I do not own any DC Characters used herein, and am only employing them in a story meant for entertainment purposes only.
Man Of Steel
Original Story By Twisted-Wun & LJ58
Edited and Reposted (With Permission) by LJ58
14
"So, Superman…."
"I favor Kal-El," he told Shayera as they stood on an observation deck, staring down at the planet below.
"I've heard everyone calling you Superman."
"I've heard a lot of them calling you Hawkgirl," he countered blandly.
"Point taken," she grimaced. "So, do you really think you can manage if Darkseid does come to Earth?"
Kal-El looked down at the globe, saying nothing as he studied the planet below.
"Kal?"
"I think his agents have already been here. There's a band of criminals calling themselves Intergang with very powerful weaponry, and rather….enigmatic backing. I thought at first they were related to Cadmus, but….. Now I wonder."
Shayera frowned.
"Why would Darkseid, scourge of the cosmos, bother with local thugs?"
"That's a very good question," Batman said as he walked out of the lift to join them. "Gotham has been having the same issues with….unnatural weapons of late. You really think they're coming from Darkseid?"
"Or his agents," Kal-El turned to nod at him.
"Unfortunately, that makes too much sense to deny. Or ignore. I'll have J'onn look into it. He's good at finding…..hidden patterns."
"Meanwhile, what about me," the Thanagarian asked. "You people were a bit close-mouthed when Kal-El here suggested I join you."
"No offense, but I'm not sure you'd fit," Batman grunted.
"Not fit? You've an adolescent that barely control himself. Several other aliens. A simpering sycophant from Oa, and a half dozen humans that wouldn't last five minutes in a real fight. Just where would I not fit," she demanded.
"She's got the attitude," Captain Atom declared as he walked onto the deck from a hatch across the chamber. "What's wrong, Batman. Afraid the aliens are starting to outnumber us mere humans on the team."
"Mere humans," Batman turned to eye the manifestation of sentient energy pointedly.
"Don't let his bark bother you. Batman doesn't trust many."
Batman eyed the silver hero with a cool stare.
"Usually because they don't give cause to earn my trust," he countered.
"Ouch," the soldier pantomimed. "So, Superman….."
Kal-El only sighed.
"I just came up to tell you that Diana was hoping you'd take the de facto lead of our little band. She seems to think you've the right face, and attitude to put our proverbial best foot forward."
Kal-El did frown at hearing that.
"I honestly did not see myself as a leader, Captain. I would much prefer someone more experienced did so. I think I would be best served continuing to research our mutual concerns, and finding solutions for them."
"Says the man that knocked out that alien powerhouse with a single punch," Captain Atom grinned, making Batman eye the Kryptonian again.
"One punch?"
"I hardly knocked him out."
"It was close enough. You had him begging at the end."
"He didn't beg. I'm not even sure I truly beat him. I have the feeling we've not seen the last of Mongul."
"Nor do I," Shayera told them. "He is not known for giving up a fight. Especially when he feels his personal honor has been besmirched."
"Like having a handful of humans fly in, and making him look bad," Captain Atom asked.
"Exactly," Shayera nodded. "During my escape, I heard some of the guards saying Mongul had taken to his room. Allegedly to recover. That was after he slaughtered half his personal advisors who got in his way."
"Sounds like a nice guy," Shayera was told by the somber detective.
"He's a monster. Even those so-called Guardians avoid him, but most feel that is due to the fact their rings don't handle anyone, or anything yellow all that well."
Batman made a soft murmuring sound as he recalled the Lantern mentioning a 'slight disadvantage' earlier when seeking their aid.
Kal-El, having learned much of Batman, and his character, said nothing at his thoughtful murmur.
"So, how do we go forward," Captain Atom asked. "You've always been the technical leader, if always behind the scenes," he told Batman. "But let's face it, we're stepping out into new territory here."
"Obviously," Batman grumbled dryly.
