Professor Barnett Winston concentrated on mapping the brilliant approach of the K-Metal Meteors. With each passing hour the swarm hurtled nearer the Earth.
His discovery had inevitably attracted worldwide attention; the phenomena had been dubbed the Barnett Winston Comet, and at any other time the success of one of Metropolis own, would have garnered attention, but in the aftermath of the Purple Plague, and the corruption investigation at City Hall following the resignation of Mayor Hansen, even stellar events such as this had been largely ignored.
Not, however, by all. Two groups of radically different people were enthralled, on the one hand were the Professor's peers, astronomers, men of science who were interested and perplexed by the swarm of luminescent meteors; on the other hand astrologers, mystics, persons of superstition and magic, to them the strange comet was a harbinger of doom, the Purple Plague just a forewarning of terrible things to come.
Most remarkable however were the strange changes in his own closely guarded and secret example of K-Metal material. As the the Professor prepared to assess the Meteorite once more, to catalogue these changes Winston's thoughts turned to the deceptively brilliant reporter Clark Kent. Taking his advice to heart Winston had begun to monitor the mysterious substance with greater care, he no longer handled the glowing alien meteorite, far from it the Professor now exercised great caution.
Clothed in a protective radiation suit, the heavy fabric impregnated with lead, Winston Barnett descended into the basement beneath the Metropolis Observatory.
An eerie green light seeped from the grey box, the lid of the container was ajar, and through the crack the phosphorescent rays emanating from the K-Metal illuminated the windowless room. Readying his tools the Professor peered through the leaded lenses of his Radiation Suit guiding a pair of long tongs forward to flip open the lid of the lead lined metal storage box. Snapping back on it's hinges, the Professor squinted as the bright green glow grew all the stronger.
He chuckled, the misshapen lump of K-Metal had begun to look like a bizarre sprouting alien potato. From it's irregular surface crystalline growths like green shoots erupted out of the silvery metal, the largest of these had forced open the lid of the lead lined metal storage box.
Winston Barnett eased himself closer and taking the tongs gripped this, the largest crystal, and with his free hand he tapped the base of strange growth with a rock hammer. Initially the crystal refused to move. As he struggled the Professor found himself feeling elated, he concluded that the strange alien radiation was permeating even through the lead treated cloth of his protective suit. As he felt euphoric his strength increased, and the 'Kryptonite' crystal now succumbed, snapping free taking with it a portion the silvery K-Metal itself.
Quickly he sealed the lead lined container, shutting away the brilliant phosphorescent glow of the K-Metal Meteorite therein. Now the darkened room was lit only by the radium like glow of the crystalline Kryptonite sample.
The Professor was wary how the suns energy might effect this alien material, so from the windowless basement he carried the green crystal to his darkened lab, the shades pulled shut against daylight, this experiment was to be about controlled exposure to light. Still clothed in his radiation suit, Winston placed the green Kryptonite on the counter, and swung across a microscope to study it more closely.
Outside a young post graduate assistant to Barnett Winston received a telegram on his behalf. Dispatched from London, England, the message was marked both urgent and private. This certainly seemed important enough to the young man to warrant disturbing the Professor, despite his instructions otherwise.
Knocking on the door of the sealed laboratory the younger man waited patiently for a response that did not come, beyond the Professor was absorbed in his studies, he hummed to himself, and inside the heavy radiation suit the rat-a-tat coming from the closed door on the other side of the room went unnoticed.
Outside his assistant, not unused to his bosses eccentricities made a decision, he opened the door to the darkened laboratory.
Behind the younger man, directly opposite was a window, sunlight now poured in through the doorway and into the room beyond. Light that shone onto the shard of Kryptonite, instantly the alien material reacted.
Barnett Winston staggered, the brilliance phosphorescence of the crystalline sample suddenly magnified many times, the glare was blinding him, and instinctively he reached out and pressed his gloved hand over the sample of K-Metal crystal asif trying to extinguish it's fire.
-'S'-
Clark Kent surveyed the damage to the Metropolis Observatory as he zeroed in on the familiar face of Metropolis's finest Sergeant Casey. Around about Police Cars and an Ambulance were parked haphazardly, beyond these a big hole smouldered in the side building that adjoined the distinctive dome that housed the telescope.
The heavy set cop recognised and greeted the bespectacled reporter. "Hell bells Kent, I don't know how you do it, you're like a bad penny always turning up when there is trouble, how you get here so fast I'll never know."
Clark smiled. "Any word on Professor Winston?"
"There you go again - what do you know Kent?"
Clark sneezed. Casey took a step back, ever since the Purple Plague had taken hold people had become wary of the slightest sign of sickness. The big cop was no exception. Kent said. "Only that Winston Barnett should be here."
The Cop frowned. "Coming down with something Kent?"
Clark nodded. "Just feeling a bit under the weather." He was not lying, Superman was feeling a little super than usual. Something was different, something game changing was happening to his world, something Superman could not easily explain, or counter.
He looked up into the atmosphere and beyond, where the fragments of Krypton transformed by some unknown power into something new, something different, something dangerous; the living metal of his ship, forged from the body of his home world changed into this fragmented glowing comet-like harbinger of doom.
More immediately troubling to Kent was how he felt standing here. Clark couldn't explain to Casey why he felt so nauseous near to the blast site; that he alone was apparently affected by the legacy of K-Metal, the lingering trace radiation that emanated from the wrecked lab. As they talked his head began to throb painfully.
