Connor Kent and the Revival of Krypton
Chapter 11
Diana, queen of Themiscira, paced back-and-forth. Her light purple nightgown flapped in the wind coming from the open window. It had been a month since her son disappeared and now she hadn't heard from his father in a few days.
With a sigh, she tucked a strand of her soft black hair behind her ear and stared out the window. Where are you my love? She thought, with worry in her light blue eyes.
Her hand dropped to her slightly protruding belly. Don't worry little one, she thought to herself, we will find your father.
With new determination, the Queen of the Amazons strode over to a small computer in her office, the only piece of technology in the room. She pressed the button.
After a few seconds, the Dark Knight's face scowled back at her, "Hello Diana, he said in his usual gravelly voice, how's the baby?"
Despite her worry a small smile blossomed on Diana's face. She draped a hand over her belly, "We're both doing fine," she frowned, "but I haven't heard from Superman in a while. I was wondering if you could search for him for me?"
The sound of the Dark Knight typing on keys filtered through the screen, he frowned, "His communicators turned off."
Diana began chewing on her bottom lip.
The Dark Knight looked up at her and smiled his best reassuring smile, "Don't worry Diana, I'll find him, but I'm sure he's fine."
"I hope so Bruce," she said softly, "I really hope so."
The Dark Knight flashed her one more reassuring smile then the screen went black.
Diana sighed and made her way back over to her desk. She turned her desk chair to face the window and sat down.
She stared out across the lush island that was Themiscira, she could see the fortress standing where the old palace used to. The site made her smile.
When Clark moved the fortress he rebuilt it in the shape of a Greek temple, so it would better fit in with the buildings on Themiscira.
I do so love that man, Diana thought, I wish I could go look for him myself, but I won't risk you little one. She thought gently rubbing her belly.
CK
The Dark Knight collapsed into his chair and removed his cowl, "First Connor and Artemis go missing, now Superman, that can't be a coincidence," he said to himself.
"Let's see," he leaned forward and began typing on his computer, "well this is interesting," he muttered leaning forward, "it appears on the day that Connor and Artemis disappeared my satellites picked up temporal energy."
"Congratulations, you figured out where Connor and Artemis are," said a voice behind him, causing The Dark Knight to spin around.
A man in formfitting black metal armor stood before him, the silver emblem of an owl on his chest glowed in the light of his computer, "too bad you won't get to tell anyone."
"Who are you," The Dark Knight growled, "and how did you get in here?"
The man in black waved his question away, "That's not important. All you need to know is that my master wants you removed."
The Dark Knight rose to his feet, "Well I won't go down easy."
A dark smile spread across the man's face, "I don't expect you to," he spread his arms wide, "that's what makes this so fun."
While the man talked, Batman took the time to look him over. There are similarities in the way he moves that remind me of myself, he thought, it appears that while I took on the bat as my animal he took on the owl. He also seems to have a more advanced suit, the dark Knight's lips turned down in a scowl, the most likely scenario is that someone decided to be an anti-me, but the fact he knew where the Batcave was coupled with the way he moves. Makes me think he's me from an alternate universe.
The Dark Knight shook his head, "I'm going to guess that you are an alternate version of me," he looked the man before him up and down, "by the emblem on your chest in the shape of your cowl, I'm going to say you go by the name owl man."
Owl man clapped his hands, "Bravo, bravo, your reputation precedes you. You are the world's greatest detective." He raised his arm, a barrel slid out of his armored wrist, "Now let's see who the better fighter is."
"Let's," The Dark Knight replied.
Suddenly, gray smoke filled the cave.
Owl man sighed, "Really, you're going to try to hide from me." He pressed a button on his cowl, switching on his infrard vision.
The whole cave was suddenly outlined in blue, with the occasional spec of orange when a bat decided to move.
"Come out come out wherever you are," Owl man called, looking from side to side, "I thought the world's greatest detective would put up more of a challenge than a game of hide and seek."
He fired a rocket from his wrist. It flew through the air and struck a display case, exploding on impact, sending glass and wood flying through the air. "Well," he called out, "it looks like I missed," his head swiveled from side to side, "but I'll make sure to hit you next time."
All of a sudden, something whistled through the air and struck his armor, exploding on impact, causing him to stumble backwards.
"Now this is getting interesting," Owl man exclaimed with a bloodthirsty smile on his face. He slowly moved in the direction the object came from. Another whistling sound echoed through the cave. This time the owl-based villain was ready.
He raised his hand and caught the object before it struck. He slowly turned it over in his fingers.