"The point is, the rest of us were talking, and we think Diana has a point. Superman would be a good 'face' for the League. He's a known hero in Metropolis, and after Warworld, the world knows him more than ever. I think we should promote him….."
"This isn't the military," Batman spat, then eyed Kal-El. "Just do what you want. I'm needed back in Gotham anyway."
"Need help," Kal-El asked him as the detective turned abruptly, and headed for the lift again.
"If I did, I'd ask," Batman spat before the door closed, and the lift carried him to the transporter.
"He never asks," Captain Atom advised him.
"I got that impression. He is a very…..formidable man," Superman nodded thoughtfully. "Admirable, too, in his way."
"Coming from a man that likely juggles boulders, that's saying something."
"I do not, Captain, juggle boulders," Kal-El remarked dryly. "Ready to return? Or do you wish to remain here for a time?"
Shayera glanced around, nodding, then said, "I think I'll stay. Try to meet some of the others here. Somehow, cozy as your little ice palace is, I think if I'm to be a part of this world for the time being, then I should meet some of its warriors."
"Of course," Kal-El nodded. "Have J'onn contact me if you wish to return. I'll be going down to continue work on the spacecraft. As well as several other….projects I'm overseeing."
"Spacecraft," Captain Atom asked.
"Hardly a ship of any worth," Shayera remarked. "It's just a short-range shuttle I….borrowed to escape Warworld. Kal-El thinks he can retrofit it so it can safely reach the New Gods."
"And you know where they are," Captain Atom asked, still uneasy about calling in outside help for their problems. Especially when they had yet to hear everything that might be involved in this alliance.
"Not yet. But I have Green Lantern working on the coordinates while I work on the ship," Kal-El told him. "By the time I think it's ready for deep space, I hope he'll have something for us to go on."
"You don't know where these….New Gods are," Captain Atom asked.
"I've hardly had cause to go looking," Shayera told him. "Besides, New Genesis is likely more closely guarded than Darkseid's own throne room since….."
"Since," Captain Atom frowned.
"It's said that New Genesis wasn't the first home for the New Gods. It's only speculation," the Thanagarian told him. "But I've heard Darkseid destroyed their homeworld, and drove them deeper into space when he first set his course on absolute dominion. Only the Highfather kept him from completely destroying their race. They say he's likely as strong as Darkseid, only….."
"Only?"
"To be honest, I've heard he's a bit of a pacifist," she scowled.
Captain Atom shook his head, gaping at her.
"Let me get this straight. We're going into space on suspect coordinates, to find a race that might, or might not help? And their leader is a pacifist?"
"Even if he will not directly intervene, he has to know something that might help us," Kal-El reasoned. "That, in itself, is worth the risk."
"And have we drawn lots for this suicide mission? Because I don't think I'll join this one," the silver hero scoffed.
Batman eyed him again.
"Actually, I would think you would be the perfect choice. You could face whatever mishaps might occur if something went wrong."
"The ship should be safe enough once I've completed the modifications," Kal-El assured them.
"All the same, I still doubt I'm the one that should go."
"We don't need to decide at once. I'll let you know when the ship is ready. That will time enough to put together a suitable envoy," Kal-El told them. "Now, as Shayera wishes to remain, I should be getting back to my own work. Good day, gentlemen."
The Thanagarian warrior watched him leave, and shook her head.
"Something on your mind?"
"Just…. He's every bit as reserved as any Kryptonian I ever heard about from my peoples' tales. I would think being raised on this planet as I was told, he would have been a bit more…..human."
Neither Batman, nor Captain Atom commented on that.
MoS
"I wasn't expecting you so soon," Guardian said as he looked up to find the colorfully clad Kryptonian standing where he shouldn't be. "How did you even get in here without setting off half the new alarms?"
"I tunneled in through the mountain, and then removed a section of decking. Even your minders didn't think to monitor solid rock."
"I wager they'll correct that oversight soon enough."
"Only if you tell them," Kal-El remarked, walked over to eye the shelf with a collection of old books on it. Very old books.