"What about Barnett Winston?" Clark asked again.
"What about him? What do you know, what was he doing here?"
Clark shrugged. "Observing the comet I think, at least according to Metropolis University that what he was supposed to working on, and his wife told me so too."
"Well sounds like you know more than we do."
"Who's in the truck?"
"Some young guy, a lab technician. When we got here and found the poor guy passed out over there." Casey pointed away from the Lab to a some open ground.
"Hows he doing?" Clark asked for appearance sake. He knew already, Superman had reconnoitred the accident from the air, he had using his super vision powers examined the young man as he lay unconscious in the ambulance, reading his chart, checking him over for himself. Clark did not expect that the Professors assistant would be talking to anyone for a while yet.
"Well the medics reckon he'll be okay, cuts and bruises, worst of it a broken arm. Whatever caused the explosion he was at the edge of it. I reckon he was blown clear."
Clark agreed with Casey's evaluation. As he scribbled in his note pad for appearances sake Kent scanned the Observatory one more time, just to be sure, but again this search was in vain, the K-Metal was no where to be seen. Clark frowned, thinking; had it been destroyed in the explosion? Had the Professor met his death here, and if so why was there no sign of him? There were were many questions the reporter needed answers too.
His thoughts were interrupted, the grey staff car from the Daily Star garage pulled to an abrupt halt. Lois Lane emerged and closed in on her colleague determinedly. Jimmy Olsen got out and unsheathed his camera from it's case and began clicking away.
"Clark Kent! What are you doing here, you were no where to be seen when this came through on the wire? How did you get here so fast?" Lois demanded.
"Lois. Seriously should you be out and about so soon? Are you sure you are all right already?"
Lane glared at him. "Look cowboy just because you give me a pint or so of that Okie blood of yours doesn't make you my keeper.
"I feel fine, in fact I've never felt better, if I'd have stayed another day cooped up in Metropolis General I'd have gone mad. "So what's happening?" Lois grabbed his note book.
"What is this scribble ? She demanded. "That's not like any shorthand I know."
Clark looked apologetic. "It works for me."
She shook her head. "Okay Cowboy spill what you know." She moved on, towards the damaged laboratory. Clark followed saying. "An explosion,.. Casey reckons one guy was blown clear... He's going to be all right, but he's unconscious at the moment... There is no sign of anyone else..." As they walked, he explained. Adding. "Any one else like Professor Winston, who I was coming to see, err I was following up on the err meteor-comet story, you see Lois that's how I got here so fast, err I was coming here any way as it happens."
Lois looked at him suspiciously. She then missed her footing, Clark caught her, and held her upright.
She stared at him. "Thanks." She said after an awkward moment. Saying. "Thanks, I mean let go of me, I'm okay already."
"Are you sure?"
"Just a little light headed, nothing to get worked up about."
Clark frowned, her reaction troubled him. Could it be that he wasn't the only one affected by lingering K-Metal radiation?
Casey came over. "Come on you two, you know better than this, I can't let you go crawling over a bomb site – or whatever this is. I've already had to chase that cub reporter of yours, he was sticking that camera of his everywhere."
"Sorry Sergeant." Clark said quickly, gesturing to Jimmy to come on over to them.
Lois glared at the uniformed man, but she took Clark's arm as they walked away back towards her auto. She realised there was little else to be gained from pressing their luck with Casey and friends on site.
"So you think the explosion might be tied into this Professor's disappearance?" She asked.
Clark nodded.
"Could be a scoop in this Cowboy." Lois acknowledged. "You talked to his family, his friends?"
"Not face to face, he has a wife."
"Then let's drop by, see what she knows." Lois said, getting into the drivers seat. Clark climbed in beside her, his expression spoke a thousand words.
"I'm fine." Lois responded. Once Jimmy had climbed into the back she gunned the engine and in cloud of dust and churned gravel she pointed the big ford back to Metropolis.
Dropping Jimmy off at the Star, Clark quickly filed the report of the explosion with the News desk. Then meeting Lois back at the car they travelled west to Professor Winston's home address. The Astronomer off campus in the wealthy suburban district across the river from Troy State Island. The leafy area where Clark's relatives the Bennett's lived.
The door was answered by an attractive woman, only few years older than Lois.
Lane introduced herself. "My colleague and I were hoping to speak to Mrs Winston."
"I'm sorry, I having nothing to say." She replied.
Lois looked at Clark surprised. She had thought that this blonde was perhaps Winston's daughter; but seemingly she was his wife. He spoke up.
"Mrs Winston, my name is Clark Kent, perhaps Barnett mentioned me?"
"Mr Kent. Yes Barney told me he had met an interesting young reporter. You have been writing the reports of his work in the Daily Star."
"Yes. Please Maam, may we speak with you, honestly I'm more concerned about Barnett, as friend."
Lois glared at him, she didn't need to tell him, that she thought this was unprofessional. Clark didn't care, the truth was more complicated than even Lois could suspect; and she could suspect a lot of things. K-Metal was his Achilles heel, and the only other man alive who knew of it's potency was Barnett Winston. There were some things Superman preferred kept off the record.
In the parlour Kate Winston, bid them seated. She perched on a chair in front of them, legs crossed, somewhat defensively.
Clark began. "We've just come back from Observatory."
"Yes the Police were here earlier, I've already told them, that as far as I know Barney should have been there." She was clearly troubled by this.
