

"I've got to find him before he hurts anyone else!" I declare.

I soar up and scan the city with my X-Ray vision. I see him running through the sewers. I follow from above.

Before long, he has entered Luthorcorp. I notice that I can't see through the walls, so they must be lined with lead. I enter the building, moving at super speed to avoid being spotted by the employees or the security cameras. I find him, but remember to keep my distance. Soon he is in Lex Luthor's office, chatting with him.

Lex scowls, "I thought I told you not to come back until Superman is dead!"

Corben, "I'll get to that, just fix my face!"

"What? I though you were happy with the way you are."

"Sure, I like being so tough, but still. You turned me into a freaking robot!"

"Ungrateful punk! Without me, you'd still be nothing but one of Morgan Edge's hired muscle!"

"You!" Corben marches forward.

"Relax, my friend. I was a bit crass. I'll fix you up. By the way, John Corben doesn't suit you. You need a title that will strike fear into your enemies. Hmm, in honor of the coltan and titanium alloy you are made of, how about? Metallo!"

Coltan!? So that's why my heat vision didn't work!

"Has a nice ring to it. Alright!"

I do a quick check of the room, but the security camera is off. Darn, I don't have any evidence that Luthor is behind this! Oh well, now is a good time to strike!

"Hey there. Am I interrupting anything?" I ask, revealing myself.

"Superman!?" Lex roars. "Get him!"

Metallo lunges, but I blow him back, just in time. Got to stay out of his range!

Before I can react, Metallo rips out a section of the wall and rams me, pinning me against a wall. He's strong. Wait, I don't feel the pain. Of course, lead blocks radiation!

I realize that without the pain the green rock gives me, I am stronger that he is. I shove him back. Then, turning a bit of the wall section into a javelin, I strike with all my might. The makeshift spear knocks the rock out.

"No!" He screams and collapses, unable to move anything but his face. The rock was apparently his main power source.

Lex lunges for the rock, but I quickly cover it in lead and squeeze it shut.

"It's over Luthor."

"Not quite, Superman. I control everything in this town. Who are the police going to believe, a filthy alien, or Metropolis' First Son? You have the power to kill me right now, but I can see it in your eyes. You don't have the guts! How pathetic. I have many, many more of those green rocks. At first, I assumed they were merely sources of near limitless energy, but now I know. Judging from the data collected from your battles, while the radiation is harmless to humans, your body can't stand it! It is your Achilles heel, your downfall! I give you a choice, either serve me, or die."

How repulsive. "You were right about one thing. I am not a murderer. But, I will never serve such an evil being like you. One who would use his talents for evil. I will find a way to bring you to justice." I scoop up the groaning Metallo's body, along with the rock.

"I will find a way to kill you!" Luthor screams. "As soon as I do, I won't have any distractions when I move on to more useful endeavors, like finding the cure for cancer!"

"Sure."

I fly away, taking time to throw the rock into the sun. Then, I deliver Metallo to the police. I explain that I removed his power source, so he is no longer a threat.

For a fleeting moment, I fear Metallo will be taken apart like a lab rat. Unfortunately, I can't think of any way to help him. That's two lives you've ruined, Luthor, most likely even more. I'll figure out a way to stop you. One day.

To Be Continued…

Author's Note: John Corben/Metallo would be played by John Layfield, aka the wrestler JBL. In the show, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, coltan is the substance that terminators are made of. It is real, the ore of tantalum and niobium. It has an extremely high melting point.