"Interesting selection."
"I like to think anyone can improve their mind with just a little effort. Even over-the-hill cloned cops," he smiled in self-deprecation, not currently wearing his mask.
"I was merely making a comment."
"So noted. Well, then," Harper closed his current book he had been reading since it was his 'down time,' and rose from his cot.
In fact, he had had a lot of down time lately. Especially after Dr. Luthor vanished, and the Pentagon overseers had come to investigate just exactly what he might have been doing under their proverbial noses.
They had, to the last man, been horrified by the Vault. Some suggested closing it permanently. After cutting off all life support.
"You are obviously wondering what brought me? I've got a few solutions that have come to mind in regard to your friends. I thought I would let you give them the choices I've deduced, and let them make up their own minds."
"That would be a first for us."
"Undoubtedly."
"So, what did you come up with?"
"My first idea was an uninhabited island where they might be able to live in peace."
Jim's left brow rose in an obvious skeptical gesture.
"Indeed," Kal-El nodded. "Which is why I also mapped out several very large, but potentially isolated caverns where some of them might favor going."
"So, we trade one underground cell for another?"
"As I said, it is only my initial brain-storming. I'm also about to leave the planet for a time. I'm not sure how long, but…. It is possible I might find world that are not only habitable, but favorable for some of them. That, of course, is contingent on what I find. Still, I thought I should let you know the status of my research to date," he said, and handed Guardian the topographical maps he held out. "Since some of the best caverns are not far from here, and yet isolated enough you could cut them off from Cadmus once those that departed, if they wished, did so."
Guardian took the maps with the geological markings on them, and gave them a brief glance.
"I'll let the guys know what you're up to, but what if we need help getting those that want to go, if any do, and you're….away?"
"Call Connor. I'm going to see him next. He's staying in the vicinity for reasons of his own, and I'm going to ask him to help keep an eye on all of you until my return."
"And you think he'd risk coming back…..?"
"He'd do it just to stick a very large thumb in a few eyes. Not necessarily proverbially."
"Yes, I noted he was…..indignant when he woke up and realized what was going on."
"Any true sentient being would be," Kal-El told him.
"Touché. All right. I'll meet with the others, and see what they decide. Still, there are a lot of them that won't be able to leave. They have special needs. You saw…."
"I'm not finished. You may be sure of that. Tell them my word stands. I will aid all who wish it before I am finished here."
"If you make it back."
"I will be back," Kal-El told him firmly. "The journey isn't that dangerous. It's more a….diplomatic envoy."
"Into space," Jim frowned.
Kal-El nodded.
"Precisely."
"You're not going to share the details?"
"Hopefully, things will evolve so that you need not know. If they do, however, nothing I can tell you would help."
"That's not cryptic at all," Guardian complained.
"What's not cryptic," a sentry demanded as he strode into the door, and Jim realized only then that Kal-El had already vanished without notice.
"Ah, a passage in the Stoic philosophy text I was pondering," he told the man quickly. "Something I can do to help you?"
"We're short-handed on shifts since so many were hurt in that….break-in," the man told him. "Dr. Harrison wants you back on rotating shifts."
"I thought he was the one that didn't trust me any longer," he drawled.
"Hey, you know these docs," the man shrugged.
"Unfortunately, I do," he murmured, and reached for his mask, and shield.
"Besides, Harrison isn't in charge any longer."
"No?"
"They sent in a new guy. A real nut-job, if you ask me. Donovan, I think he's called. Dabney Donovan, if you can believe that."
Guardian didn't comment. In his mind, all the scientists in this institution had to be a little off just to work here. That didn't surprise him at all.
MoS
"Nice place," Kal-El remarked as he flew in through the open window of the second floor apartment bedroom where Connor was sprawled on an old, ragged chair eyeing a book with a dark frown.
"Hey, Supes," he grinned. "What brings you down here slumming?"
Kal-El eyed the place, the very unkempt piles of clothing, trash, and general messiness, and eyed the young clone.