"There is no where else he might be?" Lois asked.
"There is a whole world out there Miss Lane; but my Barney lived in a bigger world still."
"You mean his work?" Clark noted.
"Of course, he was an Astronomer, his work was the entire universe, his life's work was understanding the cosmos, honestly he was either here, or at Met U, or he was watching the heavens. There wasn't time for any other interests.
"If he's anywhere he's chasing a star.
"You spent time with him Mr Kent, he told me he felt you understood his work."
Clark nodded. She clearly thought her husband's disappearance had a mundane explanation, his eccentricity, his single mindedness.
Mrs Winston smiled bravely. "I'm sure he'll turn up bemused as to why people were making such a fuss."
"What of his expedition to Mongolia?" Clark asked, adding. "That was surely an adventure for him?"
"You think his disappearance is connected with his discovery?" Mrs Winston confirmed to Clark she knew about the K-Metal Meteorite. "It did cross my mind that he might be looking for a similar... discovery."
"Yes. I guessed you perhaps meant that when you suggested he was chasing a star, or at least a falling star – a meteorite?"
The blonde woman nodded.
Lois looked at Kent surprised, and annoyed, she did not have to explain why, her expression said it all Clark had been holding out on her, again.
"Did he discuss this discovery, with anyone else?" Lois asked.
"Besides myself, and Mr Kent." Mrs Winston replied, misinterpreting the girl reporters look of confusion and annoyance she felt it necessary to explain.
"Miss Lane, I maybe a mother with two young children, but I also have a doctorate in Astronomy. That is how Barney and I met, I was, I confess, a starry eyed student - enchanted by his intellect.
"But to answer your question, Barney was very guarded about his findings, he discussed his findings with me, but otherwise he chose to keep matters to himself, that's why I was surprised when my husband confided in you Mr Kent.
"As you know, my husband felt he'd been unfairly treated by his peers; and if anything he was too secretive. I am certain he did not discuss his research with anyone else."
Clark stood up. "Thank you for your time Mrs Winston." She had been truthful, her heart beat and respiration confirmed it to him. There was no need to question her further.
"Mr Kent, as Barney's friend, you will contact me if you do find him or what happened to him?"
Clark nodded, she was deeply affected by the accident and the uncertainty surrounding it, that much was obvious. "Of course I will do that."
Lois waited until they were in the car to begin. She wasn't happy. "That was the lamest interview I've ever heard; you didn't even press her at all."
Clark shook his head. "Mrs Winston clearly knows nothing about what happened up at the observatory."
"Because she said so?" Lois snapped. "What - are you some sort of lode stone of truth?
Clark frowned, he hated it when Lois was angry with him.
"Oh wait, you're more like Mr - I'm keeping secrets from Lois Lane - Kent. I think.
"So come on Cowboy spill it, what was this discovery you and Mrs Winston know about?"
Clark sighed, and began to explain about mysterious meteorite, leaving out of course the very personal dimension to the story, as Lois drove them back to Star building.
-'S'-
Gamma Reynolds stood bent over a microscope. Secure in the Consortium's hidden laboratory concealed behind the facade of a farm south of Metropolis. He spoke into the hi-fidelity tape recorder, a Magnetaphon, a new invention from Germany, coming to him through his organisation's contacts with the Third Reich.
"Although the early attempts at duplicating the cells contained in the sample of the blood belonging to the individual popularly called 'Superman', mysteriously failed, recent work, with the help of my associate Professor Dalton have been more successful, so much so that we have grown in medium cells that might contain viable genetic material for extraction.
"Quite why this has happened when previous attempts failed so conclusively is as yet unexplained, however it may well be the result of an as yet undetermined environmental factor, introduced in the intervening period, I trust further research will answer that question.
"Since I have been unable to contact the Ultra Humanite, I will for the time being not communicate this information to Doctor Luthor. I believe it will be interesting to learn whether he is on his own, is able to duplicate these results.
"However in the mean time building on this fortuitous success; building on the work of my predecessors, and upon the foundation of the Superior Intelligence's science - I hope to create transgenic animal test subjects using the 'Superman' genetic material.
"I anticipate in the next few days to begin trials working towards my long term goal of creating a genetic serum, a treatment program which in adult humans will give them the abilities of the 'Superman'."
Returning to his microscope Gamma Reynolds scribbled notes as he worked long into the night.
-'S'-
Superman dropped to earth outside his Secret Citadel, he hit the ground hard. It was as if he was a boy again, then back in Kansas, he had been limited to leaping an eighth of a mile. Now Superman knew he was gradually losing his incredible ability to defy and use the force of gravity that had developed during his time in Metropolis, and this devolution worried him, he hoped the Kryptonian Matrix; the artificial intelligence within would have found answers.
Standing before the globe the projection of his long dead biological father formed, alongside Jor-El, Lara phased into reality. Unusually the projection seemed to flicker.
"Darling, we have, as you requested, being monitoring your biological condition." She said.
"And the approach of the Meteors." Jor-El added. "I am confident that the remains of your space craft will pass by tonight as projected."
Superman nodded. "Why is it I feel, that we would on Earth have prefaced your statement with 'this is the good news'.
"What's the bad news?"
Jor-El's image flickered before continuing. "Although the sensory array on this Matrix is limited, we have determined the volume of the Kryptonium alloy mutate - this K-Metal, has increased."
"Increased? How is that possible?"
