Superman

REIGN Part IV

Written By James Brady

Plotted By Joey West & James Brady


Phantom Zone, Unknown Location

Clark feels the firm grasp of Val-Zod in his palm as his restraints are lifted and Val helps him to his knees. He looks around the darkened room to see control panels and technology seething out of every corner. Around him stand 12 men and women, all armed wearing customised battle armour, very different from the regular Kryptonian armour.

"Zod?" Clark says getting to his feet. "Like the guy I fought before I passed out? I remember him shouting something like, 'Kneel Before Zod!' Or something like that."

"Yeah..." Val folds his arms and shakes his head slightly. "That sounds like Dad."

He looks back up to Clark and returns to his original train of thought.

"I apologise for kidnapping you but we really needed to get an audience with you alone and without your Father finding out." He gestures to the men standing around them. "We are a group of intellectuals who have gone against our Kryptonian up bringing. We have diverged from the Kryptonian path, as have you. We have been receiving word of the mass scale slaughter taking place on your planet and we want to help in any way we can, especially if we can help restore one of their champions to it." He turns and signals towards a large device on the wall. Two large circular machines move down from the walls and overlap creating a blue radiant light between the two.

"Whoah..." Clark exhales.

"We've managed to create our own Warp drive to open the walls of the Phantom Zone. It's taken years of secretive work but we've finally managed to get it to work. Now..." he turns to Clark. "We have no idea about Earth and we're going to need cyber coordinates for a place to be able to safely remotely open the portal."

"Ummm... cyber coordinates?"

"Yes. You have those right?"

"Um... I don't think Earth has those..."

"Earth doesn't have Cyber coordinates?"

"Last time I checked no?"

"... Either you're exhibiting Earth humour or there is something wrong with my translator device."

"... urm... I don't think soo..." Clark explained, "Cyber coordinates are a Kryptonian thing right?"

"Most planets have them but yes, Kryptonians also use them."

"Give me a second then. See if this can work."

Clark sits and starts to think. He remembers, Jor explaining the potential Kryptonian abilities under a yellow sun with one of them a perfectly realised photographic memory. Clark tries his hardest and manages to access it. He thinks back to all the times he's used the Fortress of Solitude computer, there was always that little number on the screen that related to Kelex, 44.34.0073

"Try... 44.34.0073." Clark says confidently.

A Kryptonian scientist types in the coordinates and the portal opens. They all cheer and clap, some of them patting Clark on the back. BOOM! The room explodes and bodies are thrown in all directions.


Clark gets to his feet as he sees the destruction around him. High voltage lasers smack through the room as the Kryptonian revolutionaries cry out in pain, while others attempt to fight back against the onslaught of Kryptonian guards opening fire. From the fire and smoke Clark hears a loud familiar voice echo through the room as the battle rages on.

"Kal-El! I am here for my son! Hand him over!"

Clark attempts to get away from the battle but a Kryptonian catches him in his sights. Just as Clark thinks he's done for he's pushed to the side and the Kryptonian is taken down by 2 precise energy bolts. Clark looks up to see Val-Zod grabbing him by the shoulder.

"Val-!"

"Shhh! Stay down. I'm going to buy you time. You need to get to the Dimension rift back into reality. Do you see it over there?"

"I got it."

"Go for it, Clark. I've been in-prison since I was old enough to voice an opinion, a little longer won't hurt me much just come back and get us out."

"Okay. Thanks Val, I trust you."

"Go kick my Dad's ass for me but save me a piece."

Val goes out shooting after the Kryptonians while Clark stumbles towards the Phantom Door Generator. He hears Jor calling after him as he reaches the door. He looks back to see Val-Zod being struck down by a military hammer and then he jumps.


Brainiac's ship.

Clark leaps out of the other end of the portal and falls face first onto the floor of Brainiac's massive skull ship. He begins to have a seizure as his body processes the shift in the dimensional planes he just experienced. His eye flare red then deep blue then back to normal as his sight, touch, smell and hearing returns to him. He continues to shake till he realises that two familiar smells and sounds surround him.

"Easy there, Clark. You gave us quite the fright there."

He looks up to see Ma and Pa Kent kneeling down in front of him.

"Mom! Dad!" He sits up and hugs them tight.

"Glad you're home safe and sound Clark but we need you on your feet now, boy. The world needs a Superman."

Clark gets to his feet, feeling his strength returning to him, and looks around the great big ship as Kara wearing a more traditional Supergirl uniform and Krypto approach him from the control panel. A huge white skinned biker man with masses of dreadlocks smokes a massive cigar and reads a pornographic magazine at the other end of the room.

"Who's he?" Clark asks his parents.

"Oh that's Lobo. He's not very polite but I think he means well. He makes good Ravioli though." Ma says.

"Don't go talking about my secret ravioli, lady." Lobo grunts without looking up from his magazine.

Clark looks over to Kara as she approaches them.

"Wow...Kara... you've been busy..."

"You've been gone two months, Kal-El, I've decided to follow your example and try and help the people of Earth in their hour of need."

"Hour of need? What's happened?"

"Clark..." Ma says putting her hand on his shoulder. "I'm afraid everything has changed..."

Kara pulls up a computer screen and shows Clark how the Kryptonians have invaded the United States of America, taking Washington and then quickly country before moving on to the rest of the world. He watches as groups of heroes' band together in the rubble and attempt to fight back against the onslaught of the Kryptonian Army.

Clark clenches his fist tighter and tighter while watching the video till it begins to hurt.

"Alright. Let's get to work." Clark says sternly.

Kara stops him as he begins to walk away.

"You'll be killed by the Kryptonite in their ships."

"I've got that covered."

"You need a suit."

"I need to get down there. I don't have time to make a suit."

"I've got that covered." Ma speaks out as she holds out Clark's old Superman shirt from 8 years ago. "I want you to wear this to remember that under all that bulletproof skin, you're my son, and I am so... so proud of you."

Clark takes the shirt and hugs his mom tightly.

"Of course. I'd never forget." He says as he feels the tears begin to well up. Pa takes him by the shoulder and hugs him also.

"Go get em, Kiddo. Give em a good socking for your Pa, eh?"


The Phantom Zone

Jor-El walks dressed in his old battle armour, holding a large rifle as he bustles his way through the mobilising Kryptonian troops. A commanding officer stops him before he continues on.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"I'm going to get my son back. Now move or I'll make you move!"


Superman will return in Reign of Krypton #6!