"Hey, you might not believe me, but I like this. It feels….right to me."
"I'll take your word for it. As to what brought me here, I need to ask you a favor," he told him.
"Me? Wow, I'm flattered, but what can this cheap knock-off do for you, big guy?"
"I need you to keep an eye on things while I'm away….."
"Away," Connor asked, closing his book to sit up with a gleam of interest in his eyes.
"Off the planet."
"So when you say things," he asked, somewhat more somberly now as he realized what Kal-El was saying.
"Cadmus. I'm not convinced they are going to change just because Dr. Luthor is….out of the picture. I've reservations about the new director they've chosen, too. He says all the right things in front of the press, but….."
"Bad vibes? I get you, Supes."
Kal-El sighed.
"I told the other clones we would help them. Contact Jim Harper if you need to know anything, or he might call you?"
"Uh, hello? How?"
Kal-El held out a small transceiver.
"I borrowed some of the Justice League tech. Don't worry, this frequency is encrypted so only you or Harper can use it."
"Okay. So, where are you going, and how long? I mean…."
"It's complicated," Kal-El told him, then gave a quick summary of the mission to New Genesis that was forming up before him.
"But that's not all. Is it," Connor asked knowingly.
"Do you read minds now?"
"Hardly. But spending a week in public school and watching others, I'm fast figuring out when someone isn't saying something."
"This is, of course, a side issue, but….. I have learned that our course will take us close to the system where Krypton was located."
"Your home," Connor nodded.
"Technically, yours, too. I know, logically, that there isn't going to be anything left. The suggested devastation, and all the models indicate the planet was likely completely destroyed."
"But you have to see?"
"There's the possibility that someone survived," Kal-El nodded.
"You mean someone else," Connor allowed a faint smile.
"Maybe they're still out there. Waiting for help. I have to find out. I have to see."
"I can see that. Don't worry," he said, and pocketed the transceiver. "I'll stay on top of Cadmus, and watch over the city. Superboy is on the job," he winked.
"Superboy," Kal-El grimaced.
"It seemed to fit. That's what your babe at the Planet called me when we met."
"My….babe?"
"Lois Lane? Man, I'm telling you, if I was just ten years older….."
Kal-El merely eyed him.
"Or not."
"I am not being proprietary, Connor. I'm reminding you to be careful. We still don't know all the implications of your hybrid DNA, but I know that mine would be lethal if I attempted reproduction with a human."
"Say what," Connor rasped.
Kal-El only nodded.
"That tanks so much I can't even begin to say how much that tanks," Connor declared.
"Irrelevancies aside, I would prefer you don't let anyone know I am…..away. I've upgraded my security at home, but I would favor no one tried testing it wile I was gone."
"But I can still get in for studying?"
"Of course. Your genetic coding is the key to entry. Only those with Kryptonian genes can now get into my home without my personal presence. A safeguard against….unwanted visitors."
"Getting many of those, were you?"
"You might be surprised. Then again, perhaps not," he added as Connor only smirked.
"So, when are you leaving?"
"I'm still waiting for Batman to finish screening candidates for the envoy. He is a man obsessed with details, so it is still taking longer than expected."
"You mean he's a….."
"He's careful. I respect that. Consider what we're up against here."
"And you really think those Intergang guys are tied into it?"
"It's more than possible."
"I'm just saying, Lois is chasing them right now for her paper. Maybe I should be keeping an eye on her, too. Just to ensure she doesn't get in over her….."
"I'm not your keeper, Connor," he told him as he turned back toward the window. "I'm just reminding you to be careful. They're bound to still be after you, too."
"Which is why I hope no one saw you come in," he nodded. "I'm supposed to be just an ordinary emancipated teen living in this dump alone."
Kal-El gave him a faint smirk of his own, and was gone in the same instant with just a rush of air that stirred the mess around him.
