For The Man Who Has Everything
Today was a very important day for the League. For it was Superman's birthday. At the very second, Batman and Wonder Woman were on their way to the Fortress of Solitude.
In the Invisible Jet,aka Wonder Woman's pride and joy, Batman and Diana were en route to Superman's Fortress.
Taking a sharp turn on the water, they started going underwater.
"Little sharp on the turn,don't you think?"Batman scowled.
"Sorry if I scared you,"Diana smiled.
Eventually rising to the surface in a silvery cave like lair,they stepped out of the jet. Diana and Batman unbuckled their seat belts. Picking up her present,Diana was first to step out. Her present was coated in various colors.
Leaping out of the cave water and onto the icy floor, they started walking at a slow pace.
"What did you get him?"Batman queried,glancing over at the Amazon.
"I'm not saying anything,"Wonder Woman replied. "He'll hear it and spoil the surprise.
"He can hear that to,"Batman pointed out.
"How 'bout you?"Diana asked.
Batman arched a mask eyelid and commented "He's not the easiest person in the world to buy birthday presents for,"
He then held up an envelope.
Diana sighed. "Bruce, you didn't get him a gift certificate,did you?"
"No!" Batman replied,sounding insulted. "Cash,"he smirked.
It took all of Diana's self control not to groan.
"I mean,what do you buy for the man who has everything?"Batman wondered as he and Diana walked up the stairs.
Dropping their gifts,they looked in horror at Superman. He was standing deathly still,with purple tentacles covering his chest and neck,with spikes protruding out.
"Looks like some kind of plant,"Bruce commented. "Seems to be growing through his costume into his body.
"Is he breathing?"Diana wondered.
"Barely,"Batman commented.
"Someone must have breached the Fortress,"Diana said angrily,stomping her foot.
"Agreed. Have a look around,"Bruce said in his typical sandpaper on glass voice as Diana flew away.
Shining a flashlight over the Kryptonian,he was shocked inside but you couldn't see it.
"Pupils aren't contracting even slightly. He must be cut off from all sensation"Batman observed.
"Kent,where are you?"Bruce wondered.
Superman's mind
Superman woke up in a plush purple bed to an electronic voice.
"This is your wake up alarm,"it said.
Turning his head slightly he saw a small 1 foot tall hovering machine with three circles connected into an upside down triangle.
"Good morning,Kal El,"it replied. "Happy birthday,"
Kal yawned and said, "Thanks,Brainiac. Windows please,"
As he said that,the walls disappeared showing farmland like scenery.
"Please don't tell me it's morning already,"said a beautiful red haired woman,as she put a pillow around her head.
"That's what you get for partying all night,"Superman said as he reached for the pillow.
"I was working,"the woman pouted.
"Come on, honey,you call that work?"Kal asked. "Covering the opening of the art museum,hobnobbing with all the movers and shakers?" he smiled as he kissed her on the neck.
"A bunch of bores,"she sighed. "You could have come you know."
"Next time,"Kal promised.
"Oh please. I couldn't get you off this farm if a quantum bomb,"she was interrupted as everything shook.
"Did you,"Kal asked before he was pulled back down by Lana,the red haired woman next to him.
"Come her,handsome,"she said slyly.
The two leaned in for a kiss before Brainiac sounded.
"A reminder, Kal El and Lana El are expected at Jor El's laboratory in precisely 2 hours and 12 minutes."
"Well we had better go,"sighed Lana.
Fortress of Solitude
"So it was a gift,"Batman deduced as he saw the open package on the floor. "Some grateful world or someone who wanted you to think they were grateful.
Suddenly a booming voice made Batman jump. "How remarkable,you animals are actually intelligent."
Out of the shadows came Mongul and Ronan the Accuser.
"Kal El was a fool. It was simple to use the Black Mercy on him." Ronan smirked.
Batman reached for his com-link to get help. Unfortunately the signal was jammed.
Mongul smirked and pounded the ground causing the Dark Knight to stumble.
Wonder Woman had just arrived along with L-Ron,Superman's personal bodyguard. L-Ron was around 7'1 with laser blasters and Superman's powers.
With Batman down it was up to Diana and L-Ron to fight the two invaders.
Meanwhile Batman had crawled over to Superman's frozen body. Implanting a small device into the Man of Steel's knee, he said "Sorry,Kal,but this is to break up your fantasies
Superman's mind
Jor El's laboratory.
"Good to see you,son. I am horribly sorry to wake you,but there is something I would like to show you on the telescope,"smiled Jor El, renowned scientist of Krypton.
"Not a problem,Dad. It's good to see you,"Kal smiled.
"Although I didn't get much fun with this big lug thanks to this meeting,"Lana mock pouted.
Smiling at Lana's crocodile tears way of getting attention,they regained their composure.
"What's wrong,Dad?"Kal asked worriedly.
"Yeah, why'd you wake us up,"Lana said.
"Well I'll show you,"Jor said sadly as he showed the two the telescope.
It ended up showing space, a few hundred million miles from Krypton. But what they saw shocked them.