"Kryptonium can process sunlight into energy, this energy can be used to change the form and the function of any Kryptonium structure, simply Kryptonium can grow and change as instructed. K-Metal has retained the ability to convert sunlight into growth, albeit in an uncotrolled fashion."
Lara said. "Biologically this is comparable to way in which a cancer grows. The new mass appears to be unstable, it is a crystalline substance - Kryptonite. As the K-metal wreckage passes Earth, the gravitational pull of this world is working against this stronger gravity of the Sun, and as result large quantities of this more fragile crystalline material is being broken free and has falling to Earth.
"Almost all of this Kryptonite is bieng burned up as it enters the atmosphere, however as a result the level of background Kryptonite radiation is increasing rapidly."
Superman folded his arms. "That is grave news. Now I understand why I am feeling nauseous and why I have headaches, why I'm so weak - my health is being affected. In short I am being poisoned."
Lara appeared concerned. "The conclusion we are able to draw from your physiological data is that you will continue to suffer these symptons, and that you will grow weaker as the levels of Kryptonite radiation increases."
"Then what is to become of me."
Jor-El replied. "You must be strong and endure; because we are able to determine that half-life period of these new unstable isotopes is very short."
"How short is short; hours, days, weeks, months, years, decades?" Superman asked.
"That remains to be seen, unfortunately this matrix is not immune to the effects of Kryptonite radiation, and currently we are experiencing problems - as you may have noticed. Kal-El be assured these radiation levels will eventually decline, and once this happens you will recover your strength.
Superman considered this. Then a terrible thought struck him "What of Earth, what of the effects on human biology, the natural world?"
His mother replied. "With our limited resources this world, and it's people are still largely unquantified."
"Surely you must have some idea as to how Kryptonite will effect my friends and family?"
Lara's image flickered again. "The force that mutated the living metal of Krypton remains an unknown, but the effect this radioactivity has on you is something we can measure and so estimate, because your physiology is a known to us.
"My best guess is that limited exposure to Kryptonite radiation will not effect indigenous Earth lifeforms.
"But my son you must not lose heart. Although your Father and I were not able to anticipate the effects of the God-Wave event when we preprogrammed this matrix, we did however have a working model for an alternative vehicle for our science should the main space vehicle be lost. However given limitations of this matrix it will take some time to bring this to fruition."
Superman shook his head. "And in the meantime all I can do watch, and observe - hope and pray." Superman acknowledged, his brow creased in concern.
Lara responded to her son's troubled countenance. "Kal-El it is not your fault, nor is it Krypton's that this world is being troubled again by consequences of the God-Wave event. That was a war fought in another place and another time entirely.
"My son, if it were not for you what hope would Earth have?"
-'S'-
On top of mountain towering above the sea, lost behind an impenetrable mist lay an ancient island.
A paradise nestling tonight beneath the stars, eternally youthful.
Here time passes season upon season, like the hands on a well oiled mechanism, as it is above so it is below.
Above, the constellations progress across the heavens. Below, housed within a marble building of classical proportions; a Temple supported by grandiose Doric columns, spins a beautifully forged, exquisitely executed, bejewelled, and ancient mechanical computer. It's engine mirrors this progression.
Many faces are crossed by multiple hands, dials displaying day by day the rhythm of the Earth's journey through time. An instrument on which the music of spheres is played, a song sung in mathematical precision.
Faithfully for three millennia the mechanism has transposed the movement of the heavens according to heliocentric principles, above these individual faces, the classical dials, a model turns.
A movement describing in miniature this very principle. To scale the heavenly spheres, suspended on wire thin arms rotate, and among them the blue green gem bauble that represents Earth, each orbiting the vast fiery ball that was the image of the sun.
Beneath its light two women walk, dressed the flowing fashion of classical antiquity, with their woollen cloaks pulled close around them against the cool of the night.
One wears purple, and her head is adorned by a dainty royal diadem, almost needlessly for her bearing is so regal as to command respect without the trappings of power. Her face the image of classical beauty, if carved marble were brought to life it would fail to mirror her perfection.
Her companion, is no less striking, but less strident, beautiful yet enchanting, as a whisper is to conversation, as incense is smoke from fire.
Before them the sculptured paradise unfolds across rolling hills, punctuated by glorious white marble edifices, gardens nurtured by streams and tamed watercourses, silver in the light of the moon.
Above them a new star crossed the heavens, called in Man's World - the Barnett Winston Comet, this bright light had brought them here to the Amazon's Observatory perched on the heights of Themyscira, their island paradise.
Amazon eyes looked heavenward, as did countless others, for tonight across the globe the strange new comet, would be it's at its brightest.
"Menalippe, what is this – this bright light in the sky, what does it mean?" The tall dark haired woman asked pointing skyward. " Is this an augury of change, worse a harbinger of doom?"
"My Queen heaven is changing again, with this new wanderer crossing Gaia's path I sense something different. See how sparks fly from it?
"I can sense the air around us is changing; this is something unseen on earth since the dawn of the gods." Menalippe knelt and gently stirred the surface of the mercurial mirror like pool at their feet, within the silvery water reflected the image of the heavens above as if the stars themselves where captured in glass.
The Amazonian Oracle Menalippe studied the pool, it's coloured lights were like a music, but with flavour and texture to her senses.
"It is like the old magic." Menalippe said.
The Amazon Queen searched the image watching the dots of lights above them mirrored in this mercurial pool. Bright shooting stars criss-cross the night sky.