"Showoff," Connor growled, and walked to the window, tossing his history book aside, all thoughts of exams forgotten as he stared out past the crumbling apartment at the city as he absorbed all Kal-El had dropped on him.
MoS
"Any word?"
"On what," Amanda demanded at the woman turned from her endless stream of reports to eye the general who had been haranguing her of late since she suggested that Captain Atom go along on the planned trip if only to keep Earth's interests foremost in mind. Especially as it was now known that the Kryptonian was definitely going along, too.
In fact, it was apparently revealed that the alien felt himself the only adequate pilot for the augmented ship he had apparently retrofitted after that winged alien had shown up with it.
"You know what I mean," Wade Eiling growled.
"Hardly. You seem to have as many concerns as I do. So, what are you referring to this time? The Darkseid issue the League is choosing to downplay so far? The readiness of the Suicide Squad? The X-Clones? X-1 himself? Cadmus' unveiling thanks to Luthor? You'll have to be a little more…..?"
"Don't be coy, woman," he growled. "They lifted off two days ago. Has there been any word from the team that went north to try to penetrate that crystal fortress of his?"
"Oh. That. They're already back."
"Already?"
"Weather conditions deteriorated the closer they got to the target," Amanda looked up from the file she was reading. "In short, any attempt to get near the place is met by conditions so extreme that it makes any progress impractical. If not lethal."
"He can harness weather now?"
"Haven't we been doing it for years?"
"Not on that scale. Nor half so successfully as he seems to manage by what you're saying," Wade complained.
"Well, he managed. We can't get near the place."
"And the young clone remains….."
"He's in the city."
"How can you be so sure," the general demanded.
She held up a copy of the latest Daily Planet.
"Superboy Thwarts Intergang!" the banner read.
The grizzled officer made a mutter of disgust as he eyed the overly ebullient grin on that creature's face that stared out of the photo as he stood atop the wreckage of what appeared to be some kind of sleek, futuristic tank.
"If we know he's in the area, why aren't we….?"
"You've obviously not been paying attention to the big picture, General Eiling," she told him with a somber glower. "With our heavy-hitters off-planet just now, this Superboy may be our only ace in the hole right now, since it seems that Superman's belief that Intergang is connected with this Darkseid might just be true."
"How can we be sure…..?"
"Our people confiscated the weaponry and tanks taken from the felons this time. It is definitely alien in origin. It also vanished less than fifteen minutes after we locked it away in an inaccessible vault."
"How can you….?"
"Fifteen minutes after the vault closed, motion sensors went off. We opened the door, and everything had vanished. Everything. Yet there was no sign of entry, and no sign of anyone coming, or going. It was all just gone."
"Damned aliens."
"Which only makes sense to leave this so-called Superboy in play, and give Intergang someone to shoot at. Either way, we might yet win. It might also buy us enough time for Captain Atom's team to return from….wherever they're going."
Wade Eiling's expression was suitably skeptical.
"Right now, it's our only real choice. Especially after Superman so blatantly exposed Cadmus to the public with his little raid on our labs."
The general said nothing as he continued to stare at the photo more than the headline.
"General?"
"Do you realize how long it's been? The boy isn't deteriorating like X-2. He's stable. The hybridization worked. If we could bring him in….."
"Recall his own breakout. I don't think we're bringing him in without serious backup just now. And as I said, right now, he's our secret weapon. Even if he doesn't realize it."
"And afterward," Wade snapped.
"Afterward," Amanda Waller smiled coldly. "We're still following the mandate given us when we first started Cadmus. Protecting the planet remains our number one priority. If we can exploit these pawns, fine. Once they cease to be useful, however, then we move."
"Good."
"After, General Eiling. And only on my word."
He glared, but said nothing as he walked out of the small office, heading for his own.
X-3, stable, and viable. Had he been that way from the start? Or had the alien altered him while he was in his care? It would be very interesting to find out.
Once he had that wayward asset back where he belonged.
"Get me Lane," he barked into his own phone once he reached his office.
Continued….