It was almost 15 times bigger then planets themselves,absorbing asteroids and moons as well as other lifeless space junk into itself. It was coated with a blue and gold armor from head to bottom. The helmet of the beast was shaped like a trident and coated a light purple. His hands were gleaming with energy.
His name was Galactus.
There was another, a Cybertronian. His metal frame was yellow and gray. Roughly about the size of the planet Saturn. It was less known but Krypton knew of him and Galactus.
His name was Unicron.
They cleaved planets in half then destroyed them,absorbing their essence into their bodies.
"My god,"Kal said in horror. If Galactus and Unicron came for Krypton,they were doomed.
Fortress of Solitude
Wonder Woman had defeated Ronan but L-Ron had been knocked out by Mongul. Mongul was easily winning against Diana.
"My my, I figured you were a suitable champion,female,"Mongul smirked.
"Well,you chauvinistic asshole, I think you deserve this,"Diana said as she leveled the former head of Warworld with a sock to the jaw.
Meanwhile Batman had nearly broken off the Black Mercy. The plant was faltering as more batarangs pierced it.
Superman's mind
Galactus and Unicron had arrived at Krypton. The planet had fired various last resort weapons on the two but nothing stopped them. Unicron started to crush the planet's force field. Cracks started to form in the surface of the planet.
Meanwhile Kal was having his doubts about this being real. He had this... sinking sensation about all this.
"Lana,I don't think this is real. I don't think you're real,"Kal said sorrowfully.
"How can you say that,Kal!"Lana yelled. "We've been together for two damn years!"
"I don't know,Lana! But I know something. This. Is. A. Dream."Kal retorted.
As Galactus and Unicron devoured Krypton, Superman returned to the real world.
Fortress of Solitude
Superman awoke as the Black Mercy fell off. He was met by Ronan the Accuser.
"You will be judged,Kryptonian. Not now,maybe not later. But you will be judged,"Ronan boomed as he was teleported back to the Kree homeworld Hala.
Superman wondered what that was all about. But to his horror,the Black Mercy had taken over Batman.
"Bruce!"Superman yelled. His best friend,taken over.
Batman's mind.
Little Bruce was walking with his parents and his friend Tony and his parents.
"Good to see you,Thomas. Little Tony just had to see that movie,"Howard Stark smiled.
"No problem. Let's head on over to the Wayne Manor to have a few drinks. Alfred and Jarvis won't mind watching over the kids,will they?"Thomas Wayne asked.
They headed down an alley. But suddenly they were ambushed. It was just an insignificant mugger.
"Give me your valuables,pal,"the mugger growled.
Maria was quick to give him her necklace and bracelet. However Martha was a little more obstinate.
"But my mother gave this to me,"she cried out.
"Yeah and I'm sure your dear mother wouldn't want your brain splattered all over the alley. Now fork it over,lady,"the mugger snarled.
"You leave my wife alone,you worthless petty thief,"Thomas growled. He grabbed the mugger in a full nelson and kicked him in the back,following with a punch to the nose and a garbage lid to the cheek.
"Leave him to the cops,"Thomas said disgustedly. "Let's go on to the manor,"
Suddenly the world around them ceased to exist for some reason.
Fortress of Solitude
Diana had defeated Mongul. Her and Superman were trying to take the Black Mercy off Batman. They succeeded.
"Thanks. Those things are worse than Scarecrow's gas,"the Dark Knight said as he awoke from his Black Mercy induced hibernation.
"No problem,Bruce,"Superman chuckled.
"Oh and can you use your Kryptonian tech to fix up by costume? When you ripped off the Black Mercy,it ripped off part of my shirt,"Batman said,clearly annoyed.
"Sure,"Superman said, running off the get the machine.
"You know, you look good shirtless,"Diana smiled.
Batman raised a Bat-eyelid at that. "What would your mother think of that,"he said coolly.
"Hippolyta isn't here, is she?"Diana said slyly.
"Princess,don't,"Batman said as he struggled to back away from the Amazon.
"Just kidding. Is the big bad Dark Knight afraid of some lowly princess?"Diana asked,smirking.
Superman arrived,eliminating the awkwardness between Diana and Batman.
"Here,Batman. It's called the Reparo, it's made to repair broken items,"Superman said, pointing what looked like a red rod at Batman's clothes.
A blast of orange light hit the costume and cloth formed literally out of thin air.
"Not bad,Boy Scout,"Batman grunted.
"Let's go to the Watchtower. I think I have a birthday party to attend. Oh and Bruce, how much cash is it?" Superman asked.
"The check's for 2 million dollars,"Batman said.
"Diana,what did you get me,pray tell?"Superman couldn't help but ask.
"I got you this,"Diana said proudly. It was a flower,from Krypton?
"How did you get this?"Superman asked.
"Intergalactic zoo. They were literally a dime a dozen,"Diana commented.
"Let's go already,"Batman said impatiently.
Next Time-As Superman's birthday is celebrated at the Watchtower,Superman is accused by the Kree Empire.