"These," Menalippe pointed to the meteorite shower, "are raining unusual energies in the air.
"This comet is a stranger, a newcomer to our plane of existence, it comes unannounced; truly Majesty it has been nigh two thousand years since such a sign."
The Queen of the Amazons nodded. "And then the world changed forever.
So Oracle, what change does this new herald announce – and what does this mean for Themyscira?"
Menalippe peered deeply into the scrying pool before her. "Your thoughts are with Diana." Menalippe observed.
The Queen laughed. "You know me too well Oracle."
The ruler of the Amazons gazed at the brilliant moon reflected in the mystic pool. "As the goddess of night crosses our path, how can I not wonder of the woman I have made; our Diana?"
Menalippe extended her hands reverently. She closed her eyes and spoke as in a dream.
"The goddesses Athena, Artemis, Demeter, Hestia, Aphrodite. Our patrons, each blesses us, lending their strengths to every Amazon.
We are every one a reincarnated soul, once unjustly slain by man, each called to live again as Amazons.
"Our eternal Sisterhood was given Themyscira, our sorority was charged with guarding Dooms Door, the gate of Tartarus. So we lived unchanged for centuries.
"All of us have live countless lifetimes except one, your daughter.
"She alone died as a child yet unborn within you and was born again a child, born into a new age; born to Themyscira."
Menalippe opened her eyes once more. "I am sorry Majesty, the future around the Princess is too indistinct, I can tell you nothing you do not already know."
The Queen sighed heavily.
She stared into the silver surface of the pool before her. "Our goddesses gave me this name – Hippolyta."
She turned to gaze at Menalippe. "My name means stampeding horse, because I was first Amazon to break the surface of water from where we were reborn."
"Yes Majesty. As the first of our race justly our goddesses called you to be our Sovereign." Menalippe replied.
"With the passing centuries I have come to understand that there is always a price that the gods exact from us in exchange for their favours.
"I knew this, when the gods finally answered my dearest wish.
"In giving me a child; the gift of Diana, I knew that the gods had some greater plan in mind." Hippolyta said.
Then smiling as she remembered her baby daughter saying. "Remember Menalippe how the flashing thunder of mankind's guns fell silent on the day Diana first cried out alive and vital - the first child of Themyscira?"
"Yes Majesty. In this mirror, I saw that generation dug deep into muddy fields. Man's World's Great War – the so called war to end all wars; a hollow promise indeed.
"Here I watched men fall to flashing thunders hail, for four long years. Then on the day Diana came to Themyscira the guns fell silent."
The Queen stared into the Oracle's Scrying Pool. "Menalippe there is something that troubles me, and it has done for two decades."
"Truly Majesty?" Menalippe replied concerned. "What is it?"
"When you looked into the future just now, you told me more than you realised. You said Diana was born into a new age." Hippolyta observed. Then she said.
"Answer me this.
"Why as countless men lay dead in the mud of Gaul, after so many centuries of wanting and waiting to become a mother, why did the gods chose this century to answer my prayers?
"Menalippe was it just coincidence?"
The Oracle considered this for a moment.
"My Queen, each of us died violent deaths at the hands of men, but uniquely Diana died while still in your womb.
"And uniquely long after our reincarnation Diana slept on within the cavern of souls.
"So yes - I see this truth; I see all those mothers shedding tears for lost sons, women weeping for husbands, fathers, and brothers, perhaps such unparalleled loss moved your heart, touching the gods themselves."
"I cannot but wonder Menalippe." Hippolyta reflected, saying.
"I wonder about Diana and the agenda of gods. Yes our goddesses blessed Diana, as they did us, but again with Diana there was something different, alongside our goddesses of Olympus, stood another."
Menalippe nodded. "Lord Hermes."
"Yes - and he gave to her a gift uniquely his to give, a gift I fear that is destined to take Diana above and beyond us.
"And I can't help wondering tonight, seeing this comet lighting the skies, what the price of such a gift will be?"
"Menalippe you - yourself stood before us, and foretold that the cycle of violence has come again to Man's World, a scant generation later, the sound of flashing thunder grows louder.
"And as again men battle each other, and how many more innocents will die this time around?
"How long can Themyscira continue to enjoy peace - when the god of War grows stronger with every generation of men.
"And all the while our patron goddesses remain silent? How long has it been Oracle since they have spoken to us?"
"Too long Majesty, and I too fear for this paradise Island – for our peaceful existence." Menalippe confessed.
"Majesty. The future is becoming opaque to me, confused, I see only the fires of the sun, and I know not what this means."
"Diana was born into a new age Menalippe, an age of world wide war." Hippolyta sighed.
Looking at the night sky the Queen said. "Now this omen, this comet, tears across the heavens and poisons the air with magics unseen since the dawn of the gods – Please tell me I am misinterpreting the signs Menalippe."
The Oracle could not deny Hippolyta's logic, but she still spoke with hope. "Even the gods can not be certain about tomorrow." She said, taking hold of the Queens hand. "Majesty whatever Hermes gift means for Diana, whatever the gods themselves plan for us, nothing is sure except humanity's freedom to choose, each one their own path."
-'S'-
On top of the Daily Star building Jimmy sat drinking hot coffee, he adjusted his camera, it was ready on it's tripod to collect a series of shots of coming meteor shower. The cold winter air blew around the base of the papers iconic logo, and feeling the bite of the chill wind the young photographer proffered his cup.