It was a bat shaped piece of metal with sharp edges.
He laughed, "Do you really think you can beat me with these little toys?"
Suddenly, the thing in his hand began to beep, causing him to frown. He tried to throw it away, but found it stuck to his fingers. His eyes widened. Damn, he thought, I have underestimated him.
It exploded, knocking him off his feet, and filling his vision with dark gray smoke.
With a groan, Owl man climbed to his feet. Thank goodness my armor is so thick, he thought, or I would've lost my hand.
He turned his head slowly, the explosion left smoke trails that had residual traces of heat, making his infrared vision useless. Suddenly, a fist came through the smoke and smashed into his face, sending him staggering backwards.
Before he could regain his balance, a kick to the ribs sent him staggering sideways. However, his thick armor took most of the impact. He locked his arm around the leg still buried in his ribs, pulled the Dark Knight around, and tossed him away.
He laughed, "Now this is what I'm talking about."
The Dark Knight rolled along the floor and came up in a crouch position. His eyes swept over his opponent. He's faster and stronger than I anticipated, he thought, the armor he wears must increase his physical capabilities.
"Come on Batman," Owl man taunted, "show me what you've got." He made a come on gesture with his hand.
"You talk too much," the Dark Knight said whipping out a rectangular gun. He pulled the trigger, sending a blue beam of energy towards the owl-based villain.
Owl man's eyes widened. He raised his hands to shield himself just as the beam hit.
Ice grew up on the floor around the owl-based villain and permafrost filled the air.
After a solid minute, Batman released the trigger. He slid the gun into his belt and cautiously made his way forward. He stopped before the fog of permafrost and waited for it to clear.
Suddenly, an armored hand grabbed his throat. The Dark Knight's eyes widened. He clawed at the appendage, but couldn't get it to release its grip.
Owl man's smiling face appeared out of the permafrost, "I have to admit, I didn't expect you to use a freeze gun on me."
"How are you not frozen?" The Dark Knight choked out.
Owl man held up his free hand, which glowed a bright orange and radiated heat.
Heaters in his suit, the Dark Knight thought, I should've foreseen that.
"You fought well Batman," Owl man said, bringing the Dark Knight out of his thoughts, "but I guess now we know who the better fighter is."
The dark Knight's mind whirled as he tried to think of a way out of his situation, but before he could try anything electricity coursed through the hand around his neck, causing the Caped Crusader to cry out then his world went dark.
Owl man pressed the ear of his cowl, "This is Owl man, I have my target."
CK
Jor-El stared at the man before him in shock, "What did you say?"
Connor wiped the sweat from his brow and placed a hand on the door frame to steady himself. Damn, he thought, I must've strained my telepathy more than I thought.
The neo-man of steel shook his head, "I said…" Before he could finish, his eyes rolled into the back of his head and he collapsed to the floor.
"Connor!" Artemis cried out. She dropped to her knees and cradled him in her arms. "Connor," she called, tapping his face, "Connor, can you hear me?"
She turned to Jor-El, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, "Listen, do a blood test if you have to, but right now your grandson needs your help."
CK
Artemis stared out at the ice covered ground that surrounded Jor-El's saucer like home. She watched as a two-headed wolf with a red coat and three eyes on each head trotted across the snow-covered ice with its head down as it plowed through the snow.
The Archer's eyes flicked over to Connor.
He lay on a metal table that sat at an angle to put him in a standing position, a laser scanned up and down his body.
With a sigh, Artemis turned back to the window. For an advanced civilization it sure does take a long time for them to find out what's wrong with someone, she thought to herself.
Finally, Artemis couldn't take it anymore, "Do you know what's wrong with him or not?" She asked in exasperation.
Jor-El turned to look at her, his eyes a light with interest, "It's just a minor case of exhaustion, but…"
"But?" Artemis interrupted.
Jor-El sighed, "But," he continued, irritation leaking into his voice, "it appears there's a minor destabilization in his DNA."
"A minor destabilization, what does that mean?"
Jor-El beckoned her over, "Come look for yourself."
Artemis moved away from the window and weaved around the technology that was packed into Jor-El's lab. She stopped before the holographic computer screen with the DNA strand on it, "Okay, what am I looking at?"
Jor-El pointed to the screen, "This is Connor's DNA," Jor-El hit a few keys and isolated a specific portion of the DNA, "this is the part of Connor's DNA that allows him to absorb solar energy."
"Okay," Artemis said nodding slowly, "I still don't understand what I'm looking at."