"Please Miss Lane may I have a refill."
"Of course Jimmy." Lois replied pouring the steaming liquid from the flask. They were not alone the roof was a popular place to be, as many members of the Daily Star Staff joined them to watch the once in lifetime event.
"Any chance of some more coffee here?" Clark asked. "Please if you could be so kind."
"All gone Cowboy." Lois replied coolly, topping up her own cup, she pulled the blanket around her and sat down in the folding chair. Then bringing a pair of binoculars to her eyes, she like countless others across the world watched the passage of Barnett Winston Comet.
Clark thought about why Lois was still angry with him. She made no secret of the fact she felt he should have confided in her; that she was always having to drag information from him, it was if, she reflected, he was strictly part time.
"Don't you know Clark your job is to report the news not decide what is the news." Lois said. "That's why we're sitting here on top of this building getting cold watching a light show."
"Jeepers Miss Lane, Mr Kent, will you look at that it's like the fourth of July and then some." Jimmy exclaimed his camera clicked away as the sky lit up, shooting stars rained down like fireworks.
It was oddly beautiful Clark acknowledged, yet this was deceptive, each flash of light was an unstable fragment of the cancerous growth from the surface of living K-Metal breaking up under the heat and pressure of entry in Earth's atmosphere. From each explosion rained radioactive dust, releasing strange energies. Forces that drained him of his strength and of his vitality. Forces that also affected ordinary men, but only differently.
"You know I think I'm going to get some more coffee." Clark said. Hearing in the night sounds that his friends were oblivious too.
Lois laughed at him. "Really, I mean... you leaving now? Come on Clark look at this – have you seen anything like this.. sky thing, and all you can think about is doughnuts?" Lois replied.
"I didn't say anything about doughnuts."
"You don't have to Cowboy, I know you by now. With Coffee comes doughnuts. It's the Kent way."
Clark making his excuses left the roof, the door to the stairs shut noisily, but that was ruse, in the shadows, still faster than the eye could see, Clark Kent leapt clear off the building and in the air, moments later Superman swooped in the direction of the sirens that he had heard wailing in the night.
Moments later he fell to ground, using his cape as a brake he slid to halt. His powers were weakening, but that was no reason to give up, his was a never ending battle.
Police cars blocked the street ahead a car weaved wildly, accelerating hard towards the impromptu road block, behind it more black and whites in pursuit, their sirens and lights engaged.
Suddenly almost too late, the driver sees the road ahead is impassable, yanking the steering wheel hard, more by luck than skill, he wrenches the speeding auto around rising onto two wheels, rubber screaming under stress and then away down a quieter side street.
Superman's vision follows the car. He sees a pedestrian crossing the street, she is caught in his single working headlight, frozen in fear the young women stalls, her frightened stare fixed on the blinding glare. Sighting the girls peril Superman acts. Leaping the Man of Tomorrow lands between her and speeding car. Upon striking the ground he is amazed to find his feet buckling slightly beneath him, Superman dashes towards the girl, conscious of how he is forced to strain himself to the utmost as if invisible chains seem to be pulling at his limbs, his tremendous strength is ebbing, but Superman cannot let himself fail her. It seems an eternity before he reaches the young woman and at the last moment his hands pluck her clear of the cars path.
Detroit iron meets steely resolve, as the auto hits Superman head-on, he feels the impact like a hammer blow as with terrific force the cars radiator crumples. Back flies the Man of Steel, unable to counter the blow, he twists and turns a complete somersault, the Kryptonite fallout in the air might rob him of his preternatural strength, but Kryptonite cannot take away from him the aerial skills he learned as a boy.
The car looms before him, but caped man might be down, but Superman is not out of the fight, he never gives up, despite the roaring in his ear drums, the throbbing agony in his head, he fights on, shrugging aside the pain and drives his shoulder deep into the grill of the auto, thinking I must stop this car! Forward he strains, heaving, pushing, beads of cold sweat form on his brow as he expends his energy, and his body trembles as though with fever.
He slides, his feet scraping the surface of the pavement, while the metal deforms under his hands, but weakened Superman struggles on until the auto is stopped. Inside the broken vehicle the drunken man at its wheel is both shaken and shocked. Angrily he fumbles beneath the seat, until his hand grips heavy forged steel. Out from the car he comes, berserk with fear and rage, fuelled by alcohol. "I'll fix ya!" he roars.
"Lower that wrench!" Superman commands.
The raging drunk charges him, and determinedly Superman faces him down, the heavy tool smashes against the Man of Tomorrow's skull. Superman stands defiant; years of invulnerability give him confidence, even making him complacent in the face of danger; but tonight he feels a sudden and unexpected blinding sensation as the wrench rebounds from his forehead, in this moment Superman knows the meaning of pain, and yet, he rolls with the blow. Gritting his teeth, he shrugs off the violent attack, neither crying out, or wavering.
Suddenly a feeling of terrible rage surges through the Man of Tomorrow, angered by the cowardly attack Superman finds untapped reserves of energy that surge through him. Snatching up the broken auto the Man of Steel holds it above his head threateningly. "I ought to show how it feels like to have a couple of tons of iron hit you." He growls at the drunk. The terrified man drops his makeshift weapon and collapses in a dead faint.
"Superman stop!" The voice of the authority came from an uniformed officer of Metropolis PD. "Put the car down, please don't go there, not on that idiot's account. Come on Superman."
"Sorry Officer." Superman replied coming to his senses, he shook as he lowered the auto, he felt his strength deserting him, down slowly inevitably moves the car, as the Man of Tomorrow's store of energy dwindles rapidly, robbed by the poisoned atmosphere of his adopted world.
Superman stood clear of the downed auto. "I was just giving the guy a scare, he almost killed someone." He explained to the Police officer, thinking to himself, truth be told I could not do anything else put the car down, I could not have held it up any longer. He wondered if the cop could see him shaking.
"I know Superman, I saw your save her, I should by rights bring you in, but we both know that isn't going to happen. Thanks for the assist, at least everyone is all right, and it's only this idiot's car that is wrecked."
Superman nodded wearily. "Thank you Officer, and good night." He leapt into the air, as a boy he could leap an eighth of a mile, as man this night, the best he could manage was to rise up and over the street, just clearing the edge of a house roof opposite, to land in the dark alley beyond. He hit the ground hard, rolling to absorb the fall, he stumbled to his feet. Superman ducked into the shadows, and Clark Kent emerged, and feeling worse by the minute, the exhausted reporter hurried back to his apartment, seeking solitude and sweet sleep.
-'S'-
On top of the conning tower of the German U-boat Lex Luthor observed the meteor showers incredible light show. He wore a woollen hat pulled tight over his head against the chill ocean wind. Using binoculars he too gazed at the luminescent meteors. Now comet-like they streaked across the sky, trailing a tail of of sparkling light, which in turn was drawn into the planets atmosphere. Lex watched enthralled as these shooting stars fell like a rain of hot sparks against the velvet night.
Beside him stood Commodore Wolfgang Bauer, the boat's commander, and the SS Captain, Hauptsturmführer Wilhelm Leichlingen, who said.
"This is an incredible sight Herr Doctor."
"Indeed. I would dearly love to examine one of these meteors, there is something most peculiar about this stellar phenomena, one I believe demands investigation."
"Doctor Luthor, is there no end to your interests, you are as they say a renaissance man, no?" Bauer noted.
Lex laughed. "Knowledge – the pursuit of it, science, the power of understanding, the thrill of discovery, these things bring meaning to life, so yes I cannot concentrate solely on one discipline, I must embrace them all, master all, that is my calling."
"Is that a request Herr Doctor." The SS Captain asked.
"A request?" Luthor replied uncertainly.
"Yes. Do you wish us to obtain for you a meteor rock, for you to inspect."
"Ah." Luthor laughed. "Yes that would be splendid, assuming such a meteor makes earth-fall, assuming you can find it, then yes by all means I would welcome that."
"You see my friend we mean what we say, when we say to you - Germany values scientific endeavour highly, you can rely on the Third Reich to honour its promises."
"As do I my friend, as do I." Luthor stated.
Liechlingen chuckled slapping Lex on the back. "Then truly a prodigal son returns to the Fatherland."
-'S'-
Clark awoke in bed, Lois lent over him she was dabbing his brow with a damp cloth.
"uh, what?" He mumbled, fumbling for his glasses, quickly his hand fell to them on the bedside cabinet. Hastily he pulled on the spectacles and sitting up he self consciously looked at the clock, it was well past noon.
"Gosh, oh my, I've slept in, I'm so late for work!" He gasped.
"Slept in?" Lois laughed. "Hate to tell you this Clark, but you've more than slept in - you're more like three days overdue at the office."
"Three days." Kent said bewilderedly.
"Here drink some water." Lois held a glass to his lips, Clark took it. He was very thirsty.
"Yes, seventy two hours and then some.
"Last thing you said to me, was, something like, 'Lois going for doughnuts, be right back', and then nothing, I had to write up your science column for you, the Chief wasn't to happy, but it wasn't like a day without you was a big deal, y' know we all thought you'd maybe got a lead on some scoop.
"Then the following day, when you were a no show yet again, Taylor sent Olsen around here, after work to see if he could find you, but there was no answer when Jimmy tried your door. So this morning I came around and tried again, when I got no response, I let myself in."
"How?" Clark asked.
"Well Cowboy this girl reporter has picked up some skills in her travels, including how to pick a lock.
"Any way you were here, passed out, running some sort of fever, so I got a Doctor to come out and check you over."
"Oh my!"
"Well he said it was probably some sort influenza and he gave you a vitamin shot or something like that."
Clark look stunned. "He gave me a injection?"
"Sure, what's so surprising about that? Well to be fair it was the worst example of an injection I've seen, not that you minded because you were out, the Doc just complained that you had the hide of elephant, but he sure stuck you good."
Clark appeared to be stunned. Then there was clatter and a bang as the front door to his apartment swung open. Through the wide open double doors that led from the small bedroom through to the marginally larger living room, Clark saw Jimmy Olsen walk through carrying grocery bags.
"For someone who eats as much as you do, you sure have empty cupboards Cowboy." Lois explained. "So I sent Jimmy out for some provisions.
"Did you get the soup Jimmy?" Lois asked the cub reporter.
"Sure thing Miss Lane, I found the Deli just like you said, they gave me a quart to take out."
"Chicken soup, the best in the city, that'll put you right, lots of liquid and protein, just what you need." Lois told her patient. Adding. "Besides Cowboy, candy, cake and cookies don't count as major food groups, I couldn't believe that was all there was in your kitchen."