"Don't mind him," a voice behind them said, "he gets a little long-winded when he's excited."
Artemis and Jor-El turned to see a woman with rust colored hair and green eyes walk into the lab. She was wearing a violet gown that was V-shaped in the front showing just a hint of cleavage. She strode forward with a grace that Artemis instantly recognized.
This woman is a warrior, Artemis thought to herself.
The woman turned her inquisitive but suspicious blue eyes to Jor-El, "Jor-El, who are these people?"
"According to the DNA test this is Kal-El's son from the future," Jor-El said smiling.
The woman nodded slowly and turned her attention to Artemis, "I am Laura, Jor-El's wife. It is nice to meet you?"
Artemis nodded, "Likewise."
Laura turned to look at Connor, "So, what's wrong with him?"
Jor-El waved his hand dismissively, "Just a minor case of exhaustion."
Artemis turned to Jor-El, "What were you telling me about Connor's DNA?"
"Ah yes," Jor-El said, his eyes lighting up with excitement, "Connor," he looked at Artemis to make sure he got his name right at Artemis's nod he continued, "has the ability to metabolize sunlight faster than a normal kryptonian, but because of the destabilization he metabolizes all types of sunlight at an accelerated rate not just the ones that give him powers."
"How does this make him different from other kryptonians?"
"Other kryptonian's, after being under a yellow sun for an extended period of time would gain a natural resistance to other types of sunlight that would be harmful to them, but because of Connor's altered DNA he does not have that resistance."
"Can you fix it?"
"I can," Jor-El said nodding, "but after I do I expect you to tell me how you ended up in this time and on this planet."
Artemis nodded, "I'll tell you what I can, but Connor's better at the science stuff than me."
Jor-El flashed Laura smug smile, "At least someone in this family took after me."
Artemis smirked, "I wouldn't say that, Connor takes after his mother a lot, and she's an Amazon Princess. They are some of the fiercest warriors on earth."
Now it was Lara's turned to smirk.
Jor-El huffed and turned away. After a few minutes of typing on his computer, a glowing blue vial popped up out of a square machine.
Jor-El walked over to the machine and carefully plucked the vial from it. He placed the vial into a gun with the needle on the end, walked over to the still unconscious Connor, and injected the contents of the vial into his arm. "There," he said once the vial was empty, "the Nano bots should give him a resistance to red sunlight while still allowing him to keep the ability to metabolize yellow sunlight faster than normal kryptonian."
The father of Superman pressed a button and a lid came down over the metal table. The moment it was sealed it blazed with a yellow light. He turned back to Artemis, "By bombarding his body with yellow solar energy it should speed up the healing process. Now, you owe me an explanation."
With a sigh, Artemis spent the next hour explaining about the battle on Themiscira, being knocked unconscious, and waking up on krypton.
When she finished, Laura shook her head, "You need more training if someone was able to get the drop on you."
Artemis opened her mouth to retort but was cut off by a groan.
Everyone turned to see the lid on Connor's table rise up.
The neo-man of steel set up holding his head. He gazed around the room at all the kryptonian technology. His fingers twitched. Must not touch, must not touch, he repeated to himself.
Shaking his head, the neo-man of steel turned to Artemis, "Where are…" He was cut off by a knife lying at his face. In the blink of an eye, the neo-man of steel drew his sword and knocked the knife away. Another blink put him directly in front of Artemis with his sword at the ready.
Artemis rounded on Laura, "What the hell are you doing?"
Laura shrugged, "You said his mother was one of the greatest warriors on earth, I wanted to see how good he was," she turned to Connor with a smile on her face, "I have to say, I am impressed."
She clapped her hands together, "Now let's eat."
CK
Deep beneath apocalypse's surface, Daedalus stood before two tanks. He stared at the unconscious Superman than Batman floating within them with glee and his eyes. Now that the Earth's two mightiest heroes are incapacitated it will be that much easier to conquer, he thought to himself.
Darksied appeared beside him, scowling as water from stalactites dripped onto his face, "What are you going to do with them?"
"I'm going to leave them in this cave where they can't cause any trouble"
Darksied scoffed, "I say we should turn them into our soldiers and break the human's spirits."
Daedalus shook his head, "No, you've tried that before. Superman broke free of your brainwashing, and I'm quite sure earth's greatest detective could to."
Darksied growled at being reminded of his failure, but nodded. I will put up with your disrespect for now, he thought, but the second your usefulness is over…
Author note – what do you guys think of my writing?