"I'm out a lot." Clark replied defensively. While Lois was distracted he looked at his arm, there was yellow purple bruise where the doctor had punctured his skin.
"I don't remember any of it, I don't even remember getting into bed." He sighed heavily.
"hmm." Lois raised her eyebrows and laughed, not fully appreciating the full extent of Clark's confusion. "Well you must have done, because you were laying in damp sheets when I found you, you must have been perspiring something terrible, at least I managed to find some pyjamas in your wardrobe."
Clark glanced at his bedclothes. "You dressed me! How?"
Lois laughed at him. "Well Jimmy helped; but Clark you were buck naked at that point."
Clark stunned face made Lois laugh again.
"You silly, don't look so shocked. It's not like I haven't seen a guy in his birthday suit before – remember I grew up on an army base. It's not like you've got anything I haven't seen before."
"Lois!" Clark remonstrated.
"That's not what you said Miss Lane!" Jimmy shouted mischievously from the galley area of the main room, which served as kitchen.
It was Lois's turn to blush. "All I said is that you must have sweated a lot of weight off while you were sick, and that maybe they worked you hard as a boy on the farm, because, well it was just a real surprise to see that that you're quite the beefcake under that ill fitting suit of yours." She said hastily; quickly adding.
"And that's another thing Mr Kent, I should say ill fitting suits - what is it with you, you've all those identical blue suits hanging in your wardrobe, not one of which, I might add, clearly fits you properly, or at least they won't any more."
"They were cheap, a job lot?" Clark suggested.
"I can see why." Lois stated. "How's the soup coming along Jimmy?"
"Just finding a pan Miss Lane."
"Wait there I'll do it."
"You sure that's a good idea?" Clark asked.
Lois looked back and stuck her tongue out at him. "Have you ever even used this stove Clark, it's as clean as a whistle." She emptied a portion of the chicken soup into a pan and began re-heating thick liquid. It's warm aroma soon reminded Clark how hungry he really was.
Jimmy wandered over. "Sure glad to see you awake Mr Kent, when we got in this morning, well seeing you there all pale and drawn – it was scary, I mean for a minute I thought you'd died..." He lent closer and added quietly. " You sure had Miss Lane worried; she was really upset, she cried and everything.
"But don't tell I told you that Okay?"
Clark nodded seriously. Sitting up, he cleared his throat. He felt more himself, tired perhaps, a bit achy, but at least he reflected the worst of the headache and nausea had passed.
"So Jimmy," he asked, "tell me what's being going on while I've been out of it?"
"Oh jeepers Mr Kent. I don't know how to tell you this."
"What Jimmy? What on earth has happened?"
"Superman has gone bad."
"What?" Clark spat.
"I don't believe it!" Lois called out. She banged the saucepan as she stirred, maddened by the accusation.
"Well Miss Lane doesn't believe it." Jimmy conceded. "But dozens of people saw him."
"Crimes Jimmy – what happened?"
"Oh, okay - it was early yesterday in the morning, over at Metropolis Central Station. Well it was still dark when this cloaked figure crashed into the Mail train, tore it up really badly.
"It happened as the train pulled into the marshalling yard.
"People say they saw Superman tearing into the mail carriages, breaking them apart like cardboard. They say it was like he was looking for something, a package they said, and then stealing what he came for he then leapt into the air and disappeared; but the train it was totally wrecked."
"Superman, the say it was Superman, they saw him?"
"Well it was dark, but the man had a cape. Every one agrees on that. The guardsman said it was like a dark red maybe even a purple colour, and his suit was like a really dark blue, but as I said the sun wasn't up. Y' know Mr Kent - I hate to say it, but who else could that be?"
"I don't know Jimmy." Clark responded. He didn't even know where his costume was. He must have taken it off, he hoped he'd hidden it properly.
"Darn it Mr Kent. I just hoped you might know something, you seem to know more about Superman than anyone I know, I just thought maybe you might have an idea what happened."
"I'm sorry Jimmy, I mean I'm just getting my head around the fact I've been out of it for three days, I wish I could tell you about Superman. Believe me I really wish I knew.
"I mean unless... I was out there walking around in my sleep,.. I mean there is no way Superman and I could be in the same place at the same time,.. I mean I was here wasn't I?" Clark sighed. "I'm sorry I can't give you an explanation for what happened to the train – certainly I can't give Superman an alibi."
"Sorry Mr Kent, I understand, it's just – well like Miss Lane says, I can't believe it. I mean Superman going bad, why would that happen?"
"Now Jimmy, leave Clark alone." Lois chased the young man away from the bed. "I'm sure Superman is more than able to clear his name all by himself, he can certainly do that without the help of this poorly sick Cowboy.
"Here you are." Lois said giving Clark a large mug of hot chicken broth. She perched on the edge of the bed, adding with a smile. "It's the best remedy for whatever ails you that I know in this fair city."
"Thanks Lois. I really appreciate this - and all that you've done for me; and Jimmy too."
"That's ok Pard'ner. I mean you gave me your Okie blood, least I can do is warm you some soup when your poorly; and once you are feeling better we can go shopping."
"Shopping?" Clark asked confused once more.
"A friend does not let a friend walk around looking like his clothes have been borrowed from somebody's scarecrow. Besides now you've lost some of that chubby fat you really, really, really do need a new suit."
Clark attempted to mouth a word of protest.
"No Mr Kent. No arguments, do what I say - drink your soup and get better, I going to make a Metropolis man of you yet."